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Novel Catalog
Chapter 94
Catherine’s heart sank as she looked at the damage surrounding her. The flooding was no accident, and the stakes were higher than she’d imagined. The new house, the one she had worked so hard to renovate, was now a mess, and it seemed like someone was determined to sabotage the entire project. Her mind immediately raced to potential culprits, but her focus snapped back to the situation at hand—how to prevent the project from completely falling apart.
As Builder John trembled, explaining the extent of the damage, she could see the panic in his eyes. He was worried about the consequences, and Catherine understood. If the water had seeped into the foundation, there could be structural damage that would delay the project for months, and Talton Design could be at risk of losing everything.
“I trust you, John,” she said firmly, trying to reassure him. Her voice had to remain steady, no matter how chaotic things seemed. “We’ll figure this out.”
Just as she was considering her next steps, the arrival of the Lyons family took her by surprise. They had clearly come to inspect Wesley’s new house, but Catherine couldn’t shake the suspicion that they were here for more than just a visit. As Sonya helped Elder Lyons out of the car, Catherine noticed the tension in their every movement. They weren’t just here for a leisurely tour—they were here to inspect, to see what damage had been done, or perhaps to push their own agenda.
She couldn’t let them see her in a vulnerable state. She had to act quickly and control the narrative.
Wesley’s voice, a little too casual, reached her ears as he spoke to Sonya. “Dad, I already said that we’ve just installed the water and electricity pipes. There’s nothing interesting to see just yet.”
But the damage to the house was enough to draw the attention of even the most oblivious visitor. Catherine felt a flash of anger at the thought of someone deliberately causing this disaster, and the suspicion that it could be connected to Rebecca, or even the Jones family, seemed more plausible than ever.
She couldn’t waste time now. The sabotage had to be investigated. Catherine’s mind was already spinning with a plan. If she couldn’t stop the damage from affecting the project’s timeline, she’d have to deal with the consequences later. But right now, she had to control what she could.
“I’ll deal with the flooding first,” she said to Builder John, her voice more resolute than before. “We need to salvage the integrity of the house.”
As she turned her attention back to the arriving guests, she straightened her back and put on her professional demeanor. Despite the anxiety building inside her, Catherine refused to let anyone see her sweat.
Sonya’s voice cut through her thoughts as she approached. “Catherine, what’s going on here? This doesn’t look good.”
Catherine met her gaze, refusing to show any weakness. “A little accident. I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”
Sonya raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with the vague explanation, but before she could probe further, Elder Lyons stepped forward, his sharp eyes taking in the damage.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” Elder Lyons’ voice was cool and calculating. “This doesn’t look like a small accident. You’re sure this isn’t something more serious?”
Catherine’s stomach twisted at the implication. She knew exactly what he was suggesting, but she refused to entertain it. “I’ll take full responsibility for any issues here. It was my project, and I’ll make sure it’s resolved. As for the cause, we’re still looking into it.”
Wesley shot her a sideways glance but said nothing. It was clear that even if they were trying to act indifferent, they were all paying attention to the unfolding drama. But Catherine wasn’t about to let them think she was an easy target.
She would find the person responsible for this sabotage, and she wouldn’t stop until they paid for it. But for now, she had to focus on damage control. There was no time to waste.