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Chapter_60
my daughter’s. The past four years had been filled with so much turmoil and regret, but now, standing before the doors of Urban Builders, I had a new sense of resolve. This was my chance to take control, to carve a path for myself, one that wasn’t reliant on Matthew or anyone else. I had spent too long allowing others to dictate my worth, my future. Now, I was going to change that.
The moment I stepped inside the factory, the familiar, industrial scent of freshly cut metal and wood filled my senses. It was a world I had once been intimately connected to, and yet, now it felt like stepping into a different version of myself. I had learned a lot in those four years, and despite everything I’d been through, I wasn’t the same woman who had walked out of this place all those years ago.
A receptionist greeted me warmly, but I could feel the weight of the past hanging on my shoulders as I mentioned the company’s name. The receptionist led me through a series of long hallways until we reached a conference room. My heart was racing, but I wasn’t going to let it show. I wasn’t here for the past; I was here for the future.
I was meeting with the CEO of Urban Builders, a man I had once hoped would be the key to my success. Back then, I had been naive, thinking that everything hinged on one partnership, one deal. Now, I knew that nothing was that simple. But this—this was a step in the right direction.
As I sat down and exchanged pleasantries, I couldn’t help but think back to that fateful moment four years ago. The opportunity had been within my grasp, and yet, it had slipped away due to circumstances beyond my control. That haunted me, but now, it was time to make it right.
“We’ve been following your progress, Chloe,” the CEO said, interrupting my thoughts. “And we’re impressed with what you’ve accomplished since we last spoke. Tanum Corporation was an excellent partner, but we believe Urban Builders can offer something more. We’re ready to work with you.”
My heart leapt, and a part of me wanted to tell him everything—about Matthew’s betrayal, about the years of sacrifice I had made. But I kept those emotions buried. I had no time for distractions now.
“Let’s get down to business,” I said, my voice steady and confident, far removed from the woman who had walked into this room four years ago, unsure of herself and her worth.
This was the beginning of something new, something that didn’t involve Matthew, or his family, or the cruel games they had played with my life.
As I walked out of the meeting with the signed contract in hand, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I had made the first step in reclaiming my future. It wasn’t just about revenge anymore. It was about building something that was entirely mine—something I could be proud of, something I could pass on to Ava.
But as I stepped back into the rainy streets of the capital, my phone buzzed. I hesitated, but then I saw the name on the screen. Matthew.
I pressed the green button, trying to steady my breath. “What do you want?” I asked, my voice colder than I intended.
“I’ve been trying to reach you,” his voice was calm, but there was something in it that felt off. “Where are you? I’ve been worried.”
“I don’t need you to worry about me,” I said, my patience wearing thin. “I’m working on securing a project, something important. I don’t have time for your games, Matthew.”
There was a brief silence on the other end, and then he spoke again, his tone laced with something I couldn’t quite place. “You always have time for drama, Chloe. But this… what’s really going on?”
I felt my heart race for a moment, wondering if he suspected anything. The last thing I wanted was for him to get any inkling of my true intentions. “Nothing’s going on, Matthew. I’m just doing what I need to do.”
I hung up before he could say anything else, and as I stuffed my phone back into my bag, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right. Matthew had always been able to read me, to get under my skin. But I was determined not to let him have that power anymore.
I needed to stay focused. The deals I was making, the new life I was building—it all mattered more than whatever games Matthew was playing. I had a future now, one that was entirely in my control.
But as I walked through the rain-soaked streets, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was Atlas somehow a part of this? Had he known something I didn’t?