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Novel Catalog
Chapter 32
Summer stood still for a moment, her mind racing. She had wanted to confront Gale, but after the tense encounter, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead, she turned to Joe.
“Ah?” Joe responded, surprised by her sudden question. “You want to know about Gale?”
“Yes!” Summer’s impatience was clear.
Joe hesitated, lowering his voice. “Shh, keep this a secret.”
Summer rolled her eyes, her frustration mounting. “I know, I know. Just tell me already!”
Joe leaned in, speaking in a hushed tone. “She’s our boss’s wife.”
Summer froze, her jaw hanging open in disbelief.
What?! Gale had married Shawn?
She had always thought that marrying into a wealthy family was a stroke of luck, yet Gale had said her life was full of misfortune. It didn’t add up.
Joe gave a cautious glance around. “Summer, this is important. You have to keep quiet about it.”
“Are they in a good relationship?” Summer pressed.
Joe scratched his head, clearly uncomfortable. “I’m not sure. Their relationship seems… confusing, secretive even.”
“How so?” Summer asked, eager for more details.
Joe shrugged. “You’ll see for yourself. Just watch how they interact over the next few days. Something’s off.”
Summer shot him a mocking look. “You’re supposed to be Mr. Wood’s best buddy, his so-called blood brother, and you can’t even figure this much out? How does that work?”
Joe raised his hands in mock surrender. “I know everything about Shawn, but he’s never said a word about this marriage. It’s like it’s some sort of secret.”
At Work
Gale returned to her workstation, feeling uneasy. Summer had been her best friend, someone she’d shared everything with. They had once been inseparable, but now it seemed impossible to tell her the truth. It would only push Summer away, and Gale couldn’t bear to lose her completely.
A ping from her phone interrupted her thoughts.
It was a message from Shawn: Come to my office.
Resigning herself to the inevitable, Gale stood up and walked to his office.
She stood before his desk and said, “Mr. Wood, you asked for me?”
Shawn didn’t look up immediately. Instead, he tossed an invitation card onto the desk. “Take a look.”
Gale picked it up, reading the text aloud, “Charity auction?”
“Yes.”
Confusion crept into her mind. What did this have to do with her? She would be out of place at such an upscale event.
“Are you taking me there?” she asked, her voice tentative.
Shawn smirked, his lips curling mockingly. “Do you really think you’re worthy?”
“No,” Gale replied quietly.
“Good, at least you understand that,” Shawn said, crossing his legs. “I’m bringing Susan.”
Gale blinked, taken aback. “Oh.”
“However, you will attend alone,” Shawn continued. “Find a corner where I can see you, and wait.”
Gale was left perplexed by his cryptic instructions, but she knew better than to question him. She had no choice but to obey.
“I see. It’s just…” Gale hesitated before speaking again. “I don’t have anything suitable to wear.”
Shawn leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes as he regarded her. “Gale, do you remember the first time we met?”
Her heart skipped a beat. She froze for a moment, the memory hitting her like a tidal wave. “Yes,” she replied quietly.
The memory of that day was seared into her mind, a day that would mark the beginning of all her nightmares. It had been the first time she saw Shawn, and she would never forget it.
It had been at Sea City University, when she was called into the principal’s office.
When she had opened the door, she was met with Shawn’s cold, imposing presence. He stood there in a black suit, his gaze piercing and ominous. She had been too scared to speak, unable to make sense of the storm brewing within him. Though he was undeniably handsome, there was something darker beneath the surface.
“Are you Dr. Warm’s daughter?” he had asked in a voice like gravel.
“Yes,” Gale had answered, her voice trembling.
“Your name is Gale?”
“Yes.”