CATHERINE’s POV I hadn't planned on coming back. But here I was, standing on the doorstep of home,Wales, the familiar scent of the damp earth and blooming flowers pulling at my memories. Lydia, opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the sight of me and the box beside me. I did it, I left Alexander Clifford, and I could feel pain all the way to my soul. "Catherine?" she breathed, her voice trembling slightly as if she couldn't quite believe it. Before I could respond, she pulled me into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around me with a desperation that nearly broke me. I buried my face in her shoulder, the scent of her lavender soap filling my senses as the tears I had held back for so long finally broke free. "I'm so sorry, Mom," I sobbed, my voice muffled against her shoulder. I felt her hand stroke the back of my head gently, her own breath hitching with pain and worry. "Shh, it's okay, sweetheart," she whispered, holding me even tighter. "You're home n
Catherine’s POV I slammed the glass door behind me, my hand was stiff with rage, pent-up rage. I barely made it two steps inside when his voice boomed, blasting through the tension that had been building since I set foot on the patio. "You will go back!" Dominic Kent barked from across the room, his voice was garnished with authority, as if he still had that kind of control over me. I whirled around, my heart pounding in my chest. "No, I won’t!" I shot back, my voice was trembling, not from fear but from the sheer exhaustion of fighting him at every turn. Dominic stood near the fireplace, his tall frame was rigid, his broad shoulders were tense beneath his tailored suit. His eyes were dark and piercing, like they were trained on me like a predator on its prey. He looked like the man who had built an empire from nothing—a man who was used to getting what he wanted, no matter the cost. A man who terrified me for most of my adulthood but not anymore. I was not going to let anyone te
Catherine’s POV As I stood in the grand hall, sipping a glass of the newly launched wine, I couldn't help but feel a strange breeze of emotions. The gown I wore, a glowing red that flowed elegantly to the floor, made me feel powerful, yet I was anything but. I was speaking with Adolpho, who had a way of making the worst situations seem manageable. We were chatting about nothing in particular, my laughter was forced, my eyes occasionally drifting over the room. And then I saw him—Alexander. It had been three whole weeks since I left Sussex and him, determined to never return and there he was—characteristically cool. He had the audacity to fly all the way to Wales after everything he'd done. My heart skipped a beat, but not out of love or longing. It was rage, pure and unfiltered, coursing through me the moment our eyes met. His presence was a hard reminder of all that had gone wrong, all that he had ruined. He started walking toward me, with that domineering, consuming stare in his
Catherine’s POV Alexander disappeared into the crowd, I stood there, my emotions spiraling out of control. I felt anger, sadness, and almost an odd sense of relief. On one hand I wanted to be done with him forever and I was glad I had even found the will to distance myself from him but on the other hand, I was tempted to try him one more time, to see if it was actually going to be different. Adolpho returned to my side, his eyes searching my face for any sign of how I was feeling. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I knew he could see through the facade. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice was gentle, but the tension in his jaw revealed the anger still hovering beneath his calm exterior. I nodded, though I didn’t trust myself to speak just yet. My lips still tingled from Alexander’s kiss, and I felt the tears threatening to spill. I swallowed hard, forcing them back. I wouldn’t cry, not here, not in front of everyone. I couldn’t afford to show any more weakness. “Let’s ge
Alexander’s POV I stood by the jet on the tarmac, nerves fluttering in my stomach. Catherine had finally arrived, and as soon as I saw her, a genuine smile broke across my face. I walked towards her, my heart racing. “You came,” I said, my voice filled with a relief and joy. “I did,” she replied, her voice soft and steady. I took her hand, feeling a surge of warmth at her touch, and guided her up the steps into the jet. Greta, the air hostess greeted us with a polite smile as we entered, and I nodded in acknowledgment. Catherine and I settled into the plush seats opposite each other. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, nothing else existed. The air hostess returned with a tray of wine. We both took a glass, our fingers brushing lightly as we did. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “You look breathtaking,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Her cheeks flushed with a delicate pink, and she murmured, “Thank you.” The silence between us lingered, and even though we said nothing,
Catherine’s POV It had been four weeks since I returned to Sussex, four weeks since I decided to give Alexander another chance. The therapy sessions were helping. We were healing, slowly but surely, and for the first time in a long while, there was a semblance of peace in our lives. Today, the store had been unusually busy, which I welcomed. The activity kept my mind off the lingering doubts and fears. As I entered the house, I couldn’t wait to catch a hot bath, it was quiet. Pedro had gone to settle some family matters, Blake, the driver, had taken Alexander and the cook had taken an off day. I liked the quiet, or at least I convinced myself that I did. But something felt off as I walked upstairs to our room. The door was slightly open, and I hesitated, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I pushed the door open and froze. Olivia was there, standing on the balcony, her back to me. My heart pounded in my chest. She turned as if sensing my presence, a wicked smile curli
Catherine’s POV Moments later, I could hear the jarring sound of police sirens and loud voices in the Manor, and then the door flew open as Alexander rushed in. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene—the bloody knife on the floor, my hands trembling, the cuts marring my skin. “Catherine, are you okay?” His voice was urgent as he crossed the room to me, his hands reaching for mine. “Olivia,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “I think she is dead,” “Where is she?” he asked, his gaze flipping to the balcony. I pointed, unable to form the words. He followed my gaze, stepping out onto the balcony. I watched as he looked down, his shoulders tensing when he saw her. He rushed back to me, his face pale. “She tried to kill me,” I managed to say, my voice was barely a whisper. Alexander saw the knife, stained with blood, lying on the floor. His expression hardened as he turned back to me, his hands were gentle as he checked the cuts on my hands. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured,
Catherine’s POV The warm steam from the shower clung to my skin as I stepped out, a sense of peace washing over me. It had been three months since that dreadful night when Olivia had tried to kill me, and yet here I was—alive, safe, and feeling a strange sense of relief. Alexander had been doing therapy, and it was working. I could see the change in him. But beneath that relief, a small part of me still nursed the fear that the other shoe could drop at any moment, especially since Simon, was nowhere to be found. But today, I managed to shove that fear aside. I tied a towel around my body, the soft fabric absorbing the droplets of water clinging to my skin, and wrapped another towel around my dripping hair. Humming a tune that had been stuck in my head all day, I walked over to the mirror, catching a glimpse of my own reflection. For the first time in a long time, I felt happy. Genuinely happy. A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I called out, still smili