"What? Are you going to hit me over this bitch and her kid?" Chloe asked, her heart aching at how cold he was.

’His gentleness last night felt like a dream.’

"You wretched girl! Absolutely shameless! How could you say that about Julian’s child? That’s his only child! What has the Grant family done to deserve such a venomous daughter-in-law!"

Madam Grant was ranting and raving from nearby, every word laced with contempt for Chloe.

"I’ve spoiled you too much. That’s why you’ve turned out like this." Walker’s dark, narrow eyes stared at her, as bottomless as the night and just as piercingly cold.

"Starting today, I’m cutting off your cards. And they’ll stay cut off until you admit you’re wrong."

He left her with those cold words, then turned, picked up Noah, and headed inside.

Sunny quickly said, "Walker, don’t be like this. This is our fault, it has nothing to do with my sister. You’re going to break her heart."

Walker said coldly, "She needs to learn her lesson the hard way."

Sunny wanted to try and persuade him further.

Madam Grant said, "That’s enough. Walker has made his decision, what more is there to say? Just focus on looking after Noah. That’s more important than anything."

The people in the living room sat down again.

’Just a few simple words, and they had decided she was the one at fault.’

Chloe stared intently at Walker.

He kept his eyes on the child in his arms, not sparing her a single glance.

His profile was so sharp and handsome, but at this moment, it was radiating a bone-chilling coldness.

Ever since they got together, he had always treated her gently, given her surprises, and promised to love her for a lifetime.

For eight years, she had been immersed in that happiness, lost in it.

Only now, when he had withdrawn all his special affection and gentleness, did she realize just how painful a broken heart could be.

Chloe heard her own voice say, "Now that you’re back, shouldn’t we go and take care of that unfinished business?"

’Since he doesn’t love me anymore.’

’We should just go our separate ways.’

’It’s not like one of us can’t live without the other.’

’She would never allow anyone else to meddle with her marriage, with her love!’

Walker didn’t even blink. "Go home," he said coolly. "Or I’ll have someone take you."

Chloe closed her eyes. ’He was threatening her.’

She turned around and walked out of the Grant Family Estate, her back ramrod straight with every step.

The wound on her knee from last night still throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

...

Walker’s phone was ringing nonstop.

He put Noah down and got up to answer the call.

"What is it?"

"Walker, haven’t you seen what Chloe posted? Holy shit, did you and Sunny Reed really hook up? You actually fell for her? How can she even compare to Chloe?" his friend Nathaniel Monroe’s astonished voice came through the line.

Walker’s brow furrowed. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

He pulled the phone away from his ear, opened Chloe’s social media feed, and saw only a single, solid line.

His brow furrowed. ’What’s going on?’

He tried backing out and going in again several times, but it was still the same.

"I don’t see anything," he said.

"But she just posted it," Nathaniel said, hesitating for a moment. "Don’t tell me Chloe blocked you? Walker, snap out of it. It’s fine to be good to Noah, but don’t go overboard. Otherwise, everyone’s going to think he’s your child with Sunny."

"Say one more stupid thing and I won’t hesitate to sew your mouth shut," Walker’s tone grew impatient. "It’s one thing for her to misunderstand, but you too? Me, interested in Sunny Reed? You must be joking."

Nathaniel breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, then you need to let Chloe know that."

But Walker just said, "She’ll think it through once she’s calmed down."