The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 297

Chapter 297

Chapter 297

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Time flew by, and soon it was the day before Chloe’s birthday. There was a time she always celebrated with lan, and the celebrations were always crowded with guests.

Ever since the Irvine family went bankrupt, Patrick would always arrange her birthday party at the Royal Court Hotel ahead of time. This year was no exception.

Patrick and Mia had the birthday party hall decorated early and sent out the invites to their usual crowd.

Patrick was telling the staff to turn up the lights a little more when he saw lan walking in. Patrick casually slung his jacket over his shoulder. “Don’t you trust me to take care of things?”

Ian’s eyes flickered as he saw the wall of red roses. He pointed at the wall of bright red roses and told the staff, with a grim expression, “Replace all the red roses. Now.”

Patrick looked totally baffled. “Wait, you didn’t use red roses for your proposal, and now you’re making us ditch them again? What, are you allergic to red roses or something?”

Ian lowered his gaze and muttered, “Red is just so tacky.” In his previous life, he’d once sent Andrea a bouquet of red roses. Ever since then, Chloe couldn’t bear to see red roses.

Patrick stared at Ian for a long moment, then called the staff over to take down all the red roses. He said, “Roses mean love, man. I’m just doing you a favor here.”

Ian lowered his gaze, falling silent.

Patrick went on, “Red roses are all about passionate, true love. Best for telling someone you love them. And purple ones? They’re dreamy, classy, and all about love at first sight.

“Champagne roses symbolize mystery and romance. White rose represent purity, holiness, and first love; they stand for a new beginning and eternity, perfect for weddings,” Patrick rattled off a whole list. “Just pick a color, and I’ll get them to swap it out.”

Ian said, “Use white roses.”

Patrick told the staff to switch out all the flowers for white roses.

Then he handed lan a list. “Here’s the menu for tomorrow night, including drinks, fruit, cake, snacks, and the main dishes. See if there’s anything you want to change. Let’s get it all sorted ow.”

When lan spotted “blueberry cake” on the list, he was instantly triggered. He gripped the paper tightly, feeling like his blood was rushing the wrong way, and that old ache twisted in his chest again.

Seeing lan’s face go pale, Patrick picked up the list and looked it over carefully. He scratched his head. “If you don’t like something, just say the word, and I’ll swap it out. Is it really that big of a deal?”

Jan’s face was stormy, his intense gaze boring into Patrick.

Patrick blinked, confused.

After a long stare-down, Jan finally broke eye contact and said, take care of the cake myself.” This year, he was determined to bake Chloe’s birthday cake himself.

After hanging up with the cake shop, Patrick turned to lan. “War me to set up a drone light show or fireworks outside for you?”

Ian shot him a sharp look and said firmly, “No.”

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Chapter 297

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Patrick pointed at lan’s pocket. “Your phone’s ringing. Go do your thing. I’ll shoot you a video once I’ve got everything set

Ian glanced at the caller ID and hung up without answering.

After leaving the venue, Ian headed to a cake shop to learn how to make Chloe’s favorite matcha cake. By the time he left the cake shop, it was almost eight.

Once he got in the car and turned on his phone, his screen blew up with dozens of missed calls. Ian started the car without calling back.

An hour later, he arrived at Blue Cove Residences. As soon as Iar stepped out of the elevator, he saw Edward, Shane, and Miranda waiting for him at the door, all looking grim.

After a few days apart, the four of them locked eyes, and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Ian opened the door and let them into the living room. He acted clueless. “Mom, what brings you all here so late?”

Miranda feigned concern. “You haven’t been to the office these past few days. We were worried, so we came to check on you.”

Before Miranda could finish, Shane’s harsh voice broke in. “You don’t go to the company. You don’t answer your phone. What exactly are you up to?”

Ian stared Shane down, totally unfazed. “Just giving you the perfect chance to kick me out and find someone else to take my place.”

Shane pointed at Ian, so stunned he could only sputter, “What?”

Edward sat on the couch, cane in hand, looking intimidating. He snapped, “Ian, in just a few days, you handed over several of our core projects to some no-name company overseas. Tell me the truth. Are you the boss behind that company?”

Ian walked right up to Edward, not bothering to hide anything. If you already know, what’s the point of asking?”

The two of them locked eyes, the tension between them thick and eerie.

Shane was fuming. “The whole Hamilton Group is yours. Why go through all that trouble transferring core projects to yourself? It’s all yours anyway!”

Jan let out a cold laugh. “The Hamilton Group isn’t mine. It’s yours, Dad, and Grandpa’s. I’m just your puppet.”

Shane was so stunned that he couldn’t get a word out.

Ian said, “Projects, cash flow, everything’s ready. By next week at the latest, half of the Hamilton Group’s assets will disappear into thin air. Get ready for it.”

Shane’s hand was shaking as he pointed at lan and yelled, “You grateful traitor! I poured my life into this family. And you go behind my back and gut the company. You bastard! I’m your father. We’re tied by blood!”

Ian fired back, “In business, the worst thing you can do is let emotions get in the way. That’s the lesson you taught me, Dad!”

Shane’s legs buckled, and he slumped onto the couch, his lips twitching uncontrollably.

Miranda looked at her husband and finally felt a wave of relief.

Compared to Shane, Edward was much more level-headed. Edward said, “Ian, this is a lose-lose situation. Whatever the

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Hamilton Group loses, you lose too.”

Ian lowered his gaze, refusing to answer.

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Seeing this, Edward relented. “As long as you shut down that overseas company and focus on running the Hamilton Group. I’ll let you decide your own marriage.”

lan’s lips curled into a ruthless smile. “Grandpa, if you want me to keep running the Hamilton Group, that’s fine. But just staying out of my marriage isn’t enough. I want 15 percent of founders’ shares from you as well.”

The moment lan said that, both Edward and Shane’s faces darkened instantly.

Shane pointed at Ian, jaw clenched tight. “Ian, that’s your grandpa! Don’t be so ruthless!”

Ian walked right up to Shane, voice calm. “Real men who want to build something big need a heart of steel and a ruthless hand. That’s exactly what you taught me, Dad.”

Shane almost keeled over, clutching his chest in shock.

Edward rose slowly, his voice heavy with compromise. “As long as you can promise you won’t betray the Hamilton Group. I’ll give you the shares you want.”

As soon as Edward finished, Ian immediately called someone. After the call ended, Mitchell came in with two lawyers.

Ian took the share transfer papers from Mitchell and passed them to Edward. “Grandpa, everything’s ready. If you’re serious. sign it right now.”

Chloe once told him he couldn’t afford to be just another ordinary guy. If he did, things would only get tougher for her. Ian would do whatever Chloe asked, no questions. Her words were law in his heart.

Ian and Edward locked eyes for what felt like forever. In the end. Edward signed the papers.

He chucked the pen aside, gave lan a steely look, and warned, “I’e signed, but if you don’t show up at Hamilton Group in a week as you said, these shares still won’t be yours.”

Edward barked at Shane to give him a hand and headed out with him.

Miranda gave Ian a complicated look and patted his shoulder. “Your birthday and Chloe’s are tomorrow. Try to get some rest early.”

Jan walked Miranda downstairs, then headed back upstairs. He took a quick shower and went straight to the walk-in closet. On the table, three sets of jewelry were lined up side by side.

In the black lockbox was the set he’d bought back for Chloe, the one that used to belong to the Irvine family.

The pink diamond ring was the one Ian had prepared for Chloe when he proposed to her on the island, a moment he’d planned down to the last detail.

There was also the diamond necklace he’d won for her at a chary gala. It was the only one of its kind in the world.

Ian picked up the pink diamond ring and gazed at it, lost in memories for a long time. He could hardly wait for Chloe’s birthday tomorrow.

Just after seven the next evening, the scene was set for Chloe and Jan’s birthday party.

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