Chapter 231
Beyond the Divorce
A Coincidental Encounter I splashed water on my face and took deep breaths. Lauren called for a drink and handed me a glass.
I felt calmer after downing it. Then I covered my face with a towel and said, âGo ahead and chat. Iâll rest for a bit.â
âWhy are yo you napping all day? You just slept in your car, and now youâre sleeping again?â Ivanna teased me, giving me a playful nudge. âWhatâs going on with you?â
âThereâs too much going on lately. Iâm working myself to death! Cut me some slack, will you?â I replied from behind the towel.
Tears had already mixed with the water droplets on my face.
Ivanna didnât press me and chatted with Lauren instead. +regained my composure before removing the towel from my face.
âWerenât you napping?â Ivanna asked. âYou know, you do look like that actress I mentioned earlier.
Chloe, Iâll be your manager if you ever want to step into showbiz. Although youâre much prettier than her.â
âStep into showbiz? Iâm about to step into another world.â
Lauren handed me a glass of wine, which I sipped.
Both of them chuckled. âSo you want to be a celestial being now?â
We continued our conversation until I was utterly exhausted. âI swear, if we keep soaking any longer, Iâll turn into a prune! Iâm starving to death. Canât we eat?â
Lauren and Ivanna giggled, and we went to the dining room.
The food here was exceptional. I devoured everything in sight, replenishing my energy and filling my emotional vold.
As we headed back to our private room, we bumped into the two people I least wanted to see. They were both impeccably dressed.
The woman exclaimed, âIvanna! Youâre here too!â
Ivanna turned to look, then stared at me, dumbfounded. I gave the woman a cursory onceâover.
Something about her seemed oddly familiar.
Lauren pulled me over, and my bathrobe slipped to the ground. I quickly draped it back on.
Ivannaâs voice was calm as she said, âWhat a coincidence!â
âYeah, just having a casual meal with Mr. Atlas!â The woman seemed to be explaining herself to Ivanna âOf course, this is a great place for a meal!â Ivannaâs voice had a hint of sarcasm. âEnjoy your time. Iâm here with my best friends!â
Ivanna didnât engage with the woman any further. Instead, she took my arm and led us to our room.
I didnât look at Atlas throughout the entire encounter. Honestly, I was too afraid to. I hoped it was all just an illusion In the room, Ivanna immediately scrutinized me. âDid you see them earlier?â
Ivanna was perceptive and had noticed my emotional turmoil.
I chuckled faintly and asked, âDoes it make a difference?â
Lauren had been observing me closely, occasionally sharing glances with Ivanna. They were clearly worried about me.
I suddenly laughed. âWhatâs with those faces?â
âChlo, if thereâs something on your mind, let it out. Donât keep it to yourself,â Ivanna said earnestly. âYou shouldnât take that too seriously âExactly, who knows? Maybe itâs some important discussion,â Lauren added.
âWhat are you trying to say? I wasnât thinking that far, but after hearing you two, now I am.â I looked at them with a smile, probably looking worse than if I were crying.
âDo you know who that woman is?â Ivanna asked, looking at me intently.
âI donât know, and I donât want to know! I remained calm and said it plainly.
âItâs that actress I complained aboutâHarmony Hampton, the one under our label!â Ivanna said in annoyance, âI said she was getting a big head. It turns out, she thought she snagged herself a sugar daddy! That little-*
Ivannaâs words snapped me back. I realized that the face I saw just now did seem oddly familiar.