Chapter 180 Catherine’s POV

Chapter 180 Catherine’s POV
My legs felt heavy like every step across this polished floor of the restaurant was taking me closer to an execution block. Tyler walked beside me, his arm subtly hovering my back, close enough to catch me if my knees finally gave out but far enough to avoid stirring any suspicion.

His expression was a mask of calm composure, "Richard!" Summer called out brightly, her voice cutting through the gentle sound of the jazz music playing over the speakers. My Don turned around from where he was, he looked incredibly handsome in his tailored navy blazer.

The moment his gaze landed on me, his entire face softened, light flooding his eyes, "Mom?!" Richard said in a bit of haste and sheer confusion, taking hurried steps forward and wrapped his arms around me in a tight, bear hug. I buried my face in his shoulder, holding onto him dearly.

But my heart broke into a million pieces right then and there... I'm so sorry, I pleaded silently against his jacket, tears threatening to fall behind my closed eyes, I'm so sorry, my sweet boy.

"When did you get back?" Richard asked, pulling back just enough to take a good look at me, his hands gently holding my arms. "Why didn't you call me? I've been out of my mind worrying about you since you weren't always picking my calls."

"I... I just landed recently, sweetheart," I lied smoothly, forcing my voice to stay calm despite the lump in my throat, "it was all so sudden, I didn't want to worry you until I finally settled."

Richard's gaze shifted past my shoulder, catching sight of Tyler standing quietly beside us. His eyes widened in complete shock before a warm playful grin broke across his face, "Tyler? What the hell are you doing here, man?"

Without hesitation, Richard stepped up and pulled Tyler into a brief embrace, tapping him firmly on the back. The sight of my son hugging the man I had spent the previous night passionately with made my stomach churn, "good to see you, Richard," Tyler said smoothly, a warm smile on his lips.

"I had some business to finalize nearby and decided to fly in. I ran into your mother so I thought I'd help her settle."

"Help her? Man, you're a lifesaver," Richard said, shaking his head while his hand rested on Tyler's shoulder, "I was losing my back here, worrying about her being alone over there. But knowing you were with her... I can't even tell you what a relief it is, thanks man!"

"Hey... what are friends for? You needed my help and I couldn't let your mom be lonely and stressed in another country, she's in good hands, Richard," Tyler replied, his voice soft and steady as his eyes flicked to mine for a second. 

"Sit, sit!" Summer insisted, pulling out a chair for me next to Richard, "we're ordering champagne, this is a celebration!"

"Summer's right," Richard smiled to his ears, taking my hand and kissing the tip of my knuckles as I sank into the leather chair, "I can't remember the last time the four of us were at a dinner table together," he turned to face Tyler, "sit down, Tyler. You ain't running like you did at my wedding, I couldn't even say goodbye."

"No problem," Tyler said, sliding into the seat directly across from, his calm look hiding the dangerous warfare we had walked into. For a few minutes, the small talk flowed seamlessly around the table.

Summer chattered happily about the twins and their always ruined getaway trips, Richard laughed, leaning over gently to touch her hand while Tyler chimed in effortlessly with casual remarks about business in London. To anyone watching us right now, we were the picture of a happy family sharing a wonderful dinner.

But to me... every laugh felt like glass breaking in my chest. I sat there, sipping my water with a trembling hand, utterly trapped in the suffocating web of my deception. Because every time my son looked at me with affectionate eyes, the unbearable weight of my betrayal pushed me deeper into a dark hell I created for myself.

Suddenly a quiet, sharp vibration rattled against my thigh breaking me from the trance, I was deep in. I slightly jumped, my hand instinctively darting into the pocket of my coat. I pulled out my phone beneath the edge of the table, shielding the screen from Richard's view.

My thumb tapped the glass to unlock it, expecting a routine notification or a message from the hotel. Instead, a text message from an unknown number appeared on the screen. I choked on my breath as my eyes scanned the words.

So you're into younger men now? Die you shameless bitch!

Everything suddenly became a buzz ringing loudly in my ears. The warmth of the restaurant, the smell of the rich food, the happy bickering of my son, daughter in law and Tyler were replaced by a cold terror that gripped my heart. The stalker wasn't truly gone, a cold sweat broke out from my back as my eyes scanned the dimly lit dining room, everybody in this room was now a suspect.

Was it a diner sitting three tables away? Or a waiter standing by the kitchen doors? What if it was someone watching through the dark glass from the street outside?

"Mom?" Richard's voice broke through the frequency in my head. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I... I..." 

My lower lip trembled, as my hands shook so hard the phone nearly slipped from my fingers. Tyler's sharp eyes caught my distress, his dark gaze dropping down to my hands sending the shift. 

Before I could lock my phone or even slip it back into my pocket, a tiny, bright laser bead appeared on the white cloth of the table, it moved slowly across the white tablecloth, moving past my wine glass sliding up the sleeve of my coat and coming to a stop directly over the center of my chest.