Chapter 409

The city lights glimmered in the night. Mason Shaw stood beside Chloe Grace. They were side by side, but it wasn’t the same anymore. He wasn’t that idol who needed the spotlight, and she wasn’t the girl who once had eyes only for him. She was Chloe Grace now. Just that. … After Mason left, Chloe sat alone for a long time, finishing a few more glasses of red wine. Red wine always felt like a little victory toast after sealing a business deal. She rarely let herself go like this. But tonight, something felt off. Maybe it was the sting of reality—she’d traded those childhood dreams for stability. No more chasing the world. She was just another businesswoman now. That relentless, ambitious Chloe Grace? Long gone. And Mason didn't need to know any of it. They weren’t lovers. Not even close friends anymore. Just business associates. It’d been a while since she felt this melancholic. Right after the last sip, Heather messaged her back—once Ms. Qu got on board as the lead, the investors floode