Chapter 7 He Really Had No Shame

Melanie was even more flustered than I was. She held my fingers tightly, afraid I'd lose my temper and make a scene. After all, Shawn was a well-known businessman. If a fight really broke out here and embarrassed him, my life wouldn't be easy afterward. "Tiffany, I'm sorry ... It's all my fault. I really didn't expect this ... " Melanie's lips trembled as she spoke. She was genuinely terrified that I'd lose control and do something reckless. I patted the back of her hand gently and said softly, "It's okay. Where's your table? Let's go." Melanie's eyes widened in disbelief. She didn't expect me to react this way. "Tiffany ... " She hesitated, as if wanting to say something. I smiled calmly. "I know who that woman is. She's his assistant, Queena Tackman. It's nothing." Melanie glanced over quickly, then let out a sigh before leading me to our seats. Maybe my outfit was too eye-catching because Shawn noticed me almost instantly. Not only did his gaze land on me, but several other men around the restaurant also looked up from their meals. Maybe it was that irresistible mix of innocence and allure I carried—a charm they couldn't ignore. "Mom!" Yuna suddenly stood up and called out to me. I turned and waved at her, but instead of running over right away, she glanced at Queena first. Queena looked over at me, then gently ran her fingers through Yuna's hair lovingly. She leaned in and whispered something to her, but Yuna still hesitated and didn't come over. Instead, Shawn stood up, took her small hand, and led her to my side. "What brings you here for dinner?" he asked, his gaze lingering on me for a moment. Melanie quickly straightened up, smiling brightly. "Mr. Hartwell, I invited Tiffany to dinner." Shawn gave her a polite nod before turning to Yuna and saying, "Greet her properly." Only then did Yuna reluctantly mumble, "Hi, Melanie," toward Melanie. Melanie's face lit up with a smile. "Yuna, you're getting prettier every day! And you've grown so much." Shawn glanced at me, then at Queena in the distance, before asking Yuna, "Do you want to go with your mom?" "No," Yuna answered without hesitation. "I'm already full, and Queena said she's taking me to win a plushie later. I want to go." Shawn nodded. "Alright. Tiffany, we'll be leaving first." I smiled and replied calmly, "Okay." He stared at me for a while, as if my response had caught him off guard. Maybe he had expected me to cause a scene, get upset, or question him about the woman with shoulder-length hair and their relationship. Shawn led Yuna back to their table, and soon, they left in a hurry. Melanie watched their figures disappear, then turned to me with a sympathetic look. "I'm so sorry, Tiffany. This is my fault. I shouldn't have booked a table here ... I never wanted you to see something so heartbreaking." "I'm not heartbroken," I said calmly. "Melanie, from this moment on, I don't care about Shawn anymore." "Huh?" Melanie was stunned, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. I took a sip of tea and said with a wry smile, "There's no point in trying to control a man who lacks self-awareness. If he wants to have fun outside, let him." "Tiffany, are you feeling hurt?" Melanie asked, her voice full of concern. "No, I just suddenly figured it out," I replied calmly. "All these years, I've been revolving around him and Yuna. To be honest, it's exhausting—like being a thankless caretaker. No matter how much effort I put in, it never made a difference." Melanie's eyes turned red with emotion, her heart aching for me, as if I were just putting on a brave face while suppressing my pain. "Don't look at me like that. You should be celebrating my rebirth." I lifted my wine glass toward her with a smile. "From now on, let's toast to my bright future, youthful beauty, and good health." Melanie was momentarily stunned by my words. After a while, with tears shimmering in her eyes, she raised her glass and clinked it against mine. "Alright, then here's to you. May everything go smoothly, and may all your wishes come true." I smiled subtly. As we ate, a staff member arrived with three expensive dishes. Melanie looked surprised. "I didn't order these. Did you make a mistake?" The staff member smiled and explained, "These were sent by Mr. Hartwell. The bill has already been settled." Melanie was taken aback and immediately turned to me. "Your husband sent them?" I picked up my utensils, took a bite, and said casually, "It tastes pretty good. Might as well eat. Don't waste it." Melanie chuckled. "Just one of these dishes costs as much as my entire meal." I hadn't expected Shawn to send us three dishes—maybe it was his way of easing his guilt by throwing money at the situation. He was still the same—thoughtful in his actions, never leaving room for mistakes. But his heart remained cold. A man like him seemed perfect on the surface, but the closer you got, the more flaws you discovered. Halfway through the meal, Melanie still found my reaction unusual. She looked at me and asked, "Tiffany, Yuna seems really close to that woman. If I didn't know the truth, I'd think she was her daughter. Are you sure you're not upset?" I wasn't surprised by Melanie's question. She had always known how much Yuna meant to me. Before this, I treated my daughter like a treasure, afraid she'd get even the slightest bump or bruise. I had very little breast milk, so I had a lactation consultant come every day, rubbing my skin raw in a circle, but still no milk. I cried while holding my daughter throughout my postpartum period, showing how much I cherished her. Melanie always said Yuna was my world, the one thing that kept me going. So, knowing that my world, my precious daughter, was being taken away by another woman, of course, it hurt. It hurt more than being cut with a knife. I took a sip of wine and shook my head. "Maybe before, but not anymore. She's six now, old enough to understand right from wrong and the complexities of relationships. I know she's not a kite I can keep tethered to my hand forever. One day, she'll fly on her own. If she's happier with someone else, then I'll let her go." "Tiffany, you've changed so much; it's like you're a completely different person." Melanie was startled by my words and sighed. "If your face hadn't stayed the same, I'd honestly think someone else had taken over your body—like your soul belonged to someone else." I laughed. "Sometimes, growth happens in an instant. That's just how it is. Melanie, we've known each other since high school, spent four years in college together, and now we're working in the same city. I haven't changed—I've just learned to see things differently." Melanie nodded. "Alright. No matter what, you'll always be my friend." After dinner, Melanie went to pay the bill, only to find out that Shawn had already covered it. She sighed and shrugged. "I was supposed to treat you, but in the end, your husband paid. I guess I'll have to make it up to you next time." I smiled and nodded. "Alright, next time." Since we had both been drinking and couldn't drive, Melanie stood by the roadside, trying to hail a cab. Just then, a black Range Rover pulled up. The driver, William, rolled down the window and said, "Mrs. Hartwell, Mr. Hartwell asked me to take you both home." Melanie immediately smiled mockingly. "Mr. Hartwell sure is thoughtful." I didn't respond. Instead, I opened the door, let Melanie in first, and then got in myself. On the way back, I closed my eyes to rest. Shawn's behavior was truly baffling. If he wanted to cheat, he might as well ignore me altogether. Yet here he was—taking his mistress out for dinner while still pretending to be attentive. He really had no shame.