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Novel Catalog
Chapter 53
Catherine absorbed Joseph’s words with a mix of curiosity and surprise. She couldn’t help but draw the parallel between President Lyons and Shaun. Both successful businessmen, both with complicated family dynamics, and now both connected by their choice of interior design — though in very different ways.
Her mind briefly drifted back to her situation at home. How often did Shaun talk about his family’s expectations, his relationship with his relatives, and the invisible pressures that came with his success? Yet, here she was, working on a project that mirrored his own family’s complicated ties. It was almost as if she had stepped into a small, parallel world where everything felt strangely familiar, but just out of reach.
Joseph’s voice brought her back to the present. “Are you okay? This is an important project, and I’m confident you’ll do well. Just make sure to get the layout perfect and keep it discreet.”
Catherine nodded, pushing aside any lingering thoughts of Shaun. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.”
Joseph smiled approvingly before turning to leave. “Great. You’ve got this. I’ll check in with you later, but I have a meeting to attend now. Let me know if you need anything.”
As Joseph walked out, Catherine turned her attention to the blueprint. The large, detailed plans laid out before her were a far cry from the small, cramped spaces she’d worked on before. It felt like a challenge, but in a good way. A chance to prove herself, to carve her own space in a new world. She felt a spark of excitement she hadn’t felt in months.
The idea of working on something high-stakes like this was daunting, but in a way, it also felt like the fresh start she needed. It would give her a sense of purpose outside the mess with Shaun. She had been defined by family drama, by the shadow of her old relationships, but this job was hers alone — no strings attached.
As she dove into the blueprints, thinking of possible design ideas, the nagging thought of Shaun lingered in the back of her mind. She couldn’t help but wonder if his words earlier that morning had meant something more than his usual attempts at controlling her. The comment about her “going out dating again” stung. It wasn’t just jealousy; it was more like… ownership.
But that didn’t matter now. She was here, in a new environment, surrounded by new challenges and new people. For the first time in a while, she felt like she could breathe.
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Shaun had been trying to shake off his irritation. Watching Catherine leave, looking all businesslike and beautiful in her beige windbreaker, had left him feeling unsettled. Why did she have to dress like that? Why did she have to go off to some “new job” without so much as a second thought about him?
But deep down, he knew what bothered him the most: it wasn’t about her job or her independence. It was the fact that she was moving on without him. He wasn’t the center of her world anymore, and that made him feel… uneasy.
As he sat in his office later that day, the minutes ticking by slowly, he found himself replaying their earlier exchange. It was just a simple comment, but his mind fixated on the way she’d brushed him off. The thought of her with someone else, someone who genuinely cared about her, made his stomach twist.
The phone on his desk rang, pulling him out of his spiraling thoughts. It was Hadley.
“Mr. Hill, the meeting’s about to start. Are you ready?”
Shaun cleared his throat, pushing aside the unsettling feelings. “I’m ready,” he replied coldly, his voice flat.
But as he clicked the call off and prepared to step into yet another important meeting, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Catherine was slipping further and further away. And despite his best efforts, he didn’t know how to stop it.