He Cheated I Rose Making Him Regret Everything (Chloe and Arthur) novel Chapter 340

**TITLE: A Promise Hidden in the Quiet Rain by Adrian Hale**
**Chapter 340: The Trap Is Set**

Monique finally released her grip on Ernesto, her mind racing with the implications of their conversation. She reached into her handbag, her fingers sifting through the clutter until they found her phone. The moment she saw Carolyn’s name flashing on the screen, a mixture of dread and anticipation washed over her. She quickly pressed the answer button, her heart pounding.

“Carolyn, it’s Mom. What’s going on?”

“Mom! You won’t believe what I just saw!” Carolyn’s voice burst forth from the phone, sharp and urgent, causing Monique to instinctively pull the device away from her ear. The intensity of Carolyn’s exclamation was so powerful that Ernesto, only a few steps away, caught every word with crystal clarity.

“What could possibly be more unbelievable than that conniving Chloe securing a fifty-billion-dollar investment from Cosmos Group for the Lewis Group?” Monique asked, her curiosity piqued despite the irritation that laced her tone.

“Mom, this is serious! Chloe is tangled up with a man behind the scenes, and it’s shady business. She’s definitely trading favors for influence. And I have solid proof!”

Monique’s interest sharpened at Carolyn’s revelation. “What did you just say?” She straightened, her earlier fatigue replaced by a surge of alertness.

“Do you remember that guy, Eugene?” Carolyn pressed, her voice thick with urgency.

“Eugene? The one who just floats around with no real purpose? He’s just another rich kid, isn’t he? Always lounging about, doing nothing of substance?” Monique struggled to connect the dots, recalling having looked into Eugene before. Nothing substantial had surfaced. He seemed like just another trust-fund baby, perpetually linked to Landon, one of his many hangers-on.

But what did Eugene have to do with Chloe?

“Eugene and Chloe are closer than anyone realizes. They’re… involved,” Carolyn said, her voice trembling with excitement. “I even took pictures of them meeting secretly on a rooftop. It was explosive, Mom!”

“Carolyn, are you serious? You’re going to post that video right now? You want to expose them?” Monique felt a rush of adrenaline at the thought of Chloe’s downfall. “Let public opinion tear them apart! I want to ruin Chloe’s reputation completely.” Carolyn’s voice grew more frantic as she spoke, her indignation palpable.

Monique almost blurted out, “Go ahead, do it!” but caught herself just in time. “Wait! Don’t post anything yet. I need you to hold off for a moment. I’ll send you an address. You need to meet me right now.”

“But Mom, I’m still at work! I have an office to clean later,” Carolyn protested, her frustration evident. “I can’t take this anymore. I’m a star, not some janitor!”

Monique leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as she shared her scheme with him.

As she finished outlining her plan, a faint, cold smile graced Ernesto’s lips. “Good. This is something to look forward to. This time, we’ll ensure she has no way to recover from the fallout.”

“Leave it to me! I’ll take care of this personally. It seems Carolyn has finally done something useful for once,” Monique declared, her excitement bubbling over. She rose onto her toes, leaning in to murmur again into Ernesto’s ear, “Once this is done, it’ll be time for our wedding—and for Carolyn to finally call you Dad openly.”

For a brief moment, Ernesto’s expression darkened, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face, but it was quickly replaced by a knowing smirk. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Come on, let’s go meet Carolyn together,” Monique said, intertwining her fingers with his as they stepped out.

Ernesto glanced down at her hand, his expression shifting almost imperceptibly before settling into a mask of resolve. “Alright.”

In a discreet coffee shop just down the street, Carolyn slipped inside, her heart racing. Afraid of being recognized, she had wrapped a scarf tightly around her head, leaving only her eyes visible, which darted around the room, scanning for familiarity.