Ch. 341..350
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 341-A Strong Support Lauren insisted on drivingback has | left the Vanderberg Palace. | grabbed a couple of fresh outfits and asked her to taketo the airport.
During the ride, | made calls to both Ryan and Grayson.
Grayson offered, “l can accompany you, you know. Are you sure you want to go alone?” “Your mission is more crucial. Finding evidence is the key to victory. I'll be fine on my own. Trust me, | earnestly advised Grayson.
The remorse in Ryan’s voice was clear.
| was not worried about the company with Ryan in charge, but he was not good at complicated relationships. His tabroad had dulled his understanding of complex interpersonal dynamics.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt Teasingly, | said to Lauren, “Your ideas are truly classic. Why do | feel like you're such a smooth operator?” She glanced atand retorted, “Who's the smooth operator here? You're just too close to the situation.
Your brain is leagues ahead of the rest of us.
“In my opinion, you've let the company stagnate in the years Matthew ran it. 'm certain that Tanum Corporation would've been much better off if you managed it the entire time.” “Well, that's not necessarily true. Matthew has his own strengths. He prioritizes profit, which is something I'm not as adept at.
Sometimes, | place too much emphasis on loyalty and trust, and I'm not as flexible in negotiations.” | reflected on my shortcomings. In truth, the lesson | received from Atticus today helpedrecognize these weaknesses more clearly.
“It seems you can still improve!” Lauren teasedwith a smile. “Next time, | might just have to charge you for my advice!” My eyes lit up. “Why not beca shareholder in Tanum Corporation? You can handle public relations!” “Hah. You're quite the entrepreneur, aren’t you?” She scoffed. “Is this a communal company? You were just boating about your loyalty just now. What you see is what you get.” chuckled, “Isn't it a good idea for everyone to work together?” Alright, sort out the immediate situation first,” She said in concern, “If you need help, don't hesitate to Don't try to tough it out alone. It takes a village, you know.
“I understand,” | assured her. She had already parked the car at the entrance of the airport terminal.
“All the best!” Lauren said as | got out of the car.
I hurried inside. A few steps later, | stopped and looked at Lauren.
“Could you…find a way to ask about Atlas?” It was difficult to bring up, but | needed to know.
1 know, | know!” Lauren grumbled. “I'm already trying to figure something out. Go! Be safe! Letknow when you've landed.” | waved to Lauren with a triumphant smile and boarded the plane to Solaris.
By the t| arrived in Solaris, it was already late evening. | wasted no tin finding the location of the address.
Once | had my bearings, | set up camp nearby. First, | grabbed a bite to eat. Then | went to check out the address. Surprisingly, it was a quaint cottage. In this area, such houses were becoming increasingly rare.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Dominic Welsh. | wondered what kind of old man he was.
| spotted a small hair salon across the street and walked in. After inquiring about prices, | decided to treat myself to a hair treatment. The best part was that it took stime, givingthe chance to chat a little longer.
The shop owner was a stylish middle-aged woman.
When she heard | wanted a treatment, her face lit up. She knew that this lucrative service.
was the on Her enthusiasm knew no bounds, and she hardly took a breath.
| took the opportunity to quickly ask her about the people in the cottage.
“Hey! Why are you asking about that old fossil? That old couple living in that cottage… They're quite the odd pair!”
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 342-The Stubborn Old Man Not only did the shop owner open up about it, even the woman getting her hair done chimed in. It seemed like they were both very familiar with this family It turned out that Dominic's eccentric behavior had a backstory.
He was born into an intellectual family and taught chemistry at a university in the city. He was devoted to his career and got married quite late. He had a child in his middle age, the cherry on top of his already blissful life.
Everything seemed perfect, but little did he know that his idyllic dream lasted only five years.
At the time, he was at the pinnacle of his career. He was the youngest Ph.D. supervisor, and he even bought a house.
This was supposed to be an enviable celebration, but tragedy struck when his beloved son was diagnosed, with leukemia the second year after moving into the new house.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt This news shattered Dominic's dreams. He traveled far and wide to seek treatment for his child, depleting his wealth and ending up with nothing.
He couldn't fathom why this had happened. His child had always been healthy, lively, and exceptionally intelligent. How could he be afflicted with such an illness? Determined to find answers, he spared no effort in his investigation. Eventually, his hard work paid off, leading him to a shocking conclusion. The house had hazardous substances far exceeding safety limits, resulting in dire consequences.
In a twist of fate, another young child tragically lost their life during his investigation, further confirming his findings.
Then Dominic filed a lawsuit against the property developer.
“That incident made headlines. Later, he won the case and heard he received a hefty settlement!” The woman getting her hair done chimed in. “Even all the homeowners in that building benefited.” “Yes, | heard he received quite a sum, but it’s said that he donated all of it, saying he established s kind of laboratory! He is quite a stubborn man. With so much money, why conduct experiments?” The shop owner lamented. “I just don’t understand!” Then, Pinnacle Group managed to hire him, offering a hefty monthly sum! What a shame, though. He didn’t have any children after that.” The two women chatted animatedly, and | managed to piece together the story.
It was clear that Pinnacle Group had a knack for marketing. Their ability to recruit Dominic was the ultimate testament to their persuasive abilities.
Pinnacle Group had becthe leading brand in real estate. Their foresight and ambition set them apart even in this seemingly minor incident.
1 realized | had forgotten something important. | hadn't brought the relevant documents.
After my hair was done, | felt | had a good grasp of Dominic's situation. | paid and walked out.
The two women were still engrossed in their gossip. | quickly called Carol and briefed her on the situation.
| asked her to bring all our relevant documents, including those related to the products that failed. inspection, company paperwork, and others. Everything needed to be in order, and the sooner, the better! | needed to be convincing. | also contacted Fred, arranging a hasty meeting to update him on the current situation.
After all, we were in a cooperative partnership.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Carol arrived on an early flight the following day, and | had all the documents in hand before noon. However, when | went to Pinnacle Group's headquarters to request a meeting with Dominic, they informedhe had taken a day off and wasn't in.
| quickly returned with Carol and went straight to the cottage.
It took a while, but the door finally opened. A man with glasses and graying hair answered, but he hurried back inside as soon as he saw me. It leftpuzzled.
| cautiously stepped into the cottage. It was tidied up neatly, exuding a quintessential charm.
As | examined the surroundings, a voice from inside the main hall inquired, “What brings you here?” | quickly regained my composure and entered. The main hall was filled with books, and the air carried the distinct scent of pages.
| saw movement to my right and made my way towards it. “Mr. Dominic, I…” | was surprised upon entering the room. It was a bit messy, and looking into the inner room, | saw someone lying on the bed.
Dominic was frantically tending to them. He turned and kicked over a spittoon at his feet loudly.
Do you mind waiting? I'm busy!” Dominic snapped without even looking up.
| set down my belongings and handed my bag to Carol. As | bent down to pick up the fallen spittoon, | saw a middle-aged woman on the bed, her complexion alarmingly pale. She seemed to be unconscious.
Dominic collided withand yelled, “If you Who let you in?” have something to say, do it later. | don’t have time! Get out! Startled by his sudden outburst, | stammered,
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 343-A Perfectly Timed Golden Opportunity Dominic was anxious. “Please leave! Can't you see someone is sick here?” “May | check on your wife?” | carefully asked for his permission. “I believe her condition is quite serious.” | He looked atwith panic, beads of sweat on his forehead.
“I have sexperience,” | added quickly. “I might be able to help.” After all, I've dealt with situations like this while caring for Ava these past few years.
Dominic glanced atbriefly, perhaps sensing my sincerity. He stepped aside and sighed. “She seems to have a fever.” | quickly felt the woman's forehead and neck. She was burning hot, beyond a regular fever. “How long has this been going on?” “She’s been running a fever since last night. She was still lucid this morning, but I…” “Dominic, I'm afraid we need to get her to the hospital. This won't do. Do you have a thermometer?” | asked.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt “I-1 don’t know where it is!” He was usually absorbed in his studies, leaving household matters to his wife.
| promptly told Carol, “Quick, call for an ambulance!” Then | gently called out to Dominic's wife on the bed. “Ma’am, can you hear me? Can you understand what I'm saying?” | turned to Dominic. “Sir, we need to get her to the hospital. She seems to be unconscious.” Dominic had a panicked look in his eyes. He seemed like a helpless child seeking help. “Miss, w—what should | do?” “At the moment, nothing. Let's wait until we get to the hospital and she’s examined. Don’t worry, I'll go with you,” | reassured him.
He glanced again at his wife on the bed, a look of helplessness in his eyes. “Thank you.” The ambulance arrived quickly. We helped Dominic's wife onto the stretcher, and then we all went to the hospital together, Dominic, in his panic, had forgotten to bring money. | asked Carol to take my card and handle the payment After all the examinations, the doctor cout with a severe expression.
“It's a good thing you brought her in when you did. Why did her fever get so high before coming to the hospital? She has lobar pneumonia with early heart and lung function decline. If you had waited any longer, it could have been very dangerous. She'll need to be hospitalized.” Dominic paled, and | comforted him, “Don’t worry, she'll be alright. Trust the doctor.” “Thank you! Thank you, Miss!” He kept thanking me, his hands fidgeting.
As the patient's condition remained unstable, we stayed th Dominis until late into the night. Finally, Dominic's wife's fever began to subside, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did Dominic askwho | was and why | had cto see him. | explained the situation thoroughly and showed him our relevant documents.
Whenever it cto work, he was an exceptionally serious individual. He diligently reviewed all the materials and then looked atto confirm the details.
Carol had prepared detailed documents, presenting records of our shipments and purchases to prove our usage.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Upon seeing the retested data from ATL Empire, he was so furious that his hands clenched.
“Liars! This data is completely wrong. They can deceive you, non—professionals, but these results can’t possibly cfrom these materials. Which department issued these reports? This is pure irresponsibility! Bunch of incompetents!” | exchanged glances with Carol and recounted the entire situation, leaving nothing out.
He muttered, “Those bastards.” | replied, “That's why I've reached a dead end and cto seek your help.” After scontemplation, he looked at the bed where his wife lay.
Finally, he said, “Please take care of my wife for me. I'll redo the data for you. Wait here!” “Rest assured, I'll take good care of your wife!” | said quickly. Even Carol couldn't contain her excited smile.
Dominic turned and left. It seemed that this man prioritized his career above all else. He was gone for a total of 15 hours without a trace.
This left Carol on edge, but | reassured her, telling her to trust that Dominic would provide a satisfactory His stubbornness was evident here. He only accepted genuine data, not rhetoric.
Dominic didn’t reappear at the hospital until the following evening. He held a thick stack of documents in his hands, which he handedwith great solemnity.
“These are the latest verification results. I'd say these are the most authoritative worldwide. If they still have objections, use this evidence to sue them.” | couldn't help but chuckle, as it was exactly what | wanted. | loved a good lawsuit.
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 344-Making Headlines Finally, with the documents in my hands, the weight in my heart lifted. | was deeply grateful for Dominic's assistance.
From his bag, he handedadditional materials. “These are promotional materials from the CEO of Pinnacle Group, along with information on materials similar to yours. You'll find copies of approval documents, test reports, certificates of compliance, and more.” He showedeach item, explaining. “There are also audiovisual materials stamped with Pinnacle Group's seal. | hope this can be of help to you.” | Seeing these materials, | was truly moved and couldn't find the words to express my gratitude. These documents filledwith confidence.
Dominic said, “Ms. Chloe, | hope you'll uphold your principles in every project contract-honesty, integrity, and a commitment to quality.” ean trust me.
What you | “Dominic, you said is exactly my motto.” | assured him solemnly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt He checked his watch and told me, “Tis tight, and you've already helpeda lot. Go on!” 1 quickly informed him that Sally had regained consciousness and that | had arranged for a caregiver. | assured him that | had covered the expenses.
Once all the arrangements were in place, | rushed to the airport with Carol and caught the last flight back to Foswood.
| called Grayson before boarding, and he said he'd pick us up from the airport.
As soon as Carol and | stepped out, we saw Ryan and Grayson waiting for us.
In the car, | shared the materials with them, and Grayson reported that they had gathered evidence of the fabricated data and identified the relevant personnel.
It was indeed a stroke of luck that day. In the conference room at ATL Empire, | turned the tide. ATL Empire thought they had it all in the bag and even invited a lot of media, thinking they'd be making headlines.
Little did they know, they had setup for success. My solid evidence left them defenseless.
Stepping out of the ATL Empire building, reporters swarmed me, and | exposed the evidence to the public.
The raws spread like wildfire, and major media outlets and social platforms went into a frenzy. | handed | had never expected to confront the ATL Empire like this. However, this ATL Empire was not the sas before, and | had no choice.
It was a matter of winning or reaching a dead-end. | knew they had lost this tbecause they underestimated the situation.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Celine never tookseriously.
| received a call from Atticus. “Chloe, you might have acted hastily!” After the rush of emotions subsided, | realized | had been impulsive. | had openly declared war against Celine, who had just assumed a new role. | had handed her an opportunity to strike back.
But it was already done. There was no turning back. | could only move forward.
In the end, Atticus said, “Cherish this momentum! Perhaps it's the start of a new era. Since there’s no turning back, just keep moving forward!” We hung up, and | contemplated Atticus’s words. After calming down, | realized | had been too forceful. | wasn’t sure about the road ahead, but | understood that | had burned sbridges.
Even my core team members, like Ryan, encouraged me. It didn’t matter. It was all part of setting an example With their support, | felt an exhilarating surge of energy. Without delay, | instructed Ryan to design a striking office layout. | was determined to overturn everything that cbefore and transform our entire operation.
This time, | caught ATL Empire by surprise and made a nfor myself with a single move.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea sprang to mind that excited me. | even took a late-night run in the park to cool off, but it only fueled my creativity.
The next day. | didn't say goodbye to anyone. | only informed my parents before taking the early morning fight back to the capital
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 345-A Confidential Internal Analysis Upon my return to the capital, my first stop was the hospital to meet Dominic. | wanted to share the good news of my victory, and he hadn't expected our reunion to happen so soon.
As | anticipated, Dominic's life had turned chaotic due to his wife's hospitalization. | wanted to help him manage things at home.
To put his mind at ease, | told him that my office was undergoing renovations, and | wouldn't be working for the week. Finally, he relaxed and allowedto assist him.Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Following my suggestion, he agreed to hire a caregiver for them, and | had Fred help find a reliable one.
During the week, | seized the opportunity to delve deeply into Pinnacle Group's affairs and discuss various material-related issues with Dominic. This gavea clearer understanding of why Dominic was often considered difficult to deal with.
The death of his son strengthened his commitment to his principles. Nothing could sway him from these values. He shut himself off even more and rarely talked to anyone. His whole world was based on carefully managed standard data sets.
If it weren't for a call from Grayson, | might have stayed for a couple more days.
As | prepared to return to Foswood, | ensured that everything at the Welsch household was handled before bidding Dominic farewell.
| couldn't afford to delay my return, as Grayson’s call concerned Atlas.
“There’s word that Atlas’s recent condition isn’t too good. They're considering transferring him to Monora for treatment. Although it’s just a rumor, | did confirm that Celine has returned to Foswood.” | was taken aback. “She’s back again?” “Not only did she cback, she brought with her the biggest shareholder in the old Pierce family consortium. She wants to dilute the shares and take back control of the Torado headquarters.” Upon hearing Grayson’s words, | couldn't help but worry. “It looks like she went abroad to move her chess pieces.
“Because of our situation, the Torado headquarters has faced negative interference. So, Celine called for a meeting of shareholders the day after tomorrow. They're set to fully take over the headquarters.” Grayson’s expression grew stern. “We may have aided her cause.” My heart sank with Grayson’s words. This old witch truly knew how to seize opportunities.Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
“The Torado market is the biggest and most promising base. According to data from the last few years, Torado is where most of ATL Empire’s annual profit comes from. This was why Celine was so fixated on “She’s unwilling to let go for any reason. In recent years, Atlas has focused on this side, creating immense value. He even explored many new areas unrelated to the Pierce family’s businesses.” | scoffed. “Her focus is solely on plundering. Where's the emphasis on running a business> “Haha... you're right!” Grayson nodded.
“The more Atlas excels, the more envious she becomes. I'm beginning to suspect that she isn’t Atlas’s aunt.” | quipped.
“The ATL Empire has always bothered Celine. She tried several times to merge the Pierce family and ATL Empire without success. Only longtveterans know that the Pierce family and ATL Empire operations.
have always been incompatible.” *So, when Atlas was announced to take over ATL Empire as CEO, he was essentially reclaiming his family’s business, unrelated to the Pierce family?” | was beginning to grasp the dynamics.
“Exactly. Mr. Atlas assumed control of the industry his father founded. It had nothing to do with the Pierce family,” Grayson affirmed with conviction. “So, once the Torado headquarters loses control, the profits of ATL Empire will have nothing to do with her.” My mind raced.
So, Celine was unwilling to let go of the ATL Empire because it was her way of holding on to the past. The Pierce family had already faded into obscurity.
“It's more than that. The Pierce family’s mechanisms had already aged when Louis took over. The business chain was already broken. Louis’s tireless efforts stabilized the Pierce family’s operations and revitalized them. Everything is documented!” Grayson explained.
| realized that Grayson must have put much effort into investigating these details “Celine consistently opposed her father’s decisions and blocked Louis's choices. Louis eventually gave Celine control of the Pierce family while he started over. Until the incident...” It all becclear. The complex relationship between the Pierce family and the ATL Empire was beginning to make sense.
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 346-The Crisis Worsens Grayson’s explanation helpedunderstand the connection between the Pierce Corporation and ATL Empire, clearing up sconfusion.
“So, this means that after Atlas’s parents had their accident, Celine took over ATL Empire.” “Yes, because Atlas was only ten years old at that time.” While this clarified things for me, | was still puzzled about why Atlas only took over ATL Empire after many years “This time, Celine’s plan is even sneakier,” Grayson said. “She wants to use Atlas’s coma as a chance to dilute the shares and merge ATL Empire and Pierce Corporation.” | becanxious. “But wouldn't Atlas suffer heavy losses? That would mean that all his efforts in the past years would be in vain.” “This is why Celine’s actions have shocked the whole conglomerate. Overall, they're known as ATL Empire, but they always make a distinction between the Pierce Corporation and ATL Empire internally.
They are always at odds with each other. | think there's a reason they call the whole conglomerate ATL Empire, Grayson explained.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt | suddenly understood Grayson’s point, “You mean that Celine did this to mourn her brother publicly and to continue the empire he has created-" Before | could finish, Grayson snorted. “She’s doing it to gain more power. Pierce Corporation was already going downhill and had been revived mostly because of Louis. The newly formed ATL Empire had a bigger market presence and more profits.
“Of course she'd want to fly the ATL Empire flag. Otherwise, who would want to do business with Pierce Corporation?” “This woman is a real dictator, a tyrant!” | couldn’t help but express my frustration.
This time, things went chaotic after Mr. Atlas went into a coma. Speople are said to have switched sides even within ATL Empire, which caused conflict. People like Nick, the old retainers, are feeling the pressure,” Grayson added.
Grayson, this is very important. Who said that Atlas’s condition was getting worse?” | asked him with a serious expression.
“It was Celine, Grayson replied confidently.
This revelation made my heart skip a beat. What could | do at this point? | couldn't even see him as ! wished. Ever since his car accident, | had been causing trouble for them.
Still, seeing Celine try to take over Atlas’s legacy broke my heart.
Though hesitant, | grabbed my phone and considered calling Nick. He was the only one | could trust in this situation. However, | didn't dare to make the call.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm The office was still under renovation and chaotic, just like my current state of mind. | gave sbrief instructions to Grayson and left the company. | didn’t want to stay there, as my thoughts were in disarray.
| left and called Lauren, who knew | was hbut hadn't seen me.
“Why don’t we take your parents to the spa and have dinner there tonight?” she suggested.
| liked the idea. It had been a while since | spent twith my family. “I'll call my family, contacting Ivanna. It's been a while since I've seen her. Is she hibernating or something?” and you can try “Okay, let's meet at the spa later,” Lauren replied before hanging up.
| picked up my parents and Ava, then headed straight to the spa. When | arrived, | saw Lauren waiting, but there was no sign of lvanna, “Where's Ivanna?” She shrugged and replied, “She said she’s not free to join us.” | couldn't help but mutter to myself, “What is she so busy with?” “When | called her, she turneddown right away,” Lauren said with frustration. “I think that girl is hiding something.” “What do you mean?” | was a bit skeptical. “She wouldn't keep things from me.” “Hmm.”
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 347-Bumping Into Dylan Lauren had booked a luxurious suite with its own hot tub. However, my dad was old-fashioned and preferred to soak outdoors, so we reluctantly let him go.
Ava was thrilled to visit this kind of place for the first time. She kept admiring her swimsuit and dancing in the mirror. My mother joined the fun, and they both had a great time.
Lauren and | continued to discuss the state of ATL Empire. She expressed her helplessness and said, This time, | really don’t know what to do. Nobody can get in touch with Atlas.” “Don’t blyourself. I'm well aware of this. Pleca Park is off-limits now that he’s injured and there for treatment. Plus, Celine has arranged for her own people to guard him. It's as if he’s under house arrest.” | was getting more anxious after learning he'd be treated in Monora. Something didn’t seem right. He would be taken to Monora unaware and can't defend himself if Celine tried to hurt him.
“Ive received word that they plan to send him to Monora for treatment,” | continued. “If he were conscious, it would be a good thing, but in his current condition…” | couldn't finish my sentence, and Lauren understood my concern.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt “Don't overthink it,” she comforted me, then changed the subject. “Are you hungry?” Bathing in the spa was tiring, and it didn’t take long for us to feel hungry.
| stood up and said, “I'll check on my dad and order food. Let's eat while we enjoy the spa.” Lauren agreed. “You go check on your dad, and I'll order the food.” | wrapped myself in a towel and headed out. The corridor was quiet, which showed that the soundproofing here was quite effective.
As | walked through the corridor, a door suddenly swung open, and a man emerged from that room. | instinctively stepped aside and glanced into the room.
| was surprised to see Dylan inside, eating and conversing with someone. The man who had left the room quickly shut the door, blocking my view.
| didn’t recognize the man who had left the room. He seemed to notice my curiosity and looked at me.
Feeling a bit self-conscious, | averted my gaze and continued walking.
However, | couldn't shake my suspicion. Could it really be Dylan? Since the accident, there had been no news of him, and it was as if he had disappeared. How could he he being transferred to Monora? Did Dylan get injured in the first place? | walked outside, forgetting my initial purpose for leaving the spa area. My dad must've been looking for me, and when he sawcout, he called out to me.
| was startled and finally remembered that | was looking for him. “Dad, let's go inside and have something to eat. We've already ordered food.” When | passed that room again, | wanted to knock on the door and see if it was really Dylan inside.
However, my rationality prevailed. | had already caused too much trouble, and | couldn't afford to act recklessly, especially at such a critical moment. If it was Dylan, he must have a reason for being here.
| asked my dad to return to the suite while I lingered in the corridor, hoping for another chance to see that door open. At the very least, | wanted an opportunity to ask—about Atlas’s condition and why he had to go to Monora. | needed to confirm if the news was accurate.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm | The opportunity was too good to pass up, and | didn’t want to miss it. To my disappointment, the door remained closed..
It wasn't until Lauren foundpacing in the corridor that she approachedand asked quietly, “Chlo, what are you doing here?” I quickly pulled her aside and pointed to the door, whispering, “I saw Dylan in there.” “Who?” Lauren asked in confusion.
“Atlas’s assistant. | haven't heard anything about him since Atlas’s accident. But just now, | saw him here!” “Are you sure?” | hesitated.
Lauren folded her arms and appeared to be deep in thought. Then, she pulledtoward the door.
Startled, | reached out to stop her but missed. She had already reached the room, and | nervously followed.
Lauren lightly knocked on the door while smiling.
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 348-Request Denied | was feeling incredibly anxious, and my hands were clenched.
The door finally swung open, and | peered inside, looking at the spot where | had seen Dylan. The food on the table remained, but there was no sign of him.
Disappointed, | approached the room to see what was inside. The person who opened the door blocked my path and demanded, “Who are you looking for?” Lauren smiled at the man and said softly, “Why so aggressive? I'm looking for Mr. Dylan. | have something to discuss with him.” | was amazed by Lauren’s courage. The man was unconvinced and said, “Who's Mr. Dylan? There's no such person here!” “I saw him just now!” Lauren replied, clearly frustrated. “I just wanted to ask him something. It'll be quick!” He stepped aside and said, “Find him then. See for yourself which one is Mr. Dylan.” | quickly grabbed Lauren’s hand to prevent her from going in.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt “It's fine then if he’s not in. Maybe we made a mistake,” | said, dragging Lauren back to our room.
She looked atand asked, “Did you see him?” | shook my head. “No, | checked the people inside and couldn't find him. Maybe he left? But | didn’t see anyone coming out. Or maybe | was mistaken?” She waved her hand. “Forget it. If you're certain you saw Dylan, we can knock on their door again to find him. But if they denied it, what do you think that means?” | understood her message and replied, “That means he doesn’t want to see me.” “Ah… that makes sense! He must not want to see you, so he’s hiding. | think he’s in that room!” | sighed in resignation, as | had considered that possibility as well.
Just then, the food we ordered arrived. Ava dashed over like an eager little cat, inspecting what we had ordered.
Patting my shoulder, Lauren said, “Let's eat, and then we can figure things out. Don’t spoil the old folks enjoyment!” Her words joltedout of my trance. | had brought my family out for a good tand couldn't let my | called my parents over to the table. Lauren had ordered a generous amount of food, and it looked delicious. | hadn't had a proper meal during my stay in Solaris and was starving. | felt ecstatic when | saw the food in front of me.
The food here matched my dad's taste perfectly. He praised the meal and even suggested we stay in the spa longer.
“It's been a while since I've done this!” My dad smiled with satisfaction as he ate. He looked like he had missed this experience.
I'll get you a VIP card here next time. You can cwhenever you want, soak as long as you like, and eat whenever you want!” Lauren quickly made the promise.
“Don’t waste money like that,” my dad politely refused.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm “The VIP card doesn’t cost money. It’s a little gift to…establish relationships.” Lauren explained in a mysterious tone.
My dad looked at her in surprise and said, ‘There's such a thing?” Lauren gave a mischievous smile and nodded. “Yes, they want to show their respect to us. | have one.
Just letknow when you want to come, and I'll bring you both!” | glanced at Lauren jokingly and whispered to my dad, “She’s a corrupt figure!” Although | said it in a lighthearted manner, both of us understood each other perfectly.
Lauren smiled and didn’t deny it, saying, “We need to let them enjoy this too!” By the twe left, it was pretty late.
As we were leaving, the people from that room had also cout, but | didn’t see any sign of Dylan. But | was sure | hadn't made a mistake—| had seen Dylan! So why didn’t they admit that it was him? My parents and Ava were exhausted and barely keeping their eyes open. | was the only one who remained alert as | drove home.
When we arrived, Ava was sound asleep. | carried her to her room and tucked her in. My parents went to bed, and | quietly slipped out to check on Ivanna. | hadn’t seen her in a while and wanted to ask her why she had been so busy.
1 knocked on her door, but there was no answer. It seemed she hadn't returned yet.
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 349-Intimacy in the Elevator When the elevator dinged on her floor, | was confused. | looked up just as the elevator doors opened.
Flustered by what | saw when the doors opened, my face turned red. | felt embarrassed and didn’t know where to look.
Perhaps sensing something, the two people inside the elevator quickly separated and turned to face me.
| hastily waved and said, “I didn’t see anything! You can continue!” The two individuals in the elevator were Ivanna and another man. The man was tall and well-built, and | didn’t dare to look too closely.
“Chlo!” Ivanna called out, her face flushed.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt She quickly stepped out of the elevator and grabbed my arm. | could smell a faint scent of alcohol on her. It appeared that they had been drinking.
“I-1 haven't seen you for a while, and | just returned from Solaris,” | stammered.
When | noticed the man exiting the elevator, | hurriedly fled inside. “I'll talk to you tomorrow!” “Chlo!” Ivanna’s face was still red. “Are you sure you're okay?” “Yeah, let's talk on the phone tomorrow.” The elevator doors closed just in time, and | sighed in relief. It seemed like she was too busy with her love life.
It turned out that she prioritized her lover over her friends! She will get a stern talk tomorrow for not tellingabout such a big development.
However, | was thrilled for her. It seemed like Ivanna had found herself a boyfriend. | regretted not getting a good look at the man earlier.
Perhaps my exhaustion from the spa and relief that lvanna was doing well helpedfall asleep within minutes of getting home.
It was my first good night's sleep since Atlas’s accident.
Carol calledbefore my alarm clock the next day. She said, “Ms. Chloe, you need to check today’s headlines.
From her tone, | could tell something big had happened.
I rolled over and grabbed my phone. | noticed that ATL Empire was dominating the news. Someone had aked information about the upcoming ATL Empire shareholder meeting was puzzled. How did this internal corporate matter becpublic news? Someone turned a leak into a major news event.
Social media posts were full of discussions, and a detailed analysis article provided a complete picture. of ATL Empire. It was a thorough analysis that didn’t favor Atlas or Celine.
Instead of aligning with their interests, the analysis was thorough and insightful.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm | | found it odd because, as far as | knew, very few people had access to the internal workings of ATL Empire. This article was too well-informed to be the work of an outsider.
So, who was behind this? | quickly realized that this situation was unusual and that someone with insider knowledge might be involved.
| rushed to get dressed and head to the office. On the way, | called Grayson, who said he was also on his way.
When | arrived at the office, Ryan and Grayson were already there. | learned Ryan and Grayson were living together for work while renting Eleanor the other apartment.
Shortly after, Carol arrived at the office with breakfast. She looked atand asked, “Did you eat yet?” “None of us ate!” Grayson replied. He asked Carol if she had bought enough breakfast for everyone, and she blushed and left, promising to return with more.
| knew she went downstairs to buy more food for us.
Anxious, | asked Grayson, “Have you found out who did it, and whose side are they on? Are they siding with Atlas or Celine?” Grayson said, “We couldn’t find out who's behind this, but it's not a neutral party.” Setting the sto Ryan added, “This is for something, and something major is bound to happen next.” | asked, “But who is benefiting from it? Atlas or Celine?” “Perhaps Celine is making excuses to gain support. ATL Empire is a global conglomerate, so its actions.
are closely watched. Currently, Atlas doesn’t have decision-making power, so Celine might be creating a narrative to justify her actions,” Grayson said.
| nodded in agreement with Grayson’s perspective.
Exactly Why did she announce Atlas’s condition and the decision to send him to Monora?? Ryan advised us to continue monitoring the situation. Suddenly, | wanted to hear Atticus’s opinion
Beyond the Divorce Chapter 350-Impending Doom | was startled by my thoughts. When did | becso trusting of him? | shook myself out of my thoughts and continued scrolling through my phone. The comments and opinions were still pouring in.
People were expressing a wide range of views.
A closer inspection revealed three main discussion groups. Most supported giving power to Celine. Atlas’s condition was critical, so leaving a large corporation without a leader was unwise. Even if Atlas was incapacitated, the company needed management and decisions made.
Another group was focused on protecting Atlas’s interests. They strongly opposed Celine’s ATL Empire consolidation. They said she was overstepping and questioned why she took control while Atlas was incapacitated. It seemed like an opportunistic power grab.
Then, there was a neutral group advocating for balance. These individuals acknowledged the need for leadership but were cautious about letting any one person have too much control.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt These discussions were growing and showing no sign of slowing down. Supporters of Celine were increasing in number, and many were eagerly waiting for the official announcement of the merger, The rapid spread of these discussions hadincreasingly on edge. It was hard to ignore the mounting pressure. | couldn't help but feel anxious. The situation seemed to be slipping out of control.
| Finally, | couldn't sit still anymore and attempted to call Nick but was met with a familiar recorded message. His phone was still turned off.
| | felt a sense of impending doom.
Dylan had been avoidingfor a reason. He probably blamedfor not playing a more significant role in this situation.
Seeing my distressed expression, Ryan poureda glass of red wine. “You should drink a little. This is something beyond our control, and there’s no need to blyourself.” He poured himself a glass and continued, “In reality, with or without your involvement, the outcwould've been the same.
Regardless of Atlas’s condition, this situation would've unfolded.” However, the current situation looks unfavorable for Atlas,” | said, sounding somewhat anxious.
Not necessarily. Grayson said. “I've checked, and only one of the three sides has an overseas IP The other two factions remain untraceable. That speaks volumes.
Both Ryan and | turned to Grayson, who was suddenly more talkative, Ryan suggested, “Killing with Grayson snapped his fingers and said, “It's a possibility.” I looked at Ryan. How certain were they to pull off such a maneuver? The world seemed to be counting down to the crucial shareholders’ meeting the next day.
Grayson calledthat night and reported that Atlas’s side was also putting up a fight. Nick had secretly contacted several major shareholders in the afternoon. Many major shareholders all across Torado had rushed to Foswood from different countries.
| couldn't see much hope in this. Celine had ousted Nick. She had no intention of giving him any importance, and those shareholders were unlikely to back Nick.
As the night went on, the online discussions seemed to have settled. The momentum was leaning heavily in one direction, and it felt like everything was coming to a close.
| had trouble sleeping that night, too.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm The following day, unable to control my impulse, | drove to ATL Empire’s headquarters. | parked my car across the street from the building and watched as waves of bigwigs entered the premises.
| sat in my car, imagining what the atmosphere in ATL Empire's boardroom must be like now.
As the tdrew near, | saw Celine’s motorcade arrive at the building. She wore a royal blue suit and carried herself with regal grace. With bodyguards paving the way, she entered ATL Empire with Stella following her closely.
Celine seemed like a queen among the stars. Faced with the reporters already gathered outside the building, she walked in with a proud and confident demeanor, surrounded by supporters.
| clenched my fists tightly, anger and frustration welling up inside me. My hands slammed down on the steering wheel as | vented my frustrations. My insignificance overwhelmed me, and | was unable to help the person | loved.
| focused on the building's wide entrance, wishing that this was Atlas’s empire and he was its king.
As tticked away, | reached for the ignition key, ready to leave. | silently vowed that | would becstrong enough to support and stand with him if given a chance.
At this moment, something flashed across my mind. | wanted to meet him. Even If he was asleep. It inted to stay beside him so he would feel less lonely.
lowever, a fantastic scene unfolded just before | pressed the gas pedal