CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 94 - 92: The Cruelest 2

Even though Felix Draper and Sarah Sutton were divorced now, she still couldn’t break the habit.

When Felix Draper, after a moment of silence on the other end, suddenly agreed, Reina Draper was so shocked she thought she’d misheard him. In the past, every time she brought it up, he would snap at her, "An actress? Don’t you know how messed up that industry is?" ’Why is my big brother being so merciful this time?’

"Really? Felix Draper, don’t you forget what you said today, or you’ll never hear the end of it!"

Afraid he would take it back, Reina Draper rushed to hang up the phone. She turned around only to see her director walking out of his office with a grim expression. She lowered her head and stood there, not daring to even breathe, only letting out a sigh of relief after he had completely left.

Leaving the hospital, Julian Donovan felt completely lost. He had imagined their reunion countless times. He thought she would cry out, "Julian," then weep as she threw herself into his arms. He, in turn, would gently hold her and tell her he was sorry.

He never imagined it would be so disastrous. She treated him like a stranger, and he had lashed out with cruel words. He couldn’t control himself. The sight of her indifferent expression, of her holding a daughter she’d had with another man, ignited a fire in his chest that burned away all his reason.

In a daze, he went to the orphanage. He always visited Jean Coleman whenever he was back in Wincastle. Seeing him in this state, she was very worried.

"You don’t look well. What’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing. Just tired from work."

He could only make an excuse. Jean Coleman poured him a glass of water.

"I don’t mean to nag, but you can’t just keep burying yourself in work. You’re at that age now. You should find someone and settle down. It’s always better to have a woman by your side to look after you."

Her words only made him feel worse. He lowered his eyes and smoked in silence.

Jean Coleman went on,

"Among the volunteers here, there are two I’ve taken a real liking to. One is named Willow Summers. She’s a very lively and cheerful girl, but I heard she got married a while ago."

Jean Coleman’s tone was tinged with regret. Julian Donovan’s mouth twitched. He had no idea Willow Summers volunteered here. ’I could never handle her eccentric personality,’ he thought. ’That Walter Jennings really is a soldier—his mental fortitude must be rock-solid.’

Jean Coleman added,

"There’s also another one named Anna Quinn..."

As soon as Julian Donovan heard that name, his hand trembled. Ash fell onto his skin, searing his fingers, but he paid it no mind, simply staring at Jean Coleman in shock.

"She volunteers here?"

"Yes, you know her?"

Jean Coleman was a little surprised. He averted his eyes and explained,

"She was a patient at my hospital..."

"Oh, she’s a very quiet and kind girl, isn’t she? She has a daughter, and at first, I thought she was a single mother. But then Willow Summers told me she has a husband. That makes sense. How could such a wonderful person not have a husband? What man would ever have the heart to leave her?"

That was Jean Coleman’s assessment of her. He wondered what her reaction would be if she ever found out her own son was the man who had left her.

’What man would have the heart to leave her?’ And yet, there was such a man. He was that man.

Jean Coleman’s words stabbed at Julian Donovan’s heart, making it burn. He couldn’t explain anything to her and only felt more agitated. He had come here for some peace and quiet, but instead, he’d heard news of her again.

"How long has she been coming here?"

He asked Jean Coleman. She thought for a moment.

"About a year!"

Julian Donovan was suddenly struck by the irony of it all. ’My mother wants to set me up with my ex-wife. My mother has been working with her for a year, and neither of them knows the truth. What does that make me, Julian Donovan, if not a complete asshole?’

’If I’d just brought her to meet Jean sooner, maybe things wouldn’t have ended up like this. If Jean had known who she was, she would have told me immediately, and I would have been spared a year of agony. And if Jean had known what was happening between us back then, knowing her, she definitely would have taken her side. If Jean had been there to mediate, maybe we wouldn’t have reached this point. But what’s the use of so many "what ifs" now? Dwelling on what might have been is the most hollow kind of pain.’

He stubbed out his cigarette and stood up.

"Mom, I’ll bring someone for you to meet soon."

Jean Coleman looked expectant.

"It’s not a girlfriend, is it?"

Julian Donovan shook his head.

"No. You’ll know when the time comes."

’Perhaps it’s time to introduce Dylan to Jean,’ he thought. ’Besides, Dylan plans to live here from now on, and I’d feel more at ease if Jean was here to look after him.’

Seeing that he wasn’t willing to say more, Jean Coleman didn’t press him. She just told him to get some rest. He walked to the door, then suddenly turned back to ask her a question.

"When does she usually come in?"

"Are you talking about Willow or Anna?"

Jean Coleman wasn’t sure which "she" he meant. He frowned and forced out the name that was so hard for him to accept.

’I really don’t know how she could pick such an ugly name. Naomi Shaw was so much better; it suited her gentle, ethereal personality. Anna Quinn sounds quiet but with a hint of stubbornness and finality. It hurts every time I have to say it. Even if she wanted to hide from me, she didn’t have to go so far as to change her name, did she?’

Of course, someone who hadn’t lived through what she had could never understand her resolve to cast aside the past.

Jean Coleman answered him,

"Usually on weekends. It seems she works on weekdays."

He said nothing more and left.

After leaving the hospital with Joy, Naomi Shaw got into the car Sean Donovan had sent for them. She hugged Joy tightly, biting her lip so hard that Joy began to push at her uncomfortably. Only then did Naomi snap out of it, quickly loosening her grip on Joy and letting out a long sigh of relief herself.

No one knew that all her feigned strength was just an act.

’If all he has to offer is guilt, then I don’t need it.’

When Julian Donovan got home that evening, Dylan was sitting on the living room sofa watching TV. Exhausted, Julian collapsed onto the sofa and quietly watched his son. He looked at Dylan’s eyes, which were so much like hers. Those eyes had once been filled with love for him, but now... there was only indifference.

Dylan turned off the TV and met his gaze quietly.

"Julian Donovan, did you see someone today?"

Felix Draper had called him earlier to ask if he knew an Anna Quinn. He had suspected then that his father might have met his mother, and now, seeing his father’s expression, he was certain of it.

"I saw someone who looks like your mother, but... she won’t admit it."

He hadn’t wanted Dylan to know, but in his frustration, he found he could only confide in his son.

A flash of surprise crossed Dylan’s young face, but it was quickly replaced by a knowing smile.

"Julian Donovan, so what if she admits she’s Mom?"

Julian Donovan was stunned. He’d never considered that question. He just desperately wanted to prove she was the person he thought she was. But as Dylan said, so what if she admitted it? ’What then? What do I want?’

As if reading his mind, Dylan sat there like a little adult, pressing him relentlessly.

"What’s the point of forcing her to admit it? Unless you want to win her back."

"But what’s the point of winning her back? You don’t even love her!"

"If you’re only doing this for me, then I don’t need it. I’ve been fine these past three years. Just knowing she’s alive is enough to put my mind at ease. All I want now is for her to be happy."

"Since you’ve seen her, you must know she has a child with another man now, right? So, even if she admits it, what can you do? Are you going to break up their family of three?"

Julian Donovan was so stunned by Dylan Donovan’s clear, logical, and insightful analysis that he was left completely speechless. Dylan continued, putting his 190 IQ to use as he stated his position,

"So, Julian Donovan, if you don’t love her, then please stay out of her life from now on. I won’t be on your side, because she was never happy when she was with you."

Dylan finished speaking with a stoic expression, gave his father a deep look, and then turned and went back to his room, leaving Julian Donovan sitting there alone, his face a mask of astonishment.

The astonishment gave way to a long silence and deep thought.

He had to admit that Dylan’s analysis made a lot of sense.

’After I force her to admit she’s Naomi Shaw, what will I do then?’