Chapter 7 Stop Putting On An Act

Agony ripped through Yvonne's body, a searing pain that penetrated deep into her bones.

Her feet, weighted with despair, refused to carry her from the scene unfolding before her.

Hot tears of humiliation threatened to spill as a terrible thought crossed her mind-had Shane orchestrated this entire thing, deliberately having her summoned here just to witness this moment?

Jayde gracefully disentangled herself from Shane's embrace, her cheeks adorned with a delicate blush.

Upon turning, she noticed Yvonne in the doorway.

"Yvonne, you are here." Jayde guided her wheelchair forward, her face radiating joy as she crafted her explanation. "Shane had too much to drink and lost control. That kiss was nothing but a mistake-please don't read too much into it."

Before Yvonne could brush away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, Jayde's demeanor changed. Her body trembled as she exclaimed, "Yvonne, please forgive me! I shouldn't have come to see Shane, shouldn't have allowed that kiss. I was wrong! Please show mercy!"

A cold laugh escaped Yvonne's lips. "Have you satisfied your theatrical urges? Stop putting on an act here."

Jayde bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes. "Yvonne, you've misunderstood me terribly. This isn't an act..."

The scene unfolding resembled something from a melodramatic television series-the cruel, unloved wife confronting the pure-hearted woman who loved the husband.

The absurdity of it all struck Yvonne as darkly amusing.

"You're quite the talented performer," Yvonne remarked, "but I've grown weary of being your audience. Soon, Shane and I will get a divorce, and the title of Mrs. Brooks will be yours to claim."

She then turned to leave, her steps heavy with finality.

"Yvonne!" Jayde's wheelchair rolled forward swiftly as she grasped Yvonne's wrist. "You're divorcing Shane because you don't want to continue donating blood to me, right? So you still want me dead! Or perhaps it's because you missed your grandmother's final moments and blame me for that?"

The mention of Maggie shattered Yvonne's emotional barriers. She yanked her arm free, saying coldly, "Don't touch me!"

"Ah!" Jayde's wheelchair somehow toppled, sending her sprawling across the floor.

Confusion crossed Yvonne's features-she had merely pulled away; there was no way her action could have overturned Jayde's wheelchair.

Before she could process this oddity, Shane's accusatory voice cut through the air. "Yvonne, what have you done?"

Looking up, Yvonne saw Shane emerging from the private room, and comprehension dawned-this had been meticulously staged.

Shane rushed to Jayde's side, helping her up with concern. "Jayde, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Tears streamed down Jayde's beautiful face as she played her part perfectly. "Shane, don't blame Yvonne. I wasn't sitting properly earlier-it was my fault."

Shane's gaze turned cold as he faced Yvonne, darkness swirling in his eyes. "Jayde's health is already very fragile now, yet you still pushed her? It seems a year behind bars taught you nothing except how to prey on the vulnerable."

Yvonne met his piercing stare, refusing to let her tears fall. "Don't attribute actions to me that I didn't commit. But even if I had pushed her, wouldn't that make me your star pupil? After all, exploiting the vulnerable is your specialty. Didn't you pressure my uncle just to get what you wanted?"

"Defiant even after what you did-is this how you should behave as my wife?" Shane said coldly.

"No. That's why I'm relinquishing that title. You and Jayde deserve to be with each other. May your shared future bring you joy, and may no one else fall victim to your schemes." Yvonne turned away, her steps echoing through the corridor.

"Yvonne, stop right there!"

Shane's fury-laden command followed Yvonne, but she continued forward, walking away firmly in silence.

"Shane, please don't be angry." Jayde's voice dripped with sweetness as she soothed Shane. "I've heard prison changes people, making them more violent. I never believed it until now... But Shane, Yvonne mentioned divorce. Does that mean she doesn't want to save me anymore?"

The mention of divorce intensified Shane's agitation. "Are you hurt?" he asked Jayde.

"I just feel a bit in pain from the fall. Yvonne seems to derive pleasure from my pain-the more I suffer, the more satisfied she becomes," Jayde replied.

Shane said, "As long as you're uninjured. You should return home now."

With that, Shane turned to chase after Yvonne.

"Shane!"

Jayde watched Shane's retreating form in stunned disbelief. Never before had Shane left her for Yvonne like this.

How could this be happening?

***

Yvonne had barely stepped out of the club when Shane swept her off her feet in one fluid motion.

Her arms instinctively encircled his neck to steady herself as she shouted, "What are you doing?"

Without responding, Shane carried her to his waiting car and instructed the driver to start the car.

Yvonne struggled against his hold, her voice rising with frustration. "Let me go! Shane, release me!"

Shane subdued her struggling hands, his grip unyielding as he pulled her closer. "If you want to make this ride more memorable, continue resisting."

Fear for her unborn child immediately stilled Yvonne's movements.

The possibility of Shane forcing himself on her and harming the baby paralyzed her with dread.

Seeing Yvonne stop struggling, Shane let go of her. "How dare you push Jayde again? Are you eager to return to prison?"

Yvonne turned her head away, her voice hollow. "Would you believe me if I said I didn't push her?"

Shane's silence spoke volumes.

A mirthless laugh escaped Yvonne's lips. "I was foolish to even ask that question. Of course, you'd choose Jayde's version of events."

Shane said, "Yvonne..."

"You orchestrated this whole scenario to flaunt your relationship with Jayde in front of me, didn't you?" Yvonne interjected, bitterness seeping into her words. "The intimate display was unnecessary. I really don't need to see you two kiss like that. I've always known your connection with her is unbreakable."

Shane's brow furrowed. "Jayde and I kissed?"

"What, do you need me to jog your memory?" Yvonne's tone dripped with sarcasm.

Shane's hands gripped her shoulders. "So you are jealous. Is that why you are acting like this?"

Yvonne averted her gaze, concealing the pain in her eyes. "Jealous? Hardly. It's just that we're not divorced yet, and I'd rather not have a cheating husband."

Shane drew her into his embrace, his typically harsh tone softening. "I never want to divorce you. I'll leave your uncle alone, okay? Just come home with me-let's stop fighting."

Yvonne rested against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

In the past, this moment would have melted her defenses instantly.

But now, she felt only resistance growing within her.

When had his rare moments of tenderness lost their power over her?

Perhaps when he had dragged her away from Maggie's hospital room, leaving her grandmother to die alone.

Or when he had coldly said their baby's existence meant Jayde could no longer receive her life-saving blood transfusions.

She felt so tired now. She had once desperately yearned to remain by Shane's side, but now, she longed only for escape.

Yvonne's eyes drifted closed as fatigue claimed her. She soon fell asleep.

The Rolls-Royce glided to a stop before the house's entrance. As the driver opened the rear door, Shane carefully carried Yvonne's sleeping form out of the car. After a few paces, he paused, his voice dropping to a measured tone. "Did you arrange for both Yvonne and Jayde to be at the club tonight?"

"No, Mr. Brooks," the driver responded promptly. "I remained with the car all evening, awaiting your call. Though I did notice the club manager personally greeting Miss Davis upon her arrival."

Shane absorbed this information in silence before striding into the house with Yvonne in his arms.

He carried Yvonne to their second-floor master bedroom, laying her gently on the bed.

Exhaustion had claimed Yvonne completely-she instinctively curled around a pillow, her breathing even as she remained asleep.

Shane lingered after drawing the blanket over her, his expression unreadable, before finally leaving the room.

***

Meanwhile, in her exquisitely decorated room, Jayde fidgeted restlessly, frustration etched across her features. Just then, her phone suddenly buzzed with an incoming notification.

Her initial excitement at seeing Shane's video message quickly transformed into horror-her face draining of color as the reality dawned on her.

She hadn't anticipated that even within the prestigious private club's walls, surveillance cameras had captured everything.