Chapter 194 Your Real Competitor Isn’t Me
Finished
She showed up right outside the hotel, parking her car right in the center–a sports car worth over five million. Unlike before, she wasn’t wearing business attire anymore. Instead, she wore an elegant Chanel outfit. She stood at the entrance and called me, asking to talk.
Through several panes of glass, I looked at her. Queena’s eyes held a hint of provocation as she asked, “What, are you too scared to even see me now?”
Queena had failed to have a child abroad and returned in an entirely new posture. From the look of it, she considered that child a burden and had gotten rid of it. Then, she got back together with Shawn.
I stepped outside, and Queena smiled as she looked at me. “So, should I call you Mrs. Hartwell now, or stick with Ms. Mayfield?”
“Ms. Mayfield will do,” I replied calmly.
Queena’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Looks like Susanna was right. You two really are getting divorced. Or … have you?” “You came all the way just to ask that? I don’t have time to entertain you,” I said coldly.
“Let’s talk at the coffee shop across the street. Last time, I said I’d help you fight for your divorce settlement. I can still help. Want to hear my plan?” Queena baited me.
I happened to want a breather anyway, so I figured I’d hear what she had to say.
So, the two of us crossed the street and walked into a Starbucks.
Queena ordered me a coffee and sat across from me, occasionally sizing me up.
“With your looks and qualities, Ms. Mayfield, you’re sure to find someone better in the future. I don’t see splitting from Shawn as a loss for you,” she began, trying to sound pleasant.
I had to admit her emotional intelligence and wit were sharp. She had a smooth way with words, so much so that in our previous life, she had completely captivated Shawn.
“My life’s none of your concern. You came back just to take my place, right? Well, I’ve stepped aside. But can you really take that spot?” I took a sip of my coffee. “What advantages do you have? Your looks are, at best, above average. As for your work… most of your connections have already been used up by Shawn, haven’t they? I heard the woman who replaced you—Amy— she’s quite capable too. Queena, have you ever thought that you might be just like me–someone who’s already been discarded? You say you want to help me fight for assets, but how? What do you even have to fight with?”
I was not exactly a good person anymore either, so when Queena tried to turn things hostile, I just redirected the battlefield
elsewhere.
“Amy’s married,” she said, her expression instantly darkening. “If she fools around, and her husband finds out, it’ll blow up big.”
I took a couple of sips of coffee. Honestly, after I met Amy and her husband, I already thought something was odd about the way they interacted. Later on, her husband, Atlas, sent me a few messages in private–asking if I had time for a beauty treatment and saying he’d personally take care of me and such. It all just felt off.
I had a hunch that even though they were married, they were each doing their own thing behind closed doors.
“Queena, I’m married to Shawn too, and that didn’t stop you from liking him, did it? Since when has marriage been a real obstacle?” I let out a cold laugh.
Her face shifted, lips pressed tight, silent.
“Thanks for agreeing to the divorce. Whether or not I can end up with Shawn–that’s my problem.” Her tone cooled, her face
stiff
11:29 AM
Chapter 194 Your Real Competitor Isn’t Me
0
Finished
“Bored of?” Queena looked at me, stunned. “Ms. Mayfield, that’s a bold word choice. What mindset are you even in, saying something like that? Do you even realize–aside from appearances–you and Shawn don’t match at all?”
“Who says we don’t? If we weren’t compatible, where’d the child come from?” I deliberately twisted her words.
Her expression darkened even more.
I gave her a smile. “Maybe you’re right. But I’m letting go now. No matter how good Shawn is, I’m done with him. To me, he’s just a familiar stranger.”
“Is that your way of putting on a brave face?” Queena stared into my eyes, questioning me.
I shook my head. “No. I’ve just seen things more clearly now. If you can’t hold onto something, let it go.”
Queena looked a little disappointed. What she really wanted was to see me looking crushed, clinging on desperately, or throwing venom her way–maybe even begging her not to take my husband.
My calm indifference clearly got under her skin.
“Ms. Mayfield, from the way your life looks, it doesn’t seem like you’ve ever really suffered,” Queena mocked, trying to hit where it hurt. “You’re not even divorced yet, so of course you can act like this relationship means nothing. But once you truly leave the Hartwells and lose Shawn’s protection, you’ll realize that those men out there are nothing compared to him.”
I looked out the window. It was true–Shawn could be considered a man among men.
“I’ll firmly walk the path I’ve chosen. Don’t worry, I won’t get in the way of your love. Go ahead. Chase it with all you’ve got,” I said, then stood up. “Your real competitor isn’t me. If you’re smart, you’ll spend more time getting to know Amy.”
Queena’s face stiffened, and I strode away.
At last, the hotel’s grand opening arrived. The overall design showcased two styles: one serene and gentle, the other refined and luxuriously elegant. By the time we wrapped up the final touches, all the rooms had already been booked–fully reserved, even for the next three months.
