"Don’t say that!" Nathaniel Monroe sputtered. "You’re the only one left in the Grant family, and your wife fought like hell to save you. If anything were to happen to you, wouldn’t she be absolutely devastated?"

Nearby, a girl pricked up her ears, listening in on the conversation.

But Walker Grant just scoffed. He half-lidded his long, elegant eyes, his face looking all the more handsome and captivating in the dim light. "She’d never feel bad for me. She doesn’t understand me. She wants to divorce me."

Nathaniel Monroe was left speechless. Watching Walker drink relentlessly, he said with a helpless air, "Why don’t we just leave Noah at the old family house? And have Sunny Reed visit him less?"

Walker immediately frowned at him. "Noah has already lost his father. You want him to lose his mother, too? What are you thinking?"

Nathaniel’s face soured. "Aren’t I doing this for you and Chloe? Just look at this mess. How is it going to end? Are you really going to divorce her?"

Walker didn’t say a word. He just downed the rest of his drink, then shot to his feet, grabbed his jacket, and left.

...

Chloe Reed was cold.

She drifted awake again, still in the old house. The late autumn night was growing even colder. She sniffled, her head groggy and aching.

Just then, she felt a pair of eyes on her.

Startled, she whipped her head around to see Walker Grant sitting on the floor opposite her. She had no idea when he’d arrived.

One of his long legs was bent, the other stretched out. An arm rested on his raised knee as he stared at her with a quiet intensity.

"Are you trying to scare me to death?"

Chloe immediately glared at him, sitting up and wrapping her arms around herself.

The next moment, the man who had been sitting there so quietly got up and walked over. He sat down beside her and simply pulled her into his arms.

"Walker Grant!"

Chloe cried out. She could feel the scorching heat of his body and smell the alcohol on his breath.

’He’s been drinking!’

Chloe’s eyes widened. ’When he drinks, he’s like a completely different person!’

’So incredibly clingy!’

But right now, she wanted no part of it. She pushed at him with all her might.

"Let go of me!"

"Not letting go."

The man’s deep, hoarse voice rumbled from above her, muffled. "I just won’t."

Chloe laughed in exasperation. "Don’t think you can act like a shameless rogue just because you’ve been drinking. Walker Grant, I’m done with you!"

"No."

He spoke again, his voice still muffled, but now it sounded as if he was hurt. "You can’t not want me."

A pang went through Chloe’s heart, and tears immediately welled in her eyes. "Walker Grant, then tell me the truth. Are you in love with Sunny Reed?"

"No."

Walker’s answer was decisive, and he held her even more tightly.

"I love you."

His voice was raspy. He lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck and nuzzling her skin.

As if trying to sweet-talk her.

In their eight years together, she had discovered by chance that he changed completely after drinking, so she often used to coax him into having a few.

She liked how clingy he became.

He would say exactly what was on his mind and wouldn’t hide how much he liked her.

Chloe’s resolve was wavering.

She closed her eyes and said, "Then you can’t see Sunny Reed anymore."

This time, he fell silent.

Chloe’s wavering heart was instantly encased in cement. Then, his voice came. "I can’t. She’s raising Noah, and I’m his uncle. I have to take care of him."