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Novel Catalog
Chapter 16
The ice-cold water made Gale shudder. She could hardly believe what Shawn was doing—he was out of his mind! With one hand, he stripped her of her clothes, while the other ruthlessly scrubbed her body. The harsh friction soon left red marks across her skin.
“Shawn!” Gale couldn’t hold back any longer, her voice breaking as water poured down her face. “What are you doing?”
Shawn’s eyes darkened as he continued his frantic motion, ignoring her protests. “Why did you let Sam touch you? No one can touch you, not even on your shoulders!”
The words hit Gale like a punch. Not even on her shoulders? It wasn’t just possessiveness; it was something darker, something frightening. He truly believed she belonged to him and no one else could lay a finger on her.
Her eyes welled up as she fought to keep her composure. “I pushed him away! He only touched me for one second!” Her voice cracked as she tried to explain herself, but Shawn wouldn’t hear it.
“It doesn’t matter how long he touched you. No one is allowed to touch you, no matter the duration!” Shawn scrubbed her shoulders with renewed force, as if trying to erase every trace of the contact. Gale resisted at first, but eventually, she went still—like a puppet in his hands. She was soaked through, her hair clinging to her face, but it wasn’t just the cold water that chilled her. It was the feeling of being trapped, helpless.
For a moment, Shawn paused, his eyes scanning her ashen face. A cruel idea flickered in his mind, and in an instant, his grip tightened around her chin, yanking her head back.
Without warning, he kissed her—no, it was more like a savage bite, his lips crushing hers. Gale had no choice but to open her mouth, gasping as he dominated her. The icy water, the wetness of their bodies, the rawness of the moment—it overwhelmed her senses.
Then, as if the intensity of the kiss wasn’t enough, Shawn’s voice came low and dangerous, “You want something from me, don’t you?”
Gale, dizzy and desperate, barely managed to catch her breath. “Shawn… can you give me some money?”
She had to ask. Her father’s condition was worsening, and she needed the money to treat his burns. She also needed to bribe the prisoners to keep them from hurting him further. It was her only chance.
Shawn sneered, a wicked smirk curling at the edges of his lips. “Ah, I see now. This time, you didn’t push me away. Turns out you just want money.”
“Yes,” Gale admitted, clenching her fists. “Please, can you give it to me?”
Shawn studied her, his gaze lingering on her lips, before he asked coldly, “How much?”
“Twenty thousand dollars,” she replied, barely daring to ask for so much. But it was enough—just enough—to solve the immediate problem. She would figure the rest out later. To Shawn, twenty thousand dollars was nothing more than pocket change.
However, his expression darkened. “What gave you the right to ask for money from me?”
Gale bit her lip, her heart hammering in her chest. “I’m your wife,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shawn recoiled as if her words had physically repulsed him. “Gale, know your place!” he spat, losing interest in her as quickly as he had found it. Without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving her standing there, drenched and shivering.
Gale’s mind was spinning. She felt the heat of tears threatening to fall, but she refused to cry. She had to keep it together, for her father, for herself. But the sting of Shawn’s rejection—of his cruelty—cut deep.
But she wasn’t ready to give up. “Shawn,” she called, her voice louder now. “If you don’t give it to me… I’ll find Sam!”
The threat hung in the air, and Gale knew exactly what it would take to get him to listen. She understood Shawn’s temper—his weaknesses—and she had to use that knowledge to survive. It worked.
Shawn’s face twisted in rage. “How dare you!” he roared, his voice like thunder.
“I’m desperate!” Gale shouted back, her voice breaking. “You’re pushing me to desperation!”
His narrowed eyes locked onto hers, and after a long silence, he finally spoke. “What do you need the money for?”
Gale clenched her jaw, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t tell him the truth—not yet. Not if she wanted to survive. “I have my own reasons,” she murmured, looking away.
“Just tell me,” he insisted, his patience thinning.
“I… I want my salary in advance,” she said quickly, trying to deflect. “In the future, I’ll pay you back. I’ll design jewelry every day to pay off my debts.”
It was a half-truth. Gale was a brilliant designer, and the work she had done for Sea City University had gotten her noticed by major brands. But right now, it was all she could offer.
To her surprise, Shawn didn’t argue. He merely hooked his lips into a slight smile. “Fine. But remember what you said,” he replied, his tone giving no room for negotiation.
Gale felt a wave of relief wash over her. Shawn transferred the money to her immediately, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel something resembling hope. Her father could get the treatment he needed.
She didn’t care what Shawn thought of her anymore. Wiping her face with her wet hands, she walked out, her mind focused on what mattered—getting her father the help he so desperately needed.
Meanwhile, Shawn remained by the window, smoking cigarette after cigarette. His thoughts were tangled, but his mind kept circling back to Susan. He’d married Gale to keep up appearances, but Susan was the one he wanted. Gale was nothing more than a temporary distraction, a pawn in his twisted game.
Hours later, when the night had grown deep and quiet, Shawn was about to sleep when the faint sound of coughing echoed from the other room. The coughing was rhythmic—frequent, punctuated by soft sniffling and shuffling. It was the kind of sound that could drive anyone mad.
Shawn rolled out of bed, his temper flaring. “Gale!” he shouted, his voice laced with frustration. No answer. “Gale!” he yelled again, louder this time.
Weakly, a faint voice replied, “Hmmm?”
Shawn’s gaze softened when he saw her. Her face was flushed with fever, her lips pale. She was burning up.
She groggily turned toward him, tugging at his trouser legs like a child. “Dizzy… uncomfortable…” she murmured, her eyes barely open.
Her next words, barely audible, sent a pang of something sharp through him: “Hug me… I don’t wanna take medicine… it’s too bitter…”
Shawn’s hard expression faltered as he watched her. She looked so small and helpless. For a split second, he didn’t know what to do. Then, his resolve returned. He bent down and scooped her up, carrying her into the bedroom.
He placed a fever-reducing patch on her forehead, his hands rough and uncaring. Gale mumbled in her sleep, but Shawn couldn’t make out the words. In frustration, he shouted, “Shut up!”
Gale quieted, but Shawn’s mind was still restless. He left the room, his cigarette barely burning before he finally headed to bed.
The next morning, Gale groggily reached for her pillow, only to feel something unusual. It wasn’t soft like her pillow—it was firm and surprisingly warm.
Confused, she opened her eyes to find Shawn looking down at her with a mix of annoyance and amusement. “Have you touched enough?” he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Gale froze in shock, her heart racing. She almost fell off the bed in fright.
“Stupid woman,” Shawn muttered, pulling her back into his arms with a harsh yank. “Do you want to fall again?”
Gale blinked, completely disoriented. “How did I end up in your bed?” she asked, her voice soft and confused.
Shawn’s lips curled into a smirk. “You were sleepwalking.”