CHAPTER 11:
AT THE PENTHOUSE;
Kate slammed the door behind her when she got to the mansion. Her chest was rising fast, her heels echoing across the marble floor as she walked towards her room,She didn't stop. Not even when the maid called her name.
She climbed the stairs and walked Straight to the room.
But she didn't cry.
She sat on the edge of the bed,she didn't cry, because she isn't supposed to do that. She fixed her eyes on nothing and folded her fist. She had embarrassed Gabriella. She had stood tall. But why did it still sting?
Minutes later, the door opened.
William walked in., looking Calm as always and cold like still water.
"You made a scene," he said.
Kate looked up. "I defended myself."
"You could have walked away."
"Like you did?"
He didn't flinch. "I told you. This world will test you. I needed to see if you could survive it."
She stood. "So I'm just another test to you?"
"You stood your ground. That was good."
She scoffed. "That wasn't a compliment. That was survival."
His gaze stayed on her. "Then survive better."
She stepped closer. "You think I'm weak. You think I need your approval. But I'm not that girl anymore."
William raised a brow. "You think one outburst makes you strong?"
"No," she said, her voice steady. "But not breaking makes me stronger."
He didn't say anything,he just stared at her silently.
"You could've stopped Gabriella," she continued. "But you didn't. You let me drown."
"I needed to know your limit."
"And now you know," she said sharply. "So don't push it again."
Something flickered in his eyes, making his expression unreadable.
Kate walked past him. "You may have money. Power. But I still have pride. And I won't lose that for you or your fake world."
He grabbed her wrist, firmly and not rough.
She turned slowly.
"I never said you had to lose it," he said.
She pulled her hand free. "Then stop acting like I already did." She said and walked out.
She Left him standing in his own cold silence.
Later that night, she sat in the dark hallway Alone and Thinking.
Then she heard voices downstairs. The voice was low and Angry,it was William's voice and his mother's voice.
"She's embarrassing you," his mother snapped. "I warned you about girls like her."
"She's not weak," William said.
"You don't need strong. You need obedient."
"She's not a dog."
"You're changing," his mother hissed. "And I don't like it."
Kate felt her body froze.
William was defending her?
Why? She thought.
She slowly crept back into her room before they saw her. She Closed the door and Lock it.
Kate didn't sleep that night. Her head was full, her heart was even fuller with a lot of thoughts and questions. William's words to his mother kept ringing in her ears, like a bell.
"She's not weak."
It wasn't love. It wasn't even warmth. But it was something. And that something was the fire she needed now.
The next morning, she dressed simple. She Tied her hair back into a messy bun. She didn't apply makeup. She just put on a focus look.
She marched straight to the study, William study.
William was there, standing behind the desk, going through some files. He barely looked up.
"I want to learn," she said.
He glanced at her, then back at his papers. "Learn what?"
"Business. My family's company. My uncle is stealing it piece by piece. I need to take it back."
He dropped the file on the table. "And what makes you think you can?"
"Because I have to," she said. "I'm not just some scared girl anymore. I want to fight. But I don't even know where to start."
William stood and walked around the desk slowly and Stopped right in front of her.
"This isn't a charity."
"I'm not asking for pity. I'm asking for knowledge."
He stared at her for a moment. Then turned away.
"No."
She blinked. "What?"
"I won't help you."
Her jaw tightened. "Why not?"
"Because once I teach you, you'll owe me. And you'll think I control you. I don't want that."
She laughed bitterly. "You already control me. This marriage is your cage."
He faced her again. "Then learn without me. Fight without me. If you want to win, you must start alone."
"That's easy for you to say. You were born in power. I was thrown into this world with nothing."
He stepped closer. "Then prove you belong in it."
She walked out without another word.
Hours later, she sat in the library. There were Books everywhere. She grabbed one after the other. Business strategy. Company law. Corporate control.
Her head hurt. Her back ached. But she didn't stop.
She needed to understand. She needed to beat her uncle at his own game.
One evening, three days later, she entered the dining room.
William was already seated. She poured herself a glass of water. Then spoke, her eyes on him.
"The shares my uncle holds are not majority. He only has controlling power because nobody challenged him."
William looked up. "You found that out yourself?"
"Yes."
"Impressive."
"I'm not here for your praise. I'm here to tell you I'm not backing down."
He leaned forward. "What's your next move?"
"I need allies. Investors. And I need to find the hidden documents my father left."
He didn't speak for a while.
Then finally, he said, "Don't get burned. This world eats people like you."
"Then I'll burn it back," she said.
That night, she called an old family friend. Her father's lawyer. Mr Jacobs.
He agreed to meet her in secret. He Said he might have something. Something her father left behind.
Kate dressed in black. She Took a cab. William didn't ask where she was going and She didn't tell him or anyone.
At the restaurant, she saw Mr Jacobs waiting. He is Older and Greyer. But his eyes were kind.
"You look like your mother," he said.
Kate smiled weakly. "I need your help."
He nodded. "I've been waiting for this day."
From his coat, he pulled out an old envelope. It was Sealed and Faded.
"Your father gave this to me before he died. Told me only to give it to you, when you were ready."
Kate took it with trembling hands.
"Thank you."
He smiled. "You're your father's daughter. Be careful."
Kate returned to the mansion. Her heart was pounding.
She opened the envelope in her room. Inside were papers. The Shares, Instructions and Letters.
Her father knew something like this would happen.
He had prepared her path. Even in death.
She wiped her tears. Then heard a knock.
William entered,he looked around the room and glanced at her hands and Saw the papers.
"What is that?"
"Hope," she said softly.
He looked at her face. Then at the papers again.
"You're playing a dangerous game."
"Then watch me win it."