The elite team proved its worth, and two days later, the investigation results surprised everyone.Gavin had found Jonah, who had been missing for many years.When he wearily returned to the temporary office, everyone was present. It had become an unwritten rule for all of us to gather here in the evening, regardless of the investigation results. Gavin poured himself a large glass of water as soon as he came in, then said, "Finn, I'm hungry."Finn smiled and quickly said, "Dinner will be ready soon."After his announcement, Finn left to instruct the kitchen to prepare the meal. He had become our logistics manager.Soon, several dishes were served, just like in a restaurant. Sean inspected them and said, "Finn, you don't need to do all this in the future. Just make a big pot of food with some meat in it. That’ll be enough. It's too much trouble otherwise. But we have to eat meat as it sharpens our minds."Everyone chuckled at Sean's words. Finn just smirked. "Some of those dishes
"But when they arrived at the workshop, they still had some minor tasks to finish before leaving. Jonah waited for them in the workshop. He watched them work while chatting with them, and he noticed Byron tinkering with a car outside. He casually commented to the workers, 'What’s Byron up to again? Why is he checking the car on a rainy day? Maybe he has his eye on Mr. Eric’s car.’”As Gavin talked, Alvin listened motionlessly, gripping his fists tightly. It was clear he was very anxious. After all, this was the latest clue related to his father's death.Just then, all the food was served. Finn first gave Gavin a large bowl of food, then gestured for everyone to start eating.Lauren helped me and Atlas get some food before sitting beside us.Once everyone had filled their plates, Gavin continued, "Jonah said that when those workers heard his remarks, they looked at the parking area and jokingly commented, 'Jonah, you might be right; maybe he really does have his eye on Mr. Eric’s ca
Atlas patted my back gently to comfort me.Gavin had finished his meal. He wiped his mouth, sighed, and said, "When Eric was cremated, Jonah regretted it deeply and blamed himself for not trying harder to stop Eric. He cried inconsolably that day when he saw Eric’s wife and kids.""What happened next?" I asked.Finn hurriedly walked over and refilled Gavin’s plate. Gavin gave him a thumbs up."A few days later, he heard that Byron took over the cable factory. Jonah went to confront him and accused him of being up to something. Byron was very polite at that time and explained why he had taken over the cable factory. Jonah was furious.""Anyone would be angry. He was taking advantage of someone else’s crisis," someone commented, slamming the table.Lauren immediately countered, "He wasn’t just taking advantage of a crisis. He murdered someone for money.”"Why did Jonah leave Gerby then?" I asked."He had no choice. After that, Jonah was constantly attacked. He was innocent, but h
Gavin looked at Sean and asked, "How about you? Have there been any developments with the Chandler family?""Hazelyn has been behaving herself. Our preliminary investigation suggests that Beatrice is in that Chandler family villa. When Mrs. Chloe encountered Hazelyn at the mall, our surveillance team saw her entering the villa angrily. She left only half an hour later."My heart leaped to my throat, and I turned to Atlas, saying, "This is bad. She must have hurt Beatrice again. We need to rescue her immediately. Otherwise, she'll end up dead at Hazelyn's hands. This passive approach won't work."Atlas nodded, lost in thought.Finn looked anxious too. "Why don’t we rescue Beatrice first, Mr. Atlas, then figure out the rest later?""Every moment for Beatrice is an agonizing despair. My note must have given her hope, but she was moved so suddenly. She must be going through physical and mental torment right now." I added.Everyone agreed with my suggestion."What has Byron been up t
Three of us were going—myself, Atlas, and Cane. Cane had arrived with Nick yesterday to handle some follow-up business on the projects.Atlas's project team from ATL Empire consisted of top-notch global elites, including legal experts. Those professionals would respond swiftly to potential investment projects, ensuring a seamless progression.In the past few days, the projects in Gerby had become a focal point. But the ones Atlas were most optimistic about were not necessarily the most prominent. That was why Nick's team had returned to handle them.Cane was no ordinary special assistant. He, like Dylan, excelled in both literary and military pursuits. Atlas’s safety was naturally entrusted to Dylan and Cane.Dylan was currently dealing with something else, which left Cane by Atlas's side.The Chandler family greeted us warmly and sincerely when we arrived. Some of them seemed unwilling to do so, but they had no choice. Byron must have experienced the harsh reality of the busine
After introducing his family, everyone finally took their seats.Atlas remained aloof, his demeanor exuding an air of nobility that kept others at a distance.Byron pulled out all the stops today, exhibiting seamless cooperation with Gabriel. I kept a close eye on Gabriel, wondering why he would betray Beatrice without hesitation and even add insult to injury.Beatrice's mental health certification bore his signature, attesting to her supposed mental issues. It was evident how despicable this man was. If I were to say that the individuals in front of us were a bunch of beasts, it wouldn't be an exaggeration at all.I heard Byron ask Atlas, "Mr. Atlas, it seems you're making a substantial investment in Gerby."Atlas gave a faint smile. "Gerby has always been my investment target. It's just business.""Mr. Atlas, do you have any thoughts on collaboration?" Byron couldn't contain his excitement."We have our partners in every region. Of course, it depends on the nature of the pro
Byron noticed the distance between me and Hazelyn when we finally took our seats. "Mrs. Chloe, there was a bit of a misunderstanding between you and my daughter earlier. As adults, let's not dwell on trivial matters. I may have spoiled her a bit, and she lacks boundaries."I simply smiled, neither taking his lead nor being overly polite.He continued somewhat awkwardly, "My wife and I have always turned a blind eye to certain things. We believe in giving our daughter a comfortable upbringing. So, you see, she is a bit...spoiled."Byron chuckled sheepishly. "There's a saying that you don't really know someone until you've had a disagreement. I hope you two can become good friends. In the future, when Mr. Atlas invests in Gerby, you must come here often."Please don’t judge her too harshly. You've seen the world, Mrs. Chloe, while she's just a spoiled child. I hope you can guide her a bit." Byron's words were skillfully crafted, leaving me somewhat impressed.I smiled and glanced
Byron immediately turned his gaze toward Hazelyn, his eyes sharp and slightly threatening. Hazelyn seemed to sense the pressure emanating from her father's gaze, twitching the corner of her mouth reluctantly. She forced a smile at me, saying, "Oh no, don't take it to heart."Gabriel quickly intervened, "Mrs. Chloe, do you like Gerby?""It's hard to say I like it. I had a classmate here before, so I had some impressions of Gerby earlier," I replied casually.Byron immediately followed up, "Oh? You had a classmate here? What do they do?""We haven't been in touch for many years. I don't even know if they're still here or not," I said with an air of indifference.Byron softly exclaimed, "What's their name? I can help you check.""Oh? Do you have connections in the police station? That could really help me out. I've been searching for a long time with no luck," I deliberately inquired.Byron smiled. "Certainly, they must be a local in Gerby, doing business perhaps? You need a cert
Four months later, at a hospital in Foswood.After being wheeled out of the delivery room, I saw my entire family waiting for me outside.My grandmother, supported by Hana, walked up to me, trembling. "Chlo, my Chlo, you've been through so much!"Beside my grandmother was a girl who looked a lot like me, standing silently beside my grandmother. She was the one who had been crafted to be my counterfeit.What was even more dramatic was that the DNA test results had revealed that she was actually my parents' daughter. When we found out, we cried tears of joy. It was truly heaven-sent. From then on, I gained another sister, who was like a twin to me.Feeling a little weak, I looked at her kind smile and said, "Grandma! It's two boys!""We all saw them. They’re very handsome and healthy! I can finally rest assured. My daughter has a life partner now," Ivanna said as she eagerly squeezed by my side.Everyone burst into laughter. Jared reached out his long arm and pulled her back. "Com
I closed my eyes, trying hard to recall my dreams. Usually, this scenario always appeared in my dreams, but now I couldn't remember any details.Atlas looked at me indulgently. "Take your time, don't rush. Your mom will help us."I took a deep breath, clearing all the distractions from my mind. I seemed to see my mom holding my hand, eagerly walking into the woods, looking around and at the treetops. As we ventured deeper into the woods, I asked, "Where are you taking me, Mom? The woods are so dark. I'm scared! Don't go in, Mom. There might be wild animals!""Don't be afraid. I'm here with you. We need to find the tallest tree.""Why do we need to find the tallest tree?""So you can remember!""But I can't walk anymore. I'm scared!""Go sit on that rock for a while. I'll come to you.""A rock," I murmured as I suddenly opened my eyes.I quickly stood up, searching for a place with rocks."Search where there are rocks," Atlas instructed the others.Everyone dispersed quickly,
I gazed at Atlas's anxious face, his features wavering before my eyes. "Chlo... tell me what's wrong," he said, concern etched on his handsome face. I glanced around the room, noticing all our loved ones present, their faces filled with worry, both inside and outside the door.Closing my eyes, I nestled into Atlas's embrace. I felt exhausted like never before. With a soft murmur, I confessed, "I'm... I'm okay." My head throbbed fiercely with an unbearable sensation."I'm fine," I repeated before settling back into his arms, still as a statue. In my ears, the echoes of my dream lingered.A team of medical staff rushed in. Atlas patted me gently. "Let the doctors check you out, sweetheart. You've been out for 48 hours! Let them examine you, okay?"He eased me onto the bed. After the doctors finished their examination, they briefed Atlas on the results.I drifted back to sleep, this time for real, unaware of anything.When I woke up again, the room was bright. Blinking, I look
Ernest was truly shaken by the sight before him, visibly trembling in fear."Everyone in the car, get out! You have one minute." After Atlas's words, several red dots appeared on the foreheads of the people inside the car.The driver immediately wet himself in fear, raising his hands. "N-No... please!..."As his hand reached for the door handle to exit the car, Kenzie shot him dead. I screamed in terror, but at the same time, the man in the passenger seat slumped over, also dead.However, that shot came from a sniper outside.The others were dumbfounded. The two men beside me immediately grabbed their heads and crouched down."Get out of the car!" Kenzie shouted loudly.The two men beside me acted as if they had been granted clemency, reaching to open the car door and shouting, "Don't shoot!" Then, they rolled out of the car, clutching their heads."Kenzie... release Chloe... save me!" Ernest wailed, his appearance filled with disdain.Kenzie's voice trembled. "Ernest...""
"I really haven't seen anything. What are you talking about? My dad never told me about this!" I gritted my teeth, holding onto this secret, but it was clear they already knew about the existence of the survey maps."If you want your children to live, you better tell me the truth. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to show you no mercy. Let me tell you the truth, I didn't plan on leaving alive!" Kenzie's admission was chilling."Then if I die, bitch, I'll take you down with me. Oh... no, scratch that. It'll be you and your children. Haha… So, tell me!" She hit me with the back of the gun."Kenzie, you know how Atlas feels about me. He wouldn't let me be harmed. Do you really think he'd tell me too much? About those maps you mentioned, not only do I not know, but I haven't even seen them. “Even if they exist, my father would only tell him..." I appealed to Atlas's protective feelings toward me, a reasonable plea since most men would be protective of their loved ones, especially Atlas.Ju
I adjusted my breathing and asked, "What do you want to know?"Although I asked this, my mind raced. "He's been back for some time now and has said too much... You've got to tell me, what exactly do you want to know?""Louis and Rory had a secret between them. What was it?" Kenzie said, her voice dripping with malice."They…" I deliberately gasped loudly, buying myself some time. I knew Atlas would come to rescue me. My priority was to protect my children."They... two of them had a... sizable sum of money..." Since that money was already in our hands, I thought it would be futile even if they knew.Kenzie completely released her grip and then shoved my head forward abruptly. My body plunged forward, but quick reflexes saved me as I grabbed onto the front seat, steadying myself."What money? How much?" Kenzie seemed very interested."The amount is significant, but I don't know exactly." I played coy with her. After all, everyone was interested in money matters.Of course, Kenzi
The screech of brakes pierced the air, and a gray car halted right in front of me. Instinctively, I stepped back, unable to discern the make of the car before two individuals leaped out and swiftly pulled me into the vehicle. Simultaneously, a panicked cry sounded from behind me, "Chlo…"Before I could even assess the situation inside the car, it bolted forward."What do you want? Who are you people?" I struggled and shouted.Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind, gripping my neck tightly, and a chilling voice whispered, "Enough."With just those words, I instantly recognized the person. The voice was all too familiar.I steadied my nerves and spoke with feigned calmness, "Kenzie, you've got some nerve, attacking me in broad daylight. It seems like you're really desperate. What? Your plan failed, didn't it?"My neck was forcefully pulled backward. The sudden suffocation drove me to claw at the arm, choking me instinctively."Don't move! If you don't want to die so soon, beh
Atlas's face darkened as he uttered a curt "Hmm" and hung up the phone.Turning to Tristan, he said, "Escort Mrs. Chloe back to the office."He looked at me and softened his tone, "You go back to the office first, I'll come to pick you up later." Atlas expressed a hint of apology."Okay." I nodded.Tristan escorted me to my office and gave me some instructions before leaving.Then, my phone rang. It was a call from Trinity. I quickly answered, "Chlo, I'm about to head to the airport, I’m going to Yare. Do you have any messages for the old lady?"Her sudden question caught me off guard. I really didn't know what message to convey. After all, the old lady of the Avila family to me was just an impression from a photo."No. Let's talk after everything's settled. I'll arrange a time to visit her," I said lightly.Although the travel ban for me had been lifted with the situation becoming clearer, Yare was in turmoil, and I was pregnant. I didn't want to make any promises to the old l
Atticus carefully watched the agitated Mia as he sat in the wheelchair. He pulled out a document and held it out for the media to see."ATL Empire invested 10 billion in Echelon Group a month ago, intending to work together to build a new real estate development and construction field in Zydan. I regret to inform you that you’re no longer a significant shareholder in Echelon, Miss Mia."Even I was shocked by that investment certificate. I looked at Atlas, who seemed confident."To be more accurate, Echelon Group had already signed this agreement before I went to Celestis Island. The real largest shareholder of Echelon Group is ATL Empire. I’m just a partner."As you planned, the shares had long been diluted, but unfortunately, not by you, but by ATL Empire. But I still want to thank you for helping me remove the scum from Echelon Group and purifying Echelon’s ranks."Mia suddenly stood up and banged her fist on the table. She shouted, "Impossible! Atticus, are you playing me?""Y