Chapter 12 To Ride Hard Is No Great Feat


    No one expected Chloe to vault onto the stallion’s back.


    For a moment, the crowd watched in stunned silence as she tightened the reins with practiced ease and leaned forward with her legs pressing firmly against the stallion’s sides as it galloped across the field.


    Her smooth, confident movements made it clear to anyone looking that she had exceptional riding skills.


    Curtis stood dumbfounded. Despite three years of marriage, he’d never known that Chloe could ride a


    horse at all, let alone with such skill.


    On horseback, she seemed like a stranger to him. The sight of her looking so fearless and determined, with her hair flying in the wind, made him think she looked like a true warrior.


    In his arms, Sonya was equally shocked and in disbelief. Chloe shouldn’t have known how <i>to </i>ride at all, let alone a spirited horse at that!


    Deep down, she prayed that Chloe would be thrown off.


    But to her dismay, the opposite happened. Within a few tense moments, the stallion’s wild frenzy gave way to controlled strides as it yielded to Chloe’smands.


    When Chloe finally guided the stallion back safely, the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief. She’d


    tamed it!


    As the stallion pulled to a stop, Chloe smoothly dismounted.


    Still reeling from the shock, Curtis asked, “When… did you learn to ride horses?”


    “Does it matter?” she coolly replied.


    He was at a loss for words.


    Her gaze shifted to Sonya in his arms. “To ride hard on a horse is no great feat, but if you do it just to impress men, then you and I have very different goals.”


    I IS S


    With that, she handed the reins to a nearby staff member.


    Sonya’s face flushed with humiliation. Chloe’s words felt like a hard p to the face, as every insult she’d


    said earlier was now thrown back at her.


    And since Chloe had just tamed the stallion, Sonya couldn’t manage a single word of retort.


    Lena rushed over and checked on Chloe anxiously. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”


    “I’m fine,” Chloe said with a reassuring smile.


    Lena sighed in relief. “<i>You </i>scared me half to death! First, you threw yourself in front of the stallion to save Brian and then started taming it… Do you realize if even one thing had gone wrong, you would be dead by


    Chapter 12 To Ride Hard Is No Great Feat


    now?”


    214


    “I don’t die that easily,” Chloe repliedfortingly. “Besides, if I hadn’t done something, someone else could’ve gotten seriously hurt.”


    Lena let out a frustrated sigh. Even though Chloe had left the military, her sense of duty would always


    drive her to protect others without hesitation.


    Meanwhile, Wayne rushed over to Brian, sweating nervously. “I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Steele. I had no idea the stallion wasn’t fully tamed and caused this incident. If anything had happened to <i>you</i>, we Millers


    would never have been able to forgive ourselves.”


    “The Miller family should be sorry. If Ms. Quall hadn’t intervened, the Miller family would’ve disappeared


    from Corvessia within three months.”


    A chill ran down Wayne’s spine as Brian added, “Shouldn’t the Millers be thanking Ms. Quall instead?”


    “Y–Yes, of course. We’ll sincerely express our gratitude,” Wayne stammered.


    Ignoring him, Brian walked toward Chloe and stopped in front of her. “Ms. Quall, you should know that if you hadn’t rushed to save me, that horse would’ve been shot dead the very next second.”


    Chloe blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, she understood that someone like Brian would certainly have armed men hidden in the shadows, ready to eliminate any threat with bullets.


    “Are you suggesting that I meddled where I shouldn’t have, Mr. Steele?” she asked.


    “No. You saved me, so it’s only right that I repay you. I’m simply wondering what kind of repayment you’d


    like.”


    His words drew envious looks from those around them, all directed at Chloe.


    But she refused, saying, “I don’t want anything.”


    “What if I insist?” Brian took a step closer, closing the space between them. His towering height and presence pressed down on her suffocatingly.


    Chloe pressed her lips together, not wanting to drag out this tug–of–war. “If you must repay me, donate


    and build a Hope School.”


    With that, she took Lena’s arm and walked away.


    Brian raised a brow. Her idea of repayment was unexpected, yet strangely intriguing.


    From Curtis‘ arms, Sonya watched Chloe leave with resentment in her eyes.


    Biting back her pain, she whispered, “She’s just putting on airs just to impress Brian. She doesn’t think about you at all. If she truly cared for you, she would’ve used that favor to push him into investing in


    Green Tech instead.”


    Curtis‘ eyes flickered thoughtfully.


    Chapter 12 To Ride Hard Is No Great Feat


    It was past 9:00 pm when Curtis returned to the vi. He’d apanied Sonya to the hospital for a full check–up, which had taken up most of the evening.


    The fall had left her scraped and bruised, but thankfully, with no fractures.


    When he noticed Chloe, he actively exined, “I didn’t mean to miss visiting your parents today. Sonya told me at thest minute that Brian would be at the horse ranch, and I went with her for Green Tech’s


    sake“.”


    “It’s fine,” she said lightly.


    No matter what excuse he gave, she no longer cared enough to believe or argue.


    “Shall I pay my respects tomorrow instead?” He offered.


    “That won’t be necessary.”


    “But-”


    “Seriously, you don’t have to do that anymore. You’re busy with work,” Chloe said, cutting him off. She didn’t want him disturbing Walter and Jenna’s peace again.


    Curtis didn’t insist since he would be busytely, especially with Sonya needing several days in the hospital. He’d be going back and forth to care for her.


    “Alright. I’ll go with you another time,” he said.


    Chloe’s lips curved in a cold, silent smile. Deep down, she murmured to herself, “Toote, Curtis. You’ll


    never have that chance again.”


    After a pause, he asked, “By the way, you told everyone at the horse ranch that you work for Skyline Tech.


    What was that about?”


    “Exactly what it sounds like. I’ve joined Skyline Tech,” Chloe replied.


    “You don’t have to do this just to upset me when you can return to Green Tech anytime you want.” <fn6e8b> The rightful source is F?nd-Novel</fn6e8b>


    Chloe almostughed incredulously. “I didn’t join Skyline Tech just to upset you, and I have no intention of


    ever going back.”


    He frowned. “I told you you’re wee back anytime. What more do you want?”


    “What do you even want me back for?” she countered.


    “To continue overseeing the project, of course. Steele Group is looking to invest in a drone techpany,


    so you can take over the project you started.”


    “What about Joanne? Isn’t she the project manager now?”


    “I can assign her to something else.”


    Chapter 12 To Ride Hard is No Great Feat


    Staring him down coldly, Chloe said, “Is it because I saved Brian at the horse ranch today? You think that if I’m in charge of the project, he might invest in Green Tech out of gratitude?”


    Curtis‘ face flushed with embarrassment when Chloe saw right through him.