Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

As things stood, she couldn’t open a studio. The unknown risks were just too great.

Until she found out who was trying to harm her, she wouldn’t be able to live in peace.

Chloe Reed pressed a hand to her forehead, her gaze dropping.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

”Miss Reed, Mr. Vance is here.”

The voice of the housekeeper, Aunt Lewis, came from the doorway.

Chloe Reed got up and walked over. When she opened the door, she saw Preston Vance holding a thermal flask, a gentle smile on his bespectacled face.

”Chloe, you look much better today. It seems you’ve recovered.”

Chloe Reed nodded. ”Yes, it’s all thanks to your soup. It really works wonders.”

Preston Vance raised an eyebrow. ”In that case, maybe I should apply for a patent. I could probably make a fortune off it for the rest of my life.”

”I’m sure you could.”

The two of them exchanged a smile.

He handed the thermal flask to Aunt Lewis, then walked over to Chloe and gave her the manila envelope he was holding.

Chloe Reed asked quizzically, ”What’s this?”

”Open it and see.”

Preston Vance raised an eyebrow.

Chloe Reed went into the study. ”Preston, please, make yourself at home.”

The housekeeper brought in some water and promptly left.

Chloe Reed opened the envelope and took out the documents inside. A look of surprise appeared on her face as she read them.

”A partnership?”

”Yes.” Preston Vance nodded. ”The Vance Group is an established company, involved in sectors like real estate and new energy. I’m planning to enter the entertainment industry, and I want to start by opening a studio to test the waters. This studio will primarily focus on the voice acting industry, and among all my friends, you’re the professional. That’s why you were the first person I thought of.”

He gazed at her earnestly. ”Chloe, are you interested in joining me?”

Chloe Reed’s brow furrowed slightly. She put the documents down and looked at him. ”Preston, I have to be honest with you. There are hidden dangers surrounding me. If you partner with me, you could get dragged into my problems...”

But Preston Vance asked, ”Remember when there was an attempt on my life right after I returned to the country? You were there. You were scared, but you didn’t distance yourself from me, did you?”

Chloe Reed said, ”That was different.”

”No, it’s exactly the same.” Preston Vance gave a small smile. ”I have hidden dangers in my life, too. But you still have to try to live. You can’t just keep your head down because of those threats. If you do, you might never find out who’s trying to harm you. It’s better to be bold and step out. ’Nothing ventured, nothing gained,’ as they say. That applies here, don’t you think?”

Chloe Reed clutched the documents in her hand.

She was tempted.

She did want to build a career for herself. But starting a studio on her own involved too many uncertainties.

But if someone else were to join her...

The risk would be shared, and this particular person wasn’t even afraid of the hidden dangers...

Chloe Reed took a deep breath. ”Alright, we can partner up. But we need to renegotiate the equity. I don’t want to register the business in my name. That should also help avoid unnecessary trouble.”

Preston Vance nodded. ”That’s fine. I can convert your share of the profits into cash and pay it out to you as a year-end bonus.”

Chloe Reed’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes brightening. ”Okay.”

The two of them discussed the details for a while longer. Preston Vance didn’t leave until he had finished dinner.

Streetlight filtered down through the shadows of the trees. In a dark corner, Nathaniel Monroe glanced at the grim, cold-faced man beside him. He shrank back a little and asked, ”Walker, why do you keep staring up at her house? If you miss her, why don’t you just go see her?”