Chapter 16
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Kathleen grinned before closing the door.
Meanwhile, Shawn’s expression shifted again. He knew she would remember his words.
He breached the agreement that was supposed to restrain her.
Suddenly agitated, he walked to the wine cabinet and grabbed a bottle. Just as he was about to open it, she opened the door.
“Are you going to drink?” She noticed the bottle in his hand.
He ignored her.
“You can’t drink.” She walked over and snatched the bottle from him. “You must take care of your body.”
Shawn reached out. “Give it to me.”
“No.” She took a step back. “Even if I’m only your wife in name, I still have to make sure that you take good care of yourself during the time you’re my husband. Even if there isn’t much time, you shouldn’t do anything to make it shorter.”
Kathleen was firm about this. She might have turned a blind eye if she hadn’t seen it, but now that she had, there was no way she could stand by and do nothing.
“Are you trying to control me?” He sounded upset.
“Can’t I?”
“Can’t I?” she asked.
Shawn walked over and tried to take the bottle from her hand.
Seeing this, she raised her hand in the air and let go.
With a clang, the bottle fell to the ground and shattered. Wine splashed everywhere, dotting the floor around their feet.
Shawn felt his heart tighten at the sight of the shattered glass on the ground. He took a deep breath and looked at Kathleen again. Her eyes remained bright, with no sign of terror.
Their gazes locked, and neither was willing to back down.
For the first time, he realized she wasn’t someone who could be manipulated or afraid of confrontation.
In the end, he took a deep breath, turned around, and poured himself a glass of water before drinking it all at once.
Seeing this, Kathleen squatted and began picking up the broken glass. “Shawn, please take care of yourself,” she said as she picked up the shards. “There are people who care about you.”
He turned slightly to the side and watched as she carefully placed the pieces into her palm. For a moment, something sparked in his heart.
She suddenly hissed and looked down at her finger, which had been pierced by glass. She squeezed it, and blood poured out,
Shawn’s eyes flashed.
“Shawn.” She looked up abruptly and raised her bloodied finger to him. “I’m bleeding”
He frowned. He assumed she’d manage the cut without a word. However, here she was, holding up her finger with blood trickling to the floor, and her eyes welled up with tears.
He didn’t think she was the type to cry over a little cut, but the tears welling at the corners of her eyes made him walk over, grab her hand, and pull her to the sink.
He rinsed the wound under the water, squeezing it hard. The blood quickly thinned under the stream.
“It hurts.” She blinked, and tears fell.
Shawn felt a dull ache in his chest. He knew she might be faking to appear weak, but he couldn’t bring himself to shake her off.
“I can’t believe with that temper of yours, you’re actually crying over a small cut.”
Upon hearing this, Kathleen wiped her tears away, trying to act tough.
When he saw this, he softened his movements. He turned off the water, dried her hand, fetched the first–aid kit, disinfected the wound again, and finally applied a bandage over it.
“Shawn.” She suddenly grabbed his hand, and he frowned.
Her hand was soft and delicate. When she gripped him gently, it felt like a spark of electricity passed through.
He was about to push her hand away when she said, “There’s some blood on your hand.”
Her finger brushed the faint stain on his hand
Shawn flipped his palm and saw there was indeed a small smudge of blood
Kathleen had long let go of his hand as she had no intention of taking advantage of him.
Chapter 16
2/2
He went to wash his hands while she squatted to clean up the remaining shards.
“Move.”
She looked up after hearing his words.
Shawn grabbed her arm and pulled her up, somewhat irritated. “If you can’t do it, then don’t.”
“You’re afraid I’ll get hurt again. Shawn, you’re quite kind.” Kathleen grinned at him.
He didn’t bother to argue with her. Instead, he wrapped the shards in tissue and threw them away before wiping off the spilled wine on the floor.
She stood by and watched him quietly. His fingers were long and well–defined, moving with such effortless grace that even the simple act of cleaning up trash looked elegant.
Once done, he stood up and glanced at her. She smiled and said, “Shawn, you’re really good–looking.”
“You’re crazy.” Shawn didn’t look back at her. He picked up the trash and took it outside.
“Your ears are red!” she called out, smiling.
He shut the door and ignored her, going straight back to his room.
At the sight of the tightly shut door, her smile widened. Her eyes dropped to the bandage he had carefully wrapped around her finger, and a soft warmth flickered in her gaze.
Kathleen awoke early the next morning. She tidied the bed and sat on it to wait.
As the sky began to brighten, she heard someone entering the password at the door. She immediately rushed into Shawn’s bedroom, shut the door, and jumped onto his bed.
He was jolted awake and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Your mom is here,” she whispered, staring at the doorway.
Shawn didn’t believe his mother would do a surprise visit, but after hearing the ruckus at the door, he had to admit Judy was capable of something like
this.
Kathleen swiftly removed her coat and revealed the V–neck nightdress underneath. Then, she pinched her neck hard and watched it turn red.
“What are you doing?”
“I have to make your mom believe I’m really going to have your kids.” She lifted the blankets, got under them, and nudged him. “Open the door.”
Shawn felt a mixture of emotions watching the woman crawl under his covers. This was the first time a woman had gotten into his bed, and he couldn’t
even kick her out.
“If you’re not opening the door, then lie down.” She tugged on his sleeve and lowered her voice, whispering, “If she sees us sleeping together, she probably won’t come again for a long time.”
Judy wanted a grandchild even more than Shawn did.
Listening to the ruckus outside, he had no option but to consider her suggestion.
Before Shawn could get out of bed, the door creaked open, and Kathleen instantly wrapped her arms around his waist.
Her touch made him freeze. He was about to push her hands away when Judy walked in, and their eyes met.
An awkward expression appeared on Judy’s face as she quickly closed the door and left.
“Is she gone?” Kathleen asked.
“Yes.” Shawn looked down at the woman who clung to his waist. “Let go.”
She posted before grudgingly releasing him.
He threw off the covers and got out of bed, then went to the bathroom.
There was a bathroom attached to his room. Kathleen got out of bed and leaned against the wall by the bathroom door.
When Shawn carne out, the suggested, “Act a little more affectionately with me later.”
His gaze landed on her exposed neck, and the red mark looked very much like a hickey.
“I’ll go back once Judy leaves. I only wish you were a little happier.” Her eyes shone brightly.
This wasn’t the first time he had heard her say such things.
Kathleen said she hoped he’d live a good life, that he wouldn’t die, that there were people who cared about him, and that one day she wished he could truly be happy.
His heart had softened a little just by her words.
