Autumn Linton’s body trembled as Charles Reed held her steady. She looked at Chloe Reed, her expression pained. "Chloe, I... we do love you..."

"Perhaps."

Chloe Reed stood up and looked at her coolly. "I don’t know why you doted on Sunny Reed so much, why you were so biased toward her that you couldn’t stand to see her wronged in the slightest. It used to bother me, but now that I know I’m not your biological daughter, I’ve suddenly stopped caring."

"That’s not it, Chloe..."

Autumn Linton wanted to say more.

But Charles Reed cut in, "She’s already made up her mind. Even if she isn’t our biological daughter, we still raised her for over twenty years. She’s just an ungrateful wretch. Why are you bothering to say anything more to her?"

"Charles, that’s not it. You can’t think that way..." Autumn Linton shook her head, disagreeing with him.

"She is our daughter, the precious child we always longed for, we..." As Autumn Linton spoke, she broke into a fit of violent coughing, her complexion growing even more ghastly.

"Autumn, don’t say another word. I’ll get the doctor." Seeing her state, Charles Reed’s expression changed. He helped her lie back down on the bed and rushed out to call a doctor.

Eventually, Autumn Linton began to cough up blood, a terrifying sight.

The matriarch instinctively stood and walked over to grasp her hand. "Autumn..."

Autumn Linton gripped the matriarch’s hand tightly. She tried to say something, but the more anxious she grew, the more she coughed, unable to get a single word out. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The doctor arrived quickly, gave her an injection, and then wheeled her away for an examination.

The hospital room fell silent.

Charles Reed looked at Chloe Reed coldly. "You shouldn’t have brought this up now. Her body couldn’t take it."

Chloe Reed met his gaze calmly. "Then when should I have? I think this was the perfect time to say it."

"You..."

Charles Reed’s brows furrowed. "Chloe Reed, you’re truly heartless. Seeing her in so much pain and suffering, don’t you feel even a shred of pity?"

But Chloe Reed’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "The old me would have been heartbroken, but not the me of today."

’After facing death several times, it seemed she was slowly beginning to accept this.’

’She just didn’t want any more ties to them.’

"Such an ungrateful wretch," Charles Reed cursed, his brow furrowed.

"President Reed, watch your language."

Walker Grant, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His eyes were cold as he stared at Charles. "She’s not your daughter. You don’t have the right to berate her as you please. And I don’t like hearing you curse at her."

"Hmph, I still raised her for over twenty years. What’s wrong with me cursing her out?" Charles Reed, who was already angry, became even more furious hearing Walker Grant’s words.

Walker Grant’s eyes narrowed dangerously. A powerful aura emanated from him, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became cold and oppressive.

"Grandma, should we go now?"

Chloe Reed asked the matriarch in a gentle voice.

The matriarch shook her head. "Let’s wait until she’s back from her check-up."

A complex emotion flickered in Chloe Reed’s eyes before she nodded. "Alright. I’ll wait with you."

"Since you’re not my child, you shouldn’t be holding onto shares of the Reed Group," Charles Reed said, his emotions now settled as he stared at her coldly.

Chloe Reed nodded. "You’re right, I shouldn’t have them. I’ll give the shares back to you. Contact me whenever you’re free."

Charles Reed said, "Let’s get it done in the next few days."

"Fine."

The matriarch watched this unfold, her brow deeply furrowed.

’He had raised her for over twenty years, after all. He accused Chloe of being cold and heartless, but what about him?’