After the commotion, Katherine went to the store, intending to get some preparations done with
Margaret for the opening day. However, she found herself completely unable to concentrate on work,
because the gloomy-looking face that Marshall had kept popping up in the back of her head.
The corner of Hector’s mouth had some scrapes which quickly turned into bruises, and Katherine felt
bad. The talent show was starting soon, and she didn’t want to be burdened with the guilt that Hector’s
potential big break in the entertainment industry would be ruined because of her. So, she decided to
take him to the hospital to see a doctor.
The doctor, as it happened, was the same one that had treated Katherine’s leg wounds some weeks
ago. He smiled at the sight of her. “Hi there, Katherine.”
Katherine was startled. “Pardon me, sir, but how do you know me?”
“Well, I did bandage you up when you got injured in the leg,” answered Dr. Hollis, who was a good
friend of Mr. Grant’s.
“Ooooh, that’s right!” exclaimed Katherine, “I thought you looked familiar.”
“A friend of yours?” asked Dr. Hollis, looking at Hector.
“Yes,” said Katherine with a nod, “he got injured so I thought I’d get him checked up for medication or
ointments. He’s got an audition in a couple of days.”
Dr. Hollis smiled warmly. “Come here then, son, and let me have a look. Did you get into a fight?
Whew, that looks like a pretty heavy blow to me. Got the corner of your mouth torn.”
Katherine pursed her lips, not knowing what to say in that situation.
But the doctor didn’t further pursue that topic as he proceeded to prescribe the right medication for
Hector. As he worked on his computer, he said, “I heard you went to old Mrs. Walters’ birthday party.”
Before Katherine could react, Dr. Hollis continued, “And that you drew a lucky lot for her.”
So, Katherine mused, did that mean that she was famous again – and so soon?
Dr. Hollis finished his prescription and looked up at her. “I ran into Marshall yesterday and you came up
in our conversation. He sounded proud when he talked about you.”
At the mention of Marshall’s name, Katherine felt her good mood going down the drain.
Unaware of the drama that happened in the morning, Dr. Hollis went on to say, “I’ve never seen that
expression on his face when he talked about anyone else before, you know.”
Katherine creased her eyebrows into a deep frown. What was the doctor trying to imply? Didn’t he read
the gossip column of any newspaper? Shouldn’t he know what her marriage with Marshall had
become?
After Dr. Hollis was done talking, he handed Hector the health care card and prescription. “Alright now,
go get your meds and remember to apply them on time. Don’t eat anything spicy or that might irritate
the stomach, and you should be fine after a couple of days.”
As Hector said his thank-you, the doctor turned to face Katherine with a smile. “Bye.”
Katherine, who had been feeling down, felt even worse after she conversed with him. But exactly what
she was upset about, she wasn’t entirely sure herself.
When Katherine and Hector got out of the hospital, they went to see Kyle at his place.
When Kyle caught sight of Hector’s bruises, he assumed that the Bennett children had done this, and,
instantly livid, he jumped into the air and was about to go seek revenge on Hector’s behalf.
“It was Marshall though. Marshall did this,” said Katherine calmly as she remained seated on the sofa.
Kyle was truly surprised. “Mar…what? He, that can’t be…Marshall, did you say?” And then he turned
his stare to Hector. “But why would he hit you?”
Well, that was kind of hard to explain, and Katherine didn’t want to.
Neither did Hector. After a brief pause, he changed the subject and asked Kyle what happened to
Patrick and Alexis.
Kyle, being the simple-minded creature that he was, was immediately distracted. Alexis, as Kyle then
began to recount, received some severe talking-to from her mother after she was framed by Kyle, and
Ariel even grounded her so that she could reflect on what she had done wrong.
Kyle droned on, but neither Katherine nor Hector was listening. Katherine shot a glance in Hector’s
direction before she asked with a low volume, “Why did you, um, do, um…?”
She was too embarrassed to finish her sentence, but she didn’t have to because Hector knew exactly
what she meant. Looking mortified himself, Hector replied, “I was drunk.”
And drunk he was indeed. Excited about the potential talent show fame, Hector didn’t hold back at all
last night when he drank. He had absolutely zero intention to sleep in Katherine’s room. What had
happened was that he ended up there for some reason, having climbed up the stairs in search of a
guest room.
Hector was utterly bewildered, too, when he woke up in the morning. Luckily, he was properly dressed
when he did, since he had only taken off his jacket last night. Katherine was also thankfully absent
when he opened his eyes, saving them both the embarrassment of having to face each other in bed
first thing in the morning.
Katherine, running a hand through her hair, thought of Marshall.
Marshall was able to get in when he came to her place in the morning, which could only mean that she
had forgotten to lock the door the night before. So, she should consider herself lucky that Marshall
didn’t go upstairs and straight up catch her and Hector “in the act.”
Katherine let out a sigh. “Let’s treat this incident as water over the bridge and never talk about it again,
shall we?”
Hector pursed his lips and stared at Katherine for a good couple of seconds before he nodded in
agreement.
Pretty soon afterwards, Katherine excused herself for feeling ill and said she wanted to go home.
And she was telling the truth. She was indeed feeling unwell from the hangover, which was giving her a
queasy stomach and a headache, not to mention some hurt feelings.
Kyle was unaware of her internal turmoil. “Shall I drive you home?”
“Not necessary,” said Katherine, waving her hand, “I’ll take a taxi.”
She then stood up and walked out without saying goodbye to Hector.
When she finally got home, Katherine stood in her living room and looked around before she helplessly
wailed. Why was it that she was feeling so distressed?
From that day on, Marshall stopped calling her and visiting her at her place altogether. It was like a full-
on cold war between them, except this time, this cold war could be more broadly interpreted. Because
without the binding responsibilities of marriage, a cold war between an ex-couple could be understood
as they were simply and completely done.
Katherine enjoyed several peaceful days before she received a call from Grandma Grant when she
was learning driving with a coach.
Grandma Grant sounded hospitable on the phone – more hospitable, in fact, than the old lady had ever
been – as she invited Katherine over for dinner.
Katherine was taken aback. What could possibly be the purpose of a dinner with the proud old lady?
So, naturally, Katherine politely refused the request.
Grandma Grant sighed over the phone. “It’s actually the Walters, you see. They want to thank you for
drawing a lucky lot, which really seemed to have helped their family business recently.”
Katherine laughed. “That wouldn’t be necessary since I’ve already gotten such a pricy gift from them.
Also, I drew that lot out of pure dumb luck and it didn’t cost me a thing, so there really is no need to
thank me.”
“Well,” replied Grandma Grant, “but the Walters have decided to regard you as their lucky star. They
are extremely eager to treat you to dinner, and frankly, Kathy, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse.”
Katherine facepalmed. “Ma’am, I just don’t think…”
But Grandma Grant wouldn’t allow her to finish her thought. “Kathy,” the old lady cut in, “Granny miss
you too. Don’t you want to come over and pay me a visit?”
Katherine was at a loss for words. Truth be told, she didn’t miss anyone from the Grant family –
including Grandma Grant. It was true that the matriarch was nice to Katherine now, but she had never
been this nice before, when Katherine had most needed it.
With Katherine silent, Grandma Grant decided for the both of them. “So tomorrow it is. I’ll ask the
kitchen staff to start preparing the food, and let’s all enjoy a nice meal and conversation tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, in fact, was a workday, which meant that Katherine probably wouldn’t run into Marshall.
Consequently, she agreed to the meal after some hesitation. “Shall we make it a lunch party, then? It’s
harder to get a cab at night.”
Grandma Grant, probably unaware of Katherine’s ulterior motive, agreed to the arrangement right
away. “Deal. You should arrive in the morning, we’ll have lunch, and then I’ll ask the chauffeur to get
you home.”
“Okay then,” replied Katherine before she hung up. Leaning over on the car, she looked as tense as
before.
The next day, Katherine waited until there was no chance that Marshall was still home before she took
a cab to the Grant residence.
Marshall was indeed no longer at home, and Grandma Grant was sitting in the lawn before the main
hall with old Mrs. Walters. The ladies were happily engaged in a conversation, and old Mrs. Walters
didn’t notice Katherine until she drew near.
“There’s Kathy,” old Mrs. Walters said as she stood up from her rattan armchair.
Katherine walked over in a few quick strides. “How do you do, ma’am?”
Old Mrs. Walters was all smiles. “Finally! We’ve been waiting for you, dearie.”
Katherine then turned to greet Grandma Grant. “Ma’am.”
Grandma Grant nodded as she commented, “That’s fast. I’m no longer ‘Granny’ to you, am
I?”
With Katherine silent, Grandma Grant decided for the both of them. “So tomorrow it is. I’ll ask the
kitchen staff to start preparing the food, and let’s all enjoy a nice meal and conversation tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, in fact, was a workday, which meant that Katherine probably wouldn't run into Marshall.
Consequently, she agreed to the meal after some hesitation. “Shall we make it a lunch party, then? It’s
harder to get a cab at night.”
Grandma Grant, probably unaware of Katherine's ulterior motive, agreed to the arrangement right
away. “Deal. You should arrive in the morning, we'll have lunch, and then I'll ask the chauffeur to get
you home.”
“Okay then,” replied Katherine before she hung up. Leaning over on the car, she looked as tense as
before.
The next day, Katherine waited until there was no chance that Marshall was still home before she took
a cab to the Grant residence.
Marshall was indeed no longer at home, and Grandma Grant was sitting in the lawn before the main
hall with old Mrs. Walters. The ladies were happily engaged in a conversation, and old Mrs. Walters
didn’t notice Katherine until she drew near.
“There's Kathy,” old Mrs. Walters said as she stood up from her rattan armchair.
Katherine walked over in a few quick strides. “How do you do, ma’am’?”
Old Mrs. Walters was all smiles. “Finally! We've been waiting for you, dearie.”
Katherine then turned to greet Grandma Grant. “Ma’am.”
Grandma Grant nodded as she commented, “That's fast. I’m no longer ‘Granny’ to you, am
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