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Novel Catalog
Chapter 81
“Catherine, darling, it’s been so long!” Sally said, her voice dripping with sweetness as she hugged Catherine tightly, almost too tightly. “You’ve been keeping to yourself lately. I hope you haven’t been letting those people get to you.”
Catherine’s heart tightened, but she quickly masked her emotions with a neutral smile. “I’m just fine, Aunt Sally.”
Sally pulled back but kept a hand on Catherine’s arm, her eyes sparkling with a mix of fake concern and something more calculating. “You know, darling, it must be tough for you. Being away from Ethan and all.” She glanced sideways at Jeffery, who was standing a little farther away, clearly watching the exchange with interest. “But don’t worry. We’re all family here, and we want the best for you.”
Catherine’s smile faltered for just a second, but she quickly regained composure. “Thank you for your concern. I’m not here to discuss personal matters though. I’m here for Grandma’s birthday.”
Sally’s expression softened, but Catherine could see the calculating gleam in her eyes. It was the same kind of look Catherine had learned to spot so well over the years. Sally was always playing a game, manipulating everyone around her for her own benefit.
As the two of them stood there, Catherine couldn’t help but notice the way Sally’s hand lingered on her arm, as if trying to assert some kind of control over her. She pulled her arm away subtly, feeling uncomfortable under Sally’s touch.
“Let’s go inside, shall we?” Jeffery’s voice suddenly cut through the tension, and he walked over, placing a hand on Sally’s shoulder. “We wouldn’t want to miss the celebrations.”
Catherine nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She felt trapped in a web of manipulation and false affection, and the only way out was to keep her distance from these people.
As they made their way toward the banquet hall, Catherine’s mind raced. It wasn’t just Sally and Jeffery that bothered her—she could feel the weight of the entire Jones family’s expectations pressing down on her. Everyone was watching, waiting for her to slip up, to fail. But Catherine wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction.
They reached the entrance to the hall, and Catherine couldn’t help but notice the grandiosity of it all. The decorations were elaborate, the guests were all impeccably dressed, and the atmosphere was almost suffocating with wealth and power. This was the world she had once thought she could belong to, the world that had promised her everything but delivered only pain and betrayal.
But not anymore.
She squared her shoulders and walked in, determined to be the woman she needed to be—not for anyone else, but for herself. The moment she stepped into the lavish ballroom, she felt the eyes of the guests on her. They whispered among themselves, gossiping, speculating about her presence, but Catherine didn’t let it faze her. She was here for Granny, and that was the only reason that mattered.
As she made her way through the crowd, she noticed a familiar face in the corner of the room—Wesley. His eyes met hers for a brief moment, and he gave her a subtle nod. Catherine couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort in his presence. Unlike the others, he didn’t seem interested in controlling her or judging her. He was just… there.
She gave him a small smile before turning her attention back to the party. The engagement ceremony would begin soon, and Catherine knew she had to keep her focus on her grandmother and not get lost in the drama of the Jones family.
But as she stood by her grandmother, Catherine couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight would be the beginning of something more—something she had been waiting for, though she didn’t quite know what it was yet.
The night unfolded, the noise and laughter blending with the soft hum of music, but Catherine remained still, grounded in her resolve. No matter what anyone thought of her, she was not going to let this night be about anything but the one thing that truly mattered—family.