Chapter 29
Chapter 29
After three years apart, Katherine and Richard finally reunited, and neither knew what to
Richard was never the expressive type. Katherine’s mother passed away when she was young, and because Richard was away on a business trip, he didn’t make it back in time to see her one last time. Katherine had never forgiven Richard for that.
For years, she didn’t even call him “Dad” because of that. It wasn’t until Richard married Miranda, who treated Katherine like her own daughter, that Katherine finally let go of some of that bitterness.
But as she grew older, she and her father had less to talk about. Eventually, they just drifted apart.
Yet to Katherine, all that happened in her last life.
nt of her Katherine felt her eyes sting.
Looking at Richard–alive, healthy, right in front
The next thing she knew, she was hugging him tight. “Dad, I’m sorry. I was so stubborn b
before. I should’ve listened to you, studied hard and behaved. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
In her past life, after she got pregnant, she’d been so desperate to commit suicide that she almost succeeded once. The hospital had even issued a critical notice.
Miranda told Katherine that Richard got that call while driving, and one moment of distraction was all it took for the crash to happen.
If it weren’t for that, Richard wouldn’t have died so early. And Miranda and Mia wouldn’t have had free rein to manipulate Katherine later.
Katherine had accepted that her past life’s misery was her own doing. But she’d never expected heaven to give her a second chance to see the person she owed the most.
Richard stiffened at the sudden hug. His hand landed gently on Katherine’s shoulder. She was so fragile that he was afraid she might break at any second.
He didn’t dare hold her too tightly, just patted her back lightly, all while shooting Derrick a sharp glare.
Richard thought bitterly, ‘She’s crying the second she sees me. That bastard definitely makes her sad
Derrick stood to the side, watching in silence,
“Don’t cry, sweetie. You’ll make yourself sick, Richard said, his comfort clumsy and repetitive just that same line over and over.
But the awkward way he tried to soothe Katherine only made her cry harder.
Richard, now completely at a loss, blurted out, “What happened, honey? Who made you so sad? Tell Dad. I don’t care if it costs me everything. I’ll make him pay.
That “him”
was very clearly aimed at Derrick.
Derrick, however, only lifted his brows before heading into the kitchen to help Maeve serve breakfast.
Even with two more people in the house, the breakfast spread wasn’t much bigger.
Katherine usually ate a little of everything, never finishing it all. The two men could just pick at whatever she left behind.
Halfway through crying, Katherine suddenly sagged against Richard, her legs giving out.
“Kate?” Richard’s heart dropped. He caught her quickly and guided her toward the table. “What’s wrong? Do you feel sick? Should we get
the doctor here?
While he rattled off questions, Derrick calmly handed him a glass of milk and explained, “She’s been anemic since getting pregnant. She hth to eat as soon as she gets up.”
Sometimes, she even got dizzy just lying in bed.
Katherine’s health had already taken a beating in the last three years from her self–harming actions. Now that she was pregnant, with a baby taking its share of nutrients, her body was even weaker.
Chapter 29
Hearing that, Richard felt distressed about his daughter. “She was fine when she was living with us.”
Katherine held the glass of milk herself and gulped it down in one go. Only then did the weakness in her body start to fade a little.
She flashed a faint smile, then helplessly pointed at her belly. This little guy eats like crazy. Derrick’s been doing his best to keep me stocked with nutrients.”
Then she patted her bump. “Don’t worry, baby. Mom’s not mad at you for having a big appetite.”
Richard’s gaze softened without him even realizing it. He lifted his hand, wanting to touch her belly, but stopped halfway.
To him, pregnancy felt like something magical and sacred. He didn’t dare touch Katherine without permission.
“It’s okay. Dad. Go ahead.” Katherine took Richard’s hand and pressed it to her stomach. “Baby, say hi to your grandpa.”
The baby could already hear and recognize voices now.
Richard felt the warmth and the little curve under his palm, and his heart gave a jolt. He sighed inwardly, ‘Oh my. That’s really my grandchild.
Let’s have breakfast first,” Derrick cut in, his tone even, though his eyes had gone noticeably darker watching Richard’s hand linger on Katherine’s belly.
“Right. Let’s eat,” Richard replied, pulling his hand back and sitting beside Katherine.
Looking at the table full of dishes, Richard wanted to help Katherine get food but didn’t even know where to start.
He realized with a pang that after all these years, he didn’t even know what his own daughter liked to eat. He thought he was father
such
a bad
The table wasn’t large, and everything was already within Katherine’s reach. She tasted a bit of everything, and if something didn’t taste good, she’d take one bite and drop it onto Derrick’s plate.
Derrick didn’t complain–he just stuffed the remaining food in his own mouth.
The way they ate looked so smooth and natural that Richard could tell this was routine for them.
Watching all this, he started doubting a lot of what Miranda had told him.
After breakfast, Katherine was set on her usual morning walk in the garden.
The moment Derrick stood up, Katherine said, “Just go to work
“Nah. I’ll stay here with you guys,” he replied.
Guessing Katherine had something to tell him, Richard spoke up with the weight of a father’s authority, “Work’s important. Just go ahead.”
Then he immediately thought of how his own obsession with work had made him neglect Katherine in the past, and he corrected himself, I’m here with Kate. You’re not needed”
Derrick’s eyes turned dark, his expression unreadable.
Sering Derrick stay silent, Katherine glanced between the two men, sighing.
Just go to work, okay? My dad’s here, and Maeve is around. I’ll be fine Katherine took Derrick’s hand, coaxing him in a sweet tone. Just when she thought her words were useless and she’d have to pull out her secret weapon, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he replied, “Fine.
His voice was low, almost rough, like he was holding something back. “I’ll go to work. Just stay at home properly, alright?” The words were gentle in
in tone, but the way he looked at her wasn’t soft at all.
Katherine caught the hint instantly and burst out laughing. “Sure, I will”
She then lifted Derrick’s hand and planted a kiss on it. “In my condition, a little too much sun can make me dizzy. Where could I even
gu
E/T.
Chapter 29
Richard had started to warm up to Derrick during breakfast, but this scene, his brows furrowed again.
Richard mused, This guy is guarding Kate from me. And his possessiveness is like a predator marking territory. No one anything in his domain.”
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