Chapter 3: The Woman He Never Chose

Sean arrived at the luxury restaurant nearly forty minutes late.

Shelby was already waiting with an annoyed expression.

"You're late," she complained.

"You never keep me waiting."

Sean took his seat without responding immediately.

"Something came up at the company."

Shelby noticed his distracted expression.

"You've been thinking about your wife again, haven't you?"

"No."

"Then why do you look so absent-minded?"

Sean poured himself a glass of water.

"It's nothing."

Shelby reached across the table and held his hand.

"Sean, you promised we'd announce our relationship soon."

"How much longer do I have to hide?"

Sean looked at her calmly.

"I'll handle it."

"When?"

"Soon."

Although his answer sounded confident, even he wasn't sure why he hesitated.

The divorce he had wanted for years suddenly didn't seem as straightforward anymore.

Meanwhile, Shannon had fallen asleep beside John's hospital bed.

She woke only when a nurse gently tapped her shoulder.

"Mrs. Ford."

"Someone left flowers for your son."

Shannon looked toward the small bouquet sitting on the windowsill.

There was no name attached.

"Who brought them?"

"A gentleman."

"He didn't leave his name."

Shannon smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

John opened his sleepy eyes.

"Mom... are those for me?"

"They are."

"Someone wants you to get better soon."

The little boy grinned happily.

"Maybe Dad sent them."

Shannon forced herself to smile.

"Maybe."

Deep inside, she knew Sean had no idea where John even was.

The following afternoon, Shannon visited another bank.

She had already been rejected twice.

Still, she refused to give up.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Ford," the loan officer said politely.

"Without collateral, we can't approve this amount."

"Please."

"It's for my son's surgery."

"I truly wish I could help."

"But these are company policies."

Walking out of the bank, Shannon felt more helpless than ever.

Her phone suddenly rang.

It was the hospital.

"Mrs. Ford," the nurse said urgently.

"John's condition has become unstable."

"Please come immediately."

Shannon rushed toward the hospital without another thought.

By the time she arrived, doctors had already transferred John to intensive care.

"Doctor!"

"How is my son?"

"He's stable for now," the physician answered.

"But the surgery cannot be delayed much longer."

Shannon nodded while fighting back tears.

"I understand."

"I'll arrange everything."

Hours later, she sat alone outside the ICU.

Her phone displayed only one contact she could still call.

Sean.

She stared at his name for several minutes.

Finally, she pressed the call button.

"Hello?"

"Sean..."

"What is it now?"

"Can we meet?"

"I really need to talk to you."

"I'm busy."

"Please."

"Just ten minutes."

Silence filled the line.

"Tomorrow morning," Sean finally replied.

"My office."

"Don't waste my time."

The call ended.

The next morning, Shannon arrived at Ford Group earlier than usual.

This time, Sean was alone.

"Sit," he said.

"Thank you for seeing me."

"Get to the point."

She took a deep breath.

"I need another advance."

Sean laughed bitterly.

"Again?"

"Your demands keep growing."

"I wouldn't ask unless it was absolutely necessary."

"Everyone says that before asking for money."

"Sean..."

"Enough."

"Tell me one thing honestly."

"Do you love me... or my money?"

The question left Shannon speechless.

She slowly lifted her eyes toward him.

"If I only wanted your money..."

"I would've left years ago."

"Really?"

"Then why stay?"

Countless answers rushed through her mind.

Because I love you.

Because John deserves a father.

Because I kept believing you'd change.

Instead, she quietly replied,

"Because I made a promise."

"A promise?"

"To whom?"

"Someone important."

Sean frowned.

"You're becoming mysterious."

"Forget it."

He opened his desk drawer before taking out another envelope.

"This is the last time."

"After this, stop coming here every few days."

"I don't like people thinking my wife is begging me for money."

His words stung deeply.

Shannon accepted the envelope anyway.

"Thank you."

As she turned toward the door, Sean suddenly spoke again.

"Shannon."

"Yes?"

"Who exactly is John?"

Her body froze.

"You mentioned his name several times recently."

"Who is he?"

For one terrifying second, Shannon almost told him everything.

But the memory of his cold expression stopped her.

"He's..."

"A relative's child," she answered quietly.

"He's very sick."

Sean studied her face.

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"You always avoid my eyes when you lie."

Shannon lowered her gaze instinctively.

"Believe whatever you want."

She walked away before another word could escape her lips.

Sean remained seated behind his desk, staring thoughtfully at the closed office door.

Something about today's conversation felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Later that afternoon, his assistant entered carrying several documents.

"Sir, here's the background report you requested."

"Background report?"

"On Mrs. Ford's recent activities."

Sean opened the file.

His expression slowly changed.

Nearly every location Shannon had visited over the past month was listed.

Banks.

Hospitals.

Pharmacies.

Medical supply stores.

Not luxury boutiques.

Not expensive restaurants.

Not shopping malls.

Only hospitals.

"Why would she spend so much time there?" Sean muttered.

His assistant hesitated.

"Should we investigate further?"

Sean stared at the report for several long seconds.

Then he slowly nodded.

"Find out everything."

"Especially this... John."

Unaware that Sean had begun investigating, Shannon sat beside John's hospital bed that evening, gently holding his tiny hand.

"Don't worry," she whispered.

"Mom will protect you."

"No matter what it costs."

Outside the room, two unfamiliar men quietly watched before making a phone call.

"Mr. Ford was right," one of them reported.

"Mrs. Ford is here."

"And the child... appears to be seriously ill."