?<strong>Chapter 182:</strong>


    So, Katherine was not the one who was pregnant; Joelle was. Upon rifying this fact, Shawn began to notice striking simrities between his online love, Ke, and Katherine. Ke’s friend, who had recently had a baby girl, might actually be Joelle.


    Overwhelmed by the implications, Shawn hastily deleted the text he wasposing.


    “Mr. Watson, what’s the matter? You seem upset,” his assistant inquired with concern.


    “It’s none of your business. Just be quiet,” Shawn snapped abruptly.


    “Understood.”


    Upon reaching the hospital and seeing his niece, Shawn approached Joelle with a cautious query. “Joelle, have you been using Katherine’s name for your hospital visits during your pregnancy?”


    “How did you find out?” Joelle’s response was tinged with surprise.


    Sweat dampened Shawn’s back as he wrestled with the implications of his discovery. He still couldn’t conclusively connect Ke to Katherine, and he desperately needed more proof. Five hours had passed since hest interacted with Ke online. His hesitation wasn’t due to ack of interest but rather a deep-seated embarrassment at the thought that Ke might be Katherine.


    Shawn revisited their recent chat log and saw Ke’s yful message from two days prior: “I’m a cream puff. I want to be filled with your cream.” His response was just as flirty: “Okay, I’ll give you all my cream.” Their daily endearments of “honey” highlighted the depth of their virtual connection, a depth Shawn had never before experienced online.


    Feeling a mix of anxiety and urgency, Shawn made a bold request. “Honey, can you send me a selfie of you?” After hitting send, Shawn settled into an uneasy wait on the sofa.


    Soon after, Ke’s reply popped up, teasing yet affectionate: “Honey, I also want to see your muscles.” Taking a deep breath, Shawn felt an unexpected surge of emotion. His feelings for her had grown deeper than he’d anticipated. He typed back, trying to add ayer of sincerity to their flirtation. “Okay. But this time, don’t hide half of your face behind your hair. Let me see all of you, okay?”


    On the other side, Katherine paused, considering her next move. She had been growing closer to Frankie. Her previous photo had been cautiously edited to show only half her face. Deciding to be more forthright, she prepared to send a genuine, unaltered photo.


    When Shawn’s phone finally beeped with the iing image, thework’s sluggishness only heightened his suspense. As the image slowly resolved into rity, revealing Katherine’s full, unobscured face, Shawn’s shock was palpable. In a reflex of disbelief, he flung the phone aside, pacing the room in a daze.


    How could it be her? With countless girls named Ke in the world, why did his have to be her? The idea of falling for his sister’s best friend, whom he’d affectionately called “honey,” was maddening to Shawn. How could he maintain hisposure around Katherine now?


    His thoughts were tumultuous, questioning how he could ever face her again without losing dignity. Grasping for normalcy, Shawn picked up his phone and, in an attempt to steady his nerves, downed a ss of wine. He then typed a question. “Are you sure this is really you? It looks different from yourst photo.”


    Ke’s reply was immediate. “Yes, it’s definitely me. Thest one was edited. If you’re still unsure, let’s have a video call to clear your doubts.”


    Staring at the unfiltered photo of Katherine, Shawn’s initial shock ebbed into reluctant admiration. Underneath her usual polished exterior, her natural beauty was undeniable—gentle and alluring. Yet, the realization stung. He’d always seen her as almost a sister, not a potential romantic partner.


    And now, he berated himself for crossing lines he shouldn’t have, even jokingly asking her about touching his muscles. As he took another gulp of wine, a troubling thought struck him. If Katherine was indeed Ke, was she not being unfaithful? She had openly admitted to a rtionship with Bobby.


    Theyers of deception made him feel not just secondary but betrayed—a fool in a farcical love triangle. Fueled by wine and wounded pride, Shawn decided it was time to cut the farce short. With a mix of anger and resolution, he typed a conclusive message. “I’m sorry. After some thought, I’ve realized we’re not suited for each other. It’s best we part ways.”


    Katherine’s response was a simple question mark. Frankie replied, “Actually, I’m married. Our conversations were just a way to pass time.”


    Stung by her supposed betrayal, Shawn fabricated this lie to wound her in return. Ke’s confusion deepened. Frankie suggested, “We should cease allmunication.”


    Ke retorted, “You’re free to end things if you wish. But must you do it right after I send you my selfie? Am I not what you expected? Plus, you im you’re married. Why lead me on then?”


    Frankie, maintaining the ruse, asked dismissively, “Was it more than just casual chat for you?”


    Ke, trying to regain some control, posed a defiant question. “Before we part ways, could I perhaps get a few pictures of your abs?”


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