Chapter 4

By the time I pulled into my driveway, the sun had already set.

Pushing open the front door, the warm yellow light and the savory aroma of braised pork ribs greeted me at once.

Leo poked his head out of the kitchen, spatula in hand, a splash of sauce staining his apron.

"Chloe! Wash your hands, dinner's ready!"

Ever since his kidney transplant, his appetite and sleep had returned to normal. His hollow cheeks had filled out, and color had returned to his face.

Back then, he was wasted down to skin and bones, frail enough to collapse in a stiff breeze. Now, watching him toss vegetables over the sizzling stove, he looked like a healthy, normal young man.

Watching him bustle around the kitchen to the rhythmic clinking of cookware, a lump rose in my throat.

All the humiliation I endured that year, all the doors slammed in my face, every desperate tear I shed—it was all worth it just to have him standing here, making dinner for me.

"How was your day?" He scooped a tender rib onto my plate.

"Fine."

"Your ex called me this afternoon."

My fork paused midair.

"When?"

"Around two. He said his mom is sick, that he asked you for help and you turned him down. Then he had the nerve to ask if I could lend him money."

Leo's tone was remarkably flat.

"What did you tell him?"

Leo set down his fork and looked at me with dead seriousness.

"I said, back when my sister begged you to save my life, you didn't give her a dime. If I lend you money now, I'd be spitting on everything she went through."

He paused, adding with utter disdain, "I'm not that pathetic."

I stared at the ribs on my plate, feeling my vision blur with unshed tears.

"Eat your food," I mumbled, ducking my head over my plate.

He picked up his fork and, as if nothing had happened, scooped the largest rib onto my plate.

The next morning, my heels clicked rhythmically as I stepped out onto the executive floor.

Right by the elevator bank, Arthur was standing at the end of the corridor with his hands behind his back, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows as if waiting for someone.

"Chloe."

He turned around and gestured for me to join him.

I walked over. He stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before speaking.

"Apex Solutions is done for."

My heart skipped a beat. "What happened?"

"Austin embezzled corporate funds. The company called the police this morning."

"Is it bad?"

"I hear the amount is substantial. Their firm was barely staying afloat anyway; this blew them wide open."

Arthur paused, fixing his gaze on me.

"I intend to acquire Apex out of liquidation."

I raised my head.

"Prep the acquisition docs. You're heading over there with me in an hour."

Morning sunlight spilled through the glass, casting bright geometric shadows across the polished floor.

"Understood."

At two that afternoon, our town car pulled up in front of the Apex Solutions building.

I knew this building well.

Three years ago, when I worked here, the sapling outside the main entrance barely reached my shoulder. Now, its lush branches stretched all the way to the second-story windows.

I followed Arthur into the lobby.

Total chaos reigned.

Employees huddled in the corridors in hushed, nervous clusters.

Desks were overturned, documents and files scattered across the carpet.

The elevator bell chimed, and the doors slid open.

A man was escorted out between two uniformed police officers.

He wore a rumpled white dress shirt, a collar button ripped off, his cuffs twisted and askew.

Gleaming steel handcuffs bound his wrists.

It was Austin.

He lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes locking directly onto mine.

His feet halted.

"Chloe Vance."

He rasped my name, his voice sounding like sandpaper grating over jagged glass.

"Seeing me brought down like this... are you happy now?"

Everyone in the corridor turned to watch.

The officers frowned, one of them giving his shoulder a firm nudge. "Keep moving."

I looked at his haggard, ruined face.

Then, I smiled.

"Yes."

"I'm thrilled."

"In fact, I'm celebrating tonight."