Katherine sat stiffly in the grand, opulent living room of the Hollingsworth estate, surrounded by a circle of piercing eyes. Uncle Daniel, Massimo's uncle: his sister, Amy; Madam Elizabeth; Grandma Anastasia, Massimo's Granny.
Only James was noticeably absent.
"So this's the unfortunate girl whose family tried to destroy my nephew?" Uncle Daniel's voice sliced through the thick silence.
Katherine met his glare. His contempt was evident, practically burning into her since she'd entered. He hadn't spoken until now, but his eyes had screamed accusations.
"You'll not speak ill of her at this table, Daniel." Madam Elizabeth's declared.
Katherine's fingers tightened against her dress, but she held her head high.
"Well, Madam Elizabeth, you should never have let her marry my brother. He'll die soon, and she'll waltz off with most of his properties." Amy said, venomously.
A murmur of agreement swept around the table with whispered condemnations
Katherine's heart clenched on Massimo's behalf. Why was everyone so fixated on him dying, and on what they could gain afterward?
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again." Madam Elizabeth's voice rose. "No one will speak of him dying in this house. Not while I live."
But Uncle Daniel wasn't silenced. "Then you should've left the pauper girl to rot in jail instead of sacrificing my nephew. I wouldn't have to say any of this if you'd let that happen."
Madam Elizabeth's lips curled into a smile. She was fully aware of the chaos she'd unleashed, and she thrived in it. This wasn't about Katherine, not truly. It was about Massimo's inheritance.
Katherine's chest tightened. The insult struck deeper than she expected. She rose to her feet, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I think I'll go to the restroom."
But before she could take a step, Madam Elizabeth's palm slammed against the table, The room plunged into a suffocating silence.
"Sit down, Katherine." Madam Elizabeth commanded. "We're not done here. You're not leaving."
She sank back into her seat, fingers digging into her dress.
Madam Elizabeth leaned forward. "Massimo needs an heir. If anything goes wrong, Katherine, the responsibility falls on you. So, you'll be inseminated."
A collective gasp swept the room. C
Katherine's heart pounded. A child? After everything she'd endured, this was another weight they were throwing onto her?
"That's absurd!" Uncle Dan's voice rang out. "She's from a poverty-stricken family! Her father's debts are why we're in this mess. You can't seriously think she's the solution."
"Have you forgotten she was once James' girlfriend? He told me that, says she's a slut." someone else hissed.
"Really?" Almost everyone asked.
Katherine's knuckles whitened, her pulse roaring in her ears. The accusations were too much for her.
Enough!" Madam Elizabeth silenced accusations. "My words are not a request but an order." She looked at Katherine, her eyes softening slightly. "I know this seems sudden. But your family caused this. If your father had paid his debts in time, maybe none of this would've happened. And don't think I haven't heard the whispers of how the brakes on Massimo's car were tampered with... right at your home by your farher. I looked into it."
Katherine's blood ran cold. Her father did that?
"If he survives, maybe he'll hate you, blame you. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is his bloodline must continue. If it doesn't…" Madam Elizabeth's words hung in the air.
Katherine's throat tightened, but she didn't dare speak. Refusing felt like a death sentence, but agreeing meant something far worse.
A strained silence fell until Uncle Daniel scoffed. "This is ridiculous, Aunt. Why bother with something that won't work? Even when he was fully conscious, countless women tried yet none could bear his child. What makes you think she can?"
"And let's not forget," Amy added, disdainfully. "This girl and her family are dangerous. They're strangers. We barely know them."
"She's still too young for this burden too," Uncle Daniel pressed.
"26 isn't young Dan." Granny Anastasia spoke up.
Madam Elizabeth's laughter was a slow, icy ripple. "And yet here she is our best option." Her gaze locked on Katherine. "So, Katherine, can you do this for me? If you agree, you gain everything. Your sister's medical bills paid, your father gets a job. Your future and your Massimo's heir secured. Massimo's legacy continues. All you have to do is say yes."
Katherine felt the dagger-like stares piercing her from every corner, like everyone was warning her to decline it. But Madam Elizabeth's promises pressed on her heart. This was her chance to protect her family and also to destroy all the plans of the evil ones.
"I'll do it," she whispered,
A smile broke across Madam Elizabeth's face. "A doctor will come by this evening to take care of everything. You made the best decision."
Katherine couldn't help feeling it in her gut, madam Elizabeth was up to something. Like, with how her family were being accused, she still brought those offers? What're you up to ma'am?
As the meeting ended, Katherine stepped into the crisp air. But she hadn't gone far when Uncle Daniel's voice came.
"This was your family's plan all along, wasn't it?" His words were venomous. "Schemer. Greedy little snake. It'll all fail, I promise you. This battle is just beginning."
Katherine opened her mouth, but he was already turning away as James's car pulled up.
"I heard everything," James said as soon as he got to her, his voice laced with barely masked anger. "Why would you do this to me? I thought we had a plan. I thought we were lovers. But now you've decided to betray me and have his child. I'm devastated, Kath."
"We were lovers. Past tense. I'm married to your brother now, and soon, I'll be carrying his child. Morever,the benefits attached were too alluring not to agree."
James's jaw clenched.
A darkness flickered in his gaze before he leaned closer. "Why not have my child instead? I could take you… right now to a hotel room and fuck you. Then nine months later, you'd pop out my child, and no one would ever know. They would think it's for Massimo. It would be our little secret." He winked.
Katherine glared at him. "You're not just shameless, James. You're utterly senseless. How could you even say something like that?!"
His smirk faltered.
"Imagine this, James," she continued, lethally. "Your brother wakes up. He finds out what you've done. How you tried to steal his fortune, his wife. Or, I even tell him. What do you think he'd do to you? Because I've heard how ruthless he can be."
A shiver ran down James' body. Memories of his brother's unforgiving nature flashed before him. Massimo's a man who would destroy anyone who dared betray him. But the one thing that gave him relief was that his brother won't survive. He'd been poisoning him gradually. Even the doctors won't suspect till it would be too late.
"Wait," Katherine's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "With how desperate you've become, I hope you weren't the one who tampered with your brother's car brakes. But somehow, the blame has been shifted onto me and my family."
James fists clenched, desperation turning to anger. "No! How could you even think that? My own brother? You know what? Screw you."
Without another word, he stormed off, leaving Katherine standing there, and even more uncertain than before.