Ex's crazy pursuit After Divorce (Chloe and Adrian) novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Pick You Up

As she spoke, she handed Adrian her ID badge, which doubled as a cafeteria card. “You can use mine.”

She was just being polite. After all, the mighty CEO of Foster Group probably wouldn’t be interested in their hospital cafeteria food.

She expected Adrian to politely decline and leave, but instead, he reached out and took her card.

“Thanks.”

What?

Chloe silently cursed her unnecessary politeness. She’d only offered because she figured Adrian would refuse, then she could take her badge and leave.

Her hospital ID badge was linked to everything–payments, door access, cafeteria, hospital store. One card for everything.

Now that Adrian had her badge, she was stuck waiting for him to buy food.

Her brow furrowed involuntarily. For the first time, she realized being polite could backfire.

Adrian caught her frown and raised an eyebrow. “What? Having second thoughts about buying me lunch?”

Chloe’s expression froze. She pointed at the badge in Adrian’s hand.

Making up an excuse, she urged, “Whatever you want, get it quickly. I need to get back to my department. I have patients waiting.”

But Adrian didn’t move. He just stood there holding her card, studying her with those penetrating dark eyes.

Under his scrutiny, Chloe grew impatient.

Just as she was about to push him again, Adrian spoke, “Chloe, you really don’t want to see me, do you?”

The irritation in Chloe’s eyes instantly turned to stunned silence. She automatically denied it. “No.”

Adrian’s voice turned cold as he mercilessly dissected her flimsy excuse. “Nobody schedules surgeries during lunch.”

Chloe’s heart sank. She opened her mouth to argue, but realized this lie would be impossible to maintain.

Adrian continued, “Or are you telling me you left mid–surgery, changed out of scrubs, came down here to eat, then went back 2/7 to finish operating?”

His sarcasm caught Chloe completely off guard.

Before she could respond, Adrian cut in again. “Chloe, you hate me.”

It wasn’t a question. it was a statement of fact.

Adrian’s gaze was dark and turbulent as he stared at Chloe’s blank expression.

Reaching this conclusion, Adrian couldn’t describe what he felt. Frustration, panic, unease, confusion–all these emotions just tangled together in his chest.

Hearing Adrian’s blunt assessment, Chloe’s face went rigid again.

The guilt and embarrassment of being called out brought back that familiar irritation she’d been carrying for days.

She stopped trying to argue and gave him a dismissive response. “Think whatever you want.”

This deflection completely blocked all the anger Adrian had built up, leaving his emotions suspended in limbo.

“Great!” Adrian let out a bitter laugh. “So now you can’t even be bothered making excuses?”

Chloe had no desire to fight with Adrian. Her voice came out flat and dry. “I really am busy. I have stacks of patient files for upcoming surgeries sitting on my desk.”

Hearing Chloe’s calm voice, Adrian felt like he was punching through clouds–totally powerless.

Adrian pulled his attention back and glanced sideways at Marcus, his brow creasing sharply. “If you can be here, why can’t I?”

Marcus shrugged with surprising honesty. “I came to apologize to my wife. What about you? Don’t tell me you’re here to apologize to yours too?”

That left Adrian speechless.

His executive pride made it impossible to admit wrongdoing in front of others. He deflected casually. “I came to have lunch with my wife. Problem with that?”

Marcus laughed. “How touching. Foster Group and Massachusetts General Hospital are in opposite directions. I didn’t think you’d drive all this way just for a meal.”

He paused, suddenly remembering something. “When I got here, Chloe was already eating with Olivia. What happened? She didn’t wait for you?”

This needling made Adrian’s temper flare.

Marcus kept going, “Chloe’s gotten some backbone. My wife won’t listen to me either. Think these two best friends are secretly plotting against us?”

Adrian was already in a foul mood, and Marcus‘ words just made it worse. He snapped back, “I didn’t cheat like you did. Why would Chloe need to plot against me?”

Dropping this cold line, Adrian walked away in annoyance.

Marcus‘ face darkened. He gritted his teeth and followed. “I didn’t cheat.”

Adrian showed no reaction. “Tell your wife, not me.”

Marcus sneered. “Right, you didn’t cheat. But what you did was

worse than cheating. What kind of man treats another woman better than his own wife?”

Adrian shot back, “You literally got into bed with another woman. You’re really devoted to your wife.”

“Adrian!” Marcus exploded in fury.