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Chapter Title: The Power Shift
Catherine had long known that her return to the Swann family would be anything but pleasant, but the events unfolding were still deeply amusing. Liana, in all her arrogance, seemed to think that she could continue to lord over Catherine, but what she didn’t realize was how quickly things were changing.
Liana had stormed into Catherine’s room earlier, full of venom and self-importance. The arrogance in her voice as she mocked Catherine’s attire was enough to fuel a thousand petty arguments. But Catherine wasn’t one to take the bait. Instead, she sat back, calm and collected, while Liana raged. The cruel jab about Catherine’s “beggar” T-shirt only made her more determined to ignore the insults. After all, how could a woman so proud of her designer clothes understand the true worth of something?
Catherine’s thoughts were interrupted when Haylie Barber, the maid accompanying Liana, stepped in to calm her down. Haylie’s voice was soft but insistent, and Liana’s rage eventually melted into subdued anger. Catherine didn’t mind the intervention. It was predictable—Liana was the type to blow hot and cold with every little comment that didn’t go her way.
When Liana ordered the maids to throw the clothes on the floor in front of Catherine, it was a clear attempt to degrade her. The clothes were no gift—no, they were “hand-me-downs” that Liana had probably only worn a few times before she grew tired of them. In Liana’s eyes, these designer brands were treasures, and Catherine should be grateful.
Catherine didn’t flinch. She didn’t even look at the piles of clothes at first. Instead, her expression remained impassive as she took in Liana’s condescending tone. Liana’s voice dripped with disdain as she mocked Catherine for her “poor” appearance. “You look even poorer than a beggar,” Liana sneered, thinking she had finally cornered Catherine.
But Catherine wasn’t the naive girl who had left the countryside years ago. Her thoughts were sharp and her reactions colder than ever. Her mind wandered to the T-shirt she wore—the one Liana was mocking.
It wasn’t just any T-shirt. It was one of the rarest pieces in the world, crafted by the now-retired top designer Marianne. Only ten of these shirts had been produced, and Catherine had secured one through Ronin’s incredible hacking skills. If Liana knew the truth about the shirt, Catherine was certain the girl would choke on her own arrogance.
Catherine couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. “How quaint,” she thought, and without hesitation, she broke her silence.
Liana’s smug satisfaction turned to irritation when she noticed Catherine’s smile, a small, quiet smile of disbelief. “What are you laughing at, bumpkin?” Liana demanded, her face reddening with frustration.
Catherine raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “What do you think I’m laughing at, Liana? You seem to have forgotten something very important. All of the Swanns’ money now belongs to me. So if my father donated a library to that school so I could go, do you really think I need to be grateful for my own money?” She tilted her head with amusement. “Should I thank myself?”
The silence that followed was thick, heavy with the weight of her words. For a moment, Liana stood frozen, her mouth slightly open, unable to respond. Catherine’s words, delivered with such ease and confidence, left her speechless. It was a reality that Liana wasn’t prepared to face—the once powerless country girl was now the one holding all the cards.
Liana’s face twisted in fury as the anger, which had been bubbling beneath the surface, finally erupted. Without warning, she turned and ran out of the room, her sobs echoing down the hall as she fled. The maids followed behind her, their heads down in silence, not daring to look Catherine in the eye.
Catherine couldn’t help but shake her head in amusement. She had expected Liana to react like this—a spoiled child who couldn’t handle the truth. But Catherine didn’t need to waste her energy on someone so weak.
With a sigh, Catherine looked down at the clothes that Liana had thrown at her. She didn’t bother picking them up. In the end, they were just remnants of a life that she was no longer a part of. As much as Liana thought she was in control, Catherine had proven once again that the power had already shifted.
She was no longer the outcast. Now, she was the one who controlled the future of the Swanns. And Liana, for all her privilege, would learn that the hard way.