I slowly returned to the main road after finally collecting myself. The traffic had eased up by then, and I headed straight home.My mom was relieved to see me and began cooking. I seldom had time to eat with them since I was always so busy, especially these days. My parents had eagerly awaited my return. My mom even said freshly cooked food was best.After dinner, I called Ivanna to see if she was home. She said she had just arrived, so I took Ava for a walk and headed to Ivanna's place. Since I hadn’t seen her for several days, her first question was about Atlas.However, I could only shake my head in response.Ivanna reassured me, “Harmony has been quiet recently, too. She’s been restless, probably due to the lack of news on Atlas. Don’t worry. I told her assistant to inform me if anything unusual happens.”I was grateful to have friends who looked out for me. “Ivanna, I can’t help feeling something’s amiss here,” I confided to her and looked at my daughter, who was playing gam
Ivanna looked at me in confusion and nervousness. “Why? Is someone forcing you?”“N-No, it’s not that!” I shook my head and explained, “For some reason, I feel there’s an inexplicable force pushing me. It’s not just about Atlas’s love.”Ivanna stared at me, still not wholly understanding my words.“I wanted to escape many times. I know I don’t deserve Atlas. Anyone would think I’m delusional for even considering being with him. Still, I always feel like there’s a prevailing connection between us, and it keeps getting stronger.”I spoke solemnly to Ivanna, “I’ve had that thought for a while but always doubted myself. That inexplicable force pushes and pulls me whenever something related to Atlas arises.Ivanna chuckled, “Did you fall too deeply into this? Is that it?”I looked at her with severity and asked, “Do you think I’m trying to justify being with him?”Ivanna hesitated before nodding. “A little.”“No, I even feel like he has appeared in my life before,” I surprised mysel
Why would a single piece of information be worth a life? I carried Ava through the tranquil neighborhood late at night amid the dim streetlights. The shadows shifted around us.I picked up the pace as the weight of Ava in my arms grew heavier. As I approached my front door, a shadow darted out from the corner.It startled me, and I gasped."Chloe, it's me... Do you really not know anything about what happened to Atlas?" The figure approached, and I recognized Harmony."What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" I snapped, my annoyance thinly veiled. Ava stirred and whimpered.I quickly patted her back to sleep and said to Harmony, "You scared me to death!"Harmony seemed to realize her impulsiveness. "I knocked on your door, and they said you weren't home, so I waited for you!" I gave her a sideways glance. "He's your boyfriend. Why are you asking me? How would I know?""Chloe, you know your relationship with Atlas, don't you?" She came closer, her gaze dark and pene
A wave of relief washed over me with Celine's departure from Foswood. Maybe things would become more manageable for us to investigate. From a particular perspective, this was good news.I asked Grayson to monitor the situation at ATL Empire. Celine leaving would have set things in motion. Even though Atlas was injured, the company had to keep going.Then it struck me—Atlas's home, the grand estate on the hills. It had been his private haven. I wondered if he might be there. After finishing my work at the company, I hopped in my car and headed for the estate.The season was just right, with lush scenery to the south. This area was still considered on hold, and I noticed construction activity over at the scenic area. It indicated ATL Empire was developing it.I turned onto the private road leading to the estate, and my heart began to race. I had a strong feeling that my hunch was correct. In my eagerness, I hit the gas. I could drive right into the estate on previous visits, but th
As I was about to exit the private road, I saw a bright red dot in the distance. It struck me—could that be Stella's red sports car? My heart skipped a beat at the thought. Stella? Was she here at Fremont Bay?I hesitated and followed my instincts. I spotted a small path leading into the woods and maneuvered my car into the junction. Thankfully, my midnight blue Panamera was discreet and wouldn't be easy to spot.Before long, a red sports car whooshed by, confirming my suspicions. Was it Stella? I couldn't be sure, but it seemed plausible since they were relatives. Just as I hesitated, a black sedan swiftly entered.I parked and waited for some time, but no other cars entered or left. Only then did I leave my concealed spot and return to the private road, exiting Fremont Bay premises.Back in the city, I called Nick to set up a meeting, using a project-related excuse as cover. He didn't refuse and instructed me to come to his office. Upon arriving, I got straight to the point."
I stood there feeling helpless and confused. Maybe because Atlas trusted Nick, my emotions got the best of me. I couldn't conceal my anxiety as I looked at him."Mr. Nick, besides the head injury, how is he? Is he okay? Did the doctors say when he might wake up? And...will there be any lasting effects?"I felt myself on the verge of breaking down. Why did fate have to be so cruel? Why did it have to be Atlas?Nick looked at my face, helpless. “He also had arm and chest injuries, but the head injury was the worst. The doctors can't provide a definite timeline for when he'll wake up. It could be a few days or maybe even months, depending on how the bleeding in his head resolves."I couldn’t hold back my tears, but I quickly wiped them away."Ms. Chloe, you should go back. This accident has already disrupted Atlas's plans. We all hope he wakes up soon and can take charge," Nick said seriously. "Of course, I understand how you feel, but now that this has happened, we must focus on mov
Ryan, who hadn’t seen me all day, was anxious. He had called me multiple times, but I hadn't answered. When I finally returned, he hurriedly followed me into my office."Chlo, where were you? Are you feeling unwell?" Ryan's concern was evident as he noticed the pallor on my face.I sank wearily into my chair. "I went to ATL Empire and met with Nick.""Any news?" Ryan inquired promptly, fully aware of why I had met with Nick."H-He's still unconscious! He hasn't woken up yet." I didn't hold back any details from Ryan. I felt utterly powerless. "He suffered a head injury. They're keeping the news under wraps."Ryan understood the gravity of the situation and said, "No wonder they are trying so hard to hide this. This happened as Atlas announced his takeover. It's not a good sign. Those loyalists of Celine, I'm afraid they will be active again.""The most important part is not knowing when he will wake up. Today, Celine returned to Nocturnia. I initially thought it was good news, bu
I remembered something and said to Ryan, “Speaking of Atlas’s injury, I haven't seen or heard anything about Dylan since then. Is Dylan also seriously injured?”I looked at Ryan in puzzlement.He nodded and replied, “You're right. Dylan should be injured, too.”“He was in the same car as Atlas. Judging from the car’s condition, Dylan should also be seriously injured.” I recalled what I had seen on the screen that day. Indeed, the car was severely damaged.“Chlo, trust that Atlas will be okay. You need to relax,” Ryan reassured me, fearing I would get worked up again, “Sometimes, we must think things through.”I helplessly nodded and said, “There’s nothing else I can do. I can’t see how Atlas is, so I can only wait. Please check on the progress of our project in the next few days, especially the project with ATL Empire. We must carefully avoid any mistakes to prevent Celine from causing trouble.”Just then, someone knocked on my office door. I said, “Come in!”Carol entered and w