The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 321

Chapter 321

Chapter 321

In the bathroom, Chloe turned on the tap.

She braced herself against the counter, staring at her own reflection in the mirror.

Other people might not get what Eric and Ian said, but Chloe understood every word.

These two guys were nothing but trouble.

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But tonight was the welcome party Patrick and Mia had organized for her. Leaving early was out of the question.

Chloe took a few deep breaths, trying to pull herself together.

Mia walked up to Chloe and asked carefully, “Chloe, did Ian do something to let you down? Is that why you won’t marry him?”

Chloe turned off the tap and sighed quietly to herself.

She’d brought this mess on herself. Her obsession with Ian was no secret. She’d chased after him so openly for years that everyone in their social circle knew all about it.

So now, nobody really believed she genuinely wanted to call it quits with Ian.

Blair walked over, looking worried. “Chloe, are you okay?”

Chloe shook her head.

She turned to Mia and said, “Mia, after the Irvine family went bankrupt, I depended on Ian and thought I liked him, but honestly, I was just holding onto him like he was my lifeline.

“That wasn’t real love. Ian helped me, looked after me, and always treated me like a little sister. We’ve promised each other we’ll always be like brother and sister, nothing more.”

Mia nodded, though she was still clearly unsure.

Chloe couldn’t help but sigh, feeling emotionally drained.

The three girls chatted for a while, then made their way back to the VIP room.

As they walked down the hallway toward the VIP room, Chloe spotted lan and Eric from a distance. Her scalp prickled with unease.

‘Why are those two together?’ Chloe thought.

“Dr. Irvine,” Eric called out.

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Chapter 321

“Chloe,” Ian said at the same time.

Ian and Eric called out to Chloe almost in perfect sync, then strode over to her together.

Chloe stopped in her tracks and forced a smile.

Eric glanced at Ian, motioning for him to go first. “Mr. Hamilton, after you.”

Ian shook his head. “No, you go ahead.”

Eric insisted, “Seriously, Mr. Hamilton, you first.”

Ian chuckled, “Come on, Eric, no need to be so formal with me.”

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The two kept passing the buck back and forth, and the three girls just stared at them, totally dumbfounded.

Chloe couldn’t take it anymore and blurted out, “Why don’t I go first?”

Ian and Eric exchanged a look, then nodded in perfect sync.

Chloe said, “Guys, can you move? You’re in the way.”

Ian and Eric shared another glance before both stepping aside in perfect sync, making way for her.

Chloe linked arms with Blair and Mia and walked into the private room.

Ian turned and headed back into the private room.

Eric called out from behind him, “Mr. Hamilton, weren’t you going to the restroom?”

Ian stopped and turned around. “I changed my mind. Go ahead, Eric.”

Eric walked up to Ian with a grin. “You know what? I don’t feel like it anymore either.”

The two men locked eyes, and you could practically feel the rivalry simmering between them.

Chloe returned to the private room and waited for what felt like forever before Eric and lan finally walked in together.

After that, Chloe totally zoned out. She didn’t pay attention to a single thing anyone said.

Everyone played a couple more party games, but Chloe claimed she was too tipsy to join in and just sat on the sidelines.

She kept her head down, trying to make herself invisible, not glancing left or right, just focusing on eating like it was her only mission.

Chloe let out a silent sigh of relief. She’d finally survived the welcome party.

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Chapter 321

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In front of the Royal Court Club, everyone waved goodbye and headed off in different directions.

Ian walked over to Chloe, his voice impossibly gentle as he said, “You had a few drinks tonight. Let me give you a ride home.”

Chloe shook her head. “Ian, you’ve had a few too. Why don’t you let Robert come pick you up?”

Ian smiled. “Robert’s already here. I’ll drop you off on my way.”

Before Ian could finish, Eric stepped up and said, “No need to worry, Mr. Hamilton. I’ll see Dr. Irvine home myself.”

The two men stared each other down, neither willing to give an inch.

Patrick stood nearby and thought, ‘Uh-oh, this can’t be good.

Chloe turned to Eric as well, politely but firmly saying, “Eric, you’ve been drinking, too. You really shouldn’t be driving.”

She smiled and reassured everyone, “Seriously, I can just call a cab. It’s super easy. You guys don’t need to worry about me at all.”

Eric said, “Seriously, that one drink was nothing. Even if the cops pulled me over, I’d blow zero. Actually, I just remembered there’s something work-related I need to talk to you about. Mind if we chat on the way?”

Chloe paused, a little unsure, but since it was about work, she nodded.

From the moment Chloe met Eric, she knew he never messed around when it came to work.

Chloe turned to the group and said, “Ian, Patrick, and Mia, thanks for having me tonight. I’m heading home

now.”

Eric walked over and, like a true gentleman, opened the passenger door for Chloe. She climbed in without hesitation.

Ian stood there in a daze, and his hands balled into fists at his sides, knuckles turning white.

As soon as Eric got in, Chloe couldn’t wait to say, “Eric, Ian is like a big brother to me. We grew up together. You really don’t have to be so obvious about butting heads with him.”

Eric leaned over to buckle her seatbelt, but Chloe quickly leaned back, putting some space between them.

Eric looked into her eyes and let out a soft laugh. “Dr. Irvine, is that your way of explaining things to me?”

Their eyes met, tension crackling between them. Then, Chloe abruptly pushed Eric away.

Chloe had always thought of Eric as the perfect gentleman, who was polite, reserved, and the kind of guy that everyone could always trust to do the right thing.

But the more time she spent around him, the more she realized there was a rebellious streak hiding under all that polish.

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Chapter 321

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Especially those eyes. When he smiled at her, it was like there was a hook in his gaze, reeling her in whether she wanted it or not.

Eric just smirked, totally unfazed by her push. “Come on, Dr. Irvine. You sure weren’t this shy when we were practically glued together.”

Chloe buried her head in her hands, covering her ears like she was trying to block out the world, playing deaf.

Eric was supposed to be the golden boy of the Jordan family, a medical prodigy in everyone’s eyes, and yet here he was, saying things that would make anyone blush.

‘So much for being a gentleman, Chloe thought.

With that gentle look in his eyes, Eric reached out and gently shook Chloe’s arm.

Chloe ducked her head even lower, trying to disappear.

Eric gazed at Chloe, a soft smile lingering on his lips, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.

He still remembered the first time he saw her back in college. She left an imprint on his heart from that

moment on.

After quietly digging around, he found out she had feelings for Ian and that her decision to study medicine was all for him.

Convinced he never stood a chance, Eric buried every bit of his affection for her deep inside, never letting it show.

He thought, ‘But who would’ve thought?

‘The heavens actually sent her back to me.’

This time, there was no way he was letting her go back to Ian.

Eric tilted his head, his gaze landing on Chloe. His eyes sparkled brighter than a sky full of stars.

‘My Mrs. Jordan. We’ve got a lifetime ahead of us, Eric thought, a quiet promise echoing in his heart.

The crowd was talking animatedly.

At the entrance of the Royal Court Club, Ian stood frozen on the spot, staring after Eric’s car until it finally disappeared from view.

Patrick gently coaxed Mia into the car. “Sweetheart, why don’t you wait in the car for a bit? I’ll just have a quick smoke with Ian and be right back.”

Mia gave Ian a worried look, then obediently got into the car to wait.

Once Mia was in the car, Patrick dragged lan off to a secluded corner. “Ian, give it to me straight. What’s really going on between Eric and Chloe?”

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Chapter 321

lan lit a cigarette, his eyes narrowing out of habit, that familiar look of brooding settling in.

The blue flame from his lighter danced briefly across his handsome features.

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The faint scent of tobacco drifted through the air, and the ash falling from his fingertips was as solitary as he was in this moment.

Ian did his best to keep it together, putting on a laid-back front. “Come on, what could possibly be going on between those two?”

Patrick shot Ian a serious look. “Ian, let’s be real. Everyone can see it. Chloe and Eric totally have something going on!”

Ian’s gaze flickered restlessly, his fingers shaking around the cigarette. Even his breathing was getting uneven, like he was barely holding it together.

“Absolutely impossible!” he shot back.

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11:43 Wed, May 13