When His Secret Mistress Decided to Leave

The charity banquet unfolded in a spectacle of grandeur, the hotel aglow in such opulence that it dazzled the eyes.

The ornate metallic doors parted slowly before Shayleen. Crossing the threshold into the hall, she felt a chill grip her, her gaze fixed on the two figures sharing gleeful smiles on stage, a sensation of her blood running cold.

Gina Macqueen and Linton Hafemeister.

Both were commanding presences in the room.

A collective gaze swiveled towards the entrance, all attention converging on Shayleen in an instant.

With a microphone in hand, Gina beamed graciously. "Today's gathering isn't just a celebration of the success of this fundraising endeavor; we also have a special guest with us. This guest, whom my father has supported for a decade, now a college senior of exceptional merit, please step forward, Shayleen."

Images flooded Shayleen's mind of that chilling night when her home's ceiling collapsed unexpectedly, her mother gravely injured and hospitalized. The corridors of the hospital echoed with sobs and lamentations, reporters swarming every inch…

It was the Macqueen family who had built her home.

Yet, they had not reached out to console Shayleen. Instead, they dispatched a lawyer to negotiate, offering to cover her education costs as long as she remained silent about the incident. Her father had been brought to the lawyer and, after thirty minutes, he signed a nondisclosure agreement.

Suppressing the impulse to flee, Shayleen rose amidst the applause, her gaze fixed on Linton.

His eyes held no emotions, but they briefly met hers before drifting away, almost as if his initial gaze had been a figment of imagination.

Later on, as all eyes remained on her, Shayleen rose, her steps heavy as if treading on razor-sharp blades, cutting into her every stride.

In a moment beneath the spotlight, she closed her eyes, bowed her head, her dignity seemingly crumbling to the ground.

"Shayleen," Gina murmured softly, her smile reflected in a whisper exclusive to them, "You appear rather stiff. It won't look good on camera... How about a smile?"

Gina's voice, soft as a babbling brook, pierced Shayleen's core.

Biting her lip, Shayleen mustered a faint smile, her gaze lowered.

The audience erupted in applause once more.

Satisfied, Gina arched her lips, casting a glance at Linton.

His indifferent expression assured Gina.

"Shayleen, you've come this far with the Macqueen family's support. Do you have any words you'd like to share with them?"

The media eagerly extended the microphone, eager to capture a potential news moment.

Shayleen remained silent, head bowed low.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Gina announced with a smile, "there is another matter I wish to disclose today. My wedding is set for the 15th of this month."

Shayleen's eyes roamed over Gina, eventually pausing on Linton's countenance.

Was it a trick of the eye? In that very moment, Linton's gaze appeared fixed on her.

Shayleen's breath quickened, and amidst the commotion, she departed the hall.

The voices behind her faded gradually, until she found solace against the wall, gasping for breath as the banquet hall dimmed into the night.

...

A soft gasp reverberated through the air, sending an involuntary shiver down Shayleen's spine at the touch of skin contact.

Turning her head delicately towards the window, she suppressed the rising desire that threatened to overflow from her throat, her gaze inevitably drawn to the figure beside her. A tremor coursed through her entire body as her fingers met the firmness of his chest.

"Could we stop now?" she ventured suddenly.

Momentarily, Linton's movements halted, his profile highlighted by the soft light becoming more exquisite and compelling, his gaze alone capable of captivating her.

He shifted, his eyes void of emotion, delivering in a low tone, "Shayleen, you are here by choice, you have no right to refuse."

With those words, her heart turned to ice.

Shayleen tensed, on the verge of response, when her arm was swiftly pulled overhead.

"Wait! I have something to tell you..." Her gaze held a glint of resolve as she prepared to speak, but Linton's forceful actions interrupted her once more.

A surge of pleasure overwhelmed her, rendering her speechless as tremors wracked her body amidst the loudening breaths and moans filling the space.

Struggling to maintain composure, she reached out to grasp her abdomen, the sense of pleasure leading her thoughts to fragment and drift away.

As the encounter concluded, Linton collapsed nearby, a pleasant fragrance wafting to Shayleen's nostrils, their perspiration glistening in the dim light.

Shayleen's vision blurred as she gazed at Linton, captivated by his flawlessly chiseled profile, finding it nearly impossible to avert her eyes.

Undoubtedly, Linton was the most striking man she had ever beheld, a magnet for all eyes with his esteemed status as one of Hafemeister Holdings' heirs.

Closing her eyes, she exhaled softly, her fingers tracing her abdomen as she gently inquired, "Are you planning to marry Gina?"

Linton remained silent, his eyes shut.

After scrutinizing his features for a fleeting moment, Shayleen gathered herself, reaching for clothing nearby to dress.

"You're quite loquacious today," Linton remarked suddenly, his raspy voice slicing through the air with a deep, chilling finality.

Shayleen's eyes drifted once again to her abdomen, before she composed herself and spoke, "I simply wish to determine if there is a future for us."

A faint furrow marred Linton's brow, "I never said it was over, thus it isn't."

Seven years had passed with Shayleen and Linton. Their relationship had commenced out of necessity, driven by the exorbitant medical bills for her father's dialysis, leaving her no choice but to barter benefits and her body.

Now, she found herself grappling with ambiguous emotions towards Linton, pondering if it was mere compliance or if something deeper had shifted.

A surge of realization quickened her breath as she cast one final glance at Linton.

"I understand," Shayleen responded. In that ephemeral instant before she turned away, she interlocked her hands tightly, her complexion draining of color in an instant.

She knew it had been a transaction of mutual benefit from the very beginning...

"The funds have been transferred to your account, and hospital arrangements have been finalized," Linton's voice reverberated once more.

"Thank you," Shayleen crossed the room towards the door, her fingers gripping the handle.

"I require the Macqueen family's influence," Linton's unexpected statement gave Shayleen pause, almost causing her to question if she had misheard.

Shayleen had often pondered if Linton's eyes were akin to glass—clear yet impenetrable, forever indifferent, concealing an elusive enigma behind that veneer of detachment, fleeting like a passing mirage.

Was that his rationale?

Linton, the unrecognized son of the Hafemeister lineage, acknowledged only three years prior following years of obscurity and strife she had personally observed. Maintaining his familial standing demanded a delicate balance of power and constraint.

A flutter stirred in Shayleen's heart, emotions teetering on the edge.

"The Macqueen family has shown you generosity. It is prudent for you to tread carefully, refraining from any missteps," His words shattered all of Shayleen's illusions.

Shayleen offered a faint smile, head bowed. "Are you concerned I may cause a disturbance?"

Linton met her gaze, his silence laden with unspoken messages.

Forcing a smile, Shayleen's heart sank deeper with each passing moment.

It dawned on her that his explanation was solely to forestall any potential outbursts from her.

"Fret not, my father's fate rests in your hands. I possess no authority to negotiate, only to comply," Shayleen raised her head and, after a lingering glance, turned and exited.

The door clicked shut.

In the dimness, Linton's breathing momentarily shifted tempo, a subtle alteration quickly normalizing.

Once more, he sealed his eyes in repose.

Shayleen briskly departed from the villa, an unfamiliar coldness enveloping her for the first time, as she battled the churning in her stomach and violently vomited under a nearby tree.

Amidst the turmoil, her phone rang, briefly breaking the chaos of her thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, she answered the call.

"Shayleen, you must come to the hospital immediately! We are in the midst of trying to save your father. Please come and sign the critical condition notice..."

"What did you say?"

After ending the call, a wave of cold and fear surged through her body, permeating every pore.

As Shayleen made her unsteady way to the emergency room door, her legs felt like jelly. Upon seeing the dimmed light outside the emergency room, her heart plummeted.

For seven long years, her father had been battling cancer. His condition began deteriorating a month ago, and Shayleen had steeled herself for the worst. However, the words "unable to save him" tore a massive hole in her heart, each breath feeling like a bleeding wound.

Approaching her, the attending doctor placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering whispered words of solace.

Blurry-eyed and speechless, Shayleen stood frozen.

Softly, the doctor extended condolences before departing, leaving her alone in the expansive hospital room.

Shayleen gazed at her father, trembling uncontrollably, her world shattered.

"Dad..." she murmured softly, the pain seeping into every breath.

Eventually, she steeled herself, stifling the grief in her heart to begin handling her father's affairs.

As the sky lightened, her father's body was escorted to the funeral home, the cremation scheduled for the dead of night, with Shayleen the sole mourner present.

In this city, her father's passing elicited no response or empathy. The only connection she held was with Linton, yet the financial link they shared didn't warrant disclosing her innermost struggles.

Her phone rang suddenly.

Despite the summer heat, Shayleen's limbs turned icy. Leaning against a tree, drained, she answered the call.

"Hello."

"Shayleen, we have reviewed your application, and Runewood University extends a welcoming offer. Moreover, if you engage in war correspondent training during your studies, the university will waive a portion of your tuition."

Straightening up, Shayleen inquired, "Are you certain?"

The caller sounded amused, "Indeed, Shayleen."

"Thank you so much."

After the call ended, she stood in silence for some time, grappling with her decisions.

With her father now gone, her main worry had dissolved. What was she hesitating for?

Glancing at her belly, she resolved to take action.

Two minutes later, she dialed Linton's number.

The call rang for what seemed an eternity. As her gaze dimmed, a connection was finally established.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end sounded cold.

"I have something important to discuss with you. Can we meet today?" Shayleen's blood ran cold upon hearing that voice. "If you're occupied today, then tomorrow. I can be patient."

There was a pause on the line for a brief moment. Over seven years, their interaction had been limited to instances involving his physical desires. This occasion appeared to be no different...

"Five p.m. at Milton Restaurant," Linton suddenly declared.

Relief flooded through Shayleen as she replied, her eyes sparkling, "Certainly."

The hours crept by in torment. Shayleen aimlessly roamed the streets for five agonizing hours, counting down to her rendezvous with Linton.

Upon her arrival at the restaurant, she found Linton already waiting for her.