ă€ŠRural Belle &amp; Three Heirsă€‹


 Chapter 1 I Would Rather Die Than Marry Her

    Standing in the massive living room of the Martin Family, Chloe Davis felt cornered for the first time in her life.

    The two young Martin heirs were staring her down, dressed in floral shirts, with smug and disdainful looks. Their intense gazes made Chloe uneasy.

    The second heir, Michael Martin, wrinkled his nose and turned to his lounging brother, Liam.

    "This is the fianc¨¦e Grandpa picked for us?"

    Liam nodded. "Yep, Grandpa gave me a photo, and I checked. It''s definitely her."

    Michael clutched his head and dramatically beat his chest.

    "Did I offend the universe? How did I end up with such a tacky woman? I''d rather be single. I can''t deal with this!"

    Michael didn''t bother hiding his disdain for Chloe.

    No surprise there, with Chloe''s outfit today, even a wild boar would steer clear.

    A floral shirt, dark blue shorts; the shirt tucked into the shorts'' waistband.

    And that wasn''t the worst of it. Her face was smeared with some kind of dark makeup, and she had two pigtails with straw stuck in them, making her look like a cavewoman. Michael''s reaction was just like his younger brother Liam''s. He covered his face, stared at Chloe for three seconds, then grabbed a trash can and started puking.

    As he vomited, heined, "Ugly, truly ugly! She''s uniquely ugly. If Grandpa hadn''t made me pick you up, I wouldn''t look at you even if I were dead." Seeing their reactions, Chloe felt secretly pleased. Did they think she wanted to get close to them?

    She was only here out of respect for her grandfather and for the future inheritance.

    They found her repulsive, but Chloe didn''t want to spend another minute with them either. If not for their decent looks, she would have walked away. Her grandfather had made it clear: if she didn''t stay with the Martin family for a year, she wouldn''t get what she wanted. So, Chloe had topromise. Seeing that Liam had almost finished vomiting, Chloe rolled her eyes and approached him.

    She said to Liam, "Throwing up so much, are you expecting?"

    As soon as she said this, the living room fell silent for three seconds, then Michael, holding his head, pointed at Liam andughed. "Liam, she said you''re pregnant. She actually said you''re pregnant..."

    Hearing Michael''s voice, Chloe raised her face and said to him nkly, "Isn''t that how it goes on TV?"

    Liam was infuriated by Chloe''s words. He threw the trash can and shouted at Chloe, "Idiot, I''m a man. How can a man be pregnant?" "Oh, so you''re a rooster that can''ty eggs?"

    Chloe''s quick retort made Liam want to punch her in the face.

    But remembering his grandfather''s words, he reluctantly lowered his raised fist.

    "Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

    Chloe looked at the fuming Liam and cheerfully asked, "Is there aw against driving someone crazy?" Liam was speechless.

    Chloe kept pushing his buttons, "Besides, did I make you mad? You''re the one choosing to be angry." "You''ve got a sharp tongue!"

    "And you''ve got a foul mouth!" Chloe shot back at Liam.

    Just as things were about to get physical, Michael, who was enjoying the show, decided to step in.

    "Liam, it''s her first day here. We shouldn''t get physical with her. If Grandpa finds out, he''ll chew us out again. Didn''t Grant say we should treat her well?" Taking Michael''s advice, Liam finally cooled down.

    Michael pointed to the room upstairs and said to Chloe, "Your room''s on the second floor, at the corner. You''ve been traveling for days, so go rest for a bit..." Chloe mischievously rolled her eyes, grabbed her suitcase, and headed upstairs.

    Before leaving, she made sure to give the two brothers downstairs a parting shot, "I need to buy some daily necessities. I''ll give you a listter. Make sure to get everything for me. Thanks." Seeing Chloe''s bossy attitude, Liam couldn''t help but grumble, "Michael, look at her. She''s treating us like servants. Look how smug she is."

    "Oh, Liam, quit whining. Grandpa set it up for her to be here. We gotta put up with her attitude. ''Cause one of us brothers will end up marrying her." Michaelid out the situation.

    Liam pouted. "I''ll say it first. I''d rather die than marry her."

    Michael agreed, "Same here. She''s so ugly, she makes me sick..."

    "So what do we do?"

    Michael said, "What else? We''ll have to push her onto our big brother, Grant!"

    "What? If Grant finds out, he''ll kill us."

    "Don''t worry. It''s Grant''s job as the oldest to look out for his brothers. I''ve already sent this ugly chick to Grant''s room. If nothing goes wrong..." Michael and Liam shared a sinister and cunning smile.

    Chloe carried her suitcase to the upstairs bedroom, took off her dirty clothes, and enjoyed a hot bath.

    The long journey had indeed worn her out. She pulled up the light blue quilt and unceremoniously crawled into bed.

    She took out her smartphone and texted her best friend, Zara Jenkins.

    Zara: [How''s it going over there? Did the young heirs of the Martin Family give you a hard time?]

    Chloe quickly replied: [The little Martin Family? I handled it easily!]

    Maybe because she was too tired, Chloe didn''t even bother with dinner. As soon as she hit the bed, she was out like a light.

    In the dead of night, she felt a man''s presence in her room, jolting her awake from a deep sleep.

    The room was dark, and the man didn''t seem to notice Chloe''s presence.

    He took off his clothes, put on a thin robe, and walked straight to where Chloe was sleeping, lifting the quilt.

 Chapter 2 Your Nose Must Hurt, Right?

    Chloe was stunned.

    Who the heck was this guy? How dare he yank her nket off? Was he trying to pull something shady? Chloe never let creeps get away with stuff like that. As he leaned in, she sprang up and kicked him hard. The guy was caught off guard by the sudden kick. He quickly grabbed her kicking foot with his big hand. "Who are you? How did you get into my room?" His voice was deep and smooth.

    Chloe took a second and realized this must be Grant Martin.

    His brothers were no good, and she didn''t expect Grant to pull such a stunt to get at her for whatever shady reasons he had.

    "Who am I? You Martin guys are really something, barging into my room in the middle of the night. What do you want? Watch this..." Chloe said, throwing a punch right at Grant''s face. He wasn''t ready and took the punch hard.

    "Little girl, don''t push it."

    "You started this, and now you''re saying I''m pushing it? Watch me beat you to a pulp."

    With that, Chloe threw another punch, and the two of them started brawling in the cramped bedroom. Meanwhile, Michael and Liam were outside the door, listening to the chaos inside.

    "Oh man, they''re fighting, they''re fighting..."

    "Think Grant''s got the upper hand?"

    "You mean, has that ugly girl got him? Grant''s so handsome, it''d be a shame if she did."

    Liam gritted his teeth and cheered, "The fight should get rougher, so that ugly girl knows how tough we Martin men are!"

    Just as Liam finished, the door flew open, and Grant stumbled out, looking pained with a red, swollen nose. The door mmed shut behind him. "Grant! What happened to you?" Michael scratched his head, pretending to be worried.

    Grant red at him and said, "What happened to me? Don''t you know?"

    "Grant, we''re innocent."

    Liam shook his head, trying hard not tough.

    The three brothers were struggling: Michael was shut down by the girl, Liam was insulted by Chloe, and Grant was kicked out of his room.

    It was a total humiliation.

    After ring at Michael and Liam, Grant pulled his torn bathrobe tighter and headed to the guest room.

    He was confused the whole way.

    Michael and Liam had told him on the phone that Chloe was ugly, but during their fight, in the dim light from the window, he thought he saw her face, and she didn''t seem ugly at all.

    Grant saw her differently because of her fierceness. No wonder she was from the wild Davis Family in the Northwest. While she was with the Martins, he would make sure she learned that wild women didn''t get the upper hand with him.

    The next day, Chloe woke up feelingpletely rested.

    She carefully drew a mole on her face, painted a birthmark on the left side, and braided her hair into thick pigtails before heading downstairs.

    At the staircase, she tucked the long coat from the Martin Family halfway into her waistband, aiming to appear unattractive and deter any advances from the Martin brothers.

    The Martin Family''s breakfast spread was fancy, with milk, sandwiches, and high-end stuff like caviar and foie gras.

    When Chloe came down, the three brothers were already at the table. Michael quickly looked away when he saw her.

    Liam also scooted away from her quietly.

    Only Grant, with his red and swollen nose fromst night''s fight, sat firmly at the head of the table.

    Chloe didn''t bother talking to them. She grabbed a sandwich, took a few bites, and drank the ss of milk in front of her before asking, "So, is my school sorted out?"

    Grant replied coldly, "Yeah, it''s sorted. You''ll go to Quest University with Michael and Liam. They''re juniors, and you''ll start as a freshman."

    "Got it," Chloe said, ncing at Michael and Liam.

    Liam piped up, "Grant, I don''t want to ride in the same car with her to school..."

    Before Grant could say anything, Chloe cut in, "Me neither. How about this, I''ll take your car, and you can ride in the servant''s farm truck?" "You... ugly girl, that''s my car. Why should I take the farm truck to school?"

    Liam was fuming at Chloe''s bossy attitude.

    Chloe grinned and shot back, "Because I''m the one your grandpa invited from the Northwest. If you don''t want me here, tell him to let me go. If it wasn''t for his nagging, do you really think I''d care about riding in your beat-up car?" Liam was left speechless.

    Bobby Martin, the head of the Martin Family, always had the final say. Liam wouldn''t dare question Bobby''s decisions, no matter what.

    Liam swallowed his anger silently.

    Michael, who was naturally timid, saw his twin brother go quiet and kept his mouth shut.

    Grant, on the other hand, had a smug smile on his face.

    Suddenly, he found this bold, "ugly" girl in front of him quite interesting. What kind of ce in the Northwest could breed such a wild spirit? He thought, ''Interesting.''

    Chloe, feeling good after putting Liam in his ce, noticed Grant''s smirk.

    Seeing his red and swollen nose, she vividly recalled the intruder fromst night with ill intentions.

    For her own safety, Chloe figured she should give Grant a warning.

    She walked up to Grant, lowered her eyes, and studied him for a moment.

    Then she said, "Your nose, it must hurt, right?"

 Chapter 3 The Ugly Girl is Doomed

    When Grant caught Chloe''s sarcasticment, a flicker of anger shed across his handsome face, instantly chilling the room. Sensing the tension, Michael and Liam fell silent.

    They figured Chloe, this in-looking girl, was asking for trouble by messing with Grant, who was like a demon straight out of hell. They were just waiting to see Grant blow up at Chloe.

    But to their shock, Grant, who usually held grudges, didn''t lose his cool after Chloe''s jab.

    He looked up, a bit of disdain in his eyes, and said to Chloe, "I know you don''t really care about me."

    Chloe gave a slight smile, feeling pretty pleased with herself.

    Grant ignored her smirk, stood tall, and said, "Your fighting skills aren''t bad. Let''s spar again sometime, then..."

    He left the sentence hanging. If it weren''t for the cramped room and hisck of defensest night, could this little girl Chloe have hurt him? Seeing Grant suggest another spar, Chloe wasn''t scared.

    She straightened up and said, "Anytime."

    With that, she grabbed her backpack from the sofa and walked out of the living room in her sneakers.

    As she left, she called out to Michael and Liam, who were still eating breakfast, "You got three minutes. If you''rete, you''ll have to take the farm truck."

    Michael and Liam were not happy about that.

    Liam grumbled, "What''s that ugly girl showing off for? That''s my car!"

    Michael, being the more sensible twin, pulled Liam and said, "Hurry up and eat. We might end up in that old truck for school."

    Liam was taken aback.

    Thinking about Chloe''s attitude, he didn''t want to risk it. He grabbed a sandwich and bolted to the yard, not wanting to be a secondte and get left behind.

    As they left, the living room fell silent.

    Grant stood elegantly by therge floor-to-ceiling window, one hand in his pocket, watching Michael and Liam scramble into their car and speed off.

    Aplex expression crossed Grant''s cold face.

    His assistant, Stanley Ortiz, stood behind him and spoke softly, "Sir, I think Michael and Liam might not like Miss Davis very much. Aren''t you worried they''ll bully her since you''ve arranged for the three of them to attend the same school? After all, she is someone Mr. Bobby Martin went out of his way to bring here. If she gets picked on, it might be hard to exin to him."

    Stanley''s concern made sense. Michael and Liam had been troublemakers since they were kids. Being good-looking and wealthy, they always had someone to clean up after them, resulting in spoiled behavior.

    Grant sneered at Stanley''s words, turning to face him with a bruised nose.

    He said, "I think you''re worrying for nothing."

    "Oh?" Stanley looked puzzled.

    Grant touched his nose and said, "Maybe this girl will be their nemesis. You should be more worried about them."

    Stanley was left scratching his head.

    Worried about Michael and Liam? That seemed a bit off.

    When they got to Quest University, Chloe was the first to hop out of the car. Following Grant''s n, she headed to her design school. Once out of sight, she adjusted her trench coat. She might be pretending to be in, but she wasn''t about topromise on style.

    After Chloe left, Liam was busy wiping his mouth with a napkin. He''d eaten breakfast in the car, and the driver, pushed by Chloe, had driven a bit fast, causing some spills.

    Liam, always conscious of his looks, felt all his embarrassment was Chloe''s fault.

    So, he grabbed Michael''s arm and said, "That ugly duckling is too much. Today, I''ll show her who''s boss."

    Michael, the more cunning twin, also wanted to put Chloe in her ce but didn''t want to take the lead.

    Seeing Liam''s anger, he nodded and said, "Yeah, we need to teach her a lesson. Don''t you have a fan in the same ss as her?"

    Liam frowned and replied, "Yeah. I''ll text her now. That ugly girl is done for."

    With that, Liam started making ns.

    Meanwhile, Chloe, already in the ssroom and studying hard, had no idea trouble was brewing.

    New to Sovereign City, she had a lot to catch up on. She spent almost the entire morning hitting the books.

    It wasn''t until lunchtime that she got up to head to the public restroom after organizing her notes.

    Upon entering the restroom, she found herself surrounded by a group of rebellious-looking girls in school uniforms, with ear piercings and heavy makeup, giving off a suspicious vibe. Chloe realized she was probably about to face some school bullying.

    The leader, whom Chloe recognized, seemed to be named Lucy?

    Seeing Chloe, Lucy Kim crossed her arms and looked down at her, saying, "Your name''s Chloe, right?"

    Chloe nodded without fear. "Yeah. What do you want?"

    Lucy sneered, stepped closer, grabbed Chloe by the neck, and pinned her against the restroom wall, saying harshly, "Of course, we have business with you. Hey, you''re already ugly as sin, but scaring folks on top of that? That''s all on you, sweetheart. Your face disgusts me. What do you think we should do about it?"

    Lucy clearly wanted to cause trouble for Chloe. Chloe, being choked, wanted to see how capable she was.

    "My parents gave me this face. I''m stuck with ''em. What do you expect me to do about it?"

    Chloe''s words caused a burst ofughter from the delinquent girls.

    Lucy, overbearing, said, "I say, if you kneel and call me ''Your Majesty'' three times, I''ll tolerate your looks. Otherwise, I''ll whoop you every time Iy eyes on you until you ain''t got the guts to show your face in Sovereign City again!"

 Chapter 4 You Never Know Who Might Lose

    When Lucy spoke, the malice in her eyes was evident. One of herckeys, eager to show off and scare Chloe, quickly introduced her. "Hey, ugly girl, even if you die, you should know who you messed with."

    "This is Miss Kim, the Dean''s daughter. Her dad''s got the final say on who gets kicked out of this school."

    "Miss Kim''s a big deal at Quest University. Anyone who crosses her won''t even get a chance to beg before they''re expelled."

    "So, if you don''t want to get expelled, you better kneel."

    Lucy''sckey made sure to spell out exactly who Lucy was.

    That''s when Chloe realized Lucy had some serious backing.

    But still, it was Chloe''s first day at school. How could she have offended anyone unless someone was out to get her?

    And Chloe wasn''t one to let people mess with her.

    "Kneel?"

    "If you don''t kneel right now, I''ll bust your face into a bloody pulp in a heartbeat."

    Seeing Chloe hesitate, Lucy tightened her grip and raised her hand to p her but Chloe dodged, grabbed Lucy''s hair, and mmed her to the ground.

    To get back at her for choking her, Chloe grabbed a trash can from the bathroom and smashed it over Lucy''s head, thenid into her with punches and kicks, making Lucy scream in pain.

    Theckeys who had surrounded Lucy earlier wanted to help, but seeing how tough Chloe was, they were scared stiff.

    They''d bullied others at school for ages, but they''d never met anyone like Chloe.

    After beating Lucy, Chloe dusted off her hands and asked Lucy''sckeys, "Alright, who''s next? Who''s got the guts to make me kneel and call you ''Your Majesty''?" Chloe''s fierceness scared them.

    Theckeys all knelt down, showing they were no match for Chloe.

    "Queen, you''re our Queen..."

    Seeing Lucy''sckeys submit, Chloe sneered. She grabbed the nearly unconscious Lucy from the ground and asked, "Tell me, who sent you to mess with me?"

    Lucy was scared out of her mind and didn''t dare to speak.

    Seeing her silence, Chloe threatened, "Fine, if you ain''t gonna talk, I''ll beat you again ''til you do!"

    Terrified of another beating, Lucy quickly said, "It was Liam. He said you offended him and told me to teach you a lesson."

    "Liam? He''s asking for trouble!"

    Chloe gritted her teeth and spat out Liam''s name. She dropped Lucy and turned to find Liam for some payback.

    Just halfway there, her best friend Zara Jenkins called her.

    On the phone, Zara urgently said, "Chloe, I need your help. My cousin Tony bet five million dors on a motorcycle race with Liam Martin. His family can''t cover it, and if his parents find out, they''ll kill him. Since you''re Mr. Bobby Martin''s chosen granddaughter-inw and Liam is a potential husband, can you ask him to let Tony off the hook?"

    Since Zara personally asked for help, Chloe couldn''t say no.

    She asked, "Is Tony the guy who went to the Northwest with us during the holidays?"

    "Yeah, that''s him."

    Hearing Zara''s words, Chloe squinted her eyes.

    A motorcycle race for five million dors? Helping Tony out with this?

    Sounded like fun.

    After a quick thought, she told Zara, "Alright, I''ll handle it. Tell your cousin Tony to pick me up at Quest University after school. I''ll help him sort this out."

    Zara was over the moon when Chloe agreed and showered her with praise, leaving Chloe feeling a bit ted.

    Soon, school was out. Chloe told her driver she was going to see a friend and sent him home. After he left, she hopped into Tony Gibson''s car.

    Tony quickly filled Chloe in on the situation.

    Turned out, Tony agreed to race Liam because some people egged him on. Not wanting to look like a coward, he epted the challenge. Now, knowing he couldn''t defeat Liam, he felt stuck.

    After Tony finished, he nervously asked Chloe, "Chloe, what should I do?"

    "What else? You race him."

    "But if I go up against Liam in that race, I''m screwed. There''s five million dors on the line!" Tony was freaking out.

    His family''s financial situation was nothing like the Martin Family''s. Five million dors was a huge deal for them.

    Seeing Tony''s worried face, Chloe patted his head.

    She said, "I''ll race him. Don''t worry, I won''t lose to Liam. And if I do, I''ll cover the five million dors for you."

    Chloe was confident. The vast Northwest had been her yground since she was three,plete with her own motorcycle track. She had mastered drifting without slowing down. If she wanted to win, no one couldpete. Liam racing her? He''s toast.

    Soon, Tony took Chloe to get the motorcycle, put on the gear, and headed to the race track.

    Liam, with his friends, was leaning on their luxury motorcycles, looking all smug.

    Seeing Tony bring a woman, Liam''s face twisted in disdain.

    He mocked Tony, "Tony, what''s this? Bringing backup? If you can''t handle it yourself, at least bring someone strong. Bringing a girl, who are you trying to gross out? Let me tell you, we made a bet. Even if you bring a chick to race for you, if you lose, you still owe me five million dors, or else you''ll be in trouble."

    Liam raised his face, looking down on them.

    Chloe, wearing a heavy helmet and racing suit, was fully covered, so Liam didn''t recognize her.

    Seeing his arrogance, Chloe lowered her voice and coldly retorted, "Liam, a race is a race. Why talk so much crap? Five million dors, let''s see who loses!"

 Chapter 5 You Cant Sleep in My Room

    Chloe''s words grabbed everyone''s attention around Liam.

    One of the guys piped up, "Liam, she just called you out and said you''re gonna lose!"

    Liam bit his lip in response to the tease. He''d never met such a cocky woman in all his years at the motorcycle shop.

    "Liam, she called you out by name. If you don''t show her up, she''s gonna think you''re a joke."

    "Yeah, Liam, you gotta beat her. Show her who''s boss."

    With his friends hyping him up, Liam felt a surge of confidence. He smirked, pointed at Chloe with a cocky grin, and said, "You''re going down,dy!"

    Chloe didn''t even bother responding. She adjusted her gear and hopped on her bike, ready to roll.

    Liam geared up too, revving his souped-up motorcycle as he lined up next to Chloe. The tension between them was electric.

    The whistle blew, and they shot off like rockets.

    Liam''s bike was tricked out with all the bells and whistles, making it a beast on the track.

    Chloe rode Tony''s modest bike, which he had put his all into despite his family''s limited means. With Chloe''s skills, she managed to keep up with Liam at the start.

    Liam felt a rush as he pulled ahead, whistling like a show-off, but Chloe just smirked, unfazed by his antics. They raced on, with Liam''s friends cheering him on. Even Tony thought Chloe didn''t stand a chance.

    After onep, Chloe was right on Liam''s tail. He started to sweat, impressed by how she handled that average bike. Trying to keep his cool, he fought to stay ahead.

    As the finalp began, Chloe hit the gas. Her bike roared past Liam''s like it had a turbo boost.

    The crowd held their breath, stunned as Chloe overtook Liam.

    Chloe didn''t let up. She gunned it, speeding to the finish line, executing a wless drift to stop right on target.

    Liam rolled in about half a minuteter, looking defeated.

    "He lost? Liam actually lost?"

    "Yeah, our champ Liam got beat? No way!"

    "Who is this girl? She''s incredible!"

    Chloe stayed cool as the crowd buzzed. Tony ran up to her, eyes shining with admiration.

    "Sis, you were amazing! We won, we won!"

    Chloe winked at Tony, then hopped off her bike and strolled over to Liam.

    Liam looked dejected, avoiding Chloe''s gaze, still unable to ept losing to a woman.

    "Liam, you had a bet with Tony. You lost, so cough up the five million dors to Tony''s ount."

    Liam stiffened, gritting his teeth. "I know, I know. I won''t short him a penny."

    Seeing Liam like this, Chloe felt a rush of satisfaction. Nothing was more gratifying than making him lose money and feel awkward. Without a word, she hopped back on her bike, flipped him off in response to his taunts, and sped away, leaving him fuming.

    Tony, meanwhile, was swarmed by the crowd after she left.

    "Tony, who is this queen you brought? Introduce us."

    "Tony, I''ll treat you to dinner. Help me get her to be my teacher."

    "Tony..."

    In no time, Tony, who was usually overlooked, became the center of attention.

    Chloe rode her motorcycle to the Martin Family mansion, feeling good and steering smoothly.

    At that moment, Grant, done socializing, sat in his luxury car. The roar of the motorcycle caught his attention, and he was immediately drawn to the slender, agile figure outside the window.

    Chloe soon turned a corner and disappeared from Grant''s view. She parked Tony''s motorcycle in his garage and took a cab to Martin Manor. By ten that night, when she walked into the living room, Grant was already there. Grant, maybe having had a bit to drink, looked a little tipsy. Seeing Chloe arrive home sote, a slight anger shed across his handsome face.

    "Chloe, why are you home sote?" Grant questioned Chloe like a strict parent.

    To Chloe, he was just another suitor. What gave him the right to question her like a parent?

    Given her temporary stay at his house and Grant''s position as the head of the Martin Family, Chloe chose not to argue with him.

    She made up an excuse, "It was my first day at school today. I made two new friends, and we had dinner together to get to know each other better. Grant, did I do something wrong?"

    Grant originally wanted to remind Chloe not toe home sote in the future.

    But when Chloe called him "Grant," with a sugary tone, his demeanor softened instantly.

    He looked at Chloe, shook his head, and said, "No, I was just worried about your safety. Next time, be careful ande home earlier."

    "Okay, I understand."

    Chloe finished speaking, picked up her backpack, and headed upstairs, straight to the room she slept inst night.

    Grant panicked and reminded Chloe, "You can''t sleep in my room."

 Chapter 6 The Ugly Girl Likes Him

    When Grant spoke, Chloe spun around, blinking, and made sure the mole on her face was front and center for him to see. "Can''t sleep? Why not?"

    "The room upstairs is set up for you. The one you crashed inst night? That''s mine," Grant reminded her.

    Grant was super picky about his bed. Last night, Chloe had taken his room, making him sleep in the guest room, where he tossed and turned all night.

    So tonight, he needed to have a serious chat with Chloe to reim his space.

    Chloe just smiled when she heard Grant''s request.

    "But, Grant, I just love sleeping in your room," she said.

    Grant was taken aback by her words.

    He''d handled countless tough situations for the Martin Group and prided himself on always finding a solution. But with Chloe, this little troublemaker, he feltpletely out of his depth. Grant''s face turned red, and Chloe couldn''t resist teasing him as she descended the stairs.

    She got closer and asked with a yful grin, "Are you really that attached to your bed?"

    Grant nodded. "Yeah, I can''t sleep anywhere else. I''m just used to my room."

    Chloe''s mischievous side kicked in.

    She lowered her voice and smirked, "Grant, if you can''t sleep, you can always join me."

    Grant''s face darkened. He, always popr with admirers, never expected to be teased by Chloe, the young girl.

    Seeing his reaction, Chloe burst outughing, her mole standing out even more.

    Grant red at her. "Get out!"

    Chloe, having won this round, grinned at Grant, imed his room, and headed upstairs with her backpack.

    As he watched her go, a shadow crossed Grant''s eyes.

    Why did he feel like Bobby''s match-making for the three brothers was a bit off?

    She just got here and already wanted to sleep with him? Was this what they called the reserved demeanor of ady from a prestigious family?

    But her straightforwardness, aside from that noticeable mole, didn''t really bother Grant too much for now.

    The next morning, Chloe was up early and downstairs.

    The Martin Family''s servants had breakfast ready. Chloe was halfway through her meal when she saw Liam yawning as he came down from his room. Seeing Chloe already eating, Liam, who never liked her, got instantly annoyed.

    "Chloe, you''re too much!"

    Chloe almost dropped her sandwich when she heard Liam''s outburst.

    Liam rushed over, nagging all the way.

    "Chloe, this is the Martin Family, not the Davis Family. We have rules here. Grant and Michael aren''t down yet. Why are you eating first?"

    Seeing Liam''s sleep-deprived face, Chloe couldn''t resist poking fun at him.

    "Grant''s already at work, Michael''s off to school, and you''re still in bed. Why don''t you just sleep till evening? And you call me rude. I''m not dumb; I''m not gonna starve myself." Liam snapped awake at Chloe''s retort.

    He nced at the living room clock; it was almost eight.

    "I''m almostte! Why didn''t you wake me up?" Liam yelled at Chloe.

    Chloe finished her sandwich and shot back, "Did you pay me? Why should I wake you up?"

    "You eat and live in my house. What''s wrong with waking me up? Ugly girl, I''ve never seen anyone as rude as you!"

    Liam was fuming, but Chloe wasn''t fazed by his outburst.

    She stood up, grabbed her backpack, and coldly replied, "I didn''te here by choice! If you can''t stand me, kick me out. You think I want to freeload here?" Liam was left speechless.

    This girl knew how to push his buttons. Even if he had the guts, he wouldn''t dare kick Chloe out; his grandfather Bobby would likely fly back just to scold him.

    Seeing Liam''s face twist in anger, Chloe felt a sense of satisfaction.

    She picked up her backpack and turned to leave. "I''ll wait for you for five minutes. If you''rete, I''m out. Liam, even a farm truck has more horsepower!" With that, Chloe walked out.

    Liam stood there, stunned for a moment, then scrambled to get ready.

    He couldn''t believe this girl had not only taken Grant''s room but was now trying to take his ride to school.

    He was the third heir of the Martin Family, for crying out loud. If the whole school saw him riding in a farm truck, he''d be aughingstock.

    Rushing like mad, Liam managed to get into the car just in time.

    He grabbed a sandwich, his backpack, and his hair was a mess.

    The driver, who had been taking Liam to school for years, shook his head at the sight. He''d never seen Liam in such a state.

    In all of Sovereign City, Chloe was probably the only one who could handle Liam like this.

    A few minutester, they arrived at Quest University. As they were about to get out, Chloe leaned over to Liam.

    With a mischievous grin, she looked at his handsome face and said, "Liam, do you know what I like about you?" Hearing Chloe say she liked him, Liam got goosebumps. He''d been so mean to her, and she still liked him? This girl must be nuts, right?

 Chapter 7 What Do You Like About Me? Ill Change!

    Liam crossed his arms, looking totally bummed out.

    "Ugly girl, are you nuts? Tell me what you like about me, and I''ll change it!"

    Chloe nced at Liam''s cold, handsome face and gave a slight smile.

    She parted her lips and said, "I like how you can''t stand me but can''t get rid of me."

    Chloe grabbed her backpack and hopped out of the car without looking back. Fuming, Liam stomped his feet as he watched her walk away. Liam''s ssmates, who usually flocked around him, saw his car and quickly gathered.

    One of them, Eric Allen, who was usually Liam''s sidekick, saw Liam get out of the car looking furious and hurried over.

    "Liam, what''s up? You look pissed."

    Eric''s words only made Liam angrier.

    Pointing at Chloe as she walked away, he snapped, "If you had an ugly girl living in your house every day, would you be in a good mood?"

    Hearing Liam mention Chloe, Eric fell silent. He knew from Lucy about Chloe''s fiery temper-a girl who could beat Lucy to a pulp was not to be messed with. It seemed Liam was in deep trouble.

    Eric grabbed Liam''s backpack, and the two walked side by side into the campus.

    Liam munched on his sandwich while talking to Eric.

    "Eric, did you did you manage to get the contact details for that stunning biker girl fromst night?"

    Eric shook his head. "Sorry, Liam. No luck. Tony''s keeping it tight. After pocketing the cash, he mentioned he found the biker girl online!"

    "What? Has bike racing stooped so low? A goddess like that can be hired online?" Liam grumbled, and took a big bite of his sandwich, clearly annoyed.

    Eric shook his head and replied, "I don''t know about that. Don''t worry, Liam, I''ll keep looking and find her contact info."

    Hearing Eric''s words, Liam''s anger didn''tpletely fade.

    He kept a sullen face, constantly plotting how to teach Chloe a lesson and show her that he, Liam, was not someone to mess with.

    After lunch, Grant called Liam, telling him to take Chloe to the mall for a dress. That evening, the Martin Family estate would host a wee party for her. Thinking about how the ugly girl had bullied him and now his family had to host a wee party for her, Liam found a way to vent his pent-up anger.

    He decided to use the wee party to make Chloe suffer and embarrass her so she wouldn''t dare to stay with the Martin Family.

    With this n in mind, Liam quickly took action.

    He called over Lucy, who had been beaten up by Chloe the day before, and said, "Lucy, we''re having a party at my house tonight. All the big shots and rich heirs will be there. Interested in joining?" Lucy''s father held the position of dean at Quest University. To curry favor with the Martin Family and connect with more wealthy families in Sovereign City, Lucy nodded without hesitation. She said, "Liam, absolutely, count me in!"

    "Good, if you want to go, then do something for me."

    "What is it?"

    Liam leaned in close to Lucy and whispered his n. Lucy''s expression shifted from nervous and scared to determined as Liam encouraged her.

    Soon, Chloe, who was studying in the ssroom, got a call from Liam.

    "Ugly girl, Grant just called and said there''s a wee party for you tonight. He wants me to take you to buy a dress. Are you going?"

    Chloe had zero interest in boring gatherings. Determined to make the most of her time at the esteemed Quest University, she promptly declined Liam''s invitation. "No."

    Liam didn''t expect Chloe to refuse so bluntly. To get her to go, he decided to use reverse psychology.

    "Exactly. Why does Grant want this? It''s just a wee party. Do you really need a dress? Look at you-do you even deserve one? Even in a royal gown, you wouldn''t look like a princess. It''s not that I won''t buy it; it''s that you don''t want it. If you embarrass yourself at the party, don''t me me."

    Liam''s words piqued Chloe''s interest. Liam said she wouldn''t look like a princess in a royal dress? That jerk, it seemed losing that five million dorsst night didn''t make him feel any pain.

    Just as Liam was about to hang up, Chloe spoke up, "Wait, I''ll go. I''m afraid of embarrassing myself! Liam, take me now."

    Soon, Chloe packed her backpack and followed Liam to the mall, where they chose a nice, affordable dress from the dress section.

    Meanwhile, Grant, in his office, received the paperwork from the mall.

    The dress Chloe bought was from the Martin Family''s own mall, and every purchase by a Martin Family member had to be signed off by Grant, the CEO of the Martin Group. When the picture of the light green dress was ced on Grant''s desk, his eyes showed a hint of appreciation.

    He had to admit, Chloe, who studied design, had a good eye for clothes.

    Her slightly darkplexion and somewhat unruly demeanor were softened by the light green dress, giving her a gentle appearance with a hint of girlish shyness.

    Even with moles and birthmarks on her face, the dress added a bit of elegance to her appearance.

    As Grant nced at the dress, he could already imagine how the slender Chloe would look in it.

    As evening descended, the political and business elites of Sovereign City assembled at the Martin Family''s estate.

    Meticulously dressed Lucy also arrived at the party. Seeing Liam greeting guests, she quickly approached and whispered to him, "Liam, everything is set. Just waiting for that ugly girl Chloe to make a fool of herself."

 Chapter 8 Drugged with Aphrodisiac

    Seeing Lucy strut around with all that confidence, Liam couldn''t help but grin. Holding his wine ss, his tall, lean frame stood out in the crowd as he gave Lucy a nod.

    Michael, catching on to Liam''s thoughts, sidled up to him with his own ss and whispered, "Liam, you thinking about messing with Chloe?"

    Liam dodged the question, "I just want to put that in girl in her ce. She should get that our high-ss world is way out of her league. Hopefully, she''ll leave and return to where she came from after this."

    Michael, being the older brother, felt the need to remind him, "Liam, remember, tonight''s party is hosted by the Martin Family. It''s okay to embarrass Chloe a bit, but don''t go overboard. If things get out of hand, it won''t just be her reputation on the line. Grandpa and Grant will be furious if anything serious happens. Keep it in check."

    Liam nodded, taking Michael''s words to heart. "Don''t worry, Michael. I know the limits."

    Meanwhile, Chloe was in a room at the manor, putting on her makeup.

    Tonight''s wee party was filled with affluent and influential individuals, and as the guest of honor, she had to be at her finest.

    She had bought a stunning light green dress that needed the perfect makeup to match. The Martin Family had even hired a professional makeup artist for her, but Chloe turned them down to hide the birthmark and mole on her face. With a talent for makeup, stemming from her early interest in design, she effortlessly brought a fresh and vibrant look to her face with just a few swift strokes.

    After finishing her makeup and tying her hair into a simple bun, she was ready to slip into her dress.

    However, when she pulled the dress out of the box, she discovered it was riddled with unsightly holes.

    Someone had trashed her dress.

    Mia Wilson, a servant of the Martin Family standing next to Chloe, gasped at the sight.

    "Miss Davis, the party''s about to start. This dress is a mess. How are you going to wear it?"

    Panic set in for Chloe. She quickly thought back to when she bought the dress.

    From the store to the Martin manor, the dress remained in her sight, securely stored in her dressing room, essible only to her and Mia. Chloe trusted Mia, who had been loyal to the Davis Family. She remembered briefly stepping out to greet a ssmate, leaving the dress unattended for just a few minutes.

    Someone must have snuck in during that short time and ruined her dress to humiliate her tonight.

    New to Sovereign City, she had few enemies. The only one likely to wish her embarrassment was that jerk, Liam.

    But Chloe couldn''t believe even Liam would sink into such childish tactics to mess with her.

    With the banquet about to start and her dress in shambles, there was no way she could show up in casual clothes.

    She hade to Sovereign City for a blind date. She didn''t seek involvement with the three young Martin heirs, yet she aimed to avoid humiliation in front of the entire city.

    Mia stood there, holding the ruined dress, looking worried.

    "Miss Davis, you need to figure something out. I''ll go grab some needles and thread. If pushes to shove, we can mend it. We can''t let you show up looking like this at such an important event." Mia quickly left the room.

    Alone now, Chloe had to act quickly to avoid embarrassment after sending away the assigned makeup artist from the Martin Family. She grabbed a pair of scissors from the dressing table and started altering the dress. With her design background and sense of style, she knew what to do.

    The damage was mostly at the hem, so she decided to cut it off.

    If Mia returned with the needle and threadter, Chloe could sew the hem a bit, creating a new look for the dress. Chloe was pleased with her quick thinking. Those who wanted to see her embarrassed wouldn''t get the satisfaction. After her alterations, she had a new dress in the same color, but with a unique charm.

    With Mia still absent and the banquet about to begin, Chloe had no choice but to put on the newly altered dress. Luckily, her skills were good. Even though the edges weren''t perfectly sewn, the dress still looked decent.

    To add a bit of ir, Chloe took a fake flower from the dressing table and pinned it to her waist. She felt a sense of pride.

    Maybe it was the rush, or maybe she was just nervous, but Chloe felt thirsty.

    Without hesitation, she grabbed her forgotten water cup from the table and took a big sip of water.

    Outside the dressing room, the guests'' voices were getting louder. Chloe stood up, ready to head to the banquet.

    But as she stood, she suddenly felt dizzy, and a wave of heat spread from her lower abdomen throughout her body.

    Her vision blurred as the heat intensified, and she felt out of control.

    At that moment, Chloe desperately wanted a man''s touch. With her experience, she realized before losing consciousness that she had been drugged.

    And it was an aphrodisiac!

    She struggled to stay awake, but the drug''s effects heightened her arousal.

    In a daze, she grabbed her phone from the dressing table, intending to call Mia for help.

    But the next second, the dressing room door was suddenly pushed open with a bang. A short, sleazy-looking man with a lecherous smile rushed in and locked the door behind him.

 Chapter 9 Grant, Kiss Me

    Spotting the short guy, Chloe instinctively clutched her skimpy dress. Even though her body was burning up, she stumbled back in the cramped dressing room, a deadly look in her eyes.

    If she hadn''t been drugged and lost control, she would''ve made this guy regret messing with her.

    "What do you want? Get out of here! If you cause trouble at the Martin Family''s banquet, they''ll kill you. Now, leave!"

    Seeing Chloe like this, the short guy''s eyes shed with disdain.

    He sneered at Chloe''s face, showing various expressions of disgust.

    "Ugly girl, you think I want anything to do with you? Look at your face; I''m not interested. I''m here to catch your indecent behavior on camera so everyone can see how loose the Davis Family''s unattractive daughter is. You think you can choose a husband among the three Martin brothers? Based on what? The number of birthmarks or the size of that mole?"

    As the short guy insulted her, the heat in Chloe''s body intensified. She tried to fight it, but willpower was no match for the drug.

    His gaze fixed on Chloe''s pale skin, he readied his phone to film.

    Chloe knew that if a video of her in this state was taken and shown to the guests, the Davis Family''s reputation would bepletely ruined by her.

    Thinking of this, Chloe knew she couldn''t wait any longer.

    With a sudden idea, she grabbed the tea-filled thermos cup and swiftly smashed it heavily on the short guy''s head.

    She used some force, and as the thermos cup fell from her hand, the short guy was stunned and almost knocked out.

    Chloe seized the moment and staggered to the door. With herst bit of rationality, she opened it. Just as she was about to rush out, a tall figure blocked her path.

    Looking up, she was surprised to find that the towering man in front of her was none other than Grant. The drug''s effect intensified, making his handsome face look as enticing as a movie star''s.

    Chloe instinctively wrapped her arms around Grant''s neck and said softly, "Grant, help me."

    Grant was a man of the world. When his eyes swept over Chloe''s flushed face, he didn''t need to think to know what had happened to her.

    At this moment, the short guy who had been hit by Chloe also rushed out. When he saw Grant, he was dumbfounded.

    Grant shot a hateful look at the short guy before coldly instructing his trailing assistant, Stanley, "Hold him down first. I''ll deal with himter. Daring to cause trouble at the Martin Family''s banquet, he must have a death wish." After saying this, Grant caught a whiff of a unique feminine fragrance. He looked down and saw Chloe''s soft bodypletely pressed against him.

    His heart pounded like crazy.

    Grant, usually a master at controlling his desires, felt a bit thrown off at this moment.

    Suddenly, he found himself captivated by the petite woman in his embrace. Despite the birthmarks and moles adorning her face, they failed to mask her irresistible allure.

    Without thinking much, he scooped Chloe up and hurried to another room in the manor.

    As Grant carried Chloe away, Sophia Brown, Grant''s admirer, watched with burning jealousy. After five years of pursuit, her recent confession was met with the revtion that he was involved with another.

    Taking advantage of this banquet, Sophia wanted to see who the woman Grant was dating was. Unexpectedly, she saw Grant carrying Chloe into a room. Despite the distance obscuring Chloe''s face, her figure suggested she was a stunning

    woman.

    This scene deeply hurt Sophia''s heart. She wished she could rece Chloe and be the woman in Grant''s arms.

    She clenched her fists and reminded herself that she must not let Chloe be an obstacle on her path to bing Mrs. Martin.

    In the banquet hall, guests mingled with wine sses in hand, eagerly awaiting the legendary Miss Davis from the Northwest.

    Liam held his wine ss, smugly talking to Lucy, "Lucy, did you take care of everything I asked you to?"

    Lucy quickly replied, "Liam, don''t worry. It''s just a small matter. How could I not handle it? That bitch Chloe hit me so hard. I won''t let her get away with it. This time, I''ll make sure she embarrasses herself and crawls back to the Northwest." Lucy''s words pleased Liam.

    He eagerly anticipated the scene of Chloe appearing in a torn high-end dress.

    The ugly girl had been ying hard to get with him. Since he didn''t want to marry her, he had to send her back to her home in the Northwest.

    In the manor''s room, Grant carried Chloe inside and firmly closed the door with his foot.

    Chloe''s consciousness had be uncontroble under the influence of the drug. Driven by a powerful desire, she not only tugged at her own clothes but also ripped at Grant''s garments.

    Her arms wrapped around Grant''s waist, and her enticing red lips moved closer to Grant''s face.

    Grant wanted to put her down, but under the influence of the drug, she had no intention of letting go of Grant. He pushed her away again and again, but she kept clinging to him.

    With a dazed expression, she wrapped her arms around Grant''s neck and said seductively, "Grant, kiss me."

 Chapter 10 Go Back to Your Hometown

    With Chloe in his arms and her sultry voice in his ears, Grant''s mind went nk. Despite the temptation, he knew he had to keep it together.

    Grant muttered a curse under his breath and carried a dazed Chloe to the bathroom. There, he swiftly grabbed the showerhead, turned on the cold water, and drenched her. The shock snapped her back to reality, cooling her down instantly. The scene of her losing control reyed in her mind like a bad movie.

    As Chloe regained consciousness, Grant set down the showerhead and gently reminded her, "You were drugged. Luckily, I arrived just in time, or else..."

    He quickly turned away, not wanting Chloe to see him looking so disheveled.

    "This is Sovereign City, not the Northwest. You need to be more careful. It''s not good for a girl to be so unaware of self-protection."

    Grant hinted at Chloe''s carelessness. Upon discovering her dress cut, she should have realized someone was targeting her and stayed vignt.

    "Thanks for saving me," Chloe said after a moment of reflection.

    Hearing her gratitude, Grant couldn''t help but see Chloe in a new light. It wasn''t easy to get a thank you from her.

    He put on a brotherly demeanor and said, "No need to thank me. Next time we spar, please avoid hitting my face. I''ll arrange for a new dress to be brought to you. I''ll have Miae over to take care of you. Hurry up, don''t miss the party." With that, Grant left the room.

    Soon, Mia brought a new dress, and after Chloe quickly tidied up her appearance, she headed to the party.

    When the elites of Sovereign City learned that the girl with a birthmark and mole was chosen for the Martin Family''s three brothers, they all sympathized with them.

    Which of the Martin sonscked charm and good looks?

    The eldest, Grant, after studying abroad, returned to take over the Martin Family''s business. In just two years, he expanded the business nationwide. He was also known for his clean lifestyle, a true rich guy. Michael and Liam, although still in college, had already shown extraordinary abilities.

    Michael, passionate about the arts, had be a heartthrob for many young girls after starring in a few films, even before graduating. It was said that girls who liked him lined up all the way to other countries.

    Liam, though a bit yful, had no other faults. It was said that he had already started several antiquepanies at a young age. The Martin Family elders indulged him in his hobbies.

    In short, everyone there couldn''t wrap their heads around why Bobby would let his three prized grandsons be chosen by a girl who wasn''t exactly a looker.

    "See her? That''s the Davis Family''s youngdy. How can she be so ugly?"

    "Exactly! She''s so ugly, it''s scary. I really don''t get how she gets to pick from the three heirs."

    "If you ask me, with her looks, she wouldn''t even make a good servant. She''d ruin my appetite."

    The room buzzed with these harshments as Chloe, wearing the new dress Grant had arranged, gracefully made her entrance.

    The unfriendly remarks reached Chloe''s ears, making her eyes darken slightly.

    Charles Green, the Martin family''s butler, introduced her to the guests. Chloe, holding her wine ss, followed him through the crowd in the elegant gown Grant had chosen. The dress, more conservative yet ttering, cinched at the waist to perfectly showcase her slim figure.

    Liam, holding a wine ss, stood not far away, watching Chloe. He couldn''t help but remark, "I have to admit, the ugly girl has a nice figure."

    Eric, standing next to Liam, teased, "Liam, are you interested?"

    Hearing Eric''sment, Liam immediately got defensive.

    "How could I be interested in that ugly girl? Just looking at her makes me sick. You must be into her. Your whole family must be into her." Liam said this and hurriedly left with his wine ss.

    Eric, looking innocent, watched Liam''s retreating figure and muttered, "Did I say something wrong? Can''t Liam even take a joke?" After Charles introduced Chloe to the guests, she had a good idea of who was who.

    Some continued toment on her appearance, while others, upon hearing the Davis Family from the northwest, wisely kept their mouths shut. The Martin Family was out of their league.

    And the Davis Family was not someone they could afford to offend.

    Though Chloe was unattractive, she was born into the right family. Being a Davis was her biggest advantage.

    After the socializing, Chloe''s eyes kept scanning the crowd. She had to find out who had set her up tonight. Soon, she spotted Liam in the crowd.

    Being new to Sovereign City and unfamiliar with many people, she could only imagine Liam as someone who might seek revenge against her. So, she had to confront Liam and ask if he was the one who drugged her.

    Holding her wine ss, she approached Liam, but his men immediately blocked her path.

    "Ugly girl, stay away from Liam. We don''t care who you are. With your looks, Liam would never give you a second nce."

    "If you have any self-awareness, pack your things and go back to where you came from."

 Chapter 11 Despicable Means

    Chloe didn''t even flinch at the provocation, just gave one of them a good once-over. Before she hit Sovereign City, she had done her homework on the three young heirs.

    The guy running his mouth for Liam was Gerald Bailey, the first grandson of the Bailey family. With the Bailey family''s business going downhill, Gerald had be Liam''s loyalpdog, trying to get in good with the powerful Martin Family. She stared at Gerald for a few seconds before saying, "Gerald, did you show up to the party today without your brain?"

    Her words left Gerald dumbfounded. "Ugly girl, who do you think you''re talking to?"

    Chloe locked eyes with him and said calmly, "You. I was just speaking with your parents about a potential business deal between the Davis Family and the Bailey family, and now you want me to leave?"

    To those who didn''t know the Davis Family''s clout, Chloe''s words might''ve sounded like empty threats. But Gerald knew better.

    His parents always said that even a small deal with the Davis Family could turn things around for the Baileys. Pissing off Chloe would blow that chance and bring down their wrath.

    Realizing this, Gerald''s bravado crumbled. He stepped aside, embarrassed and silent.

    Right then, Liam stepped in to smooth things over. "Ugly girl, don''t get mad. Everyone here knows each other. It''s not cool to start a fight. Give me a break."

    Liam held a wine ss and actually asked Chloe to cut him some ck in a soft tone.

    He figured Chloe wouldn''t make a scene in front of everyone, but he was dead wrong. She threw her wine right in Liam''s face, leaving him and his crew stunned. No one expected such guts from a in girl like Chloe.

    This was the third young heir of the Martin Family!

    She was asking for trouble.

    Liam, with wine dripping off his face, was instantly pissed. He wiped his face, gritting his teeth, and snapped, "Ugly girl, are you looking to get yourself killed?"

    Chloe locked eyes with him, fearless. "Oh yeah? You think you''ve got what it takes to off me? Liam, Mr. Third-in-Line of the Martin n, resorting to cheap shots against me? Pathetic. I just sshed wine on you. Even if I rough you up, the Martins won''t bat an eye."

    Liam thought Chloe had figured out that he had Lucy mess up her dress, so he felt a bit guilty. He didn''t expect the ugly girl to be so sharp and even have a backup dress.

    But Lucy''s tricks were too amateurish. The party wasn''t even over, and her little scheme was already exposed. She was more trouble than she was worth.

    The spat between Chloe and Liam quickly grabbed everyone''s attention.

    Grant, holding a wine ss and looking icy, noticed the ruckus and walked over.

    Liam, who was all set to go off on Chloe, immediately cooled down and avoided eye contact as soon as Grant showed up.

    Liam had too much respect and fear for Grant to act out at this wee party. Grant gave them a cold once-over.

    He asked, "What''s going on here?"

    "Grant, the ugly girl threw wine on me," Liam blurted out.

    Upon hearing this, Grant''s handsome visage darkened imperceptibly, his eyebrows arching with an air ofmanding authority. "Liam, she''s the Davis Family''s girl. Just call her Chloe. Calling her an ugly girl makes the Martin Family look bad." Grant didn''t hesitate to side with Chloe.

    His stance took Chloe by surprise.

    "Grant."

    "Apologize to her," Grant ordered Liam in a stern voice.

    Liam wanted to push back, but when he met Grant''s fierce gaze, he backed down.

    He bowed to Chloe, reluctantly saying, "I''m sorry!"

    "But Grant, we can''t just let it slide that she threw wine on me!" After apologizing, Liam still wanted to get something out of it.

    Sure, he had Lucy mess up Chloe''s dress, but that didn''t mean Chloe could throw wine on him and make him look like a fool, right?

    Upon Liam''s words, Grant nced at Chloe, recognizing the dress he had chosen for her. No doubt, Grant had good taste. The traditional dress really brought out Chloe''s elegance.

    "What do you say?" Grant''s tone softened when he spoke to Chloe.

    Chloe didn''t hold back and told Grant straight up, "He messed with me."

    She was hinting not just at her ruined dress but also at being drugged, something Liam didn''t know about. Grant, having seen Chloe''s near assault, figured she was talking about that awful experience. Liam tried to defend himself, "Grant, I was just joking with her. Didn''t mean any harm. She''s not that sensitive, is she?"

    Grant''s face darkened at Liam''s words. To him, a woman''s chastity was no joke.

    If Grant hadn''t shown up in time, things could''ve gone horribly wrong. Both families would have been publicly shamed, and Chloe''s loss of dignity would have been a huge scandal. Liam''s "joke" was way out of line!

    Grant, fuming, stared at Liam and said, "It seems you don''t get how serious this is!"

    "Grant, I was just joking with her," Liam insisted. In his mind, having someone cut Chloe''s dress was just a prank. If that wasn''t a joke, what was?

    Chloe crossed her arms, curious to see how Grant would handle Liam.

    If he dared to cover for him, she''d make sure to get her own justice!

 Chapter 12 He is the Most Suitable

    Just when Chloe thought Grant would brush off the situation, he went ahead and pped Liam.

    Liam grabbed his cheek in stunned disbelief, while the guests gasped in shock. Chloe was confused; wasn''t Grant supposed to defend Liam and apologize quickly? "Grant."

    "Liam, beat it for now! I''ll deal with you when I get back tonight," Grantmanded, his face stern.

    Liam, scared of Grant''s temper, kept quiet after the p and left with his crew.

    After Liam left, Grant turned to Chloe and said, "Don''t worry, I''ll get to the bottom of this tonight."

    Grant''s attitude was pretty good, and since he had just saved her, Chloe started to warm up to him a bit.

    She nodded and said, "Okay."

    At the banquet, guests were mingling, some busyworking with the elite, others enjoying the fine wine. Chloe didn''t know many people there, so she found a corner and quietly sipped on some juice to stay out of the spotlight. Tony slid up next to Chloe and greeted her eagerly, "Chloe."

    Chloe nced at Tony and casually asked, "Tony? How did you get in here?"

    "My parents have some connections with a senior executive at the Martin Group. It took some effort to get into such a high-end event, but it''s all about making connections and paving the way for the Gibson family''s business," Tony said, shaking his wine ss helplessly.

    In Sovereign City, such gatherings weremon, but the Martin Family''s banquets typically didn''t include Tony''s parents on the guest list.

    "Let''s not talk about that. Chloe, I saw you arguing with Liam earlier. It was awesome! Grant stepping in to p Liam for you was unexpected. Do you think he might like you?" Tony''s words were shocking.

    Chloe, mid-sip, spat out her juice in surprise.

    She wiped her mouth and coughed. "Tony, are you crazy? Do you even know what liking someone means?"

    Chloe was pretty speechless towards Tony, who was half a year younger than her.

    "Of course, I know! Chloe, my cousin said you''re here to find a husband among the Martin heirs. Liam''s a jerk who calls you ugly, so he''s a no-go. Michael''s a yboy celebrity, so he''s not right. But Grant runs the Martin Group, keeps clear of scandals, and has your back. Chloe, go for Grant! He''s your best bet," Tony''s analysis was quite reasonable.

    Unfortunately, Chloe didn''t want to choose any of them.

    To stop Tony from talking nonsense, she reached out and patted his head. "Zip it, quit babbling, or I''ll sew your mouth shut."

    Chloe pretended to be annoyed.

    Tony, with a sheepish grin, said, "Alright, alright, I''ll stop. Chloe, the pool area is pretty lively. Let''s go check it out."

    Tony led Chloe to the manor''s bustling swimming pool, a stark contrast to the business-focused hall.

    Their arrival didn''t go unnoticed by Sophia, Grant''s admirer. Already fuming over Grant''s actions-carrying Chloe away and pping Liam for her-Sophia was convinced that Grant had feelings for Chloe. She thought he was just interested in the Davis family''s power and felt that Grant rightfully belonged to her. Despite the Brown family''s weaker influencepared to the Davis family, she still aimed to rival Chloe.

    She wanted to use her own tactics to drive Chloe, this "ugly girl," out of the Martin Family.

    As soon as Chloe arrived, she heard a few girls surrounding Sophia, showering her withpliments.

    "Oh my gosh, Sophia is amazing. As soon as she got back from studying abroad, she joined the Martin Group and, with her own skills, became a department manager under Mr. Martin. That''s impressive." "Yeah, Sophia is so kind-hearted and capable. Her future is limitless."

    "Exactly, with such a beautiful woman like Sophia in thepany, Mr. Martin must be so distracted from work."

    "Sophia, you and Mr. Martin grew up together. You''ll definitely be Mrs. Martin in the future."

    With everyone praising her, Sophia''s face turned a shade of red, and she pretended to be modest, saying, "Oh, stop it. Grant and I are just colleagues now. You know, the Martin Family and the Davis Family have a marriage agreement. Grant said he has to fulfill the elders'' arrangement."

    As soon as Sophia said this, the girls around her started to gossip.

    "Sophia, are you talking about that Davis Family girl who has a marriage agreement with the Martin Family? We''ve all seen her. She''s incredibly ugly, with a birthmark on her face as big as our school''s yground."

    "And that mole on the birthmark, how gross! How could Grant ever like her?"

    "So what if she has a marriage agreement with the Martin Family? With her looks, none of the three heirs of the Martin Family would ever like her."

    "She''s destined to be ousted from the Martin Family. They might as well marry her off to some random gardener."

    "She wants topete with Sophia for Grant? She should take a good look in the mirror first."

    The crowd''s belittling and ridicule were all aimed at Chloe!

 Chapter 13 Youre Just Too Stingy

    you''ll regret it. All you do is yap. Try me again, and you''re gone!"

    Tony couldn''t take it anymore. He started yelling at the women, knowing if he didn''t stand up for Chloe, no one would. "Your mouths stink from a mile away! Did you eat garbage today? Shut up! If anyone says one more bad thing about Chloe, Chloe was touched by Tony''s defense, but with the Gibson family''s power, Tony didn''t really have any clout.

    No one took Tony seriously.

    "Tony, what are you bragging about? Is this estate owned by the Gibson family? What right do you have to kick us out?"

    "Besides, aren''t we just stating the facts? The three young heirs of the Martin Family are so outstanding, how could they possibly be interested in Chloe?"

    "Kick us out? Do you even have the power to do that?"

    The women kept chattering, and Tony couldn''t out-argue them.

    Sophia crossed her arms, looking amused. Her goal was to embarrass Chloe so much that she''d go back to her hometown in the northwest.

    The women continued, and soon their attacks were directed at Chloe.

    "Hmph, isn''t it a fact that someone is ugly? Why can''t we say it? Don''t forget, this is an era of free speech."

    "Being ugly is one thing, buting out to scare people is just wrong."

    "And kicking us out? How arrogant!"

    Tony wanted to retaliate but was at a loss for words. After all, what they were saying was spot on.

    He had no power and wasn''t part of the Martin Family, so standing up for Chloe was too difficult.

    "Chloe." Tony looked at Chloe pitifully.

    Chloe raised her hand, signaling Tony to stay out of it. As an ugly girl, she had to show these richdies that in Sovereign City, her words carried weight too.

    "Yes, Tony and I don''t have the power to kick you out, but what about Grant?" At the mention of Grant, everyone fell silent.

    Sophia smiled lightly and said, "It''s just a small matter. Grant is so busy, how could he possiblye over?"

    Sophia''s message was crystal clear: Grant would never rise to Chloe''s defense.

    Chloe grasped the implication, as did the women extolling Sophia. They veiled their sneers behind delicate hands, theirughter barely suppressed.

    Chloe nced at Sophia and casually said, "Yes, he is very busy, but no matter what, he can make time for me and throw a grand wee party. If I tell him that a few people have upset me and ask him to kick them out of my wee party, do you think he would do it?"

    Chloe''s words brought the room to a hush.

    Everyone quickly saw the truth in her statement-tonight''s party was in her honor. If Chloe was happy, the Martin Family would be happy. If she wasn''t, the celebration was meaningless.

    Sophia''s eyes shed with a malicious glint.

    To keep things from getting too awkward, Sophia took a deep breath and put on a friendly face as she approached Chloe. "Miss Davis, everyone was just joking around. Why take it so seriously? Mr. Martin has so many guests to entertain. If he has to worry about such small stuff, wouldn''t that make you seem a bit petty, Miss Davis? I think the fact that everyone is so straightforward with you shows that they like you."

    Sophia''s words were like a p in the face to Chloe.

    People had insulted her right to her face, and Sophia called it enthusiasm?

    She had a mole on her face, not a tumor in her brain!

    Did Sophia really think she could fool her with such ame trick?

    Looking at Sophia''s smug face, Chloe sneered. She nced at Sophia''s revealing outfit and began her counterattack. "Miss Brown, why is your dress so ugly? The color is so dark, it makes you look twenty years older. And how much do you eat? You''re so fat, three rolls of belly fat around your waist. Oh my! It''s really unbearable to look at."

    Chloe''s words hit Sophia like a ton of bricks. Aiming to impress Grant and proud of her looks, Sophia dreaded beingbeled as unattractive and overweight by a rival.

    Chloe was really pushing her buttons!

    Sophia''s face turned cold, and she snapped, "Chloe, don''t go too far."

    "Oh, Miss Brown, are you mad? I''m just telling the truth. Why are you angry? If I didn''t like you, would I kindly point out your ws? I''m doing this for your own good. If you''re mad at me, doesn''t that make you narrow-minded?" Chloe''s swift retort with her own taunts caught Sophia off guard, leaving her visibly flustered.

    Wasn''t this just asking for trouble?

    Tony stood behind Chloe, trying to stifle hisughter.

    Chloe''seback was pure gold. Seeing Tony''s goofy grin, Chloe shot him a look. "Tony, why are youughing? They just dissed you, saying the Gibsons can''t boot them out. Doesn''t that show they look down on your family''s power? You''re a grown man, don''t you feel any sense of crisis?"

    Tony''s jaw dropped at Chloe''s sudden remark. "Chloe, what do you mean?"

    Chloe rolled her eyes and said, "I don''t mean anything. They think the Gibson family isn''t powerful enough. Since you''re close to me, I should help elevate your family''s status in Sovereign City, right?"

    Chloe''s words made Tony feel like he had just won the lottery.

    "Chloe," Tony was so excited he could barely speak.

    Chloe continued. "Ask your parents to swing by the Davis Group''s office in Sovereign City tomorrow to help with some business. And if your family is interested in any of the Martin Family''s ventures, just let me know. As the future mistress of the Martin Family, I''m sure they''ll be happy to help out."

    As Chloe spoke, she cast a pointed nce at Sophia, whose chest heaved and face flushed with rage.

 Chapter 14 The Mole on Your Face is Crooked

    Sophia thought, ''This ugly girl is acting all high and mighty just because of her status. She even dares to mess with the Martin Family''s business, dreaming of bing its mistress. Why? I''ve loved Grant for five years and won''t let any woman take my ce as his future wife.''

    The richdies around were stunned by Chloe''s casual yetmanding presence. They realized they needed to get close to Chloe to secure benefits for their families in the future. After all, she had her pick of the three young heirs of the Martin Family.

    Sophia? She was just picking up Chloe''s leftovers.

    Soon, thedies swarmed around Chloe with apologies. If Tony''s brief defense had boosted the Gibson family, maybe their own families could get a piece of the pie too. "Miss Davis, it was all a misunderstanding earlier. We hope you can be generous and not hold it against us."

    "Exactly! We were short-sighted. Miss Davis, your dress is stunning! Where did you get it?"

    Chloe casually replied, "Grant bought it for me. I don''t know where he got it. How do you like it?"

    These suck-ups, prompted by Chloe, started showering her withpliments.

    "This dress is amazing! It''s expensive and looks fantastic, it suits you perfectly."

    "Only someone with Miss Davis''s grace could pull off this dress! Mr. Martin has excellent taste."

    Chloe knew exactly how to stir the pot. She made sure to mention that Grant bought her the dress, which drove Sophia crazy.

    She had been by Grant''s side for five years, following him around every day, and he hadn''t even bought her a bracelet. Now, he bought this ugly girl a dress worth millions? No way, she couldn''t let this slide.

    Sophia schemed to humiliate Chloe, demonstrating that no pricey dress could shield her from the impending embarrassment.

    While Chloe was chatting with thedies, Sophia quietly moved closer. She nced at the pond nearby and immediately had an idea.

    She suddenly reached out and pushed Chloe towards the pond. As Chloe''s body tilted and she was about to fall into the water, she caught sight of the evil grin on Sophia''s face. Chloe wasn''t going to let her get away with it.

    So she grabbed Sophia''s clothes and dragged her in too. The pond was shallow, and although Chloe could swim, she was determined to make sure Sophia faced consequences for her actions. So, Chloe pretended she couldn''t swim, pushing Sophia''s body down into the water.

    Sophia struggled desperately to get up, but every time her head emerged, Chloe pped her back down.

    Sophia kept gulping down water while Chloe, who was a pro at swimming, adjusted her breathing and gave Sophia a rough time underwater.

    As the two sshed into the pond, the crowd around them started freaking out, yelling for help. When folks from the hall rushed over, they saw Chloe, who supposedly couldn''t swim, clinging tightly to Sophia. Sophia, nearly drowning thanks to Chloe, was desperate for air. She wed at Chloe''s hands, trying to break free.

    But to the people on the shore, it looked like Sophia was trying to push Chloe under.

    A slightly tipsy Grant showed up at the pond and immediately spotted the small, helpless Chloe in the water. Without a second thought, he tossed off his jacket and jumped in.

    He quickly swam over and pulled Chloe out.

    Chloe''s hand was still gripping Sophia''s dress. As Grant lifted her, she ended up tearing off Sophia''s dress.

    Sophia''s strapless dress slipped off, leaving her wet and exposed in front of everyone.

    She quickly used her arms to cover herself.

    Seeing Grant holding Chloe, she pitifully called out, "Mr. Martin, save me!"

    Grant, without even ncing her way, coldly replied, "Do you require saving?"

    Sophia, bewildered, had ingested a lot of water; surely, she needed rescuing?

    Ignoring Sophia, Grant carried Chloe into the manor. Snuggled in his arms, Chloe shot a smug wink at Sophia. Security soon fished Sophia out, but by the time her parents arrived, she had already thoroughly embarrassed the Brown family. Sophia''s father, Leon Brown, scolded her, "Stupid girl, what happened? How did you fall into the water? Where are your clothes? This is so embarrassing. Get home immediately."

    Sophia felt wronged. Could she say this was her own doing?

    Grant carried Chloe to a room in the manor. On the way, Chloe stayed nestled in his arms. Grant, worried she might catch a cold, quickened his pace.

    Chloe, trying to make conversation, said, "Grant, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to cause you trouble. I just can''t swim."

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Grant was speechless. The little girl said she couldn''t swim? Well, he would believe her this time.

    "Okay, if you can''t swim, stay away from the water in the future. You go shower first. I''ll get Mia to sort you out some fresh clothes. Once you''re changed, we''ll go home together." Grant, also soaked, was dripping wet. As he brought Chloe to the room''s door, he prepared to leave. Chloe opened the door, ready to go inside.

    At that moment, Grant seemed to remember something. He stopped and suddenly turned around. "Chloe."

    "Yes? Grant, do you need something?" Chloe was puzzled, worried that Grant might ask about the incident. Unexpectedly, Grant looked her straight in the eyes and said, "The mole on your face is crooked."

 Chapter 15 The Person is Actually Quite Nice

    Chloe''s heart skipped a beat when Grant reminded her about the mole. She touched her cheek and realized the mole had somehow ended up on her nose. She regretted forgetting the glue wasn''t waterproof during her revenge on Sophia. Without a word to Grant, she quickly fixed the mole back in ce and headed into the room. As she shut the door, her heart raced. Was Grant onto her secret? She''de to Sovereign City for a blind date, hoping to dodge the Martin family''s heirs by disguising herself. Now that Grant had noticed the mole, he''d probably start paying more attention to her.

    If her cover was blown and the Martin heirs took a liking to her, how would she escape? She needed to make sure they didn''t like her, so she could get out of this mess once her one-year deal with her grandpa was up.

    After Chloe went into the room, Grant stood there, staring at the door, a wild idea forming in his mind. Maybe Chloe wasn''t actually ugly; maybe she was hiding something. This girl was definitely interesting.

    Grant turned to leave, and his assistant Stanley rushed over with a fresh set of clothes. "Mr. Martin, you should take a bath and change to avoid catching a cold."

    "Okay," Grant replied coolly.

    As they walked, Grant said, "Stanley, I need you to dig into that girl''s background. Get me everything you can."

    Stanley looked puzzled. "Mr. Martin, which girl are you talking about? Miss Davis?"

    "Yeah, her," Grant confirmed.

    Stanley was curious about Grant''s sudden interest in Chloe. "Mr. Martin, are you interested in Miss Davis?"

    Grant''s brow furrowed. "Stanley, don''t you think you''re talking a bit too much today?"

    Stanley nodded, realizing he''d crossed a line.

    Trying to cover his tracks, Grant added, "I need to know about her because she''ll be staying with the Martin Family for a year. As the president of the Martin Group, I have to make sure she''s safe, right? If things like cutting her dress, drugging her, and pushing her into the pool keep happening, do you think my grandfather will let me off the hook?"

    Grant''s exnation seemed reasonable, leaving Stanley without a valid argument.

    That night, Chloe and Grant got back to the Martin Familyte. When they walked in, they saw Liam kneeling on a cushion in the main hall, looking utterly miserable. Chloe couldn''t help butugh.

    She pointed at Liam and asked, "What''s this all about? Did you mess up and now you''re apologizing to me? Kneeling to apologize? Isn''t that a bit much? I''m too young for all this drama."

    Chloe''s teasing made Liam re at her. If he wasn''t kneeling, he probably would''ve kicked her a few times.

    Liam rolled his eyes but kept kneeling obediently.

    Chloe was confused. What was up with Liam? Had he suddenly grown a conscience?

    "Liam, what are you doing? Trying to pull the old sympathy card?" Chloe inquired.

    Grant, who had already taken off his coat, cut in coldly, "He messed up and needs to be punished. Arranging for someone to cut up your dress to embarrass you is a childish move, not something a man would do. Chloe, go upstairs and rest. Let him kneel here and think about what he did."

    As the eldest of the Martin Family, Grant''s words carried weight, and his authoritative tone made the usually defiant Liam stay put.

    Liam had no choice but to kneel there obediently.

    Chloe, on the other hand, had no ns to plead for Liam. She headed upstairs, muttering, "Serves you right!"

    Back in her room, Chloe couldn''t sleep. She grabbed her phone and texted her long-lost best friend, Zara.

    Zara: [Chloe, how''s it going in Sovereign City? How are things with the Martin Family heirs?]

    Chloe: [Not great. Michael''s filming, so I haven''t seen much of him. Liam''s a jerk, always causing trouble and bullying me. Grant''s punishing him by making him kneel in the living room!] Chloe filled Zara in on the situation.

    Zara: [Grant''s punishing Liam for you? Chloe, it sounds like Grant''s pretty decent. Why not go for him?]

    Chloe: [He''s older, always stern, like an ice block. No way. Plus, I''ve made myself look so ugly, he probably feels sick just looking at me. Choosing him as my husband would be a disaster.]

    Zara: [You don''t get it! An older guy knows how to take care of people. Besides, Grant''s only seven or eight years older than you.]

    Chloe: [Zara, people think differently these days. Seven or eight years is like a big age difference for me. No thanks. By the way, your cousin Tony is reliable. I need to tell our execs to give the Gibson family some business.] Zara: [Chloe, I''ll make sure Tony thanks you properly. Kiss kiss, love you!]

    Chloezily replied: [Get lost.]

    The next morning, Chloe didn''t have any sses, so she slept in. When she finally went downstairs, she was surprised to see Grant, who should have been at work, sitting in the living room with hisptop.

    And Liam, who was supposed to go to school with her, was nowhere in sight.

    Chloe asked, "Grant, where did Liam go?"

    "School," Grant replied.

    Chloe was annoyed. "He took the car. How am I supposed to get to school?"

    Grant closed hisptop, looked at Chloe with the mole still on her face, and said softly, "To make sure Liam doesn''t bully you again, I''ll personally drive you to school from now on."

 Chapter 16 I Dont Regret It

    When Grant said he wanted to take Chloe to school himself, she thought she must have heard wrong. Was he nuts? She came to school for freedom, to do her own thing, and to meet guys outside the Martin Family. If Grant was her daily chauffeur, how was she supposed to make any friends? No way, she had to shut this down.

    With a face only a mother could love, Chloe approached Grant and tried to talk him out of it. "Grant, you''re swamped with work; no need to waste time on me. Liam took the car, so I''ll hop on the farm truck. I''m not exactly a beauty queen, so no need for the daily drama. I''ll get to school on my own, okay?"

    Grant, buried in his work, looked up from hisputer and stared at Chloe. His gut told him there was more to her reluctance about him taking her to school than met the eye.

    He was curious to see what she was up to.

    Grant shut hisptop, nced at Chloe, and said, "I don''t care about your looks. Eat your breakfast and get ready to go."

    Chloe was at a loss for words.

    With no other option, she slowly finished her breakfast and reluctantly got into Grant''s car.

    Soon, they were on their way to Quest University. Chloe closed her eyes, trying to fake being super sleepy.

    Grant saw right through her act.

    He frowned, looked at Chloe with her eyes closed, and asked, "I heard you talkingst night about wanting to get the Davis Group and the Gibson family to work together?"

    He was talking about Tony''s family. Last night, Tony had stood up for Chloe but got humiliated, which she couldn''t stand.

    Tony was Zara''s cousin, and since Chloe and Zara were besties, it was like someone messing with her own family. Plus, Tony had her back, and since she was new in Sovereign City, she needed to build her own crew. Chloe blurted out, "Hey, what if the Davis Group teams up with the Gibson family? It could be a win-win situation, right?"

    Grant smiled at her reasoning.

    He reached out and gently patted Chloe''s head, then said, "Smart girl, already thinking about building your own power base?"

    Grant''s sudden touch startled Chloe, who was pretending to sleep. She immediately opened her eyes, nervously looked at Grant sitting beside her, and quickly scooted away from him.

    Seeing Chloe''s scared expression, Grant chuckled to himself. He always saw her as bold and fearless, but even she had her moments of vulnerability. It amused him that a simple touch could catch her off guard. When they arrived at Quest University, Chloe jumped out of the car the moment it stopped. Grant watched her run off with a big smile.

    He casually told Stanley, "Stanley, keep an eye on Miss Davis. I don''t want a repeat ofst night''s incident."

    "Got it," Stanley replied, quickly grabbing his phone to handle it.

    Chloe jogged to her ssroom, feeling like she was sneaking around. After sitting down, she discovered that the two unfamiliar faces were new transfers after asking her ssmate Tammy Turner. Chloe wasn''t one for gossip.

    But one of the new students looked oddly familiar. Before she could figure out why, he walked over to her. "Chloe."

    Hearing her name, Chloe looked up to see a tall guy smiling at her. She was puzzled-who was he, and why did he look familiar? Despite her birthmark and moles, he recognized her and called her by name. "Who are you?" Chloe asked, confused.

    "My name''s Philip Cook. We were in the same high school ss, remember? I got rmended to a foreign university in our senior year. It''s only been a few days, and you don''t remember me?" Philipined, sounding a bit hurt. Chloe''s memory clicked. She vaguely recalled a ssmate named Philip from high school. However, she struggled with faces and her grandpa''s caution about hanging out with boys had blurred her recollection of him. "Oh, right, Philip! What are you doing at Quest University?"

    "I like the environment here, and I like this major. What a coincidence you''re here too. How about we grab dinner after school?" Philip invited her enthusiastically.

    Meeting a familiar face in a new city was a stroke of luck for Chloe, so she happily agreed.

    Theirughter soon caught the attention of some girls in the ss. They couldn''t understand why the handsome new guy, Philip, was ignoring all the pretty girls to hang out with Chloe. Did he have some weird taste? After school, Chloe waited at the gate for Philip toe out for dinner. Just then, Liam''s car pulled up in front of her.

    Remembering how he had to kneel all night because of Chloe, Liam''s hostility was even more obvious.

    He told the driver to lower the window and said to Chloe, "Ugly girl, what are you standing there for? Get in the car and go home."

    Despite Liam''s night of kneeling, Chloe still had no good feelings towards him.

    Chloe wrinkled her nose at Liam and said disdainfully, "You go by yourself. I''m not getting in your car."

    Hearing Chloe refuse, Liam frowned. "Are you sure you don''t want to get in my car? Ugly girl, don''t regret it," Liam warned, pointing at her.

    Chloe rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and shot back, "It''s just a crappy car. Do you think the Davis Family doesn''t have one? Regret? I won''t regret it!"

 Chapter 17 Your Whole Family Are Pretty Boys

    Liam was the third heir of the Martin Family. When had he ever been treated like this? Hearing Chloe''s words, he immediately told the driver to start the car.

    As Liam''s car pulled away, he saw the handsome Philip walking up to Chloe, who was all smiles, her mole shifting with her grin. In the rearview mirror, Liam watched them chatting away, his mood getting darker by the second. Chloe, this ugly girl, secretly dating a ssmate? She was engaged to the Martin family! Wasn''t this a betrayal?

    Liam was shocked by his own thoughts.

    He couldn''t figure out why, even though Chloe annoyed him, he was so pissed seeing her with another guy.

    "Toby, reverse the car," Liam said, his face like thunder.

    Toby had no clue what was going on and asked, "Mr. Martin, you want to reverse?"

    "Yeah, don''t you see that Chloe hasn''t gotten in the car yet? She''s new to Sovereign City, what if someone tricks her or something? I don''t want Grant making me kneel all night again."

    Liam''s excuse sounded reasonable enough. Just as Chloe and Philip were about to head off to eat, Liam''s car screeched to a halt in front of them, blocking their way.

    Upon catching sight of Liam''s grim visage through the window, Chloe shot him a fierce re. "Liam, are you nuts? Get lost, don''t mess with my ns," Chloe snapped.

    Liam stepped out of the car, his imposing figure looming over Chloe like a wall. "What are you doing with this boy toy?" he sneered, gesturing towards Philip.

    Philip was furious. He might have prioritized looks, but that didn''t make him a gigolo.

    "You''re the boy toy, your whole family are boy toys!" he shot back.

    No one had ever dared to insult the Martin Family like that.

    Liam''s face went ice-cold, and he grabbed Philip''s cor, ready to throw down. Sometimes, guys just need to fight it out.

    Philip didn''t back down. Hailing from the tough northwest, he dropped his backpack, gearing up for a brawl.

    Witnessing the imminent showdown, Chloe felt a pang of panic.

    She wasn''t worried they''d hurt each other, but it was just too embarrassing. She didn''t want to be part of Liam''s madness at the school gate.

    """Liam, chill out! We''re at the school gate. If you throw down, the school''s gonna have it on record. Let go, both of you!" Chloe intervened, sessfully pulling them apart!" Chloe pulled them apart, finally managing to separate the two. Pointing at Philip, Liam warned, "I''ll deal with youter!"

    "Anytime, man!" Philip retorted fearlessly, the tension between them thick.

    After the sh with Philip, Liam turned to Chloe and coldly said, "Get in the car, we''re going home."

    "Nope, I''m grabbing a bite with my ssmate," Chloe shot back defiantly.

    "Eat? Didn''t we cook at home? Chloe, you just got to Sovereign City, don''t go out with random people. You might end up in some sketchy ce," Liam said, trying to sound concerned.

    But his concern was dripping with hostility.

    Chloe wasn''t having any of it. Standing next to Philip, she fired back, "Even if I end up in a sketchy ce, it''s better than being with people who don''t get along! Liam, I''m just crashing at your ce for now, but that doesn''t mean I''m your property. I''m an adult, I have my own life. It''s just a meal with a ssmate, why do you care?"

    With that, Chloe turned and walked off with Philip.

    Watching her leave, Liam felt a pang of sadness. He had tried to be nice to her, and she still snapped at him in front of everyone?

    She was really pushing it.

    As Chloe and Philip walked away, Chloe vented to Philip about Liam, "Philip, don''t be mad. I barely know Liam, he just can''t stand me and likes to cause trouble. Just think of it as a bad day. I''ll treat you to dinner tonight." Liam, standing not far away, heard this and was so angry he wanted to chase after her and give her a piece of his mind.

    Chloe and Philip ended up at a fancy restaurant known for its amazing northwest regional cuisine. After ten days of eating the local dishes at the Martin Family''s ce, Chloe was craving the vors of the northwest. They chatted while they ate.

    "Chloe, I heard from some ssmates that your Davis Family has a marriage contract with the Martin Family?" Philip asked, curious.

    Chloe nodded, "Yeah, when my grandpa was still a young guy, he and Liam''s grandpa made a marriage contract for their grandkids. They said whoever had a daughter would marry the other''s son. Turns out, the Martin Family had three grandsons, and my grandpa only had one granddaughter."

    Philipughed and shook his head, "What century is this, still arranging marriages? I can''t fathom what those old folks were thinking."

    Philip''s words hit home for Chloe. She had told her grandpa the same thing, but Nichs Davis wouldn''t listen.

    "Yeah. As the sole granddaughter, I was expected to choose a husband from among the three grandsons of the Martin Family. My grandpa''s notion left me dumbfounded."

    Chloe felt so helpless. If she didn''t need something from her grandpa, she wouldn''t have let him push her around.

    Seeing Chloe''s troubled look, Philip leaned in and asked, "So, which one are you gonna choose?"

 Chapter 18 It Must Be Hard for You

    When Philip asked which one she wanted to choose, Chloe was left speechless.

    She pointed to the mole on her face and said, "If I wanted to pick a husband from the Martin Family, I wouldn''t have done this."

    Chloe touched the fake mole on her face, and it fell off. She didn''t feel the need to keep up the act in front of her old ssmate Philip, so she ced the mole on the dining table. Philip burst into heartyughter.

    While munching on his food, he teased Chloe, "I gotta hand it to you, you really went all out. To dodge picking a husband, you made yourself look like an ugly duckling. That''s something else."

    Chloe shrugged helplessly. "Don''t tease me, Philip. My grandpa said if I don''t stay with the Martin Family for a year, he''d break my legs. So now I''m trying to get on the bad side of the three Martin brothers enough for them to kick me out, just so I can tell my grandpa I gave it a shot. My life is a mess."

    During the ten days Chloe had been in Sovereign City, she had been constantly battling wits with the three heirs of the Martin Family. She had so many worries but no one to talk to.

    Finally meeting her old ssmate Philip, she naturally had to vent her inner pressure.

    Philip listened patiently to Chloe''sints over dinner. Seeing her frustration, he felt a pang of sympathy. As the evening wore on, Chloe tried to pay the bill, but Philip insisted, leading to an amusing tug-of-war.

    At that moment, Michael came down from a private room upstairs with a group of men and women. When Michael looked up, he was surprised to see Chloe yfully tugging with a man. She had only recently arrived in Sovereign City and had no close friends. Who was this guy? And what happened to the mole on her right cheek?

    Puzzled, Michael quickened his pace toward them.

    Chloe saw Michael out of the corner of her eye and immediately got nervous. Grant had already noticed something was off with her mole. She couldn''t let Michael find out too.

    No, she had to think of something quickly.

    Desperate, Chloe unexpectedly hugged Philip as he was settling the bill, leaving him stunned.

    He trembled as he teased, "Chloe, really? I just wanted to buy you a meal, and now you''re hugging me like this?"

    Chloe urgently whispered, "Shh, just hold me tight. Michael is approaching. Help me block him while I fix my mole."

    Understanding dawned on Philip; her hug wasn''t out of gratitude or affection but for a quick cover-up.

    Fine, as an old ssmate, he''d y along.

    Philip wrapped his arms around Chloe, turning to block Michael''s view. With quick precision, Chloe grabbed the mole from the table and stuck it back on her face. Michael stormed over and grabbed Philip, shouting, "What the hell are you doing? Trying to be a creep?"

    To buy Chloe some time, Philip shot back, "Hey, chill out. I''m hugging my girlfriend. What''s it to you?"

    "Girlfriend? Get lost!" Michael shoved Philip aside and pulled Chloe behind him.

    Chloe lifted her face with the mole and looked at Michael innocently. "Mic, what''s wrong?"

    Michael stared at the mole on Chloe''s face, blinking hard. He was sure he saw her without it just now. But now?

    Was he seeing things, or was there something off with Chloe''s mole?

    "Chloe, your face?"

    Chloe looked confused and asked, "What''s wrong with my face? Is there a problem?"

    Michael looked closely but couldn''t find anything wrong. It was still the same face, as ugly as ever. People around them started whispering about Michael''s behavior.

    A few scatteredments reached his ears.

    "I thought it was something serious. Turns out it''s just a jealous spat? But this jealousy is misced."

    "Yeah, two handsome guys fighting over such an ugly girl. Interesting, really interesting. Hey, isn''t that guy Michael?" "Yes, it is!"

    Michael had been in the entertainment industry for a few years. Although he wasn''t a top star due to his studies, he had acted in a few TV dramas and had some recognition.

    If his fans found out he was fighting over an ugly girl in a restaurant, it would definitely affect his image. So, always mindful of his reputation, Michael put on a big brother act.

    He said, "Are you out of your mind, girl? How old are you, and you''re already dating? Sneaking out with a boy? If I hadn''t caught you, who knows what kind of trouble you''d be in! Come on, let''s go home with brother. I''ll deal with this there." Michael finished speaking, grabbed Chloe''s clothes, and dragged her away from Philip.

    As they left, the whispers started again.

    "Oh, it was a misunderstanding. I thought Michael was jealous over this ugly girl."

    "So she''s his sister! Michael is so handsome, how did his sister turn out so ugly?"

    As Michael dragged Chloe away, she wanted to resist but feared her fake mole would expose her. So, she endured in silence.

    Soon, an angry Michael threw Chloe into his luxury car. Seeing his expression, Chloe guessed he was nning to hit her.

 Chapter 19 No Dignity at All

    After a few run-ins, Chloe figured out that Liam wasn''t really a threat, so she wasn''t scared of him. Grant, even with his icy attitude, had sparred with her a few times, and she wasn''t afraid of him either. But Michael? He gave her the creeps. He was a schemer, always getting others to do his dirty work. Just a few words to the gullible Liam, and he''d have him wrapped around his finger.

    Chloe wondered what Michael had in store for her. If he tried anything, she''d fight back with everything she had, even if it meant risking her life. She''d scratch his face, yank out his hair, and throw mud at him, ruining his pretty-boy looks. She wanted to see him strut around after that.

    Determined, Chloe crossed her arms and slumped in the back seat.

    Outside the car, Michael was chatting with someone before he got in.

    Chloe braced herself, thinking he was going to make a move on her, but to her surprise, nothing happened.

    Instead, Michael started his endless rant, "Chloe, do you have any idea how much trouble you could''ve gotten into sneaking out to meet a boy? The world''s a sketchy ce, and you can''t trust just anyone.

    He pressed on, "Staying with the Martins means we gotta watch our backs. If I hadn''t caught you while I was working on my script, who knows what could''ve happened?

    "You might not be blood, but you''re family to me, and I don''t want to see you getting messed up. What you pulled was seriously wild."

    Michael''s rambling was relentless, and Chloe, holding her head, felt like she was going to die.

    Dealing with Liam was easier; if he disagreed, they could fight it out. But Michael''s constant nagging made her head feel like it would explode. Under Michael''s barrage, Chloe started to feel like she had really messed up. She shouldn''t have had dinner with Philip; she shouldn''t have interacted with any guys other than the three from the Martin Family.

    She was wrong!

    Michael kept at it, "Chloe, did you do something wrong today? If you don''t admit it, I''ll tell Grant and Liam. They''ll track down that boy tomorrow and give him a piece of their mind. Who does he think he is, hitting on any girl he wants? He''s asking for trouble!"

    Under Michael''s pressure, Chloe had no choice but to give in.

    She looked up with her big mole and admitted her mistake to Michael. "Mic, Meeting that boy for dinner was a naive move on my part. It was my fault, for causing you trouble. Please forgive me this time, Mic."

    Chloe''s sincere apology seemed to satisfy Michael. Under the car''s dim light, he looked at Chloe''s not-so-pretty face. Perhaps he was growing ustomed to it, as it didn''t seem as off-putting as before. When Michael realized he was thinking that, he quickly shook it off.

    He repeatedly told himself not to waver. As a future star, he couldn''t picture himself marrying someone he found so ugly. Determined, he turned away from her.

    When they got home, Grant and Liam were nowhere to be seen. Chloe quickly slipped into her room, took a shower, and started a video call with Zara.

    As soon as the video connected, Chloe started venting to Zara, "Zara, I can''t take it anymore. I need to go back to the Northwest. If I stay with the Martin Family for a few more days, I''ll lose my mind." "Why?" Zara asked, curious.

    Chloe recounted the events of the evening, making Zaraugh out loud.

    "Zara, don''t you think Michael is ridiculous? When I first joined the Martin Family, he called me ugly and refused to marry me. Then I had dinner with Philip, and he dragged me back and nagged me the whole way. Is he crazy? If this keeps up, I won''t find a husband; I''ll be driven nuts by his family."

    Zara quickly empathized with Chloe''sints.

    She exined, "Chloe, don''t worry. I don''t think Michael has any feelings for you. I think the young heirs are like dogs guarding their food. They don''t eat it themselves, but they won''t let other dogs eat it either. That''s probably what it is." Zara''s description was spot on.

    Chloe thought she made a lot of sense, but she also felt that the description was a bit inappropriate.

    If the Martin Family''s young masters were like dogs guarding their food, then what was she?

    Dog food?

    Chloe had a great time chatting with Zara. After Zara''s advice, Chloe''s mood quickly bounced back.

    She confided in Zara her six-month n to provoke the three Martin heirs into kicking her out, allowing her to return to her Northwest hometown with dignity.

    As Chloe reveled in her scheme, the three heirs endured their grandfather Louis Martin''s reprimands in a four-person Facebook chat.

    Louis admonished, "You three are hopeless. I asked you to win over the Davis girl, but you let her dine with another man? She''s perfect-great character, beautiful, and from a good family. Where else will you find someone like that?" Liam, rolling his eyes, whispered to Michael beside him, "I agree on the good family part, but I can''t say the same about her beauty. Grandpa''s taste is truly questionable."

    Michael said nothing, holding his phone and listening to his grandfather''s scolding.

    Grant, sitting not far from the two, also held his phone, not daring to ck off.

    Louis continued to scold, "You three better put in some effort and win the girl over. If she chooses another boyfriend over you three guys, you''ll be embarrassed."

 Chapter 20 I Dont Need a Guardian

    "If you can handle the embarrassment, fine. But I can''t as your elder. If ites to that, don''t me me for cutting you off. Now, seriously, think about what you''ve done," Louis snapped in the group chat before storming off. The three grandsons, still reeling from the scolding, quickly grabbed their phones to respond.

    Michael: [Got it, Grandpa. You''re right, I messed up. I''ll fix it.]

    Liam: [You''ll always be my grandpa, no matter what.] Grant: [Understood!]

    Liam stared at his phone, feeling utterly defeated. "Grandpa wants us to chase after that girl, but she''s like a porcupine. Every time I see her, I feel like I''m gonna get pricked. How am I supposed to pursue her?" Liam just couldn''t see himself and Chloe working out. They couldn''t even have a conversation without bickering.

    Michael chimed in, "Seriously, what century is this? Arranged marriages are so outdated. I''m pursuing a career in the entertainment industry; I can''t tie the knot now. I really can''t go through with this engagement with the Davis Family." Both Michael and Liam, burdened by their circumstances, let out synchronized sighs.

    Grant, who had been quiet, nced thoughtfully towards Chloe''s room upstairs. He headed to his own room, texting Stanley as he went: [Find out who Chloe had dinner with tonight. I need all the details, ASAP.]

    The next morning, Chloe came downstairs and was surprised to see the three Martin brothers, usually too busy to eat together, all dressed up and waiting at the dining table. Confused by their unusual behavior, she greeted them, took her seat, and got ready to eat.

    To her surprise, the table, usually filled with local dishes, now had several authentic-looking Northwestern dishes.

    Chloe felt a bit touched.

    Grant was the first to speak. "While you''re staying with the Martin family, the three of us as your elder brothers are your guardians. If you need anything, just ask. Our chef can make Northwestern dishes, so no need to eat out." Grant''s tone was as cold as ever, and he looked at Chloe with the authority of a patriarch.

    Chloe replied softly, "Grant, even though I''m staying with the Martin Family, I''m an adult and don''t need guardians. I simply shared a meal with a ssmate, nothing more. You don''t have to be so controlling, do you?"

    Michael, seated beside her, cleared his throat and began his customary lecturing. "Chloe, you must realize that it''s challenging for us. Sovereign City differs from the Northwestern region; your safety is our top priority. We worry about you because we care. If something happens to you here, we won''t be able to exin it to both families." After Michael finished, Liam jumped in.

    He still looked down on Chloe as before. "Do you think we want to take care of you? It''s all for the sake of both families. Otherwise, if you got snatched by some bad guy, I wouldn''t even bother."

    Chloe thought she was strong, but facing the continuous verbal attacks from the three Martin brothers, she felt defeated.

    She ate her food in big bites, staying silent and pretending not to hear them.

    After breakfast, Grant was the first to suggest, "It''s Sunday. Chloe''s been in Sovereign City for a while. How about one of us takes her out for a walk today?"

    As soon as he heard about taking Chloe out, Michael was quick to refuse. "Grant, I can''t. I have an appointment with a director today to go over the script again. No time at all. How about you and Liam take her?"

    Grant thought for a moment and said, "I don''t have time today either. I have to meet an important client. Liam, you take Chloe out for the day."

    Liam, being named by Grant, immediately jumped to oppose. "Grant, I can''t. I have ns today too. I made an appointment with my friend Eric to find my motorcycle goddess."

    These days, Liam had been putting all his effort into finding his motorcycle goddess, using all his connections, but still had no news of her.

    Hearing Liam''s words, Grant gave him a sharp look. "Do you want me to call Grandpa?"

    Hearing Grant bring up Louis, Liam quickly became obedient. "Fine, fine, I''ll take her."

    "Take her to some nice ces. I''ll cover the expenses," Grant said, taking out his phone and transferring arge sum of money to Liam.

    Just like that, without saying a word, Chloe was arranged to go out by the three Martin brothers.

    Afterward, Grant went to meet his client, and Michael went to find the director. Chloe, who wanted to explore Sovereign City, ended up in Liam''s car. Today, she wore a white shirt, tied at the waist, just a bit above her jeans, perfectly showing her slim waist.

    If it weren''t for the mole and birthmark on her face, with her figure, she could definitely debut.

    Sitting in the car, Liam started talking about today''s itinerary. "I have an appointment with a friend to find my motorcycle goddess. Eric said there''s a lead, and she might appear at a motorcycle event in the suburbs. You don''t understand motorcycles, so just watch. Don''t worry, since I promised Grant to look after you, I''ll keep you safe. As long as you stay out of trouble, others will respect me and won''t bother you."

    Liam''s words caused Chloe to inwardly smirk. Confident in her own abilities, she questioned whether she truly required Liam''s protection and grew intrigued by his "motorcycle goddess."

    While Liam chatted, she efficiently managed ns for the Davis Group''s Sovereign City office on her phone.

    When they arrived at the suburban racetrack, Liam, eager to see his goddess, nearly leaped out of the car.

 Chapter 21 A Bunch of Rookies

    Caught up in her work, Chloe couldn''t help but chuckle at Liam''s excitement. She wondered how he''d react if he found out the "motorcycle goddess" he was dying to meet was actually her. For now, she decided to keep it a secret.

    When the car stopped, Liam was about to hop out. Just as he opened the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back to Chloe. "Listen, I''m going for a ride. You stay put in the car. Motorcycle racing is risky, and you''re not exactly graceful. Be careful. Grant asked me to take you out, and I did. Whether you enjoy it or not is up to you."

    With that, Liam left. Watching him walk away, Chloe couldn''t help but stick her tongue out at him.

    With his level of motorcycle riding, it''s painful to watch, and he still had the nerve to show off in front of her?

    After Liam''s departure, Chloe also exited the car. She grabbed her phone and found a secluded spot to observe these self-proimed "motorcycle experts" and their abilities.

    Unexpectedly, she spotted Tony among the racers. He was pushing his limits, nearly maxing out the throttle, but still falling behind. After threeps, the others had already finished, and Tony arrived muchter, panting heavily.

    As soon as he parked his bike, a few motorcyclists surrounded him, ready to humiliate him.

    "Tony, with your lousy skills, you dare to race with us? Just because you hired a motorcycle expertst time and won against Liam once, you think you''re something? In our eyes, you''re nothing!"

    "Yeah, don''t you know your own level? How dare you race with us? You''re just asking for it."

    Tony, maybe humiliated too many times by these guys or intimidated by the trouble it could bring for the Gibson family, didn''t dare to fight back. He red at them and prepared to leave on his bike. At that moment, the guys who had beaten Tony surrounded him again, continuing their personal attacks.

    "Tony, your defeat was so crushing, it''s shameful. Why don''t you bring out that motorcycle expert of yours?"

    "Yeah, after such a loss, shouldn''t you try to salvage some dignity?"

    Hearing this, Chloe nced at Liam, who stood confidently with a smirk, hands in his pockets.

    She understood now.

    The motorcycle race was a cunning setup by Liam to force Tony to reveal her. Coerced into racing and humiliated after losing, Tony endured it all without fighting back. This was ssic Liam. Because he remembered Chloe''s words not to reveal her identity.

    "Tony, you lost the motorcycle race, not your voice. Can''t you even speak?"

    "You''ve lost so badly, why don''t you bring out your motorcycle expert? I''m telling you, even if you bring her out, we''ll still beat her. Believe it or not?"

    "Yeah, with her lousy skills, she''s nothing in our eyes, just a woman who got lucky once."

    When they insulted Tony, he didn''t fight back. But when they insulted Chloe, he couldn''t hold back.

    He retorted, "What do you know? My motorcycle expert''s skills are way better than yours. You want to beat her? First, see if you''re worthy. I''m telling you, show some respect. You can insult me, but if you insult my goddess again, I''ll fight you." Tony''s defiance angered the group, who dismounted their bikes and surrounded him. Outnumbered and overpowered, he stood no chance. As the pushing and shoving began, Chloe couldn''t stand by any longer.

    She put her phone in her pocket and quickly walked to Tony''s side, shielding him behind her. "If you wanna throw down, do it somewhere else. Ganging up on one guy is just in low. Racing''s about showing guts, not getting into brawls." Chloe raised her face, showing no fear towards the guys. Tony, seeing Chloe, was so excited he couldn''t speak.

    He whispered, "Chloe, why are you here?"

    Chloe nced back at him and said, "If I hadn''t shown up, I wouldn''t have known you were facing this kind of bullying. It''s just a motorcycle race, how can you not beat these rookies?"

    Chloe called them rookies, a term these top-tier, wealthy racers weren''t used to hearing.

    "Ugly girl, who are you calling rookies?" one of them shouted at Chloe, displeased.

    Chloe smiled slightly and said, "I''m calling you guys."

    "Us? If we''re rookies, how did we beat Tony?" they shouted, clearly unhappy.

    Chloe crossed her arms and said nonchntly, "Winning once means you''re skilled? If you''re so good, race him again. If you win again, I''ll admit you''re skilled. Then, you won''t need to force him to contact the goddess. I''ll be the first to get her number for you. How about it? Another race?"

    Chloe''s words surprised the group. They looked at Liam, who was standing not far away, for guidance.

    Liam''s sidekick, Eric, standing next to him, nced at Chloe and whispered to Liam, "Mr. Martin, why is Miss Davis here?"

 Chapter 22 Chloe Takes Command

    "She wants to race again? Isn''t that gonna mess up our ns?" Eric''s face got a bit more serious.

    They were on a relentless mission to find the motorcycle goddess, and they had Tony cornered, ready to rough him up for her contact info. But now, with Chloe suggesting another race, things could take a wild turn. Eric''s question didn''t faze Liam. Without a second thought, he said, "What''s there to worry about another race? With Tony''s crappy bike and hisck of skills, even if we race ten more times, he''d still lose." "And what about Miss Davis?" Eric nced over at the confident Chloe, looking serious.

    Liam sneered, "Her? What can she do? She''s just some clueless girl who doesn''t know a thing about motorcycles. Let them race. Today, we''re gonna crush Tony. Let''s see if that girl can get the motorcycle goddess''s contact info from him after that."

    With Liam''s order, Eric signaled everyone to get ready for another race.

    Soon, everyone was on their motorcycles, ready to go.

    Chloe pulled Tony aside, ready to give him some tips. But before she could say anything, Tony started to panic. "Chloe, I can''t do this. My bike''s a piece of junkpared to theirs, and my skills aren''t good enough. Even if we race again, I''ll still lose. You told me not to spill your contact info, and if I lose, it won''t be good. Just let it go, Chloe. You''ve done enough for me. A little humiliation doesn''t bother me."

    Tony had always been bullied by these rich kids because of his poor background. Before Chloe came to Sovereign City, he had suffered a lot.

    Seeing his scared look, Chloe was speechless.

    She said, "We haven''t even started, and you''re already freaking out? Just twist the throttle! With me backing you up, you won''t lose. Are you really gonna let a bunch of rookies scare you? Aren''t you ashamed of Zara and me?" Under Chloe''s admonition, Tony started to regain some confidence. He rubbed his head and inquired, "Chloe, you said you''d guide me. How are you gonna do that? Sit on my bike?"

    Chloe affirmed, "Yes, I''ll ride pillion on your bike. Fetch the helmet."

    Soon, Chloe hopped on Tony''s motorcycle. Liam, watching from a distance, saw Chloe sitting on Tony''s bike and suddenly felt uneasy.

    He promptly beckoned Eric over and expressed, "Eric, go inform that youngdy she cannot ride on Tony''s bike. Considering Tony''s limited expertise, what if he loses control and injures her?"

    Eric scanned Liam''s face, clearly seeing the worry. "Mr. Martin, are you worried about her?"

    Liam''s face darkened. He awkwardly defended himself, "What? Grant asked me to watch her. If something happens, how do I exin it? She''s not much to look at now, and if she gets hurt, it''ll be worse. Do you want to live with someone who kills your appetite?"

    Liam''s words made sense. Eric jogged to the track, ready to pull Chloe off Tony''s motorcycle. But as soon as the race started, Tony''s bike roared off, leaving Eric in a cloud of dust. This race was fiveps.

    With Chloe sitting behind him and providing support, Tony gained confidence, though his cautiousness led to a slower speed.

    By the end of the firstp, he was already 60 feet behind the others.

    He was anxious. "Chloe, this is my limit. I''m afraid I''ll lose again."

    Chloeforted him. "It''s okay, just stay steady. Listen to me, slow down a bit more, and then speed up after the turn."

    Chloe sat behind Tony, patiently directing him.

    Originally, he was 60 feet behind, but by following Chloe''s instructions to slow down at the turn and speed up after, he quickly closed the gap.

    By the end of the thirdp, Tony''s speed was on par with the others.

    By the fourthp, Tony and Chloe''s bike was already leading.

    Liam, watching closely, couldn''t figure out how Tony''s bike had overtaken his friends.

    Soon, there was only onep left.

    Seeing the small lead, Tony suddenly gained confidence.

    Chloe kept guiding him, "Tony, stay cool. Just onep left, take it easy. Remember, ease off on the turn, then hit the gas. Let''s do this!"

    Halfway through the finalp, only one rich kid managed to keep pace with Tony. Desperation set in, and with just 210 feet to the finish line, he resorted to a dirty trick: he kicked at Tony''s bike.

    At such high speeds, this move could spell disaster. With Chloe riding pillion, a crash could lead to serious injuries or even death.

    Focused on winning, Tony was unaware of the leg behind him, but Chloe, seated behind him, spotted the rich kid''s leg and grew furious.

 Chapter 23 Could It Be a Fracture

    She didn''t even think twice. When the rich kid''s leg reached out towards Tony''s motorcycle, she kicked it.

    Two forces collided. Chloe only used about thirty percent of her strength, but the rich kid, still on his bike, couldn''t handle it. With just that one move, his motorcycle flew out of the curve. It mmed into the guardrail on the other side, hitting it hard.

    Tony''s bike, caught by inertia, also veered off the track.

    Luckily, Tony had some skills. After a bit of a struggle, he managed to bring his bike to a stop.

    But he ended up in a bad spot, right next to a circle of track guardrails. As soon as the bike stopped, Chloe''s calf smacked against the guardrail with a loud thud.

    The pain was intense, and Chloe''s face twisted in agony.

    Meanwhile, the other motorcycles zoomed past Tony''s bike, taking the lead.

    In this race, Tony lost again.

    Unable to contain himself any longer, Liam, with a dark expression, marched onto the track from the sidelines.

    Eric, noticing Liam''s bad mood, touched his nose and coughed lightly. He might have to worry about these rich second-generation kids now.

    But those rich kids didn''t get it. After crossing the finish line first, they surrounded Tony.

    "Tony, you lost again. Hand over the motorcycle goddess''s contact info."

    "Yeah, a bet''s a bet. With your lousy skills, you think you canpete with us? We beat you every time."

    Despite their dirty win, they wanted the motorcycle goddess''s contact info from Tony to impress Liam.

    Tony ignored them and rushed to check on Chloe after getting off his bike.

    Seeing the bruise on her leg, the usually timid Tony suddenly found his courage.

    "How could you stoop so low? Racing is about skill, not dirty tricks. And now you want the motorcycle goddess''s contact info? Have you no shame? Look at what you did to Chloe!" Tony''s voice boomed at the rich kids. Previously, he refrained from confronting them, fearing his parents couldn''t match their influence. But now, with Chloe hurt, they had crossed a line.

    The rich kid who kicked Chloe earlierughed off Tony''s words.

    "Tony, you lost. Why all the talk? In racing, only the result matters, not the process"

    "You lost, so stop whining. Injuries are part of racing. Are you really making a fuss over a little bruise?"

    Seeing the rich kids'' smug attitude, Chloe was furious.

    Despite the pain in her calf, she struggled to dismount the bike and confront them.

    But before she could say anything, Liam stormed over and, without a word, delivered a powerful kick to the rich kid who had hurt Chloe, sending him sprawling to the ground.

    "Mr. Martin, what are you doing?" The rich kid, now on the ground, couldn''t understand why Liam had kicked him.

    He thought he was helping Liam get the motorcycle goddess''s contact info.

    Liam pointed at him and scolded, "I told you to race, not act like a fool. Losing is losing. Do it fair and square. What''s with kicking someone''s bike? There''s a passenger with Tony, from the Martin Family. You dare kick her? Are you asking for trouble?"

    Despite Liam''s usual teasing and mocking of Chloe, he was protective when it mattered.

    Zara was right; the three Martin heirs were like protective, short-tempered dogs.

    After scolding the rich kid, Liam still wasn''t satisfied. He raised his foot and kicked him several more times.

    As Liam vented his frustration, Eric felt a bit awkward. Finally, Liam rushed to Chloe''s side, worried about her leg. "Hey, how''s the leg, ugly? Does it hurt?"

    Liam was a bit anxious. Chloe''s delicate calf had a noticeable bruise.

    "It''s bruised like this. What do you think? Liam, are your followers this low-level? If you can''t afford to lose, don''te out to race. Aren''t you ashamed?" Chloe mocked Liam.

    For once, Liam didn''t retort.

    He carefully examined Chloe''s calf. As he gently touched it, Chloe couldn''t help but let out a light cry.

    Seeing Chloe''s face change, Tony worriedly said, "Mr. Martin, could Chloe''s leg be broken?"

    Upon hearing Tony mention a broken leg, Liam was stunned. Grant had assured him Chloe would be safe. Now, fearing Grant''s wrath, Liam picked up Chloe and rushed off the track. "Eric, get my car over here, quick, to the hospital." The once thrilling motorcycle track became chaotic due to Liam''s sudden loss of control.

    Everyone watched as Liam carried Chloe, hurriedly got into the car, and sped away, kicking up clouds of dust.

    After they left, the rich kid who had been beaten by Liam finally dared to get up. Rubbing his sore arm, he looked aggrieved. "What''s his deal? I was helping him, and he still hits me? I was just trying to get the motorcycle goddess''s contact from Tony."

    Seeing him like this, Eric was speechless.

    He patted the rich kid''s head and reminded him, "Do you think you were helping Mr. Martin? Don''t forget, the woman you just tried to kick might be Mr. Martin''s fianc¨¦e." Eric''s words left everyone present stunned.

 Chapter 24 Regardless of Others Lives

    One of the guys quickly shot down Eric''s words. "Eric, what are you even talking about? That girl is so ugly, there''s no way she could be Mr. Martin''s fianc¨¦e. He''d never go for someone like her." "Yeah, seriously, what kind of taste do you think Mr. Martin has? Even top singers and movie stars don''t catch his eye. How could he possibly be into that ugly girl?"

    "Exactly, I saw the disgust on Mr. Martin''s face when he saw her. He looked like he was gonna puke. He''d rather look at a pig than her."

    Everyone shook their heads, clearly in denial.

    Eric didn''t bother arguing with them.

    He just said calmly, "If he''s interested in her, that''s a good thing. If not, then this whole situation is gonna be even harder to deal with."

    "Eric, what do you mean?" they asked him again.

    Eric exined, "She''s staying with the Martin family to pick a husband. If Liam isn''t interested, she''ll end up marrying Grant or Michael and then manipte Liam as his sister-inw. Is that what you want?" Eric''s analysis left everyone stunned. He was spot on what could be worse than Chloe bing Liam''s sister-inw?

    "Listen up, that ugly girl is gonna be part of the Martin family sooner orter. If you try anything shady against her, you better be ready to face the consequences!" With that, Eric concluded his statement and walked away, leaving the group to contemte his words.

    In the meantime, Liam promptly escorted Chloe to the hospital.

    Seeing the bruises on Chloe''s leg looked pretty bad, Liam didn''t waste any time. He got the medicine, stood in line, and even found a wheelchair for Chloe, worried that walking might hurt her leg more.

    The doctor took a quick look at Chloe''s injury and said, "This looks serious. I rmend an X-ray to check for a break. If it''s just a sprain, some meds should sort it out. But if it''s a fracture, she might need surgery." The doctor''s words freaked Liam out.

    He prayed that Chloe''s leg wasn''t broken. If it was, not only would Grant be after him, but even his grandpa might have his head. "Chloe, you just hang tight here for the X-ray. I''ll head downstairs to settle the bill."

    Liam was doing everything he could to help Chloe. Seeing him like this, Chloe thought that if he could always be this agreeable, maybe they could get along.

    As Chloe waited for her X-ray, she spotted Sophia in the crowd. Though she wanted to avoid her, Sophia came over the moment she saw Chloe.

    Limping, she approached Chloe and said, "Well, well, if it isn''t Miss Davis! What''s the asion for your hospital visit?"

    Chloe, not one to tolerate Sophia''s snarky attitude, shot back, eyeing Sophia''s self-satisfied expression, "What''s so surprising about me being here? Last time I checked, you don''t own this ce. Anyone cane here. Mind your own business."

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Sophia didn''t get mad.

    She just smiled and said, "Yeah, anyone cane here. But some people have someone with them, while others are just sitting alone in a wheelchair. How sad."

    Then she covered her mouth andughed heartily. "Sophia, what''s there to be smug about? So what if you have someone with you? You''re still waiting in line for an X-ray," Chloe muttered.

    Sophia immediately started showing off. "Sure, it''s not a big deal. But you should know, the person with me is Grant, and that is something to be proud of. Some people, with their ugly faces, still dream of bing the mistress of the Martin Family. They really don''t know their own limits."

    Sophia''s bragging made Chloe pretty annoyed.

    Since she had nothing better to do, she decided to mess with Sophia for fun.

    After all, making someone mad wasn''t illegal.

    Chloe nced at her and sarcastically said, "Yeah, my face might not be perfect, but I''ve got a solid family backing me. The older folks decided I''d be the mistress of the Martin Family. Unlike you, with your big face and chunky build, looking like a hot mess. There''s no way you can snag that title. Even if Grant''s into you, if I say no, you''re done. Got it?"

    Chloe''s words struck a nerve with Sophia.

    Even if Grant liked Sophia, as long as Chloe said she wanted to marry Grant, Sophia would have to step aside.

    There was no way around it, Chloe had the power.

    Seeing Sophia''s face twisted with anger, Chloe felt extremely satisfied.

    Indeed, not caring about others'' feelings, the one who feels good was always oneself.

    "Chloe, don''t get cocky. I hurt my foot saving a Martin Group client, and Grant personally brought me to the hospital. He''s really worried and is even finding a specialist for me. You think you can marry him? Keep dreaming," after saying this, Sophia limped over to push Chloe''s wheelchair.

    Chloe extended her uninjured leg and rudely stepped on Sophia''s injured foot.

    In the rugged Northwest, actions spoke louder than words.

    With a piercing scream from Sophia, all eyes in the queue turned to her. Momentster, Grant returned with an expert. Seeing Sophia clutching her foot and howling, he frowned. Hadn''t she just twisted her ankle on the stairs? Could it really be that painful?

    Her howling was as loud as if she had been hit by an atomic bomb.

    Seeing Grant approaching, Sophia immediately put on a tearful face, looked pitifully at him, and pointed at Chloe toin, "Mr. Martin, she stepped on my injured foot... Oh, it hurts so much."

 Chapter 25 How About You Accompany Miss Brown?

    With a wave from Sophia, Grant turned to see Chloe in a wheelchair. Her pant leg was rolled up, showing some nasty bruises that made him worry. "Chloe, what happened to you?" Grant rushed over to her. Sophia had been trying to get Grant''s attention because she was in pain, but to her surprise, after calling out for a while, Grant went straight to Chloe.

    "She stepped on me, almost broke my bones," Sophiained again.

    Sophia''s constant whining finally got Grant to look her way. He turned to her, clearly annoyed, and asked, "What''s going on?"

    "I was in line and bumped into Chloe, so I thought I''d say hi. But maybe she''s still mad aboutst night, so she stepped on me hard. Look, she''s so unfriendly, really too petty," Sophia said, covering her face and crying. She med everything on Chloe, thinking her contributions to the Martin Group would make Grant side with her. After all, with Chloe being so in and her own striking beauty, any reasonable guy would choose her. After Sophia finished, Grant turned to Chloe and asked, "Chloe, what''s going on?"

    Chloe, wanting Grant to dislike her and kick her out of the Martin Family, just shrugged.

    "Just like you saw, I stepped on her. And I used this foot to do it." Chloe shook her uninjured leg, trying to show Grant her strength.

    But Grant misunderstood, thinking Chloe was symbolically showing him the gap between herself and Sophia. Given Chloe''s limited mobility in the wheelchair, unless Sophia got close, Chloe couldn''t have stepped on her foot.

    So, Grant coldly told Sophia, "Sophia, why are you bothering her? I told you to get in line for an X-ray, but you still found time to chat. You two don''t get along, so why push it? She''s in a wheelchair-can''t you cut her some ck?" Grant''s words left Sophia speechless. She never thought he''d scold her, the injured one. Why was he so biased towards Chloe?

    Chloe was just as confused. She had admitted to stepping on Sophia, so Grant should have been mad at her. If he was, she could cry, call her grandfather, and get back to the Northwest sooner. But Grant''s unexpected reaction messed up all her ns.

    "It was clearly her." Sophia looked at Grant with teary eyes, feeling wronged.

    Grant was getting annoyed. He leaned closer to Chloe, carefully checking out the bruises on her leg.

    "What happened? How did you get hurt? Where''s Liam? What''s he been doing with you? Didn''t I tell him to take good care of you?" Grant had a lot to say.

    Noticing Sophia''s upset expression, Chloe''s curiosity was piqued. If she was going to annoy someone, she might as well go all out. With Sophia already distressed, Chloe decided to push her buttons even more. She muttered, "Liam took me to watch a motorcycle race."

    "What? He took you to a ce like that? He needs a good talking to." Grant was a bit angry.

    A delicate youngdy like Chloe, raised in luxury, shouldn''t be watching something as wild as a motorcycle race.

    Chloe pouted. "Grantie, if you had time for me, I wouldn''t have gone to the race. You said you were busy with a client-turns out it was her? Not spending time with me is one thing, but why lie about it?"

    When Chloe said this, her voice was low, sounding like she was jealous. It was the first time Grant had heard Chloe speak in such a tone, and his cold heart softened at her words.

    It was his fault.

    Chloe hade all the way from the Northwest to the Martin Family. Whether or not she could marry one of his three brothers, as her older brother, he had a responsibility to take care of her. But now, that damn Liam had let Chloe get hurt.

    "I''m sorry, it''s my fault," Grant apologized to Chloe.

    Sophia''s eyes widened in astonishment at Grant''s apology. For five years, she had loved him and worked at the Martin Group even longer. Grant, ever noble and princely, never apologized. Yet today, he apologized to Chloe? What extraordinary charm did this unremarkable girl possess to bring the mighty Grant to his knees?

    "Don''t worry, I won''t be too busy with work to spend time with you again." Grant turned to push Chloe''s wheelchair, his gentle demeanor something Sophia had never seen before.

    In her eyes, it was as if a fire was burning, a fire that wanted to burn Chloe to ashes.

    Receiving Sophia''s re, Chloe stuck out her tongue at her provocatively.

    Sophia was even angrier.

    Just then, a nurse responsible for X-rays called Chloe''s number. Grant was about to push Chloe to the X-ray room.

    But Sophia, enduring the pain, hobbled over.

    "Mr. Martin, if you go with her to the X-ray room, what about me? My foot hurts so much I can''t walk." Sophia, injured while saving a client for thepany, was brought to the hospital by Grant. She thought Grant wouldn''t leave her here alone.

    Seeing Sophia''s self-inflicted humiliation, Chloe innocently asked Grant, "Oh right, Grantie, if you push me in, what about Miss Brown? Here''s an idea: I''ll wheel myself in, and you stay here with her. After all, she got hurt saving a client for the Martin Group."

 Chapter 26 Machines Wont Eat People

    Chloe wrapped up her sentence with a sly look at Sophia, fully aware of her knack for hijacking others'' ns and leaving them in the dust.

    Sophia''s hopeful eyes darted to Grant, who was helping Chloe. In that moment, she desperately wished Grant would stick by her side, proving to everyone that she still had a special ce in his heart. But Grant didn''t do what she hoped.

    He nced at Chloe in the wheelchair, then at Sophia standing outside the X-ray room, and quickly made up his mind.

    Chloe was already in a bad state, yet she still wanted him to go out and be with Sophia. And Sophia, just because she twisted her ankle, was demanding his attention. Wasn''t this a bit much? Besides, Chloe was someone Louis had entrusted to him and his brothers, but Sophia? She was just an employee. If he showed too much favoritism towards her, it might go to her head. So, Grant made his decision fast.

    He said, "Sophia, Chloe can''t even walk. Why are you insisting I stay with you? You''re older than Chloe, why aren''t you as sensible as she is?"

    Grant''s words left Sophia stunned.

    She never expected that her attempt to save a client would lead to Grant implying she was less sensible than Chloe. Had this unassuming woman cast a spell on Grant? Was that why he was defending her so vigorously? With Chloe''s smug look, Grant pushed her into the X-ray room. As the door closed, Sophia''s eyes turned cold.

    Her gut feeling was right. This in girl Chloe was after Grant.

    She had to find a way to get this girl away from Grant.

    A few minutester, Chloe''s X-ray results showed no fractures, a relief for Grant, as it meant no need for surgery, making it easier to exin to Louis.

    Seeing Grant and Chloee out, Sophia approached them and said to Grant, "Mr. Martin, I''m next for the X-ray. Can youe in with me? I''m scared!" Sophia put on a pitiful look. In reality, she had arge frame and some flesh on her, and although she looked seductive, she had a somewhat burly appearance. This act of pretending to be weak and pitiful looked very fake on her, just like she was trying to copy Chloe.

    Seeing Sophia like this made Chloe feel a bit disgusted.

    But to spite Sophia, who had bad intentions, Chloe sensibly spoke to Grant, "Grantie, I''ll wait here for you. You can go in with Miss Brown for her X-ray. She''s scared." Upon hearing Chloe also requesting his presence for Sophia''s X-ray, Grant scrunched up his face in a deep frown.

    "What''s there to be scared of about an X-ray? The machine won''t gobble you up. I''m out," he stated firmly.

    Grant''s refusal was blunt and firm, making Sophia''s face darken.

    "Mr. Martin?" She called out softly, unwilling to give up.

    Grant acted like he didn''t hear her and got ready to leave with Chloe.

    Before leaving, he turned to Sophia and said, "Stanley''s on his way to keep youpany. Since you got hurt saving a client, the Martin Group''s got your back with all the medical stuff. You''ll get some time off, and we''ll send a nurse to look after you at the hospital. Plus, your paycheck''s gonna be five times bigger. Hang in there!"

    With that, Grant left with Chloe without looking back.

    Standing at the door of the X-ray room, Sophia was fuming, her cosmetically enhanced lips slightly crooked. She had gone to great lengths to stage this ident to make Grant notice her dedication to the Martin Group, hoping he would see her in a different light.

    But just as she was making headway, Chloe, this in Jane, swooped in and wrecked all her ns.

    That girl was beyond aggravating.

    Sophia stood on her tiptoes at the door of the X-ray room, clenching her fists so tightly that her sharp nails almost dug into her palms.

    Grant pushed Chloe to the elevator. Just as he was about to press the button to go downstairs, he saw Liam hurrying over.

    Seeing Grant, Liam looked visibly surprised.

    "Grant, what are you doing here?" he asked, confused.

    Grant shot him a look of extreme displeasure and scolded, "If I didn''te, I wouldn''t know how you''re taking care of Chloe. It''s a muscle strain today, tomorrow it could be a broken bone. Who knows what it''ll be the day after, her life on the line"

    Grant''s exaggeration made Liam feel embarrassed. Trying to calm Grant''s anger, he exined with a smile, "Grant, it was all a mix-up today. No need to fret, it won''t happen again."

    Grant gave him a stern look and said, "If this happens again, even Grandpa wille to settle ounts with you. Liam, you''re bing more and more unreliable."

    Liam was speechless. To avoid more scolding from Grant, he tried to please Chloe. "So, did you get the X-ray? What were the results?"

    Chloe replied, "No problem with the bones. The doctor said it''s a muscle injury and suggested getting some topical medication." "Alright, I''ll go get it," Liam said, turning to leave.

    Grant stopped him and said, "You''re unreliable. I''ll go get it. Just take care of Chloe. You might forget the doctor''s instructions in your panic."

    After saying this, Grant handed the wheelchair to Liam and went downstairs to get the medication.

    Watching Grant leave, Liam let out a long sigh of relief.

    He asked Chloe, "Why did Grante to the hospital? Did you call him?"

    Chloe shook her head and replied, "No, it was his employee Sophia. She injured her foot, and he apanied her to the hospital. We ran into each other." Hearing this, Liam didn''t think much of it.

    Chloe looked up and asked him, "Where did you go just now? Why did it take so long?"

    Liam scratched the back of his head. "I went to the dermatology department to ask the doctor some questions."

 Chapter 27 Replace Your Head

    Confused, she wondered why Liam left. She touched her calf, noting the skin wasn''t ulcerated. "Why do you go there?"

    Liam didn''t hide it and started talking to Chloe, "I talked to a dermatologist about that mole on your face. The doc said it''s pretty big and can be taken off with aser or surgery, but surgery''s better and won''t leave scars. Chloe, you already look awesome. Your skin just needs a bit of TLC to really shine. Getting that mole removed will make you look even better."

    Liam''s suggestion made Chloe frown. She had meticulously ced that mole on her face, and now he wanted her to remove it? Was he out of his mind?

    Oblivious to her reaction, Liam continued talking about the doctor. Chloe finally stopped him.

    She asked, "Liam, didn''t you go to the surgery department?"

    "Surgery? Why would I go there?" Liam was puzzled by Chloe''s question. He nudged her as he spoke.

    Chloe raised her face and said, "You should head to surgery and see if they can swap out that silly head on your shoulders for a smarter one."

    Chloe''s words left Liam speechless.

    He responded, "Chloe, why are you talking like this? I went to the dermatologist for you."

    Chloe stuck out her tongue, mirroring his behavior. "I think you should consider a head upgrade for yourself, so you''re not always so lost and clueless." Liam felt like he was going crazy. What had he done wrong again?

    At noon, the group returned to the Martin Mansion.

    After applying medicine to her leg, Chloe went to her room upstairs to rest. Grant called Liam downstairs to discuss something.

    Chloe found her phone and called her grandfather.

    She used all her charm to get her grandfather to let her go home. "Grandpa, I really don''t want to stay in Sovereign City. I don''t like anyone here. Look, I even hurt my leg here. My leg is all bruised and it hurts so much. I want to go home and find you forfort."

    In the past, this trick always worked with Nichs.

    But today, no matter how much Chloe tried to persuade him, Nichs on the other end of the video call remained unmoved.

    To make Nichs believe her, Chloe had to lift her leg to show him the bruise.

    Unexpectedly, Nichs said calmly, "It''s just a scrape. You didn''t cry when you almost bit the dust on your motorcycle. Don''t try to fool me, Chloe. You can''te back until you bring a grandson-inw. The Davis Mansion''s doors are shut until then."

    Chloe, usually brimming with ideas, waspletely baffled by his insistence on her choosing one of the Martin brothers. It felt like trying to pick a general from a field of cripples.

    "Grandpa, my dear grandpa, I love you. Please let mee back." Chloe yed her trump card.

    Nichs wasn''t having any of it. "If you really love me, bring me a grandson-inw. Chloe, I''m over eighty years old, and my time is precious. I really want to see the fourth generation of the Martin Family. The Martin Family has good genes. Stay there and work hard."

    He hung up the video call before Chloe could say anything else, leaving her sprawled on the big bed, feeling utterly despondent.

    She wanted to die.

    She really wanted to die.

    There were plenty of families with good genes in the world. Why did her grandfather insist on the Martin Family?

    Downstairs, the three brothers were all present. Even Michael, who was in a script discussion meeting, had been called back by Grant.

    The three brothers were discussing Chloe''s situation.

    Michael, the eldest brother, rarely scolded Liam, "Liam, what were you thinking? You were supposed to keep herpany, and now her leg is almost broken."

    "Michael, it didn''t break, did it? I''ve exined, it was just a misunderstanding," Liam tried to defend himself. Chloe got hurt while with him, so he had to take responsibility. "Misunderstanding?"

    "It was just a misunderstanding," Liam insisted.

    "Picture me kicking your leg and brushing it off as a misunderstanding, alright?" Michael and Liam shed.

    Grant, using his authority as the eldest brother, stepped in. "Alright, the damage is done. Stop arguing and let''s discuss who will apany Chloe next." Grant raised the key issue.

    Chloe hade all the way from home to Sovereign City to join the Martin Family. One of the three brothers had to apany her to avoid being med by Louis.

    "How about we take turns?" Liam suggested. "I was with her this morning, so it''s your turn this afternoon."

    Grant hesitated. "I have a meeting and taking her along might be dull. She might not enjoy it," he exined.

    Michael added, "I have script discussions and meetings with investors for my new show."

    Hearing this, Liam had an idea.

    He said, "Michael, why don''t you take her with you? I heard script discussions are interesting. Shees from a rough ce, so it might be good for her to hear some highbrow stuff and cultivate her taste, right?"

    Liam''s suggestion quickly gained Grant''s approval, and he nodded, saying, "I think Liam has a point. Taking her to your script meeting is more interesting than taking her to my meeting room. Besides, script discussions are quiet and much safer than going to a motorcycle race with Liam. Don''t you think?"

    The problem was handed to Michael.

    Michael weighed it and finally agreed. "Alright, I''ll take Chloe to the script meeting this afternoon."

    So, the three brothers arranged Chloe''s afternoon. After lunch, Chloe was forced to get into Michael''s car and go to the script meeting with him.

    It was Chloe''s first time encountering a script, and she found it a bit novel.

 Chapter 28 Shes Not a Hedgehog

    The script discussion went down at this swanky caf¨¦ in Sovereign City, which was totally booked out for the event.

    Michael snagged a cozy corner for Chloe, got her favorite coffee, and handed her a few books to keep her busy. Chloe quietly dove into her reading.

    Once everyone was there, Michael kicked off the script talk. With his natural charm, he really brought the script''s most exciting parts to life. The group quickly got sucked into the lively chat.

    Chloe listened in a bit and had to admit, the script was pretty solid. If it got turned into a movie, it could probably rake in some serious cash. Michael, being the lead actor and one of the investors, definitely had a knack for this stuff. An hourter, they were still deep in discussion. Chloe, feeling a bit bored from reading, was about to close her eyes and rest in her wheelchair.

    Just then, a stylishly dressed, slender woman with exotic looks walked up to her.

    Seeing Chloe, she smiled gently and then plopped down on the sofa next to her.

    Chloe recognized her. It was Karlie Taylor, a famous actress with some clout in the film industry. She had worked with Michael on several TV series, where they yed a couple.

    Later, they did a few variety shows together, and with some investor backing, they became a well-known on-screen duo.

    "Miss Davis, right?" Karlie said, acting like they were old pals.

    Chloe, always friendly to those who were nice to her, responded kindly. She wasn''t the type to snap at everyone she met.

    "Yeah, I''m Chloe Davis." Chloe lifted her face and openly admitted her identity to Karlie.

    Karlie noticed the mole on Chloe''s cheek and showed a hint of disdain in her eyes.

    "I heard from Mic that you came from out of town to seek refuge with the Martin Family?" Karlie''s use of the word "refuge" was clearly meant to undermine Chloe''s status.

    Was Karlie implying that the Davis Family had declined so much that Chloe sought refuge with the Martins? Chloe couldn''t discern if "refuge" was Karlie''s or Michael''s term.. She decided to keep her cool and speak calmly.

    She smiled and said, "It''s unclear if it''s seeking refuge. I''m just staying at the Martin Mansion for now."

    Karlie, upon hearing this, frowned slightly and remarked, "As an unmarried young woman, residing at the Martin Mansion might not be suitable. It could impact your reputation."

    At first, Karlie''s words made Chloe feel cared for, prompting her to reconsider her opinion. However, Karlie then changed her tone and said something unfriendly, "But youmon folks probably don''t care much about reputation. But Mic is different. He''s a popr star with a bright future. If his fans find out you''re staying at his house, there might be bad rumors that could affect Mic''s career."

    After all that Karlie said, Chloe just responded with a simple "oh."

    Chloe, feigning humility, asked, "What would Miss Taylor suggest I do?"

    Karlie casually suggested, "In my opinion, you should find a ce outside the Martin Mansion. Renting a ce would be wise. It would safeguard Mic''s reputation and maintain harmony in his family''s life. As a young person, setting boundaries and avoiding causing inconvenience to others is important."

    Chloe realized Karlie aimed to push her out of the Martin family but couldn''t understand the source of her confidence. Was Karlie Michael''s girlfriend? It didn''t seem so. A Martin family member? Her surname wasn''t Martin. What authority did she possess?

    Chloe spected that Karlie might have feelings for Michael. If that were the case, it was their concern; Chloe had no interest in Michael and didn''t wish to interfere. However, Karlie''s attempt to bully her was uneptable. Chloe had always stood up to bullies. She would rather anger others thanpromise her own happiness.

    Thinking of this, she said to Karlie, "Miss Taylor, it doesn''t feel right for me to leave the Martin Mansion, does it?" Karlie raised her face, looking puzzled. "Not right?"

    Chloe continued confidently, "Exactly. Didn''t Mic mention it to you? I''m here at the Martin Family''s request, as per both our grandfathers, to select a husband. All three brothers are potential candidates on my list." Karlie''s face darkened visibly. "That''s ridiculous."

    She looked at Chloe''s unattractive face, not believing that such an ugly girl would be choosing a husband among the three handsome heirs of the Martin Family.

    Key word: choosing.

    "Yeah, it''s nuts. Why are elders still pushing arranged marriages these days? Karlie, I don''t want this either. Can you talk to Louis and get him to call it off? Then I can just head back home." Chloe threw this suggestion at Karlie. Karlie''s face darkened. As a minor star, she couldn''t risk confronting Louis about the marriage, fearing it would end her career. She was baffled by his favoritism towards Chloe, whom she found unattractive.

    Seeing Karlie close her mouth, which had been speaking like a close friend, Chloe felt a bit pleased. She reached out to pick up her coffee cup, intending to take another sip.

    At this moment, she noticed the coffee in the cup had gone cold.

    She called out in Michael''s direction, "Mic,e over here for a moment."

 Chapter 29 You Cant Play the Leading Lady

    Hearing Chloe call out, Michael quickly broke away from his heated conversation and rushed over to her. He shot a worried look at Karlie, who was sitting next to Chloe, and asked, "Everything okay?" "Mic, my coffee''s gone cold. Can you grab me a hot one?"

    Michael nodded, "Sure thing, but Karlie''s right here. You could ask her too since your leg''s not great."

    Karlie, eager to impress Michael, chimed in with a smile, "Yeah, Chloe, if you need coffee, just ask me. No need to call Mic over."

    Chloe smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I don''t know Miss Taylor well, so I prefer asking Mic."

    Chloe had a point. Michael was one of her potential suitors, so asking him for a coffee wasn''t a big deal.

    "It''s no problem at all. Even though this is our first meeting, I''m close with Mic, and we''re about to star in this movie together. So, I consider myself part of the team." Karlie moved closer to Michael, trying to subtly hint at her rtionship with him to Chloe.

    On-screen romances often turned into real-life love stories, with many actors finding true love and eventually marrying because of their roles.

    Michael, with his good looks and prestigious family background, was particrly desirable. Marrying him meant not only joining a wealthy family but also gaining significant influence in the world of fame.

    "It''s just acting, Miss Taylor. Don''t get too into the role. Besides, I think your look and vibe don''t quite fit the female lead of this movie. The second female lead''s vibe, however, seems to match you more mature and scheming." Chloe wasn''t just making stuff up. She had just looked at the movie script Michael gave her. The female lead in the script was a very innocent and pure character, which shed with Karlie''s mature appearance, potentially disconnecting the audience.

    "Not suitable? Chloe, that''s nonsense. You''re just starting out and don''t grasp the film industry." Karlie was a bit upset when she heard she wasn''t suitable for the lead role.

    Fearing she might lose the role she had secured, she straightforwardly imed Chloe didn''t understand movies.

    Chloe didn''t get angry. She picked up the script and nced at it again, saying, "I may not be a film expert, but I know about investments. Mic, I overheard your conversation earlier. The total investment for this movie is still short by three hundred million dors, right?"

    Michael nodded. "Exactly. We could begin filming immediately if we had the full budget. The director is quite worried about it."

    The Martin Family was wealthy, but their investment focus was not on the film industry.

    Michael had saved some money from acting over the years, but his investments were scattered. Besides, he had already invested one hundred million dors in this movie, and it wouldn''t be appropriate to invest much more. "Mic, I think this movie is great. Tell the director that I''ll invest the three hundred million dors you''re short of." Chloe didn''t hesitate and directly expressed her intention.

    The three hundred million dors that had the director scratching his head was resolved with just a few words from her?

    Even Karlie, who had seen big money in the entertainment industry, was shocked by Chloe. What kind of background did this in-looking girl have? Three hundred million dors was as easy as three dors for her? "Chloe, are you really sure about investing? The director''s gonna be over the moon," Michael said, excitement clear in his voice.

    Chloe nodded. "Yep, I want to invest, but there''s a catch. Miss Taylor can only y the second female lead. The director needs to find someone else for the lead role, someone with apletely different vibe from Miss Taylor." Michael was taken aback by Chloe''s boldness.

    As expected from the daughter of the Davis Family, she shut down any objections with just one sentence. While others spent fortunes to boost their stars, Chloe''s $300 million investment came with a simple demand: switch the female lead to the second lead. No biggie.

    Michael immediately called the director. Standing next to Chloe, Karlie didn''t dare to challenge her anymore. Anyone who could drop $300 million like that was a force to be reckoned with, capable of squashing her without a second thought. ying the second lead was way better than losing the role entirely.

    Karlie got the hint. She picked up Chloe''s coffee cup and said, "Miss Davis, I''ll go heat your coffee." Seeing Karlie behave, Chloe smiled. She knew Karlie wasn''t someone who would easily back down.

    But as long as she didn''t cause trouble, Chloe had no reason to make things difficult for her.

    Karlie''s target was Michael. Hopefully, she could use all her charm to make Michael fall for her. Then, Chloe wouldn''t have to find excuses to tell Nichs why she and Michael couldn''t be together.

    Chloe was thrilled today, not because she outdid Karlie, but because she realized she could seed financially on her own. If her instincts were right, this movie would be a huge hit. What could be more satisfying than financial sess? After discussing the script, it was already nine in the evening. Amid the director''s endlesspliments, Chloe signed the investment contract. When the $300 million funding use appeared clearly in front of Karlie, she no longer thought Chloe was here to seek refuge with the Martin Family.

    If she snagged a husband among the three Martin brothers, it would be a powerful alliance.

    No wonder Louis insisted on making her his granddaughter-inw. She was undoubtedly capable.

    Some people were just born at the top of society.

    After signing the contract, Chloe and Michael headed home together.

    Michael, who usually didn''t pay much attention to Chloe, started chatting non-stop as soon as they got in the car. Chloe was puzzled-after discussing the script all afternoon, wasn''t he tired of talking? Enduring a chatterbox was sheer torture. Once they got home, Chloe went to her room to rest. The bruise on her leg, after a day''s rest, started to feel painful.

    She put on her pajamas and dragged her leg around the room, looking for the ointment the doctor had prescribed.

    Due to her swollen leg, she struggled to bend down and apply the ointment correctly to her calf. After trying two or three times, she still couldn''t do it.

    Just as she was on the verge of quitting, the door swung open, revealing Grant''s imposing figure standing before her.

    Because she was bending over, her body inside the pajamas was faintly visible to Grant.

 Chapter 30 He Wants to Kiss Chloe

    Chloe had no inkling that she was exposing more than intended. As she bent over too far, her equilibrium faltered, and she met the ground with a resounding thud. Lying face down, a wave of mortification surged through her how could ady of the Davis Family make such a spectacle of herself in front of Grant? Grant, catching sight of her mishap, wordlessly reached down and gently lifted her from the ground. Before she knew it, Chloe found herself securely cradled in his arms. The heat radiating from his chest permeated her flimsy nightgown, sending her heart into a wild, erratic rhythm.

    She felt lightheaded.

    And Grant? He wasn''t faring much better. The instant Chloe''s scent enveloped him, he battled to maintain hisposure. An inexplicable urge to kiss her surged within him, leaving him bewildered by its intensity yet powerless to shake it. "Grantie," Chloe murmured, her cheeks flushing a delicate rose hue.

    Grant snapped out of his trance. He had encountered a plethora of women-ravishing, in, alluring, innocent-yet none had ever unsettled him like Chloe did. His experience was vast, but this slip of a girl, with her naive charm, threw himpletely off bnce, despite how little he knew of her.

    "Your leg''s hurt. If you need help, ask Mia. If she''s not here, you cane to me. See, trying to be tough got you falling, right?" Grant''s voice, usually tinged with icy detachment, softened conspicuously.

    This was an anomaly to Chole. Grant was known for his cold, distant demeanor, his words alwaysced with a dispassionate edge. Yet with her, there was an unexpected tenderness, a gentleness that belied his usual reserve and left her silently questioning the reason behind it.

    "Does it hurt?" Grant asked, noticing Chloe''s flushed cheeks. With an instinctive concern, he reached out, but she quickly turned her face away, evading his touch. The spark between them was undeniable.

    Her friend Zara had always advised staying rational in situations like this. Beforeing to Sovereign City, Chloe herself had vowed to avoid entanglements with the young Martins too, hoping that her aloofness would prompt them to call off the engagement. Yet, amidst this charged moment, her resolution seemed to crumble.

    "Grantie, next time, knock before you barge in," Chloe said, trying to regain herposure.

    She thought herints might irritate Grant enough to keep his distance. Yet, to her surprise, he apologized. "My bad. I forgot to knock. This still feels like my room sometimes."

    Chloe hadmandeered the room from him, only to now lecture him about boundaries in his own former space. The irony was not lost on Grant, yet, he didn''t feel petty about it.

    "Alright, let''s forget about it this time. Did you need something, Grantie?" Chloe asked, attempting casual indifference.

    Grant gently guided her to a nearby chair and said, "Nothing serious. I have a day off tomorrow. If there''s anywhere you want to go, let me know. I can take you."

    He picked up a fallen ointment bottle and knelt beside her, rolling up her pajama pants to apply it. His long, adept fingers warmed her skin, and his touch was so gentle that she felt no pain, only the turmoil within her. When Chloe remained silent, Grant looked up, concerned. "What''s wrong? Can''t decide where to go?"

    "N-no, Grantie. You''re busy with work, I don''t want to be a bother. Maybe I''ll ask my ssmates to take me out," Chloe replied nervously, her resolve weakening. She couldn''t understand why she felt so flustered, but her gut told her it wasn''t a good sign. To avoid this, she decided to distance herself from Grant.

    Grant''s face darkened at her suggestion. "Are you nning to ask that guy, Philip?"

    Chloe was taken aback. The fact that Grant knew about Philip left her speechless. She suspected that jerk Liam must have told Grant about him.

    In reality, it wasn''t Liam. Grant had Stanley investigate Philip, believing it was his duty to ensure Chloe''s safety since Louis had brought her into the family. He was intent on eliminating any potential threats.

    "Nah, not Philip. Maybe N or Mica." Chloe said quickly, dropping the names of her female ssmates to deflect the tension.

    Hearing it was girls, Grant''s expression softened. "It''s not very safe for girls to go out alone. I can be your driver. As an older man, I must ensure your safety.ˇ±

    His stern tone left Chloe without a decent excuse. She let out a smallugh and teased, "Grantie, you''re taking this too seriously. I''m so ugly, who''d be interested in tricking me away?"

    Chloe''s attempt at humor sounded harsh to Grant''s ears. He looked at her intently and asked, "Are you ugly?"

    Chloe was struck silent. She recalled the day she fell into the water, how the mole on her face a part of her disguise had washed off. Grant had surely seen through it.

    He advanced towards her slowly, his gaze fixed intensely on her. Chloe, pinned to her chair, felt trapped under his scrutiny.

    Grant leaned in, his face now merely inches away, his breath almost touching her skin. Chloe, like a wary rabbit caught in the open, dared not move. If she resisted, her injured leg would likely yield to his superior strength. Yet, doing nothing left her at his mercy.

    "Grantie, what do you want to do?" Chloe finally asked, her voice tinged with nervous anticipation.

 Chapter 31 You Just Dislike Me

    As soon as Chloe finished speaking, Grant''s hand shot to her face, attempting to yank off the mole he assumed was fake. Unfortuantely, Chloe had used extra adhesive that morning, and under the relentless sun, it had formed a tenacious

    bond. His tugging only resulted in hurting her skin, making his intentions painfully clear.

    The sting snapped her back to the present. She shoved Grant''s hand away, jumped up, and, with dramatic ir, covered her face. "Grantie, why are you pulling at my face?" she used, her voice a mix of indignation and desperation. Grant''s confidence faltered, unable toprehend why the mole wouldn''te off. He had been certain he saw it out of ce that night.

    "What''s up with that mole?" he asked, bewildered.

    Chloe''s expression tightened, her hand instinctively covering the mole. After confirming it was still in ce, sheposed herself. "This mole has been on my face forever. What''s the deal, Grantie? You got an issue with my mole?" she challenged, her voice steadying.

    Grant hesitated before speaking, reying the scene in his mind. "But at the wee party the other night, I could''ve sworn I saw your mole out of ce, like it was fake."

    Hearing Grant say this, Chloe quickly adjusted her expression. She tilted her face slightly, making it seem as if the mole had shifted toward her nose.

    "Like this?" Chloe asked, her voiceden with innocence.

    Grant was left utterly speechless. In the dim light at the wee party, he had been convinced he saw her mole looking like it was about to fall off. But now, as he thought back, doubt gnawed at him. Had the poor visibility tricked him, or had the alcohol clouded his perception? Either way, Grant found himself riddled with uncertainty.

    Chloe sniffled pitifully, her voice breaking as she used, "Grant, I know you, Mic, and Liam think this mole is ugly, but Grandpa and Louis insisted Ie; it was not my intention to embarrass myself. This morning, Liam said he''d found a dermatologist to remove it, and now you''re trying to pull it off! If you don''t like me, I''ll just pack up and go back to my hometown."

    Chloe''s words sent a surge of panic through Grant. Chloe''s presence in their home was Nichs''s brainchild. The fact that she had to choose from among the three brothers was Louis''s decree. If Louis found out they had scared Chloe away, his wrath would be a force to reckon with.

    Normally unppable, Grant felt himself start to unravel. Trying to soothe her, he stammered, "I''m sorry, Chloe. I didn''t mean to upset you. I just..."

    "You just think I''m ugly, right?" Chloe interrupted, her voice quivering with distress.

    "No, I was just curious. I thought..."

    "You think I don''t deserve to be with any one of you." Chloe continued, her voice breaking into sobs.

    "No, I..." Grant feltpletely out of his depth

    At this moment, an old adage crossed his mind: even God couldn''t handle a woman in tears. Logic often abandoned the room when women cried, and Chloe, despite her age, had mastered this art.

    He wasn''t like Michael, who often mingled with women, acting in movies and appearing on variety shows, able to use lines from films to easily calm angry women.

    He wasn''t like Liam, who had many friends to help hime up with ideas.

    He was alone, and faced with Chloe''s tears, he was helpless.

    Feeling conflicted and cornered, Grant acted on impulse. He stepped forward and pulled the weeping Chloe into his arms. Chloe went rigid, shocked by the sudden embrace.

    "Chloe, I''m sorry. I really messed up. I was drunk that night and didn''t see clearly. I never meant to hurt you. I''m truly sorry," Grant murmured, his voice thick with regret.

    Since meeting Chloe, the usually stoic president of the Martin Group had shed his armor of arrogance. Never before had he apologized so earnestly. But Chloe''s tears had stripped away his pride.

    Chloe, inwardly, had nned to use this moment to make her escape, but Grant''s earnest apology made her hesitate. She decided to give him a chance but resolved to still leave a terrible impression, ensuring he would ultimately scorn her. Embracing this new strategy, Chloe pulled away slightly, wiping her eyes in a deliberately overdramatic fashion. "Grantie, if you want me to forgive you, you''ve gotta show some real action. You can''t just push me around and expect me to forget it."

    Grant listened intently, nodding with a seriousness that surprised even himself. After all, he had been raised to understand that actions had consequences. "Alright. Tell me what I need to do."

    Chloe, seizing the opportunity, began her exaggerated performance, ready to push Grant''s limits.

 Chapter 32 Offend Me, Ill Knock You Down

    "Grantie, I want bags. Tons of them. Buy them for me," Chloe demanded, her voice dripping with entitlement.

    Grant exhaled heavily, feeling a strange sense of relief. If only bags could fix all life''s problems, things would be effortlessly simple. The Martins were wealthy beyond measure, and since college, Grant had overseen the family''s finances. Fulfilling Chloe''s request was hardly a challenge.

    "Sure," he responded without a moment''s hesitation.

    Chloe''s eyebrows furrowed. That was too easy. Determined to press further, she added, "I want you toe with me to buy them. And I want the fancy, expensive ones!"

    Though Chloe tried to embody the role of a gold-digger, she failed to grasp that for a family like the Martins, purchasing a few designer bags was trivial. Even if she wished to empty the entire store, Grant could effortlessly oblige. "Alright, I''m free tomorrow. I''ll go with you. As long as you keep happy in the Martin Family, I''ll get you as many bags as you want."

    Grant''s nonchnt assurance left Chloe bbergasted. Her act of being a gold-digger had indeed flopped spectacrly.

    That night, unable to sleep, Chloe turned to her best friend Zara, initiating a video call. In the guest room, Grant was also wrestling with insomnia. Seeking sce, he stepped out onto the balcony for a smoke and inadvertently overheard Chloe''s conversation from the nearby room.

    "Zara, I''m so fed up. Can''t stay in the Martin family any longer. I want to go home," Chloemented, her frustration evident.

    Zara''s voice, amplified by Chloe''s speakerphone, rang out clearly. "Go home? Three hot guys around you every day, and you still wanna bail? What''s the deal? Stick around!"

    Chloe, sprawled on the bed, retorted, "Zara, do you even have a heart? It''s been twenty-nine days apart, and you don''t miss your bestie?"

    Zara shot back without missing a beat, "Miss you? Not at all. We''re best friends, not a couple. Why would I miss you every day?"

    "You... you''re the worst," Chloe muttered, her irritation blending with a trace of affection.

    Zara simplyughed. "Speaking of the Martins, Michael''s new show is amazing, and he''s gotten even hottertely."

    Chloe rolled her eyes. She''d known Michael for almost a month and had seen his face every day. To her, his looks weren''t all that impressive. His constant nagging certainly didn''t help his case. "Chloe, since you''re with Michael every day, can you do me a favor? Get me an autographed photo of him so I can show off to my ssmates?" Zara asked hopefully.

    Chloe red at her through the screen. "No way. Zara, you''re so young and not even studying well. Why are you fangirling over celebrities? Don''t you know their personas are all fake?" Zara sighed dreamily. "But I just like him. What can I do?"

    Chloe, feeling a sting of jealousy, shot back, "Fine, go ahead and like him. I was thinking of getting you a nice bag when I go shopping tomorrow, but since you''ve betrayed me for Michael, I guess you''ll have to get your bag from him." Zara quickly backtracked. "Chloe, I''m sorry! I love bags, not Michael. Remember, I want thetest LV bag. I love you, only you. You''re my forever best friend, and that will never change."

    On the balcony, hearing the girls'' conversation, Grant took a drag of his cigarette, bemused. Chloe was nning to give away bags she hadn''t even gotten yet. Her assumption that the president of the Martin Group would expend resources just to keep her happy might have irritated him if it were anyone else. But with Chloe, it seemed reasonable. Spending a bit more to maintain her contentment and presence in the Martin family was a worthwhile investment. Showing his gentlemanly side, Grant stopped eavesdropping and retreated into the guest room to sleep.

    The next morning, Chloe woke up without the need for an rm. As she descended the stairs, she found Grant in the living room, reading the newspaper. d infortable loungewear, he appeared far more rxed than in his usual formal attire. "Morning," he greeted her as she entered.

    "Morning," she replied.

    "How''s your leg? Still hurt?" Grant asked, his concern genuine.

    In truth, Chloe had nearly forgotten about her injury, her quick healing making it a non-issue. So she answered honestly, "It''s fine now."

    If that''s so, finish up breakfast quickly. I''ll take you to shop for bagster," Grant said, adopting a doting tone, much like an older brother. He tried to mask his inner turmoil.

    He''d never confess it to anyone, butst night he dreamt of gently peeling the mole from Chloe''s face, unveiling her true beauty. It seemed the more time he spent with her, the more she haunted him, even in his dream. After breakfast, Chloe readily joined Grant in his car. Today, Grant decided to drive himself.

    Upon reaching the mall entrance, he instructed Chloe, "You get out and wait here. I''ll park the car."

    "Okay," Chloe responded obediently, stepping out and waiting as Grant went to park. With nothing else to do, she took out her phone, snapped a selfie with the mall sign and sent it to Zara with the caption: [Zara, your LV bag is waiting for you here.]

    Just after sending the message, an unpleasant voice reached Chloe''s ears. "Oh, isn''t this the youngdy from the Davis Family? You were in a wheelchair yesterday, and today you''re out shopping? Such a faker. Why didn''t the motorcycle race yesterday kill you?"

    Chloe looked up to find Sophia apanied by two other women, standing about fifteen feet away. Sophia''s words were venomous, directly attacking Chloe. Chloe''s anger red instantly.

 Chapter 33 Grantie Wont Buy You a Bag

    Since Sophia had basically signed her own death warrant, Chloe saw no reason to let her off easy. Without missing a beat, she shot back, "Oh please, I can''t fake it like you. Twisting your ankle to save a client? Why not just twist yourself to death? You really think Grant''s buying that crap? He doesn''t even notice you."

    Chloe knew precisely how to strike where it hurt. Everyone knew that Grant''s indifference towards Sophia was the worst-kept secret in their social circle.

    "You... Mr. Martin likes your ugly face?" Sophia snapped back, her insult drenched in rage.

    Truth be told, Chloe was nearly wless. As a member of the prestigious Davis family, she stood leagues above the Browns. Her fit physique and keen intellect made her a standout. If it weren''t for that mole on her face, there would be no contest at all.

    Chloe didn''t flinch at being called ugly. Instead, she stuck her tongue out at Sophia and retorted, "Yeah, I''m ugly, so what? Doesn''t stop Grantie from looking at me."

    "He would never look at your ugly face," Sophia fumed, her frustration evident.

    Chloe smirked, "Not only does he look at me with an interest, but he also promised to buy me bags, tons of designer bags. If I can''t carry them all, I''ll just give them away. And you? Can you get Grantie to buy you anything? He wouldn''t even let you smell his fart. Must be driving you nuts, huh?"

    Chloe''s shamelesseback left Sophia speechless. She couldn''t believe Chloe could argue like this. Even though she tried to maintain herposure, Chloe''s relentless jabs had thrown herpletely off bnce.

    "Chloe, you''re too much. You''re just bullying me." Unable to outmaneuver Chloe verbally, Sophia quickly shifted tactics, wiping her tears and adopting a victimized tone.

    Chloe had no idea what Sophia was nning next. Already riled up, she snapped, "Yeah, I''m bullying you, you scheming two-faced witch."

    Just then, Sophia lunged toward the space behind Chloe. "Mr. Martin, you heard it all, right? Chloe''s bullying me. You have to stand up for me."

    At that moment, Chloe realized Sophia had orchestrated her little show to frame her as the bully in front of Grant. Sophia truly lived up to her reputation as a two-faced schemer. But Chloe didn''t care. If Grant criticized her over this, she''d leave without hesitation. She came to Sovereign City to find a husband, not to be treated like dirt. She''d stand up for herself if necessary.

    Chloe took a deep breath, standing there with a calm, indifferent look, watching Sophia perform for Grant.

    Grant, who had been in a good mood about the nned shopping expedition with Chloe, felt his annoyance rise the moment Sophia showed up. He didn''t even bother responding to her whining, just gave her a look that said, "Really?" Seeing her opportunity, Sophia went into full melodrama mode. "I saw Chloe standing here alone. Since she''s new to Sovereign City, I thought I''d be nice and say hi. But I guess my kindness got misunderstood," she sobbed, signaling to the two women with her.

    Her friends dutifully jumped in to back her up.

    "Sophia, you''re just too nice. Who cares if someone knows their way around or not? It''d be better if she got lost. Next time, don''t bother."

    "Yeah, some people just don''t appreciate kindness. Why waste your time?"

    With her friends backing her up, Sophia felt more emboldened. She looked at Grant with faux-innocent eyes and said shyly, "I was just thinking, since she''s a part of your family now..."

    She clearly expected Grant to side with her or at least scold Chloe, but Grant''s response was anything but that.

    "So, when thepany gave you time off to be in the hospital for treatment, you chose to go shopping?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

    Sophia''s face fell. Just yesterday, she imed to have twisted her ankle saving a client, and Grant had personally taken her to the hospital. Seeing her out and about on the second day raised serious questions about her injury''s authenticity.

    "I was just bored in the hospital, so I came out for some fresh air. Plus, the doc mentioned that walking would speed up my foot''s recovery," Sophia hastily fabricated an excuse.

    Grant sneered. "Oh? The doctor told you to walk more? So, you walked from a hospital twenty miles away to this mall? That''s quite a hike!"

    Grant''s words silenced Sophia. She couldn''t understand what went wrong. They were just talking about Chloe bullying her; how did the topic shift so quickly?

    "Mr. Martin? I..." Sophia was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, not knowing what to say to smooth things over.

    Amused by Sophia''s flustered state, Chloe''s opinion of Grant soared, earning him a mental checkmark.

    With one hand in his pocket, Grant nced at Sophia again and reminded her, "I told you yesterday: if you''re not in her circle, don''t try to fit in. She won''t bother you without reason. To avoid drama, just steer clear. It''s better for your peace of mind."

    Grant''s words not only left Sophia dumbfounded but also stunned the two friends who apanied her. They couldn''tprehend why Grant didn''t seem to care about Sophia as much as she had imed.

 Chapter 34 Im Such a Mess

    After saying that, Grant casually grabbed Chloe''s hand and strolled towards the mall entrance, his nonchnce a stark contrast to the drama he left behind.

    Sophia, her face a furious mask, watched them go, her chest heaving with indignation. One of her friends, blissfully unaware of the brewing storm, approached and chirped, "Sophia, looks like Mr. Martin isn''t into you. Seems he prefers that in Jane."

    Sophia''s face darkened like an impending storm. "Don''t be ridiculous. Even if he''s not interested in me, he''d never go for that revolting chick! Zip it. If you can''t say anything sensible, don''t bother hanging out with me," she snapped, leaving her friend in stunned silence.

    After all, the friend had merely stated what seemed tantly obvious.

    Meanwhile, Chloe, delighting in the earlier confrontation, walked beside Grant into the mall. She turned to him, her face lighting up with a bright smile. "Grantie, thanks a bunch." Grant raised an eyebrow, genuinely puzzled. "Thank me? For what?"

    "For what you did just now. You always stand up for me. I feel really grateful," Chloe said earnestly, the mole on her face moving with her expressions, adding an endearing touch. Grant, eyeing Chloe, noticed how the mole subtly entuated her charm. "No need for thanks," he replied. "Sophia is insufferable. I just took the chance to put her in her ce." Sophia,pletely unaware of her own boundaries, would openly and secretly flirt with him at work, bragging that he cared for her and that she''d soon be the mistress of the Martin Family.

    Caught up in her own delusions, Sophia often flirted with him at work, boasting that Grant was smitten with her and that she would soon be the mistress of the Martin Family. Grant, preferring to avoid unnecessary dramas, chose not to correct her. But her advances grew bolder, her pestering incessant, and her schemes against Chloe increasingly irritating. He saw through her thinly veiled attempts and decided it was time to use Chloe to check her. Arriving at the Louis Vuitton counter, Chloe confidently began selecting bags, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Her choices were impable-two were limited editions and the others top sellers of the season. Grant watched her, a mixture of amusement and nostalgia in his expression. He recalled the Chloe who first joined the Martin Family, awkwardly dressed in outdated clothes. Now, she had an eye for luxury and sophistication, particrly in fashion.

    With no concern for the expense, Chloe instructed the salesperson, "Pack them up. Grantie''s picking up the tab today. It''d be foolish not to take advantage."

    Grant couldn''t help but smile at her audacity. Chloe''s brazen attitude of exploiting his generosity while maintaining an innocent fa?ade was, if nothing else, thoroughly entertaining.

    Seeing that Grant wasn''t fazed by her profligate spending, Chloe sidled closer, deploying her self-deprecating artillery. "Grant, I''m a total mess. I push people around and never listen. Grandpa calls me a spoiled brat. I blow money on random stuff, like using these LV bags once before handing them off to the housekeeper. He''s always on my case for being such a spendthrift. He says I''m ugly, have a bad temper, and am so wasteful I''ll nevernd a husband."

    Chloe was sure these confessions would tarnish her image in Grant''s eyes. Instead, he remained unperturbed. With a hand casually in his pocket, he replied, "I think it''s fine."

    Chloe was on the verge of exasperation. What did he mean by "fine"? She was a walking disaster, and he still thought it was fine? Did Grant have a screw loose?

    As the salesperson packed up the ten bags Chloe had extravagantly chosen, a group of her ssmates, including Philip, appeared out of nowhere.

    "Chloe, fancy seeing you here!" Philip eximed.

    "Yeah, Chloe, what a coincidence!" another ssmate chimed in. "Philip invited us to a basketball game. How about joining us?"

    "Come on, Chloe, it''ll be fun," encouraged another.

    Chloe had met these boys and girls when she first started school, and the idea of ying basketball, given her recentck of exercise, was tempting. Yet, with Grant by her side, she hesitated.

    "I don''t think I can today. The timing isn''t great," Chloe said, throwing a nce at Grant.

    Grant stood silent, his expression unreadable.

    Rena Penrose, one of the ssmates, approached Grant. "Are you Chloe''s uncle? We''re all ssmates and we''d love for her to join us. Can you let here?"

    As Rena asked this, Chloe couldn''t help butugh. By age, he was only seven or eight years older than these students. How could he be her uncle?

    Chloe stifled augh. Grant, just seven or eight years older than her, mistaken for her uncle? His serious demeanor did lend him an air of age beyond his years, but still. "Yeah, Chloe''s uncle, we''re just at the court next door," another ssmate piped in. "We''ll y for a couple of hours and then head home. Don''t worry, we''ll keep her safe." Chloe couldn''t help but wonder if her ssmates ever discovered that Grant was a potential suitor, their reactions would be pricelessly dramatic. Grant, concerned with propriety, turned to Chloe. "Do you want to go?"

    Chloe nodded eagerly. "Yes, I do. I really want to hang out with my ssmates."

    Grant, finding her enthusiasm reasonable, conceded. "Alright, let''s go. I''lle along."

    Chloe was torn between relief and exasperation. Why did she feel like Grant was a clinging shadow? Why was he so determined to stick around? "Uncle..." Chloe mimicked, drawing out the word with irony as she called Grant "uncle."

    Grant''s eyebrow arched, and he snorted derisively. How unfitting was he as her potential husband that she had to elevate him to thest generation?

 Chapter 35 Uncles Might

    "Hey, ''Uncle,'' we young folks y basketball to stay fit. Isn''t it kinda weird for you to join us?" Chloe shot Grant a yful wink, clearly signaling she didn''t want him tagging along. Grant just shrugged nonchntly. "No worries. I''ll just watch quietly."

    Chloe pouted at his response, and Philip, along with a few ssmates, exchanged knowing nces.

    Grant then proposed, "How about this? If Ie to watch, I''ll foot the bill for everything today. Food, drinks, it''s all on me."

    Their eyes lit up; the prospect of a free meal and drinks was too good to pass up.

    "Sure, let''s bring Chloe''s uncle along. He''s awesome..."

    "Yeah, let''s take him. He''s so handsome and tall, looks like he has great stamina."

    "Exactly, having someone older with us makes us feel more at ease. Uncle, we want some drinks and maybe some Japanese food for lunch."

    The students, thrilled by Grant''s offer, immediately surrounded him, showering him with praise and eager requests. They guided him toward the basketball court near the mall, clearly nning to take full advantage of his generosity. Chloe trailed behind, feeling exasperated. The students from Quest University really were unreliable. At the sight of money, they didn''t even seem to care about her feelings.

    Philip walked alongside her. Knowing Chloe well, he asked, "Who is this guy anyway?"

    Chloe replied, "He''s Grant, the president of the Martin Group."

    "Wow, he certainly has a presence," Philip remarked, unexpectedly praising Grant.

    Chloe scoffed. "So what?"

    Philip continued, "Not much, but he''s quite a bit older than you. If you choose him, wouldn''t it be awkward for everyone to call him ''uncle'' when you go out together?" Chloe rolled her eyes.

    "Awkward? Seems like everyone is pretty happy calling him that," she replied, somewhat resigned.

    Philip teased, "If everyone knew you might choose him as your husband, would they start calling you ''aunt''?"

    His words made Chloe blush. yfully, she raised her fist and swung it at Philip. "Philip, you''re too much. I''ll beat you up."

    "Auntie, spare me!" Philipughed, ducking out of the way.

    The two of them joked at the back of the group. Surrounded by Chloe''s ssmates, Grant overheard themotion behind him and turned to see Chloe and Philip yfully teasing each other. A shadow of jealousy darkened his expression. Soon, they arrived at the basketball court. The ssmates, holding basketballs, rushed onto the court,ughing and joking. Chloe, in her sneakers and casual clothes, was ready for action, but Grant, in his leather shoes and pants, was clearly not geared for sports. He resigned himself to the stands to cheer them on.

    While watching from the sidelines, Grant made a call to Stanley. After a while, as the drinks arrived, Grant asked, "Did you bring what I asked for?"

    Stanley handed him a bag and inquired, "Mr. Martin, are you sure you want to y a game with these students?"

    Grant nodded confidently. "Yep."

    Stanley had brought a set of sportswear. After a quick change, Grant strutted onto the court, catching everyone off guard. Chloe, panting from the game, jogged over, her eyes wide with surprise. "Grantie, are you really going to y with us?" Grant nodded again. "Yep, one game."

    "Can you handle it? Can you keep up?" Chloe teased, remembering how he had been expelled from her room that night.

    Grant''s gaze shifted to Philip, who was dominating the court. "I can beat him," he dered with confidence.

    Caught up in the excitement, the ssmates began cheering, "Uncle,e on! Let''s have a match!"

    Grant quickly joined the fray, running with surprising agility. Chloe scratched her head, puzzled. What was Grant, at his age, trying to prove bypeting with her ssmates?

    The gamemenced, and Grant quickly showed his prowess. Each time he got the ball, he aimed unerringly at Philip, who was caught off guard by the intensity. The ssmates thought Grant was just bad at aiming, but Stanley, observing from the stands, knew better.

    A former college basketball star, Grant had once been scouted for the national team before the family business demanded his attention. The basketball seemed an extension of his own arm, his shots precise. Any misses were deliberate, a means of settling a personal score.

    Stanley shook his head in confusion. It was clear Grant was jealous of Philip getting too close to Chloe. Yet, he couldn''t fathom why Grant, who had always been interested in the elegant Sophia, was now fixated on Chloe.

    By the end of the game, Grant''s team had lost miserably, not scoring a single point. Philip''s team, however, won by andslide. Yet, Philip was left nursing several bruises, the result of Grant''s well-aimed balls.

    After the game, a dazed Philip approached Chloe, rubbing his sore head. "Chloe, seriously, next time we y, let''s not invite him."

    Chloe wiped the sweat off her face and asked, "Why? I thought he brought good energy to the court and wasn''t a hassle at all."

    Philip shot her a look of disbelief. "Not a hassle? I think my head disagrees," he muttered, still wincing.

 Chapter 36 His Basketball Skills Are Lacking

    Philip sighed, his hand still on his head. "If we yed for another two hours, I''m sure he could knock me silly!"

    Chloe burst outughing at Philip''s words. "His aim does suck," she said, trying to console him. "Don''t be mad. He only hit you several times. Later, you can lead the guys and make his purse t. Get him to buy us a membership card for that Japanese restaurant, and we''ll eat there for a month."

    Philip''s eyes lit up at the thought. To get back at Grant for his earlier mischief, he rallied his basketball buddies, and they made a beeline for the expensive dining spot.

    After a long day, Chloe dragged herself back to the Martin Mansion, utterly exhausted. She flopped onto the sofa, hugging her knees, and started toin. In her hometown in the Northwest, she''d been known for her boundless energy; Nichs had even affectionately called her a monkey, because she used to run every day without feeling tired. But since moving to Sovereign City a month ago, she hadn''t exercised much, and today''s basketball game had really taken a toll on her.

    Michael, who had finished work early, noticed her state and sat down next to her, curious. "Chloe, what did Grant have you do today?"

    "We yed basketball," Chloe said, rubbing her aching waist.

    As Michael learned about their basketball session, a look of surprise crossed his face. Given Grant''s prowess on the court, Michael assumed Chloe must have struggled. He remembered the few times he had yed with Grant himself, often finding his legs like jelly after just picking up the ball.

    "Grant''s pretty good at basketball, right?" Michael asked, expecting some praise for his brother''s skills.

    But instead, Chloe frowned, the furrow in her brow entuating the mole on her face. "Honestly, besides his stamina, his skills are pretty bad," sheined. "His shooting is terrible he kept hitting one of my ssmates. That boy whined a lot before I got back."

    Chloe was bewildered by Grant''s basketball performance. Every shot he took went astray, always ending up targeting Philip. It was almostically bad.

    Michael was stunned, unable to reconcile Chloe''s ount with his own experiences. He was about to ask her more when Grant, fresh from a shower and dressed in clean clothes, descended the stairs, towel in hand, drying his hair. He shot Michael a sharp look, and Michael immediately fell silent, sensing the tension.

    "Sorry for my bad aim and hurting your friend," Grant said, his tone surprisingly sincere. "I got him a gift card for the restaurant as an apology. I''ll practice more for next time."

    Michael''s eyes widened at this, clearly not expecting such an admission.

    Considering that Grant had bought her bags and stood up for her today, Chloe decided to let it slide. Shezily got up from the sofa, dragging her tired legs, and said, "I''m gonna go take a shower. You guys chat."

    As Chloe made her way upstairs, Michael approached Grant, clearly intrigued and lowered his voice. "Grant, what''s the deal? You..."

    Grant just chuckled. "What''s the deal? My basketball skills suck now, and my aim''s off after all these years."

    Michael was left speechless. What was Grant up to?

    After her shower, Chloe went back to her room to sort through the bags she''d bought today. She had so many that she had to call Mia for help.

    Mia''s eyes lit up at the sight of the expensive, beautiful bags. While helping Chloe organize, she couldn''t help but gush, "Mr. Martin is so good to you, isn''t he? These bags must''ve cost a fortune."

    Chloe nodded, examining a new leather purse. "Yeah, they''re pretty pricey. All thetest trends."

    "He is really generous with you. I''ve worked for the Martin family for years, taking care of the three brothers, and Grant has never been this generous to any other girl," Mia remarked casually to Chloe, their familiarity evident. Chloe didn''t take her words to heart. "Just a few bags? Is that considered generous?"

    Mia exined, "Of course. He''s got money, but he doesn''t spend it frivolously. The fact that he bought you multiple bags today speaks volumes about his attitude."

    Mia''s words made Chloe pause. "Attitude? What attitude?" she asked, puzzled.

    Seeing Chloe''s clueless expression, Mia moved closer and yfully tapped Chloe''s forehead. "What attitude? Obviously, he likes you, silly girl..."

    Mia''s words made Chloe''s nerves suddenly tense. Thinking about Grant''s behaviortely, she started to worry that Mia might be right. Could Grant really like her?

    She thought about her looks and disposition, at least the ones she had shown him. She was not what people considered an attractive prospect-materialistic, unreasonable, uneducated,cking grace, and with a tendency toward being a bit shrewish. If Grant liked her like this, his taste must be really bad.

    Determined to make Grant and his brothers dislike her, Chloe knew she needed to find a way out of the impending arranged marriage.

    Seeing Chloe deep in thought, Mia smiled. "What''s going on in that head of yours? Excited about Grant''s crush?" she teased. Chloe blushed a bit and, in a fluster, grabbed a bag and shoved it into Mia''s hands. "Go, go, get out of here. This bag is for you..." "Hey... Miss Davis... I..."

 Chapter 37 She Has a Good Eye

    "You gave me such a nice bag, but I have no idea where to use it," Mia said, holding the luxurious essory with a bewildered expression. The generosity of the wealthy truly astounded her. A bag of this quality was handed to her as if it were no more than a casual gift. Chloe shot Mia an incredulous nce. "What do you mean you have nowhere to use it? Use it for groceries when you go shopping. Now shoo, I''ve got to get some sleep," she said, nudging Mia gently out the door.

    As Mia reluctantly stepped out, Grant appeared at the top of the stairs, wiping the sweat from his brow after his evening run. Noticing her standing there, he asked, "Mia, what''s going on?"

    Mia held up the extravagant handbag, her fingers tracing the fine leather as if afraid it might evaporate. "Miss Davis gave me the bag you bought today. I told her I''m just a maid and can''t possibly use it, but she insisted I should use it when grocery shopping. This... it just feels wrong."

    Grant studied the bag with a discerning eye, his hands casually resting in his pockets. "Hmm, she has a point. A Neverfull is ideal for groceries. The name speaks for itself: it''s roomy and can hold quite a bit."

    Mia''s jaw dropped, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Are you serious?" she stammered, utterly perplexed by the absurdity of the upper ss.

    As Monday dawned, the household was abuzz with activity. Grant was immersed in his work, while Michael bnced his academic responsibilities with the demands of shooting histest film. Liam, on the other hand, was entangled in his own frustrations. Despite leveraging all his resources, the elusive biker who had so captivated him made only a fleeting appearance, then disappeared without a trace. Tony offered no useful information, no matter what rewards Liam had provided in exchange, much to the youngest Martin''s growing exasperation.

    As the sun began to rise, Chloe and Liam prepared for another day at school. Inside the car, Liam''s voice echoed with irritation as he berated Eric over the phone. "Eric, it''s been nearly a month, and still nothing. You keep saying you''re close, but where''s the result? You pride yourself on knowing everything about Sovereign City, so prove it. How hard can it be to find one woman, you moron?"

    mming his phone shut, Liam seethed silently. Chloe, seated in the back, was absorbed in her phone, barely acknowledging Liam''s outburst.

    After a moment of tense silence, he recalled something Eric had mentioned. Chloe had promised Tony she''d get the biker''s contact if Tony lost the race. Perhaps Chloe held the key to his dilemma. Yet, their rtionship was strained, especially after Chloe had been injured in that scuffle involving some spoiled rich kids. Would she even consider helping him?

    Clearing his throat awkwardly, Liam attempted to bridge the gap. "Hey, Chloe, I heard your ss is nning a party. Is that true?" he asked, hoping to engage her in conversation and perhaps find a way to broach the topic delicately. Chloe replied absently, her attention still somewhat divided, "Someone mentioned it in the group chatst night, but I didn''t look carefully."

    Liam pressed on, eager to steer the conversation, "Are you nning to go?"

    "Yeah, I guess, if it is really a thing," Chloe shrugged. "Just started here, can''t be a loner forever."

    Feigning an air of authority, Liam stated, "Those parties always have a dance segment. You''ll need a partner if you go."

    Feigning ignorance, Chloe looked up from her phone, "Really?"

    With a confident nod, Liam confirmed, "Yep, Chloe, you''re new and partner-less. Going solo might not be the best idea." Suspicious of Liam''s ulterior motives, Chloe asked, "So, what do you suggest I do?"

    "Find a dance partner, of course," Liam replied smoothly.

    Chloe, with a touch of sarcasm, teased, "But you said I don''t have any close pals here. Where do you expect me to find one?"

    Liam, puffing up slightly, suggested boldly, "Chloe, you can ask me to be your partner. I''ve been dancing since junior year and am known as the ''dance prince'' at Quest University. With me by your side, you''ll rock the party. Trust me!" Chloe raised an eyebrow skeptically. To her, the moniker "dance prince" seemed more self-imposed than earned. "Oh... ask you to be my partner?" She scrutinized his face for a moment.

    Liam nodded earnestly. "Yep."

    Chloe''s lips curled into a knowing smile. "Liam, just spit it out. We''re not that close for you to be my dance partner out of charity."

    Seeing right through his facade, Chloe stared him down. "Tell me what you really want, and if it''s reasonable, I''ll consider it," she said, crossing her arms and leaning back, looking every bit the detective who had solved the case. Liam finally let his guard down. "Chloe, I want you to help me get the biker''s contact info from Tony."

    Relief washed over Liam as he finally voiced his request.

    Chloe burst intoughter. "That''s it?"

    The bike enthusiast quickly interjected, "It''s really hard, okay? Eric has been searching for ages with no sess. I''m obsessed with her drifting move. I have to find her, even if it costs me a fortune to learn that trick." "Chloe, I''m begging you," he implored, his voice taking on a fervent tone. It was evident he was genuinely captivated and willing to do almost anything to meet this enigmatic figure.

 Chapter 38 The Loyal Tony

    Seeing Liam''s sad puppy eyes, Chloe didn''t budge until he mentioned dropping some serious cash.

    Sure, the Davis family was loaded, and Chloe wasn''t exactly hurting for cash either, but who said no to easy money? If Liam wanted to ssh out, she was all in.

    After a quick think, she told Liam, "Alright, I can''t promise you''ll get her contact info, but you should hit up Tony. Of course, it all depends on how you y your cards."

    Liam lit up at her words, almost grabbing her hand and showering her withpliments.

    At school, they hopped out of the car and went their separate ways to ss. Once Liam was out of sight, Chloe called Tony.

    He was stoked to see her name pop up. "Chloe, what''s up? What can I do for you?"

    Tony had scored some sweet business deals with the Davis Family thanks to Chloe, and the Gibson family was raking it in, making Tony a hero in his parents'' eyes. To Tony, Chloe was his good luck charm. Chloe got straight to the point, "Is Liam still hunting for that biker''s contact info?"

    Tony''s chuckle came through the receiver. "Yeah, he''s been going nuts, trying everything on me threats, bribes, you name it. But don''t worry, Chloe, I haven''t spilled a word to him."

    Tony''s loyalty was rock solid. Growing up in the Northwest, he yed with Zara and Chloe. During a game of hide and seek, they stashed Tony in a cer and told him to stay put, no matter what. Tony stayed hidden for five hours, ignoring the adults calling his name. It wasn''t until Chloe and Zara fessed up that they finally pulled him out. From that day on, Chloe knew she could always count on Tony. He was the definition of loyal and discreet.

    After Tony finished, he added, "Chloe, I don''t know how much longer I can hold out. You know Liam; who knows what he''ll try next? What if I crack?"

    Chloe paused to consider her next move. "I''ll send you a Facebook ountter," she informed Tony. "If Liam bothers you again, give him this ount and tell him it''s the biker''s."

    Tony was perplexed. "Huh? Chloe, what''s the n?"

    Chloe shrugged nonchntly. "No biggie. Liam''s money wants to find its way into my pocket, that''s all. Gotta head to ss now."

    After hanging up with Tony, Chloe strode towards her ssroom.

    Today felt promising, especially after snagging first prize in the ss designpetition, a moment now being enthusiastically dissected by her teacher. Her work, under the scrutiny of several teachers, had been chosen for its ingenuity and impact. This was her moment to bask in well-earned praise.

    In ss, she earned apuse and congrattions from ssmates, notably Philip, Rena, and those she had yed basketball with the previous day. Their hands pped so fervently it seemed they might soon turn red.

    Chloe''s charm was infectious; she wasn''t the most striking girl but her vivacious personality made her instantly likable. As soon as the bell rang, clusters of students gathered around her, chatting animatedly.

    Not far away, Lucy was fuming. Her dad was the Academic Dean, and her design wasmendable too. So why wasn''t her work showcased? Why did Chloe, a in Jane, keep catching all the lucky breaks? And what on earth gave her the right to be in the running for the attention of the three Martin brothers, practically royalty in their social sphere?

    Lucy simmered with resentment, feeling that Chloe had no rightful im to such opportunities. With jealousy clouding her judgment, she seemed to have forgotten the consequences of theirst altercation over a cut-up dress. Bolstered by her fury, she stormed towards Chloe, shoving past the crowd, and started to taunt her with venomced words.

    "Oh, Chloe. Not pretty enough, so you rely on brains? Making such an impressive design to build your image as a top student?"

    Chloe''s smile faltered. Rena, ever the quick defender, stepped up. "Lucy, what''s your problem? Chloe''s design is genuinely good. She doesn''t need to build any image. If you can''t say anything nice, just zip it."

    Rena was a new ssmate Chloe had met in Sovereign City. She had a ir for hosting from a young age and excelled at verbal duels, something Lucy found out at the moment.

    Ignoring Rena, Lucy kept at it, her eyes a cold glower. "You made one decent design, so what? Look at you, so full of yourself, surrounding yourself with these ass-kissers."

    Chloe snorted at Lucy''s relentless attitude. "Lucy, what do you want?"

    With a smug grin, Lucy retorted, "Nothing. I just can''t stand seeing your ugly face in ss every day. One good design doesn''t mean you''ll always nail it. The Martin brothers can''t stand you. Chloe, you''re just not worth it. If I were you, I''d pack up and head back to the Northwest."

    Lucy''s spiteful words were a punch to everyone around. Chloe''s friends quickly rallied to her side.

    "Lucy, what''s your deal? If you want Liam to notice you, go to him. Why take it out on Chloe?" Rena''s sharp eyes saw through Lucy''s feigned bravado.

    Philip, his voice stern, joined in, "Lucy, if you''re sick, go see a doctor. Did Chloe do something to you?"

    "Exactly! This is too much," another ssmate chimed in.

    Lucy, unperturbed by the rising tide of criticism, pointed an usatory finger at them. "What? I just can''t stand her. Anyone defending this in Jane, I''ll get you kicked out right away!"

 Chapter 39 Is This How You Behave?

    When Lucy spoke, her words carried an unsettling weight, because her dad was the Academic Dean at Quest University, and indeed, he had the power to kick students out. This made everyone shut up real quick-Most students at Quest weren''t from wealthy backgrounds, and the threat of expulsion could disrupt their lives significantly. Sometimes, life really did suck.

    Seeing everyone fall into a hush, Lucy''s smugness became palpable. She soaked in the silent reverence, relishing the control she wielded. With a particrly nasty gleam in her eye, she turned her focus back to Chloe. "Chloe," she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension, "I already told my dad about you hitting mest time. It won''t be long before you''re kicked out. Let''s see how you show off then, how you unt in front of Liam. Top student? Who do you think you are?"

    Chloe''s patience was wearing thin. She hade to Quest University to study, not to navigate this petty high school drama. First, Lucy had ruined her dress at the wee party; now, she was back at it with another round of provocations. Chloe took a deep breath, deciding it was time to settle this once and for all.

    "You, Lucy, are just a bully," Chloe retorted, her voice steady yet resolute. "Want to expel everyone? Fine, start with me. If I don''t get an expulsion notice today, you''re a loser, and you have to shout ''My dad and I are losers'' three times."

    The room erupted inughter. Chloe''s challenge hit a nerve. Expelling students from Quest University wasn''t a straightforward process. Without any serious infractions, there was little ground for expulsion. Even with her father''s position, he couldn''t act on whims. Chloe knew Lucy was all bluster.

    Lucy''s smugness twisted into fury. She whipped out her phone, her fingers trembling with rage as she dialed. "Dad," she barked into the phone, "Are you going to handle this? The ugly girl who hit me is acting up again. She said if you don''t kick her out today, I have to admit we''re total losers. She''s so full of herself, even talking smack about you, a school leader. As the Dean, you have to put her in her ce. Hurry up and get here; I''m waiting in the ssroom." After hanging up, Lucy raised her chin high, a smug expression stered on her face. "Just wait," she taunted, "my dad and some school big shots are on their way. With your attitude, you''ll be out of here in a sh."

    Lucy''s words sent a palpable wave of unease through Rena. Typically the sort to avoid any form of confrontation, she had stepped into the fray, driven by the relentless bullying Chloe endured at Lucy''s hands. Her nerves were frayed at the thought that Lucy might actually seed in getting Chloe expelled.

    She leaned closer to Chloe, her voice a furtive whisper, "Chloe, the Academic Dean wields a lot of power. If he decides to mess with you, things could get really bad. Maybe you should call the guy who yed basketball with us yesterday? He''s got connections and might be able to help."

    Rena didn''t fully understand the inner workings of the affluent, mistakenly assuming Grant was some influential rtive of Chloe''s.

    Chloe gave Rena a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry, Rena. This is no big deal. We don''t need to drag him into this right now." "But... just look at Lucy..." Rena''s anxiety was still palpable.

    Chloe, full of unshakeable confidence, responded, "Lucy''s going to regret her stupidity. Let''s hear what her dad has to say. It''s anyone''s guess who''s actually getting the boot."

    Lucy, with her acute hearing, caught every whispered word between the two. She sneered, her voice cutting through the tension like a de, "Like you said, who''s getting kicked out isn''t clear yet. Chloe, thinking you''re safe with the Martin family backing you? Liam wants me to run you out of Sovereign City and back to wherever you came from. Don''t count on his support it''s not happening."

    Chloe just smirked at Lucy''s bravado. Pulling out her phone, she said, "Alright, since you think Liam won''t back me up, let''s see what he has to say for himself."

    Without hesitation, Chloe video-called Liam instead of resorting to her usual texts.

    When Liam''s face filled the screen, his expression was initially one of excitement, anticipating news about the motorcyclist''s contact info. However, his excitement quickly turned to shock as Chloe spoke, her tone icy, "Liam, can youe to our ssroom right now? Lucy says she''s been bullying me with your blessing and wants to kick me out of Sovereign City. She''s even called her dad to get me expelled. Is this how you ''have my back''?"

    Anger shed across Liam''s face. This idiot Lucy, why was she stirring up trouble right now? He had just managed to influence Chloe to get the contact info, and now Lucy wanted her expelled? "Chloe, hang tight. I''ll be right there," Liam said before abruptly ending the call.

    Liam''s unequivocal support made Lucy falter. Doubt began to creep into her mind-maybe Liam was in Chloe''s corner after all.

    Just then, the door swung open, and in walked Ford Kim, Lucy''s father, nked by several senior teachers. Lucy wasted no time rushing over, clutching her father''s arm with exaggerated distress. "Dad, why did you take so long? If you were anyter, I wouldn''t know how much more I''d have to endure. That ugly girl named Chloe is forcing me to admit that you and I are losers."

    The brazen lies took everyone by surprise. Weren''t they all witnesses to Lucy''s relentless bullying of Chloe?

 Chapter 40 Where is the Evidence?

    Ford squinted through his sses at Chloe''s face after hearing what Lucy had said. Lucy had already spilled a lot. The Martin family was loaded, with two sons at Quest University. Lucy had her eyes on Liam and wanted to be his wife. She started showing interest in him as soon as she got to the university.

    Liam, still clueless about women, unwittingly took advantage of Lucy''s eagerness to please, leading her to believe they had a solid rtionship.

    Seeing an opportunity, Ford considered the benefits of Lucy marrying Liam as a significant step up for their family. So, when he heard about Chloe from Lucy, he got worried. What if Chloe wanted Liam too? What would happen to his daughter''s ns then?

    Ford had been scheming to get Chloe kicked out of Quest University to get in good with the Martin family. Now, with this chance at hand, as a leader, he couldn''t solely rely on Lucy''s ount in front of the faculty and students.

    So, he put on his stern leader face, coughed, and asked, "What''s going on? The school has strict anti-bullying policies with legal consequences. Making Lucy kneel and degrade herself is a serious legal issue now. As the Academic Dean, I gotta stay neutral. So, can someone tell me what happened today? If anyone''s caught bullying, I''ll kick them out right away."

    Ford''s words buoyed Lucy; backed by her father, Chloe''s expulsion would elevate Lucy as the ss standout.

    "Mr. Kim, it was Lucy who started the trouble with me. She insulted me first and even said she would get me expelled from the school, so I fought back," Chloe said, knowing that reasoning with Ford was pointless.

    But she still had to say what needed to be said.

    Ford twirled his finger in his ear and asked, "Chloe, you said Lucy insulted you first. Where''s the evidence?"

    "This..." Chloe was at a loss for words. It was just an argument with Lucy; she hadn''t thought to record it.

    Ford asked for evidence, but where could she find it?

    "Chloe, you can''t just throw around usations without proof. Lucy''s my kid; I can''t cover for her, but I won''t stand by and let her get bullied. You say she insulted you, but where''s the evidence? What do you gotta say to that?" Ford said. His attitude left Chloe speechless.

    Philip and Rena, standing to the side, exchanged nces.

    Philip, being a boy, stiffened his neck and said, "Do we need proof for a ss argument? We all heard Lucy insult Chloe ourselves."

    "Exactly, I heard it too." Rena, despite her poor family background, firmly stood by Chloe''s side.

    Because when she first enrolled, Lucy had bullied her as well.

    "Did you really hear it?" Ford chuckled, showing doubt in the students'' ounts.

    Lucy quickly whipped out her phone and yed a recording of Chloe''s words, edited to remove the context. "You''re a loser, and you have to shout ''My dad and I are losers'' three times."

    Everyone was stunned by Lucy''s recording. When it came to scheming, Lucy was undoubtedly the best among the students.

    Ford, upon hearing the recording, immediately mmed the table. "Chloe, you''re way out of line. This is Quest University; how can you talk to your ssmates like that? If you treat my daughter this way, how do you treat other students? People like you are the troublemakers here, and as the Academic Dean, I''ll kick you out on the spot," Ford started shouting.

    Philip and Rena, sensing trouble, grew nervous. As ordinary students, they knew the school could expel them without a second thought.

    For Chloe, getting expelled from Quest University would be a major blemish on her record.

    Rena grabbed Chloe''s arm, repeatedly asking, "What do we do? What do we do?"

    Philip was furious but helpless.

    Compared to their tension, Chloe seemed much calmer. She quietly patted Rena''s hand, signaling her not to worry.

    Chloe calmly said, "Since Mr. Kim wants me gone, I''m out of Quest University. I''ll pack up and leave. Just make sure to send the expulsion notice to the Martin Mansion. Getting kicked out by you is truly an honor." After saying this, Chloe casually packed her things and prepared to leave.

    Rena was terrified, and Philip was also shocked.

    "Chloe..."

    They couldn''t believe that Chloe was expelled by Ford just like that.

    Lucy crossed her arms, looking smug, as if she could already see Liam praising her.

    Just as Chloe was about to step out of the ssroom, Liam rushed in. Seeing Chloe holding her books, he cursed, "Fuck."

    "Chloe, where are you going?" Liam asked.

    Chloe pouted, signaling Liam to look inside the ssroom. Then she said, "I bullied a ssmate and got expelled by Mr. Kim. Liam, I really don''t like staying in Sovereign City. Since I''ve been expelled, I''ll pack up and go back to my hometown. Staying at the Martin Family''s ce, let''s forget about it."

    Hearing this, Liam felt the urge to punch someone. Knowing Lucy had been trying to impress him, if Chloe''s expulsion happened because of Lucy, people would surely me him.

    If Louis found out he used this method to drive Chloe out of Sovereign City, Louis would kill him.

    He thought, ''Lucy, the fool.''

 Chapter 41 Admitting That You Are a Loser

    But Lucy, totally clueless, strutted up to Liam with a smug grin. "Did you see my move? I got rid of that annoying Chloe from school. Didn''t you hate her the most? Now that she''s expelled, she can''t show off in front of you anymore." Lucy was practically begging for Liam''s approval, her face screaming "Praise me."

    But his intense re sent shivers down her spine. What was his deal today?

    "Lucy, who told you to act on your own?" Liam snapped, furious.

    While he used to dislike Chloe for her looks and attitude, he had only hinted to Lucy to tease her a bit. But getting her expelled? That was a step too far.

    He could mess with his own people, but if someone else did, it was a direct insult to him.

    Lucy, confused and nervous, shot a pleading look at her dad, Ford.

    Ford quickly jumped in to defend her. "Liam, this wasn''t just Lucy acting alone. Chloe was openly bullying ssmates in ss. As the Academic Dean, I caught her red-handed. It was serious, and the school decided to expel her." With Ford''s exnation seeming convincing, Lucy''s pressure eased up as she had a recording of Chloe insulting her and her dad. Liam, wanting to defend Chloe, found himself at a loss for words.

    Chloe watched the whole scene unfold, feeling pretty speechless. She could have fought back, but she chose to ept the expulsion as a quick way to leave the Martin family.

    But Liam had no clue about her real ns.

    Just when things were about to settle, the usually timid Rena suddenly stood up.

    "Chloe never bullied anyone. The recording Lucy has is edited. What we heard was different," Rena asserted.

    "Yeah, Lucy, you''re just using your dad''s position to bully other students," Philip chimed in.

    Other students started speaking up for Chloe too.

    Rena added, "Everyone, the im that Chloe bullied ssmates is a lie. The real bully here is Lucy. Since Mr. Kim and the other teachers are here, let''s all speak up. Worst case, we all get expelled together." Rena''s courage inspired everyone, and Chloe realized this timid girl was standing up for her.

    Growing up, only her best friend Zara had ever defended her like this. Now, Rena was willing to fight for her too.

    Having friends by her side felt amazing.

    Chloe suddenly felt a bit reluctant to leave Sovereign City.

    Encouraged by Rena, all the students who had been bullied by Lucy stood up.

    "Lucy tore up my homework, knocked me down, and even pped me until my face swelled up."

    "Lucy dragged me to the bathroom, put a trash can over my head, and made me scrub the floor."

    "Lucy ripped my clothes and even cut my skin with a knife. She threatened to kill me if I told my parents or the school."

    "Lucy made me bring her money from home. When I didn''t, she made me kneel on the ground."

    "Chloe is innocent. She didn''t bully Lucy; it was Lucy who bullied her first."

    As more and more students spoke up, Lucy''s face showed visible panic.

    Ford was also at a loss for words.

    "Nonsense, you''re all talking nonsense..." Lucy frantically tried to defend herself, but it was useless. These students had indeed been bullied by her.

    Seeing her ssmates helping her, Chloe felt she couldn''t let the other side continue their tyranny.

    So, she approached Ford and asked, "Mr. Kim, your daughter also bullied ssmates. Shouldn''t she be expelled too? Shouldn''t she be kicked out too? You just said troublemakers don''t belong at Quest University." Ford hadn''t expected things to escte this far. Liam''s presence had clearly given the students confidence, leading them to unite against him.

    As the Academic Dean, he had the authority to expel one or two students, but expelling an entire ss of seventy or eighty students was beyond his power. "Well..." Ford stammered.

    "Stop stalling and give everyone an answer." Chloe pressed on.

    He looked to Liam for help and then lowered his voice to discuss with him. "I mishandled this. If it esctes, it''ll be tough to manage. Let''s both take a step back. I won''t expel Chloe, and she won''t push the bullying issue with Lucy any further. I''ll make sure Lucy doesn''t trouble Chloe again."

    Fordpletely changed his attitude.

    Standing among her ssmates, Lucy didn''t know what to do. She only wanted to expel Chloe, not get expelled herself.

    Upon hearing Ford''s statement, Liam turned to Chloe and inquired, "What do you make of this?"

    Recognizing Lucy''s actions as a ploy to gain favor with Liam, Chloe, aware of her continued stay at Liam''s residence, opted to avoid unnecessary conflict. After all, it''s prudent to leave some room for future encounters. She could extend this courtesy to Liam, but Lucy needed to learn a lesson.

    With this in mind, Chloe fixed her gaze on Lucy, who visibly trembled with fear.

    "Lucy, do you want to be expelled or continue studying at school?" Chloe asked Lucy.

    Lucy quickly replied, "I want to stay in school."

    "Since you want to stay in school, let''s follow through with what was said earlier. Admit that you and your father are useless, and we''ll call it even today!" Chloe demanded assertively.

 Chapter 42 Attending the Party

    As soon as Chloe said that, everyone was floored. Ford, standing next to Lucy, went pale, and Lucy was at a loss for words. She wanted to back out, but Chloe kept pushing, not giving her any room to escape. The ssmates, who had been bullied by Lucy for ages, were thrilled to finally get a chance to vent. They started gesturing wildly.

    "Yeah, admit you''re a loser, Lucy. You said it yourself. If you can''t get Chloe expelled today, you gotta admit you and your dad are both losers."

    "If you don''t own up, this won''t end well. We''ll go to the principal, the media, and let them stand up for us, the ssmates you''ve bullied." "Admit it, hurry up and admit it."

    Lucy was fuming. She grabbed Ford''s arm and stomped her foot, saying, "Dad, what do we do? If I admit it, you''ll be a loser too."

    Ford looked at his foolish daughter, wishing he could knock some sense into her. It was one thing for her to admit she was a failure, but dragging her father down with her was just ridiculous.

    As things heated up, Ford, in his role as Academic Dean, decided to calm the students and suppress the situation. After weighing the pros and cons, he quickly made up his mind.

    He red at Lucy and scolded, "Alright, you made a bet, so admit it. What''s the big deal? It''s all your fault, causing trouble. Let this be a lesson for you. From now on, no more bullying your ssmates." Seeing Ford''s stern face, Lucy didn''t dare act out anymore. She lowered her head and walked up to Chloe. After giving Chloe a fierce look, she muttered weakly, "My dad and I are both losers." Before Chloe could react, the ssmates were pumped. They all shouted, "Too quiet, we can''t hear you."

    "Yeah, louder, we can''t hear you."

    These people knew how to get their revenge. As their voices grew louder, Lucy had no choice. She bent over, bowed, and loudly said to Chloe, "My dad and I are both losers."

    After saying that, Lucy ran off. Chloe figured that after this lesson, Lucy would probably never dare to bully her ssmates again.

    As the drama wrapped up, Ford exchanged a quick word with Liam before hurrying off. His reputation as Academic Dean had taken a serious hit today.

    After Ford left, Liam approached Chloe, desperation etched into his features as he tried toe clean. "Chloe, I swear, I didn''t tell Lucy to bully you."

    Liam almost swore to the heavens. But Chloe ignored him. Liam was worried. What did Chloe''s silence mean? Would she still help him get the contact from Tony?

    "Chloe, you have to believe me. I really didn''t know about Lucy''s n. If I had known, I would''ve stopped her." Liam dered, lowering himself emotionally in a way he never had before. Seeing his sincere attitude, Chloe finally said, "Alright, I''ll believe you this time."

    "Then don''t back out on the contact thing," Liam pressed on.

    Chloe didn''t give him a straight answer. She said, "I''ll think about it. It depends on how you behave, Liam."

    "Got it," Liam grinned.

    After school that afternoon, Chloe and Rena walked to the school gate together. Rena clung to Chloe''s arm and said, "Chloe, I''m telling you, you still need to be careful around Lucy in the future." "Why?"

    "Her dad is the Academic Dean. This time, with Liam and the whole ss backing you up, he didn''t expel you. But who knows what he might do to you in secretter," Rena said, looking at Chloe with concern. She had heard from her parents that some adults were like that. They couldn''t gain an advantage in public, so they bullied people in secret.

    "If he really expels you from school, that would be a big problem," Rena was genuinely worried for Chloe.

    Chloeforted her, "It''s okay, don''t worry. If he dares toe after me, I''ll fight back hard."

    Rena thought Chloe was just trying tofort her. "You never take things seriously. I am worrying about you, but you don''t care at all," Renained. Chloe put her arm around Rena''s shoulder and said, "Oh, don''t worry. I actually hope he expels me, so I don''t have to stay in Sovereign City and suffer." Chloe''s words made Rena frown. She didn''t know about Chloe''s engagement to the three Martin brothers.

    "Chloe, what are you talking about? How is staying in Sovereign City suffering? I think you''re just looking for an excuse not to go to school."

    "Yeah, I just don''t want to go to school."

    "You''re annoying."

    The two of themughed and joked. After saying goodbye to Rena at the school gate, Chloe patiently waited at her usual spot for Liam''s car. As the minutes ticked by with no sign of him, she reached for her phone, only to be interrupted by the sudden arrival of Michael''s car.

    Michael and Liam, though twins at Quest University, led very different lives. Michael''s early fame often kept him away from school, a fact that secretly relieved the administration. His rare appearances invariably sparked fan frenzies, necessitating extensive safety measures to maintain order.

    Michael''s appearance surprised Chloe.

    "Chloe,e on, get in my car," Michael called her name as he rolled down the window.

    Chloe casually asked, "Why are you here?"

    Michael exined, "Liam had something urgent and left early. He asked me to pick you up. I have a party tonight, and you cane with me."

    Michael pulled Chloe into his car. But Chloe hated socializing and never liked attending parties.

    "I don''t want to go. I don''t even drink. Just take me home," Chloe said while ying with her phone.

    Hearing that she didn''t want to go, Michael''s handsome face showed a bit of disappointment.

 Chapter 43 Not Making Money at the Expense of Conscience

    Michael didn''t really want Chloe tagging along; he had his own reasons.

    As a star from a rich family, he was always surrounded by fans, and it was getting old. Having Chloe around was the perfect way to keep people at bay. She wasn''t a ssic beauty, but her sharp wit and quickebacks were something he really enjoyed. Plus, the engagement between the Martin and Davis families made Chloe the perfect cover.

    Spending time with her, Michael found out she had a fierce ambition and a strong drive to seed. So he had a n in mind, just in case she turned him down.

    "Well... you don''t want to go? If that''s the case, I''ll take you home in a bit," Michael said, ying it cool in front of Chloe.

    When Chloe heard him say he''d take her home, she didn''t say anything.

    Just then, Michael''s phone rang in his pocket.

    He answered it, making sure Chloe saw the screen, which showed a call from director Cedric Gray.

    "Hey Cedric, it''s Mic. You hitting the party tonight? What? An $8 billion project to chat about? Cedric, I''m all in. Thatst $200 million I threw in with you almost made a billion back. You''ve got a killer instinct; the box office was off the charts. Alright, catch youter."

    Michael hung up, noticing Chloe''s surprised look.

    "That was Cedric, the director with billion-dor box office hits. We''re really close, and he always brings me in on money-making deals," he bragged.

    Seeing Chloe''s interest, he switched tactics. "Chad, the next intersection is the way home, right? Turn there and take Miss Davis home first," he told the driver, Chad Myers.

    Hearing Michael say he was taking her home, Chloe panicked a bit. She couldn''t pass up a business opportunity with a billion-dor box office director.

    Just as the driver was about to turn, Chloe grabbed Michael''s arm. "Mic, I''m actually very interested in your party. Why don''t you take me along and show me what it''s all about?" she said.

    Seeing Chloe fall for his trick, Michael felt a rush of joy. In reality, his project with Cedric was still short on funds, and he wanted Chloe to invest.

    Michael softened his tone, "You really want to go?"

    "Yes, I do."

    "You can''t go like this. Your current look is a bit... inappropriate for the asion. You need a makeover," Michael said, pointing at Chloe''s tworge braids. "Do I really look that bad?"

    Michael nodded. "Yes, but don''t worry. With me, you''ll be a rising star in the fashion world."

    While Chloe was still in shock, Michael, like some kind of magician, pulled out a makeup bag from the car and quickly gave her a makeover. He untied Chloe''s braids and styled her hair into a high bun, adding a small crystal tiara on top. He then applied some foundation to cover the birthmark Chloe had deliberately drawn on her face. He also used some makeup to cover arge mole and drew a pair of wings next to it, making it look like a butterfly about to take flight. After his makeover, Chloe''s appearancepletely changed. The bun highlighted her long neck, and the delicate skin on her neck shone with a radiant glow. With arge diamond ne around her neck, Chloe''s entire aura was elevated. For a moment, Michael was stunned. He couldn''t believe that the girl everyone thought was ugly could look so dazzling with such a simple makeover. Having also prepared an evening gown for her, now he could already picture her in it. Michael had been around many women and seen many beautiful ones, but he had never seen someone with such strong potential as Chloe. He thought Chloe''s profile resembled a famous star in the industry. "What are you looking at? Never seen an ugly girl before?" In Michael''s dazed gaze, Chloe seemed to realize something. She red at Michael and then quickly turned her face away.

    She didn''t want the three brothers of the Martin Family to discover her secret. She just wanted to leave, to escape from Sovereign City.

    The car drove quickly and arrived at the party venue in a few minutes. After they entered the building, Michael assisted Chloe in finding a dressing room, and when she emerged in an elegant dress, holding Michael''s arm, she captured everyone''s attention at the party.

    Everyone knew Michael and Karlie were a well-known couple in their social circle. So, who was this girl he had brought instead?

    The sound of cameras clicking filled Chloe''s ears. Not wanting any media attention, she instinctively covered her face. This action elicitedughter from the crowd.

    In their high-end circle, female stars typically posed eagerly for the cameras, making Chloe''s reaction all the more amusing. By acting this way, she was basically telling everyone present that she was a country bumpkin. "Who is the woman Mic brought? She''s not from the circle, right? She looks decent, but her demeanor is a bit off."

    "Exactly, isn''t Mic dating Karlie? Did they break up?"

    "Who knows? Maybe this girl is clinging to Mic."

    "This girl doesn''t seem to belong here. How can shepete with Karlie? Mic is probably just ying with her."

    As everyone was talking, Karlie, also a star, appeared at the party in a tight dress and full makeup. She came alone, looking quite lonely.

    When she saw Chloe holding Michael''s arm, a hint of displeasure shed across her face.

 Chapter 44 The Arrogant Woman

    Karlie and Michael were a PR couple, a setup that worked out well for both of their futures.

    Before today''s big event, Karlie invited Michael so they could attend again as a publicity stunt, but he replied saying he had some urgent stuff to handle and suggested she go solo. She figured he was busyworking with industry folks. She never thought he''d show up with Chloe, a total outsider, tagging along.

    Chloe wasn''t exactly a knockout, but if photos of them together got out, it could mess up their image as a couple.

    What really got under Karlie''s skin wasn''t just Michael showing up with Chloe. It was Chloe''s makeup-Karlie instantly knew it was Michael''s work. Known for his thoughtful nature and skills in image design, Michael had always turned down Karlie''s requests to do her makeup. Yet, here he was, having done a stunning job on Chloe.

    Did this mean in old Chloe had a special ce in Michael''s heart?

    Karlie wanted to act out, but with all the cameras around, she kept her cool for the sake of her image. She greeted everyone politely, though she couldn''t help but shoot a venomous nce at Chloe''s back. Women were sensitive creatures. When Chloe turned around and saw Karlie''s nk face, she teased Michael. "Michael, your on-screen partner doesn''t seem too happy, huh?" Michael scratched his head, "Really? I didn''t notice."

    "I did. You should go andfort her. If she gets mad, it could be a problem."

    Chloe''s words made Michael frown. He was a star known for both his looks and smarts, and a lot of girls liked him. He couldn''t bring himself to swallow his pride tofort any girl.

    Seeing Chloe''s serious expression, Michael wrinkled his nose. "What''s there to be mad about? It''s just an on-screen couple; she wouldn''t take it seriously, would she?" Michael shrugged it off.

    "You''d better gofort her. I don''t want to be the target of her sharp eyes." Chloe let go of Michael''s arm, grabbed a ss of champagne, and headed to a corner of the party. Watching Chloe walk away, Michael called after her, "Don''t drink too much. I''ll introduce you to Cedricter."

    After talking to Chloe, Michael went to greet Karlie. As usual, they shook hands and shared a brief hug. As they hugged, the cameras zoomed in, capturing the moment of their on-screen couple reunion. Among the crowd, a few actors who knew Michael well approached him.

    "Mic, who was that girl you came with earlier?"

    "Yeah, she seemed pretty close to you..."

    "With such a gorgeous face, she can''t be an everyday in Jane. Hey Mic, be honest with us, are you nning to ditch our lovely Miss Taylor?"

    In this industry, gossip was like gold, and journalists were always itching to dig into celebrities'' private lives. Just a whiff of a story could lead to headlines about Michael juggling a girlfriend and another woman.

    Michael was all set to introduce Chloe, confident that her status as a Miss from the Davis Family would instantly earn respect. But out of nowhere, Karlie jumped in first.

    She exined for Michael, "You guys got it all wrong. That girl is rted to Mic; they''re cousins."

    When Michael heard this, his face darkened. He was clearly pissed at Karlie. Did she really need to define his rtionship with Chloe?

    Karlie had already noticed Michael''s displeasure, but to secure her position, she kept talking, "There''s nothing wrong with Michael being close to his cousin, right? Besides, we have an awesome rtionship. He''d never ditch me. You guys are blowing this out of proportion. Just wait for our wedding and you''ll see."

    After saying this, Karlie hugged Michael''s arm, signaling their impending marriage. Michael''s face darkened even more.

    He had agreed to the on-screen couple act, thinking Karlie was sensible and wouldn''t cause trouble. Now, he saw her true colors.

    Coldly, he removed her hand and walked away amidst everyone''s congrattions. The atmosphere grew tense. Stunned, Karlie apologized, lifted her dress, and hurried after him.

    The scene of Michael and Karlie arguing was witnessed by Chloe. She was leisurely sipping a ss of champagne when she saw Michael angrily heading her way.

    Chloe teased Michael, "Oh, Mr. Martin, what''s wrong? You seem upset. Did you have a fight with your girlfriend? Hey, I''m telling you, men and women are different. When your girlfriend is angry, you need tofort her. Being cold and upset will hurt her feelings."

    Chloe''s words made Michael even more upset. He snatched the champagne from Chloe''s hand and downed it in one gulp.

    Then, he angrily said, "Didn''t I tell you earlier? We are just a showmance. She''s not my girlfriend. I hate women who think they know everything. Can''t I speak for myself? Why does she have to speak for me?"

    In front of Chloe, Michael didn''t hide his displeasure and vented all his frustrations. Unfortunately, Karlie, who was chasing after him with her dress, heard his words loud and clear. Her face visibly darkened. She called out to Michael, feeling wronged, "Mic."

 Chapter 45 Disliking Michael

    Michael was fuming. Hearing Karlie''s voice, he spun around and snapped, "What are you doing here?"

    "Mic, just hear me out," Karlie said, rushing over to him.

    "Exin what? What''s there to exin?" Michael shot back, clearly not in the mood.

    Karlie tried to reason with him, "Mic, I told the reporters and friends for all our sakes."

    "Oh really?" Michael raised an eyebrow, not buying it.

    Karlie pressed on, "Mic, we''ve been killing it as a screen couple and raking in the cash. If we keep this up, the sky''s the limit. I don''t want Miss Davis messing that up. She''s not in the industry, and going public would be a nightmare for her. She''s better off behind the scenes."

    Even though Karlie''s exnation made sense, Michael wasn''t having it.

    Chloe, clearly enjoying the drama, chimed in, "I think Miss Taylor is handling things just fine. If I knew there''d be so many reporters at thisme party, I wouldn''t havee with you. Michael, I''m here to make money, not to deal with drama." Chloe''s indifferent attitude only added to Michael''s frustration. What was Chloe getting at? Was she trying to distance herself from him? He had a one-in-three chance of bing her husband. He didn''t care about her looks, but she had the nerve to call him, a handsome guy, trouble? That was a first since he had joined the showbiz.

    Chloe didn''t care about Michael''s reaction. She continued, "Michael, don''t act all impatient around women. I can''t stand guys like you. Whether people are around or not, you keep nagging. Only Miss Taylor can put up with you. Anyone else would''ve smashed your head by now. You should try to get along with her. It''s not easy finding a girlfriend these days, so don''t mess it up."

    Chloe''s words left Karlie stunned. In her mind, Chloe was her rival, always ready topete for Michael. But now, Chloe didn''t seem interested in Michael at all. What was her game?

    Michael was livid. He red at Chloe and said, "Chloe, what do you want? Are you here just to piss me off?"

    Chloe quickly waved her hand and said, "No, I didn''t mean to upset you. Didn''t you say you''d introduce me to Cedric? Hurry up. Cedric''s here."

    With that, Chloe grabbed Michael and started walking towards Cedric.

    After a few steps, she turned back to Karlie and said, "Miss Taylor, don''t be mad. I''m just borrowing your boyfriend to invest in a business. When I make money, I''ll give you a nice gift when you get married."

    Chloe''s words made Karlie feel a bit relieved. But Michael was so angry he could feel it in his gut. This annoying girl shouldn''t have been brought here today. She was deliberately saying things to get under his skin. Chloe met up with Cedric and had a quick chat about the investment. Since it was a pretty hefty amount, Chloe was hesitant and didn''t agree right away, saying she''d think it over.

    In business, you gotta look out for yourself. Chloe wasn''t dumb and didn''t want to get into a bad deal.

    Once Chloe was free, Karlie approached her for a chat. Unlike Sophia''s arrogance, Karlie was much more reserved. She knew Chloe had serious financial clout, so she didn''t dare act all high and mighty in front of her. After some small talk, Karlie got straight to the point. Holding her wine ss, she asked, "You don''t like Michael, do you?"

    Chloe shook her head. "He''s not some rare gem; not every woman is into him."

    Karlie felt a bit relieved. "But you have that marriage contract with the Martin Family. What if your grandpa insists on you marrying Mic?"

    Chloe smiled. "My grandpa isn''t forcing me. If he was, I wouldn''t be hanging around the Martin Family."

    "Oh." Karlie finally felt at ease. Chloe didn''t like Michael and wouldn''t marry him because of the contract, so they weren''t rivals. Since they weren''t rivals, they could be friends, which would boost her chances of marrying Michael. "Are you worried I might take Michael away?" Chloe asked, curious.

    Karlie smiled, first shaking her head, then nodding. She said honestly, "I think you can tell I have feelings for him. But he''s a yboy, not easy to pin down. I''ve been trying to get closer to him, bit by bit."

    In rtionships, the one who loved more usually suffered more. Chloe, though, never having been in love, didn''t quite get what Karlie was going through.

    "Hope your dreames true." She clinked sses with Karlie.

    Karlie suddenly got an idea and proposed to Chloe, "Since you don''t like Michael, why don''t you help me win him over?"

    Karlie''s proposal left Chloe stunned. She asked, "Why should I help you? Give me a reason."

    Karlie thought for a moment and said, "If you help me snag Michael, that''s one less guy your grandpa can push on you. You don''t like Grant or Liam, and if I''m with Michael, you''re off the hook. A sharp woman like you doesn''t need to lean on a rich person-wouldn''t it be better to be one yourself?"

    Karlie''s words got Chloe thinking. If Michael, Grant, and Liam all had partners, her grandpa wouldn''t pressure her into being a homewrecker, right?

    She was young, with countless opportunities ahead. Freed from the constraints of a marriage contract, she could explore a world of possibilities and potential suitors.

    Chloe envisioned a throng of handsome men surrounding her. Karlie''s proposal was nothing short of brilliant.

    Chloe almostughed out loud at the genius of it. She eagerly high-fived Karlie and said, "Your idea is unconventional, I like it."

 Chapter 46 He is the Wild Boar

    Seeing Chloe''s excitement about the n, Karlie finally felt a wave of relief. "So, we''re teaming up?" she asked, testing the waters.

    "Yep, we''re in this together," Chloe replied, exuding confidence.

    Karlie''s face lit up, and she raised her ss to toast with Chloe.

    Chloe was always looking out for number one. In this deal, it was clear Karlie stood to gain more, so Chloe needed to keep the upper hand and control the situation.

    After their toast, Chloeid it out, "Karlie, if this works out, awesome. But if it flops and Michael finds out, it could spell trouble for me."

    Karlie, quick on the uptake, got the hint. "Miss Davis, I get it. You''re taking a risk for me, and I won''t forget it. From now on, we''re friends. If you ever need help with investments or anything else, I''m here for you, as long as it doesn''t cross my line."

    Chloe smiled. Karlie''s rep had been on the rise, and her future looked bright. If Chloe ever dipped her toes into the film industry, Karlie could be a valuable ally.

    They quickly friended each other on Facebook and started chatting, catching Michael''s attention. He was baffled how were they getting along so well?

    Logically, Karlie had a thing for him, and Chloe had a shot at being his wife. When these two were together, it should be a mess, right? But the plot was taking a different turn. Michael, ss in hand, strolled over to them and asked, "What are you two talking about?"

    Karlie nced at Chloe, who quickly replied, "Oh, just a n to catch wild boars."

    Karlie was momentarily stunned, thenughed. Chloe was definitely intriguing.

    Michael seemed fascinated-people were always drawn to the mysterious. He sat down, curious, and asked, "You two are catching wild boars? And you have a n?" Chloe and Karlie nodded in unison, with Karlie struggling to keep a straight face.

    "Yep, wild boars are tough. Without a n, we wouldn''t stand a chance," Chloe said seriously.

    Michael''s interest piqued. "Tell me about your n. If it''s good, we might even turn it into a show."

    Chloe improvised, "First, we figure out what it likes, then set some bait, dig a trap, and let the wild boar fall in on its own. After that, we just sit back and enjoy the rewards."

    The northwest was a vast, sparsely popted area, full of mountains and forests where hunters lived. When Chloe was a kid, she visited rtives in the mountains with Nichs and saw hunters catching wild boars. She used that memory to fool Michael.

    Little did he know, he was the wild boar Chloe and Karlie were nning to trap.

    The party was going to runte, but Chloe had school the next day. So, around nine, she asked Michael''s driver to take her back to the Martin Mansion.

    When she arrived, the house was quiet, and it seemed like Liam hadn''te back yet.

    Chloe headed upstairs, nning to shower and hit the sack. Mia stopped her and said, "Grant''s back."

    "Really? He''s home? No social events tonight?" Chloe was curious.

    Grant was a workaholic, always in meetings or entertaining guests, and usually had evening ns. When he dide home early, he''d sit in the living room like the head of the family and call them all over for a chat.

    It was odd that he wasn''t in the living room tonight.

    Mia exined, "He seems to have had a lot to drink and is in a bad mood. He went straight to his room, and we didn''t dare disturb him."

    "Oh, if you guys don''t dare, then I won''t either," Chloe said, grabbing her backpack and heading to her room.

    Mia quickly stopped her and handed her a ss of honey lemon water. "Miss Davis, please take this to him. I''ve already prepared it." "I''m not going," Chloe said firmly.

    "Miss Davis, please. He cares about you, and you are living in the Martin Mansion," Mia reminded her.

    Chloe thought about it and realized Mia was right. Plus, Grant was a decent guy. Compared to Liam and Michael''s hostility, he was much friendlier. Chloe took the ss of honey lemon water. Just as she was about to head to Grant''s room, she suddenly heard a muffled groan of paining from his direction. Both Mia and Chloe were startled.

    Chloe handed the honey lemon water back to Mia and quickly rushed to Grant''s room. The groans of pain grew louder, confirming they wereing from Grant. She tried to open the door but found it locked. Without thinking, Chloe kicked the door open with surprising strength.

    As the door swung open, she saw Grant curled up on the floor, trembling. His face was drenched in sweat, and he looked as pale as a ghost.

    Seeing Chloe kick the door open, he forced a weak smile at her. But the next moment, the pain made him curl up again.

    "Grantie, what''s wrong?" Chloe rushed to him, worried. Her emotions were all over the ce.

    Grant, gritting his teeth, murmured, "It hurts... it hurts so much..."

 Chapter 47 You Feed Me Porridge

    Seeing Grant in such bad shape, Chloe didn''t have time to think. She helped him up and told Mia, "Mia, go downstairs and call 911, quick!"

    Then she turned to Grant, "Grantie, I''ll help you downstairs. Let''s get down and wait for the ambnce."

    Grant was really tall, and Chloe was pretty thin, so when when most of his weight was on her, she had to use all her strength to make him asfortable as possible.

    A few minutester, the ambnce showed up with its siren ring. Chloe, sweating like crazy, helped Grant to the front door. The paramedics quickly got Grant into the ambnce, ready to take off with the siren still going.

    Just then, a nurse yelled at Chloe, who was standing there stunned, "You are his family, right? Get in the car, quick! What are you waiting for? Time is life." Chloe started to say, "I''m not his..."

    But before she could finish, the nurse pulled her into the ambnce. Chloe''s exnations were useless. She watched the medical team work on Grant, wanting to call Liam and Michael, but the doctors and nurses kept bombarding her with questions.

    "Are you the patient''s wife?"

    "No... I..." Chloe tried to exin nervously, but they didn''t listen.

    Another guy asked, "When did the pain start? What did he eat before? What did he drink?"

    Chloe was overwhelmed. Could she just say she didn''t know? Then she remembered Mia mentioning Grant had been drinking.

    She said, "He drank alcohol and seemed to be in a bad mood. I don''t know what he ate."

    "Oh, you young people... You don''t even know what your husband ate? You''re too careless as a wife," the doctor scolded her. Chloe was speechless.

    Lying on the emergency bed, Grant didn''t seem to want to exin either. He justy there, his eyes constantly on Chloe. Chloe was still in the dress she wore to the party with Michael, makeup and all. She looked stunning.

    The ambnce soon got to the hospital, and Grant was taken to the emergency room. Chloe sat in the hallway, holding her phone, feeling lost. Nurses came up to her with forms to sign and fees to pay. An hourter, the doctor told her Grant''s condition had stabilized.

    The doctor said, "Madam, the patient had a stomach spasm from drinking too much. We''ve given him medication, and he''s feeling better. He might need to stay in the hospital tonight. If he''s better tomorrow, he can go home, but he needs to watch his diet and avoid drinking."

    After the doctor left, it was already 11 PM. Chloe wanted to go home and sleep, but seeing Grant lying alone on the hospital bed, she hesitated.

    The emergency fees, medication, and hospital stay cost Chloe over ten thousand dors. She worked hard for her money and didn''t want to waste it. So, she decided to wait for Grant to wake up and get the money back.

    With that in mind, Chloe went to the ward.

    Grant was already asleep, an IV drip in his arm. She sat in the chair next to him and sent messages to Michael and Liam: [You two, get to the hospital ASAP. Grant is really sick.]

    Just after sending the message, Grant started mumbling. Chloe leaned in and heard him say he was hungry. She frowned and quickly went to find a nurse to ask what to do.

    The nurse told her, "Your husband vomited a lot in the emergency room, so his stomach is empty. If he''s feeling hungry now, you can give him some oatmeal porridge. It''ll help him regain his strength."

    Hearing this, Chloe scratched her head. Grant was really a handful. Not only did he get her mistaken for his wife, but now he wanted to eat in the middle of the night? Where was she supposed to get food at this hour? Luckily, the hospital had a night kitchen for patients, but no chef. She had to buy what she needed and cook it herself.

    Chloe found a packet of oatmeal on the kitchen shelf and cooked a small bowl of porridge. She had learned to make it when she was young, worried about Louis''s poor health and bad teeth. Her fragrant porridge often earned his praise,paring her skills to a top chef''s.

    After cooking, Chloe put the porridge in a container and brought it to Grant''s ward.

    Maybe because of the IV drip, Grant''s condition had improved a lot. When he caught the scent of the oatmeal porridge, he opened his eyes.

    "Feeling better?" Chloe asked.

    He nodded. "Yeah, not in pain anymore, just really hungry."

    "I made some oatmeal porridge. You should eat a little." Chloe brought the fragrant porridge to Grant.

    The aroma was overwhelming, and Grant couldn''t resist his hunger. He used one hand to press the bed and sat up.

    "Did you make this oatmeal porridge? For real?" he asked.

    "Yes, I made it. The doctor said you vomited a lot during the emergency, so drinking some oatmeal porridge would help. Drink it while it''s warm." Chloe handed the bowl to Grant. Grant frowned and didn''t take it. "I can''t drink it," he said.

    "Why?" Chloe asked, confused. Was he being picky even when he was sick? Was the porridge beneath him?

    Seeing that she almost rolled her eyes, he shook his hand with the IV drip.

    He weakly made a request to Chloe. "I only have one hand. If I use it to hold the bowl, I can''t drink the porridge. So, either you hold the bowl for me, or you feed me."

 Chapter 48 The Demeanor of the Eldest Sister-in-law

    When Grant asked Chloe to feed him oatmeal, she got mad right away. She thought, ''Seriously? He''s really pushing it now. I dragged him downstairs, took him to the hospital, paid the bills, signed all the papers, and now he wants me to feed him? What''s his deal?'' Chloe grabbed the bowl, wishing she could just dump it on his head.

    Grant seemed to catch on. Looking all weak and pitiful, he started pleading with her. "If you don''t feed me, I''ll just get worse. Our families go way back, and if Nichs finds out you didn''t help me when I was really sick, what would he think? I''ve been good to you since you joined the Martin Family. It''s just feeding me some oatmeal; no big deal."

    Grant''s words tugged at Chloe''s heartstrings. After a moment, she reluctantly picked up a spoon and started feeding him.

    Seeing his n work, a faint smile crept onto Grant''s face.

    A few spoonfuls of sweet oatmealter, Grant felt a lot better. His stomach felt warm andfy, and his mood lifted.

    Tonight, he had a sudden gastrointestinal spasm. If Chloe hadn''t acted fast and taken him to the hospital, who knew how much pain he''d be in.

    As Chloe fed him, she reminded him, "Grant, the doctor said your stomach''s in bad shape. You need to be more careful and stop drinking so much. Take it easy at work too. You''re still young; you can''t afford to mess up your health." Listening to Chloe, Grant felt a wave of warmth. Years of running the Martin Group had worn him out, always on the go with no rest. Though many women showed interest, he knew their intentions. But Chloe''s words felt like a breath of fresh air, warming his heart.

    He stared at Chloe''s face, not wanting to look away. He had to admit, Chloe looked really beautiful tonight, especially with that butterfly painted on her face, so lifelike it seemed ready to fly away.

    Feeling Grant''s intense gaze, Chloe felt a bit embarrassed. She put down the bowl and asked, "What are you staring at? Is there something on my face?"

    As she spoke, she reached up to wipe her face.

    Grant quickly stopped her, saying, "Your face isn''t dirty. I just think you look especially beautiful tonight."

    Grant''s words made Chloe''s face instantly turn red. She turned around in a panic, feeling uneasy. She thought Grant must have noticed something about her. Otherwise, why would he say she looked beautiful?

    With her face full of birthmarks, freckles, and moles, even thedy in The Frog Prince would avoid her. How could she be considered beautiful? Was Grant so sick that he was confused?

    The vibe between them got a bit awkward.

    Just then, Michael and Liam burst in, out of breath.

    "Grant, you okay?"

    "Grant, what happened? Is it serious?"

    They asked, worried.

    Before Grant could say anything, Chloe stood up and startedying into them. "You two, it''s been almost an hour since I texted you, and you''re just now getting here? If Grant had something serious, you wouldn''t be any help, would you?" Liam tried to defend himself, "Sorry, I had something to do tonight."

    "What could be more important than Grant being sick? Liam, do you even have a conscience? Hasn''t Grant treated you well?" Chloe seized the chance to scold Liam.

    Normally, if Chloe dared to talk to him like that, he''d probably lose it. But today, he just stood there quietly, like a scolded kid, letting Chloe rip into him.

    Seeing Liam get chewed out, Michael thought he might be off the hook. But Chloe soon turned her attention to him. "And you? The party ended a while ago. What were you doing? On a date?"

    Michael quickly denied it, "No, I wasn''t on a date. I just didn''t have my phone with me and didn''t see your message."

    He thought saying he didn''t have his phone would get him out of trouble. But Chloe shot back, "Not having your phone is your excuse? It''ste, and you''re still not home? If you''de back earlier, you''d know Grant''s in the hospital. Grant''s always good to you, but when it counts, you two are nowhere to be found."

    Watching Chloe scold Liam and Michael with such authority, Grant couldn''t help but smile from his bed. He had to admit, Chloe scolding them had a bit of a sister-inw vibe.

    Usually calm, Grant felt a bit unsettled at the sudden thought popping into his head.

    After scolding Liam and Michael, Chloe yawned. She looked at Grant and said, "Now that they''re here, can I go home?"

    Grant nodded. "Sure, let them take you home. You should get some rest."

    Hearing Grant suggest Michael and Liam take her home, Chloe quickly waved it off. She said, "No need. They just need to take care of you. I can just call a ride and get home. Liam, I probably won''t be able to get up early tomorrow. Can you help me take a leave from school?"

    Liam thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay, I''ll take care of it. You go get some sleep."

    With Liam''s assurance, Chloe grabbed her small bag and turned to leave.

    After taking a few steps, she seemed to remember something and turned back. To the surprise of the three brothers, she pulled out a bunch of items from her bag and ced them on the small table next to the bed.

 Chapter 49 Are You Interested in My Crush?

    Chloe blurted out, "Oh, by the way, Grantie dropped a whopping $17,226.50 tonight. So, who''s picking up the tab?"

    Michael and Liam were fuming. For rich families like the Martins and Davises, ten grand was pocket change barely enough for a fancy dinner. But Chloe made a big deal out of it, pping the bill right on the table. Grant was also at a loss for words. Chloe even included the cents?

    "Seriously, Chloe, it''s just a bit of cash. Do you really need it right now?" Liam couldn''t stand Chloe''s greedy nature. Just over ten grand, and she was in such a rush to get it?

    Chloe rolled her eyes. "Grantie''s sick. I''m not paying for him. Besides, is the Martin Family going broke tomorrow? You can''t even cover a bit over ten grand? If that''s the case, from now on, if any of you get sick, don''t expect me to care. You can''t skip out on medical bills."Liam was so mad his eyes nearly popped out. "Fine, you win," he said, clearly pissed.

    Chloe ignored Liam''s anger. She pulled out her phone and asked, "So, who''s paying? Online transfer or bank card?"

    In the end, Grant sighed, "Alright, I''ll transfer the money to youter. Just get home safe."

    Chloe happily tucked her phone back in her bag and hurried out. As she left, she held onto the door frame of the hospital room and said, "Grantie, you''re such a good person. Get well soon."

    Then she jogged away.

    Watching her leave, Liam cursed, "That greedy girl! Chasing after just ten grand? She crashes at our ce, eats our food, drinks our drinks, and even uses our car for school. Why doesn''t she chip in for living expenses?"

    No one dared to respond to Liam''s rant; they wouldn''t dare charge Chloe. If Louis found out, he''d probably break their legs.

    After a hectic night, Chloe went home, took a shower, and crashed untilte morning when Zara''s persistent calls woke her up.

    Zara said, "Chloe, I need to go to Sovereign City for a few days."

    "Why?" Chloe asked.

    The Jenkins family''s business was mostly in the northwest. Zara wasn''t into school and started working for the family early on. Despite her age, she was sharp. In recent years, the family business had been booming, thanks in no small part to her efforts.

    Zara exined, "You don''t know? The Davis Group signed some deals with Tony''s family, and now someone''s causing trouble because their business is booming. This morning, my aunt called and said they''re getting sued. If they lose, they could lose everything. My dad asked me to go check it out."

    The aunt Zara mentioned was Tony''s mom, Brenda Jenkins. Over the years, she and her husband had been doing business in Sovereign City without making much money. It was only because of Chloe''s intentional support that they got more opportunities.

    Unexpectedly, sess attracted trouble, and the Gibson family was targeted by someone.

    After hearing Zara''s exnation, Chloe immediately said, "Alright,e over. Let me know when you arrive, and I''ll treat you to a meal."

    Chloe had always been generous with Zara.

    Zara quickly declined, saying, "Oh, no need for a meal. We have food at home. I just want you to set me up with my crush."

    Hearing Zara''s words, Chloe was dumbfounded.

    Her crush referred to Michael. Because he was in the entertainment industry and handsome, he had won over arge number of fans and was known as a heartthrob. Zara had been infatuated with him for a long time.

    In the past, when Zara asked Chloe to set her up, Chloe thought it was a joke. Now, with Zara being serious and having just agreed to coborate with Karliest night, how was she going to handle this?

    "Zara, are you obsessed with Michael? He''s just a celebrity and not worthy of you. Let''s forget about it." Chloe tried to dissuade Zara.

    Zara quickly said, "Chloe, be honest with me. You don''t want to do it because you like him, right?"

    Chloe was speechless. Could Zara''s thinking be any more ridiculous?

    Seeing Chloe not responding, Zara became more insistent. "I''m telling you, Michael is mine. Even if you like him, you have to give him up to me. The Martin Family has two other brothers for you to choose from. If you dare to go after my crush, I''ll cut ties with you."

    Zara didn''t give Chloe a chance to speak and immediatelyunched into an argument.

    Chloe was utterly speechless. Determined to avoid a fallout with her best friend, Chloe pulled out all the stops to convince Zara she had no interest in Michael, finally soothing her.

    After hanging up, Chloe felt troubled. How could a nagging guy like Michael be so popr? Both Karlie and Zara were eager to have him? They must be out of their minds.

    While Chloe was still puzzled, she received a message on her phone. She opened it and saw a payment notification: [Hello, your ount has received a payment of one million dors.] Seeing such arge sum of money, Chloe was stunned.

    If she guessed correctly, this money must have been transferred by Grant. She had spent less than twenty thousand dors on his hospitalization, and he directly transferred one million dors. What was he thinking?

    No, Chloe felt she had to rify. If it was her money, she wouldn''t give up a cent. If it wasn''t, she wouldn''t take a single dor.

    Soon, Grant''s call went through. As soon as she heard his voice on the other end, Chloe asked, "Grant, did you send me too much money? I only spent a bit over ten grand, but you transferred a million. Isn''t that way too much? Just give me an ount number, and I''ll send the extra back."

 Chapter 50 That Poor Girl

    Chloe figured that since she had already asked, Grant would just give her the ount details. But to her surprise, Grant said, "Nah, keep the extra cash for your errands. No need to return it. Just help me out next time I need something." Grant''s generosity left Chloe at a loss for words. "Grantie, isn''t this a bit much?" she managed to say.

    Before she could get a response, Grant''s assistant Stanley''s voice traveled through the line. Probably needed elsewhere, Grant quickly said goodbye and hung up. Chloe stared at her phone, feeling a bit stunned.

    She couldn''t shake the image of Grant praising her with a pale facest night. Her previously calm heart now felt like it had been hit by a pebble, causing ripples.

    After a day of rest at home, Chloe felt much better. The next day, she headed to Quest University for ss. As soon as she walked into the ssroom, she noticed a group of ssmates huddled together, gossiping about something. Curious, she moved closer and realized they were talking about Rena.

    "Why did Rena get expelled all of a sudden?"

    "Yeah, she didn''t do anything wrong."

    "She worked so hard to get into Quest University, and now she''s expelled. It''s such a shame. Her mom would be devastated."

    "Totally."

    From their chatter, Chloe learned about Rena''s expulsion. She couldn''t wrap her head around how a ster student like Rena could get kicked out in just one day.

    Her eyes scanned the room. When she spotted Lucy''s smug face, it all clicked.

    A few days ago, Lucy had caused trouble for Chloe, and Rena had stood up for her, rallying other ssmates to prove that Lucy was a bully. Unable to get to Chloe, Lucy had targeted Rena, who came from a less privileged background. Expelling Rena was a warning to Chloe.

    Chloe pieced it all together. She marched up to Lucy and asked, "Did you have anything to do with Rena''s expulsion?"

    Lucy snorted but didn''t answer.

    Chloe, now fuming, raised her voice, "I''m asking you, did you have anything to do with Rena''s expulsion?"

    Seeing Chloe''s anger, Lucy sneered, "Yeah, so what? Chloe, you''ve got the Martin Family backing you, so I can''t touch you. But Rena? That poor girl? She''s fair game."

    "I needed to show her that crushing her is as easy as squashing a bug." Lucy made a pinching gesture with her fingers, making Chloe''s blood boil.

    "Lucy, do you really think just because your dad is the Academic Dean, you can do whatever you want at Quest University?"

    Chloe couldn''t believe how far things had gone. An Academic Dean using such dirty tactics to force out a top student? Unbelievable. If no one stood up for Rena, she''d be stuck with the stigma of expulsion forever. Lucy crossed her arms, looking totally unfazed. "So what? Who here can actually bring Rena back?" she sneered.

    The whole ss was furious but felt powerless. Lucy''s dad had their academic futures in his grip.

    Just as Chloe and Lucy were about to throw down, some worried ssmates quickly stepped in to separate them. Philip and a few close friends pulled Chloe aside and spoke in hushed tones.

    "Chloe, we''re all pissed about Rena, but we can''t go head-to-head with Lucy."

    "Yeah, even if you beat her up, it won''t change Rena''s expulsion."

    "We need to figure out a way to get Rena back in school."

    "Exactly."

    Their words made Chloe think hard. She had no idea how to get Rena reinstated.

    Seeing Chloe''s frustration, Lucyughed coldly from a distance.

    "Ugly girl, I love seeing you all worked up and helpless," she taunted. "Rena''s expulsion is a done deal. She dared to stand up for you, so now she has to deal with the consequences of crossing me." Lucy''s spiteful words made Chloe see red. Without thinking, she grabbed a ssmate''s water cup and hurled it at Lucy''s head.

    With a thud, the cup hit Lucy''s forehead. Blood started trickling down Lucy''s face. She clutched her head, pointing angrily at Chloe, "You ugly thing, how dare you hit me?"

    "Hitting you is nothing." Chloe shot back, raising an eyebrow with confidence.

    Lucy stormed out of the ssroom, clutching her head, probably off toin to her dad. Chloe wasn''t scared. If Ford brought the teachers to her, she''d call Liam. Though Liam was a bit of a jerk, he could still cover for her for a while. Everyone was worried about Rena. At that moment, Philip suddenly had an idea. "Chloe, why don''t you ask your uncle for help?" he suggested.

    "Huh? Ask him?" Chloe was puzzled. The uncle Philip referred to was Grant.

    "Yeah, ask him. When I was researching Quest University, I saw a photo of him with the principal. They probably have some kind of partnership. If he could talk to the principal, Rena might get reinstated. Chloe, Rena is a good person, and she got into trouble for standing up for you. You can''t just ignore her expulsion."

    Philip''s words hit home for Chloe. Rena''s expulsion was because of her. Ignoring it would be ungrateful.

    Chloe thought for a moment and nodded, "You''re right, I can''t ignore Rena."

    "I''ll contact him right now!"

 Chapter 51 He Was Almost Raped

    After saying that, Chloe pulled out her phone, ready to call Grant.

    Philip stopped her. "Chloe, it''s really important to get the principal''s help. It''s probably better if you go talk to him in person since we don''t have any sses right now. What do you think?" Philip''s words made Chloe think.

    Yeah, Philip had a point. Grant was super busy. If she called, he might just brush her off and not help at all. Going in person would definitely be more sincere.

    Chloe thought for a moment and nodded. "You''re right. I''ll head to his office now."

    "Cool, I''ll get you a cab," Philip said, pulling out his phone to book a ride for Chloe.

    While waiting for the car, Chloe felt it was a bit rude to ask Grant for help without bringing something. As it happened, a new porridge shop had just opened at the entrance of Quest University, and their oatmeal porridge was amazing. Chloe grabbed a bowl and headed to the Martin Group, the biggestpany in Sovereign City, standing tall in the heart of downtown. Stepping out of the car, she walked straight into the grand lobby.

    When she walked in with the oatmeal porridge, peopleing and going didn''t really notice her. It wasn''t until she asked the receptionist which floor Grant''s office was on that she caught everyone''s attention.

    "Are you looking for Mr. Martin?" the pretty receptionist asked, eyeing Chloe''s in appearance.

    Chloe nodded. "Yes."

    "Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist asked, following protocol.

    Chloe casually replied, "No appointment, I''m just here to bring him some porridge."

    "Oh? So, you''re a servant of the Martin family?" The receptionist, seeing Chloe''s simple clothes andck of style, assumed she was a servant.

    To avoid any hassle, Chloe went along with it. "Yes, he had a stomach issue a few days ago, and Mr. Louis Martin asked me to bring him some porridge. Can I go up?"

    Using Louis as an excuse made things easier. The receptionist quickly directed Chloe to the twenty-sixth floor, where Grant worked alone.

    She knocked three times on his office door but got no response. Pressing her ear against the door, she heard faint murmurs and worried that Grant''s stomach cramps had red up again. Anxious, Chloe quickly pushed the door open and barged in.

    The next second, an unpleasant scene unfolded before Chloe''s eyes.

    Sophia, barely dressed, was pressing Grant down on the sofa. Grant was struggling to resist and kicked Sophia away. When Chloe entered, she saw Sophia''s head hit the corner of the coffee table in Grant''s office with a thud. Grant''s eyes shed with anger, like he wanted to kill Sophia.

    Seeing this, Chloe was stunned. She never expected to interrupt Grant''s "good time."

    Thinking ignorance was bliss, Chloe quickly apologized. "Sorry, I came at a bad time. You guys carry on."

    Saying this, Chloe turned to leave with the porridge. But Grant, now calmer, grabbed Chloe by the cor and pulled her back into his office.

    Then, Grant yelled at the seductive Sophia, "Sophia, get out! If you ever pull this stunt again, you''re fired from the Martin Group." Grant''s words were filled with gritted-teeth anger.

    Hurt and upset, Sophia struggled to stand and staggered out of Grant''s office, shooting Chloe a particrly resentful look. If it weren''t for Chloe''s untimely appearance, she would have seeded. That in girl had ruined everything. Sophia left, and Grant angrily picked up his phone and called Stanley. "Stanley, starting tomorrow, ce a security guard at the entrance of the twenty-sixth floor. No female employees are allowed to enter my office alone without my permission, got it?"

    After hanging up, Grant finally noticed Chloe, whom he had dragged into his office.

    At this moment, Chloe, mistaking the situation, was thinking about how to make Grant not angry with her and help her with Rena''s matter.

    "Grantie, I''m sorry, it was my fault just now," Chloe apologized first, believing that people were usually reluctant to be hostile to those who were friendly. "I shouldn''t havee to your office without calling first. My bad." Hearing Chloe''s words, Grant''s already sour expression darkened even further. He shot a cold, piercing re at her, convinced-perhaps mistakenly-that she was relishing the unfolding drama. "What do you mean?" Grant questioned Chloe.

    Chloe, confused, replied, "I didn''t mean anything. I was just apologizing! I interrupted your ''good time'' just now."

    Grant was almost amused by Chloe''s words. He was nearly assaulted by Sophia, and she called it a "good time"?

    Sophia had approached him under the pretense of discussing documents, and he hadn''t noticed her intentions. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have allowed that disgusting woman to touch him.

    "Say that again?" Grant, somewhat angry, approached Chloe, looking like he wanted to teach her a lesson.

    Facing Grant''s expression, Chloe felt her scalp tingle. She didn''t think she had said anything wrong, so why was he angry?

    Chloe stammered, "I said..."

 Chapter 52 Bullying the Martin Family

    Chloe halted in the middle of the sentence, unwilling to repeat herself again. "I just brought you some porridge. No need to get all worked up. If you don''t want it, I''ll just leave." After saying that, Chloe quickly backed away from Grant. She grabbed the oatmeal porridge she had bought and was ready to make a run for it.

    But before she could, Grant reached out and grabbed her cor again, pulling her back. "You brought me porridge?"

    Hearing that, Grant''s anger started to fade. Chloe, trying to be helpful, handed him the simple takeout box.

    Grant frowned. The Martin Family would have sent porridge in a fancy container, still warm. Chloe''s in paper box with a weird thick straw looked pretty unappetizing.

    Chloe seemed to pick up on Grant''s thoughts. She quickly unwrapped the thick straw and stuck it into the oatmeal porridge box, handing it to him. "Grantie, it''s still warm. Want to drink it now? The doctor said your stomach needs to be taken care of. Drinking more porridge will help you recover faster than... Eh, fagging yourself."

    Chloe''s words had a double meaning. By "fagging," she was hinting at Sophia''s earlier shameless behavior.

    Grant thought he''d turn his nose up at the in porridge, but he drank it without hesitation. Despite its look, it tasted good and warmed his stomach. He felt a lot better afterward.

    He sat down in his office chair and asked Chloe, "Why aren''t you in school? What are you doing at mypany right now?"

    Chloe quickly exined Rena''s situation to him in detail.

    When asking for a favor, you gotta have the right attitude. Chloe, who had known this since she was a kid, chose her words carefully to please Grant.

    "Grant, talking to the principal isn''t a big deal. Can you help me get my friend back in school? I just moved here and don''t have many friends. Rena''s one of the few I have, and I can''t let her get kicked out because of me. I swear, if you help, I''ll stay away from Ford and his daughter."

    Chloe''s words made Grant frown. He couldn''t believe Chloe was being bullied by Ford''s daughter at school.

    When he arranged for Chloe to attend Quest University, he had told Liam multiple times to look after her. Now, what was going on? Was Liam cking off?

    And that Ford, who did he think he was? How dare his daughter bully Chloe?

    Grant was clearly feeling protective.

    After Chloe finished exining, Grant suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Alright, I get it."

    When Chloe heard Grant say he understood, she felt uncertain. What did he mean by that? Was he going to help or not?

    "Grantie..." Chloe looked at Grant with puppy-dog eyes.

    Grant still didn''t give a straight answer. "I have work to do. You should go home."

    Chloe was speechless. After bringing him porridge and trying to be nice, this was his response? It felt like a brush-off.

    She nced at his cup, feeling like her effort was wasted. If she had known, she wouldn''t have spent five bucks to fill his stomach.

    Since Grant told her to leave, she saw no reason to stay and turned to go. Grant''s voice called out behind her. "I''ll have Stanley arrange a car to take you home." Chloe snapped back, "No need, I''ll take a cab myself."

    With that, Chloe stormed out, her face full of displeasure. As she left, she even mmed Grant''s office door loudly.

    Seeing Chloe''s reaction, a smile crept onto Grant''s lips.

    Chloe had a bit of a temper, and he liked that about her. She was like a little firecracker, tempting but with consequences.

    After Chloe left Grant''s office, Grant called his assistant Stanley. "Stanley, call Mr. Wace, the principal of Quest University, this afternoon. Tell him I want to have dinner with him tonight. Also, invite that Academic Dean,st name Kim." That Academic Dean wasn''t even worth Grant''s time to remember his full name. Daring to mess with someone from the Martin Family, he was doomed.

    When Chloe left Grant''s office, she was still fuming. She kept muttering, "What kind of person are you? You drink my porridge but don''t lift a finger. With you and your brothers'' attitudes, you think I''d pick either of you as a husband? Get real. If I''d known you were like this, I wouldn''t have rushed you to the hospital that night you had a stomach attack. Should''ve let you tough it out."

    After Chloe finished cursing, the elevator door opened, and the next second, Sophia appeared in front of her, holding her head.

    Sophia was apanied by two female employees who also seemed to be from the Martin group. They helped Sophia into the elevator. Upon seeing Chloe, Sophia''s hostility red. She had been convinced that Grant was falling for her charms and that she was just moments away from getting him alone. But Chloe, that wretched girl, spoiled everything.

    Chloe, already fuming at Grant for hisck of support, shot Sophia a re. As the saying went, when enemies crossed paths, sparks flew.

    At this moment, one of the female employees apanying Sophia kept ttering her. "Miss Brown, you really go all out for the Martin group. Last time, you hurt your foot to save a client. This time, you hit your head to save Mr. Martin..."

 Chapter 53 Leave You In The Dust

    Hearing the female employee, Chloe couldn''t help butugh. Seriously, Sophia iming she saved Grant? Hadn''t she gotten injured while trying to assault him? How did that make her a hero? Sophia was something else always spinning tales to paint herself in a favorable light.

    Maybe out of guilt, Sophia didn''t notice Chloe''sugh. Another female employee chimed in, "Yeah, everyone knows Miss Brown is doing this for Mr. Martin. He likes you so much; he will definitely marry you in the future; so you''re working for your future self."

    The female employee''s words lifted Sophia''s spirit, but Chloe couldn''t help butugh again.

    Hearing Chloeugh again, the two female employees couldn''t help but stare at Chloe. Sophia covered her head and red at her. "Ugly thing, what are youughing at?"

    Being called "ugly" made Chloe ufortable. She turned to Sophia and said, "I may be ugly, but at least I don''t exaggerate. But someone, who clearly tried to assault Mr. Martin and got kicked away by him, ims that she injured her head while saving Mr. Martin. That''s just the epitome of humility."

    Chloe''s words made the two female employees apanying Sophia look at each other.

    Knowing Grant''s character, if Sophia had really injured her head while saving him, with his apathy for his employees, he would have ignored his work and left Sophia unattended.

    But now, with Sophia''s head slightly bleeding, he hadn''t appeared. That indicated that what this ugly girl said had some credibility.

    Worried that Chloe''s words might affect her, Sophia blushed and immediately denied it. "Ugly thing, stop talking nonsense. I injured my head while saving Mr. Martin. If you keep talking crap, I''ll sue you for defamation." Sophia''s guilty conscience made her voice louder.

    Chloe crossed her arms and smiled. "Fine, sue me. I''ll be waiting for the summons. By the way, Mr. Martin''s adding security on the 26th floor tomorrow, so you won''t get into his office alone anymore. And if you want to be thedy of the Martin Family, Sophia, have some self-esteem. Rich families can''t stand women who don''t value themselves."

    As the elevator reached the first floor, Chloe stepped out confidently amid Sophia''s stammered usations, leaving her speechless with rage.

    The two female employees with Sophia began to suspect Chloe''s identity. They''d heard rumors that Louis had arranged for an unattractive girl to choose a husband from the three young Martin men. Could Chloe be the one? "Miss Brown, is this girl the one from the rumors..."

    Facing the female employees'' curious inquiries, Sophia lost her patience. "Don''t be ridiculous! She''s just an uneducated, rude, and ugly girl," Sophia snapped.

    Feeling dejected, Chloe left the Martin Group office building. She was about to call Philip about Grant''s refusal to help when Zara called, reminding her Zara was arriving in Sovereign City today.

    As soon as Chloe answered, Zara''s sharp voice came through. "Chloe, you heartless girl! You promised to pick me up at the airport. Where are you?"

    Chloe hurriedly replied, "I''m on my way. Are you still at the airport?"

    "No, my aunt sent a car for me. If you''re free, let''s meet up," Zara retorted.

    Since her spirits were decidedly in the gutter today, Chloe could use a lift, and she readily agreed. "Sure,e to the Martin Mansion for lunch."

    Chloe, currently at the Martin Mansion, decided it was the perfect spot to meet Zara, given the new chefs'' culinary skills.

    After hanging up, she took a cab back to the mansion and called ahead, requesting extra dishes for her guest. The staff, recognizing Chloe as the future mistress, promptlyplied and quickly informed the three heirs of her ns. Grant replied: [Follow her instructions. Don''t ck off.]

    Michael asked: [She''s having a guest? Who is it? A guy or a girl?]

    Liam responded: [I''m too busy to care, but I''m curious. That ugly girl has friends?]

    Liam had been preupiedtely, working hard to get the Facebook ount of his motorcycle racing idol, whom he finally tracked down. Excited, he sent her a friend request.

    Her Facebook name was unique: Leave You In The Dust.

    Trying to contain his excitement, Liam messaged her: [Hi, I''m Liam. I once saw you race and was blown away. Would you like to be friends?]

    Just as Chloe stepped out of the cab, she received Liam''s message on her secret ount.

 Chapter 54 The Motorcycle Goddess in My House

    Seeing Liam''s message, Chloe''s lips twisted into a sly grin.

    She shot back: [Not just anyone can be my friend. First, get better at riding that bike of yours, or else... you''re not even close to being worthy.]

    After hitting send, Chloe headed to the Martin Mansion''s living room and plopped down on the sofa, waiting for Zara. When Zara showed up, Chloe greeted her with an excited hug.

    Zara, who had seen Chloe''s real face before, was floored by the huge mole on Chloe''s face, her jaw practically hitting the floor. She whispered to Chloe, "Chloe, what are you doing with that giant mole on your face? You''re not just annoying the three brothers, you''re making yourself look bad!"

    Chloe was naturally gorgeous, and using an ugly disguise to dodge Nichs''s arranged marriage was hertest scheme.

    Chloe stuck out her tongue. "What else can I do? I''m just trying to get back to my old home in the Northwest sooner. Forget it, let''s not dwell on the negative. Let''s talk about something more upbeat."

    Chloe quickly changed the subject.

    Zara started scolding Chloe, "Chloe, that''s so messed up. You knew I was into Michael, my dream guy, but you still set him up with Karlie. I don''t care hand him back over."

    Michael, a big shot in the film industry, had tons of fans. Zara, who had been crushing on him since she turned eighteen three years ago, was almost obsessed.

    When she found out about Chloe''s engagement to the three young heirs of the Martin Family, her anger towards Chloe was intense and longsting. But despite her fury, Zara''s deep bond with Chloe won out, and she still cared for her friend.

    Chloe had no way to deal with Zara''sints. Finally, she gave in and said, "Alright, since that''s the case, I''ll give you a fair shot topete with Karlie. Next time there''s an event, I''ll bring you along and set up a chance for you and Michael."

    "Great. Chloe, I love you," Zara said, her expression transforming from stormy to radiant.

    The Martin Mansion was super quiet at noon. The three young heirs were out for lunch, leaving just Chloe and Zara, who ate and drank without a care, chatting happily. The housemaids took a video of Chloe and Zara eating and sent it to the three brothers.

    Grant, seeing Chloe''s innocent smile in the video, couldn''t help but smile a bit himself. Meanwhile, Michael was busy filming on set and didn''t have time to check it out. Liam, whose motorcycle goddess hadn''t replied to his message, was currently standing at the motorcycle track, feeling frustrated, fully geared up and ready to practice.

    His friend Eric, looking at the zing sun, frowned with concern. He advised Liam, "It''s too hot today. How about we practice another time?"

    Liam didn''t take Eric''s advice seriously at all. He said, "We''re training today, no matter what. I need to level up my skills because my idol won''t be friends with me otherwise. Quit yapping and let''s roll."

    After saying that, Liam hopped on his motorcycle, and Eric, seeing Liam was dead set on practicing, had no choice but to follow, starting his bike and catching up.

    After lunch, Chloe and Zara kept chatting for ages. The housemaids served them with care. Just then, Tony showed up.

    As soon as he walked into the Martin Mansion, Tony called out to Zara, "Zara, what are you doing? Youe to Sovereign City and don''t even stop by my ce first? You run straight to Chloe''s? I had a hard time tracking you down. I thought you were lost. Zara, check out my motorcycle video. Am I cool or what? Have I improved?"

    Under Chloe''s guidance, Tony''s motorcycle skills had gotten way better. The moment he saw Zara, he couldn''t wait to show off his progress and get her feedback.

    Zara, always a bit timid and clueless about riding motorcycles, had picked up a lot about them from being Chloe''s best friend. Pointing out the ws in Tony''s video, Zara started giving him feedback.

    This whole conversation got recorded by a housemaid and sent to Liam''s phone.

    Liam, having just finished severalps, opened his phone and saw the video of Zara critiquing Tony.

    Zara said, "Your turn was a bit too sharp. Otherwise, you could''ve picked up more speed. And here, your control was off, and there was a small mistake at the start..."

    Seeing this, Liam was stunned. He looked puzzled and cursed, "What the hell?"

    Hearing Liam''s outburst, Eric quickly stopped and came over. "What''s up? Something wrong?"

    Liam showed Eric the video. "Eric, look, who''s this girl in the video?"

    Eric watched the video and kept shaking his head. He said, "Judging by the background, it looks like your ce. This girl seems to know a lot about motorcycles. She''s giving Tony advice?" Hearing Eric''s words, Liam pped him on the head. "How can you be so dense?"

    Eric was speechless. "Liam, I''m not dense."

    Liam rewound the video to the beginning and analyzed it frame by frame with Eric. "Look, Tony is super close to this girl. Could she be Tony''s sister? And this girl knows a lot about motorcycles. Do you think she could be the motorcycle goddess I''ve been searching for?"

    Liam''s analysis left Eric dumbfounded. "I don''t quite get it."

    Liam red at him and exined again, "Don''t you remember when we asked Tony for the contact info, what did he say? He said his sister wouldn''t let him give it out."

    With Liam''s reminder, Eric finally got it. "So, she''s Tony''s sister, and she knows about motorcycles. And she also knows that ugly girl staying at your ce?"

    Liam got excited. He jumped on his motorcycle and said to Eric, "Let''s go, back to my ce. The motorcycle goddess I have been looking for is actually at my house."

 Chapter 55 Is Mr. Martin out of his mind?

    Liam and Eric zoomed back to the Martin Mansion, shaving five minutes off their usual half-hour ride. As soon as they got there, Liam burst into the living room like a tornado, driven by his intense feelings for the mysterious biker.

    The moment he stepped in, he yelled, "Goddess, my goddess..."

    Chloe, who was chatting with Zara and Tony, froze when she heard "goddess." She quickly adjusted her clothes, worried that Liam had figured out her secret identity. If he found out it was her, he''d cling to her, messing up her n to break off the engagement.

    While Chloe was freaking out about what to do, Liam had already rushed into the room. He hurried over to Zara, looking at her with excitement. "Goddess, you''re at my ce! Why didn''t you give me a heads-up? Even a text would have been cool."

    Zara was totally taken aback by Liam''s behavior, and so was Tony, who was sitting next to her.

    Chloe quickly realized Liam had mistaken Zara for herself.

    Tony nced back at Chloe, who shook her head, signaling him to keep quiet. And then, Chloe finally felt a wave of relief.

    Zara waspletely puzzled by Liam calling her "goddess." "What''s this all about..."

    Seeing Zara''s confusion, Liam thought she didn''t recognize him, so he eagerly introduced himself, "I''m Liam, the third heir of the Martin Family and a huge motorcycle fan. I was lucky enough to see you race, and I really admire your skills. You''re a guest in my home today, and I''m sorry I haven''t taken better care of you. Just give me a sec; I''ll be right back."

    Liam dashed off like a whirlwind, leaving Zara totally bewildered. She turned to Chloe, confused, and asked, "Chloe, is Liam out of his mind?"

    Tony was about to exin, but seeing Chloe''s sharp look, he immediately shut his mouth, knowing better than to speak.

    Chloe cheerfully said to Zara, "Yeah, he might be a bit off."

    After hearing Chloe''s confirmation, Zara continued, "Is he mentally ill?"

    "Well... it''s hard to say." Chloe scratched her head.

    Zara started to speak earnestly, "Chloe, if Liam is mentally ill, why doesn''t the Martin Family take him to a hospital? The Martins aren''t short on cash. If he''s this sick, they should send him to a professional psychiatric hospital. Keeping him at home will only make things worse. Chloe, I feel sorry for you, having to live with someone like that every day."

    Zara''s words made Chloe almost crack her deadpan look. She pretended to be really upset and gave Zara a big hug. "Zara, you totally get me."

    Tony watched them, scratching his head in confusion.

    A few minutester, Liam came back, directing the house staff to bring out all sorts of delicious and fun things.

    "Goddess, you gotta try our backyard blueberries-they''re totally organic. No one else gets to eat them. And this water? Grant hauled it back from the Himyas; it''s pure ice spring water. Oh, and this pastry? It''s to die for-you''ve gotta taste it."

    Liam was as cold to Chloe as he was enthusiastic to Zara, leaving Zara unsure how to respond. She shot Chloe a pleading look.

    Chloe discreetly sent her a message,forting her: [Zara, just eat whatever he offers you. Mentally ill people are very enthusiastic towards guests. If you reject his hospitality, who knows what impulsive things he might do. If he has another episode because of your rejection, it will be troublesome.]

    Intimidated by Chloe, Zara passively epted Liam''s enthusiastic hospitality as if he were a servant.

    At this time, Chloe received a call from Philip.

    Philip asked her over the phone, "Chloe, did you talk to him about Rena? Is he willing to help us?"

    Faced with Philip''s inquiry, Chloe didn''t know how to answer. Grant had drunk the bowl of porridge without saying anything, leaving her uncertain.

    She thought for a moment and said, "I''m not sure."

    Philip sighed deeply and said, "It seems he doesn''t want to help us. Poor Rena, she probably won''t be able to go to school."

    Hearing Philip say that made Chloe very upset. Rena''s situation was caused by her, and she couldn''t let Rena drop out of school.

    Thinking of this, Chloe said to Philip, "Don''t worry, if it really doesn''t work out, I''ll think of another way. We can still get things done without Grant, right? Wait for me at the school gate. Let''s go to Rena''s house and see what''s going on." Philip agreed.

    Unaware that the goddess he revered was a fraud who thought he was mentally ill, Liam continued to fawn over Zara, thetter still busy dealing with him. Tony stayed by Zara''s side, watching Liam bustle around.

    After sending a message to Zara, Chloe left the Martin Mansion to meet up with Philip and head to Rena''s house.

    Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived at the hallway of Rena''s house, they heard sharp yelling and cursing.

    Chloe and Philip exchanged a nce and hurried upstairs. When they pushed the door open, they saw Rena kneeling on the ground, being forced to endure the abuse. And the person abusing her was...

 Chapter 56 Lets Have a Head-On Confrontation

    Right now, Lucy was lounging on the couch at Rena''s ce, bossing around Rena''s parents and giving Rena a hard time.

    Rena was on her knees, tears streaming down her face, looking absolutely miserable.

    Chloe could see the defiance in Rena''s eyes, but with her parents'' authority looming over her, she couldn''t do much.

    Her dad grabbed a stick and whacked Rena''s back, yelling, "You ungrateful brat! We sent you to school, and you messed it all up. How dare you cross Miss Kim? Now you''ve been expelled? I''ll beat some sense into you. Such a troublesome kid."

    Rena''s dad was like a man possessed, hitting her over and over. Rena''s mom wanted to step in but was too scared. She pleaded with Rena, "Rena, just apologize to Miss Kim, bow your head, and calm her down, okay? We put so much effort and money into getting you into Quest University. If you get expelled, what are we supposed to do? Just apologize. It''s not that hard."

    Rena, stubborn as ever, looked up and said, "I did nothing wrong."

    When her dad, Angus Penrose, heard that, he raised the stick again, ready to strike.

    Chloe''s heart broke seeing this. She never imagined parents could be so cruel to their own kid.

    Rena was getting beaten because of her. Chloe couldn''t stand it anymore. She rushed forward, hugging Rena, taking a few hits herself.

    The pain was unbearable, and Chloe broke out in a cold sweat. She couldn''t fathom how frail Rena could endure such a beating.

    Philip, furious, stepped in, snatched the stick from Angus, and threw it down. "How can you hit her? Rena did nothing wrong. Who do you think you are?"

    Lucy, sitting on the couch, was shocked to see Chloe and Philip. She stood up and asked, "What are you two doing here?"

    Chloe shot Lucy a furious look and snapped, "If we hadn''te, we wouldn''t have seen Miss Kim''s true colors. People like you are rotten to the core." Lucy was intimidated by Chloe''s re but knew about Chloe''s ties to the Martin Family, so she didn''t confront her. Instead, she grabbed her bag and left.

    Angus hurried after her, pleading, "Miss Kim, I''ve punished Rena. Please talk to Mr. Kim for us. We can''t let Rena be expelled. Miss Kim..."

    After Lucy and Angus left, Rena''s mom, Kassy Faith, helped Rena up, her heart aching. She looked at Rena''s wounds, tears streaming down her face.

    As she applied disinfectant, she exined their situation to Chloe and Philip.

    "Sorry you had to see this. My husband doesn''t want to hit Rena; we''re just a regr family with no other options. We want her to stay at Quest University, but supporting a college student is tough. We were hoping she could improve our situation after graduation. If this appeases Miss Kim, Rena might still have a chance. Plus, Angus and I work in the university cafeteria, and if Mr. Kim gets angry, he could fire us. We really have no other choice," Kassy said, tears streaming down her face.

    On the side, Rena endured the pain in silence.

    Seeing this made Chloe feel incredibly ufortable. She had lived a privileged life and never realized how tough things could be for others. Rena''s act of standing up for her had brought so much trouble to Rena. Chloe felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

    Philip was also deeply troubled. He pulled Chloe aside and said, "Chloe, you see, this is Rena''s family situation. If you can''t help her, she really won''t be able to go to school. Why don''t you contact your rtives again and persuade them to help us?"

    Chloe immediately rejected Philip''s suggestion. "Since he doesn''t want to help, calling him again won''t do any good. It''s just a Ford. I don''t believe they can bully people with impunity. Philip, gather all the evidence. We''re going to confront Mr. Kim head-on."

    Philip didn''t quite understand what Chloe wanted to do, but he took out his phone and started working on it.

    Because Chloe had taken a few hits for Rena earlier, her arm was in great pain. She took out her phone and sent a message to Zara: [Zara, help me. I''m being bullied!]

    At that moment, Zara, who was still at the Martin Mansion, received Chloe''s message and immediately left with Tony, eager to escape. She had been tormented by Liam, the lunatic she believed to be, for too long.

    Not long after, Angus returned home dejectedly. It seemed he hadn''t gotten a definite answer from Lucy. When Angus learned that Chloe wanted to use her own way to seek justice from the school, he panicked and tried to stop them. "Chill out. Miss Kim''s dad is the Academic Dean; he could squash us like bugs. Rena''s already been kicked out, and we can''t afford to lose you two as well. Just drop it. Kassy and I work in the cafeteria, and if Mr. Kim fires us, our family will be in serious trouble in Sovereign City." Angus, feeling helpless, sat there sighing continuously.

    Seeing him like this, Chloe couldn''t help but offer him a deal. "Angus, Sovereign City is so big, and there are other jobs besides working in the cafeteria. I can introduce you to a better job. For example, the thriving Gibson Group. Would you be willing to work there?"

 Chapter 57 Cant Leave Directly

    When Angus and Kassy heard about the Gibson Group, they were totally shocked. "The Gibson Group? You mean..."

    The Gibson Group had been blowing up ever since they teamed up with the Davis Group. In just a month or two, they were already making a name for themselves in Sovereign City.

    Chloe chimed in, "Yep, I''ve got a connection at the Gibson Group and can totally get you and Kassy jobs, no problem. But listen, we might be regr folks, but we can''t just let this slide. Ford might be the Dean, but he can''t just kick out innocent students. And Lucy''s got it out for me, Chloe. No way I''m letting Rena take the fall for me."

    Chloe''s determined stance left Angus and Kassy with no choice but to agree. Not long after, Zara and Tony showed up at the Penrose residence and got to work. Within a few hours, everything was set up perfectly.

    Meanwhile, Grant had set up a dinner with Beckett Wace, the president of Quest University, and Ford. When Ford found out Grant wanted to have dinner with him, he got all dressed up, hoping to impress Grant and boost his career. Grant was curious about the beef between Chloe and Lucy, so he tried to get the scoop from Ford. To his surprise, Ford twisted the story, making Chloe out to be the bad guy. But Grant, knowing Chloe was reasonable despite her temper, saw through Ford''s mix of truth and lies.

    Grant didn''t put much stock in Ford''s words. He remembered Chloe''s request to have Ford revoke Rena''s expulsion.

    Ford, not wanting to mess up in front of Grant, quickly assured him, "Mr. Martin, don''t worry. Since you asked, I can take care of this. I''ll start working on it as soon as I get back tonight. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t even consider letting such a disgraceful student back into the school."

    Grant was pissed by Ford''s words. He knew Rena as a sweet and gentle girl, not a disgraceful student. Frustrated, he mmed his wine ss on the table.

    Just then, Stanley rushed in with a phone. After whispering a few words to Grant, he showed him the news on the phone.

    A news report in Sovereign City used the Academic Dean of Quest University of abusing his power to protect his daughter and bully innocent ssmates. The report included student testimonies and tons of video clips of Lucy tormenting her peers. One clip even showed Lucy at the Penrose residence, ordering Angus to hit Rena.

    Chloe''s rush to protect Rena in the video only made Grant angrier, his face darkening with a terrifying seriousness.

    Ford, clueless about the online news, was still holding his wine ss, happily drinking with Beckett. As the careless Academic Dean got a bit tipsy, Grant couldn''t take it anymore and mmed the table.

    He coldly said to Ford, "Is this the ''disgraceful student'' you were talking about? Is this the ''school bully'' you mentioned? You and your daughter have really turned Quest University into your own personal yground." Grant''s sudden outburst left Beckett and Fordpletely stunned.

    "Mr. Martin, what''s going on? Why are you so angry?" Beckett asked, totally confused.

    Ford chimed in, "Yeah, Mr. Martin, is there a problem? How does this involve me and my daughter?"

    At Grant''s signal, Stanley ced the phone in front of Ford and Beckett. Watching the videos, Ford started sweating and was at a loss for words, sobering up real quick. Beckett was just as shocked. If this got out, Ford would totally ruin Quest University''s century-old reputation.

    "Mr. Kim..." Beckett gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to strangle Ford.

    Ford mumbled incoherently, not knowing what to say.

    Grant stood up, straightened his suit, and coldly said to Ford and Beckett, "You better give me an exnation for this. Otherwise, the Martin Group''s donations to Quest University will end this year. I sent the future mistress of the Martin Family to your Quest University to study, not to be mistreated!"

    With that, Grant turned and left with Stanley, leaving Beckett and Ford standing there, looking at each other in dismay.

    When Chloe got back to the Martin Mansion after eight in the evening, she was utterly exhausted and dragged herself upstairs.

    The news release had gone off without a hitch. She and Philip gathered evidence from students, while Tony and Zara, using Zara''s journalism connections, got reporters'' attention.

    The story quickly blew up, putting a ton of pressure on Quest University to respond. Under such scrutiny, the school couldn''t just let Ford off the hook, and Rena''s expulsion was likely to be overturned.

    Had Chloe known it would be this straightforward, she wouldn''t have wasted money on porridge for the utterly useless Grant.

    Seeing no one in the living room, Chloe went to her room. Just as she was about to take a shower, she got a call from her grandfather.

    Nichs had seen the news online about Chloe being bullied at school. He kept apologizing to Chloe, "Chloe, I''m so sorry. You''ve been through so much in Sovereign City, being bullied like that."

    Facing Nichs''s superficial concern, Chloe yed along. She pitifully asked Nichs, "Grandpa, I''ve been so wronged here. Why don''t you let mee home?"

    Hearing Chloe say she wanted to go back home, Nichs quickly changed his tone. "Chloe, what do you mean go back home? You need to grow stronger through adversity. You can''t leave without finding a husband. Stay with the Martin Family. This kind of mistreatment will never happen to you again."

 Chapter 58 I Want to Break Up with You

    Chloe was just about to ask him how to stop this from happening again, but out of nowhere, Nichs hung up the phone in a hurry. A few minutester, the three Martin Family heirs, who hadn''t even made it home yet, got a scolding from Louis in the family group chat.

    Louis texted: [What are you three doing? I told you to keep an eye on Chloe, and you let her get pushed around! Did you see those videos? That stick hit her a small, tender girl, getting smacked! What good are you three jokers? Make it right for Chloe or don''t me me for flipping out on you.]

    As usual, Louis vanished right after giving them a piece of his mind. The three grandsons replied, feeling a bit speechless.

    Grant: [Grandpa, I know, it''s my fault. I didn''t protect Chloe well. I''ve already put pressure on Beckett.]

    Michael: [Grandpa, I was wrong too. I''ve been busy filming and didn''t have time to protect her. This won''t happen again.]

    Liam: [Grandpa, I promise you, from now on, I''ll keep a close eye on her at school.]

    Louis grinned at his grandsons'' obedient replies, took screenshots, and sent them to Nichs with a note: [Nichs, are you satisfied with this arrangement?]

    When Grant got back to the Martin Mansion, Chloe had already retreated to her room. She had taken a few hits for Rena earlier in the day and was a bit banged up.

    But Chloe was no stranger to minor injuries, thanks to her love for extreme sports. She took a quick shower, grabbed some ointment, and started applying it to her back in front of the mirror.

    Angus had hit hard. The two hits almost broke Chloe''s skin. Thinking about how many hits Rena might have taken made Chloe very angry. But at least the incident would probably end with satisfaction on their side by morning.

    Zara, Philip, Rena, Tony, and Chloe formed a small group to discuss it. Just as Chloe was about to speak in the group chat, she heard a soft knock on the door. Thinking she imagined it, she continued the discussion on her phone. Soon, Grant''s voice came from outside the door. "Chloe, are you asleep?"

    Hearing Grant''s voice, Chloe''s expression changed slightly, and a look of displeasure appeared on her face.

    Today''s incident with Rena getting beaten was all Grant''s fault. If he had been willing to help, would Rena and she have been beaten?

    Chloe didn''t want to deal with Grant. She pulled the thin nket over her head and said towards the door, "I''m asleep."

    Sensing her anger, Grant knocked a few more times, then left when there was no response.

    Chloe hid under the nket, muttering to herself, "What kind of person is this? Drinks my porridge but won''t help me with a small favor. From now on, even if you have a stomachache, it has nothing to do with me. If I take you to the hospital again, I''ll be a monkey''s uncle. Grant, I''ve decided to end our friendship!"

    With all these grievances against Grant swirling in her mind, Chloe barely managed to fall asleep.

    Early the next morning, when she went downstairs for breakfast, she was surprised to see the three Martin Family heirs, who usually didn''t gather together, all sitting neatly at the dining table. Seeing Chloee down, Michael was the first to greet her. "Chloe, you''re up?"

    Chloe nodded. "Yeah, I''m up."

    Michael apologized, "Chloe, I''m sorry. I''ve been busy filming recently and didn''t know you were being bullied at school. I''ll go to schoolter and have a good talk with Beckett about your bullying."

    Seeing Michael''s sincere face, Chloe shook her head and refused. "No worries. You''ve probably seen it online; we''ve got it covered. My ssmate Rena just hit me up, saying the school called her to enroll today. They''ll sort out the other stuff when we get there."

    After saying that, Chloe picked up a sandwich from the table and started eating.

    Liam tentatively spoke to her, "I don''t have any sses today. How about I go to your ss with you?"

    Chloe swallowed her food and asked him, "Do you want to change your major?"

    Liam shook his head. "No, I want to protect you. I''ll go to your ss today and tell those who want to bully you that you''re under my protection. From now on, anyone who dares to bully you is my enemy." Liam was very confident in his influence at school. However, Chloe didn''t appreciate his gesture at all.

    Chloe sneered and said, "Thank you, Liam, for your kind thoughts. Protect me? No need. If you don''t arrange for people to bully me, I''ll be very grateful."

    Chloe''s words made Liam''s face twist with annoyance as he nced at Grant''s seat, speechless. He had belittled Chloe and set Lucy to bully her, and now he wanted to protect her? Toote!

    Grant watched as Chloe finished her sandwich and milk, then grabbed her backpack, ready for school.

    "You guys take your time eating. I''m leaving," Chloe said as she got up and left.

    Michael hurriedly stopped her and asked, "How are you going? Aren''t you taking our car?"

    "Yeah? Ugly girl, you won''t take my car and leave me behind, will you?" Liam hurried to grab his backpack. He didn''t want to drive a farm truck to school. If that happened, his reputation would be ruined. "Don''t worry, I''m not that petty. I''m not taking your car to school today. My ssmate is picking me up," Chloe said quickly before leaving.

    The three young brothers had different thoughts.

    Michael muttered, "Her ssmate is picking her up? Male or female?"

 Chapter 59 That Is My Goddess

    Grant''s face was nk at first, but Michael''s words made him snap to attention. He immediately thought of Philip, the kid who was always trying to get close to Chloe. Was Philip the one picking her up for school today? He thought, ''Guess ourst basketball game didn''t scare him off enough.''

    Grant felt a wave of annoyance wash over him. He took a sip of his milk, confused by how irritated he was.

    He slouched in his seat and nced out the window. There was a shy Jeep parked right outside their house. Chloe hopped into the car. Through the window, Grant saw a really cute girl behind the wheel. Michael turned to Liam and asked, "Hey, who''s that girl driving? Is she Chloe''s friend?"

    Liam, looking totally smitten, stared at the Jeep and said, "Friend? That''s my goddess."

    "Goddess?" Michael looked at Liam, puzzled. How did he not know his twin brother had a "goddess"?

    Liam replied, "Yeah, my goddess. She''s amazing on a motorcycle. If I practice for another three years, I might be as good as her. I thought she was just good on bikes, but did you see her park that Jeep? So smooth, so cool..." Liam was lost in admiration, and Michael, who was used to seeing all kinds of pretty faces, couldn''t help but roll his eyes at Liam.

    Chloe was in Zara''s car, heading to school. They chatted the whole way.

    "Chloe, is there something wrong with Liam? If you hadn''t messaged me yesterday to save me, I would''ve lost it with his enthusiasm," Zara said, exasperated.

    The first time she visited the Martin Mansion to see Chloe, she ran into the overly chatty Liam, who wouldn''t stop talking and offering her things.

    "He''s not that bad, just a bit too eager," Chloe said, not mentioning that Liam had mistaken her for Zara.

    Zara shook her head. "Rich people are so hard to understand."

    Chloe grabbed Zara''s phone and logged into her alt ount.

    "Zara, this is the ount I use to talk to Liam. He doesn''t know it''s me. I''ve been super busytely, so can you chat with him for a few days?"

    Zara immediately refused. "No way, I can''t handle his over-the-top enthusiasm."

    Seeing Zara''s refusal, Chloe sweetened the deal. "I''ve got thetest LV bags, more than ten, and two of them are limited editions. If you help me out, you can pick any one you like." Zara''s eyes lit up at the offer.

    For women, a good bag could solve almost any problem. It was a universal truth: there was nothing a great bag couldn''t fix.

    Zara quickly changed her tune, saying, "Actually, Liam''s not that bad. I think chatting with him is fine. So, when can I pick out the bag?"

    Chloe couldn''t help but roll her eyes. Zara was great in every way, except for her habit of taking advantage of Chloe''s generosity. When would she ever change?

    "You can choose whenever you want," Chloe said, "but there''s one condition: you must never reveal my identity to Liam."

    Zara looked puzzled. "Chloe, what do you mean by that?"

    Chloe just grinned mischievously. "Nothing, just want to mess with Liam a bit."

    After dropping Chloe off at Quest University, Zara, who was a couple of years older and worked at the Jenkins Group after graduating, drove off. Chloe waved goodbye and headed towards the campus. Philip and a few close ssmates were already waiting for her at the ssroom door. As soon as they saw her, they gathered around, talking excitedly.

    "Chloe, your move was genius. Public opinion is powerful. The school will have to give in this time."

    "Yeah, Lucy''s been bullying us for too long. It''s time for payback."

    "Hopefully, they''ll expel Lucy and her dad. No more bullies."

    "Philip, Chloe, we''re all with you. If ites to it, we''ll all get expelled together. This school isn''t worth it anyway." Chloe listened to everyone, but she noticed Rena was missing. She pulled Philip aside and asked, "Any news from Rena?" Philip shook his head. "I messaged her ten minutes ago. She said the school hasn''t retracted her expulsion notice yet."

    "Not yet?" Chloe frowned. They had worked so hard to get the school to back down. If Rena couldn''te back, it would all be for nothing.

    Philip nodded, looking serious. "Chloe, if the school doesn''t take action against Ford, Rena might not be able to return. Should wee up with another n?"

    Chloe thought for a moment and nodded. "We have no choice. If this doesn''t work, we''ll go with n B. We have to make sure those bullies pay."

    Chloe clenched her fist, feeling a wave of sadness. Despite her privileged background and the Martin Family''s support, dealing with bullying at Quest University was still tough.

    She felt a pang of sympathy for Angus, realizing he hadpromised just to give Rena a chance at education.

    While Chloe was lost in thought, Philip''s phone rang. It was the Registrar''s Office. "Philip, please bring your ssmates to the Registrar''s Office..."

 Chapter 60 Chloe, what did I do to offend you?

    Under Philip''s lead, a bunch of design ss students marched over to the Registrar''s Office. Just as they got to the door, they heard Ford''s angry voice booming.

    Ford was yelling, ming all the screw-ups on the students. "None of these design ss kids are worth a damn; they''re all a bunch of jerks. How could my sweet daughter possibly bully so many of them? Even if she did, they could''ve reported it to the Registrar''s Office or the school. Why go online with it? I say we don''t let these lowlifes ckmail us. We should just expel them all."

    Ford was banging on the table and chairs, acting like he was totally in the right.

    Beckett was fuming at Ford. Just then, the students showed up at the Registrar''s Office, and Beckett seized the moment toy into Ford, "Are you seriously thinking about kicking out the whole ss? That''s insane! The students posted solid proof online of your daughter bullying them, and you call it ckmail? The evidence is clear as day, yet you still deny it? Mr. Kim, as principal, I am here to announce that you''ve trashed the school''s reputation. Pack your bags and go home to wait for further instructions. As for your daughter Lucy, who''s been picking on her ssmates, the school has decided to expel her. Rena, who got kicked out unfairly, will be back in ss right away."

    Beckett''s announcement was met with cheers and apuse from the students in the Registrar''s Office.

    With the issue sorted, Ford and Lucy left in disgrace, amidst the students'' jeers. They shot venomous res at Chloe but didn''t dare do anything more.

    Beckett acted quickly, and Quest University soon put out an online statement detailing the disciplinary measures taken against Ford and Lucy, temporarily calming the uproar.

    Happy with the fair resolution, the students left the Registrar''s Office and headed back to their ssroom.

    At that moment, Beckett called out to Chloe, "Chloe, hang on a sec."

    Beckett''s call surprised Chloe. She touched the mole on her face and stood in front of Beckett. "Hello, Mr. Wace."

    Beckett looked Chloe up and down. When his eyesnded on Chloe''s not-so-pretty face, he couldn''t help but gasp.

    During dinner with Grant yesterday, he heard that the mistress of the Martin Family was not to be mistreated at Quest University. Could this in-looking Chloe be the mistress of the Martin Family? He was a bit puzzled by the rich folks'' beauty standards.

    Beckett nodded at Chloe and said, "Chloe, there''s something I need to tell you. When you go home after school, make sure to tell Mr. Grant Martin that I understand his intentions and have handled the matter. Please ask him not to be angry..." "Grant?" Chloe was puzzled and didn''t get what Beckett meant.

    Beckett nodded, "Yep."

    "What do you mean?" Chloe asked, wanting to get to the bottom of it.

    But Beckett didn''t borate. He just smiled and said, "Chloe, it''s nothing. Just tell him when you get home, and he''ll get it. I''ve got a meeting to catch. If you ever need anything, don''t hesitate toe to me." With that, Beckett and a few teachers left the Registrar''s Office.

    Chloe scratched her head, still confused. Why would Grant need to be informed about the solution and progress of the matter? Could Grant have been involved?

    No way! When she asked for his help yesterday, he seemed totally indifferent and unwilling. Chloe shook off the thought and went back to ss.

    Not long after, Rena, who had been expelled, came back to the ssroom with her backpack. Everyone was back together, and Chloe felt a lot better.

    After school, Chloe waited at the school gate for Liam''s car to take her back to the Martin Mansion. But instead of Liam, she saw Grant.

    Grant had driven over himself. He rolled down the window and said, "Get in the car."

    Seeing it was Grant, Chloe didn''t want to acknowledge him. Grant seemed to pick up on her reluctance and, eyeing the students milling around, threatened, "If you don''t get in, I don''t mind carrying you." Grant''s words made Chloe tense up. "You..."

    She was about to protest but was silenced by Grant''s look that clearly said, "Go ahead, try me."

    For the sake of her reputation, she had to give in. She opened the car door and got in.

    She nned to sit in the back, but Grant motioned for her to sit in the front passenger seat. When she refused, Grant got out, walked around, and practically put her in the front seat himself.

    Grant then got back behind the wheel and started the car.

    Seeing Chloe''s angry face, a smile tugged at Grant''s lips. He had to admit, she looked pretty cute when she was mad.

    "What''s wrong? Who ticked you off?" Grant asked, trying to figure out why she was upset.

    Chloe red at him and snapped, "A pig."

    By "pig," she meant Grant, but he didn''t catch on.

    He replied smoothly, "What pig? Is there a pig on the Quest University campus?"

    "I mean you, you!" Chloe pouted, clearly annoyed with Grant.

    Her pouting and frowning made her look both funny and adorable. For a moment, Grant felt a strange sense of ease.

    Grant was amused. This was the first time anyone had called him a pig. Normally, he should be mad, but for some reason, he felt oddly happy. As the president of the Martin Group, he couldn''t possibly enjoy being insulted, could he? Grant frowned, puzzled, "Me... a pig? Chloe, what did I do to upset you?"

 Chapter 61 Are You Willing to Marry for Alliance?

    Chloe scrunched up her nose, letting Grant fire off questions without saying a word.

    He was getting more and more jittery. "Chloe,e on, don''t just sit there in silence. Even if I messed up, you gotta tell me why, right?" Grant kept ncing at Chloe while driving.

    Chloe turned to him and said, "Why didn''t you help me find Mr. Wace to sort out Rena''s mess? Is it ''cause myst name''s Davis and you don''t wanna marry me? I get it; I''m so ugly no one wants to marry me. If you don''t wanna help, fine. I know where I stand."

    She pretended to sob after that. Seeing her sad face, Grant felt a wave of anxiety. He realized Chloe was mad at him over this. If that was the case, she was being really ungrateful.

    "Don''t start crying, Chloe. Let me ask you, did your principal tell you to pass any message to me?" Grant asked.

    Chloe thought for a second and nodded. "Yeah, he said he already handled it. So... what exactly is the issue?"

    He nced at her, then let her question hang in the hair. Suddenly, Chloe realized she might''ve misunderstood him. She wiped away her fake tears and tentatively asked, "Are you saying... you were involved in Rena''s issue?" Grant smiled a bit and replied, "Do you really think just your ssmates'' opinions could get Ford expelled? Don''t forget, he''s the Academic Dean."

    Grant''s words made Chloe see the light. Yeah, with Ford''s position, her ssmates alone couldn''t get him expelled.

    Chloe finally got that she had misunderstood Grant. She felt embarrassed and wanted to apologize but didn''t know how to start.

    Seeing her not as sassy as usual, Grant chuckled. He felt like teasing her. While driving, he said, "I helped you out, shouldn''t you thank me?"

    "How should I thank you?" Chloe asked, picking up on his words.

    Grant thought for a moment and then teased, "How about you cook a meal for me?"

    "Uh?" Chloe stuck out her tongue. That was it?

    "I want some of that oatmeal porridge you make. Let''s go home, and you make it for me, okay?" Grant asked.

    Grant had studied abroad in college and had a messed-up stomach from years of eating out. Since hisst hospital stay, he seemed to really like the oatmeal porridge Chloe made. It was tasty but not heavy, and most importantly, it felt warm and soothing.

    Chloe nodded and agreed. "Okay."

    After thinking for a long time, Chloe finally dispelled that embarrassment and thanked Grant. Grant chuckled and gave Chloe a yful flick on the forehead.

    Back at the Martin Mansion, Chloe, wanting to show her gratitude to Grant, dove into the kitchen and got busy. Mia teamed up with Chloe, and soon enough, the whole mansion was filled with the delicious aroma of food. Grant was chilling on the balcony, flipping through thetest financial news. Every now and then, he''d nce towards the kitchen, clearly expecting something.

    Michael had no ns today and came home early. He walked over to Grant and started chatting. "Grant, what''s up with Chloe? She went straight into the kitchen as soon as she got back. Is she trying to show off her cooking skills or something?"

    Michael was puzzled. Was Chloe trying to impress them? The whole "way to a man''s heart is through his stomach" thing seemed pretty outdated.

    Grant ignored him and kept reading his newspaper.

    Michael kept going, "Chloe, aside from being unattractive, doesn''t have any other ws. She''s got a good family background, she''s smart, and now she can even cook. If she weren''t that bad-looking, she''d definitely be the kind of girl who seems ordinary but has a lot of good qualities."

    Michael''s praise for Chloe made Grant feel a bit uneasy. He put down his newspaper and asked, "Oh? So are you willing to marry her?"

    Hearing this, Michael got a bit flustered. "No way. You know I''m not into that. I just want to focus on my career. Marriage, to me, is like a cage, a constraint," Michael said grandly, but really, he just wasn''t ready to live with a girl like Chloe. After all, no guy wanted to wake up to a face with a big mole.

    Seeing Michael''s reaction, Grant felt relieved. He gave Michael a look and said, "Focus on your career? I think you just don''t want to marry a in girl like Chloe, right?"

    Michael, caught by Grant, scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

    Grant threw a word at him. "Shallow!"

    After a busy period in the kitchen, Chloe, with Mia''s help, soon had a table full of dishes ready. These dishes were all specialties from the Northwest region, and with Chloe''s good ting skills, they looked just as good as restaurant-quality meals. The servants called for dinner, and Liam slowly walked down from upstairs, holding his phone.

    He was texting while walking: [Shawty, eat well. If you crave anything, just let me know, and I''ll have it delivered. Let''s meet up sometime when you''re free.]

    Seeing Liam''s attention all on his phone, Michael, as his older brother, snorted at him. "Liam, it''s time to eat. Are you going crazy? Always gluing to your phone, chatting with some biker. I think either you''re losing it, or she''s driving you nuts."

 Chapter 62 He Was Really Thirsty

    Hearing Michael''s words, Liam shot back, "Michael, call me crazy all you want, but don''t you dare insult my idol. She''s a stunning woman with brains, beauty, and talent, way better than any of the women around you! Seriously, watch your mouth from now on."

    Chloe couldn''t help butugh at Liam''s reaction. She could already picture the day he''d find out that the idol he was so obsessed with was actually her, the so-called ugly girl. He''d probably want to crawl into a hole and die. Getting back at Liam for all the times he bullied her? That would be sweet.

    To stop the brothers from bickering, Grant knocked on the table and said, "Alright, enough. It''s time to eat. Chloe made all the dishes today, and they''re fantastic. If you keep arguing, you won''t get to eat." When Liam heard that Chloe had cooked, he perked up. He started eating, half-skeptical, but once the delicious food hit his taste buds, he was blown away.

    He gave Chloe a thumbs up. "Ugly girl, this food is amazing. Seriously, one word: amazing."

    Chloe rolled her eyes and pouted, and the group dug in.

    Grant had a big appetite tonight. He ate a bunch of dishes and downed two bowls of porridge. Maybe he overdid it because he couldn''t fall asleep that night. Around ten-thirty, he grabbed his clothes and headed downstairs to the heated pool in the backyard for some exercise.

    Since most people were asleep, Grant didn''t bother turning on the lights. He went to the backyard, changed into his swimsuit, and was about to jump in when he noticed a woman with a killer figure standing by the pool.

    It was Chloe. She was a night owl and, after taking a bath and removing her makeup, she had taken off the mole on her face ande to the pool to rx. She didn''t expect to run into anyone. Although she didn''t see his face, since the lights were out, her gut told her this guy had to be one of the Martin Family heirs.

    Since they all lived together, it wasn''t a big deal if they ran into each other. But without the mole on her face, if anyone saw her real appearance, she''d definitely get caught up in marriage drama. So, she couldn''t let this guy see her face.

    Chloe started to leave, but Grant called out, "Who are you? Who said you could swim here?"

    Then Grant rushed towards her.

    Chloe thought he was going to attack, so she instinctively fought back. Grant went on high alert, and the two started fighting.

    Chloe, who often rode motorcycles, had strong legs and instinctively used them to attack. But Grant wasn''t easy to handle either. He grabbed her leg and was about to counterattack when she dragged him into the pool. Both of them plunged into the water at the same time, and Chloe''s soft body ended up nestled in Grant''s arms.

    When her familiar scent hit Grant''s nostrils, his mind went haywire. "Are you... Chloe?"

    They were so close, they could feel each other''s breath. When their skin brushed lightly, Chloe, who had never been this close to a guy, couldn''t help but lose focus. She murmured, "I..."

    Chloe struggled to break free from Grant''s grip, but his strong arms held her tight. Afraid he''d see her face without the mole, she turned away, but in the process, her warm lips identally brushed his, leaving him stunned. Taking advantage of his distraction, Chloe pushed Grant away and quickly escaped his embrace. She dived into the water, swam to the edge of the pool, wrapped herself in a towel, and hurriedly fled.

    After being pushed, Grant''s body hit the edge of the pool, making him wince in pain. After Chloe left, he stayed in the pool for a while, trying

    Touching his face, Grant felt dazed, certain Chloe had just kissed him. Did she have feelings for him?

    regain hisposure.

    Wrapped in a towel, Chloe quickly returned to the main building. She hurried back to her room, and just as she closed the door, Liam happened to return to his room. Chloe''s flustered figure immediately made him suspicious. Not long after, Grant also arrived. Liam''s doubts deepened. He looked at Grant, who was also wrapped in a towel, and asked, "Grant, where''d you go?"

    "Couldn''t sleep, went for a swim," Grant answered confidently.

    Liam asked again, "Did you swim alone?"

    Grant thought for a moment and nodded, "Yeah. Why?"

    Liam shook his head. "No reason, just asking."

    "What''s there to ask? It''ste. Go to bed," Grant scolded Liam, then wrapped his towel tighter and turned to leave.

    Liam stood in the hallway, scratching his head in confusion. He muttered to himself, "Something''s off with those two. Could Grant have feelings for the ugly girl? Nah, with his taste, it can''t be that bad. If he does, he must be really desperate." After muttering to himself for a while, Liam finally returned to his room. He held his phone and kept sending messages to his so-called idol.

    Early the next morning, Chloe got up. There were no sses today, and she had ns to go out with Zara to run some errands.

    Given what happened with Grant at the poolst night, Chloe decided to leave early to avoid any awkward encounters. She put on her makeup, grabbed her things, and bent down, nning to sneak out.

    But as soon as she opened the door to the Martin Mansion''s living room, she saw Grant standing on the small balcony outside the living room, lifting dumbbells with his shirt off.

 Chapter 63 Real or Fake?

    Grant was in top shape, not too bulky or too skinny, standing tall at almost 6''3". His physique was a testament to his dedication to fitness. Thanks to his regr workouts, his muscles were well-defined, especially his abs, which looked rock solid. Chloe couldn''t help but imagine how strong his waist must be. With a waist like that, strong and powerful, he wouldn''t tire, even if they indulged in passion throughout the night.

    Chloe felt an urge to reach out and touch his waist muscles.

    Just then, Grant, who had his back to Chloe, suddenly turned around. Chloe quickly averted her gaze, but Grant still caught a glimpse of her admiration.

    Grant set down his dumbbells and greeted Chloe casually. "Up early, huh?"

    Chloe brushed her hair back, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Yeah, I have ns with a friend."

    Grant asked, a bit curious, "A friend? Guy or girl?"

    Chloe cleared her throat at his question.

    Grant quickly added, "Don''t get the wrong idea. I''m not trying to control you. It''s just, since you''re staying here, I want to make sure you''re safe."

    She had to admit, Grant had a valid point.

    Chloe couldn''t bring herself to look directly at his tempting upper body. She lowered her gaze and said shyly, "I''m going out with Zara, the girl who came over the other day. She''ll be here soon to pick me up." Hearing that Chloe was going out with Zara, Grant seemed to rx a bit. He thought for a moment and said, "It''s good to hang out with friends, but stay safe. If anythinges up, call me right away." Grant was ying the protective brother role. He was good at hiding his feelings. Chloe couldn''t see any sign of awkwardness from their unexpected encounter the night before. Chloe nodded, "Okay."

    She grabbed her bag and quickly left. Once she was a safe distance from Grant, she let out a long sigh of relief.

    She prided herself on having strong self-control around attractive guys, but why did her heart race uncontrobly when she saw Grant''s bare upper body? Could she be falling for Grant? No way. After Chloe left, Michael, who had an early shoot, came downstairs. As he did, Grant walked back into the living room, still shirtless.

    Michael noticed a bruise on Grant''s back. "Grant, what''s up with your back?" he asked, pointing at the bruise.

    Grant cleared his throat and shrugged it off. "It''s nothing, just a minor bump."

    He wasn''t about to tell Michael that the bruise was from Chloe pushing him to the edge of the pool the night before.

    Grant headed upstairs, and Michael, after getting ready, left the house.

    Zara picked up Chloe, with Tony already in the car, and the three of them set off.

    Tony let Chloe know that the Gibson family was throwing an event in Sovereign City today and they wanted her toe along. The big deal was that Tony''s parents were eager to meet Chloe, who had been a huge help to their family. Without Chloe''s rmendation to the Davis Group execs, the Gibsons wouldn''t havended those lucrative deals.

    As Zara drove, she vented to Chloe about her chats with Liam. "Chloe, that Liam guy is so annoying. Why does he talk so much? Ever since you logged into your alternate ount on my Facebook, he''s been blowing up my messages. It''s driving me nuts."

    Zara was a bit exasperated. She thought it would be a quick chat, but Liam turned out to be a chatterbox.

    Chloe told Zara, "If he''s bugging you, just ignore him."

    Zara sighed, "He sends ten messages, and I reply to one. Sometimes, he sends twenty, and I don''t even reply. Chloe, I think your Liam has a crush on you, his icon in biking."

    Zara''s words almost made Chloe jump out of her seat. She quickly denied it, "Zara, don''t say that. What do you mean ''my Liam''? He''s not mine. Besides, you''re the one chatting with him now. In his mind, you''re his idol. If he''s in love, it''s with you, not me."

    Chloe''s denial was so quick, like Liam was something gross she needed to get away from.

    Hearing Chloe say that Liam had fallen for her, Zara also hurried to distance herself. "No way, I don''t want him to fall for me. My favorite guy is Michael. By the way, Chloe, didn''t you say you''d introduce me to Michael? When''s that happening?" Their conversation left Tony a bit puzzled. He scratched his head, confused. On the bike, Liam was so cool and handsome, but in front of Chloe and Zara, he seemed so worthless? If he were ever into men, he''d definitely be trying to get with Liam.

    Soon, they arrived at the venue for the Gibson family''s event.

    As a rising star in Sovereign City''s business world, the Gibson family had invested a lot to boost their profile. It wasn''t until they got there that Chloe realized it was an art exhibition.

    Tony''s dad, Brian Gibson, was a man with a deep appreciation for traditional culture. He knew what the elite liked, and a high-end art exhibition would definitely bring in more business.

    After parking the car, the three of them headed straight to the exhibition. Beforeing, Chloe had told Zara and Tony not to make a big deal about her identity. After all, she was still a student, and the Davis Family''s business didn''t need her to be the face of it.

    Because of this, Chloe had time to wander around the exhibition.

    As a design student, she had seen a lot and had her own opinions about some paintings. But with so many famous paintings in the world, real and fake, she couldn''t always tell them apart.

    Walking alongside Tony, Chloe pointed to a painting of a vast grasnd and asked him, "Tony, is this painting real or fake?"

 Chapter 64 The Vulgar Ugly Girl

    Hearing Chloe''s question, Tony jumped right in, "Chloe, this painting is legit. It''s by a contemporary artist. My dad knows the guy, and he lent us a few of his pieces to show off at home for a bit. But we gotta return them in perfect shape." The painting showed a huge prairie, with green grass stretching out forever. There was a little girl riding a chestnut horse, racing across the field. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the scene, making it feel peaceful and joyful. Chloe, who grew up in the northwest, was no stranger to this kind ofndscape. She loved riding horses and running free on the prairie, but now she was stuck in this concrete jungle of a city.

    "This painting is so well done, it makes me homesick," Chloe admitted, feeling silly for missing home after just two months at the Martin Mansion.

    She reached out to touch the painting, but a sharp female voice suddenly cut in, startling her. "Ugly girl, don''t touch it. If you damage the painting, can you afford to pay for it?"

    Chloe looked up and saw Sophia standing a few dozen feet away, her face full of anger and her eyes cold.

    "Why is she here? Did your family invite her?" Chloe asked Tony, surprised to see Sophia.

    Tony, knowing Chloe and Sophia didn''t get along, shook his head. "No, we didn''t invite anyone from the Brown family this time."

    He remembered Sophia working at the Martin group now and quickly added, "We didn''t invite anyone from the Martin group either. I have no idea why this nasty woman is here. Chloe, if you don''t want to see her, I''ll chase her off right now." Chloe couldn''t help but smirk. "I run into her everywhere, it''s really bad luck."

    Just then, Sophia strutted over, her tall figure making Chloe look small inparison. Without a word, she used her hip to shove Chloe away from the painting.

    "Hey, what are you doing? Why are you pushing her?" Zara, seeing her friend get pushed, immediately stood up for Chloe.

    Sophia rolled her eyes at them and sneered, "For those with no taste, pushing you away is already being polite. Such a good painting, do you think you have the right to critique it? Do you deserve it?"

    Her words stung.

    Tony had enough. "This is our family''s art exhibition. Do you think you have the right to decide who deserves to be here?"

    But Sophia wasn''t fazed at all. She looked at Tony and said calmly, "This painting is my uncle''s. He sent me here to make sure his work doesn''t get ruined by ordinary people. So what if it''s your family''s exhibition? If I take these paintings away now, your family won''t have anything to show."

    Tony was taken aback. He hadn''t realized the paintings his dad, Brian, borrowed were from Sophia''s uncle. This put them in a tricky spot.

    "Even if it''s your uncle''s painting, you can''t be so unreasonable. Chloe was just looking at it. Why did you push her away?" Zara, always ready to defend Chloe, jumped in without hesitation.

    They had been friends forever, and Zara always had Chloe''s back, even getting into fights to protect her.

    "She doesn''t understand art, so what''s the point of her looking at it?" Sophia sneered, clearly looking down on Chloe. To her, Chloe was just a rich girl with no real appreciation for culture or art.

    Chloe wasn''t one to back down. She smiled and said, "Just because I don''t understand art doesn''t mean I can''t look at it. There are plenty of guests here who don''t get it. What, are you going to put the painting in a box and take it away?" "I just don''t want you to look at it. You have no taste and pretend to understand," Sophia shot back, her disdain for Chloe obvious.

    "Yeah, I might not have taste, but I have money," Chloe said, unting her advantage.

    Zara quickly chimed in, "Exactly, Chloe has plenty of money. So what if she has no taste? She could buy this painting and use it as toilet paper if she wanted."

    Sophia, who had shed with Chloe many times and always lost, was furious. With Zara backing Chloe up, she had no chance.

    "This painting took my uncle over three months to create, after various field visits. And you want to buy it and use it as toilet paper?" Sophia was livid.

    Chloe crossed her arms and nodded. "Yep, as toilet paper. Because I have money."

    "You..." Sophia pointed angrily at Chloe.

    Chloe pped her hand away. "Didn''t your mom teach you it''s rude to point at people?"

    Sophia snapped, "Ugly girl, you''re too much. No matter how much money you have, my uncle won''t sell this painting. Someone like you, who came from the countryside, isn''t worthy of appreciating it."

    Sophia''s constant insults made Zara want to p her, but she held back, not wanting to cause a scene at their family''s art exhibition.

    Just then, Brian appeared with an elderly man with graying hair and a group of people. And at that moment, Chloe said something that pushed Sophia over the edge.

 Chapter 65 Kneel Down and Apologize

    Chloe smirked, "I just said I would buy this painting to use as toilet paper. What''s there to appreciate?"

    Right after Chloe finished, she noticed Brian walking over with an older man, Nn Watson. Brian''s face lit up when he saw Chloe, and he was about to greet her.

    But before he could say anything, Sophia swayed her hips, pouted, and grabbed Nn''s arm. "Uncle, this ugly girl is too much. She just said she wants to buy your painting to use as toilet paper." "What?" Nn''s face turned red with anger. He red at Chloe, his eyes full of hostility.

    Sophia kept stirring the pot, "Uncle, it was her. She doesn''t get art and trashed your work. I stood up for it. I told her you wouldn''t sell it, but she wouldn''t back down."

    Nn was fuming. No man disliked pretty girls. If the girl criticizing his work had been even a bit attractive, he might have been more tolerant. But her extreme ugliness and shamelessness infuriated him. "Nn, let me introduce you. This girl is..." Brian started, trying to keep the peace since it was his family''s art exhibition. He wanted to smooth things over by introducing Chloe.

    But Sophia cut him off, "It doesn''t matter who she is. My uncle is a famous contemporary painter and can''t be humiliated like this."

    Nn straightened up, feeling the need to assert his authority as a renowned painter.

    Brian tried again, "Nn..." But Nn interrupted, "Brian, lending my paintings for your exhibition is already a big favor. This ignorant girl dares to insult me like this? Today, you must drive her out of here, or else..." Nn''s gaze shifted to his paintings. Most of the dignitaries at the Gibson family''s exhibition were there for his works. If Brian didn''t handle things ording to his wishes and he withdrew his paintings, the exhibition would be a disaster. Brian knew Chloe''s identity and was in a tough spot. He tried to reason with Nn, "Nn, she''s just a kid. Why get angry with her? Besides, the paintings are here for everyone to evaluate. Kids sometimes say the wrong things, it''s not worth getting angry over. How about this, after the exhibition, I''ll personally visit you to apologize. Kicking her out now is a bit much."

    Brian was good with words. He tried to elevate Nn''s status, hoping Nn wouldn''t take things too far. No matter what, he wasn''t going to kick Chloe out today. After all, Brian knew better than anyone how the Gibson family had made their mark in Sovereign City.

    Nn didn''t want to push things too far either. The Gibson family hadn''t borrowed his paintings for free; they paid him a hefty fee. He was a famous painter, but even he needed money to live.

    He sighed and said, "Alright, since you asked, I won''t make things difficult for you. But you must make this ugly girl kneel and apologize to me, and then we''ll call it even. Brian, I''m willing topromise for your sake, so your family''s exhibition doesn''t end abruptly."

    Nn''s demand made Brian break out in a cold sweat. Was Nn losing it? How dare he ask the future mistress of the Martin Family and the sole heir of the Davis Group to kneel?

    Seeing Sophia standing beside Nn with her arms crossed and a smug look on her face, Brian felt a surge of anger.

    "Bastard, don''t be shameless. Do you deserve an apology? Just because that fat woman said so? Why don''t you ask what really happened?" Before Chloe could react, Zara got agitated and pointed at Nn, cursing him out.

    And while she was at it, Zara also took a jab at Sophia, who was somewhat plump but became a "fat woman" in Zara''s words.

    "Exactly. It was Sophia who started it with Chloe. Now you want her to kneel and apologize? That''s too much," Tony chimed in, backing up Zara.

    If he hadn''t spoken, things might have been easier. After all, Nn didn''t know his identity. But Sophia did. Although she didn''t know Zara''s status, she was well aware of Tony''s background.

    So she said, "Uncle, he''s Brian''s son. How can a junior be so rude?"

    Sophia''s words made Nn even angrier, his beard trembling with rage. "Brian, is this how you handle things? I kindly lent you my paintings for the exhibition, and you let your son and his friends treat me like this? Today, you must give me an exnation."

    Nn''s every word put more pressure on Brian. As the host, he was in a tough spot. He had to respect Chloe from the Davis Family and couldn''t offend Zara from the Jenkins family. The only one he could discipline was his son, Tony. But now, Nn demanded Chloe kneel and apologize, and punishing Tony wouldn''t solve the problem.

    Moreover, the guests at his exhibition today were all wealthy and influential. He didn''t want to lose face.

    "What exnation do you want? So what if you can paint a few pictures? Bastard, I''ve seen bullies, but never one as bad as you. Kneel to you? Fuck, maybe when you''re dead." Without hesitation, Zara cursed again, making Nn tremble with anger.

    Zara and Chloe had a simple system: Zara dished out the curses, and Chloe smoothed things over. After nearly two months apart, they were still in sync. As Zara tried to leave, Chloe in tow, Sophia blocked their path.

 Chapter 66 Brians Threat

    "You insulted someone, and now you wanna leave without an apology?" Sophia sneered.

    Zara had had enough of Sophia''s two-faced drama. If it wasn''t for Sophia stirring the pot, today could''ve been a good day for everyone.

    "What do you want? You wanna fight? Do you really think I can''t knock those imnts out of your breasts with one punch?" Zara shot back, ready to throw down.

    Tony couldn''t help butugh at Zara''s insult, which didn''t even need any bad words to hit hard. But Brian''s disapproving re quickly shut him up.

    "Uncle, look at how rude these people are, trying to fight me. We should just leave this exhibition. I''ll pack up your paintings, and we''ll go. Let them have their little show," Sophia whined to Nn, avoiding a direct confrontation with Zara. Nn, already pissed off by Zara''sment, decided to pack up his stuff and leave after hearing Sophia''s suggestion. "Fine, pack my paintings, and let''s get out of here," he ordered coldly.

    Brian panicked. Most of the art at today''s family-hosted exhibition was Nn''s. If Nn left, it would be a huge embarrassment for the Gibson family.

    "Nn, there''s no need to get so angry. Come on, why let a few kids get to you? You guys, why do you always have to stir up trouble?" Brian pleaded, trying to calm things down.

    Chloe, who was just there to see the exhibition thanks to Tony and Zara, didn''t mean to cause any trouble but found herself in the middle of it. She wasn''t one to back down from a fight, but she didn''t want to bring any more drama to the Gibson family.

    With that in mind, Chloe finally spoke up, "Alright, Mr. Watson, don''t be mad. Part of this is my fault. I don''t know much about art and made a dumbment about your paintings. I''m sorry. I hope you won''t hold it against us. If there''s a chance, I''ll have my family invite you to dinner to apologize properly."

    Seeing Chloe, the future mistress of the Martin Family and the sole heir of the Davis Group, apologize, Brian felt this was the best gesture she could offer. He jumped at the chance to mediate. "Nn, she''s already apologized and admitted her mistake. Please don''t hold it against the kids. This whole thing is my fault. I didn''t handle it well. I''m sorry. Let it go for my sake. Zara, Tony,e over here and apologize to Nn, now."

    With Brian''s handling, the matter should''ve ended, and the exhibition could''ve continued, with Nn getting a handsome paycheck. The painter himself was about to back down, but Sophia, who always had it out for Chloe, wasn''t ready to let her off the hook so easily.

    Sophia, ever the instigator, nudged Nn again. "Uncle, anyone can say sorry. It''s just words. Didn''t you say earlier that if that ugly girl knelt and apologized, you''d forgive her? Well, ugly girl, do it."

    Nn, feeling a surge of pride, thought he could push his luck. After all, Brian had panicked, and the girl had already apologized. Maybe if he pushed a bit more, Chloe would actually kneel.

    So, without thinking, Nn followed Sophia''s lead. "As long as that ugly girl kneels and apologizes, I''ll let it go. Brian, I''m already being very considerate."

    Nn''s demand was outrageous, testing Chloe''s patience. She had juste to see the exhibition and now found herself unfairly targeted. Kneel to him? No way. Chloe had never knelt to anyone except her grandfather.

    Chloe had enough. She walked up to Brian and said coldly, "I''m sorry this exhibition is getting messed up because of me. But if this jerk wants to take his toilet paper away, let him. It''s just a few paintings; who doesn''t have them? Give me a sec, I''ll make a call and get some famous paintings sent over."

    With that, Chloe red at Nn and Sophia, then pulled out her phone to make a call.

    While dialing, she took the chance to provoke Sophia. "Sophia, I''m calling Grant. I''ve seen the paintings in his office, and any one of them is better than your uncle''s ''masterpieces''. Hurry up and take your trash away so I can hang the real art." Sophia was livid when she heard Chloe was calling Grant. She sneered, "Mr. Martin is so busy, why would hee to deliver paintings for an ugly girl like you? Don''t use him to scare me."

    Nn, hearing Grant''s name, was taken aback. How could someone as important as Grant be connected to this girl? He scoffed, "Ugly girl, stop pretending. Even if Mr. Martines, you still have to kneel and apologize. Otherwise, I''ll make sure you can''t set foot in Sovereign City."

    Nn was full of himself, but just as he finished speaking, Chloe''s call to Grant connected and Grant overheard Nn''s threat.

    On the other end, he frowned, a hint of anger in his eyes. The future mistress of the Martin Family was being bullied?

    With the call connected, Chloe got straight to the point. "Grant, are you busy? I need a little help here."

 Chapter 67 Pretending to be a Big Shot

    Hearing Chloe''s voice, the murderous look on Grant''s face softened a bit. He asked casually, "What''s up?"

    "Thest time I was at your office, I saw some really nice paintings. Can I borrow them?" Chloe asked, ncing at Sophia, who just pursed her lips.

    Sophia had seen those paintings before. Grant had gone to great lengths to get them, and two of them were worth over a hundred million dors each. If Chloe thought she could just borrow those paintings with a simple request, she was dreaming.

    Sophia was sure Grant, who loved his paintings, would say no.

    But to everyone''s surprise, after a moment of silence, Grant said, "Sure, when do you need them?"

    Everyone was shocked. They couldn''t believe Grant would lend his prized paintings to Chloe.

    Nn was stunned and curious about who Chloe really was.

    Brian, standing next to him, was thrilled. Borrowing Grant''s paintings for the Gibson family''s exhibition would be a huge win.

    "Grantie, I need them now, but I''m in a hurry. Could you have someone deliver them to me?" Chloe asked sweetly.

    Grant was charmed by her gentle voice. "Okay, send me the address, and I''ll have someone deliver them right away," he agreed after a brief pause.

    Chloe smugly nced at Sophia and Nn. Sophia''s face turned red with anger, while Nn was utterly confused.

    "Grantie, you''re the best. Thanks!" Chloe said, trying to further annoy Sophia.

    As she was about to hang up, Grant hesitated and asked, "Chloe, are you in some kind of trouble?"

    Nn got nervous, worried Chloe might mention his name. He knew he was no match for the Martin Family.

    Chloe looked at Sophia and Nn and replied casually, "No, just dealing with some idiots."

    "Don''t worry, it''s fine," she added.

    Grant was a bit skeptical but didn''t push further. He just said, "If anyone gives you trouble, call me. And remember, in Sovereign City, you can go wherever you want." Grant''s message was loud and clear: he had Chloe''s back and was warning Nn to back off.

    Nn knew he didn''t have the power to go up against the Martin family, especially not Grant, who was known for being ruthless in Sovereign City''s business world.

    Right on cue, Zara called Tony and got the staff together to take down Nn''s paintings after hearing that Chloe had borrowed Grant''s.

    "Alright, everyone, let''s move it. Mr. Martin''s paintings are on their way. We need to get these down and make room. Someone here thinks their doodles are masterpieces. Do they really deserve to be disyed?" Zara''s words were a direct jab at Nn. He was fuming, but after Chloe''s call, he didn''t dare say a word.

    Watching his paintingse down, Nn started to panic. Brian had paid him to use his paintings, but now that they were being taken down, he wouldn''t get paid, losing both Chloe''s apology and the chance to work with the Gibson family, ending up with nothing.

    He pulled Brian aside and whispered, "Brian, today''s been a big misunderstanding. The exhibition''s already been promoted, and changing the paintings now isn''t a good look, right? How about we use my paintings for today? I''ll even give you a 20% discount on the rental fee, okay?"

    Nn was trying to negotiate.

    Earlier, Brian had to be polite to Nn. But now, with Grant''s paintings, he didn''t need Nn anymore. The tables had turnedpletely.

    As arrogant as Nn had been earlier, Brian now made him feel equally small. He smiled and said in a businesslike tone, "What do you mean? You threatened to pull your paintings, and now you''re saying I can''t swap them? That''s not fair. Mr. Martin''s stuff is already on the way, and I can''t disrespect him. You''re offering a 20% discount, but he''s giving them to me for free. I''m a businessman; I know a good deal when I see one. So, I''ll have your paintings sent back. Maybe we can work together another time. Take care, Nn. I gotta get back to work."

    Brian turned and pretended to be busy, directing the staff to pack up Nn''s paintings.

    Nn never expected his attempt to act like a big shot would backfire so badly. It was a total loss.

    Now, he was even more curious about Chloe, wondering how this in-looking girl could make Grant act so gentle.

    Unwilling to give up, Nn shamelessly pulled Brian aside again. "Brian, can you find out who that ugly girl is to Mr. Martin?"

 Chapter 68 Chloes Identity

    Hearing Nn still call Chloe "ugly," Brian''s face darkened. "Ugly girl?"

    Brian''s reminder made Nn quickly change his tone, adding a bit of respect, "That youngdy..."

    Brian then spoke slowly, "I heard from my son that she might be the future mistress of the Martin Family."

    "Her?" Nn questioned, clearly finding it hard to believe that a girl like Chloe could be the mistress of the Martin Family.

    Brian patted his shoulder and reminded him, "She may not have a gorgeous face, but Mr. Martin likes her. Those few paintings he has hidden away, not many people can borrow them, and he even personally arranged for them to be delivered. If Mr. Martin wants to spoil her, what can we do?"

    Brian''s words left Nn feeling uncertain. He was really worried that Chloe might tell Grant about him bullying her earlier. If that happened, he would be finished in Sovereign City.

    He gloomily packed up his paintings, while Sophia moved slowly, full of resentment.

    "Uncle, are we just leaving like this?" Sophia asked Nn.

    Nn red at Sophia unhappily. Today''s mess was all because of her instigating and urging him. How could things have gotten so embarrassing otherwise?

    Now, things had already happened, and it was hard to change them.

    "What else can we do? Stay here and humiliate ourselves?" Nn snapped at Sophia.

    With Grant''s paintings hanging here, they would definitely outshine his work. The Gibson family had free paintings to use; they didn''t need to spend money renting his.

    "But, Uncle, we..." Sophia still wanted to salvage the situation.

    Nn red at her and scolded, "What do you mean ''but''? If it weren''t for your instigating, would things have gotten to this point? You''re just a meddlesome, wasteful burden. Hurry up and pack my paintings, quickly."

    After being scolded, Sophia didn''t dare say anything more. She bent over and helped the staff pack Nn''s paintings into boxes.

    Seeing them like this, Zara and Tony felt quite satisfied, especially Tony, who stood up straight. If it weren''t for his connection with Chloe, how could they have gotten Grant''s paintings for the Gibson family''s exhibition? Just because of his sibling-like rtionship with Chloe, even his father would have to be more careful when talking to him in the future.

    Zara and Chloe sat in a corner of the exhibition, drinking coffee and gossiping about Sophia.

    "Chloe, does that fat woman have a grudge against you? Why is she targeting you?" Zara directly called the plump Sophia "fat woman."

    Chloe shook her head. "I have no idea why she''s got it out for me. Ever since I set foot in Sovereign City, she''s been giving me the cold shoulder. Last time, at the wee party Grant threw for me, she stirred up all kinds of trouble. Luckily, I was quick on my feet and dunked her in the water."

    Chloe gave Zara a quick rundown of her run-ins with Sophia.

    Zara, using her imagination, said, "I get it. This Sophia must have a thing for Grant. Seeing you show up, she thinks you''re herpetition. So, she''s targeting you." Zara''s guess was spot on.

    Chloe rolled her eyes and said, "If she likes Grant, that''s her problem. What''s it got to do with me? If she wants to mess with me, I''ve got plenty of ways to handle her." Zara nodded in agreement and after a bit, she said, "Chloe, I think Grant might have a thing for you."

    "No way," Chloe immediately shot back.

    "Seriously," Zara insisted, trusting her gut.

    "Nah! Don''t say that. How could he like me? Does he have a thing for the mole on my face?" Chloe wasn''t too confident about her looks, even though it was just a disguise. To be fair, though, chasing men away was the whole point of it. Zara reasoned, "But look at how he treats you. You asked to borrow his paintings, and he didn''t even hesitate. And he said you could walk freely in Sovereign City. Just from that, I can tell Grant must be one of those alpha males in the movies!" Chloe was speechless at Zara''s analysis. She propped her face with her hand and said to Zara, "Isn''t there another possibility that he''s just using me to annoy Sophia?"

    Zara was taken aback. "He''s deliberately annoying Sophia? Is she worth it?"

    Chloe exined, "Sophia works at the Martin group and has been pestering Grant, always considering herself Mrs. Martin. Last time, I saw her almost assault Grant. He doesn''t like her, so I think he''s just using me to get under her skin." Chloe''s theory made sense too, leaving Zara unsure. Sheforted Chloe, "Well, whatever his intentions, the Martin Family has three heirs. If Grant doesn''t work out, there are two more. Chloe, if I were you, I''d definitely go for Michael. He''s handsome and a great actor..."

    Seeing Zara like this, Chloe pouted. How should she tell Zara that Michael''s nagging ability was top-notch? If she lived with a guy like Michael, she might get depressed from his constant chatter.

    The two chatted for a while longer, and guests started arriving, but Grant''s paintings hadn''t shown up yet. Chloe wanted to call Grant to hurry him up, but Brian took the opportunity to introduce the guests.

    "Wee to the Gibson family''s art exhibition. I had some great paintings lined up, but my son''s friend insisted we needed the best. So, she pulled some strings and got Mr. Grant Martin to lend us some of his prized pieces. They''ll be here soon, so let''s see what surprises he has in store for us."

 Chapter 69 Michael Showed Up

    Brian was smooth with his words. He didn''t put Chloe in the spotlight and still managed to boost his own standing. If his kid''s friends could borrow paintings from Grant, wouldn''t he be one proud dad? Everyone was really into Grant''s art collection. They all waited eagerly at the exhibit, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous paintings.

    A few minutester, a business car pulled up outside. The staff carefully unloaded the paintings. Soon enough, the paintings were inside. Everyone was mesmerized by the artwork.

    Just then, a shy sports car screeched to a stop, and Michael made a grand entrance at the Gibson family art show. Already a star with loads of charisma, Michael, with his delicate makeup on, instantly grabbed everyone''s attention. "Michael, Michael actually came." Zara, standing next to Chloe, was so shocked her jaw nearly hit the floor. She covered her mouth, staring at the star she had admired for so long.

    This was the guy she adored. Handsome, virtuous, and super talented-Michael was everything to her. Seeing him in person, Zara could barely hold it together and looked like she might cry.

    Seeing her best friend so starstruck, Chloe just shook her head, amused.

    Michael scanned the room and then shouted angrily, "Who is it? Who''s got the nerve to say the Martin Family can''t do anything in Sovereign City? Come on, step up! Let me see how tough they are. I didn''t know Sovereign City belonged to them now."

    Michael''s outburst left everyone in stunned silence. They all looked at him, confused.

    Nn, who was arranging his paintings, saw Michael''s anger and knew something was up. Michael must be here to defend that girl, Chloe. Not only had he said Chloe couldn''t do anything in Sovereign City, but he also demanded she kneel and apologize. If Michael found out, wouldn''t he flip out?

    No way, he had to get out of there!

    Nn quickly packed his stuff and bolted before Michael could spot him.

    Brian stepped up to talk to Michael, "Mr. Michael Martin, I''m sorry for the earlier misunderstanding. It was my fault Chloe was wronged, but it''s all sorted now-the bullies ran off and learned their lesson. It''s an honor to have you at our art show, and a big thanks to Mr. Grant Martin for lending us a few paintings."

    Seizing the moment, Brian skillfully used Michael''s fame. Being able to chat with a celebrity like Michael meant Brian had some serious connections in Sovereign City. After all, not everyone could hang with the Martin Family.

    Chloe was taken aback by Michael''s dramatic entrance. Sure, he was a famous star, but he sounded more like a mob boss.

    "See, that''s your idol. Doesn''t look someone worthy of your worship, if you want my opinion," Chloe nudged Zara, pointing at Michael. She figured Michael''s outburst might''ve knocked him down a peg in Zara''s eyes, making her realize her idol wasn''t all that.

    But boy, was she wrong about Zara''s obsession with Michael.

    Zara stared dreamily at Michael and murmured, "He''s... so handsome."

    Chloe was at a loss for words.

    Zara pushed Chloe aside, "Move, don''t block my view of my handsome guy. The way he just told everyone off was so cool! If he could protect me like that, I''d die happy."

    If this were a fan meet-and-greet, Chloe was sure Zara would be the first to rush the stage. She just couldn''t get why people were so obsessed with celebrities when they were just regr folks too.

    Michael brushed off Brian''s small talk and made a beeline for Chloe, ignoring Zara''s intense gaze. He zeroed in on Chloe. "Chloe, Grant called me and said you were bullied. Are you okay? Did anything happen?"

    Even though Michael had no interest in marrying Chloe or any arranged marriage, he still saw her as part of the Martin family. And the Martins had one rule: they protected their own. He could mess with Chloe, and so could Liam, but if anyone else tried, Michael would make them pay.

    Chloe shook her head. "Nah, who''d dare mess with someone like me? If anyone tries, I usually give it right back to them."

    Michael believed her. Since he''d known Chloe, she''d never taken crap from anyone. Even his sly brother Liam couldn''t get one over on her.

    "Alright, if you''re good, I gotta bounce. The director''s waiting for me."

    After a quick check-in, Michael was ready to leave. Chloe couldn''t stop him. But seeing him rush over from the set to have her back, Chloe felt a bit touched.

    She thanked him, "Thanks for today. Drive safe back to the set."

    Michael nodded and turned to leave. People tried to greet him, but he acted like he didn''t even see them.

    As he got into his car, he reyed Chloe''s words in his head. Chloe told him to drive safe? Was she worried about him?

    Michael''s heart skipped a beat. The usually tough Chloe showing a bit of concern? Could it be that Chloe had feelings for him?

 Chapter 70 Being Lured

    It was a no-go. Even if Chloe had a thing for him, he couldn''t reciprocate.

    When Chloe first joined the Martin Family, he made a pact with himself that he''d never marry her. Plus, Chloe''s looks just didn''t do it for him. That mole on her face? Total dealbreaker. Michael shook his head and gave his temples a few ps, trying to snap out of it.

    Ever since Michael left the art show, Zara''s eyes had been glued to the spot where he disappeared. Chloe, feeling helpless, patted Zara on the shoulder. "Hey, Zara, Michael''s gone. Staring isn''t gonna bring him back." Zara turned around with a pout and whined, "This is all your fault, Chloe. All your fault."

    Chloe was taken aback by Zara''s sudden usation. "Why are you ming me? Your idol left, it''s not like I made him leave."

    Zara huffed, "You''re so annoying. When Michael was here, why didn''t you remind me to get an autograph or a photo? Such a golden chance, and I blew it. I''ve liked him for so long. How could I be so dumb?" Zara was practically bouncing in frustration. Chloe just stood there, speechless.

    As her best friend, Chloe had to step in. "Zara, it''s just Michael. Is he really worth all this? Sure, he''s okay-looking, but there are tons of guys out there who are way hotter. You can''t just write off all men because of him. Cheer up. Next time, I''ll introduce you to some real hunks, with chest muscles, abs, and a fit waist."

    No matter how much Chloe tried, Zara wasn''t budging.

    But when Chloe mentioned a fit waist, she herself couldn''t help but think of Grant. His strong waist hinted at some serious stamina, making her blush a little. She felt a bit flustered by the thought.

    Thanks to the famous paintings Grant had collected, the Gibson family''s art show was a hit. Brian not only rubbed elbows with some big shots in the business world but alsonded a few major deals for the Gibson family, all thanks to the Martin Family''s clout.

    Around noon, Chloe wanted to bounce, but Brian and Zara''s aunt Brenda insisted she stay for lunch. With Zara and Tony backing them up, Chloe couldn''t say no.

    During the meal, Chloe suddenly remembered that Zara hade to Sovereign City to handle some tricky stuff for Brenda and her husband. She''d heard Zara mention that someone was giving Brenda a hard time. Because of Chloe''s status, Brian and Brenda treated her like royalty. Chloe, ying the humble card, insisted on sitting with Zara and Tony, saying she was just a kidpared to Brian and Brenda. Brenda, Zara''s biological aunt, had grown up in the wild northwest but had mellowed out over the years. But seeing Zara and Chloe, she couldn''t help but be affectionate.

    Brenda asked Chloe if she was settling in okay in Sovereign City, how her studies were going, and if she needed any help. She also thanked Chloe for helping out the Gibson Group, saying that without the business Chloe brought in, thepany would''ve had a tough time getting a foothold in Sovereign City.

    Brian jumped in to express his gratitude. "Miss Davis, without your help, the Gibson Group might''ve gone under. I really want to thank you, but you prefer to stay low-key. As the general manager of the Gibson Group, I promise you, if you ever need anything from me or my family, just ask."

    Brian''s words were music to Chloe''s ears. The whole reason she backed the Gibson Group and helped them get established in Sovereign City was to have an ally down the road.

    Chloe waved it off. "No worries. You also went out of your way to find jobs for my ssmates'' parents. It''s a win-win."

    Because Rena stood up for Chloe, Angus and Kassy got dragged into the mess. After sorting things out, Chloe had Tony arrange jobs for Rena''s parents at the Gibson Group, with sries more than double what they made at Quest University. Brian nodded respectfully. "It''s the least we could do."

    Just as Brian finished speaking, the door to the private room burst open. A heavily tattooed guy with a fleshy face, nked by a bunch of goons, barged in. Brenda, sitting next to Brian, shrank back in fear.

    The guy with the fleshy face strutted into the room and shouted, "I heard someone mention win-win. What''s the deal, Mr. Gibson? Got any profitable business to share? We know each other, so can you hook me up with this mutually beneficial opportunity?"

    The guy''s entrance totally killed the vibe.

    Brian forced a smile. "Herbert, there''s no business. I was just joking with the kids. You must''ve misheard."

    Brian was clearly scared of this guy, Herbert Perez. He was visibly nervous talking to him.

    Brenda, usually sharp in the business world, stood behind Brian, avoiding eye contact with Herbert.

    Herbert ignored Brian and signaled his goons to force their way in and take seats. Tony, about to lose it, was stopped by a look from Zara.

    Herbert made himself at home, plopping down in the main seat and reaching out to pull Brenda, his actions full of sleazy intent.

    Brian couldn''t stand seeing his wife humiliated. He shielded Brenda and tried to cate Herbert. "Herbert, please sit down. I''ll have more dishes brought up so you and your men can eat and drink well."

    Brian tried to leave with Brenda, but Herbert''s goons grabbed Brian by the cor and tossed him aside. Herbert then yanked Brenda into his arms and, ignoring everyone''s stares, reached for her chest.

 Chapter 71 Change of Target

    Seeing Herbert''s behavior was too much, Tony, being the hothead he was, couldn''t just stand by and watch his mom get humiliated. He stormed forward, shouting, "What the hell, man? Let go of my mom, or I''ll bash your head in!" Tony grabbed a wine bottle and charged at Herbert, but Herbert''s goons quickly pinned him to the dining table. Brian and Brenda saw their son being restrained and instantly freaked out.

    Brian, all nervous, said, "Herbert, I''m sorry. My son is young and doesn''t know better. This has nothing to do with the kids. Please, let them go. We can talk this out."

    "Yeah, let them go first," Brenda added, even though she was still humiliated, she was more worried about the kids.

    Herbert gave Brenda a sleazy smile and said, "Alright, I''ll let them go, but you have to spend the night with me."

    "This..." Brenda looked at Brian and the kids, feeling totally stuck.

    Brian was furious, but as aw-abiding businessman, he was no match for Herbert. When he tried to stand up to him, Herbert''s men pped him.

    Zara was also fuming, but she didn''t dare to resist. Chloe was still there, and if Chloe got hurt, how could she exin it to Nichs?

    Brenda tried her best to negotiate with Herbert, hoping to get him to release Tony, Chloe, and Zara first.

    Chloe pulled Zara aside and whispered, "Zara, what the hell is going on?"

    Zara, while keeping an eye on things, quickly filled Chloe in. Turned out, Zara came to Sovereign City to handle this.

    For the past two years, Herbert had been screwing them over, pushing the family toward bankruptcy because he wanted Brenda as his mistress. Brenda refused, and Brian had been protecting her. But Herbert wouldn''t give up and kept sabotaging their business, causing constant trouble.

    Zara, who studiedw in college, came to Sovereign City intending to use legal means to bring Herbert down. But as soon as she arrived, Herbert came to bully them again. Facing such bullying, the Gibson family had no way to fight back. After quickly exining, Zara apologized to Chloe, "Chloe, I''m sorry our family''s mess has put you in danger. If there''s a chanceter, you should get out of here first."

    Even in danger, Zara insisted Chloe leave first. But how could Chloe abandon her good friend?

    Everyone present, except for Chloe and Zara, was controlled by Herbert''s men. Maybe they thought Chloe and Zara, being girls, wouldn''t cause any trouble.

    While Zara and Chloe whispered, Herbert wasn''t just standing around either. He was pulling Brenda and negotiating with Brian. "Brian, you had an art show today and didn''t invite me, which pissed me off. Then I heard you''ve got some business going on without me, and that really got under my skin. Want to make it right? It''s simple. I won''t mess with your wife, just give me a few paintings from your show and we''re good."

    Herbert pushed Brenda away and then signaled his men to throw a list of paintings at Brian''s face.

    The Gibson family had bought quite a few paintings for the exhibition, and giving a few to Herbert wouldn''t be a big deal.

    Unfortunately, the paintings Herbert wanted were not ordinary ones but the ones Chloe had borrowed from Grant. Those paintings were famous and worth millions of dors each. Herbert asking for those paintings was clearly robbery. Looking at the list in his hand, Brian''s face instantly broke out in a sweat. Despite the pain from being pped by Herbert''s men, he still smiled and tried to negotiate with Herbert, "Herbert, if you want other paintings, I can give them to you, but these paintings are not ours. It''s not appropriate for me to give them to you. Besides, even if we sold all our assets, it wouldn''t be enough to cover the cost of these paintings. How about you choose some other paintings?" As soon as Brian finished speaking, Herbert pped him again. Tony and Brenda rushed to protect Brian and were also pped a few times.

    Zara couldn''t hold back any longer. As aw student, she couldn''t just watch her family being humiliated. "Stop it. In broad daylight, your actions are illegal. Let go of my family, or I''ll call the police right now."

    After saying that, Zara grabbed her phone to call the police, but one of Herbert''s men immediately rushed forward, snatched her phone, and smashed it on the ground.

    "Well, well, there''s a little beauty here too? I must say, she looks like Brenda. A spitfire, aren''t you?" The moment Herbert saw Zara, he instantly shifted his attention to her.

    Brenda panicked when she saw this. "Herbert, she''s my niece, she''s still young, please don''t hurt her, I''ll drink with you."

    Brenda had to submit to Herbert to save Zara. But Herbert pped Brenda away and turned his bulky body toward the younger, more attractive Zara.

    As he approached, he kept saying obscene words, "Shawty, you talk tough, huh? I like it. I wonder if you''re as tough in bed as you are when you talk."

    Herbert grinned wickedly as he got close to Zara. He reached out, trying to pull Zara into his arms, but Zara grabbed a wine bottle from the table and smashed it on Herbert''s head.

    After smashing it, Zara shouted to Chloe, "Chloe, run!"

    Before Chloe could take a step, Herbert''s men had already closed the door tightly. As for Herbert, who had been hit with a wine bottle, his head seemed to be made of iron, and he was unharmed. He wiped the wine off his face andughed. "Feisty, I like it. Tonight, I''m going to sleep with you."

    With that, he reached out his devilish hand towards Zara again.

 Chapter 72 Didnt Take Good Care of Your Painting

    Chloe couldn''t just stand by when it came to Zara.

    As Herbert''s hand got closer to Zara''s face, Chloe stepped in. She reached out and blocked Herbert''s arm, saying, "Herbert, what''s more important, a woman or those paintings worth billions? How about we talk about the paintings first?" Chloe''s words grabbed Herbert''s attention. He turned to look at her, and when he saw the big mole on her face, he dismissed all his thoughts.

    "Talk about the paintings? Can you make the decisions?" Herbert eyed Chloe suspiciously. "Ugly girl, you should know what happens if you mess with me. I can cut that mole off your face, believe it or not?"

    Herbert''s words were meant to scare Chloe. Normally, Chloe would have lost her cool, but this was different. Several of her people were being held by Herbert''s men, and with so many of them around, even if she could escape, the Gibson family folks wouldn''t be able to get away from Herbert''s grip.

    So, the best move now was to use her smarts.

    Chloe smiled slightly and said, "I can make the decisions. It''s just a few paintings; you can take them. But I have a condition: you have to let us go and stop bothering the Gibson family. Deal?" Herbert had to take a second look at the ugly girl in front of him after hearing Chloe''s words. Who was she? What was her deal? Why could she so casually give away paintings worth billions? "Ugly girl has some guts." Herbert started to admire Chloe a bit.

    "Herbert, it''s just a few paintings, just some money. Anything that can be solved with money isn''t a problem." Chloe pulled Zara to her side to keep Herbert from touching her again. Herbert hesitated.

    Afraid he wouldn''t take the offer, Chloe quickly urged him. "Herbert, tell your men to take the paintings and leave already."

    Faced with Chloe''s urging, Herbert got suspicious and asked, "You want me to take these paintings? You won''te after meter, right?"

    Hearing Herbert''s question, Chloe chuckled. She pointed to the burly men beside Herbert and said, "Herbert, with my pull and the Gibson family''s, how could we evere after you? If we had that kind of power, we wouldn''t have let you push us around this afternoon. We''re just regr business folks; we can''t afford to mess with you."

    Chloe''s words stroked Herbert''s ego. Indeed, in Sovereign City, crushing the Gibson family was as easy for him as stepping on a bug.

    With that thought, Herbert immediately ordered his men to leave the restaurant''s private room. They drove away, loading the paintings borrowed from Grant into their cars in front of everyone.

    The Gibson family was equally baffled by Chloe''s actions. Zara stood next to Chloe and reminded her, "Chloe, they took those valuable paintings! Those are worth a ton of money. That''s straight-up robbery; it''s illegal!"

    Chloe stayed calm in the face of Zara''s anxiety. She sat back down, picked up her utensils, and started eating her meal.

    "They broke thew? So what? Given the situation just now, could we have kept those paintings?" Chloe nced at everyone.

    Brenda had been humiliated by Herbert. Tony had his face smashed against the table by Herbert''s men. Brian had been pped around, and his gold-rimmed sses were all bent out of shape. Zara had almost been vited by Herbert. With such a power imbnce, there was no chance of fighting back. If they didn''t let Herbert take the paintings, what else could they do?

    Chloe''s words left everyone in silence.

    Tony looked helplessly at Brian. Those were Grant''s paintings, and now that Herbert had taken them, the Gibson family would have to sell everything to pay for them.

    "Mr. Martin''s paintings were lost on my watch. I''ll try to gather some money topensate him." Brian looked distressed.

    He was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. He never expected that hosting an art exhibition would bring the Gibson family to the brink of ruin.

    Chloe continued eating calmly, ignoring the anxious people around her.

    "Chloe, call Mr. Martin and exin the situation. See how much he wants for those paintings. It''s our fault for not being strong enough to protect his paintings." Brian approached Chloe and sincerely asked her to make the call. Chloe, having eaten her fill, wiped her mouth and said, "If I remember correctly, I was the one who let Herbert take those paintings, right?"

    Chloe''s words surprised everyone. "Since the paintings were lost from my hands, what does it have to do with the Gibson family? You didn''t borrow the paintings, and you didn''t lose them. You don''t need to sell everything; just sit here and watch the show. The Gibson family can''t handle Herbert, but that doesn''t mean others can''t. Those paintings that were taken aren''t yours or mine. Let the owner of the paintings figure out how to get them back."

    Chloe put down her utensils and started looking for her phone. Once she had her phone, she adjusted her emotions. Her previously calm face suddenly became pitiful. After trying to sob a couple of times, she began dialing Grant''s number. No one knew what Chloe was up to.

    Grant answered the phone quickly, and Chloe''s soft sobbing started immediately.

    "Hello, Chloe, what''s wrong?" Grant, on the other end, became immediately concerned upon hearing Chloe''s sobs.

    After sobbing twice, Chloe pitifully said into the phone, "Grantie, I''m sorry, I didn''t take good care of your paintings..."

 Chapter 73 Robbing Grant

    Grant heard Chloe sobbing on the other end, and a chill ran down his spine. Chloe was crying? Who the hell messed with her? "Chloe, don''t cry. It''s just a few paintings. Tell me what happened," Grant said, grabbing his coat and heading out the door.

    "Grantie, the paintings you sent were stolen," Chloe replied.

    "What?" Grant was stunned. Did he hear that right? In Sovereign City, his paintings got stolen? What a joke!

    "Who took them?" he asked.

    "A guy named Herbert. Big, burly, and he brought a bunch of people to threaten me," Chloe said, still sobbing. Her cries tugged at Grant''s heart. Grant was pissed. Stealing his paintings was one thing, but threatening Chloe, who was supposed to marry into the Martin Family, was crossing the line. "Didn''t you tell him those were my paintings?" Grant asked.

    Chloe nced at Brian and the others, then exaggerated, "I did, but Herbert said he specifically wanted to steal your paintings."

    Brian wiped the sweat off his forehead. Just from Chloe''s words, he could imagine Herbert''s future. The Gibson family couldn''tpete with Herbert, but if Grant got involved, crushing Herbert would be a piece of cake. Grant''s face darkened. This was the dumbest thing he''d heard in Sovereign City.

    Chloe, sensing she needed to push further, added, "Grantie, did you piss someone off? Why did Herbert specifically target your paintings? It''s my fault for being too scared to confront him. Grantie, are you mad at me? If you are, you can hit me. Or, I''ll go find Herbert right now and get the paintings back, no matter what!"

    Chloe''s words calmed Grant down. He took a deep breath and said, "Alright, Chloe, I got this. Don''t worry, it''s not your fault. Just stay safe. Send me your address, and I''lle by."

    After talking to Chloe for a bit, Grant hung up. A few minutester, he called his assistant, Stanley.

    Stanley approached Grant respectfully, "Mr. Martin, what can I do for you?"

    "The paintings I lent Chloe for the exhibition were stolen by some guy named Herbert," Grant said calmly.

    Stanley was shocked. "What? Someone stole your paintings?"

    Grant replied, "Yeah, and he said he specifically wanted to steal my stuff. Go handle it and find out when I ever pissed him off."

    "Yes, sir," Stanley responded quickly.

    Having worked with Grant for a long time, Stanley knew his boss''s temper and personality inside out. The calmer Grant seemed, the angrier he actually was. Anyone dumb enough to steal from Grant was in for a world of hurt. Stanley was about to leave when Grant called him back.

    "Wait, that bastard also threatened Chloe. She must be pretty shaken up. Make sure to handle that too," Grant said, his voice calm but with a clear edge that Stanley recognized all too well. "Yes, Mr. Martin."

    Stanley noticed a slight shift in Grant''s demeanor. This was the first time he''d seen Grant stand up for a woman.

    Sensing Stanley''s curiosity, Grant added, "Don''t read too much into it. I just see Chloe as a sister since she''s Nichs''s granddaughter."

    Grant''s words were clearly a cover-up. Stanley scratched his head, giving a knowing nod, then turned to handle the situation.

    Back with Chloe, everyone was on edge, knowing Grant would make Herbert pay and get the stolen paintings back. But if Grant found out Chloe was using him to target Herbert, she might be in trouble too.

    As Chloe''s best friend, Zara was worried. "Chloe, isn''t this a bit risky? If Mr. Martin finds out you exaggerated, won''t he be mad?"

    Brian chimed in, "Yeah, Mr. Martin has a bad temper. If he finds out Herbert never said he specifically wanted to steal his paintings, he might not let you off easy."

    Brenda also looked serious. "Exactly. I haven''t dealt with Mr. Martin much, but I know he hates being used."

    Their words made Tony a bit nervous. He looked at Chloe worriedly and said, "Chloe, maybe you should call Mr. Martin again and tell him you exaggerated? I think he''ll forgive you."

    Everyone''s chatter annoyed Chloe. "Don''t panic. What are you all so scared of? Even if he finds out I used him a bit, so what?"

    Zara was speechless. "What if he gets mad?"

    Chloe pouted and said, "Whatever. At worst, he''ll send me back to my hometown in the Northwest. Then, the marriage with the Martin Family will be off. Honestly, I kind of hope Grant sends me back home. That way, my grandpa won''t have anything to say."

    Chloe''s words were truly provocative. With the Martin Family''s wealth and status, and their three outstanding sons, any woman would want to marry into such a prestigious family. But to Chloe, none of this mattered. She really didn''t realize how lucky she was.

    Chloe said, "Alright, everyone, stop standing around. Let''s go downstairs and see what else Herbert damaged. We might as well make him pay for it."

 Chapter 74 Good Acting

    When Chloe spoke up, Brian, the seasoned businessman, felt like his whole world had been flipped upside down.

    Herbert was known as the big bad wolf in Sovereign City. He was always the one pushing people around. The idea of someone trying to shake him down for money was justughable. But Chloe, this gutsy girl, had the nerve to say such bold things.

    Everyone soon got busy with their tasks. Zara and Tony were in charge of counting the paintings Herbert''s guys had damaged, while Chloe chilled in a corner of the exhibition, sipping tea.

    As she enjoyed her tea, she texted Nichs: [Grandpa, I messed up today. I lost a few of Grantie''s paintings, and he''s super mad. Do you think he''ll send me back to the Northwest?] Nichs replied with just a question mark.

    Not giving up, Chloe texted again: [Grandpa, it''s not that I don''t want to stay at the Martin Mansion; it''s that they''re kicking me out.]

    After a bit, Nichs finally responded: [Don''t worry. It''s just a few paintings. If Grant kicks you out over this, I bet Louis would break his legs.]

    Seeing Nichs''s reply, Chloe''s hope of being sent back home disappeared. She started typing another message to Nichs.

    Soon, Nichs texted again: [Chloe, just stay at the Martin Mansion. Even if you lost his grandfather, he wouldn''t dare let you go. Get along well with the three heirs. I have high hopes for you. That''s it for now; I''m off to watch a live stream.] Reading her grandpa''s message, Chloe was speechless. She couldn''t figure out why her usually modern-thinking grandpa was so set on her staying with the Martin Family.

    Feeling bored, Chloe started messing around on her phone. She had just started a game when she heard Brian''s excited voice outside the door. "Mr. Martin, you''re here. I''m sorry, it''s our Gibson family''s fault for not taking good care of your paintings."

    Brian greeted Grant, trying to be as humble as possible. His face was swollen and red from the ps he got from Herbert''s men.

    Grant wasn''t interested in talking to Brian. He walked straight towards the exhibition hall, asking as he went, "Did those who took the paintings hurt Chloe?"

    Brian was at a loss for words. "I... I..."

    He stammered a few times but couldn''t give a clear answer. Grant didn''t push it and went straight into the exhibition hall to find Chloe.

    Hearing Grant''s arrival, Chloe quickly put away her phone and put on a sad face just as Grant walked in. When Grant saw her, she stood up with a pitiful look and softly called out, "Grantie."

    After calling out to him, Chloe quickly took a few steps and, looking scared, threw herself into Grant''s arms.

    Her sudden hug left Grant stunned. When Chloe''s small hands wrapped around his waist, he felt his body go rigid.

    Plenty of women had tried to get close to him, but he always kept his distance. Chloe''s embrace, though, didn''t push him away. Instead, it made him, usually so cold and distant, feel a need to protect her. His heart softened a bit right then.

    "Grantie, you''re finally here. I was so scared. It''s my fault for borrowing and not protecting your paintings. You can punish me however you want," Chloe said, grabbing Grant''s hand and trying to make him hit her. But there was no way Grant could hit her. He gentlyforted Chloe.

    Not far away, Zara and Tony, who were sorting out the paintings, were shocked by Chloe''s performance.

    Tony couldn''t believe his eyes. He said to Zara, "Zara, isn''t Chloe usually not the type to act all cutesy?"

    Zara rolled her eyes at him and shrugged. "I''ve been her best friend for years, and this is the first time I''ve seen her like this."

    Tony shook his head. "It seems a bit staged, but Mr. Martin seems to be buying it."

    Zara nodded. "I think so too. Looks like Mr. Martin ispletely taken by Chloe. We should all try to get on Chloe''s good side from now on."

    Tony agreed with Zara. As long as they pleased Chloe, no one in Sovereign City would dare to mess with the Gibson family again.

    As for Herbert, Tony was sure he was done for.

    Grant spent some timeforting Chloe, who then stopped sobbing and exined the incident while Grant made phone calls.

    Soon, he instructed Stanley on the other end of the line, "You have half an hour to bring that Herbert guy to me. Otherwise, prepare to write your resignation letter."

    While Grant was on the phone, Zara pulled Chloe aside. She lowered her voice and teased Chloe, "Wow, you learned a new trick in just a few days? That performance was something else!"

    Chloe wasn''t mad at Zara''s teasing. She smiled slightly and said, "In Sovereign City, if we don''t have power, we have to borrow someone else''s. If we''re using someone, we have to give them something in return." Hearing Chloe''s words, Zara quietly gave her a thumbs up. She added, "Impressive. With that acting, you deserve an Oscar!"

    "Shut up. I''m doing this for you, Zara. Don''t be ungrateful," Chloe yfully scolded Zara.

    Zara closed her mouth. Indeed, Chloe was doing this for her and the Gibson family by using Grant. But Chloe was also doing it for herself, right? She was using every trick to avoid marrying into the Martin family. Just as the two were whispering to each other, Herbert arrived.

 Chapter 75 Feels Like Being Used

    Right now, Herbert was a whole different guy from his usual cocky self. He hunched over, scanning the room nervously. When he spotted Grant, he rushed over, his chubby face jiggling with each hurried step. He looked like a clown on stage, totally ridiculous. "Mr. Martin, I''m Herbert. I''m so sorry about today. It was all a big misunderstanding. I had no idea those paintings were yours. My bad. Please, have mercy." Herbert bowed and apologized, but Grant didn''t even look at him. Instead, Grant just lifted his foot and kicked Herbert''s pudgy body, sending him flying like a ragdoll.

    Everyone was stunned by Grant''s move. They always thought of Grant as this refined, gentle guy. They never expected him to be so ruthless, and it freaked everyone out.

    After getting kicked, Herbert didn''t dare fight back. He quickly got up and crawled back to Grant. "Mr. Martin, I''m sorry, it''s all my fault. If kicking me makes you feel better, go ahead and kick me a few more times."

    Seeing Herbert''s good attitude, Grant didn''t hit him again. He pointed at Herbert and scolded, "Stealing my paintings isn''t the issue. The problem is you dared to threaten my family member? Since when did you start running Sovereign City, Herbert?"

    Herbert broke out in a cold sweat, racking his brain to remember any dealings with the Martin family. Where was thising from?

    But he didn''t dare ask Grant. After all, Grant''s assistant, Stanley, had already taken control of all his men. If Grant got pissed, he could kill him anytime.

    "Mr. Martin, I was wrong," Herbert kept apologizing.

    Grant, with a stern face, nced at Chloe and then said to Herbert, "The person you threatened wasn''t me. What''s the point of apologizing to me? Go apologize to her. If she forgives you, we''ll let it slide today. If not, you''re done." Grant''s protective stance over Chloe caught everyone''s attention. What girl wouldn''t want to be with such a handsome and domineering guy?

    Even Zara, who was always into Michael, looked at Grant with a bit more admiration.

    Herbert turned to Chloe and apologized, "Sorry, miss, that''s on me. I was clueless and messed up. Please cut me some ck and forgive me. I swear I''ll steer clear and this won''t happen again."

    Earlier, when Herbert was beating up the Gibson family, he was as arrogant as he was now humble in apologizing to Chloe.

    Chloe nced at the members of the Gibson family who had been bullied by Herbert for a long time. She thought for a moment and said, "For me to forgive you today, you have to agree to a few conditions."

    Herbert''s life was in Grant''s hands. Chloe asked him to agree to conditions; how could he not agree? He quickly said, "Miss, whatever conditions you have, I''ll agree to them."

    Chloe thought for a moment and said, "First, you can''t mess with the Gibson family or their business anymore."

    Hearing Chloe''s condition, Herbert hesitated. The Gibson family had been his cash cow for years. Giving that up was tough.

    Seeing his hesitation, Grant''s face turned cold again. "You don''t agree?"

    Herbert quickly replied, "I agree, I agree."

    Chloe thenid out a second condition. "You have to return all the money you''ve taken from the Gibson family over the years."

    Herbert was unhappy. That was a huge chunk of change. How could he return it?

    Seeing Herbert''s reluctance, Grant lifted his foot and kicked him again. Under pressure, Herbert could only say, "Okay, okay, I''ll return it when I get back."

    Chloe continued, "Third, you can''t insult anyone from the Gibson family again, especially Aunt Brenda. Can you do that?"

    Chloe''s three conditions not only safeguarded the Gibson family''s interests but also protected its women.

    Standing beside Brian, the beautiful Brenda wept, as no one knew the pain Herbert had caused her over the past two years.

    "Okay, okay, I''ll agree to whatever you say." Herbert had no fight left in him and had to agree to everything.

    After stating her conditions, Chloe looked at Grant, who was standing next to her. Grant understood and said to Herbert, "You can leave now."

    Herbert nodded and left in a hurry. As he left, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

    He thought that falling into the hands of the ruthless Grant in the business world, he was surely dead today. Unexpectedly, he managed to escape with his life.

    Realizing the extremely ugly woman must be from the Martin Family, he couldn''t recall any girl fitting that description. Learning his lesson, he vowed that one day, when he gained power, he would make up for all the humiliation he had suffered.

    After Herbert left, the Gibson family was overjoyed. They expressed their gratitude to Grant in various ways, knowing Herbert''s bullying would have continued without him.

    Recognizing Chloe''s contribution, the Gibson family had Brenda hold Chloe''s hand, treating her like her own niece.

    Just now, when Chloe called her "aunt" in front of everyone, it elevated her status by several levels. The aunt of the future mistress of the Martin Family, who would dare to offend her?

    The matter was finally resolved. Chloe left the art exhibition in Grant''s car. Sitting very close in the back seat, Chloe could almost smell the pleasant scent of Grant''s cologne, instantly reminding her of his toned waist.

    At that moment, Grant suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Why do I feel like I was used today?"

 Chapter 76 The Fox Borrows the Tigers Might

    Grant''s words caught Chloe off guard, and she immediately straightened up, looking all kinds of nervous.

    Grant watched her, his face giving nothing away. Chloe felt uneasy under his gaze, totally clueless about what he was going to say next.

    "Chloe, do you think someone used me today?" Grant asked, not letting up when Chloe didn''t answer right away.

    Chloe hesitated even more. She took a deep breath, then forced a smile and turned to Grant, saying, "Grantie, aren''t you overthinking this? It was Herbert who took your painting, and you just stepped in to get it back. How does that mean you were used? Right?"

    Grant let out a cold snort at her words. "When Herbert showed up, youid out three conditions that protected the Gibson family''s interests. You borrowed my painting and lent it to them, helping their family out. If that''s not being used, then what is? Chloe, you yed your cards well! If I hadn''t caught on quickly, I would''ve fallen for your little tricks."

    Grant saw right through Chloe''s schemes and stared at her, trying to figure out what she was thinking.

    Chloe cleared her throat. When she frowned, the mole on her face moved slightly with her expression. "Grantie, you''ve got it all wrong. We''re family, so there''s no need to talk about being used. I''m close with the Gibsons and have invested in some of their businesses. By helping them, you''re actually helping me. Louis trusted me to you. What''s wrong with helping me? Saying I used you is really an exaggeration."

    Chloe pouted, looking all kinds of hurt. Seeing her expression, Grant couldn''t help but feel amused.

    Just as he was about to speak, Chloe suddenly reached out and, in a yful manner, grabbed his arm. As her fingertips touched his skin, Grant''s heartbeat quickened.

    She said, "Grantie, I just used a bit of my brain to leverage your strength to deal with that bully Herbert. It''s not really using you; at most, it''s borrowing your reputation to scare off some bad guys."

    Chloe''s yful charm and ttery made it hard for Grant to keep up his stern act. No guy could resist such a cute plea from Chloe.

    Seeing that Grant still didn''t respond, Chloe continued, "Grantie, don''t be mad. If you really think I used you, you might as well send me back to my hometown in the Northwest."

    Even if Grant was bold, he wouldn''t dare do such a thing. If he even hinted at letting Chloe leave the Martin Family, Louis would probably beat him to a pulp.

    In the end, Grant decided to give in. He realized he kind of liked Chloe''s little tricks.

    He put on a stern face and said, "Alright, I''ll let it slide this time, but you have to promise not to use me like this again, okay?"

    Chloe nodded quickly. "Got it."

    Right then, she looked super obedient and cute, a far cry from the Chloe who used to butt heads with him when she first joined the Martin Family. In that moment, Grant couldn''t figure out which was the real Chloe. Seeing she had achieved her goal, Chloe decided to quit while she was ahead. She let go of Grant''s arm and sat back down.

    Just then, a message from Zara popped up on her phone: [Grant is so powerful and domineering. The way he fought today was so cool.]

    Chloe quickly typed back: [It was just okay...]

    Zara''s message came in again: [Chloe, you should be grateful. He''s such an amazing guy, willing to stand up for you. Do you think he''s just bored? I bet Grant has feelings for you. Chloe, seize the opportunity.] Reading Zara''s message, Chloe felt conflicted. She nced up at Grant, who was sitting beside her.

    Zara said Grant had feelings for her? How could that be? How could Grant have feelings for someone like her? Shouldn''t he be into someone like Sophia, who had a great figure and was always eager to please him? She only took her friend''s words as a joke.

    After dropping Chloe off at the Martin Mansion, Grant drove away for an important meeting. Chloe had dinner alone and, unable to sleep, sat in the yard looking at the stars.

    At that moment, she missed her hometown in the Northwest a lot. On that vastnd, she could ride her motorcycle back and forth, unlike here, where she feltpletely confined. Chloe picked up her phone and started bothering Nichs.

    It was Nichs who insisted shee to the Martin Family. Since she was in a bad mood, he had the obligation to chat with her.

    Chloe texted: [Grandpa, I''m bored.]

    Nichs replied: [I''m busy watching cartoons. If you''re bored, you can ride your bike. I''ve had it shipped to Sovereign City. Chloe, get excited.]

    Soon, Nichs sent Chloe an address. When she opened it, it was a professional motorcycle maintenance shop.

    Instantly, Chloe felt a rush of excitement. What could be more stress-relieving than riding a motorcycle? She quickly changed her clothes and headed to the address Nichs had sent her.

    As night fell, Chloe, in her professional motorcycle gear, rode her cool bike out of the garage.

    Having been in Sovereign City for a while, Chloe was familiar with the roads. She rode her motorcycle straight to the track where Liam usually trained.

    Chloe thought Liam wouldn''t be at the training track at this hour. As long as she didn''t run into him, her identity wouldn''t be exposed.

    Unexpectedly, as she rode her motorcycle past a bridge, she was spotted by Liam, who was returning from training.

    Liam pointed at Chloe''s figure and asked Eric beside him, "Is that my motorcycle idol?"

 Chapter 77 Theres Even a Special Title?

    Eric nced up and saw a stunning figure on the bridge. He nodded, "Mr. Martin, that''s definitely her. Should we go after her?" Liam didn''t hesitate, "Absolutely, let''s go."

    With Liam''smand, he, Eric, and a few motorcycle enthusiasts turned around and sped off in the direction Chloe had gone.

    Chloe was enjoying the scenery, but when she nced in her rearview mirror, she saw several figures on motorcycles following her. She instantly recognized Liam by his shy motorcycle. In Sovereign City, no one else had a bike like his.

    Chloe cursed her luck. She couldn''t believe she ran into Liam the moment she stepped out. She couldn''t let him find out who she really was.

    With that thought, Chloe revved her engine, and her high-performance bike shot forward.

    Seeing Chloe speed up, Liam and Eric did the same, trying to catch up. But there was a clear difference in their skills. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn''t close the gap.

    Chloe rode into the motorcycle training ground, cranking up the throttle and speeding up.

    The wind roared past her ears, and her bad mood lifted. She rode nearly eightps until she was exhausted, then turned to leave. By then, Liam and Eric were nearly twops behind. There was no way they could catch up. Chloe quickly disappeared from Liam''s sight.

    Liam got off his bike in frustration. He yanked off his helmet andined to Eric, "I was just twops away! If I had been a bit faster, I could''ve caught up."

    Seeing Liam''s frustration, Eric tried tofort him, "You''ve already seen her. Do you really need to chase her down? If you want to see her, why not just send her a message?"

    Liam was left speechless. He pulled out his phone and showed Eric his chat history with his icon. "Look, she hasn''t responded in two days. I asked her to meet up, and she didn''t even reply. Finally, I see her, and I get left behind." Liam was frustrated, knowing he wasn''t as skilled and couldn''t me anyone else.

    Seeing Liam so upset, Eric had a suggestion. "Mr. Martin, didn''t you say the ugly girl at your house has a connection with her? Why not ask her to help you set up a meeting?"

    Eric''s words sparked an idea in Liam. "That''s right! If she doesn''t respond to me, I can ask the ugly girl to help. She''s staying at my house; she can''t refuse, right?" Eric nodded, "That makes sense."

    "Let''s go home and find the ugly girl." Liam got on his bike, ready to go.

    Just as he started it, he remembered something and turned back to re at Eric. Eric felt a bit uneasy under Liam''s sudden re, not sure what he did wrong.

    Liam said, "Eric, just so you know, you can call her by her name, but never call her ''ugly girl.""

    "Huh?" Eric was taken aback. He knew exactly who Liam meant.

    Liam continued, "The term ''ugly girl'' is reserved for me. If I hear you call her that again, I''ll knock your head into a square."

    He waved his fist at Eric before riding off on his motorcycle.

    Eric scratched his head, looking puzzled. He turned to hispanion. "Mr. Martin''s acting weird, isn''t he? Why''s he so protective of Chloe? And he even has a special nickname for her?"

    Hispanion shrugged, "No idea, I''ve never seen him like this before."

    Eric mused, "Do you think Mr. Martin''s got a thing for her?"

    Later that night, after Chloe got back to the Martin Mansion, she took a nice bath, changed clothes, and went downstairs, only to see Liam holding his helmet.

    Chloe nced at the clock and smirked at Liam. He was just twops behind her, but it took him nearly twenty minutes longer to get from the motorcycle training ground to the mansion. Liam definitely needed to up his game. "Ugly girl, I need your help," Liam blurted out as soon as he saw Chloe.

    Chloe rolled her eyes. "What do you need?"

    "I want to see my idol again. Can you invite her over?" Liam asked bluntly, not one for subtlety.

    Chloe rolled her eyes again and shot him down. "If you want to see her, ask her yourself. Why should I help you?"

    "She hasn''t replied to my messages. How''s she gonnae if I ask her?" Liam pouted.

    Pleasing someone wasn''t easy. Ever since he added the mysterious biker on Facebook, he''d message her whenever he had time. If she was in a good mood, she''d reply; if not, he''d get nothing for a whole day. For the first time, the always confident Liam felt what it was like to be frustrated.

    "If she doesn''t respond to you, what does that have to do with me? I have sses tomorrow. I''m going to bed," Chloe said, turning to leave without any intention of helping.

    Liam anxiously followed her.

    "Ugly girl, are you really not gonna help me?" Liam asked, his face stern.

    Chloe wasn''t intimidated at all. She looked him straight in the eye and said, "No help, no arrangement, no concern!"

    Liam was so mad his teeth itched. Asking Chloe for help was a real pain!

    "Ugly girl, don''t forget, you''re living in my house. You eat my food, drink my drinks, use my stuff, and you won''t even help me with a little favor. Aren''t you afraid..." Liam started to list his grievances. He thought he could threaten Chloe by bringing up these things.

    But it was exactly what Chloe wanted. She immediately shot back, "If you''re not happy, you can kick me out."

 Chapter 78 Orphanage

    Seeing Chloe like this, Liam was instantly troubled. Did he dare to drive her away? Was she using reverse psychology to get Louis to punish him? Seeing Liam so angry that he almost burst, Chloe was extremely proud.

    After spending some time with the three heirs of the Martin Family, she had already figured out how to control them.

    Grant was the most resolute, so she would act cute and coquettish; one way or another, he wouldpromise. Michael was in the entertainment industry and the most reasonable. As long as she didn''t go against him, he wouldn''t make things too difficult for her.

    The hardest to deal with was Liam. His temper was like a motorcycle, out of control with a little throttle. If Chloeplied with him once or twice, he would definitely think she was easy to bully. So, Chloe had to go against him and use her own strength to subdue him.

    "You..." Liam was left speechless by Chloe''s retort.

    Seeing Liam frustrated and his momentum weakened, Chloe began to educate him. "Mr. Martin, when you ask for help, act like it. Look at your attitude-you want me to help you ask out your idol? Why would I cut you ck? I''m eating, drinking, and crashing at Louis'' ce. Do you think the Davis Family''s broke and I have to mooch off you? If you want my help, show some respect. Asking out your idol is a piece of cake for me, got it?"

    Chloe''s lecture made Liam instantly behave. He never expected that he, the dignified Mr. Martin, would be so obedient to Chloe, who was just staying at his house.

    After Chloe''s education, Liam finally had the attitude of someone asking for help, "Please help me ask out my idol, will you?"

    "What do you want to ask her for?" Chloe raised her face and asked him.

    "I want to ask her some questions about riding a motorcycle." answered Liam.

    "Oh? So it''s to consult her on professional matters? Paid consultation, fifty thousand dors an hour, deal?" Taking this opportunity, Chloe decided to exploit Liam. Liam wasn''t short of money, and neither was Chloe, but she just enjoyed seeing Liam reluctantly pay up.

    Liam hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, fifty thousand dors it is. When will you help me ask her out?" Chloe said, "When the money is in ce, anytime, Mr. Martin. You know my ount, just transfer the money directly." After saying that, Chloe went upstairs. Back in her room, she saw the million dors Liam had transferred to her ount. Liam was definitely rich. Chloe sighed, was Liam trying to buy the world?

    Looking at the payment information on her phone, Chloe hugged her pillow and fell asleep, vaguely hearing footsteps stopping outside her door. However, she was too tired from a busy day. She didn''t bother to open her eyes and fell right back asleep.

    The next day, Chloe had ns to meet up with Philip and Rena at school. She got up early and grabbed a taxi to get there before the three brothers even woke up.

    Today, Rena and Philip, being part of the student council, were organizing a volunteer trip to an orphanage.

    With the weather getting colder, the orphanage was struggling. They were short-staffed, and the ce needed a good cleaning. The kids'' living conditions weren''t great, so the ssmates decided to pitch in and help out. Chloe was no stranger to these kinds of activities. She''d done plenty of them back home in the Northwest.

    The group took a bus to the orphanage and got straight to work under the guidance of the staff there. Chloe was assigned to clean the kids'' bedrooms. She was all in, taking the bedding outside to air out and mopping the floors. After a while, her lower back was killing her.

    Even though she was tired, she felt good about it. Who hadn''t done something kind-hearted in their youth?

    When Chloe finished cleaning the bedroom and was about to tackle more work, she noticed Rena and Philip talking to the orphanage director, Dora Waverly, who looked pretty worried.

    Dora was saying, "With the cold weather, the kids need more clothes and bedding, and our heating equipment is ancient. We just don''t have the funds for it. This winter is going to be tough for the kids." Philip suggested, "Maybe we can get our ssmates to donate some money to the orphanage."

    Dora shook her head. "You students are already doing so much by helping out here. Asking you to donate money isn''t right. Besides, you''re still in school, and many of your families aren''t well-off. If you give your money to the orphanage, how will you manage?"

    Dora had a point. Quest University was an inclusive school, and everyone got in based on their abilities. Even Chloe got in with her past academic records. The students weren''t all from wealthy families. They could help withbor, but donating money was a stretch.

    "But if we can''t raise the money, how will these kids get through the winter? We can''t just let them freeze," Rena said, looking worried.

    Dora sighed deeply. "It''s a lot of money. If someone influential could lead a charity event to raise funds, we might get through this. But I don''t have any connections, and our orphanage isn''t well-known. It''s really hard to get outside donations." Philip and Rena looked just as lost as Dora. Chloe, on the other hand, wasn''t feeling overly sympathetic and didn''t dwell on Dora''s words.

    As she turned to continue mopping, she stepped on the slippery floor and lost her bnce, hitting the ground with a thud.

 Chapter 79 Liam is Rich and Foolish

    Chloe hit the ground hard. Philip and Rena saw it happen and rushed over. Dora came running too, looking freaked out.

    Philip and Rena helped Chloe up. Philip asked, "Chloe, you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"

    Rena added, "How could you be so clumsy? Stand up and see if anything''s hurt."

    Dora checked Chloe over too. They found she had scraped her arm and wrist, and it was bleeding.

    "Oh no, your skin''s broken. I''ll get some medicine," Dora said, running to the orphanage''s medical room. But she came back empty-handed and embarrassed.

    "I''m sorry, we''re out of ointment. I meant to buy more, but we haven''t had the funds. Let''s go to the hospital," she said, heading for her scooter. Philip and Rena helped Chloe, ready to go.

    Just then, a little boy, about seven or eight, ran over with a box of ointment. "I have some ointment here."

    The boy handed over a tube of antiseptic ointment, but there wasn''t much left. Chloe used it all up.

    After applying it, Chloe took the boy''s hand and asked, "I can tell you really value this ointment. Why did you let me use it?"

    The boy replied, "You came to help us clean the orphanage. You''re kind-hearted. You got hurt helping us, so of course, I''d let you use my ointment. Dora told us to give back when someone helps us. Does your hand still hurt? Want me to blow on it?"

    He gently blew on Chloe''s wrist. His clothes were thin, and his hands were cold.

    Chloe felt a pang of sympathy. She patted the boy''s head with her uninjured hand. She turned to Dora and said, "I want to help raise funds for the orphanage."

    Dora looked happy but then shook her head. "I appreciate it, but the funding gap is too big. It''s not something college students can fix."

    Chloe understood. She pulled out her phone, showing Dora a photo of Michael. "You said you need someone influential to help raise funds. Do you think he can do it?"

    When Dora saw the photo of Michael, she was stunned. "He... of course, he can help... but I don''t have any way to contact him."

    Chloe grinned. "Don''t worry about that, Dora. I''ll handle it. Just get everything ready, and in three days, I''ll bring him to the orphanage. I''m sure he''ll want to help once he sees the situation here."

    Dora was skeptical. She couldn''t believe an ordinary girl like Chloe could convince a big star like Michael toe.

    Philip chimed in, "Dora, trust Chloe. She''ll make it happen."

    Dora finally nodded, feeling a bit more reassured.

    Chloe then patted the little boy who had given her the ointment on the head again. His kind gesture had sparked the idea of fund-raising within her, one she might not have considered otherwise. "Study hard. I have high hopes for you." The little boy nodded back.

    On the way back to school, Philip and Rena sat next to Chloe, chatting away.

    "Chloe, are you really going to bring Michael here in three days? What if he doesn''t want to donate?" Philip asked, worried.

    Rena agreed. "Yeah, we don''t know him personally. What if he says no?"

    Chloe knew Michael wasn''t that stingy; still, his power alone was not enough. Plus, the Martin family had three brothers. She couldn''t rely on just Michael.

    She hadn''t figured out how to get Michael to the orphanage yet, but she quickly came up with a n.

    She pulled out her phone and messaged Karlie: [Karlie, didn''t you say you wanted to get closer to Michael? In three days, he''ll be at an orphanage in the suburbs doing volunteer work. Want to join him?]

    Worried Karlie might note, Chloe sent another message: [Of course, you can choose not toe, but don''t me me if you miss the chance to get close to Michael.]

    Confident that Karlie would show up, Chloe turned her focus to Liam. He was rich and gullible, and she could use his crush to lure him into donating.

    She sent Liam a message: [Mr. Martin, your idol will be doing volunteer work at an orphanage in the suburbs in three days. Don''t you want to see her? This is a perfect opportunity. Are youing?]

 Chapter 80 Are You Very Afraid of Me?

    Chloe had just sent a message to Liam when he replied: [She''s volunteering at the orphanage? That''s so sweet of her! I really like her, she''s my idol for a reason.] Chloe rolled her eyes at Liam''s message. She didn''t want to waste time and shot back: [Cut the crap, are youing or not? If not, I''ll let your idol know.] Liam quickly responded: [Of course, I''m in.]

    With Liam''s confirmation, Chloe felt relieved. Liam had a bunch of friends who were into motorcycles and had some serious cash. The money they blew on bikes could fund the orphanage for years. No way Liam was going alone. He needed to bring his crew.

    Thinking of this, Chloe sent another message: [There''s a lot to do at the orphanage. Bring some friends to help your goddess.]

    Liam replied fast: [Got it, ugly girl. Having you around is a blessing. Once I master those motorcycle skills from my idol, I''ll owe you big time.]

    Chloe ignored Liam and turned to Philip and Rena to figure out how to trick Michael into going to the orphanage.

    At the same time, she messaged Zara, asking her to be at the orphanage that day and to bring her journalist friends-Since Chloe wanted to raise funds for the orphanage, she needed to create some buzz. She aimed to gather high-profile celebs and well-known figures to get them to open their wallets.

    That evening, when Chloe got back to the Martin Mansion, the three brothers weren''t home yet. Usually, Chloe would head upstairs to shower and change as soon as she got home, but today, she had to scheme against Michael, so she stayed downstairs. She grabbed herptop and settled in the living room, starting to plot her n.

    Within a few minutes, Michael, who had been filming all day, walked in. Seeing Chloe busy in the living room, he curiously approached. "Chloe, what are you up to?"

    Chloe looked up at Michael and said, "Just making a n."

    "Oh? I didn''t know college students needed to make ns. Let me see what kind of n you''re making." Michael was always chatty, especially when he sensed Chloe was up to something interesting, so he easily stepped into the trap. Michael took Chloe''sptop and nced at it.

    "A n for volunteering at the orphanage..." Michael read out loud.

    Chloe yed it cool. "Oh, don''t bother looking. How could a big star like you volunteer at an orphanage? It doesn''t mean anything to you. Besides, even if you wanted to volunteer, you couldn''t handle the hardship. It''ste, go upstairs and wash up for bed."

    Chloe''s reverse psychology worked like a charm. Michael immediately said, "Chloe, are you underestimating me? You think I can''t handle a bit of hardship? Plus, volunteering at the orphanage is good for my image as an actor. I''m telling you, I''m going to that volunteer event whether you like it or not. And if you don''t take me, forget about any film investments from me in the future."

    After saying that, Michael jotted down the time and ce from Chloe''sptop, put away his phone, and headed upstairs, leaving Chloe stunned.

    She had thought Liam was easy to manipte, but Michael too? Just a few words and he was on board? This was almost too easy.

    Surprised, Chloe shared Michael''s reaction in her group chat with Philip and Rena.

    Philip replied: [Chloe, from what you said, Michael seems gullible. Just a little push and he''s in?]

    Chloe was just as baffled: [Exactly! I thought I''d have to be more clever about it.]

    Rena reassured her: [Don''t overthink it. Since he''s agreed, let''s get ready. Chloe, we''ll follow your n and work separately. Whether we can raise the money for the orphanage depends on us.] After chatting with them, Chloe closed herptop. Helping the orphanage through this crisis would be the most meaningful thing she had done in her college life.

    With Michael''s part settled, Chloe picked up herptop and was about to head upstairs when Grant walked in.

    He was wearing a long trench coat that suited his tall frame, giving him amanding presence. He seemed to have had a bit to drink, and as he entered, a slight scent of alcohol reached Chloe.

    As he took off his coat, he greeted Chloe, his deep eyes locking onto her. Chloe felt a bit flustered. Lately, she''d been inexplicably nervous around Grant. Was it their misaligned energies?

    Chloe wanted to make a quick exit. But Grant''s cool voice stopped her. "Chloe, what were you busy with today? You left early this morning."

    Grant had woken upte and found Chloe wasn''t home. When he asked the servants, they said she had gone to school. He wanted to know what Chloe had been up to but didn''t want to text her, so he waited until he got home to ask. Chloe stammered, unsure how to respond. Was he really interested in her, as Zara had suggested?

    Grant seemed to sense her difort and added, "Don''t think I''m meddling. You''re still in college, and Nichs and my grandfather asked us to look out for you, so naturally, I pay more attention to what you''re up to." Hearing this, Chloe calmed down, realizing she might have been overthinking.

    Seeing Chloe not answering, Grant, having hung up his coat, walked over to her. He looked at her expression and lowered his face, asking, "So nervous? Are you afraid of me?"

 Chapter 81 Dont Listen to Her Bragging

    As Grant''s warm breath brushed against Chloe''s face, her recently calm demeanor quickly vanished. Her heart started pounding, her cheeks flushed, and she got super

    nervous.

    She tried to turn away, but Grant pulled her back. "You still haven''t answered my question. Where did you go this morning?"

    Caught off guard by Grant''s tug, Chloe stumbled right into his arms. The moment their skin touched, Grant was reminded of that night at the pool when they were both almost naked. His breathing got heavier, his grip on her arm tightened, and his eyes sparkled with a look that showed just how much he was into her.

    No one knew how much the usuallyposed Grant wanted to pull Chloe into his

    arms.

    As Grant''s gaze grew more intense, Chloe saw her chance. She dropped herptop and kicked Grant''s knee. Grant snapped back to reality, the pain in his knee making him let go of Chloe.

    Taking advantage of the moment, Chloe quickly ran upstairs and escaped. Watching her leave, Grant couldn''t help but smile. Despite the throbbing pain radiating from his knee, he couldn''t help but admire her audacity. Chloe had proven herself to be remarkably astute. This wasn''t the first instance of herunching a surprise attack on him, and he suspected it wouldn''t be thest.

    After Chloe left, Grant picked up theptop she had left. He opened it and saw a line of text on the screen, "Orphanage Volunteer Program."

    Grant smiled slightly at the words. He muttered to himself, "Chloe is pretty kind- hearted, volunteering at an orphanage? That''s great."

    But then, he felt a bit worried.

    Chloe would definitely go to the orphanage with her ssmates, and he remembered seeing that Philip, who seemed very attentive to Chloe, during a basketball game. Philip would surely go to this volunteer event too.

    Grant didn''t like the idea of Chloe interacting with Philip. He silently noted the time and ce of Chloe''s volunteer work at the orphanage. He wasn''t going to leave anything to chance.

    In the following days, Chloe, Philip, and Rena were busy raising funds for the

    orphanage. Philip and Rena were scratching their heads, unsure how much money they could raise this time. They didn''t expect much, just enough to help the orphanage kids get through the winter safely.

    Some ssmates were whispering among themselves.

    "Hey, did you hear? Chloe said she would invite Michael to the orphanage to raise funds."

    "Don''t believe her. Michael is a big star, he''s so busy with several new movies. How could he have time to go to an orphanage?"

    "Exactly, Michael is always so busy. Even though Chloe has some connection with the Martin Family, I think she''s just bragging. She can''t seriously think that a marriage contract would bind the three heirs of the Martin Family and make her the mistress, right?"

    The whispers reached Chloe''s ears.

    Before she could get angry, Philip and Rena couldn''t stand it anymore. Rena, who had always had Chloe''s back, naturally believed in her and wanted to stand up for her. Chloe calmed her down, "Rena, don''t get worked up. It''s pointless to argue with them." "Chloe, I just can''t stand them talking about you like that. If it weren''t for you, getting rid of Lucy from Quest University, who knew how they would have been bullied by her. Now they''re turning around and talking about you. It''s so annoying," Rena fumed.

    Chloe shook her head and said, "What does it matter if they gossip about me? It doesn''t cause me any real harm. When Michael actually shows up at the orphanage, they''ll be shocked. Sit down with Philip, let''s n the fundraising."

    Chloe pulled Philip and Rena to sit down and continue their nning.

    At that moment, Karlie, who hadn''t replied to Chloe''s message, finally responded: [Sorry, I was filming a night scenest night and was busy. Just got your message. I''ll be there on time for the orphanage volunteer work. Thank you for arranging this.]

    Chloe showed Karlie''s message to Philip and Rena, and the three of them burst intoughter.

    Karlie was also a famous actress with countless fans. Her presence at the orphanage would surely bring a lot of attention. Not to mention, just setting up a phone for a live stream at the orphanage would bring in a considerable amount of money.

    The Davis family, steeped in business for generations, had instilled in Chloe a sharp acumen for making money. This event at the orphanage was no different; Chloe''s mind was alive with possibilities, strategizing on how to maximize the ie from Karlie''s involvement.

    Three days passed quickly. Dora from the orphanage had meticulously prepared the venue. She had also spent countless hours teaching the children a special performance designed to tug at the heartstrings and amplify the fundraising efforts.

    When the day arrived, the students from Quest University also showed up. Zara was there too. She had contacted her journalist friends to cover the event.

    At nine in the morning, the scheduled time, there was no sign of Michael or Karlie at

    the orphanage. Whispering among themselves, the ssmates who had agreed to help Chloe with the fundraising started to get restless.

    "I knew Chloe couldn''t get Michael. Look at the time, Michael and Karlie still aren''t here."

    "Looks like it''s not happening. Chloe messed up this time."

    "What are we going to do? If they don''te, we won''t be able to raise any money." The whispers reached the journalists'' ears. When they found out that it was Chloe, an unknown girl, who had invited Michael and Karlie, they were instantly deted.

    They were there because Zara had invited them, so they went to her first. "Zara, you made such a big deal about inviting us here, saying Michael and Karlie woulde and we could get thetest news. Now, we haven''t seen anyone. Are you kidding us?"

 Chapter 82 Grand Entrance

    "Yeah, Zara, everyone''s super busy. Who''s got time to hang out with a bunch of kids? This ce is falling apart. No way big stars like Michael and Karlie would show up here," one of the reporters grumbled, frustration evident in his voice.

    "Totally, maybe we should just bail," another reporter chimed in, looking around with a skeptical expression.

    Some reporters were already thinking about leaving, their patience wearing thin. Zara, trying to keep things under control, calmed the reporters down with a few reassuring words and then went to find Chloe.

    Over by Chloe, things were a mess. Philip, Rena, and Dora were all huddled around her, trying to figure out what to do.

    Philip stressed, "Chloe, if Michael and Karlie don''t show, we''re going to look so bad. Can you call them again? See where they''re at?" His voice was tinged with panic.

    "Philip, chill. Chloe''s already stressed. If they don''te, we''ll figure something out," Rena said, her voice steady as she tried to ease the tension.

    Philip shot back, "What can we figure out? We promised they''d be here! We can''t just make stuff up now." His frustration was evident in his furrowed brow and raised voice.

    Zara, equally worried, chimed in, "Yeah, Chloe, can you try calling them again? With all these reporters here, we really need them to show up."

    Even Dora, usually the calm one, was starting to regret believing they''de. "Who are Michael and Karlie? Are big stars like theming to a ce like this? No way," she sighed.

    "Look, everyone, don''t stress. If they don''te, I''ll exin to the reporters that it was my idea to get them here to raise funds, and it has nothing to do with you guys," Dora said, taking responsibility.

    While everyone else was freaking out, Chloe stayed surprisingly calm, checking her phone now and then.

    "Rx, guys. Michael and Karlie wille. If they don''t, the Davis Family will cover all the orphanage''s future funds," Chloe said confidently.

    Another ten minutes passed, and the chatter got louder. Reporters were starting to pack up, and Zara was trying to get them to stay a bit longer.

    One of them, who knew Zara, confronted her, "Zara, I came here because you said Michael and Karlie would be here. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have bothered with this rundown ce."

    The reporter''s words hit Zara hard.

    Chloe felt a knot in her stomach. She could handle the pressure, but Zara had brought these reporters to help her out. If Zara got humiliated because of her, it wouldn''t be fair. Zara had always had her back, and now Chloe needed to step up.

    Chloe walked up to the reporter and said, "Hey, this isn''t Zara''s fault. It was my idea, and I messed up."

    The reporter, still packing up, snapped back, "What''s your apology worth? You''re wasting my time. A bunch of students like you trying to get Michael and Karlie? What a joke. I can''t believe I fell for this. If you can''t deliver, don''t make promises. Zara, this is thest time I trust you. I''m out."

    After chewing out Zara and Chloe, the reporter called his colleagues to leave.

    Just then, the sound of roaring engines filled the air. Everyone turned to see a group of sleek motorcyclists pulling up to the orphanage gate. Leading the pack was Liam.

    As he took off his helmet, everyone was stunned. He was incredibly handsome. Students from Quest University, who saw Liam more often, were more used to him. But the reporters were witnessing something totally unexpected. They went nuts, snapping pictures of Liam like crazy.

    Liam was confused by all the attention. Wasn''t he here to help his idol with some volunteer work? Why were there so many reporters? Where was she?

    Ignoring the reporters, Liam pushed through the crowd to find Zara. The reporter who had mocked her was left speechless when Liam stood next to her.

    Seeing Liam, Chloe finally felt a bit of relief. At least someone was here to back her up.

    As the reporters focused on Liam, a luxury van pulled up at the orphanage gate. The next moment, Michael, dressed in casual clothes, stepped out. He had a cloth in one hand and a mop in the other, looking ready to get to work.

    Shortly after Michael''s arrival, a red sports car pulled up. The famous star Karlie, who was always morous on camera, got out. She was dressed simrly to Michael, even wearing an apron.

    Seeing them, everyone was overjoyed. Dora, Philip, and Rena quickly went to greet them.

    Chloe turned around, took a deep breath, and finally rxed. Her tense features softened when she thought no one was looking.

    Just then, another car sped towards the orphanage.

 Chapter 83 Im Scared

    All the guests had already arrived, and Chloe was scratching her head, wondering who else might be arriving now.

    When the car pulled up, Chloe saw Grant step out, ditching his usual suit for a cool, casual look. Spotting Chloe at the orphanage entrance, he started teasing her. "Chloe, seriously? You set up this volunteer gig and invited Michael and Liam but left me out? What''s up with that? Do you think I''m not good-hearted enough to lend out a helping hand or just too broke to donate?"

    As soon as Grant finished, a swarm of reporters rushed over, snapping pictures like crazy. Compared to Michael and Liam, Grant was the big fish they all wanted to catch.

    The orphanage might have looked in, but it was pretty impressive. The arrival of the three heirs added some serious clout to the event, and the reporters covered it all. One reporter, who had previously mocked Chloe and Zara, found a moment to apologize sincerely.

    After the event, Grant kicked things off by donating half a million dors to the struggling orphanage. Michael and his on-screen partner, Karlie, chipped in together another million, and Liam, inspired by his brothers, matched their donations.

    With contributions pouring in from all over, the orphanage''s ount swelled to nearly 3 million dors in just half a day. Dora was all smiles as she held Chloe''s hand, overflowing with gratitude. "Chloe, you blew me away. I never imagined you''d bring so many celebs to our orphanage. With this money, the kids won''t have to worry about winter for years. You''re a real lifesaver."

    Dora and the kids thanked Chloe, and seeing their innocent smiles, Chloe felt a wave of aplishment. She gently patted the head of the child who had lent her the hemostatic ointment, epting their thanks.

    As the event wrapped up and everyone was getting ready to leave, Chloe got a message on her phone: [Miss Davis, how much are you nning to donate to the orphanage this time?]

    Chloe nced at the orphanage''s rundown conditions, thought for a moment, and replied: [One million, for next year''s renovation.]

    The reply came quickly: [Yes, Miss Davis.]

    Just as she sent the message, Grant, Michael, and Liam approached her, looking pretty ticked off. Feeling a bit guilty for tricking them, Chloe grabbed her bag and tried to make a quick exit. But the three brothers crossed their arms and surrounded her, looking all serious.

    Chloe felt cornered. She knew there was no way she was getting out of this one.

    With no other option, she stered on a smile and started buttering them up. "Grantie, you looked so handsome fixing those wires earlier. I never knew you had it in you. Truly impressive for the president of the Martin Group."

    She turned to Michael. "Mic, you were amazing too. How did you get the floor so spotless? I totally underestimated you. A star like you deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame."

    Then she looked at Liam. "Liam, you were incredible. Your idol just told me she saw a whole new side of you and believes in you. Keep it up!"

    The three brothers stared at Chloe, who was pulling out all the stops to save herself, her mole moving with every expression. Using them and then trying to smooth things over with ttery-only Chloe could pull that off. She definitely deserved a good scolding.

    Despite her praise, their faces stayed stern, and once she finished, they made their

    move.

    At Grant''s signal, Michael and Liam grabbed Chloe from both sides, their grips firm and unyielding. Without a word, they shoved her into Grant''s car, the action swift and decisive. Grant then drove off, the engine roaring as he sped away. After exchanging a look, Liam and Michael quickly followed in their own cars, their expressions tense and focused.

    Zara, Philip, and Rena stood there, watching the scene unfold with growing concern for Chloe. Their hearts were heavy with worry.

    Philip, his brow furrowed, said, "Oh no, the three brothers didn''t look too happy. Could they be mad because we tricked them into this volunteer event?" His voice was filled with unease.

    Zara, crossing her arms thoughtfully, remarked, "It''s very likely. Chloe told them it was a volunteer event but didn''t mention the donations." She nced at the others, her face reflecting her own apprehension.

    Rena nodded in agreement. "But the donations were voluntary. Chloe and we didn''t force them," she said, her tone defensive yet uncertain. She looked at her friends, hoping they shared her conviction that they had done nothing wrong.

    After a bit longer in the real world, Zara thought for a moment and said, "We didn''t force them to donate, but we did create a situation and use moral obligation. Maybe they didn''t want to donate."

    Philip nodded. "Right, making money isn''t easy for anyone. They looked like they wanted to tear Chloe apart."

    Sitting nervously in the back seat of Grant''s car, Chloe nced at his icy expression in the rearview mirror. It was the first time she had seen him look so cold since joining the Martin family, and she could tell he was furious. Michael and Liam didn''t look happy either when they dragged her to their brother''s car. Were they nning to drag her home and give her a piece of their mind?

    If it were just Grant, she could handle it, but if all three of them ganged up on her, she was in for it.

    Chloe clutched her small bag tightly, her mind racing with one thought, ''I''m scared!''

 Chapter 84 A Man Who Can Be Defeated, Dough That Can Be Kneaded

    Seeing Chloe all scared and trembling, Grant couldn''t help but feel smug. Finally, the fearless Chloe was showing some fear. Her wide, anxious eyes made him want to

    protect her, but he kept his face stern, hiding his satisfaction. This time, he had to teach Chloe a lesson. She needed to understand that messing with the Martin Family heirs came with consequences.

    "Grantie, it was my fault today. I apologize," Chloe said, her voice shaky.

    Grant didn''t react, and Chloe''s voice grew even softer. She wanted to reach out and grab his arm but chickened out at thest second. The usually bold Chloe was nowpletely unsure of herself.

    She pulled out her phone and texted Nichs: [Grandpa, I want to go home. I got into big trouble.]

    Nichs wasn''t fazed by her plea for help. [What kind of trouble? Did you poke a hole in the sky?] he replied.

    [No, Grandpa, I offended the three heirs. Judging by their angry looks, they probably want to beat me up. I want to go back to our home. I''m scared.] Chloe texted back.

    She thought acting all pitiful would make her grandpa feel sorry for her and let here back home. But Nichs''s reply shocked her: [Oh, you just offended them? It''s not like you ruined their family. If they dare hit you, hit them back. To be the future mistress, you have to show strength. Don''t be afraid; go for it. As long as you don''t kill them, I''ll always be on your side.]

    Reading this, Chloe felt like she was doomed. Her grandpa was crazy, putting her in danger like this. Forget it, she couldn''t rely on him.

    Since that was the case, she decided to change her strategy. Chloe straightened up, cleared her throat, and went from scared to "what can you do to me" in an instant.

    Grant, who was driving, saw Chloe''s defiant look in the rearview mirror and started to wonder. Did she find some backup after sending those messages? Even if she did, she still needed a good lesson.

    Half an hourter, Grant dragged Chloe into the Martin Mansion''s living room, his grip firm and unrelenting. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows that added to the oppressive atmosphere. Soon, the three heirs were all there, surrounding her. The tension in the room was thick, almost suffocating.

    Chloe kept thinking. If these three attacked her, who should she hit first? Her eyes darted between them, assessing her options.

    Liam? Sure, his motorcycle skills were trash, but Chloe wasn''t sure if he could throw a punch. Would she regret it if she went after him first? She couldn''t gauge his physical strength just by looking at him.

    Michael? The guy was a film star, all delicate and stuff. Maybe he was the easiest target? His polished appearance and refined demeanor made him seem less threatening, but was that just a facade?

    Grant? No way. Chloe had tangled with him before, and he was no pushover. Going after him first was a bad idea. She remembered their previous encounters vividly; he was strong and relentless, not someone to be underestimated.

    Her thoughts whirled as she considered her options, the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

    Just then, Liam piped up, his voice filled with frustration, "Hey, ugly girl, what the heck happened today? You told me I''d meet my idol at the orphanage, but I ended up scrubbing toilets all day!"

    Chloe shed a sheepish grin, her eyes darting around nervously. "Didn''t you meet her?" she asked, trying to deflect some of the tension.

    Liam''s face twisted in annoyance. "Yeah, I did. She said two things to me: ''Mr. Martin, clean the toilet,'' and ''Mr. Martin, see you next time.""

    Liam had hoped to chat with his idol, but it was a total bust. He felt like he wasted his time and money.

    "Oh,e on, she talked to you. I promised you''d meet her and get a chance to chat. If you can''t grab her attention, that''s your problem, not mine. Don''t me the wind for your inability to sail, got it?"

    Chloe''s snarkyeback left Liam speechless. She kinda had a point.

    Seeing Liam shut up, Michael stepped in. "Chloe, what about me? You said we were going to volunteer at the orphanage, but you never mentioned donating money or that there''d be so many reporters. I showed up with a mop and a rag. Don''t you think that messes with my image? You better exin, or you''ll regret it."

    Michael looked like he was ready to tear Chloe apart. Chloe thought for a second and then calmly said, "Did I ask you to donate money? That was your kind heart at work. As for the reporters, you''re a star-handsome and popr-so they''re bound to follow you. Your image of holding a mop and rag, being so down-to-earth and kind-hearted, will bring you tons of fans. You can''t take the perks and still act like you''re at a loss."

    Michael''s anger started to fade. She had a point. He was handsome and popr, and helping the orphanage was a good deed that would only boost his image. In the end, he gained more than he lost.

    As for the donation, it was just the cost of a suit for him, no big deal.

    Seeing his two younger brothers being swayed by Chloe, Grant sighed and shook his head. He coldly asked Chloe, "What about me? What trick did you pull on me?"

 Chapter 85 Tormented for a While

    Hearing Grant''s question, Chloe looked up. When her eyes met Grant''s intense stare, she felt a flicker of fear. She mumbled softly, "You... were just an ident."

    "ident? What do you mean? Chloe, you''re getting out of hand. How many times have you schemed against me?" Grant used.

    Chloe wasn''t having it. She pouted and shot back, "Grantie, watch your mouth. Throwing around false usations can get you in trouble. My ssmates and I were just volunteering at the orphanage, and we didn''t invite you. You showed up on your own, tools in hand, eager to fix the wiring. The kids were thrilled, and you donated money on your own. How can you im I set you up? It had nothing to do with me." Chloe''s argument was solid, leaving Grant speechless. Today''s event was something he insisted on attending. Chloe hadn''t even sent him an invite. He was just jealous and worried about Chloe spending too much time with Philip, which was why he went.

    In the end, it really had nothing to do with Chloe.

    The three brothers were left speechless by Chloe''s retort. Looking at each other, puzzled by what went wrong, they realized they were the ones doing the work, spending the money, yet not achieving the oue they wanted.

    Taking advantage of their confusion, Chloe tried to sneak away, but the three heirs quickly caught on. They grabbed her and held her back.

    Liam said, "Chloe, if you scheme against someone, you have to pay the price." "Let''s go to the backyard," Michael added.

    With that, the three of them carried Chloe to the backyard of the Martin Mansion.

    Chloe protested. "Hey, let me go. This is a society governed byw. You can''t take thew into your own hands. Let me go. If you dare to hit me, I''ll report you to Louis, and he won''t let you off."

    Despite Chloe''s various attempts to resist, they didn''t let her go. A few minutester, they carried her to the swimming pool.

    Grant pointed to the nearly 2,000 square foot swimming pool and said, "Chloe, this is your fault today. As punishment, you have to clean this swimming pool. Otherwise..."

    Liam chimed in, "Otherwise, I''ll hang you up and whip your butt."

    Michael added, "Yeah, you have to clean it thoroughly, Chloe. Don''t make me pull that mole off your face."

    Seeing them looking so fierce, Chloe gave in. She was living under their roof and couldn''t win against the three capable brothers.

    She thought, ''As the saying goes, a wise person knows when to retreat. It''s just a 2,000 square foot swimming pool; I can handle it.''

    Chloe sighed, "Fine, I''ll clean it. I''ll start now."

    Seeing Chloe agree, Liam quickly brought over the cleaning supplies. "This pool needs to be rinsed with clean water first, then scrubbed with a brush, disinfected, and rinsed twice more before it can be refilled. Ugly girl, do a good job."

    After giving Chloe instructions, the three brothers ordered the servants to bring food and drinks, set up a sunshade, and sat by the pool to supervise.

    Scrubbing the 2,000 square foot swimming pool, Chloe soon found herself drenched in sweat. Her arms were sore and barely able to lift. She wanted to plead for mercy, but seeing the looks on the three brothers'' faces, she angrily continued working.

    As she worked, she muttered variousints at them, "What the heck? You three are sitting there eating and drinking while I do all the work? Is it because of the money you donated? Is that why you''re so upset? Anyone who doesn''t know might think the Martin Family is going bankrupt and can''t even spare a few millions. The three of you are just evil!"

    Cleaning the pool exhausted Chloe, taking her from afternoon until evening. When she finally finished, Liam approached, showing off a te of freshly washed grapes. He asked, "Ugly girl, want some grapes?"

    Chloe nced at his annoying face and snapped, "Get lost..."

    With that, Chloe dropped the cleaning tools and dragged her tired body upstairs to her room. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep without even eating dinner.

    Because of all the climbing around while cleaning the pool, Chloe had injured her leg. The next morning, she found it difficult to walk to school.

    On her way to ss, Chloe ran into Philip and Rena. The two of them had been worried about Chloe all day yesterday, fearing that the three brothers of the Martin Family would beat her up. So when they saw Chloe, they quickly caught up to her.

    "Chloe, what happened? What''s wrong with your leg?" Philip immediately noticed Chloe''s difficulty walking and asked with concern.

    Rena also asked, "Yeah, what''s wrong with it? Did those three beat you up?"

    Hearing Rena and Philip''s concern, Chloe quickly said, "No, I didn''t get beaten up. How could they possibly beat me?"

    "But your leg?" Rena looked at Chloe''s struggling leg again.

    Chloe sighed and said, "They didn''t beat me, but they did make me suffer."

    The word "suffer" made Rena and Philip exchange nces. As modern college

    students, their thoughts quickly went astray. What they imagined as "suffering" was something entirely different.

    "Chloe, did all three of them do it together?" Philip thought for a moment and nervously asked Chloe this question.

 Chapter 86 She is Very Cute

    Chloe thought that Philip''s words made a lot of sense.

    Just yesterday afternoon, while she was cleaning the pool alone, the three heirs sat by

    the pool, watching her work. Weren''t they all in on it together?

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Philip and Rena exchanged nces once again.

    They then nced at Chloe''s leg, which wasn''t very mobile, and their expressions revealed a deep sense of sympathy for her.

    Philip said, "Chloe, poor thing, you really went all out to get some donations for the orphanage?"

    "Yeah, letting all three of them go at once? You... oh, that''s too pitiful," remarked Rena.

    Philip and Rena''s words gave Chloe a peek at what was going on in their dirty minds. She stared at them and asked, "What do you mean?"

    "Isn''t it obvious? The three of them, together with you..." Philip made a hand gesture where one hand formed an "O" shape with the thumb and index finger, and another index finger was inserted into the ring.

    Seeing this, Chloe got angry and pped Philip on the head. "What are you thinking? Philip, can you be any more vulgar? I meant they teamed up to bully me, making me clean the pool. I identally hit my knee, which is why I''m walking awkwardly."

    After Chloe''s exnation, Rena finally came to her senses. She pointed at Chloe''s leg and asked, "So, your leg was hurt, but not in that way?"

    "What nonsense are you talking about? You guys, I am really speechless to all for you." Seeing Rena and Philip like this, Chloe felt helpless.

    Yes, she did have a marriage agreement with one of the three young masters of the Martin Family, but it was only with one of them, not all of them.

    Did she just hurt her leg? How could that make them think of those things?

    Seeing Chloe limping away, Philip and Rena immediately followed. "Chloe, wait for us." Without turning her head, Chloe shouted back at them, "Get lost."

    At this moment, Chloe felt that her friendship with Philip and Rena had run its course. How did she end up making two troublesome friends at Quest University?

    Meanwhile, Grant, who was still busy in the office, received a rare call from Louis.

    Grant respected Louis a lot. As soon as he received Louis''s call, he stood up and adopted a very respectful attitude. "Grandpa, it''s Grant."

    After a few pleasantries, Louis got straight to the point. He asked, "Grant, how is Chloe doing at your ce? Has she caused any trouble for you?"

    Hearing Louis''s question, Grant quickly replied, "Grandpa, not at all. Chloe is very sensible and clever, and she is very independent. She hasn''t caused any trouble for the three of us."

    "Oh, that''s good. I called Nichs yesterday, and he told me that you three seemed to want to kick Chloe out. Is that true?" Louis''s words were calm, but there was a hint of questioning in his tone.

    Grant quickly replied, "No, Grandpa, don''t worry. We would never kick Chloe out. She''s very cute, and we all like her a lot."

    Grant''s mind drifted back to the previous afternoon, remembering Chloe scrubbing the pool floor.

    Chloe, sweating profusely, was wiping the floor around the pool, muttering to herself without anyone really knowing what she was saying. Her facial expressions were particrly animated, and therge mole on her face moved up and down with her changing expressions, making her look quite adorablyical.

    Louis said, "Alright, since you all like her, I won''t worry. Remember, don''t let her leave the Martin Family. If I hear that you three kicked her out, watch out."

    After Louis hung up, Grant sat down, somewhat lost in thought. Yesterday, while Chloe was cleaning the pool, she seemed to have bumped her knee. This morning, as she headed to school, she appeared to be having some difficulty walking. It was hard to tell if her knee was still hurting now.

    Louis had asked him to take care of her. Since her knee was injured, should he send some pain relief ointment?

    The thought nagged at him until he could no longer sit still. He grabbed his coat from the rack and was about to leave the office when Stanley walked in. Seeing Grant about to leave, he asked, "Mr. Martin, are you going out?"

    Grant nodded. "Yeah, I need to go to Quest University."

    Hearing this, Stanley naturally thought of Chloe. He asked, "Is Miss Davis in trouble again?"

    Grant red at him. What did he mean by that? How could such a cute girl cause trouble?

    Facing Grant''s re, Stanley realized he had misspoken. He quickly corrected himself, "No, I mean, does Miss Davis need you for something?"

    Grant gave him a withering look and snapped, "It''s not that she needs me, it''s that I need her. Stanley, what kind of assistant are you? Do I need to report to you where I''m going and what I''m doing?"

    Facing Grant''s questioning, Stanley quickly shut his mouth. He was just a bit nosy and wanted to know more about Grant''s private life. He didn''t mean to make Grant report to him.

    "Mr. Martin, I''ll go prepare the car." Stanley quickly left.

    When Grant reached the lobby downstairs, he saw Sophia in a tight dressing in from outside. Seeing Grant, Sophia eagerly approached him. "Mr. Martin..."

    She greeted Grant, and as she moved closer to him, she expertly adjusted her tight- fitting pencil skirt, revealing just a hint of skin from her chest in a subtle, yet noticeable way.

    Grant nodded at Sophia, and as they passed each other, he suddenly stopped. He turned and looked at Sophia, scanning her up and down before finally focusing on her chest.

    Sophia, already voluptuous, looked even more so in her tight dress, her chest bulging. Any man would take a second look.

    Feeling she had caught Grant''s attention, Sophia was very pleased.

 Chapter 87 Mr. Martins Double Standards

    Men were all the same always thinking with their hormones. No guy could resist stopping dead in his tracks at a sight like that.

    If she used her chest to lure Grant in, she was confident that she could transform this aloof and unattainable person into someone who was infatuated with her, bing one of her admirers.

    Grant called out, "Sophia."

    "Mr. Martin, what can I do for you?" Sophia asked, putting on her best submissive act.

    Men often liked women who appear vulnerable in front of them, as this tended to strongly evoke their protective instincts.

    Grant asked, "Sophia, the Martin Group is a top-notchpany. We thrive on performance and ability. Do you think it''s appropriate for a Martin Group employee to show up to work dressed like this?"

    Sophia had thought Grant was into her until he said that, making her realize she might have gone overboard with her outfit today.

    "Mr. Martin..." Sophia started to adjust her clothes.

    Grant shot her a fierce look and continued, "Our employees at the Martin Group earn their keep through their skills. Dressing like this, people might think you''re here to sell yourself. If I see you wearing something like this to work again, consider yourself fired."

    With that, Grant turned and walked away. Sophia stood in the lobby, feeling humiliated and unsure whether to stay or leave.

    When Grant stepped outside, Stanley had already pulled up the car and was ready to drive him to Quest University. As soon as he got in the car, Grant started giving orders, "Stanley, tell the HR department to issue a dress code policy ASAP. Did you see what Sophia was wearing? It''s just... her sense of fashion was notablycking. Why can''t women dress clean and neat like Chloe?"

    Stanley was left speechless. He touched his nose and kept quiet. However, he couldn''t help butment in his head: Grant was being a hypocrite, praising Chloe''s clean and neat attire now, forgetting what she wore to his house two months ago.

    Grant arrived at the school and headed straight for Chloe''s ssroom. It was break time, and Rena, Philip, and a few other ssmates were gathered around Chloe, chatting away.

    Standing by the window outside the ssroom, Grant saw Chloe through the ss. She looked really happy, talking and gesturing with Philip. They were pretty close, and Philip asionally leaned in closer to Chloe.

    The closeness between them made the usuallyposed Grant feel a stab of jealousy. He just couldn''t stand Chloe talking to other guys, especially Philip. There was always a nagging fear that Philip was just waiting for the right moment to swoop in and steal Chloe from him.

    Chloe was so into the conversation that she didn''t notice Grant standing outside with a cold expression. Luckily, Rena spotted him and quickly told Chloe, "Chloe, your uncle is here..."

    "Which uncle?" Chloe turned around and locked eyes with Grant.

    Chloe was puzzled. Wasn''t this supposed to be work time? Why was Grant at the school looking for her? Could something important have happened? But even so, he shouldn''t havee, right? Couldn''t he just send a message if something was up?

    Grant strode into the ssroom withrge steps. His height,bined with his maturity, created a strong presence that instantly filled the room. As soon as he entered, the overwhelming aura he exuded made all the boys in the ss feel a sense of pressure.

    "Why are you here?" Grant''s sudden appearance made Chloe a bit embarrassed.

    Grant didn''t answer her question. He knelt in front of Chloe and grabbed her leg. When hisrge hand held Chloe''s calf, she felt a tingling sensation, as if she had been electrified. Her body stiffened instantly. Never having been touched by a man like this, she was at a loss.

    Grant said, "You injured your leg and didn''t tell us. Do you know how much suffering a leg injury can cause if it leaves asting problem? Sit still, don''t move. I''ll apply some ointment."

    While scolding Chloe, Grant rolled up her pant leg, found the bruise on her knee, and took out some ointment. He used his fingertips to gently apply it to Chloe''s knee. With surprising tenderness, he used his fingertips to gently apply it to the bruise. The cool ointment provided immediate relief when it touched Chloe''s swollen skin. Grant''s long fingers seemed to work magic, sending waves of warmth and a strange excitement through Chloe with every touch.

    It took a while for Grant to finish applying the ointment. He carefully ced Chloe''s leg back down, rolled down her pant leg, and then stood up to lecture her. "You''re an adult now. You should know how to take care of yourself. Keep this ointment and apply it if it hurts."

    Bewildered, Chloe epted the ointment Grant offered. She was still trying to process his sudden concern. What was Grant up to? Yesterday, he didn''t show any concern when he made her clean the swimming pool. Now he rushed over to give her ointment for her injured leg? What did this mean-a punishment followed bypensation? Grant said, "Alright, I''m leaving now. I''lle to pick you up for lunch after school." After saying this, Grant turned and left, shooting Philip a cold re. Startled, Philip wondered how he had provoked the big boss; he didn''t think he had.

    Philip was startled by Grant''s intense gaze. He thought to himself that he hadn''t done anything to provoke Grant, had he?

    But what did Grant''s re mean? Could he be interested in him? The notion made him shiver. No way-Philip knew his own sexual orientation was straight. He didn''t want to even entertain the idea of Grant being interested in him.

    As soon as Grant left the ssroom, the female students, still in a daze, quickly surrounded Chloe. Assuming that Grant was a rtive of Chloe''s, the female ssmates gathered around her tightly, eager to learn more about the connection between the two.

    "Hey, Chloe, how old is he? He''s so handsome!"

    "Yeah, does he have a girlfriend? If not, can you introduce him to me?"

 Chapter 88 Does He Like Boys?

    "Even if he has a girlfriend, I don''t care. I don''t mind being his other girlfriend. Chloe, please introduce me to him."

    Some were even more straightforward. One girl, holding Chloe''s hand with a dreamy look, said, "Chloe, I want to be your aunt."

    Even a rather effeminate boy approached Chloe, trying to promote himself. "Chloe, does your uncle like boys? I''m super obedient and always listen to my partner. Maybe he could consider me?"

    Chloe was about to pass out right there.

    To shut down her ssmates'' fantasies, Chloe had to drop a harsh truth bomb. "Forget about him, everyone. He doesn''t go for naive little girls like you. He likes mature women. The kind with a voluptuous figure, alluring charm, and a smile that can captivate cities and nations. Look at you all, with your underdeveloped bodies - you won''t win his favor like that."

    After dealing with the girls, Chloe turned to the bold boy. She said to him, "Oh my pity boy. You don''t even have breasts. How could he possibly like you?"

    Chloe''s words made the boy so mad that he started yelling. He pointed at Chloe and said, "Do you think just because I don''t have them now, I won''t have them in the future? I''m going to get stic surgery, get fake breasts, and make them just the way he likes. I believe one day, he''ll fall for me."

    After saying this, the boy put on a sad face and ran away, covering his face.

    Chloe''s remarks were just to make everyoneugh; she didn''t think much of it. Unexpectedly, within half an hour, what she had said had already reached Liam''s ears. Liam listened to the gossip with a look of disbelief. "That ugly girl said that? Grant likes full-figured women with big breasts? Howe I didn''t know?"

    "Now I understand why Grant hasn''t found a girlfriend all these years. He''d rather turn cold and aloof, keeping his distance from women, simply because he hasn''t met the right one. And let''s face it, it''s not easy to find a woman with such a voluptuous figure and an alluring charm. Grant has quite a unique taste," Liam muttered to himself. Near the end of the school day, he received a message from Grant: [I''m passing by your school. I''ll take you and Chloe out for lunch at a restaurant not far from your school. Bring her along.]

    After receiving this message, a smile appeared on Liam''s face. He raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face. Chloe had set traps for him many times before. Now that he had this opportunity, shouldn''t he let Chloe taste his methods too?

    Liam muttered to himself, "Ugly girl, you''re dead."

    At noon, after ss, Liam went to Chloe''s ssroom to find her. He practically dragged her out towards the restaurant Grant had chosen.

    By the time they arrived, Grant was already there, the table set with a delectable array

    of Northwest dishes that Chloe adored. The inviting aroma of grilled meat and fragrant herbs filled the air, stirring up her fond memories and warming her heart.

    As she caught sight of Grant, the memory of his tender care earlier that day shed across her mind. She blushed, her cheeks turning a soft pink. Trying to sound uncharacteristically sweet, she softly called out, "Grantie."

    Her sudden change in behavior made Liam feel weird. In his mind, Chloe was never this docile. What had gotten into her?

    "Sit down. I ordered the dishes you like. Consider it your reward for cleaning the pool yesterday." Grant said coolly, his face an unreadable mask. His voice rolled over them with a calm authority, his eyes betraying no hint of emotion.

    Chloe sat down, and Liam followed suit.

    While the three of them were eating, they chatted here and there. Today, Chloe seemed especially quiet. Grant would ask a question, and she''d only respond with terse, almost mechanical replies.

    Halfway through the meal, Liam decided to spill the tea. "Grant, today at our school, I heard some gossip about you."

    "Oh? Gossip about me?" Grant was taken aback for a moment. He raised his eyebrows and nced at Liam.

    In his mind, any rumors about him at Quest University must be linked to Chloe. After all, he, who usually kept a low profile, had made a special and ostentatious effort toe to Chloe''s ssroom today to apply ointment on her.

    Without thinking, Liam blurted out what he had heard. "Rumor has it you like women with big breasts and curves, which is why you haven''t married yet you haven''t found someone who excites you. Grant, is it true you prefer mature women? One of the cleaning staff heard about your type and wants to introduce her 200-pound daughter withrge breasts to you."

    Liam exaggerated Chloe''s words a bit. When Chloe heard this, she instantly didn''t dare to speak. She lowered her head and kept shoveling food into her mouth. Never before had she felt so embarrassed.

    Liam''s words made Grant''s face change dramatically. He mmed the utensils in his hand on the table. Then, with a cold expression, he stared at Liam and asked, "Which ssmate did you hear this rumor from?"

    His tone was icy, and even without looking up, Chloe could feel the anger in his words. At this moment, she kept praying to God, hoping that the foolish Liam wouldn''t rat her

    out.

    But before her prayers could be answered, Liam spoke, "It was the ugly girl who said it. She told her ssmates that."

    As soon as Liam spoke, Chloe was dumbfounded. Grant''s furious gaze shifted from Liam to Chloe.Chloe squirmed in her seat, feeling goosebumps rising on her skin bit by

    bit under Grant''s intense re. She felt like Grant wanted to kill her.

    If she had known Liam was so talkative, she wouldn''t havee to lunch today. Her mind raced, thinking of how to get out of this mess.

    After a moment, she raised her head, put on a smile, and awkwardly said, "Um, you guys go ahead and eat. I need to go to the restroom."

 Chapter 89 The Legendary Two-faced

    To save her own skin, Chloe got up and left immediately. At this moment, Her leg didn''t hurt anymore, and she was moving faster than a rabbit on caffeine. She made a beeline for the restroom, rather deal with a bit of pain than face Grant''s wrath.

    Chloe headed to the restroom. Just then, coincidentally, Sophia, who had been scolded by Grant earlier that morning, also appeared at the same restaurant. She spotted Grant and Liam first, then noticed Chloe rushing to the restroom.

    Seeing Chloe made Sophia''s blood boil. How could such a in girl catch Grant''s eye? For her, Grant had actually ditched an important meeting to have lunch with her? What did Chloe have besides a good family background?

    Sophia was fuming. She decided to follow Chloe to the restroom, nning to humiliate her.

    Chloe entered the restroom first, followed by Sophia. At the restroom entrance, there was a small bucket used by the cleaning staff. As Sophia went in, she grabbed the bucket and filled it with cold water. She nned to dump the water on Chloe''s head when she squatted downpletely. Sophia wanted to teach her a lesson and see how she could possibly continue to attract Grant after that.

    Chloe had gone to the restroom to escape Grant''s intense stare. Once inside a stall, she leaned against it and started muttering under her breath, "Liam, you really had to run your mouth, didn''t you? I''m so screwed. Grant''s never gonna let this slide. What do I do? I need to go to my hometown, I need to find my Grandpa."

    While Chloe was anxiously wracking her brain for a solution, freaking out, Sophia carried the bucket of water she had just filled and headed to the restroom. She stepped onto the toilet seat, intending to pour the bucket of water over Chloe.

    But Chloe, still muttering to herself, looked up and saw the bucket. She instantly knew what was about to go down. With lightning reflexes, she jumped up and pped the bucket hard. The bucket tipped, and the water cascaded over Sophia''s head, soaking herpletely.

    Chloe couldn''t help butugh. She straightened her clothes and walked out of the stall. Chloe took a moment topose herself and straighten her clothes. She then opened the stall door and walked towards the restroom entrance.

    At the restroom door, she saw Sophia, drenched from head to toe. The water had ruined her perfectly styled hair, which now clung to her shoulders, and her foundation was streaked with white lines. The worst part was her mascara, which had run down her face, leaving ck smudges that made her look both ridiculous and pitiful.

    When their eyes met, they both knew exactly what the other was thinking.

    Chloe always figured if anyone was gonna dump water on her, it''d be Grant. But It turned out Sophia! That woman was twisted. If Chloe hadn''t reacted so fast, she''d be the one standing there soaked.

    Seeing her chance, Chloe decided to throw some shade. "Oh, Miss Brown, what''s the deal? No water at home? Had toe to the restaurant for a bath?"

    Chloe''s mocking tone made Sophia''s blood boil. Her curvy frame shook with rage. "None of your business!"

    Maybe feeling a bit guilty, Sophia didn''t argue much. She dropped the bucket and stormed out.

    Just then, Grant, who''d been waiting for Chloe, came looking for her. As soon as he stepped out, he saw a drenched Sophiaing out of the restroom, with a smirking Chloe right behind her.

    Sophia hadn''t expected Grant to show up. The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up, and she quickly thought of a way to get back at Chloe.

    In an instant, her slightly altered features contorted into a grimace more pained than if she had lost a loved one, and sheined to Grant, "Mr. Martin, Chloe is so mean! She poured water all over me. This is a restaurant, how can she be so cruel? How can I face anyone like this? I''m freezing!"

    Sophia was a pro at ying the victim in front of Grant. Her ability to twist the truth was something else.

    So, this was how women fought? Grant''s eyes turned to Chloe.

    Chloe quickly defended herself, "Sophia, don''t lie. How could I pour water on you? Clearly, your house ran out of water, and you came here to take a bath. I just came to use the restroom, how could I have poured water on you? Don''t frame me."

    She looked at Grant, worried he might believe Sophia.

    "Chloe, stop lying. You poured water on me and still won''t admit it? I''m not stupid, why would I pour water on myself in a ce like this? I know you''ve always disliked me and wanted to teach me a lesson. It was you who poured water on me!" Sophia shrank her body and moved closer to Grant, trying to look as pitiful as possible. But Grant wasn''t interested in her and didn''t feel any sympathy. "Mr. Martin, you have to stand up for me, I''m freezing!"

    Sophia''s act left Chloe speechless. She just wanted to use the restroom, how did she end up being used like this? Sophia was truly the queen of being two-faced.

    Before Chloe could think of how to clear her name, she saw Sophia moving her drenched body closer to Grant. And it was the kind of closeness that suggested she wanted to throw herself into his arms.

    But Grant didn''t seem to notice Sophia''s intentions at first. By the time he realized what was happening, her wet body was already leaning against him.

 Chapter 90 Asking for Trouble

    Seeing that Grant didn''t react and seemed to ept her, Sophia decided to push her luck. She put on a sugary sweet voice, "Mr. Martin, I''m so cold. Can you lend me your jacket?"

    Hearing Sophia''s voice, Grant immediately reacted and shoved Sophia, who was leaning on him, away. Sophia stumbled and almost hit the ground.

    Even after pushing her, Grant wasn''t satisfied and snapped, "What are you thinking? If I give you my jacket, what am I supposed to wear?"

    Grant''s words left Sophia speechless. She never expected him to be so unconsiderate and stubborn.

    Chloe, who saw the whole thing, couldn''t help but find it hrious.

    Just then, a staff member responsible for cleaning the restaurant came over. As soon as she saw Sophia, she stared at her. "Hey, miss, where''s the basin I used for dirty water? Did you return it after using it just now?"

    The cleaner''s words made everything clear to Grant. The basin was taken by Sophia, which meant she intended to use the water in the basin to harm Chloe. Unexpectedly, her n backfired. Not only did she fail to harm Chloe, but she also got drenched by the mischievous Chloe.

    This was quite satisfying.

    "I... I..." For a moment, Sophia didn''t know how to exin herself.

    Grant gave her a cold look and said angrily, "You brought this on yourself."

    After he finished speaking, Grant reached out and gently took Chloe''s hand, leading her back to their table without looking back. Liam, who had been waiting impatiently, started teasing Chloe as soon as he saw her, "Oh my, ugly girl, why did it take you so long to go to the bathroom? Grant and I thought you fell in."

    "No, no, I just ran into a little trouble." she shook her hands.

    Chloe thought that after this incident, Grant would forget about what had just happened. Unexpectedly, as soon as they sat down, Grant''s question was directed at Chloe. "Chloe, when did I ever tell you that I like women with big chests?"

    Chloe was dumbfounded. She pointed in Sophia''s direction and casually said, "Isn''t it? Sophia has that kind of figure, doesn''t she?"

    Grant''s face darkened. He said in a deep voice, "Don''t talk nonsense. I never liked Sophia."

    Chloe then argued, "Grantie, Sophia is always chasing after you, and you treat her differently. You even personally took her to the hospital. I thought you two were dating. So, I thought you liked this kind of women like Sophia."

    Chloe''s words earned her a re from Grant. He had to pick up the cup in front of him and heavily knocked it on the table. "I''ll remind you again, I don''t like Sophia. And I

    don''t like this kind of women. Chloe, be careful with your words in the future. Don''t say things you shouldn''t. You need to know that spreading rumorses with responsibility."

    Grant''s tone was full of threat. To avoid further angering Grant, Chloe obediently stopped talking and quietly ate her meal.

    Liam was dissatisfied. In his opinion, Chloe spreading rumors about Grant should have earned her some punishment, right? But now, aside from being a little annoyed, Grant didn''t seem to do much else. Was that it?

    After school in the evening, Chloe headed back to the Martin Mansion early. This evening, she didn''t have any ns, so she intended toe back early, take a nice bath, and get a good night''s sleep.

    However, she had justin down for a bit when she got a call from Michael. "Chloe, are you home?"

    "Yeah, it''s already nine-thirty at night. Where else would I be? Mic, what''s up?" Chloe asked.

    Michael urgently exined the task to Chloe over the phone, he sounded urgent. "Chloe, Grant drank too much and just called me to pick him up. But I''m stuck with a night shoot and can''t get away. I tried calling Liam, but he didn''t answer. I''m worried something might happen to Grant. Can you go pick him up?"

    Chloe didn''t really want to go, but since she was staying at the Martin Mansion and Grant had been pretty decent to her, it wouldn''t be right to leave him hanging.

    After thinking it over, Chloe agreed. "Alright, send me the address, and I''ll go get him." After hanging up, Chloe got dressed, grabbed a random car key from the key box at the entrance, went to the basement, unlocked the car with the remote, and drove out.

    She had gotten her driver''s license at eighteen and was a decent driver. The reason she didn''t drive in Sovereign City was that she didn''t want to draw too much attention as a neer.

    Following Michael''s address, Chloe soon arrived at a high-end karaoke bar. As soon as she parked at the entrance, a valet came to take her car.

    Chloe took out her phone and called Grant. But after calling for a while, Grant didn''t answer, so she went upstairs to look for him.

    The karaoke bar was very upscale, and the peopleing and going looked wealthy and influential. Chloe went to the second floor and saw a pot-bellied man with a heavily made-up womaning out of a private room.

    Chloe was anxious to find Grant and didn''t pay much attention to her surroundings. Unexpectedly, She was caught off guard when she reached the door of the private room and was suddenly blocked by a heavily made-up woman. Facing this unexpected situation, Chloe raised her head, and when she saw the woman''s face, she was visibly surprised.

    Wasn''t this Lucy, who had just been expelled from Quest University a few days ago? What was she doing here?

    It turned out that Lucy had been expelled from Quest University for bullying her ssmates. Adding to that, her father, Ford, was also expelled for abusing his power in expelling students.

    Without a job, Ford had no ie and struggled to support the family. So, he vented all his anger on Lucy. Knowing she had no chance of marrying into a wealthy family, Lucy came to work at the karaoke bar, apanying wealthy men older than her father for money.

    Today, the man she was serving was an old client with some influence. Seeing Chloe here, Lucy felt she had to teach her a lesson.

 Chapter 91 I Shelter You

    After Lucy stopped Chloe, she lifted her heavily made-up face and sneered, her tone was dripping with disdain. "Hey, ugly girl, what are you doing here? Looking for someone to hang out with?"

    Lucy''s tone was unfriendly, and her eyes were filled with disdain for Chloe. No wonder, with Chloe''s current disheveled appearance, most people would look down on her.

    Chloe, anxious to find Grant, had no time for Lucy''s nonsense. She tried to walk past her. But then, the old guy with his arm around Lucy reached out to grab Chloe. "Hey, ugly girl, what''s the deal? My girlfriend''s talking to you, and you just ignore her? You disrespecting me, Hugh?"

    When Hugh Fields grabbed Chloe''s arm, she felt a wave of nausea. She quickly shook off his hand. "Get off me, don''t touch me with your filthy hands," she snapped, her face cold.

    Chloe''s hostility ticked Hugh off. Seeing his reaction, Lucy felt a twisted sense of joy. She couldn''t handle Chloe herself, but Hugh could. He had his fingers in both legal and shady businesses and even owned a piece of this Karaoke Bar. Chloe talking back to him was bringing trouble to herself.

    "Ugly girl, you got a death wish? How dare you call my hands dirty?" Hugh, fueled by booze, started cursing at Chloe.

    Chloe wasn''t one to back down. "You''re holding a girl young enough to be your daughter and still think you''re clean? Get out of my way."

    After Chloe finished her tirade, she turned to leave in a different direction. However, Hugh, who had never been insulted like that before, was extremely furious.

    Seeing this unfold, Lucy egged him on, "Hey, ugly girl, you usually bully me, and I let it slide. But talking like that in front of Hugh? Do you even know who he is? You think you can afford to piss him off?"

    Hugh, pleased with Lucy''s words, looked at Chloe with a smug grin. In Sovereign City, he had a bit of a rep. He could have any girl in this Karaoke Bar whenever he wanted. No one had ever talked to him like that.

    "Get lost, I''m busy. I don''t have time for this," Chloe said, focused on finding Grant. But Hugh suddenly let go of Lucy and yanked Chloe into the private room they had just opened. Lucy quickly locked the door behind them.

    Chloe quickly came to grips with the reality of the situation: defeating Lucy tonight wouldn''t be as easy as it used to be. But she wasn''t scared. She''d faced worse before. "Lucy, what do you want?" Chloe asked, staring her down.

    Lucy let out a coldugh. She picked up a bottle from the table and smashed it with a loud "crack." She then picked up a shard of broken ss and menacingly waved it in front of Chloe. "Ugly girl, because of you, my dad got fired from Quest University. I went from being a top student to a hostess. Now that you''re here, what do you think I want to do?"

    Chloe almostughed out of sheer anger. "Lucy, didn''t you get expelled for bullying and breaking rules? And wasn''t your dad fired for abusing his power? How is any of that my fault? I didn''t make you be a hostess. You chose this ce. You did this to yourself, and now you''re ming me? That''s rich."

    Chloe''s words hit a nerve. Lucy, furious, waved the ss shard closer. "Ugly girl, you sure can talk. But no matter what you say, you''re not getting out of this. You made my life hell, so today, I''m going to make your ugly face even uglier. Let''s see how you deal with that."

    As Lucy moved to sh Chloe''s face, her eyes filled with rage; Chloe didn''t have it. She reacted swiftly, kicking Lucy hard in the stomach with a force that sent her crashing onto the sofa.

    "You..." Lucy gasped, clutching her belly in pain, her face contorted with agony.

    Chloe red at her coldly. "You got your ass kicked by me at school before, Lucy. Don''t make me do it again here; you won''t win."

    Chloe''s fierce demeanor caught Hugh''s attention. He hadn''t seen a woman this tough

    in a while. Even though Chloe wasn''t a looker, he was intrigued.

    "Ugly girl, you''ve got some fire. I gotta say, I like that. How about this, today''s just a misunderstanding. I''ll let you go," Hugh said, eyeing her with interest.

    Chloe knew he wasn''t being forgiving; there must be some hidden agenda. "Fine, if you''re letting me go, open the door and let me leave."

    Hugh picked up a bottle of wine from the table and handed it to her. "Drink this, and we''ll call it even. From now on, I''ll protect you."

    Chloe almostughed in his face. In Sovereign City, was he more powerful than the Martin Family? Did she look that desperate for protection from a bald creep like him?

    Just as she was about to tell him off, her phone rang. It was Grant. She pulled out her phone, but Hugh, thinking she was calling for help, pped it out of her hand, making her even angrier.

    "Drink the wine, and you can go. Otherwise, I''ll teach you a lesson today," Hugh demanded.

 Chapter 92 Your Mole is Crooked

    As he spoke, Hugh grabbed the bottle and moved menacingly towards Chloe. From his posture, it was clear he intended to force her to drink.

    As Hugh approached Chloe, Lucy, clutching her belly where Chloe had kicked her, sat on the sofa, watching the chaos unfold.

    Lucy assumed that once Chloe was in Hugh''s hands, she wouldn''t dare to cause any trouble. In fact, when Hugh handed the bottle towards Chloe, she reached out and took it. However, she didn''t drink from it.

    Just as she expected, when Hugh handed Chloe the wine bottle, she took it without a second thought. But instead of drinking, she examined the bottle and then suddenly smashed it on Hugh''s forehead, stunning him.

    Chloe didn''t give him a chance to react, attacking him with both hands and feet. Although Hugh was a big guy, he led a pampered life and had never really worked out, making his strength superficial. Furthermore, he had had a bit to drink, which made him no match for Chloe. Within a few moves, Chloe had him down on the ground. Lucy watched in disbelief. She had to admit, at least to herself, that she was scared. Compared to Chloe''s actions, her usual bullying at school seemed like nothing.

    Looking at the fallen Hugh, a smile crept onto Chloe''s lips. She spat at him and cursed, "Who do you think you are? How dare you smash my phone?"

    After cursing Hugh, Chloe picked up her phone from the ground. Luckily, it was still intact. If it had been broken, today''s incident wouldn''t have ended with just smashing Hugh''s head.

    After teaching Hugh a lesson, Chloe didn''t forget to warn Lucy, "Lucy, I don''t usually resort to violence, but if you mess with me, I''m not afraid of you. If you dare to trouble me again, it won''t just be a kick next time."

    With that, Chloe opened the door and left the room gracefully.

    As soon as Chloe left, Lucy jumped off the sofa and ran to Hugh, who had been knocked out by Chloe.

    As Chloe exited the room, she ran into Grant. He had clearly had a lot to drink, and even with his assistant Stanley''s support, he was staggering.

    Seeing him in this state, Chloe frowned. She approached Grant and asked sternly, "What''s going on? Why did you drink so much? Do you want to die?"

    Grant wasn''t angry at Chloe''s scolding. Instead, her fierce concern made him feel warm inside-She didn''t explicitly express her care, but every word showed her concern. This subtle expression wasn''t something everyone could understand.

    Drunk, Grant stared at Chloe''s face, finding the mole on her face particrly cute.

    "Hey, I''m talking to you. Why are you staring at my face?" seeing Grant not respond, Chloe scolded him again.

    Stanley couldn''t bear to see Grant being scolded and quickly exined, "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin was entertaining an important guest today and had a good conversation, so he drank a bit more. Don''t worry, Mr. Martin knows his limits. His drinking is within his control."

    Hearing Stanley''s words, Chloe was speechless. He couldn''t even walk straight, and they said his drinking was under control?

    Chloe rolled her eyes at Stanley and took Grant from him. "Alright, you go do your thing. I''ll take him home."

    Stanley looked a bit worried and asked, "Miss Davis, are you sure you can manage?"

    Without turning her head, Chloe supported Grant downstairs, "Don''t worry, I won''t leave him halfway."

    Grant was a regr here and knew the major shareholders, so when the security saw Chloe helping him out, they quickly brought her car around.

    With the security''s help, Chloe got Grant into the car. Grant was quite heavy, and just helping him a short distance made Chloe break out in a sweat. She took off her jacket, got into the driver''s seat, and drove away from the Karaoke Bar.

    As she drove, she spoke to Grant in the passenger seat, "Mr. Martin, if you can''t handle your liquor, drink less next time. Look at you, a grown man, getting this drunk? The next time you have a stomachache, I won''t be apanying you to the hospital. You''re just a constant trouble."

    Just as Chloe finished herint, Grant suddenly spoke clearly, "Alright, I know. I''ll try not to drink next time."

    Chloe was startled and turned to look at Grant, only to find him sitting upright in the passenger seat. "You... you''re not drunk?"

    Chloe was surprised. Grant had seemedpletely drunk just moments ago.

    Grant chuckled and admitted, "I was pretending."

    "What?" Chloe couldn''t help but exim. Grant was quite cunning.

    Rxing into his seat, Grant exined, "I don''t actually enjoy drinking, but it''s tough to avoid it in business circles. Pretending to be drunk is sometimes the easiest way out."Grant''s reasoning made sense, and Chloe smiled wryly.

    "Well... thanks for picking me up tonight." Grant turned to look at Chloe.

    Chloe replied casually, "No need to thank me. You''ve helped me a lot before. Picking you up once makes us even."

    Chloe''s words made Grant feel that she waspletely distancing herself from him, trying to sever their connection. This displeased him, and he frowned slightly in response. "Alright, you have a point."

    After saying this, Grant turned to look at Chloe. She hadn''t noticed that the mole on her face had shifted again due to the sweat from helping him. Therge mole that was originally on her cheekbone had moved to her nose.

    Grant widened his eyes and stared for a while, finally breaking into a smile.

    His sudden smile made Chloe uneasy. As she drove, she asked Grant, "Why are you staring at me like that? What''s wrong? Is there something on my face?"

    Grant looked away and adjusted his clothes. He casually said to Chloe, "Yes. Do you forget the little something on your face? It has shifted again."

 Chapter 93 I Want to Kiss You

    Grant''s words made Chloe instantly tense up. She reached up to touch her face, and when her fingers came away with the fake mole, she freaked out.

    Grant noticed her panic. With a light smile, he said, "Chloe, your mole fell off."

    Chloe felt like she was losing it. Grant always knew how to push her buttons.

    Chloe kept one hand on the steering wheel while trying to pick up the fallen mole with the other. Unfortunately, as the car was moving, she didn''t dare to take her eyes off the road.

    Grant picked up on her awkwardness. He reached over, his arm brushing against her chest, and casually picked up the fake mole that had fallen from her face.

    Chloe felt like a kid caught by the teacher for not doing her homework. She was super

    nervous.

    She had gone out of her way to make herself look unattractive, hoping the Martin brothers would lose interest and she could dodge the arranged marriage. Now, had Grant figured out her secret?

    Seeing Chloe''s nervousness, Grant remained unfazed. He carefully toyed with the mole in his hand, seemingly aware that it was fake. With a calm and slightly yful tone, he asked. "Chloe, this thing is pretty cool. Never seen one like it. Wanna tell me how you stuck it on?"

    Hearing Grant''s question, Chloe felt like she was going nuts. She drove on, panicking, not sure how to answer him.

    Grant kept pressing, "You put this on to make yourself look ugly. Guessing you don''t wanna marry into the Martin Family, huh?"

    Chloe stayed silent. She really didn''t want to marry, but she couldn''t say that out loud. Grant, being a seasoned businessman, had seen all sorts of tricks. He knew exactly what Chloe was up to. Seeing she still wasn''t answering, Grant leaned in closer, his face almost touching hers. He looked at her with those sharp, captivating eyes and asked, "Chloe, be real with me. Do you think the Martin men aren''t good enough for you, so you tried to sabotage the marriage with this disguise?"

    Grant''s questions made Chloe''s heart race. Just then, she spotted a parking spot on the side of the road. She quickly turned the wheel and parked, then turned to face Grant, who was way too close forfort.

    Chloe had no idea how to respond. He started stammering, clearly nervous and unsure of what to say.

    Unfortunately, Grant had no intention of letting Chloe off at that moment. Taking advantage of his slight intoxication, he extended his hand and grabbed Chloe''s hand that was resting on the steering wheel.

    As his warm hand touched Chloe''s skin, her heart started to race. Never having been in a rtionship before, she found herself flustered by Grant''s flirtations. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple, and her heart was beating rapidly.

    Seeing her reaction, Grant kept teasing. "Chloe, you don''t need to do this. The Martin men are actually pretty great. Why not give us a chance?"

    Grant stared at Chloe, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

    Chloe stammered, unable to get any words out. She tried to put some space between them and said, "Grant, you''ve had too much to drink, I..."

    Before she could finish, Grant''s strong body leaned over the center console, half- pressing against her. His wine-tainted lips brushed against hers, sending a jolt through her body.

    Having never been this close to a man, she didn''t understand why her body reacted this way to Grant.

    Grant continued to whisper in her ear. He murmured, "Chloe, I might have had a bit to drink, but I''m very clear-headed. I want... to kiss you."

    With that, Grant kissed her lips without waiting for her response.

    When their lips met, Chloe''s mind went nk. The warmth of Grant''s breath filled her mouth, and for a moment, she was frozen, unsure of how to respond. Grant, however, seemed undeterred by her hesitation. Under his skilled ministrations, Chloe began to feel an unfamiliar heat building within her.

    She tentatively kissed him back, her hesitant movements quickly picked up by Grant. His gentle kiss transformed into a storm, overwhelming her senses. Her initial confusion melted away, reced by a raw, burgeoning desire.

    As they kissed passionately, Grant''s hand, seemingly of its own ord, found its way to her lower abdomen. Through the thin fabric of her clothes, she could feel the heat of his touch and his growing intentions. Having never experienced such intimacy, Chloe didn''t know how to handle Grant''s bold advances.

    Grant was a man who knew how to take control. Faced with someone as innocent as Chloe, he had plenty of ways to conquer her.

    Just as the temperature inside the car continued to rise and Grant''s hand was about to take the next step, several ck cars suddenly rushed towards them from the nearby traffic light. Within minutes, several men with sticks rudely knocked on their car door. Chloe and Grant were startled out of their passionate moment. Chloe''s face turned red, not knowing how to face Grant. When she calmed down and looked outside, she saw that the men with sticks had surrounded their car.

    Instantly, Chloe rolled her eyes. Grant''s face was filled with anger too. Clearly, these people had rudely interrupted his moment, and he was very displeased. He got out of the car, one hand in his pocket, and walked to the other side of the car.

    Chloe wanted to open the car door and get out, but Grant leaned against her car door, keeping her inside. He mouthed to her through the window, "Stay in the car, I''ll handle this."

    Sitting in the car, Chloe felt touched.

    Just as she was wondering what these people wanted, she saw Hugh, the man she had hit on the head earlier, angrily approaching with the help of a bodyguard.

    He pointed at Chloe''s car and ordered the men with sticks, "It was that ugly girl in the

    car who attacked me. You guys, get her! First, drag her out of the car, then rape and kill her."

 Chapter 94 Still an Ugly Girl?

    Hugh''s words made Grant''s eyebrows shoot up. She thought what he said was the

    most absurd thing he''d ever heard in Sovereign City. The woman he kissed, his future wife, and someone wanted to rape and kill her?

    What a joke!

    Grant''s face turned icy as he stared Hugh down and asked, "What did you just say?"

    Hugh, holding his head high, arrogantly replied, "This has nothing to do with you. I''m here for that ugly girl, not you. Leave now, and I won''t make things hard for you." Grant''s anger red. He sneered and asked, "You''ll let me go?"

    Hugh said, "Yeah, I have no beef with you. No need to make this difficult. Step aside, my target is that ugly girl."

    As Hugh finished speaking, he reached out and grabbed Grant''s arm, attempting to pull him away from the car door. Without hesitation, Grant swiftly retaliated by delivering a resounding p across Hugh''s chubby face, sending his heavy body flying a considerable distance.

    Hughnded awkwardly on his rear, his previous injuries from Chloepounded by this new humiliation. His face reddened with fury, a low growl emanating from his throat. "You bastard," he spat, his tone livid. "Get him, all of you, get him."

    The bodyguards, armed with sticks, charged at Grant on Hugh''smand. But Grant stood his ground, muscles coiling in preparation.

    "Stay back!" he roared, meeting the first of the attackers with a devastating punch. Another came at him from the side, and Grant sidestepped, delivering a swift kick to the knee that sent the goon sprawling.

    Chloe, seated in the driver''s seat, watched the chaos through the car window with a stoic expression. She had never been a well-behaved girl, having been in her fair share of fights. She knew better than to panic; Grant''s strength andbat skills were formidable. He was holding his own, yet she still feared Hugh''s men might eventually wear him down

    Therefore, Chloe grabbed her phone and called Liam. "Hey, Liam? Grant''s being attacked. Get here quick."

    She hung up and quickly shared their location with Liam. After that, she nced out the window again.

    Grant was impressive, taking on the men without breaking a sweat. His physical strength was remarkable.

    Good health was Chloe''s top criterion for a partner, so she appreciated Grant. But that didn''t stop her from turning on the car''s music and closing her eyes to listen to a song.

    A few minutester, the fight outside was still raging. Chloe looked out and saw that Hugh had called in more reinforcements. With the endless attacks, even with Grant''s strength, it would be tough to hold on.

    With a swift motion, Chloe threw her phone aside, opened the car door, and efficiently got out. She snatched a stick from a man''s hand and aimed it at the attacker sneaking up behind Grant, fiercely swinging it upwards.

    With Chloe''s help, the two of them quickly took down the attackers. Chloe grabbed Hugh by the cor and kicked him to the ground.

    Seeing Chloe and Grant''s badass moves, Hugh immediately got scared.

    Just then, Liam rolled up on his motorcycle with his crew. Seeing Grant and Chloe taking down a dozen guys, Liam gave them a thumbs up. "Impressive," he said sincerely.

    After giving Hugh another hard kick, Grant told Liam, "Handle the rest. Find out why this bald guy is after Chloe."

    With that, Grant stopped paying attention to them. He grabbed Chloe''s arm and pulled her into the car. Chloe got behind the wheel, and half a minuteter, they sped off.

    Liam turned to his friends, "Alright, clean up this mess and get that bald guy. Find out what''s going on. Messing with someone from the Martin Family? He''s asking for it." When Hugh heard that the people he had just attacked were from the Martin Family, he started sweating bullets. How could he have been so stupid to mess with them? Trying to save his skin, Hugh pleaded with Liam, "I was wrong, I was really wrong. Please, Mr. Martin, spare me?"

    Seeing Hugh kneeling and begging, Liam sneered. "Spare you? Did you think about sparing Grant when you were attacking him? Baldy, you''re done."

    Hearing Liam''s words, Hugh was so scared he copsed to the ground. Soon, Liam''s men took the group away. After cleaning up the scene, Eric, one of Liam''s followers, came over.

    "Mr. Martin, I just found out something," Eric said.

    "What is it?" Liam asked.

    Eric said, "I just saw Miss Davis''s face..."

    Liam snorted. "Lots of people have seen her face. What''s the big deal?"

    Eric pulled Liam closer and said seriously, "Mr. Martin, it''s a big deal because the mole on her face is gone."

    "What?" Liam clearly didn''t believe it.

    Eric continued, "Yeah, the mole on her face is definitely gone. I thought I was seeing things, so I looked twice."

    Eric''s words made Liam think hard. He rubbed his chin, his brows furrowed. "No way, absolutely no way. If the ugly girl''s mole is gone, is she still an ugly girl? I need to go home and see if she still has that mole."

    With that, Liam hopped on his motorcycle, put on his helmet, and sped home.

    Eric stared at Liam''s retreating figure and muttered to himself, "Why doesn''t Liam trust me? I clearly saw that Chloe didn''t have a mole on her face, and my vision is just fine."

    Grant and Chloe got home first. Chloe parked the car in the garage, and as they were about to go upstairs, Grant suddenly pulled her into his arms. She stumbled, her head bumping into his chin.

    Just as she was about to pull away, Grant''s affectionate gaze locked onto her face.

 Chapter 95 A Bit of Pain

    Chloe was feeling a bit jittery, thinking Grant was about to kiss her again. But out of nowhere, like he was doing some magic trick, Grant pulled out Chloe''s fake mole from his pocket and stuck it back on her face.

    "Your mole looks better when it''s on," he said with a smirk.

    Chloe''s heart was all over the ce from his teasing, and she just wanted to get away from Grant''s embrace as fast as she could-There was something about Grant that was just irresistible. If she kept hanging around him, she knew she''d fall for him.

    She had to keep her distance.

    So, when she heard the sound of Liam''s motorcycle outside, Chloe quickly slipped out of Grant''s arms and headed upstairs.

    Just as she was about to go to her room, she heard Liam''s voice behind her. "Hey, ugly girl, wait up."

    "Huh? What''s up?" Chloe turned around to face him.

    Liam quickly ran over, staring at her face like he was trying to figure something out. Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Chloe asked, "Liam, what are you looking at? Is there something on my face?"

    Liam snapped out of his thoughts, scratched his head, and mumbled, "Could it be a mistake? Eric must have been mistaken."

    Chloe had no idea what he was talking about. She was puzzled when Liam suddenly reached out to grab her mole.

    "Ouch, that hurts!" she cried out before he could touch her face, covering her mole protectively. Grant had just stuck it back on, and it wasn''t secured properly. If Liam pulled it, it would definitelye off.

    Chloe covered it up to keep her secret safe. The fewer people who knew, the less likely she''d be forced into an arranged marriage.

    "Are you crazy, Liam? Why are you trying to pull my mole? It''s part of my skin. If you pull it off and it bleeds, are you gonna take me to the hospital? I''m telling you, stay away from my mole," she protested.

    Liam chuckled awkwardly and pulled out his phone, snapping close-up photos of her face.

    As he took the photos, he said, "Eric, are you sure you''re not mistaken? I''m telling you, you must have been seeing things. That ugly girl definitely has a mole right on her face, it''s unmistakable."

    Chloe red at him and quickly made her escape. Liam was easy to fool; otherwise, she wouldn''t have been able to keep her secret tonight.

    After getting back to her room, Chloe took a shower.

    Usually, she loved to sleep, but tonight, she just couldn''t drift off. She stared at the ceiling, and all she could think about was Grant kissing her in the car.

    Grant''s lips were soft, and he was a damn good kisser. She could still feel Grant''s scent lingering on her lips and ears, and she couldn''t help but rey that long, passionate kiss in her mind. For the first time ever, Chloe felt this weird mix of confusion and restlessness.

    Meanwhile, Grant, who was crashing in the guest room, couldn''t sleep either. Chloe''s face, her body, and her cute, angry expressions kept reying in his mind. He couldn''t help but smile, feeling a warmth spread through his chest.

    He grabbed his phone and shot Chloe a message: [Kissing you in the car was amazing, but that center console was a bit of a pain.]

    Lying in bed, Chloe saw Grant''s message and felt so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. She never thought the usually serious Grant could be such a flirt.

    Chloe was already having trouble falling asleep, and after Grant''s teasing, it only made it worse. She managed to drift off into a hazy sleep for a few moments before it was time to get up for school in the morning.

    In the morning, when Chloe went downstairs for breakfast, she found the three Martin brothers already in the dining room. Michael and Liam were giving Grant a hard time.

    "Hey, Grant, rough night? Look at those red eyes..." Michael teased.

    Grant ate while his eyes kept drifting to Chloe. "Yeah, didn''t sleep well," he admitted. "Why? What were you thinking about?" Michael, always the curious one, pressed. Grant nced at Chloe, who had just sat down, and said to Michael with a straight face, "I was just thinking about a naughty little cat."

    Upon hearing Grant''s words, Chloe couldn''t help but tense up. She lowered her head, mechanically stirring the oatmeal in her bowl.

    Michael seemed intrigued. "A little cat? Grant, you got a cat? Where do you keep it? In the office? I love animals too. How about you let me see your cat someday? I''m great with cats."

    Grant shot Michael a re and quickly stuffed a sandwich into his mouth.

    "Eat your food and stop talking. That''s my cat, and I''m not letting you see it," Grant said firmly.

    Chloe''s head dipped even lower. Dealing with this side of Grant was driving her nuts. After finally finishing breakfast, Chloe packed her school bag and got ready to head out with Liam as usual. But Liam had other ns.

    "Ugly girl, Grant asked me to handle something, so I can''t go to school today. You''ll have to ride with Grant," he said.

    Hearing that, Chloe quickly refused. "No way, I''ll just take a cab. I don''t want to bother Grant."

    Just as she finished speaking, she grabbed her backpack and made a dash to escape. However, to her surprise, the tall figure of Grant suddenly appeared behind her, grabbing her by the cor.

    "It''s no trouble at all to take you to school," Grant''s cool voice whispered in her ear.

 Chapter 96 Truly Double Standards

    Chloe nced back at Grant, who was giving her a nasty look. She felt even more uneasy. She forced a reluctant smile. "Grant, seriously, I can go to school by myself. I''m not a kid anymore."

    Faced with Chloe''s rejection, Grant smirked with a hint of mischief. Lowering his voice, he said to Chloe, "You''re scared of me, aren''t you?"

    Upon hearing this, Chloe shook her head vigorously, unable to control the rush of memories from the passionate kiss they shared in the carst night. Her face flushed instantly, heart racing at the thought that it was her first kiss.

    Grant let go of her cor and started to walk away, but not before throwing a threat over his shoulder. "Get in the car, or I''ll tell everyone what happenedst night."

    His words made Chloe shiver; his threat definitely hit home. She quietly followed him, muttering under her breath, "Grant, this isn''t fair."

    Grant seemed to catch her muttering and turned to look at her, making Chloe shut up instantly.

    Watching them leave awkwardly, Michael turned to Liam, curious. "Liam, don''t you think there''s something weird going on between Grant and Chloe?"

    "What''s weird?" Liam, always a bit clueless, hadn''t noticed anything unusual.

    Michael lowered his voice, "It seems like Grant might be developing some interest in Chloe."

    Michael''s words almost made Liam spit out his drink. "Michael, don''t be ridiculous. How could Grant like that ugly girl? If he does, I might as well eat dirt. Grant''s taste can''t be that bad. What does he see in Chloe? Her attitude? Her bossiness? Or that big mole on her face?"

    Liam''s words made some sense, but Michael still had his doubts. "But I swear, there''s something off between them. Grant''s so busy, why would he take the time to drive Chloe to school?"

    Liam exined, "It''s your fault. Last night, you sent that ugly girl to pick up a drunk Grant, and they got attacked on the way. She almost got hurt saving him. If I hadn''t shown up in time, it could''ve been bad. Grant probably drove her to school to make sure she wasn''t freaked out. Michael, you''ve been so wrapped up in filming, you''re overthinking it."

    Liam shook his head and walked away. As he walked, he said to Michael, "Don''t worry, that ugly girl has no chance of bing thedy of our house."

    Little did Liam know, his words were a bit premature. The more confident he sounded now, the more he''d regret itter.

    Today, Grant drove a luxury car Chloe had never seen before. She wanted to sit in the back seat, but Grant told her, "Sit in the front."

    "But I prefer the back." Chloe didn''t want to sit with Grant, afraid of a repeat ofst night''s incident.

    Grant ignored her protest and shot her a cold look, making Chloe cave instantly. She grabbed her backpack and slid into the front passenger seat.

    Seeing herply, the dissatisfaction on Grant''s face slowly faded. He leaned over, practically hovering over Chloe, making her heart race.

    What was Grant up to? Was he going to kiss her again? They were still at the Martin Mansion; the car hadn''t even left yet. Wasn''t he worried about being seen?

    For some reason, whenever Grant got close, Chloe''s heart would start pounding uncontrobly, making her super nervous. Sensing her unease, Grant nced at her and pulled the seatbelt from the car door, fastening it securely around her. "Sit tight, I''ll buckle your seatbelt."

    Hearing that Grant was just fastening her seatbelt, Chloe''s heart finally settled. Thank goodness, it wasn''t what she had feared.

    After buckling her in, Grant drove Chloe to school.

    Last night, Hugh had arranged for people to attack Chloe and Grant. After Liam''s intervention, Grant had learned Hugh''s motive for the attack. To prevent Chloe from encountering danger again, Grant began to make arrangements for her ording to his own ns.

    He said, "Liam hasn''t fully dealt with the Hugh situation yet. For your safety, from now on, I''ll be responsible for driving you to and from school."

    Hearing Grant''s words, Chloe was speechless.

    Seeing her reaction, Grant asked, "What''s with the reaction? You don''t want me to drive you?"

    In front of Grant, Chloe didn''t dare admit she was ufortable with the idea. She quickly shook her head. "No, I''m just worried that you''re too busy, and I don''t want to trouble you."

    "I''ll handle my own affairs. Since you''re staying at my house, your safety is my responsibility."

    Grant''s reasoning was solid, and Chloe couldn''t argue with it.

    Afterst night''s impulsive kiss, their interaction today was a bit awkward. While driving, Grant kept ncing at Chloe, who kept her head down, constantly texting Zara. Seeing Chloe''s fingers flying over her phone, Grant nonchntly asked, "Are you texting your boyfriend?"

    Grant''s question puzzled Chloe. Her boyfriend? Who? What did Grant mean by that? Seeing Chloe not answering, Grant, slightly jealous, began lecturing her. "Quest University is quite prestigious. You''re here to study, not to find a boyfriend. You''re still young; I suggest you focus on your studies rather than dating."

    Chloe had to resist the urge to stick her tongue out at him. He didn''t want her to date? Then what was he doing kissing her whenever he got the chance? She was too young? He didn''t seem to mindst night when he was kissing her.

    What a hypocrite.

    Soon, they arrived at the entrance of Quest University. Philip happened to be there, and seeing him, Grant''s face instantly darkened.

 Chapter 97 Grant Feels Inferior

    He thought Philip was so annoyed.

    When Philip saw Chloe getting out of Grant''s car, he rushed over to greet her. "Morning, Chloe."

    Chloe smiled politely, "Morning, you''re here early."

    Philip grinned, "Yeah, Rena mentioned some designpetition and wanted us to get here early to discuss it."

    The three of them were ssmates in the same design ss, so they naturally had manymon topics to discuss. Philip, in particr, was very talkative and has a good rtionship with both Rena and Chloe.

    Chloe nodded, "Alright, let''s head to campus and find Rena."

    As they walked off, Grant, still sitting in his car, was fuming.

    Chloe, that ungrateful girl. He''d gone out of his way to drive her to school, and she didn''t even say goodbye before running off with some handsome guy?

    For the first time, Grant, the big-shot president of the Martin Group, felt a pang of insecurity in front of a good-looking college kid. He worried Chloe might fall for someone like that.

    Only after he saw Chloe and Philip disappear into the school did Grant finally drive away.

    Chloe, happily chatting with Philip, didn''t notice Grant''s anger as he left.

    Philip casually asked, "Who gave you a ride today? That didn''t look like Liam''s car."

    "It was Grant, he drove me," Chloe replied honestly.

    Hearing Grant''s name, Philip got excited. He eagerly turned to look back. "Grant drove you? Why didn''t you say so earlier? I could''ve said hi."

    Chloe quickly said, "Better not, he''s older and probably doesn''t like talking to young people much."

    Philip was speechless. He retorted, "Chloe, don''t say that. Despite his age, he is still very easy to get along with. Remember thest time we yed basketball together? We had a lot of fun, didn''t we?"

    Chloe smirked. A st? How did she remember Grant hitting Philip on the head with the ball?

    While they were talking, they arrived at the ssroom. As soon as Rena saw them, she came over with some printed materials. "Philip, Chloe, check this out... a designpetition with a first prize of $300,000. It''s tempting, should we give it a shot?" Chloe nced at the materials Rena brought and noticed thepetition was co- hosted by the Martin Group and Quest University.

    She knew under the Martin group, there was a high-end clothingpany that caters to the luxury market. The clothes produced by thispany were sold in high-end markets. To ensure continuous innovation in the clothingpany, the Martin group often organizedpetitions to inject new designs into thepany.

    Certainly, by doing so, the Martin group also provided employment opportunities for college students.

    Philip looked at the materials and couldn''t help but praise, "Awesome, thispetition came at the perfect time. Let''s put in some effort and see if we can snag that big prize."

    Hearing Philip''s words, Rena wasn''t very confident. "I think you''re overthinking it. The grand prize is $300,000, which we probably won''t get. But winning an excellence award would still be nice. Should we give it a try?"

    "Sure, let''s give it a shot," Philip quickly responded to Rena''s suggestion.

    "Chloe, what about you? Are you in?" Rena asked.

    Chloe thought for a moment and replied, "Alright, let''s do it."

    The three of them spent the morning at school discussing their ns for the designpetition. When school ended in the evening, Chloe nned to sneak home by herself, but to her surprise, Grant''s assistant Stanley was waiting at the school gate with

    a car.

    Stanley stopped her. "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin has a meeting and asked me to pick you up."

    Chloe waved her hand, "Stanley, it''s really not necessary. I can just grab a cab home."

    Stanley, who had been with Grant for a long time, was firm. "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin said to wait for him in the office, and he will go home with you. Please don''t make it difficult for me."

    Not wanting to make things hard for Stanley, Chloe sighed and got into the car.

    Stanley drove Chloe to Grant''s office and said, "Miss Davis, please wait here for Mr. Martin. His meeting will end in half an hour."

    "Alright," Chloe said, feeling a bit bored.

    While waiting for Grant, Chloe took out some paper and a pen from her backpack and started sketching designs for the uing Martin Group clothingpetition. She had researched the Martin Group''s clothing style, which mainly focused on long dresses. Chloe wanted to take a different approach and design a short skirt.

    After sketching for a while, Chloe felt the short skirt wasn''t very impressive, so she crumpled the paper and tossed it into Grant''s office trash can.

    Just then, Grant returned to the office after his meeting. With a quick nce, he noticed the discarded sketch in the trash can.

    "Why''d you throw it away?" he asked casually.

    Chloe shrugged nonchntly. "I didn''t think it was good enough," she replied simply.

    Grant didn''t press the issue. While packing up, he said to Chloe, "We''re not going home for dinner tonight."

    "Where are we going?" Chloe asked, puzzled.

    Last night''s incident had already made her feel awkward. She didn''t want any more special interactions with Grant. If she couldn''t control herself and ended up with him, her engagement to the Martin Family might actually happen.

    "You''ll apany me to a social event," Grant said casually.

    Chloe quickly refused, "Grant, I can''t. I still have homework to finish."

    Chloe''s excuse was flimsy. Grant put on his coat and, without a word, took Chloe''s hand and led her out.

    As their figures appeared in the lobby of the Martin group, Sophia''s poisonous gaze remained fixated on Chloe.

    ''Chloe, this ugly duckling. You don''t deserve to stand beside a remarkable man like Grant.'' she cursed inwardly.

    Grant belonged to her, Sophia.

 Chapter 98 Keep an Eye on Those Two

    Sophia was tempted to rush forward and disfigure Chloe''s already unattractive face, tearing it apart. In her anger, she thought that would strip Chloe of any charm she had to lure Grant. Watching Chloe''s hand held tightly by Grant only fueled Sophia''s rage.

    She watched, fuming, as Grant lovingly helped Chloe into his fancy car.

    Just then, the janitor who cleaned Grant''s office came out with a trash bag. Spotting Sophia, she hurried over. "Miss Brown..."

    "What is it?" Sophia asked, crossing her arms and looking down at the janitor.

    The janitor said, "Miss Brown, while I was cleaning Mr. Martin''s office, I found this in the trash. Thought you might want to see it."

    She handed Sophia a discarded manuscript with a unique dress design, and Sophia''s eyes lit up when she saw it.

    ''Could this be Grant''s work?'' Sophia thought.

    There was a designpetition at thepany. Why not perfect this design? Even if it didn''t win first ce, it could at least snag an excellence award, right? If Grant saw how smart and talented she was, he''d definitely see her in a new light.

    With that thought, Sophia happily took the discarded manuscript and rushed to her office, excited.

    Meanwhile, Grant led Chloe to a super fancy restaurant and took her to a luxurious private room. Inside, a few people were already seated, including a very elegantly dressed woman.

    When they saw Grant bring Chloe in, they all stood up to greet him. After some polite chit-chat, Grant asked everyone to sit down.

    Through introductions, Chloe learned that the elegantly dressed woman was Moira Thorne, the daughter of David Thorne, who was sitting next to Grant.

    David didn''t know who Chloe was, so he kept talking up his daughter to Grant. "Mr. Martin, my daughter Moira just graduated from a university abroad. She majored in business management. In the future, she''ll handle the cooperation between the Thorne Group and the Martin Group. You young folks have simr mindsets, you should get to know each other better..."

    Hearing this, Chloe, who was about to dig into her food, suddenly got it. Wasn''t he trying to set Moira up with Grant?

    Why did Grant bring her along? What was he up to? Was he using her to make Moira look better? Or was he using her to mess with the Thorne family''s ns?

    Whatever the reason, Chloe felt like she was being used by the sly Grant.

    She came to Sovereign City to pick a husband from the three Martin heirs. So far, it seemed like Grant was the most interested in her. He kissed her and showed he wanted to get closer to her.

    Even though he was a bit older, he was rich, good-looking, and had a great body. If he kept seducing her with his fit waist, she might not be able to resist. With such a handsome guy like Grant, Chloe knew she would submit to his charm one day.

    Chloe reallycked confidence in herself. She knew she had no resistance to such handsome guys.

    To mess up the marriage alliance, there was only one way: find a suitable partner for each of the three heirs.

    On Michael''s side, Karlie was clinging to him. On Liam''s side, Zara was doing everything to keep him from seeking out Chloe. But Grant was a tough nut to crack. Even though Sophia liked him, her character was sketchy, and Chloe didn''t want her to win.

    Now, looking at Moira, she seemed pretty decent. She wasn''t bad-looking, had an above-average appearance, and carried herself well. She could be a good match for

    Grant.

    To get rid of Grant, setting him up with Moira would be perfect. But now, Grant actually wanted to use Chloe to get rid of Moira''s father''s sales pitch. Absolutely not.

    Chloe''s mind wandered, focusing on how to set Grant up with someone else. But Grant was being super attentive, constantly serving Chloe food in front of David''s family.

    Chloe was being taken care of by Grant, feeling pleasantly ufortable. Especially when she received the scrutinizing gazes of the Thorne family, she couldn''t help but feel awkward, as if being roasted over a fire.

    Just at that moment, David turned to Grant and asked, "Mr. Martin, Miss Davis is your..."

    Before Grant could introduce their special rtionship, Chloe quickly cut in, "Mr. Thorne, I''m Grant''s cousin..."

    As soon as she said that, the tense expressions of the Thorne family instantly rxed, even Moira looked relieved. But Grant''s face turned icy. He looked at Chloe, trying to figure out what she was up to.

    Chloe continued, "I study at Quest University and am temporarily staying with Grant, as Louis asked him to take good care of me. Mr. Thorne, I think it''s great for Moira to interact more with Grant since they''re both top business students with a lot inmon. I think they''d make a great pair."

    Chloe''s words made David and Moira happy, especially David, who beamed with delight.

    The Thorne family''s business in Sovereign City was just okay, so a connection with the Martin family would be a big win. If Moira could marry Grant, it would be even better. Thinking of this, David cheerfully said to Chloe, "Youngdy, you have a good eye." Chloe smiled and kept eating. Earlier, Grant had been serving her food, and now Moira was personally serving her.

    "Chloe, this green vegetable is really good, try it."

    "Chloe, do you want some chicken? It''s really well-stewed."

    "And there''s crab, do you want to try it?"

    Faced with Moira''s enthusiasm, Chloe epted everything with a smile.

    However, beside her, Grant''s face was dark. How much did Chloe dislike him to push

    him towards another woman? Was she asking for trouble?

 Chapter 99 Sold Me Out?

    Grant felt like he was sitting on pins and needles during this meal. He didn''t want to respond to the signals the Thorne family was sending and tried hard to distance himself from Moira. Unfortunately, the harder he tried to keep his distance, the more Chloe wanted to bring them together.

    Chloe kept talking to Moira, constantly introducing Grant''s likes and interests. She seemed very eager to set them up together.

    "Moira, that light green outfit looks great on you; Grantie loves that color."

    "You''re so beautiful with such smooth skin-what''s your secret?"

    "Grantie has a good temper and is very considerate."

    With her silver tongue, Chloe managed to make Moira, who already had a good impression of Grant, almost believe she was the perfect candidate to be the mistress of the Martin Family.

    Of course, David relished in Chloe''s cooperation, his satisfaction evident as they prepared to leave. In a gesture of both gratitude and munificence, he presented her with several exquisite gifts. Among them, a delicate ne captured Chloe''s heart, its subtle elegance resonating with her.

    Later that evening, Chloe couldn''t wait to showcase her beloved new ne. She dashed over to Grant''s car, the trinket gleaming in the dim light as she held it up to her neck, admiring its beauty against her skin. Grant lingered behind, still engaged in conversation with David, sharing a fewst words before joining Chloe in the vehicle.

    As he settled into the driver''s seat, Grant''s mood shifted noticeably. He turned to find Chloe, her eyes sparkling with excitement, still fussing over the ne. With noticeable irritation, Grant''s voice cut through her fun. "Do you really need another ne, Chloe?"

    Sensing Grant''s anger, Chloe didn''t mind. She said, "No, I don''t need one. But Mr. Thorne gave it to me, and I can''t refuse it. If I did, it would be disrespectful to him, right?"

    Chloe''s words made Grant even angrier. Chloe wasn''t stupid; there was no way she didn''t understand David''s real intentions.

    "Chloe, don''t go too far. I''m very unhappy with your behavior tonight. Why you did that?" Grant directly expressed his thoughts to Chloe.

    Chloe pretended to be clueless and said, "Oh? Are you unhappy? Grantie, I didn''t do anything wrong.

    Grant, I meant no harm. I just thought Moira is a good girl, and you deserve happiness. Maybe in trying to set you two up, I overlooked your feelings, and for that, I''m sorry. I''m also a bit lost myself, I hope you can understand why I did what I did."

    Seeing her pretending not to understand, Grant really wanted to pull Chloe into his arms and give her a good spanking. But he couldn''t bring himself to do it.

    "Are you so eager to sell me out? Chloe, do you really hate me that much?" Grant asked Chloe sternly.

    Chloe pped her forehead as if she had just remembered something and began to exin to Grant, "Grantie, what are you talking about? Miss Thorne is beautiful, capable, and from a good family. You''re getting older and still single, so I thought maybe she''d be a good match. It is not like I marry you off to just anyone..."

    Grant was even more annoyed. He moved closer to Chloe and leaned in. "So, ording to your logic, I should thank you? If it weren''t for your enthusiasm, I might have stayed single for the rest of my life, right?"

    Chloe wholeheartedly agreed with Grant''s words. She held her face and pretended to be very naive, nodding vigorously at Grant.

    Grant was speechless.

    He suddenly reached out and pulled Chloe, who was sitting in the passenger seat, into his arms. Then, he threatened Chloe fiercely, "Chloe, don''t push your luck. You think I don''t see what you''re doing? You''re trying to set me up with Miss Thorne to dodge marrying into the Martin Family, right? Well, the marriage between the Martin and Davis families is settled. If you want out, ask Nichs. I''ll let this slide today, but if you try it again, you''ll regret it."

    After saying this threat, Grant didn''t forget to lightly spank Chloe''s butt twice.

    After Grant released her, he drove Chloe back to the Martin Mansion. He couldn''t help but think how good it felt to spank her-the feel of her bouncy rear brought an unexpected thrill.

    Liam hade back early today. After talking to Grant for a while, he approached Chloe. "Ugly girl,e on, tell me what happenedst night?"

    Liam was referring to Hugh''s attack on Chloe and Grantt.

    Chloe rolled her eyes at him and said, "What else could have happened? Didn''t Grantie say he left it to you to handle?"

    Chloe''s big eyes darted around. She couldn''t possibly tell Liam that she had smashed a bottle on Hugh''s head first, which led to Hugh''s retaliation, could she?

    Seeing Chloe unwilling to admit it, Liam lowered his voice and said to her, "When I was handling this, I asked Hugh. Hugh said you barged into his room and smashed his head, and that''s why he intercepted you and Grant. Is that true?"

    Seeing that Liam had already found out, Chloe had no intention of denying it anymore.

    She said, "Yes, I hit Hugh first, but I didn''t go into his room on purpose; he dragged me in. I went to pick up Grantie, but Hugh grabbed a bottle of wine and tried to force me to drink. When I refused, he got aggressive, so I smashed it on his head in self-defense. Liam, what else could I do? Just let him have his way with me?"

    After hearing Chloe''s exnation, Liam blurted out, "Fuck, Hugh was asking for it, wasn''t he? How dared he bully someone from the Martin Family?"

    After spending a few months together, Liam had already considered Chloe as one of

    his own. Even if he wouldn''t marry Chloe, it didn''t mean others could bully her.

    When it came to protecting his own, Liam was always impressive.

    After cursing, Liam turned and left. His actions left Chloepletely bewildered.

 Chapter 100 Does she like Liam?

    What did Liam mean by that? Chloe squainted her eyes.

    She rushed to catch up with Liam and asked, "Where are you headed?"

    Liam didn''t even look back. He grabbed his motorcycle helmet and said, "I''m going to teach Hugh a lesson. He dares to bully you, so he''s just asking for trouble.."

    With that, Liam took off on his bike. Watching him ride away, Chloe felt like she understood Liam a bit better for the first time.

    Honestly, Liam was actually pretty kind. She used to think he was just a cker who only cared about his motorcycle, but now she saw there was more to him. There was an admirable strength, apelling loyalty that she hadn''t noticed before.

    Chloe looked at Liam''s back with admiration, and at that moment, Grant, who had juste downstairs after taking a shower, happened to see this scene. Suddenly, he had a bad feeling.

    Chloe had been working so hard to set him up with Moira. Did that mean she didn''t like him? Could she be into Liam? They were close in age, went to and from school together every day, and even had lunch together. It wasn''t impossible for feelings to develop.

    But Liam had always been critical of Chloe''s looks, acting like he wasn''t interested in her. But now...

    The usually confident Grant felt a pang of insecurity.

    That night, Chloe, unable to sleep, held her phone and texted Zara: [Zara, you free? Wanna chat?]

    Zara replied: [I''m here, what''s up?]

    Chloe texted: [This arranged marriage thing is getting moreplicated. Grant told me tonight that it''s a done deal. I''m so annoyed; I don''t want an arranged marriage.] Seeing her friend so upset, Zara, the ultimate bestie, couldn''t help but offer advice: [Chloe, nothing is set in stone. What''s a done deal? If you don''t want an arranged marriage, then fight it. I think your previous strategy was pretty good. Find a partner for each of them. That way, the marriage can''t be arranged.]

    Zara''s suggestion got Chloe thinking again. She had promised Karlie to set her up with Michael, and tonight, she thought Moira and Grant were a good match. Liam and Zara were also hitting it off. If she could match these three pairs, then she wouldn''t have to worry about herself, right?

    Times had changed. Even if her grandfather wanted to arrange a marriage with the Martin Family, he couldn''t force the heirs to marry her, right?

    Honestly, this n seemed pretty solid.

    Seeing Chloe''s silence, Zara sent another suggestion: [Chloe, throw a party and invite all the wealthydies who are interested in the three heirs. With so many options, one of them is bound to catch their eye.]

    Reading Zara''s message, Chloe immediately had an idea. She snapped her fingers and decided to go with Zara''s n.

    The next day, Grant drove Chloe to school, and on the way, she turned to him, her expression serious. "Grantie, I want to talk to you about something," she said.

    "What is it?" Grant asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

    Chloe took a deep breath. "I''ve been at Quest University for a few months now, and I want to invite some ssmates and friends over to the house. Would that be okay with you?"

    Grant''s mind immediately went to Philip. If Chloe invited her ssmates, would Philip be one of them?

    "What kind of ssmates?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

    "Just some girls. They all like me, and I want to get closer to them. If you don''t agree, then forget it." Chloe''s tactic of ying hard to get was in full swing.

    She really wanted to invite her ssmates over, and if Grant said no, she could use it as an excuse to pack up and go back home. Not even being able to invite friends over was just too much.

    To her surprise, Grant agreed right away. "Sure. It''s good to have more friends. If you need anything, make a list for the housekeeper. There''s also an outdoor barbecue in the backyard, so you can take your ssmates there to grill."

    Grant had no idea that Chloe was nning to use this gathering to set he and his brothers up with potential partners.

    Karlie was the first to get Chloe''s invitation. When she got the invite, Karlie was thrilled. She hadn''t seen Michael since theirst encounter at the orphanage. She had tried calling him a few times, but he either didn''t answer or his agent would say he was busy filming. She was desperate to see Michael again.

    Chloe reassured her, "Karlie, I''ll call Micter and ask him toe home early tomorrow night. Make sure youe on time."

    Karlie quickly agreed, "Okay, I''ll be there on time. Thanks for the invite, Chloe."

    After inviting Karlie, Chloe reached out to Moira. When Moira heard that Chloe was hosting a small event at the Martin Family''s house to give her more time with Grant, she was ecstatic. She epted Chloe''s invitation without hesitation.

    Of course, Chloe also invited a few of her female friends from school, including her bestie Zara.

    After school, Rena ran into Chloe on campus.

    Rena''s family wasn''t well-off. Although her parents had found jobs at the Gibson Group through Chloe''s introduction, they were just low-level employees with modest ies. For an event like Chloe''s, Rena couldn''t even afford a dress.

    She didn''t want to embarrass herself in front of everyone, so she politely declined Chloe''s invitation. "Chloe, I won''t be able to make it to your gathering on Sunday."

    Hearing that Rena wouldn''te, Chloe felt a pang of disappointment. Rena was the first female friend she made at Quest University.

    She held Rena''s hand and asked, "Rena, why not?"

 Chapter 101 Cant Let Her Have It Easy

    Since Chloe knew Rena''s family situation wasn''t great, Rena didn''t try to sugarcoat it.

    She said, "This is such a fancy event. I can''t go. My family''s poor; I can''t even afford a decent dress. If those stars find out you have a poor friend like me, they''ll look down on you. Chloe, I better not go and embarrass you."

    Rena''s words struck a tender chord with Chloe. Rena was simply adorable. When Chloe stood her ground against Lucy back then, she was risking getting expelled from Quest University, yet she chose to stand by her side. If Chloe excluded her from the party simply because she couldn''t afford a fancy dress, what kind of friend would that make her?

    Chloe smiled and exined to Rena, "Rena, you''re overthinking it. I don''t care about family background when making friends. Even if you can''t afford expensive clothes, you won''t embarrass me because everyone will be wearing ordinary clothes that day. Plus, you mentioned before that you wanted to work at Michael''s studio after graduation, right? It just so happens that Michael is also at home that day. I can help you secure a job with Michael when the timees."

    Rena was over the moon when she heard that Chloe is going to help her find a job at Michael''s studio. "Okay, Chloe, I''ll go, I''ll go," she replied, her face lighting up with excitement.

    Early Sunday morning, Chloe got up, and the butler and the housemaids had already arranged everything needed for the party.

    Grant, Michael, and Liam were also dragged out of their warm beds by Chloe early in the morning.

    Chloe stood with her hands on her hips, like a leader, giving each of them a stern talk. The Martin siblings never would have imagined that they would one day be scolded like this.

    Chloe said, "Mic, you''re handsome, good at talking, and a popr star in the circle. Today, I''ll give you the important task of weing and seeing off guests. What do you think?"

    Hearing this, Michael was immediately displeased. He was a top-tier star, and Chloe was treating him like a doorman? He immediately objected, "No, no, I''m not your doorman. Why should I do the job?"

    Chloe smiled mysteriously, crossed her arms, and said indifferently, "Alright then, if you don''t want to do it, don''t. One of my rtives, Jessica Fairfax, is also on my guest list today. I was thinking of introducing you to her, but it seems unnecessary now."

    Hearing the name Jessica, Michael''s expression changed immediately. Who was Jessica Fairfax? She was a well-known big shot in the circle, and it was said that she held a lot of resources. Anyone she wanted to promote would definitely be famous.

    Although Michael had some connections through the Martin Family, he was still far behind someone like Jessica. Michael had tried to get to know Jessica through others, but she never responded.

    He said, "No... I''ll go, I''m willing to be your doorman, Chloe, as long as you introduce me to Jessica."

    After saying this, Michael immediately got to work. He changed into formal clothes and quickly ran to the entrance.

    Seeing Michael leave, Liam shook his head and was about to bounce too. This was ame party, and he wasn''t in the entertainment industry or business, so why bother sucking up to Chloe''s friends?

    Seeing Liam about to dip, Chloe had a n to reel him back in. She tasted the food the butler had ced on the dining table and said disappointedly, "Oh, this dish doesn''t taste good... I remember Zara loves this dish. Since it''s not well-made, let''s just scrap it."

    Hearing Zara''s name, Liam immediately perked up. Wasn''t she his idol? For over a month, he had been trying to get closer to her by messages. Unfortunately, Zara would only chat with him when she was in a good mood, and wouldn''t even reply when she wasn''t.

    He was really stressing about how to get his idol to notice him more. Now, knowing that Zara likes this dish, he had to keep an eye on the kitchen and make sure they nailed it.

    Liam turned around, came to Chloe''s side, grabbed the dish, and said to Chloe, "Remove it from the menu? If the dish doesn''t taste good, have the chef redo it. Ugly girl, there are many guests today. I''ll keep an eye on the kitchen."

    After saying this, Liam quickly got busy.

    With Michael and Liam gone, Grant, with one hand in his pocket, asked, "What can I do for you?"

    Chloe, eager to distance herself from him, thought for a moment and said, "Grantie, you''re suave, rich, and meticulous. How about you help me prepare some gifts for my friends?"

    Chloe was very tactful in her speech, almost implying that he was just rich enough to be easily swayed.

    Among the three heirs, Grant was the richest. Hosting a party and having him spend some money wasn''t a big deal, right?

    Grant didn''t catch Chloe''s implication. Since Chloe gave him a task, he happily went to do it. He went upstairs and called Stanley, asking him to quickly prepare some high- end gifts and send them to the Martin Mansion.

    With everything meticulously arranged, all that was left was the arrival of the guests. Fate, however, had its own ns. As Stanley perused boutiques for the perfect gifts, he crossed paths with Sophia, who had never concealed her infatuation with Grant. When she learned that Chloe was hosting a party at the Martin Mansion and didn''t invite her, Sophia''s jealousy was fully disyed on her face.

    In her view, if it weren''t for Chloe''s sudden appearance and the marriage contract binding Grant, Grant might have already responded to her advances.

    It was all Chloe''s fault, not only ruining her happiness but also making her look foolish

    multiple times. This time, with Chloe hosting such a high-profile party at the Mansion, she couldn''t let her have a good time. She wanted to make Chloe the most embarrassed person at the party.

    Soon, Sophia began her actions.

    At this time, Chloe, wearing a modest coat, was at the Martin Mansion, happily

    chatting with her invited friends. Rena held Chloe''s arm, full of admiration.

 Chapter 102 The Woman Grant Fancies

    "Chloe, you''re incredible! You actually got a big star like Michael to be your doorman.

    Do you know how handsome he looked when he smiled at me just now?" Rena, usually soposed, was totally smitten by Michael.

    Chloe just grinned. She gave Rena a pat on the shoulder and said, "Don''t worry, there''s something more incredible. I''ll have Michael perform for uster."

    Rena thought Chloe was just showing off. "Chloe, stop kidding. How could a big star like Michael perform for us?"

    Rena''s incredulous expression made Chloe chuckle softly. She yfully patted Rena''s shoulder. "Just you wait and see."

    Chloe had just been chatting with Rena for a bit when she saw Karlie and Moira arrive, and she quickly went to greet them.

    Originally, Karlie had some beef with Chloe because of Michael, but once Chloe agreed to help her get closer to him, she started to warm up to Chloe. Gradually, they became friends.

    Moira only thought of Chloe as Grant''s cousin and didn''t think much of it. But when she arrived and saw the three Martin brothers willingly supporting Chloe''s party, she confirmed Chloe''s integral ce within the illustrious Martin family.

    Zara was one of the first to arrive at the Martin Mansion. She wanted to have a word with Chloe.

    However, as soon as she stepped through the grand entrance, Liam pulled her into the kitchen and began showering her with introductions and offering her food nonstop. One could say that Liam showcased the perfect image of a sycophant in front of Zara. Although, Zara was not particrly interested in motorcycles.

    Just like that, the party kicked off, and everyone sat together, chatting andughing, having a st, except for Grant; the eldest of the Martin Family was upstairs in his room, seemingly handling some work.

    Moira, being ady, was very approachable and got along well with Chloe''s friends without any awkwardness. But eventually, feeling bored after a while, she said to Chloe, "Miss Davis, where is Mr. Grant Martin? I''ve been here for a while and haven''t seen him."

    Moira hade specifically for Grant, and Chloe intended to bring her closer to him. She quickly said, "Miss Thorne, please wait a moment. I''ll go upstairs and call Grantie."

    Chloe then headed upstairs. As she passed the corner of the stairs, she seemed to see a familiar figure sneaking towards the backyard. She pointed at the figure and asked the maid Mia, "Mia, do you know that maid?"

    Mia shook her head. "No. Miss Davis, do you think there''s something wrong with her?" Chloe thought for a moment and then dismissed it. "No, I just don''t recognize her." "There are probably several you don''t recognize; they were all hired by the butler yesterday, for the party," Mia exined.

    Mia''s exnation eased Chloe''s doubts, and she continued upstairs to Grant''s room.

    At that moment, Sophia, disguised as a maid, was working diligently. When she heard from the other maids that Chloe had be the most favored person of the three Martin brothers, her resentment towards Chloe hit the roof.

    While she worked, she kept a vignt eye out, ready to seize any chance to execute her burgeoning scheme.

    Chloe knocked on Grant''s door just as he was wrapping up his work. Standing at his door, she asked, "Grantie, are you done?"

    Grant nodded. "Yeah, do you need something?"

    A hint of hesitation colored Chloe''s expression as she nced downstairs before meeting Grant''s gaze. "Grantie, some of my friends want to meet you," she said, her voice tinged with a shy undertone.

    Grant raised an eyebrow, his instinctive reaction one of reluctance. The age gap between him and Chloe often made him feel out of ce among her circle. He didn''t think he had much inmon with her younger friends.

    "Meet me?" Grant repeated, his surprise evident.

    Chloe confessed, not daring to look him in the eyes, "Yes, I specifically invited Miss Thorne over..."

    Grant''s previously calm expression darkened immediately, the shift almost palpable. At that moment, he could easily guess Chloe''s intentions.

    Karlie, Michael''s rumored girlfriend, was chatting with him in the yard. Liam was so infatuated with his idol that he was almost ready to cook for her. As for himself, Chloe had brought Moira over. How could he not understand her intentions?

    Chloe was attempting to pair the three Martin brothers with partners to circumvent her own predicament and dodge the impending marriage that hung over her like a dark cloud.

    He would never let her have her way.

    Thinking of this, Grant stepped forward and mmed his door shut, then looked at Chloe with a cold expression.

    Chloe, startled by his abrupt change in demeanor, instinctively began to back away. But before she could escape, Grant grabbed her arm and pinned her against the wall, his grip unyielding.

    Chloe struggled to resist, but Grant, prepared for her usual tricks, held her hand tightly, leaving her no room to maneuver. He said, "Chloe, you''re getting more and more out of line."

    "Grantie, it''s not like that, you misunderstood me." Chloe wanted to defend herself. Grant smirked and said coldly, "Misunderstood you? You invited Moira to our house. What''s next, are you nning to put her in my bed?"

    Chloe was speechless. She was surprised and confused as to why Grant seemed to understand her intentions, almost as if he could read her thoughts.

    She stammered, unable to find the words, "Grantie... I..."

    "Do you think that by ying these little tricks, the marriage contract between the Davis Family and the Martin Family can be nullified?" Grant stared into Chloe''s eyes, making her unable to meet his gaze.

    He stepped closer, using his leg to pin her body against the wall. Chloe''s pulse quickened as his finger lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. His tone was unyielding and firm. "You are the mistress of the Martin Family, the woman I, Grant, have chosen. You can forget about escaping in this lifetime."

    Grant''s words made Chloe''s head buzz. The information in that sentence was overwhelming. What did he mean by saying she was the woman he had chosen?

    What did that mean?

    Before she could figure out what Grant meant, he lowered his face and, in Chloe''s surprised gaze, unhesitatingly captured her lips...

 Chapter 103 Friends with Age Gap

    Downstairs, people wereing and going, and Chloe never expected Grant to be so bold. He actually kissed her!

    What''s more, embarrassingly, she found herself utterly captivated by his kisses, unable to extricate herself.

    Grant''s kissing skills were exceptional, and as they shifted and deepened, both of them experienced a slight loss of control in their actions. Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched, leaving her mind utterly nk. The kiss was charged with an urgent fervor, as if Grant was conveying some deep-seated desire and longing.

    His fingers gently but firmly cupped her chin, holding her head steady, as though he feared she might evade him. The overwhelming passion exploded in her chest, her heartbeat thundering like a drum. Initially, her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, an attempt to push him away. But that resistance melted almost immediately, and her fingers slowly traced their way up to his shoulders.

    At that moment, someone called Chloe from the stairs, and she instantly came to her senses. She pushed Grant away and fled in a panic. Smirking, Grant touched his lips. It was a disappointment that a deep kiss like that ended so abruptly.

    Escaping from Grant''s room, Chloe nearly collided with Rena, who was anxiously searching for her on the stairs. Beads of sweat glistened on Rena''s forehead as she eximed, "Chloe, where did you go? I was looking all over for you."

    Chloe, still breathless from her encounter, tried to regain herposure. "I... I was just, um, talking with Grant," she stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. "Miss Thorne said she wanted to see Grant, so I came to check when he woulde downstairs."

    Rena raised an eyebrow, noticing Chloe''s disheveled state and the unmistakable flush of her cheeks. "Just checking, huh?"

    Rena''s words made Chloe feel guilty, and she quickly said, "Yes, I just came to check. What else do you think I could be doing?"

    Rena didn''t press the issue further and pulled Chloe downstairs. "Alright, alright, let''s not talk about this. You should hurry downstairs; Michael said Jessica has arrived."

    Hearing that Jessica had arrived, Chloe hurried downstairs. When she reached the door, Michael had already weed Jessica in.

    When Jessica saw Chloe, she extended her arm and gave Chloe a deep hug, surprising everyone.

    "Hello, Jessica," Chloe greeted Jessica.

    Jessica warmly said, "Hello, little one. Long time no see. You''ve grown more and more..."

    Jessica originally wanted to say "more and more beautiful," but when she saw the mole on Chloe''s face, she swallowed thest word- Chloe couldn''t be described as beautiful, only fresh and lively.

    To prevent Jessica from saying the wrong thing, Chloe quickly gave Jessica a knowing look, and Jessica understood immediately.

    Although Jessica was nearly fifty years old, she exuded a timeless charm, her beauty as striking as ever. Her warm, affectionate demeanor towards Chloe had not gone unnoticed, especially by Michael, who couldn''t help but feel a pang of envy.

    The women sat together, engrossed in a variety of topics, talking about men, food, shopping, and more. Karlie and Moira were busy asking Jessica for tips on skincare, while Michael pulled Chloe aside with Karlie and started questioning her.

    He asked, "Chloe, are you very familiar with Jessica?"

    Chloe nodded. "Yes, very familiar. I met her when I was five. We''re friends despite the age gap."

    Hearing that Chloe and Jessica were friends made Michael''s eyes almost pop out in envy. Jessica was a highly respected figure in the entertainment industry, a true powerhouse. How could she be friends with a young girl like Chloe?

    He had to admit, he had underestimated Chloe before.

    Michael''s attitude softened. He said to Chloe, "Since you''re friends with Jessica, could you put in a good word for me? Maybe she could give me some acting tips?" Chloe rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "Why should I help you?"

    Michael''s frustration bubbled over. "Why? Because you live off me. I provide the roof over your head, the food you eat, everything you need. Liam might give you a hard time, but I don''t. I always look out for you when we go out. All I''m asking is for you to help me get closer to Jessica. Is that too much? If you don''t, you can forget about me taking you out anymore."

    Michael was always long-winded, weaving borate narratives to leverage his supposed kindness and coax Chloe into agreeing with him.

    Chloe, however, remained circumspect. After enduring his lengthy monologue, she feigned being moved by his words. "Mic, you do have a point," she said, sighing as if in resignation.

    "Exactly." Michael''s face lit up with joy.

    "Alright then," Chloe continued, "considering how well you treat me and my friends, I''ll agree."

    Her relenting made Michael exuberant. He reached out impulsively to grab Chloe''s hand, but she swiftly pushed him away. "Hey, hey, hey, Michael, watch it. What''s with grabbing my hand? Can''t you keep some distance?"

    Chloe''s words made Michael realize his mistake, and he apologized with a smile.

    At that moment, Chloe remembered she had told Rena that Michael would perform for everyone. She had to make it happen, right? Michael was a top star in the circle, with great acting skills and good looks. If he performed for the girls, this little gathering would be even more exciting.

    With that in mind, Chloe set a trap for Michael. She put on a serious face and said to Michael, "Mic, I did introduce you to Jessica before, but she said she wants to see your skills."

    "How do I show skills?" Michael was puzzled.

    Chloe thought for a moment, resting her chin on her hand, and said, "Jessica mentioned that she loves impromptu performances. It would impress her greatly if you could act out a scene on the spot, right here, right now."

    Hearing that he had to perform, Michael got interested. He was an actor, talented in many ways. Performing was a piece of cake for him, right?

    Soon, Michael agreed.

    Chloe, in turn, gathered everyone into the living room, including Rena. As they settled in, anticipation filled the air.

    Chloe stood at the center, drawing everyone''s attention. "Everyone," she began, her voice clear and inviting, "Michael has prepared a special performance to wee you all."

    Hearing that Chloe had convinced Michael to perform, Rena got excited. She grabbed Chloe''s hand and asked, "What performance? What is my idol going to perform?"

    Chloe''s expression turned serious, and she smiled slightly, saying, "He''s going to... cross-dressing!"

 Chapter 104 Liam is Acting Flirty

    "A cross-dressing act, huh?"

    Cross-dressing performances, as everyone knew, involved women dressing as men and men dressing as women for the act. This kind of performance required a high level of skill and was a true test of one''s acting abilities. Especially when men dressed as women, they not only needed to move gracefully and speak in a soft, sweet voice, but also must capture and portray the elegance and charm of a woman.

    Since his debut, Michael had always yed the roles of distinguished wealthy young men or domineering CEOS. Chloe came up with a mischievous idea, suggesting that he y a woman. For him, this indeed presented quite a significant challenge.

    At first, Michael resisted the idea vehemently. The notion seemed preposterous to him, but Chloe convinced him that this daring act of cross-dressing was the only way to truly exhibit his versatility and capture Jessica''s attention. Atst, Michael begrudgingly agreed to Chloe''s bold n.

    He rifled through Chloe''s wardrobe and selected a long, elegant dress-one prone to a few impromptu alterations to fit his form. Next, he meticulously applied makeup, affixed a long wig, and painted his lips a striking shade of red. With his transformationplete, he practiced a sashay and made his grand entrance downstairs.

    The moment everyone saw their typically on-screen yboy or CEO transformed into a sultry woman, they erupted intoughter. They knew only Chloe could get Michael to do something so out of character.

    Michael, embodying the role with unexpected finesse, swayed his hips and flirted shamelessly, eliciting endless amusement from the crowd.

    Chloe couldn''t help butugh uncontrobly. For a moment, the Martin Family gathering reached its peak of merriment. Even Grant, who had been sitting in his room working, couldn''t resisting out to see what was causing all theughter outside.

    Just then, Chloe got a message from Zara in the dining room: [Chloe, help.]

    Worried that something was wrong, Chloe left Michael to entertain the guests and rushed to the dining area. As soon as she arrived, Zara, visibly flustered and stammering, pulled her aside. "Chloe, I... oh my..."

    Zara''s nervousness was infectious, and Chloe couldn''t help but feel a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. "Zara, what''s up? You called me over in such a hurry. What''s going on?"

    Zara hesitated before covering her face with her hands and speaking in a barely audible whisper. "Well, Liam almost kissed me just now."

    "What?" Chloe was taken aback by the news. The thought of Liam being so forward stunned her.

    But, on a deeper level, Chloe felt a surge of satisfaction. If Liam had feelings for Zara, it could solve a significant problem for her. This unexpected development might finally distract him from pursuing her, or rather, the mysterious biker, which would reduce the pressure on her to marry into the Martin Family.

    "Zara, why are you so scared? If he wants to kiss you, it means he likes you. I think you two would make a great couple," Chloe assured her with a supportive smile.

    Chloe''s words made Zara look even more troubled. "Oh, it''s not like that. He doesn''t have feelings for me; I''m just chatting with him pretending to be you. I''m not his dream girl. If he finds out I''m not his idol, he might freak out. I''m telling you, I can''t keep pretending to be you anymore."

    Chloe felt a headacheing on. She tried her best to sell Liam to Zara, singing Liam''s praises. "Zara, Liam''s a great guy. He likes you; he wouldn''t do anything out of the line if he finds out. And about the idol thing, if we keep quiet, he''ll never know. I think you two could really hit it off. Why not give it a shot with Liam and see how it goes?"

    But Zara wasn''t having it. She waved her hand, refusing, before leaving the room. "Forget it, I don''t want anything to do with him. I need to be clear with you, the guy I like is Michael."

    Chloe felt dizzy, every n she had crafted for this party crumbling to dust. She had thought organizing this gathering would finally set things right with the three brothers, but everything seemed to be falling apart.

    When Moira arrived, Grant hid upstairs, refusing toe down, clutching hisputer tightly and not letting go. When Chloe ventured upstairs to fetch him, he had the audacity to kiss her. If she''d not evaded him swiftly, Grant might have pushed further. She thought Grant''s taste was very unique; even when she dressed so poorly, he still kissed her.

    Michael, on the other hand, was super cooperative, performing in front of all those women. But he wasn''t trying to find a partner; he was just trying to impress Jessica. Setting him up with Karlie seemed increasingly remote, if not impossible.

    Zara and Liam had been doing well enough that Chloe had hoped for a breakthrough. Yet Liam''s sudden, impulsive move earlier unsettled Zara, pushing her to quit the pretense altogether.

    These three troublesome heirs were back in her hands, leaving Chloepletely frustrated. She struggled toprehend why they remained unpromoted.

    Chloe stood in a corner of the dining room, feeling defeated. At this moment, a woman pushing a trash cart, bundled up tightly, walked past Chloe. When she nced sideways and saw Chloe fiddling with her phone, she picked up a prepared stick and swung it at the back of Chloe''s head.

    Chloe waspletely caught off guard. She felt a sharp pain at the back of her head, and her body went limp before copsing to the ground with a thud. The phone that Zara had just slipped into Chloe''s hand also fell to the ground as Chloe lost consciousness.

    Seeing Chloe unconscious, the tightly wrapped woman quickly dragged Chloe''s body and stuffed her into the garbage cart. Then, after looking around, she pushed the cart, kicked away the fallen phone, and quickly left.

 Chapter 105 Chloe Might Be in Trouble

    Right now, with a mixed crowd having a st at the Martin Mansion, nobody noticed anything out of the ordinary.

    Grant finally decided to head downstairs, where he spotted Michael charming a group ofdies with his impromptu performance. Unimpressed and not in the mood for socializing, Grant slipped away, taking another staircase to the dining room. As soon as he arrived at the restaurant, he saw a heavily bundled woman pushing a trash cart, looking around nervously, as if she was afraid of something, and hurriedly left.

    The sight didn''t really catch Grant''s attention. Realizing it was time to move the party to the next phase, he called the dining staff to serve the food.

    Meanwhile, the bundled-up woman maneuvered the garbage cart to a small, concealed door in the backyard of the Martin Mansion. She quickly removed the mask covering her face, revealing Sophia''s sinister expression. With an air of calm menace, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

    "It''s done. Get the car over here right away," shemanded before abruptly hanging up.

    Soon, a van pulled up in front of Sophia. Two young guys got out, checked the garbage bin she had pushed out, then loaded it into the van and drove off. A few minutester, Sophia called an Uber and quickly slipped out through the back door.

    At this moment, in the Martin Mansion, Grant seemed to have noticed something unusual. He first spotted a phone lying in the corner of the dining room. When he picked it up and headed to the living room, intending to find its owner, he discovered that Chloe was nowhere to be seen.

    He interrupted Michael''s performance and asked, "Hey, has anyone seen Chloe?"

    Zara, who was thest to talk to Chloe, told Grant, "Wasn''t Chloe in the dining room? I saw her there five minutes ago. I even gave her my phone."

    Hearing this, Grant showed the phone he had just picked up and asked, "This is yours?" Zara nodded. "Yeah."

    Grant said, "I found this phone on the floor. Mic, get Liam over here right now. Chloe might be in trouble."

    Hearing Grant''s words, everyone became frantic. Quickly, the three young masters of the Martin Family mobilized everyone they could, starting a search for Chloe throughout the Martin Mansion. The friends Chloe had invited also began searching various parts of the the Martin Mansion.

    Two hours went by, and they still hadn''t found any sign of Chloe. Grant''s face turned serious, and everyone could feel the anger radiating from him.

    He coldly told Liam, "Find her. Expand the search area."

    A few hourster, Chloe, who had been knocked out, slowly came to. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Lucy''s heavily made-up, sinister face right in front of her.

    Seeing her awake, Lucy sneered. "Oh, you''re up?"

    Recognizing Lucy, Chloe quickly reyed everything in her mind. After a moment of rity, she looked at Lucy and demanded, "Lucy, where are we? How dare you kidnap me? What do you want?"

    Chloe struggled, trying to take in her surroundings.

    It looked like an old, abandoned warehouse, filled with a musty, creepy vibe. She was tied to a busted chair, her hands bound tightly behind her back, the ropes digging into her wrists and making them bleed.

    Even though she''d been through a lot, this was the first time Chloe had ever been kidnapped.

    Facing the imminent danger, she was feeling slightly nervous. Not sure of Lucy''s intentions in tying her up here, she became even more flustered. The unfamiliar surroundings quickened her heartbeat, causing cold sweat to form on her forehead. Trying to recall what had happened before, she could only remember some vague snippets and a woman''s sinister smile.

    If Lucy''s motive was money, the solution would be straightforward. However, if her aim was darker, Chloe needed to muster every ounce of strength and cunning to save herself.

    Without answering Chloe''s questions, Lucy approached, brandishing a menacing knife. The de danced dangerously close to Chloe''s face, its cold sheen reflecting her terror. "Chloe, don''t struggle," Lucy hissed. "The ropes are tight, and you''ll just hurt your wrists more. And don''t even think about escaping; I''ve got people inside and out. Getting out of here is nearly impossible. The guys haven''t been with women in years. Your looks won''t save you. They''ll rape you first, then kill you."

    Lucy''s words spilled like venom, making Chloe''s skin crawl with disgust. If she weren''t bound, she would have pped that smug expression right off Lucy''s face. But now wasn''t the time for confrontations. Staying alive was her sole priority.

    She hoped someone would quickly realize she had been kidnapped and find her soon. She was too young to die here, in this bleak and unknown ce.

    At this moment, Chloe suddenly missed Grant very much. It seemed that in this city, he was her only hope.

    Chloe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She lifted her face to meet Lucy''s cold gaze. "Lucy, what do you want? If it''s money, just name your price."

    The Davis Family was loaded, and even Chloe''s own ount had more money than an ordinary person could earn in several lifetimes. She knew Lucy had struggled after her father was expelled from Quest University, scraping by as a hostess in karaoke bars. So using the money to negotiate was the best approach, at least that was what she believed.

    But unexpectedly, Lucy''s face contorted with rage. With a swift, brutal movement, she kicked Chloe and the chair over, sending them crashing to the ground. The rough floor scraped Chloe''s delicate skin, the pain sharp and immediate, making her wince.

    Lucy loomed over her, eyes zing. "You''re in this situation and still trying to use money? Fuck, do you think money makes you invincible? Your high-and-mighty attitude is what I hate most about you, Chloe. Every time I see that smug look, I want to kill you. You''re so ugly-how do you even have the courage to live?"

    Without waiting for a response, Lucy grabbed Chloe roughly and pped her hard across the face. The sting burned, igniting a fire of anger within Chloe. She had never been one to cower, and she certainly wasn''t going to start now.

 Chapter 106 Rape Her First, Then Kill Her

    Chloe shot Lucy a death re and shouted, "Lucy, have you lost your mind?"

    Lucy, seeing Chloe''s rage, felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.

    Ever since Chloe had enrolled at Quest University, Lucy''s life had been a living hell. Chloe''s maniptions, both overt and covert, had eventually led to Lucy''s expulsion and caused her father, Ford, to lose his position at the university. To survive, Lucy had resorted to sleeping with a man older than her father.

    And then, out of nowhere, Chloe had reappeared, brutally assaulting Hugh and enlisting Grant to inflict an even worse beating on the street. What was more, Liam and his crew had shattered what little power Hugh had built up.

    All of thisˇŞeach misery-traced back to Chloe.

    She kidnapped Chloe to exact her revenge, determined to make Chloe, the ugly duckling, experience the jarring fall from grace that she had endured.

    Lucy sneered, and with her bright red-painted nails, she grabbed Chloe''s hair again, yanking her head up forcefully so their eyes met.

    "You finally know what pain feels like, don''t you?" Lucy whispered, her lips curving into a cruel smile of satisfaction. Chloe, though bound and powerless, red at Lucy with defiant and angry eyes, determined not to show her fear and weakness.

    "What do you want?" Chloe struggled to ask, her voice low and hoarse.

    "It''s not about wanting," Lucy spat coldly, "it''s about making you lose everything you''ve always been so proud of. Didn''t I tell you? First, rape, then kill. You''re gonna learn what happens when you mess with me."

    Lucy had lost it.

    Chloe stared at her coldly and said, "You better let me go, or when the Martin brothers find out you kidnapped me, they''lle for you. And trust me, they won''t be kind."

    Chloe was trying to scare her. But Lucy had lost her sanity. Any threat meant nothing to her. Her eyes were filled with determination and madness, as if all the world''s hatred was concentrated in her alone.

    "Threaten me? Do you think that will work?" Lucy sneered, her grip on Chloe''s hair unrelenting. "Your current predicament is all your own doing. Who else is there to me? Ugly freak, you think you can scare me? Let''s see how tough you are when those guys who haven''t seen a woman in ages get their hands on you."

    Lucy tightened her grip on Chloe''s hair. She started dragging Chloe, ready to throw her to the men she had summoned. Chloe''s heart pounded with frantic intensity-she knew she was in real peril now and had to act swiftly to ensure her survival.

    As Lucy pulled her along, Chloe gritted her teeth, mustering all the strength she could. She turned sharply and delivered a powerful kick to Lucy''s lower back. The force of the blow made Lucy let go and hit the ground, caughtpletely off guard.

    Seizing the moment of Lucy''s pained scream, Chloe frantically worked to free her wrists from the ropes. Her years of training with professionalbat coaches since childhood had not been for nothing; she knew she could fight back if unbound.

    Themotion drew Lucy''s thugs running. They lifted Lucy off the ground, where shey bleeding, her nose having hit the floor hard.

    "Chloe, you bitch! How dare you attack me? I''m gonna kill you," Lucy snarled, her face a bloody mess of rage as she staggered to her feet. Fueled by fury, she grabbed a baseball bat, her grip tight and dangerous.

    The thugs, rather than intervening, stood by with arms crossed, clearly entertained by the unfolding drama.

    Lucy swung the bat with wild abandon, aiming for Chloe. But Chloe, fueled by adrenaline, wasn''t about to let herself be a victim. She twisted and turned, ensuring the bat struck the chair instead of her.

    As she evaded Lucy''s relentless swings, Chloe tried to appeal to the thugs'' better judgment or perhaps simply their sense of self-preservation.

    "Hey, listen up! I''m Chloe Davis, engaged to the Martin heirs. If you keep me here, they''ll tear this ce apart to find me. You know their power; crushing you would be like squashing a bug. You''re here for money, right? No need to risk your necks for Lucy''s craziness. Save me, and the Martin Family will reward you big time, enough to livefortably forever."

    Chloe''s words made the thugs think twice. They knew messing with the Martin Family was a death wish. If Chloe died, they''d be hunted down for sure. Better to get some cash and stay alive.

    Lucy''s face twisted with rage hearing Chloe''s offer. She swung the bat at Chloe''s head, but Chloe ducked just in time.

    "Save me, and I''ll give you ten million dors right now..." Chloe shouted, pushing the limits of her voice.

    The thugs'' decision became instantly clear. The allure of such an immense sum proved too powerful to resist. With a brief exchange of determined looks, they surged forward, ripping the bat from Lucy''s hands and forcefully pulling her away from Chloe.

    Still tied up but deftly dodging iing strikes, Chloe allowed herself a momentary sigh of relief. The blows she had endured only fueled her resolve to turn the thugs into her shield rather than Lucy''s weapon.

    Lucy, seeing her hired muscle betray her, erupted in a furious panic. "What the hell are you doing? Why are you stopping me?" she screamed, desperation edging her voice. One of the thugs, now standing protectively in front of Chloe, replied with striking calm, "We''re stopping you because we want the money. She promised us ten million dors."

    Hearing that, Lucy felt a sting of humiliation. How could everything she endured with Hugh amount to this a promise of wealth sovish it seemed almost casually thrown by Chloe?

    Desperate, Lucy tried to sway the thugs back to her side. "Don''t listen to her lies. She can''t just hand out ten million dors. Stick with me, and I promise you''ll get everything I offered-money, women, everything."

 Chapter 107 Lets Play Freely

    These goons, after Lucy''s sweet talk, were convinced once again. Two of them huddled together, whispering.

    "She offered money and women. We should listen to Miss Kim..."

    "I think so too. This chick says she can give us ten million bucks. That''s a lot of dough, is she for real?"

    "But she ims she''s the future mistress of the Martin Family..."

    "Come on, don''t buy her crap. She''s so ugly, how could she be? The three brothers are all top-notch. Which one of them would want such an ugly chick?"

    Listening to their chatter, sweat trickling down her face, Chloe saw Lucy''s evil grin, hell- bent on ruining her. Realizing words alone wouldn''t cut it, she knew she had to offer something worthwhile.

    She took a deep breath, trying to calm the fear and anger within her, and then, with as steady a voice as she could muster, Chloe immediately said to one of the thugs, "Do you have a phone?"

    The thug, a bit on edge, asked, "What do you want it for?"

    Chloe replied, "Let me use it to log into my bank. I''ll transfer ten million bucks to you right now..."

    Chloe''s words lit a fire under the thugs. They exchanged nces, clearly skeptical about this sudden windfall.

    Lucy started to panic. "Don''t believe her, she''s lying... Chloe, you bitch, you''re about to die, and you''re still lying. I''ll beat you to death."

    Lucy grabbed a baseball bat, ready to strike Chloe again.

    In the nick of time, Chloe shouted, "I''ll give each of you ten million bucks, right now..."

    Her words cut through the chaos, resonating with the thugs. Just as Lucy''s bat was about to connect with Chloe''s head, one of the lead thugs stepped in, yanking the bat from Lucy''s grip with a decisive motion.

    "What are you doing?" Lucy snapped, her voice a blend of fury and disbelief.

    The thug coolly replied, "We want the ten million bucks."

    His words clearly rattled Lucy. She scrambled to regain control, her voice rising in desperation. "She''s just tricking you..."

    "But we want to try." The lead thug signaled to the man next to him, who handed his phone to Chloe.

    "If you dare to trick us, in five minutes, you''ll wish you were dead." As he handed over the phone, he didn''t forget to throw in a threat, his cold gaze piercing through Chloe.

    This was a life-and-death situation-Chloe knew she couldn''t afford to bluff. She cooperated fully. When ten million bucksnded in the ount, the thugs erupted in wild celebrations. They could hardly believe their fortune. This seemingly helpless woman had actually delivered on her promise.

    "Ten million bucks justnded... Ten million bucks reallynded..." The thugs chanted, their voices filled with ecstatic disbelief.

    Lucy had initially called them over with the promise of ten grand each, and that was only after the job was done. But here was Chloe, handing over ten million bucks without a second thought. Theparison was stark and humiliating for Lucy.

    They weren''t dumb; they knew whose money was easier to get.

    Chloe seized the moment and said, "I promised each of you ten million bucks. Untie me, and I''ll keep transferring the money. Those standing over there,e over and give me your bank ount numbers."

    After hearing Chloe''s proposition, the thugs had no intention of remaining loyal to Lucy. With swift determination, they untied Chloe and eagerly gathered around her, bank cards at the ready.

    However, Chloe was apprehensive about Lucy''s potential escape and decided to leverage the thugs'' brute force.

    "Keep an eye on Lucy," shemanded. "Don''t let her run. She imed she''d find you a woman to have fun with-now that you have the money, you can have the fun she promised, with her."

    Since Chloe was their benefactor now, they wouldn''t dare cross her now. Besides, Lucy''s appearance and her association with Hugh only heightened their interest.

    Soon, the thugs who got the money surrounded Lucy. She knew very well that if these guys gang-raped her, it would be a harrowing nightmare-It had been a long time since these men had been with a woman, and to them, Lucy was a tantalizing prospect. Trembling, Lucy pleaded, "What do you want? Get away, all of you get away..." Flush with cash and high spirits, the thugs closed in on Lucy, their eyes gleaming with malevolent delight.

    "What do we want? We want to y some adult games," one of them sneered. "Brothers, ten million bucks justnded. Someone paid us to have fun, so let''s have a good time..."

    With that, they tore at Lucy''s clothes and dragged her to the corner. Her screams soon echoed through the derelict warehouse, a chilling testament to her plight.

    After transferring thest sum of money to the thugs'' ounts, Chloe looked for a chance to escape. Her leg had been hit by Lucy earlier, and every step was agony. But she couldn''t stay there another minute.

    Chloe gritted her teeth and dragged her injured leg, struggling toward the warehouse exit. Every step felt like walking on sharp thorns, but she knew that stopping wasn''t an option-the only thing that mattered was escaping. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead, her face pale with pain, but she kept moving forward relentlessly.

    Behind her, Lucy''s shouts and the gleeful cackles of the thugs had no effect on Chloe. After her arduous efforts, she finally escaped the dark warehouse. The zing sun outside was so bright that she couldn''t open her eyes for a moment.

    Just as she felt a wave of relief for escaping death, several ck cars approached from a distance. When the car doors opened, she saw Hugh''s shiny bald head.

    Chloe''s heart sank again. She never expected that bitch Lucy had arranged for another group of people. Who were these guys? Were they Hugh''s?

    Exhausted, Chloe stood there watching therge group rush toward her. Despair washed over her as she felt death closing in.

    At that moment, she desperately hoped Grant would swoop in like Superman.

 Chapter 108 They All Seem to Like You

    As the group got closer, Chloe, desperate to protect herself, grabbed a rock from the ground. She wasn''t about to go down without a fight.

    Just when she was ready to fight for her life, her earlier hope came true. Grant, in his dark blue trench coat, appeared in front of her like he had just descended from heaven.

    Behind him were the guys who had gotten out of the car earlier, and the bald dude Chloe had seen was now tightly restrained by Grant''s men. The moment Grant saw Chloe, he quickened his pace, urgently running towards her.

    At that moment, Chloe felt the heavy burden on her back lighten considerably. Grant''s sudden appearance seemed to fill her with a new surge of strength. A mix of disbelief and uncontainable joy shed in her eyes as she eximed, "Grantie, you finally came..."

    That tender, almost broken call of "Grantie" made Grant''s heart twist in agony. Without a moment''s hesitation, he rushed to Chloe''s side. Just as she was about to copse, he caught her and held her tight. "Chloe, I''m so sorry I waste and made you suffer," he whispered, his voice filled with regret and relief.

    Grant clung to Chloe as if she might vanish, cradling her with a firmness both protective and desperate, while her tears streamed down her face, each one a testament to her ordeal.

    "Grantie, I thought I was gonna die here. I was so scared..." she sobbed, clutching his waist. Her grip tightened, drawing security from the solid reassurance of his presence.

    As Chloe wept, Grant''s heart shattered. After ensuring she had no serious injuries, he gently picked her up in his arms, prepared to leave this ce of nightmares behind.

    Turning to his men, who stood at attention, he ordered, "Clean this ce up. Don''t let anyone who hurt Chloe escape."

    Once inside Grant''s car, Chloe, ovee with exhaustion and the emotional toll of the evening, fell into a deep, merciful sleep in his arms. Grant held her, looking down at her dirt-streaked face and tear-stained cheeks, cursing himself silently a hundred times over for not having been there sooner.

    He reached out and gently stroked Chloe''s face, whispering, "I''m sorry, Chloe, I didn''t protect you well."

    Maybe because she felt safe, Chloe slept soundly. When she woke up and opened her eyes, she saw Zara sitting beside her.

    Seeing Chloe awake, Zara nervously asked, "Chloe, how are you? Are you feeling ufortable anywhere? The Martin Family has doctors on standby outside. If you''re ufortable, I''ll call them right away."

    "Zara, don''t worry, I''m fine. Everything''s okay." Chloe didn''t want Zara to worry, so she didn''t mention the pain she felt.

    Zara''s tears fell. "Chloe, you scared me to death. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn''t have called you to the dining room yesterday. I''m sorry, it''s my fault."

    Since learning about Chloe''s incident yesterday, Zara had been ming herself. She believed that if she hadn''t messaged Chloe, Chloe would have stayed in the living room with the guests and wouldn''t have been kidnapped.

    Seeing Zara''s guilt, Chloe forced a smile. She grabbed Zara''s hand and said, "Zara, it''s not your fault. These guys were after me. Even if you hadn''t called, I couldn''t have dodged it. It''s just a bummer I didn''t get to eat any of that barbecue I worked so hard on."

    Chloe''s words made Zara, who was crying, burst intoughter. She nced at Chloe and said, "You, even after a near-death experience, are still thinking about food? You''re something else."

    Chloe touched her belly and said weakly, "What else? I''ve missed a bunch of meals, okay? Hurry up and get me something to eat, I''m starving."

    Soon, Zara called the Martin Family''s servants, who brought some food for Chloe. While Chloe was eating, Zara sat beside her and recounted everything that happened yesterday.

    "Chloe, when we heard you were missing yesterday, the Martin brothers went nuts. Grant started making calls right away, Michael led the bodyguards out, and Liam was in a panic, searching everywhere. They nearly turned Sovereign City upside down. Luckily, they found you; otherwise, they would have worried themselves sick."

    Zara''s words weren''t exaggerated. People always said the three Martin brothers were the most untouchable presence in Sovereign City, but in reality, they had never seen them angry.

    Yesterday, Zara really saw it. Even from over 100 feet away, she could feel the murderous auraing off them. Especially Grant, whose imposing presence made people keep their distance.

    Chloe responded nonchntly to Zara''s words while eating, "Of course they were worried. If something really happened to me, would Louis let them off?"

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Zara shook her head. "No, that''s not it. I could tell they were genuinely worried, not just because of pressure from their grandfather. Chloe, I think they all seem to like you."

    Chloe broke out in goosebumps. She first touched the mole on her face, then quickly said to Zara, "Don''t talk nonsense. With my current ugly appearance, how could they like me? If that''s the case, I have to say, their taste is really unique."

    Although Chloe denied it, in her mind, she kept reying the moment Grant appeared - his determined expression and caring gestures touched her deeply. She suddenly realized that Grant was not just a reliable partner and friend; he seemed to hold a much more special ce in her heart.

    Thinking of this, Chloe''s face turned red. She shyly lowered her head, trying to hide the fluttering in her heart.

    Seeing Chloe like this, a smile appeared on Zara''s face. She quietly said to Chloe, "Chloe, which one do you think likes you the most?"

 Chapter 109 Ill Marry Her

    Faced with Zara''s ridiculous question, Chloe was at a loss for words. While munching on her food, she rolled her eyes at her friend. "Seriously, stop it. I told you, none of them are into me."

    Zara pouted and said softly, "I think Grant likes you the most."

    Zara''s words made Chloe blush again. She could definitely tell that Grant treated her differently; otherwise, he wouldn''t be kissing her every chance he got.

    She was acutely aware that Grant''s feelings for her had long surpassed ordinary friendship. Whether it was his gentle care or his protection during each perilous situation, Chloe felt a special affection from him. Grant''s repeated acts of warmth and closeness left her somewhat at a loss.

    Even though she knew it, she still had to deny it in front of Zara. "Don''t be ridiculous. Grant likes girls like Miss Thorne. There''s no way he likes me."

    Zara startedying out the facts again. "Of course he likes you, Chloe. Yesterday, he was freaking out on the phone arranging searches, yelling at Michael for being slow, and almost fighting with Liam over security. He even scolded the housekeeper, servants, and bodyguards. You should''ve seen how anxious he was. He really has a thing for you. Why not just marry him?"

    Zara kept talking, making Chloe a bit speechless. She reminded Zara, "Zara, don''t go overboard. Remember what I told you when I first came to Sovereign City? I came here to break off the engagement, to make them disgusted with me, not to marry into the Martin family. You said it yourself-it''s the new century, and women shouldn''t be bound by a marriage contract."

    After chatting with Chloe for a while and making sure she was okay, Zara finally left. Then, Mia was in charge of taking care of Chloe.

    Lying in bed, feeling pretty bored, Chloe wanted to ask Mia where Grant had gone but was worried that others might read too much into her question.

    She had to remind herself to stay firm in her resolve to break off the engagement. She was Chloe, a strong and independent woman, and she couldn''t let herself bepletely thrown off bnce by just one passionate kiss from Grant. At this moment, she needed to think clearly and not be swayed by her emotions.

    Taking advantage of the fact that no one was in her room, Chloe took out her phone and snapped a photo of her bandaged leg. Quickly, she sent the photo to Nichs. And she pitifully added a line of text: [Grandpa, I''m hurt, it hurts so much, I miss you, I want to go home.]

    Chloe thought, which grandpa wouldn''t feel heartbroken seeing his granddaughter hurt? So she wanted to use this method to make Nichs feel sorry for her and let her return to the vast northwest home.

    Unexpectedly, her n failed, as Nichs replied to her: [Chloe, seeing you hurt makes me sad too, but remember, you went to Sovereign City to find a husband. You can''te back empty-handed, right? A minor injury shouldn''t make you give up. Hang in there a bit longer. Once you marry into the Martin family, everything will be yours, and you can bring your fianc¨¦ home.]

    Seeing the message, Chloe felt like she was going crazy. Which grandpa didn''t care for his granddaughter? But her grandpa was no help at all. Was his heart made of stone?

    Suppressing her anger, Chloe shot another message to Nichs: [You''re not my real grandpa, I hate you.]

    Instantly, Nichs replied: [I did a paternity test, you are my real granddaughter... no doubt about it!]

    Chloe was losing it, practically pulling her hair out. What was so great about the Martin Family anyway? Why was her grandpa so dead set on her marrying into it?

    Meanwhile, downstairs in the Martin Mansion, Grant was tearing into Liam and Michael. Facing Grant''s fury, Michael and Liam stood there like scolded school kids, not daring to move.

    Grant fumed, "Liam, what did I tell you? Make sure the security measures at home were solid, and you let this huge mess happen? All you do is mess around with motorcycles and chase after your so-called idol. Someone went missing from our home, and you didn''t even notice. What''s wrong with you?"

    He continued, "And what about Hugh? I told you to handle it. If you''d done your job, would those people have targeted our family? And Lucy-she likes you and supports you. Back at Quest University, you had her bully Chloe, and now she wants Chloe dead. If you didn''t want to marry Chloe or ally with the Davis family, you could''ve just said no, but you didn''t have to go this far, right?"

    Grant''s words left Liam speechless. Initially, he wanted to use Lucy to scare Chloe into packing up and heading back to the northwest. But he never meant for Chloe to get hurt.

    Facing Grant''s anger, Liam only dared to mutter, "Grant, this time it really was my fault, but it was just an ident."

    "An ident? Liam, is your next ident going to involve someone kidnapping me?" Grant''s anger was palpable.

    Seeing Liam getting chewed out, Michael felt sorry for Liam. "Grant, Liam was saying he didn''t mean to hurt her. He just messed up the security measures."

    The security measures of the Martin Family had always been Liam''s responsibility. This time, Liam couldn''t avoid the me.

    Grant''s anger turned to Michael. "What about you? What were you doing when Chloe was kidnapped? Wearing a dress, pretending to be a woman, and prancing around in front of those pretty girls. Michael, I know you don''t like Chloe, think she''s ugly, and don''t want to ally with the Davis family. You just like your Karlie. Fine, none of you like Chloe and don''t want to marry her. I''ll marry her. But please, stop using underhanded methods to bully her."

    Grant''s words left Michael and Liampletely stunned.

 Chapter 110 Marrying an Ugly Girl as a Wife?

    What did they just hear? Grant wanted to marry Chloe? Was Grant out of his mind?

    Liam scratched his head and said, "Grant, do you even realize what you just said?" "Yep!" Grant stood tall and answered confidently.

    Liam stared at him, trying to detect any hint of hesitation or joking, but Grant''s expression remained unwavering.

    "I know what I''m saying, Liam," Grant continued, his voice filled with determination, "I''ve thought about this for a long time; it''s not a spur-of-the-moment decision. I know how I feel about Chloe."

    Liam still couldn''t believe it. "You said you want to marry the ugly girl?"

    Grant nodded, "Yep, that''s what I said."

    "But she''s ugly!" Liam eximed.

    Grant shot back, "An ugly woman is more loyal to her husband."

    "Her figure isn''t great either. She''s skinny and not your type," Liam insisted, thinking he knew Grant well. Women like Sophia and Moira, mature and sophisticated, were more Grant''s style.

    Grant rolled his eyes. "I can change my taste for her."

    Liam was left speechless.

    Just then, Michael walked up to Grant. He whispered, "Grant, Chloe has a bad temper and can get physical when she''s mad."

    Grant shrugged nonchntly. "But she''s reasonable. She doesn''tsh out without a damn good reason."

    Without further acknowledgment, Grant turned his back on Michael and Liam, leaving them in their bewilderment.

    The brothers exchanged baffled nces. Before Chloe had entered the picture, the three had made a pact: none of them would marry her.

    They had once sworn with utmost conviction to disrupt and ruin the marriage alliance between the Martin and Davis families using their own methods. At that time, they believed this marriage was merely a transaction of politics and interests, devoid of genuine emotion, and absolutely not worth supporting.

    But now, everything seemed to have changed.

    Recalling the initial agreement, Liam couldn''t help but feel a wave of conflicting andplex emotions. The belief he once held in protecting the family''s interests sharply contrasted with Grant''s firm attitude before him.

    "Michael, what''s up with Grant? Is he losing it?" Liam scratched his head, looking confused. He felt like he understood Grant less and less.

    Michael agreed. "Yeah, what''s going on with Grant? Has Chloe bewitched him or something?"

    Michael was just as puzzled. Even though he didn''t care about Chloe''s looks, he would still think twice about marrying her.

    While Michael was still confused, Liam suddenly pped his forehead. "I get it! Grant is sacrificing himself to solve our problem. He''s really a good guy..."

    Meanwhile, upstairs, Grant couldn''t hide his joy. After holding it in for so long, he finally told his brothers how he felt. He truly wanted to marry Chloe and nned to use the ws Michael and Liam saw in her to drive them away. He would never let them know how amazing Chloe really was. If they ever saw Chloe''s true beauty, they''d probably cry their eyes out.

    At the same time, in the Davis Mansion in the northwest, Nichs was tearfully looking at the photos of Chloe''s injuries that she had sent him on his phone.

    At his age, Nichs was very emotional, and he keptining to his butler. "Oh, what is the Martin family doing? How could they let my granddaughter get so badly hurt? Look at her leg, it must be very painful. Chloe, I''m so sorry. I feel terrible for you, but I can''t show it. It''s all because of Louis. It''s all his fault..."

    Nichs''s words were met with the butler''s agreement. The butler immediately had a suggestion for Nichs. "Mr. Davis, since the Martin family didn''t take good care of Miss Davis, you should send a message to Mr. Martin and put some pressure on him. Let him know about this. Otherwise, if Miss Davis gets hurt again, won''t you feel even worse?"

    Nichs agreed with the butler''s advice. He quickly called Louis and demanded, "Hey, Louis, Chloe hurt her leg at your ce. If you think this marriage can work, warn your grandsons to take better care of her. If not, I''lle tomorrow and take her back. My poor granddaughter, she''s really suffered. Her leg is wrapped so tightly..."

    Meanwhile, after leaving Michael and Liam, Grant headed to Chloe''s door. He''d heard from the servant that Chloe had woken up.

    He waited until Chloe had finished eating before he pushed the door open and entered her room.

    Well, technically, it was his room. Since Chloe moved in, his room had been taken over by her.

    When Grant entered the room, Chloe was sprawled on the bed, her features shadowed by an unmistakable sense of despondency, probably out of boredom. The moment she caught sight of him, panic shed in her eyes as she fumbled frantically for a nket to shield herself.

    Unfortunately, half of her body was already entwined with the nket, and with her injured leg, she struggled to maneuver effectively. Her desperate tugging almost sent her tumbling off the bed.

    Mia, who was taking care of her, couldn''t help but say, "Miss Davis, are you cold? If you want to cover yourself, you can ask me for help."

    Mia looked up and saw Granting in. Then she noticed Chloe''s flushed face. As a married woman, Mia understood a lot, and she covered her mouth and smiled.

    In a tactful tone, yet one that hinted at mischief, she remarked to Grant, "Mr. Martin, please tend to Miss Davis for a bit. I''ll fetch her medication."

    With that, Mia quickly left, not forgetting to close the door behind her. Now, only Chloe and Grant were left in the room, and an indescribable tension filled the air.

    Every time Chloe was alone with Grant, her heart would start racing. She lowered her face and nervously picked at her fingers, remembering Zara''s words before she left: Grant liked her the most.

    Just when Chloe was so nervous she didn''t know what to do, Grant took a step forward and sat on the edge of her bed. He lifted his face, smiled slightly, and gently asked, "Are you afraid of me? Is that it?"

 Chapter 111 They Are Kissing

    Hearing Grant''s question, Chloe hurriedly shook her head in denial. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with an unspoken plea. "No," she whispered.

    "No? If not, why are you so scared that you''re curling up into a ball?" Grant''s voice was both gentle and probing as he reached out to touch Chloe''s arm.

    With her heart racing, Chloe''s body trembled uncontrobly. Every time Grant''s fingertips touched her, she felt electrified-nervous, excited, and filled with uncontroble joy. She realized she must have developed a liking for Grant''s body; otherwise, she wouldn''t be so out of control.

    "I''m not scared, Grantie, my leg just hurts a lot," she stammered, attempting to mask the real source of her difort by attributing it to a physical injury.

    Hearing her words, Grant''s concern immediately deepened. He knelt down to examine her leg more closely. "Does it hurt? Have you taken any anti-inmmatory medicine? If not, I''ll take you to the hospital right now."

    Without waiting for her response, Grant moved to lift Chloe into his arms, his determined concern apparent. "Let''s go," he insisted, the urgency in his voice leaving no room for argument.

    Chloe''s eyes widened in surprise at his decisiveness. "Grantie, I''m fine, there''s really no need."

    At the moment when she was lifted into the air and held tightly by Grant, Chloe struggled desperately. She only sustained minor external injuries, which had been bandaged and didn''t require a visit to the hospital.

    Her resistance was futile against Grant''s resolve. To him, any sign of pain in Chloe was a red g. He had never forgotten the fear and heartbreak he felt when she had fainted in his arms in that cold, abandoned warehouse.

    That was when he realized the depth of his feelings for her, a revtion that had shaken him deeply.

    As Chloe continued to wriggle, Grant held firm. But their collective movements caused

    a misstep; suddenly, they both tumbled onto therge bed in the bedroom. Chloe

    In their tangled mess, Grant''s warm lips identally brushed against Chloe''s, a fleeting moment that lingered in the shared stillness of their breath.

    Chloe''s mind went nk. The intimacy of the unintentional kiss sent a shockwave through her, far more potent than any words could convey.

    Just as Chloe reached out to push Grant off her, the intoxicatingly sweet scent radiating from her made him momentarily lose control. His movements became urgent, his lips capturing hers in a fierce, hungry kiss.

    Chloe''s initial instinct to resist was quickly overpowered by a rush of desire she hadn''t anticipated. Pinned beneath him, her heart pounded as she realized how much she craved his touch. The warehouse incident shed in her mind; Grant had been the person she thought of during those desperate moments.

    Their bodies intertwined with a fervor that couldn''t be contained, the room bing a cocoon of raw passion, in which Chloe''s arms found their way around Grant''s waist, reveling in the feel of his firm, toned muscles beneath her palms. It was impossible to ignore how intoxicating it felt to hold him like this.

    As their kiss deepened, their breath became ragged, and Chloe felt a surge of warmth spread through her a sensation she had long suppressed finally finding release.

    The spell was abruptly shattered as Liam pushed open the door. His stunned expression froze the scene in an instant. Grant, lying on top of Chloe, their faces flushed and breaths heavy, were caught in this unguarded moment.

    Chloe''s cheeks burned with embarrassment as she hastily pushed Grant off, the atmosphere flipping from heated passion to awkward tension in a heartbeat.

    Liam stood at the doorway, clearly at a loss for what to do next. He stammered, "Uh... you guys...?"

    Grant, scrambling for an exnation, cleared his throat. "Actually... it was just a misunderstanding. I, uh, fell. Do you believe it?"

    The flimsy excuse wasughable, his attempt at downying the situation only adding to the awkwardness. Chloe, mortified by the exposure, wished she could disappear when she heard hisme excuse. She yanked the nket over her head, desperate to hide from the mortifying reality.

    Facing the imposing figure of Grant, Liam dared not express his disbelief. Mechanically, he nodded. "I believe you, man. Sorry to, uh, interrupt. You guys can, you know, continue..."

    With that, Liam turned and bolted down the stairs, unwilling to risk Grant''s wrath for another second. He sprinted past Michael, who was adjusting his suit jacket, ready to head out.

    Michael''s brows furrowed as he watched Liam rush pell-mell down the stairs. "What''s got you in such a hurry? Ghosts upstairs, or what?"

    Liam grabbed Michael by the arm, pulling him aside into a quiet corner, breathless with excitement. "Michael, you won''t believe what I just saw!"

    Michael''s curiosity was piqued. "What? What''s going on?"

    "Grant and that-uh-ugly girl, Chloe, were kissing. I mean, really going at it." Liam''s eyes were wide with incredulity as he recounted the scene.

    Michael''s face contorted in shock. "You''re telling me Grant and Chloe were kissing?"

    "Yeah!" Liam cried, still struggling to process the sight. "One on top of the other, practically devouring each other. Michael, what the hell is going on? What''s the deal with Grant and her?"

    Michael''s expression grew serious as he pondered the implications. "Liam, I thought Grant''s taste couldn''t be that out there. Chloe''s not exactly gifted in the looks department. I figured Grant was doing us a favor, you know? He knew none of us wanted to marry Chloe, or ally with the Davis Family, so maybe he''s taking one for the team."

    Liam looked even more baffled. "Wait, you mean Grant''s sacrificing himself for us by being with Chloe?"

    Michael nodded, his tone contemtive. "Yeah, think about it. Grant said he''d marry Chloe to keep the alliance between the two families. I thought he was just being dramatic. But if they really kissed like that... maybe he''s serious. Maybe this is his way of ensuring our happiness, removing all obstacles."

 Chapter 112 The Coolest Martin

    ''With Chloe''s looks, he can still kiss her? As the saying goes, if he doesn''t take responsibility, who will?''

    Michael was lost in his gratitude towards Grant.

    After Michael''s analysis, even the usually simple-minded Liam began to see the logic. He felt a wave of mixed emotions deeply moved by Grant''s self-sacrifice, yet inexplicably uneasy. Witnessing Grant kiss Chloe left him feeling disquieted, although he couldn''t quite pinpoint why.

    The heavy, oppressive atmosphere at home became too much for Liam. Without a word, he picked up his motorcycle helmet and headed for the door.

    Noticing Liam''s departure, Michael called after him, "Hey, where are you going?" Liam nced back, replying tersely, "Going for a ride."

    Michael shrugged, watching Liam walk away. As he finished adjusting his suit, he grabbed his car keys too. Today, he needed to hire a new part-time assistant for hispany, and Chloe''s ssmate, Rena, seemed like the perfect fit. Kind, gentle, meticulous, and not overly talkative, Rena exhibited the qualities Michael valued. An assistant like her would help him maintain the privacy he needed as a public figure.

    A few dayster, Chloe''s leg injury had almost healed. She wanted to go back to school, but Grant insisted she stay home and rest a few more days to avoid any potential aftereffects.

    Basking in the warm sunlight of the Martin Mansion''s expansive garden, Chloe struggled with her boredom. Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle shattered the stillness. Tony, who hadn''t been around for some time, pulled up and climbed off his bike to see her.

    The moment heid eyes on Chloe, Tonyunched into an animated update about recent events. "Chloe, do you know what happened to Lucy, the one who kidnapped you? When the police found her, she''d been gang-raped by those thugs so badly she couldn''t even close her legs."

    Chloe felt a surge of fierce satisfaction at the news. "Serves her right!" she spat. The memory of her own narrow escape was still fresh and raw. She shuddered to think what might have happened if she hadn''t been quick-witted enough to use the money to save herself. It would have been her, not Lucy, enduring such a horrific fate.

    Tony added, "And that Hugh didn''t fare any better. I heard from some inside sources that Liam beat him up badly this time, even swollen his head. Said Hugh had to pay since he didn''t keep his thugs in check, letting them mess with his family."

    A smile tugged at the corners of Chloe''s lips. She appreciated that Liam considered her part of his family, even if their rtionship had often been marked by bickering. This act of vengeance touched her deeply. She decided that in their future arguments, she''d let him win at least three times.

    Chloe reminisced about the countless moments shared with Liam. Despite their constant bickering and teasing, it was precisely these yful arguments that drew them closer. Though Liam''s words could sometimes be sharp, deep down, he cared for her deeply.

    Tony''s expression turned admiring as he continued. "Chloe, do you know who was the coolest during your kidnapping incident?"

    Chloe, casually nibbling on imported cherries, looked up with mild curiosity. "Who?"

    "Mr. Grant Martin, of course! They said he personally broke Hugh''s leg. With that move, anyone in Sovereign City who dares to mess with you in the future would be digging their own grave."

    Tony''s eyes sparkled with admiration, clearly idolizing Grant. "Chloe, you''re so lucky to have someone like Grant protecting you. If I had Grant as my backer, I wouldn''t get bullied all the time."

    A shadow passed over Tony''s face as he said this, his usual bravado dampened. Chloe noticed and inquired gently, "Who''s bullying you now?"

    Tony sighed heavily. "It''s those bikers. Chloe, they bully me because they''re older and their bikes are better than mine. Last time, you and Liam helped me out, but they still look down on me. They take every chance they get to push me around. Guess it''s my fault for not being as skilled as them."

    "These people are just bullies," Chloe dered, itching to show them a lesson or two. For the past few days, she''d been convalescing at the Martin mansion, nursing her leg injury. Grant had been incredibly attentive, ensuring she rested adequately. But Chloe wasn''t one to stay idle for long. Her leg might have been injured, but she wasn''t incapacitated.

    "How about I go and teach them a lesson for you?" she suggested, a mischievous glint in her eye.

    Tony looked at her, rmed. "Chloe, you can''t. You''re injured."

    As if on cue, Chloe sprang up, her movements belying any notion of frailty. "I''m healed," she proimed with a grin.

    Tony said, "But Grant told you to stay home and rest."

    "I can run and jump now. What rest do I need?" Chloe retorted, walking a few brisk

    steps in front of Tony to demonstrate her recovery.

    Tony raised another concern. "Chloe, if he finds out I took you out, won''t he skin me alive?"

    Grant punishing Tony wouldn''t be a matter to take lightly.

    Chloe leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "We''ll sneak out without him knowing, okay? If we don''t tell, how will he find out? Tony, don''t forget, I''m your protector. If I stay cooped up and develop some problem, I won''t be able to protect you. Think about it."

    Tony weighed her words carefully, considering the risk and the reward. Chloe''s protection was invaluable. For the Gibson family and for his own peace of mindˇŞ keeping on Chloe''s good side was crucial.

    Thinking of this, Tony decided to take the risk of being punished by Grant and take Chloe out to regain his dignity. He nodded and said, "Chloe, I''ve decided. Let''s go now?"

    "Okay, I''ll go upstairs and change. You wait for me at the back door. See you in ten minutes," Chloe instructed, already heading for the stairs.

    Tony watched her disappear upstairs before leisurely taking out his phone. He opened the biker group chat and sent a bold message: [Hey rookies, meet at the bike track. I''m going to crush you all.]

 Chapter 113 He Is Out of His Mind

    The motorcycle group buzzed with excitement following Tony''s audacious message, and responses flooded the chat in no time.

    [Tony, are you crazy? With your kindergarten-level skills, you think you can take us on? You''re pathetic, even at bragging!]

    [Yeah, Tony, I''ll give you a threep head start and stillp you. Are you seriously delusional?]

    [Tony, see you at the track. If I don''t teach you a proper lesson, I''m not the best rider here.]

    [For someone so green, you sure talk big. Tony, I''ll see you there. If you chicken out, I''ll rip those pathetic bristles you call hair right out!]

    Tony''s lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as he scrolled through the hostile replies. These idiots, he thought, relishing the moment; they used to bully him relentlessly, thinking he would never retaliate. This time, he was set on giving them a taste of real superiority.

    He carefully read the messages from those in the group who had bullied him before, a surge of indescribable anger and determination rising within him. The past humiliations gradually transformed into an unwavering resolve in his heart. Tony understood that now was the best moment to prove himself.

    He nced at the motorcycle in the corner, feeling a surge of fighting spirit. Clenching his fists, he secretly resolved to change his fate with Chloe''s support. With the backing and allies he now had, he was no longer the weakling to be bullied at will, but someone ready to face challenges as a strong contender.

    Stashing his phone away, Tony strode to his motorcycle parked discreetly by the back door of the Martin Mansion. Just a few heartbeatster, Chloe, in full riding gear, slipped out to join him.

    She climbed onto the back of Tony''s bike, wrapping her arms around his waist. With a roar, they took off towards the track, the machine pulsing beneath them as they sped through the streets.

    Meanwhile, at school, Liam was pulled aside by his sidekick, Eric.

    "Mr. Martin, have you seen this?" Eric thrust his phone towards Liam, the screen alive with Tony''s brash derations. "That imbecile thinks he can beat us all? That loser can''t even control a tricycle, let alone a real bike."

    Liam''s eyes scanned the messages, a sneer pulling at his lips. Tony was notorious for his big talk, always spouting grandiose ims but inevitably eating dust on race day. Liam had bailed him out a few times, more out of pity and his affinity for Tony''s cousin ˇŞhis personal idol-than anything else.

    But today, Tony had crossed a line. He was boasting he could outrun everyone?

    "Let him dig his own grave," Liam muttered with contempt. "If Tony wants to humiliate himself, what do we care? The fool''s gonna lose more than just face again."

    In track races, the stakes were always high-the winner consistently imed something from the loser. Despite Tony''s subpar skills, he couldn''t resist challenging others, and over the years, he''d forfeited considerable cash and items.

    Eric shook his head, pondering aloud, "Mr. Martin, do you think Tony''s talking big because he''s got some backup this time?"

    Liam''s eyes narrowed, the question giving him pause. He replied thoughtfully, "You think he might have brought his cousin Zara?"

    "Hard to say. If that biker is backing him, he''s got every right to be confident."

    Eric''s reminder intrigued Liam. Although he had identified Zara as the mysterious biker he had been searching for, he''d yet to see Zara in action. Half a month ago, he had invited Zara for a fewps, but she had declined, citing ack of interest. Whenever the topic of motorcycles came up in their conversations, Zara would mostly ignore it, brushing it off altogether.

    Liam found this increasingly suspicious; someone with legendary status on the track was unlikely to be indifferent about riding. Today, if Tony had indeed brought Zara to the track, Liam had to witness her prowess firsthand.

    With determination, Liam turned to Eric and said decisively, "Let''s head to the track."

    "Now? But we haven''t finished school yet," Eric protested, ncing nervously at his watch.

    Liam shot him a piercing look. "Go get us a leave of absence."

    "For what reason?" Eric asked, hesitating.

    Liam''s irritation sharpened his tone. "Just say I have a stomachache and you need to take me to the hospital."

    Hearing Liam''s scheme, Eric couldn''t help but admire his dedication. For a motorcycle race and the chance to see his idol, the otherwise lofty Liam was prepared to fake an illness. That wasmitment.

    Within half an hour, Tony arrived at the track with Chloe, who was d in high-end motorcycle gear that concealed her identity. As soon as they appeared, the crowd encircled Tony, their jeers and taunts starting immediately.

    "Tony, you ready to get your ass kicked?"

    "Yeah, yeah, let''s see you back up that big mouth of yours."

    "What''s with all the bragging? We all know you''re pathetic on a bike."

    The group had always taken perverse pleasure in bullying Tony. They jabbed at his head, their fingers poking cruelly.

    Chloe could see the resignation in Tony''s eyes-the same boy who was good to her, despite his ws. His younger, outnumbered self didn''t stand a chance against these aggressors, and his timid demeanor only fueled her anger. If she didn''t stand up to them now, they would continue to torment him.

    Chloe watched coldly, her arms crossed, standing firm behind Tony. The anonymity provided by her helmet gave her a fierce resolve. To her, those harassing Tony were essentially harassing her as well. After all, she was relying on the Gibson family for her position in Sovereign City, and Tony, for all his faults, was loyal to her.

    As one of the bullies jabbed Tony''s head particrly hard, it pushed Chloe''s patience to the limit. The boy sneered, his verbal abuse escting. "Tony, if you can''t beat me on the track, I''ll strip you naked and make you run threeps like the sad little clown you are. Just because your family''s business is on the rise, you think you can strut around here? Not on my watch!"

 Chapter 114 Lose and Streak

    Furious at the humiliation, Tony was about to fight back when Chloe swiftly grabbed the hand poking his head and locked it in ce. Her grip was like a vice, and before long, the boy''s expression twisted with pain.

    "Ouch, it hurts... it hurts..." the boy cried out, his voice tinged with genuine agony.

    The crowd was stunned. They had never anticipated that a seemingly delicate girl could muster such strength.

    "Hurts? Didn''t your mom teach you how to fucking respect people? A race is a race, big man; why the hell are you poking Tony like that?" Chloe spat, her voice cutting like a de as she adapted to the local customs of cursing.

    Tony was reveling in the moment, his spirits soaring as he watched Chloe stand up for him. Hugging his arm, he looked on with the satisfaction of someone riding on the coattails of another''s strength

    With steely resolve, Chloe addressed the crowd. "Tony tells me you guys always bully him because his motorcycle skills aren''t great. Seriously? That''s your excuse? Aren''t you all older and supposedly more mature? Ganging up on someone younger and outnumbered? Alright, you want a race? Let''s race. If you lose, just like you said, strip down and run a fewps around the track."

    Chloe released the boy''s wrist, and he stumbled back, shocked and humiliated.

    Her challenge left everyone in stunned silence. This girl, hidden behind a helmet, dared to make such a bold deration? This was no longer merely about winning or losing; it had evolved into a matter of dignity.

    Motorcyclists were naturallypetitive, and Chloe''s provocation spurred them to ept the challenge. They were confident in their skills, ready to show this outsider where she belonged.

    Soon, everyone mounted their motorcycles, prepared to race a fewps following their usual rules. As the anticipation built, one boy interjected, "Hey, girl, you said if we lose, we''ll strip and run. What about you? What if you lose?"

    "Yeah, what if you lose?" Another boy echoed, adding to the chorus of jeering.

    Chloe smirked, her cold smile visible even through her helmet''s visor. "If I lose, I''ll do the same. No one takes advantage of anyone."

    Her words sparked an uproar. The boys were already fired up, but this reckless challenge sent their excitement into overdrive. Chaos erupted, the thrill of the impending race electrifying the air.

    Tony, hearing Chloe''s boldness, quietly pulled her aside and whispered urgently, "Chloe, it''s just a race. There''s no need to bet so much. How about we just forget it? Don''t race."

    Tony''s natural timidity andck of confidence in most things were showing. If Chloe lost, these people wouldn''t hesitate to force her to follow through on her reckless wager. Chloe was the sole heir to the Davis Group, the future queen of a business empire. If her family learned that Chloe had been humiliated because of him, his father might literally kill him.

    Seeing Tony''s worried expression, Chloe confidently patted his shoulder. She shed a bright, reassuring smile. "Don''t worry, Tony. I know what I''m doing. They don''t stand a chance against me. Just wait and see I promise you, those guys will be the ones running naked."

    With that, and leaving Tony bewildered, Chloe gracefully mounted his motorcycle. She was intimately familiar with its performance, having taken it for a fewps in the past. After understanding its strengths and weaknesses, she had advised Tony to rece a few crucial parts. As a result, the motorcycle''s performance had significantly improved. After Chloe sat on the motorcycle, she quickly got into the zone. Despite her small frame, she exuded an aura of fierce determination, a warrior ready for battle, radiating a powerful, intimidating presence.

    Her confidence made the boys lining up to race her feel a pang of apprehension. Sensing their hesitation, Chloe calmly extended her middle finger to them. Humiliation. tant humiliation.

    The men, driven by wounded pride, grew more excited and determined.

    As the starting gunshot cracked through the air, a dozen motorcycles roared to life,unching onto the track and following the predetermined course. Familiar with the terrain, several riders quickly caught up to Chloe, some even riding alongside her. The riders trailing behind weren''t idle either they worked together, trying to box her in and suppress her lead.

    They thought Chloe would be scared. But Chloe was unshaken. With practiced fluidity, she maneuvered Tony''s bike expertly, finding gaps where none seemed to exist, her every movement calcted and precise. She leaned into turns with the ferocity of a seasoned racer, handling the bike as though she were born to it.

    Outside the track, Tony anxiously paced back and forth, his eyes fixated on the unfolding drama. He was nervously whispering prayers, his desperation palpable. "Almighty God, please help Chloe. Let her win. She has to win. If she really loses, I''ll run naked for her, just please help her."

    Onep down, Chloe was still hemmed in by her opponents, unable to unleash her full speed, with one of her rivals ahead. The other riders, sensing victory within their grasp, felt a surge of smug satisfaction. They could almost envision the spectacle of a beautiful woman running naked in front of them.

    Chloe, however, remained unfazed, maintaining a steady,posed pace. Her face betrayed no hint of anxiety.

    One of the motorcyclists couldn''t resist taunting her. "Hey, girl, make sure you strippletely when you run nakedter!"

    His words served as the catalyst for Chloe. With a surge of unseen power, she suddenly elerated, closing in on the motorcyclist who had provoked her. Startled and assuming she was going to collide with him, the man swerved violently to avoid her. In his panic, his motorcycle veered off course, crashing out of the track in a cacophony of skidding metal and rubber.

    The sudden crash sent shockwaves through the remaining riders. Out of sheer nerves, three more motorcyclists lost control and skidded off the track.

    Seizing this golden opportunity, Chloe unleashed a burst of speed, her motorcycle roaring to life as it sprinted forward. Yet, she was still over a hundred feet behind the lead rider. On either side of her, two motorcycles remained, attempting to box her in a pinning maneuver.

    This was the finalp. If Chloe couldn''t break free from this entrapment, she would undoubtedly lose the race today.

    Outside the track, Tony''s anxiety reached a fever pitch. His heart pounded as he saw Chloe struggling to overpower the relentless suppression. "Come on, Chloe,e on, you can do this..." he muttered, his voice a mix of frantic hope and dread.

 Chapter 115 Streaking

    Chloe gripped the steering wheel with a steely determination, her eyes unflinching. A mere 600 feet separated her from the finish line, with two motorcycles nking her on either side.

    Chloe, with a focused gaze, calcted the timing in her mind. The opponent beside her clearly noticed the approaching finish line, involuntarily showing signs of nervousness and determination in their eyes.

    ''I must find a breakthrough,'' Chloe silently repeated in her mind, ''I can''t let them drag this on like this.''

    She quickly nced at the rearview mirror, capturing every possible opportunity that could arise. Suddenly, she noticed the opponent on her left side rxing slightly, seemingly unconsciously drifting outwards a bit.

    Just as the leader believed the victory was his, Chloe floored the gas pedal. Drawing on the momentum, she vaulted her motorcycle off a small slope.

    In a breathtaking moment, Chloe''s bike soared over the other riders,nding a full 15 feet ahead. As soon as she touched down, she cranked the throttle and took the lead.

    The crowd watched in awe as she sped past the finish line, winning the race with ease.

    Everyone was stunned. They never expected to see the trick in a race. Even Tony, standing by the track, was blown away by Chloe''s skills. He''d heard from his cousin Zara that Chloe was good, but this was next level.

    A flying motorcycle... He actually saw a flying motorcycle.

    Tony''s eyes were filled with admiration and awe as he watched Chloe decisively break through at the most critical moment. The calmness and determination she revealed in that instant deeply impressed him. She not only demonstrated outstanding driving skills in the race but also showed extraordinary wisdom and courage in facing challenges and crises time and time again.

    Just as Chloe was about to take off her helmet and im her bet, a ck car sped towards them. Chloe squinted and realized it was Liam''s car.

    Wasn''t he supposed to be in ss at Quest University? What was he doing here?

    No way, she couldn''t let him find out her true identity. If he discovered she was the idol he admired, she''d never escape the arranged marriage with the Martin Family. Thinking fast, Chloe decided to bail.

    But she didn''t want to give up the bet she worked so hard to win. After all, it involved a bunch of handsome guys. Even if they were a bit of bullies, they were good-looking and fit.

    With that in mind, Chloe made a quick decision. She told the group, "I''m going to change clothes. You guys get ready. Be back here in ten minutes. Anyone who backs out is a coward in the racing world."

    With that, Chloe hopped on her motorcycle, revved the engine, and took off.

    Tony saw her leaving and jogged after her, shouting, "Don''t go, what about me... wait for me..."

    But Chloe had no intention of waiting and disappeared.

    As Tony wondered where she went, Liam got out of the car, and Tony realized Chloe was avoiding him.

    Tony greeted Liam, "Mr. Martin, you''re here for a race?"

    "Where did she go?" Liam asked.

    Tony shook his head. "I don''t know..."

    While Liam was chatting with Tony, Eric was already mingling with the motorcycle riders. When he heard about the flying motorcycle, he was floored.

    He quickly passed the info to Liam. Liam was just as shocked.

    Ten minutester, a motorcycle returned to the track, grabbing everyone''s attention.

    Tony''s jaw nearly hit the floor. The person who had ridden away earlier was Chloe, but now, he saw Zara riding the motorcycle, with Chloe sitting behind her, looking frail and injured.

    After getting off the motorcycle, Chloe gave Zara a look, and Zara cleared her throat and addressed the crowd, "Alright, I''m back. You can start now."

    Then, Zara found a good spot and pulled Chloe over.

    The losers couldn''t back out, so they obediently got off their motorcycles and started stripping off their gear. Under the astonished gazes of Liam and Eric, they stripped down to their underwear and started running around the track.

    Liam was dumbfounded. What kind of bet was this? Streaking? Such a bold bet? He''d never seen anything like it.

    Looking at Chloe and Zara standing on the sidelines, watching the runners with smug expressions, he was speechless.

    Not only were the two women observing the spectacle, but they were alsomenting brazenly.

    "Hey, look at the one running the fastest. His skin is so smooth. Really pleasing to the eye."

    "Yeah, look at the one on the left. Not bad either. Obvious abs, definitely works out, almost has a bodybuilder''s waist."

    "And thest one? No good at all. All that fat, I doubt he can even run."

    Theirments scared Tony, who was standing next to them, into silence. He had known Chloe and Zara for quite some time, but he never knew they were like this!

    "Zara, if I hadn''t called you out at thest minute, would you have seen such eye candy today?" Chloe whispered to Zara.

    Zara pouted and said, "If it weren''t for me, would you have gotten away smoothly? Letting me see handsome guys is just a small favor."

    "Zara, you ungrateful wretch," Chloe retorted, exasperated.

    Zara looked around and nced at the racers gathered together for thepetition. The atmosphere was filled with passion and energy, with everyone excited for this intense and thrilling race. The two of them were practically drooling. Liam, watching this absurd scene from a distance, was speechless.

    One was his idol, and the other was the girl he was one-third engaged to. These two were openly ogling other men right in front of him. Did they think he didn''t exist?

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 Chapter 116 She Is Too Presumptuous

    Liam, barely containing his annoyance, whipped out his phone. He started recording, first capturing the bikers streaking, then focusing on Chloe and Zara''s enraptured expressions.

    Satisfied with the footage, he sent the video to their brothers'' group chat, captioning it: [rant, Michael, check out what the brat''s up to! Has she lost her mind? My sweet, quiet, and adorable girl? Corrupted! She needs a reality check before it''s toote.]

    Stuffing his phone back into his pocket, Liam stormed over to Chloe and Zara, his face stern with palpable anger. "Alright, that''s enough, you two. You''ve been watching for several minutes."

    Chloe casually pushed Liam aside, her eyes still fixed on the runners. "Just a few more minutes. They still have half ap to go."

    Liam''s face darkened further. He turned to Zara and said, "Isn''t it inappropriate for you to be watching these guys like this?"

    Zara was even more brazen. "What''s inappropriate? We earned this. It''d be a waste not to watch."

    Liam was rendered speechless. Seeing that persuasion was futile, he decided to leave before the bikers associated him with these two audacious women. God, it''d be mortifying.

    As Liam began to turn away, Zara grabbed his arm. "Stay and watch. These bikers have great bodies. It''s quite the sight."

    Chloe chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eye, "Yeah, Liam, enjoy the view."

    Liam shot the two women a fierce re and decisively walked away. He had no interest in seeing other men naked.

    Watching Liam flee, Chloe and Zara exchanged a smile. The legendary Liam wasn''t so tough after all.

    At the same time, at the filming set, Michael was taking a break. As he checked his phone, he was greeted by a video filled with streaking men. It was quite a spectacle - something he''d never encountered before.

    "What the hell?" Michael eximed, standing up in shock.

    He then yed the voice message sent by Liam, growing angrier with each passing second. It turned out that all of this was Chloe''s idea. She''d pushed the boundaries too far this time. No girl in the Martin family had ever behaved like this.

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    Michael sent a private message to Grant: [Grant, check out the video in our group. Chloe''s out of control.]

    After sending the message, Michael clenched his phone, knowing that once Grant saw the video, Chloe was in for a stern reprimand.

    At the same time, across the city, Grant was in a meeting at the Martin Group headquarters, attentively listening to a report on thepany''s sales for the first half of the year. Sitting not too far away was Sophia, her gaze fixed on Grant, her feelings for him evident in her eyes.

    A representative from the fashion division was speaking. "Mr. Martin, a month ago, we held a designpetition. The top three designs have been selected, and we''re nning the award ceremony in two weeks. Here are the designs."

    The representative ced the winning designs in front of Grant, and one immediately caught his attention. It was a skirt design that Chloe had casually sketched and discarded in his office trash can during her visit. Grant had only nced at it briefly before, but now it seemed Chloe had refined the design with a small flower at the waist-a beautiful touch.

    Michael stared at the little flower, and couldn''t help but smile. He knew that Chloe had always had a strong interest in fashion design, and she indeed had the talent for it. Each time, she managed to make surprising improvements in the details. His talented girl had managed to secure a top-three spot with what was essentially a casual sketch. "Alright, proceed as nned," Grant said, nodding approvingly before moving on to the next agenda item.

    Meanwhile, a female employee leaned over to Sophia, whispering conspiratorially, "Miss Brown, I saw Mr. Martin smiling at your design. He seems to really admire it." Sophia responded with a smile, "Yes, he always appreciates my work..."

    The employee were quite adept at ttering and sweet-talking, especially those who hold special positions in the workce. She usually chose some nice words to say, making the listeners feelfortable and appreciated., "Miss Brown, you''re practically Mrs. Martin already. He wouldn''t have you working so closely with him otherwise. When you be Mrs. Martin, don''t forget to promote me."

    Sophia basked in the praise, feeling like she was already Grant''s wife. "Don''t worry, I''ll take care of you," she said, her voice dripping with self-confidence.

    Grant, however, was oblivious to their exchange. Just then, his phone vibrated. Seeing that it was a message from Michael, he opened it immediately. As he read, his expression darkened with anger.

    What had Chloe done now to warrant such a reaction from Michael? Grant''s fists clenched involuntarily.

 Chapter 117: You Are Really Bold

    He opened the video Liam had sent, which showed a group of guys in their underwear jogging around the bike track.

    The camera then panned to Chloe and Zara, who were ogling the guys, with Chloe even giving them instructions, "Hey, you in the back, keep up... run faster... Come on!"

    Seeing the video, Grant was furious. Chloe was ogling guys behind his back? She was out of control.

    His face was dark and terrifying during the following meeting, and his rapidly changing expression made everyone in the room tense up.

    What was Grant thinking? Was he about to start yelling again? Everyone in the meeting looked at each other nervously, afraid that the next outburst wouldnd on their heads.

    The female employee sitting next to Sophia noticed Grant''s expression and leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Sophia, why''s your guy so mad? Does he need some of your sweet kisses and hugs to calm down?"

    Her words made Sophia feel uneasy.

    The employees of the Martin Group had a misconception that she was Grant''s woman. In reality, only she knew that she hadn''t even touched Grant''s finger, let alone kissed or hugged him.

    To keep up the illusion, Sophia smiled ambiguously and said, "I''ll calm him down when we get home after work."

    Just as Sophia finished speaking, Grant suddenly stood up. He addressed everyone in the room, "Stick to your ns, everyone. Meeting''s over."

    With that, Grant grabbed his phone and stormed out.

    Stanley was stunned to see him leave like that. This was the first time since Grant took charge of the Martin Group that he had left a meeting in such anger. Though he was usually serious, he rarely lost control in public. What on earth happened? Who was so thoughtless and insensitive to provoke him to such an extent?

    He didn''t have time to think. As soon as Grant left, he immediately called

    Michael. "Something''s wrong. Grant stormed out of the meeting, and he looked like he was ready to kill someone."

    "What happened? Who pissed off Grant? Do I need to call in some backup?" Michael, who was on set, was taken aback by Stanley''s call. What was Grant nning? Was he going to kill Chloe?

    That couldn''t happen. The Davis Family and the Martin Family were supposed to be united through marriage. If Grant dared toy a hand on Chloe, he would be done for.

    Of course, knowing Chloe''s temper, she wouldn''t take a beating quietly. They would definitely end up fighting.

    Michael couldn''t sit still. He asked the director, "Hey, do I have any more scenes today?"

    The director replied, "You have three more."

    Michael started taking off his costume and said urgently, "I can''t shoot anymore today. I have an emergency to deal with."

    "Michael, what could be more important than our shoot?" The director was exasperated. The crew were all in ce. If the lead actor left, it would cost a lot of money.

    Michael exined as he walked, "It''s a life-and-death situation. I''ll be back soon. You can shoot other scenes in the meantime."

    With that, Michael got into his car, ready to leave. As he was about to start the engine, he rolled down the window and said to the director, "I''ll cover all the expenses for today... Sorry, Director."

    Meanwhile, at the racetrack, Zara and Chloe were enjoying the sight of handsome men running naked. Tony even brought them two more cups of coffee.

    The two women sipped their drinks, watched the men on the track, and made

    asionalments, clearly having a great time.

    "Look at him, although he has a good physique, the way he''s streaking is a bit funny." Chloemented with augh.

    "Yeah, he does have a bit of an entertaining spirit." Zara nodded in agreement.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Chloe, they''ve almost finished threeps. Should we call it a day?" Zara asked, noticing the murderous look in Liam''s eyes and feeling a bit scared. She tried to reason with Chloe.

    Chloe was adamant. "No way. They have to finish threeps. A bet''s a bet. I''ve already been lenient by only making them run threeps. I need to show them that bullying our Tonyes with consequences."

    Chloe''s determination to avenge Tony moved him deeply. He chimed in, "Yes, Zara, Chloe is doing this for me. They have to finish threeps."

    With that, he magically produced tworge apples from his pocket and handed them to Chloe and Zara. His service was impable.

    Chloe munched on her apple, sipped her coffee, and watched the handsome men run. She was having the time of her life. But just as she was getting carried away, arge hand grabbed her neck from behind.

    The sudden grip on her neck made Chloe instinctively turn her head. When she saw who the hand belonged to, her coffee and apple fell to the ground with a thud. Her eyes widened in shock, as if she had seen a ghost.

    Zara and Tony, standing next to her, were also stunned by the neer''s presence. Chloe forced a smile and tried to talk to the furious man in front of her, "Grant, what are you doing here?"

    Grant''s face was cold as he red at Chloe. He spoke with a biting tone, "What am I doing here? If I hadn''te, I wouldn''t have known you were having such a good time. I let you stay home to recover from your injury, not watching men run naked. Chloe, you have some nerve."

    Chloe stammered, trying to exin, "Grant, it''s not what it looks like. Actually, it''s..."

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 Chapter 118: Take Her to See Handsome Men

    Grant cut her off, grabbing her arm and saying coldly, "I''ll give you a chance to exinter. Think carefully about what you can say to calm my anger."

    With that, Grant dragged Chloe towards his car.

    As they passed Liam, Grant said, "Tell them to leave. Running naked in broad daylight, have they no shame?"

    Grant''s scolding made Liam feel sorry for the bikers-They wanted to keep their dignity, but Zara and Chloe wouldn''t let them off the hook. Being forced to run naked was already a humiliation in their careers. Being scolded by Grant as shameless was just too much.

    Liam couldn''t help but defend them, "Grant, they didn''t want to run naked. They lost a bet and had to pay up."

    Hearing Liam''s defense only made Grant angrier. "Lost? Who''d they lose to?"

    Liam pointed to Zara, who was standing by the track''s fence.

    Grant felt a wave of shame for his fellow men when he learned that these so-called racing experts had lost to Zara, a girl who seemed so ordinary. He nced at the guys hurriedly putting on their clothes and sneered, "Pathetic."

    With that, Grant grabbed Chloe''s hand and stormed out of the track without another word.

    After they left, Eric finally dared to approach Liam. He whispered, "Mr. Martin, losing to the queen of street racing isn''t something to be ashamed of."

    Liam''s admiring gaze once again fell on Zara. It wasn''t just these guys; even he hadn''t mastered the art of street racing. If he had been in the race, he would have lost too.

    By the time Michael arrived, everything was over. The racers had put on their clothes and left in a hurry, humiliated enough to never want to race against women again. Zara and Tony had also left the track.

    Liam and Eric were about to leave when they ran into Michael''s car.

    "Michael, what are you doing here?" Liam asked curiously.

    Michael nced towards the track, gossiping, "I came for the drama. Where is the drama?"

    Liam rolled his eyes. "It''s over. You can stay here and enjoy the emptiness." With that, Liam drove off.

    Meanwhile, Chloe, sitting in Grant''s car, was extremely anxious. Grant was furious, and it seemed like he wanted to devour her.

    She took a deep breath, struggling to calm herself, but her mind was racing, searching for the right words to exin to Grant. The tension inside her made her palms slightly sweaty, and she realized she had to quickly find a suitable reason to defuse the current predicament.

    Zara dragged her here? She dismissed it, not wanting to get Zara in trouble. She came by choice? Grant wouldn''t let her off the hook and would probably call her a delinquent.

    Just as Chloe was panicking, Grant''s car suddenly turned onto a newly paved road. That was when Chloe realized they were not heading to the Martin Mansion.

    Where was Grant taking her then? What was he nning? Was he going to take advantage of her injured leg and beat her up? He wasn''t her parent or guardian. What right did he have?

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    Sitting in the passenger seat, Chloe grew increasingly uneasy. She anxiously asked, "Grant, where are you taking me?"

    Grant shot her a nce and, without changing his expression, said, "To a ce where you can see more handsome men."

    Chloe''s heart raced. A ce to see handsome men? A bar? Karaoke? Or some upscale, discreet hotel?

    Grant, with his wealth, sure knew how to have fun. But Chloe was still worried. Given what she knew about Grant, he wasn''t someone who easily forgave others, nor was he likely to so agreeably take her to see attractive men. She suspected Grant might have another n, which made her even more nervous.

    A few minutester, Grant''s car stopped at the end of a road in front of a high-end residential area. Chloe looked around. The surroundings were elegant, with tight security measures in ce, clearly a very upscale residential area. She couldn''t help but feel puzzled and nervous, unsure of Grant''s intentions in bringing her here. The entrance sign read: Imperial View Manor, Block One.

    Beforeing to Sovereign City, Chloe had done her research and knew the prices of Imperial View Manor. If Grant said he was taking her to see handsome men, could they be hidden in such a luxurious ce? If so, these handsome men wouldn''te cheap. As soon as Grant''s car appeared at the gate, the security guard opened it, and Grant drove in. Momentster, Grant parked in front of a quaint, elegant vi and, without a word, led Chloe inside, unlocking the door with his fingerprint.

    Chloe was puzzled by his familiarity with the ce.

    With a heavy thud, the door closed, and Grant''s anger erupted like a dormant volcano finally awakened. In a swift, feral motion, he pinned Chloe against the wall and captured her lips in a fierce, unrelenting kiss.

    Chloe''s mind went nk. Grant''s harsh kiss was a storm of aggression and

    possessiveness, and she felt a sharp pain as his lips crushed against hers.

    This was not the gentle Grant she knew; he was now a tempest with a singr focus.

    His cold, demanding lips moved over hers with a ferocity that left her breathless. Every attempt she made to resist was met with more assertiveness from Grant.

    Chloe''s breathing grew ragged, a sense of suffocation enveloping her. It became painfully clear that this was Grant''s twisted way of punishing her.

    She squirmed, desperate to break free, but Grant had anticipated her every move. His

    leg effortlessly blocked her escape, and his firm, muscr waist pressed against her abdomen, a visceral reminder of his physical superiority and urgency.

    All her resistance was futile against Grant''s overwhelming strength. For the first time, Chloe realized the sheer power an enraged Grant could wield.

    He deepened the kiss, his hands cupping her face, his tongue exploring her mouth with relentless intensity. He was insatiable, as if each kiss could somehow quell the tempest within him.

    Chloe''s lips went numb from the onught, and theck of air made her whimper. Just then, Grant abruptly released her.

    In a moment of dizzying disorientation, Chloe found herself lifted onto the high liquor cab in the living room. She was left breathless and reeling from the kiss, uncertain and apprehensive about his next move.

    Her vision blurred, but she watched with wide eyes as Grant removed his outer clothes, his fingers deftly unbuttoning his shirt. He kept his gaze locked on hers, a challenging glint in his eyes.

    As he stripped, the revtion of his chiseled abs and sculpted chest muscles painted a picture of raw, masculine power. Grant''s body was a testament to his rigorous workouts, each tanned inch of skin exuding strength.

    At that moment, Chloe''s eyes widened. She had to admit, none of the guys from the morning''s race bore a physique as impressively fit as Grant''s. Every muscle of his seemed carefully crafted, exuding a charisma she could no longer ignore.

    Embarrassment flooded her, and she tried to avert her gaze, but Grant wasn''t finished. His voice softened, a dangerous edge to his words, "You wanted to see handsome men, right? Well, here I am. Take a good look."

 Chapter 119 No Handsome Men at Home?

    Chloe''s heart pounded in her chest, each beat a chaotic drum of confusion and desire. She was trapped in the intensity of Grant''s gaze, unable to tear her eyes away from themanding presence before her.

    "Grant, I..." she stammered, struggling to find the right words, but he cut her off with a swift, authoritative tone.

    "Don''t speak," hemanded, his voice low and husky with a dangerous edge. "Just look."

    Chloe''s breath hitched as she took in the sight of him. She had never seen Grant like this-so raw, so unrestrained, a side she had never imagined existed.

    He stepped closer, his eyes never wavering from hers. "Are you satisfied now?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent chills down her spine.

    Chloe nodded, her voice lost somewhere between fear and fascination.

    Grant''s expression softened just slightly, enough to send a confusing rush of relief through her. He reached out, gently cupping her cheek with a tenderness that belied the storm within him. "Good," he murmured. "Because I want you to remember this moment. I want you to remember exactly what I look like underneath my clothes." Her heart ached with a tumultuous mix of anxiety and longing. She was caught in a whirlpool of emotions, unsure where the currents would take her. But in that moment, she knew she would never forget the intensity of Grant''s gaze or the feel of his touch on her skin.

    Grant''s voice broke through the haze, sharp and biting. "No cute guys at home? You gotta go out to find one?"

    His words snapped Chloe back to harsh reality. She quickly gathered her thoughts, fumbling for an excuse, something she hadn''t been able to achieve on her ride here. At thest minute, she decided to sell her friend out. "Grant, I wasn''t trying to look. Zara asked me to go..."

    After all, Grant didn''t know Zara well enough to check the story with her.

    She added, "I realized it was inappropriate and wanted to leave, but my leg was hurt, and I couldn''t walk."

    Even Chloe didn''t believe her own exnation, let alone Grant. When he arrived at the scene, she was happily sipping coffee and munching on an apple, thoroughly enjoying the view. If Grant hadn''t shown up when he did, she might have written a whole review on the handsome guys.

    "Grant, I''m a good girl. I really didn''t mean to... I... I was wrong," Chloe stammered, trying to argue her case, but it was clear he wasn''t buying it.

    His eyes, dark and intense, were fixed on the girl who had been staring at his half- naked body, filled with a mix of disappointment and something more primal. Grant couldn''t reconcile the girl he thought so highly of with the one standing before him, seemingly so lustful.

    Rather than letting her ogle other men, he figured she might as well look at him. Ignoring her excuses, Grant, bare-chested and exuding physical prowess, moved closer, his presence overwhelming her. He grabbed her slender waist, the touch of hisrge hand sending an electric tingle through her body.

    Chloe felt a rush of conflicting emotions-fear, excitement, and something she couldn''t quite name. Desperately trying to suppress the tumult within, she tentatively said, "Grant, don''t... I''m still... I''m still a small..."

    Before she could finish, Grant''s eyes darted deliberately to her breast. Seeing her ample bosom, he smirked mischievously. "Still? Where? I don''t see anything small."

    Chloe''s face flushed with mortification. The usually serious Grant was tantly teasing her, infusing their interaction with a disconcerting intimacy.

    But she wasn''t the type to take such humiliation passively. Grants'' forceful kiss and his tant ogling were too much to bear.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Gathering thest remnants of her dignity, Chloe raised her hand to p him, the fire of indignation burning bright.

    Anticipating her reaction, Grant dodged quickly. They had sparred before, and he was well aware of Chloe''s strength, knowing she could pack a punch when provoked.

    He hadn''t brought her to this secluded vi just to confront her over her interests; he wanted to remind her of consequence and dominion. With things having escted, Grant decided it was time to teach Chloe a lesson she wouldn''t forget. To show her that oogling other men would always have repercussions.

    Yet, underneath his firm resolve, he tempered his actions with care, mindful of her injured leg and unwilling to cause undue harm.

    They fought from the small bar in the living room to the couch. Chloe attacked fervently while Grant dodged her blows with practiced ease. In her zealous attempts to kick him, she failed to notice the small coffee table beside her.

    As she lifted her leg for another attack, her injured limb was about to collide with the table. Grant''s eyes widened in rm, and he quickly lunged at her, pinning her down on the couch to prevent further injury.

    Chloe struggled under him, but her efforts were in vain. Grant, still bare-chested and exuding overwhelming masculinity, looked down at her with a mischievous grin. "Chloe, do you really think you can fight back? Believe me, I could spank you right now to show you that actions have consequences."

    And with that, Grant actually started spanking her.

    Chloe stared at him in utter disbelief.

    Everyone knew Grant as the high and mighty CEO of the Martin Group, always so cold and serious. Who would have thought he could be so yful? His behaviorpletely shattered Chloe''s perception of him.

    Just as Grant was spanking Chloe, someone appeared behind them. It was a man, holding a high-definition camera phone, recording the scene of Grant pinning Chloe.

    Chloe noticed the man first. Seeing him recording, she urgently pushed Grant. "Grant, get off, someone''s..."

    Hearing Chloe''s frantic shout, Grant instinctively turned around. At that moment, the man zoomed in on Grant''s face with the camera. "Don''t stop, keep going... This shot is great, very clear..."

    The man spoke as he recorded. When Grant saw the man''s face, he quickly got off Chloe. "Harry, put the phone away."

    Grant reached for the phone, but Harry Gonzalez swiftly locked the screen and pocketed it. "Grant, why the panic? I just recorded a little video."

    Harry, with a mischievous grin, eyed the bare-chested Grant. It was unbelievable to see him in such apromising position for the first time.

    "Why aren''t you abroad? What are you doing in Sovereign City? And how did you get into my vi?" Grant asked sharply, hurriedly searching for his shirt. Chloe, meanwhile, covered her face in embarrassment. This was beyond mortifying.

    As Grant hastily put on his shirt, Harry couldn''t stopughing. "If I hadn''te to Sovereign City, I wouldn''t have witnessed this wild side of you. You gave me the vi''s code before, remember? I didn''t want to stay in a hotel, so I thought I''d crash here for a few days."

    He and Grant were cousins and had a good rtionship. He could stay at Grant''s vi whenever he wanted.

    Seeing Grant remain silent, Harry continued to tease him. "Grant, you''re quite the yer, huh? I''m curious, how does the couch feel?"

 Chapter 120 Keeping a Lover Outside

    When Harry asked that question, Grant''s face darkened, looking like he was about to explode. Harry, sensing the tension, wisely shut his mouth.

    Grant buttoned up his shirt and stepped in front of Chloe, clearly not wanting Harry to see her face. Of course, Chloe didn''t want to be seen by Harry in such an embarrassing situation either.

    Sensing that the two were hiding something, Harry, ever the joker, couldn''t help but stir the pot. He lowered his voice and said to Grant, "Hey Grant, I heard from Grandpa that your family set up an engagement for you and your brothers. The fianc¨¦e is already at your ce. Instead of staying home and getting to know your fianc¨¦e, you''re out here with a lover?"

    "Get lost." Grant tried to push Harry away, but Harry wasn''t budging.

    He continued, "Come on, Grant, did I hit a nerve? Liam told me your fianc¨¦e is

    hideously ugly. I get it, a real catch like you wouldn''t want to marry an ugly girl. Having

    a lover on the side makes sense. Isn''t that just how it goes?"

    Harry''s words became more and more outrageous, painting Grant as someone just like him. Grant snapped, "Shut up. It''s not what you think."

    Harry raised an eyebrow. "No? Are you actually in love with this lover of yours?"

    Harry''s gaze shifted to Chloe, who was covering her face. His curiosity peaked; he was dying to see the woman who could make the usually icy Grant fall for her.

    With that thought, Harry moved closer to Chloe. He looked at her and said, "Take your hands off your face. Let me see what you look like. I may put in a good word with Grandpa to help you and Grant out."

    As he reached to pull Chloe''s hands away from her face, Chloe, mortified, tried to dodge him. But Harry was relentless, determined to see her face.

    Just as Harry was about to touch Chloe''s hands, she suddenly kicked him, sending him flying onto the couch behind him. Harry, dazed, looked up just in time to see Chloe''s beautiful faceing at him, followed by her fist, whichnded squarely on his forehead.

    Caught off guard, Harry, groggy and seeing stars, clutched his head. He stood there dazed for a few seconds until the next moment, his head tilted to the side, and he copsed onto the sofa, unconscious.

    Seeing Harry pass out, Chloe finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    Grant chuckled at how efficiently Chloe had dealt with Harry. This was the feisty girl he had fallen for, still as fierce as ever. He liked her just the way she was. If he had known

    it would be this easy to deal with Harry, he would have stepped in earlier to prevent Harry from saying too much.

    During their heated kiss earlier, Chloe''s mole had somehow disappeared. Grant, looking at Chloe''s now clear and beautiful face, found himself lost in thought again. If Harry hadn''t shown up, maybe things between him and Chloe could have progressed further.

    Grant couldn''t take his eyes off Chloe, feeling like he could look at her forever. Chloe, however, was focused on the unconscious Harry, worried that he might have recorded their embarrassing moment.

    She quickly found Harry''s phone in his pocket. Using Harry''s fingerprint, she unlocked the phone and found the video, deleting it without hesitation. Worried that Harry might have backups, she even emptied his photo trash bin to ensure everything was gone. After doing all this, she finally handed the phone back to Harry.

    Seeing Chloe''s relieved expression, Grant frowned. He could tell she was afraid of the video getting out.

    What did this mean? Was she afraid of a scandal involving them? Or did she not like him and wanted to keep her distance?

    This uncertainty made him uneasy. As a usually decisive leader, Grant had always been confident in his judgment. However, when it came to Chloe, he found himself somewhat perplexed. He squinted at Chloe, who was now visibly more rxed.

    Chloe, having eliminated all risks, didn''t want to stay here any longer. She turned to Grant and said, "I want to leave..."

    Grant nced at Harry on the couch and helplessly spread his hands. Given the circumstances, there was no point in keeping Chloe here any longer.

    He nodded. "Alright, I''ll take you."

    Hearing Grant''s suggestion to drive her home, Chloe''s heart raced, and her face instantly turned pale. The recent kiss, which felt almost like an invasion, still lingered in her mind, filling her with extreme unease and panic.

    "I can drive your car myself. You stay here and take care of him," Chloe said, extending her delicate hand to Grant. "Give me the car keys."

    Grant took the keys from his pocket and handed them to Chloe. With that, Chloe turned to leave. But after just a couple of steps, Grant suddenly pulled her back, causing her to fall against his solid chest.

    Chloe''s nose hurt from the impact. She looked up at Grant, annoyed. "What are you doing? You hit my nose..."

    Grant''s expression seemed somewhatplex, his hand still tightly gripping Chloe''s wrist without the slightest rxation. He looked down at her, with a barely perceptible hint of desire in his eyes. He couldn''t take his eyes off Chloe''s face. After a few seconds, he gently cupped her face with hisrge hand. His eyes were filled with deep emotion, making Chloe''s heart race uncontrobly.

    What was Grant nning? Was he going to continue what he started earlier?

 Chapter 121 Encountered a Good Boss

    Just as Chloe was wondering what Grant was up to, he suddenly reached out and picked up the fake mole that had fallen from her neck.

    "Your mole fell off again," he said with a smirk.

    Seeing the clump of ck fake mole in Grant''s hand, Chloe quickly reached out and snatched it from him.

    Immediately after, Chloe broke free from Grant''s embrace.

    She turned and hurried away, her haste causing Grant to curl his lips into a smirk.

    Chloe got into Grant''s car and, using the rearview mirror, carefully reattached the fake mole to her face. The quality of these online store moles was getting worse they kept falling offtely. If this continued, her carefully guarded appearance might be exposed. She really needed to find another online store to buy fake moles from. After all, she used one every day and went through them quickly.

    After finally getting the mole back in ce, Chloe started Grant''s luxury car and prepared to leave the mansion.

    At that moment, she received a call from Rena. "Chloe, where are you right now?"

    Chloe put the phone on speaker and chatted with Rena while driving. "I''m just out and about. What''s up?"

    Rena hurriedly said, "I found a part-time job, and it pays really well. I''m treating Philip and some ssmates to dinner tonight. You shoulde too!"

    Chloe had been cooped up in the Martin Mansion for several days due to her leg injury. Hearing Rena''s invitation, without thinking, she said, "Sure, send me the address."

    After receiving the address from Rena, Chloe decided to first go to the mall to buy some gifts for her. She knew that Rena''s family was not well off, and she hoped to express some of her sentiments through these gifts. Although gifts couldn''tpletely solve the problems, at least they could make Rena feel her care and support.

    Rena''s family wasn''t well-off, so she couldn''t afford to take her ssmates to a fancy ce. She found a small but clean restaurant. A few ssmates were sitting together, happily chatting. When everyone saw Chloee in, they invited her to sit down. Then they ate, drank, and had a great time.

    Rena took the opportunity to share her new job with Chloe. "Chloe, guess what my new job is?"

    "What is it?" Chloe asked, curious.

    "I''m a personal assistant for apany''s boss," Rena said, looking very pleased with herself.

    Chloe was perplexed. From what she understood, being a personal assistant epassed a myriad of responsibilities in the boss''s life. It sounded appealing initially, yet it could easily devolve into something akin to ying the role of a nanny. The experience hingedrgely on the boss''s temperament-if they were amiable, it might be tolerable, but if they were difficult, it could be downright grueling.

    Rena, with her innocent demeanor, seemed profoundly unaware of the potential pitfalls that came with the job of a personal assistant.

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    "Are you sure you can handle that? You know what they say about being an assistant..." Chloe''s concern for her naive ssmate bubbled to the surface.

    Renaughed lightly and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, Chloe, you''ve got it all wrong. My boss is incredibly kind. He personally interviewed me."

    "But what about your studies?" Chloe''s worry deepened. "Are you still nning to continue with them?"

    Both young women were pursuing their degrees and still had a couple of years until graduation. Chloe knew that even though Rena''s family struggled financially, abandoning her education for a job would be a monumental mistake.

    "Chloe, you don''t need to worry about my studies," Rena replied with a breezy confidence. "My boss is great. He told me I can work for him only on weekends."

    "Seriously?" Chloe''s skepticism was palpable. She knew only too well how most bosses would exploit their employees without a second thought. The idea that Rena had found someone willing to let her work just weekends felt either remarkably fortunate or deeply suspect.

    Rena''s enthusiasm was undeterred by Chloe''s doubts. "Yes! I think my boss is amazing too. Honestly, what did I do to deserve meeting such a kind person?"

    Not wanting to dampen Rena''s obvious joy, Chloe mustered a smile. Even so, her instinctual protectiveness kicked in; Rena was like a younger sister to her, and Chloe couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experienceˇŞall for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Despite her outward calm, she resolved to investigate Rena''s boss thoroughly. If he turned out to be anything less than genuine, he''d regret ever crossing paths with Rena. The evening''s dinner was modest yet filled with cheer. Rena''s newfound employment was the centerpiece of their conversation, and the collective happiness was palpable. Chloe captured the moment, snapping group photos of their friends making funny faces and goofing around, then posting a lively coge on her News Feed. The images radiated the carefree joy and camaraderie of youth.

    After dinner, the friends dispersed, each heading to their respective destinations. Chloe, hitching a ride back to the Martin Mansion in Grant''s sleek car, was greeted by an unusual scene upon arrival.

    The vast living room brimmed with people-Michael, Liam, Grant, and Harry, who sat dejectedly on a small stool with a throbbing bruise on his forehead. Two family doctors tended to his injury as he winced and groaned dramatically.

    "Ouch! Be gentle, it hurts... How the hell did I get so unlucky? I just set foot in Sovereign City and got thumped like this," Harrymented, his theatrical suffering drawing sympathetic but amused looks from everyone present.

    Chloe, not quite inside the room yet, felt her heart thud. She had only intended to give Harry a mild rebuke earlier, but seeing the extent of his injury made her wonder if she had inadvertently gone too far. Feeling a pang of guilt, she halted, opting to eavesdrop on the unfolding scene from the hallway.

    "Harry, who the hell hit you?" Michael, ever the gossip aficionado, couldn''t keep his curiosity in check.

    ording to the household staff, Grant had returned carrying an unconscious Harry, who only roused with a bruised forehead when Liam and Michael got home. The sight had incited Michael to summon the family''s doctors immediately.

    With his reputation for being tough as nails, seeing Harry in such a state left Michael and the others bewildered. How on earth had Harry, notorious for his prowess in brawls, ended up on the losing side of a fight?

 Chapter 122 Did You Crash Into a Tree?

    Michael was like, "Who hit him? That was too much, wasn''t it? To think it knocked Harry out for several hours."

    Enduring the pain on his forehead and face, Harry said to Michael, "How would I know who hit me? I didn''t even get a clear look at the face of the person who attacked me."

    Grant, standing nearby, couldn''t help but chuckle at Harry''sints. Honestly, Harry had iting. If he hadn''t insisted on seeing Chloe''s face, she wouldn''t have punched him right in the forehead.

    "What happened, Harry? Spill the beans." Michael''s curiosity got the better of him. He sat down next to Harry, eager to hear more.

    Without hesitation, Harry recounted his experience at the vi to Liam and Michael, emphasizing how Grant had been shirtless, lying on top of someone and kissing her.

    Then, Michael asked, "So, the person who hit you was a woman?"

    Harry nodded. "Yeah."

    Michael''s gaze shifted to Liam, and the two brothers exchanged a knowing look, quickly concluding that the woman Grant had been kissing was likely Chloe.

    But Harry soon dispelled their assumption. "You have no idea how smooth and fair the skin of the woman under Grant was. And she was extraordinarily beautiful her little face was unbelievably smooth," he said." he trailed off, clearly lost in a memory.

    Michael and Liam exchanged another nce. If that was true, it couldn''t have been Chloe. Chloe''s face was freckled and dotted with moles-hardly the description Harry was giving.

    After the family doctor applied an ice pack to Harry''s bruised forehead and left, Harry continued his tirade, turning his wrath upon Grant.

    "Grant, what you did was really low," Harry said, his attempt at seriousness overshadowed by his clearly contused ego.

    All three brothers focused on Harry. The usually meek cousin was now bold enough to criticize Grant openly.

    Despite his usual fear of Grant, Harry pressed on. "The Martin Family and the Davis Family are united by marriage. My grandfather said that you three brothers are

    engaged to Miss Davis from the Davis Family. She''s staying at your house to develop a rtionship with the three of you, and yet you went behind her back to kiss another woman?

    I heard that Miss Davis isn''t very attractive, but even if she''s not the best-looking, she''s still ady of the Davis Family. Grant, if my grandfather finds out about what you did, he''ll probably give you a hard time.

    Oh well, if it were me, I''d choose that woman too... She was really beautiful. It''s just that when she pped me, I got hit so hard that I can''t even remember what she looks like..." Harry rubbed his head, looking quite disappointed.

    Liam and Michael exchanged puzzled looks with Grant.

    Grant had left with Chloe, yet here was Harry iming he had a mistress at the vi. Grant always professed his willingness to ept the marriage with the Davis family, and yet here he was, sneaking around? Unbelievable. If Chloe really married him, it would certainly make a mess of her life.

    Fortunately, she carried makeup with her. After a few quick touches, she was back to her original unattractive appearance. With such a drastic contrast, Harry definitely wouldn''t be able to recognize her.

    Outside the door, Chloe had been eavesdropping and quickly surmised that Harry hadn''t recognized her. After all, back at Grant''s vi, the mole on her face was kissed off by Grant, and the deliberately drawn freckles had also disappeared.

    Calming herself, Chloe walked into the living room. Harry, still clutching his throbbing head, saw her and immediately grabbed a trash can, retching loudly.

    He had seen ugly before, but never this ugly.

    Her face was liberally covered in freckles, and arge fake mole adorned her cheek, creating a truly repulsive visage.

    After vomiting, Harry pointed a trembling finger at Chloe and asked, "Is she the Miss Davis you''re supposed to marry?"

    The three brothers nodded, their expressions unreadable.

    Seeing their confirmation, Harry gave them a look of deep sympathy. With her looks, no wonder Grant had a mistress.

    Chloe couldn''t help but mock Harry. "And who might this be?"

    Michael quickly introduced, "My cousin Harry, my aunt''s son."

    "Oh... What happened to his forehead? Did he run into a tree?" Chloe teased, referring to Harry''s injury.

    Grant, watching Chloe''s serious teasing, couldn''t help butugh. Chloe was wicked. She was the one who had hit Harry, yet she was here mocking him.

    Harry covered his forehead, trying to hide it from Chloe.

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    She continued, "Be careful next time. You''re not handsome to begin with. If you get a concussion, that''d be even worse, right?"

    Chloe''s sharp tongue left Harry speechless.

    After her teasing, she headed upstairs. She was grateful that she''d punched Harry; otherwise, he might have spread rumors about her being the girl Grant kissed.

    Just as she stepped onto the stairs, Michael called out to her, "Chloe, didn''t Grant take you out this afternoon?"

    Chloe''s mind raced, but she quicklyposed herself and replied, "Yes, Grant got a call and left me his car, then he took off."

    "Oh? Then why are you just getting back now?" Michael pressed, his curiosity piqued. As a celebrity with an eye for gossip, he wasn''t one to let things slide easily.

    Chloe answered honestly, "A friend invited me to dinner. We had a small get-together." "A friend? Which friend?" Michael''s interest was unwavering.

    "Rena," Chloe said, her tone steady. "She treated us tonight. She mentioned she got a job as a personal assistant."

    Hearing Rena''s name, Michael was taken aback.

 Chapter 123 I Will Get Jealous

    Michael wasn''t about to spill the beans to Chloe about Rena being his personal assistant.

    "Look, Chloe, don''t get the wrong idea. I''m not trying to meddle in your life. I''m just worried about your safety," Michael said, trying to hide his nosiness behind a concerned facade.

    Chloe nodded and quickly retreated to her room. As she quietly shut the door, Harry''s obnoxious voice continued to reverberate through the hallway, grating her nerves.

    "Seriously, what was Grandpa thinking? Getting you guys hitched to her? With looks like that, she has no right to choose among you three. I''ve seen ugly women, but she''s the worst. Grant, I get it now. Anyone with a fianc¨¦e like that would need a side chick."

    Grant''s eyes flickered with irritation as he shot Harry a scornful nce. For a fleeting moment, he considered revealing the hidden truth to everyone that the woman he had kissed so passionately was Chloe. And she wasn''t that ugly. No, in fact, she possessed a beauty so captivating, it was nearly impossible to look away.

    After the day''s events, Chloe decided to unwind. She showered, changed into her cozy pajamas, and applied a soothing face mask before curling up in bed, relishing thefort of her space.

    As her body sank into the mattress, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Zara: [Chloe, did Grant give you a hard time when he whisked you away? I''m telling you, if there''s another streaking incident, we can''t keep watching. The way he looked at you, it was like he wanted to devour you alive.]

    Chloe rolled her eyes at Zara''s dramatic text. Unperturbed, she replied: [What''s there to be afraid of? We were just appreciating some eye candy; we weren''t doing anything inappropriate. Why would he want to devour me? Besides, the Davis and Martin family alliance is bound to unravel eventually. I need to scope out a few more fine men to ensure my future happiness, right? Don''t let him intimidate you. He''s just a control freak.]

    Zara was momentarily stunned by Chloe''s nonchnce. She had no doubt that Grant genuinely harbored a voracious appetite for Chloe.

    With a sense of foreboding, Zara typed back: [You''re overthinking it. I just think your future happiness might still be tied to the Martin family.]

    Their conversation carried on, light-hearted yet tinged with unspoken concerns, until the peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted by a knock on her door.

    Grant''s voice filtered through the wood, firm yet gentle. "Chloe, you haven''t changed your bandage yet. Get up, I''ll help you with it."

    Before she could respond, Grant had already stepped inside. Panicked, Chloe yanked her nket up to cover her braless chest, but Grant''s eyes had already surveyed her silhouette, the thin fabric of her pajamas entuating her curves.

    As his gaze lingered on her, Chloe couldn''t help but sense the undeniable heat emanating from his eyes. Flustered, she tightened her grip on the nket. In her haste, the face mask slipped off, unveiling her bare, luminous face to Grant.

    The illusion of imperfections vanished; her skin was wlessly smooth, her features exceptionally poised. Her petite face, reminiscent of a delicate doll, withrge enchanting eyes, a graceful nose, and lush red lips that seemed to beckon for a kiss, left Grant momentarily breathless. With her hands crossed protectively over her chest, she resembled a scared little bunny.

    Grant reached out and grabbed her slender leg. Chloe stammered, "You... you... you..."

    The warmth of Grant''s hand against her skin sent shivers through her body. Usuallyposed, she couldn''t fathom why she was having such a strong reaction to his touch.

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    Grant chuckled softly, seeing her like this. "Sit still, Chloe. Let me check your leg injury. I told you before, your wound hasn''t fully healed yet. You shouldn''t have gotten it wet while bathing, but now look-you''ve soaked the bandage."

    His words reassured her, causing her to rx somewhat. She sat quietly on the bed, watching Grant re-bandage her leg, her mind in a daze.

    After finishing, Grant gently pulled the nket over her leg. Then, he leaned in close, whispering in her ear, "Remember to put your moles back on. I don''t want anyone else to see your true face. Otherwise, I''ll get jealous."

    With that, he didn''t miss the opportunity to nt a light kiss on her cheek before leaving the room.

    Chloe was stunned, staring at the closed door. She realized she was beginning to enjoy Grant''s teasing more and more. How could she describe it? It was a kind of flirtation that she found herself looking forward to.

    The next day, knowing that if she lingered any longer at the mansion, her feelings for Grant might deepen beyond her control, Chloe left early for Quest University, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. Worried that Grant might insist on driving her, she rose at the crack of dawn and called a rideshare to evade him.

    Upon arriving at her ssroom, she noticed her ssmates animatedly discussing the designpetition. However, Chloe was in no mood to join them and instead sought a quiet spot to immerse herself in a book.

    Her moment of peace was soon interrupted by Philip.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Chloe, are you free this Saturday?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. Chloe looked up, thinking for a moment before replying, "I should be. Why? Is there another school event?"

    Philip shook his head. "No, it''s not a school event. Remember the design we submitted to the Martin Group? They called me yesterday and said there''s an award ceremony on Saturday."

    "Oh? Did someone from our ss win?" Chloe asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

    Philip nodded. "Yes, someone did. I was going to ask Rena to go with me, but she has to work on Saturday. How about youe with me? You submitted a design too; if you win, you can take home some prizes."

    Chloe couldn''t refuse Philip''s invitation, her curiosity about her design''s performance piqued. Moreover, the Martin Group''s design award was a major de, far more than just a few token prizes.

    After contemting for a brief second, she agreed, "Alright, let''s go together on Saturday. Whoever wins treats the other to a big meal, okay?"

    "Deal!" Philip eximed, grinning as he high-fived Chloe.

    Their ns set, Chloe didn''t dwell much on the uing event. Little did she know, the award ceremony would mark her with the disgrace of giarism, an oue she never anticipated.

 Chapter 124 A Wolf in Sheeps Clothing

    In the days that followed, Chloe did everything she could to avoid Grant''s constant

    flirting by leaving early anding backte. And Grant was probably quite busy. In all those days, Chloe hadn''t encountered him even once at the Martin Mansion.

    Michael seemed to be very busy as well. His recent number of acting projects was increasing. Chloe wanted to ask about the progress of the film she invested in, but Michael never had the time to respond to her.

    Liam was just as busy. Chloe heard he was working on a new racetrack, but she had no clue how far along he was.

    Harry, on the other hand, was often at the Martin Mansion. Unfortunately, he couldn''t stand the sight of Chloe and would disappear whenever she showed up.

    This setup was perfect for Chloe, giving her some rare peace and quiet.

    On Friday evening, Chloe originally nned to invite Rena out for dinner to celebrate sessfully getting through a week of hard work and stress. However, when she called Rena, Rena''s tone conveyed a bit of helplessness and apology, "My boss is making me work overtime tonight, so I''m afraid I can''t join you."

    Chloe had already been somewhat suspicious of Rena''s boss, and a strong sense of unease immediately arose in her heart. Making Rena work overtime in the evening? Could this boss have some ill intentions? She had a vague feeling that something was not right. She thought to herself that if there were indeed any improper behavior, she would make sure to teach that boss a severe lesson.

    Worried about Rena, Chloe headed to her garage, hopped on her bike, and rode to the location where Rena was supposed to be working.

    The night wind brushed against her face as she rode, but it couldn''t dispel the worry in her heart. She gripped the handlebars tightly, her mind repeatedly conjuring images of Rena''s helpless expression and the various sinister intentions that her boss might have. She hoped that it was all just her overthinking, but she couldn''t take that risk.

    Chloe''s worry intensified. For Rena''s safety, she had to be fully prepared. Halfway there, she spotted a sturdy stick by the roadside, picked it up, and tied it to the back of her bike, just in case.

    She rode along the road and, after about five minutes, arrived at a vast open field. The surroundings were silent, andpared to the bright city lights, the ce appeared even more dark and mysterious. Suddenly, what caught her eye was an expensive- looking RV parked at the edge of the field. The light emanating from inside the RV was particrly conspicuous in the darkness of the night.

    Chloe''s alertness immediately peaked. She thought to herself, could this vehicle belong to Rena''s boss? Late at night, inviting Rena to such a secluded ce, the boss''s intentions clearly weren''t simple. She had already been suspicious of Rena''s boss, and now her suspicion seemed all but confirmed.

    Convinced that Rena''s boss was up to no good, Chloe parked her bike in a hidden spot, grabbed the stick, and approached the RV.

    As she approached, muffled voices seeped through the thin walls of the RV. "Hurry up, take it off... ah..."

    Chloe instantly recognized Michael''s voice. Her eyes widened in shock. So this was the "good boss" her friend had mentioned. Her expression tightened. Michael always seemed so upright, never making a move on Karlie despite their on-screen romance. Like all his fans, Chloe had thought he was a decent guy. But now, it seemed he had lured his innocent assistant here to undress. What a scumbag!

    All her good impressions of him vanished. He was a wolf in sheep''s clothing.

    Chloe crept closer and heard Rena''s voice clearly. "Mr. Martin, I can''t do this..." Michael''s anxious voice followed. "It''s just taking off clothes. What''s so hard about that? If you can''t unbutton it, just pull it off!"

    Right after he said that, Chloe heard a ripping sound, like fabric being torn.

    Chloe''s heart sank. Had Michael torn Rena''s clothes? Was he nning to assault her in this deste ce? Rena was one of Chloe''s few good friends, and she couldn''t let her be treated this way.

    Determined, Chloe gripped the stick and charged through the conveniently open RV door. Inside, she saw Rena struggling on the floor with Michael. Without hesitation, Chloe swung the stick at Michael.

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    Michael, sensing danger, turned to run but tripped over the sofa, falling onto it with a thud.

    Chloe''s sticknded squarely on Michael''s back.

    "Ah... help!" Michael screamed, never having experienced such a situation before.

    Chloe didn''t care. She grabbed Michael by the cor and pinned him to the sofa, giving him a good beating.

    Rena watched in shock, covering her mouth and widening her eyes in terror.

    What was she witnessing? Her boss being beaten up by a woman in motorcycle gear? Was this what they called a celebrity being attacked?

    What should she do?

    "Help, someone help!" Rena finally snapped out of it after a few seconds of hesitation and ran out of the RV, shouting for help.

    In no time, a dozen armed men rushed towards the RV.

    But Chloe was still pummeling Michael.

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    As she hit him, she yelled, "You jerk! Just because you''re a boss with some money, you think you can do whatever you want? Bringing a young girl out here to ruin her reputation? Have you no shame? I''ll teach you a lesson. If I don''t scare you today, my name isn''t Chloe."

    Hearing Chloe''s name, Michael suddenly perked up.

    He struggled and shouted, "Chloe, stop! It''s me, Michael. Let go of me, let''s talk this

    out."

    Michael turned his face towards Chloe with difficulty.

    He was wearing heavy makeup, looking like a sickly character.

    Chloe answered, "I know you''re Michael. That''s why I''m hitting you."

    As Chloe said this, the men Rena had called surrounded the RV.

    A burly man boarded the RV, weapon in hand, and shouted at Chloe, "Who are you?

    Let go of Mr. Martin..."

    Chloe finally released Michael''s cor and stood up slowly.

    Michael was in bad shape, his makeup smeared, hair disheveled, and his costume twisted out of shape.

    The scene was chaotic.

 Chapter 125 All Misunderstandings

    Michael had managed to pull himself together, despite the throbbing pain in his back from Chloe''s assault. He motioned for the man who had just gotten into the car to step

    out.

    "Hey, it''s all just a big misunderstanding," he said, trying to sound calm.

    "Mr. Martin, do you know her?" the man who hade to protect Michael asked, still looking a bit uneasy.

    Michael scratched his head. "Know her? Yeah, I know her. We''re pretty close..."

    Chloe, hearing Michael''s words, crossed her arms and pouted defiantly. "So what if we''re close? Michael, I''m telling you, no matter how close we are, I won''t just stand by and watch you bully a young girl."

    Michael''s frustration was evident as he pointed to his costume and questioned Chloe, "Bully a young girl? When did I do that? I came here to shoot a scene and got beaten up by you. What did I do to deserve this?"

    As Michael pleaded his case, Chloe finally took a look around outside the trailer.

    There were about a dozen people, some with cameras, some with audio equipment, and others carrying props. In the time it took her to beat someone up, the whole scene had changed.

    Chloe began to feel that maybe today''s incident was indeed a misunderstanding.

    But the next second, she reaffirmed her stance. "Michael, stop lying. If you weren''t bullying that girl, why were you taking off her clothes?"

    Chloe''s words left Michael speechless.

    Then he asked, "When did I take off her clothes?"

    "Just now, when I was outside, I clearly heard you say, ''Take it off, hurry up and take it off,"" Chloe questioned assertively, her tone filled with determination and anger. Michael looked towards Rena, who was walking towards the trailer.

    Chloe continued with her evidence, "You even said, ''if you can''t take it off, tear it.'' Michael, you wanted to tear her clothes? Isn''t that bullying a young girl? If I tell Louis about this, he''ll definitely beat you to death."

    Michael waspletely speechless.

    He took a step forward and called Rena over. "Come here, Rena. Tell Chloe what happened just now."

    Rena looked at Chloe, puzzled. She slowly said, "Chloe, did you misunderstand? Mr. Martin was asking me to help him take off his costume. He needed to change for the next scene. I had never taken off this kind of costume before, so I was a bit clumsy. He said if the button couldn''t be undone, I could tear it. He is very nice and didn''t bully me."

    Rena''s exnation left Chloe slightly taken aback. The expression on her face shifted from anger to regret. She realized that she might have been overly anxious, thus making a mistake and misunderstanding Michael''s intentions.

    After Rena''s exnation, Michael grabbed Chloe''s arm and pointed to the dozens of people outside the trailer. "Chloe, do you think I''m so desperate that I would misbehave with Rena in front of all these people? I''m a college-educated man with a conscience, boundaries, and moral standards. I came here to shoot a scene and get to the next one. Did you really need to grab my clothes and beat me up?"

    Michael was probably really furious; when he spoke those words, he didn''t lower his voice at all. Every single word he said was clearly heard by the staff on site. Chloe, now the center of attention, felt extremely embarrassed.

    One of the crew members seemed to recognize Chloe. After scrutinizing her, they whispered to a colleague.

    "Hey, is this girl Michael''s arranged marriage partner? I think I saw her at a party once. Michael really cherished her, staying by her side the whole time."

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    "Yeah, I remember her too. Michael introduced her to some big-shot director back then."

    "Oh, I get it. Michael''s been ying up his on-screen romance with Karlie for years but hasn''t proposed because of this girl, right?"

    "Apparently, the Martin family arranged this marriage, and Michael can''t defy it." Their whispers reached Chloe''s ears.

    "Why is she here on set? Did she think Michael was getting too close to his assistant and got jealous?"

    "Probably. The girl may not be a knockout, but she sure packs a punch. Look at what she did to Michael."

    "If I had such a handsome boyfriend, I wouldn''ty a finger on him. Poor Michael, stuck with a fianc¨¦e like this."

    Faced with this situation, Chloe didn''t know how to salvage her dignity.

    It seemed that after such an incident, she would inevitably earn a reputation as a fierce

    woman.

    To defuse the situation and make amends, Chloe had no choice but to apologize to Michael with a smile, "Mic, I''m sorry. Can we just say it was all a misunderstanding?" Michael asked, "A misunderstanding? Chloe, the cost of your misunderstanding is too high. You beat me up this time. What will you do next time, kill me?"

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    Michael''s questioning left Chloe even more speechless.

    She knew it was best to leave quickly. If she stayed, Michael''s nagging would only get

    worse.

    With that in mind, Chloe apologized again. "I''m sorry, I''m really sorry... Mic, it was all my fault. I misunderstood you with my narrow-mindedness. I''m sorry for interrupting your shoot. I''ll leave now."

    After this, Chloe hurriedly got off the trailer and squeezed through the crowd, making a quick escape.

    Within minutes, Michael heard the roar of a motorcycle engine and saw a sleek figure disappear down the path.

    Back at the Martin Mansion, Chloe, feeling guilty, buried herself in her room and slept deeply.

    Little did she know, by the next morning, the news of her beating Michael out of jealousy had be the top headline in entertainment news.

    Every major website was reporting on Michael''s fianc¨¦e''s jealous rage on set.

    Someone had even managed to snap blurry photos. Although Chloe''s face wasn''t clear, her angry expression while hitting Michael was evident.

    Still asleep, Chloe was unaware of the gravity of the situation until Zara''s call woke her.

    Zara''s first words were, "Chloe, something big happened. You''re in deep trouble..."

 Chapter 126 Miss Davis Likes You

    Chloe was half-asleep when Zara''s call jolted her awake.

    Rubbing her eyes, she mumbled, "What''s up? Did something major happen? The sky hasn''t fallen, has it?"

    Zara''s voice was frantic. "No. But you''re in deep trouble. Check the news on your phone. You, the fierce woman, are trending, girl."

    "Trending?" Chloe was genuinely shocked.

    Celebrities work so hard to be trending topics and often fail. How could she, an unknown and unattractive girl, be one? What a joke!

    Skeptical, Chloe opened her phone. When she saw the headlines and pictures, she wanted to scream.

    #ichael''s fianc¨¦e gets jealous of female assistant, beats up Michael on set.#

    #Famous actor Michael is actually afraid of his fianc¨¦e?#

    #How far can Michael''s career go under the control of a fierce woman?3

    #Why is such a fierce woman with Michael? Just because of her family''s status?#

    The news was apanied by blurry photos of Chloe pinning Michael down and hitting himst night, prominently disyed on major websites.

    If it weren''t for the dim lighting in the trailer and Chloe facing away from the door, the photos might have clearly shown her face.

    After reading the news, Chloe browsed thements section. Wasn''t it said that the real experts were in thements?

    Soon, clueless fans were defending Michael in thements.

    They said a promising man like Michael shouldn''t marry such a fierce woman.

    Some of Michael''s die-hard fans even suggested raising money to help him break off the engagement.

    Seeing all this, Chloe was extremely frustrated.

    How was she supposed to clean up this mess?

    Last night, she acted impulsively, mistaking Michael''s help towards Rena as an offense. In her rage, she directly hit him, not realizing how serious the situation would be and the trouble it would bring.

    Now, the online public opinion about this incident was growing more intense, with many people paying attention to and discussing it. With the widespread coverage by social media, the situation quickly spiraled out of control. Chloe was well aware that such negative publicity could put enormous pressure on the Martin family. If this storm couldn''t be calmed, the Martin family would be forced by online pressure to send her back to her old home in the northwest to appease public anger and protect the family''s reputation.

    She needed to call her grandpa and give him a heads-up.

    With this in mind, Chloe called Nichs. "Grandpa, something bad happened. I got into big trouble."

    "What happened?" Nichs sounded curious on the phone.

    He didn''t follow entertainment news much. Plus, he wasn''t good with smartphones, so he hadn''t seen the online buzz.

    Chloe, distressed, said, "Grandpa, I impulsively hit Michael on setst night. Reporters caught it, and now it''s all over the inte. People are calling for the Martins to break off the engagement. If they send me home, don''t be surprised."

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    Hearing Chloe''s exnation, Nichs frowned.

    He said nonchntly, "Just hit Michael. The Martin family won''t break off the engagement over that. Besides, if he didn''t provoke you, why would you hit him? Michael can''t even defend himself against you, and he has the nerve to talk about breaking off the engagement?"

    Nichs was actually mocking Michael.

    Chloe quickly exined, "Grandpa, it''s not Michael, but theizens..."

    "Netizens? Who are they? I''m curious. The Davis family and the Martin family agreed to this marriage. What right doizens have to demand a breakup? Chloe, I''m telling you, just stay at the Martin mansion. No one dares to send you back." Nichs crossed his legs, looking confident.

    Chloe was still worried.

    "But Grandpa, this has blown up so much. How am I supposed to handle it?" Chloe had plenty of business ideas, but she was at a loss in this kind of public rtions battle.

    Nichs didn''t hesitate and told Chloe, "What''s there to be afraid of? It''s a small matter. Just have Michael apologize to you, and it''ll blow over."

    Nichs''s words left Chloe speechless.

    Chloe was filled with confusion and surprise. She was the one who made the mistake, she was the one who hit him, and now she was the one being condemned online.

    She had expected her grandfather to scold her for her impulsiveness and recklessness, or even consider how to make her face the consequences to calm the storm. To her astonishment, her grandfather casually made an unexpected suggestion.

    "Grandpa, you must be mistaken. I should be the one apologizing to Michael, right?" Chloe said,cking confidence.

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    Nichs, displeased, said, "What are you apologizing for? It was Michael''s fault. So what if you hit him? Did he have to make it public? Even if he didn''t publicize it, be one year older than you, shouldn''t he protect you? How could he let you be a trending topic? What kind of people is he?"

    Nichs''s wordspletely shattered Chloe''s worldview.

    Forget it, she thought. There''s no reasoning with Nichs right now.

    Meanwhile, Michael was at the hospital with his manager, John Wright, having just finished a check-up.

    Chloe had hit Michael hard with a stickst night. If he hadn''t dodged quickly, she might have hit him on the head.

    At dawn, after finishing thest night scene, Michael''s back hurt so much that his manager took him to the hospital.

    Fortunately, it was just some muscle injuries that would heal in a few days.

    Holding his medical report, Michael was angry.

    He said to John, "Don''t you think Chloe is being ridiculous? She came to the set and beat me up, and now it''s all over the inte. What was she thinking?" Michael was exasperated.

    John coughed lightly and analyzed the situation. "Mr. Martin, based on Miss Davis''s actions, I think she might like you."

    John''s analysis stunned Michael.

    He squinted his eyes and asked, "What? You think Chloe likes me? That''s impossible."

 Chapter 127 Hitting is Affection, Scolding is Love

    John continued his analysis. "It''s definitely possible. Remember when you invited Miss Davis to our script meeting? She invested arge sum in your new film without

    hesitation, right?"

    Michael nodded. "Yes, that happened."

    John continued, "Then you took her to a high-end party. I saw her shing with Miss Taylor. If she didn''t like you, why would she be so hostile to Miss Taylor? I think she was jealous and didn''t want you and Miss Taylor to be seen as an on-screen couple..."

    John''s analysis seemed pretty spot-on.

    Michael was starting to get a bit anxious.

    He grabbed John and asked, "Can you dig deeper? See if there''s anything else."

    John said, "A couple of days ago, you left the set saying you were going to fix something for Miss Davis. Later, I heard Miss Davis was watching some handsome guy streaking, and as soon as you showed up, she disappeared. Is that true?"

    John''s words made Michael nod heavily.

    "At that moment, I thought Miss Davis ran away because she was afraid you''d see her watching another guy, which would ruin her image in your heart," remarked John.

    "That makes sense," Michael agreed.

    John continued his analysis. "Think about it. It''s been a few days since that happened, and now her friend has applied to be your personal assistant to keep an eye on you. She hit youst night because she was jealous of you getting too close to her friend. Mr. Martin, with my years of experience, I can tell Miss Davis definitely likes you."

    John''s words didn''t cause the panic Michael might have expected.

    Initially, when Chloe first moved into the Martin Mansion, all three brothers wanted to stay as far away from her as possible. The idea of marrying her scared them to death. But after spending some time with her, Michael started to think Chloe wasn''t so bad. If she got rid of that big mole on her face with some cosmetic surgery, she would actually be quite pretty.

    Even if she didn''t, he could use his makeup skills to help her cover it up. That wouldn''t be too bad either.

    Michael was starting to feel intrigued...

    After getting into the car, he thought quietly for a while and then gave John some instructions for their next steps.

    Michael ordered, "Get PR to squash all that crap online about Chloe hitting me. It was just some yful banter between couple. Make it clear she''s not aggressive she just loves me a lot. You know the old saying, ''if she hits you, she loves you.'' And deal with the folks calling for the Martins to break off the engagement. We''re not heartless, and we won''t cancel an engagement set by the older generation. That''s it..."

    Michael leaned his tired body against the car''s leather seat.

    He murmured to himself, "Chloe likes me? Haha. No way, that''s crazy! But honestly, I''m the only one who''s been nice to her. If she doesn''t like me, who else? Liam calls her ugly, and I''m the one giving her respect and calling her by her name. Of course she likes me!"

    As Michael spoke, he started to feel a bit lucky.

    Meanwhile, Grant, who had been busy with the Martin Group for days, heard about the online news through hisid-back cousin, Harry.

    Grant looked at the photos online and felt likeughing.

    He had always told Michael to work out more, but Michael never listened. Now, he got beaten up by Chloe.

    Among the three Martin brothers, he was the most disgraceful one.

    Harry, sitting on the couch in Grant''s office, read out some ssic onlinements to Grant.

    He mimicked some femaleizens'' voices, saying, "Our Michael is such a great guy. He can''t marry such an aggressive woman."

    "I represent Michael and demand that he break off the engagement with this aggressive woman."

    "My poor Michael, who knows how badly he got beaten? So heartbreaking."

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    "This woman is too aggressive. How can she hit Michael? I want to protest against her. The Martin Family must break off the engagement with her."

    Harry was reading enthusiastically when, in a blink of an eye, thements he had just read disappeared.

    They were reced by a wave of oppositements.

    [Because of love, Michael''s fianc¨¦e got jealous. It''s just a little yful banter between a couple. Is it worth breaking off the engagement?]

    [Michael hasn''t said he wants to break off the engagement, and youizens are just overreacting.]

    [I think this girl and Michael are a good match. Michael has a good temper, and having

    an assertive fianc¨¦e will keep him from being bullied.]

    Harry was baffled by all this.

    After reading everything, he came to a conclusion.

    He turned to Grant and said, "Grant, you''re off the hook."

    "What do you mean?" Grant, who was looking at the situation, raised his head and asked Harry.

    Harry said, "That ugly girl likes Michael. Grandpa will definitely make her marry Michael. Grant, you can bring your lover home now."

    Hearing this, Grant''s face changed. His little girl actually liked Michael?

    He had been too busy these past few days to spend time with her, and now she had developed feelings for Michael?

    Chloe moved on pretty quickly, didn''t she? Once he got through these busy days, he would definitely deal with her properly.

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    A faint sense of jealousy rose from the bottom of Grant''s heart.

    To avoid these annoying thoughts from disturbing his mood, he locked his phone screen and focused on the documents in front of him.

    Ten minutester, Stanley came in to report, "Mr. Martin, at ten this morning, the Martin Group''s fashion division is awarding the designpetition prizes. You need to attend."

    Grant looked at his watch. It was just nine o''clock, so he had an hour before the event.

    He thought for a moment and said, "Alright, we''ll leave in half an hour."

    "Yes, sir," Stanley replied and left.

    Harry, feeling bored in Grant''s office, perked up when he heard Grant was attending an event. He stuck to him like glue. "Grant, you''re going to an event? I have nothing to do. Take me with you."

    Seeing Harry''s behavior, Grant rolled his eyes.

    "Does the Gonzalez family have no business? Why do you have to stick around here? You''re ruining my good mood," Grantined.

    In his view, if it weren''t for Harry''s meddling, he wouldn''t have seen the rumors about Michael and Chloe online.

    Harry, feeling wronged, protested, "Grant, you can''t say that. The Gonzalez family business is doing fine. My mom sent me here to learn and grow. Otherwise, do you think I''d want to stay at your ce and look at your one-third fianc¨¦e''s ugly face every day?"

    After Harry said this, Grant''s eyes shot daggers at him.

    Harry ignored it.

    He continued, "Look, I know you don''t want to hear it, but it''s true. Chloe''s not exactly

    a looker, but she''s got a good heart. Maybe Michael sees that. Anyway, I''ming

    with you. I need a break from all this drama."

    Grant sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Fine, but don''t cause any trouble."

    Harry grinned. "Trouble? Me? Never."

 Chapter 128 She Grew Breasts to Differentiate Front and Back

    Harry remarked, "Is Michael out of his mind? With all the gorgeous actresses in Hollywood, why''s he hung up on that ugly girl back home? His taste is... let''s just say, it''s unique."

    Harry''s words drew Grant''s displeasure. In Grant''s eyes, Chloe was as beautiful as a freshly bloomed lotus, delicate, refined, and graceful. But Harry, who seemed blind and insensitive, called her "ugly girl" without any hesitation, a behavior that Grant found utterly intolerable.

    Grant couldn''t spill the beans that Chloe was dressing down on purpose, but he could definitely give Harry a piece of his mind.

    With that thought, Grant lifted his foot and gave Harry''s backside a few solid kicks. "Cut the crap. Let''s go. And listen up, you better stop calling Chloe ugly. She''s got quite the temper. If she can take down Michael, she can definitely handle you."

    Grant kindly reminded Harry.

    Harry just shrugged. He puffed up his chest and said, "She wouldn''t dare. Michael might be a pushover around her, but if sheys a hand on me, I''ll tell Grandpa and have her kicked out of the Martin family."

    Grant snorted.

    Harry was overestimating himself. He probably didn''t realize that their grandfather was already firmly under the Davis family''s thumb. In fact, any challenge to Chloe''s actions could lead to unpredictable consequences.

    Grant inwardly chuckled coldly, adopting a stance of fearless amusement at the unfolding drama. He let out a sneeringugh and said, "Go ahead, try it. Let''s see if your tattling is more effective than her fists."

    Meanwhile, at the Martin Mansion, Chloe lingered in her room, dreading to leave. She couldn''t believe she was caught up in a scandal with Michael. How would she exin this to Karlie?

    And those shameless tabloids were just making things up.

    She was a straightforward girl; there was no way she''d get involved with a nag like Michael.

    As Chloe was racking her brain over how to handle the situation, her phone rang. It was Philip.

    She suddenly remembered that Philip had invited her to the Martin Group''s fashion awards ceremony a few days ago.

    Philip asked, "Hey, Chloe, what are you doing? It''s almost time for the awards ceremony to start. Why aren''t you here yet?"

    Chloe hurriedly threw on an oversized sweatshirt, paired it with some leggings, grabbed a small crossbody bag, and dashed downstairs.

    As she ran down the stairs, she said to Philip, "Don''t worry, I''ll be there in five minutes..."

    Chloe ended the call with Philip and decided to order a ride-share. After searching for

    a while, she found that the nearest car would take at least five minutes to arrive. She was getting anxious.

    She was getting anxious.

    Just then, she noticed a sleek ck car parked in the Martin Mansion''s driveway. It looked expensive.

    The driver was standing by the car, wiping off some dust.

    Chloe figured that since the car was parked at the Martin Mansion, it must belong to the Martin family. With the ride-share too far away, she might as well take the Martin family''s car.

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    With that in mind, she walked over to the car, opened the door, and got in. She said to the driver, "Hey, I need to get to the Martin Group''s fashion awards. Can you take me there?"

    The driver nced at Chloe and, with a hint of nervousness, replied, "Yes, Mrs. Martin."

    He then started the car, and drove off. Chloe, busy trying to contact Philip, didn''t catch the driver''s address.

    At that moment, she had gone from being Miss Davis to Mrs. Martin.

    As for which of the three Martin brothers she would end up marrying, that remained to be seen.

    At the Martin Group''s fashion awards ceremony, Sophia was standing in the crowd, dressed to the nines.

    Several Martin Group employees, who often ttered Sophia, surrounded her, showering her withpliments.

    "Sophia, we''ve worked with you for so long, and we never realized you were so talented!"

    "Exactly. We always knew you were great at management, but who knew you were also a fantastic designer?"

    "That''s right. Sophia is truly exceptional. Otherwise, her design wouldn''t have won third ce."

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    "A girl as outstanding as Sophia is rare. If she marries Mr. Martin, it would be a perfect match."

    Sophia smiled, exuding elegance and confidence. She was ustomed to thesepliments, maintaining a polite smile on her face, but inwardly she savored the satisfaction that the praise brought her. Only when standing next to them did she feel secure in her position as Mrs. Martin.

    "Miss Brown, Mr. Martin really values you. I heard from an insider that he''sing to personally present your award. If it weren''t for you, the other winners would never have such an opportunity."

    "That''s right. Sophia is so charming that she can attract Mr. Martin. Unlike us, even if we stood right in front of him, he wouldn''t give us a second nce."

    "Hey, did you hear? Mr. Martin is supposedly engaged. But he must really care about Sophia to give up an arranged marriage for her."

    "Sophia, we''re so envious of you."

    Everyone''s chatter and ttery made Sophia feel extremelyfortable, as if she were basking in a halo of glory. She relished the vanity and the feeling of being the center of attention. However, just as she was immersed in this pleasure, one person''s conversation suddenly shifted to the marriage arrangement between the Martin Family and the Davis Family, which instantly displeased Sophia.

    She scoffed and said, "That Miss Davis is so ugly, just looking at her would make you sick for three years. There''s no way Grant would be engaged to her. Seriously, what kind of taste does Grant have? He''d never go for someone untractive. He promised me we''d be together."

    To convince everyone, Sophia put on a shy act.

    The gossip-loving women were intrigued and asked, "Sophia, you seem to know a lot about Miss Davis. Just how ugly is she?"

    Wasn''t this the perfect opportunity to discredit Chloe?

 Chapter 129 Mr. Martin is Smiling at You

    Sophia''s dissatisfaction grew more intense. She began to mercilessly disparage Chloe. "That girl has a face full of freckles and a big mole on her cheek-she''s utterly hideous. She''s so skinny, barely any flesh anywhere, especially her chest-it''s so t you can''t find it. Other women have chests to attract men, but hers is just to tell her front from her back."

    She added, "And her legs, oh, they move in the funniest way, like a crab, all wobbly and awkward. Forget her looks, her temperament is even worse she''s got a nasty attitude, cussing people out at the drop of a hat, just like a shrew. You all saw the news, right? Last night, she got jealous for no reason and ended up hitting Michael."

    Sophia stated, "I heard from Grant that Mr. Michael Martin wouldn''t have stepped up to squash those rumors about them being a couple if it weren''t for the pressure from their elders. That woman is just the worst. ""Grant said if she ever tried to pull something in front of him, he wouldn''t hesitate to put her in her ce. What ''Miss Davis Family''? She''s just a joke."

    Sophia was a pro at badmouthing Chloe. She could use the nastiest words to describe Chloe and even dragged Grant into it to make her gossip seem more believable. She kept dropping Grant''s name, making everyone think they were super tight.

    Upon hearing Sophia''s words, several people disyed expressions of surprise. Although they didn''tpletely believe her, the fact that Sophia repeatedly mentioned Grant lent her statements a semnce of credibility.

    Sophia didn''t even bother to lower her voice while she was saying all this. Little did she know, Philip was standing not far away, recording everything on his phone.

    When Chloe arrived in the Martin Family''s car, Philip quietly pulled her aside. "Chloe, why are you sote?"

    Chloe quickly apologized, "I was a bit tired and overslept. Sorry about that. Did I miss anything?"

    Philip hurriedly said, "Yeah, you missed a lot. Look, I recorded it for you. Chloe, that loudmouth over there, what did you do to piss her off?"

    Philip pointed to where Sophia was standing.

    Chloe frowned. "I didn''t do anything to her."

    "If you didn''t, why is she badmouthing you? Here, listen." Philip yed the recording of Sophia''s rant.

    As the recording yed, Chloe''s face darkened. Sophia''s mouth was filthy. How could she degrade Chloe just to make herself look better? Using her looks to insult her? How shameless.

    Philip was also indignant on Chloe''s behalf. "Chloe, that woman is terrible. If I weren''t a guy, I''d go p her myself. What does she think she is? Is she that pretty? Does she have a great figure? Look at her, she''s so fat no man would give her a second nce."

    Chloe narrowed her eyes, looking in Sophia''s direction. If that loudmouth dared to insult her, she''d make sure she paid for it. Sophia liked Grant, right? Chloe would use Grant to get back at her.

    Sophia, still basking in her smugness and cutting remarks, waspletely unaware of the impending danger. She reveled in the agreement and praise from those around her, entirely oblivious to Chloe''s cold, piercing gaze.

    Perhaps sensing the intense gaze from behind, Sophia instinctively turned around. When she saw Chloe''s murderous look, she immediately shut her mouth.

    At ten o''clock, amidst everyone''s anticipation, Grant appeared at the Martin Group''s fashion awards ceremony. His arrival was met with cheers. Grant, dressed in a sharp suit, had his hair neatly styled, and his handsome face was captivating.

    His deep gaze swept over the crowd, and when he saw Chloe looking at him, he smiled subtly, a smile that was both restrained and alluring.

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    The people around Sophia took this opportunity to tter her again.

    "Oh my gosh, Miss Brown, Mr. Martin is totally smiling at you."

    "Wow, Mr. Martin really dotes on you. That smile must be just for you." "Miss Brown, we''re so jealous. Please, let Mr. Martin smile at us too."

    Sophia epted theirpliments with a fake smile, knowing full well that Grant wouldn''t willingly interact with her if it weren''t for work. He would never smile at her. Grant started with an opening speech and then proceeded to announce the award winners. Several design works were brought to him. When he saw the discarded draft Chloe had thrown into his trash can, he deliberately checked its ranking.

    Seeing that the discarded draft ranked fifth, Grant felt a sense of pride. This was his girl. Even a casual design from her could rank fifth. Was she naturally talented or just incredibly smart?

    After verifying the works, Grant began announcing the winners'' names. Tenth ce... ninth ce... eighth ce... fifth ce...

    When he announced the fifth ce, his eyes scanned the crowd. He knew Chloe''s design was ranked fifth, but to his surprise, he saw Sophia''s name listed.

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    Grant was instantly puzzled. Was that design Sophia''s? As far as he knew, Sophia had a background in management and had never studied design. How could she create such a design?

    If he hadn''t seen Chloe''s work before, it might have been different. But the style of the

    short skirt design was unmistakably Chloe''s. How did it be Sophia''s?

    Despite his doubts, Grant continued with the ceremony to keep it going. He announced Sophia''s name and then added, "Miss Brown, pleasee to the conference roomter."

    Sophia was overjoyed to be singled out by Grant. She thought he must want to praise her. The people around her started ttering her again.

    "Miss Brown, Mr. Martin called you out in front of everyone. He must really miss you to do that."

    "Oh my gosh, Mr. Martin really spoils you."

    "Wow, I want to be Miss Brown. I want Mr. Martin to spoil me too."

    Sophia pretended to be in a rtionship with Grant in front of them. She whispered,

    "I''ll let you in on a secret. Grant spoils me even more in bed..."

    Grant continued announcing the winners. "Third ce, Quest University Philip Cook. Second ce, Quest University Rena Penrose. First ce, the Martin Group Tom Baker..."

    Hearing the names, Chloe felt a pang of disappointment. Philip won, Rena won, but she got nothing. Maybe she wasn''t skilled enough.

    Her face visibly showed her disappointment. Philip, seeing this, quickly tried tofort

    her.

 Chapter 130 Have You Eaten Too Much Pig Feed?

    """Chloe, don''t be upset. Not winning this time doesn''t mean anything. Honestly, your design was really excellent. It''s just that the people from the Martin group don''t have good taste. Don''t feel sad, okay? As long as you''re not sad, I''ll give you my prizeter," Philip, who''d been Chloe''s ssmate for years, tried to cheer her up like a big brother.

    Chloe shrugged it off. "Oh, please, it''s just an award. I''m not that upset. Besides, both you and Rena won an award. What do I have to be unhappy about? We agreed that whoever wins will treat us, so you two better get ready to treat me to something delicious! I want steak, and make sure it''s the kind I can take home..."

    Seeing Chloe wasn''t too bothered, Philip felt a bit relieved. If he''d known she wouldn''t win, he wouldn''t have pushed her toe today.

    Just when everyone thought the designpetition was over, Grant suddenly spoke up from the stage, "Ladies and gentlemen, after reviewing the entries, we found many outstanding works and decided to create a special grand prize. The winner of the grand prize is Chloe Davis from Quest University."

    Grant led the apuse, his eyes scanning the audience.

    The unexpected surprise left Chloe stunned. She hadn''t expected that the design she whipped up in one night would win the grand prize.

    Next, a staff member took over from Grant on stage. He said, "Due to the excellence of the grand prize-winning work, the Martin Group will soon hold a special analysis session for this piece. We hope everyone can attend. Now, let''s wee the grand prize winner, Chloe Davis, to the stage to receive her award..."

    The grand award ceremony concluded, and Chloe, holding her prize, was ready to leave with Philip. Just as they were about to go, Stanley approached her.

    He said, "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin would like to see you."

    "What does he want with me?" Chloe had been avoiding Granttely. He always seemed to kiss her when no one was around, making her very nervous.

    Stanley shook his head. "I''m sorry, Miss Davis, Mr. Martin didn''t say."

    "Well, then... tell him to talk to me at home." Chloe said, grabbing her prize and preparing to leave.

    Stanley seemed to have anticipated her reluctance. He said, "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin mentioned that if you don''te, your grand prize will be considered giarized." Hearing this, Chloe was furious and was about to jump up and curse. She clenched her fists, her eyes zing with anger. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the frustration and resentment inside made it difficult for her to find peace.

    She shouted, "That''s nonsense! I designed it myself. How could it be giarized? Where''s the proof?"

    Stanley touched his nose and smiled slightly. Chloe''s fiery temper was just as expected.

    He didn''t argue further. Instead, he gestured for Chloe to follow him. "Miss Davis, this way to the conference room."

    Chloe, fuming, followed Stanley towards the conference room.

    Before they even entered, they could hear Sophia''s voice inside. "Mr. Martin, I didn''t giarize. My design is my own work. How could I copy someone else''s? We''ve known each other for years. You know I''m an honest person. I would never giarize. Please, check again."

    When Sophia said this, her voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of coquettishness. Her face was full of anxiety and innocence, as if she truly believed she was the wronged party.

    Chloe couldn''t help but roll her eyes.

    As she and Stanley reached the door, she peeked through the crack and saw Sophia leaning forward, unting her assets in front of Grant.

    Stanley didn''t hesitate and pushed the door open.

    Sophia jumped back in surprise. When she saw Stanley and Chloe, her eyes filled with anger towards Chloe.

    Chloe nced at Sophia''s chest, then at her own, admitting Sophia''s were more impressive. No wonder Sophia had insulted her, saying her chest was only good for telling front from back. Sophia knew how to hit where it hurt.

    Since Sophia dared to insult her, Chloe wasn''t going to let it slide. Seeing Sophia act like a desperate woman clinging to Grant, Chloe seized the opportunity to strike back. "Oh, Stanley and I must havee at a bad time. Almost saw something we shouldn''t have. Grant, your employee is quite something. Did she take some kind of aphrodisiac? Acting all frisky in a conference room. Does she do this with clients too? Such dedication..."

    Chloe''s sharp words painted Sophia as a shameless slut.

    Sophia''s chest heaved with anger, her previous facade of gentleness and vulnerability vanishing.

    Grant chuckled.

    Chloe''s mouth wasn''t just good for kissing; her insults were pretty effective too.

    He had been wondering how to deal with Sophia''s giarism. Now, Chloe had given him an out.

    "You... stop ndering me. I was discussing business with Mr. Martin." Sophia''s eyes reddened as she tried to defend herself.

    Chloe smirked, staring at Sophia''s chest. "Business? I''ve seen plenty of meetings, but never one where a woman shakes her chest like that. Sophia, you''re so overdeveloped. Next time, make sure to tuck them in; you might lose one without noticing. And stay away from Grant-he''s not into slut."

    Chloe''s harsh words were payback for Sophia''s earlier insult about her small chest. Sophia was livid.

    She pointed a trembling finger at Chloe. "You... you''re bullying me..."

    Chloe stuck out her tongue, smugly saying, "Damn right I am. Maybe this will teach you not to badmouth people behind their backs."

    The conference room, meant for serious discussions, had turned into a battleground of insults.

    Grant, seeing Chloe had the upper hand, cleared his throat to interrupt. "Alright, enough. Let''s get back to the giarism issue. Sophia, you im you didn''t giarize. Where''s your proof?"

 Chapter 131 Slandering Me

    When Grant brought up the giarism issue again and asked her to provide evidence that she hadn''t copied, Sophia was momentarily stunned.

    A trace of panic shed in her eyes, but she quickly tried to calm herself. Raising her head, she said, "This is indeed my personal creation. Every design detail waspleted by me alone. What kind of proof do you need?"

    Grant didn''t even nce at her and said, "Proof that you didn''t copy someone else''s work. You im this design is yours? Who can back that up?"

    Sophia, somewhat awkwardly, said, "Mr. Martin, I designed this piece at home. I only got inspiration in the middle of the night. There''s no one to vouch for that.

    Besides, there are so many award-winning pieces this time. Why are you singling me out? Why don''t you say that Chloe''s grand prize-winning work is giarized?" Sophia dragged Chloe into the conversation.

    Chloe was infuriated by her attempt to involve her. With a coldugh, she retorted, "Sophia, are you out of your mind? You can''t provide evidence, so you drag me down?

    I studied design at Quest University and was a top student. How could I possibly giarize?"

    Then Sophia turned to Grant. "But, Mr. Martin, why do you suspect my work is giarized?"

    Grant looked at Sophia, his lips slightly parted as he said, "Because I''ve seen your design before."

    Grant''s words were like a stone thrown into a calmke, causing countless ripples. The atmosphere in the conference room became tense once again, with everyone''s attention focused on Sophia and Grant.

    Sophia''s heart sank with a sense of foreboding. She struggled to maintain herposure and asked, "Mr. Martin, where have you seen this piece before? Under what circumstances?"

    The piece Sophia entered into thepetition was actually something she had fished out from Grant''s trash bin. She had identallye across the sketch, and its simple yet clever design left a deep impression on her. Thinking that if it had been thrown away, Grant didn''t value it, she hatched a n. She decided to make a few modifications and submit it as her own entry.

    At the time, she never imagined that Grant would have any recollection of the piece. However, she underestimated him. She thought that the slightly modified work would be her masterpiece, and she never anticipated that Grant would still remember seeing the original sketch.

    Desperately, she argued, "Mr. Martin, you must have seen it when I submitted it, so it looks familiar to you."

    Sophia said this while observing Grant and Chloe carefully.

    Grant had so many things to deal with daily; Sophia though maybe she could bluff her way through.

    "If you really think there''s a problem with my design, I''ll just take it back." Sophia said, grabbing her winning piece and preparing to leave.

    Her actions caught Chloe''s attention. Seeing her sneaky behavior, Chloe knew something was up.

    Chloe quickly stepped forward, blocking her path. "Why take it back? Since it won fifth ce, everyone should learn from it. Let''s see how aplete novice like Miss Brown designed a fifth-ce piece."

    Without another word, Chloe snatched the design from Sophia''s hands.

    When Chloe saw the design, her eyes widened. She looked at Sophia, then at Grant.

    "This design... it looks like mine," Chloe said, recognizing the short skirt.

    She had originally nned to submit this design to the Martin Group, a simple, elegant, and lively short skirt. Butter, she decided to design a more luxurious dress for the high-end clientele the Martin Group catered to.

    She had tossed the original design into Grant''s trash can. How did it end up here as Sophia''s work?

    Did Sophia pick it up and secretly submit it?

    If that was the case, Sophia was not justmitting giarism anymore; it was copyright infringement.

    "Yours? Chloe, don''t talk nonsense. How could my design be yours?

    Mr. Martin used me of giarism and asked for evidence. Now you say this design

    is yours, so show your evidence.

    If you can''t, I''ll call the police for nder."

    Sophia panicked, trying to intimidate Chloe.

    After scolding Chloe, she turned to Grant. "Mr. Martin, you can''t be so biased. I know Chloe has an engagement with the Martin brothers, but that doesn''t justify protecting her.

    You suspect me of giarism because you''re my boss, but why should this ugly girl im my work as hers?

    I''m studying management, but does that mean I can''t learn design?"

    Sophia''s remark might sound reasonable at first, but Grant furrowed his brow, his annoyance with Sophia reaching its peak.

    Stanley, standing nearby, also felt Sophia seemed like a victim.

    "Mr. Martin, could there be a misunderstanding? Maybe Miss Brown really did design

    this piece?" Stanley softly suggested to Grant.

    Hearing Stanley, Sophia felt a bit more confident.

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    "She designed it? Don''t be ridiculous. Stanley, have you ever seen a designer leave someone else''s name on their work?" Chloe sneered.

    Sophia panicked again. "Name? Chloe, open your eyes. My name is clearly on this design. How can you say it''s yours?

    Can''t you even recognize your own name?

    Apologize now, and I might forgive your ignorance. Otherwise, I''ll call the police to protect my rights."

    Sophia pulled out her phone, pretending to call the police.

    Stanley grew anxious, whispering to Grant, "Mr. Martin, today is the Martin Group''s big event. If we call the police now, it might cause unnecessary trouble. Maybe we can find another solution?"

    Grant understood Stanley''s point, and so did Chloe.

    For arge corporation like the Martin Group, maintaining its reputation was crucial. Such a minor issue should not be blown out of proportion and be widely known.

    Stanley''s suggestion eased Sophia''s tension a bit.

    She was sure Grant would take Stanley''s advice.

    But unexpectedly, Grant firmly dered, "The Martin Group has thrived in Sovereign

    City for years by adhering to a principle of integrity.

    I won''t tolerate any giarism, even if it means calling the police and risking our reputation.

    Chloe, you said your name is on this design. Find it now. If you can''t, I''ll call the police myself."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 132 Who Invited You to Dinner?

    Seeing Grant''s attitude, Stanley didn''t dare say another word.

    Sophia waspletely flustered, but she still clung to a glimmer of hope. She repeatedly recalled that before she submitted the piece, she had carefully examined it to ensure there were no signatures or markings from Chloe. Therefore, she was convinced that Chloe''s im that her name was on the work was just a bluff to scare her.

    "Fine, go ahead and look, Mr. Martin. I stand by what I said I didn''t giarize," her tone was resolute, but inside she was filled with anxiety and unease. She didn''t dare to imagine what kind of humiliation and failure she would face if Chloe could actually prove her im.

    Seeing that Sophia was on the brink of disaster yet remained unrepentant, Chloe was so infuriated that she burst outughing. She pointed to a spot on the design draft. "Look at this, my name is hidden right here.

    I designed a butterfly about to take flight at the neckline of the skirt using my name... Sophia, are you still going to insist this is your work?"

    Stanley and the other leaders from the Martin Group leaned in to closely examine the spot Chloe indicated.

    Sure enough, the butterfly was crafted using Chloe''s name.

    "Sophia, are you actually using Chloe''s work for thepetition? Do you realize that this is illegal?"

    "We thought this design was impressive and that you were a capable manager for the Martin Group, but it turns out you giarized?"

    "Sophia, prepare to face legal consequences."

    The leaders of the Martin Group berated Sophia, leaving her stunned. She wanted to defend herself a bit more, but the facts before her seemed to plunge her into an abyss.

    Her mind went nk, and despite racking her brain, she couldn''te up with a suitable excuse to exonerate herself. She could only forcibly defend herself, saying, "No... I didn''tpletely copy it. I made some modifications. This belt here, I designed it myself... Mr. Martin, that belt is truly my design."

    Her feeble excuse made everyone present burst intoughter, filled with irony and disdain. To everyone, her justification seemed like a clumsy attempt to escape reality.

    Grant''s brow furrowed, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger. He had initially held high hopes for Sophia, believing she had potential as a designer, but her constant excuses and deceit had left him thoroughly disheartened.

    The Martin Group had always emphasized honesty and integrity. Thepany could tolerate mistakes everyone makes them but it would never tolerate employees who fail to repent after making a mistake. This was the bottom line.

    If he hadn''t discovered this in time, the entire Martin Group might have been deceived by Sophia.

    Grant sternly ordered his employees.

    "Enough, Sophia. Stop making excuses. You all, followpany policy and punish Sophia ordingly."

    "Apologize where necessary, disqualify her if needed. The Martin Group will not allow any employee to tarnish its reputation."

    At that moment, Chloe''s phone rang. She saw it was Michael calling.

    Given that she had hit Michael the night before and the rumors that had surfaced in the media that morning, Chloe was reluctant to answer.

    But Michael was persistent, calling repeatedly, so Chloe finally picked up.

    She expected Michael to discuss how to handle the aftermath, perhaps asking her to rify some things.

    To her surprise, Michael said, "Chloe, I heard from the family driver that you''re at the Martin Group?"

    "Yeah, I won an award," Chloe replied honestly.

    "I''m right outside the Martin Group. Come out, and I''ll take you to lunch to celebrate," Michael said warmly, his tone surprised Chloe.

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    "You''re taking me to lunch?" Chloe repeated, not quite believing it.

    Considering Michael''s status as a major celebrity, his schedule was incredibly demanding. He was either on set or in makeup. In the few months she''d been at the Martin Mansion, she''d barely had a chance to dine with him. It was surprising, then, that he was so kindly offering to treat her to dinner today.

    "Yeah, to celebrate your award. As your brother, I have to do something. Come on out." Michael hung up after speaking.

    Chloe stared at her phone, bewildered. However, Grant had overheard her repeating Michael''s words.

    Grant frowned and asked, "Who''s taking you to lunch? Is it that ssmate of yours, Philip?"

    Chloe answered honestly, "No, it''s Michael."

    Hearing it was Michael, Grant''s mind buzzed.

    Why was Michael suddenly taking Chloe to lunch? Could the rumors from today be true? Was Michael making a move on Chloe?

    No way.

    Michael had shown no interest in Chloe before. Why was hepeting with him now?

    If Michael became his rival, Grant wouldn''t let it slide.

    Grant''s expression darkened, as if someone owed him money. "Why is he taking you to lunch?"

    "He said it''s to celebrate my award," Chloe exined.

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    For some reason, seeing Grant''s dark expression made Chloe nervous, like a child caught doing something wrong.

    Grant was silent for a moment. Michael, being in the entertainment industry, certainly knew how to persue a girl.

    Seeing Grant like this, Chloe didn''t dare stay any longer. She was afraid that Grant, with his unpredictable and moody temperament, might make things difficult for her. So she hurried to leave.

    "Grant, I''m off to lunch. Take your time handling this, no rush." With that, Chloe quickly ran off.

    Grant watched her leave, his fists clenched tightly.

    He had no interest in dealing with Sophia''s issue now. His priority was stopping Michael from taking Chloe away.

    He couldn''t let that happen.

    Stanley noticed Grant''s displeasure and approached, asking, "Mr. Martin, is everything alright?"

    Grant replied coldly, "Nothing. Go find out where Michael is taking Chloe for lunch and arrange for some clients to ''identally'' run into them.

    Moreover, hasn''t Michael been too idletely? Contact some directors and tell them that the Martin group is willing to invest in their projects. Encourage them to cast Michael in their films, preferably ones that require shooting abroad and take about a year toplete."

    Stanley''s confusion grew.

    What had Michael done to anger Grant?

    A few minutester, Chloe got into Michael''s car. As soon as she was in, Michael handed her some of her favorite snacks...

 Chapter 133 Different Ideas

    Michael''s sudden change in attitude left Chloe feeling a bit overwhelmed.

    Since she had joined the Martin family, each of the three Martin brothers had treated her differently.

    Grant was the eldest and the most kind and gentle with her. He always showered her with a brotherly, almost fatherly, tenderness, which made Chloe feel deeplyforted. Every time he called her name, Chloe''s heart would warm, as if a wave of warmth surged through her, making her feel the warmth of home.

    Liam seemed to harbor the most hostility towards her, constantly calling her "ugly" and always looking for ways to mess with her.

    Michael, on the other hand, had always been neutral-not too cold, but not particrly warm either. His enthusiasm today was a first, making Chloe felt uneasy.

    "Mic, what''s with the sudden enthusiasm?" Chloe asked Michael, full of suspicion. Michael cleared his throat and quickly replied, "Am I enthusiastic? I don''t think so. Haven''t I always been like this?

    Chloe, don''t overthink it. I just had some free time today and thought I''d take you out for a meal. After all, you do call me ''Mic,'' and as a host in Sovereign City, I should show you some hospitality."

    Michael''s words were grandiose and pompous. As he nced sideways at Chloe, he suddenly found that therge mole on her face didn''t seem so repulsive anymore.

    In fact, thatrge mole on Chloe''s face possessed a unique charm.

    Last night, she beat Michael up without discerning right from wrong. Given Michael''s temper, he likely wouldn''t let her off the hook today.

    However, instead of confronting her, he not only refrained from holding a grudge but also invited her out for a meal. Could it be that he has some other ulterior motives?

    Could he have poisoned the food to get back at her?

    The thought made the snacks in her hand lose their appeal.

    With a mix of anxiety and curiosity, Chloe followed Michael to an upscale vi on the outskirts of the city. The ce was serene, and the parking lot was filled with expensive cars. The clientele were all VIPs.

    As soon as they arrived, a dedicated server escorted them to a private room.

    Upon entering the private room, Chloe noticed that the decor was even more luxurious: crystal chandeliers emitted a soft glow, and the brown solid wood furniture gave off a subtle woody fragrance. The table was already set with upscale cutlery and pristine white napkins, offering an unobstructed view of the beautiful scenery outside the window. Chloe couldn''t help but admire that Michael had indeed arranged everything meticulously. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, and Chloe''s guard against Michael began to lower.

    "Mic, aboutst night, I''m sorry. I was too impulsive. I thought... you were really a bad guy."

    Feeling a bit embarrassed after being entertained by him, Chloe rarely apologized to him.

    Michael, who loved to chat, usually took any opportunity to tease her. But to her surprise, he waved it off and said, "Chloe,st night was just a misunderstanding.

    I don''t me you. In fact, it gave you a chance to see my true character. You need to know that I''m not a bad guy, but someone you can rely on.

    If you have any different thoughts about me, feel free to express them."

    Michael finished speaking and looked at Chloe with eager eyes.

    Chloe felt uneasy under Michael''s intense gaze. What did he mean by "different thoughts"?

    Seeing her confusion, Michael continued to hint. "Actually, in my opinion, you''re quite a nice youngdy," Michael said sincerely. His eyes were soft, giving off a reassuring feeling.

    "Although you have a mole on your face that affects your appearance, I don''t mind it at all. On the contrary, I find the mole on your face rather cute." His voice was gentle yet firm as he said these words, conveying a sense of genuine affection.

    "Chloe, our families are arranged to be united in marriage," Michael continued, his tone bing more serious. "You see, now we are both trending on entertainment news..."

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    As Michael spoke, Chloe finally understood his intentions.

    He had feelings for her? Did Michael want to turn their fake rtionship into a real one?

    No way.

    Chloe felt she had to reject Michael''s foolish idea.

    However, facing Michael''s obvious advances, she felt her head spinning.

    She struggled to find the right words to dissuade him when the tightly closed door of

    the private room suddenly swung open.

    Chloe turned to see Grant and the everical Harry entering the room.

    Their arrivalpletely shattered the awkward atmosphere between Chloe and Michael.

    "Hey, Michael, you''re here?" Harry greeted Michael as soon as he walked in.

    Michael''s mood soured at the sight of Harry and Grant. Why did they have to show up now? If they had been five minutester, he might have made some progress with Chloe.

    Michael shot Harry an annoyed look and said, "What are you doing here? And Grant, why are you here too?"

    Grant nced at Chloe before replying to Michael, "I''m here to have dinner with a client."

    Harry chimed in, "I''m here with Grant for the client dinner. The server mentioned you were here, so we thought we''d drop by and say hi"

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    "Michael, why did you bring her here? Just the two of you?"

    Harry looked at Michael with a hint of suspicion. Due to the rumors that surfaced in the morning, Harry was quite doubtful about the rtionship between Michael and Chloe.

    In his view, Michael was just asking for it. Chloe gave him a beatingst night, yet today he was eagerly inviting Chloe to dinner. He was just a glutton for punishment.

    Michael, worried that Harry''s thoughts might affect his future with Chloe, quickly exined, "Yes, it''s just the two of us... I specifically invited Chloe for this meal.

    She''s the investor for my next film. She secured the funding within a month. Now, she''s not just my friend but also my benefactor.

    Is there a problem with me treating my benefactor to a meal?"

    Michael''s words made Chloeugh.

    Grant''s worried expression also rxed. It turned out Michael had brought Chloe here

    to discuss business, not romance.

    Harry, the fool, plopped down in a chair.

    He said to Michael, "Michael, what''s your next film about? Will it make money? If it will,

    I want to invest too. I want to be a benefactor as well."

    Harry''s words darkened Michael''s expression. He really wanted to kick Harry out of the

    room.

    He had nned to develop his rtionship with Chloe, but Harry had ruined his n.

    Grant, on the other hand, looked amused. He sat next to Chloe, his eyes full of mischief as he watched her face.

 Chapter 134 Mr. Martin Took a Fancy to Them

    Chloe felt uneasy under Grant''s intense gaze.

    Throughout the entire meal, she was on edge. At the table, among the four people present, she felt like she was the only one who didn''t seem like a bad person; the other three looked like nothing but trouble.

    After enduring the lunch, Chloe declined both Grant and Michael''s offers to give her a ride and hurriedly left with her small bag.

    As soon as she left the estate, Chloe called Zara.

    "Zara, I need to see you. I''ve been under a lot of pressuretely and it''s getting to be too much. I need to rx a bit, so please help me arrange something," Chloe''s voice carried a hint of urgency and fatigue. She really needed a ce where she could unwind and ease her mind.

    Zara, hearing Chloe''s request, immediately agreed. "Chloe, I just found a fun ce in Sovereign City that''s perfect for de-stressing. Let''s go there this afternoon and have some fun."

    She then sent the address to Chloe''s phone.

    Hearing Zara''s voice, Chloe felt a wave of warmth, as if she had found a safe haven. Zara had always been her good friend and someone she could rely on in critical moments.

    Chloe hailed a cab and headed straight to the location Zara mentioned.

    When she arrived, she found herself in front of a small bar hidden deep in an alley. Chloe was skeptical about the ce.

    "Zara, are you sure this ce is good for de-stressing?" she asked.

    Zara snapped her fingers confidently. "Trust me, it''s perfect. If I''m wrong, you can do whatever you want to me. Come on, let''s get you a makeover first."

    Zara led Chloe to a nearby makeup studio. When Chloe emerged, she lookedpletely different.

    Her usual braids were transformed into loose, wavy curls that looked incredibly alluring. Her face was made up, and the mole she used to make herself look less attractive was gone.

    With heavy makeup, she looked like apletely different person. Even people who knew her well might not recognize her.

    Her outfit was also reced with a tight-fitting dress. The transformation lifted Chloe''s spirits.

    Zara dragged her into the bar.

    Despite her initial doubts, Chloe was amazed by the ce once inside. Inside, the ce was a riot of color and light, like the entrance to another world. Multicolored lights flickered in the air, and the strong, dynamic rhythm of the music seemed to prate directly into one''s heart. What attracted Chloe the most was the groups of attractive men gathered around, each one incredibly handsome, representing all types one could imagine.

    Chloe was captivated by the scene, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She gave Zara a thumbs-up and eximed excitedly, "Zara, this ce is truly a stress-reliever!

    Look at these guys, young and full of energy. Unlike the ones at home, who are so dull. This is the ce to unwind. Let''s get some drinks."

    They ordered drinks and started enjoying themselves at the bar.

    With the music and dancing, Chloe finally let loose.

    Zara pulled her onto the dance floor, and they both started dancing wildly to the music. They danced their hearts out on the stage, theirughter and movements intertwined. Casting aside the worries and pressures of life, Chloe was her true self in this moment, enjoying the wonderful time withplete freedom.

    Their impressive dance moves quickly caught the attention of the men in the bar. One of them was Liam, who had just finished a thrilling car race with his friends.

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    Liam rarely visited such ces, but Eric had insisted on bringing him here. As soon as he entered, he was drawn to Chloe and Zara on the dance floor.

    Chloe and Zara both had heavy makeup on, and even in the dim lighting of the bar, Liam wouldn''t be able to recognize them.

    Yet, the familiar aura they exuded unconsciously made Liam look at them more than

    once.

    Eric, always eager to please Liam, noticed his gaze lingering on the two women.

    "Hey, Liam, you got your eye on those two?" Eric asked.

    Liam shook his head, taking a sip of his drink. "Not really, they just seem interesting."

    Eric continued, "If you think they''re interesting, should I go introduce us?"

    Liam didn''t object. "Sure, go ahead. Invite them over for a drink. Be polite." "Got it, Liam. I''ll handle it."

    When Eric finished, he came over to where Chloe and Zara were. Chloe, who was dancing enthusiastically, suddenly felt a bit flustered.

    Despite the dim lighting, she recognized him as one of Liam''s sycophants.

    Eric got straight to the point. "Hey,dies, can I buy you a drink?"

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    Chloe hesitated.

    Eric reassured them. "Don''t worry, it''s just a drink. Liam''s inviting you."

    He gestured towards Liam, who was holding his drink and giving them a polite nod. Chloe and Zara wished they could disappear. Chloe muttered, "Zara, why is he here?" Zara was equally distressed. After all, she''s the one who pretends to be a biker goddess every day while chatting with Liam. Today, Liam invited her to go for a ride, but considering her mediocre biking skills, she declined. And now, here she is in the bar, dancing wildly. If Liam recognizes her, wouldn''t he be furious?

    "I have no idea why he''s here," Zara said, exasperated.

    "He''s inviting us for a drink. If he recognizes me, I''m done," Chloe whispered, not exaggerating the consequences.

    Last time, Liam had reported her for ogling a biker, which had nearly led to Grant taking advantage of her in his anger.

    If Liam reported her again, Grant might not hold back this time.

    "He might kill me too. Chloe, what do we do?" Zara clutched Chloe''s hand, at a loss.

    They whispered back and forth, unable toe up with a solution.

    Eric watched their nervousness with a smirk. Liam, one of the heirs to the Martin Family, was not only wealthy but also handsome and discerning. Not just any woman could catch his eye.

    Being invited for a drink by Liam was an honor for them.

 Chapter 135 Hero Saves the Beauty

    It was no wonder they were feeling jittery right now.

    Because of this, Eric had to put on a bit of a show.

    "Hey, It''s an honor for you to be invited by Mr. Martin. Come on..."

    Faced with Eric''s persistent invitation, Chloe and Zara were getting anxious.

    Zara turned to Chloe, "Chloe, what do we do? If we go over there for a drink, Liam will definitely recognize us."

    Chloe was out of options. She thought for a moment and said, "Let''s bolt..."

    With that, she grabbed Zara and made a run for it.

    Their sudden move left Eric stunned. These two girls, running away from an invitation

    from the Martin family heir?

    How much must they dislike Liam to do something so reckless?

    Liam was also taken aback. He frowned and signaled Eric toe over.

    To their surprise, just as Chloe and Zara reached the entrance of the bar, they

    encountered three guys who were clearly drunk. The three had a roguish grin on their faces and staggered steps, standing waveringly in front of them. Their eyes unabashedly scanned Chloe and Zara, revealing a flirtatious and insolent demeanor.

    "Hey, sexydies. Come have a drink with us," one of the men said, reaching out to touch Chloe''s face.

    Zara stepped in front of him. "What do you think you''re doing? This is Sovereign City. If you touch us again, I''ll report you for harassment."

    Zara''s anger didn''t scare them off. Instead, they got bolder.

    "Haha, sweetheart, you must be mistaken. Report us for harassment? This is a bar. No one here is innocent.

    And besides, the way you two are dressed so sexily, it''s clear you''re trying to seduce us. We''ll buy you drinks, and after that, you two can have some fun with us, alright?""

    "It''s rare to see such stunning women in a bar. You''re just our type..."

    The three men closed in on Chloe and Zara.

    Zara tried to protect Chloe, but the men quickly surrounded them.

    Zara was nervous, she whispered, "Chloe, what do we do?"

    Chloe''s face darkened. She grabbed a beer bottle from a nearby table and said, "What else? We fight. Zara, don''t be scared. When the fight starts, run as far as you can, okay?"

    In that moment of silence and tension, Chloe took a deep breath and gave Zara a determined look before suddenly pushing her aside. She tightly gripped the beer bottle in her hand and swung it forcefully at the thug closest to them.

    The bottle shattered on impact, and the man cried out in pain, clutching his forehead as blood mixed with beer and ss shards flowed down. Almost simultaneously, the other two drunken men rushed forward. Soon, they were all brawling.

    Not far away, Eric stood next to Liam, watching the bar fight with amusement.

    Heughed and said to Liam, "Hey, these girls have some guts. Mr. Martin, look at the one fighting. Doesn''t she remind you of your biker goddess?"

    Eric''sment made Liam focus entirely on Chloe.

    Chloe was fighting, and as she turned, her face was illuminated by the bar''s dim lights. Liam''s eyes widened in shock.

    That face was so familiar.

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    Even with the makeup, Liam recognized her.

    It was Chloe.

    Liam couldn''t sit still. He jumped up and said to Eric, "Help them."

    He grabbed a beer bottle and rushed over.

    Liam and Eric''s intervention eased Chloe''s situation. When she realized Liam was helping, she knew things were bad.

    Especially when she noticed Liam''s confused gaze on her, she felt even more uneasy. Without thinking, she grabbed the stunned Zara and tried to leave the bar.

    However, Zara was unhappy with Chloe''s behavior. "Chloe, are we just going to leave? What about Liam? Won''t he be in danger?"

    She was still worried about Liam.

    Chloe replied while running, "What are you worried about? Sovereign City is practically the Martin family''s territory. He won''t be in any danger here."

    "But isn''t it a bit rude to just leave like this?" Zara was still concerned.

    In typical romance dramas, after being saved, shouldn''t they wait and thank Liam politely?

    Chloe poked Zara''s head and reminded her, "If you want to be polite, go back now. But when Liam finds out his goddess was in a bar checking out guys, who knows what he''ll think of you. Don''t you dare tell him I was with you."

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    Chloe let go of Zara''s hand and pretended to leave.

    Zara quickly followed.

    She couldn''t risk it. In Liam''s eyes, she was a goddess, and she needed to maintain that image.

    Soon, they escaped the bar.

    After Liam and Eric subdued the three men, they realized the girls they had saved were gone.

    "Mr. Martin, where are they? Did they just leave without even saying thank you?" Eric was incredulous.

    They had fought for the two girls, and they just left without a word?

    Liam''s face darkened. He said to Eric, "Let''s go after them."

    After leaving the bar, Chloe and Zara each hailed a cab and quickly left the scene.

    Sitting in the taxi, Chloe found some makeup remover in her small handbag and quickly wiped off her heavy makeup. Then, she added some freckles to her face. She also let down her long wavy hair and tied it into two braids. After this simple transformation, she sessfully recreated her look as a rustic country girl. Satisfied with her reflection, Chloe reached into her bag to find her fake mole. But she couldn''t find it.

    Panicking, Chloe turned her bag inside out but still couldn''t find the fake mole. Without it, how could she return to the Martin Mansion? Tonight, would her carefully hidden identity be exposed to the three Martin brothers?

 Chapter 136 What to Do If Others Have Their Eyes on It?

    Just as Chloe was anxiously at her wits'' end, not knowing how to find her fake mole, the taxi driver drove her to the doorstep of the Martin Family mansion.

    The taxi driver looked at the grand, luxurious mansion with envy and asked, "Miss, do you live here?"

    Chloe nodded as she got out of the car, "Yeah, I am just staying here for a bit."

    She quickly got out of the car, and the taxi driver took an extra nce at her face, immediately startled.

    Wasn''t she the pretty girl who had just run out of the bar when she got into his car? How did she turn into a in Jane after getting out?

    Could it be that his car was magical?

    Chloe was too preupied to pay attention to the driver''s curious looks. She grabbed her purse, covering half of her swollen face, and hurriedly ran towards the mansion.

    Lucklily, the darkness of the night provided some concealment for Chloe''s actions. The household servants were all busy with their own tasks and didn''t pay much attention to her hurried movements. Fortunately, the security guard at the gate only nced at her briefly without scrutinizing her.

    She silently prayed that Michael and Grant wouldn''t be home.

    As long as she didn''t run into the two of them, the risk of exposure would be

    minimized. Chloe swiftly crossed the gate and entered the vast courtyard. The gentle breeze in the yard tousled her hair, unable to mask her inner anxiety. She kept reying the recent conflict in her mind, along with strategizing on how to conceal her swollen face as much as possible.

    Chloe entered the yard from the gate, then moved into the living room smoothly. Just when she thought she could sneak back to her room, the ususlly busy Grant suddenly appeared in the living room.

    "Chloe..." Seeing Chloe, Grant looked up and called her name warmly.

    Chloe felt like she wanted to die.

    She covered half of her face with one hand and awkwardly turned her body, forcing a smile as she responded to Grant. "Grantie, you''re home?"

    Grant nodded, thinking Chloe was showing concern for him. He replied, "Yeah, today is

    not very busy at work, so I thought I''de home early."

    "Oh, then I''ll head upstairs first," Chloe said, ready to bolt upstairs.

    But Grant noticed something unusual in her hurried actions.

    He asked with a puzzled look, "Chloe, why are you covering your face? Did someone hit you?"

    Grant was more concerned about whether someone had bullied Chloe than about the mole on her face.

    Chloe quickly denied it, "Grantie, no, how could anyone hit me? I''ll go upstairs first ande down to talkter."

    She tried to leave again, but Grant grabbed her arm and pulled her hand away from her face.

    "Let me see," he said.

    He carefully examined Chloe''s face, looking for any signs that she had been hit, not even noticing whether the mole was still there.

    "Grantie, let go of me. I told you, no one hit me." Chloe tried to struggle, but Grant wouldn''t let go.

    It wasn''t until the scent of her perfume mixed with the essence of alcohol reached Grant''s nose that his warm expression turned cold.

    He asked sternly, "Did you go out drinking?"

    Chloe couldn''t deny it, nodding, "Yeah, I went out with a friend and had just a little bit. Grantie, let go of me."

    She tried to pull away again.

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    Grant tightened his grip on her arm, causing a slight pain in her wrist, making Chloe wince.

    "You''re still a student. How can you sneak out to drink? Chloe, this is uneptable." Grant harshly criticized Chloe, furrowing his brow and speaking with amanding tone of reproach. It seemed like he had forgotten that the young woman in his arms was already an adult and there was nothing wrong with having a drink. Chloe felt aggrieved and puzzled, not understanding why Grant always seemed so controlling. Then again, when he was kissing her passionately, he didn''t seem to remember she was a student.

    Just as Chloe was at a loss for how to exin to Grant, Harry, who had been following Grant, came out of Grant''s room.

    He heard Grant scolding Chloe and curiously wanted to see what was going on.

    When Chloe caught sight of Harry out of the corner of her eye, her heart racing as she realized howplex the situation had be. She quickly made faces at Grant, hoping he would understand her concerns and hidden intentions. She didn''t want Harry to discover that her mole was fake!

    "Grantie, let me go upstairs first..."

    "Upstairs? You snuck out to drink at your age, and you think I''ll let you off without an exnation?" Grant acted like a strict father.

    Chloe was indignant. Just because he was a few years older, did he have to act like her guardian?

    "What''s going on? Sneaking out to drink? Grant, I''m telling you, it is uneptable. She needs to be taught a lesson."

    Harry, having only heard part of the conversation, egged Grant on, enjoying the drama.

    Seeing Harry getting closer, Chloe had no choice but to quietly plead with Grant. "Grantie, let me go. I lost my mole."

    Grant finally noticed her face and realized the mole she had stuck on was gone.

    Without the mole, Chloe was stunningly beautiful.

    Such a beautiful face couldn''t be seen by just anyone. What if they started pursuing her?

    As Harry was about to reach them, Grant quickly let go of Chloe''s wrist.

    Chloe swiftly covered her face and rushed upstairs.

    Harry, seeing Grant let Chloe go so easily, was dissatisfied. He hade out to watch the drama, but the show was over before it even started.

    "Grant, why did you let her go? She''s a college student, sneaking out to drink?

    She''s the Davis Family''s youngdy, staying with the Martin Family. If something happens because of drinking, it''s the Martin Family''s responsibility.

    Besides, she''s supposed to marry one of the Martin Family''s three brothers. If she keeps misbehaving and drinking, it would be quite embarrassing, wouldn''t it?" Harry''s instigation made Grant roll his eyes.

    "What do you want me to do? Strangle her?" he thought Harry was making a big deal out of nothing.

    He could think Chloe''s drinking was a bit much, but why should anyone else care?

    "Grant, I''m just looking out for her," Harry had to say.

    Grant retorted, "Mind your own business. If you keep cking off, the Gonzalez family''s assets will be gone in no time."

    Harry didn''t take Grant''s sarcasm to heart.

 Chapter 137 You Are Just Biased

    Harry smiled and said gleefully, "Win or lose, money and possessions, after all, we can''t take them when we are born, nor can we take them when we die.

    Besides, Grant, I''m curious. Who''d go out drinking with that ugly duckling? I mean, who''d want to y with her?

    Yeah, I get it. She''s not exactly a looker. You three brothers wouldn''t give her the time of day. If she doesn''t socialize, she''ll never get married."

    Harry''s shallowment made Grant smirk coldly.

    He suddenly felt like the whole world was full of idiots. No one knew just how beautiful Chloe really was.

    "Don''t worry about that, Harry. Why are you so interested in Chloe''s business anyway?

    If you put this much effort into the Gonzalez family business, the Gonzalez Group would be on the stock market by now."

    Hearing this, Harry scratched his head, speechless.

    A few minutester, Chloe came downstairs with a fake mole on her face. At the same time, Liam walked in, looking a bit worse for wear with some injuries from a bar fight.

    To divert Grant''s attention from herself, Chloe exaggeratedly called out as soon as she saw Liam. "Oh, Liam! What happened to your face? Did you get into a fight?"

    Liam shot her an annoyed look.

    He wouldn''t tell Chloe that he saw a woman in the bar who resembled her, prompting him to chase after her in a flurry, only to return empty-handed.

    No one seemed particrly concerned about Liam''s situation.

    Grant continued reading his newspaper, and Harry only nced at Liam when Chloe made a fuss.

    Liam getting into fights was nothing new. Why make a big deal out of it?

    Ignoring Chloe, Liam headed upstairs to change clothes.

    As Chloe watched Liam leave, the displeasure in her heart gradually turned into anger. Why was it that just because she had a few drinks, Grant clung to her arm tightly and interrogated her relentlessly?

    She felt like all her actions were being magnified and scrutinized, while Liam''s fight incident was easily brushed aside, with no one bringing it up. She felt this was a gross injustice.

    With a determined look to seek justice, Chloe stormed over to Grant. Grant nced up from the newspaper he was reading for three seconds as he saw her approaching, then gave her a cold stare before returning his gaze to the paper, as if her arrival was entirely unworthy of attention. Grant''s attitude of total disregard made Chloe seethe with anger, feeling like her presence and emotions werepletely ignored.

    She snatched the newspaper from Grant''s hands and started questioning him. "Grantie, you''re so unfair! Liam and I are both in college. Why do you give me such a hard time for having a drink?

    Liam''s in school too, and he got into a fight. Why don''t you ask him about that?" Chloe''s expression was adorably fierce.

    Harry, sitting on another couch, suddenly found Chloe''s defiance interesting.

    Despite being just the eldest brother of the Martin Family, Grant''s authority was unquestionable, and his siblings dared not challenge him. The inherent pressure from their bloodline made his younger siblings refrain from acting out in his presence. Chloe was asking for trouble.

    Grant didn''t want to argue with her here. He nned to talk to herter, but Chloe was pushing it.

    His face turned icy. He looked at Chloe and said, "You went out drinking without permission and you think you''re in the right?"

    Chloe was at a loss for words. She didn''t expect Grant to bring up her drinking again. "Grantie, I''m talking about Liam''s fight. Why are you bringing up my stuff again?"

    "One thing at a time. Now, tell me, where did you go drinking today?" Grant tried to keep his tone gentle.

    Chloe''s mind raced as she tried toe up with a believable lie. "I just felt like having a drink, so I bought a couple of bottles on the street and had a few sips."

    Grant saw through her lie immediately.

    He stood up, towering over Chloe, his presence making it hard for her to breathe. She regretted provoking Grant.

    "Not only did you sneak out to drink, but now you''re lying? Chloe, you''re getting out of hand. Looks like I need to teach you a lesson today."

    Grant grabbed Chloe by the back of her neck like an eagle catching a chick and dragged her out of the living room.

    Harry, watching from a distance, was too scared to even breathe.

    He could already see what wasing for Chloe.

    After all, thest time he angered Grant, he was pinned to the ground and kicked. It

    was his childhood nightmare.

    Grant dragged Chloe to the backyard of the Martin Mansion.

    The backyard had a swimming pool, rarely used. Grant held Chloe by the neck and led her to the poolside.

    Chloe, heedless of the danger, was still resisting.

    "Grantie, you''re so biased. I just had a little drink. It''s not like I went out with guys. Do you have to make such a big deal out of it?"

    Grant''s face darkened at the mention of it

    Was she thinking about picking up guys? If so, he needed to put a stop to it.

    Without another word, Grant pulled Chloe into his arms, his face cold and imposing.

    "What did you say? Chloe, is your heart fluttering with romance?

    Didn''t I tell you before? I am yours, there''s no need to think about others.

    If you don''t remember, don''t me me for being harsh."

    Before Chloe could react, Grant tightened his grip on her and kissed her hard.

    Chloe''s mind went nk.

    This was the same man who said she was too young to drink.

    But when he kissed her, did he not think she was too young?

    And this was the backyard of the Martin Mansion. Wasn''t he afraid someone would see them?

    He was too bold.

    Chloe struggled to break free, but he was kissing her passionately, leaving no chance of letting her go.

    Just then, Harry''s voice called out...

 Chapter 138 None of Your Concern

    "Grant, dinner''s ready..."

    While Grant was kissing Chloe, he instinctively tensed up upon hearing Harry''s voice. Seizing the opportunity, Chloe raised her arm and delivered an elbow jab to Grant''s chest, desperately trying to break free from his grasp.

    Unexpectedly, with too much force, Chloe suddenly slipped and uncontrobly lunged forward, plummeting straight into the swimming pool. Everything around her seemed to slow down, and Chloe only managed to let out a cry of rm before the scene before her quickly blurred.

    Seeing her fall, Grant instinctively reached out to grab Chloe, but the momentum pulled him in too. They both plunged into the pool. At the same time, Chloe could only grab onto Grant''s arm, trying to steady herself.

    The Martin Mansion''s pool was always filled with water.

    As they hit the water, Grant''s arms wrapped around Chloe, holding her close.

    They were both wearing minimal clothing, and the moment their skin touched, it felt like an electric current surged through them.

    The ripples spreading through the water and the rising bubbles blurred their vision. In this moment, Grant held Chloe tightly, preventing her from panicking. The surprisingly warm temperature of the water enveloped this tense and awe-inspiring moment like a dream, as their bodies were surrounded by the gentle flow, reflecting an inexplicable sense of intimacy.

    Chloe wiped the water from her face, but Grant took the chance to kiss her again.

    Her body pressed tightly against Grant''s, so she could clearly feel his rapid heartbeat and the tension beneath him.

    Grant was aroused.

    Chloe, with no experience with men, found herself responding to Grant''s kiss, her lust awakening.

    Under Grant''s teasing, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

    Soon, the sound of Harry and Liam''s footsteps approaching snapped Grant back to reality.

    He quickly separated from Chloe, and by the time Liam and Harry ran over, the two of them were already standing in the swimming pool, drenched from head to toe.

    Harry couldn''t help butment, "Grant, what new trick is this? Did you try to drown her to sober her up?"

    Harry assumed Grant was using this method to help Chloe sober up.

    Liam also misunderstood, thinking Grant was punishing Chloe by dunking her in the water.

    He rarely pleaded with Grant, "Grant, that''s a bit much. So what if she sneaked out for

    a drink? Do you really need to punish her like this?"

    Chloe''s face turned red, thankful for the dim lighting in the backyard that hid her embarrassment.

    She covered her face and quickly climbed out of the pool, hurrying away.

    As she passed by Liam, her scent caught his attention.

    The familiar fragrance made Liam pause. It reminded him of the perfume worn by the women he had tried to chat up at the bar.

    Why did Chloe have that scent?

    Liam found himself puzzled by Chloe, watching her flee with a raised eyebrow.

    A few minutester, Grant climbed out of the pool.

    n.

    Harry sidled up to him, trying to make conversatio "Grant, that was a bit much. After all, she''s someone my grandpa arranged to stay here. Drowning her isn''t appropriate.

    If she feels wronged and decides to leave, how are you gonna exin that to my Grandpa?

    Even if you think she''s not your type and don''t want to marry her, you shouldn''t make it so obvious, right?"

    Grant found Harry''s words irritating. Had the timing not been off, Grant would never have pushed Chloe away at the moment Liam and Harry arrived.

    A year was a long time, and he feared others coveting Chloe, not even his brothers.

    Grant ignored Harry''sments, giving him an annoyed look. "Mind your own business. How I deal with her is none of your concern."

    With that, Grant, still dripping wet, headed to his room.

    That night, Chloe didn''t show up at the Martin Family''s dinner table.

    Mia had gone to call her several times, but Chloe didn''t open the door.

    Mia reported back to Grant, "Mr. Martin, Miss Davis refused to open the door..."

    Chloe''s unusual behavior gave Harry a topic totch onto, he med Grant, "Grant, she''s definitely mad... Do you think she might leave the Martin Family without a word?" Harry''s words made Grant uneasy.

    Indeed, he had been too harsh on Chloe in front of Harry today. Was she really upset about it?

    He tried to reassure himself, "I don''t think she will."

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    Despite his words, Grant got up and headed upstairs, telling the others, "I''ll go get her."

    Chloe''s room was Grant''s old room. Though she didn''t open the door, Grant had a key. He unlocked the door and entered, apologizing as he went.

    "Chloe, I''m sorry. I was too harsh today... Please don''t be mad."

    The room was dark, so Grant turned on the dim nightlight. The light revealed Chloe

    curled up on the bed like a frightened kitten. Her body was trembling.

    Grant sat on the bed, trying to pull her up. But when he touched her arm, the heat radiating from her body shocked him.

    He immediately scooped her up into his arms.

    "Chloe, what''s wrong? Tell me..."

    Hearing Grant''s voice, Chloe weakly opened her eyes and murmured, "Grant, I''m so cold..."

    Grant''s heart ached at her words.

    He wrapped her in the nket and rushed downstairs.

    As he ran, he shouted to Harry, "Harry, Chloe has a high fever. Get the car ready. Mia,

    hurry to grab some clothes for Chloe ande with us to the hospital!"

    Grant''s panic was evident, and the entire Martin Family was thrown into a frenzy because of Chloe''s sudden fever.

    Meanwhile, in the northwest, Nichs also received news that Chloe had been taken to the hospital.

    Restless, he sat in the Davis Mansion''s living room, filled with worry.

 Chapter 139 You Can Forget about Being Part of the Martin Family

    Nichs let out a heavy sigh, guilt pressing down on him. "How did Chloe get sick? She''s always been so strong and healthy. What went wrong? Was I too harsh, making her stay in Sovereign City? It''s my fault she''s sick."

    Seeing Nichs so upset, the family butler stepped in to try andfort him. "Mr. Davis, don''t be so hard on yourself. Maybe the Martin brothers didn''t take good care of Miss Chloe.

    You trusted the Martin Family with her, and now she''s sick. Shouldn''t they be responsible? They didn''t look after her properly."

    The butler''s words struck a chord with Nichs. He pped his thigh and said, "You''re right. It''s the Martin Family''s fault. They were careless with Chloe. I''m calling Louis right now."

    Nichs grabbed his phone and dialed Louis''s number. As soon as the call connected, he started yelling.

    "Louis, my granddaughter got sick at your ce. If you can''t take care of her, send her back to me."

    With that, Nichs hung up the phone with a loud click.

    The pressure was now on Louis.

    Meanwhile, Chloe, who had developed a high fever, was already taken to the hospital''s emergency room. Due to her persistent high fever, she had to undergo examinations and treatment, and Grant was with her.

    Outside the emergency room, Harry and Liam sat on the chairs, looking worried.

    Liam''s face was grim, his moodplex and contradictory at this moment. When he heard Grant mention Chloe''s illness, a sudden sense of tension gripped his heart, leaving even himself surprised and confused. This moment of chaos made him feel at a loss, standing there with an unpredictable change of expression on his face.

    He clearly had someone he liked. He admired the way his goddess exudes elegance and charisma at the motorcycle track. Whenever he thought of her, his heart was always filled with excitement and admiration. But why did he feel a pang of heartache upon hearing that Chloe was sick?

    Didn''t he use to dislike this in girl?

    Harry, sitting next to Liam, kept muttering, "Man, Grant went too far this time. Chloe just had a few drinks, did he really need to push her into the pool and make her choke?

    Was it such a big deal? Did he have to bully her like that? If Grant doesn''t want to marry her, just send her back home. Why go to such extremes?"

    Harry''s words made Liam frown.

    Not long ago, Grant had nobly dered he was willing to marry Chloe for the sake of the family. At the time, Liam even sighed at the great sacrifice Grant made. Who would have thought he would actually want to harm Chloe?

    Chloe might be in and have an arranged marriage with the Martin Family, but she was innocent. The marriage was arranged by their elders, what did it have to do with her?

    Grant actually wanted her dead?

    That crossed Liam''s line.

    If Grant didn''t want to marry Chloe, Liam would do it himself. After all, she was just a bit in-looking.

    With theseplex emotions, Liam felt a bit better.

    A few minutester, Michael rushed in from the set.

    As soon as he arrived, he anxiously asked, "How''s Chloe? Has her fever gone down?"

    Harry shook his head. "No, she''s still in the emergency room."

    "What happened? I was away for just one day, and Chloe got sick? Can we not have such bad luck?" Michael was exasperated.

    No one knew how fast he had rushed back from the movie set hearing Chloe was sick.

    Harry pursed his lips and said, "It was Grant. Chloe had a bit to drink, and he pushed her into the water to choke her..."

    Just as Harry finishedining, Louis called, he harshly scolded Michael. "Mic, how are you guys even being brothers? I asked you to take good care of Chloe, and what did you do? You ended up getting her hospitalized!

    Nichs just called and gave me a good scolding. He even talked about calling off the engagement. I''m telling you three idiots, if the Davis Family calls off the engagement, you three can forget about being part of the Martin Family.

    And take good care of Chloe. If this happens again, watch out for your lives.

    Pass my message to the other two. That''s it, I''m hanging up."

    After a harsh scolding, Louis hung up in a hurry.

    Holding his phone, Michael looked bewildered.

    Liam leaned in and asked, "Michael, what did Grandpa say?"

    Michael looked at Liam and said, "Grandpa said we need to treat Chloe well. The Davis Family is considering calling off the engagement because of Chloe''s illness. If they do, we three won''t be part of the Martin Family anymore..."

    Hearing this, Liam''s expression grew serious.

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    He didn''t understand why Louis was so insistent on the marriage with the Davis Family, but he could tell from Louis''s words that the alliance was crucial for the Martin Family.

    Standing next to Liam and Michael, Harry was excited at the prospect of the three Martin brothers losing their family name.

    "Awesome, if you guys aren''t Martins anymore, I can take the Martin name. Then the entire Martin Family fortune will be mine, Harry Gonzalez... no, Harry Martin."

    Harry''s words drew immediate disapproval from Michael and Liam.

    They red at him and snapped, "Shut up..."

    Harry quickly closed his mouth, afraid that saying another word would get him kicked. Outside the emergency room, Michael and Liam were tense.

    Inside, the cold light illuminated the pristine white walls, while the pungent smell of disinfectant lingered in the air. Grant stood by the bedside, his gaze fixed on Chloe, who remained unconscious in the bed. An indescribable worry turned into a heavy sense of oppression, making his heartbeats feel disordered and heavy. Despite the medical team''s efforts, Chloe''s condition had improved slightly, but her fever hadn''t gone down.

    Faced with the challenging situation, the doctor shook his head in frustration.

    He turned to Grant, who was standing nearby, and asked, "Are you the patient''s husband? I need to know if she ate anything unusual before the fever started." The doctor''s words left Grant momentarily stunned...

 Chapter 140 Too Unqualified

    Grant steadied himself and said, "Looks like she''s been drinking."

    "What?" The doctor''s voice shot up when he heard Chloe had been drinking.

    He nced at the still-unconscious Chloe, directing the nurse to change her IV while giving Grant a piece of his mind.

    "How are you even her husband? She drank alcohol-why didn''t you tell us beforehand? It''s a good thing I was cautious with the dosage; otherwise, something truly serious could have happened today.

    And you, as her husband, are you even qualified? Did you upset her? Is that why she went drinking?

    With women, you just need to appease them. Look at the mess you''ve made."

    The doctor, without any exnation, berated Grant harshly, leaving him quite bewildered. However, Grant, who usually had a bad temper, was unusually calm. He thought he might have a masochistic tendency-it seemed that he found the doctor''s scolding quite pleasant today.

    After the medical team''s efforts, Chloe finally regained consciousness.

    As she opened her eyes, she saw several incredibly handsome faces gathered around her.

    First was Grant.

    Then Michael.

    Next was Liam.

    And finally, the everical Harry.

    Upon seeing Chloe finally awaken, her gaze with a hint of confusion, several people around simultaneously stirred into action, each grabbing their prepared food and eagerly crowding around her.

    Michael was the first to approach the bedside, a wide smile on his face as he said, "Chloe, you''re finally awake! I had the servants prepare oatmeal porridge specifically for you. It''s great for your stomach and will help with your recovery. Please have some." With that, he carefully offered a steaming bowl of oatmeal porridge to Chloe. Liam chimed in, "Forget the oatmeal, it''s not nutritious. I made you some chicken soup, it tastes great."

    Grant normally didn''t bother using such simple, trivial things to attract Chloe''s attention, but Louis''s words struck him like a thunderp." As the head of the Martin group, he had no choice but to try to please Chloe.

    He cleared his throat and spoke with an unusual touch of warmth in his voice. "In my opinion, both the oatmeal and chicken soup can''t work. Your stomach is still sensitive; you should start with some glucose water." With that, Grant offered a cup of glucose water to Chloe.

    Having drunk alcohol and with a lingering fever, Chloe''s throat felt like it was on fire. Nothing seemed more appealing than the glucose water.

    She nodded at Grant.

    Grant moved to her side, carefully supporting her back to help her sit up, then slowly fed her the glucose water.

    After a sip, Chloe felt a bit better.

    Seeing the Martin brothers looking at her as if she were a precious gem made Chloe''s scalp tingle.

    Instinctively, she reached to check if the mole on her face was still there. Finding it intact, she let out a sigh of relief.

    What was wrong with the Martin brothers?

    Why were they staring at her like that?

    Were they crazy?

    Before Chloe could figure it out, the Martin brothers started organizing a schedule.

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    Michael spoke first, "Chloe, you''re quite sick this time. The doctor said you need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Grant, Liam, and I discussed it, and we''ll take turns taking care of you while you''re here."

    Grant''s on duty today, I''ll be here tomorrow, and Liam the day after.

    Now that you''re awake, we''ll leave and let Grant take care of you."

    With the schedule set, Michael and Liam left.

    The room was now just Grant, Chloe, and the ever-distracted Harry, glued to his phone. The air was filled with a sense of awkwardness, with each person harboring their own thoughts and emotions.

    The previously bustling and lively hospital room quieted down significantly as Michael and Liam left. Noticing the change, Grant didn''t want to miss this rare chance to be alone with Chloe. He decided to seize the opportunity and asked Harry to leave as well. "Harry, don''t you have things to do? Didn''t you say you were leaving?"

    Despite Grant''s clear hint, Harry didn''t catch on.

    He looked puzzled and said, "I did say that, but now I''m free. Grant, about that investment I mentioned, have you thought it over?"

    Hearing Harry talk about investments, Grant''s face turned cold. "No."

    Seeing Grant''s firm refusal, Harry was frustrated.

    He had to pitch his idea again, "Grant, I really think this project has potential... The renewable energy sector is the future.

    Just invest three hundred million dors, and I guarantee it''ll turn into three billion in a year. Grant..."

    Grant wasn''t swayed by Harry. While he had a positive outlook on the new energy project, his main concern was that Harry seemed somewhat unreliable.

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    They were cousins; if Harry were dependable, Grant would have funded the project.

    Tired of the conversation, Grant picked up a small towel and headed to the bathroom to get water for Chloe.

    Watching Grant leave, Harry muttered, "If you don''t invest in my project, I''ll keep pestering you until you do."

    "It''s just three hundred million dors, not much..."Harry grumbled a bit more before sitting back on the hospital room''s couch.

    When the two of them discussed these projects, they didn''t hide anything from Chloe. Grant probably didn''t catch the details of Harry''s project, but Chloe understood it perfectly well.

    Having grown up in a business family, Chloe had a keen sense of business matters. She knew clearly that if Harry''s project were to seed, it would be an unstoppable force. Turning three hundred million into three billion? That was a deal too good to pass up. Thinking this, Chloe looked at Harry with newfound respect.

    If Grant wouldn''t invest in Harry, she would. She motioned for Harry toe over. "Harry,e here."

    Surprised, Harry muttered, "What do you want, Chloe? Are you thirsty? Hungry?"

    In Harry''s mind, Chloe was just a spoiled rich girl. The Martin-Davis marriage was the

    Davis family''s way of securing a good match for her.

    Otherwise, with her looks, could she match any of the Martin brothers?

    "Harry, I''m interested in your renewable energy project..." Chloe lowered her voice.

    Hearing Chloe talk business, Harry''s disdainful look turned to her.

    "Chloe, don''t joke around. You don''t understand business. Even if you''re interested, can you get me three hundred million dors?"

 Chapter 141 Boss, You Really Have Guts

    Hearing Harry''s dismissive words, Chloe couldn''t help but purse her lips in displeasure.

    How could he underestimate her, saying she didn''t understand business?

    She was born into a family of entrepreneurs, a lineage steeped in business acumen. Her grandfather, Nichs, was a shrewd businessman who had taken her along on business trips since she was a year old, exposing her to the intricacies of the trade from a tender age.

    It was no exaggeration to say she grew up listening to Nichs''s business principles, absorbing his wisdom and strategies like a sponge. The countless hours spent in his office, watching him negotiate deals and make critical decisions, had shaped her understanding of the corporate world.

    By the age of three, Chloe had a clear understanding of the cutthroat nature of the business world. She had witnessed firsthand the ruthlessness required to seed, the relentless drive, and the sharp instincts necessary to navigate thepetitivendscape.

    At eight, she was helping Nichs review documents. At ten, she handled a small business deal for him, and by fifteen, she was forging his signature on contracts.

    Harry only required a $300 million investment, an amount that Chloe could easily secure. She could simply ask a high-ranking executive from the Davis Group, have a drink with them, and secure the investment for him.

    As an adult, Chloe had a remarkable knack for business. She could tell if a venture was profitable just by knowing a few key details; her sharp instincts and keen analytical skills made her a formidable force in the business world.

    Over the years, Chloe''s wealth has grown like a snowball, increasing more and more with each passing day. Unable to manage it all by herself, Chloe secretly opened an investmentpany behind Nichs''s back and hired a team of seasoned executives to manage it. Every year,rge sums of money were deposited into her ount, further expanding her financial empire.

    She was now a hidden millionaire, with vast resources at her disposal. Harry said she didn''t understand business? He must be utterly foolish.

    If she didn''t understand business, then no one did.

    Seeing Chloe purse her lips but say nothing, Harry continued, "Look, it''s not that I didn''t trust you, but this business of mine was a long process. My family, the Gonzalez family, won''t fund me, and Grant isn''t too optimistic about it either. You''re just a young girl; you can''t help me much. So, whether I tell you about this business or not, it doesn''t really matter."

    He seemed to care about Chloe''s feelings, his expression softening slightly.

    Chloe''s face darkened as she asked, "You only need a $300 million investment?" Harry nodded. "Yeah, that''s the initial amount. Once the $300 million is invested, and the business takes off, we''ll just watch the money roll in."

    "And if we invest $300 million, how much equity do we get?" Chloe pressed.

    Harry thought for a moment. "With a $300 million investment, you''d get at least 70% of the shares. The remaining 30% would be mine, but I''d still manage the business. Grant thinks I''m unreliable, so he won''t invest. Oh, if someone could invest $300 million in me right now, I''d get on my knees and bow to them... no, I''d bow twice, three times even."

    Harry said this with a sense of helplessness, his shoulders slumping slightly as he spoke.

    Seeing his desperate look, Chloe couldn''t help butugh, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. She had overheard Harry and Grant''s conversation earlier and knew Harry had tried hard to secure this investment, putting in considerable effort.

    But in these times, who had $300 million to spare so easily?

    As Harry grew more desperate, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and anxiety, Chloe said, her tone calm yet confident, "Send me yourpany''s ount details. I''ll try to get you some investment."

    Harry was skeptical, his brow furrowing slightly. Although Chloe was from the Davis Family, and they were indeed wealthy beyond imagination, wasn''t all that money managed by Nichs? He couldn''t help but wonder if she truly had the authority or the means to ess such a vast sum without her grandfather''s approval.

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    Harry thought Chloe asking for his ount details was probably just to mess with him, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. Still, hoping for a miracle, he reluctantly sent his ount details to Chloe on Facebook. As he hit send, he couldn''t help but feel a flicker of anticipation mixed with doubt, wondering if she could reallye through for him.

    Then, like talking to a brick wall, Harry continued to exin his new energy business to Chloe.

    Chloe asionally listened, but mostly she was busy on her phone.

    Just as Harry was getting carried away, a call from his finance department snapped him back to reality. "Mr. Gonzalez, I have good news. Three minutes ago, $300 million was deposited into ourpany''s ount..."

    "What?" Harry almost dropped his phone in shock. He looked at Chloe in disbelief.

    Chloe nodded. "Yeah, I made the investment."

    After hanging up, Harry immediately sat next to Chloe like an adoring fan. "Wait, ugly girl, you really invested $300 million?"

    Hearing Harry still call her "ugly girl," Chloe''s face darkened.

    Harry quickly corrected himself. "Chloe... no, Miss Davis..."

    Indeed, with Chloe''s $300 million investment, she now owned 70% of hispany''s project, making her his boss.

    "Miss Davis, you''re truly bold, capable, and have a keen eye...

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    My project has great potential. Don''t worry, I''ll make you a lot of money and turn you into a billionaire.

    I''ll head back to the office now to draft the contract. Once the project officially starts, I''ll invite you to theunch ceremony.

    Miss Davis, you''re so wise, you''re my savior, and you look so beautiful right now." Harry gushed, unable to contain his excitement.

    Chloe''s face was cold, and she pursed her lips as she watched him perform like a chameleon. Before she invested money in him, he called her an ugly duckling who knew nothing.

    After she invested money, he started calling her ''Miss Davis'' and praised her for her discerning eye. One has to admit, Harry certainly knew the ways of business.

    With the investment secured, Harry no longer needed to grovel to Grant. A sense of relief washed over him as he turned to Chloe.

    He said to Chloe, "Miss Davis, the funds are in ce. I need to go back and draft the contract and get to work. I won''t keep you any longer. Take care and recover well. Once you''re out of the hospital, I''ll visit you at the Martin Mansion. I''m leaving now."

    Harry turned to leave in a hurry, like a rabbit bolting from danger. Just as he took a step, Chloe''s voice floated from behind him, stopping him in his tracks. "Hold on. Why are you in such a rush?"

    Harry felt a chill run down his spine.

    Harry felt a chill run down his spine. His heart pounded as he slowly turned back to face her, a nervous sweat breaking out on his forehead. What did Chloe mean? Was she going to back out? This $300 million was hispany''s lifeline. If she backed out, hispany would be doomed.

    No way, he couldn''t let that happen.

 Chapter 142 Preparing the Money for Your Wedding

    With a nervous heart, Harry turned his head, trying to mask his anxiety. He put on a ttering smile and asked Chloe in a fawning tone, "Hey, Miss Davis, anything else you need?"

    Chloe nced at him, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and slowly said, "Didn''t you just say that if someone gave you three hundred million dors, you''d bow to them a few times? I''m not that demanding. Just one bow will do."

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Harry couldn''t help but roll his eyes. It was his fault for being too hasty and speaking without thinking.

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Harry couldn''t help but roll his eyes internally. It was his fault for being too hasty and speaking without thinking. And Chloe was too literal, actually holding him to his words and making him bow?

    As the saying went, "A real man never kneels," how could he bow to Chloe, this in girl? He felt a surge of indignation but quickly suppressed it, knowing that offending her could jeopardize everything. No way...

    Harry was having an intense internal struggle, while Chloe watched him with a smile, enjoying his conflicted expression.

    "We''re about the same age, and you might even be my sister-inw in the future. Bowing to you seems a bit inappropriate, doesn''t it?" Harry tried to make his tone as smooth as possible.

    Seeing Harry trying to weasel out, Chloe''s face turned cold. "Alright, if you don''t bow, then I''ll just call ourpany leaders and tell them that the money transfer was a mistake and have it reversed. And as for our future cooperation, forget it. Since you can''t keep your word, we probably won''t benefit from working with you anyway. That''s it."

    Chloe picked up her phone, pretending to make a call. Her fingers hovered over the screen, her expression unwavering.

    This scared Harry. His heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He knew that without this investment, hispany would be doomed. The thought of losing everything because of his pride made him swallow hard.

    He had been struggling to find funding, and now that he had finally got the money, he couldn''t lose it over such a small issue. He would regret it forever.

    Alright, as a man, he couldn''t go back on his word, right?

    For the money, bowing once wasn''t a big deal. He weighed his pride against the future of hispany, and the decision was clear.

    Thinking of this, Harry hurriedly stopped her and said, "Miss Davis, no, don''t call. I''ll bow to you right now! It''s just one bow, no big deal. I''m doing it for thepany''s benefit."

    Harry said, getting ready to kneel and bow to Chloe. His movements were quick and desperate, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and determination. Seeing Harry take it seriously, Chloe quickly stopped him, her expression softening with a hint of amusement. "Alright, no need. I was just kidding."

    Just as Chloe finished speaking, Grant returned from washing a towel. He held the damp cloth in his hand, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. Seeing Harry in this state, his face turned cold, a frown deepening the lines on his forehead. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and Grant''s presence added an extrayer of difort to the already awkward moment.

    He extended his foot and lifted Harry''s knee, preventing him from kneeling.

    Grant gave Harry a sideways nce and scolded, "Have some dignity... Get out!"

    Hearing Grant''s words, Harry quickly fled, afraid that if he dyed, Chloe might change her mind.

    After Harry left, Grant moved closer to Chloe, bringing a cup of warm water and handing it to her. His movements were gentle, and he looked concerned as he settled beside her.

    "You invested in his littlepany?" he asked, his toneced with curiosity and a hint of skepticism.

    Chloe shrugged indifferently and said, "Yeah, he seems pityful, so I invested a bit." Grant''s brow furrowed as he probed further, "How much?" He wasn''t very optimistic about Harry''spany and wanted to understand the extent of Chloe''s involvement. Chloe didn''t answer directly. Instead, she took a slow sip of the warm water, savoring thefort it brought. Then, she held up three fingers, her expression unreadable. Seeing this, Grant let out a small sigh of relief and said, "Three million dors, not too much."

    ˇ¤

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    Chloe retorted, "Not three million dors, three hundred million dors!"

    Hearing this, Grant was momentarily stunned. Chloe seemed so low-key, yet she had invested three hundred million dors in just a few minutes?

    Grant''s eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to process her words. "Three hundred million dors?" he repeated, his voice a mix of disbelief and concern. He stared at Chloe, waiting for her to confirm that she was serious.

    Chloe smiled nonchntly and said, "Business is about taking risks. If we make money, great. If we lose, it''s just a small amount."

    Grant was amazed by Chloe''s attitude. He had been in the business world for years and had never heard such words from a woman.

    Grant already had a bit of a crush on Chloe, and now, seeing her attitude, he admired her even more.

    They were the same kind of people, both willing to take risks in investments.

    Seeing Grant fall silent, Chloe casually teased him "My grandpa told me losing money

    in business isn''t scary. If I lose everything the Davis Family has, I can just marry into the Martin Family. The marriage money from the Martin Family would be enough to help the Davis Family start over."

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Grant instantly shut up. He felt like she was using him.

    So she was so bold because she was sure the Martin Family would back her up?

    If that were the case, he would have to work hard to make money, which would require

    a significant amount of funds, to help the Davis family start over.

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    Grant reached out and lifted Chloe''s chin, looking directly into her eyes, and said seriously, "Alright, Chloe, I''ll work hard to make money and prepare for our wedding."

    Hearing Grant''s words, Chloe''s face turned bright red. At that moment, she couldn''t even look directly into Grant''s passionate eyes.

    If they weren''t in the hospital, she felt Grant would definitely pull her into his arms and kiss her fiercely.

    Meanwhile, Moira, from the Davis family, went to the Martin Group to find Grant for work reasons.

    After learning from his assistant Stanley that Grant was out on business, she prepared to leave.

    Unexpectedly, she ran into Sophia, who had been demoted to a parking lot attendant for giarism, in the Martin Group''s parking lot.

    Sophia, demoted to a parking lot attendant for giarizing design works, still acted arrogantly among her colleagues, relying on her former position as a manager at the Martin Group.

    However, she waspletely unaware of her own mistakes and believed that Chloe was entirely responsible for all her current troubles.

    When she found out Moira was looking for Grant and that Grant wasn''t in the office, she quickly approached Moira to share some gossip.

    "Miss Thorne, are you here to see Mr. Martin?"

    Moira smiled politely and said, "Yes, but Mr. Martin isn''t here. Stanley said he''s busy with work outside."

    Hearing this, Sophia sneered. "Miss Thorne, you''ve been deceived..."

 Chapter 143 You and Mr. Martin Are a Good Match

    Hearing Sophia''s words, Moira''s face turned icy, suspicion flickering in her eyes.

    "What are you getting at?"

    Sophia, with a sly grin, replied, "Mr. Martin isn''t out working. He''s at the hospital with that in girl, Chloe.

    You didn''t know? Chloe got a feverst night and ended up in the hospital. Mr. Martin took a few days off to stay with her.

    He even postponed a meeting with a big client from overseas."

    Moira''s expression shifted again.

    She and the Thorne family had been trying to set her up with Grant. From her interactions with Chloe, Moira could tell that Chloe also wanted to match her with Grant.

    So why was Grant now skipping work to stay with Chloe?

    Could there be some secrets between Grant and Chloe?

    Seeing Moira''s doubt, Sophia continued to stir the pot. "That in girl has a lot of tricks up her sleeve... She''ll do anything to cling to Mr. Martin.

    With her looks, if it weren''t for her family background, Mr. Martin wouldn''t give her a second nce. No man would be foolish enough to choose her over someone as beautiful as Miss Thorne."

    Sophia''s words left Moira even more confused.

    She asked offhandedly, "Isn''t Chloe Mr. Martin''s cousin?"

    Sophia feigned surprise and said, "Miss Thorne, you''ve been deceived. How could a handsome man like Mr. Martin have such an ugly cousin?

    Chloe was forced into the Martin family by the Davis family as a candidate for the future mistress. Who knows what Louis was thinking, agreeing to let Chloe choose one of the three Martin brothers as her husband."I bet she''s set her sights on Mr. Grant Martin..."

    Sophia''s instigation didn''t fool Moira.

    Moira, not wanting to deal with her, opened the car door to leave.

    Sophia quickly slipped into the passenger seat and said, "Miss Thorne, don''t you

    believe me? Let''s go to the hospital right now. I''ll show you how that little tramp Chloe clings to Mr. Martin.

    Miss Thorne, you and Mr. Martin are the perfect match. Even if you aren''t dating, you can''t let Chloe deceive you like this."

    Sophia''s words convinced Moira.

    Indeed, she might not be dating Grant, but she couldn''t let Chloe deceive her.

    With that in mind, she drove to the hospital with Sophia.

    On the way, Sophia didn''t stop talking, constantly feeding Moira negative information about Chloe.

    She said Chloe loved to bully people and undermine any woman close to Grant. She even imed Chloe wasn''t a good person and always caused trouble for Grant. The most outrageous im was that Chloe had been gang-raped by seven or eight men when she was kidnapped.

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    In short, Sophia said the most hurtful things, effectively lowering Chloe''s image in Moira''s mind.

    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Zara rushed over upon hearing about Chloe''s illness. When Zara entered the room, she saw Grant gently wiping Chloe''s face. His movements were so tender, like he was caring for a delicate doll.

    Zara was touched by Grant''s gentleness.

    While Grant went to get fresh water, she leaned close to Chloe and whispered, "Chloe, The atmosphere between you and Mr. Martin is so sweet that it''s almost

    overwhelming. The way Mr. Martin wipes your face why is it so tender?"

    Zara''s words made Chloe blush. She retorted, "Zara, stop talking nonsense. I''m only being taken care of because I have an IV in my hand. You must be mistaken."

    Chloe lowered her face shyly after speaking.

    Zara rolled her eyes at her. "Come on, Chloe. Don''t deceive yourself. Didn''t you see how gentle Mr. Martin was?

    I think Mr. Martin has feelings for you. He definitely likes you.

    Honestly, marrying Mr. Martin wouldn''t be bad. Even though he''s a few years older, haven''t you heard that older men know how to cherish women?"

    "I think you and Mr. Martin are a perfect match..."

    Just as Zara finished speaking, Sophia and Moira walked in. They happened to hear what Zara had to say.

    Sophia seized the opportunity to stir the pot. "Miss Thorne, I told you Chloe has bad intentions towards Mr. Martin, and you didn''t believe me. Now you''ve heard it yourself. She pretends to match you with Mr. Martin, but she''s just using your trust to bully you. In fact, she is merely using you as a tool to strengthen her rtionship with Mr. Martin. While the two of them are lovey-dovey, you''re being sacrificed for their benefit." Sophia''s words made Moira''s face turn pale. Moira, the carefully groomed sessor of the Thorne family, was well-educated and poised to inherit the family business. Such an outstanding woman would never allow herself to be used by Chloe. Seeing Moira''s face change, Chloe couldn''t help but curse at Sophia. "Sophia, what nonsense are you spouting? If you keep talking, I''ll tear your mouth apart.

    You tried to seduce Grant and failed, so now you''re framing me. How can you me me for your failures?

    Don''t forget, when you tried to throw yourself at Grant in his office, I was the one who saved him. Sophia, you''re a despicable person."

    Sophia wasn''t intimidated by Chloe''s outburst. With a mocking expression, she said, "Yes, I like Mr. Martin. I want to be the mistress of the Martin family. I admit it.

    Unlike you, who secretly wants to be the mistress but pretends otherwise, using your family''s power to pressure Mr. Martin. You''re shameless.

    Ugly girl, you want to marry Mr. Martin? Look at yourself. Only someone as noble as Miss Thorne deserves to be with Mr. Martin."

    Sophia''s words infuriated Chloe. She reached to pull out her IV, determined to p Sophia.

    The tension between the two was about to explode.

 Chapter 144 I Like Chloe

    Zara was worried that Chloe was in the middle of an IV treatment, and yanking out the needle could make things worse.

    She held Chloe''s hand tightly, trying to calm her down.

    "Chloe, don''t let her get to you. That fat woman''s just crazy. Just ignore her.

    She''s just jealous and desperate to marry Mr. Martin, so she talks trash about you. With your status, you could marry any of the Martin Family''s sons. There''s no need to fight over it.

    Let''s just focus on your treatment and not stoop to her level."

    Zara was genuinely concerned for Chloe, holding her back from pulling out the needle to go after Sophia.

    Sophia, on the other hand, had disliked Chloe for a long time and saw this as an opportunity to strike while Chloe was ill.

    So, she rushed to Chloe''s bedside, intent on hitting Chloe. Just as her hand was about to strike Chloe''s face, Grant, who had gone to fetch some water, happened to return.

    Seeing the situation, he dropped what he was holding and grabbed Sophia''s hand, pushing her away from Chloe.

    "Sophia, have you lost your mind? This is a hospital, not a ce for your drama. Get out." Grant''s deep eyes shed with a hint of menace as he scolded Sophia.

    Sophia was startled by his gaze and instinctively stumbled back.

    "Mr. Martin..."

    "I''ve been wanting to kick you out of the Martin group for a while. If it weren''t for your slightpetence, do you think you''d still be working as a parking lot attendant after that giarism incident?"

    Grant showed no mercy, his disdainful look making Sophia feel utterly humiliated.

    But she wasn''t ready to give up just yet.

    She turned to Moira, who was standing nearby, hoping to get her support.

    Moira was the daughter of the Thorne family, and Sophia thought Grant might show her some respect.

    So, Sophia tried to incite Moira. "Miss Thorne, see? This ugly girl, who knows how she bewitched Mr. Martin to make him protect her so much...

    You heard her friend earlier. She has feelings for Mr. Martin. Who knows, they might have been conspiring together all along."

    The usation hit a nerve with Chloe.

    She shouted, "Sophia, you''re asking for trouble. Stop making things up..."

    "Oh, really? Then swear that you and Mr. Martin are innocent, that you''ve never thought about bing Mrs. Martin. If you''re lying, may you never see Mr. Martin again in your life..." Sophia''s aggressive stance left Chloe at a loss.

    She and Grant had hugged, held each other, and even kissed. It seemed they were no longer innocent.

    Even though she didn''t want to marry into the Martin Family, Grant''s passionate kiss had stirred some feelings in her.

    What should she do about Sophia''s demand for an oath?

    Especially when Sophia mentioned never seeing Grant again if she lied, Chloe felt a pang in her heart.

    Just as Chloe was feeling extremely conflicted, Grant, like a knight in shining armor, stepped in once more.

    He reached out and grabbed Chloe''s free hand in front of everyone.

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    "What happened between Chloe and me, what does it have to do with you? Even if we are together, do we need to report it to you?

    Whether she bes my wife is up to me, not a parking lot attendant.

    Sophia, aren''t you meddling too much? Is your job at the parking lot so easy that you have time to interfere in other people''s lives?

    Let me make it clear, I like Chloe. If anyone dares to mess with her again, they''re messing with me.

    Grant''s deration was like a thunderp, leaving everyone in the room stunned.

    They never expected the usually reserved Grant to make such a public confession to Chloe.

    Zara looked at Grant with admiration.

    Chloe, sitting on the hospital bed, was in a daze. Did he just confess to her?

    She couldn''t believe it. She thought Grant must be joking, maybe to annoy Sophia or

    to discourage Moira from liking him.

    He must be using her as a cover, just like he had done before.

    Seeing Chloe''s stunned expression, Grant smiled. He had wanted to do it for days.

    To prove his sincerity, Grant ignored the others'' gazes, bent down, lifted Chloe''s chin, and gently kissed her lips.

    The public kiss left Chloe''s mind nk.

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    Sophia, seeing this, felt utterly defeated.

    She couldn''t understand how Grant could kiss Chloe''s ugly face.

    Moira watched coldly, recalling Sophia''s earlier words.

    Sophia had said that Grant and Chloe were ambiguous, and they had dragged her into

    their drama to strengthen their bond.

    So, she, the Thorne family''s heiress, had be a pawn in their rtionship.

    Chloe, under the guise of being Grant''s cousin, hadpletely yed her. Moira''s expression grew darker as she stared at Chloe. "So, you two are serious?" Chloe didn''t understand what Moira meant. "Miss Thorne, I... I..."

    For the first time, Chloe was at a loss for words. She had intended to introduce Moira

    to Grant to free herself. But she hadn''t expected things to spiral out of her control.

    "No need to exin, Chloe. I underestimated you." With that, Moira turned and left, her anger leaving Chloe anxious and unable to exin.

    "Miss Thorne..."

    Chloe wanted to get off the bed and exin to Moira, but Moira walked away, not giving her a chance.

    Sophia stood in the room, unsure whether to stay or leave.

    Until Grant told her to go. "Why are you still here?"

 Chapter 145 Prefer Michael?

    Sophia couldn''t stick around any longer and quickly left. She never thought that after such a massive betrayal, Moira wouldn''t confront Chloe.

    With Sophia and Moira gone, Chloe was left speechless. She wasn''t scared of pissing off Sophia, but crossing Moira was a whole different story.

    She turned to Grant and snapped, "This is all your fault."

    Grant and Zara both looked at her, confused.

    Zara jumped to Grant''s defense first.

    "Chloe, don''t be so ungrateful. When that awful Sophia was giving you a hard time, it was Mr. Martin who stepped in. If it weren''t for him, do you think Sophia would have backed off so easily?

    Mr. Martin really cares about you. Don''t take his kindness for granted, right, Mr. Martin?"

    Zara smiled warmly at Grant, like a mother-inw approving of her son-inw. She felt reassured leaving her best friend Chloe in the hands of such a handsome man.

    Grant was impressed by Zara''s words. He thought to himself that the Martin Group could consider some business coborations with the Gibson family in the future.

    Chloe was at a loss for what to do. "Zara, you don''t get it. Miss Thorne is Grantie''s arranged date. Grantie says he likes me, which just puts me in a tough spot. Miss Thorne will hate me for this! I can''t handle this anymore!"

    Zara suddenly remembered that Chloe had been trying to set up Moira with Grant to dodge an arranged marriage with the Martin family.

    But now, with Grant confessing his feelings to Chloe, what was there to set up?

    Besides, judging by Grant''s behavior towards Chloe, it seemed he had no interest in Moira.

    Seeing Chloe so distressed, Zara didn''t know how tofort her.

    Unexpectedly, Grant sat down next to Chloe and whispered, "Don''t worry, I''ll handle this for you."

    His gentle words made Chloe even more flustered, her face turning as red as an apple, almost too embarrassed to be seen.

    She regretted not refusing Grant''s offer to take care of her at the hospital.

    Seeing Grant being so affectionate with Chloe, Zara decided it was time to leave. After staying a little longer, she said goodbye to Chloe.

    Grant called out to her, speaking seriously, "Zara, I need to talk to you."

    "Mr. Martin, what do you need?" Zara asked, lowering her stance in front of Grant.

    "Well... Chloe isn''t in good health and can''t handle alcohol. So, from now on, don''t invite her to drink anymore. That''s all, you can go now."

    Was Grant trying to make him friendless?

    Chloe was so angry that she rolled her eyes at him.

    Zara felt unfairly med. It was Chloe who had invited her to drink the other day. How

    did it be her fault in Grant''s eyes?

    Grant was clearly biased.

    However, she didn''t dare to argue with Grant, she quickly left with her things.

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    After Zara left, Chloe grumbled to Grant, "Grantie, what are you doing? If you keep this up, I won''t have any friends left.

    First, I offended Moira, and now Zara. How am I supposed to get by in Sovereign City?" Seeing Chloe so upset, Grant smirked mischievously. He sat next to her, took her hand, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, speaking softly, "It''s okay, Chloe. With me by your side, you don''t need any friends."

    Grant''s words made Chloe feel like she was about to faint.

    A whole day had almost passed, and the thought that Grant wouldn''t have to take care

    of her after tomorrow filled Chloe with indescribable happiness. As long as she didn''t have to stay with that boring and reserved Grant, she felt great.

    During dinner, Michael called, he discussed with Grant, "Grant, it''s my turn to take care of Chloe tomorrow. When should Ie over?"

    Grant frowned, clearly displeased, and replied, "Aren''t you busy with filming? You don''t need to worry about taking care of her."

    "Grant, we agreed to take turns. What do you mean?" Michael protested.

    He sensed that Grant wanted to take over Chloe''s care entirely.

    "It means I''ve taken a few days off to take care of Chloe. That''s it." Grant hung up the phone with a decisive click, his authoritative tone leaving no room for argument. Chloe tentatively suggested to Grant, "Grantie, taking care of me is tiring. How about letting Mice over tomorrow so you can rest?"

    She just wanted to get rid of Grant.

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    Unexpectedly, Grant turned to look her in the eyes.

    He asked, "Are you worried about me?"

    Chloe was baffled by his question.

    She thought to herself, ''Worried about him? It''s ridiculous.''

    Seeing her conflicted expression, Grant added, "Or do you prefer Michael and want to get rid of me?"

    Grant''s words hit the mark, and Chloe felt like a guilty child, lowering her head.

    She mumbled, "Grantie, you misunderstood. I''m just worried that taking care of me is too much for you. I don''t like Mic, I..."

    Before she could finish, Grant swiftly pulled her into his arms.

    Before Chloe could react, he leaned in and kissed her passionately.

    This time, his kiss was intense, filled with anger, dominance, and a sense of possession.

    In just a few seconds, Chloe felt a strong sense of suffocation.

    She wanted to push Grant away, but the overwhelming masculine scent of his cologne invaded her senses, leaving her powerless to resist.

    In an instant, she realized she waspletely captivated by his kiss.

    The two of them were so engrossed in their kiss that they didn''t notice a figure

    standing by the window of the hospital room...

 Chapter 146 Grants Exclusivity

    The figure, holding their phone, discreetly snapped a blurry photo of Grant and Chloe sharing a passionate kiss. The camera''s lens struggled to focus through the ss, and the angle was less than ideal with Grant''s back to the window. The resulting image was hazy, with Grant''s face obscured, but Chloe''s half-face appeared clearly, her expression unmistakably intimate.

    Within minutes, both Nichs and Louis received the same photo on their phones. Nichs, wearing his reading sses, squinted at the screen. His brow furrowed in confusion as he examined the image. The photo''s poor quality left much to the imagination, but Chloe''s partial face was undeniably recognizable.

    He turned to the family butler, Felix Thornton, who was standing nearby. "Felix,e take a look at this," Nichs said, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern. Felix stepped closer, peering at the phone over Nichs''s shoulder. "Is that Chloe? Who''s she kissing? Michael or Liam?"

    Nichs immediately ruled out Grant, considering Grant was at least seven or eight years older than Chloe. From what he knew about Chloe, she seemed to prefer younger guys.

    Otherwise, why would her room be stered with posters of young, muscr men? Felix nced at the photo and said, "Mr. Davis, I can''t tell for sure, but I think it might be Michael."

    "Why do you think it''s Michael?" Nichs asked, looking up at Felix.

    Felix exined, "Mr. Davis, have you been following the newstely? Ms. Davis has been rumored to be involved with Michael."

    Felix''s reasoning made sense, but Nichs still had his doubts. "Why not Liam? I think he''s pretty good too, with his motorcycle skills and all..." Nichs admired Liam.

    He believed young people should be bold and adventurous. If he were younger, he might have joined Liam on his motorcycle rides.

    Felix shook his head after another look at the photo. "It can''t be Liam. No matter how good he is on a motorcycle, can he be better than Ms. Davis? Mr. Davis, do you think she would be interested in someone who isn''t as skilled as she is?"

    Felix''s analysis was spot on, and Nichs couldn''t help but nod in agreement. Felix had always been insightful, and his observations often hit the mark.

    Indeed, he knew his granddaughter well. She was alwayspetitive and wouldn''t be interested in someone she could easily outshine.

    Just as Nichs and Felix finished their conversation, Louis called.

    On the phone, Louis excitedly reported, "Nichs, they kissed!"

    Nichs replied, "Yeah, I saw it too. This means your grandkids are doing well."

    It was rare for Nichs to praise his grandsons, and Louis was delighted. "That''s right. My three kids are pretty good. But the photo is blurry, and I can''t tell which one Chloe kissed. If I knew who it was, I could focus on grooming him."

    Louis valued the potential union between the Davis and Martin families, knowing the benefits it would bring to the Martin family.

    Nichs snorted, "You need to groom all three of them. Louis, let me tell you, Chloe is going to marry into your Martin family. You better make sure your grandsons treat her well. If anyone dares to mistreat her, just wait and see."

    Despite sending Chloe to Sovereign City, Nichs was still very protective of her.

    Louis quickly reassured him, "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure my grandsons behave." His voice was confident, and Nichs could sense the underlying determination to keep his promise.

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    In the following days, Chloe stayed in the hospital, with Grant constantly by her side.

    However, Grant wasn''t exactly on his best behavior. Whenever they were alone, he would seize the opportunity to kiss Chloe passionately. His advances were relentless, and Chloe found herself unable to escape his affectionate assaults. She had to endure his touch, his lips pressing against hers with a fervor that left her breathless and flustered.

    At first, Chloe resisted, trying to push him away or turn her face. But Grant was persistent, his charm and determination gradually wearing down her defenses. Eventually, Chloe got used to it.

    She began to ept his kisses, even finding a strange sense offort in his unwavering attention. The hospital room, once a ce of sterile solitude, became a space filled with the intensity of their evolving rtionship.

    A few days passed quickly, and Chloe''s health improved. For some reason, Michael and Liam never got a chance to visit her.

    After being discharged, she returned to the Martin Mansion, where Mia came to take care of her and chat about family matters.

    Mia said to Chloe, "Miss Davis, Mr. Grant Martin has been so good to you. He took care of you tirelessly while you were in the hospital. I think he''s lost weight."

    Chloe couldn''t help but smirk. ''Lost weight? I didn''t notice any weight loss when he was kissing me.''

    "Mia, if you think he''s lost weight, make him some nourishing soup. Let him drink a few bowls." Chloe''s casual remark was taken seriously by Mia.

    "Alright, I''ll make some for Mr. Grant Martin today." Mia nodded.

    "And... where are Michael and Liam? I haven''t seen them in days. Where did they go?" Chloe asked curiously, having not seen Michael or Liam during her hospital stay due to Grant''s constant presence.

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    Mia replied, "Miss Davis, you don''t know? Mr. Michael Martin went to the mountains to film a movie the day after you were hospitalized."

    "What? Filming? I didn''t hear about any new projects." Chloe was puzzled.

    On the day she was hospitalized, Michael had promised to take care of her. How did he end up filming in the mountains?

    "It was an old contract for a sequel or something. If Mr. Michael Martin didn''t go, he would have to pay a hefty penalty." Mia exaggerated a bit about Michael''s situation.

    "Oh... what about Liam? I''ve been back for a while and haven''t seen him either." Chloe asked again.

    Mia replied, "Mr. Liam Martin recently joined a motorcyclepetition with a high prize. He didn''t want to go initially, but Mr. Grant Martin signed him up, saying bing a motorcycle champion was his dream. So, Mr. Liam Martin went to prepare for thepetition."

    Mia''s words left Chloe feeling a bit confused.

    It seemed like Michael and Liam were deliberately sent away by Grant.

    Wasn''t Grant being a bit too exclusive?

    Talking about Liam, Mia got excited. "Miss Davis, Mr. Liam Martin''spetition is today..."

 Chapter 147 His Goddess Takes Action

    "Today?" Chloe suddenly became interested. As an experienced motorcycle enthusiast, every race ignites her passion.

    Mia hesitated before suggesting, "Hey, Miss Davis, how about I turn on the TV so we can catch the live broadcast?"

    The feeling of watching it live on TV doesn''t evene close to experiencing it in person. Chloe could hardly contain her excitement and said to Mia, "No way. I''m going to see it in person."

    She quickly changed into her casual clothes and went out. She called a rideshare to the parking lot where her motorcycle was stored. After changing into her riding gear and putting on her helmet, she sped off towards Liam''s race venue.

    When she arrived, the race had just started, and Liam''s turn was stilling up. Chloe found a spot with a great view, watching the race from a high vantage point.

    Liam was waiting for his turn, standing next to Eric, who had taken off his helmet to chat. "Hey, Liam, today''s your big day. Did you invite your dream girl to watch?"

    Liam thought for a moment and replied, "Yeah, I did, but she hasn''t replied to my message."

    Liam feetpletely helpless when it came to his emotionally unstable goddess. On his downtime, he would often message her, but her responses were always extremely slow. Take this game, for instance. He sent her a message on Facebookst night, but even now, she still hadn''t replied.

    This was the first woman, as far back as Liam could remember, who didn''t pay him any attention.

    Eric shook his head. "Looks like she''s noting. I told you, there''s something off about her. She''s such a good rider; there''s no reason she wouldn''t want to watch a race like this."

    "Are you sure the woman you''re chatting with is really your dream girl?" Eric questioned, his voice tinged with skepticism.

    Eric''s words made Liam uncertain. Given her impressive riding skills, they should have discussed motorcycles when they chatted. But whenever he brought up the topic, she would change the subject or ignore him altogether. This inconsistency gnawed at him, nting seeds of doubt in his mind.

    Liam felt frustrated, but with the race about to start, he pushed those thoughts aside. Soon, Liam and Eric''s group was ready to race. The atmosphere was electric, and the tension was palpable.

    As Liam appeared on the track, the fans went wild, waving banners and cheering enthusiastically for him. The roar of the crowd was deafening, a testament to his poprity and the high expectations they had for him.

    "Liam, go for it!" someone shouted, their voice rising above the cacophony.

    "Liam, you''re the best! We believe in you!" another fan screamed, their enthusiasm infectious.

    Despite the fans'' enthusiasm, Liam felt nothing. He wished his dream girl were there to watch him race. He felt his interest in her was bordering on unrequited love.

    As the starting whistle blew, Liam looked up and saw Chloe on her motorcycle at a high vantage point. She wore a tight-fitting riding suit and looked effortlessly cool with her helmet on.

    The moment Liam saw Chloe, he was immediately excited. He felt a surge of energy, as if an invisible force was urging him on, inspiring him to perform at his best.

    With the sound of the referee''s gun, a dozen motorcycles roared to life and shot forward.

    Liam''s skills were impressive; he quickly took the lead. Chloe watched him with admiration from her motorcycle.

    He was young, confident, and stood out easily, so he naturally became the center of attention.

    After onep, Liam was in first ce. If nothing went wrong, he would surely win the race. Chloe turned her motorcycle to leave.

    At that moment, a motorcycle suddenly sped up behind Liam. The rider elerated and swerved in an S-shape, aiming straight at Eric, who was right behind Liam.

    Once Eric was knocked down, his motorcycle would inevitably surge forward due to inertia and crash into Liam''s motorcycle. Given the current high speed, such a collision would undoubtedly injure Liam.

    Chloe panicked. This ident couldn''t happen. She revved her motorcycle and sped down from her vantage point.

    She elerated into the race track just as the motorcycle crashed into Eric, sending him flying into Liam''s bike. Liam lost control and was thrown off his motorcycle, hurtling towards arge rock.

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    If he hit it, he would be seriously injured or worse. The crowd held their breath, watching in horror.

    Just as Liam was about to crash into the rock, Chloe''s motorcyclended smoothly on the track.

    As Liam''s head was about to hit therge rock, Chloe swiftly extended her arm, grabbed Liam''s body with a firm grip, and securely swung him onto the back seat of her motorcycle. Her movements were fluid and precise, executed with the skill of an experienced rider.

    The entire maneuver was seamless, almost like a choreographed dance. The crowd watched in awe, their eyes glued to the dramatic rescue unfolding before them.

    Liam''s fans erupted in apuse, their cheers filling the air as they expressed their relief that their hero was safe. The roar of approval was deafening, a collective sigh of relief that reverberated through the stands. People waved gs and banners, their faces lit with admiration and gratitude.

    However, the race was halted due to the incident, and many motorcycles crashed or skidded to a stop, creating a chaotic scene on the track. Riders scrambled to regain control, some tumbling off their bikes, others narrowly avoiding collisions. The track was littered with debris, a testament to the sudden and unexpected interruption.

    Liam clung to Chloe''s waist, feeling a sudden sense of security. The near-miss had shaken even him, a seasoned racer ustomed to danger. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Without his dream girl''s intervention, he might have been dead.

    After saving Liam, Chloe took him to a safe spot. As she prepared to leave, Lucy confronted her and blocked her path, her eyes zing with anger.

    "Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to ruin ourpany''s race?" Lucy demanded angrily. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the noise of the crowd. She stood with her arms crossed, her posture tense and confrontational.

 Chapter 148 She Has to Pay

    "Do you know many media outlets we invited to cover this motorcycle race? And you just barged in with your junk bike, ruining everything! How do you n topensate us? We invested a lot of money in this race, at least $200 million. You ruined it, so you owe us that $200 million. Give us the money. Otherwise, don''t even think about leaving here."

    Lucy crossed her arms, looking smug and unyielding. She looked at Liam and Chloe with a provoking gaze.

    Chloe, wearing a heavy helmet, was unrecognizable even to Liam, let alone Lucy.

    Chloe was curious. Thest time she heard about Lucy was after the kidnapping incident, and Lucy had reportedly been severely injured. How was she already back on her feet, looking so lively?

    It turned out that after Lucy was gang-rapedst time, she stayed in the hospital for a long time to recover. Originally, she was going to be held legally responsible for the kidnapping incident. However, she somehow hooked up with a mysterious big shot who manipted things behind the scenes and got her out.

    After Lucy recovered, she did everything she could to please this big shot, eventually securing a position in hispany. The big shot, who had some wealth, noticed that Lucy was still quite young and found her endearing. Lucy''s ability to flirt and act coquettishly led them to engage in frequent intimate encounters, and over time, they developed some genuine feelings for each other.

    So when Lucy mentioned wanting to organize a motorcycle race to make money, the big shot set aside his pride and helped her secure some investments. Just like that, Lucy transformed herself into the organizer of this motorcycle race.

    Because of this, Lucy felt particrly confident. The rider who crashed into Eric was arranged by Lucy herself. She had always liked Liam, but after the assault, she knew she could never be with him. If she couldn''t have him, she decided to destroy him.

    Lucy had meticulously nned to use the race to seriously injure Liam. She orchestrated every detail, ensuring that the rider would collide with Liam at just the right moment. But unexpectedly, Chloe appeared and ruined her n. Lucy wasn''t going to let her off easily. Her eyes burned with fury as she confronted Chloe, her mind racing with thoughts of revenge.

    Seeing Lucy giving his goddess a hard time, Liam, unusually, lost his temper. His usual calm demeanor was reced with a fierce protectiveness. He stepped forward, his eyes zing with anger.

    "Lucy, are you out of your mind? Didn''t you see someone tried to hurt me during your race? If she hadn''t stepped in, I could have died."

    In the past, Lucy was very afraid of Liam; whenever he looked at her coldly, she would be terrified. But now, having attached herself to a big shot, she felt more confident.

    She sneered at Liam, "Liam, I think you''re the one who''s crazy. In a race, injuries and deaths are expected. In such a big event, what''s the big deal if one or two riders die? And someone tried to hurt you? Are you paranoid? If not, get lost. But this woman ruined our race, so she has to pay. Otherwise, she won''t be leaving here..." Lucy threatened maliciously.

    As she finished speaking, several burly men with tattoos, clearly from the underworld, appeared around the race track. Their presence was intimidating, casting a dark shadow over the already tense situation.

    ucy''s attitude infuriated Liam. He red at her, his eyes zing with anger. "Lucy, you''re crossing the line... This is a race, not your personal yground..."

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    Lucyughed disdainfully. "Liam, do you think just because you''re from the Martin Family, you can do whatever you want? This is the race I''m organizing. From the moment you sign up, you''re entering into a contract with me. Even if you die, you''ll die on the track. If you back out at thest moment, you''ll have to pay us the penalty for breaching the contract."

    She paused, her lips curling into a sinister smile. "We''re not asking for much, just $100 million." Lucy was tantly extorting now, her eyes gleaming with malice. Her words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the perilous situation Liam found himself in.

    "Fuck, Lucy, this is Sovereign City. Do you dare threaten me like this? Are you looking to die?" Liam''s eyes shed with a murderous intent, his voice low and dangerous. The intensity of his gaze made even the burly men hesitate for a moment.

    But with the big shot backing her, Lucy wasn''t afraid, she boasted shamelessly to Liam with immense arrogance."Yes, Liam, I want to die. But let''s see if your Martin Family has the guts to kill me. If I can''t have you, I''ll destroy you."

    Seeing Lucy like this, Liam couldn''t help but clench his fists. When Grant had asked him to deal with Lucy for kidnapping Chloe, he should have been more ruthless. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have another chance to cause trouble.

    If a conflict really breaks out, then it will be difficult for her and Liam to leave here today. As the saying goes, "A wise man knows when to pick his battles," Chloe didn''t want to argue with Lucy.

    She knew her status would expose.

    Lucy continued to provocate, "Liam, you''re angry, right? If you''re so mad, hit me. There are plenty of media here. If you don''t care about the Martin Family''s reputation, go ahead.

    But after you hit me, let''s see if you can get this bitch out of here."

    Her arrogance fueled Liam''s anger.

    Just as Liam was about to act, Chloe grabbed his arm and shook her head gently, even through her helmet.

    Liam held back his anger.

    Seeing her provocation didn''t work, Lucy cursed. "Hey, bitch, hiding behind a helmet. Are you too ashamed to show your face? Just because you can ride a motorcycle, you think you can mess with our race? If you''ve got the guts, take off that helmet and show me who you really are, you little punk!"

    Lucy reached out to grab Chloe''s helmet, determined to see the woman Liam idolized.

 Chapter 149 We Lose Money

    Lucy''s yank at her helmet hadpletely enraged Chloe.

    She wasn''t one to start a fight, but if someone came at her, she had no reason to hold

    back.

    Just as Lucy''s hand was about to reach her face, Chloe swiftly turned her head, dodging the attack. Her anger red up instantly, her eyes narrowing with determination.

    Chloe dodged Lucy''s p, and Lucy, infuriated,ughed sarcastically. "Oh, quick on your feet, huh? Managed to dodge that? You''re quite the character, aren''t you?" she sneered. "Wearing a helmet when you''re not even riding a bike. What''s the point? Are you that ugly you can''t show your face? Or maybe your mom made you so ugly you''re too ashamed to be seen?"

    Chloe''s blood boiled at Lucy''s cruel words. She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.

    Chloe''s anger reached its peak. She grabbed the helmet from her head and, without a word, smashed it toward Lucy''s head.

    As she struck, she yelled at Lucy. "How dare you talk about my mom? Do you believe I won''t kill you right here, right now? Just because you''ve got someone backing you up, you think you can unt it in front of me? I will definitely beat you to death today." Chloe let loose, venting all the anger from thest time Lucy had humiliated her. Hearing themotion, the media and onlookers rushed over with their cameras, capturing every moment of Lucy getting beaten.

    Liam waspletely stunned. He stood frozen, his mind struggling to process what was happening in front of him. He had always thought his motorcycle goddess was Zara, the enigmatic rider who had captivated his admiration. He expected to see Zara''s face when the helmet came off, revealing the identity of the person who had saved him.

    But it was Chloe...

    The girl he had always called ugly, who stayed by his side every day, was his goddess. The revtion hit him like a ton of bricks. The "ugly girl" had hidden her skills and yed him for a fool. She had been right there all along, her true abilities masked by a facade of simplicity.

    As Lucy got beaten, the henchmen surrounded Chloe, ready to intervene. Their presence was menacing, and they moved in with a coordinated precision, their eyes fixed on Chloe. The crowd held its breath in anticipation of what would happen next. At the critical moment, Liam stepped in, raised his arm, and shouted, "Anyone who dares to go against the Martin Family, I''ll make sure you can''t survive in Sovereign City." His voice echoed with authority, and the crowd fell silent, sensing the gravity of his words.

    Liam''s usual entourage also stepped forward, creating a standoff. The tattooed men weighed their options, their eyes darting between Liam and their boss, Lucy. The tension in the air was thick, and the onlookers held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

    The henchmen were well aware of the Martin Family''s power, and they knew Liam''s status. Offending Lucy was not a big deal, but if they offended the Martin Family, they knew they wouldn''t survive in Sovereign City. The reputation of the Martin Family was formidable, and crossing them was a risk they weren''t willing to take.

    Chloe took the opportunity to give Lucy a thorough beating.

    In no time, Lucy''s face was swollen. Chloe was precise, hitting hard but not fatally. Her strikes were controlled, ensuring that Lucy felt the full extent of her wrath without causing permanent damage.

    When she finally tired, she stopped.

    Seeing the situation escte, Eric, covered in blood, quietly suggested to Liam. "Mr. Liam Martin, maybe we should call Mr. Grant Martin. This is getting out of hand. These guys are out for your life. If I hadn''t cushioned that hit, you''d be dead."

    Eric wasn''t exaggerating.

    The intentional crash from the racer behind him would have killed Liam if Eric hadn''t been there.

    Even Chloe''s daring rescue might not have saved him.

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    Liam hesitated briefly. "Let''s hold off on calling Grant. Let''s see how things unfold." "Alright."

    As they finished speaking, a battered Lucy stood up, hand on her hip, yelling at her tattooed henchmen.

    "Fuck, I''m getting beaten, and none of you lift a finger?"

    My husband sent you to watch my back, not to watch me get beaten.

    They ruined our race, and all the money my husband invested is wasted. Make them pay. If they don''t, don''t let them leave."

    Mentioning money piqued the henchmen''s interest. They flexed their tattooed arms and stood behind Lucy.

    "Pay up, or you''re not leaving," they shouted at Chloe and Liam.

    Chloe seemed calm, but Liam was losing his cool, wanting to kill Lucy.

    Eric, sensing trouble, consulted Liam again. "Mr. Martin, how much do they want?"

    "Chloe should pay two hundred million dors. Me, one hundred million." Liam casually stated the amount Lucy had demanded.

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    Eric gasped. "Fuck, are they insane? Asking for billions? Should we just fight them?" he was infuriated by their greed.

    They hade to race, nearly died, and now were being extorted?

    Liam stopped the impulsive Eric, whispering, "Ask the ugly girl... no, ask Chloe what she thinks."

    For the first time, Liam called her by her name. He had always called her "ugly girl."

    Realizing the girl he had mocked for months was his goddess made him feel embarrassed. His face turned crimson as he struggled to reconcile his past behavior with the truth nowid bare before him.

    "Chloe, what do we do? Fight them or pay?" Liam asked Chloe.

    Fighting might not end well, as the tattooed men looked like they had nothing to lose.

    Paying felt humiliating. They came to race, nearly died, and now had to pay? The thought of handing over money to these thugs was infuriating and went against everything the Martin Family stood for. They were powerful, influential, and not ustomed to being extorted.

    The Martin Family wasn''t short on money. Three billion dors was nothing to them, but having money didn''t mean they could be bullied.

    Being extorted in Sovereign City was a first for the Martin Family, and it was a blow to their pride and reputation.

    Hearing Liam, Chloe smiled slightly and said, "We''ll pay... it''s just a bit of money. Let''s give it to them."

 Chapter 150 Rape Her and Then Kill Her

    Chloe''s decision left everyone, except Liam, in shock.

    Lucy originally thought that there would be some back and forth with Chloe and Liam, but unexpectedly, Chloe readily agreed to give her the money?

    If that was the case, then the beating she took was worth it. If she could get money out

    of Liam and Chloe, her husband would definitely praise her.

    "Chloe, give them money? They just tried to kill Mr. Martin!" Eric was furious and shouted at Chloe.

    Chloe turned to look at Eric. He was injured from the earlier collision, covered in blood, and clearly needed a few days in the hospital.

    "What else should we do? Fight them? Look at you, if we really start a fight, you''d get beaten to death."

    Her words shut Eric up.

    "But are we really just going to give them the money?" Liam questioned.

    Chloe smiled and said, "Yes, we''ll give it, but not to them."

    "Chloe, what do you mean? You ruined my race, if you don''t give me the money, who else would you give it to?" Lucy was agitated upon hearing Chloe wouldn''t give her the money.

    "I''m warning you, if you don''t give me the money, you won''t be able to leave. All these reporters are watching, let''s see how you handle this." Lucy signaled the reporters she had brought to take as many photos as possible, especially of her swollen, bruised face.

    The clearer the photos taken by the reporters, the more it proved how badly she was beaten. The more solid it became that the Martin Family and the Davis Family bullied her.

    Chloe smiled, took out her phone from her tight motorcycle jacket, and made a call.

    "Hello, Ms. Sinir? I''m at the Sovereign City racetrack, got into a bit of trouble, could youe over?"

    After she hung up, everyone was puzzled by the mention of Ms. Sinir.

    Liam couldn''t help but ask, "Chloe, who are you talking about?"

    Chloe smiled and said, "The one who can solve our problems. Don''t worry, once Ms. Sinir arrives, everything will be sorted out."

    Her words left everyone even more confused.

    But the tattooed men behind Lucy started to look uneasy.

    They wanted to persuade Lucy to let it go. But Lucy was relentless,pletely unaware of how serious it was going to be.

    She continued to rant. "Calling Ms. Sinir won''t help. You owe me money, and you won''t leave without paying every cent...

    Even if Ms. Sinires, it won''t matter. If you don''t pay me, I won''t let you go." Chloe felt likeughing at Lucy''s words.

    It was true that whom the gods would destroy, they first made mad. Lucy was really pushing her luck and flirting with disaster.

    One of the tattooed men couldn''t hold back anymore and quietly advised Lucy. "Miss Kim, maybe we should let this go?"

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    "If we let it go, then who''s gonna pay for all this money?" Lucy snapped at the tattooed man, showing no respect.

    "Maybe we should call Perry? Let him handle this?" The tattooed man suggested, referring to Perry Gutierrez, the big shot Lucy had recently hooked up with.

    Lucy waved him off dismissively, "My husband spent a lot of money for me to organize this race. This is my chance to prove myself. I can''t bother him over something so small."

    "But if Ms. Sinires, it could get trouble," the tattooed man spoke softly, hoping Lucy would heed his warning

    This foolish woman, did she want to drag everyone down with her?

    "Ms. Sinir is so powerful? I don''t believe it. Even if shees, if she dares to mess with me, I won''t let her off. Rape her and then kill her. I''ll make sure Ms. Sinir pays dearly for crossing me..."

    Lucy''s words made the tattooed man''s head feel like it was about to explode.

    Just then, a limited edition car slowly approached, and a wealthy, elegantly dressed woman stepped out.

    Lucy''s words had reached the woman''s ears, and her expression turned cold.

    She asked, "Oh, who is it that wants to make me pay dearly? Here I am, let''s see who dares to mess with me..."

    The woman walked into the crowd, her powerful presence parting people to make way for her.

    She walked up to Chloe.

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    Lucy was intimidated by the woman''s aura and didn''t dare act rashly without knowing her identity.

    Hry Sinir coldly nced at the tattooed men before turning her attention to Chloe.

    "Chloe, what''s going on? What kind of trouble did you get into in Sovereign City?" she asked with concern.

    Chloe stood straight and replied, "I saved someone at the racetrack, and these people won''t let me leave. They say I ruined their race and want me to pay. Not much, just two billion dors from me and one billion from my friend."

    Hry frowned slightly at Chloe''s words. "Someone wants you to pay?"

    "Yes, Ms. Sinir. You know I''m poor, I can''t afford it." Chloe yed the poor card in front of Hry.

    Hry tapped Chloe''s head and scolded with a smile, "Chloe, poor? You only act poor in front of me."

    Chloe chuckled. "Ms. Sinir, can you help me out? If not, you should leave. I don''t want to see you getting raped and murdered."

    Chloe''s words reminded Hry of what she had heard when she got out of the car.

    She turned to the tattooed men and Lucy. "Who said they were going to rape and murder me? Step forward."

    Lucy also didn''t know when to stop and brought trouble upon herself. She straightened her neck and said to Hry, ''It was me who said it, what are you going to do about it?

    This little brat ruined our race, wasted my husband''s investment, she has to pay. If you want to get involved, let''s see if you have what it takes...

    Don''t think that just because you''re dressed so fancy, you can interfere with my business. You''re asking for trouble..."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 151 The Ingrate

    Lucy''s words sent shivers down the spines of the tattooed men standing behind her.

    The leader of the group immediately reached out and pulled Lucy aside.

    "Miss Kim, you better watch your mouth," the tattooed man warned. "The woman standing in front of you is not someone you can mess with."

    As soon as the tattooed man''s words fell, Lucy, still not knowing what was good for her, spoke up once again, "Who can I not mess with? My honey said I can do whatever I want in Sovereign City. There''s no one I can''t offend. She is merely an ugly woman? Look at how scared you all are. If she dared to interfere with my business, I wouldn''t let her off."

    As soon as Lucy finished speaking, the tattooed man closed his eyes in resignation. There''s a saying: if you yed with fire, you would get burned.

    Lucy was digging her own grave.

    While Lucy continued to boast, Hry stepped forward and pped her hard across the face.

    Hry was very strong; with just one swift motion, she flung Lucy''s body away. Lucy, who had just been beaten up by Chloe, now had five finger marks clearly visible on her already swollen and red face.

    Her previously kind expression turned cold and murderous.

    Lucy, unwilling to back down, struggled to her feet, ready to attack Hry. But the tattooed man beside her grabbed her.

    "Miss Kim, what are you doing?"

    Lucy, seeing her own people restraining her, flew into a rage.

    "She hit me! Didn''t you see? I''m going to hit her back, and you''re stopping me?

    You''re all traitors. I''m calling my honey to deal with you."

    Lucy pulled out her phone, ready to call her powerful honey, but the tattooed man snatched it away.

    But Lucy''s arrogance was unstoppable. "I will! Scared, huh? When my honey gets here, he''ll kick you all out."

    The tattooed man leaned in and whispered, "Lucy, this woman is Mr. Gutierrez''s wife..."

    Lucy was stunned. She never expected Hry to be her honey''s wife.

    This was beyond awkward.

    Hry red at Lucy and said, "I never interfere with what Perry does outside, but you''re the first to threaten to rape and kill me. Since you like those words so much, I''ll let you experience it."

    "Take her away."

    At Hry''smand, the tattooed men, originally sent by Perry to watch over Lucy, immediately turned on her. They quickly restrained Lucy, their grips firm and unyielding.

    Lucy was dumbfounded, her mind reeling from the sudden turn of events.

    As a brazen mistress, in the hands of such a vicious wife, would she survive? The thought sent chills down her spine.

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    Panicking, Lucy shouted at Hry, her voice shaking with desperation, "Let me go! If you touch me, he won''t let you off."

    Hryughed coldly, her eyes narrowing with a mix of disdain and amusement. "Don''t worry, I won''t let Perry off either. Let''s see if he dares to save you," she said, her voice dripping with icy resolve.

    After speaking, Hry exchanged a few polite words with Chloe before getting into her car and driving away.

    The tattooed men, following Hry''s departure, shoved Lucy into a beat-up van.

    With the main yers gone, the previously chaotic motorcycle race scene quieted down. The media Lucy had invited packed up their equipment and left, as if they had seen nothing.

    The crowd also dispersed.

    Eric''s motorcycle was totaled in a crash, so he rode with Liam. Sitting behind Liam, Eric voiced his concern.

    "Mr. Martin, with so much media here today, won''t there be negative news about the Martin Family?"

    Liam replied confidently, "No, Chloe will handle everything."

    Eric was puzzled. "How does your family''s ugly duckling know such a big shot?"

    Liam was just as surprised.

    But what bothered him most was how Chloe could be his goddess.

    Liam prided himself on being sharp. How had such an ugly girl fooled him?

    Back at the Martin Mansion, Chloe, fearing Grant would catch her sneaking out, buried herself in her room, ying games. The flickering screen and the sounds of the game were her onlypanions as she tried to lose herself in the virtual world.

    Liam went upstairs to talk to her, his footsteps echoing softly in the hallway.

    But Chloe, fully engrossed in her game, knew what Liam wanted to ask and gave him no chance. Her fingers moved deftly over the controller, her eyes never leaving the screen.

    Of course, Liam also had his own ways of handling Chloe. He stood at the door, a smirk ying on his lips, and called out, "Chloe, are you sure you don''t want to talk?"

    Chloe replied without looking up, her tone dismissive, "We have nothing to talk about, Liam. Go away, you''re interrupting my game."

    Liam chuckled coldly, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Fine, if you don''te out, I''ll tell Grant you snuck out to ride motorcycles." He knew exactly how to push her buttons.

    Mentioning Grant scared Chloe. Her heart skipped a beat, and her fingers momentarily faltered on the controller. He had ways to control her, and she definitely didn''t want to be pinned against the wall and kissed by him again. The memory of Grant''s intense gaze and firm grip sent a shiver down her spine, and she knew she couldn''t let Liam follow through on his threat.

    She jumped off her bed, rushed to the door, and opened it.

    Seeing Liam''s smug face, Chloe snapped. "Liam, are you serious? Is it really such a big deal? You''re actually going toin to Grantie?"

    Chloe''sint didn''t anger Liam. He had too many questions for her, and he could see the fear in her eyes, which only fueled his determination. He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the doorframe, a smirk ying on his lips.

    "I wouldn''t need to if you behaved," he said, his tone calm but firm. His eyes bore into hers, unyielding. He knew he had the upper hand, and he wasn''t about to let this opportunity slip away.

    Liam''s words made Chloe feel powerless as she stuck out her tongue. Indeed, in the Martin Family, only Grant can really handle her.

 Chapter 152 Mr. Martin, Do You Submit?

    Chloe didn''t want to argue with Liam about this anymore.

    She leaned against the bedroom door, half-hugging her arms, and asked, "Alright, what do you want to talk about?"

    "You know how to ride a motorcycle. Why didn''t you tell me?" Liam cut straight to the point.

    Even now, he couldn''t believe that Chloe was his motorcycle goddess. The image of her skillfully handling the bike still yed vividly in his mind, challenging everything he thought he knew about her.

    Chloe gave him a disdainful look and said, "What''s so special about riding a motorcycle? Besides, did you ever ask me? Why should I tell you?"

    Liam was left speechless by her response. His mouth opened and closed as he searched for a retort, but none came. Indeed, he had never asked Chloe.

    "Then why didn''t you correct me when I mistook Zara for you?" he insisted.

    Chloe almostughed at that. She brushed her messy bangs aside andzily said, "You mistook someone else for me. That''s because you are stupid. Why should I correct you? Besides, you didn''t pay me. I have no obligation to correct you." Her tone was dismissive, and her eyes sparkled with amusement.

    Liam was infuriated by Chloe''s words, but he couldn''t argue with the truth. His face reddened with frustration as he struggled to find aeback. "You... you''re just so sharp-tongued," he finally managed to say, his voice tight with suppressed anger.

    "And I can ride a motorcycle too," Chloe smugly winked at Liam, her confidence radiating. To further provoke him, she added, "And I''m way better at it than you." Her words were a direct challenge, and she enjoyed watching his reaction.

    Liam was fuming, but he couldn''t refute her facts. His fists clenched at his sides as he had to swallow his anger. "How do you know Hry?" he demanded, trying to regain control of the conversation.

    As soon as Liam returned to the Martin Mansion, he had his people investigate Hry. What they found was shocking, and he needed answers. His eyes bore into Chloe''s, demanding an exnation.

    In Sovereign City, the Martin Family dominated the business world, their influence and power stretching far and wide. But Hry was like the underground queen, a force to be reckoned with. With her vastwork and cunning strategies, she could solve anything others couldn''t handle in minutes.

    In Sovereign City, everyone had to show her some respect. Even Grant, with all his authority and stature, had to be polite when dealing with her, knowing the consequences of crossing her.

    Chloe, with just a few well-ced words, had managed to get Hry to the motorcycle race. Liam was curious and puzzled about why Hry would do her such a favor, the question gnawing at him.

    Seeing Liam mention Hry, Chloe decided there was no need to hide it anymore.

    She let out a small, amused sigh and quipped, "I''ve known her for three or four years. We met when she went to the Northwest. Why, Mr. Martin, do you want me to tell you the whole story? You''re really bored, aren''t you? Why are you asking such random questions?"

    Chloe finished speaking and turned to go back to her room, her hand already on the doorknob. But Liam reached out and pulled her back, his grip firm but not harsh.

    "I''m not done asking... wait until I''m done," he insisted, his voice low and serious. His eyes bore into hers, filled with determination and a hint of desperation. He needed to understand the connection between Chloe and Hry, and he wasn''t going to let her slip away without getting the answers he sought.

    Chloe wouldn''t pamper him. She charged at Liam and swiftly executed a shoulder throw. She put in just a bit of effort, and Liam''s body crashed down onto the thick carpet with a thud.

    Liam hadn''t expected this. He just wanted to ask Chloe a few questions, and she had thrown him.

    It didn''t hurt, but it was definitely humiliating.

    "Liam, how could you hit me?" Liam shouted from the floor.

    Chloe retorted, "Did I hit you? You pulled me first, didn''t you?"

    "I just didn''t want you to leave. I wanted to ask you a few questions."

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    "I''ll answer if I want to. You can''t force me." Chloe snorted.

    "You''re getting more and more out of line. I''m two years older than you. How could you hit me?" Liam was really angry.

    This was the first time he''d been thrown like this.

    "So what if you''re two years older? Are you too old to be thrown? Liam, I''m warning you, speak nicely and don''t bully me, you''ll regret it."

    "You''re too much! Do you think I won''t fight back?" Liam stood his ground.

    Seeing him like this, Chloe casually rolled up her sleeves. Honestly, she was so bored at the Martin Family for the past few months.

    Grant kept a close eye on her. If Liam could be her punching bag for half an hour each day, she wouldn''t be so weak.

    Thinking of this, she taunted him. "Alright,e on, Mr. Martin. Be careful not to get beaten so badly you can''t get up. Don''t cryter."

    Chloe''s words hit Liam''sst nerve. He got up, raised his fist, and swung at Chloe.

    Chloe didn''t back down and kicked back.

    The two started fighting upstairs. Luckily, the Martin Mansion''s upstairs living room was spacious enough for them to spar.

    Their fight caught the attention of the household staff.

    They rushed upstairs to see what was happening. When they saw Liam and Chloe fighting, they were speechless.

    Chloe was a girl, so Liam held back a bit.

    But Chloe didn''t care. She attacked Liam relentlessly and soon had him pinned on the carpet.

    To prevent him from fighting back, she sat on him, holding him down firmly.

    The servants, seeing Liam being overpowered by Chloe, were at a loss for words. They exchanged nces and began to whisper among themselves, their curiosity and amusement evident.

    "Isn''t Mr. Martin usually pretty tough? Howe he can''t even beat Miss Davis?" one servant murmured, her eyebrows raised in disbelief.

    "Yeah, Mr. Martin losing like this is embarrassing," another chimed in, shaking his head in bemusement.

    "Maybe Mr. Martin is letting Miss Davis win?" a third servant suggested, trying to rationalize the unexpected turn of events.

    "With Miss Davis''s moves, does she need Mr. Martin to let her win? I can see Mr. Martin lost fair and square this time," the first servant replied, nodding sagely. They watched in awe as Chloe maintained her dominant position, clearly impressed by her unexpected prowess.

    Theirments made Liam even angrier. He struggled under Chloe, but despite her small frame, she was strong. His attempts to break free were futile.

    Chloe, feeling triumphant, taunted Liam. "Hey, Mr. Martin, do you give up?"

    Liam, pinned beneath her, red at her. Chloe really knew how to provoke him.

    "If you don''t ept that, I''ll just keep you here a little longer. Since I''m not doing anything anyway, I love watching that look on your face-like you want to kill me but just can''t manage it." Chloe said She said smugly.

 Chapter 153 The Woman I Fancy

    Seeing Chloe''s smug expression, Liam''s anger red up again. His face turned red with frustration, and he mustered all his strength, trying to push Chloe off him. But Chloe was ready for him, her body tensing in anticipation of his move.

    During their struggle, Liam''s leg jerked out uncontrobly, and he identally kicked Chloe in the lower back. Chloe stumbled, her eyes widening in shock, and she lunged toward the second-floor railing. The world seemed to slow down as she teetered on

    the edge.

    Seeing her about to fall, the servants were all stunned, their faces paling with fear. Gasps and murmurs of rm filled the air. Even Liam, lying on the floor, didn''t realize that his kick would be so powerful. His heart pounded in his chest.

    Just as Chloe was falling straight down, Grant suddenly appeared, his reflexes lightning-fast. He reached out his hands and grabbed her leg, his grip strong and unyielding. With all his strength, he pulled Chloe into his arms, his muscles straining with the effort.

    Chloe, still in shock, felt the world tilt back into ce as she was yanked from the brink of disaster. Her heart raced, but she only began to calm down when she caught the familiar,forting scent of Grant. It was a scent she hade to associate with safety and warmth.

    She couldn''t help but wrap her arms around Grant''s waist, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline. Her face was full of fear, her eyes wide and teary as she buried her head against his chest.

    Seeing her frightened expression, Grant''s heart ached inexplicably. He held her close, his hand gently stroking her back in a soothing motion. "It''s okay, Chloe," he murmured softly, his voice filled with concern and tenderness. "You''re safe now."

    He then scolded Liam, "Liam, you''re getting more and more outrageous. Even if you don''t like Chloe, you can''t just push her down the stairs! Luckily, I got here in time. If Chloe had fallen and gotten seriously hurt, do you think Grandpa would let you off the hook?"

    Faced with Grant''s scolding, Liam was speechless.

    He was the one who got beaten up, the one who was pinned to the ground by Chloe, and now he was the one getting yelled at? The injustice of it all made his chest tighten with frustration.

    He felt wronged, his eyes shing with a mix of anger and helplessness. But what could he do? Grant''s authority was unquestionable, and arguing would only make things

    worse.

    Fortunately, Chloe wasn''t the two-faced type. Once she recovered from her shock, she immediately spoke up for Liam. "Grant, it wasn''t his fault," she said, her voice steady and sincere. She pulled away slightly from Grant''s embrace, her eyes meeting his with a determined look. "We were just messing around, and things got a bit out of hand. Liam didn''t mean for any of this to happen."

    Chloe''s sincere plea for Liam fell on Grant''s ears like a thorn. His jaw tightened, and a flicker of jealousy ignited in his chest. Since when did Liam and Chloe get so close?

    Chloe was an adult. How could she not have any sense of propriety and y with a guy like Liam? The thought gnawed at him. Besides, Chloe was the woman he had kissed. Once he kissed her, she was his woman. His protective instincts red up, and the idea of her being so familiar with Liam, even if Liam was his brother, was uneptable.

    Grant looked at Liam fiercely and said, "I''ll let it slide this time, but if it happens again, you''re in trouble."

    Then, without waiting for a response, he pulled Chloe away, his grip firm but not unkind.

    Worried they might have more contact, Grant sternly warned Liam again. "Stay away from Chloe. She''s a guest in our house, not your punching bag. If she gets hurt, you won''t be able to exin it to Grandpa. Take care of yourself."

    Grant''s harsh scolding left Liam speechless.

    He had just sparred with Chloe. Did Grant have to be so angry?

    Was there some secret between him and Chloe?

    Grant pulled Chloe to her room, and as the door mmed shut, he immediately changed his demeanor.

    He pinned Chloe against the wall. Then, like a jealous husband, he began to warn Chloe. "Chloe, hasn''t anyone told you to be careful around guys?"

    His words surprised Chloe. She didn''t think she had done anything wrong.

    "Grant, did I do something wrong?" Chloe asked, her innocent eyes looking up at him. Grant suppressed his anger and exined, "What''s going on between you and Liam?" Chloe replied, "Nothing''s going on. We just had a fight."

    "A fight? Before I came upstairs, I saw you on top of him, in that... position." Grant''s voice was full of jealousy.

    The thought of Chloe''s soft body pressing against Liam''s made him ufortable. She should belong to him, Grant.

    "Grant, we were fighting. You don''t need to worry about positions during a fight, right? Besides, Liam is your brother. We''re all family. Why are you so angry?"

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    Chloe''s words only fueled Grant''s anger. He pressed Chloe against the wall, lightly brushing her nose with his finger, and said fiercely, "He''s still a guy. You need to know that besides me, you should stay away from other guys. Because you''re the woman I have chosen."

    With that, Grant kissed Chloe hard on the lips.

    Chloe was stunned. What was wrong with Grant?

    Was he in heat?

    Why did he kiss her out of nowhere? But she couldn''t resist his kiss at all.

    Maybe because they were at home, Grant was bolder this time. He not only pinned Chloe against the wall but also slid his hand under her shirt.

    When his cool fingers touched Chloe''s skin, her body stiffened as if electrified.

    It was the first time a man had touched her like this, and Chloe, usually so spirited, didn''t know how to react.

    She was flustered and nervous, especially as Grant''s fingers moved up and down her body. Suddenly, she found herself feeling an inexplicable sense of passion.

    Grant seemed pleased with her reaction and continued to explore Chloe''s tender body...

 Chapter 154 Ill Leave First, You Continue

    However, Chloe couldn''t take Grant''s teasing anymore.

    She reached out and wrapped her arms around Grant''s neck. Seeing Chloe so eager in his embrace, Grant''s smile widened.

    Could he admit that he loved Chloe''s boldness?

    Grant was a man of great self-control, never letting any woman affect him. But with Chloe in his arms, he found it impossible to restrain himself.

    It was a man''s desire for a woman.

    As his desire grew beyond his control, Grant felt a sudden panic rising within him. His heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Desperately needing to regain hisposure, he turned his head away and pushed Chloe back gently, putting some distance between them.

    Chloe, however, wasn''t about to let him off the hook so easily. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of determination and mischief. He had teased her repeatedly, leaving her flustered and yearning, and now it was her turn to make him feel the same way.

    With that thought, Chloe boldly reached out and wrapped her arms around Grant, pulling him into a firm, unyielding embrace. The warmth of her touch and the closeness of her body sent a jolt through him, making it clear that she wasn''t backing down.

    She mimicked the romantic scenes from TV dramas, awkwardly and shyly kissing Grant. Her delicate hands roamed over his chest, firm abs, strong waist, and the impressive part of him that was distinctly male.

    Faced with such an eager Chloe, Grant could hardly restrain himself. He turned around, swept Chloe into his arms, and then pinned her down onto therge bed in the bedroom.

    Both of them were full of passion, clearly wanting to take things further. Having never been this intimate with a man before, Chloe, under Grant, seemed to melt like a pool of water, ready to engulf himpletely.

    Grant''s mind went nk. At that moment, he felt like he could die in Chloe''s arms.

    Just as their kiss grew more heated and they were lost in each other, the bedroom door suddenly burst open.

    Zara''s voice followed immediately. "Chloe, help..."

    Hearing Zara''s voice, the two quickly separated, their hearts racing. When Zara took a step forward and saw them on the bed, her eyes widened in shock.

    Grant and Chloe were making love? She couldn''t believe what she was seeing.

    Had she just interrupted something important? Her mind raced with questions.

    Would Grant, with his notorious temper, kill her for this intrusion? Fear gripped her heart.

    Zara wanted to flee, but her legs felt like they were filled with lead, and she refused to obey hermands.

    She looked at them awkwardly, her face flushed, and stammered, "Sorry to interrupt. I''ll just go. You two continue."

    Zara turned to leave, her movements stiff and hesitant, but Chloe quickly pushed Grant off her and, with a determined stride, stopped Zara from leaving the room.

    Given Zara''s love for gossip, if she left the room, it wouldn''t take half an hour for rumors about her and Grant to spread.

    "Zara, don''t go..." Chloe jumped off the bed and grabbed Zara.

    Grant felt awkward too. He rarely lost control, and now Zara had seen it.

    Since Chloe didn''t want Zara to leave, Grant decided he would.

    He got up from Chloe''s bed, straightened his clothes, gave Zara a threatening look, and left.

    Before leaving, he said to Zara, "Don''t rush off tonight. Stay for dinner."

    Zara suddenly felt like she was doomed.

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    She quickly assured Grant, "Mr. Martin, I didn''t see anything."

    Grant snorted, gave Zara a knowing look, and left.

    After Grant left, Chloe let out a long sigh of relief.

    Zara mimicked Chloe, also sighing in relief.

    Zara patted her chest repeatedly, feeling like she had narrowly escaped disaster. "Oh my, he''s finally gone. If he hadn''t left, I think I might have made a huge mistake.

    Chloe, I was wrong. From now on, I''ll knock before entering your room. If I don''t, Mr. Martin might kill me."

    Chloe was speechless. She tried to calm herself and asked Zara, "Why are you here?" Zara was about to answer but then seemed to remember something.

    She looked at Chloe in surprise and asked, "Hey, it''s normal for me toe find you. I haven''t asked you yet, how did you two end up together?"

    Hearing this, Chloe blushed deeply, her cheeks turning a vivid shade of crimson.

    The awkward heat spread from her face down to her neck, making her feel even more self-conscious.

    Zara, looking gossipy and eager for details, leaned in closer and said, "Come on, tell me. How did you two end up together? Who kissed first?"

    Zara seemed very interested in the details, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

    As best friends who shared everything, Chloe didn''t intend to hide anything from her. She felt a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

    She shyly lowered her head, avoiding Zara''s intense gaze, and murmured, "Grantie kissed me first."

    "Mr. Martin is amazing. He confessed his feelings for you just a few days ago, and now he''s kissing you. I thought he was joking, but he was serious." Zara chuckled. "Chloe, tell me, how does it feel to be kissed by Mr. Martin?"

    Zara''s questioning left Chloe speechless.

    She replied impatiently, "Why don''t you ask Liam? You two have been getting pretty

    closetely. You can try it with him."

    Hearing Chloe mention Liam, Zara wanted to bang her head against the wall.

    She nervously said to Chloe, "Don''t mention Liam. He wants to kill me."

    "What?" Chloe thought it couldn''t be that serious.

    "It''s your fault! Chloe, why did you make me pretend to be some goddess, and now, in Liam''s eyes, I''m not a goddess? I''m a lunatic. You have to exin this to Liam for me. Or I''ll tell everyone about you and Mr. Grant Martin kissing and cuddling."

    Zara''s loose tongue infuriated Chloe.

    "You wouldn''t dare. If you spread rumors, Grant will kill you. Well, if I''m going to die anyway, I''ll make sure to spread all the gossip I can before I go."

    Chloe and Zara bickered.

    At six o''clock, the house staff prepared dinner, and Grant sent someone to call Chloe and Zara downstairs.

    With nervous hearts, Chloe and Zara went downstairs. In the dining room, Grant sat at the head of the table, looking as serious as the head of the family.

 Chapter 155 Grants Teasing

    Grant was always so serious, presenting himself as a paragon of virtue and propriety. His demeanor was impable, and his posture was always straight.

    Seeing him like this, Zara couldn''t help but admire him.

    She tugged on Chloe''s arm and whispered, "Hey, Chloe, Mr. Martin didn''t look like this when he kissed you, did he? How does he switch so effortlessly between being passionate and serious?"

    Zara''s curiosity made Chloe roll her eyes. "Why don''t you go ask him yourself?"

    There was no way Zara would dare ask Grant. If she did, that would be truly reckless. She quickly waved her hands, her eyes wide with apprehension. "No way, I am scared," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. The thought of approaching Grant with such a question made her heart race, and she couldn''t imagine facing his stern gaze while asking something so personal.

    Chloe pulled Zara to the dining table, where the servants were meticulously serving the dishes, each te arranged with precision and care. Liam, with a stiff expression, took his seat as well.

    Chloe sat to Grant''s left, Zara next to Chloe, and Liam across from Chloe.

    Having been beaten up by Chloe earlier that afternoon, Liam''s expression was less than pleasant. However, Chloe''s prowess in the motorcycle world had somewhat changed his impression of her.

    But Liam''s attitude towards Zara was sour. His gaze hardened whenever itnded on her, his lips pressing into a thin line. He was convinced that Zara had been impersonating his goddess to mock him, making him look foolish in front of Chloe. The memory of his humiliation still burned in his mind, a sting to his pride that he couldn''t easily forget.

    Liam could tolerate losing money but not his face. His pride was fragile, easily bruised, and slow to heal.

    Despite his displeasure, with Grant present, Liam didn''t dare act out. Grant''s presence wasmanding, and his mere presence was enough to keep Liam in check.

    Once the dishes were served, everyone began eating.

    Chloe had a good appetite, drinking two bowls of soup in a row. Grant, worried she might not have enough, kept piling food onto her te with a quiet, attentive diligence. He selected the choicest cuts of meat and the freshest vegetables, ensuring she had a bnced meal.

    Chloe wanted to refuse, feeling slightly embarrassed by the attention. But at this moment, she didn''t even dare to meet Grant''s eyes. She could only passively ept the food Grant was offering her.

    Halfway through the meal, Grant started talking.

    He addressed Liam and Chloe, "I heard you two had some trouble at the racetrack today?"

    Liam replied, "Yes, that wicked woman Lucy almost got me killed. If it weren''t for Chloe, I wouldn''t be here."

    Unconsciously, Liam''s way of addressing Chloe had changed. He used to call her "ugly girl," but now he called her by her name.

    "Did you get into a fight?" Grant asked casually.

    He knew who was behind the motorcycle race and Perry wasn''t someone easy to deal with.

    "No, but it was pretty tense. Luckily, Chloe called a woman named Hry to help us out," Liam said without thinking.

    Hearing the name Hry, Grant''s handsome brow furrowed slightly.

    He looked at Chloe and asked, "Is the Hry Liam mentioned Hry Sinir?"

    Chloe couldn''t lie to Grant, so she nodded, "Yes, it was her. IT was dangerous that time, and if I hadn''t called her, we wouldn''t have made it out."

    "How do you know Hry? Are you close?" Grant asked Chloe.

    Chloe couldn''t brush off Grant''s questions like she could with Liam.

    She answered truthfully, "We''re not that close, just acquaintances."

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    Grant didn''t buy it. He pressed, "Just acquaintances? You should know Hry is hard to get a hold of. If you were just acquaintances, she wouldn''t have helped you."

    It seemed Grant was quite familiar with Hry.

    Chloe had no choice but to be honest, "We have some connections. She isn''t great with finances or business, so I help her with some business advice. That''s all."

    She made it sound casual.

    She couldn''t say that since she started her venture capitalpany, Hry had been a major client, investing her spare funds with Chloe and making a lot of money.

    In fact, Chloe was Hry''s financial backer.

    Hry would do anything for Chloe, even take care of a small problem or worse.

    Grant seemed to ept Chloe''s exnation. The Davis family was in business, and Nichs was a shrewd businessman. Any investment he made was a big money-maker.

    Hry only needed a small tip from Chloe to make a lot of money.

    So Grant assumed Chloe and Hry''s rtionship was just that.

    After hearing Chloe''s exnation, Grant reminded her, "Next time something like this happens, just tell me."

    Sovereign City is the Martin family''s territory. If anything happens to you here, I can handle it.

    Don''t go looking for help yourself. If Nichs finds out, he''ll scold us for being useless.

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    you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free!

    Chloe, remember, no matter what happens, I can handle it."

    Grant''s words made Chloe wrinkle her nose. She was about to respond when she noticed something unusual under the table.

    It felt as if a foot was slowly moving up her slender leg from under the table. The foot

    was strong, first hooking around her ankle, then her calf, next her knee, and finally stopping at her thigh.

    Chloe wanted to look down to see whose foot it was, but with Zara sitting right next to her, she couldn''t without being noticed.

    So she had to endure it.

    But the foot''s owner was getting bolder, using their toes to draw circles on her thigh.

    Tonight, Chloe was only wearing a long nightgown, and underneath the gown was a small pair of panties. If that foot moved just a little further forward, it would reach the edge of her panties.

    The tingling sensation in her leg made Chloe thirsty.

    As she reached for her water, she caught a glimpse of Grant''s face, which had a faint

    smile.

    Chloe immediately realized that the foot teasing her under the table belonged to Grant.

    He remainedposed, as if he wasn''t the one doing it.

    But Chloe couldn''t stay calm. She was flustered, nervous, and worried about being discovered.

    However, Grant''s teasing made her mouth dry, her body restless, and her face gradually redden.

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 156 He Must Be Crazy

    Chloe shot Grant a fierce re, hoping he''d get the hint to back off.

    But Grant just smirked, meeting her eyes with a defiant glint.

    Chloe wanted to re back at him, but the memory of Grant''s intense kiss when he lost his temper made her repeatedly remind herself not to confront him directly.

    No one could guarantee that Grant wouldn''t kiss her in front of everyone.

    Chloe endured Grant''s teasing and finished her meal in silence. Without bothering to

    say goodnight to Grant or Liam, she hurried off to her room.

    Watching Chloe''s retreating figure, Liam chewed his food, looking puzzled.

    "Grant, what''s her deal?" he asked.

    Grant nced at Liam calmly and said, "Maybe she''s afraid of the big bad wolf."

    Liam didn''t catch the double meaning in Grant''s words at all.

    He looked around the room and said, "The house seems pretty safe to me. No big bad wolves here."

    Grant just smiled without saying a word.

    Once in her room, Chloe let herself go. She flopped onto her bed, spread-eagle, and called Zara. "Zara, I can''t take it anymore. Grant must be crazy."

    Zara seemed to be at some event and responded, "How crazy?"

    Chloe lowered her voice and said helplessly, "Tonight at dinner, he actually rubbed his foot against my leg."

    "He''s lost it. I can''t stay at the Martin Family''s house anymore. I need to leave. I''ll rent a ce. I''m moving out..."

    Chloe calmed her restless heart and made a decision. Initially, Nichs had her move into the Martin Family''s home with the hope that she would develop some feelings for the three Martin brothers.

    She thought that by presenting herself with an extremely unattractive face and an unreasonable personality, the Martin brothers would surely kick her out.

    But that wasn''t the case.

    Liam had be curious about her and even considered her his goddess.

    Michael, the idol of many fans, was willing to treat her as his rumored girlfriend.

    Grant was the scariest of all, constantly hugging and kissing her. The dating standards of these rich young men were truly bizarre.

    If things continued like this, it wouldn''t be long before she became the object ofpetition among the three Martin brothers.

    Although she liked handsome men with good bodies and toned waists, she didn''t want her grandfather to control her marriage.

    Chloe was very frustrated.

    After hearing Chloe''s thoughts, Zara bluntly shot her down. "Chloe, calm down. Do you really think Mr. Grant Martin will let you move out?

    People who know you would understand you''re trying to avoid Mr. Grant Martin. Those who don''t might think the three Martin brothers are bullying you.

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    Mr. Grant Martin dares to openly hug and kiss you in the Martin Family''s house. If you move out, he might just camp out in your bed."

    Zara''s words heightened Chloe''s sense of crisis. She realized that moving out might not be a good solution after all.

    Given Grant''s boldness, he might actually do something like that.

    She needed to find a way to distance herself from Grant. Once he cooled down, he might lose interest in her.

    "Zara, I remember Rena mentioning that Michael is filming in some remote area far from Sovereign City. The school''s about to go on break, and as Michael''s assistant, Rena has to go there. Maybe I could tag along with her for a while? That way, I can avoid Grant."

    Hearing Michael''s name, Zara immediately perked up. Michael was her idol, and since arriving in Sovereign City, she had been pestering Chloe to create opportunities for her to meet Michael.

    Unexpectedly, Chloe ended up forcing Zara to be Liam''s goddess for several months. Now that everything was clear, she no longer had to deal with Liam.

    "Chloe, that''s a great idea. With the school break, visiting Michael sounds perfect.

    But I''ve heard the conditions where Michael is filming aren''t great. For your safety, why don''t you take me with you?

    My aunt just bought a new RV. It''s super cool. We could drive there and make it a road trip. What do you think?"

    Zara''s offer was tempting, and Chloe readily agreed.

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    Soon, they had everything nned over the phone. To avoid too many people knowing their whereabouts and to prevent Grant from dragging her back, Chloe and Zara agreed to keep it a secret.

    In the following days, Chloe spent her time outside of school preparing for the trip.

    Since they were taking the RV, she needed to stock it with personal items.

    Food, drinks, toiletries, clothes-everything had to be prepared.

    Afraid that Grant would find out about her n, she didn''t take any clothes from the Martin Family''s house. Instead, she bought new clothes from the mall and stashed them in the RV.

    Shopping for these items took up most of Chloe''s after-school time.

    One evening at nine o''clock, as soon as she entered the living room of the Martin Mansion, she was caught by Grant, who was reading a newspaper.

    She had intended to just greet Grant and then go upstairs, but unexpectedly, Grant caught her and began questioning her relentlessly. "Chloe, the house staff tells me you''ve beening home quitete recently."

    Grant sat on the couch, legs crossed, looking every bit the authoritative figure. Seeing him like this, Chloe couldn''t help but stick out her tongue.

    She had seen him in his moments of unfulfilled desire, so who was he trying to impress with this serious demeanor now?

    Remembering that she was still living in the Martin Family''s house and needed to follow the rules, and with her trip n about to be executed, Chloe didn''t want anyplications.

    She answered Grant honestly, "Yeah, I''ve beening home a bitte these past few days, but it''s only nine o''clock. It''s not thatte..."

    Grant frowned at her response. Nine o''clock? Notte?

    He had been busy with work and hadn''t had time to deal with Chloe. Was she getting out of hand?

 Chapter 157 Thanks to Him

    He put down the newspaper and stood up, walking over to Chloe.

    His tall frame exuded a powerful presence, making Chloe unable to lift her head.

    She felt a bit nervous, she exined., "Grant, school''s almost out for break, and they said there''s going to be an assessment. I''m just worried that I might not do well, so I''ve been using the time after school to study at the library. Did I do something wrong?"

    Chloe lowered her stance, looking anxiously at Grant. Despite her usual bravery, she always felt a sense of timidity when facing him, like a child before a strict guardian.

    She knew that Grant was more easily swayed by a gentle attitude and approach rather than by forceful confrontation. If she chose to confront Grant aggressively, she would surely face unfavorable consequences.

    Seeing Chloe being so obedient, Grant''s heart softened.

    He instructed her, "From now on, if you go anywhere after school, send me a message. Even though Sovereign City is pretty safe, you still need to be careful. You don''t have to go to the library; if you need any books, I''ll have someone buy them for you."

    Grant was quite the big spender.

    To avoid angering him, Chloe quickly nodded obediently. Grant was about to lecture her a bit more when his phone rang. He picked it up and headed towards his study.

    Chloe let out a long sigh of relief and immediately returned to her room. She silently thanked her lucky stars for narrowly escaping a difficult situation.

    A few dayster, Quest University went on break. ording to their n, Chloe, Zara, and Rena set off in an RV to find Michael.

    Michael was filming some romance drama in a very southern, mountainous area.

    It was said that the ce was surrounded by beautiful scenery, perfect for a short stay to cultivate one''s mind.

    Zara drove while Chloe and Rena sat in the back, ying on their phones and chatting. Rena, a bit worried, asked Chloe quietly, "Chloe, are you sure it''s okay for us to just take off like this? Won''t Mr. Grant Martin be mad if he finds out?"

    Having spent a lot of time with Chloe, Rena had noticed Grant''s special concern for Chloe.

    It was one thing for him to drive her to school every morning, but he even arranged for some ssmates Chloe didn''t know to secretly watch over her. Anyone who dared to say a bad word about Chloe would get a beating.

    Grant cared so much about Chloe; if he found out she had run off, wouldn''t he go crazy?

    "Why would he be mad? Hisst name is Martin, mine is Davis. We''re not family. I''m eighteen, an adult. Do I need to report everything I do to him?" Chloe spoke confidently, though she felt quite guilty inside. "Besides, I wouldn''t leave if it weren''t for him."

    Chloe didn''t dare tell Rena about Grant kissing her; it was too beastly of him.

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Zara chimed in with her opinion. "Regardless, you should still let Mr. Grant Martin know. After all, you came to Sovereign City because of Nichs.

    You''re staying with the Martin family, and as the eldest, Mr. Grant Martin is responsible for your safety."

    Rena nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Zara''s right. Why don''t you just shoot Mr. Martin a text before we leave Sovereign City? That way, he won''t worry."

    Chloe quickly shook her head. "No way. If I tell him we''re going on a road trip now, he''lle drag me back within two hours.

    I left him a note at home. He''ll see it when he gets off work tonight.

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    By then, we''ll be a thousand miles away. Even if he wants to chase us, he won''t catch up."

    Chloe felt pleased with her n.

    "That''s true... Chloe, you are clever. Just thinking about seeing my idol tomorrow morning makes me so excited." Zara, always straightforward, didn''t hide her admiration for Michael in front of Chloe and Rena.

    Rena''s expression changed slightly at Zara''s words.

    She asked casually, "Zara, do you like Michael?"

    Zara replied immediately, "Of course, Michael is so handsome. Not many women can resist his charm. Chloe, since you don''t want anything to do with the Martin brothers, I''m going after Michael. I officially announce that I''m going to pursue him..."

    The three womenughed and joked along the way. As Michael''s assistant, Rena felt a sense of crisis from Zara.

    But she was too gentle to express her feelings for Michael as boldly as Zara.

    In one day, with Zara and Chloe taking turns driving, they managed to travel over a thousand miles by nightfall.

    Back at the Martin Mansion, Grant returned home after a social event, slightly tipsy, and didn''t see Chloe anywhere.

    He called for Mia, Chloe''s usual maid, and asked, "Mia, where''s Chloe? It''s sote, why isn''t she back yet?"

    Mia looked puzzled and replied, "Mr. Martin, I don''t know where Miss Davis went. I called her around nine, but she didn''t answer."

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    Hearing this, Grant felt a wave of unease.

    Could it be that Chloe, upset because he had been too busy to spend time with her, had gone back to her hometown?

    If that were the case, she was really misunderstanding him.

    He had been working so hard to arrange things because he knew Quest University was going on break and wanted to take Chloe on a trip.

    He hadn''t expected her to run off on her own.

    With this thought, Grant hurried upstairs to Chloe''s room and pushed the door open without a second thought.

    The room was spotless, the bed neatly made, and her clothes hung tidily in the closet. It didn''t look like she had run away.

    He suddenly felt he might have wronged Chloe. Maybe she was just at the library with friends?

    Grant''s eyes scanned the room andnded on arge envelope on the small table.

    He quickly walked over, opened the envelope, and a note fell out.

    Grant picked it up and read it. As he saw the words on the note, he instantly became furious.

    The note read: [Grant, I''m going on a road trip with Zara and Rena. Don''t worry, I''ll be back before you know it. The world is so big, I want to see it all]

 Chapter 158 Why Are You Stealing My Man?

    Seeing these words, Grant felt his brain short-circuit. Could Chloe have run away from home?

    He had thought she might just go back to her hometown, but now it seemed that wasn''t the case at all.

    Without a second thought, Grant pulled out his phone and dialed Chloe''s number. After a few seconds, a cold, automated voice came through the receiver.

    "Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy..."

    Busy? Really? Grant wasn''t ready to give up. It hadn''t yet urred to him that Chloe might have blocked him.

    Since he couldn''t reach her by phone, he decided to message her on Facebook. But when he saw the notification that he couldn''t send her a message, it finally hit himˇŞ Chloe had blocked him.

    Chloe had some nerve.

    Running away from home? No notice, no heads-up, not even an address left behind. And now, she had gone so far as to block him.

    Grant was both impressed and frustrated. Was Chloe running away from home or deliberately avoiding him? If it was the former, he could forgive her. If it was thetter, he would have to give her a piece of his mind when he found her.

    He immediately contacted Liam. "Liam, Chloe left a note and ran away from home... Can you check where she went?"

    Liam was just as shocked when he got the call. "What? She ran away? How is that possible?"

    Liam couldn''t believe it. Chloe had never been mistreated by the Martin family. Why would she run away?

    "Anyway, she''s missing. Drop whatever you''re doing and find her. Otherwise, Grandpa will kill us," Grant said before hanging up.

    Mentioning Louis was a good way to make Liam understand the severity of the situation.

    With Louis putting pressure, Liam naturally didn''t dare to ck off. He immediately began searching for Chloe. However, after questioning all of Chloe''s friends, he found out that none of them knew where Chloe had gone.

    Everyone just said that after the holidays started, Chloe left with her backpack, but no one knew where she went.

    Liam was at his wit''s end.

    Meanwhile, Chloe, Zara, and Rena had arrived in Oceancrest City, where Michael was filming. Following the address Michael had sent to Rena, they found the location.

    That evening, Michael was shooting a night scene.

    To avoid disturbing Michael''s work, the three parked their RV not far from the set.

    After getting out of the RV, they went to the set to find Michael. He had just finished an romantic scene and turned around to see Chloe standing in the crowd, arms crossed, staring at him.

    Michael suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

    He thought Chloe must be angry.

    She had traveled all this way to visit him, only to catch him in the middle of a passionate scene with another actress. As his rumored girlfriend, Chloe was bound to be upset.

    So, Michael rushed over to Chloe, trying to exin. "Chloe, we were just filming. It''s all fake, just part of the job, you know?"

    Seeing Michael like this, Chloe was a bit speechless. She shrugged and said, "I get it, it''s work."

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    "Really, it''s just work. Chloe, why didn''t you tell me you wereing?" Michael pulled Chloe aside to talk,pletely ignoring Rena and Zara.

    Zara felt a twinge of jealousy. Michael was the man she liked. How could he be chatting with Chloe instead of her?

    Shouldn''t he be talking to her? Was she not being forward enough?

    Rena also felt uneasy. As Michael''s assistant, she had developed some special feelings

    for him over their time together. She seemed to be a bit jealous of Chloe.

    After Michael wrapped up for the day, everyone gathered for a small get-together. Chloe and Zara, who had driven all day, finally got to sit down.

    Michael had arranged for an outdoor barbecue, and soon everyone was eating, drinking, and having a good time.

    During the festivities, Michael snapped some photos of everyone and posted them on his News Feed with the caption: [Your visit is the best surprise I''ve had this month.]

    In the photos, Chloe was holding a ss of wine, clinking sses with Zara.

    When Michael was taking photos, he deliberately captured Chloe''s left side, the side without the mole. In the picture, her skin appeared delicate, and her face was slightly flushed, giving her an innocent and pure look at first nce.

    After posting the photos, Michael went to chat with some friends from the set.

    Someone asked him, "Mic, there''s a rumor online that Miss Davis is your fianc¨¦e. Is that true?"

    "Yeah, Mic, is it true? What happenedst time on set when you got punched?"

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    "Aren''t you and Karlie supposed to be an on-screen couple? Now there''s Miss Davis. What about Miss Taylor?"

    Michael smiled at their questions.

    Fueled by the alcohol, he decided to clear things up a bit. "Let me tell you, Karlie and I are just colleagues. Even if we y an on-screen couple, it''s just for work. We''ve never even held hands.

    Miss Davis is the girl my grandpa picked for me. She might not be the prettiest, but I can assure you she''s kind-hearted and a great person. Besides, can I go against my grandpa''s wishes?

    As for the incident on set, it was a misunderstanding. My fianc¨¦e thought I wasn''t being faithful and got a bit jealous, so she took it out on me.

    Women can''t stand seeing their man with another woman, right?"

    Michael exined while drinking, giving everyone a knowing look.

    The group started cheering, demanding that Michael treat them.

    Michael, in high spirits, agreed and joined them for more drinks and banter. Meanwhile, Chloe and Zara were a little difortable.

    Zara, a bit tipsy, started confronting Chloe. "Chloe, what are we to each other?"

    Chloe, confused, replied, "We''re good friends, besties, right? What''s up?"

    Hearing this, Zara stood up abruptly, pointing at Chloe, slurring, "If we''re such good friends, why are you stealing my man?"

 Chapter 159 I Want to Date Him

    Zara''s words were giving Chloe a headache. "Zara, are you out of your mind? Steal your man? When did that even happen?"

    Zara immediately started listing examples. "Just tonight! Before we got here, didn''t I tell you I like Michael?"

    Chloe nodded. Zara had never hidden her feelings for Michael. She had mentioned more than once that she liked him.

    Chloe nodded again. "Yeah, I know you like Michael."

    "Since you know I like him, why aren''t you keeping your distance from him? When he left the set today, he should have talked to me first!"

    Zara''s baseless usations left Chloe speechless. Michael could talk to whoever he wanted. She hadn''t made him talk to her first.

    "Zara, you''re being ridiculous. Michael is his own person. I can''t make him talk to you." she exined.

    Zara ignored Chloe''s exnation, she clung to Chloe''s arm, pouting. " You have to make him talk to me. Tell him I like him and want to date him.

    Chloe, please help me. Get Michael toe over and talk to me.

    I want a picture with him, and I want his autograph... If you don''t help me, I''ll never speak to you again."

    Zara had had a few drinks and was starting to pressure Chloe. Chloe was getting annoyed, but considering they were good friends, she decided to help.

    Just as she was about to get up to call Michael, Rena, who had also had a few drinks, suddenly became bold and made her own request. "Chloe, I''m willing topete fairly with Zara..."

    Rena was usually timid and didn''t like to take the lead in difficult situations, but now she was saying she wanted topete fairly with Zara.

    Could it be that she also liked Michael?

    As the three of them were talking, Michael, who had just finished chatting with his friends, came over.

    He held a ss of wine and apologized repeatedly. "Sorry,dies. My friends were keeping me busy. What do you want to eat? I''ll grill it for you."

    At this point, Chloe didn''t dare ask Michael to grill anything for her. Both of her good friends liked Michael. If she dared to ask him for anything, they might just be angry.

    Chloe quickly declined. "No, I''m not hungry... I''m a bit tired. I''ll go rest in the RV for a while. You three chat."

    With that, she jogged away.

    Since her two friends wanted her to create opportunities for them, she decided to step aside.

    Back in the RV, Chloey on the bed and checked her phone. She reviewed the earnings report her assistant had sent and arranged some work.

    Through the RV window, she saw the barbecue scene outside. Rena and Zara were sitting around Michael, drinking and chatting.

    To avoid disturbing their time together, Chloe decided to get up early the next morning to go sketching.

    Oceancrest City was a beautiful ce, perfect for sketching.

    Having grown up in the rugged Northwest, Chloe wanted to fully appreciate the natural beauty of this charming town.

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    The next morning, Chloe got up early. She packed some food and drinks, grabbed her sketching board, and left the campsite, heading into town.

    She found a particrly scenic spot, set up her easel, and began to capture the surrounding beauty with her paintbrush.

    Chloe started learning how to paint at the age of three, andter, she majored in design at university. Her painting skills had only improved. Now that she had a rare moment without any interruptions, she could sit for hours. In no time, the surrounding beauty came to life on her canvas.

    Two hours passed, and she had finished half of her drawing. Taking a break, she went to the creek, scooped up some water, and washed her face.

    Here, away from the Martin Family, she didn''t need to hide her appearance, so she naturally removed the mole from her face while washing.

    After washing her face, Chloe sat back down to continue drawing.

    As she finished her painting and was about to pack up and leave, she noticed that not

    far from her, just a few dozen feet away, another easel had been set up.

    The owner of the easel was a young man in his twenties, wearing sses and with medium-length hair, looking gentle and soft-spoken.

    Seeing Chloe look back at him, he smiled shyly.

    He greeted her warmly. "Hi, I''m Floyd Gonzalez. Nice to meet you. I drew you. Do you think it looks like you?"

    Floyd turned his drawing around to show Chloe.

    Chloe realized that while she had been drawing the scenery, Floyd had been drawing

    her.

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    In the painting, she sat quietly looking at the scenery with a serious expression. Her delicate and fair face, paired with her natural demeanor, gave her the appearance of an exceptionally beautiful woman.

    Chloe wasn''t the type to talk to strangers easily. She ignored Floyd''s attempt at conversation, packed her things, and quickly left.

    Seeing Chloe leave, Floyd, undeterred, followed her. "Hey,dy, let''s get to know each other. I''m not a bad guy..."

    Feeling uneasy about Floyd''s persistence, Chloe decided to show him she wasn''t to be messed with. Without a word, she picked up a small stone and threw it at Floyd.

    Caught off guard, Floyd was hit on the head with a thud.

    He clutched his head and stopped in his tracks.

    Taking advantage of the moment, Chloe hurried away.

    Back at the RV campsite, Zara and Rena, who had been drinking all night, were awake. Seeing Chloe looking flustered, Zara and Rena couldn''t help but worry. "Chloe, what''s wrong? Why are you sweating so much? Did something happen?"

    Chloe put down her sketching board and told Zara and Rena, "Pack up. We need to leave here quickly. It''s not safe to camp here overnight."

    With that, Chloe started packing up with Zara and Rena. Half an hourter, they checked into a high-end guesthouse Chloe had booked online.

    Originally, Michael had arranged for them to stay in a luxury hotel, but Chloe, fearing Grant might find her, declined Michael''s offer and booked the guesthouse instead.

    She thought she was safe, but little did she know, the danger she was trying to avoid was getting closer and closer...

 Chapter 160 Whose Person, Who Saves

    After arriving at the guesthouse, Zara and Rena unpacked their things.

    Meanwhile, Chloe organized the drawings she had made that day. Once she was done, she suggested they all go out for some barbecue.

    As soon as they opened the door to the guesthouse, they were confronted by a tough- looking girl, nked by a few others around her age, standing right at the entrance.

    Seeing Chloe, Zara, and Rena step out, the group immediately surrounded them.

    "Which one of you is the tramp messing with Mic?" the tough girl demanded, repeatedly referring to "Mic," leaving Chloe, Zara, and Rena bewildered.

    This girl seemed to have a close connection with Michael.

    "Who are you?" Chloe asked cautiously, trying to gauge the situation.

    The tough girl put her hands on her hips, striking abative pose. "I''m the admin of Mic''s fan club. We''re all his fans," she dered fiercely.

    "We heard that one of you three is iming to be Mic''s fianc¨¦e and is trying to influence Mic''s career. On behalf of Mic''s fans, I''m here to tell you that we don''t ept this. Any behavior that threatens Mic''s career, we will stop."

    Chloe, Zara, and Rena exchanged nces, realizing they were in trouble.

    The tough girl pointed a finger at them. "Which one of you is Mic''s fianc¨¦e?"

    Rena, usually reserved, immediately shrank back. She raised her hand timidly. "Not me. I''m just Mic''s assistant... He pays me for my work."

    "Then it must be you," the girl said, pointing at Chloe.

    Chloe wasn''t about to get dragged into this mess. She was here on vacation, not to get into a fight with Michael''s fans. Besides, her engagement was with the Martin Family brothers, not just Michael. She could easily dodge this responsibility.

    Putting on a meek expression, she raised her hand. "How could it be me? Mic is so handsome. Why would he be interested in someone as in as me?"

    The tough girl nced at the mole on Chloe''s face and dismissed her as a suspect. Since it wasn''t Rena or Chloe, it had to be Zara.

    So, the tough girl turned to Zara and began lecturing her. "Don''t think just because you have an engagement with Mic, you can cling to him. Mic belongs to all of us. He won''t get married. We won''t let Mic marry you. Mic and Karlie are the real couple. This town doesn''t wee you. Get out."

    Zara was speechless, looking at Rena and Chloe. These two were really throwing her under the bus.

    Wasn''t Chloe the one engaged to the Martin Family? And wasn''t it Rena who, after a few drinksst night, insisted onpeting with her for Michael? Now they was denying everything?

    Zara had no choice but to step up. If she had any real connection with Michael, it wouldn''t be so bad. But even afterst night''s drinks, Michael hadn''t touched her. Taking the me was a real loss.

    "Oh... Fans, I think there''s been a misunderstanding. Michael and I are just friends..." Zara tried to exin. "I''m not his fianc¨¦e. We just had a few drinksst night. Believe me, I have no interest in him..."

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    The more Zara tried to exin, the more tangled her words became. Michael''s fans started closing in on her, ready to fight.

    Chloe realized this was bad. They were on the fans'' turf, and if things got violent, they wouldn''t stand a chance. Plus, if this got online, Grant would definitely see it ande drag her back.

    It was better to keep a low profile.

    Thinking quickly, Chloe grabbed Rena and Zara and ran.

    Seeing them flee, the tough girl shouted, "Chase them!"

    Just as Chloe was running for her life, she crashed into a solid chest.

    Looking up to apologize, she found herself staring into Grant''s sly, amused eyes.

    A cold sweat broke out on Chloe''s back. "Grantie... What are you doing here?"

    Chloe quickly greeted Grant, who wrapped an arm around her waist, smirking. "The world is big. I wanted to see it."

    Chloe was speechless.

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    As Michael''s fans were about to catch up, Grant scooped Chloe up and shoved her into a luxury car.

    With the car door shut, the fans were left outside.

    Chloe was safe, but she couldn''t abandon Zara and Rena.

    "Grantie... My friends, I can''t leave them here," Chloe pleaded.

    Grant didn''t even nce at her. He coldly instructed the driver to start the car, then turned to Chloe.

    He said with a mischievous smile on his face. "Everyone should handle their own problems. I don''t like meddling."

    The car sped away.

    Chloe anxiously watched out the window. Momentster, two more luxury cars arrived, and people she couldn''t identify took Rena and Zara away.

    Seeing this, Chloe grew even more worried. "Grantie, someone took them. We came here together. I can''t just ignore their safety."

    "Stop the car. Let me see who took them. I need to make sure they''re safe."

    Grant frowned at Chloe''s concern. She was quite loyal to her friends.

    She had snuck out, making him worry all night. He needed to settle that first.

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 Chapter 161 Can I Kiss You?

    Just as Grant was plotting his revenge, Chloe turned around and tugged at his sleeve, pouting. "Grantie, please let me go check on them..." Chloe''s voice was filled with pleading and innocence, like a little kitten that had made a mistake.

    Grant''s gaze remained icy, trying to maintain his stern demeanor, but Chloe didn''t give up and continued to act coyly.

    "I''m good friends with Zara and Rena. You can''t let me get a reputation for abandoning a friend in need, can you?" She gently tugged at his sleeve, her voice soft and sweet, like a feather gently brushing across his heart.

    "Grantie..." Chloe called his name again, with a hint of a coquettish drawl in her voice,pletely hitting Grant''s soft spot.

    Chloe''s soft words made Grant feel as if his head was filled with fluffy cotton, his thoughts bing hazy and indistinct. He felt a wave of helplessness wash over him, the sternness and coldness in his heart instantly diminishing. In his mind, the echo of her sweet, tender "Grantie" persisted.

    If Chloe had chosen to confront him with stubborn defiance, Grant might have been able to harden his heart and grab her to teach her a good lesson. However, faced with a Chloe who was softly pleading with innocent eyes, Grant found himselfpletely ensnared in her gentle trap.

    But with her acting all cute and pleading, Grant waspletely at a loss. It was undeniable that he had a weak spot for Chloe''s coquettish behavior.

    Even though his heart had softened, Grant still had to put on a stern face. He looked at Chloe with a cold expression. "You want to go check on your friends? Fine. But you messed up, and you need to be punished."

    Chloe''s heart started racing at Grant''s words. Punished? How?

    This was his car, and they were both sitting in the back seat. Grant''s driver was in the front. Surely, Grant wouldn''t do anything to embarrass himself in front of his driver, right?

    He''s the president of the Martin Group. He wouldn''t do anything to damage his reputation.

    With that thought, Chloe''s courage grew, she looked Grant in the eye and said, "So, how do you n to punish me?"

    Just as Chloe finished speaking, the driver pressed a button, and a partition slid down from the car''s ceiling, separating the front and back seats.

    The space in the back was now very private, and Chloe started to panic.

    Grant, seeing Chloe''s panic, smirked. He leaned in close to her.

    He pointed to his cheek and said, "Kiss me. Keep kissing me until I''m satisfied, and I''ll let you out. Otherwise, I''ll have the driver speed away, and your friends'' fate will be none of my concern."

    Grant''s shameless behaviorpletely crossed Chloe''s bottom line. Since she was a child, she had been negotiating business deals with Nichs and had never been ckmailed.

    However, Grant seemed to have found her weak spot and always managed to manipte her with precision.

    "You..." Chloe was getting frustrated.

    Seeing that Chloe wasn''t giving in, Grant didn''t mind. He crossed his arms and looked at her nonchntly. "Alright, if you don''t want to kiss me, that''s fine.

    Nichs entrusted you to us, the Martin brothers, but he didn''t entrust your friends to us. We''re responsible for your safety, not theirs. Let them fend for themselves.

    I''ve heard that fans can be pretty irrational. They might do some crazy things for their idols.

    Like beating people up, disfiguring them. I think there was even a murderst month. Scary stuff..."

    Grant knew exactly how to manipte Chloe. He deliberately said those words to let her understand the seriousness of the situation.

    Sure enough, under his rming words, Chloe gave in.

    She couldn''t risk her friends'' safety.

    So, she looked at Grant''s smug face and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, like a bird pecking at grain.

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    Grant''s lips curled into a slight smile.

    But it had been days since he had a deep kiss from Chloe. There was no way he was going to be satisfied with just that.

    He started to y dirty. "That''s it?"

    "What else do you want? You said to kiss you." Chloe''s face turned red as she awkwardly said the word "kiss."

    Grant argued back. "Do you call that a kiss? Just a light touch... That doesn''t count."

    Seeing Grant''s stern face, Chloe was flustered. "But I don''t know how to kiss... Grant, don''t be unreasonable..."

    Worried about her friends, Chloe was on the verge of tears. Seeing her genuinely distressed, Grant decided to stop teasing her.

    He lifted her chin and nted a firm kiss on her lips, like stamping a seal.

    After a moment, he said, "Remember, that''s a kiss..."

    Chloe stared at him, stunned. She thought, Grant had kissed her, so he should let her go check on Zara and Rena now, right?

    But the next second, Grant knocked on the partition, and the driver sped up, the car shooting forward like an arrow.

    Chloe panicked. "Hey, didn''t you say you''d let me out to save my friends? Why are we speeding up? Grantie, you''re not keeping your word. I hate you. Let me out!" Seeing Chloe so anxious, Grant couldn''t help butugh. He pulled her into his arms.

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    He whispered to her, "Your friends were taken by my people. I assure you, they''re safe.

    You don''t need to worry about them."

    Chloe didn''t believe him and was about to say something when she received messages from Zara and Rena in their group chat.

    Zara: [Guys, I''m safe. I''m in Liam''s car right now.]

    Rena: [Guys, my boss has taken me away.]

    Seeing these messages, Chloe realized Grant had yed her.

    Hehad used her concern for her friends to make her kiss him.

    He was just as bad as his brothers.

    Snuggled in Grant''s arms, Chloe looked at his smug face and felt a surge of anger.

    He had bullied her, and she needed to find a way to make him pay, or he''d keep

    ying with her.

    With that thought, Chloe pulled away from Grant''s embrace. She put on an innocent

    and cute expression, gazing at him with deep affection.

    As soon as Grant met her watery eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

    "Grantie..."

    Grant felt a shiver down his spine, sensing something was off.

    "Can I kiss you?" she asked softly.

 Chapter 162 Whose Idea Is It?

    Faced with Chloe''s request, Grant, who had always had a soft spot for her, couldn''t possibly refuse.

    His mind seemed to shut down instantly, goingpletely nk. In his eyes, Chloe appeared both innocent and irresistible at that moment, her allure making his thoughtse to a halt. Without thinking, Grant responded with a voice that was stiff yet tinged with a hint of panic, "Alright..."

    As soon as the words left his mouth, Chloe immediately leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck. Grant, caught off guard by Chloe''s boldness, was left flustered and at a loss.

    As soon as the words left his mouth, Chloe immediately leaned in, without a second thought, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind. Her actions were so direct and confident, catching Grantpletely off guard, leaving him utterly flustered and at a loss for what to do.

    She suddenly kissed Grant hard on the lips, and he gasped in shock.

    This wasn''t just a kiss; Chloe was biting him...

    Grant knew Chloe was usually well-behaved, but how could she do something so wild, like biting him?

    Half an hourter, Grant''s car pulled up in front of a high-end hotel in Oceancrest City. As he got out, he held a piece of paper to his lips.

    His face looked grim, and Michael and Liam approached him.

    "Grant, what happened? Why are you holding your mouth? Are you hurt?" Liam asked, concerned.

    Grant nced at Chloe, who was getting out of the car, and said, "It''s nothing. Toby''s driving was a bit rough, and I hit my mouth..."

    Toby, Grant''s driver, heard this and helplessly looked away.

    He was just a driver, but in the end, he had to take the me for everything.

    Seeing Grant in this state, Chloe felt a sense of satisfaction. Grant had messed with her, so biting him was fair payback.

    She wondered if he''d think twice before trying to mess with her again.

    Soon, Chloe followed the three brothers to a presidential suite in the hotel. As they opened the door, they saw Zara and Rena standing in the middle of the room, looking like they were in trouble, heads bowed.

    Michael and Liam''s faces were dark with anger. Hearing the door open, Zara and Rena instinctively looked towards Chloe.

    Chloe''s heart raced, and she felt a sudden wave of nervousness. She was sure they had exposed.

    She turned her head, intending to escape, but Grant had anticipated it. He reached out and grabbed Chloe by the back of her neck, lifting her into the room like a small chick. The door mmed shut.

    Michael started scolding Rena. "Rena, how dare you bring Chloe here without telling me? Do you know what could have happened if something went wrong?

    "f anything had happened to her, do you think my grandfather would have let me off the hook? Rena, do you want to lose your job?"

    Rena kept her head down, not daring to say a word in the face of Michael''s anger. After Michael finished, it was Liam''s turn.

    Pointing at Zara, he began to scold her. "Zara, you tricked me into thinking you were my goddess, and then you brought Chloe to Oceancrest City without a word. If I hadn''t seen your photos on Michael''s News Feed, I''d still be searching for you in Sovereign City.

    You''ve got some nerve. Do you know what happens when you cross me?"

    Liam''s voice boomed, and as the third heir of the Martin Family, Zara felt like a scolded schoolgirl, not daring to speak.

    Zara and Rena remained silent, afraid that saying anything would only make things

    worse.

    Then Grant turned his attention to Chloe. "Chloe, you''ve gotten bolder, haven''t you? How dare you run away from home! Do you think just because the Davis Family and the Martin Family have an engagement, I can''t do anything to you? Tell me, whose idea was it to sneak out?"

    Faced with Grant''s anger, the three girls looked at each other, none of them speaking. They honestly couldn''t remember whose idea it was.

    "Fine, not talking? Do you think I can''t deal with you if you stay silent? Liam, inform our business friends that the Gibson family''s business is no longer wee in Sovereign City. Let''s see them shut down for a year."

    Grant''s ruthless tactic was aimed at forcing the truth out of them.

    The head of the Gibson family business was Zara''s uncle, and she was currently living with them.

    And Rena''s parents worked for the Gibson Group, and if the business shut down, they''d lose their jobs.

    Chloe had been supporting the Gibson Group, and a year-long shutdown would affect her too.

    Grant''s move was a masterstroke, hitting them where it hurt.

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    As his words sank in, the three girls'' faces changed. They looked at each other in panic. Rena suddenly closed her eyes, then stepped forward with a determined look, saying loudly, "Mr. Grant Martin, Mr. Michael Martin, Mr. Liam Martin, it was my idea for us to leave Sovereign City.

    I wanted toe here to support my boss''s filming, and I asked them toe with me. It was my fault. I shouldn''t have brought them to Oceancrest City. Punish me however you see fit."

    Rena''s brave stance made Michael chuckle. He hadn''t thought much of her before, but today, she seemed kind of cute.

    It was a naive and fearless kind of cute.

    Seeing Rena step up, Zara didn''t want to back down either. For the sake of the Gibson family''s business, she was ready to take the fall.

    "Mr. Grant Martin, Mr. Michael Martin, Mr. Liam Martin, it was my idea. I couldn''t stand Mr. Grant Martin always bullying Chloe, so I suggested she leave the Martin Family for a while."

    Michael and Liam were puzzled to hear that Grant bullied Chloe. When did that happen? They had no idea.

    Michael noted the word "always," implying it wasn''t a one-time thing.

    Was there some misunderstandings here?

    They both looked at Grant, who felt a bit guilty and embarrassed.

    He still had his hand on Chloe''s neck, making the situation even harder to exin.

 Chapter 163 Grant is a Big Pervert

    "Liam, when did Grant ever bully Chloe?" Liam asked, raising an eyebrow at Grant.

    Michael chimed in, "Yeah, Grant. You''re usually pretty chill with Chloe. I can''t picture you bullying her."

    As soon as Michael said this, he felt a bit contradicted by reality. It seemed that Grant''s big hand was still firmly gripping Chloe''s delicate, white neck. If this wasn''t considered bullying, then what was?

    Grant let go of Chloe''s neck and, with a smug look, said, "She always causing trouble. Out of responsibility, I''m just teaching her a lesson. It''s not bullying."

    "Chloe, tell them, have I ever bullied you?" Grant leaned in close to Chloe, throwing her a curveball.

    If Chloe said he bullied her, he''d definitely demand specifics.

    No way could Chloe admit in front of everyone that Grant kissed her whenever he felt like it.

    To save face, she had to deny it.

    Thinking this through, Chloe reluctantly said, "No... Grant''s always nice to me. He''s never bullied me."

    Grant smirked, satisfied, he pressed on, "They said it was their idea to sneak out. So, whose idea was it to sneak out?"

    Grant clearly didn''t buy that Chloe would just follow Zara and Rena without a second thought.

    His gut told him Chloe was the ringleader.

    Chloe looked at Grant, made up her mind, and casually confessed, "Yeah, it was my idea to sneak out. I convinced them toe out and have some fun with me.

    I borrowed the RV, got all the supplies, and even paid for the tolls and gas.

    I''m the mastermind here. I''m a troublemaker, hard to handle, always causing problems. How about this, you guys just send me back to my hometown."

    With that, Chloe flopped down on the couch. She figured she was already in hot water, so no point in fearing Grant anymore.

    The three Martin brothers were stunned by Chloe''s boldness.

    She was a guest Louis had arranged to stay with the Martin family. If they dared send Chloe back, Louis would probably beat them up.

    Seeing Chloe''s defiant attitude, the three brothers exchanged confused looks.

    Zara and Rena, no longer just standing around, sat down on either side of Chloe like bodyguards.

    Zara even gave Chloe a thumbs-up.

    "Chloe, are you seriously threatening us?" Grant asked, a bit thrown.

    Chloe shot him a sideways nce and said, "I''ve threatened you more than once or twice. If you think I''m such a problem, just send me back to my hometown in the Northwest. That way, you won''t have to deal with me, and you won''t be responsible for me. Sounds perfect, right?"

    Seeing Chloe''s reaction, Grant couldn''t help but smile.

    He knew exactly what she was getting at.

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    Leaning in with a grin, he said, "You wanna go back to your hometown?

    No way!

    Even if we have to take responsibility, you''re staying with the Martin family for a year... No, scratch that. I''ve already talked to Nichs. He agreed you can stay with us until you graduate from college.

    Chloe, getting out from under my watch won''t be that easy."

    Grant''s words made Chloe jump up. She had thought she only needed to stay with the

    Martin family for a year as per Nichs''s request.

    But now, Grant asked her to stay until she graduated from college?

    Four years of college, and she still had three and a half years to go?

    No...

    Chloe was livid. She shot Grant a furious re and turned to leave the suite. But she hadn''t taken two steps when the bodyguards in the room blocked her path. "Miss Davis, there are fans of Mr. Michael Martin outside. Considering the conflict you had with them earlier, for your safety, please stay in the room." a bodyguard said. Chloe looked back at Grant in frustration, seeing him with one hand in his pocket, looking smug.

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    The other two brothers wore the same expression.

    Chloe angrily demanded, "If I can''t leave, at least offer me a ce to sleep. I''m tired and need to rest."

    Grant pointed towards the bedroom and said, "Go ahead, there''s a bedroom inside. Sleep wherever you want."

    Chloe waved at Zara and Rena, and the three of them headed into the bedroom of the presidential suite.

    As soon as the door closed, the three women started discussing fiercely. "Chloe, how did Grant and Liam find us so quickly? You don''t know, but Liam looked at me like he wanted to kill me," Zara said, clutching her chest in fear. Half an hour ago, they had been surrounded by Michael''s fans, and just as they escaped, Liam had grabbed her and shoved her into his luxury car.

    She had wanted to run away, but Liam coldly said, "If you want me to settle old and new scores with you, go ahead and get out."

    Zara was instantly scared stiff.

    Rena, also worried, said, "Oh no, my boss seemed really angry this time. What if he fires me and doesn''t let me be his assistant anymore? It was so hard for me to get this high-paying job."

    "Chloe, we''re done for. We thought we could have some fun for a few days, but now we''re practically under house arrest. Do you think Mr. Grant Martin will keep us locked up here for days?" Rena was very concerned.

    Chloe shared the same worry. She just wanted to see the sights. If Grant really kept her locked up here for days, it would ruin her mood.

    Thinking about Grant''s attitude towards her, Chloe started cursing. "Pervert, damn pervert... Grant is such a big pervert..."

 Chapter 164 He Also Has the Nerve to Make a Move

    Chloe calling Grant a pervert was something Zara and Rena both agreed on.

    After all, the two young heirs of the Martin family seemed pretty scared of Grant too. It was probably Grant who came up with the idea of keeping the three confined here.

    Rena spoke softly, "Well, even if he is a pervert, there''s nothing we can do about it. Chloe, Zara said Mr. Grant Martin always bullies you. This time, we''ve made such a big mistake, he probably won''t let you off easily."

    "Yeah, do you think he''ll be even more of a pervert?" Zara chimed in.

    Her words made Chloe''s face turn pale. Usually, he would kiss her whenever he felt like

    it. This time, she had made such a big mistake, and he said he would punish her. How would he punish her?

    Would he... take it a step further?

    Chloe''s heart started to race.

    Even though she liked looking at handsome guys and hanging out with male models, she was still a virgin.

    What if Grant had some inappropriate thoughts about her?

    Just as Chloe was scratching her head in anxiety, not knowing what to do, Zara, as if performing a magic trick, pulled out a quite ttened box from the pocket of her pants.

    She tore it open and pulled out a few square-shaped items, stuffing them into Chloe''s hand.

    Holding Chloe''s hand, Zara said earnestly, "Chloe, it''s okay. I''ve thought it through for you. If he gets more perverted, you need to protect yourself."

    Chloe looked down at her hand.

    There were two dotted condoms in her palm.

    As a newly turned adult, it was Chloe''s first time encountering such a thing. Seeing the word "condom" on the box made her want to find a hole to crawl into.

    Her face turned bright red.

    "No, I don''t want this." Chloe said, throwing the condoms to the ground.

    Zara, like a caring friend, sighed and picked them up, stuffing them back into Chloe''s hand.

    "Chloe, you should keep them. They not only prevent pregnancy but also protect against diseases. You don''t want to marry into the Martin family, right? If Grant forces you and you get pregnant, you''ll have no choice but to marry him. With these condoms, even if he''s a pervert, you still have some control."

    Zara''s reasoning was sound, and Rena nodded in agreement. "Yes, Chloe, Zara is right. You should keep them."

    With that, she grabbed the condoms and stuffed them into Chloe''s pocket. Just as Chloe was about to take them out, the door suddenly burst open.

    Grant, with a dark expression, said to Chloe, "Come with me to that room."

    Before Chloe could react, he grabbed her by the cor and dragged her out like a little chick.

    Watching Chloe being dragged away pitifully, Zara and Rena leaned on each other, sighing.

    "Good thing I thought ahead, or the consequences would be unimaginable."

    "Yeah, if she get pregnant, she would be stuck."

    "What does Mr. Grant Martin mean by this?"

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    "What else could it mean? He''s obviously a pervert. Chloe just turned 18, and he dares to make a move?"

    Grant dragged Chloe to another presidential suite. As soon as the door opened, the aroma of food wafted out.

    Chloe looked up and saw several chefs in the suite, cooking on the spot. When they saw Grant bringing Chloe in, they ced the finished dishes on the table and left.

    Chloe walked to the table and looked at the dishes.

    There were authentic Northwestern cuisine, with vibrant colors and enticing aromas. Just the smell made her mouth water.

    Grant asked, "Hungry?"

    Chloe nodded, "Yeah, I was about to eat when I ran into Michael''s fans."

    After grumbling, she sat down and picked up the utensils, pointing at the food, "Can I eat?"

    Grant nodded, "Go ahead."

    Chloe was about to eat but then paused, resting her head on her hand. "If only there was a bowl of Cream of Wheat, that would be perfect..."

    Cream of Wheat was something Chloe often ate in the Northwest. Since leaving, she hadn''t had it.

    Hearing this, Grant took off his jacket and headed to the kitchen.

    Chloe was curious. What was he doing in the kitchen? She followed and saw Grant making Cream of Wheat.

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    "You know how to make it?" Chloe was surprised.

    Grant replied casually, "It''s just a peice of cake. What''s so hard about it? Don''t forget, I often went to the Northwest... when I was a kid..."

    Grant stopped mid-sentence, poured milk into the Cream of Wheat, and in no time, a bowl of creamy, delicious Cream of Wheat appeared before Chloe like magic.

    Grant ced the bowl on the table. "Cream of Wheat is ready. Let''s eat."

    Chloe picked up her utensils and started eating. After a few bites, she worried about Zara and Rena next door.

    "There''s so much food here, we can''t finish it all. My friends haven''t eaten either. Can we send some over to them?" Chloe asked.

    Without thinking, Grant refused. "Do I know them? Why should I give them my food? Besides, they have people taking care of them. You don''t need to worry. Hurry up and eat. I need to take you outter."

    Grant said, putting some food on Chloe''s te.

    Seeing his stern expression, Chloe decided not to argue and started eating.

    The chefs Grant found were really good. The Northwestern dishes were delicious, and Chloe, who hadn''t eaten all day, was full.

    After finishing, Grant went to the bedroom and came back with a beautifully wrapped box, tossing it to Chloe.

    "Change into this... we''re going out."

    Hearing that Grant wanted to take her out, Chloe was troubled. She refused, "It seems

    a bit inappropriate for you to take me along when you''re going out on business. How about I just stay back?"

 Chapter 165 Changing Clothes for You

    Hearing Chloe''s refusal, Grant''s face turned icy. Without a word, he ripped open the box, pulled out the dress, and stepped closer to Chloe.

    Chloe felt a wave of danger wash over her.

    With a hint of fear in her voice, she asked, "What are you doing?"

    Grant grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. "Helping you change, of course," he said with a sinister grin.

    Chloe struggled against him. "Grant, I told you, I''m not going."

    "You eat my food, live in my house, and you think you can just say no? If you say no again, I won''t hesitate to change your clothes myself." With that, Grant actually reached out, intending to undress her.

    Chloe was taken aback by Grant''s actions; she never expected a man as lofty as Grant to resort to such persistent and relentless tactics.

    She didn''t dare take the risk.

    Because she believed Grant would definitely do it.

    So, after a brief moment of thought, she gave in.

    She grabbed the dress from Grant''s hand and said, "I''ll change myself."

    Seeing Chloeply, Grant''s lips curled into a smile. He gently patted her head and said, "You are a good girl..."

    Chloe went to the bedroom, took off her clothes, and put on the dress Grant had bought for her.

    Since arriving in Oceancrest City, Chloe had always worn her hair down. To match the dress, she specifically put her hair up.

    When she appeared in front of Grant, he was stunned by her beauty.

    Chloe wasn''t very tall, but she was well-proportioned. The long dress she wore entuated her figure, making her appear especially slender. The dress was white, and given Chloe''s naturally fair skin, thebination created an aura of pure, sublime beauty.

    With her hair up, she looked even more clean and neat.

    The only thing that slightly marred her appearance was a small mole on her face.

    But to Grant, it didn''t matter at all.

    After looking her up and down, he said, "Well... not bad."

    Chloe held her old clothes and asked, "My clothes are a bit dirty. I want to wash them. Is there a washing machine in the room?"

    "Yeah, I''ll help you wash them." Grant took the clothes from Chloe and headed to the bathroom.

    Just as he took a step, a condom that Rena had slipped into Chloe''s pocket fell out with a loud plop.

    Chloe''s heart sank. She looked down and saw the condoms lying right in front of Grant.

    It was so incredibly awkward.

    Chloe wished she could just disappear.

    Why did the condom have to fall out at this very moment? And of all ces, it had to drop right in front of Grant

    She wanted to pick them up and make up a lie, but Grant was quicker. He bent down and picked up the condoms.

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    When he saw the words on the packaging, his face darkened. When he turned to look

    at Chloe, his eyes were filled with anger.

    "Are these yours?" he asked.

    Chloe first nodded, then shook her head, and then nodded again...

    "They''re not mine, they''re... Zara''s... no, they''re mine..." Chloe felt like she couldn''t exin it clearly.

    Initially, she wanted to say that Zara had given it to her. However, Grant was already not on good terms with Zara and Rena. If she were to mention their names again, it would probably solidify their image as troublesome girls in Grant''s mind.

    Forget it, she''d take the me herself.

    She decisively admitted they were hers.

    Seeing her like this, Grant''s chest heaved with anger.

    He looked at Chloe''s face and sternly began to lecture her. "Chloe, this is too much. How old are you? And you have these things in your pocket? Do you even know what they''re for?

    Why can''t you just focus on your studies? Why are you always learning bad things? Tell me, where did you get these? Have you used them?"

    Faced with Grant''s angry questions, Chloe didn''t know how to respond.

    Of course, she had thought about going head-to-head with Grant, maybe even having another argument with him. But the moment she considered the possibility of him telling her grandfather about it, Chloe instantly chickened out.

    She pondered for a long time, unsure of how to handle it.

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    Just as Grant was pressing her further, she suddenly had an idea and lunged at him.

    Before Grant could react, she wrapped her arms around his waist and softly said, "Grantie, I haven''t used them... What are they for?

    I found them on the street and was curious. I wanted to see what they were, but you found them before I could.

    Grantie, I''ve been good. I''ve been studying hard at school. Can you tell me what those things are for?"

    Chloe turned the situation around, clinging to Grant''s neck and looking at him with innocent eyes.

    This was called "Take the road less traveled and leave a path for others to follow."

    Originally, Grant was furious seeing the condoms in Chloe''s pocket.

    But after Chloe''s innocent exnation, his anger gradually dissipated.

    Especially when she asked him how to use the condoms, Grant felt a strange heat inside him. He felt like he had no way to deal with Chloe.

    He was bewitched by Chloe, and he probably would never be able to break free from her spell.

    Instinctively, Grant wrapped his arms around Chloe''s waist and pulled her up, making her hang onto him like a human backpack.

    He lowered his face, pressing his nose against Chloe''s forehead, and asked in a slightly rough voice, "Are you sure you want me to teach you how to use these?"

    As their bodies pressed together, Chloe could clearly feel the tension in Grant''s waist.

    The hormones in the room made Chloe''s face heat up. She had only intended to calm Grant''s anger, but she had inadvertently ignited his desire.

    Chloe knew she had to stop this, or else the condoms in Grant''s hand might actually be used tonight.

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 Chapter 166 Grant is a Bit Pretentious

    Chloe was starting to regret her actions.

    Thinking of this, Chloe quickly pushed away from Grant, who had his arms around her waist, and created some distance between them.

    "Grant, didn''t you say we were going out?" Chloe asked, a bit flustered.

    Grant looked at her and a slight smile yed on his lips.

    Chloe had been teasing him just moments ago, and now she was backing down?

    The desire she had stirred in him needed an outlet, didn''t it?

    With that thought, Grant took a step forward and replied, "No rush, Chloe. After teasing me like that, are you nning to just leave me hanging?"

    He reached out and pulled the unsuspecting Chloe back into his arms.

    Chloe''s chest pressed against Grant''s, and they could both clearly hear each other''s heartbeats.

    The atmosphere was somewhat intimate, and Chloe sensed danger. She once again tried to put some distance between herself and Grant, but his deep kiss descended upon her.

    He kissed her lips, her face, her earlobes, and down to her neck.

    Chloe''s scent was like a catalyst, making Grant''s actions increasingly uncontroble.

    Chloe, who was usually very rational, found her logic useless against Grant''s aggressive advances.

    Her body gradually went limp, and the dress she had just put on seemed like it was about to be taken off by Grant.

    Just as Chloe''s body, like a water snake, wrapped around Grant''s, his phone on the table began to ring violently.

    The ringtone shattered the moment, and Grant pulled away from Chloe''s face with a pained expression.

    He cursed under his breath and turned to answer the call.

    Chloe took the opportunity to straighten her clothes.

    After a few words on the phone, Grant turned back to Chloe and urged, "Alright, we can go now. They''re waiting for us..."

    Chloe pouted her lips at Grant, implying, ''Now you realize time is tight?'' When he was passionately kissing her earlier, she didn''t see Grant feeling pressed for time.

    They quickly tidied themselves up and left the presidential suite. Chloe nced sideways at Grant.

    He looked all serious and proper now, with no trace of the yful smile from earlier. Thinking back to how he had kissed her, Chloe felt that Grant was quite the actor... But she seemed to be quite taken with his act.

    The two of them got into Grant''s luxury car and headed to a vi located about a dozen miles from Oceancrest City. Oceancrest City, known for its beautiful mountains and waters, had historically attracted many talented individuals to visit, create, and seek inspiration.

    In recent years, manyrge cultural events had been held in Oceancrest City.

    Grant''s car pulled into the vi''s parking lot, and as soon as they got out, someone approached them.

    "Grant..."

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    Hearing the male voice, Chloe turned to see Floyd jogging towards them.

    From a distance, she could see a bandage on Floyd''s head, with a hint of blood seeping through.

    If Chloe guessed correctly, the injury on Floyd''s head was probably her doing.

    When she was sketching earlier, she had mistaken Floyd, who had approached her, for

    a troublemaker. She never imagined that Floyd was Grant''s cousin.

    If that was the case, Floyd must be rted to Harry too?

    Chloe felt a wave of anxiety and covered her face with her hand, hoping Floyd wouldn''t recognize her.

    After all, she had definitely hit him on the head with a rock. If he decided to pursue the matter, it could cause some trouble.

    However, her worry was a bit unnecessary. While sketching in the morning, she had worn sportswear, her face was free of makeup, and she hadn''t deliberately made herself look unattractive. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, presenting a clean and neat image.

    But now, her hair was styled in big waves cascading over her shoulders, and her face was covered with freckles and moles, making her almost too unsightly to look at. Floyd probably wouldn''t be able to recognize her even if he put on his sses.

    As Floyd reached Grant''s side, he called out to him again, his tone full of admiration.

    "Let me introduce you. This is Miss Chloe Davis," Grant eagerly introduced Chloe to Floyd.

    He didn''t seem to notice Chloe''s awkward attempt to hide her face.

    "Nice to meet you, Miss Davis," Floyd greeted Chloe politely.

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    The engagement between the Davis and Martin families was no secret among the prominent families. Floyd wasn''t particrly curious about the supposedly unattractive Miss Davis.

    However, since she was with Grant, Floyd was willing to show her some respect. "Chloe, this is my cousin Floyd Gonzalez. He''s Harry''s brother, both sons of my aunt," Grant exined, worried that Chloe might not know Floyd.

    Chloe awkwardly lifted her face and greeted Floyd, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Gonzalez."

    The moment Chloe lifted her face, Floyd immediately spotted the mole on her face. Normally, any man seeing this mole would be taken aback, but surprisingly, Floyd wasn''t.

    Instead, he seemed very interested in the mole on Chloe''s face.

    "Miss Davis, how long have you had that mole on your face?" Floyd asked, breaking the norm.

    Chloe covered the mole with her hand, looking confused.

    Could she say that the mole had appeared on her face the day she arrived in Sovereign City? She had specifically ordered them online, a dor each, a hundred at a time, to ensure she looked unattractive.

    Floyd wasn''t interested in her background or her appearance, but he was curious about the mole on her face?

    What did that mean? Was he part of some special group?

    Seeing Chloe''s surprised expression, Floyd smiled gently, breaking the awkwardness.

    He exined, "Miss Davis, don''t misunderstand. I''m actually a medical student specializing in dermatology.

    I noticed that the shape and color of your mole aren''t quite right, and I''m concerned it

    might be mnoma. That''s why I asked.

    So, how long have you had that mole?"

 Chapter 167 Unable to Conceal Her Ugliness

    Floyd, instead of being taken aback, actually persisted in asking Chloe about her mole.

    Chloe was at a loss for words. She nced at Grant, hoping he''d step in, but to her surprise, Grant said something totally unexpected. "Floyd is a highly skilled medical professional who has been practicing abroad, specifically as a dermatologist. His expertise in the field is well known.

    That mole on your face is pretty big. Mnoma is a type of cancer, you know. You should talk to Floyd about it to avoid any serious issues."

    Chloe shot Grant a look that could kill. He knew her mole was fake, so why was he acting all concerned?

    She turned to Floyd, trying to keep her cool. "I''ve had this mole for about a year. It doesn''t hurt or itch, and I had it checked out at the hospital. The doctor said it was fine.

    Dr. Gonzalez, you seem really busy. No need to worry about this minor thing."

    Chloe dismissed Floyd coldly. Why was he so eager?

    But Floyd, being the professional he was, didn''t back down. "Miss Davis, that mole really affects your appearance. I''m pretty good at mole removal surgery. How about you schedule an appointment with me, and I''ll take care of it?

    I promise, my surgical skills are top-notch. You won''t have a single scar."

    Chloe red at him. Clearly, Floyd hadn''t recognized her.

    Feeling a bit bolder, Chloe stared directly at Floyd, regretting she hadn''t hit him harder earlier.

    Grant was struggling to hold back hisughter, but Chloe''s re made him stifle it.

    After a moment, Grant cleared his throat and said, "Actually, Floyd means well. Chloe, you really should get that mole removed... Why not schedule an appointment with Floyd and get it over with?"

    Grant had known for quite some time that the mole on Chloe''s face was fake. Now, he

    was actually encouraging Chloe to have it removed, clearly with the intention of making a mockery of her.

    Chloe wasn''t going to let him get away with it.

    She moved closer to him, hooked her arm around his, and just as he was feeling smug, she pinched a small bit of flesh on his arm through his shirt.

    The pain wiped the smile off Grant''s face instantly.

    Chloe, seeing his expression change, whispered, "Grantie, I think you have a small mole on your stomach. It looks like it could be cancerous. Maybe you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Gonzalez to get it removed."

    Grant was speechless.

    How did Chloe even notice the mole on his stomach?

    She was quick to use what she had just learned!

    Worried that Floyd might actually take a scalpel to him, Grant decided not to tease Chloe any further.

    He turned to Floyd and said, "We''ll talk about the mole removalter. Floyd, didn''t you say you wanted to show me some paintings today? Where are they?"

    Hearing Grant mention the paintings, Floyd eagerly led the way.

    As Floyd''s cousin, Grant knew him well. Floyd had studied medicine, but somewhere along the way, he had developed a passion for painting.

    Despite everyone using him of not focusing on his proper profession, Floyd had proven them wrong. He''s held several sessful art exhibitions, and it was said that his ie from selling his paintings alone had catapulted him into the ranks of the elite.

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    This time, he hade to Oceancrest City to enjoy the scenery and do some painting, as well as to hold a small exhibition to showcase some of his works.

    Since the Martin brothers were all in Oceancrest City, and Grant had a keen interest in art, he had been invited to the exhibition.

    Floyd chatted with Grant as they walked.

    "Grant, let me tell you, Oceancrest City is truly amazing... Not only is the scenery beautiful, but there are also some stunning women here.

    Today I went out for some sketching and happened toe across a girl. She was truly beautiful, with a natural and pure look, free from any artificial embellishments. She was as fresh and elegant as a lotus flower in clear water, stunningly beautiful. In all these years, I''ve never seen a girl who moved me so much.

    Grant, I even painted her. If I ever see her again, I''m definitely going to confess my feelings to her."

    Floyd openly shared his thoughts with Grant, making Chloe a bit nervous.

    Even though she had disguised herself with a mole and freckles, so Floyd hadn''t recognized her. But she couldn''t be sure that Grant wouldn''t recognize her from Floyd''s painting.

    Floyd''s open admiration for her made Chloe worry that Grant might get jealous.

    Grant already had a lot of pent-up frustration about her sneaking off to Oceancrest City. If he found out that Floyd had feelings for her, he would definitely be crazy.. Chloe was afraid of his punishment.

    Especially when he kissed her fiercely, she could feel his desire to devour her.

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    With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, they entered a meticulously decorated room. Inside, several influential men were already present, each apanied by a morous partner.

    When the men saw Grant, they all came forward to greet him.

    It was clear that Grant held a high status in the business world.

    While the men exchanged pleasantries, Chloe, feeling out of ce, found a corner to

    sip her drink and study Floyd''s paintings.

    As a design student, Chloe had a good understanding of art.

    She had to admit, Floyd''s painting skills were impressive, especially hisndscapes, which had a lifelike quality.

    Chloe stood in front of one painting, sipping her drink and studying it intently, oblivious to her surroundings.

    A few minutester, some unpleasantments reached her ears.

    "Hey, who''s that woman with Mr. Martin? She looks so young, and she''s so ugly."

    "Yeah, that mole on her face is disgusting. Even a designer dress can''t hide her ugliness."

    "You probably don''t know, but she''s the Davis family''s daughter, the one engaged to

    the Martin family. She may be ugly, but she''s rich."

    "I bet Mr. Martin only brought her here because he had no choice."

 Chapter 168 Shameless?

    The chatter of a few women caught Chloe''s attention. Chloe wasn''t one to enjoy being the subject of gossip, but right now, she was particrly curious about what these women had to say about her.

    The women grew louder, seemingly wanting Chloe to hear their conversation.

    "Of course, Mr. Martin is so handsome. If it weren''t for the engagement, would he really bring such an unattractive woman out to embarrass himself?"

    "Yeah, at the very least, he should be with someone as beautiful as us."

    "We pretty women are like trophies for men. My Brad loves taking me out."

    "Mr. Martin must have had no choice but to bring her. It''s really pitiful."

    They were being so tant that it would be inappropriate for Chloe to pretend she hadn''t heard them.

    At that moment, she turned and said to the women, "Hey, olddies, this is an art exhibit. Please keep your voices down."

    The women had been hoping for a reaction from Chloe. Her response gave them the perfect excuse to confront her.

    They wanted to take the initiative and drive Chloe, this unattractive woman, away from Grant.

    "Hey, ugly girl, who are you calling ''olddies''? We''re all young here. Is it really appropriate?" one woman, her face caked with makeup, snapped at Chloe.

    Chloe was puzzled by her reaction. Had she said something wrong?

    This woman looked to be in her mid-thirties. Despite the heavy concealer, the wrinkles around her eyes were evident.

    Chloe thought she was being respectful by not calling her "auntie."

    "Yeah, what''s with the way you talk? If you can''t speak properly, just don''t. Who are you calling ''olddies''?"

    Another woman chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

    Chloe, exasperated, asked, "Then what should I call you?"

    "Obviously, you should call us ''beauties''..." One woman quickly took over the conversation, forcing Chloe to call them beauties.

    Chloe swallowed hard, not wanting to cause any trouble, andpromisingly said, "Alright,dies, please keep your voices down. This is an art exhibition, and we need to be quiet so it doesn''t affect my appreciation of the artwork."

    Chloe''s politeness did not appease the women. Instead, they moved closer to her and began mocking her.

    "Oh, ugly girl, you actually understand art?"

    "With a face like that, shouldn''t you be getting some work done instead ofing to an art exhibit? Are you that bored?"

    "Hey, don''t be so harsh. Just because she''s ugly doesn''t mean shecks taste, right?"

    "Exactly. That''s why she''s using her family background and the engagement to cling to Mr. Martin."

    "Such a shameless young woman, isn''t she?"

    Before Chloe stuck the mole on her face, she had already anticipated the kind of strange looks a disfigured appearance would bring her. However, she did not expect that these strangers would use her unattractive face as a basis for personal attacks. Was she clinging to Grant? It was clearly Grant who was clinging to her!

    Chloe crossed her arms and shot back at the woman who called her shameless, "Shameless? Really? I''m single, he''s single, and we''re engaged. What''s so shameless about that?

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    But what about you? Do you have a marriage certificate or an engagement with your big-shot boyfriend?"

    Chloe''s words made the woman''s face turn pale, and her eyes started darting around nervously.

    From her reaction, Chloe was sure this woman was some big-shot''s mistress.

    A mistress daring to insult her? How ridiculous.

    The woman snorted, "Your argument doesn''t hold. So what if you have an engagement? Mr. Martin is so handsome, and you are ugly. You can''t use an engagement to tie him down for life, can you?"

    "Yeah, an engagement without love won''t be blessed. Ugly girl, you don''t deserve to stand next to Mr. Martin." Another woman chimed in, directing her words at Chloe.

    Chloe chuckled. "Wow, you know a lot. Did Grant tell you I''m trying to tie him down with the engagement?

    And who are you anyway? Do I need your blessing? Mind your own business.

    And you say I don''t deserve to be with Grant. If you think you do, go ahead and stand next to him. Let''s see."

    Chloe knew how to get under people''s skin. With just a few words, she had these women fuming.

    They wanted to stand next to Grant, but someone like Grant would never give them the time of day.

    He''d probably kick them away before they even got close.

    The women were getting more and more agitated, bing increasingly unreasonable.

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Hey, ugly girl, don''t go too far. Just because you have a good family background doesn''t mean you can bully us."

    "Yeah, we''re not pushovers."

    "We''re a few years older, so we can give you some advice. Do you have to be so rude and ungrateful?"

    "Don''t you have elders at home to teach you how to speak?"

    Chloe smirked and decided to fight back. If they wanted a confrontation, she was ready to give them one.

    She couldn''t deal with Grant, but dealing with these women was easy.

    Chloe took them down one by one. "Yes, I''m using my good family background to bully you. If you don''t like it, bully me back.

    And you say you''re not pushovers? Well, I''m pushing you. What can you do about it?

    You want to give me advice? You''re all living off some big-shot, and you have the nerve

    to advise me? What, you want to teach me your underhanded tricks?

    Furthermore, my elders taught me to speak inly when addressing people, but to deal with dogs directly with a stick. Are you not properly disciplined, talking nonsense here like this?"

    Chloe''s sharp tongue left the women speechless. They hadn''t expected that trying to teach this ugly girl a lesson would backfire so spectacrly.

    This girl had quite the mouth on her.

    Themotion quickly drew the attention of the men at the exhibit, who were busy socializing.

    They hurried over to see what was happening.

    Seeing their backup arrive, the women began twisting the truth, badmouthing Chloe.

 Chapter 169 You Have To Go Through Proper Channels.

    "What''s going on here? Why''s everyone arguing?" A man in his forties asked, his voice stern as he looked at the women.

    One of the women quickly moved closer to him, almost like a delicate bird seeking protection.

    "Honey, we weren''t arguing. This girl just started calling us dogs out of nowhere," she said, her voice sweet but usatory.

    Hearing the woman''s words, the man turned to look at Chloe. When he saw the mole on her face, a clear expression of disdain appeared.

    He remembered, this girl was brought by Grant. He''d spent the whole evening talking to Grant, who hadn''t mentioned her much. In fact, Grant had kept his distance from her.

    It seemed this girl was the infamous ugly duckling from the Davis family, rumored to be forcing her way to marry into the Martin family.

    "Yeah, we were just having a nice conversation, and she started attacking us. We were just trying to give her some friendly advice, and she went off on us," another woman added.

    "Exactly! She even dared us to confront her if we had any guts."

    "She looks down on us, and by extension, she looks down on you men too. We came here with you, and she''s disrespecting us, which means she''s disrespecting you."

    "She''s got to far. Don''t step on someone''s toes without considering who they are connected to, right? This girl has no boundaries."

    The women continued to use Chloe, conveniently leaving out the nasty things they had said to her earlier.

    When Chloe heard that, she couldn''t help but smile. These women were essentiallyparing themselves to dogs.

    In just a few words, Chloe was painted as a troublemaker and an ill-mannered ugly girl.

    She initially wanted to exin, but she realized that any exnation she gave would seem weak and ineffective.

    These women were twisting the truth, and it would be hard to convince the men otherwise with just her words.

    The men looked at Chloe with displeasure, and Chloe instinctively nced at Grant. Grant''s expression remained cold, his gazeplex and unreadable. He held a ss of fine champagne, looking like he was just there for the show.

    "Hey, they say you bullied them. What do you have to say?" A man who looked to be in histe forties asked Chloe with a calm expression.

    Chloe nced at him, finding him somewhat familiar. She remembered seeing an interview with him in a business magazine. His name was Vernon Graves. He had started in manufacturing, but after his business went bankrupt, his wife left him, and he ended up with his mistress.

    Unwilling to ept his downfall, he illegally raised some funds and revived his business. Now, his business was just starting to pick up, but he still had a significant financial gap.

    Recently, he had gone to the Northwest to seek support from Nichs, but Nichs hadn''t even agreed to meet him.

    After he left, Nichs''s people had said, "Who does he think he is, wanting to meet Nichs?"

    Hearing Vernon''s question, Chloe shrugged. "They say I bullied them, but I didn''t." One of the women got anxious and snapped, "How can you say that? Didn''t you use us of using underhanded methods to seduce men?"

    "Yeah, and you said you were using your family background to bully us. What could we do about it?"

    "You also said your elders taught you to speak inly to people and hit dogs with a stick. You called us dogs. Did you say that?"

    In their panic, the women revealed the offensive things Chloe had said to them, pushing her to admit her words.

    Chloe didn''t avoid it and said directly, "Yes, I said those things."

    "In the beginning, I was just standing here looking at the paintings. It was you who said that I do not deserve to stand in front of Grant because I am ugly. You imed that Grant only brought me out because he was coerced by the marriage agreement between the Martin Family and the Davis Family. So, I want to ask you, Grantie, do you also think that I am clinging to you?" Chloe looked at Grant as she spoke.

    Grant''s face darkened. He nced around at the women and then spoke slowly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I didn''t realize my personal affairs were of such interest to your women."

    Grant''s words made the men ufortable. They were all business elites, butpared to the Martin family, they were far behind.

    Their women discussing Grant''s personal matters was inappropriate.

    They all apologized to Grant, except for Vernon, who had caught on to what Chloe had said.

    Chloe mentioned the marriage agreement between the Martin and Davis families. If he understood correctly, this ugly girl might be Nichs''s only heiries of the Davis family. Vernon knew very well how powerful the Davis family was.

    Seeing everyone apologizing to Grant, Chloe said. "Myst name is Davis, from the Davis family in the Northwest. Even if I did use my family background to bully them, anyone who wants to avenge their women cane at me. I''m ready.

    And before you seek revenge, let me remind you that your women said my family didn''t raise me well. I wonder what my grandfather would think if he heard that."

    Chloe''s words immediately drew the men''s attention back to her.

    They stopped apologizing to Grant because offending Grant could be mended, but offending Nichs from the Northwest could ruin them in the business world.

    Even if Chloe had bullied their women, they had to ept it.

    Given Chloe''s family background, bullying them was a favor.

    The Davis family was giving them such a favor, and they had to ept it.

    Vernon was the first to react. He turned to the woman he had brought and pped her

    hard.

    "Fuck, I brought you here to be a decoration, and you''re causing trouble? You dare

    offend Miss Davis? Do you have a death wish?"

    Vernon''s p stunned his woman and scared the other women.

    The situation had changed so quickly that they couldn''t process it.

 Chapter 170 Not Being Morally Blackmailed

    Vernon flew into a rage, harshly scolding his partner with swift and severe actions. Witnessing this, the others quickly followed suit, not wanting to fall behind.

    The usually docile women were now receiving rebukes and reprimands from their respective men, creating a temporarily chaotic scene. The men''s tones were both angry and urgent.

    Within a few minutes, the mor began to subside, giving way to a chorus of apologies. Various tones and phrases, tinged with a mix of panic and resignation, intertwined in the room.

    "Mr. Martin, it''s our fault for not teaching our women better. Please, for the sake of our long-standing partnership, ask Miss Davis to forgive us."

    "Yeah, Mr. Martin, we messed up."

    "Mr. Martin..."

    These men didn''t want to bow to someone as young as Chloe, but they also couldn''t risk offending the Davis Family.

    They assumed Chloe was with Grant, and if Grant spoke on their behalf, Chloe would surely listen to him.

    They cautiously cast sidelong nces in Chloe''s direction while continuing to apologize to Martin, hoping to defuse the crisis. The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly oppressive and tense, with each man''s face appearing haggard and

    resigned.

    After all, the things these women said today would cause a lot of trouble for these men if they ever reached Nichs''s ears.

    At best, they''d struggle in the business world.

    At worst, they might disappear from it entirely.

    Nichs, a business titan, could control even the powerful Martin Family. What were theypared to him?

    Seeing everyone trying to curry favor with him, Grant smirked.

    He scratched his forehead and said, "I think you''re apologizing to the wrong person."

    Grant''s words left everyone stunned.

    They looked at him, thinking their rtionship with him would smooth things over. But it seemed Grant wasn''t willing to help.

    Grant added, "Your women offended Miss Davis of the Davis Family. Miss Davis is right in front of you. I think you should apologize to her directly to show your sincerity.

    Even though the Martin Family has a marriage agreement with the Davis Family, I have no right to pressure Miss Davis into forgiving anyone she doesn''t want to forgive.

    I''m very democratic and won''t be morally coerced."

    Grant ignored their shocked faces and threw these words at them.

    These big shots were all shrewd individuals who had weathered various storms in the business world. If they made a mistake and apologize to Grant, they wouldn''t consider

    it a loss of face. But to apologize to Chloe, well, that was...

    They looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

    At that moment, an elderly man with a cane stepped forward. His sharp, eagle-like

    eyes swept over the crowd, making them feel immense pressure.

    The elderly man slightly raised his head, his eyes exuding a cold sharpness and wisdom, as if he could see through each person''s heart. Those business moguls, who had once prided themselves on their battlefield-honed instincts in the business world, now felt an overwhelming invisible pressure under the elderly man''s gaze. Unconsciously, they stood up straighter, and some even bowed their heads slightly.

    The old man approached Chloe, bowed respectfully, and greeted her, "Hello, Miss Davis."

    Chloe hadn''t yet responded when the surrounding murmurs began to swell, with many people quietly inquiring about the elderly man''s identity. However, in the next moment, Vernon''s voice suddenly broke the brief silence. "Mr. Franklin?"

    Vernon recognized the old man immediately. The old man was Nichs''s longtime driver.

    Herman Franklin was a shrewd man. After years of driving for Nichs and overhearing many of his calls, he started investing based on Nichs''s strategies.

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

    He began with small investments, then moved on torger ones.

    By the time he retired, he had unexpectedly be a multimillionaire.

    Over the years, although he had aged and no longer served as Nichs''s driver, the business acumen he had acquired during his time with Nichs had earned him a highly respected position in the industry.

    He remained active in business but never forgot the Davis Family''s kindness.

    Seeing Chloe being humiliated by these young moguls, he feltpelled to stand up for her.

    "Grandpa Franklin, what a surprise to see you here," Chloe said. Herman had watched her grow up, and it wasn''t inappropriate for her to call him grandpa.

    "Oh, I was invited to a gallery event and didn''t expect to see you here, Miss Davis. I have a nice estate in Oceancrest City. After these folks apologize, could youe and give me some business advice?"

    Herman lowering himself to ask Chloe for business advice?

    Everyone was stunned.

    They couldn''t believe that Herman, a well-established figure in the business world, would treat a young girl with such respect and even ask for her guidance.

    Did she even know anything about business?

    "Sure, but it seems these people aren''t very sincere about apologizing," Chloe said, ncing at the crowd.

    They were all anxious.

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Hermanughed and waved his cane. "Miss Davis, it''s fine. If they don''t apologize, we just won''t do business with them."

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    "Mr. Graves, I heard from my grandson that you wanted me to introduce you to Mr. Davis?"

    "Mr. Carr, you can forget about participating in our Oceancrest City business."

    "Mr. Schmidt, I''m too old to handle your investment requests."

    "And Mr. Wheeler, I can''t help with your daughter''s acting career..."

    Herman casually ended his business rtionships with these people, leaving them pale and at a loss.

    They were big shots, but Herman was a titan.

    Vernon, always quick-witted, was the first to react. "Mr. Franklin, I apologize. My woman offended Miss Davis, and I will definitely apologize to her. I''ll even kneel if I have to."

    Vernon said this and pped his wife again. "Apologize to Miss Davis."

    Vernon''s women, now thoroughly subdued, lowered herself and began to apologize to Chloe. "Miss Davis, I''m sorry. I was blind and offended you. I promise never to speak ill of you again."

    Vernon''s sincerity brought a smile to Chloe''s face.

    She appreciated Vernon''s attitude and asked, "You wanted to see my grandfather for something?"

    Vernon quickly replied, "Miss Davis, my business is facing a crisis, and I was hoping Mr. Davis could help me..."

    Chloe understood he was asking for an investment.

    Nichs had retired years ago and no longer handled such matters.

    Given Vernon''s good attitude, Chloe decided to help him, showing these clueless moguls that she, the Davis Family''s young heiress, was not to be trifled with.

 Chapter 171 Very Well-Matched

    Chloe nced at Vernon and said, "We, the Davis Family, appreciate working with individuals who have a good attitude. If it''s investment you''re after, Mr. Graves, I''ll make sure you get in touch with our venture capital manager at the Davis Group. If your project is promising, I can ensure the investment goes through."

    No sooner had Chloe spoken than Vernon immediately appeared agitated. His eyes gleamed with aplex mix of emotions, as if Chloe''s words had stirred deep and tumultuous waves within him.

    The distinguished guests present also straightened in their seats, their eyes revealing a mixture of surprise and excitement. Clearly, Chloe''s statement had caused quite a stir among everyone in the room.

    Even Grant was taken aback by Chloe''s words. His brow furrowed, and his eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment. All along, in his view, Chloe was merely a young girl, still in college, someone naive and inexperienced. How could she possibly say something like that?

    Grant had his doubts about Chloe''s promise.

    "Miss Davis, if this investment happens, you''ll be my hero!" Vernon was so excited he looked like he might drop to his knees.

    Chloe smiled warmly. "It''s no biggie. It''s a win-win."

    This clearly made an impression on everyone there. They quickly realized that if they didn''t apologize, they''d lose favor with the Davis family, might miss out on future deals with Herman, and Grant wouldn''t be too happy with them either.

    Offending three powerful families at once was not a smart move.

    If they apologized and Chloe let it slide, they could keep their coboration with the Franklin family and maybe even score future opportunities with the Davis family.

    The result was obvious.

    These individuals were all seasoned veterans of the business world, possessing an innate advantage in weighing pros and cons and analyzing situations. Faced with Chloe''s unexpected words and surprisingly confident demeanor, they quickly assessed the current situation and the potential future implications.

    So, they quickly made up their minds. One by one, the business moguls, each with their partner in tow, approached Chloe and offered her their apologies.

    Those women, who were so arrogant when they were berating Chloe just now, are now equally as embarrassed and disheveled.

    They prided themselves on being high societydies, yet here they were, bowing to a young girl. They had no one to me but themselves. Why couldn''t they just enjoy the art exhibit without making unnecessaryments?

    With the situation resolved, everyone dispersed.

    Herman, who had backed Chloe earlier, saw Grant standing next to her and quietly left, chuckling to himself. As a driver before, he knew when to show up and when to step back.

    But he wasn''t done yet. After leaving, he hid in a corner and discreetly snapped a photo of Chloe and Grant walking side by side with his phone.

    Grant, deep in conversation with Chloe, had no idea he was being photographed at this small art exhibit.

    As they strolled through the artwork, Grant asked Chloe, "So, do you know much about business?"

    He was referring to her promise to invest in Vernon''s venture.

    Chloe smiled lightly. "I know a bit... After all, I grew up in a business family. Doing business doesn''t seem too hard for me."

    Grant nodded. He got it. He too was born into a business family and had taken over the family business right after college.

    "How sure are you that Vernon''s investment will pay off?" Grant asked, wanting to hear Chloe''s take.

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    Chloe looked at Grant and said, "Honestly, I''m not sure."

    "Then why''d you agree to invest in him?" Grant pressed.

    Chloe smiled. "I just think Vernon''s a good guy, so I wanted to back him. Got a problem with that, Grantie?"

    Grant was floored.

    Vernon had once been a big shot in the business world. But due to some reasons, he had lost his business.

    Chloe didn''t even know what kind of business Vernon wanted to start, yet she agreed to invest? Who would bear the risk?

    In fact, Chloe had been keeping an eye on Vernon for a while. She knew he had gone to the Northwest to meet Nichs and had caused quite a stir. The people there had already informed Chloe about Vernon''s situation.

    Chloe had received a risk control report from her team in her email weeks ago. She believed Vernon''s business was worth investing in.

    She might be young and a college student, but inwardly, she was a businesswoman.

    A sessful businessman never engaged in losing deals. Vernon had a keen business mind, and Chloe''s ultimate n was to have him make money on her behalf.

    As they admired the artwork and chatted casually, Grant kept thinking about how to save Chloe from making a potentially bad investment in Vernon.

    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Meanwhile, Herman had already posted the photo of Grant and Chloe walking together on Facebook and sent it to Nichs''s phone.

    [Mr. Davis, I unexpectedly ran into Mr. Martin and our Ms. Davis. Don''t they look great together?]

    Herman looked at Chloe with the warmth of a grandfather.

    At the Davis Mansion in the Northwest, Nichs received the photo and was puzzled.

    He called his butler, Felix, and asked, "Felix, who does Chloe actually like? Just a few days ago, there were rumors about her and Michael. Now she''s walking with Grant?

    I heard from Zara that she''s also the goddess of Liam...

    Why can''t v make up her mind? The Davis family has an engagement with the Martin family, but that means she should choose one of the three brothers, not marry all three."

    Nichs was troubled.

    Looking at the photo on his phone, he muttered, "Why can''t b just settle down? But I must say, she does look good with Grant, doesn''t she?"

    Felix agreed, "Mr. Davis, you''re right. Our Ms. Davis is beautiful, inheriting your good looks. She would be a great match for any of the Martin brothers."

    Felix''s ttery hit the mark.

    Nichs, who had been worried, now smiled. "Exactly, Chloe is beautiful and charming. That''s why I have the confidence to let her choose a husband from the Martin brothers."

    Felix added, "So, Mr. Davis, you should just let Ms. Davis interact with them freely."

 Chapter 172 Mr. Gonzalezs Beloved

    "Ms. Davis is super smart and knows exactly what she''s doing. There''s no way she''d end up marrying all three of the Martin brothers."

    Felix''s words made Nichs nod in agreement.

    Felix''s words made Nichs nod in agreement. "You''re right... I heard from Herman that Chloe and Grant are in Oceancrest City right now. Maybe I should remind Herman to find a reason to keep them there a bit longer? Young people need time together to really connect, right?"

    Felix gave Nichs a thumbs up and continued to butter him up. "Mr. Davis, you''ve done so much for Ms. Davis. She''ll definitely appreciate it once she realizes your good intentions."

    Nichs smiled. "She''s my only granddaughter. I don''t need her to be forever grateful; I just want her to be happy for the rest of her life."

    With that, Nichs sent a message to Herman: [Herman, make arrangements for Chloe and Grant to stay in Oceancrest City for a few more days. Let them develop their rtionship.]

    Not long after, Herman replied: [Mr. Davis, don''t worry. I''ll take care of it.]

    At the same time, at the art exhibition in Oceancrest City, the arrival of neer Floyd caused quite a stir. His fame had been rapidly rising in recent years, earning the admiration of many art enthusiasts and critics with his unique style and profound artistic perspective.

    Today, at this grand art exhibition, Floyd had histest painting ceremoniously unveiled, carried in by assistants. The painting was covered in ayer of sheer fabric, exuding an air of mystery and leaving its true form hidden from view. This move immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

    The crowd buzzed with low murmurs and whispers, filled with anticipation for the artwork. After all, they had already heard that this piece was Floyd''s magnum opus.

    "What''s the deal with Mr. Gonzalez making such a big mystery out of this painting? Why is it covered?"

    "Probably, he wants to get a good price..."

    "Come on, does Mr. Gonzalez need money?"

    Chloe and Grant stood among the crowd, keeping their thoughts to themselves.

    Especially Grant, as the eldest son of the Martin Family, he knew quite a bit about his brothers and cousins.

    If Floyd was making such a big deal out of this, there had to be a reason.

    "Hey, did you hear? I got some inside info that this painting is of a woman who caught Mr. Gonzalez''s eye." Someone in the crowd, who seemed to know Floyd well, shared this tidbit. "This woman is very mysterious. Mr. Gonzalez couldn''t find her, so he painted this in hopes that someone might help him find her."

    Everyone was immediately intrigued.

    "What? Mr. Gonzalez has a crush? What kind of woman could catch his eye?"

    "If this woman is found, she''d be stepping right into happiness. Mr. Gonzalez has everything-family background, character, talent."

    "He''s the dream man for so many women."

    The crowd buzzed with conversation, and Chloe felt a wave of unease rise within her.

    Could the mysterious woman everyone was talking about be her?

    She had a chance encounter with Floyd in the mountains. Without her fake mole at the time, she hurriedly tried to escape and identally hit Floyd with a stone. In a moment of distraction, she glimpsed a sketch of her profile on Floyd''s drawing paper.

    Could this painting be that one?

    Grant, on the other hand, seemed indifferentpared to Chloe''s nervousness.

    He leaned in and whispered to Chloe, "My cousin''s obsessed with medicine and painting. If he really found a girl he likes, my aunt would be over the moon about his marriage."

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

    "Hey, Chloe, do you think Floyd''s painting is really of a girl?" he asked.

    Chloe, already worried about this, was caught off guard by Grant''s question.

    "How would I know? I don''t know him well. He''s not my cousin," Chloe replied, a bit impatiently.

    Grant smirked. "He could be your cousin..."

    His words were intriguing, and Chloe felt like he was setting a verbal trap for her. "What do you mean? He''s clearly your cousin..."

    "If you marry me, he''d call you cousin-inw, and then he''d be your cousin too," Grant said casually, his eyes fixed on Chloe''s face, a smile ying at the corners of his mouth.

    From his gaze, it was clear he cared a lot about Chloe.

    Chloe, feeling the intensity of his gaze, couldn''t bring herself to look directly at Grant. She quickly averted her eyes and said, "You''re annoying. Who wants to marry you?" Seeing Chloe''s cute, angry expression, Grant''s smile grew even more satisfied. He loved seeing her like this.

    Little did he know how happy he was smiling at that moment, but he would be just as furious when he saw that paintingter.

    Soon, Floyd was ready to unveil the painting in front of everyone.

    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on Ne5s to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Rubbing his hands together, he addressed the crowd with a hint of nervousness. "Everyone, I invited you here today to show you my new work.

    This painting was done this morning. Though it didn''t take long, it''s my masterpiece. The reason I''m so eager to show it is that I need your help finding the person in the painting.

    Ladies and gentlemen, if you see this girl, please introduce us. I''ll give you a big gift in return.

    Now, please look at the painting..."

    With that, Floyd signaled the staff to remove the cloth covering the painting.

    From Floyd''s words, Chloe was now certain that the girl in the painting was her.

    Suddenly, she didn''t want to stay there any longer.

    But Grant, with one hand in his pocket, was eager to see what the girl who had captivated Floyd looked like.

    As the cloth was lifted, a beautiful profile was revealed to the crowd.

    In the painting, Chloe was deeply absorbed in her own artwork, while Floyd''s

    perspective was captured from just behind her. Floyd''s skill in painting was exceptional,

    and he had masterfully rendered Chloe''s profile with lifelike precision.

    The profile was stunning. Any man who saw it would be mesmerized.

    Gasps of admiration filled the room.

    "Oh my, what a beautiful woman!"

    "Even as a woman, I find her so captivating..."

 Chapter 173 Move the Painting

    "Man, Mr. Gonzalez sure has an eye for beauty... Do you think this girl just popped out of nowhere like some kind of fairy?"

    "If I knew her, I''d totally set her up with Mr. Gonzalez. They''d be perfect together, right?"

    "Totally..."

    As the chatter around him grew louder, Floyd adjusted his sses, feeling a bit embarrased.

    His standards were indeed high, thanks to both his family background and his personal excellence. Floyd came from a wealthy and distinguished family, having received a top- tier education and upbringing from a young age. As an important member of his family, his every word and action were always under the scrutiny and expectations of both his family and the public. Coupled with his own remarkable talents and extraordinary charisma, over the years, his family and friends had frequently introduced him to many women.

    But he was picky.

    Not just any woman could catch the eye of Mr. Gonzalez. His standards were strict and exacting, going beyond mere looks to emphasize inner qualities such as character, intelligence, and poise. What he sought was not just a partner, but a soulmate someone who could stand by his side and grow together with him.

    The girl he had run into the morning in Oceancrest City had struck a chord in him instantly. He felt an urgent desire to pursue her, even though she had mistaken him for a creep and hit him on the head with a rock.

    He wouldn''t be in Oceancrest City for long, so he had to use every resource to find her.

    "Everyone, you''ve seen the girl in the drawing. Please, help me find her..." Floyd didn''t hide his feelings in front of the crowd.

    Chloe half-covered her face, feeling like a thief caught in the act. She was terrified someone would recognize her as the girl in the drawing, despite the ugly makeup and therge mole she had put on.

    But she was even more afraid of Grant...

    She couldn''t quite exin why she was afraid of him.

    She nced sideways to see Grant''s expression. He was standing among the crowd, staring intently at the drawing.

    At first, there was a smile on his face, but as the veil was gradually lifted, the smile slowly faded. When Floyd, in front of everyone, confessed his feelings towards the Chloe in the painting, Grant''s face had turnedpletely grim.

    He clenched his fists in anger.

    Others might not recognize the girl in the drawing as Chloe, but he did.

    How dare Floyd have the audacity to covet the girl he had his eye on?

    Was he looking for a fight?

    Hearing everyone praise the girl he liked made Floyd happy. How could the girl he liked be anything less than amazing?

    So he asked for everyone''s help once more. "Please, everyone, keep an eye out for her... I promise the reward will be worth it."

    Just as Floyd finished speaking, Grant, with a dark expression, snapped his fingers. Two bodyguards appeared behind him.

    "Mr. Martin? What do you need?" one of the bodyguards asked quietly.

    Grant, with a cold face, ordered, "Take that drawing away."

    "Yes, Mr. Martin."

    The bodyguards obeyed without question, lifting the drawing and walking off with it, leaving the crowd in shock.

    "What does Mr. Martin mean by this? Why is he taking Mr. Gonzalez''s drawing?" "Yeah, does he like the drawing and want to buy it?"

    "Even if he wants to buy it, Mr. Gonzalez probably won''t sell it. He''s trying to find his true love."

    Seeing Grant about to take away his painting, Floyd panicked. However, the overpowering presence of Grant''s lineage suppressed him, making him too afraid to forcibly stop Grant.

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    He chased after Grant, asking, "Grant, what are you doing? Why are you taking my drawing? You like the drawing too? But you can''t just take it!"

    Grant responded calmly, "Then name your price... I''ll buy it."

    Floyd instinctively refused. "Grant, this drawing is of the woman I like. I fell for her at

    first sight. I''m hoping to find her through this drawing. I can''t sell it."

    Grant frowned at Floyd''s refusal.

    He wasn''t afraid of Floyd''s refusal.

    With amanding tone, he said, "If you won''t sell it, I''ll take it by force."

    "Take the drawing." At Grant''smand, the bodyguards continued to carry the drawing away.

    Floyd was desperate. "Grant, what are you doing? This is my drawing..."

    Grant stopped and turned to Floyd, lowering his voice. "The girl in the drawing is my woman."

    "Floyd, my woman is not someone you can think about. That''s all." With that, Grant grabbed Chloe''s hand and quickly left the gallery.

    Floyd was left standing there, stunned, unable to process what Grant had just said.

    Wasn''t Grant''s woman the in girl with a mole standing by his side?

    How could the woman he had fallen for be Grant''s woman?

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! What did this mean? Had the respectable Grant fallen so low as to keep a beautiful woman on the side?

    The woman he had fallen for at first sight was actually Grant''s kept woman?

    Floyd was getting a headache.

    As Grant and Chloe left, they passed Herman, who was standing near the door. Chloe

    gave Herman an awkward smile before hurrying away.

    Herman''s eyes fell on the drawing the bodyguards were carrying.

    Despite his old eyes, he could see that the girl in the drawing was Chloe without her

    ugly makeup.

    Floyd had just dered his love for the girl in the drawing in front of everyone. Did he fall for Chloe?

    It was a lot to take in. Herman, being older, needed to process it.

    He had to report this to Nichs immediately.

    With that in mind, Herman quickly took a photo of Floyd and sent it to Nichs.

    [Mr. Davis, I have something to report. This is Floyd Gonzalez, the second heir of the Gonzalez family. He publicly dered his love for our Ms. Davis and even drew a portrait of her. Quite romantic, isn''t it?]

    [Ms. Davis is truly exceptional. She is adored by men. You no longer need to worry about her marriage.] He added.

    Grant, holding Chloe''s hand, headed straight for his luxury car.

    With a stern face, he ordered the bodyguard to drive back to the hotel. He remained

    silent the entire way, his expression dark.

    This made Chloe very anxious.

 Chapter 174 Have You Fallen in Love with Me?

    Usually, when Grant acted like this, it meant he was really pissed off.

    When he got angry, the consequences were severe. While he remained silent, Chloe knew she had to quickly think of a way to calm him down. This wasn''t going to be easy.

    yfully acting coy? The habitual method quickly came to her mind, but she immediately dismissed it. Grant was furious right now; acting coy might not only be ineffective but could also backfire. He was too smart; he would see through her little tricks in an instant, and it would only make him angrier.

    Maybe she could do what she didst time-act indifferent and use reverse psychology to make him send her back to the Northwest?

    This method had already been used once before. If she tried it again, Grant would likely be immune to such tactics by now.

    With this realization, Chloe''s mood grew even heavier. She knew that Grant wasn''t someone who could be easily cated; his anger was not easy to quell. She had to find a way to not only express her sincerity but also reach and touch his heart.

    If all else failed, should she try to seduce him?

    But just thinking about how he''d pin her against the wall and kiss her fiercely made Chloe reconsider.

    His kiss was overwhelming, so intense that Chloe felt she could hardly bear it. If she used this tactic tonight, would he end up forcibly take possession of her?

    The drive from the art exhibit to the hotel was usually long, but for some reason, it felt especially short today. Before Chloe coulde up with a n to deal with Grant, the car had already stopped.

    Grant, still fuming, grabbed Chloe''s hand and led her out of the car.

    Chloe followed him reluctantly, desperately searching for a way to defuse the situation. Soon, they were in the presidential suite. As soon as they entered, Chloe darted into one of the bedrooms and locked the door behind her, afraid Grant would catch her.

    It wasn''t long before she heard Grant knocking on the door.

    "Chloe, open the door."

    "Do you think hiding in there solves anything?"

    "Come out and exin this to me."

    Grant''s voice, even muffled by the door, made Chloe shiver.

    She had grown up in business with Nichs and had met all kinds of people, so she considered herself pretty brave. But for some reason, Grant''s anger always scared her.

    She grabbed her phone and texted Zara and Rena for help.

    [Zara, Rena, help! I''m in trouble again...]

    Zara asked: [What happened? You sound terrified. Did you flip the world upside down?]

    Rena was confused.: [Aren''t you with Mr. Martin? What kind of trouble could you be in? Did you punch him or something?]

    Chloe was exasperated by her friends'' responses. To get some useful advice, she exined how she had run into Floyd and what had happened at the art exhibit, even sending a voice message to describe the situation.

    She also recorded the sound of Grant knocking on the door to convey the urgency.

    Despite the unclear voice messages, Zara and Rena could hear the anger in Grant''s voice.

    Chloe urged them for advice: [Hurry up and give me some ideas. I think Grant wants to kill me...]

    Chloe was desperate, but Zara and Rena didn''t seem to grasp the seriousness.

    Zara was curious: [Hey, Chloe, did Mr. Gonzalez really confess to you? Is he hot? What do you think? Should you keep him as a backup boyfriend?]

    Renaughed: [Yeah, I''m curious about Mr. Gonzalez too. He''s Mr. Martin''s cousin, so he must be impressive, right? Chloe, if you can''t choose between the Martin brothers, maybe consider Mr. Gonzalez.]

    Zara added: [Exactly. Mr. Gonzalez is part of the Martin family, so it''s still a family alliance. Just don''t go after Mic.]

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    Zara''s obsession with Michael was intense. If she ever found out how talkative he was, who knew if she''d still be so infatuated.

    Since Rena had dered her interest in Michael, she had be bolder: [Zara, you can like my boss, but don''t call him your Mic... I think he''s closer to me today.]

    They began to quarrel: [What do you mean closer to you? I think he''s closer to me. He arranged for my dinner tonight.]

    [It was for me. He''s my boss, so he cares more about me.]

    [Liar...]

    [You''re the liar...]

    Zara and Rena not only failed toe up with a reliable idea to help Chloe, but instead, the two of them started arguing in the group chat over Michael.

    This was a ssic case ofpetitive jealousy.

    Chloe sighed at her phone screen, realizing she couldn''t rely on her friends for advice. Outside, Grant was still knocking.

    Frustrated, Chloe decided to face him head-on. She opened the door and confronted him.

    "Grant, what do you want? Why do you keep knocking on my door?" Chloe stood with her hands on her hips, trying to look tough.

    Seeing her like this only made Grant angrier.

    Leaning against the doorframe, he demanded, "I need an exnation."

    "An exnation for what?"

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    "What''s going on with you and Floyd?"

    "What could be going on?"

    "Why did he paint you? Chloe, be honest. What have you been doing behind my back?" Grant pressed her for answers, not letting up.

    Chloe was getting angry too.

    "What have I been doing? I just went to the mountains to paint and ran into Floyd. He tried to chat me up, but I ignored him.

    Then he painted me and said he wanted to be friends. But what does that have to do with me? I didn''t approach him.

    Besides, Grant, I''m an adult. I have the right to make friends. Why are you interfering? People who know us might think you''re just looking out for me because of my grandfather. But those who don''t might think you''re jealous because I met Floyd.

    Grant, are you in love with me or something?"

    Chloe''s quick thinking left Grant speechless.

    What should he do?

    Should he admit that he had fallen for Chloe and was jealous when another man confessed to her? Or should he deny everything and simply say that he wanted to take

    care of Chloe for Nichs''s sake?

    Chloe figured he''d choose thetter.

    She blinked, ready to attack again once he did.

    But Grant didn''t follow her script.

 Chapter 175 How Is Mr. Martins Bed Skills?

    He took a step forward towards Chloe. The air was thick with tension, enveloping the two of them, as if time hade to a standstill at that moment.

    His resolute face bore a hint of coldness, and his eyes flickered with indescribableplex emotions. Grant''s stride was steady and powerful, each step crashing towards Chloe like waves, causing her heart to beat faster with every approach.

    Before she could react, Grant''s fingers had already reached towards the mole on her face. With a precise and gentle pinch, he removed the fake mole that Chloe had meticulously attached to her face. A wave of confusion and astonishment filled her heart, and she felt as though she was on the verge of being overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.

    Looking directly into her eyes, he straightened his back and said, "Yeah, I''ve fallen for you..."

    Grant''s confession left Chloe at a loss. Her heart tightened suddenly, and her breathing became rapid. She had no idea how to respond to Grant''s deration; everything was happening too suddenly and beyond her expectations.

    "So, when I see other guys hitting on you, I get jealous," he continued. "does that make sense to you?"

    Grant noticed Chloe''s nervousness. Maybe to avoid making things too awkward, Chloe tried to convince herself he was joking.

    Afer all, Grant was the eldest son of the Martin Family, running the Martin Group, always surrounded by women.

    How could he possibly fall for a girl seven or eight years younger than him?

    Besides, she had a bad temper, was impulsive, and always loud. How could Grant fall for someone like her?

    Thinking this, Chloe rxed a bit. She waved her hand to brush off Grant''s hand from her face.

    "Grant, stop messing around. Joking like this isn''t cool."

    She turned to hide her flustered state, but Grant suddenly moved, wrapping his arm around her waist from behind, pulling her into his embrace.

    Chloe''s body stiffened instantly.

    Grant pressed his face against her neck, so close she could feel his warm breath.

    With him, such a handsome man, standing right behind her, and Chloe felt as though she were about to lose control of herself.

    "Grant... what are you doing?" Her voice trembled slightly,cking confidence.

    Grant calmly replied, "I''m not joking.

    So, Chloe, I need you to know, I''ve fallen for you, and it''s deep.

    My love has nothing to do with any engagement; ites from my heart. Chloe, let''s date."

    After saying that, Grant lifted Chloe and began to kiss her.

    It seemed Grant had an immense desire to kiss Chloe.

    Every second he spent with her, he wanted to conquer her with his kisses.

    Chloe was lost in Grant''s kiss, unable to pull away. In therge presidential suite, the only sounds were their nervous breaths.

    Chloe felt a surge of desire.

    Alone in a room with a man, she thought Grant would surely take herpletely tonight.

    But he didn''t.

    Just when they were uncontroble, Grant suddenly pulled away from Chloe.

    He reluctantly kissed her lips and murmured, "I can''t go too far. I just want to kiss you. Chloe, I want to save our most beautiful moment for our wedding night..."

    After saying that, Grant turned and left Chloe''s bedroom, rushing into the bathroom. Soon, Chloe heard the sound of running water.

    She knew Grant was using cold water to suppress his desires.

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

    Chloe''s heart was in turmoil as Grant left. Lying in the bedroom of the presidential suite, she couldn''t stop thinking about him.

    She liked his face, his lips, his chest muscles, and his strong, fit waist.

    It seemed that every part of Grant''s body could trigger all of Chloe''s fantasies about a

    man.

    To suppress these thoughts, Chloe wrapped herself tightly in the nket. Unexpectedly, a few minutester, Grant returned from his shower and insisted on sleeping with her.

    He squeezed his body into Chloe''s nket, his strong arms wrapping around her from beneath her neck, holding her tightly.

    Chloe panicked.

    She had never slept in the same bed with a man before.

    What was Grant trying to do?

    "Grant... why are you in my bed?" In her panic, Chloe stopped calling him "Grantie" and boldly called him by his name.

    Fortunately, Grant was in a good mood and didn''t mind.

    Grant replied, "As your temporary guardian, I''m afraid you''ll sneak out again. Sleeping

    in your bed is my way of supervising you."

    This response was rather diplomatically phrased, wsn''t it? Grant''s intentions of taking advantage were tantly obvious!

    "But you''re a guy, and I''m a girl. It''s not appropriate for us to sleep together, right?" Chloe was still uneasy.

    Grant confidently said, "It''s very appropriate. We''ve kissed and hugged. Sleeping together is normal."

    As he spoke, his hands became a bit restless. One hand was on top, the other below, with the lower hand gently tracing circles on Chloe''s firm stomach with his fingertip.

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    The tingling sensation made Chloe''s body freeze, not daring to move.

    "Grant, I''m not used to this. You should sleep in the other room," she pleaded.

    Sleeping next to a handsome man with a fit waist, no woman could possibly fall asleep, right?

    Especially when Grant was so good at flirting, how could Chloe sleep in such an environment?

    "No, I''ll sleep with you. You''ll get used to it," he insisted. "Be good, it''ste. Let''s sleep."

    Seeing Chloe was too nervous, Grant finally let her go. He held her quietly, watching her drift into sleep.

    That night, Chloe slept fitfully.

    In her half-asleep state, she noticed that Grant seemed to take several showers throughout the night...

    The next morning, Chloe was awakened by the sound of her phone''s Facebook notifications.

    When she opened her eyes, she found that Grant was no longer beside her.

    Still groggy, Chloe checked her phone. In the group chat with Rena and Zara, they had

    already sent a long string of messages.

    Zara: [Chloe, sorry I missed the main pointst night. Are you okay?]

    Rena: [Chloe. How was Mr. Martinst night? He didn''t hurt you, did he?]

    Zara: [Mr. Martin is older than her. How could he hurt her? I bet the condoms I gave

    her were definitely used. Chloe, spill the tea, how was Mr. Martin in bed?]

    Rena: [Zara, you''re too blunt. How can you ask that? You should subtly check if Chloe was ok.]

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 176 You Owe Me an Explanation

    Seeing such a message made Chloe''s scalp tingle. She felt that Rena had been led astray by Zara. Chloe couldn''t help but reminisce about the obedient and sensible Rena she once knew. Rena had been led astray by Zara.

    Fighting off her sleepiness, Chloe sent a scolding message to the group.

    [You two, knock it off and quit talking nonsense.]

    Seeing Chloe''s reply, Zara and Rena''s gossiping spirits were even more ignited.

    Zara: [Chloe,e on, spill the beans aboutst night!]

    Rena: [Yeah, just the two of you, alone in a room, and nothing happened?]

    Zara: [Come on, we''re dying to know...]

    Chloe was at a loss for words as she read their messages.

    She tried to clear her name: [Nothing happened between me and Grant. Stop letting your dirty minds run wild.]

    Chloe thought that after sending this message, Zara and Rena would calm down.

    But to her surprise, her message only fueled their imaginations further.

    Indeed, when three women get together to talk, things get lively.

    With her usual sharpness and sarcasm, Zara said: [Sharing a room and still nothing happened? Mr. Martin, perhaps he have some... functionality issues?]

    Rena immediately chimed in, adding: [I''ve seen Chloe''s true face after she washes up. You look at such a beauty beside him, and Mr. Martin still didn''t react? That is indeed a bit suspicious.]

    Chloe waspletely speechless.

    Just as she was about to scold them again, Grant walked in.

    "Time to get up, breakfast is ready," he said.

    "Oh, I''ll get up right away." Seeing Grant reminded Chloe of their cuddling the night before.

    In her fluster, she dropped her phone.

    Grant instinctively bent down, picked up her phone, and casually nced at the screen, seeing Zara''s message.

    [Mr. Martin, perhaps he have some... functionality issues?]

    Grant''s good mood instantly darkened.

    As a man, being talked about like this by a group of women was humiliating.

    Did they think he had erectile dysfunction? Or had Chloe been spreading the word about his erectile dysfunction to others?

    Seeing Grant''s change in expression, Chloe quickly exined, "Grant, I didn''t say that. They were just gossiping."

    "I didn''t say... I really didn''t..."

    Seeing Chloe''s flustered state, Grant smiled slightly.

    Forget it. Given Chloe''s attitude, he decided not to hold it against her.

    She should know whether he had issues or not.

    Grant smiled, "Alright, stop exining. Get up and have breakfast. I made ns with Mic and Liam to go to the hot springs. Oceancrest City''s hot springs are famous for their health benefits."

    With that, Grant bent down and picked up Chloe, who was still in bed.

    Chloe protested, "Put me down, I can walk."

    Grant gave a mischievous smile, "But I like carrying you."

    Chloe waspletely speechless.

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    They quickly finished a hearty breakfast.

    The group got into arge, high-end business van and headed to a secluded hot spring resort in Oceancrest City.

    Grant, Michael, and Liam sat in the front rows, while Chloe, Zara, Rena, and a few staff members sat in the back.

    Having not seen Chloe all night, Rena and Zara immediately started gossiping as soon as they saw her.

    With their heads close together, they whispered amongst themselves, sharing secrets only they seemed to understand.

    Rena was the first to speak, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Chloe, what happenedst night? I asked you in the group chat for ages, and you didn''t reply at all."

    Zara quickly chimed in, not wanting to be left out. "Yeah, Chloe, we were so worried about you. You have no idea how many scenarios we imagined."

    Hearing her two friends, Chloe couldn''t help but roll her eyes at their gossip-hungry expressions. She felt a mix of exasperation and amusement. These two could never pass up a chance to dive into some gossip.

    "Oh,e on, can''t you guys be a bit more serious?" Chloe shook her head in exasperation, knowing their so-called concern was just a cover for their insatiable appetite for gossip.

    Last night, when she asked for their help and advice, they were too busypeting with each other to respond.

    Now, early in the morning, they were gossiping about her and Grant. Worried about her?

    Chloe put on a serious face and ignored them.

    Zara nced at Rena and whispered, "Rena, do you think Chloe''s been traumatized?" "Yeah, maybe Mr. Martin was too muchst night?" Rena replied.

    Their conversation made Chloe want to punch them.

    To stop them from talking nonsense, Chloe had to rify everything. "Stop talking nonsense. Nothing happened between us. If you keep this up, I''ll tell everyone about your littlepetitionst night. I''ll make sure Michael knows what kind of women have a crush on him."

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    Chloe''s threat made Zara and Rena immediately behave.

    These two were more timid than Chloe had imagined, both hiding their crush on Michael.

    Chloe was feeling a bit troubled. How could she possibly divide one Michael between two women?

    Half an hourter, the van arrived at the hot spring resort in Oceancrest City.

    As soon as the van stopped, Michael called out to Rena in the back. "Rena, bring my clothes to the changing room."

    Hearing her boss give her a task, Rena quickly stood up. "Yes, Mr. Martin, I''ll bring them right away."

    After Rena finished speaking, she grabbed Michael''s clothes and prepared to leave. This was a prime opportunity to make an impression on Michael, and Zara didn''t want to miss it. She followed closely behind Rena, saying, "Rena, those clothes look a bit heavy. Let me help you."

    She squeezed her way to the front, ready to get off the van, but Liam''srge hand mped down on her shoulder. "Zara, in a hurry?"

    Zara turned to see Liam''s stern face.

    Since the goddess incident, Zara had been avoiding Liam, fearing he''d cause trouble

    for her.

    Even when Liam messaged her on Facebook, she didn''t dare reply.

    She thought she could avoid him this way.

    But Liam had caught her.

    Desperate, Zara put on a smile. "Mr. Martin, I''m just helping Rena. Do you need something?"

    Liam snorted, looking at Zara seriously. "Zara, don''t you think you owe me an exnation?"

    With that, he tightened his grip on her shoulder and pulled her off the van.

    Zara looked back at Chloe with pleading eyes.

    She mouthed, "Help me... help me..."

 Chapter 177 A Deeply Affectionate Person Emerges

    Chloe had originally nned to help her best friend Zara, but after Zara gave her the cold shoulderst night, Chloe decided it was time for Zara to learn a lesson.

    If Liam wanted to confront Zara, then let him go ahead. After all, Liam knows his limits; he wouldn''t hurt her. As for whether something else might happen between them, that was out of Chloe''s hands.

    As time went by, Chloe''s observations of the people around her became increasingly detailed. She noticed that Liam seemed to pay special attention to Zara, often appearing by her side and enjoying teasing her.

    From what Chloe had observed, Liam seemed to have a bit of a thing for Zara. Maybe letting them develop their feelings wouldn''t be such a bad idea.

    As for Michael, despite his morous appearance and the attention he attracted from many, Chloe always felt that he and Zara weren''t quite suited for each other. Michael''s social circle wasplex, and his lifestyle too carefree, making it unlikely that he could provide Zara with the stability and delicate care she needed. Whenever Michael and Zara were together, Chloe often detected subtle signs of discord between them.

    So, Chloe pretended not to see Zara''s pleading eyes and looked away.

    Zara felt utterly abandoned. She had no choice but to let Liam drag her away.

    Everyone had gotten off the car, so Chloe couldn''t stay inside any longer. She grabbed her luggage and prepared to get off as well. Just as she reached Grant''s side, Grant caught hold of her.

    He naturally took her luggage and grabbed her other hand. "Let''s go together..."

    Chloe didn''t want to walk with Grant. There were people everywhere, and she didn''t want anyone getting the wrong idea. She quickly refused, "Grant, I can walk by myself." Grant gave her a stern look. "No, you can''t."

    Grant was a man of few words. He led Chloe straight to the changing rooms.

    As they reached the changing room doors, ready to split up, Floyd suddenly appeared, blocking their way. His face showed a mix of anger and determination.

    "Floyd? What are you doing here?" Michael and Liam were both surprised to see him.

    They were also aware that Floyd hade to Oceancrest City to hold an art exhibition. In fact, Floyd had even invited the two brothers to attend his exhibition. However, both of them were busy with their own affairs and didn''t go to support Floyd. Today, everyone came to the hot springs together, and it seemed that no one had invited Floyd. So how did he end up here?

    Ignoring Michael and Liam''s questions, Floyd walked straight up to Grant, took a deep breath, and mustered the courage to confront him.

    "Grant, tell me, what''s your rtionship with the girl I like?"

    Floyd''s direct question left everyone stunned. Chloe lowered her head, wanting to escape.

    Michael and Liam whispered to each other. "What? Floyd''s girl is involved with Grant? That''s crazy," Michael said, puzzled.

    Liam shrugged. "This is news to me. I''ve been working with Grant and never heard of him being involved with any woman."

    "Hey, Liam, maybe Grant has a secret lover we don''t know about? I heard from Harry that Grant kissed someone, and it wasn''t just a peck," Michael shared his gossip.Liam looked confused.

    "Really? A kiss?" Liam had a puzzled look on his face.

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    Their conversation was cut short by a sharp look from Grant, silencing them instantly. "Grant, we''re gonna change. Hurry up," they said, grabbing their things and making a quick exit.

    Chloe didn''t want to witness the argument between Grant and Floyd, especially since it involved her. She quickly grabbed her stuff and slipped into the women''s changing

    room.

    Rena and Zara, curious about the drama, hesitated but followed Chloe when they saw Grant''s dark expression.

    Rena and Zara originally wanted to listen in on some gossip, but when they saw the dark, stormy expression on Grant''s face, they didn''t dare stay any longer. They quickly headed to the changing room as well.

    Inside the changing room, Zara and Rena cornered Chloe.

    "Chloe, you left me hanging back there. Why didn''t you help when Liam was dragging me away?" Zarained.

    Chloe lifted her chin and retorted, "And what aboutst night when I asked for your help in the group chat? You didn''t give me any advice."

    "I..." Zara was speechless.

    Rena, changing her clothes, asked Chloe, "Chloe, that guy outside said Mr. Martin is involved with the girl he likes. Is he talking about you? Be honest, is the guy you met while sketching the one outside?"

    Chloe sighed, annoyed. She nodded while changing. "Yeah, the guy I met yesterday is him. I hit him on the head with a rock, and I didn''t expect him to turn out to be so persistent."

    Chloe had thrown the rock at Floyd, thinking he was up to no good. She never knew... "Chloe, you''ve got quite a few admirerstely," Zara remarked.

    Chloe rolled her eyes. "And you''re not doing too bad yourself. You like Michael and now Liam''s after you. Busy, aren''t you?"

    Zara, flustered, shot back, "Chloe, you''re the one who got me into this mess with Liam. Now he wants an exnation, and if you keepughing at me, I''ll tell him it was all your idea."

    Chloe wasn''t afraid of her at all. She stiffened her neck and said to Zara, "Fine, go ahead and tell him that it was me who arranged for you to talk to him. Let''s see what he can do to me!"

    Liam couldn''t do much to Chloe. He couldn''t get rid of her, couldn''t scold her, and wasn''t even a match for her in a fight. But Zara was a different story.

    "Zara, you''d bettere up with a good exnation for Liam, or you''ll be in trouble." Chloe smirked.

    She finished changing, wrapped herself in a towel, and headed to the outdoor hot springs. Zara and Rena followed closely behind.

    The hot springs at Oceancrest City were natural and outdoor. Liam had booked the ce in advance, so it was just their group.

    Chloe, having grown up in the northwest, rarely had the chance to enjoy hot springs. She rxed in the water,pletely unaware of the approaching danger.

 Chapter 178 Grantie, Save Me

    The mole on her face was something Chloe applied with makeup glue.

    Even though the glue was pretty strong, it couldn''t withstand water. Once it got wet, it risked falling off.

    In her rush to get into the hot spring, Chloepletely forgot about this.

    At first, Chloe was fully immersed in thefort of the hot spring,pletely unaware of the changes in her facial expression. The warm spring water seeped into her tired body, and she could almost feel every pore breathing, with all the stress and fatigue gradually dissolving into the soothing water.

    However, when she opened her eyes, she suddenly sensed that something was wrong. Chloe quickly pulled out her phone to use as a mirror and saw that the mole that had once been on her cheekbone was now hanging precariously on her cheek,ically about to fall off.

    Meanwhile, Zara and Rena were also enjoying the hot spring,pletely oblivious to what was happening.

    At that moment, Michael and Liam, now in their swimsuits, walked over.

    Liam, who had always been suspicious of Chloe''s mole, immediately noticed it slipping down her face.

    He slowly waded into the water, moving closer to Chloe, intending to reach out and touch the mole. Just as he extended his hand, Chloe pped Liam''s hand away and used her other hand to cover the mole that was about to fall off.

    "Liam, what the heck? Are you being a creep? Didn''t you get enough of a beatingst time?" Chloe, being only a year or two older than Liam, had no qualms about scolding him.

    Liam didn''t expect Chloe to react so quickly. It seemed he was still one step away from uncovering the truth.

    "What''s going on, Liam? Chloe is a girl, you can''t just reach out like that," Michael said, pulling Liam back.

    Liam exined, "I wasn''t trying to touch her on purpose. I just think there''s something off about her mole."

    Hearing him mention the mole, Zara and Rena snapped out of their rxation.

    To protect Chloe''s secret, Zara, despite being scared of Liam, spoke up for her. "Her mole is perfectly fine on her face. What''s the problem?"

    "Yeah, Mr. Martin, did Chloe''s mole offend you or something?" Rena chimed in.

    Chloe also realized the issue. With the hand that was covering her face, she discreetly adjusted the mole back to its original position. Then, she removed her hand and confidently disyed her face in front of Liam.

    "Liam, take a good look. What''s wrong with my mole? It''s just a mole. Do you have to act like Sherlock Holmes, obsessing over it all the time? I can''t even enjoy a hot spring in peace. That''s it, I''m done."

    With that, Chloe stood up from the water, grabbed a towel, wrapped it around herself, and stormed off.

    Zara and Rena, seeing Chloe leave, wanted to follow.

    However, Chloe turned and said, "You guys stay here. I''m in a bad mood, don''t follow

    me."

    Chloe wasn''t really upset; she just didn''t want to ruin everyone''s fun. She needed to give them a chance to be alone.

    Pretending to be angry, Chloe walked towards the exit of the hot spring, not noticing Granting from the opposite direction.

    They collided unexpectedly.

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    Chloe lost her bnce on the slippery ground, stumbling backward and nearly falling. Just as she was about to topple, Grant reacted swiftly, reaching out and pulling Chloe''s petite body firmly into his arms.

    At that moment, both were wearing swimsuits. Chloe''s body, wet and smooth like a fish that had just leaped out of the water, was tightly held in Grant''s embrace. Her slender arms instinctively draped over Grant''s shoulders, her face slightly flushed from the unexpected tension, while Grant stood steadily, trying to maintain hisposure.

    The contrast between their bodies was striking-one warm, the other cool. Chloe''s skin was chilled from the water, while Grant''s body radiated warmth. The sensation of their skin touching left Grant somewhat disoriented.

    He could feel the smooth, cool texture of Chloe''s wet skin, the close proximity causing his heart to race. But amidst the chaos, Grant quickly regained hisposure, using reason to control his inner turmoil.

    Clearing his throat, he asked with concern in his voice. "Why are you in such a hurry? Where are you going?"

    Grant had seen Chloe''s real face before, so she didn''t need to hide it from him.

    She pointed to her face and said, "My mole is about to fall off... I don''t want anyone to know it''s fake."

    "Grant, help me," Chloe pleaded, her eyes wide with worry.

    Grant''s heart softened instantly. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and quickly left.

    "Where are you taking me?" Chloe asked, a mix of curiosity and relief in her voice. Grant blinked and said, "There''s another hot spring pool next door. Let''s go there." He then instructed his staff, "Tell them Chloe and I left. Let them enjoy the hot spring." With that, Grant and Chloe went to the adjacent hot spring pool and settled in for a more private, rxing bath.

    Watching Chloe with her eyes closed, Grant''s heart pounded. Her delicate face, long hair, slender figure, and her adorable angry look reminded him of her childhood.

    Grant was deeply in love with Chloe. No one knew how hard it had been for him to wait for Chloe to grow up.

    Grant gently stroked Chloe''s long hair, wishing time would stop so they could be happy forever.

    Meanwhile, Grant''s assistant, Stanley, was dealing with some tricky matters.

    The executives who had attended the art exhibition with Grantst night were now pleading with Stanley.

    "Stanley, please talk to Mr. Martin about the project. Can we get some leniency?"

    "Yeah, we were working well together. Why terminate the contract all of a sudden? It''s not right."

    "Exactly, even if we''re not working together anymore, we deserve to know why the Martin Group is cutting ties with us."

    Stanley was at a loss. As Grant''s assistant, he always followed orders. This morning, he suddenly received a message from Grant to terminate the contracts with thesepanies. He had no idea why.

    Stanley thought for a moment and said, "Gentlemen, don''t pressure me. I really don''t know why Mr. Martin decided to stop working with you. Think carefully. Did you offend Mr. Martin? Or maybe someone close to him?"

    Stanley''s words immediately reminded them. They recalled their women verbally attacking Chloe at the art exhibitionst night. They had apologized, thinking the matter was resolved. But they didn''t expect Grant to hold a grudge!

 Chapter 179 I Want to Punish You

    One of the guys in the group spoke up, looking puzzled. "Stanley, we just ticked off that ugly girl, not Mr. Martin. Why would he stick up for her?"

    "Yeah, and we even apologizedst night. When we asked Mr. Martin to smooth things over, he didn''t seem to have any issues." Another man chimed in. "Stanley, you think Mr. Martin''s got a thing for that girl?"

    The group''s confusion matched Stanley''s own.

    As an assistant, he couldn''t wrap his head around why someone like Grant, who had both looks and talent, would be interested in Chloe, who they thought was in.

    Even though the Davis Family was pretty powerful, that didn''t seem like a good enough reason for Grant to get involved, right?

    Stanley shot a sideways nce at the boss who had called Chloe ugly, reminding him, "Mr. Smith, watch your mouth. That girl is the sole heir of the Davis Group..."

    The group fell silent.

    It looked like they were going to have to grovel and apologize to Chloe until Grant was satisfied and their contract could continue.

    Meanwhile, Chloe and Grant, after finishing their spa session, were heading back to their luxury hotel in Oceancrest City.

    Just as they stepped out of the spa, a handsome young man blocked their path.

    The young man, Bruno Franklin, greeted Chloe with a respectful bow. "Hi, Miss Davis. I''m Bruno Franklin, from the Franklin family. Herman is my grandfather."

    Chloe''s eyes lit up when she saw Bruno. "Oh? You''re Grandpa Franklin''s grandson? I remember meeting you when we were kids, right?"

    Bruno nodded eagerly. "Yes, Miss Davis. I visited your home with my grandfather when I was little."

    "Yeah, I remember. We yed games together. You used to cry a lot, didn''t you?"

    Chloe casually mentioned their childhood memories, making Bruno blush slightly.

    He replied, "Miss Davis, yeah, but that was a long time ago. I''ve grown up now and don''t cry anymore."

    Bruno and Chloe chatted happily, which made Grant, standing beside Chloe, a bit ufortable. He wrapped his arm around Chloe''s shoulder, as if to assert his im.

    Grant coldly asked Bruno, "Do you need something?"

    Bruno looked at Grant, and themanding aura that emanated from him sent a shiver down Bruno''s spine. If his guess was correct, this must be the Grant Martin known for his iron-fisted approach in the business world.

    Bruno hurriedly exined, fearing that the formidable Grant might misunderstand him and target him as a result. "Mr. Martin, hello. My grandfather isn''t feeling well and would like Miss Davis to stay with us for a few days to keep himpany. So, he sent me to pick her up."

    Hearing that Herman was ill, Chloe became worried. "Bruno, what''s wrong with Grandpa Franklin? Is it serious?"

    Bruno shook his head. "Not too serious, but he''s getting old and feeling nostalgic. So he''d like you to stay with us for a few days."

    "Grandpa Franklin has always been kind to me, even though he was our driver. I can''t ignore him when he''s sick. Alright, let''s go see him now." Chloe turned to Grant, ready to leave.

    In fact, being around Grant always made her feel somewhat unsafe. When she found an opportunity to escape from Grant, she naturally took it.

    But Grant wasn''t about to let her go so easily.

    He said to Bruno, "I''ming too. Your grandfather won''t mind if I stay at your ce for a few days, will he?"

    Grant''s words surprised Chloe. She gently pushed him, saying, "Grant, you''re busy with work. If youe with me, it will affect your work. Why don''t you go back first?"

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    Grant gave Chloe a sidelong nce. "I''ve taken time off from work. I have plenty of time. Let''s go, together."

    With that, to Chloe''s astonishment, he grabbed her hand and got into the luxury car Bruno had brought.

    Soon, the car disappeared into the night.

    After Chloe and Grant left, Rena, Zara, and their group, who had spent the day at the spa, also came out.

    Rena cautiously stood beside Michael, asking, "Mr. Michael Martin, what''s your n for the rest of the evening?"

    Michael nced at Rena''s slender figure and said, "I have a night shoot. You''reing with me."

    "Yes, Mr. Michael Martin." Rena picked up Michael''s things, ready to leave with him, but the luggage was heavy, and she struggled to lift it.

    Michael bent down to help her. As he did, the scent of her hair filled his senses, causing a momentary distraction.

    But his well-trained self-control quickly kicked in.

    He picked up therge suitcase and said to Rena, "Can''t you even lift a suitcase? You''re

    a pretty useless assistant. Let''s go..."

    Feeling scolded, Rena followed behind Michael like a chastised child.

    After Rena left, Zara felt the cold aura emanating from Liam.

    Nervously, Zara said to Liam, "Mr. Martin, it''s gettingte. I should head back to rest..."

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    "Where are you going?" Liam asked, turning to Zara.

    Zara''s mind raced. After a moment, she said, "We booked a bed and breakfast nearby. It''s quite nice. I''ll just go back there."

    "Oh? Where is this bed and breakfast?" Liam pressed.

    Zara hesitated, "It''s, it''s..."

    Before she could finish, Liam cut her off. "I''ll take you there."

    "This... isn''t necessary," Zara said, fearing being alone with Liam, as she felt he would demand an exnation.

    Ignoring Zara''s reluctance, Liam went to the side of the spa and brought out a super luxurious motorcycle.

    Because Chloe liked motorcycles, Zara, as Chloe''s close friend, had developed a bit of an interest too.

    She immediately recognized the high value of Liam''s motorcycles.

    He rode up to Zara, and without a word, pulled her onto the seat behind him. "Hold on tight..."

    "No, I''m scared," Zara protested.

    Liam turned and gave her a cold smile. "Scared now? You weren''t scared when you pretended to be my goddess, were you?"

    "Zara, I''m going to punish you!" he smirked.

 Chapter 180 His Love, Very Domineering

    As soon as Liam finished talking, he hit the gas, and the motorcycle took off like a rocket.

    Zara was frightened by the sudden eleration, her face turning pale. Almost instinctively, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Liam''s waist, holding onto him tightly to prevent herself from being thrown off. The wind howled past her ears, and she felt her heartbeat quicken in that instant, her entire being in a state of heightened tension.

    Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Liam''s waist.

    She couldn''t help but think that Liam''s motorcycle skills were just as wild as Chloe''s. Both of them had that same reckless style!

    An hourter, Chloe and Grant arrived at Herman''s vi.

    The Franklin family''s vi was nestled in a picturesque spot, surrounded by mountains

    and water, offering both a great view and tranquility.

    Just as Chloe got out of the car, her phone rang. It was Nichs.

    "Grandpa... why are you calling me now?" Chloe was surprised to hear from him.

    Since she hade to Sovereign City, Nichs hadn''t called her once, almost as if the Davis Family had sold her off to the Martin Family as a bride.

    "Chloe, I heard your Grandpa Franklin is sick, and since you''re in Oceancrest City, I wanted to remind you of a few things.

    Even though he is my driver, we share a deep bond. Stay in Oceancrest City for a few more days and spend some time with him.

    I also heard that your Grandpa Franklin has a grandson named Bruno, and he is quite a talented young man. You should get to know him better. If you don''t develop a

    romantic connection with one of the three boys from the Martin family, Bruno is also a good option. That''s all. I''ll hang up now."

    Before Chloe could respond, Nichs hung up, leaving her in an awkward situation.

    When Nichs called, Chloe was walking alongside Grant. She hadn''t taken any precautions to keep the conversation private, and although she didn''t use the speakerphone, Nichs''s voice was loud enough for Grant to hear everything clearly. Grant had always thought that the Martin brothers were Nichs''s top choice for Chloe''s future husband. He hadn''t expected Nichs to be casting a wide, grooming multiple candidates.

    In the end, it seemed the Martin Family was just one of Nichs''s backup ns for his granddaughter''s suitors.

    Chloe belonged to him.

    Grant wouldn''t allow anyone to take her away.

    Since Nichs wanted Chloe to stay at the Franklin Mansion for a few days, Grant decided he could stay with her too.

    Bruno might be good-looking, but Grant wouldn''t give him any chance to get close to Chloe.

    He wasn''t worthy.

    "Well... Grantie, my grandpa was just joking. Don''t take it to heart," Chloe said, worried that Grant might misunderstand.

    To her surprise, Grant wasn''t angry at all. He wrapped his arm around Chloe''s shoulder, dering his im over her.

    He smiled, "I know Nichs was joking."

    "But I need to remind you, besides me, Grant, no other man will have the chance to get close to you." he added.

    Chloe felt a chill as she looked at Grant. Why did his love feel so domineering?

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    Meanwhile, in the northwest, Nichs was holding his phone, humming a tune, his wrinkled face full of joy.

    Felix, standing beside him, didn''t share his enthusiasm.

    Felix reminded, "Mr. Davis, the things you just said to Ms. Davis over the phone could put her in a difficult position. Mr. Martin is with Ms. Davis right now, and hearing what you said would certainly anger him. Ms. Davis is currently staying with the Martin family, so why would you want to create trouble for her?"

    Felix genuinely worried about Chloe''s situation. He had heard that Grant was forceful. Knowing that the Davis Family considered him just a backup husband for Chloe, wouldn''t that infuriate him?

    "Create animosity? Do you think Grant from the Martin Family would dare trouble my granddaughter? he wouldn''t dare!"

    Nichs was confident, as if he held the weaknesses of the Martin brothers in his hands.

    "But you shouldn''t have said that. Mentioning Franklin''s grandson? You''re putting Ms. Davis in a tough spot. You''re real grandpa. With such a capable and attractive granddaughter, do you really think she won''t find a good match?"

    Felix voiced what Chloe might have wanted to say.

    Chloe was just over eighteen, but Nichs was already eager to find her a match. She had just gotten into college, and he had sent her to the Martin Family, as if he feared she wouldn''t get married.

    Listening to Felix''sints, Nichs didn''t get angry.

    He said, "You don''t understand. I said those things to put some pressure on the Martin brothers.

    They''ve been dragging their feet for months with no progress. If this continues, when will my granddaughter find a good husband?

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    I''m over eighty. How many more years do I have left? You don''t understand my eagerness to have great-grandchildren."

    Nichs''s words left Felix speechless.

    He stood silently on the side, watching Nichs fiddling furiously with his smartphone like a child who hasn''t grown up. Nichs stared intently at the screen, asionally furrowing his brows and disying a puzzled expression.

    Although Felix was still young and couldn''t fully understand the intense desire to have great-grandchildren, he could sense the eagerness and anticipation in Nichs''s eyes. For many years, Nichs had been hoping for the family to be more prosperous.

    Chloe and Grant entered the Franklin Mansion''s courtyard together. The entire Franklin family toe out and greet her.

    Everyone, familiar or not, addressed her as Ms. Davis, making Chloe feel a bit overwhelmed.

    Originally, Chloe wanted to introduce Grant to everyone, but for some reason, Grant stopped her.

    He only told everyone that he was Chloe''s boyfriend, without revealing anything more. Herman, looking frail, remained seated in the living room. Chloe and Grant went in to see him and exchanged a few pleasantries.

    Herman looked at Chloe and Grant and said, "Ms. Davis, my wife knew you wereing and arranged a small gathering with the girls in the family so you can get to know them. Mr. Martin, could you stay here and chat with me? Chloe, go meet the kids."

    It seemed Herman wanted to separate Chloe and Grant, which made Grant''s face darken with displeasure.

    Chloe, on the other hand, felt a bit relieved, as if she had finally gotten rid of Grant. After a few more words with Herman, she followed a servant to the backyard party

    room.

    But before she even entered the room, she could hear the unfriendly gossip from the women inside.

 Chapter 181 Her Boyfriend is Called Grant

    A group of women gathered together, each expressing their dissatisfaction and disdain for Chloe.

    "What''s up with Chloe acting all high and mighty? Grandpa, at his age, treats her like she''s royalty. Does she even deserve it?" One of the young women remarked disapprovingly.

    "Exactly, Grandpa calls her Miss Davis, and she dares to ept it," another chimed in, unabashedly expressing her discontent.

    "So what if our grandpa used to be their family''s driver? Now our Franklin family is considered among the elite too. We don''t have to put up with her attitude," the third person continued toin, her tone full of disdain.

    "It''s just Grandpa''s old-fashioned thinking, still treating his former boss like they''re something special. If it were me, I would''ve cut ties with them ages ago."

    "Throwing a party for her? Seriously, we must be bored out of our minds. Look at her outfit, all loose and shabby. It''s really low-ss."

    These words were filled with dissatisfaction and indignation.

    Standing outside the door, Chloe could clearly hear the Franklin granddaughters'' disdain for her presence. While Herman weed her warmly, his granddaughters clearly didn''t share his sentiment.

    They believed that now the Franklin family was among the elite, and there was no longer any need to curry favor with the Davis family. It appeared that when they greeted her earlier, they only respectfully called her Miss Davis because of Herman''s pressure.

    Their chatter was interrupted by Herman''s wife, Riley Stone, who was clearly

    displeased.

    "All of you, be quiet. This is not for you to discuss," Riley scolded them sternly. "Miss Davis can wear whatever she likes. If you keep talking nonsense, you''ll pay the price."

    Riley''s authoritative tone silenced the granddaughters'' gossip.

    Once the room quieted down, Chloe finally stepped into the party.

    It was a small gathering, mostly just members of the Franklin family. Chloe was greeted politely by Riley, who soon steered the conversation towards Grant.

    "Miss Davis, the gentleman who apanied you today, you said he''s your boyfriend? I don''t recognize him. Where does he work?" Riley asked. Due to her granddaughters'' marriage prospects, she had always been on the lookout for some young men in the business world. However, no one had ever brought Grant''s photo to her attention.

    Chloe didn''t want to reveal too much about Grant in front of everyone. She smiled lightly and said, "Riley, he''s just a businessman..."

    Before she could finish, one of the girls standing next to Riley spoke up with a sarcastic tone.

    Before she could finish, one of the girls standing next to Riley spoke up with a sarcastic tone. "A businessman? His business must not be very big. His clothes looked pretty cheap to me."

    Chloe looked up and recognized the girl as Daisy Franklin, Herman''s third granddaughter. Daisy had a pretty face and a haughty demeanor, and she wasted no time in belittling Grant''s attire.

    Daisy was quite attractive, with a graceful figure and poised demeanor. From her expression, Chloe could easily detect her arrogance.

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    When Daisy spoke, she immediately attacked Grant, criticizing that his clothes were not worth much.

    In fact, aftering out of the hot spring club, Grant had changed into an inexpensive yet veryfortable casual outfit.

    Bruno had picked up Chloe, and they didn''t have time to change beforeing to the Franklin Mansion. Daisy''s disdain for their casual look was evident.

    Unexpectedly, theirfortable and casual attire had attracted Daisy''s disdain.

    Riley red at Daisy and scolded her, "Don''t talk nonsense. Miss Davis''s boyfriend is not for you to judge."

    But Daisy wasn''t deterred. She pouted at Riley, "Grandma, am I wrong? His clothes are cheap. But then again, they suit Miss Davis just fine. With her looks, how much would it take for a man to marry her?"

    Daisy''s words were dripping with contempt. Chloe didn''t want to cause a scene, but Daisy''s repeated insults left her no choice.

    She began to fight back. "Miss Franklin, you worry too much. The Davis family has nevercked money. Even if no man wants to marry me, I won''t starve. Unlike you, I heard from Grandpa Franklin that he still gives you a $5,000 monthly allowance. Is that enough for you?"

    Chloe''s retort made Daisy''s face darken instantly. The Franklin family might have money now, but Herman, having experienced hard times, was frugal. Any child going

    to college received a monthly allowance of five thousand dors. This was something Herman had mentioned to Chloe a long time ago.

    A rich girl with only a $5,000 allowance mocking her? That wasughable. Chloe thought hereback would shut Daisy up, but Daisy quickly regained herposure. "$5,000 isn''t enough, but luckily, I have a well-off boyfriend to support me. Grandma, once I graduate and marry Alexander, our family''s situation will improve a lot. You all know, Alexander''s family business is doing very well."

    Daisy proudly unted her boyfriend, Alexander. Chloe was taken aback by the name and asked, "Alexander? Which Alexander?"

    Daisy, eager to show off, replied, "Of course, the eldest son of the Martin family, Grant. His other name is Alexander. You didn''t know? Grandma, Alexander doesn''t like taking photos. Otherwise, I would''ve shown you his picture long ago."

    Riley initially wanted to reprimand Daisy for her arrogance, but when he heard that Daisy''s boyfriend was the eldest son of the Martin family, he wisely held his tongue.

    After all, if they could establish a connection with the Martin family, it would undoubtedly propel the Franklin family to greater heights and ensure their prosperous development.

    "Miss Davis, my granddaughter can be a bit boastful, but she means no harm. Please don''t take offense," Riley said, still respectful towards Chloe. But Chloe sensed something off in Daisy''s story.

    She knew that Grant had another English name, Alexander. She had discovered this when she went to Grant''s office and heard some foreign friends calling him Alexander. Whenmunicating with foreigners, Grant typically used the name Alexander instead of his real name.

    But Daisy iming Grant as her boyfriend was suspicious. If he were really her boyfriend, she would''ve recognized him when he arrived with Chloe.

    This could only mean one thing: Daisy was lying.

 Chapter 182 He Feels Sorry for Me

    Chloe could tell Daisy was lying.

    She had initially wanted to call her out, but since this party was thrown by the Franklin family specifically for her, it would be unseemly to start a confrontation with Daisy here.

    With that in mind, Chloe smiled slightly and decided not to say anything more.

    Since Daisy loved to boast, let her brag as much as she wanted. As long as she didn''t cause any trouble for Chloe, she won''t bother to pay attention to her.

    Chloe was about to step back, but Daisy mistook her silence for fear, thinking Chloe was intimidated by her so-called boyfriend. Daisy couldn''t help but feel smug.

    "Hey, Chloe, I heard your family has an engagement with the Martin family. Have you ever met Grant?"

    Chloe just smiled without saying a word. She took a sip of her drink and said modestly, "No, Grant is very busy. He doesn''t have time to meet me. Besides, I''m not exactly a beauty. I doubt I''d catch Grant''s eye."

    Chloe''s retreat didn''t make Daisy back off. Instead, Daisy thought Chloe might really have never met Grant.

    With that in mind, Daisy started to show off. "Alexander is so good to me. He''s tall and handsome, with big eyes, long hair, and bronze skin..."

    Chloe was amused by her words. Was Grant''s skin bronze?

    Probably not.

    The three Martin brothers all had ssic features and fairly pale skin. Daisy iming Grant had bronze skin?

    Was she blind, or had she never seen Grant at all?

    Chloe figured Daisy probably hadn''t even seen a photo of Grant.

    It was partly because Grant was excessively low-key. Although he had long been a legendary figure in the business world, he had always maintained a low profile and rarely allowed his photos to be published in the media.

    Of course, there were some unscrupulous media outlet that attempted to take candid photos of him, but Grant had managed to deal with these situations effectively.

    Seeing Chloe remain silent and indifferent, seemingly unaffected by the discontent and mockery directed at her, Daisy''s eyes gleamed with a cunning light. It was as if she had found the perfect opportunity to further assert her presence in front of her family by using Alexander''s name.

    "Alexander is so gentle with me. Grandma, Alexander said that once we get married, his family will coborate with the Franklin family in business. By then, the Franklin family''s business will surely reach new heights."

    Daisy''s boasting drew praise from her sisters, and even Riley showed some appreciation for her outspoken granddaughter.

    If Daisy was really lucky enough to marry Grant and be the mistress of the Martin family, the Franklin family would indeed rely on the Martin family''s support.

    The other granddaughters began to fawn over Daisy.

    "Daisy, you''re so fortunate to be chosen by Alexander."

    "Exactly. Only someone as beautiful and talented as Daisy could have such good fortune."

    "Unlike some people, who, even with an engagement to the Martin family, will never be the mistress of the Martin family."

    As they spoke, their target shifted to Chloe.

    They said Chloe was ugly, delusional, and had nothing going for her except her family background.

    Riley scolded them several times, but it didn''t stop their chatter. Chloe felt like she had been set up to attend a malicious gathering.

    Daisy was arrogant, clearly looking down on Chloe.

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    Chloe couldn''t stand it anymore and finally decided to fight back.

    She asked Daisy, "Hey Daisy, are you sure you''ve really met Alexander?"

    Hearing Chloe''s question, Daisy reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "What do you mean by that? Of course, I''ve met Alexander! We''re dating. Alexanderes to my school every week to see me. We''ve hugged, kissed, and even..."

    Daisy didn''t finish her sentence, leaving it to everyone''s imagination, making them think she had slept with Grant.

    "Oh... your rtionship is that good? If it''s so good, did Alexander tell you that I''m currently staying at the Martin family''s mansion in Sovereign City?"

    Chloe''s words shocked everyone present.

    Only Nichs and a few top executives at the Davis Group knew Chloe''s whereabouts. Herman, the Franklin family''s former driver, had retired and had no right to know about Davis Group matters.

    If Herman didn''t know, his grandchildren certainly wouldn''t.

    "Really? You''re staying at Alexander''s house? He probably didn''t tell me because he didn''t want me to misunderstand," Daisy made an excuse to make everyone believe her.

    "Alexander cares about me... He didn''t want me to get jealous or upset..." she still tried to pretend.

    Chloeughed coldly. She continued, "If Alexander cares about you so much, why didn''t he meet you when he came to Oceancrest City?

    And, do you have vision problems? Alexander''s skin is clearly pale. How could you see it as bronze?

    You say Alexander cares about you, but I don''t think he even thinks about you. I''m staying at his house, but I''ve never heard him mention having a girlfriend. Daisy, are you just making things up?"

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    In just a few words, Chloe put the pressure on Daisy.

    Daisy, who had been showing off moments ago, suddenly looked sullen.

    The Franklin sisters huddled behind Daisy, whispering.

    "Daisy, did you really not know she''s staying at the Martin family''s mansion?"

    "Yeah, she said Alexander came to Oceancrest City. Is that true? Why don''t you contact Alexander?"

    "Daisy, you always make a big deal out of things. Are you really just making this up about dating Alexander?"

    Their whispers made Daisy lose face in front of everyone, and even Riley showed a hint of doubt.

    Riley had heard Daisy talk about dating Alexander for a while and had suggested several times that Daisy bring Alexander home, but it never happened.

    Chloe said she was staying at Alexander''s house, and Riley seemed to recall hearing something about it.

    After all, the engagement between the Martin and Davis families wasn''t a secret, though no one knew which Martin brother Chloe was engaged to.

    Since she was staying at Alexander''s house, she must know something about him.

    So, Riley asked Chloe with a hint of skepticism. "Miss Davis, may I ask, is Mr. Martin really in Oceancrest City now?"

    Chloe nodded firmly and said, "Yes, he''s in Oceancrest City. We were even at the hot springs together this afternoon."

    Chloe''s words made Daisy immediately retort.

 Chapter 183 Drag Out and Beat to Death

    "That''s impossible. When I called Alexander this afternoon, he said he was in an

    important meeting. Alexander is such a busy person; how could he possibly have the time or inclination to go to a hot spring with you? Even if he did have time, he should be with me, not you. You''re so ugly. What makes you think you''re worthy of Alexander''spany?"

    Daisy was getting desperate and started verbally attacking Chloe.

    Riley couldn''t stand it anymore. She yelled at Daisy. "Shut up, Daisy! Even your grandfather has to show respect when he talks to Miss Davis. Who do you think you are to speak to her like that?"

    "Grandma... I''m just mad because she''s lying," Daisy whined, clinging to Riley''s arm.

    Seeing that Daisy was adamantly refusing to admit she wasn''t dating Grant, Chloe felt exasperated. She shrugged and said, "Since Miss Franklin insists on believing I''m lying, let''s verify it then.

    Why don''t you call Alexander now and ask him toe to the Franklin Mansion to clear things up? Wouldn''t that solve everything?

    Don''t worry, if you really are dating Alexander, I''ll ask my grandfather to officiate your wedding and make sure you marry into the Martin Family in style. How about that?"

    Chloe''s offer was generous, and Riley was immediately tempted.

    After all, having Nichs officiate a wedding was a rare honor.

    If Daisy really was dating Alexander, given the rtionship between the Martin Family and the Davis Family, even if Nichs pressured Grant, he would have to marry Daisy. Riley quickly agreed, "Alright, with Miss Davis''s word, I''m reassured."

    She turned to Daisy. "Daisy, contact Alexander now. If he''s in Oceancrest City, have hime over and meet us. Otherwise, you''re just lying to everyone."

    Riley''s attitude became unusually firm. Daisy, looking defiant, said, "Fine, I''ll call Alexander now. If he''s in Oceancrest City, he''ll definitelye. When he gets here, he''ll expose your lies. You dreaming of Alexander going to a hot spring with you is just ridiculous."

    Daisy took her phone and went off to make the call, grumbling.

    Chloe sat calmly with her wine ss, curious to see who Daisy would bring over.

    Riley stayed by Chloe''s side, carefully attending to her.

    For the Franklin family, the Martin Family might be their future benefactors, but the Davis Family was their current one.

    Without the continuous support of the Davis Group, the Franklin family''s business wouldn''t have grown so smoothly.

    These grandchildren wouldn''t each have a $5,000 monthly allowance.

    The younger generation might not know gratitude, but the elders certainly did.

    A few minutester, Daisy returned with a smile.

    She said directly to Riley, "Grandma, I got through to Alexander. He''s indeed in Oceancrest City. I told him toe over, and he said he''s not far from here and will be over soon. Grandma, I told you, I''m not lying. I really am dating Grant, who also goes by Alexander."

    Hearing that Grant was reallying, Riley was excited.

    She instructed the housekeeper and a few daughters-inw to quickly prepare some fresh food and move their gathering from the small room to the main living room of the Franklin family mansion.

    Everyone had to move to the living room.

    As they were heading there, Grant, who had just finished discussing business ns with Herman, came out for a walk.

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    Seeing a group of women moving their gathering, he was a bit surprised.

    With one hand in his pocket, he approached Chloe and asked softly, "What''s going on?

    A small gathering needs a venue change?"

    Chloe gave a helpless smile.

    She told Grant, "Miss Franklin''s wealthy boyfriend ising, so we''re moving to a bigger room..."

    "Wealthy boyfriend? How?" Grant almostughed in surprise.

    When he briefly met the Franklin familydies earlier, none of them seemed particrly outstanding in looks or conversation.

    Could they really have wealthy boyfriends? Wealthy people weren''t stupid!

    "Very wealthy, he had two names-one for domestic use and one for abroad..." Chloe teased.

    Grant, curious, asked, "Two names? What are they? I have a few business friends abroad, maybe I know him?"

    Chloe nced at him and said, "The name used abroad is Alexander, and the domestic name is Grant. The first heir of the Martin group."

    As soon as Chloe finished speaking, Grant was stunned. He was just gossiping and didn''t expect the gossip to be about himself.

    When did he start dating a Franklin familydy? He had no idea!

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    "Wait, Chloe, don''t believe this. It''s all a misunderstanding. I don''t know any Franklin familydies! Whichdy said I''m dating her? I''ll find her and set things straight."

    Grant was worried that such a misunderstanding would upset Chloe. He cared about her very much and didn''t want her to be troubled by baseless rumors.

    Chloe rolled her eyes at him. "Believe it? Do you think I''m that dumb?"

    "Go, go, go, go chat with Grandpa Franklin. Don''t keep me from seeing Miss Franklin''s wealthy boyfriend," she snorted.

    After talking to Grant, Chloe turned and followed everyone to the living room.

    After a few steps, she suddenly turned back, crossing her arms and looking at Grant with a puzzled expression.

    Grant felt uneasy under her gaze, sensing she was about to explode.

    Unexpectly, Chloe asked, "Hey... I don''t get it. Why did you choose the name Alexander? Does it have a special meaning?"

    Grant shook his head, "No special meaning, just a code name. If you don''t like it, I''ll find another one."

    Not wanting to talk to Grant anymore, Chloe turned and left for the living room. As soon as she sat down, Daisy started bragging about Alexander again.

    "Grandma, Alexander is really, really nice." Her voice carried a touch of dreaminess and shyness, as if she wanted to gain more approval. "He doesn''t talk much, and he is exceptionally low-key, never unting his wealth or status in front of me."

    Daisy continued, "Sometimes, I run out of my allowance, and Alexander always gives me money, about ten or twenty thousand dors."

    Her voice grew even softer, her eyes burning with affection, as if she were deeply entangled in her rtionship with Alexander. "You can tell if a man loves you by whether he''s willing to spend money on you. Grandma, I really believe Alexander genuinely loves me..."

    Daisy''s words made Chloeugh so hard she couldn''t hold it in, and the wine she had just sipped sprayed out.

 Chapter 184 How Can You Be Called James?

    The Franklin family must be doing pretty well in business now, right?

    A mere ten or twenty thousand dors, and the Franklin family''s granddaughter valued it so much?

    Listening to Daisy, Chloe couldn''t help butugh inwardly. She thought that Daisy not only had poor judgment in choosing boyfriends but also wascking in intelligence.

    ''Someone like Grant, a billionaire, would easily spend millions of dors,'' Chloe thought to herself. ''A sum of ten or twenty thousand dors wouldn''t even be enough for him to spend on socks, would it?''

    She pondered silently, trying to find the right words to describe Daisy. Should she say that Daisy hadn''t seen the world? Or that her so-called wealthy boyfriend was just being stingy?

    Chloe''s reaction was so dramatic that it drew everyone''s attention to her.

    Daisy was the first to speak up. "Miss Davis, what do you mean by that? I''m talking about my boyfriend, and why you spitted out your drink?"

    "I''m... sorry, Miss Franklin, I couldn''t hold it in. I just think your boyfriend is incredibly generous, especially to you." Chloe said, wiping her mouth and trying to suppress herughter.

    Daisy didn''t catch the sarcasm in Chloe''s words.

    She proudly said, "Of course... Alexander is truly sincere with me. How could he not be generous?"

    Daisy''s obliviousness made Riley''s expression change slightly.

    The Franklin family''s rise to sess was filled with hardships; securing their ce in the fiercelypetitive business world relied heavily on Herman and Riley''s frugality and persistence. As a result, they had always been strict with their descendants, particrly in the management of money, where they exercised exceptional control. Watching this scene, Riley couldn''t help but sigh inwardly, she never expected her own granddaughter to have such a narrow perspective on money.

    Daisy unting ten or twenty thousand dors in front of Chloe was like showing off a toy to a master craftsman,pletely unaware of how embarrassing it was.

    "Alright, Daisy, stop talking... Ask your boyfriend when he''ll arrive. We''re all waiting here; it''s not appropriate."

    Riley''s words made Daisy stop talking. She picked up her phone to call Alexander again.

    About ten minutester, the so-called wealthy boyfriend finally arrived.

    Except for Riley and Chloe, the rest of the Franklin family stretched their necks, eager

    to catch a glimpse of the legendary Martin family''s eldest son, Alexander.

    Soon, Daisy appeared at the entrance of the Franklin Mansion''s hall, holding the arm of a thin man.

    When Chloe saw Daisy''s boyfriend, she couldn''t help butugh again.

    Bronze skin? Handsome? Daisy''s taste was really terrible.

    At first nce, the man appeared to be no more than 5 feet 5 inches tall, with very dark skin, a buzz cut, and wearing what seemed to be a designer suit that didn''t fit well. He was quite an eyesore.

    However, Chloe recognized the suit as a high-end brand. When it first came out, it was highly sought after by the wealthy. If she remembered correctly, the suit was worth a million dors.

    Daisy introduced him to everyone, holding his arm. "Grandma, everyone, this is my boyfriend, Alexander... His name is Grant."

    The short man respectfully nodded to Riley and everyone else.

    When Daisy introduced him to Chloe, the man was stunned.

    "Miss Davis..." he said nervously, calling her Miss Davis.

    Chloe couldn''t help butugh.

    She never expected Daisy''s boyfriend to be a driver for the Martin family. He had driven her a couple of times when she attended Quest University.

    This time, the Martin family had brought him along to Oceancrest City, but since everyone had been soaking in the hot springs, they hadn''t needed him.

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    Unexpectedly...

    "Your name is Alexander?" Chloe asked, trying to hold back herughter.

    The driver nodded, "Yes, Miss Davis, my name is Alexander. I heard people often have two names, one for domestic use and one for abroad, so I chose one too..." "Oh my God..." Chloe was speechless.

    The driver, looking confused, asked Chloe, "Miss Davis, is there something wrong with my name?"

    Chloe chuckled and replied, "No problem... So, your name abroad is Alexander. What''s your name domestically?"

    The driver, feeling nervous but unable to lie in front of Chloe, thought for a moment and answered, "Miss Davis, my name is James Stewart."

    As soon as he said this, everyone was shocked.

    The Franklin family''s youngdies began to discuss loudly.

    "How can he be called James?"

    "Yeah, what''s going on?"

    "Did Daisy get tricked?"

    Riley''s face grew increasingly dark and sullen as the discussion continued. This was a major loss of face for her, even for the Franklin family. However, as an elder, she maintained her calm demeanor and authority. She asked Daisy, "Daisy, what''s going on here? Didn''t you say you were dating Grant? Why is this person called James?" Faced with Riley''s questioning, Daisy panicked.

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    She shook James''s arm, hysterically asking, "How can you be called James? Aren''t you Grant?"

    James raised his face, looking confused, and answered, "My online name is Business Grant."

    "What?"

    With James''s words, everyone in the hall became excited. James looked around, still not understanding why everyone was so thrilled.

    The youngdies of the Franklin family seemed to understand the situation and began to mockinglyugh.

    "Online name? Seriously, how did Daisy end up with this coincidence?"

    "I''m changing my online name to Business Grant tomorrow too..."

    "Embarrassing, absolutely embarrassing."

    Riley was furious. She mmed her hand on the table and stood up angrily. "Daisy!"

    Daisy was dumbfounded. She had been so happy to be dating Grant, never considering that the man in front of her was only using Grant as an online name.

    If she hadn''t thought he was wealthy, she wouldn''t have gotten close to him, hugged him, or even slept with him.

    "You tricked me? What do you actually do? If you''re not Grant, why are you wearing such expensive clothes?"

    The truth was clear, but Daisy still couldn''t believe she had been deceived. She pointed at James''s clothes and questioned him.

    James smiled nonchntly, revealing his yellow teeth.

    He casually said, "I didn''t trick you. I''m the Martin family''s driver, just like your grandpa

    was the Davis family''s driver. The suit I''m wearing was thrown away by Mr. Grant Martin after he got drunk and vomited on it. I thought it was still good quality, so I kept it."

 Chapter 185 Dont You Dare Think About It

    "What''s the deal? Are you seriously dissing my outfit?" James was confused.

    His words only made things worse, pushing Riley over the edge. She pointed at Daisy and James, her anger boiling. "Get this fraud out of here. And lock Daisy up. You disgraceful girl, you''vepletely trashed the Franklin family''s reputation."

    At Riley''smand, the Franklin family''s servants rushed in and started dragging James out.

    James, refusing to leave, shouted back into the hall. "Mrs. Franklin, I really love Daisy! I''ve spent all my earnings from the Martin family on her. We genuinely love each other. Please, let us be together."

    James''s words hit Riley like a punch to the gut, and the same went for everyone in the Franklin family. They had nned to host Chloe properly, but Daisy''s foolishness had turned them into aughingstock.

    The other granddaughters of the Franklin family were stunned. They couldn''t believe that Daisy''s so-called boyfriend, Grant, was actually just a driver for the Martin family.

    It made sense, the affluent families had plenty of wealth, but they certainly weren''tcking in good judgment. How could they possibly take a liking to someone like Daisy, who was so in and unremarkable in appearance?

    After calming herself, Riley apologized to Chloe. "Miss Davis, I''m sorry you had to see this mess."

    Indeed, it was a spectacle. Chloe, not wanting to embarrass Riley further, kindly offered somefort. "Riley, you''re getting on in years. Don''t let this upset you too much. Daisy is still young. She just needs more guidance. I''ll talk to James when I get back to the Martin family and make sure he doesn''t spread this around. We''ll protect Daisy''s reputation."

    Chloe''s words brought Riley to tears of gratitude. For a young woman, reputation was paramount, and Daisy''s purity was already lost after she and James had slept together. Daisy''s impulsive actions could not be undone, but regardless, the Franklin family still held significant esteem in the business world. There was no way Daisy could marry someone like James, a mere chauffeur. To prevent James from entangling with Daisy or causing public scandal that would bring endless trouble and disgrace to the Franklin family, it indeed required Chloe to step in and help cover the situation.

    As Chloe and Riley talked, Herman and Grant arrived. Herman, having heard about themotion, looked furious.

    He sternly addressed everyone present. "I always tell you, don''t aim too high and impractically; be down-to-earth in your studies and in life.. Look at Daisy-hasn''t she embarrassed us all?"

    His tone carried a hint of reproach and helplessness. He had always ced great importance on the family''s educational philosophy, consistently emphasizing the values of hard work, diligent study, and using one''s intelligence and effort to create real value, rather than relentlessly pursuing vanity and pleasure.

    "Each of you should consider your own circumstances. Do you really think you can marry into the Martin family? Let me tell you, with our family''s status and your personal qualities, it''s impossible to reach such heights."

    "Today, I''ll show you what the Martin family''s first heir, Grant, really looks like. The gentleman beside me is the true heir of the Martin family."

    "He''s Miss Davis''s boyfriend, so don''t get any ideas..."

    Grant stood beside Herman, exuding an air of nobility. He smiled slightly, looking at everyone present.

    The Franklin family''s granddaughters were all dumbfounded, and even Riley was shocked. She hadn''t expected the man standing next to Herman to be the famous Grant.

    He was handsome and charismatic, radiating an almost blinding brilliance.

    The so-called Grant, James, couldn''t hold a candle to him. The thought of such a man deceiving Daisy made Riley furious.

    All eyes were on Grant, and the Franklin family''s granddaughters couldn''t look away from his face.

    How had they never met such an outstanding man?

    Herman said they weren''t worthy of Grant, but why should Chloe, that in girl, be any more deserving, aside from her better family background?

    In an instant, the Franklin family''s granddaughters felt a deep sense of inadequacy. Grant, however, had no interest in their feelings. He walked over to Chloe, wrapping an arm around her shoulders naturally.

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    your

    He spoke gently, "We''ve been soaking in the hot springs all day. You must be tired. How about we go rest?"

    "Alright."

    After the day''s events, Chloe didn''t want to cause the Franklin family any more trouble. She spoke to Herman, preparing to leave.

    "Grandpa Franklin, it''s gettingte. We''ll be heading out now. If I have time in the next days, I''lle visit you again."

    Chloe expected Herman to let them go, but to her surprise, he insisted they stay.

    "Miss Davis, could you and Mr. Martin stay here tonight? My health isn''t great, and I''d like to talk with you more.

    Mr. Davis called earlier, saying it''s not safe to stay in a hotel. I''ve had the guest rooms prepared for you. Please stay with us.

    If I feel unwell during the night, you and Mr. Martin can help, right?" Herman''s warm invitation was echoed by Riley. "Miss Davis, please stay. Herman has always wanted to repay Mr. Davis for his support. Now that you''re here in Oceancrest City, how can we let you stay in a hotel? If you leave, Mr. Davis will surely be upset with Herman. Please, stay with us."

    The Franklin family''s granddaughters, each with their own thoughts, also chimed in. "Miss Davis, we''ve made such a mess today. We really want to talk with you but haven''t had the chance."

    "Stay with us for a few days so we can chat properly."

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    "Miss Davis, don''t go."

    .

    The Franklin family''s heartfelt pleas made it impossible for Chloe to refuse.

    She looked to Grant for help.

    Grant quickly found an excuse for Chloe. "Alright, since that''s the case, we''ll stay. I need

    to discuss future ns with Herman anyway."

    And so, Chloe and Grant stayed at the Franklin Mansion for the night.

    Their rooms were next to each other. After the servants showed them to their

    respective guest rooms, they left.

    The Franklin family had put some thought into Chloe''s stay, preparing simple change

    of clothes and toiletries.

    Chloe was tired. Shey down on the bed, feeling sleepy.

    Just as she was about to close her eyes and get some rest, she heard a soft knock on Grant''s door next door.

    Chloe''s drowsiness vanished instantly.

    Someone was knocking on Grant''s door? Was it a man or a woman?

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 186 The Franklin Family Has a Problem

    Chloe pressed her ear against the door, straining to catch any sounds from outside.

    From Grant''s room, she heard a muffled voice. "Who is it?"

    Chloe recognized it as Grant''s voice.

    "Mr. Martin, I''ve brought you some tea," a sweet female voice replied, which was unfamiliar and did not belong to any the women in the Franklin family.

    Chloe stood on her tiptoes, cautiously peeking through the peephole in the door. At the hallway, she saw a scantily-d woman standing outside Grant''s room. The woman was tall and strikingly beautiful, with an air of allure that seemed almost deliberate in the dim light, the pitcher of water she held glinting as if to entuate her appeal.

    Her movements were exceedingly seductive, as though every gesture conveyed some hidden suggestion. Even through the thick door, Chloe could almost smell the provocative perfume wafting towards her,den with teasing intent.

    ''This woman definitely has no good intentions,'' Chloe muttered to herself, her eyes reflecting a mix of disdain and vignce.

    At that moment, the sound from Grant''s room resurfaced,ced with impatience yet underscored by a stubborn firmness: "It''ste. I don''t need any tea. Please leave."

    However, the woman persisted. "Mr. Martin, you''ve had a long day. How about a massage to help you rx?"

    Chloe expected Grant to yell at the woman, but to her surprise, the moment he heard the word "massage," he flung open his door.

    Seeing Grant in his robe, Chloe fumed silently.

    "He says he doesn''t need tea when she brings it, acting all virtuous. But the moment she mentions a massage, he opens the door in a sh," Chloe muttered to herself, she couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

    She wanted to storm out and give Grant a piece of her mind.

    Just then, Grant spoke again.

    He looked at the provocatively dressed woman and sneered, "A massage?"

    "Yes, Mr. Martin. I''m very skilled. I guarantee you''ll feel rxed," the woman said, smiling seductively.

    Grant sneered again and said, "I didn''t know, how could the Franklin family offered such services? "No wonder the Franklin family hasn''t been doing well in business these past few years. With their focus on such shady practices, how could their business possibly thrive?"

    Grant''s sarcastic remark left the woman momentarily speechless, her face turning bright red with embarrassment as she looked at Grant, unsure of what to say.

    Grant snapped, "Get out. If you send anyone else to disturb me, the Franklin family can forget about any projects with the Martin group."

    He turned to go back inside, but the woman blocked the door.

    "Mr. Martin."

    "What now?" Grant asked.

    "Mr. Martin, I''ll leave, but please keep the tea," she said, shoving the teapot into his hands before quickly leaving.

    Grant mmed the door shut.

    Late into the night, Herman was video chatting with Nichs. These elders were doing everything they could for the next generation''s happiness.

    Herman reported carefully, "Mr. Davis, I followed your instructions and sent a beautiful woman to knock on Grant''s door."

    Nichs, eager for gossip, asked, "How did Grant react?"

    Herman, pleased, said, "Mr. Martin is a very upright man. He had no reaction to the woman. Mr. Davis, Mr. Martin is truly a good man."

    Herman almost praised Grant to the skies, his eyes filled with admiration and appreciation.

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    Nichs nodded in satisfaction.

    "Good. I didn''t think he''d misbehave," he said confidently. "The children raised by Louis are bound to have impable character."

    Louis had always been the person he trusted the most. They shared simr values and goals, so he firmly believed that Louis''s teachings would never go wrong.

    "Mr. Davis, I''ve already arranged the next step. Just wait for the good news," Herman reported eagerly.

    The two old men ended their call.

    After the call, Nichs fell into deep thought.

    Felix, standing nearby, reminded him, "Mr. Davis, Mr. Martin seems like a good man. Do you really need to test him this much?"

    Nichs nodded. "Of course. I only have one granddaughter. I can''t let her marry someone of questionable character. I''m old, but I''m not senile. If the Martin family members don''t pass the test, my granddaughter can stay single. I can take care of her." Nichs''s words conveyed a strong sense of determination and responsibility, which deeply moved Felix. Nichs''s profound care and responsibility towards Chloe reflected the selfless dedication and protection of a grandfather toward his family. "Mr. Davis, you are truly a great grandfather, thinking so thoroughly for Miss Daisy," Felix said sincerely, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

    Everyone knew Nichs had sent Chloe to Sovereign City to stay with the Martin family because of the marriage arrangement.

    People thought Nichs was being harsh, sending his only granddaughter away. But no one knew that every day Chloe was away, Nichs missed her deeply. He couldn''t sleep without looking at her photo every night.

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    He cherished Chloe as his life.

    Meanwhile, back at the Franklin family, Chloe and Grant, after the incident with the woman, returned to their rooms.

    Unable to sleep, they started chatting on Facebook.

    Grant: [Chloe, I think there''s something off about the Franklin family.]

    [What do you mean? What''s wrong?]

    Chloe asked, pretending not to know. She wanted to see if Grant would be honest with

    her.

    [Just now, a woman knocked on my door, offering a massage...]

    Seeing this message, Chloe teased Grant: [Then go ahead and get the massage.]

    Grant sensed Chloe''s indifference and decided to provoke her a bit. Women are naturally jealous, and he didn''t believe Chloe wouldn''t be.

    [The woman was beautiful, dressed provocatively, very tempting...]

    Chloe replied: [...]

    Grant, seeing Chloe''s response, continued reluctantly.

    Grant, seeing Chloe''s response, continued reluctantly: [But I''m not that kind of guy. I sent her away. Chloe, what do you think the Franklin family is up to? Is he testing me? Or is he trying to use this as a way to secure a coboration with the Martin Group? And Herman knows we''re dating. Is he trying to break us up?]

    Just as Chloe finished reading Grant''s message and was about to reply, there was another knock on Grant''s door.

 Chapter 187 Lets Sleep Together

    With curiosity bubbling inside her, Chloe didn''t even bother to put on her slippers as she rushed to the door.

    Standing on her tiptoes, she peered through the peephole.

    Last time, it was a woman knocking. This time, the Franklin family had changed their strategy.

    A man with a voluptuous figure and rather feminine features stood in front of Grant''s door, dressed in tight-fitting clothes and striking an exaggerated pose, a teasing smile ying on his lips.

    Seeing such a man, Chloe couldn''t help but burst intoughter. She never expected the Franklin family toe up with such a trick.

    ''The Franklin family sure knows how to handle things, don''t they?'' Chloe mused. ''They sent a woman, and Grant wasn''t interested, so now they''ve sent a man? Do they think Grant''s sexual orientation might be the issue?''

    Whether or not Grant would appreciate their gesture, the main thing was, they were good at reading people.

    Inside, Grant quickly opened the door upon hearing the knock. When he saw a person of ambiguous gender striking sultry poses before him, he felt an immediate wave of nausea, almost losing his dinner from the previous night.

    Before he could react, the effeminate man slinked closer in a provocative manner, gazing at Grant with adoring eyes and fluttering his eyshes seductively.

    "Mr. Martin... You''re so handsome. I really like you," the man''s voice was soft and coquettish, his demeanor frivolous.

    Grant felt his body tense up, an intense sense of difort welling up inside him. He struggled to maintain hisposure, determined not to lose his gentlemanly demeanor in front of others.

    However, the man did not stop his advances. He continued to approach, his voice growing even more syrupy as he said, "The long night is so lonely and cold. Why don''t you let me in to keep youpany and have a chat?"

    Before the man could finish, Grant kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying. "Get far away from me!"

    After yelling, Grant turned back inside and mmed the door shut.

    Immediately after that, Chloe heard waves of vomiting soundsing from Grant''s

    room.

    She couldn''t hold back herughter any longer. The Franklin family really knew how to get under his skin, didn''t they?

    Chloe was so excited that her sleepiness vanished. She grabbed her phone, ready to share the story with Zara and Rena.

    Before she could finish typing, she heard a knock on her door.

    Chloe was puzzled. What was this? Did the Franklin family have a surprise for her too?

    She wasn''t as strong-willed as Grant. If they sent a handsome guy her way, she wouldn''t be able to resist.

    With that thought, Chloe straightened her clothes and opened the door. Just as she did, Grant, in his robe and carrying his clothes, barged into her room.

    "I am really get crazy. Can I get some sleep tonight?" Grant looked annoyed.

    Chloe feigned ignorance. "What''s wrong? Who''s not letting you sleep?"

    "The Franklin family, who else? I don''t know what they''re ying at, but I can''t stay in that room. I''m sleeping here tonight."

    Grant said this as he took off his robe and climbed into Chloe''s bed. Her bed was big, and as he buried himself under the covers, he could smell her lingering scent.

    Seeing Grant insist on taking her bed, Chloe was not pleased.

    "Hey, Grant, this is my bed..."

    "So what? Can''t I sleep here?"

    "If you sleep in my bed, where am I supposed to sleep?" Chloe was confused. Grant shifted, making some space. He smiled mischievously. "We''ll sleep together..." "But..." Hearing Grant''s words, Chloe had an urge to bang her head against the wall. This was the Franklin family. Herman was her grandfather''s driver. If she dared to sleep in the same bed as Grant, her grandfather would know by morning.

    Didn''t she care about her reputation?

    "No way, this is the Franklin family... Grant, you can''t sleep here." Chloe put her hands on her hips, protesting seriously.

    Grant just smiled nonchntly. "So what? We''ve shared a bed before. Come on, it''ste, and I''m really tired."

    With that, Grant pulled Chloe into his arms. She tried to struggle, but Grant clung to her like an octopus.

    The difference in their strength left Chloe with no chance to resist.

    Resigned, Chloe soon fell asleep in Grant''s arms.

    Half an hourter, Nichs received a message from Herman.

    [Mr. Davis, rest assured, everything is arranged. I''ve managed to get Mr. Martin and Ms. Davis to sleep in the same room. You can look forward to having great- grandchildren soon.]

    Herman felt proud of himself. Only he, Nichs''s personal driver, could handle Chloe''s matters so perfectly.

    Oceancrest City was known for its scenic beauty. As night fell, everyone drifted into their dreams, except for Liam, who was angrily riding his motorcycle with Zara through the city streets.

    Liam was an expert rider, so he sped through the streets. Zara, sitting behind him, was terrified by him.

    She clung to Liam''s waist, screaming in fear. "Mr. Martin, I''m really scared. Please, stop!"

    Zara shouted at the top of her lungs, calling out Liam''s name repeatedly, hoping he would stop. However, Liam, wearing a helmet, couldn''t hear her cries. He revved the throttle to its maximum, and the motorcycle''s engine roared as they sped forward.

    The wind howled past them, and Zara felt her heart pounding so hard it seemed like it would burst out of her chest. Her life felt precariously perched on the edge of a cliff, ready to plummet at any moment. The fear was bone-deep; she had never experienced such terror before.

    Realizing that her pleas were futile, Zara had no choice but to rely on her survival instinct. She clung tightly to Liam''s waist, feeling his muscles tense under her grip. Her nails were almost digging into his skin, and her cheek pressed firmly against his back, desperately seeking any semnce of security.

    After several minutes, Liam finally slowed down and stopped by the roadside. Zara got off, her legs too weak to stand.

    Liam removed his helmet and looked at Zara under the streetlight. "Zara, do you realize your mistake?"

    Zara, seeing Liam''s stern face, nodded repeatedly. "Mr. Martin, I was wrong. I really was."

    Seeing her admit her mistake, Liam lifted the trembling Zara and ced her back on the motorcycle.

    His eyes cold, he asked, "Then tell me, what did you do wrong?"

 Chapter 188 You Just Like Chloe

    Zara, already terrified, desperately searched her mind for any words she could think of. "Mr. Martin, I was wrong to deceive you with Chloe, making you think I was your dream girl. In reality, I don''t know much about motorcycles. I can barely ride one, and that''s about it. Mr. Martin, please, I promise I won''t deceive you again. Please, spare me."

    Zara''s survival instincts were strong. Terrified and practically shaking, she apologized with genuine sincerity, her voice trembling with clear desperation and pleading. Tears glistened in her eyes, ready to spill at any moment, and her hands twisted nervously together, utterly at a loss.

    Seeing her in such a state, Liam felt a sudden jolt in his heart. The anger that had driven him to want to punish Zarapletely began to waver, like a stone dropped into a tranquilke, creating ripples of emotion. His feelings gradually shifted from anger to aplex mixture of pity and guilt.

    However, Liam remembered his vow to punish Zara. After a moment''s hesitation, he decided to channel his emotions differently. Seeing the fear on Zara''s face, he suddenly moved closer. Before she could react, he captured her trembling lips in a kiss.

    Zara was utterly stunned. Her mind wentpletely nk, and her entire body froze, clueless on how to respond to this unexpected kiss. Her heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst out of her chest, and she was instantly thrown into chaos.

    She stared wide-eyed, her mind nk, as Liam''s lips moved over hers. "Mr. Martin, what are you..."

    Zara''s already unsettled heart became even more chaotic. She mumbled.

    Liam reached out, grabbed her waist, and gently said, "Rx, you need to put your heart into a kiss."

    With that, he couldn''t help but pull Zara into his arms and kiss her deeply. Liam''s kiss was bothmanding and gentle. His hands softly caressed her cheeks as he deepened the kiss. Zara, after her initial panic, gradually rxed her stiffened body, her arms falling limply to her sides, leaving Liam free to dominate her lips.

    This sudden tenderness and intimacy left Zara feeling both ashamed and confused. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes, as if to escape from it all. Yet, deep within her, a strange feeling started to bloom...

    The next morning, when Chloe woke up, Michael and Rena had already arrived at the Franklin Mansion. Michael had a night shoot, so he had plenty of time to hang out during the day.

    The Franklin family''s granddaughters were all excited about Michael''s visit. After all, Michael was an international movie star, and his visit was a huge honor for the Franklin family.

    They surrounded Michael, taking photos and asking for autographs. Michael, always friendly with his fans, happily took pictures with everyone.

    Things only calmed down when Grant and Chloe appeared.

    After a simple breakfast at the Franklin family, they prepared to leave for sightseeing.

    Just as they reached the mansion''s entrance, a shy red sports car pulled up, and Karlie, dressed coolly, stepped out.

    "Mic..."

    Karlie and Michael had always been an on-screen couple, and they were the leads in their current movie. With no schedule today, Karlie thought she''d date with Michael.

    But she was told that Michael had gone to the Franklin Mansion to see Chloe.

    Karlie had never liked Chloe much. At one point, because of the marriage agreement between the Davis and Martin families, Karlie even saw Chloe as a rival.

    After they talked things out, Karlie and Chloe became casual friends. Chloe had assured her that she didn''t like Michael and would help Karlie get closer to him.

    Whether Michael and Karlie ended up together was up to them.

    But Karlie didn''t see it that way. She believed that since Chloe promised to help, Michael had to end up with her.

    Upon learning that Michael had gone to see Chloe, Karlie seethed with anger. She drove straight to the Franklin Mansion, her fury barely contained.

    Seeing Michael, Chloe, and Grant together, Karlie was filled with jealousy.

    She had seen Chloe''s beauty, and even with a mole on her face, Chloe''s innate elegance and nobility were undeniable-something others couldn''t imitate.

    "Karlie? What brings you here? We nned to go out with Mic. Since you''re here, why don''t you join us?" Chloe greeted Karlie warmly, unaware of her anger.

    But Karlie didn''t respond kindly.

    With a cold expression, she approached Chloe and angrily questioned her. "Chloe, how can you go back on your word?"

    Chloe was confused. She didn''t recall promising Karlie anything.

    "Karlie, what''s wrong?" Chloe asked softly.

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    Karlie didn''t hold back. She confronted Chloe directly. "You promised you wouldn''t be with Michael, but now you''re clinging to him? He''s only hesitant to date because of the engagement with you.

    You don''t even love him, so why stop me from being with him? Chloe, I thought we were friends, but you''re treating me like this. Do you think that''s fair?" Karlie''s words left Chloe speechless.

    To avoid further misunderstanding, Chloe quickly exined. "Karlie, it''s not like that.

    I''m not clinging to Michael. I see him as a brother. I promised to help you two, and I have. But I can''t force Mic to date you."

    Chloe thought exining would resolve the problem.

    But Karlie, frustrated by unrequited love, was out of control.

    She used Chloe, "Don''t act so innocent. You just want all three Martin brothers to love you. Michael likes you, that''s why he won''t date me!"

    Karlie''s outburst shocked everyone. Michael, seeing Karlie''s meltdown, was furious.

    As a public figure, any careless words could be damaging. Karlie''s usations, if spread, could harm the Martin brothers'' reputations and bring disaster to Chloe.

    Michael angrily confronted Karlie, "Karlie, are you crazy? Do you know the consequences of your words? Chloe and I are just friends. Our engagement is our business, not yours. Stop this madness before it gets out of hand."

    Michael''s anger didn''t stop Karlie. Sheughed bitterly and continued, "See? You do care about her. You''re upset by what I said, aren''t you?"

 Chapter 189 Was Rena Used?

    "You''re so eager to protect her, afraid she''ll suffer even a little. If that''s not liking her, then what is it?"

    Karlie kept talking more and more, with no intention of stopping. Michael watched her, trying to interrupt, but she waspletely unfazed. To her, Michael''s attempts to stop her seemed nonexistent.

    Grant, standing next to Chloe, frowned in displeasure. Seeing Chloe''s face turn red with anger, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving her aforting squeeze.

    He had always thought Karlie was a calm woman, but now she was verbally attacking Chloe? And using Michael to do it?

    Such a woman, let alone marrying into the Martin family, her career in showbiz was as good as over.

    Grant said nothing, letting Karlie rant.

    Michael found himself at a loss for words due to Karlie''s relentless barrage. He used to think Chloe was unattractive, but as he spent more time with her, he gradually discovered many of her admirable qualities.

    He thought maybe he did have a bit of a crush on Chloe. He enjoyed being around her and even considered marrying her if none of his brothers wanted to.

    But seeing his older brother Grant so protective of Chloe, he pushed those thoughts aside.

    Honestly, he just wanted Chloe to be happy.

    "Karlie, I suggest you stop talking nonsense..." Michael said, half-squinting his eyes and looking at Karlie coldly. His tone was icy, and his gaze held an unmistakable severity. Karlie let out a cold chuckle, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Nonsense? Michael, we''ve been ying up this on-screen couple act for so long that I almost started to believe it myself." Her eyes were sharp, piercing right through Michael.

    "And now you''re telling me I''m talking nonsense? Fine, tell me then, if I''m lying, if you don''t love Chloe, who do you love?" Karlie pressed on, unyielding, each of her words like a sharp thorn, stabbing right at Michael''s heart.

    Karlie was pushing Michael into a corner.

    Michael''s expression darkened, his brows furrowing deeply, and the coldness in his eyes grew more intense. His gaze slowly shifted to Chloe, who was standing nearby, her eyes filled with a hint of unease as she looked at him.

    Chloe felt a sudden wave of anxiety. She feared Michael might use her as a shield, and if that happened, Grant, who was extremely possessive, might just im her for himself.

    Just as Chloe was at a loss, Michael suddenly took a step back. He turned and looked at Rena, who was standing behind him.

    Rena, his assistant, thought her boss needed something and quickly stepped forward.

    To everyone''s surprise, Michael grabbed Rena''s hand.

    Rena froze,pletely confused by Michael''s actions.

    "Mr. Martin, what are you doing?" she asked timidly.

    Before Rena could finish her question, Michael pulled her in front of Karlie.

    Under everyone''s astonished gaze, Michael said seriously, "The girl I like is her."

    The room erupted in shock. No one expected the famous Michael to fall for his unremarkable assistant, Rena.

    Rena was equally stunned by Michael''s sudden deration.

    Michael liked her? What a joke!

    She was just an assistant, with no notable background, utterly ordinary. How could Michael possibly like her?

    Previously, when she told Zara aboutpeting fairly for Michael, she knew it was just a joke. She was well aware of the vast distance between her and Michael, and she dared not entertain any unrealistic thoughts.

    But now...

    "Mr. Martin, are you joking?" Rena finally reacted, struggling to free her hand from Michael''s grip.

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    But Michael didn''t let go. He looked at Rena seriously and said, "I''m not joking. I like you. Do you think just anyone can be my personal assistant?"

    Michael''s confession left Renapletely bewildered.

    Without further exnation, Michael turned to Karlie and said, "Karlie, I''ve told you before, our on-screen rtionship was arranged by thepany. We''re just friends.

    I hope you don''t misunderstand, don''t get too into the role, and don''t attack my friends, family, or the woman I like.

    This is the first time this has happened, so I''ll forgive you. But if it happens again, don''t me me for being ruthless. We won''t even be friends then."

    Michael''s harsh words left Karlie standing there, at a loss. If she had lost to Chloe, she might have felt a bit better.

    After all, Chloe was the daughter of the Davis Group. Even if she wasn''t pretty, her background made up for it.

    Losing to Chloe wouldn''t be so bad.

    But she lost to an unremarkable assistant?

    Why?

    Tears streamed down Karlie''s face. Chloe walked over, gently patting her shoulder in a gesture offort.

    Soon, everyone left, leaving Karlie alone, crying.

    Reporters, always quick to catch a story, swarmed in, cameras shing as they captured Karlie''s tears.

    Michael had nned a getaway, and everyone drove off together.

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    Chloe and Grant shared a car. After the incident with Karlie, Chloe had a lot to process.

    Sitting next to Grant, she kept repeating.

    "Michael likes Rena? Since when?"

    "How did I not know he liked Rena?"

    "Oh, it''s my fault. I should have seen it when he made her his assistant."

    "He hides his feelings so well."

    Listening to Chloe''s muttering, Grant, who was handling work on his phone, snorted.

    He looked up from his phone and said to Chloe, "Isn''t it possible that he''s just using Rena as a cover?"

    Grant hit the nail on the head.

    Chloe snapped out of it.

    Michael and Rena had always maintained a professional rtionship as boss and employee. It was Karlie''s relentless pressure that made Michael grab Rena''s hand and dere that he liked her.

    As Grant suggested, could Rena be just a cover for Michael to fend off Karlie?

    If so, Rena was being used by Michael.

    Chloe, with her strong sense of justice, couldn''t let that happen.

    She had to protect her friend, just as Rena had protected her before.

    Meanwhile, in another luxury car, Michael lowered the partition, creating a private

    space to discuss his terms with Rena.

 Chapter 190 Love Yourself a Little More

    Michael turned to Rena and said, "Starting today, you''re my girlfriend. But only in name. You get that, right? I know your mother is ill and needs arge amount of money for medical expenses. I will cover these costs for you, but only as long as I need you."

    "If you dare to reveal our rtionship to anyone," Michael''s voice was low but unmistakably firm, his eyes coldly fixed on Rena, "I will terminate the contract immediately, and you will owe me a substantial penalty."

    His tone was severe, and the ruthless words struck Rena like a chilling wave, piercing her heart deeply. Her face paled slightly, and her eyes were filled with anxiety and uncertainty.

    "But only in name. You get that, right?"

    "I know your mom''s really sick and needs a lot of money for her medical bills. I''ll cover those expenses until I don''t need you anymore."

    "If you tell anyone about our arrangement, I''ll end the contract immediately, and you''ll owe me a big penalty."

    "Rena, we''re simply meeting each other''s needs," Michael continued. "During the period when you are my nominal girlfriend, all your expenses will be covered by me. I''ll see to it that you go to the best schools, wear the finest clothes, and live in the best houses. However, when I need you, you must be avable at all times."

    Each word was clear and powerful, like invisible chains tightly binding Rena. Her heart pounded, unable to ignore his threats and temptations.

    "Think it over," Michael''s voice softened slightly, yet still carried an irresistible force. "I''ll have someone draft a contract."

    Michael''s words hit Rena like a heavy hammer, striking her heart. Her mind was in turmoil; everything was happening so suddenly that she couldn''t make a decision.

    Rena''s hand trembled slightly, and she bit her lower lip, trying to calm herself down. She knew Michael''s words were not empty threats; this man always meant what he said.

    After thinking for a moment, she said, "Mr. Martin, I can''t do this."

    Michael wasn''t surprised by her refusal. He continued, "Why? Your mom''s about to have surgery, and the million dors needed for it is way beyond your family''s means. Sure, you could ask Chloe for a loan, but think about how you''d pay her back. Rena, you''re smart. I believe you''ll make the right choice before we get to our destination." With that, Michael leaned back against the leather seat of the luxury car and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.

    He knew Rena was a devoted daughter and wouldn''t let her sick mother go without surgery. She would agree.

    Michael had a firm grasp on human nature.

    Rena sat beside Michael, deep in thought.

    She came from a poor family, and getting into Quest University was already a big deal.

    She liked Michael and wanted to be his assistant. Just being around him made her happy. Although she liked him, she never thought about dating him.

    She was well aware of the gap between them.

    Her mom was sick and needed a million dors for surgery, a fact she hadn''t shared with anyone.

    But Michael was using this to make her his girlfriend.

    Rena knew he just wanted to use her to get rid of the women around him. She liked Michael but didn''t want to be his pawn.

    However, for her mom''s sake, she had no other options.

    Michael''s offer was too generous to refuse.

    She wanted to be a girl with principles, but those principles were contingent on her and her family''s well-being.

    Rena began to calcte in her mind.

    Ten minutester, the cars stopped at the entrance of the scenic area. As Michael was about to get out, he said to Rena, "If you agree, link your arm with mine when I get out. You can refuse, but I believe you''ll make the right choice."

    Michael got out of the car with an air of arrogance. After a moment of contemtion, Rena naturally linked her arm with his.

    Seeing this, a barely noticeable smile appeared on Michael''s lips.

    The scenery in Oceancrest City was stunning. The group hiked and enjoyed the views. Chloe, who loved sports and often sketched, was particrly fond of the environment. Taking advantage of a moment when Grant and Michael were talking, she pulled Rena aside for a chat.

    "Rena, what did Michael say to you in the car? You looked upset when you got out," Chloe asked, her concern evident.

    Rena quickly forced a smile. "Chloe, I''m happy. We''re all out having fun together. How could I not be happy?"

    Chloe looked at Rena, puzzled. "When you got out, I saw you link arms with Michael. Are you nning to ept his affection?" she asked with concern.

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    Although she hadn''t known Rena for long, Rena''s sincerity had deeply moved Chloe. Especially when everyone else thought Chloe was ugly and ndered her, the usual timid Rena stood by her side and spoke up for her. Naturally, Chloe felt a special fondness for Rena.

    Hearing Chloe''s question, Rena smiled. She took Chloe''s hand and said, "Chloe, you know I like Michael. Last time we were drinking, I even joked with Zara aboutpeting for him.

    Now, clearly said he likes me and wants to date me. How could I refuse? Yes, I have to tell you, we''re together now."

    Rena straightforwardly admitted her rtionship with Michael.

    Since it was a mutual confession and agreement, Chloe, as an outsider, couldn''t say much.

    But as a friend, she cautiously reminded Rena. "Rena, Michael is in the entertainment industry. He''s never short of women around him. Plus, hees from a good family and is very ambitious. There''s a gap between you two.

    I hope you stay clear-headed no matter what. Remember, it''s okay to love him, but you must love yourself more. Got it?"

    Chloe''s reminder made Rena nod heavily. She smiled bitterly and said, "Don''t worry, I know."

    After chatting for a while, they saw Grant and Michael each looking at their phones. After a while, they called Chloe and Rena over.

    Grant said warmly to Chloe, "Chloe, I have some news... We need to head back down. my Grandpa ising to Oceancrest City."

    "What? Louis ising to Oceancrest City?" Chloe asked, worried.

    Grant nodded. "Yes, he ising to visit a good friend and will be staying in Oceancrest City for a while. He heard we''re here and said we should all meet up. Chloe, are you excited?"

    Grant''s words left Chloe feeling a bit flustered. Louising to Oceancrest City didn''t make her happy. Because of the family engagement, she felt like an ugly bride about to meet her inws.

 Chapter 191 We Slept Together Last Night

    Seeing the eager look in Grant''s eyes, Chloe scratched her eyebrow and stammered, "Yes..."

    In truth, she wasn''t happy at all.

    At this moment, her mood was more somber than attending a funeral.

    Soon, everyone descended the mountain, preparing to head to Louis''s estate.

    Just as Rena was about to get into Michael''s luxury car, Michael coldly said to her, "Well, you don''t need toe meet my grandfather tonight." Michael''s tone was cold, imbued with an undeniable firmness.

    Rena was taken aback, her steps pausing mid-air as she looked at Michael, somewhat at a loss. Despite the myriad of questions and unease swirling inside her, Rena tried to stayposed. She responded softly, "Okay," trying to keep her expression calm and conceal her inner turmoil.

    Michael''s gaze lingered briefly on her face, but his icy stare seemed to pierce through her defenses, sending a shiver down her spine. He continued, "Wait for me at the hotel. Once I''m done, I''lle over."

    With that, Michael got into his car, and Rena obediently followed.

    Throughout the drive, Michael remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, seemingly avoiding any interaction with Rena. His demeanor was so unclear, as if he was deliberately maintaining a distance. This left Rena feeling extremely uneasy. The air was thick with a suffocating tension, and the atmosphere inside the car was oppressive and stifling.

    She was just Michael''s assistant, with no right to meet Louis. Even with any agreements she had with Michael, she had to remember her ce.

    At this moment, Rena''s heart felt like a wind chime suspended on an unresolved thread of emotions, trembling ever so slightly, bringing forth waves of endless sorrow and grievance. In nearly twenty years of her life, she had never experienced such pain and oppression. It was only now that she realized how bitter and exhausting it could be to love someone, as if the weight of the entire world was pressing down on her heart, not only inescapable but constantly increasing.

    If one of them had to suffer for love, she would rather it be her.

    The night in Oceancrest City was very quiet. Before Chloe met Louis, the three Martin brothers were called into a room by Louis.

    The three brothers hadn''t seen Louis in almost a year. Louis was very busy and had no time to see them.

    At this moment, the eighty-year-old Louis looked surprisingly youthful, with a head of white hair neatly covering his head.

    He was full of energy, and due to his regr exercise routine, he didn''t look like an eighty-year-old man at all.

    Seeing his grandsons, Louis was rxed. He sat on the sofa, scanning them one by

    one.

    Then he asked, "You three have been living with Chloe for almost six months now. Tell me, what progress have you made with her?"

    Louis looked at his three grandsons.

    Despite being seen as golden boys by outsiders, the Martin brothers were just grandsons in front of their grandfather.

    After exchanging nces, Liam stepped forward first. "Grandpa, it''s unlikely that any romance will develop between Chloe and me. I''ve tried to get closer to her, but it seems the closest we ever got was during that fight."

    "She pinned me to the ground and beat me up. I couldn''t fight back." he added.

    Louis couldn''t help but re at him.

    His grandson was too weak! Getting beaten up by Chloe and still having the nerve to mention it?

    Louis scolded, "Look at you, so useless!"

    Liam lowered his head, not daring to say more.

    Turning to Michael, Louis asked, "And what about you? Any progress? You''re an actor, after all, and not bad-looking either. Surely you can catch Chloe''s eye and win her over, right?"

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    Michael frowned slightly at Louis''s words, he replied. "Grandpa, Chloe and I have had some rumors. I''ve reminded myself many times that if possible, I wouldn''t mind marrying her."

    Michael''s words sounded reluctant.

    Indeed, for a while, Michael did develop a slight fondness for Chloe. Her exuberant personality made her stand out in any crowd. She was like a little sun, always brimming with energy, and just one nce at her could make you feel her indescribable spirit.

    However, as time went on, Michael intentionally got closer to Chloe and tried to understand her inner world better. At first, he thought he had developed some special feelings for her, but he soon realized that it was just an illusion.

    During their interactions, Michael gradually discovered that Chloe''s mind wasn''t on him.

    So, facing Louis''s questioning, Michael felt like he was reluctantly willing to marry Chloe if necessary.

    Liam felt strongly dissatisfied with Louis''s wording.

    He muttered, "Grandpa, why lower our standards? The Martin men aren''t bad. What do you mean by catching Chloe''s eye? She''s so ugly... with that big mole on her face..."

    Liam muttered so quietly that Louis didn''t hear him clearly.

    "Liam, what did you say?" he asked.

    Hearing Louis raise his voice, Liam immediately shut up.

    "Grandpa, I didn''t mean anything... I didn''t say anything."

    Seeing Liam quiet down, Louis turned his attention to Grant. "And you? Any progress?"

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    Hearing Louis ask his question, Grant straightened up. A pleased smile yed on his lips as he began to speak. "Grandpa, Chloe and I have made some progress. I think she''s quite cute."

    "That''s it?" Louis was clearly dissatisfied with Grant''s answer.

    Grant felt a bit embarrassed. Under Louis''s questioning, he scratched his nose and whispered, "Grandpa, we slept in the same bedst night. Does that count as progress?"

    Hearing this, Louis''s previously disappointed face lit up with joy.

    In front of Michael and Liam, he praised Grant, "You two should learn from Grant. He''s

    the most promising."

    Michael and Liam exchanged looks.

    They felt Louis''s judgment was a bit hasty.

    Wasn''t the sess of the Martin men measured by their career achievements? Now it seemed to be based on their rtionship with Chloe. Just because Grant was a bit closer to Chloe, he was the most promising?

    They both felt strongly dissatisfied.

    Louis didn''t care about their discontent. He pulled Grant aside to ask about his rtionship with Chloe.

    Meanwhile, Michael and Liam stood aside, discussing Louis''s obvious favoritism.

    Liam snorted. "Michael, what''s up with Grandpa? That ugly girl has some merits, but her looks are reallycking. Why does Grandpa value her so much?"

    Michael chimed in. "Yeah, I think my assistant looks better than Chloe. Why does Grandpa value her so much?"

 Chapter 192 All Fake?

    The two brothers, Michael and Liam, werepletely thrown off by what Louis was

    getting at.

    Louis, on the other hand, didn''t think too highly of his two rather underwhelming grandsons.

    He kept reminding Grant, "Grant, Chloe''s a great girl. She''s got a good heart,es from a respectable family, and she''s beautiful. You better treat her right. Our family, the Martins, marrying into the Davis family is a big deal for us, got it?"

    Louis''s words made Grant nod automatically.

    But standing nearby, Michael and Liam weren''t exactly on the same page as Louis.

    If Chloe''s good family background and kind heart were qualities they could all agree on, when Louis described Chloe as beautiful, they had different opinions.

    To them, Louis''s praise for Chloe seemed somewhat exaggerated. They felt that Louis''s perspective might have changed with age, and he might not be able to urately capture the current youth''s standards of beauty.

    Alternatively, there might be a generation gap between Louis and the younger ones when ites to the perception of "beauty." In their eyes, Chloe might not fit their idea of what is attractive. Different times bring different aesthetics, and that''s a normal

    thing.

    After chatting with his three grandsons for a bit, the servant who took care of Louis

    came over.

    He whispered in Louis''s ear, "Mr. Martin, dinner''s ready. We can start." "Alright, let''s eat." Louis said.

    With Louis''smand, everyone took their seats. Not long after, a stylishly dressed young woman in a chic short dress walked into the dining room.

    The girl appeared with her long hair cascading down, her skin as delicate as snow, exuding an aura of elegance and freshness. She wore a gentle smile that felt like a breath of spring, captivating everyone present.

    Without any makeup, her natural beauty effortlessly drew the attention of everyone around.

    In that moment, Michael and Liam''s eyes were irresistibly drawn to her.

    They felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this girl, but her face was unfamiliar, leaving them unable to recall where they might have seen her before.

    They exchanged puzzled looks, each feeling confused. It seemed like she had a connection to their past memories, yet it remained vague. Regardless of whether she was someone they had known, her beauty and poise at this moment had left asting impression in their hearts.

    Compared to Liam and Michael''s confusion, Grant stayed calm. He sat in his seat, watching the young woman glide over to Louis like a butterfly.

    The next second, a familiar voice came from the young woman''s mouth. "Louis, long time no see. I''ve missed you."

    As soon as she spoke, Liam and Michael''s minds were blown, leaving them stunned. They recognized the voice-it was Chloe''s. Could this beautiful woman really be Chloe?

    In their minds, Chloe was a girl with freckles and moles on her face. How could she be this stunning?

    "Chloe, it''s been a long time. I''ve missed you too. Come, give me a hug." Louis extended his arms and gave Chloe a warm hug.

    Seeing this, the usually hot-headed Liam shot up from his seat.

    He shouted in Chloe''s direction, "Are you Chloe?"

    Hearing Liam''s voice, Chloe turned around. "Yes, I''m Chloe. Liam, don''t you recognize me?"

    With Chloe confirming her identity, Michael was equally shocked.

    He, like Liam, stood up abruptly. "But what about the freckles and moles on your face?" Michael was too curious.

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    Before Chloe could answer, the ever-observant Liam figured it out. He muttered, "The freckles and moles on your face were fake, weren''t they?"

    Having spent nearly six months with Chloe, Liam had noticed something off about her freckles more than once. But whenever he had doubts, the issue seemed to be brushed aside.

    Now, he finally understood. Chloe had used this tactic to make herself look unattractive and keep people at a distance.

    It was a clever move, he had to admit.

    Chloe smiled at Liam and said, "Of course it was fake, Liam. Your eyesight must be failing if you couldn''t tell the difference."

    Chloe''s words were a huge blow to Liam and Michael. They never imagined that the girl they often called ugly could be so beautiful.

    They felt a pang of regret.

    To dere Chloe as his, Grant took her hand in front of everyone and made a formal announcement.

    "Michael, Liam, I am officially announcing that Chloe and I are dating," he proimed loudly, his tone filled with unmistakable pride.

    "From this moment on, the union between the Davis family and the Martin family has nothing to do with either of you," Grant continued, his gaze firm as he looked at both of them to ensure they understood his point. "From now on, you two can freely pursue any woman you desire."

    Grant was openly warning Michael and Liam that they should no longer have any thoughts about Chloe. His actions and words clearly demonstrated his unwavering feelings for Chloe and set firm boundaries to ward off any potential rivals. Michael and Liam felt as if they had swallowed a fly. Were they really out of the running?

    Chloe was not pleased with Grant''s unteral deration of their rtionship.

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    She protested, "Grant, what are you talking about? We''re not dating."

    Seeing Chloe''s attempt to deny it, Grant was displeased.

    He leaned in close to Chloe''s ear and whispered, "We''ve kissed, hugged, and even slept together. If that''s not dating, then what is?"

    Hearing his brazen words, Chloe''s face turned bright red. She couldn''t believe Grant would say such a thing.

    Fortunately, he spoke softly enough that only she could hear. Otherwise, she would have died of embarrassment.

    "Chloe, are you trying to shirk responsibility after sleeping with me?" Grant pressed on, whispering in her ear again.

    Chloe''s face turned even redder. She wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

    Louis watched the yful banter between the young couple and couldn''t help butugh. He felt as if watching young people in love made him feel young again.

    Chloe pouted andid out her conditions to Grant. "Grantie, at most, we''ve just spent a lot of time together. As for dating, that''s not happening."

    "When I came to Sovereign City for college, my grandpa told me that not just anyone can be a son-inw of the Davis family."

    "If you want to date me, Grantie, you have to meet my conditions..."

    Chloe smiled deeply at Grant.

    Grant was undeterred. He lightly parted his lips and said, "Go ahead, tell me your conditions."

    Without hesitation, Chloe said, "My future husband must be better than me in every way. Grant, how about we have a littlepetition?"

 Chapter 193 He Only Wants a Grandson-in-law

    "What are wepeting on?" Grant asked, leaning in.

    Chloe smirked, "Business."

    "How do wepete?"

    "We each start a smallpany. In six months, we''ll see whosepany is more profitable. If yourpany makes more money than mine, then you are the winner," Chloe exined. "And then, I''ll agree to date you."

    "But if you lose to me, you''re out, and the engagement between the Martin Family and the Davis Family is off."

    Chloe''s deration left everyone in the room stunned. Even Louis, who was sitting at the head of the table, felt a bit nervous.

    He realized that she was trying to break off the engagement between the Martin Family and the Davis Family.

    How could that be allowed?

    The scene fell into a brief silence, the tension in the air almost palpable. It was only after a long pause that Grant finally broke the silence with his steady, confident voice: "No problem, I ept your challenge."

    As these words settled, a cunning yet radiant smile appeared on Chloe''s face. She was fully confident that Grant''s business acumen was no match for hers, feeling assured of her victory.

    Michael and Liam watched from the sidelines, unsure of how they should feel about the impending changes.

    Louis, however, pulled Grant aside and began to warn him. "Grant, have you lost your mind? How could you agree to cancel the engagement with Chloe?

    The marriage between the Martin Family and the Davis Family was arranged by elders. All you need to do is put in a little effort to win Chloe over, and everything will fall into ce.

    What are you thinking with thispetition? What if you lose? Our family will lose more than just an engagement."

    Clearly, Louis had little faith in his grandson''s abilities.

    However, Grant smiled slightly. "Grandpa, from what you''re saying, you think I''ll definitely lose to her, a young girl?"

    Louis cautioned, "She''s not just any young girl...She''s been involved in business since she was a child. Nichs handed over somepany matters to her three years ago. She''s the most talented young businessperson I''ve ever seen. Grant, you mustn''t underestimate her."

    Grant smiled again at Louis''s warning. "Don''t worry, Grandpa. I''ll do my best to bring home the granddaughter-inw you approve of."

    Seeing that the two young people had made up their minds, Louis had nothing more to say. A hint of worry shed in Louis''s eyes, but what prevailed was trust. He patted Grant on the shoulder and continued, "You must be fully prepared, and take each step solidly. Remember, this is not just for yourself, but for the entire family."

    At the dinner table, he witnessed the two of them sign a business bet that would determine the fate of their engagement.

    Meanwhile, Michael and Liam sat at the table, drinking all night like defeated roosters. They were filled with regret. If they had known Chloe, who lived under the same house as them, was so stunningly beautiful, they would never have let her rtionship with Grant develop so quickly.

    After spending a few more days in Oceancrest City with Louis, the group left and returned to Sovereign City.

    Back in Sovereign City, Chloe and Grant went to the relevant departments and registered two smallpanies. Chloe rented an office, and herpany quickly opened for business.

    As Chloe''s best friend, Zara was the first person Chloe hired, and she was given a high- ranking position.

    Zara was worried about the bet Chloe and Grant had made.

    While setting up the office, she couldn''t help but remind Chloe. "Chloe, are you sure this bet with Grant is a good idea? He''s got years of experience in business. I''m worried you might not be able to beat him."

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    Zara''s concern was not unfounded.

    In Sovereign City, everyone knew how formidable Grant''s business skills were.

    But Chloe was undeterred. "He''s good, but so am I. I don''t think I''ll necessarily lose to him."

    Zara sighed, "Honestly, I kinda hope you lose. That way, the engagement between the Davis Family and the Martin Family will still stand."

    "If you win, the engagement will be off, and Nichs will be furious with you." Zara pouted, not understanding why Chloe wouldplicate things when she had such a good life ahead of her.

    Grant was the Martin Family''s eldest grandson, he was handsome, well-built, kind, and most importantly, wealthy and in charge of the Martin Family''s vast estate. Marrying him would be the best possible marriage for Chloe.

    If Zara had such good fortune, she would be over the moon.

    Chloe ignored Zara''s words, gave her a look, and got back to work.

    Just then, Zara''s phone buzzed in her pocket. She carefully took it out and saw a message from Liam.

    [Want to go for a ride tonight?]

    The word "ride" made Zara''s scalp tingle. Liam was a daredevil. That night in Oceancrest City, he had taken her on a wild motorcycle ride that nearly scared her to death.

    Now he wanted to go riding again?

    No way.

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    Zara didn''t want to go, so she didn''t reply to Liam, hoping to avoid meeting him.

    But Liam quickly sent another message: [If you don''t agree, I''ll go to your office and tell Chloe that we kissed that night.]

    Seeing Liam''s threatening yet straightforward message, Zara''s scalp tingled. She couldn''t understand how she had gotten involved with someone like Liam.

    If Chloe found out Liam had kissed her, Chloe would never let her live it down.

    Faced with the threat, Zara had no choice but to give in.

    She reluctantly replied: [Alright!]

    Seeing her response, Liam smiled.

    He had always seen Zara as his goddess. The more they interacted, the stronger his feelings for her grew.

    When he realized Zara wasn''t his goddess, he was angry. However, upon reflecting on every interaction and conversation, he had to confront an unavoidable truth. Unbeknownst to him, Zara had long since taken root in his heart, bing an indispensable part of his life. She was a real, captivating woman with a distinct personality. Even her ws and imperfections had be endearing in his eyes. Whenever he thought of her, the warmth and happiness she brought would fill his heart. He realized that although Zara wasn''t his goddess, she had be an irreceable presence in his life.

    That night, after a busy day at her smallpany, Chloe received a call from Nichs,

    who was furious. "Chloe, are you trying to drive me crazy?

    I sent you to find a husband, not topete with him. Grant is so good, so

    outstanding, why are you making things difficult for him?

    If you two get along, just date properly. Why sign a bet? I don''t agree. Cancel the bet

    immediately. I don''t want a bet; I want a grandson-inw!"

 Chapter 194 Deliberate

    Listening to her grandfather''s roar, Chloe felt a headacheing on. She helplessly moved her phone a bit away, fearing that the deafening sound might pierce her eardrums. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner agitation.

    ''Grandpa, I''m at least a decent-looking girl, do you really worry so much that I won''t get married?'' Chloe retorted weakly, her voice filled with a touch of helplessness and fatigue.

    Ever since she became an adult, her grandfather seemed to have treated her marriage as the most important issue, as if it were his life''s mission. And every time this topic came up, Nichs would get particrly emotional.

    On the other end of the line, Nichs''s voice remained loud and firm. "I don''t care, anyway, I want you to marry the boy from the Martin family. Their family is well-off and

    a good match. If you dare call off the engagement, I''ll turn against you!"

    Chloe listened to her grandfather''s upromising tone, feeling a mixture of emotions. She knew her grandfather meant well, but such intense expectations and pressure made her feel incredibly stifled.

    "That''s it, I''m done talking." Before Chloe could respond, Nichs hung up abruptly. Staring at her phone, Chloe shook her head in exasperation.

    She was convinced her grandfather had been charmed by the Martin family. Otherwise, why would he insist she marry one of their men?

    She wished she could tell Nichs that the man she wanted had to be at least a little stronger than her, even if he wasn''t a legendary hero. Only a strong partnership could achieve great things, right?

    Because of thepany''s affairs, Chloe was busy until veryte before returning to the Martin Mansion. Dragging her tired body upstairs, she was prepared to take a shower and go to bed. Shepletely failed to notice that there seemed to be no traces of Michael and Liam living in therge vi anymore.

    After her shower, Chloey down on her bed. Just as she was about to fall asleep, there was a knock on the door.

    "Who is it?" Chloe called out towards the door.

    Grant''s gentle voice came from outside, "It''s me..."

    "It''s sote, I''m already in bed," Chloe said tiredly, not wanting to move. Running a smallpany with limited funds meant she had to handle many things herself.

    Ignoring Chloe''s words, Grant found a key and unlocked her door.

    Chloe, who had justin down, looked at the uninvited Grant with exasperation.

    She pulled the nket up, wrapping it around her body, and then she asked, "Grantie, I am really already in bed. You are a man, and I am a woman. You can''t keep using your key to open my room door. What would others think if they saw?"

    Chloe lifted her delicate face, clearly displeased, and grumbled at Grant.

    Grant nced at her, then went outside to bring in a tray with a steaming bowl of pasta.

    He said, "Don''t worry, Liam and Michael have moved out. My Grandpa thought they might disturb our rtionship."

    "What?" Chloe was speechless at this news.

    "Several of the household servants have been sent to other ces. Now, only the chef, cleaners, and Mia, among a few others, remain. They have all worked for the Martin Family for a long time. They won''t gossip." Grant continued. "So, you don''t need to worry about anyone seeing."

    Grant''s words instantly silenced Chloe.

    She sat awkwardly on her bed, feeling as if she were trapped in a dire situation. The atmosphere in the room was somewhat delicate, and her mood was extremely weary from a busy day.

    "I noticed you were busy all day and haven''t eaten anything. I made a bowl of pasta soup for you. Come on, get up and have a bite," Grant gently ced the pasta on the small table by the bed and softly coaxed Chloe to eat.

    Chloe had no appetite at all; she just wanted to rest. She replied weakly, "I don''t want to eat... I just want to sleep." After speaking, she curled up in her nket andzily closed her eyes, trying to escape the exhaustion of reality.

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    Seeing this, Grant sighed lightly, reached out, and gently pulled her out of the covers, then held her tenderly in his arms. He reminded her softly but firmly, "You must eat something. You''re already skinny, and if you skip more meals, you''ll turn into skin and bones. Not eating regrly is also bad for your stomach. Please, listen to me. Eat first and then sleep."

    Grant''s voice was gentle yet firm, like coaxing a child. His carefulness and concern instantly softened Chloe''s defenses. She felt the warmth of his embrace, and her mood gradually became more rxed.

    Chloe suddenly realized that there was truth in saying that older men indeed knew how to care for people better. She couldn''t help but think that having such a considerate man by her side was actually quite nice.

    Grant brought the bowl of pasta closer and fed Chloe bit by bit. His cooking was surprisingly good; the pasta was soft and warm, giving aforting, homey feeling.

    After a few bites, Chloe felt full. Grant pressed a button on the small table, and soon Mia came up to collect the dishes.

    Seeing Chloe nestled in bed while Grant carefully tended to her, the always-cheerful Mia couldn''t resist teasing Chloe.

    "Miss Davis, look at Mr. Martin, taking such meticulous care of you," Mia said, covering her mouth as sheughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

    "You know, you came home a bitte. He was waiting for you on the little balcony, not taking his eyes off the road for a second. As soon as he saw you get out of the car, he hurried back to the kitchen to make you a bowl of pasta himself," Mia continued, her tone yful.

    "I''ve been working for the Martin Family for so long and never once have I seen Mr. Martin step foot in the kitchen. Miss Davis, you''re so lucky. Mr. Martin really treats you incredibly well," Mia added with a smile, her voice filled with envy and teasing.

    Mia''s words left Chloe quite surprised. She had spent so much time with Grant and never knew he could cook. She remembered that at the hotel in Oceancrest City, Grant always hired professional chefs to prepare meals and never did it himself.

    Looking down at the half-eaten bowl of pasta, Chloe felt a warm sensation in her heart. To her surprise, Grant''s cooking was actually quite good. The hot pasta made her stomach feel warm, and her whole body rxed.

    She couldn''t help but marvel at how this man, who usually seemed so calm andposed, had such a gentle and tender side. Grant''s care and attention made her feel

    a warmth and security she had never experienced before.

    After teasing Chloe, Mia collected the dishes and left the room.

    Now, it was just Chloe and Grant.

    Chloe asked, "When did Mic and Liam move out?"

    Grant replied, "The night we returned from Oceancrest City. Grandpa ordered them to move out."

    "Isn''t that a bit too much?" Chloe worried.

    Grant waved it off. "Not at all. They were just in the way. Grandpa was right to have them move."

    "Why couldn''t I move out instead?" Chloe felt guilty, like she was taking over their space.

    Grant reached out and affectionately patted her head. "You are destined to be the mistress of the Martin Family; how could you possibly move out? Sweetheart, just stay here peacefully. Don''t worry, I will take good care of you."

    Grant''s touch made Chloe blush. She lowered her face, unable to meet his intense gaze.

    That night, Grant insisted on staying in Chloe''s room. It seemed he had grown ustomed to holding her as he slept and didn''t like sleeping alone anymore.

    The next day was the start of the semester at Quest University. Grant got up early. With Michael and Liam gone, it was now his responsibility to take Chloe to school.

    If he wanted to be her boyfriend, he had to put in the effort.

    Chloe got into the car with her backpack. Sitting in the back seat, Grant pulled out a mysterious item and showed it to Chloe.

 Chapter 195 I Have a Sense of Crisis

    "Here, take this..." Grant said, shoving something into Chloe''s hand.

    Chloe looked down and saw it was a fake mole.

    Actually, Chloe''s initial n to disguise herself was aimed at ensuring that the three young masters of the Martin Family would have absolutely no interest in her. She hoped that this would make them give up on her and ultimately send her back to her hometown in the northwest from Sovereign City. She meticulously crafted her appearance wearing a wig, sticking conspicuous moles on her face, and deliberately dressing sloppily-in an effort to conceal her true appearance.

    However, things didn''t go as nned. She hadn''t anticipated that she would end up unexpectedly crossing paths with Grant. His kindness and attention gradually made her lower her guard, and she began to develop a sense of dependence and affection for him. With the arrival of Louis, continuing with her disguise became impractical. Thus, she decided to remove the moles from her face and reveal her true self.

    Now that her true appearance was revealed, Chloe felt there was no need to hide anymore. She decided to go to Quest University with her real face.

    However, to her surprise, Grant had found the remaining moles she had bought online and handed them to her, a mischievous smile ying on his lips. "Did you forget about these?" he asked softly, a teasing glint in his eyes.

    "What''s this?" Chloe asked, puzzled by Grant''s intentions.

    Grant pointed to her face and said, "Put it on."

    "Why?"

    She wondered if Grant had gotten used to her ugly disguise.

    Grant leaned in close, his face almost touching hers, and said, "You look better a bit ugly. This way, none of your ssmates will be interested in you. If they are, I''ll feel threatened."

    Grant''s words left Chloe feeling quite speechless, but she decided to follow his advice anyway.

    Upon arriving at the school, Chloe walked straight to her ssroom. Students who had just returned from the holiday were gathered in small groups, excitedly sharing stories of their vacation adventures. The ssroom was filled withughter and lively chatter, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

    Chloe nced around the room, and her eyes quickly fell on Rena. Rena was sitting at her desk, looking pale and weary. She was holding a book and appeared to be engrossed in reading, but Chloe sensed that Rena''s mind wasn''t really on the book.

    Philip walked over, looking a bit hesitant, but he finally mustered up the courage to quietly ask Chloe.

    "Chloe, what''s going on with Rena?" he asked in a low voice, tinged with a mix of gossip and concern. "She took a few days off, and now that she''s back, something just seems off about her."

    He frowned, looking puzzled. "She''s a member of the student council and one of our ss leaders. She''s usually the most enthusiastic during ss activities. But today, for some reason, she''s been ignoring me when I talk to her."

    Philip looked somewhat hurt. As one of the most handsome boys in the ss, practically a heartthrob, he was never short of admirers. However, he really enjoyed hanging out with Chloe and Rena, and the friendship among the three of them had always been very strong.

    Chloe was just as confused.

    "I don''t know what''s going on with her either. I''ll ask her at lunch," Chloe suggested. "Okay," Philip agreed, then returned to his seat with his book.

    At lunchtime, Chloe didn''t go back to the Martin Mansion. Instead, she and Rena went to the school cafeteria.

    Chloe cautiously asked, "Rena, what''s wrong? You''ve seemed upset all morning. Did Michael do something to you?"

    Rena shook her head, her eyes flickering slightly, avoiding direct eye contact with Chloe. "Michael has been good to me, he didn''t bully me, it''s just because of some other things."

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    As she spoke, there was a hint of hesitation and unease in her voice. Chloe, with her sharp intuition, noticed Rena''s nervous behavior and the way she deliberately pulled up her cor. For a brief moment, Chloe glimpsed some small red marks on Rena''s neck.

    As a young adult, Chloe instantly understood the implications of those red marks. A mix of surprise and concern washed over her; it seemed that Rena''s rtionship with Michael had taken a more intimate turn.

    Chloe sighed softly, deciding not to pry further. She stepped closer, gently patting Rena on the shoulder, and spoke in a soothing tone, "Rena, no matter what happened, you can always tell me. I''ll always be here for you, supporting you."

    Afterforting Rena for a bit, Chloe focused on her lunch.

    In the afternoon, Chloe attended an elective ss. After listening to the ss for a while, she took out her phone and startedmunicating with Zara about the operations of their newpany. As a newly opened small business, many tasks were quite challenging andplex.

    Chloe chose not to rely on her connections and resources but instead to build thepany through her own efforts and intelligence. This made the progress somewhat slow, but she was undeterred. On the contrary, it strengthened her resolve. She firmly believed that with diligent management, her smallpany would gradually flourish under her leadership and be a sessful enterprise.

    After school in the evening, Chloe, as usual, headed to her newpany to check on the day''s operations. Although she had grown ustomed to her busy routine, every time she opened thepany door, she still felt a sense of satisfaction and achievement.

    As soon as she arrived, Zara came rushing up to her, her face beaming with excitement. Eagerly, she shared a piece of good news with Chloe.

    "Chloe, ourpany must be really lucky!"

    "What''s up?" Chloe asked, curious.

    "Today, while you were not at the office, I led a few employees to promote ourpany''s services. Additionally, we identified some potential client information we n to visit. To our surprise, just half an hour after our promotional materials were posted online, someone reached out to ourpany, indicating an interest in discussing a potential coboration with us." Zara''s excitement was contagious.

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    "Really? If wend this deal, it''ll be our first business," Chloe said, thrilled.

    Zara nodded. "Yes! I nned to meet the client tonight to finalize things. Since you''re here, let''s go together to meet Mr. Hill."

    Chloe couldn''t refuse Zara''s suggestion.

    "Alright, let''s go together," she nodded.

    After a quick tidy-up, they drove to the meeting location.

    Chloe''s newpany primarily focused on the film and media industry, which made sense given that Sovereign City was a ce rich in cultural ambience.

    To thrive and make money in a city like this, it was crucial to engage in culturally relevant industries. The Davis Group operated across various domains, and Chloe was not entirely unfamiliar with the film business.

    ording to the n she developed with Zara, their next steps involved signing a few male and female actors, then packaging and promoting these talents. They intended to invest some money to market these actors, and soon enough, they would see profits.

    Chloe hadn''t anticipated things to progress so smoothly. Thepany had only been open for a few days, and already someone was interested in coborating with them. If things continued on this positive trajectory, she was confident that she would earn significantly more than Grant''s newpany.

    Half an hourter, they arrived at the agreed location, a modest hotel. Chloe and Zara parked the car and headed towards the private room where they had arranged to meet Aaron.

    They expected a group of people for the meeting, but when they opened the door,

    they found a burly man lounging on the sofa.

    When he saw the attractive Zara enter, his eyes lit up.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 196 Serve Me Comfortably

    When Zara saw Aaron, she shot a quick nce back at Chloe. Chloe felt a sudden unease, sensing that something was off.

    Zara started talking to the man, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Hill?"

    "Yeah, and you must be Ms. Jenkins?" Aaron''s eyes lit up as he asked Zara. Chloe''s unease grew. With years of business experience, she kept her guard up.

    "Yes, Mr. Hill, nice to meet you. I''m Zara Jenkins from Summit Media Solutions. We arranged to have dinner tonight to discuss our potential coboration. This is our Summit Media Solutions''..."

    Zara was about to introduce Chloe as the general manager when Chloe interrupted, extending her hand to stop Zara.

    "Mr. Hill, nice to meet you. I''m Ms. Jenkins'' assistant," Chloe interjected.

    Chloe had a mole on her face, courtesy of Grant, and when she appeared before Aaron, he visibly showed disdain for her appearance.

    He snapped at Chloe, "Can''t you see I''m talking to Ms. Jenkins? Shut up! Ms. Jenkins, please have a seat. The food and drinks are ready. Tonight, we won''t leave until we''re drunk."

    Aaron, the boss, was overly enthusiastic and insisted that Zara sit down. Moreover, right in front of Chloe, his wandering hands began to inappropriately touch Zara.

    Zara was disgusted but had no concrete evidence to confront Aaron, so she endured his inappropriate behavior.

    Chloe watched Aaron''s hands with growing anger. Just as he reached out once more to touch Zara''s waist, Chloe swiftly extended her own hand and grabbed Aaron''s fat fingers.

    She smiled, "Mr. Hill, Ms. Jenkins is here to discuss business. If we can coborate, great. If not, we won''t waste our time. If you touch Ms. Jenkins again, don''t expect me to be polite."

    Chloe''s face was stern as she delivered her warning to Aaron.

    Originally, she thought that after such a warning, Aaron would surely be angry. Unexpectedly, Aaron just smiled and then obediently sat down. He then briefly exined his cooperation ideas to Zara and Chloe.

    To be honest, he came well-prepared. His cooperation n was presented in a clear and orderly manner, leaving no room for ws.

    After listening to his proposal, Zara nodded to Chloe, indicating that this cooperation could be further discussed..

    Chloe''s initial wariness of Aaron eased slightly after hearing his proposal.

    They discussed specific terms of the coboration.

    Finally, Aaron suggested, "Ms. Jenkins, Miss Davis, since we''ve covered most of the coboration details, let''s have a drink to celebrate our future partnership."

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    Zara and Chloe couldn''t refuse Aaron''s insistence. They raised their sses and clinked them with Aaron''s.

    Just as Chloe swallowed that ss of wine and was about to sit down, she suddenly felt dizzy.

    Forcing herself to stay alert, she nced at Zara, who was sitting beside her. Zara''s condition wasn''t much better; she was holding her head with one hand and looking at Chloe with concern.

    "Chloe, what''s happening? There''s something wrong with the drink," Zara said anxiously.

    The intense dizziness clouded Chloe''s mind. She couldn''t believe Aaron had the audacity to drug them.

    She mustered enough strength to look at Aaron, who was sitting not far away. She noticed a subtle, cold smile appearing on his face.

    Chloe knew she couldn''t afford to be careless. She grabbed her phone from the table, intending to call for help.

    But Aaron, anticipating her move, swiftly grabbed her phone and threw it far away. "Fuck, ugly woman, who do you think you are to talk to me like that? I only gave you some respect because that woman looks decent. Otherwise, I would''ve pped you already."

    Aaron then grabbed Chloe and threw her onto the couch in the private room.

    He then turned his attention to Zara, approaching her with a lecherous grin. "Ms. Jenkins, I can''t guarantee our business deal, but I can guarantee you''ll have a good time tonight."

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    Aaron reached out to touch Zara''s face. Desperate, Zara grabbed a wine decanter and tried to hit Aaron with it.

    But drugged and weak, she couldn''t muster any strength. The decanter barely affected Aaron.

    Aaron smirked, wiping his face. "I like feisty women."

    After speaking, he reached out and pulled Zara into his arms. Chloe, whose consciousness was already fading, saw Aaron about to harm Zara. She forced herself to stay upright, grabbed a chair, and with all her strength, struck it against Aaron''s pudgy back.

    The blow made Aaron wince in pain. He turned to Chloe with a menacing look. "Fuck, ugly woman, you dare hit me? I''ll kill you."

    Aaron pped Chloe twice, making her copse to the floor.

    The dizziness numbed her pain. Chloe shouted to Zara, "Zara, run..."

    Aaronughed coldly. He then gave Chloe a harsh kick and sneered, "Trying to leave? Impossible. You two girls had the audacity toe to this hotel to dine with me; you really don''t know your ce."

    He paused for a moment, his eyes glinting coldly as he red at Chloe and Zara. "Let me make it clear to you: everyone in this hotel is under mymand. You''ve been drugged by me; thinking you could leave? That''s naive. Unless this woman pleases my father well, otherwise..." He sneered maliciously.

    With a glint of arrogance in his eyes, Aaron grabbed Zara''s arm fiercely, yanking her up and forcefully holding her in his arms. Zara struggled but couldn''t move a muscle. The sight pierced Chloe''s heart like a dagger, tears streaming down her face uncontrobly.

 Chapter 197 That Woman Is So Ugly

    Zara struggled vehemently, but her efforts were futile against the corpulent and boar- like Aaron. Her hands and feet iled desperately in a bid to break free, but to no avail under Aaron''s strong grasp and brute strength.

    Aaron dragged Zara towards the door, his steps resolute and unyielding. Each step seemed to mock her helplessness.

    Seeing Zara in such a dire situation ignited an explosion of rage in Chloe. Furious and desperate, Chloe yelled at Aaron, "You disgusting pig! Let her go! If you release her now, we''ll pretend as if nothing happened today."

    Her voice was sharp andmanding, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. "But if youy a finger on her, I swear I won''t let you get away with it. You''ll regret ever being born because you won''t even know what hit you!"

    Chloe''s threat elicited nothing but a cold sneer from Aaron. He chuckled derisively, "Threaten me? What a joke. Neither of you women is leaving here unscathed today." Hisugh was filled with icy contempt, showing he had no intention of taking Chloe''s threat seriously.

    With that, Aaron kept dragging Zara out.

    Just then, the door burst open, and Chloe saw Lucy, who had been missing for a while, enter with a few men.

    Seeing Lucy brought Chloe sudden rity.

    A month ago, Lucy had hooked up with a rich guy named Perry, running illegal

    motorcycle races and causing deaths to make money. Chloe had exposed her scheme,

    which led to Perry''s wife, Hry, giving Lucy a brutal beating.

    Hry hadn''t killed Lucy, though. After beating her half to death, she let her go.

    Lucy recovered and continued her rtionship with Perry, even pushing him to divorce Hry.

    Now, with Hry out of the picture, Lucy had set a trap for Chloe.

    Lucy entered the room and, seeing Aaron holding Zara, pped him twice without a word. "Who the hell told you to mess with her? Are you blind?"

    Lucy scolded Aaron, then turned to Chloe.

    Aaron, feeling wronged, tried to exin, "Miss Kim, that woman is so ugly. I don''t want to touch her. Look at that mole on her face, it''s disgusting. I only want to be with this woman."

    Lucy rolled her eyes at Aaron''s words. "Are you serious? Do you even know how beautiful the woman on the floor is?"

    "I''m not blind. I can see what she looks like. I don''t want her; I want the woman in my arms," Aaron muttered, looking at Lucy.

    Lucy snapped, "Shut up. You''ll do what I tell you. Drag her out. I want to see if the Martin Family still wants to marry her in after she''s been raped."

    "Chloe, you used money to have me gang-raped. Now it''s your turn to feel that." Lucy signaled her men to lift the limp Chloe and bring her to her.

    Chloe looked directly at Lucy, a cold smile forming on her lips.

    Lucy was confident. She thought this was her territory, with her people around, and Chloe drugged, there was no way Chloe could escape.

    Chloe had pretended to be an ugly woman for so long. This time, Lucy was determined to reveal Chloe''s true face and let these men experience the thrill of viting a beauty.

    Lucy reached out to peel the mole off Chloe''s face.

    She said, "Look closely at this woman. Today, you''ll see what real beauty is..."

    With a swift motion, Lucy ripped the mole off Chloe''s face.

    In that moment, Chloe''s exquisitely beautiful face became visible to all, her cheeks flushed with a touch of rosy hue from the alcohol she had consumed earlier. This gave her an appearance of delicate charm and endearment, making it impossible for anyone to look away.

    Aaron, seeing Chloe''s true face, was instantly mesmerized.

    He never knew Chloe could be this beautiful.

    She made all other women around her seem dull.

    Lucy, seeing Chloe''s face without the mole for the first time, felt a surge of inferiority.

    Compared to Chloe, Lucy''s face was in. Even if she were reborn, she couldn''t match a fraction of Chloe''s beauty.

    Overwhelmed by hatred and jealousy, Lucy asked Aaron, "Now, who do you want to be with?"

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    Aaron pushed Zara away and, almost drooling, approached Chloe. "I want her. I have to have her..."

    He reached out to touch Chloe''s face.

    Just as his fat hand was about to touch her, Chloe, who had been dazed, suddenly snapped awake.

    She shoved aside the two bodyguards who were holding her, grabbed a bottle from the table, and smashed it over Aaron''s head with a loud crack.

    The bottle shattered instantly, and her swift action left everyone present in stunned silence, unable to react.

    Seeing the situation take a turn for the worse, Lucy quickly turned to leave. But Chloe, with a quick reflexive move, grabbed Lucy by the neck. She then pressed the jagged remains of the broken bottle against Lucy''s throat.

    The broken ss cut into Lucy''s skin, drawing blood.

    As Chloe snapped back to consciousness, Zara suddenly became alert as well. She quickly locked the door to the private room and, seemingly out of nowhere, had a pepper spray and a telescopic baton in her hands.

    The rapid shift in the situation left Lucy unable toprehend the reality of what was unfolding before her eyes.

    She shouted, "Impossible! You drank the drugged wine! How are you awake?" "Awake? Lucy, did you ever think we might have been ying along with your n?" Chloe smiled, tightening her grip, pushing the broken ss deeper into Lucy''s neck.

 Chapter 198 Beat That Damn Creep

    "ying along?" Lucy repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief.

    Chloe smirked, her smile tinged with sarcasm and confidence, "Of course. Such petty tricks could never escape my notice."

    Her voice was full of determination and pride, "I''ve been sitting at negotiation tables watching my grandfather conduct business since I was three. I''ve seen all kinds of people and situations.

    In the business world, over these years, is there anyone I haven''t met or any trap I haven''t encountered? This so-called Aaron of yours is just a phantom from the inte, and yet he dares to do business with ourpany? Do you really think I''d be so easily deceived?"

    A contemptuous smile yed on her lips, and her gaze was sharp andposed, "The outskirts, the hotel, the poured wine, thevish meal-did you truly believe such an obvious trap would lure me in? Do you take me for a naive three-year-old?

    I was just in a good mood, ying along with Aaron to see who was pulling the strings. Did you really think I''d fall for your trap and let you control me?

    Lucy, with your level of smarts, trying to take me down? You''re way out of your league."

    With that, Chloe grabbed Lucy by the neck and delivered a hard kick to Aaron, sending him sprawling. He had pped Chloe twice earlier, and now it was payback time.

    It turned out when Zara mentioned a client wanting to coborate, Chloe''s guard was immediately up. The business world was a battlefield, and every step required caution.

    She quickly assigned her trusted team members to quietly investigate the background of this so-called Aaron. Upon discovering that Aaron had minimal assets and no reliable business track record, her alertness heightened significantly.

    The subsequent arrangements only deepened Chloe''s suspicions: the meeting location was remote, the hotel was of low quality, and numerous details appeared dubious. With years of business experience, she keenly sensed that this meeting might be a setup.

    When Aaron urged them to drink, Chloe was already fully aware of what was likely to happen. She gave Zara a meaningful look, and with the seamless rapport they had developed over the years, the two of them acted in perfect sync. At the moment of raising their sses, they deftly poured the wine into their cors, the act executed so smoothly that no one noticed.

    This series of actions, executed with effortless grace, showcased Chloe''s intelligence andposure. She didn''t rashly expose the adversary but chose to respond calmly, seeing through the opponent''s schemes while ensuring the safety of both herself and Zara.

    However, what Chloe didn''t anticipate was that Lucy, the seemingly indomitable person who wouldn''t go down without a fight, turned out to be the mastermind behind Aaron.

    Thinking about Lucy''s past attempts to harm her, Chloe''s anger red. If it weren''t for thew, Chloe would have dealt with her long ago.

    After tearing into Lucy, Chloe signaled to Zara. "Zara, go beat that damn creep."

    The "creep" Chloe referred to was Aaron, who had tried to grope Zara earlier. Since he dared to make a move, he had to face the consequences.

    With Chloe''smand, Zara put away her pepper spray and responded, "Ok!"

    She walked over to Aaron, who was clumsily trying to get up, terrified of the spring- loaded baton in Zara''s hand. If she hit him with it, he might not survive.

    "Don''t, please don''t hit me. You two, get over here and deal with this woman," Aaron stammered, pointing to the two thugs Lucy had brought.

    The two men moved to attack Zara, but Chloe tightened her grip and pressed a broken bottle to Lucy''s neck. "Lucy, you know what to do."

    In pain, Lucy quickly ordered, "You two, stay put, don''t move..."

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    The two men, sent by Perry to protect Lucy, only listened to her. They had no interest in anyone else''s fate. They stood still, watching Chloe''s broken bottle closely.

    Zara seized the opportunity and swung her baton at the fat Aaron, hitting him hard. The thought of his disgusting eyes on her made Zara furious, and she put all her strength into each swing.

    The private room was small, and with Aaron''s rtively stout figure, the beating quickly brought him to howls of pain and wailing.

    When Aaron could no longer get up, Chloe finally told Zara to stop. They just wanted to vent their anger, not kill him.

    After beating Aaron, Chloe had Zara open the door. She dragged Lucy out, step by step.

    "Zara, I''ll keep an eye on Lucy. You drive." Chloe said.

    "Got it."

    They had nned their escape well. Chloe kept control of Lucy until Zara pulled the car

    up behind her. Only then did Chloe prepare to release Lucy.

    But before letting her go, Chloe had to warn her. "Lucy, we''ve had our issues in the past, but you were the one who initiated the harm. Let''s put the past behind us. I''ll let you go today, but if you ever try to harm me again, don''t me me for being ruthless." With that, Chloe moved the ss shard slightly, cutting Lucy''s already unattractive face.

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    Chloe shoved Lucy away, got into the car, and Zara drove off quickly.

    As Zara drove away, Chloe finally felt a sense of relief.

    Meanwhile, in his office, Grant listened to Stanley''s report with a serious expression.

    "Mr. Martin, Miss Davis encountered some trouble today. Mr. Gutierrez''s mistress used some tricks to lure Miss Davis and Ms. Jenkins to the suburbs, intending to harm them."

    Grant''s eyebrows shot up at Stanley''s words. "And? What about my people? Are the ones I assigned to protect Chloe useless?"

    Grant, usuallyposed, uncharacteristically snapped.

    Stanley quickly exined. "Mr. Martin, the people I sent to protect Miss Davis wanted to help, but before they could act, Miss Davis and Ms. Jenkins had already handled the situation themselves.

    They not only escaped but also injured Mr. Gutierrez''s mistress. The mastermind who lured them there ended up with seven broken ribs..."

    Stanley''s recount of the turn of events brought a smile to Grant''s face.

    "See, Chloe is capable. I knew she could protect herself without my help."

    Stanley rubbed his nose, not daring to say more, while internally he couldn''t help but think...

 Chapter 199 Touched My FiancčŚ…e

    ''Just a moment ago, you was so worried you were cursing. The president of the Martin Group, trying to please an ugly duckling...''

    Stanley kept these thoughts to himself. Even if he was so bold, he wouldn''t dare say them in front of Grant.

    He couldn''t understand why a high-caliber guy like Grant would be infatuated with someone like Chloe. Sure, she came from a good family, but so what? Grant wasn''t short on money.

    Grant didn''t need to sell himself for the Davis family''s wealth, did he?

    Grant was in a good mood, but soon his expression turned serious.

    He instructed Stanley, "Stanley, get in touch with Mr. Gutierrez. Tell him I want to meet and ask when he''s avable."

    Stanley was a bit surprised to hear Grant mention Perry.

    Perry was Hry''s husband, and both were influential figures in Sovereign City. Everyone knew Perry''s sess was due to Hry, but beyond that, details were unclear.

    Stanley thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Martin, I heard Hry and Mr. Gutierrez have been having serious issuestely. Is it really a good time to meet him now?"

    Grant''s eyes narrowed, and he raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn''t it be? Their issues are their business, not mine. Mr. Gutierrez''s mistress messed with my fianc¨¦e. I need to have a proper talk with him about that. Otherwise, he might think I''m easy to bully. Tell him to arrange a time soon, or I''ll go to him myself."

    Grant''s words were sharp, and Stanley didn''t dare say more. He quickly went to make the arrangements.

    When Grant got home, Chloe had already showered and changed. She was sitting at the dining table, ying on her phone, waiting for dinner.

    Seeing Grant return, she greeted him softly. "Grantie, you''re back."

    "Yeah." Grant took off his coat and sat next to Chloe. Without saying much, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into hisp.

    His sudden move startled Chloe. She quickly struggled to get down. "Grantie, don''t... There are so many people at home. It''s embarrased if they see."

    Grant ignored her words. No one knew how much he missed Chloe after not seeing her for a day. He never imagined that someone as aloof as him could be so captivated by a young girl.

    "What''s there to be afraid of? Everyone knows we''re dating." Grant buried his face in Chloe''s neck, breathing in her scent with a satisfied expression.

    Chloe tried to push his head away.

    "Who said we''re dating? I haven''t agreed yet. Grantie, let me go." Chloe struggled to escape from Grant''s embrace.

    Grant didn''t let go. Instead, he held her tighter.

    "No way. Be good, or I''ll kiss you." Grant whispered in her ear.

    Chloe''s face turned bright red.

    She believed Grant would kiss her right there.

    She stopped moving, letting Grant hold her soft body.

    Grant asked, "How was your day? Did you have fun?"

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    Chloe nodded. "It was okay, pretty fun."

    "Anything that made you unhappy?" Grant pressed.

    Chloe thought for a moment. She wanted to tell Grant about running into Aaron, but remembering their bet, she decided to skip it.

    "Just a little thing, but I handled it." her face radiated confidence.

    Grant didn''t ask further. At that moment, Mia brought in the food. Seeing Chloe and Grant talking while holding each other, Mia smiled brightly.

    After setting the table, Mia quickly went to the kitchen. She found a discreet spot and secretly took a photo of Chloe and Grant together, sending it to Nichs.

    She believed Nichs would be very happy to see the photo.

    After a sweet dinner, Chloe went upstairs to prepare for school the next day, while

    Grant headed to his study for an overseas video conference.

    In the study, Grant''s voice could be heard speaking in variousnguages.

    Chloe finished her preparations and was about to rest when Mia knocked on her door. "Miss Davis, can you help me with something?"

    "What''s up?" Chloe opened the door to see Mia looking distressed.

    "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin has ate overseas meeting tonight. He specifically asked me

    to warm his coffee at intervals, but my stomach hurts badly, and I need to go to the hospital. Can you help me warm Mr. Martin''s coffee?"

    Mia looked genuinely in pain, clutching her stomach and bending over.

    Chloe and Mia were close, and Chloe was willing to help with such a small task.

    "Okay, you go to the hospital. I''ll help you." Chloe urged Mia to go to the hospital quickly.

    As Mia went downstairs, she reminded Chloe, "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin doesn''t drink cold coffee. You need to warm it every half hour..."

    "Got it, go on." Chloe waved Mia off and went to the pantry. The coffee beans Mia had ground were already there.

    Chloe made the coffee and carried it upstairs.

    As she walked, she muttered about Grant. "Such a high-maintenance guy, can''t drink cold coffee? Warm it every half hour? So picky. But, you have money, you can afford to be picky..."

    Before she knew it, Chloe was at Grant''s study door. She knocked and, hearing Grant''s response, entered.

    Grant, in the middle of his video conference, looked pleasantly surprised to see Chloe with the coffee.

    Chloe intended to ce the cup on his desk, but Grant beckoned her over. Misunderstanding his gesture, Chloe thought he wanted her to bring the coffee closer, so she approached him.

    Grant took the coffee and pulled Chloe into hisp.

 Chapter 200 Has the Bosss Fiancee Come of Age?

    Chloe''s heart was filled with surprise and unease. She couldn''t believe that Grant would be so brazen. He was clearly in the middle of a video conference, with so many

    employees watching on the screen. How could he be so reckless? Wasn''t he afraid at all?

    She tried to shift her body, desperately attempting to break free from Grant''s embrace. But almost every time she moved slightly, Grant''s arms tightened around her, giving her no chance to escape. His embrace was like an iron cage, preventing her from moving freely.

    Chloe''s anxiety grew, and she hastily pointed to theputer screen, her voice low but urgent. "Your video... people will see."

    Grant heard her words and a flicker of displeasure crossed his face. He and Chloe were in a rtionship, and they were both single. This was a legitimate rtionship - why should they be afraid of being seen by others?

    Chloe might be scared, but he certainly wasn''t.

    Since he had already decided to marry her, why not introduce her to everyone early?

    With that thought, Grant deliberately adjusted hisputer, angling the camera to capture both his and Chloe''s faces.

    When Chloe''s face appeared in the video conference, the employees of the Martin Group got excited.

    A girl in pajamas appeared next to Grant in the video. Could this mean she was living with him?

    Grant, as their boss, who always seemed so unapproachable, was living with a girl? "Wow... Mr. Martin, who is this beautifuldy?"

    "Mr. Martin, we''re in a meeting. Are you showing off your love life?"

    "Mr. Martin, introduce her so the fans in ourpany can give up."

    Thements started flooding in, and everyone was curious about Chloe.

    Reading thesements, Chloe''s face couldn''t help but turn slightly red. She felt extremely uneasy about such attention and remarks. "This is so embarrassing, Grant. How could you let the video show my face..."

    Grant smirked, he ignored these teasingments, even showing a hint of pride. "Everyone, please remain calm," Grant said with a smile at the camera, his voice tinged with a touch of self-satisfaction. "This is Chloe, a very important person to me. I''d like to introduce the future Mrs. Martin, my fianc¨¦e."

    As soon as Grant finished speaking, thement section exploded once again with enthusiastic discussions.

    "Mrs. Martin is so beautiful, I love her already."

    "Mr. Martin, you better keep Mrs. Martin hidden, or someone might steal her away." "Mr. Martin, just a quick question, is Mrs. Martin of legal age?"

    The teasing and ferventments kept flooding in, showing no signs of stopping. Seeing that everyone''s attention had shifted from the meeting to yful banter, Grant decided it was time to put an end to this and not let the discussion spiral any further. With a slightly apologetic but firm smile at the camera, he said, "Alright, everyone, let''s get back to the meeting. I''ll turn off the video now, and let''s refocus on our work and continue the discussion."

    Then, Grant quickly turned off the camera and muted his mic.

    "You''re so annoying..." Seeing the camera off, Chloe finally dared to scold Grant.

    Grant chuckled, stood up, and pulled Chloe into his arms, teasing her, "How am I annoying?"

    "You were in a video conference, but you had to drag me in... and call me the future Mrs. Martin."

    "But you are the girl I''m going to marry. If you''re not the future Mrs. Martin, who is?" Grant said innocently.

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    "I haven''t agreed yet. The bet isn''t over, and the oue is undecided. The engagement doesn''t count," Chloe argued.

    Grant looked at Chloe, her face flushed, and with a mischievous smile, he kissed her.

    His unshaven stubble brushed against Chloe''s face, making her feel tingly and causing her to swallow the rest of her words.

    As he kissed her, he murmured, "No matter what, I will marry you."

    Chloe, lost in Grant''s kiss, didn''t hear what he was saying. She melted in his arms, bing as pliable as y.

    Chloe was wearing a thin nightgown, which, under the reflection of the light, revealed her delicate and beautiful body, as if veiled.

    Grant was deeply moved; for the first time, he proactively reached out and ced hisrge hand on Chloe''s chest.

    As his fingertips touched Chloe''s skin, her body seemed to ignite with an electric heat.

    Skin on skin, she keenly sensed an unusual reaction in Grant''s body. It seemed that the more time they spent in contact, the more intense Grant''s emotions became.

    His kisses trailed down Chloe''s neck, stopping only when they reached her chest.

    He held Chloe close, murmuring, "Chloe, I wish I could possess you this very moment... but I also have to respect you. Do you see how much restraint I am showing?" Chloe''s face flushed red as she nestled in Grant''s embrace, not daring to move, afraid that Grant''s suppressed desires might break free at any moment.

    In that instant, she thought maybe the bet wasn''t that important. Marrying Grant might not be such a bad idea after all.

    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on

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    Grant''s grand introduction of Chloe in the video conference spread like wildfire throughout the Martin Group. Within minutes, everyone knew that their aloof boss had

    a fianc¨¦e.

    However, no one knew who she was.

    The video was short, and even if they took screenshots, they only captured half of Chloe''s face.

    And that half was the side where Chloe used to have a mole.

    Suddenly, the future Mrs. Martin became the most mysterious figure in the Martin Group.

    Sophia, who was working in the Martin Group''s parking lot, saw the photo in the internal employee group chat and felt a wave of shock.

    Wasn''t that Chloe? Even with just half a face, she recognized the mysterious woman. Chloe''s face was etched in Sophia''s mind, even without the mole.

    Since graduating from college, Sophia had been working at the Martin Group. Her decent work performance had brought her into contact with Grant.

    She thought that with a bit more effort, she could win Grant over and be the future Mrs. Martin.

    But ever since Chloe appeared, Sophia''s fortunes had plummeted. She went from being Grant''s close work partner to a department manager, and then, due to a giarism incident, she was demoted to a parking lot attendant.

    If this continued, the dream of bing his wife would remain just thatˇŞa dream.

    She had to find a way to get Chloe away from Grant!

 Chapter 201 Flirting with Your FiancčŚ…e

    Sophia had a n.

    If she couldn''t get Grant''s attention, maybe someone else could. She and Grant had gone to the same university, though he was two years ahead of her.

    Back then, there were rumors about Grant and a girl named Isidora Faye from his year. It was said someone had seen them going into a hotel together.

    First loves were always so unforgettable.

    Sophia couldn''t go up against Chloe, but she could enlist Isidora. With Isidora''s charm, breaking up Grant and Chloe wouldn''t be a concern at all.

    Even if she couldn''t marry Grant, she couldn''t stand the thought of that in-looking Chloe bing Mrs. Martin.

    With this in mind, Sophia took out her phone and pulled up her old ssmates'' contact list, starting to reach out to Isidora.

    "Hey, Isidora, it''s Sophia. We met at that reunion a while back..."

    "Yeah, I''m working at the Martin Group now. How''s your brother doing? I heard he still needs a lot of money for his medical bills."

    "Oh... really? Are you free in the next few days? How about we meet up? I have something to discuss with you."

    Sophia set up a meeting with Isidora over the phone.

    After hanging up, Sophia stared at a photo of Chloe, her face darkening with malice. "You think you can be Mrs. Martin? No way. You made me suffer like this. I will never let you off easy."

    The next morning, Grant drove Chloe to school. After watching her enter Quest University, he sat in his car and started giving Stanley instructions for the day.

    "Stanley, call Floyd and have him visit Chloe''s mediapany today to discuss signing with them."

    Stanley was taken aback. He furrowed his brow and asked, "Mr. Martin, you want Mr. Gonzalez to sign with Miss Davis''s mediapany?"

    Grant nodded. "Yeah, Floyd said he doesn''t want to be a doctor anymore, nor does he want to keep painting. So, I''ll find him a third career."

    Stanley was full of doubts. "But Mr. Martin, you''re in a bet with Miss Davis. If Mr. Gonzalez signs with herpany, in six months, her smallpany might outperform the one under your name. If that happens, won''t people think Miss Davis is better at business than you?"

    Stanley''s concern was valid.

    Unexpectedly, Grant''s face showed a slight smile. "So what if she''s better than me?"

    "But Mr. Martin, don''t forget the terms of your bet with Miss Davis. If her smallpany does better than yours, she''ll break off the engagement with the Martin family."

    Stanley was sweating with anxiety. He couldn''t understand why Grant, who clearly liked Chloe so much, was doing things that seemed to push her away.

    Hearing that, Grant''s expression turned serious. "I like her and want to marry her, but I don''t want her to think our future is tied together because of an engagement. I want to be with her, regardless of the engagement."

    Grant''s words were deep, and Stanley struggled to fully grasp them. But as a top-notch assistant, Stanley''s main strength was his ability to execute orders. After receiving Grant''s instructions, he quickly contacted Floyd.

    Chloe spent the entire morning diligently attending sses.

    During a break, she received a message from Zara.

    Zara: [Chloe, just to update you, we signed our first new talent today. He''s a guy, very handsome, like a heartthrob.]

    Chloe had never been impressed with Zara''s taste, especially since Zara had a soft spot for the chatty Michael.

    Chloe replied: [Pics or it didn''t happen. I want to see the new guy''s photo.]

    A few minutester, Zara sent a photo of Floyd signing the contract in the office.

    Seeing Floyd''s face, Chloe felt a chill run down her spine. Sitting in the ssroom, she couldn''t help but exim, "No way, it''s him?"

    Philip, who was chatting with ssmates, heard Chloe and came over. "Chloe, what''s up?"

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    Chloe pointed at the photo of Floyd on her phone and said, "Him... Mr. Gonzalez from the Gonzalez family. He studied medicine but decided to join my newpany as an actor."

    "A medical student turning into an actor? That''s something." Philip took Chloe''s phone and looked at Floyd''s photo. After a moment, he said, "Chloe, I have to admit, this guy looks good. He might bring some profit to yourpany.

    I think you can find him a partner and form a duo. It might work out even better." Chloe agreed with Philip''s suggestion. But with only six months for the bet with Grant, where could she find a partner for Floyd in such a short time?

    While Chloe was feeling stressed, Philip enthusiastically presented himself. He patted his chest confidently and said, "Chloe, how about you sign me? I think my looks are decent, and most importantly, I learned to sing when I was in school. With a bit of training, I could be a strong pir for your smallpany''s development." "What do you think of me?" he asked confidently.

    To showcase his strengths in front of Chloe, Philip spared no effort to strike various poses. He first stood tall and straight, showing off his good posture, then adopted some graceful modeling stances, and finally even mimicked the iconic moves of several famous singers, gesturing animatedly.

    Chloe couldn''t help butugh, covering her mouth as she watched Philip''s amusing exhibition. Though his actions were a bit exaggerated, she couldn''t deny that he did have some potential for bing a star.

    While they were chatting andughing, a ssmate took out their phone and snapped

    a picture of Chloe and Philip, quickly sending it to Grant.

    The caption read: [Mr. Martin, Philip is hitting on your fianc¨¦e again...]

 Chapter 202 Kept Rena

    Chloe was deep in conversation with Philip,pletely unaware that she was about to be used of something she didn''t do.

    While Philip and Chloe were talking, Rena sat at her desk, lost in thought. Ever since they returned from Oceancrest City, Rena had been in this state.

    As her best friend, Chloe asked Philip about Rena. "Hey, Philip, what''s up with Rena these past few days? She seems really down."

    Philip nodded. "Yeah, I''ve noticed she''s been really low. I even asked her to y basketball after school yesterday, but she didn''te."

    Philip was puzzled. He had no idea why his good friend Rena was acting this way.

    "I''ll go ask her what''s going on." Chloe stood up and went to talk to Rena. Unlike their usual candid conversations, Rena seemed particrly cautious today.

    Instead of directly asking Rena what was wrong, Chloe invited her to dinner.

    "Rena, are you free tonight? I''ve been craving some Southwestern food. Want to join me?"

    Rena initially wanted to agree, but after thinking for a moment, she declined. "Sorry, Chloe, I have something to do tonight. Maybe another time?"

    Rena''s refusal took Chloe by surprise. As far as she knew, Rena didn''t have many friends. Apart from being close to Philip and herself, they were the few she interacted with.

    ''She even refused a simple dinner invitation from me?'' Chloe wondered internally.

    It seemed that Rena was definitely hiding something. Chloe pondered this, noting that Rena''s actions were somewhat out of character.

    Although her heart was filled with doubt and curiosity, Chloe maintained herposure. She smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, let''s do it another day then." Chloe''s face still held a warm smile, but her inner doubts deepened. She knew that Rena''s refusal wasn''t without reason; perhaps Rena had a difficult problem that she couldn''t easily share. Out of respect for her friend, Chloe decided not to press the issue for now, choosing to wait for a more appropriate time to unravel the mystery.

    After school, Rena quickly gathered her things and left. She hailed a cab as soon as she exited the school gates.

    Philip and Chloe also left the school shortly after. They gged down a cab and followed Rena''s taxi.

    In the cab, Philip asked Chloe quietly, "Chloe, do you think following Rena will help?"

    "Of course it will," Chloe replied. "Rena''s been acting strangetely. As her best friends,

    we need to know what she''s up to. Trust me, this will work."

    "Sir, keep close to that cab. Don''t lose it." She said to the driver.

    The taxi driver sped up, following Rena''s cab closely.

    After about ten minutes, Rena''s cab stopped in front of a hospital. She got out, bought some things from a nearby store, and headed to the hospital''s inpatient department.

    Chloe and Philip followed her carefully.

    "Philip, why is Rena at the hospital? Is she sick?" Chloe asked.

    Philip scratched his head, thinking. "Oh, right. She mentioned a while ago that her mom was seriously ill and needed a lot of money for surgery. She and her dad have been trying to gather the funds."

    "Gathering funds?" Chloe was taken aback. She and Rena were close friends, and Chloe was never short of money. Why hadn''t Rena asked her for help?

    Was Rena afraid Chloe wouldn''t lend her the money? Or did she not consider Chloe a true friend?

    With these questions swirling in her mind, Chloe and Philip followed Rena upstairs. After spending some time in a hospital room, Rena came out and stood in the hallway, seemingly waiting for someone. Soon, a man wrapped up in a coat appeared in front of her.

    Chloe immediately recognized the man as Michael. He and Rena were dating, so it made sense for him to visit Rena''s mom in the hospital.

    Chloe and Philip hid, watching them.

    Michael and Rena didn''t notice them. They stood at the end of the hallway, talking.

    Michael said to Rena, "Since you''re with me, you need to fulfill our agreement. I''ll cover

    all your mom''s surgery costs, but you have to do your part too."

    "Mr. Martin, I understand," Rena replied, her head down, looking both upset and resigned.

    After talking for a while, Rena left the hospital with Michael.

    Philip and Chloe watched them leave, starting to piece things together.

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    Philip scratched his head and cursed Michael. "Chloe, is Michael out of his mind? He''s taking advantage of Rena''s situation! Her mom is sick, and he made her sign some contract? What''s his deal?

    I thought he was this upstanding celebrity, always donating to charity and all. But he''s actually this despicable?

    You live at the Martin Mansion and see him often. Do you know what''s going on?" Philip''s barrage of questions left Chloe at a loss. She did live at the Martin Mansion, but since their trip to Oceancrest City, Michael and Liam had moved out. Now, it was just her and Grant living there. She hadn''t seen Michael in days and had no idea what was going on between him and Rena.

    "I need to find out more about Michael and Rena''s situation," Chloe said. She didn''t know what was really going on between them, so she refrained from making any assumptions.

    Philip was worried. "Isn''t it obvious? Michael''s ckmailing Rena."

    "Didn''t you hear? He said he''d cover the surgery costs. I bet Michael''s keeping Rena as his mistress."

    "Michael''s so over the top. He''s rich and famous, and now he''s using that to take advantage of Rena." Philip was ready to stand up for Rena.

    Chloe tried to calm him down. "Philip, don''t jump to conclusions. This might not be what you think. Let''s talk to Rena first, and I''ll see what I can find out from Grant about Michael."

    "We''re Rena''s friends. If Michael''s mistreating her, I won''t stand for it." With that, Chloe decided to take action. She pulled out her phone and called Grant.

    "Grantie, are you off work? I need to talk to you about something. Can we meet up?"

 Chapter 203 Isidora is Coming Back Soon

    Grant was in the middle of a meeting at the office when Chloe asked to see him. But he didn''t turn her down.

    "I''m in a meeting right now," he told Chloe. "You cane over and wait for me. Then I''ll take you to meet someone."

    "Sure," Chloe agreed. After reminding Philip not to do anything stupid, she grabbed a cab to the Martin Group''s office building.

    To get to the Martin Group''s office, Chloe had to go through their parking lot. Not wanting to draw attention, she asked the cab driver to drop her off at the entrance of the lot. She paid the fare and got out.

    Sophia was currently in charge of watching over the cars. When she saw Chloe approaching, all her pent-up resentment toward Chloe surged to the surface. As Chloe walked past her, Sophia reached out and blocked her path. "Well, if it isn''t Miss Davis," she sneered.

    Sophia said with a sarcastic tone. Chloe was immediately annoyed at the sight of her.

    Chloe had no interest in engaging with her. She simply pushed past Sophia and continued on her way towards the office building.

    However, Sophia followed her, ranting non-stop. "Chloe, do you really think that just because the Martin and Davis families have an engagement agreement, you''ll marry Mr. Martin and be thedy of the Martin family?"

    She sneered. "Let me tell you, it''s not going to happen. Mr. Martin doesn''t love you. The most pitiful woman is one who isn''t loved by a man. So, Chloe, if you have any self-awareness, you''d better stay away from Mr. Martin and stop clinging to him." Sophia''s provocation was something Chloe originally didn''t want to bother with-she was nothing more than a grasshopper, jumping around meaninglessly. But Chloe couldn''t stand seeing that irksome face any longer.

    "Even if Grant doesn''t love me, it''s not like he loves you either," Chloe retorted. "Sophia, you''ve been relegated to parking lot duty, yet you still can''t behave. If Grant finds out you''re still causing trouble for me, do you think he''ll keep you at the Martin Group?

    It''s true what they say: the longer you live, the more strange things you see. Most people''s careers progress upward, but yours seems to be going the other way. Sophia, let me give you a piece of advice. Instead of wasting so much time trying to make trouble for me, why don''t you focus on improving your own skills? Maybe, just maybe, you''ll be able tond a better job."""

    Chloe''seback left Sophia fuming. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

    Chloe loved seeing Sophia''s frustrated expression. It was satisfying to get under her skin.

    "Alright, I''m done talking to you. Grant is waiting for me in his office," Chloe said with a smile, then walked away with her small bag.

    Sophia was furious. She clenched her fists, her long nails nearly piercing her skin. She couldn''t understand why she, a strong woman, always lost to Chloe.

    Watching Chloe''s smug demeanor, Sophia couldn''t help but shout after her, "Chloe, don''t get toofortable. Isidora''sing back soon."

    Chloe, focused on finding Grant, ignored Sophia''s shouts. She didn''t care about Isidora; it had nothing to do with her.

    Little did she know, the Isidora she didn''t care about would soon bring her a lot of trouble.

    When Chloe arrived at Grant''s office, the meeting had just ended, and the employees were leaving. They whispered among themselves when they saw Chloe.

    "Does Miss Davis not know that Mr. Martin announced his fiancee in a video conferencest night?"

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    "She probably doesn''t. If she did, would she stille to see Mr. Martin?"

    "Remember, Miss Davis is engaged to the Martin family, not just Mr. Martin. Maybe he sees her as a little sister."

    "Right, her looks don''t match Mr. Martin''s taste. Even under pressure, he wouldn''t marry her."

    "Poor girl, she has no idea."

    Chloe heard their whispers but didn''t respond. She knew she looked unattractive with the fake mole on her face.

    When she entered Grant''s office, he was putting on his coat. His tired eyes lit up when he saw her.

    "How''d you get here?" he asked.

    "I took a cab," Chloe replied honestly.

    Grant said, "It''s quite a hassle always taking a taxi. There are cars in the garage at home; go and pick one. If none of those suit your taste, just tell me the brand you want and I''ll have Stanley buy it for you."

    Chloe shook her head. "Driving is too much trouble, and parking is a hassle. I find cabs more convenient. Besides, I''m still a student. I don''t want people at Quest University to know my real identity."

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    Chloe''s reasoning made perfect sense. She kept a low profile at Quest University and didn''t want her ssmates to know her true identity.

    "Alright, whatever you prefer. So, did youe here because you missed me?" Grant asked, his eyes sparkling.

    Chloe blushed and looked down. "No, I..."

    "Don''t say anything yet. I''ve missed you. Let me kiss you first," Grant said without another word, his hands gripping Chloe''s small waist as he effortlessly lifted her onto his desk.

    Chloe, being petite and light, found herself at just the right height sitting on the desk to be eye-level with Grant.

    Her lips were mere inches away from Grant''s, and she could clearly feel his slightly rapid breathing. "Grantie, stop it. Put me down. I want to talk to you about Michael..." Before Chloe could finish her sentence, Grant cupped her head and kissed her forcefully.

    Being in Grant''s office, Chloe didn''t dare to struggle too much. She could only let Grant hold her tightly by the waist, as his kiss made her feel dizzy and overwhelmed.

    Grant was a skilled kisser, and soon Chloe''s legs felt weak. She couldn''t understand why her body reacted so strongly to him. It was as if her body wanted more.

    They were so engrossed in their kiss that they didn''t notice someone opening the door...

 Chapter 204 Ask Him for an Explanation

    The sound of the door opening startled the two people locked in a passionate kiss. Grant quickly turned his head and saw Stanley''s face, a mix of shock and confusion.

    "Mr. Martin, I..."

    Stanley had never expected that when he, as Grant''s assistant, walked in to report on work, he would catch Grant in the middle of a heated kiss with a woman.

    This was the first time Stanley had seen such a private moment involving Grant, despite knowing him for so long.

    As an assistant, he felt extremely awkward.

    "Get out. Next time youe into my office, if you don''t knock, you can go home," Grant said coldly, his face devoid of any emotion as he addressed Stanley.

    Stanley quickly shut the door and left.

    Leaning against the door of Grant''s office, Stanley let out a long sigh.

    It was incredibly awkward for him to catch Grant kissing a woman, but what made it even more awkward was why Grant would be kissing such an unattractive woman..

    Did Grant have some kind of unusual preference?

    Of course, he had heard from some colleagues that Grant had announced his engagement during a video conference.

    He had carefully examined the photo. The woman in the picture had a delicate and charming face, looking gentle and shy. No matter how he looked at it, she seemed much more beautiful than Chloe standing before him.

    So why was Grant so engrossed in kissing Chloe?

    What was he thinking?

    Stanley''s sudden entrance had killed the mood for Chloe and Grant.

    Chloe buried her face in Grant''s chest, mumbling, "Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing, Grant. I told you, you can''t kiss me in your office. Now Stanley saw us!"

    Seeing Chloe looking so shy, Grant couldn''t help butugh.

    He reached out and gently stroked the top of Chloe''s head, affectionately reassuring her, "It''s okay. Even if he saw it, I can assure you, he won''t dare to spread it around." "Really?" Chloe pouted, still not convinced.

    Grant leaned down and gave her a light peck on the lips. "Really, don''t worry."

    "By the way, did youe to see me for something?" Grant asked, calming down as he helped Chloe straighten her disheveled clothes.

    Chloe''s mind went nk. The passionate kiss had made her forget why she hade to see Grant in the first ce.

    She held her forehead, trying to remember. "Oh, I''m sorry, I forgot. It''s all your fault, Grant. You started kissing me the moment I walked in. You''re so bad."

    Hearing Chloe''sint, Grant chuckled. He was eight years older than Chloe and had always thought there would be a generational gap between them.

    But now, it didn''t seem that way. Despite being called "uncle" by Chloe''s friends, he found her adorable when she acted coy in front of him.

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    Grant wanted to pull Chloe into his arms and kiss her again.

    But thinking about what wasing next, he restrained his desire.

    Heforted her, "It''s okay. If you can''t remember now, we can talk about itter when you do. How about that?"

    Chloe nodded obediently. When she first joined the Martin family, she had a lot of anger. But after kissing Grant, that anger gradually disappeared, reced by a gentle demeanor.

    Indeed, a serious rtionship could significantly change a woman''s personality.

    "By the way, I need to meet someone. Would youe with me?" Grant invited Chloe.

    Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Is it appropriate for me to go? Are you being set up for another blind date and using me as a cover again?"

    She teased Grant, recalling thest time he had taken her to a dinner with the Thorne family for that very reason.

    Grant took her hand and said, "No, you''ll see when we get there."

    Chloe continued to tease Grant about the Thorne family dinner, and Grant didn''t argue. After all, he had indeed used Chloe as a cover back then. He needed to show those interested in him that he already had someone he liked, and not just any woman could catch his eye.

    Stanley arranged for a car to pick up Grant and Chloe from the parking lot.

    As Grant''s car left the parking lot, Sophia, the parking lot attendant, looked at Grant with admiration. But when she saw Chloe, the ugly woman, leaning against Grant through the car window, jealousy red up inside her, making her wish she could burn Chloe to ashes.

    Chloe noticed Sophia outside the window but didn''t pay her much attention. After all, Chloe had never considered Sophia her enemy.

    In the car, Grant was talking to Stanley.

    "Is everything arranged?" Grant asked.

    Stanley replied, "Yes, Mr. Martin. Everything is set. I''ve also stationed people at the restaurant. Mr. Gutierrez knows better than to act recklessly."

    Grant nodded coldly.

    Chloe, who was still confused, hadn''t expected that the person Grant was meeting for dinner tonight was Perry, known as the underground king of Sovereign City.

    Although Chloe had never met Perry, she did have some acquaintance with Hry. When Chloe took on Hry''s business, she had investigated Perry. He was indeed a ruthless and formidable man.

    Was Grant taking her to meet Perry because of some conflict between them? Meeting a dangerous person required caution.

    Chloe asked Grant, "Grantie, is the Perry you''re meeting Hry''s husband?"

    Grant replied, "Yes, but I heard Hry is nning to divorce him. It might not be long before he''s no longer her husband."

    "Why are you meeting him? I''ve heard from Hry''s people that Perry is quite cunning."

    Chloe, who had been in business since she was young, wasn''t afraid of trouble but never sought it out either.

    Grant knew Chloe was worried about him. He held her hand tightly and said softly, "I''m going to get an exnation from Perry. His mistress messed with my fianc¨¦e. I need a satisfactory answer, don''t I?"

 Chapter 205 Maintaining Ambiguous Relationships with Two Women Simultaneously

    Chloe realized that Grant was standing up for her because Lucy had sent Aaron to deceive her and Zara into going to that rundown hotel with bad intentions.

    Grant was defending her.

    Looking at Grant, who was protecting her, Chloe felt a warm sweetness in her heart, and a deep smile spread across her lips.

    To prevent Grant from escting the situation, she thought for a moment and then said, "Grantie, actually, I''ve already handled that matter. I''ve dealt with Lucy and that Aaron. There''s really no need for you to make a big fuss over this."

    Chloe nced at the line of cars behind Grant''s vehicle. The sight of the dozen or so cars following them was intimidating.

    Grant reached out and gently patted Chloe''s head, "If I don''t make a big deal out of it, they won''t know how protective I am of my own. I like to handle things thoroughly." "Anyone who dares to mess with my woman had better consider if they can handle the consequences," Grant said with a fierce determination in his eyes.

    His assertive words made Chloe feel a heavy weight in her heart. She looked up at Grant''s handsome face and suddenly felt guilty.

    He saw her as his girl and was willing to stand up for her no matter what. But from the moment she stepped into the Martin Family, all she could think about was how to break off her engagement with them.

    When they arrived at the agreed-upon hotel, Grant held Chloe''s hand as they got out of the car.

    A reporter who had been keeping an eye on the Martin Family somehow got wind of Grant''s whereabouts. As Chloe and Grant stepped out of the car, the reporter rushed over with a camera.

    "Mr. Martin, sources from the Martin Group say you showed a photo of your fiancee during apany video conference. But today, why are you so close with Miss Davis?"

    "Mr. Martin, does this mean you''re maintaining ambiguous rtionships with two women at the same time?"

    Grant was visibly annoyed by the reporter''s intrusive questions.

    From beginning to end, Chloe was the only woman he ever liked. These short-sighted people couldn''t see Chloe''s true identity at all. And they actually used him of maintaining ambiguous rtionships with two women?

    Fuck!

    Grant''s sharp gaze swept over the talkative reporter.

    He retorted, "Don''t you have anything better to do? How many women I keep close is none of your business. Stanley, get rid of him."

    At Grant''smand, Stanley immediately called over the bodyguards, who escorted the reporter away and forcibly deleted any unauthorized footage.

    This incident was just a minor interruption, but Grant didn''t realize that this reporter would cause him significant trouble in the future.

    When Grant and Chloe entered the private room at the hotel, Perry was already waiting.

    Perry was a man who appeared very gentle, with a short beard. From his appearance alone, Chloe couldn''t associate him with an underground kingpin.

    Perry''s business dealings were always shady.

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    Chloe couldn''t imagine how a man like Perry got entangled with Lucy.

    Did he genuinely have feelings for Lucy, or did he just see her as a ything?

    Seeing Grant enter with Chloe, who had a mole on her face, Perry frowned slightly but quickly regained hisposure.

    These big shots were always good at controlling their emotions.

    "Mr. Martin, Miss Davis," Perry greeted cheerfully, shaking hands with the visibly displeased Grant.

    However, when Perry extended his hand, Grant ignored it and instead led Chloe to the sofa in the private room.

    Offering his kindness only to be met with Grant''s indifference, Perry''s expression turned slightly embarrassed.

    He cleared his throat and signaled his assistant to serve the food. The assistant, unhappy with Grant''s attitude, looked like he wanted to stand up for Perry, but a cold re from Perry made him back down.

    As the food was served, Perry tried to engage Grant in conversation with a smile. "Mr. Martin, this hotel is under my name. To host you today, I specially brought in a chef from abroad. Please, enjoy the chef''s skills."

    Grant, with a cold expression, responded, "Mr. Gutierrez, you know the Martin Family nevercks good food. I''m sure you understand why I wanted to meet you."

    Grant got straight to the point, making Perry''s smile falter slightly. "Mr. Martin, I understand. The previous incident was just a misunderstanding."

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    "I asked my people and found out what happened. It was my new lover who didn''t know her ce and had a misunderstanding with Miss Davis. I''ve already disciplined her." Perry spoke as if it was a trivial matter.

    He was certain that by saying this, Grant would back down. After all, in Sovereign City, there were very few people who could make him lower himself like this.

    "Disciplined? Mr. Gutierrez, do you think I came here just for a simple discipline?" Grant made his displeasure clear. "Your woman is just a lover, but the woman beside me is my fianc¨¦e. Are youparing your random lover to my fianc¨¦e?"

    His message was obvious, "Your lover is not on the same level as my fianc¨¦e. Do you think a few words can settle this?"

    Grant''s words made Perry drop his smile. He turned to look at Chloe sitting next to Grant.

    With her in looks and average appearance, Perry, a shrewd man, couldn''t see any exceptional qualities in Chloe other than her decent figure.

    He couldn''t understand why Grant would treasure such a woman.

    Heughed awkwardly "Mr. Martin, as I said, it was just a small misunderstanding between women. It shouldn''t affect our rtionship.

    The incident happened, and I''ve already disciplined my lover. What more do you want?

    You can''t expect me to kill her, can you?

    After all, she''s been with me for a few months. I do have some feelings for her."

    Chloe didn''t know if Perry truly had feelings for Lucy, but she could tell he was trying

    to use the excuse to protect Lucy.

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 206 Role Model for Our Generation

    Hearing Perry''s words, Grant, who had been keeping a stern face, suddenly grabbed the wine ss in front of him and smashed it on the ground with a loud crash.

    Grant''s action startled not only Chloe but also Perry, who had been pleading for Lucy.

    At this moment, Perry understood what it meant when Grant smashed his ss. However, if Perry were topromise now, how could he maintain his position in Sovereign City in the future?

    Grant was standing up for his fianc¨¦e, but if word got out that Perry couldn''t even protect his own mistress, what kind of impact would that have on him?

    Chloe didn''t suffer because of Lucy''s scheme. Naturally, she didn''t want Grant to fall out with someone like Perry because of her.

    After all, they were both prominent figures in Sovereign City, and a fallout wouldn''t be good for either of them.

    "Grant, don''t be angry. Let''s talk this out," Chloe said softly, gently tugging on Grant''s hand. Grant realized that his anger had scared Chloe.

    He calmed himself and said to Perry, "Alright, Mr. Gutierrez, since this is your attitude, don''t me me for not giving you any face."

    "Enough, we''re not eating anymore. We''re leaving." he turned to Chloe.

    With that, Grant grabbed Chloe''s hand and prepared to leave.

    Perry wanted to protect Lucy and was unwilling topromise. In response, Grant would use his power to show Perry that there was nothing he couldn''t aplish in Sovereign City.

    Grant''s departure signaled the start of a formal conflict with Perry.

    Just as Chloe was worried that things would get out of hand, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open with a bang.

    A high-end handbag flew into the room, heading straight for Perry.

    Grant instinctively reached out to protect Chloe, but the bag wasn''t aimed at her. It was aimed at Perry.

    The bag seemed to have a homing device, heading straight for Perry''s head. Perry tried to dodge but couldn''t, and the bag hit him squarely on the head.

    As the bag hit the ground, Perry clutched his head, ready to curse at whoever threw it.

    Immediately, Hry sashayed in angrily, and before Perry could start yelling, she began berating him first.

    "Perry, have you no shame? It''s bad enough you''re dating with other women, but now you want to openly defend that slut?

    I was nning to divorce you, but we haven''t finalized it yet. Are you trying to push your luck?

    You''re how old now? Don''t you have any sense? Just because some people call you Mr. Gutierrez, you think you''re the boss of Sovereign City?

    Do you think you can ignore me, Hry, just because I haven''t shown my power? You want to fall out with Mr. Martin over a woman? If you want to die, don''t drag me down with you."

    Hry was a woman who had wed her way up from the bottom. She had no high- ss manners, and when she cursed, she did it with ir.

    Seeing Hry, Perry''s arrogance quickly faded.

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    Everyone knew that Perry''s rise to power was all because he married Hry. In the past, he wouldn''t dare to go against her wishes. Now, for the sake of Lucy, a mere mistress, he was willing to go against Grant, which truly brought disgrace to Hry.

    Hry grabbed Perry''s ear, her fierce demeanor making Chloe''s heart race.

    At that moment, Chloe thought that a woman like Hry was a role model. No matter how powerful a man was, she could always pull his ear.

    "Hey, honey, take it easy. You''re going to tear my ear off," Perry pleaded, trying to stop Hry.

    Perry''s loyal henchmen, seeing Hry, all fell silent.

    Hr continued, "Perry. I feel like killing you. That slut you''re keeping, Mr. Martin can deal with her however he wants.

    If you want to protect her, fine. Sign the divorce papers now, leave with nothing, and go live with your little slut.

    Then we''ll see if your men are still willing to follow you."

    Hry''s words made Perry calm down.

    His status as a prominent figure in Sovereign City was all thanks to Hry. Now, with hisrge family and vast business, he surely wouldn''t be willing to lose everything just for Lucy.

    Men were good at weighing their options, and when making choices, they always considered their own interests first.

    "Honey, I''ve told you, we''re not getting divorced. I won''t divorce you.

    As for Lucy, Mr. Martin can deal with her however he wants. I promise you and Mr. Martin that she will never appear in Sovereign City again.

    If you ever find out I''m still involved with her, I''ll leave with nothing. Please forgive me this time."

    Perry pleaded with Hry, and finally, Hry decided to send Lucy to the high seas.

    The high seas were a hull for criminals, and Lucy wouldn''t have a good oue there. Even if she didn''t die, she''d be stuck there for life.

    Hry personally arranged for Lucy to be sent away. After everything was settled, Hry took Chloe''s hand and apologized profusely. "Chloe, I''m sorry. I didn''t handle this well. I should have dealt with that little slutst time. I didn''t expect her to get another chance to harm you. I promise this will never happen again."

    Hry''s sudden warmth towards Chloe surprised Perry. He couldn''t believe his usually domineering wife was being so respectful to a young woman like Chloe.

    "Hry, it''s okay. The matter is resolved. Don''t worry about it." Chloe smiled. "We''re still friends, and our cooperation won''t be affected by this."

    Chloe''s words made Hry beam with joy.

    With Hry''s intervention, the rest of the matter was resolved much more easily.

    After a simple dinner, Grant took Chloe home.

    On the way, Grant asked Chloe, "You mentioned you have a partnership with Hry.

    Can you tell me what kind of partnership it is?"

 Chapter 207 Buy the Wedding House Here

    When Grant asked Chloe about her coboration with Hry, she hesitated at first.

    But then she remembered how Grant had almost fallen out with Perry while standing up for her. She felt it wouldn''t be right to keep him in the dark any longer.

    She decided to downy the situation. "Well... I just helped Hry with some small investments."

    "What kind of small investments? In what areas?" Grant was determined to get to the bottom of it.

    Chloe replied, "Oh, nothing specific. Just some real estate, some film projects, and a bit in high-tech."

    When Grant heard these areas of business from Chloe, he couldn''t help but gasp.

    He has managed the Martin Group for many years and possesses a keen business acumen. He is more aware than anyone else just how profitable these ventures can be.

    "So, how high are the profits?" he asked.

    Chloe scratched her head and hesitated, "Not that high, really. Last year wasn''t great. Hry only made about $2.3 billion."

    Grant was taken aback by this.

    Chloe came from the wealthy Davis Family in the Northwest, but Grant hadn''t realized just how affluent they had be.

    To Chloe, was money just a number?

    Sweat beaded on Grant''s forehead. He felt like he had found a goldmine.

    If he married Chloe, he could live afortable life in the future.

    They chatted about other things, and Chloe suddenly thought of Michael and Rena.

    She subtly tried to get information from Grant. "Grantie, Mic moved out. I haven''t seen him for days. Do you know what he''s been up to?"

    Hearing Chloe ask about Michael made Grant furrow his brows in displeasure. As a man, he was highly possessive. The woman he liked was off-limits to everyone, including his own brother.

    "Who knows what he''s up to? Probably filming." he snorted.

    "Do you know where he''s staying now?" Chloe pressed.

    Grant replied, "Yeah, he has a vi in Sovereign City. If you want, we can go check it out."

    "I''d love to, Grantie. Besides your ce, I haven''t seen any other vis in Sovereign City. Can we go now?" Worried that Grant might refuse, Chloe clung to his arm and pouted.

    Seeing her adorable demeanor, Grant''s cold heart softened instantly.

    If Chloe had been forceful, he might not have agreed. But seeing her so cute, he couldn''t say no.

    He was a sucker for Chloe''s charm.

    He reached out and affectionately brushed her forehead, then, with a resigned look,

    said, "Alright, I''ll take you there now."

    "But I have to tell you, Mic might not be home because of work." he added.

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    Chloe snuggled up to Grant and hooked her arm through his. "That''s okay. I just want to see his vi..."

    Grant informed the driver, and they headed towards Michael''s vi.

    Michael''s vi was in the eastern part of Sovereign City, a very upscale and expensive area. Cars entering and leaving had to register, and since Grant wasn''t a resident, their car couldn''t go in.

    So, he and Chloe got out and decided to walk to Michael''s ce.

    The lights in the vi area were beautiful. Chloe felt the vibrant city life.

    She turned to Grant and eximed, "Grantie, the environment here is so beautiful... Look at these lights, they''re so pretty, and they''re shaped like little bunnies."

    Hearing this, Grant casually asked, "Do you like it here?"

    Chloe nodded, "Yes, I love it. The environment is great."

    Chloe didn''t think much of it, just admiring the surroundings.

    Unexpectedly, Grant said, "If you like it here, we can buy our wedding house here..." Grant mentioning the wedding house made Chloe''s excitement turn to shyness.

    It seemed like every moment with Grant, he would bring up marriage. Chloe could feel his eagerness to marry her.

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    In fact, Grant''s straightforwardness made Chloe feel secure.

    She took Grant''s arm, and they walked slowly forward. After a few steps, they heard low voices.

    "Can you go ask your boss for two million dors-one million for me and one million for your mom''s surgery. I promise, once I get this $2 million, I won''t ask you for money again."

    The speaker was a man, and Chloe found the voice familiar.

    But she couldn''t ce it immediately.

    Then Rena''s angry voice rang out. "Dad, ask my boss for another $2 million? Do you think my boss''s money grows on trees?

    My boss is kind-hearted and lent me $1 million for Mom''s surgery. And you took that money to gamble? Now you want me to ask for more?

    How can I ask for more? You''ve gambled away Mom''s surgery money, and I don''t know how to get the rest."

    Hearing this, Chloe grabbed Grant''s arm. They stood at a distance, watching Angus and Rena argue under the dim lights.

    The man continued, "Rena, your boss is a big star. He is rich. $2 million is nothing to him.

    Since he lent you $1 million for your mom, it shows he values you. If you ask for another $2 million, he''ll give it to you too.

    I''m telling you, the money I lost was borrowed at high interest. If I don''t repay it, I''m

    dead. After all, I am your dad. You can''t just watch me die, can you?"

    Angus''s pressure made the already timid Rena start to cry.

    She angrily shouted at Angus, "What am I supposed to do? How can I ask my boss? Do

    you know how get that $1 million? How did I end up with a dad like you?"

 Chapter 208 You Go Accompany Him to Make Love

    Rena''s sudden outburst seemed to make something click for Angus.

    He grabbed her hand and demanded, "Did you sleep with your boss?"

    Rena didn''t respond. She used all her strength to pull her hand away from Angus''s grip. Her silence only fueled his imagination.

    He rubbed his hands together excitedly and said, "That''s great! If you slept with him, you have a reason to ask him for money, right? You''ve already slept with him; he should give you some money, shouldn''t he?"

    Angus''s words made Rena even angrier. She looked at him with tear-filled eyes... he was actually a gambler...

    No father would ever say such a thing to his own daughter. Gambling truly turnsed a person into someone everyone despises.

    "Dad, I''m your daughter, not a prostitute. How can you ask me to sleep with someone to make money for you?" Rena bit her lip and practically shouted at Angus.

    However, desperate for gambling money, Angus didn''t care.

    He shamelessly said, "Rena, how could you say that? The guy you''re with is a big star. How could you be a prostitute?

    At most, you''re his kept woman. It''s normal to get some money from him. Besides, I didn''t raise you for nothing.

    Today, you either go ask him for money, or I''ll pull your mom out of the hospital tomorrow and let her die."

    Angus used Kassy''s life to threaten Rena.

    Rena felt even more devastated. Faced with such a shameless father, she didn''t know how to respond.

    Watching this scene, Chloe felt deeply saddened. Rena was the first close friend she made in Sovereign City.

    Though Rena was young and timid, her willingness to protect Chloe had once moved her deeply.

    Chloe''s impression of Angus was still stuck on the scene where he once whipped Rena. Back then, Angus hadn''t yet fallen into the vice of gambling and still resembled a father.

    But looking at him now, he was no longer like a person; he was more like a demon.

    He could gamble away his wife''s life-saving money. Chloe regretted ever feeling sorry for him and getting him a job at the Gibson Group.

    People like him deserved to be cut down.

    Grant stood with Chloe, observing Rena and her father. The two exchanged a few words, and suddenly, something Rena said seemed to provoke Angus. He abruptly raised his hand and pped Rena across the face.

    After hitting her, he pointed at her and cursed. "Rena, I''m your father. I just asked you for some money, and you can''t even give me that? I raised you, sent you to college, and now that you''re capable, you dare talk to me like this?

    I''m telling you, you have to get money from your boss, or I''ll go to the media and tell them a big star slept with my daughter and won''t pay."

    Angus''s words made Rena cry even harder. "You wouldn''t dare. If you do that, you have no humanity left. Angus, you don''t deserve to be my father."

    To prevent Angus from causing any trouble for Michael, Rena had to stand up to him.

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    Hearing Rena''s words, Angus raised his hand to p her again.

    At that critical moment, Chloe didn''t hesitate. She rushed forward and kicked Angus

    hard in the back, knocking the heartless gambler to the ground.

    "Who? Who kicked me?" Angusy on the ground, cursing.

    Chloe reached out to help Rena up. "Rena, are you okay?"

    Seeing Chloe, Rena, who felt extremely wronged, couldn''t hold back her tears.

    She clung to Chloe''s arm, trembling all over, clearly terrified.

    She murmured to Chloe, "I''m fine..."

    Though Rena said she was fine, her face, freshly pped by Angus, was already swollen and red.

    At that moment, Angus got up from the ground. When he saw that it was Chloe who had kicked him, he couldn''t believe it.

    He pointed at Chloe and said, "You ugly girl, how dare you kick me from behind?"

    "Who gave you the right to hit Rena? You heartless jerk! pping Rena for a bit of money, are you even human?" Chloe spoke harshly to Angus. After all, Angus was indeed disgraceful. Any father with even a shred of conscience wouldn''t force his daughter to sleep with men just to get money for him.

    Hearing Chloe bring this up, Angus shamelessly defended himself. "Am I heartless? I raised her for so many years. What''s wrong with asking for a little payback? I''m her father. If she doesn''t listen to me, I have the right to hit her.

    Ugly girl, this is none of your business. If you meddle again, I''ll p you too.

    Anyway, I have already lost everything. I fear no one. If Rena doesn''t get me the money today, I won''t let her off."

    Angus was convinced that Rena, working as Michael''s assistant, could definitely get the money.

    His shameless behavior infuriated Chloe. "How can someone like you exist? For money, you force your own daughter?" Chloe protected Rena and confronted Angus. Angus, deep in his gambling addiction, was already shameless. Chloe''s words had no effect on him. He felt no guilt.

    Instead, he doubled down on his shamelessness.

    He spread his hands and said nonchntly to Chloe, "Alright, since you say I''m forcing my daughter, you''re her good friend. How about you give me the two million dors?

    If you give me the money now, I won''t force her to sleep with anyone. You rich people

    will never understand how hard it is for us at the bottom.

    For money, selling my daughter is nothing. When the debt collectorse, I wish I could sell myself.

    Be a good person. Give me two million dors now, and I''ll disappear from your sight."

    Angus shamelessly pressured Chloe.

    Chloe gritted her teeth and spat at him, "You''re truly despicable..."

 Chapter 209 Ill Beat You Too

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Angus flew into a rage. He raised his arm, ready to strike Chloe.

    As he moved, he shouted profanities, "Fuck! You won''t give me money and you dare to insult me? You think I am a kitten?"

    I''m forcing my own daughter; what''s it to you? Is it necessary for you to make such a fuss? Daring to spit at me? Let''s see if I don''t beat you to death today."

    Angus''s hand was about to touch Chloe''s face.

    Chloe pushed Rena behind her, ready to fight back. At that moment, Grant, who had been hiding in the shadows, suddenly rushed out. He extended his hand, strong as steel, and firmly gripped Angus''s arm.

    "Trying to hit my girl? Do you want to end up in jail?"

    In the dim light, Grant''s tall figure exuded an intimidating presence, his noble and cold demeanor making Angus too scared to act rashly.

    "Who are you? How dare you meddle in my business? Do you believe I won''t beat you too?" Angus blustered, though he knew well the vast difference in strength between him and Grant.

    Grant chuckled coldly. "You want to beat me too? It''s been a long time since I heard such a joke. Go ahead, try it."

    With a slight twist of his wrist, a cracking sound followed, and Angus''s scream of pain echoed in the night.

    Angus, in agony, quickly said, "It hurts! You broke my arm!"

    Indeed, with just a light squeeze, Grant had fractured Angus''s arm. In Grant''s view, a gambler who disregarded his family''s well-being didn''t deserve to have arms.

    "Didn''t you say you wanted to beat me too? And now your arm''s broken? Get up and fight me," Grant taunted Angus.

    Angus clutched his injured arm, no longer as arrogant as he had been when he was about to hit Rena.

    He stared at Grant with wide, curious eyes, wondering how there could be such a vast difference between him and Grant.

    "Get lost, now. If you''re still here in a minute, I''ll break your other arm too," Grant threatened.

    Angus, genuinely worried about his other arm, clutched his injury and fled.

    After taking a few steps, he turned back and shouted at Rena, "You little bitch, don''t think I''ll let you off. If you don''t get me the money, I''ll drag your mom back home tomorrow and let her die."

    Rena was furious, but seeing Angus''s shamelessness, she felt helpless.

    "Alright, don''t be mad..." Chloe tried tofort her, seeing how upset she was.

    Rena sobbed, unsure how to exin to Chloe. As a ssmate, a friend, and a confidante, she didn''t want Chloe to see her in such a miserable state.

    "Chloe, I''m sorry for making you and Mr. Martin witness this," Rena said, embarrassed.

    "It''s okay, you don''t need to apologize to us, Rena. We''re friends. Why didn''t you tell me about all the things happening at home?" Chloe asked softly.

    Rena started crying again. The recent family upheavals had put her under immense pressure.

    She had thought she could handle it, but she realized that one person''s strength was always limited.

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    Seeing them talking in the neighborhood, Grant reminded them, "Let''s head back to the vi. This isn''t the ce to talk."

    Rena nodded and led Chloe and Grant to Michael''s vi. Since returning from Oceancrest City and signing the contract with Michael, Rena had taken on multiple roles.

    She was a student at Quest University, Michael''s assistant, his housekeeper, and his nominal girlfriend.

    She was also responsible for warming his bed.

    Although she and Michael hadn''t crossed the final line, every part of her body had been kissed, touched, and even bitten by him...

    "Is Mic home?" Grant casually asked Rena as they headed to the vi.

    Rena shook her head. "He has a night shoot tonight... he might be back veryte."

    Grant didn''t care about Michael''s night shoot. He took out his phone and called Michael.

    As soon as the call connected, Grant''s cold voice came through, "Mic, it''s Grant. I''m at your vi. Your woman was just bullied and pped. You shoulde back and handle this. Preferably within half an hour. If you''rete, I can''t guarantee the person who bullied your woman won''te back."

    Grant was calm, but Michael, on the other end, sensed the urgency. He immediately agreed to return within half an hour.

    Hearing Grant talk to Michael like that, Rena became anxious. "Mr. Grant Martin, isn''t this inappropriate? My boss is busy..."

    At this moment, they had already reached the entrance of Michael''s vi. Grant gestured for Rena to open the door while saying, "No matter how busy he is, nothing

    is more important than protecting his own woman. A man who can''t protect his woman shouldn''t call himself a real man."

    As Grant finished speaking, he looked tenderly at Chloe, who was supporting Rena. Chloe could clearly feel the deep affection in his eyes.

    Her heart felt sweet.

    The three of them drank tea in Michael''s vi for a while.

    Soon, the sound of a car horn came from outside, and Michael, still in his makeup, rushed into the living room.

    He quickly saw Rena''s swollen face.

    He hurried to her side and asked, "What happened? Who hit you?"

    Michael had always been good-natured, not the type to get easily angry. But seeing

    Rena''s injury, his usually gentle demeanor turned to fury.

    Rena covered her face, not wanting him to see.

    Chloe was about to speak, but Grant stopped her. He pulled Chloe to his side and said, "Chloe, let them handle their own matters."

    Chloe immediately understood Grant''s intention.

    Indeed, a rtionship was between two people. Even though she was Rena''s good friend, she needed to respect their boundaries.

    Chloe nodded.

    Grant then said to Michael, "Mic, you''re not young anymore. As your brother, let me give you some advice..."

 Chapter 210 Sleeping While Holding You Is Very Comfortable

    "Since you told Karlie you''re dating Rena, you better treat her well. The elders in the Martin family don''t care about social status, but you gotta know your limits."

    "If you''re with her, you need to step up as a man. Don''t let her suffer because of you, and don''t embarrass the Martin family."

    "If there''s anything, talk it out with Rena and help her handle it. That''s it, Chloe and I are outta here."

    As the elder brother, Grant gave Michael a few words of advice, then took Chloe by the hand and left Michael''s vi.

    They walked out of the viplex, and all the way, Grant kept his arm around Chloe''s shoulders. That intimate gesture made Chloe feel very secure.

    As the breeze blew, they strolled along, and Chloe suddenly felt like she was falling in love.

    By the time they returned to the Martin Mansion, it was alreadyte. Chloe took a shower and was about to lie down to rest when Grant, holding his nket, curled up on her bed.

    His actions startled Chloe.

    "Hey, Grantie, what are you doing? Why are you in my bed again?" Chloe asked. Grant, ying the innocent, shrugged and said, "I''m not used to sleeping alone anymore... holding you feels morefortable."

    With that, Grant pulled Chloe into his arms, holding her tightly.

    After pulling Chloe into his embrace, Grant naturally didn''t intend to let her go so easily. Following a series of kisses and hugs, both of them became particrly excited.

    Chloe always had a thing for Grant''s toned waist. Many times, she wanted to break thest barrier and pin him down, but Grant always stopped at the crucial moment, never giving Chloe the chance to cross the line.

    The next day was Saturday, so Chloe didn''t have to go to school.

    She slept in and woke up feeling refreshed, but Grant was already gone from the bed.

    After getting ready, Chloe was about to go downstairs for breakfast when Zara called her.

    "Chloe, our littlepany has signed several actors recently, including some of your ssmates. Now we need to find some opportunities for them."

    "Brian introduced us to a director. Since you don''t have to go to scool today, let''s go meet him," Zara suggested.

    Chloe agreed, "Sure, I''ll get ready and meet you at the office."

    "Great. By the way, the director wants us to bring our actors along so he can take a look at them," Zara added.

    "Okay, let''s bring Philip and Floyd with us," Chloe replied.

    "Got it."

    With work ns in ce, Chloe quickly got ready and joined Zara and the others to meet the director at the agreed location to discuss their coboration.

    Zara led them to a scenic area by the mountains and water.

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    The director, Travis Larson, was there with a group of actors, filming a variety show. Zara shared the director''s background with Chloe. "Chloe, Mr. Larson is a well-known variety show director in the industry. I heard from Brian that every variety show he''s directed has been a hit. His shows not only have high ratings but also always spark widespread discussion and controversy.

    What''s more interesting is that Michael once worked with this Mr. Larson in the early days of his career. At that time, Michael wasn''t very famous, but after coborating on that variety show, his fame skyrocketed like a rocket and he quickly became a hot star. Chloe, when we meet this directorter, we must seize the opportunity to have an in- depth conversation with him. Let''s see if we can convince him to create a bespoke variety show for Philip and Floyd. If Mr. Larson agrees, it would be fantastic news for our smallpany. We would be on the verge of making a huge profit!"

    Chloe nodded. Even though she wasn''t in the entertainment industry, she knew Travis Larson. Working with him would be a golden opportunity.

    "Alright, you handle the pitch to Mr. Larson ande up with a solid n," Chloe nodded.

    "Sure, I''ll take care of the n. But Chloe, we need to figure out where we''ll get the funding," Zara pointed out the biggest challenge.

    Chloe wasn''t exactly strapped for cash. She had avish lifestyle, and the Davis family was loaded. If she ever needed money, Nichs could easily wire it to her. However, Chloe and Grant had a bet.

    At that time, when the two signed the contract, it was clearly stated that they were not allowed to use their personal connections or avable funds to help this newpany. In other words, they had to rely on their genuine abilities, starting from scratch and working steadily, to develop this newpany.

    If Chloe invested her own money in thepany, it would vite the terms of the bet. So, Chloe had to find a way to raise funds.

    The bet also restricted her from seeking help from familiar people or those who had benefited from her in the past.

    For example, she couldn''t ask the Gibson family or Hry for help, and Nichs was out of the question.

    Chloe racked her brain, trying to think of wealthy people she knew who could invest in thepany.

    She couldn''t ask Hry for funds, but she could approach Hry''s friends.

    Simrly, she couldn''t ask the Gibson family for money, but they could introduce her to potential investors.

    For a moment, Chloe feltpletely at a loss. After all, starting a mediapany requires a substantial amount of capital. In Sovereign City, who would have enough resources and be willing to invest in her venture?

    After much thought, Chloe still couldn''t find a suitable candidate.

    Zara, standing beside Chloe, seemed to notice her dilemma and came up with an idea.

    "Chloe, raising funds is a big deal. With the contract''s restrictions, you can''t just ask your usual connections for money.

    But you could approach the Martin family. The contract doesn''t say you can''t get funding from them.

    If you can secure the funds from the Martin family, you''ll be unstoppable."

 Chapter 211 The Director Has a Bad Temper

    Zara''s words sparked an idea in Chloe''s mind.

    "This is a great idea!" Chloe eximed.

    ording to the contract, she and Grant were in a bet, essentially making them adversaries. If she could convince the Martin Family to invest in her newpany, it wouldn''t be considered a breach of contract.

    However, she felt this idea was a bit far-fetched.

    The Martin Family would never invest in her newpany.

    Just at this moment, Philip, who overheard Chloe and Zara discussing financial matters, moved closer to them.

    As an actor thepany was about to promote, Philip shared his perspective.

    He spoke bluntly, "Ms. Jenkins, how could you say that? Asking Chloe to get money from the Martin Family? Sure, they have money, but they''re not idiots."Chloe and Grant from the Martin Family have a bet. If Chloe earns more than Grant, she can annul the engagement. Grant is a shrewd man. Do you think he would invest in Chloe?"

    Philip''s words were harsh but true.

    "Well, the Martin Family has more wealthy members than just Grant. If Chloe can''t get money from him, she can ask someone else, right?" Zara argued. "Like Michael? Or Liam... They seem to have money too,"

    Philip exined, "Michael definitely has money, but do you think he would invest in Chloe? He''s extremely timid; just a look from Grant could scare him away. Besides, if Grant found out that his own brother invested in Chloe, there would definitely be some serious familial pressure exerted on him, wouldn''t there?"

    And Liam. From the very first day Chloe entered the Martin Family, he has looked down on her. On top of that, the goddess incident made him feel betrayed by Chloe. With such a strong prejudice against her, do you think he would ever invest in Chloe?"

    Philip''s words made sense.

    For a moment, Zara couldn''t argue back. After all, he was stating facts.

    Previously, to avoid the engagement, Chloe had caused a lot of trouble in the Martin Family, often bullying Michael and Liam. Now, she needed money and wanted to borrow it from them? Impossible.

    Floyd stood there, motionless, quietly listening to their financial woes.

    Before being signed to Chloe''s smallpany, Grant had specifically called him over and warned him.

    He was just an actor wanting to make it in the entertainment industry. If he dared to make any other moves, Grant would break his legs.

    So, Floyd saw himself as a struggling actor waiting for his big break.

    Worried that Zara and Philip might continue arguing, Chloe intervened. "Alright, stop worrying about the money. I''ll handle the financing on my own. I see that Mr. Larson is done with his business now; let''s go over and have a word with him."

    With that, Chloe, Zara, Philip, and Floyd approached Travis.

    Zara introduced herself first, "Mr. Larson, I''m Mr. Gibson''s niece. I called you earlier to schedule a meeting to discuss a potential coboration."

    Zara humbled herself, knowing she was working for a small mediapany with no real backing.

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    Hearing Zara''s introduction, Travis didn''t even bother to look up.

    He spoke rapidly to Zara, "What''s there to discuss about the cooperation? Aren''t you just a small mediapany? Let me tell you this, as long as you prepare money enough, I can n any kind of show for you. Promoting someone isn''t a difficult task at all. Here''s the deal-have yourpany transfer tens of millions of dors to my ount first, and then we''ll talk specifics."

    Travis demanded money right away, asking for millions as if everyone''s money grew on trees.

    Zara was speechless at Travis''s words.

    Chloe frowned.

    After a brief moment of thought, Chloe voiced her idea. "Mr. Larson, shouldn''t you provide us with an investment n before we transfer any money? Or perhaps we should sign a contract first. Isn''t that how business is done?"

    Chloe''s words made Travis, who was discussing a scene with an actor, turn his face. He looked at Chloe with disdain.

    "Who are you?" Travis asked Chloe, clearly annoyed.

    Zara quickly and respectfully said, "Mr. Larson, this is Miss Davis from Summit Media Solutions..."

    Before Zara could finish, Travis interrupted. "I don''t care who she is from Summit Media Solutions. Ms. Jenkins, I''m very busy. If it weren''t for Mr. Gibson from the Gibson Group being your uncle, do you think I would have time to meet you?

    People withrge sums of money are lining up to work with me. I asked you to transfer the money first, and you feel wronged?

    Let me tell you, If I couldn''t get the money, you won''t even have a chance to work with

    me.

    I''m already very displeased. You can leave now."

    With just a few sentences, Travis dismissed Chloe and her team.

    The staff members who were currently recording the variety show all looked over in

    this direction. They seemed unhappy with Travis''s demands, but had no choice but toply.

    Chloe was furious.

    Just as she was about to retort, Zara pulled her aside to calm her down.

    "Chloe, don''t be mad. Brian warned me that Mr. Larson has a bad temper." Chloe disagreed, "Is it a bad temper? He has no professional ethics. He talks about coboration but doesn''t provide any specifics and demands such arge sum? Why?" "Because of his high status in the entertainment industry. Didn''t you see those actors? When he scolds them, they don''t even dare to argue," Zara reminded Chloe. Indeed, during the reality show recording, Travis had scolded an actor, who ended up crying but didn''t dare to fight back.

    After all, Travis controled their careers. Chloe was livid.

 Chapter 212 He Has Masochistic Tendencies

    "This director has no professional ethics and no manners. How did he manage to be a renowned director in the industry?" Chloe said angrily, her tone full of incredulous rage.

    "I''ve met a few people in the entertainment industry, and they were all very well- mannered and humble, nothing like him," Chloe continued, unwilling to let it go. Comparing him to those she had met before, their politeness and humility made her even more unable toprehend this director''s behavior.

    Zara looked at Chloe''s expression and quicklyforted her, "Chloe, don''t be mad. Although this kind of person is pretentious, he is indeed influential and respected in the industry. Our smallpany really needs this chance to get off the ground. Let''s bear with it for now."

    Chloe took a deep breath upon hearing this, trying to calm her emotions. She knew Zara was right; there was no need to let momentary anger affect thepany''s future ns.

    Philip stood by Chloe''s side. Although he strongly disliked Travis, as Chloe''s employee, he refrained from expressing any opinions. Floyd, on the other hand, was more interested in the actors recording the show and waspletely absorbed in watching them.

    Seeing Chloe calm down, Zara suggested, "Chloe, should we go talk to Mr. Larson again?"

    "Talk about what? We don''t have millions. If we go back, won''t he just humiliate us again?" Chloe''s words made sense.

    Zara sighed and didn''t say anything more. She also felt that Travis was being unreasonable. Who would ask for millions before even starting negotiations? That''s not how business was done.

    "Let''s go, this is pointless," Chloe said, signaling Zara and Philip to leave. But Floyd was still engrossed in watching the show.

    "Floyd, we''re leaving," Chloe called out.

    Hearing Chloe, Floyd finally responded and followed them out.

    Back at the office of Summit Media Solutions, Zara kept sighing. Summit Media Solutions had been open for a week, yet they hadn''t secured a single piece of business. This situation made Zara extremely anxious and weighed heavily on her mind.

    If no businesses in soon, the employees and the newly signed actors in thepany probably won''t get paid, and everyone might end up struggling to make ends meet. This would be a huge blow to apany that was just starting.

    ''The most pressing issue now is to get business going; we can''t continue like this,'' Zara thought to herself.

    "Chloe, what should we do?" Zara asked helplessly.

    Chloe heard Zara''s words, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "What else can we do? We have to develop steadily. We can''t just focus on one director. Although Travis has a significant influence, I don''t believe that without him, we have no way of doing business."

    Zara, do you remember that person named Jessica I introduced you to?"

    Chloe mentioned Jessica, recalling a small gathering at the Martin Family mansion where she had introduced Jessica to Zara before things went south due to Lucy''s interference.

    Zara nodded, "Yeah, I remember. I even added her on Facebook."

    "Contact her and tell her ourpany wants to expand. Ask her to introduce us to some reliable directors. I refuse to believe we can''t find anyone better than that money-grubbing director," Chloe instructed.

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    Hearing Jessica''s name, Zara got excited. She pped her forehead and said, "What was I thinking? How could I have forgotten about such an important contact like Jessica? She''s a veteran actress in the industry, and even Michael treats her with the utmost respect. Asking her to introduce us to a reliable director should be no problem at all!"

    Zara took out her phone to contact Jessica, but before she could find her on Facebook, her uncle Brian called.

    "Zara, Travis just called me. He said he had a great conversation with you and is very satisfied with yourpany. He wants to have dinner with you tonight. Discuss with Chloe and decide on a suitable ce. You''re the first smallpany he''s shown such interest in."

    Zara was stunned.

    "This is a rare opportunity. I''ll send you Travis''s number. Contact him yourselves," Brian said before hanging up.

    Zara looked at her phone in disbelief and then at Chloe. "Chloe, what''s going on? This morning he kicked us out, and now he says he had a great conversation with us?"

    "I don''t get it either. I was pretty blunt with him," Chloe said, shrugging.

    Philip chimed in, "Maybe Travis has a masochistic streak. Your bluntness might have made him feel good, so now he wants to work with us."

    Philip''s analysis was baffling, but it was the only exnation they could think of.

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    Floyd, who had been silent, finally spoke up, "Hey, it''s already a big deal that he wants to work with us. You guys should prepare and get the contract signed. I think the show they produced is really fun. I can''t wait to join them."

    Chloe rolled her eyes at Floyd. A doctor who didn''t focus on his surgeries but wanted to dabble in acting? It seemed unprofessional.

    Regardless, Travis''s dinner invitation was an opportunity. Chloe and Zara decided to seize it.

    Zara quickly arranged a restaurant, while Chloe drafted a cooperation n in her office, determined to discuss the coboration thoroughly with Travis that evening.

    As she was writing, Grant sent her a message on Facebook.

    Grant: [Dinner tonight after work?]

    Chloe immediately declined: [I can''t, I have a client meeting tonight.]

    Grant: [Tell me the location. I''ll pick you up afterward.]

    His concern for Chloe was growing; he even wanted to be with her all the time.

    Chloe agreed without hesitation: [Okay, I''ll send you the address once it''s set.]

    Feeling sweet inside, Chloe decided to send Grant a kiss emoji as a token of her appreciation.

 Chapter 213 Do You Want to Use Unspoken Rules?

    Grant sat in his office, staring at the picture Chloe had sent him-a yful kissy face. A sweet warmth spread through his chest.

    He grinned at Chloe''s profile picture.

    Just then, Stanley knocked and entered to give a work update.

    After discussing business, Stanley brought up Chloe''s newpany. "Hey, Mr. Martin, looks like Miss Davis''spany is up and running. I heard they were getting a meeting with Mr. Larson tonight to talk about a potential coboration."

    Grant''s brow furrowed at the mention of Travis. He closed his phone and set it on his desk.

    "Travis Larson?"

    "Yeah, that''s the guy."

    "Isn''t his reputation kinda sketchy?" Grant asked, his expression serious.

    Stanley nodded. "Yeah, it is. Mr. Michael Martin had a run-in with him a few years back."

    Grant remembered the incident.

    A few years ago, when Michael had just started college, he already had a keen interest

    in acting. At that time, a production crew was looking to cast supporting actors, and Michael boldly took his resume and went straight to them.

    Due to his striking appearance, Michael was noticed by the assistant director, who then introduced him to Travis, the head director at the time. When Travis saw the young and inexperienced Michael, he harbored inappropriate thoughts.

    Under the pretext of discussing the script, Travis coaxed Michael into his room. Initially, they did talk about the script, but it wasn''t long before Travis started making physical advances towards Michael. Though Michael was quite naive, he instantly realized Travis''s intentions-Travis was clearly homosexual and had malicious designs on him. At first, Michael tried to defuse the situation with polite words, hoping to seize a moment to escape from Travis''s clutches. However, he underestimated Travis''s determination and shamelessness. Instead of backing off, Travis increased his threatening tactics to force Michael into submission, making the situation increasingly dire and terrifying.

    Michael, young and hot-headed, wasn''t about to be humiliated. He grabbed a chair and beat Travis, breaking one of his legs.

    Travis called the police, using Michael of assault, and even tried to cklist him in the industry.

    Michael, still a student, couldn''t handle the situation alone and sought Grant''s help.

    Grant assigned Stanley to handle the situation and gave Travis a severe beating. In the aftermath, the matter was settled when Travispensated Michael with two hundred million dors.

    To protect Michael''s future career, the Martin family kept the incident under wraps, silencing the media.

    After a few years ofying low, Travis made aeback, producing several sessful shows andunching new talents. While his talent was recognized, his sordid past remained hidden.

    Grant grew concerned about Chloe''spany working with Travis. Chloe was so innocent-what if Travis tried to take advantage of her?

    Thinking about this, Grant could no longer remain calm. He said to Stanley, "I have nothing nned for tonight. Chloe will send me the location of their dinner soon. You book a room next door as well. In case anything happens, we can step in."

    Stanley nodded. "Got it, Mr. Martin. I''ll handle it."

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    That evening, Chloe and her team arrived at the restaurant for their meeting with Travis.

    They waited nearly an hour before Travis finally showed up, entering the private room with a warm demeanor, greeting everyone enthusiastically.

    "Miss Davis, Ms. Jenkins, Philip... right? Floyd... nice to meet you..."

    Travis shook hands with everyone. His friendly attitude made it hard for Chloe and Zara to be anything but polite.

    When it was time to sit, Zara and Chloe were supposed to sit on either side of Travis, but he suggested Floyd sit next to him instead.

    "This young man has great potential for reality TV. He''s not only handsome but also has a natural feel for it," he exined.

    "I don''t know if you all noticed, but when he stood next to me this morning, it made it very easy for me to feel a sense of familiarity with him. Once a director feels a sense of familiarity with an actor they''re going to work with, it means that the coboration will be very smooth in the future.

    So, Miss Davis, Ms. Jenkins, let him sit next to me so I can get to know my future star better."

    Reluctantly, they agreed, and Floyd took the seat next to Travis.

    At first, Travis was courteous, discussing business over dinner and drinks. But after a few rounds, he started getting inappropriate.

    He held Floyd''s hand, slurringpliments. "Floyd, your name is great. I can see you bing a big star.

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    Your skin is so smooth, and your proportions are perfect for the camera.

    Let me see your hand..."

    Travis held Floyd''s hand with one hand while gently stroking it with the other. Everyone present was perceptive enough to understand exactly what Travis meant.

    Chloe was furious, and even the usually calm Zara was losing her patience.

    Philip, sitting next to Zara, whispered, "What''s this guy''s deal? Is he trying to take advantage of Floyd?

    If the industry is full of people like him, we should cancel the contract. Zara, I''m straight. I like women. I''m worried this guy mighte after me next." Philip shuddered.

    Zara tried to keep everyone calm, but as Travis''s behavior escted, Chloe couldn''t take it anymore. She grabbed her wine ss, ready to throw it in Travis''s face.

    Chloe believed in dealing with bullies head-on. They had wondered why Travis, who initially dismissed their smallpany, suddenly wanted to coborate.

    It turned out he was after Floyd.

    That damn man had sinister intentions, using his reputation to prey on the vulnerable. People like him deserved a harsh lesson.

 Chapter 214 Teach Him a Lesson

    At that moment, Floyd, who was sitting right next to Chloe, reached out and pressed down on the wine ss Chloe was about to pick up.

    He gave Chloe a slight smile, signaling her to hold off on her anger for a bit.

    Chloe held back, curious to see what Floyd had in mind.

    Suddenly, Floyd turned his head and grabbed Travis''s hand, which was about to touch his thigh, holding it tightly.

    Travis struggled, but Floyd, who often handled surgical tools, had a strong grip, and Travis couldn''t break free.

    Floyd sneered, "Mr. Larson, I don''t know if ourpany''s managers have told you, before I joined ourpany, I studied medicine.

    I specialized in dermatology and performed many surgeries. I can tell if someone is healthy just by looking at their skin.

    Mr. Larson, have you noticed that mole on your hand? It doesn''t look good."

    Floyd exaggeratedly examined Travis''s hand.

    Travis was startled by Floyd''s expression.

    Always cautious about his health, he anxiously asked, "What''s wrong with my mole?"

    "In the past six months, have you noticed it getting bigger?"

    Travis nod repeatedly. "Yes... it seems like it has..."

    Floyd continued to scare him, "Oh... if that''s the case, you need to get a biopsy at the hospital. I''m telling you, if this mole keeps growing, the likelihood of it bing cancerous is very high. Based on my observation, it might already be cancerous.

    He turned to Chloe. "Miss Davis, Ms. Jenkins, I think Mr. Larson''s health should be his priority. As for the cooperation, let''s end it here. We don''t want him to fall ill and not even know how he died."

    Floyd finished speaking, his face turned cold, and he pushed Travis hard, sending him flying backward.

    Chloe stood up, grabbed her wine ss, and sshed it in Travis''s face.

    Then, everyone in the room turned and left.

    Travis, being experienced, quickly realized what was happening.

    He had been yed by these young people.

    First, they scared him with the mole and cancer talk, and then Chloe, that ugly girl, sshed wine in his face.

    He was a renowned director, and they humiliated him like this? Did they think he didn''t care about his reputation?

    Furious, Travis mmed the table and stood up. "Alright, you think you can get away with this?

    I''m telling you, anyone I set my sights on, I get. The more arrogant you are today, the more humble you''ll be when youe begging in front of meter. I''ll make sure you can''t survive in the entertainment industry, and if your small, lousypany manages to establish itself in Sovereign City, I''ll write my name backwards."

    Travis was livid, pointing at everyone and cursing. Even Zara, who was usually good- tempered, couldn''t take it anymore.

    Zara turned, grabbed an open bottle of yogurt from the table, and threw it at Travis''s face.

    Instantly, Travis''s face was covered in yogurt, making him look like a clown.

    Everyone burst intoughter.

    Afterughing, they all left.

    In a nearby room, Grant had already learned what happened from Stanley. He took a big gulp of warm water.

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    Stanley, holding back hisughter, said, "Mr. Martin, Miss Davis and Ms. Jenkins were really fierce. They''vepletely offended Travis. They won''t be able to work with him in the future."

    Hearing this, Grant mmed his ss on the table.

    Stanley tensed up.

    Grant said, "Is he really that impressive? Does Chloe''spany absolutely have to coborate with him?"

    Seeing Grant''s anger, Stanley quickly replied, "Mr. Martin, absolutely not."

    "If not, then teach him a lesson," Grant said coldly.

    Stanley immediately understood.

    Grant continued, "Thest time, we spared his life, thinking he would change. But he hasn''t. He still dares to exploit others?"

    "Stanley, this time, destroy himpletely. If he ever has the chance to harm others again, you''ll be out of a job."

    With that, Grant stood up and left.

    Stanley wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly agreed. He realized Grant was unsatisfied with his previous handling of the situation.

    Last time, Travis lost a leg. This time, he might end up crippled.

    After Grant left, Stanley called over his bodyguards and whispered instructions. The bodyguards went off to carry out their tasks.

    Outside the hotel, everyone was getting ready to leave.

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    Zara was on the phone with Brian,ining about the unreliable director he introduced.

    Philip was busy getting the car.

    Chloe and Floyd stood together, waiting for the car. Since Floyd joined Summit Media Solutions, they hadn''t had much chance to talk alone.

    Floyd spoke first, "Chloe, thanks for today."

    He thanked Chloe. He had noticed that when Travis put his hand on his thigh, Chloe wanted to stand up for him.

    "It''s nothing. I just can''t stand people like Travis. You''re my employee, and it''s my responsibility to protect you. No need to thank me." Chloe smiled gently at Floyd. Floyd hesitated for a moment and then said, "Chloe, you''re a good person. There''s something I need to tell you."

    "Oh? What is it?" Chloe looked at Floyd curiously.

    Floyd thought for a moment before saying, "Chloe, did you know that Grant has a woman outside... Remember that painting I did? The woman in it is Grant''s woman..." Hearing Floyd mention this, Chloe couldn''t help but want tough.

    But she held it in, putting on a surprised expression, and asked, "How do you know?"

    Floyd looked around and lowered his voice, "I confronted Grant that day when you guys went to the hot springs.

    He admitted it. He said he loves that girl, and if I have any thoughts about her, he''d kill me."

    Floyd emphasized the "kill me" part.

    He added, "Chloe, I also heard something else..."

 Chapter 215 Marry You and Bring You Home

    "Oh, what''s going on?" Chloe pretended to be curious.

    Floyd leaned in, "I heard from someone at the Martin group that Grant showed everyone a picture of that girl during a video meeting and announced she''s gonna be the future Mrs. Martin.

    Though Grant is my cousin, I can''t stand his behavior. On the surface, he treats you well and says he will honor the marriage contract and marry you, but behind your back, he keeps another woman in a luxurious house and has an ambiguous rtionship with her. I can''t stand his actions!"

    Floyd, driven by jealousy, let out all his frustrations about Grant.

    He thought that by being so blunt, Chloe would be upset.

    To his surprise, Chloe remained calm andposed.

    Floyd continued, "Chloe, honestly, if you got that mole removed, you''d look really pretty. You don''t need to let Grant treat you like this. In my opinion, you should break off the engagement with him. It''s not worth it to be involved with someone who''s two- timing."

    Chloe nodded after hearing Floyd''s words. She said, "I''ve been thinking the same. I''ve been working hard to build up this smallpany and make money so I can break off the engagement with the Martin family."

    "Floyd, you have to help me with this." she smiled.

    "Of course, I will," Floyd agreed without hesitation.

    As they were deep in conversation, Grant walked out of the hotel with one hand in his pocket. Seeing Chloe chatting happily with Floyd, he walked over and put his arm around her shoulders.

    It was a clear warning to Floyd that Chloe was his.

    "Grant?"

    Seeing Grant suddenly appear, Floyd called out his name. He was relieved that Grant hadn''t heard him badmouthing him earlier. If Grant had heard, he would have probably given him a hard time.

    "Alright, I''ve got Chloe now. You can leave," Grant said bluntly, not showing any courtesy to Floyd. He then turned and walked away with Chloe.

    Floyd felt indignant. He watched Grant and Chloe walk away, feeling helpless.

    Once they were in the car heading home, Grant asked Chloe, "What were you talking about with Floyd?"

    Chloe replied, "Nothing much... just work stuff and the rumors about you having another woman."

    Hearing Chloe mention the rumors, Grant smiled slightly.

    He pulled Chloe closer to him. "I don''t have another woman. Floyd''s just asking for trouble again. He needs a good beating."

    Grant spoke confidently.

    Chloe smiled and leaned into Grant''s embrace.

    Sitting in the front passenger seat, Stanley''s mind was racing.

    Grant said he didn''t have another woman? Then who was the woman he announced in that video the other night?

    Having worked closely with Grant for so many years, Stanley was surprised to see this side of his boss.

    He acted one way and said another. Chloe was so naive, easily deceived by him.

    No wonder, with Chloe''s looks, as soon as Grant showed a little interest, she waspletely smitten.

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    Grant was really something, even deceiving someone as innocent as Chloe.

    The next day was Sunday, and Chloe didn''t have to go to ss. Early in the morning, she was shocked by the news Zara sent her.

    Travis, the director fromst night, was all over the news. Apparently, he had been drinking and driving, got into an ident, and both his legs were broken.

    More importantly, his reproductive organ was also damaged, rendering it non- functional.

    In other words, fromst night onwards, not only could he not harass men, but he also couldn''t touch women anymore.

    Following the ident, a young actor who had recently been filming a reality show with him came forward and reported him publicly, revealing the shady dealings Travis had been involved in behind the scenes. What was even more shocking was that the young actor released recordings of conversations with Travis, which clearly documented Travis''s coercion and seduction tactics.

    In the recordings, Travis used various despicable means to threaten and entice the young actor, trying to force him into agreeing to some improper demands. It was only after the young actor sumbed that Travis arranged a role for him in the reality show. This revtion caused a massive uproar and outrage.

    The expos¨¦ quickly went viral online, and soon after, other actors also came forward, iming that they had experienced harassment from Travis as well. Armed with evidence, they all testified against the director, using him of a series of inappropriate behaviors.

    Suddenly, Travis''s harassment of male actors became the hottest topic in the entertainment industry.

    Within an hour of the news breaking, industry leaders began calling for a boycott of Travis, demanding that he be expelled from the entertainment circle.

    Reading the news, Chloe was thrilled. She grabbed her phone, jumped out of bed barefoot, and ran to Grant''s study.

    Grant was working when Chloe burst in to talk to him.

    She eximed, "Grant, it''s karma! That scumbag director fromst night, he''s been exposed for his terrible behavior..."

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    Seeing Chloe''s excited expression, Grant smiled slightly and feigned surprise.

    "Really? Good thing you didn''t hire him for yourpany''s project, or your investment would''ve been wasted," Grant said sincerely.

    Chloe nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Grant, that director was awful. Last night, he even tried to make a move on Floyd.

    Luckily, we fell out with him. If we had signed the contractst night, my newpany would''ve been doomed."

    Chloe had no idea that Travis''s downfall was all orchestrated by Grant. He couldn''t

    stand such a morally corrupt director bossing her around.

    If they could work together, fine. If not, they could part ways.

    But to act all high and mighty in front of her, Travis'' deserved to be dealt with.

    "Yes, Chloe, you''re really lucky," Grant praised her.

    Chloe felt a bit embarrassed. She sighed and leaned against Grant.

    "Grant, I''m not that lucky. These days, I''ve been really stressed about financing for my smallpany. Our contract states that I can''t seek funding from acquaintances.

    Look, without enough funds and a director, my smallpany might have to shut down soon."

    Chloe looked troubled.

    Seeing her upset, Grant felt annoyed. He pulled Chloe into his arms and gently kissed her forehead.

    "Shutting down wouldn''t be so bad. Then I could marry you and bring you home. Wouldn''t that be nice?"

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 216 You Just Seduced Me

    Hearing Grant''s words, Chloe felt a bit troubled.

    She had gone to great lengths to make this bet with Grant, all to break off the engagement between the Davis Family and the Martin Family. And now, Grant was talking about marrying her.

    She was worried.

    Chloe struggled a bit in his arms, clearly unhappy.

    She pouted, "Grantie, are you looking down on me?"

    "What? No way! Chloe, what are you thinking?" Grant hurriedly exined. He cherished Chloe like a treasure; how could he possibly look down on her?

    If he had to get a marriage certificate with Chloe right now, he wouldn''t hesitate for a second.

    "Then tell me, do you think I''m just a spoiled rich girl who can''t do anything?" Chloe stared into Grant''s eyes, questioning him.

    Grant chuckled. If he had thought Chloe was just a spoiled rich girl before, his opinion had changed after spending time with her.

    She was smart, adorable, and had great potential in design. She was intelligent, kind- hearted, and always handled tricky situations well.

    Most importantly, she always had the ability to keep a firm grip on him.

    "That''s nonsense. I don''t see you that way at all. Chloe, you have so many good qualities in my eyes." Grant held Chloe, speaking softly the words he had always wanted to say.

    Taking this opportunity, Chloe made her request.

    She whispered, "Grantie, since you think so highly of me, my newpany needs a big investment. How about you be my investor and fund it?"

    Grant was taken aback by Chloe''s words.

    What was this girl thinking? They were in a bet, and she was asking him to invest in herpany?

    Was he crazy?

    "Grantie, our bet says we can''t use personal connections to grow ourpanies. But you don''t count as a personal connection. We''re rivalpanies. Asking you to invest isn''t breaking the rules, right?"

    Seeing Grant''s surprise, Chloe pressed on, tugging at his cor and acting all cute.

    Grant was having a hard time resisting. "So, you want to convince me, the boss of your rivalpany to invest in you?"

    Chloe nodded, wrapping her arms around Grant''s neck and praising him. "Grantie, you have great vision, you''re good at business, and you understand investments. My star- making project has a bright future. If you invest, I promise you''ll make a lot of money."

    "And I''ve already prepared a development n for thepany. Grantie, just invest, okay?"

    Nestled in Grant''s arms, Chloe mischievously ran her hands over him, pulling out a so- called n from somewhere and cing it in front of him.

    At this moment, even though Grant was well aware of Chloe''s intentions, he couldn''t resist her sweet words and coquettish charms. She had him wrapped around her little finger.

    Chloe had been tirelessly working for that smallpany, putting in great effort and running around to make things happen. Her persistence and relentlessness finally paid off as she won Grant over. After some persistent persuasion, Grant finally gave in. Grant said, "I still need to take another look at your proposal. If I think it''s good, you cane to my office tomorrow and we''ll formally sign the agreement. How does that sound?"

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    Hearing that Grant had been swayed, Chloe was overjoyed. She couldn''t help but hug Grant around the neck and lightly kiss him on the cheek.

    "Grantie, thank you!" she said happily, her voice filled with excitement and gratitude. Hearing Chloe''s sweet words, Grant couldn''t help himself. Her teasing had him all worked up.

    After Chloe kissed him, he lowered his face and kissed her on the lips.

    "Hey, hey, hey... Grantie, what are you doing?" Chloe sensed Grant''s intentions and tried to dodge, but he held her tightly, giving her no chance to escape.

    With a mischievous grin, he said, "Chloe, you just seduced me, and now you''re asking what I''m doing? What do you think I''m doing?"

    With that, Grant lifted Chloe''s petite body andid her on therge desk in the study, showering her with kisses like a storm, on her lips, face, neck, and chest...

    Chloe felt a bit of a backache, after all, she was being pressed against the desk. Indeed, seducing Grant in the study came with a price.

    Just as their kiss was heating up, Grant''s phone rang, pulling them back to reality.

    Grant casually picked up his phone. However, when he saw the number disyed on the caller ID, his expression immediately froze, his entire body stiffening as if turned to stone, a look of tension spreading across his face.

    "Grantie... what''s wrong?" Chloe, her cheeks still flushed with the joy of their recent interaction, noticed Grant''s unusual behavior and asked with concern.

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    Grant took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions. He knew he had to maintain hisposure in front of Chloe, so he made an effort to appear more at ease.

    Speaking in a gentle tone, he said, "It''s nothing... just an old friend I haven''t seen in a long time calling. Sweetie, why don''t you go have some fun for a bit? I''ll join you as soon as I finish this call."

    Grant found an excuse to send Chloe out of the study.

    He watched her leave and close the door before answering the call.

    As Chloe closed the door, she heard Grant say, "Hello, this is Grant. Long time no see..."

    Chloe didn''t have a habit of prying into Grant''s privacy, but her intuition told her something was off with him today.

    She didn''t think much of it and returned to her room, grabbing herptop to discuss the star-making project''s next steps with Zara on social media.

    Zara told her she had contacted Jessica, a well-connected person in the industry, who had agreed to introduce some reliable and talented directors to theirpany in the next few days.

    These directors would help with specific nning, and Summit Media Solutions would handle the investment negotiations.

    This seemed like a reliable way to coborate.

    Chloe and Zara continued their discussion until noon when Mia knocked on the door, inviting Chloe downstairs for lunch.

    Chloe nced towards the study but didn''t see Grant.

    She asked Mia, "Mia, aren''t you calling Grantie for lunch?"

    Mia replied, "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin left two hours ago..."

 Chapter 217 He Did Not Return All Night

    "Left two hours ago? How did I not know?" Chloe muttered, puzzled, as she sat in her room with herptop.

    Grant''s study was just about 30 feet from her bedroom, and he had to pass by her room to go downstairs.

    She hadn''t noticed when Grant left, which meant he must have been very quiet.

    A woman''s intuition told her that Grant was hiding something from her.

    "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin mentioned in the staff group chat that he wouldn''t be back for lunch. He specifically asked the chef to prepare some delicious dishes from the Northwest for you," Mia informed her.

    "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin is so good to you," Mia added enviously, looking at Chloe.

    Chloe smiled lightly and didn''t say anything more.

    She sat alone at the dining table, eating a lonely lunch. Halfway through her meal, she took a selfie and sent it to Grant.

    [Grantie, the lunch today is really delicious... I wish you could be here with me.]

    Had it been in the past, Grant would have replied to Chloe''s message within two minutes, promptly and enthusiastically. However, today, the message seemed to have vanished into the void, with no response for an extended period.

    Holding her phone, Chloe felt her heart sink, thoughts swirling in her mind. She couldn''t understand Grant''s sudden coldness, and it filled her with an inexplicable sadness that spread through her chest like a tide, leaving her feeling helpless.

    In this moment of loneliness and confusion, Chloe heard a roaring sound from outside. It was Tony, who hadn''t contacted her in a long time, arriving on his motorcycle. Seeing his familiar figure brought a slight sense of relief to her.

    Tony stood outside the gates of The Martin Family vi, waving at Chloe with a bright smile. "Chloe,e out for a ride, let''s go for a spin!"

    Feeling a bit restless, Chloe eagerly agreed.

    After quickly finishing her lunch, she went upstairs to change into her motorcycle gear. Soon, she was on Tony''s bike, speeding away.

    Tony took Chloe to the ce where she parked her motorcycle. Having not ridden her bike for a long time, Chloe felt a sudden wave of rxation wash over her the moment she got back on.

    She and Tony found a spacious area and spent the entire afternoon riding their motorcycles.

    During those several hours, Grant still had not contacted Chloe. While riding with Tony, Chloe couldn''t shake off a feeling of difort. Without Grant''s reply, she felt like an abandoned child, and her mood remained low the entire time.

    Tony noticed Chloe''s unhappiness.

    He came over and asked, "Chloe, what''s up? You seem down."

    Chloe forced a smile and denied it. "Nah, racing is fun. Let''s go for anotherp."

    "Alright, Chloe. After thisp, I''ll take you out for dinner. I know a new barbecue ce that smells amazing. Let''s go try it."

    Tony generously invited Chloe to barbecue. He was usually quite frugal, spending most of his money on his bike.

    Normally, he would tag along with Zara and Chloe, enjoying their treats.

    But Zara and Chloe liked to spoil him.

    "Wow, Tony, you''re actually treating me to dinner? Did youe into some money recently?" Chloe asked curiously.

    Tony scratched his head andughed. "Not really. It''s just that the deals you helped us with at the Gibson Group went through, and my dad was so happy he gave me extra allowance this month."

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    "Chloe, my dad said as long as I keep you happy, that''s all that matters." Heughed. "You''re our family''s lucky charm."

    Tony''s sweet talk lifted Chloe''s spirits.

    But truth be told, the Gibson family''s sess was indeed thanks to Chloe. Without her help when she first came to Sovereign City, the Gibson family might have gone under in the fierce businesspetition.

    The two of them happily rode their motorcycles all afternoon, and then Tony took Chloe out for barbecue.

    By the time she returned to the Martin Mansion, it was nearly 10 PM.

    Chloe asked Mia and found out that Grant hadn''t returned. She picked up her phone, thinking of sending him a message, but then she changed her mind and put it down again.

    Used to falling asleep with Grant holding her, Chloe found it hard to sleep alone.

    She only managed to get a little sleep in the early hours of the morning.

    Grant didn''te home that night. When Chloe got up, she noticed a tense atmosphere in the house but didn''t pay much attention. After breakfast, she got ready to go to school.

    On the way to school, she received a call from Zara.

    Zara told her that the director Jessica had introduced was almost finalized, and she needed to secure the funding soon.

    Securing funding was crucial for her smallpany''s development, so Chloe felt she needed to visit Grant''s office.

    After all, he had shown interest in her proposal that night.

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    With that in mind, Chloe asked the driver to take her to the Martin Group office building.

    As she passed the parking lot and was about to go upstairs, Sophia, who was watching the cars, saw Chloe and smiled sinisterly.

    She gritted her teeth and muttered, "Ugly duckling, you think you can be thedy

    of the Martin Family? If I can''t marry Grant, neither can you."

    Watching Chloe go upstairs, Sophia sent a message to Isidora: [The ugly duckling is on her way up. Be ready...]

    Having been to Grant''s office before, Chloe easily found her way to his floor. Standing at his office door, she knocked.

    But there was no response from inside.

    Chloe thought for a moment and was about to knock again when a woman, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, appeared behind her.

    "Hey there, are you looking for Mr. Martin?"

    Chloe turned around and saw the woman. She was slim, with shoulder-length blonde

    hair, and wore a professional smile.

    Overall, Chloe didn''t find her unpleasant.

    She nodded at the woman and said, "Yeah, where''s Grantie? I need to discuss

    something with him."

    The woman quickly replied, "Mr. Martin is in a board meeting today. It should be over

    soon. Why don''t you wait in his office?"

    As she spoke, the woman prepared to open the door.

    While opening the door, she introduced herself...

 Chapter 218 Take Out the Thing for Me

    "My name''s Isidora Faye. I''m Mr. Martin''s new secretary, starting today. I''m here to help him with some paperwork."

    "You''re Miss Davis, right? Stanley mentioned you."

    "Miss Davis, please have a seat. I''ll get you some tea."

    Isidora was very hospitable, offering Chloe water and snacks, making sure she was well taken care of.

    After making sure Chloe wasfortable, Isidora tactfully excused herself.

    She said to Chloe, "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin should be done with his meeting soon. Please wait for him a bit. I''ll get back to my work."

    Chloe nodded at Isidora.

    Soon, Isidora closed the door and left.

    This wasn''t Chloe''s first time in Grant''s office. She was quite familiar with it. Feeling bored, she casually opened Grant''s bookshelf and picked out a book on business management to read.

    Grant''s meeting had not ended yet, and Chloe had been waiting in his office for a long time without seeing him return.

    Worried that she might miss her 10 AM design ss, Chloe had to leave Grant''s office.

    However, what she didn''t expect was that the hour she spent in Grant''s office wouldnd her in a situation where she had to prove her innocence.

    Back at school, Chloe hurried to her design ss.

    Philip and Rena had saved her a seat.

    Seeing her flustered, Philip asked, "Chloe, how did the funding go?"

    Chloe gave a helpless smile and replied, "Not well. I was hoping to get investment from Grant, but I went to his office early this morning and waited for an hour or two without seeing him."

    "These investors are always hard to deal with," Chloe remarked.

    Hearing this, Rena, also a woman, began to worry about Chloe. She frowned and said softly, "Chloe, you''re dating Mr. Martin, and it''s a problem if he doesn''te home at night."

    She paused for a moment, her tone tinged with concern, and continued, "You need to be more vignt. Don''t let other women set their sights on Mr. Martin."

    Rena''s worry was evident, but Chloe didn''t feel the same concern. She smiled at Rena and said gently, "It''s not going to happen. Grantie wouldn''t give other women such an opportunity; he''s not that lucky with women. Besides, I trust him."

    She then changed the subject, asking with concern, "By the way, how have things been between you and Michael these past few days? Have you resolved those tricky issues?"

    Chloe was referring to Rena''s father''s gambling problem.

    Rena nodded, "Yes, Michael helped me handle it. He paid off my dad''s gambling debts, warned him not to gamble again, and moved my mom to a better hospital with a nurse. Otherwise, do you think I could sit here in ss so calmly?"

    After a bit more chatting, they started their ss.

    After school, Chloe was still worried about the funding, but Zara quickly called her. She said that Jessica had stepped in and helped Summit Media Solutions secure a considerable investment, so Chloe didn''t have to worry about funding anymore.

    Chloe was thrilled about the unexpected investment.

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    But before she could fully enjoy the moment, Zara told her something else over the phone.

    "Chloe, did you hear? The Martin Group is in big trouble."

    "Big trouble? What happened?" Chloe asked, puzzled.

    Zara exined, "I just read the financial news. The Martin Group lost an important document this morning. This document could cause them billions of dors in losses."

    "The Martin Group must be in chaos right now because of it." she added.

    Zara''s words surprised Chloe, but she understood why Grant hadn''t responded to her messages.

    If this was true, as the president of the Martin Group, Grant had a huge responsibility. He was probably too busy withpany matters to reply.

    With this in mind, Chloe felt relieved. She chatted with Zara for a while longer before hanging up.

    In the afternoon, Chloe handled some work at her newpany. When she returned

    to the Martin Family mansion in the evening, she found it unusually crowded.

    She not only saw Grant at the Martin Family vi but also saw Grant''s aunt, Giselle Rodriguez. Sitting next to Giselle was Isidora.

    As Chloe entered, she noticed Grant''s serious expression. She was about to speak to him when Giselle approached her.

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    Giselle is Grant''s aunt and one of the directors of the Martin Group. When Grant took over the Martin Group and became its president, Giselle, as one of the directors, became the Chief Financial Officer of the Martin Group.

    During the time Chloe stayed at the Martin Family Mansion, she had met Giselle a few times. However, Chloe felt that Giselle was not an easy person to get along with. She didn''t have much conversation with Giselle and didn''t have a favorable impression of her. So they didn''t have much interaction.

    Seeing Chloe enter, Giselle immediately said, "Chloe, hand it over."

    Giselle''s words felt like a cold shower to Chloe. She had no idea what Giselle was talking about.

    Maintaining herposure, Chloe asked, "Giselle, what do you want me to hand over?"

    Giselle gave Chloe a sidelong nce and said, "The Martin Group''stest partnership proposal, of course. Chloe, you must know how important that document is to us."

    "You can''t use such tactics just to get Grant''s attention." she snorted.

    Chloe waspletely baffled by Giselle''s words.

    She looked at Giselle innocently and asked, "What partnership proposal?"

    After asking, she turned to look at Grant, who had been silent. When he heard Chloe''s question, he frowned and stood by her side.

    He then said, "Giselle, I told you, Chloe didn''t take the proposal. She doesn''t even know what it is."

    Grant''s words didn''t calm Giselle. She red at him and said, "Just because she says

    she doesn''t know doesn''t mean she didn''t take it. Thieves always im they''re innocent."

    With that, Giselle''s eyes locked onto Chloe.

    Hearing herself being called a thief, Chloe''s eyes turned sharp...

 Chapter 219 Show Your Evidence

    She was born into the Davis family, a family with considerable wealth. From a young age, she always got whatever she wanted. This was the first time anyone had ever called her a thief.

    "Giselle, what are you talking about?" Chloe crossed her arms and red at Giselle.

    Just as Giselle was about to respond, Isidora stepped in, pulling Giselle back and taking over the conversation.

    "Miss Davis, please don''t be upset. Ms. Rodriguez might have just been too anxious...

    This morning, thepany''s staff ced a very important cooperation proposal for the Martin Group in Mr. Martin''s office. But when Mr. Martin needed to look at it, he found that the proposal was missing.

    The proposal contained crucial information for the future development of the Martin Group. If this information were to leak, it would cause significant losses for the Martin

    Group.

    With Isidora''s exnation, Chloe began to understand. Zara had mentioned during a call at noon that the Martin Group had lost something important.

    She never expected that she, Chloe, would be the prime suspect.

    Chloe thought for a moment and raised these two points. "But what does this have to do with me? I''m not part of the Martin Group, nor am I from a rivalpany. What use would I have for that proposal? Besides, what makes you think that the missing proposal has anything to do with me?"

    As soon as she finished speaking, Isidora responded.

    First, she cast a timid nce at Grant, who was standing beside Chloe, and then at Giselle. She then mumbled softly, "Miss Davis, you were the only one who went to Mr. Martin''s office this morning, and you stayed in Mr. Martin''s office for nearly an hour."

    Hearing this, Chloe suddenly realized.

    Just because she had spent nearly an hour in Grant''s office that morning, she had be the obvious suspect.

    "So that''s it?" Chloe was almost amused by the absurdity.

    "Chloe, this has nothing to do with you. Go upstairs and rest." Seeing Chloe being wronged, Grant stepped in to protect her.

    Unfortunately, Giselle didn''t see it that way.

    She insisted, "Grant, until this matter is cleared up, Miss Davis cannot leave. The cooperation proposal is crucial to the Martin Group''s future. How can you be so sure that she has nothing to do with it?"

    Grant had no choice but to assure Giselle, "Giselle, I know Chloe well. She''s not that kind of person. As she said, what use would she have for that proposal?"

    As soon as Grant finished speaking, Giselle immediately provided her reasons. She spoke with a firm, confident tone, "How could it be of no use? The Davis Family and the Martin Family are both business dynasties. Chloees from the Davis Family. If she handed over this important document to the Davis Group, it would be a disaster for the Martin Family."

    She paused for a moment, her sharp gaze fixed on Grant, and continued, "Besides, you weren''t with her at that time. What makes you say she didn''t take the document?"

    Giselle slightly raised her chin, pressing on aggressively, "If she insists that she didn''t take the document, let her provide evidence to prove it."

    Her words were incisive, leaving Grant momentarily speechless. Giselle clearly had no intention of backing down, her attitude was relentless and confrontational. Giselle was relentless.

    Isidora, who had been standing by Giselle''s side, looked at Grant with a seemingly troubled and delicate expression.

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    Seeing the tension between Giselle and Grant, Isidora stepped in to ease the situation. "Mr. Martin, please don''t be anxious. Ms. Rodriguez is just looking out for thepany. Losing this proposal could cause serious damage.

    If Miss Davis really didn''t take the proposal, she just needs to provide some proof. Ms. Rodriguez isn''t being unreasonable and doesn''t want to make things difficult for Miss Davis.

    You and Ms. Rodriguez are family. There''s no need to argue over an outsider. Let''s all calm down and talk this through."

    Isidora''s words seemed to make sense to Giselle, who softened her expression and smiled at Isidora.

    Grant also calmed down a bit.

    Only Chloe caught the underlying message in Isidora''s words. Grant and Giselle were family, while she, a Davis, was the outsider.

    As an outsider who had visited Grant''s office, she was naturally used of stealing when something went missing.

    If she wanted to im she didn''t steal, she had to provide evidence. Without evidence, she was guilty.

    Isidora seemed to be speaking in her favor, but in reality, she was using her two-faced tactics to trap Chloe into proving her innocence.

    Since that was the case, Chloe decided to drag Isidora into it as well.

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    With that thought, Chloe let out a coldugh and said, "I wasn''t the only one who visited Grant''s office this morning. Why do you assume I took the proposal?"

    "I remember it was Miss Faye who opened the door for me. Miss Faye can freely enter Grant''s office. Shouldn''t I suspect that Miss Faye took the proposal? After all, she had more opportunity than I did..." her gaze was sharp.

    With just a few words, Chloe implicated Isidora.

    If she had to find evidence to clear her name, then Isidora should have to do the same.

    "Me? How could it be me? I''m Mr. Martin''s secretary, employed by the Martin Group." Isidora hurriedly tried to clear her name. Indeed, when trouble involves someone, they be anxious.

    Seeing Chloe use Isidora, Giselle immediately stood up to vouch for her. "Isidora couldn''t have taken the proposal. She''s pure and kind-hearted, with no ill intentions. She even saved my life once. I can vouch that she didn''t take it."

    Hearing this, Chloe couldn''t help butugh. So that''s why Isidora, a newly appointed secretary, was so close to Giselle? It turned out Isidora had saved Giselle''s life.

    "So, just because she saved your life, Ms. Rodriguez, you think she didn''t take the proposal?"

    "She only started working as Grant''s secretary today, and thepany lost something

    so important. Anyone with a bit of sense would suspect her first, right?"

    "I''ve been staying with the Martin Family for a long time, and Grant''s study door is always open to me. Has anything ever gone missing?"

    "If simply vouching for someone can clear them of suspicion, then the police might as

    well close up shop and solve cases based on vouching alone."

    Chloe''s words were logical and left Giselle and Isidora speechless.

 Chapter 220 My Granddaughter Was Wronged

    Giselle jabbed a finger at Chloe, her voice sharp with anger. "You''re just twisting things around! You took something important from the Martin Group and now you''re denying it..."

    Chloe''s eyes turned icy. "Ms. Rodriguez, as the CFO of the Martin Group, are you blind? Let me remind you, making false usations can get you in serious trouble.

    If you really think I took your partnership agreement, then show me some proof. Better yet, call the cops.

    If the police find out I did take it, I''ll face the consequences. But if you can''t prove it and keep ndering me, don''t me me for not showing you any courtesy.

    You want evidence? Keep dreaming. Grant, I''m going to bed. Show them out."

    With that, Chloe straightened her back and marched upstairs to her room, not bothering with any pleasantries.

    As soon as she returned to her room, all of Chloe''s strength copsed at that moment. She never imagined she would be subjected to such an injustice. She had merely visited Grant''s office, only to be used of being a thief.

    Grant wanted to support her, but his efforts seemed insignificant against the overwhelming pressure.

    At that moment, Chloe missed Nichs terribly.

    If Nichs were here, anyone daring to nder her would have been dealt with swiftly.

    Seeking somefort, Chloe called Nichs on a video chat.

    It had been months since the grandfather and granddaughter had seen each other, and they started chatting over the video call.

    Nichs looked at Chloe on the screen and asked, "Chloe, what made you call me today?"

    Chloe sniffled and said, "Nothing much, I just missed you."

    "Oh? Missed me? That doesn''t sound right. Chloe, with so many handsome guys in Sovereign City, you''re not hanging out with them but missing me? Something''s off." Nichs immediately sensed something was wrong.

    Chloe didn''t want Nichs to worry, so she forced a smile, "No handsome guy canpare to you, Grandpa. I just missed you."

    Nichs''s heart softened at Chloe''s words, and they chatted about family matters for a while.

    Afraid that Nichs, at his advanced age, would worry about her, Chloe chose not to tell him about being wrongfully used tonight. After all, Nichs was already quite old, and causing him additional concern would be highly unfilial of her.

    After hanging up, Chloe opened herptop to check the news about the missing partnership agreement from the Martin Group.

    Meanwhile, after ending the call with Chloe, Nichs spoke to Felix with a somber expression. "Felix, my granddaughter''s mood was off today."

    "Mr. Davis, what happened to Miss Davis?" Felix asked.

    Nichs analyzed the situation. "When she called, it seemed like she had been crying. I suspect she must have been wronged.

    She has always been someone who shares good news but not bad, fearing that I would worry about her. The fact that she called me at this time indicates that she is in a bad mood."

    "Felix, get in touch with the Martin Family and find out what happened to Chloe."

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    Felix didn''t waste any time. He made some calls and soon had the information Nichs needed.

    When Felix presented the details to Nichs, Nichs was livid.

    He couldn''t believe that Chloe, staying with the Martin Family, had been treated so unfairly.

    Leaning on his cane, he cursed, "The Martin family has gone too far. How dare they nder my granddaughter as a thief? We don''t even care about their stuff. Do they really think we need their partnership agreement? Is this how they protect my granddaughter?

    No way, I''m calling Louis right now to ask about that Rodriguez woman. Who does she think she is to bully my granddaughter? Forget the engagement. People might think the Davis Family is sucking up to the Martin Family."

    Nichs grabbed his phone, ready to call Louis.

    Felix quickly intervened, "Mr. Davis, let''s talk this through. You''re too old to get worked up over this.

    Miss Davis was falsely used, and you''re upset. But calling Mr. Martin won''t solve the problem.

    I think Miss Davis didn''t suffer too much. Let''s calm down, gather evidence, and clear her name."

    Felix''s suggestion made sense.

    But Nichs didn''t agree. He raged, "Gather evidence? Do they deserve us providing evidence? Bullying my granddaughter like this is absolutely outrageous; those members of the Martin family havepletely crossed the line."

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    Nichs was too protective of Chloe to listen to reason.

    Felix patiently persuaded him, "Mr. Davis, Miss Davis being falsely used isn''t entirely bad. It can test her abilities...

    If she can''t handle this small issue, how can she be the sessor of the Davis Group?

    If she marries into the Martin Family and bes thedy of the house, she needs to

    be able to protect herself. Right?"

    Felix''s words finally calmed Nichs down.

    Indeed, he went to great lengths to send Chloe to Sovereign City to train her and make

    her stronger, so that after his death, she could protect herself.

    If he handled everything for her, she would never truly grow up.

    Nichs closed his eyes, steeling himself. After a long sigh, he said to Felix, "You''re right..."

    "But seeing Chloe suffer still hurts."

    "We won''t interfere, but we can''t just watch her suffer. Felix, find the evidence!"

    Late at night, Sophia and Isidora met in a small tea room.

    Sophia sat across from Isidora, praising her, "Isidora, you are indeed formidable. When you finally made your move, that ugly girl fell into big trouble and realized that you''re not someone to be trifled with. I always said, only you can be thedy of the Martin Family."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 221 Killing and Destroying the Heart

    Hearing Sophia''spliment, Isidora gracefully picked up the wine ss in front of her and took a delicate sip.

    "I''ve told you before, my goal has never been to be thedy of the Martin Family," she said.

    Isidora''s words instantly excited Sophia. Originally, she wanted to use Isidora to drive Chloe away from Grant. Then, she nned to use Isidora''s actions against Chloe to eliminate Isidora, leaving her as the only woman by Grant''s side. Eventually, everything would fall into ce, and she would be thedy of the Martin Family.

    Unexpectedly, Isidora didn''t care about bing thedy of the Martin Family. If that was the case, it saved Sophia a lot of trouble.

    With a smile, Sophia said to Isidora, "Isidora, I knew it, your vision is far beyond that of an ordinary woman. Tell me, do you think Mr. Martin would believe that Chloe stole the Martin group''s letter of intent, after all the effort you put into framing her?"

    Isidora put down her wine ss and said, "Does it matter if Grant believes it or not?" "If Mr. Martin doesn''t believe it, there''s no way to drive Chloe away from him. That woman is so annoying," Sophia said, her hatred for Chloe reaching its peak. But she had been defeated by Chloe before and didn''t have the courage to confront her again.

    "Even if it''s proven that Chloe took the cooperation proposal, I can''t guarantee that Grant will drive her away." Isidora replied. "I never do things I''m not confident about. I prefer actions that strike at the heart."

    Isidora''s exnation was a bit profound, and Sophia didn''t quite understand. She frowned and looked at Isidora.

    Isidora continued to exine, "I haven''t interacted much with Chloe, but I can tell that she is very proud, given her noble background. She won''t tolerate such grievances.

    Grant wants to protect her now, but faced with the fact that Chloe entered his office, he can''t defend her. After all, Ms. Rodriguez will put some pressure on Grant.

    Chloe is alone in Sovereign City. If she feels wronged, she will definitely have a big fight with Grant. At that time, if Ms. Rodriguez stirs things up, do you think Chloe will stay by Grant''s side?

    I want Chloe to be so heartbroken that she leaves Grant on her own. With her personality, she will never look back."

    After Isidora''s exnation, Sophia finally understood.

    In the past, when she confronted Chloe, she only wanted to overpower her and gain some small advantages. Now it seemed she was really wrong. Only someone like Isidora, with such high-level tactics, was worthy of confronting Chloe.

    She would just wait for Isidora to drive Chloe away and then reap the benefits.

    Sophia showered Isidora with morepliments, but Isidora calmly sipped her drink, not paying Sophia any mind at all.

    Isidora nevercked men. She agreed to cooperate with Sophia only to take advantage of the opportunity for some benefits.

    As Isidora had predicted, Chloe, feeling wronged, was in a particrly bad mood. After taking a shower, she curled up in bed with her nket, venting her grievances in a group chat with Zara and Rena.

    When Grant pushed the door open, Chloe acted like she didn''t see him, turned over, and kept ying her phone.

    Seeing Chloe in a bad mood, Grant sat down beside her. When he tried to gently touch her forehead, Chloe swatted his hand away.

    She was clearly upset.

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    Grant tried tofort her, "Chloe, I know you were wronged today."

    Hearing Grant''s words, Chloe''s tears started falling like a broken string of pearls.

    She threw her phone aside, sat up, and said to Grant, "You knew I was wronged? When your aunt and your secretary were interrogating me, did you think about how I felt?"

    Grant had stood up for Chloe at the time, but Giselle''s aggressive stance left him with no chance.

    Grant knew he was at fault. If he hadn''t agreed to let Giselle and Isidorae over, Chloe wouldn''t have been wronged.

    Seeing Chloe''s tears fall one by one down her cheeks, Grant felt as if his heart was being cut with a knife. Words of exnation caught in his throat, unable to be spoken. He could only hold Chloe''s frail shoulders tightly, repeatedly murmuring, "I''m sorry, it''s my fault. Chloe, please don''t cry." Grant''s voice was filled with obvious anxiety and helplessness.

    However, faced with Chloe''s tears, he seemed utterly at a loss, unsure of what to do. He couldn''t bear to see her so distressed, and his heart was full of self-me and guilt.

    Through her sobs, Chloe murmured softly, "I didn''t take yourpany''s cooperation proposal, I really don''t need it."

    Her words were intermittent, filled with endless grievance and sadness. As Grant listened, his pain deepened, and he held her even tighter.

    He quickly responded, "I believe you! Tomorrow, I''ll have Stanley investigate this matter thoroughly."

    Grantforted Chloe for a long time before she calmed down.

    She wiped away her tears and began questioning Grant. "Then tell me, how did Isidora be your secretary? I heard from Stanley that you never used to have female secretaries."

    Hearing Chloe''s question, Grant slowly began to exin. "Yeah, I never used to have female secretaries... but Isidora was arranged by Giselle.

    Isidora and I were college ssmates. Yesterday, when you were in my study, I suddenly got a call from her. She said Giselle had a sudden illness and she happened to be there. She took Giselle to the hospital and asked me toe over as soon as possible.

    You know, Giselle doesn''t have any family in Sovereign City. When she suddenly fell ill, I

    had to go.

    When I got to the hospital, I found Isidora taking care of Giselle. I thanked her and thought she would leave, but Giselle had already notified the HR department to make Isidora my secretary. I was stunned."

    Grant''s words left Chloe puzzled.

    She asked, "Why did Giselle think of making Isidora your secretary?"

    Grant said, "During the time I was on my way to the hospital, Giselle learned that Isidora had just returned to the country and hadn''t found a job yet. Out of kindness, she notified the HR department to make her my secretary.

    I was very unhappy with Giselle''s arrangement, but at the time, she was lying in a

    hospital bed with a heart condition. I couldn''t refuse her."

    Grant looked troubled as he said this.

    Chloe casually asked, "So, ording to you, Giselle wants to set you up with Isidora?"

 Chapter 222 She Became a Thief

    Hearing Chloe''s spection, Grant quickly denied it. "Chloe, you''re overthinking this. Everyone at Martin Group knows about the engagement between the Martin and Davis families. Plus, during that video conference, I made it clear I already have a fianc¨¦e. Why would Giselle think otherwise? I think she just wanted to repay Isidora for saving her life by helping her get a job."

    Chloe wasn''t buying Grant''s exnation. It wasn''t that she didn''t trust him, but she doubted Giselle''s intentions. She also didn''t believe that Isidora, the new secretary, would be trouble-free.

    They were trying to extend their influence into Martin Group.

    "Alright, I get it, Grantie. Look into this thoroughly." Chloe bit her lower lip and said firmly. "Of course, I won''t ck off. They won''t frame me that easily."

    In truth, she was clueless and didn''t know how to clear her name.

    Seeing Chloe''s troubled expression, Grant held her hand and said seriously, "Chloe, I''ll always be on your side. Please trust me and don''t let others sway you. Give me some time, and we''ll work through this together."

    Looking at the sincere Grant, Chloe couldn''t me him anymore. In the Martin Family, he was her only ally. If she fell out with Grant, it would be even harder to clear her

    name.

    With Grant''spany, Chloe slept peacefully that night.

    When facing different situations, she must be adept at adopting various strategies and responses. Chloe had always been reluctant to get involved in the Martin Family''s affairs. But since some people insisted on dragging her into it, they shouldn''t me her forplicating things further.

    The next day, Chloe woke up feeling refreshed after a good night''s sleep.

    After having breakfast with Grant, they headed to Quest University together. As per their usual routine, Grant dropped her off at the university entrance before leaving. Just as Chloe was getting out of the car, Grant called out to her again. "Chloe, trust me..."

    Chloe flexed her arm, making a gesture of determination.

    She then headed to her ssroom with her backpack. Once she sat down, she noticed that Philip wasn''t there today.

    She leaned over to Rena and asked, "Rena, Philip didn''te to school today..."

    "Yeah, he texted me early this morning asking me to excuse him. He said he has a filming task today." Rena showed Chloe the message Philip had sent her.

    Chloe then remembered that Zara had texted herst night about today''s filming. She had been too preupied with the proposal over the contract with Grant to pay attention to the message.

    The director had paired Philip and Floyd into a duo and created a music video for them. Today''s task was to film the video for promotional purposes.

    Zara was indeed very capable. Chloe felt reassured having her as the general manager of her newpany.

    "Oh... I forgot."

    Rena stood up, linking her arm with Chloe''s. "Chloe, Philip mentioned that the director yourpany hired is very professional. How about we visit the set after school?"

    "Visit the set? You always go to film sets with Michael. Don''t you know what a set looks like?" Chloe teased her.

    Rena replied, "I just want to see how yourpany does it. Let''s go after school. We don''t have anything else to do anyway."

    "Alright, let''s go after school." Chloe agreed with Rena.

    The day''s sses ended quickly. After school, Chloe rode her motorcycle with Rena to the filming location.

    Rena was curious about the music video shoot and immediately went to watch the filming.

    Meanwhile, Zara pulled Chloe aside to report on the work situation.

    Zara asked quietly, "Chloe, what''s going on? I told you that Jessica had already secured

    the financing for us. Why did you get another investment?"

    "I didn''t get any investment," Chloe said, puzzled.

    Zara showed Chloe thepany''s ount information. "Look, thisrge sum of money if you didn''t secure it, who did?"

    Zara pointed to a long string of numbers, indicating a significant amount of money.

    Chloe thought for a moment and said, "Maybe Grant transferred it. But I didn''t see him in his office yesterday morning. And he didn''t mention anything about transferring money to thepanyst night. I need to ask him."

    Chloe took out her phone to call Grant.

    Just then, a news alert popped up on her phone. Chloe intended to close it but noticed her name in thetest news headline.

    Entertainment News: [The Davis Group used the engagement to infiltrate the Martin Family. Miss Chloe Davis stole an important cooperation proposal from the Martin Group''s office. This proposal, crucial to the Martin Group''s development, was not archived, causing significant losses.

    Reportedly, the Martin Group, bound by the engagement, did not report the incident to the police. Coincidentally, at 3 PM today, the Davis Group held a press conference at their headquarters in Emberfall City, presenting their five-year strategic n.]

    Reading the news, Chloe''s heart raced with anger.

    She couldn''t believe that in just one day, she, the esteemed Miss Davis, had be a thief in the eyes of the media.

    The missing cooperation proposal was an internal matter of the Martin Group. Grant was still investigating it. How did this news get out?

    Chloe couldn''t believe it wasn''t orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.

    But who could it be?

    Was it Giselle, who kept using her?

    Or the seemingly harmless new secretary, Isidora?

    She didn''t know either of them well. It didn''t seem like they had any reason to harm

    her.

    Chloe was bing increasingly unsettled...

 Chapter 223 Rena is in Danger

    Chloe knew she had to meet with Giselle.

    Determined, she sent a message to a mysterious Facebook ount, asking to meet Giselle. After a brief acknowledgment, the profile picture went dark.

    With her thoughts in order, Chloe headed to the set to check on Philip and Floyd''s performances.

    She scanned the area but didn''t see Rena anywhere. When Philip finished his scene and came down, Chloe approached him. "Hey, Philip, Renae to see you by earlier? Did you see her?"

    Philip, touching up his makeup, nodded. "Yeah, she did. She said hi, but then I had to shoot my scene. She took a call and left."

    "Why? Wasn''t she looking for you?" Philip looked confused.

    Chloe shook her head. "No, she didn''t find me. You go ahead with your shoot. I''ll keep looking."

    A sense of foreboding engulfed Chloe, and she immediately left Philip, turning quickly to find Rena.

    The shooting location wasn''t veryrge, nor was it particrly deste, making it theoretically not difficult to find someone. However, Chloe scoured the entire area, meticulously searching every corner, yet she couldn''t find any trace of Rena.

    Anxiety began to spread through Chloe''s heart, filling her with panic. She hurriedly pulled out her phone and dialed Rena''s number. The phone rang repeatedly in her ear, but there was no answer, as if the surrounding air had be heavy.

    Step by step, Chloe could no longer suppress the fear within her and started to run around, desperately seeking any possible clue. She kept redialing, hoping the ringtone would lead her to Rena. Finally, not far from the shooting location, in a patch of grass, she identally discovered Rena''s phone.

    Picking up the phone, Chloe knew something was wrong.

    Because there were clear signs on the ground that someone had been dragged away.

    She thought about calling the police but knew they wouldn''t file a missing person report for an adult until 24 hours had passed.

    Rena had only been out of sight for about half an hour. Waiting 24 hours could mean Rena would be in serious danger.

    Chloe had considered finding out Rena''s whereabouts herself, but she had only been in Sovereign City for a few months. With no connections or resources, finding someone in a ce like Sovereign City was practically impossible.

    Her only option was to seek help from the Martin Family.

    Rena was Michael''s assistant, and he was the best person to find her.

    With this in mind, Chloe called Michael. This was the first time she had called him since returning from Oceancrest City.

    The phone rang for a moment before Michael answered.

    "Hey, Chloe... What''s up?"

    "Mic, are you busy right now?" Chloe''s use of "Mic" softened Michael''s initially stiff tone.

    "Not too busy. What''s going on?" he replied.

    Due to Chloe''s rtionship with Grant, Michael had been keeping his distance from

    her. No matter how attractive she was, he couldn''t entertain thoughts about Grant''s girlfriend.

    Chloe didn''t have time to ponder Michael''s feelings.

    She quickly exined the situation. "Mic, after school, Rena and I went to mypany''s set to check on the shoot. I turned around for a moment, and Rena disappeared."

    "I searched the area and found her phone. There are signs on the ground that she was dragged away."

    "Rena is definitely in trouble." Chloe simply voiced her judgment.

    Michael, who had been calm, became agitated upon hearing Chloe''s words. "What? Are you sure?"

    "Yes, I''m sure. Mic, you need to find Rena. I''m afraid she''s in danger."

    Holding Rena''s phone, Chloe was worried. Just as she was about to say more to Michael, a beat-up van suddenly sped out of a nearby parking lot.

    Through the tinted windows, Chloe thought she saw Rena desperately banging on the window.

    After a brief moment of calm, Chloe told Michael, "Mic, I think I see Rena in a van. Get over here quickly. I''m going to follow them."

    After saying this, Chloe quickly hung up. She rushed towards her motorcycle parked nearby, grabbed the helmet and put it on, jumped on the bike, and sped off in pursuit of the van.

    On the other end of the line, Michael shouted, "Chloe, I''m on my way. Don''t do anything rash."

    But Chloe had already hung up and didn''t hear Michael''s warning.

    Riding her motorcycle, Chloe chased the van through the night, not daring to let up.

    At first, the people in the van didn''t notice Chloe following them.

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    As they drove further into the outskirts, the roads became emptier, and the van eventually realized they were being followed.

    Inside the van, one of the men spoke up. "Shit, there''s a woman on a motorcycle chasing us. What do we do?"

    Another man replied, "What''s the big deal? Let''s lead her on. My daughter told me this woman''s family is loaded."

    "Apparently, she''s from a wealthy family. If we''re going to kidnap one, might as well take two and get more money."

    The man who replied was none other than Rena''s father.

    He had worked at Quest University but was fired after Lucy''s incident.

    Chloe had kindly arranged for Tony to find them jobs at the Gibson Group. However, during Kassy''s illness, he had developed a gambling addiction, losing all their money and even the funds Rena had set aside for her mother''s surgery.

    He had also umted arge amount of gambling debt.

    Desperate for money, he had learned about Rena''s close rtionship with Michael and repeatedly asked her for money.

    Michael had paid off his debts to stop him from bothering Rena.

    And Rena had cut ties with him to prevent further harm.

    But a man addicted to gambling had lost all sense of morality. After Rena and Kassy blocked all contact with him, he resorted to kidnapping Rena to get money from Michael.

    Unexpectedly, just as he shoved Rena into the van, Chloe spotted him. Angus, in a bid to get more money, decided to kidnap Chloe as well.

 Chapter 224 Something Has Already Happened

    His reckless attitude was clearly pushing the Martin Family''s limits.

    To keep the van carrying Rena from disappearing right in front of her, Chloe floored the gas pedal, hoping Michael would get to the address she had given him as soon as possible.

    The van soon turned onto a more secluded road.

    Chloe, steady on her motorcycle, continued to follow closely.

    Angus, noticing Chloe tailing his van so closely, couldn''t help but feel a thrill of excitement.

    Originally, he just wanted to use Rena''s safety to squeeze some more money out of Michael.

    Now, with the rich girl Chloe joining the mix-Chloe, who had kicked him hardst time-Angus had to extort a hefty sum from her to get his revenge.

    With this in mind, Angus deliberately slowed down and swerved his van to ram into Chloe''s motorcycle.

    He intended to knock Chloe into the ditch, so he and his aplices could subdue her just like they did with Rena and stuff Chloe both into the van.

    Chloe saw through his n. As Angus swerved to hit her, she quickly braked, reducing her speed.

    So Angus''s van missed her.

    Seeing Chloe evade, Angus cursed loudly. "Damn, this chick''s got some skills."

    He turned to his aplices. "Hold on tight, I''m speeding up."

    With that, Angus floored the gas, and the van shot forward.

    Just as he was turning the wheel, the unconscious Rena''s head mmed against the van''s door, waking her up from her stupor.

    With her hands tied, she struggled to lift her head. Through the window, she saw Chloe following closely behind. Rena shook her head frantically.

    She was signaling Chloe to stop following.

    Angus, blinded by his gambling addiction, was willing to kidnap his own daughter, showing he had lost all humanity.

    If Chloe continued to follow, not only would Rena be in danger, but Chloe might not escape unscathed either.

    This was a family matter; she couldn''t drag Chloe into it.

    With this thought, Rena pressed her face against the van window.

    She shook her head desperately at Chloe.

    Seeing Rena''s pained expression through the ss, Chloe felt a pang of sorrow. She understood Rena''s message-Rena wanted her to leave.

    But how could she leave?

    Rena was one of the few friends Chloe had made sinceing to Sovereign City. Here, friends were rare, and Rena had always been her most trustedpanion.

    Thinking about Rena being in such a dire situation, how could she possibly leave her friend behind and run?

    Thus, Chloe unhesitatingly continued to elerate, charging forward with all her might. The scenery in front of her rapidly blurred, trees and buildings on both sides appeared increasingly sparse, and the road grew more deste and remote.

    Although Chloe''s heart was filled with doubts and worries, she did not slow down, keeping close behind the van.

    In this perilous moment, there was only one thought in Chloe''s mind: no matter what happens, she must save Rena.

    As dusk fell, a luxury car passed by on the narrow road. Chloe looked up and recognized it as belonging to the Martin Family.

    She stopped her motorcycle, intending to g down the car.

    To her surprise, when the car''s interior lights came on, she clearly saw who was in the driver''s seat.

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    Grant...

    What was he doing here?

    Chloe, still on her motorcycle, wanted to greet Grant, but then she noticed Isidora sitting in the passenger seat, smiling.

    The two seemed to be in good spirits. As Grant drove, Isidora wiped his sweat.

    Grant didn''t refuse. The car sped past, and Chloe couldn''t see Grant''s expression clearly.

    A wave of bitterness surged in her heart.

    Chloe suddenly remembered what Sophia had said when they met in the Martin Group parking lot.

    She had said, "Isidora is back..."

    Only now did Chloe sense something was off. Was there really just a pure friendship between Isidora and Grant?

    These questions wereplicated and couldn''t be resolved now.

    With Rena in such grave danger, Chloe didn''t have the heart to care about these things. She shot an extremely displeased nce at Grant''s car, which was getting farther and farther away from her.

    Then she elerated, continuing to follow the van.

    But because of the few minutes she had lost, the van disappeared from her sight. Sweat broke out on Chloe''s forehead. Had she really lost the van?

    If so, Rena would be in danger.

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    She stopped her motorcycle, scanning her surroundings. The darkness made her worry even more for Rena.

    She pulled out her phone, intending to contact Grant. Just as she did, a heavy blow struck the back of her head.

    Chloe turned to see Angus''s menacing face.

    In an instant, Chloe lost consciousness, and her motorcycle fell to the ground.

    Angus and his aplices dragged Chloe''s body, tied her up, and stuffed her into the van with Rena.

    The van then drove into a nearby slum.

    As they put Chloe into the van, Angus made sure to take her phone.

    He thought that by turning off Chloe''s phone, no one would be able to find her. Little

    did he know, Chloe had ced Rena''s phone in her motorcycle''s side pocket before she started following.

    As long as Michael tracked Rena''s phone signal, he could find them.

    Michael, who had been rushing over, called Chloe''s phone over and over again. When the message indicated that her phone was turned off, a vague sense of foreboding began to rise within him.

    He felt certain that Chloe was in trouble, just like Rena.

    John, sitting in the passenger seat, noticed Michael''s worried expression.

    "Mic, what''s going on?" he asked.

    "Chloe''s unreachable. Her phone''s off. She might be in trouble."

    John, directing the driver, said to Michael, "If that''s the case, you should call Mr. Grant Martin. In Sovereign City, Mr. Grant Martin has connections everywhere. He''s the best at finding people. Don''t you think?"

    "Alright." As he spoke, Michael dialed Grant''s number.

    Momentster, Michael heard a woman''s voice on the other end. "Hello?"

 Chapter 225 Grants Character

    "Hey, who''s this?"

    Michael paused when he heard the voice. He''d known Grant for years, and this was the first time he''d ever heard a woman''s voice on Grant''s phone.

    Even Chloe, who''d been living with the three brothers for months, had never touched Grant''s phone.

    "Who are you? I''m looking for my brother," Michael said, his tone turning icy.

    "Oh, you''re looking for Mr. Martin? Sorry, he''s a bit busy right now and doesn''t have his phone with him," the woman replied cheerfully.

    Michael pressed on, "Where is he?"

    "He''s in the bathroom," the woman said, her tone carrying a hint of mischief and pride.

    Michael, being an adult, understood what that implied. He scratched his head and asked, "Who are you?"

    "I''m his woman," she replied.

    Her words left Michael stunned for a few seconds. Grant''s woman? Who could she be? Could this be the woman Harry had mentioned, Grant''s mistress?

    If that were the case, Grant didn''t deserve Chloe at all. Michael felt it was unfair to Chloe and, for the first time, he began to question Grant''s character.

    Despite his displeasure, Michael took a moment to think and said, "Tell him to call me back immediately. Chloe''s in trouble."

    After saying this, Michael didn''t hesitate for a moment and immediately hung up the phone. He simply couldn''t ept that his elder brother, while iming to fulfill the marriage agreement with Chloe on behalf of a brother, was also with another woman.

    This was clearly maintaining rtionships with two women at the same time.

    The perfect image of Grant in Michael''s mind suddenly plummeted from a hundred to

    zero.

    If Grant hadn''t imed to have a close rtionship with Chloe first, Michael wouldn''t have let go so easily. He could also fulfill the Martin and Davis family marriage agreement.

    After hanging up, Michael continued making calls, mobilizing all his resources to search for Rena and Chloe in Sovereign City, like finding a needle in a haystack.

    He was very worried. He couldn''t even tell if his concern was more for Rena or Chloe. Michael felt conflicted. At that moment, he couldn''t distinguish which woman he had truly fallen for.

    Following the shared location Chloe had sent, Michael, his driver, and John arrived at the end of a small road, where they found Chloe''s motorcycle lying on the ground. Michael, the driver, and John got out of the car to search for any clues. Eventually, they found Rena''s phone on Chloe''s motorcycle.

    Michael said to John, "Chloe''s motorcycle is here, which means they can''t be far. We need to find them, even if we have to turn Sovereign City upside down."

    "Alright, Mic. What did Mr. Martin say?" John asked, referring to Grant.

    Michael, clearly anxious, replied, "Who cares what he says? I don''t believe I can''t find two people in Sovereign City without him."

    John tried to calm Michael down, "Mic, Mr. Martin''s got strong business connections. This is a matter of life and death. You can''t let your anger mess up the rescue. Fine, why don''t you call Mr. Martin again."

    Under John''s persuasion, Michael called Grant again. But when he dialed, he found that Grant''s phone was already turned off.

    Usually calm, Michael suddenly lost hisposure.

    Late at night, Chloe was kicked awake. When she opened her eyes, she saw Rena, tied up, sitting next to her.

    Rena couldn''t use her hands, so she had been kicking Chloe with her feet. Seeing Chloe wake up, Rena couldn''t help but cry.

    "Chloe, you''re finally awake! I thought my bastard father of mine had killed you," Rena''s voice was filled with anxiety and worry.

    Chloe had just opened her eyes and wasn''t fully awake yet when she heard Rena''s voice nearby. She saw tears and guilt in Rena''s eyes.

    "Chloe, I''m sorry," Rena''s voice choked with emotion, "it''s my despicable background that has put you in such danger. I''m sorry, it''s my fault that you''re in this. You shouldn''t have followed me here."

    Rena was filled with guilt and pain. Though she hadn''t known Chloe for long, she had already deeply felt Chloe''s sincerity and kindness. Chloe was one of the few friends she had made sinceing to Sovereign City.

    She didn''t want her disgraceful past to be exposed in front of Chloe. If possible, she just wanted to be equal friends with Chloe.

    "It''s okay, Rena. You don''t need to apologize. We''re friends..." Chloe, enduring the pain in the back of her head, struggled to sit up.

    She looked around and realized they were in a rundown shack. The shack was filled with construction materials, some broken tiles, and leftover paint. In the corner, there were some pieces of wood.

    A small light bulb hung from the ceiling, casting a dim glow that made everything look shadowy.

    There seemed to be another room in the shack. Chloe, half-sitting, could clearly hear the sound of people drinking from the other room.

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    "Rena, can you tell me how many people are outside?" Chloe asked.

    "Just two. One is my dad, and the other is his friend from his construction work. I''ve seen him before. He worked on our old house," Rena replied.

    "Are you sure it''s just two?" Chloe asked again.

    Rena nodded, "Yes, my dad lost all his money. He can''t afford to hire anyone else." "Alright, in that case, Rena, we need to save ourselves," Chloe said, revealing her n. Despite her young age, she was a woman who could survive in harsh environments. The tougher the situation, the stronger her survival instincts.

    Rena was puzzled. Their hands were tied behind their backs, and their feet were bound with zip ties. How could they possibly save themselves?

    At that moment, Chloe used her foot to drag a piece of broken tile towards her.

    Rena finally understood. Chloe intended to use the tile fragment to cut the ropes binding their hands.

    But the tile fragment wasn''t sharp. How could they cut the ropes? And with their hands tied behind their backs, how could they even manage to cut anything?

    Rena felt helpless.

    But Chloe wasn''t deterred. She grabbed the tile fragment with her hand and excitedly said to Rena, "Rena, turn around. I''ll cut your ropes first..."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 226 Want to Make Love with My Daughter?

    Seeing Chloe grab that piece of broken tile, Rena quickly took action to save herself

    too.

    She moved her body closer to Chloe''s side until their bound hands touched. Chloe struggled to hold the broken floor tile and began to cut the rope binding Rena''s hands.

    Outside, the sound of drunken revelry continued. Chloe''s wrists ached from the effort, but she kept going. She knew that cutting the ropes was their only chance to escape.

    Rena''s father, Angus, had lost his mind to gambling. If they didn''t find a way to save themselves, who knew what would happen?

    Finally, after several minutes, the rope around Rena''s hands loosened. Chloe kept working, and just as she freed Rena, a half-drunk Angus and his buddy stumbled into the room.

    Worried they''d notice the cut ropes, Rena kept her hands behind her back. She wanted to untie Chloe, but Angus and his friend left her no opportunity.

    Angus had drunk quite a bit, his face flushed and his eyes gleaming with excitement. He swayed unsteadily on his feet, pointing at Rena and loudly introducing her to the man beside him, his words exaggerated by the influence of alcohol.

    "This is my daughter, Rena," he eximed, his voice high, as if trying to draw the attention of everyone around. "A student at Quest University."

    He paused, wearing a smug smile before continuing, "Do you know who is keeping her now? The celebrity Michael."

    "He''s really handsome and filthy rich," Angus boasted proudly, waving his arms as if to bolster his own confidence. "You tell me, why would he be interested in my daughter?"

    "Let me tell you something," he leaned closer to the man, lowering his voice but still loud enough for others to hear, "I think he''s quite taken with my daughter. If everything goes well, he''ll give us a lot of money. Understand?"

    Angus, drunk and delusional, seemed to see piles of cash before him. His friend, also drunk, ogled Rena with a lecherous gaze.

    "Angus, your daughter is really something. If it weren''t for our rtionship, I''d... heh heh..." the man said, his face twisted into a sleazy grin, making his intentions clear.

    A normal father would have pped anyone who spoke about his daughter like that. However, gambling had already stripped Angus of his humanity. In order to get his aplice to fullymit to their scheme, he said something that made Rena want to kill him.

    He grinned at his friend and said, "No rush. You want to sleep with my daughter? That''s no big deal."

    "Once I get the money from that celebrity, I''ll bring her home, and you can have your way with her."

    "We''re good friends. As long as you help me out, I won''t let you down."

    Angus''s words enraged Rena. Normally timid, she shouted at him, "Angus, are you even human? I''m your daughter!"

    The word "daughter" didn''t awaken any conscience in Angus. He shamelessly replied, "So what if you''re my daughter? Isn''t you, as a daughter, supposed to repay me?"

    "Who you sleep with doesn''t matter. If you were like other daughters and brought me lots of money, I wouldn''t have to do this."

    "Once I get the money from Michael, you just need to sleep with my friend for a few days. It''s just a few days."

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    Angus no longer deserved to be called a father. No father would treat his daughter like an object.

    With Angus''s words, his friend grew bolder. Ignoring the ugly Chloe beside Rena, he reached out to touch Rena''s face.

    Usually timid, Rena could no longer bear it when she saw such a filthy hand. She grabbed arge floor tile and, with a resounding thud, smashed it against the man''s head.

    Drunk and dazed, the man copsed.

    Seeing Rena''s ropes were cut, Angus shouted in rm and lunged at her.

    In the past, Rena wouldn''t have resisted, but now she waspletely disillusioned with Angus. She had no fatherly feelings left for him.

    Just as Angus, baring his teeth and ws, lunged at Rena, she didn''t hesitate. She grabbed a partially used paint bucket nearby and mmed it over Angus''s head.

    Instantly, Angus''s face was covered in paint. Forgetting to hit Rena, he reached up to try to pull the paint bucket off his head.

    While Angus was fumbling and struggling, Rena seized the opportunity. She picked up a used construction rod and began to beat Angus with it.

    Seeing Rena fight back so fiercely, Chloe couldn''t help but cheer her on. "Rena, great job! Keep hitting him!"

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    Encouraged by Chloe, Rena attacked Angus with renewed vigor. Drunk and blinded by paint, Angus had no choice but to take the beating.

    Soon, Angus was on the ground. Rena didn''t spare his friend either, hitting him until he couldn''t fight back.

    With both men incapacitated, Rena quickly untied Chloe.

    Free atst, Rena pulled Chloe to leave, but Chloe had other ns. She stretched her arms, picked up the stick Rena had used, and gave the two men another beating.

    Worried they might retaliate, Rena urged, "Chloe, let''s go..."

    Chloe chuckled and said, "Leave now? That would be too easy on these bastards."

    Rena looked at Chloe and asked softly, "Chloe, what do you want to do?"

    Chloe snorted, "Of course, we need to send them to jail. People like this are a danger to society."

    Hearing this, Rena fell silent.

    Noticing Rena''s hesitation, Chloe asked, "Rena, are you hesitating because he''s your father?"

 Chapter 227 Cant Stand You

    Angusy sprawled on the ground, beaten to the brink of unconsciousness, his breathing rapid and his face pale. At the mention of sending him to prison by Chloe, the nk look in his eyes was immediately reced by a trace of panic.

    "Rena, I am still your father. How can you send me to prison?" Angus mustered a mocking smile despite his pain. "If you send me to prison, you''ll have a father who''s a convict. Let''s see how ashamed you''ll be then. And Michael-will he still be willing to spend so much money on keeping you?"

    As his emotions spiraled out of control, Angus''s words became even more venomous. "You little bitch, look at what you''ve done to your old man. If I had known you''d turn out like this, I should have drowned you in a piss bucket right after your mother gave birth to you."

    His voice grew louder, and the unending stream of hateful and vicious words spewed from his mouth, assaulting the ears of both Rena and Chloe.

    Initially, Rena felt some hesitation in her heart. She didn''t genuinely want to send her heartless father to prison. After all, rationally, he was still her biological father, and this fact left a trace of emotional struggle within her.

    But after hearing Angus''s vile curses, her expression grew increasingly cold, and thest shred of her remaining feelings for himpletely vanished. The filthy words were like daggers, deeply wounding her heart.

    Rena gave a bitter smile and shook her head, saying to Chloe, "I don''t have a father, especially not one like this."

    "He used despicable means to kidnap us. They''re kidnappers, and kidnappers belong in jail. Chloe, call the police. Don''t wait another minute."

    They locked the door of the small house and went to the outer room. Half an hour earlier, Angus had taken Chloe''s phone, which was now lying on the small table where they had been drinking.

    Chloe grabbed the phone and dialed 911.

    While waiting for the police, Chloe kept an eye on Rena, who stood tall andposed, as if reborn.

    Before the police arrived, Michael showed up with his manager and driver. Seeing the two women looking disheveled, Michael felt a pang of pain in his heart. He couldn''t tell if it was for Rena or Chloe.

    With Michael and John''s help, the police took Angus and his aplice away. Michael then apanied Chloe and Rena to the police station to give their statements.

    No one mentioned Grant all night. When Chloe finished her statement and stepped

    out of the police station, she saw Grant and Isidora waiting outside.

    Seeing Chloe looking disheveled, Grant quickly walked over to her.

    But Chloe felt a pang of sadness.

    "Chloe, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Grant asked with concern.

    In the past, Chloe would have cried in his arms, but now, she felt only anger.

    Tonight, she had been through so much, and Grant hadn''t been there. Now, he was standing with Isidora, and Chloe couldn''t help but think of the intimate moment she had seen between them.

    Feeling betrayed, Chloe pushed Grant away. "I''m fine."

    Her cold response left Grant stunned. He thought she was still upset about the contract issue.

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    "Chloe..." He tried to exin, but Isidora interrupted, defending Grant.

    "Miss Davis, how can you treat Mr. Martin like this? He has been busy all day because

    of you, only eating one meal. As soon as he heard you were in trouble, he rushed here. How can you be so ungrateful?"

    Isidora''s words were full of reproach, as if Chloe was being unreasonable.

    Isidora was just Grant''s secretary. Did she have the right to criticize Chloe?

    Chloe, however, was not one to be easily intimidated.

    "Who are you to criticize me?" she shot back, ring at Isidora.

    "I''m Mr. Martin''s secretary, and I can''t stand seeing you treat him this way," Isidora retorted.

    She thought that since she had Giselle as her backer, Chloe, who wasn''t even part of the Martin group, couldn''t do anything to her.

    Chloe''s eyes narrowed. "Does this have anything to do with you? You''re just a secretary. Are you trying to overturn the order? I didn''t even know that the affairs of the Martin Family have now fallen under the purview of a mere secretary." Chloe''s fierce response left Isidora speechless.

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    Indeed, as a secretary, meddling in the private affairs of the Martin Family was quite out of line.

    Chloe continued, "My issues with Grant are between us. If you speak to me like that again, I''ll p you. Don''t think having Giselle as your backer means you can do whatever you want in my life. Giselle means nothing to me."

    Chloe rudely scolded Isidora, and in her words, there was no longer any trace of respect for Grant''s aunt, Giselle.

    Isidora, shocked by Chloe''s words, turned to Grant for support. "Mr. Martin, did you hear that? How can she speak about Giselle like that?"

    Isidora expected Grant to scold Chloe, hoping to drive a wedge between them. But Grant didn''t take the bait.

    Grant calmed himself down and said to Isidora, "That''s just how she is; don''t take it to heart. She didn''t mean to speak about Giselle that way, so please don''t let Giselle know. Alright, she''s shaken up, so I''ll take her home now."

    Grant''s words were a clear warning to Isidora not to stir up trouble with Giselle.

    Isidora couldn''t believe Grant was still defending Chloe. How had Chloe managed to captivate him sopletely?

    As Chloe prepared to leave, Michael, Rena, and John emerged from the police station.

    Michael gave Grant aplicated look before leaving with Rena and John. Grant opened the passenger door of his car for Chloe, but she looked at it with disdain. "I''m not getting in your car," she said.

 Chapter 228 Theres Wuite a Stench Here

    When Chloe said she wouldn''t ride in his car, Grant was confused.

    "Why not?" he asked.

    Chloe looked at him with disgust. "Because your car reeks of that two-faced woman. There''s quite a stench here; I find it dirty."

    Her meaning was clear-she was using Isidora of being two-faced. Isidora, standing nearby, was furious but couldn''t retaliate.

    "Chloe... Isidora and I are just colleagues. She''s my secretary..."

    Grant never exined himself to women. Isidora, having known Grant since college, understood his personality well.

    But Grant was exining himself to Chloe, and Isidora could sense his desperation to prove his innocence to her.

    Isidora had a bad feeling about this.

    Chloe snorted at Grant''s exnation. She mocked him, "Just colleagues? Your secretary is close enough to wipe your sweat? Mr. Martin, your secretary sure wears many hats."

    Grant was taken aback by Chloe''s words.

    Chloe sneered and turned to Michael. "Mic, can you give me a ride home?"

    Michael was about to agree, but when he saw the murderous look Grant shot him, he hesitated.

    The powerful pressure from Grant''s gaze made Michael back down.

    "My car is pretty full, it might be a bit cramped... How about..." Michael started to suggest she ride with Grant, but Chloe didn''t wait for him to finish and walked away. "Never mind, I''ll get an Uber," she said.

    After Chloe said that, she walked towards the door of the police station.

    Grant never expected Chloe would choose to take a ride-share instead of riding in his car. It seemed that this time, Chloe was indeed angry.

    The police station was located in a bustling area. Chloe took out her phone and quickly booked a ride. Within two minutes, a ride-share car pulled up in front of her.

    She opened the door, got in, and left.

    At this time, Isidora sidled up to Grant, ready to stir the pot. "Grantie... Chloe has such a bad temper. She''d rather take an Uber than ride with you. Rich girls are so spoiled. I don''t know how you put up with her."

    Because they were ssmates, Isidora called him "Grantie" when no one else was around, thinking it would remind him of their carefree school days.

    But Grant, already feeling disgusted, was even more annoyed by Isidora''s words. He frowned and opened the driver''s side door.

    "My rtionship with her is none of your business, Isidora. Just do your job," he said.

    Grant was warning Isidora not to meddle in his affairs with Chloe. Isidora was taken aback by the warning.

    As Grant got into the driver''s seat, she reached for the passenger door, but he coldly refused.

    "I''m in a hurry to get home. Take a cab and get a receipt. Thepany will reimburse you tomorrow," he said.

    With that, Grant revved the engine and sped off, leaving Isidora standing there, fuming as his car disappeared into the distance.

    Back home, Chloe went straight to the bathroom for a shower. The blow to the back of her head from Angus still throbbed.

    Thankfully, it wasn''t too serious. She could bear it.

    Due to the poor environment of the small house, Chloe got some scratches on her body while Angus and his aplices were dragging her. After taking a bath, Chloe applied some ointment to her wounds.

    The police had told her that Angus would likely spend the next ten years in prison for his crimes.

    ''Good,'' she thought. ''He won''t be able to bother Rena anymore.''

    Reflecting on the day''s events, it was already past midnight. Chloe hugged her nket and fell asleep. She heard Grant''s car pull into the driveway.

    Ignoring it, she wrapped herself tighter in the nket and closed her eyes.

    She wasn''t worried about Granting into her room tonight. She had locked the

    door and thrown away the key he used to open her room.

    As expected, Grant knocked on her door for a while before leaving.

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    Meanwhile, at Michael''s vi, Rena stood in front of him in ace nightgown after her shower.

    Her long hair, still wet, dripped water onto her shoulders.

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Martin. I didn''t mean to cause you trouble today," she said apologetically. "My dad went too far. I didn''t expect him to kidnap me to extort money from you, Mr. Martin..."

    Rena had always been timid. When talking to Michael, she never dared to look up. She felt that Michael liked Chloe; she could sense Michael''s concern for Chloe just by the way he looked at her.

    The marriage alliance between the Davis and Martin families was a powerful union. She thought herself was just a pawn in Michael''s game.

    Chloe had been so kind to her, and she felt guilty for dragging her into danger because of her father.

    Apologizing was all she could do to try to calm Michael''s anger.

    Seeing Rena standing there, Michael sighed deeply and walked over to her.

    Rena thought that Michael wanted to make love to her again. Having just experienced

    a fright, her body instinctively recoiled.

    The kidnapping had drained her, and she feared she couldn''t handle another physical ordeal from Michael.

    She was too frail, her long-term poor living conditions leaving her malnourished.

    Michael reached out and touched her delicate skin, and Rena instinctively stepped back.

 Chapter 229 Humble and Submissive

    She stammered, "Mr. Martin, I... I''m sorry, I just..."

    Rena''s panic made Michael chuckle softly. He could see how scared she was of him.

    His hand brushed past her face and reached for the hairdryer on the shelf behind her.

    Holding the hairdryer, he spoke to her seriously, "You''re overthinking it. I''m not interested in you tonight.

    How old are you? Don''t you know you need to dry your hair after a shower?

    You''re my employee. Do you know that if you catch a cold, I''m the one who has to pay for your medicine? Take care of yourself. It''s not easy for me to make money."

    Michael was always talkative, and when it came to teasing Rena, he had a lot to say.

    Rena was still sobbing.

    Michael said to her, "Turn around. I''ll dry your hair."

    Rena quickly refused. As a personal assistant, having her boss dry her hair seemed a bit too much.

    She stammered, "Mr. Martin, I can do it myself."

    Michael ignored her and turned her around, starting to dry her hair himself.

    Being a celebrity, Michael had taken courses in makeup and image management, so he was quite skilled at drying hair.

    His movements were gentle, and the hairdryer was set to a warm,fortable temperature. As his fingers ran through her hair, Rena felt a warm sensation in her heart.

    While drying her hair, Michael praised her.

    "Rena, you did great today..."

    "When faced with danger, you must find a way to save yourself. Look, even though you got a few minor injuries, you sessfully defeated the criminals, didn''t you?"

    "Even though you''re a girl, you need have strong self-defense skills. Your education should have taught you to be brave in the face of such threats."

    "I believe in you. You can do it."

    Michael''s praise instantly lifted a heavy burden from Rena''s heart.

    She had always felt guilty about sending her father to prison, but Michael told her that even though the person who hurt her was her father, he still needed to face legal consequences.

    Indeed, whether a man or a woman, when faced with such situations, they must make brave choices.

    No matter how close someone was to you, if they held a weapon against you, they were no longer your family.

    The next morning, Chloe got up to go to school. As she came downstairs, she saw Grant at the dining table, reading the financial newspaper.

    He seemed to have had a rough night, with dark circles under his eyes. When he saw Chloe, he put down the newspaper and greeted her. "Chloe, you''re up."

    Chloe wanted to say something to him, but remembering how Isidora had wiped his sweat the previous day, she felt a surge of anger.

    She ignored Grant and was about to leave with her backpack.

    Grant stood up and blocked her path. "Where are you rushing off to?"

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    "School!"

    "But you haven''t had breakfast... The maids have already prepared it. Eat something before you go." Grant reached out to stop her.

    Chloe coldly refused. "I''m not hungry. I don''t want to eat..."

    "However, you know that skipping breakfast can harm your health," Grant tried to make his voice sound gentle. He knew Chloe was still angry, but he was genuinely concerned about her well-being.

    Chloe immediately snapped back, her tone filled with anger and impatience. "Even if it harms my health, it''s my body, not yours. How is it any of your business?"

    Grant felt a wave of helplessness and frustration wash over him as he heard her words. Chloe''s tone was harsh, and her attitude was indeed unpleasant, but he knew that her toughness stemmed more from her stubbornness and resentment.

    He sighed deeply, struggling internally. If he could, he really wanted to pin her down

    on the bed, pull down her pants, and give her a good spanking.

    "Chloe, do you have to talk to me like this? I''m your Grantie, your guardian in Sovereign City." Grant brought up the guardian issue again.

    Chloe sneered, "Guardian? Mr. Martin, let me remind you, I''m an adult now. I don''t need a guardian."

    With that, she pushed past Grant and was about to leave. Grant grabbed her hand.

    "Chloe, can we talk? If there''s a misunderstanding, let''s clear it up, okay?" Grant lowered his stance.

    Being a few years older than Chloe, he believed that effectivemunication was the key to solving problems. But Chloe, like many women with heavy hearts, preferred to let men guess her thoughts.

    Chloe snorted, "What kind of misunderstanding could there be between us? Mr. Martin, I''m in a hurry to get to school. Can you please not block my way? Haven''t you ever heard the saying that polite people don''t stand in the way of others?"

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    This was the first time since moving into the Martin Family that Chloe had spoken to Grant so rudely.

    Grant swallowed hard and checked his watch.

    Indeed, it was time for Chloe to go to school.

    He said, "I''ll drive you."

    "No need..." Chloe refused firmly. Like a proud peacock, she walked past Grant.

    Grant followed closely behind her.

    As they walked, it was clear that Grant was trying to appease Chloe.

    The maids of the Martin Family, busy with their chores, peeked out to watch as Chloe and Grant left the house.

    They couldn''t believe that in all their years working for the Martin Family, this was the first time they had seen Grant so humble, following behind a girl.

    "Chloe, I got a new car..." Grant stepped in front of Chloe, opening the passenger door of his new car for her.

    He was afraid Chloe would bring up Isidora sitting in his car again.

    Chloe nced at the new car but wasn''t impressed.

    She still refused, "No need. I''ll call a rideshare."

    "Rideshares take time. You''ll bete in about twenty minutes. Chloe, let''s talk this out." Grant tried his best to persuade her. "The maids are watching. Don''t let them see us arguing and gossip to our grandfathers."

 Chapter 230 Thanking the Two Grandfathers

    Chloe had originally nned to stand her ground against Grant, but his words softened her resolve.

    The two grandfathers, being of such advanced age, have already worried themselves sick over the matters of their grandchildren''s rtionships. Now that they''ve finally seen a bit of progress in Chloe and Grant''s rtionship, if the servants were to spread any rumors, who knows how much more anxiety it would cause the elderly gentlemen? Thinking of this, Chloe decided not to continue her hard stance against Grant.

    She sat in the passenger seat next to Grant.

    Grant, the esteemed CEO of the Martin Group, ran around like a chauffeur to open the car door for her.

    Chloe fastened her seatbelt and said to Grant, "I''m not forgiving you. I''m only getting in your car for the sake of our grandfathers."

    Grant nodded in agreement.

    As he started the car, he said, "Thank you to our grandfathers for giving me this opportunity."

    He was being cheeky, and Chloe couldn''t help but nce at him.

    "You''re so annoying." Chloe grumbled, but their interaction was already better than before.

    Grant began exining what had happened the previous day.

    "Yesterday, because of the cooperation agreement, I went with Isidora to find one of our employees. That employee lives in the slum where you had your incident."

    "At the time, Isidora was in my car, but Chloe, you have to believe me, we''re just colleagues and friends."

    Grant rambled on, trying to exin. He hadn''t done anything wrong, but seeing Chloe upset made him want to clear his name.

    He was afraid Chloe would misunderstand, and even more afraid she would be jealous.

    "Oh... then tell me, if you''re just friends, why did she still wipe your sweat with a tissue so tenderly?" Chloe didn''t back down.

    Grant exined further, "That was an ident. She reached out, and I didn''t expect her to wipe my sweat. Chloe, don''t listen to others'' nonsense. I..."

    Grant thought Chloe had been influenced by gossip.

    Chloe raised her voice, cutting him off, "I didn''t listen to anyone''s nonsense, Mr. Martin.

    I saw your secretary Isidora wiping your sweat with my own eyes."

    "She reached out, and you leaned in. It was so intimate I couldn''t even watch. If you were in a room, who knows, you might have ended up in bed."

    "But you said it was an ident. Why don''t you tell me it was an ident when you have a kid together."

    "Grant, I hate you."

    Chloe poured out all her grievances, ring at Grant like an angry little leopard, ready to pounce.

    Grant had been exhausted from exining, but seeing Chloe''s expression made him chuckle.

    He had seen Chloe in many moods-ugly, beautiful, quirky-and now,, he saw a whole new side of Chloe-the girl puffed up with jealousy.

    He had to admit, she always managed to bring him a sense of freshness at different moments, making it impossible for him to predict her next move.

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    Chloe, still fuming, saw that Grant had actually begun to smile, which made her feel even more embarrassed and angry. Her face turned bright red, and her eyes sparkled with fury. She suddenlyshed out with her small fists, hitting Grant''s chest repeatedly. However, her gentle punches barely made any impact on Grant''s solid chest; instead, it felt almost like she was giving him a massage. Her blows carried a sense of childishness, yet they radiated a warmth that was impossible to ignore.

    He reached out, one hand on the wheel, the other grabbing Chloe''s hand.

    "Chloe, don''t be mad. I''m telling you, besides you, I won''t have feelings for any other woman," he promised. "Isidora is just my secretary. You don''t need to be jealous. I''ve been investigating the cooperation agreement to clear your name."

    Grant''s words made Chloe re at him again. She wanted to tell him that when Angus kidnapped herst night, no one knew how much she missed Grant.

    She fought to save herself, fearing that if she was killed by Angus, she would never see Grant again.

    After dropping Chloe off, Grant drove to his office alone.

    As soon as he entered, he pulled out a cigarette from his drawer and lit it.

    He rarely smoked, but now he was frustrated.

    The missing cooperation agreement was a huge pressure, and Giselle was pushing him to question Chloe.

    He trusted Chloe and didn''t believe she took the agreement, but he couldn''t find evidence to prove her innocence.

    Moreover, Chloe''s misunderstanding about his rtionship with Isidora made him tired of exining.

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    Seeing Chloe cry made him feel like he hadn''t taken good care of her.

    The multiple pressures made Grant doubt his abilities for the first time in his life.

    He smoked furiously until the swirling smoke filled his lungs, and he felt a bit better.

    After extinguishing the cigarette, Stanley knocked and entered, bringing materials Grant needed to handle urgently.

    Having worked with Grant for a long time, Stanley cautiously asked, "Mr. Martin, you seem to be in a bad mood?"

    Grant nodded, looking at the materials, "Chloe is upset with me, thinking I have something with Isidora. No matter how I exin, she doesn''t listen. I''m very troubled."

    To ease his boss''s worries, Stanley shared his thoughts. "I think Miss Davis is jealous, Mr. Martin. Shouldn''t you be happy?"

    Grant was puzzled, raising his face, "I should be happy?"

    Stanley exined, "Of course. If Miss Davis is jealous of Isidora, it means Miss Davis likes you."

    "Men are possessive, and so are women. No one wants their crush to have anotherpetitor."

    "Mr. Martin, I think you should use Isidora to make Miss Davis face her feelings for you. That way, she won''t be in a hurry to break off the engagement. What do you think of my n?"

    Stanley''s n intrigued Grant. He thought for a moment and said, "So, ording to you, I should dy transferring Isidora from her secretary position?"

    "Yes, dy it until Miss Davis acknowledges her feelings." To convince Grant, Stanley continued, "Mr. Martin, trust me on this..."

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 231 Offending Someone Who Shouldnt Be Offended

    Stanley was excited, "When ites to winning over women, I''ve gotten way more experience than you. As long as Isidora sticks around, Miss Davis is gonna get more and more jealous.

    You can use Isidora to put on some shows in front of Miss Davis. When she realizes you''re a catch she can''t live without, marrying her will be a piece of cake.

    And then, the Davis Family''s..."

    Stanley trailed off, but Grant, caught up in his excitement, didn''t really notice.

    He nodded, smiled slightly, and said slowly, "Indeed, you have a point. Chloe keeps rejecting me because she''s afraid to face her true feelings for me."

    He paused, showing a hint of hesitation, and continued, "But, if I use Isidora to provoke Chloe, wouldn''t that be somewhat underhanded?"

    Grant, ever the upright man, wasn''t one to take pleasure in manipting and controlling women. He always adhered to principles of fairness and respect, especially when it came to matters of the heart. He was concerned that such behavior would vite his principles and boundaries, and might even cause harm to Chloe.

    Stanley, hearing Grant''s concerns, waved dismissivel. "Mr. Martin, you just need to think about it differently. Why should others be able to use you, but you can''t use them?"

    Stanley''s words had a deeper meaning, and Grant smiled slightly, agreeing with Stanley''s idea.

    Meanwhile, Chloe was in ss at Quest University. Zara''s calls kepting in. At first, Chloe ignored them, but Zara kept calling back.

    Thinking Zara might have something important, Chloe sneaked out of the ssroom and answered the call.

    As soon as she picked up, Zara spoke urgently. "Chloe, you need toe to our office right away. Something''s happened."

    "What happened?" Chloe was nervous.

    Zara wasn''t usually this flustered, so it had to be something serious.

    "The police are here. They want to see the legal representative of ourpany..."

    Before Zara could finish, Chloe heard someone speaking on Zara''s end. "When is your legal representative arriving? If they don''t show up soon, we''re going to lock up yourpany''s doors..."

    Hearing this, Chloe frowned and her hand trembled slightly as she held the phone. She told Zara, "Don''t worry, I''m on my way."

    After hanging up, Chloe sent a message to Rena to ask for a leave of absence, then hailed a cab and headed straight to herpany.

    As soon as she arrived at thepany''s entrance, several newly hired employees surrounded her.

    "Miss Davis, thank goodness you''re here. The police are here to shut down ourpany."

    "Yeah, and some other department says we stole something and wants to search ourpany."

    "Miss Davis, ourpany just started. Did we offend someone we shouldn''t have?" Everyone''s chatter made Chloe uneasy.

    After offering a few brief words offort to her employees, she followed one of them to thepany''s meeting room. As soon as she walked in, she saw that Giselle and her team had already taken up half of the small conference room.

    Several police officers were questioning Zara off to the side.

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    Though Zara managed the smallpany, she had no idea how to answer the police''s questions.

    Seeing Chloe, Zara quickly pulled her over. "Officers, this is Miss Davis, ourpany''s legal representative. She can exin everything."

    Zara turned to Chloe. "Chloe, Ms. Rodriguez is using you of stealing theirpany''s letter of intent to develop our smallpany. You need to exin to the officers."

    Zara''s words almost made Chloeugh in anger.

    She nced at the confident Giselle and suddenly thought of a childhood fable.

    A wolf and amb were drinking water by the river. The wolf wanted to eat themb,

    so it said, "You''re dirtying my water..."

    At this moment, Giselle had the same look as that wolf.

    She wanted to frame Chloe and came up with such a flimsy excuse.

    The Martin Group was a publicly tradedpany, and even one of their smallest subsidiaries was vastlyrger than Chloe''s mediapany.

    Using their letter of intent to grow her smallpany? Not only would that be overkill, but there also seemed to be no conceivable connection between the two.

    "Miss Davis, Ms. Rodriguez from the Martin Group says you stole their letter of intent. She reported it to the police, so we''re here to investigate," one of the officers said to Chloe.

    Chloe stood straight and replied, "I didn''t steal anything."

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    "But the Martin Group provided video evidence of you entering their CEO Mr. Martin''s office," the officer presented the evidence.

    Chloe immediately countered, "I wasn''t the only one who entered the CEO''s office. Shouldn''t everyone who went in before the letter was lost be investigated?"

    "But Ms. Rodriguez says you were the only non-employee to enter the office that morning. How do you exin that?"

    The officer''s implication was clear: as the only non-employee, Chloe was the least trustworthy.

    This wasn''t the police''s investigative strategy but Giselle''s deliberate guidance. Chloe smiled. "How do I exin? Officer, I don''t need to exin at all. Didn''t the Martin Group employees tell you my identity?

    I''m the fianc¨¦e of the Martin Group''s CEO. If nothing goes wrong, I''ll be the future mistress of the Martin Group.

    In other words, the Martin Group will soon be my family''s business. Do you think I need to steal a letter of intent at this point? What good would it do me?

    Using it to develop my smallpany? That''s a joke. Wouldn''t it be easier to rely on the Martin Group for a living?"

    Chloe''s exnation was reasonable, and the two officers handling the case were immediately conflicted.

    Indeed, if Chloe was Grant''s fianc¨¦e, she had no reason to take the letter of intent. After all, nothing was morefortable than being the boss''s wife.

    The officers, however, were skeptical of the Martin Family''s taste, wondering if they had

    a problem with their aesthetic judgment in choosing such an unattractive girl as their future mistress.

    Seeing the officers swayed by Chloe, Giselle panicked.

 Chapter 232 You Are Completely Finished

    Giselle snapped, "Officer, don''t buy into her crap. She''s engaged to Grant, the CEO of the Martin Group, but she''s also the Davis Family''s heiress. Wouldn''t it make more sense for her to merge the Martin Group into the Davis Family''s assets rather than just being thedy of the Martin Group?"

    The police, upon hearing that Chloe was the famous only heiress of the Davis Family, began to reconsider their suspicions about her.

    If that were true, Chloe would indeed be a suspect again.

    At this moment, Chloe spoke up from the side, "I''m feeling pretty good right now... at least better than you, Ms. Rodriguez, who tirelessly works for others. I run my smallpany for myself, to make some money."

    She lifted her head, staring at Giselle with disdain, and continued, "Ms. Rodriguez, although you''re a manager of the Martin Group, in the end, you''re still making money for me."

    A hint of pride shed in Chloe''s eyes, "The thought of marrying into the Martin family, and bing your boss'' wife makes me feel even better."

    She adjusted her stance, folding her arms across her chest, and looked down at Giselle, her tone growing more mocking, "Ms. Rodriguez, keep up the good work. I truly appreciate your dedication."

    Chloe''s words stabbed Giselle''s heart like sharp spikes, causing her face to turn both pale and flushed. The hard truth was undeniable: even if she was a manager of the Martin Group, she was still just a high-level employee.

    From a family perspective, Chloe would call her "Aunt," but if Chloe didn''t respect her, she could fire her at any time.

    Because of the issue with the letter of intent, Giselle had already fallen out with Chloe. Expecting Chloe to respect her was unlikely.

    "Chloe, the officers are investigating. Stop messing around," Giselle said angrily, reminding Chloe.

    Chloe smiled and turned to the officers, "Officers, I suggest you investigate all the employees who entered the CEO''s office that day. Logically, they are more suspicious than I am."

    "Especially Mr. Martin''s secretary, Isidora. She has ess to many confidential documents, and I think she''s more suspicious."

    "By the way, this secretary has only been with the Martin Group for a few days. I''m

    worried she might be an undercover agent from a rivalpany."

    With just a few words, Chloe shifted the police''s suspicion onto Isidora.

    Since Giselle considered Isidora her savior, Chloe decided to drag Isidora into the mess, making Giselle scramble to handle it.

    She wanted to see if Isidora would also need to provide evidence of her innocence.

    Hearing Chloe implicate Isidora, Giselle panicked.

    She quickly exined, "Officers, Isidora is a trusted employee and Mr. Martin''s secretary. She has good character and wouldn''t do such a thing."

    "Besides, since the letter of intent went missing, she has been actively helping to find it. I don''t think she could have done it..."

    As soon as Giselle said this, Chloe casually added, "You think? Ms. Rodriguez, are the officers investigating, or are you? Do you think your opinion can help them close the case?"

    "Just because you trust her character doesn''t mean the officers can''t suspect her. Don''t worry, the officers won''t let a bad person go or wrongfully use a good person."

    Chloe''s guidance changed the direction of the investigation.

    The officers exchanged a nce and said, "Ms. Rodriguez, please take us to see Miss Faye."

    Hearing this, Giselle couldn''t refuse. She had only wanted to cause trouble for Chloe but ended up in a mess herself.

    Although Giselle was furious, as thepany''s CFO, she led the officers to find Isidora.

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    After the officers left, Chloe and Zara went to the office to talk.

    Zara wiped the sweat from her forehead, relieved.

    She asked Chloe, "Chloe, what did you do to offend Ms. Rodriguez? I heard she''s Grant''s aunt and the CFO of the Martin Group."

    Chloe nodded, "Yeah..."

    After confirming Giselle''s identity, Zara couldn''t help but worry for Chloe. "Chloe, you''re in big trouble."

    Chloe looked at Zara incredulously. "Why am I in trouble?"

    Zara analyzed, "Giselle is Grant''s aunt and a senior family member. You argued with her today, and she might speak ill of you to the Martin Family."

    "You''re dating Grant now, but if she opposes you, it will be hard for you to marry him."

    "I think the engagement is unreliable..."

    Zara''s concerns were valid, and Chloe was a bit worried too.

    But she put on a nonchnt facade and said, "If I can''t marry him, then so be it. Honestly, I hope Giselle has the power to cancel our engagement. If that happens, I should thank Giselle."

    Chloe''s words were insincere. For some reason, the thought of her engagement with the Martin Family being in jeopardy made her uneasy.

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    Could she admit she didn''t like other women being too close to Grant?

    Chloe spent the afternoon busy with herpany and had barbecue with Zara in the evening.

    When they saw a TV preview of their uing reality show, Chloe was delighted.

    It seemed that once the show aired, herpany would start making money.

    These days, she had been developing herpany while keeping an eye on Grant''s newpany.

    From what she gathered, there was no business progress or cooperation from Grant''spany.

    Grant''s inaction puzzled her. Was he so preupied with the missing cooperation letter that he forgot about their bet?

    Chloe didn''t know.

    That night, she returned to the Martin Mansion. The house was quiet, indicating Grant wasn''t home.

    Chloe greeted Mia and headed upstairs to rest, only to run into Liam at the staircase

    corner.

    Since Liam moved out, Chloe hadn''t seen him, not even at school.

    Liam seemed to have gone through something. He looked darker and more muscr.

    Seeing Chloe, Liam greeted her. "I heard from Zara that you''ve been having some troubletely?" He got straight to the point

 Chapter 233 Please Watch a Play

    When Liam asked about her situation, Chloe didn''t hold back. "Yeah, I ran into some trouble. So what? You here to gloat?" Chloe''s tone was sharp, still bitter from theirst argument.

    Based on her understanding of Liam, Chloe knew their rtionship wasn''t close enough for him to offer help proactively.

    However, she was also curious to know what terms Liam might propose. She asked, "If needed, how would you help? And if not needed, what would you say?"

    Liam nced at Chloe, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He couldn''t help but acknowledge that she was a girl from an affluent family, understanding that rtionships between people were ultimately just transactions.

    "If you need help, I''ll get someone to look into it for you. But in return, you gotta teach me your racing skills." Liam said. "And if you don''t need help, I''ll just pretend I was never here. You deal with it on your own, and I won''t mention it again."

    Liam had long been handling discreet matters for Grant, leveraging his extensivework within the Martin Group. Investigating this issue wouldn''t be difficult for him; it would just require some effort.

    Chloe, unable to find evidence to prove her innocence on her own, realized that enlisting Liam''s help could make a significant difference. Given Liam''s familiarity with the workings of power and ess to information, his involvement was bound to be a great asset.

    After a moment of contemtion, Chloe decided to hand this problem over to Liam. She smiled and snapped her fingers to catch his attention.

    "Deal," Chloe said, her tone brimming with confidence and anticipation. "I''ll give you three days. If you can uncover the truth about this matter, I''ll teach you my racing techniques. How does that sound?"

    Liam''s eyes lit up. Any biker would jump at the chance to learn some killer racing techniques.

    If he mastered the racing techniques, he would be able to brag about it on his News Feed for the rest of his life.

    Eager to learn Chloe''s racing techniques as soon as possible, Liam quickly responded, "It won''t take three days, just one day is enough. Tomorrow afternoon, after school, head straight to Grant''s office. By then, you''ll be in for a show."

    With that, Liam grabbed his helmet and headed downstairs. Soon, Chloe heard the roar of his motorcycle outside the Martin Family vi.

    Meanwhile, Grant, just leaving his office, was intercepted by Giselle. "Grantie, you haven''t had dinner yet, right? How about we call Isidora and grab a bite together?"

    Grant looked exhausted, he nced at Giselle and shook his head, "Giselle, it''s been a long day. I''m beat. I just want to go home."

    Giselle saw right through him and teased, "Want to go home early? Let me guess, you want to see that ''ugly girl,'' right?"

    Grant sighed, "Giselle, that''s my business. After work, I can spend time with whoever I want. And stop calling her ''ugly girl.'' Her name is Chloe."

    Grant''s defense of Chloe made Giselle frown in annoyance. "Grantie, I just don''t get why you''re interested in a woman who looks like that. Is it because of the marriage agreement between the Martin Family and her family?"

    "Look at that mole on her face. It''s so ugly, it makes me lose my appetite. How can you look at her every day without feeling disgusted?"

    "As your aunt, I can''t understand how she has bewitched you. You have so many beautiful girls around you, yet you choose her."

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    Giselle''s words made Grant furious. He was raised to respect his aunt, but there were limits to his patience.

    He looked at Giselle sternly and reminded her, "Giselle, my mom brought you into the Martin group to work, not to meddle in my personal life."

    "Who I marry or whom I date is not only my freedom but also a matter for our Martin Family. Since my grandfather made this engagement with the Davis Family, it''s only natural that the descendants of our Martin Family should honor it. Surely, you wouldn''t want my grandfather to hear about you trying to incite me to defy him, right?"

    Grant was sharp with his words. He first established Giselle''s role in the Martin group. Even though she was his aunt, in thepany, she was just an employee. The boss''s personal matters were none of her concern.

    Moreover, she was just an aunt. With Louis in charge, did she really think she could influence the Martin Family''s marriage decisions?

    Giselle was clearly overstepping her bounds.

    Seeing Grant''s change in demeanor, Giselle felt embarrassed.

    She scolded Grant, "Grantie, I''m your aunt. How can you talk to me like this? I just wanted to introduce you to some better girls. How can you say that to me? And using your grandfather against me?"

    Giselle was furious, trying to guilt-trip Grant.

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    But Grant wasn''t having it. Giselle, I''m just reminding you that I''m an adult. I can handle my own affairs."

    Before she could respond, Grant continued, "When you insisted on divorcing your abusive husband, didn''t my mom support you and not force you to stay?"

    Giselle''s face flushed instantly, as if he had touched the rawest wound in her heart.

    "Alright, I''m tired. I''m going to rest now." Grant dismissed her words, turning and leaving without hesitation.

    Giselle watched his figure recede, fury and humiliation intermingling on her face, alternating between red and white, her hands trembling slightly with anger. She had always maintained a wless fa?ade, with the only blemish being that unbearable marriage. She had thought was long buried deep in her memory, never to be brought up again.

    But Grant, to defend Chloe, brought it up again.

    Didn''t he realize that mentioning it was like stabbing her in the heart?

    Giselle almost lost her bnce, but Isidora arrived just in time to support her and asked with concern. "Giselle, are you okay? Is your heart acting up again? How do you feel? Should I take you to the hospital?"

    Last time, Giselle had a heart attack, and Isidora happened to be there to take her to the hospital. This time, Isidora''s timely appearance made Giselle feel they were destined to meet.

    Soon, an ambnce arrived, and Giselle was taken to the hospital. After a series of checks, her condition stabilized.

    Isidora, meanwhile, continued to stir up trouble...

 Chapter 234 She Must Be Unhappy

    "Giselle, what''s going on with you and Grantie? Why are you two fighting over Chloe?" Isidora asked.

    "You''re his aunt, after all. Besides his mom, you''re the person who cares about him the most in this world. And now, because of a woman, your heart condition has red up."

    "I just think this Chloe is too much. She looks like that and still has Grantie wrapped around her finger, making him do anything for her."

    "I''m really worried that one day, if she bes thedy of the Martin Group, she''ll kick you out. Giselle, your lifelong dream is to be a career woman. You need to stay strong."

    Isidora''s words weighed heavily on Giselle. She hadn''t been as lucky as her sister, who married well. Her husband was a gambler, drinker, and womanizer who often beat her.

    If she hadn''t insisted on the divorce, she couldn''t imagine what her life would be like

    now.

    Finally, she had be the CFO of the Martin Group and could hold her head high. She lived in a big house, drove a luxury car, and dined at high-end restaurants.

    Her ex-husband, who used to lord over her, now acted like a mouse in front of a cat whenever he saw her, bowing and scraping. She enjoyed it immensely.

    She couldn''t bear to imagine if, as Isidora said, Chloe became thedy of the Martin Group and kicked her out. Would her life go back to square one?

    Giselle''s thoughts were a tangled mess.

    Isidora, being perceptive, could see the turmoil in Giselle''s expression and knew she had made her point.

    "Are you hungry after being upset all night? How about I go home and make you some dinner?" she pretended tofort her.

    Having achieved her goal, Isidora nned to further win Giselle over. Giselle had no daughter, and Isidora had once saved her life. If Giselle trusted her, getting money from her in the future would be easy.

    Giselle forced a smile and tentatively asked, "Wouldn''t that be too much trouble for you?"

    Isidora quickly replied, "Giselle, how could it be trouble? I grew up without a mom. Seeing you feels like seeing family. In my heart, I''ve long considered you my mother. A daughter making dinner for her mom-what''s troublesome about that?"

    Isidora''s words made Giselle beam with joy. Soon, they went home to cook for her.

    On the cab ride home, Isidora received a call from a doctor. "Miss Faye, you need to gather Kathy''s surgery fees quickly. Her condition is critical. If you can''t get the money soon..."

    Isidora was silent for a moment. "Okay, I understand. I''ll do my best."

    The doctor continued, "Miss Faye, it''s not just the surgery costs. With Kathy''s condition, the post-surgery care will also be very expensive. You should be prepared."

    Isidora fell silent again.

    After hanging up the doctor''s call, Isidora rested her head against the back seat of the taxi. She closed her eyes wearily, and Kathy Faye''s sweet and adorable face appeared before her mind''s eye.

    She seemed to see Kathy calling her "Mom" through the sterile ss room.

    That night, Grant came home veryte.

    Mia had prepared ate-night snack for him. While eating, Grant casually asked about the household. "How was Chloe today? Did she seem happy?"

    Mia shook her head. "Miss Davis didn''t show any emotion. I couldn''t tell how she felt. But I think she wasn''t happy."

    Grant frowned. Indeed, a lot had happened recently. Even he, who could handle pressure well, was unhappy. How could Chloe, a young girl, be any different?

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    "Alright," Grant replied, calmly eating his food.

    Mia, unable to hold back, said, "Mr. Grant, Mr. Liam came home tonight. He sat for a while and seemed to talk to Miss Davis about something."

    Hearing Liam''s name, Grant frowned again.

    Though Liam was his brother, the engagement between the Davis and Martin families left room for Chloe to choose him or another brother.

    He didn''t want to see his brother as a rival, but he also didn''t want Chloe to get too close to Liam.

    After all, they were both men.

    "What did they talk about?" Grant asked.

    Mia shook her head. "I didn''t hear. They talked for about ten minutes, then Miss Davis went to her room."

    "Mr. Martin, after dinner, you should check on Miss Davis. She came here alone from

    her hometown. I''m worried she might be homesick." Mia couldn''t stand to see Chloe suffer.

    Grant nodded. "I know."

    After dinner and a shower, Grant went to Chloe''s room.

    Recently, Chloe had thrown his spare key in the trash over the letter of intent incident.

    If she locked the door, he couldn''t get in.

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    Tonight, he tried the door, and to his surprise, it was unlocked.

    Overjoyed, Grant didn''t know what to do.

    He pushed the door open and saw Chloe sitting on her bed with her phone. She nced at him as he entered.

    Grant had been exhaustedtely. Work was overwhelming, and the lost letter of intent had brought immense pressure from the board.

    All the evidence showed that Chloe was the prime suspect, and there were even members of the board who wanted him to send Chloe to the police station for questioning.

    In the meeting, Grant rarely lost his temper.

    He mmed the table and roared at the board members. "You might as well send me

    to the police too..."

    If not for Grant''s strong opposition, they might have stormed the Martin Mansion to confront Chloe.

    Calming himself, Grant sat beside Chloe and peeked at her phone.

    "What are you looking at?" Chloe asked, ncing at him.

    "Just seeing what you''re up to," Grant replied casually.

    "I''m chatting with a handsome guy," Chloe said.

    Grant knew she was trying to provoke him, but he couldn''t control himself.

 Chapter 235 You Hurt Me

    Grant was feeling a bit jealous.

    He couldn''t pinpoint when it started, but whenever he knew Chloe was with another guy, it made him ufortable.

    He was afraid someone might steal Chloe away from him.

    In the past, he used to mock his friends for getting so easily swayed by a woman. Now

    that it was happening to him, he didn''t find it odd at all.

    Hearing Chloe provoke him, Grant reached out and grabbed her hand, rubbing it against his stubbly chin. He hadn''t taken care of his appearance for a few days, and the roughness of his beard lightly scratched Chloe''s skin.

    Chloe pulled her hand back forcefully.

    "You''re hurting me, you jerk!" sheined.

    Grant chuckled. "Hearing you talk to me makes me feel a lot better. Sorry, I''ve been busy these past few days and neglected you."

    He apologized again.

    Chloe wasn''t too upset. She knew Grant was under a lot of pressure because of the letter of intent.

    She shrugged and said, "It''s okay. I can take care of myself. Just focus on your work." After a brief chat, Chloe tried to shoo Grant away. "Alright, it''s gettingte. I''m tired. You should get some rest too."

    But Grant was stubborn and insisted on staying in Chloe''s room. Because of the letter of intent issues, there had been a lot of misunderstandingstely, and Grant had been sleeping alone.

    He had gotten used to sleeping with Chloe''s soft, fragrant body next to him. Sleeping alone now, he found it hard to fall asleep. In the middle of the night, he would often miss Chloe''s soft body.

    He clung to Chloe''s hand, whining, "I want to sleep with you."

    "No way, I like sleeping alone," Chloe said, pulling the nket around herself.

    Grant wasn''t willing to give in so easily. He climbed into Chloe''s bed, stubbornly snuggling under her nket.

    If his friends ever found out that someone as serious as Grant could act so childishly, they would definitelyugh at him.

    Seeing that Grant was determined to stay in her bed, Chloe got anxious. She sat up and tried to push him off the bed.

    But the difference in strength between men and women was too great. No matter how hard Chloe pushed, Grant didn''t budge an inch.

    In the end, Chloe fell into Grant''s arms.

    It had been a while since Grant had kissed Chloe. The moment he touched her, his

    desire surged uncontrobly.

    He held Chloe tightly, flipped her over, and pinned her beneath him.

    Before Chloe could react, he showered her face with deep kisses.

    It had been so long since he had touched her that Grant''s kisses were urgent and intense. He kissed Chloe''s lips desperately, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

    As their bodies touched, the heat of desire stirred Chloe. She could clearly feel the change in Grant''s low body.

    Chloe''s body gradually softened, and her arms instinctively wrapped around Grant. The heat in the room made the young couple feel a strong urge to break free from all constraints.

    Soon, Grant had stripped Chloe of her clothes. In the dim light, they faced each other honestly. Chloe, who had never been so intimate with a man, was too shy to look directly at Grant''s perfect, muscr body.

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    Her face flushed red, and in the heat of the moment, she pointed to her bedroom door.

    She whispered, "The door isn''t closed..."

    Grant, kissing her ear, whispered back, "It''s okay, no one dare toe in."

    With that, he resumed kissing Chloe.

    Under Grant''s seduction, Chloe''s body became as soft as water. At that moment, she wanted to merge with him, to experience the overwhelming sensation under Grant''s body.

    Just as they were about to take things further, Chloe''s phone, ced by her pillow, rang loudly.

    Caught up in the heat of the moment, Chloe reached for the phone, but Grant snatched it away.

    "Chloe, focus on kissing," he said teasingly.

    He swiped at the phone screen and tossed it aside, then continued kissing Chloe.

    As Chloe got back into the moment, covered in sweat, they suddenly heard a voiceing from her phone.

    It was Zara.

    "Chloe, what are you doing? You answered the phone but aren''t saying anything. What''s going on?"

    Zara''s voice snapped them back to reality. They realized that when Grant had swiped

    the phone, he had identally answered the call.

    "Chloe, are you okay?" Zara''s voice came through again.

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    Caught in the moment, they had to stop. Chloe picked up the phone and brought it to

    her ear.

    "Well... Zara, I identally hit the phone," she exined.

    "Oh... I thought something happened to you," Zara said, always concerned about

    Chloe.

    If this had been any other time, Grant would have appreciated their friendship. But right now, he just wanted Zara to hang up.

    Unfortunately, Zara had no idea what was happening and kept talking.

    "Chloe, I need to update you on something. We need to hire two more support staff for thepany."

    "And since our show is about tounch, the initial advertising is in ce. Some big names want Philip and Floyd to attend events."

    "At this rate, we''ll make back our initial investment soon."

    Listening to Zara ramble on, Grant grew impatient. But he couldn''t just grab the phone from Chloe.

    Suddenly, he pulled the nket over his head and started kissing Chloe all over again.

    As his kisses deepened, Chloe''s expression became moreplex.

    Her body trembled with each kiss.

    The intense sensation made her let out a soft moan, which Zara quickly noticed.

    "Chloe, what''s wrong?" Zara asked urgently.

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 Chapter 236 Breaking into the House to Kiss You

    Chloe quickly tried to keep her emotions in check, worried that Zara might sense something was off.

    "It''s nothing," she lied, "I just saw a mouse."

    Her excuse was weak, but Zara bought it and kept chatting. Meanwhile, Grant peeked out from under the covers, staring Chloe.

    Calling him a mouse? Chloe was getting bolder.

    It seemed that his earlier efforts hadn''t been strong enough, allowing her to talk about him like this.

    Zara continued, "Chloe, if there are mice in the house, we should have the staff get some traps."

    "And if that doesn''t work, you could get a cat. Cats are great at catching mice."

    "How could there be mice in such a grand Martin Family mansion?"

    "Chloe, are you even listening to me?"

    Chloe''s face was a mix of emotions as Grant moved beneath the covers.

    She didn''t dare continue the conversation with Zara, worried that any sound she made might give away what was happening.

    Trying to sound normal, Chloe said, "Zara, I have something to do. Let''s chat another time, okay?"

    Without waiting for Zara''s response, Chloe quickly hung up. Grant, under the covers, was busy with his hands...

    Zara stared at her phone, puzzled.

    She whispered, "Chloe usually loves chatting with me. What''s up with her today? I wasn''t even done talking, and she hung up. Whatever, I''ll deal with her tomorrow." With that, Zara opened herptop to handle some work.

    But just five minutes in, a small stone tapped against her window.

    She thought it was some neighborhood kids ying a prank and opened the window to yell at them. But when she saw Liam on his motorcycle, her face went pale with fear.

    Liam waved his phone at her, signaling her to answer his call. Zara''s heart sank, and she hurried to find her phone. The memory of Liam taking her on a joyride through Oceancrest City was still fresh in her mind, leaving her terrified. To distance herself from Liam, she had blocked his number a week ago.

    Clearly, Liam had shown up because he couldn''t reach her by phone. Zara finally found her phone and hurriedly removed Liam from the cklist. Just as shepleted the action, Liam''s call came through immediately.

    She took a deep breath, pressed the answer button, and her heart filled with a whirlwind of emotions.

    "Mr. Martin..." Zara said nervously.

    "Come down," Liam said curtly.

    Zara hesitated, "Mr. Martin, it''s quitete. I was about to go to bed. Isn''t it a bit inappropriate to go out now?"

    She was making excuses.

    Could she say that all the reasons she gave were not her true reasons? In fact, her reluctance to see Liam wasn''t because she didn''t want to see him, but because of her deep-seated fear.

    She was scared to face Liam, especially whenever she remembered the night he took her to a deserted ce. That night, Liam''s whirlwind kiss still left her with lingering dread.

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    At this moment, Liam coldly said, "If you don''te down, I''ll go to the Gibson Mansion to find you." His words carried his usual dominance and determination.

    Zara was currently staying at the Gibson Mansion.

    Zara didn''t feel afraid of Liaming to her house. What she feared wasn''t seeing Liam, but rather the uncontroble emotions and the inescapable situation that would arise after meeting him.

    She firmly refused, "Mr. Martin, you can''t force me. It''s reallyte..."

    "Zara, you have three minutes. If you keep stalling, I''ll break into the Gibson Mansion and kiss you. Your choice."

    Liam hung up, smirking arrogantly. Zara didn''t dare take the risk.

    Within the three minutes Liam had given, Zara grabbed her coat and rushed downstairs, not even bothering to fix her hair.

    Brian was in the Gibson Mansion''s living room, scolding Tony. "Tony, can''t you learn

    from Zara? She''s always home after work, unlike you, always out and about. How did I end up with a kid like you? If you go outte again, I''ll break your legs."

    Just as Brian finished, Zara came rushing down the stairs.

    Seeing Brian scolding Tony, Zara hesitated.

    Tony, noticing Zara with her coat on, asked cheekily, "Zara, are you going out?"

    "Yeah... Brian, I have something to do. I need to go out for a bit," Zara said, quickly leaving before anyone could stop her.

    Tony seized the opportunity. "See, Dad? Zara''s going out at night too. You said she never does, but reality proved you wrong."

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    Brian huffed, "You and Zara are different. Zara has things to do. You just go out to ride motorcycles with your friends. Zara doesn''t do that..."

    Before Brian could finish, the sound of a motorcycle roared outside. When they looked, they saw Zara sitting behind a mysterious biker.

    Brian fell silent, stunned by how quickly reality had contradicted him.

    Tony was also surprised.

    He got along well with Zara, but when had she met this cool biker?

    The next day, Zara and Chloe met at Summit Media Solutions.

    Both women had dark circles under their eyes, clearly from ack of sleep.

    Zara, ever the gossip, yawned and asked Chloe, "Hey, Chloe, what was up with youst night? Why did you hang up so quickly?"

    "And did you catch that mouse?"

    "I even asked Liam about mice at his ce, and he didn''t know anything about it."

    Zara often spoke without thinking around Chloe, and now she had inadvertently revealed her night ride with Liam.

    Chloe caught the slip immediately. "So, you were with Liamst night?"

    Zara stammered, "I..."

 Chapter 237 Mr. Martin Plays Extravagantly

    Usually, it was Zara who gossiped about her life, but now that Chloe had some juicy gossip about Zara, there was no way she was going to let her off the hook so easily.

    Linking arms with Zara, Chloe began her interrogation. "Zara,e on, spill the beans. What''s going on with you and Liam? When did you two start hooking up?"

    Zara was visibly annoyed by Chloe''s question.

    She retorted, "Chloe, don''t talk nonsense. Liam is single, and so am I. How could we be ''hooking up''? We''re just... a bit closer than usual."

    As Zara said this, her face flushed slightly. Despite being half a year older than Liam, every time they were together, Liam always treated her like a child.

    "Oh, really?" Chloe elongated her voice, teasing Zara deliberately.

    Zara couldn''t help but feel embarrassed. She raised her hand and gently pushed Chloe, "Chloe, you''re so annoying."

    Chloe chuckled, obviously not intending to let Zara off the hook so easily. "Alright, I''m annoying. Now, tell me, when did things start between you and Liam?"

    Chloe''s relentless questioning, filled with curiosity, clearly meant she wasn''t going to let Zara brush it off.

    Zara''s face turned even redder, and she stammered, "There''s nothing between us... We''re just..."

    Before she could finish, Chloe''s gaze became sharper. "Just what? What exactly is the rtionship between you two?"

    "Don''t exin, Zara. The more you exin, the more it sounds like you''re hiding something. You used to say you were afraid Liam would get mad at you over some goddess thing, and now you''ve secretly won him over?" Chloe''s bold words left Zara defenseless.

    "Chloe, stop making things up. I haven''t won him over."

    "So, how far have you two gone?" Chloe was curious.

    Zara looked down and said, "We''ve hugged and kissed..."

    "Oh wow, you''ve kissed! How was it?" Chloe''s curiosity made Zara, who had little experience with men, feel overwhelmed.

    After chatting for a bit, Zara turned the tables on Chloe. "Chloe, you''ve asked me so much. Now it''s my turn. How far have you and Grant gone?"

    "You told me you two have slept in the same bed. I don''t believe nothing happened between you two."

    Zara''s question was about whether Chloe and Grant had ever had sex.

    Chloe''s face turned as red as an apple. Last night, Grant had stripped herpletely, and she thought something would definitely happen between them.

    But at the crucial moment, Grant restrained himself.

    He used another way to give Chloe an unprecedentedly pleasurable experience.

    Zara pressed her for details, and Chloe didn''t know how to respond. Finally, she leaned in and whispered in Zara''s ear, "Last night, he used his mouth..."

    Zara was stunned. Her mouth dropped open as if she had just opened Pandora''s box. "What? He did that? Mr. Martin really knows how to y, huh?"

    "You two are so dirty..." Zara''s words made Chloe blush again.

    After teasing each other for a bit, they got back to work.

    this was the nature of a close friendship: you could help each other, share each other''s secrets, and never worry that those secrets would be revealed to the world and known by everyone.

    Since it was an elective day, Chloe didn''t go to Quest University. Instead, she handled somepany matters with the employees at Summit Media Solutions.

    Around 3 PM, Chloe received a Facebook message from Liam.

    [Come to Grant''s office. It''s time to clear your name.]

    Without wasting a moment, Chloe hailed a cab and headed straight to Grant''spany.

    The taxi stopped at the parking lot entrance of the Martin Group. Sophia, who was in charge of registering customer vehicles, saw Chloe get out of the car and smiled broadly.

    She handed her work over to a colleague and walked straight over to Chloe.

    Sophia had a strong mentality. Even though she was now working in the parking lot, she hadn''t given up.

    On the contrary, she was more determined than ever to continue down her self- destructive path.

    She spoke to Chloe, "What are you doing back at the Martin Group? After stealing thepany''s proposal, you still have the nerve to show up?"

    Chloe paid the fare and turned to look at Sophia.

    Faced with Sophia''s provocation, Chloe naturally chose to fight back. "Oh? Sophia, I didn''t know you were like a crab."

    Sophia had no idea what Chloe meant. She was clearly mocking Chloe, so why was Chloe saying something so strange?

    Seeing Sophia''s confused face, Chloe exined, "Don''t you get it? I mean, you''re just a parking lot employee, and now you''re meddling inpany proposals? If you''re not a crab, what are you? Only crabs walk sideways and meddle in everything..."

    Chloe''s sarcasm made Sophia''s chest heave with anger. It seemed the parking lot meals were pretty good because Sophia looked like she''d gained some weight.

    As she breathed heavily, her chest seemed ready to burst out.

    After a brief moment of contemtion, she seemed to understand Chloe''s meaning. Pointing at Chloe, she said indignantly, "You... called me a crab?"

    Chloe sneered and rolled her eyes. This idiot was beyond help.

    If she didn''t exin, Sophia wouldn''t even realize she was being insulted.

    Not wanting to argue with a parking lot employee, Chloe pushed past Sophia''s bulky

    frame and headed to the Martin Group''s office building.

    Sophia, feeling wronged, was indignant.

    But she was no match for Chloe.

    So, she resorted to bringing up Isidora to provoke Chloe.

    She shouted, "Chloe, you ugly woman, don''t get too cocky. Do you think just because you''re engaged to Mr. Martin, you''ll be Mrs. Martin? No way."

    "Isidora is Mr. Martin''s first love. The woman he loves has always been Isidora..."

    "In the past, when Isidora wasn''t around, Mr. Martin treated you like a ything. Now

    that Isidora is back, you should just roll away from Mr. Martin."

    Sophia crossed her arms, looking smug. Hearing this, Chloe''s steps faltered.

    She didn''t want to argue with someone like Sophia, but hearing that Grant''s first love was Isidora made her heart ache.

    Didn''t Grant say Isidora was just a ssmate?

    Now Sophia was saying Isidora was his first love?

    Seeing Chloe pause, Sophia became even more smug. She stood behind Chloe and continued to shout...

 Chapter 238 His First Love

    "Isidora and Mr. Martin were college ssmates." Sophia said triumphantly.

    "Back then, the whole school knew about Mr. Martin''s crush on Isidora. To show his feelings, Mr. Martin wrote nearly a hundred love letters to Isidora."

    "Chloe, you''ll never mean as much to Mr. Martin as Isidora does. You''re just a third wheel. Get out of his life."

    Chloe couldn''t take it anymore as she looked at Sophia''s smug face.

    She picked up a small stone from the ground and, without hesitation, hurled it at Sophia''s head. Chloe had grown up in the northwest, often hunting with the herdsmen, which had refined her throwing skills to precision.

    The small stone cut through the air swiftly and struck Sophia''s head with unerring uracy. As the stone hit, Sophia clutched her head, letting out a piercing scream.

    "Chloe, how dare you throw that at me?" Sophia clutched her head, staring at Chloe in disbelief.

    Seeing Sophia''s disheveled and indignantly infuriated expression, Chloe couldn''t help but chuckle, a hint of mischief gleaming in her eyes. She said leisurely, "When I can use my hands, I prefer not to argue with you, Sophia. Don''t think you can provoke me. This time I threw a small stone at you; next time, it might be a big one."

    Her eyes momentarily flickered with a cold, stern glint before she added yfully, "You better watch out, so I don''t end up killing you by ident."

    Ignoring Sophia, Chloe turned and headed to the Martin Group''s office building, her back firm and resolute. The wind gently tousled her hair, adding to her free-spirited and determined demeanor.

    Sophia stood in the parking lot, holding her throbbing head, speechless. It seemed she never got the upper hand in her encounters with Chloe.

    When Chloe arrived at Grant''s office, it was already crowded with people.

    They were gathered in groups, discussing the missing letter of intent. After all, it was crucial for the Martin Group''s future.

    Their chatter ceased as soon as Chloe walked in, and all eyes turned to her.

    Chloe scanned the room and saw Liam sitting in the corner, engrossed in a mobile game, oblivious to her arrival.

    She wanted to ask him how he nned to clear her name, but the people in the office immediately turned their usations on her.

    "Are you here to return thepany''s letter of intent? How dare you show up after stealing such an important document?"

    "If it weren''t for Mr. Martin protecting you, we would have had you thrown in jail by now."

    "Yeah, hand over the stolen letter of intent."

    Under Giselle and Isidora''s influence, they had already decided Chloe was the thief.

    So they didn''t hold back in their usations.

    Chloe felt wronged and was about to defend herself when Grant, with a stern expression, stepped beside her.

    His authoritative gaze silenced the room instantly.

    It was clear he was protecting Chloe, which touched her. But remembering what Sophia

    had said about him writing a hundred love letters to Isidora in college, Chloe felt a pang of sadness.

    However, she knew today was crucial for clearing her name. Now wasn''t the time to argue with Grant over jealousy.

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    She must clear her name.

    "Why did youe over? Why didn''t you send me a message beforeing?" Grant asked softly as he stood beside Chloe.

    "I came to clear my name," Chloe said with a smile.

    "You didn''t need toe. I''ve already told everyone you didn''t steal the letter of intent," Grant said softly.

    "Grantie, did you find any evidence?" Chloe asked.

    Grant shook his head. "Not yet, but I believe in you."

    Over the past two days, Grant had pulled all the surveince footage from thepany in an effort to clear Chloe''s name, but he hadn''t made any progress.

    Some of the footage seemed to have been deliberately erased. To recover the data, Grant and Isidora sought out a former surveince engineer who had resigned, but still, they made no progress.

    Now, in order to protect Chloe, Grant could only bear the burden himself.

    "You believe in me, and I also believe in myself. But these old-timers in yourpany don''t, which puts you in a tough spot, doesn''t it?"

    Chloe''s sharp words were a direct hit at the board members who had been using her.

    Indeed,pared to Chloe, they were a bit old.

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    They were furious at being called old-timers but had to swallow their anger since Grant was in charge.

    "Do you have any evidence?" Grant asked Chloe.

    Chloe shook her head. "No, but Liam said he could help me..."

    With that, she pointed to Liam, who was still absorbed in his game.

    Liam was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, eyes glued to his phone.

    From the start of the workday until now, everyone had been discussing the missing

    letter of intent, and no one had noticed Liam sitting there.

    "Liam, what are you doing? Didn''t you ask me toe to Grantie''s office?" Chloe raised her voice to get his attention.

    Liam casually replied, "What''s the rush? Let me finish this game first. Damn it, who just hit me? Show yourself!"

    Liam''s nonchnt attitude made the board members shake their heads in disbelief.

    It was only at this moment that they had to admire Louis''s foresight. Among the three grandsons, only the steady Grant was capable of undertaking the responsibility of ensuring the smooth development of the Martin Group.

    Meanwhile, Giselle and Isidora entered the room. Giselle had overheard the

    conversation and quickly decided to get rid of Liam.

    "Liam, you''re too old to be skipping school and ying games in Grant''s office." Giselle

    said.

    "Get back to school. This isn''t a ce for you to mess around." Giselle, with a stern

    face, approached Liam and reached out to pull him away.

 Chapter 239 He Is Not a Foolish Teammate

    Liam''s fingers were flying across his phone screen, but when Giselle yanked him, his grip slipped, and his game character bit the dust.

    Liam was not pleased.

    "Giselle, what the heck? My biker dude just got wasted because of you."

    Giselle snapped, "Liam, you''re in college now. When are you gonna grow up? This is Grant''s office, not your game room."

    "Today, the Martin Group has important business to handle. Don''t cause trouble here. Isidora, get a car to take Mr. Martin back to school."

    Her tone was like a concerned elder, arranging for Liam to return to school out of worry for his studies.

    But Chloe could see right through it. Giselle was desperate to get Liam out of there.

    Was she scared Liam had evidence that could clear Chloe''s name? Or was she worried he''d mess up whatever scheme she and Isidora had cooked up?

    However, Liam wasn''t having it.

    He put his phone away and faced Giselle. "Giselle, what''s your deal? This is the Martin Group. You don''t have to be so rude about kicking me out."

    "I''m from the Martin Family, one of the future heirs of the Martin Group. Even if I''m still in college, you can''t just bar me froming here."

    "Besides, this is Grant''s office. Grant hasn''t kicked me out, so why are you trying to?"

    "I don''t get it. What shady business is the Martin Group up to that even I, a future heir, can''t know about?"

    Liam''s sharp tongue was as impressive as his gaming skills.

    Giselle was left speechless. Could she admit that she and Isidora were nning to pin something on Chloe?

    But she, a seasoned veteran at the Martin Group, quickly recovered. "Liam, what are you talking about? The Martin Group is one of the toppanies in Sovereign City. How could we be involved in anything shady? I''m just worried that you''re too young for this kind of setting, which is why I asked you to leave."

    She was good at finding excuses.

    Unexpectedly, Liam handled it exceptionally well.

    He pointed at Chloe, who was standing next to Grant, and reminded Giselle, "Giselle, she''s younger than me. I''m a junior in college, and she''s just a freshman. She''s two years younger than me."

    "You didn''t ask her to leave, so why are you asking me? Unless the shady business you''re nning is targeting her?" With just a few words, Liam bluntly exposed Giselle''s intentions.

    Chloe covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She regretted being so rude to Liam in the past.

    She used to call him a dumb teammate, but how could such a sharp guy be a dumb teammate?

    Zara had good taste in choosing to date him.

    After spending so much time with Liam, they had always been at odds. If she had known he would be so reliable in critical moments, she wouldn''t have been so harsh when they fought.

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    Giselle was also good at talking, "Liam, what are you saying..."

    "I''m your aunt and the CFO of the Martin Group. Thepany lost an important document, and I''m just doing my job. How could I be targeting her? You''re overthinking it."

    Giselle, ever the seasoned professional, quickly cleared her name.

    Isidora chimed in promptly. "Yes, Mr. Martin, you''re still in college and don''t know the

    ins and outs of thepany. Giselle... Ms. Rodriguez is a person of integrity. How could she target Miss Davis?"

    "Besides, with so many board members present, you can''t say they''re all targeting Miss Davis, can you? That''s not appropriate."

    Isidora, standing beside Giselle in her professional attire, spoke smugly.

    Grant saw her as a ssmate, Giselle saw her as a lifesaver, and the board members saw her as a Martin Group employee. But to Liam, she was nothing.

    Liam gave Isidora a sidelong nce and sneered, "You''re just a secretary. Do you think it''s your ce to speak here?"

    Raising his voice, he continued, "How long has it been since I''ve been to the Martin Group? Can someone tell me why this secretary is acting like she owns the ce?"

    Liam''s voice was charged with anger and sarcasm. "Where''s Stanley? As the executive assistant, isn''t he in charge of the secretaries? Is he dead? How dare he let his subordinate show off in front of me."

    His voice suddenly rose as he began to berate Isidora directly. Each of his words was pointed and explicit, though harsh, they hit home.

    The members of the board were all savvy and experienced veterans. Every one of them was shrewd and capable. How could they not see that Isidora was trying to manipte the situation? They remained silent only out of consideration for Giselle.

    Giselle was just the CFO, ultimately a high-ranking employee hired by the Martin Group. Did she think she could control everything?

    Grant and Liam could both sense Giselle''s ambition.

    Perhaps she, their aunt would soon no longer be a family member but a power-hungry individual trying to control the Martin Group.

    A wolf in sheep''s clothing, they had to be cautious.

    "Mr. Martin, I... I didn''t... I just..." Isidora stammered, trying to exin as Liam''s anger red.

    Liam waved his hand dismissively and said, "You just lost the document and didn''t want to take responsibility, so you pushed all the me onto Chloe."

    "You were afraid of being punished for your mistake, so you led Giselle and the board members to target Chloe, right?"

    Liam''s words caused an uproar among those present, but some members were still believe her.

    "Mr. Liam Martin, that''s a bit harsh. Miss Faye is diligent and careful. She wouldn''t make such a mistake."

    "Yes, I think Miss Faye is very serious about her work. How could she lose such an important document?"

    "Mr. Liam Martin, you are unfair. Miss Faye is Ms. Rodriguez''s lifesaver. She''s kind- hearted and wouldn''t push the me onto Miss Davis."

    "We trust her."

 Chapter 240 Questioning Grandpas Judgment

    Everyone in the room had gathered around Isidora, showing their support for her.

    In reality, Isidora had only been working at the Martin Group for a week since the incident urred. Did they really know her well enough to take sides so quickly? With so many people siding with Isidora, it seemed Chloe won''t be able to make her case, no matter what she says.

    Seeing everyone vouching for her, Isidora exchanged a nce with Giselle and a smug smile appeared on her lips.

    Liam hade prepared. With his hands behind his back, he scanned the members of the Martin Group''s board one by one. His youthful gaze made everyone uneasy.

    Liam began to speak. "So, you''re all questioning my grandfather''s judgment, huh?" Liam brought up his grandfather.

    Louis was the founder of the Martin Group and held an irreceable position within thepany. Even in the business world, he was a towering figure.

    Who in the room would dare to question Louis?

    Giselle quickly spoke up, "Liam, what''s going on? Why bring your grandfather into this?"

    Liam remained calm and exined slowly. "You all trust Isidora She works hard and has never made a mistake. She wouldn''t lose that letter of intent or falsely use Chloe." "And Chloe? She''s not trustworthy. Not only did she steal the letter of intent, but she also spoke rudely and offended everyone here. Isn''t that right?"

    Liam''s words hit the mark. That was exactly what everyone was thinking.

    Liam then snatched the folder from Isidora''s hands and threw it to the ground.

    "Have you all forgotten? The marriage between the Davis Family and the Martin Family was arranged by my grandfather himself. Chloe, the futuredy of the Martin Family, was someone my grandfather watched grow up."

    "By using her of stealing the letter of intent, you''re essentially saying my grandfather has poor judgment in choosing a granddaughter-inw."

    "Based on your subjective assumptions, without any evidence, you''re falsely using the future mistress of the Martin Family? Do you think the Martin Family is a pushover?"

    "I''ve even heard someone say that Chloe stole the letter of intent to help the Davis Family develop their own business. What are you all thinking? With your pig-headed brains, do you really think you canpete with the think tank the Davis Group has brought in? Do you really think they need your letter of intent? You''re just bragging and ridiculously overestimating your abilities.."

    Liam''s outburst was logical and well-founded. The board members, no matter how bold, couldn''t bear the responsibility of questioning Louis''s judgment.

    Being experienced individuals, none of them wanted to stick their necks out. The board members stepped aside and remained silent.

    At a critical moment, Giselle coughed.

    In a senior tone, she said, "Liam, I know you want to defend Chloe, but you''re still

    young and don''t understand theplexities of business."

    "We won''t let a bad person go unpunished, nor will we wrong a good person."

    "Everything needs evidence... We can''t say Isidora didn''t make a mistake, but we also can''t say Chloe didn''t take the letter of intent, so..."

    Giselle''s meaning was clear.

    She could admit Isidora made a mistake, but the matter of Chloe stealing the letter of intent still needed to be rified.

    Chloe''s heart tightened.

    Giselle was still asking for evidence. At the time, Chloe had been in Grant''s office for half an hour, and besides Isidoraing in and out, no one else was there.

    Grant had checked thepany''s surveince and found no evidence, relying solely on Isidora''s word.

    Now Giselle was asking for evidence again. Where was Liam going to get it?

    Just as Chloe was getting worried, Liam smiled.

    He straightened up, one hand in his pocket, and said with a bit of a rogue attitude, "Alright, if you want evidence, I''ll give you evidence. Wait here... No one leaves."

    With that, Liam turned and went to the bookshelf behind Grant''s desk. He found a taller chair, climbed up, and pulled out a hidden camera from behind a beam.

    The camera was cleverly concealed by a spotlight, making it hard for anyone to notice.

    When everyone saw Liam pull out a camera from such a hidden spot, they were all stunned.

    Isidora was visibly nervous, her eyes darting around.

    Giselle, seeing Isidora''s nervousness, began to have some doubts.

    The board members had varied expressions.

    And Grant, standing by Chloe, had a dark look on his face, feeling a murderous impulse.

    This was his office, and the thought of a camera hidden in the spotlight corner meant his every move was being watched.

    Chloe was also nervous.

    Her fists clenched, and her palms were slightly sweaty.

    She had been to Grant''s office more than once, and they had done some rather indescribable things there.

    The camera had clearly recorded everything.

    She felt a wave ofrge-scale embarrassment, standing there awkwardly.

    Liam chuckled and awkwardly coughed. "Grant, sorry about that. Last time I was in your office, I just casually ced this wireless camera behind the spotlight."

    "I meant to take it down, but you came in, so I left it there."

    "Your people said the surveince was broken and some things couldn''t be shown,

    right? Well, nothing''s missing from this camera."

    "Last night, I specifically checked. It''s all stored in the cloud, clear as day."

    Liam''s words made Isidora''s eyes dart around even more.

    A board member said, "The letter of intent was in Mr. Martin''s office. This camera should have a clear view of his desk."

    "Copy the footage from the camera. Let''s see who really stole the Martin Group''s letter of intent."

    "We won''t let a bad person go unpunished, nor will we wrong a good person... If Miss Davis didn''t take the letter, this will clear her name."

    "Yes, yes..."

    Everyone started talking at once.

    Liam chuckled, then took the camera and removed the memory card. He went to Grant''s desk and began copying the footage using Grant''sptop.

    As he inserted the card, he said, "Oh, what a hassle. The cloud storage is slow to dpress, and I need to install a plugin. Everyone, please be patient."

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 241 They Kissed in the Office

    Liam was tinkering with Grant''sputer, chatting away.

    Chloe wasn''t sure if anyone else was feeling the pressure, but she was definitely overwhelmed.

    She had kissed Grant in the office before.

    Back then, Grant had been wild, holding Chloe''s waist and pressing her down on the couch. His hand had roamed over her chest. If anyone had seen that, how could she ever face them again?

    Losing the letter of intent was a minor issue for her, buther reputation was a big deal. If those video fell into Liam''s hands, he could manipte her for the rest of her life.

    Anxious, Chloe instinctively moved closer to Grant. She reached out and quietly held Grant''s hand, giving him a signal by lightly scratching his palm.

    Once she had his attention, she gave him a meaningful look.

    She wanted him to pay attention to the content on the camera.

    But Grant didn''t get her hint at all. He stood firmly by her side andforted her,

    "Chloe, don''t worry. I always believe in you."

    Seeing Grant like this, Chloe was speechless.

    She let out a long sigh and muttered a curse under her breath, "Damn..."

    Oh well, it was already like this. So what if she lost face? It wasn''t just her, Chloe, who would be embarrassed. Besides, if the footage of her and Grant kissing got out, it wouldn''t be all bad.

    At least Isidora would know how far things had gone between Chloe and Grant.

    First love? Well, she should get out of the Martin group as soon as possible.

    Thinking of this, Chloe calmed down. She turned to look at Isidora, who seemed even more nervous than she was.

    Liam continued to fiddle with theputer, speaking leisurely. "Grant, don''t you think it''s time to rece thisptop? It''s full of viruses.

    And the Martin group''s Wi-Fi is so slow. Why is it taking so long to download a video plugin?

    Alright, it''s almost done downloading..."

    As Liam spoke, Isidora, who was already anxious, suddenly stood up.

    She raised her face, looking very aggrieved, and said, "Since the video is taking so long

    to open, let''s not trouble Mr. Martin anymore.

    Or, let the me for the missing letter of intent fall on me; it was my fault for not doing my job properly and overlooking such a crucial aspect of thepany''s operations."

    The moment Isidora stood up, the room was in an uproar. Even Giselle, who had always been on Isidora''s side, looked at her in confusion.

    What was she doing?

    Others might not understand Isidora''s game, but Chloe saw through it clearly. Isidora was trying to frame Chloe and find a way out for herself.

    Next, Isidora would probably say that Chloe was the future mistress of the Martin Family, and even if Chloe took the letter of intent, it wasn''t her fault. It would be better for her, the secretary, to take the me.

    This way, it would prevent thepany from losing face, avoid offending Chloe, the future matriarch of the Martin Family, and dispel any doubts about Louis'' judgment.

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    Liam leaned back, propping his head on his hand, and let out a cold snort. Look, the culprit had jumped out.

    Giselle pulled Isidora aside and asked, "Isidora, what are you talking about? This isn''t your fault."

    "Yeah, Miss Faye, once Mr. Liam Martin restores the surveince footage, we''ll know who took the letter of intent from Mr. Grant Martin''s office. Why take the me?" The board members chimed in, trying to persuade Isidora.

    Isidora nced at Grant with a pitiful look, trying to show a sense of responsibility. "Mr. Martin, Ms. Rodriguez, and board members, the letter of intent is crucial for the Martin group. If word gets out that we lost it, it would be devastating for ourpany. Miss Davis is the future mistress of the Martin group. Even if she took the letter, she shouldn''t be held responsible. If this affects the marriage agreement between the Martin and Davis families, how would we exin it to Mr. Louis Martin?

    So, today, I will take all the me. It''s my work mistake that caused thepany this loss."

    Isidora''s righteous stance quickly won everyone''s favor.

    Giselle even held her hand and said, "Isidora, you''ve done so much for thepany. You''re such a good person...

    Alright, since Isidora is willing to take responsibility, let''s end the matter of the letter of intent here. A backup is already being made. Let''s try not to spread this news, so the impact on the Martin group will be minimal.

    If we control it quickly, it shouldn''t cause any substantial damage to thepany."

    Giselle''s casual remark seemed to conclude the matter. After days of turmoil, was it really going to end like this?

    In their eyes, it seemed like Chloe made a mistake, and Isidora was taking the me for her.

    Chloe disagreed.

    Liam disagreed either.

    And of course, Grant disagreed. As the president of the Martin group, he needed to get to the truth.

    If this matter was brushed aside, Chloe would carry the stigma of taking the Martin group''s letter of intent for life.

    Chloe was the woman he intended to marry, and he wouldn''t allow any blemish on her

    name.

    As soon as Giselle finished speaking, Chloe stood up.

    She said, "Ms. Rodriguez, Miss Faye, I don''t agree with how you''re handling this.

    I have always conducted myself with integrity and honor. If I took something, I would admit it, and if I didn''t, you can''t falsely use me. In the past, you imed there was no evidence, which pointed the finger at me. Now that there is video evidence, you refuse to let me see it and want Miss Faye to take the me instead? I disagree. The Davis Family and the Davis Group don''t care about your Martin group''s letter of intent and wouldn''t take your things. This matter must be thoroughly investigated.

    If you handle this matter hastily, I will hop on a ne and speak to Louis myself. I will ask Louis, is this how the Martin Davis Group operates? If so, it may be necessary for Louis to return and deal with this.

    In short, this matter can''t be left unresolved."

    Chloe''s words were firm and fearless.

    Everyone present knew that this matter couldn''t be easily settled today.

 Chapter 242 Getting Ready to Watch the Video

    If Louis found out about this, he''d flip the Martin Group upside down to get to the bottom of it.

    When that happened, anyone involved in framing the future Mrs. Martin wouldn''t get

    off easy.

    Chloe made her stance clear, and Liam jumped in, "Yeah, Chloe''s right. The video''s almost done dpressing, no need to drag this out. Just hang tight for a bit. In half an hour, you''ll see the video. No rush..."

    Liam''s words were delivered with a casual tone, as he deftly navigated theputer, observing the reactions of everyone present with keen attention.

    The board members didn''t seem too worried. They were mostly just confused. Even if Louis held them ountable, they''d only get med for poor judgment.

    Giselle, though, was in a different boat. Isidora had saved her once, and it was Giselle who rmended Isidora to be Grant''s secretary at the Martin Group. As the CFO, she couldn''t dodge responsibility for such a big mistake by someone she vouched for.

    Even though she was the aunt of the three Martin brothers, Louis treated all rtives working at the Martin Group like any other employees.

    As for Isidora, she''d have to own up to the mistake of losing such an important cooperation letter. Everyone made mistakes, sure.

    But if it were toe out that she had intended to frame Chloe in this matter, the situation would be much moreplicated.

    Could she handle the fallout? Her pure image in Grant''s eyes would be ruined.

    With no other options, Isidora looked to Grant for help.

    She believed that as the president of the Martin Group and given their close rtionship in college, Grant would back her up.

    She was sure Grant would downy the issue.

    After all, if this got out, it wouldn''t be good for the Martin Group.

    To her disappointment, Grant scanned the room and said softly, "Giselle, we can''t handle this like this... As the president of the Martin Group, I want to know the truth."

    Grant''s words ced immense pressure on Giselle, and Isidora''s face began to glisten with sweat. She realized she had toe up with a solution in a matter of minutes.

    Once Liam sessfully decoded the contents of the camera, everyone would see how she had hidden the important letter of intent under Grant''s office sofa. She understood that it would be toote to exin when that moment arrived.

    Isidora''s mind raced as she desperately sought a way out of this predicament. Momentster, her body suddenly went limp, and she copsed onto the soft carpet with a thud.

    Her dramatic move made Chloe widen her eyes, curious about what Isidora was nning next.

    Chloe had dealt with all kinds of women before-arrogant ones, weak ones, and even self-destructive ones like Sophia-but this was her first time encountering someone like Isidora, who could switch between strong and weak so effortlessly.

    She had to admit, Isidora had mastered the art of being two-faced.

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    As Isidora fell, everyone immediately felt sympathy for her. Some might even think Chloe had pushed her to faint.

    When Isidora copsed, Giselle panicked. She knelt down, grabbed Isidora''s arm, and asked, "Isidora, what''s wrong?"

    Under Giselle''s calls, Isidora slowly woke up, weakly looking at Giselle. "I''m dizzy... very dizzy."

    Hearing this, Giselle panicked and quickly said to Grant, "Grantie,e here. Isidora is dizzy. We need to take her to the hospital now. I''ll grab our things, and you carry her. Let''s go to the hospital."

    Whether it was due to panic or ulterior motives, Giselle''s suggestion for Grant to carry Isidora to the hospital in front of everyone was bold.

    If Grant did that, rumors would spread throughout the Martin Group within an hour.

    Indeed, the gossip surrounding Grant and Isidora''s situation would surely keep thepany''s employees buzzing for quite some time.

    Chloe looked at Grant, who stood still beside her.

    Seeing Grant unmoved, Giselle grew more anxious. "Grant, I''m talking to you. Hurry, take her to the hospital."

    Grant''s face turned cold as he replied, "Giselle, are there no other employees at the Martin Group? Why must I take her to the hospital? I''m the president of the Martin Group. If I have to handle every little thing, wouldn''t I be worked to death?"

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    Giselle was taken by surprise by Grant''s rejection, having learned some background information when she assigned Isidora to work closely with Grant as his secretary. She had heard from Isidora''s ssmates that Isidora and Grant had a close rtionship back in college, with Isidora being Grant''s first love.

    But now, with Isidora fainting, Grant remained indifferent?

    "Stanley, get two security guards to take Miss Faye to the hospital." Grant wasn''t an uncaring boss. He instructed his assistant Stanley to find two security guards to take Isidora to the hospital.

    Giselle''s face changed slightly, and even the weak Isidora leaned against the sofa, trying to sit up.

    Stanley nced at Grant and replied, "Yes, Mr. Martin, I''ll handle it now."

    As Stanley prepared to leave, Liam, still working on theputer, added, "Stanley, hurry and get the security guards. I''m almost done dpressing the video. Once Miss Faye is at the hospital, we can watch it."

    Hearing this, Isidora grew more anxious. Was Liam sent by God to embarrass her?

    Why was he so insistent on the video? If he really showed it, how could she continue working at thepany?

    No, she had to stop this.

    Thinking quickly, Isidora let herself slide down the sofa and suddenly pointed to the gap underneath. "Oh, I see it... There''s a document under the sofa..."

 Chapter 243 Moral Blackmail

    As Isidora spoke, it was clear she was no longer feeling faint.

    The clue she provided took everyone by surprise. The men in the room hurriedly moved the couch in Grant''s office.

    When they found the letter of intent lying brazenly under the couch, everyone fell silent.

    "How did the letter of intent end up under Mr. Martin''s couch?"

    "Exactly, wasn''t it said that Miss Davis took it? How could it be under the couch?"

    "Is there something more to this?"

    The room buzzed with spection. Even Giselle, who usually sided with Isidora, gave her a meaningful look.

    Isidora, now fullyposed, stood up and exined, "It might be my negligence that caused the letter to fall under the couch."

    In Grant''s office, despite having two windows, the sealing was quite tight and there was no drafting in. The important intention letter, which was quite heavy with over a dozen pages, couldn''t possibly have ended up under the sofa, right?

    If they dug deeper into this, it could get interesting.

    However, the Martin Group board members weren''t interested in the details. For them, finding the letter and recovering their losses was the best oue.

    Only Liam remembered to clear Chloe''s name.

    He stood up and walked over to Isidora. "So, what you''re saying is that the letter ending up under the couch is your responsibility, right?"

    Isidora didn''t expect Liam to press her so hard.

    She nodded reluctantly, "As Mr. Martin''s secretary, I should take responsibility."

    "Oh... you definitely should. Being a secretary and losing something so important, of course, you should be held ountable."

    Liam''s words made Isidora''s face pale. She tried to remain calm, but inside, she was a

    mess.

    "Stanley, let me ask you, did you hire such an ipetent secretary for the Martin Group?" Liam turned his questioning to Stanley.

    Stanley didn''t want to get involved in the power struggle between the big shots. He quickly distanced himself. "Mr. Liam Martin, Miss Faye wasn''t ced by me. Ms. Rodriguez directly coordinated with HR."

    Stanley''s words made Giselle re at him. He always favored others.

    Liam, now adept at confrontation, turned to Giselle. "Giselle, your judgment iscking.

    How could you ce such an ipetent secretary with Grant?

    She lost the letter of intent this time. What if she loses a financial check next time?

    Of course, these are minor issues. But what if one day she loses thepany seal? That would be a disaster.

    In my opinion, you need to hold a meeting immediately to discuss how to handle this." After Liam said this, he winked at Chloe. Chloe let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders as the initial misunderstanding that had unfairly targeted her was cleared in this way.

    Grant, with a stern face, said, "Liam''s right. We need to handle this properly."

    "Organize a meeting right away. Isidora, prepare to make a public apology to the entirepany."

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    Grant shot a fierce re at Giselle and Isidora before standing next to Chloe.

    Giselle looked at Chloe''s in face and then at Grant, who seemed to care so much for this in girl. She felt uneasy.

    But as a senior and apany executive, she suppressed her anger for the greater good. "Alright, since the letter of intent is found, let''s end this here. Everyone, prepare for the uing meeting. Let''s disperse."

    Giselle dismissed everyone.

    Chloe and Liam exchanged nces, not believing that Giselle would let this go so easily.

    Having previously used Chloe loudly, now that she discovered it was Isidora''s fault, she wanted to brush it off.

    When Giselle falsely used Chloe of stealing the intention letter initially, she was determined to use all her might to make Chloe confess. However, once she found out that it was Isidora who dropped the intention letter under the sofa, the situation was ready to be put to rest?

    Could people really be this hypocritical?

    Was Chloe supposed to just endure the injustice she faces? Was Giselle''s mobilization of the police to search Chloe''s smallpany going to be overlooked like that?

    Chloe couldn''t swallow this injustice.

    As Giselle was about to dismiss everyone from Grant''s office, Chloe spoke up. "Disperse? As an outsider, I suffered such humiliation in yourpany, and you want to just disperse?

    Board members, Ms. Rodriguez, you falsely used me and tarnished my reputation. Aren''t you going to apologize?"

    Chloe''s words stopped everyone in their tracks. Giselle realized this wouldn''t be resolved easily.

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    From her interactions with Chloe, she could tell Chloe wasn''t the type to take things lying down.

    But to apologize to Chloe? Impossible. Not only was she a senior executive at the Martin Group, but she was also Grant''s aunt.

    She was a senior.

    To avoid tarnishing her authority as an elder, Giselle approached Chloe, appealing to emotions and reasoning, and began moralizing with Chloe.

    "Chloe, you''re the future daughter-inw of the Martin Family. You should consider the bigger picture."

    "This matter was mishandled by the Martin Group, and you were wronged. Now that Miss Faye has taken responsibility, you should let it go."

    "I''m advising you for your own good. If the employees find out that the future boss''s

    wife is a troublemaker, what will they think of you?"

    Giselle''s words almost made Chloeugh out of anger.

    She had seen moral coercion before, but never this shameless. They were the ones at

    fault, and Chloe just wanted an apology. How did that make her a troublemaker?

    Why?

    Was Giselle trying to make her ept this huge loss?

    But Chloe had never been one to ept losses.

    And she certainly wasn''t one to be morally coerced.

    With that in mind, Chloe lifted her chin and looked coldly at Giselle...

 Chapter 244 All Are Turtles Shrinking Their Heads

    Chloe asked firmly, "Ms. Rodriguez, I gotta ask. How do the folks at the Martin Group see me? Could it mess up the engagement between the Martin Family and the Davis Family?"

    "And if I don''t put thepany''s interests first, could the Martin Group go under?"

    "Since you didn''t handle this right, shouldn''t you be the one apologizing to me? How does that make me unreasonable?"

    "Yesterday, when you brought the cops to search my smallpany, Ms. Rodriguez, didn''t you think you were being unreasonable?"

    "And now, you''re trying to guilt-trip me with these so-called moral arguments? Let me tell you, that''s not gonna fly. Today, if those who ndered me don''t give me a written apology, I''ll sue you for defamation."

    "How dare you? When ites to ndering me, you have all sorts of tricks, but when it''s time to apologize, you all hide like turtles in their shells. Do you think the Davis Family is easy to push around?"

    Chloe''s temper red up instantly. She bluntlyid out the facts, scolding everyone present.

    Those who were scolded felt indignant, but when Chloe mentioned the Davis Family, they had to bear it.

    Anyone who targeted Chloe would be a target of the Davis Family, and with their limited power, they couldn''t possibly stand up to the Davis Family.

    Chloe''sment about turtles almost directly pointed at Giselle. Knowing she was in the wrong, Giselle didn''t dare to argue.

    Isidora, who had made a mistake, wanted to hold onto Giselle, thinking she still had some influence with Grant. She boldly spoke up to Grant. "Mr. Martin..."

    Grant, who had been silent, suddenly turned around. After ncing at Isidora, he addressed everyone, "Apologize to Chloe."

    His voice wasn''t loud, but the firmness and authority in his words created a strong sense of pressure for everyone present. This was the aura of someone in power. Giselle was extremely reluctant to apologize. She muttered, "I''m still an elder..."

    The next second, Liam''s words shattered any privilege the term ''elder'' might have given her. "Our teachers always taught us that even elders must apologize when they make mistakes."

    "Giselle, didn''t you always tell me that admitting and correcting mistakes makes you a good person? Why can''t you lead by example now?"

    Looking at Liam''s infuriating face, Giselle felt helpless. She stiffened her neck and apologized to Chloe, "Miss Davis, I''m sorry. Ourpany was wrong about the letter of intent and falsely used you. Tomorrow, I''ll draft a formal apology and publicly apologize to you. Please forgive us."

    Giselle''s concession greatly improved Chloe''s mood. She nced at Giselle and said condescendingly, "Alright, I ept your apology. I''ll be waiting for your apology letter." After saying this, Chloe turned to Grant and said, "Grant, weren''t you going to have a meeting? Liam and I will head out now. You all have a good meeting and think about your mistakes."

    With that, Chloe pulled Liam to leave. The people in Grant''s office also started to disperse.

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    Grant stopped Liam just in time and asked, "The camera... leave it with me."

    Liam looked at his palm reluctantly and said, "Grant, this is mine. I bought it with my own money. You can''t just take it."

    Grant, with his wealth, said, "Name your price."

    Liam exaggerated, "Not much, just thirty million dors."

    Grant immediately took out his phone and transferred the money to Liam. Once the transaction wasplete, he snatched the miniature camera from Liam''s hand. He had to see how much the camera had captured.

    He could be embarrassed, but he wouldn''t let anyone see footage of him disheveling Chloe''s clothes. Chloe was dear to his heart, and every inch of her skin belonged to him.

    Liam, having received the money, handed over the camera without hesitation. Before Grant could react, Liam nodded to Chloe, "Let''s go. I''ll take you home." Chloe quickly followed her savior.

    As they walked downstairs, Chloe couldn''t help but ask Liam about her doubts. "Liam, I really want to know, are yourputer skills that bad? Why didn''t you present the evidence of Isidora framing me?

    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on Ne5s to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Wasn''t it just a camera? You took so long to download the plugin, why couldn''t you get it?"

    Liam snorted, a sound filled with meaning. "That camera was installed in Grant''s office this afternoon. There''s nothing on it."

    His words made Chloe break out in a cold sweat. He had used such a tactic to uncover such a big truth? The phrase "all''s fair in love and war" fit Liam perfectly.

    "Nothing? Weren''t you afraid Isidora would demand evidence?" Chloe felt a chill thinking about what had happened. She had assumed Liam had evidence, which was why she had been so bold. Now knowing he had nothing, she wouldn''t have been so reckless.

    "She wouldn''t dare ask for evidence. Having done something wrong, does she have the guts to demand evidence?" Liam exined nonchntly, as if he had used this tactic many times before.

    He had mastered this trick to perfection. Not only did he uncover the truth, but he also swindled thirty million dors from Grant.

    Chloe felt bad for Grant''s wasted thirty million dors. "Well, aren''t you afraid Grant wille after you when he finds out you swindled him?"

    Liam looked back at her and smiled, "If I couldn''t download the plugin, do you think Grant could? If hees to me with the camera, I''ll just tell him he formatted it by mistake."

    Liam had already thought of an escape n. Chloe admired him and gave him a thumbs up.

    As they walked towards the parking lot, Liam reminded Chloe, "Chloe, this matter is between us. Don''t tell Grant..."

 Chapter 245 You Both Have Kissed

    Liam continued, "If you tell Grant, I won''t buy you that luxury motorcycle. Think it over."

    Liam''s words made Chloe ecstatic. As a motorcycle enthusiast, a new bike was a treasure. Who could resist such an offer?

    Chloe eagerly nodded in agreement. "Okay, I won''t say a word. I promise."

    "Three million dors for two motorcycles. Which brand should we get?" As they walked to the parking lot, they discussed which motorcycle brands to buy.

    They couldn''t deny it, the feeling of getting a motorcycle with money earned by cheating others was quite satisfying.

    With her name cleared, Chloe felt light as a feather. She and Liam raced their motorcycles, enjoying the thrill of the track.

    It wasn''t until ten at night that she dragged her exhausted body back to the Martin Mansion.

    Meanwhile, at Giselle''s house, Isidora stood in front of Giselle like a child who had done something wrong.

    Giselle shouted, "Isidora, exin to me what happened with the letter of intent. Didn''t you swear you saw Chloe put the Martin Group''s letter of intent into her bag? How did it end up under the couch?

    I''m the CFO of the Martin Group, and I had to apologize to a junior. Do you think I don''t care about my reputation?"

    Giselle was furious. The thought of apologizing to Chloe made her blood boil.

    She was Giselle, after all.

    Isidora kept her head down, too scared to speak. When Giselle pressed her, she stammered out an exnation.

    "Giselle, I was careless at work and didn''t put the letter of intent away properly. I don''t know how it ended up under the couch."

    "When Mr. Martin asked for it, I couldn''t find it and was afraid of taking the me. After all, I got the job as Mr. Martin''s secretary because of you. I was scared this would affect you."

    "So, I med Chloe, thinking that since she''s the future mistress of the Martin Group, she could handle it. It wouldn''t affect me or you."

    "Giselle, I''m sorry."

    Isidora cried and apologized, all the while trying to protect Giselle.

    She didn''t mention that she had intentionally framed Chloe.

    Seeing her pitiful state, Giselle didn''t want to me her anymore, she stood up and said, "Alright, stop crying. What''s done is done. Just be more careful in the future."

    Hearing this, Isidora felt relieved. She tentatively asked, "Giselle, what if Mr. Martin doesn''t want me as his secretary anymore?"

    Giselle frowned and picked up her teacup.

    She had her reasons for arranging Isidora as Grant''s secretary. She wanted someone close to Grant to keep her informed about his decisions.

    She didn''t want to take over the Martin Group, just to rise from an executive to a decision-maker.

    Isidora was loyal to her, so she had to protect her.

    "Don''t worry about it. I''ll talk to Grant." Giselle thought for a moment and then spoke.

    Isidora was surprised that Giselle would protect her. She clung to Giselle''s arm and started ttering her. "Giselle, my mom died early, and I never knew what motherly love felt like."

    "Since I met you, I realized that no matter what mistakes you make, the person who has your back is like a mother."

    "I feel motherly love from you, Giselle. I''ll work hard at the Martin Group to repay you."

    Isidora''s words made Giselle smile. She had no children, and her three nephews were never as close as Isidora. Isidora''s presence gave her a sense of family she had long missed.

    In the following days, Chloe bnced school and working diligently at her smallpany.

    The variety show produced by Floyd and Philip quickly gained arge following. Soon, endorsement deals came pouring in for Philip and Floyd. Zara, thepany''s executive director, was swamped with work.

    Chloe wasn''t idle either. To grow herpany, she nned new ventures, working on investment budgets on herputer.

    Zara leaned over, chatting away. "Chloe, I don''t get it. The Martin Family and the Davis Family have a marriage agreement, and you''re dating Grant. You''ll be family eventually. Why go through all this trouble with the bet and then try to break off the engagement? Isn''t it pointless?"

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    Before, Chloe wanting to break off the engagement made sense. They hadn''t spent time together and had no feelings.

    But now, Chloe and Grant were practically living together, doing everything couples do except for the final step. Why insist on breaking off the engagement?

    Chloe, resting her head on her hand, absentmindedly replied, "You don''t understand. I want to achieve my own life goals."

    "Oh? And breaking off the engagement will help you achieve that?" Zara was confused.

    "Of course. If the Martin and Davis families don''t break off the engagement, then my marriage to the Martin Family was due to a betrothal, I was forced into the Martin Family."

    "If we break off the engagement and Grant still wants to marry me, it means he loves

    me and has feelings for me. The man I marry must truly care for me."

    "Mutual love is the only way to asting rtionship. Got it?"

    Chloe''s exnation left Zara even more puzzled.

    Shaking her head, Zara said, "I don''t get it... I think you''re just bored..."

    "Chloe, you seem pretty free right now. Let''s go find Michael," Zara suggested, pulling Chloe along.

    Chloe gave her a skeptical look. "Zara, you kissed Liam. Why are you still thinking about Michael? You want to have one guy and keep another on the side?"

    Chloe''s words made Zara re at her. "Don''t be ridiculous. I have business with Michael..."

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 246 The Lovers Resolve

    "Looking for him? Don''t tell me you want an autograph," Chloe said, skeptical that Zara had any serious business with Michael.

    Despite Zara being the general manager of their smallpany, she was just an ordinary girl. Back in the day, Michael had the chance to attend an event in the Northwest.

    Chloe had witnessed Zara''s sheer madness as she screamed at the top of her lungs, chasing after her beloved idol.

    "Mic, I''d live and die for you, be lonely for you forever."

    "Mic, you''re my dream guy."

    "Mic, I love you so much!"

    Chloe didn''t even want to bring up the embarrassing things Zara had done in the past.

    Since moving to Sovereign City, Zara had repeatedly asked Chloe to help her get Michael''s autograph. Chloe had even created several opportunities for Zara to meet Michael, but Zara didn''t dare to take it.

    What Chloe didn''t expect was the budding romance between Zara and Liam.

    Actually, it was pretty good.

    Seeing Chloe constantly teasing her, Zara gave her a yful p. "Stop it. I''m not looking for Michael for an autograph. We''ve almost made Philip and Floyd famous. Those male stars don''t attract me much anymore."

    "Recently, I worked with an employee from ourpany to develop a n. We want to coborate with Michael to boost ourpany''s profile."

    "Interested ining along?"

    It turned out that Zara had grown a lot over time. She was no longer the old Zara. She had matured and be more rational about her fangirling.

    In this society, if a woman didn''t pursue a career, she might end up being left behind.

    Chloe nodded, "I''m actually interested. Let''s go."

    "Since the incident, I haven''t seen Rena in days. You talk to Michael about the coboration, and I''ll catch up with Rena." She added.

    "Alright, let''s go." Zara linked arms with Chloe, and they left Summit Media Solutions together.

    Because of the incident with Angus, Rena had been frightened and slightly injured, spending several days in the hospital before being discharged. Chloe had wanted to visit her but was afraid Rena might feel embarrassed.

    Yesterday, she heard from Grant that Rena had been discharged. Because of this, Michael had taken a rare break from his busy schedule to rest for a few days. They were still staying at Michael''s small vi.

    On the way to see Rena and Michael, Chloe called Michael to confirm they were home before heading over.

    As soon as Chloe and Zara entered the living room, they heard a sharp female voice yelling at Rena.

    "Don''t think that just because Michael says he likes you, you can be the woman at the center of his heart, or even his future wife."

    "That''s impossible. Michael is such an outstanding man. How could he be interested in you? He''s just ying with you, using you as a decoy to keep other women away."

    "You better know your ce and stop dreaming about bing thedy of the Martin Family."

    "If you''re going to be a mistress, you need to have the mindset of a mistress." Chloe found the woman''s voice unfamiliar.

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    She and Zara were led into the living room by a servant.

    At that moment, Rena was standing in front of a well-dressed woman, her head bowed like a child admitting a mistake. "Yes, I understand..."

    Rena looked very upset, but in front of this woman, she appeared calm, pretending to

    be indifferent, though her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

    The well-dressed woman was a stranger to Chloe.

    For a moment, Chloe couldn''t recall her identity.

    But seeing Rena being humiliated like this, Chloe, as her best friend, couldn''t swallow her disgust.

    She and Zara walked up to Rena, and Zara pulled Rena to stand beside her.

    Chloe red at the well-dressed woman and said, "Who are you? Is this your house? What gives you the right to talk to my friend like that? Who do you think you are?" Chloe fired off a series of questions.

    She lifted her chin and stared directly at the woman. Chloe had grown up mingling in high society, and the more prestigious the family, the more refined thedies were.

    This woman, despite her fancy clothes, couldn''t hide the vulgarity that emanated from her.

    "Who is this? Your friend? Well, Rena, you have some nerve, living in Mic''s house and daring to let your friends waltz in here?" the woman didn''t stop cursing. "Mic is a star. Do you know his international influence? If you expose his privacy, Mic will never forgive you."

    The well-dressed woman didn''t answer Chloe''s questions directly. Instead, she turned and scolded Chloe.

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    Her attitude made Chloe sick.

    Rena had always been timid and couldn''t handle a woman like this.

    So Chloe retorted, "Who are you to strut around Mic''s house?"

    "I''ve seen rude people and impulsive people, but I''ve never seen someone as bored and meddlesome as you."

    "This is Michael''s house. He hasn''t said we can''te. Who are you to say otherwise? What do you mean to him?"

    Chloe had always had zero tolerance for such unreasonable people. If it was a confrontation, so be it. Who was afraid?

    Chloe''s retort made the woman furious.

    Rena, always afraid of conflict, tugged at Chloe''s clothes and whispered, "Chloe, she''s udia..."

    Hearing the name udia, Zara''s expression turned cold, and Chloe finally remembered udia Taylor''s identity.

    When Michael first entered the entertainment industry, he didn''t do well. Later, the Martin Family invested money to hire udia to manage his career. udia was a top-tier manager in the industry. She orchestrated and promoted Michael and Karlie as an on-screen couple, which catapulted Michael to fame.

    udia was crucial to Michael''s career and held significant influence in the entertainment industry.

    Once, a newly debuted star offended udia with inappropriate remarks. With just a look from udia, that star''s career ended, and they disappeared from the screen.

    Because of her status, udia dared to reprimand Rena, who was too insignificant to fight back.

    However, Chloe couldn''t understand why someone as powerful as udia would bother with Rena.

 Chapter 247 Do I Have the Capability to Resist?

    Zara knew just how influential udia was. After all, Summit Media Solutions had already made a name for itself in the entertainment industry. Being the responsible person she was, Zara had done her homework on all the major yers.

    She reminded, "Chloe, it''s best not to go head-to-head with her."

    "She gives off bad vibes. She''s got connections, so let''s try not to piss her off."

    Zara''s voice was low as she pulled Chloe aside, trying to avoid a direct confrontation with udia.

    Chloe''s expression softened a bit. It wasn''t that she was scared of udia because of her status, but she didn''t want udia to make things tough for Rena because of her.

    After all, Rena was currently with Michael.

    "Chloe,e on, let''s go sit over there." Rena tugged Chloe, leading her to the small sitting room.

    Then she turned to udia, "udia, please have a seat. I''ll get you some water."

    Rena''s humility was on full disy, and seeing her like this, Chloe felt a deep sympathy for her.

    For a man, she was willing to humble herself to the ground. It was clear she loved Michael deeply.

    Once they were in the small sitting room, Rena closed the sliding door and had Chloe and Zara sit down.

    "Chloe, Zara, I''m sorry you had to see that. udia, she..." Rena mentioned udia with a tone of respect.

    Chloe looked at Rena helplessly and asked, "Where''s Michael? I contacted him earlier, and he said he was home."

    Rena nodded. "Yeah, he went out to get some things when he heard you and Zara wereing. He''ll be back soon."

    Chloe pointed outside and asked Rena, "What''s her deal? An outsider just barging into an artist''s home? That''s inappropriate, is it?"

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Rena lowered her head. "Because of my dad kidnapping us, Mic hasn''t worked for days. He turned off his work phone, and udia couldn''t reach him, so she came here."

    "Chloe, Mic doesn''t know udia is here."

    "And please, don''t tell Mic about what just happened. udia has a lot of resources, and I don''t want Mic to fall out with her because of me. If that happened, it would be my fault."

    Chloe stared at Rena, her frustration simmering as she watched Rena''s resigned expression.

    "Rena," Chloe began, her voice firm yet tinged with concern, "you can''t love someone while being so subservient. You''re with Michael now, and that makes you his woman. He should be the one protecting you, standing up for you."

    Her words sharpened as she continued, "That woman dared to humiliate you today. Who''s to say she won''t p you tomorrow? If you keep retreating like this, things will only get worse. You can''t keep letting people walk all over you."

    Chloe knew Rena was timid by nature, but this level of passivity was beyond anything she couldprehend.

    "Chloe," Rena finally spoke, her voice trembling with a mix of shame and desperation, "I want to fight back, I really do. But with my family background, do I even have the right to? My mom is seriously ill, hospitalized with no one to take care of her. My dad... he''s in prison, and he''s never been reliable. Michael is the only one who''s helping me taking me in, paying for my education. I''m grateful for everything he''s done. I can''t cause him any more trouble."

    "I''m not like you. I don''t have the Davis family backing me up. Chloe, people are different. It''s not that I don''t want to fight back; I just can''t."

    Rena''s words left Chloe and Zara feeling bitter.

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    Zara tried to calm Chloe down. "Chloe, don''t be mad. I think Rena has a point."

    "Rena doesn''t have any power behind her. How can you expect her to stand up to udia? udia could crush her like a bug."

    "We''re her friends. We don''t want to see her get bullied. We should help her be stronger..."

    Zara''s words made Chloe realize something. She wanted Rena to fight back, but first, she needed to give Rena the confidence to do so.

    In today''s world, only money could give a woman the strength to stand tall.

    The three of them sat in silence for a while, no one speaking first.

    A few minutester, they heard Michael''s voice as he entered the living room. When he saw udia sitting there, he was surprised.

    "udia, what brings you here?" Michael greeted udia with surprise.

    udia replied, "You turned off your work phone, and I couldn''t reach you, so I had toe here."

    "It''s been days, and you haven''t shown up. Karlie has mentioned you several times. Mic, you know how Karlie feels about you."

    "She told me she''ll always wait for you. That girl is so devoted, and as her aunt, I really don''t know what to do with her."

    Upon hearing udia''s words, it didn''t take long for them to piece together why she had singled out Rena. She was Karlie''s aunt?

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    She had bullied Rena earlier just to stand up for Karlie. They probably thought that if it weren''t for Rena, Michael would be with Karlie.

    But the truth was, Michael and Karlie had been a screen couple for years without any real progress in their rtionship. If Michael truly liked Karlie, he wouldn''t use Rena as

    an excuse.

    Michael''s expression darkened. "udia, I''ve already told Karlie that we''re just friends." "She shouldn''t think too much about it. I have a girlfriend now, and I just want to be with her."

    "Karlie''s not young anymore. She should find someone who loves her. She''s a sweet girl and will definitely find a good guy." Michael calmly looked at udia.

    He was clearly rejecting udia''s advances.

    udia''s face showed a hint of embarrassment.

    But fearing the power of the Martin family, udia didn''t argue with Michael.

    "Mic, you have a significant influence internationally. If you want to find a wife, you should find someone who matches your status. Marrying a nobody could affect your career."

    "Remember that male star who ruined his career over a marriage? He''s a nobody now." "Do you want to end up like that?"

    udia''s words carried a hint of threat. Michael''s brow furrowed slightly, his chiseled face showing a trace of displeasure.

    Is udia warning him that she could be Michael''s benefactor, propelling him to stardom, but also capable of breaking his career?

 Chapter 248 Dubious People

    Over the years, udia had worked with Michael quite a bit, and she knew him well.

    Michael was a very rational guy; he knew what he needed.

    udia believed he would make the right choice.

    Michael ced the items in his hand on the coffee table in front of him, sat down, crossed his legs, and said casually to udia, "If I end up as a nobody because of marriage issues, so be it."

    "At worst, I''ll quit being a star and go home to inherit the family business. My big brother Grant will always find me a job."

    Michael''s words made udia stand up abruptly. She never expected the usually wise Michael to make such an unwise choice.

    "Mic..."

    "udia, I didn''t like to be controlled by anyone. Even my grandfather never forced me into anything, and I don''t want anyone else to either." Michael met udia''s gaze, not backing down an inch.

    To avoid an argument, udia took a step back.

    She picked up her bag, ready to leave.

    As she was about to go, she said, "Mic, think it over... Hanging out with some unsavory people will only bring you down."

    udia''s words were pointed, and she nced towards the small living room, catching sight of Chloe''s head peeking out.

    It was clear that the "unsavory people" she referred to meant Chloe.

    Chloe reacted as if her tail had been stepped on. "Who are you calling unsavory? You''re the unsavory one! Your whole family is unsavory..."

    Seeing Chloe about to storm out of the small living room to confront udia, Zara and Rena quickly held her back.

    Michael had already had a confrontation with udia, and if Chloe joined in, it would seem like bullying.

    "Alright, Chloe, we''re here to discuss a coboration with Michael, not to start a fight," Zara reminded Chloe.

    Chloe swallowed her anger for the moment.

    Michael walked udia to the door, and Rena pulled Chloe and Zara aside.

    "Zara, Chloe, when you see Micter, don''t mention what udia said about me." Rena said nervously.

    "Why not? udia was way out of line. She''s bullying you, and since you''re dating Michael, he has a responsibility to protect you," Chloe argued.

    Chloe was exactly that type of person-someone who not only refused to tolerate any injustice or mistreatment for herself but also couldn''t stand to see those she cared about suffer.

    Rena listened to Chloe and said softly, "Chloe, I understand what you''re saying."

    "I''m dating Mic, and he does have a responsibility to protect me, but Mic has already done so much for me. I don''t want him to feel like being with me means dealing with endless issues."

    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Chloe... please understand."

    Seeing Rena like this, Chloe didn''t say anything more. She wasn''t Rena and couldn''t fully understand Rena''s feelings at that moment.

    This was something between Rena and Michael, and it was best to let them handle it themselves.

    After seeing udia off, Michael returned with a serious expression. But when he saw Chloe, he brightened up and brought out some snacks he had just bought.

    "Chloe, when I got your call saying you wereing over, I went out and bought some snacks. See, I''m not such a bad brother, am I?" Michael set aside his earlier displeasure and spoke to Chloe.

    To be fair, during the time Michael had been staying with the Martin family, he had treated Chloe quite well. Though he could be a bit of a chatterbox, he always took on a brotherly role with Chloe.

    Chloe didn''t stand on ceremony and took the snacks Michael handed her, she said as she ate. "Mic, Zara and I came today to discuss a coboration with you."

    "You know, I recently started a mediapany called Summit Media Solutions and signed two new actors, Philip and Floyd. Their show justunched."

    "Zara and the team came up with a n to boost ourpany''s profile by coborating with you. Don''t worry, we won''t take advantage of you. Whatever fee you require, we''ll pay."

    Chloe exined her intentions to Michael, and Zara handed over a draft contract.

    For some reason, before they arrived, Zara had been excited about meeting the famous Michael, but now that she was face-to-face with him, she was silent. There was no sign of the admiration she had previously shown.

    Chloe thought Zara had matured a bit.

    Since it was Chloe''s newpany, Michael couldn''t refuse outright. But he also had to consider Grant, as Chloe''spany was started because of a bet with Grant.

    If Michael coborated with Chloe, would it speed up the breakup between the Davis and Martin families?

    After much thought, Michael didn''t agree immediately. He promised to consider it and discuss it with his agent before making a decision.

    Reaching this point in the conversation was already a good oue.

    After some more small talk, Chloe and Zara left.

    On the way, Chloe curiously asked Zara, "Zara, before we met Michael, you said you wanted his autograph. Why didn''t you ask for it when you had the chance?"

    Zara''s expression turned sour. "Chloe, I realized I don''t like Michael as much anymore." "What? What do you mean you don''t like him anymore? You''ve been following him since he debuted, and now you don''t like him?" Chloe was surprised.

    Zara nodded. "Yes, seeing Rena with him, enduring such humiliation, made me realize that the price of loving him was far too steep. Byparison, I prefer my rtionship with Liam. Even though he''s blunt and harsh, I feel like he''s much more decisive than Michael."

    At that moment, Zara suddenly missed Liam, the freedom and joy of riding on his motorcycle.

    At the same time, Giselle pushed open the door to Grant''s office. As the CFO of the Martin Group, Giselle would apany Grant to a high-profile event in the evening.

 Chapter 249 Have I Broken Up with You?

    At high-profile gatherings like these, the bigwigs usually sit together and talk shop about business and development opportunities.

    Bringing along finance folks helps with better investments. If a lucrative project pops up, they could sign deals right then and there.

    "Grantie, I might not be able to make it to tonight''s event," Giselle said, looking a bit worried.

    Grant nced up at her and asked, "Ms. Rodriguez, why can''t you make it?"

    In the office, Grant and Giselle kept things professional, only using first names in private.

    Giselle pointed to her chest and exined, "My heart''s been acting uptely. I''ve been feeling really off these past few days. I went to the hospital, and the doctor told me to rest and avoidte nights. So, I won''t be going tonight."

    Grant couldn''t push her to go if she wasn''t feeling well. He casually suggested, "Then talk to Stanley and find someone from your finance team to go instead."

    Unexpectedly, Giselle rmended Isidora.

    She said, "Let Isidora go. She has a finance background, the necessary certifications, and knows investments. Plus, she used to be your secretary, so you two have some rapport."

    Previously, due to the issues surrounding the letter of intent for cooperation, Isidora had taken the me. During apany meeting, it was decided that Isidora would be dismissed from the Martin Group. However, it was at that moment that Giselle stepped forward to defend her.

    So, Isidora was reassigned-no longer serving as Grant''s secretary, she was transferred to a role within the finance department.

    It was said that she''s been keeping a low profiletely, but she''s been making waves in the finance department. True to her reputation, she''s proven herself to be a remarkably capable woman. Just a few days into her new role, she developed a brand-new software system.

    This program was simple, user-friendly, and had significantly boosted the efficiency of the finance team''s operations.

    Grant raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased. "Is she suitable?"

    Giselle quickly responded, "Grant, I think she''s quite capable. As long as she doesn''t make any major mistakes, I believe she can be nurtured."

    Given Giselle''s insistence, Grant couldn''t refuse. After all, Giselle was his aunt, and he didn''t want to cause trouble with his mother.

    Reluctantly, he agreed. "Alright, have her talk to Stanley and remind her of what she needs to know."

    Giselle left Grant''s office with a smile and quickly found Isidora. "Isidora, I''ve secured the opportunity for you to attend tonight''s event with Grant. Make sure you perform well."

    "Alright, Giselle, I''ve got it. I''ve memorized everything you''ve instructed, and I''ll make sure to be Mr. Martin''s perfect assistant at tonight''s gathering. You can count on me," Isidora said confidently, a hint of pride in her voice.

    Giselle nodded. "Good. I''ve arranged for a custom outfit for you, paid for by the finance department. You can''t embarrass Grant when you''re with him."

    "Yes, Giselle, thank you. You''ve been so good to me. If myte mother knew I had someone like you a new mother figure who cares for me so deeply, she would be trulyforted." Isidora spoke these words with a calcted softness, perfectly attuned to what would resonate with Giselle.

    Even the experienced Giselle couldn''t help but be moved by Isidora''s words.

    Meanwhile, Chloe and Zara left Michael''s house, nning to find a ce for dinner.

    Grant texted Chloe at that moment.

    [There''s an important gathering tonight, so I won''t be home for dinner.]

    [Miss you, can''t wait to hold you. Be good and wait for me at home tonight.]

    Grant''s message was filled with subtle innuendos, leaving Chloe''s imagination running wild. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she read it, her expression betraying the effect it had on her.

    Noticing the change in Chloe''s demeanor, Zara couldn''t resist teasing her. "Who texted you to make you blush like that? Was it Grant?"

    Chloe quickly denied it. "No, it wasn''t. You''re overthinking it."

    After speaking, she seemed a bit nervous, as if trying to hide something, and quickly moved to tuck her phone away.

    "I don''t believe you. Let me see, and I''ll believe you."

    Chloeughed and protected her phone, the two of them yfully wrestling like they did as kids.

    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! After their yful banter, Zara asked, "Chloe, are you happy dating Grant?"

    Chloe thought for a moment. "I don''t know. I just feel secure with him. It seems like I''m getting used to sleeping next to him, even though we didn''t make love."

    Chloe thought that as long as they hadn''t crossed certain boundaries, they were still innocent.

    Zaraughed again. "Innocent? You''ve kissed, hugged, and done other things... still innocent?"

    "You''re so annoying, Zara. If you keep teasing me, I''ll call Liam toe get you," Chloe threatened yfully.

    Zara quickly surrendered.

    After dinner, they went their separate ways. Chloe called a ride to head back to the Martin Mansion, but then Tony sent her a photo.

    The photo showed a high-level gathering, with Isidora in a designer dress, holding Grant''s arm, looking very close.

    Seeing the photo, Chloe''s face turned pale, her mind going nk.

    Tony''s message read: [Chloe, what''s going on? Mr. Martin is being with another woman .Is he breaking up with you?]

    Chloe, with her fiery temper, immediately called Tony. "Tony, where did you get this photo?"

    Tony quickly exined, "My dad sent it from a high-end gathering. He saw Mr. Martin and this woman looking very close and asked if you two had broken up. Chloe, I''m curious too. Did you really break up?"

 Chapter 250 Not a Threat

    Tony''s question lit a fire of anger in Chloe''s heart.

    Isidora had just been punished for her nder, and Grant had told Chloe that the board wanted Isidora to resign.

    Chloe had nned to wait a few days to see what Grant''s response would be, but she hadn''t expected to see Isidora standing so intimately next to Grant.

    Grant was deceiving her.

    "Tony, send me the address of their gathering..." Chloe was furious.

    "Chloe, even if I send you the address, you won''t be able to get in. My dad said this is a gathering of big shots. Without a bigpany to your name, you won''t be able to attend. Chloe, don''t worry. Wait until Mr. Martin gets home tonight and ask him then," Tony tried to calm Chloe, worried about her temper.

    Chloe ignored him. "Just send the address. Stop with the excuses. Whether I get in or not is my business..."

    With Chloe''s insistence, Tony didn''t dare refuse. Once she had the address, Chloe quickly headed to the gathering.

    While in the car, she sent a message.

    Since it was a gathering among top-tier individuals, the venue naturally exuded luxury -the Sky Pavilion at an international hotel.

    This ce was renowned in the industry, and even before Chloe arrived in Sovereign City, she had heard about it. The membership threshold for this high-end hotel was incredibly steep; even the lowest-tier members had an average spending of over $50 million.

    In other words, someone like Isidora would never have the chance to be in such a high-end hotel without Grant.

    When Chloe arrived at the hotel, staff stopped her, asking for her ID and invitation. She had neither, but someone came over, showed their credentials, and discreetly led Chloe into the penthouse.

    After leading Chloe in, the person disappeared into the crowd.

    Chloe began searching for Grant among the guests.

    Though she hadn''t attended many such gatherings, Chloe understood the dynamics.

    At gatherings like these, the men were preupied withworking, discussing lucrative business deals, and expanding their connections.

    The women, on the other hand, were busy helping their husbands build rapport with the wives of other influential figures, climbing the socialdder, or even seeking out wealthy heirs who could provide them with long-term financial security.

    Chloe, in her casual attire, stood out among the elegantly dressed women.

    She spotted Grant, chatting happily with two well-known figures from TV. Isidora was by his side, looking very close.

    Despite her anger, Chloe didn''t act impulsively.

    She found a quiet spot to sit and observe. Unexpectedly, Isidora noticed her.

    Isidora looked flustered when she noticed Chloe but quicklyposed herself. After saying a few words to Grant, she approached Chloe.

    The gathering was quiet, with only soft music ying.

    Isidora, in her elegant dress, sat next to Chloe and whispered, "Chloe, why are you here? Are you worried about me being with Mr. Martin at such a high-end gathering?" Although she appeared very proper and serious, Chloe could tell from her words that she was also someone who wasn''t easy to deal with.Isidora continued. "Chloe, even though you and Mr. Martin are engaged, you shouldn''t act like this. I''m here with Mr. Martin for work. Following him here makes him lose face."

    "People might think you''re trying to keep Mr. Martin on a tight leash. How insecure must you be?"

    "Also, this is a high-end gathering. Everyone is dressed formally, and you show up in casual clothes. It''s disrespectful and embarrassing for Mr. Martin."

    "I''m saying this for your own good and for Mr. Martin''s. Go home. Once Mr. Martin is done, he''ll return. Don''t worry, I''ll make sure he doesn''t drink too much."

    Isidora''s words redefined Chloe''s understanding of two-faced people.

    Typically, those who were two-faced will go to great lengths to frame and nder others. However, Isidora cleverly masked her intentions by iming she was acting in the best interests of Chloe and Grant. While ostensibly advocating for their benefit, she subtly demeaned Chloe in a way that left no room for criticism.

    This was where Isidora''s cunning surpassed Sophia''s-throughout the entire interaction, she never uttered a single negative word about Chloe, yet she managed to instill a deep sense of inferiority within her.

    ording to Isidora''s n, Chloe would leave after hearing her words, and even if Grant found out, Isidora wouldn''t be med.

    But Chloe was confident and fearless.

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    Isidora said she would embarrass Grant?

    Chloeughed coldly. "Miss Faye, don''t act so familiar. We have no rtionship, and I don''t ept your affection."

    "And whether I embarrass Grant isn''t for you to decide. Mind your own business and stay out of mine."

    "Lastly, I mustmend you. You''re quite skilled at being two-faced, but your cunning doesn''t threaten me."

    Chloe took a sip from her ss. Despite her casual attire, her elegance and nobility shone through.

    Isidora was slightly flustered. "Miss Davis, I''m doing this for your good and the good of the Martin Group. Mr. Martin isworking, and his sess tonight could bring great profits to the Martin Group and the Martin Family."

    "I don''t mind your attacks. I''m an employee of the Martin Group, and you''re the futuredy of the Martin Family. You can''t just sit here and embarrass yourself." Isidora''s words made Chloe frown. Herrge mole moved slightly with her expression. She snapped her fingers and said to Isidora, "You''re right. I shouldn''t just sit here. I should walk around and let everyone see I''m here."

    With that, Chloe stood up and walked into the crowd.

    Isidora panicked.

    From her interactions with Grant, she could sense his care for Chloe. Tonight was her moment to shine beside Grant, and she couldn''t let Chloe ruin it...

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 Chapter 251 Apologize to Miss Davis

    Seeing Chloe stand up to go find Grant, Isidora quickly grabbed her arm.

    "Chloe, can you not make a scene? This is a high-end gathering, with some very important people here to discuss business."

    "If you show up like this, it will make you look very uncultured. What kind of woman chases a man to such an exclusive event?"

    "If you really appear next to Mr. Martin, both you and Mr. Martin will be theughingstock of Sovereign City."

    Chloe shook off Isidora''s grip with a sharp motion. "Isidora, what are you talking about? Since when did me discussing business with these big shots be a joke?"

    "Discuss business? With your newpany? The people at this event are worth billions, not just from Sovereign City, but from all over the country and even the world." Isidora ryed the information she had just learned to Chloe.

    To make her point, she pointed to a bearded man not far away and said, "See that guy? He''s a global oil tycoon. He has so much money he could transport it by train. Are you really prepared to embarrass yourself in front of someone like him?"

    "Yourpany isn''t even worthy of shining his shoes. Chloe, listen to me, I''m doing this for your own good." Isidora''s voice grew more agitated; she was determined to keep Chloe away from Grant.

    Chloe pushed her away. "I get it, you think I don''t belong here, right?"

    Isidora smiled slightly. "You could say that."

    "And you think you do?" Chloe red at her.

    "I''m Mr. Martin''s financial advisor. If he finalizes any deals tonight, I''ll be responsible for providing financial support." Isidora spoke with an air of superiority.

    When Grant introduced Isidora to the big shots, he mentioned she was in charge of finances at the Martin group. Typically, financial advisors are given special attention, almost like the big shots'' personal stewards.

    "Fine, you handle your job, and I''ll handle my business... What gives you the right to stop me?" Chloe shot back.

    "I''m just worried you''ll make a fool of yourself. You''re a college student, using Mr. Martin''s name to talk to these big shots. It''s not appropriate..." Isidora continued to block Chloe.

    Chloe retorted, "Just mind your own business. My affairs are none of your concern. Besides, how do you know I''m using Grant''s name to talk to these big shots?"

    "Then what?" Isidora countered.

    Chloe, seeing Isidora''s expression, decided to show her a bit of her own strength.

    She snapped her fingers, and the man who had escorted her into the event appeared respectfully before her.

    "Miss Davis, how can I help you?"

    "I want to see Ondo... Can I?" Chloe asked the man.

    The Ondo Nguyen she mentioned was the oil tycoon Isidora had just spoken of. At that moment, he was engrossed in a lively conversation with Grant. Both men were speaking in fluent foreignnguages, their words rapid and animated. Isidora sat beside them, listening intently for quite some time, yet she couldn''t make sense of the conversation-despite having studied foreignnguages herself.

    "Miss Davis, you can meet any of the big shots here. They came not only to coborate with the Martin group but also with the Davis Group," the man replied to Chloe.

    With that, Chloe stood up and headed to the center of the room.

    Isidora''s face turned sour. She had forgotten about the powerful Davis Family backing Chloe.

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    After taking a few steps, Chloe turned back to look at Isidora and said, "Isidora, don''t think that I, Chloe, have no ability to live well besides relying on men."

    "It''s not my fault if I''m not conventionally beautiful, but if I don''t live beautifully, then that''s on me."

    "Let me remind you, don''t use your two-faced, maniptive tactics to attack me. I don''t even bother with that kind of nonsense."

    With that, Chloe, in her simple outfit, went to greet Ondo.

    Grant, who had been talking to Ondo, was surprised to see Chloe approach.

    Seeing Grant''s reaction, Isidora quickly moved closer, not wanting to miss any chance to belittle Chloe in front of him.

    Chloe exchanged a few words with Ondo in a foreignnguage.

    Grant asked, "What brings you here?"

    Chloe turned to answer, but Isidora interrupted. "Mr. Martin, I told Miss Davis not toe, but she insisted. She disrupted your conversation with Mr. Nguyen. It''s my fault for not stopping her."

    Chloe, upon hearing Isidora''s words, turned her head and shot her a sharp, piercing re. Isidora, however, feigned a look of timidity, shrinking slightly and inching closer to Grant''s side, as if seeking protection or sympathy.

    To her surprise, Grant was displeased with her instead.

    "Isidora, you''re overstepping. Miss Davis is here representing the Davis Group. What does that have to do with you?"

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    "Why would you stop Miss Davis? Apologize to her."

    Grant''s unexpected words left Isidora stunned. She had expected him to me Chloe, not her.

    And she had to apologize to Chloe? Why?

    "Mr. Martin..."

    "Apologize, or you can leave." Grant gave her no room for argument.

    Not wanting to be dismissed by Grant, Isidora reluctantly apologized. "Miss Davis, I''m sorry. It was my mistake."

    Chloe smirked. "Since you know it was your mistake, correct it. If you don''t, Mr. Martin might not let you continue working at the Martin group. After all, no leader likes someone who thinks they know it all."

    Chloe''s words were cutting, but she decided not to escte the conflict further in such a setting.

    Ondo, holding his wine ss, watched the scene with interest. He had known Grant for years and had never seen him so strict with a subordinate.

    "Ondo, I apologize for the scene. This financial advisor is new and didn''t recognize Chloe, leading to a misunderstanding," Grant exined to Ondo.

    Chloe added, "Yes, Mr. Nguyen, it was just a misunderstanding."

    Ondo looked at Chloe and Grant with a knowing smile and said in a foreignnguage, "I''ve heard..."

 Chapter 252 The Showdown

    "Hey, are you and Miss Davis an item? Is that for real?" Ondo couldn''t help but ask.

    At these upscale gatherings, personal questions were usually a no-go. Ondo bringing it up showed just how tight he was with Grant.

    Grant didn''t hesitate. He wrapped an arm around Chloe''s shoulder and said, "Yeah, it''s true. We''re dating."

    "And we''re engaged. I''m nning to announce soon that I will marry Miss Chloe from the Davis Family at the right time."

    As Grant said this, he looked at Chloe with a loving expression. Despite his formal suit, he didn''t seem to care about Chloe''s casual outfit.

    He didn''t mind therge mole on Chloe''s face either.

    Ondo grinned and congratted them, "That''s awesome, a real power couple. Mr. Martin, Miss Davis, should we get down to discussing our coboration now?"

    Grant nodded, "Sure thing."

    Chloe chimed in, "But Ondo, shouldn''t we first talk about the dividends from the contract we signed three years ago?"

    Meanwhile, Isidora, dressed to the nines, stood awkwardly to the side, feeling like a discarded pawn. She didn''t know whether to stay or leave.

    She stood there, watching Grant''s attentive care for Chloe and listening to Chloe''s smooth conversation with Ondo.

    She had nned to put Chloe down, but now she felt like the joke was on her.

    Just then, Isidora got a notification about overdue medical bills.

    [Miss Faye, please prepare the payment for Kathy''s next treatment as soon as possible...]

    Seeing the reminder, Isidora felt even more troubled.

    In the crowd, udia, a big name in the entertainment industry, was chatting with a few attractive women. When she turned her head, she noticed Chloe sitting next to Grant, happily conversing with Ondo.

    Remembering that she had seen Chloe at Michael''s house earlier that afternoon, udia became curious about Chloe''s identity.

    She pulled a woman aside to inquire. "Who''s that girl chatting with Mr. Ondo?"

    "Her? You don''t know? She''s Miss Davis from the Davis Group..." The woman had seen Chloe at a previous gathering Michael had brought her to.

    "Oh? Miss Davis from the Davis Group? Impressive," udia said, surprised.

    No wonder, earlier today at Michael''s house, when she scolded Rena a few times, Chloe was quick to jump in and stand up for Rena. That fierce, impulsive energy radiating from Chloe was something udia deeply disliked.

    "Yes, I heard the Davis Family and the Martin Family have an engagement arranged by Nichs and Louis." the woman continued.

    "To help Miss Davis find a suitable husband among the three Martin brothers, she''s been living with the Martin Family for nearly six months. udia, it seems Mr. Martin is quite fond of Miss Davis..."

    The woman shared everything she knew with udia.

    udia lowered her head in thought, then looked up to see Isidora standing alone.

    She asked the woman again, "Who''s that woman in the red dress? I thought I saw her sitting next to Mr. Martin earlier."

    The woman nced at Isidora and said, "I''m not sure. Seeing how close she was with Mr. Martin, I thought she was his new girlfriend."

    "After all, a guy as impressive as Mr. Martin is bound to have a fewpanions."

    "udia, let me tell you, at these high-end gatherings, it''s usually his aunt Giselle who apanies Mr. Martin. This woman, Isidora, might be the new financial director the Martin Group is grooming to rece Giselle."

    The woman''s spection piqued udia''s interest.

    As a big shot in the entertainment industry, udia had helped many stars rise to fame, but that required capital investment.

    The Martin Group''s main business wasn''t in entertainment, but they had invested in some entertainment ventures.

    If she could connect with the Martin Group''s financial director, herwork would expand significantly.

    udia became curious about Isidora, so she approached Isidora with a ss of wine. "Miss Faye, hello... I''m udia, in the entertainment business. I know Giselle Rodriguez quite well."

    Being from the entertainment industry, udia knew how to talk. Calling her "Miss Faye" instantly elevated Isidora''s status, making her happy.

    "Hello, udia. I''ve heard Gigi mention you. She says you''re very capable." Isidora''s use of "Gigi" made her rtionship with Giselle seem close.

    udia froze when she heard Isidora address Giselle so intimately. She knew a thing or two about Giselle''s private life-after all, when Giselle felt lonely and neededpany

    in bed, it was udia who had introduced her to those male models.

    She knew Giselle had been divorced, worked at the Martin Group, and hadn''t remarried or had children.

    Isidora calling her "Gigi" suggested a close rtionship. Could Isidora be Giselle''s illegitimate daughter?

    If so, udia needed to curry favor with Isidora.

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    "Miss Faye, you seem close to Ms. Rodriguez?" udia probed.

    Isidora smiled lightly, "Not very close. Gigi''s health isn''t great, so I take care of her." "Originally, Gigi was supposed to attend this event, but she wanted to give me some experience, so she sent me. udia, are you close with Gigi?"

    The two exchanged pleasantries, each with their own agenda. They soon became familiar and exchanged contact information, nning to have tea together sometime.

    From Isidora''s words, udia sensed Giselle''s trust in her. She thought Isidora might be Giselle''s choice for Grant''s future wife.

    Isidora was quite attractive, much more so than Chloe with herrge mole.

    udia thought Chloe didn''t stand a chance.

    So she decided to cozy up to Isidora.

    Perhaps because the conversation with Ondo was going well, Grant and Chloe seemed in good spirits. After having some drinks, Chloe got up to go to the restroom.

    Grant took the opportunity to ask Isidora toe over and take notes on his

    conversation with Ondo, to prepare for future contract signing.

    When Chloe returned from the restroom, she saw Isidora sitting close to Grant, taking

    notes. She was almost leaning against him.

    The scene looked quite intimate.

    And udia was there, chatting with them...

 Chapter 253 The Martin Group Will Not Appear

    udia spoke with vivid detail. "Mr. Martin, Mr. Nguyen, I''ve got two promising neers I want to promote soon."

    "I''m thinking of starting them off with a romantic film. I was stuck for ideas until I heard Miss Faye reminiscing about her college days with Mr. Martin, and then it hit me."

    "Mr. Martin, I heard you and Miss Faye were college ssmates, and you were quite smitten with her. You even wrote her a bunch of heartfelt letters, didn''t you? Sixty-six of them, if I remember right?"

    "Mr. Martin, how about investing in a romance film called ''Sixty-Six Love Letters'' this year? I''ll direct it myself, cast some well-known supporting actors, and I''m sure it''ll be a hit. The Martin Group will make a substantial profit."

    She was clearly stirring the pot.

    Chloe caught on to her intentions right away.

    The romance film was just a cover; udia''s real goal was to dig up the old college story between Isidora and Grant.

    The Martin family, being high-profile, was always under the watchful eyes of nosy journalists. The public loved nothing more than drama within wealthy families.

    If udia were to capitalize on the past between Grant and Isidora for promotion, the movie would undoubtedly be a huge hit. With just a few well-crafted posts from professional marketing ounts, the narrative of Grant and Isidora''s rtionship could easily be spun into a nostalgic, bittersweet tale of young love from their university days.

    And Chloe, who was engaged to someone from the Martin family, would be painted as the viin who stole love, forever marked by shame and unforgivable in the eyes of the audience.

    This wouldplicate things significantly.

    Chloe stood at a distance, arms crossed, watching udia paint a rosy picture of the film''s future.

    Isidora, sitting next to Grant, asionally nced at him shyly, as if trying to confirm the past between them.

    Ondo, being a foreigner, didn''t quite grasp the nuances of the rivalry between

    women.

    But as a seasoned businessman, he could definitely sense that there was something unspoken between Isidora and Grant.

    Ondo shook his head.

    udia continued to persuade Grant, "Mr. Martin, what do you think of my proposal? You know my capabilities. Rest assured, I will bring you significant profits."

    udia''s words made Grantugh. Without much thought, he responded to udia. "Yeah, I''m well aware of your capabilities in the industry."

    "Mr. Martin, does that mean you agree to the romance film?" udia was excited.

    The Martin family had deep pockets. A single investment from them could mean billions. With that kind of funding, countless artists in the industry would be eager to curry favor with her.

    She was already nning to pick some of tall, handsome male models to have some fun with.

    After all, as a woman of a certain age, a few young, attractive men were far more effective than any expensive cosmetics.

    "Yeah, I agree to the film. But the Martin Group won''t be funding it." Grant left it hanging, causing udia''s face to drop.

    "Mr. Martin, what do you mean? You agree to the film but won''t fund it? Are you kidding me?" udiained.

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    Grant gestured to Chloe, who was standing with her arms crossed, and said, "udia, I''m not really familiar with the entertainment industry, but my girlfriend runs a small mediapany. She''s also promoting new actors. I think she might be interested in your film."

    "I''ll personally fund it, and my girlfriend will be your investor. You two can work out the details."

    "My girlfriend has high standards for films, especially when ites to script development. udia, if you want to make this film, you need tomunicate well with her."

    "If she''s happy, I''m happy. Money isn''t an issue."

    "Isidora, discuss the budget with udia and let me know the amount." he turned to Isidora.

    Grant finished speaking, stood up, and took Chloe''s hand, his affectionate demeanor leaving udia puzzled.

    Chloe had arge mole on her face. Despite her good family background, it was surprising that Grant would choose her over the attractive Isidora and show such infatuation.

    udia had intended to stir up trouble using Grant and Isidora''s past, but in a few words, Grant had turned Chloe into her investor, making it impossible for udia to manipte Chloe.

    If she upset Chloe, the investor, and the funding was pulled, she wouldn''t get a single dor.

    She had hoped to impress Grant, but now Chloe held the power over her business. Grant''s move was brilliant. He maintained his dignity, showed loyalty to Chloe, and put Isidora in an awkward position.

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    Ondo praised Grant for his arrangement. "Mr. Martin, you''re willing to spend a fortune to make Miss Davis happy. She chose the right person."

    Grant smiled and pulled Chloe closer, saying, "She chose me, so how could I let her down?"

    "Well done, Mr. Martin." Ondo gave Grant a thumbs up.

    After chatting for a while, it was gettingte, and Grant left with Chloe.

    Stanley had the car ready downstairs. As Isidora hurried over, she saw Grant and Chloe getting into the back seat.

    As Grant closed the car door, he happened to catch sight of Isidora hurrying over, her dress clutched in one hand.

    Despite everything, since he was the one who had brought her here, he felt a sense of responsibility. Pausing for a moment, he rolled down the window.

    Isidora assumed Grant had rolled down the window to offer her a ride, so she quickened her pace, heading toward the passenger side.

    But Grant said, "Isidora, my girlfriend doesn''t like other women in my car..."

    "Just like when we arrived, take a cab back. Keep the receipt for reimbursement."

    With that, Grant instructed Stanley to drive away. As the window rolled up, Isidora''s face turned ashen.

    Back in college, Grant had been infatuated with her, writing those sixty-six unsent love letters. If he hadn''t lost them, it wouldn''t have caused such a stir on campus.

    But now, just a few yearster, Grant wouldn''t even spare her a nce.

 Chapter 254 You Ingrate

    Isidora was fuming.

    Watching Isidora shiver in her thin dress in the cold air, udia quietly pulled her car up in front of her.

    "Hey, Miss Faye, hop in..."

    Isidora climbed into the car. The heater was on full st, warming her up immediately.

    udia found a coat and draped it over Isidora''s shoulders. "Well, Mr. Martin really has a cold heart, leaving such a delicate beauty behind and driving off without a second thought. He doesn''t seem to know how to cherish someone at all. I mean, you''re the head of finance at the Martin Group-this is just too much, isn''t it?"

    udia''s words struck a chord with Isidora, when Sophia had first approached her, warning her that Chloe was not a simple woman and urging her to be cautious.

    At the time, Isidora hadn''t taken it seriously. She thought Chloe was unattractive and wouldn''t be a threat.

    The sharp contrast between her initial arrogance and her current humiliation was almost too much to bear.

    She couldn''t understand how Grant had so quickly forgotten the deep affection he had for her back in college.

    "udia... I never thought Mr. Martin would leave me behind..." Isidora confided in udia, seeing her as a kindred spirit.

    udia analyzed the situation for her. "Miss Faye, Mr. Martin left you here to take a taxi home-it''s not without reason. You know, that woman, Chloe,es from a very influential family. I just asked around, and her family''s wealth might even rival the Martin Family''s. And with the engagement between the two families... well, Mr. Martin can''t afford to offend her, can he?"

    "On the other hand, Mr. Martin, being the exceptional man he is, must find it painful to face Chloe''s unattractive face every day. But men make choices. He knows very well

    that marrying Chloe into the Martin Family will bring immense wealth."

    "So, when dealing with the jealous Miss Davis, Mr. Martin has no choice but to neglect you. I can tell Mr. Martin cares about you. Otherwise, when I mentioned the sixty-six love letters, his eyes wouldn''t have lit up like that."

    "He''s doing this to protect you. I''m close with Giselle, and I believe she''s grooming you. The future CFO of the Martin Group will definitely be you."

    udia''s words ignited a spark of determination in Isidora, shifting her perspective entirely. She began to piece things together: before Chloe''s arrival, Grant had always treated her with a certain level of respect and warmth. But the moment Chloe entered the picture, his demeanor turned icy, almost deliberately so.

    A realization dawned on Isidora-perhaps his coldness wasn''t rejection, but protection.

    She didn''t expect to be thedy of the Martin Family. After all, she didn''t match up to the Martin Family.

    But if she could control the finances of the Martin Group, that would be a good alternative.

    "udia, I understand now. Thank you for your advice." Isidora put away her disappointment and regained her fighting spirit.

    udia nodded happily. "Good. I''ve been busytely and can''t visit Giselle. When you get back, say hello to her for me."

    "Okay."

    Grant and Chloe soon returned to the vicinity of the Martin Family mansion. About a mile from the estate, Grant had Stanley stop the car.

    "Stanley, you go ahead. I haven''t taken a walk in a while. I''ll walk back with Miss Davis."

    "Yes, Mr. Martin." Stanley watched them get out before driving away.

    It was alreadyte, and the usually bustling Sovereign City was unusually quiet.

    A few cold gusts of wind blew, messing up Chloe''s hair.

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    "Chloe, did you have a good time today?" Grant asked tentatively.

    Chloe nodded. "Yeah, I did... I saw Ondo and some other big shots. How could I not

    be happy? It''s been a while since I saw Ondo. He seems to be getting more handsome."

    Chloe''s praise of the foreigner Ondo made Grant a bit unhappy.

    He wanted to say he was jealous.

    "Oh... So you''re happy because you saw Ondo, not because of me?" Grant teased Chloe.

    "Happy for you? Yeah, I should be happy for you. You seemed to have closed several deals tonight, right?" Chloe brought up business.

    She was pretending to be clueless, and Grant could see through it.

    He reached out and grabbed Chloe''s arm, then started tickling her. Chloe, being

    ticklish, tried to avoid him, and they ended up chasing each other, looking very much like a couple in love.

    "Chloe, you ingrate. I invested in a movie for you, and you didn''t even mention it. You''re so bad. I need to teach you a lesson."

    Grant rarely had such a rxed moment. He chased Chloe, and theyughed and yed together.

    "You''re the bad one. You''re the ingrate. Don''t think that just because you invested in a project for me, I have to thank you. You still haven''t told me about those sixty-six letters. I heard from udia that those sixty-six letters were all written to Isidora."

    Hearing Chloe mention the sixty-six letters, Grant wasn''t angry at all.

    He rushed forward, grabbed Chloe''s petite body, and pressed her against a small tree behind her to prevent her from escaping again.

    "Go on, talk about the sixty-six letters... Mr. Martin, you are so romantic, writing sixty- six love letters to Isidora. Did you do nothing but write love letters during your four years in college?" Chloe had been caught by Grant, yet she still had the mind to tease him?

    Grant didn''t answer her. Instead, he reached out, gently cupped Chloe''s face, and kissed her on the lips in the warm breeze.

    He kissed her with care and tenderness, unlike his usual urgency, as if he were kissing a fragile piece of porcin.

    Soft touches, gentle pecks...

    Chloe''s messy hair brushed against Grant''s cheek in the wind, the ticklish sensation

    making him kiss her even more passionately.

    Chloe was also stirred by his kiss.

    Young people in love should be openly kissing in such an environment, shouldn''t they?

    She reached out and wrapped her arms around Grant''s firm waist, while Grant encircled her body with his arms, pressing her against the tree and kissing her earnestly.

    asionally, passersby would stop to watch the kissing couple.

    At that moment, the roar of a motorcycle approached. Liam, speeding by on his bike,

    turned his head and saw Grant and Chloe kissing.

    His heart skipped a beat.

    The next second, he stopped his bike, took out his phone, and snapped a photo of the kissing couple...

 Chapter 255 For Whom to Remain Chaste?

    Chloe was being kissed by Grant when she was startled by a faint clicking sound.

    She buried her face in Grant''s chest and whispered, "Grant, I think someone''s taking pictures of us..."

    "So what? We''re in love, kissing out in the open. Who cares if someone snaps a few pics?" Grant said, gently rubbing Chloe''s head.

    Chloe blushed. "It''s kinda embarrassing... Isn''t it awkward?"

    "As long as we''re not embarrassed, the awkwardness is on them. Come on, Chloe, I''ll give you a piggyback ride home." Grant bent down, signaling for Chloe to hop on his back.

    Chloe hesitated for a moment. This felt oddly familiar, like a memory from her childhood of a boy whose face she couldn''t quite remember giving her a piggyback ride.

    Seeing Chloe hesitate, Grant urged, "Chloe, hurry up..."

    Chloe climbed onto Grant''s back, letting him carry her towards the Martin Family mansion.

    Chloe was so light that Grant barely felt any weight as he carried her.

    Back at the Martin Mansion, Chloe took a shower and theny on her bed, video calling Nichs.

    Nichs, who hadn''t been in touch for several days, missed Chloe but still put on a serious face, asking about her studies and life. "Chloe, are you tired from schooltely?"

    "Grandpa, I''m not tired." Chloe replied.

    She was in college now, so she didn''t have to go to school every day like in middle and high school. She only needed to attend sses when she had them.

    Nichs nodded. "Good, as long as you''re not tired. I didn''t send you to Sovereign City to wear yourself out."

    "Grandpa, I still miss our home. I''ve been away for almost six months now, and the long break ising up. Can I go back for a visit?" Chloe missed the vastness of the Northwest, the simple and honest people, and the freedom to ride her motorcycle across the opennd.

    But Nichs immediately refused. "Chloe, you need to stay in Sovereign City. Don''t forget the promise you made when you left. You agreed to stay with the Martin Family for a year and not return to the Northwest."

    "If you insist oning back now, our agreement is off, and I can''t guarantee I''ll fulfill my promises to you."

    "Besides, summer ising, and I n to find a ce to cool off for a few days. I won''t be home, so you should stay with the Martin Family. If you''re bored, have them take you out for some fun."

    Nichs''s refusal left Chloe feeling helpless. She was an adult and had been through many battles of wits with Nichs.

    She couldn''t understand why Nichs was so insistent on her marrying into the Martin Family.

    After chatting with Nichs for a while, Chloe ended the call. Just then, Grant, fresh from his shower, came over and flopped onto Chloe''s bed, his body pressing heavily against hers.

    Both of them smelled of the fresh scent of their body wash.

    Chloe, feeling ufortable under Grant''s weight, protested. "Grant, you''re squishing me. Get off."

    As she tried to push him away, she identally fell into his arms. Through their clothes, Grant''s fingers lightly caressed her skin, moving like a pianist''s over the keys.

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    "Chloe, aren''t you going to reward me?" Grant''s deep eyes locked onto Chloe''s face. Without her usual makeup, her skin was smooth and her cheeks glowed with youthful radiance.

    She smelled so good that Grant struggled to resist the urge to kiss her.

    "What kind of reward?" Chloe asked.

    Grant pouted. "For investing in that big project for you... When it makes money, the profits are yours, and so is the principal."

    Grant''s investment was substantial. Regardless of the project''s potential earnings, the initial investment alone was significant.

    "Grant, you''re so generous, giving me the principal too?" Chloe was excited.

    She was staying with the Martin Family temporarily, and while they took care of her daily needs, her personal expenses were her own. Plus, Nichs regrly sent her money, so she was never short on cash. She was practically a rich girl.

    "Of course, I have to be generous with you. Unlike you, who won''t even give me a little reward." Grant pouted like a child.

    Chloe propped her head up with one arm and asked seriously, "So, what kind of reward do you want?"

    Grant smirked mischievously, pulling Chloe closer. "How about... you reward yourself to me?"

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    Chloe barely had time to react before Grant''s lips were on hers.

    She initially wanted to resist, but all her resistance melted into soft moans under Grant''s touch.

    Grant was skilled in the art of love, teasing Chloe step by step until her body was hot and her breathing heavy.

    Despite his desire, Grant restrained himself, stopping short of going further. After Chloe reached her peak, he got up and headed to the bathroom.

    Watching Grant leave, Chloe sat up, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration.

    From Grant''s behavior, she could tell he was attracted to her. But she couldn''t understand why, even when they were so close, he held back. He''d rather take a cold shower than go all the way with her.

    She was an adult and knew what she wanted and didn''t want.

    Was Grant not interested in taking things further, or was he saving himself for someone else?

    Chloe didn''t know.

    This left her feeling disappointed, even making her want to conquer Grant.

    With these thoughts, Chloe fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, she met up with

    her friends Rena and Zara, sharing her confusion.

    She hoped her friends could help her understand why Grant hadn''t taken the final

    step.

    After exining the situation, Rena gave her opinion. "Chloe, if Grant is already sleeping next to you, it''s unlikely he could control himself. Unlike Michael, who wouldn''t hold back..."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 256 Agree to Seduce

    At this point, Rena''s face turned a deep shade of red.

    Michael wasn''t like that. Despite his usual nagging demeanor, he was anything but reserved in bed.

    From the night Rena agreed to be his girlfriend, after she signed that agreement, Michael had imed her.

    The intimate matters between a man and a woman were always enticing.

    Since experiencing Rena''s allure, Michael had be almost insatiable, rarely letting a month go by without being with her.

    "Rena, what''s it like being with Michael?" Zara asked.

    Rena blushed, unable to articte her feelings.

    "Well, it''s just... I can''t really exin, but it''s pretty great," Rena said, her face flushing

    even more.

    Zara had been getting close to Liamtely, but their physical interactions had been limited to kissing and hugging. She still remembered how nervous Liam had been when his fingers brushed against her chest.

    However, she could sense Liam''s curiosity about her body.

    If given the chance, Liam would definitely want to be with her.

    Zara guessed, "Chloe, I also think it''s strange that Mr. Martin stops at the crucial moment. Maybe you''re not enticing enough for him?" Zara suggested.

    "Enticing?" Chloe was taken aback by the new term.

    "Yeah, look at you. You''re pretty, but you insist on making yourself look unattractive. Maybe Mr. Martin is put off by that fake mole on your face when he''s with you?" Zara analyzed.

    Chloe shook her head. "That can''t be it. I take off the fake mole when I shower at night. How could he see it?"

    "Maybe you''re not showing your true potential," Zara said seriously.

    "True potential? Isn''t intimacy between a man and a woman supposed to be natural? What do you mean?" Chloe was confused, having never delved into this topic before.

    Rena chimed in, "Maybe Zara''s right, Chloe."

    "So, what should I do?" Chloe asked, looking troubled.

    Seeing Chloe''s distress, Zara pulled out her phone and quickly searched online, showing the results to Chloe and Rena.

    "Chloe, it''s simple. Let''s see what people online say about a man keeping his distance

    at the crucial moment," Zara said, typing out the question and posting it.

    Within minutes, replies starteding in:

    [If a man doesn''t cross the line with a woman in bed, it might mean he doesn''t like her.]

    [Or maybe the woman isn''t being seductive enough? Try seducing him a bit.] [Agreed, seduction is key.]

    [A woman who knows how to charm a man is more captivating. As a man, I particrly enjoy it when my girlfriend teases me with various looks-it''s something I find immensely appealing.]

    In no time, the post had reached a hundred replies.

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    Zara summarized the answers and told Chloe, "Chloe, the consensus is that you should try seducing Grant."

    "If you seduce him and he still doesn''t respond, then maybe there''s something wrong with him."

    "Or he could be using you. Why don''t we give it a try?"

    Zaras idea struck a chord with Rena. She added, Chloe, Zara and the online folks are right. Maybe you should try to seduce Mr. Martin a bit?"

    The idea of "seduce" left Chloe feeling utterly clueless. All her life, Nichs had taught her academics, business skills, and even hired top designers to hone her sense of style.

    When he discovered her love for motorcycles, he went out of his way to build her a private track.

    In short, Nichs had prepared her for almost every aspect of lifeˇŞexcept how to intentionally spark a man''s interest. Maybe in his mind, a Davis family girl shouldn''t need to rely on seduction to get by.

    For Chloe, figuring out how to interact with men was a whole new world. What she was dealing with wasn''t just about Mr. Martin; it was about discovering a side of herself she''d never explored before.

    The three of them put their heads together, discussing various strategies for Chloe to seduce Grant.

    In the end, Rena and Zara came up with a detailed n for Chloe to seduce Grant, and they would monitor her progress, with Chloe reporting in their group chat.

    That afternoon, as Stanley entered Grant''s office, he received a call from Chloe.

    "Hello, Miss Davis," Stanley greeted her politely.

    This was the first time Chloe had called Stanley since joining the Martin family, so he treated her with utmost caution.

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    "Stanley, is Grant busy with ork today?" Chloe''s question made Stanley nce at

    Grant.

    Was Grant busy? As the CEO of the Martin Group, he was always busy with meetings and clients.

    But facing Chloe''s question, Stanley had to replied, "Not too busy. Is there something you need, Miss Davis?"

    "No, I just wanted to know if he''ll be home tonight," Chloe asked.

    Stanley looked at Grant again and thought for a moment. "He should be. Do you need Mr. Martin for something?"

    "No, just asking," Chloe said before quickly hanging up.

    Stanley was left puzzled by her abrupt call.

    "Mr. Martin, Miss Davis called, said a few random things, and then hung up. What do you think that means?" Stanley asked Grant.

    Grant paused his work and smiled slightly. "Maybe Chloe is just concerned about me," he spected.

    "But if she was concerned, wouldn''t it be more direct to text you?" Stanley''s question was reasonable.

    Grant fell silent. Chloe was so unpredictable; he couldn''t figure out her intentions.

    "Maybe she ns to go out with friends tonight and doesn''t want me to scold her foring homete?" Grant guessed based on past experiences.

    Stanley shook his head. "Could it be that Miss Davis wants to surprise you?"

 Chapter 257 Mr. Martin Is Really Happy

    Hearing Stanley guess that Chloe was nning a surprise for him, Grant''s face lit up with joy.

    He smiled and said, "If it''s really a surprise, I can''t wait!"

    When Grant got off work in the evening, he intentionally stayed in the office a bit longer to finish up some tasks. By the time he arrived home, it was already past seven o''clock.

    The housekeeper hadid out a full spread of dishes on the dining table. Chloe was sitting at the table ying on her phone, while Mia stood beside her with a pained expression.

    Seeing Mia''s troubled face, Grant walked over, puzzled.

    "Mia, what''s up?" he asked casually.

    Mia quickly replied, "Mr. Martin, I''m fine. It''s just that tonight''s dinner was made by Miss Davis. You could have your meal with Miss Davis first..."

    With that, Mia hurriedly left the dining room.

    Chloe scooted over to Grant, her face beaming with pride. "Grantie, I got out of school early today and had nothing to do, so I made dinner for you. Try it and see how it is."

    Hearing that Chloe had made dinner, Grant''s eyes moved to the dining table. He felt a surge of delight; Chloe had indeed given him a surprise.

    It was the first time he would be eating a meal cooked by Chloe.

    And to be fair, the dinner looked quite sumptuous.

    There were dishes from the Northwest region and a steak. The steak she had cooked looked pretty good in terms of color and aroma, but Grant had no idea how it tasted.

    Chloe ced a piece of steak in front of Grant. "Grantie, I cooked this steak myself. Mia said you don''t like it too well-done, so I cooked it a bit rare. Try it and see how it is." Grant couldn''t bear to refuse Chloe''s good intentions.

    He picked up the knife and fork, ready to dig in, but no matter how much he sawed at the steak, he couldn''t cut through it.

    Seeing Grant struggle with the steak, Chloe turned and grabbed a sharp knife, quickly slicing the steak open. She then forked a bloody piece and ced it in front of Grant.

    Grant stared at the bloody steak, unsure whether to open his mouth or keep it tightly shut.

    He didn''t mind steak that wasn''t too well-done, but medium-rare was his limit.

    Judging by Chloe''s steak, it looked barely cooked.

    Eating this steak was no different from eating raw beef.

    "Grantie, eat up... Look how well I cooked this steak. Go on, try it..." Chloe waspletely oblivious to her poor cooking skills and insisted that Grant eat the steak.

    Grant had no choice but to open his mouth. As soon as the steak entered his mouth, a strong taste of blood filled his pte.

    Chloe, full of excitement, asked, "Grantie, how''s my steak?"

    Grant awkwardly replied, "It''s... okay, I guess."

    "I also made chicken soup for you. I simmered it for nearly three hours. Grantie, try my chicken soup." Chloe quickly grabbed a bowl anddled some chicken soup in front of Grant.

    To be fair, the chicken soup looked well-made, with a clear broth that showed effort.

    After the raw steak, Grant eagerly drank the soup. As soon as it hit his taste buds, his face contorted in pain.

    Was this chicken soup? It tasted like a salt bomb.

    The saltiness was overwhelming, making up for all the salt Grant hadn''t consumed in his lifetime.

    However, seeing Chloe''s eager eyes, Grant forced himself to swallow.

    Seeing Grant eat, Chloe became even more enthusiastic. She served him thickly sliced potatoes, half-cooked vegetables, and even baked bread for him...

    The family''s servants were huddled in a corner of the kitchen, craning their necks one by one to peek at the dining table. When they saw Grant methodically devouring the barely cooked steak, they couldn''t help but gaze at him with awe, as if paying homage to a revered figure.

    "Mr. Martin is truly remarkable, eating half a piece of rare steak."

    "Yeah, Mr. Martin is amazing. He''s already had three bowls of that salty chicken soup." "No, Mr. Martin''s true strength is in eating that unappetizing stir-fry..." "Mr. Martin is so lucky..."

    Hearing their sarcasticments, Mia closed her eyes in resignation.

    She quietly turned and left, riding her grocery bike to the hospital.

    She needed to buy some medicine for stomach issues or food poisoning. With the way

    Grant was eating, he was bound to suffer tonight.

    As apetent housekeeper, this was the least she could do.

    That night, Chloey in bed, feeling pleased with herself.

    She wore a sexy nightgown and reported the progress to Zara and Rena in their group chat.

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    Chloe was happy: [Friends, I followed our n and made dinner for Grant. He seemed very happy and will probablye to my room soon.]

    Zara eximed: [Great! Did you wear that sexy nightgown we bought today?]

    Chloe: [Yes, I did. Not sure how effective it is, though.]

    Rena was confident in her choice of pajamas: [Don''t worry, Chloe. Mr. Martin will definitely be turned on when he sees you in that nightgown. Trust Zara and me; no man can resist your nightgown''s allure.]

    After updating her friends, Chloey in bed, waiting to give Grant another surprise. Zara was right about one thing: the way to a man''s heart was through his stomach. She had worked so hard to make dinner for Grant; he was bound to be moved.

    Half an hour passed, and the slightly ajar door remained still.

    An hour passed, and still, no one came through Chloe''s door.

    Chloe patiently waited another twenty minutes when she finally heard footsteps outside.

    She thought it was Grant and felt a surge of joy, but itsted only three seconds.

    Because the person who opened her door was not Grant, but Mia.

    Mia said, "Miss Davis, you need to get up. Mr. Martin is sick, and you need to take him

    to the hospital..."

    "What? Sick?"

 Chapter 258 She Must Reflect

    The message Mia delivered left Chloe feeling utterly devastated.

    She quickly changed out of her sexy outfit and rushed to the living room.

    As soon as she arrived, she saw Grant clutching his stomach in pain, sitting on the couch, surrounded by several household staff with varied expressions on their faces.

    It was clear that Grant wasn''t doing well tonight.

    "Grantie, what''s wrong?" Chloe couldn''t help but ask when she saw him in such a state. One of the staff responded, "Mr. Martin has an upset stomach..."

    "How did he get an upset stomach?" Chloe waspletely baffled by the cause of Grant''s condition.

    The staff continued, "He had a medium-rare steak, ate half of it, drank three bowls of overly salty chicken soup, and ate half a te of undercooked potatoes. An upset stomach was inevitable."

    Hearing this, Chloe instantly understood the situation.

    It seemed that Grant''s condition tonight was mostly her fault.

    "Grantie, how are you feeling now? You don''t look so good..." Chloe asked worriedly as she approached Grant, feeling a bit embarrassed.

    Another staff member chimed in, "Mr. Martin''s condition isn''t great. In the past hour, he''s had to run to the bathroom twelve times. Anyone would feel awful."

    "What? Twelve times?" Chloe was speechless.

    Was her cooking really that bad? Bad enough to make Grant run to the bathroom twelve times in just over an hour?

    Could it be that Grant had some underlying health issues?

    Seeing Grant''s condition worsening, Mia hurried down from upstairs with Grant''s documents.

    She said, "Miss Davis, stop asking questions. Mr. Martin is almost dehydrated. We need to get him to the hospital..."

    Soon, Chloe and the household staff scrambled to get Grant to the hospital.

    After the doctor''s examination, it was confirmed that Grant had acute gastroenteritis from eating undercooked food and needed to be hospitalized for treatment.

    There was no other choice; Chloe had to stay with Grant in the hospital. As the IV dripped into Grant''s veins, the look of agony on his face gradually eased.

    Hey on the hospital bed, eyes half-closed, resting.

    Chloe''s phone buzzed with messages from Rena and Zara in their group chat. Zara: [Calling Chloe, it''s been a couple of hours. What''s going on over there?] Rena: [I am curious too, Chloe. Did Mr. Martin respond to your seduction?] Chloe was speechless at her friends'' messages.

    Looking at Grant lying on the bed, she replied: [No need to be curious. We''re in the hospital.]

    Zara''s imagination was running wild: [What? The hospital? Chloe, did you guys go too wild and throw out your back?]

    Rena alsomented: [Wow, you guys ended up in the hospital? Were you trying some high-difficulty moves?]

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    Chloe felt like banging her head against the wall.

    Her fingers flew over the phone screen: [You guys need to shut up. It was your idea, the way to a man''s heart is through his stomach. Why did Grant end up with acute gastroenteritis from my dinner?]

    Chloe vented her frustration to Zara and Rena in the group chat: [I hate you guys. Instead of a good night, I''m stuck in the hospital taking care of a patient...]

    When Zara and Rena found out that Grant was hospitalized because of Chloe''s half- cooked meal, they were speechless.

    They had suggested that Chloe cook dinner for Grant and then wear something sexy to seduce him.

    But they didn''t tell her to serve him a half-cooked meal!

    This wasn''t about their idea being bad; it was Chloe''s cooking skills that were the problem.Chloe needed to reflect, deeply.

    She thought that Grant''s gastroenteritis would only require a few days in the hospital to recover.

    But Giselle used Grant''s illness as an opportunity to attack Chloe.

    The day after Grant was hospitalized, Giselle brought Isidora to visit him.

    Seeing Grant lying pale on the hospital bed, Giselle''s eyes showed disdain for Chloe.

    Beforeing, Giselle had heard from Isidora that this was the second time Grant had been hospitalized since Chloe started staying with the Martin family. The first time was also due to gastrointestinal issues.

    This meant that Chloe''s poor care was causing Grant''s repeated illnesses.

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    The Martin family was a prestigious family. A wife for someone from the Martin family had to be capable of both managing the household and taking care of her husband.

    Someone like Chloe, who had a good family background but couldn''t take care of a man, was uneptable.

    Even though the marriage alliance between the Martin Family and the Davis Family was originally brokered by Louis, it wasn''t entirely set in stone. After all, Giselle held a trump card-one that could potentially shift the dynamics and offer a way out of the arrangement.

    "Miss Davis, I heard that Grant got sick from eating the half-cooked dinner you made, leading to his hospitalization?" Giselle wasted no time in questioning Chloe as soon as she arrived at the hospital.

    She immediately med Chloe for everything.

    Chloe admitted it directly. "Yes, Grant did eat the dinner I madest night. But the doctor said the dinner wasn''t the main issue. The main issue is his pre-existing gastrointestinal condition."

    "But if you hadn''t given him a half-cooked dinner, would his condition have red up? Ultimately, it''s because you didn''t take good care of Grant."

    Giselle was aggressive. As Grant''s aunt, she came to the hospital not to check on his condition first but to me Chloe.

    This showed that her concern for Grant wasn''t entirely genuine.

    Chloe had felt a bit guilty for making Grant eat the half-cooked meal, but seeing Giselle''s usatory attitude made her angry.

    "Ms. Rodriguez, Grant is an adult, and he''s older than me. I''m just staying with the Martin family temporarily, not as a servant. I have no responsibility or obligation to take care of his daily needs."

    "Besides, he was hospitalizedst night. As his aunt, shouldn''t you havee to the hospitalst night? Now you''re here ming me for not taking care of Grant. I could say the same about you."

    Chloe didn''t hold back and fired back at her.

    Some people loved to use moral high ground to question others.

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Giselle was furious. She pointed at Chloe and said, "I''m your elder. How dare you speak to me like that?"

 Chapter 259 You Can Marry Him Home

    Giselle''s furious outburst made Chloe feel a sense of satisfaction.

    With a disdainful smile, Chloe thought that people who don''t respect others deserve a taste of their own medicine. As for the whole "respect your elders" thing, where was that respect when Giselle tried to frame her with that letter of intent?

    "Elder? You''re Grant''s elder, I have no problem with that."

    "But if you im to be my elder, Ipletely disagree. Myst name is Davis. I asked my grandfather, and we traced our Davis family lineage back eight generations. We don''t have any rtives named Rodriguez."

    Chloe''s words made Giselle clutch her chest in anger. "You... oh, my heart hurts."

    Giselle thought that since Chloe had upset her to the point of heart difort, she would stop and let her scold her a bit. But Chloe didn''t back down an inch.

    With a sidelong nce at the clearly feigning Giselle, Chloe said, "Ms. Rodriguez, if your heart is really that bad, you should take care of it. Whye here to me me?"

    "You sure have guts. Don''t forget, I''m Grant''s aunt. You haven''t even married him yet, and you dare talk back to me like this. Aren''t you afraid I might stop you from marrying into the Martin family?" Giselle tried to threaten Chloe with the marriage.

    Little did she know, beforeing to Sovereign City, Chloe had repeatedly pestered Nichs to break off the engagement. Even though she and Grant were getting closer, she still resented the engagement.

    Threatening her with the engagement waspletely ineffective.

    Chloe snorted, "Ms. Rodriguez, you''d better make sure I don''t marry into the Martin family, if you have that kind of power."

    "And let me be clear, I don''t care about marrying into the Martin family. If ites to that, I can always have Grant marry into the Davis family."

    "With the Davis family''s resources, it''s not like we can''t afford it. We could just offer the Martin Family more benefits."

    After saying this, Chloe ignored Giselle''splex expression and turned to leave. She needed to get some water for Grant to wash his face.

    Giselle watched Chloe leave, fuming. Chloe''s sharp tongue was too much for her to handle. Indeed, an independent woman''s confidence came from a solid family background and plenty of money.

    But Grant was her nephew, and she could always persuade him to keep his distance from Chloe.

    So, after Chloe left, Giselle entered the hospital room where a male servant was helping Grant change clothes. Due to severe dehydration from frequent diarrhea, Grant had been hospitalized.

    After a night of IV fluids, he was much better, though still weak from fasting.

    "Grantie, what happened? I heard from the servants that Chloe fed you undercooked foodst night?" Giselle immediately pounced on the issue as she entered.

    Grant frowned, clearly annoyed that the household staff couldn''t keep family matters private.

    He didn''t answer her question.

    But Giselle continued, "She is so irresponsible. How could she do that? She''s old

    enough to know that undercooked food can make you sick."

    Giselle thought she had hit the truth, leaving Grant speechless.

    But she was surprised when Grant spoke up. "It was my choice to eat it. It has nothing to do with Chloe."

    Giselle was stunned. "You''re defending her even though she made you sick enough to be hospitalized?"

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    Grant replied, "Giselle, I''m an adult. No one can make me sick unless my own health is poor."

    "Your health isn''t poor. You''re just defending her. I heard it was a rare steak she made you eat." Giselle insisted on ming Chloe for Grant''s hospitalization.

    Grant continued, "Why can''t I eat that? My grandfather was eating raw beef at fifty and never got sick."

    "I''m in the hospital because of my own health, not because of Chloe."

    "Giselle, you''ve seen me. I''m fine. You can leave now."

    With those words, Grant dismissed Giselle.

    Giselle felt awkward. Was she really so unwee in her nephew''s eyes?

    But she had a mission toplete, so she held back her frustration.

    "Fine, I''ll go. But not before you drink the oatmeal I brought."

    "Knowing you have gastritis, you can''t eat hard foods. Isidora made this oatmeal early

    this morning. She said it would be good for your stomach."

    "You need a woman like Isidora, someone caring and who can cook. Here, try it..."

    Giselle kept pushing Isidora in front of Grant, oblivious to his growing irritation.

    Seeing Giselle bring the oatmeal to Grant, he wondered how to refuse.

    He said, "Giselle, I''m not hungry. I don''t want oatmeal right now."

    Since Isidora had sat in his passenger seat, Grant had instinctively rejected her. He feared that Isidora might affect his rtionship with Chloe.

    Chloe was young and innocent. He had worked hard to win her over and wouldn''t let anything harm their rtionship.

    Giselle insisted, "Drink it. Isidora got up at five to make it. You can''t waste her effort..." Just as Grant was cornered, theical Harry burst into the room.

    He saw Giselle forcing the oatmeal on Grant and immediately intervened. "Hey, Giselle, what are you doing? Are you trying to harm Grant?"

    Giselle was taken aback.

    Harry continued, "I just asked the doctor. Grant has gastritis and needs to fast. Giving him oatmeal could cause a blockage. Are you trying to hurt him?"

    Harry''s words left Giselle flustered. "I... I didn''t know..." she hadn''t meant to cause harm.

    Grant was pleased with Harry''s timely intervention. His cousin had be more perceptive.

    Seeing Giselle''s reaction, Harry smiled.

    He took the oatmeal from her and downed it in one go.

 Chapter 260 Seduction Plan

    Giselle watched Harry''s actions, fuming with anger. Isidora had spent the entire morning making that oatmeal for Grant.

    Grant couldn''t drink it now, but they could save it for when he was able to eat. How could Harry just gulp it all down in one go?

    Harry, after finishing the bowl of oatmeal, licked his lips, clearly wanting more.

    Everyone expected him to praise the oatmeal, saying how well it was made.

    But Harry disappointed everyone.

    He said, "This oatmeal is pretty mediocre, doesn''t taste good at all."

    "If I hadn''t been working all night and starving, I wouldn''t have touched it. Giselle, whoever made this oatmeal isn''t good at it. Don''t let her make oatmeal for Grant again."

    With that, Harry handed the empty bowl to Giselle, who was left speechless, staring at the empty bowl in her hands.

    Harry brought over a wheelchair and said to Grant, "Grant, time to get up. I''ll take you for your check-up."

    Grant understood and got out of bed, sitting in the wheelchair. With Giselle looking helpless, Harry wheeled Grant away.

    Giselle was stunned.

    She hade early to see Grant, hoping to make an impression, but instead, she was ignored by the younger crowd.

    Especially Chloe, who wouldn''t back down an inch.

    Giselle couldn''t quite let it go-someone daring to talk back to her had to face the consequences. After stewing over it and still finding herself unable to swallow her pride, she decided to act. Once she left the hospital, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number. It was her sister, Anissa Rodriguez-Grant''s mother, who was living abroad.

    On the call, Giselle badmouthed Chloe, exaggerating everything to convince Anissa to stop Chloe from marrying into the Davis family.

    She even mentioned the mole on Chloe''s face, iming she had consulted a doctor who said it was hereditary.

    She said, "Anissa, It''s not that I''m against Chloe marrying Grant, but let''s be honest- her looks are... less than ideal. Just think about it. Our Grant is so handsome. If he ends up with Chloe, what kind of children would they have? What if every one of them inherits those... unfortunate features? A face full of moles?"

    "So, Anissa, you need toe back and stop this. In my opinion, none of the Martin boys should marry Chloe."

    "I think Harry from the Gonzalez family seems interested in Chloe. If it doesn''t work out, let him marry her. After all, he has Louis''s blood too, right?"

    Giselle believed Anissa would return soon. She couldn''t beat Chloe, but Anissa, as Grant''s mother, surely could. Grant wouldn''t dare go against his mother.

    With this thought, Giselle headed to the Martin group.

    Three dayster, Grant was discharged.

    Chloe, who had been taking care of him, looked noticeably thinner.

    She took two days off from school to rest at home.

    Grant was busy working in the sunroom,ptop in hand, while Chloe sat on a nearby couch, ying with her phone.

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    She was chatting with Rena and Zara.

    Zara suggested: [Chloe, now that Mr. Martin is out of the hospital, we can continue our n to seduce him.]

    Rena chimed in: [Yes, I heard from Mic that Mr. Martin is recovering well and can work again.]

    Seeing their messages, Chloe immediately refused.

    She typed: [Let''s pause the seduction n. I''m afraid I might identally send him back to the hospital.]

    Rena and Zara protested.

    [Chloe, you can''t stop the n because of one small incident. You''ll only get further from the truth,] Zara insisted, feeling like she was watching a TV drama and had to encourage Chloe.

    Rena agreed: [Yes, Chloe, you need to be resilient. Otherwise, if you marry Mr. Martin and find out he has issues or doesn''t like you, you''ll be in trouble.]

    Zara responded: [Exactly, a new writer told me that a man''s feelings are shown by whether he wants to sleep with you. Chloe, go test him.]

    Rena: [I support the test.]

    With Zara and Rena''s encouragement, Chloe, inexperienced in love, was quickly swayed.

    Maybe it wouldn''t hurt to try.

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    Grant was working on hisptop, and she wasn''t far from him. Why not try to seduce him?

    Holding her phone, Chloey down on the couch in a seductive pose, gazing at Grant with longing eyes.

    A man focused on his work was indeed very attractive.

    Grant''s sharp eyes were fixed on his screen. Chloe''s legs were getting numb from holding the pose, but Grant didn''t nce her way.

    Feeling defeated, Chloe coughed to get his attention, but Grant remained engrossed in his work.

    Chloe thought maybe she wasn''t showing enough skin to attract him.

    Chloe, determined to make herself appear even more captivating, subtly tugged at the hem of her top, allowing a glimpse of her slender yet toned waist to peek through.

    Her waist, honed from years of riding motorcycles, was a testament to her active lifestyle-tight, narrow, and incredibly supple, like a piece of sculpted art. Every time she caught sight of her own reflection, she couldn''t help but admire it

    ''He has to notice me like this, right?'' she thought, her mind racing.

    Yet, Grant appeared utterly absorbed in hisptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard as if she didn''t exist.

    What she didn''t know, however, was that Grant had caught every single one of her subtle movements through hisptop''s camera.

    As an adult, seven or eight years older than Chloe, he realized she was trying to seduce

    him. He lowered his head ever so slightly, his lips curving into a subtle but unmistakable smirk...

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 261 Girls Should Be Reserved

    Grant''s body was already buzzing with excitement.

    The surge of desire made his heart feel like it was about to burst. Just sitting there quietly, watching Chloe''s awkward attempts to seduce him, was an extreme pleasure in itself.

    He discreetly clicked the mouse, recording all of Chloe''s movements.

    He thought, one day when they were old, he would y this video for Chloe.

    That must be extremely enjoyable!

    Chloe had no idea that Grant had been watching her every move through the camera. She continued striking poses until she saw the barely perceptible smile creeping onto Grant''s face. It was then that she sensed something was amiss.

    She quickly got off the couch and rushed to Grant''s side, looking at hisputer. To her surprise, she caught Grant watching the footage of the couch through the webcam. Chloe was furious.

    Her face turned bright red as she yelled at Grant. "Grant, you were spying on me! You''re so bad! How could you do this..."

    "I''m not talking to you anymore. You''re too bad. Oh... I''m going crazy..."

    Thinking about how Grant had seen all her actions, Chloe felt extremely embarrassed.

    She wanted to disappear.

    Seeing her like this, Grant couldn''t help butugh out loud.

    She was just too adorable. He reached out and pulled Chloe''s slender body into his arms, and then showered her with kisses.

    Sitting on Grant''sp, Chloe could clearly feel the tension in his lower body.

    Her knowledge of biology showed her that Grant was perfectly fine, at least physically. As for why he hadn''t crossed the final line and had a real rtionship with her, it must be a psychological issue. Could it be that Grant really saw her as just an option?

    To test her theory, Chloe quietly reached out and touched Grant''s lower body.

    When those soft hands started teasing him, Grant''s body stiffened. He picked Chloe up and, without hesitation, pressed her down on the couch in the sunroom.

    Because of Grant''s illness and hospitalization, they hadn''t slept together in a long time. As soon as Grant touched Chloe''s body, he couldn''t hold back anymore.

    They tangled together passionately, kissing until they were both dizzy. Chloe, pinned under Grant, could barely breathe. She moaned softly, her enticing voice echoing through the sunroom and reaching outside.

    Mia wasing upstairs to bring water to them. As she reached the door, she heard the soundsing from inside.

    Having worked for the Martin family for many years, she knew better than to disturb the boss at a time like this.

    So she turned and left, feeling a bit wistful. ''Young people really have energy. I could even hear theirmotion through the door.''

    Grant, in her eyes, was far superior to her husband. She sighed, wishing she could turn back the clock twenty years. If only that were possible, she would undoubtedly seek a man like Grant, ready to explore the depths of passion.

    Not long after Mia left, she sent a message to Nichs: [Mr. Davis, everything''s going smoothly. I estimate it won''t be long before you can hold your great-grandchild. Congrattions, Mr. Davis."

    Nichs, upon receiving Mia''s message, was overjoyed despite his age.

    He grabbed Felix and said, "Hey, Mia sent a message. She says it won''t be long before I can have a great-grandchild. Good, very good."

    "I didn''t expect my n to hold a great-grandchild toe to fruition so quickly."

    "Felix, call Louis and have him talk to me about their wedding."

    Nichs was a bit anxious. It had to be said, Chloe inherited his temperament.

    Felix tried to calm Nichs down. "Mr. Davis, our Miss Davis is a girl. The Martin family has the boy. Shouldn''t it be the Martin familying to us to discuss the wedding? Wouldn''t that make us seem more reserved? What do you think?"

    Felix''s words hit the mark for Nichs.

    He stroked his short beard and nodded. "You''re right. Chloe is a girl. It''s not appropriate for us to bring up the wedding first."

    "But how do I let Louis know that it''s time to talk about the wedding?"

    Seeing Nichs''s troubled expression, Felix thought for a moment and offered a suggestion. "Mr. Davis, we can have Miss Adide Davis show up and put some pressure on the Martin family, right?"

    "We need to make sure that the eldest son of the Martin family is eager to marry Miss Chloe Davis. Mr. Davis, do you think that makes sense?"

    Felix''s advice gave Nichs rity.

    Indeed, he was eager to have a great-grandchild.

    But he didn''t want the Martin family to think that the Davis family''s heiress was

    desperate to marry into their family.

    So, when it was time to y hard to get, they had to y hard to do it.

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    After discussing with Felix, Nichs had a n.

    He quickly got in touch with his daughter, Adide Davis.

    A few dayster, Adide arrived in Sovereign City and moved into the vi the Davis family had bought years ago.

    Meanwhile, Chloe had no idea that her elusive aunt had arrived in Sovereign City. She was in her office, chatting with Zara after finishing her work.

    Zara asked her, "You tried so hard to seduce Mr. Martin that day, and he still didn''t have sex with you?"

    "Yes..."

    "Why? Why is that?" Zara was genuinely puzzled.

    She was a little over a year older than Chloe and considered herself more experienced

    in rtionships. She had entered the workforce earlier and had friends who shared

    their rtionship experiences with her.

    But she had never seen a rtionship like Chloe and Grant''s.

    They had kissed, hugged, and touched.

    But at the crucial moment, Grant could calm down so quickly.

    He wasn''t sick, so what was the reason? Zara couldn''t figure it out.

    Unable to find an answer, Zara suggested a drastic measure to Chloe.

    "Chloe, why don''t we give Grant some medicine? The kind that makes him desperate

    to be with a woman or else he''ll suffer. I don''t believe he could resist that."

 Chapter 262 Her Goddess

    Zara''s suggestion left Chloepletely floored.

    Drugging someone? Wasn''t that the despicable act of a scoundrel? Chloe, who prided herself on her integrity, had she really sunk to such desperate lows, driven by an insatiable hunger? What bizarre notions had taken root in Zara''s mind?

    "Drug Grant? How''d you evene up with that idea?" Chloe shot Zara a disapproving look. "I''m not doing it. If you want to drug someone, go drug Liam."

    "Besides, you two aren''t even together yet. Maybe drugging him will speed things up between you."

    Zara was caught off guard when Chloe suddenly shifted the focus onto her. Flustered, she waved her hands and replied, ''Chloe, we were discussing your matters. How did it suddenly turn to me? Okay, let''s drop that. Let''s continue talking about the spiking incident.

    Just as Zara finished speaking, Chloe''s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Chloe got excited.

    "Zara, hush, it''s an important call..."

    "Who is it? A big client?" Zara leaned in curiously.

    When she saw the name on Chloe''s phone screen, Zara''s eyes widened in surprise. "Aunt Adide? Is it really her?" Zara was thrilled.

    Chloe nodded. "Yeah, it''s really my aunt... Let me take this call, and please, don''t say anything."

    Chloe answered the call, while Zara was beside herself with excitement.

    Adide''s story was legendary in the Northwest. She was incredibly talented and had made a name for herself at a very young age.

    The Davis family, in Nichs''s generation, had very few descendants. He only had two children: Adide and Chloe''s father.

    Nichs had hoped Chloe''s father would have more children, but Chloe''s father passed away early due to poor health.

    Nichs then focused all his energy on Adide, pressuring her to marry early to continue the Davis family lineage.

    But Adide was rebellious. She had no interest in taking over the family business or in having children. So, she secretly left the country to pursue her own passions.

    When Chloe was in elementary school, Adide returned to the Davis family once, but after a falling out with Nichs, she disappeared again.

    Chloe didn''t see her aunt often, but that didn''t mean Adide didn''t care about her. Since Chloe''s father passed away, Adide had taken care of all of Chloe''s needs every year.

    When Chloe was in elementary school, she got into a fight with a ssmate and identally injured him.

    The Davis familypensated the other family, but they were relentless, demanding that Chloe be hurt in return.

    Nichs was absolutely livid. He couldn''t stand by and watch someone bash the head of Chloe, whom he cherished and protected in the palm of his hand. Yet, being someone of his stature, he couldn''t lower himself to the level of those scoundrels. Revealing the full might of the Davis Family would, after all, smack of bullying.

    Out of options, Nichs sent a message to Adide: [Someone wants to hurt your niece.]

    Adide received the message and immediately flew back to the Davis family. The next day, she stormed into the school, determined to get to the bottom of the fight.

    It turned out the boy had started the fight and insulted Chloe, calling her an orphan. That''s why Chloe fought back.

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    Adide was furious and wanted to confront the boy''s parents.

    The incident caused quite a stir. Young Chloe looked up to her aunt like a goddess, seeing her as a savior.

    To Chloe, Adide was like a fairy sent by God to protect her, embodying the image of

    a mother who would do anything for her child.

    So, when Chloe received a call from Adide, she was understandably excited.

    "Aunt Adide, it''s Chloe..." Chloe quickly introduced herself as she answered the call.

    On the other end, Adide seemed to be chatting with friends.

    Hearing Chloe''s voice, sheughed heartily before speaking to her. "Chloe, I''m in Sovereign City. I''m meeting a friend right now. Do you have time toe over and chat?" Adide, having lived abroad for years, was very polite with Chloe.

    Chloe eagerly replied, "I have time. Even if I didn''t, I''d make time for you." "Great, I''ll send you the location. Be good and take a cab over. When you get to the gate, just tell the guard you''re looking for Aurelia." With that, Adide hung up. Chloe quickly got ready and decided to bring Zara along to meet Adide.

    Adide had met Zara when she returned to the Northwest Territories, but it had been many years, and Chloe wasn''t sure if Adide could still remember Zara.

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    Zara was ecstatic about meeting Adide.

    On the way, she kept asking Chloe about Adide''s past. After all, Adide was unlike anyone Zara had ever met.

    Zara wanted to know everything about Adide to avoid saying anything wrong when they met.

    So Chloe filled Zara in on Adide''s story.

    "My aunt always wanted to be an actress, but my grandpa didn''t approve. You know, my dad passed away early, and the Davis family needs her to inherit the family property"

    "But my aunt wasn''t interested in that. She secretly left and joined the entertainment industry.

    My grandfather sternly cautioned her that if she insisted on making a name for herself in the entertainment industry, she must never let anyone know her surname was Davis. After all, steeped in tradition as he was, he simply couldn''t stomach the idea of his daughter-destined to be a heiress to a wealthy family-throwing it all away to be an actress.

    After weighing her options, my aunt ultimately chose to pursue her dream. She adopted the stage name Aurelia Kingsley, keeping her mother''s maiden name, and thus embarked on her journey as an actress in the limelight."

    Chloe exined everything to Zara.

    Zara was in awe. "I always knew Adide was in the entertainment industry, but I didn''t know she changed her name to Aurelia."

    "Now that you mention it, I know a lot about Aurelia. Her movies are even used as teaching material. Her acting skills are top-notch."

    "Chloe, how do you have such a great life? You have a good family, you''re doing well yourself, you have a great boyfriend, and now you have this amazing aunt. How do you get all the good things?"

 Chapter 263 Do You Even Know Your Place?

    Zara couldn''t stop gushing about Chloe''s privileged background. If she had the same advantages, she figured she could have been just as confident and assertive. "Some folks are born to work hard, but you were born with a silver spoon. Gotta give you props for that..."

    Chloe smiled, feeling a bit helpless. "Zara,e on, I don''t see it that way. Sure, I was born into a good family, but doesn''t that mean I still chose to be friends with you? And isn''t it fun for us to hustle together?"

    Zara nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, making money with you is a st."

    "Oh, by the way, Chloe, if ourpany partners with Adide, we could be a top-tier business in our circle within two years."

    Zara, influenced by Chloe, was now fully invested in their business. She had already experienced the thrill of making money.

    Chloe reassured her, "Don''t worry, we''ll make money step by step. As long as we keep growing steadily, we''ll definitely earn a lot. Keep it up, Zara."

    As they chatted, the car pulled up to the address Adide had given them. Zara parked, and they both got out and headed inside.

    Once inside, they realized it wasn''t a hotel or a mansion, but a private wine club.

    Private wine sanctuaries like these were typically not open to the public, for the individuals behind their creation were not in need of financial gain. They had long transcended the realm of profiting from such establishments.

    The very essence of crafting such an exclusive space was to provide a sanctuary where equals within their sphere can convene, converse, and cultivate connections. It was less about the clinking of sses and more about the symphony of minds meeting in an ambiance as refined as the vintages they savor.

    Of course, not just anyone coulde to ces like this. A single ss of wine could cost tens of thousands of dors, and a casual evening could easily rack up hundreds of thousands in wine.

    Chloe, who lived in the Martin Mansion, wasn''t familiar with such ces.

    Zara''s family was well-off, and the Gibson family had some standing in Sovereign City, but even Zara''s uncle Brian didn''t have the privilege toe here.

    Zara had heard Brian mention such high-end ces in Sovereign City. The courtyard was exquisitely decorated, with intricate carvings and picturesquendscapes, resembling a hidden paradise in the bustling city.

    Zara''s was shocked. "Chloe, what kind of connections does Adide have to get us in here?

    This is my first time in such a fancy ce. Once we''re inside, you have to get me a ss of that expensive wine, okay?"

    Chloe felt a bit exasperated seeing Zara like this. Wine was nice, but she wasn''t particrly fond of it and didn''t drink much.

    Since she was fifteen, Nichs had hired a professional sommelier to teach her about wine at the Davis Family estate. The Davis Family had a wine cer filled with various wines.

    Chloe had learned well from her sommelier. She could tell where a wine was from and its value just by smelling it.

    She teased Zara, "Look at you. Don''t worry, I''ll get you a big ss so you can drink to your heart''s content."

    Zara, holding Chloe''s arm, said happily, "You''re the best."

    A few minutester, they arrived at the club''s entrance. The security was particrly strict, likely because the people inside were all big shots.

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    As soon as Chloe and Zara approached, the security guards stopped them. "Excuse me,dies. Who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment?"

    The guard was polite. Chloe replied, "We''re here to see Aurelia. She called me earlier..." Before Chloe could finish, udia, dressed to the nines, came out of the club. She seemed to have had quite a bit to drink, her face flushed.

    Seeing Chloe and Zara, udia''s expression changed slightly. "You''re here to see Aurelia?"

    Chloe didn''t have a good impression of udia. Last time, udia had called her a nobody. But since Chloe was here to see Adide, she didn''t want to say anything harsh.

    Chloe nodded. "Yes, I''m here to see Aurelia."

    udia sneered. "I have to say, your business sense is sharp. Aurelia just arrived in Sovereign City this afternoon, and you''re already here tonight."

    "Do you think your poorpany can sign Aurelia? Do you even know your ce?"

    udia had some standing in their circle. Her words immediately made the guards more alert. "Are you reporters? If so, leave. You''re not wee here."

    "No, we''re not reporters. We''re here to see Aurelia..." Chloe quickly denied being a reporter when she saw the guards about to chase them away.

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    udia snorted, "See Aurelia? You think someone of Aurelia''s caliber is someone you can just meet?"

    "Not to brag, but even I am just a novice in front of Aurelia."

    "Leave now. Considering you''re from the Davis Family, I won''t say anything too harsh." udia was somewhat considerate, not wanting to fall out with Chloe, knowing the Davis Family had money. Money was power, and even though she was influential, money was her backer.

    Of course, once the budget Grant had her work on was done, Chloe would be her investor.

    But udia''s attitude annoyed Zara. This wasn''t the first time udia had been unfriendly to Chloe.

    Zara reminded her, "udia, since you know Chloe is from the Davis Family, you should be more polite. We''re really here to see Aurelia. It has nothing to do with you."

    udia''s face turned cold at Zara''s blunt words. She crossed her arms, showing off her valuable emerald bracelet.

    Attending such high-end gatherings, udia had to wear her most valuable items, or she''d be outshone by others.

    "So what if she''s from the Davis Family? Do you think money can get you a meeting with Aurelia?"

    "Her aloofness is well-known in our circle. And as far as I know, she despises uninvited guests like you."

    "Even if you''re from the Davis Family, Aurelia won''t give you any face. She''s the only woman I''ve met who can''t be swayed by money."

 Chapter 264 Compliment

    "So, you better leave now before security has to throw you out. That''d be pretty embarrassing, don''t you think?"

    udia''s words made Zara furious. Unlike other women, udia''s sharpness was hidden behind her polite words, but you could still hear the disdain in her voice.

    udia''s words effectively guided the security guards.

    The guards actually started to push Zara and Chloe out.

    Zara shielded Chloe as they were forced to step back. Chloe''s face turned icy cold.

    She knew that saying anything more would be useless. The only thing she could do was call Adide toe.

    If she were indeed escorted out by security from this exclusive wine club today, then in the days toe, she would forever dwell under the shadow of udia''s scorn.

    Zara couldn''t stand seeing Chloe being treated this way. "udia, you might be a big deal in this circle, but that doesn''t give you the right to look down on us."

    "How do you know Aurelia won''t give the Davis Family some respect? Could it be that Aurelia is a rtive of the Davis Family?"

    Zara''s words made udiaugh out loud.

    She stared at Zara and said, "You young people, trying to find Aurelia without even knowing her background."

    "Aurelia has been in this circle for years, and we''ve never heard of her having any rtives. You pretending to be her rtives is just ridiculous."

    Seeing udia''s face, Chloe stopped Zara from saying more.

    She lifted her chin and asked udia, "What makes you think I''m pretending to be Aurelia''s rtive?"

    "I have an engagement with the Martin Family. Do you think I need to pretend to be Aurelia''s rtive?"

    "udia, the true measure of a person''s worth is not merely skin-deep, and I harbor no wish to be your adversary. However, should you continue to tread upon me with your contempt, do not feign surprise when I cease to extend you the courtesy you''ve failed to earn. A single word whispered to Grant, and the potential investment for your uing film could vanish like morning mist. "

    "And if Aureliaes out and sees you giving me a hard time, do you think she''ll turn against you? Or maybe she''ll have you thrown out of here?"

    The backing behind Chloe''s words made udia reconsider. After all, the Davis Family

    and the Martin Family were not forces anyone could afford to offend.

    As udia looked on in surprise, Chloe took out her phone and called Adide.

    "Auntie, I''m at the address you gave me, but someone won''t let me in."

    As soon as Chloe finished speaking, Adide came out of the club, saying, "Who dares to stop my niece froming in?"

    Adide arrived at the entrance, followed by some very influential-looking people.

    When udia saw Chloe calling Adide "Auntie," her slight buzz from the alcohol instantly cleared.

    Chloe''s identity made her wary.

    Not only was Chloe ady of the Davis Family and the future mistress of the Martin Family, but she was also calling Aurelia "Auntie"?

    Her luck in life was just too incredible.

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    "Auntie..." Chloe called out when she saw Adide.

    Adide rushed over to Chloe, hugging her tightly. "Chloe, it''s been years since Ist saw you. You''ve grown so much! Oh my, I almost didn''t recognize you."

    "Who, who wouldn''t let my niece in? Step forward!" After hugging Chloe, Adide immediately switched to protective mode, which scared udia.

    Adide''s questioning left udia no choice but to respond.

    She quickly stepped forward, smiling apologetically, "Adide, there''s been a misunderstanding. I didn''t recognize your niece and thought they were just fans. I''m sorry, it was my mistake."

    udia''s humble demeanor showed that after this incident, she would never dare to act so arrogantly in front of Chloe again.

    Adide nced at udia and then pulled Chloe to her side, saying, "I hope this mistake doesn''t happen again. If it does, udia, you won''t be able to stay in this circle anymore."

    udia might be a big shot in the circle, but in front of Adide, she was nothing. With just a look from Adide, the investors would pull their support from udia, and without resources, udia would be out of the circle.

    udia quickly nodded, "Yes, Adide, I was wrong. This mistake won''t happen again." Before udia could finish, Adide led Chloe into the club, introducing her to her friends.

    Zara followed behind Chloe, smugly wrinkling her nose at udia.

    Sweat broke out on udia''s forehead.

    She had always been the one to show off in front of others, but after meeting Chloe, she realized her arrogance was useless. Chloe always managed to strike back precisely.

    Inside the club, Adide introduced Chloe to her friends.

    Everyone admired Chloe''s looks and praised her, using the most ttering words.

    "Adide''s niece is so cute, she really takes after Adide."

    "Adide is so outstanding, her niece must be amazing too."

    "Adide has such great taste in fashion, and her niece''s style is just as likable."

    Thesepliments left Zara stunned. Adide had called in a hurry, and Chloe had only worn a simple Chanel suit.

    Was this style really worth all the praise?

    In this environment, Chloe was in her element. She politely thanked everyone and, while Adide was talking to others, handed Zara a ss of what must have been very expensive wine.

    "Zara, drink up. This ss of wine is worth at least twenty thousand dors. One sip and twenty thousand dors are gone," Chloe exined.

    The price shocked Zara.

 Chapter 265 It Is Inappropriate for a Girl to Stay at Someone Elses House

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    Chloe nced at the high-end wines disyed around the club and nodded. "Sure thing. We''ve got plenty of wine tonight, so drink up."

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    Someone asked Adide, "Aurelia, do you have any important work to do here in Sovereign City?"

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    "How long are you nning to stay in Sovereign City?"

    Adide thought for a moment. "Hard to say. Maybe until my niece graduates, or maybe until she gets married. You know how it is with girls; they always need a bit more protection from family."

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    Everyone nodded in agreement.

    Chloe and Zara overheard Adide''s conversation.

    This missing content is only avable on

    Zara looked at Chloe, puzzled. "Chloe, Adide said someone was bullying you. Do you know who it was?"

    This missing content is only avable on

    "Then why did Adide say she''s staying in Sovereign City until you graduate? What''s that about?" Zara was baffled.

    This missing content is only avable on

    Chloe shook her head again. "I just met my aunt today. I know as much as you do, so don''t ask me. Just enjoy the wine."

    This missing content is only avable on

    Zara clinked her ss with Chloe''s.

    They had to admit, the wine was strong. After just a couple of sses, they were already feeling a bit tipsy.

    For the rest of the evening, Adide introduced Chloe to her friends, and Chloe could clearly feel how much Adide valued her. Adide treated Chloe not just as a niece but as if she were her own daughter.

    The party went on for a long time.

    Even past eleven at night, people were still drinking. Grant kept sending messages, asking when Chloe would be home.

    Chloe thought for a moment and called him, telling him she was with her aunt and not to worry.

    The party finally ended around two in the morning. Zara called for a driver to take Chloe back to the Martin Mansion.

    Unexpectedly, Adide pulled Chloe into her car.

    This missing content is only avable on

    Chloe was worried. "Auntie, when I came to Sovereign City, Grandpa said I should stay

    with the Martin Family. Won''t they be worried if I don''t go back?"

    Despite having had some wine, Adide was very clear-headed.

    She exined, "When you first came to Sovereign City, your grandpa was worried about your safety, so he had you stay with the Martin Family."

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    "Now that I''m here, and we have a vi in Sovereign City, it''s not appropriate for you to stay with the Martin Family anymore."

    "Your grandpa said that now you''re grown up, and as a young woman, it''s not suitable to stay in someone else''s home. I think he''s being very considerate."

    Chloe was puzzled. It was Nichs who had sent her to Sovereign City and arranged for her to stay with the Martin Family to ensure her safety. Now, it was Nichs saying it wasn''t appropriate for her to stay there.

    What was Nichs thinking?

    Despite her confusion, Chloe obediently got into Adide''s car. Worried about Zara getting home safely, Adide thoughtfully had her assistant apany Zara.

    The Davis Family vi was in the eastern part of the city, a bit of a distance from the Martin Mansion.

    Adide, who had drunk quite a bit, seemed to sober up once in the car. She held Chloe''s hand tightly, as if afraid she might run away.

    "Chloe, it''s only been a few years, and you''ve grown so much. I still remember you as that little girl in elementary school. Time really flies. You''ve grown up, and I''ve gotten old."

    Chloe quickly reassured her, "Auntie, you''re not old at all... You''re still very young."

    Chloe''s words were not mere ttery; they were a testament to Adide''s timeless elegance. Nudging past the milestone of forty, Adide retained an ageless grace, her visage unmarked by the passage of time.

    Her poise was impable, every gesture and smile a symphony of sophistication. As she cradled her ss of crimson wine, weaving through the crowd with a radiant smile, Chloe could not help butbel her with the most fitting of titles: a true socialite!

    That innate nobility and confidence made people see her as a goddess.

    Such a woman was admired not just by men but by women too.

    Because of the wine, Adide talked a lot about the past, and Chloe realized that Adide was just an ordinary woman.

    Half an hourter, the car stopped at the Davis Family vi in Sovereign City. Adide led Chloe out of the car.

    The vi was old but well-maintained, looking as if it had just been renovated.

    As Adide was about to show Chloe to her room, Chloe''s phone rang. It was Grant. It was past two in the morning, and she hadn''t returned to the Martin Mansion, so he was naturally worried.

    "Hey, Grantie... You''re still up?" Chloe was a bit guilty. "Me? I''m with my aunt. She said I should stay with her from now on..."

    Chloe exined the situation to Grant, including Adide''s decision for her to move out of the Martin Mansion.

    Adide paused, listening to Chloe''s conversation.

    Grant? Was he the one Nichs had arranged for Chloe to marry?

    Adide only had one niece, and the Davis Family''s third generation had only this one

    girl. As her aunt, she wouldn''t let her niece marry just any man.

    Anyone wanting to marry Chloe would have to pass Adide''s test.

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    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 266 Dare Not Defy His Mother

    Chloe chatted with Grant for a bit before hanging up the phone. Adide then had a servant show Chloe to her room.

    The mansion of the Davis Family elegantly spaned three levels, each crafted with care and panache.

    The ground floor was a grand tapestry of space, weaving together avish living room, a sumptuous dining area, a fully-equipped kitchen, a well-appointed study, and several quarters for the staff.

    Ascending to the second floor, you found Adide''s private realm, a sanctuary that includes her serene bedroom, a creative studio, and a spacious dance studio that whispers of pirouettes and pli¨¦s. The balcony here hosted a quaint tea room, where tranquility met the warm embrace of nature.

    The third floor wass Adide''s thoughtful gift to Chloe, a testament to her affection. Here, a cozy bedroom, a personal study, and a bright design studio await Chloe''s touch. In a nod to their shared love for movement, a dedicated yoga studio stood ready to stretch and strengthen the soul.

    In every corner, the environment was nothing short of exquisite, a harmonious blend of luxury andfort.

    It was gettingte, so Chloe took a shower and prepared to go to bed.

    As she scrolled through her phone before sleeping, she saw a message from Grant on Facebook.

    Grant asked: [You still up?]

    She replied: [Just showered, not yet.]

    [I miss you... I can''t sleep without you next to me,] Grant confessed.

    Since Michael and Liam had moved out of the Martin Mansion, it had just been Chloe and Grant living there. Sharing a bed every night had deepened their bond significantly.

    Seeing Chloe every day, Grant hadn''t realized how much he would miss her. But now that she wasn''t staying at the mansion, he felt an emptiness inside him.

    He couldn''t understand why, at his age, he suddenly lost hisposure over a young girl like Chloe.

    This was the first time he had ever missed a girl...

    Reading Grant''s message, Chloe felt a bit speechless.

    She replied: [Get some sleep! Rest well...]

    After receiving Chloe''s reply, Grant sent back a simple "Okay."

    Chloe pulled up the covers, ready to sleep, but found it hard to adjust to the new room. She had a bit of insomnia.

    Lying in therge bed, she thought about many things. The idea of not being able to sleep next to Grant anymore left her feeling upset.

    She reminded herself that she had to face a certain truth.

    She had fallen in love with Grant.

    The next day, at the Martin Group, Giselle learned from the Martin family servants that Chloe was moving out of the Martin Mansion.

    Giselle called Isidora into her office to share the news. "Isidora, I have something to tell you. Starting today, Chloe won''t be living at the Martin Mansion anymore."

    Hearing this, Isidora was excited. She asked, "Really? Why? Isn''t Chloe the girl Louis arranged for Mr. Martin?"

    Giselle smirked and said, "Since Louis arranged it, it means she''s not someone Grantie likes."

    "A girl who isn''t married living in the guy''s house is quite improper, don''t you think?" "I''ve already called my sister, Grantie''s mom. I believe it was her idea to have Chloe move out of the mansion."

    "Grantie wouldn''t dare go against his mom."

    Giselle spoke with confidence. In her view, her sister Anissa, who had given the Martin family three sons, was a significant figure. Even Louis had to show Anissa respect.

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    "Giselle, what should I do next?" Isidora asked Giselle.

    Giselle replied, "You need to show more concern for Grantie."

    "Since you two have a history, and now that Chloe has moved out, you''ll have more opportunities to reconcile with Grantie."

    "I don''t have a daughter, so I hope you and Grantie can end up together."

    "Isidora, do your best." Giselle looked at Isidora with earnest eyes.

    Isidora hesitated but then nodded, "Giselle, I understand."

    Giselle was pleased with Isidora''s response. After sharing some updates about Grant, Isidora left her office.

    Back in her own office, Isidora slumped into her chair, feeling dejected.

    She looked up at the ceiling, her eyes reflecting a sense of helplessness.

    When Sophia approached her, she had no ambitions. She didn''t want to get involved with the Martin Group or Grant.

    But Sophia had told her that the Martin family had money, and she could use Grant to get the funds needed to save Kathy''s life.

    Desperate for money, Isidora had no other choice.

    Even now, she only wanted to get some money from Grant. She didn''t want to be thedy of the Martin family.

    She knew that with her background, the Martin family would never ept her.

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    But now, Giselle wanted to elevate her status, to make her thedy of the Martin family. What about Kathy?

    If Giselle found out about Kathy, would she still support her?

    What method should she employ to sever all ties with Kathy? It seemed that only by doing so could she embrace the life she had yearned for, a life where the burden of Kathy''s medical expenses no longer haunts her sleepless nights, and peace could finally im its rightful ce in her heart.

    Although she didn''t love Grant, she had no other options. She had to push forward. Over the next two days, Chloe stayed with Adide. During the day, she attended sses, and in the evening, she returned to the Davis family mansion.

    Adide cleared her schedule to spend time with Chloe, teaching her about the business world.

    Because of Chloe, Zara also became a frequent visitor at the Davis family mansion. Each time Zara left, she gained valuable connections from Adide.

    With Zara''s efforts, Chloe''s newpany was gradually moving in the right direction. Meanwhile, Grant remained silent. It had been two or three days since Chloe moved out of the Martin Mansion, and there was no word from him.

    Chloe hesitated, wanting to send Grant a message.

    While they were having dinner, Adide seemed to notice Chloe''s thoughts.

    She advised Chloe, "Chloe, in a rtionship, the guy should be the one to take the initiative. If he ignores you and you chase after him, it makes you seem less valuable." Adide''s words made Chloe reconsider sending a message to Grant.

    After all, Adide made a lot of sense.

    With these anxious thoughts, Chloe focused on her studies. Finally, as school was

    ending, she received a message from Grant.

    [I miss you. I am waiting for you at the school gate...]

 Chapter 267 Holding Him Firmly

    Chloe was over the moon when she got Grant''s message. She quickly packed her bag and dashed to the school gate.

    As soon as she got there, she spotted Grant leaning against a fancy car, casually smoking a cigarette, and constantly ncing her way.

    When he saw Chloe, he put out his cigarette and opened his arms wide.

    They hadn''t seen each other in days, and Chloe had missed Grant like crazy. Grant felt the same way, the longing eating him up inside.

    The moment Chloe threw herself into his arms, he hugged her tight.

    Tears welled up in Chloe''s eyes, and she felt Grant''s warm breath against her ear.

    Then, right there at the entrance of Quest University, Grant started kissing Chloe passionately, like he was trying to make up for all the days they had been apart.

    It was their first time kissing so openly in broad daylight with people walking by. Chloe seemed to forget her shyness, letting Grant kiss her, and she shyly kissed him back.

    Grant was losing control. After kissing Chloe for a while, he quickly got her into his car and drove straight to his other small vi.

    He had taken Chloe to this vi before.

    As soon as they got inside, he pinned Chloe against the wall and kissed her fiercely. His kisses were so intense that Chloe could hardly breathe.

    "Chloe, you really have no heart. You''ve been gone for days and didn''t even send me a message?" Grant asked, pressing his forehead against hers, breathing heavily.

    Chloe blushed and mumbled, "What about you? Don''t you have a heart either? I''ve been gone for days, and you didn''t send me a message either?"

    She mimicked Grant''s tone, questioning him.

    Grant chuckled. "I wanted to, but I was afraid of Adide," he mentioned Adide.

    "Afraid of her? Why?" Chloe was curious.

    In her memory, Grant and Adide didn''t seem to have much interaction. His fear seemed inexplicable.

    Grant was helpless, "When I was a kid, I met Adide. She beat me up when I was naughty. She really hit me..."

    "Now that I''ve taken her niece away, she definitely won''t let me off. I''m afraid she''ll beat me again."

    Grant''s words were funny, and Chloe couldn''t help butugh. She yfully tapped his nose. "Who knew there was someone in this world you were afraid of?"

    Grant picked Chloe up and sat on the small sofa in the vi, gently stroking her hair and breathing in her scent.

    He said, "Yes, there are only two people in this world I''m afraid of."

    "First, I''m afraid of Adide''s beatings. Second, I''m afraid of Chloe ignoring me... You Davis women really have me wrapped around your fingers."

    Grant finished speaking and started kissing Chloe again. He used his lips to unbutton her shirt, kissing her delicate chest.

    Chloe trembled in Grant''s arms.

    She knew Grant missed her, and she missed him just as much.

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    For the past six months, they had been inseparable. These two days apart made them deeply feel the pain of longing.

    Meanwhile, in the Davis Family vi in Sovereign City, Adide received some news from her assistant.

    "Ms. Adide, Ms. Chloe was taken away by Mr. Martin. Do you want to call Ms. Chloe and ask her toe back?" the assistant asked.

    Adide, practicing yoga, replied, "No need. My father sent me to Sovereign City to protect his granddaughter, not to break up her rtionship. They''ve been apart for two or three days. It''s time to let them have some fun."

    Adide wasn''t a stubborn matriarch. She wasn''t old-fashioned and believed in giving young people their space.

    The assistant nodded, "Yes, but Ms. Adide, there''s something I need to tell you." "What is it?"

    "I heard that the Martin Family''s matriarch, Mrs. Rodriguez, ising back to Sovereign City..."

    The assistant was referring to Anissa, the mother of the three Martin brothers. She had

    been living abroad for years and rarely involved herself in family matters.

    Even the marriages of the three Martin brothers were handled by Louis, not her.

    Why was she suddenly returning to Sovereign City?

    "She''sing back? Why now? Could she be the one my father warned would trouble Chloe?" Adide stopped her yoga.

    A hint of displeasure appeared on her beautiful face, making her look even colder.

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    Seeing her expression, the assistant couldn''t help but remind her. "Ms. Adide, it''s best to be cautious. Mrs. Rodriguez has her ways. If she really intends to trouble Ms. Chloe, you shou

    prepared."

    The assistant''s advice was sound.

    Adide smiled slightly and said dismissively, "She wouldn''t dare!"

    At nine o''clock that night, after spending a long time with Grant at his vi, Chloe was finally sent home by him.

    Adide stood on the second floor, watching the young couple reluctantly parting downstairs.

    Grant hugged Chloe tightly, his reluctance evident on his face.

    Chloe had to coax him. "Alright, Grantie, I''m home. You should go back now."

    Grant shook his head. "I don''t want to leave you."

    "Go on, go on. If my aunt sees you, she''ll give you a hard time again."

    Finally, under Chloe''s yful threat, Grant reluctantly left, and Chloe returned to the Davis Family vi.

    Grant was in a great mood after his date with Chloe.

    But as soon as he stepped into the grand living room of the Martin Mansion, his happy expression quickly turned to one of displeasure. He called out to Mia with a stern face, "Mia,e here. What''s going on in the house?"

    Mia, who rarely saw Grant angry, quickly appeared.

    She pointed to a pile of Chloe''s belongings on the floor and exined, "Mr. Martin, I don''t know what happened. As soon as Mrs. Rodriguez arrived, she wanted to throw out all of Miss Davis''s things..."

 Chapter 268 The Explosion of Hormones

    Mia nced nervously upstairs as she spoke.

    Grant was furious. He looked at Chloe''s belongings scattered on the floor and said to Mia, "Gather Miss Davis''s things and put them in my room."

    With that, Grant headed upstairs.

    Grant''s steps were swift and resolute, as if fueled by an anger he could no longer contain. He charged straight toward Chloe''s room, each stride intensifying the storm of worry and unease brewing in his chest. Bursting through the door, he was met with a scene that lit the fuse of his fury-there stood Giselle, directing Isidora and a handful of servants as they yanked Chloe''s bedsheets off with a roughness that felt almost personal. The sight was the final straw, and Grant''s temper erupted like a volcano. "What the hell are you doing? Who told you to touch Chloe''s stuff?" Grant shouted at Giselle and Isidora.

    He snatched the bedsheets from Chloe''s bed and put them back, then ordered the maids and Isidora to leave immediately.

    Grant was usually easygoing, and the Martin Family''s staff had never seen him this angry. They quickly left the room.

    Isidora stood next to Giselle, looking at Grant with an innocent, two-faced expression.

    Giselle visibly jumped at Grant''s sudden outburst, her face turning pale as a sheet. Her right hand flew to her chest in a reflex gesture, her breath quickening as she tried to steady herself. "Grantie, what on earth is wrong with you? You scared me!"

    Grant stared directly into Giselle''s eyes and said, "Giselle, is the finance department not busy enoughtely? You seem to have too much free time."

    Despite his dissatisfaction with Giselle, Grant''s upbringing made him maintain a basic level of respect for her.

    Giselle replied, "Grantie, I''m your aunt. Do you think I want to help you clean? Your mom called me, saying she''d be back in Sovereign City soon and asked me to tidy up the house."

    Giselle spoke with confidence.

    Grant asked, "If you''re helping my mom, why are you tidy this room up?"

    Giselle smiled hypocritically, "Your mom likes things clean. I thought I''d tidy up the whole house. Chloe is an outsider, after all. Her things need to be cleared out." "Wouldn''t it be better if your mom didn''t see a stranger''s belongings in the house?" Her words seemed reasonable, painting Chloe as an outsider.

    But Grant retorted, "Chloe is not an outsider. She''s my grandfather''s chosen fianc¨¦e for me."

    "My house is huge, with plenty of rooms upstairs and downstairs, plus the ones in the backyard. There''s no need to throw out Chloe''s things."

    Giselle was unfazed by Grant''s questioning.

    She nced at Isidora and said, "Your mom has other ns for this room. She wants someone else to stay here... Grantie, you don''t have a problem with your mom''s decisions, do you?"

    Grant was annoyed that Giselle was using his mom against him.

    He said, "This room was mine before Chloe came. I gave it to her. Now that Chloe isn''t staying at the Martin Mansion, this room is mine. Even if my mom wants someone else to stay here, it''s not happening."

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    Grant called downstairs, "Mia, bring Chloe''s things back up and put them back as they were. Change the lock on this room. From tonight, I''m moving back in."

    "If anyone enters this room without my permission, don''t me me for being rude."

    Grant''s pointed remark made Giselle ufortable. Momentster, Mia, under Giselle''s murderous re, brought Chloe''s things back and arranged them as they

    were.

    Isidora''s eyes were filled with envy as she watched Mia ce the designer bags on the shelves.

    While cleaning the room, Mia had told them it was Chloe''s room and that the items were gifts from Grant, advising Giselle and Isidora not to touch them.

    Isidora was envious of Chloe''s designer bags, knowing they were worth a fortune. If she could get her hands on them, she could sell them online and cover her daughter Kathy''s medical bills for a while.

    She envied Chloe for being important to Grant. If she could take Chloe''s ce, those things would be hers, and she wouldn''t have to worry about Kathy''s medical expenses anymore.

    Isidora felt a surge of determination, not because she wanted to be with Grant, but because she wanted his wealth.

    Grant unceremoniously kicked Giselle and Isidora out.

    As they went downstairs, Isidora nervously whispered to Giselle, "Giselle, Mr. Martin seemed really upset. I think he''s angry about what happened."

    Giselle dismissed her concerns. "So what if he''s angry? He doesn''t run this home."

    "But I''m worried that if I move in, Mr. Martin will be even angrier," Isidora said anxiously.

    Giselle almost revealed the n for Isidora to move in.

    "His anger doesn''t matter. You moving in isn''t my decision or yours; it''s my sister Mrs. Martin''s. She needs someone like you to take care of her. Grant can''t ignore his mom''s health, no matter how upset he is."

    Giselle was confident that using her sister Anissa would keep Grant in check.

    "But... Mr. Martin seems very protective of Chloe''s things. I think he has feelings for her," Isidora said,cking confidence.

    Since joining the Martin group, she hadn''t felt any warmth from Grant. Instead, she sensed his deep affection for Chloe.

    However, Giselle snorted, "Feelings? Young people''s feelings are just hormones and physical attraction. Chloe has moved out, and with Grant''s busy schedule, their feelings will fade."

    "You should use this opportunity to get closer to Grantie. He''s a sensitive man. If you win his heart, he''ll be devoted to you."

    Giselle''s bluntness left Isidora speechless.

    Feigning innocence, Isidora asked, "How can I make Mr. Martin devoted to me?"

    Giselle advised her, "Sleep with him. No man can resist a woman after sleeping with her. If Grant is an exception, then sleep with him again."

    "Isidora, I believe that love grows over time!"

 Chapter 269 I Am Her Patron

    Giselle''s words pressed upon Isidora like a weight, yet they also illuminated the path of her future endeavors, casting a clear direction for her to channel her efforts.

    All she had to do was sleep with Grant, and not only would Giselle be happy, but she''d also get what she wanted.

    Even if being the Martin Family matriarch wasn''t in the cards for her.

    Isidora felt a surge of confidence.

    Back at Adide''s house, Chloe was humming a tune, fresh out of the shower and ready to rx when Adide pulled her aside, insisting she join her for a yoga session.

    Chloe had been riding motorcycles since she was a kid, regrly working out and practicing martial arts. She seemed to have boundless energy.

    But sitting on a mat and doing slow-paced yoga with Adide was a real challenge for her. The yoga poses, mostly focused on stretching, made Chloe''s muscles ache in no time.

    She wanted to give up.

    But Adide seemed to read her mind and reminded her. "Chloe, practicing yoga is like living life. You need to be steady and not rush."

    "For example, when dating, you need to be steady. If you want your life to be worthwhile, you need to choose a man who understands you and has good character."

    "If you rush, it will affect your judgment. Hormones are the most unreliable thing and can often mess up your life."

    "So, you need to be steady. Sit properly, and let''s practice slowly." Adide''s words made Chloe feel like she had noticed something.

    So, Chloe obediently sat there and followed Adide''s lead. As her muscles stretched, the initial pain gradually turned into a feeling of rxation, and her body began to loosen up.

    After an hour of yoga, Chloe had a newfound respect for Adide.

    She thought her aunt was truly remarkable.

    The next day, Chloe was driven to Quest University by the Davis Family''s driver. Rena arrived at the ssroom on time, and even Philip, who had be a rising star in the entertainment industry, showed up for ss.

    Philip was no longer the same as before.

    Previously, he was just an ordinary student at Quest University, but now he was an up- anding neer in the entertainment world.

    Philip''s arrival stirred a whirlwind of excitement among the crowd. Students mored for selfies with him, others begged for autographs-Philip was besieged by attention. So much so that moments to converse with Chloe and Rena were lost in the bustling sea of admirers.

    Rena and Chloe were pushed to the side of the ssroom by their ssmates. They crossed their arms and watched Philip bask in the attention.

    Rena shook her head helplessly. "Chloe, it looks like your employee doesn''t want to be friends with us anymore. Look at him, he''s so busy."

    Chloe also felt helpless. "Yeah, he''s really busy."

    "By the way, I have something to tell you. Last night, I heard from Michael that udia approached him, asking him to y the lead role in a new drama she''s putting together." Rena shared the news she had heard from Michael with Chloe.

    Chloe immediately thought of "Sixty-Six Letters."

    She asked, "Is it called ''Sixty-Six Letters''?"

    Rena nodded. "Yeah, udia said it might need a big investment. She''s already got professional screenwriters interviewing the real-life inspirations for the story."

    "She''s moving fast. Looks like udia will being to talk to me soon," Chloe said casually.

    Rena nervously advised Chloe, "Chloe, you said udia wants to talk to you? Oh no, you should avoid her. She is too formidable. I''m afraid she''ll be rude to you."

    Clearly intimidated by udia''s reputation, Rena was visibly scared at the mention of her name.

    Chloe patted her shoulder and said, "She wouldn''t dare be rude to me because I''m the investor for her drama. If she says anything disrespectful, I''ll pull my funding." "Really?" Rena was shocked.

    Chloe nodded. "Of course, I''m her financial backer now..."

    Hearing that Chloe was udia''s financial backer, Rena immediately straightened up. "Does that mean she won''t dare mess with me anymore?"

    "Don''t worry, she won''t," Chloe said confidently.

    With the investment and Adide''s support, udia wouldn''t dare act out in front of her anymore.

    Rena linked arms with Chloe and eagerly pitched herself. "My dear boss, I want to work for you too. Didn''t you tell me to be stronger a few days ago?"

    "I''ve been thinking, and I want to start a business. Can you give me some guidance?"

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    Rena admired Chloe''s business acumen, so before starting her own business, she wanted to hear Chloe''s opinion.

    After some thought, Chloe said to Rena, "Rena, we''re both studying design. It''s very likely that you''ll work in the design industry in the future."

    "You''ve been with Michael for quite a while now. If you want to start a business, I fully support it. In my opinion, you should open a design and manufacturing clothingpany."

    "If you establish it soon, you might even get a chance to bid for the costumes in udia''s new drama ''Sixty-Six Letters.'' If your designs meet the standards, you could sign a contract for all the actors'' costumes."

    Chloe''s words excited Rena. "Great, I''ll get on it right away. But Chloe, I don''t have enough money. Can you be my partner?"

    Rena wasn''t asking for a loan; she wanted to partner with Chloe. Her own resources were too limited, but with Chloe''s help, the business would be much easier to start.

    Without hesitation, Chloe agreed. "Sure, I''ll be your partner. Make a budget, and we''ll start this business together."

    Rena showered Chloe with praise, making her feel quite pleased.

    As Chloe had predicted, within a few days, udia contacted her to discuss "Sixty-Six Letters." Chloe arranged to meet her at Summit Media Solutions.

    udia was no longer as imposing as she had been a few days ago. She humbled herself andmunicated with Chloe and Zara. udia undeniably had a sharp business mind, and her proposal was nearly wless.

    If executed ording to her n, the drama could not only make a lot of money but

    alsounch several actors'' careers.

    It was a win-win situation.

    However, Chloe had her own conditions. She told udia, "udia, I need to

    personally oversee the script..."

 Chapter 270 He Calls Me Little Girl

    When Chloe mentioned she wanted to personally oversee the script, udia looked uneasy. "Chloe, the script is the backbone of any production. You''re a designer, not a writer. Are you sure you''re the right person to oversee it?"

    "I''ve already talked it over with the screenwriter. If we follow my vision, this script will be a hit."

    Chloe didn''t argue with udia''s point. She said, "Since you feel so strongly about it, I won''t push. But once the script is finished, I still need to review it."

    Seeing Chloe relent, udia smiled. "Chloe, you''re the investor. Naturally, you''ll be the first to see the script once it''s done. Don''t worry."

    "But there''s something I need to mention. When the new show starts filming, I''ll release some information online to build hype. There might be some news you won''t like, so please don''t take it to heart."

    The movie was based on the story of Grant and Isidora. Since Chloe was dating Grant, she would undoubtedly feel ufortable seeing his past with Isidora.

    Zara thought Chloe would warn udia to be careful with the publicity.

    Unexpectedly, Chloe nodded. "Go ahead with the promotion."

    "udia, I''ve invested a lot of money in this project. You need to try your best to prepare it. If you help me make a profit, I''ll invest in your next project." she added, "Otherwise, my aunt won''t let me coborate with you again."

    Chloe mentioned Adide, and udia quickly nodded in agreement. After signing the contract, udia left.

    Zara handed the signed contract to Chloe, she asked. "Chloe, the lead actor this time is Michael. Philip and Floyd are ying supporting roles, which is great. But I''m curious about the lead actress. How did udia arrange that?"

    "Who cares how she arranged it? She and the director probably have their own ideas. Let''s not worry about it," Chloe said nonchntly.

    Having Michael as the lead would attract attention. Philip and Floyd as supporting actors would benefit the Summit Media Solutions.

    After discussing the cast for a while, Zara brought up the script again. "Chloe, are you really okay with letting udia handle the script?"

    "Why wouldn''t I be? She''s the producer. It''s normal for her to work on the script with the director," Chloe replied.

    Zara was still worried. "udia is very calcting. Aren''t you afraid she''ll manipte the script? What if it affects you and Grant?"

    "What''s there to affect? Are you worried it will impact my engagement with the Martin family?" Chloe asked.

    Zara nodded. "Yes, I think udia is too scheming. Her currentpliance seems temporary to me."

    "If she uses the script to damage your image, it would be a huge loss."

    "Chloe, we need to be cautious with her. We should keep an eye on the script."

    Zara''s cautious nature made Chloe take her concerns seriously.

    After thinking for a moment, Chloe reassured Zara, "Don''t worry. I know what to do."

    In the following days, Chloe and Grant kept in touch through Facebook. Chloe was busy with school and her newpany, leaving her with no time to spare.

    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 5s for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!

    And Grant was also swamped with work.

    After a long day, Chloe returned to the home. As soon as she entered the living room, she saw Adide watching entertainment news on TV.

    On the screen, Isidora was smiling charmingly as she answered the host''s questions.

    "Miss Faye, we heard that udia''s new show ''Sixty-Six Letters'' is based on your college romance with Mr. Martin from the Martin Group. Is that true?" the host asked. Isidora nodded. "Yes, udia and I met at an event, and she was inspired to make a love story like this."

    "Oh... udia has a good eye. Can you tell us about your college days with Mr. Martin?" The host wanted to dig deeper into Isidora''s past with Grant.

    Isidora sat gracefully, smiling as she nodded. "Sure. When Grantie and I were in college, things were simpler. I was a good student, and Grantie was a quiet guy. I often saw him reading on the field, and sometimes he yed basketball with friends."

    "He was always not very talkative. Sometimes, when my friends and I were ying, I''d see him sketching on a drawing board."

    "Later, someone told me Grantie was drawing me..."

    "Grantie always kept his feelings to himself. He quietly stayed by my side for four years."

    "After we graduated, someone brought me sixty-six unsent letters he had written to me. The depth of his feelings was clear in every word."

    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 5s for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!

    "In the letters, he called me ''little girl''..."

    As Isidora recounted these memories, her eyes sparkled, as if she had returned to her college days.

    The host was moved by her story with Grant.

    When Adide saw Chloe enter the living room, she picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

    Chloe quickly stopped her. "Auntie, why did you turn it off? I was watching that."

    Chloe found the remote and turned the TV back on.

    She sat next to Adide, eating fruit and watching the interview with interest.

    Seeing Chloe''s calm demeanor, Adide grew anxious. She took the fruit from Chloe and reminded her, "Chloe, are you serious?"

    "This woman is talking about her past with your boyfriend. Don''t you have any thoughts on that?"

    Adide''s reminder made Chloe sit up. She quickly said, "I do. I have a lot of thoughts..."

    Seeing Chloe''s attitude, Adide pressed her, "Tell me, what are you thinking? Are you upset that Grant dated someone else?"

    But Chloe looked at Adide, confused, and shook her head. "No, I think udia is a genius. With an interview like this, ''Sixty-Six Letters'' will definitely be a hit!"

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 271 Come More Fiercely

    Chloe''s words left Adide stunned.

    She never expected Chloe to think this way. Typically, a girl would feel ufortable knowing her boyfriend had dated someone else, especially when the ex was broadcasting their rtionship details on TV. Wouldn''t that upset Chloe?

    Shouldn''t Chloe be furious right now? Shouldn''t she confront Grant for an exnation?

    At the very least, she should use her resources to shut down the boastful woman.

    But Chloe...

    "Chloe, have you lost your mind? Can''t you see she''s bullying you?" Adide extended her elegant finger and lightly tapped Chloe on the head.

    Adide believed Chloe should retaliate directly.

    Chloe, hearing Adide''sints, began to exin, "Auntie, don''t be mad. I have my own thoughts on this."

    "I''m the main investor in this show. Of course, the money came from Grant, but he said the profits and principal are mine."

    "These people are drumming up business for me why on earth wouldn''t I embrace it? If their relentless drive to make money for me is considered a form of "bullying," then

    I''d happily wee that kind of "bullying" to rain down even harder. After all, who wouldn''t want such fierce dedication working in their favor?"

    Chloe''s exnation left Adide speechless. She suddenly realized that Chloe had a much broader perspective than she had imagined.

    No wonder she was her niece-she was incredibly smart.

    Chloe continued, "Auntie, from now on, don''t watch such trivial things. They just affect your mood."

    "Don''t worry, if I ever get bullied, I''ll definitelye to you for help."

    Chloe held Adide''s hand and spoke earnestly. Adide looked at Chloe, who bore a resemnce to herself, feeling a mix of emotions.

    She reached out to stroke Chloe''s hair, as if seeing a shadow of her brother in her.

    Nichs had indeed raised Chloe well. Chloe was destined to be someone remarkable.

    That evening, Grant invited Chloe out. He drove to her house to pick her up.

    As she got into Grant''s car, Chloe noticed how handsome he looked tonight. He wore a

    light blue shirt paired with dark pants, and a casual jacket over the shirt.

    Such attire not only entuated his figure but also vividly showcased his spirited essenceˇŞa true embodiment of style and vitality.

    After picking up Chloe, Grant drove towards a road leading out of town.

    Chloe was puzzled and asked, "Grant, are you taking me out of town?"

    Grant nced back at Chloe with a smile, reaching over the console to hold her hand.

    He nodded and said, "Yes, we''re going to the airport."

    "At this hour? Why are we going to the airport?" Chloe was confused. If Grant wanted to take her somewhere, he should have given her a heads-up.

    Grant replied, "My mom''sing back. Her flightnds in half an hour. I''m taking you to meet her."

    "What?"

    Hearing that Anissa was returning, Chloe felt uneasy. Before joining the Martin family, she had investigated.

    Most of the people in the Martin family are quite easy to get along with. However, Grant''s mother, Anissa, is the exception. She''s a tough nut to crack. In her personal life, she''s overly strict, and at work, she takes things way too seriously. No matter how perfectly something is done, if she''s in the mood to nitpick, she''ll always find a w.

    She had been living abroad for years because she found the environment in Sovereign City not good enough for her liking.

    Given Chloe''s previous unpleasant encounter with Giselle, she wasn''t eager to meet Anissa.

    Seeing Chloe''s nervousness, Grant thought she was excited about meeting Anissa.

    He held Chloe''s hand and reassured her, "Don''t be scared. You''ll have to meet my parents eventually. My mom isn''t that hard to get along with. Don''t worry, I''ll be on your side."

    Chloe quickly exined, "That''s not what I meant. It''s just that this is so sudden. Why didn''t you tell me earlier so I could prepare a gift for her?"

    Grant pointed to the back seat and said, "Chloe, I know you''re busy with school and don''t have time to prepare. I''ve already got a gift ready for you."

    "Oh, and it''s not just us going to the airport. Mic and Liam will be there too." he added.

    Anissa''s return meant her three sons would naturally go to pick her up. The Martin family had a luxury car waiting at the airport.

    At the airport, Chloe followed Grant to the private jet waiting area. As soon as they sat down, they saw Giselle and Isidora hurrying over.

    When Giselle saw Chloe sitting next to Grant, a look of annoyance shed in her eyes. Chloe ignored her, not wanting to engage.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Grant, out of respect for his aunt, stood up to greet Giselle. Chloe, seeing Grant''s gesture, also stood up briefly to greet her.

    Soon, Michael and Liam arrived.

    Having spent a few months together before, Michael and Liam were quite close to Chloe. They gathered around her, chatting andughing.

    Young people always had plenty to talk about.

    Michael discussed acting and investments with Chloe, while Liam talked about motorcycles. The three of them wereughing and having a great time.

    Giselle, seeing the Martin family''s three young men enjoying Chloe''spany, felt uneasy. She couldn''t understand why her nephews had distanced themselves from her as they grew older.

    Standing beside Giselle, Isidora tried to get closer to Grant, but he kept his distance. Michael noticed Isidora''s attempts.

    He lowered his voice and said to Chloe, "Chloe, is that the girl Grant dated in college?" Chloe nodded, "Yes, that''s her. You know about this too?"

    Michael smirked, "Of course I do. You invested in the movie, and I''m the lead actor. We''ve been promoting it a lottely. This girl is the real-life inspiration for the story. She''s been getting a lot of media attention."

    Michael, being in the entertainment industry, had a keen sense for gossip.

    At that moment, Isidora approached Grant again.

    She softly asked, "Grantie, you''ve been standing for a while. Are you thirsty? Should I

    get you some water?"

 Chapter 272 Someone is Seducing Your Boyfriend

    Seeing Isidora about to get him some water, Grant quickly declined.

    "No, I''m good. If I need water, I''ll get it myself," he said firmly.

    Isidora felt a bit awkward, forcing an awkward smile. "Grantie, have we really drifted apart? Remember back in college..."

    Grant cut her off before she could continue. "Even in college, I was independent. Always got my own water."

    The atmosphere grew tense. Grant was clearly shutting down the conversation, leaving Isidora standing there, unsure of what to do.

    Giselle coughed, signaling Isidora to step aside. She thought Isidora was being foolish. After all, Chloe was sitting not far away, and now Isidora was trying to curry favor with Grant. Did she really think Grant would ept it under these circumstances?

    Michael, who had been watching Isidora and Grant, saw Grant''s rejection and couldn''t resist stirring the pot with Chloe. "Chloe, someone was just seducing your boyfriend..." Using the phrase "seduce" was Michael''s way of showing his disdain for Isidora''s actions.

    Liam nced over nonchntly and said to Chloe, "Chloe, someone might be trying to hit on your boyfriend, but don''t worry, Grant''s got self-control."

    Chloe didn''t react, not even lifting her head. She trusted Grantpletely.

    Of course, she also trusted in Grant''s feelings for her. If Grant were the type of guy who could be easily swayed by any woman, Chloe wouldn''t want him anyway.

    But Michael loved to stir up trouble. "Grant might have self-control, but no man can resist a two-faced woman forever. Chloe, you should be careful not to let someone else steal him away."

    "Don''t worry," Liam interjected before Chloe could respond. "Even if you were the one who have been hit on, Grant wouldn''t fall for it."

    Compared to the environment Michael fould himself in, Grant''s situation was practically a sanctuary. Michael, on the other hand, was constantly surrounded by an array of exceptional women-each as stunning as a blossoming flower and exuding an air of elegance that was hard to ignore. It was like he was wandering through an eternal garden, where every turn brought another breathtaking sight.

    If he didn''t have an irond sense of self-control, he''d likely have been swept up in countless rumors and scandalous headlines by now.

    Grant was different. He had been single for over twenty years without any rumors involving other women. Any woman who tried to make a move on him was promptly rejected.

    Now, in his mid-twenties, he was in his first rtionship with a cute, wealthy, and beautiful girlfriend. Of course, Grant would cherish her.

    Michael''s attempts to stir trouble were futile. Seeing that he couldn''t get a rise out of Chloe, Michael switched topics.

    Chloe furrowed her brows, her eyes reflecting a mix of helplessness and seriousness. She watched Michael, his usual carefree and nonchnt demeanor on full disy, and a sense of unease crept into her heart.

    Taking a deep breath, her tone carried a blend of warning and genuine concern. "Mic," she began, "I have to remind you of something-Rena is my close friend. Don''t let her modest background fool you; her feelings for you are sincere and heartfelt."

    "You should treat her well. When she likes someone, she''ll give her all. But if she stops liking you, she''ll cut tiespletely."

    "You need to take your rtionship with her seriously."

    Michael felt a slight tension at Chloe''s words. Forcing a smile, he said, "I''ll handle my own affairs."

    After chatting a bit more, Chloe nced over at Grant. At that moment, as if sensing her gaze, Grant looked back at her.

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    Chloe made a heart gesture with her hand, and Grant''s lips curled into a genuine smile. What was just a sweet moment between a couple was an eyesore for Giselle. She muttered to Isidora, "So tacky..."

    About ten minutester, Anissa arrived at Sovereign City Airport. As the ne came to a stop, the elegantly dressed Anissa disembarked. Giselle eagerly pulled Isidora along to greet her.

    Grant held Chloe''s hand tightly as they, along with his two brothers, went to wee Anissa.

    ording to Chloe''s research, Anissa was in her mid-fifties. Likely due to her privileged lifestyle, her skin was well-maintained, and it was easy to see the resemnce between her and her sons.

    Anissa''s expression was cold and somewhat imposing, giving off an unapproachable vibe. Chloe instinctively wanted to step back but was pulled forward by Grant.

    Giselle greeted Anissa, "Anissa, you''re back! It must have been exhausting, flying for so many hours."

    Anissa smiled, "It wasn''t too bad. Thank you all foring to meet me."

    Giselle signaled to Isidora, who quickly stepped forward. "Anissa, you must be tired from the flight. I brought you some water."

    Isidora''s gesture puzzled the Martin brothers and Chloe. Was she implying that the Martin family''s private jet didn''t have water?

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Given Anissa''s temperament, she was unlikely to ept it.

    But Giselle kept praising Isidora. "Anissa, this is Isidora, the girl I told you about who saved my life. She''s very thoughtful. She brought you some water, just in case you were thirsty."

    Hearing this, Anissa finally took the water from Isidora. "Thank you," she said curtly. Isidora quickly stood by Anissa''s side. "No need to thank me, Anissa. It''s my pleasure." After speaking with Isidora, Anissa turned her attention to her sons.

    They each greeted her in turn.

    "Mom, you''re back?"

    "Mom, you must be tired."

    "Mom, how was your flight?"

    Having greeted her sons, Chloe couldn''t remain silent. She smiled at Anissa, "Hello, Anissa, I''m Chloe..."

    At the mention of Chloe''s name, Anissa''s already stern expression grew even more severe. She nced at Chloe, then down at her hand tightly held by Grant.

    Anissa was clearly displeased, but as a refined woman, she controlled her emotions well.

    Ignoring Chloe''s greeting, she simply said, "Let''s go home."

 Chapter 273 She Is the Guest

    The group followed Anissa out of the airport.

    Grant could sense Chloe''s nervousness and kept whispering reassurances to her. "Chloe, don''t worry, my mom might seem a bit cold on the surface, but deep down, she''s really kind-hearted. I bet she''ll like you a lot."

    Grant''sforting words made Chloe stick out her tongue yfully.

    He was just trying to soothe her, and she wasn''t naive. How could she not feel Anissa''s dislike for her?

    However, Anissa was Grant''s mother, so Chloe had to be cautious and still greeted Anissa with a smile.

    Half an hourter, the group arrived at the Martin Family mansion. The mansion had a front yard and a backyard, with arge swimming pool in between.

    The front yard vi was where the three brothers lived, while the backyard was where Louis and Grant''s parents stayed. However, they were usually abroad and rarely came back.

    Recently, Louis had ordered Michael and Liam to give Chloe and Grant some space to develop their rtionship, so the two brothers temporarily moved to their other vi.

    Now that Anissa was back, they had to move back in.

    The two brothers, used to their freedom, found it a bit ufortable to suddenly live under Anissa''s watchful eye.

    As soon as Anissa got home, the servants hurried to settle her luggage, showing her high status in the family.

    Giselle took the opportunity to introduce Isidora. "Anissa, Isidora is very sensible and considerate. I was thinking of making her my goddaughter."

    "Since you''re back and might need some help, why not let Isidora stay here for a while? She can assist you with errands and small tasks."

    Giselle''s words surprised not only Chloe but also the three Martin brothers.

    What did Giselle mean? If she wanted to make Isidora her goddaughter, that was her business. But what did she mean by letting Isidora stay here? Did she want Isidora to live in the Martin Mansion?

    Michael first looked at Grant, then at Liam, who shrugged helplessly.

    "Alright, I think this girl is quite nice. Let her stay here. I just got back to Sovereign City, and she can help me out," Anissa agreed without hesitation, right in front of the three brothers.

    Grant was the first to object. "Mom, Isidora is an employee of the Martin Group and has always worked under Giselle. If Giselle wants her as a goddaughter, she should stay at Giselle''s house. Having her live with us seems a bit inappropriate, don''t you think?"

    Michael chimed in, "Yeah, Mom, we''re three brothers living here. Having a woman move in would be inconvenient."

    "Mom, I also don''t want an outsider living in our house," Liam added.

    Anissa''s face darkened. "Don''t worry, Isidora staying here won''t interfere with your work or life. She''ll stay with me in the backyard."

    "Giselle has no children and is lonely. She has a good eye for people. If she wants Isidora as her goddaughter, then she''s family."

    "This matter is settled."

    With just a few words, Anissa decided that Isidora would stay in the house. Chloe''s expression turned slightly sour, while Isidora and Giselle''s faces rxed.

    Their first step of the n was sessful.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

    As long as Isidora lived in the Martin Mansion, she''d have plenty of chances to interact with Grant. Over time, how could Grant not develop feelings for her?

    Isidora and Grant getting together was just a matter of time.

    "Mom, I can''t ept it..." Grant tried to protest, but Anissa cut him off. "What''s wrong with it? I remember a few months ago, Chloe was living in our house. Why didn''t you three find it inconvenient then?"

    Michael quickly responded, "Mom, Chloe is different. Grandpa wanted her to stay." However, Michael''s words were like stirring a ho''s nest, triggering Anissa''s temper. "Oh, so if your grandpa arranges for someone to stay, you ept it. But if I want Giselle''s goddaughter to stay and keep mepany, it''s not okay?" Anissa was angry. "Do you three think that as your mother, my words carry less weight than your grandpa''s?"

    Anissa''s words left the three brothers speechless. If they continued arguing, it would be disrespectful to Anissa.

    This was a family matter, and Chloe, standing there listening, began to understand the situation.

    Chloe could see that Anissa was not someone to be trifled with. Whether it was through Isidora or something else, Anissa was using this as a way to assert her dominance. She was sending a clear, icy messageˇŞshe did not like Chloe, and she had no intention of weing her into the Martin family.

    Due to the marriage arrangement, Anissa had topromise. Now that she was back, she arranged for Isidora to stay in the mansion to disrupt Chloe and Grant''s rtionship.

    If Chloe and Grant broke up, the marriage agreement between the Davis Family and the Martin Family would be void.

    After all, the Martin Family would never ept a woman who had dated Grant to then date Michael or Liam.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! This was a taboo in wealthy families.

    Alright, it''ste. I''m going to rest. Grantie, you three brothers see the guests out. After that,e to the backyard. I have something to discuss with you."

    With that, Anissa turned and walked away, with Isidora following closely behind.

    Giselle, with a victorious look, followed them.

    The Martin Family members were all together, leaving Chloe feeling like an outsider. At that moment, Chloe felt abandoned.

    Michael noticed Chloe''s difort and quickly said, "Chloe, my mom isn''t trying to kick you out. She just..."

    "There''s no need to exin. I understand everything. It''ste, I should go." Chloe felt a bit aggrieved. In this situation, she wanted to cry. Having never experienced motherly love, she felt a deep emptiness.

    She didn''t want to stay in the Martin Mansion for another minute, so she turned to leave.

    Grant hurried after her, trying to take her hand, but Chloe pulled away.

    "Chloe..." Grant''s voice trembled as he called her name.

    To avoid worrying him, Chloe forced a smile and reassured him, "Grantie, I''m fine.

    Anissa just got back, you should stay with her."

    "I''ll take you home," Grant insisted.

    Chloe refused again, "It''s okay, I''ll just get a cab..."

 Chapter 274 Mocking Us, the Davis Family, for Not Having a Car

    After Chloe finished speaking, she turned and left. Grant wanted to chase after her, but he heard Giselle''s voice behind him.

    "Grantie, Mic, Liam, hurry up! Your Mom''s calling you..."

    As soon as Anissa returned, the atmosphere at home got tense. Her cold attitude towards Chloe left the three brothers puzzled.

    Liam was the first to speak, "Grant, Michael, what''s up with Mom? She doesn''t even know Chloe, so why''s she being so rude to her?"

    "Yeah, Grant, Mom''s never like this. She''s embarrassing Chloe and letting that Isidora move in. What''s her deal?" Michaelined.

    Grant clenched his fists, his face cold as he headed to the backyard where Anissa was. After they all left, Mia finally emerged from the shadows. As a servant of the Martin family, she knew her ce and stayed out of sight.

    She had heard the entire conversation and felt terrible seeing Chloe treated so unfairly.

    Chloe had run out alone, clearly upset. So Mia hurried after her, wanting to offer somefort.

    To her surprise, she saw Chloe standing at the gate of the Martin family vi, waiting for a car in the night.

    Chloe''s shoulders were shaking, and from behind, it looked like she was crying.

    Mia quickly took a photo of Chloe''s back and, without a second''s hesitation, sent it to Nichs.

    Mia also messaged Nichs on Facebook.

    [Mr. Davis, Ms. Davis was mistreated at the Martin family. She''s out alone at night trying to catch a ride. She is very upset.]

    Mia added: [Thedy of the Martin family is back, and she seems to have a problem with Ms. Davis.]

    As soon as Nichs received these messages, he couldn''t sleep.

    He called Felix over, his expression serious as he showed Felix the messages from Mia. Nichs was angry, "Look at this. My granddaughter was mistreated at the Martin family. I need to have a word with Louis."

    Seeing Chloe like this, he felt as if a knife was twisting in his heart.

    "Mr. Davis, the Martin family has gone too far. Ms. Davis is leaving their house sote, and they can''t even arrange a car for her? What if something happens to her? Can they take responsibility?" Felix, usually calm, was also upset seeing Chloe standing alone by the roadside. "And what do they mean by this? Are they mocking us, the Davis family, for not having a car?"

    Nichs couldn''t stand it, "Yeah, I think that''s exactly what they mean. Felix, buy cars. Buy several cars for Chloe. One for each day of the week."

    "And I''m very unhappy about this. If Louis calls me in the next few days, don''t answer."

    "This is infuriating. How can they treat my granddaughter like this? Louis needs to think about what he''s done."

    He was fuming, and Felix, for once, didn''t try to calm him down.

    "Mr. Davis, they need to understand that they can''t make Ms. Davis unhappy without facing consequences. Otherwise, they''ll think our Miss Davis is desperate to marry into their family."

    "I think this is Mrs. Martin''s doing. Should we give her a little reminder to treat Ms. Davis with respect?"

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Felix''s protective stance was no less than Nichs''s.

    Nichs thought for a moment and then made up his mind. "Alright, let''s give her a reminder. Leave it to Adide. I heard she runs a high-end beautypany. Let''s stop sending their products to the Martin family for a while."

    "Even though they pay us, the Davis family doesn''t need that money."

    Soon, Adide, who was in Sovereign City, received a message from Nichs.

    She was socializing with some high-profile people when she learned that Chloe had

    been mistreated. Adide grabbed her bag and left.

    Her friends asked what was going on.

    "Aurelia, we haven''t even had a drink yet. Why are you leaving?"

    "Yeah, what''s so urgent? Stay a bit longer."

    Adide firmly refused their invitations. "No, I can''t. My niece was mistreated. I need to go home."

    "She has no parents. As her aunt, I''m like her mother. Anyone who dares to bully my niece won''t get away with it." Adide''s fierce demeanor was evident.

    That night, Chloe was in a terrible mood. She took a rideshare home, but it took a long time. By the time she got home, Adide was already waiting in the living room. Seeing Chloe return, Adide quickly went to her. Chloe, who had been mistreated at the Martin family, burst into tears as soon as she saw Adide.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Auntie..."

    Seeing Chloe like this broke Adide''s heart. If Nichs had seen Chloe crying, he would have rushed over to the Martin family to demand an exnation. Adide hugged Chloe tightly. "It''s okay, don''t cry. Chloe, don''t cry. I''m here."

    Chloe couldn''t exin why she felt so bad. Seeing Adide made her cry even harder.

    This made Adide think that Chloe must have been seriously mistreated at the Martin family.

    Not knowing how tofort Chloe, Adide awkwardly tried to soothe her for a long time until Chloe finally calmed down.

    That night, Chloe went to sleep.

    Around eleven o''clock, Grant sent Chloe a message on Facebook.

    [Chloe, I''m sorry you were mistreated tonight. I''ve talked to my mom...]

    [And I won''t agree to let Isidora stay in our house. I''ll sort this out.]

    [I... love you so much... Please believe me...]

    Reading Grant''s messages, Chloe felt a bit less upset. But in her stubborn mood, she didn''t reply.

    She tucked her phone under her pillow and had a good night''s sleep.

    The next morning, Chloe was shocked by what she saw happening in the Davis family vi''s yard.

 Chapter 275 Kiss Me

    The vi''s courtyard was packed with luxury cars.

    There were sports cars, SUVs, sedans, motorcycles...

    Just by ncing at the logos, Chloe could tell these cars were worth a fortune. She was practically blinded by the sight of so many high-end vehicles.

    After a good night''s sleep, Chloe was in a great mood. She pulled Adide aside, puzzled. "Auntie, how rich are you? Did you buy all these cars at once?"

    Adide was speechless. "I have my own car. Why would I buy so many?"

    "Your grandpa had them airlifted to Sovereign City overnight. He said the Davis Family is rich, and you can spend it however you like. Cars? Our family can afford them."

    "Look, the cars are even scheduled. This one for Monday, that one for Tuesday, another for Wednesday. The motorcycle is for Sunday, so you can ride it longer since it''s your day off."

    Nichs''s grand gesture left Chloe at a loss for words. "Auntie, what''s Grandpa trying to do?"

    Adide snapped her fingers, thinking. "I guess he doesn''t want you taking rideshares anymore."

    "One car would have been enough to stop me from using rideshares. Why so many? Is he trying to show off?" Chloe was exasperated.

    She had always been low-key and never particrly interested in branded or luxurious items. So, was Nichs''s extravagant gesture of buying her so many cars an attempt to boost her social status? In reality, her worth didn''t need to be elevated by suchvish vehicles.

    "With our family''s wealth, you could show off if you wanted to," Adide said, then turned to leave.

    "Auntie..."

    Adide waved and said, "I''ve arranged a driver for you, so you don''t have to worry about parking. If you have time before ss, you could drive by the Martin Mansion." Chloe was baffled by Adide''s suggestion to drive by the Martin Mansion.

    The new driver took Chloe to school. On the way, she remembered she had left her bag in Grant''s carst night when they picked up Anissa. Her bag had the USB drive she needed for ss.

    Although she had no desire to unt her new luxury car by cruising up to the Martin Mansion''s gate, today''s predicament left her with little choice. She really needed that USB drive for her ss, and so, reluctantly, she instructed the driver to head straight to the Martin Mansion.

    After parking, Chloe got out and called Grant to let him know she wasing for her bag. She headed straight for the car Grant had driven the night before.

    Grant hurried downstairs to meet Chloe in the parking lot.

    Chloe''s new luxury car was parked right at the Martin Mansion''s entrance. Isidora, returning from her morning jog, noticed the brand-new car.

    Since moving into the Martin Mansion, Giselle had filled Isidora in on everything-the number of family members, servants, workers, drivers, and luxury cars. This car wasn''t there when she left for her jog.

    Judging by its value, it had to be worth at least a million dors. Was it a gift from Anissa? Or maybe Grant bought it for her? After all, she was now considered part of the Martin Family. It made sense for Grant to buy her a luxury car.

    Isidora felt a surge of happiness.

    She walked over to Chloe''s car, touching its sleek body. If she drove this to work, the Martin Group employees would be in awe.

    Her vanity soared. She couldn''t resist taking a selfie with the car and posting it on News Feed with the caption: [Morning jog, feeling great...]

    She wanted to highlight the expensive car behind her, not the jog.

    Chloe''s driver, sitting in the car, watched Isidora''s antics through the tinted windows, puzzled by her behavior.

    But considering she might be from the Martin Family, he didn''t have the heart to ask her to leave, so the driver endured Isidora''s behavior in silence.

    Grant, having received Chloe''s call, rushed out without changing clothes. Seeing Chloe lifted his spirits.

    He walked over, took her hand, and said, "Chloe, are you mad at me? You didn''t reply to my Facebook messagest night."

    Grant''s dark circles showed he hadn''t slept well. Chloe didn''t want to ignore him, but Anissa''s coldness wasn''t Grant''s fault. She couldn''t take out her frustration on him.

    That would y into someone''s hands.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Swallowing her grievances, Chloe forced a light tone. "Grantie, you''re overthinking. You didn''t do anything wrong. How could I be mad at you? I''m just here to get my bag."

    Grant rxed at her words.

    He held her hand and invited her, "We made breakfast at home. Liam and Mic are there. Join us?"

    Chloe quickly declined. "No, I already ate at home. Grantie, I have to go to school." Anissa just came back, and she was unfriendly to Chloest night. If Chloe still wents to the Martin Family for meal like before, Anissa might treat her coldly.

    Chloe tried to leave, but Grant held her back. The couple stood by Grant''s car, tugging at each other.

    "Grantie, stop it. I''m going to bete," Chloe said, genuinely anxious.

    But Grant wouldn''t let go. "Wait a minute. I''ll change and drive you to school."

    "No need. My grandpa bought me a car. It''s parked right here. I''m really going to be

    She felt like countless eyes were watching her there, making her ufortable.

    Seeing she insisted on leaving, Grant let go.

    He raised an eyebrow and said, "Then give me a kiss before you go."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 276 Then Ill Kiss You

    Chloe was at a loss for words with Grant. The president of the Martin Group, acting like a kid with her? No one in the Martin Group would ever believe he could be like this.

    "Grantie, I''m really gonna bete..." Chloe tried to change the subject in response to Grant''s demands.

    Seeing that Chloe didn''t want to kiss him, Grant decided to y dirty. With a swift move, he pulled Chloe into his arms. He had just brushed his teeth, and his mouth was filled with the fresh scent of jasmine.

    He lowered his head, mischievously wrapping his arms around Chloe, and said, "If you won''t kiss me, then I''ll kiss you..."

    With that, he leaned down and kissed Chloe''s red lips. Chloe had always been captivating, and she could quickly stir Grant''s emotions.

    Just one kiss, and Grant was reluctant to let go. Through the thin fabric of her

    nightgown, Chloe could clearly feel the change in his lower body.

    To prevent Grant from losing control, Chloe pushed him away and said, "Grant, aren''t you embarrassed? This is your house. What if someone sees us..."

    Grant touched his lips, savoring the moment, and said, "So what if they see? I''m kissing my fianc¨¦e. What does it matter to anyone else?"

    Grant''s response made Chloe blush. She pretended to be angry, gave Grant a fierce re, and then ran off.

    When Chloe reached her luxury car, Isidora had just finished taking photos.

    Seeing Chloe get into the car without a word, Isidora''s jealousy peaked.

    The car actually belongs to Chloe?

    Did Grant buy it for her?

    How could a in girl like her deserve such a nice car?

    Grant must really love her to buy such an expensive car.

    Isidora thought she was the one Grant had a crush on in college. Who did Chloe think she was?

    Especially seeing Chloe act as if she didn''t even notice her, getting into the car and driving away, Isidora felt a huge discrepancy between expectation and reality.

    She couldn''t help but think to herself. ''Having money is really nice.''

    Once in the car, the driver reported to Chloe. "Miss Davis, that woman earlier seemed a bit crazy, posing on your car."

    Chloe didn''t take it to heart. "Just ignore her... consider her a lunatic."

    Meanwhile, on therge balcony of the Martin Mansion, Anissa stood with her arms crossed, looking down at the scene in the yard.

    The sight of Grant insisting on kissing Chloe gave Anissa a headache. In her mind, her eldest son Grant had always been serious and reserved. How could he be so unruly with Chloe?

    Seeing him kiss Chloe in his pajamas, Anissa couldn''t see any trace of the Martin Group president in him.

    The Martin Family was a prestigious family, with rules for everything.

    Grant was the future sessor of the Martin Group, and Anissa couldn''t allow a woman like Chloe in his life.

    Because, in her view, there was no ce for love in a prestigious family.

    Mia came upstairs to bring Anissa coffee and naturally saw the scene downstairs.

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    To change Anissa''s opinion of Chloe, Mia instinctively spoke up for her. "Mrs. Martin, Miss Davis is really something. Look how well she and Mr. Martin get along." Hearing this, Anissa''s sharp gaze fell on Mia. "Well? You call that well? Acting all crazy, what kind of behavior is that?"

    Mia quickly shut her mouth, not daring to say more.

    Anissa continued, "This is the Martin Family. Hugging and kissing in front of everyone, with no sense of propriety. I really don''t understand why Louis insists on this marriage alliance with the Davis Family."

    She took the coffee Mia handed her, sipping it gracefully, every movement exuding the restraint of a prestigious family.

    Mia kept her head slightly lowered, following behind Anissa.

    "Alright, you can go now. Tell Isidora toe up and join me for some shopping." Anissa nced at Mia, signaling she could leave, and a few minutester, Isidora came upstairs.

    Having just finished her morning run, Isidora''s face was slightly sweaty. Seeing Anissa, she greeted her with a smile. "Morning, Anissa. You''re up early."

    "Yes." Anissa wasn''t particrly warm towards Isidora.

    The reason she allowed Isidora to stay at the Martin Mansion was because she was rmended by Giselle. To save face for Giselle, she let Isidora stay. Subconsciously, she felt Isidora seemed a bit better than Chloe. At least, from the outside, Isidora appeared moreposed and elegant. Compared to Chloe''s mischievous nature, she felt Isidora was more suitable to stand by Grant''s side. "Anissa, I made breakfast. Would you like to have some?" Isidora asked. From Giselle, Isidora had learned many of Anissa''s habits. To win Anissa over, she had to use her decent cooking skills to first win her over.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Anissa nced at Isidora and declined, "I''m not used to eating breakfast. Coffee is enough."

    But Isidora insisted, "Anissa, you should have a little. I asked the doctor, and skipping breakfast is bad for your stomach. You had stomach pain a few years ago and took medication for it." "I''ve already prepared it. Anissa, just have a little for my sake..."

    Standing beside Anissa, Isidora kept persuading her. Anissa, who had never had a daughter, felt her heart soften seeing Isidora like this.

    "Alright, I''ll have a little." she said.

    Isidora and Anissa went downstairs, chatting andughing. To an outsider, they might have looked like a mother and daughter.

    At this moment, Anissa had no idea that the seemingly obedient Isidora in front of her could be so precise and ruthless behind her back.

    At the Martin Mansion''s dining table, Isidora took care of Anissa in every way.

    She served her food, handed her sandwiches, and even cooled down the milk in front

    of Anissa to a warm temperature with ice water.

    "Anissa, try this sandwich. I made it myself."

    "Anissa, these greens are from the small garden in the back. They''re organic and good for your skin."

    "Anissa..."

    Michael and Liam, sitting at the same table, couldn''t bear to watch Isidora''s excessive enthusiasm.

    Michael whispered to Liam...

 Chapter 277 Mr. Martin Is Really Generous to Chloe

    "Such a tterer..." Michael said.

    Liam nodded in agreement with Michael.

    Why did having dinner with Isidora feel like torture for them?

    When Chloe lived at the Martin Mansion, things were different. They ate whatever they wanted. It was so casual.

    But now...

    Michael and Liam couldn''t take it anymore. One made an excuse about having a meeting, and the other imed he had to go to school. They both left in a hurry.

    At the table, only Anissa, Grant, and Isidora remained.

    Grant finished his breakfast, wiped his mouth, and prepared to leave.

    "Mom, take your time eating. I gotta get to work," he said to Anissa.

    "I just got back to Sovereign City yesterday, and you won''t take me out to shop for some essentials today?" Anissa asked.

    Grant found an excuse and replied, "Mom, I really want to, but there''s an urgent meeting at thepany that I can''t miss."

    "Alright, go ahead," Anissa said, unable to force Grant to apany her. After all, Louis had always emphasized that the Martin Family''s descendants must prioritize work above all else.

    Only by doing so could the Martin Family''s legacy continue to thrive.

    As Grant was leaving, he ced an unmarked credit card in front of Anissa. "Mom, buy whatever you like..."

    "Okay." Holding the card her son gave her, a slight smile appeared on Anissa''s face. Grant really understood her.

    Grant grabbed his briefcase, walked out of the Martin Mansion, and drove to work. As soon as Grant left, Isidora started stirring things up.

    She began by praising Grant, "Anissa, Mr. Martin is so good to you, letting you use his credit card freely."

    Anissa smiled lightly and said, "Yeah, Grantie has always been close to me since he was a kid. He''s always been obedient."

    Isidora looked at the card in Anissa''s hand with curiosity and asked, "Anissa, what''s the limit on this card?"

    Anissa nced at it and said, "I''m not sure, but it''s probably a few million dors."

    Money was just a number to the wealthy. Grant had no problem spoiling his mother a bit.

    "A few million dors? That''s a lot!" Isidora eximed.

    Anissa replied modestly, "It''s not that much."

    "Anissa, I was wondering, could Mr. Martin''s credit card buy a car like this?" Isidora asked, showing a photo she had taken of Chloe''s luxury car that morning.

    "This car belongs to Chloe. I don''t know much about cars, but it looked nice, so I took a picture." she stirred things up. "Anissa, do you think Mr. Martin bought this car for Chloe? He''s so generous to her."

    IIsidora''s words couldn''t help but make Anissa furrow her brows. Under Isidora''s pretending guidance, she was convinced that Chloe''s luxury car was bought for her by Grant.

    The car was worth millions and was a rare limited edition. Grant had spent so much money on Chloe? It showed how deeply Chloe had influenced him.

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    This seemingly innocent girl had Grant wrapped around her finger.

    Seeing Anissa''s change in expression, Isidora felt a sense of satisfaction. She liked the car too and believed that one day, it would be hers.

    Chloe had spent the morning in ss. At lunchtime, Rena invited her to visit the designpany she had registered.

    "Chloe, I took your advice and registered apany. I''ve even rented a ce. Come check it out with me?" Rena asked.

    Chloe nodded, "Sure, and we can have lunch together afterward."

    "Chloe, thepany is small. Please don''tugh at me when you see it," Rena said, lowering her head. Coming from a poor background, starting even a smallpany was a big achievement for her. Without Chloe''s help, she wouldn''t have been able to do it.

    Chloe reassured her, "Hey, what are you talking about? Everypany starts small. Right now, your designpany is small, but in a few years, it will grow. Then I''ll have to respectfully call you Ms. Penrose."

    Chloe''s words made Renaugh.

    She linked arms with Chloe and said, "Then call me Ms. Penrose now, so I can feel like a boss."

    Chloe yfully called out, "Ms. Penrose? Ms. Penrose, nice to meet you..."

    The two girlsughed together.

    With a car and a driver, Chloe''s travel became much easier. She no longer had to wait for rideshares on the street.

    When they arrived at Rena''s newpany, it was in the final stages of renovation. The newly hired employees were busy working.

    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Rena told Chloe that thepany had just received an online order for clothing. The new employees were working on the designs, and once the sketches were approved, the client would sign a contract with her.

    If everything went well, this would be thepany''s first big break.

    The two of them chatted and took photos outside Rena''spany.

    Chloe said they should document everything. In the future, when thepany grew, these photos would be part of its history.

    Rena and Chloeughed and talked, both confident that they could turn Rena''s small clothingpany into a brand.

    While they were taking photos, a group of people with cameras appeared at the street corner near Rena''spany.

    Themotion caught Rena and Chloe''s attention. They looked up to see Michael''s tall figure posing for the cameras.

    Surrounded by fervent chants of Michael''s name, rising and falling like waves threatening to overturn the entire street, Rena could feel the electric buzz in the air, the kind that sets your skin on fire with excitement.

    In front of the camera, Michael looked cool, handsome, and even a bit roguish. There Rena stood, at the threshold of thepany''s entrance, her gaze ensnared by the maic allure of Michael. Her lips parted slightly, as if caught in the act of whispering a secret, and her eyes, unblinking, were fixed on Michael who lounged against the wall with an air of effortless charisma.

    Seeing her like this, Chloe teased her. "Rena, your boyfriend is here. Go on, give him a warm kiss and tell his fans that Michael is taken."

    As soon as Chloe''s words left her lips, Rena''s face instantly turned pale, as if struck by an invisible blow.

    Even though she knew Chloe was only joking, those words acted like a detonator, instantly igniting a storm of tension and unease within her. It felt as though the ground beneath her feet had shifted, and herposure crumbled in an instant.

    She quickly pulled Chloe into the unfinished hallway of the designpany. "Rena, what''s wrong?" Chloe asked.

 Chapter 278 Truly Fickle

    Rena''s behavior left Chloe puzzled, so she decided to ask her about it.

    Rena took Chloe''s hand, her eyes brimming with a mix ofplexity and helplessness. She kept her gaze lowered, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid the walls themselves might overhear. "Chloe, it''s not that simple," she murmured. "The thing between me and Michael... it can''t be out in the open."

    "Why not? Back in Oceancrest City, Michael held your hand and told everyone you were his girlfriend. Why can''t people know now?" Chloe was genuinely confused.

    To her, dating was something to be proud of. If Michael chose to be with Rena, he should let Rena stand proudly in front of everyone.

    What was he ying at now?

    "Chloe, Michael is a celebrity. We have an agreement. I promised him I wouldn''t make our rtionship public," Rena exined.

    Rena''s words made Chloe think back to that time in Oceancrest City. Michael had grabbed Rena''s hand to fend off Karlie''s relentless pursuit, dering Rena as his girlfriend. There were even a few reporters following Karlie.

    Given Michael''s fame, this should have been all over the inte by now. But months had passed, and there was still no news about Michael and Rena dating.

    The only exnation was that Michael had used his power to erase any trace of it.

    He didn''t want the public to know about him and Rena. This way, if he ever decided to break up with her, it would happen quietly, without any bacsh.

    What a yer.

    Chloe''s brows furrowed deeply, her eyes filled with both concern and confusion for Rena. Unable to hold back, she pressed again, "Rena, don''t you feel... wronged? You''re his real girlfriend, yet you have to hide like this, sneaking around as if you''re doing something illegal."

    Rena shook her head, a faint smile ying on her lips. But that smile wasced with a quiet ache and resignation. "Chloe, I really don''t feel wronged," she said softly. "Being with Michael makes me truly happy. As long as he''s good to me, I''m willing to understand the challenges he''s facing."

    "Chloe, you''re my best friend. You have to promise me you''ll keep this secret. Okay?"

    As they were talking, Michael''s street photography crew happened to pass by. Michael posed for a few photos against the backdrop of Rena''s still-under-construction smallpany, capturing a raw, edgy vibe.

    Seeing Michael approach, Rena quickly pulled Chloe away like they were thieves.

    With no sses in the afternoon, Chloe and Rena headed to a nearby mall for market research. As fashion designers, they needed to stay on top of trends.

    Fall fashion was already out, and Chloe and Rena needed to get a handle on the uing winter trends.

    They wandered through several high-end stores in the mall. Chloe found a few pieces she thought would look great on Rena and held them up against her.

    "Rena, this top is perfect for you. Why don''t you get it?" Chloe suggested.

    Rena nced at the price tag and quickly shook her head. She couldn''t afford these clothes that cost thousands of dors.

    She made an excuse, "I don''t need it. It''s too expensive. Wearing it would be a waste for me."

    "Besides, my new designpany is just starting out. Every penny counts. Buying this would be a bit extravagant right now."

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    "When we start making money, we can buy whatever we want. Maybe even buy out the whole store," Rena said with ambition.

    Chloe teased her, "That''s for the future. Right now, just try it on. If it fits, I''ll buy it for you."

    "No way. I can''t let you buy clothes for me." Rena refused firmly.

    Even though she and Chloe were close friends, and the Davis family was indeed wealthy, that didn''t mean Rena was someone who relied on her friends to get by.

    "Why not? We''re best friends and business partners. What''s a few pieces of clothing between us?" Chloe insisted.

    Just then, Anissa and Isidora walked over, carrying several shopping bags.

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Anissa couldn''t help but sneer. "You''re quite generous, huh? Just casually gifting clothes worth tens of thousands of dors. Well, it''s not your own money, so of course you don''t feel the pinch!"

    Anissa''s implication was clear: she believed Chloe was spending Grant''s money.

    Chloe understood the insinuation but couldn''t retort as she would with Giselle. Anissa was Grant''s mother, and with the Davis and Martin families having a marriage arrangement, Chloe had to tread carefully.

    And If she really ended up marrying Grant, and if the rtionship between her and Anissa as mother-inw and daughter-inw wasn''t handled well, it was definitely going to put Grant in a tough spot.

    Chloe replied, "Anissa, I''m spending my own money on my friend."

    "Your own money? You''re still in college. How could you have that kind of money?" Anissa''s question cornered Chloe.

    Anissa had met Nichs before and knew he was strict about not allowing his children to be wasteful. Even Adide had a fixed monthly allowance during her school years.

    A single piece of clothing costing thousands would take up several months of Chloe''s allowance. How could she afford it?

    "Anissa, it really is my own money," Chloe insisted weakly.

    But Anissa pressed on, "And the luxury car parked outside? Did you buy that with your own money too?"

    "Well..." Chloe hesitated. The car was a gift from Nichs, not something she bought herself.

    Her hesitation confirmed Anissa''s suspicions. She assumed the car was a gift from Grant.

    "At such a young age, you waste money like this-sending off clothes worth tens of thousands of dors without a second thought. Even if you''re a wealthy heiress, isn''t that a bit too wasteful? You are still in college, driving such a luxury car, young people nowadays are really too shy."

    "If it were your own money, fine. But being so generous with someone else''s money? That''s something else," Anissa lectured, her disapproval clear.

    Rena, already timid, was at a loss for how to respond.

    On her way to school in the morning, she had already heard about thedy of the Martin Family from Chloe. Little did she expect that seeing her in person would be far more striking than any description. Her severity and demanding nature were such that even Chloe found it hard to handle.

    Anissa''s harsh words left Chloe dissatisfied. She had tried to avoid conflict because of Anissa''s status, but now...

 Chapter 279 Let Others Bully?

    Anissa was on the verge of poking Chloe in the forehead and giving her a piece of her mind.

    "Anissa, don''t be upset. The fact that Grantie bought Miss Davis a car shows that Grantie likes Miss Davis. If Miss Davis is a bit mboyant, it''s no big deal as long as she''s happy, that''s what matters," Isidora said, perfectly timing her words to stir the pot. Herment only served to make Anissa even angrier.

    Earlier, Anissa had checked her credit card and found that the limit Grant had given her was only ten million dors. But the luxury car he bought for Chloe was worth five times that.

    Chloe hadn''t even married into the family yet, and already Grant wasn''t thinking about his mother.

    If Chloe really married Grant, wouldn''t Anissa encourage him to cut ties with herself? Anissa looked down at Chloe and said, "Do you think what I''m saying makes sense?"

    She used those condescending words to humiliate Chloe, and then expected Chloe to agree with her?

    Chloe slightly curled her lips and replied, "Anissa, what you''re saying would make sense if you were talking about your own child."

    "But since you''re talking about me, someone else''s child, it doesn''t seem quite as reasonable."

    Chloe was sarcastically pointing out that Anissa was overstepping her bounds. Chloe''sst name was Davis, not Martin, so she didn''t need to listen to Anissa''s lectures.

    "Oh! Quite the backbone, huh?" Anissa sneered, ncing at Chloe. When she saw therge mole on Chloe''s face, she felt a bit of disdain.

    She had heard from Giselle that Chloe''s mole was hereditary.

    Anissa didn''t want her future grandchildren to have such arge mole on their faces. It would lower the Martin family''s gic standards.

    Chloe chuckled lightly and stood tall. After a moment, she said firmly, "Yes, the Davis family never loses its pride."

    "Since that''s the case, why don''t you drive that luxury car over to the Martin family?" Anissa didn''t hesitate to throw out this demand.

    Her words left Chloe speechless. Why should the Davis family''s car be driven to the Martin family? Had the Martin family gone bankrupt and needed to steal her luxury car?

    Isidora saw an opportunity and chimed in, "Miss Davis, it''s one thing to date Mr. Martin because of an engagement, but epting such an expensive car from him is a bit inappropriate."

    "The Martin family is prestigious. Anissa doesn''t want a daughter-inw who looks too greedy."

    Isidora''s tone was light, without a single curse word, yet it felt like she was trying to belittle Chloe into the ground.

    Frustrated beyond measure, Chloe couldn''t argue with Anissa too fiercely, but that didn''t mean she couldn''t p back at Isidora. She shot back, "You''ve really mastered the art of being a two-faced hypocrite, haven''t you?"

    "You? Chloe, that''s too much. I''m just trying to give you some advice. How can you talk to me like that?" Isidora said, casting a nce at Anissa.

    Chloe snorted and said, "Advice? Who are you to give me advice? Do I need your advice?"

    "What gives you the right to advise me? Is your family background better than mine? Are you more educated than me? Or are you just more shameless?" Chloe didn''t hold back with Isidora, hurling a few choice, less-than-polite words her way. It was clear that Chloe''s battle mode was fully activated, and herbat effectiveness was definitely on the rise.

    "Anissa, look at her... How can she act like this? She epted such an expensive car from Mr. Martin, and we can''t even say a word about it?"

    Seeing Chloe''s sharp tongue, Anissa, considering her status as Mrs. Martin, didn''t want to make a scene.

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    She thought for a moment and said to Chloe, "Alright, you don''t need to argue with her. If you really have pride, drive that car over to the Martin family. If you want to drive a car, buy one yourself."

    Chloe''s suppressed anger erupted. She tly refused, "I won''t! This is my car."

    "Your car? That''s too much. What gives you the right not to?" Anissa was genuinely angry.

    "Because it''s my car," Chloe argued.

    "Your car? Show me the proof that you bought it. If you can''t, you''ll have to drive it over to the Martin family," Anissa said with the authority of Mrs. Martin.

    Just as Chloe was at a disadvantage, Adide appeared.

    Adide always made an entrance, leading a group of people straight to Anissa.

    Before she even arrived, her voice was heard. "Oh... Mrs. Martin, you are putting on quite a show. Trying to take my niece''s car in broad daylight? Isn''t that bullying?"

    Adide''s graceful presence and bright smile immediately overshadowed Anissa. Seeing Adide''s face, Anissa''s confidence wavered.

    In terms of looks, the difference was clear.

    Adide pulled Chloe aside and half-jokingly scolded her, "Chloe, have some backbone. Someone''s trying to take your car, and you didn''t even think to call your family."

    "Are you just going to stand there and let them bully you?"

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    "Anyone who knows would think it''s an elder lecturing a junior. Anyone who doesn''t might think it''s a daylight robbery."

    Without using a single curse word, Adide had effectivelybeled Anissa as a robber. Anissa''s expression changed slightly.

    She pursed her lips and said nothing.

    Isidora, trying to show her support for Anissa, spoke up, "Anissa isn''t bullying Chloe. She just wants to take back what''s rightfully the Martin family''s. The car Chloe is driving belongs to the Martin family."

    But Isidora''s attempt to stand out gave Adide the perfect opening.

    Adide snorted, "You say the car my niece is driving belongs to the Martin family. Where''s the proof? Without proof, it''s nder."

    "Chloe is still a college student. How could she afford such an expensive car?" Isidora presented her baseless evidence.

    Adide responded smoothly, "She might not be able to afford it, but the Davis family can."

    "Not just one car, we could buy ten more if we wanted."

    "Mrs. Martin, are you trying to take my niece''s car because your business abroad went bankrupt and you can''t afford such a nice car anymore? No problem, if you really can''t afford it, just tell Mr. Martin to get you one." Adide sneered.

    The Mr. Martin Adide referred to was Grant''s father, Quentin Martin, Anissa''s husband.

    Hearing the name Mr. Martin, Anissa''s expression darkened. Adide had hit her weak

    spot.

 Chapter 280 Keep Her Own Mouth in Check

    Quentin didn''t like Anissa, but for some reason, he had to marry her.

    After their marriage, they treated each other with respect. After having their three sons, Grant and his brothers, they gradually became friends who shared the same room.

    Quentin was a man of integrity. Although he had no feelings for Anissa, he never caused any scandals outside and maintained the respect Anissa deserved.

    But over the years, that was the extent of their rtionship.

    Anissa thought that all couples in the world should interact like she and Quentin did. So, on the night Grant and others picked up her from the airport and, seeing him holding Chloe''s hand affectionately, she felt all sorts of dissatisfaction.

    Especially when she saw Grant kissing Chloe in the garden of the Martin Mansion, Anissa couldn''t ept it.

    She felt that her son had been led astray by Chloe.

    Moreover, Giselle had often spoken ill of Chloe in front of Anissa, which led to Anissa''s consistently poor attitude towards Chloe.

    Adide''s support made Anissa back down. As Adide said, Chloe might not be able to afford such a luxury car, but the Davis Family could.

    There was no need to create unpleasantness over a car.

    Thinking of this, Anissa wanted to downy the situation.

    She said, "Let''s just forget it. The Davis Family and the Martin Family have always had a good rtionship. We shouldn''t let a small matter cause a misunderstanding. It''s just a car. It doesn''t matter who bought it. I was just too hot-tempered earlier, arguing with the younger generation."

    Anissa took a step back, seemingly preserving the dignity of both families. In reality, she conveyed a misleading message that the car Chloe was driving was bought by the Martin Family.

    But Adide seized on her words and pressed further.

    She said, "Mrs. Martin, you can''t say that. Whether the car was bought by the Davis Family or the Martin Family makes a big difference."

    "If the Davis Family bought it, it''s through our own means, and no one can criticize us."

    "But if the Martin Family bought it, it would mean my niece is taking advantage of the Martin Family. The Davis Family has money and doesn''t need to rely on others to buy a car."

    "Bring the receipts." Adide turned to her assistant.

    At Adide''smand, her assistant stepped forward and presented all the payment receipts for the car, disying them in front of Anissa.

    Adide exined, "Mrs. Martin, the car Chloe is driving was bought by the Davis Family. We have the evidence."

    "The Davis Family has only one girl, and my father and I have always cherished her. We wouldn''t let a car bring her any criticism."

    "By the way, I should tell you, the Davis Family bought her seven or eight cars this time, so she can drive a different one from Monday to Sunday."

    "Next time you see her driving a different car, don''t say it''s bought by the Martin Family. The Davis Family can''t bear the responsibility of taking advantage of others."

    Adide''s words were a direct p in the face to Anissa, who was left speechless. The people behind Adide were all wealthy and influential, and it wouldn''t be long before Anissa''s embarrassment spread through Sovereign City''s elite circles.

    Anissa was humiliated by Adide.

    She signaled to Isidora to leave immediately.

    Unexpectedly, Adide blocked Isidora from leaving.

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    Adide asked, "Who are you? What role did you y in humiliating Chloe?"

    Faced with Adide''s questioning, Isidora stammered and couldn''t give a coherent

    answer.

    Helpless, she looked to Anissa for help. "Anissa..."

    Anissa had to introduce Isidora, "She''s a rtive of ours."

    Adide snorted, "What kind of rtive? So indiscreet? Daring to humiliate the future mistress of the Martin Family? Mrs. Martin, you always pride yourself on strict family discipline, but now it seems even a rtive with an ugly face dares to humiliate the future mistress?"

    "Mrs. Martin, don''t you think your family is going too far? If you really don''t want Chloe marry into the Martin Family, you can ask Louis to call off the engagement. There''s no need to bully her."

    What a sharp rebuke, hitting the mark perfectly.

    Standing beside Chloe, Rena looked at Adide with admiration.

    She had always thought Adide was extraordinary, especially after seeing some of her works.

    Now it was clear that shewas not justmanding and charismatic-she was also incredibly sharp, and one who absolutely loathed injustice.

    A true goddess-level figure.

    "This is just a misunderstanding..." Anissa lowered her voice, trying to exin to Adide.

    But Adide retorted, "A misunderstanding? You humiliated the Davis Family''s youngdy and call it a misunderstanding? If I hit your rtive and called it a misunderstanding, would you ept that, Mrs. Martin?"

    Adide''s words left Anissa at a loss for how to respond.

    At this moment, Adide signaled to Chloe and then ordered, "Chloe, go up and hit that woman."

    "What?"

    Adide''s straightforwardness shocked Chloe. With so many people around, Adide wanted her to hit Isidora?

    Adide''s boldness was beyond ordinary.

    "I saw her being the most arrogant, saying the most when ndering you. Since Mrs. Martin says it''s a misunderstanding, remind this rtive to open her eyes and watch her mouth, so this misunderstanding doesn''t happen again." Adide grabbed Chloe''s arm and pushed her forward, indicating she should hit Isidora now.

    The situation was gettingplicated.

    Anissa''s dignity was already in tatters.

    This was a mall, with peopleing and going. Any smallmotion would attract attention, especially matters involving wealthy families, which were always hot topics. Anissa had just returned to Sovereign City. If things got too out of hand, it wouldn''t be good for the Martin Family.

    To prevent the situation from escting, she cleared her throat and lowered her voice to negotiate with Adide. "Adide... The Martin Family and the Davis Family have been friends for generations. There''s no need to make a big deal out of a small matter."

    "Chloe will still marry into the Martin Family. If things get too ugly, it will be hard for everyone to get along in the future."

    "This is really just a misunderstanding. Isn''t it a bit much to have Chloe hit someone in public?"

    "In my opinion, let''s just let this go. I''ll invite you to dinner another day, and we can talk things over."

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 Chapter 281 She Got Beaten

    Anissa thought that by backing down, Adide would show her some respect.

    But to her surprise, Adide just nced at Anissa and then swiftly pped Isidora across the face.

    The room went dead silent.

    Isidora clutched her cheek, staring in shock at Adide. She never expected someone like Adide to hit her.

    Chloe was also stunned. This was a public ce, and she was worried about causing a scene. She tugged at Adide, whispering, "Auntie, please don''t... It''s not worth it." Seeing Chloe''s anxiety, Adide patted her hand gently, signaling her not to worry. If she dared to p Isidora, she was ready to face the consequences.

    Anissa never expected that even after invoking the longstanding friendship between their families, Adide would still be unrelenting, refusing to spare her any face. A surge of uncontroble anger ignited within her, yet she struggled to maintain a facade of calm on her face.

    "Adide, you''ve gone too far," Anissa said through clenched lips, her voice low butced with unmistakable fury. Her gaze fixed on Adide, she sought to overpower her with sheer presence.

    As Mrs. Martin, she had long grown ustomed to being fawned over and looked up to, but today, Adide''s actions felt like a sharp p across her face.

    Yet, Adide remained utterly unshaken. A faint, mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips as she spoke in a tone that was deceptively light yet piercingly pointed. "Did you not think you were going too far when you humiliated my niece?"

    "Mrs. Martin, keep your people in check. If she dares to insult anyone from the Davis family again, it won''t just be a p next time."

    "And let me remind you, the girls from the Davis family don''t have to marry boys from the Martin family. Don''t use your mother-inw''s authority to pressure people. After all, until they''re married, it''s just an engagement."

    With that, Adide gave Anissa a cold look, took Ch e''s hand, everyone''s gaze.

    walked away under

    Rena, feeling anxious, nced at Anissa and quickly followed Chloe and Adide.

    Anissa wasn''t just Grant''s mother; she was also Michael''s mother. Having such a fierce and unyielding figure in the Martin family, it''s no wonder Rena might be reconsidering her desire to marry into their n for the rest of her life.

    Anissa, standing in the mall, was furious, her face was grim.

    Isidora, holding her face, approached her. "Anissa, they were too much. They were humiliating you," Isidora said, thinking her words would resonate with Anissa.

    But Anissa, already humiliated and full of anger, snapped, "I know, you don''t need to remind me."

    Isidora, having been pped and now mocked by Anissa, felt as if she had swallowed a fly. She was the victim in this conflict. The big shots were fighting, and she got pped, with no ce to voice her grievances.

    But Isidora wasn''t one to be easily bullied. From the moment she got involved, she had already nned her counterattack.

    Adide was a public figure, someone with a certain social status. When she pped Isidora in such a bustling shopping mall, she had to be prepared to face the consequences.

    In this age of a well-developed inte, where self-media was everywhere, and Isidora was the prototype for the lead role in an uing film, all it takes was a bit of hype to bring Adide''s world crashing down. The incident, if fueled with even the slightest touch of media maniption, could spell disaster for Adide. In the court of public opinion, her reputation might be shattered in an instant.

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    This p could be turned to Isidora''s advantage.

    Chloe, sitting in the car with Adide on the way home, was still worried. "Auntie, you pped Isidora today. She''s very cunning. I''m afraid she''ll spread rumors."

    Adide lifted her chin, dismissing the concern. "What can she do? She started it. She can''t turn the world upside down."

    Chloe sighed. "Auntie, I''m not afraid of her turning the world upside down. You''re a public figure with a reputation to maintain. I fear she''ll use this against you."

    But Adide was unconcerned. "Let her try..."

    "Auntie, I saw some people filming when you pped her. If they edit the footage, it could harm your reputation," Chloe said, genuinely worried.

    Although Adide was her anut, but her mother passed away early, and she had long sincee to regard Adide as her mother in her heart.

    Adide had always protected her since her mother passed away. Now that she was grown, she wanted to protect Adide in return.

    Adide had been in the entertainment industry for many years, and she had never had any negative impact. If Chloe ended up causing trouble for Adide, then it would truly be her fault.

    "Don''t worry. I''ve been through worse. This won''t ruin my reputation," Adide said confidently.

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    Rena, sitting in the front seat, reassured Chloe, "Chloe, don''t worry about this. Adide will handle it. She''s more experienced than us."

    "Besides, while you were arguing, I recorded everything. If they release any negative news, I''ll release the full story," Rena said, showing her phone.

    Adide developed a bit of fondness for Rena, the quiet girl. It wasn''t just the respect Rena had shown in her earlier remarks, but also herposed and meticulous demeanor that Adide found admirable. There was something about Rena''s thoughtfulness and attention to detail that resonated with Adide, making her appreciate Rena even more.

    Adide appreciated Rena''s thoroughness and respect. She gave Rena a thumbs up. "Good job. I like it."

    Rena, pleased with the praise, joined the group as they headed to the Davis family vi. Meanwhile, in his office, Grant heard about the incident from Stanley.

    "Mr. Martin, Mrs. Martin had a conflict with Miss Davis at the mall," Stanley reported. Grant, looking serious, raised his head. "My mom caused trouble for Chloe again?" he instinctively sided with Chloe.

    Stanley nodded. "Yes, Isidora instigated Mrs. Martin, saying the luxury car Miss Davis drove was a gift from you. Mrs. Martin insisted Miss Davis bring the car to the Martin family."

    Hearing this, Grant was furious. "What is my mom doing? Does she think the Davis family can''t afford a car?"

    Grant was exasperated. Last night, Anissa had been rude to Chloe, and now this. Was she trying to ruin his marriage?

 Chapter 282 She Deserves It

    "Mr. Martin, things have already blown up. Mrs. Martin and Miss Davis had a run-in at the mall, and Ms. Kingsley was there too. She took Miss Davis''s side, and it turned into a full-blown argument with Mrs. Martin." Stanley said. "Isidora tried to step in and got pped for her trouble."

    Grant listened to Stanley''s report and couldn''t help but chuckle coldly.

    "Serves her right," he said, clearly referring to Isidora.

    Stanley, noticing Grant''s reaction, spoke softly, "Mr. Martin, we need to handle this. The news has already spread through the elite circles in just a couple of hours. If we don''t get on top of this, it could really hurt the Martin Family''s reputation."

    Stanley''s concern was not without reason. For a wealthy and prominent family, such matters were particrly sensitive. Once an unseemly dispute arised, it inevitably tarnished the family''s image. In their world, reputation was everything.

    "I''m not so worried about the fallout; I''m more concerned about Chloe." After thinking for a moment, Grant said. "Adide''s not someone you mess with. If we don''t handle this right, it could mess up my engagement to Chloe."

    Grant''s priorities were clearly different from Stanley''s.

    "Mr. Martin, are you really serious about marrying Miss Davis?" Stanley asked, puzzled. Grant turned to him, looking confused. "Yeah, why? Got a problem with that?"

    As an assistant, Stanley wouldn''t dare voice an opinion. He rubbed his nose, hesitated, and then said, "Mr. Martin, there''s talk that you have a mistress and that you''ve even acknowledged her in a video call.

    With such a sweet and lovely mistress, you still want to marry Miss Davis? Isn''t that stringing two women along?"

    In fact, Stanley''s words were diplomatic. What he really meant was, ''You''re cheating and still want to marry Miss Davis? Isn''t that being a bit of a yer?''

    Stanley''s words left Grant utterly speechless. He didn''t reveal to Stanley that Chloe had been purposefully downying her appearance. Instead, he shot him a sideways nce and muttered with biting sarcasm, "Are you blind or something?"

    Stanley was baffled by the insult. He wasn''t blind, just nearsighted. But even with sses, how did he be "blind" in Grant''s eyes?

    Seeing Stanley''s clueless expression, Grant didn''t want to deal with him anymore.

    He waved Stanley off, saying, "Get some gifts ready for me. I''m visiting the Davis Family''s vi tonight. Adide''s been in Sovereign City for a few days now; it''s time I paid her a visit."

    Grant wrote down a list of gifts he needed and handed it to Stanley to purchase.

    After work, Grant drove himself to the Davis Family''s vi.

    Just as he was leaving the parking lot, Isidora blocked his car.

    Her face still slightly swollen from the p, Isidora smiled as she approached Grant''s

    car.

    Grant rolled down the window to speak with her. "What are you doing here?" his tone was far from friendly.

    Isidora cheerfully called out, "Grantie, done with work?"

    The nickname made Grant raise an eyebrow. He looked at Isidora and sternly reminded her, "I''ve told you before, at the office, address me by my title."

    However, Isidora pouted, lowered her head, and nervously twisted her fingers. "Mr. Martin... I wanted to tell you that Anissa is feeling down. I thought you mighte home early to keep herpany."

    Isidora assumed her request carried weight, but Grant rejected it without a second thought.

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    "You want me toe home early to keep my mompany? Isidora, don''t you think you''re overstepping?" Grant looked at her with clear displeasure, making his stance known.

    Grant was never someone Isidora could control.

    "Mr. Martin, I... I''m just thinking of Anissa." Isidora tried to use Anissa as leverage again.

    But Grant didn''t even acknowledge her. He rolled up the window, revved the engine, and sped off.

    He drove so fast that Isidora didn''t even get a chance to say another word.

    Watching Grant leave, Isidora stomped her foot in frustration.

    Sophia, who was watching the cars in the parking lot, saw Isidora''s dejection and approached her. "Isidora, did you have a fight with Mr. Martin?"

    Seeing Sophia, Isidora felt exasperated.

    "Not really a fight, just a little misunderstanding," she replied.

    "Oh... I heard from people at the office that you''ve moved into the Martin Mansion?" Sophia, relegated to the parking lot, still harbored hopes of bing Mrs. Martin. Knowing she couldn''tpete with Chloe, she had brought Isidora into the picture. She wanted Isidora to sh with Chloe so she could reap the benefits. But now, it seemed Isidora was slipping out of her control.

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    She needed to ensure Isidora remained within her grasp; otherwise, all her efforts would only benefit Isidora.

    Sophia wasn''t about to let that happen.

    Hearing Sophia''s question, Isidora didn''t try to hide it. "Yes, I stayed at the Martin Mansionst night."

    "Isidora, the Martin Mansion must be quite luxurious, right? The bed must be reallyfortable?" Sophia pried.

    Isidora, not thinking much of it, answered honestly, "Yes, the Martin Mansion is very grand, and the bed is incrediblyfortable, very soft. I''ve never slept on such a soft bed. Anissa said she''s going to buy me the car I posted on News Feed. She said it doesn''t have any special features, just that it''s expensive..."

    In the morning, Isidora had taken a picture with Chloe''s car and posted it on News Feed.

    This show of wealth had already made her poor friends on News Feed envious. Including Sophia.

    Sophia pursed her lips. To dampen Isidora''s bragging, she teased, "Isidora, while you''re enjoying yourself, don''t forget about Kathy.

    Yesterday, when I visited her, she kept asking for her mom... Isidora, time is ticking. The doctor said Kathy''s golden treatment window is closing."

    Sophia''s words made Isidora''s face turn serious. She nced at Sophia, knowing full well that Sophia was using Kathy to control her.

    Both had their own agendas, using each other, neither being a good person. Grant arrived at the Davis Family''s vi half an hourter. Since he had messaged Chloe on Facebook beforehand, Chloe was anxiously waiting for him in the vi''s courtyard.

 Chapter 283 They Look Really Loving

    As Grant''s car pulled up, Chloe waved excitedly. Grant rolled down the window, his face lighting up with a warm smile.

    Feeling yful, Chloe did a little shimmy dance and then made a heart shape with her hands above her head, aiming it at Grant.

    Grant watched her antics with a growing smile, his eyes brimming with affection. A wave of warmth surged through his heart, as if her mere presence had breathed life into the entire world.

    In that moment, he suddenly realized that the simple, ordinary life he had been yearning for was nothing more than this-her yful mischief and his quiet, adoring gaze, his heart overflowing with joy. It was a perfect, unspoken harmony, and he couldn''t imagine anything more fulfilling.

    After parking the car, Chloe walked over, and without a word, Grant scooped her up into his arms.

    Just like that morning, he held her tightly against him.

    "Chloe, did you miss me today?" Grant''s eyes were intense, so much so that Chloe couldn''t meet his gaze. She looked down, embarrassed, and didn''t answer.

    Not getting a response, Grant mischievously squeezed her waist, making Chloe squirm.

    "Stop it... We''re at my house, my aunt is watching," Chloe said, still shy despite their closeness.

    Even though Chloe had kissed, hugged, and touched Grant, she was still very shy.

    But Grant ignored her protests and pressed on, "Fine, since Adide is here. I''ll kiss you right here until you answer."

    Chloe, flustered, finally mumbled, "I missed you..."

    "How did you miss me?" Grant teased.

    Chloe pointed to her chest, whispering, "In my heart..."

    Grant chuckled and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Since you missed me in your heart, let me see..."

    "You''re awful, Grant. You''re such a bad guy," Chloe yfully scolded him,ughing. The CEO of the Martin Group, full of mischief, wanting to see her chest? That was too much.

    Seeing Chloe''s embarrassed expression, Grantughed too. He held her close and gave her a gentle peck on the lips.

    Inside, Adide and her assistant watched from the sofa.

    The assistant, with a look of envy, said to Adide, "Ms. Kingsley, they look so in love." Adide smiled slightly. "Yeah, they do. It''s nice to see young love, so carefree."

    The assistant, curious, asked, "Ms. Kingsley, if you think they''re good together, why did you have a conflict with Mrs. Martin today?"

    Adide exined, "I had to stand up to her to protect Chloe. Mrs. Martin is narrow- minded and intolerant. I wanted to show her that she can''t bully Chloe."

    The assistant, worried, asked, "But Ms. Kingsley, won''t this make things difficult for Miss Davis in the Martin Family? If she marries into the family, won''t Mrs. Martin bully her even more?"

    Adide replied, "I know. That''s why I had to confront Mrs. Martinnow. If we tolerate her now, it will only lead to more toleranceter. If Chloe marry into the Martin family and then have a falling out with Mrs. Martin, it will be toote. Before Chloe marries into the Martin Family, I need to make sure Mrs. Martin knows her ce."

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    Adide was determined to protect Chloe.

    The assistant wanted to say more, but Grant and Chloe were already walking towards the living room with gifts in hand.

    Adide stood up to greet Grant, showing no sign of the earlier conflict with Anissa.

    Grant was respectful to Adide, and everyone enjoyed a pleasant conversation. At the dinner table, no one mentioned the day''s conflict.

    Seeing Adide''s attitude, Grant felt reassured that the conflict wouldn''t affect his rtionship with Chloe.

    Grant had never been the type of guy who''s big on sweet talk or empty promises. He was always believed that actions speak louder than words, and he was lived by that principle. He knew deep down that if he wanted to marry Chloe, it was not just about how much he loved her-though that was a huge part of it. No, he understood that he needed to show her, through real, tangible actions, just how serious he was.

    At nine o''clock, Grant didn''t return to the Martin Mansion. Anissa, sitting alone in the empty mansion, felt a deep sense of loneliness.

    Isidora, by her side, tried tofort her, but Anissa still felt a profound sense of loss.

    She suddenly felt like her life was a failure. Her sons didn''te home, her husband ignored her. She wished she had stayed abroad.

    Just then, her husband Quentin called. Seeing his number, Anissa felt a surge of excitement.

    This was the first time in two months that Quentin had reached out to her. Usually, he never called.

    Wanting to show Isidora that she wasn''t an unloved wife, Anissa answered the call sweetly. "Honey..."

    But before she could say more, Quentin''s stern voice interrupted.

    He didn''t ask how she was or show any concern. He immediately questioned her, "Anissa, did you have a conflict with Adide today?"

    His tone softened when he mentioned Adide, making the difference in his feelings for the two women clear.

    Anissa felt a surge of anger. "It was just a misunderstanding. Adide was out of line." She hoped Quentin would listen.

    But he cut her off, scolding her. "Anissa, why did you provoke her? I told you not toe back, but you insisted. Now look at the mess you''ve caused. Do you know how many calls I''ve received about this?"

    Quentin''s reproach brought Anissa to the brink of tears. "Quentin, I''m your wife. You don''t even ask for my side of the story and just me me. Do you think that''s fair?"

    Anissa, usuallyposed, felt her emotions unraveling. Quentin''s words always seemed to ignite her anger.

    "I''ve looked into it, Anissa. You were the one who started it with the Davis Family." Quentin was helpless. "Do you know how much effort my father put into arranging this marriage between the Martin and Davis families? Anissa, even if you have issues with Adide, you can''t act like this."

    His words made Anissa even angrier.

    Sheughed coldly and retorted, "Your father? More like you, Quentin, put in all that effort."

 Chapter 284 Trending Topic

    Anissa''s words left Quentin speechless for a moment.

    After a few seconds of stunned silence, he finally spoke, his voice heavy with emotion, "Look, Anissa, some things are better left in the past. I really hope you won''t stir up trouble.

    You know why I married you back then, and you know how you gave birth to our three kids.

    I''ve given you respect, so please don''t make things difficult for me. If we can live peacefully, everything will be fine. Otherwise..."

    Quentin didn''t finish his words. Without waiting for Anissa to respond, he hung up the phone.

    Staring at the abruptly disconnected phone, Anissa burned with fury. Yet years of practiced restraint allowed her to forcibly swallow the scalding anger rising in her throat. She blinked hard, the tears threatening to spill from her eyes now trapped behind an iron-willed dam.

    To wield power, she reminded herself through gritted teeth, one must endure the invisible crown''s weight-its responsibilities like barbed wire, its pressures like molten lead. Within moments, her features rposed into their signature cial mask, colder than midwinter frost crystallizing on ss.

    Standing beside her, Isidora watched theplex changes in Anissa''s expression carefully. At that moment, she suddenly understood why Anissa could hold her position as Mrs. Martin.

    Because she could endure the grievances that ordinary people couldn''t.

    To impress Anissa, Isidora posted a message on a mysterious Facebook ount. Overnight, a video of Aurelia pping an ordinary people appeared on major media tforms across the country.

    The TV, the inte, and video channels were flooded with discussions about the incident.

    Some media outlets, to attract traffic, even edited high-definition footage of Adide pping Isidora. In the video, Adide''s pnded clearly on Isidora''s face. Isidora covered her face, looking aggrieved and afraid to retaliate.

    Uninformedizens were led to believe that Aurelia was abusing her power, using her status in the industry to assault an ordinary people.

    Chloe woke up early and saw the news first thing in the morning.

    She grabbed her phone and went to Adide''s bedroom, intending to wake her up and discuss how to handle the situation.

    Unexpectedly, Adide was indifferent.

    Through the door, she told Chloe, "Chloe, don''t worry. Let me finish my beauty sleep first."

    When Adide stood up for Chloe, her hands trembled with panic at the thought of anyone so much as ruffling Chloe''s hair. But now, as she found herself drowning in the whirlpool of public outrage, Adide yawned and applied eye cream with the serenity of a sloth on Valium - her "beauty sleep" took priority over copsing reputations. Chloe was at a loss. She wanted to find Adide''s assistant to handle the situation, but Adide''s assistant, Juliet Scott, was just as unhurried as Adide.

    Chloe was speechless.

    Online, the discussions amongizens grew increasingly intense.

    In just an hour, the news of Adide pping a stranger became a trending topic.

    Thements below numbered in the millions. Whenever someone mentioned Aurelia, a flood ofizens would immediately join the conversation.

    Passionateizens spected about the incident, and Chloe roughly divided them into two camps.

    The first camp firmly supported Isidora, saying that Adide, as a public figure, was wrong to hit someone.

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    The second camp supported Adide, arguing that she had always had a good reputation and never had any scandals. If she was driven to the point of hitting someone, it must have really pushed her to the edge.

    Of course, there was a third camp, who remained neutral, waiting for the truth toe out.

    Zara and Rena also saw the news online.

    Zara, with her fiery temper, kept messaging Chloe in the group chat.

    [Chloe, the inte is blowing up. When is Adide getting up? Shouldn''t we be doing some damage control? If this keeps up, it''s only gonna get worse.]

    Rena was also anxious: [Chloe, don''t stress. I have evidence. Should I release all the videos? Isidora is so sneaky. I saw the edited video online; it''s really well done.]

    But no matter how worried the onlookers were, it was useless if the main character wasn''t concerned.

    Zara and Rena, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, took a car straight to the Davis Family''s vi.

    To lower the heat of the situation, the three of them each grabbed aputer, registered various ounts, and replied toments.

    Unfortunately, thebined efforts of the three of them wereughably outgunned. Every post they managed to publish vanished within minutes - like digital snowkes melting under a methrower.

    At this point, it didn''t take a genius to realize there was a puppet master pulling the strings. Those suspiciously enthusiasticmenters? Probably bots fueled by espresso and stock photos, hired to drown out reality with keyboard warfare. Isidora? It didn''t seem possible.

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    With her financial resources, hiring so many people would be difficult.

    The three of them had no choice. When their posts were deleted, they reposted them again and again, almost wearing out their keyboards.

    While the three were struggling, Nichs from the Davis Family in the Northwest also learned about the situation from Felix.

    Felix sent the video he saw online to Nichs''s phone. "Mr. Davis, Ms. Davis has caused trouble. Look, it''s a trending topic."

    Felix pointed at the video, showing Nichs. Nichs watched the entire video and shared his thoughts. "I saw it. Adide''s p is as precise and firm as ever, leaving no chance for the other party to retaliate."

    Nichs was always confident in his daughter''s ability to handle herself.

    Felix was anxcious, "Mr. Davis, the inte is in chaos, and you''re still admiring Ms. Davis''s pping technique? It''s a trending topic. Shouldn''t we help Ms. Davis lower the heat?"

    As soon as Felix finished speaking, Nichs shook his head. "No need, no need. Adide is in the entertainment industry. What''s the fear of a trending topic? It''s just a matter of hitting someone. Adide can handle it."

    Nichs was confident in her.

    Felix was anxious. The situation had been fermenting for over ten hours, and Adide still hadn''t taken any action. It seemed she hadn''t been a trending topic for years and wanted to relive her glory days.

    Nichs was unconcerned, leaving Felix speechless.

    In Sovereign City, Chloe, Zara, and Rena were still fighting fiercely with theizens...

    Meanwhile, Adide, the person involved, finally woke up naturally. She shuffled into the living room with her assistant Juliet, wearing her slippers.

    Seeing Rena, Zara, and Chloe busy, she asked in a yful tone, "Hey, girls, what are you all busy with?"

 Chapter 285 Counterattack

    Seeing the main character get up, Chloe hurriedly pulled her over to theputer. "Auntie, you''re finally awake. Look at what people are saying online, it''s nuts. You gotta do something, or you''ll be stuck in the trending topics."

    But the more anxious Chloe got, the calmer Adide became.

    She nced briefly at the online chatter and said, "I''ve been keeping a low profile for so many years. It''s time to make a ssh. If other celebrities can trend, why can''t I?

    Juliet, I think I''ve been in the spotlight long enough. Go handle the PR and take care of this."

    Adide''s assistant, Juliet, who had been with her for many years, yawned and went off to handle the situation.

    Seeing how calm Adide and Juliet were, Chloe and the others couldn''t help but worry.

    How could Adide and Julietbe soposed in such a situation?

    It seemed Adide wasn''t bothered at all by the scandal and the potential damage to her reputation.

    Meanwhile, at the Martin Group, Grant was also concerned about the situation. He knew someone was orchestrating this behind the scenes.

    Stanley asked Grant, "Mr. Martin, this is getting out of hand. Ms. Kingsley''s reputation is definitely taking a hit, but if we act now, we can still stop it. What do you think?"

    He was testing the waters to see if Grant would intervene.

    Grant thought for a moment and said, "Alright, take action and suppress the rumors."

    Hearing this, Stanley was a bit worried. "What about Mrs. Martin?"

    Grant pondered and said, "What does this have to do with my mom? Are you suggesting she''s behind this?"

    Stanley quickly denied it.

    "No, Mr. Martin!"

    "Good."

    Despite his words, Grant was still suspicious. He thought it over and called Liam. "Liam, look into Aurelia''s situation and find out who''s behind this. Report back to me directly."

    "Got it, Grant." Liam responded and got to work.

    At the Davis family mansion, Rena, Zara, and Chloe were still anxious, but Adide acted as if nothing was wrong. She found some nail polish and started painting her nails.

    When Juliet finally stepped in, the online storm was quickly contained. Within a single hour, the tsunami of negative posts dissipated like morning fog.

    Seeing things improve, Rena discussed with Adide. "Ms. Kingsley, I have all the video footage from yesterday. Should we post it online? It could help clear your name."

    When Rena mentioned the video, her tone dripped with disgust toward Isidora. That two-faced woman-Rena had long disliked her. She clearly remembered how arrogantly Isidora had egged Anissa on to demand a luxury car from Chloe, strutting around like she owned the ce. But when the truth came out, Isidora suddenly switched to ying the pitiful victim with trembling lips and teary eyes. The hypocrisy was downright disgusting.

    But Adide didn''t seem interested in Rena''s video. She reassured the three, "Don''t worry. My assistant Juliet is handling it. Once she''s done, we''ll have lunch together."

    "I told the chef to make authentic Mexican food for lunch today. It''s going to be delicious."

    Adide''s words left the three speechless.

    However, they were impressed by Juliet''s efficiency. In just two hours, the online chatter had been suppressed.

    A few minutester, a video shot to the top of the trending topics.

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    The video showed Isidora''s greedy face as she ndered Chloe and encouraged Anissa to ask for Chloe''s car. The most damning moments were all captured, with special effects adding the words "I want that luxury car" over Isidora''s head.

    Juliet''s swift counterattack quickly became a hot topic.

    The video was so clear that even Isidora''s pouting face was caught on camera.

    Chloe, Zara, and Rena were stunned into silence by the video.

    They had no idea when Adide had managed to capture such clear footage.

    Once the video was posted, it didn''t take long forizens to startmenting.

    [This woman is so shady! Trying to steal someone''s luxury car? Look at how she incites others, so greedy!]

    [A real two-faced person. How can she im Miss Davis''s car belongs to the Martin family?]

    [The Davis and Martin families are engaged. Even if the Martin family bought Miss Davis a car, it''s not a big deal. Why is she meddling?]

    [Ms. Kingsley went easy on her. She tried to steal a luxury car and didn''t get hit?]

    "Ms. Kingsley, step aside. Let me handle this. I can''t stand two-faced people. Ms. Kingsley wouldn''t hit someone for no reason."

    [Trying to steal a luxury car, a p is too light. If she actually took it, she''d be in jail for life.]

    [I recognize this woman. Isn''t she the inspiration for the lead in ''Sixty-Six Letters''? How could she be like this? I demand they change the lead''s inspiration, or I''ll stop watching.]

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    Soon, thements overwhelmingly supported Adide. Of course, a few people still said it was wrong for Adide to hit someone.

    But the majority ofizens didn''t let Isidora off the hook.

    They used all their resources to dig up information on Isidora, posting her details

    online.

    Even her former college ssmates came forward to criticize her.

    Someone even started a Twitter thread.

    They imed Isidora loved mingling with rich people in college and went abroad with

    a wealthy heir after graduation.

    For some reason, she ended up working at the Martin Group.

    Chloe, with nothing better to do, read through the online posts, trying to separate fact from fiction.

    One post caught her attention.

    The poster imed to be a college ssmate of Isidora and knew the truth about her

    and Grant. They said Grant never liked Isidora, and the sixty-six letters he wrote weren''t for her.

    They imed to know the whole truth.

    Reading this, Chloe rested her head on her hand, deep in thought.

    After much consideration, she added the poster as a friend...

    As Grant''s current girlfriend, Chloe was eager to learn about Grant and Isidora''s past.

    She wasn''t jealous; she just felt there was something off about Isidora and needed to get to the bottom of it...

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 286 She Will Be an Obedient Person

    After Chloe added the poster as a friend, she was still waiting for them to ept her request.

    Meanwhile, Isidora had no idea things would blow up like this. The power of the inte was insane. She wanted to stir up some trouble online, but things had totally spiraled out of control.

    She had someone attack Adide online for a whole day and night, and just when it seemed to be working, Adide casually dropped a video, making Isidora look like the

    bad guy.

    The onlinements about her were brutal.

    They called her ugly, delusional, and used her of trying to steal someone else''s luxury car because she didn''t have one herself.

    They also said she was clueless about the power of the Davis Family,paring her to an egg trying to break a rock.

    Seeing more and more of her personal information being exposed online, Isidora was genuinely freaking out.

    She was terrified that her long-hidden secrets would be discovered.

    She knew that once she became a public figure, she would have no secrets left.

    Isidora didn''t have the money to handle it. With no other options, she had to turn to Anissa for help.

    Anissa was generous with her money. If she could get Anissa to spend some to control the public opinion, her secrets might stay hidden.

    But she had only known Anissa for a few days. Would Anissa agree to help her if she asked?

    Isidora was unsure.

    But with no other way out, she had to approach Anissa.

    She brought a cup of coffee to Anissa. "Hey Anissa, I brought you some coffee."

    Anissa nced at her, expressionless, and motioned for her to ce the coffee on the small table.

    Anissa was carefully performing her skincare routine with an exquisite set of cosmetic products arranged on the table beside her. She applied each product meticulously, wasting not a single drop.

    Though over fifty years old, her physique andplexion defied the natural decline of aging. The secrety in this "Beauty Glow" skincare set that had maintained her youthful appearance, preserving her face like that of a thirty-year-old.

    While remarkably effective, the products came at a staggering price and were notoriously difficult to acquire. Anissa had only secured them through considerableworkingˇŞa privilege she never took for granted. Knowing the immense effort behind every jar and bottle, she treated each application with the reverence of handling rare artifacts.

    "Anissa, I have a bit of a problem," Isidora said softly, watching Anissa apply her skincare.

    Anissa looked up and asked, "Is it about the online stuff?"

    Isidora nodded. "Anissa, I posted about being hit online because I saw you being wronged and wanted to tarnish Aurelia''s reputation."

    "I didn''t expect Aurelia to retaliate so fiercely. Anissa, I didn''t handle this well and didn''t let you vent your grievances."

    Isidora was good with words. She had wanted to get back at Adide for pping her, but now that things were out of control, so she framed it as trying to help Anissa,

    hoping Anissa would help her in return.

    Anissa listened, her face still expressionless.

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    In truth, she was also unsure. Isidora had posted the video and spent some money to promote it.

    But Isidora alone couldn''t have caused such a stir online. If Anissa hadn''t pushed it from behind, it wouldn''t have be a hot topic so quickly.

    Anissa had wanted the issue to stay in the spotlight for a few days, but her influence wasn''t enough. Before she could react, Aurelia''s PR team had shut it down.

    Now, Anissa''s own power wasn''t enough topete with Adide.

    Fortunately, she had hidden her involvement well. As long as she kept her disguise, she wouldn''t be exposed.

    Her current priority was to protect Isidora.

    Although she hadn''t known Isidora long, Anissa sensed that Isidora could be a useful and obedient ally.

    Putting on a show of contemtion, Anissa hesitated before responding with visible conflict. "Isidora, you''re well aware of Aurelia''s influence. Suppressing this matter..." She paused deliberately, her tone growing graver, "would require not only exhausting my political capital but also substantial financial investment. Only through such sacrifices could you possibly emerge unscathed. But let me be clear-these are burdens far beyond what ordinary people could shoulder."

    Hearing this, Isidora immediately understood what Anissa meant.

    She instantly adopted an expression of tearful gratitude, her eyes even glistening with unshed tears. She implored urgently. "Anissa Giselle, rest assured-if you save me this time, I swear to repay you through concrete actions.

    I know those two from the Davis Family have been undermining you behind the scenes

    all along. Their overbearing behavior sickens me to the core. Help me now, and henceforth, wherever you need strength, resources, or silent des in the dark-my loyalty bes your sharpest weapon."

    Anissa smiled at Isidora''s words.

    As she continued applying her skincare, she said, "Alright, since you''re so obedient, I''ll help you. But for the next few days, stay put at the Martin Mansion and don''t go anywhere."

    Isidora happily agreed, "Don''t worry, Anissa. I''ll do as you say."

    Wanting to impress Anissa, Isidora offered to help with her face mask. "Anissa, let me help you with the mask."

    But Anissa quickly refused, nervous. "No, it''s fine. I can do it myself."

    No one knew how much she cherished her skincare products.

    Seeing Anissa''s nervousness, Isidora curiously looked at the brand. It was a niche

    brand with severalnguages on it, one she hadn''t seen in the domestic market.

    After chatting with Anissa for a while, they heard a car outside. Isidora looked out and saw Grant''s car in the driveway.

    "Anissa, Mr. Martin is back," Isidora said.

    "At this hour? Doesn''t he have any engagements tonight?" Anissa was surprised by Grant''s early return.

    Isidora saw Grant heading towards Anissa''s building and warned her, "Mr. Martin ising this way."

    In no time, Grant was upstairs. Isidora stood at Anissa''s door, smiling as she greeted him. "Grantie, you''re back..."

    She forced a smile, trying to mimic the one she had in college, hoping to remind Grant of their past.

    But to her disappointment...

 Chapter 287 Truly My Good Son

    Grant didn''t even give her a sideways nce as he walked right past her.

    Isidora tried again, "Grantie, you thirsty? Want me to get you some tea? What kind do you like?"

    Grant loved tea, which was why the Martin family had stocked up on various kinds.

    Despite Isidora''s eagerness, Grant showed no reaction, maybe finding her too annoying.

    He turned to her and said coldly, "Get out of my sight. I don''t want to see you." His icy demeanor left Isidora standing there awkwardly, tears welling up in her eyes. If Chloe were standing in front of Grant like this, his heart would probably break. But the person in front of him was Isidora, and seeing her like this only made him feel disgusted.

    Anissa, noticing Isidora''s embarrassment, spoke up, "Isidora, you should leave."

    Isidora finally left, and Grant closed the door behind him as he entered Anissa''s room.

    His expression was cold, and there was something unusual in his gaze as he looked at Anissa.

    Anissa, having just applied a face mask, asked, "Grantie, why are you looking at me like that? I''m your mother."

    But Grant threw the documents he was holding in front of Anissa. "Mom, you know you''re my mother, yet you''ve been back in Sovereign City for just a few days and already you''re causing trouble with the Davis family?"

    Anissa nced at the documents Grant had thrown down, evidence of her manipting public opinion online.

    She thought she had been discreet, that no one could possibly discover her actions, but Grant, her own son had found out immediately.

    Anissa, feeling justified, peeled off her face mask and red at Grant angrily. "Grantie, I''m your mother. How can you talk to me like this? Is it me causing trouble with the Davis family, or is it them bullying us?"

    Grant sneered, "The Davis family bullying you? I took Chloe to the airport to pick you up, and you treated her poorly the whole time.

    They bought their own car, and you imed I bought it for Chloe, trying to snatch it in broad daylight.

    Isidora wanted to stir up trouble online with the Davis family, and you funded it, hiring onlinementators to ruin Adide''s reputation.

    Mom, did you ever consider that the Davis family and the Martin family have a marriage agreement? I''m supposed to marry Chloe, I am your son, but you''re making things difficult for me."

    Grantid out everything Anissa had done over the past few days.

    He thought that with the evidence, Anissa would have no defense.

    But Anissa had plenty to say in response. "You really are my good son. I never expected that after raising you all these years, you''d side with others to upset me.

    The marriage agreement between the Martin family and the Davis family wasn''t set by me. As your mother, don''t I have any say in who my son marries?

    You''re seriously questioning me, clearly taking the Davis family''s side. You haven''t even married yet, and you''re already ready to cast me aside?"

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    Grant, get out right now."

    Not only did Anissa refuse to acknowledge her wrongdoing, she evenshed out at Grant. Herpleteck of remorse left the morally upright young man speechless, his chest heaving with barely contained fury.

    Yet ultimately, Anissa was his mother-when she chose to wield maternal irrationality like a weapon, Grant found himself utterly disarmed, trapped in the oldest battlefield known to humanity: a child''s helplessness against a parent''s stubbornness.

    Frustrated, Grant realized that arguing with Anissa would lead nowhere, so he decided to give up.

    He stormed out, and Isidora, who had been outside the door, followed him after hearing the argument.

    Grant was in a bad state. He went to the parking lot, got into the driver''s seat, and drove off.

    Isidora quickly got into another car and followed him.

    Meanwhile, Hry had arranged to meet Chloe. They were having a drink at a quiet bar owned by Hry, making it a safe ce for them to talk.

    Hry was very talkative and started by asking Chloe about her finances. "Chloe, it''s been a few months. Have my investments grown?"

    Chloe smiled and handed Hry a report prepared by her staff. "Hry, you''ve made a small profit again. If you keep this up, you''ll be the richest woman in the country." Chloe''s words had a hint of ttery.

    Hry was pleased. At her age, she no longer cared about men or love; what mattered most was how much money she had.

    Money was her confidence.

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    "Good. Chloe, I trust you with my money."

    Hry had immense trust in Chloe. Ever since she had Chloe handle her investments, she had made a lot of money, which was why their rtionship was so good.

    After discussing business, Hry moved on to personal matters.

    Due to their financial entanglements, Hry and Perry had not chosen to divorce. They had been intertwined for a lifetime, and divorcing now would be too costly.

    As smart people, they maintained a facade of marriage.

    Hry sighed, "Chloe, let me tell you, men can never be trusted.

    Back in the day, Perry and I were madly in love, ready to give our lives for each other. And now?

    He wants me dead, and I want him dead. Though we''re still married, he openly pursues other women-one after another, unting these affairs without shame. I ache to intervene, but I am tired. So I swallow the bitterness, clinging to this hollow marriage like cracked porcin, if only to preserve for our children the illusion of an unbroken home."

    Hry seemed troubled by her rtionship, but in reality, she and Perry had long since moved on, and she had no feelings for him anymore.

    Chloe didn''t have deep insights into life, she said, "Hry, I don''t understand your rtionship, but I think life is short. As long as you''re happy, that''s what matters."

    Hry, perhaps a bit tipsy, waved her hand, signaling Chloe to keep listening. "As long as I don''t see Perry''s women, I''m always happy. But when I see those women around him, I get annoyed and upset. Hey, Chloe, remember that girl Perry was involved with, Lucy?"

    Chloe nodded, "Yes, I remember. Didn''t Perry send her off to the open sea?"

 Chapter 288 Drugging

    Hry, tipsy from the alcohol, started unloading her frustrations on Chloe.

    "Yeah, Mr. Martin pushed her out to international waters," she slurred.

    "But she is so sneaky. I have no idea how she managed to seduce Perry. My husband, who usually doesn''t give a damn about women, can''t stop thinking about her."

    "Perry, that jerk, keeps jetting off and hooking up with Lucy."

    "Just recently, I heard from my sources that Lucy''s gone missing."

    At Hry''s words, Chloe''s expression sharpened like honed steel. She''d never truly considered Lucy a rival-those underhanded schemes of hers reeked of gutter tactics. When they''d exiled Lucy to international waters, Chloe assumed the chapter was closed. Yet now came this bitter revtion: somehow that venomous spider had spun her web around Perry''s heart from half a world away.

    "A healthy person just vanishing? Could she be dead?" Chloe wondered aloud.

    Hry waved her hand dismissively. "No way. Perry treats her like she''s gold. He wouldn''t let anything happen to her. I bet she''s back in the country."

    Hry''s words put Chloe on edge. What kind of hold did Lucy have over Perry-this venomous allure strong enough to make him risk fracturing ties with the Martin family itself, all to to bring Lucy back?

    It looked like Chloe might have to deal with Lucy again in the future.

    While Chloe was talking with Hry, her phone rang. It was Grant.

    "Chloe, I''m feeling down. Can youe keep mepany?" Grant''s voice sounded off.

    "Where are you?" Chloe asked.

    "I''m at a bar," Grant replied.

    Grant was usually so disciplined, not the type to drown his sorrows in alcohol. He almost never went to bars.

    Hearing he was feeling down and drinking at a bar, Chloe didn''t waste any time. She said goodbye to Hry and headed straight to the bar where Grant was.

    Grant was slumped in a corner, ordering drink after drink.

    He looked awful. Every time the waiter brought him a drink, he knocked it back in one go. His face was starting to change color.

    Isidora, lurking in the shadows, saw Grant drinking alone and thought this was her chance.

    She touched up her makeup and hurried over to him.

    "Grantie, you''ve had enough. You should stop," Isidora said, sliding into the seat next to him and trying to take the drink from his hand.

    But Grant shoved her away. "Get lost."

    Grant was ice-cold towards Isidora. After pushing her away, he downed another drink.

    It seemed like only the alcohol could quench the fire inside him.

    Despite Grant''s coldness, Isidora didn''t give up. She leaned in again, pressing herself against him. Grant pushed her away once more.

    "Grant, you should stop drinking. Your stomach can''t handle this much alcohol," she pleaded. "Listen to me, stop drinking, okay?"

    As Isidora tried to take the drink from Grant, she practically pressed her body against him.

    Grant was getting annoyed. "Back off, Isidora. I have a girlfriend. You need to remember that and know your ce" Grant snapped, pushing her away with more force, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.

    Isidora started crying softly, ying the victim card. "Grant, I know you have a girlfriend, but I just want to take care of you. I don''t want you to drink so much."

    "We were college ssmates. Doesn''t that mean anything to you?"

    "Grant, do you really want me to pour my heart out to you?"

    Seeing Isidora like this only made Grant more irritated.

    Everything had been perfect with Chloe-until Isidora''s calcted arrival shattered the illusion. First she''d slithered into the Martin Group through Giselle''s naivety, then weaponized Anissa''s hospitality to take root in his own home. Grant''s fingers tightened around his whiskey ss.

    What fresh venom would she inject into their lives next? The real question chilled him: how could anything resembling sincerity exist behind those serpentine eyes?

    She thought he didn''t care about their college friendship, but when she was causing chaos in his life, did she ever consider that the little bit of college friendship had already been ruined by her?

    "I don''t want to talk to you anymore. Leave now." Grant directly told Isidora to leave. But Isidora came tonight determined to win Grant over.

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    After crying for a while, she stood up and moved to the small table where Grant''s drinks were. She said, "Fine, I''ll leave. But Grant, you should drink less..."

    Taking advantage of Grant not paying much attention to her, Isidora discreetly dropped a small white pill into Grant''s drink.

    Grant had already had several strong drinks and was slightly intoxicated.

    After Isidora stopped bothering him, he picked up the drink and downed it in one gulp.

    As he downed the drink without hesitation, the corners of Isidora''s lips curled upward subtly, revealing a meaningful smile. Her n was unfolding step by step exactly as intended. She sat there waiting, waiting for the drug to take effect on Grant.

    Once the drug took effect, she could take Grant away. If they had sex, Grant would be hers.

    Even if Grant didn''t marry her as the Martin Family''s mistress, he would have to give her a reasonable arrangement.

    As for Chloe that aloof and ethereal woman who acted like she was above worldly affairs-Isidora had long since deciphered her personality. Chloe couldn''t tolerate the slightest imperfection in her rtionships; the moment she discovered Isidora and Grant had been intimate, she would undoubtedly leave without looking back. Isidora''s scheme, much like the wine ss in her hand, was crystal clear yetced with deadly poison. Now, she stood merely one step away from triumph.

    Sure enough, as she expected, a few minutester, Grant''s face turned red, and his eyes showed a seductive light.

    Standing next to him, Isidora could clearly feel the desire emanating from Grant.

    "Grantie, what''s wrong with you?" She reached out to grab Grant''s arm. "You''ve had too much to drink. Let me take you home."

    With that, Isidora leaned her body against Grant''s, soft and warm. She didn''t believe that Grant could resist her.

 Chapter 289 A Wonderful Night

    Grant sensed the abnormality in his body. As Isidora kept throwing herself into his arms, his remaining consciousness told him she had likely drugged him.

    With a violent push, he shoved Isidora away from his embrace. His massive hands then mped around her neck like iron pincers, the veins on his arms bulging with barely restrained violence.

    "Isidora, you make me sick. How dare you drug me?"

    Grant''s grip tightened, making Isidora''s face turn red. She coughed violently but didn''t try to escape. Instead, she quietly reached out and touched Grant''s body.

    "Grantie, you''ve had too much to drink. How could I drug you? Look at you, always saying you hate me, but I think you really like me."

    "Grantie..."

    Under Isidora''s step-by-step seduction and the effects of the drug, Grant''s self-control crumbled. His body burned with desire, made unbearable by Isidora''s calcted caresses. Her hands roamed freely over his heated skin, each touch sparking wildfire across his nerves. Thest shreds of Grant''s resistance dissolved as her lips trailed along his neck, her breath hot against his ear.

    Consumed by primal need, he surrenderedpletely to the raging fire between them.

    But his remaining consciousness told him that no matter what, he couldn''t have sex with a woman like Isidora.

    He released his grip on her neck, stood up angrily, and headed for the bar''s exit. Isidora saw Grant''s steps were unsteady and quickly caught up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind.

    The bar was crowded, and many eyes were already on Grant and Isidora.

    Isidora whispered softly, "Grantie, I love you. Please don''t leave me. Back in college, we were so in love. You wrote to me saying I was the woman you wanted to marry."

    "Grantie, make love to me. I promise I''ll be good to you."

    But Isidora refused to let this opportunity slip away. The moment Grant tried to push her away, she lunged forward, crashing her lips against his.

    The drug coursing through Grant''s veins blurred his senses-his vision swam as he stared at the face now inches from his own. Through the haze, his clouded mind superimposed Chloe''s delicate features over Isidora''s flushed face.

    "Chloe, my baby..." he breathed hoarsely, his resistance crumbling as his fingers tangled in Isidora''s hair, pulling her closer in his drugged confusion

    Isidora yed along, "Yes, I''m your baby, Grantie... Hold me..."

    Grant''s face showed a hint of joy. He reached out and pulled Isidora into his arms. They got closer, almost ready to kiss.

    At that precise moment, a lean figure burst through the bar crowd. "Fuck!" he barked, charging toward Grant and Isidora with single-minded intensity. Before either could react, the neer wedged himself between them, his hands shooting out to shove them apart with startling force. The sudden motion sent Isidora stumbling back a step, her lips still parted mid-protest.

    "Grant? How much have you had to drink?"

    The man was Harry, who ran a renewable energypany. Tonight, his employees had organized a small gathering, and he had joined them. After a couple of drinks, he saw Grant about to kiss Isidora.

    Harry had been fully immersed in building hispany, but he hadn''t ignored the whispers online. When he saw how Isidora was obsessively clinging to Grant, rm bells rang.

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    Grant was supposed to be dating Chloe-so why was he now locking lips with Isidora?

    Chloe had been the sole investor bold enough to fund Harry''s high-risk green energy venture when no one else believed in it. He owed her. And if Grant was ying Chloe for a fool, Harry would make sure the truth came out no matter the cost.

    Harry disrupted Isidora''s ns. As a regr at the bar, Harry immediately recognized that Grant was being manipted by Isidora.

    Grant''s face turned redder.

    Harry tried to control his body.

    "Who are you? Let go of Grantie." Isidora saw her chance slipping away and tried to pull Grant away.

    Harry wasn''t about to indulge her. He pushed her hard, sending her flying.

    His expression turned cold as he asked, "Did you drug Grant?"

    Isidora quickly denied, "No, Grantie and I are in love. We couldn''t help ourselves..."

    But Harry scoffed at her shamelessness. "Fuck, don''t lie. I know what kind of person Grant is. Stay away from him. If you touch him again, I''ll kill you."

    Harry''s face showed his anger. He called his colleagues to take care of Grant. Momentster, Chloe arrived at the bar.

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    Seeing Chloe, Isidora knew she wouldn''t get Grant tonight.

    Isidora knew her meticulously crafted n was crumbling. She''d gone to desperate lengths-even drugging Grant to exploit his impaired state and coerce him into bed. Every calcted step had been scripted: how she''d weaponize this "ident" to force him to abandon Chloe and choose her. But the moment Chloe stepped into the bar, every carefullyid scheme turned to ash.

    Isidora felt frustrated but knew she couldn''t take Grant from Harry and Chloe.

    ''I can''t stay here any longer,'' Isidora told herself silently. She knew lingering would not only fail to salvage the situation but might even hand Chloe the leverage to expose her.

    The moment Harry and Chloe began guiding the unsteady Grant toward the exit, Isidora seized her chance. Silent and swift as a shadow, she slipped away like a cat vanishing into the night.

    With Harry''s help, Grant was taken to a nearby upscale hotel within ten minutes. Chloe booked a suite, and they helped Grant inside.

    Harry told Chloe, "Grant''s been drugged and drank a lot. He''ll be out of it for a while. Leaving him with you, I can rest easy. I''ll head out."

    Harry nced at Grant''s deep red face, gave Chloe some instructions, and prepared to leave.

    When Chloe walked him to the door, Harry suddenly turned back. With a mischievous smirk, he teased, "Hope you two have a wonderful night..."

    Harry''s teasing made Chloe blush.

    She pushed him out, and as soon as the door closed, Grant lunged at her, kissing her like a starving wolf.

 Chapter 290 So Shameless?

    Chloe wanted to say no, but with Grant''s intense desire, she just couldn''t fight it.

    The drug had already taken hold of Grant. He scooped Chloe up and carried her to the bedroom, kissing her the whole way.

    Chloe was worried that with the alcohol and drugs, Grant might lose touch with reality. She gently reminded him, "Grant, do you know who I am?"

    Grant, still kissing her, murmured, "Yeah, I know. You''re my girl, my favorite girl."

    With that, Grantid Chloe down on the bed and kissed her again.

    This time, Chloe didn''t resist. Even though she''d kissed Grant many times before, this time she was more into it.

    She wrapped her arms around Grant''s neck, and he tore her clothes off. Their bodies intertwined like water snakes, tightly entangled.

    When their bodies became one, Grant hovered over Chloe''s ear and whispered, "I love you, Chloe."

    A sharp sting pierced through her, drawing a gasp from her lips. As Grant moved, they surrendered to a primal rhythm, losing themselves in waves of raw desire.

    He moved like a man possessed, relentless and insatiable, iming her again and again. Chloe, trembling under his relentless rhythm, felt her strength unraveling each thrust leaving her breathless, each touch igniting mes she''d never known. By the time he finally stilled, shey spent beneath him, her body trembling, her mind adrift in a haze of exhaustion and awe.

    That night, Grant didn''t return to the Martin family mansion. He and Chloe stayed in the hotel bed, and the sheets bore a crimson stain, a mark of their passionate night.

    The next morning, Anissa noticed that Grant hadn''te home.

    She asked Isidora. "Isidora. did Grant note homest night?"

    Isidora, feeling guilty, replied, "No, Mr. Martin drove offst night and didn''t return."

    "I saw you drive off after him. Where did he go?" Anissa pressed.

    Isidora swallowed and thought for a moment before saying, "He went to a bar... then met Chloe. Around eleven, I saw him and Chloe go to a hotel... and get a room."

    Isidora''s words were hesitant, but as an adult, Anissa understood what she was implying.

    Grant and Chloe had gone to a hotel together, and something unspeakable must have happened in that room.

    To further provoke Anissa, Isidora added, "Anissa, Mr. Martin drank a lotst night. I saw Chloe helping him to the hotel."

    This carried another implication: Chloe had seduced Grant, and he only went to the hotel because he was drunk.

    Anissa, already not fond of Chloe, now reached the peak of her dislike.

    She mmed the table and said harshly, "How shameless can she be?"

    Mia, who was serving breakfast, quickly spoke up for Chloe. "Mrs. Martin, please calm down. There might be a misunderstanding. Maybe Miss Davis was just taking care of Mr. Martin because he was drunk."

    Anissa, hearing Mia''s words, became even angrier. She snapped at Mia, "If Grant was drunk, she could have brought him home. What was the point of taking him to a hotel?"

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    "This girl, young as she is, schemes like a seasoned yer. Does she really think trapping Grantie with these cheap tricks will force him to marry her? Hmph. Pathetic. Of all the girls in the world, why did Father have to saddle Grantie with this scheming little viper?"

    Mia shook her head. Since Anissa returned to Sovereign City, the Martin family had been in disarray.

    Her inherent hostility towards Chloe had made the three brothers, who usually loveding home, avoid it.

    Moreover, Mia had overheard Anissa hinting to Isidora to use any means necessary to get close to Grant. Why was it different when it came to Chloe?

    Chloe and Grant were in a normal rtionship. Even if they had intimate moments, wasn''t that normal?

    As a servant, Mia couldn''t understand why such a good person like Chloe couldn''t win Anissa''s favor.

    In the morning, when Grant opened his eyes, the room was filled with the aroma of oatmeal.

    He put on a robe and walked out of the bedroom, just in time to see Chloe, also in a matching robe, cooking oatmeal in the small kitchen.

    Chloe''s long hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders. Since it was just the two of them, she didn''t have her usual fake mole on, and her clean, fresh face was slightly lowered.

    She hummed a tune as she cooked, looking every bit like a young wife preparing breakfast for her husband.

    Grant leaned against the doorframe, watching Chloe''s busy figure from a distance.

    A few minutester, Chloe turned and saw Grant watching her. His gaze was intense, and Chloe''s face turned red instantly.

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    "You''re awake?" she greeted him.

    Grant nodded, "Yeah, I woke up to the smell of your oatmeal."

    Chloe chided him, "You drank too muchst night... I was worried you''d have a stomachache this morning, so I had some ingredients sent over."

    "Just wait a bit, the oatmeal will be ready soon." Chloe turned back to the kitchen. Watching her, Grant walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

    He buried his face into the crook of Chloe''s neck, hisrge hands roaming shamelessly, attempting to sneak beneath the sash of her robe.

    Even this early in the morning, Grant was already up to his usual antics, teasing her relentlessly.

    She pped his hand, trying to push him away. "Grant, stop it. Go wait outside, the oatmeal will be ready soon."

    Grant, being stubborn, said, "No, I don''t want to. I want to stay with you. Besides, with you here, who needs oatmeal?"

    With that, he pulled Chloe into his arms and kissed her deeply.

    Chloe tried to push him away, but he didn''t budge. The difference in strength made it impossible for Chloe to resist. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been at his mercyst night.

    Grant''s kiss seemed endless. He clung to Chloe, ready for another round of morning passion.

 Chapter 291 Tricked Him into Bed

    Just as the two were lost in their passionate kiss, a loud knock on the suite door startled them.

    Grant looked up, puzzled, and asked Chloe, "Who could that be?"

    Chloe, blushing, replied, "I don''t know, maybe it''s room service."

    Hearing Chloe mention room service, Grant adjusted his robe and went to open the door.

    To his surprise, as soon as he opened it, Anissa stormed in with Giselle and Isidora, looking like they were catching someone in the act.

    Seeing Anissa and Giselle, Grant greeted them, "Mom, Giselle, what are you doing here?"

    Anissa shot Grant a disdainful look and snapped, "If I hadn''te, I wouldn''t have known how this woman was seducing you."

    Chloe, who was busy preparing oatmeal for Grant, heard Anissa''s voice and stepped out of the small kitchen, only to see the three uninvited guests standing there.

    Anissa''s disdain grew even more evident when she saw Chloe in her loose robe. Because she had just woken up early in the morning, Chloe had not had time to put the mole on her face, Anissa was momentarily taken aback by Chloe''s fresh face, which bore a striking resemnce to Adide''s. This resemnce only fueled Anissa''s anger. Chloe instinctively greeted Anissa, "Anissa."

    But Anissa rudely cut her off, "Don''t call me Anissa. I don''t know a girl as shame as you."

    "I haven''t even agreed to you marrying into the Martin Family, and here you are, already seducing Grant into bed."

    "You''ve got some nerve. I never thought the Davis Family would raise a girl like this." Anissa, who already had a poor impression of Chloe, unleashed her full fury, dragging the Davis Family into her tirade.

    Chloe could tolerate Anissa''s insults and bullying because she saw Anissa as an elder. But what right did Anissa have to insult the Davis Family?

    Did she deserve respect? Did she act like an elder?

    What kind of elder constantly meddles in the younger generation''s rtionships?

    Chloe couldn''t take it anymore. She disregarded Anissa''s status and said, "Mrs. Martin, please watch your tone."

    "I respect you as an elder of the Martin Family, which is why I''ve been patient. But you can''t insult me like this."

    "Grant and I are both adults. It''s natural for us to have some intimate moments while dating. What do you mean by saying I seducing Grant into bed?"

    "Who drugged Grantst night? Don''t you know? If I hadn''t shown up in time and brought him here, what do you think would have happened to your son?"

    "Mrs. Martin, you can look down on me, and if you have a problem, take it up with me. What right do you have to insult the Davis Family?"

    This was the first time Chloe had stood up to Anissa. Hearing Chloe''s words, Giselle couldn''t stand it anymore.

    She said to Anissa, "Anissa, look at this girl. Isn''t she out of control? She hasn''t even married into the Martin Family yet, and she dares to talk to you like this? If she marries into the Martin Family, you won''t even have a chance to retort."

    "I told you before that this damn girl was out of control, but you didn''t believe me. Now you should believe it." After Giselle finished, she gave Isidora a look.

    Isidora immediately started criticizing Chloe. "Chloe, Anissa is an elder. What''s wrong with her saying a few words to you? How can you be so disrespectful and make Anissa angry?"

    Chloe red at Isidora and snapped, "I suggest you shut your mouth. If you want a p, just step forward."

    Chloe''s fierce demeanor scared Isidora, who covered her face and retreated behind Giselle.

    Last night, Chloe had learned from Harry that it was Isidora who had drugged Grant. She had wanted to p her then, but Isidora had run away quickly.

    She hadn''t expected Isidora to show up again this morning, asking for trouble.

    If she didn''t teach her a lesson, Isidora would think Chloe was easy to bully.

    "Alright, stop arguing. Mom, Giselle, go home. This is between Chloe and me. We''ll

    handle it ourselves." Grant firmly stood by Chloe''s side, not wanting Anissa to interfere in their rtionship.

    But to Anissa, Grant''s words were a challenge to her authority as his mother.

    With a swift motion, she pped Grant hard across the face.

    Seeing Grant get pped, Chloe''s heart ached.

    Then Anissa yelled at Grant, "Grant, how dare you talk to me like that."

    "I''m your mother. I decide who you marry. I''m telling you, if you want to marry this woman, you need my approval."

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    Grant, holding his face, looked at Anissa with disbelief.

    This marked the first time Grant had ever been struck-and by Anissa of all people. In his mind, she''d always been the epitome of indifference, the type to avoid drama at all costs. Clutching his stinging cheek, he couldn''tprehend why simply honoring the family pact by courting Chloe warranted such violent opposition. Grant couldn''t understand why she was so opposed to his rtionship with Chloe.

    He looked at Anissa, suppressing his anger, and said, "Mom, you''ve hit me. Isn''t that enough? Can we handle our own rtionship? I want to marry Chloe, and no one can stop me."

    Giselle, who had worked at the Martin Group for a long time, could see that Grant was trying hard to control his anger.

    To prevent the situation from escting beyond repair, Giselle said to Anissa, "Anissa, maybe we should leave."

    But Anissa had no intention of leaving.

    The mother and son stood their ground, neither willing to back down, while Isidora watched with a meaningful smile.

    Chaos was what she wanted. Only in chaos would she have a chance to win over Grant and be part of the Martin Family. That way, she and her daughter Kathy would have a secure future.

    The tension in the room was palpable.

    At that moment, Harry, who was on his way to see Grant and Chloe, heard themotion from outside the room.

    Realizing that Anissa had shown up, Floyd sent a message to Michael: [Michael, help!

    Anissa is here, and Grant can''t handle it.]

    Shortly after Harry sent the message, Anissa received a call.

    It was from Michael.

    On the phone, Michael urgently said, "Mom, where are you? Come to the hospital

    quickly. I got hurt on set... it''s serious..."

 Chapter 292 Breaking Up Because Its Not Suitable

    Michael''s call came at just the right time.

    After Anissa answered, she didn''t say much to Grant. She shot a hateful re at Chloe before storming out.

    Giselle and Isidora followed closely behind Anissa, quickly exiting the room.

    As they pulled the door open, they saw Harry standing in the hallway.

    "Hey, Anissa," Harry greeted.

    Anissa didn''t even spare Harry a nce and hurried away. Harry looked at Isidora trailing behind Anissa and seemed to understand everything.

    Last night, he wondered how bold Isidora must be to drug Grant. Turned out, Isidora had cozied up to Anissa.

    ''This woman, very scheming, is really not a good thing,'' Harry thought to himself.

    Harry originally intended to go in andfort Grant and Chloe after Anissa left, but as the door closed, he wisely decided not to disturb them.

    Anissa''s departure left both Chloe and Grant feeling down.

    They changed their clothes and sat on the couch. Chloe wanted to check if Grant''s face was seriously injured, but Grant grabbed her hand. "I''m sorry, our first night together and you had to go through all this," he apologized.

    Chloe leaned into Grant''s embrace, trying to sound casual, "It''s okay!"

    "Don''t worry, I truly want to be with you. No matter what obstacles we face, I will marry you." Grant held Chloe''s hand to his chest.

    Chloe could feel Grant''s heartbeat clearly.

    She nodded and said, "Alright. We''ll work through this together."

    Theycrimes crearr¨˘schirutten katalvorm, a?rritterr fr??nturlover Thibentrscrker.

    The school was bustling today. Not only was Rena attending, but even Philip, a the entertainment industry, was there.

    ne

    Seeing Chloe, both of them approached her and started chatting.

    Rena''s sharp eyes immediately noticed the hickey on Chloe''s neck.

    She leaned in and whispered in Chloe''s ear, "Chloe, wasst night wild?"

    Chloe blushed and stayed silent.

    Feeling frustrated, she decided to tell Rena about Anissa blocking the door this morning.

    After hearing the story, Rena couldn''t help but criticize Anissa, "Chloe, Mrs. Martin is really something, isn''t she? A mother meddling in her son''s private life, that''s just crazy."

    Chloe''s brows knitted slightly as she exhaled a humorless chuckle. She drawled, her voiceced with dry amusement. "There we were, minding our business, when Anissa storms in like a hurricane Isidora and Giselle trailing behind like some sort of dramatic entourage."

    "Those familiar with the situation might assume she came for her son. But the clueless bystanders? What conclusions would they jump to? They''d probably think I''d done something unspeakable-like seducing a married man and getting caught mid- scandal."

    Listening to Chloe''s rant, Rena shivered. "Anissa is really something. Chloe, I''m worried about what will happen if you marry into the Martin family."

    Rena still had the energy to worry about Chloe? Did she forget she''s dating Michael, the second heir of the Martin Family now?

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    Chloe gently reminded her, "I''m not worried because you might have to endure her torment with me."

    Rena felt like dying.

    She grabbed Chloe''s arm and said, "Alright, alright, stop. Chloe, I''m not even dreaming

    of marrying Michael anymore. We''re just dating. If it works, great. If not, we''ll break

    up."

    Philip, standing a bit away from them, didn''t catch most of their conversation.

    But Rena''sst sentence about breaking up reached Philip''s ears.

    He chimed in, "No worries, if you break up, I''ll be a big shot in the entertainment industry someday. I''ll take care of you both."

    Chloe and Rena both rolled their eyes at Philip and headed to ss.

    Philip called after them, "Hey, you two, that''s not cool. Wait for me!"

    At the hospital, Michaely in bed, scrolling through his phone.

    His foot injury wasn''t serious, just a minor scrape. He didn''t need to be hospitalized; he could have gone home after getting bandaged.

    But when he heard Anissa was giving Grant a hard time, he asked the doctor to admit him so Anissa would have to take care of him, easing some pressure off Grant.

    In crucial moments, Grant should rely on his own brother.

    Michael had been scrolling through his phone, chuckling at a funny video, when the sound outside the hospital room door jolted him. In a sh, he locked his phone and slumped weakly against the headboard, his face morphing into a picture of pitiful exhaustion. As the door creaked open, he shot a meaningful nce at the caregiver, who promptly retreated to the corner like a shadow.

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    As the door opened, he signaled to the nurse, who obediently stepped aside.

    Anissa was always cold and rarely said anythingforting.

    But seeing her son injured and lying in front of her, she instinctively showed concern.

    "Mom... it hurts." Michael tried to pretend.

    Before Anissa could ask about his condition, he exaggeratedly cried out.

    Anissa walked over, looked at his injured foot, and scolded him, "Mic, what happened?

    You''re a grown man, can''t you take care of yourself?"

    Michael replied, "Mom, I wanted to take care of myself, but there are so many machines on set. How was I supposed to know one would fall?"

    "Mom, when I got hurt, I think about how you''ve always put up with my stubbornness, how you''ve always ached for me. I can''t stop imagining how frantic you''d be if you knew I was injured - pacing all day, terrified something bad had happened. When these thoughts hit, it''s like an invisible fist crushes my chest, squeezing until I can''t breathe from the guilt."

    Michael, being an actor, knew how to tug at heartstrings. Even the cold-hearted Anissa felt a bit moved.

    She sat beside Michael, examining his injured foot, and asked with concern, "Mic, is your injury serious?"

    Michael, quick to speak, said, "Mom, it''s not serious."

    As soon as he said that, Giselle, who hade with Anissa, immediately took on her elder role and started scolding Michael. "Mic, how could you? If it''s not serious, why make such a fuss and call your mom? That''s lying!"

    Michael didn''t interact much with Giselle but had always respected her. He didn''t expect her to say something like that.

    So he was very displeased.

 Chapter 293 Find a Homosexual

    Earlier, he had overheard Grant mention at home that Giselle had changed, but he didn''t think much of it at the time, figuring it wasn''t his business.

    Little did he know, Giselle was about to show him just how different she was.

    It seemed that Anissa''s visit to the hotel to confront Grant and Chloe today was partly Giselle''s doing.

    But Michael wasn''t someone to be messed with.

    He had a sharp tongue, a necessity in the entertainment industry where even a slightck of wit could be a disadvantage.

    Michael turned his face slightly, looking at Giselle, and said casually, "Giselle, are you saying I shouldn''t call my mom?"

    "I might be a little hurt, but I''m still my mom''s kid. What''s wrong with calling her?"

    "Or do you think I should only call her when I''m dying or seriously ill?"

    Michael''s words left Giselle speechless. She quickly exined, "Mic, that''s not what I meant. I was just worried about you."

    "Giselle, your concern really feels different..." Michael mocked her.

    "Mic, I just thought your mom would be so worried knowing you''re sick, but you..." Giselle''s exnation became more and more muddled.

    Clearly, she had misspoken.

    Seeing Giselle struggling to exin, Anissa said to her, "Alright, stop exining. I''ll stay here with my son for a while. You two should leave."

    Anissa hadn''t had a single pleasant moment since early this morning.

    Feeling quite irritated, she wanted Giselle and Isidora to leave.

    Sisentra?kristinrar coilnin''t stay Hunger after prommprty venftittenm

    Anissa continued to care for Michael. As a wealthydy who had never done housework, she rarely took care of others. Watching her clumsily peel an apple for him, Michael felt touched.

    But thinking about the trouble Anissa had caused Chloe, Michael was worried.

    Given Chloe''s prestigious family background, her exceptional personal qualities, and her intellectual brilliance - all cing her among the most elite women-coupled with the existing marriage alliance between the Martin and Davis families, even someone as exceptional as Anissa wouldn''t meet their standards. How could someone like Rena, with her tainted family background ˇŞ a sick mother and an imprisoned father ever measure up?

    If Michael ever dared to consider marrying Rena, the resistance he''d face would be unimaginable.

    As a man, he had the responsibility to solve these difficult problems.

    Thinking of this, Michael sent a message to John on Facebook: [I''m at the hospital. Find me a gay guy toe to my room immediately.]

    Michael''s agent, John, was taken aback by the message.

    Michael wanted a gay guy?

    John wasn''t part of thatmunity. Where was he supposed to find a gay guy? Besides, he''d worked with Michael for years and had never known him to have such a need. Wasn''t he straight? Didn''t he have women?

    Seeing no reply from John, Michael rxed the conditions: [Fake is fine too, but find a good actor. Pay is negotiable.]

    Michael''s offer was quite generous. Soon, John reached out to his contacts and got in touch with Philip, who was attending ss at Quest University.

    Philip received the message: [Urgent gig, y a gay guy, $50,000 for an hour...]

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    Philip didn''t need the money, but as a neer in the entertainment industry, he needed opportunities to hone his acting skills.

    ying a gay guy as a straight man was quite challenging. He remembered a famous actor who rose to fame by ying a gay character.

    Thinking of this, Philip quickly replied: [Got it. Send me the address. I''m on my way.]

    While everyone was in ss, Philip discreetly stood up and approached Chloe. "Hey, do you have any makeup?"

    Chloe replied, "I have some... foundation, eyebrow pencil, lipstick, and stuff."

    "Give them to me quickly." Philip was hurried.

    Without further ado, he took Chloe''s makeup.

    Chloe was puzzled and asked, "What do you need makeup for?"

    "I just got a good gig and need to use these for some base makeup. I''m taking them."

    Philip said, grabbing Chloe''s makeup bag and preparing to leave.

    Rena, sitting at the desk in front of Chloe, overheard Philip''s words.

    Curious, she turned around and asked, "Philip, why does a guy need makeup?"

    Philip was in a hurry and didn''t have time to answer Rena''s question. He simply reached out and grabbed the pink scarf around Rena''s neck.

    "Borrowing your scarf, I''ll return itter." With that, Philip quickly left.

    His unusual behavior made Chloe and Rena start discussing him.

    Rena said, "Chloe, do you think Philip has some issues? Why would he need my scarf?" Chloe whispered, "He said he got an urgent gig. Maybe he''s using our stuff as props."

    An hourter, Philip, now wearing makeup, appeared in the hospital hallway. He had received the room number for Michael''s hospital room from the intermediary.

    Now, he had transformed into a man with a distinctly feminine style.

    With Rena''s pink scarf around his neck and Chloe''s makeup on his face, he walked with a swish towards Michael''s room.

    At that moment, Anissa was still trying to brainwash Michael. "Mic, you''re the most obedient of my three children. You must listen to me in the future."

    "Let me tell you, finding a wife is serious business. You can''t be like Grant, finding such a frivolous woman. They haven''t even married yet, and they''re already staying in hotels together."

    Anissa''s words made Michael purse his lips. He felt like his mom was stuck in the past.

    It was the 21st century, and there were countless couples living together before marriage.

    Anissa''sints seemed a bit outdated. Besides, Grant was in histe twenties. What was wrong with having a live-in partner?

    Though Michael thought this, he didn''t show it.

    He continued eating the apple Anissa had peeled for him, lying on the hospital bed

    and reassuring her. "Mom, don''t worry. I''m not like Grant. I won''t find a frivolous woman."

    "Good, Mic is so obedient." Anissa praised Michael.

    Michael smiled and said to Anissa, "Mom, actually, I want to tell you that I already have

    a partner. He''sing over soon, and I want you to meet him."

    Anissa looked puzzled, and the next moment, Philip, dressed like a drag queen, appeared.

 Chapter 294 Future Mother

    He pushed the door open and immediately saw Michael lying on the hospital bed. When Philip found out that his co-star was the famous actor Michael, he was thrilled. With Michael having entered the industry early and boasting an impressive portfolio of iconic works, his reputation in the industry was ster. For a neer like him tond a role as Michael''s on-screen partner - what a stroke of dumb luck! Today, he''d better bring his A-game. If he impressed Michael, securing future roles would be the least of his worries.

    Philip quickly got into character.

    He adjusted his voice, greeting Michael in an exaggerated, affected tone. "Mic, what happened to you? How did you get hurt? Oh my, it breaks my heart."

    After the greeting, Philip threw himself onto Michael''s bed, hugging him with a pained expression, as if he had lost a spouse. "Darling, how did you hurt your foot? Does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you."

    "How could they take care of you so poorly that you ended up in the hospital? Darling, no, no, my heart aches so much..." He used all his life''s learning to perform.

    Anissa, who had been praising Michael just moments ago, was now utterly confused, staring at Philip in disbelief. Her mind was nk, unable toprehend what was happening.

    Her son was in the hospital, and now this mboyant person had barged in, hugging her son and calling him "darling"...

    She remembered Michael mentioning he was dating with someone. Could this man be the one her son was dating?

    Anissa couldn''t bear the thought. She angrily questioned Michael, "Michael, what is this... you..."

    Seeing Anissa''s reaction, Michael was in a good mood.

    He wrapped an arm around Philip and formally introduced him to Anissa, "Mom, let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, his name is..."

    At a crucial moment, Michael realized he had forgotten to ask John the name of the actor he had sent over.

    Fortunately, Philip was quick on his feet. He raised his hand and continued Michael''s introduction.

    He said, "I''m Philip... And thisdy must be Mic''s mother, my future mother-inw..." Anissa was disgusted. She had lived for over fifty years and never imagined her son would be gay.

    She felt like throwing up.

    But Michael wasn''t done. He encouraged Philip, "Philip, this is my mom. She''ll be your mom too. Just call her ''Mom''."

    Philip obediently turned to Michael with a loving gaze, then put on a shy expression.

    He said, "Yes, darling is right. Calling her ''Mom'' is more intimate."

    Then he turned to Anissa and sweetly called out, "Mom..."

    Anissa was repulsed.

    Suppressing her anger, she snapped at Philip, "You pervert, who are you calling ''Mom''? Get away from me."

    Anissa abandoned all aristocratic decorum, bluntlybeling Philip a "disgusting creep." As Philip connected the dots - realizing Anissa was Michael''s mother, and therefore Grant''s he recalled Rena''s warnings about her notorious temper and recent harassment of Chloe.

    Chloe was his ssmate and boss. Given their rtionship, shouldn''t he stand up for Chloe?

    Anissa, tthe old woman called him a pervert, and while he couldn''t insult her back, as a new actor, he had plenty of ways to disgust Anissa.

    Since Michael had hired him, he decided to go all out.

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    Ignoring Anissa''s insults, he continued to act coquettishly towards Michael. "Baby, does Mom not like me? Does she want to break us up? I love you so much, I can''t live without you."

    "Mom, don''t worry. If you agree to me and Mic being together, I''ll be good to you and never make you angry."

    "And Mom, your skin looks amazing. What products do you use? Can you share your secret with me?"

    Philip was performing excellently. He was just short of sitting down with Anissa for a

    heart-to-heart.

    Anissa was speechless. She couldn''t believe her son had found such a pervert for a girlfriend.

    She felt like she couldn''t go on living.

    "Michael, are you trying to kill me? You... you both disgust me." After scolding Michael, Anissa grabbed her purse and stormed out.

    Michael signaled to Philip, who quickly followed her. "Mom... don''t go, let''s talk some more..."

    Anissa had no intention of talking to Philip. She wanted to strangle him.

    Anissa hurried away, not wanting to see Michael or Philip again.

    Once Anissa waspletely gone, Philip rxed. He took off the scarf around his neck

    and sat next to Michael. "Michael, how did I do?"

    Michael gave him a thumbs up. "Not bad... Your acting was really good."

    Philip smiled at thepliment. "Thanks. I hope I didn''t give Mrs. Martin a heart attack."

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    Michael softly replied, "If it makes her calm down for a while, that''s not a bad thing."

    As Michael finished speaking, he noticed the pink scarf Philip had thrown on his bed. It looked familiar. He remembered, it was Rena''s scarf.

    He had gone shopping with Rena that night, so he remembered it well.

    How did Philip get this scarf? What was his rtionship with Rena?

    Michael picked up the scarf and asked Philip, "Where did you get this scarf?"

    Philip looked at Michael and said, "It''s my ssmate''s. I borrowed it for the role." "What''s your ssmate''s name?" Michael asked. "Rena," Philip replied.

    The moment Michael heard Rena''s name, a sour pang twisted in his chest. His brow furrowed involuntarily as his eyes locked onto Philip, scrutinizing the man from head to toe. Waves of suspicion and resentment churned within him, ''What''s this guy''s deal with Rena? he seethed silently. Why would she lend him her scarf? Are they... close?''

    His jaw tightened as shadows crept across his face, the usual spark in his eyes snuffed out like a suffocated me.

    However, innocent Philip had no idea that Michael now saw him as a rival.

    It seemed thest person to see him as a rival was Grant.

    How talented must he be to be a rival to both Martin brothers?

    Just then, Rena called Philip after her ss...

    Hearing Rena''s voice, Michael''s face turned even darker.

 Chapter 295 Protecting Him?

    Rena called Philip, "Hey, Philip, where''ve you been? Chloe told me younded a role. What''s it about? What kind of role needs my scarf as a prop? Hurry up and bring it back."

    Rena had been keeping her job as Michael''s assistant under wraps, only Chloe and a few others knew.

    Of course, not many people were aware of her rtionship with Michael either. If a celebrity''s rtionship goes public, it could wreck their career.

    Philip waspletely oblivious to Michael''s stormy expression.

    He kept bragging to Rena about his achievements that day. "Rena, guess whose role I got today? Michael''s... Mic''s! Isn''t he your favorite?"

    "Mic got hurt and is in the hospital. He asked me to y a gay character to support him."

    "Mic even praised my acting skills, Rena. I''m so pumped!"

    Philip''s words caught Rena''s attention. But when she found out Michael was injured, she got anxious. "Philip, which hospital are you at? Which room? How did Mic get hurt? Is it serious?"

    Rena fired a barrage of questions at Philip. Listening through the phone, Michael felt his simmering resentment ease slightly upon hearing her obvious concern for him.

    ''That heartless girl,'' he thought with grudging warmth, ''still knows how to worry about me after all.''

    Philip gave Rena the address of Michael''s hospital. Rena grabbed Chloe and rushed to the hospital.

    When they saw the tiny wound on Michael''s foot, Chloe and Rena were speechless.

    Chloe crossed her arms and teased Michael, "Michael, this is a bit much. Rena said you were hurt, and we rushed here. I thought it was something serious, but..."

    Michael nced at Chloe and asked, "But what?"

    "But if we hade anyter, your wound would have healed by now, right?" Chloe mocked Michael.

    Michael curled his lip at Chloe. "Got any conscience left?" he snapped. "Harry tipped me off that you and Grant were cornered by my mother at the hotel. If I hadn''t faked this injury to drag my mom here, do you seriously think you two would''ve walked away clean?"

    Michael''s revtion was quite a bombshell.

    Philip, being a curious friend, started probing. "Chloe, you and your boyfriend were at a hotel? And got cornered?"

    "Come on, tell me what happened. Aren''t we friends? How could you keep this from me?"

    "I knew something was up this morning when you and Rena were whispering about breaking up. Was it because of this?"

    Philip''s words shattered the room''s calm like a dropped teacup. Chloe stiffened, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her face as she cleared her throat. Avoiding his gaze, she turned slightly toward the window. "Let''s circle back to thatter," she deflected, voice tight with difort. "I want to know, what role are you ying with Michael?"

    The question acted like champagne popping. Philip''s eyes lit up with barely contained excitement, his grin turning conspiratorial. "We''re staging a gay romance!" he blurted, words tumbling out like liberated doves.

    The synchronized gasp could''ve powered a wind turbine. Both women''s eyes widened, mouths falling open as their heads swiveled toward Michael in perfect unison - twin searchlights demanding exnation.

    Michael pointed to the camera in the room and said, "The camera caught everything. If you''re curious, you can copy the footage and watch it."

    Chloe and Rena quickly got to work.

    In no time, they had the video on their phones.

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    They watched Philip and Michael''s performance, and when they saw Philip chasing after Anissa, calling her "Mom," they couldn''t stopughing.

    Chloe teased Michael, "Mic, what are you up to? Getting Philip to pretend to be gay to mess with your mom? How''d youe up with that?"

    Michael nced at Chloe and said, "It''s because of you and Grant. I had toe up with something."

    He sighed, "You and Grant are engaged, but my mom isn''t fully on board with your marriage. What about me? My future marriage will be even harder."

    As Michael said this, he nced at Rena, who lowered her head in self-doubt.

    She thought the woman Michael would marry in the future would never be her.

    "So, you came up with this n?" Chloe asked again.

    Michael nodded, "Yeah, it''s easier for my mom to ept me marrying a woman than a man, right?"

    Hearing this, Chloe couldn''t help but give Michael a thumbs up.

    She had to admit, Michael''s n, though sneaky, was effective.

    Anissa might be angry for a while, but she would lower her standards for Michael''s

    future wife. Michael was nning to marry Rena.

    Chloe realized that Michael might be serious about this rtionship.

    She was genuinely happy for Rena.

    That night, back at home, Chloe showed the video she got from Michael to Adide.

    When Adide saw Michael using this method to annoy Anissa, she couldn''t stopughing.

    She pointed at Michael in the video and said, "Chloe, this guy is hrious. I really like him."

    "His quirky ways remind me of myself when I was younger..."

    "Next time, find a chance to invite him to dinner. I want to know how he came up with this idea to annoy his mom."

    "If Grant had his tricks, he wouldn''t get scolded by his mom so much." Adide thought Grant was a bit too straightced and not fun at all. But she couldn''t deny Chloe''s affection for him.

    Hearing Adide''s criticism of Grant, Chloe hurried to defend him. "Auntie, Grantie is a very upright man. He wouldn''t stoop to such methods... As the CEO of the Martin Group, he might find it a bit childish."

    Adide couldn''t help but tease Chloe. "Chloe, you''re really protective of him, huh? I can''t even criticize him?"

    Chloe clung to Adide''s arm and said, "Auntie, that''s not what I meant. I just wanted to say that Grant has many good qualities... You''ll discover them over time..."

    Adide looked at Chloe and smiled. "Alright, I''ll take my time discovering his good qualities..."

    Late at night, the Martin Family household was in a state of chaos...

 Chapter 296 She Is Just an Outsider

    Anissa, who always prided herself on being calm andposed,pletely lost it when she found out Michael was gay. She hurled the teacup in her hand to the ground with a crash.

    Isidora watched Anissa, assuming she was still upset about Grant and Chloe.

    Trying to stir the pot, Isidora guessed Anissa''s thoughts.

    Sheforted, "Anissa, don''t be so mad. The doctor said too much anger is bad for your health."

    "Today''s situation was out of my control. If I had been tougherst night and kept Grant here, he wouldn''t have fallen for Chloe''s tricks."

    "Anissa, Chloe is so sneaky. She goes out with a fake mole on her face to make people think she''s ugly, but she''s actually quite pretty."

    "No wonder Grant was so easily fooled by her..."

    Anissa was already furious, and Isidora''s words only made it worse.

    Her three sons each seemed like deliberate challenges from the heavens, testing the very limits of her patience and resolve. Her eldest defied her wishes, stubbornly marrying that Chloe she''d always disapproved of, even daring to confront her over it. Before she could catch her breath from that blow, her second son delivered the ultimate shock - he was gay. The revtion struck like lightning, each revtion piling upon her like mountains, crushing the breath from her lungs.

    And Isidora just kept going on and on.

    Anissa couldn''t take it anymore. She yelled at Isidora, "Get out right now!"

    Isidora was startled by Anissa''s sudden outburst and quickly left.

    Downstairs, Isidora felt particrly wronged. Anissa had taken her anger out on her, and she needed to vent it somewhere.

    Just then, she saw Mia cleaning the living room with a mop. Isidora had always disliked Mia for defending Chloe, but she never had the chance to confront her.

    Mia had just changed the mop and identally left some water on the floor.

    Seeing this, Isidora shouted at Mia, "Are you blind? Can''t you see the water on the floor?"

    Isidora''s harsh words angered Mia. She wasn''t the Martin family''s owner, so why should Mia tolerate her?

    Mia snapped back, "If you''re not blind, why don''t you clean it up yourself?"

    Isidora was furious at Mia''s retort. She said, "You''re just a paid servant of the Martin family. Isn''t this your job? I just pointed it out, and you have to insult me?"

    Mia couldn''t help butugh coldly. "Yes, I''m a paid servant of the Martin family, and I do my job. But you, does the Martin family pay you? You''re just a sycophant trying to please Mrs. Martin, and you dare call me a servant. Pathetic."

    "I''ve worked for the Martin family for twelve years and never met someone as shameless as you. You''re not even the owner, yet you act like one." Mia had long been unhappy with Isidora for constantly stirring up trouble between Anissa and Chloe. "Disgusting. If there''s no water, maybe you should pee and look at your reflection to see what you really are." Taking this opportunity, sheshed out at Isidora.

    Isidora wanted to argue back, but Mia''s words were true. She couldn''t find the right words to retaliate.

    The housekeeper, hearing themotion, came over.

    Seeing Mia and Isidora arguing, the housekeeper quickly stepped in. "Mia, is it really worth arguing with her? She''s just a guest and will leave eventually. Just tolerate her for now."

    The housekeeper''s words, though meant to mediate, clearly pointed out Isidora''s status.

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    She was an outsider, someone even the Martin family''s servants didn''t respect. However, Chloe had been living there for months and was treated like ady by the staff.

    But now, even a servant dared to argue with her. What did that make her?

    She didn''t want to be an outsider. She wanted to live in the luxurious Martin Mansion forever.

    She had to work harder on Grant.

    In the following days, everyone seemed to calm down. Anissa stopped causing trouble and sat at home, looking worried.

    This made the Martin brothers feel more at ease.

    Grant, after handlingpany matters, spent more time with Chloe.

    They stayed in touch through their phones when busy, and their rtionship progressed quickly, like honey.

    One day, Chloe went to Summit Media Solutions to handle some business.

    After finishing her work, Zara pulled her into the office for a chat.

    Zara was always curious about Chloe''s affairs and had learned everything that had happened to her recently.

    As a mischievous friend, Zara often gave Chloe bad advice.

    Chloe had no way to deal with her dear friend.

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    Chloe''s online friend had just epted her friend request, and they started chatting. Chloe asked: [You said you''re Grant and Isidora''s ssmate. Is that true?]

    The person replied: [Yeah, I was Grant''s roommate. I know everything about him and Isidora.]

    [Tell me more?] Chloe asked curiously.

    The person refused: [No, I can''t. It''s my ssmate''s privacy. I can''t just tell a stranger.

    But everything I said in the post is true.]

    Chloe tried to persuade him for a long time, but he wouldn''t say more.

    Frustrated, he logged off and ignored Chloe''s questions.

    Chloe told Zara about it.

    Zara said, "Chloe, the inte isplicated. You can''t trust online friends like that."

    She continued, "If you''re curious about Mr. Martin and Isidora, why not ask Mr. Martin directly? I just think it''s inappropriate for Isidora to live in Mr. Martin''s house while you''re dating him."

    Zara had a point.

    As the saying goes, "proximity breeds temptation, and persistent hunger trumps fleeting theft." With Isidora''s lingering desire for Grant simmering beneath their daily interactions - now tacitly condoned by Anissa''s silence - any renewed advance from her would leave Grant cornered. Resistance? That ship had sailed when forbidden waters became sanctioned territory.

    Chloe had been worried about this too. She said, "I know it''s inappropriate, but it''s the Martin family, not my house. I can''t just kick Isidora out."

    Zara rested her head on her hand and said, "If we can''t get rid of Isidora, why don''t we get Mr. Martin out?"

 Chapter 297 Disgusting Chloe?

    "Get him out?"

    Chloe was taken aback by Zara''s suggestion.

    "How am I supposed to do that? I can''t just separate him from his mom, can I?" Chloe looked worried.

    She couldn''t understand how she had already gotten into a conflict with Grant''s mother when she hadn''t even nned on marrying into the Martin family yet.

    "Tell Mr. Martin you want to move in with him. Doesn''t he have a vi? You two could live there," Zara suggested.

    In the past, this idea might have worked. But now, with Adide having moved the entire Davis family to Sovereign City, there was no way she could bring up living with Grant.

    "No way, my aunt would never agree to that. We need to think of another solution," Chloe dismissed Zara''s idea.

    Seeing Chloe so troubled, Zara decided to take her out for a break. "Chloe,e on. udia just called me. She said she found a screenwriter to discuss the script for ''Sixty- Six Letters'' in an hour. You''re one of the producers. Want to join us?"

    Chloe, feeling bored, agreed casually. "Sure, let''s go. I attended a script meeting with Michael before, and it was pretty interesting. Those writers are usually quite funny."

    The two of them drove to the caf¨¦ where udia had arranged the meeting.

    When Chloe and Zara arrived, they found that udia had also invited Isidora. Today, Isidora was dressed very innocently, sitting next to the female screenwriter, smiling as she recounted how she met Grant.

    She said, "Grant and I had a campus romance. He loved ying basketball, and I loved watching him y."

    "I thought he was amazing and admired him so much. Whenever he yed, I would bring water and sit in the stands, waiting for him. He could always see me when he turned around."

    "Our love was so pure back then, just pure love, you know?"

    Zara was annoyed hearing Isidora talk like this.

    She immediately wanted to confront Isidora. After all, Grant had never publicly acknowledged any rtionship with Isidora.

    Given how much he seemed to dislike her, there was no way he had feelings for her.

    For the sake of promoting ''Sixty-Six Letters,'' Isidora''s asional fabrications were tolerable. But saying such things in front of the screenwriter could influence the creative process.

    Seeing Zara getting upset, Chloe quickly intervened. "Zara, what are you doing?" Zara said, "I can''t stand her nonsense. She really thinks she''s the inspiration for ''Sixty- Six Letters''? I heard from some sources that Grant never dated her."

    Since Grant was funding the movie and Chloe was the producer, Zara paid close attention to these matters. She had even talked to some of their ssmates from back then, who all seemed to be hiding something.

    Isidora''s exaggerated stories made it seem like she and Grant had a deep love. This could damage Chloe''s reputation, especially since Anissa already had a poor attitude towards her. If things continued like this, Chloe''s situation would only get worse.

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    As Chloe''s best friend, Zara always stood by her during tough times.

    "Alright, forget it. Scripts are inspired by life but are always more dramatic. The screenwriter will refine it. We can make adjustments to the final script," Chloe said.

    As the producer, Chloe had control over the script. If she was unsatisfied with the final product, she could decide not to fund the movie.

    This project was only happening because udia had convinced Grant. If udia hadn''t hinted at it, Isidora wouldn''t dare to make things up.

    So, arguing with Isidora over details was pointless.

    Seeing no reaction from Chloe and Zara, Isidora became even more boastful.

    She feigned shyness and said to the screenwriter, "Do you know where Grant and I had our first kiss?"

    Hearing the word "kiss," Chloe''s expression changed instantly.

    As Grant''s current girlfriend, Isidora mentioning their first kiss in front of her was clearly meant to provoke her.

    Seeing Chloe''s reaction, udia stepped in, smiling as she tried to calm her down. "Miss Davis, don''t take it to heart. We''re just digging into the details of ''Sixty-Six Letters.'' Since it''s a love story, Miss Faye needs to share her experiences for the screenwriter to create a better script, right?"

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    udia''s words annoyed Zara.

    "udia, it seems like you invited us here not to discuss the script but to let Isidora upset Chloe," Zara said.

    udia quickly denied it. "Oh, Ms. Jenkins, you''re overthinking it. Miss Davis is Mr. Martin''s fianc¨¦e and the producer. How could I let anyone upset her?"

    "We''re just discussing the script. The more details we have, the better our screenwriter can create an excellent story."

    "And when the movie is released, it will be a hit..."

    Feeling that udia was on her side, Isidora became even more outrageous.

    She continued, "Our first kiss was in a small grove where many couples at school would go. Grant was wearing a white shirt, standing in front of me. He slowly leaned in and told me he loved me..."

    Isidora wasn''t an actress, but she spoke with such emotion, as if she was reliving the moment.

    The screenwriter took notes diligently, but Chloe found Isidora''s words unbearable. Even though she was a businesswoman, she couldn''t ept the idea of her boyfriend kissing another woman.

    She didn''t want to hear any more of Isidora''s nonsense. She stood up and pulled Zara to leave.

    At that moment, a girl in sportswear suddenly rushed in, grabbed the ss of water in front of Isidora, and sshed it on her with a loud smack.

 Chapter 298: No Bottom Line

    The girl in the sportswear shocked everyone with her actions.

    Chloe and Zara, who were about to leave, stopped dead in their tracks, curious to see who this girl was and why she had thrown water in Isidora''s face.

    udia was also taken aback by the scene and stood aside, watching how things would unfold.

    The screenwriter, on the other hand, was so shocked by the sudden ssh of water that she took a few steps back, as if afraid it might get on her.

    "Odette, are you out of your mind? What the hell do you think you''re doing?" Isidora, wiping her face, finally recognized the girl who had thrown the water at her.

    She yelled at Odette Chambers, furious that the water had ruined her meticulously applied makeup, making her look disheveled.

    Odette, with a small bag slung over her shoulder and her arms crossed, looked at Isidora with disdain. "Oh, so you do remember me, huh?"

    "Can''t you read the damn room? Sitting here yapping bullshit in broad daylight-you think this is open mic night?"

    "Earlier, you said in an interview that you dated Grant? Let me ask you, did you ever date Grant for even a single day? I was in the same ss as Grant for four years, and I never saw you two dating."

    "And you said Grant kissed you? When did that happen? Isidora, are you so desperate to promote that ''Sixty-Six Letters'' that you have no shame?"

    "Can you just tell the truth?"

    Odette''s words made Isidora''s face turn pale.

    What bad luck she had today, running into her old college ssmate Odette.

    And Odette was a proud girl, straightforward and the type who couldn''t stand two- faced people like Isidora.

    Isidora defended herself, "Odette, how am I shameless? Even if you were in the same ss as Grant, so what? Would he tell you about our rtionship?"

    "Isidora, I suggest you maintain some dignity. Don''t assume you cantch onto Grant just because his family is wealthy. He didn''t care for you in college, and he values you even less now." Odette''s tone was filled with contempt for Isidora, which Zara interpreted as jealousy.

    Zara pulled Chloe aside and whispered, "Chloe, who is she?"

    Chloe replied nonchntly, "Didn''t she say? She''s Grant''s ssmate, and they were in the same ss."

    Zara frowned and shook her head. "I don''t think that''s all there is to it. Maybe Odette likes Grant too? If that''s the case, things are gettingplicated. Chloe, you might have anotherpetitor."

    Zara''s analysis seemed to make sense, and Chloe felt a pang of bitterness.

    She sat quietly, intending to see how things would develop.

    Odette, still not satisfied, warned Isidora again, "Isidora, I''m telling you, have some self- respect. Stick to the facts. Grant never dated you, so stop using ''Sixty-Six Letters'' to create hype."

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    "Grant already has a girlfriend, and she''s his fianc¨¦e through an arranged marriage. We were ssmates, so I''m advising you to stay out of other people''s rtionships."

    "If you don''t, not only will I despise you, but all our former ssmates will too."

    Odette spoke quickly, leaving Isidora no room to retort.

    Finally, Isidora weakly countered, "Odette, Grant loves me. He''s only with his fianc¨¦e because of family pressure. I''m not the third wheel. The true interloper in another''s romance is always the woman left unloved."

    Isidora''s argument infuriated Odette. She grabbed a teacup, ready to throw more water at Isidora.

    This was a caf¨¦, with many customersing and going. udia, fearing an unpleasant scene, quickly intervened to stop Odette.

    After some pulling and shoving, they finally managed to separate Odette and Isidora.

    Zara took the opportunity to pull Odette downstairs, with Chloe following.

    Odetteined to Zara, "I''ve never seen such a shameless woman. How can she lie like that?"

    "When Grant was in college, none of us knew he was the heir to the Martin Group. Isidora was all about money; she wouldn''t like Grant."

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    "And now she says they dated? Ridiculous."

    Zara, intrigued, wanted to know more. She asked Odette, "Hey, Odette, if Grant didn''t date Isidora, then what''s the deal with ''Sixty-Six Letters''?"

    "That''s just..." Odette started but then stopped herself.

    She looked warily at Zara and Chloe, then said, "Why should I tell you? Who are you anyway? Grant is my ssmate. I''m not going to spill his old secrets. Move aside, move aside..."

    Perhaps influenced by Isidora, Odette was in a foul mood. She pushed Zara away, ready to leave the caf¨¦.

    Zara wasn''t about to let such a ssmate who knew so much about the whole things

    go.

    She grabbed Odette''s arm and introduced herself, "Odette, don''t rush off. Let me introduce you. This is Grant''s girlfriend and future fianc¨¦e."

    "We heard you scolding Isidora and revealing some interesting details, so we wanted to learn more from you."

    "What really happened in college? Why is Isidora iming she dated Grant?"

    Odette, after hearing Zara''s introduction, scrutinized Chloe. Then she took out her

    phone, looked at a photo for a while, and put it away.

    She asked Chloe, "Your name is Chloe?"

 Chapter 299 Slap Her

    Hearing this, Odette let out a long sigh of relief.

    "I told you," she said with a hint of triumph, "my informationes straight from the source. No mistakes here." Her eyes sparkled as if guarding some monumental secret, the unspoken implication lingering like fog over water.

    "That wretched Isidora," her knuckles whitened against the tabletop, "parades around as Grant''s ex like some deranged peacock. Does she truly believe her past misdeeds are buried?" The rhythmic tapping of her fingernails punctuated each syble, a stato of barely-contained rage.

    A dangerous edge crept into her voice. "Next time that viper spreads lies, I''ll personally deliver the p that echoes through three city blocks." The teacup rattled in its saucer as she leaned forward, fury crystallizing in the set of her jaw.

    Zara''s internal radar pinged. Always eager to protect Chloe, Zara didn''t want to miss this opportunity. She pulled Odette and went to a tearoom next door.

    The three of them went into a teahouse next door, and Zara was unusually attentive. She poured tea and served water with practiced ease, as if paving the way for her curiosity. "Odette, tell us all about it-what really happened between Isidora and Grant?" she asked eagerly, her eyes brimming with anticipation.

    Odette, a straightforward woman, didn''t hold back after sipping Zara''s tea. She recounted everything from their college days.

    She said that back in college, Grant was the most handsome and reserved guy on campus.

    Isidora, on the other hand, was the most beautiful girl. Coming from a well-off family, she didn''t take her studies seriously and often flirted with other guys on campus.

    Grant was great at basketball, quickly catching Isidora''s eye.

    Isidora wanted to date Grant and would often go to the basketball court to find him, batting her eyshes and being overly friendly. But Grant always coldly rejected her.

    Grant kept a low profile in college, and no one knew about his wealthy background. Isidora, frustrated by Grant''s rejections, vowed to her friends that she would win him over and then humiliate him.

    As she spent more time with Grant, his aversion to her lessened. Sometimes, he would even ept the water she offered.

    Just before graduation, something happened in Isidora''s family that abruptly ended her affluent lifestyle. Struggling to cope, she began a rtionship with a wealthy student at school to maintain her previous standard of living.

    Grant, considering her a friend, asked why she was doing this.

    She spread rumors that Grant liked her. Grant, wanting nothing to do with her, distanced himself and made it clear he didn''t even want to be friends.

    Feeling betrayed, Isidora broke into Grant''s dorm and found 66 love letters addressed to someone called ''My Little Girl.'' She then spread these letters around, iming Grant had feelings for her.

    Grant confronted her, but she humiliated him, saying he was too poor to ever be with her.

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    The incident caused a stir on campus, with many believing Grant had dated Isidora. Only a few close friends knew the truth. Odette''s twin brother, who was Grant''s roommate, told her the real story.

    After graduation, Isidora left the country with her rich boyfriend, and no one heard from her again.

    After college, everyone got busy with their lives. Odette and Grant only kept in touch through holiday greetings.

    Odette never looked into Grant''s true identity until recently, when Isidora''s media stunts revealed that Grant was the head of the Martin Group.

    Today, Odette couldn''t stand Isidora''s lies and stood up for Grant.

    Odette''s story gave Chloe and Zara a clear picture of the past.

    Zara remarked, "So, Grant never dated Isidora."

    "Of course not. Grant was focused on his studies and writing letters to Chloe. He had

    no time for Isidora. If she hadn''t approached him, he wouldn''t have even been friends with her," Odette said, clearly disdainful of Isidora.

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    "Isidora is really something," Zara said, shaking her head.

    To im someone as her boyfriend without ever dating him was something only Isidora could pull off in Sovereign City.

    "She sure is. How else could she have snagged that rich boy in college?" Odette snorted. "But she was stupid. She never imagined Grant''s family was far wealthier than that rich boy. She''s probably cried herself more than once."

    Odette''sment made Chloe and Zaraugh.

    Odette was a great storyteller, and they chattedte into the night.

    As Chloe left the tea room, nning to have Zara drive her home, Grant called her.

    "Chloe, where are you?" Grant asked as soon as she answered.

    "I''m having tea with friends. Just finished."

    "Send me the address. I want to see you," Grant''s tone wasmanding, leaving no room for argument.

    Not wanting Zara, who was getting the car, to hear, Chloe lowered her voice and teased, "Why do you want to see me?"

 Chapter 300 Be Careful

    Grant chuckled over the phone, "Because I miss you... I miss you a lot."

    Chloe felt a warm sensation in her heart hearing his words.

    She let out a yful smile, "If you miss me that much,e pick me up." "Sure thing. Text me the address."

    After Chloe sent her location, Zara pulled up in her car.

    Rolling down the window, Zara called out, "Chloe, hop in. I''ll take you home."

    Chloe shook her head, "No need, you go on ahead."

    Zara raised an eyebrow, catching on quickly. "Oh? Will you get a hot date or something?"

    Chloe blushed and smiled shyly, "Mind your own business! Just go home."

    Zara grinned, "Alright, I''m outta here. Don''t worry, as you friend, I won''t mess up your date."

    With Chloe''s embarrassed smile, Zara drove off but then stopped and motioned for Chloe toe closer.

    Chloe leaned in, teasing, "Ms. Jenkins, any other orders?"

    Zara whispered, "Miss Davis, make sure to use protection. Be careful, okay?"

    Chloe''s face turned beet red. Zara was always so outrageous. "You''re terrible, Zara..."

    Zaraughed heartily at Chloe''s reaction. She didn''t tease her any further and drove away.

    Chloe swung her purse, pretending to chase after Zara''s car, but her legs couldn''t keep up.

    Just as Chloe reached the roadside, Grant''s car screeched to a stop beside her.

    He got out, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and without a word, pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her deeply.

    Chloe''s face turned bright red. "Grant, what are you doing? There are so many people around, how can you kiss me here..."

    She tried to push him away, but Grant didn''t care. "I''m kissing my fianc¨¦e. Who cares if there are people around?"

    Chloe was speechless. Was this still theposed and cool Grant she knew?

    Grant held Chloe outside the tea house for a while, kissing her several more times before leading the blushing Chloe to the passenger seat of his car.

    Then they sped away.

    A few minutes after they left, udia and Isidora emerged from the caf¨¦.

    From the second floor, they had clearly seen Grant and Chloe''s affectionate disy through the caf¨¦''srge windows.

    Isidora''s face was grim.

    udia sighed softly, "Ms. Faye... it seems Mr. Martin and Miss Davis are very much in love."

    Isidora didn''t respond, her eyes fixed on Grant''s luxury car.

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    If it weren''t for Chloe, the woman by Grant''s side would be her, Isidora. And she would

    be the one riding in Grant''s luxury car every day.

    Chloe''s sudden appearance had taken everything that should have been hers.

    Isidora''s ambition grew stronger.

    Seeing Isidora''sck of reaction, udia continued, "It seems unlikely between you and Mr. Martin, Ms. Faye..."

    Isidora, feeling defiant, replied, "Why would it be impossible between Grant and me?"

    "We had dated, and Giselle has always liked me. As long as I put in some effort, the woman Grant must marry will be me."

    "They say if you use the right methods, any man can be yours. He''s just chasing temporary novelty. As his first love, I upy an irreceable position in his heart that no one else can im."

    Isidora spoke with confidence, but udia didn''t see it that way.

    She smiled knowingly and patted Isidora''s shoulder. "Ms. Faye, then good luck. When you be the mistress of the Martin Family, I''ll give you a gift."

    They chatted for a while longer before leaving.

    Meanwhile, Grant was driving with Chloe down a quiet road.

    Grant had one hand on the steering wheel, the other tightly holding Chloe''s hand across the center console.

    At every red light, he would turn and gaze deeply at Chloe, making her feel quite shy.

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    "Grantie, where are you taking me?" she asked.

    Grant pointed to a small road ahead and said, "To my vi... you''ve been there before."

    At the mention of the vi, Chloe''s face uncontrobly flushed. She remembered the time she and Zara went to see some handsome guys, and Grant, in a fit of anger, had dragged her there.

    Back then, he had pinned her on the sofa and kissed her fiercely.

    She thought he would take her that day, but Harry had suddenly appeared, causing a misunderstanding.

    Now, Grant was taking her to that vi again?

    Did he have other ns?

    Thinking about that night at the hotel, Chloe''s heart started to race.

    Seeing her blush, Grant brought Chloe''s hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

    His eyes were full of tenderness, affection, and desire for Chloe.

    When it came to sex between men and women, once you cross that line, it triggers primal urges. Grant had been physically involved with Chloe, so despite his usual self- discipline, hepletely lost control around her now.

    Chloe was like a drug, one he was willingly addicted to.

    Grant drove to the vi, parked the car, and led Chloe out. As soon as he opened the door, he scooped Chloe up into his arms.

    With her soft, fragrant body in his embrace, he couldn''t control himself. Before Chloe knew what was happening, Grant had her pinned on the living room sofa.

 Chapter 301 What A Charming Man

    Grant hadn''t seen Chloe for days, and all his longing turned into a deep kiss.

    In no time, Grant had stripped Chloe of her clothes.

    Having already tasted the pleasures of sex, Grant was intensely interested in Chloe''s body. They kissed their way from the couch to the bed.

    Grant''s fervor made Chloe a bit scared. After all, thest time Grant brought her here and kissed her, Harry had suddenly barged in.

    Now, with both of them almost naked, the thought of Harry walking in again made her feel very insecure.

    Just as Grant was about to remove thest piece of clothing from Chloe, she stopped him.

    Blushing, she said, "Grant, what about the door? Is it safe?"

    Grant nced downstairs and confidently replied, "It''s very safe. I changed the code. Harry can''t get in anymore."

    "But I''m still a little worried," Chloe said, feeling anxious.

    Being with Grant, she felt a sense of guilt as if she were having an affair.

    Grant suppressed his emotions, gently tapped her nose, and said, "Don''t worry, no one wille. I''m here, I''ll protect you."

    With that, he lowered his head to kiss Chloe again.

    Chloe, flustered, put her hand over his lips. "Grantie, no..."

    "Why not?"

    Grant looked puzzled. Chloe was so good at teasing him. He was already at the point of no return, and now she was saying no?

    Dilisthing everr more, Thuessanir, Werudon''tve prontior. "

    After saying this, she buried her face in Grant''s chest, too embarrassed to look at him.

    Grant chuckled softly, nibbling on her ear, and whispered, "That''s nothing. If you get pregnant, we''ll just have the baby."

    Grant wasn''t worried about Chloe getting pregnant. He intended to marry her anyway, so her having his child was a good thing in his eyes.

    But Chloe didn''t see it that way. She was still young and wanted to enjoy having sex with Grant before having children.

    She patted Grant''s firm chest and mumbled, "No, I''m still in college. It''s not the right time to have a baby."

    "So what do you suggest?" Grant asked.

    Chloe replied, "You should go out and buy some condoms."

    "Really?" Grant''s excitement waspletely doused by this. He med himself for not being better prepared.

    Chloe pushed him yfully, "Grantie..."

    Reluctantly, Grant stood up and pulled Chloe off the bed. "Come on, let''s go together." "Okay."

    Suppressing their earlier passion, they headed to the small pharmacy at the entrance of the viplex.

    Grant was very handsome and tall, and as soon as he entered the pharmacy, he caught the attention of the female clerk.

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    The clerk''s eyes were glued to Grant, and her sticky gaze made Chloe a bit jealous.

    Holding Chloe''s hand tightly, Grant said to the starstruck clerk, "Two boxes of condoms, please."

    The clerk quickly responded, "Sure, right this way. All the contraceptives are over here."

    In no time, the clerk led them to the disy of contraceptives. Seeing the variety on disy, Chloe couldn''t help but blush again.

    "Do you needrge, middle or small?" the clerk asked, looking at Grant with admiration.

    It was Grant''s first time buying such things, and feeling embarrassed under the clerk''s intense gaze, he replied, "Large."

    Hearing this, the clerk''s eyes widened. She thought, of course, a handsome man like him would needrge.

    With the condoms in hand, Grant and Chloe left. Even after they had walked quite a distance, the clerk''s eyes were still fixed on Grant.

    The clerk murmured to herself, "Wow, what a charming man. If he used all those condoms on me, I''d die happy."

    But Grant''s heart was entirely on Chloe.

    He hurried home with Chloe, and as soon as they entered, he resumed their passionate kissing, just as before.

    They locked the door and indulged in a fervent adult game.

    Afterward, lying in bed, Grant held Chloe tightly in his arms, feeling like he wanted to merge her into himself.

    Chloe, too, waspletely satisfied. She had never known that being with the man she loved could be so consuming.

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    After their passion, theyy in bed chatting.

    Chloe was exhausted and barely had the strength to speak.

    She said, "I wanted to ask you, did you remember a student named Odette in college? She is a girl..."

    Hearing Chloe mention Odette, Grant turned to look at her.

    He said anxiously, "Yes, Odette is the twin sister of one of my male ssmates. I only saw her a few times because of her brother."

    "Chloe, don''t overthink it. I don''t know her well, and there''s nothing special between she and me."

    "The only woman in my heart is you."

    Seeing Grant so eager to exin, Chloe felt a bit speechless. Did he think she was the jealous type?

    "Come on, I was just asking about Odette, not implying anything," Chloe said, pushing Grant''s forehead.

    Grant continued, "I know you were asking about Odette... I just wanted to make it clear that there''s nothing between us."

    Chloe felt dizzy from Grant''s roundabout exnation and decided not to dwell on it. She said, "I saw Odette today. She is fierce. She threw a cup of water at Isidora''s face without a word. If udia hadn''t stopped her, she would have thrown a second one." "She threw water at Isidora? Why?" Grant was intrigued by Chloe''s story.

    As far as he remembered, there was no feud between Odette and Isidora in college.

 Chapter 302 Unable to Please

    Chloe propped her head up and said to Grant, "It was because Isidora said you two had a thing back in college."

    Grant''s face darkened at Chloe''s words.

    He got out of bed, grabbed the shirt lying next to it, and put it on. "She deserved it. I never had any kind of rtionship with her in college."

    Grant''s dislike for Isidora had reached its peak.

    "Hey, Grantie, I''m curious. Odette mentioned that Isidora humiliated you in college. How did she do it?" Chloe''s curiosity was piqued, and she clung to Grant''s arm, asking eagerly.

    Grant hesitated, wanting to answer, but after thinking it over, he decided to change the subject. "Let''s not talk about the past."

    Seeing Grant''s displeased expression, Chloe wisely dropped the subject. Since Grant didn''t want to talk about it, it meant that Isidora had caused him significant harm back then.

    Since Chloe was currently staying with Adide, he couldn''t stay out all night. After their time together, they got dressed, and Grant drove Chloe back to the Davis family mansion in his luxury car.

    Grant returned to the Martin family mansionte at night. When Chloe lived at his home, he always rushed back after work, eager to talk to her. But after she moved out, the house felt empty. Every time he opened his mouth, wanting to call her, he felt a pang of disappointment.

    Now that Anissa had brought Isidora to stay at the house, Grant''s desire to avoid home was at an all-time high. He didn''t want to set foot in the mansion.

    Though he wasn''t much of a smoker, he sat in his car and smoked two cigarettes before finally heading inside the Martin family mansion.

    As soon as he walked in, he saw Anissa sitting in the living room, looking furious and ranting about something.

    Isidora, acting all sweet and obedient, was serving tea and water, as if she were the future daughter-inw of Anissa.

    The household staff, seeing Isidora''s behavior, were clearly annoyed. She acted like ady of the house, ordering them around, but they tolerated it out of respect for Anissa.

    But Isidora''s behavior made everyone in the family very repulsive.

    When Grant walked in, Anissa''s face grew even darker, as if he had done something unforgivable.

    Trying to appear considerate, Isidora quickly approached Grant. The scent of Chloe''s perfume on him made her heart ache with jealousy. She knew he had been with Chloe again.

    Despite her efforts to win Grant over, she always failed, while Chloe effortlessly kept his attention.

    Isidora couldn''t stand it. She had been the most beautiful girl in college, yet Chloe had outshone her.

    Suppressing her feelings, Isidora said to Grant, "Grantie, Anissa is upset. Be careful when you talk to her. Her health can''t take any more stress."

    Grant was annoyed by Isidora''s interference. He was the president of the Martin Group and the rightful heir of the Martin family. He didn''t need Isidora, an outsider, telling him how to talk to his own mother. How coud she intervene his family issues?

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    Ignoring Isidora, Grant walked over to Anissa and asked, "Mom, what''s wrong?" Anissa sighed and didn''t speak. Being a prominent family, some matters couldn''t be discussed in front of outsiders.

    "Come upstairs to your study," Anissa said, standing up and heading upstairs.

    Grant followed her, but Isidora suddenly appeared with a ss of water. "Grantie, take this water with you."

    Grant was thirsty after spending time with Chloe, but seeing that Isidora had brought the water, his face darkened. "No, thanks. I''m not thirsty."

    "Grantie..." Isidora was used to being snubbed by now.

    Grant sneered, "I don''t want to risk being drugged again."

    With that, he turned and went upstairs, leaving Isidora standing there, unsure whether to stay or leave.

    A maid, whom Isidora had previously scolded, walked by and sneered, "Trying to

    please Mr. Martin and failing miserably."

    Isidora was infuriated by the maid''s blunt words.

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    In the study, Anissa spoke quietly to Grant, "Grantie, do you know about Mic?"

    Grant tensed up, thinking Anissa had found out about Michael dating Rena.

    Rena''s family situation was dire, with her mother in need of expensive surgery and her father in jail for kidnapping Rena and Chloe.

    Given Anissa''s attitude, she wouldn''t approve of Chloe, especially considering she didn''t even like Rena, who came from a poor

    So he yed dumb, "Mic? What''s up with Mic? Isn''t he doing well in the entertainment industry? I heard his new show is a hit. Why are you asking about him all of a sudden?"

    Anissa grew angrier. "You''re his brother! How can you be so focused on Chloe that you don''t care about your own brother?"

    "Mic is dating a guy. He''s gay. He even had that... person call me ''Mom.""

    Anissa''s revtion was shocking. Grant felt like his brain couldn''t process it.

    Michael was supposed to be dating Rena, so how could he be involved with a guy? What was going on?

 Chapter 303 She Is Just a Dog

    The news Anissa dropped was so sudden that Grant felt dizzy for a moment.

    Yet as president of the Martin Group, he retained the discernment expected of his position. After a moment''s reflection, he addressed Anissa, "Mom, there might be some misunderstanding about this situation."

    "I''ve seen Mic with a girl, and they seemed pretty close. He probably isn''t gay like you think." he continued, "How about this, I''ll meet with him tomorrow and ask him what''s going on."

    Hearing Grant say this, Anissa finally felt a bit relieved. She looked at Grant and had to admit, her eldest son did have the demeanor of a big brother.

    But she still felt uneasy. Every time she couldn''t sleep at night, Philip''s exaggerated face and tone would sh before her eyes.

    Because of this, she hadn''t dared to sleep for several nights.

    She was terrified of being chased by a man like Philip calling her "Mom." That feeling made her very depressed.

    Grantforted Anissa some more, and she finally calmed down.

    Perhaps to assert her authority as a mother, she bit her lip and said to Grant, "I will never agree to Mic marrying a man. Unless I''m dead."

    After saying this, Anissa got up and left Grant''s study. As she opened the door, she seemed to catch a glimpse of Isidora''s figure slipping away.

    Michael liking men was a painful secret for Anissa as a mother. She was very concerned about appearances and didn''t want anyone to know about it.

    That was why she had called Grant to the study to talk.

    She suspected that Isidora had been eavesdropping on their conversation. Anissa''s face darkened.

    She went to her room in the back building, tidied herself up, and prepared to sleep. Isidora brought a cup of sleep-aid tea to her.

    "Anissa, please drink this tea before you sleep. You''ve been having insomnia these past few days, so I specifically asked the doctor for a calming tea. He said it would help with your sleeplessness." she said in gentle tone.

    Anissa snorted coldly. "Just leave it there."

    Usually, before Anissa went to bed, Isidora would stay in her room and chat with her for a while.

    So tonight, after putting down the tea, she didn''t leave.

    Trying to be clever, she attempted tofort Anissa, "Anissa, you really don''t need to make yourself upset over the kids'' issues."

    Hearing this, Anissa frowned. At that moment, she confirmed her suspicion that Isidora had indeed been eavesdropping on her conversation with Grant.

    However, Isidora didn''t notice Anissa''s fleeting displeasure.

    She continued, "Anissa, it''s the 21st century now. People''s minds are much more open. There are all sorts of rtionships out there. You don''t need to worry about Mic."

    "You should rx and take care of your health. If Mic is happy, let him be. Don''t let this small issue ruin your rtionship with him."

    Isidora''s attempt at being clever instantly ignited Anissa''s anger.

    She thought, Michael being gay wasn''t a small issue. Anissa had kept this matter tightly under wraps to prevent others from gossiping about the Martin Family.

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    The Martin Family was a prestigious family, and Michael was a hotshot in the entertainment industry. If word got out that he was gay, it would not only affect Michael''s career but also plunge the Martin Family''s business into crisis.

    At that point, Louis would definitely me her for failing to raise their sons properly. Her reputation as a strict mother would copse because of this.

    By then, she would hold no sway in the Martin family. Having poured every ounce of cunning into bing its mistress, she would never allow this matter to jeopardize the intricate schemes she''d woven over a lifetime.

    How dare Isidora meddle in her affairs?

    Not noticing Anissa''s anger, Isidora called out to her. "Anissa..."

    At that moment, Anissa''s anger surged, and she could no longer suppress it. She raised her hand and pped Isidora hard across the face.

    "Isidora, you''ve gone too far. When did the Martin Family''s affairs be your business? How I handle my rtionship with my son is none of your concern. Are you out of your mind, telling me to ept my son being gay?"

    Anissa had always been rtively polite to Isidora out of respect for Giselle. But today, she didn''t care about her status and pped Isidora hard.

    Isidora was stunned by the p.

    She covered her face, standing in front of Anissa with a pale face, "Anissa, I... I was just... I was just trying to help. I''m sorry..."

    Isidora didn''t know what to do. She stammered apologies to Anissa.

    Anissa gave her a cold look and scolded, "I can tell if you''re genuinely trying to help. I''m telling you, you must keep this matter strictly confidential. Not a word to anyone." "If I hear even a whisper outside, I''ll know it was you who spread it. And I won''t let you off."

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    "Get out." she shouted.

    Seeing Anissa''s anger, Isidora didn''t dare stay in her room any longer.

    She covered her face and hurriedly left.

    After Isidora left the room, Anissa clutched her head and copsed heavily onto the

    bed.

    Back in her room, Isidora looked at her swollen face in the mirror, tears of grievance welling up in her eyes. She wanted to cry but had to hold it back.

    She thought she had been trying hard to curry favor with Anissa.

    But she didn''t expect Anissa to show no mercy when she pped her.

    Privately, the servants called her someone who only knew how to please others, and she couldn''t fight back.

    Now, after being pped by Anissa, she fully understood her situation. She was like a parasite.

    A parasite that Anissa had been using. Once she was no longer useful, Anissa would kick her out without hesitation.

    These days, she had been living a life of luxury in the Martin Family. She couldn''t go back to her previous life of poverty.

    She had to work hard to secure her ce in the Martin Family.

    Isidora touched her sore face, looking at herself in the mirror, her face darkening.

    She heard from udia that in a week''s time, the pre-release event for "Sixty-Six Letters" would be held, with many celebrities attending. Isidora nned to use this opportunity to make Chloe theughingstock of Sovereign City.

 Chapter 304 Are You Gay?

    When the time came, she didn''t believe that a prestigious family like the Martins would ept someone with a tarnished reputation like Chloe.

    In the following days, Chloe was busy with her work at Summit Media Solutions and attending school.

    Since it was close to summer break, the school workload was getting a bit

    overwhelming, and Philip had to temporarily halt some of his filming to focus on his studies.

    Chloe, Rena, and Philip rarely had the chance to hang out together.

    The three of them chatted about their recent activities.

    Rena updated Chloe on the progress of her clothingpany.

    She was happy. "Chloe, guess what? My clothingpany is doing pretty well. Remember that online order I mentionedst time? We secured it!"

    "We can make some good money. I''m not far from bing a little richdy."

    Rena was particrly excited about making money. Growing up in a poor family, she was experiencing for the first time the endless joy that earning money could bring to a

    woman.

    Chloe looked at her smiling face and said, "Rena, keep it up. You''re really capable. I believe in you."

    Hearing Chloe''s praise, Philip chimed in. "Rena, not only does Chloe believe in you, but I also believe in you. Just focus on building your career and work hard to be that little richdy. Don''t worry, I''ll take care of Michael for you."

    "What?"

    Philip''s words shocked both Chloe and Rena.

    Chloe asked Philip with a puzzled look, "Philip, are you out of your mind? You''re going

    to help Rena take care of Michael? Are you kidding? Are you really turning gay?" Her question was quite blunt.

    Rena looked Philip up and down. He was tall and burly, with a reasonably handsome face, and he didn''t seem like the type to be gay.

    What was he up to?

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Philip immediately retorted. "Chloe, don''t talk nonsense. A youngdy like you shouldn''t say such things. I''m a real man, and I like women."

    Philip was confident that he wasn''t a gay because he got much more excited seeing women than men.

    "You say you like women, but what''s going on with you and Michael?" Chloe pressed. Philip smugly exined to Chloe and Rena. "It''s Michael. He was impressed by my acting skills and paid me arge sum of money to hire me for six months. For these six months, whenever he calls, I have to be there, ying his gay partner."

    He added, "Chloe, Rena, let me tell you, it''s not about the money. I mainly think that ying a gay role will help improve my acting skills."

    Philip''s exnation clearly revealed his true motive.

    He wasn''t honing his acting skills; he was just swayed by the money Michael offered.

    Yet he tried to justify it as improving his acting?

    Chloe and Rena both scoffed at him simultaneously.

    They had been ssmates for so long; how could they didn''t know what kind of person he was?

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    They were all smart people and understood each other well. Why did he need to put on an act?

    Chloe and Rena didn''t listen to Philip''s exnation any further. They both rolled their eyes at him.

    Philip, unwilling to give up, continued to exin, "Chloe, Rena, you have to believe me. It''s really not about the money. It''s about honing my acting skills..."

    "Alright, we''ll pretend it''s about honing your acting skills. But if it''s not about the money, how about this: after school, treat Rena and me to some rxation?" Chloe suggested to Philip.

    Philip asked, "How to rx?"

    "Bayview Swimming Pool. Get us each a membership card and take us swimming," Chloe said to Philip.

    Philip hesitated.

    Bayview Swimming Pool was a high-end ce in Sovereign City. Not only could you swim there, but they also offered various food options. It was one of the most prestigious swimming facilities.

    A membership card started at $100,000.

    Getting two membership cards would cost Philip $200,000, which was a significant amount for someone from an average family.

    Seeing Philip''s hesitation, the usually quiet Rena teased him, "See, you say it''s not about the money, but you don''t even want to spend money on membership cards for

    us."

    Rena continued. "Philip, Michael''s payment to you is much more than that, right? You''re really stingy."

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    Her taunt worked, and Philip took the bait. "Who says I''m stingy? I''m not stingy at all.

    It''s just a few membership cards. After school, I''ll take you there."

    After school, the three of them took a cab to Bayview Swimming Pool.

    The long hours of studying and the work at Summit Media Solutions had left Chloe feeling particrly exhausted.

    Sovereign City wasn''t like the northwest, where she could ride her motorcycle freely across the ins. She just wanted to find a ce to rx.

    Bayview Swimming Pool was huge. True to his word, Philip reluctantly got Chloe and Rena each a membership card. The three of them changed into their swimsuits and started having fun in the pool.

    Therge pool was crowded with people swimming. As Chloe and Rena got into the water, a little girl was iling around with the help of a coach.

    The little girl looked fragile and could only swim a few feet before needing to grab the coach''s hand to rest.

    Seeing Chloe and Rena enter the water, the little girl gave Chloe a sweet smile.

    Chloe had always liked kids. The little girl''s smile made her feel warm inside. She gave the girl a thumbs-up.

    After a brief interaction with the little girl, Philip joined them, and the three of them swam severalps together.

    After exerting herself, Chloe rested in the deep end of the pool. Just then, she heard a voice "Help, help".

    Chloe looked up and saw the little girl who had greeted her earlier struggling in the deep end. The coach who had been with her was nowhere to be seen.

    The little girl surfaced with difficulty, waving in Chloe''s direction, "Help, help me..."

 Chapter 305 Murderer

    Chloe was always warm-hearred, she jumped in and help; she wasn''t one to just stand around.

    When she saw the little girl calling for help, she didn''t hesitate. She sprinted to the deep end of the pool, ready to help.

    Rena, who was right beside her, grabbed her arm. "Chloe, hold on! The deep end of the pool is really dangerous. Let''s get someone to help."

    Chloe paused for a second, then shook Rena off. "There''s no time. Can''t you see she''s about to drown?"

    "Rena, you and Philip go get help. I''ll save her. I''m a strong swimmer, trust me." With that, Chloe dove into the water, swimming fast towards the deep end.

    Although the deep end of the pool could be dangerous, Chloe was a strong swimmer and should be able to handle it. However, she had already done severalps with Rena and Philip and was starting to feel a bit worn out.

    Saving someone now would be exhausting.

    But seeing the little girl still struggling, Chloe couldn''t think about anything else.

    She swam to the girl and lifted her up.

    In the panic, the little girl clung tightly to Chloe''s arm. Chloe tried to push her away, but the frightened girl held on firmly and wouldn''t let go.

    Anyone who knew how to swim understands that when rescuing someone, if the rescuer got tangled up with the person being saved, both could end up in danger.

    Chloe, who was already petite, struggled to rescue the girl in the deep end. With the little girl gripping her arm tightly, Chloe found it nearly impossible to pull her out of the deep water.

    Seeing both of them starting to sink, Chloe didn''t have time to think. She pped the girl, and in her panic, the girl finally let go of Chloe''s arm.

    Chloe quickly grabbed the girl''s neck with one hand and used the other to paddle forward, using all her strength to drag the girl along.

    The scene in the pool drew arge crowd. Chloe desperately dragged the girl forward, but before reaching the safe area, she was already exhausted.

    In an instant, both Chloe and the girl started sinking.

    Underwater, Chloe tried to hold her breath, but the girl''s struggles made her swallow several mouthfuls of water.

    Chloe wanted to surface, but her legs were so tired that she couldn''t muster any strength.

    Seeing both of them sinking to the bottom, the poolside erupted in cries of rm. Chloe felt desperate; in that moment, she felt like she was seeing the Grim Reaper. She, Chloe, the heiriess to the Davis Group, drowning in a swimming pool like this would be a disgrace.

    Chloe tried to save herself, but the girl in the water was bing more frantic. Just as they were about to sink to the bottom, the pool''s lifeguards jumped into the water. When arge hand reached out to Chloe, she felt a glimmer of hope.

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    As soon as Chloe surfaced, she started coughing violently, having been underwater for a while.

    With each intense bout of coughing, her awareness faded into a foggy emptiness. She heard Philip and Rena''s voices.

    "Chloe, stay with us...."

    Chloe didn''t want to sleep, but her physical exhaustion forced her to close her eyes for a brief rest.

    At that moment, a sharp female voice pierced through the chaos, followed by a woman grabbing her arm forcefully. "Murderer, you''re a murderer! You tried to drown my niece. How shameless can you be..."

    She shouted. "Call the police! This evil woman tried to kill someone. Call the police!"

    The woman''s shrill voice drew everyone''s attention. Chloe struggled to open her eyes and saw Sophia''s extremely angry face.

    Rena stood by Chloe, preventing Sophia from grabbing her.

    She yelled at Sophia, "Get lost! Are you crazy? My friend risked her life to save your niece, and now you''re using her of trying to harm her? You are the shameless one!"

    "Exactly! I''ve never seen anyone like you. My friend saved your niece, and instead of being grateful, you use her?" Philip also defended Chloe.

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    If there weren''t so many people around the pool, Philip would have punched Sophia in the face.

    But Sophia continued to pull at Chloe, constantly ndering her. "Are you saying she saved my niece? I don''t believe for a second she''s that kind-hearted. Everyone here was a witness-when my niece was in trouble, she was the one who shoved her into the water. This wasn''t an ident; it was intentional. I''m calling the police, and I''m not backing down."

    Rena and Philip couldn''t stop the crazed Sophia, and Chloe, who had just swallowed water, feltpletely unable to breathe.

    With Sophia''s pulling, Chloe vomited a mouthful of water and then fell unconscious.

    Meanwhile, the girl rescued by the lifeguards alsoy unconscious by the pool, having swallowed water. But Sophia, her aunt, kept clutching Chloe, as if her niece''s life meant nothing.

    Catching Chloe, the "murderer," was the most important thing for her.

    Medical personnel arrived, followed by the police. Soon, the girl who had swallowed water and the unconscious Chloe were taken to the hospital.

    Sophia clung to a police officer''s sleeve, tearfully recounting her story.

    She cried, "Officer, my niece isn''t well. The doctor said she needs more physical

    exercise, so I brought her to the pool today.

    I never expected that woman, Chloe, to p my niece into the water when she saw her alone. That''s attempted murder.

    Yes, I had some conflicts with Chloe before, but that''s no excuse for her to try to

    murder my niece. My niece is just a child-she''s innocent. Officers, you have to seek justice for her. That murderer should be locked up for life."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 306 She Wants to Blackmail

    Cops relied on their instincts. So even if Sophia was pouring her heart out, they were not going to buy into everything.

    One of the officers spoke up, "Don''t go making wild usations. We''ll look into this thoroughly. As for whether Miss Davis pushed your niece into the deep end, we''ll check the pool''s surveince footage."

    Hearing this, Sophia felt uneasy.

    However, she quicklyposed herself and thanked the officers. "Alright, thanks a lot."

    The officers exchanged puzzled looks. They thought there must be something off about Sophia. Her niece was nearly drowned and had been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Shouldn''t she be at the hospital with her family instead of thanking them here?

    With various doubts in their minds, the officers began their investigation.

    Sophia, on the other hand, hailed a cab and headed to the hospital. Both the little girl and Chloe had been taken to the emergency room.

    When she heard from the medical staff that the little girl''s condition wasn''t too serious, Sophia felt relieved.

    Taking advantage of a moment when no one was watching, she went to the stairwell and took out her phone to call Isidora.

    Isidora lowered her voice and asked, "Sophia, what''s going on?"

    "Isidora, here''s the thing. I wasn''t working today, so I took Kathy to the swimming pool for some fun. You know, Kathy''s health isn''t great, and the doctor said swimming would help her recovery."

    "Unexpectedly, we ran into Chloe at the pool." Sophia continued to stir the pot. "Chloe is such a bad woman. I don''t know what got into her, but she dragged Kathy into the deep end. If the coach hadn''t arrived in time, who knows what could have happened to Kathy."

    Hearing that something had happened to Kathy, Isidora became extremely anxious.

    She asked, "How is Kathy? Is she in danger?"

    Seeing Isidora''s anxiety, Sophia finally said, "Kathy is in the emergency room now. but I asked the medical staff, and it seems like she''ll be okay."

    "Then I''lle over to see Kathy." Isidora, being a mother, couldn''t bear the thought of her child being in danger without being there to care for her.

    Seeing that Isidora wanted toe, Sophia quickly stopped. "Isidora, you can''te. If you do, all our ns will be ruined. Do you think Giselle will still support you being with Grant if she finds out you have a daughter?"

    "And don''t forget the real target you went to the Martin Family. You need to get money for Kathy''s treatment. If you daree to the hospital, you''ll end up with nothing."

    Sophia, despite her poor character and never gaining the upper hand in her dealings with Chloe, knew how to exploit Isidora''s weaknesses, forcing her topromise.

    "But I''m so worried about Kathy." Weighing the pros and cons, Isidora eventually gave in.

    Sophia reassured her, "Kathy''s really fine. You don''t need to worry. I''m with her now, and I''ll take good care of her."

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    She continued, "Isidora, you just need to cozy up to Anissa and break up Chloe and Grant as soon as possible. Once youplete your task, not only will you get arge sum of money from the Martin Family, but I''ll also give you a substantial amount to take Kathy abroad for treatment."

    "Think it over, Isidora." There was a hint of warning in her tone.

    After a bit more persuasion from Sophia, Isidora stopped arguing.

    After hanging up, Isidora clenched her phone tightly and gritted her teeth, "Chloe, you wretched woman, how dare you harm my daughter. I will make you pay."

    Meanwhile, as Sophia emerged from the stairwell, she saw Kathy being wheeled out of the emergency room.

    Feigning deep concern, she asked the doctor, "Sir, how is my niece?"

    The doctor replied, "The patient is out of danger. She just needs to rest for a while, and then she can be discharged."

    Hearing this, Sophia exploded like an angry cat, shouting, "What kind of doctor are you? My niece is so young and was underwater for so long, and you say she can be discharged after a bit of rest? Aren''t you worried about any potentialplications?" "I don''t care. My niece was dragged into the water by someone, and the person who tried to harm her must pay." Sophia started making a scene. "I insist that my niece stays in the hospital until she''spletely fine. If anything happens to her, it will be the hospital''s responsibility."

    Seeing her behavior, the doctor was speechless. Since the patient''s family insisted on hospitalization, they couldn''t refuse.

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    Soon, Sophiapleted the admission procedures for Kathy.

    Meanwhile, Rena and Philip were anxiously waiting outside another emergency room.

    They regretted bringing Chloe to the pool today and not stopping her when she swam to save the little girl.

    Now, Chloe was in the emergency room, and if anything happened to her, Grant would probably skin them alive.

    Philip had his own thoughts about Sophia''s antics.

    He whispered to Rena, "Rena, that chubby woman doesn''t seem like a good person. The doctor said the kid was fine, but she insisted on hospitalization. Looks like she''s trying to extort Chloe."

    "Extort? Let''s see if she has the guts. This is aw-abiding society; it''s not that easy to extort someone." Rena believed that justice would prevail.

    Philip thought for a moment and said, "I think it would be best to let Mr. Martin handle this."

    "First, he''s dating Chloe, and since she''s in trouble in Sovereign City, he should take care of it."

    "Second, I think I''ve seen that chubby woman before. She seems to work for the Martin Group. If Mr. Martines, she might show some respect."

    Philip''s analysis made sense. Rena thought it over and used Chloe''s phone to call Grant. "Mr. Martin, hi, this is Chloe''s friend Rena. We''ve met before. Chloe had a swimming ident and is in the hospital now. Can youe over?"

 Chapter 307 Her Shrewish Performance

    Grant was in the middle of dinner with some important guests when his phone buzzed. Hearing Rena''s words, he froze for a moment, then quickly excused himself and rushed out, leaving his guests behind without a second thought.

    The words "ident" and "hospital" were enough to send Grant into a panic.

    By the time Grant arrived at the hospital, Chloe''s emergency treatment had just wrapped up. The doctors were finishing up their briefing with Philip and Rena when Grant burst in.

    Grant''s eyes immediately locked onto Chloe, lying on the hospital bed with an oxygen mask on. He felt like he had turned to stone.

    "Chloe, what happened? Are you okay?" Grant cried out, rushing to her side and gripping her hand tightly.

    Chloe, still weak, tried to speak, but the oxygen mask muffled her words.

    Rena stepped in, repeating the doctor''s words to Grant. "Mr., Martin don''t worry. The doctor said Chloe just inhaled some water, which caused pneumonia. It''s not too serious."

    "But she might need to stay in the hospital for a few days..." she added.

    Grant wasn''t really listening to Rena. His mind and heart were entirely focused on Chloe. Seeing her lying there, his heart felt like it was being carved out with a knife.

    It wasn''t until this moment that he realized just how important Chloe was to him.

    As Chloe was moved to a regr room, everyone followed. Adide and other family staff arrived to take care of Chloe.

    After hearing the story from Rena and Philip, everyone learned that Chloe had inhaled water while saving someone. They were all proud of her bravery.

    Chloe''s condition gradually improved, and a few hourster, the doctor announced she was out of danger.

    Once she was stable, Chloe asked Rena, "Rena, how''s the little girl I saved?"

    Rena held Chloe''s hand and gave her a thumbs up. "Chloe, don''t worry. The little girl is out of danger after the rescue. You''re amazing."

    Chloe smiled faintly at Rena''s words.

    She had grown up in the rugged Northwest, where people were tough. Although she enjoyed swimming, she had never pursued it seriously. But today, when she saw the little girl struggling in the deep end of the pool, she couldn''t just stand by. However, the frightened girl clung to Chloe''s arm, making it difficult for her to swim. Anyone who knew how to swim understands that rescuing someone in the water was dangerous if the rescuer''s movements were restricted. Both could end up in danger. With no other choice, Chloe made a quick decision and pped the girl to free herself, then dragged her out of the deep end.

    "Chloe, you''re incredible. You saved someone! I''m so proud of you," Adide praised Chloe, standing by her bed.

    But as Chloe''s aunt, Adide also reminded her, "However, this is the first andst time. I don''t want to see you in such a dangerous situation again, okay?"

    Chloe nodded in agreement.

    Grant stayed by Chloe''s side, holding her hand tightly, not letting go for even a minute. His deep affection was evident to everyone.

    That night, Grant insisted on staying at the hospital to take after her, but Chloe refused. Rena and Philip, needing to discuss something with Grant, practically dragged him away.

    The Davis family left some staff to take care of Chloe. After a restful night''s sleep, Chloe woke up in the morning to find numerous cameras pointed at her.

    Before she could understand what was happening, a sharp cry pierced her ears. "Chloe, you wicked woman! You murderer! My niece is only six years old, so small and frail. How could you harm her?"

    "I know you despise me and are jealous of my past rtionship with Mr. Martin, but that''s no excuse to push my niece into the deep end. My niece is just a child, how could you..."

    The shrill usations made Chloe''s head throb. She struggled to sit up and saw Sophia performing dramatically in front of the cameras, like an actress ying a shrew.

    The two staff members from the Davis family wanted to protect Chloe but were pushed aside by the reporters Sophia had brought.

    Sophia was going further, "Journalists, please ask this heartless woman why she pushed my niece into the deep end. Adults can resolve their issues openly, but targeting my niece is wrong. She''s just a child, so innocent."

    Sophia''s tearful and noisy performance convinced the reporters that Chloe had indeed pushed the little girl into the deep end.

    Wealth, jealousy, murder... These elements made the reporters smell a valuable story.

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    Ignoring Chloe''s condition, they began bombarding her with questions.

    "Miss Davis, is what Miss Brown said true?"

    "Did you push her niece into the deep end because of a grudge?"

    "Miss Davis, murder is a crime. Did you consider the consequences? Or do you think

    the Davis family''s influence can cover this up?"

    "Miss Davis, please answer our questions."

    ...

    Faced with the reporters'' sharp questions, Chloe felt overwhelmed. She remembered saving the girl, but now she was being used of murder.

    She needed time to process it.

    Frowning, Chloe reyed the events in her mind and realized Sophia was framing her, trying to ruin her reputation.

    Sophia had taken advantage of the Davis family only leaving two staff members to care for Chloe, bringing in a swarm of reporters to question her.

    Chloe''s body was still recovering, and under the reporters'' pressure, one wrong word could make her a murderer in the public''s eyes...

 Chapter 308 I Am Not a Murderer

    Seeing Chloe lying silently on the hospital bed, the reporters started throwing usations left and right.

    "Miss Davis, your silence means you admit to pushing the girl into the deep end, right?"

    "Yeah, Miss Davis, the girl''s family is devastated. Got anything to say?"

    "Miss Davis..."

    Chloe knew talking to these vultures wouldn''t help. She just shot a fierce re at Sophia, who was putting on quite a show.

    Sophia, while crying, kept sneaking nces at Chloe to see her reaction. When she saw Chloe''s intense stare, a wave of fear washed over her.

    The two servants sent by the Davis family finally managed to push through the crowd of reporters to Chloe''s bedside.

    They struggled to push the reporters away. "Move aside, this is a hospital. If you keep crowding around Miss Davis, we''ll call the cops."

    But the servants'' words did little to deter the reporters. The pushing and shoving made Chloe, lying on the bed, increasingly irritated.

    Finally, Chloe reached up and removed the oxygen mask from her face. She spoke to the reporters, enunciating each word clearly. "I did not push the girl into the deep end. I''m not a murderer. I was trying to save her. If you don''t believe me, ask the police. If you keep calling me a murderer, I''ll sue each and every one of you."

    After saying this, Chloe was exhausted and struggled to catch her breath.

    Just as Chloe and the servants were overwhelmed by the reporters, Grant arrived with a group of bodyguards.

    Seeing so many reporters surrounding Chloe, Grant''s anger red. Without a word, he grabbed a camera from one of the reporters and smashed it to the ground.

    "Get out, all of you, now!"

    His outburst scared the reporters, and the Martin family''s bodyguards pushed them out of the room.

    Sophia watched the chaotic scene with a cold smile. She had taken advantage of Grant''s absence to incite the reporters against Chloe, hoping to ruin her reputation. She was certain that if Chloe wasbeled a murderer, no amount of money from the Davis family could clear her name.

    However, she hadn''t anticipated that her n would drag Grant into the mess.

    In a fit of rage to protect Chloe, Grant impulsively smashed the reporters'' cameras. Unsurprisingly, the press would be quick to spin the incident, vilifying him in their coverage.

    Given Anissa''s bias against Chloe, marrying Grant would be nearly impossible for Chloe.

    Sophia believed that with a little maniption, she could marry Grant herself. After all, everyone had seen her devotion to Grant over the years.

    Of course, she had to be wary of Isidora, who also lived in the Martin Mansion. If she revealed Kathy''s existence, Isidora would never be able to marry into the Martin family.

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    Sophia thought her n was perfect. Let them fight it out, and she would reap the benefits.

    Meanwhile, Anissa, who had been in a foul moodtely,zily got out of bed.

    Isidora, her face still swollen from the previous night''s p, appeared in Anissa''s bedroom. "Anissa, you''re awake?"

    She acted like a servant in front of Anissa. Since moving into the Martin Mansion, she had been doing servant''s work, attending to Anissa.

    Seeing the swelling on Isidora''s face, Anissa felt a bit guilty. Anyway, Isidora was someone her sister Giselle had ced by her side. pping Isidorast night had been impulsive.

    Fortunately, Isidora hadn''t mentioned the p to Giselle, which made Anissa feel a bit more favorable towards her.

    "Isidora, what happenedst night was my fault. I shouldn''t have hit you," Anissa apologized.

    Isidora wanted to retaliate for the p but chose to endure it, considering her current situation. She put on a smile and said, "Anissa, you don''t need to worry about it. It was my fault for speaking out of turn."

    "Besides, you hitting me is just a form of elder''s discipline. It shows I did something wrong. How could I, as the younger one, me you, the elder?" Isidora''s words pleased Anissa.

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    Indeed, she had a way with words, making the p seem justified. Probably no one else in the world could do that.

    "Good." Anissa reached for a box containing gold earrings on her dressing table and handed it to Isidora. "These are something I like very much. I''m giving them to you."

    Receiving the gift, Isidora felt a surge of excitement. She had seen these earrings in a luxury store before, worth four or five hundred thousand dors. Now, they were probably worth even more.

    The life of the rich was truly something else. Anissa, a wealthy socialite, casually handed out hundreds of thousands of dors like it was nothing. If getting pped in the face could score that kind of money, Isidora would dly let Anissa bruise her cheek!

    "Thank you, Anissa." Holding the earrings, Isidora was overjoyed.

    But she didn''t forget the main reason she came to see Anissa. She took out her phone and showed Anissa some online news. "Anissa, Chloe has caused trouble for Mr. Martin

    again."

    "Last night, Chloe pushed a girl into the deep end at the pool, nearly killing her. This morning, the girl''s family brought reporters to seek justice. In his anger, Grant smashed the reporters'' cameras."

    She continued, "Anissa, Chloe is Grant''s nemesis. Look, now the inte is full of negative news about Grant, saying he''s protecting a murderer and that the Martin family is unjust..."

    The news Isidora showed Anissa made her already bad mood worse.

    As the matriarch of the Martin group and the mother of the three Martin brothers, Anissa had worked hard to secure her position and control over the Martin family.

    The Martin group was her greatest support and her only reliance in life. She wouldn''t allow anyone to jeopardize it...

 Chapter 309 The Engagement Is Nullified

    When Anissa heard this, she leaped up in outrage. She turned to Isidora and said,

    "Chloe is nothing but trouble. Is she trying to ruin my Grant? Does she want to destroy our Martin Group?"

    Seeing Anissa''s anger re up again, Isidora felt her instigation had been perfect.

    "Anissa, what are we gonna do about this?" Isidora pretended to be worried. "If we let these rumors keep spreading, the Martin Group will be toast!"

    Her words only fueled Anissa''s rage.

    She sat down at her vanity and instructed Isidora, "Isidora, do my makeup. I''m going to see Adide. I need her to get her niece under control..."

    Isidora was puzzled by Anissa''s decision. She had hoped Anissa would confront Chloe directly, especially since Chloe was bedridden and easier to deal with.

    Isidora asked. "Anissa, you''re going to see Adide? Can she really control Chloe?"

    Anissa looked at herself in the mirror, her expression cold. "Adide has to, even if she can''t. If pushes to shove, I''ll spill what happened back then."

    Anissa''s words were loaded with implications. What happened back then? Isidora''s curiosity was piqued.

    Soon, Anissa''s makeup was done, and she and Isidora headed straight to the Davis Family''s mansion. Unfortunately, the servants informed them that Adide had already left for the hospital.

    Anissa hurriedly instructed the driver to head to the hospital. What a Coincidence, she intercepted Adide at the entrance of the hospital lobby.

    Adide was surprised to see Anissa but assumed she was there to visit the ailing Chloe.

    "Mrs. Martin, hello," Adide greeted her politely.

    Anissa''s face darkened at the greeting. For some reason, whenever Adide called her Mrs. Martin, it felt like a jab.

    "Adide, I need to talk to you." Anissa wasn''t one to hide her emotions well. Her anger was evident the moment she saw Adide.

    Sensing the hostility, Adide remained on guard. She reminded herself that both families were influential, and if she and Anissa were to get into a heated argument here, it could turn into an undignified scene.

    So, Adide chose not to confront her head-on. "Mrs. Martin, this is a hospital. It''s not convenient to talk here," Adide said, trying to defuse the situation. "I''ll go upstairs

    to see Chloe first. I''ll call youter, and we can find a quiet ce to talk."

    Adide assumed Anissa, being ady of high society, would step back. But Anissa was relentless. "I need to talk to you now."

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    "But I need to see Chloe. She has a lung infection from water inhtion and is in bad shape," Adide exined.

    However, Anissa seemed unfazed by Chloe''s condition. "No matter how bad it is, it won''t kill her."

    Adide was visibly upset. How could Anissa be so malicious?

    "Adide, what I need to discuss is urgent. It can''t wait," Anissa insisted, blocking Adide''s path.

    Adide, mindful of their families''dignity, held back her anger. "Fine, if it''s urgent, let''s go somewhere else. This isn''t the ce for a conversation."

    Adide expected Anissa to agree, but Anissa stood her ground, arms crossed, ring at Adide. "We''ll talk here. Adide, can you control your niece? Why is she always clinging to my son?"

    "The Martin Family is wealthy, and the Davis Family isn''tcking either. She doesn''t need totch onto my son. She''s sick and hospitalized, but it''s my son who''s being attacked online. As her aunt, can you tell her to stop bothering my son?"

    Anissa''s words made Adide want to p her, but she restrained herself for the sake of their families'' honor.

    She swallowed her anger and exined, "Mrs. Martin, The Martin Family is wealthy, but the Davis Family is no less well-off. Chloe wasn''t clinging to Grant either. The two young people simply fell for each otherˇŞa spark they couldn''t exin, and it grew into something deep and genuine. There was no clinging or chasing involved; it was mutual from the start."

    "As an elder, there''s no need for you to take things personally with the kids. If Chloe has indeed done something wrong, I''ll make sure to address it with her properly when we get home.""

    Adide''s response was measured and reasonable.

    Anissa was momentarily at a loss for words.

    Behind Anissa, Isidora was anxious. Anissa''s fighting spirit seemedcking. She nudged Anissa with her phone.

    Anissa regained her resolve. "That engagement was made a long time ago. It''s the 21st century now. It''s outdated."

    She continued, "I don''t think Chloe and Grant are suitable for each other. As his mother, I don''t want them together. I think the engagement should be called off." Adide was speechless. The engagement had been decided by their elders after much deliberation. Both elders were still alive. How could Anissa think of calling it off? Was Anissa now in charge of the Martin Family?

    "Mrs. Martin, does Louis know you want to call off the engagement?" Adide asked.

    Anissa''s face darkened at the mention of Louis. "Are you trying to use Louis to pressure me?"

 Chapter 310 Break Them Up

    Adide was left speechless by Anissa''s words.

    She''d heard rumors that Anissa wasn''t the sharpest tool in the shed, but she hadn''t expected it to be this bad.

    Trying to keep her cool, Adide said, "Mrs. Martin, you''ve got it all wrong. I didn''t mean to use Louis to pressure you."

    "After all, Louis is the head of the Martin family. The family''s current standing isrgely thanks to him. We should respect our elders."

    "Even if you want to call off the engagement between the Davis and Martin families, you should at least get Louis''s opinion. Don''t you think?"

    However, Adide''s words didn''t seem to clear things up for Anissa. She snorted and snapped back. "Louis is getting old and making poor decisions. Besides, Grant is my son. As his mother, I have the right to decide his engagement. Louis should mind his own business."

    Anissa''s tant disrespect for Louis took Adide by surprise.

    Adide let out a coldugh, keeping her expression neutral.

    Anissa continued, "This engagement must be off. I''m going upstairs right now to take my son away and make sure he never sees Chloe again."

    "And I expect you to keep your niece away from my son. Adide, you should take your niece back to your home in the Northwest as soon as possible."

    Anissa''s unreasonable behavior made Adide clench her fists.

    Sovereign City belonged to everyone, not just Anissa. Even if the Davis and Martin families called off the engagement, Anissa had no right to drive the Davis family out of Sovereign City.

    With this in mind, Adide prepared to counter Anissa.

    But just as she was about to speak, a slightly lean man, nked by two bodyguards, appeared in the hospital lobby.

    Seeing Anissa, he walked straight up to her and pped her hard across the face.

    Anissa clutched her cheek, staring at the man who had pped her.

    Airridurra dreyes w¨ąreriecrassile scarecra?title unlimit¨¦er''arrer''s pririter, marr

    The man, probably in his fifties, was somewhat slender, but there was amanding presence in his eyes-a kind of calm, anger to

    assert itself.

    Isidora''s gaze was instantly drawn to him.

    horitative intensity that didn''t ne

    Anissa, her voice trembling, said, "Quentin, how could you hit me..."

    Her calling him Quentin revealed his identity. This man was none other than Quentin, the father of the three Martin brothers.

    Due to his poor rtionship with Anissa, he had been living abroad, far away from her.

    They rarely contacted each other, and whenever Quentin called Anissa, it was always to question and warn her.

    Quentin scolded, "Anissa, who do you think you are? How dare you speak ill of my father? Yes, he''s old, but who are you to criticize him?"

    "The engagement between the Martin and Davis families was arranged by my father and Nichs. You think you can just call it off? On what grounds?"

    "I let youe back to Sovereign City to give you some dignity as the kids grew up, but you haven''t changed a bit, have you?"

    Quentin''s reprimand made Anissa even angrier.

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    But she didn''t dare argue with him, knowing all too well how their marriage came to be.

    Quentin turned to Adide, his gaze warm like the morning sun. He apologized, "I''m really sorry, Adide. It''s my fault for not keeping my wife in check and causing you trouble."

    Adide smiled. "It''s okay... But your wife seems to have issues with the engagement between the Davis and Martin families. As the mother of the three Martin brothers, her opinion should be considered."

    "If the Martin family really wants to call off the engagement, that''s fine by me!" Adide shrugged indifferently as she spoke.

    Quentin quickly responded, "Adide, the engagement between our families will not be annulled. My father supports it, and I fully support it too."

    "I heard Chloe was hospitalized, so I flew back from abroad. Adide, let''s go upstairs and see Chloe together..." Quentinpletely ignored Anissa and followed Adide upstairs.

    Anissa watched them leave, her eyes filled with malice.

    Quentin, as if suddenly remembering her, turned back and said, "Go home first. I''ll deal with you when I get back."

    Though Quentin''s words weren''t harsh, they made Anissa shiver.

    It was clear she was very afraid of Quentin.

    Isidora watched Quentin leave, her eyes filled with envy.

    Quentin, this handsome man was Grant''s father? Only a man like him could have such outstanding sons as the three Martin brothers.

    And that p Quentin gave Anissa was truly impressive.

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    It was so satisfying that Isidora felt a sense of vicarious relief.

    Isidora had approached Grant and moved into the Martin Mansion just to get some money, but seeing Quentin made her realize that money might not be the most important thing.

    If she could win over Quentin, she would be one of the few exceptional women in the world.

    Her heart began to flutter.

    Anissa, still reeling from the p, didn''t notice Isidora''s infatuation. Her mind was consumed with jealousy.

    She envied Adide for holding such a significant ce in Quentin''s heart, so much so that even after marrying her for the sake of their children, Quentin never forgot Adide.

    Would the Martin family always be entangled with the Davis family?

    Adide was the love of Quentin''s life, and Chloe had captured Grant''s heart, making him unable to let go.

    Anissa took Isidora back to the Martin Mansion, grumbling about old grievances the entire way.

    "Adide is Quentin''s true love. She seduced Quentin, making him never treat me properly.

    I hate Adide, so I won''t let a Davis girl marry into the Martin family.

    My daughter-inw cannot be a Davis... I won''t agree...

    I couldn''t stop Quentin and Adide, but I will definitely break up Chloe and Grant!"

 Chapter 311 The Martin Familys Domestic Affairs

    Anissa kept rambling on, hoping Isidora would get where she wasing from.

    But Isidora seemed lost in her own world, a smile creeping onto her face just thinking about Quentin.

    Meanwhile, Adide and Quentin made their way up to Chloe''s hospital room.

    Grant had already sent people to chase away the reporters who had been pestering Chloe earlier that morning.

    But when Quentin learned that reporters hade to harass Chloe early in the morning, heshed out at Grant. "Grant, what the hell were you thinking? Chloe almost drowned and she''s lying in a hospital bed, and you just left her alone? Why weren''t you herest night? And what have you been doing every day? Can''t you even take care of your fianc¨¦e?"

    Grant, who hadn''t seen Quentin in a while, was caught off guard by the outburst. He never expected Quentin to startying into him the moment he showed up. Grant tried to exin. "Dad, it was my mistake. I thought..."

    But Quentin didn''t care about the details and went straight to ming Grant. "Not taking care of Chloe is on you. I''m telling you, this better not happen again."

    Grant hung his head, not daring to say a word.

    He felt that if he dared to argue, Quentin might actually p him. Even though he was the CEO of the Martin Group, in front of his grandfather and father, he had no room to push back.

    Quentin berated Grant for a while before finally calming down.

    Chloe spoke up for Grant, "Quentin, don''t me Grant. It was my fault too. Last night, Grant insisted on staying with me, but I told him to leave the hospital."

    Quentin''s face was still stern, but hearing Chloe''s words, he shot another re at Grant. "Alright, since Chloe is sticking up for you, I''ll let it slide this time. But I''m warning you, this better not happen again."

    Grant meekly agreed.

    After showing concern for Chloe for a while, Quentin turned to Adide.

    With a smile, he said, "Adide, didn''t I handle this well?"

    Adide rolled her eyes at him, not saying much.

    Quentin seemed used to Adide''s reticence.

    He continued, "Adide, before I came back, my dad called me. He said Chloe and Grant are getting along well. Since they''re already engaged, shouldn''t we set a date for the wedding?"

    "If the Davis family has any requests, just let us know. The Martin family will make sure everything is ready." Quentin looked at Adide with a hopeful expression.

    Grant and Chloe exchanged puzzled nces, feeling that the interaction between these two was a bit awkward.

    Hearing Quentin''s words, Adide rolled her eyes again.

    She said, "Let the Davis family make requests? What do you mean by that? Do you think the Davis family is short on money?"

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    Quentin hurriedly denied, "No, Adide, you know that''s not what I meant. I just wanted to show the Martin family''s sincerity."

    Adide finally softened her expression. She cleared her throat and said, "If the Martin family wants to show your feelings, then go ahead and make the arrangements."

    "But Quentin, let me remind you, the Davis family girls don''t have to marry into the Martin family. I don''t want my only niece to be mistreated." her tone was firm. "My dad thinks the Martin family shoulde to an agreement first, and then we can talk about the wedding. Of course, if you want to call off the engagement, we''re ready to agree anytime."

    Hearing this, Grant suddenly felt a wave of panic.

    He stepped in front of Adide and said urgently, "Adide, I don''t want to call off the engagement. I definitely want to marry Chloe."

    "Yes, we won''t call off the engagement. We''re all thrilled to have a wonderful girl like Chloe," Quentin said, trying to appease Adide, but his words only seemed to irritate her more.

    Adide calmly asked, "Really?"

    Quentin immediately shut his mouth. He quickly added, "Adide, these are family matters for the Martin family. I''ll handle them. Don''t worry."

    Quentin seemed to talk a lot in front of Adide. Seeing this side of Quentin, Chloe

    suddenly understood where Michael got his talkativeness from.

    Quentin wanted to stay in the room a bit longer, but Adide directly told him to leave. "Chloe needs to rest. You should go."

    Hearing this, Chloe couldn''t help but cough lightly.

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    Quentin was, after all, an elder of the Martin family. Wasn''t Adide being a bit too blunt?

    But Quentin said tteringly, "Alright, I''ll go. Chloe, take care and rest well. I''ll have someone bring you some nutritious food. Eat well and recover quickly."

    "When you''re discharged, I''ll take you out for a meal. Take care..." Quentin babbled on for a while before finally leaving with his entourage.

    After he left, Adide let out a long sigh of relief and smiled at Chloe and Grant.

    "Auntie, Why are you so unfriendly to Quentin?" Chloe asked Adide.

    Adide replied, "Even with my unfriendly attitude, he still wouldn''t stop talking. If I were a bit nicer to him, he could go on for days."

    What Adide said was true, but it made Grant feel a bit awkward.

    Chloe''s attending doctor came in to check on her and prescribed some medication. After breakfast, Chloe took out her phone to check the news online.

    In just a couple of hours, the inte was flooded with stories about Chloe pushing the girl into deep water.

    There were also reports about Grant smashing a reporter''s camera to protect Chloe. Some unscrupulous media even started fabricating stories, using Chloe of murder before the police investigation wasplete, and iming that Grant was using his influence to clear Chloe''s name.

    The affairs of wealthy families always attracted attention, and soon, Grant and Chloe found themselves at the center of a media storm.

 Chapter 312 Poor Child

    Adide was fuming as she read the online news.

    "These media outlets, how dare they write such nonsense? Chloe, don''t worry. I''ll call Juliet right now and have her handle this," she said, her voice filled with anger.

    Chloe had seen Juliet''s PR skills in action before. Whenever Juliet stepped in, she had a way of keeping things from blowing up online.

    But if Juliet suppressed the news, Chloe would bebeled as an attempted murderer.

    Chloe didn''t want to be wrongfully used.

    After thinking for a moment, she said, "Auntie, there''s no need for Juliet to step in. Rena texted me saying the police have the surveince footage from the pool. It won''t be long before they release a statement."

    "But I''m worried about you being wronged," Adide said, her concern for Chloe evident in her voice.

    Adide had no children of her own and had long considered Chloe her own daughter.

    "Auntie, the truth wille out. Innocent people will be proven innocent, and the guilty will be exposed. It''s better to endure a little now than to carry the burden of a murder usation forever." Chloeforted, "Don''t worry, the police will clear my name."

    Adide was convinced by Chloe''s words.

    Grant had been busy nearby, his expression serious as he worked on hisptop.

    Chloe whispered to Adide, "Auntie, let''s go for a walk."

    "Good idea. The doctor said walking would help with your recovery." Adide helped her out of bed.

    After saying a quick goodbye to Grant, they headed to the hospital corridor for a walk. The Martin Family''s bodyguards had cleared the area around Chloe''s room, ensuring her safety.

    As they reached the nurse''s station, they overheard two nurses talking quietly.

    "Did you hear about the little girl who almost drowned yesterday? The one in room thirteen? Her parents are odd. They insisted on her being hospitalized but haven''t visited her once."

    "Really? If that''s true, those parents are awful," the other nurse replied.

    "Yeah, when I started my shift this morning, the poor girl was lying in bed all alone. I asked if she was hungry, and she said no. Then I saw an unopened takeout breakfast by her bed."

    "Leaving such a young child alone and feeding her takeout? That''s terrible."

    "Apparently, her parents are busy trying to use the drowning incident to extort money. It''s disgusting."

    The nurses'' conversation caught Adide and Chloe''s attention. They exchanged a nce and headed to the little girl''s room.

    As they opened the door, they saw the little girl lying in bed, looking forlorn.

    The girl''s eyes were vacant as she stared at the ceiling.

    Chloe and Adide''s entrance caught her attention. She turned to look at them, and a

    hint of joy appeared on her face when she recognized Chloe.

    "It''s you! You saved me yesterday, didn''t you?" The little girl eximed, she remembered Chloe.

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    Chloe walked over to her bed, took her hand, and asked, "Sweetie, where are your parents? Why aren''t they here with you?"

    Chloe nced at the name tag on the bed: [Kathy Faye...]

    The girl lowered her head at Chloe''s question. "My dad disappeared a long time ago. I''ve never seen him since I was born. My mom is working to make money. She''s very busy. I haven''t seen her in a month or two."

    Chloe frowned at Kathy''s words.

    Adide gently patted Kathy''s head.

    "And Sophia? Who is she to you?" Chloe asked.

    Kathy replied, "My mom asked Sophia to take care of me while she''s working. She told me to call her Auntie..."

    "Oh..." Chloe was curious.

    Adide turned to Chloe and said, "She is so pitiful."

    "Is Sophia the one who usually takes care of you?" Chloe asked Kathy.

    Kathy shook her head. "No, my mom hired a nanny to take care of me. There''s also a doctor who looks after me. The nanny took a few days off, so Sophia has been taking care of me."

    "But I haven''t seen her sincest night. I miss my mom."Kathy''s voice was slow and sad, and Chloe could see tears welling up in her eyes.

    But Kathy was trying to be strong, holding back her tears.

    Her attempt at bravery broke Adide''s heart. She reached out and hugged Kathy.

    Sophia clearly had no time to care for her, busy as she was trying to twist the rescue into an attempted murder.

    Using a child as a weapon, Sophia was truly despicable.

    Kathy, wise beyond her years, said to Chloe, "The nurses said Sophia imed you tried

    to drown me. But I know that''s not true. You were saving me."

    Chloe nodded at the perceptive Kathy. "Yes, I was trying to save you. You''re a very good girl."

    A smile appeared on Kathy''s face. "I really like you. I''m so bored here alone. Could you ask the doctor to move me to your room?"

    After thinking for a moment, she added, "Or maybe you could help me get discharged. My nanny will be back in Sovereign City tomorrow and can pick me up from the hospital."

    Seeing Kathy so pitiful, without anyone to care for her, Chloe felt a pang of sadness.

    She asked Adide, "Auntie, can we move her to my room? I don''t feelfortable leaving her here alone."

    Adide nodded. "Of course. I''ll talk to the doctor right away."

    A few minutester, Kathy was moved to Chloe''s room.

    Meanwhile, Sophia continued her media blitz, using her "aunt" status to garner sympathy.

    "Everyone, you have to help me. The person who tried to kill my niece must be brought to justice. Think about it, my niece is only five. She couldn''t have swum to the deep end by herself. Someone must have dragged her there."

 Chapter 313 I Want to Fight

    "The evidence is right here. Chloe can''t just weasel out of this. Just ''cause she''s from a rich family, does that mean she can do whatever she wants? Does that mean she can get away with murder?"

    "My niece is lying in the hospital, and we don''t even know if she''ll pull through. Is it really too much to ask for justice?"

    "You all need to stand with me. I want to fight. I want to say no to the powerful... I want justice for my niece."

    Sophia''s words painted her as a helpless victim, rallying everyone around her.

    Meanwhile, the supposed victim, Kathy, was already in Chloe''s hospital room. She was receiving medical care, enjoying Chloe''spany, and most of all, basking in Adide''s awkward but genuine motherly affection.

    Adide seemed to have taken a liking to Kathy. She had toys and treats brought in for her, cing them all in front of Kathy.

    Despite never having taken care of anyone before, Adide even brought in a basin of water to wash Kathy''s feet and trim her toenails.

    Kathy was deeply moved by Adide''s care. She whispered to Adide, "Adide, you smell so nice. I really like you. Can I secretly call you mom?"

    Adide''s heart was a mix of emotions upon hearing this. How could she refuse such a request from this poor child?

    She nodded, "Alright, you can call me mom..."

    Kathy was thrilled. She leaned in close to Adide''s ear and sweetly whispered, "Mom."

    Adide, who had never been called mom before, was overjoyed. She held Kathy in her arms as if she were a precious treasure.

    At the same time, Quentin returned to the Martin Mansion after a long absence. As soon as he stepped into the living room, he saw Anissa sitting on the couch with a scowl on her face.

    Anissa was still fuming from the p Quentin had given her. So she didn''t even try to hide her anger when she saw him.

    They came together for the sake of mutual benefits. Over the years, their rtionship was rocky-they rarely spent time together and often argued within minutes of speaking. As they grew older, they stopped fighting and decided to live apart. It had been three years since theyst saw each other.

    Anissa''s cold demeanor was far from what one would expect between a husband and wife. In contrast, Isidora couldn''t hide her excitement at Quentin''s return. Their brief encounter at the hospital had left a good impression on her.

    Quentin was thin but dressed in designer clothes, giving him an air of sophistication. Isidora couldn''t understand why Anissa treated him so poorly. Eager to make a good impression, Isidora hurried over to Quentin. "Quentin, you''re back..."

    She greeted him warmly, as if they were old friends.

    At the hospital, Quentin had been too busy dealing with Anissa to notice Isidora. Now, seeing her in his home, he casually asked, "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

    Isidora quickly introduced herself. "Quentin, I''m Grantie''s ssmate and I work at the Martin Group. Ms. Rodriguez asked me to stay with Anissa and help out since she doesn''t have anyone else."

    "Oh," Quentin replied, barely interested. He didn''t care who was looking after Anissa.

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    "Quentin, you must be thirsty after your trip. Let me get you some water," Isidora offered eagerly. If Anissa weren''t there, she might have thrown herself at Quentin.

    Quentin ignored her, but Anissa shot her a disapproving look.

    Isidora quickly tried to smooth things over. "Quentin, it''s not easy for you toe home. Anissa''s had a tough time. Maybe you two should talk things out."

    She added, "Anissa has done a lot for this family..."

    Anissa''s suspicious look softened slightly at Isidora''s words.

    Quentin nced at Isidora and said, "I understand. You can go now."

    Isidora wisely retreated, but not before letting her gaze linger on Quentin for a few seconds. She hoped he would pick up on her feelings.

    With Isidora gone, Quentin sat next to Anissa. He felt a twinge of guilt as he looked at his wife, whom he hadn''t seen in years.

    "Anissa, I think we need to talk." he sighed.

    Anissa''s temper red at his words. "Talk? When you pped me in front of Adide, did you think about talking then?"

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    "pping you was wrong, but you insulted my father first. If I hadn''t pped you, who knows what else you would have said?" Quentin was exasperated.

    The Martin family had strict values. While Anissa might have her disagreements with Louis, the way she publicly bashed him in the hospital lobby-using disrespectful and offensivenguage crossed Quentin''s line.

    Anissa scoffed. "Insult your father? You pped me to impress Adide and the Davis family."

    "I didn''t. Anissa, you''re being unreasonable." Quentin stood up, frustrated.

    He had wanted to have a calm conversation, but Anissa''s attitude made it impossible.

    "Unreasonable? You suck up to Adide and the Davis family, and now you call me unreasonable? I gave you three sons. What has Adide done?" Anissa brought up old grievances.

    Quentin suppressed his anger. "Anissa, we''re married. You should know I don''t need to impress Adide. I''m just trying to support my father and maintain the alliance with the Davis family."

    He continued, "And our kids are grown. Our issues are between us. Don''t drag them into this. You know how those three were born."

    However, Quentin''s words did nothing to calm Anissa. Instead, sheughed bitterly. "I knew it. You never wanted those kids. And you say you don''t care about Adide? Then why are you pushing our son to marry a Davis girl? To make up for not marrying Adide yourself?"

    Anissa''s anger grew, and she nearly pointed at Quentin''s face.

    Quentin was furious. "Anissa, you''re impossible. I just wanted to talk..."

 Chapter 314 I Want to Divorce You

    "Not necessary." Anissa sneered, "Do you think I''m being unreasonable now? All my so-called unreasonable actions are because of you."

    "Quentin, do you regret marrying me? Do you regret that all three of the Martin Family''s kids are mine? Now you bully me, but when your dad dies, the whole Martin Family will belong to our sons. Then, let''s see how you dare to bully me."

    Anissa brought up Louis again, cursing him like a madwoman.

    Quentin was furious.

    He wanted to p Anissa, but his rationality held him back.

    He just warned her, "Anissa, watch your mouth. If we''re arguing, don''t bring my dad into it."

    "I will bring him up! He''s the one who schemed to arrange the marriage between the Martin Family and the Davis Family." Anissa grew more agitated, showing no intention ofmunicating with Quentin. "My son''s marriage, what right does he have to interfere?"

    Quentin was fed up. He didn''t want to continue the argument. He stood up to leave, but Anissa grabbed him, not letting him go.

    In the struggle, Quentin pushed Anissa onto the couch.

    This infuriated Anissa. She got up, grabbed the ashtray from the coffee table, and smashed it on Quentin''s head.

    Quentin, already frail, started bleeding profusely from the head.

    Anissa was stunned.

    Quentin clutch his bleeding head, ring at her with hatred. "Anissa, well done. I want a divorce!"

    Over the years, no matter how outrageous Anissa''s actions were, Quentin had never mentioned divorce.

    But today, Quentin was truly disappointed. He couldn''t ept the hatred in Anissa''s eyes when she smashed the ashtray on his head.

    After all, they were a couple. If they became enemies, it would defeat the purpose of their marriage.

    Their argument made the servants too scared toe out. When Isidora saw Quentin walking out with his bleeding head, she knew her chance hade.

    She said to Anissa, "Anissa, I''ll take Quentin to the hospital."

    With that, Isidora followed Quentin. As Quentin got into his car, Isidora squeezed in too.

    Worried that Quentin might kick her out, Isidora quickly said, "Quentin, I''ll apany you to the hospital to get your wound treated."

    She then took out a piece of gauze from her bag and pressed it against Quentin''s bleeding head.

    Quentin, in a foul mood after being hit by Anissa, couldn''t refuse Isidora''s concern. So, he let her help him as they headed to the emergency room.

    On the way to the hospital, Kathy, missing Isidora, kept calling her on her smartwatch.

    But when Isidora saw Kathy''s call, she didn''t answer as she usually would. Instead, she declined the call.

    She knew Kathy was in the hospital, knew the nanny she hired to take care of Kathy was on leave, and knew Sophia wasn''t reliable. Yet, she chose to hang up on Kathy. To prevent Kathy from calling again, Isidora even blocked her number.

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    She had a new goal now. For her future luxurious life, she couldn''t let Kathy be an obstacle.

    The news of Quentin being hit on the head by Anissa quickly reached the three Martin brothers.

    After discussing in their group chat, they decided to go home.

    Grant, who was at the hospital taking care of Chloe, entrusted her to Adide and rushed home.

    As soon as he parked his car, he heard Anissa''s voiceing from inside the house.

    Anissa was cursing, and the targets of her curses were none other than Michael and Liam, who had arrived home before Grant.

    Of course, with such a big incident in the Martin Family, Anissa''s sister Giselle was bound to be present.

    Anissa pointed at Michael and Liam, yelling, "Are you two here to stand up for your dad?"

    Michael and Liam exchanged helpless nces. "Mom, of course not. We heard you and Dad had a fight, so we rushed back to check on you."

    "Check on me? When your dad pped me, none of you came to check on me. Now that I''ve smashed his head, you decide toe back." Anissa was crazy. "Are you nning to send me to the police?"

    Her emotions were all over the ce, making it nearly impossible for Michael and Liam tomunicate with her.

    "Mom, please calm down. We would never send you to the police. Family matters should be resolved within the family," Liam said, trying to soothe her.

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    Anissa''s expression softened a bit.

    But Giselle, standing beside Anissa, had different thoughts.

    When Anissa wasn''t in Sovereign City, the three Martin brothers never listened to

    Giselle and often disagreed with her decisions.

    As their aunt, she had no authority over them.

    She saw this as an opportunity for Anissa to discipline them.

    She snorted, "Resolve within the family? How? Your dad has been bullying your mom for years. How can she not be angry?"

    "Mic, Liam, you two are twins. Your mom went through so much to give birth to you. You should understand her pain." Giselle continued, "Your mom just doesn''t want the Davis Family and the Martin Family to be tied by marriage. You two must stand by your mom and call off the engagement. Only then will your mom feel better."

    Giselle diverted the topic, ming Anissa''s anger on the marriage arrangement between the Davis and Martin families.

    Michael felt troubled.

    And Liam was speechless.

    Initially, they were against the marriage with the Davis Family. But after getting to know Chloe, they found the Davis Family quite agreeable.

    If Grant hadn''t developed feelings for Chloe, they wouldn''t have minded the marriage.

    Facing Anissa''s anger and Giselle''s instigation, Liam sighed deeply. "Mom, Giselle, Grant and Chloe are in love. Calling off the engagement now wouldn''t be appropriate."

 Chapter 315 Your Retribution

    Hearing Liam''s words, Anissa shot him a cold look.

    "There''s no real love in wealthy families," she snapped.

    Her words sent a wave of unease through both Michael and Liam.

    What did she mean by that? Plenty of marriages in high society were filled with genuine affection. So why did Anissa make it sound like love didn''t exist in these marriages?

    Michael and Liam couldn''t understand why Anissa was so against the marriage between the Martin Family and the Davis Family.

    The Martin Family and the Davis Family were both elite households, and with Grant and Chloe sharing a great connection, this marriage was exactly the kind of union everyone wanted to see

    Anissa''s opposition seemedpletely unreasonable.

    "Mom... what are you..." Michael began weakly. He had no idea how things had gone wrong.

    "I am your mother. I went through hell to bring you into this world. Your marriages are mine to decide," Anissa dered.

    "If I say you marry someone, you marry them. And as for Mic''s partner, that gay, they should break up immediately."

    Anissa finished, ring at her sons before heading upstairs.

    In front of her sons, she had clearly asserted her authority as their mother.

    Giselle followed Anissa upstairs, giving her a secret thumbs-up. She eximed, "Anissa, you were amazing this time."

    "These boys from the Martin Family need to be put in their ce. You''re their mother. If you can''t even control their marriages, what''s the point?"

    "And Quentin, you need to keep him in line. You were right to hit him this time. If it were me, I would have done worse. How dare he p you in front of everyone?" "Isidora just texted me and said the injury on his head is nothing serious-just five stitches. It''s a small thing, really."

    "Considering you gave him three wonderful sons, he should treat you like a queen. But now, he always sides with his father. That old man should have died long ago. If he were gone, you''d have control over the Martin group..."

    Five stitches? A small thing? In Giselle''s eyes, Quentin would have to be dead for it to be considered a good thing.

    And Giselle wanted Anissa to take over the Martin group? She seemed to forget that Louis had worked his whole life to build the Martin group to its current size. With Anissa''s capabilities and knowledge, thinking she could take over was a pipe dream. Giselle''s own unhappy marriage made her determined to ruin Anissa''s as well.

    Over the years, if it weren''t for her constant meddling, Quentin and Anissa''s marriage wouldn''t have reached this point. And Anissa, under Giselle''s daily interference, had started to lose herself a bit.

    She seemed to have forgotten that her initial goal in marrying into the Martin Family was to escape poverty.

    As Anissa left, themotion in the house gradually died down.

    Grant, who had gotten out of the car, hadn''t gone inside. The family rtionship was too oppressive for him.

    Leaning against the car, Grant lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

    As night fell, due to Sophia''s instigation, the online attacks on Chloe grew more intense.

    A crowd even gathered at the hospital entrance, demanding to drag Chloe, the so- called murderer, to the police.

    Fortunately, both the Martin Family and the Davis Family had sent bodyguards, preventing the crowd from breaking in.

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    The hospital, considering Chloe''s fragile condition, moved her and Kathy to a special care room upstairs.

    And Adide stayed by Chloe and Kathy''s side.

    Kathy clung to Adide, trembling with fear from the outsidemotion.

    Being so young, she couldn''t understand why Chloe, who had risked her life to save her, was now being called a murderer.

    Seeing Kathy so scared, Chloe felt a pang of guilt.

    Some peopleck any moral integrity and won''t hesitate to exploit their children for attention or personal gain, but the Davis Family would never resort to such tactics.

    Seeing Kathy shivering, Chloe suggested to Adide, "Auntie, Kathy is really scared. It''s gettingte. Why don''t you take her to the inner room to rest?"

    "Good idea. This poor child hasn''t seen her parents all day and can''t reach her mom.

    It''s heartbreaking," Adide said, genuinely fond of Kathy.

    The hospital had arranged a special care room for Chloe, which included a well- furnished inner room.

    Adide took Kathy inside to rest.

    Just as they went in, Chloe heard amotion outside with the bodyguards.

    She got up to check what was happening.

    To her surprise, Sophia, who had been missing for a day and a night, had shown up.

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    Sophia didn''t know Kathy had been moved and was resting in Chloe''s special care

    room.

    Instead of worrying about Kathy, she used Chloe through the bodyguards.

    "Chloe, you have the nerve to switch rooms? The police will be here soon to arrest you. You, a murderer, deserve to rot in jail."

    Sophia''s words made Chloeugh coldly.

    Sophia spent the day stirring up online, rallyingizens to cyberbully Chloe. Chloe

    was wrongfully framed, and even if she denied the usations, with no solid evidence

    to back her up, the inte mob might not believe her.

    But if the police dered her innocent, it would be more convincing.

    Chloe didn''t want to engage with Sophia. She simply said, "Fine. If I''m guilty, I''ll rot in

    jail."

    "But if I''m innocent and you''re framing me, I''ll make sure you pay for it." she stared directly at Sophia.

    She had never despised anyone as much as she despised Sophia. This woman wasn''t just bad; she was inherently evil.

    Sophia would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

    After speaking, Chloe turned to go back to her room. At that moment, several police officers arrived in front of Sophia.

    Seeing the stern officers, Sophia felt a surge of confidence.

    She excitedly told the police, "Officers, you''re here to arrest the murderer, right?"

    "Chloe, your time is up. You tried to kill my niece, and now you''ll pay." she shouted, "Officers, take her away and lock her up... hurry..."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 316 Want to Drown You

    Sophia''s frantic antics made Chloe smirk despite herself.

    Sophia''s clumsy acting might fool some cluelessizens, but if she thought she could pull one over on the police, that was just not happening.

    The lead officer, hearing Sophia''s usations, couldn''t help but warn her, "Ma''am, you need to be careful with your words. Miss Davis did not push your niece into the deep end."

    "Actually, she risked her life to save your niece when she saw her struggling in the deep water. If it weren''t for her, your niece would have drowned."

    Sophia''s face turned an ugly shade at the officer''s words.

    She knew Chloe had rushed into the deep end to save Kathy. After all, she had witnessed it herself.

    The only reason she was making such a fuss is to drag Chloe down. But now that the police were actually speaking up for Chloe, her whole n to smear her was falling apart. There was no way she was just going to let Chloe off the hook like this-she had not done yet.

    Thinking this, she denied it. "Officer, she''s so awful, how could she possibly save my niece? You must be mistaken!"

    Hearing this, the officer retorted, "Ma''am, are you questioning our investigative abilities?"

    "No, that''s not what I meant. I just..." Sophia hadn''t expected the situation to turn so quickly. She was at a loss for words.

    Suddenly, she remembered Chloe pping Kathy in the water and brought it up again. "Then why did she p my niece in the water? My niece is so small, how could she handle such a p?"

    The officer exined, "When Miss Davis went to save your niece, your niece reflexively yratdecrivils''s Davis''s arm, preventing der formswimming: urur sritiarton, Davis hadn''t pped her to break free, they both could have drowned."

    Miss

    "If you doubt this, we can provide all the video evidence. Moreover, many witnesses saw what happened. We''ve already interviewed them, and they are willing to testify for Miss Davis." The officer added.

    Hearing about the video evidence, Sophia''s confidence wavered.

    She stood there, unsure of what to say next.

    The police, aware of Sophia''s recent online antics, wanted to minimize the impact of the situation.

    One officer offered her a way out. "Ma''am, you''ve been posting a lot of nonsense online these past few days. Now that the police investigation isplete, you should apologize to Miss Davis and issue a public apology online. Let''s put an end to this." The officer turned to Chloe, "Miss Davis, your brave actions aremendable. We will publish our findings online to clear your name."

    The police hoped to resolve the matter smoothly, but Sophia balked at the idea of apologizing to Chloe, especially publicly.

    She thought for a moment and then said, "I won''t apologize. I''ll bring my niece here to tell everyone whether Chloe saved her or tried to harm her."

    "My niece is the victim here. She needs to exin what happened." With that, Sophia turned to head to Kathy''s hospital room.

    At that moment, Adide walked out holding Kathy''s hand.

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    Seeing Kathy, Sophia was puzzled. She had been too busy framing Chloe to take care of Kathy. How did Kathy end up with Chloe?

    Confused, Sophia roughly grabbed Kathy''s delicate arm.

    Kathy has always been in poor health, and on top of that, growing up away from her mother left her with a timid and shrinking demeanor.

    When Sophia grabbed her arm, she used enough force to make Kathy wince in pain, her face twisting and tears welling up in her eyes.

    But faced with Sophia''s angry expression, Kathy didn''t dare resist. She knew that without Isidora around, she had to rely on Sophia.

    Ignoring Kathy''s difort, Sophia pushed her in front of the reporters and police, casting a menacing nce at her when no one was looking.

    The physical pain and Sophia''s intimidation made Kathy''s expression increasinglyplex.

    Sophia demanded, "Kathy, tell the police and reporters, did that ugly woman Chloe push you into the deep end?"

    "Did she p you under the guise of saving you?" Sophia continued to question, "She wanted to harm you, to drown you, didn''t she?"

    Kathy, already scared, couldn''t hold back her tears any longer and started crying loudly.

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    Seeing Kathy cry, Sophia smirked slightly.

    She stood up and addressed everyone, "Look at what Chloe has done to my niece! The video doesn''t prove anything, but the fact that she pped my niece is undeniable. As her aunt, we do not ept that this murderer is a hero."

    Sophia''s words made the police shake their heads. Shewas as foolish as a pig.

    Chloe had already said she would sue her. The police didn''t want her to bear too much responsibility and had kindly suggested she apologize. But now, she was digging herself deeper.

    The police were exasperated.

    One reporter, having heard the police''s exnation and seeing Kathy''s distress, wanted

    to hear Kathy''s side. He gently coaxed her. "Kathy, don''t cry. Tell me, was Miss Davis trying to harm you or save you?"

    Kathy, through her tears, nced at the anxious Adide behind her and then at Chloe, who was being ndered.

    These past few days, Sophia had been absent, and Adide and Chloe had taken care

    of her. Deep down, she wanted to clear Chloe''s name.

    But faced with Sophia''s threats, she didn''t know what to do.

    If she didn''t follow Sophia''s lead and nder Chloe, Sophia might beat her when they got home.

    And she couldn''t contact Isidora.

    Kathy''s heart trembled. At her young age, she couldn''t make such a difficult decision.

 Chapter 317 Chloe is a Good Person

    Sophia grew increasingly anxious as Kathy stayed silent in front of the reporters.

    She clenched her fists and discreetly jabbed Kathy in the back. Adide, standing behind Kathy, noticed Sophia''s actions and felt a pang of sympathy.

    Adide wanted to protect Kathy, but she had no legitimate reason to intervene. Kathy, already in pain from Sophia''s jab, began to cry even louder under the pressure. Through her tears, she addressed the reporters, "Chloe didn''t hurt me. She was trying to save me. It wasn''t Chloe who pushed me into the deep water. I drifted there myself. Chloe is a good person..."

    Sophia had assumed that her intimidation would keep Kathy from speaking out, but she was shocked when Kathy revealed the truth.

    Kathy''s honesty could put Sophia in serious trouble.

    Furious, Sophia grabbed Kathy and pped her twice across the face.

    Kathy''s cries grew even louder.

    Sophia yelled angrily, standing on one leg. "You little brat, how dare you lie? Don''t forget, I''m your aunt. Your mom isn''t here, so I''m in charge of you. I''ll give you one more chance to tell the truth..."

    As Sophia pped Kathy again, Kathy couldn''t hold back any longer.

    She turned and looked at Adide with pleading eyes.

    Adide, overwhelmed with maternal instinct, couldn''t stand by and watch Kathy be abused.

    She rushed to Kathy''s side, shielding her from Sophia. "Are you out of your mind?" "You don''t believe the police investigation, you don''t believe the video evidence, and now you don''t believe Kathy''s own words?" Adide demanded. "Kathy is just a child! How can you hit her like this? If you want to use Chloe, you need evidence!"

    Adide''s defense of Kathy pushed Sophia to her limit. She yanked Kathy away from Adide. "Who do you think you are? I''m disciplining my niece. It''s none of your business!"

    Being called an old woman infuriated Adide.

    Chloe, unable to tolerate Sophia''s behavior any longer, said, "Sophia, you''ve gone too far. I was trying to be respectful, but you''ve left me no choice. If that''s how you want it, I will sue you!"

    Sophia wasn''t fazed. She believed that as an employee of the Martin Group, Chloe wouldn''t dare take her to court and risk a conflict with thepany.

    Unconcerned, Sophia shot a cold nce at Chloe and Adide, then roughly dragged Kathy away.

    Kathy struggled and cried out, "Mom, help me..."

    Hearing Kathy call Adide "Mom" pushed Sophia over the edge. She lifted Kathy by one arm and threw her to the floor.

    Kathy''s health was already fragile after nearly drowning and being left without proper care. Combined with Sophia''s recent threats and pping her across the face, Kathy''s body had reached a breaking point.

    When Sophia suddenly shoved her, Kathy copsed to the ground with a thud, unable to get back up.

    Adide rushed to her side in a panic.

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    And reporters snapped photos frantically.

    Police officers called for doctors and nurses, and even Chloe, still recovering from pneumonia, was worried about Kathy''s condition.

    Everyone worked together to get Kathy to the emergency room. Adide, despite only having cared for Kathy for a few days, felt a deep connection and was extremely anxious.

    Seeing the situation, Sophia panicked and fled.

    She hadn''t expected that a simple throw could knock Kathy unconscious.

    If Kathy died, would she be held responsible?

    In that moment, Sophia didn''t care about Kathy''s fate and escaped without a trace.

    Doctors flooded into the emergency room, and soon Kathy''s test results were ready.

    When the doctors presented the results to Adide, Chloe, and the police, everyone was stunned.

    "This child Kathy has a congenital heart condition. Children with this condition typically don''t live past ten."

    "What? Not past ten?" Adide''s heart sank.

    "Yes, but there''s another option: a heart transnt. The sooner the surgery, the better her chances of survival." the doctor nodded, "Especially after nearly drowning, her body has suffered significant damage. Her heart won''tst much longer."

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    "If we operate now, her chances of survival are higher. However, a heart transnt requires a lot of money, and the recovery process is also expensive..."

    The doctor''s words left Adide and Chloe speechless.

    Although the Davis family had the money to fund Kathy''s surgery, they weren''t her legal guardians. Without a guardian''s consent, the hospital couldn''t proceed with the operation.

    This was a serious problem.

    "Officer, Sophia just left Kathy here. We can''t let her die in front of us." Chloe suggested to the police. "Can you contact Kathy''s parents and see what they want to do?"

    The officer agreed, "We''ll try to reach them right away..."

    The police tried to contact Kathy''s mother, Isidora, but she was too preupied with

    her rtionship with Quentin to remember her sick daughter.

    Unable to reach Kathy''s mother, the police tried to contact the nanny who usually cared for Kathy.

    Unfortunately, the nanny had quit over unpaid wages and was nowhere to be found. Kathy, already in poor health, had been abandoned.

    Without a guardian, no one could authorize her treatment, leaving the police in a difficult position.

    At this point, Adide and Chloe still didn''t know that Kathy was Isidora''s daughter. Kathy''s life hung in the bnce...

 Chapter 318 Absolutely No Talking

    At that moment, the doctor spoke again, "You all need to decide quickly. Are we going ahead with the surgery or not? If we proceed, our hospital will start looking for a suitable donor."

    "And if you can''t reach Kathy''s parents, the officer here can sign the consent form. It''s standard procedure and perfectly legal."

    After hearing this, Adide finally made up her mind.

    "We''ll go ahead with the surgery. The Davis Family will cover all the expenses," she said firmly. "My niece saved her once, so we''ll do the right thing and save her again." Adide finished speaking and looked at Chloe. They exchanged a knowing smile. To save Kathy, the police officer signed the consent form on behalf of her parents. Meanwhile, Sophia, who had fled the hospital, kept calling Isidora, but Isidora ignored her either.

    Isidora was busy chatting with Quentin, who was resting in the Martin Mansion''s living

    room.

    "Quentin, are you tired? The room upstairs is ready for you. You should go up and rest." she asked.

    Quentin stood up, nodded at Isidora, and went upstairs.

    Isidora continued to fuss over Quentin, bringing him water and clothes, her eagerness making Anissa want to re daggers at her.

    Giselle, who was beside Anissa, kept trying tofort her. "Anissa, don''t overthink it. Isidora is very obedient. She likes Grantie, and she wouldn''t have any improper feelings about Quentin.She told me she''s only getting close to Quentin to speak well of you, so Quentin will spend more time with you and think highly of you."

    However, Giselle''s exnation didn''t convince Anissa.

    "I can''t stand her flirtatious behavior," she snapped at Giselle.

    Giselle tried to calm her down. "Anissa, you shouldn''t say that about Isidora. She''s genuinely taking care of you. I like her, and you should trust her more."

    "Even if you don''t like her, keeping her around to use against the Davis Family isn''t a bad idea, right? Don''t overthink it..." Giselle added.

    Eventually, Giselle''s words managed to soothe Anissa a bit.

    She had no idea that the person she and Giselle thought they could use, Isidora, would turn her into the biggest joke in the world.

    And her family experienced something akin to a high-magnitude earthquake with the arrival of Isidora.

    Precisely because of Isidora, Anissa, thedy of the Martin family, was forced to be cast out of her home.

    The next day, Michael and Liam, who hadn''t been seen in a while, showed up in Chloe''s hospital room with Rena and Zara.

    When the Martin brothers heard that Chloe had risked her life to save a little girl by jumping into deep water, they couldn''t help but give her a thumbs up.

    "Chloe, you''re something else," Michael said, admiration clear in his voice.

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    "Chloe, focus on recovering and don''t worry about the online noise anymore. With the police releasing the investigation results,izens have overwhelmingly sided with you. Sophia, the one who started all this, has been so heavily criticized by people online that she''s gone into hiding." Rena scrolled through the updates and shared them with Chloe.

    Chloe smiled. "People who do bad things eventually get what''sing to them. Sophia''s just getting what she deserves. I just don''t get why she''s so obsessed with me. Did I do something to her family or what?"

    Michael chuckled and pointed out the obvious. "It''s all because of Grant. She thinks she should be his wife, and you took that spot. Who else would she go after?"

    Michael''s blunt words hit the mark.

    Chloe didn''t respond.

    Zara, her best friend, jumped in with a suggestion. "Chloe, Sophia is just rotten to the core. We can''t let her off the hook this time. I''ll help you get awyer. We''ll sue her, make her apologize, and getpensation for emotional distress. We''ll make sure she rots in jail."

    When Sophia was jumping all over the inte, spreading lies about Chloe, Zara didn''t hold back. She posted tirelessly to defend Chloe''s innocence. Those days, her keyboard was practically smoking from how fast she was typing.

    Liam, hearing Zara''s words, ruffled her hair. "You want to sue her? We need to find her first. The police have turned Sovereign City upside down and still can''t find her."

    "She can''t just disappear. Kathy is her niece. She can''t just abandon her, right?" Zara retorted.

    Liamughed. "Not everyone can be called a person, Zara. The world isplicated. You''ll get used to it."

    Liam''s words made Zara roll her eyes. Why did it seem like Liam was always trying to lecture her? He was younger than her, yet he always acted like he knew everything.

    The group bantered in Chloe''s hospital room, lifting her spirits.

    As they were chatting, Odette arrived.

    Since theirst meeting, Chloe hadn''t been in touch with Odette. No one had told her about Chloe''s hospitalization. How did she know?

    Odette brought expensive gifts to visit Chloe.

    Acting like she was very close to Chloe, Odette said, "Chloe, Zara, you two are so inconsiderate. Chloe ends up in the hospital for being a hero, and you don''t even tell

    me?"

    "If I hadn''t seen the news, I wouldn''t have known about Chloe''s brave act. You two are bad friends."

    Odette had always been lively and talkative. Since she was in the same grade as Grant, Chloe and Zara didn''t mind herpany.

    They warmly invited Odette to sit down.

    Once seated, Odette started talking non-stop. "Chloe, I saw the news online. It''s really hard to be a good person these days. Look at you, constantly being ndered. If it weren''t for the police clearing your name, who knows how that nasty woman would have manipted public opinion."

    Odette''s "nasty woman" referred to Sophia.

    Hearing this, everyone couldn''t help butugh.

    Odette continued, "If I ever see that nasty woman, I''ll p her. And for people like her,

    you don''t need to be polite. When it''s time to act, don''t hesitate..."

 Chapter 319 Is There a Problem with Sexual Orientation?

    Odette was a lively person, her voice always cheerful and loud, making it easy for her to get along with everyone.

    After discussing Chloe''s situation, Odette looked around but didn''t see Grant

    anywhere.

    She casually asked, "Where''s Grant? What''s he up to? His girlfriend is in the hospital, and he''s nowhere to be seen?"

    Her question made everyone a bit awkward.

    Chloe had been hospitalized after nearly drowning, and everyone was worried about her.

    Grant had been by her side constantly for the first few days, but after going home once, he hadn''t returned. However, he kept in touch with Chloe through Facebook. Chloe smiled and answered, "Grantie''s busy with some things, so he couldn''te."

    Odette wasn''t having it. "That''s not right. His girlfriend is in the hospital, and he''s too busy to be here? What''s more important than being with his girlfriend? When I see him, I''m going to give him a piece of my mind."

    Just as she finished speaking, Grant''s voice came from the doorway. "Well, well, who dares to say they''re going to give me a piece of their mind?"

    Grant walked in, usually a serious figure in front of everyone. As the eldest son of the Martin family, he was responsible for the family''s business, with Quentin and Anissa living abroad for years. He managed all the family affairs and the education of his younger brothers, Michael and Liam.

    Grant was the de facto head of the Martin family. Despite his brothers'' asional bravado, they were like kittens around him, only daring to joke a little but never crossing the line, as Grant''s authority was absolute.

    Odette was the first person to openly challenge Grant.

    Seeing him, she quickly greeted him. "Grant, long time no see."

    Grant smiled, "Yes, Odette, it''s been a while. And now you want to give me a piece of your mind?"

    "Well, I''m just standing up for Chloe. How can you call yourself a boyfriend when your girlfriend is in the hospital, and you''re not here?" Odette pretended to question.

    Grant chuckled. "Alright, it''s my fault."

    His good-natured apology made everyone smile.

    After some small talk, Michael and Liam, sensing the tension, found excuses to leave.

    Liam was first. "Grant, I have some things to take care of at school, so I''ll be going. Take care of Chloe."

    Grant waved him off. "Alright, get out of here."

    Liam quickly left, dragging Zara with him.

    Seeing Liam leave, Michael knew he couldn''t stay either. "Grant, I have some work at the studio, so I''ll be going too. Rena, let''s go."

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    Rena, who ran a fashion business with Chloe as a shareholder, wanted to discuss somepany matters with Chloe, seeing she was in good spirits.

    She asked Michael, "We haven''t even talked much, and we''re leaving already?" Michael replied, "What else do you want to do? You expect Chloe to host you for lunch?"

    Rena knew better. Chloe''s hospitalization was partly due to an outing with her and Philip. She was lucky Grant hadn''t med them, so she didn''t want to push her luck. Michael and Rena were about to leave when Grant called Michael back. "Mic, wait a minute. I need to ask you something."

    Michael, a bit nervous, replied, "What''s up, Grant?"

    He racked his brain, trying to remember if he''d done anything wrong recently. Grant''s look was a bit intimidating.

    "Nothing much. I heard from Mom that there are some problems with your sexual orientation??" Grant lowered his voice.

    Michael''s face turned red. He wanted to deny it but thought of Anissa''s meddling in Grant''s marriage and lost his nerve.

    He stiffened and said, "Maybe a little. I don''t seem to mind guys."

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    Grant frowned, ncing at Rena, who was a few steps away. He quietly advised Michael, "Mic, that''s not right. Rena''s a good girl. She''s already putting up with a lot being with you. If you''re ying around, it''s not fair to her. Listen to me, cut ties with that guy. Don''t upset Mom, and don''t hurt Rena."

    Michael didn''t respond, feeling a bit impatient. "Alright, Grant. I know how to handle my stuff. Take care of Chloe. Rena and I are leaving."

    With that, Michael and Rena left. Chloe noticed Michael''s flushed face, suspecting Grant had brought up something sensitive.

    Odette stayed a bit longer before getting up to leave. She teased Grant and Chloe, "Grant, Chloe, let me know when you get married. I''ll bring a gift."

    "Sure, thanks." Grant smiled.

    After a few more words, Odette left, closing the door behind her.

    Now, only Chloe and Grant were left in the room.

    Grant stood by Chloe''s bed, his face growing more serious as everyone left. He looked

    at Chloe for a moment, then gently touched her cheek.

    His warm fingers brushed her skin, making her heart ache a little.

    These past few days, Grant hadn''t been around. Though they kept in touch through messages, not seeing him made her miss him even more.

    Grant''s eyes were red, "Sorry I couldn''t be here these past few days. I went to the police station to help them review the pool''s security footage. I didn''t want anyone to me you. Chloe, I missed you so much..."

 Chapter 320 One Handful

    After Grant finished talking, he sat down on Chloe''s bed and gently pulled her into his

    arms.

    Chloe was already slim, but after days in the hospital, where she couldn''t eat or sleep well, and with Sophia constantly causing trouble, she had lost even more weight. Through her hospital gown, Grant could almost feel her bones. Her frailty broke his heart.

    Nestled in Grant''s embrace, Chloe murmured, "I missed you too, so much..."

    The two of them held each other tightly, their bodies pressed close together. They breathed in the faint scent emanating from each other, a subtle surge of hormones rising between them.

    "Where''s Adide? I haven''t seen her in days..." Grant asked, trying to distract himself from focusing on Chloe.

    Chloe replied, "She''s taking care of Kathy. Kathy''s guardian isn''t around, and she had heart surgery, so she''s not doing well."

    "The doctor said if her condition doesn''t improve, she might need to go abroad for treatment." she added.

    "Really? That serious?" Grant asked, looking down at Chloe.

    Chloe nodded, "Yeah, Kathy''s parents are really irresponsible. First, her mom couldn''t be reached, and now, Sophia is also out of contact."

    "Kathy is just a kid and not in good health, so she can''t exin much. My aunt felt sorry for her and wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter. Honestly, the girl is quite nice, I like her too."

    Grant nodded in agreement.

    Adide, in her forties and never married or had children, would benefit from having a daughter around.

    However, Kathy did have parents, and with someone like Sophia as her aunt, it could getplicated if they got involvedter.

    But Chloe quickly added, "The police said if Kathy''s parents can''t be reached, she''ll be sent to a foster home. Then my aunt can go through the adoption process and take her in."

    "That sounds good. With someone to keep Adidepany, she won''tpete with me for you." Grant rubbed his chin on Chloe''s head.

    They hadn''t had any physical contact for days, and this quiet, secure feeling was something only they could give each other.

    In the afternoon, the doctor came to inform Chloe that she could be discharged.

    Using Adide''s situation with Kathy as an excuse, Grant insisted that Chloe stay at his vi.

    Chloe couldn''t refuse. He drove her back to his vi in his luxury car.

    Grant''s vi was exceptionally clean, likely prepared in advance for Chloe''s arrival. He had stocked up on food and other necessities.

    Worried that Chloe might not have clothes, he had also arranged for a lot of women''s clothing to be delivered.

    He told Chloe, "Chloe, check the wardrobe upstairs. I bought you some clothes. See if there''s anything else you need."

    "Okay." Chloe went upstairs, and when she opened the wardrobe, she was stunned.

    The entire walk-in closet had about four or five wardrobes filled with various clothes- thin, thick, dark, light, everything.

    There were nightgowns, dresses, long coats, and cardigans. Chloe tried on a few pieces, and they all fit perfectly.

    As she hung the clothes back in the wardrobe, she noticed a few light-colored bras on another shelf.

    These bras were brand new, with price tags that were outrageously high.

    Chloe picked one up and held it against her chest. Surprisingly, it was the right size...

    She couldn''t believe that Grant had bought these for her.

    As she was checking the bra, Grant came upstairs. Seeing Chloe with the bra, he gave her a mischievous look.

    "Not bad..." He leaned against the doorframe of the walk-in closet, arms crossed. Hearing Grant''s voice, Chloe turned around, her face flushed. She hurriedly put the bra away, but her embarrassed expression made Grant chuckle.

    He loved Chloe and especially enjoyed seeing her blush. Every time she did, he felt an urge to kiss her.

    But today didn''t seem like the right time.

    Chloe had just been discharged from the hospital. If he rushed into things, it would be too much.

    Chloe didn''t notice Grant''s thoughts. Blushing, she asked, "How did you know my bra size?"

    Grant gently tapped her nose and said affectionately, "How could I not know?"

    "But how did you know?" Chloe pressed.

    Grant grinned wickedly, "I measured with my hands... one handful."

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    Hearing Grant''s cheeky response, Chloe wished she could disappear. She yfully punched his chest. "You''re awful..."

    Grant caught her fist and continued teasing, "What''s there to be embarrassed about? We hace made love, haven''t we? Of course, I know your size."

    Chloe''s face turned even redder.

    Seeing her so adorably flustered, Grant couldn''t hold back his desire any longer.

    He lifted Chloe into his arms and ced her on the tform in the walk-in closet, kissing her without a word.

    They hadn''t been intimate for days, and although Grant kept reminding himself to be gentle, the moment his lips touched Chloe''s, he couldn''t help but want more.

    They had tried to make love on the sofa and the bed, but never on the tform in the closet.

    Grant''s kisses grew more intense. He undressed Chloe, kissing her neck, shoulders, and chest...

    Chloe couldn''t resist his advances.

    Soon, she was unable to control her body''s reactions.

    Just as they were about to go further, Grant stopped.

    He looked at Chloe with desire and asked, "Can you handle it? Am I being too much?"

    Chloe, seeing the longing in Grant''s eyes, lowered her head and kissed him.

 Chapter 321 First Give Five Hundred Thousand Dollars

    Chloe''s behavior was reckless.

    Chloe''s unrelenting boldness was too much for Grant to resist. He rose to the asion, and in the dimly lit closet, he took herpletely. Their bodies entwined, fully surrendering to the rush of desire and the heat of the moment.

    Meanwhile, because of framing Chloe, Sophia was being chased by bothizens and the police, like a rat running through the streets of Sovereign City.

    Those relentlessizens not only attacked Sophia verbally online but also went to her house, smashed her windows, and harassed her family.

    Sophia had no way out. She had to disguise herself and head to the vicinity of the Martin Family mansion, where she called her ally, Isidora.

    "Isidora, can youe out? I need to talk to you," Sophia whispered, not daring to speak loudly.

    However, Isidora quietly refused, "I can''t. I''m at the Martin Mansion right now, and if Anissa finds out I went out at this hour, who knows what she''ll think."

    In truth, Isidora didn''t want to go out not because of Anissa, but because Quentin, ever since he returned from abroad, she seemed to prefer staying by his side, aside from helping Anissa with some houseworks.

    Quentin also seemed to have gotten used to having Isidora, such a considerable woman living in his house.

    Sophia said to Isidora, "Are you sure you won''te out? You know, I''ve been ruined because I helped you deal with Chloe. If you don''te out, I''ll go into the Martin Mansion to find you."

    Her threat forced Isidora to back down.

    "Alright, I''lle out now..."

    As soon as Isidora agreed, Sophia added, "Remember to bring some money for me when youe out."

    Hearing that Sophia wanted money, Isidora''s expression changed.

    She raised her voice, "You''re asking me for money?"

    "Yes, Isidora. Ever since you came back to Sovereign City, I''ve been helping you with everything, from taking care of your child to dealing with Chloe. I don''t owe you anything. How couldn''t you give me some money?" Sophia''s words were justified.

    "Sophia, you know that. I really don''t have any money..." Isidora was indeed poor; otherwise, she wouldn''t have taken such risk measures for Kathy''s surgery fees.

    But now, after meeting Quentin, it seemed she had forgotten her original purpose for approaching the Martin Family.

    "If you don''t have money, figure it out. I can''t stay in Sovereign City anymore. You have to give me some money." Sophia knew what Isidora was worried about. "I don''t need much. Just give me five hundred thousand dors. Otherwise, I''ll head to the Martin Mansion right now."

    If she exposed Isidora''s intentions in front of the Martin Family, all Isidora''s efforts would be in vain.

    "Don''t... Sophia, I really don''t have any money." Isidora almost cried out.

    "If

    you don''t have money, ask the Martin Family. With so many rich people around, can''t you get some money?" Sophia suggested a way out for Isidora.

    After a few more words with Sophia, Isidora hung up the phone.

    She changed her clothes and prepared to go downstairs to meet Sophia. With no way

    to get the five hundred thousand dors Sophia demanded, her face looked particrly grim.

    Quentin was running on the treadmill on the first floor. Seeing Isidorae down, he greeted her.

    "Isidora... it''ste. Where are you going?" he got off the treadmill and spoke to her.

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    Seeing Quentin covered in sweat, Isidora quickly grabbed a towel and ran to him, gently handing it to him.

    She looked at Quentin with an admiring gaze.

    Quentin''s in his fifties, but his money and good habits had paid off his face showed

    no signs of aging, and thanks to his regr workouts, he still carried a healthy, handsome vibe that was hard to miss.

    Isidora said to Quentin, "Quentin, my friend asked me to meet her outside..."

    "Oh... you look a bit upset. Is something wrong?" Quentin asked, noticing Isidora''s troubled expression.

    She suddenly had an idea. Sophia asked her for money, and she didn''t have any. Sophia suggested asking the rich people in the Martin Family, and wasn''t one of them standing right in front of her?

    Isidora smiled awkwardly. "Quentin, it''s nothing serious. It''s just that my friend''s family is in trouble. She wants to borrow some money from me, but I don''t have any..."

    Quentin asked, "What''s the trouble with her family?"

    "Her mom is in the hospital and needs surgery. The cost of the surgery and

    subsequent recovery is quite high. She wants to borrow some money from me. I feel

    bad refusing her, but I''m on a fixed sry from the Martin Group, so I''m not very well-

    off."

    As Isidora spoke, she lowered her face.

    Quentin casually said, "If your friend''s mom is sick and needs surgery, that''s a big deal.

    If you have money, you should help."

    Then he asked, "How much does she want to borrow?"

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    Isidora originally intended to say five hundred thousand dors, but then she thought, since she was asking, she might as well ask for more. To him, borrowing five hundred thousand or a million dors made no difference.

    Thinking of this, she said, "Quentin, she wants to borrow a million dors."

    "Oh, that''s nothing. I thought it was a lot more, seeing you so worried." Quentin said, pulling out his phone and finding Isidora''s Facebook. "I''ll transfer a million dors to you. You can send it to your friend."

    In no time, Isidora''s phone received the transfer notification from Quentin.

    Seeing the money on her phone, Isidora was thrilled.

    She never expected that a million dors was nothing to a wealthy person.

    All she did was casually mention needing some money, and without hesitation, Quentin transferred a million dors to her ount.

    This was the best man she had met since moving into the Martin Mansion. Compared

    to the cold and distant Grant, Isidora seemed more inclined to get closer to Quentin.

    Her heart was in turmoil.

    Perhaps because she was so moved, tears welled up in Isidora''s eyes.

    Seeing her cry, Quentin was surprised.

    "Isidora, why are you crying? Is the money I gave you not enough?" he asked.

    Isidora shook her head...

 Chapter 322 The Slut Wants to Seduce Mr. Martin

    Isidora said, "Quentin, it''s not like that. I cried because I was so touched. You''re the best person I''ve ever met."

    "Oh, I thought it was something serious," Quentin replied casually.

    Over the years, the Martin Family''s business had been booming, and they nevercked money. And Quentin''s own investments had also paid off handsomely. Even though he lived abroad, he never missed a chance to donate to orphanages back home.

    A million dors was like pocket change to him. Did it really have to leave Isidora so moved?

    "Quentin, I promise I''ll pay you back. Thank you so much." Isidora wiped her tears and thanked Quentin.

    Quentinforted, "No worries. Go ahead, help your friend first."

    As he turned back to his treadmill, Isidora suddenly leaned in and, catching him off guard, stood on her tiptoes and nted a light kiss on his cheek.

    The kiss startled Quentin.

    By the time he realized what had happened, Isidora was already running out the door with her phone in hand.

    Quentin watched her retreating figure, a knowing smile ying on his lips.

    Then he resumed his run on the treadmill.

    After Isidora left, Mia, who had been cleaning the house with the other maids, came into the living room. She had a brief encounter with Isidora, whose blushing face and Quentin''s unusual expression caught her attention.

    Finishing her chores, Mia returned to the servants'' quarters.

    She sat on the bed with her colleague, Ca Griffin, and started talking. "Ca, I noticed something weird about that_slut_today."

    Isidora was not well-liked among the Martin Family staff, often bullying the maids, earning her the nickname "slut."

    Ca asked, "Mia, what did she do?"

    "I think there''s something going on between her and Mr. Martin... When I came back, she ran out blushing, and Mr. Martin''s expression was quite telling." Mia shared what she had seen with Ca.

    Ca was skeptical. "No way. Are you saying that slut is trying to seduce Mr. Martin? He''s over fifty, old enough to be her father. She can''t possibly be interested in him."

    Mia replied, "Mr. Martin is rich. Isidora''s family isn''t well-off, and she doesn''t wear nice clothes. What if she''s after his money?"

    Ca considered this. "You might be right. Given that Mr. and Mrs. Martin''s rtionship has never been great, if Isidora were to secretly seduce Mr. Martin, he might just fall for it."

    Mia added, "If that''s the case, what should we do? We''ve worked for the Martin Family for decades. We can''t just watch them get embroiled in a scandal."

    Ca thought for a moment. "Maybe I should talk to Mrs. Martin. She trusts me and will listen."

    Mia quickly waved her off. "No. We need evidence. Without it, we''d just be using her falsely. Let''s keep an eye on things for now..."

    After whispering for a while, they finallyy down to rest.

    Mia had initially wanted to share the gossip with Chloe but decided against it due to theck of evidence.

    Meanwhile, Isidora left the Martin Mansion and headed straight to the address Sophia had sent her.

    Sophia, bundled up tightly, stood by the roadside under the dim streetlight. Seeing Isidora in a designer workout outfit, she couldn''t help but sneer.

    "Isidora, it''s only been a few days, and you''re already sporting designer workout clothes?" Sophia''s words were dripping with sarcasm and jealousy.

    When she was a manager at the Martin Group, she earned a high sry and nevercked designer clothes.

    After the design debacle, she was demoted to the Martin Group parking lot, taking a massive pay cut. Although she considered jumping ship, her dream of bing the Martin family''s mistress kept her there, grinding it out as a parking attendant.

    Her reduced ie couldn''t support her high spending habits, forcing her to live frugally.

    She hadn''t worn a designer outfit in months.

    Seeing Isidora in one made her green with envy.

    "This outfit was a gift from Giselle. I don''t have any money, you know that." Isidora yed the poor card in front of Sophia, valuing money above all else. She would rather die than part with her money.

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    If she weren''t worried about Sophia ruining her ns, she wouldn''t have agreed to give her any money.

    "Alright, I didn''t call you out here to hear youin. I''m in a tough spot. The police andizens are after me, calling me a murderer and threatening to drown me." Sophia sighed. "I need fifty thousand dors to escape, toy low abroad for a while..."

    Sophia demanded money outright.

    Isidora, ever the shrewd negotiator, replied, "Sophia, I really don''t have fifty thousand dors. You know Kathy''s been sick, and we''ve spent a lot on medical bills and caregivers."

    "I haven''t gotten any money from Anissa and Grant at the Martin Family. Fifty thousand is too much. How about thirty thousand?"

    "Sophia, we''re partners. If I ever strike it rich, I won''t forget you. You''ve helped me so much." Isidora tried to persuade Sophia with heartfelt words.

    Sophia smirked. "Isidora, all your words are useless. It''s going to take half a million dors for me to get out of here, and trust me, I''ll be back in Sovereign City one day. Don''t waste my time squabbling over peanuts like this."

    Sophia pressured Isidora to transfer the money. "Hurry, transfer the money. I''ve already arranged for a boat to get me out."

    With no other options, Isidora reluctantly transferred fifty thousand dors from the million she borrowed from Quentin.

    Seeing the money in her ount, Sophia was ted.

    She knew that slut could get her the money.

    As Sophia prepared to leave, Isidora called out to her...

 Chapter 323 I Wont Let You Move, Ill Move

    "Sophia, where''s Kathy? Is she okay?" Isidora suddenly remembered she had a daughter. Last night, when she couldn''t sleep, she tried calling Kathy''s smartwatch. Unfortunately, it turned off.

    Isidora then called the nanny who was supposed to be taking care of Kathy, but her phone was also unreachable.

    She thought Sophia was looking after Kathy, so she felt somewhat reassured.

    When Isidora mentioned Kathy, Sophia instinctively tensed up. She would never tell Isidora that she had abandoned Kathy at the hospital and escaped.

    To keep Isidora, who could provide her with money, hooked, Sophia quickly made up a lie. "Kathy''s doing great. I hired a new nanny to take care of her. Don''t worry, Isidora."

    Isidora asked, "Can you give me the new nanny''s phone number? I want to check on Kathy."

    To keep Isidora calm, Sophia replied casually, "Sure, I''ll give it to youter. I''m runningte now, I have to go."

    With that, Sophia hailed a cab and hurried away, afraid that if she stayed any longer, the truth about Kathy woulde out.

    If Isidora found out she had abandoned Kathy, she might kill her.

    Of course, Sophia, who could no longer live in Sovereign City, still wanted to use Isidora, this fool, to get more money. After all, running away wasn''t cheap.

    The next morning, Chloe woke up and found that Grant, who had been sleeping beside her, was gone.

    Dragging her tired body, she sat up. Her post-illness body felt weak, and afterst night''s indulgence, her lower back ached.

    She found a thin nightgown and got out of bed. As soon as she opened the door, she smelled the aroma of food wafting through the house.

    She saw Grant busy in the open kitchen downstairs. He was wearing a white tank top and a loosely tied bath towel around his waist, looking very focused on cooking. Hearing Chloe''s footsteps, he looked up and smiled at her. "You''re awake?" Chloe responded softly.

    "I made breakfast. Go wash up ande down to eat."

    "Okay."

    Watching Grant busy in the kitchen, Chloe suddenly felt a sense of happiness.

    After washing up, Chloe came to the dining table. Grant had already prepared breakfast and brought it over.

    He made simple oatmeal and some side dishes. The food looked nutritious.

    Grant said, "I asked the doctor. You just got out of the hospital, so you shouldn''t eat anything too greasy. I made oatmeal, have some more."

    "Okay." Chloe obediently agreed and started eating. Grant''s eyes were fixed on her face. When he saw a bit of oatmeal on her lips, he naturally reached out and wiped it off.

    Chloe felt a bit ufortable with his care.

    Her face flushed slightly, and she protested, "Grant, I''m not a child. I can do it myself..." "In my eyes, you''re just a kid."

    Grant was a few years older than Chloe, and he always saw her as a child.

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    "I''m not a kid. I''m an adult..." Chloe puffed out her chest in protest. She was only wearing a thin nightgown and hadn''t had time to put on a bra. When she puffed out her chest, she identally exposed herself a bit.

    Grant stared at her chest...

    Noticing Grant''s mischievous gaze, Chloe quickly covered her chest. "You... pervert... lecher..."

    Chloe said, getting up to go upstairs and put on a bra. Grant took advantage of her movement and pulled her into his arms.

    Her bodynded firmly on Grant''sp. Through the loosely tied bath towel, Chloe could clearly feel Grant''s arousal.

    This guy was too much. He was only wearing a bath towel, not even underwear?

    As Chloe sat in hisp, their bodies made direct contact.

    Thinking aboutst night''s craziness, Chloe tried to escape, but Grant''s arm tightly held her.

    He whispered in her ear, kissing her neck lightly. "Eat quickly, gather some strength... then..."

    Grant didn''t finish his sentence, but Chloe understood what he meant.

    Afterst night''s multiple rounds, Grant was already clinging to her again this morning. Was his stamina too good?

    For the sake of her own life, Chloe quickly refused, "No, I don''t have the energy. I''m tired..."

    She thought that saying this would make Grant let her go. But how could Grant let go of such a delicious treat so easily?

    Grant''s hand slipped into Chloe''s nightgown, gently caressing her as he said, "If you''re hungry, eat. If you''re tired... I''ll do the work, you just stay still..."

    Chloe was speechless.

    And so, halfway through breakfast, Grant clung to Chloe, and they indulged in another round of passionate intimacy.

    Afterward, Chloe waspletely exhausted. She let Grant carry her to the upstairs bathroom to clean up.

    After cleaning her, Grant carried her to the bedroom andid her on the bed. He kissed her neck lightly and asked, "Do you have any ns for today?"

    Exhausted, Chloe waved her arm weakly andzily said, "I have no ns. I''m tired. I just want to sleep."

    "What about school? Do you want to go?" Grant''s voice was gentle, like water.

    Chloe refused, "No, I want to sleep now."

    "Alright, I''ll have Liam help you take a day off. Honey, rest well..."

    Seeing that it was almost time for work, Grant had to let go of Chloe. He got dressed and went downstairs, full of energy.

    Half-asleep, Chloe couldn''t understand why, after the same effort, Grant, who had put in more work than her, was still so energetic while she was too tired to get out of bed.

    But she didn''t have time to think about it.

    She hugged her pillow and fell asleep again. Meanwhile, Grant drove to the Martin Group.

 Chapter 324 Considerate

    Stanley was hanging around outside thepany building when he spotted Grant. With his eagle eyes, Stanley immediately noticed the red mark on Grant''s neck.

    He knew Grant was with Chloest night, which meant they must''ve had quite the wild time.

    If he had known Grant had been so busyst night, he would''ve let him sleep in a bit longer.

    Seeing Stanley staring at his neck, Grant shot him a re. Stanley quickly looked away.

    What was he even staring at?

    "Stanley, I need you to take care of a couple of things." Grant spoke."First, get the cleaning crew over to my vi to tidy up. Chloe''s still sleeping, so make sure they don''t wake her."

    "Second, consolidate all my morning work. I need to head back by noon..."

    Stanley was a bit surprised to hear Grant nned to head back at noon.

    He asked, "Mr. Martin, heading back at noon? Are you having lunch with Miss Davis?"

    "No, I''m going to make her lunch. She just got out of the hospital and isn''t well. The doctor said she shouldn''t eat out..."

    Grant''s thoughtfulness made Stanley purse his lips in disbelief.

    How had he never noticed Grant was such a considerate guy?

    Seeing Stanley''s expression change, Grant awkwardly cleared his throat.

    He exined, "Chloe just got out of the hospital and isn''t well. I promised Adide I''d take care of her, so..."

    This exnation was as good as no exnation at all. Promising Adide to take care of Chloe was just redundant.

    However, as apetent assistant, Stanley quickly picked up on Grant''s words. He said, "Got it, Mr. Martin."

    Grant nodded slightly and headed upstairs with Stanley.

    Chloe slept until noon. When she woke up, she found the house had been cleaned. Dragging her sore legs, she grabbed her phone and sat on the couch downstairs.

    In the group chat with Rena and Zara, messages kept popping up.

    Zara had sent a message at 9 AM: [Chloe was discharged yesterday. Will shee to the office today?]

    Rena quickly replied: [No, as Chloe''s ssmate, I know Liam took a leave for her.]

    Zara was surprised: [What? Chloe didn''t go to school either?]

    Rena teased: [Why would she? She probably can''t even walk properly after so long without any action, haha...]

    [Wow, you''re probably right.]

    The two of them openly joked about Chloe in the group chat, leaving Chloe speechless.

    She thought for a moment and replied in the chat: [I have some things to do this morning. I''ll go to the office in the afternoon and school tomorrow.]

    Seeing Chloe''s message, Rena and Zara quickly became active again.

    Zara was getting worse, her jokes about Chloe never-ending: [Chloe, I thought you were exhaustedst night...]

    Chloe replied: [You''re so annoying... When I get to the office this afternoon, if you haven''t done your work properly, I''ll dock your pay.]

    Zara sent a rolling eyes emoji.

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    She replied: [You wouldn''t dare... If you dock my pay, I''ll ask Mr. Martin for money.]

    The two of them continued to banter in the group chat. Before long, Rena called Chloe.

    "Chloe, don''t go to Summit Media Solutions this afternoon. I need your help with a business meeting." Rena''s clothingpany had been running smoothly for a while

    now.

    A few days ago, Rena had mentioned wanting to test-sell their new seasonal clothes at

    a mall in Sovereign City. This must be about that.

    "Sure, where to?" As a shareholder in Rena''s clothingpany, Chloe agreed.

    "Evergreen Mall... I''ll pick you up after lunch." Rena replied.

    "Alright."

    After hanging up, Chloe quickly tidied herself up, changed clothes, and prepared to go out for lunch.

    But as soon as she opened the door, she saw Grant rushing back. Seeing Chloe about to leave, Grant asked, "Are you heading out?"

    Chloe nodded, "Yeah, I''m starving and was about to grab a bite."

    "Don''t go out. I''ll cook for you. The doctor said you shouldn''t eat outside food." Grant pulled Chloe back inside and headed to the kitchen. Before long, he had prepared a simple meal.

    Remembering Grant''s mischievous behavior during breakfast, Chloe kept her distance while eating lunch.

    She was worried Grant might have other ideas. If he wanted another round of fun at noon, her body might not be able to handle it.

    Seeing her cautious demeanor, Grant couldn''t help but chuckle internally.

    Had he been too eager? He had scared her to this extent. It seemed he needed to be more restrained in the future, or she might not let him touch her at all.

    Grant ate his meal quietly. Chloe said, "Grantie, Rena asked me to go to Evergreen Mall this afternoon to discuss a business deal."

    "Oh... I''ll go with you." Grant didn''t hesitate, immediately responding.

    "But... don''t you have work?" Chloe was hesitant about Grant apanying her.

    Rena and Zara loved to tease her about Grant. She was an adult now, and having Grant follow her everywhere seemed a bit inappropriate.

    Grant continued eating and said, "I took the afternoon off to be with you."

    Seeing Chloe''s uneasy expression, Grant asked, "Do you not want me to go with you?"

    Chloe quickly replied, "No, I do want you toe with me."

    After lunch, Grant drove Chloe and Rena to Evergreen Mall for the meeting Rena had arranged.

    Grant had his own reasons for apanying Chloe.

    Sophia had been attacking Chloe in Sovereign City. Although things had calmed down,

    Grant was still worried about Chloe''s safety.

    He felt more at ease being with her.

    In a few minutes, the three of them arrived at Evergreen Mall.

    Rena and Chloe quietly discussed...

 Chapter 325 She Takes Bribes

    Rena turned to Chloe and said, "Chloe, Mr. Martin''s driving us himself. Are we talking business or are we actually buying the Evergreen Mall?"

    Grant had an excellent demeanor. The noble aura he exuded made it clear at a nce that he was different from everyone else.

    "He insisted oning, and I couldn''t say no. If the deal falls through, at least he can give us some advice," Chloe whispered to Rena.

    Rena nodded and whispered back, "Alright, but I think Mr. Martin''s losing confidence. He''s probably just scared you''ll be with another guy, so he''s keeping a close eye on you."

    Rena''sment was spot on.

    Chloe nudged her and teased, "Isn''t Michael the same with you? He even scheduled his street photoshoot right outside yourpany to help yound the costume deal for his new movie."

    "That''s not true..." Rena said, blushing.

    Since starting her clothingpany, Michael had indeed helped her a lot. Several deals were secured thanks to him.

    Seeing Rena''s shy expression, Chloe teased her further, "Just focus on your career and wait for Michael to marry you."

    Hearing this, Rena quickly shook her head. She was living with Michael, but she didn''t see their rtionship as a romantic one. She felt she was just repaying him for his help.

    Besides, with Anissa''s picky nature, even someone like Chloe, a wealthy heiress, couldn''t win her favor. How could a girl from an ordinary family like Rena ever be epted?

    Not to mention, even if Michael wanted to marry her into the Martin family, Rena wouldn''t want to be a part of the Martin family.

    "Oh, stop it. Who''s talking about marriage? We''ll see what happens in the future." Rena blushed.

    "Alright, we''ll see." Chloe smiled.

    The group headed to Evergreen Mall. As soon as they entered the lobby, Grant received an important call.

    "You two go ahead upstairs. Let me know which floor you''re on, and I''ll join you after this call," he said.

    "Okay," Chloe replied, and she and Rena went up to the office area to meet the manager they had an appointment with.

    As they arrived, they saw Isidora, dressed impably,ing out of an office.

    A bald man followed her, fawning over her. "Ms. Faye, thanks to you, please let us know

    in advance when the Martin group''s new products areunching so our mall can stock them first."

    "Sure, no problem," Isidora assured him confidently.

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    The manager, pleased with her response, pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Isidora. She casually slipped it into her purse after feeling its weight.

    Chloe, seeing this, quickly pulled Rena into a nearby hallway to avoid being seen by Isidora.

    After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the manager, Isidora left.

    Rena, who had only seen Isidora a few times, felt she looked familiar. "Chloe, isn''t that the woman who hangs around Michael''s mom?"

    Chloe nodded, "Yeah, that''s her. She''s staying at the Martin Mansion now."

    "Fuck, I just saw her take money from that bald manager. What''s she up to? Is she nning to sell some secrets to him?" Rena spected.

    "Maybe," Chloe replied. "As far as I''m aware, Isidoranded her job at the Martin Group through her connection with Giselle. After she used me, Giselle shielded her and moved her to the finance department. Now that she''s epted money from this manager, is it possible she''s sharing confidential financial information with him?"

    Rena grew anxious. "Chloe, we need to tell Mr. Martin. If Isidora is taking bribes and harming the Martin group, that''s serious."

    But without concrete evidence, Chloe didn''t want to jump to conclusions. "Let''s deal with thister. I''ll warn Grant to keep an eye on her. For now, let''s focus on our meeting."

    Chloe led Rena into the bald manager''s office.

    The manager, perhaps in a good mood from his earlier conversation with Isidora, greeted them warmly.

    "Mr. Jennings, I''m the manager of a clothingpany. We scheduled a meeting online to discuss stocking our ready-to-wear line in your mall," Rena exined.

    Daryl, the manager adjusted his sses and nced at Rena and Chloe. "Ms. Penrose, you must understand, Evergreen Mall is thergest in Sovereign City. Our customers are wealthy and discerning. Not just any brand can be stocked here."

    "Yourpany is small. Whether your products meet our standards is questionable," he continued.

    Rena quickly responded, "Mr. Jennings, I assure you our clothing is of high quality and our designs are well-received in the market. The costumes for an uing TV show were all custom-made by us and look fantastic."

    "Please, take a look..." Rena respectfully handed over some materials.

    But Daryl didn''t even nce at them. He tossed them aside and squinted at her. "Ms. Penrose, you don''t seem to get my point. As the purchasing manager of Evergreen Mall, I decide if your quality meets our standards or not."

    "Of course, if you have the right... motivation, I can ensure your products meet our standards," Daryl hinted.

    Rena, inexperienced in such matters, was confused by his roundabout way of speaking. But Chloe understood perfectly.

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 Chapter 326 Cant Take a Joke?

    He wanted money.

    From the moment they entered Daryl''s office, Chloe hadn''t said a word. Once she understood what Daryl was implying, she pulled Rena aside.

    In a low voice, she said to Rena, "Rena, Daryl wants us to bribe him."

    Rena was furious when she heard this. "What? We just started our business, how would we get the money to bribe him?"

    "Besides, we make money based on our quality. Didn''t he say our clothes weren''t good enough? We can provide him with quality reports. Daryl can''t do this."

    Rena was still very upright. As a college student, she just wanted to do business honestly.

    But college is a rtively simple ce. The business world is where the real dirt lies.

    Chloe, having grown up in a business family, had seen this kind of thing many times. However, Nichs had set family rules, the Davis Family never dealt with people like Daryl.

    Hearing Rena''s words, Chloe nodded. "Alright, in that case, we won''t work with him. It''s just a mall. It doesn''t matter if our products aren''t sold here. If he makes such demands the first time we talk, it''ll only get worse."

    "We''ll find other partners." Chloe spoke softly to Rena.

    But Rena was still a bit unwilling. After all, getting their clothing into Evergreen Mall would be very beneficial for theirpany.

    She thought for a moment and said to Chloe, "Chloe, let''s not rush. I''ll talk to Daryl again... Maybe he''ll be more flexible."

    Rena was being too optimistic about human nature. Chloe didn''t think Daryl would be flexible.

    Suppressing her dissatisfaction with Daryl, Rena turned back and tried to speak nicely to him. "Mr. Jennings, I understand what you mean. You want some benefits.

    But mypany has just started, we haven''t made much money yet. Plus, with our high-quality clothes, the profit margin is low. We really don''t have any extra benefits to give you.

    I hope you can be kind and sign the contract to put our products on the shelves. Once ourpany makes money, you''ll definitely get your share."

    Rena spoke very directly, looking at Daryl with hopeful eyes.

    Daryl''s face darkened. Had he failed to get a bribe? Just as he was about to lose his temper, his eyes fell on Rena''s delicate face.

    Rena wasn''t some drop-dead gorgeous knockout, but she had this quiet, delicate charm-the kind that makes a man feel like he needs to shield her from the world. The moment Michaelid eyes on her, that instinct kicked in hard, then he brought her into his studio as an assistant.

    Daryl stared at Rena, his eyes roaming over her body with a lecherous look.

    His rude behavior made Rena uneasy.

    She reminded him, "Mr. Jennings, can you agree to what I just said?"

    Darylughed and snapped his fingers. "It''s just a few clothes on the shelves, no big deal."

    "Ms. Penrose, since you asked, I can''t refuse. How about you take me out to dinner tonight?" As he spoke, he reached out to touch Rena''s face.

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    Seeing his bald heading towards her, Rena quickly stepped back.

    At that moment, she understood what Daryl meant.

    This lecherous man, unable to get money from her, wanted something else?

    "Mr. Jennings..." Rena retreated in fear.

    Chloe quickly came to Rena''s side, also understanding Daryl''s shameless behavior.

    Rena said to Chloe, "Chloe, he just tried to touch me..."

    Hearing this, Chloe''s face changed. This was Daryl''s office. If he became shameless, she and Rena wouldn''t be able to handle him.

    To protect themselves, Chloe grabbed an ashtray from Daryl''s desk and pointed it at him. "Mr. Jennings, what do you mean?"

    "I was just joking with her. If you can''t even take a joke, why are you doing business?" Seeing Chloe pointing an ashtray at him, Daryl temporarily put away his lecherous thoughts and sat down at hisrge desk.

    This was his office. He couldn''t afford to fall out with these them here.

    If it were somewhere else, he would definitely take Rena down today. And who was this ugly woman standing next to Rena? So bold? Daring to point an ashtray at him?

    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Hearing Daryl''s excuse that he was just joking, Chloe snorted coldly. "Mr. Jennings, business is business, no jokes allowed. If someone wanted to do business with you and joked about having your wife sleep with them, could you take that?"

    Chloe''s words instantly angered Daryl.

    He had just sat down but immediately stood up again. "Ugly girl, what are you saying?

    I was just joking, do you have to retaliate like this?"

    Even at this point, Daryl insisted he was joking.

    "Mr. Jennings, how is this retaliation? I''m just joking too. If you can''t even take a joke,

    why are you doing business?" Chloe mocked him with his own words.

    Daryl''s face changed dramatically.

    Considering this was his office, Daryl decided to punish Chloe and Renater.

    He yelled at them, "Get out right now..."

    As he spoke, he pushed and shoved Chloe and Rena towards the door. Because he used too much force and Chloe had just been discharged from the hospital and was still weak, she stumbled and fell to the ground outside Daryl''s office.

    Seeing Chloe fall, Rena quickly went to help her. "Chloe, are you okay?"

    Just as Rena was about to help Chloe up, Daryl pushed Rena again, causing her to fall

    on top of Chloe. The two of them ended up on the ground.

    At that moment, Grant, who had just finished his phone call, arrived and saw Daryl pushing Rena and Chloe.

 Chapter 327 His Woman Being Bullied

    Chloe and Rena got pushed over by this fucking bald Daryl?

    Grant knew that this bald guy had messed with Chloe and Rena.

    Chloe was his girl, and Rena was probably going to be his sister-inw someday. If Grant couldn''t even protect these two, he might as well pack up and leave Sovereign

    City.

    With that thought, Grant''s anger red.

    He jogged over and, without a word, punched the bald Daryl square in the face.

    In a sh, Daryl flew backward into the room,nding on the couch in his office. "Hey, he''s hitting people! Call security... Quick, call security! There''s an assault happening in our office area..."

    As Daryl shouted, it wasn''t long before some security guards from Evergreen Mall came rushing over with batons and other gear, surrounding Grant, Chloe, and Rena. Isidora, who had just left, realized she had forgotten her car keys in the bald guy Daryl''s office. When she returned to get them, she happened to witness the scene.

    She hid to the side and pulled over a staff member to inquire. "Hey, what''s going on? Why are there so many security guards? Are they going to fight?"

    The staff member didn''t know much either and whispered, "It''s not the security guards fighting, it''s that handsome guy who hit Mr. Jennings."

    "I heard it was because of those two women that he hit Mr. Jennings. We don''t know the specifics." The staff continued, "But ourpany has already called the police. The cops will be here soon, and that handsome guy who hit Mr. Jennings probably won''t get away with it."

    These words echoed in Isidora''s mind. She immediately thought of a n.

    Anissa had always disliked Chloe. Recently, because Isidora had been getting closer to Quentin, she had been a bit cold towards Anissa. Anissa, having some free time, would always find ways to trouble her.

    It was time to keep Anissa busy.

    As long as Anissa was upied, Isidora wouldn''t focus all her attention on Quentin, giving her a chance to get closer to him.

    With that thought, Isidora had an idea.

    She took out her phone, snapped a photo of Grant, Chloe, and Rena, and quickly sent it to Anissa.

    [Anissa, I''m at Evergreen Mall for business and ran into Grant. He hit the manager because of Chloe. The mall staff has called the police, and the staff said the cops are going to take Grant away.]

    [Anissa, you need toe handle this...]

    Anissa, bored at home, couldn''t sit still after receiving Isidora''s messages.

    She had three sons, with Grant being the eldest and the one who had always been the most obedient.

    If Michael and Liam got into fights, she thought it was normal. But if Grant got into a fight, she absolutely couldn''t ept it.

    Moreover, the fact that Grant fought because of Chloe made it even more uneptable.

    Just like she warned-Martins and Davises ain''t meant to mix. Now look what hell''s broken loose. Some bloodlines just weren''t meant to tangle.

    If some malicious media found out that the president of the Martin Group, Grant, got into a fight, it would likely have a significant impact on the Martin Group.

    Anissa quickly set off for Evergreen Mall.

    Meanwhile, in the office area, Daryl, holding his nose that was bleeding from Grant''s punch, said, "You dare hit me in public? Believe me, I''ll charge you with assault."

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    Grant didn''t care about Daryl''s threats.

    Plenty of people wanted to sue him; one more bald manager wouldn''t make a difference.

    If he couldn''t handle this, he might as well not stay in Sovereign City.

    Grant helped Chloe and Rena up from the floor. Holding Chloe in his arms, he checked

    her over like she was a priceless treasure. Only after confirming she wasn''t hurt did he rx.

    "How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked Chloe.

    Chloe shook her head. "I just fell... It shouldn''t be serious."

    After asking Chloe, Grant turned to Rena. "What about you? Are you hurt?"

    Rena shook her head, a bit scared of the trouble they had caused.

    "What happened just now?" Grant asked Chloe.

    Chloe exined, "Rena and I came to discuss business with him, but he made other demands, implying we should bribe him.

    Rena refused and tried to talk him into being reasonable, but he got lecherous and tried to touch Rena''s face.

    I got angry and scolded him, and he got mad and pushed us out..."

    After Chloe finished, Grant looked at Rena. "Is that true?"

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Rena nodded.

    Grant thought for a moment and said, "He tried to touch you, which is sexual harassment. You''re Mic''s woman, and as his brother, I shouldn''t handle this. I''ll call him

    toe deal with it."

    Hearing that Michael woulde, Rena quickly refused. "No... Mic is busy..."

    She wasn''t like Chloe and didn''t hold such an important ce in Michael''s heart. Michael was so busy; how could he take time to deal with her small issue?

    If Michael didn''te, how embarrassing would that be for her?

    Grant looked at Rena, still holding Chloe protectively.

    He said, "If his woman is being bullied, no matter how busy he is, he has toe."

    Grant dialed Michael''s number and said, "Someone harassed your woman. We''re at Evergreen Mall. Come handle it."

    With that, Grant hung up.

    Seeing Grant make the call, Daryl, holding his bloody face, said, "Are you trying to get help? I tell you, you hit me and made my nose bleed. Even if you get someone, I''m not afraid. The police will be here soon. Just wait and exin to them."

    Daryl was acting very arrogant, not knowing who Grant really was.

    But someone at his level would probably never have the chance to know Grant.

    Just as Daryl finished speaking, Grant let out a coldugh.

    He released Chloe and said to Daryl, "Before the police arrive, I need to talk to you about pushing my fianc¨¦e..."

 Chapter 328 The Small Matters of Two Women

    "I saw what you did. You used your left hand to push them... So, I''ll start by breaking your left hand." Grant said this as he stepped right up to Daryl.

    Before Daryl could react, Grant grabbed his left hand and mmed it against the door frame with a sickening crack.

    There was a sickening crack-Daryl''s arm snapped like a dry twig. His scream, raw and animalistic, echoed through the office, turning everyone''s blood to ice.

    The security guards Daryl had called were paralyzed with fear. Holding their batons, they retreated, realizing that Grant was no ordinary person. They were just security guards; there was no need to end up like Daryl, beaten to a pulp.

    Seeing Daryl in pain, Isidora decided it was her moment to step in.

    Anissa would be arriving soon, and Isidora needed to mislead Anissa that her target had always been Grant. This way, Anissa wouldn''t suspect Isidora''s true intentions with Quentin.

    Thinking of this, Isidora quickly grabbed her purse and rushed over to Grant, speaking softly to him. "Grantie, what are you doing? Don''t get violent...

    This is Evergreen Mall, and they have a partnership with the Martin Group. Mr. Jennings is a good guy and has always worked well with ourpany.

    There must be some misunderstanding... We don''t need to offend Mr. Jennings over the small matters of two women."

    Isidora didn''t understand the full story and assumed it was just a trivial matter involving women.

    Hearing her words, Grant''s brow furrowed. He turned to Isidora and said, "Small matter? He harassed Chloe''s friend... Is that trivial?

    And he pushed Chloe. She almost got hurt. Is that trivial?"

    When it came to protecting Chloe, Grant wouldn''t budge an inch. Anything involving her was the most important thing in the world for him. No other man was allowed to touch her, not even a finger. Every part of her was his to cherish, and this bastard Daryl dared to push her?

    Breaking his arm was already lenient.

    "Grantie this is a public ce. You need to be mindful of your status. or else...." Isidora tried to use his status to pressure him, thinking he would weigh the pros and cons like any other man.

    Little did she know, the more capable a man was, the less he cared about status and face. Protecting those they cared about was their true pride.

    Grant nced at Isidora and said, "Mind your own business. I don''t need you to worry about mine."

    With that, Grant pushed Isidora aside and walked over to Chloe, standing tall and firm like a mountain that could shield her from any storm.

    Chloe was touched. She looked up at Grant with deep affection. She had always been strong and had her own ways of protecting herself, but having a man she could rely on at any moment was the greatest happiness.

    Soon, the police arrived.

    Grant was called over to exin the situation. Some of the Evergreen Mall officials who knew Grant also showed up.

    When they learned that Daryl had dared to harass Grant''s woman, The management at Evergreen Mall decided to downy the incident, and it was eventually brushed under the rug.

    While Grant was negotiating with the police and officials, Isidora took the opportunity to approach Chloe.

    She nced at Chloe and scolded her, "Look at the trouble you''ve caused Grantie.

    A few days ago, you pushed a kid into the water, and Grantie had to run around dealing with it, almost missing out on some big deals.

    And today, you''ve caused this mess, causing the police to Grantie.

    Chloe, why are you always causing trouble? No wonder Anissa doesn''t like you and won''t let you marry into the Martin Family."

    Hearing this, Chloe red at Isidora with hostility. She wasn''t one to start fights, but she wouldn''t let anyone insult her either.

    Rena didn''t want Isidora to me Chloe, so she said, "Today''s incident wasn''t Chloe''s fault... Don''t nder her."

    "If it wasn''t her, then it was you. Both of you are troublemakers," Isidora snapped, including Rena in her scolding.

    Rena was at a loss for how to respond.

    Seeing Isidora meddling so much, Chloe decided not to hold back.

    She lifted her chin and gave Isidora a disdainful look. "Even if we are troublemakers,

    what does it have to do with you?"

    "You..." Isidora was speechless, unable to find words to insult Chloe.

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    Chloe continued, "In addition, are you a crab? Walking sideways? Why do you have to get involved in everything?

    Why don''t you just stay at the Martin Family vi and suck up to Anissa? Why are you causing trouble here? Don''t think we don''t know about your shady dealings with Daryl."

    Chloe hinted that she knew about Isidora taking money from Daryl.

    Isidora tensed up. Although staying at the Martin Mansion, she needed money for everything. Her sry from the Martin Group''s finance department wasn''t enough to cover her expenses.

    For others, she was someone people wanted to please.

    Since people were trying to please her, she had to maintain a certain image. With no other choice, she epted money from clients to cover her basic expenses.

    Isidora was furious but didn''t dare say more. Chloe was spoiled by Grant and was unpredictable. If she revealed Isidora, it would be hard to clean up the mess.

    Just as Isidora was at a loss, Anissa arrived...

    Seeing Anissa, Isidora felt her support had arrived. She shot a fierce re at Chloe, as if warning her that her punishment wasing.

    After ring, she rushed to Anissa. "Anissa, you''re here..."

    Seeing Anissa, Rena instinctively shrank back. She grabbed Chloe''s arm and asked,

    "Chloe, why is she here? I''m scared..."

 Chapter 329 Your Son Is Willing

    No wonder Rena was scared. With Anissa''s face as cold as ice, who wouldn''t be freaked out?

    Chloe didn''t want to butt heads with Anissa, but she could tell Anissa wasn''t going to let her off easy. Since Anissa was itching for a fight, Chloe had no choice but to stand her ground.

    Chloe gently patted Rena''s hand. "It''s okay, don''t worry."

    In a sh, Anissa was right in front of Chloe. She''d already heard some nasty stuff from Isidora, who was a pro at stirring up trouble.

    Seeing Chloe, Anissa snapped, "I knew it. All my son''s problems are because of you. If it weren''t for you, my son wouldn''t have so many issues to deal with."

    Anissa didn''t waste any time and immediately med Chloe for today''s mess.

    After several previous run-ins, Chloe was tired of exining herself to Anissa. To Anissa, any exnation from Chloe was just an excuse.

    So, Chloe didn''t bother anymore.

    She smiled, "Your son wants it this way. There''s nothing I can do."

    Anissa''s face turned red with anger. She didn''t think much of Chloe, but she couldn''t change the fact that Grant liked her. As a mother, she felt helpless.

    "Chloe, Anissa is an elder. How can you talk to her like that?" Isidora scolded Chloe, trying to look like the reasonable one in front of Anissa.

    But Chloe gave a cold smile. "How should I talk to an elder? Like you, kissing up to people?"

    "Sorry, my family didn''t teach me that. They taught me to be kind to those who are kind to me. If someone disrespects me, I will definitely push back." Chloe finished speaking and fearlessly looked at Anissa. Her meaning was clear: if Anissa continued to be rude, Chloe would respond in kind.

    Anissa red at Chloe and said, "You''ll ruin my son sooner orter..."

    With that, she turned to find Grant, who was talking to the police. When Grant saw Anissa, he frowned.

    Why was Anissa here? It must be Isidora stirring up trouble again.

    "Mom, why are you here?" he asked.

    Anissa questioned. "I heard you got into a fight. I came to see what happened. Grantie, you''re an adult now. Why are you still getting into fights?"

    Grant was annoyed, but since Anissa was his mother, he sighed, "Mom, I can handle my own stuff. You should go home."

    "Take Mrs. Martin home." Grant called the driver who had brought Anissa and gave instructions.

    Anissa didn''t expect Grant to be so ungrateful. She said to him, "Grantie, you..." "Mom, I''m over twenty years old. I can handle my own affairs. Please go home and take care of yourself." Grant signaled the driver to take Anissa away.

    Isidora, who had gone to great lengths to bring Anissa here, wasn''t about to let her leave without achieving her goal.

    She couldn''t help but say to Grant, "Grantie, Anissa is doing this for your own good. You should appreciate her concern.

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    She''s your mother. Of course, she''s worried when you are in trouble... You should understand a mother''s feelings."

    Isidora''s two-faced words made Grant very unhappy. Why did it seem like Isidora was getting more and more involved?

    Who did she think she was, trying to interfere in his rtionship with his mother?

    "Shut up. This has nothing to do with you. Take my mom home." Grant scolded Isidora with authority, scaring her into silence.

    With the driver''s persuasion, Anissa had no choice but to leave. She had only taken a few steps when she saw Michael hurrying over. When he saw Anissa, he immediately greeted her.

    "Mom..." Michael called out, but Anissa didn''t even look at him and walked away.

    It seemed Anissa was still angry about Michael''s involvement in a same-sex rtionship.

    Seeing Anissa''s attitude, Michael didn''t insist. He went to Chloe and Rena, and after making sure Rena was unharmed, he finally rxed.

    When he learned from Grant and the police that the conflict started because Daryl had touched Rena''s face, Michael was furious.

    Rena was his woman, and Daryl dared to touch her face?

    It seemed Grant breaking one of his arms was too lenient.

    Michael approached Daryl, who was clutching his broken arm and waiting for an ambnce.

    Michael grabbed him and said, "Come on, I''ll take you to the hospital..."

    Daryl thought he had met a good Samaritan and turned to thank Michael.

    But Michael grabbed his unbroken arm and twisted it with a crack, breaking it too.

    Daryl''s screams echoed through the hallway.

    The employees of Evergreen Mall, who had been watching, were shocked to see their idol Michael act so decisively.

    Clearly, Daryl had crossed a line, provoking Michael''s wrath.

    Michael said softly to the wailing Daryl, "I''ll take responsibility for breaking your arm. But you touched my girlfriend''s face. You have to pay the price. I want everyone to know that if you mess with my woman, you''ll pay with your life."

    Michael, usually carefree and yful, especially around Chloe, now showed a side of him she had never seen.

    After dealing with Daryl, Michael took Rena''s hand and, after saying goodbye to Chloe, left without a second thought.

    He didn''t need to handle the aftermath; Grant would take care of everything. Michael, still fuming, led Rena to the mall''s underground parking lot. He held her hand tightly, his grip leaving red marks on her wrist.

    Rena could tell he was very angry...

 Chapter 330 Were You Wrong?

    After spending some time with Michael, Rena had figured out his temper. When he was angry, it was best for her to keep quiet.

    If she said the wrong thing, Michael would surely retaliate.

    She was already terrified of Michael''s intense kisses when he was angry.

    Michael opened the car door and pushed Rena inside. Then he got into the driver''s seat, leaned over the center console, and looked at Rena.

    Rena felt uneasy and didn''t dare to meet Michael''s gaze.

    Michael asked, "Do you know what you did wrong?"

    Hearing this, Rena quickly nodded. "I was wrong..."

    "What exactly did you do wrong?" Michael pressed.

    "I shouldn''t have caused this mess. I shouldn''t have tried to negotiate with Daryl..." Rena med herself for everything.

    Since childhood, she had been taught to reflect on her own mistakes, no matter what happened.

    Michael looked at Rena, feeling exasperated. He knew he had scared the timid Rena again.

    He thought for a moment and then said seriously, "That''s not what you did wrong.

    Your mistake was not calling me immediately after Daryl touched your face.

    I''m the only man in your life right now. You should trust my ability to handle these things.

    Look at Chloe. Whenever she has a problem, Grant is there to solve it. You should learn from her.

    infier Swurosh macrennerrash leartwarm. Ailthych hinterwasr srl, This woners, filter her with a sense of warmth.

    Her eyes welled up with tears. "But if I do that, wouldn''t I be causing you trouble?"

    Michael replied earnestly, "When a man truly loves a woman, he never sees her requests as burdens. Instead, he treasures them-proof of her trust, her need for him. Solving her problems bes his joy, not his duty."

    Hearing this, Rena''s heart swelled with emotion. For the first time, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Michael''s neck, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips.

    Did Michael''s words mean he had fallen in love with her?

    Meanwhile, Grant''s college friend Odette was taken to a rundown construction site by a group of masked people.

    A thin woman wearing a mask stood in front of Odette. She bent down, lifted Odette''s face, and pped her hard.

    "Oh..." The pain made Odette cry out.

    "What are you screaming for? It''s been a month and I''m still seeing zero progress. You gonna give me an answer or what?" The masked woman scolded Odette.

    Odette, holding her stinging face, said, "I''m working on it. I''m trying to get close to Chloe, but it takes time to gain her trust."

    However, her exnation didn''t satisfy the woman, who pped her again.

    "Working on it? What have you been doing these past few days? You have time to flirt with your boyfriend but not to call Chloe and build a connection?" the woman demanded.

    Odette replied, "I''m worried that if I call Chloe too often, she''ll get suspicious and it will be harder to trick her..."

    "I don''t care. This is your task. If you can''t do it, I won''t be so nice next time," the woman threatened. "I''ll cut off your brother''s hand and send it to you."

    Hearing this, Odette was terrified. "Please, don''t do that. I''ll follow your orders and contact Chloe. I''ll gain her trust quickly. Just don''t hurt my brother," she pleaded.

    The woman sneered, "Whether I hurt your brother depends on your actions. I''ll be watching your progress closely."

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    Seeing the woman''s expression soften, Odette nervously asked, "Can I ask why you have such a grudge against Chloe? Why do you need me to lure her out?"

    The question made the woman furious. She kicked Odette hard. "Don''t ask questions you shouldn''t. It''s not good for you. Just do your job. If you mess this up, I won''t spare you or your brother."

    With that, the woman and her followers left, leaving Odette trembling in the abandoned construction site.

    Odette touched her bruises, shaking with fear.

    The task was difficult. She could gain Chloe''s trust and hand her over to the woman to save her brother''s life. But if Grant found out she betrayed Chloe, he wouldn''t care about their old friendship. She''d also be doomed.

    Odette had no choice. To save her brother, she had to follow the woman''s orders.

    A few dayster, it was the auspicious day for the start of filming "Sixty-Six Letters." As

    an investor in the romance film, Chloe was invited to the opening ceremony.

    Since udia was directing, many industry bigwigs were invited, along with some popr stars to promote the film.

    Isidora had consistently promoted herself as the real-life inspiration behind the series'' protagonist. Consequently, she never missed an opportunity to dominate such high- profile events, ensuring all attention remains fixed on her as the undisputed center of attention.

    To boost her confidence, Isidora brought Anissa as her backup.

    Isidora no longer cared about breaking up Grant and Chloe. She just wanted to stir up trouble in the Martin Family, creating chaos so she could act. She aimed to pit Anissa against Chloe, keeping them too busy to notice her schemes...

 Chapter 331 Lost All Face

    With this idea, Isidora began persuading Anissa. "Anissa, you don''t have much going on at home. Why note with me to theunch event for ''Sixty-Six Letters''?"

    Anissa wasn''t the type to chase clout - as the queen bee of high society, she expected the scene toe to her. That was just how the blue-blooded game was yed.

    Anissa shook her head. "I''m not going. Those events aren''t really my thing."

    Hearing this, Isidora pouted a bit but quickly changed her approach, her expression shifting like a chameleon. "Anissa, I get it. With your status, a press conference for the entertainment industry might seem a bit beneath you."

    Anissa couldn''t help but feel a bit ttered.

    "But Anissa, you muste with me today. The production team sent me an invitation, and it wouldn''t look good if I didn''t show up." Isidora continued, "I''m just an orphan with no connections in Sovereign City. You''re the closest person I have. I need you there to back me up so no one messes with me.

    Besides, Anissa, you''re stunning. If you show up, you''ll definitely outshine all the celebrities. Please,e with me."

    Sheid it on thick, ttering Anissa endlessly.

    After listening to Isidora''s plea, Anissa finally nodded. She fetched her makeup and began to get ready. She had a talent for maintaining her youthful appearance, using a set of rare cosmetics to care for her skin.

    Noticing she was running low on her makeup, she sent a message to her client

    manager: [I''m out of my skincare set. If you have any in stock, please send me another set...]

    Her client manager didn''t reply, but Anissa didn''t mind. She quickly finished getting ready and headed to the press conference with Isidora.

    Because "Sixty-Six Letters" had a significant investment, the press conference was quite grand. As one of the investors, Chloe, with her distinctive mole, caused quite a stir when she appeared.

    Meanwhile, Isidora mingled with the crowd, constantly boasting about her close rtionship with Grant during their school days.

    To make her story more believable, Isidora pointed to Anissa, who was seated in the VIP section, and whispered to some people.

    "See thatdy? That''s Grant''s mom, Anissa. She really likes me..."

    "I''m still staying at her house. If it weren''t for the arranged marriage between the Davis Family and the Martin Family, I might have married Grant by now."

    "But it''s okay. I''m not greedy. Just being close to Grant makes me happy."

    "Arranged marriages are such a drag..."

    Isidora kept talking, spinning her tale and convincing those around her.

    Soon, everyone at theunch event was convinced by Isidora''s story. They were dead set on ming Chloe-convinced she''d swooped in to wreck Isidora and Grant''s college sweetheart vibe, then twisted the knife with some arranged marriage bullshit. They thought Chloe invested arge sum in this film just to find a reasonable excuse for her interference.

    Chloe and Zara, standing at a distance, naturally heard Isidora''s words.

    Zara felt indignant on Chloe''s behalf. "Chloe, look at Isidora, spreading lies again. How can she im she had a school romance with Grant? She will stop at nothing to achieve her goals."

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    Chloe smiled, unbothered. Isidora knew today was theunch event for "Sixty-Six Letters," and she was confident Chloe wouldn''t confront her over this, so she acted fearlessly.

    Seeing Chloe still smiling, Zara scolded, "You just keep smiling... People are bullying you, and you can still smile?"

    "What else can I do?"

    "p her!" Zara was genuinely angered by Isidora.

    Chloe shrugged, "Let her spread rumors. The script will rify everything. Not only is she a character in the story, but so is Grant. The screenwriter even interviewed Grant.

    And some of their college friends won''t let Isidora''s lies stand.Even if she lies, it doesn''t matter. It just brings more attention to ''Sixty-Six Letters.'' In the end, I''ll still make money..."

    Chloe''s reasoning left Zara speechless.

    Following Chloe around, Zara kept talking. Chloe suddenly realized that ever since Zara became the general manager of her newpany, she had been acting like she was in charge.

    Because Chloe was the investor in this film, Tony, who hadn''t shown up in a while, came to support her.

    Tony brought arge bouquet of flowers and handed them to Chloe. "Chloe, you''ve invested in a new project. I wish you great sess with this film."

    Tony''s words made Chloe feel quite pleased.

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

    She epted the flowers, smiled at Tony, and said, "Thank you. Let''s shake hands..."

    They shook hands and hugged,ughing and joking around.

    From a distance, Anissa saw Chloe and Tony hugging, her face darkening like a storm cloud.

    She always thought Chloe was no good. Despite her young age, she was as seductive

    as Adide, unable to resist throwing herself at men...

    She couldn''t understand how such a girl, with no qualities other than a good family background, managed to have her son, who she saw as a paragon, wrapped around her finger.

    Anissa couldn''t figure it out.

    Unconsciously, she red in Chloe''s direction with a venomous look.

    Zara was the first to notice Anissa''s intense gaze from the VIP section.

    As soon as she met Anissa''s eyes, Zara quietly reminded Chloe, "Hey, Chloe, Grant''s

    mom is watching you... Maybe you should go say hello?"

    Chloe turned to look and indeed saw Anissa''s extremely displeased expression.

    At this moment, if she went to greet Anissa, it would be asking for trouble.

    She was the investor in this film and had an important speech to give once theunch event officially started. There was no need to let a greeting with Anissa ruin her mood.

 Chapter 332 Did You Do It on Purpose?

    "No way..." Chloepletely ignored Anissa. "Did you see how she looked at me? She wants to eat me alive. Going over there now would be asking for trouble. If she wants to re at me, let her."

    Technically, Anissa was Grant''s mother. If Anissa didn''t have such a strong animosity towards her, Chloe would have been willing to greet her.

    But now...

    After saying this, Chloe pulled Zara along to the lounge. She still had to prepare her speech as an investor, and she should get ready.

    After Chloe left, Isidora sidled up to Anissa and started stirring the pot. "Anissa, Chloe is so rude. How can she act like this? You''re Grant''s mother, her elder. She should at leaste over and greet you, right? What does she mean by this? Clearly, she doesn''t respect you."

    Isidora''s words hit the sore spot for Anissa, making her face even darker.

    Typical hypocrite too stuck-up to engage, but still expecting everyone to kiss your ass?

    Anissa snorted, "hloe is so ill-mannered. I can''t understand why Louis insisted on making her marry into the Martin family."

    She had quite a few grievances against Louis. Over the years, Quentin hadn''t paid much attention to the Martin Group''s business, preferring to indulge in a hedonistic lifestyle.

    But Louis had a tight grip on the Martin family''s business. Every time Anissa tried to get involved, Louis shut her down.

    It wasn''t until Grant graduated from college that Louis handed over the business to him.

    No one could understand the grievances Anissa had endured in the Martin family over the years.

    Seeing Anissa angry, Isidora felt a surge of joy. She whispered to Anissa, "Anissa, I''ll find a chance to teach Chloe a lessonter. She needs to learn how to treat her elders properly."

    Anissa was pleased with Isidora''s eagerness to please her. As an elder, it wouldn''t be appropriate for her to have a big confrontation with Chloe.

    Having Isidora handle it was perfect.

    Anissa tacitly approved of Isidora''s n, and soon Isidora went to find udia.

    From udia, she obtained the schedule for the press conference. When she saw Chloe''s speech slot, Isidora''s blood boiled. ''Why her? Just because she''s the investor? That spotlight-stealing troll doesn''t deserve this.''

    ''Fine. If Chloe wants the spotlight so bad, let''s make sure she burns in it. By the time I''m done, the whole city will beughing at her and let''s see if the Martins still want a walking embarrassment as their golden girl.''

    With this in mind, Isidora began to act.

    By 9 AM, all the actors and media were in ce.

    The host took the stage and briefly introduced the story behind "Sixty-Six Letters."

    As the investor about to give a speech, Chloe was guided to the stage entrance by the staff.

    It was her first time at such a formal event, and with so many media reporters present, Chloe was a bit nervous. She kept going over her speech, afraid of making any mistakes.

    After all, Anissa was in the audience. If she didn''t perform well, who knew what Anissa would think of her.

    Chloe was so focused on her speech that she didn''t notice her surroundings.

    At that moment, Isidora approached. As the person the story was based on, she was supposed to have an exchange with the actors on stage. She sidled up to Chloe without making a sound.

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    Chloe thought she was looking for trouble again and ignored her.

    Unexpectedly, when Chloe was not paying attention, she used her body to bump Chloe and make her stagger. And the speech draft tightly held in Chloe''s hand also fell to the ground with a snap as Chloe staggered.

    Chloe straightened up and bent down to pick up her speech.

    Unexpectedly, Isidora stepped on it first.

    Then, she quickly bent down and, with a ripping sound, tore Chloe''s speech in half.

    Looking at the speech, Isidora smiled. Without the speech, she wanted to see how Chloe would embarrass herself on stage.

    Chloe''s anger red as she looked at the torn speech in Isidora''s hand.

    She didn''t want to cause a scene at such an important moment, but Isidora was determined to provoke her. She couldn''t avoid it.

    "Isidora, you did that on purpose, didn''t you?" Chloe''s face turned cold as she questioned Isidora.

    Feigning innocence, Isidora said, "No, Chloe, you misunderstood me. I really didn''t...

    I just identally bumped into you, and your speech fell. I didn''t mean to.

    It''s my fault you don''t have your speech for the stage. I''m sorry. If you''re really mad, you can hit me to vent your anger."

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

    As she spoke, Isidora leaned her face towards Chloe.

    Below the stage, several media outlets had their cameras rolling, capturing everything.

    The argument between the two had already drawn a lot of attention.

    If Chloe ps Isidora in front of everyone? Game over, no amount of exnation would clear her name.

    Isidora smiled smugly, confident that Chloe wouldn''t dare confront her now.

    Chloe red at her. Despite her anger, she had to let it go.

    At that moment, the host announced, "Please wee our investor for ''Sixty-Six

    Letters,'' Miss Davis, to give her speech..."

    All eyes and cameras turned to Chloe.

    Chloe had topose herself, lift her gown, and walk onto the stage with a warm smile.

    Isidora, holding the torn speech, smirked.

    She wanted Chloe to embarrass herself. She wanted to see how Chloe would handle this without her speech.

    In front of so many media people, Chloe''s reputation would surely take a hit.

    Isidora''s face showed a satisfied smile.

    On stage, Chloe was a bit nervous. She held the microphone and looked out at the audience...

 Chapter 333 Tear Her Clothes

    Just when Isidora thought Chloe wouldn''t be able to say a single word, Chloe smiled gracefully and began her speech.

    "Hey everyone, I''m Chloe. Thanks so much for all your hard work on ''Sixty-Six Letters.'' After a month or two of prep, today we start filming our love story. I have high hopes for this project and believe it''ll be a hit with your support.

    This film is based on some real-life events..."

    Standing on stage, Chloe spoke eloquently and confidently. Her off-the-cuff speech only added to her charm, and the reporters couldn''t stop clicking away at her poised demeanor.

    Meanwhile, Isidora, standing in the audience, couldn''t believe Chloe was delivering the speech so perfectly without any notes.

    She looked down at the crumpled script in her hand. Chloe hadn''t missed a single word.

    Had Chloe memorized the script in advance?

    Isidora couldn''t believe Chloe had such a good memory, especially since udia had mentioned that the speech was handed to Chloe just half an hour ago by udia''s assistant.

    How could she have memorized it so quickly?

    All of Isidora''s scheming had been for nothing.

    Not far away, Zara watched Isidora''s frustration with a slight smile.

    Anyone could see through Isidora''s little tricks.

    Isidora thought that by ruining Chloe''s speech, Chloe would embarrass herself?

    She had no idea how strong Chloe''s memory was.

    Back in high school, Chloe was famous for her incredible memory. She could memorize

    a 2,000-word essay after reading it just once.

    So, a speech like this was nothing.

    Zara was feeling smug when Odette suddenly appeared behind her, gently tapping her on the shoulder.

    "Zara... you''re here?" Odette greeted her cheerfully.

    Zara turned around, surprised to see Odette.

    "What are you doing here?" Zara asked.

    Odette exined, "The production team invited me, of course. Don''t forget, Grant and

    I were ssmates, and I contributed some material for the script."

    She pointed to a few ssmates in the crowd.

    "Oh, I was so mad at Isidora that I forgot," Zara said, pping her forehead in exasperation.

    Odette didn''t like Isidora, so when she heard Zara was upset because of her, she quickly asked. "She made you mad? What did she do this time?"

    Odette rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront Isidora.

    Zara exined how Isidora had torn up Chloe''s speech to make her look bad.

    Odette was furious. "Wait here, I''ll deal with her. This troublemaker can''t stay out of mischief for a minute."

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    She turned to leave, but Zara stopped her. "Odette, don''t be impulsive. Isidora is about

    to go on stage. If you confront her now, it might disrupt the whole event."

    Odette hesitated for a moment. But then she said, "Don''t worry, I''ll keep the big picture in mind and won''t ruin the event. Plus, I''ll make sure Isidora embarrasses herself."

    Odette''s gaze fell on a male actor in the cast.

    That actor was Lowell Warren. Back in the day, he was incredibly handsome and the dream guy for many girls in school.

    Isidora had a huge crush on him back then.

    Because of the significant investment in ''Sixty-Six Letters,'' udia had specifically invited Lowell to y an important role.

    Isidora had nced at Lowell several times since she arrived, but she was too busy trying to cause trouble for Chloe to talk to him.

    Odette nned to make Isidora embarrass herself in front of Lowell. After all, no woman wanted to look foolish in front of her Idols.

    The opening ceremony was brief and soon ended.

    After interacting with the actors, Isidora quickly left the stage, unable to contain her excitement, and headed straight for Lowell.

    Odette seized the opportunity and brushed past Isidora.

    She gave Isidora a light bump, and when Isidora saw it was Odette, her expression

    turned sour. "Odette, what are you doing here?" Her tone was unfriendly.

    Odette shrugged nonchntly. "If you can be here, why can''t I?

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    You''re a character in the story, and so am I.

    The investors asked me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don''t start spouting nonsense again..."

    Isidora was annoyed but didn''t dare confront Odette directly. She had learned her lesson in school.

    If Chloe wants to throw hands, Isidora''s gonna take the L-again. Rememberst time

    at the caf¨¦? Odette straight up iced her with tea, and Isidora just walked away like a loser.

    Knowing when to back down is smart. Unable to outwit Odette, Isidora turned and walked away.

    Watching her quickly rush to Lowell''s side, Odette smirked and whistled.

    Chloe, Zara, and Tony joined Odette, curious about her whistle.

    "Odette, what''s going on? Why are you so happy?" Chloe asked.

    Odette smiled and said, "I got revenge for you, of course."

    "Revenge?" Chloe repeated.

    Odette linked arms with Chloe and smiled. "She tore up your speech to embarrass you, right? So, I tore her dress to embarrass her. She likes Lowell, right? I''ll make sure she embarrasses herself in front of him."

    Odette''s words puzzled everyone. They looked over at Lowell and saw Isidora blushing like a shy schoolgirl, asking Lowell for an autograph.

    Considering Isidora was a character in the story, Lowell didn''t refuse.

    He took the pen and paper Isidora handed him and started signing.

    At that moment, Odette began counting, "One... two... three..."

 Chapter 334 You Are Really a Good Person

    As soon as Odette said "three," Isidora''s long dress suddenly dropped to the ground with a swish.

    Her butt, d only in underwear, was instantly exposed to everyone.

    Feeling the chill, Isidora realized something was wrong. She quickly grabbed her dress and fled in embarrassment, not even waiting to get Lowell''s autograph.

    Odette burst intoughter.

    Seeing Odette''s handiwork, Chloe, Zara, and Tony alsoughed uncontrobly.

    Celebrity Lowell looked puzzled, holding the notebook he had just signed, utterly bewildered.

    Had his fans be this enthusiastic?

    Stripping in front of him without warning?

    This was absurd!

    As Isidora hurried away, she nced back at Chloe''s group,ughing hysterically. She felt certain that Chloe had yed a trick on her, making her look so foolish.

    She gritted her teeth and shot a few hateful nces in Chloe''s direction.

    Anissa, who had been hoping to see Chloe embarrassed, ended up witnessing Isidora''s humiliating moment instead. Frustrated, she left the VIP section.

    As she passed by Chloe''s group, Chloe greeted her out of politeness, "Mrs. Martin, are you leaving? Would you like me to arrange a car for you?"

    Chloe was being quite courteous, but to Anissa, any respect from Chloe felt like a provocation.

    With a displeased look, Anissa retorted, "The Martin Family isn''t so poor that we need you, a Davis to arrange a car for us. Taking my son''s money and posing as an investor, you''re quite the schemer."

    Anissa''s words implied that Chloe had swindled Grant''s money. Chloe didn''t want to argue with Anissa, but Anissa''s attitude was making her lose face.

    Chloe smiled, "Mrs. Martin, I heard you haven''t been sleeping welltely. I advise you to stop meddling in certain matters. At your age, too much stress can cause sleepless nicht: "

    Her words were blunt, and Anissa was furious but couldn''tsh out because, as Mrs. Martin, she had to maintain her dignity in front of the media.

    Anissa stormed off in a huff.

    Not long after, Isidora, clutching her dress, followed Anissa with her head down.

    Chloe, who had nned to check on the filming progress with her friends, received a call from her aunt Adide.

    "Chloe, you need toe to the hospital. Kathy''s condition isn''t good. I''m afraid she might not wake up."

    Hearing that Kathy was in trouble, Chloe''s group rushed to the hospital.

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    In order to save Kathy''s life, under the signature guarantee of the police, Kathy had a heart operation. In recent days, she has been in the recovery period. Adide probably likes Kathy so much that in these days, she lowers her posture and has been staying by Kathy''s side to take care of her.

    The police said that if Kathy''s parents couldn''t be found after her recovery, she would be sent to an orphanage as an abandoned child. Adide could then go through the adoption process to take Kathy in, but it would be a long process.

    Meanwhile, Isidora and Anissa got into the Martin Family car. Anissa was fuming, ranting non-stop, "Chloe has such a sharp tongue. How dare she say I''m old and meddlesome? Is she trying to defy me?"

    As Anissa ranted, Isidora kept her head down, not daring to speak. She knew from experience that it was best not to provoke Anissa when she was this angry.

    Seeing Isidora''s silence, Anissa grew even more furious. "Are you mute?" "Anissa..." Isidora called out nervously.

    Anissa, seeing Isidora''s expression, became even angrier. "It''s all your fault. You insisted Ie to this stupid event, and now that little girl humiliated me. Are you happy now?"

    "And you said you''d make Chloe look foolish, but instead, you made a fool of yourself. Isidora, is your brain just for show? It''spletely useless."

    Anissa continued to berate Isidora, who was on the verge of tears.

    When they arrived at the Martin Mansion, Anissa was still scolding Isidora in the living

    room.

    At that moment, Quentin came home. Seeing Isidora in tears, Quentin stepped in to reprimand Anissa. "Anissa, that''s enough. Isidora isn''t our servant. She doesn''t get paid to take your abuse.

    Besides, can''t you discuss things calmly? Why take it out on her? Giselle sent her here to keep youpany. How will you exin this to Giselle?"

    Quentin''s words finally made Anissa stop.

    Isidora gave him a grateful look and went upstairs to change her clothes.

    With Isidora gone, Anissa turned her anger on Quentin. "I don''t understand why you and Louis are so taken with the Davis Family that you want the Martin Family''s heir to marry that ugly girl Chloe, knowing I disapprove.

    And now, she''s getting more and more out of hand. Today, at that film''sunch event, she had the nerve to say I''m old and should mind my own business.

    How can she be so disrespectful?"

    Anissa only mentioned Chloe''s insult, conveniently omitting her own harsh words to Chloe.

    Quentin, knowing Anissa''s nature, gave her a nomittal look and said, "You know she''s disrespectful, so why provoke her?"

    "Why go to a young people''s event? Wouldn''t it be better to stay home? You brought this on yourself." He didn''t side with Anissa.

    Anissa became even angrier after hearing Quentin''s words, but she was at a loss to retort.

    Indeed, it was her fault. But if not for Isidora''s instigation, she wouldn''t have gone to such an event.

    Upstairs, Isidora, having changed clothes, sat on her bed and sent Quentin a message: [Quentin, thank you for standing up for me earlier... You''re truly a good person...]

 Chapter 335 Starting with Sophia

    Quentin was holding his phone when he got a message from Isidora, and itpletely threw him off bnce.

    Compared to Anissa''s cold and stern demeanor, Isidora''s gentleness had already caught Quentin''s attention. Especially when Isidora called his name, it made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.

    Quentin, still holding his phone, turned and sat down on therge couch in the living room. He couldn''t hear a word of Anissa''sinant anymore.

    Meanwhile, Chloe and her group arrived at the hospital, where

    Adide updated everyone on Kathy''s condition. "Kathy''s surgery went well, but she''s having someplications during recovery. She''s running a high fever.

    She''s been delirious, crying for her mom... Chloe, Sophia ims to be Kathy''s aunt. Since you know Sophia, could you contact her and find out where Kathy''s real mom is?

    Although I really want to adopt Kathy, it''s very inconvenient without the proper adoption papers. Seeing Kathy suffer like this breaks my heart..."

    Adide shared her thoughts with them.

    Chloe looked troubled. "Auntie, it''s not that I don''t want to help you find Sophia. The problem is, Sophia has suddenly disappeared. Even the police can''t find her. How could I possibly locate her?"

    "Don''t worry, Kathy will get better. If things get worse, we can take Kathy abroad. Medical technology overseas is very advanced; they''ll surely find a way to save her." sheforted.

    Chloe''s words gave Adide an idea. She quickly contacted her friends abroad to arrange for Kathy to receive medical treatment overseas.

    After leaving the hospital, Tony went to buy drinks for everyone, while Odette kept asking about Kathy.

    Chloe exined how she had met Kathy to Odette.

    Odette said, "Chloe, Zara, I think if we want to find Kathy''s mom, we need to start with Sophia. After all, she''s the one who brought Kathy here."

    "But the police said Kathy isn''t even Sophia''s niece. Sophia was lying; she just wanted to use Kathy to bring me down," Chloe shared the information she got from the police.

    Odette added, "Even if she was lying, she must know who Kathy''s real mom is. I think we need to find Sophia first."

    "But she''s disappeared. How can we find her?" Zara chimed in.

    If the police couldn''t find her, how could they?

    Odette casually suggested, "No one vanishes without a trace. There''s always a paper trail. If we can''t find her in Sovereign City, maybe she fled abroad?"

    Chloe shook her head. "Impossible. She''smitted a crime and has to face legal consequences. Even if she fled abroad, the police would have her departure records from the airport. The police told me there''s no record of Sophia leaving the country." Zara, resting her head on her hand, softly said, "Could she have smuggled herself out? Sovereign City is by the sea; it wouldn''t be hard for her to leave that way."

    Zara''s words made everyone pause. Indeed, if Sophia had smuggled herself out, the police wouldn''t have any departure records.

    At that moment, Odette had an idea. "I have a rtive who deals in smuggling. Why don''t we ask him if he''s had any business with Sophia?"

    Odette''s suggestion made Zara and Chloe exchange nces.

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    Zara said, "Dealing with smugglers is illegal. It''s not appropriate for us to get involved with such people. What if we''re misunderstood or something goes wrong?"

    Chloe nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I don''t want to get mixed up with smugglers either."

    Odette looked at the two of them and continued to persuade. "We''re just asking for information, not doing business with him. He''s the one breaking thew, not us.

    Besides, we''re desperate to find Sophia. Without her, we can''t find out who Kathy''s mom is. Adide wants to adopt Kathy, but it could cause problemster on."

    Chloe nodded and said, "Odette has a point. How about we find some time in the next few days to ask Odette''s rtive about Sophia? If she really smuggled herself out, we''d have a lead."

    Zara was still worried. "I''m not sure about this. Maybe we should think it over."

    Seeing Zara''s hesitation, Odette didn''t push further. She nodded, "You''re right. Let''s think it over."

    The three of them talked for a while longer before Odette said she had other things to do and left.

    After Odette left, Tony returned with drinks. He handed the drinks to Chloe and Zara and casually asked about Odette.

    Zara exined how they met Odette and mentioned that Odette had a rtive involved in smuggling.

    Tony, though young, but due to the business reason of the Gibson family and the fact that he grew up in Sovereign City since childhood, he had quite a bit of vignce.

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    He advised Chloe and Zara, "People involved in smuggling are ruthless. I suggest you avoid any contact with them.

    If you must meet them, it''s best to have someone from the Martin family apany you. Mr. Martin is a well-known figure in Sovereign City. Even smugglers wouldn''t dare mess with him."

    Tony''s words made Chloe and Zara nod in agreement. "Alright, we''ll see if Odette contacts us again."

    Tony became a bit wary of Odette.

    He told Chloe and Zara, "Chloe, Zara, since Odette has a rtive involved in smuggling,

    I suggest you keep your distance from her. She seems innocent, but my gut tells me she''s not that simple."

    However, Chloe and Zara didn''t take Tony''s warning seriously.

    After all, since they met Odette, she hadn''t done anything to harm them. On the

    contrary, she always stood by them whenever they faced trouble.

    They believed Odette was a good person.

    That evening, Chloe, Tony, and Zara went out for barbecue and had a few beers before

    returning to Grant''s vi in Sovereign City.

    When Chloe got back, Grant wasn''t home yet.

    After taking a shower, she curled up in bed and texted Grant.

    [Grantie, I''m at your vi. When are youing back?]

    [The night is long and lonely. If you don''te back soon, I might have to find a

    handsome guy to chat with...]

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 Chapter 336 Deeds That Cannot Be Seen

    Chloe had sent her message to Grant a while ago, but there was still no reply.

    This wasn''t like Grant at all.

    Since dating Grant, his devotion to Chloe has been extraordinary-he practically wanted to cradle her in the palm of his hand. Whenever Chloe messaged him, he replied instantly if he was able, even if he was in the middle of a meeting or buried in work.

    Half an hour passed, and Chloe still hadn''t heard from Grant. Growing worried, she decided to call his assistant, Stanley.

    Seeing the call from Chloe, the future Mrs. Martin, Stanley answered promptly and respectfully. "Miss Davis, this is Stanley. How can I help you?"

    Chloe thought for a moment before asking, "Hey Stanley, do you know where Grant is? He hasn''t replied to my message."

    Stanley moved to a quieter spot and exined, "Miss Davis, I''m sorry, but Mr. Martin''s phone is with me right now. He''s at the Martin family vi. Mrs. Martin and Mr. Quentin Martin are having another argument, and Mr. Grant Martin is busy trying to mediate..." Stanley shared what he knew with Chloe.

    "Another argument? What about this time?" Chloe asked.

    Stanley lowered his voice, "I''m not entirely sure, probably some old family issues. All three Martin brothers are back home. Mrs. Martin can be quite dramatic, so this might go on for a while tonight.

    Miss Davis, if you''re tired, you should rest. Once Mr. Martin is done, I''ll make sure he gets back to you."

    Stanley didn''t want to spell it out, and Chloe didn''t press for details. Even though she was engaged to the Martin family, until marriage, their affairs remained strictly theirs. Chloe had strong boundaries-she wasn''t about to meddle in things that weren''t her business yet.

    After a few more words with Stanley, Chloe hung up. It was still early, and she couldn''t sleep. Deciding to make the most of her time, she got dressed and took her motorcycle out for a ride.

    Since her near-drowning incident, her health had noticeably declined. With Grant upied, she seized the opportunity to enjoy some freedom.

    Chloe was an excellent rider. Wearing a heavy helmet, she sped through the night streets of Sovereign City, the roar of her motorcycle making her a striking presence.

    She had been in Sovereign City for several months and knew the city routes well. She rode to the edge of the city, stopping by the seaside, gazing at the distant horizon. Suddenly, a van approached in the darkness, its headlights off, catching Chloe''s attention. Why would a van turn off its lights in such darkness?

    Could it be up to something shady?

    Chloe recalled Odette mentioning smuggling earlier that day. Had Chloe stumbled upon a smuggling operation?

    For her safety, Chloe crouched down, watching the van.

    The van crept cautiously along the shoreline beforeing to a stop. The doors slid open, and momentster, a dozen men and women emerged.

    Under someone''s direction, they boarded a small boat already waiting at the water''s edge. The vessel wasn''trge-with over a dozen people crammed on board, it looked dangerously overcrowded.

    The van then swiftly turned around and left, as if it had never been there.

    Seeing this, Chloe was convinced she had witnessed a smuggling operation. Realizing the danger, she quickly mounted her motorcycle, ready to leave.

    But the sound of her engine caught the van''s attention. Its headlights suddenly zed towards her.

    The bright lights made it hard for Chloe to see. She quickly shifted gears and sped off.

    The people in the van saw Chloe trying to leave and immediately tailed her, staying dangerously close. Luckily, Chloe was wearing her motorcycle helmet-the driver couldn''t get a clear look at her face.

    She elerated, trying to lose the van, but it was modified for speed and stayed close, almost ramming her.

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    Riding a motorcycle, Chloe knew a collision could be fatal.

    For her own safety, Chloe jerked the handlebars at a fork in the road, swerving onto a narrow side path. The van stayed right on her tail-but luckily, thene was too tight for it to follow easily. While Chloe''s motorcycle slipped through without trouble, the bulky van struggled to keep up.

    Spotting an alley, Chloe darted in, weaving through the narrow passages until she finally found an exit, losing the van.

    Shaken but determined, Chloe sped towards Grant''s vi.

    By the time she arrived, it was 11 PM. She took a shower and copsed into bed, exhaustion and fear quickly lulling her to sleep.

    In her dreams, she was back in the terrifying chase, sweating from the tension. She ran, pursued by armed men.

    Just as one swung a machete at her head, Chloe jolted awake, eyes wide open.

    To her shock, a man stood by her bed, his hand reaching for her forehead.

    Reality and dream blurred. Thinking her pursuers had found her, Chloe grabbed a pillow and hurled it at the man.

    "Get away! I''ll fight you!" She then lunged at him, fists pounding his chest...

 Chapter 337 Someone Is Watching Her

    Grant''s voice finally snapped Chloe back to reality.

    "Chloe, it''s me, Grant. What''s going on?" Grant reached out and grabbed Chloe''s arm. Hearing his familiar voice, Chloe''s emotions began to settle.

    The bedroom was dark, and Grant couldn''t see Chloe''s expression. Chloe, on the other hand, felt a sense of calm from Grant''s familiar scent.

    She threw herself into Grant''s arms, holding him tightly. "Grantie, you''re finally back..."

    "What happened, Chloe? Why are you so scared?" Grant asked, puzzled by Chloe''s emotional outburst. He gently stroked her back,forting her.

    Chloe, still teary-eyed, murmured, "I had a nightmare. I thought you were a bad guy breaking into the house..."

    The dream had felt so real that Chloe was still drenched in sweat.

    Grant held her, continuously reassuring her.

    "Don''t be scared. It was just a dream. I''m here, don''t worry.

    It''s my fault. I should have spent more time with you... But things have been so hectic

    at hometely. I''ve neglected you.

    Chloe, I''m sorry."

    Holding Chloe in his arms, Grant gently kissed her face until she calmed down. Reluctantly, he finally released her.

    That night, as theyy in bed together, Grant kept Chloe close against his chest. They didn''t make love - just held each other tightly, like family, in a warm embrace thatsted through the night.

    In Grant''s arms, Chloe found a sense of security.

    And Grant, holding Chloe, found a sense of stability in life.

    At that moment, he felt even more determined to marry Chloe. He loved her and could ept everything about her. He didn''t want to live a life of constant arguments like his parents.

    Such a life would eventually tear a family apart...

    The next day, after breakfast, Chloe had to go to school. She had missed sses for over ten days since the drowning incident. If she missed any more, her schol might expel her.

    Grant wanted to personally drive Chloe to school, but she didn''t want him to be too tired and refused. The Davis family had arranged a car for Chloe, so there was no need to trouble Grant with everything.

    The driver quickly brought Chloe to Quest University. As she got out of the car, she felt like someone was watching her. She instinctively turned to look but saw nothing unusual.

    Just then, Rena and Philip arrived.

    Seeing Chloe, Rena called out to her. "Chloe... You''re back at school today?"

    Chloe nodded. "Yes..."

    Philip also greeted Chloe.

    The three of them walked towards the school together.

    Chloe asked Philip, "Have you been busy with filmingtely?"

    Philip had joined Chloe''s Summit Media Solutions and teamed up with Floyd. They had filmed some variety shows that had been well-received upon release.

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    Philip was now a minor celebrity, with many Quest University students as his fans. Once, a ssmate even asked for his autograph during a lecture.

    He replied to Chloe, "Yeah, there''s some filming, but it''s not too crazy. I''m still focusing on my studies. Once I graduate, I''ll dive into work more."

    "That''s smart," Chloe agreed. "Education''s important if you want a longsting career in entertainment."

    The three of them chatted about various topics.

    Philip suddenly said, "Hey, guess what? I got a call from Michael yesterday. He said I have work in the next few days."

    Everyone knew what kind of work Michael had lined up for Philip. Chloe couldn''t help but tease him, "Is it that gig where you pretend to be gay again?"

    Philip nodded. "Yep, Michael said I did such a good jobst time, he wants me to gross out his mom again."

    Chloe and Rena were speechless.

    Michael''s idea to disgust Anissa was pretty crazy.

    Compared to Anissa''s unreasonable behavior, only Michael''s quirky ideas could keep her in check.

    Her own marriage was miserable, her life full of disappointments - and she seemed determined to make her children''s lives just as unhappy. That bullshit line of hers, "There''s no love in wealthy families," absolutely blew everyone''s minds with its toxicity.

    As they talked, Chloe again felt like someone was watching her. She instinctively turned around but found no one behind her.

    Rena, being observant, asked, "Chloe, what''s up? Why do you keep looking back?"

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    Chloe snapped out of it and shook her head. "Nothing, just checking if my driver left. Don''t worry about it. Let''s go, ss is starting."

    Chloe pulled Rena towards the ssroom.

    After school, Chloe agreed to join Rena and Philip for tea at a nearby tea house and work on their new design assignment.

    They booked a private room at a tea house not far from the Martin Group.

    After ordering tea and snacks, the three of them started working on their assignments with theirptops.

    The private room wasn''tpletely soundproof, and Chloe, while working on her design, overheard a conversation from the next room.

    The voices sounded familiar. Chloe stood up and peeked into the next room, surprised to see Isidora and Giselle talking.

    Isidora looked distressed, sitting in front of Giselle. "Gigi, I don''t want to stay at the Martin Mansion anymore. I want toe back and take care of you."

    Giselle, who had no children, felt closer to Isidora when she called her "Gigi."

    "What''s wrong? Are you unhappy at the Martin Mansion?" Giselle asked, feeling heartbroken.

    Isidora replied, "Gigi, Anissa''s temper is terrible. You sent me to take care of her, but she yells at me every day. Last time, she even pped me.

    Gigi, I''ve endured it all to fulfill your request, fearing you''d be upset with Anissa because of me.

    But I really can''t stay at the Martin Mansion any longer. Last night, Anissa yelled at me

    again.

    Quentin told her to stop, reminding her that I''m your rtive and came to help out of family ties. But Anissa got angry and said..."

 Chapter 338 Sleeping in Your Bed

    Isidora hesitated, her words trailing off.

    She knew exactly how to pique Giselle''s curiosity, and sure enough, Giselle took the bait. "What did she say?" she asked.

    "She said..."

    "Come on, spill it..."

    "Gigi, Anissa said you two aren''t really family. If it weren''t for her being Mrs. Martin, why would you even bother sucking up to her?"

    Isidora''s words instantly changed Giselle''s expression.

    The moment she heard "sucking up," any sense of familial bond between her and Anissa vanished.

    Over the years, Anissa married into wealth while Giselle ended up with a deadbeat husband, leading to a failed marriage-something Anissa never let her forget.

    In the past, Giselle had tolerated her sister''s jabs, since Anissa was family. But now, with Anissa using her of "sucking up," it was clear just how much contempt she had for her.

    Seeing Giselle''s face change, Isidora knew she had achieved her goal.

    See, Sisterhood? Blood ties? If you want to sow discord, there was no rtionship you couldn''t disrupt.

    "Gigi, it''s one thing for her to say I''m sucking up to her. After all, to her, I''m just an outsider. But she can''t say that about you." Isidora continued, "You''re her sister. If it weren''t for you managing the finances at the Martin Group and strategizing for her, she might not have secured her position as Mrs. Martin."

    "She can hit me, she can scold me, I can take it. But cursing you, I can''t ept it. I don''t want to live at the Martin Mansion anymore." Isidora clung to Giselle''s hand, whining. Giselle thought for a moment and said, "But if you don''t stay at the Martin Mansion, how will you get close to Grant? You know I''m trying to set you up with him.

    Even though staying at the Martin Mansion is a bit of a sacrifice now, you have to think about the long-term..."

    Giselle was determined to make Isidora Grant''s wife, unaware that Isidora''s ambitions had already shifted.

    Grant was indifferent to her, but his father, Quentin, was particrly attentive. If she could win over Quentin, her days of luxury wouldn''t be far off.

    If she couldn''t be Grant''s wife, bing Quentin''s wife was a good alternative.

    To achieve it, she had to dethrone Anissa.

    By using Giselle to make Anissa look like a bitter, hated old hag, Isidora finally got her shot, didn''t she?

    Calmed by Giselle''s persuasion, Isidora said, "Alright, I''ll listen to you, Gigi..."

    The two of them sat in the private room, discussing various things,pletely unaware that Chloe and Rena in the next booth had heard everything.

    After a while, Giselle and Isidora left.

    Rena closed her notebook and said to Chloe, "Chloe, did you offend Giselle before? Why is she so against you?

    Getting Isidora to move into the Martin Mansion to seduce Mr. Grant Martin, what good does that do Giselle?"

    Chloe chuckled, "Of course it benefits her. If Isidora seeds in driving a wedge between Grant and me, or if Isidora marries into the Martin Family, it''s good for Giselle."

    "How so?" Rena asked, puzzled.

    "With Isidora on the inside, Giselle can gain more control over the Martin Group. With more power, she has more influence in the Martin Family.

    Giselle is very ambitious. I always felt she wanted to control everyone."

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    Chloe, born into the Davis Family, had been doing business since she was young and had a natural sensitivity to money and power.

    From the first time she met Giselle, she sensed that Giselle wasn''t content with just being the CFO of the Martin Group.

    Chloe''s analysis made Rena instinctively shiver.

    She grabbed Chloe''s arm and whispered, "Chloe, the affairs of wealthy families are reallyplicated-always scheming and backstabbing. I''m really worried... if you marry Mr. Martin, how will you even survive all that drama?"

    Seeing Rena''s worried expression, Chloe smiled.

    She turned to Rena and said, "Rena, you still have the energy to worry about me handling these situations? I think you should worry about yourself."

    "What do I have to worry about?" Rena pondered.

    Chloe reminded her, "If you marry Michael, won''t you have to deal with these things too?"

    Rena retorted, "Come on, Michael won''t marry me. Chloe, I don''t have your luck."

    As she said this, Rena''s expression clearly showed some disappointment. Although she

    was nominally dating Michael, she knew he was just using her as a decoy to fend off Karlie''s advances.

    Of course, Michael was somewhat infatuated with her, but it was only a physical attraction.

    She never thought she could marry Michael.

    She didn''t even dare to dream that dream.

    Philip, who had been quietly working on his design, finally finished.

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    Hearing Chloe and Rena talking, Philip didn''t catch the details but chimed in, "You don''t have that luck, but I do...

    Michael won''t marry you, but he''ll definitely marry me.

    You two just wait. When I sessfully marry Michael and be thedy of the Martin Family, you better give me a big gift and lots of blessings..."

    Philip''s joke made Chloe and Rena burst intoughter.

    Chloe teased Philip, "Philip, are you getting too into your role as a gay man? Let me

    remind you, you''re straight. Don''t go down the wrong path..."

    The three of them chatted andughed for a while.

    As it gotte, everyone headed home. Chloe had just stepped outside when she

    received a message from Grant: [Dinner is ready, it''s on the table.]

    [Tea is brewed, it''s by the bed.]

    [I''m all cleaned up, lying in your bed... Come home soon, waiting for you.]

    Reading Grant''s messages, Chloe couldn''t help but giggle.

    Usually, Grant was so serious in public, no one would believe how yful he could be with her.

    Chloe quickly typed a reply.

    She responded: [Alright, all cleaned up, wait for me...]

    Just as she finished typing, Chloe looked up and saw a man in sunsses walking

    towards her...

 Chapter 339 Just Miss You

    Seeing the man, Chloe instinctively felt a surge of caution. She quickly stuffed her phone into her purse.

    Then, she clenched her fists, ready to defend herself if the man tried anything.

    Sure enough, her gut was right. Someone was tailing her. If she had to guess, these folks were probably tied to the smuggling operations along the coast.

    She had just passed by that areast night, and they had already tracked her down. She had to admit, these people were pretty efficient.

    As the man in sunsses got closer, Chloe braced herself for a potential confrontation.

    Just then, the driver who hade to pick her up rolled down the car window and called out, "Miss Davis, I''m here!"

    The man in sunsses quickly turned his head when he heard someone call Chloe''s name.

    Seeing the burly driver, he changed direction and walked away.

    Chloe took a moment to steady herself before heading to her car. She opened the door and got into the back seat.

    As the driver hit the gas, Chloe felt a cold sweat break out on her back.

    The driver noticed her tense expression in the rearview mirror and asked softly, "Miss Davis, you okay?"

    Chloe shook her head. "No, it''s just that..."

    Chloe barely got half her sentence out when she turned her head-and through the car window, she saw the same sunsses-wearing guy now walking straight toward her vehicle.

    He must''ve noticed her staring, because suddenly, he flipped her off with a vicious smirk curling under those shades.

    The driver didn''t notice this small detail and continued, "Miss Davis, what happened back there?"

    Chloe, flustered, replied, "Nothing much, just chatting with some friends for a bit too long. I''m a little tired..."

    "Oh... Well, you can rest for a while. We''ll be at Mr. Martin''s vi in about ten minutes." The driver sped up, heading toward the Grant vi.

    When they arrived at the Grant vi, Chloe opened the door and went inside, finding the dining table already set with a carefully prepared dinner.

    Grant had made a light meal and even lit some candles, creating a romantic atmosphere.

    Normally, Chloe would have been thrilled by such a romantic setup, but today, she felt a bit weary.

    Grant came out of the kitchen and, seeing Chloe''s low spirits, walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her, kissed her forehead gently, and then cupped her face with concern. "Chloe, what''s wrong? You seem upset today. Are you feeling unwell? Or is something bothering you?"

    Hearing Grant''s gentle words, Chloe shook her head. "No, I''m not unwell..."

    "Then why are you upset?" Grant was puzzled.

    Chloe reached out and hugged Grant''s waist, resting her face against his chest.

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    She said, "I''m not upset, I just missed you."

    Hearing this, Grant chuckled softly. He lifted Chloe and sat down on the living room sofa, holding her tightly in his arms as he spoke. "I missed you too, a lot.

    Chloe, I''m sorry. I''ve been swamped with work and dealing with some family stuff. I haven''t had much time to spend with you."

    As Grant apologized, he kissed Chloe''s perfect jawline.

    Chloe giggled as his stubble tickled her. She tried to hold his face to stop him from nuzzling her like a puppy.

    Grant didn''tply. If she wouldn''t let him nuzzle her face, he nuzzled her neck instead. Chloe, overwhelmed by Grant''s affection, finally took control. She cupped his face and kissed him gently on the lips.

    Chloe''s kiss was soft and light, like a gentle breeze, creating a sense of calm.

    Grant lifted his face, letting Chloe kiss him.

    One of hisrge hands held her waist, while the other slipped under her shirt, caressing her smooth skin.

    They kissed for a long time, lost in each other. Chloe could feel Grant''s desire.

    She had never wanted to kiss Grant as much as she did at that moment, to just hold him and keep kissing.

    Grant, overwhelmed by Chloe''s kisses, finally stopped her.

    With a look of desire, he said, "Chloe, if you keep kissing me like this, are you nning to skip dinner? You''ve got me all worked up. How do you n to handle it?"

    Realizing the trouble she had caused, Chloe quickly jumped off Grant''sp and pulled him to the dinner table.

    During dinner, Grant sat close to Chloe, wiping her mouth and offering her water, his attentive care revealing his true intentions.

    After dinner, Chloe took a shower and nned to rx in bed with her phone. But Grant invited her for a night run.

    Grant was always mindful of his health. Whenever he had time, he either went to the gym or for a run. Chloe also enjoyed exercising, so she agreed without much thought.

    They changed into workout clothes and jogged along the vi''s paths, chatting as they

    ran.

    Chloe asked, "Grantie, do you know anyone in Sovereign City involved in smuggling?" Grant was taken aback by the question. "Why are you asking about smuggling? Are you interested in illegal business?"

    Chloe rolled her eyes at him. "Of course not. I was just curious."

    "Oh... I know someone involved in smuggling. If you want to know more, I can introduce you."

    Grant had connections in both the legal and illegal worlds of Sovereign City. His business was extensive, but he never engaged in illegal activities himself.

    Hearing that Grant had connections, Chloe said, "No need. I''m not interested in that business. It''s just that my aunt mentioned Kathy, and I wanted to look into it quickly."

 Chapter 340 Wrong Decision

    Chloe told her the truth, "I wonder if Sophia might''ve skipped the country illegally. Otherwise, why can''t the cops find her? Without finding Sophia, we have no clue about Kathy''s real family. My aunt doesn''t want to adopt Kathy without knowing the truth..."

    Hearing Chloe mention Sophia, Grant furrowed his brow.

    He''d been searching for Sophia too, but there were no leads. Like the police said, it was as if Sophia had vanished into thin air.

    But heforted, "Chloe, don''t worry. I''m on it. As soon as there''s any news about Sophia, I''ll let you know.

    And by the way, Adide took Kathy abroad for treatment. So, for now, you''ll stay with me. Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of you."

    Grant reached out and naturally took Chloe''s small hand.

    Chloe smiled softly at Grant. "Okay, I understand, Grantie..."

    The sweet sound melted Grant''s heart. For a moment, he seemed to see the little girl from years ago standing in front of him, snatching the book from his hand and throwing it far away.

    That little girl had bossily told him, "Grantie, stop reading and y with me..."

    That scene was something he could never forget.

    Thinking of this, Grant couldn''t help but chuckle. He put his arm around Chloe''s shoulder and led her home.

    That night, the young couple naturally shared an intimate moment.

    The more time Chloe spent with Grant, the more she mastered their intimate rhythm. Tonight, she took charge with such enthusiasm that Grant found himself nearly breathless,

    They fell asleep in each other''s arms, having a peaceful and restful night.

    The next day, Chloe went to school as usual.

    During a break, she received a call from Odette.

    Odette told her, "Chloe, I asked my rtive who deals with illegal immigration. He said that about two weeks ago, a woman left the country on his boat.

    From his description, it sounds like Sophia. Can you bring a photo of Sophia for him to confirm?"

    Chloe thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I''lle over. Send me your address..." In no time, Odette sent the address.

    Chloe didn''t think much of it. She hailed a cab at the school gate, ready to head to the address Odette provided.

    Just then, Rena, holding her books, followed her out. "Chloe, where are you going?" Rena asked from behind.

    "I have some errands to run... I''ll be back soon."

    Rena, who was always clingy with Chloe at school, got into the back seat of the cab and sat next to her.

    Chloe didn''t think much of it. She thought she was just going to show a photo to Odette''s rtive, so she brought Rena along.

    Little did she know, this decision would put both her and Rena in danger.

    When Chloe and Rena arrived at the address, they realized it was a rundown warehouse. Given what Sophia and Lucy had done to her before, Chloe had a bad feeling about ces like this.

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    The chaotic surroundings only made her more uneasy-there was no way she was stepping inside without knowing it was safe. She stayed outside, quickly firing off a text to Zara first.

    [Zara, Odette asked me to meet her rtive who deals with illegal immigration... I''m sending you the address...]

    After sending the address to Zara, Chloe looked up and saw a man standing not far away. He was wearing sunsses, and she immediately recognized him as the man who had been following her the previous day.

    Realizing she might be in danger, Chloe grabbed Rena''s hand and started to run.

    But they had only taken a few steps when an old van screeched to a halt in front of them, blocking their path.

    Four or five burly men got out of the van.

    The sudden turn of events made Chloe break out in a cold sweat.

    Rena, too, was terrified by the scene.

    "Chloe, what''s going on? Who are they?" Rena asked nervously.

    Chloe didn''t have time to exin. "Rena, I think we''re in trouble. When I say go, just run."

    "What about you?" Rena looked at Chloe with concern.

    "I''ll hold them off... Their target is probably me. They won''t bother you too much. Just run." With that, Chloe picked up a thick stick from the ground for protection.

    Seeing Chloe armed with a stick, the menughed, especially the one in sunsses, whoughed so hard he doubled over.

    To them, Chloe and Rena were just two weak girls with no chance of resisting. Chloe with a stick? They found it amusing.

    Clearly, they underestimated Chloe.

    The man in sunsses walked towards Chloe, thinking his presence alone would intimidate her.

    When he was just a few steps away, he sneered, "Be a good girl, and I won''t make this too hard for you. But if you resist, you''ll regret it... We don''t know how to be gentle..."

    Seeing his arrogance, Chloe couldn''t help but smile coldly.

    She knew some self-defense techniques. One-on-one, she might stand a chance against the man in sunsses. But against several burly men, it would be tough.

    The only option was to let Rena escape first.

    Without hesitation, Chloe swung the stick at the man''s legs.

    Caught off guard, the man couldn''t dodge in time and took the full force of the blow,

    causing him to crouch in pain.

    He ordered his men, "This girl has guts. Tie her up!"

    At hismand, the men rushed at Chloe.

    Chloe fought back with the stick, shouting to Rena, "Rena, run!"

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 341 So Conscienceless?

    Upon hearing Chloe''smand, Rena turned and bolted. Unfortunately, the men chasing her were big and strong. No matter how fast Rena ran, she couldn''t shake them off.

    Someone quickly caught up to Rena.

    In no time, Rena was captured. As they dragged her back, Chloe felt a wave of despair.

    She realized she had been catched by these smugglers. She had been tricked by Odette.

    Soon, Chloe was also subdued. They tied up Chloe and Rena''s hands and dragged them to a basement near the beach.

    The basement was dark and damp. As Chloe and Rena were brought in, they saw Odette tied up and thrown in a corner under the dim light.

    Seeing Chloe and Rena, Odette started to cry. "Chloe, Rena, I''m so sorry. I had no idea my rtive would do this..."

    Odette cried bitterly, but Rena showed no sympathy.

    She sneered, "That''s your rtive. How could you not know if they''re ruthless?"

    Odette defended herself, "I really didn''t know. Chloe, you have to believe me. If I had known my rtive was like this, I would never have brought you here."

    Chloe remained silent.

    Odette''s pitiful sobbing made it hard to doubt her sincerity, yet the harsh reality remained she and Rena had been literally tied up here. Expecting her to now bare her soul to Odette? That was asking too damn much.

    And Rena continued arguing with Odette. "Stop pretending. Weren''t you the one who suggested we meet your rtive?"

    "Yes, but I genuinely wanted to help Chloe. I had no idea my rtive would try to sell us."

    "I don''t believe you. You and your rtive are probably in on this together."

    Their argument drew the guard''s ire.

    The man guarding them threw a rock in their direction. "Shut up, all of you. Once we send you off tonight, it''ll be quiet."

    Send off?

    That could mean many things. They might be sent overseas or killed.

    Neither option was something the three wanted.

    "What do we do? Chloe, are they really going to sell us overseas?" Rena was terrified.

    At this moment, Chloe was her only hope. She clung to Chloe.

    However, Chloe had no idea what was happening. She waited quietly, hoping for a chance to escape.

    If she couldn''t escape, she hoped Zara would realize something was wrong and notify Grant to rescue her.

    After several minutes, Zara, who had received Chloe''s message, started calling Chloe. When she couldn''t get through, Zara realized Chloe might be in trouble.

    She checked the address Chloe had sent, knowing it was near the beach. Not daring to go alone, so she called Grant.

    Grant was a powerful figure in Sovereign City. Only he could find Chloe.

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    Zara called Grant, but he didn''t answer. She kept calling until, on the sixth try, a woman picked up.

    "Hello, who is this?"

    Zara was taken aback by the unfamiliar voice.

    Ignoring who the woman was, Zara said, "I need to speak to Grant urgently."

    "Grant''s dealing with some family issues right now. He''s busy and can''t take your call. He''ll get back to you when he''s free."

    The woman on the other end was Isidora. She quickly hung up and deleted Zara''s call record.

    Unable to reach Grant, Zara called Liam. She briefly exined Chloe''s situation.

    Liam immediately responded, "Take a cab to my ce. I''ll head back now."

    Soon, they both rushed to the Martin Family mansion. Due to the distance, it took them half an hour to get there.

    Liam led Zara inside, but Isidora blocked their way in the living room.

    "Mr. Martin, you''re back?" Isidora greeted Liam, who ignored her.

    Unfazed, Isidora continued smiling at Liam.

    "Where''s Grant? I need to see him," Liam asked directly.

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    Isidora put a finger to her lips, signaling for Liam to lower his voice.

    "Mr. Martin, Anissa and Quentin had a fight. Grant''sforting Anissa in her room. Her emotions just settled. If it''s not urgent, don''t disturb them." Isidora, acting like thedy of the house, tried to stop Liam and Zara from going upstairs.

    Liam wasn''t one to be easily pushed around. He retorted, "Since when do you have a say in Martin Family matters? Isidora, don''t you think you''re overstepping?"

    With that, Liam pushed Isidora aside and led Zara upstairs to Anissa''s room. Anissa, teary-eyed, wasining to Grant about how Quentin mistreated and ignored her.

    Grant was irritated by Anissa''s constantints.

    He never fully understood Quentin and Anissa''s marriage. He''d only picked up vague hints that it had been a shotgun wedding-Anissa was pregnant when they married.

    As for the real story behind it, Quentin kept his mouth shut, and Anissa never breathed a word. They guarded their shared secret with the quiet understanding of co- conspirators.

    From his parents'' unhappy marriage, Grant was determined to marry for love.

    He wanted no arranged marriages, no maniptions, no schemes.

    He didn''t want his future marriage to end up like Quentin and Anissa''s, filled with resentment and distance.

    Anissa cried, "Grant, your dad treats me like this. You and your brothers need to stand up for me.

    Chloe''s family background is good, but I don''t like her. She''s young but very sharp- tongued. I don''t like her attitude.

    Listen to me, break up with her, call off the engagement. If you say you won''t marry her, your grandfather can''t force you."

 Chapter 342 You Doubt Me?

    This wasn''t the first time Anissa had badmouthed Chloe in front of Grant.

    In the past, Grant would hold back out of respect for Anissa, but he suddenly realized that his patience only led to more control from Anissa, notpromise or reflection.

    Grant frowned, his expression turning displeased.

    "Mom, I''m an adult now. I can handle my own rtionships," he said to Anissa. "I love Chloe, and I''m going to marry her."

    His words were a clear opposition to Anissa''s.

    Anissa''s face darkened. "Grant, I''m your mother. When will you start listening to me? I''m telling you not to marry Chloe for your own good. A girl like her isn''t worthy of you."

    Anissa''s words only made Grant more upset.

    He lifted his face to meet Anissa''s gaze. "Whether we''re suited for each other isn''t your decision to make, Mom. Rtionships are special -You know your own feelings best.

    To me, Chloe is perfect in every way. We connect intellectually and spiritually, and if anything, I sometimes feel I''m not good enough for her. When ites to us, you have two choices: oppose us or bless our rtionship. But let me be clear - your blessing would go a long way in keeping this family united."

    Grant''s expression darkened as he spoke.

    Quentin and Anissa had never gotten along-they had spent their entire marriage bickering, and their three children had suffered for it.

    Now, well past fifty, Grant wished Anissa would finally ease up-for Quentin''s sake, and for her own.

    If she kept stirring up drama like this, he wasn''t sure Quentin wouldn''t finally file for divorce.

    Life was too short to waste on bitterness and regrets. What kind of life was that?

    Anissa understood Grant''s message.

    She sneered and asked, "Grant, I''m your mother. Are you teaching me how to behave?" Grant didn''t respond, which was answer enough.

    "For Chloe, you''re defying me? Grant, have you forgotten your mother now that you have a girlfriend?" Anissa''s eyes welled up with tears.

    She often used such words to manipte the three Martin brothers.

    It had always worked before, but now, Grant didn''t want Chloe to suffer, so he chose not topromise.

    "Mom, say what you want. No matter what, I''m going to be with Chloe. I hope you can bless us."

    With that, Grant stood up to leave. His calm and distant demeanor made Anissa realize he had grown up and was beyond her control.

    No one could understand her feelings at that moment.

    It was like raising a dog only for someone else to take it away.

    "Grant... if you insist on marrying Chloe, don''t me me for being ruthless. I''ll make you regret it," Anissa threatened, biting her lip.

    Grant wasn''t worried about Anissa hurting herself because he knew how much she valued her life.

    Without another word, he strode out. Just as he opened the door, Liam came rushing in, holding Zara''s hand.

    Seeing Grant, Zara looked hopeful and quickly said, "Mr. Grant Martin, something''s happened to Chloe."

    Hearing that something had happened to Chloe, Grant felt his head explode.

    He tried to calm himself and asked, "What happened to Chloe?"

    Zara showed him her chat history with Chloe, confirming that something was indeed wrong.

    Liam said, "Grant, Zara couldn''t reach you, so she called me. I''ve already sent people to the address Chloe sent, but all we found were signs of a struggle.

    Sovereign City isn''t big, but finding someone can be tricky. We need to act fast.

    And Michael''s assistant, Rena, seems to be with Chloe. I''ve informed Michael, and he''s already taking action."

    Liam exined his n to Grant.

    In a search like this, every minute counts-you never know what might happen in those few extra minutes of dy.

    Beads of sweat broke out on Grant''s forehead.

    "Find her. Even if we have to turn Sovereign City upside down, we need to find her," he said.

    With that, he prepared to leave with Liam and Zara. After a few steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back to Anissa.

    He didn''t speak, just stared at her with a look that could kill. Anissa felt uneasy under his gaze.

    After a moment, she asked, "Grant, what do you mean by this? Do you think I had something to do with Chloe''s disappearance?"

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    Grant asked, "Wasn''t it you?"

    Anissa trembled with anger, almost mming the table. "Grant, you''re out of line. I''m your mother. How can you suspect me?"

    Grant didn''t respond to her anger.

    He simply said, "Maybe I''m wrong to suspect you. I hope I am.

    But if I find out you had anything to do with Chloe''s disappearance, our rtionship as mother and son ends here."

    Grant''s words were heavy, so heavy that Anissa didn''t have the courage to respond.

    This was the son she had carried for ten months. How could he suspect her like this?

    Even if she didn''t like Chloe, she wouldn''t resort to such despicable means. But why did Grant suspect her?

    Had their rtionship deteriorated that much?

    Grant left with Liam and Zara, mobilizing all their resources to find Chloe and Rena.

    Within half an hour, the sky over Sovereign City had darkened.

    After Grant left, Isidora went to Anissa''s room to talk. "Anissa, don''t be upset. Grant was just anxious and spoke without thinking. Don''t take it to heart.

    He''s been blinded by Chloe. Once hees to his senses, he''ll definitely apologize to

    you."

 Chapter 343 Dont Want to Be Sold

    Isidora''s words jolted Anissa back to reality.

    Yes, Isidora was right-it had to be Chloe. That sly little seductress had bewitched Grant. Otherwise, he would never have treated Anissa this way.

    To snap Grant out of it, as his mother, Anissa had to get Chloe away from him.

    With this thought, Anissa felt a surge of determination.

    Grant, along with Liam and Zara, headed straight to the scene of Chloe''s ident.

    When they arrived, they inspected the site again. Apart from the tire marks, there were no other clues.

    Liam had sent out wave after wave of people, but they couldn''t find any trace of Chloe. It had already been three hours since Chloe''s ident.

    Who knew what could happen in three hours?

    Grant was at a loss.

    Michael, who had rushed over from the set, was sweating bullets with worry.

    The brothers were desperate to tear Sovereign City apart to find Chloe and Rena, but they still came up empty-handed.

    Grant suddenly remembered something Chloe had mentioned to him. She had asked if he was familiar with the people involved in smuggling in Sovereign City.

    At the time, he hadn''t paid much attention. He didn''t want Chloe getting involved in those shady dealings, so he had brushed it off.

    Could Chloe have been kidnapped because of this?

    With this thought, Grant immediately had Stanley contact the smugglers in Sovereign City. He needed to get information about Chloe from them.

    The smygners; awarer Grains poover, itcritterkortsle proviertcra?trexarmitzer them carefully before shaking their heads.

    A smuggler said, "Mr. Martin, the cops have been all over ustely. We''ve beenying low. I haven''t sent out a boat in days. I don''t know this girl."

    Another smuggler added, "Mr. Martin, I haven''t seen this woman. If I had, I would''ve told you."

    "Mr. Martin, business has been dead for me. I haven''t had any work for half a month. I definitely haven''t seen her." the third smuggler said.

    These smugglers were quite powerful. If they hadn''t seen Chloe, she might have truly vanished into thin air.

    The thought of Chloe being in danger pained Grant deeply.

    Where was Chloe? Was she hungry? Cold? Had they hurt her?

    The more Grant thought about it, the more agitated he became. His worry for Chloe had surpassed his concern for himself.

    After angrily smoking a cigarette, he jumped into a car and drove off. He had only one thought: even if he had to turn Sovereign City upside down, he had to find Chloe.

    In the dim night, Chloe, Rena, and Odette were about to fall asleep in the basement when several men burst in, startling them awake.

    Under the leering gazes of these men, the three girls shuddered. After all, these were desperate criminals-men who yed by no rules. What did they want, creeping into the girl''s cell in the dead of night?

    Odette and Rena instinctively shrank behind Chloe.

    Chloe tried to appear strong.

    She spoke firmly, "I''m Grant''s girlfriend. Before you touch me, you should check my identity.

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    Grant will definitely save me. If he finds out you kidnapped me, he won''t let you off.

    How about we make a deal? You let the three of us go, and I''ll pay you. I guarantee I''ll pay more than your boss."

    Chloe offered a substantial sum.

    Her grandfather had always told her that if her life was in danger, she should use money to save herself without hesitation.

    People came first-money was worthless without them.

    Last time, when Lucy had targeted her, Chloe had used arge sum of money to

    persuade the kidnappers to switch sides.

    If things went as nned this time, the three of them would be safe.

    But Chloe was disappointed.

    The men had seen through her ploy.

    One of them said, "Listen to you? We''d die even faster.

    Even if you gave us a billion dors, do you think we could spend it? The police would

    trace it back to us.

    Then we''d have to return the money and end up in jail.

    You think we''re stupid? We''ll stick to our dangerous but steady ie.

    Enough talk. Orders from above: we''re taking you three to the boat!"

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    With that, they paired up and dragged Chloe, Odette, and Rena out of the basement. Chloe asked, "What do you mean by taking us to the boat?"

    "Of course, we''re selling you overseas. Did you think we''d treat you like princesses?" one of the guards mocked.

    Chloe understood what he meant.

    Sovereign City was by the sea, and through the sea, they could leave the country.

    These smugglers would trick people from Sovereign City and sell them overseas for a heftymission.

    Whether the people they sold ended up in prostitution or drug trafficking was none of their concern.

    Organ harvesting was alsomon among these people.

    Hearing this, Rena and Odette turned pale with fear.

    Rena whimpered, "Chloe, I don''t want to be sold overseas. My mom just had surgery and is recovering. There''s no one to take care of her."

    "Chloe, I don''t want to either. I have a boyfriend who loves me. We haven''t even gotten married yet. I don''t want to be sold," Odette said, tears streaming down her face.

    Chloe felt just as bad. She hadn''t been with Grant for long. She didn''t want to leave him or the people who loved her.

    For now, all she could do was obey-to endure less torment, save her strength, and

    run if she got the chance. If not, she''d ept her fate. But deep down, she knew Grant woulde for her.

    Thinking of Grant made Chloe''s heart ache.

 Chapter 344 Let Her Die Quickly

    Chloe had just started seeing Grant, and her heart fluttered every time she thought about him. If these people really sold her overseas, who knew if she''d ever see Grant

    again.

    She missed her grandfather too. If he found out she was in danger, it would break his heart.

    No, she had to find a way to save herself.

    Under cover of darkness, the men forced Chloe, Odette, and Rena through a hidden passage to the coast. They shoved the three women into a small boat and transported them to a remote ind-cut off from the world by water on all sides.

    As the boat drifted further from the shore, Rena grew more anxious.

    She whispered to Chloe, "Chloe, what are we gonna do? Where are they taking us? I just wanna go home."

    Rena was panicking, and the vast expanse of water in the dark night only added to her fear.

    Chloe wanted tofort her, but given the current situation, she couldn''t even protect herself. What could she do?

    "Rena, calm down. We''ll figure something out," Chloe tried to stay as calm as possible.

    But Rena couldn''t calm down.

    She stood up in the boat and said, "I wanna go home. Take me home..."

    Before Rena could finish her sentence, a man rushed over, grabbed her, and pped her twice across the face.

    Rena stumbled and fell against the boat''s railing.

    "Shut up! If you say one more word, I''ll throw you into the sea." the man threatened. "Let me tell, vou. there are sharks in these waters. If you fall in. it won''t take three minutes before theye for you. Then you''ll be shark food."

    The man''s words scared the three of them. Chloe moved closer to Rena and whispered, "Rena, don''t be afraid. I sent a message to Zara. She''ll realize we''re in danger. Grant and Michael wille to save us."

    Chloe''s intention was tofort Rena, but Rena wasn''t very hopeful.

    "Chloe, I believe Mr. Martin wille for you, but as for me, I''m not so sure." she shook her head, "Michael doesn''t love me. He just sees me as a bed partner. He wouldn''t risk his life for someone like me."

    Rena had no confidence in Michael, nor in herself. "Chloe, if you get a chance, escape and save yourself first. If you make it back to Sovereign City, please take care of my mom for me. And tell Michael, I..."

    She hesitated for a long time but couldn''t finish her sentence.

    Half an hourter, Chloe, Odette, and Rena were taken to a dpidated house on the ind. The walls had steel bars nailed to them, resembling a police interrogation room.

    The three of them were tied up with ropes and bound to the bars.

    Every movement made the ropes tighten.

    The guards warned them, "You three better behave while you''re here. Don''t think you can escape. This ce is surrounded by water. You can''t get away... I suggest you give up any thoughts of escaping."

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    With that, the guard mmed the door shut.

    In the darkness, Odette felt guilty and apologized to Chloe and Rena. "Chloe, Rena, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean for this to happen. I just wanted to help you find Sophia. I didn''t expect..."

    Her apology felt hollow.

    Neither Chloe nor Rena responded. They were all silent, each lost in their ownplicated thoughts.

    Back at the Martin Family mansion in Sovereign City, Quentin stormed in angrily.

    Seeing Anissa leisurely sipping tea in the living room, Quentin rushed up to her. "Anissa, Chloe is missing, and you still have the nerve to sit here drinking tea?"

    As soon as Quentin learned of Chloe''s disappearance, he had been busy organizing a search, but they found no clues.

    Chloe was the heiress of the Davis Family, the future leader of the Davis Group, and Nichs''s beloved treasure. Nichs had entrusted her to the Martin Family''s care, and now she was missing?

    The Martin Family couldn''t bear such a huge responsibility.

    Louis and Nichs, upon receiving the news, had already set out for Sovereign City. Once they arrived, the situation in Sovereign City would undoubtedly change.

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    Anissa, however, was unfazed by Quentin''s reprimand.

    With a smug smile, she said, "What does her disappearance have to do with me? I didn''t make her disappear. Besides, I never liked her. I didn''t want her as my daughter- inw. Her disappearance is a good thing for me."

    Quentin was infuriated by Anissa''s attitude. He tried to reason with her, "Anissa, Chloe is from the Davis Family. Nichs entrusted her to us, and we are responsible for her safety.

    Now that Chloe is missing, it''s our failure to protect her. If Nichs questions us, not only will I be unable to answer, but even my father will have to bear the responsibility." Quentin wanted to make Anissa understand the gravity of the situation, but Anissa didn''t care at all. "Then you go bear the responsibility. What does it matter to me?

    Quentin, how you exin this to the Davis Family is your business. I''m just hoping that ugly girl dies soon. The sooner she dies, the sooner I can introduce other girls to my

    son.

    There are plenty of women in Sovereign City worthy of my son. Who does Chloe think she is?"

    Quentin was enraged by Anissa''s words.

    Pointing at her, he said, "Anissa, I can''t believe how cruel you are. Chloe is just an innocent girl. How can you curse her like that?"

    "An innocent girl? She seduced my son into her bed, and you call her an innocent girl? She''s nothing but a seductive woman, just like Adide, only good at luring men."

    Anissa''s words grew more outrageous, and her face, twisted with anger, kept shing before Quentin''s eyes, looking more and more sinister.

    Suddenly, Quentin seemed to realize something. He demanded, "Was it you? Did you have Chloe kidnapped?"

 Chapter 345 Falling into Danger

    Hearing Quentin''s words, Anissa burst intoughter.

    Her son had already suspected her, and now it was her husband''s turn...

    Well, since it hade to this, she might as well admit it. "Yeah, it was me who kidnapped Chloe. I was gonna throw her into the sea to drown and feed the fish. I wanted to make sure you and your dad couldn''t exin things to the Davis Family. Quentin, you''ll never marry Adide, and my son will never marry Chloe...

    I''m miserable, so I want all of you to be miserable too."

    Anissa''s words grew more and more outrageous-even Quentin, with his famously patient temper, had finally had enough. Without another word, he swung his hand and pped her hard across the face.

    Anissa stumbled back and copsed onto the couch with a heavy thud.

    "Quentin, you hit me again? How dare you hit me? I''ll fight you to the end."

    With that, Anissa lunged at Quentin.

    She had lost it, truly lost it.

    The household staff, seeing the couple fighting, rushed to intervene. Isidora took the opportunity to grab Quentin''s arm and pull him outside.

    "Quentin, Anissa is in a bad mood. Please don''t be angry with her. I assure you, Anissa had nothing to do with Chloe''s disappearance. Anissa is a good person."

    As Isidora spoke kindly of Anissa, she moved closer to Quentin, leading him outside to the yard. She found a car and pushed Quentin inside. "Quentin, you''re upset. Let me take you out for a drive to clear your mind."

    With that, Isidora got into the driver''s seat, started the car, and drove away with Quentin.

    Quentin, already upset about Chloe''s disappearance, was even more distressed after the argument with Anissa. Thinking about Anissa''s behavior and then looking at Isidora''s gentle demeanor, his mood began to shift.

    Sitting in the passenger seat, Quentin couldn''t help but nce at Isidora''s face a few more times. She always appeared so gentle and sweet.

    Quentin''s heart skipped a beat...

    Elise Donovan, one of the maids, saw Quentin leave with Isidora. While working, she remarked to another maid, "Isidora took Mr. Martin out. Looks like she''s up to no good."

    The other maid replied, "I don''t think so."

    Elise snorted, "Isidora came into the Martin Family with an agenda. Just wait and see."

    With that, Elise dropped what she was doing and turned to leave.

    The maid working with her called out, "Elise, where are you going?"

    Elise replied. "To my room to call my husband. Miss Davis is missing, and I need him to help look for her."

    Elise had a deep bond with Chloe. Upon hearing about Chloe''s disappearance, she had mobilized all her rtives in Sovereign City to search for her.

    Even a servant cared enough to worry about Chloe''s disappearance-yet Anissa, as her elder, not only turned a blind eye but repeatedly wished death upon her. Was she even human?

    On the isted ind, Chloe was exhausted. Leaning against the railing, she closed her eyes for a moment. She knew that if there was no chance to escape, she had to conserve her strength and then look for an opportunity.

    She had just dozed off for about half an hour when suddenly, the door of the rundown house was kicked open. The three drowsy women immediately became alert.

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    As they opened their eyes, a bright light shone directly at their heads.

    A few men, with lecherous grins, stormed into the room. They shone their shlights

    on each woman''s face in turn. The next second, Odette was dragged out from the

    corner.

    Then, Rena was dragged out too.

    When they reached for Chloe, the light fell on therge fake mole on her face.

    To be honest, the fake mole on Chloe''s face significantly lowered her attractiveness.

    "Oh, how did we end up with such an ugly one? We were hoping to have some fun, but damn, she''s so ugly we can''t even touch her. Just take these two." The leader ordered his men, and they dragged Odette and Rena away.

    From their words, it was clear what they wanted-they intended to take Odette and Rena away to satisfy their lust.

    Odette and Chloe, who had never experienced such things, were terrified and started crying.

    "No, I don''t want this. Let me go, let me go."

    "I don''t want this either. I want to go home, you bastards!"

    No matter how much Rena and Odette cursed, the men didn''t let them go. Chloe was

    stunned for a moment before she snapped out of it.

    No, she couldn''t let them take the girls. She had to find a way to save Odette and Rena.

    With that thought, Chloe looked around in the dark. She needed to find a tool, something to cut the ropes binding her hands.

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    But there was nothing in the room. Finding a tool to save them was nearly impossible.

    Suddenly, Chloe''s hand felt a sharp edge on the steel bar. If she could use this edge to cut the ropes on her hands, she might have a chance to rush out and save Odette and Rena.

    She could only pray that Rena and Odette could hold on a little longer.

    Chloe struggled to move her body, dragging the ropes binding her wrists to the sharp edge and rubbing them back and forth.

    Outside, Rena and Odette''s cries grew more desperate.

    The men''sughter grew louder, spurred on by the girls'' cries.

    The leader instructed his men, "Hey, split into two groups, five each. Take turns. Don''t rush, wait your turn..."

    With that, Chloe heard the sound of clothes being torn outside.

    Inside the house, Chloe couldn''t hold back any longer. She screamed and cursed at the rushless men. "Bastards, you bastards... I''ll kill you!"

    At that moment, her face was covered in tears. Having grown up infort, she had never felt such despair.

    Her friends were in danger right before her eyes, and she couldn''t save them.

    She leaned helplessly against the railing, letting Rena and Odette''s piercing cries outside tear at her nerves.

    Just when everyone thought Rena and Odette would be raped, they heard two angry shouts from outside.

    "What the hell do you think you''re doing?"

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 346 Whose Idea?

    "Get out, all of you! If anyone touches these women, I''ll cut off your dicks!"

    As the voice from outside echoed, Rena and Odette''s sobs grew quieter.

    Chloe raised her head, trying to peer through the cabin''s small window to see what was happening outside. Minutester, Rena and Odette-their clothes now disheveled -were dragged in and thrown to the ground by the group of men.

    The moment Rena saw Chloe, she started crying again. "Chloe..."

    "Rena, it''s okay, don''t be scared. I''m here," Chloe said, tears streaming down her face. She felt utterly trapped.

    The guards who had thrown Odette and Rena back in continued to curse. "Fuck, you''re lucky my boss showed up. If he hadn''t, do you think you could have escaped?"

    "One day, I''ll have my way with you," one of them sneered before mming the door shut and leaving.

    Rena and Odette started crying again. Chloe tried to clear her mind. She realized that waiting for a chance to escape would only put them in more danger.

    If they were going to die anyway, they might as well take their fate into their own hands.

    She whispered to Rena and Odette, "Stop crying, both of you. I have a n to get us out of here. Listen to me, and we''ll find a way to escape."

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Rena and Odette stopped crying.

    Chloe exined, "There''s a sharp edge on the railing behind me. I can use it to cut through the ropes binding my hands."

    "Once I cut the ropes, I''ll untie you both. Remember the lights outside when you were taken out? Try to recall which direction is safe."

    With Chloe''s n in ce, the three of them began to act.

    Chloe struggled to cut through the ropes on her wrists. It was slow, but it worked. Soon, she was free.

    Her hands, bound for hours, were finally free. She stretched her arms briefly before helping Rena with her ropes, then Odette.

    Their wrists were injured from being tied up for so long. After a brief recovery, Chloe peeked outside, scanning the area in the dim light.

    They were on a deserted ind, surrounded by water. Apart from the howling wind, there was no other sound.

    Chloe had memorized the route when they were brought here. If she was right, the ind was about forty nautical miles from Sovereign City.

    Swimming that distance was impossible. They needed a boat, or they would drown.

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    Under Chloe''s direction, the three women crouched and moved towards the shore.

    The guards probably figured it was dark and the women were all tied up no way they could escape. So they dozed off without a care.

    Taking advantage of this, Chloe urged Rena and Odette to rush to a small boat by the shore. If they could get on the boat and row, they could escape.

    Just as they were about to reach the boat, Odette tripped over a thick stick and fell with a loud thud.

    The noise woke the guards, who saw the three women running towards the shore and quickly alerted theirrades.

    "Quick, they''re escaping! Catch those women!" The guards charged towards them.

    Realizing the danger, the three women desperately scrambled toward the boat-but after being bound for over ten hours, their movements were painfully slow. They barely made it onboard before the men caught up, dragging them back under control.

    Chloe was sweating profusely. Rena and Odette looked equally distressed.

    The man who had earlier warned his men not to harm Rena and Odette approached them with a menacing air. "Whose idea was this?" he demanded, showing a scar on his face to intimidate them.

    Rena and Odette were terrified, their legs trembling.

    Chloe, though outwardly calm, was equally scared inside. She looked the man in the eye and said, "It was my idea. I told them to escape with me."

    The scarred man smirked coldly, sizing Chloe up. "I didn''t expect you to be so brave, considering how ugly you are," he sneered.

    Suddenly, he pped Chloe hard across the face, hitting a fake mole she had used to disguise herself.

    The mole flew off, revealing her natural, beautiful face.

    Chloe was stunning, with a fresh, alluring look that needed no makeup. She had used

    the mole to fend off unwanted attention from men.

    The scarred man and his men gasped at her beauty.

    They had been in the kidnapping business for years but had never seen such a beautiful woman.

    The scarred man, momentarily taken aback, also admired Chloe''s cleverness. "You are smart, using a disguise to protect yourself," he said.

    Chloe spat at him, "Cut the crap. You''ve got us now. What do you want?"

    Look, I told you before you kidnapped us for money, right? Name your price. Just let

    me go, and I swear you''ll have the cash in under 30 minutes."

 Chapter 347 You Did It on Purpose

    "If you don''t let us go, my family and my boyfriend will definitelye after you. And when they do, you''re toast..."

    Chloe hoped that by making this threat, the scar-faced man would reconsider.

    But he didn''t budge.

    He grabbed Chloe and dragged her off the boat.

    "I''ve dealt with plenty of rich girls like you, all promising me the world," he said.

    "But you need to get this straight: in our line of work, we have our own rules. If money could fix everything, we''d be out of business."

    "So, I suggest you three behave and stop dreaming about escaping. Otherwise, I can''t promise you that my guys won''t get any funny ideas."

    With that, the scar-faced man hauled Chloe back to the small cabin.

    Rena and Odette were also dragged off the boat by his men.

    The three of them were tied up again and thrown back into the cabin, this time even tighter, like mummies, to prevent another escape attempt.

    Rena couldn''t help but snap at Odette, "Odette, what were you thinking? We were so close, and you had to trip right when we were getting on the boat?"

    Odette, feeling hurt, replied, "I don''t know. It was a tense moment, and I thought that once we got on the boat, we''d be safe. I got excited and tripped."

    "I''m sorry, I really didn''t mean to." Odette sounded pitiful.

    Chloe was getting frustrated.

    "You didn''t mean to? I think you did." Rena kept ming Odette.

    Odette, too exhausted to argue, just kept apologizing, "I''m sorry, really sorry. It''s my fault..."

    Late at night, Isidora was driving Quentin, who had just had a fight with Anissa, to an apartment.

    Quentin instinctively asked Isidora, "Where are we?"

    Isidora replied, "Quentin, this is the apartment I rented. Before I moved in with you and Anissa, I lived here."

    "You must be hungry. I''ll make you some pasta." Isidora said this, poured Quentin some tea, and then headed to the kitchen.

    Through the kitchen window, Quentin watched Isidora''s busy figure. At that moment, he felt a sense of home.

    He and Anissa had been married for nearly thirty years, always fighting, never a day of peace.

    After turning forty, he worried that such a home environment would affect their children, so he convinced Anissa to go abroad for therapy.

    Unexpectedly, even abroad, they couldn''t get along. Quentin didn''t want to live like that anymore, so he used the excuse of market development to settle in another country.

    It wasn''t until Louis told him that Anissa had returned home to break off the engagement between the Martin Family and the Davis Family that he came back.

    But every time he and Anissa met, they fought.

    It had gotten worse, turning into physical altercations.

    Quentin was deeply disappointed in his marriage with Anissa.

    Seeing Isidora busy making pasta in the small apartment, Quentin felt a mix of emotions.

    Soon, Isidora brought a bowl of pasta to Quentin.

    "Quentin, the ingredients here are limited. I could only make you some pasta. Hope it''s okay."

    "Sure, it''s fine."

    Holding the bowl, Quentin felt touched.

    Isidora gentlyforted Quentin, watching him eat the pasta, "Quentin, Chloe will definitely be found. You don''t need to worry."

    "She''s an adult and can take care of herself. Besides, the three Martin brothers are all looking for her. She''ll be fine."

    "You don''t need to argue with Anissa over this. You''ve been through enough..."

    Isidora''s words made Quentin even more emotional. Eating the pasta she made, Quentin felt a warmth spreading through him.

    He looked at Isidora, who seemed incredibly alluring. Suddenly, as if he couldn''t control himself, he reached out and pulled Isidora into his arms.

    Isidora was startled but quickly regained herposure, a faint smile ying on her lips.

    "Quentin..."

    As she reached up to wrap her arms around Quentin''s neck, Quentin, as if ignited, could no longer control himself.

    He kissed Isidora, holding her soft body, and moved to the bed in the small apartment.

    Isidora cooperated wholeheartedly with Quentin. She knew that holding onto Quentin was her chance to change her fate.

    Anissa pped her and treated her like a servant. In the future, she would trample Anissa underfoot and humiliate her.

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    As for Grant, who didn''t love her or respond to her advances, she would be his stepmother and make him regret it for the rest of his life.

    And about Chloe, she would have plenty of opportunities to deal with her.

    Thinking of this, Isidora felt her n was on the right track.

    Little did she know, everything given by fatees with a price. Isidora''s unscrupulous methods would eventually cost her a heavy toll.

    As night fell, the three Martin brothers, who had been searching all night, still had no news of Chloe or Rena.

    Grant was anxious and uneasy. He rarely smoked, but now he couldn''t stop it, lighting one cigarette after another.

    He loved Chloe and didn''t want to see her in danger.

    Even if he had to turn Sovereign City upside down, he would find Chloe.

    Michael wasn''t in any better shape.

    He had always seen Rena as a tool. At first, he just wanted to use her to fend off Karlie''s affections.

    Later, he found he enjoyed Rena''s innocence in bed. He had money and didn''t mind spending some for a ything.

    He never considered marrying Rena.

    But today, when he was informed that Rena was missing, Michael couldn''t sit still.

    He was worried about Rena, afraid she was in danger. Every time he thought about what she might be enduring, his heart ached.

    He remembered the kiss Rena would give him every morning when he woke up...

 Chapter 348 Help Me

    He would miss the honey lemon water Rena made for him when he stumbled home hungover, and would think about Rena''s gentle massages when he was wiped out fromte-night filming.

    These little things made him realize what it meant to miss someone.

    He knew he was truly in love with Rena.

    Nichs and Louis arrived in Sovereign City early the next morning.

    The two of them headed straight to the Martin Family mansion. When Anissa found out Louis was home, she was visibly shocked.

    She quickly changed and went downstairs just in time to see Louis and Nichs sitting in the living room.

    The three Martin brothers, who hadn''t slept all night, stood in front of the two elders with dark circles under their eyes, looking like they were in big trouble.

    Despite being in his eighties, Louis was still full of energy, and Nichs, who was about the same age, was also in good shape thanks to years of good care.

    Louis was giving them an earful in his booming voice.

    "Grantie, Mic, Liam, are you threepletely useless?"

    "What did I tell you before? You were supposed to keep an eye on Chloe, and this is how you do it? You lost her?"

    "I''m telling you, if you don''t find her, I''ll skin you alive."

    Louis didn''t hold back. When he scolded people, he was particrly harsh. The three Martin brothers didn''t dare to say a word in front of their grandfather.

    "Grandpa, we messed up. It was our fault."

    The brothers apologized one after another, but Louis didn''t respond.

    Nichs stood up and said, "Now''s not the time for apologies. We need to find her quickly. I brought some people with me; you can use them."

    "If we can''t find her in Sovereign City, expand the search area. Check the sea as well." "No matter what, we have to find Chloe."

    Nichs was particrly calm. He had been training Chloe since she was young. Chloe was smart and resourceful, and he believed she could find a way to escape.

    Anissa, who had juste downstairs, was unhappy to hear Louis scolding her three

    sons.

    She greeted the two elders.

    Nichs knew Anissa never liked Chloe, so he didn''t say much to her.

    But Louis noticed the p mark on Anissa''s face.

    He asked, "What happened to your face?"

    Anissa replied, "Quentin and I had an argument about Chloe yesterday, and he hit me."

    Louis pressed, "What were you arguing about? Why did he hit you?"

    Anissa didn''t dare to say much, especially with Nichs there. If she mentioned that

    she had cursed Chloe, it wouldn''t just be about getting hit.

    Anissa brushed it off. "Dad, it''s nothing, just a small matter."

    Louis didn''t press further, but he was clearly unhappy about their fighting.

    He said to Anissa, "If you two can''t get along, maybe it''s time to think about a divorce. Constant fighting is uneptable."

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    "The kids are grown; you guys need to keep some dignity."

    "I don''t want to see this happen again. If it does, don''te back to the country." With that, Louis and Nichs left.

    The three Martin brothers, eager to find Chloe, nced at Anissa''s injury and left one by one.

    Anissa felt deeply disappointed.

    She thought her sons should care more about her and at least ask if she was seriously hurt.

    But they just took a look at her and left?

    They were so ignoring her.

    Anissa felt terrible. She wanted to vent to Isidora, only to realize Isidora hadn''te home all night.

    Forget it. They were all unreliable.

    She didn''t know that Isidora''s long-nned scheme had seeded.

    Unable to find Chloe in Sovereign City, the brothers expanded their search to the sea. They first went to the ind where Chloe had been held, but they were toote. Half an hour before they arrived, Chloe and the others had been put on arge ship. Grant led his team to the small room where Chloe had been heldst night. After a thorough search, he found some clues on the floor where Chloe had been lying.

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    Chloe had scratched a simple drawing of a turtle on the floor with her nails, a signal only Grant would understand.

    Before the incident, Chloe had drawn a turtle out of boredom at Grant''s vi. She had yfully stuck it on Grant''s face, and he had pretended to be angry, pinning her down on the bed and teasing her.

    So, Grant remembered the turtle well.

    Seeing the turtle on the floor, Grant said, "Chloe and the others have been shipped out by sea..."

    "Mic, Liam, find a boat, and let''s go..."

    The sea was vast, and locating someone there was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But the Martin Family had considerable resources. After over an hour of searching, they finally intercepted the ship carrying Chloe and the others.

    Grant''s men subdued the kidnappers and dragged the bound trio out of the cabin. When Chloe saw Grant, she couldn''t hold back anymore and softly called out, "Grantie... help me..."

    Those short words took all her strength.

    Grant rushed forward and held Chloe in his arms.

    Thankfully, Chloe was found. If she had disappeared, how could he go on living?

    Grant''s heart was in turmoil. His men had never seen him so distraught.

    Seeing the marks on Chloe''s body, he felt a deep pain. He untied her and took her to hisrge ship.

    His ship had private rooms. Ignoring everyone''s stares, he carried Chloe straight to his

    room.

    Once inside, he immediately started to undress her.

 Chapter 349 Sorry for the Trouble

    Chloe, feeling weak and exhausted, thought Grant had some inappropriate intentions toward her.

    "Grant, no. I''m really tired now..." she quickly protested.

    After being tied up all night, Chloe was physically and mentally drained. Her arms and legs were sore and heavy from the prolongedck of cirction.

    The cold floor felt like it was freezing her body. Having just escaped from danger, Chloe had no energy or strength to deal with Grant. She could only refuse.

    Seeing her in such a state, Grant chuckled softly. He reached out and gently tapped her nose. "Chloe, what are you thinking?"

    "Do you really think I''m that kind of guy?"

    "Rx and lie down. Let me check if you''re hurt."

    Realizing she had misunderstood Grant, Chloe''s face turned red with embarrassment. It seemed she had indeed jumped to conclusions.

    Grant carefully examined Chloe''s body. After confirming she wasn''t seriously injured, he grabbed some water from the boat to gently clean her up.

    Starving after a whole night without food, Chloe pitifully clung to Grant''s hand, her voice trembling with tears. "Grant, I thought I''d never see you again..."

    Hearing Chloe''s sobs, Grant felt a deep ache in his heart.

    He held her close and apologized repeatedly. "I''m sorry, I''m so sorry. It''s my fault. I failed to protect you well."

    "But it''s okay now. You''re back, and you''re safe."

    Grantforted Chloe for a long time before she finally calmed down.

    She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Grant, I''m so hungry and thirsty. Do you have anything to eat?"

    Having gone without food or water all night, Chloe waspletely out of energy. Upon hearing her pitiful voice, Grant''s heart ached even more.

    "Yes, we have some," he said. "I''ll get it for you right now."

    Grant turned and instructed his men to bring some food.

    When Chloe saw the food, she couldn''t control herself any longer. She grabbed it and started eating ravenously.

    In another room, Rena wasn''t in much better shape than Chloe.

    She ate the food in front of her, locking her eyes nervously on Michael. His expression

    was unreadable, and Rena had no idea what he was thinking.

    She felt sure Michael would me her for causing trouble again.

    As she was chewing, she apologized softly. "I''m sorry, Michael. I caused you trouble again."

    "I didn''t expect you toe and save me. It''s my fault. I''m so stupid..."

    "Sorry..."

    Michael''s face was serious as he looked at Rena. Upon hearing her apologize, the soft spot in his heart was touched and he couldn''t hold out any longer.

    He reached out, ignoring the dirt on her, and pulled Rena into his arms.

    Feeling Michael''s warmth, Rena couldn''t hold back her tears any longer and started crying.

    "Sorry, sorry..."

    She kept apologizing, feeling it was her fault for causing Michael so much trouble. Michaelforted her. "It''s okay. You don''t need to apologize. It''s not your fault. It''s my fault. I didn''t protect you well."

    Nestled in Michael''s arms, Rena cried uncontrobly. For the first time in her life, she felt warmth.

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    She had thought Michael would scold her, but instead, he gave her a big hug.

    Two hourster, Grant and his team returned to Sovereign City.

    Louis and Nichs, who had been waiting anxiously at home, finally rxed when they heard Chloe had been found.

    Nichs turned to Louis. "Louis, now that my granddaughter is back, I''ll be leaving Sovereign City."

    Nichs was ready to leave.

    Louis quickly tried to stop him. "You''re leaving already? Don''t you want to see her?"

    Nichs shook his head. "No, it''s enough to know she''s safe."

    "I know her well. She''s strong when she''s alone. If she sees me, she''ll insist on going back to the northwest with me."

    Though Nichs was deeply concerned about Chloe, he knew he had left her in Sovereign City to toughen her up.

    As her grandfather, he knew he wouldn''t be around forever.

    He needed Chloe to be strong and resilient so she could stand on her own in society.

    Louis tried to talk him out. "You should at least see Chloe."

    Nichs firmly refused. "No, I trust you and the Martin family to take care of her."

    "Louis, I''m heading back to the northwest. Don''t let that little girl know I was here, okay?"

    "Alright," Louis agreed.

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    Nichs was determined to leave, and Louis couldn''t stop him. After talking for a while longer, Nichs took the Davis family''s private ne and left Sovereign City.

    After Nichs left the Martin mansion, Anissa came downstairs again.

    She approached Louis and asked, "Dad, did they find Chloe?"

    Louis replied, "Yes, Grant said they almost took her overseas. It was a close call."

    "If they had, it would have been a real problem."

    Hearing that Chloe had been rescued, Anissa looked disappointed.

    She couldn''t understand how Chloe was so lucky. Even after being kidnapped, she was rescued, safe and sound. The kidnappers must have been really unprofessional.

    Seeing Anissa''sck of reaction, Louis''s expression darkened.

    Before returning to Sovereign City, he had heard rumors that Anissa had some misunderstandings with Chloe and that Anissa often made things difficult for her, causing tension between Chloe and Grant.

    Louis decided to give Anissa a heads-up in a roundabout way.

    "I heard you and Chloe don''t get along?"

    Anissa nodded, acknowledging it.

    Louis began to educate her. "When you married Quentin, I didn''t interfere, even

    though your family''s situation wasn''t great. I didn''t say much."

    "Now, the Davis and Martin families are united, and Grant and Chloe are in love. I hope

    you can get along with Chloe for the sake of the Martin family''s future."

    "Try not to interfere with the kids'' matters. If you''re bored, focus more on Quentin."

    "You''re not young anymore. It''s time to set a good example for the kids."

 Chapter 350 Trick Her Out Again

    Louis''s words seemed casual, but they carried significant weight.

    He subtly suggested that Anissa should tone it down and not ruin the children''s happiness. At the same time, he hinted that she hadn''t managed to win Quentin''s heart.

    Of course, her less-than-ster family background meant she would never have any real standing in the Martin Family.

    Anissa''s expression darkened.

    Louis didn''t pay her any attention and soon left the Martin Mansion.

    That evening, Grant took Chloe back to his small vi in Sovereign City.

    Chloe must have been exhausted and she had been asleep in Grant''s arms since they got off the boat.

    Grant carried her inside,id her on the bed, tucked her in, and watched his little girl sleep soundly.

    At that moment, Grant felt at peace.

    Once Chloe was asleep, Grant took his phone and went downstairs.

    Today, he had intercepted the ship that was supposed to take Chloe and Rena away, preventing a disaster.

    This matter couldn''t be brushed aside. As a powerful figure in Sovereign City, Grant had the responsibility and duty to ensure his woman''s safety.

    Grant called Liam.

    "Liam, have you found out who targeted Chloe?"

    In recent years, Liam had handled all of Grant''s less-than-legal affairs.

    Liam replied, "Not yet, but my people are already on it. We should have some information soon."

    "Okay. Who do you think it could be? Someone Chloe angered or one of my enemies?" Grant was cautious.

    Over the years, he had made some enemies in business. Those people couldn''t get to him so that they might target Chloe instead.

    Liam thought for a moment and said, "It shouldn''t be someone Chloe angered. She''s just a student. How could she offend anyone who involved in human trafficking?"

    "I think we need to look at your side. I''ll go through all the clients you''ve dealt with since you took office." Liam''s workload was significant.

    But to ensure Chloe''s safety, he had to do it.

    "Good. Be thorough. Better to wrong an innocent person than let the culprit go. Got it?" Grant instructed Liam.

    "Yes, Grant. Consider it done."

    Grant hung up the phone.

    He went back upstairs and sat beside Chloe again. He carefullyy down and wrapped his arm around her waist.

    Chloe turned over and draped her leg over Grant.

    She mumbled in her sleep, "Grantie, kiss me..."

    Hearing Chloe''s sleep talk, Grant couldn''t help butugh. Looking at Chloe clinging to him like an octopus, he obediently lowered his face and gave her a light peck on the lips.

    Meanwhile, at home, Odette''s door was pushed open. When she saw the woman wrapped up tightly, Odette''s face turned pale with fear.

    She quickly stood up and approached the woman.

    "What are you doing here?"

    As soon as Odette spoke, the woman pped her hard.

    "Dammit! I gave you a job, and this is how you do it? You can''t even trick someone properly?" The woman hit and scolded Odette.

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    Odette felt incredibly wronged.

    She defended herself, "I did trick her. I got her out. It was your people who were too

    slow and didn''t ship her away. How is that my fault?"

    Odette''s exnation only angered the woman more.

    She raised her hand and pped Odette again.

    "How dare you talk back? If I say you''re ipetent, then you''re ipetent."

    "Let me tell you. If you talk to me like that again, I''ll send you your brother''s leg."

    The woman threatened Odette with her brother''s situation again. Odette was terrified.

    She covered her face and cried, "I''ve done so much for you already. Tell me. What do I have to do for you to let me and my brother go?"

    Hearing this, the woman gave a cold smile.

    She said to Odette, "If you want me to let you and your brother go, you''ll do as I say."

    "In the next couple of days, get that ugly girl Chloe out for me..."

    "If you do this right, I''ll let your brother go."

    Odette shook her head frantically.

    "No, I can''t. Chloe just had an incident. Grant will definitely increase her security detail."

    "If I try to trick her now, it won''t work. Not only will I fail, but if Grant suspects me, I might lose my life."

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    Odette and Grant were schoolmates, and she knew exactly what kind of man Grant

    was.

    She had heard from her ssmates that those who opposed Grant in business were almost all taken down by him.

    What was shepared to Grant? How could she possibly go against him?

    "I don''t care. I''ve given you the opportunity. It''s up to you to choose."

    "If you don''t want to see your brother die, you''ll get this done for me."

    "I don''t have time to wait."

    With that, the woman gave Odette a fierce re and turned to leave.

    One of her men, perhaps seeing that Odette wasn''t very cooperative, pulled out a knife

    and stabbed it into Odette''s table after the woman left.

    The knife stuck firmly into the table.

    Odette was scared out of her wits...

    Around ten o''clock at night, Michael, who was bandaging Rena''s wounds in his small

    vi, received a call from Anissa.

    Anissa asked, "Mic, where are you?"

    Michael replied, "I''m at my vi, Mom. What''s up?"

    "I''m nearby and thought I''d drop by to see you." Anissa wanted to mend her rtionship with her children, and Michael, being the most gentle one, was her starting point.

    Hearing that Anissa wasing, Michael got anxious.

    Rena was with him now. If Anissa came, she would find out about them. Given that Anissa didn''t approve of Chloe, who came from a good family, she would definitely disapprove of Rena, whose family background was much worse. If Anissa scolded Rena like she did Chloe, Rena wouldn''t even have the courage to fight back.

    He couldn''t let Anissa see Rena...

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 Chapter 351 What Exactly Is the Relationship?

    Michael was pacing around like a cat on a hot tin roof.

    Seeing him so anxious, Rena asked, "What''s up?"

    Michael rubbed his head, looking distressed. "My mom''sing..."

    "What?"

    Rena was taken aback. Just thinking about Anissa''s cold demeanor made her lose all confidence in facing her.

    She didn''t even care about her unbandaged wound anymore and hurriedly started packing her things. She needed to leave as soon as possible.

    But she had been living with Michael for quite a while now, and there was just too much stuff-food, clothes, personal items. Even if they both started packing right now, they wouldn''t be able to finish in time.

    If Anissa found out she was living with Michael, Anissa might just lose it.

    "I should go..."

    Seeing Rena so flustered, Michael felt a pang of guilt. He was the one who liked Rena, the one who invited her to stay.

    Now that Anissa wasing, why should he make Rena leave?

    As a man, as someone who had just promised to protect Rena, shouldn''t he stand up for her?

    Thinking this, Michael reached out and grabbed Rena''s hand. "Don''t go. I can handle this."

    "But how? She''s your mom!" Rena didn''t want Michael to have a falling out with Anissa because of her.

    Michael pulled her into his arms. "I know she''s my mom, but I promised to protect you. If I can''t handle this small issue, how can I protect you in the future?"

    Michael''s words moved Rena. She wrapped her arms around his waist.

    "Michael, why are you so good to me? Boohoo..."

    Michael gently tapped Rena''s nose. "Dry your tears. Don''t be afraid. We''ll just go with the flow."

    Rena nodded.

    Michael found an apron and tied it around Rena''s waist. "From now on, you''re my housekeeper. Don''t be afraid, okay?"

    After setting up Rena''s role, Michael took out his phone and made a call. "It''s time to start work. Come to my ce. I''ll send you the address."

    Just a few minutes after Michael hung up, Anissa''s car pulled up in front of Michael''s small vi. Michael went to open the door, and through the living room window, Anissa saw Rena busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron.

    Seeing a woman in Michael''s house, Anissa was displeased. "Mic, what''s going on in the kitchen?"

    "Who is that woman?"

    As soon as she entered, Anissa started questioning Michael.

    Michael answered casually, "I just hired a housekeeper to clean up and stuff..."

    Hearing that it was just a housekeeper, Anissa rxed a bit.

    Michael called towards the kitchen, "Rena, bring some tea."

    "Yes, Mr. Martin."

    Soon, Rena brought a cup of freshly brewed tea to Anissa. When Anissa saw Rena, her face darkened.

    She asked, "Who are you? I''ve seen you before!"

    Indeed, Anissa had seen Rena more than once.

    Rena nced at Michael before responding to Anissa, "I''m Mr. Martin''s assistant and housekeeper."

    "No, you''re Chloe''s friend. I''ve seen you." Anissa had a sharp memory, especially since she held a grudge against Chloe and paid extra attention to Chloe''s friends.

    Seeing Anissa''s suspicion, Rena decided toe clean.

    "Yeah, I am Chloe''s friend. She introduced me to Mr. Martin for the assistant job."

    Anissa didn''t like Chloe, so naturally, she didn''t like Chloe''s friends either. To her, Chloe''s attempt of introducing her friend to work for Michael was just a ploy to get her friend close to him.

    "Really? Just an assistant and housekeeper? No other intentions?" Anissa''s words were sharp and probing.

    Rena wasn''t as bold or confident as Chloe. Under Anissa''s intense gaze, she felt nervous and started fidgeting with her apron.

    Seeing Anissa giving Rena a hard time, Michael quickly stepped in.

    "Mom, you''re overthinking. She''s just my assistant and housekeeper. How could she have any other intentions?"

    Michael wanted to cover for Rena, but Anissa wasn''t buying it. She looked around Michael''s vi and spotted a silk nightgown on the sofa.

    Anissa quickly walked over and picked up the sexy silk nightgown. Her eyes turned fierce.

    "Ha, you say she has no intentions? If she had no intentions, would she wear something like this?"

    "Mic, don''t lie to me. What''s your rtionship with her?"

    Anissa pressed Michael.

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    This made Rena even more anxious.

    Michael was speechless. He said, "Mom, she''s really just my assistant and housekeeper. Can you not do this?"

    "Even if she were my girlfriend, what''s the big deal? I''m an adult man. Shouldn''t I have a close partner?"

    Michael''s defiance made Anissa''s face darken.

    She said, "You''re an adult man. I don''t oppose you finding a partner, but you need to consider the Martin family''s reputation and know what kind of woman to marry." "What is her status? An assistant and housekeeper, and she wants to marry into the Martin family?"

    "Let me tell you, Mic, you''re young and don''t know the dangers of the world. Women have many tricks to win favor."

    Anissa used every word she could think of to belittle Rena.

    Rena was on the verge of tears. She knew she wasn''t worthy of Michael, but she just wanted to be with him.

    She was aware of her status, so she never dreamed of bing the Martin family''s daughter-inw.

    Seeing the tension between Michael and Anissa rising, Rena stood in the living room, at a loss.

    Anissa''s dominance and aggressiveness made Michael''s face darken.

    He retorted, "Mom, I don''t understand. What kind of woman do you want me to marry?"

    "Chloe has a good family background and looks decent. You didn''t agree with her being with my brother."

    "Now, you despise women with poor family backgrounds. I really want to know, should our lives be dictated by you?"

 Chapter 352 What Does He Have to Be Ashamed Of?

    Michael had always been easygoing, but this was the first time he had ever spoken so harshly to Anissa.

    Anissa was livid.

    She reached out and pped Michael across the face with a loud smack.

    "You''re my son. If I want to control your marriage, so what?"

    "Michael, let me tell you, as long as I''m alive, you can forget about marrying a woman from a mediocre family."

    Anissa''s domineering and unreasonable attitude infuriated Michael. He clutched his face, ready to fight back.

    Just then, Philip arrived.

    He burst through the door just in time to see Anissa''s pnd on Michael''s face. Philip rushed over and shielded Michael behind him.

    Michael had paid him a lot of money, and he had to show some loyalty.

    Beforeing, Philip had put on a bit of makeup to appear more feminine.

    After positioning Michael behind him, he raised his hand in a mboyant gesture and started confronting Anissa.

    "Anissa, what are you doing? How can you just hit my man like that?"

    "What do you mean you have to control his marriage? Are you trying to break us up?"

    As soon as Philip started talking, Anissa felt a headacheing on. This person, who was neither fully male nor female, seemed to be everywhere.

    She stood there, stunned, holding a silk nightgown in her hand. Philip noticed the gown and snatched it from her.

    "Anissa, have some boundaries, will you? Why are you touching my lingerie? Let me tell you, Mic loves seeing me in this nightgown."

    "What if you got it dirty?"

    Philip had been taking acting sses recently and had gotten quite good at ying this mboyant character.

    "You... you... What the hell are you, a man or a woman?""

    Anissa pointed at Philip, her hand trembling with anger.

    Philip crossed his arms, met Anissa''s gaze, and in a high-pitched voice said, "Anissa, how can you talk like that?"

    "Even though I''m a man, I love Mic, and Mic loves me. We truly love each other. What right do you have to break us up?"

    Philip''s acting was so convincing that he almost seemed like a woman.

    Anissa was at her wit''s end dealing with Philip.

    Rena watched Philip''s performance in amazement. She had no idea Philip could be so shameless.

    Philip''s shamelessness eased the pressure Anissa had been putting on her.

    Meanwhile, Michael watched Philip''s antics without reacting, as if he were enjoying a show. He was quite pleased with the current situation.

    Anissa was livid.

    But Philip continued to pester her as if he didn''t notice her anger.

    "Anissa, I really love Mic. Trust me, I''ll take good care of him. You can rest assured." "Ma''am, I know you''re kind-hearted and beautiful. You''ll definitely support Mic and me, right?"

    Faced with Philip, who seemed like a madman, Anissa couldn''t take it anymore.

    She turned to Michael, exasperated, and said angrily, "Michael, how can you do this?" Seeing Anissa''s anger directed at him, Michael nonchntly sat on the couch.

    He crossed his legs and spread his hands, saying, "Mom, tell me, what do you want me to do?"

    "I find a woman to marry, and you disapprove as if no woman in the world is good enough for me."

    "I find a man to marry, and you ask how I can do that. So, what do you want me to do?"

    "You don''t like women, and you don''t like men. Are you expecting me to bring home an animal next?"

    Michael''s words made Rena burst outughing.

    Anissa looked at the chaotic scene in front of her, utterly speechless.

    Philip, seeing that Anissa was at a loss for words, turned to Michael and hugged his

    arm.

    "Mic, why look for an animal? You still have me."

    "I''m obedient, understanding, and always avable. Much better than an animal."

    "Don''t worry. I''ll stand by your side and convince Anissa to approve us. Mic, I love you."

    "Mic, tonight, you be on top, and let''s try to have a baby."

    Philip''s increasingly outrageous remarks were something conservative Anissa had never heard before.

    Unable to take it any longer, Anissa looked at the scene in front of her and retched. Under everyone''s gaze, Anissa grabbed her bag and fled in a hurry.

    As she left, she pointed at Michael and said, "Mic, when did you be like this? You''ve really disappointed me."

    Michael didn''t chase after her. He knew it was time for Anissa to reflect.

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    Sometimes, being too controlling wasn''t a good thing.

    Interfering too much in her children''s lives wouldn''t earn their respect.

    After Anissa left, Philip let go of Michael''s arm, wiped the blush off his face, and turned

    to Rena.

    "Oh, what are you doing here?"

    Rena had never told Philip about her rtionship with Michael.

    Chloe had also kept quiet, never mentioning Rena and Michael to Philip.

    Facing Philip''s question, Rena looked at Michael.

    Philip immediately caught on.

    With a look of disbelief, he teased, "Oh... I get it. You two are hooking up."

    Philip''s choice of words made Michael frown.

    His handsome face darkened.

    He and Rena were dating and living together openly. How could Philip make it sound

    so bad?

    Hooking up?

    "No, Philip, it''s not what you think. I''m just Mic''s assistant, I..."

    Rena was worried that too many people knowing about her rtionship with Michael would affect his career, so she hurried to exin.

    Her anxious denial annoyed Michael.

    Michael couldn''t understand why Rena felt the need to hide their rtionship. Was he not good enough?

 Chapter 353 Finding a Man is Better Than Finding an Animal

    "Philip, you gotta believe me. Michael and I are just colleagues, nothing more..."

    Rena was still trying to exin herself.

    Philip looked up, his face showingplete disbelief.

    He wasn''t new to rtionships; he could read the dynamics between men and women

    easily.

    That nightgown Anissa was holding earlier? It was clearly Rena''s size. And she was still denying it? She was really underestimating his intelligence.

    Just then, Michael walked over to Rena and wrapped his arm around her possessively, pulling her into his embrace.

    "Heh... you guessed right. We are in that kind of rtionship."

    "We''ve been together for three months now..."

    Michael didn''t like the word "together," but he used it to make it clear to Philip where Rena stood.

    Rena''s face turned bright red.

    Philip looked at the couple in front of him and couldn''t help but chuckle.

    After sizing them up for a moment, he plopped down on the living room sofa.

    "Since we''re all friends here, let''s talk business."

    "Oh? What do you want?" Michael asked, eyeing Philip suspiciously.

    Suddenly, Philip made a bold move. He stepped forward, grabbed Michael''s arm, and started speaking in a yful, almost begging tone.

    "Mike, Rena and I are ssmates. We''re close, and I''m a pretty good actor. Don''t you think you could give me a raise?"

    "And another thing, I''m new to the industry and haven''tnded many lucrative roles. Last time we went swimming, Rena and Chloe teamed up and tricked me out of a $100,000 VIP card. Mike, have some pity on me. If you have any resources, could you hook me up?"

    "Mike..."

    Seeing Philip''s antics, Rena and Michael couldn''t help butugh.

    They had thought Philip was going to ckmail them, but it turned out he had transformed from a third-rate actor into aedian.

    Chloe''s smallpany really knew how to nurture talent.

    Meanwhile, Anissa stormed out of Michael''s vi and angrily got into her car. Once inside, she ignored the driver and started ranting about Michael. "Michael, are you trying to drive me insane?"

    "Finding a man to be your wife? You''re getting more outrageous by the day."

    The more Anissa ranted, the angrier she became. The driver, who had worked for the Martin family for a long time, didn''t want to hear herints and tried to calm her down.

    "Please don''t be upset. Mr. Martin did go a bit overboard."

    "But if you think about it, it''s better than him finding an animal, right? At least his assistant can give him a child, isn''t that better?"

    "If you consider it that way, you won''t be so angry."

    The driver''s words only made Anissa angrier.

    She had raised her son to be a distinguished gentleman, an elite. Finding an animal? Finding a man?

    What had she done in a past life to deserve such a son?

    Compared to the chaos with Michael, things were much quieter with Chloe and Grant.

    When Chloe woke up, she saw Grant lying beside her, his hand supporting his head as he stared at her.

    Chloe reached out and gently brushed his handsome face, then snuggled closer to him.

    Once she found afortable position, she wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes again.

    Grant didn''t move, letting Chloe''s small hand rest on his waist.

    Holding Chloe felt like holding a precious treasure he had regained.

    "Grant, why were you staring at me earlier?" Chloe asked softly, her head buried in Grant''s chest.

    Grant replied, "Because you''re beautiful..."

    "I''m not beautiful."

    "But I think you are."

    Grant used hisrge hand to lift Chloe''s head from under the covers and gently kissed

    her lips.

    Chloe''s face turned a deep shade of red.

    "Grant..."

    "Yes?"

    "Why did you kiss me?" Chloe asked in a sweet, childlike voice.

    Grant thought for a moment and replied, "You can kiss me back, you know?"

    "You''re so annoying."

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    Chloe tried to push Grant away, but the difference in their strength was too great. She couldn''t budge him.

    Instead, Grant effortlessly lifted Chloe''s slender body and ced her on top of him. Now, he was beneath her, and she was on top.

    Early in the morning, Grant hadpletely dispelled Chloe''s sleepiness. He knew exactly how to tease her.

    Since Chloe''s near-drowning incident, Grant had been careful not to overexert her during their intimate moments.

    But after Chloe''s disappearance yesterday, Grant was so worried that he wanted to keep her close and protect her.

    Chloe looked at Grant''s passionate expression and asked, "Grant, may I?" "Huh? What is it?"

    Chloe leaned down and kissed Grant''s lips, her kiss intense and full of desire. She removed Grant''s pajamas and began making love to him, taking the lead.

    An hourter, Chloe, drenched in sweat, was finally lifted from the bed by Grant.

    He carried her to the bathroom, ran a warm bath, and carefully washed her, not missing a single spot.

    By the time they were done, it was already 9:30 in the morning. Chloe, exhausted from the morning''s activities, was starving.

    She clung to Grant''s neck and pouted, "Grant, I''m so hungry..."

    Seeing Chloe''s adorable expression, Grant suddenly thought of the term "vixen." He had always thought Chloe was pure, but now he realized he had misunderstood purity.

    The Chloe in his arms was alluring, with a seductive charm that made him want to give her everything.

    He held her waist and grinned mischievously. "Hungry? How about you eat me first?"

 Chapter 354 Dont Go Home, I Want to Kiss You

    Chloe, who had been feeling a bit off, snapped to attention when she heard Grant suggest she eat him. She quickly pulled her arms away from around Grant''s neck and protested, "No, no, I just want to have breakfast..."

    Seeing Chloe''s reaction, Grant chuckled. He reached out and yfully tapped her nose, saying, "Silly girl, did I scare you?"

    Chloe pouted, feeling a bit speechless. With Grant''s strength, any woman would be scared. That morning''s lovemaking had left her begging for mercy, so of course, she was a little wary.

    After getting dressed, Grant took Chloe out for breakfast. They went to a fancy restaurant just outside the vimunity and ordered a simple meal.

    As they ate, Chloe chatted with Grant, "Grantie, after breakfast, I''m heading to school. You be good and go to work, okay?"

    Grant shook his head. "Considering we don''t know who kidnapped you, you shouldn''t go to school for the next few days. I''ve already asked Stanley to inform your principal."

    "And I won''t be going to work either. I''ll stay home and spend time with you." "After breakfast, we can go home or take a trip to the mall."

    Chloe pouted in protest. "Grantie, are you nning to be my bodyguard?"

    Grant replied, "Of course. If I can''t protect you, all the money I make is useless."

    Chloe pouted again but felt happy knowing Grant would be by her side, even if it meant he had to take time off work.

    After a hearty breakfast, they drove to the nearest mall. Once in Grant''s car, Chloe pulled out a fake mole she had bought online and started to stick it on her face. Grant immediately grabbed it and tossed it out the window.

    "Grantie, why did you throw my stuff?" Chloe protested.

    Grant, driving, replied, "With me here to protect you, you don''t need to disguise yourself."

    Grant and Chloe picked out a few new outfits at the mall and then returned to Grant''s vi.

    For the next few days, Grant was on leave, and he spent most of his time with Chloe, indulging in their passion. Three days and nights of intense lovemaking left Chloe feeling like her bones were about to fall apart. But Grant showed no signs of stopping.

    As theyy entwined, Grant whispered in Chloe''s ear, "Chloe, let''s not break off the engagement."

    "I want to marry you. Will you marry me?"

    Exhausted from Grant''s relentless passion, Chloe murmured, "Okay, we won''t break off the engagement."

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    "Grantie, I''ll wait for you to marry me."

    That night, Liam took Zara to arge nightclub on the outskirts of Sovereign City. After parking the car, Liam led Zara inside.

    Zara, who hade from the Northwest and lived with her aunt''s family, the Gibsons, didn''t have the same background as Chloe. After graduating from college, she chose to work instead of pursuing further studies. She was eager to make money, helping the Gibsons with their business and managing Chloe''s smallpany.

    Though Chloe had given her some shares, it was far from the amount Zara wanted to

    earn.

    Liam pointed to the nightclub and said, "I own this ce. You cane here anytime and bring Chloe and Rena along."

    Zara admired the luxurious decor and was impressed by the difference between a nightclub run by a wealthy person and one run by someone less fortunate.

    Zara didn''t usually drink much, only when she was out with Chloe. As she looked around Liam''s nightclub, she casually asked, "Do you have male models here?"

    Liam, thinking she was asking about business, nodded. "Yes, I hired a new boy band to boost the atmosphere."

    Hearing "boy band," Zara''s eyes widened. She quickly grabbed Liam''s arm. "Take me to see them."

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    Liam hesitated, sensing Zara''s excitement for the boy band was greater than her interest in him. "Sure, I''ll take you."

    When Zara saw the boy band members, she was instantly captivated. They were all over six feet tall, fit, with eight-pack abs, and incredibly handsome.

    As Zara drank, she couldn''t take her eyes off the boy band members. Noticing her attention, they came over one by one to toast with her, and Zara couldn''t resist drinking each time. Predictably, she got drunk.

    Liam watched Zara, exasperated. He half-carried her out of the nightclub.

    At the entrance, Zara, drunk, looked at Liam and suddenly asked, "Handsome, you''re so hot. Can I kiss you?"

    Liam was taken aback. He and Zara had been close but kept their distance, only asionally sharing a kiss. They hadn''t slept together.

    Zara''s drunken request for a kiss excited Liam, but he was a gentleman and wouldn''t take advantage of her. Zara was drunk and not in control of her actions.

    Liam calmed himself and patiently said, "Be good, you''ve had too much to drink. I''ll take you home."

    Zara, defiant, said, "I don''t want to go home. I want to kiss you..."

 Chapter 355 Whoever Chickens Out Is a Coward

    Without a second thought, Zara leaned in and kissed Liam with her bright red lips.

    In the bustling bar, Liam, the owner, was caught off guard by the unexpected kiss. The staff, seeing their boss kissed and not resisting, couldn''t help but chuckle.

    Not wanting Zara to cause a scene, Liam picked her up and headed straight for the back of the bar.

    There was an elevator in the back that led to the upper floor, where his office and bedroom were located. Since Zara didn''t want to go home, he decided to take her to his office.

    In the elevator, Zara couldn''t keep her hands off Liam. He thought she was drunk and kept trying to fend off her advances.

    When they finally reached his office, Liam locked the door behind them. He picked Zara up andid her down on the office sofa.

    Liam started kissing Zara.

    Neither of them had ever been this intimate with someone of the opposite sex before. Liam was a bit nervous about this first close encounter.

    He asked Zara, "Are you sure?"

    Zara, with her eyes half-closed from the alcohol, replied, "Sure about what?"

    "Are you sure you want to sleep with me?" Liam''s breathing became erratic as he looked at Zara''s delicate face.

    Zara, stubborn as ever, retorted, "Sure, whoever doesn''t is a coward..."

    Hearing this, Liam didn''t hesitate any longer. He picked Zara up and carried her to the inner room of his office.

    The room had a bed and nkets...

    Liam had never stayed there before. He never imagined that his first time would happen in his office.

    As soon as they entered the room, Zara pushed Liam onto the bed. Fueled by her drunkenness, she forced herself on him.

    Liam, experiencing sex for the first time, was like an untiring wolf, aggressively taking Zara. He quickly went from being inexperienced to familiar with the act.

    Watching Liam, Zara''s mind was in turmoil.

    She smiled slightly, thinking to herself that Chloe said it wasn''t easy to get a man into bed, but why was Liam so easy?

    Chloe must have lied.

    She probably got Grant into bed long ago and just didn''t say anything.

    Meanwhile, Anissa, unable to sleep, sat in her room at the Martin family home, looking distressed.

    Ever since she ran out of her skincare product, her overall state had deteriorated. She had tried to get more through her contacts, but the manager told her it was out of stock.

    Her appearance was her top priority, and without the support of this high-end product, she felt she was aging rapidly.

    Restless, she called Giselle toe over and keep herpany.

    As soon as Giselle arrived, Anissa startedining.

    "Where is Isidora? I don''t know where she''s been these past few days. She hasn''te back to the Martin family. Did I offend her somehow?"

    Anissa didn''t think she had offended Isidora.

    In fact, when she pped Isidora, she didn''t hesitate at all.

    She usually treated Isidora with a cold and harsh demeanor. Giselle had already received a call from Isidora saying she wouldn''t being back to take care of Anissa. Seeing her sister in a bad mood, Giselle tried tofort her.

    "Anissa, I called Isidora. She''s been busy with work and hasn''t been feeling well, so she hasn''te over."

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    "I told her toe back and take care of you once she''s feeling better."

    Anissa snorted. As Mrs. Martin, she always disyed a sense of superiority in front of her sister Giselle.

    After discussing Isidora, Giselle brought up some issues with the Martin Group.

    "Anissa, Grant hasn''t been to the Martin Group for days. Several tricky projects are waiting for him to handle, but he''s just been giving instructions over the phone and not showing up."

    "I bet he''s with that girl, Chloe."

    Initially, Anissa had no particr opinion about Chloe. But after hearing Giselle''sints over the phone while she was abroad, she developed a bias against Chloe. Moreover, Chloe was from the Davis family, so Anissa naturally looked down on her. Now, hearing Giselle mention Chloe and Grant again, Anissa felt conflicted.

    She suddenly remembered what Grant had told her: he wanted Anissa to bless him and Chloe and wish them happiness.

    Anissa couldn''t do it.

    With a cold expression, she asked Giselle, "Isidora''s gone, and now there''s no other woman around Grant. If he doesn''t go to Chloe, who else would he go to?"

    Giselle thought for a moment and replied, "Anissa, don''t worry. We can find another woman for him."

    "I have a good friend who has a daughter named Vesper ckwood. She''s pretty,es from a good family, and most importantly, she''s easy to control. Why not introduce her to Grant?"

    Giselle firmly believed that with the right approach, no couple was unbreakable. Hearing Giselle''s suggestion, Anissa hesitated.

    Giselle had previously said that Isidora was Grant''s first love.

    If Grant didn''t want his first love, would he want another girl?

    "Will this work?"

    "Of course, Anissa. You''re strong-willed, so you need to find apliant wife for your son. If he marries someone like Chloe, won''t she drive you crazy?" Giselle was stirring the pot.

    Anissa was tempted by Giselle''s words.

    But she was also worried. "Grant doesn''t listen to me anymore. If I introduce him to someone, will he even consider it?"

    Clearly, Anissa was concerned that she no longer had the same control over Grant as she did when he was a child.

    Giselle chuckled and gave Anissa another bad idea.

    "Anissa, Grant is your son. He can''t ignore you."

    "Call him now and tell him toe home."

    Giselle handed Anissa her phone. Anissa hesitated for a moment before taking it.

    At that moment, Grant was watching a Korean drama on the couch with Chloe. When

    he saw his mother''s call, his expression changed slightly.

    He picked up his phone and stepped aside to answer.

    "Hello, Mom..."

    "Grant, I need to talk to you. Come home now." Anissa''s tone was full ofmand.

    Grant nced at Chloe, who was engrossed in the TV, and asked, "Can''t you tell me over the phone?"

    Chloe had recently been through a kidnapping, and Grant was worried about her safety. He had been staying by her side almost constantly.

    Now, with Anissa asking him toe home, Grant was reluctant to leave Chloe alone

    at his vi until he found out who was behind the kidnapping.

 Chapter 356 Wire Me Money Now

    Seeing Grant''s hesitation, Anissa''s voice turned sharp.

    "Grant, we can''t talk about this over the phone. You need toe back now."

    "And if you don''t, don''t bother calling me ''Mom'' anymore."

    With that, Anissa hung up abruptly. Grant stared at his phone, feeling a headacheing on.

    Most moms were thrilled when their sons had found a great partner, but his mom? She was so picky, even with someone as amazing as Chloe. Grant was at a loss when it came to how to handle Anissa.

    Chloe, who had been watching TV, noticed Grant''s troubled expression and turned to him.

    "Grantie, what''s up?"

    Grant sighed, furrowing his brows. "Mom just called. She wants me toe home. It''ste, and I really don''t want to go."

    He moved closer to Chloe, wrapping his arms around her as they sat down together. He gently yed with her long hair, creating a tender and intimate moment.

    Chloe tried to persuade him, "Grantie, you should go. What if she''s calling because she''s not feeling well?"

    "You''re her son; you need to take care of her. Honestly, I think she''s quite pitiful. Mr. Smith doesn''t like her, and she''s been living alone abroad for so many years."

    "Now that she''s back, it''s understandable that she wants you and your brothers to spend time with her. Go on, be a good son."

    Chloe''s gentle encouragement touched a soft spot in Grant''s heart. After hugging Chloe once more, he stood up.

    A few minutester, Grant left the house.

    Before leaving, he repeatedly reminded Chloe to lock the door securely.

    After Grant left the vi, Chloe went upstairs to rest. She snuggled into bed and started texting Adide.

    Adide told her that with the help of advanced medical technology abroad, Kathy''s condition had improved significantly.

    Kathy had adapted to her new heart, and the doctors said that after some more recovery time, she could return home.

    Moreover, the police had given Adide good news. Kathy''s parents were still unreachable, and afterpleting various procedures, the police had sent Kathy''s file to the welfare agency.

    When Adide brought Kathy back to the country, she could go to the welfare agency toplete the adoption process.

    In other words, Adide could legally adopt Kathy.

    This was wonderful news.

    Meanwhile, Isidora, who hadn''t been seen at the Martin Family for several days, was trying her best to impress Quentin.

    She had moved into Quentin''s spacious apartment in Sovereign City. While Quentin was out socializing, she had nothing to do at home.

    At that moment, Sophia, who had been missing for a while, called her.

    As soon as Sophia''s call connected, she demanded money from Isidora.

    "Isidora, send me another million dors." Sophia''s tone was demanding, asking for a million dors right off the bat.

    Isidora had already given her a sum of moneyst time, and now, just a few dayster, she was asking for more?

    "Sophia, what''s going on? I just gave you money a few days ago, and you''ve already spent it all?" Isidora was exasperated.

    Coming from a poor background, Isidora valued every penny. Thest sum of money had already pained her to part with.

    "Sophia, what do you mean I''ve spent it all in just a few days?"

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    "Your daughter is with me. I take care of her, feed her and provide for her. I even hired a nanny. All of that costs money."

    "Besides, you know the condition of your daughter''s heart. Every hospital visit costs money. Let me tell you, I haven''t spent a single penny on myself; it''s all gone towards your daughter."

    "If you don''t send me money, you can expect your daughter to die in the hospital." Sophia''s threat about the child left Isidora feeling powerless.

    She softened her tone and said, "Alright, if that''s the case, let me talk to my daughter." Sophia immediately refused, "No, your daughter is in the ICU. Hurry up and send the money."

    "A million dors, not a penny less."

    After saying this, Sophia hung up abruptly.

    Listening to the busy signal on the other end, Isidora felt her chest tighten with anger.

    But for her daughter''s life, she reluctantly took out her phone and transferred a million dors to Sophia.

    This million dors was from Quentin, originally intended to be saved for herself and her child as an insurance policy. But now, it was all taken by Sophia.

    Isidora felt helpless.

    Around ten o''clock at night, Grant returned to the Martin Family vi. As soon as he entered the living room, he saw Anissa and Giselle talking to a well-mannered young

    woman.

    Anissa and Giselle''s faces were filled with undisguised ttery towards the young

    woman.

    With just one nce, Grant knew who she was.

    If he remembered correctly, this young woman was Vesper, the daughter of the ckwood Family. Before Chloe came to Sovereign City, the ckwood Family had wanted him to date Vesper.

    At that time, Grant had politely declined.

    He said he was engaged and couldn''t date other women.

    The ckwood Family understood and didn''t pursue it further.

    Now, Anissa and Giselle had brought Vesper to their home. What did this mean?

    Seeing Grant return, Anissa greeted him with an unusual smile.

    She said, "Grantie, you''re finally back. Look, Ms. ckwood has been waiting for quite a while."

    "Mom, you called me back sote. Is there something important?" Grant didn''t spare Vesper a nce and directly asked Anissa.

    Anissa smiled and said, "I had dinner with Ms. ckwood tonight. I originally nned to send her home earlier, but we got caught up in conversation and lost track of time."

    "Seeing howte it was, I was worried about Ms. ckwood''s safety going home alone, so I called you to take her back."

    Grant understood Anissa''s intention.

    It seemed she was trying to create an opportunity for him to interact with Vesper.

    The Martin Family had plenty of drivers, all carefully selected and reliable. Ensuring Vesper''s safety on the way home wouldn''t be an issue.

    Grant was displeased by Anissa''s words.

    He was about to refuse when Giselle, anticipating his reaction, spoke up.

    Giselle urged him, "Grantie, your mom isn''t in good health. Don''t upset her further."

 Chapter 357 My Girlfriend Doesnt Like It

    "Hey,tely things have been pretty tense between you three brothers and your mom. You can''t let her get all worked up over something so small."

    "Just take Ms. ckwood home, okay?"

    Giselle''s advice helped calm Grant down. He grabbed his car keys and, clearly annoyed, said to Vesper, "Ms. ckwood, let''s go."

    Vesper, alwaysposed and tactful, noticed Grant''s reluctance. "Mr. Martin, if it''s a hassle, I can get home on my own."

    She was ying hard to get.

    Grant jumped at the chance. "Alright, if it''s a hassle, you can go ahead."

    Vesper''s expression changed instantly. Was Grant really that dense?

    She turned to Anissa, who quickly chimed in, "Grant, Ms. ckwood is just being polite. Can''t you see that?"

    "Listen to your mom and take Ms. ckwood home."

    Grant didn''t argue. He grabbed his car keys and headed out.

    Giselle and Anissa stayed with Vesper, their attitude clearly showed they wanted to win her favor.

    Vesper was the only daughter of the ckwood Family, a significant yer in

    Sovereign City. While not quite as powerful as the Davis Family, Vesper''s gentle nature made her easy to manage. Anissa was eager to find such apliant wife for her son.

    Anissa said to Vesper, "Ms. ckwood, don''t mind him. Our Grant is just a bit standoffish. It''s not that he doesn''t like you; it takes time for him to warm up."

    "You young folks should spend more time together. Rtionships grow gradually." Anissa''s encouragement made the somewhat naive Vesper nod repeatedly. Soon, Vesper was seated in Grant''s car.

    Grant drove off, taking Vesper away.

    Watching Grant''s car leave the Martin Family mansion, Anissa and Giselle both breathed a sigh of relief.

    Anissa worriedly said to Giselle, "I don''t think Grant likes her very much..."

    Giselle reassured Anissa, "It doesn''t matter if Grant doesn''t like her. You like her, don''t you? Look how gentle Ms. ckwood is, much easier to handle than Isidora."

    "I''m just worried that Chloe has a hold on Grant''s heart. I''m afraid he won''t fall for Ms. ckwood," Anissa sighed.

    Giselleforted her again, "Anissa, don''t worry. Ms. ckwood may seem simple, but how many of those wealthy youngdies are truly simple?"

    "As long as she ys her cards right, I believe she can win him over."

    "Rtionships develop over time. I trust Ms. ckwood''s abilities. Besides, even if Grant doesn''t like her, using her to irritate Chloe and curb her arrogance is also good." Giselle''s words made Anissa nod in agreement.

    They chatted about other things, and Anissa brought up Isidora.

    "What''s going on with Isidora? Last time, I just said a few words to her, and she left. She hasn''te back for days. Is she angry?"

    Anissa spoke casually.

    She made her cold remarks and ps towards Isidora sound so trivial, as if being Mrs. Martin gave her the right to trouble anyone.

    Giselle smiled and reassured her, "Anissa, she wouldn''t be mad. Isidora''s a simple girl. How could she be upset with you?"

    "I''ve been with you these past few days and haven''t had a chance to check on her. I''ll give her a call tomorrow, see what''s up, and ask her toe back soon to help out."

    "Alright."

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    They continued chatting as they walked back to the Martin Family mansion.

    In Grant''s car, Vesper kept trying to strike up a conversation.

    "Mr. Martin, Giselle mentioned you''ve been pretty busytely?"

    Grant replied while driving, "Yeah, a bit."

    "Oh, with the Martin Family''s business being so big, it''s understandable," Vesper said, but Grant didn''t respond.

    The car was silent for a while.

    Vesper initially thought Grant didn''t want to talk to her, but then remembered Anissa saying Grant was just aloof. She tried to find more topics.

    After all, a man like Grant, with his status, power, and good looks, being a bit aloof was normal.

    If she could win him over, it would be quite an achievement.

    "Mr. Martin, you seem tired. I''m on vacation for the next two days. How about we go

    y golf together?" Vesper suggested enthusiastically.

    Grant didn''t even look at her and declined, "Sorry, I don''t have time."

    "So busy?" Vesper asked, not ready to give up.

    Grant replied, "Yeah, I need to spend time with my girlfriend..."

    Hearing this, Vesper felt a surge of jealousy.

    She knew about Grant and Chloe. Anissa had told her about them when she invited her

    over.

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    So, Vesper didn''t take it to heart.

    She forced a smile and said to Grant, "But Giselle doesn''t seem to approve of you and your girlfriend."

    Grant''s expression turned sour upon hearing this.

    He nced at Vesper and said directly, "She will bless us."

    Vesper wanted to say more, but Grant''s gaze became so sharp that she wisely shut her mouth.

    A few minutester, Grant''s car stopped outside the ckwood Family''s gate. When Vesper got out, Grant didn''t say a word to her.

    Vesper felt quite disappointed.

    She was a socialite from the ckwood Family. How could Grant treat her like this?

    To close the distance between them, Vesper lowered her pride and spoke to Grant through the car window.

    "Mr. Martin, we had a good chat. How about adding each other on Facebook?"

    Vesper thought that with her lowered stance, Grant wouldn''t refuse her. Unexpectedly, Grant turned and coldly said, "Sorry, I have a girlfriend. I don''t add other girls on Facebook."

    With that, Grant stepped on the gas, and the car sped away.

    Vesper stood there, feeling extremely awkward.

    She was a socialite from the ckwood Family, the sole heir to the ckwood Group, wealthy and beautiful, with countless suitors. How could Grant not see her worth?

    The feeling of defeat was unbearable for Vesper.

    She clenched her fists and thought to herself, "I will win Grant over."

 Chapter 358 I Love You

    After dropping off Vesper, Grant drove back to his vi.

    On the way, Anissa called him.

    "Hey, Grantie, did you have a good chat with Ms. ckwood?"

    "Ms. ckwood is very nice, gentle, and ssy. I like her and want her to be your wife."

    Anissa made her intentions clear to Grant over the phone.

    Grant frowned, clearly displeased with Anissa''s behavior.

    He retorted sharply, "Mom, if you want her to be your son''s wife, then have another son."

    "Anyway, I won''t have anything to do with her."

    Anissa was furious, almost ready to explode.

    What was Grant saying? She was in her fifties; how could she possibly have another child?

    "Grantie, how can you talk to me like that? I''m your mother. I introduced Ms. ckwood to you for your own good."

    "Ms. ckwood is stable and gentle, much better than that reckless Chloe. Why can''t you see that?"

    Anissa''s rant made Grant''s head ache. He hit the mute button and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, ignoring her.

    If Anissa wanted to rant, she could go ahead.

    Grant turned onto a small road, just a few blocks from his vi.

    As he turned, he suddenly saw Isidora with a man. They were arm in arm, talking intimately.

    Isidora seemed very happy, standing on tiptoe to give the man a light kiss on the cheek.

    Grant saw this and smirked coldly. No wonder Isidora hadn''t been bothering himtely; she had found someone new.

    This was good. At least Isidora''s presence wouldn''t cause any misunderstandings between Chloe and him.

    Grant didn''t care and was about to speed away when the man with Isidora turned around. Upon seeing the man''s face, Grant''s mind went nk.

    Quentin?

    The man Isidora was kissing was Quentin?

    Grant was furious.

    The veins on his forehead bulged.

    He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his hand forming a fist. He floored the gas pedal, ring coldly as Isidora and Quentin walked into the upscale neighborhood.

    He couldn''t believe his father, Quentin, was involved with Isidora.

    Quentin was in his fifties, old enough to be Isidora''s father. How could he be with her?

    And Isidora, what was she after? His age? Hisck of hygiene? Or his shares in the Martin Group?

    Unprecedented anger filled Grant''s heart.

    He hated Quentin''s infidelity and Isidora''s shamelessness. It was all Giselle''s fault. If she hadn''t brought Isidora into the Martin Family, how could Isidora have gotten involved with Quentin?

    Grant got out of the car, lit a cigarette, and then called Liam.

    "Liam, I remember Dad has arge apartment in Willowbrook Community, right?"

    Liam replied, "Yes, I was with Dad when he got the keys."

    "Send me the apartment number..."

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    "Sure thing. Is everything okay?" Liam asked casually.

    Grant, looking grim, replied, "Just send it!"

    Then Grant drove away.

    The night wind was cold, and his emotions were all over the ce. He didn''t close the car window, feeling that only the cold wind on his face could clear his mind.

    When he returned to his vi, Chloe was already asleep.

    His slightly chilled body slipped into bed, and Chloe instinctively hugged his waist. Half-asleep, Chloe mumbled, "Grantie, you''re back?"

    "You''re so cold. Let me warm you up."

    Chloe snuggled into Grant''s arms, and as his cold body touched her skin, his anger slowly subsided.

    Chloe sensed his displeasure and woke up a bit, asking, "Grantie, is your mom pressuring you again?"

    Grant shook his head. "No."

    Chloe didn''t believe him. She reached out and touched Grant''s face.

    She said, "It''s okay. If you''re under pressure, you can tell me. I know your mom doesn''t

    like me. As long as you like me, I''m willing to be with you."

    Grant felt inexplicably moved by Chloe''s words.

    He pulled Chloe closer into his arms.

    "It''s not that. It really has nothing to do with you, Chloe. Don''t worry, no matter what happens, I''ll always be with you."

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    and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Because I love you!"

    Chloe''s heart warmed at Grant''sforting words.

    She wrapped her arms around Grant''s waist and murmured, "Grantie, I love you too."

    They held each other tightly, feeling that only this way could they truly rely on each other.

    The next morning, Chloe woke up to find Grant had already gone to work.

    When Chloe went downstairs, the maid Grant had hired had already prepared

    breakfast, and the driver who took Chloe to school was waiting in the yard.

    The maid said to Chloe, "Miss Davis, Mr. Martin''spany is very busy. He left for work early. He asked me to make your favorite breakfast."

    "Thank you."

    Chloe sat at the dining table, waiting for the maid to serve breakfast.

    After eating a little, Chloe went to school.

    In the afternoon, Moira, who rarely contacted Chloe, suddenly called her.

    She invited Chloe to a party.

    "Chloe, there''s a pretty high-end party tonight. Come with me?" Moira, a few years

    older than Chloe, always seemed much more mature.

    Chloe didn''t have many friends in Sovereign City, and Moira had always looked out for

    her.

    Chloe wasn''t interested in parties, so she declined.

    "Moira, you know I don''t like parties. How about I skip this one?"

    Hearing Chloe''s refusal, Moirained, "I don''t want to go either. Those parties are the worst. But I have to; it''s work my dad gave me. Please, Chloe,e with me?"

 Chapter 359 Rustic

    Moira had made it clear, and Chloe felt it would be rude to refuse.

    After a moment''s thought, she agreed.

    "Alright, send me the address for the dinner party. I''ll go home, change into a dress, and join you."

    "Great, I''ll be waiting for you."

    Moira sent Chloe the address, and Chloe returned to Grant''s vi. She picked out a light blue short dress from her wardrobe, applied light makeup, and got ready to leave.

    Before heading out, she thought for a moment and decided to stick a fake mole on her face, which she had bought online.

    She was beautiful, and the fake mole helped her avoid unnecessary attention, especially from those who were not worth her time.

    The driver took her to the party location. Worried that Grant might look for her when he got home, she sent him a message.

    [Grantie, Moira invited me to a dinner party with some young people. I''lle home as soon as it''s over. Be good and wait for me, okay?]

    After sending the message, Chloe stepped into the banquet hall.

    Seeing her arrival, Moira quickly came to greet her.

    "Chloe, you made it!"

    "Yeah, Moira."

    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Moira led Chloe around the hall.

    Moirained to Chloe, "Chloe, you have no idea how much I hate these parties. But my dad insists they''re great forworking and good for the business."

    "And I''m still single. I have no interest in finding a partner, but my dad says there are plenty of eligible bachelors here and insists Ie."

    "Seriously, do I have to get married just because I''m a great catch? My dad is so annoying."

    As they walked and talked, Chloe realized that Moira was here to find a potential partner.

    It was a good thing she had put on that fake mole before leaving. She wouldn''t want

    to interfere with Moira''s matchmaking efforts.

    Chloe didn''t socialize much and was unfamiliar with the elite of Sovereign City. Fortunately, Moira knew them well and introduced Chloe to everyone.

    At that moment, Vesper approached Chloe with a ss of wine. She had seen Chloe''s

    photo from Anissa and immediately recognized her as Grant''s fianc¨¦e.

    Chloe''s mole was quite distinctive.

    Chloe didn''t know Vesper but smiled politely at her.

    "Chloe, let me introduce you. This is Ms. ckwood, Vesper ckwood of the ckwood Group in Sovereign City. Ms. ckwood graduated from a university abroad. She''s not only beautiful but also highly knowledgeable."

    "Since returning to the country, she''s gradually taken over some of the ckwood Group''s operations and has been very sessful. Ms. ckwood is a true powerhouse."

    Moira''s high praise for Vesper made Chloe admire her.

    She appreciated women who prioritized their careers.

    "Ms. ckwood, you''re amazing."

    Vesper didn''t seem impressed by Chloe''spliment. She nced coldly at Chloe and asked Moira, "Miss Thorne, who is she?"

    "She is..."

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    Chloe didn''t want to reveal her identity in such a setting. Her grandfather had always advised her to stay low-key.

    Sovereign City wasn''t the Davis Family''s territory, and she was just a guest at this party. There was no need to steal the spotlight.

    She quickly interrupted Moira and introduced herself modestly.

    "Ms. ckwood, I''m Chloe. I''m currently a student at Quest University. Moira invited me to this party."

    "Ms. ckwood, you''re an inspiration to us all."

    Chloe''s words made Vesper smirk.

    She responded with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh, still a student? Haha, you''re in the carefree stage of life. Unlike us, who have to work hard and earn a living after graduation."

    Chloe sensed the underlying hostility in Vesper''s words.

    But she had no reason to antagonize Vesper.

    "Haha..." Chloe chuckled lightly.

    "Miss Davis, from your ent, you don''t seem to be from Sovereign City, right?" Vesper asked.

    Chloe nodded, "Yes, I''m not from Sovereign City. My hometown is in the Northwest." "Oh? The Northwest? I''ve been there. The environment is terrible, especially in winter when the wind kicks up sand everywhere. Some friends joked that people from there are turned rustic by the sand."

    Vesper''s words were outright disrespectful, calling Chloe rustic.

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    If her previousments were meant to show superiority, this was a tant insult. Chloe''s smile froze.

    She retorted, "Ms. ckwood, that''s not right. Every ce has its unique beauty. Even with the sand, the Northwest has its charm."

    "The Northwest isn''t just sand; it has vast grasnds. Several famous singers and actorse from there and are known as the flowers of the grasnds."

    "For you to use the term rustic, it seems your taste might becking. You haven''t appreciated the beauty of the Northwest."

    Chloe''s sharp words implied that Vesper had poor taste, which instantly angered Vesper.

    Moira noticed the tension and hurried to smooth things over.

    "Oh,e on, you two. Sovereign City has its beauty, and the Northwest has its own. Let''s not argue about this and ruin the mood."

    "Let''s have a toast."

    Moira tried to ease the situation, but Vesper shot Chloe a cold look and walked away, refusing to clink sses with Moira.

    After Vesper left, Moira looked at Chloe apologetically.

    "Sorry, Chloe. I didn''t mean for you to be treated like that. Vesper must be in a bad

    mood today. She''s usually not like this."

    Chloe didn''t want Moira to feel bad. "It''s okay, Moira. I don''t mind."

    "Alright, let''s go chat with some other friends."

    Moira led Chloe to another part of the hall, where they found Moira''s friend Thaddeus Hawthorne. The three of them started chatting enthusiastically.

    Moira casually asked, "Thaddeus, do you know why Vesper seemed so off today?"

 Chapter 360 Suffering in Grants Place

    Thaddeus chuckled and said, "Hey, I heard some juicy gossip..."

    "Oh yeah? What kind of gossip? Is it about the ckwood Family''s business tanking?" Moira asked, her curiosity piqued.

    Thaddeus shook his head. "Nah, it''s even better. Last night, Mrs. Martin invited Vesper over to the Martin Family''s ce. She was trying to set Vesper up with Grant, but Grant totally ignored her."

    "Seriously? That actually happened?"

    Moira turned to look at Chloe, her eyes wide with surprise. She silently asked Chloe if she knew anything about it.

    Chloe was at a loss for words. Could she admit she had no clue?

    "I heard Vesper told her friend she wanted to add Grant on Facebook, but he didn''t ept and just drove off."

    "Who''s Vesper? She''s a socialite from the ckwood Family. When has she ever been treated like this?"

    Thaddeus shared what he knew with Chloe and Moira.

    Moira looked at Chloe and said, "Ha, no wonder she''s been so hostile towards you. It''s all because of this? If Grant had added her on Facebookst night, none of this would be happening."

    Chloe sighed inwardly. It seemed she was taking the heat for Grant.

    Chloe had a good temperament and soon started chatting with the friends Moira introduced her to.

    Tonight''s banquet was hosted by the ckwood Family.

    After a short while, Vesper returned, having changed her outfit. On her wrist was a luxurious bracelet.

    Compared to Vesper''s opulence, Chloe, who was just wearing a simple dress, seemed quite in.

    She had many luxury essories, but as a student, she rarely wore them.

    Unexpectedly, her low profile became a reason for Vesper to target her repeatedly.

    Vesper led a few people over to Chloe and Moira. Sensing trouble, Moira tried to pull Chloe away.

    She couldn''t afford to offend the ckwood Family, but she also didn''t want to see Chloe being mistreated.

    At that moment, Vesper stopped them from leaving.

    "Moira, where are you taking Miss Davis?"

    Moira, feeling awkward, forced a smile. "Oh, nowhere special, we just wanted to get some fresh air."

    "Fresh air? I invited you to my banquet, not to have you wandering off."

    "I just got a new bracelet and wanted to show it to you all." "Everyone,e take a look."

    Vesper gathered everyone around and raised her wrist to show off her bracelet.

    The bracelet was gilded, with a unique design and exquisite craftsmanship. The sp was adorned with a vibrant green gemstone, rumored to be worth a fortune, taken from a queen''s crown.

    Without some serious connections or wealth, not only would it be impossible to buy such a bracelet, but even seeing it would be a stretch.

    Everyone started praising Vesper''s bracelet.

    "Ms. ckwood, this bracelet must be worth a fortune. I recognize that gemstone; it''s incredibly rare..."

    "Yeah, I''ve only seen that gemstone on TV. Thete queen wore it on her crown during a state visit."

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    "Only someone as elegant as Ms. ckwood could pull off such a bracelet."

    "Thanks to Ms. ckwood, I get to see such a beautiful piece."

    Amidst thepliments, Vesper started to lose herself. She knew she was the star of tonight''s banquet.

    She relished the feeling of being the center of attention.

    Moira, seeing the bracelet, couldn''t help but praise it to Chloe.

    She whispered, "Vesper really went all out, huh? For such a small party, she wore such

    an expensive bracelet. She''s making everyone else look bad."

    Hearing Moira''s words, Chloe shook her head.

    She whispered back, "That bracelet isn''t as valuable as it seems..."

    "Don''t feel bad. The Thorne Group''s annual profit could buy one."

    Chloe was joking quietly with Moira, but Vesper, who had been watching her, overheard.

    Already upset about Grant, Vesper''s face darkened when she heard Chloe say her

    bracelet wasn''t that valuable.

    "Miss Davis, what do you mean by that? Are you saying my bracelet isn''t as valuable as

    it seems? Are you implying it''s fake?"

    Vesper raised her voice, directly confronting Chloe.

    All eyes at the banquet turned to Chloe.

    Chloe was speechless. She had just whispered ament, and Vesper heard it? How closely was she watching her?

    "Who is this ''Miss Davis''? What kind of taste does she have to say Ms. ckwood''s bracelet isn''t worth much?"

    "Is she kidding? Ms. ckwood''s bracelet is a priceless treasure that many people couldn''t afford in a lifetime. And she, a nobody, says it''s not worth much?"

    People started criticizing Chloe.

    Some guests recognized Chloe.

    They whispered, "Isn''t she the socialite from the Davis Family engaged to the Martin Family?"

    "Yes, that''s her. Not very impressive looking, and her taste isn''t great either. Has she even seen a gilded bracelet before? Saying it''s not worth much?"

    "Shh... Maybe she has. After all, she''s engaged to the Martin Family. They have plenty of treasures."

    "From what I know, the Martin Family hasn''t given her anything. Mrs. Martin made it clear she doesn''t approve of her as her son''s wife."

    The murmurs made Vesper smile.

    She wanted Chloe to back off, to realize that someone as noble as Grant was out of her league.

    Only she was worthy of someone like Grant.

    Moira, always protective of Chloe, didn''t want her to be embarrassed. She said, "Ms. ckwood, Chloe didn''t mean anything. She didn''t say your bracelet isn''t valuable."

    "You''re overthinking it..."

    Moira''s words angered Vesper. She pushed Moira aside and said, "Moira, this has nothing to do with you. Step aside."

    Seeing Vesper treat Moira this way, Chloe''s temper red.

    She stood tall, looked Vesper in the eye, and said firmly, "I said it. Your bracelet isn''t worth much!"

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 Chapter 361 None of Your Business?

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Vesper''s face turned beet red with anger.

    She red at Chloe and snapped, "You hick, have you ever seen anything valuable? Who do you think you are, calling my bracelet fake?"

    Vesper had a bit of a temper, and maybe she saw Chloe as a threat to her rtionship with Grant, so she was always hostile towards her.

    Calling Chloe a "hick" right off the bat, her words dripped with disdain.

    Chloe wasn''t one to make enemies, but if she didn''t stand up for herself now, it would make the Davis Family look weak.

    Chloe smiled slightly and said, "Ms. ckwood, have you never seen the world? You''re treating this fake bracelet like it''s some kind of treasure? And you im it''s a diamond from thete princess''s crown? Do you really think you have enough money to buy a royal diamond?"

    "So what if it''s a royal diamond? Why can''t the ckwood Family buy it?" Vesper shot back, her confidence bolstered by her family''s wealth.

    Chloe continued, "You really are clueless. You think you can buy a royal diamond? If you have a smartphone, check online right now. The diamond identical to the one on your bracelet is currently in the national museum of the princess''s home country." "Do you think the princess''s home country is so broke that they''d care about the ckwood Family''s money?"

    "Ms. ckwood, I suggest you verify it quickly, so you don''t embarrass yourself." Chloe''s words were calm, but they hit Vesper like a p in the face.

    Vesper had organized this party to unt her new bracelet, only to have everyone see it was a fake?

    After hearing Chloe''s words, the party guests pulled out their phones and started searching.

    When they saw the live video confirming that the diamond from the princess''s crown was in the national museum, everyone fell silent.

    Did Vesper think everyone was so clueless that she could show off like this?

    "Well, I thought I''d see a real diamond, but it''s just a fake."

    "Yeah, who knew Miss Davis, who looks so unassuming, actually knows about diamonds? No wonder the Martin Family''s Louis wants to marry into the Davis Family."

    "Yes, Miss Davis has good taste."

    Hearing everyone start to praise Chloe, Vesper couldn''t keep herposure.

    She shot Chloe a fierce re and then stormed off.

    The guests came over to talk to Chloe, but considering it was Vesper''s party, Chloe didn''t want to steal the spotlight.

    After chatting briefly, she prepared to leave with Moira.

    "Moira, the party''s winding down. Should we head out?"

    "Sounds good."

    Moira put down her wine ss and left with Chloe, politely saying goodbye to their new acquaintances.

    Moira had wanted to personally say goodbye to Vesper, but seeing Vesper''s sour expression as she talked to her friends, she decided against it.

    From a distance, Vesper watched Moira and Chloe leave, her perfectly made-up face showing a hint of malice.

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    This damn Chloe dared to monopolize a man as outstanding as Grant and steal her spotlight?

    This was Sovereign City, not the Northwest. This wasn''t Chloe''s turf.

    Vesper clenched her fists, then returned to her usual sweet demeanor.

    Chloe and Moira chatted as they walked out of the party.

    Moira asked curiously, "Chloe, I never knew you were so knowledgeable. How did you know Vesper''s bracelet was fake?"

    Chloe replied, "Actually, Vesper''s bracelet isn''t fake. The gold is real, and the design is by a famous master. It''s just that the diamond''s quality is a bitcking."

    "A few years ago, I went abroad with my grandfather and saw the real diamond in the national museum of that country."

    "I was young and loved that diamond, but my grandfather''s influential friend told me it was a national treasure, and no amount of money could buy it."

    "When people said Vesper''s bracelet had the princess''s diamond, and Vesper didn''t deny it, it showed her vanity. If she hadn''t targeted me, I wouldn''t have embarrassed her."

    "But she humiliated me and pushed you, which I couldn''t tolerate."

    Hearing that Chloe stood up to Vesper because Vesper pushed her, Moira felt very happy.

    Though older than Chloe, Moira felt like Chloe was a little sister protecting her big sister at the party.

    She epted Chloe as her little sister.

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    After chatting a bit more, Chloe and ira parted ways and went home.

    Having eaten a bit too much at the party, Chloe felt a bit full. When the car reached the gate of Grant''s vimunity, she asked the driver to drop her off so she could walk

    a bit.

    Unexpectedly, as soon as she got out of the car, she saw Odette with a small bag approaching her.

    Odette spoke to her pitifully, "Chloe..."

    Since the kidnapping incident, Chloe hadn''t seen Odette. Grant had been investigating

    the mastermind behind the kidnapping.

    Unfortunately, the perpetrator was too well-hidden, and there were no leads.

    Seeing Odette, Chloe nodded slightly.

    "How did you find me here?"

    Odette quickly exined, "Chloe, I came to apologize tonight. Thest incident was my mistake. I didn''t expect my rtive to be so unreliable."

    "Chloe, I really didn''t mean to harm you. You know, I was tied up too and had no way

    to help."

    Feeling guilty about the incident, Odette had tried multiple times to apologize to

    Chloe, but her messages went unanswered.

    Upon hearing this, Chloe''s lips curled into a slight smile.

    "So, this had nothing to do with you?"

 Chapter 362 Are You Jealous?

    Hearing Chloe''s words, Odette''s expression flickered for a moment.

    But she quicklyposed herself and said, "Chloe, seriously, this has nothing to do with me. You gotta believe me."

    As she spoke, Odette reached out to grab Chloe''s arm. Although Chloe was a bit annoyed, she didn''t push her away.

    Odette continued, "Chloe, I swear, I didn''t mean to hurt you, and I definitely didn''t n to. I was just nervous, that''s why I fell."

    Seeing Odette keep exining, Chloe decided not to argue further.

    She nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I believe you."

    "Good."

    Odette brightened up.

    "So... Chloe, do you have time in the next couple of days? Let''s grab a meal together."

    Without even thinking, Chloe directly refused, "No, my schedule''s pretty tight these days. Let''s talk about itter."

    "Oh..." Odette was a bit disappointed. She then said, "How about after these few days?"

    Chloe still refused, "We''ll see."

    "Alright, it''s gettingte. Let me walk you home," Odette said, reaching out to link arms with Chloe.

    Chloe subtly pushed her away and said, "You don''t need to. I''m almost home. It''s just a few steps."

    "Aren''t you going to invite me in for a ss of water? I''ve been waiting here for quite a while," Odette said, still curious about Chloe and Grant''s home.

    Chloe decisively used Grant as an excuse to refuse.

    She said, "Maybe another time. You know how Grant is. He doesn''t like strangers at home."

    Odette had gone to the same school as Grant, so she knew his temper. Besides, it was almost midnight, and visiting someone''s home at this hour was indeed inappropriate. Standing at the entrance of the neighborhood, Odette chatted with Chloe for a bit longer before hailing a cab and leaving.

    Watching her leave, Chloe couldn''t help but seriously recall the events of that night on the deserted ind.

    Chloe had put in a lot of effort to cut the ropes binding the three of them. They were about to jump onto the small boat when Odette fell to the ground, making a loud noise.

    At that moment, Rena had suspected Odette.

    Chloe had her doubts about Odette, too, but she remained calmer than Rena because she knew that even if they fell out with Odette, they couldn''t escape danger in that situation.

    Now that they were safe, and Odette was approaching her again, did she have some other big move nned?

    Chloe was very curious.

    At the same time, a slightly tipsy Hry arrived at an underground casino.

    Perry was at the casino, ying cards with some people. When those around Perry saw Hry approaching, they quickly made way for her.

    Perry was ying with the cards in his hand and smoking a cigarette.

    Seeing Hry, he nced at her before turning his attention back to his cards.

    "What are you doing here?" Perry seemed a bit displeased with Hry''s arrival.

    Hry boldly walked up to him, snatched the cards from his hand, and mmed them onto the table in front of him.

    The people ying cards with Perry, seeing that Hry was about to blow up, wisely left, giving the couple some space.

    "What the hell is wrong with you?"

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    Perry was pretty pissed about Hry snatching his cards and called her "crazy." Hry ignored him, ring at Perry and saying, "Crazy? I think you''re the one who''s lost it."

    "Perry, how low can you go? You insist on being with that woman, Lucy? I don''t get it. You have so many women around you, why does it have to be her?"

    "She''s been sent overseas, and you still keep her around? Is she really that good in bed?"

    Hry was truly furious.

    Her husband''s being unfaithful was something she hade to terms with over the years. With the family''s wealth entangled, their divorce wouldn''t be easy.

    "Sweetheart, I thought it was something serious. Are you jealous?"

    "Yes, I do like Lucy, but don''t worry, I still care about you and our family. There''s no need to argue over another woman."

    Perry looked at Hry with a cating expression, thinking that she still cared about him.

    Indeed, to make a woman jealous, you had to use another woman to defeat her.

    Hry was disgusted by Perry''s words.

    She retorted, "Damn it, have some shame."

    "Jealous? Jealous of you and those women? How bored do you think I am? Perry, I''m

    warning you, if you want to die, don''t drag me and the kids down with you."

    Hry''s words grew harsher, and her expression became increasingly grim. Perry was taken aback.

    "What do you mean?"

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    Hry threw a stack of photos in front of Perry.

    "Your woman messed with Chloe... Chloe is the beloved socialite of the Davis Family and the future matriarch of the Martin Family. A man like Grant won''t let anyone who harms his interests off the hook. He''s already spared Lucy once."

    "This time, Lucy hurt Chloe again, and Grant has already found some clues."

    "If he finds out that you brought Lucy back from overseas, do you think he''ll let you

    go?"

    Hry sternly reminded Perry.

    Perry had some influence in Sovereign City, but he was still a bit behind Grant.

    If he fell out with Grant, he wouldn''t stand a chance.

    "Damn it!"

    Perry cursed under his breath, and Hry didn''t know who he was cursing.

    "One more thing, I''ve invested all my money in Chloe''s venture capitalpany over the years and made quite a bit."

    "To me, Chloe is my benefactor. If your woman dares to touch my benefactor again, I swear I''ll tear her apart."

    "Perry, think carefully."

    Hry wasn''t threatening Perry. Making someone like Lucy disappear was something she could easily do.

    With that, Hry turned and left.

    Perry sat in therge casino, his expression heavy.

    Sure enough, it wasn''t long before someone came to deliver a message to him.

 Chapter 363 No Need to Apologize to Anyone

    "Boss, the Martin Family''s been keeping an eye on ustely..."

    "Yeah, they seem to be getting suspicious of our crew."

    Perry''s frown deepened at the news.

    Meanwhile, over at Grant''s ce, Chloe had just gotten home. She took a shower, changed into somefy clothes, and settled on the couch to video chat with Rena.

    She told Rena about bumping into Odette at the entrance to the vi area earlier that day.

    Rena had some thoughts on that.

    "Chloe, I haven''t seen Odette much, but I get the feeling she''s hiding something."

    "I''m suspicious of her. We said we were looking for info about Sophia, which has nothing to do with her, yet she''s all eager to help us find clues?"

    "Keep your distance from her."

    Chloe nodded, "Okay, I''ll steer clear of her."

    "Good."

    Chloe then asked Rena about the clothingpany and brought up Michael.

    "So, what''s Michael been up to these past few days?" Chloe asked casually. Mentioning Michael made Rena blush. She recounted the recent events to Chloe, especially how Michael used Philip to annoy Anissa.

    Rena''s exaggerated storytelling had Chloeughing uncontrobly.

    Serves her right, Chloe thought. Bad people always get what''sing to them.

    When Anissa argued with Grant, he couldn''t handle her, but when she tried to mess with Michael, he gave her a hard time.

    She must be really frustrated.

    While chatting with Rena, Grant walked in. He looked serious and a bit down, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

    Seeing Grant like this, Chloe ended the video call with Rena and went over to him.

    She poured him a ss of water and handed it to him, "Here, Grantie, have some water."

    "Thanks." Seeing Chloe, Grant''s eyes softened a bit. He reached out and gently caressed her cheek.

    Grant found that the pressures of life, work, and family overwhelming, but having Chloe around made it all a bit more bearable.

    "Grantie, you seem upset. Is there a problem with the Martin group?" Chloe asked.

    Grant shook his head.

    "Is it your mom causing trouble again?" Chloe continued.

    Grant stayed silent.

    Seeing his increasingly heavy expression, Chloe whispered, "Grantie, maybe I should

    find some time to apologize to your mom?"

    Grant put down the water ss and pulled Chloe into his arms.

    He whispered, "Chloe, it''s not your fault. Don''t overthink it. I''m just feeling down, and it has nothing to do with you."

    "You don''t need to apologize to anyone."

    With that, Grant cupped Chloe''s face and started kissing her.

    His kiss was gentle and light, but it carried a lot of invisible pressure.

    Chloe kissed him back, feeling that this was the only way tofort him.

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    They made love in the living room, and during the climax, Grant held Chloe tightly and said, "Chloe, from now on, it''s just you and me. We''ll never betray each other."

    Grant''s words left Chloe puzzled.

    The next morning, Grant left for work early as usual. When Chloe woke up, the housekeeper was already busy.

    She cleaned the house and made a delicious breakfast for Chloe.

    After breakfast, Chloe took a car to Quest University.

    On the way, she called Grant''s assistant, Stanley.

    "Hey Stanley, what''s Grantie been up to these past few days?" she asked.

    Stanley replied, "Not much. We are just working on two major projects for the Martin group, but everything''s going smoothly."

    "Did Grantie act weird at all yesterday?"

    Stanley answered, "No, Mr. Martin was in meetings all morning. In the afternoon, he said he was going out. I arranged a driver for him, but he decided to drive himself."

    "Oh? He drove himself?" Chloe asked.

    "Yes."

    "Okay, got it."

    Chloe sensed that Grant''s unhappiness might be rted to his outing yesterday afternoon.

    Who did he meet? What did they talk about that made Grant so down?

    Grant didn''t want to burden Chloe with too much pressure, but Chloe loved him so much that she couldn''t bear to see him sad.

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    Two people who truly love each other always consider each other''s feelings.

    At Quest University, Chloe met Liam and casually mentioned Grant''s unhappiness.

    Liam said, "Grant being unhappy is normal. Ever since my mom came back to the country, it seems like everyone''s been on edge."

    Anissa''s controlling nature was strong. She not only wanted to control Grant''s marriage but also Michael and Liam''s marriages, as if that was the only way to show her value as

    a mother.

    The three brothers resisted Anissa''s interference in their marriages in their own ways.

    Liam had also been having a tough timetely, often being called back to the Martin Mansion for various brainwashing sessions. He had gotten used to letting her words go in one ear and out the other.

    "But Chloe, don''t worry too much. Grant was chosen by my grandfather to be the heir of the Martin group. He can handle this."

    "Just take care of yourself and don''t add to Grant''s troubles. That will make him happy."

    Liam''s words made Chloe nod.

    She said, "Okay, you take good care of Zara. She''s a good girl."

    Liam nodded.

    Indeed, Zara was a good girl.

    Since they had made love that one time, they both felt the beauty of it. Whenever they

    had time, they stuck together. Liam was deeply in love with Zara''s body.

    He felt he couldn''t be apart from Zara for even a moment.

    Unfortunately, they would face a lot of pressure in the future.

    After all, Anissa would never agree to him being with Zara.

    After school, Chloe bought a gift and prepared to go to the Martin Family to apologize

    to Anissa...

 Chapter 364 Go Apologize to Her

    If apologizing could ease the tension between Grant and Anissa, Chloe was ready to

    swallow her pride and do whatever it took for Grant.

    She carefully picked out gifts: a beautiful ne and a stylish coat.

    Chloe had the driver take her to the Martin Mansion.

    At the mansion''s entrance, Chloe ran into Mia, whom she hadn''t seen in a while.

    Seeing Chloe, Mia lit up and greeted her, "Miss Davis, what a surprise!"

    "Yeah, I''m here to see Anissa."

    Noticing the gifts Chloe was carrying, Mia quickly caught on to Chloe''s intentions. As a long-time servant of the Martin Family, Mia knew Anissa''s temperament well.

    Mia warned Chloe, "Miss Davis, she''s got quite the temper. I doubt she''ll be thrilled to see you."

    Chloe smiled and replied, "That''s okay. I''m just here to see her. If she doesn''t want me here, I''ll leave."

    Mia and Chloe walked into the living room together. Anissa was lounging on the sofa, chatting on the phone. When she saw Chloe, she hung up and red at her with piercing eyes.

    Chloe ced the gifts on the coffee table.

    "Hi," she greeted Anissa.

    "What are you doing here?" Anissa snapped, clearly still disapproving of Chloe.

    "I brought you a ne and a coat..." Chloe pointed to the gifts on the table.

    Chloe thought that, as Mrs. Martin, Anissa, a woman of high society, would at least show some courtesy since she brought gifts. But Anissa nced at the items with disdain and said sarcastically, "Thanks, but the Martin Family is wealthy. We can buy plenty of things ourselves. We don''t need, your gifts."

    Anissa''s words were incredibly rude.

    Chloe, a socialite from the Davis Family, was visiting as a courtesy. The Davis and Martin families had a long-standing rtionship. As an elder, Anissa''s behavior was uncalled for.

    "I know you''ve had issues with me from the start, thinking I''m not suitable for Grant."

    "I admit, I was wrong before. I was young and impulsive, and sometimes I shed with you. I''m here to apologize."

    "I hope you, as an elder, won''t hold onto these past issues."

    Chloe humbled herself more than ever for Grant''s sake, ready to endure any humiliation.

    Unexpectedly, Anissa showed no mercy and continued to mock Chloe, "Miss Davis apologizing to me? That''s a first!"

    "Let''s cut to the chase. You don''t need to mock me," Chloe stood tall and looked at Anissa.

    She came to apologize, not to be insulted. As a Davis Family socialite, she needed to maintain her dignity.

    "Fine, then tell me, what''s your purpose in apologizing?" Anissa asked, crossing her legs and staring at Chloe.

    Chloe took a deep breath and said, "Grant''s job is already stressful enough. I just want you to stop giving him a hard time about our marriage."

    "I want to ease the tension between you and your son."

    Anissa''s expression hardened immediately.

    "If you want me to make peace with Grant, then leave him. I don''t approve of your rtionship," she said bluntly.

    "But the Martin Family and I have a marriage agreement. Louis said I could marry whoever I chose, and I chose Grant..." Chloe stood her ground.

    The Martin Family had sought the marriage agreement with the Davis Family, but now they wanted to break it.

    "You may have chosen Grant, but as his mother, I don''t approve of you."

    "If you insist on being with Grant, I don''t mind him keeping you as a mistress. As for

    his legal wife, I have someone else in mind."

    Anissa''s words were a severe insult to Chloe.

    Suggesting Chloe be Grant''s mistress? Was this appropriate for an elder to say?

    Even with Chloe''s good temper and upbringing, this was too much to bear. "Anissa, how can you say that?"

    "If you don''t like my words, you can leave Grant. You came to apologize, not me asking for it."

    "You..."

    Chloe''s face turned red with anger.

    Mia, standing nearby, clenched her fists in frustration.

    Chloe, a cherished socialite from the Davis Family, was being told to be Grant''s

    mistress? This was beyond excessive.

    As the tension escted, the living room door burst open, and Grant stormed in, furious.

    He had heard Anissa''s words as he entered.

    Sadly, this was his mother, who could casually insult his fianc¨¦e.

    "Mom, you''ve gone too far."

    Grant rushed to Chloe''s side, holding her trembling body, and confronted Anissa.

    Anissa was unfazed, pleased with herself for insulting Chloe.

    "I''ve gone too far? She came to apologize, not me asking for it."

    "If she''s here to apologize, she should have the right attitude. Can''t she handle a few words from me?"

    "Look at her, pretending to apologize but calling you over. She''s not trying to ease our rtionship; she''s trying to stir things up."

    "Grant, I won''t approve of your rtionship. Don''t bring up the marriage agreement. Marriage can end in divorce. A piece of paper can be torn up."

    Anissa''s words grew more outrageous. She dismissed the marriage agreement Louis had set up, showing no respect for him.

    Fed up with Anissa, Grant held Chloe and left.

    Meanwhile, Mia used her phone to record the conversation between Anissa and Chloe and sent the video to Nichs.

 Chapter 365 Chloe Is Really Too Pitiful

    Nichs, who was in the Northwest, was absolutely livid after receiving the video.

    He yelled at his butler, "The Martin Family has gone too far... Louis really has poor judgment. How could he have such a daughter-inw?"

    "She disagrees with the engagement, fine, just call it off. But to insult my granddaughter like this, who does she think she is?"

    "I can''t let this slide. What do you think we should do about this?"

    Nichs handed the phone to the butler, who watched the video and was equally furious.

    Holding the phone, the butler sighed, "Mr. Davis, Miss Davis is truly pitiful... She''s the precious child you''ve raised with such care. How could Anissa, that old woman, insult her like this?"

    "This won''t do. I''ll go to Sovereign City right now and bring Miss Davis back."

    "How could she endure the Martin Family''s treatment? Miss Davis doesn''t need them." Nichs''s butler, usuallyposed, was rarely this agitated.

    "By the way, we need to send this video to Louis so he understands why we''re calling off the engagement."

    The butler reminded Nichs.

    Nichs immediately agreed, "Yes, send it to him..."

    "Tell him I''ll be in Sovereign City in a couple of days. He shoulde over, too, so we can discuss the engagement."

    "As soon as the engagement is called off, bring my granddaughter back..."

    Nichs said a lot, but his main point was clear: he didn''t want Chloe to stay in Sovereign City and suffer any longer.

    The butler calmed himself and began to analyze the situation.

    "Mr. Davis, let''s not act impulsively. I''ve heard that Miss Davis and Mr. Martin have developed strong feelings for each other. If we force her toe back, wouldn''t we be breaking up a loving couple?"

    The butler''s words brought Nichs back to his senses.

    Indeed, Chloe and Grant were getting along well. If they called off the engagement because of Anissa, wouldn''t that make Chloe even more upset?

    Nichs was torn between his love for his granddaughter and his desire to protect her from humiliation.

    But Anissa''s attitude towards Chloe was something Nichs couldn''t tolerate. Finally, Nichs made his decision.

    He personally called Louis.

    "Louis, let me tell you, if your family thinks the marriage alliance with the Davis Family

    is unsuitable, we can call off the engagement. It''s not like our daughter has to marry into your family."

    "Of course, if Grant still wants to be with my granddaughter, he cane to the Davis Family. Rest assured, I won''t treat him the way your family does."

    "That''s it, goodbye."

    Nichs angrily finished his speech and hung up before Louis could respond.

    On the other end, Louis was bewildered by the call.

    He had no idea why Nichs was so furious.

    Until Nichs had his butler send the video to Louis.

    Louis watched the video with a dark expression, his aged face filled with anger.

    He gritted his teeth, staring at the arrogant Anissa in the video, without saying a word.

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    Those who had been around Louis long enough knew that when he had this expression, it meant he was truly enraged.

    After watching the video, Louis leaned on his cane and sat down.

    He muttered, "Looks like she''s been living toofortably all these years!"

    "I''m not dead yet, and the Martin Family isn''t hers to control. Someone, arrange a

    private jet. We''re going to Sovereign City tomorrow."

    "And, I remember Anissa has a few smallpanies that are still profitable? Cut off all their business!"

    Louis issued his orders with authority.

    Anissa didn''te from a high background. Back then, Louis waspletely against Quentin having any rtionship with her. But Anissa was young, beautiful, and cunning. She schemed to get pregnant with Grant.

    For the sake of the Martin Family''s bloodline, Louis pressured Quentin to marry her into the family.

    Since she married into the Martin Family, Quentin never liked her. Even after Grant was born, Quentin never stepped into her room.

    Their rtionship had no foundation, and whenever they met, it was either arguing or fighting.

    To secure her position in the Martin Family, Anissa used special means to get pregnant with twins, Michael and Liam.

    After having three children, her position in the Martin Family was solidified.

    But her rtionship with Quentin grew colder. Quentin was always a yboy, surrounded by women. He didn''t like Anissa, but under Louis''s pressure and the constraint of three children, he didn''t divorce her.

    However, their years of separation were a fact.

    Louis worried that Anissa had no support or security in the Martin Family, so he allowed Anissa''s sister, Giselle, to work in the Martin group.

    He even made her the head of the finance department.

    That wasn''t all. Louis also gave Anissa a fewpanies, guiding their operations to ensure they were profitable so that Anissa could have a more dignified life. Unexpectedly, despite his support, Anissa acted tyrannically in the Martin Family.

    A daughter-inw who dared to disregard him wasn''t worth keeping.

    Louis was furious.

    Meanwhile, Grant, with a serious expression, brought Chloe back to his vi. He hadn''t spoken a word the entire way.

    Anissa''s harsh words to Chloe felt like knives in his heart. He resented Anissa but didn''t know how to face her.

    He felt sorry for Chloe and didn''t want her to endure such humiliation.

    Chloe hadn''t expected Anissa to be like this. She felt she had overstepped, trying to mend her rtionship with Anissa, but now...

    Grant parked the car in the yard of his vi.

    After parking, he got out, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and lit one.

    Chloe got out of the car and walked over to him.

    She reached out, timidly tugging at his sleeve, gently shaking his arm.

    "Grant, I''m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn''t have gone to apologize to your mother."

    "If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t have had to argue with her."

    "I... I just... I didn''t expect this oue, Grant. I just didn''t want you to be caught between us."

    Chloe was so upset that she was on the verge of tears.

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