Catherine followed Magee Channing over and gave the so-called bank manager a polite smile.
"Hello, Manager."
But as she sat down, her heart turned icy.
She knew all along that Magee Channing's over-the-top hospitality never meant anything good. Now it seemed clear—he intended to introduce her to this bloated, lecherous manager. Whether it was to marry her off or just… amuse himself with her, she didn't know yet.
A bitter laugh formed in her mind. So this was her father, her very own flesh and blood.
If Magee Channing had introduced her to a young man closer to her age, claiming it was for her future, perhaps she wouldn't feel this desperate and furious. But this manager… did Magee Channing really think she could only be the daughter of some old, greasy, low-class man?
Beside her, Magee Channing continued gushing,
"he is one of the pillars of Burg Eltz's financial world. Ever since wife passed away a few years ago, he hasn't remarried—"
Catherine sneered bitterly in her heart. And a widower, at that.
In her father's eyes, perhaps losing her 'innocence' meant she was only fit for men like this.
Magee Channing's enthusiasm was palpable, while the bank manager's lecherous gaze was locked on Catherine's face. She forced herself to suppress her disgust, keeping her expression completely neutral.
"Come on, Cici, toast with the manager," Magee Channing said, picking up the wine glass in front of her and placing it into her hand.
Catherine glanced at him—coldly, sharply—and that look pierced straight into Magee Channing's chest, making his eyes dart away instinctively.
She lowered her gaze to the wine in her hand. Then, under Magee Channing's expectant stare, she stood, holding the glass. The bank manager, assuming she intended to toast him, also rose, his face stretching into a grotesque, oily smile.
Catherine, however, placed the glass back on the table without a shred of courtesy and said lightly,
"Sorry… I need to use the restroom."
After the incident with Lucca two years ago, Catherine never drank anything suspicious outside. Often, even while working off-site, she carried her own water.
So, this glass of wine… Catherine had no intention of drinking it—especially in an environment like this.
As soon as she turned to leave, the bank manager's face twisted into fury. Humiliated, he had been completely played.
Magee Channing looked both shocked and angry, hastily trying to smooth things over.
"My eldest daughter… she has a bit of a temper. Manager, please don't be upset, don't be upset. She's still young, isn't she?"
The manager's expression softened slightly, only to soon reveal a lecherous grin.
"Yes… still young. She needs proper… guidance."
Catherine lingered in the restroom, staring at her reflection. And then, without even realizing it, two clear lines of tears slid down her cheeks.
This was her father. On the eve of her mother's surgery—the surgery that could decide life or death—he was still desperately trying to shove her into the arms of some old man.
It hurt… so much it felt like a physical ache. She didn't know what she had done in a past life to deserve a father like this.
Other girls' fathers treated their daughters like angels, like lovers from a past life. They pampered, protected, and worried over every little grievance. But her father…
Had he always been this cruel and heartless, or had Lucca and Tracy completely reshaped him? It didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that from today onward, she would live as though she had no father at all. Though he had given her life, the humiliation and pain he caused more than canceled out any debt of gratitude.
When she finally stepped out of the restroom, Magee Channing was waiting outside, his face dark with displeasure.
Catherine recalled that he had been handsome in his youth, tall and imposing. But in recent years, Magee Channing had grown soft, bloated, and out of shape—little different from the bank manager inside. Standing there now, he filled her with a revulsion she couldn't even put into words.
Magee Channing looked furious, but seeing her emerge calmed him slightly. He walked over, letting out a sigh.
"Cici… Dad knows you feel wronged, but the company's in trouble. We're short on funds and need a bank loan to get through this rough patch. And Manager here oversees that…"
By now, Catherine understood everything. She lazily lifted her eyelids to glance at him, her voice calm and icy.
"Then why didn't you have Lucca marry him?"
Magee Channing froze for a moment, then his face darkened with anger.
"What are you saying? Lucca already has Gerald, didn't she?"
Mentioning Gerald made Magee Channing visibly uncomfortable. Gerald had once been this eldest daughter's fiancé, and now he was the youngest daughter's boyfriend. The role reversal was… awkward, to say the least.
Still, Magee Channing quickly composed himself, scolding his eldest daughter.
"They'll be engaged in a few days and married by the end of the year. How can you even suggest having Lucca marry someone else?"
Oh, so it was her fault again.
Catherine's face remained expressionless.
"And what's the big deal? Break up with Gerald and marry the manager instead. Even if they get married, so what? Marriage can end in divorce, too. Let her divorce and remarry."
Her words were so calm, so chillingly indifferent, that it made her seem utterly cold and unfeeling. She casually discussed her sister's entire future, tossing around engagement, divorce, and remarriage as if they were nothing.
And her statement about divorce was a sharp, stinging critique of Magee Channing's past—abandoning Renata and his daughter.
"Catherine!"
Magee Channing's face contorted with rage as he bellowed her name.
"How can you be so selfish and cold? You're my daughter! Now my company is in trouble… shouldn't you help?"
Catherine curled her lips into a mocking smile.
"Just because I'm your daughter… doesn't mean I won't be selfish, cold, and heartless. I take after you, after all."
She confronted him without restraint. If any shred of filial affection remained in her heart, it was gone the moment she saw him trying to use her to secure a deal with that widowed, lecherous old man. From now on, she no longer cared about Magee Channing's feelings—or whether his company went bankrupt.
At one moment, a cruel thought even crossed her mind: why wasn't it him who was dying instead?
"Smack—"
In a blind fury, Magee Channing slapped her across the face. The blow was so forceful that Catherine staggered several steps, barely managing to steady herself against the corridor wall. Her cheek burned instantly, and a brief dizziness washed over her.
For a split second, the air seemed to freeze. The world fell silent.
Catherine pressed her hand against her face, leaning on the wall. Magee Channing froze too, realizing that this strike might sever whatever remained of their father-daughter bond.
For a fleeting moment, doubt flickered in his eyes. But thoughts of Tracy, Lucca, his precious son, and the company's survival hardened his heart again.
Then, in the silence, a soft click of a lighter echoed. Smoke drifted through the air, snapping both Catherine and Magee Channing back to attention. From the men's restroom, a man emerged, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
He wore a jet-black shirt paired with light gray trousers—well-fitted, understated tones that emphasized his tall, commanding presence. The casually rolled sleeves and open collar perfectly framed his aura of refined taste, every gesture radiating the charm of a mature man.
One hand tucked into his pocket, the other holding the cigarette, he strode slowly toward them with long, purposeful steps, exuding confidence and composure in every movement.