Chapter 12 Why Didn't You Die

"You ungrateful jerk! Grandma went through hell raising you, and you just dumped her in the countryside like she was nothing. Aren't you scared of karma?" Kathie yelled, her voice shaking with anger.

Walter's face turned red with fury.

Kathie used to be so obedient and sensible, but then she was defying him. Eventually, she left, and he felt a strange sense of relief, deciding to wash his hands of her.

Now, he wanted to help his precious daughter Shirley gain some recognition, so he forced Kathie to divorce. But seeing Kathie's defiant attitude, he realized this wouldn't be easy.

The tension in the room was thick, and Randy quickly stepped in to calm things down. "Everyone, let's chill out. We're family. We can talk this through. It's my fault for wronging Kathie, and I'm willing to make it right."

Kathie shot him a cold glare. "Get lost. This has nothing to do with you."

Shirley immediately jumped to his defense. "He's my man, the father of my child, Bob Berkeley. How can you say he has no right to speak? Your grudge won't change anything. The situation is what it is. Do you want to drag this out forever? It's not good for anyone."

Kathie shrugged. "So what? I don't care."

Shirley stomped her foot in frustration and turned to her father for help. "Dad, look, no matter what we say, she won't listen. Bob is about to start school. Do you want him to be labeled as an illegitimate child? What will people think of him?"

Walter tried to coax Kathie. "It's true they were in the wrong. Shirley, apologize to Kathie."

Despite her reluctance, Shirley had to compromise for the sake of her child and herself.

She pretended to be pitiful and said, "Kathie, I was wrong in the past. Please, for the sake of being Bob's aunt, show some mercy. I'll agree to any compensation you want."

Kathie looked at her fake face, wanting to tear off her mask of hypocrisy.

She sneered, "I'll divorce him, but I have one condition."

Hearing her relent, Shirley was overjoyed. "Kathie, just say it."

Kathie stepped closer. "I want to know who the man was that night. Don't tell me you don't know. On my wedding night, you got me drunk and had your affair with Randy in the next room. I heard you say to let someone into my room."

Shirley's face turned pale. No one knew about this, and Kathie had just exposed it.

Randy was shocked. "What's going on? Didn't you say Kathie was seducing men everywhere?"

Shirley denied it vehemently. "That's not true. She must have misheard."

Kathie laughed coldly. "If that's the case, then there's nothing more to discuss today. I might leave the country tomorrow, and who knows if I'll come back."

The Cavendish family was quite prestigious. Shirley had worked hard to enter high society and wouldn't want to be labeled as an adulteress, nor would she want her child to be seen as illegitimate.

She urgently grabbed Kathie's hand and admitted through gritted teeth, "It was my fault. Please forgive me."

When Kathie discovered that the man she slept with wasn't her husband Randy, she truly hated Shirley.

But the birth of her three precious children healed Kathie's emotional wounds. Now, she didn't hate Shirley; she just wanted to find her children's biological father.

Kathie slapped Shirley, who didn't dare move.

"This slap is for you. Now tell me, who was the man that night?" Kathie demanded, her voice icy.

Shirley felt a pang of guilt. She had invited several sleazy men from the party that night and didn't know which one had entered Kathie's room. Or maybe more than one had.

To get Kathie to divorce, Shirley had to pick a memorable name. "It was Tom Coleman."

Kathie vaguely remembered him as a greasy, balding middle-aged man who had been leering at her at the party. How could he have such good genes to father her three beautiful children?

"Are you sure you're not lying?" Kathie asked.

"He was outside that night. You can check the surveillance footage if you don't believe me."

"You think I haven't checked? The footage from that time was destroyed."

Shirley was taken aback. She hadn't done that. "How about I call him now to confirm? I'm not lying."

"No need. I'll find a way to prove it." Kathie didn't want to make this public.

Shirley nodded. "I've done what you asked. Can you divorce Randy now?"

Kathie smirked. "No."

Shirley gritted her teeth. "You're going back on your word! You just agreed!"

"Don't be so tense. You'll get more wrinkles. I'll deal with this once I figure everything out."

Kathie wasn't about to divorce until she knew who the man was. She needed leverage.

Shirley looked to her parents for help, but everyone knew Kathie's stubbornness. She wouldn't stop until she had answers.

"Let's give Kathie some time. I'm sure she'll consider your child's future," Walter said, playing the family card.

Kathie smiled as she approached him. Walter was always scheming.

"Dad, do you remember how Mom died?" Kathie asked coldly.

Caught off guard, Walter looked flustered but quickly feigned sadness. "Of course, I remember. Your mom died in childbirth, and we couldn't save your unborn sister. It's a pain I still carry."

Kathie sneered, "Pain? I don't see it. Did you know Mom's body was covered in bruises? People heard a baby crying in the delivery room. How did they die?"

Walter turned pale and stammered, "The doctor said she was in so much pain she rolled on the floor, causing injuries. The baby was crushed and couldn't be saved."

"So you believe that, or is there more to the story?" Kathie pressed.

Melissa clenched her hands. Seeing Walter struggle, she stepped in. "Kathie, when I had Shirley, I was in so much pain I hit the wall. She almost didn't make it..."

"Then why didn't you die? Are you going to say Shirley almost didn't survive too?" Kathie cut her off, making Melissa's face fall.

Walter shouted, "Enough! The past hurt everyone. I don't want it brought up again."

Kathie retorted, "You don't want it brought up, or you want to hide the truth? I'll find out what really happened. If Mom and my sister were murdered, I'll make those responsible pay."

Melissa stepped back, not understanding how Kathie had uncovered this.

Walter, furious, waved his hand. "Stop spouting nonsense. If you don't want to stay, leave."

Kathie calmly pulled out a will from her bag. "I came back for a reason. Look closely. This house was left to my mom by my grandfather. After I was born, she transferred it to me. My name is the only one on it."

Walter was stunned. He had forgotten about this, having always seen Kathie as obedient and overlooked this detail.