The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 185

Chloe didn't sleep well that night.

She was trapped in a seemingly endless dream.

In a world entirely bathed in gray, Preston's face was obscured by thick, swirling fog. She couldn't make out his expression, but she could feel his pitch-black eyes fixed heavily upon her through the mist.

When she woke up, the sun had just risen.

She checked her phone. Still no reply from Preston.

Instead, Mason and Wyatt had each posted a new video to their feeds.

In the dim, intimately lit room of the video, Jenna's cheeks were flushed with a soft pink hue. She was swimming in an oversized men's suit jacket, leaning heavily against a tall, broad-shouldered figure, fast asleep.

Even without seeing the man's face, Chloe knew instantly it was Preston.

The caption read: [Someone's still a lightweight who loves to show off, just like the old days.]

Chloe locked her phone.

She got out of bed, dressed sharply, and triple-checked every document she might need for the visa interview.

At 8:30 AM, she arrived at the embassy right on schedule.

Everything went flawlessly. When it was over, the consular officer extended a hand, offering an admiring smile.

"Congratulations, ma'am. I wish you a safe journey and the best of luck in The Republic of Veritas ten days from now."

Chloe shook his hand and thanked him.

Leaving the embassy, she sprinted the entire way, but by the time she reached the Civil Affairs Bureau, it was 10:03 AM.

She was only three minutes late. Preston should still be there.

Barely pausing to catch her breath, Chloe pushed through the glass doors.

The waiting hall was completely empty.

Her brow furrowed. She scanned the room twice over to make sure, then pulled out her phone and dialed Preston.

This time, he picked up almost immediately.

"Preston!" Chloe snapped, suppressing her anger. "Where are you?"

On the other end of the line, his voice dripped with mockery.

"Ms. Reed, you're the one who showed up late, yet you have the audacity to interrogate me?"

Chloe balled her hands into fists, her patience wearing razor-thin.

"Miss, please, calm down."

Suddenly, a man in a sharp suit scurried over and offered Chloe a bottle of water.

"Have a drink. Take a breath..."

Chloe didn't take it, eyeing him with deep suspicion.

The man chuckled awkwardly and fished a business card out of his pocket, handing it to her.

"Miss, I'm a lawyer. I specialize in divorce cases. Judging by the look on your face, you've hit a roadblock?"

He thumped his chest proudly. "Is the other party refusing to sign? Call me! We can take this straight to court. It doesn't matter if he agrees or not—holding you hostage is completely absurd!"

Under the lawyer's eager gaze, the rejection died on Chloe's tongue. She reached out, took the card, and turned to leave.

"Don't forget to call for a consultation! Men are all jerks—they don't appreciate what they have until it's gone, but they refuse to let go! Hire me, the odds are heavily in your favor!"

The lawyer waved enthusiastically at her retreating back.

Right at that moment, a heavy hand clamped down on his shoulder.

He spun around and found himself face-to-face with an incredibly handsome but terrifyingly dark-expressioned man. He was dressed in a simple, solid-colored sweater that screamed old money, radiating a suffocating aura of pure dominance.