Chapter 475
Katelyn stood on the balcony, her eyes fixed on the distant morning sky. A servant had delivered the news that Sage had abruptly left in the middle of the night. She prided herself on one thing: she had never wasted a sleepless night over any man.
“If he wants us to end like this, then I will give him exactly what he desires. A rejection. I am not going to hurt myself because of a man,” Katelyn muttered fiercely, steeling her resolve. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time, trying to erase the last vestiges of weakness.
She turned to leave the balcony, ready to confront the day.
As she stepped into the drawing room, her steps faltered. She saw Amelie sitting there, holding Noah in her arms. The small, radiant pup, completely unaware of the morning’s heartbreak, was spreading warmth and light with his innocent, happy smile.
“Amelie, when did you come?” asked Katelyn, swiftly walking toward them, her focus instantly drawn away from her earlier distress.
“Just a moment ago,” Amelie replied, offering a warm smile. “I brought you this. It is a small gift from me,” she asserted, reaching down to pick up a small decorative bag that sat beside her.
As Amelie lifted it, Noah, who was nestled comfortably in her arms, grabbed the top edge of the bag with his tiny hand, wriggling his little legs excitedly.
“Noah, leave the bag. It is meant for your Aunt,” Amelie chuckled softly, gently bringing her hand up to guide his tiny one away from the gift.
“Turns out Noah already likes the item inside,” Katelyn said, a genuine smile replacing the troubled expression she had worn moments earlier on the balcony.
Amelie managed to pull Noah’s grip from the bag, who puckered his lips, but didn’t cry. “Here, Kate. Check it,” she said.
Katelyn grabbed the small bag, her earlier dark mood instantly lifting with curiosity. She reached inside and retrieved the box. “Did you buy me jewelry?” she asked. She opened the box, and her eyes genuinely shone in surprise at the sight of the necklace.
“This necklace, Amelie! I was just thinking about buying this a few days ago,” she murmured, picking it up to admire its sparkle.
“Well, it was a limited edition piece of jewelry. I saw it and immediately thought of you, so I bought it. Thankfully, I got it just in time,” Amelie said with a satisfied smile.
“Thank you, this is so beautiful. I was hoping to buy it, but so many things came up that I completely forgot about it,” Katelyn said, truly delighted by the thoughtful timing of the gift.
“Why don’t you wear it once?” Amelie suggested.
Noah’s eyes sparkled, mesmerized by the diamonds attached to the jewelry. He began reaching out to try and grab it, but his tiny movements were restricted by the secure hold of Amelie’s arms.
“I was feeling so low, but this gift genuinely lifted my spirits,” Katelyn said, her eyes glistening. She stepped toward a mirror, carefully examining the exquisite piece. “Thank you. I truly love it p>
“Why were you feeling low, Kate?” Amelie questioned softly, patting Noah’s back. The baby was still struggling gently, trying to break free from her hold and reach the necklace, but not making any fuss.
Katelyn took a steadying breath, the initial delight of the gift giving way to her heartache. “Amelie, Sage heard what I told you the other day. And he said a lot of things to me last night. Just thinking about it makes me upset,” she muttered, the pain returning to her voice.
“What did he say to you, Kate? He misunderstood you, I think. Shall I talk to him? He’s Gabriel’s friend, so I can surely get him to listen to me,” Amelie offered, her brow furrowed with concern.
“No, Amelie. You won’t talk to him,” Katelyn insisted, shaking her head. “He thinks I am naïve and bad at making my own decisions. He was so harsh! Well, the more I recall about it, the more it makes me cry,” she murmured, and tears began to roll freely down her cheeks.
Amelie’s heart immediately sank seeing her friend weep. Even little Noah’s sweet smile vanished; the pup seemed to register the sudden distress in the room. A moment later, Noah himself began to cry, his wails echoing Katelyn’s sobs.
“Noah, what happened?” Amelie mumbled, rocking him gently as she tried to soothe him. “Kate, don’t cry. I think Noah also got upset because you’re sad,” she whispered. She finally stood up, rocking the pup steadily in her arms, hoping his tears would stop.
Katelyn quickly wiped away her own tears, refocusing entirely on the distraught baby. She stood up straight and, flashing a bright, forced smile, addressed him directly. “Baby, look, Aunt has stopped crying,” she said cheerfully. “Oh my! Look at your big tears. No, baby. You don’t look good when you cry,” she murmured, stepping closer to help Amelie soothe the weeping Noah.
She gently wiped the tears from Noah’s plump cheeks. His sobs soon subsided as he buried his face snugly in Amelie’s neck, finding the familiar comfort and peace there. Amelie continued to gently pat the back of Noah’s head, exchanging a meaningful look with Katelyn, whose smile had now truly returned, replacing her sadness with maternal concern.
Amelie settled back onto the sofa, Noah now calm and resting against her neck. She looked at Katelyn, her expression serious and supportive. “Kate, what do you want to do now?” she asked.
“I am not with Sage in this. How dare he call you naive? I am totally against his choice of words, whatever he said to you,” Amelie continued firmly. “If he truly loves you, he will come back and say sorry to you p>
She paused, considering the situation carefully. “But yes, if he is genuinely hurt by what you said about him to me, then maybe you could offer an apology for your words. However, if a man makes you cry and continuously hurts you without even trying to understand your views, then it’s often better to leave that kind of man. I chose such a man once in my own naivety,” Amelie advised.