When the first light of dawn hit the window and beamed on Rome’s face, he raised his eyelids and stared at Catherine, laying on his bare chest.
Then he slowly picked his phone from the nightstand, clicked on his inbox icon, and started typing.
After writing everything he needed to say, he sent the message to Mr. Ford and put the phone back on the nightstand.
Suddenly, Catherine raised her head and looked up at him.
“Did I wake you up?” Rome asked.
“No,” Catherine mumbled, resting her head back on his chest.
Then he wrapped his arms around her and gently intoned, “What's the plan for today?”
“I think it will be best to clear my things from Charles's office,” Catherine mumbled beneath her breath.
“And then, we can go sightseeing?”
“Umm, that sounds interesting. Let's drive around the city after getting my things.”
A while later, Catherine and Rome came downstairs and entered the dining hall.
Immediately, the atmosphere in the room became hostile, and none of the other Barlows looked their way.
But it grew more uncomfortable for Catherine when she noticed her chair was gone, and her spot at the table was empty.
“Hi, cousin,” Charles said with a mischievous smile on his lips as he gazed at her.
“When did you get out?” Catherine asked, striving not to look bothered.
“Oh this morning, and imagine my joy when I heard that I was getting my position back at the company. Isn't that good news?”
“Yes, it is.”
Staring at the mocking smile on her cousin’s lip, Catherine kept calm. Then she turned to Rome and said, “We should leave.”
“Catherine, don't be a stubborn child! Your grandparents will forgive you if you apologize sincerely and divorce that fool.” Edward called out to his daughter.
But Catherine held Rome’s hand and walked out of the dining room with him by her side.
After she and Rome arrived in the garage, Catherine tried to unlock her car door, but her hand kept shaking.
“Let me drive,” Rome said, taking the key from her hand.
A few minutes later, he drove the car out of the garage with Catherine seated in the front seat.
The ride was a silent one, and when they finally reached the DreamTeam building, Rome stopped the car in the parking lot.
Then he and Catherine got down from the car and headed into the building.
When they arrived in Charles’s office, Catherine tried to reach for the box. But her hand couldn't touch the top shelf, even after she tiptoes.
Seeing her struggle, Rome stood behind her and reached for the box.
After getting it off the shelf, Catherine turned around to face him, and he handed the box to her.
“Thanks,” Catherine mumbled with a slight smile.
Then she walked over to the desk and started carefully placing her belongings into the box.
“Is that all?” Rome asked, looking at her.
For a moment, Catherine gazed around the room. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Yep, that's all.”
Afterward, she lifted the box from the desk. But Rome took it from her hands and tightened his grip on the box.
“Are you ready to leave?” Rome asked when he noticed the sadness in her eyes.
“Yes,” Catherine said, pressing her lips together as she took in a deep breath.
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