Chapter 9 I'll Happily Make Way

Camille's pulse skittered nervously, dread pooling in her stomach. "Laurence, isn't it crossing a line for us to interfere in such personal matters?"

If Julian truly gave the Nash family its long-awaited grandson, her daughter Eloise would lose what little standing she had left in the family.

Yet Laurence remained stubbornly resolute. "I realize it's distasteful, but that brat has left me no choice. Just follow my instructions-the sooner we handle this, the better."

...

Once Eloise returned home from the hospital and discovered Camille had agreed to the live-in housekeeper scheme, her tone turned razor-sharp. "Mom! How could you go along with something like this? If that scheming bitch actually manages to conceive Julian's child, what happens to Louisa? She's the one who should be married to my brother!"

Camille gave her daughter a knowing glance, murmuring dryly, "Don't pretend your sudden concern is all about Louisa. You're just using her as an excuse to get close to her elder brother, aren't you?"

Eloise flushed hotly. "Louisa would still be a better match than Katherine. Besides, if I marry into the Wright family, it'll benefit you just as much as me."

Camille had already meticulously weighed the advantages.

A sly smile curved her lips. "Relax, dear. I've got everything under control."

......

Katherine had long grown accustomed to misfortune following her around, but even she hadn't imagined her divorce would twist into such a tangled mess.

From the day she'd stepped foot in the Nash estate that day, Laurence's health had spiraled alarmingly downward. The family doctor had practically moved in, cautioning everyone that Laurence couldn't bear another emotional blow.

Katherine knew exactly which "blow" he was referring to.

Yet Julian behaved as if nothing was pressing. He buried himself in work, carefully sidestepping any mention of the divorce, clearly determined not to upset his father with the truth.

Several days later, the new housekeeper Camille had personally selected finally arrived.

Katherine was at home, busy preparing nourishing dishes that she'd regularly been sending over due to Laurence's declining health. The scent of freshly made broth still lingered in the air, prompting an enthusiastic compliment from the housekeeper.

"Mr. Nash is truly fortunate to have married someone as thoughtful as you," the housekeeper remarked warmly. "But his father mentioned that everything's fine on their side. You can relax and focus on improving your relationship with Mr. Nash."

An uneasy chill tightened around Katherine's heart. This woman had clearly been planted here by Laurence himself. A mobile spy, practically glued to her every move.

After slipping into her uniform, the housekeeper entered the kitchen, offering a helpful smile. "It's getting late. Should I set a place for Mr. Nash at dinner?"

Katherine hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Since signing the divorce papers, she and Julian hadn't shared even one meal together. It seemed unlikely tonight would be any different.

She opened her mouth to offer some vague excuse, but just then, the front door clicked open.

Her head snapped around instinctively. A soft glow from the entryway's sensor lights gently outlined Julian's tall, slender figure.

Julian's looks were impeccable. A face sculpted so finely it seemed perfect from every conceivable angle. Katherine remembered a popular online remark she'd once read about him. "With looks like that, who cares if he's dead weight in bed-I'd gladly take him anyway."

Katherine quickly shook off the absurd memory, dismissing the intrusive thought.

Julian shrugged out of his tailored suit jacket and moved toward the sink, rolling up his sleeves to wash his hands. The sight of the new housekeeper didn't catch him off guard at all-clearly, he'd already known.

Quietly relieved, Katherine finished packing the freshly cooked food into a thermos, already planning a believable excuse to slip away.

Julian had been dining out for weeks now.

The savory scent of a proper home-cooked meal, after endless days of bland takeout, suddenly sparked his dormant appetite.

His attention subtly shifted to Katherine's hands.

Feeling the weight of his gaze, she met it evenly, grasping exactly what he was after. "This is for Laurence," she said firmly. "If you're hungry, have the housekeeper whip something up for you."

Julian glanced meaningfully at the pot.

Without hesitation, Katherine scooped out the remainder, meticulously packaging it away until only a thin skim of broth remained at the bottom.

Julian's eyes narrowed slightly, an unreadable expression fixed on his face-did she really just deny him even the smallest taste?

Katherine flashed him a sweet, innocent smile. "Did you want some broth?"

Before Julian managed a response, she tilted the pot, sending the fragrant broth cascading directly down the drain. "There we go. All taken care of."

A muscle flickered along Julian's tightly clenched jaw, but he held his tongue.

Yet, Katherine's fleeting triumph came with consequences.

With a spy now under their roof, Katherine felt caged. She couldn't afford to let their charade slip, and counting on Julian to resolve the issue was out of the question.

Sleepless that night, she slipped on a jacket and quietly made her way to the study.

"I can handle your father," she began quietly, eyes troubled. "But we'll need an airtight reason. Maybe it's time to bring your lover home. Claim you've fallen in love with someone else-I'll happily make way."