Chapter 3

Shawn's gaze swept over her striking figure, the implication clear. Kathleen's expression stiffened. She didn't want to back down—surely he wouldn't actually do anything here. She grabbed the hem of her sweater and started lifting it. Her slender, pale waist was revealed. The edge of her white lingerie stood out starkly under the black sweater. All of a sudden, he shoved her off with a look of sheer disgust. Kathleen nearly stumbled, but she managed to steady herself. She suppressed the joy surging and wore a look of innocent grievance. Shawn shot her a cold, sideways glance. She sure knew how to put on a show when money was involved. "Get out!" He hated hypocritical women like her. Relief surged through Kathleen like a tidal wave. Although her heart soared, her face was full of reluctant sorrow. "Darling…" "Get out!" he snapped again, clearly irritated. Without hesitation, Kathleen pulled down her sweater, grabbed her coat, and left. It wasn't until she stepped out of the club that she finally let out a long breath. Even without a coat, she didn't feel cold. Her heart was racing. It had been risky and intense, but she'd made it out unscathed. It could be considered a narrow escape. … The next day, she invited Chelsey out for a feast. "You've got guts," Chelsey commented, genuinely impressed. Kathleen hooked arms with her. "Fortune favors the bold." Chelsey had to hand it to her. "Aren't you afraid he'll actually go through with it?" "With that face, body, and family background, it's easy to be drawn to him." "What?" Chelsey frowned. "Actually, having a kid with him wouldn't be a bad idea." Kathleen added, "Our baby would definitely be gorgeous." Chelsey was speechless. Kathleen just grinned while Chelsey warned her not to push her luck. If he brought up divorce again, she should just go along with it. Being abused in a marriage was considered domestic violence. The law never really came down hard enough on the abuser in cases like that. "Alright," Kathleen replied, understanding Chelsey's concern. … After their meal, Chelsey looked a lot calmer. They wandered around the mall, laughing and chatting. Suddenly, Kathleen stopped in her tracks. Chelsey frowned, too. "It's that jerk." Kathleen didn't want to see Ryan again. It wasn't out of lingering emotions, but from sheer physical disgust. "Let's go," she said, tugging Chelsey in the opposite direction. Chelsey frowned. "What are you afraid of? I haven't even settled the score with him yet." She shook off Kathleen's hand and rolled up her sleeves, as if she were ready to fight. Kathleen grabbed her. "It's not fear. I just don't want to get anywhere near trash." Chelsey spat in agreement. "Right. Filthy scum." They turned and walked off. "Kathleen." Ryan caught up and blocked their way. Chelsey stepped in front of Kathleen, ready to confront him head-on. Kathleen pulled her to the side and faced Ryan directly. "What do you want?" "You've made my life a mess. What do you think I want?" Ryan had lost all his reputation. If he didn't teach her a lesson, he'd never be able to let it slide. As he spoke, he reached out to grab her. He missed as Kathleen dodged quickly. Frustrated, he turned rougher as he aimed for her wrist again. Kathleen slapped him hard across the face. The sound rang out loud and clear. Her palm even stung from the force. Ryan's face snapped to the side. He stared at her in disbelief, eyes burning with rage. "Kathleen, how dare you hit me!" "You should be glad I didn't have a knife." Her eyes were filled with loathing. "And if you touch me again, I'll come to your house and finish the job." She'd always been the type to push back harder when provoked. When someone crossed the line, she didn't care what the consequences were. During their brief relationship, Ryan and Kathleen had barely seen each other. Most of their contact was through calls and messages. She'd always been gentle and sweet. He thought she was just a pretty, obedient little girl. He never expected her to have such a wild streak. He couldn't help but think that Kathleen needed some taming. Chelsey pulled her away as a crowd had started to gather. At times like this, it was always the woman who got gossiped about. Ryan rubbed his stinging cheek and shouted after her, "Let's see how tough you really are!" … Not far away, Shawn had seen the entire thing unfold, including the part where Kathleen slapped Ryan across the face. Even Colin Howe was surprised by her guts. "That guy is Ryan Page, a famous, rich playboy. A few days ago, a video of him started making the rounds in their social circle. Looks like it was Mrs. Vance who filmed and leaked it." Ryan had already gotten the video taken down, but Colin had managed to retrieve a copy. He handed his phone to Shawn. Shawn watched the video in silence. Colin pursed his lips and put the phone away. "That guy is a scumbag. After what she did to humiliate him, he'll probably try to get back at her." "She should always consider the consequences before she acts." Shawn turned around. "If she gets payback, she brought it on herself." Colin fell silent. Should he remind Shawn that Kathleen was still his legal wife? He caught up to Shawn. "Mr. Vance, are you still going through with the divorce?" Just thinking about her fake, pretentious face made Shawn frown. "Yes." … Kathleen stayed at Chelsey's place until evening. Chelsey cursed Ryan again, while also worrying that he'd come after Kathleen for revenge. Kathleen didn't seem to be afraid. "Why not get your husband to help? You're his wife, after all. He can deal with Ryan." She still felt a flicker of fear whenever she thought of Shawn. He was seriously dangerous. "Do you really think I dare treat him like a husband?" "What are you going to do now? Do you want to just move in with me?" "He wouldn't dare touch me." Kathleen promised over and over that she'd keep herself safe before Chelsey finally let her leave. … The apartment was a modest two-bedroom that Peter had bought her before marrying his new wife. It wasn't big, but it was enough for her. Kathleen had just showered. She was lying on the couch and scrolling through videos when a string of numbers popped up on the screen. It was an unfamiliar number. Kathleen waited a while before picking up. "Who is this?" "Divorce at the courthouse at 8:00 am tomorrow." Hearing that voice, she glanced again at the number on the screen. Her first thought was how he got her number. Then again, it was probably easy for someone like him to find it. He was so relentless. Kathleen sat up cross-legged and pulled a wry smile. She spoke in a soft, delicate voice. "I married you because I intended to spend the rest of my life with you. I never planned to get divorced." "No divorce? So are you just waiting to become a widow?" Those words made Kathleen uneasy. She had thought about that at first, but hearing it from him felt completely different. "Don't say that. Medicine is advanced these days. Everything is treatable. As long as you stay positive and corporate, you'll certainly be fine." She really thought that way. No one could hear those words without feeling uneasy. Shawn stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, picturing the indifferent look. "If you don't want things to get ugly, you'd better be sensible," he warned. Kathleen could tell that he didn't accept this marriage. Neither one of them was a fool. Whether she was being genuine or not, he could tell. "I can't agree to this unless you talk to your parents. If they're okay with it, then I'll go along with it." There was some impulse in their marriage, but honestly, marrying anyone probably led to the same outcome. At least things would be simpler with him. Shawn's eyes narrowed slightly. Kathleen was indeed smart. His parents were thrilled about the marriage. There was no way they'd agree with it. Her scheming made him despise her even more. "Do you think it's that easy to go against me?" His low voice was full of displeasure. Kathleen still felt a flicker of fear. "It's late. Your health isn't good. Get some rest. We'll talk once you have thought it through or convinced your parents. Goodnight." She didn't give him a chance to reply and ended the call immediately. Putting down her phone, Kathleen let out a long breath. Staring at the number, she still saved it under "Shawn Vance". Setting down her phone, Shawn's pale, handsome face surfaced in her mind. He must be furious right now. In any case, she would just keep her distance. It was better to see him as little as possible. However, the next day, Judy sent someone to bring Kathleen back to the Vance residence.