Chapter 5 A Fifty-Million-Dollar Deal

When Katherine got to the guest room, she quickly found out what had gone down.

Apparently, after hearing about the divorce, her mom had shown up with pricey gifts, hoping to talk to Laurence and plead on Katherine's behalf.

After all, Katherine had once saved his life-her mom thought that had to count for something.

Unfortunately, Eloise was home at the time and stopped her at the door. She didn't let Ivy in or even let her leave. So Ivy ended up standing out there for hours in the scorching sun.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as Ivy choked out, "Kathy, I know I made a fool of myself... but I only did it because I care. You love Julian so deeply-how could I stand back and do nothing? I just wanted to give you one more shot, that's all."

Hearing that, Katherine was hit with all kinds of feelings, but she didn't show any of it.

Because her mother cared? Really?

No-it wasn't about her at all. It was about chasing the Nash family's money and power.

Not wanting to cause a fuss in someone else's house, Katherine helped her mom up and said, "Come on. Let's go. And don't come back here again."

Right then, Eloise threw the door open and sneered, "Leaving already? Don't stop the show now. My dad's a softie-he falls for pity parties. If you cry a little harder, maybe he'll persuade Julian to let you keep mooching off us like a leech."

Katherine's face went ice-cold.

During her three years of marriage to Julian, she had never taken anything that wasn't hers. Still, Eloise never stopped picking at her. And Katherine had kept quiet every time-for the sake of peace.

But all that tolerance had just invited more humiliation.

Now, she refused to endure the humiliation in silence.

Standing protectively in front of her mom, Katherine looked straight at Eloise. With a calm but cutting smile, she said, "Tell me something. What exactly did I do to you? As my sister-in-law, why are you always trying to mess things up between me and Julian? Do you have some kind of hidden agenda or what?"

Eloise's face twisted with irritation. "Sister-in-law? Please. Don't flatter yourself."

Katherine tilted her head and replied, "Oh? That hit a nerve? What's really eating at you? That deep down, you wish you were the one married to Julian?"

Eloise's face went pale and then red with anger. "You're insane! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"

Katherine gave her a small, knowing smile. "If I'm wrong, prove it."

Eloise had no words. How was she even supposed to prove she didn't have feelings for her own brother?

She told herself Katherine was just playing mind games, trying to cause a rift between her and Julian.

She never thought Katherine, who was usually so quiet, could be this sharp. Furious, she raised her hand to slap her, but Katherine grabbed her wrist mid-swing and held it tight.

Eloise yelped in pain, not used to anyone grabbing her like that. "Let go of me, you bitch!" she snapped.

Katherine stared into her furious eyes, but her mind was stuck on that awful night-how she'd been forced to drink and then violated by a stranger.

No woman could just walk away from something like that as if it never happened. Still, no matter how much it tore her apart inside, she couldn't ignore the reality in front of her. She had a family to protect, and Julian's influence wasn't something she could afford to challenge. So, she pushed her rage down and kept quiet.

But Eloise, still fuming, kept poking the wound. "My brother has no idea you slept with that old guy from Lewis Group. Just wait... I'm going to destroy you!"

Katherine didn't hold back anymore. With fury blazing in her eyes, she slapped Eloise so hard the sound bounced off the walls.

Eloise screamed and instantly broke down in tears.

Then came the sound of footsteps from outside.

Julian stepped in, composed as ever, but the whole room stiffened the moment he showed up.

As soon as he walked in, the tension dropped into dead silence.

Katherine didn't budge or look away. She just released Eloise's arm and moved to the side.

The second Eloise saw Julian, she cried even louder, "Julian! She slapped me! You've got to defend me!"

Julian looked at the bright red handprint on Eloise's cheek, then slowly turned to Katherine. His voice was cold and sharp. "How dare you hurt her?"

Katherine clenched her fists, her voice cold and steady. "You think I went too far? What about what she's done to me? Should I give her a taste of her own medicine?"

Eloise's crying hitched. Her expression shifted, and panic started to show.

Julian's expression darkened. "What exactly did she do to you?"

"Julian-" Eloise tried to cut in.

Katherine spoke over her, slicing right through. "She worked with the Lewis Group's CEO and trapped me. They used me like a bargaining chip for a fifty-million-dollar deal. So tell me, Julian-if your wife is worth fifty million, how much is your sister worth? Half a billion?"