As for Rhea, she was his. Rhea looked at Hogan, remembering they had met only once before, aboard a yacht during a social event. It felt like destiny. Perhaps it was love at first sight. A single glance, and she was captivated. She hadn't dared to reveal her feelings, bound as she was by the impending arranged marriage. Unbeknownst to her, Hogan had felt the same instant connection. Upon learning of her predicament, he orchestrated that very public intervention. The Pierce family needed capital. Coincidentally, he had an abundance of it. With a blank check and a promise of support, he secured her freedom. From that day forward, no one in the Pierce family dared to impose their will upon her again. Love meant acting without fear. So, when she learned her son had gone to such lengths for a woman, her initial reaction was joy. When it came to matters of the heart, the members of the Rosewood family had always been unequivocal. Why should they hesitate? Her current concern lay with the woman herself. If she treated Eugene with genuine affection, they would stand behind her without question. But if her intentions were malicious... they wouldn't hesitate to play the role of stern, protective parents. With Eugene occupied for the time being, they were more than happy to have a little chat with the girl first. Chloe. The long-lost daughter of the Lewis family, raised in a rural setting. Married into the Myers family. For six years, she had raised a son and maintained an extraordinarily low profile, almost as if she didn't exist. On paper, her background seemed unremarkable. What unique quality did she possess that could compel Eugene to act this way? Rhea was profoundly curious. ***** Following the internal restructuring at Lewis Group, a host of issues—all linked to Ernesto's previous tenure—came to light. Scott initiated a comprehensive audit, purging the company of compromised personnel and completing the integration. Scott intended to hand over the company to Chloe entirely, but at this critical juncture, she refused.In Chloe's view, Lewis Group had been built from the ground up by her mother and Scott. They had witnessed its rise. Now that the company's rot had been cut away, Scott couldn't simply walk away. He was the chairman. He needed to steward the company well. That way, if he ever saw her mother again, he would have something worthwhile to report. Before all the shareholders, Chloe formally declined the position of chairman. Addressing their puzzled looks, she offered a faint smile. "Mr. Lewis, you're only in your fifties. This is precisely the time for you to build upon your legacy. Entertaining early retirement isn't a good look." Scott went quiet. The shareholders were baffled. This young woman had deftly navigated the company's crisis and now held its future in her hands. She could have easily taken control, yet she refused so casually. It seemed... almost careless. What was her game? Securing Lewis Group had been within her grasp. Didn't she want it? Now, with the prize before her, she turned it down. Gordon, the shareholder who had publicly supported her earlier, was particularly confused. When he saw the formal recommendation letter from Chloe proposing him for the role of Vice President, his bewilderment only grew. "Ms. Lewis, are you certain you won't reconsider? Your capabilities..." "Mr. Wills, I believe the position of Vice President will better leverage your strengths," Chloe replied calmly, leaving no room for further debate. Gordon opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. Finally, he simply nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Lewis." Once the shareholder meeting adjourned, the attendees filed out. Chloe gathered her bag and stood to leave. "Chloe." Scott remained seated, unmoving. His voice, calling out to stop her, was quiet. Chloe paused at the doorway but did not turn around. "Could you... call me 'Dad' again?" Scott's voice trembled slightly. The words were soft, as if they had been trapped in his heart for a long time. It sounded almost like a plea. Chloe fell silent upon hearing him.After Monique's arrest, Scott had been busy. He had overseen the renovation of Lewis Manor, personally attending to every detail, restoring it to its former state. He hoped Chloe and Robert would move back. The villa had been redecorated to resemble the home from long ago, from the time when they were still a harmonious family of three. Scott had also transferred all the funds from his personal accounts into her name. She understood he was trying to make amends, but to her, none of it held much meaning. "Perhaps another time," Chloe said simply, and walked out without another word. Scott could only watch her departing figure. He knew, with a heavy heart, that he still had a long road ahead. A very long road indeed.