Annie York clutched the blanket nervously, her face filled with hesitation.
Chloe Reed took in her expression and said, "You can take your time to think about it. You’re free to take another job, too. I’ll respect your choice."
Annie York pursed her lips. "I’ll think about it," she said.
"Alright."
Chloe Reed nodded, then turned and left.
Outside the hospital, as she was walking toward her car, she suddenly felt a chill wash over her, as if she were being watched. Her back stiffened, and she immediately spun around to look.
The hospital entrance was bustling with people, all hurrying on their way. No one was looking at her.
’Was it just my imagination?’
A strange sense of unease washed over Chloe Reed. She quickly got into her car.
Just as she was about to start the engine, her phone rang. She pulled it out and saw it was a call from Daniel Hayes.
The urgent ringing made her even more tense. She answered the phone. "Daniel? What’s wrong?"
Daniel Hayes’s voice was grave. "Miss Reed, don’t start the car. Get out now. I think someone’s tampered with it."
A chill ran through Chloe Reed, and her heart sank. She quickly pushed the door open and got out.
Just then, Daniel Hayes came sprinting over.
"I just ran to the restroom and had one of my guys keep an eye on things," Daniel Hayes told her. "He said someone was lingering by your car for a long time."
Chloe Reed subconsciously clenched her fists. "What do we do now?" she asked.
Daniel Hayes said, "We’ll have the car towed and inspected. You should take a taxi home."
Chloe Reed’s mind immediately flashed to the last attack, and the time she had been knocked unconscious before that...
Preston Vance got out of his car and walked over to her. "Yeah, things were slow at work, so I came home early. Also... I have an update on that matter."
Chloe Reed’s eyelashes fluttered. ’The Brightwater Village incident... Preston Vance found something out?!’
Noticing the change in her expression, Preston Vance suggested, "Shall we talk at my place?"
Chloe Reed nodded. "Okay."
Preston Vance’s home was decorated in a simple yet elegant style. He took out a pair of disposable slippers for her. "I’ve never had a woman visit before," he said, "so I only have disposable ones. Are they an okay fit?"
Chloe Reed nodded. "They’re fine."
"Please, have a seat." Preston Vance took off his jacket, poured a glass of water for her, and then pulled out his phone.
"I had someone discreetly approach the earthquake survivors from Brightwater Village. Instead of asking directly about what happened during the earthquake, my contact first blended in and spent time with them to lower their guard. By casually bringing up what happened back then, they actually managed to learn a few things."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce