CHAPTER 274: CHAPTER 274: IS THERE SOMEONE OUTSIDE?

Peach isn’t afraid of strangers, but she’s not very talkative, not because she’s introverted, but because she doesn’t speak much and her words aren’t clear.

When she says something, Shannon Quinn and Susan Wilde have to guess for a long time to figure out what she’s talking about.

Shannon suddenly regrets not bringing Leo along; otherwise, Peach would have some company. Shannon Quinn wonders what it would be like to see Leo interacting with a little sister.

Peach finished eating what she had in her hand and turned her head softly saying to Shannon Quinn, "I want the game."

"What game?"

Peach pointed at Shannon Quinn’s phone on the table, and only then did Shannon Quinn understand that it was the game on the phone.

She unlocked her phone and showed it to Peach, but it seemed she didn’t have the game Peach played. Even after searching, Peach kept shaking her head, then she pointed in Caleb Grant’s direction and said, "Daddy has it."

Saying that, Peach climbed down from the chair, and Shannon Quinn quickly took her hand and led her to Caleb Grant.

Landon Sutton and the others were chatting and drinking, and Peach ran directly to Caleb Grant’s side, saying with brief words, "Daddy, the game."

Caleb Grant handed his phone to Peach without hesitation, and Peach took the phone back to Shannon Quinn’s side.

Watching the child light up the phone screen and use her chubby fingers to enter the password, it was obvious she was quite familiar with it.

At first, Shannon Quinn didn’t pay much attention, but her peripheral vision caught sight of a girl on the phone screen. She thought she was mistaken and lowered her head for a closer look.

The photo showed the girl’s outline, barely visible, and she was wearing a white spaghetti strap nightdress, looking very slim. It seemed like a photo taken on a home balcony, or even secretly taken.

The scene was shot from a distance, without a clear view of the girl’s face, yet Shannon Quinn felt it seemed familiar.

She pointed at the girl on the screen and asked Peach, "Peach, do you know who this is?"

Without thinking, Peach excitedly replied, "Mommy!"

Shannon Quinn was stunned, growing increasingly confused about whether the girl in the photo was Sheila Yardley.

She glanced at Peach, tentatively asking, "So, Peach, do you know where your mommy is?"

Peach looked up at her, with a dazed expression, giving Shannon Quinn an answer. She just stayed still for two seconds as if searching in her mind for whether her dad ever told her this information. Obviously, she didn’t know, then she lowered her head and used her finger to tap the phone screen, starting to play the game.

She was probably overthinking it. Most likely, it’s just the figure resembling Sheila Yardley.

According to the child’s age, at this time Sheila Yardley should be abroad. Moreover, if she had a child, how could she go to another place all alone to develop her career?

But now, maybe it’s a psychological effect, Peach’s eyes seemed somewhat similar to Sheila Yardley’s, although more like Caleb Grant’s.

The gathering ended around ten o’clock at night, as most people still had families to return to, staying out too late wouldn’t be appropriate.

Landon Sutton had been drinking, so Shannon Quinn drove the car on the way back.

Susan Wilde came with Erin Bishop, and on the way back, she also rode in Erin Bishop’s car.

Erin Bishop dropped her off until the door before leaving, and Susan Wilde called the security guard to open the door. The guard said, "Ma’am, you’re finally back; Mr. Rhodes has been asking about you several times."

"Asked about me?"

"Yes, he was planning to call the police."

Susan Wilde chuckled, was this another game?

She walked into the living room, the lights were still on, but only Shawn Rhodes was there.

Susan Wilde glanced at him, then casually lowered her head to change her shoes.

"Where did you go?" Shawn Rhodes got up and walked in front of her to ask.

Susan Wilde bent over to change her shoes, then looked up to find him in front of her, took a half-step back and said, "Friend gathering."

"Friend gathering or lover’s rendezvous?"

"If you don’t trust me, don’t ask, okay? Guess whatever you want."

Dissatisfied with Susan Wilde’s attitude, Shawn Rhodes pulled her back as she was about to leave, "So bold now, huh? What’s this? Got someone outside?"

Susan Wilde laughed, "I don’t understand; even if I did have someone outside, why would I need to report to you?"

Shawn Rhodes sneered, "No need to report to me? You probably forgot the nature of our relationship."

Upon hearing this, Susan Wilde found it even funnier, "If we’re talking relationships, shouldn’t that woman in your room not be here either?"

Shawn Rhodes frowned, "Don’t talk about Laura, can you even be compared?"

"I can’t compare with her, but I can compare with you. I’d appreciate it if Mr. Rhodes treats everyone equally. If I don’t meddle in your affairs, you shouldn’t meddle in mine either." After saying that, Susan Wilde shook off his hand and returned to her room.

Shawn Rhodes was furious but couldn’t refute her words.

He didn’t really know why he was so angry, he switched off the room lights with a snap and headed upstairs.

Earlier, he thought Rowan Alder had already fallen asleep, but she sat at the bed’s edge, looking at him with a grievance.

Shawn Rhodes immediately seemed to change, his demeanor and tone softened, walking over to ask caringly, "Why are you awake?"

Rowan Alder pouted, "I noticed you were missing."

"I just went downstairs for a glass of water."

"Stop lying, you’ve been downstairs for quite some time now. You’re worried about that woman, aren’t you?"

Shawn Rhodes immediately sat at the bed’s edge, pulling her into his arms for comfort, "Why would I worry about her? If she died out there, wouldn’t that be better? Then we could get married sooner."

Rowan Alder anxiously asked him, "You’ll always love me, right?"

"Of course. Don’t overthink it, go to sleep now."

Rowan Alder lay down, but suddenly said, "Shawn, how about we have a kid?"

Shawn Rhodes paused his movements, puzzled, "Didn’t you say before that you didn’t want to have a child so soon?"

"But now, I want to."

Shawn Rhodes paused for a moment, lay down, and hugged her, explaining, "You’ve seen the situation now; having a child isn’t the right time. I don’t want you to have a child without having your rightful place; trust me, give me a few years. Once the company grows, I’ll divorce that woman and marry you. Then we can have a child, okay?"

Rowan Alder felt even more aggrieved, "Wait for a few years, without a rightful place and a child--what if you fall for that woman during this time? You kick me aside, and I’d be left with nothing."

"You really don’t trust me, huh? I’m saying I’ll marry you, and I will. I won’t let you down."

Rowan Alder said nothing more. Even though Shawn Rhodes treated her as well as ever, the existence of Susan Wilde was always her greatest insecurity and threat.

She had given her best years to Shawn Rhodes and feared that she’d end up with nothing. She couldn’t bear to watch her possessions slip away from her grasp.