CHAPTER 171: CHAPTER 171: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

Shannon Quinn momentarily lost herself, seemingly considering this question for the first time. She couldn’t figure it out herself.

"I don’t know."

Maybe she never loved him, after all, Vincent Rhodes was in her world for too little a time, let alone them experiencing or spending much time together.

If she didn’t love him, how could she have ever thought about spending a lifetime with him?

"What do you mean you don’t know? Just say, do you feel any reluctance about this divorce?"

Shannon Quinn vaguely replied, "It’s okay."

Perhaps when the thought first arose, she felt hesitant and reluctant, but as her expectations for Vincent Rhodes repeatedly turned into disappointments, those feelings seemed to fade.

She felt that two people from different worlds being together would only make each other feel exhausted.

The stability and care she wanted, he couldn’t provide, and the understanding and patience he wanted, she couldn’t offer.

Separation might be the best choice.

The baby started crying, and Shannon Quinn immediately set down her breakfast and hurried to the stroller to pick up the child.

Her posture of holding the baby was already very skilled, lightly patting the baby’s back, swaying her body, until the child fell back asleep...

The summer night was a bit humid, and darkness had already settled in.

Shannon Quinn put the child to sleep and then began her own work.

She had started gradually returning to work, grateful to have met someone as understanding as Aidan Lockwood, who accommodated her needs by allowing her not to work regular hours at the studio.

To say there was no pressure would be dishonest; though Vincent Rhodes promised a monthly allowance, she feared that without some financial buffer, she might not be able to provide adequately for the child.

The fan whirred loudly, and Shannon Quinn casually put up her long hair, picked up a pen, and continued with her design drafts.

She wore only a spaghetti strap nightgown, and with her hair up, it revealed her delicate collarbones, with some wisps of hair falling down, adding a faint touch of allure.

"Ding dong."

The phone screen displayed a new message; not many people messaged her, mostly adverts or Vincent Rhodes.

She didn’t expect much, just glanced casually, vaguely seeing that the message didn’t look like an advert, she paused for two seconds, then set down her pen.

She unlocked and opened the message, daring to confirm it was indeed from Vincent Rhodes.

At that moment, her calm heart still experienced a wave.

The message was brief: "Are you home?"

Staring at the message, she remained silent for a few seconds before typing back a single word: "Yes."

The phone almost immediately rang, startling Shannon Quinn; hesitating, she answered, and his voice, no longer hoarse, carried a probing inquiry: "Able to come upstairs?"

"What’s the matter?"

"I’m downstairs."

Shannon Quinn, clutching her phone, opened the glass door onto the balcony, and looked downstairs, spotting him at once.

The distance was far, unclear of his appearance, but she could confirm that person was him.

"I’ll come down," Shannon Quinn said and then hung up the phone, went inside to get a coat, glanced at the sleeping child, who likely wouldn’t wake abruptly, hesitantly went downstairs.

She rarely saw him smoking, recalling this as the first time.

Seeing her come down, he extinguished the half-smoked cigarette, turned to toss it into the trash can behind him.

Shannon Quinn stopped a meter away from him, looking at him but saying nothing.

Vincent Rhodes gave her a once-over, the loose coat unable to hide her thin frame.

"Why have you lost so much weight?"

Shannon Quinn lowered her gaze, not answering his question, coldly asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Sorry to trouble you, Shannon, it’s regrettable I wasn’t able to be with you during this time, I..."

"Not necessary, I’m indifferent, can manage things alone."

Vincent Rhodes took a deep breath, knowing she said she didn’t care, but what woman wouldn’t be? Yet no words could make up for what he owed her and the child now.

"Let’s take some time tomorrow morning to go to the civil affairs bureau and get the paperwork done."

Upon hearing her words, Vincent Rhodes paused before he nodded: "Okay."

A light word, yet it took tremendous resolve to say.

"What about the child? Can I take a look?"

Shannon Quinn didn’t immediately reply; not seeing him, she felt she could be ruthless, but upon seeing him, her heart seemed to soften, ultimately choosing to be a not-so-understanding woman: "Forget it, no need, the child just fell asleep."

Vincent Rhodes didn’t insist; from pregnancy to delivery, he hadn’t fulfilled the responsibilities of a husband and father. She undoubtedly harbored some resentment toward him, not wanting him to see the child was expected.

"Has the child been named?"

Shannon Quinn remained silent.

Vincent Rhodes directly said: "Let the child take your surname, call him Finn Quinn, I hope his future will be free, able to do what he wants and love who he wants."

Shannon Quinn took a deep breath, his words making her chest tighten, only responding: "It’s not your concern."

Vincent Rhodes smiled bitterly, not daring to bring up matters about the child again, Shannon Quinn’s cold demeanor was more painful than a sharp knife piercing his body.

"While taking care of the child, don’t forget to take care of yourself, be good to yourself."

Shannon Quinn said nothing, it seemed she came downstairs just to remind him about tomorrow’s divorce formalities, beyond that, there were no words left to say to him.

"Go back, rest early."

Shannon Quinn lowered her gaze and stood still for two seconds as if there were still things they’d like to say, ultimately neither spoke again.

Turning around to enter the building, without glancing back at him.

Vincent Rhodes stood where he was, watching her figure disappear, didn’t leave immediately, lighting another cigarette, standing thoughtfully under the building.

After returning to her room, Shannon Quinn couldn’t help but go to the balcony, assuming he had already left, only to find he was still downstairs.

Unable to clearly see his face, yet able to discern his loneliness.

Shannon Quinn merely comforted herself, any decision comes with gains and losses, when gains outweigh losses, it’s worthwhile.

She only saw his lonely appearance, but couldn’t see her own frail solitary silhouette.

The baby started crying in the bedroom, Shannon Quinn immediately retracted her thoughts and gaze, hurriedly headed to the bedroom.

Picked up the crying child, her movements in feeding still skilled.

Looking at the child’s angelic appearance, then thinking of the father who never saw him, she wondered if she was too cruel.

Tears came without reason, she didn’t know why she was crying.

Perhaps with the divorce, she was somewhat reluctant...

But the helplessness of reality forced her to make such a decision.

Once the child fell asleep again, she returned to the balcony, knowing he likely had left, yet felt a pang of loss seeing the empty roadside downstairs.