Chapter 279 - Pretense 3

Nana's smile widened even more upon seeing her grandson Damien arrive. "Ah! I'm glad to see you aren't late." She pulled him in for a hug, interrupting his daze.

"Hi, Nana. You look… bright…" Damien gave Nana a brief hug and looked at her at an arm's length as if he was examining her. 

"I got my hair done and I went to the spa with Alianna in the afternoon. Do I look okay?" she asked.

He found her question amusing and he smiled, "Of course. You look really beautiful, Nana."

While the two were exchanging a small conversation, Katherine remained frozen at the side with her feet glued to the floor. When the Park's butler fetched her from the office earlier, she was already hesitant to come because it was hard to face Damien's grandmother. Katherine thought Nana just wanted to catch up with her and the percentage of seeing Damien that night was low thinking that Nana wouldn't put them together in the same room because of their situation.

She should have known that Nana would do something like this. Katherine didn't know whether to laugh or cry because Nana was acting like her Grandpa Theo. The two of them sure work fast and sly! Why don't they make their own matchmaking agency and work together since they like playing cupids? She would be glad to help them set up their company and maybe even help them name it!

Theodore & Evelyn Matchmaking Agency, get hitched! — would be their slogan with naked babies holding bows and heart arrows around the statement.

Katherine didn't want to get annoyed but it was becoming slightly annoying that people were dipping their noses into her business. She had been seeing Damien three days in a row now. Will she ever get some time to herself? Texting was fine but having to see him face to face was just too much for her poor heart.

For the past days that she saw him, it was the first time that she had the guts to really look at him because she refused to do so before. While he was still talking to Nana, Katherine had the chance to stare at his face.

He was still as beautiful as the last time she had seen him. Though there were faint dark circles under his eyes, his defined jaw, sharp nose, perfect hair, and kissable lips were still—oh my god, what was she thinking?

"Katherine?" Damien's voice snapped her out of her trance. That was when she realized that she had been blatantly staring at him and that he was already in front of her, wondering what she was thinking at the moment while she was looking at him so intently.

"Damien…" she finally managed to utter.

He leaned forward and gave her cheek a chaste kiss as a greeting. In a really low voice that only she could hear, Damien asked, "What are you doing here?" He was still slightly annoyed that he hadn't received a reply from her the whole day. But he couldn't stop himself from moving closer.

"I don't know. I was hoping you would tell me." Her response was a little rough. She cleared her throat and stepped back from him.

Nana was so thrilled to see the two of them acting so sweet in front of her, not even knowing what they were mumbling about. "Alright! Let's all sit down. Bring the food in," she said loudly as she sat down on her chair at the head of the table.

Damien pulled out a chair for Katherine and then sat to her right — it was the first chair to Nana's left. 

The food came in and just as they were about to eat, Frederick Park, his wife, and his son William arrived.

"Mother, sorry we're late," Frederick said as they entered the dining room and took their seats. He was taken aback when he saw Katherine Young at the table. "I didn't know you invited a guest over, Mother."

"Katherine is more than just a guest. She had always been family to me. Here dear, try some braised pork." Nana excitedly offered, tapping Damien's arm as though she was telling him to serve it to Katherine, in which he complied—but he started to become concerned about his uncle's presence and what it would do to Katherine. He didn't want anything to happen that night.

"It's nice to see you again, Ms. Young." William gave her a genuine yet slightly playful smile as he sat next to his mother. He was sure to see something interesting tonight. "It's weird to say that. I was used to calling you Ms. Katherine Miller… Although Young Madam Katherine Young suits you a whole lot better."

Katherine only spared William a glance, wondering why he sounded rather friendly that night compared to his normal irritating tone. His voice was still smooth as usual, however, there was always a hint of malice before. Now, she didn't notice any of it. What happened to him?

She curtly nodded before her eyes landed back to Frederick Park who was sitting opposite Damien. Her blood suddenly boiled within her. Looking at the man, she couldn't help but see blood before her while familiar questions flashed in her mind again: What if no one hired the Parks? What if Frederick Park had a grudge with her father? What if it was him all along?

She had thought about it a lot before but the tiny detail of information that she learned from Shadow didn't make sense. Someone hired Shadow so it was highly likely that someone also hired the Parks. But why? Who? What if they weren't even connected at all and it just so happened that the incident occurred on the same night?

The more that she thought about it, the more that she got enraged — she didn't realize that she was gripping the dinner knife so tightly in her hand.

The horrifying night from sixteen years ago quickly played in her mind and she so badly wanted to throw the knife across the table, targeting Frederick Park's chest. Sure the knife didn't have a sharp, pointy edge but she was certain she could still use it on him.

William who happened to glance at Katherine saw the rage in her expression and his heart raced, slightly concerned about what she was planning to do with the knife in her hand while they were at the dining table with Nana around.

He looked at Damien who — just in time — met his eyes and he slightly nodded towards Katherine, his eyes shifting from her face to her hand.

Damien's head immediately turned to check on Katherine and sure enough, he saw the bloodlust in her eyes as she stared at his Uncle Frederick.

Gently, he placed his hand over hers that was holding the knife, slightly leaning towards her and whispered to her ear, "Are you okay?"

The warmth of his hand and the concern in his voice slowly brought Katherine out of her dark thoughts. 

She glanced at him and reluctantly nodded as she told him, "I'm trying my best not to stab your uncle right here right now… that's all." She smiled an obviously fake one.

Damien swallowed the huge lump in his throat upon hearing her words. He still didn't know her full capabilities but knowing that she would carry a gun and a knife with her was already enough for him to know what she could do. 

His Little Kitten didn't feel so little at all. 

His Little Kitten was frightening.