?<strong>Chapter 374:</strong>


    Shawn didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he nced briefly at Katherine.


    Katherine let out a sigh, her attention fixed on the food in front of her.


    “Why are you looking at Katherine like that? Come on, man, spill it. Do you have a girlfriend or not?” Joelle asked.


    “Well, nothing’s official yet. I’ll let you know once it is,” Shawn replied, smoothly shifting the topic. No one pressed him further.


    After dinner, Katherine was the first to get up, preparing to leave.


    Shawn quickly stood and followed her. “Ride with me,” he offered.


    Katherine looked him up and down, feigning ignorance. “And why exactly should I ride with you?”


    Unbothered, Shawn met her gaze. “Your car’s busted, isn’t it? It’s not safe driving it around at night.”


    To his surprise, Katherine—who normally would’ve put up a fight—nodded without hesitation.


    “Alright, I’ll take the ride.”


    Not far off, Joelle and Adrian exchanged nces, silently picking up on the tension between Shawn and Katherine. As soon as the door closed behind them, Joelle turned to Adrian with wide eyes, unable to hold back her curiosity.


    “Okay, what do you think? Is there something going on between those two? I’ve been noticing it since that time in Bristania!”


    Adrian had noticed it too, but he was more intrigued by Joelle’s reaction than by the drama between Shawn and Katherine.


    “Can you picture Katherine as your sister-inw?”


    Joelle paused, genuinely considering the idea.


    “It’d be a little weird, but I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing.”


    “Well then, let them sort it out.” Adrian wrapped an arm around her shoulders. They spent the next two hours upstairs, ying puzzles with the kids.


    A little after ten, Joelle pped her hands. “Alright, bedtime, you two.”


    Aurora and Rnd scrambled off to wash up. Joelle, standing with her hands on her hips, turned to Adrian. “As for you, mister, off to your room!”


    Since things had been hectictely, Joelle had been staying at Adrian’s ce more often. Even so, he usually slept alone.


    But tonight, he decided to test the waters.


    “Joelle, can I sleep with you guys tonight?”


    “Not a chance.”


    Aurora, who had overheard from the bathroom, chimed in loudly, “The bed’s not big enough! If you sleep with us, we’ll all be squished!”


    “She’s got a point.” Adrian had no choice but to head back to his room because his daughter had spoken. Just then, Aurora added, “But you can sleep on the floor, right?”


    Suddenly, Adrian’s face lit up with childlike delight. He looked at Joelle with hopeful eyes, much like a puppy waiting to be allowed onto the couch.


    Joelle couldn’t help herself. “Fine, fine, you can sleep on the floor.”


    Without wasting any time, Adrian grabbed a nket and made himself a spot right next to the bed, as close to Joelle as possible.


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