It was as if an impassable line had been drawn between them. The tension flared, only to be deflected by an invisible barrier.

Chloe Reed had calmed down by now. Judith Pierce was right. If tonight’s plan was going to work, she couldn’t afford to fight with Walker Grant.

So she was starting to regret her earlier sarcasm. ’What if he refuses to cooperate?’

Her brow furrowed slightly as she stared at her phone. She glanced in his direction and saw that he was also on his phone, his handsome face completely unreadable.

She put her phone away, stood up, and walked out of the villa into the courtyard.

Judith Pierce was just returning and asked when she saw her, "Chloe, where are you going?"

"Just getting some air."

Judith Pierce nodded. "Okay. Don’t wander off. We’re all having dinner together tonight."

"Okay, I know."

Chloe Reed acknowledged her and walked toward the garden.

As she walked along the pebble path, her mind finally settled.

’Once tonight is over, the divorce should be finalized, right?’

This back-and-forth had dragged on for so long. She was exhausted.

Chloe Reed walked into the gazebo and sat down, her gaze fixed vacantly on the space before her.

「Evening.」

The kitchen was bustling as the staff brought out one dish after another. Chloe Reed sat in the living room watching TV, while Walker Grant had gone to the study.

Just then, Judith Pierce walked over to her. "Chloe, why don’t you go get Walker and tell him it’s time for dinner."

"All right."

Chloe Reed didn’t refuse. She turned off the television and headed upstairs.

She knocked on the study door. Hearing the man’s calm voice from inside, she pushed the door open and stood in the doorway. "Dinner’s ready."

Walker Grant was at his computer. When he saw it was her, his sharp eyes flickered, and some of the coldness on his handsome face melted away.

"Okay."

He closed his laptop, got up, and walked toward her.

His gaze lingered on her face for a moment. He looked like he wanted to say something, but she had already turned and headed back downstairs.

Walker Grant’s brows drew together slightly. He sensed something was off.

And that strange feeling continued at the dinner table.

’Chloe was actually sitting and eating calmly with Sunny Reed?’

’Even with no conversation between them, this level of peace just felt wrong.’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Noah sat beside Sunny Reed. The mother and son were very quiet, as if they were trying their best to go unnoticed.

The seat next to Chloe Reed was empty.

Judith Pierce said, "Walker, sit. I had the chef make many of your older brother’s favorite dishes today. It’s as if he’s here eating with us."

As she spoke, a look of sorrow clouded her eyes once more.

Walker Grant sat down.

Chloe Reed had a bowl of soup beside her. She pushed it in front of him and said, "This is really good. You should try it."

Her expression was placid, her features softened—a stark contrast to the tense, combative woman in the courtyard earlier.

A flicker of suspicion crossed Walker Grant’s eyes. His gaze swept over the bowl of soup, but he didn’t touch it.

The dinner table was silent.

But he still hadn’t touched the soup. A flash of anxiety crossed Judith Pierce’s eyes as she shot repeated glances at Chloe Reed.

Chloe Reed, however, didn’t react.

She simply finished her meal in silence and then moved to the living room.

’My earlier suspicion must have been my imagination,’ Walker Grant thought. ’I’m probably just overthinking things.’

’She’s finally softened for once, and here I am suspecting her.’

He picked up the bowl of soup and took a sip.

Seeing this, Judith Pierce let out a sigh of relief and glanced at Sunny Reed.

Sunny Reed lowered her gaze slightly, then picked up Noah and headed upstairs.