CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 30: Scolding Her Again

The woman in purple looked shocked and embarrassed when she saw who was standing before her. Naomi Shaw glanced at Julian Donovan; his face was a mask of fury and pain. Lowering her gaze, she saw that his hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides, the veins on their backs bulging with anger. Her heart aching, she reached out and placed her hand over his.

After a moment of awkwardness, the woman in purple averted her gaze, took the arm of the middle-aged woman beside her, and tried to leave. The other woman, however, deliberately stopped, pulling the woman in purple into a possessive embrace. A mocking smile spread across her face as she looked at Julian Donovan and spoke.

"Julian Donovan? You ruined my plans, you little brat. I haven’t even settled the score with you, and here you are, delivering yourself to my doorstep!"

Yes, the middle-aged woman was Wendy Lowe, and the "plans" she mentioned referred to the time Julian Donovan had saved Ian Shaw.

"If you think you’ve got what it takes, then bring it on!"

Julian reined in his emotions, replying with a cold, defiant smile. He wouldn’t show any weakness. Over the past few days, he had learned to hide his true feelings and exercise restraint when facing an enemy.

Wendy Lowe wasn’t angered by his words. Instead, she burst out laughing. But as she did, her eyes, hidden behind a pair of glasses, roamed incessantly over Naomi Shaw. Unsettled by the stare, Naomi flinched and shrank behind Julian. She couldn’t believe this woman, who looked so refined, could be so repulsive.

Naomi’s reaction, however, only seemed to make Lowe’s gaze darken. She took a step forward, brazenly reaching out to touch Naomi’s face.

"That little thing behind you looks pretty innocent. How about you let me have some fun with her, and we’ll call it even... AARGH!"

"Not every woman of mine is someone you can touch just because you feel like it!"

After speaking, Julian let go of Wendy Lowe, who was sweating from the pain. His gaze then fell on Juliet Jennings, who was standing nearby. A flicker of obvious embarrassment crossed Juliet’s face. His words, about how not every woman of his was for Lowe to touch, felt like a sharp slap. He was clearly mocking her for her past infidelity.

’When had he become so harsh? He had always doted on her, spoiled her, and never held anything against her.’

So, even though she had been the one to leave him, Juliet Jennings had never been treated so harshly by him before. Her beautiful eyes filled with aggrieved tears, and her gaze was full of bitter resentment.

Once free, Wendy Lowe snarled viciously at Julian Donovan,

"Julian Donovan, you just wait! I’m going to settle all our scores at once, new and old!"

Julian merely curled his lip into a cold sneer. Enraged, Wendy Lowe roughly dragged Juliet Jennings away.

Watching Juliet stumble away as Lowe dragged her off, a flash of pain crossed Julian’s eyes. ’Juliet, I didn’t mean to be so harsh. I was just so angry at Lowe’s provocations that I lost my head. Of course I know you only left because you didn’t want to drag me down with you.’

As he started toward the elevator, he realized he was still holding Naomi Shaw. He had instinctively pulled her into his embrace to shield her from Wendy Lowe. She looked terrified, her small face drained of all color.

Her fragile state, as if she couldn’t withstand the slightest harm, stirred a feeling of annoyance in him. He started to lower the arm he had around her, but she clutched tightly to his sleeve, her eyes filled with terror.

"Julian, that woman... she was terrifying..."

Her long eyelashes trembled, as if tears were about to spill over. Any thought Julian had of shaking her hand off vanished. He hated that he was always so easily moved by her pitiful expression, but in the end, he glanced down at the small hand clutching his sleeve, took it in his own, and led her into the elevator.

Naomi only began to feel some warmth return to her body as the heat from Julian’s palm seeped into her hand. She had been truly terrified. Tyson had protected her so well growing up that she had never been harassed so crudely before.

Inside the elevator, she noticed he was holding her hand, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Julian could only pretend to ignore her girlish bashfulness. When they reached her room, he let go of her hand and gave a quiet order.

"Stay in your room this afternoon, and don’t go wandering off. I’ll be back tonight to take you out for dinner."

Naomi murmured her agreement and went into her room. Julian’s room was across the hall. He went in, dropped off his luggage, and immediately went out again.

That afternoon, Julian went to see his mother, Jean Coleman. He had called her to let her know he was safe after he arrived in Thailos. He hadn’t dared to tell her that he had embarked on a path of no return, saying only that his school had sent him to Thailos for a study program. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Afraid Jean Coleman would sense something was wrong, he kept their meeting brief, left her some money, and then departed. He swore to himself that he would become invincibly strong, strong enough to make Charles Donovan look at him and his mother with new eyes, and strong enough to make Wendy Lowe pay for everything she had done.

Naomi did indeed stay in her room all afternoon. Although she longed to go out and explore the city where he had once lived, she was too scared after the incident with Wendy Lowe.

When Julian returned that evening, he took her down to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Naomi had no appetite and picked listlessly at her food, prompting Julian to frown.

"Why are you eating so little?"

"I don’t have an appetite..."

She bit her spoon, looking at him timidly. ’How could she possibly have an appetite with her father in his current condition?’

Julian put down his chopsticks, his expression hardening.

"You lose your appetite over a little thing like this? Life is full of separations from sickness, old age, and death. If your father really is gone one day, are you going to follow him to the grave?"

’Ian Shaw’s condition was spiraling out of control. It was only a matter of time. It was better to prepare her now, to keep her from completely falling apart later. Besides, she’d been spoiled rotten by Ian Shaw and Tyson. She was psychologically fragile and couldn’t withstand the slightest blow. She cried at the drop of a hat.’

His words stung her. She lowered her head, forced herself to rally, and continued to eat. ’She understood everything he was saying, but she was so afraid to face reality that she always forced herself not to think about it.’

Seeing this, Julian picked up his chopsticks again. "Tomorrow morning, you’re going back to Thailos," he said as he ate.

’When he went to the hospital this afternoon, he’d overheard that Sean Donovan had people looking for her. He hadn’t expected Sean to take such an interest in her.’

"What? But I thought we were going to wait together until after my father’s surgery was over?"

Naomi looked up, her bright eyes blinking with confusion. "Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?" Julian retorted.

’In just a single day, she’d caught the eye of Sean Donovan, the future heir to Donovan Hospital, and provoked Wendy Lowe, a major player with a foot in both the legal and criminal worlds. He couldn’t understand what was so captivating about this frail girl, who was all skin and bones. At best, she was just delicately pretty.’

His words made Naomi bite her lip and fall silent. ’She had no idea Julian had seen her joking with Sean Donovan. She assumed he was talking about the incident with Wendy Lowe by the elevators. But she hadn’t provoked that woman. She had just been standing there.’

Julian added,

"Besides, it’s not very convenient for you to be the one taking care of him. I’ve already asked Mrs. Sommers to come."

’Ian Shaw was her father, but he was still a man. Certain aspects of his care would be awkward for her.’

"Then... are you going back tomorrow, too?"

Naomi didn’t object further, only asking him quietly. Julian took a sip of wine from his glass.

"I’m staying here to wait until after my godfather’s surgery. I’ll see how things are before I go back."

"But..."

Naomi hesitated, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to say what she was thinking. ’She wanted to tell him she was scared to go back alone and ask if he would go with her. She had never traveled far, having never even left Qindale. But really, what she feared most was that if he stayed here, he would cross paths with Juliet Jennings again.’

Just as this thought crossed her mind, he abruptly stood up.

"Finish eating and head back to the room by yourself. I have something to take care of."