He Cheated I Rose Making Him Regret Everything (Chloe and Arthur) novel Chapter 263

**Chapter 263: A Forced Invitation**

The moment Carolyn stepped out of confinement, an overwhelming urgency consumed her. She immediately began dialing every contact she could think of, her fingers trembling with desperation. The cold reality hit her like a slap: the entertainment industry had seemingly closed its doors on her, perhaps forever.

“Mom, please! You have to help me! Can you try calling Mr. Merrow? No one is answering my calls. If I get blacklisted now, it’s game over for me. I’m already out—doesn’t that prove I’m innocent? They can’t just treat me like this!” Her voice was a mix of panic and frustration, each word laced with the fear of losing everything she had worked for.

Monique, her mother, pushed Carolyn away, her gaze piercing through the chaos of her daughter’s disheveled appearance. “Just look at yourself!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with disdain. “What kind of state is this?”

The words hung in the air, and Carolyn fell silent, the weight of her mother’s judgment settling heavily on her shoulders.

“Do you really want to crawl back into that filthy entertainment world?” Monique’s voice was icy, leaving no room for argument. “Let me be clear—even if you could go back, I wouldn’t allow it. Forget it.”

“Mom, what are you saying?” Carolyn’s confusion was palpable. She couldn’t grasp the full extent of her mother’s disdain.

Monique’s expression darkened further, her eyes narrowing as she continued, “That scheming Chloe managed to squeeze thirty percent of Lewis Group shares out of Scott. Soon enough, she’ll be the company’s largest shareholder.”

“What?!” Carolyn’s eyes widened in disbelief. Thirty percent? The implications of that figure sent chills down her spine.

How much was that actually worth? Carolyn’s mind raced back to the countless battles her mother had fought just to secure a mere ten percent from Scott—and even that had felt like pulling teeth. Ten percent was already valued at over 100 million dollars. So, thirty percent would be…

The realization hit her like a cold wave, turning her gaze icy. “How could he do that?” she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

“From now on, you need to pull yourself together,” Monique declared, her tone growing colder and more commanding. “Starting Monday, I’ll arrange a position for you at the company. So what if Chloe holds shares? Without real power, her vote means nothing. Carolyn, you need to work hard. Earn your place at Lewis Group. Once Scott’s shares end up in our hands, and with…” Monique’s lips curved into a proud smile, a glimmer of ambition shining in her eyes. “Then we’ll truly be the owners of Lewis Group.”

“Mom, I promise I won’t let you down. I’ll repay every single dirty trick Chloe used against me—with interest. She can keep dreaming. Lewis Group belongs to us!” Carolyn’s voice was filled with determination, a fire igniting within her.

“But, Mom… will Scott even let me into management?” Carolyn’s bravado faltered as doubt crept in, her heart racing with uncertainty.

“Whether he agrees or not, that’s not his decision to make,” Monique snapped, her anger still fresh from the memory of Scott’s disrespectful slap earlier in the car.

—

Chloe slipped on her sunglasses, stepping out alone into the bright afternoon sun. She had made a promise to Robert to bring him back something special to eat.

The man reached for her shopping bag, but she clutched it tightly. “I’ve got it,” she insisted, her voice firm.

Settling into the back seat with her belongings, the door shut behind her, and the car sped away, leaving the familiar world behind.

As they drove, Chloe glanced out the darkly tinted windows, but the outside world was obscured, leaving her in suspense about their destination.

The car glided silently through the tranquil streets for about half an hour before finally coming to a stop in front of a private villa, its grandeur unmistakable.

The moment the vehicle halted, the door opened with a soft click.

“Please step out, Ms. Lewis,” the man instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Chloe exited the car, her shopping bag in hand, and followed him inside, navigating through a corridor, across a courtyard, and into the main hall.

At the entrance, two guards stood watch, their expressions shifting to alertness as they noticed Chloe carrying her belongings. Their eyes narrowed, and they moved swiftly, hands reaching out to snatch her phone from her grasp.