Jessica fell silent, her expression sullen. Becoming Shawn's wife and taking his money would happen eventually—impatience wouldn't get her anywhere. For now, she would endure.
It had been a while since Shawn had returned home during the day. He stood in the familiar villa, suddenly feeling a long-lost sense of novelty and interest. Perhaps this was what people meant when they said absence made the heart grow fonder.
"I'm back, Elle." He called out for Noelle as he walked past the garden and into the living room. The plants in the garden were neatly trimmed, and the interior decorations were the same as always. There wasn't a speck of dust in sight, so the tasteful furnishings were on full display.
It was all thanks to Noelle's hard work in maintaining the home. He wanted to hold her and thank her for her efforts, but she was nowhere in sight. So, he approached the cleaners who dropped by to clean the house for a few hours daily and asked, "Where is Noelle? Has she gone out?"
She sh
