The crisp sound of high heels on the floor made the lively atmosphere inexplicably freeze over.

They were playing blind man’s buff. The one blindfolded was Nathaniel Monroe, and whoever he caught had to grant him one wish.

It was his party, so he made the rules.

"Hey, why’d it get so quiet? You troublemakers have been messing with me this whole time. Just wait till I catch one of you—I’ll make you pay big time," Nathaniel Monroe said, a blindfold covering his eyes.

Hearing the room fall silent, he grinned and swung an inflatable bat around wildly.

Suddenly, it connected with someone.

"Gotcha!"

Nathaniel Monroe immediately reached out and grabbed the person’s arm.

He yanked off his blindfold, still chuckling. "Let’s see, what should I make you get me? I..."

But before he could finish, his eyes fell on the person he had caught, and he froze.

"Ch-Chloe..."

He had grabbed Chloe Reed’s arm.

He snatched his hand back as if he’d been shocked. "When did you get here? Seriously, you guys? Why didn’t anyone tell me? I would have gone to meet you at the door."

Chloe Reed looked at him coolly. "In the past, I’d get you a gift for your birthday, and you’d always invite me ahead of time. What’s different this year?"

Nathaniel Monroe’s eyes darted around as he stammered, "I-I was going to call you, but Walker said you were injured and resting at home, so I shouldn’t bother you..."

"I see."

Chloe Reed nodded slowly, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the room. "Where’s Walker Grant?"

Nathaniel Monroe also looked around, scratching his head in confusion. "He was just here a minute ago. Did anyone see where Walker went?"

A girl pointed outside. "I think Mr. Grant went out to the garden."

Chloe Reed walked straight out.

The girl whispered to her friend, "I just saw Sunny Reed take Noah Grant outside, too. What do you think is going on with them?"

"Mr. Grant dotes on Noah Grant like he’s the apple of his eye. He probably just went out to play with him." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"But I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. Do you think... could Noah Grant be Mr. Grant’s son?"

"Shh!"

The hushed conversation was cut short as they instinctively glanced toward the glass doors.

They saw Chloe Reed’s figure pause for a fraction of a second before she continued outside.

Just outside was a massive swimming pool. Lights illuminated its surface, the water shimmering and crystal clear.

A short distance away was a small garden, beautifully landscaped with a rockery and a pavilion. Three figures—two adults and a child—were sitting inside it.

From her angle, she could see Walker Grant gazing at Sunny Reed, listening intently to whatever she was saying.

Chloe Reed walked toward them, one step at a time.

The sound of her heels reached them, and they all turned to look at the same time.

Sunny Reed instinctively stood up, putting some distance between herself and Walker Grant. She offered a smile. "Chloe, is your injury feeling any better?"

Walker Grant’s brow furrowed, however. He watched her approach in high heels, his gaze sweeping over her knee.

’It’s only been a few days?’

’Why is she so careless with her own body?’

"Auntie."

Upon seeing her, Noah Grant shrank back timidly.

Chloe Reed’s gaze moved slowly from one of them to the next.

Finally, she looked at Walker Grant. "We’re getting a divorce."

An icy chill radiated from Walker Grant. "How did you get out?"

’Oh... so he won’t agree to a divorce.’

’Fine.’

Chloe Reed walked right up to Sunny Reed, grabbed her arm, and dragged her straight to the edge of the pool. Then, pulling her along, she jumped in.