Ignore Hubby and Son's Regret Shining Now novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 You Acting Out Because of Him?

“Demi?”

Wayne’s voice trembled slightly through the phone. Demi’s eyes instantly reddened.

“It’s me,” she said softly.

“Well, look who finally called. Did the pig fly, or did Nevin finally get hit by a truck?”

The familiar sarcasm made Demi laugh.

After all these years, Wayne Hudson was still the same sharp–tongued man she remembered.

Finished

“I heard Mr. Hudson’s been doing pretty well these years,” she teased. “Zero losses in court, huh? I came to give you some easy money.”

Wayne fell silent for a few seconds. He suddenly caught on to what she meant.

“Fine. You pick the place.”

By the time Demi finished getting ready, everyone was gone. She didn’t think much of it; grabbed her bag, and drove off.

At the café, Wayne was already waiting.

Demi’s lips twitched as Wayne glared at her from across the table, his eyes sharp and unblinking.

After what felt like forever, she finally snapped. “Wayne, do you stare at all your clients like that?”

“Not really,” he said with a smirk. “Most of my clients aren’t as tragic as you. I’m just taking a good look while I can; who knows if I’ll ever get to see you again?”

Demi went silent. She had no words.

Same old Wayne–still sarcastic, still impossible to deal with. When he got too worked up, he even reached over and flicked her forehead like she was a lost case.

To anyone watching, the scene looked oddly close, almost intimate.

Neither of them noticed someone in the corner quietly snapping a photo.

Demi didn’t want to drag this out. She went straight to the point, asking Wayne to draft a divorce agreement where she’d leave with nothing. She also had him draft another contract to cut off all financial ties with Nevin.

“Leave with nothing?”

Wayne almost threw his pen down. He exploded, “Demi, are you kidding me? The guy cheated, and you still want to walk away empty–handed? What are you, some kind of saint?”

1/4

1:33 pm M M

Chapter & You Acting Cup Because of Him?

Finishet

Demi let out a bitter smile.

She wanted nothing to do with Nevin.

His wealth, his fortune–none of it mattered to her. She didn’t need it, and she didn’t want it.

I’m not walking away with nothing,” she said calmly. “Read through these documents again.”

She explained the details of her annual dividends from Nevin’s company.

Demi wasn’t after his personal assets, but the dividends were rightfully hers.

Back in the hardest years, she was the one running around finding clients and building connections. Half of the company’s success today was because of her effort.

“Demi. you’re too soft.” Wayne said through gritted teeth. “If it were me, I’d take half his assets and then crush his company to the ground!”

Her tone stayed even. “I just want the divorce done. I don’t want to drag this out.”

Wayne sighed. “Alright, leave it to me. Demi, after all these years, you…” He stopped mid–sentence, then smiled faintly. “Forget it. Welcome back, Demi.”

Yeah.

I should have done this a long time ago.

After parting ways with Wayne, Demi went back to the villa.

The maid she had contacted earlier that week was already there for her interview.

“Ms. Snow, nice to meet you. Here’s my résumé,” the woman said politely.

Her name was Helga Bird. Demi had already reviewed her background carefully

“Helga, I’ve read everything in advance,” Demi said, handing her a stack of printed A4 sheets.

Each page was filled with detailed notes–Nevin and Orion’s favorite dishes, daily routines, and small habits, down to the brand of toothpaste and the length of their socks.

Helga was quietly stunned.

The woman standing before her didn’t seem like the lady of the house but more like a professional housekeeper trained to serve the real owners.

“This is the meal plan.‘ Demi continued. ‘Start by making a few dishes for lunch. I’ll taste them later.”

Helga smiled kindly. “Of course, Mrs. Blackwell. I’ll get started right away.”

Demi didn’t notice the complicated look in Helga’s eyes.

4:33 pm M M

Chapter 8 You Acting Out Because of Him?

Finlahe

She simply went upstairs.

By noon. Nevin sent a short text. I won’t be home for dinner. Don’t wait for me.”

Demi glanced at it, said nothing, and didn’t reply.

She’d had a cup of coffee that morning but no real appetite for lunch. Demi simply took a few bites before giving up.

Her body felt heavy and tired, the kind of fatigue that came with pregnancy. She lay down for a nap and was startled awake by the house phone.

“Demi, what on earth are you doing all day? Why is your phone off?”

Nevin’s harsh voice over the line made her chest ache.

When did he start talking to her like this–with nothing but irritation in his tone?

Demi gave a self–mocking laugh and checked her dead cellphone. “The battery died. I didn’t notice. What wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” Nevin almost laughed from anger. “Demi, what kind of mother are you? Orion got hurt! He’s in the hospital! Get here now!”

Her breath caught. “What? Orion–he-”

Beep! Beep!

Nevin had hung up. Demi didn’t even stop to think. She threw on some clothes and rushed out the door.

At the hospital, in the quiet hospital ward, Orion sat on the bed with his back to Demi.

His leg was wrapped in gauze at the knee. She couldn’t see the wound, but the nurse had said he d fallen a preschool and scraped it badly.

“Orion, does it hurt?”

She leaned forward gently, but the boy turned his head away, refusing to look at her

Worried he would make the wound worse, Demi didn’t push.

The silence in the room grew heavier by the second. She wanted to ask Orion. What did she do wrong Why did her own son hate her this much?

The room stayed silent until the door suddenly swung open.

Nevin walked in, his expression dark and cold. “Demi, is this how you carry out your duty as a mother Your son had ended up in the hospital with an injury. Where were you?”

Demi frowned. Was she supposed to watch him twenty–four hours a day?

4:33 pm M M

Chapter 8 You Acting Out Because of Him?

Finished

“I wasn’t feeling well,” she said quietly. “I fell asleep. My phone died. I didn’t know.”

Her eyes drifted to Orion’s bandaged leg as she spoke.

She knew it was her fault for missing the call, but did that really make her the villain here?

“Haha. Not feeling well, so you fell asleep?” Nevin’s voice was icy, his expression dark. “Demi, when did lying become so easy for you? Do you even think before you speak anymore?”

“What are you talking about?” Demi’s face flushed with anger.

Was he serious? Had he forgotten she’d been in the ER yesterday because of an allergic reaction?

“Fell asleep, huh?”

Nevin’s tone turned sharp, a cold smirk curling on his lips. Suddenly, he threw a stack of photos at her feet.

“Were you sick in bed or in bed with another man?”

Nevin’s glare cut into her. “Funny how you’re not feeling well but are strong enough to flirt with other men!”

Demi froze, then slowly looked down.

Scattered across the floor were photos–dozens of them. Photos of her and Wayne sitting at a café.

One captured her smiling across the table. Another showed Wayne gently tapping her forehead, teasing

her.

In one, he was looking at her with unmistakable affection.

The angles were strange, like they’d been chosen deliberately.

“Say it!” Nevin barked.

“This is what you meant by ‘your phone died? Our son was in the hospital, and no one could reach you, but your phone wasn’t dead when you met another man?”

His voice was low and dangerous now. The warmth in his eyes was gone, replaced by cold fury.

“Demi,” he said, his tone low and dangerous, “you’d better explain what’s going on. Who is he? Is he the reason you’ve been acting out over the past few days?”