My Actor Husband's True Face

The Open Curtain [Part 2]

Maxime finally stepped into the villa, turning on the lights and flooding the space with a bright glow. As he moved further inside, his eyes swept across the living room, which had once felt vibrant with Shannon’s belongings scattered around. Now, it seemed empty and dull.

He walked to the table that was usually cluttered with letters, searching for the document Shannon had mentioned earlier. Quickly, he opened the desk drawer, rummaging through the stack of papers inside. But the divorce paper was nowhere to be found.

Maxime let out a sigh, though he was not sure what he had expected to find. Then, without realizing it, he let out a small laugh, a laugh more mocking than relieved.

“So, it was all nonsense?” he muttered to himself, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

He stepped back, narrowing his eyes. A thought flashed through his mind: perhaps Shannon was making it all up, trying to grab his attention in an unusual way, creating yet another piece of drama.

Irritation surged through Maxime. Maybe this was just one of Shannon’s cheap tactics to force him to care, to push him into acting like the husband she wanted him to be.

And that thought filled him with disgust.

“She must be plotting something,” Maxime murmured, his eyes darkening. He had almost … almost drowned in guilt over neglecting this marriage.

…

Meanwhile, at the nightclub.

Shannon could feel the atmosphere around her shifting, growing warmer and more pleasant. The tension and unease that had consumed her earlier were gradually being replaced by a sense of relief, helping her shake off the negative emotions lingering after her encounter with Maxime.

Becca had introduced her to several people at the table, but the one who caught Shannon’s attention the most was, without a doubt, Flynn. It was not just because she had known him before, it was because Flynn had always had a magnetic presence, commanding attention wherever he went.

It was not his looks that drew people in but his charming and approachable demeanor. And tonight, Shannon found herself in a position where she needed his help.

Earlier, she had been unsure and hesitant. But after her argument with Maxime and Katie’s sudden appearance, Shannon felt a renewed sense of clarity. It was time to focus on herself, to live her life more fully and pursue her dreams.

There was no need to waste energy trying to please irrelevant people or seeking approval from someone like Maxime, who clearly did not care for her.

Gathering her courage, Shannon approached Flynn and struck up a conversation while the others at the table were preoccupied with their own matters.

“Mr. Flynn, I am not sure if you remember, but we went to the same school. You were my senior,” she said with a soft smile.

As soon as the words left her lips, she felt Flynn’s gaze lock onto her. His stare was intense, catching Shannon slightly off guard. He leaned in slightly, closing the space between them.

Shannon could catch the faint scent of his cologne, and she held her breath, trying to steady herself. Finally, Flynn’s voice, husky yet warm, broke the moment.

“Yeah, you do seem familiar,” he replied, leaning back into his original position, though his tone remained soft and attentive.

Hearing this, Shannon let out a small, relieved smile and nodded. “We were also in the same club,” she added.

Flynn gave her a faint smile, his eyes as warm as ever, though there was an unmistakable glimmer of intrigue beneath his calm exterior.

“Hmm, that does ring a bell. In that case, how about we exchange numbers? Maybe we can set up a meeting to talk about work,” he suggested.

Shannon was taken aback by the unexpectedly quick development but felt a spark of excitement at the offer. Unable to suppress her smile, she fumbled slightly as she hurried to pull out her phone.

"Ah, yes, of course," she replied, trying to mask her nervousness. She needed this, needed Flynn's help to pave the way for her future, because deep down, she knew she could not do it alone.

The two of them ended up talking for quite a while, their conversation flowing effortlessly, oddly uninterrupted by anyone else. For a moment, Shannon glanced over at Becca, who was beginning to look unsteady at the nearby table. She sighed, realizing it was time to leave.

"Sorry, Flynn, but I think I have to go. My friend seems to have had a bit too much to drink," Shannon said apologetically. Unlike Becca, Shannon was not much of a drinker, she had only sipped a little wine earlier before switching to orange juice.

Flynn gave her a small nod, understanding her situation. "Of course. Do not worry, we already have each other's numbers. I will be waiting for you to reach out … about that job," he said casually.

Shannon smiled, nodding once more before making her way toward Becca to help her up. Becca leaned heavily on her shoulder, forcing Shannon to steady them both as they walked.

"Come on, let’s get you home," Shannon muttered, a hint of exasperation in her voice. If she were not staying at Becca’s place, she would not have bothered taking care of this drunken mess. A driver would have been a simpler solution.

They slowly descended the stairs to the nightclub’s main floor, Becca mumbling incoherently as they went. Shannon had to focus to keep herself balanced while supporting her friend.

Just as they stepped out of the nightclub and into the parking area, they had to pause for a moment. At the far end of the street, Shannon spotted a familiar figure, Maurice. Beside him stood another figure, a woman dressed in layered clothing, her face hidden by a mask and large sunglasses. It was not hard to guess who she was.

The pair seemed to be waiting for someone. Katie noticed Shannon first but gave her only a brief glance before turning back to her conversation with Maurice. However, Maurice followed Katie's gaze and locked eyes with Shannon. She had no intention of letting her pass unnoticed.

Maurice was well aware of Katie's feelings for her brother. And because he was infatuated with Katie, she was determined to help Katie win her brother’s heart. The first step? Getting rid of the unwanted sister-in-law.

If making Shannon’s life difficult was what it took to drive her to seek a divorce, then Maurice was more than ready to do exactly that.