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Novel Catalog
At the Swanns’ mansion, the usual quiet morning was disrupted by an early gathering in the living room. Johnathan, usually a heavy sleeper, had been woken up by Rachael and now sat on the sofa, looking groggy. Korbin was present too, his sharp eyes scanning the room for one particular person—Catherine. When he didn’t see her, he instructed a maid to fetch her.
Liana, noticing the absence of Catherine, shot her father a questioning glance, her disapproval written all over her face.
“Daddy, we can go to Mr. David’s party without her. Why do we have to take that jinx with us?” Liana grumbled.
Usually, Liana and Johnathan were at odds, constantly bickering and arguing. But today, they had a common target—Catherine. And with the shared enemy, Johnathan found himself agreeing with his daughter.
“Dad, Liana’s right. That jinx comes from some country place and doesn’t know how to behave. Mr. David is very important to us, and if we bring Catherine to his party, she might ruin everything! Do you want all our efforts to be in vain?” Johnathan added.
Mr. David, whom they were discussing, was a well-known technology mogul. Having started in Casier before relocating to Mistel, he’d made a name for himself as a chip technology tycoon. His recent advancements in the field made him one of the most sought-after partners in the country. Anyone looking to remain competitive in the tech industry needed to collaborate with him, and the Swanns were no exception.
Korbin, aware of Mr. David’s preference for partners with harmonious families, had gathered his family early that morning, hoping to present a united front. However, he had his own thoughts on the matter.
“Listen to me, both of you,” Korbin said, his tone serious. “You can voice your opinions at home, but once we’re on our way to Mr. David’s, you will restrain yourselves. Understand?”
Johnathan and Liana, sensing the seriousness in their father’s voice, fell silent. They didn’t dare to press further. Meanwhile, Rachael, who had been sitting silently off to the side, watched the scene unfold with a quiet intensity. She had been thinking further than her children, considering the bigger picture. She knew Korbin, like her children, didn’t like Catherine, but they couldn’t afford to show it. Nearly everyone in Casier knew Catherine had returned to the Swann family, and if they didn’t bring her to Mr. David’s party, it might raise suspicions. What would Mr. David think of them?
As Catherine made her way into the living room from the corridor, she overheard their conversation. Despite the fact that she was clearly the subject of their discussion, she remained aloof, walking into the room with the same indifference that had become her trademark.
Liana was the first to spot her, and her reaction was immediate. “Dad! Look at that jinx!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with exaggerated disdain.
Her loud outburst caught the attention of the others, and they all turned their eyes to Catherine. Calmly, she scanned the room and met their gazes. Liana’s taunting didn’t phase her. Instead, Catherine gave Liana a sharp look, the intensity of her gaze causing Liana to hesitate for a moment.
Liana, eager to provoke Catherine further, continued, “Catherine, do you do this on purpose? Haven’t the maid told you we’re going to an important party today? Why do you look so shabby?”
The maid, who had been the one to bring Catherine into the living room, heard the criticism and immediately tried to explain. “Miss Liana, I already told Miss Catherine about the party, but she wouldn’t listen.”
Catherine glanced down at her clothes—just a simple white shirt and fitted jeans. She felt comfortable in them, relaxed, and didn’t understand why they would think there was anything wrong with her outfit.
Looking around the room, she met the eyes of every family member, each one filled with disdain, including Korbin’s. The disgust was palpable. But Catherine remained unfazed, her composure unbroken as she stood before them.