CLANG!

The glass was set down in front of him, making a crisp sound.

Walker Grant’s dark eyes grew colder as he stared sullenly at Miles Hawthorne. "You’re going to help her. So what about me?"

As if oblivious to his fury, Miles Hawthorne said, "Don’t you still have your sister-in-law?"

Walker Grant’s gaze darkened instantly. "It seems you have a death wish."

Miles Hawthorne’s lips curled faintly. "Walker, you’ve had it so easy for so many years, you’re used to everything going your way. Chloe Reed’s love for you made you think she’d never leave, no matter what you did. But she’s her own person, with her own thoughts. Besides, you’re well aware of how strained her relationship with Sunny Reed is. Yet you constantly ignore her feelings and meet with Sunny anyway. How is she supposed to feel about that?"

He paused and sighed. "I’m friends with you both, but I feel I have to stand with the one who’s been wronged. Otherwise, anyone could just bully her. How pitiful would that be?"

"She’s my wife," Walker Grant retorted arrogantly. "Who would dare bully her? This is between the two of us, and I don’t want anyone else interfering. Miles, we’ve known each other for years. Don’t force my hand."

Miles Hawthorne’s smile faded. "And what if I insist?"

"Then try me."

The two men stared each other down, the relaxed atmosphere completely gone. It was as if sparks were crackling in the air between them.

After a long moment, Miles Hawthorne finally said, "This will only push her further away."

"It has nothing to do with you."

Miles Hawthorne picked up the glass before him, downed it in one go, then stood up and walked straight out.

Walker Grant also started drinking, one glass after another, his eyes growing increasingly cold and dark.

Just then, his phone rang.

He took it out and saw it was a call from Sunny Reed.

"Hello, Sunny."

Sunny Reed’s hesitant voice came over the line. "Walker, I have something I need your help with."

Walker Grant asked coolly, "What is it?"

Sunny Reed spoke slowly, "I’ve been searching for a pair of sapphire earrings, and they’re going to be at an auction in a few days. I was hoping you could bid on them for me. I’ll pay you back, of course. They’re very important to me. Can you help me?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Mm."

Walker Grant replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

Sunny Reed was delighted. "Walker, thank you so much! I’ll definitely pay you back!"

"If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up," Walker Grant said.

"Okay, right. I won’t bother you then."

After hanging up, Walker Grant assigned the task to Dylan Finch.

...

The process of filing for divorce was relatively straightforward, so Chloe Reed expected it to be resolved quickly.

But when she contacted Miles Hawthorne, she learned that he was no longer in the country.

Over the phone, his voice was tinged with resignation. "It’ll probably be a few months before I can return. The project I’m on is really tricky."

Chloe Reed was stunned. "How did you suddenly end up abroad?"

Miles Hawthorne hesitated. "This... has to do with Walker."

At his words, she gripped her phone tightly. "He found out you were helping me? So he’s deliberately making things difficult for you?"

"Sigh..." Miles Hawthorne let out a breath. "I thought I could hold my ground, but who knew he’d go straight to my old man? Chloe, I’m sorry. I can’t help you for the time being."

A flash of anger sparked in Chloe Reed’s eyes, but she did her best to control her emotions. "It’s okay. This is my fault. I’m the one who got you involved."

Miles Hawthorne sighed. "Let’s not apologize to each other. We’re both just unlucky souls."

Chloe Reed forced a smile. "You get back to work, then."

She hung up and immediately called Walker Grant, but she couldn’t get through.