Annie York’s nose was red from crying. She nodded. "I understand."

Chloe Reed got up and left her room. Once she was outside, the thought of having to contact Preston Vance gave her a headache.

’I was just keeping my distance from him, and now I have to contact him again. It’s so inconsistent of me.’

Sighing, she went upstairs to her grandmother’s room first.

"Grandma, Annie York is fine. She just got back a little late. I sent her to her room to rest. She’ll come and keep you company tomorrow morning."

The old madam had been worried. Hearing this, she nodded, her expression visibly relaxing.

"Alright. You go get some rest, too."

"Okay."

... 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Chloe Reed didn’t go back to her room right away. She first practiced shooting for an hour, then went to check on Noah.

The little guy’s face was pale and he looked utterly drained. He was sitting on the bed, clutching an ugly doll and staring blankly ahead.

Even when she was right beside him, he didn’t react.

"Noah."

Chloe Reed called his name softly.

Noah seemed to startle awake. He came back to his senses, blinked his big eyes, and looked at her. "Aunt Chloe."

Chloe Reed answered him, then asked, "Not sleepy?"

Noah shook his head and hugged the doll tighter, saying nervously, "I have nightmares. I dreamed a monster ate my legs..."

Hearing this, Chloe Reed’s heart ached with a strange bitterness.

She looked at the child before her. He wasn’t even four years old, and from now on, he would be confined to a wheelchair.

Half of his life had already been ruined.

Her heart aching, she took off her shoes, leaned against the bed next to him, and picked up a storybook from the side. "Want to hear a story?"

Noah was very surprised. "Aunt Chloe... you’ll read to me?"

"Yes. Do you want me to?" Chloe Reed gazed at him.

Noah nodded vigorously. "Yes."

Then, he looked at her, his eyes sparkling.

Chloe Reed said, "Then lie down first. You have to lie down to listen properly. Sitting up will be too tiring."

This time, Noah nodded obediently.

Chloe Reed helped him lie down and tucked him in, then opened the storybook.

As a voice actress, she had an absolute gift for portraying characters. The story that unfolded from her lips felt so immersive that Noah was gradually drawn into its fairytale world, slowly forgetting his pain and sorrow.

After a few fairytales, Chloe Reed’s voice grew quieter. When she turned to look at him, she saw he had already closed his eyes, his breathing long and even.

She placed the storybook aside and adjusted his blanket. Just as she was about to get off the bed, she saw his little brow suddenly furrow.

Chloe Reed froze. She didn’t get down right away, remaining seated beside him.

After a moment, his little brow smoothed out, and he sank back into a deep sleep.

...

’So, has this kid gotten attached to me?’

She didn’t leave in a hurry. Instead, she took out her phone and played games with the sound off.

The night grew thick and deep. When Walker Grant pushed open the door to the room, he saw two figures, one large and one small, lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.

Seeing this, he froze, his eyes widening in shock!

He never, ever would have expected Chloe Reed to be sleeping here with Noah!

A storybook lay on the side. She had clearly been telling the little one a story, lulling him to sleep.

Lately, because Noah couldn’t walk, he had been exceptionally depressed. He was always having nightmares, and his mental state was very poor. The doctor had even spoken to him about it, saying they needed to find a way to intervene.