CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 133 - 125: A Very Nice Story

Later, while he was in the restroom, Lara quickly filled her in. "He just got back from studying in Veridia. A total trust-fund baby! His family owns a bank, so now our family backgrounds are a perfect match!"

As she said this, Lara’s tone grew somber, and she lowered her gaze. Naomi Shaw’s heart ached for her. "Lara, can you really marry someone like that?"

Lara spoke with a nonchalant air. "What’s there to be scared of? It’s not like I expect him to love me, and he certainly doesn’t expect me to love him. After we’re married, he can still fool around all he wants, and I won’t care. That’s the main reason he chose me!"

Naomi felt it was a complete injustice to her. "But, Lara..."

Lara cut her off directly. "Naomi, after everything that’s happened, I’ve realized that it’s best for people with similar family backgrounds to be together. See? There’s no opposition from our families, and he won’t abandon me for his career or personal gain! We won’t pretend to have some extravagant love. We both know we’re getting together for our own mutual benefit, so there’s no chance of being hurt or deceived by love!"

"Lara, Ronan Joyce didn’t have it easy either..."

Although Lara hadn’t mentioned Ronan Joyce by name, Naomi could clearly sense her deep-seated resentment toward him. Lara let out a cold laugh. "Whether he had it easy or not has nothing to do with me anymore!"

Just as they were speaking, the man returned to his seat, and the two of them ended their rather heavy conversation.

After seeing Lara, Naomi stayed in Thailos for only one more day before heading back to her home country with Dylan and Joy. She hadn’t planned to stay long anyway, and since the domineering Julian Donovan, who always made decisions for her, wasn’t around, she simply had Arnold book her a flight home. Although everyone was reluctant to see her go, they knew she had a job in Wincastle and didn’t press her to stay, only reminding her to visit more often in the future.

The night before her departure, Julian Donovan called. The very first thing he said was, "You’re forbidden from seeing Sean Donovan when you get back!"

"How am I supposed to make things clear with him if I don’t see him?"

She sounded helpless. He immediately fell silent. For some reason, even without seeing his expression, she could sense his faint, underlying anxiety.

He finally softened his tone. "I miss you. I want to come back and see you right away, but I have some things to deal with here and can’t return to Wincastle just yet..."

"You’re not in Wincastle right now?"

she asked softly. She had assumed he had gone back to Wincastle for business. It turned out he wasn’t there. He just gave a noncommittal hum from his end. "Mm..."

He didn’t seem to want to elaborate, so she didn’t press the issue, simply saying, "You should get back to your work. It’s getting late. Get some sleep."

He wouldn’t hang up. Naomi knew what he was waiting for, but in the end, she said nothing and just pressed the disconnect button. ’He’s waiting for me to say I miss him too.’ But she didn’t. She wasn’t one to wear her heart on her sleeve. More importantly, she felt that just because she had agreed to give him a chance didn’t mean he had automatically earned her forgiveness.

During Naomi Shaw’s three days in Thailos, Sean Donovan didn’t call her once. And Naomi didn’t have the courage to call him. The thought of the decision she had made filled her with guilt toward Sean. After all, he had given her so, so much over the past three years... Finally, just before her flight took off, she mustered up her courage and called him to arrange a meeting for that evening. "Sean, I’m heading back today. Let’s meet tonight. I... I have something to tell you!"

"Alright!"

Sean Donovan agreed readily, then asked her in a gentle voice, "What time do you get to Wincastle? I’ll have a driver pick you up!"

"There’s no need to go to all that trouble..."

For some reason, faced with Sean Donovan’s tenderness, her whole body felt ill at ease. ’It’s not that Sean has changed; it’s me. My heart has already started leaning toward Julian Donovan in such a short time, and now I’m starting to feel a sense of aversion to Sean.’

Rejected like that, Sean Donovan’s voice held a trace of disappointment. "Oh, I forgot. You’re coming back with Julian Donovan, right? Is his driver picking you up?"

"He’s not coming back with me. He had to go somewhere else for something urgent. But he did arrange for a driver to pick us up, so there’s no need to trouble you..."

It had taken a great deal of effort for her to say that to Sean Donovan. His tone was very calm. "Anna, as an engaged couple, don’t you think your tone just now was a bit too distant?"

Sean Donovan’s words struck the most vulnerable spot in her heart, leaving her so distressed she couldn’t speak. ’That’s right,’ she thought. ’Sean and I are engaged.’

Seeing that she remained silent for a long moment, Sean Donovan didn’t press her further. "I’ll see you tonight."

He said only that and hung up. There in the bustling airport, she was so overcome with anguish that she almost collapsed to the ground and burst into tears. Dylan looked at her with concern. "Mom, what’s wrong?"

She shook her head, pulled herself together, and led the two children to their gate.

Throughout the flight, she was in a terrible mood. She had never imagined she would one day be caught in such a dilemma. The driver Julian Donovan had sent was already waiting at the airport. After he picked the three of them up, she instructed him to take her to Julian’s place first. For one, she needed to drop off Dylan. For another, she needed to get back the ring Sean Donovan had given her. A few days ago, hadn’t Julian said he’d left it at his house? She would get it so she could return it to Sean when he came over that night.

When Sean Donovan arrived that evening, she was just placing the last dish on the table. She had made a spread of all his favorite foods. It was a lavish meal, but it had the distinct feel of a last supper.

"Anna, you’re finally back. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you!"

Sean Donovan’s expression was no different than usual. He raised his arms as he spoke, moving to embrace her, but she took a slight step back, avoiding his hug. "Sean, I have something to tell you!"

After speaking, she turned to go to the bedroom to get the ring, but Sean Donovan grabbed her arm. "Anna," he said lightly, "before you say what you have to say, how about you let me tell you a story first?"

"Tell me a story?"

Naomi Shaw hadn’t expected Sean Donovan to say something like that and stared at him, puzzled. Sean smiled. "But Anna, before I tell the story, please allow me to eat my fill first, alright? You should eat your fill, too. Otherwise, how will you have the strength to bear what’s coming?"

Naomi grew even more confused, but she still sat down at the dining table with Sean Donovan. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat in a slow, deliberate manner. Naomi, however, had no appetite at all. For some reason, a terrible premonition was growing in her heart.