Chapter 11
Nathan’s bodyguards visited the villa and threw out Kelsey’s belongings. After Kelsey was gone, he savored the peace that was restored to the villa.
As he held the box full of photos, Nathan gently traced Kathleen’s handwriting on the backs of those photos.
Kathleen lived with the Meyer family from a young age. He was the one who taught her to
write.
He wondered, “Kathy, where are you now?”
He hugged the box tightly like he was holding some precious treasure.
“Kathy, where are you now?”
Kathleen jolted awake from her dreams.
Grace asked, “You look pale. What’s the matter? Did you have a nightmare?”
Kathleen realized she was at lunch with Clive and Grace, who wanted to introduce her to a magazine editor in Milsworth. However, the editor was running late due to some unforeseen matters. She ended up dozing off on the couch, tired after a few sleepless nights.
“Kathleen, here you go.” David handed her a napkin.
Surprised, she paused before accepting it. “Thanks, David.”
She wiped the cold sweat that had broken out on her forehead as she reeled from the emotions in her dreams just now.
Smiling, David said, “Nightmares are nothing. They’re gone once you’re awake. Mr. Atwood, Mrs. Atwood, and… We are all by your side.”
Grace teased him, “And what?”
“Um…” David flashed her an awkward smile. Pointing at the sunny weather out there, he added, “Kathleen, the weather’s good. You’ll feel better if you go out there and take in more sunlight.”
Grace burst out laughing, but she did not call David out. “Yeah. I’m sure
Kathy appreciates the
sun.
David blushed a little.
Grace noticed Kathleen still looked pale. Worried, she comforted her. “Kathy, take it easy. Mr. Vitorelli is a nice and funny man. He’s an old friend of Clive’s and is very pleased with your
5/3
work.”
Nodding, Kathleen replied, “Yeah, I know. It’s just that I had this dream about-”
“A dream about what?” Grace prompted.
“I dreamed of the past.”
“What are you scared of? You should be having sweet dreams about the past. Nathan raised you like a princess.”
Kathleen had no idea how to explain it to Grace. David stepped in to help her out.
He said, “No one lives a perfect life. I’m sure Kathy has her own struggles in life.”
“Is that so? Kathy, is Nathan too overbearing? Clive mentioned something about it. But Nathan’s like a parent to you. He’s always cared about you like his own.”
David corrected her, “Mrs. Atwood, Kathleen is an independent woman. Let’s drop the topic about her brother.”
Grace, although puzzled, noticed that Kathleen agreed with David’s sentiment. She nodded. ” Alright. Let’s not bring up Nathan again.”
Kathleen shot David a grateful look “Thanks, David.”
Kathleen had decided to put behind her feelings for Nathan the moment she boarded her flight. But he had a huge influence on her life. Friends, classmates, teachers–even casual conversations seemed to circle back to him.
She admitted that David knew her well. After leaving Nathan, she finally felt like an independent soul. Her emotions were now her own, no longer dependent on others. She had broken free from the shackles.
The editor, Eric Vitorelli, arrived late. He was a man with a great sense of humor. Upon laying his eyes on Kathleen, he immediately joked, “I’ve seen you somewhere.”
Meanwhile, Kathleen pulled herself together, fully prepared for the casual interview.
Smiling, she replied, “Mr. Vitorelli, you need to work on your pick–up lines; they’re kinda outdated.”
Eric chortled joyfully. “Ms. Floss, you’re an interesting character.
“I’m not only–furmy, I am great at taking photos too.”
Kathleen carried herself with confidence, grace, wit, and intelligence. Even without Nathan, she could shine on her own.
Before Eric left, he urged Kathleen to take the offer. “Our magazine has been working on an important interview lately, and we are in need of a photographer. Ms. Floss, we welcome you to report to work at anytime.”
She agreed.
He added, “By the way, I wasn’t teasing you just now. I really think I’ve met you somewhere.”
She replied, “But I’ve just arrived in Milsworth. I think you must have confused me with another lookalike.”
Eric did not insist. “I guess so.”
After they said their goodbyes, Eric got into his car and thought hard about the last time he ran into Kathleen.
His driver inquired, “Boss, are you in love with that girl?”
Eric immediately refuted, “She’s so much younger than me! I see her as a little sister.”
A memory flashed across his mind. “I remember where I last saw her!”
Nathan was talking to Brandon when he received a call from Eric. Brandon had advised him to prepare for the worst because Kathleen had been missing for many days, yet Nathan wasn’t about to give up.
Brandon explained, “Ms. Floss went missing at your wedding. She did not take any luggage or money with her. She left without anything, and she has not called the police over. Mr. Meyer, you need to brace yourself for the ”
Eric informed Nathan over the phone, “Hey, Nathan! I think I ran into your sister just now!”
