After dinner, Chloe Reed showed no intention of leaving. Judith Pierce kept her talking, and everything seemed perfectly normal.

Walker Grant sat to the side, reaching up to press his temples. A wave of heat rose from his lower abdomen. The feeling came on slowly, yet inexorably, just as it did when he was with Chloe Reed.

His gaze uncontrollably fell upon her, drifting from her face down the rest of her body.

’They were husband and wife; anything they did was normal.’

He spoke, his voice taking on a husky edge. "Chloe, the wound on my shoulder feels a little uncomfortable. Can you take a look for me?"

At his words, Judith Pierce gently patted Chloe Reed’s hand and said, "Go on. Walker was injured because of you. You should check and see if his wound has healed properly."

"Mm."

Chloe Reed didn’t refuse. She got up, walked to his side, and leaned over to take his arm.

Walker Grant took the opportunity to rise, immediately wrapping an arm around her waist.

The burning warmth of his large palm pressed against her side, seeping through the fabric of her clothes.

’She understood. The soup he drank was taking effect.’

She lowered her gaze and started up the stairs.

Their room was on the second floor. Because of Madam Grant, she rarely spent the night at the Grant Family Estate.

She was very unfamiliar with their marital bedroom here.

The moment she pushed open the bedroom door, Walker Grant’s hot breath fell on her cheek.

His thin lips kissed her gently. "Chloe..."

He murmured her name, his voice husky and lingering.

Chloe Reed said, "I just remembered, I forgot to get something I have for you. Wait a moment, I’ll go downstairs and grab it."

But Walker Grant kept his arm around her, unwilling to let go. "What is it? You can get it later."

He bent his head, trying to kiss her on the lips.

Chloe Reed turned her head to dodge him and said, "No. It’s a gift for you. Don’t you want it?"

’A gift for him...’

Those words struck him right in the heart, like water on parched earth, making his cracked heart feel as if it were coming alive again.

’How long had it been since she’d given him a gift?’

She was even in the middle of suing him for divorce.

She wanted to leave him.

And yet today, she hadn’t resisted his advances and had even prepared a gift for him.

Even though he was burning with heat, the elation bubbling up inside him made him release her.

He was filled with anticipation for the gift she had prepared.

’What could it be?’

"Alright. I’ll wait for you."

Walker Grant said softly, his eyes fixed on her.

Chloe Reed had him sit on the sofa, then walked to the door and switched off the light. Glancing back at him, she said, "You have to see it with the lights off, or it won’t be a surprise."

"Alright."

He watched as she left the room.

She closed the bedroom door, shutting out the light from the hallway with it.

Darkness enveloped Walker Grant. His heart was ablaze, and an unshakeable smile graced his lips.

Just a moment ago, he had felt her tenderness.

That familiar tenderness nearly drove him wild.

’Maybe they wouldn’t get a divorce. She would probably withdraw the suit.’ The thought of them going back to how they used to be made the fire inside him burn even hotter.

Time ticked by, second by second. Walker Grant felt the heat in his body growing more intense, and his mind began to grow hazy.

But he was still fixated on the surprise Chloe Reed had prepared for him.

He didn’t know how long had passed before the bedroom door finally opened again. A slender figure walked in, closing it behind her.

"Chloe? What’s the surprise?"

Walker Grant’s eyes shone brightly as he watched the person slowly approach.