Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 508: Your confidence in him is admirable

Kathrine’s eyes widened as he moved in to kiss her, but she quickly pressed her palm over his lips, stopping him.

"I have to get back to work, Ethan," she said, though she was smiling. "We can’t just disappear in the middle of the day."

He pulled back with an exaggerated sigh, his expression turning almost boyish.

"You’re cruel," he muttered.

She laughed softly and patted his cheeks. "Don’t make that face. Take me somewhere to eat instead. I’m starving."

Ethan leaned back against the seat, pretending to contemplate deeply.

"So you reject my very generous offer," he said dramatically, "and then demand food."

"Yes," she replied confidently. "That’s exactly what I’m doing."

He shook his head in mock defeat. "Fine. Lunch it is."

He started the engine and pulled out of the parking space, merging smoothly into traffic.

Kathrine leaned back in her seat, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. The earlier tension with his father still lingered faintly, but it no longer felt suffocating.

They were choosing each other.

And that choice felt steady.

However, neither of them noticed the dark sedan parked several rows away.

Its tinted windows concealed the figure inside.

The engine was off.

But the driver’s eyes remained fixed on Ethan’s car as it exited the underground area.

"Do you want me to follow them, Madam?" the driver asked, glancing at Norma through the rearview mirror.

Norma’s gaze remained fixed on the direction Ethan’s car had disappeared.

"No," she replied calmly.

The driver gave a small nod and returned his eyes to the road ahead, waiting for further instruction.

Norma continued to stare for a moment longer, her expression unreadable. The faintest curve touched her lips, not quite a smile, not quite satisfaction.

"Let them go," she said softly, almost to herself.

Her fingers tapped lightly against the leather armrest as if she were calculating something unseen.

Then she leaned back into her seat.

"Drive," she instructed.

The car eased forward smoothly, pulling away from the parking area.

Norma didn’t need to follow them.

Not yet.

Some moves were better observed from a distance.

And she had never been a woman who rushed her strategy.

***

Meanwhile, not far from Glorious International, Anna sat across from Shawn in a quiet corner of a café.

The hum of soft music and clinking cups masked their conversation well enough.

"Does your husband know you’re secretly meeting me?" Shawn asked lightly, leaning back in his chair.

Anna rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn’t have called you if Daniel didn’t know," she replied calmly. "He’s aware."

That answer seemed to please Shawn. A faint smile curved at the edge of his lips.

"So," he said, folding his hands on the table, "what are we discussing?"

"Collin has made a move," Anna said without hesitation.

Shawn straightened slightly.

"Do you want me to track him?" he asked. "Monitor who he meets? What he’s planning?"

Anna shook her head.

"No. Daniel already has that under control."

Shawn studied her face.

"Then what do you need from me?"

Anna leaned back in her chair, thinking carefully before speaking.

"I want you to make his move known to Hugo Bennett."

Shawn’s brows lifted.

"You want me to inform Hugo?" he asked slowly.

"Yes."

He tilted his head slightly, trying to understand her angle. "Why?"

Anna lowered her voice.

"Collin met Roseline. Privately. Behind Hugo’s back."

Shawn’s expression shifted.

"You’re certain?"

"Yes."

"And Daniel knows?"

"He does," Anna confirmed. "But this isn’t about surveillance anymore."

She paused.

"A part of me feels like this meeting isn’t something we can just ignore."

Shawn tapped his fingers lightly against the table.

"You think Collin is trying to drive a wedge between them," he said.

"Or leverage something," Anna replied. "Collin doesn’t move without intent. If he approached my mother, it means he wants something."

"And you think Hugo doesn’t know?"

"I’m not sure," she admitted. "But if he doesn’t, then he deserves to."

Shawn narrowed his eyes slightly. "This could escalate things."

Anna met his gaze steadily.

"They’re already escalating."

Shawn leaned back, considering.

"You’re asking me to expose tension inside their marriage."

"I’m asking you to ensure transparency," Anna corrected. "If Collin is trying to manipulate from the shadows, dragging him into the light weakens him."

Shawn studied her for a long moment.

"You’re thinking strategically," he said quietly.

"I learned from the best," she replied.

He gave a faint smirk at that.

"So how do you want this done?"

Anna folded her hands calmly and started dictating it.

After a while, Shawn let out a quiet sigh.

"Don’t worry," he said, finishing the last sip of his coffee. "Everything will be handled exactly as you instructed."

He stood up, adjusting his jacket.

"Oh well," Anna said casually.

Shawn paused mid-step and frowned slightly. "Aren’t you leaving?"

She clicked her tongue lazily, leaning back in her chair.

"I’m waiting for someone."

The crease between Shawn’s brows deepened. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He was about to ask who, but before he could, Anna suddenly straightened and waved toward the entrance.

"Here he is!"

Shawn’s head turned instinctively toward the café door.

And there he was.

Daniel.

He walked in with his usual composed stride, sharp eyes scanning the room before settling on Anna. The faintest softness crossed his expression the moment he saw her.

"You’re late," Anna complained dramatically, though the smile on her face betrayed her.

Shawn blinked.

For someone who knew Anna’s sharp tongue and calculating mind, watching her turn into a lovestruck wife within seconds was... disorienting.

Even more shocking was Daniel.

The man who usually carried a cold, unreadable expression was now smiling back at her.

Not politely.

Not strategically.

Genuinely.

Shawn looked between them.

"...I shouldn’t linger for too long," he muttered under his breath. He had no interest in becoming an unwilling audience to their affection.

’Suddenly, I miss my girl,’ he thought with mild annoyance.

Composing himself, he forced a polite smile and gave a small bow toward Daniel.

"Boss."

Daniel’s gaze shifted to him calmly.

"Oh? You two are already done discussing everything?" he asked, his tone light but perceptive.

Shawn shared a brief look with Anna, silently asking whether she intended to acknowledge his presence properly.

She ignored him entirely.

Instead, she stood up and walked straight toward Daniel, looping her arm through his without hesitation.

"Yes, we’re done," she said brightly, as if they had been discussing nothing more than a brunch menu.

Daniel glanced down at her, clearly amused.

"Is that so?"

"Yes," she nodded, tilting her head slightly. "You’re still late."

Shawn stared.

Was this the same woman who, ten minutes ago, had been orchestrating strategic leaks and calculating reputational damage?

Apparently, yes.

Daniel rested a hand lightly on Anna’s waist, his gaze briefly flicking back to Shawn.

"Then we’ll take our leave," he said calmly.

Shawn blinked.

Wait... shouldn’t I be the one leaving? Why are they—

The thought never finished.

Because the next second, Daniel was guiding Anna toward the exit as if the café belonged to them and everyone else was simply a background extra.

Shawn stood there, slightly bewildered, watching the couple walk out together.

"...Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath.

***

Outside, the sunlight reflected faintly off the glass walls of the café.

Daniel paused near the car and glanced back through the window. Shawn was still standing inside, frozen in place like someone trying to compute what had just happened.

"Do you think he’ll be okay?" Daniel asked, amusement faintly lining his voice.

Anna followed his gaze and shrugged casually.

"Of course. He’s just processing."

Daniel raised a brow. "Processing?"

"Yes," she replied lightly. "The fact that I can be terrifying in meetings and ridiculous in love within the same hour."

He gave her a sideways look. "Ridiculous?"

She smiled unapologetically. "You bring that out in me."

Daniel’s expression softened for a second before he masked it with composure.

Inside the café, Shawn finally seemed to snap out of his daze.

Anna chuckled under her breath.

"He’ll survive," she added. "He’s probably already missing Betty."

Daniel opened the car door for her.

"Your confidence in him is admirable."

"It’s realistic," she corrected. "Shawn’s dramatic, not fragile."

Daniel hummed in agreement and walked around to the driver’s side.

As he started the engine, Anna leaned back into her seat, satisfied.

The café slowly shrank in the rearview mirror.