When Tara forwarded me Shawn’s social media post, I felt nothing. I used to see some redeeming qualities in Shawn, which was why I had stayed with him for so many years. However, those qualities seemed to have vanished completely after our separation.
I could not even remember why I had wanted to spend the rest of my life with such an irresponsible man. While lost in these thoughts, a hand reached out and took my phone.
I looked up to see Nathaniel studying the post on my screen After a moment, he met my gaze with a grin and asked, “Missing your ex?”
I quickly shook my head. Over the past month, I learned that the more casual his smile appeared, the more dangerous the gleam in his dark eyes became.
Before I could escape, Nathaniel grabbed me, threw me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing, and headed for the bedroom.
Later, as he stroked my hair, he asked, “Got any plans coming up?”
“Plans?” I repeated, thinking for a moment. “I promised Tara I’d go on a trip with her.”
Nathaniel nodded. “You haven’t booked the tickets yet, have you?”
“No, not yet.”
He continued, “Tomorrow’s Dad’s birthday. Would you come with me?”
I immediately realized he was talking about his adoptive father, Cedric Turner, who also happened to be Shawn’s grandfather. Shawn and his parents would definitely be invited to the birthday party, which could be awkward given my history with Shawn and my current marriage to Nathaniel.
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow at my hesitation. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I’ll go.”
We would have to face them eventually anyway.
The birthday party turned out to be a grand event. Not only was Shawn’s family there, but so were their business partners, too, and even the Iverson family showed up.
It seemed Nathaniel had already informed Cedric about us because when we arrived, arm in arm, he was not surprised at all.
Instead, he handed me a generous wedding gift and sighed. ‘It’s Shawn’s loss, not yours.”
When Shawn finally appeared, his expression froze the moment he saw me holding Nathaniel’s arm, looking every bit the picture of intimacy.
Nathaniel, dressed in a tailored suit that accentuated his tall frame and commanding demeanor, glanced at Shawn and spoke coolly, “What’s the matter? Forgot your manners?”
Shawn gritted his teeth, forcing himself to mutter, “Uncle Nate.”
Then, he turned to me, his voice full of disbelief. “Rowena, what are you doing?”
I met his gaze calmly. “Celebrating a birthday. What? Are you blind?”
