The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 196: Chapter 196

After putting on his best polite smile to see Ashton off, Sterling turned back toward the room, his expression flipping like a switch. "You two again?" he snapped. "Didn't I make myself clear last time? Edgar, get them out of here!"
Serena had had enough. She stepped forward, her voice steady but sharp. "Ashton tried to come on to me the second he saw me. He's disgusting. Have you even considered what kind of future Chloe's going to have with a man like that? Do you even care about her happiness?"
Sterling scoffed, "Happiness?" He looked at her with cold disdain. "I married Chloe's mother for business. That's how this works. Chloe has enjoyed the benefits of this family her whole life.
"Now it's her turn to do what her mother did—secure our position. That's her only value. Understand? She's just a tool."
Chloe had always known how little she meant to him. But hearing it spoken aloud still pierced something in her chest.
Keith's jaw clenched. Without a word, he stepped forward and punched Sterling in the face.
"Stop it!" Chloe shouted, stepping in between them, tears already falling.
Sterling stumbled back, clutching his face, but didn't say a word.
"I know you're doing this for me. But the more you fight, the deeper we all get pulled into this mess." Her voice shook, but her meaning was clear. "I give up. It's just Ashton. I'll marry him."
For Chloe to say something like that... Serena didn't even want to imagine what she must be feeling inside.
"Edgar! Didn't you hear her?" Sterling barked. "Get them out of here already!"
Edgar hesitated, but he knew Chloe had run out of options. With a reluctant sigh, Edgar led Serena and Keith out of Whitmore Hall.
"Is this really it?" Serena asked as they were escorted out. "There's nothing left to try?"
Edgar lowered his voice. "I've worked in Whitmore Hall for decades. I've seen how this family operates. If Ms. Whitmore herself has accepted it... then yes. This wedding is happening."
He gave her an apologetic look and turned away.
News of the Whitmore–Kingsley engagement spread fast. The Whitmore family had been struggling for years, but now that they were tying themselves to the powerful Kingsleys, their fortunes were rising again. Sterling was suddenly everywhere, from interviews to glossy society pages, always smiling like he'd won something.
Serena could barely stand to look at it. 'He's proud of selling his daughter to a man like that.'
She'd been texting Chloe for days, with no reply. But she didn't believe for a second that Chloe was ignoring her. Most likely, Sterling had taken her phone and cut her off from everyone.
"Chloe's going to a wedding dress fitting tomorrow," Keith told her one evening. He'd been keeping tabs on the situation for her.
The second Serena heard that, her eyes lit up. "I'm going."
Keith arranged a driver and made sure everything was in place. When Serena arrived, she spotted Chloe stepping out of a car, flanked by guards.
"If you try to go straight in, they'll probably stop you," the driver said hesitantly.
Serena shook her head. "Take me to the back entrance. Someone's waiting for me."
Keith had already set everything up. Serena was disguised as a store employee, dressed in the shop's uniform with a hat pulled low over her eyes. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.
Chloe looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen. Clearly, she'd clearly been crying, probably alone, day after day.
Ashton hadn't even bothered to show up for the fitting. He was off somewhere partying. The only thing he'd arranged was a set of guards to make sure Chloe didn't run, which made things easier for Serena.
She slipped inside, removed her hat, and approached. The moment Chloe saw her, her eyes went wide with disbelief. "Serena..."
Serena quickly put a finger to her lips and shook her head. Chloe caught on immediately and played along.
"She'll be trying on dresses with me," Serena told the guards. "Give us some space."
The guards, being men, weren't allowed in the fitting area anyway. And since there was only one exit, they didn't worry about Chloe slipping away.
Once the door shut, Serena finally relaxed. She turned to Chloe, who immediately burst into tears.
"How did you even get in?" Chloe asked, wiping at her eyes.
Serena handed her a tissue. "I finally got a lead on where you'd be. There was no way I wasn't coming." She glanced around to make sure they were still alone and then leaned closer. "Tell me the truth. Are you really going through with this?"
Chloe let out a bitter laugh. "Do I look like someone who wants to get married right now? I have goals. A career. A whole life I want to live. And Ashton? What does he have besides a family name and a stack of mistresses?"
Serena nodded slowly, fire building behind her calm eyes. "Then would you be willing to take a chance with me? Just once, be brave."
She had already gathered plenty of dirt on Ashton—endless evidence of his affairs, his recklessness, his utter lack of boundaries.
If they brought all of it into the light, people would know exactly what kind of man he really was. He wouldn't just be a bad match. He'd be a scandal.
It would give Chloe a clean exit, and no one could blame her.
Without hesitation, Chloe nodded. "I'll do whatever it takes. Thank you, for even bothering to look into all of this for me."
Serena gave a small shake of her head. Seeing Chloe agree so quickly, she hesitated for a moment. "But if we go through with it, you might never shake the gossip.
"Your dad won't be able to marry you off again, but the whispers won't stop. Are you ready for that?"
Chloe didn't even hesitate. "I don't care. I'm not marrying for anyone else's approval. I just want to use what I've learned and do something real with my life. That's what matters to me—not some man, not a name, not a headline."
Her eyes gleamed with clarity and resolve. "And when I finally meet someone I truly care about," she added, "he won't care about any of it either. If he does, then he's not the person I want to spend my life with."