跳过内容
Novel Catalog
Chapter 4
Catherine took a taxi directly to the Jones family’s house, the weight of her emotions heavy on her chest. By the time she arrived, Mr. Jones had already left for work. She rushed upstairs to grab her birth certificate, determined to move forward. As she entered the living room, she saw Rebecca coming out of the study, her arms full of documents.
Rebecca appeared as pristine as always with her black bob and flawless complexion.
“You’re finally back, Sis. I was so worried about you after what happened yesterday,” Rebecca said, her tone tinged with guilt. “But, you know, Ethan really isn’t into you. You can’t force someone to love you.”
Catherine shot her a cold, calculated look. “Enough with the act. There’s no one else here, so stop pretending. I honestly underestimated you before this.”
Rebecca’s eyes filled with quick, fake tears. “Please, don’t treat me like this,” she begged, biting her lip. “I’ll give in to your demands. I won’t get involved in company matters anymore. I’ll just hand you these documents.”
Without another word, Rebecca shoved the documents into Catherine’s hands. But Catherine found the gesture suspicious and instinctively pushed them away. As a result, the papers scattered across the floor.
“What’s going on here?” a voice called out.
Sally Lennon, Rebecca and Catherine’s mother, appeared at the top of the stairs, surveying the scene. She immediately noticed the documents on the floor and Rebecca’s tear-streaked face.
“Aren’t these the company documents your father asked you to go through?” Sally asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t be mad at her, Mom. It’s my fault,” Rebecca said in a panicked voice, her face pale. “Cathy told me to stop handling company matters and pass these to her. I was just about to give them to her, but she’s upset about Ethan, so—”
“Stop with the nonsense,” Catherine cut in, frustration bubbling over.
Sally’s gaze hardened as she glared at Catherine. “Who do you think you are, getting involved with company matters?” she snapped. “Your father and I instructed Rebecca to go through the documents. She’ll officially take on the role of manager next week. So you’d better stay in your place.”
Catherine stood frozen, incredulous. “What gives Rebecca the right to jump straight into a managerial position? When it comes to education and experience, I’m more qualified than she is. I’ve worked here longer than her, and I’m still not even a manager!”
Rebecca immediately interrupted, her voice trembling with feigned innocence. “Mom, I’d rather not become manager. I don’t want to ruin things between Cathy and me,” she said, sobbing.
Sally’s heart visibly ached. “Look how much Rebecca cares about your sisterhood, Cathy. What about you? You’ve always been narrow-minded and calculating. It’s no wonder Ethan chose Rebecca instead.”
The harsh words hit Catherine like a blow. How could her mother be so biased, so willing to believe every word Rebecca said? Catherine had spent her whole life by Sally’s side, but it was clear her mother favored Rebecca, no matter the situation.
For the first time, Catherine realized that no one was on her side—not even her own mother. She had been alone in all of this, and she couldn’t help but feel the sting of betrayal.
A sharp anger rushed through her veins, hotter than she’d ever felt before. Taking two steps back, Catherine’s voice shook with barely contained fury. “Fine. If I’m so terrible, I’ll leave, okay?”
Without waiting for a response, she stormed to her room, grabbed a suitcase, and began stuffing her clothes into it.
Rebecca’s voice came from the door. “Mom, Cathy’s mad. Should we talk to her and stop her from leaving?”
Sally dismissed her. “Don’t bother with her. That’s just how she is. She’s been spoiled too much. She’ll be back in a couple of days. Let’s go buy you some clothes for your engagement.”
The voices became distant as Catherine’s tears began to fall, mixing with the frustration she couldn’t hold back any longer. She made her way down the stairs, her suitcase in hand, and then left the house without a word.
Once in her car, Catherine felt an overwhelming sense of loss. Why was everyone treating her like this? She hadn’t done anything wrong. As she drove away, the anger inside her only grew, and she clenched the steering wheel, her knuckles white.
Forty minutes later, she arrived at the registry office. She saw a man standing there, dressed sharply in a crisp white T-shirt and black trousers. His tall, sturdy frame exuded an effortless confidence.
She parked her car quickly and rushed over to him, relief and surprise in her voice. “You actually came.”
Shaun turned to face her, immediately noticing the lingering scent of alcohol on her. “Didn’t you take a bath?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Catherine felt heat rise to her cheeks. “I drank too much last night. I was already unconscious when I got home, and I was in such a rush this morning that…” She trailed off, embarrassed. “I usually take baths every day. I like to keep myself clean, really.”
She noticed the way he looked at her, the disdain creeping into his expression. A small pang of self-consciousness hit her.
She studied him carefully. Under the dim lighting of a bar, he had seemed incredibly handsome. Now, in the daylight, he was no less striking—if anything, he was even more so. His features were elegant and cool, his skin flawless. Catherine could feel the eyes of other young women who were entering the registry office, clearly admiring him.
One woman commented, “What a handsome man.”
Her companion agreed. “The girl’s pretty, too.”
Another woman remarked, “They make a great couple. Their future kids will probably be gorgeous. Unlike ours…”
Shaun’s voice cut through the air, his tone sharp. “We won’t be having kids.”
Catherine was caught off guard, unable to say anything in response.
Shaun’s next words were blunt. “We’ll divorce in three years. I’ll give you enough money to live the rest of your life. I won’t meet your family. Think it over carefully. If you can’t accept this deal, you’re free to leave.”
The words felt like a punch to her gut. She had thought, even hoped, that Shaun might be interested in her, but now it was clear this was just a business transaction for him.
Despite her shock, Catherine nodded, forcing herself to remain calm. “Alright.”
The two of them entered the registry office and went through the motions. When it came time to take photos, the cameraman was unsatisfied with the result. “Can you two get closer? Look sweet. And sir, could you please smile?”
Shaun’s impatience was palpable, but Catherine immediately looped her arm through his, giving him a sweet smile. “His facial nerves were damaged, so he suffers from facial paralysis. Please don’t push him any further. Just let him be.”
Shaun shot her a cold, icy glare. Catherine whispered into his ear, her voice teasing and bold. “You’d better stop talking if you want these photos to end quickly.”
Her scent lingered in his ear, making him feel a strange sensation, but he said nothing, his gaze hardening even more.