Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Catherine purposely waited for the crowd to thin out after the school bell rang. She took her time before leaving, but as soon as she stepped outside the school gates, she could feel someone’s gaze on her. Calmly, she walked along the road, choosing to ignore the lingering presence. But it wasn’t long before the person appeared in front of her.
The man was dressed in stylish, branded clothes. Though his features were nothing remarkable, his heavy makeup and strong cologne gave away his profession—he worked in the movie industry.
“Hello, are you Catherine Swann?” he asked, wearing a professional smile.
Catherine raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing as she assessed him. Her gaze was cold, sharp, and unwelcoming.
Kim, feeling an unexpected chill at her stare, had a moment of regret. He hadn’t anticipated the sharpness from someone so young.
“What do you want with me?” Catherine asked, her voice laced with indifference.
Kim swallowed, surprised at her directness. He had been in the industry for years and had encountered all kinds of people, but this girl was proving to be more difficult than expected.
“I’m Kim Morris, your sister Audrey’s manager. I came to speak with you because I want you to collaborate with Audrey on a reality show.”
“No deal,” Catherine replied flatly, making it clear she wasn’t interested. She turned and casually walked around him, dismissing him without a second glance.
It took Kim a moment to process what had just happened. He sighed inwardly, realizing how different Catherine was from Audrey. No wonder Audrey had been hesitant to work with her from the start.
But Kim wasn’t one to give up easily, especially not after all the effort he’d put into Audrey’s career. He quickly called out to her as she walked away, “Audrey is your sister. Are you really going to let her career fall apart? She’s just getting started, and this reality show is her chance.”
Catherine didn’t slow her pace, but she did hesitate, just for a moment. Kim pressed on, his voice taking on a more urgent tone.
“Do you know what she’s been going through? Your family has done nothing but sabotage her career. Now they’ve labeled her a cheater. If she doesn’t get onto this reality show, her career is finished.”
Catherine didn’t turn around, but her pace did slow slightly. Kim wasn’t done yet.
“Audrey told me you’re different from the rest of the Swanns. You really care about her, and you’re the only one who could help her. If this show succeeds, Audrey’s whole situation could turn around.”
Catherine stayed silent for a long moment. Kim, frustrated, watched as she continued to walk away without a glance back. He was glad he hadn’t mentioned to Audrey that he had seen Catherine; if he had, Audrey would have been heartbroken by the rejection.
Even though Audrey seemed indifferent to family matters, she still cared deeply about the bond between them. Kim realized that now, more than ever, he and Audrey would need to find another way forward.
Back at her family mansion, Catherine found the house eerily quiet. Korbin was busy with his own matters, and Rachael was at the hospital with Johnathan. Though Johnathan could have been discharged in three days, he insisted on staying for another week. Liana, the only other person in the house, wisely stayed out of Catherine’s way, leaving her to roam freely.
Catherine, feeling a bit bored, idly played a game on her phone. The repetitive tapping of buttons no longer held her interest when Ronin’s call came through.
She answered casually, putting the call on speaker and setting the phone aside.
“Boss, I’ve got some information that might be useful,” Ronin’s voice came through, clearly upbeat.
“Mmm,” Catherine responded with her eyes closed, signaling him to continue.
“The woman you asked me to investigate is Lilly Muller. Her family owns a real estate company—they’ve got some money,” Ronin explained, though he made it clear that their wealth was nothing compared to Catherine’s.
“After you caught her at the mall, she investigated you. But when she couldn’t do anything to you or the Duncans, she turned to a relative at a TV station and targeted Audrey.”
Ronin’s words sank in. Audrey had been an easy target, especially after her recent struggles.
For a long while, Catherine remained quiet, contemplating the information. Ronin, sensing her stillness, hesitated before speaking again. “Boss, should I take action? Teach the Muller family a lesson? Let them know they can’t mess with us?”
Ronin’s loyalty to Catherine was clear, and he could tell that she treated Audrey differently from the rest of the Swanns. Audrey, in turn, hadn’t asked for help, even as she faced these challenges. Ronin was itching to make things right, but he waited for Catherine’s decision.
After a moment of thought, Catherine replied, “No need.” She wasn’t one to meddle, especially when it came to Audrey’s personal affairs. She was content to understand the situation but had no interest in interfering directly.
The following days passed in a similar routine: school, a nap, and then returning home. Catherine’s life felt almost too quiet.
Then, one afternoon, Catherine’s phone rang. It was Audrey.
“Kathy, can you come help me? Bring me something,” Audrey’s anxious voice came through. Catherine could hear the distress in her tone.
Catherine agreed without hesitation. Audrey was filming a commercial for a waterproof cosmetics brand and had to perform an underwater scene. But when Audrey unexpectedly got her period and didn’t have the necessary supplies, she turned to Catherine for help.
Catherine rushed to the mall, grabbed a random piece of clothing, and hurried to the location Audrey had given her.
Once there, Audrey emerged from the bathroom with a grateful smile. “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t know what I would’ve done otherwise.”
Catherine, her curiosity piqued, looked at her sister and asked, “Do you not have an assistant?”
Audrey’s smile was tinged with self-deprecation. “With my status? I don’t even have an assistant. My agent handles multiple people at once. The only reason I get work is because of our friendship. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even have had the opportunity for today’s shoot.”
Audrey quickly changed the topic, clearly aware that she had revealed too much. “Do you have any plans tonight?”
Catherine shook her head. She had nothing else to do.
Audrey’s mood brightened instantly. “Great! Wait for me. After the last scene, I’ll treat you to dinner!”
Before Catherine could respond, Audrey was called back to the set. Catherine decided to wait as promised, her thoughts wandering as she waited for her sister to finish.