Chapter 283 - Bigger Than Us

The rest of the dinner was quite peaceful and Katherine stayed until dessert without any more problems. She and Damien remained civil with each other all throughout.

Nana did not ask Katherine about her new identity as a member of the Young Family in the dining table, treating her as if there was no change at all. Nana couldn't care less about Katherine's new background. She liked her before and she liked her now — whether she had money or not, or whether she belonged to a known family or not. Katherine was Katherine. And for Nana, there was no other woman deserving of her most favorite grandson Damien but only Katherine. 

"My dear, would you like to have some tea with me in the tea room?" Nana asked Katherine.

It was already eight in the evening but Katherine didn't really have other plans and she was actually enjoying Nana's company. Nana was such a breath of fresh air for her because during the entire evening, Nana didn't ask her any questions regarding her new identity. Although Katherine didn't and wouldn't mind if Nana asked her, she was thankful and appreciative that Nana didn't treat her differently just because she now belonged to another family.

"Of course, Nana. I would love to," Katherine answered. The two of them went to a smaller room next to the dining room where Nana would always drink her after-meal tea.

When they were seated, tea was already brewing in the teapot on the table. They had their privacy and the room was quiet until Katherine started, "Nana… why aren't you asking me?"

"Ask you what, dear?" Nana probed.

Katherine wasn't sure how to phrase it other than just being direct about her curiosity. She shrugged before she continued, "I don't know… about everything? What happened to me and Damien… Why I left… Why we're no longer together… about my family? There are so many questions. Why aren't you asking me those?"

A small smile appeared on Nana's face as she picked up the teacup in front of her and took her time sipping before she placed it back down on the table. She looked at Katherine and studied her face. "Did you want me to ask you those questions?"

Katherine thought that Nana was quite a smart woman. And now she's throwing the question back at her. She softly chuckled, "Honestly, no. Everything is just complicated right now and I'm not sure how to answer those questions. But if you do want to ask, Nana… I wouldn't mind answering you." Of course, she would have to lie about some parts.

Nana reached out and held Katherine's hand in hers, patting it gently as she told her, "I am very curious but if talking about it makes you uncomfortable, then I don't want to do that. My dear, the very first time that I heard about you, I knew that you were the one for my grandson. I haven't met you then yet, I had never heard Damien speak about you the way that he spoke about others. For me, you are special because you make our Damien very happy."

Katherine's heart throbbed upon hearing Nana's words. This was a topic that she didn't want to have because she didn't like feeling vulnerable in the enemy's lair. Nana wasn't an enemy but there were people in this big house who were. Katherine couldn't help but feel saddened as she continued to listen to Nana's words.

"I felt even more reassured when I met you. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about because you're a woman. You know when you look at someone for the first time and you just have this gut feeling that you like her already even without speaking to her yet? It's like that. Although most of the time, you find other women hateful in just one glance, right?"

The two laughed and Nana added, "It was a gut feeling for me, Katherine. I knew that I would like you even before really meeting you. And when I did, I liked you even more. And when I like someone, nothing else matters. So I don't care about what happened between you and my grandson, I still like you because you are you. Your family background doesn't matter to me."

By this time, Katherine's eyes were glistening with happy tears. She suddenly missed her own mother and grandmother. Talking to someone who was older than her and feeling the care like how a family was supposed to be made her feel really loved.

"Seeing you and Damien together, my dear makes me really happy because I can see how much he loves you just by the way he looks at you. It's a shame that you are not together anymore but I hope that it's only temporary. Whatever the problem is between you two, I hope that you can work on it together. My grandson is really good at solving problems, Katherine. He may look tough on the outside but his heart is soft and warm — I'm sure you know this one already."

Katherine didn't know how to respond to Nana. So she could only nod and form a small smile. She knew Damien's love. She knew it very well.

However, this wasn't as simple as a small misunderstanding that can be solved by a mere conversation. The only reason that Katherine couldn't have that long conversation with Damien and that she had been delaying it was that she knew that even after their 'talk', nothing would change. She would still feel the same and she would still have the same decision.

"Thank you, Nana. I really appreciate that you think so profoundly of me." Katherine gave Nana's hand a squeeze and added, "As for Damien and I… my feelings for him haven't changed. But the problem we have… it's bigger than us… and I don't know how to handle it but I'm trying. I hope you don't hate me for that."

"Of course not. I'm a woman too, my dear, I know how our hearts work. Whatever you plan in the future, I hope you talk to him. Don't leave him out in the dark, okay? I may not know what the problem is between you two but if you are hurting, I'm sure he is too."

Sensing that Katherine was feeling uneasy about the seriousness in their discussion, Nana changed the topic, "Anyway, you work it out between yourselves. I trust you both. How about you tell me about your new work? Do you like it? How are they treating you there? Do you feel any pressure that you're working for your grandfather?"

Katherine let out a laugh upon hearing Nana's new set of questions. Even if the questions were about her new identity, it was really more about her well being. "The pressure is definitely there because I don't want to disappoint my grandfather…" Katherine continued to tell Nana about her new job and how it was like working in the family business.

While the two women were having a conversation, Damien was actually just outside the tearoom and he heard their conversation. He was about to go inside and join them when he heard Nana had started talking about him. He found it awkward to suddenly appear and interrupt their conversation… and truthfully, he was also curious to hear how Katherine's response would be.

And now that he heard her brief response, he was at least hopeful knowing that she still felt the same towards him. Damien just wished that what she felt for him was enough for her to fight for their relationship.