Katherine POV“Thank you for the dinner, Oliver.” I turned around to thank him after opening Erin’s room. “You shouldn’t thank me. You did not eat much.” He commented. I thought he did not notice, but after we saw Lucas Sanders and his supermodel girlfriend, I suddenly lost my appetite. The sight of them unsettled me in ways I could not explain. It made me scared. Lucas is slowly getting under my skin, and it bothered me a lot. I sighed. “I may be tired.” I hedged. “If you say so.” He shrugged. “Good night, Katherine.” He said before turning around to leave. I watched his back until he disappeared in a corner. Then, I stepped inside Erin’s room. Erin was already asleep on the bed. I went to the bathroom to wash up. When I returned, I took the foldaway bed from its storage and placed it next to Erin’s bed. I had a restless sleep. Tonight, after a long time, I dreamt again of the same guy. His face was blurry, but every time I dreamt about him, I could not help the feel
Lucas POV“What is wrong with you?” Oliver demanded after the door closed on Katherine, leaving us inside. Katherine jumped out of the elevator when it reached her floor and awkwardly muttered her goodbye. She looked like she couldn't wait to leave us.“I don’t know. Maybe you did something that pushed my buttons.” I hissed at him. The elevator stopped on my floor, and I marched out, leaving Oliver behind, but he quickly followed me.The whole office became silent when they saw my approach. Even Dan Burns hesitated when he was about to meet me halfway with his tablet in hand. When I entered my office, Oliver was behind me. “Come on. Out with it. What is wrong?” Oliver challenged after closing the door. We had been circling about this issue for a while now, and it's about time to let it out in the open. It had been a long time since we had an argument of this scale. It was ridiculous to think that the cause of our misunderstanding was a woman. “You know what you did and yet
Lucas POV“Then are you telling me that my own mother lied to me?”Oliver looked stunned.“She collaborated on Agatha's statement. That is why I believed it.” I shut my eyes, trying to cull into my memory the last few weeks before the day that shattered my dreams and my heart. “The week before she disappeared, I felt Katherine had checked out on me. She changed. She has become cold. Every time I called her, there was this impenetrable wall between us. She was often absent-minded. I felt that she was hiding something from me."“I never had an inkling that she would betray me.” I smiled self-deprecatingly. How could I? A month before I learned about her betrayal, I visited her back home, and we were happy. She reiterated her promise to apply to my college so she could follow me and we could be together.Two weeks, I never heard from her and it bothered me, prompting me to incur a two-day absence at the University to be able to go back home for a quick visit to check on her. Imagin
Agatha POV“I thought Lucas Sanders would propose. You were so sure that he would be asking you to marry him. What happened?” Amy asked. I snorted.At the same time, I regretted the decision to announce prematurely to my manager that I was getting engaged. Now, I feel like a fool because the proposal I was expecting did not come. “Did he change his mind?” she probed. Her question caused panic to rise within me, but thankfully, I managed to quell it. “Of course not.” I denied. “Have you seen the bracelet he bought me? I had it on authority that it was worth millions.” I told her smugly. Hugo sent me a copy of the receipt, and my eyes almost bulged in shock at the amount. “But a bracelet is different from a ring,” Amy interjected. I don’t know if she was trying to dissuade me, but I was beyond discouragement. After last night, I was sure that eventually Lucas would propose. “I learned from a reliable source that Lucas bought an engagement ring. I knew that a marriage proposa
Lucas POVI was caught off guard when my friends asked about the engagement ring. “Who was it for?” Jacob pressed. He even looked at Oliver to get his reaction, hoping my best friend would spill the beans, but like them, Oliver knew nothing. “No one.” I fibbed, not wanting them to know who I bought it for.I averted my gaze, but it was a wrong move because it glanced in Oliver’s direction. He was watching me with that sharp gaze of his. I knew by the way his eyes narrowed into slits that he already guessed for whom I intended the ring. Still, I feigned nonchalance.Oliver liked Katherine. I knew it. Besides, even though I bought the ring with Katherine in mind, I had no intention of giving it to her. To me, Katherine is already part of a distant past. The gap between us was too wide, irrevocable, and nonrecoverable. “Come on, dude! “Fess up! We already knew it. You had been dating her on and off for five years. It does not take a genius to make a good guess as to her identity.
Lucas POVMatt, Jacob, and Duke looked at me curiously, wanting to know more. Oliver rarely reacts like that to their teasing and over some woman. I tried to make light of it. “Just an employee of the company.” I waved my hand dismissively, trying to brush it off.In truth, I don’t know how to explain everything to them right now. The thing is, everything has been a big blur lately. “Just an employee, but have you seen his face? Oliver looked like he was ready to murder me. It was the first!” Jacob exclaimed.Disbelief laced his voice, and his eyes widened when he talked, still reeling from shock at Oliver's queer response. Oliver was the serious type, but when our friends poked fun at him, he did not react as strongly as he did now. “That Katherine must be special if she could evoke strong feelings from our friend.” Duke mused. “I wonder what she looked like?” Matt commented. “Anyway, what was wrong with you two, getting hung up on the name Katherine. Remember in college, yo
Lucas POVInwardly, I groaned. I realized that alcohol and pesky friends shouldn’t mix, or you might end up divulging something you will regret later.Such is the case right now. If the guys had not pushed me, and if I was not drunk, I would have held my tongue. But f*ck it! The mere thought of Katherine Fielding brings out the worst in me. I didn’t even know myself anymore. She made me rethink all my decisions about her in the last few days. I wanted to believe that Oliver’s assumption was right. But each time I think about the possibility that my own mother lied to me, I cannot think straight. All three stared at me while I tried to focus my eyes, but alcohol had already taken its toll on me. I was not a good drinker. I have zero alcohol tolerance.I don’t think what came over me when I guzzled the whiskey earlier like some thirsty man. “You sly fox."Said Jacob after several seconds of stunned silence.All three were eyeing me like they could not believe what they just heard
Katherine POV What is wrong with him? I asked myself when I received a copy of the memo circulating the building regarding romantic relationships between coworkers. It was as if it was penned directly for me. After almost jumping out of the elevator and muttering an awkward goodbye to Oliver and Mr. Sanders, I hurriedly walked toward my office and stayed there. Before lunchtime, Lorried knocked on my door to deliver a memo from the executive floor. After reading its content, I threw it on my desk, feeling like Lucas was personally targeting me. I don’t know what is wrong with the man.Last night, when Lucas Sanders glared at me at the restaurant, I kept asking myself whether I had violated any written or unwritten rule in the company’s policy and guidelines that would warrant such a reaction, and finding none. Then, this morning his comment about Oliver and me at the elevator left a bad taste in my mouth. It was as if I had done him a personal affront. I had this strange fee
Oliver POVI followed Veronica toward the makeshift altar. We did not talk, and it worked just fine for me. Pachelbel’s Canon in D wafted in the air, and the processional began. After Lucas walked the beige-colored carpet, the coordinator nodded in my direction to indicate my turn. I squared my shoulders and began walking until I reached Lucas, and I stood beside him. We both face the end of the aisle to watch the rest of the entourage walk toward their seats. Then, it was Erin’s turn. Lucas smiled, watching Erin walk the aisle holding a cute flower basket made from dried rattan. From time to time, she stops to toss flower petals in the air before resuming her walk. When she reached Lucas, she smiled and made an okay sign. Lucas responded by giving her two thumbs up. Then, she lifted her arms to Lucas, wanting to be carried. Lucas indulged her. He grunted when he bent to pick her up, amusing the guests. Erin's arms surrounded Lucas's neck. Now, it was Veronica’s turn.
Veronica POVI watched my friend meet our boss on her bridal walk at that spectacular spread by the beach. The white decorations embellished generously with varied shades of lavender were most appealing to the eyes.With the backdrop of seawater, the color seemed to translate into tranquility - a soothing balm for my soul.“You look maudlin. Aren’t you happy for your friend? Or maybe you are expecting her to suffer until now.” A man asked from the side.The accusation stung.The mocking tone in his voice left a bad taste in my mouth.Why was it
Katherine POVFor a moment, I thought he changed his mind, allowing doubt to creep in. But living in fear for too long makes one realize that there was a moment when she had to seize the moment and take a risk. Right now, I took a risk when I affirmed his question because he had become hesitant after asking the question. The glassy look on his face made me doubt if he was indeed serious with the proposal. But of course, raising your guard for a long time comes with a price -vulnerability. I tried to mask that weakness by pretending to be impatient, but inside, I was freaking out. What if he recalls the proposal?I grabbed his hand - the one with the engagement ring - to prove that the whole thing was not just a figment of my imagination. It was real. Lucas Sanders proposed to me. He had mentioned it previously but always tailed it with words that he would wait for my readiness. I realized no one was ready for anything. You take and accept things because they feel right. When L
Lucas POVMy chest pounded as I waited for Katherine’s reply to my proposal. Still, as the seconds stretched into a minute, I felt a wave of desolation washed over me. Disappointment was all over her features. My fingers closed on the diamond ring I bought with her in mind. "I know I did not prepare a grand proposal. I didn't even think of a good speech. I am also sorry for rushing you." I began to explain. It was different from pitching project proposals for my business because this would change my whole life. It sounded like I was babbling. The truth is, this is my first marriage proposal. I never proposed to anyone because no one came to measure up to this gorgeous woman in front of me. No one came close to how she has affected me that even after five years, she was still the only one I wanted. As I waited for Katherine’s reply, I remembered what Duke told me. “We can’t touch Agatha because JQ Entertainment is protecting her.”Now, the faceless man who dared to antagonize
Katherine POVI woke up alone in bed and felt slightly disappointed when I realized Lucas was gone. I turned to the side to hug the pillow he used on my chest, wishing it was him. It would have been nice to wake up and see him first thing in the morning. I was jolted from my daydreaming when the door to my room opened. Lucas entered the room with Erin in his arms. “Mommy!” Erin called out in a singsong voice. I watched her wiggle from Lucas’s arms. When her feet reached the floor, she began to run toward me. She climbed the bed and sat next to me. “You and Daddy sleep without me.” She complained.My eyes met Lucas above Erin’s head. Then, I turned to my daughter to mumble an apology. Erin shrugged. “It’s okay. Daddy promised we would sleep together tonight. You, me and Daddy.” Erin reported.The idea excited me. I began to caress Erin’s head to hide the pleasure the news brought. “Have you eaten?” I asked She bobbed her head. “Me and Daddy.” Then, she stood on the bed to tu
Katherine POV“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have stooped down to her level,” I told Lucas stiffly as we walked back to the bus.Until now, I could still hear Agatha’s rants and the expected whispers from our onlookers.If truth be known, hitting her and putting her in her place gave me immense satisfaction. Agatha shouldn't have insulted my daughter because that is where I draw the line.I felt a tug on my hand, prompting me to stop.“Agatha had it coming. You shouldn’t feel any regret.” Lucas told me.He held my chin and stared deep into
Katherine POV“Well. Well. Well. The sarcasm in Agatha Richards' tone was keenly comprehensible, especially if one cared enough to listen. Agatha was walking out of the function room at the same time we did. And because all doors lead to the lobby, we sort of ended up meeting in the middle. There is no way I could have avoided her, even if I wanted to. Then, she dropped the bomb that put me in the spotlight. “If it isn’t the fiance stealer.” She looked at me up and down, and her nose wrinkled in distaste as if she did not like what she saw. I know I am not as sophisticated or glamorous as her. I looked down the denim overalls I wore at the tree planting project and knew that compared to Agatha, I looked very ordinary. But Lucas’s hand, when it searched for mine, felt very comforting. I knew Agathaa saw how he held my hand and squeezed it. The action sent a signal that he was trying to silently assure me. This seemed to ignite Agatha’s anger. “How does it feel to be taking my
Katherine POV“Put me down, Daddy!” Erin said, and Lucas swung her in his arms before he placed her feet firmly on the ground. “Thank you, Daddy.” She said sweetly before latching onto his hand. She gripped his thumb before she turned around to search the crowd. When she spotted me, she beckoned to me and said, “Come on, Mommy. Let’s go.” There were still some employees in the area, and as much as I would like to clamp a hand on Erin’s mouth, I couldn’t. I have to take everything in stride, just as Lucas had. No flaunting, and certainly no keeping secrets. I was just making things as natural as is. We can not hide forever. And from the looks of it, Lucas had no intention of hiding us either, especially Erin’s existence. I walked up to them. My breath hitched when Lucas snaked his arm around my waist and started gearing me toward the bus. At some point, Erin dropped his hand and ran toward Oliver. “Uncle Ollie. Wait up!” Oliver, who was walking with Veronica, stopped t
Katherine POVI turned around to face Veronica, but she was already walking away. Then, my eyes squinted when Oliver blocked her path. I saw the tension in her body and thought I was not the only one who needed some explanation. Veronica also has to explain the tension with Oliver. From the looks of it, something is brewing between them. “Stare at him longer, and I was an inch from getting jealous, sweetheart.” Lucas' breath fanned my cheeks when he leaned close to murmur in my ears. I stepped to the side to allow distance between us, consciously aware of the people around us. I don’t want to add fuel to our grand entrance. Lucas’ employees already had something to talk about.But my action sent the wrong signal to Lucas. “Why are you avoiding me?” His eyes squinted in suspicion. I rolled my eyes. Here he goes again. “Shh,” I said, trying to hold him back from further incriminating the two of us.“What?” Lucas demanded when he saw me looking from left to right. Then, he sh