Once it was acquired, the company would lose all its autonomy, transforming from an independent entity into just another department of the Grant Group.

He wasn’t keen on agreeing.

But Grant Corporation had made it clear: if they didn’t agree to the acquisition, Grant would pull its funding and cancel all future collaborations.

The boss was at his wit’s end and, in the end, could only agree.

While the acquisition of the voice-acting company was in full swing, Walker Grant had already arrived at the restaurant where Chloe Reed and her party were dining.

The bodyguards secretly protecting Chloe Reed reported her location to him in real time.

They had entered a private room, so Walker Grant, his face grim, requested the one right next to it.

The spacious private room felt vast and empty. Its soundproofing wasn’t very good, and faint sounds drifted through.

Occasionally, he could hear her cheerful laughter.

Walker Grant sat in his chair, listening to the laughter coming from the other side of the wall. The fire in his chest burned hotter and hotter.

’Laughing so happily for another man?’

’Has she forgotten that she once said she loved him most of all?’

The hand resting on his thigh clenched into a fist, his expression growing darker by the second.

...

Over the course of the meal, Iris Yates got a good sense of Preston Vance’s character. He was easygoing and lacked the arrogant attitude so common among the elite. He even cracked a few jokes, and before she knew it, their rapport had grown.

She couldn’t help but say, "We’re all friends now, so let’s drop the formal ’Mr.’ and ’Miss.’ Can’t you two just call each other by your first names?"

Chloe Reed faltered. ’Are we really friends yet?’

But Preston Vance just smiled warmly and nodded. "You’re right. I agree it feels a bit too formal."

Iris Yates nodded. "Exactly! Chloe, what do you think?"

Chloe Reed looked into her friend’s sparkling eyes and suddenly understood what she was up to.

She said sternly, "Iris, don’t mess around. Mr. Vance and I are just business partners."

"Your words wound me," Preston Vance suddenly said, looking earnest. "We’ve met so many times. Can’t we be considered friends?"

"Uh..." Chloe Reed was at a loss for a moment before finally relenting. "Alright, I won’t call you that anymore."

Iris Yates chuckled to herself.

After dinner, they left the restaurant together. A valet pulled the car up, walked over, and handed the keys to Preston Vance.

Just as everyone let their guard down, the valet flicked his wrist, suddenly brandishing a dagger and lunging straight for Preston Vance’s chest!

It all happened so fast that no one had time to react!

Preston Vance, however, reacted in a flash, sidestepping the attack. His gentle expression turned grim.

Seeing his first strike miss, the valet’s gaze turned viciously to the person beside Preston, and he raised his arm to strike again!

And the person beside Preston Vance was Chloe Reed!

"AH, Chloe, look out!"

Iris Yates shrieked from the side.

Shock washed over Preston Vance’s face. He scrambled to pull Chloe Reed away, but his earlier dodge had put too much distance between them!

Chloe Reed’s mind went blank for a moment, and her body froze. Her brain screamed at her to run, but her limbs refused to obey!

Just as the dagger was about to plunge into her chest, she was suddenly yanked back a step, and the next instant, the valet was sent flying by a swift kick!

A familiar, crisp scent enveloped Chloe Reed as Walker Grant’s deep voice sounded by her ear, "Hold him."

Several bodyguards appeared out of nowhere and immediately restrained the valet.