The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 270

Chloe's brow instantly furrowed.

Oblivious to Chloe's reaction through the phone, Eleonora continued cheerfully.

"Do you want to come over for lunch today?"

Meanwhile, deep inside Cloudrest Manor.

The man in the grey V-neck sweater was lounging on the designer sofa. He looked the picture of lazy indifference, but every ounce of his attention was laser-focused on the phone in the older woman's hand.

Eleonora hung up the phone and turned around, nearly crashing right into him.

"What are you doing?" she scolded. "Are you seriously eavesdropping on my conversation with Chloe?"

Preston cleared his throat and awkwardly averted his eyes, pretending to be utterly unbothered. "What did she say?"

"What do you mean, 'what did she say'?" Eleonora teased ruthlessly.

Preston's fingers dug a little too hard into the puppy's fur. "Is she... coming over for lunch?"

Eleonora couldn't hold back a laugh. "If you care so much, why don't you pick up the phone and call her yourself?"

"She wouldn't answer." Preston lowered his gaze, his voice laced with bitter self-deprecation. "Right now, she treats me like enemy number one."

Eleonora raised an eyebrow. "Well, what exactly did you do to push someone as composed as Chloe over the edge?"

Preston immediately got defensive. "I never did anything to betray her."

"Are you sure about that?" Eleonora gave him a piercing look. "Because I'm fairly certain you stole this dog, didn't you?"

"..." Preston stiffened. "I found him."

Eleonora quietly studied her grandson.

Ever since he was a boy, he had always been more grounded, mature, and calculating than his peers. He was the golden child everyone praised.

When the Hayes family went through hell, he carried the entire empire on his back and rebuilt it from the ground up single-handedly.

So why was he acting as petty and immature as a grade-schooler right now?

"Preston," Eleonora spoke slowly, enunciating every word. "You're terrified, aren't you?"

The question hit him like a physical blow.

By the time Chloe rushed into Cloudrest Manor, Preston was already sprawled out on a patio chair, soaking up the afternoon sun.

The second Yuri caught her scent, his tail started wagging frantically and he let out a barrage of happy whimpers.

Preston sat up, his long, elegant fingers lightly scratching the puppy's head.

"I know. My wife is here. What are you getting so worked up about?"

He couldn't stop the corners of his lips from curving upward. Bathed in the golden sunlight, his sharp, striking features looked absolutely blinding.

Yuri: "Whine..."

A few yards away, Chloe power-walked toward them, slightly out of breath.

She was wearing a simple white sweater, her long hair spilling over her shoulders. Her face was completely devoid of makeup, yet she was so stunning it was impossible to look away.

The sunlight today was simply too perfect. It was so warm it felt like it could melt away every tragedy in the world.

They had been apart for less than half a month, but as Preston stared at her, he felt like he could stare for a lifetime and it still wouldn't be enough.

"Chloe, you're here." He smiled.