As she sat there, her fingers trembled as she clenched them into tight fists, her body shaking with a seething rage that threatened to consume her. The thought of Finn's betrayal flooded her mind like a raging river, filling her with a burning desire for revenge. She vowed to make him suffer, to turn their once-promising marriage into a living hell. With a deep breath, she composed herself and waited to be summoned outside the room, ready to unleash her fury upon him.
The door swung open with a suddenness that made Cathleen jump. An old man, looking both stern and impressive, stepped into the room. He immediately locked eyes with Cathleen, and his previously severe expression dissolved into a wide smile.
"We meet again, Cathleen Jackson." She was about to explain to him that her name had changed and that she was no longer Jackson when she grinned.
"Grandpa." She got closer so she could hug the elderly man. The man then flashed a grin. Since she was with Finn, she used to call old Mr. Knight Grandpa.
"Well, let's just say fate has brought us together again, child, and this time around you will call me Father." Cathleen was bewildered and didn't give the elderly man's statement much thought as a result. The man took a seat and turned his attention to Cathleen. "How dare you come back without informing me that you've returned?" Cathleen's face became red as she realized her mistake. While she was growing up and pursuing a career in law, old Mr. Knight was always there to support her, and he admired her for taking a different path. He was completely confident in her ability to manage a company. However, even after his grandson betrayed her, he continued to monitor her whereabouts and activities.
"Legal legends, huh?" Cathleen's eyes became wide.
"How did you know?"
"Oh, Cathleen, you have been and will continue to be my favorite person. You should be proud of how well you've done for yourself. Tell me, why did you decide to enter into a marriage with a man whom you despise?" Cathleen would never intentionally deceive Mr. Knight in any way. Because of their close relationship, she didn't sugarcoat the facts whenever she answered his questions.
"It was brought to my attention that Grandma was unwell, and the only way to rescue her was for me to marry Finn so that your family could assist us financially with Grandma's medical expenses. That was of course a lie, but I have my own plans, so I had them meet a condition first." She paused, and a malicious grin slowly spread across her face as she prepared to reveal the truth. With a cold, calculating voice, she announces that she is no longer Jackson and that her name has changed. "I knew Grandma's story was a lie, but I went along with it and gave them the condition that I would marry him. If they allowed me to be free, then they gave in to my demands. I am now Cathleen West, no longer a Jackson." The man flashed a grin.
"When you told me you wanted to cut ties after all those years, you weren't joking, were you?" Cathleen nodded. and the man went on.
"Well, you will now be a knight, and I know for a fact that you will always be my daughter and a knight forever."
Cathleen flashed a grin, but it stopped short before reaching her ears. "Promise me one thing: just be you and never, for once, change who you are for someone else, Cathleen. I will always be your number one supporter, and don't ever cut your wings to get close to people who can't fly. Remember that? This day signals the start of something brand new. I have my entire faith in you, even though I know this is going to be a challenging voyage."
He knew that his son was a rake, and he thought that Cathleen would require all the help in the world in order to subdue her son. The man scowled as he looked at the timepiece on his wrist.
"Is Finn running late?" Old Mr. Knight's wrinkled face forms into a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners in genuine happiness. He turns his head to look at Cathleen, his gaze full of pride and affection.
"Cathleen, tell me, do you still have feelings for Finn?"
Cathleen gave a little shake of the head. Another grin appeared on the man's face.
"What are you going to do if you walk down that aisle and instead of the man you were expecting, you find someone different?"
"That would be even better because I honestly want to punish Finn with this marriage, but it's not who I am. A wedding with someone would even be better than being called Finn's wife. If I could just walk out of here and find someone else, I would be the happiest lady in the world, because I just don't feel good about this situation right now. I got my freedom. Finn will serve his purpose; it will be a relief to marry anyone but Finn." The man stroked her cheeks with his hand.
"You have great insight. Your future husband is running a little bit behind schedule at this point. Don't be concerned; it's likely that he's caught in a traffic jam. Let's hold off for a while longer, shall we?" After making his statement, the man walked away.
A gnawing feeling of unease and worry settled in Cathleen's stomach as she thought about being bound to Finn in marriage. Her mind raced with doubts and fears, but she had already committed to severing ties with her family, leaving her with no other option at the moment. The weight of her decision pressed down on her like a boulder, threatening to crush her spirit and steal away her freedom. She paced back and forth, the sound of her own footsteps echoing off the walls of her mind. Thoughts of what could have been flooded her mind, but she pushed them away, focusing instead on the daunting path ahead of her.