Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 485: Of course she did

While Anna and Kevin were spiraling in their own dramatic ways, Betty was waking up to a very different kind of aftermath.

Sunlight streamed lazily through the blinds of Shawn’s apartment, cutting warm lines across the sheets.

Betty blinked.

And then she winced.

Every muscle in her body protested as she shifted slightly, a very specific kind of soreness making itself known. Not painful — just... intensely present.

"Oh my God," she muttered to herself, burying half her face into the pillow.

She groaned softly and rolled onto her back — immediately regretting it.

Yep.

Definitely sore.

But there was also something else.

A faint smile crept onto her lips despite herself. She turned her head and noticed Shawn was beside her.

Fragments of last night came rushing back and her cheeks flushes crimson red.

That was intense, Betty thought for what had to be the hundredth time.

Her cheeks warmed as flashes of the night before replayed in her mind — the way Shawn had looked at her when he said he wouldn’t go easy on her. The way he had absolutely meant it.

And judging by the very noticeable soreness in places she refused to think about too deeply... he had stayed true to his word.

A slow grin tugged at her lips. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Can we do it again tonight—" she murmured under her breath, then instantly slapped a hand over her mouth.

Too much. Too desperate. Calm down.

Betty had admired Shawn for years — quietly, from a safe emotional distance. He had always been kind, steady, reliable. The kind of man you trusted instinctively.

But she had never dared to blur the line.

Until that night.

Until one reckless, alcohol-fueled confession that tumbled out of her before she could swallow it back.

And everything shifted.

She didn’t just see the dependable Shawn anymore.

She saw the man who could be intense, possessive in a way that made her pulse race, and unexpectedly gentle when it mattered. He hadn’t treated her like some clingy girl nursing a crush.

He treated her like she chose him.

That difference changed everything.

Betty inhaled slowly and reached for her phone, squinting at the screen.

10:17 a.m.

She stared at the message she had somehow managed to send Kevin in the middle of the chaos of last night.

Won’t be available tomorrow.

Even now she had no idea how she’d found the coordination to type that out.

She dropped her head back against the pillow.

Okay, yes.

She absolutely needed this break.

Her entire body felt like it had run a marathon — a very satisfying marathon — and the person responsible for it was currently lying beside her, looking criminally peaceful.

Shawn slept like he had zero regrets. One arm thrown above his head, breathing even, completely unbothered.

Betty narrowed her eyes at him.

"Must be nice," she muttered.

"Are you cursing me, Betty?"

She nearly jumped out of her skin.

Her head snapped toward him so fast she almost strained something.

Shawn hadn’t moved much — but his eyes were open now. Calm. Alert. Watching her with unmistakable amusement.

She froze.

"I—what? No!"

He shifted slightly onto his side, propping his head up on his hand. "You were staring at me like you were plotting revenge."

Her face burned. "I was not."

"Mhm." His lips curved. "Sounded suspiciously like cursing."

Betty blinked at him, heart doing that ridiculous flutter it had started doing way too often lately.

Had she said anything out loud?

Had he heard the "again tonight" part?

Her entire body stiffened at the possibility.

"You talk in your sleep, you know," he added lazily.

Her eyes widened. "I do not."

"Oh, you do."

"What did I say?" she demanded immediately — then regretted asking.

Shawn’s smile deepened, slow and knowing.

"You really want me to answer that?"

Her stomach flipped.

Silence stretched between them, charged but playful.

Betty swallowed. "You’re lying."

"Am I?"

She glared at him, though it lacked heat. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

"Very much," he admitted shamelessly.

She huffed and turned her face away, but he reached out and gently caught her wrist, tugging her back just enough so she had to look at him again.

The teasing softened.

"I’m not complaining," he said quietly.

Her breath hitched — just slightly.

Neither was she.

That was the problem.

Betty had always been composed, efficient, emotionally guarded. She managed chaos for a living. She didn’t let herself get swept up in feelings.

And yet here she was.

Sore.

Flustered.

And wanting more.

She cleared her throat, trying to reclaim some dignity. "You should go back to sleep."

He raised an eyebrow. "Trying to escape?"

"Yes."

He chuckled softly but didn’t let go of her wrist.

"Let go, Shawn. I need to pee," she muttered, trying to pry her wrist free with what little dignity she had left.

He released her instantly.

For exactly one second.

Before she could even sit up properly, he slid off the bed, walked around to her side, and bent down slightly.

Betty frowned. "What are you—"

The sentence never finished.

In one smooth motion, he scooped her up into his arms.

"Shawn!" she squeaked, instinctively grabbing onto his shoulders.

He grinned down at her, entirely too pleased with himself. "Let me take care of you, princess."

Princess.

The word landed softly but did ridiculous things to her insides.

Betty blinked up at him, her earlier fluster melting into something warm and embarrassingly giddy. "You’re being dramatic."

"And you’re walking like you ran a marathon," he shot back calmly.

Her mouth fell open. "I am not."

He raised one brow. "Betty."

She huffed... and then giggled.

Actually giggled.

Her arms slid around his neck naturally, her body relaxing against his chest as he carried her toward the restroom like it was the most normal thing in the world.

***

Glorious International

The top floor of Glorious International was unnaturally quiet.

Daniel stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, the city stretching beneath him in cold, calculated lines. His expression gave nothing away — not irritation, not relief, not anger.

"His condition is stable for now," Henry reported carefully. "But he still needs close monitoring."

Daniel gave a small nod.

So Hugo wasn’t pretending.

For a brief moment, he had considered the possibility — that the hospitalization was another carefully staged move to drag Anna back into emotional quicksand. He wouldn’t have put it past them. Not after everything.

Her parents had mastered the art of manipulation long ago. They wrapped control in concern. Pressure in protection.

But this time, it seemed real.

"Keep the medical updates coming," Daniel said evenly. "But discreetly."

"Yes, sir."

Daniel finally turned from the window. His jaw tightened slightly, but his voice remained steady. "Anna won’t be dragged into this."

That was final.

Luckily, Anna had made her choice.

She had stepped back. Drew her line. And Daniel intended to make sure no one crossed it again.

"Any updates on my aunt?" he asked, dismissing Hugo’s matter without another glance.

Henry shifted almost imperceptibly.

Daniel caught it immediately.

"What?" His tone sharpened just a fraction.

Henry cleared his throat. "It was Mrs. Norma Clafford who leaked the news about your relationship."

Silence.

"She handed a photograph to one of the major news channels," Henry continued, careful with each word. "After that... you saw how quickly it spread."

Daniel didn’t blink.

He didn’t curse.

Didn’t raise his voice.

Which unsettled Henry more than anger would have.

"And Madam," Henry added cautiously, "went to meet her the moment she found out."

That made Daniel’s eyes flicker — not with surprise, but with understanding.

Of course she did.

Anna had always been like that.

A smile appeared on his lips as he admired his wife’s boldness in finally deciding to start the day.