Chapter 216

Chapter 216

Sophia laughed softly and countered, "Why not possible?"

Catherine looked down, her fingers twisting as she recalled moments with Philip.

Philip had indeed told her he liked her before, but liking and loving were entirely different things.

His attitude toward her shifted unpredictably,; It was never clear to her what Philip truly felt.

"I think his feelings for me aren't strong enough to forgive my deception," Catherine said quietly.

Sophia patted Catherine's head gently. "Why don't you test? When you keep a dog long enough, it knows to wag its tail to show loyalty to its master. People have feelings too, you know."

Catherine shrank back slightly, mumbling under her breath, "Sometimes people's feelings aren't even as reliable as a dog's."

Sophia couldn't help but laugh. "Just try it. Maybe Philip cares about you more than the baby?"

Catherine pressed her lips together, feeling tempted by the suggestion.

Sophia's proposal wasn't a bad idea after all. If Philip truly loved her, even without the baby, she would still have leverage.

Neither Catherine nor Sophia had eaten lunch yet. After chatting for about forty minutes, the two men waiting outside the living room came to take them to lunch.

After her conversation with Sophia, Catherine's mood had lifted considerably. She stayed close to Philip the whole way home.

Once they arrived home, Philip went straight to his study to attend a meeting and handle company matters.

After Alex finished reporting on work matters and was about to disconnect, Philip suddenly said, "Clear next Wednesday."

"Next Wednesday?" Alex checked the following week's schedule. "There's a pharmaceutical industry business cocktail that day. All the industry giants will be there. You should be there."

Philip frowned slightly. "Find a way to handle it."

Alex found this strange. Philip usually loved attending such business gatherings; he'd always said these events where industry leaders congregated were perfect for discovering new business opportunities.

After terminating the partnership with the West Group, they especially needed to explore new business prospects. Yet he didn't want to go?

"Mr. Foster, may I ask what important engagement you have on Wednesday?"

Since Philip needed Alex to handle other matters too, he didn't conceal his plans. "Her birthday."

Alex didn't need to ask who "her" referred to.

"Understood. Shall I arrange a venue?"

Philip paused for a moment, smiling slightly.

"Yes, arrange a venue. That evening..."

He paused, his voice softening with emotion, "I'm going to propose."

Alex was deeply moved. "Mr. Foster, don't worry. I'll make sure everything is perfect!"

Philip acknowledged this with a sound, letting out a light chuckle.

Catherine's cry suddenly echoed into the study. Philip's expression changed instantly as he hung up the call and stood, hurriedly walking out of the study.

She was sitting cross-legged on the living room sofa, staring worriedly at the wound on her hand.

He strode over to her and grasped her injured hand. Her slender index finger had a cut that was oozing bright red blood.

Philip's handsome face immediately darkened with concern, his tone displeased as he asked, "What happened?"

Catherine, already upset about her injury, felt even more put off by Philip's harsh questioning and became reluctant to engage with him.

She tried to pull her hand away, saying quietly, "It's nothing, just a small cut."

Philip maintained his stern expression, his anger barely contained.

He glanced down at the bloody fruit knife and peach on the coffee table, quickly deducing how she had injured herself.

Without releasing her hand, he sat down heavily beside her, taking a cotton swab from the first aid kit to disinfect the wound.

Catherine, seeing Philip's rough movements and fearing pain, quickly said, "I can do it myself—"

Philip glanced up at her. "If you wanted something to eat, why didn't you just ask me?"

Catherine froze, looking up at Philip as a flicker of light passed through her eyes.

Philip continued disinfecting her wound, his movements much gentler now.

After disinfecting, he applied a medical dressing to the cut and bandaged it carefully.

Catherine looked at her somewhat swollen index finger, the joint now barely flexible, thinking the bandage was unnecessarily elaborate.

Philip cleared away the fruit platter and knife from the coffee table and turned toward the kitchen, his posture erect, his back projecting an aura of cold aloofness.

She could only see his back, not knowing what he was doing in the kitchen.

After a while, feeling bored, she turned away and took out her new phone to browse trending topics online.

Philip had confiscated her old phone yesterday and given her this new one this morning.

This new phone contained only Philip's contact information and no one else's.

As she scrolled through her phone, she pondered how to get her old phone back.

A loud clang broke her thoughts.

Philip had somehow prepared a fruit platter and placed it on the coffee table before her.

Catherine looked up with surprise. Pointing at the fruit platter, she asked, "Did you cut these for me?"

Philip reached out to pinch her soft cheek gently, responding with mock irritation, "Who else?"

Catherine giggled, reaching for the fruit platter, but Philip swatted her hand away.

"What are you doing?" she complained.

Preparing fruit for Catherine and then not letting her eat it made no sense.

Philip sat down beside her, holding the fruit platter in one hand and picking up a fruit fork with the other. "What would you like to eat?" he asked.

Catherine felt utterly pampered, her face breaking into a radiant smile as she pointed to the peeled peach in the platter.

Philip speared a piece of peach and brought it to her lips.

Catherine didn't hesitate, opening her mouth to bite into the sweet, juicy fruit.

She ate like a little hamster, taking small, quick bites.

Philip couldn't help but smile.

Seeing her enjoy the fruit, Philip decided to taste it too, putting the remaining half of her piece into his mouth.

"Why are you eating mine?" Catherine protested with a pout, clearly dissatisfied with his theft.

Philip laughed. "I cut the fruit."

Catherine was imperious and unreasonable. "You cut it for me."

Philip gazed at her bright eyes, chuckling softly as he tapped her nose, challenging her small show of dominance.

"Wrong. I didn't cut it for you—I cut it for my baby."

Hearing this, Catherine's proud smile instantly vanished, and the brightness in her eyes dimmed.

Philip noticed the change in her expression, his own smile fading slightly.

He offered her another piece of peach.

Catherine turned her face away. "I don't want any more."

Philip leaned closer, nuzzling her cheek with his prominent nose. "What's wrong?"

Catherine shook her head. "Nothing. I just don't feel like eating anymore."

Philip set down the fruit platter, freeing both hands to pull Catherine into his embrace.

"You're actually jealous of the baby, are you?"

Catherine's throat tightened as she sank into a low mood.

She tried to escape Philip's embrace, but he only held her tighter.

One arm encircled her waist while his other hand tilted her chin upward, carefully examining her expression with penetrating eyes.

"Dr. Cole mentioned that pregnant women are particularly sensitive, just like you're being right now."

Catherine found Philip's words jarring and struggled to break free from his embrace.

Philip didn't understand why she was angry, yet didn't dare hold her too tightly. As soon as he loosened his grip slightly, she broke away.

Catherine ran upstairs, with Philip taking long strides after her.

He caught her arm, warning in a low voice, "Be careful!"

Catherine shook off his hand. "Philip, if you love children so much, why don't you find another woman to bear them for you?"

Catherine freed herself from Philip's grasp and stood two steps up the staircase, putting her half a head taller than him, though her presence still couldn't match the man's imposing aura.

She felt both pitiful and ridiculous being with Philip.

"Before, I was just your sex partner, and now I'm just bearing your child..."

Her voice was raspy, clearly suppressing tears.

Philip frowned as he climbed up one step, only to see Catherine back away another step without even looking behind her.

Afraid she might fall if she wasn't watching where she was going, he dared not move forward.

He cursed under his breath, regretting his choice of housing.

Why a duplex villa? A single-level penthouse would have been so much better.

Philip looked up at Catherine and couldn't help asking, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

He completely failed to understand what she was saying or to guess what was going through her mind.

How had things suddenly taken such an absurd turn?

"Isn't that the case?" Catherine said angrily. "You care more about the baby in my belly than you care about me."

Philip realized she had misunderstood and explained, "I was only joking with you earlier."

"Of course I cut the fruit for you. How could it possibly be for our baby who hasn't even been born yet?"

Catherine didn't believe him. "You're only saying that now to placate me, because you're afraid I'll fall and hurt your child."

Philip cursed under his breath again, reaching out to try to grab her.

Catherine drew back. "Don't touch me."