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Novel Catalog
Chapter 84
Catherine’s eyes darted across the room, her heartbeat quickening. She could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze shifting to her as whispers filled the air. The photos, the memories, everything was being laid bare before the guests. The sight of those photos on the screen was a painful reminder of a time she had tried so hard to move on from. Ethan and her, young, innocent, and full of hope, now distorted by the cruel circumstances that had torn them apart.
Jeffery’s fury was palpable, his face turning crimson as he stormed toward the emcee. The guests murmured in confusion, some casting sidelong glances at Catherine, who remained seated with her grandmother, trying her best to maintain composure.
The emcee, flustered by the sudden outburst, stammered, “I—I apologize, Mr. Jones. It seems there was a mix-up with the presentation.” He quickly scrambled to end the awkward moment, but the damage had already been done.
Catherine’s mind was racing. Who could have done this? The photos were too personal, too intimate. There was no way she would have arranged this herself—after all, she had nothing left to prove to anyone, especially not Rebecca or Ethan. But then who? Who had the motive to humiliate her in front of all these people?
Cindy’s mocking words earlier echoed in her mind. “I realize no one can be more shameless than the three of you.” Could it have been her? The thought made Catherine’s blood boil, but it also sparked a sinking realization that Cindy, with her passive-aggressive remarks and veiled intentions, might have been behind this.
Her gaze shifted to Rebecca and Ethan, who both stood frozen, their smiles now tight and strained. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut through. Ethan avoided her eyes, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. Rebecca, on the other hand, was seething with silent rage, her perfectly crafted demeanor cracking at the edges.
“Cathy…” a voice from the side startled her. It was Wesley, who had been watching the scene unfold from the other side of the room. He approached her with a calm demeanor, but there was a glint of concern in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
Catherine barely registered his question. She didn’t know if it was the sudden rush of emotions or the shock from the public embarrassment, but she felt numb. “Fine,” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper. “This is just another game they’re playing.”
Wesley looked between her and the chaos erupting around them. “You don’t need to stay here,” he said quietly. “You’ve already done your part by being here for your grandmother. You don’t have to endure this.”
The last thing Catherine wanted was to show weakness in front of these people, but her resolve was slipping. The image of her grandmother, so frail and vulnerable, flashed before her eyes. She couldn’t let this moment be tainted by this charade. She stood up, her movements deliberate, as she turned toward her grandmother and gently wheeled her chair away from the table.
“Excuse me, everyone,” she said coldly, her voice carrying through the room, silencing the whispers. “I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for any response, she walked out of the banquet hall, feeling the eyes of every guest burn into her back. The only sound that filled the space was the soft clink of the chair’s wheels rolling across the floor.
As they made their way through the corridors of the venue, Catherine’s chest tightened. She didn’t care about the engagement ceremony, or what Rebecca and Ethan had planned. What hurt the most was the betrayal that came from the people she once called family. They were using her, manipulating her, and now they were trying to break her.
But Catherine was done playing by their rules.
Wesley, who had followed her, stopped in front of her, blocking her path. “Catherine, don’t let them win.”
She met his gaze, and for the first time that night, she allowed herself a small, bitter smile. “They’ve already won, Wesley. They’ve taken everything from me. The least I can do is take control of my own exit.”
She turned back to her grandmother, who looked up at her with understanding in her eyes, her weak smile a silent testament to the bond they shared. Catherine leaned down and kissed her grandmother’s forehead gently.
“I’ll be back soon, Grandma. I promise,” she whispered.
As they left the venue, the weight of the day’s events slowly began to settle in. Catherine knew this wasn’t over. But one thing was clear: she would never let them have the final word.