Chapter 169 Clueless
Shawn stood there, unmoving, his face set in stone.
Finished
“Tiffany, I know I’ve neglected your daily work,” he began, his voice softer now. “I’ve always known how hard it was to take care of the kids. I even offered to hire two nannies, but you… His words trailed off, unfinished.
“Yes, it was my choice,” I interrupted. I’m not blaming anyone.” The frustration was a bitter weight I had to carry alone.
“Tiffany, from now on, I’ll go to the market with you,” Shawn continued, his gaze heavy with something I couldn’t define. “I want to be part of your life.”
I shook my head, the bitter laugh that slipped from my lips harsher than 1 intended, “Please don’t,” I said. “You’re too important to show up at the market. Your mom and sister are going to be ballistic.”
The instant my words hit the air, Shawn’s face froze, his features hardening. It was like a switch flipped. I could almost see the memory flicker in his mind–the words my mother–in–law had said before our wedding. “Shawn is a man with big things ahead of him. Taking care of a family is small work. A man’s energy is limited,” she’d told me. She even warned me to be careful in the bedroom, not to exhaust him.
Back then, I’d listened. I’d followed her advice, sure that she knew best.
“Tiffany, I failed you before, Shawn muttered, his voice low. He didn’t offer an explanation, but his eyes held something else
-an unspoken desire to be part of my everyday life.
I didn’t want to hear it. I spun on my heel and stepped into the elevator, jamming my finger on the close button with force.
Shawn stood there, his eyes locked on me, watching until the doors slid shut, separating us completely.
I exhaled quietly, feeling the tension ease slightly. Maybe I didn’t understand him as much as I thought. Maybe he, too, had moments of hesitation
Shawn, oh Shawn. A part of me wished the heavens would strike you down, send you back to your past life. Maybe then you’d see the consequences of your actions. Maybe you’d understand that words, no matter how sweet, couldn’t fix everything.
Back at home, I could tell my parents wanted to speak, but they held their silence, exchanging glances.
I broke it. “It was Shawn who came uninvited.
- d. I didn’t ask him to come over”
My mom nodded. “We know. We could tell at the table. Shawn really doesn’twant a divorce.”
“He doesn’t want it, but I do,” I said firmly, my voice steady. “I need it.”
Another shared glance passed between them, but they didn’t say anything else.
As I headed upstairs, my dad spoke up, his voice unexpectedly gentle. “Your mom and I bought a gift today. We tried to see Yuna, but she wouldn’t even give us a moment of her time,
When I heard it, frustration washed over me in an instant. I knew deep down, as grandparents, they truly loved Yuna. She was their granddaughter.
Even though Shawn and I were divorced, they would always love her.
But what hit harder than anything was that Yuna had refused to see them. Fine.
“Mom, Dad, please don’t go to her. She’s angry with me right now. She won’t want to see you either,” I said, turning away and heading upstairs.
As I reached my bedroom door, the tears began to fall. I could see it in my parents‘ eyes–the pain. Yuna had always been so close to them. Every winter and summer, she would stay with them for a while. And now, she wouldn’t even look at them.
10
Chapter 169 Clueless
My parents seemed to understand my pain. They didn’t bring up Yuna again.
Finished
I went back to work as usual. Three days later, my parents were growing a little restless. Their vacation was almost over. I booked them plane tickets and took them to the airport myself.
During their stay, my in–laws had invited them for a meal. I didn’t know what they talked about, but when my parents. returned, they told me they respected my decision. That brought me some comfort.
“Tiffany,” my mom said, her grip firm around my hand, “If the divorce goes through and you have nowhere else to go, you can always come back home. Find a steady job. It’s always an option”
“She’s used to the city life, my dad added, glancing at me. “She might not adjust to our way of living, but it’s up to her.”
I nodded, a tight smile on my lips. “I know. I’m old enough to take care of myself”
After seeing them off, I headed back to work. The moment I stepped out of the elevator, I heard laughter coming from the meeting room.
Amy, is there really such a faraway place? Is it really that dangerous? You went to explore an abandoned cave! You’re amazing. I want to be just like you when I grow up.
“Really?
You climbed a mountain too? Your biggest goal is to climb Pearlrest? That’s the highest one, you know.”
It was Yuna’s voice. I took a deep breath, then walked past the door as if I hadn’t heard anything.
Inside, the chatter came to an abrupt halt the second I passed.
When I walked into my office, something small caught my eye. On my desk sat a little wooden block puzzle, shaped like a tiny flower. Next to it, a note. It was in Yuna’s crooked handwriting: “I’m sorry, Mom. Here’s a flower for you.”
