CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 153 - 136: Joy and Harmony (Part 2)

Julian Donovan didn’t want to leave, but he knew he shouldn’t be there. There were some things she ultimately had to make clear to Sean Donovan. So, he shot Sean a fierce glare, let out a cold snort, and headed upstairs with his things.

Naomi Shaw looked at Sean Donovan apologetically. "I don’t have the key to your apartment with me. I’ll give it back to you at work tomorrow!"

Sean Donovan fought through the pain in his leg and limped over to stand before her, his voice thick with pleading. "Anna, you know I can’t live without you..."

Naomi Shaw’s heart ached seeing his face, drained of all color as he fought the pain in his leg. But in the end, all she could do was look away. "I’m so sorry, Sean. I don’t want to hold you back. You’re still young. How could a divorced woman with a daughter like me ever be worthy of you?"

Naomi Shaw was speaking the truth. Aside from the inconvenience of his leg, Sean Donovan was the cream of the crop. What woman was out of his reach? If she loved him, that would be one thing. But she only felt gratitude toward him, not love, so why did he have to press her so relentlessly?

Sean Donovan’s emotions spiraled out of control. He lunged forward, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her forcefully, his voice a pained plea. "I told you, I don’t mind! Don’t leave me, Anna! Don’t leave me... I’m begging you..."

’I really can’t live without her!’

In the days without her, his world had seemed to turn black, his eyes seeing only endless darkness. He stubbornly refused to call her Naomi, as if hypnotizing himself into believing she was still his Anna Quinn.

"I’m so sorry, Sean!"

Suppressing her own pain, Naomi Shaw pulled his hands away. With those words, she turned and walked toward the building. Behind her, Sean Donovan’s grief-stricken cry echoed, "Anna..."

Then came the heavy THUD of something hitting the ground. She whirled around in shock to see Sean Donovan collapsed in the snow, his face contorted in pain as he clutched his left leg.

She quickly rushed over to help him up. "Sean, are you okay?"

She had seen his leg flare up like this once before, the pain so agonizing he looked as if he wanted to die. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

「10th Floor.」

The man and the boy stood on the balcony, their faces grim as they watched the scene below. Julian Donovan was so furious his fists were clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles cracking audibly. It was clear he had reached the boiling point. Sean Donovan was despicable, exploiting her kindness and compassion by tormenting her with this self-pity ploy.

Dylan tilted his head to look at his father’s sour expression and murmured, "Didn’t you say not to get angry until the last second? Mom hasn’t made her decision yet. What are you so angry about?"

"How can I not be angry?"

Julian Donovan roared, unable to contain himself. ’What if that foolish woman’s heart softens and she takes pity on Sean and goes back to him? I want to rush downstairs and drag her away right now!’

Dylan thought for a moment before trying to comfort him. "Mom still loves you. It just seems like she’s afraid to love you now."

Julian Donovan’s expression softened slightly at Dylan’s words, but he still looked down at his son in confusion. "Why?"

"Because you hurt her so badly before! You terrified her!"

Dylan rolled his eyes at him and, with the air of a miniature adult, turned and went inside. "Stop watching. Hurry up and come in to make dinner for me and Joy. We’re starving!"

"Just hold on a minute!"

Julian Donovan snapped, his eyes still glued to the scene below. ’Being hungry for a little while is nothing. The real problem is, what am I going to do if my wife runs off with someone else?!’

「Down in the snow.」

Sean Donovan’s driver also rushed out of the car to help him up. "Mr. Donovan, it’s too cold out here. Let’s get in the car first!"

Sean Donovan stood there, refusing to move. He clutched Naomi Shaw’s hand and pleaded desperately, heedless of his composure. "Anna, I saved your life once. Now, can you save mine? Without you, I really can’t go on..."

Her goodness had always been his only anchor in a world of darkness, the one thing that allowed him to hold on to his last shred of conscience.

If he lost her, he would be completely consumed by darkness.

"Sean, don’t be like this..."

Although her heart ached to see Sean Donovan like this, Naomi Shaw ultimately pushed his hand away. "I’m going back now. The two kids are waiting for me to make them dinner."

Then she turned and quickly ran into the building.

’I once thought I could spend the rest of my life peacefully with Sean Donovan, but I’m finding more and more that I can’t do it. I don’t like his touch or his intimate gestures. It would be fine if we were just ordinary friends.’

’I admit that my feelings for Sean Donovan soured because of Julian Donovan’s return.’

’Without Julian Donovan to serve as a contrast, perhaps I wouldn’t have felt anything was wrong. But after he reappeared, every time I faced Sean Donovan, I felt uneasy and was acutely aware of my own inner rejection. The intense emotions I felt when facing Julian were a stark contrast to the utter lack of ripples in my heart when I was with Sean.’

’So, I have to end this mistaken relationship as soon as possible.’

"Anna..."

Sean Donovan’s indignant voice still echoed behind her as she rushed into the elevator, covering her mouth while tears streamed down her face.

’Sean, I’m so sorry. I’ve been selfish. If I had known I would cause you this much pain, I would rather have never met you. I would rather you hadn’t saved me. I would rather I had perished in that shipwreck.’

Behind her, Sean Donovan, his face a mask of pain, watched her silhouette disappear. He felt as if his entire world had just collapsed. The only person he had ever loved, the only happiness he had ever known, the only warmth he had in this world—none of it was his anymore.

Despairing and dejected, he reached a hand out into the falling snow, then clenched it into a tight fist. There was nothing in his grasp but the biting cold of the instantly melting snowflakes. He let out a mournful cry, raised a hand to cover his face, and sank to the ground, whimpering softly.

Just like after that tragic car accident in his childhood, he once again had nothing.

In that instant, a hatred as cold and biting as the surrounding air consumed him.

Naomi Shaw composed herself in the elevator. ’I was down there for so long,’ she thought, ’the kids must be starving.’ She hastily fumbled for her key and opened the door. Julian Donovan was blocking the entrance, his face cold as stone, standing there like a sentry. When he saw her come in, his tone was dripping with acid. "So, you’ve decided to come back after all."