Chapter 141
Meeting Howard's determined gaze, Chloe remained silent for a long moment before finally opening the folder. Looking at the meticulously organized materials inside, she felt a wave of surprise.
"These are..."
"For securing the Luminary Group project. Chlo, I told you from the beginning that I'm a businessman. I value the benefits you can bring me."
Chloe fell silent, pinching the corner of the document, feeling conflicted.
Although Howard claimed to be a businessman, what businessman would willingly sacrifice so many of his own interests to help someone unrelated?
He must have guessed her intentions, but hadn't stopped her.
A warm current flowed through Chloe's heart.
Howard was always like this—somehow understanding everything without her saying a word.
"My sister-in-law, Nellie, wants us to have dinner with Chris. If it's inconvenient, I can take you home now."
"It's convenient."
Chloe paused. "What about you? Were you upset earlier because Mr. Miller arrived?"
Howard's gaze fell on her face.
For today's business meeting, Chloe had applied more formal makeup. Her already delicate features appeared even more defined—long, curled eyelashes framing captivating eyes, with clear irises and cheeks dusted with a soft rose glow. The seemingly contradictory qualities of coolness and gentleness complemented each other perfectly on her.
Howard looked away, hiding the emotions in his eyes. "Why do you ask?"
"I just..."
"Chlo, Chris and I don't have the kind of relationship you're imagining."
He smiled wryly, leaning against the car window, his whole demeanor radiating a casual nonchalance.
He rarely showed this side of himself.
Chloe pressed her brow, regretting her careless words.
Then Howard simply said, "Let's go."
The two remained silent throughout the journey until they reached the restaurant. Nellie and Chris were already waiting.
Especially when Nellie saw Howard and Chloe arrive, she immediately smiled and called out, "Howard, come sit down."
"Ms. Brown, don't be nervous. This is just a casual dinner."
"Thank you."
Chloe took her seat.
Chris looked just as he had when Chloe first met him—like a fine piece of jade, with features that were immediately pleasing to the eye.
More importantly, he carried a sense of substance that made him seem extremely reliable.
Chris asked Howard about some work matters while Nellie chatted with Chloe about the case. She smiled and said, "Ms. Brown, don't mind them. The brothers are always like this—when they get together, they have nothing to talk about except work."
"Howard will be moving the headquarters back to Riverton soon. He has many things to keep him busy, so I'll have to entrust his care to you during this time."
"Ms. Wallace, you're giving me too much credit," Chloe paused. "I can do very little for the company."
"That's not what I meant at all," said Nellie, who appeared very approachable in private settings, unlike her professional demeanor, and was quite articulate. "I meant in daily life."
"Howard is rarely home, and all of us family members worry about him, especially his mother."
"He works day and night without rest. I just hope you can remind him to take care of himself."
"I will."
By the time they finished dinner, it was already eight or nine o'clock. Howard drove Chloe back.
When they arrived at Oakwood Manor, Howard lived on the east side while Chloe was on the west—completely opposite directions.
Chloe watched Howard's retreating figure and suddenly called out to him.
"Howard."
Howard turned around.
Chloe looked at his face and said softly, "Goodnight. Sweet dreams."
She could sense Howard wasn't in a good mood. As for why, Chloe guessed it probably had something to do with his conversation with Chris. But since it was Howard's private matter, Chloe had no place to pry, so she let it go.
"You too."
This was Chloe's second night staying at Oakwood Manor. Due to the car accident, she hadn't moved in properly before or examined the furnishings carefully.
When she finally turned on the lights, she couldn't help feeling moved.
The entire house was decorated exactly to her aesthetic preferences and tastes. All personal items were fully stocked—even the closet contained seasonal clothes, all from her favorite brands.
Chloe stood at the closet door, looking at the clothes with tags still attached, feeling complicated emotions.
Just then, Adeline's video call came through.
"Sweetie, what are you up to?"
"Nothing much."
"Fine, now that you've moved out, you don't confide in me anymore, is that it? I've finally become an outsider."
Adeline put on a heartbroken expression, instantly dispersing the cloud of melancholy in Chloe's heart and making her smile.
"What's going on?"
"I need to tell you something—I just found out myself. Chloe, did you know about Kelvin's true background?"
"Yes," Chloe replied without hesitation. "He's the Williams family's eldest son, born to Allison."
"That's not what I'm asking. I know that much too."
Adeline sighed. Sitting on the sofa, she dropped a bombshell.
"Chloe, Kelvin isn't Allison's child."
"Today, while negotiating business, I accidentally saw Allison arguing with someone. She seemed very unwilling to let Kelvin return to the Williams family. They were fighting intensely, so I got curious and moved closer. That's when I heard her say with her own mouth that Kelvin isn't her son—he's that person's son."
"Whose son could he be?"
Adeline frowned. "Given Kyle's character—that old man from the Williams family who even interfered with your childlessness—how could he possibly ignore such a major issue of bloodline confusion? And being so shrewd, if he had even the slightest awareness, he would surely have noticed Allison's abnormal behavior. Do you think he knows or not?"
Chloe was also shocked. After a long silence, she finally said, "Adeline, why do you think Kyle is so insistent on having Kelvin return now? From what I know, Arthur has already firmly replaced all of Kyle's people in the company. Even if Kelvin returns, he might not regain his former position."
"Who knows what goes on in that old fossil's mind?"
Adeline showed little concern, having her own calculations.
"Chloe, don't you see this as an opportunity for you?"
"Arthur is stubbornly refusing to divorce you and putting all kinds of pressure on you."
"Why not use this family matter to your advantage and trade it for your freedom?"
"Things have already gone this far—why should you care about saving face for both families?"
"No way!" Chloe immediately rejected this proposal.
"Adeline, Kelvin was always good to me. Besides, he's already left the Williams family. Why should I selfishly drag him back into this mess for my own freedom?"
"Moreover..."
Chloe thought of Kelvin's face.
"There's a certain stoic wisdom about him—focused, unruffled by life's chaos, with eyes always on the long game"—this perfectly described Kelvin.
He had never looked down on her despite Arthur's position in the Williams family.
Chloe didn't want to be that kind of person.
"Chloe, maybe Kelvin has been kept in the dark all along. Telling him might be helping him."
"It's not the same. If I were him—having sacrificed so much for the family only to suddenly learn I wasn't their biological child—I would be heartbroken."