Chapter 52
Chapter 52: “Ah”! Belinda, what are you doing!?”’ Cathy’s voice pierced the air, her shock propelling her into Kristopher’s embrace. “Kristopher”¦”’ she murmured, seeking comfort. Kristopher quickly moved to position himself as a shield before the vulnerable Cathy. “Belinda, what’s gotten into you?”’ he demanded. Not just Kristopher, but his mother and sister rushed to form a protective barrier around Cathy. Seeing their collective effort, a sardonic smile played on Belinda’s lips. She hadn’t fully realized the power Cathy held over others. Cathy had not only persuaded Kristopher to take bold risks on her behalf, but had also enlisted Rosie and Maggie in her defense. “Belinda, you don’t have to apologize,”’ Cathy said, her voice quivering slightly, her lip caught between her teeth in distress. “Just”¦ please, no more rash actions.”’ Her words hinted at a deeper fear, perhaps of another physical confrontation. Kristopher’s brow furrowed in disapproval. “Belinda isn’t someone who resorts to violence.”’ Cathy’s anxiety was evident as she murmured, “But last night”¦”’ “It must have been an accident,”’ Kristopher interjected quickly, then turned to Belinda with a pleading look. “Belinda, an apology won’t cost you anything. Apologize to Cathy, and we can all move past this.”’ “She will never apologize!”’ Maggie interjected sharply, her eyes darting from the vivid mark on Cathy’s face to the bandage wrapped around Belinda’s hand. “If Belinda had any remorse, she wouldn’t have ripped off Cathy’s bandage. She knows that Cathy’s career depends on her appearance, yet she chose not only to strike her but to expose her injury publicly. It’s downright cruel!”’ It was only then that Kristopher noticed Belinda still clutching Cathy’s bandage in her hand. His brow furrowed, and he approached Belinda, reaching out to retrieve the bandage. However, Belinda swiftly sidestepped his attempt. home to unforgettable stories “I removed this bandage to show that the slap on Miss Miller’s face didn’t come from me,”’ Belinda declared, displaying her own frail, almost skeletal hand. “Do you really think that large, swollen mark on her face could be from me?”’ Upon hearing this, Carol narrowed her eyes, alternating her gaze between Cathy’s face and Belinda’s hand. “That mark certainly doesn’t seem to match,”’ she mused, turning to Helen. “What’s your take on this?”’ Helen’s frown deepened. She had been inclined to support Cathy, but the disparity between the mark on Cathy’s face and Belinda’s delicate hand was noticeable. With a reluctant tone, she conceded, “No, they don’t seem to match.”’ Rosie, Maggie, and Cathy were taken aback, unprepared for Belinda to defend herself so adamantly. For a brief moment, they were at a loss for words. Maggie, ever defiant, finally retorted, “That slap on Cathy’s face was from yesterday. Perhaps it swelled overnight, making it appear larger.”’ Cathy’s eyes brightened as she quickly chimed in, “Yes, that’s possible. It definitely wasn’t this big or wide last night.”’ Belinda, growing increasingly frustrated with their illogical arguments, let out a laugh. “So you’re determined to get an apology out of me today, huh?”’ she said with a smirk. “Very well, I’ll give you exactly what you’re asking for!”’ With those words, Belinda walked determinedly over to Cathy and delivered a resounding slap to the uninjured side of Cathy’s face. A sharp “Smack!”’ rang through the room, and a stunned silence followed. Cathy clutched her face, looking up in disbelief, her voice laced with anger. “How dare you hit me!”’ “Did you see that?”’ Belinda flexed her tingling hand, then turned to Kristopher with an icy stare. “If I really wanted to hit her, it would look like this.”’ The side of Cathy’s face that Belinda had just slapped was visibly more swollen than the other, which had been bruised the night before. Under Kristopher’s steely gaze, Belinda casually slipped her hands into her pockets. “Miss Miller, this time I did hit you. I’m sorry. I apologize.”’ “Belinda!”’ Kristopher wrapped his arms around Cathy, shooting Belinda a fierce look. “I only wanted an apology. Was it necessary to go to such lengths?”’ Belinda used to be so diplomatic, always seeking harmony. When had she become so defiant? “I said it before, I won’t apologize for things I haven’t done.”’ Belinda gave him a chilling glance. “I’ll update the divorce papers and send them your way. Review them, sign if they’re satisfactory, and then we can schedule a meeting to finalize everything.”’ With those words, she turned and left. Kristopher narrowed his eyes, a part of him wanting to chase after her, but Cathy gripped his arm tighter. “Kristopher”¦ I feel awful”¦”’ As Cathy’s frail voice echoed behind her, Belinda couldn’t help but smirk as she walked away from the Cox family estate….