Chapter 4 55 vouchers lan left in a hurry , leaving his car for Chloe . Chloe , however , sent lan'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 , lan 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 lan , 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 lan 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 . " ཆུ་ Chloe's smile stiffened on her lips . Noticing her daughter's reaction , Jill's expression turned concerned . " Chloe , " she asked cautiously , ' did lan 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 lan'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 . " lan ," she whispered tearfully . " will you stay with me tonight ? " Chloe was startled to realize just how intimate the two had become . 1/2 2:55 Chapter 4 B 55 vouchers 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 . " lan 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 ." lan adjusted Andrea's pillow to help her lie down more comfortably . " Don't worry , " he said , his voice even . " She's fine . " 2/2