Chapter 3 - The Departure of Catherine Sterling
When David reached the storage hall at the end of the corridor, he found the oak door wide open.
Standing inside were two tall, broad-shouldered men in dark suits. One of them held a high-tech medical briefcase, while a female physician in a white coat was carefully examining Lily’s mouth, applying a clear antiseptic gel to her torn gums.
Catherine stood near the window.
She was no longer wearing the soft, faded sweater she usually wore around the house. She had changed into a simple, perfectly tailored dark navy dress made of heavy silk. Her hair was pulled back into a sharp, flawless knot at the base of her neck.
She looked different. Her posture was straight, her shoulders square, her face entirely devoid of the meek, apologetic softness that had defined her presence in his house for six years.
"What is the meaning of this?!" David demanded, trying to push his way past the two security men into the room. "Who are you people?! Get out of my house!"
The larger of the two security guards didn't budge an inch. He placed a single, leather-gloved hand against David’s chest, holding him back with effortless strength.
"Mr. Thorne," the guard said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "You are advised to remain at a respectful distance."
"Catherine!" David screamed over the man's shoulder, his eyes wide with rage and fear. "What did you do?! Did you call some cheap private security company with my emergency card?! Is this where the credit freeze is coming from?!"
Catherine didn't look at him immediately. She waited for the doctor to finish placing a soft bandage over Lily’s lip.
"She will require two minor stitches on the inner gum line, Madam," the doctor reported quietly, turning to Catherine with deep respect. "We have a pediatric surgeon waiting at the private facility in West Palm."
"Thank you, Dr. Mercer," Catherine said softly. She reached down and lifted Lily into her arms. My daughter didn't cry; she held tightly to Catherine's neck, looking at David as if he were a complete stranger.
Catherine finally turned her head to face David.
The room seemed to drop ten degrees.
"Your house, David?" Catherine asked smoothly, stepping toward the doorway. The two security guards immediately flanked her, clearing a wide path. "This house was purchased six years ago using a real estate holding firm called Vance Development LLC. Did you ever bother to check who owned the parent entity?"
David’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
"You thought you were a genius for securing a zero-percent purchase mortgage," Catherine continued, her voice light, almost conversational, yet carrying the weight of an executioner's blade. "You thought the bank was impressed by your corporate vision. In reality, I bought this land for my daughter so she would have a lawn to play on. You were merely allowed to pay the property taxes."
"Catherine... what are you talking about?" David stammered, taking a step back as the weight of her words hit him like a physical blow. "Who are you?"
From the hallway behind David, Chloe’s high heels clicked rapidly against the hardwood floor. She appeared at the corner, holding her silver dress above her knees, her face flushed with fury.
"David! There are guards in the driveway taking the keys to the Bentley!" Chloe shrieked. "And my credit cards won't work! Tell these people to leave!"
She stopped short when she saw Catherine surrounded by the armed detail.
"You..." Chloe spat, pointing a manicured finger at Catherine. "Did you do this?! You bitter little leech! David, call the police on her!"
Catherine stopped two feet in front of Chloe.
She looked down at Chloe’s face, then down at the silver gown, and finally at the small, faint brown chocolate stain near the hip.
Without a single word, Catherine reached out her left hand.
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the high-ceilinged corridor like a pistol shot.
The force of the strike spun Chloe around, sending her crashing against the wall. She dropped to her knees, clutching her bright red cheek, her eyes wide with shock and pure, unadulterated terror.
David gasped, taking a step toward Chloe, but one of the Sterling guards immediately stepped into his path, his eyes cold and unblinking.
"That was for my daughter," Catherine said calmly, wiping her hand with a small silk handkerchief she took from her pocket. She dropped the cloth onto Chloe’s lap. "If you ever come within ten feet of Lily again, the next thing you lose won't be your breath. It will be everything your family owns."
"Catherine!" David yelled, his voice cracking with hysterical panic. "You've lost your mind! You can't do this! I am David Thorne! I am the CEO of Thorne Group!"
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Catherine walked past him without slowing down, her heels clicking softly against the floor as her security detail fell into formation around her.
"Not anymore, David," she said over her shoulder as she reached the stairs. "By the time you reach the Grand Aster Gala tonight, you won't even be a shareholder."
