She actually agreed? But Chloe's face only grew colder. Arthur was still lost in his act. He tried to push down the guilt eating at him. "Chloe, I want to make this right. I regret everything I did. I mean it." Watching his pitiful, lovesick act made her sick. "Chloe, I'm sorry! I really am! If I could go back in time, I'd never treat you that way again," he mumbled, head down, words tumbling out in a rush. "This marriage with Jennifer—it was all my mom's idea. I had no say. I deserve whatever happens to me." His fingers tightened around hers. "Chloe, I get it now—you're the only one I really like deep down. I don't have any feelings for Jennifer. "Robert needs a father. Please, just give me one chance. Let me take care of you both."Chloe—" "Enough." Her voice cut through his begging—icy and sharp. Arthur looked up, thinking his heartfelt speech had finally reached her. That maybe she was coming around. A flicker of hope lit in his eyes. But when he met her gaze, her expression was pure ice. She shifted her hand, turning his grip around and locking his wrist in hers. "Chloe, you—" He started to speak, glancing down at her hand on his, ready to turn on the charm—then a sharp pain shot through his wrist. His fingers flew open. No one was more stunned than Arthur. He couldn't believe what had just happened. In that split second, the strength in Chloe's grip—it wasn't normal. It wasn't something an ordinary woman could do. Since when was Chloe this strong? "Arthur, love that comes this late is cheaper than dirt. And what are you doing right now? That's just pathetic," Chloe shot back, her tone merciless. "If you want to ruin your life, go ahead. But I told you—don't come here and make me sick. What I've thrown away, I'm never picking up again." She turned to leave. Panicking, Arthur reached out to grab her again. Chloe saw it coming. She spun around, raised her hand, and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the restaurant—sharp, clean, and unmistakable. Arthur stood there, stunned. A bright red handprint bloomed on his cheek. "Disgusting," Chloe snapped. "Show up in my way again, and next time it won't just be a slap." She scoffed softly and walked away. Arthur was in shock—not because of the slap itself, but because of the pure disgust in Chloe's voice. It felt like a knife twisting straight into his chest. It hurt. Like hell. He wanted to yank the knife out, to rid himself of the agony—but there was no real blade. Just this heavy, invisible weight, pressing down on his chest.He was completely lost. Floating in a fog of confusion and hurt. What was he supposed to do now? He had no idea. A sharp, wrenching pain shot through him. Arthur frowned, the feeling growing more intense—until, thankfully, his phone rang, snapping him back to reality. He grabbed it and checked the screen. It was Donald. Calling at this hour... this had better be important. "What is it?" he answered, his voice tight with irritation. "Mr. Myers, news from Central Hospital. That medical legend, Dr. Palma, is holding a seminar there. About Mr. Charles Myers's surgery—if even Dr. Palma can't do it, then honestly, no one in the world can." The words jolted Arthur awake. Blaine Palma—he knew that name all too well. Back when his grandfather first fell into a coma, when it looked like he might never wake up, Central Hospital had issued a critical notice. They said they could only keep Charles stable. If there was even a sliver of hope left in the entire medical world, it rested with Blaine. If Blaine said it was hopeless, then it was truly over. Back then, Arthur had gone publicly as the head of the Myers family to beg Blaine for help. He'd even offered blank checks—name any price. But Blaine ignored him completely. Blaine was famously cold. If he decided to save one, he might not take a single dollar. If he refused, one could pile a mountain of gold in front of him and he wouldn't even look at it. And now Blaine was actually at Central Hospital. For Arthur, this was a chance he couldn't let slip. "Find a way to reach Dr. Palma. Get him to operate on my grandfather. Whatever he asks for—money, favors, anything—we'll meet it. No limits," Arthur ordered, then hurried out without another word. Blaine barely ever showed his face, and Arthur had to seize this shot to convince him to save his grandfather.After Arthur left, a thin, small-framed man slipped out from a corner table nearby. The second he stepped outside, he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Yeah. He met with Chloe. Tried to win her back, begged for forgiveness, even wanted to celebrate the kid's birthday together," the man reported quickly, head down, walking fast. "Arthur got slapped. Chloe did it. And she didn't hold back."