Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

”Grandma, what’s wrong?”

Chloe Reed hurried forward, asking with concern.

The old woman seemed dazed for a few seconds before waving her hand. ”It’s nothing. My throat is just a little dry. I’ll be fine after some water.”

She took the teacup from Annie York, took two sips, and her voice sounded much clearer.

”I’m fine now.”

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. ”That’s good.”

She sat down beside them and asked curiously, ”What were you two talking about?”

She’d noticed the strange atmosphere; the look on Annie York’s face was anything but natural.

The old woman smiled warmly. ”I was just asking if she had a boyfriend and if she wanted me to introduce her to someone. She got all nervous and shy.”

She turned to Annie York and said, ”Ann, you’re still young. You should get out there and see the world. There are plenty of wonderful men out there. If you’d like to meet some, I can introduce you. I know many handsome, outstanding, and ambitious young men.”

A flicker of guilt crossed Annie York’s eyes. She lowered her gaze, feigning shyness, and said, ”Grandma, I’m still young. I’m not in a hurry.”

But the old woman just chuckled. ”You keep saying you’re not in a hurry, but time waits for no one. The most important thing is to find someone who will cherish you and take good care of you.”

Listening from the sidelines, Chloe found it rather amusing. ”Grandma, when did you start trying to play matchmaker? Ann is still so young! She’s not even twenty yet. There’s no rush.”

The old woman leaned back and chuckled. ”I’m getting old. I just love to see you young people finding partners. It would be wonderful if all of you could be happy and content.”

She took Chloe’s hand and asked, ”By the way, have you and Walker Grant decided not to get a divorce after all?”

At her words, Chloe’s eyes flickered. ”Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

The old woman sighed. ”I’ve been living here for a while now, and I can tell he’s a very responsible man. He’s willing to put his heart into caring for his older brother’s child, and he’s trying so hard to win you back and make up for the pain he caused you. If you still have feelings for him, why not try giving him another chance? After all, you were together for so many years. I’m afraid it’ll be hard for you to find someone else who makes you feel that way again.”

Chloe felt a wave of exasperation.

”Grandma, does everyone have to be married? I’ve already been through a marriage, and I don’t long for it anymore. I just want to live my life freely.”

The old woman stared at her. ”Then why haven’t you two divorced? You even brought me here to live in your marital home. What exactly are you two up to?”

Chloe: ”...”

’Grandma had hit the nail right on the head.’

’This was the very question she’d been dreading.’

’How could she answer?’

’She could say they weren’t divorcing for now, but what reason could she give?’

’Why only ”for now?”’

’That would just mean something must have happened.’

’If she was so determined to divorce, what possible reason could there be to put it on hold?’

Her grandmother couldn’t make sense of it, so she had asked point-blank.

But Chloe had no idea how to answer.

”Grandma.”

Just then, Walker Grant’s deep, magnetic voice sounded as he pushed the door open and walked in.

His cold gaze swept over Annie York.

Annie York immediately lowered her head, scurried out of the room, and shut the door behind her.

”I’m the one forcing her to live here.”

Walker Grant walked up to the old woman, shouldering all the blame himself.

”I set the terms. I have three months to make her fall in love with me again. If I fail, we’ll divorce. If I succeed, then she’s to never bring up the topic of divorce again.”