Samuel knew how painful it was to miss somebody.
It turns out that even thinking of someone hurts all over.
His stomach twisted. It was the kind of pain that would spread to every limb before having them smashed by boulders.
Despite the pain, he found that he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Kathleen fell silent.
Samuel’s gaze deepened. “Say something.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” she bluntly said as she lay down. “I’m going to take a nap. Please carry on with your work.”
Samuel studied Kathleen thoughtfully, trying to decide if she would be heartbroken or disgusted if he told her he had missed her.
Judging by her expression, probably the latter.
Meanwhile, Kathleen felt awful.
Samuel hasn’t changed. Why would he tell me this after a year? Does he think that I’m foolish enough to change my mind just because he said that? I’m no longer that girl who loved him wholeheartedly in the stupidity of my youth. Not anymore. Why didn’t he treasure me when I did? Leaving him was the right choice.
Samuel looked sideways at Kathleen, who had her back to him. She seemed to be asleep.
He didn’t bother her further. Instead, he turned off the light.
The night suddenly became unbearably long.
Kathleen woke up the following day in a daze.
“Good morning, Katie,” said Diana with a kind voice.
Kathleen was surprised. “Old Mrs. Macari?”
Diana sat on the chair between the two beds as she reached out to stroke Kathleen’s head. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am,” Kathleen murmured demurely, like a small furry animal being caressed.
“I brought you something delicious.” Diana turned to Maria. “Bring it over.”
“Yes, Old Mrs. Macari.” Maria brought a hearty breakfast in her arms.
Kathleen was taken aback.
“I got up at three this morning to whip up some mushroom soup with Maria. It’s your favorite, isn’t it?” Diana smiled kindly.
Kathleen felt a pang of guilt. “Old Mrs. Macari, you really didn’t have to go through all that trouble.”
The lovely old lady really loves me. I can feel it.
Diana beamed. “It’s not a big deal, dear. I’m usually bored on weekdays, anyway. I’m happy to cook you something nice. Now, be a good girl and have a taste.”
“Yes, Old Mrs. Macari.” Kathleen nodded obediently before picking up a spoon and doing as instructed.
“It’s so fresh!” She smiled so broadly that her eyes were reduced to slits. A warm, fuzzy feeling erupted in her heart.
“As long as you enjoy it, Katie.”
Kathleen returned the old lady’s smile with an embarrassed grin of her own.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Samuel looking at her and pursed her lips at once.
Diana noticed what had caught her attention. “Samuel had some of your soup before you woke up.”
Kathleen looked over.
“I really did,” Samuel affirmed gently.
Without a word, Kathleen turned her attention back to her meal.
Diana gazed at her grandson. “I did some digging of my own. What happened with the ward this time really wasn’t your fault.”
Samuel was struck dumb.
I’m really not as dirty as she thinks I am!
Kathleen was surprised to discover that Diana didn’t believe Samuel either.
“I heard that a ward is being vacated this afternoon,” Diana announced. “I have already arranged for Katie to move in.”
“Right.” Samuel nodded and didn’t voice his disapproval.
Kathleen stared at Diana thoughtfully before commencing her meal.
“Don’t worry, Katie,” Diana crooned as she stroked Kathleen’s hair. “I’d said before that I’ll treat you like my granddaughter, which is naturally better than how I treat Samuel.”
Kathleen was moved to find out that Diana didn’t intend to bring them back together.
Samuel, on the other hand, remained silent.
Soon, the ward next door was vacated, and Kathleen moved in.
After sending Maria to help Kathleen settle in, Diana turned to look at Samuel. “Katie and Christopher are quite compatible, you know.”
Samuel didn’t deign to answer her.
“You have already missed your chance with Katie,” Diana lamented. “It’s not going to work with her no matter how hard you force things. The sacrifice of Katie’s parents has given me several additional decades of life. Moving forward, I’ll only act in her best interests.”
“I do care for her, Grandma,” Samuel said.
“Oh, Sammie.” Diana hasn’t addressed Samuel like that for a long time.
As soon as Samuel was old enough, she addressed him by his actual name.
“I wouldn’t stop you if Katie hadn’t left,” Diana said earnestly. “You and Christopher had each pursued Katie to the best of your abilities. Though it was fair game back then, I now know what Katie needs. I can’t control your obsession with that girl from the Yoeger family, but Katie can no longer suffer the indignities of being a scorned woman, do you understand?”
“Nicolette and I broke things off a long time ago, Grandma,” Samuel said coldly.
Diana was displeased. “Why would you still keep her around if there’s nothing between the two of you? Who are you lying to? Everyone in Jadeborough knows that you have her well-fed in a villa somewhere. Do you think Katie wouldn’t find out about it? She’ll only hate you more when she hears it. You just had to stand before her without a shred of guilt, didn’t you? You’re lucky that she’s too mild-mannered to put you in your place.”
“They’re just rumors.” Samuel’s tone was icy.
“Why don’t you clarify them, then?” Diana retorted. “Even if Katie’s no longer with you, you shouldn’t let her be tormented by this falsehood.”
Samuel gazed at his grandmother calmly. “You’ll find out soon whether or not I clarified matters, Grandma.”
“You’re always like this!” Diana burst out angrily. “How does the Macari family end up with a freak like you? Not only do you have abysmal taste in women, but you don’t care about the women who love you!”
I do care about Kathleen.
Diana stood up. “Forget it. I’m done trying to talk sense into you. You leave that poor girl alone, you hear me? Also, did you bring Astrid back?”
Samuel remained silent.
Diana sneered. “I’ve been underestimating my grandson this entire time. Contest openly against Christopher if you dare, but don’t resort to such petty tricks when you’re falling behind. I never thought you would be capable of such a despicable thing.”
“That’s very kind of you to say, Grandma,” Samuel said lightly.
“Hmph!” Diana scoffed in her anger. “Just you try to hurt Katie again. I’ll disown you!”
Samuel’s voice was cold. “I won’t let her get hurt anyway.”
If she gets hurt, I’ll be sadder than anybody else.
Diana turned and left him alone in the ward.
Tyson entered a little later and said in surprise, “Mr. Macari, has Mrs. Macari moved?”
Samuel regarded his assistant impassively. “Tell the finance department that you’ll be given a year-end bonus of a hundred thousand.”
Tyson froze. “Mr. Macari, what did I do wrong?”
Why would there be a reward for me out of nowhere?
“You did nothing wrong,” Samuel replied as he picked up the documents. “I’m very satisfied with the arrangements you’ve made.”
