~3~

A pang of simultaneous pain and embarrassment instantly penetrated through her flesh and struck her heart, the same heart she had given to her.

Katherine momentarily closed her tearing eyes as the events of earlier that morning slapped her innocent. Katherine's mother, Mrs Elizabeth O'Neil had instructed her to come visit urgently. During that visit, Mrs O'Neil sent Katherine to the Arnold residence with a bowl of fresh citrus fruits.

"Please give these to Mrs Arnold. We need to keep up relations with your in-laws." Mrs O'Neil had added. Out of respect for her dearest mother, Katherine acquiesced to her mother's instruction.

Upon reaching her beloved's birth home, the house help, Clare, let her in and led her to the lounge. "Let me go and call Mrs Arnold," Clare had said and departed, leaving Katherine with only her thoughts for company.

The way that the house was designed was such that the lounge was next to the dining room. When you want to get into the Dining Hall, you pass by the lounge

As Katherine waited for her mother-in-law, she heard voices from the Dining Hall. She decided to ignore them; well, until she heard the mention of her name. Kathy carefully placed the fruit owl on the wooden table which was at the centre of the lounge, and stealthily approached the door to the Dining Hall. She leaned right beside it, in hopes of catching the conversation.

The first voice that she heard was that of Xan's sister, Luciana.

"I can't wait for Max's wedding." Lucy shrieked. "Me too. Kathy and Max are the perfect couple. Katherine would make a beautiful bride." An unfamiliar voice pitched in.

Kathy smiled, very ready to get back to her seat when she heard a disturbing remark from Luciana. "No, not to Katherine, silly. I mean Max and Jade's wedding." Katherine was puzzled and so were the rest of the people in the room.

Who is Jade?

"What do you mean, Lucy? Who is Jade?" another voice pitched in. "My brother is getting married to this voluptuous dazzling girl called Jade next Saturday. Our parents fixed the alliance." Lucy elaborated. "Does Max know about this?" the second voice enquired cautiously. "He was the first one to consent to the wedding. He has known Jade from childhood. They have been dating for almost two years, behind Katherine's back, of course. But in this case, I would say Katherine is the side-dish since Max and Jade are getting married next Saturday." Lucy announced.

"So, what about Katherine? Their wedding is in three months. Your brother is really evil, Lucy" another voice pitched in. "It's her loss. She can't marry a married man." Luciana replied and broke into a momentary laughter.

Katherine instantly abhorred from the door, on the verge of collapsing.

"Katherine, how are you?" Mrs Arnold disturbed her snooping. Katherine plastered a smile on her pale face and nodded. She walked over to the table, took the bowl and handed it to Mrs Arnold, hands shaking with fury. "From mom," she said breathlessly. "Your mother is awfully sweet. Greet her for me." Mrs Arnold hugged Katherine, a hug which she did not return.

"Katherine, are you sure that you are fine?" Mrs Arnold enquired, alarmed. "Yes, Bye." Katherine instantly exited the house, before any further interrogations.

The nerve of that woman! She arranged a wedding for my Xan, but still acts as if nothing happened. She disgusts me!

Katherine could simply not get what was worse: the fact that Xan had been cheating on her for over two years or the fact that he was getting married to his mistress in a few days' time? Who was Jade anyway?

I want to kill her with my bare hands. Both her and her lover!

Upon arrival at her birth home, Katherine assured her mother that she had delivered the gift. Instantly after, she darted to her old room with the prime intention of getting enough privacy to call Alexander. Kathy barged into her old room, only to be welcomed by the presence of her cousin sister, Danielle O'Brien. The two sisters embraced each other.

"What are you doing here Danny?" Katherine enquired. "I wanted to come to your house to surprise you; but since you are here, I might as well share the good news." Kathy bit her lip, anticipation growing. Kathy, I am getting married!"

"Really? Danny! I am so happy for you! Who is the lucky man?" Kathy shrieked. "His name is Maxanen. He owns a law firm, A. Arnold Holdings." Wait, that sounded like HER Maxanen. "Danny, when are you getting married?" Kathy probed Danny. "Next Saturday? Do you want to see a photo of him? I have a couple on my phone." Kathy nodded.

Katherine merely dropped the phone as her jaw automatically dropped. Was it true?

Danny hesitantly picked up her cellphone from the tiled floor.

But there was a loophole.

"Danny, what's your second name?" Katherine hoped that her thoughts would be proven wrong. "Jade, of course." Kathy abhorred her cousin as the very words hit her where it hurt the most.

She found herself breathing deeper than usual. As if her heart was going to burst right through her chest. Kathy held her chest, unsure of the dominant emotion; anger, betrayal, embarrassment or shock.

Danny rushed to her aid with a cold glass of water.

"Are you okay, Kathy?" "I am fine, Danny." Kathy hastily replied. "You don't really look okay. Is my Maxanen more handsome than Max? I never got to meet the man who stole my cousin's heart. We should have a double date sometime." Kathy was instantly dragged from cloud nine to ground zero. She merely nodded in response.

"Geez, if the news that I am getting married could almost trigger a heart attack, what about the other piece of good news?" Danny exclaimed. Kathy darted a quizzical glare at her cousin.

"What other news?" she enquired in between heavy breaths. Kathy prayed that her cousin would not announce that she was pregnant.

"You are my maid of honour, Kathy." Kathy released her sigh from her partially opened lips.

Okay, that was worse! Danny had officially murdered her!

Both her heart and her pride had been shattered and left scarred.

"Katherine Chaney O'Neil, are you sure that you are fine?" Danielle had noticed the reaction. "It's just been a long day, Danny. Could you give me a moment? I need to call my boss and let him know that I won't make it back to the office." Kathy prevaricated, locked herself in the lavatory and made the call.

Katherine was a top-notch criminal lawyer at A. Arnold Holdings. That meant, unfortunately, that Maxanen was her boss; the son of the retired Allan Arnold.

She called in sick and was given the rest of the day off. Maxanen understood and confirmed their half-past-five date with her. Katherine helplessly agreed to the time and cut the call, with all hopes of being Mrs. Maxanen Arnold lost in despair.

Katherine was brought back to reality by an unexpected gesture. Xan had knelt on the bare ground.

Kathy could see that the full ignition of the fire within Xan, his drive, was nearing completion.

He reiterated the very question that she could not bring herself to answer. That would be admitting her insanity and stupidity.

"You are the problem Maxanen!" she lashed out. "What did I do Kathy? Tell me what it is. I can change it." "You already know what you did, you bastard!" Katherine yelled.

"If I knew, I would not be asking. Tell me what the matter is." Max announced. When Kathy refused to give him a straight answer, all hell broke loose!

He pranced up and down, spitting all kinds of nasty remarks. His temperature had probably risen by far. Confusion was written all over his face. It came to Katherine's immediate attention that his face had turned florid, veins on his neck throbbing. The fire in Max's eyes was fully ablaze, frustration and anger making his blood boil.

Kathy could not take the tantrum any longer!

"Goodbye Maxanen, have a wonderful life!" Katherine opened the car door.

"You are not going anywhere until you answer me, Katherine. I will stop you, if I have to!" Alex yelled. "Oh, is that so? Do you want to bet?" Kathy folded her arms. "Try me." Alex hissed under clenched teeth.

"Driver, let's go." Kathy brought out her wallet from her clutch bag.

Alex went round the car to the driver's side. He knocked on the taxi driver's window, which the driver lowered.

Alex threw a couple of hundred-dollar bills on the driver's lap.

"I am Maxanen Vincere Arnold. If you know exactly what is good for you, you should go immediately?" He hissed.

"And if I don't?" the driver confidently asked. "Let's just say I have some friends in very high places who will make you pay before you even say 'sorry'!"

The driver instantly took off, leaving Katherine dumbfounded and stunned.

"That, My Lady, is for trying me!" Alex announced. "You are childish, disoriented and heartless!" Kathy screeched. "Thank you, I will consider that a compliment. Now, let's get down to business. As we had initially agreed; you come on your own and I take you home." Alex stated, as if reading some sort of contract. "I will do no such thing!" "Unless you want to walk home; it's your choice. Though you know very well I wouldn't let you go that easily." He remarked.

This is going to be a long night! Kathy concluded.