Love Crumbled, But Her Brilliance Shone

ing laugh. No hint of res

g to her for mercy. She broke your leg, didn't she? And she also s

mile, but there was no

fury nearly boiling over. "Y

he seen such icy

she would be timid, easy to control. Instead, Cathy showed the

sh raised his cane, voice shaking with anger

nd closing around the cane b

d calmly. "Your leg's n

to realize that he could

is features. "

h, Cathy replied,

arning, sending Josh sprawling

h slipped from Cathy. "I warne

slick with pain as he

ss ends now!" he shouted, hands sha

ndered in the hallway,

the Curtis family is here. They've brought an invitation for your

er froze m

rtis f

Curtis family, had returned to host an extravagant event, but never i

ge - Curtis Mansion's halls glittered with real d

go greet t

orities shifting in an instant. "Get Justine on the p

two dau

fore she could even walk. The other, Justine Burgess, came from his second marriage - a

vitation couldn't possibly be meant for Cathy. Surely, i

Cathy quietly made her way outside, determi

eath and knelt beneath the old tree, fingers digging at the tang

urmured, weighing

e material was tough, nearly impossibl

ay back inside, only to cross paths with Justine

designer dress and sparkling with expensive jewelry.

ndescending glance,

Curtis invitation is obviously for me. Watch closely, Cathy, and maybe you'll l

ill be an unpleasant banquet for every guest if you attend. Because th

stine's face twisted in

h a sharp gesture. "Keep it together. The

s mouth when a man in a tail

- she knew instantly that he was t

cretary barely

pped ahead of Cathy

"It's an honor to welcome the leader of Umbra Expanse back.

lips as she shot Cathy

Justine couldn't imagine the invi

ear to ear, "Justine will bring gift

urtis family's reach, their blessing would make the Burg

strode right past them, stoppi

ith both hands. "Mr. Curtis asked me to personally deliver this invitation

e she reached out and accepted the invitation,

he elusive head of Umbra Expanse, shrouded

ined why someone like h

e chance when she saw it. Getting inside th

iving way to suspicion as

mistake? You're sure y

Cathy's full name was written

Why would the Curtis family bother with someone the Burgess fami