Chapter <b>40 </b>How Could You Not Hate Me


    Sonya studied Chloe as though she were trying to catch even the slightest hint of pain on her face.


    But there was nothing.


    Chloe spoke in a casual tone, as if it were just a simple statement.


    “Stop pretending!” Sonya said irritably. “You’re divorcing Curtis. How could you possibly not hate me?” Otherwise, why would youe out of an executive’s office?”


    “Are you the only reason I could be at AeroQuest Airlines?” Chloe said with a faint smile.


    The truth was, she was only there because she needed to arrange transportation for her parents‘ ashes back to her hometown at Yarfdale. She’de to exin the situation and have it recorded.


    When the airline’s executives heard the ashes she was transporting were those of martyrs, they made a


    point to meet with her personally.


    But she didn’t feel the need to exin any of this to Sonya.


    “If you hate me, then I want you to say it to my face and not resort to underhanded tricks behind my back.


    Sonya lifted her chin, her gaze full of disdain.


    “Sonya, I don’t hate you,” Chloe said evenly.


    Hatred was too strong an emotion. She wasn’t worth it.


    Sonya froze, and even Curtis looked at Chloe in surprise.


    She really… didn’t hate her?


    “Anyway, I’ll be divorced from Curtis soon. You two can be together however you like. You won’t even need to hide behind that ‘just friends‘ excuse anymore,” Chloe said.


    Just then, a few AeroQuest Airlines employees walked by in the corridor. Hearing Chloe’s words, they


    turned to look at Curtis and Sonya.


    Sonya’s face turned red, then white.


    Curtis red at Chloe. “How can <i>you </i>say that to Sonya? Our divorce has nothing to do with her.”


    “You’re right, it has nothing to do with her,” Chloe replied lightly.


    His anger red, but he couldn’t find an outlet, leaving him with a sense of helplessness.


    That evening, Chloe stayed at Lena’s ce. Ethan showed up with alcohol, saying that he wanted to celebrate the happy asion of Chloe’s impending divorce.


    Chapter 40 How Could You Not Hate Me <fn9c7f> Readplete version only at find?novel</fn9c7f>


    So, the three of them sat on the terrace, eating skewers and drinking together.


    “Ethan, why are you so happy about Chloe’s divorce?” Lena mumbled after a few rounds.


    “How could I not be happy when she’s finally leaving that scumbag?” Ethan said.


    “That’s true.” Lena chuckled as she became more inebriated. “Back when Chloe secretly got married, you


    even cried. Now you don’t have to cry anymore.”


    Ethan’s face flushed red, and he quickly tried to cover Lena’s mouth.


    But Lena just shouted louder. “What are you embarrassed about? I already told Chloe. She’s known all


    along.”


    Ethan’s face reddened further as he looked at Chloe, embarrassed. “You… knew?<i>” </i>


    “Lena mentioned it before. She even told me to pretend I didn’t know. But now she’s gone and blurted it


    out herself,” Chloe said with a smile. She wondered if Lena would regret her loose tongue <i>once </i>she sobered up.


    When drunk, Lena was always loud, and right now she was still shouting, “Chloe, you have no idea how hard he cried. Tears poured down his face like a running tap! Anyone watching would’ve thought


    something tragic had happened.”


    Ethan wanted nothing more than to sew Lena’s mouth shut. But with Chloe sitting right there, there was nothing he could do. His face just turned redder and redder.


    “You…” Ethan opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say.


    “It was my fault. I didn’t tell anyone when I got married. I’m sorry I made you so upset back then,” Chloe


    said first.


    Ethan’s nose stung. “Yeah, I was upset. I was really upset.”


    Because that was when he’d realized his feelings for her, only to find out she was already married.


    “But now, I’m happy!” Ethan eximed.


    “Happy? Chloe blinked, “Because I’m getting a divorce?”


    “Yes. You’re getting a divorce, so of course I’m happy!” he said, lifting his ss and downing another gulp.


    Red wine trickled from the corner of his mouth, running down his neck and disappearing into his cor.


    His bright eyes were hazy with drunkenness. “Once you’re divorced, there’s something I want to tell you.”


    Chloe smiled. “And you can’t tell me now?”


    He shook his head. “Later. When I say it, I don’t want there to be any guilt or restraints between us.”


    “Alright,” she replied.


    Chapter 40 How Could You Not Hate Me


    Maybe it was the alcohol, but Ethan soon copsed onto the table, drunk.


    Looking at the two drunkards, Chloe rubbed her temples. She would have her hands full getting both of


    them into bed.


    Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message.


    It was from Curtis, notifying her of the exact time for the divorce press conference.


    She stared at the message. Between her and Curtis, all that remained was cold formality.


    The day of the press conference came quickly. Though Chloe had nned to go alone, Lena insisted on apanying her.


    “You’re going to a divorce conference. I’m basically your family, so of course, I have to be there,” Lena


    said.


    Warmth surged in Chloe’s chest. With her parents gone and her brother missing, she’d been all alone.


    Even after marrying, she’d never truly had a family.


    But Lena had always had her back, no matter what.


    “Yes. You’re my family,” Chloe said.


    When the two of them arrived at the hotel where the press conference was being held, the venue was


    already set up, though the event hadn’t started yet.


    The first people <i>Chloe </i>ran into weren’t Curtis, but Joanne and Helen.


    The moment they saw her, their faces twisted with malice.


    Helen rushed forward and swung a p at Chloe. “So, you had the nerve to show up! You refused to write a letter of non–prosecution. I guess you’ll only be happy if Joanne and I rot away in prison, huh?”


    But before the p couldnd, Chloe caught Helen’s wrist. “You’re in jail not because of me, but because of your own crimes!” she retorted coldly, flinging Helen’s hand away.


    Helen immediately started shouting. “Oh heavens! How dare you hit your mother–inw?”


    Chloe frowned.


    At that moment, Curtis‘ voice rang out. “Chloe, did you hit Mom?”


    She turned and saw Curtis and Sonya approaching.


    Joanne quickly supported Helen and hurried to Curtis‘ side. “Curtis, Mom only scolded Chloe a little just now because she refused to write a letter of non–prosecution, and Chloe hit her!”


    Chloe’s cold gaze swept over Helen and Joanne as they lied before stopping on Curtis. “Do you believe


    them?<b>” </b>


    Chapter 40 How Could You Not Hate Me


    “She’s my mother. Of course I believe her. The press conference is about to start. I don’t want things to get ugly. You’d better apologize to her. Now,” Curtis ordered.