My Actor Husband's True Face

Chapter 10

Even though Flynn had spoken with such clarity and almost pleading, Shannon still couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't worthy. In the end, she chose to decline.

Flynn took a small step back, conceding for now, but not without saying, “Just think about it first. Don’t rush into a decision. We still have time before the contract negotiations, so I hope you won’t make the wrong choice.”

“All right… Thank you,” Shannon replied softly. Her eyes shimmered with gratitude, and for a moment, she looked truly radiant.

“Don’t thank me,” Flynn said, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Or I’ll feel like I’m nothing more than a stranger to you.”

Shannon shook her head quickly. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just… I really mean it. I had to say it.”

Perhaps to Flynn, this was nothing more than a professional courtesy, but to Shannon, it felt like a shard of light piercing through her darkness.

After lunch, they parted ways. Flynn had another appointment, and Shannon needed to prepare a formal proposal for the upcoming meeting. They exited the restaurant together, their conversation still warm and familiar, laughter gently weaving between their words.

But just as they stepped outside, a man sprang from a nearby car and grabbed Shannon's wrist roughly. He wore a mask, dark sunglasses, and a black cap pulled low over his forehead.

Caught off guard, Shannon instinctively tried to pull away, struggling against the sudden grip.

“Come with me.”

His voice was low, but unmistakable. Shannon froze, she recognized that voice.

Maxime.

Before she could say anything, Flynn reacted swiftly, his hand closing around Maxime's arm.

“Who the hell are you? This is a public place!”

Flynn’s tone was firm and sharp with warning. Maxime’s gaze turned toward him, cold and unreadable behind the glasses, his brows furrowing deeply. With a sharp motion, he jerked Flynn’s hand away.

“That should be my question,” Maxime growled, before shifting his focus back to Shannon. His voice dropped lower, every word laced with threat. “Come with me. Now.”

Seeing his aggressive behavior, Flynn was about to step in again, but Shannon stopped him just in time. She placed a hand gently on his arm, her eyes silently apologizing as she said, “It’s okay. I know him.”

Flynn gave Maxime a wary glance, then turned back to Shannon. “He’s not dangerous, is he? He didn’t threaten you?”

The question made Shannon feel a little embarrassed. She shook her head slowly and answered with a trace of uncertainty, “He shouldn’t be.”

“All right, then.” Flynn sighed and let it go, though he added, “If anything happens, don’t hesitate to call me, okay?”

“Um… thank y—” Shannon’s words stopped mid-sentence when she noticed the slight shift in Flynn’s expression. She swallowed the rest of her gratitude and gave him a faint smile instead.

She followed Maxime to the car, hesitating for a moment as she debated whether to sit in the front passenger seat or in the back with him. But the back door remained open after Maxime slid in, and she could feel the weight of his stare.

With no better option, she climbed into the back seat, but she made sure to leave a noticeable gap between them.

Maxime watched every movement, interpreting it in the way he always had, that this was just another one of Shannon’s plays to get his attention. Just like before.

Even the closeness he had seen between her and Flynn earlier… to him, it felt staged, like a carefully set trap meant to provoke jealousy or stir him into action.

He scoffed under his breath and turned away. He wouldn’t fall for tricks like that.

But then his grandfather’s furious voice echoed in his mind, along with the ultimatum: Find her. Bring her back.

The silence inside the car was thick until Shannon broke it with a quiet but sharp voice.

“What do you want? Have you signed the divorce papers? Is there something wrong with them?”

Her tone carried the same frustration she’d felt that night. Maxime turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing as he replied with dry sarcasm, “Divorce papers? Don’t talk nonsense and don’t threaten me with that if you’re just going to go crying to Grandpa in the end.”

Shannon was taken aback by Maxime’s sudden surge of emotion. She turned toward him, only to be met with a mocking gaze, one that mirrored the three long years she had endured in their failed marriage.

Even though she had braced herself for this moment, had constantly reminded and hypnotized herself that Maxime never loved her, that he might even have hated her, a dull ache still pierced her chest at the sheer cruelty of facing that truth again.

She lowered her head, gently biting her lip. After a moment, her voice came out slightly nasal, laced with restraint. “I… really did draw up the divorce papers and I’ve been waiting for your signature. It’s not a threat. And… I didn’t tell your grandfather anything.”

A dry chuckle slipped from Maxime’s lips. He had already removed his sunglasses and face mask, so his voice now sounded sharp and clear.

“You don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you? Think again, how many games have you played over the years?”

The sarcasm in his tone left Shannon silent. Because it wasn’t entirely untrue.

Back then, she had been naïve and foolish, far too immature. Whenever she felt hurt by Maxime’s indifference, she’d run straight to his grandfather with her complaints.

But that had only lasted through the first year of their marriage. No matter how much she cried to his grandfather, Maxime never changed. He only scolded her for being childish, taunted her with biting remarks, and ridiculed her feelings.

Shannon remembered those years vividly, how she slowly began losing herself, how she became quiet and overly cautious to the point of self-loathing.

Looking back now, she could admit it: she had been foolish. How could she have ever loved a man like Maxime?

Drawing in a deep breath, she steadied herself and said calmly, “Believe whatever you want. If the old papers are gone, let’s make new ones. I’ll call the lawyer—um…”

Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden force gripped her jaw, cutting her off.

Her wide eyes locked with Maxime’s, but she couldn’t understand why he was so angry.