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Novel Catalog
Chapter 3
The plot twist hit Catherine so suddenly that she wondered if she had perhaps drunk too much. The thought lingered in her mind, unanswered, until Freya tapped her on the shoulder.
With a sympathetic expression, Freya said, “Don’t get too upset. It’s not easy to win the heart of a tall, wealthy, and handsome man. But hey, keep going—”
“No, you don’t understand,” Catherine interrupted, still dazed. “He told me to meet him at the registry office tomorrow at 10 a.m.”
Freya froze, silence hanging in the air for a moment before she burst out laughing. “Well, congratulations on becoming Ethan’s aunt!”
Catherine frowned. “You really believe him?”
Freya didn’t hesitate—she pinched Catherine’s soft cheek with a grin. “Why not? You’ve got that pure look that can easily outshine any young lady in the entertainment industry. If I were a man, I’d fall for you at first sight. Let’s go celebrate your impending marriage.”
Catherine couldn’t decide if Freya was genuinely celebrating or if the woman had drunk more than she let on. Still, her headache was growing stronger. The hangover was settling in fast, and she felt her head becoming heavier with each passing moment.
At that moment, a Bentley Mulsanne glided to a stop in front of the pub. The valet opened the door, and Shaun Hill stepped out, his movements smooth and deliberate. As he climbed into the backseat, he unbuttoned the top of his shirt, leaning back lazily against the leather seats.
“Didn’t I tell you to keep it low-key?” he said, his voice a touch irritated.
Hadley Young, sitting in the front, responded with politeness. “This is the cheapest car in the Hill family’s collection, sir.”
Shaun let out a quiet sigh, his frown deepening. “Who else knows I’m in Melbourne?”
Hadley looked back at him and replied, “Only Old Madam, sir.”
A small measure of relief flickered on Shaun’s face. “Good. I want you to find out everything about this woman. I want her full profile before dawn.”
The morning sun streamed through the curtains, rousing Catherine from a deep, uncomfortable sleep. As she groggily opened her eyes, she saw the door to her room swing open. Ethan strode in, followed by Freya, who was clearly furious.
“This is my house! You’re invading my space!” Freya shouted, still seething as she followed Ethan into the room.
Ethan ignored her, his sharp eyes locking onto Catherine, who had bloodshot eyes and messy hair. His gaze was calculating.
Catherine’s mind snapped fully awake as she saw the look in his eyes—a mixture of frustration and something else she couldn’t quite place.
Freya, sensing the tension, sighed heavily. “You two should talk. It hasn’t been easy being together for all these years,” she said, before turning and leaving, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
The room was silent. Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch her hair. But Catherine instinctively flinched, pulling away from his touch.
“Does Rebecca know you’re here?” she asked, her voice a mixture of bitterness and resignation.
Ethan’s face stiffened at her question, his fist clenching in frustration. “Cathy, you probably don’t know, but the Jones family has decided to give Rebecca 80 percent of the company’s shares.”
Catherine’s breath caught in her throat, her lips going pale in shock. “This… this can’t be true.”
“It’s true,” Ethan replied, his voice flat. “Your dad said it himself.”
A rush of understanding hit Catherine all at once. She stared at Ethan, the man she once loved, and her eyes filled with tears. “So, that’s why you abandoned me. That’s why you chose Rebecca over me, right?”
Ethan grasped her hands, his expression softening. “This is temporary, Cathy. I’ve just gotten engaged to Rebecca, but I’m putting our wedding on hold. You know my family’s complicated. If I don’t play along, I won’t even have a chance. Cathy, I just want to provide a good life for you.”
Catherine jerked her hands away from him, the anger rising inside her. “Bullsh*t!” she shouted. “You’re 25 years old. Even if you don’t get any inheritance from your family, can’t you start your own business? Build your own empire?”
Ethan’s face hardened, his eyes clouding with something unreadable. He stood up slowly, his shoulders heavy with resignation. “You’re naive, Cathy. Some things aren’t in our power, especially when it comes to our background.”
Catherine couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The silence between them was thick with unresolved tension.
Ethan let out a deep, frustrated sigh. “Give me three years, Cathy. You’re still young. You can afford to wait.”
The words hit Catherine like a slap. “How dare you?” she whispered, her voice trembling with fury. “You’re asking me to wait for three years while you chase your career, all the while engaged to Rebecca? You think I’m a fool?”
She shook her head, her eyes blazing. “No, Ethan. I’m done. I don’t want to see you anymore.”
Ethan’s expression softened, but he said nothing. He gave her one last look before turning to leave. “Time will show my love for you. But don’t drown your sorrows in alcohol. It’s not good for your health.”
Catherine, still furious, didn’t reply. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Her vision blurred with tears as she grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it angrily at the wall. She sat there, eyes red and heart breaking, before she hurriedly threw on a shirt and bolted out of the room.
Freya quickly stepped into her path, holding her back. “He’s gone. What’s the point of running after him now?”
Catherine took a deep breath, forcing her teeth to clench as she said, “I agreed to meet him at 10 a.m. tomorrow… to get married.”
Freya looked at her in disbelief. “You actually believe him?”
Catherine shot her a glance, her expression defiant. “Didn’t you believe him last night?”
Freya’s face flushed with embarrassment. “I was drunk!”
Catherine shook her head, a fire burning in her eyes. “What if he’s serious about it?”
With that, Catherine shoved Freya aside and sprinted toward the door.