Chapter 5 Who is the Homewreker?

I started my internship at DI smoothly.

When Mr. Gordon learned I'd joined, he called me in for a private conversation. I knocked politely and greeted him.

"Mr. Gordon, you wanted to see me?"

Mr. Gordon kept his chin down, gesturing for me to sit. I studied this executive discreetly, trying to figure out his intentions. Technically, this was only our second meeting. The first had been when Sabrina accused me of stealing her designs.

Before I could puzzle it out, Mr. Gordon cut straight to the point. "What's your relationship with Nicholas?"

I froze, momentarily unsure how to answer. "Mr. Gordon, I..."

"You can call me Blake." He folded his hands on the desk. "Don't be nervous. I don't make a habit of prying into people's private lives. Nicholas and I go way back. He's been dealing with some issues lately. Did you know?"

I went still again, my brow furrowing slightly. Was he trying to be kind? I didn't feel this way, though. Maybe I should still call him Mr. Gordon.

Nicholas stayed busy with work. Going days without coming home was normal. I'd never thought much of it. That wasn't really my business to ask about anyway.

But now, hearing Blake's tone, did Nicholas's recent troubles have something to do with me?

Seeing my completely clueless expression, Blake understood. "Looks like you're very important to him."

"Mr. Gordon," I asked quickly, "What happened to Nicholas?"

Seeing my concern for Nicholas, Blake's mood settled slightly. Good. At least she wasn't ungrateful.

"Nothing major. Just dealing with some trouble to keep the Rosewood family from harassing you."

He kept it brief.

My heart sank. My hands unconsciously clenched as something dark flickered in my eyes.

I'd dragged Nicholas into this. He didn't need to get involved. I was just too weak to stand against the Rosewood family alone.

Blake glanced at my conflicted expression, his tone casual. "The Rosewood family retaliated by directing their anger toward Nicholas."

"For your sake, Nicholas has blocked quite a few of their vengeful schemes."

After saying this, Blake felt slightly guilty. If Catherine didn't know, that meant Nicholas had intentionally kept it from her. But he couldn't stand watching Nicholas sacrifice himself without recognition.

If someone did something, the person they helped should know! Even if not to leverage gratitude, Catherine should understand what price others paid to protect her.

I felt dazed, my lips moving wordlessly.

"Is Nicholas... in danger?"

After a long moment, I asked tentatively.

Balke's eyes met mine directly, his clear voice breaking through. "He's fine."

"You should know Nicholas comes from the Harrington family—a prominent household themselves. Dealing with the Rosewood family is well within his capabilities."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"However." His tone shifted, turning sharper. "Even though Nicholas didn't inherit the family business, the Harrington family still got dragged into this to some extent."

"It caused the company significant losses."

Blake's expression remained unchanged.

I knew he'd quietly exaggerated that part. The measly Rosewood family punching above their weight—how could they compare to the deeply rooted Harrington family?

Of course, we both knew that. He could see Nicholas had feelings for me. As a friend, naturally he'd give him a hand.

I pressed my lips together, eyes downcast. Silently adding another mark to the Rosewood family's tab.

"Alright, don't worry too much about it. Just remember what Nicholas has done for you."

I quickly expressed my thanks.

Blake looked satisfied with my perceptiveness. "The Harrington family even sent people to investigate your grievances with the Rosewood family because of this. The sooner you settle things, the less trouble everyone faces."

I was mildly surprised but kept my expression neutral.

Had the Rosewood family gone insane? Actually alarming the Harrington family elders!

I quickly indicated I understood.

After leaving Blake's office, I remained in a daze. Nicholas had paid such a high price to protect me—how could I possibly repay him?

I seemed to owe him more and more.

I let out a heavy sigh and trudged back to my workstation, spirits low. With worries weighing on me, I spent the whole day in a fog.

Fortunately, the intern work wasn't complicated.

When I got home after work, Nicholas had just returned too. Seeing him, Blake's words from earlier echoed in my ears like a haunting refrain.

"What's wrong?"

Nicholas spoke first.

I shook my head, looking at him seriously. "Nicholas, why are you helping me fight the Rosewood family?"

He had absolutely no reason to do this. I'd thought the recent peaceful days meant the Rosewood family had actually let me go. Turns out someone had been shielding me from the storm all along.

Without Nicholas, I probably would have been dragged back already, wouldn't I?

A bitter thought crossed my mind.

Nicholas fell silent for a moment, then answered earnestly, "Might as well finish what I started."

Hearing this ambiguous answer, something rippled across my heart.

Was it really just because he'd already helped me before?

"I'll definitely repay you!"

"Good, I'm counting on it. But—" Nicholas drew out the word.

I looked up questioningly, waiting for him to continue.

Nicholas smiled sheepishly. "Chef, I'm starving. When's dinner?"

"Ah!" I yelped, immediately apologizing. "I'll get started on it right now."

Nicholas nodded, watching me rush into the kitchen in a flurry.

The next day.

The moment I arrived at the office, countless hostile stares pierced through me like blades.

I couldn't figure out what was happening. As a recent intern, I hadn't even learned all my coworkers' names yet. Surely I couldn't have offended anyone?

Just as I was completely baffled, their gossip reached my ears.

"Top school graduate, my ass. Morally bankrupt!"

"Right? Total gold digger."

I frowned, about to defend myself, when I caught sight of a familiar figure approaching.

"Catherine!"

Seeing me, Sabrina made no attempt to hide the smugness in her eyes. "You used my stolen designs to get into DI. Don't you feel ashamed?"

She was twisting facts again.

"Did you forget to drain the water out of your brain after waking up?"

Sabrina's face flushed red. She clearly hadn't expected me to give her zero face.

In an instant, she switched tactics.

"Catherine, I know you think the Rosewood family doesn't measure up to the Harrington family's wealth and power, but just because you found a backer doesn't mean you should rush to cut ties with your family!"

"Do you have any idea how haggard your brothers have become worrying about you?!"

I responded with a cold "Oh. So what?"

Sabrina choked with anger and started speaking recklessly.

"How did you turn into this? Fine, you don't care about your family—whatever. But how could you..."

She adopted an expression of being unable to speak of something shameful.

"How could you get involved with a man who has a fiancée?"

"I heard you're even living together. Do you have no moral standards whatsoever?"

Her words landed like a bomb.

Gasps rippled through the surrounding crowd. Everyone's looks turned increasingly disgusted.

"A homewrecker too? Absolutely revolting!"

I ignored everyone else, advancing on Sabrina step by step. "Say. That. Again."