Chapter 39
Jeremy picked up almost instantly, sounding like he’d been expecting her call.
“Do you know where Shawn went?” Kathleen asked.
“You don’t have to worry,” he replied calmly. “He’s fine. His health is stable. He’ll come back later.”
That assurance helped Kathleen relax a little. As long as Shawn was safe, that was all that mattered. She sat on the couch, waiting for him to come home.
At a little after 10:00 pm, she finally heard the front door open.
Shawn walked in and saw Kathleen standing a few feet away, watching him.
Their eyes met. He looked like he’d been walking through snow, with a quiet desolation clinging to him.
“I already told Judy you’re home and safe,” she commented. “Get some rest.”
She didn’t ask where he’d been or bring up the fact that he’d been unreachable all day.
He was back, and that was all that mattered.
Shawn watched her turn into the bedroom and close the door. She truly didn’t plan to ask anything.
All the excuses he’d prepared on the way home were suddenly useless. Maybe that was one of the perks of a marriage without feelings. She wouldn’t pry, and he had his space.
Judy called Kathleen the next morning. She said Peter had reached out and asked if he could visit.
Kathleen’s face dropped.
She had informed Peter that he was not to show up at the Vance residence. However, he had clearly not listened to her since he wasn’t about to let the Vances go that easily.
Kathleen got up to wash her face. She needed to go to the Vance residence.
While she was still getting ready, the doorbell rang.
It was too early for regular visitors. Whoever it was, they likely weren’t here for her.
She hesitated. Should she even open the door?
Shawn hadn’t gotten up yet, and it seemed urgent, so Kathleen walked to the entryway and checked the camera. It was Jeremy.
Wasn’t he supposed to be abroad?
She quickly opened the door.
Jeremy looked slightly surprised to see her but quickly composed himself. After all, she was staying there.
“He’s not up yet?” he asked.
“No,” Kathleen replied, stepping aside. “Come in.”
He didn’t bother with pleasantries as he walked in and looked around.
The house hadn’t changed. It still looked like a place without a woman’s touch. Clearly, Kathleen hadn’t tried to make it hers.
“You here for something urgent?” she asked. “I can wake him.”
“No need. I’ll wake him up.”
She nodded. Maybe they had something private to discuss.
Jeremy knocked once, and the door opened from the inside.
Shawn glanced at Kathleen. Then, Jeremy gestured subtly, signaling he wanted to talk in private.
Noticing his gesture, she closed the door behind him the moment he entered the room.
“What’s going on?” Shawn asked, still in his sleepwear, his voice rough but cool.
“Sarah won’t leave,” Jeremy said, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes. “I tried everything last night to convince her. She still refused. What do we do now?”
“She doesn’t want a divorce?” Shawn asked, leaning against the wall. He had a dark gaze.
“She does, but for some reason, she refuses to go back. I warned her that if her husband finds out she’s here and connected with you again, the divorce will be even harder to finalize”
Jeremy’s frustration flared “Honestly, I’m about ready to walk away from this whole mess.”
Shawn swallowed, his lips pressed in a tight line. After a long pause, he said, “Tell her to handle it while I’m still alive. Once I’m gone, her window of opportunity closes.”
Chapter 39
Jeremy frowned. “It’s only the second day of Christmas. Do we really have to start the morning with that kind of talk?”
“Pretending it isn’t true doesn’t make it go away,” Shawn replied calmly, looking at him. “And you know I’m right.” Jeremy took a deep breath, his expression turning unusually solemn.
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