跳过内容
Novel Catalog
Chapter 57
Shaun barely glanced at her as he continued to work on his laptop. “Do whatever you want,” he muttered, his voice indifferent.
Catherine bit her lip, trying to hold back her frustration. She could feel the resentment building up inside her, but she didn’t want to snap at him. Instead, she grabbed her purse and moved toward the door, forcing a smile.
“I’ll be back soon,” she said, her tone light, as if everything were perfectly fine. But she knew better. The tension in the air was palpable, and as she closed the door behind her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. What was he hiding?
She walked aimlessly through the streets of Melbourne, her thoughts swirling like a whirlwind. The birthday party, the engagement ceremony, her strained relationship with Shaun—it all felt like too much. She didn’t need this confusion, this emotional tug-of-war. She needed clarity.
Freya’s message pinged again, breaking her from her reverie.
Freya: [Don’t let him get to you. He’s just being difficult. Maybe he’s not the guy you think he is. If he’s really that cold, is he even worth your time?]
Catherine stopped in her tracks, considering the words. Was Freya right? Could it be that she had been seeing things through a rose-colored lens, convinced that Shaun’s aloofness meant something deeper? She shook her head, trying to push away the doubt.
Maybe Freya was right. Maybe it was time to stop trying to read into Shaun’s every action. But her heart didn’t want to let go that easily. She had thought that, at the very least, Shaun would care enough to show a bit of warmth. Instead, he was distant—an iceberg in human form.
Catherine’s phone buzzed again, this time with a call from Joseph. She answered it almost reflexively.
“Catherine, I’ve got something for you to look at,” Joseph’s voice came through the line. “The design revisions for the Green Mountain project—could you come in tomorrow and review them? There are a few changes I want your input on.”
She paused, taking a deep breath. “I’ll be there,” she replied.
After hanging up, she found herself standing still on the sidewalk, staring out at the city. It was all so overwhelming. The impending engagement, the drama with Shaun, her own uncertain future—it was hard to focus on anything other than the constant pressure weighing down on her shoulders.
Catherine started walking again, this time with more purpose. She didn’t have all the answers yet, but she couldn’t keep dwelling on the things she couldn’t control.
The night was cool and quiet, the streets of Melbourne bathed in the glow of streetlights. As she walked past a café, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face through the window. Ethan.
He was sitting with Rebecca, his arm casually resting on her shoulder as they chatted and laughed. Catherine’s heart clenched, and for a moment, she just stood there, frozen, watching the life that could have been hers.
She wanted to turn away, to leave before either of them noticed her, but something inside her stopped her. She could no longer run from the past. If she was going to face everything that had happened, she had to do it head-on.
Catherine took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
“Mind if I join you?” she asked, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart.
Ethan’s head snapped up, and for a brief moment, his eyes flickered with surprise. He smiled, though it was laced with that familiar smugness. “Catherine. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Rebecca’s smile was equally forced as she gestured to the empty seat. “Of course, join us.”
Catherine sat down, her gaze flicking between the two of them. This is it. She was done with running away from them, from her past, from the painful truth.
“What’s the occasion?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light, though the bitterness lingered beneath. “The engagement ceremony preparations going well?”
Rebecca’s smile faltered for a moment, and Ethan cleared his throat. “Everything’s fine,” he said with a shrug. “You’ll be there, won’t you? It’s only right that you show up to your grandmother’s birthday.”
Catherine’s fingers tightened around her purse. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her discomfort.
“I’ll be there,” she replied, meeting his gaze squarely. “But just so you know, I’m not there to celebrate you. I’m there for my grandmother.”
Ethan’s smile slipped a fraction, but he quickly recovered. “Of course. We’ll see you then.”
Catherine didn’t stay much longer. She excused herself with a curt nod, standing up and heading out before either of them could say anything else.
As she stepped back onto the street, the cool night air hit her like a breath of fresh air. She had made her point, and maybe that was all that mattered. But deep down, she knew she had a lot more to figure out, especially with Shaun. He wasn’t the man she thought he was, but that didn’t mean she had to give up on herself.
Tomorrow was another day, and she would face it head-on, no matter how complicated it got.