جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

Then slowly the memory returned.“You didn’t even let me inside,” Thirdie continued, amused now. “You opened the door just enough to look at me, then asked who I was and what I was doing there.”A small smile appeared on his lips as if the memory remained vivid to him even after all these years.“You looked so irritated that day.”Kathalina’s cheeks warmed slightly because she really did remember now. That was the time her mother kept telling her to open the gate properly, but she refused because a strange man suddenly appeared at their house carrying food.“And then…” Thirdie continued softly, “your graduation day. At my mother’s restaurant.”His eyes briefly dropped toward the coffee in front of him before he added quietly.“That was when I gave you the necklace.”Kathalina unconsciously touched the necklace resting against her skin.Of course, she remembered.That necklace was still one of the most precious things she owned.Thirdie lowered his gaze for a brief moment, and for the

Steve crossed his arms while shaking his head lightly, finally looking a little more relaxed now that everything was over. “You seriously have no idea how chaotic everything became last night,” he muttered, still sounding exhausted from everything that had happened.Leon let out a long sigh beside him before glancing at Kathalina. “Your husband almost destroyed an entire mountain trying to find you.”Jeff immediately nodded with a completely serious expression. “That’s true, Miss. Sir was terrifying last night.”Thirdie shot all three of them a cold warning look.“Enough.”But instead of stopping, Erica suddenly narrowed her eyes suspiciously while looking back and forth between Kathalina and Thirdie. The longer she stared, the more suspicious her expression became.“Wait…” she said slowly. “Why do both of you look… different?”Kathalina instantly froze, and within seconds her face turned completely red from embarrassment.Meanwhile, Thirdie remained perfectly calm beside her, leaning

Kathalina nodded and stepped into the bedroom to change. Once she slipped into the gown, she carefully tried to reach the zipper at the back, but couldn’t quite manage it. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped back out and quietly asked one of the artists for help.When she turned around again. The room fell completely silent.All three women froze, their eyes widening in shock as they looked at her.The gown fit her perfectly, as if it had been made only for her enhancing her elegance, posture, and presence in a way that made her look almost unreal.“This dress…” one of them finally whispered in disbelief. “It’s by Layla… the famous designer!”She took a small step closer, still staring in awe.“Wait… you’re so lucky, Miss Kathalina. You’re wearing Layla’s gown. She designed and made this dress herself.”Kathalina’s gaze flickered slightly, but she didn’t react. They didn’t know it was her, and she chose not to correct them.Instead, she simply looked at herself in the mirror aga

The moment they stepped into the grand hall, the hum of conversation softened for a heartbeat before picking up again, this time, directed straight toward Thirdie. Business partners, investors, and influential figures from various industries immediately surrounded him, eager to exchange greetings, discuss potential collaborations, and pitch upcoming projects. Names were exchanged, hands were shaken, and talk of market trends and future investments filled the air.Kathalina stood quietly beside him at first, listening attentively and offering a polite smile whenever appropriate. But as the discussions delved deeper into complex terms and company strategies she knew little about, she gradually felt herself fading into the background. After a few minutes, she leaned slightly toward Thirdie and whispered a soft excuse, then quietly stepped away from the group, gliding gracefully toward the more open space of the hall.Even as he continued speaking with the men in front of him, answering q

Kathalina felt her heart soften, touched by how deeply they cared.“I’m fine, Mom,” she reassured gently, offering a warm, steady smile. “They didn’t hurt me. I’m perfectly safe now.”She chose not to share the full truth of what had really occurred. Knowing Pia’s personality, her mother in law would likely panic and overreact terribly if she knew every detail of the danger Kathalina had faced. It was better to keep things simple, for now.Pia visibly relaxed, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.“Good,” she breathed.Then, her expression shifted instantly brightening as she stepped back to look Kathalina over from head to toe, eyes sparkling with pride.“Anyway… this is absolutely amazing. You look incredible tonight! I can’t believe I’m finally seeing you here, at a public event, right where you belong!”Kathalina smiled shyly at the compliment, yet a quiet twinge of guilt stirred within her. Over the past three years, she had attended countless galas and fashion shows abroad, working un