Chapter 2 Morning sunlight streamed through the floor to ceiling windows when I woke up , and for a split second I thought I was still in Blake's apartment . Then the Egyptian cotton sheets reminded me - I was in the Sullivan mansion . " Miss , breakfast is ready , " the housekeeper said softly through the door . I padded barefoot across the plush carpet and opened the closet . Designer clothes from this season's collections hung perfectly arranged . Ten years ago when I left , I was just some rebellious teenager in cheap t - shirts . Now I was back , completely broken . Downstairs , Dad was reading the financial section while Mom poured me fresh orange juice with this worried look . Marcus had some files spread out in front of him , but he closed them the second I walked in . " Sleep okay , sweetheart ? " Mom touched my face gently . " Better than expected . " I took the coffee a staff member handed me . " What's all that ? " I nodded at Marcus's files . Marcus and Dad shared a look . " Turner Tech's internal documents . " My hand froze , coffee cup clinking against the saucer . " Khloe , " Dad folded his newspaper , " we'll respect whatever you want . If you're done with that world , the Sullivan family can- " No. " I cut him off , surprising myself with how firm I sounded . " I spent ten years at Turner Tech , worked my way up to VP . I'm not letting some asshole dismiss me with a paycheck . " Marcus grinned . " There's my sister . " He slid over a press brief . " Blake's holding a press conference this afternoon . Announcing his engagement to Avery Brooks . " I glanced at the headline- " Tech Billionaire Blake Turner Engaged to Concert Pianist Avery Brooks " -with this sickeningly sweet photo of them gazing into each other's eyes . My stomach twisted , but I kept my face blank . " Media's completely erased you , " Marcus said coldly . " Like Blake built Turner Tech all by himself . " " It IS his company , " I said quietly . " IS IT ? " Marcus opened the file . " Then explain these . " Page after page of Turner Tech's core system source codes , every single one with my initials " KS " in the corner . " That's just basic framework stuff ... " " The three technologies keeping Turner Tech alive ? All built on systems you developed when you were eighteen . " Marcus tapped the documents . " Blake's just been building on your foundation this whole time . " I finished breakfast in silence , then stood up and told Marcus : " I'm taking back what's mine . Also , set up a meeting with Ethan Cole . Tell him the Sullivan heiress wants to discuss a partnership . " Marcus looked genuinely shocked . " Ethan Cole ? He's our competitor . " I paused at the doorway and looked back . " Exactly . That's what makes him valuable . " 23:15 Divorce Papers or Death Code ? My Choice , His Regret 11.196 Chapter 2 That afternoon , I put on a sharp black suit and sunglasses , then watched Blake's press conference from the window , There he was in his perfect suit , holding Avery Brooks ' hand under all those camera flashes , announcing their engagement , " Avery's the most special person in my life , " Blake said into the mic , eyes so tender it was gross . " She showed me what real love actually feels like . " I took off my sunglasses and really studied this guy I'd wasted ten years loving . Weird thing was , it didn't hurt like I thought it would . I just felt this ice - cold clarity . My phone buzzed with a text from Marcus : " Cole agreed . Tonight , 7 PM , Sky Tower penthouse restaurant . " At 6:50 , I stood in the Sky Tower elevator , adjusting my collar in the mirror . Ten years of keeping my head down had made me forget how to be a Sullivan . But some things are just in your DNA . The elevator opened and a server led me to a window table . A tall guy stood with his back to me , looking out at the city lights . " Mr. Cole , " I called out . He turned around , sharp eyes sizing me up immediately . Ethan Cole - tech wunderkind who built an AI empire that could go toe - to - toe with Sullivan Corp by age thirty . Known for being absolutely ruthless . " Khloe Sullivan ? " He narrowed his eyes . " Or should I say , Sullivan heiress ? " I sat down gracefully . " Looks like you already know who I am . " " The Sullivan family's missing daughter shows up after ten years ? That's headline news . " Ethan poured me some wine . " What's really shocking is finding out you were the woman behind Blake Turner this whole time . " I traced the rim of my glass . " Past tense . " " So , " Ethan leaned back in his chair , " why's the Sullivan princess reaching out to her family's biggest competitor ? " I met his stare head - on . " I want to start an AI lab . Need a partner . " Ethan smirked . " Sullivan Corp has endless resources . Why come to me ? " " Because I want to use you , " I said , taking a sip of wine . His expression got really interested . " Go on . " For the next two hours , I laid out my entire plan . Ethan went from looking bored to completely focused , eventually pulling out his phone to take notes . " You've been hiding some serious talent , " he said when we finished . " Blake Turner has no clue what he just threw away . " I smiled . " He's about to find out . " I got home around midnight to find Marcus waiting in his study . " How'd it go ? " he asked without looking up from his laptop . " Pretty well . " I kicked off my heels and rubbed my sore ankles . " Ethan's providing tech support upfront . In exchange , he gets first dibs on distribution rights . "