Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

The call was from her mother-in-law, Judith Pierce.

”Chloe, are you at the Civil Affairs Bureau?” Judith Pierce’s voice was edged with urgency.

Chloe Reed’s grip on her pen tightened. ”Yes, Mom,” she answered.

”Absolutely not. You two cannot get divorced.” Judith Pierce’s tone sharpened. ”Even if you want a divorce, it can’t be now.”

Chloe Reed blinked and let out a sigh. ”Mom, I don’t want to wait any longer.”

”In any case, I don’t approve. I want you both to come home right now. How could you not discuss something as major as a divorce with us? Did you think we were never coming back and wouldn’t get involved in family matters anymore?” Judith Pierce was furious and hung up as soon as she finished speaking.

Meanwhile, Walker Grant got a call from his father, Marcus Grant.

”Get back here now, or you can forget you have a father!”

The message was even more blunt, and the line went dead the second he finished speaking.

Walker Grant immediately stood up and headed for the door.

”Sign the papers before you go!” Chloe Reed grabbed his arm.

Walker Grant turned to look at her, his sharp eyes darkening. ”My parents are back. My dad said he’ll break my legs if I don’t go home right now.”

He glanced at her phone. ”My mom called you, didn’t she? To be fair, she’s always treated you well, hasn’t she? Why don’t we go back and hear what they have to say first?”

Chloe Reed gritted her teeth, but couldn’t find the words to refuse.

Her mother-in-law, Judith Pierce, had indeed always treated her well.

But they were with Doctors Without Borders and spent less than a month at home each year. This time, their return was also many days late.

They had decided to come back earlier when Madam Grant suddenly fell ill.

She just hadn’t expected it to be at this exact moment.

Walker Grant took her hand in his. ”I’m not satisfied with the divorce agreement. This gives us a chance to draft a new one. We can come back once we’re both happy with the terms.”

His large hand enveloped hers, gradually warming her icy fingertips.

The gloom that had clouded his features seemed to vanish as he led her out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

She wrenched her hand away, her face tight with anger.

「They drove back to the Grant Family Estate.」

Marcus Grant and Judith Pierce were sitting on the sofa, and Madam Grant was sipping from a teacup. The atmosphere in the living room was fraught with tension.

”Dad, Mom.”

Walker Grant said as he walked in.

Marcus Grant stood up at once. ”You, come with me to the study.”

Walker Grant looked at Judith Pierce, leaning in to ask in a hushed voice, ”Mom, why is Dad so pissed off?”

Judith Pierce slapped his arm. ”Because I’m pissed off too!”

Walker Grant was left speechless.

He turned and walked dejectedly toward the study.

Judith Pierce got up and came over, taking Chloe Reed’s hand. Her tone was nothing like the stern voice on the phone; it had softened considerably. ”Chloe, you’ve gotten so thin. Come, let’s go to my room. You can tell me everything that’s happened.”

Chloe Reed’s breath caught in her throat, and her eyes began to sting.

Madam Grant let out a cold snort, setting her teacup down on the coffee table with a sharp CLINK. ”She’s the one who’s been kicking up a fuss about a divorce, and she even tried to hurt Noah. Noah is your grandson! Don’t you feel the least bit sorry for him?”

But Judith Pierce said, ”I don’t believe Chloe would do something like that.”

Madam Grant pointed a finger at her. ”She admitted it herself!”

Judith Pierce’s expression grew complex. ”Mom, why would Chloe admit to it? Have you considered looking past the surface to see the real reason? Or do I need to remind you what your ’precious’ grandson did?”