Chapter 19 Not Even Worthy to Be Her Rival
48 Pearls
Shawn apologized. He seemed genuinely sorry–he brought a gift and even promised a big investment.
But I still couldn’t forgive him. And I definitely wasn’t going to let him back into my heart.
Even if he broke up with Queena tomorrow and became a free man again, to me, he was just a useful tool- something I could use, but never someone who could influence my life again.
“Aren’t you going to open it?” Shawn asked when he saw how uninterested I was in his gift. I caught a glimpse of disappointment flickering in his eyes.
“I’m sure it wasn’t cheap,” I said with a fake sniffle as I dabbed at my eyes. “But I’ve got to go.
He said nothing; I stepped out of his office and, right on cue, ran into Queena coming down the hallway, arms full of documents. I hadn’t realized how many projects she was managing until recently–turned out, I’d missed a lot while I was gone.
The office gossip had been buzzing lately. Apparently, Queena was more than just a capable worker–she came from money. She wasn’t here for the paycheck but for Shawn.
In the past life, Shawn had done everything to keep her hidden. He didn’t let me cause scenes or disturb her life. To protect her, he gave in to a few of my unreasonable demands–mostly material things–but emotionally, he had nothing left to give me.
Queena must truly love him. Rumor had it that when she got pregnant with their first child, she ended it just to avoid upsetting Yuna. When Shawn found out, he was furious and heartbroken. To make it up to her, he gave her a chunk of company shares and bought her a mansion.
Just thinking about it made my expression turn cold. I opened my office door and stepped inside.
A soft knock came a few minutes later. I braced myself, assuming Queena had come to rub something in my face. But no–she was just here to deliver a report.
“Mrs. Hartwell,” she said, placing a folder on my desk. “This is part of the financial report from the hotel division. I’ve included my assessment, along with some suggestions. Take a look when you have time. You’ve been out of the field for six years—your degree might not line up with how fast things have changed. If you run into trouble, I’d be happy to help. And if I can’t, I know people who can.” Her eyes met mine, and to my surprise, she seemed genuinely kind. She wasn’t talking to a rival, but someone she considered a family member of Shawn.
I couldn’t tell if she was just that confident or if she was truly kind enough to care about a love rival like me.
If it was the latter, I might actually consider stepping aside and giving her my husband and daughter.
But if it was the former–if she didn’t even see me as competition–then I’d really fallen that far.
To be fair, she had every reason to be proud. Queena came from privilege. She had a bright personality, a prestigious finance degree from a top university overseas, and her friends were all from elite circles. She hiked, skied, boxed, and even raced cars. And in those scenes, she was something of a celebrity.
So in her eyes, I must’ve looked like a total nobody–a stay–at–home mom with zero value and even less fight in her.
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Chapter 19 Not Even Worthy to Be Her Rival
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company knows how capable you are. I hope you’ll continue helping me out–I’ve been buried in these reports. It’s honestly been a bit much.”
Queena glanced at my hand, then smiled and shook it lightly. “Mrs. Hartwell, you’re too kind. As part of the team, it’s only right that I help where I can.”
“I’ll treat you to dinner sometime,” I said with gratitude, keeping my tone light and friendly.
“Sure, bring Yuna along,” Queena replied with an easy smile. “She’s such a sweetheart.”
I nodded. “Certainly, she’s always saying such nice things about you.”
Once Queena was gone, I sat back down. When I turned my head, I caught sight of Shawn sitting in his office across the hall. Through the glass, I could see him watching us–he’d seen the handshake, the friendly exchange, all of it.
I looked away and focused on the stack of papers in front of me. Whatever Shawn was thinking didn’t matter. If Queena saw me as beneath her–as someone not even worthy of being her rival–then I’d just have to show her what I was made of. Just like her, I could play the game too.
Just after five, the office phone rang. It was Shawn. “Yuna says she’s been cooped up at home too long. Let’s clock out early and take her out for dinner.”
The last thing I wanted was a forced dinner with the three of us pretending to be a happy family. So I gave him a convenient excuse. “I still have a lot of things to finish. Why don’t you take her out? And if she gets bored, maybe invite Ms. Tackman to join you. She seems to get along well with kids.”
“Tiffany.” Shawn didn’t even try to hide his irritation. “Ms. Tackman isn’t my wife. She has her own life. Yuna is our daughter. We’re the ones responsible for her.”
A bitter smirk crept into my lips. So Shawn could tell the difference between personal and work. That meant his feelings for Queena were real. He didn’t want her helping with my child–not because she couldn’t, but because he cared about her too much to ask her to.
“You’re right,” I replied. “Then how about I bring some work along? There are a few things I’d like to ask your opinion on.” Since I couldn’t dodge my role as a mother, the least I could do was bring along a little headache of my own to share with him.
“We’re off the clock, Tiffany. Don’t bring work into it,” he replied, irritation rising in his voice. “Honestly, talent is something you’re either born with or you’re not. You can learn slowly, sure, but you don’t need to push yourself like Ms. Tackman does. You’re not her.”
Just like that, my face turned cold. So in Shawn’s eyes, she was gifted–born to succeed. And I? I was just faking it. My efforts were nothing but a poor imitation. A joke.
“Well, honey, that’s fair,” I said agitatedly and in a half–joking manner. “If Ms. Tackman were your wife, I’m sure your life would be like a poem–perfect harmony, hand in hand through everything. It’s too bad, really. You married someone who doesn’t have a gift for business. Do you ever regret it? Getting married too young and missing out on someone more talented? Someone who’s actually right for you?”
“Tiffany, what are you even talking about?” Shawn snapped. He was rattled. I was too close to the truth, and he knew it. And like always, when he panicked, he lashed out.
I quickly smiled and apologized. “Don’t be upset, honey. I was just thinking out loud. I mean, it’s true–I’m
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Chapter 19 Not Even Worthy to Be Her Rival
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“If you know you’re lacking, then work on it,” he said flatly. “I haven’t given up on you. Don’t give up on yourself.” With that, he hung up.
A few minutes later, Shawn was standing outside my office. “Let’s go. Yuna hurt her leg–she needs both her parents with her tonight.”
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