Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

Then, before Chloe Reed could answer, she sighed. ”I don’t understand it either. He knows you don’t love him anymore, so why does he keep clinging to you? He won’t give up, not even in death.”

She let out a long sigh, her gaze fixed on the sky as it grew dark. Her voice was tinged with sorrow. ”He never thinks about me, or his father, and certainly not his late older brother.”

Chloe Reed’s long lashes trembled. A painful ache spread through her heart as scenes from the past flooded her mind. She felt their connection was nothing but a curse.

After a moment, she typed, ”His eyes are like this because of me. I’ll leave once they’ve recovered.”

’Whether he agrees to the divorce or not, I won’t drag him into this anymore.’

’I’ll get my revenge on my own.’

’If other people get hurt because of this, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.’

Judith Pierce looked at her. ”You feel guilty, don’t you?”

Chloe Reed tightened her grip on her phone and nodded.

Judith Pierce gave a scornful laugh. ”Sometimes, I truly feel it’s all so unfair to Walker. He’s done so much, only to earn your guilt in return.”

Chloe Reed’s body tensed slightly. ’Aside from this guilt, there’s nothing else I can give him.’

’Nor can I.’

’My future is a dangerous unknown. Until this is all over, I can’t let myself think about anything else.’

Judith Pierce looked away and stared ahead again. ”So, who is it that’s trying to hurt you? Why do they keep coming after you? Have you found any leads?”

Chloe Reed nodded and typed, ”A little.”

Judith Pierce stood up, looking down at her. ”I don’t care who is after you, Chloe Reed. Don’t drag my son into it. He’s the only son I have left. I don’t want to go through the pain of losing a child again. As a woman, I hope you can understand how I feel right now.”

A light breeze blew by, and a fallen leaf landed gently on Chloe Reed’s foot. She watched Judith Pierce’s retreating back, her eyes stinging fiercely with unshed tears.

Just then, her phone rang. She pulled it out and saw Annie York’s name flashing on the screen.

She froze for a second, then composed herself and rejected the call.

Chloe Reed: [What’s up?]

Annie York: [Chloe, what are you up to?]

Annie York: [Mr. Vance has asked me about you several times. Has he tried to find you? I didn’t want to say the wrong thing, but I haven’t heard from you in a while, so I was getting a little worried.]

Chloe Reed: [I’m fine. Just traveling to clear my head.]

Annie York: [Oh, so that’s what’s going on. I’m relieved then.]

Annie York: [Chloe, I... can I go see your grandma? I miss her.]

Annie York: [If it’s not a good time, just forget I asked.]

Chloe Reed stared at the messages, pursing her slightly pale lips before typing a reply.

Chloe Reed: [Yes, please keep Grandma company for me.]

Annie York: [Okay, I will!]

Annie York: [Oh, by the way, Chloe, I’ve gone back to school! Look, here’s my report card!]

The corners of Chloe Reed’s mouth lifted into a small smile. It was clear Annie York was truly trying to build a better life for herself.

Then, another message popped up.

Preston Vance: [Chloe, you busy?]

Chloe Reed: [Traveling.]

Preston Vance: [Have fun, then.]

Chloe Reed: [Yeah.]

”...”

She put her phone away, let out a heavy sigh, and turned back toward the hospital room.

’I need to go back and talk with Walker Grant about how to make proper arrangements for Grandma.’