If people found out Chloe and Arthur used to be married, the lies would fall apart. But then Scott's own choice back then would be ripped to shreds—everyone would say he sold his daughter for money. And the Myers family never gave a straight answer about what happened. What did that mean? It meant they didn't want to admit that connection either. If that tie between the Myers and Lewis families broke, the Lewis family would have no way back up. Scott stayed quiet. Seeing his silence, Chloe let out a soft sigh. "You're all right. The rumors online aren't kind to me. That's my problem. I should figure out why and fix it myself. I'll give everyone a clear answer." People's faces lit up. They'd been waiting for Chloe to back down.But just before anyone could smile, she suddenly shifted. "But... I have one condition." A condition? Chloe still dared to make demands now? Sean actually laughed out loud when he heard it. "Ms. Lewis, have you forgotten where you stand? Trying to cut a deal with everyone at a time like this—are you joking?" "Right now, you should follow the board's plan. Not negotiate." "Even as the largest shareholder, if your actions hurt the stock, you're fully responsible—and you should step down on your own." The shareholders all piled on. "Go on, then—what's your condition?" A low voice cut through the noise. The moment he spoke, the room went still. Everyone turned to look. Ernesto sat lazily in his chair, looking detached, like he was just watching a show. His eyes rested calmly on Chloe. "Say it. Let's all hear. We'll see if it's worth discussing." Chloe met his gaze and smiled. "It's simple. If public opinion turns around within 48 hours, the board will officially name me vice president. And for the next month, my word is final. I'll turn Lewis Group from loss to profit." Ernesto let out a short laugh. Forty-eight hours. How arrogant. If it could be fixed that fast, why had the storm lasted so long? This sounded like empty boasting. Announcing her as VP was easy—just a notice. But the backlash could be huge. Still, if she wanted to bet everything, she had nerve. "And if you fail?" Ernesto's voice was rough and carried authority. "If I fail?" Chloe kept smiling, untouched by his pressure. "Then I'm not fit to be VP—I don't even deserve the thirty percent shares my mother left me." That made even Monique sit up straight. Ernesto's eyes lit up. He stared right at Chloe, watching her say it without blinking, and snorted. Young. So young. Any one of those offers would have been enough to bargain with. But she put them all on the table. It was only because Chloe held thirty percent of the shares that she had been qualified to be the company's vice president. She could have pushed back by saying she didn't care about the VP title, or claimed she wouldn't get involved in company management—but instead, she had been foolish enough to lay all her cards on the table. Too naive. Downright foolish. Maybe she was all looks and no brains. If she didn't know her limits, fine—push her right out of Lewis Group. No one forced her. It was her own pride. Even if she made her marriage public, so what? The online mob wouldn't forgive her that easily. And people online had already lost their minds. Even if Chloe stood up now and said she and Arthur were once married, who would believe her? Ernesto looked at Chloe and smiled. "Now that's a bet. I like it." He glanced at Monique and laughed louder. Tension hung thick in the air, heavy enough to touch. Even Scott had clamped his mouth shut, sitting rigid in his chair as he stared at Chloe, his eyes wide with disbelief—as if he couldn't fathom the words that had just left her lips. "Chloe, you said it yourself. Everyone here heard you. If you can't do it, don't say we bullied you," Monique said, her voice full of scorn."Perfect," Chloe said lightly, still smiling. "With so many witnesses, no one can backtrack, no one can weasel out of it, and no one can pretend none of this ever happened later."