Chapter 7.

Catherine's POV.

"Eat all you want and enjoy all this luxury, pig, once the test result is out you'll find yourself within the four walls of the prison cell, you'll regret ever coming here to make useless claims." Anna lambasted as she sat down on the chair, taking her own cup of hot chocolate and spilling some content on the dining table due to a rough pull.

I looked at her with a bored expression as I sipped my cup of coffee. I don't know why she'd decided to move into the mansion. From what I heard from the servants, she hasn't stayed here before. She comes to spend weekends but she doesn't stay for long on work days.

"Good morning, Anna, it looks like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed considering your foul mood this morning, is there anything I can do to help you?" I asked with a sneer, a playful smirk carving on my face when I noticed her grip on the mug tightened.

"Hey, darling, don't be so hard on yourself, I understand how you feel, if you can't find stability within yourself, there's no way you'll allow people around you to have peace. Don't worry, dear Anna, there are likes of you on the streets where I come from." I added, giving her a lopsided grin and her nostrils flared in anger.

"You stupid wench! Worthless street rat!! Do you think you can come here and act all haughty?!! You're not fit to sleep where I walk, don't you dare talk back at me or else..." She paused, giving me an icy look.

"Let me lecture you on something important darling..." I began, dropping my cup of coffee and facing her squarely, "First, you stink at insults, were you fool-born or maybe fly-bitten in the brain? Cause fuck! What is wrong with you, it's too early for drama. Secondly, I accept that I can't sleep where you walk, that explains why I'm sleeping under the same roof with you, please, be kind enough to let me be because I'm in no mood for all these." I added with a sigh and refocused my attention on my breakfast.

I don't know what's wrong with her, but if she thinks she can intimidate me with her wealth and status, then she should think again because I've been intimidated enough while growing up... I am not weak... Yes, I am not.

"Oohh, you think you got a running mouth huh?" Anna asked, after taking in a deep sharp breath.

"Yeah, I do have a mouth, it's right here, quit being a thorn," I replied with a scoff while pointing at my mouth.

A low giggle left her mouth, "You sure think this is all a joke, Catherine, you don't know what you have gotten yourself into, you really have no idea. I don't even know what Lauren sees in you, you're just a young girl with rapid growth! How did he even fuck you?!" She asked with a scowl, her eyes scanning me with disgust as she shoved a slice of bread into her tiny mouth.

I smirked before saying, "Why don't you go ask Lauren everything, about how he fucked me, it's simple, he fucked me just the way he fucks you, end the shits coming out of your mouth, and let's have a good breakfast."

"Fuck! You're so stupid!" She brawled angrily, spilling the hot chocolate in the process.

"I know but I can't help it when I'm with you, the stupidity in me seems to come out to play when you're around, can't help but think if it sees a friend." I consented with a sarcastic grin that only seemed to irk her more.

“Fuck! I hate you so much!” She huffed angrily at me.

I gave her a huge grin and muttered, “It's a mutual feeling, Anna”

"Arghh!!" She let out a screech which I ignored.

"What's wrong darling, are you okay?" A male voice asked and I need not turn to know who it was.

"Sweetheart, send this ludicrous teenager out! I fucking hate her!! I can't stand her anymore." She whined bitterly, standing up to meet her fiance who hugged her tight, giving me a contemptuous look.

"Don't worry baby, she'll be out of here today, that's a promise," Lauren promised, withdrawing from the hug to kiss her deeply.

My chest contracted painfully as I witnessed the man whom I'd built my whole world around kissing another woman in front of me. Where had all those sweet forever promises he had made to me while making love to me night after night?

As I watched, time appeared to stretch into a cruel eternity. The scene unfolded before me like a nightmare I couldn't flee. His lips, which once whispered promises of forever love, were now entangled with hers. My heart, once in a constant rhythm, shattered as I watched them.

My chest tightened more, squeezing the air from my lungs. The air itself felt heavy, saddled with the weight of betrayal. Burning tears welled in my eyes, blurring the painful scene before me. The world became hazy surroundings to the agony that radiated from the core of my being.

In that moment, I became a mirror of broken pieces, shattered trust, wounded pride, and a love that lingered like a ghost. The pain was not just in what I saw, but in the unredeemable fracture of the love story I thought was eternally ours.

Not able to bear the pain again, I immediately turned away from them and let the tears fall freely from my eyes to my shaky hands.

"Red hair..." A gentle adenoidal voice breathed into my ears and I was quick to turn.

I was faced with the most beautiful sight I've seen in a long while, "I... Ha..." I stuttered, feeling lost in the hidden spell cast on me by Lucas, if I wasn't mistaken, there seemed to be concern etched on his face as he observed my teared-up face.

What was it with this man that I couldn't resist?

"Wipe your tears, you'll be needing them if the results turn out to be negative." He divulged as he seemed to snap out of the trance we were both caught in, a deadly smirk replacing the concerned expression that showed a few seconds ago.

What is wrong with that exquisite sin?!