Chapter 3 55 vouchers 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 lan . " 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 . lan 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 served her a portion , " Your favorite pancake ." anniversary , ' he thought . Picking up his utensils , he 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 , lan 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 , posting it proudly on Instagram . Yet he couldn't be had never been clearer . bothered to learn one dessert for me . The line between love and indian " 1/2 55 voucheES 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 , sh would cry or yell , and never withdraw into silence like this . Irritated , lan 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 . 2/2