Chapter 8

Brian stood at the entrance with Samantha beside him, his eyes fixed entirely on Katie as though the rest of the room had disappeared.

Rita felt the tension immediately, and before anyone could question the silence, she forced a bright smile onto her face and stepped forward.

“Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed with convincing surprise. “Katie! I can’t believe it’s really you.”

Katie slowly looked at her. Rita crossed the remaining distance without waiting for a response, her smile never wavering.

“It’s been years.” She reached for Katie’s hand as though greeting an old friend after a long separation. “What a coincidence.”

Katie frowned almost imperceptibly. Coincidence? Rita was hiding something. She needed to play along.

Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs, but years of running a business had taught her one thing—never lose your composure in front of an audience.

If Rita wanted to pretend…then she could pretend too.

Katie forced a smile. “It really has been a long time.”

Rita laughed lightly. “I kept telling Brian we should look you up someday.”

Brian remained silent. His eyes never left Katie.

Rosetta immediately sensed the danger and rose from her chair with a gentle smile. “I completely forgot you all knew one another.”

Katie turned toward her grandmother.

Rosetta continued naturally. “Brian and Katie were wonderful friends years ago. They practically grew up around the same neighborhood whenever school holidays came.”

Donald looked pleasantly surprised. “Really?”

Rosetta nodded without hesitation. “They were inseparable for quite some time.”

Gerald smiled. “What a small world.”

The room gradually relaxed. Everyone seemed normal except Damien. His dark eyes moved slowly from Katie… to Brian… then back again.

He placed his cutlery neatly beside his plate before looking directly at Brian. “Nephew.”

Brian straightened instinctively. “Yes, Uncle?”

Damien’s voice remained calm. “Can you explain why my wife knows you?”

The question landed like a stone in still water.

Katie’s smile almost disappeared. Her mind instantly returned to the conversation they had shared inside the restaurant.

“Do you have anyone from your past? That would interfere with this arrangement?”

“No… not at all.”

She had lied. Heat rushed to her face. Before Brian could answer, Katie pushed her chair back.

“I can.”

Every pair of eyes shifted to her. Katie walked toward Brian with measured steps, praying no one would notice how badly her hands were trembling.

When she stopped before him, she gave him a brief side hug. “We’ve been friends for years.” She stepped back. “I honestly never imagined he would be part of your family.”

Brian finally found his voice. “Neither did I.” He managed a small smile. “Katie and I go way back.”

Donald laughed warmly. “What are the chances?”

Gerald shook his head. “This family keeps getting happier!”

Even Rita smiled with visible relief. Only Damien remained quiet. His gaze lingered on Brian for several seconds before shifting toward Katie again.

He didn’t question her and didn’t smile either. Instead, he simply picked up his glass and took a slow sip of coffee.

Katie returned to her seat.

The atmosphere gradually recovered as conversations resumed around the table, but the food before her suddenly looked impossible to swallow.

Every time she lowered her eyes, she could feel Brian watching her. Every time she looked up… Damien was watching both of them.

She managed two bites before quietly placing her fork down. “I’m sorry.” Everyone looked at her. “I think I’d like to excuse myself for a moment.”

Donald nodded kindly. “Of course.”

Katie forced another polite smile before leaving the dining room as calmly as she could. The moment she disappeared into the hallway…

Her smile vanished.

She walked quickly until she reached the nearest guest bathroom, closed the door behind her, and rested both palms against the marble sink.

Her breathing became uneven. “What is happening…”

She looked at her reflection. Yesterday she had believed Brian was part of her past. Today he had become part of her present all over again.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. “Katie.” It was Rosetta’s voice.

Katie unlocked the door immediately. The older woman stepped inside before quietly closing it again.

Katie looked at her grandmother with disbelief written all over her face. “You knew?”

Rosetta blinked. “Knew what?”

Katie lowered her voice. “You knew Brian was part of Damien’s family.”

Rosetta’s eyes widened. “What?” She shook her head immediately. “No, I swear to you.” Rosetta reached for her granddaughter’s hands. “I had no idea.”

Katie frowned. “But…”

“When I met Donald, we discussed Damien, his father, and one younger brother.” Rosetta sighed deeply. “I never looked further into the family tree.” Her shoulders dropped.

“If I had known…” She looked genuinely distressed. “I would never have allowed you to walk blindly into this.”

Katie closed her eyes briefly. Everything suddenly felt far more complicated than it had yesterday.

Rosetta squeezed her hands gently. “I’m sorry.”

Katie opened her eyes again. “I really believed I had left that chapter of my life behind.”

“So did I.”

Rosetta spoke. “Listen to me carefully. You cannot allow Brian’s presence to destroy your peace.”

Katie nodded slowly.

Rosetta smiled gently. “You’re stronger than the woman you were three years ago.”

Katie released a long breath. “I hope so.”

Rosetta adjusted a loose strand of Katie’s hair before smiling again. “Now…” She patted Katie’s shoulder. “Lift your head.”

Together they left the bathroom and returned toward the dining room. The sound of laughter reached them before they entered.

Donald was sitting beside little Samantha, pretending to steal pieces of fruit from her plate while the little girl giggled happily.

“Oh?”

Donald laughed. “So Grandpa isn’t allowed to eat strawberries anymore?”

Samantha shook her head firmly. “They’re mine.”

Gerald chuckled. “She’s already negotiating with strawberries...”

“Just like the Starks,” Donald replied proudly.

Katie quietly resumed her seat beside Damien.

He glanced at her briefly. “You feeling better?”

She nodded. “Yes, thanks.”

He accepted the answer without pressing further.

Donald looked toward Brian with an amused expression. “You know…” Brian looked up. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

Brian smiled. “About what, Grandpa?”

Donald leaned back comfortably. “Come on, Brian.” He smiled toward Samantha. “You’ve been married to Rita for six years…” He gently pinched Samantha’s cheek. “…and you’ve only given me one grandchild.”

He laughed heartily. “I need more.”

Everything stopped. Katie’s fingers tightened around her teacup until her knuckles turned white.

Six years. Her heartbeat faltered.

Six…

Years?

Her mind struggled to process the number. Six years, not three. Which meant… Brian had already been married to Rita long before he disappeared from her life.

Katie slowly lifted her eyes toward Brian. His face had lost every trace of color. Everything she thought she knew about her marriage no longer made sense.