CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 383: YOU’VE FALLEN FOR SUSAN WILDE

You can see the difference between Simon Rhodes and Shawn Rhodes from some small things.

If it were Shawn Rhodes, he might not be just rubbing his forehead in anger.

Although the area between her eyebrows still had a slight burning sensation, remembering Simon Rhodes’s actions, Susan Wilde inexplicably found it somewhat cute.

When he left, his face still didn’t look good, but he simply asked her to have lunch together at noon.

Susan Wilde sat in the office, recalling these moments, and couldn’t help but laugh foolishly to herself.

It seemed like the first time she had seen him look jealous.

...

Ronan Rhodes, following Shane Royale’s orders, took Landon Sutton to the hospital for a check-up.

Landon Sutton was quite cooperative, doing the routine physical examination and then going to the psychological clinic.

While Landon Sutton chatted with the psychologist, Ronan Rhodes went downstairs alone to get Landon Sutton’s test results.

In the elevator, he encountered a strange girl.

In that elevator ride, it was just him and the girl.

The girl looked to be a little over five feet three, with slightly curly shoulder-length short hair, wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of denim shorts, appearing as if she was still in college.

These all seemed ordinary, but what made Ronan Rhodes curious was that the girl kept her head down, covering her mouth, and even though she suppressed her sobs, Ronan could tell she was upset.

Seeing her holding a piece of paper that looked like a test report, Ronan asked out of curiosity, "What’s wrong?"

The girl looked up at him in surprise, her red eyes giving Ronan a moment of pause.

Even though she was just a stranger, seeing her with tears like pear blossoms in rain, Ronan felt a sense of pity.

The elevator doors opened, and without answering him, the girl wiped her tears and quickly walked out of the elevator.

Ronan was stunned for a moment before stepping out of the elevator.

She wasn’t Ronan’s type; most of the women he interacted with were mature and sexy, while such pure and fresh types weren’t his taste.

Yet for some reason, that fleeting glance lasting no more than two seconds, he couldn’t forget the girl’s face.

Perhaps it was just because she was crying so sadly, Ronan didn’t dwell on it and didn’t think they’d meet again...

At noon, Simon Rhodes came to Susan Wilde’s company to pick her up for lunch at a restaurant.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Shawn Rhodes, accompanied by Rowan Alder, at the restaurant.

Fortunately, with Rowan Alder there, Susan Wilde didn’t feel guilty about Shawn Rhodes.

Simon Rhodes booked a private room on the second floor, while Shawn Rhodes was in the room next door.

Susan Wilde didn’t feel uncomfortable because of Shawn Rhodes’s presence; she ordered her favorite dishes and inquired about Shannon Quinn and Vincent Rhodes with Simon Rhodes.

The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

However, the other room was a bit quieter.

The two ate quietly, with only the faint sounds of utensils clinking.

Rowan Alder glanced at Shawn Rhodes several times before speaking, asking him, "Are you upset?"

Shawn Rhodes: "Why do you say that?"

Rowan Alder: "Shawn, how many years have I been with you? Do you think I wouldn’t know if you’re hiding something in your heart?"

Shawn Rhodes: "You’re starting to doubt me again."

Rowan Alder: "You know better than anyone if you’re doubting yourself!"

Shawn Rhodes: "Let’s eat. I don’t want to fight with you."

Rowan Alder slammed her chopsticks on the table, saying, "Am I the one who’s forcing a fight? Do you really think I feel nothing? You always tell me not to rant aimlessly, but your actions make me wonder!"

Shawn Rhodes sighed, reaching to put some food in her bowl, "Alright, don’t get upset. If you have something to ask, ask clearly, and I will explain properly."

Seeing Shawn’s attitude improve, Rowan Alder tempered her anger a bit, picked up her chopsticks again, and said, "You’ve been very dismissive of me lately."

Shawn Rhodes: "Sorry, I’ve been overwhelmed with work."

Rowan Alder denied his explanation: "Is it just work?"

Shawn Rhodes: "What else do you think it is?"

Rowan Alder looked at him seriously, her tone not one of questioning but certainty: "You’ve fallen for Susan Wilde."

At her words, Shawn Rhodes paused his action of picking food, then looked down and denied, "Impossible."

Rowan Alder scoffed, "Shawn, don’t think I’m easy to fool or dismiss. I’ve been with you long enough to understand you. It’s not that you can’t divorce; it’s that you don’t want to, right?"

Shawn Rhodes lowered his head, absent-mindedly took a bite, used a napkin to wipe his mouth, and then looked at Rowan Alder to answer, "I said I would divorce, and I will."

Rowan Alder gave a cold smile, "It doesn’t matter if you like her. I can grant you that. Don’t act like this, wanting both. It makes no sense now!"

Finishing her words, Rowan Alder put down her chopsticks, stood up, took her bag from the seat, and left the room without looking back.

Shawn Rhodes didn’t chase after her, his gaze woodenly fixed on where Rowan Alder had been sitting.

He couldn’t tell if he was unwilling to admit it or too afraid to.

It seemed like he no longer had the same passion towards Rowan Alder that he had when he made those promises.

Even his kindness to her was merely out of responsibility and long-standing habit.

As for love, perhaps it was there, but faint.

After sitting in silence for a while, watching as Simon Rhodes and Susan Wilde walked out of the restaurant arm in arm below.

Simon Rhodes gentlemanly opened the car door for her, and they exchanged a few words with a smile before Simon went around to the driver’s seat to drive off.

As the car disappeared from view, Shawn Rhodes’s gaze remained fixed on that spot.

The recurring image in his mind was Susan Wilde’s smile in the sunlight.

That bright smile seemed to be the first he had seen, yet it wasn’t directed at him.

The way he and Susan Wilde interacted seemed fixed.

In front of him, she was reserved and guarded, even fearful.

When speaking to him, her words were always sharp, never calm or gentle.

Let alone smiling at him; if she did, it was always mocking or derisive.

Shawn Rhodes sighed, got up, and went downstairs to settle the bill.

This marriage might be destined to end because Susan Wilde wasn’t someone he could hold on to just because he wanted to.

He never imagined he would come to like such a stubborn girl.

She and Rowan Alder were completely different in character; he used to enjoy Rowan’s dependence on him, making him feel valued.

Yet now independent Susan Wilde offered an entirely different perception, perhaps stirring a conqueror’s spirit within him, always wanting to keep her by his side, hoping she’d like him a little.

However, doing so seemed to hold no real meaning anyway.