Chapter four

Catherine 

Lying on my bed that night, my mind kept drifting back to that text. Someone was trying to instill fear in me. And then there was Kaden’s brother—how did he know I was Kaden’s fiancée? That was weird. The threats… all of it didn’t sit right with me.

Sleep didn’t come easily.

The next morning, I stood in the kitchen making a cup of coffee when Kaden walked in, looking like the god he was.

“Good morning, wife.”

“Uh… I have a name, Kaden. Use it.”

“I’ll call you whatever I want to, wife.”

“And I want you to address me by my name,” I shot back.

“You are a stubborn woman,” he said.

“And yet you want me as a wife.”

His lips twitched slightly, almost like a smile, but it faded quickly. He took my coffee, downed the rest of it, and walked away.

I flipped through the company files I had taken from my old house, scanning page after page.

Numbers. Transfers. Signatures.

I leaned back, rubbing my temples. Then I picked up my phone and called Elena.

“Hello, Cat.”

“Listen, El, can you check the board shares for me?”

“Yeah, give me a minute. Let me try.”

A moment later, my laptop chimed, and a list of board shares appeared on the screen.

I frowned as I scanned the figures.

The company shares were dropping.

What the hell exactly was Dean planning?

*****

“What do you think you’re doing, Dean?” I said angrily, slamming the transfer papers onto the desk.

“What the fuck is this, Catherine?” he snapped, standing up.

“I should be the one asking you that question. What do you think you’re doing—selling off the company shares? Really?”

“Shut the fuck up. This is my company now,” he shot back, pointing a finger in my face.

“The company you drugged me for?” I yelled.

“Do you have any evidence to back up your claim, huh? I don’t think so. Now get the fuck out of my office.”

We stood face to face, anger radiating between us.

“You think you’re smart, Dean? How about going after Catherine Mitchell now instead of Catherine Rosawood?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I guess you’ll find out soon.”

Picking up the papers, I stormed out of the office.

Sitting in my car, I let out a scream.

“Shit… I fucked up. I shouldn’t have bragged about Kaden and our soon-to-be marriage like that… but that’s exactly why I agreed to the marriage.”

My mind was spiraling. I had made a thousand calls to the investors, and apparently, I no longer had the power to stop this.

My phone rang, and I picked up.

“Catherine, where are you?” my aunt’s voice came through.

“What happened?”

“I’m at your house, and it’s locked.”

“Yeah, that’s because I don’t live there anymore,” I exhaled. “Aunt, I’m busy.”

I hung up. I didn’t need her breathing down my neck.

I just had to wait for Kaden.

10:00pm hit by the time Kaden walked in.

“Kaden,” I called out, sounding calmer than I felt.

He narrowed his eyes at me. “What’s got you all worked up, wife?”

“I need your help. Dean’s been selling off the company shares, and I don’t know what to do,” I rambled, pacing around.

Kaden didn’t say a word. He just sat there, watching me like a statue.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, standing up.

“That’s it?” I asked, surprised. “You want nothing in return?”

That stopped him. He turned to me.

In that deep, dominant voice of his, he said, “I’ll let you know when you can repay the favor.”

He walked away.

I didn’t get any sleep last night.

Kaden came down the stairs.

“Well?” I asked immediately, standing up.

He looked at me and shook his head. “Dean is moving fast. He’s selling the minor shares first, but I’ll see if I can buy them back.”

My stomach tightened. “Thank you. I’ll pay back whatever you want.”

Something flickered in his eyes—approval, maybe.

“Careful what you wish for, Catherine,” he said, and walked away.

I’ll have to make some phone calls, see what I can do. This wasn’t just revenge anymore.

This was war.