The Scorned Heiress: No More Mercy novel Chapter 493

On the other end of the line, Danny stares at his darkened screen and lets out a long, frustrated sigh. Tara is utterly fearless when facing down her enemies, navigating every crisis with lethal precision and absolute control. Yet, the second it comes to matters of the heart, her immediate instinct is to build a wall and run.

He knows she feels the pull between them—she isn’t completely immune to him—but she is so fiercely independent that the vulnerability of a real relationship terrifies her. He decides to give her space to process her thoughts. A bitter smile tugs at his lips. It seems all the money and power in the world don't make locking down the woman of your dreams any easier.

His phone immediately vibrates again. He doesn't even need to glance at the caller ID to know it’s Catherine. He hadn't bothered to give his grandmother a heads-up before dropping the public bomb about canceling engagement. The Calhoun estate must be in absolute chaos right now.

Unfazed, Danny answers the call. Catherine's voice instantly explodes through the speaker. "Danny! What on earth do you think you're doing? Humiliating the family online and breaking an engagement without consulting me? Have you completely lost your respect for me?"

"I made myself perfectly clear the last time I was at the estate," Danny says coldly. "I don't play these political games. The Calhoun Corporation doesn't need alliances, and I certainly don't need to use a woman to solidify my position."

"I know you don't need the money, but Julianna is a spectacular girl! You are making a massive mistake!" Catherine snaps. "And who is this mysterious woman you claim to like? Don't tell me it's Tara! I absolutely forbid it!"

"If there's nothing else, Grandma, I have a company to run." Danny’s voice is ice. Anyone who disrespects Tara immediately loses his patience.

"Wait! You get back to the estate right now—"

Catherine assumes it's only natural for Katie to mentor her son's girlfriend, though she mentally scoffs at her daughter-in-law's perpetual absence. Ever since Catherine's eldest son mysteriously vanished and was legally declared dead, Katie has been a ghost. If Catherine hadn't personally verified her employment at the Institute, she would have assumed the woman ran off with another man. She has absolutely zero sense of family loyalty.

"Katie holds a much higher position at the Institute than I do," Julianna says, her tone perfectly modest. "I rarely have the privilege of crossing paths with her."

Her humility only deepens Catherine's affection.