Chapter 1759


    "You..."


    The audacity of Chloe further ignited Presley''s fury.


    Meeting the CEO of INT Corporation privately was already a humbling experience for him. He had


    always hoped that the Harper family would improve, and at least, during his lifetime, he could see


    the Harper family return to the top of the international stage.


    However, his stubbornness was already ingrained in him, so sitting here now was an embarrassing


    deed that couldn''t be publicly acknowledged.


    Now that Chloe had caught him red-handed, he felt that he had lost all dignity.


    “You... How dare you to follow me around."


    In Presley''s heart, Chloe was either the culprit who caused the chaos in the Harper family, or an


    outsider who was distasteful. Acknowledging openly that she had been tracking him only further


    diminished any goodwill he might have had towards her.


    Mr. and Mrs. Steve looked at Chloe standing at the door with a puzzled face, curious about the


    conversation between Presley and her.


    Chloe''s expression was indifferent. The chill in her eyes was obvious. She wore an expression of


    mockery and disappointment. "Following someone is wrong, but we''re not saints either. We''re in no


    position to criticize others, don''t you think?"


    Presley''s face darkened, "You tantly admit to tailing me, invading my room, and now you''re


    saying I have no tight to criticize you?"


    Chloe nodded, staring at Presley''s face for a while, then suddenly let out a coldugh. She pursed


    her lips, tilting her head slightly in a helplessugh, then returned her gaze to Presley. Theughter


    in her eyes gradually turned cold, like frost. "It''s just that I still hope to leave some room for us."


    Presley''s expression changed, "What do you mean?"


    Chloe''s expression was icy. “I''m puzzled. What are you persisting for? What reason could possibly


    make you hate me so much? Is it your dignity that has never been defied over the years? So sitting


    here now, isn''t it a hit to your pride?"


    “You."


    “Or do you think..." Chloe''s voice suddenly rose, cutting off Presley''s words, her gaze cold and


    sarcastic. "Or do you think, Damon would obediently return to the Harper family as you wish after


    you crush me and leave me with nothing?"


    Presley''s face stiffened.


    “tf you really think so, then I feel incredibly sorry for him. He''s been by your side for thirty years, yet


    you understand him less than I, who came out of nowhere and has known him for less than a year.


    What have you been doing for thirty years?"


    Kane and Nathan, after taking a sharp breath at Chloe''s words, gradually fell into a solemn silence.


    Yes, even they knew that Damon was never the type to be easily controlled. If he didn''t want to, no


    one could make him.


    So what had Presley been doing all these years?


    “Don''t look at me like that, are you angry? You get mad only when I''m right. I''ll tell you what you''ve


    been doing.


    You only see how much profit he''s brought to the Harper family, whether he''s better today than


    yesterday, and whether he has the ability to elevate the Harper family higher. His existence is


    entirely based on the Harper family. If he defies you or gives up the Harper family, then he is


    nothing."


    Presley was shaking with rage at Chloe''s words, his hands gripping the edge of the table, trembling


    intensely.


    “You''re twisting words, spouting nonsense! Do you know what''s most important for a man? You


    made his life worthless, meaningless! It''s the Harper family that made him, and you... you ruined


    him"


    “What made him was never the Harper family. His existence is the greatest meaning.” Chloe


    interrupted him again, leaving Presley speechless. However, his face was still filled with anger. He


    didn''t want to acknowledge a single word Chloe said.


    Seeing him like this, Chloe let out a coldugh and sighed. "Fine. I can''t outstubborn you. Let''s


    pretend I never said these words tonight. But I hope you understand that tonight, we''re giving you


    onest chance to save your dignity."


    Chloe paused, trying to phrase her words as tactfully as possible. But as she spoke, she saw


    Presley''s even angrier expression, and she realized that there was no chance of reconciling the


    rtionship between Presley and Damon.


    She was truly helpless against such stubbornness and obstinance.


    Yes. She was so spineless that even now, she was still consideringpromising with him.


    But she had no bargaining chips topromise with him. To ask her to step back and give up


    Damon as he wished, it was simply impossible.


    She felt as if she had returned to six years ago, when her mother had just left, and she was in a


    state of confusion and contradiction. She hated the Summers family for their injustice to her mother


    and herself, yet she didn''t want to lose them, as it would mean losing herst form of protection.


    She had experienced that once and it was enough. From the moment she and Damon got together,


    she had said that she wouldn''t be his burden and blemish.


    Yet she had still caused him to lose too much.


    She loved him and wanted him to be the happiest person in the world. She knew that no one and


    nothing was perfect, but she still wanted Damon to be that perfect person.


    She wasn''t afraid topromise with Presley; because for Damon, she thought it was worth it.


    However, Presley was like a fortress, offering no chance forpromise.


    "Chloe. let''s go."


    Nathan tugged at her from the side. Although he was initially confused, now, after intruding and


    stumbling upon Presley and hearing what was just said, he had a rough idea of what was going on.


    She was still hoping to mend the rtionship between Presley and his brother.


    But how could that be? Presley''s stubbornness was something that even grandma couldn''t change


    in a lifetime.


    Who could have known that the woman who was once the talk of the town, was actually so


    captivating and fierce.


    At this point, Chloe had no intention of staying here any longer. She pursed her lips and, turning to


    the side, prepared to leave, but a brusquemand erupted from behind her.


    “Hold it right there!"


    Chloe froze, her expression icy.


    “You follow me here, barge into my private booth and you think you can just walk away like nothing


    happened?"


    Even Kane, standing to the side, muttered a curse under his breath. That old man was incorrigible.


    Nathan''s usually carefree face was nowhere to be seen, his dark mood resembling that of Damon''s.


    “Grandpa, enough. You''re not young anymore. Stop acting like a bully and tormenting a woman. Do


    you think that makes you look powerful?"


    Presley''s face twitched violently, “What kind of spell has this wornan cast on you all? You''re all


    under her bewitchment!"


    Kane scratched his head, looking conflicted. He didn''t want to argue with Presley, but he also felt it


    was too much.


    “You see, Grandpa; he finally said, “You''ve said it all. Isn''t that the answer? First of all, perhaps you


    should ept that your taste is different from ours. For exapmile, you like Wendy, and we don''t.


    Secondly, you''ve lived a long life, and you can''t seriously believe in love potions, can you? If there''s


    such a thing, it''s just Chloe''s charm.


    Why not just admit you find her charming? Why make it sound so bitter?"


    Nathan, trying to maintain a stony face, couldn''t help but chuckle at this.


    Chloe couldn''t help but smile. With these guys around, feeling down was a luxury she couldn''t


    afford.


    “Look at all of you! Shameless! You''ll pay for this one day!"


    Nathan sighed. He''d heard this threat countless times. “Grandpa, we''re still Harpers. You must want


    the best for us. We''re not going to dishonor our family, are we?"


    “You..."


    Chloe grinned. She hadn''t expected Nathan to be so sharp. It was not like they were mortal


    enemies.


    “Let''s go. No need for goodbyes."


    Presley''s face turned stone cold, “Did I say she could leave?"


    “Or else what?” Nathan was about to say something, but suddenly, Damon''s icy voice came from


    behind. Then, his tall figure stood in front of Chloe, his arm around her waist, his cold gaze fixed on


    Presley.


    “What else would you have her do?"


    Presley red at Damon, his face turning even darker. "She came here today just to stir up trouble.


    Even if I do something to her, what can you do about it?!"


    “So, I''m asking you, what would you have her do?” Damon''s voice was colder this time.


    “I want her to get the hell out of here. She better not embarrass herself at this year''s Global


    Economic Summit. I certainly don''t want others gossip about us because of her."


    Chloeughed in disbelief, “And what does my embarrassment have to do with you?"


    Presley scoffed, “Are you nning to attend the Global Economic Summit with a boy toy?"


    His scornful gaze and voicended on Damon; even his gloomy face was filled with mockery. “Or do


    you think that''s something to be proud of? Everyone knows you''re my grandson. How am I


    supposed to face the world if you attend the Global Economic Summit as a boy toy?"


    Damon looked at him coldly, then finally let out augh. “You must''ve forgotten about the press


    conference you held before we came. Everyone knows that I''ve been kicked out of the Harper


    family. So my honor or disgrace has nothing to do with you. Rest assured, even if I be a


    beggar, I won''t beg at your door. So if you''re trying to suppress Chloe just to force me back, you


    better give up now."


    Damon finished, his words filled with nothing but ice and coldness.


    “How could you possibly beg?” Chloe couldn''t help but speak up. She didn''t like hearing that.


    Damon pressed his lips together and his face didn’t lighten up.


    Nathan and Kane also closed the door and followed the two out.


    The waitress leading the way looked terrified. She had heard the entire conversation and knew


    these were all important people attending the Global Economic Summit, people she couldn''t afford


    to offend.


    Even though Damon looked upset, he still took Chloe to the booth next door. After she had thrown


    up so violently earlier, he couldn''t let her go hungry.


    Chloe ordered a bunch of dishes, and so did Nathan and Kane. The atmosphere warmed up


    significantly with their presence, and they all enjoyed a satisfying meal.


    This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    “We are quite the foodies.” On the way back, Kane patted his belly and let out a satisfied burp.


    Chloe didn''t say anything, but she had been stealing nces at Damon the whole way back. His


    gloomy mood was a bit unsettling.


    Back at the hotel, Damon silently helped Chloe off with her scarf and coat, his face expressionless.


    Chloe pursed her lips and tugged at Damon''s shirt, looking up at him, “I''m sorry, today..."


    But Damon cut her off with a firm kiss.


    Chloe''s eyes widened in surprise, utterly baffled by Damon''s sudden move. Wasn''t he angry? So


    was this kiss an outburst of his frustration?


    The prolonged friction of their lips sent a familiar sting through her, causing Chloe to furrow her


    brows. Damon broke the kiss but kept his forehead pressed against hers. “Why apologize? What


    did you do wrong?"


    Chloe blinked, “Then why are you mad? Isn''t it because I purposely met with Presley? I admit that I


    was a bit disrespectful with the things I said."


    Damon''s body pressed further onto hers, the sudden increase in pressure causing her to pause and


    stare at him


    in surprise.


    Damon remained silent for a while, his tone filled with helplessness. "You''re right, I''m angry. I don''t


    need you topromise for me."


    Chloe''s frustrated expression gradually returned to normal. She fell silent for a moment, "In the end,


    I am guilty for the current situation between you and your grandfather.”


    "Chloe!" Damon interjected sternly, "The root cause of the problem isn''t you, it''s him. He crossed the


    line. I know who''s right and who''s wrong. I can''t stand him having the upper hand. Do you


    understand?"


    “I was just thinking about what Kane said at the airport today. It made sense. I also feel that even if I


    tolerate him, I won''t be able to do that for much longer. Besides, continuing to argue with him is like


    using his stubbornness and ignorance to punish ourselves. I just want to feel at peace being with


    you. I''m not a selfless person. If Ipromise with him, it''s only to make my future a little easier”