CRASH! Papers were scattered all over the floor, and Arsila screamed angrily, her hands pulling at her messy hair. Her encounter with Catherine at the charity event a few hours ago had shattered her composure.
Catherine had entrapped Arsila by handing her a photo of the affair between herself and Keenan from a year ago.
Arsila laughed sardonically. "No, I can just tell everyone that the photo was doctored by someone untrustworthy!"
The woman grabbed her phone and called her assistant. "Sam, invite Catherine and her agency for dinner next week. Tell them that the company's stock is gradually rising thanks to Catherine's influence."
After that, Arsila tidied up and left her office. She picked up her car keys, but before she could go, Biana approached her.
"Catherine Chandra is the talk of the town," Biana said, stopping Arsila in her tracks. "You were very reckless in hiring that woman as the company's model."
Arsila took a deep breath, then turned to her mother-in-law. "I've calculated everything I'm going to do, and I assure you that woman will always be under my heel."
Biana clicked her tongue sarcastically. "Under your heel? Why are you so confident?" Biana threw a piece of paper at her daughter-in-law.
"Read it, and you'll understand why you're so reckless and arrogant!"
Arsila froze, reading every word on the paper. "Daughter of the Chandra family, owners of the largest fashion and jewelry business in New York," she muttered.
Arsila's body trembled. The truth about Catherine and her actual identity sent shivers down her spine.
"She's the daughter of a powerful family, her father just launched a new business and is preparing for a major acquisition in France and New York. You know, a hundred times your wealth wouldn't even come close to matching the Chandra family's influence," Biana said.
Arsila's head throbbed, and this revelation made her quite anxious. The photo of her past affair that Catherine had and the real identity of the woman had made Arsila lose her confidence.
"Mother, I don't care about her at all. I'm still Arsila Gistara; I'm also great and wealthy. I'm the wife of Keenan Hart, a highly respected man in this country. So, Catherine doesn't scare me!" Arsila said arrogantly.
Biana nodded, approaching her daughter-in-law and lightly tapping her shoulder. "Stay arrogant, maintain your business, and keep your marriage intact."
Arsila frowned. "What do you mean, Mother?"
"Just so you know, if I had known from the beginning that Catherine was a powerful and wealthy daughter... I would never have allowed my son to have sex with you a year ago," Biana said, striking at Arsila's pride.
"After thinking about it, you're just like a prostitute who sold herself for a man. So now you have to keep our family happy and don't disappoint us; please keep your wealth so we won't have to discard you."
Arsila growled, and she yanked Biana's hand roughly. "Who do you think you are, Mother? I was willing to be your son's mistress because I felt sorry for you! Wasn't it a year ago that your company was on the brink of bankruptcy?!"
Biana was about to yell at her daughter-in-law for her words.
"Isn't that true? You were nearly bankrupt, so you let Keenan have an affair with me. You asked for my money, and I saved your company."
Arsila whispered sarcastically, "You should be careful, Mother. I can leave you at any time, and Catherine may not even want to come back to Keenan. You can become destitute at any time because I'm the one holding the reins over you."
"ARSILA, WATCH YOUR TONE—"
"Oh, and by the way, I also know all your husband's dirty secrets; how he loves having affairs and sleeping with multiple women at once."
CRASH! Arsila pulled at the hem of Biana's nightgown until it tore. "Even this expensive nightgown you're wearing, I bought it with my money. So be careful because I won't stand idly by if you try to separate me from Keenan."
***
Catherine closed her eyes as Dhira gently massaged her shoulders and soaked her feet in a large bowl filled with hot water, aromatherapy, and rose petals.
"You look tired," a deep baritone voice startled both friends.
"Dad?!" exclaimed Catherine, while Dhira instinctively stepped back and bowed in greeting.
Noel Chandra, Catherine's father, patted his daughter's head and gave a quick kiss on top of her head.
"Surprised? It's like you haven't seen your father in ages, but we only haven't met for a few months," Noel said.
Catherine nearly cried but then moved to sit beside him. "Dad, why didn't you tell me you were coming home today?"
"To surprise you. I wanted to see my daughter, whose face is now being talked about all over the country." Noel smiled proudly. "I almost cried seeing you featured in various media outlets...."
"It felt like I was seeing my little girl whose name shined years ago. I'm proud of you, Catherine," Noel said.
Catherine, Dhira, and Keira, who were in the room, couldn't hide their emotions. Catherine had truly regained her former self.
"Dad, I just need your support because you always know I have a purpose in everything I do," Catherine replied.
Noel nodded. "Ah, after some thought, there's something I want to discuss with you. It's about the company—"
"Papa, Catherine just recovered, and she's only recently started meeting people. You're already talking about the company?" Keira interrupted.
"Mom, let Dad talk. It's been a while since I got involved with your business matters. I also want to learn," Catherine said.
Keira reluctantly let Noel continue.
"So, I recently built a business relationship with a jewelry entrepreneur in Les Halles. They're also planning to open a branch in New York, and I'm willing to provide capital for them, but with the condition of an acquisition," Noel said.
"An acquisition? Isn't the process quite lengthy, Dad?"
"Yes, and I want you to be the chairman. I want my beautiful daughter to be just as great as her parents. Your face is already recognized by many as bearing the Chandra name, but they don't know that your name isn't just any name," Noel said enthusiastically.
Catherine sighed, glancing briefly at Dhira. "Dad, I'm ready to do whatever it takes, but... can you trust me with everything? You always know that I can handle anything as long as I have control over it."
Noel and Keira both nodded. "Your mother has told me everything about your plans, and I think you need a lot of connections to take down your enemies."
Catherine wasn't sure if she was ready for all the consequences, but she couldn't pass up her parents' offer. She also had a friend like Dhira, who always supported her, and Svarga, who was ready to mediate all her activities.
"Dad, you forgot one thing...." Keira reminded him, then whispered something to her husband. Noel nodded, holding Catherine's hand and patting it gently.
"There's one crucial thing you need to know, and this could impact your future success," Noel said.
Catherine adjusted her posture, facing her father. "What is it?"
"You're working with Svarga, right?"
"Yes, I'm still a model in his company, and I'll be the brand ambassador for Gistara's skincare brand for the next three months."
"Good, just recently, Svarga and I discussed many things, and we agreed to create a significant collaboration by merging our company's branches into a new business division."
"Really? How's that going to work?"
Noel handed Catherine a red velvet box, and simultaneously, a text message from a man surprised her.
"Marry me, Cath."That was the message Svarga sent to Catherine. A velvet box containing two gold rings set with diamonds added to the atmosphere, making Catherine's heart race."Marry Svarga, dear," said Noel.Catherine closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, then her small lips said, "Papa, this is too soon.""So, are you rejecting him?""N-no, it's not like that. You and Mama surely know why I'm not ready for marriage. My wounds haven't healed, and I've just met the main person responsible for inflicting such deep wounds on me."Noel and Keira exchanged glances, regret in their eyes as they looked at their daughter's pale and sorrowful face. Indirectly, they also played a part in Catherine's mental setback."I need time, maybe not now, or whenever… I must reconcile and discuss things with my heart and mind.""Mr. and Mrs. Chandra, sorry to interrupt your conversation. It seems Catherine needs to rest now since tomorrow is
Svarga was seen intimately wrapping his arm around Arsila's waist, with Keenan following behind them carrying several shopping bags. They seemed close, their carefree faces only intensifying the turmoil in Catherine's chest."Let's go, Dhira," Catherine urged."Aren't you curious?"Catherine turned away, not wanting to let her thoughts tangle, and her heart was unsettled just to see two people who had hurt her. She was now laughing happily with someone she trusted."Svarga seems very close with Arsila," Dhira commented."They're business partners," Catherine replied.Dhira felt awkward and sped up the car without saying another word.The pounding in Catherine's heart slowly subsided, but her eyes were still teary after seeing Keenan and all the memories they had shared.They had once adored each other, professing love and expressing affection every day. Keenan, who rarely showed warmth, had been very attentive to her. He had ma
"It seems so hard to even find, let alone meet you after you married Keenan." Liam, a man who is an old friend of Catherine Chandra, raised his glass, inviting the woman's glass to clink with his.Catherine smiled, her eyes winking to the side. "I love Keenan, and I have to be a good wife to him by not seeing other men like you."The two old friends laughed heartily. Tonight, Liam met Catherine because he wanted to invite her to rejoin their company."You're beautiful and talented, Cath, but I admire that you're willing to give everything up for your husband. Ah, you're even more beautiful now that you're married." Liam teased as he folded the black folder that had been open all this time."I just don't want to be a disobedient wife." Catherine chuckled softly. "You also know, it was very difficult for me to find a well-established man like Keenan."Catherine's phone rang softly, and an alarm for tonight's schedule prompted her to grab her clutch and stand up. "I have to go tonight."
The Divorce Papers. Catherine sat with a vacant look at a deserted bus stop. It was 11 p.m., and there weren't many people on the streets—just a faint breeze and flashes of lightning indicating that rain would soon follow.The white folder Keenan had given her was still in her hand. Catherine didn't know whether she should go home tonight or not.What she experienced from her husband's behavior was truly heartbreaking. She felt she had no more chances, and even Biana, who had been like a mother to her, had joined in mocking her."You're still here." A woman suddenly stood before Catherine, crossing her arms over her chest.Arsila, the woman who had enjoyed the warmth of the bed with Keenan just a few hours ago, stood confidently, with a malicious smile, watching Catherine's misfortune."Admit your defeat and end this cheap drama you've created. You should bow your head before me, so Keenan doesn't have to divorce you," said Arsila.Catherine gave a faint smile, her body drained of en
Keenan opened his desk drawer, searching for a file he had left behind that he needed to bring to the office. But he accidentally stumbled upon a thick white envelope among the documents."What's this?" he muttered as he opened the envelope.Keenan was shocked to find a pregnancy test with two red lines and a doctor's report in Catherine Chandra's name.Keenan froze, reading the contents and recalling Catherine's words from their last meeting."What are you looking at?"Keenan turned, unable to hide the envelope in time, as Arsila had already snatched it."You kept it?" Arsila asked curtly."I just found it; I don't know how long it's been there," Keenan replied."Do you regret leaving Catherine?"Keenan shook his head. He touched Arsila's cheek and kissed her gently on her thin lips. "You're my life, Arsila. I never regret leaving anyone for you. You've helped me a lot, you're my breath and soul."Arsila blushed; just a few words from Keenan were enough to calm her down."I'm afraid
The elevator door sounded as a man in a dark blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves stepped out. His confident and long strides carried him to the trainee training room.His face lit up with admiration as he saw a woman he missed dearly elegantly moving into the room."You're healthy, and I hope you're always happy, Catherine," Svarga said as he opened the door to the room.A trainer, noticing the company's boss arriving, asked Catherine to stop. She greeted him while Catherine stood frozen as Svarga walked toward her."Can we have the room to ourselves for a moment?" Svarga asked the female trainer.It was just the two of them now, only Catherine and Svarga."You—" Catherine found herself at a loss for words, her tongue-tied."Thank you for coming back. I'm happy to see you," Svarga said softly.Tears streamed down Catherine's cheeks; seeing Svarga was like a refreshing breeze entering her body, which had felt hollow for so long."Svarga...."The man hugged Catherine, rubbing the back of