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Novel Catalog
Chapter 49
Shaun stood there, completely taken aback, staring at Catherine’s flustered expression. Her awkwardness, combined with her defense, was almost too much to process. He opened his mouth but then quickly shut it. What was he supposed to say to that?
He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to maintain his composure. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered under his breath. He was absolutely sure that this was not how he envisioned starting his morning.
“Look, I didn’t ask for this,” Catherine said defensively, still clutching the fabric of her pajamas with one hand. “I’m not trying to seduce you! It’s… it’s just the buttons!”
Shaun couldn’t help but scoff at her words. “The buttons… seriously, Catherine? You expect me to believe that?” His tone was full of disbelief, but there was a hint of something else—something more amused, though he wasn’t quite ready to admit it.
She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment. “Well, if you’re not going to believe me, then I have nothing else to say.”
Despite the awkward situation, Shaun couldn’t suppress the chuckle that escaped from his lips. The whole thing was ridiculous, and yet, it was somehow endearing. He leaned back against the bed frame, arms crossed, shaking his head. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, you know that?”
“I’m just trying to survive here,” she muttered, trying to act nonchalant, but it was clear she was still embarrassed.
Shaun, finally letting the tension ease, ran a hand through his hair. He was used to keeping his cool, but with her, things always seemed to get a little more… complicated. “Fine. Whatever. Just… make sure the buttons stay buttoned next time.”
Catherine glared at him. “I’m not some damsel in distress, you know. I can button my own clothes.”
“Clearly,” Shaun replied with a wry smile, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and something softer—something she couldn’t quite place.
Catherine looked away, her heart racing in a way she didn’t quite understand. She felt embarrassed, yes, but there was also something else that made her stomach flutter whenever he spoke to her like that. She’d gotten used to the constant push and pull between them, the teasing, the challenges. But this? This felt different somehow, and it was starting to make her wonder just how much of this was real.
As Shaun started to walk toward the door, he paused, his back still turned to her. “You should get dressed. I’ll be in the study.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment. The awkwardness was still hanging in the air, but something inside her told her that this might just be the beginning of a new chapter for them, one that was far from predictable.
“Right…” she muttered under her breath as she watched him leave. But before he could exit fully, she called after him.
“Shaun?”
He stopped and turned, his expression unreadable. “What?”
She bit her lip. “I… I meant it when I said I’d prove myself. I will. I’m not just going to sit back and let you think I’m helpless.”
A faint glimmer of something—pride, perhaps?—shone in Shaun’s eyes as he studied her. “You’d better,” he replied with a small smirk. “But don’t get any funny ideas. I’m not an easy man to impress.”
She couldn’t help but smile at his response, despite herself. “I know.”
With that, Shaun left her alone in the room. Catherine let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She wasn’t sure what to make of all the strange emotions swirling inside her, but one thing was clear: things were changing between them. Whether that change would be for better or worse, only time would tell.
Later that day, after some time to reflect, Catherine found herself standing outside of Shaun’s study, her mind racing with ideas. She had always thought of herself as strong, capable—someone who could handle anything. But the more she thought about the way Shaun had protected her, the more she realized she was falling into a deeper web of emotions she wasn’t entirely ready for.
Knocking lightly on the door, she called, “Shaun, are you in there?”
His voice came from inside, a little muffled. “Come in.”
She opened the door and stepped inside, finding him at his desk, eyes glued to a screen full of documents. “I’ve been thinking about what you said this morning…” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “I know I’ve made mistakes, and I’m not asking for pity. But I want to show you that I can handle myself. I’ve got more to offer than just… these problems.”
Shaun didn’t look up from his screen, but his voice held a note of curiosity. “What exactly do you have in mind?”
Catherine straightened her posture, a sense of determination filling her. “I’m going to get back to work. Not just as your cook or caretaker. I’m going to do something for myself. And when I do, I’ll prove to you that I’m not just some helpless woman who needs saving.”
Shaun finally looked up at her, his gaze piercing but not unkind. “I’m not saying you’re helpless. I just think you’ve got a lot more to figure out. But I guess we’ll see if you can keep up with me.”
Catherine smiled, her confidence starting to build. “I’ll keep up. You’ll see.”
There was something in his eyes then, a flicker of approval or perhaps recognition, but he didn’t say anything else. He simply nodded and returned his attention to his work.
She left the study feeling a little lighter, a little more certain. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but she was ready to prove herself—not just to Shaun, but to herself as well.