The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 301

Chapter 301

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56 souther

lan leaned in and murmured a few words into Chloe’s ear. Then she suddenly broke free and gave him a slap. In the dead of night, out in the empty wild, the crisp sound of the slap rang out, clear and loud.

Chloe fixed lan with a warning look. “If you dare do that, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!”

As Chloe’s gaze turned icy, panic flashed in Ian’s eyes. Not knowing what else to do, he raised his hands and gently took her hands in his.

His voice was soft and careful, almost begging. “Chloe, it’s me, Ian. Please, trust me. I swear I’ll do everything to make you happy.”

Chloe ripped her hands out of Ian’s grasp and snapped, “Ian, after everything you’ve done to hurt me, how do you expect me to trust you?”

As Chloe’s words hung in the air, it felt like the whole world went quiet. Time stood still in that moment. Even the air around them seemed to freeze. They were just a step apart.

Ian was frozen in place, as if his soul had been ripped away. For a moment, he couldn’t even react. But Chloe steadied her breathing, gradually regaining her composure.

Ian’s hands at his sides clenched and unclenched, over and over. He hesitated in front of Chloe, unsure and conflicted, standing there for a long while. Finally, he said, “You finally admitted it.”

Chloe’s expression turned icy. “And you finally admitted it, too. You remember everything.”

They stared at each other in silence. Ian felt like all the air had been sucked out of his chest in an instant. He clutched his shirt over his chest, struggling to breathe.

Ian almost lost his balance, stumbling back several steps before he finally managed to stop himself. He barely managed a pained smile and asked, “When did you figure it out?”

Chloe answered, “I’ve had my doubts since the start, but I just couldn’t let myself believe it.”

Ian slowly dropped his gaze, then tipped his head back a little. A bitter, self-mocking smile flickered as he shut his eyes in pain. He’d only been lying to himself all along.

Ian said, “Chloe, I’m sorry.” Even if he was terrified of losing her, terrified of tragedy, he never should have kept the truth from her.

Chloe stood close, meeting Ian’s gaze head-on. “Ian, even if you don’t want to admit it, you can’t deny it. Neither of us has forgotten any of the pain between us from the past.”

Ian completely broke down. His eyes went red, and fat tears spilled down, one after another, until they formed a trail.

He stepped forward, grabbed her shoulders, and cried, “Chloe, I was the one who wronged you last time. But this time, we’re just getting started. I swear, my heart and soul are pure. Can we have a fresh start, please?”

Chloe kept her face calm and her voice even. “If we’re both just starting over, why can’t I pick someone else? Why does it have to be you? Is that really how little you think of me?”

11:11 Tue, May 12 MA

Chapter 301

They stared at each other. Ian stood there, completely lost, not knowing what to say or do. His eyes were bloodshot, and he opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Chloe saw the helpless, pained look on Ian’s face. She wandered to the roadside, staring blankly into the distance. She said, “lan, I’m done talking about what happened before. And I don’t want us tangled up again.”

She thought, “There’s no need to turn Ian into an enemy, not for the sake of those around me.’

Then she said, “In that previous life, your grandpa took his own life the day after you died. Your parents were devastated, never able to pick themselves up again.

“Mia was the only one keeping the Hamilton family afloat, and she only managed because Patrick was there for her, every single day and night.

“You know exactly what you mean to the Hamilton family and the Hamilton Group. This time. I just want everyone to be alright. I don’t want to talk about past entanglements. I just want to live my life on my own

terms.”

Ian stood beside Chloe. He turned his head to look at her and said, “So, the life you want doesn’t have me

in it.”

Chloe sighed as she turned to face Ian. “You can be part of my life, but you just won’t be the most important one. You can be like a brother to me, just like Patrick is.”

Ian’s eyes were bloodshot as he shook his head frantically. He couldn’t hold back anymore, rushing forward and pulling her into his arms. “But I love you, Chloe. I want you to be my wife.”

She was his wife, Mrs. Hamilton, the mother of his children. It wasn’t until he lost her that he realized just how much she meant to him.

That was when he finally understood what true love really meant. He realized it had always been her, and only her.

After losing her, every day was pure hell for him. He was haunted by regret and pain until the day he died. Now that life had given him another shot, there was no way he was letting her go this time.

While lan was losing control, Chloe stayed completely calm. She broke free from his grip and stepped back, putting some distance between them.

She looked Ian straight in the eye and said, “Ian, you’re in love with Andrea, not me. If you didn’t have those past memories, you’d be with her right now, doing everything for her. You wouldn’t be here, sobbing your heart out.”

Ian broke down, sobbing, “What do I have to do for you to believe me? From the very beginning, my heart has always been with you. What do I have to do for you to believe that it’s you, Chloe, that I love?”

Ian was getting more and more agitated, and Chloe started to feel a bit worried. She paused for a moment.

Then she said to Ian, “Ian, put away your pitiful guilt and attempts to make things right. Whether it was your old life or this one, you made your choices with a clear mind. You never truly loved me.”

Ian lost control again, pulling her into his arms. “I love you, Chloe. Just give me one more chance. I swear

11:11 Tue, May 12 MA

Chapter 301

I’ll never let you down again.”

Chloe struggled but couldn’t break free, so she finally gave in with a sigh. “Just let me go, and I’ll give you a

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