Todos los capítulos de Torn Between Vows: Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

Catherine felt the words land like a physical blow, disbelief warring with a horror so complete it left her momentarily unable to speak. "That's not possible. My mother has met Oliver exactly zero times. She doesn't even know he exists yet."She sat down heavily, the accumulated shock of the day finally threatening to overwhelm even her considerable resilience, betrayal after betrayal stacking up until she could barely process the newest one before another arrived to compound it. First a possible son she'd never known existed, then a tracked child, a fabricated press release, and now her own mother's name attached to a legal effort to strip that same child from his parents."Apparently Sinclair briefed her extensively before making his offer," Jamie said grimly. "According to the petition, he's promising her financial security, a permanent resolution to whatever debts she's carrying, in exchange for lending her name and grandmother status to strengthen his legal position against both

Catherine's mind raced desperately backward, searching for any memory that might explain the recording, any conversation she'd had that could have been twisted into those exact words. Nothing matched. She'd never once felt uncertain about her ability to love Oliver, not from the moment she'd watched him show her his dinosaur toys with such earnest delight days earlier.She glanced at Harry, searching his face for any flicker of doubt, terrified that even a fraction of a second's hesitation might mean he believed the fabrication was somehow rooted in truth. She found nothing but fury there, matching her own, and felt a fresh surge of gratitude for a man who trusted her completely even when confronted with evidence engineered specifically to plant doubt between them."Your Honor, may I address the court," Catherine said, rising before her own attorney could stop her, ignoring his hand reaching to pull her back down into her seat.Judge Owens studied her for a long moment before nodding.

"Someone gave him this information," Catherine said, staring at the detailed floor plan with growing horror. "Someone who had access to this property's actual layout, not just general knowledge that we were staying here."She thought back through everyone who'd touched the logistics of their move to the upstate property, the contractors who'd installed the safe room, the security team Jamie had assembled on short notice, the small circle of people who should have been trustworthy simply by virtue of proximity and necessity. The realization that any one of them might have been compromised felt like watching solid ground reveal itself as thin ice, every step forward suddenly uncertain.Jamie's expression had gone grim. "I've already started reviewing everyone who had access to the security details for this location. Contractors, staff, anyone involved in setting up the safe room and camera systems.""How many people does that include?" Harry asked."More than I'd like," Jamie admitted.

Robert Cho stood in the study doorway beside Sinclair with an expression Catherine had never once seen on him during the eleven years she'd heard about his relationship with Harry, something cold and satisfied that made her stomach turn.She thought back to every memory Harry had ever shared of Robert, the man who'd handled his parents' estate documents, who'd witnessed their contract signing with dry humor, who'd added a therapy clause specifically to protect her wellbeing. None of that generosity was visible now in the calculating stillness of his expression, and Catherine felt something close to grief for the version of Robert that apparently existed alongside this stranger, wondering how long the two had coexisted before this final, complete betrayal."You," Harry said, his voice low and dangerous, stepping instinctively between Catherine and the door. "I fired you. I trusted you for eleven years, and you led him directly to my son.""I didn't lead anyone anywhere, Harry," Robert

The hospital waiting room felt suffocatingly small despite its actual dimensions, Catherine pacing its length for what felt like the hundredth time while surgeons worked to remove the bullet lodged dangerously close to Harry's collarbone. Victoria sat rigid in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, her usual composed authority nowhere visible, her hands clasped so tightly together that her knuckles had gone white.Catherine had lost count of how many hours had passed since they'd arrived, the sterile fluorescent lighting overhead offering no clue whether it was still afternoon or already deep into evening, time itself feeling suspended in the particular limbo reserved for people waiting to learn whether someone they loved would survive."This is my fault," Victoria said quietly, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the small group gathered in the waiting room. "I trusted Robert with everything, for over twenty years. I never once questioned his loyalty, never imagined he