When Catherine's backstory unfolded before me, my anger dissolved, replaced by a profound empathy for her unfortunate circumstances. I had always known Michael Morgan was a jerk, but I couldn't have imagined the extent of his cruelty—forcing an innocent girl to commit a crime.
"Catherine, darling," I adopted a soothing tone, though fear coursed through me. "I'm so sorry you're going through this." Initially, I had steeled myself to face death, but now that I was privy to Catherine's harrowing tale, a fervent desire to survive surged within me. The revelation of her truth rewired my thoughts—no longer did I wish for my life to end, especially not by her hands.
The deal with Mr. Tilton was a total fluke, a pure accident, no doubt about it. Catherine's the one who got the raw end of the de
