Liora looked like she had misunderstood something. She glared at Kate, asking, “Did I mishear you?”"Yes, Mrs. Liora, I’ll process your membership cancellation immediately," Kate became more assertive and called the head of the membership department to start the procedure."Wait!" Liora roared, "Kate, what do you mean by this? Tell your boss to explain things to me!”"I'm sorry, Mrs. Liora. Please don't make things difficult. It’s my boss’s decision.""What do you mean? Why won't you process hers?" Liora was outraged, forgetting her reputation. Her friends also became agitated. "Exactly. Why are you canceling ours?"Liora stepped forward and glared daggers at Kate. "Do you want me and my friends to cancel our memberships?”"Mrs. Liora, since you insist on canceling, I can only comply. If I cancel theirs, we'll have to close the spa immediately. So, I'm sorry, Mrs. Liora." Kate paled despite her anger.“Why would you need to close?!” Liora exclaimed."Because these two ladies' h
Soon, the remaining patrons got their turns while I went inside with Elanor.Kate came in to tell me that they had prepared the best masseur for us. During the massage, Eleanor and I discussed what had just happened. She smiled, and we grew closer.Afterward, I took her to a nearby Crispy Crust. Most knew the restaurant for its pizzas, and we ate while continuing our conversation. Eleanor told me about how she had met her boss. I knew she was capable, and I felt tempted to be on her side.I tried probing, “What will you do if the boss’s wife gives you a hard time?”“I haven’t thought that far, but I’ve been involved with him for a long time. I don’t want to make things awkward for my boss, but I don’t want to continue life like this. Perhaps I must decide soon. Maybe I’ll leave him.”"Have you thought it through?" I asked."There’s nothing much to consider. My boss can’t give me what I want, and I can’t stay by his side forever. I don't want to work hard for him only to get nothi
When he spotted me, he got excited as if he had just won the lottery."Chloe, what a coincidence! You're here early, too? We were planning to go together. I wanted to see our daughter as soon as possible!" He stepped out of his car and briskly walked toward me.I put some distance between us. I wasn't keen on our daughter going out to dinner with him. Firstly, I didn't trust him at all. It also felt like a stab in the heart.I quickly dialed my mother's number, fearing she might run into Matthew. I didn't want her to feel upset.Only then did I welcome our daughter out. Upon seeing Matthew, Ava hesitated for a moment. She instinctively looked up at me, and I understood her feelings. This child had learned to read the room.Matthew, on the other hand, seemed natural. "Hey there, princess! Did you miss Daddy? Let me have a look!"Ava didn't move, keeping her gaze on me."Say something, honey. Your dad wants you to join him for dinner. He was busy yesterday, so today, he's maki
As I expected, Melanie approached Matthew like an enraged bear when she got out of the cab. She took a staggering step toward Ava.I cried out in alarm and rushed forward, embracing Ava tightly. Melanie viciously grabbed my hair and yanked my head backward.Ava was instantly frightened, crying loudly, "Mommy... Mommy..."The stunned onlookers let out a collective gasp. No one dared to intervene with the heavily pregnant woman."Matthew, have you gone mad? You dare sneak around behind my back to meet them? I'll finish off these two wretched women. Let's see if you'll still be cozying up to them!" She cursed vehemently while fiercely tugging at my hair. I was forced to tilt my head back, struggling to free myself from her grip. However, the space was too confined, and I feared accidentally bumping into her belly. After all, she was well into her pregnancy, and I worried I might cause harm.Our child cried out hoarsely, and I could hear Matthew shouting, "Melanie, what the he
With trembling hands, I called Johnson to pick up Matthew's car. I waited until Johnson arrived and gave him instructions before leaving with Ava. No matter what, Ava didn't want that toy that Matthew gave her. Back at home, Ava rushed into her grandmom's arms with a loud cry. My mom looked at me, puzzled, and I briefly explained what had happened. My parents let out a deep sigh. That night, I slept with Ava. She told me with a quiver in her voice that she never wanted to see her dad again.I was at a loss for words. Faced with such a dad, I couldn't even defend him. From today's events, I could see how miserable Matthew's days would be in the future.I comforted Ava and shared some simple wisdom with her, teaching her to be a responsible and good person. I wasn't sure how much she understood, but I didn't want her mind to be filled with darkness.Johnson finally called me late at night. He said, "Chlo, don't worry! She's okay.""What about the baby?" I asked worriedly."The
I was utterly floored, unsure how to answer her because I couldn't possibly make that decision.Ava looked at me with hopeful eyes as if my response held her greatest wish.I had no choice but to say, "I will try my best!"She smiled through her tears and said, "Ava will work hard with you, Mommy! Uncle Atlas would be the best Daddy!"Seeing her smile again as she ran into the classroom, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I turned and headed back to the car, making my way to the office. I arrived early today. Some people hadn't even shown up yet. I sat back in my chair, unable to stop picking up that pen and clutching it tightly. What results could I possibly achieve by my efforts?However, I knew that Atlas was working hard, too, and I had to trust him.On Tuesday, Eleanor called. She told me she had made up her mind to leave.I instantly got excited. "That's great! When will you start?"She hesitated, saying it would take a few more days. I didn't quite understand, but
I glanced at Grayson and said, "It seems Stella has some issues. You know about Atlas's parents' plane crash, right?""Yes." "We should investigate Stella's father, Rory." My intuition told me there might be a connection there."That's exactly what I was thinking. I've already given the order, and they're investigating Rory!""Atlas mentioned that his parents' plane crash wasn't straightforward. I want to know why he believed that," I stated. "Let's focus on this aspect of the investigation. Having multiple angles can be beneficial."Grayson agreed, albeit with some hesitation.I paused and said, "Grayson, regardless of your previous relationship with Atlas, I hope you'll support me now. Even though there are feelings between Atlas and me, I don't want you to link us together. I have my own goals and inquiries."Grayson nodded solemnly, "Understood, Ms. Chloe!"I smiled. "You know, this affects my direction of development, and... my choices!""Yeah, got it!" He seemed to unde
“Hmph, who else would be a handful?” Ivanna growled, “I swear that woman’s digging her own grave.”“Calm down, Ivanna. We’ll talk when we meet later.” I interjected, trying to avoid a rant.I received another call as we talked. I glanced at my phone and saw Atlas’s name, so I told Ivanna, “Hang up. I have another call.”When she ended the call, I answered Atlas’s, “Hello.”"Who were you talking to?" he asked."Ivanna."“Oh. Come to Pleca Park after work tonight,” Atlas said firmly.“Sure!” I blushed but replied sweetly, “Aren’t you busy?”“What do you think?” He sounded flirtatious, “You can help me relax.”“Stop that!” I lost my breath, thinking of how shameless he was.He laughed, saying, “Do you know what you want to eat? I’ll prepare it for you.”“I’m meeting the girls for local food soon. I’d prefer something lighter in the evening,” I replied confidently.“That sounds doable. You can hang up now.”I imagined how he looked after ending the call. I leaned on my desk wh
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