By the time Lucius drove Catherine back to his mansion, she was still sobbing uncontrollably. Her emotions were a chaotic mess, and her thoughts were scattered like broken glass. Windy, the housekeeper, watched from a distance, quietly surprised. She had never seen the young master bring a woman here—especially not one in the state Catherine was in. Lucius was known for his cold demeanor, but this girl seemed to have triggered something in him that Windy couldn't quite understand.

“Still crying?” Lucius frowned, looking at Catherine as they entered the mansion. “I told you, it’s over. You need to let go of this.”

Ten minutes passed, and Catherine still couldn’t calm herself. She had tried, but the weight of everything that had happened—the betrayal, the public humiliation—was too much. She felt lost in a world that no longer made sense. Lucius remained silent, letting her grieve, though his patience was wearing thin.

“I know, but…” Catherine tried to take a deep breath, her body shaking as she fought to gather herself enough to speak.

Lucius looked at her with an unreadable expression, his eyes cold and calculating. In the luxurious office, adorned with sparkling chandeliers and expensive paintings, he sat regally behind his large desk. His fingers tapped lightly on the surface of the desk as he contemplated. His usual calm was now tinged with a quiet determination.

He picked up the phone from the desk and scrolled through his contacts with practiced ease. Lucius dialed a number, the ring echoing in the otherwise silent room.

“Mike, I need your help,” Lucius said, his voice smooth but filled with authority.

Catherine, still sobbing, barely noticed at first. But as Lucius spoke into the phone, the conversation caught her attention.

"My esteemed chairman, you remember me? What can I do for you?" came the voice on the other end, its tone respectful.

Lucius's reply was short and direct. "Naomi Catherine. I need you to erase all rumors about my fiancée. Preferably tonight. I’ll handle the rest."

Catherine, still not fully understanding the gravity of the situation, was taken aback. Her emotions seemed to steady for a brief moment. “Mike Anderson? The media mogul? You know him?”

Lucius didn’t look at her, his gaze on the phone as he spoke. “Yes. You know him, too? Good. He’s well-connected in the media. He’ll handle this quickly.”

Catherine, still processing everything, pulled out her phone and began checking the news. In less than five minutes, all traces of the rumors about her had been wiped off the internet. She looked at Lucius, surprised by the speed.

“It’s been removed,” she whispered.

Lucius leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “Good. Catherine, are you satisfied with this result?”

Catherine hesitated. The rapid turn of events had left her mind spinning. “Just a little.”

Lucius’s smile faded, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Just a little? That’s good enough. You’ll see. As promised, I will make sure you live securely. I will even help you get revenge, but only if you follow my instructions. Act like a lady. That’s all I ask.”

At that moment, Lucius stood up and walked toward her, closing the distance between them. He bent down slightly, his face coming dangerously close to hers. His minty breath made her uneasy, but before she could react, Lucius kissed her forcefully. She was caught off guard, unable to push him away in time. It felt like he was trying to consume her, pulling her into the kiss with an intensity that left her breathless.

Catherine instinctively pushed him away, stepping back as she tried to regain her composure. Lucius wiped a smear of blood from his lip, smirking. "Not bad. Get used to it. Don’t forget your identity, Mrs. Catherine Ravenswood."

Catherine’s heart was pounding, her mind racing with a thousand questions. What had just happened? What was Lucius's game here? But before she could gather her thoughts, he spoke again.

“I have to go on a business trip for three days. Windy will make arrangements for you while I’m gone. You will behave while I’m away, won’t you?”

Catherine didn’t answer immediately. The weight of his words, combined with the kiss, made her feel like she was trapped in a whirlwind of uncertainty. Lucius paused, giving her a moment to process. "When I return, we’ll finalize everything, including the wedding. My wife."

With that, he turned and left, his footsteps echoing in the hallway. Catherine stood frozen for a moment, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. The speed with which everything had changed left her breathless. She hadn’t even had a chance to accept any of it.

***

The next morning, Catherine woke to the sound of her phone ringing. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the caller ID—“Bestie.” It was Ashley.

“Baby, have you seen the news? How long were you planning to hide this from me?” Ashley’s voice was loud, almost frantic with excitement.

Catherine rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, trying to process what her best friend was saying. “What? What do you mean? What am I hiding?”

“The wedding of Lucius Ravenswood to the assistant of Liam Claude? Think about it. If it’s not you, then who?” Ashley’s disbelief was palpable.

Catherine’s stomach dropped. She immediately checked the news, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through the headlines. There it was—Lucius’s name plastered everywhere, along with photos of him and his new fiancée. Catherine's heart sank as she saw her own face in the media, no longer the assistant of a musical prodigy, but the fiancée of a billionaire.

She quickly called Ashley back. “Ugh, I didn’t think he’d announce it like that,” Catherine said, still in shock.

“Ashley, you know how powerful the Ravenswood family is. This is huge. But seriously, you need to tell me how this happened. I’m dying to know!”

Catherine let out a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She explained everything to Ashley—the whirlwind of events that had led to her sudden "engagement" to Lucius. As she spoke, Ashley couldn’t help but scold her, but also expressed her support. “I swear, if I ever get my hands on Annie, she’s going to regret it.”

By the end of the call, Catherine felt a little lighter, comforted by her friend’s support. She had a moment of clarity and decided to call Lucius. She felt nervous, but she knew she needed to talk to him. Windy had already given her Lucius’s number.

“Lucius, it’s Catherine…”

“I know,” Lucius’s voice came through the phone, teasing. “Missing your husband-to-be already?”

Catherine’s face flushed with embarrassment. “No… I just wanted to ask if it really had to be so public?”

Lucius chuckled, his amusement clear. “Why shouldn’t it be public? Liam lost you, and I got you. That’s worth celebrating.”

***