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😍😍😍My CEO husband brought a different woman home every night. They stayed for at least three hours; the villa reeked of their mess afterward. When he was done he tossed their stockings in my face and said, "Clean this up. You're useless to me otherwise." "Andrea Sherman's coming back. She's pure and squeamish — I'll need to practice my touch." "You're my favorite wife; you should know how." I smiled as he left and dutifully erased every trace. Everyone called me the perfect trophy wife — but no one knew my diary said this was woman No. 87. Tonight I decided to tear this farce to pieces. Ian Hamilton's first love—the one who'd left six years ago— had come back with a five-year-old son. Ian had been "on a business trip" for a month. On her phone, Chloe stared at a screenshot from Ian's Instagram: he'd rented out an entire riverside promenade, lit fireworks, and thrown a birthday party for his ex and their child. That same day was their third wedding anniversary. Chloe scrolled through the photos again— the beach, the yacht, the fireworks, the roses. A caption beneath read: "Homemade blueberry cake for the love of my life." Even through the screen, the love was palpable. But she found nothing on Ian's Instagram—empty acturally. He blocked her from his social media. Chloe's lips parted, but no words came out. Those screenshots crushed the last piece of hope she had left. She called him again and again. Finally—one word reply: "Busy." The indifference in that word gutted her. Helplessness, fury, jealousy, denial— they all tore through her chest like a storm. She curled up, sobbing uncontrollably, until she could hardly breathe. For three years, she had believed that if she just tried harder, he would one day love her back. But all she got was proof of his reunion with the woman he could never forget. She had given him everything— her crush, her love, her youth. Now, it was time to let go. For several days straight, Ian never came home. To cheer Andrea up, he rented out an entire mall in the middle of a workday. He even got down on one knee to help her put on her shoes. And when Chloe happened to walk in on them, Ian just said coolly, "We'll talk about this when we get home tonight." Three years of marriage, and Chloe had always been the one serving Ian, trying to please him. He had never done anything so tender as helping her put on shoes—not even handed her a pair of slippers. "Since we've run into each other like this, let me see her," she said, her voice calm but firm. Ian's reply was cold and immediate. "There's no need." His tone was detached, leaving no room for argument. He didn't even glance at the fitting room—his eyes stayed locked on Chloe. "And if I insist on seeing her?" Chloe asked, meeting his gaze. "What will you do then?" Ian's words came out slow, deliberate, each one cutting sharp. "You gonna walk out on your own, or should I have security escort you? Your choice." Their eyes met in a long, tense silence. Tears slid down Chloe's cheeks, quiet and hopeless. "Fine," she whispered bitterly. "I'd like to see just how far you'll go for the woman you love, Mr. Hamilton." Ian's voice dropped low, threaded with warning and irritation. "Chloe, don't make me regret marrying you," he said coldly, every word heavy with meaning. "For your own sake—walk away. Now." Chloe stared at his face in a daze, biting her lip until she tasted blood. Regret? Of course he regrets it, she thought. A second later, she turned and fled—humiliated, heartbroken, and pitiful all at once. Chloe's best friend Mia was shaking with rage, tears running down her cheeks. "Ian, if Chloe really leaves you," she shouted, her voice trembling, "I'm throwing a citywide party to celebrate!" Then she ran off after Chloe. Lan rubbed his temples, utterly drained, and after dropping Andrea off at the hospital, he finally went back to the office. He paused when he saw more than a dozen missed calls from Mia and other family members, then finally called Mia back. When she picked up, Ian asked flatly, without even a greeting, "Has Chloe calmed down yet? Or is she still making a scene?" On the other end came Mia's panicked sobs. "Chloe's missing. Mom and I have been looking everywhere, but we can't find her." The call ended. Ian froze for a second, then decided to keep working. He remembered her wedding vows word for word— she'd said she'd rather die than give him up. So he went on with his life, business as usual. But a week passed, and there was still no sign of Chloe. Mia stomped her foot, her voice rising with fear. "Ian, Chloe's serious this time—she's really going to divorce you! If you don't do something now, you'll lose her forever!" For a brief moment, tension flickered across Ian's face. But it vanished as quickly as it came. He didn't expect that soon after, right in the middle of an important meeting, Chloe's lawyer would walk in and hand him the divorce papers. And right after that, his ten-billion-dollar deal fell apart.🔥🔥🔥 ------------------------------------------ Chapter 1 It's Time To Let Go Ian Hamilton's first love, who had left him six years ago, suddenly returned from abroad. She was now accompanied by a five-year-old son. Using business trips as an excuse, Ian had been avoiding going home for an entire month. It was their third wedding anniversary. Chloe Irvine had prepared a candlelit dinner and bought a gift for Ian. She sent him a text, but by 9 pm, he still hadn't come home. Instead, Chloe received a call from Ian's younger sister, Mia Hamilton. Mia reminded Chloe to check the message she had sent. After hanging up, Chloe opened her chat with Mia. Her smile froze the moment she saw what was on the screen. The plate in Chloe's hand fell and shattered on the floor. A piece of ceramic scraped her ankle, and bright red blood began to ooze from the cut. But Chloe didn't have any reaction. Mia had sent Chloe a screenshot of Ian's Instagram post. It showed that he had booked out the entire Riverfront Promenade and set off birthday fireworks, all for his first love and their son. Chloe bent down to pick up her phone and swiped through the screenshots one by one: the beach, the yacht, the fireworks and the bouquets of roses. And there was her husband, holding a four-or-five-year-old child in one arm. His other hand, still bearing their wedding ring, rested intimately on the waist of another woman. It was a set of beautiful, romantic photos captioned, [A blueberry cake I made with my own hands, for the loves of my life.] Even through the screen, the overwhelming affection felt almost tangible. Chloe's mind went blank. All thought seemed to shut down. Frantically, she checked Ian's Instagram, only to find it completely empty. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. It was only then that she realized he had hidden his account from her. The screenshots shattered the last shred of hope she still held for Ian. Refusing to give up, she called him. When he didn't answer, she called again. After he hung up for the third time, she received a text from him with just one word "Busy." The impatience in that single word was unmistakable. Helplessness, anger, jealousy, and denial twisted together inside Chloe. It was a storm of emotions she could not control. She curled into herself, hands clutching her head as though her heart were being ripped apart. Waves of suffocation rose in her chest. She grabbed fistfuls of her own hair and screamed out in raw frustration, before finally breaking into heavy, wrenching sobs. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. She struggled to her feet and opened it. Mia stared in shock at Chloe's disheveled appearance. "Chloe, are you okay?" Still tear-streaked and pale, Chloe simply shook her head. Mia stamped her foot in anger, "Chloe, let's go to the Riverfront Promenade to find Ian right now." Chloe took a slow breath to steady herself. "Mia, I can handle what's happening with Ian myself." Her mother had just undergone heart bypass surgery and was still in the hospital. Now was not the time for her to fall apart. By the time Mia left, it was already midnight. Chloe wandered through every corner of the house like a ghost. She and Ian grew up together. Everyone knew she had loved him since childhood. But they also knew Ian was still haunted by a past love, someone he could never forget. In the end, he married Chloe only to fulfill an arranged family obligation. Throughout their three years of marriage, she had clung to the naive belief that if she tried hard enough, she could eventually win his heart. But instead of his love, she was met with the news of his extravagant reunion with the one he had never forgotten. She had given him everything—her childhood crush, her adult love and all her precious youth. Now, it was time to let go. Her mind knew exactly what she had to do, but her heart ached so deeply that it felt hard to breathe. The conflict was unbearable. That night, Ian still did not come home. ***** For the next three days, Chloe stayed at the hospital to care for her mother. Throughout that time, Ian never called or sent a single message. When her mother's condition stabilized, her father urged her to go home and get some proper rest. ***** Late at night, Chloe was half-asleep when she heard the bedroom door open. Then the sound of running water came from the bathroom. A short while later, she felt the mattress dip beside her. The clean, fresh scent of men's body wash roused her slightly from her drowsiness. Before she could react, she was pulled into Ian's arms. 'After more than a month, he has finally decided to come home. He must have had such a wonderful time with his little family of three,' she thought to herself. Sensing the tension in Chloe's body, Ian knew she was awake. He tightened his arm around her waist, turning her toward him. His lips, hungry and insistent, found the sensitive skin of her neck, while his hand slid beneath the covers and tugged gently at the strap of her nightie. Throughout their three years of marriage, the only time Ian showed her any tenderness or passion was in bed. Every time she saw him lose control with desire, she let herself believe, even if just for a moment, that he loved her too. Instinctively, her hand flew to his, stopping it as it wandered across her skin. For the first time in their marriage, Chloe turned her face away and said, "Don't." Her voice, still hoarse from earlier tears, sounded to Ian like a sign of arousal, and his kisses grew even more intense. He knew her body far too well. With deliberate skill, he teased the sensitive spots she could hardly resist. Just as Chloe was on the verge of giving in, those beautiful, romantic images flooded her mind: the beach, the yacht, the fireworks, the roses. She saw her husband's hand, still wearing their wedding ring but resting on that woman's waist. And that caption, dripping with a love that wasn't for her, pierced her straight through the heart. A wave of nausea rose suddenly in her stomach. Chloe pushed Ian away and knelt beside the bed, retching violently. The lights turned on, and whatever intimacy had filled the room moments before vanished completely. Ian got out of bed and gently patted Chloe's back. "Are you feeling sick?" he asked. Chloe pushed his hand away, got up, and walked straight into the bathroom. She wasn't ill. She was just utterly disgusted. Ian frowned slightly as he watched her walk away, then went downstairs to pour a glass of water for her. He didn't notice her red, swollen eyes, her strained voice, or the fresh cut on her ankle. A few minutes later, when Ian returned to the bedroom, Chloe had already come out of the bathroom and was getting into bed. He handed her the glass of water. "I'll book a restaurant tomorrow to make up for our anniversary," he said. There was no explanation, no guilt, just a flat announcement. Chloe ignored the glass he offered, got into bed, and said flatly, "No need." A bitter disappointment washed over her. 'So he remembers it's our anniversary, and yet he chose to book out the beach and set off fireworks with his old lover and their son.' Ever since they married, she had taken care of his every need, refusing to let him lift a finger at home. Yet he had willingly lowered his pride and even baked a blueberry cake with his own hands for that woman and her son. He had cheated on her and had a five-year-old son with his former lover, and yet he could still act as though nothing was wrong, touching her with familiar intimacy, standing before her without a trace of shame, and speaking those painfully casual words. For the first time, Chloe realized that the man she had loved for so many years was so hypocritical. An uneasy silence fell between them, thickening the air. Just then, the screen of Ian's phone lit up. Chapter 2 You Look So Pale Ian glanced at the message, then at Chloe. When she showed no reaction, he quickly typed a reply and turned off his phone. Distracted, he murmured, "Let's just sleep." Chloe could not sleep. Even with her eyes closed, she could not erase from her mind the image of Ian holding his son in one arm and embracing his former lover with the other. Anger urged her to grab Ian's phone right then and there and confront him with everything. But reason held her back. Her mother had just undergone heart bypass surgery and was still recovering in the hospital. Now was not the time to start a messy divorce. At 3 am, Ian's phone screen lit up again. About ten minutes later, he left the villa. As the sound of his car engine faded from the yard, Chloe slowly opened her eyes. 'A single text is all it takes to make him rush out in the middle of the night. That's the power his first love still holds over him,' she thought bitterly. Chloe wanted to scream, to throw something, to let all the rage out. But she felt completely drained. She didn't even have the strength to speak, let alone start a fight. Every ounce of energy had been sucked away, leaving only a hollow ache. ***** Early the next morning, Chloe forced herself to get up and brought breakfast to her parents at the hospital. The elderly couple was startled when they saw their daughter's pale and weary face. Chloe's mother, Jill Spencer, lay weakly in the hospital bed. She was awake but fragile, tubes still running into her body. "Chloe," she murmured, her voice faint with concern, "are you okay?" Chloe quickly forced a smile, gently patting her mother's hand. "Mom, don't worry about me," she said softly. "I just didn't sleep well last night. That's all. You should rest and focus on getting better." Her father, Frank Irvine, quietly peeled half an apple and handed it to her. "The doctor just made the rounds," he said gently. "He mentioned there are no post-surgery complications and your mom's incision is healing nicely. She should be able to go home in another week." Hearing that her mother's surgery had been a success, Chloe finally let out a sigh of relief. After helping her mother finish breakfast, she went to see her mother's attending doctor. On her way back to the ward, she unexpectedly ran into Ian at the payment desk. With his imposing figure, handsome features, and the cold aura of someone in a high position, it was impossible for her to miss him. Their eyes met. Ian's brow tightened slightly as he walked toward her. Chloe noticed the stack of receipts in his hand but held her tongue, holding back the questions on her mind. It was 9 am on a Wednesday morning, a time when Ian should have been presiding over the senior management meeting at Hamilton Group. His presence at the hospital during peak work hours told Chloe all she needed to know. She wanted to ask, but didn't dare. She was afraid she might lose control and scream like a madwoman, afraid her parents might see, and afraid she would break down before fixing anything. Enduring the heart wrenching pain, she stood quietly in place, waiting for Ian to speak first, or perhaps not to speak at all. When Ian reached her, he moved to take the receipts from her hand. At that moment, his phone rang. He withdrew his hand, pulled out his phone, and glanced quickly at the screen. "I need to take this," he said. "Go on without me." Then he turned and strode quickly toward the elevator. His voice softened as he answered, "Be good now, don't be upset." That gentle tone struck Chloe's heart like an icy blade. Unable to hold back any longer, she hid in the restroom and sobbed uncontrollably. 'So he was capable of being this patient and gentle,' she thought, the realization bitter and aching. She had known Ian for twenty-five years, yet he had never once used such a tender tone with her. Only when Chloe had finally steadied herself did she step out of the restroom. She quickly touched up her makeup and returned to the ward, forcing her expression into one of calm. Jill took one look at her daughter and immediately knew something was wrong. After sending her husband out of the room, she reached out a hand toward Chloe. As Chloe drew near, Jill asked in a weak voice, "Sweetheart, did you and Ian have a fight?" Chloe lowered her eyes and shook her head, a faint flush of guilt coloring her cheeks. "We're fine, Mom, really," she murmured, forcing a light tone. Just as she finished speaking, her father Frank walked into the ward with Ian right behind him. Jill's face brightened the moment she saw her son-in-law. "Ian, you're so busy with work," she said. "You really didn't have to come all this way." Ian set down the elegant bouquet of flowers he was carrying. "Jill, I've arranged a consultation with a leading cardiologist for you," he said. "Once you're discharged, we'll schedule a comprehensive health screening." Frank looked at his son-in-law with undisguised pride. "It's so thoughtful of you, Ian," he said warmly. "We've always been able to count on you, especially through times like this. Your support means more to us than we can say." Ian walked to the bedside, his eyes lingering on Chloe's noticeably red and swollen eyes. "Frank, we're family," he said calmly. "There's no need to be so formal." Chloe stood up to make room for Ian, but he gently pressed her back down. "I can stand," he said. Seated again, Chloe watched him chat warmly with her parents, but soon found herself unable to look any longer and turned away. Three years ago, the Irvine family went bankrupt and was drowning in huge debts. Despite public pressure, Ian not only helped them pay off the debts, settled her parents and sent her younger brother to an elite school, but also married her as promised. Back then, she had naively believed Ian must have felt something for her. It wasn't until after they were married, when she accidentally overheard a conversation between Ian and his father, that she finally understood the truth. He had only married her after coldly calculating the advantages. Ian had told his father, "Reputation and integrity are the foundation of business. Lifting up the Irvine family in their downfall will earn us both public respect and financial advantage." He had been right. After their marriage, his reputation for integrity became the Hamilton Group's most powerful advertisement. It was also around that time she realized Ian had never gotten over his first love. Marrying her had been a compromise, a practical alternative, not a choice of the heart. 'So the moment his old lover came back, he rushed to her side without a second thought. He was so glad she had given him a son that he completely forgot his wife waiting at home.' Chloe thought, her face growing pale. Jill, concerned for her daughter, asked Ian to take Chloe home to rest. Neither spoke as they left the ward and made their way silently toward the elevator. Just as they reached it, Ian grabbed Chloe's arm. "You look so pale," he said, his voice low. "Did you not sleep well last night?" A bitter smile touched Chloe's lips. 'He's with her and their son now. He didn't even remember our anniversary. And now he sees how awful I look, and all he thinks is that I didn't sleep well? I should've known it from all the little things. How could I have lied to myself for so long?' Chloe quietly withdrew her hand. "Don't let me keep you. I think I'll walk around for a bit." The elevator doors opened, but instead of getting in, she turned toward a different one. Ian took her by the arm and guided her firmly into the elevator. "I've booked a table for tonight at your favorite restaurant," he said. Chloe responded with a noncommittal hum, too drained to even pretend to care. As more people stepped into the elevator, Ian drew Chloe firmly against his side. Looking down at the unusually quiet woman in his arms, he frowned slightly. Ever since he had known her, Chloe had always been so lively, bubbling with energy, finding any excuse to be near him, and calling his name over and over. But now she had gone completely quiet, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. When they stepped out of the elevator, Chloe declined Ian's offer to drive her home. After they parted ways, she went straight to a law firm. She paid a premium hourly rate to have a divorce agreement drafted without delay. Chapter 3 Don't Wait For Me At 7 pm, Chloe arrived at the restaurant. With practiced ease, Ian pulled out her chair for her. She sat down quietly and watched as he ordered. Dressed in a black business suit and matching shirt, Ian carried himself not with dull monotony, but with understated elegance. Raised since childhood as the heir to the Hamilton family, he came from an impeccable background, received superior education, possessed sharp intellect, and demonstrated polished manners. In all the twenty-five years Chloe had known him, she had never heard him swear or lose his temper. He even spoke to waiters with consistent courtesy, as though every situation remained firmly within his control. 'Ian is exceptional, and yet he has married a woman he doesn't love. Of course it will end in divorce,' Chloe thought, the truth bitter and cold within her. While they waited for their food, Ian set a small jewelry box down beside Chloe's plate. "For our third anniversary," he said. She tightened her grip on her water glass, gave a slight nod, and glanced at the box with detached calm. She had loved Ian for twenty-two years and been his wife for three. No one understood better than her how cold he was beneath that polished, gentlemanly surface and how deliberately he kept her at a distance. When she was young and naive, she used to beg him for gifts. Sometimes, worn down by her persistence, he would give in, and she would treasure and show off each gift for days. After the Irvine family went bankrupt, her mother told her, "You're just an ordinary girl now. We're no longer their social equals. You are not worthy of Ian." From that day on, Chloe never again acted like a spoiled princess, nor did she ever ask Ian for another gift. And yet, even though he didn't love her, Ian upheld every appearance of the perfect husband. He never missed an occasion, whether her birthday, Valentine's Day, or their anniversary, each one marked with a thoughtful gift. Noticing Chloe's lack of interest, Ian opened the jewelry box himself and took out a diamond bracelet. She could tell at a glance that it was worth well over a million. Reaching out, Ian took Chloe's left hand to clasp the bracelet around her wrist. Chloe instinctively tried to pull back. His grip tightened as his eyes held hers with quiet intensity. "You don't like it?" There was a time when even a simple hair tie from him would have made her heart flutter for days. But now, as he tried to fasten an exquisite diamond bracelet around her wrist, she instinctively pulled away. Chloe shook her head, her expression cool and detached. "It's fine," she said. Her hand lay still in his, neither accepting nor resisting, just suspended in wordless ambiguity. Ian fastened the bracelet around her wrist, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "It looks beautiful," he said. "Thank you," she replied, her tone polite but utterly devoid of warmth. She let her hand rest limply in his for another moment before gently withdrawing it, the diamonds glittering coldly against her skin. Ian frowned. Chloe had been following him around since they were children. From the moment she could talk, she had never hesitated to ask him for things. She used to accept anything he gave her, no matter how small, with genuine delight. But now, after three years of marriage, she had somehow learned to be polite. 'She must be throwing a fit, upset that I've been distant and chose Andrea over our anniversary,' he thought. Picking up his utensils, he served her a portion. "Your favorite pancake." Chloe looked down at the dessert, then lifted her gaze to meet his. "If I said I wanted to taste a pancake made by you, would you actually learn to make it for me?" Her voice was soft, but the question hung in the air, sharp and testing. Ian sliced his steak gracefully, his voice low and sensual. "Everyone has their strengths. Even the junior chefs here would cook better than me. Order anything you like. Don't worry about the cost." Chloe lowered her eyes, concealing the disappointment and pain within. 'Everyone has their strengths. What a convenient excuse. He could make a blueberry cake with his own hands for her and their son, even posting it proudly on Instagram. Yet he couldn't be bothered to learn one dessert for me.' The line between love and indifference had never been clearer. She took a bite of the pancake. It tasted strangely bitter and unpleasant. Frowning, she forced herself to swallow it, much like she had been forcing down the bitterness in her heart, with no way to release it. All desire to speak left her. The food in her mouth tasted like sawdust. As was his custom, Ian spoke little during the meal, his movements refined and controlled. A heavy silence settled between them, punctuated only by the occasional sound of silverware. The air grew thick with unspoken tension. Ian paused and looked at Chloe closely. As a child, she could never sit still at the table. As she grew older, she would chatter endlessly through every meal. He had once wondered if she might have ADHD and even suggested to her parents that they have her seen by a doctor. Even when she was upset, she would cry or yell, and never withdraw into silence like this. Irritated, Ian tugged at his collar. Just then, his phone screen lit up with a notification. He glanced at it and turned the screen face down. Just as he reached for Chloe's glass to refill her juice, his phone began to vibrate. He hesitated, declined the call, and finished pouring. But before he could set down the glass, the phone buzzed again. Their eyes met, and Ian's expression darkened a bit. Chloe's attention, however, remained fixed on the persistently vibrating phone. She had known him for years. Even when they needed to talk, one missed call was usually enough. If he didn't answer, she would text. She might send message after message, but she never dared to flood his phone with relentless calls. That was the line he had drawn for her. Besides, she understood his busy schedule and the formal environments he often worked in. She never wanted to be an inconvenience. This call, however, was clearly from his unforgettable first love. Chloe saw not anger, but urgency flash in Ian's eyes. When the phone rang for the fourth time, he finally spoke. "I'll leave the car for you. Go home and rest early. Don't wait for me." As he rose, Chloe stood as well. Suppressing the heavy ache in her chest, she picked up her bag and phone. "Don't worry about me," she said evenly. "I'll take a taxi home." Ian offered no explanation, and Chloe asked for none. Distracted, she bumped into a waiter passing by her table as she stepped away. Her phone and bag fell to the floor. Everything was scattered, including the divorce agreement she had printed earlier at the law firm. Ian bent down to gather the papers, but Chloe swiftly retrieved the divorce agreement before he could reach it. It wasn't time to confront him yet. She would wait until after her mother was discharged from the hospital. Ian's eyes swept over the scattered cosmetics, and then settled on the paper clutched in Chloe's hand. His expression grew guarded when he reached toward it. "What is that document?" "Just some medical paperwork," Chloe lied, trying her best to keep her voice light. "Is that so?" He didn't believe her. His eyes remained fixed on her hand, his tone laced with quiet skepticism. Chloe tried to pull away, but Ian still almost snatched the document from her grasp. For a moment, they were locked in a silent struggle, each holding an end of the paper, neither willing to yield. Just as Chloe felt her grip beginning to slip on the corner, Ian's phone buzzed once more. He shot her a sharp glance, then released his hold. Chapter 4 Thrown Away Ian left in a hurry, leaving his car for Chloe. Chloe, however, sent Ian's driver away, hailed a taxi instead, and followed him all the way back to the hospital. She needed to see the woman who had held Ian's heart all these years for herself. Chloe followed Ian to the elevator and watched as he stepped inside. But when she arrived on the her mother's floor from another elevator, Ian was already gone. She couldn't help but mock herself, 'Once the proud daughter of the Irvine family, I've now been reduced to a jealous wife, shadowing my unfaithful husband.' Her mood was utterly terrible. If she weren't so afraid of worsening her mother's fragile condition, she would have screamed at Ian, unleashed all her anger, and let him go for good. This torn, heart-wrenching feeling was pushing her to the edge of sanity. After composing herself, Chloe dried her tears, reapplied her makeup, and made her way to her mother's ward. Seeing Chloe return to the hospital so late at night, Jill couldn't conceal her concern. "Chloe, tell me honestly, is everything okay between you and Ian?" Chloe pulled up a chair beside the bed and forced a faint smile. "Mom, we're fine." Once, she had confidently told her parents that marrying Ian would be her greatest happiness. But now, she just couldn't bring herself to tell them their perfect son-in-law had cheated and that she wanted a divorce. Frank handed Chloe some snacks their relatives had brought. "Chloe, in these three years of marriage, Ian has helped us a lot. If you have problems, talk to him calmly. Don't act like a spoiled princess anymore." Jill looked at her daughter with tender concern. "You're twenty-five now. It's time to build a stable life. Ian is the sole heir to the Hamilton family. You should have a child with him soon. That's what will secure your future together." Chloe fell silent. It wasn't that she didn't want a child. The truth was, Ian had always refused to have one with her. She remembered one time after he returned from a week-long business trip, she had hidden all the contraceptives in advance. That night, Ian had been unusually passionate, and they made love without protection. Overjoyed, she believed he had finally agreed to have a child with her. But the next morning, when she woke, Ian handed her a box of morning-after pills, and even made sure she took one right then. After that, she gave up all her schemes and buried any hope of having his child. It was only now that she understood Ian wasn't opposed to children. He simply didn't want them with her. Carl Irvine, Chloe's younger brother, stopped by the hospital after school. When he saw Chloe, he grinned and pulled her into a warm hug. "Chloe, I just ran into Ian outside." Chloe's smile stiffened on her lips. Noticing her daughter's reaction, Jill's expression turned concerned. "Chloe," she asked cautiously, "did Ian come here with you just now?" Chloe quickly tried to cover her discomfort. "He came to visit a friend. I just tagged along for the ride." Then she turned to her brother, her voice deliberately calm. "Carl, where did you see him?" Carl scratched his head. "I saw him in the elevator just as I was getting on. Looked like he pressed thirteen." After making a quick excuse to her parents, Chloe went up to the 13th floor alone. Too uneasy to ask at the nurses' station, she walked slowly down the hallway, glancing into each private room. Even though she had done nothing wrong, her heart pounded harder with every step. The entire floor was reserved for VIP patients. The corridor was hushed and nearly empty. Suddenly, Chloe froze outside a partially open door. Through the gap, she could see her husband, Ian, standing beside a hospital bed, holding a woman tenderly in his arms. 'That has to be his long-remembered first love, Andrea Sherman, the woman who has always held his heart,' Chloe had heard the name many times, but now, she was seeing Andrea for the first time. Andrea sat on the edge of the bed, her back to the door. She clung to Ian's waist, her face buried against his chest, while her long hair cascaded like a waterfall over his arm. Even from behind, Chloe could know this Andrea must be beautiful. Andrea rose to her feet, linking her arms around Ian's neck. Her soft voice quivered with emotion. "Ian," she whispered tearfully, "will you stay with me tonight?" Chloe was startled to realize just how intimate the two had become. Ian gently loosened her arms from around his neck, and that was when Chloe saw the bracelet on Andrea's wrist. Its diamonds glittered sharply, piercing her like needles. Slowly, she raised her own left hand and understood the two bracelets were exactly the same. 'He wasn't saying it looked beautiful on me. He was praising the bracelet itself, the same one he had given to the woman he truly loved.' Her mind went numb, the voices from the room fading into a distant hum. A wave of rage washed over her, shattering her self-control. In a burst of anger, she ripped the bracelet from her wrist and flung it away. Stumbling blindly, she fled down the hall and collapsed in a deserted corner, sobbing uncontrollably. It felt like her heart was being torn apart. ***** Chloe couldn't remember how she made it home. By the time her tears finally stopped, her mind had cleared, but her body felt heavy and numb. After a shower, she picked up the hair dryer, but her fingers were too stiff to even press the button. When she was lying quietly in bed, her red and swollen eyes had long run dry. She had buried her pain deep down. Even losing control or breaking down required the right time and place. This, she understood now, was what it meant to be an adult. 'Once Mom is discharged, I'll end this as soon as possible.' The mere thought of divorcing Ian in just a few days sent a tremor through her entire body. In the stillness of the night, every suppressed emotion came rushing back, magnifying the pain until it was almost unbearable. She curled tightly into herself, hands pressed over her face, and broke into helpless, shaking sobs. Huddled small in the silent darkness, she looked lost and fragile, like a sleepwalker trapped in a private hell. ***** At the same time, back at the hospital, Ian had just finished comforting Andrea and went to the nurses' station to pick up a thermometer. He noticed a small group of nurses gathered together, chatting animatedly. When his eyes fell on the diamond bracelet in one nurse's hand, his expression tightened instantly. He stepped forward, took the bracelet without a word, and examined the engraved inscription. The moment he confirmed it was the one he had given Chloe, his heart dropped. His voice turned sharp. "Where did this come from?" Chloe was particular about gifts. Every piece of jewelry he gave her was engraved with the letter I, her exclusive mark. He knew without a doubt that this bracelet was hers and that she must have been here. The nurses were frightened by his intense expression. One quickly stepped forward to explain, "I'm sorry, Mr. Hamilton. This was thrown away by a very beautiful lady earlier. She said she didn't want it anymore." 'Thrown away?' The words echoed sharply in Ian's mind. A few minutes later, he returned to the ward and handed the thermometer to Andrea. "I've spoken to the nurses," he said calmly. "A caregiver will be here shortly to stay with you." Andrea pushed herself up weakly from the bed, her voice trembling slightly. "Ian," she said, "you promised you would stay here with me tonight." Ian gently guided her back onto the bed. "Something urgent has come up at home. I need to take care of it," he said. Andrea released his hand obediently, yet her voice held a subtle note of concern. "Ian, this is all my fault. My son and I have been taking up so much of your time lately. Your wife must be feeling neglected. You should go home and comfort her." Ian adjusted Andrea's pillow to help her lie down more comfortably. "Don't worry," he said, his voice even. "She's fine." （💔 The betrayal is just the beginning. 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