Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Let’s Sever Ties

The atmosphere in the office was tense.

Chloe Reed had always kept to herself, her personality aloof. The others weren’t close to her and had thought they could push her around this time, getting some payback for Sunny Reed. They hadn’t expected, however, that she wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

Her fierce gaze was enough to frighten anyone.

Now, no one dared to get near her.

Chloe Reed, however, was happy for the peace and quiet. She busied herself with her tasks and focused on getting her work done. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

But that evening, Autumn Linton gave her a call.

Chloe Reed answered, her tone icy. "Hello? What is it?"

Autumn Linton’s voice was gentle. "Chloe, how about coming home for dinner tonight?"

Chloe Reed refused flatly. "I can’t. I’m busy."

Autumn Linton sounded hurt. "Chloe, I miss you. I haven’t seen you in days. Please come home."

Her mother’s voice was gentle, yet her tone was tinged with pleading.

Chloe Reed couldn’t bear that tone of voice, so she relented. "Alright, I’ll be back tonight."

Autumn Linton immediately brightened up. "Wonderful! I’ll cook your favorite dishes. Be careful on the way home."

"Okay, I know."

Chloe Reed hung up the phone and couldn’t help but let out a heavy sigh.

She packed her things, clocked out, and drove to the Reed Villa.

By the time she arrived at the front door, the sky had already darkened. A pale afterglow still lingered on the horizon, casting a faint, golden halo.

Chloe Reed glanced at it before getting out of her car and walking into the villa.

"Mom, I’m home."

She called out as she entered.

Autumn Linton, wearing an apron, was delighted to see her return. She grabbed her hand. "Chloe, have you lost weight again? Have you not been eating well? I heard you started work. How’s it going?"

Chloe Reed offered a small smile and said, "Everything’s fine."

But Autumn Linton pressed, "So, have you and Sunny been fighting recently?"

Chloe Reed looked at her. "Did you ask me to come back because you missed me, or because you thought I was bullying Sunny Reed again and wanted to call me home for a lecture?"

"Insolent!" A sharp rebuke came from upstairs—it was Charles Reed. "Is that any way to speak to your mother? She just asked a simple question. Why must you read so much into it?"

The smile vanished from Chloe Reed’s lips. Looking at Charles Reed’s grim expression, she suddenly realized her suspicions might have been right all along.

’They called me back to condemn me.’

Chloe Reed pulled her hand from Autumn Linton’s grasp. Her expression was flat as she asked, "Just say it. What did Sunny Reed tell you this time?"

"Your sister didn’t say a thing!" Charles Reed looked at her, his expression full of disappointment. "It’s because we know you. We know you two are working together, and we know you’ll bully her. Chloe Reed, can’t you be a little more tolerant? A little more magnanimous? Can’t you just be a kind, decent person?"

Chloe Reed felt an overwhelming sense of weariness.

She looked at Autumn Linton, her gaze complex. "Mom, don’t call me again. From now on, I’m not coming back."

Autumn Linton rushed forward, her face etched with anxiety. "No, that’s not it, Chloe. Your father and I just want to show our concern for you both. You’re sisters, after all. Why must there be such deep-seated hatred between you? Why can’t you just get along peacefully?"

Chloe Reed felt as if her heart had been plunged into ice water; the cold was piercing.

’They’re playing good cop, bad cop, treating me like a fool.’

’It’s pointless.’

’Utterly pointless.’

Chloe Reed said, "How about this: just disown me. Then you’ll only have one daughter, Sunny Reed, and you won’t have to worry about me bullying her all the time."