Page 70 of Wolf's Redemption

"I want to get this over with," she said. "I can't stand to see that man's face." She pointed to the store across from hers, packed with customers.

"If you would just let me..."

"No!" she interrupted me. "You already have too many responsibilities, plus it's my duty to get this done."

"Okay, I get it," I said. "But I want you to know I'm here for you."

She sighed and went to grab her purse. Then I helped her close the store, and before we left for the restaurant, I caught a glimpse through my window of John and felt my stomach go up in flames. But even though I couldn't stand that man, it wasn't my anger I was experiencing but Cathy's. To try and distract her, I focused on us and our time together at the restaurant.

I took Cathy to a very nicely decorated place. It had bamboo tables and red tablecloths. The columns were round and painted gold, and one of the things I liked the most was the dragon with dark green scales with realistic details. And as Nani had said, it was attended by the owners.

"What would you like to order?" asked the owner as soon as we sat down at the table closest to the entrance.

"I'd like the rice with chicken and pork and an extra portion of spring rolls," she ordered.

"For me, bring me sweet and sour pork ribs," I added.

He took his notes and retreated to the kitchen.

"Will you stay more days this time?" Cathy asked.

"That's my intention, but there's some business I left unfinished regarding the pack," I commented. "You should come to the mansion; my parents are dying to meet Elliot."

She looked down and started playing with her fingers.

"You know I can't leave now," she replied.

"I know," I said, pressing my lips together and forming a line.

There was silence between us, and we just stared into each other's eyes until my cell phone rang, and I pulled it out to check.

I'm already at the hotel, and I have everything ready to infiltrate.I read Andrew's message and deleted it immediately.

"Everything okay?" she asked me, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, it was a telemarketing message. You know how annoying they are," I replied.

Cathy could sense my emotions more clearly, so she sensed there was something else going on, but before she could probe further, the owner of the restaurant arrived along with his son in his early twenties and brought us our order.

"Enjoy your meal," they said in unison after placing it on the table and leaving.

"It smells delicious," she said, inspecting the dishes. "My sense of smell has improved tremendously, and I can now distinguish which spice they used in the food." Her eyes lit up as she said it smiling widely.

"You're almost done with the treatment," I said, bringing my plate of ribs closer to me.

"Yeah, I can't believe the time is going by so fast."

I took her hand and looked her straight in the eye. "Time flies by when you spend it with the one you love."

She blushed like a tomato. "I love you," she said, taking the chopsticks to start eating.

The sweet and sour ribs were a delight, the meat was soft, falling off the bone, and when I popped it in my mouth, it fell apart, leaving me to taste the soy, honey, and strawberry on it.

"Come a little closer," I whispered to her.

She moved her face closer, and I ran my thumb delicately over her lips to wipe up some sweet and sour sauce she had inadvertently spilled.

"Thank you," she said, taking a napkin for herself.