Chapter 259 - Wishing It Had Stayed Longer

Damien's arms were tightly wrapped around her, his resolve almost crumbling and he was barely hanging on.

"I know you don't want me holding you right now… and I'm sorry but I just can't. I miss you too damn much, Katherine."

Raising his head, he tried to hold back his tears but when he closed his eyes, they escaped freely, wetting Katherine's shoulder. "So please don't push me away and let me hold you — even just for tonight."

How could she possibly push him away… when all she had ever really been longing for was for him to hold her? Even if she wanted to escape, she didn't have the courage to push him so she succumbed to her selfishness and allowed his embrace… because she missed him too.

But her hands remained clutched on his coat. The bitter part of her just couldn't allow herself to hold him. Because if she did, she would feel as if she was making a huge mistake and she would feel guilty. She would feel even more horrible than she already was. Which was why she allowed him to hold her… but she couldn't allow herself to hold him.

She sniffed, resting her forehead on his chest, letting her tears surrender to gravity. 

Damien was thankful that she didn't run away. Pulling back slightly, his hands gently cradled her face, raising it just a little so he could press his lips on her forehead.

His kiss was so tender… lingering… hopeful… loving… and sad.

How painful. How fûcking painful.

His lips stayed on her skin for the longest moment. And when he finally let go, she wished it had stayed longer.

He swallowed the huge lump in his throat and told her, "There are still a lot of questions to ask and things to be said but I think that's my limit for today. Thanks for giving me a chance to speak… and for listening."

Katherine took a deep breath before she started, "I lied to you earlier. After being away, I'm still not truly okay… And I don't know when I'll ever be or if I'll ever be. I heard everything you said. And I promise I will think about it. I appreciate that you understand what I'm going through, but I'm also sorry to you… And I'm sorry about us."

Wiping her cheeks with the knuckles of his fingers, he nodded, "I know, baby. Me too..."

Hearing the endearment, Katherine felt another prick in her heart. Dealing with a broken heart while still being in love was really excruciating.

How does one move on from here?

After catching their breath, they decided to go back inside.

"Your grandfather must be looking for us. Shall we head back?" Damien asked.

…

Damien waited for Katherine while she stopped by at the restroom to make sure she didn't look like a mess. She didn't take a long time and when she came out, they walked back towards the party.

"Katherine, can I ask you a question?" he probed.

"Hm?"

"If you didn't want to talk to me tonight, why did you invite me?"

Katherine chewed on her bottom lip and scratched her neck, unsure how to tell him the truth. "Oh, that… Um… Actually… I didn't send you the invitation. It was Grandpa… Sorry."

"Ah…" 

After knowing the truth, he scoffed at himself, shaking his head in disbelief. It stung knowing that it didn't come from her and now he was wondering if she would ever invite him if her grandfather didn't but he didn't have the guts to ask.

They continued to take step after step until it was Katherine who spoke this time, "Damien?"

"Yeah?" He slowed his pace to match hers, taking their sweet time to arrive at the event hall as they walked side by side.

"I just wanted to know… How's Bear?"

The corner of Damien's mouth curled up upon mentioning their little furbaby who was not so little anymore. "He's doing great. He's grown so much since. I would show you a picture but… you know me, I don't really take pictures."

'Except when you're the subject,' he said in his thoughts.

"Anyway, he's going to be six months in a couple of weeks. Would you like to see him sometime?" he asked.

Katherine definitely missed her Baby Bear. She wondered how big he had grown since the last time she had seen him two months ago. She heard Newfies would grow really big but she hadn't seen a grown one so she had no idea. Seeing her furbaby again would be really nice but she didn't think she had the heart to see him but not really be with him for a long time.

Her brain cursed at her, wondering if she was still thinking about the same 'him'.

Before she could answer, they heard her name being called from a distance and the two of them looked up to see Matthew who just came out of the event hall.

It was almost ten in the evening and the guests were slowly going home as the party had already begun to wind down, so there were other people in the hallway.

"Matty," she muttered.

Damien's brows raised upon hearing the way she called Matthew Jeong. How sweet.

Meeting halfway, Matthew greeted them first, "Good evening, President Park." Damien nodded once and Matthew faced Katherine again, "Your grandfather is looking for you."

"Okay. Oh, um…" Katherine contemplated on how she was going to introduce the two of them again now that the other man wasn't just an acquaintance anymore. She remembered how Damien got jealous over Matthew whom he thought was only making up stories about her looking like his childhood friend. This would be unpleasant.

"Damien… Matty's—Matthew is my… friend. We've known each other since we were kids."

"Mm. Back when she was still a snotty little girl." Matthew chuckled as he looked at Katherine, his eyes smiling just like his mouth.

Seeing the way he looked at her, Damien's jaw tensed. It turned out that Matthew really was telling the truth. And because of that, he didn't like that the two had more reasons now to spend time with each other.

At least one thing remained true, Damien Park still wanted to kick Matthew Jeong in the face and throw him across the room. Only now, it wasn't going to be just Matthew, he'll throw in that Chris guy on the list too.

"Are you going home?" Matthew asked Katherine.

"I guess. I'm very tired… I need to go find Grandpa so I can say bye."

"I think he's still inside, waiting for you."

Katherine excused herself and went to find her grandfather to tell him that she needed to head home. She had a throbbing headache and she thought she would pass out if she didn't rest soon.

After talking to her grandfather, Katherine went to see Falcon and Styles who were waiting for her at the trailer. They had their own apartments so they weren't going home together. They agreed to meet the next day and separated for the evening.

Katherine went back to the hotel and saw Matthew waiting for her in the lobby. Her eyes scanned the room from left to right, wondering where the other man was.

Sensing that she was looking for Damien, Matthew said, "Oh, President Park is outside."

When she followed Matthew's gaze, it landed on Damien hailing a cab with a woman dressed in an evening gown. She didn't realize that he was there with someone else. She didn't want to jump to conclusions, especially not after their conversation earlier but she couldn't help feeling uneasy seeing him with another woman.

"Do you need a ride?" Matthew probed.

Turning to her friend, Katherine curled up the corners of her mouth and nodded. "That would be nice. Thank you."

Not wanting to see the unpleasant sight, she followed Matthew to the parking lot without turning back.

If she had, she would've seen Damien looking at her retreating back with Matthew next to her after sending Eve home in a taxi.

"Chairman Park?" A police officer called his attention. "This way please," he said, ushering Damien towards a police car for questioning.