Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

They were close, yet the air around them felt heavy and oppressive.

Walker Grant slowly put down the drawing paper. Seeing her calm, detached expression felt like having a bucket of cold water dumped over him.

’It’s always like this.’

’Just when he thinks, full of hope, that their relationship might be thawing, she mercilessly douses him with cold water, forcing him wide awake.’

’This current peace was just a mask for the transactional nature of their arrangement.’

’Their relationship wasn’t harmonious at all.’

She was willing to compromise, to agree to his conditions and stay by his side, only because he could help her.

’He really wanted to be selfish, just for once.’

’Forget the investigation.’

’Then he could just keep deceiving her with lies. If he did that, wouldn’t she stay by his side for good?’

But the thought was fleeting; he dismissed it almost immediately.

That woman, Vera, was a threat to her life.

Once William Quinn was gone and the news of Miles Hawthorne’s death fully circulated, others would come to kill Chloe Reed.

As long as the root of the problem wasn’t dealt with, Chloe Reed would always be in danger.

Walker Grant sighed. ”You don’t have to remind me every time.”

Chloe Reed turned and walked out.

Just as she reached the door, his flat voice sounded from behind her. ”You’re coming here tonight.”

Chloe Reed stopped and looked back at him.

Walker Grant said coolly, ”This is part of the deal, isn’t it?”

Chloe Reed fell silent.

She looked away and left his room without another word.

At least she’d gotten something out of it.

She now knew of Miles Hawthorne’s superior—the person suspected of wanting her dead.

After taking a shower to calm her nerves, Chloe Reed pushed open the door to his room.

But he wasn’t in the room.

She paid it no mind, simply pulling back the covers and getting into bed. Staring up at the familiar ceiling, the composure she had just found began to fray.

This room was their master bedroom.

They had lived in this room ever since they were first married.

This room held too many memories, both sweet and painful.

Chloe Reed didn’t want to think about any of it; her immediate instinct was to flee.

But just as she started to get up, the door opened. Walker Grant walked in, laptop in hand. He was still in his work clothes, looking as if he planned to keep working.

Chloe Reed looked at him and asked, ”Aren’t we getting straight to it?”

But Walker Grant just sat down on the sofa, placed the laptop on his knees, and said in a low voice, ”I still have some things to finish. Let’s wait until I’m done.”

His fingers began to tap against the keyboard, the sounds sharp and clear.

Chloe Reed sat on the bed and stared at him for a long moment. Then, she leaned back against the headboard, pulled out her phone, and started playing a game. It was the only way she could distract herself.

She played until she started to feel drowsy. Her body slumped to the side, and her breathing grew even and deep.

Walker Grant lifted his gaze to look at her. Her soft, beautiful face, lying there on their marital bed... their wedding photo still hung on the wall. Once, this had been such an ordinary sight. Now, it was a luxury he could only dream of.

He closed his laptop and sat on the sofa, just gazing at her quietly.

Chloe Reed was sleeping in an awkward position. She rolled over and promptly woke up. Checking her phone, she saw that an hour had passed.

She instinctively glanced toward the sofa. He was gone.

’Huh?’

’Where’d he go?’

She sat up, her mind still foggy. Tossing off the covers, she got out of bed, intending to go look for him.

Just then, the bathroom door opened.

Walker Grant crossed the room in a few strides and swept her up into his arms.