NOVEL WEB Chapter 692: The culpability.
Mr. Blackwood's gaze didn't waver. "Then, Mrs. Quinn, as I said, my client will see you at the court. We will pursue refusal to sign the papers as the law permits."
Catrin stared at him, but he just inclined his head to give her a small bow before turning around to leave.
Once he was gone, Catrin stared at the divorce papers in her hands. Her eyes turned cold when she realized how, in one night, everything had changed.
Tonight should have been the night when everything should have reverted back to normal. Arwen should have returned to the family, and they three should have reunited as the family they used to be.
But nothing turned out to be the way she had planned it. Arwen hadn't acted the way she should. She instead decisively signed her name in the letter of severance and severed all ties with her.
How could she?
Catrin still couldn't understand. Although she never cared to acknowledge it before, she knew Arwen cherished her the most. Just to make her happy, she had always sacrificed so much without flinching —be it her dance or anything she cherished in her life.
"Just because she always did it, you thought to take her for granted."
The voice made Catrin's head snap up. She frowned, finding the mirror image of herself, standing right in front of her, staring down at her in disapproval.
"You didn't care to acknowledge her sacrifices and love for you before. How could you think, even after your continuous ignorance, it would remain the same?" Catrin's consciousness questioned, and Catrin's brows jutted in frustration.
"She is my daughter. Why wouldn't her love remain the same for me? I —"
"Just because she is your daughter, you think she owes her life to you?" the consciousness fired back with a disdainful scoff. "Catrin, she is your daughter. And this should have been a greater reason for you to cherish and dote on her. Yet, looking back, do you think you ever treated her the wya she should have been treated?"
Catrin paused, but that was just for a brief second. Soon she came up with a confident reason, "Of course, I did. What do you think? All these years, I had planned everything for her so that her life ahead would be beautiful and comfortable. Wasn't that a way to cherish and show her my care?"
"Was it?" the reflection asked softly, tilting her head. "No, it wasn't.. It was all your ways to satisfy yourself. With all your carefully crafted plans, you have done nothing but force her into things she never felt happy about."
"That's not true. She never understood my intentions, my plans. She never understood my love —" because she never understood my plans for her. She never understood my love —"
"Your love, Catrin?" The reflection chuckled out, not in humour but in mockery. "Is it really your love and not some twisted obsession you have with controlling. Because what you did to her doesn't feel like love."
Catrin's expression shifted. She stiffened. A memory … a guilt she had long buried began to stir, leaving her restless. "What do you mean?" She looked away to hide what was surfacing in her eyes. The culpability.
"You know exactly what I mean," the reflection replied, voice like a blade. "Choosing to forget something wouldn't erase it completely from history. Because its effects would always linger like it's still lingering today."
Sweat prickled at Catrin's temple. Her throat went dry. "I —I don't know what you are talking about. Everything is fine. Isn't Arwen doing well now? She is leading a normal life —all healthy and fine. Isn't she?"
But even if she said it, guilt flickered in her gaze. The reflection only smiled knowingly, as though mocking her lies.
Before Catrin could lash out at her, Lia's concerned voice broke through.
"Madam?" Lia called softly. "Are you alright?"
Catrin blinked, her vision clearing. The reflection was gone.
Frowning faintly, she turned towards Lia, "W-What could be wrong? Why are you asking that?"
"You were … talking to yourself," Lia admitted nervously. "You looked pale, and I was worried —"
Catrin cut her off sharply. "I am fine."
But her complexion remained ashen.
"Madam, should I take you to the hospital?" Lia pressed gently. She knew a lot had happened throughout the evening
"No need," Catrin dismissed coldly. "Get ready. "I will return home instead."
"Home?" Lia asked as if confused.
And that confusion only made Catrin's patience snap. "Yes, home. Do I need to repeat myself? I am not yet divorced."
"Sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean it like that," Lia apologised quickly before pulling out her phone. "I will ask the driver to bring the car."
With that said, she quickly walked away to make the call.
Emily, who was still there, finally stepped forward. "Aunt Catrin, are we leaving just like that? We haven't yet signed the papers of adoption."
Catrin looked at her coldly and said, "You still think we are going through the adoption?
Emily's face paled, and shaking her head, she said, "But that was the plan, wasn't it?"
"That wasn't the plan," Catrin admitted without a hint of guilt. "The plan was to make Arwen regret. But you were so foolish that looking at you, no one could regret."
Emily staggered a step back, shaking her head. "No, no!" She got into a frenzy. "That's not what you said. You said you would take me in as your daughter. I was here to become your daughter and the heiress of the Quin family. You can't go back on your words now."
Catrin's brows knitted. She pressed the side of her temple. "You go back to your home. I will compensate you."
"No, I don't want any compensation. I just want to become the heiress of the family." Emily was caught up in hysteria. "Yes, I just want to be the heiress of the family. Make me. Anyway, Arwen is gone. No matter what you do, she won't come back anymore. So, why not replace her with me?"