I only snapped out of it when Atlas kissed me, his agile tongue playfully circling in my mouth. He embraced me tightly."You look so beautiful in sportswear, baby." He looked at me with narrowed eyes. "How can sportswear make you look like a fairy? Are you a goddess?""You surprised me. Why are you so handsome?" I couldn't help but tease him back.He said earnestly, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have looked so good and made you worry."His words amused me, and I dove into his arms."We're too much."He laughed and kissed me again before reluctantly letting me go, whispering sweetly, "I'll kiss you good tonight."Suddenly, he lifted me up and strode outside.As he walked, he said, "We'll be late if we don't hurry. Our princess is going to scold us."I patted his back. "Put me down. The servants might see us."Instead, he gave my butt a playful smack. "Behave."I laughed until tears welled up in my eyes.He finally put me down at the staircase and held my hand as we descended t
The two little ones were very excited and eagerly discussed what was going to happen today.Ava was brimming with anticipation and pointed at the prizes on the award podium. "Daddy, look, there are prizes."Atlas asked confidently, "What prize do you want, Ava? Tell me.""Are you sure? Will we definitely get a prize?" Ava questioned, looking at Atlas.Atlas nodded confidently, asserting, "Daddy has never lost at anything before."Ava's expression immediately brightened. She pointed at the biggest dolphin plushie on the podium. "I want that baby dolphin, Daddy. Jenny says she likes the little bear.""Okay, I’ll get one for each of you. Let's make our dreams come true and do our best. Are you feeling confident?" The two little ones shouted in unison, "Yeah!" Their enthusiasm was overwhelming.I felt immensely proud. Jenny had been brought here by Atlas to accompany Ava, but when she was around us, she was no different from our child, especially since Atlas treated her as his own
I couldn't help shaking my head. I looked at Atlas and sighed. "My goodness, were we like that when we were kids?" With a serious expression, Atlas said, "You followed me everywhere back then and never left my side."I was speechless.As I sat next to Atlas, I watched Ava, who had an arrogant look on her face. I chuckled and said, "Look how conceited you've made our daughter. Isn't she being a little too shameless?"Atlas responded proudly, "It’s true, though. Her parents are something to be proud of."This man was behaving even more shamelessly.I was puzzled. Didn’t she have any of my genes? Why was she so much like him?He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Don't you think we’re the most affectionate, harmonious, and well-matched couple among all these parents?"I smiled and shamelessly said, "You’re absolutely right. My husband is the most handsome man of all."When he heard me say that, he kissed me suddenly, startling me. I quickly looked around, sure that people had
More than twenty families participated in the competition, and it was a hilarious sight. Families were tumbling over each other, adopting all sorts of poses.Due to the lack of coordination, just as one person managed to stand, another might accidentally knock them down. Two couples even stumbled right at the starting point after a few steps.Thankfully, the track was made of rubber, so it wouldn't be too painful even if someone fell.Seeing the chaos behind us, I burst into laughter. Ava stared at Atlas's face, asking, "Dad, are we the first?"Right behind us, another couple had reached the finish line. Just like us, they turned back to look behind with hearty laughter.Ava wasn't sure if we were the first ones to arrive.Atlas kissed Ava's cheek and proudly declared, "Of course, we're the first!"Ava became ecstatic, hugging his neck and cheering loudly.The next activity was a craft project. This time, we teamed up with Jenny. The task was to create a hanging decor.Atlas
Atlas immediately carried me back to the room and placed me on the bed. He earnestly said, "I'll help you sleep better, then you can have a good night's rest."I knew just what he meant by helping me sleep better. Before I could object, he kissed me, and things took their course.In the end, I had no idea how I fell asleep.Even though I reminded myself to wake up early the next day, I still ended up oversleeping. When I woke up, Atlas had already gone to the office.I muttered curses under my breath. How could he have so much energy? It seemed like our bodies were made differently, with different physical conditions. He would be lively and energetic every time, while I would be left with an aching back and waist.I started questioning if I was getting old.After quickly freshening up, I stumbled downstairs to have a hearty breakfast. Then, I grabbed my bag and hurried down to the office.Even with the rush, I was late when I arrived at the office.When Carol saw me, she quic
Carol didn't take long outside before returning. She whispered, "Looks like the general manager hasn't arrived yet. I overheard the secretary calling him."I was a bit dissatisfied. We had an appointment, and he hadn't even shown up yet. This was quite unprofessional.Eleanor whispered again, "Word is, the factory just got a new owner, and the old one is sick.""Quick, prepare the information on that Jaxford you mentioned! Get me a detailed report," I quietly instructed Eleanor. "We need to be prepared for anything.""Got it."After finishing a cup of coffee, the general manager's office door finally opened.A young man in a tailored suit swaggered in. He arrogantly glanced at us and walked straight to his desk, plopping down in his chair.He appeared drowsy and had a dull complexion. He had clearly pulled an all-nighter, as evidenced by his prominent panda eyes. He probably wasn't fully awake yet.The secretary walked in, about to speak, when the manager interrupted, "In the f
I observed the man in front of me as if I were watching a play. He embodied the typical heir. His expression left me somewhat stunned. His change of demeanor was also remarkably swift.At this moment, we only heard his voice, smooth and musical."Yvette, what made you think of me?" His smile was flattering. I wondered what kind of girl was on the other end.The secretary's face had turned extremely unpleasant. She kept glancing at me with a forced smile. I could tell she was genuinely helpless, suffocating in frustration."Ms. Chloe, apologies for keeping you waiting. Mr. Jesse was negotiating a contract late into the night. So, today—" She couldn't even finish her sentence.The man didn't care about us. He was flirting over the phone. Eventually, they agreed to have lunch together, and only after ending the call did he reluctantly wave us over.Looking at the time on his phone, he gestured, "Come, come. Hurry up. There's no need for too much discussion. You've got the contract
Behind me, Carol had long reached her limit. She couldn't contain the anger brewing in her any longer. With a swift motion, she took the contract I handed her and tore it to shreds."You guys...""Ms. Chloe..."Jesse and his secretary spoke up together.The secretary quickly grabbed my arm. "Ms. Chloe, please calm down."Jesse slammed his phone onto the desk. "You guys are audacious! Do you not want to work together anymore?""That’s right!" I locked eyes with Jesse. "From today onward, Tanum cancels all cooperation with Yorksen.""Ms. Chloe, please don't." The secretary panicked and grabbed my arm. "I'll call the ex-boss right away. Please calm down."I glanced at her coldly. "There's no need for that."Brushing off her hand, I turned and walked out. The secretary, now pale with fear, followed me out.Jesse's furious roar echoed behind us, but the secretary had no choice but to stop and return to mediate.Once we were out of Yorksen, I instructed Eleanor, "Contact the two d
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