The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 27

Preston watched Chloe practically flee, his face darkening to a terrifying degree.

Ken hurried to his side, lowering his voice. "Mr. Hayes, I looked into it. Mrs. Hayes's mother used your name to bribe a doctor at a smaller clinic to fake the medical records and make that distress call... It's my fault for not verifying it thoroughly beforehand."

The blanker Preston's expression grew, the more suffocating and dangerous the air around him became.

Terrified, Linda stumbled backward, frantically trying to defend herself. "Mr. Hayes, I... I was just trying to help you! You wanted her to sign it, didn't you..."

Preston pinned her with a glacial stare. "Five million dollars. That's the price for you to never, ever appear in front of Chloe again."

"F-Five million?!"

Linda thought she was hallucinating. Her jaw dropped in sheer ecstasy as she nodded furiously. "Thank you, Mr. Hayes! Thank you!"

Preston didn't spare her another glance as he strode out of the room. Ken followed closely, hesitating.

"Mr. Hayes, about Mrs. Hayes... should we go explain it to her now?"

Preston's handsome features were heavy with exhaustion. "Yeah," he replied faintly.

...

The elevator hummed as it descended. When the doors slid open, a hauntingly familiar face was waiting on the other side.

Jenna Cameron sat in a sleek wheelchair, wearing the hospital's exclusive VIP gown, flanked by orderlies carrying fresh fruit and catering to her every whim.

She lazily raised her eyes, locking onto Chloe with a smirk.

"Well, Ms. Reed. Don't tell me you came all the way to the hospital just to visit me? Tsk, your eyes are all red. Were you that worried about me?"

Chloe instinctively looked down, hiding the tear tracks on her face, having zero energy to entertain the provocation.

But Jenna wasn't going to let her off that easily. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number with a triumphant grin.

It connected instantly. She put it on speaker, and Preston's gentle, soothing voice echoed perfectly clear. "What's wrong?"

Jenna kept her eyes locked on Chloe.

"Preston, didn't you say you'd come right back to keep me company after you handled your business? Why aren't you here yet?"

"Did you have another nightmare?" Preston asked softly. "Don't be scared, I'm on my way."

"You heard all that, right, Chloe?"

The elevator reached the ground floor, but she purposely positioned her wheelchair to block the exit. "I shouldn't even have to spell it out. After everything that's happened these past few days, you should know exactly who Preston truly loves."

"What's stolen will always be stolen, and eventually, you have to give it back! If I hadn't gone abroad, do you really think a man like Preston would have let you and your disgusting family blackmail him into marriage?"

"He only married you because he thought his heart was dead, that it didn't matter who he ended up with. So what if you've been together for three years? The second I reappeared, he came running right back to me!"

Her smile dripped with venom as she enunciated every word.

"Chloe, if you have any dignity left, divorce him. Stop humiliating yourself. If you're that desperate for a man to fund your lifestyle, I can introduce you to a few... Ah! Are you crazy?!"

Chloe delivered a swift, brutal kick, sending Jenna's wheelchair skidding out of the elevator.

"You're just a mistress stepping out of the shadows, Jenna. What exactly are you so proud of?"

Chloe's amber eyes were ice-cold as she stalked forward, grabbing Jenna by her bandaged wrist.

"Do you think stealing a man makes you special? Does it make you feel irresistibly charming?"