Episode 3
809 Words
A Deal She Never Made
The moment Sebastian left the room, the silence inside the Hart mansion turned unbearable.
Catherine stood frozen beside the glass table, the marriage documents still open before her like a cruel joke.
Her name.
Her future.
Signed away.
Without her.
Without permission.
Without choice.
The sound of Chloe’s heels broke the silence first.
“Well,” Chloe said, folding her arms with a bitter smile, “congratulations, sister. You finally got what you always wanted.”
Catherine turned sharply.
“Don’t start.”
“Oh, please.” Chloe laughed coldly. “You must be thrilled. You spent years living in my shadow, and now suddenly you’re marrying the most powerful man in the city? Honestly, it’s almost impressive.”
“I never wanted Sebastian Blackwood.”
“No,” Chloe said, stepping closer, “you just conveniently ended up with him.”
Before Catherine could reply, Eleanor’s voice cut through the room.
“Enough.”
Her stepmother stood near the fireplace, calm and composed, like she hadn’t just destroyed someone’s life.
Catherine walked toward her slowly.
“You signed those papers.”
Eleanor said nothing.
“You sold me.”
Still nothing.
Catherine’s voice shook.
“How much?”
That made Eleanor pause.
And in that silence, Catherine got her answer.
Her chest tightened.
“Oh my God… you actually benefited from this.”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“This family was drowning. Your father left debts you know nothing about. The Blackwood alliance solves everything.”
“So I was paid?”
“You were responsible,” Eleanor snapped. “And now, finally, you are useful.”
The words hit harder than the slap.
Catherine stared at the woman who had raised her after her father died and realized something terrifying—
There had never been love.
Only obligation.
Only convenience.
Only survival.
Chloe sighed dramatically.
“Honestly, Catherine, stop acting like a victim. You’re marrying Sebastian Blackwood, not being sent to prison.”
Catherine turned to her.
“Sometimes those sound like the same thing.”
Chloe’s smile vanished.
“Careful. That attitude won’t last long in his world. Men like Sebastian don’t marry girls like you for love.”
The room went still.
Because that—
That was the question Catherine could not stop asking.
Why her?
Not Chloe, who was beautiful and polished.
Not some socialite from a powerful family.
Her.
The unwanted daughter.
The girl no one chose.
Why?
She grabbed her bag.
“I’m leaving.”
Eleanor frowned.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m serious.”
“You have nowhere to go.”
“Then I’ll find somewhere!”
“You will do no such thing.”
Catherine walked toward the door anyway, anger carrying her where fear had failed.
She reached for the handle.
And stopped.
Because Sebastian was standing there.
As if he had known.
As if he had been waiting.
Still calm. Still unreadable.
Still dangerous.
His dark eyes moved from her hand on the door… to her face.
“You’re leaving?”
Catherine lifted her chin.
“Yes.”
“No.”
The word was simple.
Absolute.
She let out a bitter laugh.
“You don’t get to control me.”
Sebastian stepped inside, closing the distance between them.
“Tonight, yes. I do.”
“I’m not your wife yet.”
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
“Legally, you are.”
Her heartbeat stumbled.
She hated how easily he unsettled her.
She hated even more that part of her wasn’t afraid.
“I won’t stay in a marriage built like this,” she said.
“Built like what?”
“Control. Secrets. Silence.”
For the first time, Sebastian’s expression shifted.
Something almost like regret.
Then he said quietly,
“If I let you walk away tonight, you won’t be safe.”
Catherine frowned.
“Safe from what?”
He didn’t answer.
Of course, he didn’t.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and handed her a small silver key.
She stared at it.
“What is this?”
“A choice.”
She looked up.
“If you stay with me—for now—I will tell you everything when the time is right.”
“And if I don’t?”
His voice dropped.
“Then the people who have been waiting for you will find you first.”
A chill ran through her.
This wasn’t just about marriage.
It was bigger.
Older.
Darker.
And somehow… it was about her.
Catherine’s fingers tightened around the key.
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Why me?”
Sebastian stepped closer.
Close enough for her to feel the answer before he spoke it.
His eyes held hers.
Steady. Certain. Unshakable.
“Because,” he said softly, “you were always meant to be mine.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD