The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 250

"Who did this?"

He gently brushed his thumb across her cheek, his voice a deep, soothing rumble, exactly the way someone would comfort a child.

"Don't be afraid, Chloe. Tell me."

Under the dim streetlights, the face she had once loved so deeply—the face that had made her heart flutter countless times, only to shatter it just as often—was devastatingly close.

The concern in his eyes was impossibly genuine.

It was precisely these infinite moments over the past three years that had organically convinced Chloe he was undeniably in love with her too.

Thinking back on it now, it was nothing but a hilarious joke.

Choking back a sob, Chloe forcefully shoved him away.

"Get the hell away from me."

Shock flashed through Preston's eyes. "Chloe..."

"Until the divorce cooling-off period is over, do not come looking for me." Chloe stared at him. "Preston, I want this to end peacefully. Let's not tear each other apart at the very end."

"..."

Preston felt fiercely stung by the undisguised disgust in her eyes.

It felt as though a needle had been driven straight into his heart.

Before the suffocating wave of sorrow could fully take hold, anger surged forward as a defensive reflex, rapidly spreading through his veins.

"Do you even hear yourself, Chloe?" His voice dropped several degrees. "I am just worried about you, and that pisses you off? Are you just permanently biased against me now?"

Chloe looked at him, a mocking smirk curling her lips. "We are divorced, Preston. Why do you still care what I think about you?"

Preston fired back instantly, "The divorce isn't finalized!"

"At least right now, we are still legally husband and wife."

He paused, softening his tone as he added, "So, if something happens to you, isn't it perfectly normal for me to care?"

"Even if we ignore the marriage, we went to the same university. We've been friends for years. You saved my life, and I saved yours. Regardless of what label you put on it, it shouldn't stop me from offering to help, right?"

As he spoke, it was as if he had successfully convinced himself, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"He is a resident?"

The air around Preston instantly dropped to freezing temperatures.

So, Chloe had been living in the exact same building as Quentin this entire time?

He immediately pulled out his phone. "Buy another apartment. Yes, right now."

Ten minutes later.

The sales manager of Oceanview Heights rushed over, his face flushed with overwhelming flattery.

In all his years in real estate, he had never seen someone buy property as casually as picking up groceries, let alone at a hyper-luxury estate like Oceanview Heights where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

"Mr. Hayes, the contract is finalized. I'll process the remaining paperwork for you first thing tomorrow morning!" The manager bowed repeatedly, his attitude respectful to the extreme.

Preston gave an impatient hum. "Can I go upstairs now?"

The manager blinked in surprise before nodding vigorously and leading the way. "Yes, yes, of course! Right this way, Mr. Hayes!"

Preston bypassed him entirely, taking long strides straight toward the elevators.