Chapter 131 Just Friends

"Okay," Joseph slowly handed Kate a bowl of soup.

It had always been difficult for Kate to refuse others, and when they were so enthusiastic, it made it even harder. She took the bowl from Joseph and ate it without saying a word.

After everyone finished eating, the atmosphere did not feel as tense, but Cassie noticed there was still awkwardness between Joseph and Kate.

So, when she and Noelle were in the kitchen getting coffee, she asked, "Please, come up with an excuse so that Kate does not leave too early."

Noelle understood what her mother wanted and whispered to her, "No worries, I will make sure my brother and his love make up!"

"You are such a wonderful daughter. I will be forever grateful for your help!"

"There is no need to continue asking for my help. I will do whatever I can because I have my own agenda. Kate is a very good person, and it is hard to find someone who is so good-natured. I want her to marry my brother, again; nobody else."

Cassie totally agreed, "I still consider her my daughter, but if they were married, there would be no chance of someone else taking Joseph away."

Kate was extremely full and paced the living room rather than sitting. She planned to say goodbye to Cassie and Noelle as soon as they walked in.

Joseph was sitting in the living room waiting as well; he looked at Kate and asked, "Are you planning on leaving?"

"How can you ask such a silly question!" Noelle suddenly answered as she ran over to Kate. She leaned on her shoulder and said, "Kate, we have such little time to spend together. Don't leave; I need to tell you about the troubles I have been having lately."

Kate patted Noelle's hand and smiled, "You still so young. What kind of troubles can you have?"

"Too many," Noelle pointed to the sofa and said, "You just sit on the sofa and

I will tell you all about them, one by one."

Joseph knew that Kate had a habit of pacing or standing for about thirty minutes after eating, so he suggested, "Let's go outside for a walk, all together!"

"Great!" Noelle was delighted that Joseph made the recommendation and that she didn't need to work on finding excuses to keep Kate at the mansion longer.

"I..." Kate hesitated. She looked at the doorway, wondering why Cassie hadn't come back yet.

Joseph seemed to have read her mind and said, "She will be back shortly, but let's take a walk, it will help with digesting that delicious meal."

Kate felt a little embarrassed that she had eaten so much, but it was a delicious meal. She turned her head and did not dare to look at Joseph, even though the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.

Kate was a little confused, "Noelle, what are you talking about?"

"Nothing. I just think that since my brother has done something from the bottom of his heart, there should be someone to see and appreciate it. Otherwise, all of his hard work would have been pointless," Noelle smiled.

Hesitantly, Kate walked out to the backyard with Joseph and Noelle. The fragrance of flowers overwhelmed her, and she wondered how the flowers from Grandpa's birthday hadn't withered. However, she saw the flowers were different when she walked past the gazebo; there were bright red flowers planted.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Noelle pointed at the flowers, "Since you were here last time and enjoyed the flowers, Joseph arranged for these to be planted. And if you look carefully, you will see another surprise!"

Kate was driven by her own curiosity and deep down, hoping it was a romantic surprise, but she was anxious about getting her hopes up. She looked all around and didn't see anything except the delicate flowers.

Joseph was standing behind her and quietly whispered, "The shape!

Suddenly Kate saw the shape and blushed as Noelle exclaimed, "Do you understand? It is the shape of love!"

Kate just turned away and looked the other way; she was trying to avoid the subject.

"Something is upset you. What is it? Tell me, and I will try to help," Noelle gently said and then looked at Joseph, "This is a private conversation between us girls. I won't say anything more tonight, so let's talk about something else."

"I think I should probably leave," Kate sighed. She figured Cassie would be in the living room waiting, and she could say goodbye, then rush out the door.

Noelle gently grasped Kate's arm, "My dear sister-in-law, I know you are angry with my brother. However, after he learned about Anna's deception, you should know that he has been feeling very guilty. He is full of regret and is very sorry. He just wants to reconcile with you, but you know that he is not good at expressing his emotions, even if he knows he is wrong. He is doing this to prove himself to you. So, please give him another chance; both my mother and I would love to see you happily in love."

Even if Noelle hadn't spoken to Kate, she sensed that it was planned that both she and Joseph would be there. There were many coincidences; first of all, Joseph rarely visited his mother but happened to be there when Kate was; second, he patiently cut her steak; and third, he had flowers prepared in the shape of a heart, just in case she was ever there. All of his actions moved Kate, but making up with him was not something she was thinking.

Kate smiled faintly, "Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate everything you have done. I think the bad feelings between us should end here; from now on, we will be friends."

She stretched her hand out to him, but such a friendly action was a sign that she wanted to be nothing more than friends.

Noelle understood what Kate meant and became anxious. She stared at Joseph, hoping that he would be brave enough to confess his feelings to Kate, and there would still be a chance for them, but he didn't say anything.

Joseph shook Kate's hand and said, "From now on, we will be friends."

The meaning behind the sentence was incredibly profound.

Kate was surprised at Joseph's response and then smiled kindly,

"Okay, then!"

It was better to be friends than for Kate to act cold toward him all of the time.

Noelle could not do anything but to keep Kate any longer, but she mentioned, "It is so late. It's not convenient for you to take a taxi. Joseph will be leaving soon because he won't spend the night unless you are here. Why don't you let him take you home?"