Novels by Shen Shen

Dr. Marry took a deep breath before knocking on her daughter’s bedroom door. “Violet, open the door, sweetheart,” she called softly.No response. She tried again. This time, Violet answered.“What is it, Mom? I want to be alone. Please.” Her voice was hoarse—exhausted.Dr. Marry suspected Violet had spent the whole time crying. She replied, “There’s a guest asking for you. Come out for a moment, dear.”“Is it Eric? If it’s him, please tell him I’m already asleep.” Her tone turned annoyed.“No, this guest is a woman. She keeps insisting on seeing you.” Dr. Marry lifted her brows at Elise, who was covering her mouth to keep from giggling.“A woman?” Violet answered from inside. She had been lying down, but now she sat up straight, her brows furrowing. She bit her lip. Could it be Chloe? But why would she come here?Violet swallowed. “Is it the woman who helped me back then? The young Miss from the Turner family?”“Um… I don’t quite remember Miss Turner’s face. But please, just come out,

Hearing his future mother-in-law’s answer, Eric’s eyes widened as if something suddenly clicked in his head. He immediately asked, “Did Violet tell you which ice cream shop it was?”“Um, she said it’s not far from the city park, but she didn’t mention the exact address.”“Don’t tell me…”“Why?” Doctor Marry grew even more worried, seeing Eric’s complicated expression.Eric asked for a moment to confirm something. He called Stevan, telling him to check the CCTV from nearby restaurants from about thirty minutes ago to verify whether Violet was there. Eric even described Violet’s appearance in detail.Doctor Marry watched in silence, her forehead deeply wrinkled. She clearly had a hundred questions, but she held them back, giving Eric space to handle things his way.After calling the ice cream shop’s manager, Eric contacted his sister next. He briefly explained the situation and told Elise to hurry over.When he finally ended the calls, Eric let out a long breath. The tension in the room

Hearing the mission details—complete with rewards and brutal consequences—Eric’s eyes flew wide open. Instead of imagining the reward he’d get, his heart started pounding like crazy from the sudden tension.First, Eric had no idea why the System judged him as “insensitive.” As far as he knew, he always tried to understand Violet, tried to make her happy, gave her genuine attention. Yet the System slapped him with a mission specifically about insensitivity.Second, the System only gave him two hours. That was the shortest timer he’d ever received since all of this started.And what really twisted his nerves was the threat of broken bones. He was a rowing athlete—his coach had just placed him on the university’s main team, while all the new recruits got stuck in the reserve team. They were going to represent their campus in an intercollegiate rowing competition in Houston.If he failed the mission and ended up with both arms broken, how the hell was he supposed to row? Even an Olympic a

A pair of long-lashed eyes had been locked onto Eric and Elise the whole time, never once looking away. It was as if shards of glass flickered inside those beautiful eyes. The moment she saw them heading up to the third floor, the woman rose from her seat, leaving her ice cream behind. She followed them.The woman fighting back her tears at the sight of Eric and Elise together was none other than Violet. She had come there on purpose—wanting to relive old memories, to revisit the days before she and Eric ever dated. Violet still remembered it clearly: this ice cream shop owned by Charles Stuart was where she met Eric for the second time.She had come to cherish something sweet, but reality slapped her with something that tore her heart open even more. She had no idea that behind her back, Eric was that intimate with another woman—not just through texts or calls this time. Violet was witnessing everything with her own eyes.Honestly, she was surprised she could still stand and not pass

Today on campus, Eric noticed something off with Violet. His girlfriend had gone quieter, her expression sour. And when she did smile, it was forced, not the genuine sweetness he was used to seeing plastered across her face.Eric, clueless about what had gone down, tried asking her directly. But all he got was the usual “I’m fine” answer.That didn’t match what he was feeling at all. Still, he didn’t push Violet to spill. Maybe she needed time to sort out what was eating at her.“This is complicated. I swear, nothing weird happened before. Just… Violet said she had a little headache during lunch on campus. And by the next day, her whole attitude changed.”Elise set her book down with a heavy sigh, listening to her brother unload. “Think again. Maybe before Violet said she was dizzy, you said something or acted in a way that ticked her off.” She rested her chin on her hand, eyeing Eric sprawled on his bed.Eric stayed silent, staring at the ceiling. Frustration carved into his face. He

That night, Violet still couldn’t shake off the flirty message that had popped up on Eric’s phone. Every word stuck in her head, sharp as a blade, replaying itself over and over, gnawing at her all day.Finally, unable to stay put in her room, she jumped into her car and sped toward the Kingsley Harrington neighborhood. She stopped briefly to hand Dr. Marry Eric’s book that she’d accidentally taken with her. No one else was to know about the mess brewing in her relationship with Eric.After a nerve-wracking drive, Violet reached Eric’s house. The guard, who knew her well, rushed over the moment she stepped out of her car.Violet had no plans to park inside the compound. If she ran into anything painful, she thought, she could leave silently without maneuvering the car back out.“Sorry, Miss, Mr. White isn’t home,” the guard said politely.Violet’s brow furrowed instantly. “But… I thought Eric was home earlier. Did he go out again?”The guard scratched his head. “Sorry, Miss, seems lik

The Cattegirn family, who had lost their weapon to fight against Steve Hart, ultimately had to surrender. They tried to figure out ways to calm Steve Hart's anger, which was now glaring at them so sharply."Darn it, what's happening? Are we going to lose all our assets?""What are you talking about? We wouldn't lose everything if we had just accepted Steve Hart's offer from the beginning. If we did, at least Steve Hart would have kindly let us continue enjoying all those assets.""You're right, we messed up."Almost the entire Cattegirn family agreed that their stubbornness had indeed led to losses. Their refusal to submit to Steve Hart now was leading them to ruin."Uncle Jason, please do something.""That's right, Brother Jason. If necessary, tell Steve Hart that we accept his offer.""I agree, at least that's the only way for us not to end up living as beggars after daring to offend him."All the other members of Cattegirn family began pleading with Jason and Olivia to resolve the

"Am I late?"A beautiful girl entered as if nothing had happened, casually approaching Steve to join Brandon in standing by Steve Hart's side."I, Helena Halbert, will represent the Halbert family in expressing support for Steve Hart. Whatever happens here, even if it means offending the Bridge family, the Halbert family will do its best to prove its seriousness in support," Helena said loudly so that everyone there could hear her."Helena, what do you mean? Why is the Halbert family doing this? Does that scumbag deserve your support like this?" Mark Bridge asked, not expecting Brandon alone to support Steve Hart, let alone Helena.Mark, who initially believed he could stubbornly make Agatha his fiancée, suddenly doubted whether this was worth it or not.Mark might still have confidence in handling the Lee family easily, but if the Halbert family also intervened, then this was a different story.The Bridge family might be strong and surpass the other two influential families in Avebur

BAM!Steve Hart's punch landed squarely on Mark's chin, causing Mark to stagger before falling because he wasn't prepared for it."Damn it! How dare you!""Everyone, move to protect Mr. Mark right now!""Stay away from Mr. Mark, hit him if necessary if he keeps trying to resist!"Quite a few people in the living room reacted strongly to Steve Hart's punch. Steve Hart didn't recognize who they were, but he could guess that they had come with Mark."Darn, for someone who dares to try to put your hands on my wife, you're quite the coward," Steve Hart said to Mark.Mark Bridge heard this and immediately ordered them to stop. Mark didn't want them to get involved because it would hurt his pride."Haha, you can go," Mark said, rising from his fall."Mr. Mark, are you okay?""Mr. Mark, why are you stopping us from teaching him a lesson?""Mr. Mark, that scumbag has gone too far, he should at least feel a few broken bones as punishment."The people stopped by Mark seemed dissatisfied; they qu

Steve Hart returned to the living room with confidence, the presence of Mark Bridge not bothering him in the slightest, let alone making him fearful.Simultaneously with Steve Hart's appearance, Agatha followed closely behind him. Agatha seemed to be hiding behind Steve Hart, afraid of every person in the living room, not wanting to feel the hateful gazes from them due to her sudden change of decision.Initially, Agatha had agreed to her engagement, pressured by her family to make that decision. Seeing her suddenly change her mind naturally angered every Cattegirn family member present.The Cattegirn family felt betrayed by Agatha, their sole rescuer, if only Agatha hadn't suddenly turned to side with Steve Hart like she was doing now."Agatha, what is the meaning of all this?!""Agatha, didn't you already agree to this engagement?!""Agatha, are you insane to decide to side with him and plan to disrupt your engagement with Mark?!"Each member of the Cattegirn family present asked ang

Steve's sudden entrance truly succeeded in catching the entire household off guard. The living room was indeed bustling with activity, mostly from the Cattegirn family, but there were also quite a few unfamiliar faces that Steve didn't know."Am I interrupting your event?" Steve Hart asked, his tone piercingly cold to those who heard it.Steve's question was not well-received by most people there; one of them even approached Steve with an angry expression.Olivia Cattegirn, Steve's mother-in-law, approached him and promptly pulled him away from the living room."What wicked plans do you have by coming here?!" Olivia exclaimed loudly, simultaneously slapping Steve's hand.Steve raised his eyebrows; he remembered vividly how just a few days ago, his mother-in-law seemed so hesitant and even afraid of him. Now, that fear seemed to have vanished, and Olivia appeared to be back to treating Steve as she pleased.Steve didn't dwell on Olivia's change in attitude. However, he already knew the

In the luxurious courtyard of the Cattegirn family mansion, Steve could see it bustling with invited guests, all of whom seemed surprised by his presence, as if his arrival was the last thing they expected."What's he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be kicked out?""Maybe he's here to deal with his divorce from Agatha. Just let it be, there's no need to pay him any mind."Steve overheard the nearby conversations clearly, which only fueled his anger.Steve knew exactly why they were all gathered at his wife's family home. He had heard it from Brandon that the Cattegirn family was secretly attempting to arrange a marriage for Agatha behind his back."Agatha hasn't even divorced me yet, and you're all rushing to make decisions," Steve Hart muttered.Steve questioned what the Cattegirn family truly thought of him, realizing how much they were belittling him and disregarding his existence.Steve could entertain such thoughts because the marriage arrangement the Cattegirns were attempting