Atticus exuded maturity and a hint of worldly experience, unlike Atlas. The former smiled at me, saying, “It’s okay. I can handle my liquor. This issue has weighed on my heart for over a decade. I couldn’t talk about it since I had no one to confide in. Chloe…”He pointed to his chest and continued, “It hurts a lot. Did you ever expect the grand CEO of Echelon Group to be stepped on consistently for a decade? How can I swallow that humiliation?”I didn’t know how to console him.“You stirred things up and gave me a helping hand. Although you always say it was accidental, you gave me an excuse to vent my frustrations. That’s also why Liora hates you.”I was in disbelief. “I thought Liora was just vindictive. I never thought…”Atticus continued in a hushed tone, “It was too sudden at that time. Everything developed too quickly for them to respond. This time…”I couldn’t believe my ears. I felt uneasy as I asked, “Are you sure?”He nodded solemnly, and a chill ran down my spine. Su
I chuckled, thinking Ava was indeed attached to me. However, I had been so busy that I hadn’t spent much quality time with her. Honestly, I felt guilty about it.Since my mom told me not to enter the music room, I sat with her in the small living area upstairs instead. I leaned against her affectionately, as it had been a long time since I felt this close to my mom, especially after learning about my true identity.I felt an unusual comfort as I rested against her. However, Atlas’s description of Lucille’s final moments flooded my mind, sending shivers down my spine. My mom glanced down at me and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”She instinctively palmed my forehead to check for signs of illness. I quickly reassured her, “No, I’m just tired from today.”“Then go to bed. You’ve been through a lot, dear,” my mom spoke softly.I murmured, “I’m waiting for Atlas to get back. I have something to tell him.” Suddenly, my nose tingled, and I silently uttered, “My poor mother died tragi
Her tone conveyed a hint of sorrow."Mom, why would you go back to Bibury when I'm here?" I asserted without any doubt. "It's just me. Wherever I am, you should be, too."I spoke a bit urgently."And look at Dad, he's adapting so well to the weather and environment here. See how happy he is every day. He's busy but enjoying it. I feel like he's quite familiar with this place."On the other hand, he wasn't accustomed to the climate back in Bibury. I remember he used to get sick every winter. But since you guys came here, has he been ill at all?"It was just something I mentioned casually, but I noticed my mom's expression was quite unnatural. I couldn't help but have a guess. Could it be…At that moment, Ava ran out, and she joyfully ran over. "Uncle Atlas, Mommy, you're back!"She rushed for hugs and kisses, asking Atlas to lift and spin her around.Atlas did just that, and suddenly, the entire second floor felt like it was buzzing with excitement. I was speechless.This moved
Upon hearing Adrian's voice, I instantly felt more alert."Ms. Chloe, sorry to disturb you." Adrian was always so polite."No, not at all. I was planning to call you a bit later, but I completely forgot. Tell me." I quickly rubbed my temples to shake off the drowsiness.I almost forgot such an important matter.Adrian quickly got to the point. "I'm meeting Matthew again. There are some issues I want to discuss with him. However, the situation doesn't look optimistic, especially at this time. The opposing parties are uniting and planning to appeal, which is unfavorable for Matthew's case.""Earlier this afternoon, Johnson called me. I've also seen the noise they're making on the internet. It's clear that they're doing everything they can to eliminate Matthew," I whispered."We must present strong evidence to prove that Matthew's materials fully comply with the standards for a chance to win the lawsuit," Adrian stated bluntly. "But considering the current situation, it's very chall
Atlas remained silent, only tightening his arm around me to draw me closer.I muttered to myself, "Does this promise hold any value? Even though I may not directly act against him, how can I distance myself from everything he's done?"Although I'm well aware that Liora is scheming here, if he hadn't teamed up with her and stood proudly against me, how would we end up in this situation today?"I tilted my face upward, gazing at Atlas's handsome features, and helplessly said, "On the other hand, I have to admit, Liora has quite a fighting spirit. I bow down to her tactics regarding scheming and hurting others. She's truly remarkable."Atlas embraced me tighter, speaking softly, "Don't exhaust yourself by thinking too much. Let things flow naturally."Worriedly, I said, "If we don't confront Liora, it's like leaving a menace behind. It's like raising a tiger. She'll come back to bite me. Do you think her intentions are solely aimed at Matthew this time?""It's not at all. By joining
He had a confident smile, holding me tighter. "Alright, our task now is to sleep. You're heading to Bourdamun tomorrow, right? The matters in Bourdamun are crucial. Other things can wait."Without further ado, he lifted me and carried me into the bedroom, placing me on the bed. His hands rested on either side of me as he said, "Get some rest. I have a few things to handle. Sleep, and I'll be back in a moment."I could only nod. I was genuinely exhausted.He leaned down and greedily kissed my lips before straightening up, turning off the bedroom lights, and quietly exiting.Watching him disappear from my sight, I felt a slight sense of loss. I wanted to spend the night with him.I snuggled under the covers. I had to go to Bourdamun tomorrow, and a whole day of meetings awaited. The groundbreaking ceremony couldn't be neglected, especially considering its importance. There couldn't be any room for error.I didn't know what was happening lately. I felt unusually tired.Perhaps it w
I felt a pang of heartache. It was my first time seeing my child in such a state. The others involved were boys.Suddenly, my expression turned cold as I looked at the teacher. "What exactly happened? How did it get to this?"The two teachers from Ava's class were in the office, both looking panicked.They knew what had happened to Ava, so they called me. I was certain they didn't dare call Atlas.Before the teacher could speak, Ava recounted the incident while crying, "Mommy, Joseph from my class insulted me... He said I'm the daughter of a criminal. He called me a bastard, said my dad is bad, and said you are shameless for being a mistress..."Her words surprised me. How could such young kids speak such vulgar words? These weren't things children should say! It was complete and malicious slander!I looked at the teacher. "Where did they learn these words? Why didn't you intervene?"As soon as I spoke, a plump woman stepped forward, trembling. She pointed at me and scolded, "
Amidst the chaos, the woman took advantage of Ava hugging my thigh to attack me since I couldn’t move. She grabbed my hair and cursed, "How dare you hit me? This is what you get for messing with me."The room was a mess. The two teachers scrambled to intervene again to stop the couple from beating me up.Jenny bravely went forward to bite the woman's leg, which made her scream in pain and throw Jenny to the ground.I was worried that Jenny might get hurt if she tried again, so I quickly shouted, "Stay put, Jenny!"Little Ava was scared and could not stop crying. Carol tried to stop the man, but he pushed her away while I tried to shield Ava.After getting rid of all the obstacles in his way, the man lunged at me. His wife gripped my hair, while he aimed for my head.The others in the room gasped, but it was too late to stop him. I watched his fist come at me, feeling like prey that could not move in the face of its predator. He got closer, and I closed my eyes, resigned to my f
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