NovelBar-Cosy Chapters-ct Facebook ad: “What happens next Click Here to read on”

About this ad

Meta Ad Library ID

822556164178573

Platforms

Facebook, Instagram, Audience Network, Messenger and Threads

Relaunches

0

How we count

Ad text

Chapter 1 Severe All Ties As Katherine Jensen was fighting for breath in the choking smoke, her fiancé, Truman Garcia, was clinking glasses at another woman's birthday party. When her desperate call cut through, his voice was sharp with impatience. "Must you cause a scene today? Your hatred for Rachel is only pushing me away." Without waiting for Katherine's reply, he demanded, "I bought you a gift. Now, calm down and get over here." The irony was, Truman had no idea that the arsonist who wanted Katherine dead was the very woman he was defending. The windows shattered then, swallowing Katherine's explanation and shattering her last bit of hope. She remained calm and quiet as the firefighters helped her escape the flames. Then she picked up her phone and dialed a number from Jelaston. "I've decided," she said calmly. "I'll return home for Grandma's birthday in fifteen days and reclaim my place in the family." The voice on the line was bright with relief at first, then edged with panic. "Fifteen days? Why so long? Tell me this isn't because of your brothers or that fiancé of yours." Katherine's eyes lifted toward the dark smoke rising in the distance. She had once put the Jensen family's wishes before her own, refusing to return to Jelaston. But now, the flames had burned away any last trace of that loyalty. The voice grew more insistent. "Come home today, okay? I'll make sure the Jensens and Garcias get into the best circles in Jelaston. I promise I'll make it happen." Katherine shook her head with a bitter smile. "No. I need these fifteen days to finish something. And from now on, I want nothing more to do with the Jensen and Garcia families." Three hours later, Katherine stood outside the Diamond Hall of the Glando Hotel. Her back remained perfectly straight, though the prolonged tension had started to take its toll. Her wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, but the sharp smell of antiseptic still clung to her as she walked. She'd made no time to change out of her bloodstained dress. It saved her time now, for a sharp kick was all it took to send the door flying open. The lively party atmosphere vanished the moment the door swung open, replaced by dead silence. Every guest turned to stare, meeting her gaze—a turbulent mix of desperation and cold fury. A collective shudder ran through the room. The oversized coat she wore did little to hide the blood-soaked dress beneath. Her legs, marked with visible wounds, carried her steadily forward toward Truman. Fresh blood already seeped through her recent bandages, creating a stark, unsettling sight. Truman's face changed, his eyes filling with genuine concern. He was already moving toward her, intent on getting answers, when Rachel Jensen's voice cut through the air. "If you had a problem with my birthday party, Katherine, you should've told me. I would've called the whole thing off. Why wait until now to embarrass me?" The moment Rachel took Truman's arm and drew him back, the tenderness in his eyes faded, giving way to pure frustration. He'd had enough of Katherine's constant suspicions about him and Rachel. 'I'd always let her jealousy slide, but today is different,' he thought, the frustration boiling over. 'First, she faked a fire, and now she showed up like this on Rachel's first birthday with her real family. 'It's like she's trying to ruin everything on purpose. I'm done making excuses for her.' "Katherine, what is this scene about?" Truman's voice cut through the air. "Or have you forgotten—if Rachel hadn't intervened, the Jensens would have cast you out long ago. You owe her your place here." Katherine froze mid-step, her eyes lifting to meet his. As she looked at him, memories of their six years together flooded her mind. It'd been six years since she was mistakenly brought into the family and, by extension, into an engagement with Truman. Their relationship had blossomed from strangers to close friends, then to lovers, and in time, everyone saw them as the perfect couple. But everything changed last year when Truman discovered Rachel while they were planning their engagement. Without telling Katherine, he arranged a DNA test that confirmed Rachel was the true heiress. Overnight, her adoptive parents and three brothers completely changed their attitude toward her. Despite this betrayal, Katherine never showed any resentment toward Rachel. Instead, she continued gathering medicinal herbs in the mountains to help with Rachel's poor health, and even introduced Rachel to her own respected mentor. But she never expected that after her third brother secured Rachel a spot on her team, Rachel would turn around and plagiarize her research to win an award. When Katherine confronted her, Rachel played innocent. "How could I know you were doing the same research?" she said. Katherine had no evidence to back up her claim. Just as she was struggling with her anger, the Jensen family and Truman all turned against her. "Let's be honest," her eldest brother, Andrew Jensen, began, "those awards you won before only came your way because of our family's connections." "Rachel earned this award through hard work," her second brother, Billy Jensen, added with a sneer. "Are you really so jealous that you'd make up such lies about her?" Her third brother, Yves Jensen, let out a cold laugh. "Without our family's support, you'd have nothing to show for yourself. You haven't won a single award all year. When will you face the truth about your actual abilities?" The deepest cut came from Truman, whose face was full of disappointment. "Academic fraud is a serious charge," he told her quietly. "But without proof, what you're doing amounts to slander. You've really crossed a line this time, Katherine." Time and again, Katherine had considered leaving, but the Jensens always knew how to keep her close—especially Yves, whose thoughtful little gifts never failed to melt her resolve. Having grown up without a family, Katherine longed for belonging too deeply to walk away, which was why she'd stayed all this time. Her thoughts were still tangled in the past when her three brothers suddenly appeared, blocking her path. "Showing up like this to ruin the party," Andrew said, his face twisted in disgust. "Who taught you such pathetic attention-seeking tricks?" "You stole six years of Rachel's life," Billy spat, not bothering to hide his contempt. "And now you're wrecking her birthday? Had we known how manipulative you were, we'd have thrown you out long ago." Yves's voice carried a cold threat. "Change your clothes and apologize to Rachel before everyone. Her forgiveness is your only ticket to staying." She thought she had built walls around her heart after all the betrayals, but this one still managed to find its way through. For a moment, the present dissolved, and she was back in that hallway. She had been on her way to buy Rachel a birthday present when voices from a room caught her attention—her brothers, speaking with Rachel. "We only took her in because her kidney was a match," Andrew said coldly. "If you hadn't been so weak back then, we would have done the surgery years ago." "She won't die from losing one kidney," Yves added with a shrug. "And if she complains, we can always pay her off with an apartment." "We'll schedule it right after the party," Billy concluded, his tone clinical. "I'll tell her it's for a medical study. Trust me, she'll take the anesthesia without suspecting a thing." Rachel put up a thin protest before yielding with feigned reluctance. And outside, Katherine remained motionless, the chill of betrayal locking her in place. The family warmth she had yearned for turned out to be nothing but a scheme to steal her kidney. Yet she couldn't bring herself to confront them. Outnumbered and powerless, she knew exposing the truth would only trap her further. After the shock settled, she fled back to her apartment. There, she cried until she had no tears left, and then began packing to disappear for good. She had just stepped out the door when a sudden blow sent her crumpling to the floor. Before darkness took her, she saw Rachel hand a thick stack of cash to her attacker. That explained why, when fire surrounded her, her one desperate call went to Truman instead of the Jensens. The brutal memory snapped Katherine back to the present. Her hand pressed tightly against her chest, and each breath carried the iron taste of blood. In that moment, she swore a silent oath to sever every connection with the Jensen family. She took a deep breath, willing away the pain in her chest. "Well, you got what you wanted. I'm leaving the Jensen family." Ignoring Yves' tense shoulders and angry breathing, she pushed past him and walked straight to the stage. Blood stained her white dress like a rose battered in a storm. Her cool gaze swept over Truman and Rachel's shocked faces as she reached for a wine glass. A single tear escaped, falling straight into the wine. "Let everyone here witness this—I'm breaking off my engagement to Truman," she announced. "And congratulations on the real Jensen heiress's return. I'm leaving by choice, and from today, the Jensens and I are done. In this life or the next." Chapter 2 She's Decisive And Clever Truman's eyes darkened, a vein pulsing at his temple as he made a move to grab Katherine. But Katherine just drank the last of her wine and let the glass fall from her hand, smiling as it shattered on the floor. "Have you lost your mind?" Katherine's adoptive mother, Evelyn Jensen, stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger. "Are you trying to embarrass our family in front of all these guests? All these years I've wasted on you," she added, her voice sharp. Memory of the kidney scheme flashed through Katherine's mind, and when her eyes met Evelyn's, every trace of her former affection vanished. "You spent thirty thousand dollars on me over six years. I'll transfer it all back to you," Katherine said coldly. "If you don't believe me," she continued, throwing her prepared financial records toward the guests, "you can check every payment yourself." The financial records quickly passed from hand to hand among the guests, their murmurs of surprise growing louder with each revelation. The sum was shockingly low. It was less than what many would spend on a family pet. Katherine quietly took off her diamond earrings, a gift from Evelyn from all those years ago, when the family had taken her in. "I joined your family with nothing, and I'll leave with nothing. These belong to you," she said calmly, placing the earrings in Evelyn's hand. The Jensens's faces darkened with rage, but the evidence was already circulating among their guests. Trying to retrieve it now would only make them look more desperate. Evelyn, seeing no other escape, shrieked "Ungrateful girl!" and then dramatically feigned a faint. Her husband, Frank Jensen, was instantly at her side, ushering her away from the humiliating scene. While her three brothers threw accusations at her, Katherine remained unbothered, her expression cool as she watched her adoptive parents walk away. "Maybe there's been some misunderstanding," one of the guests muttered. "Mrs. Jensen looked so upset that she nearly collapsed. Can that bill be trusted?" "That adopted daughter has real guts. Why did she have to choose today of all days to cut ties and embarrass the Jensens?" another one chimed in. "And what about the arranged marriage between the Garcias and Jensens?" a third one asked. "Rachel's back now, but Katherine's still holding onto that engagement. Maybe..." Sensing the mood of the crowd shifting, Rachel collapsed onto the floor. Tears filled her eyes as her shoulders shook with quiet sobs, perfectly portraying herself as the victim. "Katherine, I never wanted to replace you in our family," Rachel said, her voice shaking. "Truman was only here for my birthday. Please believe me. "Nothing will change after tonight. If you're angry with me, we can talk about it later. But please don't cause a scene now. You'll embarrass our whole family." Seeing this, Truman regained his composure. 'So, she did all this just because she's jealous of Rachel,' he concluded in his mind. 'This is all an act to manipulate us. I've been too soft on her all this time. It's time she learned her place.' "Enough, Katherine," Truman said coldly. "This is just a birthday party. Your position in the family is secure, and so is our engagement. Now apologize to Rachel before you make this worse for yourself." His words worked perfectly. Everyone now saw Katherine as the jealous one, playing mind games to control them. Katherine could only laugh in disbelief. Truman took this as further proof of her stubbornness. He couldn't understand how the girl he once loved could have changed so completely. Face tight with anger and disappointment, he moved closer and spoke in a low, harsh voice, "Stop this stunt. She's the Jensens' real daughter, while you're just adopted. "The only reason I'm decent to her is because of you. The Jensens wouldn't have kept you here if Rachel hadn't agreed to it for my sake. "After all the horrible things you've said about her, you should have been thrown out long ago." His voice turned sharper as he continued, "Or have you forgotten? My mother would never accept an orphan as my wife. If you don't apologize now, we're through." Katherine was tired of hearing the same excuses. Truman always claimed it was all for Katherine's benefit. But carrying Rachel in his arms, taking her on midnight walks, and attending her birthday party while Katherine was fighting for her life had little to do with helping Katherine. He always defended himself by saying it was for Katherine's own good—to secure her position in the Jensen family and make her worthy of him. At first, she believed she needed to improve herself, so she devoted all her energy to her research. She wanted to achieve great things and become someone Truman would be proud to marry. But now she understood—real love required no justification, while its absence could never be filled with achievements. Katherine slipped the blue crystal bracelet from her wrist and placed it in Rachel's hand. "Katherine, what do you think you're doing? That's a family heirloom." Truman's voice sharpened with immediate anger. He watched in disbelief as she casually gave away the very token of their engagement. "Our engagement is broken, Mr. Garcia," Katherine said coolly. "The bracelet belongs with Rachel now." Before Truman could react, she turned to face the entire hall. Despite her disheveled appearance, the intensity in her eyes commanded absolute attention. A profound silence fell over the gathering. She offered a respectful bow. "Thank you for witnessing the end of my ties here tonight. I apologize for the disruption. If I can ever repay your courtesy, I shall. My gratitude to you all." With those final words, Katherine turned and walked barefoot toward the exit, leaving a vivid trail of blood across the floor that silenced the entire room. The guests stood in stunned silence before the whispers began to spread. "Did she really just walk away from both families? That takes more courage than I could ever muster," one guest whispered in disbelief. "Just a country girl putting on a show for attention," another sniffed dismissively. "But those injuries look real enough. She must have been pushed to her limit," a third guest murmured. "Even the kindest person can be broken." In a dimly lit corner of the room, Joseph Foley sat with his legs crossed, his calm demeanor cutting through the muted atmosphere. His eyes sharpened as they fell on the trail of blood. When he stood up, his sudden movement and imposing stature made his friend freeze mid-breath. "Joe, what do you think? Is she genuinely brave or just playing a game?" Joseph's friend, Sean Chapman, asked, intrigued. Joseph's face was an unreadable mask. He kept his sharp gaze fixed on where Katherine had exited, not bothering to look at his friend. "She's decisive," he said finally. "And clever." Sean looked puzzled, not understanding Joseph's assessment. Rarely one to elaborate, Joseph continued, "Cutting ties with the Jensens was the most efficient solution. And ending the engagement without hesitation—that shows real strength of character." As if struck by a private thought, he let out a low chuckle. The Jensen family had carefully curated the guest list, inviting influential figures they hoped would help advance their social standing. While Katherine's dramatic severing of family ties and engagement appeared bold, her gracious apologies to the guests ensured no one took offense. Her revelation of the financial records exposed the unpleasant reality behind the family's respectable facade. The distinguished guests the Jensens had worked so hard to impress would undoubtedly reconsider their opinion of the family after this display. She had not only cleanly severed her connections but also publicly humiliated the Jensens—a clever move that accomplished both goals perfectly. "There's another thing," Joseph added thoughtfully. "Do you truly believe the Jensens simply mistook Katherine for their daughter all those years ago?" Chapter 3 Wait For Her To Come Back Yves followed Katherine out the door. "Aren't you going to apologize to Rachel?" he demanded, his voice cold. Katherine stood battered and exhausted, the emotional toll of cutting family ties and ending her engagement pushing her to her limit. Yves scoffed as she stopped. 'Same old Katherine. Still throwing tantrums to secure her funding,' he thought. 'Now we're forced to keep supporting her research career just to save face. Nothing like Rachel, who earned her position through real work.' "You've crossed a line this time," Yves said, his voice cutting. "You want forgiveness? Then you'll stand outside and wait until Mother wakes. That's your only chance." When Katherine remained silent, Yves took it as regret mixed with pride. He fell back on his usual method—a sharp word followed by a tempting offer. "Fix this mess for the family's sake, and I'll take you to Starlight Bistro—just us," he said. That kind of promise used to work like magic, reducing Katherine to grateful tears and immediate obedience. He was convinced she saw him as her savior for intervening in this disaster, and he fully anticipated her gratitude. That was why, when she finally turned to face him, he felt the familiar surge of satisfaction, yet beneath it lingered a strange, unexpected disappointment. 'She might have earned my respect if she'd ever shown the courage to walk away for good,' he mused. 'But since she's finally ready to behave, I suppose I can be the bigger person and give her another chance.' To Yves, the solution was simple. A press conference would solve everything. Katherine would offer a public apology, Rachel would grant a graceful forgiveness, and the whole scandal would be reshaped into a heartwarming story of reconciliation, saving the family's reputation while capturing public sympathy. "I've always been the one who spoils you most, coming here myself to bring you home. No more of this nonsense," Yves said sharply. The words felt like a physical blow, tearing through Katherine's chest. 'Is this what he calls spoiling me?' Katherine thought bitterly. 'Those cheap trinkets he tossed my way whenever I talked about leaving? A few hair clips, a stuffed toy, and a brooch—all of it together wasn't even worth twenty dollars.' She used to believe the thought mattered more than the price. Now she understood how deeply she'd been mistaken. "You..." Yves's words died in his throat when his eyes finally met hers. The sight stole his breath—Katherine stood pale and bleeding, fresh wounds staining her white dress with shocking crimson. He stared in utter disbelief, shocked that she would risk her life just to keep up this act. His next clear thought was that her current state made any public appearance before journalists completely impossible. "You wear a mask of concern while plotting behind my back," Katherine said with a broken laugh, her eyes filled with despair. "All you care about is saving the Jensen family's reputation. Isn't that right? "A home should be a safe harbor, but mine became a trap." Yves felt a twinge of guilt at her words, but he stood his ground. "I just don't want to see you keep making mistakes," he insisted. Katherine sighed softly. "You always call it caring, but it feels like controlling." She wouldn't be deceived by his pretense anymore. "Try all you want to make a trash can pretty, but it's still just a can for garbage. Mr. Jensen, I never got over any of the pain from the past," she said, her voice steady but heavy with hurt. "So save your act. Try to stop me again, and I won't think twice about tarnishing the Jensen family's reputation." Without so much as a backward glance, she turned and walked away. It took Yves a moment to fully comprehend what had just happened. He couldn't believe she had actually left. A wave of furious denial swept through him. He slammed his fist into the wall, convinced that his own past leniency had led her to forget her true place in the family. He soon calmed down, realizing Katherine only dared to oppose him because he had always been soft with her. 'Just wait,' he thought coldly. 'She'll be back at the Jensen residence within three hours, begging for forgiveness.' Remembering how Rachel always defended Katherine, he quickly sent a message to the family group: [When she comes begging for mercy this time, no one goes soft on her. She needs to learn her lesson.] Katherine wasn't in that family chat, so she remained unaware. Not that it would have mattered to her anyway. She took a cab back to the modest apartment she'd rented two years ago with her scholarship. After a quick shower and some basic first aid, she collapsed into bed and slept. The next morning, she woke out of pure instinct. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was 5:30 AM—the exact time she used to wake up to prepare Rachel's herbal tonic. She realized her body clock hadn't adjusted, even after leaving the Jensen family. With a quiet, bitter laugh, she turned over and went back to sleep. With only fifteen days remaining, her sole focus was on completing the research project in front of her—nothing else mattered now. ***** "Where's my herbal tonic?" Rachel asked, noticing its absence from the breakfast table. Last night's party had ended in disaster. To avoid being labeled the wicked adoptive mother, Evelyn had dramatically pretended to faint. Frank had paid heavily to secure all the media footage and sent lavish gifts to every guest. He'd contained the scandal, but at great expense. Furious, Frank declared that if Katherine ever returned, she would stand at the gates until morning before being admitted. They were certain she'd come crawling back. To them, this was nothing more than her scheme to pressure the family, and they believed she had no other place to go. Yves fully expected to see Katherine preparing the herbal tonic as usual. So when he found nothing waiting in the morning, he frowned and asked mockingly, "Did she enjoy her time standing outside so much that she forgot her duties?" He waved over the housekeeper, Wendy. "Wendy, Rachel still needs her herbal tonic. Go get Katherine and bring her back in." Giving Rachel's shoulder a reassuring pat, he added, "Don't worry about it. Just eat your breakfast. I'll have Katherine make the tonic and bring it to you later." Rachel looked troubled. "But then Katherine will be late." "She hasn't won any awards all year," Yves said dismissively. "You're the one who keeps winning and has the mentor's favor. "The mentor's meeting with you about your thesis today. You should go early to make a good impression." A chance like this came just once a year. If their mentor took an interest in Rachel, it would open doors she couldn't even imagine. "Okay," Rachel said softly. "Yves, when Katherine gets back, please tell her I'm sorry. I don't want her to be mad at me." Yves felt his heart melt at her sweet, pleading look. 'This is how a sister should be, sweet and understanding. Not like Katherine, who clearly needs to learn some manners,' he thought. Rachel made a point of slipping out the back door, not wanting to run into Katherine. A nervous knot in her stomach tightened at the thought of how much Katherine might know. 'She can't know about the hitman,' Rachel reasoned in her mind. 'If she did, she would've confronted me last night. But keeping her alive is too risky. She needs to be silenced permanently.' Chapter 4 Her Defiance The moment Rachel was gone, Wendy came rushing back in a panic. "Mr. Jensen, something is wrong." Yves picked at his ear, his impatience evident. "What's wrong, Wendy? Try to calm down." Still catching her breath by the doorframe, Wendy explained, "Ms. Jensen is not at the entrance." Yves scoffed. "So she snuck over the wall again. I'll go and get her from her room." Without another glance at the flustered housekeeper, he turned and headed upstairs. Without knocking, Yves shoved the door open and stepped inside Katherine's room. The room was quiet and still. The bed was neatly made, curtains swaying in the morning breeze. The framed family photo had fallen from the desk and now lay on the floor, the glass front cracked. A sudden unease settled in Yves's chest. He strode to the wardrobe and pulled it open, finding just three simple outfits inside. It struck him then—these were the only clothes he'd ever seen Katherine wear, just layering a coat in winter or going without in summer. It seemed she had never bought any new clothes, nor received any allowance from their parents. His phone vibrated suddenly, and Rachel's name flashed on the screen. "Yves," she whispered, "is Katherine not home?" Her voice was hushed, as if afraid to be overheard. "What's wrong?" Yves asked after a moment's pause. "I just saw Katherine leaving a hotel with a man," she said, her voice tight with worry. "I'm afraid she's being tricked." Yves's eyes turned icy. "Where is she?" 'I actually thought she'd finally grown a spine and was brave enough to walk away for good,' he realized with disgust. 'But it seems she just found a new patron to cling to. Is she really so desperate for status that she would go this far?' In his anger, he stormed out, his heel crushing the family photo on the floor. The glass cracked into a spiderweb of fractures. ***** With his handsome looks and an aura of refined wealth, Jeremy Lewis approached Katherine outside the hotel. "A doctor of your caliber must know the patient doesn't need a transplant," he said. She gave a wry smile, thinking back to the conversation she'd overheard. "People trust conventional medicine," she explained. "And in their eyes, that's surgery." Jeremy looked at her with clear admiration. "Mr. Hunter went over your prescription. He agrees that one more month of your treatment should cure the patient completely." Katherine nodded. That matched her own assessment, though she knew Rachael would never actually receive her treatment. After a brief pause, Jeremy tried again. "I hope you'll reconsider Mr. Hunter's offer. All your publications this year are classified. He truly values your talent." Katherine sighed softly. "I'm sorry, Jeremy, but I've decided to leave Dalinston." Jeremy looked surprised. "If it's about your current position, I could arrange for a better laboratory through Mr. Hunter." Katherine shook her head, drawing a steadying breath. "You must have heard about the Jensen family's real and fake heiress saga. I'm just tired of all the drama," she explained. Jeremy shook his head in genuine disappointment. "Their loss. The Jensens wouldn't know a gem if they saw one." Katherine chuckled at his dramatics. "Don't make this sound so final. I'm sure our paths will cross again at some conference." "Katherine," Rachel's voice interrupted from behind. Katherine's smile vanished, her expression turning openly dismissive. "So you were with him last night," Rachel said with feigned concern. "Have you no self-respect? Truman adores you. Imagine how crushed he'll be." This was hardly how Katherine wanted to start her day, facing the one person who always ruined her mood. Katherine turned, her voice icy. "I'm no longer part of the Jensen family. We're strangers now, and my life has nothing to do with you. Please stay away from me." Rachel's expression turned pleading. "I was just concerned about you, Katherine." Katherine let out a bitter laugh. "If you're so concerned, why not give me your driver and car? At least then I wouldn't have to fight my way through crowded buses every morning." Even when they lived together, Katherine always had to prepare Rachael's herbal treatments first, making her leave later than Rachel every day. The family never provided her with transportation, forcing her to walk a mile just to catch the bus. By all rights, Katherine should have been treated like a Jensen heiress, but she had fewer privileges than the staff—even the maids had a van for their errands. For just a second, Rachel looked stunned. Then the tears came, flowing freely down her cheeks. She took an unsteady step back, swaying as if she might fall. Katherine was about to speak when a tall figure moved past her and pulled Rachel into a protective embrace. "What's wrong, Rachel?" Truman asked, his voice soft with concern. "Are you feeling dizzy again?" Turning her pale face toward him with tear-filled eyes, Rachel said, "Don't worry about me, Truman. I just didn't want Katherine to be taken in by some stranger. Please don't be angry with her. It wasn't her fault." Without bothering to understand the situation, Truman fixed Katherine with an icy glare, his eyes darting momentarily to Jeremy. "Haven't you caused enough trouble already?" he demanded. "Apologize to Rachel. Now." Yesterday's humiliation had made Truman the laughingstock of their social circle, but a night of reflection brought clarity. To salvage his reputation, he decided Katherine would have to make a public apology. His plan was for her to bow before his mother and beg for forgiveness. Only then would they announce their engagement. This would allow them to reframe yesterday's birthday party fiasco as Katherine's desperate attempt to force him into marriage. Not only would the Garcia family regain their dignity, but the Jensens could also blame everything on Katherine, maintaining their own spotless reputation while still allowing Katherine to remain in the family as their heiress. He convinced himself that Katherine's momentary humiliation was a small price for the privilege of joining his family. To him, a woman of her background should feel honored to marry into his elite circle, even if it required enduring some shame. With that plan in mind, he set out for the Jensen residence first thing in the morning. He was on his way when Rachel called with unexpected news—Katherine had been spotted outside a hotel. The sight of Jeremy beside Katherine ignited an unexpected anger in Truman. "I was up all night finding a way to keep you with the Jensens," Truman said, his voice tight. "And here you are with another man. I can't believe you would do this." Though he knew Katherine's devotion to him was absolute, he pressed the accusation anyway. She had always been quick to apologize, and he waited for the familiar pattern to repeat—first her apology, then her complete compliance with his plan for the party incident. Still, after her behavior today, he secretly vowed to make her wait in tears before granting forgiveness. But reality defied him the very next moment. Katherine's voice, cold and sharp, cut through the tension. "Are you insane?" she said. "We're finished. You don't get to order me around anymore." Truman could only stare, completely stunned by her defiance. Chapter 5 Not Worth Arguing With Truman even wondered if sleep deprivation was making him imagine things. "What do you mean by that?" Katherine didn't even try to hide her disgust. "I've made myself perfectly clear. Don't mistake my patience for weakness." Truman stared at her in stunned silence. The Katherine he remembered had always been so agreeable, so eager to please him. Even during their recent arguments about Rachel, she had never looked at him with such cold contempt or spoken to him so sharply. 'Wait, was she for real last night?' he mused. 'Did she actually mean to cut ties and call off our engagement? No way. 'She used to humble herself to serve my mother. There's no way she would just walk away from me now. She's probably just trying to get me to cave first.' The thought alone made him even more annoyed. "Enough, Katherine. Push me any further, and you're on your own," Truman warned. She almost laughed at his so-called help—always asking her to swallow her pride and take the insults. She was done with that. She regretted wasting her words on him. Some people just weren't worth arguing with. She turned to Jeremy. "We're leaving, Jeremy." After a final dismissive glance at the couple, Jeremy opened the car door. Katherine slid into the seat without a backward glance. Truman stood frozen, wondering what could have possibly come over her. He remained rooted to the spot, completely stunned. Behind him, Rachel watched with a frown. The word "Jeremy" from Katherine's lips caught her attention. Her mentor had mentioned a brilliant new senior named Jeremy would be joining the lab. 'Could this be him?' The possibility set her thoughts spinning. Before she could untangle the meaning, a solid thud jerked her head up. There was Yves, appearing as if from thin air, his fist flying toward Jeremy's face. Jeremy moved faster, sidestepping the blow with practiced ease. Yves's knuckles connected hard with the car hood, the skin already darkening into a deep bruise. "Stay away from my sister," Yves growled, shaking off the pain as he prepared to strike again. "Yves, enough." Rachel rushed forward, catching his arm. "Just calm down. She was only being friendly with the new lab member. You've got the wrong idea," she added. She had said it to feel out the situation. When no one objected, the truth settled in her mind—this was indeed the gifted senior her mentor had promised. From what Rachel had heard, Jeremy was a prodigy who'd skipped grades, earned a string of patents, and came from a wealthy family. With those advantages, his potential was sky-high. The prospect of Katherine and Jeremy working together was a deeply troubling thought for Rachael. She paused thoughtfully before continuing, "Katherine hasn't won any awards lately, so connecting with talented people could help her grow. Yves, please calm down and let her handle her own affairs." Yves felt the tension drain from his shoulders as his anger cooled. Seeing Katherine about to get in the car with a man had sparked all kinds of dark suspicions in his mind. He'd immediately assumed the worst of her. But as her brother, he felt he had to step in, which was why he had intervened. Now, hearing this explanation, he began to realize he might have misjudged Katherine. But he refused to feel guilty. Given that she'd stayed out all night and was now getting into a car with a stranger at dawn, his reaction was completely understandable. Yves's eyes narrowed as he recognized Jeremy. Rachel had gone on about her brilliant senior, the guy who also happened to be judging their lab project. The pieces clicked together, and his expression hardened as he turned to Katherine. 'I called her out for having nothing to show, and now she's latching onto him,' he thought. 'She's probably here to get his help with the evaluation. 'No brains, just shortcuts. Mom and Dad could spend a fortune, but she'd still find a way to fail. Some people are just hopeless.' "So her real project is cozying up to the judge to steal credit for your work?" he said to Rachel, his voice loud enough for Katherine to hear. "Listen closely, Katherine," he continued, his tone icy. "If you steal from Rachel again, we're done. You won't be my sister after that." Jeremy turned to Katherine with an incredulous look, as if to say, "What kind of fool is this?" Yves, however, took his expression as a sign that Jeremy was finally seeing through Katherine. "As their brother, I should stay out of this," Yves said, "but since you're evaluating their work, make sure you know who's truly capable." It amazed Jeremy how little Katherine's family knew about her groundbreaking work in medicine. "I know what I'm doing," Jeremy assured him. Rachel sighed softly. "Please don't be upset, Jeremy. Katherine's research has hit a dead end, so she's been seeking guidance. I hope you'll help her." Yet her words seemed insincere, as if she wanted to say more but couldn't bring herself to speak her mind. Whenever Rachel looked upset, people would naturally gather around to ask what was wrong. If Jeremy just asked what happened, she could easily tarnish Katherine's reputation. After that, even if Katherine succeeded in her experiments, no one would trust her results. Jeremy was baffled by the expectation that he should help Katherine. Given Katherine's superior skills, the idea of him assisting her was utterly illogical. But seeing Katherine was about to lose her temper with these people, he stepped up and said with a hint of challenge, "Well, since you put it that way, I'll be sure to give her the help she needs." Rachel stood frozen, completely unprepared for this turn of events that had overturned all her expectations. Refusing to waste another breath on these annoying people, Katherine immediately turned away and got in the car, cutting them off completely. Jeremy got in right after her and ordered the driver to leave, and the car sped off without a second glance. The three people left behind were still processing what had happened when the car sped off, leaving them in a cloud of exhaust. Rachel felt her composure slipping. The thought struck her—if Jeremy was taking Katherine's side, everything she had worked for would unravel. She couldn't allow that. She quickly pulled out her phone and typed out a rapid series of messages to a group chat. Seeing the flood of supportive responses from the group, she finally let out a breath of relief. She took a moment to steady herself before speaking. "I'm just glad Jeremy isn't upset and is still willing to help Katherine," she said, her voice filled with feigned relief. She then turned to Truman and Yves, her tone softening. "Let's not look so glum. Everything Katherine is striving for will ultimately bring pride to everyone who cares about her." Yves watched the car drive off with a contemptuous sneer. "Well, if she's so talented, let's see how she manages without the Jensen family's support. I'm cutting off all her resources." He was convinced that no amount of powerful connections could save someone without real skill. He told himself that when that failure came, not even her tears would change his mind. Truman stayed silent, his gaze distant, and his expression growing increasingly somber. Though he knew Katherine hadn't actually been unfaithful, a restless feeling settled in his chest—the unsettling sense that he was losing something important, something just beyond his reach. Chapter 6 Blind To The Truth "Honestly, you made the right call to walk away from them," Jeremy said, handing her a water bottle while shaking his head at her family's poor judgment. Ironically, he realized he owed the Jensen family some thanks. Katherine had once turned down numerous opportunities in Jelaston to stay with them. Now, with those ties severed, she was finally free to pursue her own path. Meanwhile, his mentor, David Hunter, was preparing to open a lab in Jelaston, creating the perfect chance for them to collaborate. "So what's next for you?" he found himself asking. Accepting the water bottle, Katherine took a sip while watching the landscape rush past the window. "I've been developing a treatment for blood disease," she said. "But the observational study on the lab mice still has about fifteen days left." Jeremy knew Katherine well enough to know she would see this project through to the end, regardless of the personal turmoil she was facing. "I'll be giving a lecture at your university soon," he mentioned. "Feel free to contact me if you need anything." Katherine nodded silently, looking completely drained. ***** Rachel went straight to the lab after returning to campus. Her fellow researchers immediately surrounded her. "Rachel, was that really Jeremy? Do you have more photos? Show us," they clamored excitedly. "Sorry, Katherine kept Jeremy occupied the whole time," Rachel said with an apologetic smile. "I couldn't get any good pictures." Their excited expressions immediately fell. "You're the real heiress, not her. Why do you always let her walk all over you?" one person protested. "Remember when she accused you of plagiarizing her work? Without our testimony, you would have been framed," another added. "Jeremy must be interested in your cancer drug research. She's just trying to take credit for your success," a third person noted. "With just fifteen days left in our mouse trials, she's circling like a vulture sensing a breakthrough," someone observed. "I don't know what's happened to her. She used to be so kind, but she's become completely different these past few years," another commented. No sooner had the last person spoken than the lab door opened. Charlie Miller, their mentor, entered in his white coat, frowning at the clustered students. "Shouldn't you be recording data instead of gathering here?" he chided lightly. The students immediately formed a line, keeping their eyes downcast in silence. Only Rachel stepped forward. "Please don't blame them, Mr. Miller," she said softly. "It was my fault. I couldn't persuade Jeremy to stay. He seemed quite busy." Charlie adjusted his glasses, his expression softening. "So you met Jeremy? That rascal came to Dalinston without even calling me." "I'm sure he wanted to surprise you," Rachel replied, dipping her head shyly. Charlie chuckled warmly. He wasn't the type to hold a grudge against students. His mind, however, drifted back to a call from David at Jelaston a few months prior. David had been full of praise for "the Jensen girl's" potential, strongly suggesting she belonged at a more prestigious lab. Charlie had naturally assumed he meant Rachel—her work over the past two years had, after all, significantly boosted his own reputation. Now, letting her go was unthinkable. He became convinced Jeremy's sudden visit was nothing but David's scheme to recruit Rachel. "Don't let Jeremy distract you from your work," Charlie said. "Speaking of which, Rachel, let me see your thesis." Rachel quickly handed over her prepared manuscript with all the supporting data. Charlie's eyes widened as he scanned the pages. "Rachel, you never fail to impress me. An anti-cancer drug? How far along are the mouse trials?" "About fifteen days," Rachel answered promptly. Charlie beamed with pride. A successful drug like this would revolutionize cancer treatment—a legacy for generations to come. "You're truly remarkable," he praised. "This deserves a national medical award. I'll personally see to the patent process myself." Her fellow students offered genuine congratulations, their support completely without envy. A modest blush touched Rachel's cheeks. "Thank you, Mr. Miller. And thank you all." As Charlie returned the documents, his eyes scanned the lab. "Wait, we're missing someone. Where's Katherine?" Rachel's cheerful expression faded instantly. She retreated quietly, lowering her gaze as if hoping to become invisible. "Rachel? Is everything alright?" Charlie asked, his voice softening with concern at her sudden change in demeanor. The other students couldn't stay quiet any longer and immediately came to Rachel's defense. "Mr. Miller, while you were away on the exchange program, Katherine accused Rachel of stealing her research," one student explained. "We all stood up for Rachel because it wasn't right. Katherine got so upset that she moved her work to the back lab," another added. Tears welled up in Rachel's eyes. "I would never copy her work, Mr. Miller. We just happened to choose similar research directions. If you have any doubts, I'll gladly accept a formal review," she said earnestly. Charlie slammed his hand on the table in anger. "I despise nothing more than academic dishonesty and people who create unnecessary drama. For her to turn against her own lab partner? I will not let this go unaddressed." "Please don't be angry," Rachel said quickly. "I'm sure Katherine had her reasons. Let's just leave it be. No real harm was done, and I don't want to make things difficult." Her reasonable attitude only made Charlie want to protect her more. "Don't bother covering for her. Where's Katherine? I want to see her immediately." Katherine's arrival had been delayed by Jeremy's persistent invitations to Jelaston. She showed up later than Rachel, just in time to catch the whole scene unfolding at the doorway. "I'm right here," Katherine announced. The group spun around in surprise. They had been so caught up in their accusations that no one had noticed her arrival. Katherine approached calmly and stood before Charlie. "Welcome back, Mr. Miller. I hope your trip went well." Katherine had always been one of Charlie's favorite students—bright, intuitive, and naturally gifted in research. Her polite greeting warmed him momentarily, but then the students' accusations came flooding back, stirring his anger once more. Charlie never imagined she would stray so far from the right path. To him, integrity mattered more than any academic achievement—even the most gifted mind wasn't welcome in his lab without good character. "Being your mentor shames me," Charlie said coldly. "I never taught you to spread lies or bully your juniors." His words opened the floodgates, and soon the others joined in criticizing her. "Have you no dignity, Katherine? Sinking this low for an award?" said Michael Duncan, their senior. "I'm ashamed to work in the same lab as you." She had always supported him before, helping prepare materials for his graduate exams and competitions. He knew better than anyone how capable Katherine was, which made his sudden condemnation all the more unexpected. Katherine looked up with a cold smile. "Then leave. No one's keeping you here." "How could you..." Michael's anger faltered as he met her steady gaze. Memories of her past kindness surfaced, leaving him speechless. Chapter 7 Try To Set Her Up "Please don't argue over me," Rachel said with tears in her eyes, her voice trembling. "Let's just put this behind us and focus on our work." Michael's guilt quickly turned to defensiveness. "You've changed," he scolded Katherine. "You're being completely unreasonable. Rachel is just too kind to hold it against you. "Since Mr. Miller is here, why don't you apologize to Rachel properly so we can all move on?" Katherine nearly laughed at the absurdity. After all the effort she'd poured into mentoring him, Michael had apparently gone blind to the truth. "An apology? For what? I've done nothing wrong. Maybe check your facts before coming at me," Katherine shot back. Charlie had been willing to forgive Katherine if she showed any remorse, but her defiant stance only fueled his anger. "You claim you're innocent? Then let's see your experiment. If their accusations hold up, you're out of my lab," Charlie declared. Katherine had been the state's top student when she entered university, impressive enough for Charlie to personally recruit her into his lab as an undergraduate. Her respect for his mentorship over the years kept her composed, even in the face of his harsh words today. "Then let's see," Katherine replied calmly, her confidence unmistakable. The others hesitated, suddenly recalling a crucial fact they'd forgotten. Katherine's track record spoke for itself, including multiple patents each year and a complete overhaul of the hospital's medical system. With her reputation as the campus prodigy, no one doubted she could develop a cancer treatment. Rachel's hands tightened into fists, panic flashing in her eyes. Knowing Katherine's capabilities better than anyone, Rachel recognized her calm demeanor could only mean one thing—the mouse trial results had taken a positive turn. She counted herself lucky that she'd made arrangements after seeing Jeremy that morning. As Katherine passed by, Rachel shot her a scornful look. Katherine paused briefly, returning a knowing smile. A sudden fear gripped Rachel's heart as she wondered if Katherine had discovered her scheme, but she desperately hoped not and firmly believed it was impossible. "Let's see what happens, Rachel. We're all with you," Michael said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat. Seeing Rachel turn pale, Michael assumed she was torn up about confronting Katherine. "Remember, she's the one who messed up," Michael added gently. "Don't carry the weight for her mistakes." Rachel drew a quiet breath, steadying herself before she managed a small smile. "Okay, I get it. Thanks, Michael." "We're all friends here," Michael replied, his tone warm. "You don't need to thank me." As they talked, the group made their way to the innermost room of the lab. It was a harsh downgrade from the main lab—a cramped and dismal space. The walls were unfinished, the light came from a single bare bulb, and the whole room was so small that the lab bench left space for only two or three people. Charlie frowned the moment he stepped inside. The whole story wasn't adding up for Charlie. If Katherine were really the selfish, scheming type who'd frame a colleague, she wouldn't be stuck working in a closet-sized lab. On his way over, he'd half-expected her to have taken over his own office next door—a space that sat empty year-round because of his constant travel. Seeing her actual workspace only deepened his doubts about the entire framing accusation. "Mr. Miller, I was the one who assigned her to this room," Michael explained, stepping forward. "Back when this started, Katherine refused to admit any fault, just like today," he continued, clearly frustrated. "As her senior, I gave her this space, hoping it would push her to reflect. "I know the right punishment would have been to ban her from the lab. But after all our years working together, I couldn't bring myself to be that harsh. "Still, she didn't appreciate the leniency. Instead, she escalated her campaign against Rachel." His eyes drifted toward the lab as he finished. He ignored the room's shabby state, having expected that, and focused on the chaos within. "This looks like a tornado hit it," Michael said, staring at the disarray. Papers were flung everywhere, lab equipment was knocked over on the bench, and the mouse cage lay on the floor, its door gaping open. The mice were nowhere to be seen. "Who could have done this?" Michael wondered aloud, his brow furrowed in confusion. "This was supposed to help us figure out the truth between her and Rachel, and we only gave Katherine a key back then." Rachel offered a strained smile. "With all the stray cats on campus, it was probably them," she said, brushing it off. "The mice are gone now anyway. Let's just forget it. "Please, Mr. Miller, let her work in the main lab again," Rachel begged, her voice sweet with pretend concern. "This little room is no place for proper research. She must have learned her lesson by now." Her words immediately caught everyone's attention. Michael turned to Katherine, shock written across his face. "You destroyed the lab and released our research specimens? Just to hide what you did?" He couldn't keep the anger from his voice. "Those aren't ordinary mice. If they breed in the local environment, the ecological damage will be your responsibility." The others quickly took his side, their murmurs growing into open accusations. Charlie's expression darkened further. "I always respected your sharp mind, Katherine," he said, disappointment heavy in his words. "I never thought you'd use it for such dishonest schemes." He slammed his fist against the door in fury. "You framed your own lab partner, destroyed equipment, and set the research mice loose. I honestly regret the day I agreed to mentor you." That was the final break for Katherine. Whatever bond she'd shared with her mentor Charlie was now completely severed. A bitter smile touched her lips. She realized she had taken their whole team and mentor relationship far more seriously than anyone else. For a long moment, no one in the room could bring themselves to look her in the eye. Then her voice, cold as steel, cut through the tension. "First, I'm going to find out who wrecked my lab. And I won't give up until I do. "Second, every single one of my lab mice has a voice-chip implant. I can activate them all right from my phone." She held up her phone, the control app already open. "Watch this," she said. With a tap of her slender finger on the green button, her smirk turned even more pronounced. A childlike voice suddenly chirped from the lab, "Here! I'm right here!" All eyes snapped to the cage on Rachel's workstation. The voice was coming from the very mice she claimed had already been given the cancer treatment.

Where the ad sends people

website.novelbars.com

😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉

As Katherine Jensen was fighting for breath in the choking smoke, her fiancé, Truman Garcia, was clinking glasses at another woman's birthday party.