Chapter 254 - He never liked it anyway.

Reaching the RV, Damien stood still by the side door without saying anything. They have arrived and he was supposed to put Katherine down already but he didn't want to yet—he liked carrying her.

"You can put me down now," she said, her voice soft and hesitant.

"I know."

He looked at her and stared at the eyes that were looking back at him. His grip on her leg and arm tightened as though he was trying to convince himself that she was really in his arms. It had been more than sixty days since the last time he held her. If he only knew that it was the last time back then, he would have held her tighter and longer.

"Damien—"

Before Katherine could say anything else, Damien carefully put her down, setting her inside the RV in a sitting position on the floor.

Taking out a white handkerchief from his pocket, he bent down and wiped the dirt off her feet. She instantly pulled back but he held her ankle firmly, not letting her go.

"This is unnecessary," she said.

He remained quiet and only let go of her ankle when he was done. Her feet weren't totally clean yet but at least most of the dirt was already gone. He then wordlessly placed the handkerchief back in his pocket and got up when Styles and Falcon arrived.

All of them got settled inside the van and Styles drove them away from the scene—Falcon sat on the front seat while Damien and Katherine were at the back.

"What are we going to do about that car?! They might be able to trace it back to… you." Styles was worried about how they were going to take care of the mess. He looked at Damien through the rearview mirror.

"I'll take care of it." Damien only glanced at him before his gaze returned to Katherine who was trying to dust herself off.

He wanted to help her but he didn't like hearing her constant refusal of the things he wanted to do for her. He didn't care or mind several months ago, but hearing them now while they were estranged didn't feel so good. It's like a constant reminder that they were no longer together for him to act so kindly towards her.

On the way back, a few police cars with their sirens passed by them and they knew where they were headed to.

"Your grandfather has been calling." Falcon handed Katherine back her phone.

Receiving her phone, Katherine saw several messages and phone calls. She immediately called her grandfather back.

"My goodness! I have called you several times! Where are you, Young Lady?!" Chairman Young's worried voice came through the speakers right away.

"Sorry, Grandpa. I'm just around the corner. I needed to get some fresh air. I'll be back soon."

"I've got people looking for you. Are you okay?"

Chairman Young was loud that all three of them, especially Damien could hear his voice.

"I'm fine, Grandpa. I'll see you soon." 

Katherine had a small smile on her face when she ended the phone call and Damien saw it. His heart warmed at the sight and he was truly happy for her that she got reunited with her grandfather.

Sensing his stare, she turned to look at him with a questioning brow but he didn't say anything and looked away a few seconds after.

"Damn it. I ripped my dress." She clicked her tongue as she inspected the bottom part of her skirt that was now torn. Her face frowned, touching the area — she actually really loved that dress.

Did she like that high-slit dress so much? Damien shook his head when he saw her frown. "I never liked it anyway," he murmured whilst looking out the window.

Her head snapped towards Damien when she heard him mutter under his breath and her brows furrowed. What was with him? 

"It's not like I wore it for you," she scoffed.

"Right. You wore it for them." His voice was barely audible but she still heard him anyway.

Katherine rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe they were bickering about her dress. Annoyed, she turned to the other side and decided to ignore him all throughout.

The van was eerily quiet inside besides their breathing until Styles and Falcon looked at each other. Their widened-silently-communicating eyes said everything about the awkwardness in the atmosphere after Damien and Katherine had a little talk.

Trying to break the silence, Styles started whistling the tune of 'Crazy little thing called love' by Queen.

Just when they were near Magnum Hotel, Katherine's phone rang. She assumed that it was her grandfather who couldn't wait until she comes back but to her surprise, it was a restricted line.

She stared at her phone screen as her heart began to race, already knowing who was calling her.

"Um… Queen… You need to press the green button to answer the call…" Styles raised his brows, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. 

Katherine was only staring at her phone and the other three wondered why she isn't picking up.

"I think it's Chris," she breathed.

Styles slowed down until the car came to a full stop and parked on the curb.

"Who is he?" Damien questioned. He had been hearing that guy's name the entire time and he was starting to get ticked off.

"Chris is her lov—"

*Thud*

"Aw!" Styles rubbed his head after Falcon hit him when he was about to say 'her lover number two'.

"I meant Chris is her… landlord." Styles shrugged while Falcon glared her eyes at him.

Damien obviously knew Styles was lying. He barely looked at his way and continued to wait for Katherine to answer.

She swallowed and answered, "He was the one who planted the bomb in your car. And... the one who messed up my memory."

"Was he that guy you danced with?" He had more questions but he knew those could wait until later. 

Katherine only stared at her screen and nodded. The ringing from the restricted number ended.

"Why didn't you answer?" he asked.

"I know why he planted that bomb." She slumped on the backrest and thought about what happened earlier at the party when she was fighting with Chris.

"At first, I thought that he was really targeting you but that didn't make sense. Because if he really wanted to hurt you, he could have already done it without the unnecessary chaos. Chris could kill without blinking an eye, so the bomb was not his style."

"Then why did he do it?"

Katherine breathed out a sigh. She was starting to get pissed at Chris again. "It was a diversion. He knew I could never sacrifice innocent people. He had to do that so I would stop chasing him as he flees."

"Mhmm… I'm guessing he's on a helicopter. I got a ping of air activity a few minutes after he dropped the tracker in the trash bin," Styles added as he tapped on his tablet.

"Why would he put the explosive in my car?" Damien probed. He already had an idea but still wanted to hear it from her.

"Maybe a warning. That Sha—" she cleared her throat. "That they could get to me through the people I… I'm associated with easily."

Katherine almost slipped mentioning Shadow to Damien. They may have mentioned it back in the basement parking but she couldn't tell him more. She had a feeling that Chris did that as a warning that if he could get to her that easily through the people she cared about, then Shadow definitely could too. And they wouldn't spare anyone they see as a threat.