The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 34

Not wanting to escalate the argument and upset his grandparents before they even arrived, he swallowed his anger and started the engine.

The drive was smothered in absolute, suffocating silence.

Just as the car rolled to a stop, the sun broke through the thick clouds.

Built into the mountainside and veiled in mist, Cloudrest Manor was an imposing, traditional estate that exuded a quiet, old-money grandeur.

Preston stepped out first. He caught Chloe's wrist with a grip that wasn't painful, but carried an undeniable, dominating pressure as he murmured softly.

"Drop the attitude. Don't give my grandparents a reason to worry."

Chloe pressed her lips into a thin line and remained silent, letting him pull her toward the entrance.

A maid supported Eleonora Hayes as she walked out to greet them.

The moment the elderly woman laid eyes on Preston, she paused before covering her mouth and bursting into a hearty laugh.

Though in her seventies, she had a vibrant, open-minded spirit, entirely devoid of the suffocating snobbery usually found in wealthy matriarchs.

Knowing exactly what she was laughing at, Preston frowned and stepped forward to loop his arm through hers. "Grandmother, please. Spare me some dignity."

"You rascal, you definitely made Chloe mad, didn't you?"

Looking at Preston's bizarre outfit, Eleonora's earlier fatigue vanished completely.

He was wearing ultra-luxurious fabrics, but paired them with an obnoxiously bright, frivolous tie that clashed violently with his usual rigid, imposing style. It was a spectacular disaster.

And yet, because Preston was strikingly handsome, with broad shoulders, narrow hips, and an inherently aristocratic aura, he somehow managed to pull off the absurd ensemble.

Instead of looking ridiculous, it gave him an untamed, rebellious edge.

Preston arched a brow and glanced at Chloe, feigning hurt.

"Grandmother, you're playing favorites. She's the one who rejected my styling."

"Then you deserved it!"

Eleonora lightly swatted his head away before turning to take Chloe's hands. Her eyes shone with pure admiration.

"Chloe's dress today is absolutely lovely. Perfectly styled. At least this boy is finally making some progress."

Preston froze for a second.

Back when she cared about Preston, she cared about his family's opinions, which was why she had bent over backward trying to win the old man's approval.

But things were different now.

She was divorcing him. She no longer gave a damn about what they thought of her, nor would she let their hostility chip away at her soul.

Still, she genuinely viewed Eleonora as family. Not wanting her to worry, Chloe forced a bright smile.

"Thanks, Grandmother. I'm fine, just on a diet lately."

Eleonora never hovered over the younger generation's choices, so she just chuckled. "Is that so? Well, humor me and cheat on your diet today. Eat a little more, alright?"

Chloe had assumed they might actually get through a quiet meal, but a jarring ringtone suddenly shattered the peace in the dining hall.

"The coolest, most handsome boss in the world is calling, hurry up and answer~"

Eleonora's face instantly plummeted into a scowl.

Percival shot Preston a lethal glare.

Only Chloe remained completely unfazed, calmly taking slow sips of her soup.