Chapter 57
Sean POV
I drove in silence, my mind still churning with the scene at the hotel.
Christopher's unexpected return, his arms around Angela, her tear-stained face - everything blurred together into a poisonous mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite name.
Angela sat beside me, her eyes fixed on the passing city lights. The silence stretched between us until she finally broke it.
"These past two years at Shaw Group, I've worked so hard trying to prove myself," she said, her voice carrying an edge I hadn't heard before. "I thought if I showed everyone my professional worth, they'd see past the 'Mrs. Shaw' title."
She turned to look at me directly. "But tonight made one thing crystal clear - without the Shaw family's protection, I'm nothing in this world. After all, I'm about to become the former Mrs. Shaw, aren't I?"
My grip tightened on the steering wheel, but I couldn't find the words to respond. Emily's earlier phone call kept replaying in my head:
"Everyone knows Shaw's president has already brought his new woman into the company. She'll be tossed aside soon enough, become the laughingstock of high society. The Wilsons are bankrupt - nobody will protect her anymore."
Luca's words, delivered through Emily's trembling voice, made my blood boil all over again.
The thought of him and his friends threatening Angela, treating her like some disposable trophy wife - it took every ounce of my self-control not to turn the car around and deal with him personally.
We pulled into the underground parking garage of our apartment. The engine's quiet purr died away, leaving us in a charged silence. When Angela reached for her seatbelt, I leaned over, my fingers brushing against hers as I moved to help her.
She drew back sharply, pressing herself against the car door as if my touch had burned her. The subtle movement sent a jolt of something - irritation? hurt? - through my chest.
"What are you afraid of?" I tried to keep my tone light, teasing. "Think I'm going to kiss you?"
Angela remained perfectly still, her face turned away, refusing to acknowledge either my attempt at humor or my presence. The silence stretched painfully.
I caught the lingering scent of champagne on her clothes, mixed with that familiar jasmine perfume she always wore. The combination made my head spin slightly.
"Grandma is waiting up," I finally said, breaking the tension. "But you should change first. The champagne smell is too strong."
Angela gave a slight nod, still not meeting my eyes.
Without another word, she slipped out of the car. I watched her retreating figure, wondering when exactly we'd become such strangers to each other.
As soon as she disappeared into the elevator, I pulled out my phone.
"Michael," I barked into the device, not caring about the late hour. "I need everything you can find on Luca's family enterprises. Every weakness, every vulnerability - especially their recent acquisitions."
Michael's pause told me he understood this wasn't just business as usual. "Right away, sir. And... the timeline?"
"Tomorrow." I ended the call and headed upstairs.
Luca was a dead man now, I swore to myself.
In Grandma's suite, Angela sat with her hand clasped in Grandma's grip while I stood by the window, watching their reflection in the glass.
"Angela, dear, are you alright?" Grandma asked, concern evident in her voice. "Sean told me you ran into some trouble?"
Angela's face transformed instantly, her previous distress completely hidden behind a warm smile. "I'm fine, Grandma. Please don't worry."
It was remarkable how different she looked now compared to just moments ago in the car. She'd mastered the art of wearing masks, I realized, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
"That boy," Grandma said softly to Angela, her eyes flickering to me, "when he heard you were in trouble, he ran out without even grabbing his coat. In this weather, of all things."
I busied myself with my tie, uncomfortable with the knowing look in Grandma's eyes. She'd always been too perceptive for her own good.
"Sean, darling," she continued, her tone taking on a familiar edge that made me tense. "I understand business requires certain... social obligations. Christina is a lovely girl, but you need to maintain appropriate boundaries with all women." She paused meaningfully.
"Especially now."
My hands froze on my tie, a cold sweat breaking out across my neck. Those words - "especially now" - echoed in my head like an accusation.
The weight of Grandma's gaze felt unbearable. How much did she know? About Christina?
About the whispers in the company?
About my own confused feelings that I couldn't even sort out myself?
I caught Angela watching me from beneath her lashes, her expression unreadable but somehow knowing. The slight curve of her lips held a hint of mockery that made my chest tighten with an emotion I couldn't name.
Here I was, the mighty CEO of Shaw Group, reduced to a guilty schoolboy under the combined scrutiny of these two women.
"Christina and I are just friends," I explained to Grandma, hating how defensive my voice sounded.
The words felt hollow even as I spoke them, especially with Angela's quiet presence beside me serving as a silent reminder of all my recent choices and their consequences.
Then I caught the sarcasm in Angela's eyes.
After leaving Grandma's room, I called out to Angela.
"Angela..."
She turned, her expression carefully blank. "What about it?"
"Luca will never touch you again. I promise you that."
Her laugh was sharp and bitter. "Your promises don't mean much anymore, Sean." She gestured between us. "This arrangement we have? It's temporary, remember? Soon enough, I won't be your responsibility anymore."
Something inside me snapped.
"You're my wife," I muttered under my breath.