Chapter 20 Shawn Stayed Out All Night
93%
+8 Pearls
When it came to spending time with my daughter, I tried to avoid it whenever I could. But if I couldn’t, I just had to go along with it.
Shawn drove and asked me to ride with him. Meanwhile, he sent a driver to pick up Yuna.
My memories of my previous life were hazy, and since the plot no longer seemed to follow the same course, I had no idea what would happen next.
But no matter what happened, I wasn’t going to let myself suffer anymore.
The restaurant Shawn had booked was a high–end spot known for its premium wine and steak. By the time we arrived, Yuna was already there. She sat on the couch, looking utterly bored, her small face set in an expression of world–weary disdain that seemed far too mature for her age.
“Daddy, Mommy, you’re so slow,” Yuna said when she saw us. Instead of greeting us happily, she immediately started complaining.
Shawn apologized softly. “There was some traffic. What do you want to eat? Daddy will order for you.”
“I want chocolate, ice cream, and crispy fried food,” Yuna said.
Like any other child, she craved what she wasn’t allowed to have. The more forbidden it was, the more she wanted it.
In my previous life, junk food like that had been on my no–go list. She used to throw tantrums just for a few bites.
Shawn looked at me and, seeing that I hadn’t said anything, lowered his voice. “Yuna, you can’t eat that stuff. It’ll upset your stomach, and you might end up in the hospital getting a shot.”
“Mommy won’t let me eat it, right? I knew it. I really want to grow up faster. Why do adults get to eat whatever they want, but I can’t eat what I want?” Yuna complained, sulking. She crossed her arms and curled up, turning her back to us.
“Let her eat what she wants,” I said, taking a seat.
“Wasn’t it you who didn’t let her eat junk food before?” Shawn asked, looking surprised. My change in attitude must have confused him.
I smiled. “Can’t you see she’s upset? Maybe being a kid has its own frustrations. Unlike adults, who buy only what they like, children don’t get that choice. Yuna, from now on, Mommy won’t be so strict. Eat whatever you want.”
“Really?” Yuna’s face lit up with joy. She immediately crawled over to me, hugging my arm tightly. “Mommy, you should have done this earlier! If you had, I wouldn’t have gotten mad at you. Daddy, hurry up and order for me!”
Shawn frowned slightly but eventually ordered some of Yuna’s favorite foods, along with a few signature dishes–red wine steak, foie gras, and caviar. When it came to food, he never compromised on quality for himself or his family.
1/3
93%
Chapter 20 Shawn Stayed Out All Night
few more days off?”
48 Pearls
I knew she just didn’t want to go to school, having grown too used to the leisure of staying home. I looked at her expectant little face, slowly sipped my wine, and said, “Hmm, ask Daddy about that. I have no problem
with it.”
“Really? Mommy, you’re being so much nicer to me now. I’ll love you even more,” Yuna cooed, immediately clinging to me.
I let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
As expected, whoever disciplines a child becomes the child’s enemy. Now that I ignore her, she suddenly tells me she loves
- me.
Shawn returned after finishing his call and sat down beside me, placing his phone on the table.
A message popped up on his phone. I caught a glimpse of it from the corner of my eye–it seemed to be from Queena.
But Shawn only glanced at it briefly and didn’t reply right away.
Yuna had fried chicken, then ice cream, and finally devoured a big piece of chocolate. She was completely satisfied.
Just then, the steak was served. Shawn cut it into bite–sized pieces for Yuna and urged her to take a few bites. But she was already full and refused to eat anymore. Shawn had no choice but to give up.
Turning his head, he saw that I was still drinking. Without hesitation, he asked, “Do you need me to cut yours too?”
“No, thanks.” I knew this was just a habit ingrained in him. He did it not because he loved me, but because he had been raised as a gentleman from a wealthy family.
We didn’t talk much and just kept eating. At some point, Queena seemed to have sent another message, but Shawn still didn’t respond right away.
Like any other family, dining together had become an essential routine in our lives, but if I had to say it was warm or romantic–it really wasn’t.
After dinner, Shawn turned to me and said, “I have something to take care of. Take Yuna home first.”
I knew he was probably going to see Queena. I nodded. “Okay.”
Without saying anything else, I carried Yuna and got into the car the driver had pulled up.
“Daddy, where are you going? Can I go with you?” Yuna seemed to have guessed who he was going to see. She immediately perked up and pleaded, “Daddy, take me with you, please? It’s so boring at home.”
But of course, Shawn wouldn’t bring her along. After all, he and Queena had a lot to do tonight.
“Yuna, I’ll bring you next time. Daddy has something important to handle today,” Shawn refused as expected.
2/3
Apr
492%
93%隻
Chapter 20 Shawn Stayed Out All Night
My husband was blatantly going to see his mistress–where did that leave me, his lawful wife?
People always said that aside from the legal wife, every other woman was just a mistress.
But the cruelest part? The wife was treated worse than the mistress.
Cs
+8 Pearis
When we got home, Yuna clung to me, begging for a bedtime story. I picked up a book and read it aloud to her. Before long, she drifted off to sleep. I tucked her in and returned to the master bedroom.
As expected, Shawn didn’t come home all night. But I didn’t lose sleep over it. In fact, I slept quite well- because before dozing off, I spent some time thinking about Ethan. He really was a handsome man.
The next morning, Shawn called to ask, “Did you take Yuna to school? Her leg should be fine by now
I answered, “She doesn’t want to go. She wants to stay home for a few more days.”
Shawn didn’t argue. “Let her be, then.”
I thought back to my past life. At this very moment back then, I had already mapped out Yuna’s entire weekly schedule–piano on Mondays and Wednesdays, dance and violin on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and private tutoring all day Friday to prepare her for elementary school. That included English conversation training, too.
She had been so young, yet I dragged her from one teacher to the next, staying by her side every step of the way. I never dared to slack off, not even for a single day.
Back then, the way Yuna looked at me was practically seething with resentment. Maybe it was my strictness that pushed her toward Queena.
While I forced her to study until exhaustion, Queena took her out to play, bought her toys and pretty dresses, and even secretly took her on a three–day trip to Sakuran for her birthday.
Looking back now, why did I put myself through all that?
Raising our daughter was never meant to be my sole responsibility. If Shawn wasn’t going to make an effort, then I wasn’t going to force it either.
Let her grow at her own pace. That’s all she ever wanted.
At the office, Queena arrived past ten. She carried an air of leisurely satisfaction, like a woman who had been thoroughly adored.
When I saw her in the hallway, I wondered if she’d proudly flaunt the love bites Shawn had left on her last night. But when I looked her over, I saw nothing.
Shawn arrived at noon. The moment he approached me, I caught a faint scent of cherry blossoms–the exact perfume Queena always wore.
