Hey guys, sorry for the long wait, I needed a desperate mental health break. Still not up to 100% yet, but I'm trying my best. Thank you, everyone, for being so patient and understanding towards me. It's thanks to you guys that I get the strength to do what I love! Thank you once again, and apologies! Happy reading!
Chapter 43: Truth Behind the HateArthur’s P.O.VI couldn’t help the blush that crept up my cheeks when I saw her long, skinny legs being revealed in front of my eyes…that was until I saw the trickle of blood go down her leg, marring the porcelain white skin with a streak of red…and I felt horror crawl up my spine as I quickly turned away from her."It's not that bad, it shouldn't take much time to heal." She said to me, probably worried about my reaction, but I was still too anxious to look. "It's okay if you don't want to see it. I'll apply first aid on it and it should be okay in a couple of days."I sighed, knowing that she had misunderstood the situation. It was my fault that she had left the mansion this late at night in the first place…and now she was injured because of me as well. It seems like all I did was hurt her, intentionally or not.
Chapter 44: Shifting EmotionsKathleen’s P.O.VI lay my head on his shoulders, feeling a tangled mix of emotions. Regret washed over me, along with a heavy feeling of sadness.Now that I knew about why Christmas was so hurtful to him, I realized that storming out in the middle of the night was the most foolish thing I had ever done all my life. I had inflicted pain on myself and even caused Arthur unnecessary hurt."Arthur, I'm sorry," I said, wishing there was a way I could make it up to him. "I had no idea how difficult it was for you."As the holidays drew near, so must all the memories of his late wife. For someone who he had been with for over a decade before her untimely death…it must be so very painful for him to let go of those memories."I’m sorry as well." He took my hand in his, looking down at them with a mix of sadness and regret on his face as he apologized yet again. "But…the next time you decide to storm out of the mansion…make sure it’s not close to midnight. And…than
Chapter 45: A Strange New Friendship Kathleen’s P.O.V Christmas was only a few days away, and I had to go back to the restaurant to help my parents. I had never spent any Christmas away from them, and I didn't have plans of doing so now. But regardless…Hayley hadn't been thrilled to let me go, so I had to flee the house before she woke up on Saturday morning. My mom and dad were setting up the Christmas decorations when I arrived at the restaurant around eight in the morning. "Come and join us, now." My mom snapped as soon as she saw me walk through the doors. It was almost as if she had been waiting for me to arrive. She didn't even greet me like she used to…which just told me that she was annoyed at my absence throughout the week... "Kathleen!" My father called out, a delighted smile on his face as he turned to look a
Chapter 46: Too Good to be TrueKathleen’s P.O.VA gasp left my lips as I looked at Cole’s cell screen, the name Korina Gomez on the search bar, thrilled by the images on the screen.She was beyond beautiful in these images, not to mention in real life as well. She also had an outrageous fan base, which wasn’t all that surprising considering just how famous she was.Gucci, Chanel and LSV? And even freaking Ralph Lauren! My goodness! This woman was a diva!"Geez!" I muttered, looking at my phone and then at the simple lady in the restaurant again and again. They were the same person, except she looked different. She was probably trying to avoid paparazzi. Which was why she showed up in the very simple fit.Cole wasn't pulling my legs, she was actually a celebrity supermodel. Then what the hell had she been doing shopping at Target?"Have you never heard about her before? Korina is literally everywhere." Cole stole a glance at her as he spoke, his eyes twinkling with wonder."Well, she
Chapter 47: Changing Kathleen’s P.O.V "Thank you so much for your hospitality, Kathleen. I have to get going now. Like I mentioned earlier, I have an important appointment, I hope you understand. But I hope I get to see you soon. Today was so much fun." "I’d be glad to meet up again, Korina, and don’t worry, I understand completely.” I reassured her. “You're a very busy person; I'm honored to have you make time to be with me." "That's what friends do, silly! Don’t say it was an honor or I would think we aren’t friends anymore." She smiled, waving at me. "Bye-bye." Cole emerged as she was almost out of the door to wave at her too. "Bye Korina. Again, it was a pleasure to serve such a beautiful lady." "Oh my! Are you flirting with me?" Korina asked with a smile. "Of course not!" Cole chuckled nervously, visibly flustered. "Well, maybe a little. But I just said what I saw. You're beautiful." "Thank you! See you again! Bye!" She exited the door and made for her car. Cole rolled h
Chapter 48: Difficult DecisionsArthur’s P.O.VAs I sat across the dining table from Hayley, noticing how it seemed like something was bothering her. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes were distant. Her gaze on the meal before her, but she hadn't even touched the food.She had been distant since yesterday morning after finding out that Kathleen had left for her house, but this time, something felt different. I wondered what could be troubling her, so I tried to probe gently. "Hayley, you’ve barely touched your food. Is everything alright, sweetheart?"She nodded yes, not looking up from her food.So I reached out and took one of her hands in mine, letting her know that if she wanted to talk about something, I was right beside her.She looked up at me then, her gaze meeting mine for a moment before looking away again. "It's nothing, dad. I'm just tired," she replied, her voice was soft and unconvincing. I wanted to press further, but I could see that she was reluctant to talk about wha
Chapter 49: Late Night CallsKathleen’s P.O.VI sighed and sank into the soft, warm bed, hoping that soon, the world around me would slowly fade to black, taking me to the world of dreams and fairy tales where I could be whoever I wanted.I had a long day at the restaurant, helping my parents put up the last bit of the Christmas decorations, and I think I deserved a long night of rest after I workout I got. The warmth of the blanket enveloped me like a soft, comforting embrace and I sank deeper into the mattress, my eyes going out to the window to find the soft glow of the full moon staring back at me.A sense of peace and calm descended upon me as I started to feel drowsy, but then, Cole’s words from yesterday came to my mind, disrupting my slumber.‘Would you like to have one someday? A daughter. Smart and beautiful like Hayley. Or even a son.’‘You haven’t thought about getting married yet? Kathleen, you're already twenty eight. Girls dream about their big day since they’re kids,
Chapter 50: It’s a Date!Kathleen’s P.O.VI woke up to the sun shining through my window, a radiance of positive energy first thing in the morning. Surprisingly, it was also pretty cold. I took my drapery hook down and confirmed my thoughts after I discovered that it was snowing as well. "A sun shower."That explained the goosebumps I felt, accompanied by the blinding sun rays. I loved to sit by the window and watch it when I was younger. And I didn't mind doing that now, either. But I needed to get to work. It was going to be a great day with Arthur and Hayley. I just needed to get down to the Dalton mansion, and a whole week of adventure lay ahead of us.I got out of bed and examined the snow closely. It was heavier than I thought; which was surprising, since the sun too was bright and warm. An odd combination. But as much as I wanted to laze around in bed, admiring the view, I needed to get going. I brushed my teeth, took a warm shower, and got dressed in a pair of jeans and a mar
Chapter 81: Happily Ever AfterKathleen’s P.O.V I stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing out the delicate lace of my white gown. It’s a stunning dress, simple yet elegant, and it made me feel like a princess.The reflection staring back at me looked like a stranger. Not because of the dress or the elegant hairstyle, but because of the happiness that radiated from my face. It had been a long journey to get here, but standing here now, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of peace and joy.My mother stood behind me, helping me with the final touches. She adjusts the veil and steps back to admire her work."Kat, you look absolutely beautiful," she says, her voice thick with emotion. She wipes away a tear that escapes down her cheek. “I didn’t think I would see you in such a wonderful wedding dress!”"Mom, don't cry," I say, though my own voice is unsteady. I turn to face her, feeling the wave of the moment settle over me. "You always said you wanted to see me settle down w
Chapter 80: Christmas ProposalKathleen’s P.O.V Christmas had been a lonely time for me these past few years. I had usually spent the holidays working or at the hospital, during my mother’s treatment. But this year, everything changed when I met Arthur and his little girl, Hayley.Today, Hayley turned to me with a big smile as we all gathered around the Christmas tree after dinner to exchange gifts. "Miss Kat, remember when I asked Santa for a mommy this Christmas?"I couldn’t help but laugh. "Oh, Hayley, of course I remember!"Hayley’s smile was enough to light up the whole room, "I think he already fulfilled my wish by giving me you."Arthur and I exchanged a look, and I felt my heart skip a beat. We had only just announced our relationship, but I knew that he was the one, the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And maybe, Hayley was right. Santa may have just granted her wish.Arthur's mother took my hand in her with a gentle smile. “Hayley is right. Welcome to the
Chapter 79: Clearing the MisunderstandingsKathleen’s P.O.V “Where have you been Arthur?” Georgina immediately snaps at her son, her expression dark as she looks from me to Arthur and then at Savannah. “We were about to have the announcement, but then we realized that the couple were missing! How can you abandon your own party like that?”“Mother,” Arthur spoke softly, trying to calm her down. “There is something you must know first, before anything is announced. So please, listen to Savannah.”All eyes turned towards Savannah immediately and she shrunk away under the scrutiny of their combined gazes, her eyes darting towards Arthur and me as I could see her face visibly pale from fright."We’re here for you," I say softly, moving to her other side and giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.Savannah took a deep breath and finally, turned to her parents. "Mom, Dad, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I’ve been hiding for a long time." Her voice trembled with fear, but s
Chapter 78: The Truth about SavannahKathleen’s P.O.V I took a deep breath. "It's a long story," I began, unsure of where to start. But I knew I had to tell him everything."Remember when I went to Target to buy the tree for Hayley’s room?" I asked, remembering the time I had finally learned why Arthur hated Christmas so much. Arthur nodded, still looking puzzled. "Well, while I was there, I bumped into this stunning woman. She was tall, elegant, the kind of person you can't miss. It was Korina, the supermodel."Arthur's eyes widened. "Korina? What was she doing at Target?""That's what I wondered too," I said with a small laugh. "She was looking for a tree just like me. We started talking, and surprisingly, she seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me. At first, I didn't understand why someone like her would want to be friends with someone like me. I mean, I'm just an ordinary person, right?"Arthur nodded, urging me to continue. "So, we exchanged numbers and started hangin
Chapter 77: Untangled WebsKathleen’s P.O.V I stood there, frozen, as Arthur kissed me. For a moment, everything else faded away. All that mattered was the feeling of his lips on mine, the way his hand wrapped around me in a blanket of warmth and comfort.Till now, the scrutiny of our neighbors, the whispers and the gossip had become too much to handle, until Uncle Thompson finally broke the silence and asked me, point blank, what had been on everyone’s mind. It had taken me aback to the point where I didn’t have any idea how to respond.But then I had turned and watched Arthur march towards me with determination…and now, as his lips moved against mine, I couldn’t help but feel a immense amount of relief wash over me.Then, reality crashed back in, and I realized that everyone in the restaurant was staring at us. My heart sank when I noticed my parents among the onlookers, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.I pulled away from Arthur, my face burning with embarrassment. B
Chapter 76: Can’t Wait Any LongerArthur’s P.O.V When I walked out of the room, I wasn't expecting to see Hayley standing there, tears streaming down her cheeks. Immediately, my heart clenched with concern. I knelt down beside her, gathering her into my arms gently."What's wrong, sweetheart?" I asked softly, my voice filled with worry.Hayley sniffled, her eyes red and puffy. "Daddy, did Miss Kathleen leave because I was bad? Because she doesn't love me anymore?"My heart sank even further. Kat was Hayley's beloved nanny, their relationship going even further than just the bonds of duty. They were inseparable…and now that Kathleen wasn’t here, she must be heartbroken. I rubbed Hayley's back soothingly, trying to find the right words to comfort her."No, no, Hayley," I said gently, "Kathleen loves you very much. She didn't leave because of anything you did. Sometimes, people need their own space, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love you."Hayley looked up at me with her big, watery
Chapter 75: Eve of ChangeArthur’s P.O.V I stood at the edge of the party on Christmas Eve, the music thumping through the floor and the chatter of people swirling around me. The office had transformed into a wonderful Christmas wonderland with all the necessary decors and even a gigantic Christmas tree to go along with the theme.However, it wasn’t just an ordinary Christmas party that was usually held by our company for the employees every year. This party was different.I glanced at Savannah, who was smiling tightly as she talked with some of the guests. Neither of us wanted to be here, announcing our engagement in front of everyone. It wasn't our idea. Our parents had planned this without our knowledge, springing it on us like an unwanted surprise.As I watched Savannah, my mind drifted back to the conversation I had with my mother earlier in the day. I had confronted her in the living room, where she was arranging flowers with a meticulousness that belied the chaos she had creat
Chapter 74: Unreciprocated FeelingsKathleen’s P.O.V I hadn't spoken to Cole since that incident in front of the restaurant. Seeing him now, standing awkwardly in front of me…I had no idea how to start a conversation, let alone tell him my deepest thoughts.The memory of that day was still fresh in my mind—his confession, my shocked silence, and the way everything changed in an instant. If Arthur hadn't been there that evening…I don’t think I could’ve had the courage to deal with him alone. But now, here he was, my former best friend…In all honesty, I didn’t even know if I could still call him my friend. We had too many unresolved issues between us. But as he took a seat on the edge of my bed, keeping as much distance between us as possible, I could see the worry etched on his face as he turned to face me."Kat," he says softly, his voice filled with uncertainty. "I’ve been worried about you. No matter what happened between us, I still care. I wish we could just forget that day and
Chapter 73: Comforting A FriendKathleen’s P.O.V Memories of Hayley and Arthur floated in my mind, making me feel like a heavy burden was pressing down on my chest. I had loved them both in my own way, but they were never really mine to begin with. It was time to let them go and try to move on. I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off the past.Usually, at times like this, the only person who provided me with any form of comfort was my best friend, Cole. But with the recent developments in our relationship, everything I once knew had come crashing down around me, and I knew that I could never have that connection that I once shared with Cole.When everything else failed, I decided to reach out to my new friend.I picked up my phone and dialed Korina's number. She always had a way of making me feel better, and I hoped talking to her would help. The phone rang a few times before she picked up."Hello?" Korina's voice was shaky, and I could hear sniffling in the background.