The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 216

Eleonora wanted to say more, but after opening her mouth, she only let out a long, heavy sigh and ended the call.

Belle absolutely insisted on going with Chloe to Cloudrest Manor.

She hooked her arm tightly through Chloe's, refusing to let go.

"No way. I'm coming with you! I used to think Preston was the most gentle, perfect guy on the planet, even if he wasn't exactly the sunshine type. I had no idea he could be this terrifying..."

"Rich families are notoriously toxic and impossible to deal with, and you're always too nice to fight back over the little things. I don't care what you say, I'm staying glued to your side. There's no way I'm letting you walk into the lion's den alone."

Chloe offered a faint smile and didn't try to push her away.

Ken opened the car door. "Ms. Reed, Ms. Evans, please get in."

Given the raging snowstorm, getting a rideshare was practically impossible, and Cloudrest Manor was situated high up in the mountains.

Chloe slipped into the backseat. "Thank you."

"And please, stop calling me Mrs. Hayes."

Belle climbed in after her, muttering a quiet, reluctant, "Thanks."

Ken raised an eyebrow slightly and got into the driver's seat.

He was an incredibly smooth driver, and they arrived at the sprawling gates of Cloudrest Manor in no time.

Outside the massive iron gates, staff were already waiting in the freezing snow with umbrellas ready.

Belle's jaw dropped. She looked left and right, completely overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the estate.

"My god... is this a historical tourist trap? How is this someone's actual house?"

"I guess my wildest dreams as a broke girl were still way too conservative..."

Chloe looked up, silently taking in Cloudrest Manor under the snowy night.

The dark, imposing mountains were blanketed in crisp white. The vast courtyard was dead silent, the stone steps covered in flawless, untouched snow. The distant peaks faded into the night, leaving the world feeling vast and empty.

It truly was breathtaking.

Suddenly, she remembered the very first time she had set foot in this place.

Back then, Preston had held her hand tightly, his smile unbearably gentle.

"Chloe, from now on, this is your home too."

The warmth of that moment still lingered somewhere deep in her memories, but the fire had long since burned out, leaving nothing but freezing ash.

A staff member approached respectfully. "Mrs. Hayes, right this way. Please watch your step."

Belle glared at him. "What are you looking at? Gonna go tattle to your boss? Go ahead, I'm not scared of him!"

"To hell with Jenna Cameron!"

"To hell with Jenna Cameron!"

"To hell with Jenna Cameron!"

She kept muttering curses as she stomped aggressively down the hallway.

"To hell with Preston Hayes!"

"Ahem," Ken coughed loudly.

Belle shot him another withering glare.

"Tell me the truth. You're Preston's right-hand man, so you know all his dirty secrets, right?"

"Does Jenna have some kind of deadly blackmail material on him?"

Ken paused, genuinely thinking it over. Finally, he spoke.

"It did start with that one incident..."