Iris Yates glanced at Chloe, then at Miles Hawthorne. ’Something is up with these two!’ she thought.

Miles Hawthorne noticed her cold demeanor. He cleared his throat and said, "Chloe Reed, I just got back and don’t know what’s happened. My impression of you two is still from five or six years ago. You were so in love back then, completely inseparable. That’s why I said it must have been a misunderstanding. I know a little more now, and I realize you’ve been wronged. I was too quick to judge before. I’m sorry."

At his words, a flicker of genuine surprise showed in Chloe Reed’s clear eyes. "You found out that quickly?"

Miles Hawthorne grew more awkward. "The fact that Walker had a huge fight with his own wife to defend that woman... news travels fast in our circle. I found out without even having to do any digging."

Chloe Reed: "..."

Iris Yates said, "Are you here to rub salt in the wound or to apologize?"

"To apologize, to apologize. I’m here to apologize," Miles Hawthorne said quickly, his eyes filled with apprehension as he looked at Chloe Reed. "I’m really sorry."

Chloe Reed managed a tight smile. "It’s fine. They’ll end up together sooner or later anyway."

Miles Hawthorne glanced around. "This isn’t the best place to talk. Why don’t you join me in my private room? It’s pretty lonely eating by myself."

Iris Yates’s eyes lit up. ’We still have such a long wait!’

But Chloe Reed shook her head. "No, thank you. We’re fine waiting."

Miles Hawthorne sighed. "You really haven’t forgiven me, have you? Do I need to apologize again? We’ve known each other for so many years. Please don’t hold this against me, okay?"

Hearing him say that, Chloe Reed felt bad for continuing to give him the cold shoulder.

Iris Yates jumped in, "Well, thank you, handsome! If we hadn’t run into you, we probably would’ve starved to death waiting here."

Miles Hawthorne’s lips curved into a smile. "Let’s go. We can eat together. The more the merrier."

"Let’s go, let’s go."

The rich, savory aroma permeating the hot pot restaurant was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

Inside the private room, a spicy tallow hot pot was already bubbling on the table. Miles Hawthorne handed them a tablet. "What else do you two want? Order anything you like."

Iris Yates took it with a wide grin. "Then don’t mind if I do."

Miles Hawthorne turned to Chloe Reed. "So you’ve decided on divorce?"

Chloe Reed nodded. "Yes. I’m making room for them."

"But after all these years together, can you really just let it go like that?" Miles Hawthorne couldn’t help but ask.

He still remembered her from eight years ago: a girl lingering outside the dorms, dressed in a white padded jacket and a red scarf. Her black hair fell naturally around a delicate face with bright features, tinged with a youthful shyness.

She was the kind of girl who could make your heart skip a beat just by looking at her.

Later, when she started dating Walker Grant, he became her entire world. Whenever he was around, she only had eyes for him.

Her focus on him was absolute.

All the guys in the dorm were mad with jealousy.

"Now, the very sight of them feels dirty," Chloe Reed said. The youthful shyness was gone from her expression. Her once-bright eyes were now shadowed and heavy with a dark, suppressed weight.

Seeing her like this, Miles Hawthorne felt a pang in his chest. "I ran into you the other day coming out of a law firm," he asked. "Are you planning to sue for divorce?"

"Yes," Chloe Reed nodded, then her lips twisted into a self-mocking sneer. "But no one dares to take my case. Who in Breyburn would risk offending Walker Grant?"

Miles Hawthorne’s expression suddenly grew serious. "If you’re serious about wanting a divorce," he said, "I can help you."

The moment the words left his mouth, both young women sitting opposite him froze, completely stunned.