CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 106 - 104: You’ve Always Been This Slick

"Julian, I’ve finished filming my show. I can take a break for a while. How about I go to Thailos to find you?"

"No need. I’m not in Thailos right now!"

He tossed the words at her coldly and hung up.

After she had left all those years ago, he had made things perfectly clear with Juliet Jennings. It was impossible for them to get back together. But Juliet refused to listen and pursued him relentlessly, and he was getting sick and tired of her.

After hanging up on Juliet Jennings, a saying suddenly came to mind: what goes around, comes around. ’Back then, she loved me, and I loved Juliet. Now, everything is reversed. Juliet is chasing me, and I’m chasing her.’

’Why couldn’t the three of them just love each other at the right time? Why did they have to wait until everything had changed to realize who they truly loved? Is it really true that you don’t know what you have until it’s gone?’

When Naomi Shaw arrived at the office, a young nurse pointed to a large, vibrant bouquet of roses on her desk and smiled at her.

"Miss Anna, your flowers! Looks like they’re from the Director!"

She walked over and picked up the card from the bouquet. It was indeed Sean Donovan’s handwriting.

"Anna, I’m so sorry about last night!"

She recalled his forceful kiss from the previous night, and her heart ached. Last night... had been truly uncomfortable for her. Growing up, she had never been intimate with any man other than Julian Donovan. The feeling was completely foreign to her.

She shook her head and let out a long sigh. ’It must be because my first love was Julian Donovan,’ she thought. ’That’s why I’m so resistant to anyone else.’

Just then, Sean Donovan’s call came in.

"Anna, did you get the flowers?"

She lowered her eyes.

"The flowers are beautiful, thank you!"

Sean Donovan seemed to want to say more, but she cut him off coolly.

"Okay, that’s all. I have to get to work now!"

She hung up, changed into her uniform, and threw herself into a busy day of work. Only by keeping herself busy could she forget the turmoil these two men were causing her.

During her lunch break, Naomi Shaw received a call from an unfamiliar number. Dylan’s happy voice sounded from the other end.

"Mommy!"

She was both surprised and overjoyed.

"Dylan? Where are you calling from?"

Heaven knew how much she missed Dylan. But because of Julian Donovan, she couldn’t see him every day and could only look forward to meeting him at the orphanage on weekends.

"I pestered my teacher until she let me use her phone to call!"

Dylan sounded very happy too. She chuckled softly.

"Alright, is there something you needed from Mommy?"

"Nothing, I just missed you. Mommy, how have you been these past few days?"

Dylan said, sounding like a little grown-up. A bittersweet feeling tightened in her chest.

"Yes, I’m doing well. How about you, Dylan? Has your stomach been hurting again?"

"I’m great!"

After saying that, Dylan asked her worriedly.

"Daddy hasn’t been bullying you, has he?"

She thought of his phone call last night and his behavior this morning.

"Uh, no..."

Dylan said with great solemnity.

"If he bullies you, you have to tell me! I’ll give him the silent treatment!"

She couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t know whether to be happy that her son was so firmly on her side or to feel sorry for Julian Donovan. Still, she gently chided Dylan.

"Dylan, you can’t treat him like that. He’s your father, after all. You have to respect and love him!"

Dylan pursed his lips on the other end and fell silent. She coaxed him in a soft voice.

"Tell Mommy your home phone number. From now on, I’ll call you every night. That way, you won’t have to borrow your teacher’s phone during the day, okay?"

"Okay! What time will you call, Mommy?"

Dylan was overjoyed. She thought for a moment.

"Is nine o’clock okay?"

By nine, she should be done with everything for the day. Dylan agreed.

"Okay! I’ll wait for your call tonight!"

"Okay!"

She was happy too. Even if she couldn’t see her son every day, just hearing his voice was enough. Just before they hung up, Dylan added plaintively.

"Mommy, I miss you so much. I wish the weekend would get here sooner!"

The weekend meant he could see his mom, and also his sweet little sister, Joy. In the end, Dylan was still just a child. Even though he was mature enough to actively try to keep his parents apart to prevent his father from hurting his mother, his attachment to her still uncontrollably burst forth. He had no idea how his longing tore at Naomi Shaw’s heart.

But there was nothing she could do but comfort him.

"The weekend will be here before you know it. Mommy will make you something delicious then!"

"Okay!"

Dylan finally hung up reluctantly. Naomi Shaw took several deep breaths to suppress the ache in her heart before pulling herself together to start a new task.

That evening, Julian Donovan went to pick Dylan up from school. After the little guy got into the car, Julian didn’t start the engine right away. He hesitated for a long moment before tentatively asking him.

"Do you want to see your mom?"

’Using Dylan is probably the only way I can get her to meet me now, right?’

"Nope!"

The little guy answered without a second thought. He had already called her at noon to tell her how much he missed her.

Rebuffed, Julian Donovan gave an awkward little cough and then asked again.

"Well... how about seeing Joy?"

’Didn’t the little rascal say he really liked Joy?’

Dylan looked at him, his little face stern, and said seriously.

"Nope! She’s the daughter Mommy had with another man. I hate her!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

’Hmph. As if I can’t see what Daddy is thinking. Isn’t he just trying to use me as an excuse to see Mommy? I won’t let him get his way!’

Julian Donovan, rebuffed once again, sheepishly started the car and drove off. Dylan shot him a sideways glance.

"Julian Donovan, don’t tell me you’re trying to ask my mom out. If you want to ask her out, just call her and do it sincerely. Why are you using us kids as an excuse!"

Scolded by his son, Julian Donovan flew into a rage out of sheer embarrassment.

"You think I don’t want to? She won’t agree to meet me!"

He had just called her, and she didn’t even pick up. It was infuriating.

Instead of comforting him, Dylan gloated.

"I want to eat the big lobster from the Seafood Palace! Julian Donovan, let’s go eat!"

Julian Donovan could only swallow his anger and drive his son to get lobster.

Meanwhile, Naomi Shaw was living her life peacefully. When Julian Donovan called her after work, she pretended not to hear it. She went with Sean Donovan to pick up Joy, and then they went home to eat.

When it was time for Sean Donovan to leave, she walked him out. But there was a new distance between them, and she didn’t walk as close to him as before. A flicker of hurt crossed Sean’s face. He made no further intimate gestures, simply looking at her and speaking softly.

"Anna, I have to go abroad for a conference tomorrow. I’ll probably be gone for about two weeks. When I get back, I’ll take you to meet my grandfather, okay?"

"Okay..."

She looked at Sean Donovan’s expectant eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. Sean added.

"Anna, since I’ll be gone for so long this time, you and Joy should come see me off at the airport tomorrow!"

"Mhm..."

Whenever Sean Donovan went on a long trip, he always asked her to see him off at the airport personally. He said that seeing her there made the business trips feel less tiring. Seeing that she had agreed, Sean finally said his reluctant goodbyes.

Naomi Shaw returned home, coaxed Joy to sleep, and after tidying up, she took out her phone to call Dylan. On the other end, Dylan and Julian Donovan had just gotten home after dinner. The moment the phone rang, Dylan darted over, grabbed the receiver, and dashed into his room. Julian, watching from behind, narrowed his eyes.

He had only installed that landline to get in touch with Dylan; most people called his cell. Seeing how eager Dylan was, he figured there was only one person it could be.

He strode into his own room and picked up the extension to listen in. Sure enough, it was her. The mother and son were chatting away, with Dylan telling her funny stories from school and her laughing softly and gently. It made his stomach churn with anger, and he SLAMMED the phone down.

The two on the other end heard the SLAM. A moment later, Dylan came storming up to his door, knocking furiously.

"Julian Donovan, what gives you the right to eavesdrop on my phone call?"

He opened the door and leaned against the frame, completely unapologetic.

"I’m your legal guardian. What’s this about eavesdropping!"

Dylan was furious.

"I’m running away from home! I’m going to find my mom!"

He bent down and chuckled.

"Want me to give you a ride?"

"Hmph! I’m not going to create an opportunity for you to see Mom!"

Dylan turned on his heel and went back to his room. Julian felt hurt and quite depressed. ’Doesn’t this little rascal want a complete family?’

The next day, Naomi Shaw woke up early and took Joy to the airport to see Sean Donovan off. His driver came to pick them up. After watching Sean walk through the boarding gate, she turned around, still holding Joy. As she reached the domestic arrivals area on the first floor, a voice suddenly called out from behind her.