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Novel Catalog
Chapter 68
As Catherine held the piece of lamb in front of Shaun, she felt a wave of anxiety. Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched him, hoping that he wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Her fingers trembled slightly as she waited for his response, unsure if she was doing the right thing. She had never thought she’d find herself in this position—plotting behind Shaun’s back—but Freya’s insistence, and the pressure to handle things her own way, had pushed her this far.
Shaun’s gaze remained steady as he looked at her, his dark eyes unwavering. Catherine’s pulse quickened, but she forced a smile, trying to mask her inner turmoil.
Shaun took the lamb from her hand without saying anything, popping it into his mouth and chewing slowly. Catherine watched him intently, half-expecting him to burst out in anger or call her out on what she’d done. But instead, he continued eating with that same calm demeanor he always had. He didn’t react, didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.
“Good?” she asked quietly, hoping her voice didn’t betray the nervousness she felt.
Shaun nodded and took another sip of his coffee, still not saying a word. “It’s fine,” he replied casually, his tone flat.
Catherine let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The moment passed, and though she didn’t feel entirely at ease, she couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief.
But just as the tension in the air seemed to dissipate, Shaun looked up at her, his dark eyes now sharp with a glint of amusement. “You’re trying to get me drunk, aren’t you?” he asked, a subtle smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
Catherine froze, her heart dropping into her stomach. How had he figured it out? Was she that obvious? She felt exposed, like all her secrets had been laid bare in that one look. For a split second, she considered pretending she wasn’t up to anything, but she knew Shaun wasn’t the type to be fooled easily.
“I—I don’t know what you mean,” she stammered, trying to laugh it off nervously. “Maybe it’s just a little gesture of kindness. You looked like you needed something to eat.”
Shaun raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Catherine…”
She met his gaze, her face flushing with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. It’s just… Freya thought it might help. You’ve been stressed lately, and I thought… well, maybe it would loosen you up a bit.”
Shaun stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he set his coffee cup down with a soft clink and leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening slightly.
“You don’t need to do this,” he said, his voice lower than usual. “If I wanted to drink or relax, I’d do it on my own terms. I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t need any tricks to get me to open up.”
Catherine’s face heated further as she realized her actions had been misguided. She had wanted to help, to maybe bring down some of his walls, but instead, she had come off as manipulative.
“I wasn’t trying to manipulate you, Shaun. I just… I thought it would be easier if you just let loose for once.” Her voice softened, a little vulnerable now. “I just don’t like seeing you so distant, all the time.”
Shaun was quiet for a moment before he spoke again, his tone gentler. “Catherine, I’m not distant. I just… I handle things my way. But that doesn’t mean I don’t notice what you’re doing.” He reached out, gently taking her hand. “You don’t have to go to extremes to get me to care about you. I already do.”
For a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away, and Catherine felt an unexpected warmth spreading through her chest. It was as if Shaun had pulled her out of the mess she had made and reminded her that she didn’t need to resort to tricks to earn his affection.
“Just be yourself,” Shaun continued, his voice reassuring. “That’s enough for me.”
Catherine, still processing his words, nodded slowly. She wasn’t sure if she was entirely forgiven, but it felt like a step in the right direction. And maybe, just maybe, that was all she needed to move forward.