Chapter 26: An Olive Branch

As Chloe was walking toward the exit, something overhead suddenly shifted, and a loud scream pierced the air. Before Chloe could react, someone shoved her hard, pushing her out of harm’s way. "Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked. In that split second, Julian had instinctively rushed over to protect Chloe, pulling her into safety just as a large scaffolding crashed to the ground with a deafening sound. The noise startled everyone nearby, but thanks to Julian’s quick response, Chloe was unhurt. It was a close call, and the crowd murmured with relief, realizing how serious the situation could have been. Julian glanced back at the fallen scaffolding, his heart still racing. But before he could say anything more, Chloe had already freed herself from his grasp and stepped away, putting distance between them. "Thank you," she said, her voice cool and detached. Julian turned to look at her, but all he saw was a pair of cold, indifferent eyes staring back at him. Their conversations had