Judith Pierce asked hesitantly, "Walker, are you still upset with me for signing those papers on your behalf?"

Walker’s tone was indifferent. "Mom, that’s in the past."

"I was just so scared." She paused and sighed. "After what happened to your big brother, I couldn’t bear for anything to happen to you too. But I’ve had time to think, and as long as you can protect yourself, I’ll support you in whatever you do."

Walker’s expression wavered for a moment. "Then help me win Chloe back."

"Alright." Judith Pierce readily agreed. "On the anniversary of your brother’s death, I’ll invite her over for dinner. Your big brother was very good to her; she won’t refuse."

Hearing this, a forbidding chill flashed in Walker’s eyes, and his tone grew even more detached. "Fine. I get it. I’m hanging up now."

"Alright."

Walker set his phone aside, his thoughts turning to what Judith had just said.

’Julian Grant was pretty good to Chloe, too.’

’He really was.’

’He acted like a big brother—gentle, caring, and emotionally stable.’

’So, what about Chloe?’

’What did she think of him?’

’If she knew...’

Walker closed his eyes, shaking off the jumble of emotions. When he opened them again, his gaze was dark and placid.

’There were no ifs.’

’He and Chloe had been together for over eight years.’

’No one could tear them apart.’

...

On her day off, Chloe Reed was playing chess with her grandmother.

Just then, her phone rang. She took it out and saw it was a call from Miles Hawthorne.

"Hello?"

Miles Hawthorne’s grave voice came over the line. "I think someone’s been investigating me lately."

Hearing this, she was taken aback. "What makes you think that?"

Miles said, "I have friends overseas, and one of them told me. I suspect it’s Walker. Do you think he’s trying to take me out? Does he think I’m an eyesore?"

Chloe gave a helpless laugh. "I doubt it. If he wanted to take you out, he would have done it when he sent you abroad. He wouldn’t have waited until now."

Miles’s tone was peculiar. "Oh, so you know him pretty well."

"We were together for eight years. I don’t know everything about him, but I’m not far off," Chloe said frankly. "Anyway, don’t overthink it. Besides, so what if he is investigating you? Do you have some kind of shady past?"

Miles laughed. "I certainly don’t. If I were that much of a big shot, I wouldn’t have come back."

"Right. Don’t worry too much. Have you been busy lately?" Chloe asked, her tone light.

"Not too bad," Miles said. "How’s your grandma’s recovery going? I have some free time later, I was thinking of stopping by to see her."

"She’s recovering very well. Please do, she’d be happy to see you," Chloe said with a smile.

"Alright, I’ll be there in a little while."

The call ended.

Chloe looked up to see her grandmother watching her with a beaming smile.

"Grandma, why are you looking at me like that?"

Her grandmother asked mischievously, "Was that the young Hawthorne fellow, or the Fu fellow?"

After a pause, she mused aloud, "Both of those young men are fine choices. Which one do you like more?"

Chloe was exasperated. "Grandma, please don’t joke around. They’re just my friends."

But her grandmother said, "Friendships can blossom into something more. If you feel a spark, see where it goes. You shouldn’t write off love entirely just because of one failed relationship."

Chloe felt a headache coming on. "I’m not even divorced yet. It’s not right to be talking about this now."