Chapter 20
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Shawn’s POV
Shawn’s jaw tightened. “So…the envelope you sent to my birthday party, was that payback? Was that to humiliate me?”
Aurora shrugged. “Humiliation would be too kind. I’m not here for petty revenge. I’m here for justice.”
His chest tightened. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying,” she said, “that what you’ve lost so far is only the beginning. You haven’t even started to understand what it feels like to lose everything.”
Shawn swallowed hard. A sliver of fear ran down his spine. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m promising you,” Aurora replied. “You will watch everything you built crumble. You will feel worse than what I felt.”
He forced a scoff, trying to hide the fear rising in him. “You can’t ruin me. Carter Enterprises is mine. I built it from scratch.”
Aurora’s eyes glinted with something cruel. “Do you really think so, Shawn? Think again. I was working behind the shadows, building Carter Enterprises myself.”
Something flashed through Shawn’s thoughts. It was the words of those big clients who revealed that Aurora had been behind their agreement to work with him.
His hands shook. “Why?” His voice cracked. “Why are you doing this to me? I said I’m sorry.”
“Because sorry doesn’t bring our children back,” she said quietly. “And sorry doesn’t erase the nights I cried myself to sleep while you slept with Tiffany.”
Shawn’s chest ached. “Aurora, I-”
“No,” she interrupted. “You had every chance, but you chose Tiffany. So I have also made my choice.”
He swallowed hard, and anger burned through the fear. “You think you can just threaten me and walk away? You’re nothing without me!”
Aurora’s smile was razor–sharp. “Watch me.”
Shawn’s face burned hot. He felt rage boiling under his skin. “You ungrateful-”
His phone rang, cutting him off. He clenched his fist and tanked it from his pocket. “This isn’t over.” He gritted to Aurora.
“What?” he snapped at the person on the phone.
“Shawn.” It was Marcus. “Are you there yet?”
“Yes,” Shawn said, trying to keep his voice calm, even as he glared at Aurora. “I’m here.”
“Good. Then listen carefully.” Marcus’s tone was hard. “This isn’t just another deal. The
Redmonds can make or break you. If you don’t make a good impression tonight, they can
Chapter 20
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14:36 Sat, Sep 27 GA ·
ruin you before morning.”
Shawn gave a smug snort. “Please. I always make a good impression.”
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“This isn’t like talking to your other clients or investors,” Marcus warned. “One wrong word and they’ll shut every door you’ve ever opened. Don’t underestimate them.”
Shawn’s jaw tightened. He was still glaring at Aurora. “Relax, Marcus. I know how to handle people.”
“I’m serious, Shawn. Stay composed, and do your best.”
Shawn laughed. “Stop worrying, Marcus. I’ve got this.”
There was silence for a moment, then Marcus finally said, “Fine. But remember what I said.”
Shawn ended the call, then he turned fully toward Aurora with a sneer on his face.
For a moment, he had forgotten what he had been there for.
“Step aside,” he said with command in his voice. “I have important business here. Real business. The kind you wouldn’t understand.”
Aurora raised an eyebrow but didn’t move.
“Move,” Shawn repeated, his tone was sharper. “I don’t have time to waste on a bitter ex who thinks she’s suddenly worth something because she’s fucking a Redmond.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she stayed rooted to the spot.
Shawn leaned in slightly. “You know what? I’ve got far better things to take care of than a woman who threw away the best thing that ever happened to her.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. You were nothing before me. You’ll be nothing after me. All this…”— he gestured to the luxurious hallway behind her–“…isn’t yours. It’s charity. The Redmonds will tire of you soon enough.”
“So keep pretending to be a Redmond princess for now. But deep down, you know what you are. A gold–digging little whore.”
The insult echoed through the hallway sharply.
The guards stiffened, anger flashing across their faces at the disrespect. They took a step forward with clenched fists, but Aurora raised a hand, stopping them in place.
Her eyes flared, but before she could open her mouth, a deep voice filled with authority thundered from behind her.
“What,” the voice barked, each word sharp with rage, “the hell did you just say to my daughter?”
Shawn froze, the blood draining from his face as he stared at the tall figure walking toward them with his eyes blazing in rage.
Shawn’s phone slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
