Chapter 5 - Catherine Learned Her Own Mother Had Ordered Her Father to Disappear—and the Woman She Thought Was Victim Had Been Running the Entire GameCatherine couldn't believe it.
Her mother.
The woman who had spent seventeen years telling her that her father had abandoned them.
The woman who had supported her marriage to Declan.
The woman who had always warned her never to trust Julian.
Her mother.
Declan explained.
“Your mother knew your father was working with Julian.”
“So she betrayed him.”
“Yes.”
“She had him disappear.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
Catherine laughed bitterly.
“That excuse is becoming exhausting.”
Declan looked at her.
“I know.”
Her mother eventually confessed.
She had discovered that Catherine was being targeted.
She wanted her daughter to escape the family business.
So she made a deal.
Catherine would marry Declan.
Gideon would be accepted into the Sutter family.
The old network would leave them alone.
But the plan failed.
Someone continued leaking information.
Someone inside the Sutter organization.
The culprit was discovered.
A trusted advisor.
Marcus Vale.
He had been close to Declan's father.
He believed Declan was too soft.
He wanted the organization back.
And he believed Gideon was the perfect leverage.
Marcus had been sending the messages.
He had manipulated everyone.
Including Julian.
Catherine confronted him.
“You threatened my child.”
Marcus smiled.
“He isn't your real child.”
Catherine slapped him.
He laughed.
“You still think love is stronger than blood.”
Catherine answered:
“It is.”
Declan arrested him through federal cooperation.
The network collapsed.
The family business began transitioning into legitimate operations.
The old empire weakened.
Catherine finally had what she had wanted.
Freedom.
But something was missing.
Her marriage.
She and Declan had survived.
But trust had cracks.
“I don't know how to trust you,” she told him.
“I know.”
“What are we?”
He looked at her.
“Still married.”
“But?”
“But I want us to choose each other again.”
She cried.
Then kissed him.
May you like
It wasn't a perfect reconciliation.
It was a beginning.
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