My Actor Husband's True Face

Chapter 13

Shannon walked away from the old Caldrich family residence. The place was quite far from the city's bustle, making it hard to find a taxi, and even online ride services rarely accepted pickups from such a remote area. So, she had to walk a few hundred meters.

Besides, she wanted to be alone to walk and calm herself down.

What Magdalene had said had completely reopened her old wounds.

It made her feel, once again, that she wasn’t wanted by anyone. No matter how hard she tried to please people, to serve them, even to lower herself in front of them, in the end, she was never accepted anywhere she went.

No one wanted her!

Shannon wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks, but no matter what she did, they kept falling. She took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and crouched down.

“Why… why is it like this?”

Why didn’t anyone want her?

Why didn’t anyone accept her?

Shannon cried until no more tears would come out. She steadied herself with a deep breath and resumed her walk. Then she ordered a ride to go back.

The moment Becca opened the apartment door, the first thing she noticed was her friend’s red, swollen eyes. She pulled Shannon onto the sofa and started asking questions in rapid succession.

“What happened? Did Flynn reject you? It’s okay, we can try somewhere else. I know a lot of people in the industry.”

Shannon shook her head gently and replied, “No, it’s not that.”

Then she told Becca about her encounter with Max and Old Caldrich, though she left out what Magdalene had said. She... didn’t want to feel weak or ashamed.

Becca clenched her fists in anger and cursed, “That man is such an asshole! You’re better off without him!”

More curses followed, one after another, but unlike in the past, Shannon didn’t say anything to defend Maxime.

Thinking Shannon must be tired, Becca told her to go rest in the bedroom.

Not long after Shannon had gone to her room, an unexpected guest arrived. Becca, who answered the door, stared at the man wearing dark sunglasses and a face mask. Even though she had never met the famous actor Maxime in person, as her best friend’s husband, she had seen him plenty of times.

And she knew exactly who was standing at her door, but she chose to pretend otherwise.

“Excuse me, sir, I think you have the wrong address.” She tried to shut the door quickly, but the man was faster and stopped it with his hand.

“What do you want? Who are you? I can call the police!” Becca threatened, but the man didn’t even flinch.

“I will scream!”

Behind his sunglasses, Maxime’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a frustrated crease formed on his brow. But he had no other choice, he couldn’t give up now, not in the middle of trying.

“I’m Shannon’s husband, Maxime. I want to see her.”

Becca’s expression shifted, part surprise and part disbelief. She stared at Maxime with clear disdain and replied, “Hah? What? What did you just say? You think I’ll believe that? Sir, I suggest you leave before this turns into something bigger.”

Maxime’s irritation deepened at her words, and this time, he didn’t hold back. He shoved the door open with force, sending Becca stumbling backward, nearly falling to the floor.

At that moment, Shannon stepped out of her room, drawn by the commotion.

“Bee, what’s—”

Her words stopped abruptly when she saw Maxime pushing his way in. Her once-calm expression hardened into ice.

Shannon first helped Becca regain her balance before turning to Maxime, her voice sharp and unwavering, “Why are you here? What do you want now?”

“Let’s talk,” Maxime replied evenly, unbothered by Shannon’s tone or the coldness in her eyes, still red and slightly swollen from crying.

It wasn’t that he didn’t notice, it was just that he didn’t feel responsible for any of it.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Shan, are you sure?” Becca held onto Shannon’s hand, not caring that her lie from earlier was now fully exposed. No matter what, she had a low opinion of Maxime.

“It’s okay,” Shannon reassured her gently. Then she turned to Maxime. “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Maxime gestured for Shannon to walk ahead of him.

Considering Maxime’s current situation, Shannon turned and asked, “How about we talk in your car?”

Maxime nodded in agreement and took the lead, guiding Shannon to where his car was parked downstairs. Of course, it wasn’t the kind of car he used for work or leisure those were already well-known to the paparazzi and his fans.

Today, he drove himself, so the two of them could speak privately.

Once inside the car, Shannon didn’t bother with small talk.

“What do you want this time? You want me to tell Grandpa about our divorce myself? Fine. I’ll do it once he’s feeling better.”

Maxime didn’t answer right away. He just looked at Shannon with an unreadable expression.

And this time, Shannon didn’t feel her heart race the way it used to whenever Maxime looked at her. She was too disappointed to feel anything like that, too tired to keep holding on to any hope for this man.

When the silence dragged on too long, Shannon said again, “If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

“Wait.” Maxime stopped her just in time, reaching for her hand. But Shannon instinctively pulled away, clearly uncomfortable. She stayed, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Meanwhile, Maxime froze. For the first time, he felt what it was like to be rejected and by the same woman who once chased after him so desperately. His pride, not only as a man but as Shannon’s husband, felt bruised.

He turned away, clenched his jaw, trying to contain his frustration.

“Let’s make a deal.” He paused for a beat, his hand curling slightly into a fist before continuing, his voice lower now. “Let’s stay married. At least until Grandpa fully recovers.”