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Novel Catalog
Chapter 7
Shaun stood frozen for a moment, his finger hovering over the screen of his phone. He massaged the space between his brows, trying to make sense of the texts.
He opened the message from Catherine.
[Hubby, will you be home for dinner?]
His fingers hovered over the reply, but before he could craft his response, another message popped up.
Shaun: [No. Don’t call me that.]
Shaunerine: [Fine then, I’ll call you Shaunny. It’s a cute name.]
He sighed, his frustration mounting. Was it too late to back out of this marriage arrangement?
Later that night, Shaun sat in a courtyard-style restaurant with several of the firm’s lawyers. They were discussing new cases, their voices a blur in the background as Shaun’s mind wandered. His phone buzzed again, snapping him back to the present.
It was another message from Catherine. He opened it, only to see a picture of the chubby cat, Fudge, happily munching on a treat under the soft yellow glow of a lamp.
Shaunerine: [Shaunny, don’t worry about us. I’m taking such good care of little Fudge.]
Shaun exhaled a deep sigh. The cat had been bribed far too easily, it seemed.
At 9:30 p.m., Shaun entered his home, his passcode unlocking the door. But as he stepped inside, he froze in surprise. The house was completely transformed. The once cold, minimalist décor was now alive with warmth. The black couch, once bare and uninviting, was now adorned with vibrant peacock-blue cushions. The white dining table, too, was no longer stark, covered with a green tablecloth patterned with gentle waves. A glass vase holding fresh pink hydrangeas added a pop of color. Green plants and fresh flowers dotted the rooms, and hanging baskets swayed gently on the balcony.
Shaun blinked. Was this really his house?
Before he could process further, Catherine appeared, walking out from the guestroom in a silk nightgown. The gown, wine-red with playful white bunny prints, hugged her figure, and her long, milk tea-colored hair cascaded over her shoulders. Shaun’s gaze darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line.
“Shaunny, you’re home!” she called, her voice a little too sweet for his liking.
Shaun narrowed his eyes, trying not to notice the way her gown clung to her figure. “Who allowed you to dress like that around here?” His voice was firm, his brow furrowing in a mix of irritation and disbelief.
“Like what?” Catherine twirled innocently, flashing him a smile. “My boobs and butt are covered. Only my knees and calves are showing. Young girls wear stuff like this all the time. What’s the big deal?”
Shaun looked away, his jaw clenched. She wasn’t wrong—she wasn’t revealing much. But the fact that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath the nightgown was enough to make him uncomfortable.
“I agreed to let you move in,” he muttered, turning on his heel, “but I didn’t give you permission to redecorate my house.”
Catherine raised an eyebrow, watching him retreat to his room. “Isn’t this better?” She flashed him her palm, showing a few tiny cuts on her delicate skin. “I moved the plants around. It’s more cozy now.”
Shaun glanced at her hand. “You deserve it,” he muttered, then disappeared into his room.
Annoyed, Catherine stuck her tongue out at his retreating form. She had never met a man so indifferent to women, so unwilling to appreciate her efforts. Still, she couldn’t afford to give up just yet—not when she had plans to become her ex’s aunt.
The next morning, 7:00 a.m., Shaun’s internal clock woke him as it always did. He shuffled into the bathroom, only to bump into Catherine, who was brushing her teeth.
“Good morning, Shaunny,” she said cheerfully, her eyes sparkling as they landed on his athletic attire. “Are you going for a morning run?”
Shaun blinked in surprise. Young women like her weren’t usually early risers.
“Yeah,” he said, not bothering to hide his surprise.
“Well, don’t get breakfast before you come home. I’ll make something for you,” she said, her voice filled with the confidence of a housewife. “It’s more hygienic than store-bought food.”
Shaun frowned, shaking his head. “No need for that. When are you planning to move?”
Her expression faltered, but she quickly recovered. “We’re married, but I don’t want to get too involved with you,” he added, his tone cold. “Don’t waste your time. I’m not interested.”
Catherine’s eyes went wide, but she quickly composed herself. As he left the house, she stood there for a moment, blinking back tears. She then quickly set to work, preparing breakfast.
When Shaun returned from his run, the delicious smell of fresh food filled the house. The scent of warm churros and cinnamon rolls drifted from the kitchen, making his stomach growl.
“I made breakfast,” Catherine called out, poking her head out from behind the kitchen door. She wore a light green apron dotted with little daisies. “There are churros and cinnamon rolls…”
Shaun’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t like sweet things for breakfast,” he replied curtly, his mind still focused on the earlier conversation.
She pouted but didn’t say anything, returning to the kitchen to continue her cooking. Shaun grabbed a carton of fresh milk, clearly uninterested in what she had made. But as he poured his milk into a glass, a golden brown churro caught his eye. The delicious smell wafted through the air, and for a brief moment, he hesitated.
Catherine noticed his gaze. Smirking, she picked up one of the churros and waved it in front of him. “Shaunny, are you sure you don’t want a taste?”
He turned his head away. “Not interested.”
But as he sat down at the table with his sandwich, something about the sweetness of the churros lingered in his mind. He covered one side of his sandwich with a thick layer of fruit jam, hoping to dull the craving for something better.
Before he could finish, Catherine reappeared, placing an entire feast in front of him: churros, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and hot chocolate.
“Shaunny, you don’t mind if I eat here, do you?” she asked innocently, blinking at him with exaggerated sweetness.
Shaun silently watched as she dug into the churros with apparent delight. Her satisfied hum filled the room as she chewed. “The flavor just bursts in your mouth,” she sighed, her eyes fluttering shut in pleasure. “Mhmm, so delicious.”
Shaun couldn’t help but scowl. This woman… Was she trying to get under his skin? The food, though, looked far too tempting for him to ignore any longer. He picked up his sandwich again, but the bland taste of it now seemed unbearable.