Mr. Warner, Your Wife is Running Away Again!-Chapter 81: Have You Fallen Out of Favor?

Facing Audrey Sutton’s barrage of questions, Shane Warner responded with only two words: "Didn’t go."

He helped her take her suitcase out of the tent and loaded her things into his car.

Audrey watched as he skillfully packed up the tent, unable to resist asking him, "Have you been camping often in the past?"

"No."

"Then how come you seem so familiar with tents?"

"Once you look at these things, you get the hang of it. They all have similar structures."

Audrey felt her intelligence was once again scorned by him, and silently helped him pack up the tent.

Since Shane brought his own car, he didn’t ride with others.

Audrey knew Shane was busy with work, originally thinking that if he had something urgent, he could go home, and she could skip the dinner gathering.

However, Shane felt that these colleague activities were important, so he made an effort to join her, avoiding making her feel isolated among them.

At the hotel, two large round tables were booked, enough for more than twenty people at each.

One table for men, one for women.

Audrey sat together with Laura Yates and Vanessa Sterling, even though Shane wasn’t with her, there was nothing to worry about since he was at the men’s table.

They tried persuading Shane to drink, but he politely declined, citing his need to drive.

"Didn’t expect Third Young Master to be so approachable. We thought he wouldn’t consider joining us."

"That’s all because Audrey is here; it’s clear that Third Young Master truly dotes on her. Despite his busy schedule, he managed to find time to accompany her to such an event. Look at my partner, sitting idly at home watching TV and not bothering to accompany me."

Crystal Wilson chimed in with a laugh, "The freshness hasn’t worn off yet, since you’re newlywed. You and your old hubby are like an old married couple, eager to have some personal space for a few days."

Crystal’s words seemed fine on the surface, but Audrey felt that Crystal was implying that her and Shane wouldn’t last.

The underlying message seemed to be that Shane was just temporarily excited, and once the novelty faded, he wouldn’t prioritize Audrey anymore.

Audrey felt that Crystal wasn’t lacking in emotional intelligence; sometimes she deliberately said unpleasant things to irritate people.

Thankfully, after this event, she wouldn’t have to see Crystal anymore.

This was one takeaway from the camping trip.

She figured out what kind of person she was to avoid being deceived by her two-faced behavior in the future.

...

This August was dark for Audrey Sutton.

Within just half a month, Shane had gone on three business trips.

The time he spent at home didn’t exceed three days.

He’d typically return one day, swap out clothes in his suitcase, and leave the next.

Audrey had been staying in her dorm, thinking about Shane day and night.

Flora Lane, applying a face mask in front of a dresser mirror, glanced at Audrey lying listlessly on the bed over her phone, "With your husband not around, a certain delicate flower seems to be wilting without nourishment."

Barry Barrett, playing games on his computer, chuckled mischievously, "I suspect you’re about to drive! Show me your driver’s license for inspection!"

Seraphina Vaughn, applying nail polish, added, "Audrey, have you fallen out of favor?"

Audrey hastily denied, "Out of favor? He’s just on a business trip!"

"Just because he says it’s a business trip, doesn’t mean it isn’t. The destination might have a bud of tenderness waiting for him!"

Audrey paused, a bit unsure, "He’s not that kind of person."

Flora said, "A man turning bad has no warnings. Maybe before he left, he truly didn’t plan on betraying you, but once he arrived at that place, during lonely nights, if a charming woman appeared and proactively approached him... think closely. If you were a man, what would you do? Could you resist?"

While operating his mouse and keyboard, Barry remarked, "Our squad had a pretty sister recently heartbroken over a seemingly honest boyfriend who kept in touch daily, but it turned out he had several students outside. His phone was filled with suggestive messages she couldn’t even bear to read!"

Audrey grew more uneasy listening. Although Shane talked with her almost daily, what if he was deceiving her?

This trip lasted three days, not far; Audrey checked that by high-speed rail, it was only an hour’s ride. Coincidentally, tomorrow was the weekend.

After much hesitation, Audrey grabbed her phone and booked a ticket for tomorrow morning.

Flora, applying her mask, urged her, "Look at yourself now, lifeless every day. Hurry and wash your face; let me pamper you with a mask. If you don’t maintain your youthful glow, your husband might end up with someone else."

Audrey immediately jumped from the bed, showered, washed her face, applied the mask, then selected cherry-colored nail polish for Seraphina to help her apply.

She didn’t mention visiting Shane and dressed up beautifully the next morning, wearing a dress matching her nail color before heading out.

Flora styled her hair in temporary bouncy waves, and looking in the mirror, Audrey noticed a dramatic change from her usual style.

Seraphina remarked that her look resembled a fierce wife going after a mistress.

Audrey intended no such thing; she merely wanted to appear more mature, ensuring that others would immediately recognize her as Shane’s wife alongside him, rather than some young niece.

Sitting on the high-speed train, Audrey felt the one-hour journey dragged on.

Long enough for her mind to conjure a dramatic affair confrontation.

She called Faye Xavier, asking for information about Shane’s hotel, but kept her intentions hidden, stating she wanted to mail something to him.

When Audrey left the train station, Shane had messaged her half an hour ago, saying he was heading out for business.

Likely after lunch, he’d return.

Audrey booked a room at the same hotel, placed her luggage inside, then went to the café across the street, choosing a window seat on the second floor, ready to play detective.

Fully prepared, she couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing.

Was finding evidence of his misdeeds the only thing that would make her happy?

Women may feel conflicted in uncovering men’s secrets.

One side seeks clarity to avoid being cluelessly deceived, while another dreads facing the truth.

Suddenly, her milk tea lost its flavor, consumed by thoughts of what to do if he brought a woman back to the hotel.

She felt she lacked the courage for confrontation, possibly pretending ignorance and sustaining the marriage with denial.

Her mind even constructed reasons for him, rationalizing that as a successful man, extramarital flings weren’t surprising, and women outside were mere distractions; she was uniquely important.

Yet Audrey’s heart felt heavy with concern, hoping her fears wouldn’t materialize.