The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 317

Preston let out a low laugh, his gaze sweeping over her with undeniable, predatory aggression.

"Do I need a reason to find you?"

"Chloe, if I didn't come looking for you, were you honestly planning to hide from me for the rest of your life?"

He played it off casually, his tone dripping with nonchalance, but his eyes were meticulously tracking every micro-expression on her face.

He was waiting. Waiting for her to cave and submit.

But Chloe just stared back at him, her face completely hollow. "Preston, we are divorced."

"When it's time to sign the final papers, I will naturally contact you."

Preston's dark eyes completely froze.

The thin, manufactured smile died on his lips, slowly peeling away to reveal something much darker.

Deep in his eyes, a monstrous, long-suppressed rage began to bleed through, boiling just beneath the surface.

"Chlo... e..."

Preston took a ragged breath.

He stepped forward, grabbing her hand, his voice dropping into a deceivingly soft register.

"Enough. I don't care how mad you are, you don't gamble with your safety, do you hear me?"

"From now on, you are never allowed to leave without telling me again."

"Is there something wrong with your hearing?" Chloe shot back, her voice dripping with mockery.

"Preston, do you have any idea how pathetic you sound right now?"

"You stand there interrogating me, but I didn't do a single thing to betray you."

"Given where we stand now, I don't owe you an explanation for where I go or what I do."

Every word was a surgical strike, driving the knife straight into his most vulnerable nerve.

His Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

A sleek luxury car rolled slowly to a stop right in front of her.

The rear window glided down, revealing Lucian's gentle face. "Ms. Reed, do you need a ride?"

Chloe was just about to politely decline when she felt the weight of a gaze.

Not far away, Preston was standing completely still next to his car.

The rain lashed against his shoulders. He didn't have an umbrella, nor had he gotten inside. He just stood there like a statue, staring through the downpour, his eyes locked dead onto her.

Chloe averted her gaze. "Mr. Sylvain, if it's not too much trouble..."

"Lucian!"

Isabella's voice snapped from the other side of the backseat. "Aren't we heading straight to the estate? Grandmother is waiting for us for dinner."

She then shot Chloe an apathetic look. "Ms. Reed, I'm so sorry, but we're actually in a massive rush tonight. It's just not convenient. You'll have to order a car yourself. Just expense it to the Institute later, alright?"

Lucian pulled out his phone. "It's impossible to get a car out here in this weather. I'll have my driver call someone to pick you up..."