The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 127

He wasn’t unworthy of being Gavin’s child’s father. He just wasn’t worthy of being with Catherine anymore. Especially now that he and Adelina were about to get engaged. He was basically someone else’s man.

“Grandma, what are we going to do?” Sophia clung to Fiona’s arm, worry all over her face. “We have to help Catherine.”

Fiona’s eyes narrowed, her face lined with wisdom and secrets. “Lance’s engagement is happening soon, so let’s wait until after the party. Once they’re done, I’ll talk to the Main family myself.”

No way was she going to let Catherine face this alone.

Sophia slapped her chest, determined. “Count me in. I’m coming too.”

***

The day before Lance’s engagement, Catherine finally had nothing left on her plate. She could breathe for the first time in days.

She set up a meeting with Lorinda to talk about where she should go next. Staying in Cabinda wasn’t an option anymore, and Harrisburg was out too. She didn’t want Gavin to get dragged into any mess.

Lorinda suggested they meet at the orphanage. They’d both been busy, and it had been a while since they’d visited.

Catherine showed up after work, just in time for dinner. Together, she and Lorinda whipped up a big meal for the kids, laughing and chatting as they ate.

“I’m thinking Veridian might actually be our best shot,” Lorinda said, moving it to the top of their list. “It’s just pretty far from Cabinda.”

“A little distance sounds good to me,” Catherine replied.

Lorinda made a face. “Honestly, news of your demotion probably hasn’t reached Veridian yet, so it might not mess up your job search. At least, I hope not.”

Catherine shook her head. “It’ll come out sooner or later. My work life is going to be pretty shaky for a while.”

If she’d left SilverLeaf Industries on good terms, she wouldn’t even have to worry about finding her next job. But now, everything was up in the air.

“Then why leave at all if it’s going to be so unstable?”

Amanda wandered over, chiming in out of nowhere. “Why go so far just to make life harder for yourself?”

Lorinda just smiled. “We’ve got some savings, Amanda. Don’t worry, you and the kids will always be taken care of.”

Amanda’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, ‘you and the kids’? All that money is for the kids, not you! You two grew up here in the orphanage…”

Every time they visited, Amanda would go off on this same speech.

Catherine just listened quietly.

Lorinda gave a dramatic eye roll behind Amanda’s back.

“So, if you don’t have to leave, then stay. And if you really have all these savings, you should give them to the kids!”

“Patty, you’re the sweetest. You have to study hard, okay? I’ll come visit whenever I can. I’m just leaving for work, that’s all, and it’s not forever. Promise?”

Catherine looked at Patty and saw how much the little girl didn’t want her to go. She picked up a small chicken drumstick and put it in her bowl. “If you want to study and make money, you need to be healthy first. So eat up, okay?”

Patty nodded and dug in, trying to hide her tears.

After dinner, she insisted on helping clean up, tagging along behind Catherine and Lorinda, calling their names over and over.

Leaving Patty was the hardest part of all this.

From across the room, Amanda watched the scene, something sharp and calculating flickering in her eyes.

***

In a blink, it was engagement day.

All of Team Sixteen had been sent to help out at the party.

Catherine stood in the corner of the banquet hall, dressed in her black uniform, music pounding in her ears.

She watched as photos played on the big screen, one after another.