CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me

Chapter 213 - 169: Progressing Smoothly (Part 2)

But she still needed to get close to him, which required not only acting skills, but courage.

The meeting was boring and dragged on until the city lights began to glow outside. She was so hungry she could barely hold her pen. She hadn’t had much of an appetite that morning, skipped lunch entirely, and now dinner was being delayed as well.

But after the meeting ended, Julian Donovan just sat there, unmoving. If he didn’t leave, she couldn’t either, so she had no choice but to sit and endure. Sean Donovan didn’t leave either. The three of them just sat in the conference room, each lost in their own thoughts, until all the other attendees had gone.

Julian Donovan’s expression was grim, while Sean Donovan wore a faint smile. Their gazes met in mid-air. After a long moment, Julian Donovan shot Sean Donovan a fierce glare, then stood up and strode out. As if granted amnesty, she rose to follow him. Sean Donovan then rose unhurriedly after them.

She was so hungry she felt hollow, and her whole body was weak. Her stomach, empty all day, began to churn with sharp, cramping pains. Julian Donovan was walking so fast up ahead. As she endured the discomfort and quickened her pace to catch up, a wave of dizziness suddenly washed over her. She quickly grabbed a nearby pillar to support herself.

"Are you... all right?"

Sean Donovan’s polite yet distant question came from behind her, his tone probing. He couldn’t tell if her falling out with Julian Donovan was real or just an act.

Before she could answer Sean Donovan, Julian Donovan, who was walking ahead, heard the commotion and turned around. The moment he saw her leaning weakly against the pillar, he shot back like an arrow, pulling her domineeringly into his arms, his face filled with worry. "What’s wrong?"

He had tormented her all day, yet his anger couldn’t hold a candle to her vulnerability in that moment. His heart ached, and abandoning all resolve, he rushed to her side.

Naomi Shaw’s face grew even paler. Mustering all her strength, she pushed away the arm he had wrapped around her. She gave Sean Donovan a weak smile. "Mr. Donovan, could I trouble you to take me home?"

’If I was worrying about how to get close to Sean Donovan before, this is the perfect opportunity. By pushing away Julian Donovan’s embrace and hurting him deeply, I can reduce some of Sean Donovan’s suspicion.’

Julian Donovan’s expression instantly turned terrifyingly dark. His deep black eyes seemed to be on fire, burning with a furious flame that threatened to scorch her. He roared, "Naomi Shaw, have you forgotten your place? I’m your boss! I haven’t dismissed you for the day. Who said you could leave?!"

She gave a cold laugh and threw the files in her hand at him. "Julian Donovan, I’m your assistant, that’s right. But I’m done working for a boss like you who doesn’t give a damn whether his assistant lives or dies. I quit!"

With that, she dragged her weak body around him and headed for the exit. After his initial shock, Sean Donovan caught up and supported her as she walked.

Behind them, Julian Donovan stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. For a long while, he couldn’t process what had happened. He never imagined that the gentle woman he knew would throw files at him, much less accuse him of not caring whether she lived or died.

’Don’t I care if she lives or dies? If I didn’t care, would I have run over so worriedly to ask what was wrong? Wasn’t I just about to take her to dinner after the meeting to talk things over? With a single action, she cast me into hell.’

She had truly trampled his pride underfoot. He, Julian Donovan, had never been so humiliated in his entire life. His heart felt like dead ashes, utterly still and lifeless.

He slowly squatted down, picking up the documents one by one and crumpling them fiercely in his hands. He’d been in agony for so long, but now there was no reason to continue. Backed into a corner with nowhere to go, he might as well just let go.

After all, she wouldn’t feel the slightest bit of pain for him.

Sean Donovan’s bodyguard-slash-driver was already waiting outside. When he saw Sean Donovan helping Naomi Shaw out, a flash of malice and hostility crossed his face. Sean Donovan gave him an impassive glance, and only then did the bodyguard mask his emotions and come over to open the car door for them.

As soon as they were in the car, Sean Donovan called a restaurant and ordered soup dumplings and congee, telling them he would pick it up shortly. It was a place she had loved when they were together. Naomi Shaw gave him a grateful look. "Thank you!"

’She had to admit, Sean Donovan was a considerate man. During the three years they were together, he had often taken care of her with such thoughtfulness. But no amount of his pampering could compare to the profound, heart-pounding moments Julian Donovan had given her.’

Sean Donovan watched her, his somewhat cold eyes fixed on her. "You and him... how did things get this bad?"

She hadn’t expected Sean Donovan to be so direct. She thought, given his personality, he would try to probe her indirectly. However, she had already prepared an answer for this question.

"A fight?"

She laughed, a bit coldly. "I’m not fighting with him. This was my plan for revenge all along. If he hadn’t come looking for me, perhaps I would have just endured the pain. But since he showed up, I’m going to make him taste this same kind of pain!"

"I don’t think you’re that kind of cold-hearted person..."

Sean Donovan’s gaze remained glued to her face, searching for any crack in her facade. Unfortunately for him, she had rehearsed this scene in her mind countless times. Her gaze met his with a trace of bitterness. "Sean, after everything that’s happened, I don’t love anyone anymore. I only love myself. I’m the only one I can rely on!"

’She guessed this line would get to Sean Donovan. He had always lived a lonely life; deep down, the person he loved most was himself.’

Sure enough, a flicker of an unusual emotion crossed Sean Donovan’s eyes. Then, he curled his lips into a smile. "Anna, you know that with my condition, I need a caregiver with nursing experience by my side. If you don’t want to work at the hospital anymore, you can come work for me."

Sean Donovan stubbornly refused to call her by her real name, and she didn’t comment on it. His words were tantamount to extending an olive branch. She hadn’t realized her plan would proceed so smoothly; she’d thought it would take a lot more effort to get close to him.

Of course, she couldn’t agree too eagerly, or it would only make Sean Donovan suspicious. So, she thought for a moment and said, "Sean, thank you for the kind offer. I... I’ll think about it!"

"I’ll be waiting for your answer then."

Sean Donovan didn’t press her.

As they were speaking, they arrived at the restaurant where he’d ordered. The driver got out, retrieved the food, and returned. Sean Donovan took it and handed it to her. "Take this back for dinner. Where do you live? I’ll take you home."

She gave him the address of the small apartment she was renting, and Sean Donovan told the driver to head there.