The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 1000

Katrina stared at him, looking doubtful but secretly stunned.

They were already broken up; he had absolutely no obligation to explain anything.

Even if he had gotten a new girlfriend, it would have been perfectly normal.

Seeing her silent, Naylor grew anxious. "You don't believe me?"

She believed him.

With his status, there was no need to lie to her. It wasn't like he couldn't find someone else.

But it was too late.

Her wedding to Julian was set. The invitations were out, and the venue was booked.

Her mother's health had visibly improved lately. Cassandra, her future mother-in-law, visited the hospital almost every day, and the two chatted animatedly for hours.

If she backed out now and canceled the wedding... she didn't even want to imagine how her mother would react.

She had come too far. There was no going back.

Going through with the wedding and getting divorced later was better than backing out now.

In the end, she simply couldn't chase her own happiness at the expense of her dying mother's wish.

If she couldn't even care for her own family, what was the point of living?

After a brief internal struggle, Katrina looked at him and spoke calmly. "Thank you for being willing to break your own rules for me, but we can't go back. I don't want to upset my mom over this. I just want her final months to be peaceful and happy."

Naylor's face darkened with every word, his brows knitting tightly together.

"Why are you so stubborn? Your mom made you break up with me because I wouldn't marry you, right? Now I'm saying I will. Doesn't that make me the best choice? Does she actually want you to be happy, or does she just want to feel better about herself?"

Naylor's words crossed a line.

The implication was that Willa was forcing her daughter into a rushed marriage purely for her own peace of mind, treating Katrina's happiness as nothing more than an unchecked box.

Hearing this, Katrina bristled, her gaze turning icy. "What do you know? Do you have any idea what my mom and I have been through all these years? Someone like you could never understand!"

"Katrina, I—"

"Get out! I don't want to see you! And I don't need your sacrifices. I can't afford them!" Katrina exploded, shoving him toward the door.

Frustrated but desperate, Naylor tried to explain. "Katrina, that guy is hiding things from you. Think about it. With his family's background, he could easily find a wealthy girl abroad. Why would he fly all the way back here just to set up a blind date and rush into a marriage with you? Isn't it obvious?"

"Oh, so you're saying I'm not good enough for him?"

"That's not what I meant!"

He hadn't meant it like that, but it was exactly how it sounded.

Unfortunately, in her mother's eyes, being a playboy was enough to wipe out every single one of his redeeming qualities.

Katrina tossed and turned, unable to sleep. No matter how much she tried to clear her mind, Naylor's face kept surfacing.

Thinking of their kiss earlier, the longing overwhelmed her. Tears soaked her pillow as the heartbreak made it hard to breathe...

————

Katrina's demeanor didn't slip past Willa.

Seeing her daughter so listless, her eyes dull, she knew Katrina's resistance was growing as the wedding drew closer.

"Katrina, are you still seeing Naylor?" Willa probed.

She decided that if they were still in contact, she'd have to step in and have a talk with Naylor herself.

She couldn't let him keep messing with her daughter's head like this.

Knowing what her mother was thinking, Katrina quickly denied it. "No, we broke up months ago. He probably has a new girlfriend by now."

Willa scoffed dismissively. "That's how men are. Promiscuous and irresponsible."

"If you've got men figured out, why are you forcing me to get married?" Katrina retorted. "Do you really trust Julian that much? You don't think he's capable of the same thing?"

"If your situation with the Lester family was any better, I wouldn't push you like this," Willa explained. "Once you're married, you'll have a safety net and someone to lean on. Even if the Lesters try to bully you, someone will protect you. Otherwise, when I'm gone and you're all alone, what if Waller drags you to blind dates and tries to sell you off to some old creep? Getting married at least crushes that possibility."