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Novel Catalog
Chapter 28
The heavy gates creaked open slowly, revealing Rebecca, who stood sheltered under an umbrella. A smug smile twisted her features as she approached Catherine, clearly enjoying the moment.
“Cathy, thanks a lot. Your design earned me the right to this project. You really are talented,” Rebecca said, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
Catherine’s gaze burned with a fire that could not be extinguished. She stood there, her heart churning as she processed Rebecca’s words.
The other woman, sensing Catherine’s fury, smiled even more widely. “Don’t get too upset. The project would’ve belonged to me regardless of your design. Ethan had already pulled the strings for me. You may not know, but his uncle is a close friend of President Sawyer. Your design was just a prop for the plan.”
Uncle… Shaun?
Catherine felt as though a wild animal was tearing at her heart, its claws shredding her insides. Her breath hitched, her chest tightening in disbelief.
She had genuinely thought Shaun had given her a chance, believed that he was helping her move forward. But now, she realized with crushing clarity that he had already decided the outcome, long before she’d ever put pen to paper. He had lied to her, led her to believe in something that wasn’t true. How could he? She had poured everything into this project.
Her eyes glistened, but she couldn’t tell if it was the rain or her own tears blurring her vision.
Rebecca’s voice cut through her sorrow, filled with a venomous sweetness. “It’s a shame that no one in the industry will hire you again after they learn what a terrible person you are. But don’t worry, I’ll take care of our parents. I’ll handle Summit and Ethan.”
A cruel smile spread across her face. “To be honest, Ethan thinks badly of you. He’s embarrassed after seeing you handing out leaflets on the streets. He told me you’re not a good match for him.”
Catherine’s heart shattered further, the pain becoming unbearable. “Rebecca, did I wrong you in some way?”
Devastated, Catherine’s grief turned to fury, the last thread of her self-control snapping. She lunged at Rebecca, throwing her to the ground and seizing her by the throat.
But Rebecca remained eerily calm, her enigmatic smile never faltering.
Before Catherine could process what was happening, a powerful force grabbed her and threw her into a nearby muddy puddle.
Catherine coughed, spitting out the mud as she lifted her head, her gaze locking onto Ethan, who was rushing to help Rebecca up. He quickly removed his coat and draped it over her, concern plastered all over his face.
“I’m fine, but Cathy… quickly check on Cathy. She’s obviously upset from losing the bidding,” Rebecca said, her voice trembling in Ethan’s arms.
Catherine’s world seemed to collapse in that moment. Ethan, the man she had trusted, the one she thought would stand by her, was looking at her with disdain.
“Why are you still caring for her?” Ethan growled, glaring at the woman in the mud. “Look what you’ve become. You’re so heartless that you’re bullying your own sister. I can’t believe I ever liked you.”
The words hit Catherine harder than the blow she had taken. The history, the bond they once shared, all of it shattered in an instant.
Catherine’s eyes burned with cold anger as she looked at him. “That’s right. I regret ever liking you, too. I must have been blind.”
Ethan’s face twisted in fury, his voice dangerously low. “I dare you to say that again.”
But Catherine wasn’t done. She shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with raw emotion. “Not only did you break the bidding rules, but you also can’t even tell right from wrong! Do you honestly think Rebecca could have come up with that design on her own, given her limited ability? Maybe you knew all along but chose to cover for her anyway! I don’t care if you love her, but why did you have to drag me down in the process? You lowly couple!”
“Watch your mouth,” Ethan growled as he slapped her across the face, the force of the hit sending Catherine crashing to the ground once more.
The sting of the slap burned, but the real pain was in her heart.
Where was the man who promised to take care of her? Where was the man who had once told her he had no feelings for Rebecca? Where was the man who begged her to wait for him just days ago?
She should have never believed his words. She had no courage to trust him, but she had allowed herself to hope. And now, it was all falling apart.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her, his tone bitter and full of disdain. “Don’t think that everyone is as vile as you are. I know for a fact that Rebecca stayed up countless nights working on this design. Yes, she may have started late, but she’s talented. Everything that happened today is a misfortune you brought upon yourself. You need to realize your mistakes and start over before it’s too late.”