Chapter 11 Celebrating a Birthday
Andrew looked completely stunned.
He stared at me in disbelief, searching my face for any hint of joking or dramatic posturing. But all he found was pure resolve.
After saying those words, I felt incredibly calm inside. My whole body felt lighter, like some massive weight had finally been lifted off my chest.
In my past life, I'd been shackled by so-called family bonds and paid for it with my life. Living again, I only wanted to live for myself. Do what I wanted.
Worried Andrew might cling to false hope, I continued. "I've already contacted a lawyer to draft the relevant documents. I don't want anything from the Rosewood family."
"Please sign and stamp the papers when you receive them."
My mind was made up. After moving into the rental, I'd started preparing to legally sever ties. But deep down, I'd still craved familial love, which made me procrastinate again and again.
Until recently, when Sabrina framed me yet again. Andrew's attitude finally made me decide once and for all.
Since the Rosewood family didn't want me around, I had no reason to keep getting tangled up with them.
Andrew looked deeply wounded by my complete lack of attachment to the family. He stammered, "Cate, don't talk nonsense."
"With Mom and Dad gone, we're your only family left. You—"
I didn't give him a chance to finish.
"Andrew, I don't need family like you."
With that, I turned and left.
That final sentence became the last straw for Andrew. He collapsed weakly to the floor, utterly wretched. My words replayed endlessly in his mind.
Even after returning to the Rosewood house, Andrew still couldn't accept this reality. The others, upon hearing what happened, were all indignant and ready to settle scores with me.
Sabrina, worried we might reconcile, used her poor health as an excuse to monopolize everyone's attention.
I knew nothing about any of this. Even if I had, I would've just mocked Sabrina for overthinking it.
As long as she was around, the Rosewood family would never care whether I lived or died.
---
Without the Rosewood family hanging over me, I started actively socializing. During a dinner gathering with coworkers, Sabrina somehow got wind of it and barged in uninvited.
The private room fell silent. Everyone stared at this unexpected intruder.
"Who are you looking for?" someone asked.
Sabrina scanned the room and spotted me eating with my head down, minding my own business. She ignored my coworker's question entirely.
Walking toward me, she called toward the door, "Come in, everyone! Catherine really is here!"
My coworkers all frowned. Then four strikingly handsome men filed through the entrance.
I set down my utensils with displeasure. The sharp clink echoed noticeably in the private room.
Sabrina's eyes instantly reddened. She looked down, wringing her fingers together as she offered a false apology. "I'm sorry, Catherine. If you're angry, take it out on me, okay? Don't blame your brothers."
"It's all my fault. I'm the one who messed up."
Sabrina apologized frantically without once specifying what she'd actually done wrong.
My coworkers looked completely lost. Everyone exchanged confused glances, unsure what to do.
I stood up, looking at the group coldly. "What are you doing here?"
Before my brothers could speak, Sabrina jumped in first. "I know today's your birthday. I brought your brothers specially to celebrate with you."
"Oh, and we prepared a birthday present for you!"
Naturally, she extended her hand toward Jason. Jason obediently handed over a gift box.
When opened, a pendant lay inside.
Another pendant! I gave them a mocking glance. They really were both stupid and nauseating!
My gaze eventually settled on Jason. He guiltily looked away, unable to meet my eyes.
Jason hadn't told the others about me smashing the pendant he'd brought as an apology last time. He felt ashamed and knew he'd been in the wrong.
Now Jason tried to make amends. "Cate, this pendant is an exact replica of the one Mom and Dad gave you. One-to-one recreation."
In other words, this one wasn't a knockoff.
Michael didn't know what had happened before. He only saw me showing no courtesy in front of outsiders and giving Sabrina the cold shoulder. Anger flared in him instantly. "Catherine, quit being so ungrateful."
"Sabby's sincerely apologizing to you. Fine if you won't forgive her."
"If Sabby hadn't insisted on celebrating your birthday, you think we'd want to be here?"
Andrew and Jason's expressions changed simultaneously. "Mike!" "Michael!"
They spoke in unison to stop him. They'd come to mend the relationship, not completely destroy it.
Michael didn't understand, mistakenly thinking they were protecting me. He grew even more impatient.
"Am I wrong?"
"Catherine, can you be reasonable for once?"
A suffocating feeling washed over me, making it hard to breathe.
Sabrina fanned the flames from the sidelines. "Michael, today's Catherine's birthday. Don't scold her."
A coworker, sensing the tense atmosphere, tried to smooth things over.
"You're Catherine's family, right? Just have the server add another table. Whatever needs saying can be said sitting down, can't it?"
Others chimed in agreement. These were senior colleagues I got along with fairly well. But none of them knew about my family drama. They just knew me as a newly hired young woman who'd invited them to dinner, so they came after work.
Since they hadn't known it was a birthday dinner, no one had prepared gifts. I'd simply wanted to treat everyone to a meal and have a good time together.
Now it was all ruined.
I stopped a coworker who was about to find a server. "No need. They're not welcome here."
The atmosphere grew even more awkward.
Tears spilled from Sabrina's eyes. "Catherine, I already apologized—what more do you want?"
"Your brothers gave me that pendant. I didn't know anything about it beforehand."
"What happened at the office wasn't intentional either. Why do you have to keep holding it over my head?"
I was the victim, yet she was the one playing accuser.
Michael looked ready to tear me apart. He protectively pulled Sabrina into his arms, glaring at me furiously. "Catherine, celebrate your birthday or don't—whatever. But do you really need to bully Sabby?"
"We came with good intentions and brought you a gift. Is that somehow wrong?"
I clenched my fists tight, suppressing my rage over and over. I didn't want to cause a scene in front of all these people.
I smiled at my coworkers. "Sorry for killing the mood, everyone. I already paid for dinner. Let's get together another time."
With that, I grabbed my bag to leave.
Having failed to achieve her goal, how could Sabrina let me go?
"Explain yourself! What exactly did I do to offend you?!"
Her shrill voice exploded through the private room.
Furious, I raised my hand and slapped her with all my strength.
"Ah—"
I knocked Sabrina to the floor. My four brothers panicked, swarming forward to check on her.
Before they could turn on me, I spoke first.
"Why can't you understand? I despise you people!"
"I've made it crystal clear—I want to cut ties with all of you!"