Divorce Anxiety
Chapter 124

Christopher's gaze upon Kathleen was disquietingly intense.Her heart pounded as she heard hiswords.Despite being married, Kathleen had never been in a real relationship.She was always the onerunning after Samuel, who treated her in much the same way as he always did.Now that there's aman who'd confessed his feelings in such a bold and romantic manner, how am I not feeling athing?Kathleen struggled to understand her inner turmoil.Christopher was gentle about it. “I'm notforcing you into anything, Kathleen. I just needed to tell you what's in my heart. I won't be upset nomatter what you choose in the end.”Kathleen returned Christopher's gaze. “You make me look likesuch a horrible person.”Christopher grinned crookedly. “No, you don't. Though you did reject meand have never been intimate with me, at least you've never toyed with my feelings. Do what youneed to do to heal at your own pace, Kathleen. I'll always be here waiting for you.” I'm not asperfect as you make me out to be,” Kathleen sighed. “I was married."Christopher was puzzled. “Sowhat if you were married? Don't you deserve to live a blissful life?"Kathleen bit her lip, not knowingwhat to say.Christopher smiled kindly. “Be kinder to yourself, Kathleen. Don't shackle yourself tosuch an extent."Kathleen nodded. “Alright.”Christopher smiled.Charles arrived with a large bouquetof roses in his hands at that moment."You're here, Charles!” Kathleen greeted her brother with asmile. “Where did the flowers come from?“Charles stared at her by way of greeting. “I got this foryou for switching wards.”“Old Mrs. Macari made the arrangements,” Kathleen explained.”Old Mrs.Macari sure is a good woman,” Charles said gratefully. “There aren't many old people like heranymore. I'll be sure to pay her a visit and thank her in person.”Kathleen shook her head helplesslyas she held the large bouquet in her hands. “You shouldn't go to the Macari residence, Charles.You're going to quarrel with Samuel when you meet him. That'll make Grandma really sad.”"Be goodand stay away from him,” Charles coaxed. “Then we'll have less of a chance to cross paths.’Kathleenwas left even more speechless.”I've secured your refund from The Fantastic Restaurant,” Charlesannounced in explanation for his late arrival. “There wasn't a problem as both parties have mutuallyterminated the contract." That's good.” Kathleen nodded."Why are you worried about somethinglike that?” Charles sat down and crossed his legs. “We'll see if they dare put you through any moreindignities!"Kathleen was at a loss for words.Christopher smiled. “Mr. Johnson is right. With us byyour side, nobody will dare wrong you again. Don't worry about it."Kathleen sighed inresignation.Christopher and Charles left soon after that.Kathleen wasn't the only artist Charles hadon his roster.As the entertainment company he was in charge of was one of the biggest in thecountry, he didn’t have much time to spend with Kathleen.The same was true for Christopher. Sincetaking over Morris Group, he had been kept very busy.Therefore, the task of caring for Kathleen fellto Valerie Kathleen was in the middle of reading a script when her phone vibrated with anotification.As it turned out, Nancy and the others formed a chat group without Astrid.Nancy wasthe first to text: Did you really quit, Kathleen?Kathleen: I did. My body can't take the strainanymore.Nancy: Hah! No wonder the production team suddenly changed their minds andannounced that they were going to have three new artists over for the next few episodes.John:Doesn't this count as lying to the viewers? Kate has been recovering at a steady pace. Why are theymaking arrangements for her replacements?Kathleen was embarrassed.Nancy: Well, the contract hasbeen terminated anyway. Don't worry about anything here, all right? Just focus on getting better. Ihope to see you soon on the show, Kathleen.Kathleen: I'll be there.John: I want to quit as well. I can'tstand Astrid.Nancy: Not as uncomfortable as Steve is, I'm sure.Steve conveyed his incredulity with aseries of ellipses.Kathleen: What happened?John: Astrid pestered Steve today and forced him to tellthem that you'd quit the show because you hated the sight of her, not because of an illness. Steveignored her.Kathleen frowned slightly.I'm already out of the picture. What else does Astrid want?Nancy: Here's a juicy piece of gossip. Astrid had signed with a brokerage company half a year agowith plans for her debut.Kathleen was surprised.Did Astrid plan to debut as a reporter as early ashalf a year ago?However, Christopher had clearly told her that Astrid was found by Samuel.Half ayear ago, she was still filming and had no plans to return. It would've been impossible for Samuel toknow in advance.Unless he had somehow foreseen that, which is also unlikely. What the hell's goingon?John: I knew that everything was premeditated, given the hype around Kate. She must'vecapitalized on that.Kathleen considered the implication of his words and sent a message to herbrother: Charles, please check which agency Astrid had signed with.Then, she searched through thechat records in the group.Nancy: You have to be careful, Kathleen. She's not going to let you goeven after you quit. With nothing to lose now, she'll drag you through the mud with her if it meansgetting back at you.Kathleen: I won't let her.Nancy: I'm sure you know what's best for yourself. You'llbe met with all sorts of trouble once this slug attaches herself to you.John: They're right, Kate. Haveyour fiancé deal with it if you can't. He was the one to have provoked her. Why should you have todeal with it?Nancy: Shut up, John.Kathleen: It's all right. I know John didn’t mean it. Christopherexplained to me that he and Astrid have nothing to do with each other.Steve: Have him make astatement that Astrid is a bigger troublemaker than Kylie. Don't forget to emphasize the fact thatshe has thick skin.Kathleen: Thanks for the reminder. I got it.Steve: Although our partnership hadprematurely ended, I think we all got along very well over the last ten days. We'll keep in touchthrough this group if there's ever anything you guys need help with.John: Thank you. This is why Iwanted to start the group. Kathleen: Alright.Nancy: That's what I thought too.Kathleen smiled slightlyat the phone in her hand as her spirits lifted. Watching quietly from her corner, Valerie wonderedwho Kathleen was chatting with to make her smile like that.Could it be Christopher? He's prettygood for her. Handsome and soft-spoken, his refinement sets him apart from other men at very firstglance.When Valerie arrived earlier, Christopher was in the middle of reminding her of severalroutines to keep throughout Kathleen's recovery.lt was clear that Christopher really cared forKathleen.Samuel had started victorious by having Kathleen's love to himself before he completelylost it all.Feelings can't be forced to be had. Though Samuel had enlisted her help, Valerie stronglyfelt that Kathleen deserved to make her own choices.Despite originally intending to tell Samuel,Valerie quickly dismissed the notion.Kathleen and Nancy chatted a little longer before the headlineof a startling piece of news grabbed her attention.According to sources close to the Yoegers,Nicolette Yoeger had returned to her ancestral home at the time of reporting. How the Yoegersresponded to the return of their illegitimate daughter remains to be seen.Kathleen's fingersclenched the phone tightly.Nicolette is back at the Yoeger residence. Why? Could Samuel havearranged for her return?