Chapter 157 No
Finished
I turned to face him. Shawn had once loved me for my looks, but now, as I took care of myself, it seemed like he had fallen for me all over again. His eyes roamed my face, a flicker of something familiar in his gaze.
“No. The things I wanted at 20, I don’t want at 30. My mindset has changed. Maybe what I wanted three months ago, I don’t want them now.” I started to walk away, feeling the weight of his stare.
But Shawn suddenly grabbed my wrist. Before I could react, he pulled me into his arms, holding me tight. Tiffany, let’s start over, okay!” His voice, low and full of longing, wrapped around me like a chain.
He held me from behind, his grip firm but desperate.
I knew better, When it came to love, pulling someone back only made it harder. Shawn was calculating, thinking that I still had feelings for him. He believed that a little bit of effort would soften me, that I would fall back into his arms.
If only he knew what I’d been through to get here. If only he knew the truth, he wouldn’t think for a second that there was any chance of reconciliation.
I pried his arm off me, slowly and firmly. Turning to face him, I gave him a small, practiced smile. “Don’t do this. The best way for adults to part is with grace.”
Shawn hesitated. His eyes searched mine, his confusion almost palpable. I wasn’t crying, there were no traces of sadness. Just a calm, distant smile, the kind I might give to a stranger.
It struck him deeply, sharper than anything. I was treating him like any other stranger who passed by, distant but polite.
Tiffany…” His voice cracked, his tone full of helplessness. “Don’t be so heartless.”
I shook my head, my voice steady. “This isn’t me being heartless. This is the right way to handle it.”
His face flushed with anger. His jaw clenched as he stood tall. “What do you think our marriage was? A transaction? Was our love just a bargaining chip at a negotiation table?*
He couldn’t accept it. The truth that I no longer loved him.
But he had no choice.
He had to face it
Just like in my past life, when he and Queena had hurt me so deeply, I didn’t run away. I stood there, facing the pain.
“Honestly, if you could treat our marriage as a transaction, it wouldn’t be so bad. When a relationship ends,
you walk away from it. We’re not children anymore. If the first attempt fails, the second and third will likely fail too.” I lowered my gaze, avoiding his angry eyes. With a final glance, I turned and made my way back to my seat,
As I sat down, I felt a shift in the air. Atlas was watching me, his gaze lingering in a way that made me uncomfortable.
It was a look men gave when they were pleased with what they saw, when they couldn’t hide their attraction. He wasn’t even pretending anymore, especially now that my husband had stepped away from the table.
Amy, on the other hand, was the picture of calm. She sipped her wine, her posture elegant as she gazed out the window, unaffected by the tension in the air.
“Mrs. Hartwell, your skin is flawless, Atlas said, his eyes glued to me, a smile curling on his lips. “I run a beauty business, with companies in both Surgoland and Sakuran. Here’s my VIP card for my Hanzorábranch. It’s a gift for you.”
Out of politeness, I couldn’t refuse. I took the card, nodding slightly. “Thank you.”
Amy’s
gaze shifted to me, her smile faint and calculating. “Mrs. Hartwell, the elegance you carry must be nurtured by wealth.
9:59 AM c
Chapter 157 No
Suddenly. Amy’s focus shifted again. “Where’s Mr. Hartwell? He’s been gone for a while.”
I didn’t respond. I just kept eating, my fork moving steadily to my plate.
+8 Pearls
“Aren’t you going to check on him, Atlas? Mr. Hartwell seemed to have a drink earlier,” Amy said, nudging Atlas beside her.
Before Atlas could get up. Shawn returned.
He was calm now, the earlier agitation wiped away, leaving only a quiet composure.
“Did you settle the bill, Mr. Hartwell?” Amy asked, still smiling. “We were supposed to treat today.”
Shawn smiled back, his tone nonchalant. “It’s fine. What matters is that everyone’s having fun.”
I didn’t look at him, but I could feel his eyes on me, darting between my face and my hands. It was almost like he was afraid to look too long.
After lunch, Amy and Atlas left. Their departure barely making a ripple. I slid into Shawn’s car, and he asked, his voice casual, Where to?”
“Take me to the temporary office next to the Apex Hotel,” I said, my voice even.
The car hummed with silence. Outside, the sun blazed, casting a heat that seemed to reach even through the car windows. Inside, the air conditioning worked its magic, making me feel sluggish, almost lazy.
The car stopped at a red light. Shawn, without warning, reached over and took my hand. His fingers brushed against mine,
warm and insistent.
I pulled my hand away, the movement subtle, almost unnoticed, just as the light turned green. Shawn continued driving, the sound of the engine filling the quiet between us.
At the next red light, his voice broke the silence, calm but heavy with something unspoken. “You fancy Ethan, don’t you?”
I froze, my body stiffening.
He continued, his voice steady, but it carried a weight that made the air between us thick. “Love doesn’t disappear, it just shifts. You won’t even let me touch you now because you’re saving yourself for another man. You talk about adult relationships–I get it, maybe even more than you do. It’s Ethan who made you act this way, isn’t it?”
“What does he have to do with this?” I asked, my voice sharp, an edge of exasperation creeping in. Shawn’s imagination was running wild, and it irritated me.
