The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 31

Catherine took her work seriously. No one ever doubted that. Missing a board meeting was a big deal, and if people found out, it would look like she’d dropped the ball as an assistant. That could hurt her career. She needed to find out what really happened.

Aaron forwarded the screenshot to Lance.

“Lance, did you see Catherine’s leave request?”

Lance glanced at the screenshot, his eyebrows knitting together as he opened his chat with Catherine. The last message was just a work update from a few days back.

His eyes went cold. He locked his phone, and the atmosphere in the room changed in an instant. Aaron could feel the tension and didn’t dare say anything more.

Lance spent the rest of the afternoon buried in work, barely looking up. When evening came, Adelina showed up with a carefully prepared dinner. She only lasted a few minutes in his office before storming out, her eyes red with tears.

“It was just one message. Did you really have to be so harsh with me?” she snapped, then disappeared down the hall.

Aaron immediately understood what had happened. He called Catherine right away and explained everything.

Catherine had waited all afternoon to hear back from Aaron. She never expected the answer would be that Adelina had deleted her message.

“Catherine, next time you need to take leave, maybe just call instead,” Aaron suggested gently.

“Got it. Thanks, Aaron.” Catherine hung up, her head throbbing.

The next morning, after insisting over and over, the doctor finally agreed to discharge her from the hospital.

Sophia arrived with breakfast, but found the hospital room empty. Worried, she tracked down a nurse and learned Catherine had already checked out.

“Grandma, do you think something’s wrong with Catherine?” Sophia asked, back in Fiona’s room. She couldn’t hide her worry. “The nurse didn’t want to let her go, but Catherine insisted on leaving. She didn’t even tell me.”

Fiona, sitting by the window soaking up the sun, frowned. “Catherine was in the hospital?”

Sophia froze. She’d forgotten they were keeping that from Fiona.

“Your nose is so stuffed up. Are you sick?”

Catherine sipped her warm pear soup. “Yeah. I had a fever, went to the hospital already.”

Lorinda got up and started pacing. “I’m coming to get you. You should stay at my place for a few days.”

“No, don’t,” Catherine said quickly. “You have kids at home. I don’t want them to catch anything.”

Lorinda’s tone turned serious. “You’re pregnant. Getting sick now is no joke, especially when you’re on your own. Don’t try to tough it out.”

Catherine nodded. “I’ve already seen a doctor. The fever’s gone. I’m fine. The baby comes first, always.”

“Alright. But call me if you need anything,” Lorinda said, finally giving in. Then she changed the subject. “I saw on the news your ex-husband’s getting engaged right after the New Year.”