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Novel Catalog
Chapter 87
Catherine stood frozen, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. Wesley’s words echoed in her mind, but she couldn’t quite process them. Did he just say what she thought he did? Her former lover, Ethan, being told that his ex might one day become his aunt? It felt surreal.
Ethan’s face turned from pure anger to shock, his eyes wide as the weight of Wesley’s statement hit him. He glanced from Wesley to Catherine, his mind struggling to catch up with the situation. “What… what do you mean?” he stammered, his voice faltering for the first time in what felt like ages.
Wesley remained calm, his presence solid as a wall between the two of them. “What I mean, Ethan, is that Catherine has every right to make her own choices. Whether she chooses to build a future with someone else—perhaps even me—that’s her decision. But for you to treat her the way you have… it’s beyond reproach.”
Catherine couldn’t help but glance at Wesley, her heart racing with conflicting emotions. She had never expected this—Wesley, a man so composed and reserved, defending her like this, speaking of possibilities she had never considered. It was as though he had stepped into a role she never knew she needed.
Her voice was barely a whisper as she looked at Ethan, the anger still simmering beneath her calm exterior. “You’ve never cared about me, Ethan. You’ve only cared about what you could gain, about controlling everything around you. And now, you’re standing here, blaming me for the fallout of your own actions.”
Ethan clenched his fists, frustration and disbelief warring inside him. “I didn’t want any of this to happen, Catherine. You know that. But you pushed me to this point!” His voice trembled with emotion, but his anger was still palpable.
Catherine’s lips curled into a small, bitter smile. “No, Ethan. I didn’t push you. You pushed yourself. You and Rebecca, Cindy—everyone who turned their back on me when it was convenient.” Her eyes were cold now, sharper than they had ever been with him. “You want to blame me? Fine. But don’t think for a second that I’ll let you control the narrative anymore.”
She turned away from him, her gaze meeting Wesley’s as she finally let out a deep breath. “I’ve had enough.”
Wesley, sensing her need for space, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder before stepping forward to face Ethan directly. “You may have your family’s approval and your reputation, Ethan, but remember this: It’s actions that truly define a person. The way you’ve treated Catherine today? That will be your legacy.”
There was a pause as the words sank in. Ethan’s shoulders slumped, the fight slowly draining from him. His reputation—his future—had always been his focus. But now, for the first time, he had no words. He wasn’t just defeated; he was humiliated.
Wesley glanced back at Catherine, his voice softening. “Let’s go.”
Catherine nodded, her expression unreadable, but beneath it, there was a sense of finality. The chaos of the ceremony, the lies, the drama—it was all behind her now. With Wesley by her side, she walked toward the elevator, leaving Ethan standing there, still stunned, still grappling with the consequences of his own choices.