Arthur didn't move from his spot, his eyes tracking Chloe until she was out of sight. There was no gloom in his gaze, just a sharper, more solid kind of confidence. He'd already talked to his lawyer. It didn't matter how successful or well-connected Chloe became—Robert was their son. And no matter who hovered around her now, he was still her man. That fact wouldn't change. Once he secured custody of Robert, Chloe would have to soften. And when she did, when she finally came back, he'd put his whole heart into winning her over. As Chloe stepped out of the café, a bright red sports car pulled smoothly up to the curb. Leaning against the hood stood a man in a loud floral shirt and sunglasses. A pair of girls walking past slowed, one lifting her phone to take a picture, but her friend tugged her away, too shy to bother him. Chloe recognized Zachary right away. She shook her head slightly. He really was like a peacock, always showing off. Zachary spotted her, grinned, and strolled over, swinging the passenger door open with a flourish. "Your ride, my lady," he said, bowing a little. Chloe paused beside the car, giving the shiny new vehicle a slow once-over. "Not bad. New car?" "You know it. When your boss is this impressive, you've gotta keep up. It's the same red as yours, by the way," Zachary added with a smirk. "You're the first woman to ever ride in it. Feel special?" Chloe shot him a look of pure disgust. "You've got three seconds to take that back." "Alright, alright. Seriously though—my dear boss, please get in." He smiled more genuinely this time and gestured again. Chloe finally slid into the seat. Zachary started the engine and they pulled away. "Dressed like that, people will think you're a nightclub performer," Chloe remarked, rolling the window down. The wind swept in, tossing her hair and making her sharp features stand out even more. "It's my first time tagging along with my boss to crash another big shot's dinner—gotta dress the part, show some respect," Zachary said, his grin turning sly. "Can't have you losing face because of me." Chloe's expression cooled. "There's something you need to handle." Zachary's smile vanished. "What's up?" "Arthur's planning to sue for custody of Robert." His face turned serious. "You're kidding me. He's really going to stoop this low?" "It's your problem now," Chloe said lightly, leaning back and closing her eyes. "Don't worry. If that jerk comes bugging you again later using marriage as an excuse, then it's on me," Zachary said, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. Chloe didn't respond, but a faint smile touched the corner of her lips.***** Up on the top floor of the restaurant, the unique decor had caught Leo's attention. He wandered around, inspecting the space while Landon followed closely beside him. "So, Mr. Snow, what do you think? This place also belongs to Cosmos Group—we just never announced it publicly." Leo glanced toward the man seated silently at the dining table, then back at Landon. "Cosmos Group's businesses are all over the world—guess that's really true, huh!" Landon smiled and guided Leo to his seat. Once Leo was settled, Landon moved quietly behind Eugene and whispered a brief update. "We're past the scheduled time. We can begin now," Landon said softly. "The group's investors have been waiting for a while." The table was filled with expensive dishes. A select few investors were already present, and even Leo had arrived early. But no one had touched their food. The investors exchanged cautious glances, none daring to speak first.Eugene sat motionless, his presence alone enough to keep the room silent. If he didn't move, no one else would. Leo observed the scene and commented mildly, "Seems your mind isn't really on this victory dinner, Mr. Rosewood." His light teasing broke some of the tension. The investors straightened up, alert. The joke carried a slight edge, and it was aimed at Eugene. If he took it badly, the evening could easily turn sour. Just as they expected him to react, a young, cheerful voice cut through the quiet. "Wow! It's my first time on the top floor of Eve Restaurant!" Landon recognized that voice and stood to welcome the newcomers. "Robert, you're finally here," Landon said, relief washing over him. If Robert had arrived, it meant Chloe wasn't far behind. Eugene sat there straight, his phone lying quietly on the table. He didn't say a word or move a muscle—obviously, he was waiting for someone.