Divorce Anxiety
Chapter 37

“Don’t worry. I've always been a man of my word,” Samuel assured before casually biting her earagain. “Otherwise, you wouldn't even have the room to speak right now.”“I'm hungry. I'm going togo make some pasta.” Kathleen diverted the topic and escaped right away.Samuel revealed a frostysmile.What a coward. I don't know what she’s so scared of.Out of nowhere, she turned back around."Have you eaten yet?"“Yes.” He nodded.She flashed a smile that reached her eyes. “Okay. Followingthat, she turned and went to cook some food.In the meantime, Samuel blow-dried his hair and puton some clothes.At that moment, his phone rang.It was a call from Nicolette.He picked up andasked, “What is it?"“"When are you coming, Samuel?” Nicolette whined pathetically. “I have toundergo chemotherapy tomorrow. I'm scared.””I'm busy today...” Samuel had only just begun toanswer when Kathleen walked over."The pasta“s done, Sam!” she announced.Her voice left Nicolettestunned.Is that Kathleen's voice? Is he with her right now? What's going on here? I'm sure she’sheard the recording. How could she be with him?“All right,” Samuel responded with a nod. “I'll comeover right now."Kathleen, who didn’t know that he was on a call with Nicolette, grinned. “Don’tworry about it. Finish up whatever you're doing while I go and make a few side dishes.”Having saidthat, she stepped back out.”Nicolette,” he murmured with his voice lowered."It's okay, Samuel. Iknow you're tired, so it's fine if you don't come and see me today,” Nicolette reassured and tried toseem understanding. “You should eat a bit more. Eat enough for the both of us.""Haven't you eatenyet?” Samuel inquired indifferently.”No. I don't have much of an appetite,” she admitted and bit herlip. “I heard Kathleen say that she made some pasta for you two. I'd love to have some, too. Thefood they serve here isn't appetizing at all.”Actually, she had only said that so that Samuel wouldbring her the food that Kathleen had made.It wasn't because she actually wanted to eat thepasta.lnstead, Nicolette intended to let Kathleen know that Samuel would do whatever she askedfor. “I'll get Tyson to bring you some,” he offered.His words once again left Nicolette in a daze.ls henot coming?“It's fine. I wasn't being serious. You should go ahead and eat. I won't bother you anylonger,” Nicolette murmured miserably. “I'll be fine alone, Samuel. When I was out of the country forthe past three years, I handled everything on my own, whether it was about my illness or anythingelse. I can go through it all alone. You don't need to bother with me."With that, she hung up thephone.Samuel furrowed his brows.What she had said made him intensely uncomfortable, but hecouldn't pinpoint the exact reason why.After putting on his shirt, he went outside to see Kathleenwalking out of the kitchen with some side dishes in her hands.She wore pink casual clothes, and herlong, silky hair was tied in a high ponytail. The aura she exuded was youthful and precious.To top itall off, she was even wearing an apron with rabbit and carrot patterns on it. No matter how onelooked at her, she was the definition of adorable.Even when she thought nobody was around, shestill looked gentle and relaxed. There was no sense of pressure around her."Let's eat, Sam,” shecoaxed with a sweet smile on her face.Samuel went over, and they made their way to the diningroom.Kathleen had prepared two plates of pasta.There were eggs, shrimp, and ham on his plate.Asfor hers, there was only pasta, eggs, and some vegetables.”Why are you eating such plain food?” heasked while taking a seat. After all, she was the one who liked eating ham the most.”I'll have troubledigesting heavy food this late at night,” she explained with a pout.Honestly, she didn't want to eat itat all.In fact, she had the urge to throw up but held it in."You sure are pampered,” heremarked.Kathleen sat down as well, and they both began to dig in.It had been a long time sincethey had shared a meal together.It was as if they had gone back to the days when Nicolette hadn'treturned yet. Whenever Samuel had to work late into the night, she would wait for him.Once hecame back, she would prepare a plate of pasta or some piping hot mushroom soup. It had becomea habit of hers.However, while they were eating, she noticed that he was a little out of it.It makessense. It's not like he would be able to get over Nicolette that easily. I promised to give him amonth's time, so I won't bring it up until the month is over.Following the meal, Kathleen washed upall the dishes before taking a shower.When she came out of the bathroom, she noticed that Samuelwasn't around.Did he leave again?She let out a sigh. I shouldn't have had any hope in a b*stard likehim.Bang!An abrupt sound traveled from the outside.It caused Kathleen's face to turn pale. Has athief broken in? Did Samuel forget to lock the door because he was in a hurry? D*mn you,Samuel!Kathleen took a look around the bedroom and picked up a vase.She summoned hercourage and approached the door. After sucking in a deep breath, she turned the doorknob andopened it.The lights in the living room were still off, but the door was wide open.Oh God. Someonereally has broken in!If she and her baby were to perish right then and there, she would never forgiveSamuel, even in death.The sound of footsteps reached her ears. They came from the living room.Shebacked into the house and fished out her phone to call the police."Hello? Police? There's a thief inmy house,” she stammered. Her body was trembling from anxiety.“Could you tell us your address?”the policeman requested.Kathleen did as he said."Got it. We'll come over right now. Please stay putand make sure you're safe,” he informed.”Okay,” she replied while cowering in fear.Knock!Knock!She could hear someone knocking on the door, and her body began shaking even moreviolently.Why is this thief so polite? He's even knocking on the door.”Why did you lock the door,Kathleen?” Samuel's voice traveled into the house from outside the door.The sound of it leftKathleen dumbstruck.Samuel? I thought he left.She quickly ran over to open the door and saw thatit really was Samuel.”"Why are you still here?” asked Kathleen out of shock."Why wouldn't I be?” Hefrowned. “I was smoking just now, and I accidentally spilled the ashtray. I went to throw the trash,and when I came back, I saw that the bedroom door was locked. I heard you whispering inside,too.”A wave of awkwardness washed over her. “Why did you have to turn the lights off if you justwent to throw the trash? Why didn’t you close the door after you were done, either?"“The kitchenlight is on, isn't it? I only need a bit of light to see. I opened the door so that I could air out the smellof smoke from the living room. I thought you hated the smell of cigarettes?” Samuel

explained Kathleen pursed her lips. It seemed that there was a huge misunderstanding.Just then,two police officers walked in.”Stop right there!” one of them ordered strictly. “Don't hurt thatwoman. Put your hands up!“Both Samuel and Kathleen were rendered speechless.“I'm sorry!”Kathleen began apologizing to them profusely. She was so full of shame that she couldn't even lifther head. “I'm so sorry, sir. I got it all wrong. I'm really sorry.”"Samuel stared at her with his armscrossed. There was a subtle smile at the corner of his mouth.”Well, it's good that you keep yourguard up, young lady. It's amazing that your first move was to contact the police, but next time, tellus right away if it was a misunderstanding.” The policemen were clearly dumbfounded by the turnof events."Yes. I understand.” Kathleen was on the verge of tears at that point. She couldn't haveknown that Samuel was still around.The policemen eyed Samuel and found him rather familiar. “Youshould reflect on yourself too, sir. Why would your wife think that you weren't at home?"Samuelremained quiet.