This bond was far more profound than mere friendship, and it was significantly more reliable than romantic love. Compared to familial ties, it lacked the literal bond of shared blood, yet it possessed a perfect, harmonious depth.

Her eyes stung with unshed tears; she had no desire to live a life of agonizing struggle wrapped in hatred, yet she simply could not turn a blind eye to Zack's demise.

Chloe did not weep. She allowed herself to draw a trace of solace from Julian, slowly releasing her grip from the freezing tombstone.

She spoke: "Julian, I have no family, no lover, no child, and no friends. I have absolutely nothing left; I have only you. You have been by my side since the day I was born. I have no intention of using you for my own ends, but I must tell you this: everything I am doing right now is solely to secure justice for Zack. I am entirely powerless on my own and I require your assistance. If you are willing to stand by me, I can do absolutely anything for you from this day forward."

Chapter 19: The Alleys of South Street

The snow fell in absolute silence, yet as far as the eye could see, nothing remained but an expanse of pure desolation.

Julian turned his head to gaze quietly at Chloe. Her eyes were completely devoid of warmth, yet her tone carried an unshakeable resolve.

He instinctively clenched his fists in silence. Time possessed the power to alter entirely too many things, and destiny was exceptionally cruel, choosing to drive such a vulnerable, long-suffering woman toward a dead end.

It seemed intent on forcing her to a point where she was completely unrecognizable before it would finally rest!

He understood that the current Chloe was merely blinded by hatred, which was the sole reason she could utter such words.

After a long pause, Julian quietly released his hold on her, offering her a gentle smile: "Chloe, there are no transactions between us. If I choose to assist you, it is entirely without expectation of return, simply because I desire to do so. Do not speak of such things ever again."

Chloe felt an immense wave of gratitude. In truth, she knew in her heart that Julian would never allow Zack's death to remain unavenged; even if she never voiced the request, Julian would have intervened.

There was no necessity for her to utter a word of thanks, because such formalities were entirely superfluous between them.

Consequently, she merely whispered, "Julian, I wish to go home."

"Very well, I shall take you home."

...

Compared to the past, the alleys of South Street appeared to have experienced very little alteration.

The streetlights along the road had been replaced, and the electrical boxes in the alleyways were brand new, yet everything else seemed identical to how it was when Julian departed.

The alleyway was rather narrow, preventing the vehicle from entering, so Julian had no choice but to park along the curb and navigate the remaining distance with Chloe on foot.

The old thoroughfare paved with limestone slabs was blanketed in a thin layer of white snow, making their footsteps slip from time to time.

"In the past, after school concluded, we would frequently play right here!" Julian suddenly noted as they walked.

He had not returned to this location for many years, yet upon his return, his mind was entirely flooded with the innocent, youthful memories of their childhood.

As Chloe walked by his side, she suddenly let out a sharp gasp as her foot slipped, her form tilting backward.

Julian reacted with absolute speed, instantly wrapping his arm around her waist to prevent her from crashing onto the concrete.

With their bodies pressed flush against one another, Julian’s warm breath fanned against the side of her face, leaving Chloe momentarily dazed.

The fragile, slender youth from her memories had long since matured into a responsible, imposing man, radiating an alluring charm capable of drawing countless women to him.

"Are you able to stand steadily now?" Julian asked with a slight smile.

A wave of intense embarrassment flushed across Chloe’s features. She quickly averted her gaze, gently pushing against his chest to regain her footing.

She let out a soft cough: "This place remains exactly the same as it always was. The moment it snows, the ground turns treacherous. I lost count of how many times I took a spill here during our youth."

Julian teased her with a smile: "Despite knowing you've fallen here countless times, you still fail to exercise caution while walking."

Chloe continued her forward progress, her emotional burden lightening for some inexplicable reason: "It has actually been an eternity since my last fall."

After advancing a couple of steps, she abruptly arrested her movement.

Julian turned back to look at her: "What is the matter?"

"A sudden realization hit me. I had your driver escort me back here yesterday afternoon, and it appears... he is currently residing within the apartment." The first snow had persisted for the entire day with no indication of ceasing, causing her to nearly slip her mind regarding this reality.

Consequently, on the previous day, she had merely extracted the framed photograph of herself and Zack before executing a hasty departure.

As for the identity of this individual, Julian required only a fraction of a second to comprehend. Aside from Eric Vance, who else could it possibly be?

Julian merely creased his brow slightly: "That residence is your legal property. Furthermore, a confrontation between the two of you is inevitable sooner or later. If you lack the courage to face him directly, how do you intend to secure justice for Zack?"

He recognized better than anyone else that the absolute best method to dismantle one's internal demons was to confront them face-to-face.

Chloe fell silent, signaling her agreement with Julian’s deduction: "Then let us proceed."

Deepening their stride into the alleyway, they scaled the weathered concrete staircase. Facing the deeply familiar entrance of her home, she hesitated for a fraction of a second before retrieving the keys from her handbag. Just as she prepared to insert the key, the door swung open from the inside on its own accord.

Chapter 20: Come Inside for a Meal

Predictably, yet entirely catching her off guard, Chloe lifted her gaze to find Eric Vance standing right before her eyes.

Eric had discarded his suit jacket, clad merely in a crisp white shirt with his necktie partially loosened, a familiar apron she had utilized in the past fastened around his waist.

Deep within the apartment behind his form, something appeared to be simmering on the stove, sending a remarkably enticing fragrance drifting out into the corridor.

An image of Eric in such a state was something Chloe had never witnessed in her existence, leaving her momentarily questioning whether the individual standing before her was truly him.

Yet without a solitary shred of doubt, the man was indeed him.

The two of them locked eyes in this manner, the silence stretching out as if an entire century had drifted past.

The main door was flung fully open, and Eric suddenly executed a swift step forward, locking her into an incredibly tight embrace.

She could hear his voice cracking into a soft, desperate whisper right against her ear, repeating her name over and over: "Chloe, Chloe, Chloe..."

However, Chloe offered absolutely no reaction. She made no movement to shove him away, nor did she offer any response to his embrace; she merely permitted him to hold her form, the turbulent waves crashing through her gaze stabilizing into absolute stillness in a fraction of a second.

Detecting the anomalous lack of response, Eric slowly relinquished his hold, training a meticulous, searching gaze upon her features.

Though nearly a month had elapsed since their separation, Chloe’s physical appearance had experienced no significant alteration. Yet her reaction, her facial expression, and the absolute coldness within her gaze felt so incredibly detached that it filled him with a sense of unreality.

Gripping her shoulders firmly, an immense wave of grievance, desolation, and profound terror erupted within Eric's chest, culminating in a sharp roar: "Chloe, do you have any conception of the fact that I believed you had perished?!"

Chloe shifted her eyes with measured slowness, gradually locking her gaze onto his. Her tone carried a level of absolute calm that felt thoroughly foreign: "I am alive. Does that reality bring you a sense of disappointment? Whatever purpose drives you to occupy my residence at this moment? Do not attempt to tell me that an individual of your stature, Eric Vance, is capable of experiencing a concept as foreign as remorse."

Her delivery was heavily saturated with unmistakable estrangement, deep resentment, and biting mockery.

Eric found himself thoroughly choked by her statement, entirely incapable of uttering a solitary word of defense. He recognized with absolute clarity the monumental scale of the errors he had committed, yet it remained exceptionally difficult for his pride to openly concede the fault.