Shawn kneeled on the floor. He gripped the edge of the bed so hard that his fingers felt like they were about to snap.The severe pain in his chest happened too suddenly. At first, it was only a dense and mild prickling. However, the pain suddenly became severe. He sat hunched on the floor as he couldn’t get up.It felt like his organs were spasming.He should let go. He should stop staring at the photo. However, he was reluctant to look away. He couldn’t control his gaze. His brain couldn’t control his eyes.Even when the pain was almost unbearable, he still wanted to stare at the girl with a bright smile in the photo. He stared at that face stubbornly and tried his best to recall something.His mind was completely blank.When he tried to think deeper, the pain became so severe. He felt he could die any second. Shawn groaned in pain, and his vision blacked out. He had an extremely high tolerance for pain, but he could not stand the searing pain. He leaned against the bed, cove
“Spare me, Mom, please!” Shawn’s voice was weak. It was as if he had used the last of his energy. Shawn stopped in his path and held himself up with his arm on the wall. Letting out an agonized look, his brain hurt immensely each time he tried to recall something. His assistant saw him stop and asked, “Sir, are you okay?” Shawn rubbed his brow. “I’m fine.” He was certain that he had never called his mother “Mom”. He would never use such an affectionate term and had always referred to her as “Mother”. “What could have driven me to kneel before her and beg her to spare me? She must have done something to me,” he thought. Shawn’s expression turned cold. He stiffened his impassive face and ordered the bodyguards standing behind him, “Bring over more men tomorrow.” “Yes, sir.” Shawn sat in the hospital corridor for a long while. Hanging his head, he looked inscrutable. It was already 2 am, but he wasn’t sleepy and wasn’t planning on returning home to sleep.“I sho
Shawn squatted on the steps as cigarette smoke curled around him, shrouding his profile. He looked desolate. Zoey had never seen him look so fragile. Without approaching him, she stood beneath the lights.Shawn heard her footsteps and he slowly lifted his head to stare deep into her eyes. She couldn’t read his expression.He extinguished his cigarette, getting up slowly. "Do you know that I'm sick?" His question came out of nowhere, and Zoey was baffled. She thought his affectionate tone wasn't appropriate, considering their relationship. Could he have finally remembered the flaws of his character? Zoey thought he was acting weirdly."I know." Zoey stood a distance from him. "Did you just remember?" Shawn's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't tell her he only remembered chaotic fragments, which were worse than dreams. At least dreams were clear and cohesive, like a story. The disjointed snippets were making him dizzy."Yeah.""That's good," Zoey said casually. She added
Laurence couldn't refute what Zoey said, so he pursed his lips and remained silent.Zoey wasn't trying to shift the blame onto him, but he was indeed the cause of everything.She remembered many things he used to tell her, such as not to overestimate a man's sympathy and that even a remorseful and heartbroken man had his limits.She'd only stated the facts with no intention of attacking him. She was the one who'd gotten beaten and needed to wear a hearing aid. Her words couldn't harm him in the slightest."Zoey." After a long silence, Laurence suddenly called out to her.She didn't respond. Her thoughts always wandered far away in moments like these. Suddenly, she remembered something. Laurence rarely called her by her name. He used to call her "Miss Jenner", which drew a clear line between them."It seems that you've learned something from being around me." Of course, Laurence knew all too well that his words were hurtful sometimes. It was just the way he was—merciless and sharp
It wasn’t that Zoey held a grudge. Rather, it was because she didn’t hold grudges that Sarah had been able to bully her into dust.She remembered everything that Laurence had said. She’d listened to those words in a daze at the time, her heart breaking into pieces that could never be mended. She'd never thought she could one day say those words back to him.At the time, Laurence believed his words made sense. “There would be no love involved.” It lessened a lot of trouble. He didn't forget; he just didn't like her then. When he'd blurted it out, he hadn't felt anything, not even when he saw her face turn pale. All he'd done was tell the truth, and the truth hurt. He'd thought she was weak for not being able to accept the truth. Now that it was his turn, he finally understood how it hurt. "Move.""No." No one was better than Laurence at being childish. Afraid she might say something hurtful again, he sealed her lips with a kiss.Zoey's struggle was futile. Even when her nails cu
In fact, Zoey didn't know how much chance she had to win the divorce case against Laurence. However, she couldn't just give up without even trying because of fear.In the past, Zoey had given in to him partly because she'd needed his money and had been willing to pay the price of love.She'd been so pitiful back then, without any money or love. She'd seen him as her savior, desperately trying to make him show her love, even if it was just a tiny bit. Yet it had only given him the opportunity to harm her recklessly.In high school, Zoey had even tried to imitate Sarah like a fool. She'd mimicked her fashion and her sunny and easy-going personality. However, imitators usually ended up being the butt of jokes, and Zoey's attempt had been no different. She'd failed to pull it off and had come across as awkward and unconvincing. Many things couldn't be faked, and she couldn't mimic the natural, carefree charm that Sarah possessed.As a result, Zoey had no idea how to connect with stra
An unequal relationship and unequal feelings. No matter how involved they got with one another, there wouldn’t be a good ending. Zoey’s unrequited, obsessive love for him, which she never revealed, had ended with that slap of his. She didn’t want to continue this fight any longer.“If you need me to continue acting as your wife in front of your parents, I will, up until our contract ends. But I will get that divorce certificate now.”“I don’t have it.” Laurence shoved his hands into his pockets, answering her bluntly. “Sue me.”Zoey didn’t get worked up; instead, she nodded in acknowledgment. “Alright, I understand.”Sometimes, Laurence thought Zoey was recklessly stupid, even though she was smart and obedient for the most part. Going to court wouldn't be easy. It would take time, energy, and effort, and Laurence wasn’t the type to give in when forced. If there was something he didn’t want to do, he wouldn’t do it. But Zoey was right; he wouldn't let her go after the contract ends
Zoey understood all too well that Laurence was now slightly interested in her. It was this tiny spark of interest that stopped him from agreeing to the divorce. Perhaps in Laurence's eyes, she was the ungrateful one who didn't know how to appreciate what she had. She was at a loss for words and couldn't even argue with him. Laurence's tone sounded indifferent when he asked her to sue him. Sometimes, Zoey felt like Laurence was the most infuriating man in the world.She'd never seen Laurence behave this way with anyone else; he was only this snide and relentless with her. In a way, he was taking advantage of her good temper.Zoey was frustrated as well. It was difficult for a person's personality to change overnight. She'd imagined herself returning victorious and dominating, but fantasies could only remain fantasies.Her career and relationships were a complete mess."Laurance, I have always been a boring person." No, I don't think so. I find you quite adorable," Laurence laz