Chapter 22

Countess Bedwig couldn’t have misunderstood that Catherine was referring to her as the culprit.

Countess Bedwig took a deep breath.

Catherine glanced at Countess Bedwig’s hand on her shoulder.

“Remove your hand. And this is my house. I don’t recall having an appointment, so please leave.”

Countess Bedwig removed her hand and composed herself.

“Why do you say this is your house? This is Earl Bedwig’s house. The father you respect. That means this house isn’t yours but mine. You are the guest, not me. However, I am your mother and I don’t consider family as guests, Catherine. Come in.”

Like it was truly her house, Countess Bedwig stepped aside to make way.

It was clear that Earl Bedwig’s sudden interference in Catherine’s affairs was due to Countess Bedwig’s schemes.

“Does Father know?”

Catherine barely suppressed her boiling anger and asked.

“Know what?”

“That you are here.”

“Of course, Catherine. The Earl specifically asked me to come.”

Catherine raised her eyebrows.

Countess Bedwig took a step closer and brushed Catherine’s shoulder, as if dusting it off.

“He felt sorry for you being alone and asked me to look into your marriage prospects.”

Catherine cursed inwardly.

Careful not to distort her face, Catherine took a step back to avoid Countess Bedwig’s touch.

She needed time to collect her thoughts.

“I need to go up. I’m very tired.”

“Wait a moment, Catherine. We’re not done talking.”

But Countess Bedwig did not let Catherine go.

“The young ladies in your house, they need to leave.”

“What?”

“Being a matchmaker doesn’t suit the dignity of the Bedwig family, Catherine. And how can you help others with their marriages when yours is urgent?”

Catherine’s jaw dropped.

Countess Bedwig was not only trying to control Catherine’s property but also her work.

“Don’t cross the line.”

Catherine couldn’t hold back her anger and frowned.

“Cross the line? You crossed it, and we’ve been tolerating it, Catherine. An unmarried woman talking about business and property? Nonsense.”

“Countess. Please go back.”

“I won’t, Catherine. Not until you get married.”

Catherine felt nauseous.

If Countess Bedwig said one more word, she felt she might throw up on her face.

Catherine clenched her fists, hoping that wouldn’t happen.

“Catherine, so get married. Haven’t I found you a match?”

Catherine realized exactly why Countess Bedwig was tormenting her.

She was determined to marry Catherine off to Rael.

“Make a choice, Catherine.”

Countess Bedwig continued, as if showing great generosity.

“If you want to protect your property and those women standing behind you, you need to get married.”

Catherine turned her head. Near the stairs, Lillie, Brooke, and Riena were standing.

Their faces were full of worry.

Come to think of it, she had hurriedly sent them back home from Ermei’s studio.

Catherine gritted her teeth.

“Mother, say one more word. Then you’ll be dragged out of here. The house ownership may be unclear, but the people here are mine.”

“Catherine, don’t be stubborn. Rael is a very good match. For a flawed child like you…”

“Elbert, Countess Bedwig says she’s leaving. Please see her out.”

Catherine turned around without hesitation.

Countess Bedwig glared at Catherine’s back.

But she left quietly. She said it was a retreat for further advance, but she was also intimidated by the stern looks from the attendants of Catherine House approaching her.

‘In the end, Catherine will have to do as I say.’

Those with much to lose are bound to lose much.

Countess Bedwig praised herself for not immediately seizing Catherine’s alimony in the past.

“Let’s go.”

Elbert’s firm voice echoed behind Catherine. The clear sound of Countess Bedwig’s footsteps leaving followed.

Catherine heard the door close and sighed, leaning on the stair railing.

After catching her breath for a moment, she started climbing the stairs again.

Catherine had to refuse many offers as she went up to her room.

First, to Maid Yuri, who tried to support her staggering figure, then to the residents of Catherine House who looked at her with curious eyes, and finally to Elbert, who had just seen off Countess Bedwig.

“I want to be alone.”

With that one sentence, Catherine ended all refusals and collapsed onto her bed.

She thought her life was going well after her return.

The essence of love was accumulating, and her assets were growing nicely with a few investments.

Hugo became a Duke, and it seemed only good marriage proposals were left.

Lillie fell in love with Brian, not Hugo.

She thought all the tangled knots in her life were untied, but suddenly a tangled thread appeared that she had to cut off.

‘My Catherine House…’

The thought of Countess Bedwig sitting there and chattering made her stomach churn.

‘And Brooke, Riena, Lillie…’

While Lillie had a place to return to, Brooke and Riena did not.

The entrance fee to Catherine House was probably all the money they could get from their families.

But with the checks frozen, she couldn’t even return that money.

Even if she could return it, it would be hard for them to survive in the social circles of the capital.

Catherine’s business was close to a charity no matter what anyone said.

The money Riena and Brooke paid was used to pay for Ermei’s dresses.

The problem was that she couldn’t use that money anymore.

Even if they left, there was no way to return the money.

‘How do I solve this?’

Catherine rolled around on her bed, thinking of a way to escape.

Then Hugo’s face came to mind.

Hugo’s proposal of marriage.

‘Yes, if I marry Hugo, everything will be solved… No, no.’

Catherine shook her head vigorously. She left for Hugo’s sake.

She hated the thought of him being manipulated by her family more than death.

But marrying him because of family issues was out of the question. Even if it was a sham.

‘Let’s find another way.’

Catherine thought and thought all night.

***

Catherine woke up early the next morning.

First, she wrote a letter to Ermei.

Feeling mortified, she asked to delay the payment for the dress.

Then she searched for a very competent lawyer.

Catherine met the lawyer with the letters she exchanged with Earl Bedwig after the divorce.

So, Catherine did her best to solve the problem herself.

But whether the lawyer was competent or not, the result was the same.

The only difference was that he talked about possibilities but couldn’t solve the problem immediately, which still disappointed Catherine.

• If you fight a prolonged battle, you might regain your property. But during that long fight, you won’t be able to exercise your property rights.

In the end, Catherine admitted it.

She was cornered, and the only way out was marriage.

Of course, even marriage was problematic.

Finding a husband who wouldn’t touch her property and would support her business wasn’t easy.

There was another problem.

‘I don’t have time.’

How could she find a husband, propose, and get married in such a short time?

‘There is someone. Hugo.’

What should she do if the perfect candidate was the very person she had to avoid?

There was another way, but it ultimately involved Hugo…

“Catherine!”

Dragging her feet, Catherine walked home weakly.

Walking helped when her mind was troubled.

At that moment, someone called out to her cheerfully.

It was Paul, Catherine’s friend.

“Why do you look so down?”

Paul naturally walked beside Catherine, chatting about this and that.

“Down? Not at all. I’m full of energy, Paul.”

“Let’s say you are. Where are you coming from?”

“Here and there.”

Catherine, who had considered confiding in Paul, held back.

Hiding her troubles was an old habit.

A habit formed because of Countess Bedwig, who would stab her without mercy if she showed any weakness.

“And you, where are you coming from? Or should I ask where you’re going?”

“I’m just wandering around.”

Catherine had a good idea why Paul was wandering.

“Is Earl Enderick still the same today?”

“Yes. Talking about marriage, grandchildren. This time he even declared he wouldn’t give me an inheritance.”

It was a threat that had no effect on Paul, who knew his parents loved and cherished him dearly.

Catherine felt an unexpected sense of kinship with Paul.

Both Catherine and Paul were under pressure to marry.

“The institution of marriage should disappear.”

Catherine unknowingly voiced a statement that society would condemn.

“Wow, Catherine. That’s quite radical. I agree, but it’s not something the owner of Catherine House should say.”

Paul’s remark made Catherine laugh bitterly.

He was right.

Didn’t Catherine view marriage as the completion of love?

“Loveless marriage. I hate that, Paul.”

“Love can grow after marriage. But seriously, is something wrong? Why are you suddenly so serious about marriage?”

Paul walked a few steps ahead, then turned around. He walked backward, facing Catherine.

“Are you planning to get married, Catherine?”