In the dimly lit ward, Catherine Morland gazed at her mothers aged face, the words of the doctor and nurse echoing persistently in her mind. One million dollars! Once, it was merely a months pocket money for her. But ever since her mothers health had taken a turn for the worse and the companys power dynamics shifted with the intrusion of another woman, everything had changed.
Now, she couldnt even scrape together 100,000, let alone one million. The only person who could save her mother now was Edward Cullen.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Catherine stood in the villas grand hall, enveloped by the setting suns lingering glow, loneliness seeping into her very being. With no sign of her husband, she inquired, "Oliver, will he be returning today?"
The butler responded with polite indifference, "I apologize, madam, but I am not privy to sirs schedule."
The respectful blue aura surrounding Oliver was a testament to his loyalty, yet Catherine knew it was her position as Mrs. Cullen that commanded his deference, not any genuine affection.
Catherine let out a self-mocking chuckle. Of course, Edward would never allow the butler to share his whereabouts with her. How could she have been so foolish as to hope for such a thing?
As the night wore on and Edward remained absent, Catherine couldnt help but recall the mysterious phone call from her wedding night. After what felt like an eternity, she steeled herself and dialed the number again...
The phone barely rang twice before it was answered, and the same feminine voice purred, "Who is this?"
Catherine tightened her grip on her phone, pushing down the heartache that threatened to consume her as she spoke, "I need to speak with Edward Cullen."
There was a brief pause before the woman replied, "Im afraid Edward is indisposed at the moment."
Indisposed? What could they possibly be doing that would make Edward unable to take her call? The thought of what they might be up to curdled in Catherines stomach.
Despite the pain, Catherine forced herself to remain calm and collected. "Could you inform me of his whereabouts tomorrow, then?"
The woman on the other end let out a derisive laugh, the kind that dripped with condescension. "Mrs. Cullen, it seems youre quite lost. Your husbands schedule is none of my concern."
Catherines heart clenched at the womans mocking tone, but she couldnt afford to lose her composure. "If you dont mind, I would appreciate any information you could provide."
The womans laughter took on a cruel edge. "Oh, you poor thing. Very well, since youre so desperate, Ill tell you. Edward will be at The Ritz Clubs Kings Suite for an important business meeting tomorrow evening."
Before Catherine could utter a word of thanks, the line went dead. The following evening found Catherine stepping into the opulent surroundings of The Ritz Club, her stomach churning with anxiety and dread.
The clubs grand hall was a spectacle of extravagance, but the sight of the entwined couples in the center filled Catherine with a sense of repulsion. This place was a cauldron of sin, tainting everyone with its dark aura. Catherines eyes stung from the assault on her senses.
"Take me to the Kings Suite," she requested, her voice barely above a whisper.
The receptionists gaze shifted as she took in Catherines disheveled appearance, but she said nothing as she led her to the suite. Catherine was so lost in her thoughts that she failed to notice the change in the receptionists demeanor.
Upon reaching the suite, Catherine was pushed inside with such force that the door slammed shut behind her. She realized with a jolt that she had been tricked.
In the suite, a man with thinning hair and a menacing aura advanced towards her. Panic seized Catherine as she stumbled backward, only to be tripped by the sofa. She fell to the ground, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Stop right there!" she commanded, her voice quivering with fear. "Im not here for this; Ive made a mistake."
The man, however, seemed not to hear, his lecherous grin widening as he approached. "Come now, theres no need to play coy. You knew what you were getting into when you came here."
Catherines stomach turned as she scrambled to her feet, fighting against the bile rising in her throat. She had to get out of here. She had to find Edward.
With a surge of adrenaline, Catherine grabbed a nearby vase and swung it with all her might at the approaching man. The vase connected with his head, the sound of the impact echoing through the room.
The man howled in pain, clutching his head as he fell to the side. Catherine didnt waste a moment. She bolted for the door, her heart hammering in her chest as she burst into the hallway.
"Catherine Morland, what on Earth are you doing here?" a familiar, sickly sweet voice asked.
Catherines body went rigid. She knew that voice all too well. It belonged to Isabella Gray, her high school senior, and a woman who had always been her arch-nemesis. The realization that Isabella was the one behind the phone calls sent a chill down Catherines spine.
If she had known from the start that the woman on the phone was Isabella, she would never have fallen for such a trap. But now, what could she do? It was too late to change anything.
The man from the suite stormed out, his face contorted with rage. "You bitch, youre not getting away with this!"
Catherine looked around frantically for help, but the dark aura surrounding the man was a clear indication of his violent intentions. She was on the verge of despair when a group of men intervened, their authoritative presence halting the mans advance.
At the center of the group was Edward Cullen, his expression a mixture of anger and disgust. Catherines heart leaped at the sight of him, but the relief was short-lived as she realized the implications of her situation.
Edwards cold gaze swept over her disheveled appearance, and he spoke in a tone that was as sharp as ice. "What is the meaning of this?"