After waiting several days, I finally received news about Matthew.But what surprised me was his astonishing decision, which truly made me see him in a new light.He decided to abandon Ardora and filed for bankruptcy.All ongoing construction projects would enter the auction process to alleviate the burden of high debts, helping him eliminate this baggage. I had not expected him to be so decisive in letting go of Ardora.This meant he was giving up everything from the past, returning to square one. It didn't seem like his usual style—he always wanted to be successful.However, his haste often led to failure, and this time he dug himself into a pit.Having lived with him for over a decade, I knew him too well. Since the day he first put on a suit, he had sworn to me that he would become successful in the future.But now, by giving up Ardora and returning to the starting point, he was even worse off than before.Back then, the Murphy family was still together and had a house for
"If I were interested, I could have taken over Ardora long ago," I scoffed. "I have better things to do."Atticus chuckled. "Looks like Matthew has woken up. This is a good thing, at least for you.""Yes, you're right,” I said calmly, suddenly remembering something. I smiled and told Atticus, "I want to tell you something. The follow-up design for San Cosbech is in progress!”Atticus laughed. "I was right.""It seems you understand your opponent well. I can rest easy now."After chatting for a while, we hung up. Carol walked in again and poured me a cup of coffee."Don't forget about the cocktail party today, Chloe.""What cocktail party?""The business networking event for the second half of the year," Carol reminded me."Oh," I replied unenthusiastically. "I won't go. It won’t benefit us. It's a waste of time, and I need to go home and spend time with Ava tonight.""But I have news that Liora will be attending," Carol said.I suddenly perked up. "She's going?""Yes," Caro
My appearance made Lauren burst into laughter. "You’d better tone it down. You're already every woman’s enemy. Be careful!""I'm not afraid. They can stare at me all they want," I declared confidently.My words made Lauren laugh again, and she pulled me to her wardrobe, wanting to ask my advice on which outfit to choose.I went through her clothes and recommended two sets. In the end, she chose a midnight blue pantsuit.The pantsuit coupled with her stylish short hair gave her a completely different look. It was a far cry from the petite and delicate Lauren of the past.With some light makeup, she looked animated and radiant.I stared at her, dumbfounded. "You’re completely different from the old Lauren I used to know.”Lauren smirked and said, "The old Lauren is dead. The new Lauren is going to forge her own path."When I heard what she said, I felt a great sense of relief.I just hoped she could find her happily after soon, then our lives would be perfect.But at times like
Liora's attire today was elegant, and the cast on her hand had been removed. She appeared calm, as if the criticism online didn't bother her at all. Her face showed no signs of embarrassment or guilt, and she seemed to have treated the insults as if they were directed at someone else.On the other hand, Vicky carried herself with arrogance.As she entered, she greeted the members of the socialite circle confidently.Then, she headed straight for a tall and elegant woman. Her back was turned to me, but her graceful silhouette and well-defined curves were visible. She had neatly coiled black hair with a few pearl accessories interspersed among it, creating a charming look.This hairstyle was not very common nowadays, but she managed to make it seem elegant and stylish, emphasizing her slender neck. Two pearl earrings dangled from her ears, adding a touch of charm to her overall appearance.Unfortunately, I couldn't see her face, but judging by her figure, she seemed to be a beauty
Liora greeted Oliver with a radiant smile, then pulled the beautiful woman over. The woman positioned herself beside Oliver, her back still turned to me.I signaled a waiter, grabbed a glass of wine, and strolled toward them. I needed to get a closer look at this woman who seemed to be getting close to Oliver with some hidden intentions.Just then, Atticus approached me.I smiled at Atticus and remarked, "It seems she has a purpose for being here today.""Hmm," Atticus said nonchalantly.After a moment, he added, "Looks like she's here for money."I raised an eyebrow, looking at Atticus. That woman certainly had his attention.At that moment, the mysterious woman laughed while talking to Oliver. Then, she subtly changed her position, giving me a full view of her face.Lauren was right. It was the woman from the clothing store.Curious, I asked Atticus, "What's her story?""She's an actress who was disfigured. Liora took her in when she was at her lowest after the incident. Sh
Suddenly, a figure appeared before us, swift as lightning. Before we could understand what was going on, a crisp sound resounded in our ears.The next moment, I saw Lauren holding her face. She shouted angrily, "What are you doing?"I quickly grasped the situation and stepped forward, challenging the woman. "Who do you think you are? How dare you hit someone like this? Are you out of your mind?"I glanced at Lauren's face, which was already swollen.Lauren pushed me aside and stepped forward, glaring at the woman who stood with hands on her hips."What are you doing? How dare you slap me?" Lauren questioned angrily.“What’s wrong with you?" The woman retorted arrogantly.She appeared to be around forty, and she had a plump figure. The once stylish dress now looked like a lifebuoy on her, and despite her carefully done makeup, she couldn’t hide the flaws on her face. She was clearly a troublemaker.I looked at the woman. My patience was wearing thin. "Why are you causing a scene
The crowd gasped. Even Lauren closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable. A dark figure suddenly appeared, blocking her from harm's way and embracing her tightly.A glass of wine splashed on that figure, staining the floor red.Everyone looked at the man holding Lauren. Surprisingly, it was Oliver. The murmurs among the townsfolk had been widespread, stating that Oliver had refused to marry Lauren.I silently sighed with relief. Harmony, who had undergone extensive cosmetic procedures and had been trailing behind Oliver, stood frozen. Her eyes were fixed on the unfolding drama.She could dream on if she thought she could flirt with Oliver!Lauren opened her eyes, and was surprised to find herself in Oliver's embrace. She hesitated for a moment before pushing him away.Oliver immediately held her waist and gently cradled her face. His eyes were filled with concern. "Lauren, are you hurt?"The onlookers were dumbfounded, struggling to comprehend the situation. Some were alrea
Evelyn shot me a glance, still glaring at me angrily. "You're no good either. A divorced woman with a kid daring to seduce someone like Atlas! None of you are any good!" She seemed determined to keep things vague.I took a step forward. "I'll ask you again, who told you this?"She stubbornly refused to make things clear. "It doesn't matter who told me. You two are just a pair of scheming women, trying to climb the social ladder by seducing men."Another resounding slap echoed.Philip was genuinely shocked by his wife's antics. It seemed like he had invited trouble upon himself."Why don't you tell me who said these things?" Philip shouted, his eyes blazing. I knew he was trying to divert attention, but his foolish wife wasn't cooperating."Why are you hitting me?!""Speak up!" Philip abandoned his usual refined demeanor and roared.I saw Vicky's mouth twitching as she quietly retreated into the crowd, attempting to blend in.Evelyn, covering her face, scanned the surroundi