As the two chatted, Yancy Shaw came in, carrying a lunchbox in his hand. He nodded gently to Claire Xu, his expression warm.
“It’s lunchtime. I brought you something to eat from the hospital cafeteria.” He considerately placed the lunchbox on the bedside table.
Claire Xu playfully winked at her. “You eat, okay? I just remembered I have a lunch date, so I’ll get going.”
Without waiting for Lauren Shaw to respond, Claire Xu turned and swiftly left the ward, leaving the two of them plenty of space.
Lauren Shaw’s gaze lingered on Yancy Shaw’s clean, slender hands as he opened the lunchbox. Inside was pork rib and yam soup, its rich aroma wafting through the air.
He stirred the soup with a spoon, his fingers graceful.
Claire Xu’s words echoed in Lauren Shaw’s mind, and she couldn’t help but wonder—why would a man as refined and reserved as Dr. Shen treat someone he’d only met a few times with such care?
But on second thought, maybe it was just normal for a doctor to look after his patients. If she overthought it, wouldn’t she just be deluding herself?
Maybe he simply didn’t see her that way at all. Clearly, she was the one getting ahead of herself.
Holding the lunchbox in both hands, Yancy Shaw looked up at her.
Lauren Shaw, caught staring, quickly averted her gaze like a guilty child, embarrassed to look at him.
A subtle smile played on Yancy Shaw’s lips. He picked up the lunchbox, brought a spoonful of soup to her mouth, and said, “It’s a bit hot, so drink it slowly.”
Lauren Shaw, never having been cared for by a man like this, felt a little out of her element. She reached out and took the lunchbox. “I can do it myself.”
At first, Yancy Shaw didn’t let go, but when Lauren Shaw’s soft hand brushed against his, he slowly released it.
Bowing her head over the meal, Lauren Shaw felt his intense gaze on her. She looked up at him. “Dr. Shen, aren’t you going to eat?”
“I’ve already eaten.”
Yancy Shaw’s eyes crinkled in a deeper smile as he watched her mouth stuffed with food.
Lauren Shaw blinked in confusion, but he tore off a napkin and wiped her mouth for her, making her suddenly aware of her slip.
“You eat,” he said. “I’ve got a surgery this afternoon. If you need anything, just call the nurse.”
“Alright, thank you for today, Dr. Shen.”
Yancy Shaw only smiled and said nothing.
Inside a private suite at the Royal Club.
Hugo Pierce let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Yvonne Sung slouched on the sofa.
“What’s the point of this? The wedding’s at the end of the month, and you just had to stir up all this drama. Now you’ve not only lost the bride, but shot yourself in the foot too.”
(If you don’t seek trouble, trouble won't find you.)
Word is, the Shaw family is pulling out their investment. Everyone knows the Sung family has been thriving the last two years thanks to their help. Now with this fiasco, you can bet the Lis won’t stick around.
Yvonne Sung said nothing, just downed a glass of liquor in one shot.
“If you ask me, just call Lauren Shaw and apologize. Let’s sort this out now. Cut things off with Yana Quinn, maybe Lauren Shaw will even forgive you.”
Yvonne Sung snorted coldly. “Like I need her forgiveness.”
Hugo Pierce knew he was just being stubborn. In all the years they'd known each other, the last time Yvonne Sung was like this was when he broke up with Yana Quinn.
“No? Then why are you acting like this? Shouldn’t you be consoling Yana Quinn instead?”
Hugo Pierce’s words struck a nerve, and Yvonne Sung’s hand stilled around his glass.
Hugo Pierce saw through him. “How about I call Lauren Shaw? Maybe she’s just waiting for you to admit you were wrong. It’s not shameful for a man to swallow his pride.”
Yvonne Sung knocked back another shot, voice muffled. “She already blocked me.”
Hugo Pierce took out his own phone. “Then I’ll call her.”
With that, he dialed Lauren Shaw’s number.
Lauren Shaw was watching TV when she saw Hugo Pierce’s call. Not thinking much of it, she answered.
“Lauren Shaw, are you busy?”
Hugo Pierce was neighbors with Claire Xu and got on reasonably well with Lauren Shaw—she found him more reliable than Yvonne Sung, at least.
“No, go ahead.”
Hugo Pierce handed the phone to Yvonne Sung, signaling for him to say something.
But there was only silence on the line. Thinking the signal had dropped, Lauren Shaw called into the phone a few times.
Hugo Pierce, seeing Yvonne Sung staying mute, took back the phone and switched it to speaker.
“I just wanted to ask about what’s going on between you and Yuche. Maybe it’s all a misunderstanding? He’s feeling really down about all this—he never meant to hurt you—”
Hugo Pierce glanced at Yvonne Sung, who only glowered, and continued to ramble endlessly into the phone.
Just the mention of Yvonne Sung’s name filled Lauren Shaw with disgust. She wanted nothing more to do with him.
“Hugo Pierce,” Lauren Shaw said, her voice gentle.
“Yes? I’m listening.” Hugo Pierce raised his eyebrows at Yvonne Sung, thinking she was about to let go of her anger.
“Please don’t mention that person’s name in front of me ever again. I have nothing to do with him anymore. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up—I’m busy.”
The smile on Hugo Pierce’s face froze. Before he could reply, she’d already hung up.
The suite fell into silence. Lauren Shaw’s words had come through loud and clear to Yvonne Sung.
“Go on, laugh. Why aren’t you laughing?” Yvonne Sung shot Hugo Pierce a mocking look.
He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “You think she ever really loved me? Just because of some trivial thing, she broke off the engagement—how’s that love?”
Hugo Pierce replied calmly, “You can’t blame her for any of this. You were the one in the wrong. Lauren Shaw’s a great girl—she’s been devoted to you all these years, and you really hurt her this time.”
He’d once thought this was all just a misunderstanding, but after hearing Lauren Shaw’s tone, he knew it was much deeper than that.
Hugo Pierce understood her character—she’d never let go so easily, unless she’d been truly hurt. Yvonne Sung had brought this all on himself.
Yvonne Sung suddenly flared up. “Shut up. My business is none of yours.”
Angrily, he kicked open the suite door and stormed out.
After he left, Hugo Pierce called Claire Xu.
“Looks like Lauren Shaw is really done with Yvonne Sung.”
“Good for her! That scumbag doesn’t deserve her. Sheng Sheng deserves someone much better.”
Hugo Pierce agreed wholeheartedly. These past few years, they’d all seen how Lauren Shaw treated Yvonne Sung.
If you don’t like someone, just say so—there’s no need to string them along.
But Yvonne Sung hadn’t refused her love—instead, he'd taken it for granted, treating her as a backup.
Hugo Pierce had warned him plenty in the past. He'd thought maybe the marriage proposal meant Yvonne Sung had finally changed, but as they say: a leopard can’t change its spots.
Those who betray true feelings are doomed to face retribution.
When it comes to love, you have to understand your own heart. You can’t have your cake and eat it too—if you’re too selfish, it’s yourself you end up hurting most.