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Novel Catalog
Chapter 76
Shaun’s frustration simmered beneath the surface. His mind drifted back to earlier that day when Catherine had left to oversee the renovation at Wesley’s villa. She’d barely been able to stand when she’d left, but he hadn’t bothered to check on her. It didn’t matter anymore. Not when she was so wrapped up in everything, including her work with Wesley.
Shaun’s fingers tapped restlessly on the armrest, and he gritted his teeth. He couldn’t quite place it—his emotions, the way his thoughts swirled in chaos whenever he thought of her. Her absence in the house had a strange weight to it. But why should he care? She was so quick to blame him for every little thing that went wrong, and yet, she hadn’t once appreciated all he’d done for her.
He sighed, reaching for his phone. He scrolled through his contacts, his thumb hovering over her name. There was a part of him that wanted to call, just to check if she was okay, but he didn’t. Not after everything. He couldn’t bring himself to care anymore, or so he told himself.
The doorbell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He stood up abruptly, annoyed by the interruption, but the feeling quickly shifted when he saw who was at the door.
Rebecca.
She stood there with a faint smile, her eyes glinting with something he couldn’t quite place.
“Shaun,” she said, her voice soft yet assertive. “I was just in the neighborhood, and I thought I’d stop by. How have you been?”
He gave her a stiff nod, stepping aside to let her in, but his mind was elsewhere—on Catherine, who he had just pushed away, and on how, despite his best efforts, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
Rebecca made herself comfortable on the couch, crossing her legs in a way that seemed calculated, like a woman who knew exactly what effect she had on people.
“I see you’re busy with the renovation project,” she remarked, her gaze flicking to the nearby construction plans.
Shaun paused, his fingers clenching. “Yes,” he said flatly, unwilling to offer anything more.
Rebecca, sensing the tension, tilted her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips. “You know, Shaun,” she began, her tone teasing yet gentle, “I’ve been thinking about Catherine lately. I don’t think she really understands how much you’ve done for her. She doesn’t seem to appreciate it, does she?”
Shaun’s heart skipped a beat, though he didn’t show it. He hated how Rebecca could always strike at the heart of the matter, no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.
He clenched his jaw. “You don’t know her,” he snapped.
Rebecca raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue further. Instead, she leaned back, as if content to wait for the silence to speak for itself.
For a long moment, they sat in quiet discomfort. Shaun couldn’t stop himself from replaying his conversation with Catherine earlier in the day, her angry words about being tricked, and the realization that she was getting closer to Wesley. The image of her looking so vulnerable and weak in the hospital bed, and Wesley’s gentle care, gnawed at him.
Rebecca’s voice interrupted his thoughts again, softer this time. “Shaun, you know, if you need someone to talk to, I’m always here.”
Shaun turned to look at her, his gaze colder than before. “I don’t need anyone.”
But even as he said the words, he couldn’t shake the thought that he did. Not from Rebecca, certainly, but from someone. Someone who actually understood him.
His thoughts wandered back to Catherine. Would things ever get better between them?