"Honey, what would you like to eat?" Katherine asked as they arrived at the restaurant, not far from Dayton Group.
Eric hesitated before replying, "I will have whatever you're having."
"Okay," she said before entering the restaurant with him.
"Let's–"
"I already reserved a VIP room for us. I can't stand eating in a crowded place," she informed him before approaching a waitress who led them to a private room.
The room was dimly lit with two chairs facing each other and a table in the middle.
After they sat down, the waitress came to take their orders.
"Two servings of wagyu beef and a bottle of blue wine," She ordered.
Shortly after the waitress left, she returned with Katherine's order.
Seeing the way the waitress was deliberately making passes at Eric, she scolded her. "Hey, what are you waiting for?"
"I am sorry, ma'am. I just–"
"Just leave!"
The waitress hurried away, not wanting to provoke Katherine. She knew getting on her customers' bad side is as good as losing her job.
Eric, who had been watching Katherine, laughed at how petty she was.
"Why the laughter? Did I do anything funny?" She asked, diverting her attention from the food to Eric.
"Yeah. It is funny seeing you scold that lady when did nothing wrong," He replied.
She bit her lips, not surprised by his action. With the way he was staring at the waitress, she knew he had his eyes on that lady.
"She did nothing wrong? Is trying to seduce my husband nothing? Like, can't you see the way she was shaking her body to entice you while serving us the wine?!"
Amused by her response and jealousy, he moved his gaze closer to hers. "Wifey, are you afraid that she will steal me away from you?"
"Me? Why would I? Or are you just trying to make up an excuse to have her on your bed?" She took a bite of the food before she asked.
"Excuse? Why should I? Besides, why would I choose her when I have you?" Sincerity reflected in his eyes, he replied. "I love you, Katherine. To me, you are more than a thousand ladies out there," giving her no chance to talk, he added.
"I did not know if you truly meant it or not, but love isn't supposed to be part of our marriage. Our marriage is mainly for business sake, let's keep it as that, Honey," trying not to sound rude, she explained.
He heaved a sigh of disappointment before he returned his gaze to his food and continued eating.
There was complete silence while they were eating.
"I will pay for this meal," Eric said after they finish eating.
"No, I am the one who should pay. It is my treat," she opposed.
"This is a date. I should be the one paying for our meal and not you, wifey," Eric insisted, trying to convince her.
The waitress, who served them earlier, walked up to them. "I am sorry, I did not intend to eavesdrop on your conversation. But I think both of you should split the payment or allow him to pay now and then you will pay another time," the waitress suggested.
Katherine, who found sense in the waitress's words, decided to go with her suggestion.
"Okay. I will pay next time," she finally gave in.
They settled the bills and headed to the parking lot.
At the parking lot, Katherine stopped Eric before he could hop into the car.
"Honey, you can't drive. Let's hire a chauffeur," She suggested since the wine they took had a potion of alcohol.
"I would rather walk back home or wait until I sober before going home. I hate it when people drive me," he said coldly, staring at her with a strange look on his face.
Seeing the way he was strongly against the idea of someone else driving him, she became curious.
She walked closer to him before placing her soft hands on his. Curiosity laced in her voice, she asked, "Why did you prefer driving yourself?"
"You don't need to know," his cold voice echoed before he turned to enter the car.
Again, her sweet voice stopped him. "I have to know. Please tell me, honey."
He chuckled darkly at her words, wondering where the 'brave' Katherine went. Not only did she sound cute, but childish.
"Katherine, I can't tell you. It is a secret I can't tell anyone," he said, and finally got into the car.
She did the same, not relenting.
"Then, let's share a secret, that way we will be even," she suggested. "Should I go first?"
Eric, who knew Katherine wouldn't stop bothering him if he didn't agree, replied, "Sure."
Katherine hesitated before speaking, not caring if he would believe her or not. "I am living my second life. I was killed by Asher on our wedding day."
Her words made Eric burst into laughter. Who goes for this kind of a cheap trick?
"Wifey, this isn't a secret. This is much more like a story from a novel," he said, about to start the car.
Again, her voice made him pause.
"I am not Mr. Maxwell's real daughter. He adopted me because my mom died during childbirth. Also, Annabella is a week older than me," she said sadly.
Amused by Katherine's words, he asked, "Then, why did he make you the vice-chairwoman of his company instead of his niece?"
No one in Freeland knows that Katherine isn't Mr. Maxwell's biological daughter. This is her first time telling someone about it.
"That isn't a talk for today, now, tell me your secret," she demanded.
He exhaled deeply, finding the courage to tell her. "When I was twelve, my driver deliberately hit a car just to kill me. He was paid to kill me."
"A car? Do you remember the color of the car he hit? Also, did the driver not care about his health?" Reminded of a similar incident, she asked curiously.
"He did not. He had a brain tumor and was going to die anyway, so he decided to take the job. Also, I somehow remember the color of the car," he said calmly. "It is a blue BMW X24. Inside were two girls and a lady, I think."
Katherine's eyes widened at his description. That was the night Mirabel lost her mother. The woman died protecting them.
"Why do you ask?"
She raised her gaze to stare at him, tears streaming down her face. "Mirabel and I were the kids in the car. The driver was Mirabel's mother. She died in that accident."