Chapter 9 Don't Ignore Me

After seeing this, Windy pondered for a second before explaining her side. She said, "Well... Shawn didn't mean to leave just like that. My mom called me last night, and she told us that Carol had slit her wrist with a knife! She was sent to the hospital, and Shawn... He stayed in the hospital to take care of my sister."

Her words were far more perturbing than what Anaya had expected. She replied in shock, "What? Carol attempted suicide? How is she now?"

"The doctor assured us that the incision wasn't lethal. She is perfectly safe, but I will go and see her after I finish breakfast," said Windy heavily.

Anaya nodded to her polite plea and said, "I will go with you then."

Tit for tat, Windy smiled and agreed with her.

Initially, Ted was angry at the fact that Shawn never showed up again on the night of their wedding, but Windy's clarification left him speechless. He had no sympathy about Carol's tragedy at all, but something was annoying him. He said in a deeply peeved tone, "Anaya, make sure you bring Shawn back here with you after the visit."

"Yes, Dad," replied Anaya as he looked at Windy across the table.

Ted's words were an obvious hint for Windy to confirm that anger lurked in his chest once more. Most importantly, she knew the reason behind his heavy resentment. She was moved by his justification, and he had always been kind to her.

However, she didn't want Shawn to take the blame for her. So, when Ted's tone hinted that something bad would happen when Shawn came back, she said, "Grandpa, Shawn was busy last night. Plus, he had to be early at work this morning. Maybe..."

Before she could finish her words, Ted interrupted her with a serious expression on his face. He said in scrutiny, "Silly girl, you think I have no idea what's going through your mind. Shawn can't run from this. Sooner or later, he will learn his lesson."

"Come on, Grandpa," Windy complained as she felt a benign yet problematic feeling in her chest.

Anaya knew what his father was so pissed off about. She comforted him by saying, "Dad, watch your temper. You should be attentive about your health. If Shawn fails to honor Windy, then I won't let him get away with it."

Windy's gaze moved back and forth from Ted to Anaya. She felt an overwhelming sense of luck to have such a considerate family. Even if she married Shawn, injustices in the future were still inevitable, but she believed that all those struggles would be worth it in the end. Besides, she had faith that people would support her throughout her journey. As long as she didn't give up, her perseverance would guarantee her the heart of Shawn.

Shawn sat on the bedside and looked after Carol the entire evening. When she finally opened her eyes from her sleep, his crumpled expression ultimately eased out to a balm. With a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Shawn?" Carol feebly called out to him as his face was the last thing she expected to see as soon as she regained consciousness. She asked, "Is that you? Why are you here?"

Shawn's eyes were immediately filled with genuine euphoria. He gently stroked the hair off of her forehead and said, "You've been unconscious for hours. Where else will I go if you're not here with me?"

His words made Carol feel blue. She turned to him and said, "You shouldn't have come here. You should have a memorable wedding night with Windy."

Shawn could clearly see through the anger behind her melancholy, but what she said made him ill at ease. She knew that he had no choice but to marry Windy. So, what was the point of her bitterness just now?

Shawn was not a man of pleasing women. Truth be told, he never loved Carol enough for him to swallow his pride to coax her. So, when he fathomed that she was mad at him, he just kept silent and uttered no response.

In fact, Carol had been thinking about their situation lately. Even if Shawn and Windy had got married, so what? He ditched their wedding night just so he could be with her. His efforts were absolutely enough to proclaim his love for her. She wasn't out of the game. She still had a chance! Why would she give up so easily now?

"Shawn?" Carol turned around to face him and pretended to be submissive to his will. She said, "Last night was your wedding, yet you chose to spend the night here with me. That means Windy..."

"Don't prey on your thoughts. It's okay," said Shawn in a casual tone as he interrupted her chain of words.

Carol just answered with a disappointed nod as his answer did not satisfy her purpose.

Shawn knew that Carol was being hostile because of his relationship with Windy. So, avoiding the guilt was inevitable for him. He simply held her hand and said, "Don't ever do this again in the future. It's not worth it, do you understand?"

She looked at him with grievance and replied, "I'm just feeling low lately. How can I weather the sight of you being with another woman?"

"Carol..." Shawn called her name with a trail of helplessness. He couldn't promise his assurance to the love of his life. In the end, all he could give her was quiet.

Suddenly, Carol clung to his hands and begged him straight in the eye. She pleaded, "No matter what happens, please don't turn a blind eye to me, okay?"

His expression was filled with solace as he broke his silence with a nod. He said, "I would never."

A crooked smile flashed on Carol's lips, but she seemed secretively proud as if she had fulfilled something to herself.

"Shawn?" a woman suddenly called from the corner. He turned to look at the familiar voice and said, "Mom."

"Hello, Auntie," greeted Carol. She made herself look as abiding as possible and smiled at Anaya, but at the instance she saw Windy's face, her beam quickly froze to a cold sham. Her countenance had an inkling of hate which exalted to an ill-omened provocation in a flash. Her mocking gaze spoke to Windy as if it was saying, "See, even if you are married to him, his heart still belongs to me."

Even though the indignation on Carol's face was beyond question, Windy did not mind the effort. She just walked to the bedside table and opened the insulated crate they brought. She said to them, "Both of you must be starving. Here, I brought some porridge. You better eat it while it's hot."