Shawn was taken aback, and his expression turned gloomy. "I know I hurt you back then, but it was all a misunderstanding…"
"Misunderstanding my foot!" Kathleen snapped.
"Was it really a misunderstanding, or an opportunity to get rid of me? Was I ever given a chance to prove my innocence before you threw me out of your life?" Her voice rising with each question.
"I agree, the situation back then was complicated, but at least before flinging me away like dirt, you would have at least had little faith in our love. You didn't even make any effort to find out the truth. You just believed what you saw."
She swallowed the lump already forming in her throat and shook her head slowly. "Even if everyone doubted me, I didn't expect you, Shawn, not to have an iota of trust in me."
Kathleen couldn't ignore the agony she felt, though she thought six years was enough to numb the pain, but that was for as long as she didn't see Shawn or talk about the past.
She turned away, moved a few steps towards the window, backing Shawn in the process, but he covered the distance between them in no time.
"Kathleen, I'm really ashamed of what I did and I'm terribly sorry for the pain I put you through."
He turned Kathleen to face him, reached out for her arms again and looked into her eyes, his gaze sincere and pleading. "Please forgive me. When I found out that you were indeed framed, I searched for you everywhere but failed to locate you, later I learned you died in a plane crash."
Kathleen shook off his hands, gestured with her hands, and smiled while saying, "Well as you can see, I'm very much alive and living a perfect life without you and your fickle family. As a matter of fact, I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore."
Shawn opened his mouth to say something but the door burst open and Jason hurried in.
When he saw the scene he instantly rushed to Kathleen, and pulled her further away from Shawn.
"Are you OK?" he asked, his handsome face full of concern.
"Mmm," Kathleen nodded a few times.
After confirming Kathleen was truly okay, he gently pulled her behind him protectively, and turned to face Shawn, his eyes shooting daggers.
"You'd better stay away from her in the future. She's not someone you can afford to offend easily."
Taking Kathleen's arms, he walked out of the room leaving behind a bewildered Shawn.
"Kathleen! Kathleen!..." Shawn called desperately when he came to his senses, but Kathleen didn't even turn back to look at him.
As soon as they were back to their table, Kathleen broke down in tears. She thought she had gotten over Shawn and wouldn't be affected by him, but she was obviously wrong.
Jason moved over, hugged her in a comforting embrace, and stroked her hair like a father coaxing his daughter until she finally got a hold of her emotions.
"I'm here for you sis, and I'll always protect you no matter what. No one will be able to hurt you again."
Kathleen nodded meekly.
"Can you still continue with the meal or we should go back home?"
"Let's just go back," Kathleen didn't want to spend one more minute in that place, "I've lost my appetite and I'm sorry for affecting yours."
"That's nothing compared to the happiness of the most gorgeous sister that ever lived," he said jovially, pinching Kathleen's chin in the process.
"I know you're the best brother anyone can have. I wish I met you earlier."
"Miss Sweet mouth, we'd better get going, or I'll change my mind. I'm sure it's from you Miss Universe got her glib tongue,"
Kathleen was deeply moved and felt like crying again.
She has always heard of siblings' rivalry but ever since she reunited with her family, apart from her parents, her twin brother has always treated her like his most prized possession. According to him he needed to make up for all the love they've lost over the years.
She could clearly remember the first time she met Jason abroad.
She had just been discharged from the hospital after delivery. Her parents were agog with joy from their reunion and the birth of their adorable grandchildren and stuck to her side like glue.
They even forgot to inform Jason who has been away on a business trip about the good news. It was not until Kathleen asked about her twin brother that they remembered they had another child.
A call was sent to Jason and he ended the trip halfway and flew over that same day on a night flight.
He arrived the following morning and rushed straight to the Wyatt's family house in Luxembourg City.
The moment he entered, he was drawn to the sound of laughter coming from the room upstairs, he rushed forward, taking two steps at a time.
A curt bow was the only greeting he could spare his parents as he got entranced by the beautiful picture before him.
The ray of sunlight coming from the open window had cast a bright glow over Kathleen's smiling face, making her already beautiful face more captivating. Her smile which was as enchanting as that of a fairy in a fairy tale, lit up the entire room.
She was still smiling when Jason's arms enveloped her in a bone crushing bear-hug.
You could call it telepathy between twins, but they both felt like a missing part of their lives has been suddenly found and reconnected.
It was like the fusing of two lost souls who have been separated and groping around in solitude for years.
Jason released her after what looked like eternity and Kathleen was able to take in his appearance.
He was dressed in a navy blue bespoke suit, and was more good looking than most male models, yet had a noble aura around him.
There was a softness to his appearance, a kind of warmth that was mixed with shyness probably because of the emotion he felt, seeing his sister for the first time.
Then, he called out softly, "Sister."