Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

Chloe Reed clutched her phone, desperately wanting to call Miles Hawthorne and question him. But without any proof, what could she possibly ask?

She was feeling incredibly conflicted.

Just then, her phone vibrated again.

It was a text from Walker Grant: [Preston Vance and Miles Hawthorne have very complicated identities.]

That was all it said.

’Was he trying to warn me?’

Chloe Reed pursed her lips. After a long silence, she set her phone down.

She couldn’t think of an excuse to ask him.

Now that doubt had taken root, she would have to be on guard. She decided she would discreetly probe for information the next time they met.

And then it occurred to her: she hadn’t seen Miles Hawthorne in a long time, had she?

He hadn’t messaged her at all since the court hearing was delayed.

’What is he so busy with?’

’Maybe I should call him now and try to feel him out.’

Without another thought, Chloe Reed dialed Miles Hawthorne’s number.

It rang three times before the call connected.

”Hello, Chloe.”

Miles Hawthorne’s gentle, smiling voice came from the other end.

Chloe Reed asked, ”What have you been up to lately? I feel like I haven’t heard from you at all.”

Miles Hawthorne let out a soft sigh. ”Family matters. The fighting at home has been pretty intense lately. I’ve been marginalized, but I still get dragged into it all. I’m completely swamped.”

Chloe Reed took in his explanation, then immediately asked, ”Are you free tonight? Want to grab dinner together?”

Miles Hawthorne chuckled lightly. ”Of course. Where to?”

Chloe Reed replied, ”I’ll send you the restaurant location.”

”Alright.”

As the call ended, a thoughtful look flickered in Chloe Reed’s clear eyes.

’He didn’t sound any different during our chat. His tone was as relaxed and casual as ever.’

’I’ll have to observe him more closely when we meet later.’

That evening, Chloe Reed told her grandmother she wouldn’t be home for dinner and then left.

She and Miles Hawthorne arrived at the restaurant at nearly the same time.

As soon as Miles Hawthorne saw her, he said with a broad smile, ”What a coincidence! We arrived at the same time.”

Chloe Reed smiled and nodded. ”Isn’t it, though? Come on, let’s go inside.”

She had booked a private room with a window seat overlooking the river at night.

Miles Hawthorne asked, ”How have you been? Keeping busy? How’s the divorce from Walker Grant coming along?”

Chloe Reed sighed. ”It’s been one complication after another. Something always comes up.”

Miles Hawthorne raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, ”Maybe even the heavens don’t want you two to divorce?”

A complicated expression flickered in Chloe Reed’s eyes. She asked, ”It makes me wonder... if it’s going to be this difficult, maybe I should just give up on the idea? I mean, he’s been treating me alright recently. Maybe I should just settle for that?”

Miles Hawthorne froze upon hearing her words, then asked in astonishment, ”Chloe Reed, have you been drinking? Are you sure you want to just *settle*? If you give in this once, there will be countless other slights waiting for you down the line. Can you really live with that?”

’He doesn’t want me to stop the divorce.’

’So, does that mean he wasn’t the one who sent someone to steal my documents?’

Chloe Reed wasn’t entirely convinced yet. She put on a troubled expression and said, ”But I’ve been trying so hard. I just can’t seem to finalize the divorce. He agreed, I agreed, we both agreed, but there’s always another obstacle. I’m just so tired of it all.”

Listening to her, Miles Hawthorne’s expression grew serious. He said, ”Tell me what’s been happening. I’ve been so caught up with my family’s problems, I have no idea what’s been going on.”

Chloe Reed’s clear eyes flickered, and she nodded.

Time passed slowly. By the time the meal was over, she had told him pretty much everything.

Miles Hawthorne stroked his chin. ”From what you’re saying, it really does sound like someone is trying to stop your divorce. But if it’s not Walker Grant, who else could it be?”

His confusion didn’t look feigned.