My Actor Husband's True Face

Chapter 11

"Stop lying!"

Maxime clenched his teeth, clearly trying to rein in his fury, but his grip didn’t loosen in the slightest. His eyes blazed with restrained rage.

"You keep talking about divorce, yet you still run crying to Grandpa. Do you even know why I came to pick you up today?"

Maxime yanked Shannon’s face closer to his, their breaths nearly colliding.

"Because Grandpa forced me to!"

Shannon struggled to break free, landing a hard hit on his chest and muttering something unclear, her voice trembling with emotion.

Her resistance wasn’t feigned, in fact, in those eyes that used to harbor silent devotion, there was now a flicker of something darker. Hatred.

Ever since stepping into the entertainment industry, Maxime had honed the skill of reading people. To him, understanding someone’s nature through a brief interaction was as easy as reading a page from a book. Of course he knew what kind of person Shannon used to be passionate, impulsive, overbearing. That was precisely why he disliked her so deeply.

But maybe it had been too long since he really looked at her.

Because only now did he notice the stark contrast between the Shannon from three years ago… and the woman standing in front of him now.

With that chaotic thought lingering in his mind, Maxime finally released her and leaned back into his seat, deliberately placing distance between them.

Shannon gently rubbed her jaw, wincing at the dull ache. She couldn’t understand why Maxime always held such vile assumptions about her, judging her so cruelly.

In the past, she’d desperately sought answers. Why? What could she do to make him like her? But not anymore.

She was simply too tired of chasing. All she wanted now was to begin living for herself.

"I’ll tell Grandpa about the divorce," she whispered, not even sparing Maxime a glance.

"It’d be a miracle if you actually did," Maxime scoffed.

The rest of the ride passed in heavy silence until they arrived at the old Caldrich estate. Shannon stepped out of the car and walked ahead without waiting for him, her posture stiff with resolve.

Left behind, Maxime could only exhale sharply, silently cursing. Such a good little actress, he thought bitterly.

As soon as they stepped inside the house, the butler greeted them as usual. He raised an eyebrow subtly when he saw Shannon entering first, not even sparing Maxime a glance.

It was a far cry from how things used to be. In the past, whenever they visited the old Caldrich residence, Shannon would always walk behind Maxime, trailing after him like a quiet shadow, trying to match his long, hurried strides even when he clearly quickened them just to avoid her.

Their relationship hadn’t exactly reversed, but something about Shannon was undeniably different.

"Butler Giles, is Grandpa in?" Shannon asked, unaware of the flicker of curiosity in the butler’s eyes.

"The old master is resting upstairs. If you'd like to see him, I’ll take you there, Miss Shannon."

"Yes, please." She said nothing more, simply nodding her thanks before following Giles up the stairs.

Behind them, Maxime remained where he stood, watching the two of them ascend. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his expression, irritation, but he quickly pushed it aside and followed in silence.

He told himself it was only to make sure Shannon didn’t stir up trouble in front of Grandpa.

As they reached the door and Giles knocked, a voice thundered from inside, Old Caldrich’s unmistakable fury shaking the air.

"I’ve told you how many times, don’t you dare come see me unless you’re bringing Shannon home with you!"

Shannon flinched at the sudden anger, startled for a moment. But then her expression softened with guilt. She knew the old man wasn’t angry at her, he was angry for her. It was the concern of someone who had taken the place of family.

Her own parents had divorced when she was seven, each remarrying and building new lives without her. Afterward, she went to live with her grandfather in the countryside. But he passed away four years ago.

And it was out of an old friendship between her late grandfather and Old Caldrich that Shannon had ended up married to Maxime.

To her, Old Caldrich had become the only family she had left and she dreaded disappointing him. That was why, when she first drafted the divorce papers, she hadn’t dared tell him.

“Shan… is that you?” The old man’s voice, which had moments ago boomed with rage, softened the instant he recognized her presence.

Shannon gave a small nod and smiled gently as she stepped inside and took a seat on the sofa.

“How have you been, Grandpa?” she asked, as she always did.

“Don’t worry…” Old Caldrich patted her arm softly, the warmth of his wrinkled hand oddly comforting. “This body’s not what it used to be, that’s true. But as long as I can still see the two of you together, I’ll be just fine.”

The words made Shannon turn her face to the side, avoiding his gaze. She feared the guilt in her eyes might betray her.

But she forgot, Old Caldrich had long since come to see her as a child, one who had never been able to hide her emotions. From the moment Shannon walked in, he had sensed something was wrong. He was only waiting to confirm it.

And when Shannon looked away, her eyes unintentionally met Maxime’s. He was watching her with narrowed eyes and a mocking smirk playing at his lips.

She didn’t need to ask, she already knew exactly what he was thinking.

“I’m glad to hear you’re doing well, Grandpa. I’ll visit more often,” she said, once she’d collected herself.

“Oh, by the way… there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

She paused again, carefully weighing her words.

It had been easy to plan what to say when she wasn’t standing in front of him. But now… now it feels impossible.

“What is it? Did that ungrateful grandson of mine give you trouble again?” Old Caldrich’s expression shifted instantly as he shot Maxime a disapproving glare.

Patting Shannon’s hand affectionately, he added, “Tell me if he’s upset you or done anything foolish again. I’ll set him straight.”

Shannon quickly shook her head.

“No, it’s not that…” she murmured.

Then silence.

Old Caldrich had always been kind to her, far kinder than anyone else in her life. The thought of disappointing him with talk of divorce felt unbearable. But so did staying in a marriage that no longer held anything but silence and pain.

Just then, Maxime’s voice cut through the room like a knife. Cold. Detached.

“She wants a divorce.”

“What? What did you say?!” Old Caldrich slammed his cane against the floor and turned furiously toward Maxime.

And then, in a quiet voice, Shannon whispered, “He’s telling the truth, Grandpa.”

Old Caldrich turned, stunned, his eyes finding Shannon’s downcast face.

“W-What…?” The words caught in his throat. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came. A sudden gasp escaped him, and then clutching at his chest, his body crumpled.

Everyone in the room froze in horror.

“Grandpa!”