It was already late when Katherine arrived at her workplace. Working around the store for a while, she
found that it was about time to get off.
She let Margaret leave first, and stayed in the store alone for a while.
The swift passage of time made her feel that she had sleepwalked the day.
Hanging out a shingle read 'close', she sat by the window and looked out.
The floor installation shop opposite was still opening. Sitting inside of her store, Katherine could see
that the young male clerk was showing his customers around the shop.
Somehow, such a scene got her caught in envy. The shopkeeper was a zealous man. His son was
simple and pure, and his wife was virtuous and capable. Together, they drew a picture of a harmonious
and happy family.
Katherine sat cross-legged on the chair, and heaved a sigh. It was exactly all she wanted, but
unfortunately, it seemed that she just couldn't get this little dream fulfilled no matter how hard she tried.
Life was tough when she was in her original family, but, somehow, things didn't seem to turn out better
even though she married into a rich family.
Indeed, life was always tough.
Not until the sky was completely dark did Katherine leave the store and go back to her house.
It was dark inside the house. As she unlocked the front door and stepped into the living room, she was
frightened to see that there was a man sitting on the sofa in the dark.
In panic, she pressed down the switch of the lights set aside the door.
The man, sitting on the sofa, raised his hand to protect his eyes from the sudden bright light.
It was Marshall. Angrily, Katherine shouted, "What's wrong with you, Marshall? Whatever you fucking
doing in my house? I warn you, if I ever see you in my house again, I will call the police, and I'm
serious!"
Putting down his hand slowly, Marshall answered, "Hey, stop yelling like that. I have done nothing."
His indifferent tone even added more fuel to the flaming anger inside of Katherine.
She looked around, but failed to find herself any weapons. Then, she walked to the front of Marshall,
caught him by the shoulder and tried with the most of her strength to lift him up from the sofa, "Get out!
I said, get out! You're not allowed to stay here, I don't want to see you anymore!"
Without struggling, Marshall took the advantage and caught Katherine by her wrists.
He then asked in a sneering tone, "Then tell me who do you want to see the most? Is he Hector,
or Lucas?"
His words stunned Katherine, "Go fuck yourself, asshole! Leave my place!"
Smiling, Marshall raised his fingers and pinched Katherine's chin. Then, Katherine tossed her head to
shake off the fingers on her chin.
Marshall uttered, "I warn you, Katherine. I'm going out for a business trip the next two days, and I've
sent someone to keep an eye on you. When I return, if I find that you've been messing around with
another guy out there, I won't let you off."
Katherine glared at him, and growled, "Screw you! Leave my place and get yourself some mental
assistance, you nut!"
Adding strength to his hands, Marshall tried to drag Katherine into his arms, "I'm serious, you little
mischievous daring. I swear I'll make you regret it if you ever dare to fool around with others!"
He had given a lot of thoughts to those words given by Lucas, and turned about everything
between Katherine and himself before he decided to come.
Katherine was a lukewarm woman, and in Marshall's opinion, if he did want to win her back, he must
try things in a hard way.
"I said, get the fuck out of here!" Katherine roared, and pushed him away.
With a meaningful smile hanging on his face, Marshall chuckled, "You'd better keep that in mind."
Saying so, he fixed his collar and brushed past Katherine.
Just as Katherine had asked, he left the house, without saying anything else.
Standing there with her teeth gritted, Katherine was more than irritated at the moment.
A while later, in haste, she went to lock up the door and windows of the house.
She had no idea how Marshall broke in this time.
She also checked the fingerprint record of the intelligent lock, and there was no registration
of Marshall's fingerprints.
Grating her teeth, she didn't know how to air her grievances.
Stepping out of the house, Marshall walked quite a distance to reach his car.
He had now gotten wiser to pull his car a little far away, through which Katherine would never know that
he was here before she saw him.
Sitting in the car, Marshall took a glance at Katherine's house, and lifted the corner of his mouth.
He honked the horn, regardless of whether Katherine could hear it or not, and then drove away.
In the middle of his way, Frances called him up, and said she wanted to see him.
Thinking that he was going to leave for a business trip together with Khalid in the next two days, he
agreed and drove to where she was.
She was standing outside the store and awaiting his son down the road. A while later,
seeing Marshall's car approach and pull over, she came up and got inside.
Marshall darted a glance at his mother, "Have you eaten dinner?"
"Yes, I have just eaten dinner with Clara." Buckling herself up, Frances answered.
Hearing the name of Clara, Marshall lapsed into silence.
Frances heaved a sigh, "I know you've been leading a hard time dealing with those rumors online, and
so do Clara. I can tell that she is worried about you."
Clara had just met Frances a while before, and told her those things happened online with tears
shedding down her cheeks.
Originally, Frances was rather pleasant to meet Clara, since they had not seen each other for quite a
long while.
However, her bright mood was unexpectedly clouded by what Clara had told her.
As Marshall still remained silent, Frances continued, "She is a good girl, Marshall. She worries whether
those gossips would ruin your normal life. She cares about you, you know?"
Indifferently, Marshall answered, "My life is more than normal, honestly. Besides, what those netizens
are talking about actually makes sense."
In Frances's eyes, Marshall was just writing himself off as hopeless and letting things slide.
She sighed, "You could have avoided this, son."
In her mind, she believed it wouldn't be hard for Marshall to find himself a nice girl.
Without giving any response, Marshall was just simply turning the wheel and driving to where Frances's
apartment was.
Along their way, Frances just gabbled on and on, and couldn't stop mentioning the name of Clara.
Running out of patience, Marshall turned to Frances, "Was that Clara let you tell me all this?"
Stunned, Frances explained in haste, "Of course not! I just want you to know how much she cares
about you, my son."
Marshall sneered, "Why are you so insistent in getting me and her together? Is that really what she
wants? Maybe everything is just your imagination, mom."
His words left Frances speechless.
She remembered that Clara had once told her not to reveal any of her true feelings to Marshall.
It was clear enough for Frances that if she pushed his son too hard, it would only
make Marshall suspect the complicity of their two and mess up everything.
On a second thought, Frances said, "I don't know, she didn't tell me anything. I can feel there is
something hidden deep within her, and it is about you! I want you to know that."
With a pause, Frances continued, "Remember the time when you two are engaged? She seems glad
to marry you, and it means she likes you. Besides, since you chose to marry Katherine, Clara has
never found herself any other guy. I think she must be waiting for you. Anyway, opportunity knocks only
once, you should keep that in mind, son."
Listening to what Frances was saying, Marshall remained silent.
Indeed, 'opportunity only knocks once'. That was exactly why he was being so anxious and perplexed
about how to get himself unstuck.
They had arrived at their destination. It was the moment when Frances was about to get out of the car
that her phone rang.
She picked it up, checked and smiled, "See, I said Clara was a good girl. I bet she is calling to care
about me!"
Marshall leant to the passenger seat, and opened the door, "Great. Get out of the car and enjoy your
sweet talk then."
Dumbfounded, Frances seemed to be perplexed by what he said.
Irritated, Marshall continued, "Be quick, It's late now, and I still haven't had anything yet!"
Nudged by Marshall, Frances had no other choice but to get off the car.
In confusion, she looked back at Marshall and said, "Wait, how about you say something to…"
Before she could even finish her speech, Marshall closed the door.
With a pause, Frances continued, "Remember the time when you two are engaged? She seems glad
to marry you, and it means she likes you. Besides, since you chose to marry Katherine, Clara has
never found herself any other guy. | think she must be waiting for you. Anyway, opportunity knocks only
once, you should keep that in mind, son."
Listening to what Frances was saying, Marshall remained silent.
Indeed, ‘opportunity only knocks once’. That was exactly why he was being so anxious and perplexed
about how to get himself unstuck.
They had arrived at their destination. It was the moment when Frances was about to get out of the car
that her phone rang.
She picked it up, checked and smiled, "See, | said Clara was a good girl. | bet she is calling to care
about me!"
Marshall leant to the passenger seat, and opened the door, "Great. Get out of the car and enjoy your
sweet talk then."
Dumbfounded, Frances seemed to be perplexed by what he said.
Irritated, Marshall continued, "Be quick, It's late now, and | still haven't had anything yet!"
Nudged by Marshall, Frances had no other choice but to get off the car.
In confusion, she looked back at Marshall and said, "Wait, how about you say something to..."
Before she could even finish her speech, Marshall closed the door.
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