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Chapter 11 The Accident on Horseback
With those words, Curtis meant to draw a line between him and Chloe. After all, she’d boldly held a table knife to Brian’s throat and had probably offended him.
At the same time, Skyline Tech was now competing with Green Tech for the Steele family’s investments
in the drone sector.
By implying that Skyline Tech was unreliable and making false claims about Chloe’s credibility, he was undermining a rival.
Chloe watched him coldly. After three years of marriage and countless sleepless nights working tirelessly to grow Green Tech, all she’d received in return was being dismissed as just an “ordinary employee“.
“Is that so?” Brian said mildly, his expression giving nothing away.
That was when Sonya stepped forward. “Ms. Hansen, I know you and Chloe are friends. It’s
understandable that you would want to make her look good in front of Mr. Steele, but inventing
credentials and spreading falsehoods about her qualifications are unnecessary.”
Lena impatiently snapped, “Inventing credentials? When Chloe was working on drone research, you were
probably still playing with toy airplanes.”
“What patents does she hold then? Or what projects has she completed?” Sonya challenged.
Lena opened her mouth but couldn’t respond. Chloe’s drone research had been conducted in the military
under strict confidentiality agreements, so she couldn’t openly discuss it.
“So, nothing then?” Sonya asked with a raised brow. “You should know better than to lie in a setting like
this.”
Those with ties to the Miller family joined in with mocking laughter.
While Lena fumed, Chloe calmly said, “You’ll know whether it’s a lie or not soon enough.”
“You’re still being stubborn, huh? It’ll cost you sooner or later,” Sonya mocked.
Just then, a staff member led a magnificent black stallion with four hooves tipped in white over to them.
“Mr. Steele, the Millers would like to gift this stallion to you,” Wayne said with a fawning smile. “He’s fierce in spirit but has been professionally tamed by our best riders. If you’d like, you can take him for a ride.”
Brian only regarded the stallion with cool indifference and made no move to mount it.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Seizing the chance to show off, Sonya eagerly offered, “Then allow me to test this fine horse for you, Mr. Steele.”
Since Chloe had managed to win Brian’s attention at the restaurant, Sonya thought she could do the
Chapter 11 The Accident on Horseback
same here.
Wayne quickly agreed. “Excellent! Sonya is an accomplished rider with international certification. Go ahead and take him for a few rounds, Sonya.”
Seeing that Brian didn’t object, Sonya swung herself onto the saddle in one graceful moment. After digging her heels into the stallion’s sides, she set off at a gallop.
Those friendly with the Miller family showered her with praise.
“As expected of the Millers‘ daughter. She flies planes and rides horses like a natural.”
“She could compete professionally with skills like that.”
“Such confidence and grace… She would’ve been hailed a heroine in wartime!”
Lena muttered to Chloe, “Heroine? Please… She’s just putting on a show.”
She’d seen what a truly skilled and confident woman on horseback looked like.
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Overhearing, Curtis approached them and said sharply, “Sonya is genuinely free–spirited and independent, unlike you people who waste time tearing others down. Chloe, maybe instead of telling your friend to insult Sonya, you should focus on improving yourself.”
“All I know is that a truly independent woman wouldn’t flirt with a married man,” Chloe shot back.
Curtis flushed with anger but couldn’t make a scene in front of everyone.
On the stallion, Sonya felt she’d shown off enough and began riding back toward the group. As she got closer, she tightened the reins. She expected the stallion to slow down to a trot gracefully.
But the powerful black stallion showed no signs of stopping at all. If anything, its pace quickened as it charged faster.
Panicking as they neared the crowd, Sonya pulled on the reins harder and shouted commands, but nothing made the stallion slow down.
Amidst her desperate and clumsy attempts, one of Sonya’s boots slipped free of the stirrup, leaving her struggling awkwardly in the saddle.
“Ah!” she screamed, totally losing control of the stallion. She could do nothing to stop it now.
The black stallion barreled straight toward the onlookers as those who’d been praising Sonya’s riding
skills just moments earlier now scattered in alarm.
Chloe yanked Lena aside to steer clear of the charging stallion. But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Brian still standing motionless in place, with Sonya’s out–of–control stallion heading straight
toward him.
If he didn’t move, he would get crushed. If he was hit by a horse at that speed, he could break some
bones or even die.
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Before Chloe could think, she sprinted toward Brian. With remarkable strength and speed, she grabbed him and dragged him into a rolling dive across the grass.
Gasps tore through the onlookers as hooves thundered past them, missing them by inches.
Wayne exhaled sharply. If Brian had been injured by the stallion, the entire Miller family would have had to
pay for it.
Chloe lay there, panting for breath as the heavy weight pinning her down reminded her what she’d just
done.
“Mr. Steele, are you hurt?” she asked.
Brian remained on top of her, silent.
Had he been kicked by a hoof during the roll?
As that thought crossed Chloe’s mind, she tried to push herself up to check him for any wounds, but a firm hand suddenly pressed down on her shoulder and held her in place.
His cool voice rang in her ear. “Why did you save me?”
“No reason. It was just reflex,” she replied flatly. Seeing that lives were at risk, her military training had kicked in, and she’d instinctively rushed over to save him.
“Reflex?” Brian slowly pushed himself up, looking down at her beneath him.
As they stayed in that position, a faint ripple of emotion stirred in the calm depths of his eyes for the first
time.
All Chloe could see was her own reflection in those dark eyes–her sharp, clear features and her
determined expression.
“Yes. I would’ve done the same if it were someone else!” Chloe firmly announced, and Brian seemed slightly taken aback.
Growing impatient, she said, “If you’re not hurt, get off.”
Something flickered in his gaze. Few people had the guts to talk to him with such impatience.
When he still didn’t move, she shoved him off and got to her feet.
Across the field, the black stallion was still galloping in wild circles. Sonya clung desperately to the saddle and bounced helplessly as she screamed, “Help! Somebody stop this horse!”
But no one dared approach the frenzied animal.
It didn’t take long for her grip on the reins to fail. With a violent jolt, the stallion reared as Sonya lost balance and was thrown off onto the grass.
Even with a soft, grassy landing, she cried out in pain.
Chapter 11 The Accident on Horseback
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Curtis rushed to her side and worriedly said, “Hang on. The staff members have gone to get help. We’ll get
you to the hospital.”
Suddenly, Lena’s voice rang out. “Chloe, watch out!”
Alarmed, Curtis looked up just in time to see the black stallion charge straight toward Chloe. He instinctively scrambled onto his feet to run to her, but Sonya grabbed his wrist tightly. “Curtis, it hurts so
much!”
Her cry made him freeze on the spot. And in the split second he faltered, the stallion had already reached
within several feet of Chloe.
A glint of malice shone in Sonya’s eyes. If she was going down, she would make sure Chloe wouldn’t have it her way and would look even worse.
The crowd watched in horror as Chloe stood frozen to the spot. Everyone thought she’d been scared stiff
and would end up getting crushed beneath the stallion’s hooves.
But at the last moment, her hand shot out to seize the stallion’s reins. In one swift, practiced motion, she
vaulted onto the stallion’s back.
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