Hogan didn't even glance at the signed check. His eyes remained fixed on Chloe, observing the composed, almost smug curve of her smile. He sighed inwardly. Women. Always swayed by money. Faced with such a sum, she couldn't resist. "Now that you've taken the money, you know what to do. Leave Eugene. I shouldn't need to spell it out for you," Hogan said, his tone dismissive and tinged with anger. He no longer wished to look at her. This Chloe girl was nothing special—just a pretty face. What on earth did his foolish son see in her? Sign, take the money, and disappear. He was done with her. "Mr. Rosewood, I have a question for you." Chloe's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "What is it?" Hogan looked up, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. Was this greedy girl not satisfied? Was she planning to extort more from him? "Aren't you afraid Eugene will be furious with you when he finds out what you've done?" Hearing this, Hogan's expression darkened. "Why would he be? I'm his father." Chloe offered a faint, knowing smile. "Usually, children might hesitate to confront their parents. But this is Eugene we're talking about. I suspect the rules are different." "You little—" Hogan stared at her confident face. She even knew about his son's stubborn streak? Just how close were they? Eugene had claimed she hadn't accepted his pursuit yet, implying things weren't serious. But this interaction suggested otherwise. He'd navigated countless negotiations in his life, yet for the first time, he felt outmaneuvered by a young woman. The feeling was profoundly unsettling. "Dad! This has gone far enough!" A deep, authoritative voice echoed in the room. Hogan was still lost in his thoughts, half-convinced Chloe's words had conjured the sound. He must be hearing things. How could he be hearing Eugene's voice here? "Mom! Are you okay?" "Mommy, if anyone bullied you, I'll make them pay!"A child's voice followed. Hogan stiffened. Since when were there children in this room? Before he could process it, a small figure dashed into the room and hurled itself into Chloe's arms. Hogan stared, bewildered. Where did this child come from? Were the bodyguards outside just standing around? He looked up and met Eugene's stern, disapproving gaze. A pang of instinctive, almost childish guilt shot through him, freezing him in place like a kid caught misbehaving. "Eugene! What are you doing here?" Eugene looked at his father, clear annoyance in his eyes. "I told you not to approach her. Was I not clear enough? Do you think I wasn't serious?" "I, uh..." Hogan forced an awkward smile, scrambling for an excuse. "Mom, you can come out now. The show's over," Eugene called out, his gaze shifting toward the heavy drapes behind the entrance. A moment of silence passed. Then, a woman stepped gracefully from behind the curtain. Her face was delicate and youthful, appearing no older than her forties. "Darling, you're ruining all my fun," Rhea said, emerging with a mock glare at Eugene. Her eyes then turned to Chloe. As she took in Chloe's striking features, an initial flicker of appreciation crossed her face, quickly replaced by a more serious expression. "Did you really know I was there the moment I appeared? Just now in this room? Or... from the very beginning?" Rhea had immense confidence in her disguise skills. Most people wouldn't have a clue. If Eugene said Chloe knew immediately, she needed to understand just how immediate "immediately" was. Chloe looked at the elegant woman before her and offered a slight, calm smile. "I knew you were in disguise from the moment you asked me to reach for that item on the shelf. I just didn't expect you were the one targeting me." Rhea was utterly speechless. Her prized skills, seen through so easily? "Later, during the escalator 'accident', it confirmed you were testing me," Chloe added with a light shrug. "I've made my share of enemies. But if they wanted revenge, they wouldn't risk their own safety. You were brave to take that chance. If I hadn't stepped in, you'd be in a hospital bed right now." Her smile faded, replaced by a note of firm sincerity. "That was reckless. Please don't do anything like that again."