Chapter 59 A Trap
My expression was grave, my brows furrowed tight. Nicholas's reassurance did nothing to ease the worry in my heart.
I knew Sabrina too well. To protect herself, she'd specifically brought Michael along. And Michael—he was the most protective of Sabrina among all four brothers.
I smiled bitterly, looking at Nicholas. "Nicholas, Sabrina clearly came prepared this time. I don't want to go head-to-head with her. I'm grateful you're willing to help, but I don't want to drag you into this."
After briefly weighing the pros and cons, I'd made my decision.
"Nicholas, let's just go back."
I met his eyes, my tone serious and sincere.
Something flickered in Nicholas's deep gaze. The look he gave me was full of heartache. He raised his hand, his slightly rough fingertips gently smoothing the furrow between my brows.
"Catherine, you want to run away, don't you?"
My face went pale. I stammered and looked down, unable to meet his eyes.
Nicholas always had a knack for reading people.
He was right. Hearing Sabrina and Michael's schemes firsthand—without being absolutely certain, I didn't dare and didn't want to provoke them. My death in my past life had made me far more cautious. So my instinct was to avoid confrontation.
Alone as I was, I couldn't bear the consequences of a direct fight.
Nicholas's hands settled on my shoulders. "Catherine, look at me."
He was like a stern dean disciplining a student who retreated at the first sign of trouble. And I'd become that student.
I slowly raised my eyes to meet that gaze full of strength.
He said, "Catherine, have you forgotten why you came here? You've already collected evidence of which antiques were auctioned. The question now is how to prove your innocence. We can avoid this now, but what about next time? Are you going to prepare yourself every time you run into the Rosewood family?"
I froze. The expression on my face gradually shifted from wooden to resolute.
"You're right. I can't run." I took Nicholas's words to heart, my mind racing through ways to break this situation.
"Sabrina stole Rosewood family antiques to sell. To cover her tracks, she probably didn't dare hand them to a third party. We're still at the auction house—all we need is to find the staff member who handled the transaction to identify Sabrina. That'll prove my innocence."
I laid out my reasoning to Nicholas.
Nicholas nodded. "I'll find the staff. You stall them."
It was the best arrangement. Sabrina and Michael's target was me. And the currently struggling Rosewood family couldn't afford to offend Nicholas. Only I could buy us time.
"Okay."
"Stay safe. Wait for me to come back."
Nicholas's parting words. I agreed, and we split up.
I quickly pulled myself together and emerged from our hiding spot. I hadn't gone far when voices drifted toward me.
"Sabby, you think Catherine ran off?"
Sabrina's voice sounded anxious. "Michael, she can't have gone far. Let's go after her."
I simply stopped moving, standing in place to wait for them.
Sabrina came around the corner first. The moment she looked up, she spotted me standing not far away. Her face lit up.
"Michael, Catherine's right here!"
Sabrina's tone was excited as she rushed forward, trying to block my path. Michael followed close behind.
"Catherine, you're a hard woman to track down!"
Michael's tone was hostile.
I crossed my arms over my chest, completely calm. "Really? Perfect timing. I was waiting for you."
From the corner of my eye, I spotted Edward bringing up the rear, walking toward us at a leisurely pace. Hearing my words, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
So when Nicholas and I left earlier, Edward really had been tipping off Sabrina. My suspicion was quickly confirmed.
Sabrina wore a fake smile. "Catherine, how wonderful that you specifically waited for us. Michael and I just went in looking for you. Edward said you'd already left—I was worried we wouldn't see you today!"
Michael's expression was cold. "Sabby, why are you wasting words on her?"
He shot me a disdainful look. "Catherine, this time you've walked right into our trap!"
I let out a soft laugh. "Oh? Who's walking into whose trap? Bit early to say, don't you think?"
I deliberately glanced in Sabrina's direction.
Knowing I was implying her guilt, Sabrina glared at me in displeasure. The smile on her face dropped.
"Catherine, you kept saying you wanted to cut ties with the Rosewood family. Why did you steal Rosewood family antiques to auction off?"
Michael interrupted our staring contest, not forgetting to ruffle Sabrina's hair reassuringly.
Was he running interference for her? Did Michael also know the antiques were stolen by Sabrina, and he was just helping her frame me?
The thought flashed through my mind.
"Michael, you need evidence when making accusations. What proof do you have that I stole anything?"
Sabrina put on a troubled expression, pretending to struggle before letting out a long sigh. She looked at me with disappointment. "Catherine, our brothers always taught us to be honest. Today, let's lay everything out. How much did you really steal from the Rosewood family to sell?"
"I thought you came to the auction because you were interested in antiques. I never imagined you actually wanted to watch the Rosewood family antiques get sold to strangers with your own eyes! Catherine, those are things Mom and Dad left behind. How could you..."
Sabrina's words sounded so earnest, as if she were genuinely trying to teach me to be a better person. Her talent for twisting the truth was truly impressive.
Hearing this, anger flashed across Michael's face. "Catherine, all those things you did before—I thought you were just being difficult. I never imagined you'd be so ungrateful as to actually steal from the family!"
He stared at me ominously. "Have you forgotten what happened when you were little?"
I let out a cold laugh.
Of course I remembered. Sabrina stole things, but I was the one who got beaten and nearly thrown out.
"Michael, what if I told you the person who stole those things was Sabrina?"
"What nonsense!" Sabrina immediately shot back, like a little fox whose tail had been stepped on.
Michael backed her up. "You're just like always—unrepentant and trying to frame Sabby."
"Don't rush. By Sabrina's logic, I can reasonably suspect her too."
I smiled. "Sabrina said she came to accompany her boyfriend, Mr. Johnson, to the auction. Mr. Johnson himself said before we entered that he loved this auction's items and even tried to discourage us from attending. But during the actual auction, Mr. Johnson didn't bid on a single item. And Sabrina wasn't by her boyfriend's side—she was hovering around me instead. She even left in the middle and only came back after it ended."
"Put that way, Sabrina's behavior seems pretty suspicious too."
"So." My gaze sharpened. "Sabrina, why won't you admit you're the one who stole those things?"