CHAPTER 377: CHAPTER 377: AS LONG AS YOU SAY YES

"Shaw, the water’s ready. Come up and wash."

Shawn Rhodes stood up, and as he was heading upstairs, Rowan Alder was bent over the wardrobe helping him find clothes.

"I have something I want to tell you," Shawn said, standing behind her.

Rowan stopped her actions, looked at Shawn’s somewhat serious expression, and asked puzzled, "What’s wrong, Shaw?"

Shawn: "My mom wants me and Susan Wilde to move back in."

Rowan’s expression froze: "Did you agree?"

Shawn: "You know my mom’s temper; once she decides something, I can’t change it."

Rowan lowered her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed: "So when do you plan to divorce her?"

Shawn: "She doesn’t want to divorce."

Rowan frowned: "What if you get divorced and your mom still doesn’t agree to you marrying me?"

Shawn: "Once the baby is born, she’ll accept you; my mom has always wanted a grandchild."

Rowan pondered silently and said, "When are you moving over?"

Shawn: "In the next couple of days."

Rowan reluctantly said, "Then go ahead, I will take care of myself."

Shawn lowered his eyes, and at that moment he didn’t know what he truly wanted.

He used to feel guiltless toward Rowan Alder and believed he could love her forever, but now he found his determination wavering.

He discovered he didn’t want to lose Susan Wilde as well.

In the day, Susan Wilde received a text from Shawn, initially thinking it was to scold her, but it was just a reminder to pack up her things.

He told her to move her stuff to the marital home tonight; Mrs. Rhodes was sending someone to pick them up on Monday morning to avoid suspicions.

Susan Wilde was extremely reluctant, but she didn’t dare to risk her sister’s education.

She packed her bags when she got home that night, and as she went out with her suitcase, she felt like she was heading to a one-way battle.

But thinking about it, under Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes’ watchful eyes, Shawn probably wouldn’t dare do anything to her.

"Beep—"

Just as she exited the building, the honking sound of a car pulled Susan Wilde’s wandering thoughts back.

She turned her head in the direction of the honking and recognized the car immediately.

She pushed her suitcase over, and Simon Rhodes rolled down the window, looking at her and asking, "Business trip?"

Susan Wilde shook her head: "Moving house."

Simon Rhodes: "Moving where?"

Susan Wilde: "In-laws’ place."

Simon Rhodes paused and said, "You have to go?"

Susan Wilde nodded.

Simon Rhodes lowered his eyes as if pondering something but seemed apprehensive and didn’t continue the topic, only asking her, "Where are you heading now? I can drive you there."

Susan Wilde shook her head, half-joking, "If you drive me there, you can wait at the door and maybe take me to the hospital."

Simon Rhodes understood her implication, although her tone was light-hearted, it left him feeling uneasy.

"Does he often hit you?"

Susan Wilde smiled and shook her head, unwilling to say more: "I’ll go first, and don’t wander around here aimlessly either."

As Susan Wilde walked away, she saw Simon Rhodes driving slowly, not too close or too far behind her, until she successfully got a cab, then he drove away.

Watching the car drive in the opposite direction through the rearview mirror, Susan Wilde’s eyes carried a hint of helplessness and loneliness.

She had been too indulgent with herself recently, getting close to Simon Rhodes, knowing it would lead nowhere, yet still finding joy in his presence.

If not for this marriage, she might have been braver, more proactive with Simon Rhodes...

As she took a cab back to the marital home, looking at the door lock, she was too lazy to try it and directly rang the doorbell.

Shawn opened the door and was surprised to find only him there.

As she changed shoes at the entrance, she noticed two pairs of women’s shoes that didn’t belong to her placed there.

Susan Wilde said nothing, quietly finding her old slippers from the cabinet to change into.

"The password is still the same as before," Shawn said.

Susan Wilde just paused her actions slightly, said nothing, and was about to take her suitcase back to her room when Shawn was one step ahead, taking her suitcase inside her room.

Watching his back as he carried the suitcase, Susan Wilde followed him, puzzled.

A voice said in her mind: No good deed goes unpunished.

Not knowing what Shawn was planning, Susan Wilde remained cautious at every moment.

Shawn put the suitcase in her room and left, saying, "The toiletries in the room are newly bought, feel free to use them."

Susan Wilde looked at him, seemingly thoughtful, and nodded.

Shawn glanced at her and then around the room, trying to gauge her reaction.

The room had been tidied by him that afternoon, hoping it would feel like home to her when she returned.

However, Shawn’s sudden kindness made Susan Wilde feel he had ulterior motives, and she felt uncomfortable.

"Shaw," Rowan Alder’s voice came from upstairs.

Shawn told Susan Wilde to "rest early," then turned and headed upstairs.

Susan Wilde locked her room door, looked around; the room was cleaner than she expected, ready to live in without much fuss.

She thought it would’ve been dusty since it hadn’t been occupied in a while.

Only staying for two days before moving again, Susan Wilde didn’t bother unpacking her suitcase, only taking out clothes for a change, showered, and then lay on the bed.

The balcony door was half open, the night breeze bringing in the scent of roses.

Susan Wilde couldn’t help but think of the man who used to frequently scale the wall to find her.

Thinking about it brought a smile to her lips.

Who would have thought the usually dignified, imposing eldest son of the Rhodes Family would climb a wall in the dead of night to find a girl.

"Ding—"

Speak of the devil.

A text came in from Simon Rhodes: Are you there?

Susan Wilde simply replied with an "Mm."

She wasn’t trying to be aloof but purposely acted cold toward Simon Rhodes, not daring to indulge herself by getting closer to him.

Simon Rhodes: He didn’t bully you, right?

Susan Wilde: He’s not as scary as you think; as long as I don’t provoke him, it’s fine.

Simon Rhodes: You have no idea how much I want to take you away. You’re not afraid, but I am.

Reading this not-too-long, not-too-short sentence, Susan Wilde’s heart raced.

A man who doesn’t usually flirt suddenly saying such sweet words is the most lethal.

Facing these words, Susan Wilde didn’t know how to respond.

While hesitating whether to pretend to sleep, another message popped up: Take care of yourself, call me if there’s anything.

Susan Wilde felt touched; Simon Rhodes’ kindness moved her, yet also made her feel somewhat powerless.

He added: You really don’t have to endure all this. Just nod, and I can take you away from this misery.