The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 9

Preston's head was turned slightly to the side. A vicious red handprint flared against his pale cheek. His jaw flexed as he turned to look at Chloe.

"Are you hurt?"

His chillingly calm voice terrified Linda even more. She scrambled forward in a panic.

"Mr... Mr. Hayes! Are you okay? Oh my God, it's a huge misunderstanding! This stupid girl was acting out, and I heard she upset you, so I was just trying to discipline her for you..."

When Preston didn't say a word, Linda panicked further. She babbled incoherently while trying to grab Chloe's arm again.

"Say something, you idiot!"

The next second, her wrist was caught in a brutal grip and violently shoved away.

Linda gasped, looking up into a face full of dark, lethal rage.

Preston wrapped a protective arm around Chloe's trembling shoulders. The gentle, polite son-in-law was gone. In his place was a ruthless predator.

"Chloe is my wife. What gives you the right to discipline her?"

Linda stammered, "I... I just wanted her to behave..."

Preston's expression darkened. "She doesn't have to behave for anyone. Don't ever touch her again. Consider that a threat."

Linda had never seen the normally smiling executive look so genuinely dangerous. Too terrified to speak, she shot Chloe a look of pure hatred instead.

Realizing the situation was completely botched, Leon didn't dare bring up his legal troubles. He grabbed Linda, and the two of them scurried out of the room like rats.

A suffocating silence filled the private dining room.

Preston let out a heavy sigh. Just as he always did, he reached out to pull Chloe into a warm embrace.

She shoved him away with all her strength.

He let out a dry, frustrated laugh. "Chloe, I'm taking a slap to the face every day now. Doesn't your heart hurt for me even a little? Are you still mad?"

When Chloe kept her head down and refused to speak, he sighed in surrender, leaning down to cup her face in his hands.

The moment he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks, he froze.

The suffocating anxiety of the past two days finally shattered her composure. Silent tears poured relentlessly down her face.

She didn't want to cry in front of him. She scrubbed at her eyes frantically, but the tears just wouldn't stop.

This was only the second time Preston had ever seen her cry.

The first time was at their wedding.

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