Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

Chloe Reed listened, captivated. She couldn’t help but wonder, ’If I hadn’t married Walker Grant back then, would things not have become so complicated?’

Fiona Linton sighed softly and said, ”The biggest regret of my dad’s life was probably never officially marrying my mom, never getting that legal recognition for himself.”

Chloe Reed took her hand in a comforting gesture.

Fiona Linton squeezed her hand back and said, ”I’m okay now. I just miss them dearly sometimes. The fact that you’re willing to listen to their story is like... letting them live on a little longer, in a way.”

Fiona Linton grinned. ”If no one talks about them or remembers them anymore, that’s when they’ll have truly disappeared.”

Chloe Reed typed on her phone, her gaze fixed on Fiona with particular earnestness. ”I’m happy to listen. Whenever you want to talk, you can always talk to me.”

”Okay, then. Just don’t get tired of me later,” Fiona Linton said with a nod.

Chloe Reed shook her head, and the two girls exchanged a smile.

Today, Fiona Linton just wanted to get some fresh air and clear her head, so they went straight to the mall to shop.

However, when they got to a dessert shop, they saw Annie York working a holiday job.

She was wearing a uniform, standing behind the counter and taking orders.

While Fiona Linton was still deciding what to drink, Chloe Reed had already reached out and tapped Annie York on the arm.

Annie York looked up, and her face immediately broke into a smile when she saw who it was. ”Chloe!”

”Mm.”

Chloe Reed nodded, then typed out a question: ”You’re working here?”

Annie York nodded. ”Yeah, it’s a work-study thing. This way, I can cover my own living expenses and also hire a caretaker for my mom.”

The money she’d earned while working at Jardinelle was enough to hire the caretaker for her mother, so now she was out studying and working part-time, trying to improve herself.

Chloe Reed typed another question: ”Isn’t it exhausting?”

Annie York gave a shy smile and said, ”I think it’s okay. My life feels very full, and when I’m busy, I don’t have time to dwell on unhappy things.”

Chloe Reed nodded and continued typing: ”What about your brother? Has he come looking for trouble again?”

”No.” Annie York shook her head. ”He hasn’t shown up since last time. I think your people must have scared him off. I really have to thank you for that.”

Then, she looked at the bubble tea they had ordered and said with a smile, ”This is on me.”

But Fiona Linton shook her head. ”We can’t let you do that. You’re working here; you shouldn’t be spending your own money on us.”

”It’s fine. Chloe has helped me so much. I can’t do much else for her, but I can definitely afford to treat you to a bubble tea,” Annie York insisted.

Chloe Reed nodded at Fiona Linton, signaling that they should let Annie York treat them.

’The bubble tea doesn’t cost much; it’s well within Annie York’s means. If she wants to treat us, then let her.’

Fiona Linton smiled and said, ”Alright then, thank you. I guess I’m benefiting from Chloe’s fame today.”

Annie York turned to make the bubble tea, telling them, ”Go find a seat. It’ll be ready in a minute.”

”Okay.”

Chloe Reed managed a single syllable. Her voice was short and raspy, but she was able to say the word smoothly.

Annie York was pleasantly surprised. ”Chloe, your voice is almost healed!”

”Mm.”

Chloe Reed smiled and nodded, then pulled Fiona Linton to a seat in the lounge area.

From her angle, she had a perfect view of the street outside. She looked up, about to say something to Fiona Linton, when she suddenly saw a man standing across the street.

The man was dressed all in black, wearing a black baseball cap. Beneath the brim of the cap was a face that was incredibly familiar to her!