Chapter 154 Are You Coming Back Tonight?
+8 Pearls
Shawn’s hand slowly slipped from the suitcase handle. He gave me a quiet look and said gently, “Alright. If you’re tired, go home and rest. Fll take Yuna to dinner”
“Okay.” I didn’t hesitate. I took my suitcase, turned around, and hailed a cab.
As the car pulled away, I glanced out the rear window. Shawn and Yuna were still standing by the curb.
As the distance between us grew, I knew I finally done it. I had let go–truly, completely
Shawn always thought my talk of divorce was just a bluff, a product of frustration or a passing tantrum. He never imagined I meant it. But he was wrong. I meant every wond
Now, my words matched my actions and sooner or later, he’d realize I wasn’t bluffing.
He used to believe I couldn’t leave him, that no one else could compare. That I’d never find a man better than him. But then, jas if by fate. Ethan showed up.
Ethan wasn’t just anyone. He was sharp, persistent, and always watching me from the sidelines. The moment Shawn loosened his grip, Ethan would be right there, ready to step in without hesitation,
Ethan’s presence made it impossible for Shawn to keep brushing me off–as if the threat of losing me finally forced him to acknowledge I was there.
Before the divorce. Ethan always kept a respectful distance. He never crossed any lines, and never gave me mixed signals. But one evening, while I was having dinner with Melanie, fate decided to stir the pot–Ethan showed up, accompanied by Richard.
Melanie glanced at me, a little uneasy, and said, “Richard brought his boss along, Tiffany. You don’t mind, do you?”
1 let out a quiet chuckle, half amused, half exasperated. Bringing your boss to dinner? That was a new one. I’d heard of people showing up with friends, or even the occasional unexpected date–but this? Bold move.
The open–air restaurant was bathed in a soft, golden glow. The string of lights overhead flickered gently, casting a dreamy haze over the night. Everything felt warm, and relaxed… until they walked in.
Richard approached with a friendly smile as if this were all perfectly normal. “Mr. Hayes said he didn’t feel like cooking tonight, so I invited him along,” he explained smoothly. “I hope you don’t mind, Ms. Mayfield.”
I knew that Richard and Melanie had considered my feelings from the very beginning. That kind of respect–I really appreciated it. I glanced at Ethan. He gave me a small nod in acknowledgment.
When other people were around, Ethan knew how to keep his distance and act appropriately. I had to give him credit for that
As we started ordering, Ethan and Richard naturally slipped into a conversation about work, while Melanie lightened the mood with a few quirky stories from her office. Eventually, Ethan turned to me and asked, “How have you been lately?”
I smiled, keeping my tone light. “All good on my end.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Ethan’s eyes as he looked at me.
I knew exactly what was behind that look–but I wasn’t about to offer empty promises or dangle false hope in front of a man, no matter how kind he was.
Ethan really was a good man–but this was his first marriage. And precisely because he was a good man, I wanted him to find happiness. If he couldn’t find love with me, then he deserved the chance to meet someone new. Maybe he’d fall for a woman he’ll like even more, get married, start a family… instead of waiting aimlessly with no hope for me to get divorced.
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Chapter 154 Are You Coming Back Tonight?
suspicion in his voice as he asked. “Did you go out for dinner?”
I answered honestly, “I’m out with Melanie”
Are you coming back tonight?” he followed up.
+8 Pearls
1 paused for a moment. First of all, I really didn’t feel like dealing with Yuna, and second. Shawn had been far too clingy these days. So I told him I wasn’t going back–I’d be staying at the apartment tonight.
There was a brief silence on his end, just a couple of seconds, before he asked. “Are you planning to separate before going through with the divorce?”
That caught me off guard. Technically, if we lived apart for two full years, the divorce process would be much quicker. But two years? That felt like an eternity–I didn’t have that kind of patience.
“Give the divorce some thought,” I said, gazing up at the endless night sky. If we didn’t sort this out. I knew I’d never find peace of mind.
Shawn clearly hadn’t expected me to bring it up so abruptly. There was a short pause on the line before he finally replied, “Well talk when we get home.”
Then he ended the call before I could say another word.
My heart felt like it was hanging in limbo–neither rising nor falling–just heavy with weight.
In my past life, it was Shawn who’d brought up the divorce first, and I had clung on to him, refusing to let go.
Now, in this life, I was the one asking for it, and he was the one who hesitated. Fate had such a twisted sense of humor.
When I returned to my seat, Ethan looked up and asked gently, “Are you leaving!”
I gave a small nod. “Tve eaten enough. I’ll head out first–enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Ethan stood up right away. “Let me walk you down”
I shook my head with a polite smile. “No need Stay and enjoy your dinner. After saying goodbye to Melanie, I turned and walked away.
I could feel Ethan’s gaze lingering on me as I left, a quiet reluctance in his eyes. If I were single, things between us might have played out very differently
When I returned to the apartment and saw the lights on inside, my heart instantly jumped–had someone broken in?
I rushed to unlock the door, only to find Shawn sitting alone on the couch, a half–finished bottle of red wine by his side. He
dressed in a grey shirt and black slacks, the outfit accentuating his lean, refined frame. On paper, he was everything I used to picture as my dream man.
But the scars from my past life cut too deep The panic and heartache I once endured hadn’t vanished with time–they still crept up to me like ghosts, leaving a chill in their wake. I suddenly understood something: I’d clung so tightly to the hope that he would change, that I’d ended up losing myself in the process.
Send Gifts
10
