Chapter 53: What If I feel The Same Way?

"Thank you for taking me home," Kathrina said as they arrived in front of her apartment door.

"Are you okay?" Arthur's gaze was layered with worries. He could still feel her trembling like a leaf in his arms, yet now she was putting on a brave face.

It took a long time for Kathrina to calm down until he managed to get her into his car. Even then, she was absentminded. They never talked during their journey from the hotel to the apartment. Kathrina was battling with her mind while he was cursing the one who caused her pain.

"Hmm. You should go back." Kathrina tried to give him her best smile, but it was evident that it was fake.

"Okay then."

Arthur had no choice but to follow her words. Although he wanted nothing but to stay with her through the night, he also knew he had drawn the line between them.

"Drive safely," Kathrina said, then went into her unit, leaving Arthur rooting in his place.

After she closed the door, Kathrina's knees gave out. Her heart worked faster, and her hands trembled. She hugged her knees and cried while repeating, 'he is coming for me.'

Her phone rang, and she only glanced at it swiftly. It was Kale who called her. She rejected the call and decided to send a text. If someone in her family were to hear her voice, they would run straight to her like their life was in danger.

'I am sorry for leaving without telling anyone, but I suddenly got my period. My stomach hurt so bad, so I went back. Don't worry about me. I will be okay tomorrow. And please tell Jenna not to come tonight. Thanks, Kal, I love you.'

Kale's reply came not long after, but she barely bothered to check. Her mind was a mess. She did not know what had happened to her and how she could have a reaction to random things. And who was coming for her?

On the other side, Arthur took a sharp breath. He could not leave her alone; his heart would not let him. Even if his mind told him to walk away, his heart yearned to be with her, to be the shoulder she could lean on.

"Fuck that revenge." He muttered and knocked on her door.

Surprisingly Kathrina opened her door quickly. Arthur could feel his heart crack when he noticed the trace of tears on her face.

"Why are you still here?" Her voice was hoarse.

Instead of replying to her, Arthur pushed her softly and went in without waiting for her permission.

"Arthur, what are—"

"Don't cry alone." His finger brushed her cheeks tenderly. "Come here." He opened his arm wide for her. Kathrina did not instantly move to him. The woman observed for a good minute before throwing herself to him.

Kathrina's arm circled his waist. She basked in his warmth and inhaled him, so all she could sense was him and nothing from the man in the banquet. Like a second to nature, Arthur placed his chin on top of her head and his hand stroking her short hair.

With their position still hugging each other, Arthur lifted her, walked straight to the couch, and sat with Kathrina on his lap. If someone were to see them, they would think he and her were in a relationship as they behaved intimately.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Arthur asked carefully. He was afraid the wrong words would trigger her again. It was just like the first time. He did not want her to have another attack, but if Kathrina did, Arthur hoped he would be there with her.

"Can you hug me tighter?" Kathrina asked another question, which Arthur immediately complied with.

Kathrina loved this calm feeling. The serenity he brought with him seemed to influence her emotion, as she could breathe easier than before. She was paranoid, thinking she would have to spend her night with the memory of that disgusting smell in her brain.

"Can I hire you to be my personal bodyguard? FSS provides that kind of service, right?" Kathrina knew it was crazy to ask the CEO himself to be her bodyguard. But she did not care. That was what her mind told her to say. So, she just did.

"Why do you need my protection? You have your pretty little gun to defend yourself." Arthur replied. His hand did not stop caressing her hair.

Kathrina snuggled to his neck comfortably. She was behaving out of the norm with him. It had always been like that. She did not mind being close to him. In fact, she longed to be as close as possible to him.

"It's not wrong to be cautious." Kathrina's finger played with his hair.

"Why?" Arthur's voice turned stern. "Tell me, why?"

"Someone is coming for me, and I don't know who," Kathrina answered truthfully. If Arthur were her family member, she would not tell him anything. Instead, she would stay silent until she could finally find her answer.

Arthur's jaw hardened; his eyes turned cold. "How did you come to such a conclusion? Have you experienced something unpleasant or bad recently?"

"Nothing of the sort happened. I didn't even know why I kept saying someone was coming for me. Perhaps it's my instinct."

Kathrina was truly surprised at how easy it was to talk with Arthur. Considering they had a little argument at the banquet, this development was not something Kathrina expected.

"You don't have to pay me. I am willing to be a volunteer." Arthur said. Surprising himself for the impulse decision.

Both were lost for words. They remained silent for a while, busy organizing their thoughts.

"Why are you still here, Arthur?" Kathrina suddenly whispered. "You said you feel disgusted with me."

Arthur's hand stopped moving as he finally digested Kathrina's words.

"I didn't say that." Arthur denied.

"You did. You don't want to care for me, and the fact that you do makes you disgusted."

Arthur forced Kathrina to look straight into her. His hand moved to cup her face between his palms. "You didn't feel the same way, Kathrina. Do you expect me to keep forcing myself into your life?" It was a lie. Arthur felt disgusted because she was a Reed. If she were not part of that family, even her refusal would not make him give up so fast.

Kathrina did not need to know that truth. She should live with his white lie.

"What if I feel the same way?"