The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 85

Preston stared at her in silence. The dawn light washed over her face. Her brows were soft, the corners of her eyes slightly downturned. The light in her eyes had completely extinguished, leaving behind a profound exhaustion. She looked like a piece of exquisite porcelain on the verge of shattering. Cold, distant, yet so devastatingly beautiful it made his chest ache with an urge to hold her.

"Chloe..." he managed to say. She ignored him, not even sparing him a glance. After a long silence, Preston finally turned to leave. He barely made it a few steps before Ken's panicked voice shattered the quiet.

"Boss! Mr. Hayes, what's wrong?"

Chloe turned just in time to see Preston collapse into the dirt.

At the hospital. Preston opened his eyes the moment Chloe walked into the room. He instinctively tried to sit up, but the movement tore at his injured back. He hissed in pain. "Why am I here?"

"You have a terminal illness and you're about to die," Chloe said flatly.

Ken froze, quickly intervening. "Mr. Hayes, the doctor said you took severe blunt force trauma to your back and head. You have a mild concussion..."

Preston let out a dry laugh and looked at Chloe. "Hoping I kick the bucket? If I die, you'll be a widow."

"Which is why we need to finalize the divorce early."

Preston choked on his words. He glanced at the thermos in her hands, a faint smile touching his eyes as he reached for it. "You say one thing but mean another. Still mad at me?"

Chloe sidestepped his hand. "This is for Mr. Lynch. I was just passing by and wanted to check if you were dead yet."

Preston's smile faltered. "Chloe, I took a baseball bat for you. Can't I at least get a bowl of soup?"

"Sure," Chloe said indifferently. "That's why I paid your hospital bill."

With that, she turned and walked out. Preston let out a breath of frustrated amusement, at a total loss for words.

When they arrived back at the property, Mr. Lynch practically ran to the grave. Seeing the headstone fully restored, he let out a massive sigh of relief, his eyes welling with tears. "It's my fault... I couldn't even protect Zachary's resting place..."

Two men in sharp suits approached and bowed respectfully. "Mr. Lynch. Mr. Hayes stationed us here to guard the site. If you need anything at all, just let us know."

Mr. Lynch was thrilled. "Preston sent you?" But worry quickly clouded his face. "Hiring private security? That must cost a fortune..."

The bodyguards exchanged a smile. "We're on Vantage Group's internal security payroll. We get paid the same whether we're standing here or at the office. It's no extra cost."

Relieved, a genuine smile broke out on Mr. Lynch's face. Chloe's expression, however, darkened. They were supposed to finalize the divorce. This was the time to cut all ties. What game was Preston playing now?

Overjoyed, Mr. Lynch insisted on cooking a massive dinner for everyone.