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

As our conversation continued, we lost track of time. Carol eventually came to remind me, "Ms. Chloe, it's almost time to leave. Are you still planning to attend the reception?"After a brief moment of contemplation, I decided that we should get ready to go together. Carol glanced at Grayson, her face slightly flushed. I didn't dwell on the subtleties of their interaction and promptly told Grayson, "I'll head home first."I went downstairs and quickly left the office before rush hour began. On the way home, I mulled over the various possibilities related to the accident. Either it was Celine's doing, trying to stop him from going abroad, or Atlas had orchestrated it to trap Celine. The third possibility was that there was another force, like the three factions mentioned online, before the shareholders' meeting.I cursed my involvement in such a complex situation and wished for a simpler life.Then again, how could he not fight back if someone keeps pushing him to his limits? Just

When we arrived at Starlight International, the parking lots were packed and it took a while for us to find a spot.We eventually made our way into the venue, which was teeming with people. The guests at the event were ATL Empire's clients from various industries, as the company had diverse business interests.I felt a little underdressed compared to the elegantly attired ladies in the room. Most of the women looked angelic and exuded gracefulness.Ryan seemed to sense my discomfort. Our arms were linked, and he patted my hand. "This style suits you the best. Otherwise, you'd stand out too much!"I smiled and said, "You're just trying to humor me."Ryan looked at me warmly. "I'm not just humoring you. Let's take a quick tour, and if you're not comfortable, we can leave. The crowd is quite diverse today, so we don’t need to stay too long.”I surveyed the bustling hall, and he was right. it was more like a Christmas party and didn't seem entirely suitable for us.Today appeared to

I joined them, already feeling worn out. Lauren discreetly pinched me to keep me alert. She introduced me to the elegant gentleman, and though I couldn't remember what she said, I kept up a standard smile.Handshakes, small talk, and such were all a blur.Ryan, on the other hand, was having a lively conversation with the man.Lauren led me to the side and pinched me again to wake me from my daze. The sudden pain snapped me back to reality, and I turned to her."Chlo, stay focused. Stay calm until you understand the situation. There are many eyes on you at this event, so try not to make a scene. You have a lot on your plate. You got me into this, so give it a chance."Lauren's words grounded me. I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and nodded.She continued speaking softly, "No matter what your goal is, I'm here to support you. Why aren't you making the most of me? You mentioned we'd work together, right? Let's get started now."Lauren turned to the gentleman and said, "Sir

The spotlight was on Atlas as he delivered an eloquent speech on stage, thanking clients who had supported him for years.I stared at his handsome face as I struggled to contain my sense of loss.A server gently whispered, "Ms. Chloe, someone is waiting for you on the rooftop."The server quickly left, and I looked around skeptically. Everyone was focused on the dazzling man on the stage.Who could be looking for me? I quietly made my way to a staircase that led directly to the rooftop, which was designed to look like an elegant open garden.Because of the evening's event, the rooftop was open to visitors. It was quieter than the bustling atmosphere below, making it suitable for private conversations.When I went into the rooftop garden, I did not see many other people. Most were gathered below, listening to Atlas.As I glanced around, I couldn't spot anyone waiting for me. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. I spun around and saw Harmony gracefully walking toward me.She was unde

I saw the set piece collapsing toward Harmony. I yelled and rushed to pull her away, but she pushed my hand away stubbornly. The structure came crashing down, and we both got caught in it.Thankfully, I stood a bit to the side, so I avoided being crushed. However, Harmony was a bit delayed in her struggle, and the board fell on her leg when she fell.On the rooftop, the scattered guests were shouting from a distance, too scared to come closer. Someone ran downstairs to call for help.Harmony's leg was trapped under the debris, and she cursed at me between howls of pain.I felt a sharp pain in my ankle. However, I was afraid of more pieces falling, so I gritted my teeth and tried to get up. At the same time, I tried to help Harmony."Chloe, how could you be so cruel? Why are you trying to hurt me?" Harmony screamed hoarsely."Please get up and check yourself for injuries. I didn't invite you here..." I said, trying to explain while helping her.Then, a crowd rushed onto the rooft

Her crazy fans didn't care about the truth, and soon chaos erupted in my hospital room.The window was broken, and the door was forced open. They started throwing eggs, rotten vegetables, and foul seafood at me. The room turned into a mess with an unbearable stench, worse than a public garbage dump.The situation went out of control. Ryan shielded me, and stinky egg yolks ran down his body and covered his head.The hospital eventually called the cops, who intervened and removed several instigators. They then dispersed the crowd from the hospital, finally ending the ordeal.When Lauren arrived, she saw me trembling in fear. Despite the mess, she hugged me while crying.I might have cried all my tears the previous night. Apart from shivering in fear due to the frenzied mob, I didn't feel anything else.Furious, Ivanna stormed into the VIP ward to confront Atlas in Harmony's room, but it was heavily guarded. It seemed they were ready to prevent any disturbance that might affect Harm