Chapter 41 The Harrington Family Receives a Call
Back at my rental apartment, I carefully retrieved the belongings Sabrina had carelessly tossed into a cardboard box, treating each item like precious treasure.
The old me never imagined leaving the Rosewood family. My brothers occasionally visited our parents' room, so I hadn't thought much about securing these things. Now I'd severed all ties with the Rosewood family. But I was still Mom and Dad's daughter.
My fingers traced the edges of a family photo. The borders had faded to white, the overall tone yellowed with age.
It was a picture of all of us together—Mom holding me in her arms, my smile sweet and innocent.
Andrew stood tallest, his lean frame rigid, expression stern and unsmiling. James was half a head shorter, wearing black-framed glasses, his smile gentle and refined. Michael's face held that defiant edge, radiating the spirited confidence of youth. Jason still had traces of boyish softness, his eyes clear and bright.
Everything at its most beautiful.
If only we could go back.
I carefully put the photo away and examined the other keepsakes one by one. Dad's diary went into my nightstand drawer—on sleepless nights, I could pull it out and read. Just like when I was little, how Dad would sit by my bedside before sleep to tell me stories.
I wiped the dust from Mom's phone. It wouldn't turn on anymore, and I didn't have an old-style charging cable. I wanted to get it repaired, but what if there were important messages inside? I couldn't trust it to just anyone.
After turning it over in my mind, only Nicholas seemed trustworthy enough. His company specialized in tech, and with the Harrington family's connections, he had extensive networks. Maybe there was even a chance of data recovery.
With that thought, I sent him a message asking if he was home. After getting a positive response, I immediately changed clothes and headed next door.
I raised my hand to knock, but Nicholas's voice drifted through from inside.
"Mom, don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
The person on the other end said something, and Nicholas replied casually. My hand, poised to knock, slowly lowered. Without thinking, I strained to listen.
The soundproofing in this rental building was pretty terrible. The young residents were considerate, and the elderly went to bed early, so normally it was quiet. But if anyone made noise inside their apartment, you could hear every detail. Like now—just standing outside Nicholas's door, I could make out most of his phone conversation.
The Harrington family calling?
I mulled it over. The last time I'd heard about them was from Blake, who told me that Nicholas faced serious consequences for shielding me from the Rosewood family's targeting. That incident had caught the Harrington family's attention.
They hadn't caused me any trouble afterward.
Oh wait, no. I thought of Clara, that woman who claimed to be Nicholas's fiancée. Though both Nicholas and Blake insisted she wasn't, the fact that she could waltz into Nicholas's place suggested she might have a good relationship with the Harrington family elders. Maybe Clara was exactly who they had in mind for their daughter-in-law.
My mood inexplicably sank.
Inside, Nicholas's conversation with his family continued. "I'm really happy living here right now." "I moved here by choice. There's no other reason." "Work's been pretty busy lately. I'll visit when I have time." "I don't like Clara. You should stay out of it."
Every single word reached my ears, and a twinge of envy stirred in my chest. Nicholas had always been a prodigy, a true golden child—not only humble and steady, but already successful at such a young age. His parents clearly loved him deeply.
By comparison...
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Since my parents died, I hadn't felt even a shred of familial warmth.
"Catherine?"
The voice from inside jolted me from my thoughts. Startled, I instinctively wanted to flee back to my apartment. Had Nicholas discovered me? The doorknob showed no sign of turning, but my feet seemed glued to the floor.
Inside, Nicholas's voice carried out. "That's right. I like Catherine." "Bring her home to meet the Harrington family? When the time's right, maybe." "I know. Don't worry."
I stood there, stunned. I didn't understand why Nicholas would mention me to his family. Had the Harrington family already noticed my existence?
Despite myself, I recalled the novels Melissa and I used to read together as teenagers. So many parents tried to tear young lovers apart—some disapproved of the woman's family background, others felt she wasn't good enough for their son.
And I checked both boxes.
I couldn't focus on whatever Nicholas might have promised the Harrington family. As if possessed, I knocked on the door.
It opened quickly. Nicholas hastily ended his call and looked at me casually. "What's up?"
I pushed down my tangled emotions and held out the phone. "This belonged to my mom. I want to get it fixed. Do you know anyone who could help?"
After I finished, Nicholas's expression turned serious. He considered for a moment. "Yeah, I do. Leave it with me."
Relief washed over me. I handed him the phone happily, mission accomplished. I turned to head back to my place.
"Wait." Nicholas caught my arm. "Catherine, my family wants to invite you over for dinner. Would you be willing to come?"
I looked at him, at a loss. Was this day coming so soon? But I wasn't ready.
My smile felt forced. "Sorry, I'm swamped with my probation evaluation right now. I don't have time."
I offered a convenient excuse. Nicholas's disappointment was obvious. He released me. "Okay. When you have time, then."
I smiled and agreed, but inside, relief flooded through me.
Back in my apartment, door closed, I finally breathed deeply. Hand pressed to my chest, I felt my heart racing.
I murmured to myself, "Catherine, what exactly are you afraid of?"
I had no answer. I was just grateful Nicholas hadn't pushed me to agree.
Over the following days, I threw myself into preparing my probation evaluation project. A preliminary design concept was taking shape—getting my parents' belongings back had awakened a longing for the feeling of home. So this time, I decided to design a jewelry set suitable for a family of three.
Of course, only a family of three. From the day I decided to cut ties, everyone in the Rosewood family stopped being my brothers.
Just as I was fully absorbed in my work, a coworker tapped on my desk. Thinking my supervisor had a new assignment, I quickly stood up to greet her.
She smiled shyly. "Don't be nervous. I'm not your supervisor. I'm here with a personal favor I need your help with."
I looked at her, confused. Me?
"I'm just an intern," I explained.
She didn't seem surprised at all. "I know. But you're the only one who can help me with this."
That caught me off guard. But now I was curious—what could it possibly be?
"Let's talk outside."