Chapter 33: You like him don’t you
"Ha, by the way, Big Sis, where did you go?" Betty blurted out, trying to lighten the mood. She’d sensed how tense Anna had gotten when Kathrine was mentioned and wanted to steer the conversation elsewhere.
But more than that she was curious to know who dropped her as she had seen Anna travel most of the time from taxi or cab.
Shawn flicked his gaze at Betty, then back at Anna, before standing up. "I’m making ramyeon. Would you two like some?" His tone was casual, but his gesture wasn’t just about food—it was his way of showing respect. After all, Anna was the one funding him.
"Yes, of course! I’m starving," Betty chirped, rubbing her belly dramatically as she watched Shawn head to the kitchen.
Anna’s eyes lingered on him for a moment, then shifted to the girl beside her. There was something... curious about the way the two interacted. But she didn’t pry. Instead, she leaned back into the worn-out couch, her head finding a makeshift cushion on the pile of clothes.
"To meet Director Wilsmith," she finally admitted.
Betty had already seen her stepping out a car, so hiding wasn’t an option.
The name alone dragged her thoughts back to the director’s office—the weight of his sharp gaze, the challenge in his words. But then, unbidden, Ethan’s face flashed across her mind.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. ’Why was he at Wilsmith’s office? Was he working on a project with him? Or... was it just coincidence?’
"So, you still doubt his offer wasn’t genuine?" Betty’s teasing voice snapped her back. Her friend’s curious eyes squinted at her knowingly.
Anna hesitated. She’d always been plagued by insecurities—years of ridicule, of being overlooked, had carved deep grooves of doubt into her. Confidence had never come easily, and even now, part of her couldn’t help but question whether she truly deserved the opportunity.
But this... this felt different. It wasn’t just about her self-doubt. Something about the offer, the timing, the way it landed in her lap—it felt strange. And if she was going to accept it, she needed to prove, if not to others, then to herself, that she was capable.
"You know what," Anna said with a soft laugh, "I actually confronted Director Wilsmith. Asked him straight up why he chose me. And instead of answering, he gave me a chance to prove myself." She shook her head, still baffled by the man’s confidence in her—confidence she didn’t yet have in herself.
Betty clicked her tongue and puffed her cheeks. "Big Sis, I told you already! That man sees right through people. If he spotted something in you, then trust me—you’ve got it. Stop doubting yourself."
Anna’s lips curved into a small smile. Betty’s certainty was infectious, and for a fleeting second, Anna wanted—no, needed—to believe her.
Shaking her head, she glanced toward the kitchen. Shawn was bent over the stove, focused on the bubbling pot of ramyeon, the steam rising around him.
"How did you even become friends with him?" Anna asked, leaning a little closer to Betty, her tone curious.
Because from what Anna could tell, Shawn was the definition of an introvert—quiet, aloof, someone who seemed to prefer the company of wires and screens to people. And then there was Betty—bubbly, chatty, a little chaotic. It was an odd match, yet he didn’t seem to mind her presence at all.
Betty’s eyes flicked toward the kitchen and just like that—her cheeks turned a shade of pink.
Anna arched her brow, amusement sparkling in her eyes. Slowly, a sly smile spread across her lips. "You like him, don’t you?"
Betty froze, her eyes widening like a deer caught in headlights. She flailed her hands quickly. "W-What? No! That’s not it at all!" Her voice pitched higher, her denial too desperate, too fast.
Anna’s chuckle slipped out, warm and knowing. "You don’t have to lie, Betty. I can see it plain as day. The way you look at him—it’s obvious. You’ve got a crush, right?"
Betty’s lips parted, but no excuse came out. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and her face buried halfway into her palms. "...Am I that obvious?" she whispered miserably.
Anna’s gaze softened. She remembered, all too clearly, being in Betty’s place once—young, wide-eyed, her heart fluttering for someone far out of reach.
"Yes," Anna teased lightly, "but I doubt he knows."
At that, Betty peeked out between her fingers, her eyes clouded with both hope and worry.
Anna tilted her head, studying her, then glanced toward Shawn again. He was still stirring the noodles, but... there it was. The tiniest flick of his eyes toward them, quick, almost unnoticeable.
Anna hummed quietly. Maybe Betty was wrong. Maybe Shawn had noticed. But Anna kept the thought to herself. She’d learned the hard way that assumptions could be dangerous things.
Soon the ramyeon was ready, and the three of them ate together. By the time Anna returned home, both her stomach and her mind were full—though the heaviness of Kathrine’s disappearance still clung to her like a shadow. She forced herself to push it aside, placing her fragile hope in Shawn’s abilities, at least for now.
Climbing the staircase, Anna moved with slow, tired steps. But the moment she turned down the corridor, her feet froze.
Kira was stepping out of Daniel’s room.
Anna’s eyes narrowed, the sight slamming into her chest like a blade.
The younger girl startled the instant she noticed her. Kira’s body went rigid, her face flickering from shock to guilt before quickly smoothing into a mask of innocence. She dipped her head as though nothing were amiss and attempted to walk past.
"Stop."
The single word cracked through the silence, low and commanding.
Kira halted mid-step. Her fingers clenched at her skirt before she turned slowly, bowing her head again. "Madam," she whispered, voice trembling faintly.
When she finally dared to lift her eyes, her breath caught.
Anna’s gaze was sharp, burning, unflinching. It wasn’t the meek, quiet woman Kira had dismissed before—it was something else. Something that made Kira’s throat go dry.