I Chose Me Over My Marriage novel Chapter 135

Marcus stared intensely at Maxwell, remaining silent for a long moment before abruptly bursting into laughter.

"You really are as delusional as ever."

His smile vanished in a flash as he took a deliberate step closer to Maxwell.

"Then let's wait and see, Maxwell. We'll see who gets the last laugh. And a word of advice—don't let me catch you slipping up, or the only one getting destroyed in the end will be you."

Dropping that final threat, Marcus turned on his heel and walked straight toward Lyra.

Maxwell stood frozen in place, watching his cousin's retreating back, a surge of deep irritation flaring in his eyes.

He absolutely despised this feeling of losing control over everything.

Especially after he had finally grasped what he thought he wanted.

Marcus's arrival shifted Lyra's conversation with the group toward strict business.

Everyone in their circle knew that ever since Lyra divorced Maxwell and he voluntarily left the Sterling family, the business relationship between the Sterlings and the Lennoxes had remained entirely intact.

The financial damage caused by Miles Lennox had long been compensated by Godfrey Sterling, and their joint ventures were steadily recovering.

Even a fallen giant is still a giant.

Everyone understood this reality, and no one was eager to make an enemy of the Sterlings.

Even though Marcus hadn't officially taken over Maxwell's former position yet, the entire elite circle recognized it as a done deal.

After all, he was now the sole remaining heir to the Sterling empire.

But no one understood the truth better than Marcus himself. Thanks to Maxwell's colossal mess, Godfrey Sterling had come out of retirement and now held an iron grip on all the family's power.

Even as the supposedly favored grandson, Marcus wasn't reaping any actual benefits right now.

"Sister-in... I mean, Lyra, is it okay if I call you that?"

"You're too kind, Mr. Thorne. Do you have a moment to talk?"

"Of course." Arthur turned to the people beside him. "Let's catch up later."

With that, Arthur and Lyra walked toward a quieter corner of the hall.

There were two individual armchairs tucked away, perfectly suited for a private conversation.

Lyra cut straight to the chase. "Mr. Thorne, you probably know what I want to talk to you about."

Arthur picked up a glass of red wine from the adjacent table, took a slow sip, and set it down before replying. "It's about Chloe."

His quick deduction was exactly what Lyra had expected.

"I know you've been deeply hurt by what happened in the past. It's been years, but honestly, Chloe is just as trapped in the past as you are. Let me use myself as a prime example. I turned my life upside down just so I could marry the man I loved, didn't I? And yet, it all ended in an absolute disaster."