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Novel Catalog
Chapter 71
Catherine’s mind was hazy as she sat up groggily, still disoriented from her feverish sleep. She glanced at her phone screen, seeing Freya’s name flashing across it. Her throat tightened, and her stomach churned. How could she answer her friend’s questions after everything that had happened?
Trying to mask the bitterness in her voice, Catherine answered, “It didn’t go as planned.”
“Did you manage to…?” Freya’s voice trailed off as she sensed Catherine’s hesitation.
“No, I didn’t.” Catherine paused, feeling the weight of the words. “I… I made a huge mistake.”
There was silence on the other end of the line, and Catherine could almost hear the concern building in Freya’s voice. “What happened? Did Shaun find out what you did?”
Catherine closed her eyes, feeling a lump form in her throat. “Yes. He found out, and he’s… he’s furious. He hates me now. He said he regretted ever marrying me, that he should have never saved me at the manor.”
Freya gasped, and for a moment, Catherine could hear her frantically trying to process the situation. “Catherine, I… I didn’t think it would go that far. I thought you were just going to get his attention, not… hurt him like this.”
“I didn’t mean to,” Catherine whispered, her voice shaking. “I just thought if I showed him how much I cared, maybe he’d come around. But instead, I pushed him away even more. I… I don’t know how to fix this.”
There was a long pause before Freya spoke again, this time softer, more understanding. “I’m really sorry, Catherine. I know you only wanted to make things right, but sometimes, our actions have consequences we don’t expect. You’ve got to give him time to cool off, and… and maybe you should focus on taking care of yourself too.”
Catherine felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She had been so consumed by the idea of making things work that she hadn’t thought through the consequences. Now she was facing the fallout, and it seemed like Shaun’s anger might be irreparable.
“I know,” Catherine murmured, a tear slipping down her cheek. “But what if it’s too late? What if I’ve ruined everything?”
“Don’t give up yet,” Freya urged. “You’re strong, Catherine. You can fix this, but you need to show Shaun that you respect him and give him the space he needs. And maybe… think about what you really want, too.”
Catherine wiped away the tear, nodding even though Freya couldn’t see it. She didn’t know if she could ever make things right with Shaun, but one thing was certain—she needed to stop using manipulation to win his love. It was time to face the reality of their relationship and decide what her next steps would be.
“Thanks, Freya,” she said quietly, feeling a little more grounded. “I’ll try.”
The conversation ended, but Catherine’s heart remained heavy with regret. She knew she couldn’t undo what had happened, but she also knew she had to try to move forward—whether that meant fixing things with Shaun or learning to let go.