A chilling, oppressive aura radiated from him, and a strange pressure settled over Chloe Reed.

Chloe Reed’s heart clenched. Her lovely brows knitted together. "How did you know?"

"Chloe, don’t tell me you already think he’s special after knowing him for just a few days," Walker Grant’s tone grew even colder.

Chloe Reed’s expression turned cold. "Then why did you fire him for no reason? What did he do wrong?"

"He was getting close to you. Isn’t that enough of a transgression?" Walker Grant’s gaze was heavy as he stared at her. "I’ve told you before that I don’t want to see any other men around you, Chloe. Yet you’re trying to save his job. I’m very unhappy."

An inexplicable anger churned in her chest. The air was filled with laughter and cheerful voices, but all she could hear was his cold warning.

Chloe Reed took several deep breaths to control her emotions, her fingers curling into fists. "Talk about double standards. You’re so attentive when you help your sister-in-law, but I can’t even have male friends..."

A mocking smile touched her lips, her eyes growing colder, more distant as she looked at him. "This is the least I can do for someone who got into trouble because of me. But you? What have you been doing? Taking care of her and her son, bidding for her at auctions, helping her negotiate deals... Walker Grant, you’re a real bastard."

They were standing so close that to any onlooker, they still appeared to be a loving couple.

But only they knew the truth: their hearts were drifting apart.

Walker Grant acted as if he hadn’t heard a word she said. He kept his grip on her hand, preventing her from pulling away. He quickly schooled his expression, his face returning to its usual placid and aloof mask.

"She’s my sister-in-law, Noah’s mother. It’s only natural that I help her. But that Owen Sterling is a stranger to you. You’ve only known him a few days, so you shouldn’t be getting so close to him."

His tone was arbitrary and utterly domineering.

Chloe Reed was at her breaking point!

But just then, the music stopped.

Ivy Vance stood on stage, smiling as she held the microphone. "Welcome, everyone, to this evening’s banquet. It’s an honor to have you all here, and I hope you have a wonderful time. And now, I would like to give a special welcome to the new CEO of the Vance Group, Preston Vance, who will come up to say a few words. Please give him a round of applause."

After a burst of thunderous applause, a tall, well-built man in a black suit walked onto the stage.

At last, the crowd laid eyes on the eldest son of the Vance family, who had remained out of sight until now.

He was handsome, with gentle features and a pair of rimless glasses. He carried himself with a refined air, and his tone was calm and unhurried—poised and utterly aristocratic.

Chloe Reed stopped struggling. The room had fallen silent, and any sound would instantly become the center of attention.

And tonight’s star was the eldest son of the Vance family, not her.

Fortunately, the ambient lighting had dimmed, perfectly concealing her cold expression.

She was still trying to wrench her hand free.

Instead, Walker Grant simply pulled her hand into his, lacing his fingers through hers.

This only made her angrier.

She suddenly lifted their clasped hands and bit down hard on his wrist.

"Hnngh..."

Walker Grant let out a muffled grunt. He looked down at her, his brow furrowed. "Chloe, what are you, a dog?"

Chloe Reed whispered fiercely, "Let go of me. I’m going to get something to eat. I’m hungry."

But Walker Grant just said, "I’ll go with you."

With that, he led her toward the buffet area.

’So he wasn’t going to let go of her. Was he afraid she’d go cause trouble for Sunny Reed?’

’He certainly was protective.’

Chloe Reed scoffed inwardly, but she also felt a creeping chill wash over her.

"What do you want to eat?"

Walker Grant asked nonchalantly, not even glancing at her furious expression.