Chapter 3 To Live For Herself

Katherine spent nearly the entire day at the hospital.

Her twin brother, Austin Clarke, had been born with a neurological disorder. He was twenty-four now, but his mind had never grown past that of a small child.

Life had been good for Katherine, until she turned eighteen. That was when everything shattered. Her father went to prison, and the shock pushed her mother into a deep depression. Their family business collapsed soon after, and with it, so did any chance of continuing Austin's treatment.

Just like that, everything landed on Katherine's shoulders. The burden of the entire family.

Those years nearly crushed her. She worked endlessly, carrying more than any young woman should, trying to hold the broken pieces together. After getting married to Julian, for a moment, she thought she'd found someone who could save her, but even that hope slipped away.

The memory tugged at something buried deep inside, and her eyes quietly filled with tears.

As the sky outside turned from gold to grey, her mother, Ivy Clarke, approached. Ivy worked at the hospital and had been looking after Austin there, making sure he stayed safe. "It's getting late," she said gently. "Julian must be off work by now. You should head home. Don't give him any excuse to be upset."

Katherine's response was calm but honest. "I won't be going back. I'm divorcing him."

Ivy froze.

"Was it Julian's idea?" she asked, her voice uncertain.

"No," Katherine replied. "It was my idea."

Before she could say more, Ivy quickly cut in, her voice laced with panic. "Why would you even think of doing that? He's not even the one pushing you away after what happened last night. Katherine, you have to understand-people like us... we can't expect the Nashes to treat us as equals. Their pride runs deep. Sometimes people make mistakes; these things happen."

Katherine looked at her mother, stunned.

"Who told you what happened?" she asked slowly.

Ivy met her daughter's pale, drained face. Her heart ached, but she couldn't bring herself to say it outright. "I've failed you. I couldn't protect you. But think about it, darling-if you walk away from Julian now, what happens to me? To Austin?"

Ivy didn't answer the question directly, but Katherine already knew the truth.

It could only have been Eloise behind last night. She was the only one capable of pulling the strings like that. She probably reached Ivy first, too, feeding her words to keep Katherine silent.

After all, Eloise had never liked her.

As Katherine looked at her mother's downcast, apologetic face, something inside her froze. The bitterness ran so deep it almost made her laugh.

The home she poured everything into was never truly a place of safety and love.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides. She shook her head slowly, more in sorrow than defiance.

She could still bear it all, if needed. But now, she finally had the strength to live for herself. Without saying a word, she turned to leave.

Just as she stepped away, Ivy clutched her arm, her voice shaking. "You've got a job now, sure, but what about your dad? Without Julian, who's going to help prove his innocence? Can you really stand by while he spends twenty-five years behind bars?"

Katherine's voice came out soft, tired to the bone. "Mom, if Julian ever intended to help, don't you think he would've done something by now?"

It was true. Her marriage to Julian wasn't just about love. At the time, she'd had no one else, no other lifeline. But once the vows were spoken, she knew he couldn't stand her. And because of that, she had never begged him for help, not once.

And now that it was finally over, she wouldn't bring any of it up again.

Seeing the firm look in her daughter's eyes, Ivy backed down. She wiped her tears and quietly said, "Kathy, the Nash family... they're not people to cross. Just don't do anything foolish."

Katherine stood by her brother's hospital bed, watching him sleep.

She didn't say a word, just turned quietly and walked away.

As she stepped outside, she noticed someone standing near the entrance-Julian's assistant.

Cayson approached with his usual professional calm. "The divorce agreement has been signed by Mr. Nash."

Katherine's mind blanked for a moment. Without a word, she slowly lifted her hand and accepted the documents.

......

That evening, Julian came home to find a new housekeeper waiting for him.

Katherine had clearly chosen her replacement with care-experienced, efficient, and capable of handling the home effortlessly.

But Julian didn't keep her for long. He sent her away the same day.

He believed Katherine would eventually return and didn't want to adjust to anyone else. Even so, the days that followed left him in a foul mood-three years of routine weren't so easy to shake off.

His mood cast a shadow over the entire company. Everyone felt it.

A few days later, Eloise showed up at his office. She barely stepped inside when she caught him lashing out at a subordinate.

She hurried in and tried to soothe him. "Julian, calm down. You'll wear yourself out like this."

Julian glanced at her coldly. "Why are you here?"

Eloise's eyes sparkled with something cunning. "I heard about your argument with Katherine. Don't tell me you're actually getting divorced?"

Julian's eyes narrowed. "Who said that to you?"