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Novel Catalog
Chapter 12
Even Jenny was better than Susan! Was Shawn blind or simply out of his mind? Susan’s voice cut through the silence. “Gale, you have to apologize to me! Bark three times!” Her tone was firm, almost mocking.
Gale raised her chin, her eyes defiant. “No way.” She could apologize, but she wouldn’t stoop to barking.
Susan immediately grabbed Shawn’s arm, shaking it as if to draw his attention. “Look! She doesn’t want to apologize.”
Shawn’s gaze shifted to Gale, his expression darkening. “Gale, I’ll give you another chance to answer.”
Gale lifted her head to meet his narrow, cold eyes. “No. Way.”
A flicker of frustration passed over Shawn’s face. Was she defying him? He bent down, grabbing her chin with a vice-like grip. “Don’t push your luck. Do you want to learn how to bark, or should I give you three whips?”
“I’d rather be whipped,” Gale replied calmly, though her heart pounded in her chest.
Shawn let out a cold snort, his patience clearly running thin. “Okay. Bring the whip.”
The housekeeper appeared almost immediately, offering the whip with both hands, his expression weary. Gale felt a bitter smile tug at her lips. No matter what happens, I’m still his wife in name. But who is Susan, that she can humiliate me like this for her?
Shawn’s eyes grew colder. “She is the person I’ve searched for, the future Mrs. Wood. Do you understand?” His voice was like ice. “How can you compare to her?”
The words felt like a slap to Gale’s heart, but she swallowed her emotions. It was clear now that Susan was the one Shawn wanted. It was a hard pill to swallow, but she had to accept it.
She closed her eyes, biting back the pain, and silently braced for the whip to fall. Three lashes, no matter how much they hurt, would eventually pass.
But instead of the sting of the whip, there was silence. Gale opened her eyes, only to see Shawn turning his back on her.
“Hitting you would only get my hands dirty,” he muttered coldly, tossing the whip aside. He turned toward the housekeeper. “Execute it for me.”
“Yes, Mr. Wood,” the housekeeper replied quietly.
Susan’s face twisted with displeasure. She was furious that Gale hadn’t been punished, but seeing Shawn’s foul mood, she wisely chose not to push it further. She might be acting like a spoiled child, but she wasn’t foolish enough to anger him.
“Mr. Shawn, didn’t you say you would marry me?” she asked, her voice dripping with feigned hurt. “Why is Gale still your wife?”
“She’s just a puppet,” Shawn replied dismissively, though his voice carried an edge. He didn’t bother to elaborate further. Susan didn’t need to know everything.
Susan’s eyes widened, understanding dawning on her. “Oh, so that’s how it is.” She had been terrified that she’d be exposed once Gale’s position was secured. But now, she could relax. “So you’ll still keep your promise to marry me, right?”
Shawn nodded, though his expression remained distant. “I’ll take care of everything before I marry you.”
A smile of satisfaction spread across Susan’s face. That’s all I needed to hear.
“Looking forward to that day,” she purred.
Meanwhile, Gale stood there silently, her back slightly hunched in an attempt to ease the pain of the whip marks. She had only been struck once, but even that was enough to send a wave of heat rushing across her skin. Her back burned, but at least she wasn’t covered in bruises.
The housekeeper glanced around nervously, then gave Gale a quick nod. “Mr. Wood, the punishment is complete,” he reported to Shawn before walking away.
Shawn barely acknowledged him, his attention focused elsewhere. Gale stood by, not meeting his gaze, knowing that if she tried to look too directly at him, she might just lose her composure.
Susan, ever the opportunist, turned to Shawn with a sweet, simpering smile. “Mr. Shawn, I have something I need help with…”
Shawn’s gaze flickered toward her briefly, a slight frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Ask away.”
Susan leaned forward, her voice sweet and conspiratorial. “I know the Warm family is starting a new brokerage company, right?”
Shawn nodded, his face expressionless. “Yes, the Warm family is entering the entertainment industry.”
Susan’s eyes gleamed with ambition. “Well, I was hoping you could help me with my resume. They’re being very picky. With your backing, it would be so much easier to get in.” She gave him a pleading look. “I’ve always wanted to be in the entertainment industry, and with you here, no one will dare to bully me.”
Shawn didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’ll help you.”
Of course he would help her, Gale thought bitterly. It made sense. Susan had no qualms about using Shawn for her own ambitions. And Shawn—well, he seemed to have an unshakeable conviction that helping Susan would be some kind of compensation for the events of that night.
Shawn’s gaze lingered on Gale for a moment, but he didn’t say anything more. “You’ll continue working at the company,” he told her coldly. “Understood?”
Gale’s heart sank. It was clear: they were from completely different worlds. She worked hard, picking up scraps and earning pennies, while Susan was about to walk into a glamorous career. And as if that wasn’t enough, Shawn seemed to be supporting her every step of the way.
After Shawn left, Susan quickly dropped the sweet act. Her eyes narrowed, and her voice turned vicious. “Refusing to bark, huh? It’s alright. You’ll bark eventually. I’ll make sure of it. You’ll be kneeling in front of me, begging.”
Gale barely spared her a glance as she walked toward the door. She had more important things to focus on. If she was late to the Warm Group, Shawn would be furious again. And she wasn’t in the mood to deal with that.
But before she could leave, Susan stood in front of her, blocking the path. “You’re ignoring me, Gale? Stop!” Her voice was shrill, filled with malicious intent. “I advise you to divorce Mr. Wood as soon as possible!”
Gale raised an eyebrow. “It’s not me who decides whether or not to divorce.”
Susan’s face twisted with rage. “You just want to be his wife, don’t you? You’re too reluctant to leave!”
Gale chuckled, a bitter sound. “If you’re so sure, why don’t you ask Shawn to divorce me now? What’s the point of standing here and making threats?”
Susan gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing. “You’ll beg me soon. Just wait.”
With that, Susan stormed off, but Gale didn’t have time to worry about her. She had a long walk ahead of her.
As Gale turned the corner, she spotted a familiar figure standing on the side of the road. Her heart sank, and a wave of shame washed over her. She immediately tried to turn and walk away, but the figure called out to her.
“Gale, I’ve been following you.”