"Victoria grew up poor and endured endless bullying. How could she compete with you, the Wallace family’s daughter? How could her child compare to yours?"

"I don’t want my child to suffer, to be judged and humiliated like her."

"Catherine, we’ve been childhood friends for twenty years. You should understand me."

He spoke wistfully about fate, urging me to accept his choice.

All I felt was shock, a crashing wave of emotion.

So deep love creates long-reaching plans. Nathan had done just that.

I was merely the sacrifice for his true love.

I pushed his arm away, stepped back, and looked at him in anguish.

"Nathan, you’re despicable!"

"Let’s divorce. I refuse to share a bed with a beast."

His face hardened, then flickered with shame and fury.

"Catherine Wallace, as heirs of noble families, we all face constraints. Why can’t you be more generous and tolerant?"

"You were born into comfort and privilege that Victoria never had. I gave you the status of Margaret Turner. She only wants to live quietly. Must you force me to abandon her?"

As I spoke, I looked at my father.

"Dad, I don't want this matter affecting our families' cooperation. Take Catherine home and talk to her properly."

With that, I grabbed my car keys and walked away.

As I stepped out, I asked my mother-in-law and the others to leave the room, and thoughtfully closed the door behind me.

At once, my father's furious roar erupted.

"You unfilial girl, haven't you embarrassed us enough? I’ll take you home and teach you a lesson! How could the Wallace family raise someone so crude and ill-mannered?"

I sneered.

"Blame bad blood. I'm not just crude, I'm selfish and heartless."

As a son-in-law living with his wife's family, he kept a mistress and fathered an illegitimate child, driving his wife into depression and suicide. I'm simply filing for divorce; compared to him, I'm nothing.

My father exploded instantly.

"Catherine, you're as petty and foolish as your mother! Why throw away a good life and make trouble?"

He glared at me sharply, his tone cold and cutting.

"If you don't think of yourself, think of Samuel. He's a senior now, always top of his class. Do you want him dropping out right before graduation?"

My expression dimmed, and I slowly collapsed onto the sofa.

I really couldn't gamble my younger brother's future. He had been the only one when our mother leapt to her death.