Chloe Reed stared intently at him. "So you just exploit the fact that I care about you, disregard my feelings, and assume that no matter how horrible the things you do, I’ll always forgive you?"

Walker Grant’s breath hitched. "Chloe, that’s not what I meant."

"But that’s exactly what you do." Chloe Reed’s lips curled into a smile thick with self-mockery. "Walker Grant, I used to care about you so much. I’d even lie to myself. But I don’t care anymore, and I don’t want you anymore. You can use your tricks to keep me from filing for divorce, but as long as I’m still breathing, I will never, ever give up on the idea."

She wrenched her hand away and strode out of the coffee shop.

Walker Grant watched her go, his strong brows furrowing tightly.

Just then, his phone rang again. It was a call from one of the housekeepers at Jardinelle.

"Sir, Young Master Noah is crying for you."

"I’m on my way," Walker Grant said.

Noah had been frightened last night and developed a fever in the middle of the night. Walker had watched over him all night, and by morning, the boy was finally doing a little better.

When he returned to Jardinelle, he saw Sunny Reed was still by the gate, huddled over with her eyes fixed on the ground.

His brows knitted. "Sister-in-law, must you do this?"

Sunny Reed looked up at him, her face pale. "Walker, I need to see my son. You can’t take him away from me."

But Walker Grant said, "That’s not my intention. But it’s obvious you can’t take proper care of him."

"I can!" Sunny Reed burst into tears. "Last night was just an accident, I swear. Please, believe me. I’ll take good care of him. Don’t take him away from me."

But Walker Grant was in no mood to listen.

With Noah Grant getting into trouble time and time again, his patience with Sunny Reed had reached its limit.

"Walker!"

Sunny Reed cried out miserably at his retreating back.

She bit her lip, then finally rose to her feet and stumbled away, heading straight for the Grant Family Estate.

"..."

"Uncle."

The moment Noah Grant saw Walker Grant, he stretched out his arms.

Walker Grant picked him up. "Are you still scared?"

"Not when Uncle is here," Noah said, relying on him completely. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Walker Grant looked at the boy’s innocent face and asked, "How did you end up in the pumpkin house?"

Noah seemed to be trying to remember. "Hide-and-seek... I got lost. I couldn’t get out."

At this, Walker Grant’s brows furrowed. "And your mother?"

Noah shook his head. "Don’t know. I couldn’t see Mommy."

’Looks like I won’t get anything more out of him.’

Walker Grant patiently coaxed Noah into taking his medicine and eating a little. Then he said, "How about we go with Uncle to see your auntie?"

Noah seemed scared. "I don’t want to go."

"Your auntie isn’t mean," Walker Grant said. "If you behave, she’ll like you."

"Really?" Noah was skeptical.

"Mhm."

Walker Grant affirmed. "Want to go?"

"Okay."

Noah nodded in agreement.

From the moment he woke up, he hadn’t once asked for his mother.

Walker Grant suppressed his emotions, had a housekeeper dress Noah Grant, and then they left Jardinelle together.

After work, Chloe Reed went up to Owen Sterling. "Manager Owen, are you free tonight? I’d like to take you to dinner."

"What’s this? Trying to bribe me?" Owen Sterling said jokingly. "It’ll take more than one dinner for that."

Chloe Reed smiled. "I just really want to thank you for last night. I feel awful that you got hurt. Since you’re new to the area, I’d like to treat you to some local food."