Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

Everyone turned to see Walker, who was apparently choking. He coughed relentlessly, a red flush rising up his neck.

Chloe reached out and patted his back to help him breathe. After a moment, Walker finally calmed down. He took hold of Chloe’s hand and said, "I’m full. Could you take me back to my room?"

Chloe agreed, helping him to his feet and guiding him toward the elevator.

Fiona Linton stared at his back and huffed quietly. She waited until he was in the elevator before speaking. "So manipulative."

The old woman smiled and said, "They’re not divorced yet, after all. He still cares for Chloe so much, it’s only natural he can’t accept this."

But Fiona Linton replied, "I believe his love for Chloe is real, but so is the fact that he hurt her. I just hope Chloe doesn’t stay with him."

The old woman was quite surprised to hear this. "Do you know a lot about what happened between them?" she asked.

Fiona Linton said, "Not that much, but the little I do know is enough to make me furious. If my husband ever dared to hurt me for another woman, I’d make damn sure he wouldn’t get off easy!"

Anger flooded her face, as if she wanted to tear Walker to pieces right then and there.

The old woman smiled. "Ah, matters of the heart... Only the two of them can sort things out and truly understand. As outsiders, we shouldn’t interfere. The path they take from here is up to them."

Fiona Linton gave a sullen grunt of acknowledgement. She clearly didn’t agree with the old woman’s perspective, but she couldn’t very well argue with her.

’In her heart, Chloe was so wonderful, so beautiful, and so gentle. She deserved to be treated well, to be put on a pedestal and cherished!’

’Walker was nothing but a scumbag. He wasn’t worthy of even standing next to Chloe!’

...

Back in the room after getting out of the elevator, Chloe helped Walker sit down. She pulled out her phone to type, but he grabbed her hand.

She looked at him, confused.

His thin lips were pressed together. After a moment, he finally spoke. "Can I sign up?"

A look of confusion crossed Chloe’s face. She simply drew a question mark on his arm with her finger.

’What does he mean?’

’Sign up for what?’

Walker said, "The sperm donor. Can I sign up? If you want one, could you prioritize me?"

Chloe: "..."

All expression vanished from her face.

Walker, as if afraid she would leave, tightened his grip on her cool fingertips. His voice was low as he said, "I got a vasectomy back then because I saw how hard Sunny Reed’s pregnancy was. She suffered so much, and I didn’t want you to go through the same thing. You’re so afraid of pain; I knew giving birth would be agony for you. I was being presumptive. I didn’t consider your feelings..."

He paused, then looked up, his voice turning ragged. "Whatever the reason, I made the decision on my own. It was my fault. But Chloe, I truly know I was wrong now. Can I... can I still have the chance to be your child’s father?"

A long silence filled the room. Walker’s fingertips trembled slightly. The longer she remained silent, the further his heart sank, as if plunging into an abyss.

Just then, Chloe pulled her hand away.

Walker’s palm was suddenly empty. In that instant, it felt as if his heart had been crushed, the pain so intense it drained the color from his face.

’He had done wrong. This heartache, this misery... it was all what he deserved.’

He said hoarsely, "I don’t even need to be officially recognized."

His bottom line kept dropping, hoping, praying she would give him just one more chance.

A few seconds later, the sound of typing filled the air.

Walker’s breath caught in his throat. ’She’s typing. What is she going to say?’

’Will she reject me? Or mock me?’

But just as he waited in nervous anticipation, Chloe’s phone began to ring. The name on the screen was Preston Vance.