Lauren had booked a luxurious suite with its own hot tub. However, my dad was old-fashioned and preferred to soak outdoors, so we reluctantly let him go.Ava was thrilled to visit this kind of place for the first time. She kept admiring her swimsuit and dancing in the mirror. My mother joined the fun, and they both had a great time.Lauren and I continued to discuss the state of ATL Empire. She expressed her helplessness and said, "This time, I really don't know what to do. Nobody can get in touch with Atlas.""Don't blame yourself. I'm well aware of this. Pleca Park is off-limits now that he’s injured and there for treatment. Plus, Celine has arranged for her own people to guard him. It's as if he's under house arrest."I was getting more anxious after learning he’d be treated in Monora. Something didn't seem right. He would be taken to Monora unaware and can’t defend himself if Celine tried to hurt him."I've received word that they plan to send him to Monora for treatment," I c
I was feeling incredibly anxious, and my hands were clenched. The door finally swung open, and I peered inside, looking at the spot where I had seen Dylan. The food on the table remained, but there was no sign of him.Disappointed, I approached the room to see what was inside. The person who opened the door blocked my path and demanded, "Who are you looking for?"Lauren smiled at the man and said softly, "Why so aggressive? I'm looking for Mr. Dylan. I have something to discuss with him."I was amazed by Lauren’s courage. The man was unconvinced and said, "Who's Mr. Dylan? There’s no such person here!”"I saw him just now!" Lauren replied, clearly frustrated. "I just wanted to ask him something. It’ll be quick!”He stepped aside and said, "Find him then. See for yourself which one is Mr. Dylan."I quickly grabbed Lauren’s hand to prevent her from going in."It's fine then if he’s not in. Maybe we made a mistake," I said, dragging Lauren back to our room. She looked at me and
When the elevator dinged on her floor, I was confused. I looked up just as the elevator doors opened.Flustered by what I saw when the doors opened, my face turned red. I felt embarrassed and didn’t know where to look.Perhaps sensing something, the two people inside the elevator quickly separated and turned to face me.I hastily waved and said, "I didn't see anything! You can continue!"The two individuals in the elevator were Ivanna and another man. The man was tall and well-built, and I didn't dare to look too closely."Chlo!" Ivanna called out, her face flushed. She quickly stepped out of the elevator and grabbed my arm. I could smell a faint scent of alcohol on her. It appeared that they had been drinking."I-I haven't seen you for a while, and I just returned from Solaris," I stammered. When I noticed the man exiting the elevator, I hurriedly fled inside. "I'll talk to you tomorrow!""Chlo!" Ivanna’s face was still red. "Are you sure you're okay?""Yeah, let’s talk on
I was startled by my thoughts. When did I become so trusting of him?I shook myself out of my thoughts and continued scrolling through my phone. The comments and opinions were still pouring in. People were expressing a wide range of views.A closer inspection revealed three main discussion groups. Most supported giving power to Celine. Atlas's condition was critical, so leaving a large corporation without a leader was unwise. Even if Atlas was incapacitated, the company needed management and decisions made. Another group was focused on protecting Atlas's interests. They strongly opposed Celine's ATL Empire consolidation. They said she was overstepping and questioned why she took control while Atlas was incapacitated. It seemed like an opportunistic power grab.Then, there was a neutral group advocating for balance. These individuals acknowledged the need for leadership but were cautious about letting any one person have too much control.These discussions were growing and showing
I was completely stunned by what I witnessed, and my limbs felt unresponsive. I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming.The small plaza beneath ATL Empire was lined with a grand procession of cars. Several well-dressed bodyguards emerged from these vehicles, creating an almost otherworldly barrier against the journalists.At first, I wondered if I had overlooked some important celebrity, but what I saw next was beyond belief.A tall figure emerged from one of the Maybachs. His mere presence earned screams from a crowd of girls, and it was difficult not to be captivated by him.I watched in wide-eyed amazement as the reporters lost their composure. Could it be... Atlas?The Atlas I had lost countless nights of sleep over?His stern countenance, sharply defined features, and regal demeanor all made him appear as if he were a king returning to his realm. His impeccable black suit accentuated his air of solemnity.He seemed invincible.With measured steps, Atlas exited the car, calmly fas
I gazed doubtfully at him. Could he have deceived me, too?It seemed that within Atlas's intricate web, I was the only one kept in the dark. I felt like a pawn expertly manipulated in this game, and I remained oblivious to the truth.My intense scrutiny may have surprised Grayson, and his mouth twitched. "Chlo."I smiled wryly. "Is there anything else I should know? The fact that he played me is, in fact, the best news I've heard yet.""Chlo, do you suspect me of betraying you, too?" Grayson asked.I fell silent. Even Atlas, Nick, and Dylan had all deceived me. Who could I trust now?Did Atlas not realize how devastating this would be for me? I had spent countless sleepless nights worrying if he was alive. It all turned out to be a lie.I looked at Grayson. "Tell me, are there any further updates?""Apart from Nocturnia, all the ATL Empire accounts in other countries have been frozen."I instantly understood."It seems this time, it's quite the grand move," I murmured. Even
At that moment, Celine decided on a second-best option and relinquished all operational rights to ATL Empire. She imposed one condition—Atlas had to marry Stella on a date of her choosing. After the wedding, they could merge the Pierce Corporation with the ATL Empire, and she would retire.She didn’t expect Atlas to refuse in front of all the shareholders. He wouldn't accept Celine's proposal, he wouldn't marry Stella, and he wouldn't integrate the Pierce Corporation. Instead, he permanently handed over the Pierce Corporation to Celine, firmly closing the door to any further involvement between the two companies.This left Celine in shock. She never anticipated that Atlas would be so unwavering.In other words, the ATL Empire completely severed ties with the Pierce Corporation and emerged as an independent entity. I understood why Atlas chose to establish the headquarters of ATL Empire in Jitador rather than Nocturnia.Celine had no further connection to ATL Empire. She was no
I sighed heavily as we left ATL Empire. Carol sensed my mood and offered to drive. I handed her the car keys without a second thought and got into the car. As I looked at the building through the car window, I smiled bitterly. Its existence felt almost like a mirage to me, something that might vanish at any moment. It was possible that I was just a silly presence from the start, or maybe even just a shield.Back at the office, I was in low spirits. Carol kept the staff away from me and left me alone in my office. I sat in my chair and stared out the window, trying to piece together the entire process of knowing Atlas. Despite remembering every detail, I couldn't make sense of our relationship.I lost track of time. Eventually, Carol knocked on the door, holding an invitation card. She asked softly, "Ms. Chloe, ATL Empire is hosting an appreciation party for old clients tonight at Starlight International. Are you...going?"Since we were also clients of ATL Empire, I had no reason