Finally, Shawn cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "Ahem," he began, regaining his composure. "Before you leave, Catherine, there's something I'd like to do. I want to introduce you to your newly appointed aides."Catherine’s brown eyes immediately lit up on hearing his words. She nodded, a curious smile playing on her lips. "Of course, Shawn. I'd love to meet them. Please lead the way."With a renewed sense of purpose, Shawn turned and gestured for Catherine to follow him. They left his study and walked down the corridor, the soft sound of their footsteps echoing in the silence. It was a moment of anticipation, both for Catherine and for Shawn, who couldn't shake off the mixed emotions swirling within him.As they approached a door, Shawn paused and turned to Catherine. "They're just inside," he said, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "I've handpicked these individuals based on their expertise and dedication. I'm confident they'll provide invaluable support to you."Catherine

These days, even her darling husband, Magnus, hasn't been paying attention to her like before. She had always been his favorite wife and never struggled to get his love and care like the others. But for the past week, it has been different.It was as if he was disappointed that non of their three daughters were able to be in Catherine’s position right now, even though he had paid more attention to them and neglected Catherine, his least favorite child through the years.As Elissa continued to stew in her bitterness and lost in dark thoughts, she couldn't help but notice Cecilia, one of her fellow daughters-in-law of the Jones family, approaching her with a smirk on her face.Cecilia was married to Edwin Jones, the dearest elder brother of Magnus, Elissa’s husband but the two women hated each other. They were like cats and rats who never saw eye to eye, despite their husbands being very close as brothers. Cecilia had always been critical of Elissa's treatment of Catherine over the year

After what seemed like an eternity to Catherine, the clock finally struck 7 pm. Before she could say, Jack, her cell phone started beeping. She was surprised to see that it was the King calling. ‘He didn't even wait a single second more!’ she thought.It made her feel a lot better that she might not have been the only one shamelessly praying for the clock to tick by quickly for the last few hours. Their date was finally here, and the anticipation had reached its peak. Catherine's hands trembled a little as she answered the call.“Hello, Your Grace,”“Hi, I’m outside the gate of your family estate,” his baritone voice sounded through the phone, filled with masculine charm. "I didn't want to keep you waiting, Catherine.”Catherine's heart skipped a beat at his considerate gesture. "Okay, I'll be right there in a sec," she responded, her voice betraying her excitement before hanging up.She went straight to the mirror to take one final glance at her appearance before heading out to meet

Catherine noticed the slight shift in Shawn's demeanor, and she appreciated his attempt to change the subject. She knew the painful passing of her Mum was a sensitive topic, and she didn't want to dwell on it too much during their special evening. But sadly, her father was the last person she wanted to talk about. “Actually, my dad and I... We don't get along.” Catherine replied honestly. “We just never hit it off from the start,” she added, wanting to come clean as much as possible. There was no use trying to hide that she had little to no relationship with her father. Anyone who knew her well knew this fact. She didn't take it as a big deal. Shawn listened intently, understanding that sometimes family dynamics could be complicated. He didn't want to pry further into her personal matters, but he did want her to feel comfortable talking with him about anything. He wants to get to know her, on a deeper level and have serious conversations like this. “So you also have daddy issues? O

Catherine's heart raced, and a blush spread across her cheeks. King Shawn's words, ‘Can I kiss you?’ seemed to echo within her, awakening a dormant passion she had long suppressed. At that moment, time appeared to stand still. The air crackled with anticipation as they stood amid their arching desires. This time, it was Catherine who took a step closer, closing the gap between them. Her gaze locked with Shawn’s as the intensity between them grew palpable.Right now, it was as if she wanted the kiss even more than he who asked for it. Her own heart ached with longing like never before. She was certain of her feelings and knew she wanted the kiss just as much as he did.In that fragile moment, Catherine reached out, her hand trembling as she brushed her fingertips against Shawn's cheek. It was a loving gesture filled with warmth, tenderness, and understanding. A silent reassurance that he was not alone in his battle.Shawn closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of her touch. The walls he