A heavy silence fell over the dinner table as everyone's attention turned to Cathleen and the old man. The question hung in the air like a thick fog, weighing down on the two of them. Cathleen fought the urge to steal a glance at Xavier, knowing that their eyes meeting would reveal her true feelings about the arranged marriage. Instead, she mustered up a smile and reached out to gently cup the old man's face in her hands. The wrinkles and crevices of his weathered skin told a story of a long life lived, but at this moment, all Cathleen could see was the burden she was about to bear for the sake of cutting ties with her family. She looked at the man and said,
"Aren't you so sweet when you're worried? Xavier is a good husband, and I am happy with him." If the man had not been visibly struggling against his illness, she would have mustered up the courage to tell him how deeply unhappy she was. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, like a storm cloud on the verge of bursting. But as she watched his pale yet strong face, she couldn't bear to add to his burden. She sighed and placed a hand on his clammy forehead, offering what comfort she could in silence.
Despite the years that had passed, Cathleen still saw the old man as a father figure. She could tell by his hunched posture and pained expression that he wasn't feeling well at the moment. With a sense of duty and love, she set aside her tasks and made her way over to sit next to Xavier. As she had done countless times before, she carefully filled his plate with food, making sure to include all of his favorite dishes. To her surprise, this time Xavier mirrored her actions and filled her plate as well. The simple act of sharing a meal together brought comfort and companionship to an otherwise lonely world.
Xavier gazed at his father and saw the familiar crease of worry etched on his brow. He knew the old man had doubts about his marriage to Cathleen. But when Cathleen placed a steaming plate of food in front of Xavier, he couldn't resist stealing a kiss from her ruby-red lips. A look of surprise briefly crossed her face before it was replaced by an enchanting smile. As their lips met, time seemed to stand still for both of them. Cathleen could feel the warmth rising in her cheeks and spreading through her body like wildfire, overwhelming all her senses in the best way possible. The enticing aroma of the food filled the air, blending with the heady scent of their shared moment.
The kiss was an electric jolt that sent sparks shooting through her body. She was completely entranced, lost in a fog of bliss as she sat at the table, smiling at whatever conversation was happening around her. Though she couldn't remember a single word that was being said, she couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. It felt like a warm hug from the person she loved most, filling her with a sense of comfort and contentment.
Olivia's heart felt like it would shatter into a million tiny shards as she watched Xavier's lips tenderly meet Cathleen's own. The sight made her stomach churn uncomfortably, and she tightly gripped Finn's hand for support. Her chest tightened with a mix of emotions-jealousy, sadness, and a sense of betrayal-all swirling together in a jumbled mess. She couldn't bear to witness the intimate moment any longer, so she turned away and focused her attention on squeezing Finn's hand until her knuckles turned white.
Edward Knight's piercing gaze locked onto Xavier, his lips curling into a sneer. The two brothers had always harbored a deep dislike for each other. It seemed that no matter what, they could never find common ground. Now, as Xavier had married a woman who had previously dated Edward's own son, the tension between them was palpable. The man simply wanted to see how his younger brother was doing. So instead of asking his brother, who would obviously give him a hard time, he asked Cathleen.
"So, Cathleen. A couple of years ago, you used to call me 'father', but now you are my sister-in-law'. Isn't that amazing?" His question was accompanied by a slight curl of his lips and a hint of amusement and irony in his expression. It was almost as if he already knew the answer and found it amusing to even ask the question. A glimmer of mischief danced in his eyes as he waited for a response, his lips still curled in that ironic smile.
"Dad, stop it," Finn said.
"Why not? Were you not sleeping with this woman not long ago, and now she's here playing all wifey to your uncle? Who is better, my son or my brother?" Cathleen's eyes stung with unshed tears, a foreign sensation that she had never experienced before. Her chest tightened as she fought to contain the overwhelming surge of emotions. But she refused to let this man break her spirit. With determination in her heart, she straightened her shoulders and met his gaze head-on, ready to stand her ground against any verbal assault he might throw her way. She was strong and resilient, and she wouldn't let anyone put her down.
"I never thought of it that way. But since you asked, my husband is better. Thanks for your concern." A sharp, searing pain erupted in Finn's chest as if a dagger had been thrust into his heart. The words from Cathleen's mouth cut deep, piercing him more painfully than any physical wound ever could. Her declaration that Xavier was better stung like a slap to the face and left Finn reeling and struggling to process the hurt and betrayal he felt. He couldn't believe that after all they had been through together, she would choose someone else over him. The bitter taste of disappointment filled his mouth as he tried to mask the pain and keep his emotions in check. But inside, his heart was crumbling with each passing second.