The pair of grandfather and grandson gracefully made their way through the ornate halls of the mansion. Finn, with a twinkle in his eye, confidently chose a seat next to Olivia, his heart racing at the thought of her company. Cathleen, trying her best to blend in as the supposed wife, sat beside her pretend husband. She eagerly began to serve food to the plate of the elderly Mr. Knight, placing a bowl of his favorite soup in front of him.
Xavier, ever the gentleman, did not serve himself but instead patiently waited for Cathleen to do so for him as well. Confusion flickered across Cathleen's features as she glanced at Xavier, but he remained composed and simply gestured for her to serve him as well. She couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation, looking between the two men with amusement and disbelief.
"Oh, Father, you know Xavi can be such a sweet little boy sometimes." She deftly grabbed a china plate from the table, her fingers grazing the edges as she balanced it in one hand. With the other hand, she scooped up a generous serving of eggs and bacon, the aroma wafting through the air. She smiled warmly and said, "If I don't put food out for him, he just can't eat. He's too demanding, you know." With a sharp clatter, she tossed the porcelain dish onto the table, placing the plate in front of Xavier, a wicked smirk twisting her lips as she turned to face her husband. Behind her, an elderly man chuckled and shook his head at the couple's playful banter.
"Oh, Cathleen, my sweet child. You are simply the sweetest." Xavier couldn't believe that his father would have a word for someone like Cathleen in his mouth. He had only just gotten to know her, but he could tell that his little wife was anything but sweet. If anything, Cathleen must have been the devil herself.
She spoke her mind, and she was a dominating woman. It was something that Xavier hated in a woman. He didn't have a thing for women who were in control. And Cathleen didn't score any points with him for that either. Not that Cathleen was interested; she had no time for dates. She hated men in general. The old man could see how Cathleen was making fun of her husband, so he just kept on laughing and eating his food.
"So, who is she?" Finn finally spoke, gesturing to Olivia, with the intention of getting in Cathleen's face.
Cathleen didn't even bother to look at her supposed husband, as that would only raise suspicions. "Oh, that's Olivia, my friend." Cathleen's reply as she continued with her meal.
"A friend who would wear something like that in front of your husband?" Finn pressed.
"To attract unmarried Johns like you, of course." Her voice was sharp and daring as she finally raised her eyes to meet Finn's. With a defiant tilt of her chin, she silently challenged him to continue with the unnecessary questions that were none of his business. The intensity in her gaze matched the fiery tone of her words, daring him to cross the line and invade her personal thoughts. Sweat beaded on her forehead, a testament to the tension between them as they locked eyes in a silent battle of wills.
Finn didn't understand Cathleen at all. He thought that he knew her, but she was a changed woman, and she was able to stand up for herself. But what he didn't understand was why she had agreed to get married to Xavier if she had such a strong will of her own. And why was she allowing him to bring women to their matrimonial home if they did love each other?
Old Mr. Knight noticed the tension between Cathleen and Finn. The man cleared his throat to break the tension and said, "How is my favorite girl?" He smiled at Cathleen.
Cathleen's lips curled upward into a sly smile, but before she could utter a word, Xavier's gaze shifted to his father. His suspicions only grew stronger as he watched the interaction between his father and Cathleen. The way she leaned in close, her eyes glittering with secrets and manipulation, it was clear to Xavier that she had some sort of hold over his father. He couldn't help but wonder what it was that she was using against him. Why would his father continue to be so kind to her when he knew that Xavier didn't love her? What was the real reason behind his father's favoritism for Cathleen? These questions plagued Xavier's mind as he observed the two of them together, and he vowed to uncover the truth.
"Business has been great. I will be traveling back. I had actually asked Xavier to come with me, but he seemed to have a lot on his plate these days." Xavier's lip curled in disdain. He couldn't deny it-she was good at this. Maybe even better than Olivia, the renowned model. Cathleen had a way of transforming herself, slipping into different roles effortlessly. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she played her part to perfection.
Was it her graceful movements or the way she effortlessly commanded attention? Whatever it was, it was captivating. As Xavier watched her, he couldn't help but wonder if she was indeed a model. If so, she was far superior to Olivia in every way. Cathleen had mastered the art of putting on an act, and it seemed like second nature to her.
"Cathy, you have never stayed in one place for more than a week. Why don't you have a bit of a rest? You are a wife now, are you not? I didn't even get to hear about your honeymoon." The scalding hot tea burned Xavier's throat as he choked on it, unable to contain his shock. He looked at his wife, her striking beauty taking his breath away once again. Yet, as he gazed into her deep, alluring eyes, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something from him. Despite her stunning appearance, she seemed almost distant and guarded, like a woman of mystery. It pained him to think that she could be compared to a common prostitute, but the thought lingered in his mind nonetheless.