The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 28

Chloe let out a cold scoff. The more her heart shattered, the sharper and more mocking her tone became.

"Let me make this perfectly clear. I didn't even want this man anymore. If your entire self-worth is validated by wrapping yourself around a guy, then take him. Put him on a pedestal and worship him. Just stop making a pathetic spectacle of yourself in front of me!"

Pure rage ignited in Jenna's eyes, but she suddenly choked it down, her expression shifting instantly.

A second later, a chilling, furiously suppressed male voice came from behind.

"Chloe!"

Preston had taken the stairs. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, a thin layer of sweat clinging to his forehead and brow.

He locked eyes with Chloe, his jaw clenched so tightly a muscle ticked, the air around him dropping to an oppressive, terrifying low.

"Do you have any idea what you are saying right now?"

Chloe forced down the panic his intense stare triggered. "I'm sure you heard me perfectly, Mr. Hayes."

Preston took a step forward, his towering frame completely blocking her exit, his face dark with fury.

Chloe tilted her chin, glaring right back at him with dripping sarcasm. "What? Upset that I offended your precious golden girl? Going to force me to apologize to her now?"

Preston's eyes grew impossibly dark. Before he could speak, Jenna's fragile voice beat him to it.

"Ms. Reed, it's fine if you hate me. But Preston has been so good to you, how could you slander him behind his back like that? If it weren't for him, you'd never be living such a luxurious life!"

An orderly gasped with perfect theatrical timing. "Miss Cameron, your wrist is bleeding again!"

Another orderly chimed in immediately. "It must be from when that woman grabbed her! She literally kicked Miss Cameron's wheelchair straight out of the elevator! It was terrifying!"

Preston's expression grew even more thunderous. He shot Chloe a glacial glare before rushing to Jenna's side to inspect her wrist.

Chloe didn't want to stay a second longer. She turned and practically sprinted away.

She was just so incredibly tired.

Walking out of St. Ives Medical Center, she stared at the endless flow of people and traffic on the street. She suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

Three years ago, during a rare trip back to the country, she had bumped into Preston on this exact street.

Under a sky painted with twilight, he had been stumbling along the pavement. His hair was a mess, a dark shadow of stubble on his jaw, completely devoid of his usual untouchable arrogance.

He looked absolutely hollowed out.

Seven years was a long time—enough to change anyone.

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