My Actor Husband's True Face

Chapter 17

"What are you really hiding from me?" Shannon repeated her question, gazing at Maxime with a look that was both curious and a little stubborn.

She may have been emotionally oblivious these past few years, but that didn’t mean her brain wasn’t working or that she lacked sensitivity, especially since Maxime had been acting so strangely lately.

"Don’t look at me like that," Maxime said with a touch of resignation, though his face showed no trace of unease or guilt, making it hard for anyone to read him.

He gave a light shrug and added, "Weren’t you about to leave? Come on, I’ll drive you before you’re late."

Shannon refused. "There’s no need, I’ll just call—"

But Maxime cut her off again, this time with a softer, more gentle tone, "Please, just cooperate with me this time."

That simple “please” genuinely startled Shannon. Her gaze on Maxime shifted slightly. She never thought she’d see the day when he, the man who always seemed so untouchable, would say the word please to her. It felt oddly funny, almost like a fantasy suddenly brought to life.

Before Shannon could respond, Maxime spoke again.

"It’s for Grandpa, okay? Aren’t you even a little curious why I’ve been staying home the past few days? Even Anne and the others, too? It’s all because of him."

With a deep sigh, Shannon glanced at the watch on her wrist and reluctantly gave up on calling a ride. She accepted Maxime’s offer.

They walked toward the waiting car. Maxime opened the front passenger door for her, playing the gentleman, gesturing for her to get in. But Shannon wasn’t moved in the slightest. She walked straight to the back seat and slid in there instead.

Maxime frowned in irritation, but in the end, he just sighed and clenched his jaw as he got into the driver’s seat.

Before they pulled out of the driveway, Maxime asked, "Where are you headed?"

"Just drop me off at the intersection," Shannon replied indifferently.

"No, I’m taking you all the way to where you need to be."

"I said the intersection. I’ll take a taxi from there."

There was no response from Maxime, but the car didn’t move either. Shannon looked up from her phone and met an intense stare through the front mirror. Maxime looked like he was on the verge of losing control.

Although a flicker of fear passed through her, she didn’t show even a hint of backing down. Shannon still refused to give up her destination. After all, she didn’t get into Maxime’s car because she wanted a ride from him.

She was ready to get out, and Maxime looked just as ready to bare his fangs, when a knock on the car window interrupted them.

Maxime lowered the window slightly, and Anne’s voice echoed faintly, “Is something wrong? Is the car not working?”

“No issues,” Maxime replied, rolling the window back up and starting the engine.

As the car pulled out of the driveway, Maxime asked again, “Tell me your destination. I’ll set up the navigation.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Shannon replied curtly, “The intersection.”

Through the rearview mirror, Maxime glanced again at Shannon, who sat quietly in the back seat, though quiet didn’t mean calm. Her body was tense, her hands gripping her bag tightly. Her gaze out the window masked a trace of guardedness. She was silently bracing herself in case Maxime lost his temper again, especially now that no one else was watching.

“I didn’t know you could be this stubborn.” In the silence, Maxime’s familiar mocking tone rang out, followed by, “Don’t play hard to get with me.”

Shannon replied, barely hiding her impatience, “Think whatever you want.”

She didn’t feel like explaining herself. She had been misunderstood too many times before. One explanation wouldn’t change the mind of a man who always thought he was right, it would only drain her energy.

So she stayed silent, eyes fixed on the passing streets, tuning him out completely. It wasn’t until the car reached the intersection that she finally spoke.

“Here is fine.”

“I told you I’m taking you to your destination. Either give me the address, or I’ll just keep driving around.”

“Maxime, have you lost your mind?” Shannon’s voice rose slightly. “Please don’t mess around. Today is important to me.”

At that moment, their eyes met through the rearview mirror. The stubbornness between them faded, if only for a second. Maxime was good, too good, at hiding his emotions, so his gaze remained composed. Still, for some reason, he brought the car to a stop.

The truth was, he felt guilty. Even though he hadn’t fully come to terms with his mistakes in the past, at some level, he knew he had been too cold to Shannon.

When the car stopped at the side of the road near the intersection, Shannon immediately stepped out, but not before quietly saying, “Thank you.” Her words caught Maxime off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless.

The guilt he felt just seconds ago was suddenly replaced with irritation. He clicked his tongue and muttered, “What does she think I am, her driver?”

From inside the car, he watched Shannon flag down a taxi and get in. A few moments later, the taxi drove away, and Maxime started his car again and left.

Shannon was in a bit of a rush, so she randomly hailed a taxi without paying much attention to her surroundings. Even though there was still enough time before her appointment, she wanted to arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes early. First impressions mattered, after all.

She arrived at Astra Studios, a film and television production house, and hurried over to the front desk to announce her appointment.

The receptionist was friendly and polite, she had already been informed of Shannon’s arrival.

“Miss, the meeting is scheduled for exactly 10 o’clock. You may wait in that room over there.”

Shannon glanced toward the room the receptionist pointed to and nodded, thanking her before making her way there. She also sent a quick message to Flynn, letting him know she had arrived and was currently waiting.

There was no reply, but she didn’t dwell on it. He was probably busy.

Sitting quietly and waiting, Shannon mentally reviewed everything she had prepared, even the exact phrasing she had memorized. She was so focused that she didn’t notice when several people entered the room.

One of them recognized her and greeted her,

“Shannon.”

Only when she heard her name did Shannon realize she wasn’t alone anymore. She turned instinctively toward the voice and saw Katie, along with several people she didn’t recognize.