Chapter 128

Chloe’s POV

The applause had barely settled when the host smiled toward my table.

“And now,” he announced warmly, “we recognize the woman who held the empire together during its most unstable period.”

My name echoed through the hall.

For a second, everything slowed.

I stood carefully, smoothing the fabric of my gown as I made my way toward the stage. My heels felt heavier than before, not from exhaustion, but from the weight of the moment.

The lights were brighter up there.

Warmer.

Almost blinding.

The award was placed in my hands, sleek and polished, engraved with my name beneath the title: Best Interim Acting CEO.

The applause was genuine.

Loud. Respectful. I felt it in my chest.

I turned toward the microphone and steadied my breathing.

“Thank you,” I began, my voice clear despite the emotions rising inside me. “This wasn’t a position I asked for. It was a responsibility I accepted.”

The hal