Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Korbin’s expression darkened even more as he turned his attention to Liana. The tension in the room was palpable, and he could feel the heat of the situation rising.
“Liana, enough,” he said in a low voice, his tone edged with warning. “Don’t stir up unnecessary trouble.”
Liana, however, didn’t seem to notice the subtle command in her father’s voice. She was determined to expose Catherine, to put her in her place once and for all. The words practically spilled from her lips.
“You don’t know, Daddy?” Liana said, with a feigned innocence, her eyes glimmering with malicious satisfaction. “Catherine has been up to some… questionable things. Who knows what she’s been doing behind closed doors? Last night, we all know she was—”
“That’s enough!” Korbin snapped, standing up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. His voice cracked with authority, instantly silencing Liana and everyone else in the room.
Catherine, standing by the door, hadn’t moved an inch during this exchange. Her calm demeanor made it appear as though the drama unfolding in front of her didn’t concern her in the least. Her eyes were sharp, assessing the situation with a mixture of amusement and cold indifference.
“You should be careful with your words, Liana,” Catherine interjected smoothly, cutting through the rising tension. “Accusations without evidence can lead to consequences you might not be prepared for.”
Liana’s face flushed crimson, but she stood her ground. “I have plenty of evidence,” she shot back. “Catherine, you think you’re better than all of us, don’t you? You think you can just walk in here and do whatever you want.”
Catherine’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. “I don’t need to walk in here and do anything. It’s clear that you’re doing just fine digging your own hole,” she said coolly.
Audrey Swann, who had remained largely silent until now, watched the exchange with keen interest. She had been observing her younger sisters’ rivalry with a detached air. Now, she leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but cutting.
“Must we all engage in this childish spectacle?” Audrey’s gaze was unwavering as she looked from Liana to Catherine. “It’s embarrassing, really.”
Korbin gave Audrey a sharp look but didn’t respond. Instead, he focused back on Catherine, his voice lowering into something more calculated, yet still stern.
“Since you insist on making waves, Catherine, you might want to remember that you’re living under someone else’s roof. Respect for the family’s rules and boundaries is not negotiable.”
Catherine’s smile didn’t fade. She simply nodded, as if taking the advice into consideration.
“Of course, Father. I will respect your rules,” she said, though her voice carried a hint of mockery that wasn’t lost on anyone in the room.
Liana’s eyes narrowed, clearly sensing that she wasn’t going to win this round. Still, she couldn’t help but lash out once more.
“Don’t pretend you care about the rules, Catherine,” Liana hissed. “You’ve always done whatever you wanted, haven’t you?”
Catherine finally turned her full attention on Liana, her eyes cold and unfazed. “I’ve done nothing more than ensure my survival. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure I behave accordingly… for now.”
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken words. The tension between Catherine and her family was now undeniable. Every glance exchanged in the room was laden with meaning. But Catherine, for all her bravado, knew one thing—she didn’t need their approval. She would navigate this game on her own terms.
With that, Catherine turned to leave, but not before casting one last glance over her shoulder. “Oh, and Liana,” she called, her voice like ice, “I suggest you learn the difference between speaking the truth and making baseless accusations. It’ll save you from a lot of trouble.”
And with that, she exited the room, leaving the Swanns in a stunned silence.