I murmured, "I don't want to be a damsel. That would mean losing myself."Seeing me pout, he pulled me into his embrace and said, "Then let's rise to the top together.""What did you mean just now? Do you want to help me with Avalon Hills?" I raised my head from his chest and looked at him."Since you've decided to approach it differently, I'll lend you a hand," Atlas replied."Don't you want to do it under ATL Empire?" I asked, a bit perplexed."Well... my development projects have specific goals. After finding you..." He paused for a moment after saying that, as if he had realized he misspoke.Then he quickly corrected himself, "Since I've known you, my purpose in development has been to help you secure opportunities you might not otherwise get."His words made my heart flutter, but there was a vague sense that there was a deeper meaning behind his previous statement of 'finding me'.I looked at this imposing man in front of me, feeling somewhat puzzled. Why did he want to he
Ava came back to Foswood, and indeed, it was Atlas who went to bring her back.With Ryan not at home and a lot of work to handle in the company, I couldn't leave. Atlas, despite his own busy schedule, insisted on keeping his promise to Ava. Thus, he flew to Celestis Island overnight and spent a whole day playing with her before taking the late-night flight back here.Dylan and I went to pick them up from the airport. On the tarmac, the little one ran toward me like a happy little bird, and her arms were outstretched to hug me tightly. "Mommy, I missed you so much!"Her sweet words almost made me swoon; it seemed that she had completely forgotten about the incident of being abducted.She was quite the social butterfly, confidently pulling me along to introduce her new friend. "Mommy, let me introduce you to my best friend, Jenny!"This was the first time I saw the girl who was two years older than her. She was a beautiful mixed-race child.After getting to know each other, we all
I scanned the room but didn't notice anything amiss, so I regained my focus and got into the car to head back to the company.Upon returning to the office, I eagerly took out the plan and delved into it. The more I read, the more excited I became. This plan truly seemed tailored for our company; it was incredibly useful.I was starting to feel a rush of excitement and was eager to implement the steps that were forming in my mind. No wonder many businesses were willing to spend a significant amount of money on such strategic planners, who regularly assessed the company's situation and customized operational plans.By comparison, the flaws in our previous operations at Tanum Corporation were glaring. It turned out that was the reason we had been stagnant.Before I knew it, it was already late at night. It wasn't until Atlas walked into my office that I realized everyone else had already gone home, except for Carol, who was still with me in the office.I joyfully ran up to Atlas and
My eyes narrowed as I realized that the photo was of me and Ryan. The angle was truly deceptive, making it seem as though I was passionately kissing him after throwing myself into his arms.It was the moment when I was moved by his words as I was seeing him off to rest in his apartment. I had impulsively leaned in to express my gratitude to this brother figure for his years of care and understanding. However, being frozen in that split second gave it a different implication altogether—ambiguous and suggestive.Scrolling down, I found that it had already spread on the trending pages and was gaining a lot of attention. No wonder there was something off in the way Atlas reacted when I mentioned Ryan earlier. The source of his unease was evidently this.Just then, my phone chimed with a message notification. I exited the trending page and opened the message. It was a text on WhatsApp, and there was a link to a short video. I clicked on it.The video shocked me even more. It seemed to b
At that moment, Harmony's demeanor underwent an astonishing change. "Atlas, don't do this to me. I shouldn't have drank so much. I was wrong. Let's leave, okay? Please, don't be mad at me anymore..."She pressed herself against Atlas while lifting her clothes, revealing more of her skin. I was utterly surprised by her performance. What was she trying to convey? Did Atlas find her acting insufficient? Was this a scene in a movie studio? Had the plot just taken a wild turn?Only now did Atlas fix his gaze on her, uttering a few words coldly, "It's time to end this."He then removed his jacket and tossed it aside.I could clearly sense that Harmony's body tensed up for a moment.The camera flashes went off incessantly, and the sound of cameras clicking filled the room instantly. Atlas remained composed, as if he had been waiting for this moment.Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from outside the door, "Step aside!"I turned around and saw Dylan walking in, carrying a young man in his
All eyes in the room turned to Harmony, awaiting her response.Harmony froze, looking at Atlas’s darkened face with trembling lips. Then, her gaze became colder, as if she had regained her composure.I could see deep-seated resentment in her eyes. Harmony erupted into hysterical shouts.“No one put me up to this! These are my true feelings! Atlas, take a good look at the woman by your side. She’s fickle. That’s why her ex-husband didn’t hesitate to leave her. What do I lack compared to her?”Atlas’s lips parted. “You’re not even worthy of comparison.”“Why not?” Harmony jutted her chin forward, challenging him. “Am I not as pretty as her? Or is it because my status doesn’t measure up to hers? Aside from seducing men left and right, what else does she have? Haha, she even has a bastard child from her ex!”She seemed to have lost her mind, screaming, “I can give you everything she can, and I’ll do it better than her. You’re entangled with someone’s leftovers!”“Even if she has a h
He saw the confusion in my eyes and leaned down to kiss me with the utmost tenderness.He eventually let me go, still cradling my face. "Give me time," he said. “I’ll tell you how I lost you. Now, let’s go home.”I pushed down all the doubts in my mind. I didn’t want to tarnish the moment, knowing he wouldn’t lie to me.He escorted me back to Amethyst Apartments. At the doorstep, he bid me farewell. “Rest well and remember tomorrow’s private banquet.”“Aren’t you coming in? Ava hasn’t seen you today!” “I have something to take care of, and it’s too late. Ava must be asleep. I won’t go in,” he said, pulling me into his arms again. He planted a kiss on my forehead. “Be a good girl and get some rest. Tomorrow will be a brand new day.”Although I was reluctant, I had to give him the time he needed to handle his affairs. It might have been an excuse, but I had no reason to stop him.I looked back at him as I walked in, feeling something was off. He stood by his car, watching as I
I turned around. As the doors opened, a tall figure emerged. He was holding an enormous bouquet of vibrant red flowers.His face was handsome, with well-defined features. It was perfect. While he used to wear a cold and proud expression, today, he was all smiles. A group of attendants trailed behind him, creating a commanding presence as they approached me.This sudden turn of events dumbfounded me. It all felt surreal.He walked up to me, his thin lips curling up. “Congratulations on the successful transformation of Tanum Construction and Development! Congratulations, Ms. Chloe! Let’s embark on this brand new journey!”His eyes were deep and filled with tender affection. I was sure there was something more to this.I took the bouquet. He stood beside me and announced to the media, “I declare that as of today, ATL Empire will cooperate with Tanum Construction and Development. They will handle all development projects, including properties, of ATL Empire.“The design institute o