Ch. 581..590

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 581-I found it hard to believe and rubbed my eyes. It was really Oliver! How could he be here? Instinctively, I looked back at Lauren.

Ivanna appeared to be more surprised than we were. "Why are you here?" Oliver ignored Ivanna and focused his attention on Lauren. His eyes looked dark and uncertain, and his lips trembled. He seemed excited.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt Lauren's hand on my arm tightened, causingslight pain. My eyes were fixed on Oliver, who had changed a lot. He looked remarkably thin.

"Lauren, you finally cback." His voice shook. I could see his hand hanging at his side, tightly clenched in anxiety.

She looked at him, and her lips twitched. However, she quickly regained her composure.

Lauren smiled lightly. "It's you! Have you been good?" "No! No one toldwhere you went!" Oliver sounded like a petulant child who couldn't find a home.

Lauren gave a somewhat forced smile. "You can't blthem. I didn't even know where I was going. So, I didn't inform them either. I just told them to pickup before I returned." Tears welled up in Oliver's eyes as he gazed at her face. Lauren remained calm, with an unmistakable sense of alienation in her smile.

Oliver stepped forward and reached out to her. "Lauren, cwith me. Let's go home." However, Lauren stepped back slightly and avoided his hand. She was still smiling calmly, but I could see her determination. "I'm sorry, but I have to go home. Goodbye." She then pulledaway. "Let's go." Her face was pale, and her hand was cold. I understood right away that she hadn't truly moved on. Her calmness was a facade. I glanced at Oliver and nodded slightly. "We'll head out first." After all, he was a man with dignity, and I didn't want to embarrass him too much.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Then, I pulled Lauren toward the exit.

Ivanna voiced her displeasure. "Why is he here? The more you avoid meeting someone, the more they appear! Go home? Which home?" "Ivanna!" I reprimanded her, "Can't you shut up?" Lauren turned pale and murmured, "Finding out about my schedule is easy for him. We should face it eventually, but not now. I just want to go hand have a meal." She then looked at me. "I heard I have my own hnow." Lauren had been smiling the whole time, but the smile seemed somewhat strained. She hadn't truly moved on from this relationship.

However, it was understandable. After all, it had been over ten years, and she had invested far too much. She had too many grievances and insults to remember.

I half-hugged her and changed the subject. "Yes, you now have your own home. Ivanna and I have prepared everything for you. You can stay in your place tonight and sleep peacefully until morning." "That's great! It's great to have you both." She sniffled. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she held them back.

"But first, we need to stop by my place," I said. "As soon as my mom knew you were coming back, she started preparing a bunch of delicious food. She's been waiting for your return." Ivanna added, "She even called to make sure you got off the plane and told us to hurry back. We have to catch up, too. Many things have happened in the six months since you left." "Really? Chlo's mom did that?" Lauren looked at me, suddenly choking up.

"Of course! She's been busy preparing Hmph! I never got this type of treatment," Ivanna muttered as she dragged the luggage along. "You left for half a year before I was discharged. Don't you feel bad at aff?" Content belongs to sŵ.net

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 582-Lauren and I exchanged a knowing glance, sharing a laugh.

She whispered to me, "Why is Ivanna so chatty now?" I couldn't help but laugh harder.

Ivanna turned around to look at us. "Are you talking about me? Are you annoyed that I'm talking too much?" When we got in the car, I glanced outside. Oliver was standing at the doorway, looking on as we were leaving. The desolation in his eyes madefeel a twinge of pity.

However, this was out of my hands. What he did had hurt Lauren, and I didn't want to interfere with Lauren's decision.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt It was a personal matter, and no third party could intervene. I had no idea how Oliver had spent the previous six months while Lauren was away. What went through his mind? Did he realize where he went wrong? I believed Lauren would never forgive him if he didn't realize his mistakes. Even if she forgave him, I wasn't sure if I could.

Only I saw what happened before Lauren left. She had narrowly escaped death, and I could understand her pain.

I called hto let my parents know we had picked up Lauren and were on our way back. Ivanna kept complaining the whole way, questioning Lauren's whereabouts.

Lauren said, "Let's talk about something else. Tell me, how is it going with Jared? Is Trinity still making things difficult for you? I've been worried about that!" Ivanna scoffed. "Huh, making things difficult for me? I'm lucky that I'm still alive." I chuckled. "You've got snerve. What's her risking her life got to do with you? If you're going to brag, at least cup with sactual reasons." Lauren looked at us in disbelief. "What's going on? What are you suggesting?" It was not until this moment, rushing back from Bourdamun to the airport, that I remembered Trinity's situation.

I made a hush gesture and quickly called Jared to ask about Trinity's condition.

Then, I told Jared, "Lauren is back.

We're taking her hfor a meal. If it's too late, we won't see Trinity today. I'll go to the hospital early tomorrow." Jared said Trinity was doing well and she was in high spirits. He askednot to worry and to ctomorrow if I couldn't make it today.

I saw Ivanna sneering and looking like a disgruntled woman. However, I knew she was probably uneasy.

After hanging up the phone, Lauren asked, "What's going on? Why is Trinity injured? Also, are you guys implying something?" I knew Lauren was curious about my concern for Trinity's well-being, especially since we were having a conflict when Lauren left.

I briefly explained Trinity's injury to her, and she began to understand the situation.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "I'll explain it to you when we have time. A lot has happened in the past six months." Ava and Jenny were already waiting when the car arrived at the doorstep.

When Ava saw our car approaching she in med excitedly and O report. Then she raped the gate and rushing Vo toward us. "Aunt Lauren is back! I missed you so much! Why did it take you so long?" She called out, running to the car.

However, Ava froze when the car door opened, and Lauren stepped out. She was wide-eyed, carefully examining Lauren as she descended.

Then she covered her tiny mouth and loudly exclaimed, "Aunt Lauren, w-why did you cut your hair?" Ivanna and burst into laughter.

et Ivanna rubbed Ava's head, saying.

"My love, Aunt Lauren wants a fresh start She's starting over from scratch!" Content belongs to ŚwAva looked puzzled, glancing at Ivanna. "What does starting over from scratch mean? And…why start over?" Lauren quickly lifted her and gave her a tight hug. "My baby, I missed you so much!" Then, Lauren looked at Jenny. "And who's this little beauty?"

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 583-Ava, acting like a little adult, quickly introduced Jenny to Lauren. "Aunt Lauren, this is my big sister. Uncle found her for me." Lauren approved, saying, "Your uncle is quite bossy!" Then she turned her attention to Jenny. "Well! What a beautiful girl!" After a brief greeting, she hugged Jenny and spoke in a soft, gentle tone, "Hello there, pretty girl. I have a gift for you." The kids were excited, especially Ava, who loved unwrapping gifts. Ryan was also there, and he was the chef for the day. After hugging my mom, Lauren playfully complained about hunger. "I haven't tasted delicious homemade food in half a year. I've been dreaming about it." "We'll have dinner right away. Chlo, call Atlas and ask how long before he gets back," my mom directed.

Now that Grace was here, she played the role of a captain, organizing and managing everything happily.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt Ava, unable to contain her excitement, asked, "Aunt Lauren, where's my gift?" Lauren laughed. "I thought you'd forgotten. You're such a little trickster!" When she opened her suitcase, it was filled with gifts for everyone, especially Ava. There were clothes from different countries. "I bought clothes of various sizes. Jenny also has a gift now." Even Grace and Molly had gifts. Lauren was very considerate, and I was deeply moved.

Atlas arrived with an unexpected companion just as we were about to start eating-Oliver.

We were all surprised, and Lauren seemed a bit uncomfortable at the sight of him.

I quickly said, "Mr. Oliver, please cin!" Seeing my enthusiastic welcome, he appeared much more relaxed, awkwardly saying, "Sorry to disturb you. I—" "Hey, don't say that! Con in!" I proceeded to introduce him to my parents.

My father promptly invited him inside, and Lauren reluctantly watched as we chatted with him. She remained silent.

Ivanna sat next to Lauren, whispering, "He's persistent. It looks like he wants to bring you htonight. He seems determined not to let you escape." Content belongs to ŚwLauren's lips twitched in frustration. I ё had planned to take Lauren to our new house before dinner, but with Oliver's sudden appearance, b couldn't. Everyone understood Oliver's intentions. However, I didn't understand why he cback with Atlas.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Sensing my confusion, Atlas followedand quietly explained, "He was waiting at the door. I had no choice but to let him in." I was speechless. If Oliver didn't want to remarry, why maintain such an attitude? During the dinner, Oliver took it upon himself to sit beside Lauren.

Despite feeling uncomfortable, Lauren showed remarkable poise and warmth. She interacted with my parents and everyone else happily.

Ivanna kept asking about her travels, so she shared the details of her adventurous journey to sremote and challenging countries.

We were all astonished, and she suggested, "Whenever you have time, let's travel together. This time, I can be your tour guide. Don't be likeTraveling the world alone can be quite lonely." She openly talked about the unique experiences of her recent trip, and I couldn't help but admire her courage.

Now, I understand her feelings at that time. Perhaps, with a self-reliant spirit, she took that step to live or die by her own choices.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 584-Faced with everyone blaming her for her abrupt departure, Lauren responded with a calm smile, "Actually, leaving was a spontaneous decision. I just wanted to be carefree and wander for a while." She laughed. "So I truly followed my heart. I had no plans. I just wanted to get out there and see the world. I told no one, not even Chlo." Though she spoke lightly, only I knew what she was thinking when she left.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt I was convinced that her mindset at the twas one of living or dying based on her own choices, which was precisely what I had feared. Fortunately, she returned unharmed.

Ivanna asked if Lauren encountered any dangers in the past six months.

"There are always challenges during a journey," she said with a sad smile. "There were many adventurous moments, including getting lost, crossing language barriers, entering desolate areas, and facing war. But sometimes, when you open up to things, fear disappears…" Oliver listened silently, occasionally serving her dishes but barely eating.

She cooperated, saying thank you each time, and still ate. They seemed harmonious on the surface, but I could sense a lack of warmth between them. Despite sitting close, their hearts seemed distant.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Lauren shared personal insights and plans, focusing solely on her perspective.

Ivanna, seemingly opposing Oliver, boldly asked Lauren, "Lauren, after being away for so long, do you have any new thoughts?" Oliver glanced nervously at her profile.

Lauren smiled, dabbed her mouth with a tissue, and then looked at me. "Chlo, are you keeping your promise?" I knew what she was referring to. It was about coming to the company. She had said that once she returned, she would start working.

"Of course." I nodded thoughtfully and said, "Then you better fulfill it." "Alright, I'll take a day off tomorrow Lakea and report the day after." She chuckled and looked at Ryan. "Mr. Ryan, get ready to welcme! be working at your company. I haven't worked in years, so I hope I can adapt quickly and keep up. || Ryan smiled gently, glancing at me. "Yes, the authority in our company is still in Chlo's hands. She calls the shots. I believe you'll be competent!" "Thank you! I'll do my best. In the past six months, I've used my spare tto study while traveling the world. I can't afford to waste any more time!" et "After sexperiences, I felt regretful," she said as she ate. "I wasted too much tand lost myself. So, I want to reclaim that time. hope you can all be patient withand givean opportunity to live with dignity." I noticed Oliver's face turning pale, and his hand shook slightly, knuckles turning white.

Atlas, who had been silent, suggested, "If you want to learn, I have a brilliant suggestion. You can start training at our company. AT Empire's PR company is top-notch, and can find someone to guide you." UMS Lauren looked at Atlas eagerly and asked, "Mr. Atlas, are you serious?" Atlas glanced at her and nodded solemnly. "Certainly. If you're serious about learning, it must be done professionally. As our company continues to rise, we need an outstanding PR manager." Privacy

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 585-Ivanna said, "Mr. Atlas is right! I just remembered. I can offer you opportunities too. While our PR department and cases might differ from ATL Empire's, we lean more toward sudden social anomalies." I nodded. "Ivanna's right." "Our PR scope might be broader. Having more mentors is not a bad thing, right? Everyone has different strengths. Mr. Atlas is more business-oriented, and we lean more toward societal issues. Haha… If you learn well, you'll be a top-notch PR professional." Lauren smiled. "I don't care about being top-notch. I just want to work hard and live a meaningful life." I discreetly glanced at Oliver. Lauren's words hit him square in the face. After all these years, she had been living too modestly and unfairly.

I did harbor sresentment toward Oliver for this. It was tfor Lauren to speak her mind, and Oliver needed to recognize her value.

We chatted happily. Later, Atlas, Ryan, and Oliver went to the living room for drinks. The three of us women continued talking endlessly.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt When Molly prepared a late-night snack, Oliver returned to Lauren. He seemed to have had a lot to drink, his eyes fixed on Lauren like a child reluctant to part.

Lauren looked at him and said, "I'll take Oliver back. We'll chat later." She looked at Oliver with a sweet smile and whispered, "Lettake you home.

Oliver's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly, his voice gentle. "Sure." We stood there watching Lauren walk down the hall to put on her shoes. Oliver quickly stood up and bid my parents farewell, and they left together.

"Hey, do you think they still have a chance?" Ivanna asked. She looked like she wanted to gossip.

I pondered for a moment and shook my head uncertainly. Yet, an indescribable heaviness weighed on my heart.

After dinner, Atlas and Ryan also headed home. I escorted the two little ones back to their rooms.

Once I was sure they were asleep, I went back downstairs. Lauren had yet to return. Ivanna was becoming increasingly impatient.

"Oh no, this is bad. They've ruined everything. Lettell you, Oliver is sly. He swept Lauren off her feet again." I glanced at her disdainfully. "Do you have so little faith in Lauren?" Although I said that, I felt uneasy. She had been gone for quite a while. Could it be that Ivanna was right? Helpless, I instructed the older folks to go to bed and not wait for Lauren. After all, Grace wasn't suited for staying up.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Her health hadn't been great lately. She had lost weight, and I planned to take her for a checkup in the next few days.

They obediently went to their rooms. Lauren finally pressed the doorbell, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

When Lauren entered, Ivanna rushed over. "You're finally back! Why did it take so long? Be honest. What did you talk about? I thought you went hwith him." Ivanna continued to ramble behind Lauren, incessantly nagging.

Lauren glanced at Ivanna, her tone merciless. "Did I scare you last time, and now you're paranoid?" I watched her expression and then е looked at vanna, who was being put in her place. Unable to contain myself, I laughed. "The point is, you were gone for too long." S Lauren looked atin surprise, angrily exclaiming, "Don't tellyou were thinking the sthing?" I admitted, "Not as certain as she is, but I started thinking that way!" She shook her head helplessly. "You guys are the worst!" "What do you mean?! It's just that I was worried you'd get hurt." Ivanna coldly snorted.

"No matter how indifferent I may seem, I wouldn't return to the spath. Do you think that road is easy? I did go through a lot," she said, sitting on the sofa, looking weary. Not wanting her to feel sad as soon as she returned, I said, "Enough! Do you want to go home?" She suddenly tooked atand i.ne et exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! I forgot there's a hto go back to! Yes, let's go back. I can't wait! We're family now. Stay at my place tonight and keepcompany. I've been lonely for too long." After saying that, she jumped off the sofa, her face filled with joy.

Watching her expression, Ivanna and I exchanged glances and smiled in unison.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 586-When we returned to Lauren's new home, she was instantly stunned by the spacious, bright, and luxurious surroundings. She turned around and hugged us both, choking up with emotion.

"Thank you! I finally have my own home." Her words madesuddenly feel sentimental and teary-eyed.

I patted her back gently and said, "You can be at ease now. This is your world. You don't need to think about anyone else while you're here. We'll both support you, no matter what decision you make." That night, Ivanna and I stayed by Lauren's side. We had a heartfelt conversation in that comfortable environment.

We talked until dawn.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt In the morning, I watched them sleep peacefully, then sighed quietly and left. I needed to go to the hospital to see Trinity.

My heart hurt when I saw Trinity. In just a few days, she had lost a lot of weight. Her eyes looked like they were bulging out of their sockets, and she seemed as though she had transformed into a different person.

The lack of makeup revealed her true appearance. She looked unexpectedly beautiful, and I really liked the girl in front of me. She didn't seem surprised to seewhen I entered.

I lifted the soup in my hand, feeling a little awkward. "Do you want ssoup? I made it especially for you. How are you feeling?" I walked to the side of her bed. There was only one nurse in the ward. When she sawenter, she quietly closed the door and left. "Where's Mr. Jared?" I asked.

"He needed to go deal with something," Trinity replied calmly. She kept looking at me.

"Lauren just cback yesterday. She's been away for a long time, so that's why I didn't csee you last night. I'm sorry about that." I felt the need to explain why I hadn't been here.

"Are you disappointed that I'm still alive?" Trinity stared at me.

"Where's your conscience?" I immediately retorted. "If I wanted you to die, I wouldn't have saved you." She suddenly smiled, adding a little charm to her look. She wasn't as cold as she usually was today. It seemed that a sick Trinity was more genuine and endearing.

Right now, she seemed more human than her previous demonic presence.

"Are you really my only friend?" she asked suddenly. "I can't believe it. You seem pretty domineering. Why are you my only friend?" Her question caughtoff guard, and I chuckled awkwardly.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "Did you really hear what I said?" I asked. I had spoken those words when her life was hanging in the balance.

"What? Do you regret it?" She had clearly seen my discomfort and was teasing me.

"Just say whatever it is you want to say," I said indignantly.

She smirked, revealing her mischievous side. "Are you saying that no matter when, no matter where, you'll always be there foras a friend?" This tshe looked atwith a serious expression, as if she was particularly concerned about the term "friend" and wanted a genuine confession from me.

"What do you think? I'm not the type to say something and take it back. I'm a person of my word," I said with all seriousness.

She paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. She looked even more beautiful.

I looked at her, puzzled. "Why don't you have any friends?" She stared at me, thinking for a atime, moment. "My family, my business, the environment I'm in-none of them allowto have friends. And no one really wants to be genuine friends with me. They just want to use me" Trinity looked atearnestly.

SV "Can I be your friend then?" I heard a sense of urgency in my own words. I didn't know whether she really wantedas a friend. "I definitely don't have any ulterior motives, and I don't need anything from you I just want your friendship." "You promisedthat, didn't you? You said you would be my only friend," she said decisively. "That was something I longed for. If you hadn't said that, I wouldn't have cback." "Why would you say that?" I was genuinely moved.

"What you said temptedtoo much," she said, laughing brightly.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 587-I looked at her lively expression, and felt relieved. It seemed like all the barriers between us had completely disappeared.

"I know you're a straightforward person. You're not looking to take advantage, and this definitely isn't for personal gain. But I want to make one thing clear. You don't need to feel the need to becmy friend just because I took a hit for you. I'd rather not have a friend like that." Her hand emerged from the blanket, grabbing mine.

"That was how it was at first," I admitted without reservation. It felt wrong to hide anything from someone like Trinity. I needed to be honest with her.

"I didn't expect you to take the hit forwith no hesitation. It madefeel guilty. I felt bad that I said those cold words to you the night before and made you feel that we couldn't be friends." "That did bothera lot. It hurt my self-esteem." Her face turned cold.

"But even though you said we couldn't be friends, you still saved my life. So I felt regretful and guilty, especially when your life was in danger. I just want you to know that I genuinely want to be your friend because only a friend could have done what you did." I squeezed her hand.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "A friend is someone who's willing to sacrifice anything for another person. That's a true friend. So I really wanted to be your friend after that." She scrutinized me. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.

Suddenly, she looked at my thermos. "I want ssoup." My heart warmed, and I smiled. "Sure. My housekeeper, Molly, made this soup. She stewed it for a long time. It'll help you recover." I hurriedly poured out a large bowl, blew on it a bit, and held it to her lips.

She blinked and looked at my face. After she paused for a long time, she finally drank the soup.

I noticed that she was tearing up.

I fed her the whole bowl, and her complexion seemed to gain a rosy tint.

"What do Liora and Stella have against you?" she asked.

I briefly explained the conflict between us, then asked her, "Why didn't you team up with them?" "I know that the relationships aroundare mercenary and based on self-interest, but those who want to usemust have something to offeras well." As Trinity said these words, she appeared extremely pragmatic, which was a stark contrast to the mischievous girl from earlier.

"But these two don't measure up. They have nothing I can use, and they won't bringany benefits. won't sink to their level. What they do is lowly and despicable. I have no reason to do what they do," she said, bluntly. This only increased my fondness for her. But this two-faced girl could be ruthless and bring people to their demise as well.

I felt a little bewildered and was unsure if this was the real Trinity.

"Ivanna cto see you," I told her deliberately.

"She cto see me?" she asked.

Apparently, Jared had not informed her that Ivanna had visited.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "Yeah. She's genuinely concerned about you because you saved me." I told her the truth. "That's what a friend does. Ivanna and I are close friends because she's genuine and loyal." "I won't let Jared go just because of that," Trinity said calmly as she looked at me.

"You're wrong. There's no 'letting' anyone go in this case. It's a fair gbetween the two of you." I countered.

Just then, Jared cin. He nodded at me, then stood by the bed, looking down at Trinity gently.

I felt a little lost and vaguely remembered Ivanna lying in bed when she was sick. He had protected her like this too. I didn't know who Jared would choose in the future. I felt torn. I stood up and looked at Trinity. "Get srest. I need to go to work. We signed a new contract yesterday, and I need to work on that." She nodded. "Thanks for the soup." "Don't forget, we're friends now. There's no need for thanks," I reminded her with a smile. I waved to them before leaving the ward.

Outside, I raised an eyebrow and let out a breath. I didn't want to get entangled in the complex relationship between the three of them. Right now, I could only remain neutral.

Before reaching the office, I received an unexpected call from Matthew.

I realized that if Matthew was callingnow, it must be about something important. I decided to take the call and heard his voice. We need to meet, Chlo. I have something to tell yout." QUMS

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 588-I thought for a moment and didn't refuse. Instead, I asked, "Where should we meet?" Matthew seemed surprised that I had agreed so quickly and eagerly provided the location.

I headed straight to the location he mentioned, which turned out to be a club.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt As a precaution, I called Johnson again in the car to check on the current situation with Matthew.

Since I had been busy with matters in Bourdamun, I hadn't had tto pay attention to them these past few days.

As I suspected, Matthew's call was related to the withdrawal of funds between him and Liora.

Sure enough, Johnson informedthat the situation was still deadlocked. No one was willing to back down. Strangely, Liora had not signed a contract for Avalon Hills despite not moving forward with the withdrawal of funds.

He said that he had followed my advice and was working on stabilizing other projects for Matthew.

After ending the call with Johnson, I felt more confident. It seemed that Atticus's prediction was correct. Liora wanted to negotiate with Matthew, which was why she hadn't signed the contract for Avalon Hills.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm I thought it would be hard for Liora to get this contract if Ardora Construction wouldn't support her. If I hadn't already had a comprehensive plan in place, I would have taken back Avalon Hills at this crucial juncture and let Liora face her downfall.

With that thought in mind, I immediately called Ryan, both to inform him that I was dealing with something outside and to prepare him for this. If Liora didn't sign the contract quickly, we would be able to pressure her. I believed she wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer by then.

I could even help Matthew with this if it was necessary.

Ryan quickly nodded and said, "Got it." Matthew was already waiting at the club. When he sawenter, he stood up quickly. "That was fast, Chlo. Were you nearby?" I sat down and responded nonchalantly, "Yeah, I just cfrom the hospital. I went to see Trinity." When he heard about Trinity, he casually asked, "By the way, I heard she was injured because of you. Is it serious?" I glanced at him and sneered at his question. Whether I was hurt or not had no significance to him anymore. If he hadn't wanted to meettoday, he probably wouldn't have cared at all. With a skeptical smile, I responded, "Of course it's serious! But she's much better now. So, what brings you here?" As I expected, he did not probe any further. He forced a grin and said, "Well, there's something I need to tell you." I reached for the bell, summoning Valthe waiter to order a few of my favorite dishes. I needed to eat something quickly and seize a moment to rest back at the office later A sleepless night had left my head heavy. "Go on, I'm listening," I said, massaging my temples.

Leaning in, Matthew said, "Chlo, can you helpfigure out a way to secure the contract for Phase Two of Avalon Hills?" "Phase Two?" I glanced at him questioningly. "Haven't you secured that?" He chuckled awkwardly, "Well, not exactly. It's still pending. What I mean is, can you think of something to helpacquire it directly without having to go through Liora?" е His request caughtoff guard. I looked at him, seeking clarification. "Are you askingto assist you in directly obtaining the contract for Phase Two without involving Liora?" He nodded eagerly.

"Don't overestimate me," I replied self-deprecatingly.

He met my gaze with a hint of embarrassment. "I know you can do it. If it weren't for the Bourdamun project, you wouldn't have let go of Avalon Hills, right?"

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 589-I responded with a distant smile, acknowledging that his sources were well-informed.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt Without delving into the specifics of how he knew about my success in Bourdamun, I casually said, "The decision to hold on or let go depends on what aligns with your own interests. I always choose a path that better suits my personal development." Matthew seemed somewhat disgruntled at my response. "It looks like you still have reservations about me, Chlo." I asked, "What do you mean?" I understood what he was implying. He had been unsettled by my smooth journey.

He chuckled awkwardly. "I don't think I could have endured being overshadowed by a woman if you were as helpful as you are now during our ttogether. Sometimes, I really don't understand how everything happened the way it did. We were a good match, and you're still important to me. When we were building the company together back then…" "Let's remain focused on the matter at hand, Matthew," I interrupted, avoiding any reminiscing about the past. I hated it when he did this.

"I do have a real problem, Chlo. You have to help me. I'm in a bind right now. Otherwise, I wouldn't have cto you!" Matthew tried to grab me, but I dodged.

"Tell me, then. How can I help?" I started with a hint of impatience. "Don't expect too much from me. My abilities are limited. Just get straight to the point." Matthew looked frustrated and said, "Did you know about Liora's plan to withdraw her investment?" I feigned ignorance and inquired, "She wants to withdraw? Weren't you two having a great collaboration? Why would she want to withdraw? I didn't know about that. I'm not interested in other people's affairs." "You're talking as if this is someone else's problem," he remarked with a wry smile.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm I couldn't be bothered with him. "I really don't care about your affairs. I've been avoiding them to stop your wife and her allies from coming after me. I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat." Matthew's face reddened when he heard my response. "Don't be so quick to judge, Chlo. She's not that bad. She's just a little willful." "Willful?" I stared at him sternly. "Pfft." "No, really, I'm keeping an eye on her," Matthew said nonchalantly.

"Don't givethose hollow assurances. Don't forget that your mother is the one who got beaten, and she's still hiding in my house to this day Have you ever heard of an ex-mother-in-law recuperating at her former daughter-in-law's place? That's quite the act of willfulness." I seized the opportunity to express my disdain. People like him really disgusted me. "I've been busy lately, otherwise I would have gone to pick her up. Besides, I trust my mom with you. I know you won't mistreat her, and she really wants to stay with you," Matthew said confidently.

I cursed internally. I couldn't believe that this had suddenly turned into something I had to handle. I didn't know what sins I had committed in my past life to be troubled by their family so much in this one. When he saw my silence, Matthew continued, "Since my mom is at your place…" "Let's get back to the real issue. I told you I didn't chere to reminisce about the past with you. I know how to handle your mother," I interjected in a low tone, putting an end to his rambling.

"Alright, let's talk business." Matthew adjusted his posture and leaned in. "I need your help to network. I want to secure Avalon Hills for myself, so that woman won't botherabout it! "She's insatiable! She's arrogant and overbearing. I'll have to find a way to deal with her, or she'll keep taking advantage of me!" Matthew's frustration was evident.

I sat upright and addressed him sternly. "You won't be able to solve this problem if you keep this attitude up. Use your brain. Do you currently have the resources and capability to handle the Avalon Hills project if you take over now?" I looked at Matthew, posing the question seriously. He glanced back at me, hesitating.

"And do you think it's realistically possible for you to try to establish connections and relationships right now just to seize Avalon Hills?" I challenged him with another question.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 590-Matthew's expression grew somber, revealing a mix of bitterness and deep-seated resentment.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "We're dealing with Liora here. Attempting to outmaneuver her, especially after she proposed withdrawing funds, will definitely be an uphill battle. Do you really believe there's any chance of success?" I bombarded Matthew with questions, strategically hitting his vulnerabilities to make him feel the weight of the situation.

I also delved into his past ruthless tactics to secure Avalon Hills and the substantial financial investments he had made. "Have you ever thought about why Liora suggested withdrawing funds?" I questioned, adding another layer to his dilemma.

My analysis of Liora's motives was rooted in Atticus's speculations. He had lived with Liora for over a decade, and now he wanted to kick her out of his sphere of interests. That alone spoke volumes about Liora's strategic prowess.

I looked at Matthew and continued, "She clearly intends to leverage Avalon Hills to negotiate with you, set conditions, and ultimately shift ownership of Ardora. If she's already confident in her success, intervening now would demand an immense expenditure of your energy and resources, and could possibly lead to bankruptcy even if you did secure the project." Matthew was visibly affected by my words and appeared remorseful. "If you're willing to help me, that would saveconsiderable effort." I wasn't sure what he meant, so I pressed him. "How can I help?" His gaze narrowed as he hesitated before taking a determined stance. "Don't pretend you don't know anything, Chloe. I know about your current situation. I've been keeping tabs on you. I'm not indifferent." I scoffed at his reasoning. "Not indifferent? That's quite a statement." It baffledthat he would dare make such a claim.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm He persisted, somewhat uneasily, "I know about your current foundation. It'll be easy for you to go directly to Archie. Everyone wants to get on his good side." My anger flared when I heard Matthew's words. "You think I'll go to the Beringer family just to help you? That's outrageous!" I stood up abruptly, facing Matthew with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

"I can't believe you'd suggest such a thing, Matthew!" That seemed to be the real reason why he had asked to meet today. "You can forget about that, Matthew!" Matthew becuneasy when he heard my firm response. "Don't be so stubborn, Chloe. We were married once. Let's not be so petty okay? Ava's our daughter. Wouldn't it be better for her if I recovered and made our business stronger I'm her father, after all. Do you want her father to be a failed businessman who can't hold his head high in public? How will that benefit her?" He grew more impassioned as he continued, and I found it increasingly awkward to listen. Those who didn't know Matthew might asshe was a responsible and caring father.

"When Ava wants to get married in the future, they'll care about her family background. Don't be so narrow-minded. I won't forget your kindness if you helpand pullthrough during this crucial time. I'm not an ungrateful person!" His words were ironic, and I snorted. "Hah! You're not an ungrateful person? What kind of person are you then, Matthew?" He had hit a sore spot with his comments, and I couldn't help but react. Perhaps I would have felt better if he hadn't said all that. Ungrateful? Everyone in Foswood knew his true nature.

"Oh! Wait, this isn't even about that. Letmake it clear, Matthew. Don't even think about it. I might be close with the Beringer family now, butt doesn't mean I can shamelessly use their reputation to build a foundation for us!" I immediately stated my principles. He was shameless! Matthew becagitated as he heard what I said. His nostrils flared, and he stared at me. "There's no need to act all high and mighty. You claim you haven't used the Beringer family's influence, but how did you manage to secure such a big project in Bourdamun? Are you trying to deceive me?" Now I understood why he had audaciously suggested I approach the Beringer family. It looked like he had been waiting for this confrontation all along.