Chapter 1033



Bethany sighed in frustration. “Then who else could it be?”

Belinda exhaled, deciding to steer the conversation in a different direction. “Let’s not dwell on this for now. Johnson, how are things going with you and Catherine?”

Bethany let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. “You really have a talent for bringing up the most uncomfortable topics. Catherine left for Soling with her mentor. It’s been over ten days now.”

Belinda blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, what?”

Had Catherine really gone to such lengths just to avoid Johnson? A tense silence followed. Johnson’s expression darkened, his mood visibly sinking.

After a brief pause, Belinda said, “Have you considered trying a different approach?”

Johnson narrowed his eyes at her. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

Belinda tilted her head thoughtfully before responding, “Change the way you treat her. Act as if you’ve accepted the situation and just want to be her brother, letting her lower her guard. Don’t be kind to her anymore—preferably, be completely different from who you were before.”

After a pause, she continued, “Catherine is used to your constant care. If you suddenly withdraw, she won’t know how to process it. You need to make her realize that the reason you treated her so well before was because you love her!”

Her voice grew more serious. “And if possible, find someone to make her jealous. It might help. Sometimes, a little jealousy is exactly what it takes for someone to realize their true feelings.”

Bethany frowned. “Isn’t that… a bit manipulative?”

Belinda shrugged. “Not the most ethical strategy, I’ll admit. But Catherine is avoiding you entirely; you don’t even have a chance to talk to her. If you don’t act now, maybe the next time she shows up, she might already have another man by her side.”

At that thought, Johnson’s face hardened. That possibility was unacceptable.

Determined, he made his decision. “I’ll give it a shot. I’ll need to figure out the best way to go about this first.”

Belinda smiled and patted his shoulder. “Good luck.”

Just then, Bethany turned to Belinda. “By the way, has Holley been causing any trouble for you lately?”

Belinda shook her head. “No.”

Bethany didn’t look convinced. “Even so, you shouldn’t let your guard down.”

Belinda nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

But deep down, a sense of heaviness settled in her chest. How did it come to this? Having to stay on guard when she was around her own mother…

After chatting with Belinda for a while longer, Bethany and Johnson eventually left.

That evening, after getting off work, Lucas stopped by Belinda’s place and lingered longer than necessary. It wasn’t until Belinda outright told him to leave that he finally did, albeit reluctantly.

Later that night, since she had taken sleeping pills, Belinda had been sleeping well these days. But tonight, just as she was deep in sleep, she suddenly felt as though she was being choked—she couldn’t breathe.

Instinctively, she struggled, but the sensation only intensified. This felt too real. It wasn’t like a dream.

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