Chapter 3

My blood surged with rage, but Hunter just chuckled through the phone. "Is something wrong, Logan?"

"Aren't you supposed to be at the hospital right now? Something happened to Arthur! Get over there immediately!"

"Oh, sorry about that. Chloe mentioned her back was aching yesterday. I used to practice massage therapy, so I came over to give her a rubdown."

Hunter dragged out his words with disgusting intimacy. Then I heard Chloe's voice as she snatched the phone away.

"Your dad is in terrible shape! Get to the hospital right now!" I yelled.

"Tsk, you really go all out, don't you? Checking up on me by calling Hunter's phone?" Chloe sneered. "Logan, why can't you just be honest for once? You're just paranoid that I'm with someone else."

She said she didn't believe a word of it. She claimed she had called Arthur earlier that morning to ask if he liked his breakfast, so how could anything possibly be wrong?

"If you're going to invent an excuse, at least make it believable..."

She kept rambling and berating me, accusing me of harboring deep malice toward Hunter. In the background, I heard the hum of a hair dryer as Hunter began drying her hair.

"Ah, stop, that tickles!" she giggled.

"Chloe, go check on him! He's sobbing on my other line, he's in pain!"

I could still hear Arthur crying faintly through my other device. It broke my heart. I had only called Hunter because he was supposed to be on duty.

Never in a million years did I imagine they would be in bed together.

Chloe told Hunter to hang up on me.

"If you hang up, we're getting a divorce!" I roared.

"Logan, man, that's really low," Hunter piped up self-righteously. "A grown man threatening divorce over nothing?"

Hunter actually started lecturing me, calling me a pathetic kept husband who had the nerve to throw around threats.

"Chloe is gorgeous and kind-hearted. Plenty of successful men would die to be with her. Honestly, you should do her a favor and sign the papers."

I could hear the smug triumph dripping from Hunter's voice. Chloe told him to hang up and block my number immediately.

Wrapped only in a plush bath towel, Chloe looked radiant. Over the years, she had taken great care of her appearance. Hunter ran his fingers lightly down her bare back, sending a shiver through her shoulders.

"You smell amazing, Chloe. You don't look a day over eighteen, let alone in your thirties."

"Flatterer," she teased. "Don't mind my husband. He's always like that. Don't be mad at him—I'll make it up to you."

Their eyes locked. Hunter wrapped an arm firmly around her waist. "Well, if you insist... why don't I give you another massage?"

...

I rushed straight to the hospital the moment my flight landed. Thankfully, I had called emergency services in advance.

The nurses informed me of Arthur's condition. He had tried to reach the bathroom on his own, suffered a terrible fall, and hit his head, making his condition significantly worse.

He couldn't speak, his hands shaking violently. Looking at him, my eyes stung with tears.

When Chloe finally showed up, she made no effort to conceal the dark purple hickeys scattered across her collarbone. It was as if she wanted the whole world to know how wild their night had been.

Youth was great, wasn't it? Full of stamina!

My stomach turned with utter revulsion. If I couldn't see the reality by now, I would be the biggest fool alive.

Chloe had utterly trashed our marriage. And once something becomes garbage, I have no interest in keeping it.

I pulled the divorce papers from my briefcase and slapped them onto the table.

Chloe’s voice spiked. "Are you serious, Logan?"

"Sign them."

Beside her, Hunter couldn't conceal the spark of delight in his eyes. He leaned down and whispered into Chloe's ear, "Chloe, you're in the prime of your life. There’s no need to waste another second on a dead marriage with a broke, violent freeloader."

He fed her ego, telling her she was out of my league and deserved so much better.

Flattered by his hollow compliments, Chloe snatched up the pen and scribbled her name across the divorce agreement without a second thought.

Hunter leaned in closer. "Congratulations on starting a brand-new chapter, Chloe. By the way... could I get a part-time job at your company?"

He wanted to be her personal assistant. Chloe looked slightly hesitant, but Hunter quickly added that he needed extra income to secure a better lifestyle for them.

I stood to the side, a cold smirk playing on my lips. "Maybe you should look into how our company's corporate structure is actually set up. I was never a kept man. An heir to the Sterling family doesn't need to live off anyone.

"Your precious Chloe won't even be able to keep her own title, let alone hire you."

My mocking words struck a nerve, and Chloe quickly tried to reassure the younger man. She was clearly infatuated with him. "Don't listen to him. I'll walk away with half his fortune. I definitely won't let you struggle."

"You're the party at fault. Let's see how much the court actually awards you," I retorted coldly. "And before I came here, I already called the police. Hunter is facing charges for intentional negligence and elder abuse. Just wait."