I woke up the next day, and Atlas was nowhere to be found. Ava had already been sent to daycare, leaving me alone with Ivanna.My face had many scratches, and I wondered if the deeper wounds would leave lasting scars. They still hurt, too.Ivanna said, "Ryan came to see you. He told me to stay here and advised against going to the company. Chlo... "She hesitated, but I knew what she wanted to say."I'm fine," I reassured her. "Where's my car?""I’ve sent it for repairs. You shouldn't go out today!" She sounded urgent. "Let your face heal before making any decisions!""Alright." However, I was still thinking about yesterday's events. Atlas likely figured out that Celine had approached me based on those photos in my bag. One glance would’ve told him everything, so I asked Ivanna, "Where's my bag?""Huh? I don't know." She promptly got up and said, "I'll go check downstairs!"She soon returned with my bag, but I found the photos were gone.The close angles in those photos unne
Even though my body hurt, I quickly got out of bed. After pulling back the curtains and looking down, I spotted Stella at the door. How did she know where I lived? I didn’t recall telling her that I stayed at Amethyst Apartments.She rang the doorbell twice more before I opened the door. Stella had a bright smile on her face as she stepped inside, holding a basket of fruits. She had an innocent expression as if she wouldn't hurt a fly."Ms. Stella!" I smiled and asked, "How’d you find this place?""Well, you sure went through a lot!" She walked in and looked around as if she owned the place. "Your house is nice, very classic!""Please, have a seat! Can I get you something to drink? I have coffee and tea!""Anything is fine. Don't trouble yourself!" She cheerily followed me. "How did this happen? It's truly terrifying. Did you offend anyone? How’d you end up kidnapped?"She seemed well-informed about my situation, which perplexed me."Wow, the news traveled fast!" I chuckled, t
I was utterly shocked by what I saw in the surveillance footage. There was no mistaking it—her smile was gloating.This revelation of her smile sent shivers down my spine. What was her true motive? Did she visit me just to revel in my misery?I started to wonder if she was behind the attack. If Celine had a hand in this, Stella would be the first one to know.No, no, no! It couldn't be. She couldn’t possibly want to take my life, would she?I sat on the bed in a daze with my head in my hands, not noticing when Atlas had returned. I didn’t hear him as he came to my room.Seeing my troubled expression, he rushed to me and touched my shoulder. I screamed and pushed him away frantically. "Chlo, it's me!" Atlas quickly embraced me, enveloping me in his familiar scent. Only then did I relax, realizing it was him who had returned.I looked at him, my fear slowly fading away. He looked concerned. "Don't be scared. What happened? Hm?"I let out a sigh and shook my head faintly. I did
Ryan called to check on my injury just as I considered heading to the office that morning.When I arrived, he spotted me and rushed over to check my face. "Is everything okay? Will it leave a scar? Does it still hurt?"My face had improved quite a bit over the past few days. The deeper scratches had faded to faint marks, and the finer ones were barely noticeable. It didn't look as bad as it did initially.He then pulled me to sit on the sofa and updated me on recent happenings at the company. Celine had ordered the abandonment of the land, leading to the Echelon Group's victory. "Celine gave up?" I asked skeptically."It seems like she’s trying to slow Atlas's growth."I was surprised and asked, "Are you suggesting she's sidelining Atlas to diminish his influence?" “Our joint project with ATL Empire isn't looking great."I mused silently over the ongoing contracts. "It looks like it’s going to get rough. Thankfully, Heartland Estates can step in now." "The projects already
Those distant lights instantly illuminated my entire world. My heart leaped with joy, and I rushed downstairs, fumbling to put the dishes in the microwave. The excitement made my hands tremble.I ran to the bathroom to check my appearance and look my best for Atlas. I wanted him to know I’d always be there for him. More than anything, I hoped we could celebrate his birthdays together from now on.Finally, the door was pushed open. I eagerly said, "You're back!"Atlas seemed disoriented and was surprised to see me. He pulled me into his arms. "Why are you still awake?"The air smelled strongly of alcohol. I'd never seen him drink this much before. I quickly led him to the dining table. When he was seated, I lit the birthday candles and said, "Happy birthday! I hope every day will be as wonderful as today! Make a wish!”I saw him slowly rise while looking at me. His expression had darkened."What did you say, Chloe?" His drunken eyes turned icy and intense. "What did you just say
I gazed at the kitchen and dining area I had cleaned before washing my face. However, I didn’t return to my room. Instead, I went to Ava’s room and lay beside her. Surprisingly, I fell asleep almost immediately.Ava had already been awake and playing with her dolls when I woke up. After some thought, I told her, “Let’s change our clothes. I’ll take you out for breakfast and then to the office. If there’s nothing urgent, we can visit Grandma and Grandpa, okay?”Ava cheered and asked if she could bring her doll with her.Meanwhile, I called Ryan and told him I’d come by later. I helped Ava prepare, found her winter clothes, and packed them in a small suitcase. I also packed my belongings before we left.We went to the office after breakfast. Although it was Ava’s first time here, she quickly became the office princess. Carol brought her around while I dealt with a few matters with Ryan. I also told him I wanted to return to my hometown today to fetch my parents.Ryan looked me up an
I got drunk that night, so Ryan had to send me home. When we exited his car, he carried me on his back. I giggled and refused to go inside.He walked around the neighborhood with me on his back while recounting everything that happened during my freshman year. I remembered how nice he had been to me. Eventually, I fell asleep on his back.I didn't remember how I returned to my room, but I felt at ease. I was no longer afraid since my parents were there to care for Ava. I felt like I could do whatever I pleased.Suddenly, a series of phone calls woke me. My head still pounded, and I knew it was a holiday. I silenced my phone and buried my face in the pillow, forcing myself not to overthink. However, I couldn’t sleep or shake the pain in my heart anymore.Suddenly, my phone rang again.I picked up my phone and saw Atlas’s name. After some hesitation, I finally answered. After all, I had longed for him to call me."Yeah?" My voice was hoarse from just waking up."Why didn't you ans
I didn’t know whether to answer since Atlas was calling.Meanwhile, my dad seemingly assessed my emotions. I reluctantly answered the call. The voice on the other end said, “I’m at the airport. Come and pick me up.”I was speechless at his command. He usually had assistants around him but still wanted me to pick him up. I wondered if he considered me a chauffeur or a servant.“Sorry, I have guests at home and can’t come—” I replied indifferently.Before I could finish, he hung up. I nearly cursed him aloud for hanging up on me again. I was about to leave my phone on the coffee table when I received a text. It was a picture of Ryan with bags in hand.Below it, the message read, “Is this the guest you must stay home for? When did he become so important that you can’t leave? Ava must be waiting for me to have dinner with her.”I was outraged while looking at the message. I thought Atlas was bold for accessing the surveillance footage at my house."What do you want?" I returned his
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