A solemn atmosphere filled the villa’s living room. The servants treaded lightly. Judith Pierce held a photo album, her face etched with unconcealable sorrow.

Sunny Reed and Noah Grant weren’t in the living room. Chloe Reed’s brow smoothed slightly as she entered.

Judith Pierce looked up at her. "Finished talking with Walker?"

"Yes," Chloe Reed replied softly, walking over to sit in an armchair.

But to her surprise, Judith Pierce patted the spot beside her. "Come, sit here."

Chloe Reed was confused, but she moved over and sat down anyway.

"Look, this is Julian back in the day," Judith Pierce said, pointing to a photograph. "He was only a year older than Walker. The two of them look so much alike, don’t they?"

The photo showed two brothers, both looking fresh-faced and full of youthful energy.

One, Julian Grant, was smiling gently, his bright, warm eyes looking directly at the camera. The other, Walker Grant, had one hand brushing his bangs from his face, flashing a bold, uninhibited grin for the lens while his other hand rested on Julian’s shoulder.

Their eyes and brows were strikingly similar, and they were about the same height.

"Julian had a gentle temperament and a knack for seeing the big picture, so we groomed him to manage the Grant Group. And he did an excellent job..." Judith Pierce said softly. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Chloe Reed stared at the photo, and a strange feeling suddenly washed over her.

The feeling came out of nowhere, leaving her bewildered.

Judith Pierce sighed. "Alas... The one thing was his marriage. He chose a daughter-in-law I wasn’t happy with. If Sunny Reed hadn’t been pregnant, I never would have approved their marriage. But then, she lost the baby."

Chloe Reed hadn’t known about that.

Judith Pierce continued, "Thankfully, he didn’t let up after the wedding, and Sunny Reed kept to herself. But who could have imagined everything that would happen later..."

Chloe Reed pulled her gaze away from the photo. "Mrs. Grant," she said quietly, "those things are in the past. You shouldn’t dwell on them. It’s not good for you."

Judith Pierce closed the album and nodded. "You’re right. We should all be looking forward."

Her expression grew complex as she looked at Chloe Reed. "Don’t fight with Walker," she said softly. "At least, not today."

"Alright."

Chloe Reed agreed quietly.

Just then, Walker Grant walked in.

Judith Pierce smiled and started a conversation with him.

Chloe Reed took out her phone and started playing a game, sitting quietly to the side.

Walker Grant’s gaze landed on her face several times, but he didn’t say anything else to her.

Just then, Walker Grant’s phone rang. It was a call from Madam Grant.

He answered the call, and Madam Grant’s elderly voice immediately came through the line. "You went to the cemetery?"

"Yes, Grandma."

"Don’t you dare call me Grandma. I have no ungrateful grandson like you," Madam Grant’s voice seethed with resentment. "Today is the anniversary of Julian’s death, and I can’t even go back to pay my respects. My heart feels like it’s being pierced by needles. Julian was always the most devoted son."

Walker Grant’s expression was impassive. "Grandma, you can pay your respects to him from where you are."

"You scoundrel!"

They’d barely exchanged a few words before Madam Grant flew into a rage again and began cursing at Walker.

Judith Pierce took the phone from him, standing up as she spoke. "Mom, that’s enough. You know today is the anniversary of Julian’s death. He doted on Walker, and he certainly wouldn’t want to hear you cursing him."

But Madam Grant started to cry. "If Julian were still alive, he would never have sent me abroad! I don’t know this place or anyone in it. I’m all alone in this huge manor... I’m so homesick."