CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
CATHERINE’S POV
“What?” Burke asked after finding his voice.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“Burke, I can’t marry you,” I said, running towards my kid’s room to meet Susan.
I didn’t know if Burke was running behind me or was still on his knees, surprised about the rejection I gave him.
“Did you know about this?” I asked Susan, entering into my kid’s room, and she looked at me surprised.
“Did you Burke was going to propose to me officially today because it seems like everyone in the mansion knew, and as my most loyal maid I expected you to tell me, I’m so disappointed in you,” I said to Susan in a harsh tone, I have never spoken that way to her before but my emotions took the better part of me.
“I didn’t know anything about Alpha Burke’s proposal; if I did, I would have hinted it to you. Don’t ever question my loyalty to you,” Susan said, with hurt in her eyes, and I felt bad for accusing her without even asking questions first.
“I’m so sorry for accusing you; I’m just feeling a bit hypersensitive; I think I made a very big fucking mistake,” I said, sitting at the edge of my kid’s bed; they were still sleeping.
“If you don’t talk to me, I won’t know how to help you,” She said, looking very concerned, she had forgotten all about me accusing her falsely.
“Burke proposed to me today, I just said that,” I said, still feeling uneasy and my heart beating very fast.
“And?” She asked impatiently, raising her eyebrow.
“And I said ‘No’ Susan, I fucking said ‘No,” I replied to her question, expecting her to judge me, but she didn’t.
“Do you love this man? I mean, do you love Alpha Burke?” She asked after minutes of silence; she knew I loved Burke, so why the fuck was she asking.
“Of course I love him; I have always loved him since I was a child,” I said to her, and she just smiled in return, like I gave her a piece of useful information.
“Then why don’t you give him a chance to prove himself? He is the father of your kids as well,” She said, stating the obvious.
“I know that Susan, but I’m scared he would leave me as he did seven years ago; I’m scared he would abandon the kids, and I believe he is saying this because I asked to leave his mansion today,” I said.
“I would never do that, Catherine,” Burke’s voice interrupted before Susan could speak.
I was surprised that Burke was in the room; I had not heard when the door was opened, and neither did Susan because we were too involved in our discussion.
“How did you get in here?” I asked, not knowing what to say.
“Uhhh, the door was opened, so I entered through the opened door,” He said sarcastically, walking towards me.
“I think I need to use the toilet in my room,” Susan said, making an excuse to leave us alone.
When Susan had left, Burke sat in the empty chair which was opposite where I sat.
“How much did you hear?” I asked, after clearing my throat, unable to look Burke in the eyes.
“I heard Everything, and Catherine, I am sorry for what I did the last seven years,” He said, holding my hands in one of his big hands.
“I know you are sorry Burke, but I don’t know how to forgive you,” I said, looking at him with my teary eyes.
“Seeing you cry breaks my heart,” He said, wiping my face with his free hands.
“Have I intentionally hurt you since you arrived at the pack?” He asked and I shook my head in response.
“I am a changed man; give me just one chance, and if I blow it away, then go back to Chicago,” He said, and I smiled at him.
“I have a life in Chicago too, Burke; if I get married to you, it means I’ll stay here forever,” I said, and Burke shook his head.
“You can go to Chicago whenever you want, as long as you will come back to me,” He said, lifting me to his lap.
“I’m sorry for embarrassing you like that,” I said, sitting comfortably on his lap.
“I was more scared of losing you than feeling embarrassed; I can live without you in my life, Catherine,” He stated, kissing me on the lips.
“So I’ll ask again, Will you marry me?” He asked, with shaking hands, pointing the engagement ring in my direction.
“Yes, Burke,” I replied, and Burke hugged me tightly and kissed me all over my body.
“Thank you, Catherine,” He said, slipping the engagement ring in my fingers.
“They are pretty and simple, just how I like it,” I said and kissed him deeply.
Burke hardened the kiss and grabbed one of my butt when I remembered we were in the kids’ room.
I withdrew from the kiss and Burke looked at me confused.
“We are in the kids’ room, asshole,” I said to Burke giggling, pointing at our kids, who were sleeping soundly.
“Shit, we are awful parents,” He said Sarcastically and I giggled.
“Let’s show the world we are getting married,” I said excitedly, happy to take this bold step with Burke, even if I’m still scared.
“Are you sure about that?” He asked and I nodded in response.
We held hands as we walked down to the living room, which was filmed with murmurs.
When we walked to the middle of the living room, silence took over immediately, respecting the Alpha’s presence.
“She said yes,” Burke yelled, raising my ring finger and the pack cheered happily.
I looked around the room, and to my surprise, I saw Emma standing with a cup of wine.
“Congratulations,”. She mouthed to me, with a genuine smile.
“Thank you,” I mouthed back.
Soon we sat at the edge of the living room, leaving everyone to jubilate and congratulate us.
“I wish Jack was here,” Burke whispered.
“I wish that too,” I whispered back.
A man wearing a black hoodie and covering his face with a black nose mask came towards me as Burke had gone to talk with his board members.
“Congratulations,” The mysterious man said, but his voice was very familiar.
“Thank you,” I appreciated, still looking at the shape of his familiar eyes since that was the only exposed part of his body.
“I hope you don’t leave him like you left the other one,” He said, walking away.
“Jaxon?” I said in the form of a question; he turned back and looked at me before leaving the living room.
“What the fuck is Jaxon doing in my engagement party,?” I asked myself; then suddenly I remembered the kids were in the room alone without anyone watching them.
“My kids are in fucking big trouble,” I said to myself as the glass of wine I was holding fell to the ground.