He Cheated I Rose: Making Him Regret Everything (Chloe and Arthur) novel Chapter 362

**A Promise Hidden in the Quiet Rain by Adrian Hale**
**Chapter 362: The Public Call**

The atmosphere in the room was thick with anticipation, and a palpable tension hung in the air as the murmurs of the gathered crowd began to swell.

“Exactly!” a voice interjected, slicing through the uneasy silence. “Securing a collaboration with Cosmos Group is nothing short of a triumph, Mr. Lewis. It’s apparent that Ms. Lewis possesses exceptional talent. If your intention is to pass the leadership of the company to her, we understand. It’s also quite reasonable that she might not feel the necessity to grace us with her presence. She’s young, undoubtedly brilliant, and perhaps a touch arrogant. I wouldn’t be surprised if she thinks she doesn’t owe respect to a room full of seasoned professionals.”

Scott stood there, absorbing the comments, his silence more telling than words could convey. Each remark seemed to settle heavily in the air, and he felt the weight of their implications pressing down on him.

Ernesto, quick to defend, interjected with a feigned sense of indignation. “What sort of talk is that? I’m confident that Ms. Lewis isn’t like that at all! She’s probably just caught up in something and running late. Let’s all exercise a bit of patience, shall we?”

Monique, with her voice smooth and soothing, chimed in, “Yes, let’s hold off for a moment. After all, Chloe is our guest of honor. This occasion is meant to be a celebration, not a platform for grievances over a minor delay.”

While her words seemed reasonable on the surface, they subtly reinforced the notion that Chloe’s tardiness was an affront to everyone present, a slight that should not be overlooked.

“Dad,” Carolyn interjected softly, stepping forward with a gentle demeanor that she hoped would calm the gathering storm of discontent. “I’m sure my sister has a perfectly good reason for her absence. Please, everyone, let’s just give her a little more time.”

Under the scrutinizing gaze of the crowd, Carolyn gracefully ascended the few steps to the stage. She moved to Scott’s side, slipping her arm through his in an affectionate gesture that signaled their familial bond.

The crowd noticed this display; it did not go unnoticed.

“Carolyn Lewis, sweetheart, why don’t you try giving your sister a call?” Monique suggested, deliberately using her daughter’s full name as if to emphasize the significance of the moment. “We’ve waited long enough. Any further delay would be quite disrespectful.”

“Of course, Mom. Dad, I’ll call her right now,” Carolyn replied, her voice steady despite the flutter of anxiety in her chest. She retrieved her phone, making a show of dialing, then put the call on speakerphone for all to hear, the tension in the room thickening.

The result was the same automated message that echoed back, “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.”

Carolyn feigned shock, a hand flying to her mouth in a dramatic gesture. “Her phone is off. Does that mean… she really isn’t coming?” A silent plea echoed in her mind. Come on, you little witch. You have to show up.

You need to be here in person to witness your own downfall, don’t you?

Everything was perfectly arranged, yet without the main player, the show could not proceed.

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