My Straight-Laced Ex Won't Let Me Go のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Zoe Jameson had deliberately shown up five hours late to their first meeting, determined to put Ian Grant in his place. Unfortunately, her father, Richard Jameson, had sent his men to drag her out of a bar, tie her up, and haul her straight to an exclusive private lounge.By the time she arrived, Ian was sitting by the window, leisurely sipping coffee. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the windowpanes, casting soft shadows across his handsome, finely sculpted features. He looked so relaxed and composed that anyone would have thought he'd been waiting five minutes, not five hours.Richard, visibly embarrassed, pushed Zoe forward. "Ian, I'm terribly sorry. It took us a little longer than expected to make this ungrateful daughter of mine look presentable."Ian's gaze swept calmly over her before settling on her ankles, rubbed raw and red by the high heels she wasn't used to wearing.Without a word, he set down his cup, stood, and retrieved a brand-new pair of soft-soled slippers. Then,

Without a moment's hesitation, Zoe flagged down a taxi and gave the driver Ian's license plate number and the direction he'd gone."Follow that car!"They sped through the streets until Ian's car finally pulled up outside a bar called Mirage.Zoe stared in disbelief. Ian didn't drink a drop of alcohol, and his self-discipline bordered on obsession. What on earth was he doing at a place like this?She paid the fare, climbed out, and discreetly followed him.She had barely reached the entrance when she spotted a young woman in a white dress being harassed by several drunken men nearby. The woman was pale with fear, backing away as they continued to crowd her.What happened next was something Zoe would never forget.Ian Grant, the same man who never lost his composure or stepped outside the bounds of propriety, suddenly charged forward and drove his foot straight into the ringleader's stomach.Then came a punch, another kick, and more blows in rapid succession. Gone was his usual elegance

Catherine immediately chimed in, listing one reason after another why Ian was such a wonderful husband. Zoe listened without a flicker of emotion.Her indifference only made Richard angrier. Finally, he snatched a teacup off the table and hurled it to the floor."Clearly, you've forgotten your place! Someone needs to teach you a lesson! Get in here! Take this ungrateful daughter of mine to the great hall and give her a proper beating! Don't stop until she agrees to stay married!"Two servants stepped forward and seized Zoe by the arms.In the great hall, the cold wooden cane used for family punishments came down on her back and legs again and again, each blow sending searing pain through her body. Zoe gritted her teeth as sweat soaked through her makeup and blood seeped into her red dress, staining the fabric an even darker shade."Answer me! Are you still getting divorced?" Richard demanded."Yes." Her voice trembled with pain, but her answer was unmistakable.Another blow landed."St

"Is this because I left you unsatisfied in the car the other day? Is that why you're throwing a tantrum?"His words pierced Zoe's heart like a shard of ice, leaving behind a cold, stabbing ache.She let out a bitter laugh. "A tantrum? Ian Grant, do you seriously think the whole world revolves around you? Has it never occurred to you that I might genuinely want a divorce?"Ian regarded her calmly, his dark, penetrating eyes seeming to see straight through her."No," he replied with quiet certainty. "You're in love with me. You don't want to leave."Wham!Zoe's eyes widened, and a crushing pain seized her heart so violently that her knees nearly buckled.So he knew.He'd known all along that she was in love with him.All these years, she'd been the one laughing, crying, loving, hating, struggling through the pain, and finding herself unable to let go. Every emotion, every desperate attempt to reach him, every private battle she'd fought had been hers alone. Their entire marriage had been

Zoe woke to a splitting headache. It took an enormous effort just to lift her heavy eyelids, and when she finally managed to open her eyes, she saw two figures standing near the doorway of her hospital room."Ian, I swear I didn't mean to hurt her. I'd had too much to drink, and when I saw the two of you together on the balcony... I was so jealous. I just lost control...""Jealous? Aren't you already seeing someone? You seemed pretty happy with him at the reception. You were talking and laughing together, and you even... kissed him.""That was all for your benefit!" Yvonne explained desperately, clutching his sleeve. "I just wanted you to pay attention to me! You married Zoe, and everyone knows how gorgeous she is. She's beautiful, she comes from a wealthy family, and she's always been the center of attention. I was scared you'd only have eyes for her now, that you'd completely forgotten about me..."Ian fell silent for a moment. Then Zoe heard him release a barely audible sigh, heavy