Chapter 23


    Lucas was heading somewhere, and Chloe knew exactly where. Without making a fuss, she


    opened the car door. Chloe then took a taxi back to Moncada Estate.


    When Tara saw Chloe return alone, she had a pretty good idea of what had happened and was


    about to go fetch Lucas herself. But Chloe stopped her.


    "Let it go. His heart''s not here. Even if he came back, he''d just be hopeless. Let him be," Chloe said


    before heading upstairs.


    Tara rarely saw Chloe look so defeated. She had no clue what had happened that evening.


    Lucas didn''te back for a whole week. During that time, Chloe''s routine remained unchanged,


    except she never once visited Greenpeace Estate. She used to go there two or three times a week.


    After Marian''s big birthday bash, Chloe hadn''t seen Connor either. Had he finally let her be?


    Life seemed calm, but Chloe couldn''t shake a nagging sense of unease.


    The night Lucas finally returned, Tara blew up at the dinner table. "Do you even care about this


    family anymore? From now on, if you spend another night out, you won’t be my son anymore," Tara


    fumed.


    Lucas, wary of his mother''s wrath, responded, "Mom, I''ve been at the office these past few days. I


    just got back and am still getting used to the business. I''ve been working round the clock and


    sleeping at the office. I came back today because of work."


    Antonio backed him up, "That''s right, I checked with Tyler. Lucas has been staying at thepany


    apartment these past few days."


    Tara''s expression softened, and she changed the subject, "Is work going smoothly?"


    Lucas put down his fork, his eyes locking onto Chloe. "Thanks to someone, not at all."


    Joshua frowned. "What happened?"


    Lucas exined, "Today, Sartori Corporation opened bids, inviting hundreds of construction


    companies to CNR Tower, including several that are a notch below Lucas Construction. Leading


    Heights was the onlypany left out. We didn''t even receive the tender documents, and it''s all


    thanks to your beloved daughter-inw."


    The CNR Tower was Sartori Corporation''s office building in Riverbrook, right across from the TV


    station. Chloe remembered once joking with "Trophy Boy" when she saw him leaving the building,


    asking if he had switched jobs. He had replied, "I own this building." Chloe hadughed it off, not


    realizing the implications back then. Now, she regretted getting involved with such a man.


    Hearing Lucas'' words, Tara defended Chloe, "Chloe doesn''t work at Moncada International. How is


    this her fault?"


    "Because she offended Mr. Connor three years ago. She even threw a thousand dors at him and


    insulted him," Lucas retold the incident that was revealed at Marian''s grand birthday celebration.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    The atmosphere at the dinner table grew tense. Lucas nced at Chloe, a hint of schadenfreude in


    his eyes. "Unless this issue is resolved, Sartori Corporation will never consider Leading Heights for


    the resort project. Chloe, you made this mess. Now you clean it up."


    After a moment, Joshua spoke, "If we really can''t secure this project, then so be it."


    Frustrated, Lucas said, "Grandpa, you said this project is crucial for Moncada International''s


    survival. Now, that involves Chloe, and you want to let it go. Is apologizing to them beneath her? Is


    Moncada International''s survival not as important as Chloe''s pride?"