The nurse, with her usual bluntness, didnât hesitate to ask Joelle, âSo, whatâs your opinion of me?â
âYouâre amazing, a real lifesaver. My brotherâs lucky to have you around.â
The nurse knew Joelle was just being polite, but her instincts told her that if she was going to make a move, sheâd have to take the first step. How could things progress if she stayed quiet?
After the nurse left the room, Joelle turned to Katherine, who had been sitting there, lost in thought.
âSo, are you really done with Shawn?â
âThere was never anything between us to begin with,â Katherine replied.
âIf you say so,â Joelle muttered.
On the television, Adrian had just finished his speech. Joelle found herself clapping along with the crowd, only to realize a moment later that she wasnât actually there. She chuckled at her absent-mindedness.
Adrian, stepping off the stage, handed his speech notes to Callan, who quickly passed him his phone. Without hesitation, Adrian dialed Joelleâs number, eager to give her an update. âJoelle, what are you up to?â
The camera continued to follow Adrian, capturing every move as he made the call. Now, the whole nation could see just how much Adrian cared for her.
With a playful grin, Joelle teased, âOh, just watching a handsome guy.â
Adrianâs expression darkened instantly. âWhat guy?â
âThe guy who just gave a speech on TV.â
It took a moment for Adrian to catch on, but when he did, his face softened, and a tender light filled his eyes. âIâm done here. Iâll be back soon.â
âOkay, take care!â
âWait for me.â
âI will,â Joelle replied, feeling a bit bashful under Katherineâs gaze. Her ears turned red as shyness crept in, making Katherine shift uncomfortably in her seat.
When the call ended, Katherine smirked and said, âIs all that really necessary? You two see each other every day, and itâs only been a few hours. Honestly!â
âYou just donât understand what itâs like to be head over heels in love!â Joelle retorted.
Katherine suddenly realized how long it had been since sheâd felt that kind of connection. Joelleâs whirlwind romance had captured the hearts of the nation. After all the ups and downs, things had finally settled into a peaceful rhythm for her.
But what about Katherine?
Love was the spice that gave life its flavor, and she was beginning to crave a little seasoning in her own life. That evening, back at her apartment, Katherine noticed her old phone lying forgotten on the table.
On a whim, she plugged it in to charge and scrolled through it, logging into WhatsApp. A conversation with Frankie was buried in the clutter of old chats.
To her surprise, it seemed that Frankie had removed her from his contacts when theyâd stopped talking.
Katherine hadnât used this account in years. After switching phones, she had never bothered to check it. Yet here it was, preserved like a fossil from another time.
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