Chapter 5
997 Words
Catherine froze for a moment and instinctively looked toward the door.
Wasn't he supposed to be staying with Selena at the hospital? Why had he come here? What was he trying to do this time?
Michael's deep voice came from outside. "I know you're inside. Bob told me you were living here."
Catherine was left speechless, but she also worried that he would continue standing outside and attract attention. If someone saw him, it could easily lead to misunderstandings. After all, at the university, his current identity wasn't her husband. He was the investor willing to spend millions to secure his girlfriend's degree.
Catherine opened the door and looked at him coldly. "What is it?"
Michael crouched down and lifted her pant leg to check her ankle. "Did you apply any medicine?"
"That has nothing to do with you."
She tried to pull her foot away, but he simply bent down and picked her up.
Catherine's anger flared. Her slender fingers brushed against his cheek before she slapped the side of his neck with a loud smack.
Michael didn't get angry. Instead, he patted her butt lightly. "Stay still. If you fall again, you'll hurt the other leg too."
Catherine said, "Even if it gets worse, I'll just use a wheelchair. I won't need you."
The mention of the wheelchair made her even more irritated. "Go hold your first love instead. If you've already carried her, don't come near me!"
"She was in a wheelchair, but she never got this kind of treatment from me." Michael opened the car door and placed her in the passenger seat. Catherine kicked him with her uninjured leg. "Where are you taking me?"
Michael held down her restless leg. "You're always so energetic when you're angry enough to hit me. But when it comes to bed, you suddenly have no strength. Save some of that energy for later and make things easier for me for once."
Catherine leaned against the seat and closed her eyes, unwilling to look at him. She knew there would never be moments like that between them again, so she didn't want to give him any reaction.
Michael didn't continue teasing her. He simply opened the driver's door and sat down. "My grandmother said she missed you. She wants us to go home for dinner."
Catherine laughed coldly inside. She knew it would end up like this. Every bit of tenderness he showed her always came with a reason behind it.
Michael drove back to his grandmother Lily Stewart's house. Lily had been waiting outside for them. The moment she saw them approaching, she hurried over to greet them.
Lily had dementia. Sometimes she was completely lucid, and other times she wasn't herself. Her condition changed without warning. When she saw Catherine limping, she immediately called the family doctor over. After examining her, the doctor said it wasn't serious and that a few days of rest would be enough.
During dinner, Lily held Catherine's hand and said, "Cathy, hurry and give me great-grandchildren. I have so many houses and shops saved for them. They will all belong to them in the future!"
Catherine felt a mixture of warmth and sadness. "Lily, I don't know if I'll still have that chance."
Lily looked puzzled. "Why wouldn't you?"
"Selena is back."
Lily answered without hesitation. "So what if she came back? You're Michael's wife. If she tries anything, then she's the one interfering in your marriage. Someone like that will face consequences!"
Catherine didn't continue the conversation. She comforted Lily, fed her dinner, and helped her return to her room to rest.
Catherine didn't want to argue about this anymore. Ever since Selena returned, everything she once believed she had could no longer be guaranteed.
After dinner, Catherine planned to call a taxi back to the research base, but Michael stopped her and pulled her into the car.
Catherine frowned impatiently. "What are you doing?"
Michael replied, "I'm making up for your birthday."
The disappointment buried deep inside her slowly began to fade. Catherine's eyes grew hot, and for a moment, she wanted to stop pretending. She wanted to yell at him, blame him, hit him, bite him, and tell him exactly how miserable and suffocated she had felt these past few days.
But then Michael's phone rang.
The car was completely silent. Catherine heard Selena's voice clearly from the other end, her words mixed with a fragile, tearful tone.
Catherine asked, "Selena again?"
Michael was silent for a moment. "Her leg has been bothering her. It has gotten worse recently."
Catherine had no interest in hearing about Selena's leg. She only let out a cold, sarcastic smile.
Catherine said, "Today it's her leg. Tomorrow, what will it be? No matter what happens to her, she'll always turn to you."
After saying that, she deliberately turned away and added mockingly, "Are we still celebrating my birthday?"
Michael impatiently loosened his tie. "The chauffeur will take you back. I have something to handle."
The small spark of hope that had just appeared in Catherine's heart was crushed once again. But this time, it wasn't like before. She didn't feel unbearable pain or disappointment. Instead, there was only a sense of acceptance.
She had already expected this. As long as Selena remained between them, they would never return to the way things used to be.
She had already made her decision. She was going to participate in the project Sam had recommended.
Catherine looked at Michael, her voice calm and emotionless. "There's no need to trouble the chauffeur. I'll leave by myself."
If she could, perhaps leaving like this wasn't such a bad choice.
Catherine got out of the car on her own and slammed the door shut. When she bent down to pick up her handbag from the ground, a business card slipped out.
It was the divorce lawyer's card Mia had given her.
Catherine stared at the number on the card for a long time before finally dialing it.
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