CHAPTER 388: CHAPTER 388: CUT HER SOME SLACK

Audrey Sutton wiped away her tears haphazardly and, with a heavy heart, deleted all her previous chat records.

She changed her profile picture to a black image, with only a small white star in the center.

She remembered how he once said that even if she was just a tiny star among countless others in the sky, in his eyes, she was the brightest one...

Frequent posts on her feed, deliberately using his card, changing the couple’s profile picture...

It was all just to get his attention.

Yet he seemed to have completely vanished from her life.

If she doesn’t reach out to him, will he truly act as if she doesn’t exist?

...

On the third day of her return to the island, Shane Warner came back to the country, looking somewhat fatigued; Faye Xavier mentioned he had lost weight over the few days he was abroad.

Shane Warner went straight home from the airport. He knew she wasn’t there, but he had carefully read through every post she made on her feed.

The day she changed their couple profile picture, he smoked approximately two packs of cigarettes to get through the long night.

These days, he’s been pondering whether he should live selfishly for himself or exist for his deceased brother.

At the moment, all he knows is that Audrey Sutton has had contact with Vincent Warner; this doesn’t necessarily mean she’s been conspiring with him. After all, they’ve been married for over a year, during which she hasn’t caused him any harm or trouble.

In other words, she might have teamed up with Vincent, but it’s also possible she’s just a woman who deeply loves him.

If he decides to disregard all of this and solely focus on reclaiming what belonged to his brother, he might lose a woman who truly loves him.

Previously, when unburdened, Shane believed he wouldn’t be swayed by emotions.

Now, even if there’s the slightest chance, he finds himself holding onto the hope of continuing their relationship.

Judging by her recent posts, she seems to have adapted well to life without him; even without him, she can be happy.

As if she’s a little angel fallen from heaven, spreading joy wherever she goes. At twenty, her life has only just started.

There are many men eager to marry her.

The thought of her belonging to another man makes Shane feel upset.

Irritated, he tossed his car keys onto the foyer cabinet, walked straight to the bar, opened a bottle of wine, and drank directly from it.

His weary eyes gradually turned sharp; he decided that even if Audrey were his adversary, he must keep her by his side.

Even if Vincent uses her, it doesn’t necessarily make him a match for Shane; why should he concede defeat?

He can completely possess Audrey while also reclaiming what he wants.

After drinking half a bottle in two gulps, he picked up his phone and sent Faye Xavier a message: Keep an eye on Vincent Warner, watch him 24/7 for me.

Faye Xavier didn’t question, only replied with two words: Yes, sir.

Immediately after, another message came: Master Shane, I heard from Phoebe King that you had a falling out with your wife? Did she mention divorce or something? What’s going on?

Shane Warner: No divorce.

Faye Xavier: I’m just saying, Master Shane, your wife may be understanding normally, but she’s a young girl barely in her twenties. She just turned twenty-one; show her some leniency. If you really anger her and she leaves, where will you cry then?

Shane Warner wasn’t in the mood for idle chatter with Faye Xavier and simply said: Keep an eye on Lan Irving too.

Faye Xavier: Lan Irving?

Shane Warner didn’t reply further.

After Lan Irving resigned, he hadn’t paid her much attention and had nearly forgotten about her.

But recalling the strange emails she previously sent about whether the car accident back then was related to Stephen Sutton, it’s something he still needs to investigate.

Regardless of Stephen’s involvement, it’s not the real reason for his emotional turmoil.

Killing is illegal and would naturally be punished by law; if Stephen’s truly involved, the court will decide the judgment—it’s not his place to indiscriminately blame Audrey for Stephen’s mistakes.

What matters to him now is whether Audrey is secretly in contact with Vincent, and if so, whether she’s aware or being manipulated?

Soaking in the bathtub, he looked at the chat page between him and Audrey.

The last message was from her, sent a week ago.

He opened her profile picture to take a look; it was simply pitch black with a glowing little star. He didn’t understand if there was any special meaning behind it; he just felt uneasy seeing their couple’s profile picture gone.

He stared at the chat box for a while, wanting to reach out to her, but after these days of silent contention, he didn’t know how to start.

He felt he owed her an apology, yet sending a message as if nothing happened seemed wrong, even to himself.

It’s better to find her face-to-face.

Shane Warner exited the chat page and booked a flight for the day after tomorrow, planning to deal with work at the company tomorrow, and then stay on the island with her.

After finishing his bath, wrapped in a towel, he exited the bathroom, heading toward the closet while thinking about how, when she was home, she’d always lay out the pajamas he needed in front of the bathroom door.

Opening the closet door, he immediately saw the wedding dress messily stuffed inside.

Shane Warner paused, reaching to pick up the gown.

This was custom designed by a friend specifically for her, and this is the first time he’s seeing the finished product.

Holding the wedding dress, he imagined how beautiful she would look wearing it...

Yet, recalling the disheveled state of the dress earlier, he could picture how upset she must have been.

These days, the image of her crying in the yard watching him leave kept replaying in his mind.

In hindsight, he couldn’t fathom how he managed to be so heartless back then.

Finding some sleepwear, he placed the gown in his suitcase and packed a few changes of clothes.

Seeing her clothes hang in abundance in the wardrobe, gazing at their cold, empty home, Shane Warner sighed.

Choosing not to rest at home to adjust to the jet lag, he went straight to the office.

At night, the small island was beautifully tranquil and romantic.

Audrey Sutton drank some red wine, lying on her bed, looking at her phone, WhatsApp.

After deleting the chat records, the page no longer had his chat box.

Every day, she would open his profile page just to take a look, even if there wasn’t much information there.

Seeing he hadn’t changed his avatar slightly relieved her, though only just barely.

During the day, she always masked her emotions, not wanting her family to worry, only daring to cry at night under her covers.

She always takes forever to fall asleep and has no appetite for food.

When her grandma asked why she was eating so little, she simply brushed it off with a smile, using the excuse of dieting, though it led to her grandma scolding her.