Awkward Breakfast

"Why can't you?" Katherine asked.

"I can't because he is the one who orchestrated the accident. I learned the driver was working under him before my dad hired him. Also, he aided Avery in most of her evil deeds," Eric explained.

Katherine heaved a sigh before she said, "I am sorry about that. But why would she date such a man especially when he is in his mid-forties?"

"She is dating him because her mother betrothed her to him when he helped her regain her lost shares," he replied, staring at the sand he was writing on.

"That must be hard for her. Though, she is a brave cruel lady like her mother."

Eric chuckled at Katherine's last statement; he didn't expect her to be good at making jokes. "You can say that again, bravel cruel lady."

They both laughed at the way he made it sound funnier. Their laughter lasted for a while until her gaze caught a glimpse of what he was writing on the sand.

She bent down slightly to read what he was writing. "I don't care if my wife hates me, I will forever love and cherish her," she read inwardly.

She turned to look at him with a faint smile on her face. "Eric, you know the words I hate the most? It is love and happiness," Katherine said, tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled her past mistakes.

She did not want to hear that word love or ever fall in love with any man because they are all the same: liars and deceivers.

….

"Not again! This alarm won't just quiet down," she frowned, opening her eyes.

She sat up and stretched for a while. Her eyes scanned the room, but she couldn't find Eric. Since he wasn't in the room, she assumed he had gone to work.

Yesterday was annoying, exhausting, but she felt happy. For the first time in her life, someone stood up for her. She thought he was going to mind his business, but he didn't. He helped her and took her to the island to clear off the heavy burden in her heart.

"Mrs. Eric, breakfast is ready," a maid's voice made her snap out of her fascinating thoughts.

"Oh, I will join the others in a minute," thinking the Jaylen family eats together just like her family, she replied.

'Has Eric eaten? Is he angry at me because of what I said? Why didn't he say goodbye to me before leaving,' she frowned at her thoughts.

Last night, they returned home without saying a word to each other. Even when they got home, he refused to talk to her.

Reminded of the maid's words, she jerked off her thoughts. She walked into the bathroom and took a warm bath.

After she was done bathing, she got dressed and headed to the dining room with the maid's assistance.

In the dining room, the only people she could see were: Mr. Davis, Madam Quinn, her father and Annabella.

"Katherine, come join us," Mr. Davis gestured to her.

"Thank you," she said before sitting down.

With her family here, she knew this was definitely another awkward breakfast. It was always from one useless conversation to another while eating.

"Katherine, I heard you were framed, are you alright?" Her father asked.

She forced a smile, pretending to be alright. "I am fine now. Though, it was mentally torturous," she replied sincerely.

She took a bite of the meal in front of her, almost as if she should rush it. Not only was she hungry, the meal was one of the most delicious delicacies she ever tasted– though, not as tasty as the rice cake she ate with Eric.

"Katherine, I heard she entered your room, aren't you scared? What if she comes to hurt you next time?" Annabella asked with the intention to scare her.

"Why should I be? She was able to enter my room because I thought she was a maid. Rest assured, that won't happen any longer," she replied, still eating.

"I know you are strong enough not to feel insecure and bothered, afterall we are sisters," Annabella said, a bright smile on her face.

Katherine swallowed the food in her mouth before she directed her gaze to Annabella, "Why feel insecure when my father-in-law is there for me? Or will you let anyone harm me, Mr. Davis?"

There was only one answer to that question; he was going to save her and give her the benefit of doubt when she found herself in a similar condition like yesterday.

"Sure," Mr. Davis replied with a faint smile. "I will always protect you, also, I would rather have you call me dad than my name," he added.

"Yes, dad. I always want to call you dad, but I am afraid of how you will react," she said sweetly.

Mr. Davis chuckled at her words. She took after Adriana, Eric's mother. Adriana was always passionate and always went for things she set her mind on no matter how complicated it was. He regretted choosing Quinn over her– only if he didn't venture into an arranged marriage, he would have been the happiest man with his wife and son.

"Katherine, what about you working in the Jaylen group for a while? I think the company needs–"

"Needs what? Dad, what is supposed to be your work? I am always doing my work, including yours, yet you want me to quit? That can't be possible!" she yelled at him. "I am so disappointed in you for bringing our company issue to your in-laws house, while eating!"

Pissed off, she stood up to leave, but halted upon hearing Mr. Davis' words.

"Katherine, where are you going? Won't you sit down and eat your food? Do you think starving yourself will change your father's intention?"

"I am not leaving because of him. I lost my appetite," she replied.

She walked up to her father, who anticipated what she was going to say. "Dad, stop talking about my demotion. I am not officially demoted until the shareholders make their decisions! Besides, worry about your position as the president of the Dayton group!"