?<strong>Chapter 438:</strong>


    After they ate, they wandered through the garden. The conversation flowed easily, and eventually, Lily touched on the subject that had been sitting at the back of her mind—his situation with Katherine. She couldn’t say why, but she had a burning need to understand where things stood between them.


    “I don’t think there’s any future for us,” Shawn admitted. Lily’s heart gave a small leap, even though she knew that feeling joy in such a moment painted her in a less-than-ttering light. “Don’t say that. Give it time. She’ll see who you really are.”


    “Maybe.” Shawn let the topic fade into the background as they continued walking toward the nearby pavilion. As they approached, two familiar faces came into view. Bobby hade to bring Katherine some food as well. Burdened by her emotions, Katherine couldn’t hold back her tears in front of Bobby, a friend who had seen her through the highs and lows.


    When Shawn saw them, Bobby was wiping away Katherine’s tears with a tissue. He stood above her while she sat, leaning her head against his waist forfort. “There, there. Don’t cry. Whatever happens, I’m here for you.”


    Bobby’s wordscked sincerity; they were just an autopilot response. Katherine wasn’t looking for him to fix anything; she simply needed a shoulder to cry on.


    Suddenly noticing Shawn, Bobby’s face broke into a smirk. “Want to bet I can grab your attention with a single sentence?”


    Through her tears, Katherine cursed at him. “Why don’t you just drop dead?”


    Bobby said, “Shawn’s here.”


    Startled, Katherine jerked her head up, her eyes scanning the area frantically, like a radar searching for a signal. However, her anxiety faded when she noticed Lily standing next to Shawn.


    Lily greeted her warmly. “Kathy, long time no see.”


    “Yeah,” Katherine replied, her voice still shaky.


    Bobby also waved casually.


    He had always been lighthearted. Before Shawn fell for Katherine, he used to tease that Bobby and Katherine acted like partners in crime. In many ways, they were quite simr. Both treated rtionships lightly, without realmitment, ying adult games while navigating life’s highs and lows.


    In contrast, Shawn realized the type of partner he truly desired. Someone kind, honest, and reliable. Someone with whom he could grow and share mutual support, unlike those who engaged in transient affairs.


    “Lily,” he called out.


    Lily, taken by surprise, responded, “Huh?”


    “Let’s go.”


    Katherine watched them walk past the pavilion and disappear from view.


    Bobby clicked his tongue. “Shawn’s quite the jealous type, isn’t he?”


    Katherine questioned, “Jealous of what?”


    “Don’t act clueless,” Bobby said. “I think Shawn’s a good guy. Why don’t you settle down with him? It would make things easier for me. Every time he sees me, he looks like he thinks I’mpeting with him. I’m just trying to avoid trouble, you know?”


    “Get lost,” Katherine replied, more bewildered by his words than anything else. She decided to dismiss the thought.


    Bobby continued, “Have you really thought this through? If Shawn ends up with Lily, won’t that bother you?”


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