THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 233: Am I Being Selfish?

As Linda left the prison to look for the man her mother had sent her to, Kathleen was having a nice time with her friend Lauren in her coffee shop.

Lauren gave some instructions to one of the staff that was passing by before continuing her conversation with Kathleen. "So what has been going on with my gorgeous friend?"

"Nothing much," Kathleen said as she stirred the coffee.

Lauren’s eyes were full of disbelief as she said, "Are you seriously going to hide it from me?"

Kathleen was confused. "Hide what from you?"

"Quit the pretense and spill it. "You are back with your heartthrob. How long were you planning to keep it from me if I didn’t ask?"

Kathleen let out a soft chortle. "There is nothing to spill because I am not back with anybody. Whoever told you that played a fast one on you."

"it can’t be. I was reliably informed that you went on a dinner date with Shawn last week."

Who else would "reliably" inform her of that meeting if it is not her loquacious daughter, Eleanor. When did they even meet to gossip about that?

Seeing the look on Kathleen’s face, Lauren smirked. "So it’s actually true."

"I admit I had dinner with Shawn but it’s not what you think," Kathleen said.

Lauren’s mouth curled up in a mischievous smile. "So tell me, what should I think when my very good friend all of a sudden decides to have dinner with her estranged husband."

"Did the person that gossiped to you inform you that I didn’t go alone?"

Lauren’s eyes narrowed. "Didn’t you go alone?"

Just like she had suspected, Eleanor didn’t give her the details. I wonder what her goal is this time around. Is she trying to set her up and get information from Lauren?

"For your information, I went with your "reliable informant."

"Holy cow!" Lauren’s eyes widened as she clasped her palm over her mouth and let out an audible gasp.

"You told him about the children? When? Why? And how did he take it?"

Kathleen leisurely sipped on her coffee as she stared at Lauren who was behaving as if she had just heard the unimaginable.

"Why are you not saying anything?" Lauren asked when Kathleen didn’t answer any of her questions.

"Which of your questions do you think I should answer?"

"All, Kathleen. Can’t you see that I’m about to die from curiosity?"

"Go ahead. How is that my business?"

"Are you sure you are ready to play this game?" Lauren dropped her coffee on the table and stood up, a cynical grin dangling around her lips as she moved over to Kathleen’s side.

"Hey! You’d better behave yourself. We are in a public place," Kathleen said as she shifted her seat backwards.

"Really?" Lauren’s grin became more pronounced.

"Alright! I’ll answer you," Kathleen shouted before Lauren’s hands could touch her.

She knew exactly what Lauren had in mind the moment she wore that evil smile.

She had always been afraid of people tickling her and Lauren knew this particular weakness and would always use it on her whenever she wanted to get something from her.

"Good girl," Lauren said and patted Kathleen’s back before returning to her seat. Halfway, she stopped and turned to Kathleen. "Don’t think you can trick me into letting you go. I can still do what I have to do to get the truth out of you."

"Scumbag!" Kathleen cursed. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Thank you, but you still have to obey this scumbag," Lauren retorted triumphantly.

Lauren took a sip of her coffee and it suddenly tasted very good. "Hummm! Go on, I’m listening."

Kathleen scowled at Lauren and wished those two hands would suddenly disappear from her body. But for now, she had no choice but to comply with Lauren’s request.

"He found out that Eleanor and Elvis were his children after he saved Eleanor, who had an accident at their school sports event."

"My goddaughter was involved in an accident and no one told me?"

"Are you still interested in getting your answers? Kathleen snapped.

"Look at the way you are acting like the empress. What would you have done if you were told? I just said she was saved by HER FATHER, Shawn Hudson. Do you mind asking him yourself why he didn’t inform you about the accident?"

"Forget it," Lauren said. "Since she was saved I guess she should be alright. But how did Shawn end up in their school?"

"Unfortunately, he was the special guest of the day and Eleanor was specifically chosen to be one of the girls that welcomed him. Do you think it was a coincidence?" Kathleen asked the question that had been on her mind since.

She wanted to ask the same from Shawn at dinner the other day but she forgot.

"So how did he react when he found out they were his kids?"

"He had no reaction."

Lauren was confused. "What do you mean? Didn’t he threaten hail and brimstone if you refuse to hand over the children to him?"

Kathleen shook her head slowly. She was still surprised by Shawn’s disposition after finding out about the children.

"Does it mean he doesn’t want them because he doesn’t love them?" Lauren asked.

"I don’t think so. I saw the tears in his eyes when he met them that evening and all the things he did to make them relax in his presence."

Would you believe it, if I told you that Eleanor already has this weird idea of making him a part of our family?"

Lauren was taken aback. "You don’t mean it? But come to think of it, she is not to be blamed."

Kathleen glared at Lauren who equally pretended not to notice her anger.

"Do you remember how you told me you felt when those kids made fun of you back then in school because you didn’t have a father? I think they might be facing the same challenge too, but have refused to let you know because they think you will feel bad about it.

Kathleen was struck by the truth in Lauren’s words and for a moment had to look at it from that angle.

"Am I being selfish to the children?"