The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 75

The word slipped from her lips so softly, but it landed in Lance’s heart like a pebble breaking the surface of still water.

Lance stopped mid-inhale. The cigarette between his lips trembled, and ash scattered onto the floor.

“Besides being your employee, I’m also your ex-wife. Even if we weren’t, we’re still a man and a woman. There are boundaries.”

Catherine had spent all night thinking it through. The real problem wasn’t Adelina or Belinda. It was Lance.

“It makes sense that Adelina, as your fiancée, doesn’t want another woman around you. And it’s only natural that Belinda doesn’t want her ex-daughter-in-law hanging around, either.”

“I get why they can’t accept me. But you knew how they felt, and you kept me here anyway. Whether you did it to get back at Adelina or because you don’t want Belinda pulling your strings, it’s not smart. And it’s made my life a lot harder.”

Her voice was steady and clear in the quiet office. Underneath, though, she was carrying the weight of days of pressure and frustration.

“You might not care about how I feel, but all this drama proves you played the wrong move by using me like a pawn.”

She finished in one breath. Lance just stood there, silent.

His face was impossible to read, his sharp features half-hidden in the haze of smoke. He looked like someone nobody could figure out.

Catherine met his eyes and caught a hint of doubt there.

Doubt about what? That she was lying about not wanting to cause trouble? That she was just playing games to stay? She couldn’t think of anything else he could possibly suspect.

After a pause, she went on. “And please let Belinda know I understand my place. She doesn’t need to worry. I’m not someone who belongs in the James family’s house.”

Lance took the cigarette from his mouth, waving away the smoke.

“So what makes you think you could get into the main family’s house?”

Catherine froze for a second. When had she ever said she wanted to?

She caught the sarcasm in his eyes and took a steadying breath. “Whether I could or not has nothing to do with you. Either way… I want to quit.”

“Did Gavin offer you two million?” Lance shot back, bringing up Gavin again.

“Pretending it’s all for my sake, when really you’re running to Gavin? Catherine, do you think I’m stupid?”

His voice rose at the end, sharp and accusing.

He slid his fingers through her hair, holding her head in place, making her look up at him.

“Did you tell Gavin you were my wife for two years?”

The pressure of his presence made it hard to breathe. Catherine shook her head right away. “No.”

She had promised to keep their marriage a secret, and she would never break that promise.

“What’s wrong, scared to tell him?” Lance’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “With your background and the fact you’ve already been married, what makes you think Gavin would ever take you seriously?”

His words hit her like a punch. Her nose stung, and her eyes filled with tears.

His face blurred in front of her, but the scorn in his expression was still painfully clear.