CHAPTER 267: CHAPTER 267: SO YOU DON’T LOVE ME

On the day of the ancestral rites, almost everyone from the Rhodes Family, near and far, had gathered together.

Susan Wilde and Shawn Rhodes also attended. In front of others, Shawn wasn’t too intimate with her, but he didn’t speak as harshly as he did in private either.

Since Mrs. Morgan left, he had hardly returned to their marital home, except for one time when Mrs. Rhodes delivered something to their house, he came back once, dealt with it quickly, and then hurriedly left.

Susan Wilde gradually got used to this, pretending to play along with him in public, and living their separate lives in private.

Shannon Quinn found Susan Wilde, and the two stood in a corner chatting.

As an important figure in the Rhodes Family, Simon Rhodes was always busy, yet he would occasionally glance at Susan Wilde secretly.

Midway, Shannon Quinn went to look after Leo, leaving Susan Wilde to find a place to sit alone.

She wasn’t familiar with many of the Rhodes relatives, some of whom she only saw once a year, taking advantage of this occasion.

"How’s your hand?"

The voice that reached out brought Susan Wilde back to her senses, and she turned her head to see Simon Rhodes standing beside her: "...Uncle."

This form of address still felt a bit awkward to her.

Simon smiled gently, looking down at the place where she was burnt last time, which was hidden by her long sleeve.

Noticing his gaze, Susan Wilde forced a dry laugh and replied to his earlier question: "Thanks to Uncle’s medicine, it’s almost healed."

"That’s good. How have you been getting along with Shaw lately?"

"It’s okay."

Simon nodded thoughtfully but didn’t mention that he had seen Shawn Rhodes and Rowan Alder at the hospital that day.

Given Shawn’s temperament, he didn’t believe Susan Wilde could be doing well.

But since they were already married, outsiders had no right to interfere.

Arranged marriages mixed with interests—how much happiness could there truly be?

"Simon, who is this?" Rhea Fawcett walked over to Simon’s side, looking at Susan Wilde, and asked.

Even though Simon and Rhea hadn’t officially announced any engagement or relationship, since she had been by Simon’s side for so long, everyone had already accepted her as Simon’s future wife.

Simon glanced at Rhea, then replied, "This is Shawn’s wife. You were abroad during their wedding."

"Oh, Shaw’s wife, huh? She seems quite well-matched with Shaw."

Simon smiled, yet inwardly found the term "well-matched" somewhat unsettling.

He excused himself and left, with Rhea following him.

Susan Wilde got up, intending to find Shannon Quinn and play with Leo. Unexpectedly, she ran into Shawn Rhodes.

"What did he say to you?" he asked as soon as he opened his mouth.

Susan Wilde puzzledly responded, "Who?"

Shawn sneered, "Did you see someone more powerful than me and couldn’t wait to climb higher?"

Understanding what he meant, Susan Wilde chuckled coldly, "Don’t project your thoughts onto others."

"I just hope you know your place and stop flirting around."

Susan Wilde maintained a smile and replied, "Hope you hold yourself to the same standard."

After saying this, Susan Wilde turned and left.

She never thought of finding true love during her marriage, or rather, she no longer believed in love.

After the ancestral rites concluded, the people who had managed to gather dispersed one by one, and the vast villa quieted down once more.

Shane Royale said, "This is the Rhodes Family tradition, and even when I’m gone, you two brothers shouldn’t skip it."

Simon nodded, "Rest assured, Grandpa."

Shane Royale then looked at Landon Sutton and the family seated next to him, saying, "Now that Vincent is settled, I have nothing to worry about. As for you, you and Rhea have been together for a long time. It seems you have no issues with each other, so why not find a time for both of you brothers to have the wedding?"

Simon glanced sideways at Rhea sitting beside him and said, "I haven’t planned anything for now."

"Then when do you plan to? Do you still think you’re young? Now that Vincent is back, your company affairs have him, your younger brother, helping out. You should start considering your personal issues as well!"

Rhea, understanding the situation, helped out by saying, "Grandpa, Simon and I haven’t thought about this problem yet. Maybe we should discuss it when we have time and then decide."

"Fine, as long as you fulfill my wish soon. If the day comes that I go suddenly, I’d have no regrets."

After being lectured by Old Master Rhodes, Simon drove Rhea Fawcett home, both seeming to have something on their minds.

Eventually, Rhea was the first to speak, "Simon, we’ve been together for quite a while now. I believe we are suitable for each other in many ways. I’m not young anymore, and my family has been urging me to get married more than once. Now that Grandpa has said this, why don’t we just be together?"

After gathering her courage and saying this, Rhea looked up at Simon, anxiously awaiting his response.

Simon paused for a moment and said, "From the start, we agreed that if one of us wanted to get married, we could end our relationship at any time. I think it’s time for us to stop here. I will explain it clearly to your parents and handle things with Grandpa."

Rhea initially agreed to this condition, hoping for more opportunities to be with him, thinking that as they got closer, perhaps he’d eventually accept her.

But she hadn’t expected that he always drew a very clear line in their relationship.

She paused and asked the question that lay in her heart, "Why can’t we be together? I’ve noticed that you hardly have contact with any other women, so why can’t I be the one you marry?"

Simon didn’t quite know why he was so fixated on Susan Wilde, knowing there was no chance, yet still unable to let go and fall for someone else.

"You’re a good girl. You deserve a man who loves you and a happy marriage, not to make do with someone like me."

"So, you don’t love me," Rhea concluded from his words.

Having put in so many years of effort without any change, there naturally was some resentment. Even in losing, she wanted to lose with clarity.

"Then tell me, do you like someone?"

Simon paused for a moment before admitting graciously, "Yes, in a way."

"Then why don’t you go to her?"

Simon just smiled slightly bitterly, then stopped the car in front of Rhea’s house, saying, "We’re here."

Rhea didn’t know who the woman so lucky to become an indelible memory in his heart was. There was a bit of jealousy, yet she also realized she no longer had a chance.

As she pushed the car door open and got out, she said, "If you know there’s no result, why not try to let it go?"

Simon smiled at her and said, "That advice applies to everyone."

Rhea paused, realizing she was also someone reluctant to let go.