When Chloe heard this, her expression darkened. "Did you find something?" She had been very young when her mother passed away. Not long after, she had gotten lost under mysterious circumstances. All these events had to be connected somehow. She strongly suspected Monique was behind everything, but she had never been able to gather solid proof. She had conducted her own private investigations but had always hit dead ends. Now Eugene was telling her something was suspicious—did that mean he had uncovered new information? "There are some leads, but nothing concrete yet. Don't worry, though—it won't take much longer. I'll give you a full account," Eugene said, his voice growing more deliberate. "In fact, you don't have to lift a finger. Whatever you need, just say the word. I... I've always been here for you." Hearing his earnest tone and seeing the intensity in his eyes, Chloe couldn't help but smile. "Eugene, when did you start looking into my past?" "To be honest, I started the first time I saw you," Eugene admitted, a slight lift in his brow. "At first, I was checking if you were single. Later, when I found out you had a child, I looked into who the father might be. That's all there was to it." Chloe let out a soft laugh. She hadn't expected him to be so direct. This billionaire really didn't mince words! Wasn't he worried such straightforwardness would scare her off? "You still looked into me even after learning I had a child? You really are persistent," Chloe teased, the earlier tension in her chest easing considerably. "I was figuring out how to win you over," Eugene said, his gaze unwavering. "Once I set my mind on something, it's hard for me to let go." Chloe gave a faint smile, then abruptly shifted the subject. "The fifty-billion-dollar investment far exceeds what Lewis Group actually needs. And you only asked for forty percent of the profits—that's a losing proposition. Did you do all this just to humiliate the old guard at Myers Group?" "Of course not!" Eugene adjusted his posture, leaning slightly closer. "My goal has always been simple. If this brings me closer to you, then I'd say those fifty billion were well spent." "How exactly does this bring us closer?" Chloe raised a questioning brow. "By offering you..." Eugene lowered his voice, "...myself." Chloe fell silent.Eugene really had a way with words—and she wasn't sure how to respond. For a moment, she felt the urge to punch him lightly and tell him to cut it out. But before she could speak, something caught her attention. They were on the company's top floor. The main hall was still largely empty, with no furnishings or partitions yet installed. No one should have been up there. But now, from around a corner not far away, she could tell someone was taking photos of them. If she wasn't mistaken, the figure was Carolyn. How long had she been there? Chloe glanced at the serious-faced man in front of her. Just as Eugene was about to speak again, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his tie. Confused by her sudden move, Eugene had no choice but to lower his head as she pulled firmly. Before he could utter a word, the next moment, she closed the distance and pressed her lips to his. The contact was so abrupt that Eugene froze, caught completely off guard. The kiss was sudden—Chloe didn't hesitate at all. Stunned, Eugene could only stand there as Chloe kissed him, her technique a bit unrefined but determined. Out of the corner of her eye, Chloe watched the photographer's position. Confirming it was indeed Carolyn, she guided Eugene as she turned, using his tall frame to shield herself from view. From Carolyn's angle, only Eugene's back would be visible. Once she was sure Carolyn could no longer see her, Chloe broke the kiss. The sudden loss of contact left Eugene irritated and wanting more. He frowned, unable to hide his frustration. She had started this—how could she just stop like that? "You..." he began, about to voice his complaint, but Chloe leaned against his chest and whispered, "Don't move! Carolyn is taking pictures of us!" Carolyn! The name sounded familiar—that stepsister of hers, the one who loved playing the sweet, innocent victim."If someone's taking pictures, why did you kiss me like that?" Eugene murmured softly, his voice low and intimate near her ear.