Chapter 6 I Wanted to Start Again

By the time Shawn came over, I was still in the shower. When I stepped out, dressed in my pajamas, I saw that he had also changed into his and was sitting on the other side of the bed, casually flipping through a book. The quiet rustling of pages was the only sound in the room. I sat down at my vanity, carefully applying my skincare products. As I went through my routine, my mind drifted, wandering to what was missing from my collection and what I needed to restock tomorrow. I spent over ten minutes tending to my skin when Shawn finally asked from the bed, "Are you done?" After smoothing on the last bit of moisturizer, I walked over and lay down. Only then did he set his book aside, switching off the main light and leaving just a dim bedside lamp on. The soft glow filled the room, adding a sense of intimacy. His hand reached over, resting on my chest. Then, in his usual refined and courteous manner, he asked, "Is this okay?" I had been waiting for him to say that. I replied seriously, "I'm a little tired today. Maybe next time." His hand, which had just reached over, immediately froze. After a few seconds, he pulled it back and said, "Alright." Sharing the same bed but lost in our own thoughts—I actually fell asleep with ease. Turns out that having nothing to dwell on really does improve sleep. The next morning, my alarm clock jolted me awake. Shawn was already gone. I stood there for a moment before getting dressed and stepping out of the room. Down the hall, I heard Yuna's spoiled, stubborn voice. "Daddy, I want you to take me. I don't want her. I haven't forgiven her yet." "Yuna, she's your mother." "But she hit me! Twice! What kind of mother does that?" Sharp-tongued as ever. Not that it surprised me. "She did it because she wants to teach you properly. I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt you. It probably made her feel bad too," Shawn explained. "Hmph! I don't care. I just want you to take me!" Yuna demanded, stubborn as ever. Shawn had always spoiled her, and he could never say no. In the end, he gave in. "Alright, let's go." Yuna grabbed her little backpack and happily followed him downstairs. I stayed by the door, listening. Once I heard them leave, I decided not to go down. They took their breakfast to eat in the car, and only then did I go downstairs. Watching their car disappear into the distance, I thought to myself, Those two are better off sticking together. The less they bother me, the better. I had two tasks today. First, hire two reliable maids. Second, find a private investigator to secretly gather evidence of Shawn and Queena's affair. This was all in preparation for the divorce and property division. In my past life, I never cared about money. I always had a few million sitting in my account, but my spending habits were minimal—I didn't buy luxury brands or indulge in expensive things. I played the role of the perfect wife, always thinking about managing the household wisely and only spending money where it was necessary. Now, I saw things clearly. Money was best kept firmly in my own hands—and the more, the better. My mom came with me to a housekeeping agency, where we conducted three rounds of interviews before finally selecting two maids who seemed like a good fit. In the afternoon, I took her shopping and bought her a bunch of things, leaving her so stunned she almost jumped in disbelief. On the way home, she kept complaining, "Tiffany, Shawn's money doesn't grow on trees! How can you spend like this? A scarf for 60,000? Is it made of gold? That's outrageous!" "Mom, just accept it. It's my way of showing you my love." I cherished my mother deeply—she was the most devoted and caring person in my life. If things played out like my past life, she wouldn't have many years left. I wanted to give her the best while I still had the chance. "Spending money like this isn't practical. I know you're wealthy and filial, but I'm too old for anything fancy now. Focus on Shawn and Yuna, build a strong marriage, and have a son soon. That's the best way to show your love for me." My mom, holding onto old beliefs, just wants an heir. In my past life, I had tried everything to get pregnant sooner—I took countless herbal remedies and visited numerous doctors. But since Shawn barely touched me, all my efforts were in vain. In the end, I never had another child. In this life, there was no way I would give him a son. "Mom, I already have a daughter. That proof I can have children," I said calmly. "Of course, you can have children," my mom said anxiously. "You and Shawn are still young, and he's the eldest son. Now that he's in charge of the company, people will talk if he doesn't have an heir. He must be hoping for a son." She was worried that without a son, my position wouldn't be secure. But I had no such concerns. If Shawn wanted an heir, Queena could take care of that. It wasn't my problem. All I needed was proof of his affair to push for a divorce and secure my share of the assets. I was young, attractive, and financially stable—I could definitely live a fulfilling life on my own. Not wanting to argue with my mom or upset her, I changed the subject. "Mom, are you leaving the day after tomorrow? Why not stay a little longer?" "I can't leave your father and brother for too long. As long as I know you're doing well, that's enough for me," she said. She had always been the type to worry—her whole life had been dedicated to the family. I knew her heart wasn't really here with me, so I didn't try to persuade her to stay. Before she left, I slipped a bank card with three million into her bag. Shawn hadn't been home for two days, and Yuna had vanished along with him—no calls, no messages. But I didn't bother to ask about their whereabouts. Unlike my past life, where their absence would leave me feeling lost and desperate, desperately calling to find them, this time, I felt nothing. Over the past two days, I got rid of all the clothes I no longer liked—some were donated, while others were tossed out. The same went for the shoes that lacked any femininity. I replaced them all with a stylish selection. The two maids had also moved in—one for cleaning, the other for cooking—instantly making my life more convenient. But I had no plans to waste my days in idleness. It was time to revisit my profession and start a new chapter. I was ready to get back to work. I studied hotel management at university, and my parents spent a lot on my hobbies like dancing and playing the violin. After getting married and having kids, I became lazy and stopped pursuing them. Now, I wanted to start again. I scheduled lessons with my old instructors and also decided to improve my Englarian. As a widely spoken language, mastering it would make traveling—or even moving abroad—much easier. The last time I gave Melanie a gold bracelet, she felt so grateful that she insisted on treating me to a fancy dinner. I accepted her invitation. "Tsk, tsk, this dress looks like it was designed just for you—gorgeous," Melanie praised without holding back the moment she saw me. They say purple carries a certain charm. That night, I wore a sleek, form-fitting purple dress—off-the-shoulder with a subtle open-back design. A delicate platinum necklace and elegant swan-shaped earrings added the perfect finishing touch. I had always known what kind of woman could captivate a man. And it seemed the pure seductress look was finally working its magic on me. As Melanie led me inside, she suddenly grabbed my fingers tightly. "Tiffany, let's go somewhere else." But I had already seen what she was trying to hide. Shawn was sitting by the window with Yuna, and right beside them was a woman in a beige business suit—Queena.