My Actor Husband's True Face

5. Insecurity

No divorce?

Shannon stared at Maxime with a mix of emotions that were difficult to define. However, one thing was undeniable, the boiling frustration surging in her chest.

How could this man say something completely contradictory to his words just a few days ago at the family dining table? Back then, Maxime had firmly told Grandpa Caldrich that divorce was the best solution.

Those words were still etched clearly in her mind, every tone, every intonation.

And now? When it was just the two of them, this man rejected the very idea. As if those previous words had never left his mouth. Shannon felt utterly foolish for ever liking someone as infuriating as Maxime.

With a swift motion, Shannon shoved away Maxime’s hand, which was gripping her jaw. No matter how strong his grip was, she used all her strength to push him away.

"Isn’t this what you wanted? I’ve done everything you asked!" she cried bitterly, her face lowered, avoiding Maxime’s piercing gaze.

But her heart urged her to finish what she had started. With clenched fists and a trembling voice, Shannon finally let out the words that had been burning in her throat.

"Let’s get a divorce."

Maxime stood frozen for a few seconds after Shannon’s words echoed. His jaw tightened, and a flash of anger was unmistakable in his eyes.

But before a single word left his mouth, the sharp sound of high heels clicking broke the tense air, followed by the arrival of another person.

Both Shannon and Maxime turned toward the source of the sound, though their emotions were clearly different.

"Maxime?"

The soft voice made Shannon freeze in place. Katie. Of course. The woman who had always been a shadow in her marriage with Maxime.

Katie appeared in the doorway, dressed in an elegant dark gown, her face adorned with a small smile that seemed oblivious to the tension in the room.

Shannon felt an urge to laugh, and this time she did not hold back. Her soft laugh sounded hollow, almost mocking.

How amusing, she thought. I even bothered to feel upset about someone whose thoughts might always be with another woman.

"Sorry to interrupt," Katie said quietly, glancing at Shannon briefly before refocusing her gaze on Maxime. "I’ve been looking for you, you’ve been gone too long."

Shannon took a deep breath and straightened herself. She glanced at Maxime, but he only stared at Katie, seemingly hesitant to move.

Before leaving, Shannon took a small step closer to Maxime, her voice low and firm.

"The divorce papers are at home. I will be waiting for your signature."

She gave a thin smile, more like a sneer, before turning and walking out of the room without looking back.

As Shannon passed Katie, she did not glance at her even once, as though the woman’s presence was nothing more than a shadow in the background. However, deep within, an unrelenting sense of inferiority crept in.

Katie stood there, exuding an aura impossible to ignore, graceful, confident, and undeniably captivating. Every detail about her, from her soothing smile to her flawless appearance, emphasized the vast gulf between them. Katie was not just a naturally enchanting woman, she was also a renowned actress with the world at her feet.

And Shannon? She did not even know what she wanted to do with her life. Stuck between a messy past and an uncertain future, she felt like a directionless figure.

The disparity was so glaring that Shannon could not blame Maxime if he chose someone like Katie instead, someone who seemed like the complete package.

With that thought, Shannon quickened her steps, leaving the room behind, even as her heart grew heavier. Who would not choose Katie, after all?

Maxime did not follow her. Shannon had expected this, but the sharp ache in her heart was impossible to ignore. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she had given up on their marriage, her feelings for Maxime lingered, stubborn and unyielding, like the roots of a tree that could not be uprooted.

This love was not something trivial. She had carried it for more than seven years, enduring rejection after rejection, neglect after neglect. However, the feelings never truly disappeared. They only lay buried deep within her, forcing their way to the surface in moments like this.

Taking a long, heavy breath, Shannon began to walk, letting her feet guide her to where she knew Becca would be.

“Shan!”

A familiar voice called her name from a distance. Shannon stopped, turned around, and saw Becca hurrying toward her. Her friend’s face radiated genuine concern, something Shannon always appreciated, even if she found it hard to express in words.

“What are you doing here? Were you waiting for me?” she asked, slightly puzzled.

Becca did not deny it. She simply nodded with a small smile.

“I was worried about you,” she admitted honestly. “I did not want you to end up locking yourself in my apartment again, like before. It drives me crazy.”

Shannon gave a faint smile, one that felt more like a shield.

“I am sorry,” she murmured softly, though it was more directed at herself than at Becca.

Becca snorted, giving her a half-disgusted look.

“Do not smile if you do not mean it. You look awful.”

Shannon froze. The words should not have affected her, but strangely, they cut deeper than she had expected. Her faint smile vanished instantly, replaced by a blank expression.

“Am I really awful?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Becca let out a long sigh, aware that Shannon was in a fragile state.

“You are not awful, Shannon. If you were, why were so many guys chasing after you back in school?” she said, trying to inject a bit of humor into the conversation.

Shannon looked at her, doubt written all over her face. If I am not awful, then why has Maxime never noticed me? she thought. Why have I always been just a shadow, unseen and unacknowledged?

Becca studied Shannon’s changing expression closely. This time, her gaze turned firmer, more serious. “Listen, Shan. You know I’ve never lied to you, right?”

Shannon nodded slowly.

“The problem is not that you are ugly or unworthy,” Becca continued, her tone filled with sincerity. “You’ve just lost some of the spark you used to have. You are not living the way you did before, you are no longer as optimistic or vibrant as you once were. That is why I want you to change. Not for anyone else, but for yourself.”

Becca moved closer, taking Shannon’s hand firmly. “And honestly, Maxime is only holding you back. He does not deserve a place in your life if all he does is keep you stuck in the same spot.”

Shannon looked at Becca, her friend’s eyes brimming with conviction. The words slowly began to sink in, though a part of her heart still struggled to accept them.

Becca held Shannon’s hand gently but firmly, pulling her forward as she spoke warmly, “Come on, let’s go see Mr. Flynn.”

Her words were brief, but the look in her eyes conveyed everything. Becca did not need to elaborate, her intent was crystal clear. She wanted Shannon to rise above this despair and rediscover the spark that once made her shine so brightly.

Shannon looked down at Becca’s hand clasping hers. In that simple warmth, she felt unwavering support, like a lifeline at the edge of a crumbling cliff. For the first time in a long while, she felt that someone truly believed in her, even when she had lost faith in herself.

It was comforting to have a true friend.

Flynn sat surrounded by a few people, dressed in an elegant However casual suit. His relaxed posture exuded an approachable air, despite the commanding presence that inspired both respect and caution.

Becca had no trouble approaching the table. Flynn, who was sipping from a glass of red wine, lifted his gaze as Becca approached, offering a polite smile, one more formal than familiar.

When his eyes landed on Shannon, walking toward him with Becca, a subtle shift flickered in his expression, so brief it was nearly imperceptible.

However, the change was quickly masked by his friendly smile and impeccable manners. Flynn was a master of concealing his true thoughts behind a composed exterior, but for those who paid close attention, there was something different in the way he looked at Shannon, something that hinted at meaning far beyond mere politeness.