Chloe Reed once again felt that suffocating sensation, as if a hand were gripping her throat.

She reached up to touch her neck, her mind in a daze.

She looked at the calm, domineering man before her, her heart filled with endless sorrow.

She had no energy left to resist.

All she could do was trail dejectedly behind him.

All her previous struggles felt like a pathetic gasp for air.

’How ridiculous.’

She kept her gaze lowered, her eyelashes trembling every now and then.

Once in the elevator, she stood in the corner. She looked as if she’d been caught in a downpour—drenched and miserable, a palpable gloom hanging over her.

Watching her in this state, Walker Grant’s brow furrowed tightly, and the air around him seemed to grow heavy.

When the elevator doors opened, he stepped out. Chloe Reed followed apathetically behind him.

She unlocked the door with her fingerprint. Just as she stepped into the room, Walker Grant’s phone rang.

He pulled out his phone and answered.

"Hello?"

They were close enough that she could hear what sounded like Judith Pierce’s anxious voice on the other end.

"Okay, I’m heading over now."

Walker Grant agreed, then hung up.

He looked up at Chloe Reed.

At the news of his departure, the gloom hanging over her seemed to lift slightly, a hint of brightness returning to her expression.

’She really is that desperate to get away from me.’

Walker Grant tightened his grip on his phone and said flatly, "I’ll have the hotel send up dinner. Don’t order takeout."

"Mm."

Chloe Reed murmured her assent.

Walker Grant turned and pressed the elevator button, his gaze suddenly falling on her. "Chloe, don’t you have anything you want to say to me?"

His only answer was the SLAM of a closing door.

A dark expression gradually settled over Walker Grant’s face. But just then, the elevator doors opened. He retracted his gaze and stepped inside.

Noah Grant was hurt.

He’d accidentally shattered a glass, and a shard had pierced the sole of his foot.

He’d been crying for his "Little Uncle."

By the time Walker arrived at the hospital, the glass had been cleaned from Noah’s foot.

He looked utterly pitiful, his eyelashes still wet with tears from the pain.

"Little Uncle."

The moment he saw Walker, Noah immediately reached out his arms.

Walker Grant stepped forward and took the boy into his arms. He looked at Judith Pierce. "Mom, what happened?"

Judith Pierce said, "It was just an accident. The nanny was playing with him when the glass was broken. He lost his footing and stepped on it." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

She felt helpless as well. She’d only taken her eyes off him for a moment, and something like this had to happen.

Walker Grant looked down at Noah. The boy, looking utterly pitiful, clutched at Walker’s shirt and asked in a small voice, "Little Uncle, where did my mommy go? I miss her so much."

He hadn’t seen his mother in days.

Walker said flatly, "Wouldn’t it be nice to have Grandma and Great-Grandma keep you company from now on?"

"I want Mommy."

But Noah just sniffled. "Little Uncle, do you not like me anymore?"

The little guy said between hitches of breath, though where he’d heard such a thing was a mystery.

"I do like you," Walker said, stroking his head. "Your mommy’s not feeling well, that’s why you’re staying with Grandma. Don’t you like having Grandma with you?"

"’I do,’ Noah said quietly. ’But I like Mommy more.’"

He just kept asking for his mom.

Judith Pierce stood to the side, watching with a complicated expression. She despised Sunny Reed, but the woman had given birth to Noah Grant.

’Noah has already lost his father. He can’t lose his mother too.’

’The poor child.’

She said, "Why don’t we have Sunny Reed move into the old manor? That way, we can all be there for Noah."

"Mm."

Walker Grant murmured his agreement, having no objections.