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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't come 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? NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
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 the company 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 explained, "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 only company left out. We didn't even receive the tender documents, and it's all thanks to your beloved daughter-in-law."
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 had laughed 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 dollars at him and insulted him," Lucas retold the incident that was revealed at Marian's grand birthday celebration.
The atmosphere at the dinner table grew tense. Lucas glanced 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?"