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Chapter 1
Slap!
A resounding slap echoed through the room as Catherine Jones’ mother struck her across the face.
“You’ve really let me down,” her mother scolded, her voice trembling with anger. “Your sister, Rebecca, has suffered for more than twenty years. And here you are, planning to take the man she loves from her. How shameless!”
Catherine’s hand flew to her cheek, her face burning with the sting of the blow. She stared at her mother, stunned. “Mom, Ethan is my boyfriend! How can you be so unreasonable?”
She had just returned home from a business trip to find her long-lost sister, Rebecca, sitting beside Ethan Lowe on the couch. Her sister, who had recently returned after years away, was clinging to Ethan’s arm with an intimacy that sent a shock through Catherine. On the other side of the couch sat Rebecca and Ethan’s parents, engaged in a friendly conversation.
But Ethan… he wasn’t just anyone to Catherine. He was her childhood sweetheart, the person she had shared her dreams and fears with.
Unable to contain her confusion and anger, Catherine marched toward Rebecca, her voice trembling as she confronted her. But before she could say anything further, her mother’s slap silenced her.
“Please, Mom, stop hitting Cathy!” Rebecca exclaimed, her voice filled with anxiety. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come back…”
Ethan quickly moved to hold Rebecca’s shoulders, his face etched with guilt. “No, Rebecca. It’s my fault. I’ve always seen Catherine as a sister, and that’s probably why she misunderstood my feelings.”
Catherine felt a wave of nausea wash over her. His words hit her like a physical blow, and the pain in her chest intensified.
Sister?
How could he call her a sister when he had promised her a future together? Why had he hugged her so tightly, whispering sweet nothings into her ear if she was nothing more than a sibling to him?
“Shut up!” Her voice broke, laced with disgust and disbelief.
“You’re the one who should shut your mouth,” Mrs. Jones retorted, her voice dripping with disdain. “Can’t you just be more tolerant of Rebecca, considering the hardships she’s faced these past twenty years?”
Catherine stood frozen, the words ringing in her ears. Tolerance? Was she supposed to give up the man she loved just because her sister had endured hardship? She wasn’t a saint.
Just then, Mr. Jones stood up, his expression cold. “Are you done? Ethan doesn’t love you. We’re here to discuss Rebecca’s engagement party. Go. You’re nothing but an eyesore here.”
Trembling, Catherine glanced at Ethan, who showed no emotion, and then at Rebecca, who was clinging to him. A wave of humiliation swept over her. The people she had cared for most were all taking Rebecca’s side.
Tears welled up in Catherine’s eyes. She wiped them away hastily, trying to regain her composure. Without a word, she grabbed her suitcase and left, not looking back.
Once she was behind the wheel of her Maserati, she drove aimlessly, not knowing where to go. Finally, she stopped and dialed her best friend, Freya Lynch.
“Come have a drink with me,” Catherine’s voice cracked, hoarse from the tears.
Freya immediately agreed. “Of course. I’ll be there in a minute.”
By the time Freya arrived at S1897 pub, Catherine had already finished an entire bottle of red wine on her own.
“You’re just in time,” Catherine said, her words slurring slightly. “I’ve ordered plenty. You’re not leaving until it’s all gone.”
She tossed Freya a bottle of beer and leaned back in her chair, her eyes heavy with the weight of everything that had happened.
“What’s going on?” Freya asked, concerned. “Where’s Ethan? Is he ignoring you?”
At the mention of Ethan’s name, Catherine felt a sharp pang in her heart.
“He’s leaving me… He’s going to get engaged to Rebecca.”
Freya’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What kind of crazy plot is this?”
Catherine explained what had happened that evening, her voice bitter with pain.
Freya shook her head. “This is unbelievable. You and Rebecca should be equally important to your parents. Are they out of their minds?”
Catherine forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Since Rebecca returned, all they care about is her. They’ve always wanted me to marry Ethan, but now that I’m serious about it, they say I’m immature. And Ethan… He promised me forever, yet he’s changed his mind just like that. I hate him.”
Her words caught in her throat, and Catherine began to choke on her sobs. She took another deep gulp from her wine bottle, but the taste of her tears mixed with the alcohol, making her dizzy.
“Don’t drink too much,” Freya cautioned, grabbing the bottle from her hands. “You know you can’t handle it. You’ll feel terrible.”
As Freya looked around the pub, her eyes landed on a figure in the corner. She gave Catherine a gentle nudge.
“Hey, look over there.”
Catherine followed her gaze. A man, dressed in a suit that didn’t quite fit the casual setting of the pub, sat in the dim light. He leaned back against the couch, exuding an effortless air of sophistication. The occasional spotlight hit his face, revealing his sharp features, which looked almost unreal—like something straight out of a comic book.
Catherine tried to avert her eyes, unimpressed. “No matter how handsome he is, I’m not in the mood to appreciate anything right now.”
Freya, however, seemed more intrigued. “That man is Ethan’s uncle.”
Catherine blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?”
Freya nodded. “I overheard my brother at a cocktail party. He said Ethan’s uncle is a clever man, managing a company abroad. Even Zachary Lowe—Ethan’s father—has to follow his lead.”
Catherine’s eyes narrowed. An idea began to form in her mind.
“Well… What do you think would happen if I married his uncle?”
Freya nearly choked on her drink, staring at Catherine in disbelief. “Say that again?”
Catherine’s gaze shifted back to the mysterious figure in the corner, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
“Since I can’t become the Lowe family’s daughter-in-law, I’ll settle for being Ethan’s aunt. Let’s see how long that shameless couple can keep up their charade.”
