Chapter 14: Rebecca's Last Gamble

The phone continued vibrating on the coffee table.

Catherine glanced at the screen.

"Rebecca?"

She frowned.

"Aren't you going to answer?" Shaun asked.

"I'm not sure I should."

"Then let it ring."

The call ended.

A few seconds later...

It started again.

This time, Catherine answered.

"What do you want?"

Rebecca's voice was trembling.

"Catherine... please... help me."

"Help you?"

"Father collapsed."

"What?"

"He had a heart attack after learning that several companies canceled their contracts with us."

"The doctors are treating him now."

"Please come to the hospital."

The line went silent.

Catherine lowered the phone slowly.

No matter how disappointed she was...

Mr. Jones was still her father.

"Let's go," Shaun said calmly.

"I'll come with you."

Half an hour later, they arrived at Melbourne Central Hospital.

Outside the emergency room, Mrs. Jones was crying while Rebecca paced back and forth.

The moment they saw Shaun, both women stood up.

"Mr. Hill..." Mrs. Jones whispered awkwardly.

Shaun nodded politely.

He said nothing.

Rebecca walked toward Catherine with red eyes.

"The doctor said Father's condition is stable now."

"But the stress was too much."

"He's worried the company will go bankrupt."

Catherine remained quiet.

After everything that had happened...

She found it difficult to feel sympathy.

An hour later, the doctor finally came out.

"The patient is awake."

"Only immediate family may enter."

Inside the hospital room, Mr. Jones looked much older than before.

The confident businessman had disappeared.

He looked exhausted.

"Catherine..."

His voice was weak.

"You're here."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

Those two words surprised everyone.

"I've treated you unfairly."

"I always believed Rebecca needed more because she suffered."

"I ignored the daughter who had always stayed beside me."

Catherine listened silently.

"Can you forgive me?"

She looked at him for a long moment before answering.

"Dad..."

"I don't hate you."

"But forgiveness isn't something that happens overnight."

"Some wounds need time."

Mr. Jones slowly nodded.

"I understand."

"There's one more thing."

"The company..."

"I want you to become its president."

Rebecca's face instantly changed.

"Dad!"

"I've already made my decision," Mr. Jones interrupted.

"Rebecca isn't ready."

"Catherine built this company with her talent."

"She deserves it."

Rebecca clenched her fists.

"So after everything I've done... you're abandoning me too?"

"Rebecca!" Mrs. Jones scolded.

"Your father just survived a heart attack!"

"Enough!"

Rebecca laughed bitterly.

"Fine."

"Everyone always chooses Catherine in the end."

"Even you."

She ran out of the room in tears.

Catherine instinctively wanted to follow her.

Shaun gently held her wrist.

"Let her calm down."

"She needs to face the consequences of her own choices."

That evening, after leaving the hospital, Catherine and Shaun walked through the quiet hospital garden.

"Will you accept your father's offer?" Shaun asked.

She shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I already have my own company."

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life proving my worth to people who doubted me."

"I'd rather build something that belongs entirely to me."

Shaun smiled proudly.

"That's exactly the answer I hoped you'd give."

"Really?"

"Your future shouldn't depend on your family's approval."

"It should depend on your own dreams."

She reached for his hand.

"Then let's build those dreams together."

"Always."

Meanwhile...

Across the city...

Rebecca sat alone inside her apartment.

The television continuously replayed news about Hill Interior Design's growing success.

Her eyes slowly filled with hatred.

"Catherine..."

"You took everything from me."

"If I can't have a future..."

"Then neither will you."

She picked up her phone.

A dangerous smile appeared on her face as she dialed an unfamiliar number.

"I need someone..."

"To destroy Hill Interior Design."