I felt my heart drop when I heard that."Well, take care. Let's put it this way. You focus on recovering. If your health improves, we'll continue to collaborate on other small projects involving high-end doors." I painted a hopeful picture for him.I had to do this. I couldn't bear to see this strong man be so defeated.Sure enough, a hint of contentment appeared on his face. In reality, we both understood that this was just a verbal agreement. If his health didn't improve, our collaboration would naturally come to an end.Before saying goodbye, he said earnestly, "You're still young, Ms. Chloe. Health is wealth. Take good care of yourself. Don't push yourself too hard."These words, once spoken, became a motto etched deep in my heart, and a memory of Jordan.After I saw Jordan off, I was left with a heavy heart. It was clear that this man deserved respect, but all his dreams seemed destined to crumble because of his son.It was a tragic outcome.Carol reminded me that it was t
I withdrew my hand. "Mr. Vernon, you're too kind. Please, have a seat."Andrea kept her gaze on me, unmoving and unresponsive with an indifferent and distant demeanor. I didn't pay much attention to her.With her attitude, she really suited someone like Liora. It was no wonder they had become good friends.Eleanor then introduced another man, marketing manager at Surface Solutions. He was the one who had taken over Eleanor's position.As we took our seats, I asked Eleanor if she had ordered the food. However, Vernon quickly spoke up. "I've taken care of it, Ms. Chloe.""Since you're here, let's make ourselves at home," I said politely."Seeing is believing, and today we finally meet! What happened before was a misunderstanding, and fate led us to miss a good opportunity for collaboration. I hope we’ll be able to have a good chat this time."Vernon looked at me, eager to get to the point. It was clear he genuinely wanted to collaborate. This wasn't surprising. Surface Solutio
Of course, I understood the underlying meaning in Vernon's words. Vernon was not as magnanimous as he was handsome. He was a master at schemes.The glance he gave Eleanor hinted that she should help him navigate this situation.When I saw this couple’s true colors, I immediately felt at ease.So that was why the previous collaboration with Matthew had been so unpredictable. I had little faith in Vernon as I saw him exploiting Eleanor like this.It seemed Eleanor had been captivated by his looks. It also made sense now that she had sold the company to him to help her father.I smiled and began. "A few days ago, Eleanor talked to me about the collaboration with Surface Solutions. Unfortunately, I had to go to the capital to deal with something urgent there, so I couldn't see you."Vernon quickly responded, "You're too kind, Ms. Chloe. We really want to work with Tanum, so we wanted to meet you no matter what."He looked at Eleanor and added, "I won't hide it from you. I had a priv
I smiled faintly. "You're right, Mr. Ricky. The information you provided was limited. But Eleanor has brought me the latest data, and she’s meticulously explained it to me."Eleanor has been very thoughtful. After all, when promoting your brand, you need to speak with your strongest offerings, don't you agree, Mr. Ricky? You have to show me your best! Otherwise, how can I figure out if I should work with you or not? If the product has no selling points, why should I collaborate?"My tone was assertive.I noticed that Vernon's expression soured a bit, but his displeasure seemed directed at their marketing manager.Rumor had it that this marketing manager was a relative of Andrea’s.Vernon asked Ricky, "Why didn't you bring all the latest information?"Then he looked at Eleanor. "Did you get the latest information?"Eleanor immediately responded, "I got it from Johnson, the marketing manager at Ardora. It should all be up to date."Andrea quickly spoke up to defend Ricky. "We can
I silently praised her. Good! She was composed.Andrea also stared at Eleanor, surprised to see her carefree attitude. Eleanor didn't take the bait, leaving Andrea with no opportunity to expose Eleanor's flaws.This woman wasn't wise. Liora is more clever in this regard. No wonder she fell into Liora's trap.Seeing that Eleanor didn't respond, Andrea turned to Vernon. "What? Vernon, haven't you figured it out yet? She doesn't respect you at all!"Vernon's face darkened."You've been played by Eleanor. When she left Surface Solutions, she never wished well for it. Did you really think Eleanor would take your side? She's a backstabbing opportunist. Why else do you think she ended up at Tanum? Liora already mentioned it. Some people are just—"Vernon couldn't bear it any longer, turning to Andrea and shouting, "Shut up!" His loud reprimand startled me, and I observed Andrea's defiant expression.Andrea froze for a moment and suddenly screamed, "How dare you yell at me?! Why d
I continued, "But there was a breach of contract, and I regret that. However, Ms. Eleanor handled the aftermath exceptionally well. She assured me that if needed, she would go all out to coordinate with the leading distributors and act as a bridge for us. "After all, I made it clear that this involved construction materials. Although the breach disrupted our plans, fortunately, it didn't result in any losses." Of course, Andrea wasn't buying it. She played hardball, saying, "The villain has finally got a chance to turn things around, right?""Mrs. Andrea, it's not about me turning things around. It's about you losing the best opportunity!" I stared at her, confidently stating, "Otherwise, Surface Solutions would’ve been the supplier for the entire new Bourdamun project. Unfortunately, you messed up a good hand."I directly shifted the blame to Andrea, making Vernon regret deeply and exposing Andrea's true colors."After that incident, your friend Liora used it to propagate again
Eleanor said with a hint of helplessness, "Ms. Chloe is the wife of the CEO of ATL Empire."Her words shattered Andrea's arrogant demeanor.I calmly added, "Mrs. Andrea, it's not easy for us to meet today. There are a few things I'd like to say to you. Regardless of your relationship with Liora or what kind of friend you are to her, I can tell you that Avalon Hills has always been Tanum’s project."The atmosphere in the room became incredibly awkward, and Vernon's face had darkened beyond recognition.For a businessman, this was the most frustrating moment."I do not know the specifics of your negotiations when she persuaded you to move into Ardora. But from what I understand, she used you as bait to achieve her goal—to take over Ardora." Unfortunately, you've been used.""That's impossible..." Andrea's voice trembled."She's about to face a trial for trying to take over Ardora. If you're interested, I can notify you to attend as an observer. You can get a closer look at the mis
Arriving at the restaurant, I finally called Atlas. It turned out he was also having dinner with some guests. Surprised by the quick end of my meeting, he asked, "Why so soon?"With a triumphant tone, I replied, "It didn't go well. I just wanted to stand up for Eleanor, and she vented the anger that has been building up all these years.""Oh! Impressive! You messed up the meeting, yet you're still so happy. Should I come over? I'll have Dylan pick you up," he asked tenderly, his tone filled with indulgence.Eleanor looked at us with envy."No, thanks. Eleanor and I are at the seafood restaurant. We're in the mood for fish. Once you're ready, come and pick me up. We'll be waiting here," I told him."Alright, see you later," he said before we hung up.We ordered the fish we each wanted, chatting about the earlier events while enjoying the unique seafood. It was a delightful time.As we were about to finish, an unexpected incident disrupted our peace. Suddenly, a person appeared in
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