Kathryn’s POVThe unexpected family time Charlize had with her father ended up well. My daughter was visibly happy that until I tucked her to bed, she wouldn’t stop speaking about what happened and how it made her happy. Part of me is glad that she found this simple gathering enjoyable but another part of me is still worried that Wilhelm might have found out the secret or Charlize, for the matter.“I’m sure he won’t find out,” I muttered to myself as I ran the water on the faucet. This is just me trying to convince myself. He’s just too busy with work to notice. And besides, I was already out of his life for good. That’s for sure. It should be that way since Rose was already his fiancé. Once Charlize fell asleep, I turned off her room’s light and laid down on my own bed. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep as the image of us four a while ago, kept replying in my mind. I couldn’t help but to think that we could’ve been the happiest family had I stayed by his side…I sighed and clos
Kathryn’s POVI couldn’t speak, my heart the only sound that I could hear. “Where...? Why...?” I moved my lips, but it seemed as if I can’t say another word about the revelation. “Oh, Kath! We don’t know the whole story so we’re not in the position to judge you if it’s the truth,” she patted my back. “I just hope you’d find your way,” Vicky said as we arrived at our office floor.“Hold on,” I told them. “You honestly believed that I was that...! That asshole’s mistress, do you?” I looked to Clarence. “...did you?” “Oh, I’m so sorry, honey! We barely knew you,” Clarence gathered my hand. “We’ll listen, alright? If you want to talk about it right now, I’m all ears!”“It’s fine, I promise.” My fists curled to my sides as Wilhelm’s face came to mind. “I’ll get to the bottom of this myself.” “Are you sure about that?” Vicky looked unsure.“Yes. Thank you. Really. For telling me the truth and not believing in rumors.”Vicky and Clarence smiled as if to assure me. ”Don’t worry. We almost
Wilhelm’s POVI had no idea what I was doing. My first instinct was to protect Kathryn from the nasty rumors surrounding her. I didn’t want to add more fuel to the fire, so my body reacted on its own, pinning her beneath me in an instant. Just the two of us. In my car. A moment I never thought would happen again after our miserable divorce. Yet here I was, holding my breath, my hand firm beneath her head, our bodies pressed together as our breathing quickened. I took in every detail of her appearance, and no matter how many years had passed, her eyes were the same color as the last time I saw them. Right now, I couldn’t help but stare into them and lose myself again, just as I did when we first met. The voices of my employees echoed in the hallway, their laughter growing closer. I felt Kathryn stiffen beneath me. I laid her down gently and nodded reassuringly. “Don’t worry. The windows are tinted.” She blinked once, a baffled look on her face, as she opened her mouth to
Wilhelm’s POVThroughout the day, I was in an absolutely foul mood. My secretary even suggested that I stop being so cold to the employees, especially during the board meeting, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t up for anything. All I wanted was for the rumors to die down and for everyone to leave me the hell alone. “Do you understand every word I’ve said?” I asked in an icy tone, making everyone around the table tense. “We’re on it, sir.” “We’ll work on extinguishing the rumors as soon as we can.” I slammed the papers on the table. “What do you mean, ‘as soon as you can’? Do it. Now.” The man flinched, and I saw the others swallow nervously. I knew I was being too harsh, but they had no choice but to deal with it, knowing the consequences if they didn’t. They were probably thinking that I had deep feelings for Rose and didn’t want to be hurt by the rumors, but it was the exact opposite. Rose pretended to wipe away tears as if she were too emotional to speak. It disgusted me. I
Kathryn’s POV The inevitable had come. I walked away from that parking lot with a heavy feeling in my heart. I couldn’t stop it from beating the same way it did the first time I saw him. I really thought I was well past the butterflies I felt for Wilhelm ever since our divorce happened a few years ago. But time and time again, I seemed to be proven wrong everytime. He was a curse, but for some reason, he also felt like a blessing I never prayed for. Dismissing the thoughts out about Wilhelm and what had transpired in the parking lot out of my mind, I opened the door of my car as I waited for Charlize outside her school. While I remained idle near the school gate, I couldn’t help but worry about what would happen to my daughter after Wilhelm shipped me off to China. Would my little girl be alright? As I continued to dwell on my thoughts, my phone rang loudly inside the car. I frowned. Oh, shoot me. Things had been taking things off of my mind lately that I even forgot to take
Kathryn’s POVEverything had been in the past, but for some reason, I was still hesitant to tell Roland every last detail, just in case it did more harm than good. Well, initially, it had already scarred a bad reputation in my life.I sighed. What was the point of keeping it in when I could have someone listen to the problems I can’t just say to anyone? “Well?” Roland tilted his head to the side as he pressed gently about the hesitation in my mind, waiting for me to continue. I gulped and opened my mouth, searching for the right words that could begin this conversation. “It’s about Rose,” I finally began. “Rose?” “Wilhelm’s fiancé,” I frowned. “That Rose.” Roland made an “O” with his mouth and signaled me to continue. “We come a long way, you know?” His broad shoulders shrugged. “She’s a thorn. Kind of like a coarse grass that can never die.” I laughed. “Hey! That’s rude.” “She’s not here, and she won’t know either way. Unless you tell me.” I shook my head in disbelief at
Kathryn’s POVI raised my eyebrows. “Sir, it’s nighttime already.”“I didn’t mean for you to come here...right now.”“Right now? Oh,” I felt my cheeks grow hot. “Yes, I guess that’s what you meant,” I cleared my throat. “Sorry, I misunderstood. When would you like me to work, then?”Wilhelm was silent for a while. “Tomorrow. Come meet me at the office.”My eyebrows knitted in disbelief. Tomorrow? After all the trouble the rumors had caused, he wanted me to see him at the office tomorrow?No matter how much I tried to convince myself this was all professional, I had a bad feeling about it. Or maybe not?I slouched, opening my mouth to speak. “Mr. Reinhardt, I’m sure you’re aware of the rumors going around about us, right?”He didn’t respond.“Right. I just needed to mention it in case you think it won’t affect either of our reputations. I can’t go to your office. I won’t risk it,” I quickly added, my heart racing at the thought of the rumors causing trouble. Even though none of them we
Kathryn’s POV Mrs. Brown left the door, her eyes flashing before me as I put a smile on my face. “I guess I’ll see you around then?” “Oh, dear! You’ll see me much more than you expect. Please take care on your way home.” Wilhelm cleared his throat. “I believe she won’t be heading home yet.” Mrs. Brown scrunched her nose and let out a stifled huff. “Let the woman rest! This is exactly why your hotels aren’t doing as well in sales as they used to,” she narrowed her eyes at him, and in return, Wilhelm scowled. He looked like a child being scolded by his mother—only this time, he was being scolded for overworking his employee. I couldn’t help but laugh internally. It served him right. The words that came out of Mrs. Brown’s mouth were exactly what he’d been doing to us—to all of his employees. I was glad he was being spoon-fed a taste of his own medicine. “Well, I have to get going now.” She glared at Wilhelm as she held the door open. “Take care, Mr. Reinhardt, Ms. Alvarez.”