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Catherine didn’t immediately respond to Audrey’s question. She just glanced at the unlocked door with a faint smirk, her expression unreadable. The study door was one of the most tightly secured places in the Swann family mansion, and it was meant to keep everyone out—except Vicente, of course. The fact that Catherine was able to open it with ease was a surprise to Audrey, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of curiosity mixed with unease.
Catherine stepped into the study without hesitation, her shoes clicking softly on the marble floor. Audrey lingered behind her, still shocked, trying to process what had just happened.
“I didn’t need Grandpa to register my iris,” Catherine said, her voice low and calm. She reached out and gently pushed open the door wider, revealing the dimly lit study beyond. “This was never about blood or permission. It’s about access.”
Audrey’s heart skipped a beat. She had always known Vicente to be extremely protective of his personal space and the secrets within his study. It was unthinkable that someone outside of his circle, let alone a grandchild who had been absent for so long, could bypass the security without his permission.
“What do you mean by that?” Audrey asked, though she already had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Catherine’s words were too cryptic for comfort.
Catherine didn’t turn to face Audrey as she spoke. Her eyes were scanning the room, taking in the familiar surroundings—bookshelves stacked with old volumes, a desk that looked as though it hadn’t been touched in years, and the faint scent of tobacco and aged paper hanging in the air. She walked to the desk, her movements deliberate and steady, as if she had been here many times before.
“Vicente wasn’t the only one with power in this family,” Catherine said, her voice steady but laced with an edge of something darker. “You think everything was locked away in his study because he was trying to protect his secrets? No. It was to protect his legacy—his control.”
Audrey was silent for a long moment, unsure of how to respond. Her eyes flickered between Catherine and the study’s contents, her thoughts racing. She had always viewed the study as a forbidden place, a symbol of Vicente’s absolute authority over the Swanns. Now, seeing Catherine move through the room with such ease, Audrey began to wonder just how much she really knew about the family’s hidden dynamics.
“I don’t understand,” Audrey said quietly, stepping closer to Catherine. “What are you looking for?”
Catherine paused and turned toward her, her eyes glinting with a cold determination. “I’m not looking for anything, Audrey. I already have what I need.”
Audrey blinked, confused. “But you… you just opened the study door. You don’t need permission. What did you mean?”
Catherine’s lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smile. “I know what they’re hiding. I’ve known for a while.”
The words hung in the air between them, as Audrey’s gaze grew more intense, searching Catherine’s face for some sign of what she meant. But Catherine remained stoic, her expression unreadable.
“I don’t care about the secrets of the past,” Catherine continued, her voice growing colder. “But I won’t let the Swanns keep playing their little games. Not when I’m here.”
Audrey felt a chill settle in her chest. Catherine’s tone, her unwavering confidence—it was all so different from the Catherine she had met before. This was a side of her Audrey had never seen, a side that seemed to know far more about the Swann family and its history than anyone else.
“Are you… going to expose everything?” Audrey asked, the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them.
Catherine didn’t answer right away. She simply walked to the desk and ran her fingers along its surface, as if contemplating the room’s contents. She then looked back at Audrey, her eyes piercing.
“I won’t expose anything that’s already been exposed,” Catherine said, her voice softer now, but with a chilling finality. “But I won’t let anyone keep me in the dark either. I know enough to play my part.”
Audrey felt a strange mix of fear and admiration for Catherine. She had always seen her as a rebellious, somewhat careless young woman, but now, Audrey saw a fierce determination in her that matched Vicente’s in some ways.
“I don’t know if I should be afraid of you or impressed,” Audrey murmured, more to herself than to Catherine.
Catherine didn’t respond to the remark. Instead, she turned away from the desk, walking toward the door as if nothing had happened. Audrey followed her, still struggling to process the conversation.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” Catherine said over her shoulder. “You should be more worried about what happens next.”
Audrey swallowed, her unease growing. What did Catherine know? And what was she planning to do with that knowledge? The thought of the Swanns’ secrets being unearthed sent a shiver down her spine. As much as she might have wished for a chance to change the family’s power structure, she wasn’t sure if Catherine was the right person to do it.
The door to the study clicked shut behind them, and the weight of the family’s history seemed to linger in the air, thick with unspoken truths and unfinished business.