Chapter 16 Shawn Takes the First Moves
+8 Pearls
I was ready. I was prepared to face his questions and his anger. I wasn’t even mad. I just lay there, looking up at him, calmly meeting his shocked and furious eyes.
“You haven’t wronged me,” I said. “You’ve always been generous with money and polite in your manners. You’re a gentleman, truly. You don’t talk to me about your work anymore, and you don’t bring me to meet your friends. You just stopped loving me. But that doesn’t mean you’re not a good husband or a loving father.” I looked him straight in the eye and said what I truly felt.
Shawn’s eyes froze, his shock quickly turning to fury. “Tiffany, are you being serious right now? If I didn’t love you, why on earth would I have married you?”
I stared at his handsome face, now red with anger. He wasn’t just mad–he was hurt and scrambling to stay
in control.
I let out a quiet sigh, closed my eyes, and spoke softly. “I believe you loved me once. But love doesn’t last forever. It changes. It fades. I’m a woman–I can feel it when that happens.”
“That’s not true.” Shawn finally snapped. His temper flared as he suddenly leaned over, pinning me beneath him. His lips crashed onto mine, the heat of his anger fueling every movement. He wasn’t gentle like he used to be–he came at me like a violent storm, wild and relentless. I felt like a tiny boat in a hurricane, completely powerless against his overwhelming force.
“My nightgown was slipping fast, barely hanging on. His eyes burned with intensity, and his touch was rough, almost desperate. I was completely pinned down, unable to resist him in the slightest. After three months lacking intimacy, this storm of emotion reached its peak. It was as if Shawn needed to prove something–he explored every part of me, trying to reignite the passion I once had for him, searching for some sign that I still loved him.
And for the first time, he truly made me feel good. Really good.
Still, no matter how much I might’ve enjoyed it, I had to play the part of the victim. I had to be the wronged wife. I needed more benefits from this marriage. He didn’t stop until past 2 a.m. When the storm finally calmed, I wrapped myself in a blanket, my hair a mess and tears in my eyes, and dragged myself to the guest room to sleep.
I had no idea what was going through Shawn’s mind. But one thing was certain–he’d broken his own rules. For the first time, he initiated action. A wall inside him had finally crumbled. And as with most things, the moment the line is crossed, everything changes. It meant he had lost his position of power over certain things.
His sudden shift made me realize something. When you stop caring, when you invest in yourself–really glow up and carry yourself with confidence–unexpected things start to happen.
Deep down, men haven’t changed much.
Centuries of male–centered thinking still shape how they act–even now. That core instinct to dominate, to retreat when they lose control, is still present.
It seems that women can’t afford to be soft when it comes to love or men. When it’s time to be tough, we need to be even tougher. When we go cold, we must be willing to walk away without hesitation.
Mornina
1/3
- 09.
4 Apr
Chapter 16 Shawn Takes the First Moves
already morning! Why are you still sleeping? Come play with me!
“No more sleeping! I want you to play with me now!”
+ Pearls
1 kept my eyes shut, pretending not to hear. That little girl was completely spoiled, lacking both manners and a sense of respect. It was barely seven in the morning, and she was already interrupting my rest.
Just as I was about to snap and ask her to leave, I heard Shawn’s voice from outside the door.
“Yuna, come out here. Don’t wake your mom.”
“But Dad, Mom is so lazy! Why would you marry someone who sleeps in all the time?” she complained furiously.
“You don’t talk about her like that. She’s your mother,” he said firmly, stepping in to pick her up and carry her out. He even shut the door gently behind them.
I cracked one eye open, looked at the shut door, and fell back asleep.
When I finally woke up again, it was after nine. Yuna was outside, playing with her pony.
Yes, Shawn had actually followed through. When she said she wanted a pony, he had a miniature white one flown in from overseas. He brought it in specifically for her to play with.
Mona made me a nutritious breakfast. After I finished the meal, Yuna ran back inside and plopped down beside me. “Mom, you’re not allowed to go to work today. You have to stay home with me.”
I took a sip of my oatmeal and glanced at her. “Yuna, starting today, I’m going back to work. I won’t be home all the time anymore. If you want someone to play with, I’ll sign you up for more classes. You’ll have teachers and friends to keep you company.”
As soon as she heard about more classes that awaited, her face turned pale. A second later, she pointed at me and burst into dramatic tears. “I don’t want to go to class! You’re a wicked mom! I don’t like you! I’m telling Grandma!”
“Come back here,” I said, calm but authoritative. “Go ahead–try it.”
Her fake tears vanished instantly. She turned around, looking at me like she was seeing a stranger. Her big eyes flickered with something new–fear, or maybe respect.
I set my bowl down slowly, picked up my glass of lemon water, and stared at her with cool seriousness. “I carried you for nine months. I’m your mother. The person you should always respect is me. But if you don’t like me as your mom, you can go ask your dad to find you a new one. I won’t stop you.”
Yuna wasn’t stupid. She understood every word. The girl blinked, then she slowly walked over, clutched my arm, and muttered an apology. “Mommy, I’m sorry. I’ll say nothing more. I won’t tell Grandma either. I know you love me the most.”
I looked down at my clever little girl. She understood perfectly–she always had.
I thought back to the past life. She was already 30 and still siding with Queena–telling me I deserved the pain I’d suffered, that I didn’t know how to let go, and that I made everyone around me unhappy.
2/3
09:19 Fri, 4 Apr
Chapter 16 Shawn Takes the First Moves
+8 Pearls
Modern parenting tells us not to expect too much, emphasizing that parents need to support their children rather than control them. We didn’t bring them into the world to suffer; we’re supposed to let them flourish freely. However, the clash between old and new parenting philosophies can be exhausting. Those of us born in the 80s and 90s often find ourselves caught in the middle, and it’s hard.
“Go on, play. I’m going to work soon.” My head was starting to ache. I sent Yuna off to her pony and went upstairs to change. In the mirror, the marks Shawn left last night were still visible across my neck and back. In the past, I would’ve hidden every single one. I used to be soft–spoken and modest–I’d never have walked out of the house with signs like these.
But today? I let them show. Why hide them? We were married, and it was our private joy. Why pretend otherwise?
I deliberately chose a sleeveless V–neck knit top and beige pants. I tied my long hair back lazily with a ribbon. Everything about my look said, Yes, I’m a woman who was deeply loved last night. The rose–shaped earrings dangled by my cheeks.
When I walked into the office carrying the documents, I passed Queena in the hallway. She was walking with a few senior executives toward the conference room. As we brushed past each other, I tilted my head ever so slightly. Her eyes locked on my neck and froze at the sight.
