Annie York was extremely anxious, constantly watching Chloe Reed’s expression. When she saw Chloe’s cold, silent face, her fear intensified.

Chloe Reed closed her eyes for a moment, then pulled Annie York into the adjacent room. "You should have asked me about this first," she said flatly.

"I..." Annie York’s face was filled with panic, and she wrung her hands together. "I saw your grandmother try to call a few times and fail," she whispered. "I thought maybe she just needed an opening, so I took matters into my own hands. I’m sorry... Chloe, I had no idea their relationship was like this. I know I was wrong, I swear I’ll never do anything like this again. Please... don’t fire me?"

Annie York was on the verge of tears, her expression pleading as she looked at her.

Chloe Reed’s feelings were complicated. She stared at Annie York for a long moment before finally saying, "Don’t ever make a mistake like this again."

"I swear, I absolutely won’t."

Annie York nodded quickly, her face flooded with the relief of someone who had just survived a disaster.

"You can go back to your work now."

Chloe Reed walked toward her grandmother’s room.

Annie York nodded and turned to leave.

Standing at the door to her grandmother’s room, Chloe Reed heard crying from within.

Autumn Linton was crying, her voice thick with self-reproach and guilt.

"Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t know this would happen to you. I wasn’t thinking straight back then. I never thought things would turn out like this. Mom, I know I was wrong... *sob*..."

Chloe Reed lowered her gaze, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

She pushed the door open and walked straight in.

The crying inside stopped abruptly. Autumn Linton turned to look at her. Her face was pale and gaunt, her frail appearance haggard. She was kneeling before the old woman, her head resting on her knees, looking utterly pitiful as she cried.

"Chloe."

She choked out, looking at Chloe Reed with tear-filled eyes.

But Chloe Reed ignored her, walking to her grandmother’s side and asking gently, "Grandma, are you tired?"

The old woman sat on the edge of the bed, her hair streaked with gray. It seemed as if new wrinkles had etched themselves onto her face. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but she remained silent.

Only when she saw Chloe Reed did she look up and nod. "I am tired."

Her grandmother’s slow reactions and sluggish thoughts did not go unnoticed by Autumn Linton, deepening her guilt and sorrow.

Chloe Reed looked at her. "My grandmother isn’t well. She needs to rest."

It was a clear dismissal.

Autumn Linton’s face grew even paler, but under the circumstances, she didn’t have the audacity to ask to stay.

She rose slowly to her feet. Looking at the old woman, she said, "Mom, I’ll spend the rest of my life repenting, until the day you can forgive me. I’ll come to see you often."

Her grandmother remained silent.

Autumn Linton was crestfallen. She left the room, glancing back with every step.

Chloe Reed helped her grandmother lie down and tucked the covers around her. "Grandma," she said, "I’ll be back in a little while."

Her grandmother closed her eyes.

Chloe Reed left the room, closing the door securely behind her. When she turned, she saw Autumn Linton standing a short distance away.

"Chloe..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Her face was pale and her lips trembled as she spoke, her eyes looking exceptionally fragile and sorrowful.

Chloe Reed watched her coldly. "You’ve seen her. What’s become of my grandmother is all your doing. Do you regret it?"

"I do, I really do..." Autumn Linton nodded repeatedly, starting to cry from guilt. "Chloe, I don’t just regret how I treated your grandmother. I also regret not being on your side. Can you...?"