Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

Iris went to a nearby convenience store to buy a few things.

Chloe Reed dialed Judith Pierce’s number.

”Hello, Chloe.”

Judith’s tone was gentle.

Chloe Reed’s voice was a little hoarse. ”Mom, the plan didn’t work. Walker saw right through me. He told me that even if he were with another woman, he still wouldn’t agree to a divorce.”

Judith was surprised. ”Did he really say that?”

Chloe let out a bitter, mocking laugh. ”He did.”

”That damn kid...” Judith was at a loss for words. After a long moment, she sighed. ”Chloe, I’m out of ideas right now. Why don’t you reconsider? You and Walker have been together for eight years. Don’t you think it’s a shame to just get divorced like this?”

Chloe gripped her phone, her voice firm. ”I need to cut my losses, not feel regret just because I’ve already put in eight years.”

”Sigh...”

Judith sighed. ”But we both know what Walker’s like. If he doesn’t agree, there’s no way for you two to get a divorce.”

But Chloe retorted, ”I don’t care. If you can’t do anything, then I’ll figure something out myself. I couldn’t care less who he’s with—Sunny Reed, Selene Adler, it doesn’t matter. As long as I can get this divorce, nothing else matters.”

”Chloe, you can’t think like that.” Judith was getting anxious. ”Walker and Sunny absolutely cannot get involved. They’re brother-in-law and sister-in-law! If people found out, the Grant family would be a laughingstock! Just wait a little longer. Let me try to figure something out, okay?”

Hearing the anxiety in her voice, Chloe’s tone softened. ”Mom, let’s figure something out together.”

”Okay, okay. But you need to calm down first. Don’t do anything rash,” Judith soothed, trying to keep her calm.

”Okay.”

After hanging up, Chloe felt much calmer.

’At least the pressure isn’t all on me now.’

Just then, Iris returned, holding a bag full of Chloe’s favorite snacks. ”Chloe, you didn’t eat breakfast. You can have these on the way. How are you going to have any energy for work otherwise?”

”Okay. Thank you, Iris.”

Chloe’s lips curved into a small smile.

”You don’t have to thank me.” Iris started the car and pulled away.

...

「Grant Group」

A cigarette dangled between Walker Grant’s fingers. His sharp, handsome features were cold and grim, his pitch-black eyes devoid of warmth.

Dylan Finch knocked and entered. ”Mr. Grant, just as you thought, Iris sent people to that mountain village. I’ve followed your orders and made sure they’ll keep quiet.”

”Good,” Walker grunted, then added, ”Fire that Adler woman.”

Dylan Finch replied, ”Yes, sir.”

Walker took a long drag from his cigarette and exhaled a thin stream of white smoke. A chilling aura emanated from him, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere settled over the office.

He opened a drawer and took out a manila envelope. From it, he pulled out a photograph.

Through the curling smoke, the photograph revealed a chaotic, devastating disaster scene.

A reporter had happened to capture a moment during the earthquake.

A youthful, beautiful girl, caked in mud, was carrying an unconscious, bleeding boy on her slender back.

The girl was Chloe Reed.

And the boy... was not him.

’After he found out it was Sunny Reed who had saved him, he’d sent people to find out who Chloe had saved. All these years... and she still thought she was the one who’d rescued him.’

’The results of the investigation had come back quickly, too.’

’It was a truth he found hard to accept.’