CHAPTER 341: CHAPTER 341: LOVE AND TORMENT

Mrs. Rhodes asked again, "Where is Skylar?"

Shawn found an excuse and replied, "She has some company matters to attend to and has to work overtime. She can’t make it today."

Mrs. Rhodes looked Shawn up and down skeptically and asked, "Did you two have a fight?"

Shawn didn’t reply and walked straight into the house.

Mrs. Rhodes followed behind, nagging, "I keep telling you to control your temper. Skylar is such a gentle girl. How can you have the nerve to argue with her? Can’t you give her a little leeway?"

Shawn turned a deaf ear.

"Hurry up and call Skylar to appease her and have her over! How can you leave a girl upset like that?"

Only then did Shawn speak up, "Mom, she’s really busy and can’t come."

"I’ll call and check."

"She might be in a meeting now, so please don’t disturb her. I’ll bring her over another day."

Seeing that Susan Wilde hadn’t come, Simon Rhodes, sitting on the sofa, started to worry a bit about her.

He was aware of what happened last night and also knew with Shawn’s temper, he must have had a quarrel with Susan Wilde.

He came tonight to ensure Susan Wilde’s safety, but didn’t expect her not to show up.

After the dinner ended, Simon Rhodes drove out intending to find Susan Wilde, only to find Shawn’s car following behind.

He didn’t change direction, and both cars came to a stop, one behind the other, by the roadside below the building.

Simon Rhodes opened his car door and walked over to Shawn’s car. Shawn pushed open the door and laughed, "I was wondering why she suddenly moved. Turns out it was to make it easier to meet with you, Uncle, in secret?"

Simon Rhodes: "I am pursuing her, but she’s never agreed, because she doesn’t want to betray her marriage, even though she knows there’s no real meaning in this marriage."

Shawn mocked with a smile, "Even if my marriage with her is just a formality, what you’re doing, Uncle, is not right, is it? No matter what, she’s still my wife now. How can you blatantly steal her from me?"

Simon Rhodes: "When you ask her to accompany others for drinks, didn’t you think she’s your wife? You can send her to other men, so I guess you wouldn’t mind me taking her away? Besides, I’m much more capable than Miles Lowell. You might as well just give her to me. I could offer you more benefits."

Shawn’s smile slowly froze: "I’m not after benefits, I just want you to watch helplessly as something you like is destroyed by others. The more you like her, the more I’ll torment her!"

Shawn sneered wickedly, "Even if you both like each other, so what? She still can’t marry you. And when your relationship is exposed, people will only say that the esteemed head of Sterling Group is shameless enough to be a homewrecker."

To Simon Rhodes, these words didn’t seem to pose a threat. Instead, he turned the threat back on Shawn: "If I withdraw investment and halt the new district development project, for me, it’s just a negligible loss. But for you, with your entire company’s finances tied to it, you should understand the loss better than I do."

Shawn snorted coldly, "Yes, Uncle, you’re rich enough not to care about this small sum of money. But do you think doing this will save her? Ha ha ha, if the company faces any crisis, I’ll take it out on her first!"

Simon Rhodes’s voice remained calm, "I have always disliked using underhanded or shady means, and I don’t wish to involve any innocent people. However, if you insist on hurting her, wherever she ends up bruised or injured, I’ll have Rowan Alder return it to you twice over. I, Simon Rhodes, mean what I say."

Shawn’s smile froze, as if surprised that the usually calm and peace-loving Simon Rhodes would consider using Rowan Alder against him.

Indeed, Rowan Alder was his Achilles’ heel.

Simon Rhodes added, "To my knowledge, if I’m not mistaken, Rowan Alder is currently carrying your child. If you hurt Skylar, she might only suffer some superficial wounds, but the same harm befalling Rowan Alder, she may not withstand it. So, consider the consequences before you act, unless... you never wanted that child in the first place."

Shawn: "Despicable."

Simon Rhodes chuckled softly, "The appropriate measure for the appropriate person."

Shawn’s phone rang, presumably it was Rowan Alder calling. Before he answered, Simon Rhodes turned and walked away, saying, "I’ll say it again: if you and Skylar get a divorce, I’ll give you more benefits, much better than partnering with the Wilde Family. You could then have a peaceful life with the woman you love and the child she’s carrying. Think it over carefully."

Watching Simon Rhodes walk into the building, Shawn answered the ringing phone in his hand, trying to mask his tone, "What’s up, Laura?"

On the other end, "Why aren’t you home yet?"

Shawn opened the car door and got back inside, "Didn’t I tell you I was going home for dinner? I’m already on the way, will be back soon."

"I want chestnuts."

"Okay, I’ll buy some."

The conditions Simon Rhodes offered were tempting indeed, beneficial to everyone, but he just didn’t want to go along with it.

He wasn’t sure whether he was opposing Simon Rhodes or because he didn’t want to let that woman go.

Susan Wilde had just finished her bath when she heard the doorbell ringing.

At this hour, it couldn’t possibly be Erin Bishop, so it could only be Shawn.

She glanced at the door but didn’t immediately go to open it.

Instead, she returned to her room unhurriedly and changed into relatively safe and conservative pajamas.

While changing, hearing the doorbell stop ringing, she assumed he had left.

Still cautious, Susan Wilde checked the monitor by the door for a look.

Only then did she see who was standing outside. He was looking down at his phone, fingers gliding over the screen.

Soon after, Susan Wilde heard the phone on the coffee table ringing, already guessing he was the one calling, prompting her to open the door.

Simon Rhodes hung up the phone in his hand and smiled at her, "I thought you weren’t home."

She only opened the door halfway, not intending to invite him in, and stood by the door asking, "What do you want?"

Simon Rhodes looked her over and didn’t notice anything unusual, "Just a bit worried about you. He didn’t trouble you, did he?"

Susan Wilde’s eyes flickered, recalling some unpleasant memories, but she just shook her head and answered Simon Rhodes, "No."

Simon Rhodes: "That’s good."

With that, silence filled the air for several seconds, both looking at each other without speaking.

Susan Wilde couldn’t stand it anymore. She pursed her lips and said, "I’m going to rest, please leave."

Simon Rhodes nodded, stepping back, "Goodnight."

Susan Wilde didn’t respond. Watching him turn around and leave, she closed the door.