Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

Seeing this, Charles Reed grew agitated. He wanted to follow her, but ultimately stopped.

Chloe Reed walked over to Autumn Linton’s side, lifted the white sheet, and looked closely at the woman who was no longer breathing.

She just lay there peacefully. She would no longer look at her with an accusing gaze, nor would she stand up for Sunny Reed anymore.

With her fragile appearance, she had time and again done the most ruthless things, wounding Chloe’s heart over and over.

Chloe Reed couldn’t help but think, ’If only time could have stopped before I turned ten. How wonderful that would have been.’

’Back then, you two really loved me, didn’t you?’

She mouthed the words, her pale face expressionless, yet tears began to fall.

She pulled the white sheet back into place, then turned and left decisively.

"..."

"I won’t be going tomorrow."

Chloe’s gaze was lowered as she typed on her phone, and a cold, electronic female voice rang out.

Charles’s face paled. He wanted to persuade her, but as he watched her type with downcast eyes, the words caught in his throat. His heart ached so much he couldn’t speak.

"Okay... that’s fine too."

Charles could already see his future: he would die alone. He had weathered so many storms throughout his life, only to end up with no one to be there for him at the end.

This was his retribution.

Back at Jardinelle, the old lady’s spirits had been low. She’d barely touched her food before saying she was tired and needed to rest.

Chloe stayed with her, only coming out after the old lady was sound asleep.

Hearing her approaching footsteps, Walker turned his head toward her. "Chloe."

Chloe walked over and sat down beside him.

Walker reached for her hand and, feeling the coldness of her fingertips, cupped it in his own palm.

"Is it cold outside?"

"Mhm."

Chloe hummed in response.

Walker said, "Next time you go out, remember to dress more warmly. Wear a scarf so you don’t catch a cold."

"Mhm."

Walker’s lips curved into a slight smile. "I can’t see, but I can still remind you. So don’t forget."

This time, Chloe didn’t respond. Instead, she wrote in his palm, "I want to go rest."

"Okay."

Walker nodded. "I’ll go with you."

But Chloe waved her hand, signaling that he didn’t have to.

"I misspoke. You’ll be keeping me company," Walker immediately corrected himself. "I don’t want to be alone. I’m scared."

Chloe: "..."

She really couldn’t bring herself to refuse him when he said it with such a straight face.

Especially seeing the gauze wrapped around his eyes—it was enough to soften the hardest of hearts.

In the end, Chloe agreed.

The two returned to the bedroom. Chloe changed into some comfortable loungewear, then pulled back the covers and lay down in bed.

She fell asleep quickly, but just as quickly, she was pulled into a dream—a dream of her childhood.

A childhood without Sunny Reed.

There was a swing set in the beautiful garden of the Reed Villa. Autumn Linton held her hand, her voice incredibly gentle. "Sweetheart, keep your eyes closed, okay? Let’s go see what surprise Daddy has prepared."

"I bet it’s the teddy bear I wanted!"

The little girl wore a beautiful princess dress, her hair tied up in two buns with a delicate and cute bow. It was a style her mother had designed for her, and she loved it.

"Ta-da! Open your eyes!"

The little girl opened her eyes and saw the swing covered with stuffed animals, as well as a limited-edition princess dress. A young man in a fox costume was holding a gift box, kneeling on one knee to present it to her.

"Wow!"

The little girl, utterly delighted, rushed forward—not for the gift, but straight into the arms of the large costumed fox.