My Actor Husband's True Face

The evening sky, tinged with fading orange hues, signaled the approach of family dinner time. Shannon stared at her phone screen, waiting for a notification, a reply from her husband, Maxime. Time ticked away, minute after minute, with no response. Letting out a long sigh, Shannon finally grabbed her handbag and walked out of the house. "To the old house, please," she said to the driver. Inside the slowly moving car, Shannon rested her head against the window, gazing at the city lights flickering to life. Her mind drifted to the past three years she had spent with Maxime. Their marriage was not built on love but arranged by their grandfathers. From the beginning, Shannon had known that Maxime rejected the marriage. Unfortunately, at that time, she was deeply infatuated with him. Maxime was her idol, a young actor who had appeared in her life like the warmth of the winter sun. Yet that warmth was never directed at her. She recalled the long nights spent alone in their house, with Maxime returning only occasionally, without a word, and leaving again without even glancing her way, as though she were something unworthy of his attention. Shannon fought back the tears welling in her eyes. She loved Maxime with all her heart, but that love felt like a double-edged sword that hurt them both. The car came to a slow stop in front of the old Caldrich family house. Taking a deep breath, Shannon tried to calm herself before stepping out of the vehicle. Coincidentally, another car pulled up in the spacious driveway. From the back seat stepped a figure Shannon recognized all too well. Maxime was the embodiment of world-class actor charisma. His tall, broad-shouldered frame exuded strength while moving with the elegance of a star accustomed to the limelight. His face was a near-perfect combination of sharp symmetry, strong jawline, straight nose, and lips that always seemed to hold a half-smile, half-aloof charm. As for his eyes, they radiate warmth and softness only in front of the camera. Shannon took a deep breath and, with a bit of courage, approached Maxime, offering him a genuine smile that reached her eyes. She said, "I'm glad you came." She extended her hand, hoping to take his, but Maxime, without acknowledging her, walked into the house, leaving her behind. Shannon was used to this, but her heart still sank, stinging with pain and sadness at his cold and indifferent demeanor. She forced another smile and followed him, struggling to match his pace. Inside the house, the uncles, aunts, cousins, and even Maxime’s nephews were already gathered, along with Maxime's parents and his younger sister, Maurice. Everyone greeted Maxime warmly, but Shannon, as always, was overlooked, treated like empty air. In the past, Shannon had always tried to join their conversations but ended up feeling awkward. Gradually, she got used to staying silent and even began avoiding family gatherings like this altogether. However, this time, she couldn’t avoid it because it was a direct request from Grandfather Caldrich, who wanted everyone in the family to gather tonight. In the midst of the awkward atmosphere, Grandfather Caldrich arrived with the help of the butler. He greeted everyone before inviting them to move to the dining table. Everyone had taken their seats, but Shannon was still standing awkwardly in the corner. Her seat was supposed to be beside Maxime, but it was occupied by Maurice, leaving Shannon unsure where to sit. The only vacant chair was being reserved by one of Maxime’s aunts for her son, who would be arriving last. Noticing the situation, Grandfather Caldrich turned his gentle gaze to Shannon before shifting his attention to Maxime. With a cold snort laced with a hint of anger, he reprimanded, “Maurice, move. That seat belongs to your sister-in-law!” Hearing this, Maurice looked displeased but couldn’t defy his grandfather. Reluctantly, she moved to sit beside her parents. As she passed Shannon, she sneered under her breath. “Dear, please sit,” Grandfather Caldrich said to Shannon, his voice softer and kinder. Shannon sat beside Maxime, her demeanor humble and subdued. When everyone thought the issue was over as usual, Grandfather Caldrich pointed at Maxime and scolded him, “Is this how you treat your wife? So indifferent and irresponsible!” After those words were spoken, the tension in the room grew heavier. Shannon stole a glance at Maxime beside her, whose expression remained calm, almost too composed for the situation. He raised an eyebrow and replied, “Grandfather always has a way of exaggerating things. Shannon knew what to expect from me from the start, so why is this suddenly such a big deal?” Leaning back in his chair with an air of concealed defensiveness behind his arrogance, Maxime shifted his gaze briefly toward Shannon, as if she were something not worth genuine attention. Then, in an even colder tone, he added, “Besides, she’s the one who wanted to marry me. Isn’t it her responsibility to figure out how to blend in with the rest of the family?” His words hung in the air, cold and cutting, piercing straight into Shannon’s heart. Maxime’s indifference wasn’t just an emotional slap, it was a cruel reminder of how little she meant to the man she loved with all her soul. The implication was painfully clear. Everything she had endured, the struggle to fit in, the judgmental stares from his family, was, according to Maxime, her own fault. But Maxime seemed blind to one simple truth: the Caldrich family’s acceptance of Shannon had always hinged on how he, as her husband, viewed and treated her. If Maxime had stood by her side, if he had shown even the slightest indication that Shannon deserved a place among them, all that rejection might have faded. But he didn’t. He chose to distance himself, leaving Shannon alone in the storm he had created. Shannon lowered her head, letting her hair fall forward to conceal her pale face. She felt small, like a shadow whose very existence was unwelcome. Inside her, waves of pain and love clashed, creating a hollow void that made it almost impossible to breathe. She tried to diminish her presence, avoiding everyone’s gaze, especially Maxime’s. Her greatest fear was hearing more words that could shatter the fragile remnants of her self-confidence, words that she might never be able to forget. In that heavy atmosphere, Maxime spoke again. “If she can’t endure it anymore, the best solution is divorce.” “Maxime!” Grandfather Caldrich’s furious roar echoed, followed by the sharp rap of his wooden cane. The tension reached its peak. In the eye of the storm, Maxime remained composed, even as his phone buzzed. He took the time to glance at the screen. “Since Grandfather gets so angry just by seeing me, I’ll leave for now and come back when you’ve calmed down,” Maxime said coolly. He stood up and left before dinner had even started. Shannon unconsciously turned toward him, but as always, she was ignored. All she could do was watch his back retreating indifferently into the distance. The dinner was completely ruined, and Grandfather Caldrich no longer had the mood to continue. He asked his children, in-laws, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to leave. “Shannon, come and help me back to my room to rest,” Grandfather Caldrich said, stopping Shannon just as she was stiffly preparing to leave in a hurry. “Y-yes, Grandfather.” Shannon stepped forward to assist the elderly man to his master bedroom. As they stood side by side, Grandfather Caldrich looked at her briefly. There was warmth in his gaze, the kind that only a loving grandfather would show to his granddaughter. A tired sigh escaped his lips before he finally spoke, his voice deep but gentle. “Shannon, I know you love Maxime dearly, but that boy doesn’t understand at all. I will always support you.” Shannon stood silently for a long time, taking in the kind words of Grandfather Caldrich, whom she had come to regard as her own grandfather. Even after she left the old Caldrich family house and returned to the silent home she lived in alone, her thoughts remained adrift. She had let wounds upon wounds pile up for far too long without ever truly expressing them. Tonight, the pain was unbearable. She knew she had to speak to Maxime. Her hand trembled as she pressed the call button on Maxime’s number. In three years, she had never taken the initiative to call him, too afraid of facing rejection that was far more tangible than ignored messages. When the call finally connected, her heart pounded violently, a mixture of hope and anxiety swirling within her. But then, the voice that answered wasn’t Maxime’s. “Hello?” A woman’s voice, soft yet unfamiliar, resonated in her ear. Shannon froze, her throat tightening. Her fingers clenched around her phone, and her chest felt constricted. Words failed to escape her lips, as if the entire world around her had suddenly come to a standstill.