Chapter 32 Credit
93%1
+8 Pearls
Shawn’s eyes narrowed as he slammed the magazine onto the nightstand, and the next second, he kicked off the blanket and left the room.
I sneered. So, now he knew what rejection felt like.
That night, I slept peacefully. The next morning, the sounds of movement downstairs told me Mona and Beata had returned to work.
I changed into a graceful long dress and headed downstairs.
Shawn was finally spared from eating just bread–Mona had prepared a delicious breakfast early in the morning.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hartwell,” the two maids greeted me as they approached.
“Good morning.” I returned their smiles before taking a seat at the dining table and enjoying my bone broth.
Shawn glanced at me from the side but didn’t look directly at me.
“This afternoon, we should bring Yuna back. She can’t stay at my mom’s place forever. Otherwise, she’ll start thinking there’s something wrong with our marriage,” he said coolly while eating.
“Sure, but I’m a bit busy with work. Hubby, why don’t you go pick her up?” I immediately tried to dodge the task.
“We’ll go together.” Shawn wasn’t giving me an easy way out. “I’ll get Yuna a gift she likes, and you can just say it’s from you.”
“There’s no need for that kind of lie,” I said indifferently. “She’s not a clueless child. She understands a lot more than you think.”
“I’m just trying to help you-” Shawn’s expression darkened when he realized I wasn’t going along with it.
“No need. Marriage is about fate, and so is the bond between a mother and daughter. Just because she was born from me doesn’t mean she owes me a lifetime of devotion,” I said, grabbing two slices of bread and going out with my bag.
Shawn watched my back until my car disappeared from sight.
The moment I stopped trying to be the perfect wife and mother, I grew a tough, thorny exterior. Gradually, it became my shield.
Today was still all about the renovation of the drainage system. My memory was pretty good, so I borrowed design ideas from some of the most popular hotels I had stayed in before.
In 2014, the domestic economy was already booming, but it was still in its early stages. Managing this hotel well was just the beginning–I was going to learn about investments too. I knew when to buy stocks, when to invest in gold, and when an economic downturn was coming. I needed the ability to navigate risks and stay
resilient.
1/2
Apr
Chapter 32 Credit
* 93%
48 Pearls
With a finalized template, I could now get Shawn’s signature to approve the funding. But, of course, there was one more person I had to go through–Queena.
At the conference table, Queena sat with an air of authority, arms crossed as she studied the images on the projector. She raised an eyebrow. “The designs are impressive, Mrs. Hartwell. The design firm you found is quite forward–thinking. These styles are very unique at the moment, and I think they’ll work.”
Shawn was still giving me the cold shoulder. Sitting at the head of the table, his gaze lingered on the images before he finally asked, “Who’s the designer behind this? We might consider working with them again.”
The designers exchanged glances before one of the team leads spoke up. “Mr. Hartwell, actually, all of these designs came from Mrs. Hartwell. We just assisted with the drawings. Every element–the layout, the color schemes–was based on her vision. She’s the one who deserves the most credit.”
The room fell into a long silence.
Shawn momentarily forgot about our ongoing cold war, his eyes flashing with surprise as he looked at me. “You came up with all of this?”
I smiled. “I can’t draw, but I provided the ideas.”
Queena’s expression darkened slightly, though she kept up a polite smile. “The concepts are great, but I think some of the colors aren’t quite right. How about making a few adjustments?”
“No changes,” I said firmly. “These are our traditional color palettes–they create the most authentic and meaningful aesthetic.”
Queena’s expression stiffened instantly. She turned her face to the side, a faint smirk of mockery tugging at her lips.
Shawn glanced at her before shifting his attention back to me. “Maybe Ms. Tackman is just offering a well- intentioned suggestion. She’s traveled the world and has extensive experience-”
“Hubby, this is my project, and I’d prefer not to have outsiders interfering,” I said calmly. I knew Queena was impressive, but I had no interest in being overshadowed. Otherwise, once the hotel became profitable, everyone would assume the credit belonged to her.
There was no way I’d let her steal my credit.
My firm stance made Queena press her lips in silence.
Of course–she only needed to casually suggest a few changes. If I complied, she’d take all the credit for my hard work over the past few days. But if I refused, her little scheme would be for nothing.
19
M
