?<strong>Chapter 332:</strong>


    By the time Shawn arrived, Katherine was visibly drunk. She had ignored her meal, opting instead to drown her sorrows in drink.


    Seated alone by the window, the flickering candlelight cast her silhouette against the nighttime cityscape.


    Clearly drunk, Katherine swayed with her wine ss in hand. Her eyes widened only when filling her ss, then she would toss her head back and gulp it down in one go.


    Shawn hurried over but slowed his pace as he neared her, his anxiety mounting. “Katherine.”


    Katherine squinted to see who was speaking. “Shawn,e, have a drink with me.”


    “Stop drinking!” He grabbed the ss from her and lifted her in his arms, exiting the restaurant as other diners watched curiously.


    Shawn settled Katherine into the car, his assistant discreetly raising the partition.


    Resting on Shawn’sp, Katherine began with soft whimpers, which escted into loud, tearful curses directed at Arlo.


    “Shawn, why did youe?”


    Shawn replied, “I just knew I had to be here.”


    “Why doesn’t Frankie want me?”


    Shawn gazed at her sincerely. “Arlo isn’t Frankie.”


    “Then who is he?”


    “He’s just himself.”


    Katherine’s vision blurred as she looked into Shawn’s eyes, and then everything faded to ck. Her lips felt unusually soft. As the alcohol’s effects started to wane, she wished she were still drunk.


    Shawn was kissing her. This realization made her head spin. His kiss intensified, biting and nibbling as if this had been his intention all along.


    Katherine’s resistance faded, and shey there dazed, waiting for him to stop.


    It wasn’t long before Shawn pulled away to look at her.


    “Katherine, forget Frankie. Like me instead.”


    Touching her lips, Katherine processed the moment. It was all too real! “Ah!” Her scream echoed in the car as the assistant drove on.


    “Shawn, I knew it! Are you making fun of me now?”


    “Of course not!” Shawn pressed her gently against the window, his expression dead serious. “I’m in love with you.”


    Katherine felt the weight of her drunkenness, her mouth dry. Most importantly, Shawn’s expression didn’t look like he was joking.


    She knew Shawn too well to doubt his sincerity.


    He had never been serious with anyone before, so Katherine believed him when he dered his love.


    “We know each other far too well. I can’t do this.” Katherine shook her head. “What will I say to Joelle after all this?”


    Shawn, braced for her rejection after his confession,ughed lightly. He asked, “You’re worried about that?”


    “Yes, I am! If things end between us, it’ll be so awkward with Joelle! So, Shawn, let’s just forget this ever happened.” She was exceptionally persuasive.


    Shawn was tempted to silence her. “What if I said I want us together, always?”


    Katherine’s jaw dropped, her eyes wide. “That’s even worse!”


    “Why?”


    “How should I exin?” Katherine sighed. “Shawn, you’re not the type I usually fall for.”


    “What type do you see me as? We’ve been friends for so long, but do you really know me that little?”


    Katherine shifted her gaze away, but Shawn gently guided her face back to his.


    “Katherine, you don’t have to answer now. I just needed to tell you that I’ve liked you for a long time. I’ve thought about you for the past three years. So please, don’t flirt with others around me. It drives me crazy, and you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. Got it?”


    Katherine nodded, her heart racing. “Okay.”


    The next morning, the four of them gathered for breakfast.


    Katherine, still battling her hangover, kept yawning.


    “Morning, Joelle.”


    “Morning.” Joelle took a sip of her milk. “You should eat.”


    “Okay.” Katherine reached for her fork, only to freeze when Joelle said, “My brother woke up early to cook. He gave you two eggs, and I didn’t even get one!”


    Katherine’s fork fell. She shot a guilty look at Shawn.


    Shawn and Adrian were busy at the kitchen ind, tidying up. Shawn simply cocked an eyebrow at the sound, barely ncing over, yet Katherine caught his gaze for a fleeting moment.


    He could behave as if nothing significant had urred.


    Katherine’s heart raced, anxious Joelle might suspect something. “Here, Joelle, have one of mine!” She quickly passed one of her eggs to Joelle. “Let’s eat up and then go meet Dalton’s daughter!”


    Shawn turned around, his lips curving in a quiet smile.


    .


    .


    .