Chapter 24 Slipping Through the Cracks
+8 Pearls
Ever since our daughter was born, Shawn and I had been sleeping in separate rooms. Unless we had marital needs, he would come to my room. Most of the time, though, he slept alone in the guest room next door.
The master bedroom was mine alone.
I didn’t care whether my rejection would hurt Shawn’s feelings. I stayed in my room until dinnertime before finally coming out.
Downstairs, Shawn was with Yuna, helping her feed the pony. When Mona called them in for dinner, they washed their hands and sat at the table.
“Daddy, it’s been so long since I had Mommy’s homemade meatballs! Can you ask her to make me some right now?” Yuna grabbed Shawn’s arm and shook it as soon as she saw me coming down the stairs.
Shawn glanced at me and asked, “Yuna wants your meatballs. Do you have time to make her some now?”
Mona, who had just finished setting the table with a full spread of dishes, looked from him to me.
I sat down indifferently and said, “No. There’s already plenty of food on the table.”
“But I don’t like any of this! I just want Mommy’s meatballs.”
Yuna crossed her arms, looking like she was about to go on a hunger strike.
Shawn knew Yuna had always been a picky eater. She refused to eat anything even remotely spicy. Over the years, I had gone to great lengths just to get her to eat a few bites of food.
Now, Mona made sure at least three dishes on the table were prepared specifically for Yuna every meal.
Yet she still wasn’t satisfied. Or maybe this was her way of punishing me for suggesting we set household rules earlier.
“I kind of want some too. Why don’t you go make a batch?” Shawn, as expected, sided with Yuna and turned
to me.
I almost laughed. Instead, I looked at him and asked, “Hubby, do you even know how long it takes to make meatballs?”
Before Shawn could answer, Mona chimed in, “At least half an hour. Plus, you have to pound the meat repeatedly to get the right texture.”
“That long?” Shawn looked genuinely surprised. “I thought it would only take a few minutes.”
Seeing that Shawn was starting to understand my point, Yuna panicked. She pouted and whined, “Daddy, I just want meatballs, nothing else! If Mommy won’t make them, then I won’t eat anything tonight!”
“Then don’t eat.” I was already on the verge of losing my temper. Yuna knew exactly how to push my buttons. She had pulled this kind of stunt before, and I had always caved. She assumed that if she stuck to her demand, she would win again. But this time, I couldn’t care less.
Chaum frowned and said “Inst eat first. If you’re still hungry. I’ll take you out for a late–night snack”
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Chapter 24 Slipping Through the Cracks
+8 Pearls
I didn’t feel like saying another word. After silently finishing my meal, I turned and headed upstairs, not wanting to deal with them anymore. As long as they left me alone, I was fine with it.
Because of that argument, I ignored Yuna the next morning. Naturally, she decided to give me the cold shoulder as well.
Shawn dropped her off at school carly.
By the time I arrived at the office, it was past ten. I had plans to work on a new design blueprint, so I wasn’t just idling around. In fact, I had plenty to do.
Shawn had always treated me like a housewife, dismissing my abilities entirely.
Now, seeing how efficiently I handled things, his gaze toward me grew more unreadable.
Queena was a decisive leader in the company. She had a strong presence, and everyone followed her orders without question. Shawn highly valued her at work and supported every decision she made.
There was no doubt–Shawn had fully embraced his role as a capitalist. He had stepped back, letting his subordinates handle the day–to–day operations while he simply steered the company’s direction.
Compared to Queena’s position, I was still on the sidelines. But because I was Shawn’s wife, people avoided gossiping about me in my presence.
Of course, rumors always had a way of slipping through the cracks.
As I entered the restroom, I overheard a conversation outside.
“Do you think Mrs. Hartwell suddenly started working at the company because she feels threatened?”
“Well, she is just a housewife. How could she possibly compare to Ms. Tackman? Not only does Ms. Tackman come from a privileged family, but she’s also a top–tier talent that every major corporation fights over. Mr. Hartwell isn’t stupid–she’s his most valuable asset at work. Mrs. Hartwell should just stop embarrassing herself. Every dollar she spends is thanks to Ms. Tackman’s efforts.”
“But Mrs. Hartwell is stunning! She’s even prettier than celebrities.”
“Of course. What do you think Mr. Hartwell saw in her? It’s all about her looks.”
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