Chapter 22 Maturity Is Inevitable
C$ 48 Pearls
If Shawn really gave me the money, I would secretly stash it away. As for the wedding ring, a cheap second- hand one would do just fine. After all, that was about as much as he was worth now.
When we arrived at the restaurant, Shawn’s friends were already there. They were all of similar age and background, the only difference being that they still relied on their families for financial support. Shawn, on the other hand, had already taken over the family business, making him far more accomplished than the
rest.
“Oh, Tiffany is here too?” A clear, cheerful female voice called out with a smile.
The casually dressed beauty was Samantha Lynch. She had delicate, doll–like features, the kind that made her seem sweet and gentle. She was from Sylvania, and her voice was soft and soothing, which was typical of a Sylvanian woman.
Shawn was a year older than all of them.
He spoke up. “Tiffany is planning to start working, so I’m letting her manage Apex Hotel.
“I see.” I remembered the man as Samantha’s boyfriend, Daniel Whitman. He was a man with a good nature but a sharp tongue.
The other man, Zachary Turner, had a more mature demeanor.
I didn’t have much of an impression of these three. It had been over two years since I last saw them, and I had never bothered to find out how they were doing. But one thing was certain–children from affluent families rarely spent their time idling.
We sat out on the balcony, basking in the sun while waiting for lunch. Their conversation revolved around market trends, and I listened attentively without joining in.
“Tiffany, you’ve lost a lot of weight, and your fashion sense has really improved.”
Samantha, being a woman, naturally had a habit of comparing herself to other women. She had been eyeing me for a while before finally seizing the chance to make a teasing remark.
With that, all eyes turned to me, and the conversation shifted in my direction.
Shawn chuckled. “Tiffany took her time maturing. She used to be just like a kid, but lately, she seems to have wised up.”
“That’s only because she felt safe and loved by Shawn. That’s why she never had to grow up,” Daniel said with a grin.
As soon as he said that, Shawn’s expression stiffened for a brief moment.
Samantha quickly pinched Daniel’s arm. “What are you even saying? Are you implying that Shawn doesn’t give her enough love now, so Tiffany had no choice but to mature?”
Shawn’s deep gaze locked onto me, but I merely smiled without saying a word.
Zachary took a sip of his tea and commented. “Ms. Mayfield has had a child now. so she’s at that stage in life
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09:19 Fri, 4 Apr
Chapter 22 Maturity is inevitable
addressed me as Ms. Mayfield instead. Now, that was interesting.
3.93% #
48 Pearis
Shawn sighed deeply. “When kids are little, you don’t think much of it. But once they grow up, they start talking back every day. I honestly don’t know how to handle it.”
Samantha smiled. “When it comes to parenting. Tiffany must be an expert. She spent six years at home for Yuna, giving her undivided attention. There’s no way she’d raise her wrong”
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
Maybe conscience is something you’re born with–you either have it or you don’t. It has little to do with how you’re raised.
Lunch was served, and the conversation continued as we ate. The atmosphere was pleasant enough. Shawn occasionally picked food for me, making sure his presence as a husband was felt.
Samantha glanced at me with a look of envy. Compared to her, her boyfriend Daniel wasn’t nearly as attentive—he was too focused on cating.
If Queena had never appeared, and if Shawn had never cheated, my marriage wouldn’t have been so bad. But things had long since changed.
After lunch, Shawn actually transferred the money for the ring to me. He asked if I wanted to go to his office in the afternoon, but I told him I’d be heading to Apex Hotel instead.
He had his driver take me to the hotel while he left with Zachary.
Shawn and I had been married for six years. To be honest, our relationship had become as calm as still water–no passion, no excitement. Even our conversations felt distant and indifferent.
Would all marriages eventually end up like this, or was it just ours that had faded into nothing?
Apex Hotel had two buildings, and the location wasn’t bad. The only drawback was that the facilities were outdated and unimpressive. Being an old establishment, it still had a decent occupancy rate, but business was declining. If this continued, closure would be inevitable.
By the time I finished inspecting the hotel, night had fallen. I took some photos and brought the hotel’s renovation plans home with me.
Yuna had been in good spirits ever since she got her little pony, but I had already decided—I would be sending her back to school the next day.
That evening, Shawn came home for dinner. He was wearing a suit, and the moment he stepped inside, he took off his jacket.
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