She suddenly smirked and said, "Alright. If you can stay away from Sunny Reed and Noah Grant, I’ll listen to you."

She tilted her head slightly, a provocative and mocking light in her glistening eyes.

"Walker, can you do that?"

"I have nothing to do with my sister-in-law," Walker said, his tone grim. "So this deal is unfair."

The smile vanished from Chloe’s lips, replaced by even more obvious mockery. "In that case, I won’t be listening to you. Let go."

Walker’s tall frame pressed down on her. They had been kissing passionately just moments before, yet now she was so cold and distant.

No kiss, no matter how fiery, could make her lose herself in the moment.

She could pull back and clear her head in an instant.

Walker gritted his teeth, yanked open the passenger door, and shoved her inside.

Chloe froze. "What are you doing?"

Walker leaned in and gripped her chin, his dark eyes fixed on her. "Chloe, quit your job."

It was as if a bomb had gone off in Chloe’s head.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you say?! You’re trying to force me to quit? Walker, you’re a fucking asshole!"

She swung at him.

This time, Walker didn’t manage to dodge.

Seeing the fury on her face, his tone grew calm. "If you won’t listen to me, then you can stop working."

"Never!"

Chloe gritted her teeth and glared at him. "Walker, if you dare have the company fire me, I will fight you to the bitter end!"

Walker’s brow furrowed. Without answering, he leaned over and fastened her seatbelt.

Then, he got into the driver’s seat.

The car pulled away, heading straight for Jardinelle.

"Get out," he told her.

But Chloe just glared at him coldly. "Did you not hear me?!"

Walker stood beside the car, looking at her. She was like a porcupine with all its quills aimed right at him.

He said, "Spend one night with me inside, and I won’t interfere with your work."

"Asshole!"

Chloe cursed, her eyes turning even colder as she looked at him.

Walker remained unmoved. He had given her the options; now it was her turn to choose.

When pushed, he was capable of anything.

In the end, Chloe unbuckled her seatbelt. Her face an icy mask, she stalked toward the villa.

The moment she stepped into the living room, the frigid atmosphere seemed to vanish. Lights came on one after another, and a wave of familiarity washed over her.

Chloe stood stunned for a moment before a warm body pressed against her from behind.

His long arms wrapped tightly around her, his hot breath ghosting across her neck.

He kissed her ear, then her neck, trying to arouse her.

Chloe’s brow furrowed, and her body went rigid.

"Chloe."

Walker murmured her name, his voice deep and hoarse. He kissed her forcefully, leaving marks on her skin.

The master bedroom was exactly as it had been, unchanged in the slightest.

As they fell onto the bed, Walker opened a drawer and took out a box.

A moment later, Chloe felt something slide onto her finger.

She tried to look, but he kissed her again, lacing his fingers through hers on that same hand.

By the time it was all over, she didn’t have the strength to look.

When she woke up the next day, Walker was gone. She glanced at her right hand. Her fingers were bare; there was no ring.

’Was last night just a hallucination?’

Chloe was bewildered, but she didn’t dwell on it.

When she arrived at the office, she saw Owen Sterling packing up his desk. He gave her a complicated look when he saw her and said, "Chloe Reed, I’ve been fired."