Chapter 99

Chapter 99

His eyes were as sharp as a blade. "The agreement clearly states you can't file for divorce for three years."

He paused, then continued, "Otherwise, everything the Spencer Group has now, including the Summit Group, will pay a heavy price. Do you think the secret of your lost teacher is more important than all your hard work?"

Catherine's face went pale. She remembered the agreement well. She had signed it to gain the protection and resources of the Smith family.

Back then, she thought Richard was a fool and the agreement was just a formality. She never expected it to be a trap he had set from the beginning.

"Are you threatening me?" Her voice trembled, not from fear, but from anger.

"This isn't a threat, it's a reminder." Richard reached out, forcefully lifting her chin to make her look at him.

"Catherine, put away those thoughts you shouldn't have. From the moment you stepped into the Smith Villa, you became my wife, and you will be for the rest of your life."

His fingers were cold, but his gaze was burning with an undeniable possessiveness.

"Don't even think about it!" Catherine broke free from his grip, stepping back to put some distance between them.

She looked at Richard, feeling both unfamiliar and terrified. The man she once pitied and occasionally felt soft-hearted towards turned out to be a beast lying in wait.

"Don't even think about divorce." Richard's voice was as cold and hard as iron, shattering her last bit of hope. "Until I achieve my goals, until I tire of you, you aren't going anywhere."

He was asserting his dominance in the most direct and cruel way.

Catherine stood still, feeling a chill run from her feet to her head.

She had always thought she was the one in control, but she realized she had been a pawn all along. The word "trust" felt incredibly ironic at this moment.

She looked at Richard's handsome yet cold face, her mind in turmoil. Anger, humiliation, unwillingness, and a hint of something she didn't want to admit... the shattering of a fleeting heartbeat.

This guy, Richard, had entered her life under false pretenses and defeated her in the game she had set up.

And now, it seemed she had no way out. This marriage, which had just begun to reveal its most brutal side, was far from over.

A warm touch on her lips wiped away a drop of blood with an irresistible force.

Catherine's body stiffened, her breath catching.

Richard leaned in close, his warm breath brushing her ear, his voice low and clear, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

"You've been using me, haven't you?"

It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Catherine's heart sank, her mask of pretense seemingly torn away in that moment.

She looked up, meeting his deep, sharp eyes, which no longer held any trace of the foolishness she was used to, only a clear understanding and a complex emotion she couldn't quite describe.

He knew. He had always known.

Before Catherine could find the words, Richard's next sentence hit her like a thunderclap.

"But I think I've fallen in love with you."

His gaze was intense, filled with an undeniable certainty, like an invisible net trapping her.

This sudden, straightforward confession caught her more off guard than the exposure of her pretense.

Catherine felt her heartbeat go out of rhythm, her facade of calm almost slipping.

She looked at the familiar face in front of her, feeling an unprecedented sense of strangeness.

The Richard who usually needed her care now exuded an aura of strength, confidence, and even a hint of aggression.

He was no longer pretending.

Catherine took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. There was no point in pretending anymore. She met Richard's gaze and said frankly, "At first, yeah."

She didn't deny it or make excuses. She had indeed approached him with the intention of using him, and she couldn't deny that.

A flicker of pain crossed Richard's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper emotion.

Catherine paused, her voice softening, "But after spending time together, I admit, it is not that I have no feelings for you."

She looked at him, her gaze sincere. "Richard, if you're willing, we can start over."

This wasn't entirely a pretense. During their time together, she had seen his patience and struggles.

Putting aside her initial intentions, Richard himself had qualities that attracted her.

Especially now, as he revealed his true self, the resilience and sharpness that came from within stirred something in her heart.

Richard looked at her intently, as if trying to see into her soul. After a moment, his lips curved into a barely noticeable smile, enough to melt the ice.

"Alright," he said. "Then our cooperation should go deeper."

Catherine understood what he meant. They both had secrets and powerful enemies, and forming a closer alliance would benefit them both.

"I agree," Catherine nodded.

An uncontrollable thought emerged: she wanted to help him, not just in uncovering the truth, but perhaps... she could completely heal his leg, allowing him to stand in the sunlight without any reservations.

She could tell Richard wasn't fully recovered.

"Let's go."

Richard led Catherine down the mountain and into the car.

The car's interior was quiet, isolating them from the outside world. The atmosphere was somewhat delicate.

Richard turned to fasten her seatbelt. His fingers brushed her neck, sending a shiver through her.

Catherine turned her head slightly, avoiding his intense gaze.

Richard cleared his throat, breaking the silence with a hint of... joy? "It seems we should retake our wedding photo."

Catherine was taken aback, instinctively looking at him.

The light through the car window outlined his perfect profile. Without his foolish facade, his features were deep and distinguished, his eyes filled with an irresistible allure.

Catherine's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing even more than before.

She awkwardly looked away, her voice barely audible, "…Okay."

Seeing her flushed ears and slightly flustered demeanor, Richard's lips finally curved into a clear and genuine smile.

The car started, driving into the night.

Inside, a new, different atmosphere began to form.

Some things were broken tonight, while others quietly grew, signaling the start of a new chapter in their relationship.