?<strong>Chapter 165:</strong>


    Joelle’s instincts whispered that Katie was concealing something. Though typically indifferent to others’ secrets, she couldn’t help but worry after Katie had seen her medication. If Katie told her parents, L and Quincy would surely discover her pregnancy. If she could uncover something about Katie first, perhaps she could avoidplications.


    Exiting the elevator, Katie cked away in her high heels. Watching her depart, Joelle wasted no time in heading up to consult with Rafael.


    That evening, Joelle arrived at the top floor of Elegant Manor. Kathy had reserved the entire area. The quartet dined under the stars. As a cool breeze swept through, the men draped their jackets over the shoulders of theirpanions. Joelle was enveloped in Shawn’s jacket, while Katherine wore Bobby’s.


    “Honey, stay warm,” Bobby murmured.


    Katherine affected a demure smile, the candlelight casting a glow on her lovely features. “You’re always so kind to me.”


    “Always.” Bobby grasped Katherine’s hand. “You’re my greatest treasure.” His charm was as potent and honeyed as Joelle remembered.


    “How sweet!” To make Shawn give up, Katherine even sipped from Bobby’s ss. Joelle felt a chill of revulsion and simultaneously caught Shawn’s ashen expression.


    She cleared her throat. “Katherine, do you have to unt your romance in front of me, a divorcee?”


    Bobby nced her way. “You’re really divorced?” Joelle’s smile was wry. “You’re out of the loop. It’s been two months.”


    Bobby casually slung an arm over Katherine’s chair. As her closest ally, he wasmitted to ying his part well. He never missed a chance to dere his affection for Katherine.


    “I’ve been preupied with Katherine,” he stated. “I don’t pay mind to other matters.”


    After slicing a piece of steak, Katherine gracefully offered it to Bobby on her fork. Bobby savored the bite andmented, “Divorcing him was the best thing for you. I’ve always known Adrian wasn’t right for you.”


    “Why would you say that?” Joelle inquired, her curiosity piqued.


    “I once saw him with a sick girl long before your divorce. I warned him about causing a scandal, but he told me to stay out of his affairs.”


    Bobby often spoke without thinking, especially about sensitive subjects like Adrian, which perhaps wasn’t the wisest choice at such a gathering. Joelle’s difort was fleeting, but Shawn, who had been quiet all evening, seized the moment to express his frustration.


    “How can you justify ming others?” Bobby was engaged in conversation with two women when Shawn’s interjection wiped the smile from his face. “What’s the issue? He said that to me?”


    With a loud thud, Shawn tossed a stack of photographs on the table. The trio examined them. Each photo was clearly dated and showed Bobby at various discreet gatherings with different women.


    Bobby exploded, “Shawn, have you been having me followed?”


    Shawn responded icily, “Are you ready to admit what you’ve done?”


    What infuriated Bobby most was the public exposure of his private life. Katherine, taken aback by Shawn’s drastic actions, feltpelled to defend Bobby. “Shawn, this is too much. Why are you spying on Bobby?”


    Shawn stared at her in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? I’m doing this for your sake!”


    Tears welled up in Katherine’s eyes as she nced at Bobby. “We don’t need you meddling in our business. These photos prove nothing…”


    “They mean nothing?” Shawn picked up a photograph. “I took this outside a hotel. I saw him enter with that woman, and they didn’t leave all night!”


    Katherine reached her breaking point. She needed to make Shawn let go of any hope. “I love Bobby, regardless of his private life. I don’t care for anyone else but him!”


    Shawn rose abruptly, his voice incredulous. “Are you blind?”


    Katherine gave Joelle a subtle nod, prompting her to intervene. Standing, Joelle urged, “Shawn, please, calm down.”


    But Shawn was beyond reasoning. He jabbed a finger toward Katherine and Bobby, his anger palpable. “Katherine, listen to me, this man is no good for you. If you won’t see reason, I’ll have no choice but to tell your parents!”


    Katherine’s lips quivered slightly in response. Bobby, outraged, retorted sharply, “Have you lost your mind? What business is it of yours who Katherine is with? Do you have feelings for her?”


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