Chapter 188 - Simply Katherine and Damien

Damien and Katherine's sexy time in the bathroom was definitely worth missing their dinner reservation in one of the best restaurants in the city. But Lyon has more restaurants than any other city, so he wasn't so worried about losing their spot in that restaurant.

"How did you get here so fast?" he asked, his hands stroking her belly as they sat in the huge tub, bubbles floating above the water. She sat in between his legs with her back against his chest, feeling comfortable in his arms after their eventful day.

She chuckled upon hearing his question, recalling how she was able to find the hotel easily as soon as they bolted. "I took a shortcut," she said and then felt him bite her shoulder playfully. "Aw!"

"So crafty…" he whispered above her skin after kissing the spot where he bit.

Katherine didn't have a hard time finding the hotel. She actually discovered a narrow street accidentally, gaining the lead from their race and just before she reached the hotel, she grabbed the bottle of wine from a waiter and gave him more than enough bills. Ever since she lived with Damien, she didn't have a lot of things to spend on. She's quite happy with how much money she was able to set aside. 

"What are we going to do with dinner?" she questioned. After all, the calories were burnt from their adventure in the afternoon, and now she was hungry.

"I'll take you to a friend's restaurant. Come on, let's get out of this water… your fingers are starting to prune." He urged her to stand and helped her out of the tub. 

The two of them changed into a new outfit and while they were on their way out of the hotel, Damien called his friend on the phone. Instead of riding a cab, they walked hand in hand towards the restaurant which was just a few blocks away. Katherine didn't mind walking at all, she actually enjoyed spending more time with him just being a normal couple… it was something that they couldn't do so openly in their city. 

And because of that, she relished every moment with him. With his arm around her shoulder, she swung her arm around his waist, walking very closely and stealing kisses every now and then as they chatted their way towards their destination. 

Katherine couldn't be happier. She didn't even know she wanted this kind of relationship before meeting Damien. And she saw him past what he has… his money… his company… all of his possessions… she could honestly say she would love him even without them. 

A life and love where it was only Katherine and Damien.

He glanced at her and saw that ever since the morning, she had been smiling. It was clear that she was having the best time of her life and he was glad that he was there to see everything with her.

For many centuries, Lyon has been highly praised for its high-quality produce and the widespread respect of its cuisine. Reaching Presqu'île, their eyes took in the pleasant view of the nightlife in the city. Locals and tourists were in the bars and restaurants. 

Soon, they stopped in front of a bistro. It was situated at a corner of a block, with lights illuminating the old walls. There were several other restaurants and cafes throughout the block. At seven in the evening, the place was filled with customers. They didn't have to stand and wait around too long as the door opened and out came a man in his 40s in a chef's uniform. 

The chef was all smiles when he saw Damien and the two of them kissed cheeks as they greeted each other. Damien introduced Katherine to the chef and they were seated outside as per Damien's request. Compared to his original plan on bringing her to a fancy restaurant, he thought it was better to have her experience dining in a more humble location.

"This is nice…" she commented as they started eating. The food was phenomenal as expected, totally different from what she was used to eating back home but still really delicious. "Thanks for bringing me here."

"We'll come back whenever you want," he said, smiling at her and reaching out for her hand. He kissed the back of her hand and squeezed it. He agreed that it was definitely nice and vowed to himself that he would take her back there more often.

Before, his thoughts were all filled with business ideas, transactions, and opportunities. But now, despite his hectic schedule, he found himself constantly planning future trips with her… even just spending some quiet time at home was something he would always look forward to while he was in meetings. 

Their conversation was light and they talked about what they have to do when they get back home. They had to see Nana soon and before that, she had to visit Jeffrey Evans. The more that Katherine thought about seeing her doctor, the more anxious she suddenly got.

Noticing the change in her mood, he quickly brought her attention back to earth. He got up from his chair and bent down next to her, stroking her arms as he softly reassured her, "Baby, I'll be there with you. If you're having second thoughts and you don't want to go through with it, it's okay… Just say the word and we don't have to go."

Exhaling out a sigh, Katherine turned to face him, seeing the worry on his face. She remembered how it was the last time they went to see Jeffrey in his clinic. And there was something that's bugging her just thinking about her appointment the next day. 

Shaking her head, she held onto his hands and tried to smile. "No… I'm scared… but I think it's time to face my fears. I'm done with constantly living in the dark, afraid of what I will discover."

"Are you sure?" he probed.

"Not really… but as long as you're there with me, Damien… I'm sure I will be okay."

Though there was still concern on her face, he saw the resolution in her expression. He nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course." He leaned in and pressed his cool lips on her forehead.

They didn't stay out too long and decided to retire earlier for the night. In order to arrive in the morning back in Harbor City, they have to fly in the morning too. Damien had to finish up some work which took an hour before he joined Katherine in bed.

The next morning, they boarded Damien's private plane and flew back home. They arrived back in their city several hours later and went straight to Hillcrest Hospital where Dr. Jeffrey Evans was waiting.

They didn't waste too much time on pleasantries — Katherine wanted it to be over and done with so she would stop feeling anxious already. She sat on the same chaise lounge in his clinic and waited for them to start.

"Are you ready, Katherine?" Jeffrey asked, his voice was calm and low.

When Katherine nodded, she closed her eyes and waited for his instructions. She struggled to concentrate at first because all she saw was darkness. It made her feel vulnerable and hesitant but she knew that this was the only way to get over her frustrations. "I'm ready," she responded.

Little did she know… that she was far from ready for what she was about to discover.