Chapter 262 I Wonder What Happened to Him?

Katherine's POV

Kevin didn't answer this time. Instead, he just led me to a nearby restaurant. When we sat down, Kevin ordered the dishes.

I couldn't wait and asked, "What is it? Didn't you already give me a present yesterday?"

"This is different," he insisted, scrolling through his photos. "Guess what's in this box?"

"Please don't tell me it's animal teeth from one of your rescue missions," I teased.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Of course not. I found this in a small antique shop in Northern Europe. You're going to love it."

He turned his phone toward me, and my heart nearly stopped. There on the screen was a bracelet that looked exactly like the one Mom had given me years ago—the one I'd lost during the avalanche.

"How did you..." I whispered, my voice catching.

"I knew you'd love it," Kevin said, beaming with satisfaction. "I still need to handle some paperwork, and it'll be shipped over in a few days. For now, you'll just have to enjoy looking at the photo."

I stared at the screen, emotions swirling inside me. The delicate silver chain with its distinctive charms brought back a flood of memories.

"Kevin, remember when I buried Mom's bracelet in the flowerpot because I wanted to play treasure hunt with you?" I asked, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face.

He laughed, shaking his head. "How could I forget? You completely uprooted Mom's favorite flowers and got the bracelet filthy. She was furious and terrified at the same time."

"I was so stupid," I said with a groan. "And you were sobbing while packing your little backpack, declaring that as long as you had food, I would too, and that you'd become a beggar if necessary to raise me."

"And you promised you'd only eat once a day so you wouldn't be a burden on me," Kevin added, his expression softening. "You were such a dramatic little kid."

I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "Kevin, sometimes I really miss those days—just being kids with Mom."

"Yeah," he said quietly. "Those were our happiest times, when Mom was still with us."

As our food arrived, we continued reminiscing, our conversation drifting to that fateful family ski trip.

"Katherine, it was my fault you lost Mom's most precious gift," Kevin said, his eyes clouding with old guilt.

I shook my head firmly. "How could it possibly be your fault? After that avalanche, we were lucky to escape with our lives."

"If I had protected you better, none of that would have happened."

"It was terrifying," I admitted, remembering the blinding whiteness, the deafening roar of snow. "But you did come back with me to search for it afterward."

I fell silent, another memory surfacing—one I hadn't thought about in years. "There was that boy we met during the avalanche," I said softly. "I wonder what happened to him?"

When Kevin and I returned home, laden with shopping bags, I immediately noticed something was wrong. Ryan was sitting in the living room with what appeared to be half a roll of bandages wrapped around his leg.

"Ryan, what happened to your leg?" I dropped my bags and rushed to his side, my heart racing.

With a look of utter exasperation, Ryan began unwrapping the excessive bandaging to reveal an almost invisible puncture mark.

"Mom, look," he said, pointing to the minuscule wound. "If Dad hadn't insisted on this ridiculous wrapping, it would probably be completely healed by now. It was just a small, non-venomous snake bite."

He looked down at his leg with disgust. "Mom, please make him stop. I can't take this anymore."

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all, promising to secretly help him remove the bandages later. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Kevin watching Alexander with a complicated expression.

Alexander emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of blandly steamed chicken and vegetables, explaining that Ryan couldn't eat greasy food while injured.

"Katherine, Kevin, when did you get back?" Alexander asked while arranging the food. "Have you eaten? Want to try some?"

I eyed the suspiciously pale, unseasoned dish with curiosity. "We ate at the market. What is this? It's so... plain. Not even basic seasoning?"

"Ryan is injured and can't have greasy food," Alexander stated with complete seriousness. "I researched some recommended nutrition plans online. Ethan and Emma have something different, so don't worry."

Ryan looked at the plate with dismay. "Dad, I protest. Why do Ethan and the others get steak?"

"Because you're injured," Alexander replied. "You need to eat foods that help healing. Chicken is perfect for that."

"Then why not give me beef leg?" Ryan countered logically.

"A cow's leg is too big for one person to eat," Alexander responded, genuinely considering the question. "Besides, there's hardly any meat on a cow's leg bone."

I burst into laughter, amazed by the interaction between these two usually stoic individuals. The sight of Alexander—the intimidating businessman—earnestly discussing cow legs with our equally serious son was simply too much.

Kevin caught my eye. "Look at you laughing like that. Didn't you say you wanted to take a shower?"

"Yes, I'm going right now," I said, standing up. "You guys finish dinner, and there's dessert afterward. I'll just go shower first."

That night, fresh from my shower and drying my damp hair, my phone rang. Alexander's name flashed on the screen.

"Katherine..." His voice was low and gentle. "I can't sleep..."

"Don't even think about coming over," I warned immediately. "If you come, neither of us will get any sleep."

"How could that happen?" he argued. "I've been with the children all day, got quite scared earlier, and my stomach is acting up again. Katherine, please let me come over? Will you open your door for me?"

Listening to his pitiful tone, my resolve started to weaken. Just as I was about to agree, a knock on my door interrupted us.

"Katherine?" Kevin's voice came from outside. "Why aren't you asleep yet? Having trouble sleeping?"

"Uh, no," I quickly replied. "I was just looking at some materials."

"It's getting late," he reminded me. "Aren't you taking the kids to the Space Needle tomorrow?"

"I know, Kevin. You should get some rest too. Goodnight."

I hung up, feeling like a college student caught dating against her parents' wishes. I remembered how Kevin used to "monitor" my relationship with Alexander back then and couldn't help laughing.

After making sure Kevin had returned to his room, I called Alexander back.

"Is your brother back in his room?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes, he's gone to sleep."

"Then I'll come over now."

"I don't think that's a good idea," I said reasonably. "What if Kevin wakes up?"

"Katherine..." His voice was pleading.

"Go to sleep. Goodnight." I hung up gently.

I had just drifted off to sleep when a noise from my window jolted me awake. I opened my eyes to see Alexander climbing through my window, his pants smudged with traces of my favorite flowers.

"Are you crazy?" I whispered, shocked.

I watched in disbelief as Alexander landed gracefully on my floor. This powerful businessman who commanded respect throughout Seattle was climbing through windows like a teenager.

"Katherine, I missed you. We can be like that day. " Alexander smiled, approaching as if his entrance had been completely normal.

I said helplessly, "What if Kevin finds you?"

My face flushed with alarm as Alexander pulled me into his arms, kissing my cheeks and neck. I was wearing only a thin white nightgown, and Alexander's eyes quickly darkened with desire. I blushed deeper, feeling like we were having an affair in my own home.

"Don't ever do something this dangerous again, understand?" I tried to sound stern.

"You smell so good," Alexander murmured, his breathing becoming more rapid.

"Katherine, I dream about you every night," his hand slid along my waist. "Let me stay with you tonight..."

Just as the atmosphere was thickening with intimacy, a sense of foreboding suddenly crept over me.

"Alexander! Oh my goodness, your nose is bleeding!" I shrieked, my voice laced with a mix of shock and concern.

Alexander quickly covered his nose, but it was too late. Bright red drops had already fallen onto my white nightgown, creating a stark contrast.

I hurried him to my bathroom to clean up and help stop the nosebleed. When we returned to the bedroom, we both stared at the bloodstains on the carpet.