The structural reality of that statement dictated that since these massive blocks of wealth were legally defaulting into her exclusive personal possession, they bore absolutely no correlation to the alternative factions of the family—including the corporate empire of Eric Vance.

She rapidly decoded the baseline strategic calculation guiding Isabella's maneuver: since the collective shareholders gathered here on this day were destined to walk away entirely empty-handed regardless of the outcome, Isabella was unshakeably resolved to ensure that Eric Vance was likewise totally barred from absorbing this wealth into his core assets.

As long as the property remained anchored within Chloe’s fragile, isolated hands, there would be an astronomical number of opportunities to deploy calculated traps to gradually strip the wealth away from her possession in the future.

Noting that Isabella had issued the definitive decree, although the remaining shareholders harbored varying degrees of intense dissatisfaction deep within their chests, the entire assembly reached a sudden, unanimous consensus to abandon any further vocal resistance.

Consequently, the subsequent legal procedures governing the official transfer and registration of the massive inheritance proceeded with an exceptional, flawless fluidity.

Throughout the entirety of the administrative process, Chloe and Eric Vance refrained from exchanging a solitary word of direct conversation. It was only after the final legal signatures had been affixed to the contracts that the two of them found themselves standing in tandem within the secluded, vacant elevator lobby, awaiting their descent.

Standing within the absolute isolation of the concrete enclosure, Eric Vance finally turned his form to face her, parting his lips to deliver his initial statement: "Lyndsey is currently operating under the direct, total protection of my stepmother, Isabella. If your consciousness harbors a desire to deploy maneuvers to dismantle her existence, you must comprehend the reality that the endeavor will be by no means easy."

Chapter 30: Loathing

Behind the stairwell directly faced a bright French window. Looking through the glass, the crowd of people down below the towering skyscraper appeared as miniscule as ants.

Chloe's eyes shifted slightly, and the smile on her face grew a fraction colder: "In the past, you protected that murderer, and now your stepmother is protecting her. Your family is truly consistent. But let me tell you, even if you helped me today, I won't necessarily appreciate it."

Eric didn't seem to be angered by her sarcastic words. His gaze merely dimmed as he spoke: "I have already explained what happened before. If you want to deal with Lyndsey, I can help you now. And if you want to hold onto the family fortune securely, I can help you with that too."

A sudden chill surged through her heart for no reason, and she turned to look at Eric: "If I'm not mistaken, long before my accident, you already knew that the reason the family empire exists today is because of the inheritance my grandfather left behind, right?"

Eric frowned but remained silent.

Chloe knew this was his silent admission.

She let out a scoff: "Your family has always owed ours. If it weren't for the capital grandfather left behind back then, my grandmother wouldn't have spent years running about, breaking her health from overwork, and spending her final years in a hospital. You and I wouldn't have crossed paths like this either, and you wouldn't be standing before me so loftily, taking everything you say so completely for granted!"

It wasn't that she was using this history to demand compensation from the family, but rather that she felt deeply wronged.

Eric knew everything, yet he had still chosen to hurt her for the sake of a vicious woman who had destroyed her and her brother.

She had been stripped of everything—her child was gone, her brother was gone—yet he still maintained a lofty posture, acting as though whatever he did was perfectly natural and without fault.

"I said, if you want to avenge Zack, I will help you. I can make amends, and from this day forward, I will absolutely never let the same thing happen again!" Eric's face gradually darkened.

He didn't understand why this woman was so obstinate. He had already stated that he could make up for it, so why did she have to keep tightly grasping onto his past mistakes and never let go?

When all was said and done, Zack's death had nothing to do with him; his only mistake was merely shielding Lyndsey.

Chloe drew in a deep breath, realizing it was entirely futile to try and reason with such a self-righteous man.

Watching the elevator floor numbers climb one by one, she withdrew her gaze and spoke in a tone that was unexpectedly calm: "Eric, when things don't happen to your own body, you can never truly comprehend the pain. Do you honestly believe a single word of amendment is enough?"

"Then you tell me, what exactly will be enough?" A faint trace of rage flickered across Eric's face.

Ding— The elevator arrived, and Chloe lowered her gaze as she stepped inside.

Seeing this, Eric rapidly strode in after her, casting a sharp look at the other occupants inside, wordlessly forcing everyone to exit.

The elevator was left with only the two of them once more.

Feeling utterly helpless, Chloe tried her best to speak with patience one more time: "I will repeat what I said before: you never viewed Zack as a brother, nor did you ever consider that unborn child as your own, which is why you don't feel grief or hatred. But I loved them, so I can never forgive you, the accomplice."

She had articulated these words with absolute clarity. Eric was an intelligent man and ought to comprehend everything perfectly.

The moment the syllables left her lips, the elevator fell into a profound silence.

Chloe could distinctly feel the oppressive atmospheric pressure in the air. In truth, her heart was heavy with sorrow as well, but that grief was too weak to matter when measured against the burning hatred inside her soul.

Four years had passed, yet whenever her mind drifted to Zack, her heart felt as though it were being roasted by a blazing fire, depriving her of sleep day and night.

After her brother met his tragic end, the murderer had been shielded by the very man she loved. Every time she recalled this, the blood in her heart practically burned to ash.

In reality, if she had never loved him, she wouldn't harbor such intense hatred. The greater the love, the harsher the condemnation; such was the nature of things.

Ding— The elevator came to a steady halt on the first floor, and the doors glided open.

The exact moment she stepped out of the elevator, she distinctly heard Eric part his lips behind her.

His voice was exceptionally low, carrying a deep, heavy sorrow.

He asked: "Do you truly dislike me that much now?"

Chloe's frame stiffened slightly. Without turning her head, she offered a freezing response: "It is loathing—identical to the loathing you once projected onto me!"

Chapter 31: Intentions

The moment she strode out of the corporate headquarters, snowflakes began to flutter and scatter densely through the air outside.

If Zack were still around, he would undoubtedly have come to escort her home at this hour, eagerly pulling her along to construct snowmen outside.

But four years had drifted past, and Zack was no longer in this world. She had once delved into the illusion that she possessed a home of her own, never expecting it to be nothing more than a grand, fleeting dream.

"The weather is freezing, let's head home."

A massive umbrella suddenly materialized above Chloe's head, intercepting the descending snowflakes and blocking out the freezing chill.

She cast her gaze sideways. Julian was standing before her holding the umbrella, casting a protective shadow over her form. A gentle smile graced his features, and his eyes were like a calm sea shimmering beneath the morning light—tender and clear.

For a brief second, her mind drifted. The Julian in her memories had been a fierce youth who grew up wildly amidst storms and rain.

Yet looking at him now, he stood beside her like a towering tree, suddenly capable of shielding her from the wind and downpours, softly murmuring to her in the bitter cold: The weather is freezing, let's head home.

Noticing her distraction, Julian chose not to disrupt her train of thought, quietly holding the umbrella aloft by her side until she collected her faculties.

"It really is freezing, let's head back." Realizing she had actually spaced out, Chloe hastily withdrew her gaze.

Seated inside the vehicle, Chloe secured her seatbelt and couldn't help but steal another glance at Julian in the driver's seat. Seeing that his expression displayed absolutely no awkwardness, her mind finally settled into a state of peace.

The corners of Julian's lips curved slightly. He intentionally kept his eyes forward, merely inquiring: "What were you staring at me for just now?"

Chloe paused briefly, before waving her hand with simulated carelessness, speaking in a light tone: "It's nothing, really. I just suddenly realized you've changed from when we were kids—you're more handsome and much gentler than before."