Chapter 7

Evelina stood at the doorway, her face turned pale with shock as she stared at the two entangled on the bed.

Jerald snapped back to reality and forcefully pushed Cathleen away.

Already weak, Cathleen fell back onto the edge of the bed after being pushed by Jerald, causing the wound on her hand to bleed again.

"It's not what it looks like..." Jerald said.

"Not what? You are like an uncle to her!" Evelina's voice trembled, tears streaming down her face. "Jerald, she's like your niece! How could you do this to her?"

Cathleen lifted her head, "Niece?"

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and looked at Evelina with icy eyes, "We are not related by blood!"

Evelina was completely infuriated by this statement, tears flooding her eyes.

"What does it matter if you're not related by blood?" Her voice was filled with grievance and anger, "Jerald, is this how you treat me? Doing such a thing with a girl you raised yourself!"

She pointed at Cathleen on the bed, her finger trembling slightly, "Do you remember how small she was when you first brought her home? Do you remember you said you would take care of her like her biological uncle would? How can you betray the trust her parents placed in you? To your own conscience?"

Cathleen initially wanted to argue, to say her feelings for Jerald were not just a fleeting impulse, but she was suddenly curious about what Jerald's reaction would be.

Seeing Jerald's silence, Evelina pulled out her phone from her pocket, unlocking it and preparing to take a photo, "Fine, if you're going to be so shameless, I'll expose the scandal online for everyone to judge! Let everyone see how the CEO of Dobson Group treats the daughter of a late friend!"

"No!" Jerald's face changed dramatically, and he rushed over to hold down her hand, "Evelina, calm down, don't do this!"

"Calm down?" Evelina shook off his hand, tears falling uncontrollably, "How can I calm down? Look at how you two are acting now! If I leak this-do you think Cathleen would dare show her face again?"

She took a few steps back with the phone, her eyes cold, "I can choose not to post it, but you must promise me one condition."

Jerald frowned, looking at the phone in her hand, then at Cathleen on the bed with her pale face, his voice hoarse, "What condition?"

Evelina took a deep breath, "You must promise never to see Cathleen again! No matter what happens, no matter where she is, you cannot have any contact with her!"

The room fell silent.

Jerald's gaze fell on Cathleen. She was looking at him with wide eyes.

He remembered when he first brought her home, how timidly she hid behind him, her clear eyes taking in the unfamiliar world.

He remembered her playing the cello for him for the first time, her hands shaking with nerves.

He remembered her radiant smile when she received the cello he gave her for her eighteenth birthday.

Those memories flashed through his mind like scenes from a movie.

He looked at Cathleen, struggling to breathe.

Evelina noticed his hesitation and immediately raised her phone as if to take a photo, "You don't agree?"

"I promise you." Jerald said.

Cathleen's whole body shook, looking at him in disbelief.

Jerald avoided her gaze and said to Evelina, "I promise you, I will never see her again."

A smile finally appeared on Evelina's face. She put away her phone, walked to Jerald's side, and wrapped her arm around his, her tone triumphant, "You said it, no take-backs."

Jerald said nothing, just nodded.

Cathleen watched their intimate gestures, and suddenly felt as if her chest had been ripped open-icy winds howled through the gap, the pain so intense she wished she could die on the spot.