Chapter 402: Chapter 402: Why Are You Still Clinging to the Past?

Chloe Reed’s expression faltered at his words. Thinking of the dangerous situation she was in, she said, "Your injuries haven’t healed..."

"Are you worried about me?"

But before she could finish her sentence, Walker Grant approached, his jet-black eyes fixed intently on her.

Chloe Reed: "..."

’I shouldn’t have bothered!’

Her expression turned cold, and she walked straight out of the villa.

A faint smile touched Walker Grant’s lips, and he immediately followed in her footsteps.

The grandmother was quite surprised to see him. Her gaze swept over his legs before she asked directly, "Weren’t you in a car accident? Broke a bone? How are you all better so fast?"

Chloe Reed: "..."

’Oh, no!’

’How could I have forgotten to get our stories straight?’

A moment later, she felt a pair of eyes on her. She knew who it was without even looking.

Walker Grant glanced at her, surprised she had used such an excuse. Without batting an eye, he said, "It was nothing serious, Grandma."

A knowing look flashed in the grandmother’s eyes, but she didn’t press the matter.

They got into the car and headed directly to the private hospital owned by the Reed Group.

Charles Reed was just outside the hospital room. When he saw them, he stepped forward to support his mother’s arm. "Mom, how have you been?"

The grandmother’s expression was indifferent. "I’m recovering very well."

Charles Reed nodded. "If Autumn saw you recovering so well, she would certainly be relieved."

The grandmother said nothing more and went straight into the room.

Autumn Linton had changed a great deal. She was gaunt and her eyes were lifeless; she looked utterly haggard.

"Mom..."

Autumn Linton was startled to see her mother and immediately struggled to get up.

Charles Reed hurried forward to help her, propping her up against the headboard to make her more comfortable.

Chloe Reed helped her grandmother sit down in a chair, then took a few steps back, watching them with a cold expression.

"Chloe."

Seeing her daughter made Autumn Linton even more emotional, and she reached out a trembling hand, wanting to take Chloe’s.

But Chloe didn’t move forward, nor did she speak. Her clear eyes remained completely indifferent.

Autumn Linton’s arm hung, trembling, in midair. The room was suddenly filled with a suffocating tension.

Charles Reed’s brow furrowed. "Chloe, you..."

"How did you get like this?"

It was the grandmother who broke the silence, her eyes on Autumn Linton’s sickly, haggard face as she asked the question.

Autumn Linton slowly lowered her hand. "My health was never that good to begin with," she said. "And with so much happening lately... I just couldn’t take it."

"You just worry too much," the grandmother said, her tone flat. "At your age, you should be enjoying life. Your children and grandchildren will make their own way, but you’ve never been able to accept that."

Autumn Linton looked at her. "Mom, I know I was wrong. About last time... I shouldn’t have done that..."

The grandmother replied, "It’s in the past, so there’s no need to bring it up again. Autumn, you are my daughter. I could never resent you."

Tears streamed down Autumn Linton’s face. She looked at Chloe. "Chloe, I’ve done so many wrong things in the past, too. Can you possibly..."

"No."

Chloe Reed finally spoke. It was the first word she had said to them since entering the room.

To Autumn Linton and Charles Reed, it sounded so cold, so merciless.

"I only came today to accompany my grandmother. You two should just talk to her." Her expression was cold, her dismissive attitude obvious.

"Chloe."

Charles Reed’s face darkened. "Don’t you see the state your mother is in?" he said. "She’s gravely ill, and she knows she was wrong. Why do you insist on clinging to the past?"