Chapter 2

"They didn't check into a room?" Shawn asked, surprised. He did not expect that answer.

He knew the Grand Hyatt Hotel had a restaurant on the second floor, but he hadn't considered that possibility.

"Yes, sir. They came in not too long ago and didn't check in," the receptionist spoke gently with a smile.

Could they have just come for dinner?

Shawn heaved a sigh of relief, but a sneer soon appeared on his face. Nevertheless, that intimate interaction he saw outside the hotel wasn't a figment of his imagination.

A married woman lied to her husband and openly held another man's arm in public. That was betrayal.

Shawn couldn't accept it.

"Thank you."

He turned towards the elevator. Compared to when he entered, his footsteps were much lighter.

-

The Grand Hyatt Hotel, second floor, Italian restaurant.

The restaurant was quiet. The elegant sound of piano flowed like a clear spring. There weren't many guests, and most were talking quietly.

By the window, Crystal sat opposite a handsome young man.

"Crystal, the Stewart Corporation isn't entirely yours. If you join my project, your $10 million investment will at least double. Your net worth will definitely increase again."

The man said with a smile, his voice full of confidence.

Crystal gave him a faint smile, then swirled her wine glass and raised it. "Thank you for the opportunity, Frank. Cheers."

The man smiled, picked up his glass of red wine, clinked it with Crystal's, and downed half of it.

"I finally managed to get some time alone with you, so let's stop talking about work. We've known each other for a long time, and you know how I feel about you. So, what do you say?"

The man said playfully, looking Crystal up and down, his sincere gaze holding an elusive desire.

Crystal smoothed her hair and smiled. "You're teasing me again. You're Frank Truman. Beautiful women throw themselves at you. Weren't you out with that girl called Sally or whatever her name was a few days ago? You're still seeing her, right?"

"Haha, an ordinary woman like her can't compare to you. Seriously, if you divorce that bookworm, I'll tell my dad right away that I'm going to marry you!"

By "bookworm," he naturally meant Shawn.

Shawn spent all day at the library. Even at home, he was reading most of the time. He was definitely a bookworm.

At the mention of Shawn, the smile on Crystal's face froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

She lowered her head and took a sip of red wine before saying, "Stop joking, Frank. Even if I get divorced, I'm not good enough for you. Your family would never agree. Let's get back to the investment..."

"How do you know if you don't try? Don't tell me you can't bear to leave that bookworm? I don't believe you love him that much."

Crystal wanted to change the subject, but the man interrupted her. He leaned forward and looked her straight in the eye, exerting pressure on her.

"Love...?"

Crystal thought for a moment, then looked at the man and said softly, "If you raise a bird for many years, you can't help developing feelings for it, let alone a person."

"But a bird can't help you. It might even be an obstacle on your path. Be my woman instead! You'll have the chance to become a billionaire!"

The man wouldn't give up. He reached out and held Crystal's fair hand.

With a slight frown, Crystal subtly withdrew her hand. Just as she was about to speak again, she saw Frank staring past her, looking stunned.

Curious, Crystal turned around, and her expression changed instantly. She remarked in surprise, "Shawn, what... what are you doing here?!"

Behind her stood Shawn, who had just arrived at the restaurant.

Seeing the two of them dining like they were on a romantic date, Shawn felt a pang of pain. He asked coldly, "What's the problem? Am I interrupting?"

"Were you following me?" Taking a deep breath, Crystal asked.

Shawn could hear her displeasure. He scoffed. His opinion of the woman dropped even lower.

She'd been caught red-handed messing around with another man, and she had the nerve to ask if he was following her. He snorted. "Crystal, I never thought you were this kind of woman. Are you going to work late in someone else's bed tonight?"

The blunt words made Crystal's expression change again. Many people in the restaurant were already looking over and whispering among themselves. Some even took out their phones to record.

The man sitting opposite Crystal didn't say anything. He leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed and looked on with a smile.

"You've gone too far! I'm here to talk business. It's not what you think. Go home. I'll explain to you when I get home later." Crystal was embarrassed. Her tone was uncompromising.

She had a strong personality. For the past five years, Crystal had basically been the one to make all the major decisions in the household. Shawn rarely got to voice his opinion.

Therefore, in this situation, she took control like she had always done. She tried to send Shawn home to quell the situation.

But this time, she would fail.

Shawn reached out and grabbed her arm without any hesitation. "Come home with me."

She wouldn't budge. Instead, she questioned, "Shawn, what are you doing?!"

Shawn's heart sank as he felt Crystal's resistance.

Suddenly, a hand landed on Shawn's shoulder. The man said with a smile, "Hey, buddy, forcing a woman isn't cool, you know?"

The man was acting superior, as if he'd won.

After all, Crystal refused to go home, so she was clearly siding with him.

But what happened next exceeded everyone's expectations.

Shawn was currently like a powder keg on the verge of exploding. The man's action happened to light the fuse!

"Who do you think you are? Get lost!"

Without hesitation, Shawn kicked the man hard in the stomach.

Shawn was tall and muscular. Aside from reading, he also liked working out, so he had decent strength. He also didn't hold back with that kick.

The man grunted and slid almost five meters on the smooth floor.

"Are you out of your mind?" Crystal exclaimed.

Everything happened so fast. No one expected Shawn to attack the man.

After kicking the man, Shawn turned his cold gaze back to Crystal. "Go home or stay here. Choose."

With that, he turned and walked out of the restaurant.

Crystal stared blankly at him.

She had never seen Shawn like this.

He was violent and cold.

For the past five years, Shawn had kept a low profile.

Her impression of him was deeply ingrained: a gentle and considerate man whose eyes always brimmed with unwavering love.

Without realizing it, Crystal had labeled Shawn as timid.

But Shawn had shattered that image, forcing Crystal to see him in a new light

When Shawn disappeared from sight, Crystal felt a shiver run down her spine.

She stood up, feeling deeply uneasy. Shawn's behavior was making her nervous.

-

After walking out of the hotel, Shawn lit a cigarette.

Two minutes later, the sound of high heels came from behind.

Shawn turned around and smirked. "Not staying to keep your lover company?"

Crystal was a little mad. "Can you not be so dirty-minded? It's not what you think. I was just having dinner with him. I told you I had to work overtime because I was afraid you'd misunderstand. You were way too impulsive earlier. Do you know who he is? Do you know how much trouble you're in right now?"

"Hah, he's my wife's lover, and I have to worry about offending him?"

"What are you talking about? Don't spout nonsense. I'm your wife, can't you trust me a little?"

"Before today, I trusted you unconditionally... Alright, let's talk about it at home. This isn't over."

Shawn discarded his cigarette and walked to his Audi.