?<strong>Chapter 283:</strong>


    Receiving praise made Shawn feel guilty. He had a big secret—he was actually the business tycoon known as Frankie and had even started an online romance with Katherine. He worried about how Katherine would react if she discovered his secret. Knowing her nature, she would feelpletely betrayed. Yet, Shawn had never anticipated such an astounding twist of fate. He was determined to keep his secret hidden at all costs. He couldn’t risk damaging his rtionship with Katherine once more.


    When Gina returned home, she quickly opened the envelope. Even in death, Jackie continued to cause her problems. Merely pushing him into the river had been too merciful! Gina pulled out a nk piece of paper from the envelope and inspected it closely from all angles but saw nothing. Still suspicious, she checked the listening device she had ced in Joelle’s house and heard nothing but static, confirming her suspicions of being tricked. In a rage, Gina tore the paper to pieces, but her anger remained.


    This confrontation meant she was now openly at odds with the Watson family. Before, she had maneuvered from the shadows, while the Watsons remained in the spotlight. Now, panic engulfed her. Given this test, what might the Watson family do next? Did they understand who she really was? Were they aware of what had happened back then? If so, how much did they know? The anxiety and uncertainty were unbearable.


    Gina realized she couldn’t just sit back and wait for what was toe. Thus, under the veil of night, she ventured out from her home once more.


    Katie made it a habit to visit a beauty salon every week for a facial. Her mother always reminded her that her youth was her greatest asset. Since she couldn’t depend on her brother or father, she decided to invest in her appearance to find a wealthy partner sooner. Naturally, she couldn’t visit the salon during the day, so Katie always went secretly at night.


    Tristan was considered a second-tier heir, nowhere near the caliber of the Miller family. Katie was merely ying with him. After securing the money and house, she nned to leave him. When she broke up with him, they were still in bed. Tearfully, he begged her to stay. With Adrian being her cousin, he felt too intimidated to challenge Katie. “Katie, I truly love you! Please don’t leave me.”


    Katie’s acting had be wless. “Sorry, Tristan, my cousin thinks we’re not suited for each other.” Frustrated, Tristan clenched his fists. “You have my house and money, and now you say we’re not a good match? You’ve been with me, and isn’t it normal for me to get these things from you? Tristan, isn’t your family supposed to be rich?” Tristan couldn’t confess that he wasn’t wealthy. However, the money and house were carefully saved by his parents for his marriage. He had boldly promised that joining the Miller family would make him rich. For this, he had even agreed to Katie’s harsh condition of putting the house under her name.


    Tristan looked forward to meeting Adrian, but was disappointed to learn Adrian wanted Katie to end things with him. “What did I do wrong?”


    Katie simply shook her head. “Tristan, you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s just that my cousin says your family isn’t good enough for us.”


    Tristan knew this deep down. He suddenly looked up. “Katie, let me talk to your cousin. I can persuade him to let us stay together!”


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    “Forget it.” Katie patted his face softly, feeling slightly sorry for his naivety. “We can still be friends after we part ways, Tristan. If you’re ever in trouble, let me know, and I’ll ask my cousin to help you. I’ve cherished our time together and will always remember it.”


    “Really?”


    Tristan’s face brightened. At least he had something positive to tell his parents. Otherwise, if they discovered he had handed over his money and house to Katie, they might very well disown him. “Yes.”


    Tristan grasped Katie’s hand. “Before we part ways, can we be intimate onest time?” His naive expression was etched in Katie’s memory. She decided to view it as an act of sympathy for this simple soul. Katie nodded shyly.


    Tristan wrapped around her like a needy puppy, his hand brushing against the long scar on her abdomen. “Katie, did you really get this scar from an appendectomy?”


    “Are you questioning me?”


    “No, no!” Tristan quickly reassured her. “My mother has a simr scar from when she had surgery to deliver me.”


    Katie’s heart raced. “If you keep talking nonsense, I won’t stay with you anymore!”


    “No, no, I was wrong!”


    Later, Katie rushed off to the beauty salon. “Can this scar be removed?”


    The salon staff confirmed it was possible but would require ongoing treatments. Without a second thought, Katie signed up for the treatment. This scar was the one blemish she desperately wanted to remove.


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