Chapter 432

It was Catherine’s time to stand up for herself.

“What kind of respect do you want? Did you forget how you talked to me in the restaurant a few days ago?

“Because of what your son did, you were supposed to apologize. But no not only you didn’t do it, but also you said that an orphan like me didn’t fit your son.

“You said it was my fault that he was cheating on me with some other woman. You said that if I didn’t preserve my dignity and gave my chastity to your son.

“He cheated on me and you blamed everything on me. Do you know what I felt when you said that in the restaurant in front of so many people?

“I was utterly humiliated. I never felt so ashamed in my life. At that moment, I thanked Goddess that I didn’t give my chastity to a scoundrel like Vincent.

“If a man’s love can only be preserved by physical needs, then there is no need to be with that person for the rest of my life.

.....

“Who knows what he will do if I can’t sleep with him during pregnancy? A man like that cannot be trusted.”

She let out everything she wanted to say. She vented her emotions – her anger and frustrations and helplessness.

She had been controlling herself from going insane for three weeks.

When she found out from Catherine’s letter that Vincent and his mother were spreading bad rumors about her cheating on him, she was thunderstruck.

At first, she didn’t want to believe this. She couldn’t believe it.

Despite him cheating on her, he was the most gentlemanly person in the world – that’s the kind of person he was in her eyes.

She began to doubt herself and her own personality. She thought she was the wrong one.

However, Felix and Lady Jenette couldn’t agree with her.

When she stopped eating and sleeping, they accompanied her and did their best to keep her alive.

Being heartbroken due to cheating was one thing. Being betrayed and spreading false rumors took her pain to another level.

It took her two weeks to recover.

Veronica and Zinnia came to check on her. They told her that they had plans to deal with Vincent.

Veronica told her, “He hurt you. I have no intention to let him go just like that. I don’t curse him or anything. I want to reveal the truth.”

That’s when Catherine said, “Let me join you. I want to see if I really misunderstood him and thought too highly of him.”

When she overcame sadness, her heart was filled with questions and confusion. At the same time, a burning rage flickered deep in her heart.

She had only one question.

Why?

Why her?

When she did nothing wrong to them, why did they have to go that far?

She let him go for his happiness. But he came to bite her.

Just why?

Therefore, she came to the wedding. She wanted to see with her very own eyes that what Sebastian said was true.

After she faced Vincent and his mother, it pained her when they behaved that way.

The loving, caring, gentle voice became hostile. It was hard to bear.

When Vincent’s mother once again pushed the blame on her, she did not hold back. With a loud and clear voice, she voiced her grief.

The guests were dumbstruck. Before they were divided into two groups but they still thought Vincent was innocent.

But now that she voiced confidently that she was the victim, their mind had begun to sway.

“Oh, my! Such a thing happened?”

“Why would a single woman sleep with a man? Even if that’s her fiancée, she must keep her virginity till her marriage.”

“To tell an unmarried girl to sleep with a guy in public... so vulgar.”

“She must have suffered humiliation.”

“I can’t believe Vincent’s mother would be so treacherous.”

The guests gave Vincent and his family an odd look.

“What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever say that?” Vincent’s mother roared.

She was on the verge of beating Catherine.

‘How dare she come here and tell people what happened in the restaurant? A mere orphan wants to challenge me? She cares so much about her reputation, doesn’t she? I’ll strip her from her honor. She will never be able to hold her head high.’

She glared at Catherine and said, “If my son didn’t see you having fun with other men, would my son be heartbroken? You live in town and get along with so many men, who knows how many men you already slept with? Maybe that’s why you don’t want to sleep with her son to show that you are innocent.”

Catherine already expected her to stain her character. The hope she had for them left her mind.

“Oh, I slept with other men just because I work with men? Then, must I say that Vincent works with female attendants; thus, he sleeps with all of them? However, it was Betty who became pregnant, but not other women. Right?”

She glanced at Betty and said, “I heard from the family doctor that your child is one month old. You even claimed that it’s Vincent’s child.

“Before our engagement, you came to this place and started living here. That’s when Vincent began to sleep with you, didn’t he?

“So, there is one hundred percent certainty that the child belongs to him. Or else, there is no reason for him to marry a pregnant lady.”

Betty frowned. “Who said anything about pregnancy?”

“Well, I have proof. Here, eat this.” Catherine took out green papaya from the bag she was carrying and put it on the table.

“This is a nutritious fruit. It’s good for our health,” she added. “But, if a woman is pregnant, her fetus will be harmed if the mother eats this.”

‘There is no way I will eat it. I will harm my child.’ Betty bit her lower lip.

She thought, ‘The truth is already out. I can’t even deny that it’s not Vincent’s child. If I do, my child won’t have a place to live.’

“So, what if I’m pregnant with his child?” She was forced to confess.

Cursing Catherine inwardly, she continued, “I married him anyway. The child belongs to him. This child is the love of our life.

“You cannot harm our child’s reputation. He is the legitimate heir of this family.”

Catherine smirked and looked at Vincent.

“You talk about love and promise me that you will be loyal to me for the rest of our lives. Is that what loyalty means to you?

“You began sleeping with a woman before our engagement and made her pregnant before our marriage. And you still expect me to marry you? Hilarious!”

Vincent’s head was already buzzing when he heard her talking about pregnancy.

‘How does she know? I never told her about Betty’s pregnancy. Even the relatives don’t know. We kept it a secret and planned to disclose the news to the relatives after a month of our marriage. She has no way to find out.’

He wanted to prevent Betty speak of their child but she already opened her mouth.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The guests were astonished when they heard about the pregnancy.

They first looked at Betty, and then Vincent and then Catherine. They tried to figure out if what Catherine said was true or false.

Nonetheless, Betty confessed and the guests had confirmed the legitimacy of the news.

Those who were still supporting Vincent couldn’t refute it. Everything became clear to them.

The face of Vincent’s mother turned ugly. ‘That stupid Betty actually disclosed the matter when I told her not to. Now everyone knows!’

She looked at Vincent, signaling him to say something.

Vincent started to have a headache. “Yes, I was wrong. I told you before. I even apologized but you didn’t want to marry me. So, I let go of you and got married to Betty. Isn’t that what you wanted? I fulfilled your wish. We are not related anymore. Then, why did you come to bother us? Please leave.”

Catherine replied, “I said I will leave. I don’t want to see your and your mother’s ugly faces for the rest of my life. But I have one thing to settle.

“You must take back what you and your mother said about me to others. Also, you have to apologize to me for spreading nasty rumors about me.”

“Never!” Vincent’s mother instantly refused.

The moment she would apologize, she would admit in front of everyone that she was telling lies about Catherine.

She proudly told everyone how her good son was betrayed. She talked so big.

Wouldn’t she lose face if she admitted?

She could never let that happen.

Vincent kept quiet. He clenched his fists and stared at Catherine.

The sweet, bashful woman he knew was nowhere at the sight. The girl who sweetly smiled the moment she would see him was staring at him coldly.

.....

“Catherine, please...” he started.

“What? Are you going to apologize?” Catherine crossed her arms. Ready to accept an apology.