Daniel Hayes’s expression grew solemn. "I sent my men to Brightwater Village and found some people who were there during the earthquake. At first, none of them were willing to talk. They even claimed they didn’t remember you. But I could tell they were lying. I used a few little tricks and finally got the story out of one of them."

"He said that when the earthquake hit, all of you students were at Brightwater Elementary School. He was the school’s night watchman. Everyone was running outside, but you ran in the opposite direction, back inside. He said he called out to you several times, but you didn’t pay him any mind. After you rushed in, it wasn’t long before you came out carrying a boy on your back. But you collapsed after just a few steps. Fortunately, the earthquake had stopped by then, and someone ran in to get you both. That’s how you avoided being buried alive."

Chloe Reed’s heart leaped into her throat. She clutched the documents in her hand and asked, "Did he say if the person I saved back then was Walker Grant?"

Daniel Hayes frowned and said, "He said that’s all he remembers. But he did mention one other thing. Someone told him not to bring this up. And that person was Walker Grant."

Chloe Reed instantly crumpled the documents in her hand into a ball!

’It was actually Walker Grant who had people cover this up?!’

’Why would he do that?’

’Is he helping Sunny Reed deceive me?’

’Because Sunny Reed said she was the one who saved him, he believed her. He even sent people to create false evidence to help her!’

Fury flashed in Chloe Reed’s eyes!

’She was clearly the one who saved him back then!’

’But he believes Sunny Reed!’

’When she thought about everything he had done recently, it all just seemed laughable!’

’She had no idea what was going on in his head anymore!’

’But, now that she knew he was on Sunny Reed’s side, she would help him.’

’They were going to end up together sooner or later, weren’t they?’

’She would just make it happen a little sooner.’

"Miss Reed, are you all right?"

Daniel Hayes asked with concern, seeing the grim, furious look on her face.

"I’m fine."

Chloe Reed took several deep breaths to calm herself, then said, "Keep digging. I want to know everything that happened during the earthquake back then: proof that I saved him, why Sunny Reed was there, and all the details of them conspiring to fabricate this story. I want to know it all."

"Okay."

Daniel Hayes nodded. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

His men hadn’t returned yet because they hadn’t just questioned this one man; they were looking for others as well.

Someone was bound to give in to temptation and talk.

So, he had reported this piece of information to her as soon as he got it.

It likely wouldn’t change anything.

Chloe Reed tore the documents to shreds and said, "You’ve worked hard."

Daniel Hayes chuckled. "No need to be so formal, Miss Reed. I’m your bodyguard now. This is all part of the job."

Chloe Reed got out of the car and walked slowly toward the hospital.

The cold wind blew against her, clearing her mind and hardening her heart.

’She would no longer hesitate about Judith Pierce’s proposal.’

...

「One week later.」

Judith Pierce called her and said, "Chloe, we’re going to the cemetery. Do you want to come along?"

Chloe Reed answered, "Okay."

’Julian Grant had been good to her. Sunny Reed was outrageous, and Noah was disagreeable, but Julian was a good person. She wouldn’t let her feelings about the others affect someone who had already passed away.’

She bought lilies and chrysanthemums and went to the cemetery.

When she arrived, she saw that Judith Pierce, Sunny Reed, and Walker Grant were already there.

Many fresh flowers had been placed in front of Julian Grant’s tombstone.