Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

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Late that night, in the living room of lan’s house at Blue Cove Residences, Mitchell stood by the coffee table, updating lan on the latest from the police when the door opened, and Patrick walked in.

Ian gave Mitchell a subtle, silent nod. Mitchell hesitated for a split second, then quickly excused himself, closing the door softly behind him.

As soon as they were alone, Patrick stepped forward, his voice sharp with accusation. “You did this. You pulled strings behind the scenes to get Chloe detained. Admit it.”

Ian didn’t answer. He walked to the bar, moving slowly, and poured a glass of whiskey for Patrick.

Patrick grabbed the glass and slammed it down on the coffee table, the whiskey sloshing over the rim to stain the table cloth. “Not saying anything? Guess that’s a yes.”

Ian’s tone stayed deliberately vague, like he was skirting the question rather than answering it. “The police will deliver the fairest outcome. We just have to let the process play out.”

Patrick’s chest heaved with anger, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “Mitchell’s been with you for years. How could he make such a rookie mistake? It’s obvious you put him up to it!”

Ian said nothing. He just walked to the couch, sat down, and picked up the remote, flipping on the TV to a muted news channel–like he was trying to drown out Patrick’s accusations with background noise.

After a long beat, he spoke slowly, his eyes fixed on the screen, not Patrick. “Even the most careful people make mistakes. Mitchell’s human, not a machine. Accidents happen.”

Patrick spun around, his frustration boiling over, his voice rising. “Ian, maybe everyone else buys your ‘cool, collected‘ act, but I see through it! You’re impossible to read, always scheming, always hiding something–but this? This is too far. You can’t do this to Chloe!”

Ian lowered his eyes to his hands, his jaw tight, and refused to respond.

Patrick pressed on, his tone sharp with resolve. “I’m not gonna stand here and watch you control her like a puppet. I’m bailing her out myself. And once she’s free, I’m making sure she leaves you for good. She deserves better than this cage.”

With that, Patrick turned and stormed out.

Ian slowly stood up, his voice cold, a warning edge cutting through it. “Patrick, this is between me and my wife. Stay out of it. If you meddle… don’t expect me to remember we were ever friends.”

Patrick froze in his tracks.

He turned back, his face flushed with emotion, and yelled, “lan, Chloe and I grew up together! We’re not just ‘acquaintances‘–she’s family to me. I can’t sit by and let you treat her like a criminal, not when you’re the one pulling all the strings!”

He didn’t wait for a reply. Patrick slammed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the quiet house.

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Chapter 76

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Ian walked up to the tall living room window and just stood there, staring out into the night in silence.

The silence stretched on, broken only by the faint hum of the TV. After a deliberate minute, he withdrew his phone, summoned Patrick’s father’s number, and made the call. His voice was low and clipped, every syllable a calculated warning delivered under the guise of a conversation. *****

The next morning, Ian left for the office at his usual time, his expression as calm and composed as ever.

When he opened his front door, though, Thomas, in his crisp black suit and white gloves, was waiting for him, his posture respectful but rigid. “Mr. Hamilton,” Thomas said, inclining his head. “Your grandfather has requested your immediate return to the family manor. He said it’s a matter of urgency.”

A little over an hour later, Ian’s car pulled up to Hamilton Manor.

He’d barely stepped out when Mia stormed over, her face red with anger, her fists clenched at her sides. “Tan! You had Chloe locked up–do you even have a conscience?” she snapped, her voice sharp with outrage.

Ian’s gaze turned cold, a stern warning in his tone. “Watch your mouth, Mia. Show some respect. Whatever’s between me and Chloe is none of your business. Stay out of it.”

Thomas stepped in quickly, placing a gentle hand on Mia’s arm to pull her back before she could snap back. “Miss Mia, let’s not escalate this. Mr. Edward is waiting for Mr. Ian.” Mia glared at Ian but let Thomas lead her away, muttering under her breath.

Ian walked into the manor’s grand living room, where Miranda sat on a velvet couch, her face tight with frustration. Shane, his father, lounged in an armchair nearby.

Miranda stood up the second Ian walked in, her voice trembling with anger. “Just how long were you planning to keep us in the dark? If Patrick hadn’t called last night, we’d still have no idea you’d thrown Chloe in jail!”

Ian kept his head down slightly, his hands behind his back, and said nothing.

Miranda pressed on, her tone rising. “She’s been locked up all night, scared and alone, and you had the nerve to go to work like nothing’s wrong? Stop pretending this is ‘just the process‘ and fix it! Pull some strings- bring her home!”

Ian’s voice stayed steady, his composure unshaken. “Mom, the case is in the police’s hands now. We have to let them handle it by the book. I can’t interfere.”

Miranda let out a bitter laugh, so mad her vision blurred. She sank back onto the couch, her shoulders slumping with frustration.

She knew how their world worked: rules and regulations were just window dressing for ordinary people.

In their circle, rules were made to be broken–especially when it came to the Hamiltons.

Shane shot Ian an approving look, nodding slowly. “lan’s right. A man can’t let his feelings cloud his judgment.”

Before Ian could respond, Thomas returned, his expression neutral. “Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Edward is ready for you in his study.”

13:31 Thu, Oct 2

Chapter 76

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Edward’s study was a quiet, wood–paneled room, filled with the earthy scent of aged leather and fresh ink from the fountain pens on his desk. Shelves lined the walls, packed with leather–bound books and framed family portraits.

Edward stood behind his large oak desk, leaning heavily on his cane, a sheet of cream–colored paper spread before him—on it, a crisp, handwritten letter, the ink still slightly damp.

He raised his eyes slightly as Ian walked in, his gaze sharp, like he was sizing lan up. “You still haven’t finalized the divorce, and now this mess with the police. What’s your plan, Ian?”

Ian stopped a few feet from the desk, his posture straight. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’m not letting emotions get in the way where Chloe’s concerned. I know what I’m doing.”

Edward’s lips twitched into a faint, approving smile. He tapped the edge of the desk with his finger. The Irvine family’s been bankrupt for years–they have nothing to offer you. If Chloe can’t commit to being your wife, then why keep her around?”

Ian lowered his eyes, his voice quiet. “You’re right, Grandpa.”

Edward continued, his tone hardening slightly. “Whether she stays or goes is your decision. But mark this: if she ever threatens your future, the Hamilton family’s reputation, or Hamilton Group’s interests she has to be gone. For good.”

Ian’s expression turned grim, his jaw tightening. “Grandpa, I’ll set this right as soon as possible. But I need a promise from you–leave the Irvine family out of it. Don’t go after any of them.”

Edward handed his cane to Thomas, who’d followed Ian into the room, then picked up a sleek fountain pen from his desk–twisting the cap off slowly, his eyes still on Ian. “Your focus should be on controlling Chloe. not protecting her family. But fine–I won’t touch the Irvines. For now.”

Ian nodded once, a tight, perfunctory gesture, then turned and left the study. He didn’t pause to speak to anyone else, just headed straight for the garage, where his driver waited by the black sedan.

The car had barely cleared the iron gates of Hamilton Manor when Andrea stepped out of her car and planted herself directly in its path.

After several months of cosmetic tweaks, Andrea’s features were pretty much transformed.

She was definitely prettier now, but she had that over–the–top influencer look, like she’d just stepped off some viral livestream.

The sedan jolted to a stop.

The rear window hummed down slowly, and Ian’s brows knitted into a frown the second he registered her face. “What are you doing here?” His tone was full of annoyance.

Andrea darted a nervous glance back at the manor’s imposing gates before leaning in, her voice dropping to a simpering murmur. “Ian, I tried calling you–so many times–but you never answered. Mr. Garrison said you’d be here, so I’ve been waiting… for hours.”

Ian’s stare didn’t soften. “What do you want?”

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Andrea spoke softly, feigning hesitation–though her eyes glinted with urgency. “Can I… can I get in? Just for a minute? I need to talk to you.”

Jan paused, his eyes flicking over her like he was assessing a problem to be solved. After a beat, he nodded. “Hurry up.”

Andrea scrambled into the backseat, her movements too quick to hide her eagerness–so she rushed to fill the silence, rambling to sound casual.

“Ian, I heard–about yesterday. Before your divorce hearing with Chloe… the police came and took her. I couldn’t stop worrying. I had to come check if you were okay… if she was okay.” She emphasized the last word like she cared.

Jan’s eyes narrowed. “Where’d you hear that?”

Andrea’s voice turned wounded, like his suspicion had cut her. “Ian, everyone’s talking about it. The gossip’s all over the city–you can’t keep something like that quiet.”

She leaned in a little, as if sharing a secret. “I even asked around–given the evidence they have? Chloe should qualify for bail. They can’t hold her forever, right?”

Ian cut her off, his tone sharp. “Andrea, I’ll handle my wife. This is my business–not yours.”

Andrea’s composure cracked. Her words spilled out in a frantic rush, hands gesturing to emphasize her “concern.” “Ian, Chloe’s not just beautiful–she’s good. She let me and my son scrape by in Kingsford, even when we had nothing. &&&&&I’ve always been grateful for that. And I still feel terrible about all the drama I caused between you two… Now she’s stuck in this mess? How could I just ignore it?” She sounded almost desperate, like she was trying to convince herself as much as him.

Ian’s voice stayed cool. “You don’t need to get involved. I’m letting the law run its course.”

He didn’t bother to elaborate. With that, he nodded to the driver, who immediately stepped out and opened Andrea’s door. She climbed out, her shoulders slumping as she watched the car pull away.

The second lan was gone, a sly, triumphant smile spread across Andrea’s face.

Chloe had spent a full day and night in detention–and Ian hadn’t seemed the least bit bothered.

To him, she realized, Chloe was nothing. A problem to be managed, not a person to care about.

Andrea pulled out her phone, typing a reminder in her notes: Stop by the church after lunch. She’d light a candle–pray that Chloe got locked up for a decade, at least.

Better yet, that she rotted in a cell for the rest of her life, never seeing the sun again. The thought made her grin. *****

At ten am, Mitchell knocked and entered the CEO’s office at Hamilton Group.

“Mr. Hamilton,” Mitchell said, his voice careful, “the Irvine family visited Mrs. Hamilton this morning. They brought Neil–her previous lawyer–on board officially, and they reached out to me an hour ago. They want to set up a meeting.”

13:31 Thu, Oct 2

Chapter 76

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