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Chapter 2 Marry Finn

  • When Cathleen’s cab arrived, the driver assisted her with loading her bags into the trunk of the vehicle. She slipped in and provided the driver with her address. While traveling abroad, Cathleen stumbled upon a grand mansion in the bustling city of New York. Despite its size, she was immediately drawn to its elegant architecture and rich history. Excitement filled her as she envisioned making this place her own. And so she purchased the mansion, determined to turn it into a home that reflected her style and taste. But that wasn't all Cathleen did in the Big Apple. She also had a secret company, hidden from the public eye. Only her father knew about her successful law firm, which she had built from scratch and managed on her own. To outsiders, Cathleen may have seemed like just another girl, but in reality, she was a driven businesswoman with a sharp mind and impressive accomplishments.
  • As she neared her luxurious home, her phone rang incessantly; the name "Father" flashed on the screen, but she simply ignored the call. Her father, William Jackson, knew all too well that his headstrong daughter was not one to easily be swayed. Frustrated, he decided to send a message instead, hoping it would get through to her stubbornness.
  • William Jackson: Cathy, Grandma is critically ill.
  • Cathleen loved her grandmother so much. Her heart raced with worry and immediately turned around and headed to her grandmother's house.. She wanted nothing more than to see her beloved grandmother, but a nagging feeling of unease gnawed at her mind. As she entered the familiar gates and rushed to her grandmother's room, she was met with an empty bed and a heavy sense of dread. Her stepmother and father greeted her with grave expressions, confirming her worst fears: her grandmother had been sick, and they had kept it from her. Conflicted between anger at their deception and sadness for her grandmother's illness, Cathleen struggled to keep her emotions in check.
  • William's heart was torn as he contemplated his plan. He knew Cathleen would never agree to marry Finn, but he also couldn't bear the thought of losing the alliance with the Knights. He knew he had to lie to Cathleen to get her to marry Finn. It pained him to deceive her, but he believed it was the only way to keep her by his side. He also knew Finn was dead to Cathleen the moment he cheated on her with his other daughter, Avery. The memory of Finn's betrayal and the guilt of involving Avery in their complicated love triangle weighed heavily on him. But William couldn't let go of Cathleen, even if it meant sacrificing his own integrity.
  • “Avery ran away last night. We need the Knights to help us with Grandma’s medical bills. Our family business isn’t doing well, so we need this alliance in order to save Grandma." The man declared.
  • “And you expect me to believe that excuse of a lie, Father?” Cathleen asked softly.
  • William gulped hard as his daughter asked the question.
  • “Why would I lie to you?” William asked.
  • “How much do you need, and who is the man you want me to marry?"
  • As William's eyes bore into his daughter's, he could see the same fire and determination that had driven him to success reflected in her gaze. He knew her very well, so he decided to tell her a large amount that he knew that not even her firm could raise at the moment. She was a well-known lawyer, and she was young and intelligent. William had been following her every move when she was abroad, and he knew she had made a name for herself even though she cut ties with him.
  • “3 million dollars.” The man didn't mention Finn was the man she was going to marry, as he knew his daughter wouldn't marry him; he just had to make her agree to the union.
  • Cathleen closed her eyes. She didn’t have the money, but she knew that with time, she might be able to raise the money. William also knew that her daughter was always fully booked, so she might raise the funds in 6 months if given a chance.
  • “We need to have the funds by tomorrow, and right now only the Knights can help us,” William added.
  • "Who is the man I'm going to marry?" William wanted to avoid this question, but right now, Cathleen didn't ask so many questions at once; it was unavoidable.
  • The name caught in the man's throat, making it hard for him to swallow. He took a long sip of water, trying to calm the sudden tightness in his chest. He knew he had to say it, but every fiber of his being resisted. With a deep breath, he finally forced out the words in a strained voice: "Finn."
  • “Marrying Finn is our only option for Grandma’s survival. Baby girl, please. Grandma is counting on you.” Grandma's name triggered a range of emotions within her. She couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and nostalgia, but at the same time, there was a tinge of guilt and regret. Her face betrayed these conflicting emotions as she let out a heavy sigh.
  • “6 months. I will marry that jerk for only 6 months, and we will be done. Do not expect me to have children with that fool. Do not expect me to appear on public occasions with him because I feel nothing for him and I am not an escort. Call him and tell him my condition. If he agrees, then we can go ahead.” Cathleen's gaze turns cold as she looks at her father, finally realizing that she has no place in this family. Their constant lack of love and never-ending attempts to humiliate her boil over inside her, pushing her to cut all ties with them once and for all. She sees them for who they truly are: manipulative and toxic, and she knows it's time to break free. Cathleen's lips curl upwards, revealing a flash of white teeth, but her eyes remain cold and distant. “Oh, and father, there is another condition.” William slowly lifts his head, locking eyes with his daughter. His face remains hardened and stoic, and his emotions are guarded behind a wall of steel. But then, unexpectedly, Cathleen smiles at him, her bright expression penetrating through his defenses like a ray of sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
  • “What condition?” William's voice trembled as he finally mustered the courage to ask, but his words were cut off by the sharp glint in his daughter's eyes.
  • “I want to cut all ties with you and your precious family.”
  • “Why are you giving us conditions? We raised y
  • “How much?” Cathleen has grown colder over the years. The sweet girl everyone knew was gone. Not even a man could soften her heart. It was as if the girl didn’t have a heart at all; she was stone cold. The two looked at each other and couldn’t answer. Cathleen is where she is today, with no one’s help, not even her own father. She worked part-time to pay for her studies. The two didn’t answer as she continued to stare down at them. Cathleen arched an eyebrow at them, asking them to say how much they had spent on her, but no one spoke.
  • “Fine!” Dora was quick to answer.
  • “Very well then.” Cathleen checked her watch. We still have 3 hours before the wedding. Let’s go to the Department of Civil Affairs to finalize the formalities.” William knew that his daughter meant every word, so he picked up his phone and called old Mr. Knight.
  • After about 5 minutes, old Mr. Knight looked at his grandson, Finn. “Your bride ran away. It seemed like she had cold feet. So you will marry Cathleen.” Finn felt like a bucket of dirty, cold water had been poured all over his body. In horror, he looked at his grandfather.
  • “Grandpa, you know that girl hates my guts. She wants revenge. Not happening.”
  • “That’s final! I don’t remember giving you a choice!” The commanding voice of Old Mr. Knight left no room for arguments, booming like thunder and reverberating through the tense air.
  • As he learned that Cathleen would take the place of his girlfriend, Avery, Finn's mind began to spin. He couldn't believe it, knowing how much Cathleen resented him for his past mistakes. How could they ever have a successful relationship after all that had happened between them? A strong sense of guilt and regret washed over Finn as he realized the consequences of his actions. He had always loved Cathleen, but Cathleen was a strict woman. ‘The, do not touch me or kiss me till you put a ring on it.’ kind of girl. She was a strict and naive woman, but he also knew that marrying Cathleen would be a fatal mistake.
  • He could sense the malice in her heart, silently plotting revenge. Yet his heart belonged to another woman, Avery Jackson, who happened to be Cathleen's sister. Finn's mind raced as he made a desperate choice; he fled. Without hesitation, he bolted from the limousine just as it stopped in front of the looming church gates. The weight of his decision settled heavily on his shoulders as he disappeared in broad daylight, leaving behind a shattered future.
  • Panic set in as bodyguards barged into the church, frantically informing the Knight family that their youngest son had disappeared without a trace. Old Mr. Knight's orders to block all airports and roads yielded no sign of Finn. But Finn was nowhere to be found. Then an idea came to old Mr. Knight. His youngest son, Xavier Alexander Knight.