Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Height of Manipulations Part 2
Cathy's P.O.V
We stepped through the front doors and into the grand foyer with its crystal chandelier and marble floors. I had taken maybe three steps inside when I saw her.
Caroline.
She was standing near the base of the grand staircase, wearing a simple white dress that made her look innocent and pure. Her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying, and the moment she saw me, her face crumpled.
My mood, which had already been terrible, soured even further. Of course she was here. Of course she was waiting to put on her own performance.
Before I could say anything, before I could even process what was happening, Caroline rushed toward me and dropped to her knees right there on the marble floor.
"Cathy," she sobbed, her voice breaking. "Cathy, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
I stared down at her, my body frozen, my mind struggling to catch up with what I was seeing. She was on her knees in front of me, her hands clasped together like she was praying, tears streaming down her face.
"I committed a grave sin," Caroline continued, her words tumbling out between sobs. "I was intoxicated, I wasn't thinking clearly, but that's no excuse. What I did was unforgivable."
She looked up at me, her eyes pleading, desperate. "I will accept any kind of punishment in return. Any punishment at all. Even if it means terminating the pregnancy and moving away forever. Whatever you want, Cathy. Whatever will make this right."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Terminate the pregnancy. She was offering to end the life of the child she was carrying, Xavier's child, just to earn my forgiveness.
It was the most manipulative thing I had ever heard. She knew exactly what buttons to push, knew exactly how to make herself look like the repentant sinner willing to sacrifice everything. And she knew that by offering to terminate the pregnancy, she was forcing me into a position where I would look like the monster if I actually took her up on it.
But what happened next was even worse.
"No!" Xavier's voice rang out, sharp and panicked. He rushed past me, nearly knocking me aside in his hurry to get to Caroline.
And then he dropped to his knees too. Xavier Dalton, the powerful CEO, the man who commanded respect from everyone around him, was on his knees in front of me on the marble floor of his own foyer.
"Cathy, please," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Please don't punish Caroline for this. I'm the one to blame. This is all my fault."
He reached out and grabbed my hand, holding it between both of his like he was afraid I would disappear if he let go.
"I'm the one who made the mistake," Xavier continued, his eyes locked on mine. "I'm the one who betrayed you, who hurt you. The child is innocent in all of this. The baby didn't do anything wrong."
He squeezed my hand tighter, his expression desperate. "If you have to punish anyone, punish me. Do whatever you want to me. Scold me, hit me, take everything out on me. But please, please don't harm Caroline or the unborn child. They don't deserve to pay for my mistakes."
I stood there, looking down at the two of them kneeling before me, and I felt absolutely nothing. No sympathy, no anger, no satisfaction. Just a cold, empty numbness that spread through my entire body.
This was all an act. Every word, every tear, every desperate plea. They had probably rehearsed this whole scene, planned out exactly what they would say and do to manipulate me into forgiving them.
And the worst part was, it might have worked. If I had come back yesterday, if I hadn't had the night to think and process and remember Hunter's advice about the prenup, I might have actually fallen for this performance.
Caroline was still sobbing on the floor, her shoulders shaking. Xavier was still holding my hand, looking up at me with those eyes that had once made my heart flutter. They were both playing their parts perfectly.
But I wasn't the same naive girl who had left this house a few days ago. I wasn't the trusting wife who believed everything her husband told her.
I had seen the truth. And no amount of tears or apologies was going to make me forget it.
I pulled my hand away from Xavier's grasp, and I saw something flicker across his face. Surprise? Concern? Fear?
Good. Let him be afraid. Let him wonder what I was thinking, what I was planning.
Because I wasn't going to make this easy for either of them. Not anymore.
They exchanged a quick glance, and I saw the calculation behind it. They were wondering if their performance had worked, if I was going to forgive them.
Let them wonder.
I had a prenup to find and terms to understand. And I wasn't going anywhere until I knew exactly what cards I was holding in this twisted game.