Chapter 12 Chloe froze on the spot . Jan shut the front door with a decisive click , tugged her suitcase out of her hands , and caught her wrist . " Come on , " he said , pulling her toward the living room . " No , " she yanked her hand free . " lan , what did you mean by that just now ? " " Let's talk upstairs . " Ian reached for her again . " I'm not staying here ! " Chloe flared , jerking away . Jan's voice was calm , almost too calm . " Chloe , we're still married . " Chloe's emotions snapped like a frayed wire . She shoved him hard and bolted for the door . But before reaching the door , Ian caught her around the waist , slung her over his shoulder , and carried her into the bedroom despite her furious kicking . By the time he dumped her on the bed , both of them were breathless , and sweat had damped his shirt . " You cool off a bit , okay ? " he said , straightening . " I'm taking a shower ." Before stepping into the bathroom , he tapped a few keys on the digital lock , changing the code . Now Chloe was trapped in the bedroom , not going anywhere . Listening to the steady rush of water behind the door , Chloe could feel every ounce of fight draining out of her It had always been this way between them . She'd rage , she'd cry , she'd hurl words like stones while lan stayed maddeningly composed , unshaken , as if her storm barely ruffled his sky . And when he said she couldn't afford to leave him ? Chloe knew it was always about the money . When lan came out , clean and fresh in his nightclothes , Chloe was still sitting there , staring at nothing . " Chloe , " Ian fluffed the pillows , smoothed the covers , then turned to her . " Come here . " His gaze fell on the wedding ring lying on the vanity . Without hesitation , he picked it up and slid it back onto her finger . Chloe immediately reached to pull it off , but his hand closed around her wrist , stopping her . " Listen , " his voice was low but firm , " marriage isn't a game . You chose to marry me . Divorce isn't yours alone to decide ." Chloe's voice was bitter . " Ian , I want out ," she replied . " The Irvine family owes you , I know that . I'll pay you back ." Ian finally released her , stepping back a few paces before settling on the edge of the bed . His eyes narrowed , voice cuping . " And how exactly are you planning to pay me back ? " The question hit her like a slap . She had nothing . She'd married him fresh out of college , promised to be a full - time housewife . For years , Ian had supported not just her , but her parents and Carl too . She had no way to pay him back . And he knew it . " Fine , let me remind you of the math , lan continued , " When your family went bankrupt , I covered 300 million in debt . " He loomed over her , bracing one hand on the vanity and the other on the chair , caging her in . " The downtown apartment for your parents and Carl ? That's another four million . " " Every month , my office transfers thirty thousand into your parents ' account . Carl's fancy private school costs over a few hundred thousand in tuition and fees each term . " He paused to examine Chloe's expression , then continued , voice measured and merciless . " And none of that even includes you . " Chloe's chest constricted like a fist was squeezing her lungs . She forced herself upright , anger fueling her voice . 1/3 Chapter 12 55 vouchers " Ian , when you married me , you got more than your pound of flesh . You bought goodwill ," she protested . " We never signed a prenup , and after your affair , I walked away with nothing . I never touched a dime of marital assets . What more do you want from me ? " Ian didn't flinch . " Chloe , I'm a businessman . I don't do anything without returns . No prenup ? That's because I knew you'd never take a cent from me ." His tone was ice , sharp enough to cut . Chloe's throat tightened . Of course . She knew that to him , their marriage had always been a transaction . Nothing more . Blinking back tears , she grabbed a pad and pen , scrawling furiously . " Fine . Say the word . How much do I owe you , principal and interest ? " Ian plucked the pen right out of her fingers . " You think a scrap of paper can cover what I've poured into the Irvine family ? Real money went out . A simple IOU isn't going to cut it . " " Then what do you want from me , Ian ? " Chloe's voice cracked , raw and desperate Ian stared her as he stood tall , expression coldly businesslike . " A divorce ? Sure . I'll even give you a discount for three years of marriage . Three hundred million . Cash only ." Chloe's eyes burned . " I don't have that kind of money ! " " Then stay my wife ," Ian settled his hands on her shoulders , changing his voice into a softened , almost gentle tone . " Stop fighting me . " " I can't ! " Chloe cried , shoving him away . " But I only spent money on your family to stabilize our marriage , " Ian let go of her . " If you can't give me that , then the Irvines will cough it back up . You can't have it both ways ." Chloe stared at him , hollow - eyed . Was this really the man she'd loved all these years ? Treating their marriage like a profitable deal ? She couldn't believe it . Seeing Chloe's broken expression , Ian leaned closer , voice dropping . " Think carefully . Your mother just had heart surgery , and those medical bills won't be light . If I take back the apartment , where will your parents live ? " He then straightened up , looking toward Chloe . " And Carl - his teachers tell me he's brilliant , a math prodigy . If he's pulled out of that school , do you think his future will still be secure ? " Chloe went utterly still . He knew her too well . She knew that if she told her parents about the divorce , about Ian demanding repayment , they'd move out of the apartment without hesitation . They'd bleed themselves dry , even sell their own blood , to give her freedom . And Carl , stubborn and proud , worshiping Ian as a role model , would drop out on the spot if he knew Ian had cornered her like this , refusing to drag her down no matter the cost . lan had her in a chokehold , and she knew it . Noticing Chloe retreating into silence , with a quiet sigh , lan bent down and scooped her up , laying her gently on the bed . His voice softened , but his grip was iron . " Chloe , you want a divorce , right ? Fine , " he said . " But until that paper's signed , you're still Mrs , Hamilton . And you'll do your duty as my wife , Understand ? " Flat on her back , Chloe stared up at him , " No , I don't ." Ian sat on the edge of the bed , took her hand , and thumbed the ring on her finger . " As long as this marriage stands , you'll remember your place ," he demanded . " You'll always keep quiet when you should . " Chloe's voice was hollow and broken . " So what , " she murmured , " You're never making Andrea and Clint official ? " lan's expression didn't change . " Andrea stays out of this , " he replied . " You don't ask about her , you don't make trouble , and you sure don't bring it up with me . As far as you're concerned , she doesn't exist . Got it ? " 2/3