noveldrama
Chapter 486: Could he be the man she married?
Chapter 486: Could he be the man she married?
Brenda couldn't help but frown at Catrin's offer.
She might have been truly a failure as a mother —because how else could she explain that her daughter, Catrin, never realized that motherhood was about sacrifices, not transactions?
Kids learn from their mothers, but Catrin never learnt that a mother's affection doesn't come at a cost. It just comes without any set condition.
Brenda blamed herself for everything.
But Catrin didn't even stop to think. To her, the offer she made was perfect.
As long as Arwen agreed, everything would fall into place.
But Arwen's silence was starting to chip away at her composure.
The longer she didn't respond, the more it pushed Catrin to the edge. Her patience felt like a thin thread —ready to snap.
"Did you even hear me, Arwen?" Catrin asked sharply, furrowing her brows. "I have already made the arrangements. Ryan will be here soon. Be good, and you can turn everything back. You will have your mother back in your life and —"
"Who said I want to have a mother again in my life?"
The cold interjection cut through the air like a blade.
Before Catrin could even finish, Arwen's voice —calm and frigid —shut her down completely. Her gaze held no warmth, no respect —just brutal indifference.
She had had enough of her mother's twisted obsession. And she wasn't going to entertain it anymore.
"What do you mean?" Catrin asked, her voice rising in disbelief. She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles whitening as she glared at her daughter.
But even under her such an intense scrutiny, Arwen didn't flinch. Her expression remained still, emotionless and unbothered.
"I meant exactly what my words implied," Arwen replied. "If you are the mother, then no —I don't want one. I don't want to be your daughter again. And I certainly don't want your love. So, keep it … for someone who still cares."
With that, she turned towards Brenda, ready to walk away.
But Catrin wasn't done. She lunged forward and grabbed Arwen's arms tightly, pulling her back.
"What does that mean, Arwen? You can't be serious about what you just said."
Arwen slowly turned her head, brow arching in mocking amusement.
"Did you think I was joking all this time?" she asked, voice laced with quiet scorn. She almost laughed —almost.
Suppressing the disdain curling at her lips, she said coolly, "Fine. Then let me make it perfectly clear. When I severed my ties with you, I meant every word. Just like I meant it when I walked away from the 'arrangement' you crafted for me. In both decisions, I have no intention of coming back. Not now. Not ever."
Catrin stared at her in shock, her expression contorting with disbelief … and fury. She let out a harsh scoff, loud enough to turn a few heads nearby.
"You mean to tell me," she sneered, "That just to protect your so-called marriage with some random, poor nobody … you are willing to leave us?"
The insult sliced through the tension like a siren, catching the attention of more guests. Whispers began rushing in the background.
Brenda's face hardened with disapproval.
"Catrin," she warned quietly, her tone sharp, "people are watching. Tonight is not the time for this. Don't embarrass yourself."
"I am embarrassing myself?" Catrin repeated, her voice rising. "Mom, you still think I am the one embarrassing myself here?"
She jabbed a finger in Arwen's direction, her eyes blazing with accusation.
"It's her! She is throwing away everything —our family, her future, her reputation —just to cling to some lowly man."
Her lips curled in disgust.
"Aiden. That's his name, right?" she spat. "You severed your ties with us for him, right? What does he have? Arwen, don't be a fool and open your eyes to see it clearly. He is a nobody —an old man, nearly your father's age. And the sooner you realize that, the better. Leaving us for his sake won't bring you anything good."
"Old man?"
The people around gasped as her words echoed through the hall.
"Could it be that the man that Arwen married was an old man?"
"How could that be? I mean, she is a rich socialite. If she wanted, any man would have agreed to marry her. Why would she marry someone like that?"
"But if not true, why would Mrs. Quinn say that?"
"I guess this was why they disapproved of it and were willing to sever ties with her. Any parents would do that."
"It is such a humiliation. How could she even do that?"
Everyone started talking, and the whispers grew louder like a wildfire.
Arwen's fingers curled into fists. Her eyes turned red with fury as she glared at Catrin.
"Didn't I tell you not to spread the rumour about my husband, Mrs. Quinn?"
Her tone was calm, but laced with a dangerous edge —sharp enough to silence the crowd instantly.
They didn't dare to speak another word.
Just moments ago, Arwen looked harmless. But the gaze she carried now made everyone shiver.
But Catrin? She remained quite ignorant.
How could she let her daughter intimidate her? She was the mother. If anyone held the authority here, it was her.
Scoffing, she folded her arms and stared Arwen down.
"What? Now you fear the humiliation?" she said mockingly. "But dear, I had warned you about this. I told you —if you stay with that man, this is what you will get. After all, what else is that old retard capable of giving you … other than embarrassment."
Just as Catrin finished her words, a deep voice rang through the tense air —cutting in with perfect precision.
"Mrs. Winslow!"
Everyone froze at the sound. Not because it was loud, but because it came at the moment when no one else dared to speak.
All heads turned toward the entrance.
Standing there was a tall, middle-aged man, dressed in a tailored black suit. He didn't look familiar to most —but something about him made people pause.
Some faces held faint recognition, but even they couldn't quite place him.
"Who is he?" someone whispered. "Could that be the old man Arwen Quinn married?"