Annie York’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course."

She was already in the standard maid’s uniform, and her movements were quick and efficient as she worked.

After a brief chat with Chloe Reed, she turned and got back to her tasks.

Chloe Reed went straight to her room and took a shower, washing away the lingering scent of blood.

The image of Miles Hawthorne stubbornly refusing to name the mastermind replayed in her mind, making her increasingly agitated.

’If I never find out who it is, it’ll be like having a sword hanging over my head forever.’

Chloe Reed turned off the water, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the bathroom.

...

Charles Reed had been desperately trying to find a way to see Chloe Reed.

But it was no use. He couldn’t even get close to Jardinelle, let alone see her.

Every time he tried, bodyguards would stop him and turn him away.

Charles Reed had lost all of his former vigor, and he looked as if he had aged several years.

When he returned to their two-bedroom apartment, the heavy scent of medicine greeted him at the door. Autumn Linton sat on the sofa, her face gaunt and pale, drinking a bowl of herbal medicine.

Charles Reed couldn’t stop himself from complaining. "If it weren’t for you, our family would never have ended up like this! Chloe refuses to see me. How am I supposed to make a comeback now?"

Autumn Linton coughed weakly, her body so frail she looked like nothing but a bag of bones. "Chloe still won’t see you? Did you try calling her?"

Charles Reed’s expression was grim. "She changed her number. I can’t get through anymore."

Hearing this, Autumn Linton’s face grew even paler. Her gaze was dull and unfocused. She sat on the sofa, staring blankly ahead for a long moment before finally speaking. "I’ll go to her. I’ll get on my knees and beg for her forgiveness..."

"Oh, give it a rest!" Charles Reed waved his hand dismissively. "The more you act like that, the more she’ll push us away. Where are you going to kneel? You can’t even get to her, so who are you going to kneel to?"

Autumn Linton’s lips trembled. "Then... what can we do?"

Charles Reed sighed. "Sunny Reed did so much to hurt her; Chloe must be furious. What if we find Sunny, punish her severely, and then tell Chloe what we did? Don’t you think that might help?"

Autumn Linton looked at him. "Will... that really work?"

Charles Reed said, "Whether it works or not, we have to try! Sunny Reed is the one who ruined our family. It’s time we collected some of that debt!"

Autumn Linton lowered her eyes and said nothing more.

But Charles Reed pressed on. "You contact her. She won’t be as guarded with you. Ask her to meet."

"I..."

Autumn Linton didn’t want to do it.

But Charles Reed grabbed her by the shoulders, his eyes wild. "Do you want to live like this forever? Crammed into this tiny apartment, with no one to take care of you? You can’t even afford to be hospitalized! All those people who used to admire you now look down on you. Do you really want to keep living like this?"

Autumn Linton’s eyes wavered. She was clearly swayed.

Charles Reed’s tone softened. "Just do it. Once we have Chloe’s forgiveness, she’ll definitely help us get our old lives back. I can still make a comeback, and you’ll be an envied society wife once again."

Finally, Autumn Linton nodded. "Alright."

With that, she called Sunny Reed.

The phone rang three times before it was answered. Sunny’s excited voice came through the line. "Mom!"

Autumn Linton closed her eyes as a tear slid down her cheek. She answered, her voice exceptionally gentle, "Sunny, how have you been?"