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Catherine’s steps faltered for a brief moment when Rachael’s voice sliced through the air, commanding her attention. She didn’t turn around, but she knew it was coming—Rachael’s fury was almost palpable. The tension in the room thickened, and it was clear that something was brewing.
Ignoring the older woman’s demand to stop, Catherine kept walking, her back straight and her movements deliberate, as if nothing could faze her. She had no intention of engaging in Rachael’s drama, especially after a long evening spent in relative peace at the barbecue restaurant.
Rachael, however, wasn’t about to let her go so easily. Her sharp heels clicked against the floor as she stormed over to Catherine, her face flushed with anger. “I said, stop right now!” she repeated, her voice dripping with venom.
Catherine halted, but only to face Rachael with an expression that was cool, yet unimpressed. She didn’t care for Rachael’s theatrics, especially now when her mind was occupied with far more pressing matters, like the merger contract Branden had handed her earlier.
“What do you want?” Catherine asked, her tone icy, almost dismissive.
Rachael’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a snarl. “I want to know what you think you’re doing, walking around like nothing’s wrong. You’ve made a deal with Korbin, haven’t you? And now you think you can just come back here as if nothing happened?”
Catherine’s gaze flicked momentarily to her family members still seated in the living room, but she didn’t let their presence bother her. She was used to Rachael’s outbursts. What truly irked her now was the insinuation that she owed anyone an explanation.
“I don’t need to explain myself to you,” Catherine replied, her voice barely a whisper but cutting through the room like a blade.
Rachael’s hands balled into fists at her sides, the veins in her neck protruding as she struggled to maintain control. “You think you’re untouchable, don’t you? Just because you have some mysterious businessman offering you deals. But you’ll find out soon enough—you’re nothing without the Swann name!”
Catherine’s eyes flashed, and she took a step closer to Rachael, her expression unreadable. “I don’t need anyone’s approval to succeed. And if you think a last-minute power play will stop me, you’re wrong.”
Rachael glared at her, her face twitching with suppressed rage. But Catherine didn’t wait for her to retort. She turned sharply and headed for her room, not sparing another second for Rachael’s theatrics.
Behind her, Rachael seethed, her teeth gritting in frustration. “You’ll regret this, Catherine. You’ll see.”
Catherine didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. As she reached her room, she locked the door behind her, feeling the weight of the day finally settle upon her shoulders. Her encounter with Branden and Triston had been unexpected, but it was nothing compared to the storm that awaited her at home. Yet, somehow, she wasn’t worried. She’d dealt with worse.
As she sat down on her bed, the document Branden had given her remained on the nightstand, the merger contract still fresh in her mind. What was his real game? She thought back to his enigmatic smile and the words he’d said about making the impossible possible. It intrigued her, though she didn’t quite trust him. Still, she had no intention of walking away from an opportunity that could benefit the Swann Corporation, even if it came wrapped in a package she hadn’t fully unraveled yet.
Meanwhile, in the car, Branden sat in silence, his thoughts clouded with the tension he had sensed between Catherine and Rachael. He was aware that the offer he had given Catherine would stir things up, but he also knew she was smart enough to make her own decisions.
As Paxton drove through the city streets, Branden’s mind wandered back to the hospital. Something didn’t feel right, but he would handle it—he always did. Catherine, however, was on her own path, and it was one he couldn’t control. For now, he was content to watch from the sidelines and see what choices she would make.
The evening was far from over, and both of them had much to figure out.