you’d have all the riches you could ever want. Wouldn’t it be easier to just look the other way and enjoy the peace?”
C
Queena’s voice hit me like a slap, sharp and cold. I stared at her, her face full of pride and scom.
Finished
Maybe to her, I was nothing but a useless shadow, someone clinging to others just to survive. Why would anyone bother to care about someone like that?
I hadn’t imagined she’d come at me so boldly, making such a loud and clear statement of hostility.
In my previous life, she always kept her distance, avoiding direct fights. She tried to hold on to the graceful image she cared so much about, never letting herself slip
I truly believed she would keep playing that role forever.
But now? Something must’ve pushed her too far and made her drop the act.
It was clear this change had something to do with Shawn. There must’ve been trouble between them, enough for her to turn jher anger toward me.
Could it be that something went wrong between them on their recent trip to Sylvania? Something deep enough to make her lose her cool like this?
When she finished lashing out, even she looked surprised by her own outburst. That wasn’t the image she wanted to show, she was supposed to be graceful, not wild and loud.
I kept my eyes on her. Her words had shaken me, sure, but I didn’t see anything in her worth admiring.
If marriage laws were just a pile of scrap paper, then everyone present would have already been buried under it..
Even though I was burning inside, I forced myself to stay still, to keep my expression steady.
The smartest way to deal with conflict is often to walk away.
But since Queena had already stirred the pot right in front of me, silence wasn’t an option.
I said calmly, “Queena, I know your feelings for him run deep. But have you thought about how you’re presenting yourself? By challenging me so publicly, aren’t you admitting that you’re the mistress? What do you think people will say? And about your claim that you make money for the business and I live off it, you’re mistaken. What I spend comes directly from Shawn. You’re just a high–level staff member. Do you think you work without pay? You collect a check, and if I’m not wrong, you were even granted shares. That means you’re using his money too. So, tell me. How are you in any position to judge me? We’re both within our rights. You’re not better than I am.”
Her expression changed instantly like the mask she wore had cracked down the middle.
She hated the truth in my words, because deep down, what she wanted most was to be irreplaceable to Shawn. But in everyone’s eyes, she was nothing more than a mistress who stole someone else’s place, a role people despised.
“He doesn’t love you anymore, Tiffany,” she said, gripping her hands into fists, her voice hard and cold.
“Did he tell you that himself?” I asked, lifting a brow. “How funny. For someone who supposedly fell out of love, he managed to stay with me for seven years and even raised a child. That’s quite the performance, wouldn’t you say?”
Queena’s expression darkened once more. She had no comeback. Even if Shawn no longer loved me, there was a time he had –loved me deeply. She couldn’t erase that part of the past, no matter how hard she tried.
Seeing the vicious glint in her eyes, I thought for a moment that she was about to play her final card, that she was pregnant.
And if she dared to say the baby belonged to Shawn, I would have no defense left.
She said, “I didn’t come here to quarrel with you, Mrs. Hartwell. Let’s keep things civil. If you divorce him, you’ll walk away
3:04 PM
Chapter 142 A Deal?
try bargaining. And when money got involved, how could I say no?
“Is that so?” I gave her a slow smile. “Tell me, what exactly can you get for me?
She clenched her jaw, holding back frustration. “What’s your price?”
“I’m not sure about Shawn’s assets,” I said evenly.
Finished
She shot back, “Shawn mentioned you had a prenup before the wedding. The divorce settlement will have to be fair to him.”
I let out a cold laugh. So Shawn even told her that? Was it to ease her worries?
Regret hit me like a wave. If I could rewind time, I’d slap my younger self–twice. I’d warn myself not to be so full of pride,
not to dive blindly into romance. One signed contract had destroyed years of my li” myself not to be so full of pride,
Queena studied me closely before saying. “I’ll get you a billion in cash, and 100 million in assets. Will that satisfy you?”
I squinted, skeptical. Was she really willing to hand over that much?
But then again, the one truly worth that fortune was Shawn. If she was offering such a large sum, it had to be because of him. That made it easier to believe.
I leaned back and asked coldly, “Remind me, who is his wife, you or me? Since when did you get to decide how my family assets are divided?” I didn’t trust her. Property division was full of traps, and if she played dirty behind the scenes, I might
away with nothing, and worse, be blamed for it.
walk
Her expression shifted. Lips pressed together, she said, “If I don’t step in, do you think Shawn would ever hand over that much?
“I’m fully aware of who holds the real power here. I don’t need an outsider meddling in matters that aren’t theirs. I can manage on my own,” I replied, my tone like ice.
