Chapter 19: You can only be mine.
Kathleen looked into his amber-colored eyes and saw the look of an honest soul. In that moment Kathleen knew she had found a special friend, and in response to his greeting, Kathleen whispered, "brother." Her eyes were laced with tears.
Since then, Jason has been nothing but a doting brother fulfilling every dream of hers. With the support of their parents, he also became her tutor, guiding her in the family business each step of the way.
Her train of thoughts was interrupted by a playful nudge.
"A penny for your thought, Milady." Jason extended his hand, striking a funny pose.
"You are the best brother anyone would wish to have…"
"…And you wish you had met me earlier," Jason completed with a broad grin. "I've heard that from you for the nth time, and I love you dearly Sis."
Kathleen was buzzing with happiness as she linked her arm with her brother's and left the restaurant in high spirits.
She felt a piercing gaze at her back, and didn't need to turn around to know whose it was.
*******
Shawn strolled to a luxurious, black coloured Limousine, parked in front of the eatery.
The door was held open by the driver for him to get in.
He took his seat, his long legs sprawled out in front of him. The air was so tense that one could literally cut it with a knife.
"Kathleen….!" Shawn's face twisted in pain and he slammed his fist against the innocent car seat, causing Johnson to almost jump up in fright. "I can't believe you are still alive and kept it from me all these years. How can you be so heartless?"
"Boss, please, don't do this to yourself, remember what the doctor said. You must not allow yourself to be agitated" Johnson cautioned.
"To hell with the doctor and what he said," he roared back, massaging the areas between his eyes.
Johnson could only coax Shawn with caution at this point. "The Madam just came back and I believe if you can talk things over she'll forgive you."
"The hell she will. Didn't you witness what happened just now? She doesn't want to forgive me. She even hooked up with someone else"
"These things take time, boss, and don't need to be rushed. Just give her some time."
"Johnson!" Shawn warned with a dark expression.
"I'm sorry, Boss!"
"Check the relationship between Kathleen and President Wyatt. Also, check how long she has been back and where she's staying. I want every information about her on my desk first thing tomorrow morning."
"Yes Boss"
"Are we still going to the Hudson mansion tonight?" Johnson asked when he didn't receive further instructions from Shawn.
"No. To Hillside Lot" Shawn's reply was terse leaving no rooms for negotiations.
Johnson communicated their next destination to the driver and the car headed out.
Forty minutes later, "We are here sir" Johnson informed Shawn who had not made any attempt to leave the car minutes after they arrived. If not for the oppressive atmosphere in the car, he would have thought Shawn had drifted off to sleep.
It was like ages before Shawn made any movement. Johnson came down to open the car door.
"You can go back now Johnson, I'll call you when I need you" Shawn dismissed and stepped down from the car.
"But sir…"
"Don't bother about me, I just need some time alone, I'll be fine."
His shoulders drooped in grief as he walked towards the entrance of the building where he had been living with Kathleen since they got married.
Johnson was reluctant to leave. He was genuinely worried about his boss. He had witnessed what his boss went through those six years after the disappearance of his wife.
He had seen his boss turn from a domineering President to a soulless recluse. With the sudden appearance of his wife and her outright rejection tonight, he was certain the night was going to be a restless one for his boss.
"I hope you'll not harm yourself like before" Johnson muttered to himself and decided to hang around in the Boys Quarters just in case.
He still had the key to the BQ which Kathleen gave to him to stay whenever it was too late for him to go home and Shawn never collected the key back even after Kathleen's disappearance.
Shawn looked at the house that he has not been to in the past six years. He opened the door and entered the main building. Everywhere was quiet and dusty.
Since Kathleen left, he had not set foot in the house. Everything in the house reminded him of Kathleen and every moment they shared.
She had been the one to pick the furniture and they had decorated the house together before moving in after obtaining the marriage certificate.
He glanced at the kitchen and could visualize her standing by the sink, clad in her white polka dot apron while she prepared breakfast in the morning. He also remembered how she would smile warmly at him whenever she noticed him leaning lazily by the door.
His gaze moved again to the hammock he specially prepared for her on the terrace. He could still hear her vibrant laughter in response to his jokes.
He pulled himself from there and climbed upstairs to their room.
All the pains he has successfully numbed for years came rushing back, gnawing away at his heart like the vicious claws of a crab.
He plunged himself onto the bed with an agonizing wail.
Something poked him from under the sheets. He fished it out and found it was a small key. After taking a close look, he realized it was the key to the drawer.
He sat up and opened the bedside drawer, lying in there were the divorce papers. They were still unsigned.
On seeing this, his eyes lit up with hope. As long as the papers were not signed, Kathleen was still his legal wife. He had something to work with now.
'I don't care what relationship you have with President Jason, but you can only be mine in this life. No matter how far you run, you can't escape this time around.'
Meanwhile, Kathleen was already on her way to Fairview Villa. She was in a good mood and completely oblivious of Shawn's resolutions.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone