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 51: A Confession long OverdueKathleen’s P.O.VI close the door behind me, trying not to make a sound as I tippitoed into the room, the tray of fruits held firmly in my hands.My heart thrashes inside my chest as I move closer to him, the sound of soft snores the only indication that he’s still asleep. I feel incredibly nervous, like I was doing something wrong, but I didn't know why. He never warned me not to come into this room, though; it was only off-limits for Hayley. He said I was always welcome here…just not the other room which was off-limits for everyone.The memories of my last visit here brought back memories that made me freeze as I was half-way across the room.The kiss…my back against the door…Arthur’s hands in my hair…his lips moving against mine…I swallowed hard,
Chapter 52: Tabletop AdventureKathleen’s P.O.VMy eyes shut tight of their own accord as my hand winds around his nape, tangling with the silky strands of his hair. It felt like I was teleported far, far away, somewhere I could no longer be bound by the worries and troubles of this world…somewhere where no one would judge us for what we do and who I was.I had never been kissed like this in my entire life. The last time I had kissed someone was in college, but that hadn't ended well when Cole had found out that the guy was a mega player and dated several women at the same time. My dreams of having a sweet college love were completely shattered, however, this time around, I knew Arthur was no player. He was a genuine man who loved so fiercely that he never let go.As warmth spread inside my stomach, his arms tightening around me to pull me impossibly closer to his body, I wondered what it would feel like to be loved like that…without bounds and endlessly…to be drowning in a sea of aff
Chapter 53: Unexpected RivalryKathleen’s P.O.VI sauntered down the hall, my steps faltering and hesitant. The floorboards creaked beneath my feet, and I paused, unsure if I wanted to go on. What if Hayley heard us? What if she took a peep before Arthur closed the door? What if someone else did?Anxiety was beginning to overwhelm me. I could feel my heartbeat increase rapidly and sweat trickle slowly down my face as I approached her door. What would the look on her face be, if any of my fears were true? How was I to ever face her again if she really…The sun was high in the sky, and the snow had stopped. But that did little to ease the tension that coiled in my gut. I could feel my legs wobble as I walked towards her room, refusing to maintain eye contact with any of my colleagues I met in the hallway."Hello!" Someone called out from down the hallway, startling me. I wasn't sure if it was Chef Koko, but the voice sounded like his. I didn't turn to look; I quickly made my way towards
Chapter 54: At a CrossroadArthur’s P.O.VI sighed, looking at the door slam shut after Kathleen as she rushed out of the room.A mix of conflicting emotions surge through me as I plop down onto my chair, my heart hammering like Lambeg drum and my hands trembling as I grasp the hands of the chair.I couldn't forget how Kathleen had laughed and bid goodbye to the guy who had dropped her off. He was the same guy who had come with her mother to the prison to bail Kathleen out when the misunderstanding had happened.That guy wasn't being a goody two shoes for nothing. It was plain he wanted something. And I was a little irritated that Kathleen hadn't noticed his intensions yet.There was a smug smile on his lips as Kathleen had leaned in to hug him before stepping out of the car. It seemed like he was mocking me, telling me in subtle ways that he came first and thus, he had some kind of hold on her that I could never have. He had known her longer than me, he probably knew everything about
Chapter 55: Petty Little LiesKathleen’s P.O.VI sat at the dining table with Arthur and Hayley on Wednesday morning. A breakfast bowl of oatmeal with fruits and nuts stared back at me, as I pondered on the best way to start the conversation.My ‘date’ with Cole was tomorrow…and I needed a way to bring up the subject without sounding like I was slacking off."Miss Kathleen," Hayley was the first one to break the silence, thankfully."Yes, Hayley?""Do you think we can eat clown fish? In Finding Nemo, they said they live inside poisonous plants! So…aren’t they bad to eat?" She looked up at me with her big, curious eyes as she chewed the spoonful she had just ingested."It's wrong to talk with your mouthful, Hayley," I said to change the subject, which actually debating if Nemo…was edible or not. "And I don’t think it’s a good idea to eat Nemo. You don’t want to make his daddy sad, do you? And Dory?”Hayley nodded, contemplating the idea as she took another spoonful, and the awkward sil
Chapter 56: Unintentional EavesdroppingKathleen’s P.O.VStepping out of the car, Cole handed his keys to the valet like a pro, before we headed towards the restaurant, his hands on my lower back as he guided me through the door like a real gentleman.It would be an understatement to say that he looked incredibly handsome. In fact, with his black tux and crisp white shirt, his hair gelled back to perfection and his big blue eyes radiant, it would be hard for any eligible woman not to stare at him. In fact, I had seen a good few heads turn in his direction as soon as we had walked in.“You look great tonight, Cole.” I told him truthfully, deciding to give him a compliment where it was due. “I never really saw you dressed up like this before.”"Look who’s talking! You look magnificent, yourself!" He gave me a once-over, his eyes trailing my figure appreciatively, even though it made me feel a little weird. “I’m pretty sure at least five dudes here have been drooling since you walked in.
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.