Chapter 21 Making a Decision
I followed Blake out of the conference room, head held high.
Andrew could use the partnership as leverage to get those ten minutes, and who knows what it would cost him later. Not that any of that was my concern.
Blake led me back to his private office.
"Catherine, are you okay?"
Meeting his concerned gaze, I shook my head.
Blake let out a helpless sigh. "You look terrible. Take the rest of the day off. Go home and get some rest."
I stared at him, surprised. Pulling out my phone, I checked my reflection. My small face was paper white, my eyes slightly red and bloodshot. Even though I'd left the conference room behind and Andrew and James hadn't followed, my lips still trembled uncontrollably.
I kept adjusting my breathing, forcing myself to calm down.
Blake poured me a glass of warm water. "Catherine, if you need help, just ask. As long as it's within my power, I'll help you."
"Not just because Nicholas and I are close—I genuinely want to help."
I looked at him somewhat dazedly. He was the director of DI Jewelry Design, my supervisor. I thanked him sincerely. "Thank you, Blake."
Blake suddenly smiled. "At the office, you still need to call me Mr. Gordon."
"Okay, Mr. Gordon."
We shared a smile, and my mood settled considerably.
The psychological shadow the Rosewood family had cast over me had pervaded every moment of my past life. Even living a second time, those things etched into my bones over the years couldn't be removed overnight.
Yes, I still instinctively wanted to please those four brothers. I'd spoken harsh words, but the facade I'd built had already crumbled without me realizing it.
I suddenly understood why Jason and Michael had never taken my words to heart. Looking this pathetic, anyone would think I didn't mean what I said.
"I thought I was doing such a good job pretending."
I murmured quietly.
Blake sighed. "Catherine, they're family you lived with day in and day out. Who can just cut ties and move on immediately?"
"Look at couples who've only dated a few months—they act like it's life or death when they break up. What about a bond that lasted over a decade?"
His comfort reached the deepest part of my heart. Before, I'd forced myself to be ruthless and cold toward the Rosewood family. Cutting ties with them had been my wish across two lifetimes.
But I'd forgotten I was still a person with flesh and blood. I'd once given my genuine heart to those four Rosewood brothers. Later, that heart had broken—but getting it back wasn't so easy.
But why? Why did the Rosewood family get all the benefits while I ended up kicked out and dying miserably?
I wasn't willing to accept that.
Intense resentment burst forth. I felt more clear-headed than I'd ever been before.
I wanted revenge. I wanted those four Rosewood brothers to see Sabrina's true face. I couldn't wait to see their expressions when they realized they'd mistaken sand for pearls.
Of course, I also wanted to take back the 'genuine heart' that belonged to me.
"Blake, thanks for your help today. I'm feeling much better now. I should get back to work."
"Catherine." Blake stopped me. "Don't push yourself. I'm your friend too. Don't forget that."
I smiled and agreed, warmth flooding my chest. Though he said that, I still instinctively feared forming deeper connections with people.
"Oh, there's one more thing I need to tell you."
I sat back down, waiting for him to continue.
Blake cleared his throat and said seriously, "I can testify that Clara is definitely not Nicholas's fiancée. I heard you two had some unpleasantness over it, so I wanted to clear things up for him."
"Nicholas... he's never dated anyone before either."
I laughed. "Mr. Gordon, you seem awfully concerned about Nicholas's love life."
Looked like he'd deliberately brought me to 'visit the patient' before!
Meeting my teasing gaze, he looked away guiltily. "We're friends. It's what friends do."
I smiled without responding, not bothering to make things harder for him.
Blake and Nicholas were close—clearly he knew everything about what had been happening between Nicholas and me lately. It was sweet of him to make a special point of explaining.
My reaction seemed neutral, but ripples spread across the lake of my heart.
Blake couldn't tell what I was really thinking. He could only silently curse his buddy Nicholas for being useless—having to do the heavy lifting for his friend's romance.
Thinking about my situation, he added, "Catherine, the company's been discussing which interns to make full-time. Keep your eyes open."
Hearing this, I immediately perked up.
"Got it, Mr. Gordon."
When I got home, I proactively told Nicholas about my decision to pursue revenge. He looked delighted.
I assumed he'd just been dissatisfied with the Rosewood family for a while and didn't think much of it.
"What's your plan?"
Nicholas asked tentatively. He was worried I'd go into battle unprepared.
I looked at him with amusement. Just because the Rosewood family had wrecked my mental state didn't mean I'd lost my brain. I'd graduated from a top school, after all.
"When I need help, I won't be shy about asking you or Blake."
Hearing me say Blake's name so naturally, Nicholas raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.
I knew he trusted me. He always said that I was an exceptionally capable person—kind and resilient. The Rosewood family simply had no vision and had let me slip away.
Back in my own apartment, I dialed a number I knew by heart, my finger trembling with nervousness.
The call connected instantly.
"Catherine! You heartless thing, you finally remembered to contact me!"
"How are you? Where are you living? Are you doing okay? Are you happy?"
The crisp female voice came through like floodgates opening—words of concern poured out without repeating, and without stopping.
I cut her off helplessly. "Lisa, I'm fine. Calm down."
Silence for a few seconds. Then suppressed crying came through the line.
I wanted to comfort her, but when the words reached my lips, nothing came out.
Melissa Davis, daughter of the Rosewood family's housekeeper. She was around my age. We'd grown up together. My only friend.
Sabrina hadn't failed to try stealing her away, but Melissa had both parents alive and family who loved her. The household staff knew everything about what went on in the Rosewood family.
After all, Sabrina was too busy managing the four Rosewood brothers to maintain consistent behavior everywhere. Later, when she saw I'd completely lost those brothers' affection, she couldn't be bothered wasting effort on Melissa anymore.
In my past life, after the Rosewood family kicked me out, Melissa had secretly helped me. Sabrina had interfered and forced her whole family to leave.
Before leaving, she'd cried and begged me not to blame her.
Silly girl, how could I ever blame you? Melissa hadn't done anything wrong!
Silent tears rolled down my cheeks. Emotions I'd suppressed for so long finally erupted.
"Catherine, promise me you'll never forgive them. Can you do that?"
"Okay."