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Novel Catalog
Chapter 46
Ethan was momentarily thrown by Rebecca’s words. He had always believed Catherine still harbored feelings for him, but the recent events had shown him a side of her he hadn’t anticipated. The idea of her showing up to their engagement party—under these circumstances—was a gamble.
“I’ll make sure she shows up,” Ethan said, his voice steady but with a trace of uncertainty. He wasn’t sure how Catherine would react, especially given everything that had transpired, but he couldn’t afford to let the company’s reputation continue to plummet. “I’ll handle it.”
Rebecca sighed, her concern evident. “I hope you can, Ethan. The company’s future depends on it.”
Back in the hospital, Catherine was lost in her thoughts, still recovering physically, but her mind was already racing with the implications of everything happening around her. The Jones family’s actions had pushed her to the edge, and she felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that they were only concerned about their own reputation. The love and care she had longed for from them had never been there—not truly.
As she lay in her hospital bed, Freya entered with a small bag of snacks. “Look what I brought you,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “You need to keep your strength up if you want to get back to cooking for Shaun.”
Catherine smiled faintly. “I will. I just need some time to process everything, you know?”
Freya sat on the edge of the bed. “It’s not easy, I know. But don’t let them get to you. You’ve got your own path to follow now, and it’s time you start living for yourself, not them.”
Catherine looked at Freya, her eyes filled with gratitude. She had been her rock through everything, and Catherine was starting to understand just how much she had leaned on others without realizing it. “You’re right, Freya. I can’t keep living for them, for their expectations. I have to live for myself.”
Meanwhile, Shaun was on the phone in the hallway outside her room, his expression dark. The news of the Jones family’s actions had spread like wildfire, and now Ethan was trying to salvage the situation by dragging Catherine back into the fold. Shaun’s jaw tightened at the thought of them using her for their own benefit.
He hung up the phone and turned to go back into the room, but before he did, he caught a glimpse of the expression on Catherine’s face. She looked lost in thought, distant even. It made something stir in his chest, a feeling that he hadn’t quite been able to put into words before. She had been through so much, and he had been by her side through it all. Yet, there was still a part of her that felt unreachable, like a part of her heart was still locked away.
“Shaun,” Freya called out from the room, interrupting his thoughts. “Stop standing out there and come in. Catherine’s about to turn into a mummy with all that brooding you’re doing.”
Shaun hesitated for a moment, his eyes still fixed on Catherine. Then, with a heavy sigh, he stepped inside. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice low, but with a note of concern that made Catherine’s heart skip a beat.
“I’m getting better,” she said softly, avoiding his gaze. She didn’t want to look at him now, not with everything that had happened.
Shaun’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You’d better,” he muttered. “And don’t even think about going anywhere near the Jones family again.”
Catherine nodded, her chest tightening at his words. She wasn’t sure what to make of the feelings stirring inside her, but she knew one thing for certain: things were changing, and she didn’t know where this path would lead. Would she find the strength to stand on her own? Would she be able to break free from the ties that bound her to a family who never truly cared for her?
And what about Shaun? Could she continue to rely on him, knowing how much he had already sacrificed for her?
With a heavy heart, Catherine looked up at Shaun, wondering if he saw the same uncertainty in her eyes.