Chapter 322: Chapter 315: Discussing Cooperation

But just as she was eagerly waiting for Chloe Grant to continue, Chloe cut the conversation short and said no more.

Autumn Shelby instinctively looked at her, a question in her eyes. "Why did you stop?"

Chloe Grant glanced around before her eyes settled back on Autumn Shelby. "Miss Shelby, this isn’t the most convenient place to talk. We should find somewhere to sit down for a proper chat."

Autumn Shelby considered it for a moment, then nodded. "All right."

Seeing that she had agreed, Chloe Grant raised her hand to glance at her watch and suggested, "In that case, Miss Shelby, allow me to treat you to a cup of coffee."

"Fine," Autumn Shelby agreed without objection.

Chloe Grant smiled faintly. "Then I’ll lead the way, Miss Shelby. Please follow me."

With that, she turned and walked to her car.

...

Inside the coffee shop, it was still early, so there weren’t many customers.

The two women sat down and ordered their coffee. Neither of them spoke a word until it was served.

Then, they simply began to sip their coffee in silence.

Although both were anxious, neither wanted to be the first to speak.

Chloe Grant didn’t speak first because she had already shown her willingness to cooperate. Now, she needed to hold her nerve and let Autumn Shelby become anxious enough to ask first. That would put Chloe in a better position to negotiate terms.

As for Autumn Shelby, she held her tongue because she knew the other woman wasn’t offering help out of pure kindness. There had to be conditions attached.

The woman had made a show of goodwill earlier, but now she was completely silent. She was obviously waiting for Autumn to break first, which would allow her to dictate terms and maybe even ask for the moon.

Autumn couldn’t afford to seem impatient.

Besides, as long as the other woman wanted something, she wouldn’t give up halfway.

So, all she had to do was wait quietly. She wanted to see just how much patience her counterpart had.

And so, the two of them quietly drank more than half of their coffee. In the end, Chloe Grant’s youth showed; she couldn’t outlast Autumn Shelby, who was several years her senior.

She put down her coffee spoon, looked at Autumn Shelby, and finally broke the silence. "Miss Shelby, aren’t you going to ask who I am?"

Autumn Shelby knew she had won. She smiled faintly, showing no awkwardness from the long silence, and asked, "I do. Who are you?"

Chloe Grant paused for two seconds. ’So she was waiting for me to speak first all along.’

’Looks like I lost the opening round.’

’But winning or losing doesn’t matter, as long as I achieve my objective.’

At that thought, she also smiled faintly and introduced herself. "My name is Chloe Grant, Miss Shelby."

"Chloe Grant?" Autumn Shelby’s focus narrowed at the name, and she frowned. "Your surname is Grant, too? Are you related to Clara Grant?"

"You’re very sharp, Miss Shelby. Clara Grant and I are indeed related. In fact, our relationship is rather unusual." Chloe Grant paused before continuing, "Let’s just say we were once considered half-sisters."

Sharp as ever, Autumn Shelby immediately seized on the key word. "’Once?’"

’Half-sisters are half-sisters. How can that be something that only existed in the past?’

’Unless...’

While she was still pondering, Chloe Grant spoke again. "Miss Shelby, I know this is embarrassing to admit, but I’m my father’s illegitimate daughter. My mother only officially married into the Grant Family a year ago."

"And the reason I said we *were* once half-sisters is because, a year ago, it was discovered—quite by accident—that Clara Grant is not my father’s biological daughter. No one knows who her real father is. Not even her own mother knows. Because..."