"From what they said, she is so outstanding and beautiful that no lady in Baltimore can compare to her."

Shawn agreed with her on that. It was a non debatable fact that Kathleen was outstanding in every aspect, especially in frustrating him to the extent of making him lose all sense of rationality whenever he was with her and end up pining for her all day.

"Cut to the chase," he snapped at his mother. "Where are you headed with all of these?"

’If only you knew it was the same Kathleen whom you hate with the whole of your heart, I wonder if you would be this energetic and excited talking about her.

"Can’t you read in between the lines?" his mother retorted. She seemed to have forgotten how scared she was of this son a few minutes back. Maybe it was as a result of the intrinsic nature of mothers to always feel that their sons should always obey them.

"I’m sorry I don’t have the luxury of time for that. I only read between the lines for things that are beneficial to me."

"What better benefits are you still aspiring for at this stage of your life other than a good marriage?"

"What do you want? Be specific and stop beating about the bush."

"Haven’t I made it clear enough? Since you are feigning ignorance, I will spell it out to you." With an exasperated sigh Joanne said,

"I want to make Director Wyatt’s daughter my daughter in-law."

"Really? What happened to your undying devotion to the Beazell family? Is Linda no more your perfect candidate for a daughter in-law?" Shawn mocked.

"Are you no longer committed to giving her the title of Mrs Hudson Junior?"

Joanne’s lips curled in disgust."That was in the past. Moreover I won’t want my only son to be associated with a family that has the stain of murderers."

Shawn couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He never knew his mother was this two-faced.

Was she not the one that was blaming him right now for not standing up for the same "family of murderers?"

He had always known that it was all because of the profit she stood to gain, not because she truly loved Linda, that she had been advocating for him to settle down with Linda. Now a better and more lucrative fish was in the ocean and she couldn’t wait to cast her greedy net at it.

’I wish I could unmask her before that foolish Linda and her worthless family.’ She didn’t even think twice about flinging them aside like dirt the moment the next rich girl came calling.

Oblivious of how her image had deteriorated in her son’s heart, Joanne rattled on.

"From what I hear, Director Wyatt’s daughter is brilliant, well accomplished and very beautiful. She is the perfect match for you."

"You think so?" Shawn folded his arms in front of his chest as he stared at his mother in disbelief, no longer pretending to be busy with work.

"Mm-hmm," Joanne replied animatedly.

She had already started visualizing what it would be like to have someone like Director Wyatt’s daughter as a daughter-in-law.

’Imagine having an heiress as part of our family— a woman of such grace and success. I’d be honored to be her mother-in-law"

She imagined family gatherings, where she would be seated across a huge dinning table sharing experiences, and forming a close bond over a sumptuous meal with the Wyatts.

This was the kind of daughter in-law she needed. Someone she could be proud of and proudly flaunt before all her friends and enemies. Not a penniless and useless girl like Linda who only knows how to act coquettish and shop all day long. Or a shameless gold digger who has nothing to bring to the table like Kathleen.

Director Wyatt’s daughter was the perfect choice and she would do whatever it takes to get her.

Besides, there was no other man in Baltimore that can compare to her Shawn. Director Wyatt would have no choice than to accept him.

She couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of having such an accomplished and poised woman as a potential addition to their lives and didn’t know that she was actually smiling.

Shawn smirked at the foolish smile on his mother’s face.

"Well I’m not interested," he declared with a note of finality, completely wiping off the smile on Joanne’s face.

Joanne was like a child whose best candy had been snatched from her. "Can you look beyond your stubborn pride and consider the future for once?"

"If I didn’t consider the future would I be where I am today?" Shawn shot back.

"For your information, your idea of a future is not the same with mine, so keep me out of whatever fickle future you are planning."

Joanne was about to die from anger.

’I’m sure it’s because of that vixen Kathleen that he is saying all these. I wonder who I offended that have cast an evil eye over my once perfect family." she wailed inwardly, not forgetting to curse Kathleen several times in her heart.

"You have to be interested, son." Joanne moved over from the couch to stand in front of Shawn’s large mahogany table , then dropped a bombshell.

"Infact, I’m planning to see her parents soon. We can’t miss this opportunity." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Shawn shrugged as if what she was talking about had nothing to do with him and said casually.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you."

As expected his mother turned a deaf ear.

"It’s okay to be concerned. But you are not me, she turned around to leave."

At the door she turned back with an ambitious smile. "Wait for my good news."

With that, she waltzed out the same way she had come, very happy with the success of her mission.

Shawn shook his head and for the first time in days felt truly happy. He couldn’t wait for his meddling mother to receive the shock of her life.