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Novel Catalog
Chapter 13
“Alright, I want to understand more about the process. What’s the best way to keep her comfortable during pregnancy?” Shaun asked, his voice low and serious.
For the next ten minutes, the vet explained the entire process in detail. He handed Shaun a cat pregnancy guide at the end. “A pregnant cat needs to watch its nutrition. Your cat is already weak, which makes miscarriage more likely. It would be best if you hired someone to take care of her during this time.”
Shaun stood frozen, at a loss for words. Was this really just about a pet?
For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, his thoughts drifted to Catherine’s exceptional cooking skills. A wave of guilt washed over him. He might have been too harsh with her earlier.
When he returned to Jadeite Bay later that day, he opened the door, flicked on the lights—and something felt off. The guest room door was open, and there was no sign of anyone. There wasn’t a single piece of women’s clothing to be found.
Catherine was gone.
His brow furrowed in frustration. Fudge meowed lazily in his arms, glancing around before lowering her head in disappointment.
Shaun’s frustration built. Maybe her leaving was for the best. After all, they shouldn’t get too involved in each other’s lives. He could make up for his actions with a larger settlement when the divorce happened.
As for Fudge? He could hire a sitter. It wasn’t a big deal.
At 10 a.m., Catherine awoke on the couch, groggy and disoriented. The bed she’d slept on the night before had been covered in hair, and the sheets had appeared unwashed. Being a self-proclaimed clean freak, she had opted to sleep on the couch instead.
Just as she was about to freshen up, her phone rang. It was Freya.
“Babe, aren’t you living with your husband? How did you end up in a budget hotel?”
“How do you know about this?” Catherine asked, confused.
“Everyone’s talking about it in the group chat,” Freya replied, frustration clear in her voice. “That awful woman, Janet Campbell, even brought up your past. She told everyone you were kicked out of the Jones household because your older sister is back. All the hypocrites who were once jealous of your status are now mocking you.”
Catherine let out a sigh. “Oh.”
Janet Campbell was from another affluent family in Melbourne. She and Catherine had been classmates, but Janet had always been jealous of Catherine’s looks and academic achievements. They had never been close, and it wasn’t surprising that she would try to ruin Catherine’s reputation when she was already down.
“Aren’t you mad?” Freya asked, her voice filled with concern. “What happened? You’ve never been in a hotel with fewer than five stars.”
“Things have changed,” Catherine replied, her voice soft. “My dad suspended all my cards. I don’t have much left. Last night, Shaun kicked me out of the house.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?” Freya asked, hurt in her tone.
“It was late, and I didn’t want to wake you up.”
“Catherine, you’re such a fool. Just tell me the address.”
Forty minutes later, Freya arrived, rushing in as if she had been on a mission. She immediately frowned as she looked around the dingy room. There was even a stash of cards slipped under the door by prostitutes looking for business.
“Come on, get out of here. You can stay at my place,” Freya urged.
“No, you have a boyfriend. Besides, it’s not a good long-term solution. I’m planning to rent a place,” Catherine explained, shaking her head.
After a moment of thought, Freya relented. “Alright, that’s not a bad idea. Ethan came by my place last night looking for you. He’s seriously so annoying.”
Catherine felt her throat tighten at the mention of Ethan’s name. There was a time when he would support her no matter what, but after what he said yesterday, she felt deeply disheartened.
“He’s the last person I want to see right now,” Catherine murmured.
“Same here,” Freya said with a nod before a puzzled expression crossed her face. “By the way, you’re married now. Why did Shaun kick you out in the middle of the night?”
Catherine let out a bitter smile and briefly explained what had happened.
Freya’s eyes softened with sympathy. “That man is sick. You’re legally his wife. Does he really value a cat more than you?”
“That’s no surprise, is it?” Catherine replied with a hollow laugh.
Freya hesitated before speaking again. “Well… it was your decision to marry him.”
Catherine didn’t answer. The regret in her heart was heavy.
With a sigh, Freya stood up. “Right, let’s go get some food. I know a place where the food reminds you of home. Afterward, we can look for a place for you. Oh, we should invite Cindy Turner too.”
On their way to the restaurant, Catherine called Cindy.
“Freya and I are going out for a meal. It’s been a while since we last met. Want to join us?”
“I’m in the middle of a photo shoot. Sorry,” Cindy replied.
“It’s alright. Let’s do it some other time,” Catherine said, understanding.
“She’s becoming more famous every day. She wouldn’t be where she is today if you hadn’t written and composed for her back then,” Freya commented after the call ended.
“We’re still friends,” Catherine said, her voice neutral. “It’s normal that she’s busy.”
Grapefruit Restaurant had quickly become one of the most talked-about spots in Melbourne. With its spacious courtyard and luxurious cars parked outside, it catered to the city’s elite.
As Catherine and Freya entered the restaurant, several familiar faces greeted them. Among them were Rebecca, Janet, and…
“Cindy!” Freya called out, spotting her immediately.
Cindy, wearing sunglasses, gave a strained smile in return.
Annoyed, Freya made her way over to the group, dragging Catherine along with her.
“You told us you were busy with a photo shoot, but here you are with these women. Do you know who they are? Janet’s your worst enemy, and Rebecca is the two-faced woman who stole your boyfriend.”
“Who are you calling two-faced?” Janet sneered, stepping forward to shove Freya.
Catherine stepped in to steady her friend, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the group. She would never have come here if she knew this was going to happen. Still, Cindy’s actions had deeply disappointed her.
“Cindy, why are you hanging out with them? I can understand Rebecca, but you should know better than anyone about my history with Janet.”
“Why?” Janet linked her arm with Cindy and shot Catherine a smug look. “You’ve lost the Jones family’s inheritance and now you’re stuck in a cheap hotel. Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be friends with Cindy. She’s the top singer right now, while you’re just a fallen phoenix. You’re nobody.”
Catherine’s eyes locked onto Cindy’s. “I want to hear it from your mouth.”