Chapter 10 End
DI and the Rosewood Group had finalized their collaboration. Even after I'd torn into Andrew that day and laid down harsh words, what was coming still came.
Though as a mere intern, I had no involvement in the actual project coordination. Still, gossip about the whole thing reached my ears.
"Did you guys hear? The Rosewood Group heiress is some sickly thing!"
"For this collaboration's promotional video, Andrew strong-armed everyone into including her."
Someone sounded confused. A decorative vase who wasn't even a professional—why did she get such a prominent position?
"Money, duh."
The chatter faded as everyone exchanged knowing looks. But I actually paid attention to the truth behind it all for once. This concerned why Andrew had gone to such lengths to collaborate with DI in the first place.
If he was targeting me, I needed to prepare in advance.
While reporting on work, I casually asked Blake about it.
"Oh, that." Blake's face filled with disdain. "Andrew wants to use this as publicity for rare disease awareness, to find a potential cure for Sabrina."
In other words, using public resources for private gain.
I frowned, complicated emotions swirling inside. Sabrina's illness had become Andrew's excuse for partnering with DI.
Once I confirmed it had nothing to do with me, I stopped caring.
Sabrina and Andrew started appearing at DI frequently. When we occasionally crossed paths, I'd ignore their existence entirely. Andrew tried greeting me several times, but Sabrina intercepted him with various excuses each time.
I felt absolutely nothing. Just found it laughable. I didn't care what she and the Rosewood family did together. Yet Sabrina clung like mud I couldn't shake off.
Learning from past experience, Sabrina didn't dare cause trouble when people were around anymore. Her acting might fool the Rosewood family, but it wouldn't fool outsiders.
One day, I finished packing my things as usual to leave. Just as I was about to go, Sabrina blocked my path.
"Catherine?"
She called out with exaggerated surprise, pretending this was a chance encounter when she'd clearly come looking for me.
I watched her glance around my workstation, confirming no one else was nearby before a gleam of satisfaction rose in her eyes.
Knowing her impure nature, I deliberately maintained distance between us.
"What do you want now?"
Straight to the point.
Sabrina put on a wounded expression, as if I'd committed some heinous crime.
I had no interest in playing along with her act. I tried to walk past her, but Sabrina positioned herself directly in my way.
"I know you hate me, but I came for your brothers this time."
"Oh?"
Now she had my curiosity.
Seeing that invoking them worked, Sabrina immediately launched into her prepared script.
"You have no idea—Andrew's gotten so haggard searching for you."
"James was so worried you'd encountered bad people that he made a mistake during surgery and nearly caused a death!"
"And Michael and Jason—they're all so concerned about you."
Sabrina paused, her tone mournful. "Catherine, I'm telling you this without any ulterior motive. I just care about our brothers and worry they'll get hurt because of you."
"It's fine if you won't save me. I can manage on my own."
"But you can't ignore the brothers' wellbeing! They're all suffering because of you..."
"Shut up!" I couldn't take it anymore and cut off her monologue.
Using concern for the four brothers as a cover—she just wanted to exploit my guilt to trick me back to the Rosewood family, didn't she?
Those four would worry about me? Unless the sun rose in the west.
I laughed bitterly inside, staring coldly at Sabrina. "Nothing but lies."
Faced with my ruthless exposure, Sabrina grew furious with embarrassment.
"How can you be so heartless!"
She accused me.
I remained unmoved. If I'd been this heartless in my past life, I wouldn't have died so miserably, would I?
"Move. I don't want to waste breath on you."
I grabbed my bag, preparing to leave.
How could Sabrina let it go that easily?
She pressed her lips together, tears filling her eyes. "Fine, you don't care about the brothers—I'll accept that."
"But you need to apologize for humiliating me at the company last time!"
Sabrina only ever thought about herself. Her goal today was never getting me back to the Rosewood family, but rather...
"In your dreams!"
Two words dripped from my lips with contempt.
Sabrina seethed with rage. "Catherine, you know perfectly well I have a heart condition and can't handle stress, yet you deliberately embarrassed me in front of all those people. You want me dead, don't you?"
"Yes!"
I answered instantly.
Sabrina nearly exploded with anger. She took a deep breath and softened her tone.
"I'm sorry, Catherine. I was wrong. Please, given my poor health, won't you forgive me?"
The face-change happened too fast. I couldn't figure out what game she was playing now.
Just as I prepared to retort, the person standing perfectly fine in front of me suddenly collapsed to the floor.
A woman's delicate cry accompanied a man's urgent, worried voice following close behind. "Sabby!"
I closed my eyes, finally understanding completely.
A setup.
Sabrina had deliberately said nonsensical things, then played the vulnerable victim card to morally blackmail me. Only one goal—provoke me so Andrew would misunderstand.
A familiar routine.
My face filled with mockery as I crossed my arms over my chest.
The workstation area wasn't large to begin with. Sabrina had blocked me in, stopping my attempts to leave multiple times, inadvertently closing the distance between us.
Her sudden change was only because she'd spotted Andrew behind me.
Andrew strode forward, helping Sabrina up from the floor with concern. Then he glared at me with utter disgust. "Catherine, have you lost your mind?!"
"You know Sabby's in poor health, yet you shoved her to the ground. You're truly vicious!"
Sabrina cried pitifully. "Don't blame Catherine. I just didn't stand steady."
My expression remained blank. "Whether I touched her or not, check the surveillance footage."
"You—" Andrew pointed at me furiously. "Unrepentant!"
Hearing about checking surveillance, Sabrina panicked too. Nobody knew better than her whether I was innocent.
Sabrina clutched at her heart, speaking weakly, "Never mind, Andrew. I don't feel well. Let's just go back."
Just as Andrew anxiously started to lead her away, a derisive laugh came from nearby.
All three of us looked over.
Blake descended from upstairs. "Mr. Rosewood, I saw everything clearly from up there. Ms. Kingsley fell on her own."
"Our company has 360-degree high-definition surveillance with no blind spots. Want to take a look together?"
Andrew glanced at Sabrina in his arms, who didn't dare meet his eyes.
The truth became obvious.
Both their faces burned with shame.
Andrew looked up at me and saw mockery written all over my face. He felt particularly uncomfortable.
Afterward, Andrew found me alone to apologize.
"I'm sorry, Cate. I wrongly accused you that day."
"I was just worried and wasn't thinking straight. You know how Sabby is..."
Listening to him make excuses for Sabrina even while apologizing, my heart plunged completely into an icy abyss.
Even with the facts laid bare, with proof I'd been wronged, he still couldn't speak a fair word for me?
My lips curved into a cold smile. I wouldn't hold back anymore.
"Let's end this."
Andrew froze. "What?"
"From today forward, I have nothing to do with the Rosewood family!"