Chapter 2 Welcome Back To Freedom

Jayden barely masked his disdain. "If you really think you're that brave, pack your things and leave tonight."

His investigation had turned up everything - Cathy's childhood in the countryside, years of neglect from the Burgess family, a lifetime spent on the sidelines.

Even with divorce looming, he doubted she had anywhere else to go.

Cathy didn't flinch. "Rest assured, Mr. Thorpe, staying at your place never crossed my mind anyway."

With that, she turned and walked out, not once looking back.

A stunned silence lingered, leaving Jayden at a loss for words.

Around the table, whispers and knowing glances spread quickly.

"She's probably just being dramatic," one guest said quietly. "Give it a few hours - she always comes home like nothing happened."

"Yeah, she needs the Thorpe family. After every argument, she's always the first to make peace," another added.

Marissa, still dripping and looking every bit the victim, brushed a tear away. "Jayden, don't worry about me. Go check on her. I'll be fine."

Misery clung to her as she shivered in her wet clothes.

Jayden forced his feelings down. "Forget it. I'll get you some dry clothes first."

His gaze slid toward the window, certain of what would happen next.

"Give her two hours. Cathy will crawl back home, right on schedule," Jayden said, almost daring anyone to disagree.

Marissa managed a faint smile, biting her lip in fake remorse. "That's probably for the best. Oh, and the Curtis family is hosting a banquet tomorrow - maybe Cathy should go with you, just to keep up appearances."

Jayden didn't hesitate. "She's never been good enough, not for me. You're the one I want, Marissa." His tone softened as he leaned closer. "The Curtis family's looking for skilled doctors, and this could be our chance to build something real with them."

Compliments flew in from all sides, fueling Marissa's confidence.

"No need to stress, Mr. Thorpe," one guest chimed in. "Miss Briggs graduated top of her class from Frahmont School of Medicine, and everyone knows she studied under the legendary Phantom Healer!"

Trying to appear modest, Marissa offered a gentle smile. "I'll give it everything I've got tomorrow."

Of course, the truth was quite different. The Phantom Healer had vanished years back, leaving behind only a handful of cryptic journals that Marissa stumbled on.

Securing the Curtis family's trust had become her newest obsession.

...

Meanwhile, at Violet Villa, Cathy quietly prepared her escape.

Barely anything in the house belonged to her, so she gathered only her essentials - her phone, a few documents, and nothing more.

A message pinged through to her best friend - short, to the point, and final. Divorce papers bore her signature, ink drying as she slid her wedding ring on top with a soft clink.

"That's three years I'll never get back," Cathy said quietly, voice carrying only to the empty room.

With nothing left to hold her, she slipped out into the night, leaving the past behind.

An orange-red Lamborghini pulled up to the curb just moments later. From behind the wheel, a woman with her hair twisted in a sleek bun jumped out and swept Cathy into a tight embrace. "Welcome back to freedom, Cathy!"

With a flourish, Demi Scott tossed her the keys. "Three years is long enough. It's time to reclaim your crown, Queen Cathy - everyone's waiting for you."

Demi wasn't just someone Cathy called a friend - she was an orphan who had survived the toughest years alongside Cathy, their bond tighter than family ever could be.

That kind of loyalty meant she took everything personally.

"Jayden? He's a walking disaster. And Marissa, acting like she's some sort of medical prodigy? Give me a break, Cathy. The woman's a fraud," Demi blurted, her frustration spilling over. "Honestly, the two of them make me sick."

Gratitude made Cathy's eyes sting - having Demi in her corner felt like the only real blessing left.

She popped open the door and tossed her bag inside. "Let's get out of here. No sense dragging around old chains. Took me long enough to figure that out."

Sometimes, it really wasn't too late to choose yourself.

Relief washed over Demi as she slid into the driver's seat, then she paused, remembering something important. "Wait - there's more. I dug up that information you asked about."

Her phone buzzed, a file landing in Cathy's inbox.

Demi lowered her voice, the air suddenly heavier. "Turns out, your mom's death wasn't just bad luck. There's something off about the nurse who delivered you. She might be at the center of everything."

A crease formed between Cathy's brows. "Is there any way we can track down this nurse?"

From the day she was born, tragedy had followed - her mother lost her life during childbirth.

Her father claimed that she was a jinx, sending her away to a remote village and severing her place in the Burgess family.

But with each passing year, Cathy found it harder to believe her mother's death was just a tragic accident.

Demi shook her head, frustration clear. "Nothing concrete yet. The last sighting puts her at the Curtis estate. That's a fortress if there ever was one. Getting in won't be simple."

The name Curtis triggered memories of an old rival, though he was a crime boss from Mapleley - a country that was far away from here. That man had no known ties to Frahmont's high society.

Determination settled over Cathy. "No matter how risky it gets, I have to see this through."

As if on cue, her phone vibrated - a new message lighting up the screen.

Cathy glanced down and blinked in surprise. Her distant, frosty father had summoned her home for the first time in years.

"Something's definitely up," Demi remarked, her voice edged with suspicion.

Cathy tucked her phone away, jaw set. "Good. I've put this off long enough. It's time I finally reclaim what belongs to my mother."

Twenty minutes later, Cathy stood at the threshold of the Burgess mansion. In the reception room, a stern-faced, middle-aged man leaned heavily on a cane, waiting.

"You really can't do anything right. First you let your marriage fall apart, and now you're talking about divorce?"

A heavy sigh escaped Cathy's father, Josh Burgess, as he continued, "The Thorpe family run half the city's construction. Our company relies on them. You think I'll let your personal drama mess up business?"

Waving his hand dismissively, he gave her his final word. "Go fix dinner for Jayden. Swallow your pride, say you're sorry, and don't make things worse than they already are."