"You’re making demands of me now? Isn’t that a little shameless?"

Chloe Reed cut her off, her clear eyes filled with cold mockery as she stared at her. "What you should be doing right now is repenting. You should be begging my grandmother for forgiveness, not using this as an opportunity to make demands of us. You don’t have the right."

At her words, Autumn Linton swayed violently. Her face grew even paler and her lips trembled, but for a long moment, she couldn’t say a single word.

She’d never expected the old woman to suffer such aftereffects. Her original plan was just to use this opportunity to get Chloe Reed to find Sunny Reed.

But when she later found out what Sunny Reed had done, she too was heartbroken and disappointed.

She couldn’t understand how the child she had poured her heart and soul into could have been harboring thoughts of revenge all along.

Now, she had nothing left.

Autumn Linton began to cry, her voice a wretched, sorrowful whimper. "SOB... Chloe, I really know I was wrong. I’m not asking for your forgiveness, but I don’t have much time left. I want to spend what little time I have by your grandmother’s side. Please, just give me this one chance, okay?"

She pleaded with Chloe Reed through her tears, hoping to see even a flicker of compassion in her eyes.

But Chloe Reed just watched her impassively and said, "It’s getting late. You should go."

"Chloe..."

Autumn Linton choked on a sob, crying with heartbreaking sorrow. She took a step forward, but her body suddenly began to tremble, and the next second, she collapsed.

Chloe Reed instinctively took a step forward but forced herself to stop. She averted her gaze and called the bodyguards in.

"Escort her and Charles Reed out."

"Autumn!"

Seeing Autumn Linton collapse, Charles Reed rushed forward to help her up. He looked up at Chloe Reed, about to say something, but his expression froze when he met her cold gaze. In the end, he couldn’t say a word and left Jardinelle with the bodyguards.

The living room fell silent, and a cold, oppressive atmosphere settled in.

The household staff didn’t dare to make a sound.

Annie York stood off to the side, tense and filled with trepidation. Even though Chloe Reed had decided not to pursue the matter, she was still terrified.

Walker Grant walked over to Chloe Reed’s side and asked gently, "How’s Grandma?"

Chloe Reed said, "I’ll go in and check on her in a little while."

Walker Grant nodded, then asked, "Who was responsible for this?"

"I..." Annie York began, looking at Walker Grant with trepidation. Her face was pale as she said, "I’m sorry. It won’t happen again."

"You’re fired."

Walker Grant said coldly, "I have no need for a maid who doesn’t know her place."

At his words, the color drained from Annie York’s face. She stared at him in disbelief. She never thought he could be so cold and ruthless!

She turned to Chloe Reed for help. "Chloe..."

Walker Grant’s sharp brows knitted together. "Why are you looking at her?" he said coldly. "Do you work for her?"

"I..." Frightened, Annie York took two steps back. He was so cold, yet so handsome; she felt a confusing mix of fear and attraction.

’But I can’t leave.’

’If I leave, how will I ever see him again?’

’I don’t have any other wishes now. Just being able to see him every day is enough to make me content.’

Annie York burst into tears. She looked at Chloe Reed, begging helplessly, "Chloe, I really know I was wrong! I didn’t know what was going on. If I had known, I swear I never would have called her. I’m begging you, please don’t make me leave..."