From Broken to Beloved-Chapter 175- to fate

Renata was sunbathing in a small glass sunroom on the second floor. A low table in front of her held a pot of floral tea. It had originally been prepared by Bert for Catherine, but since Renata had joined them, he brewed enough for both.

The winter sun was warm. Though the wind outside was bitter, the room was filled with gentle heat, with no trace of cold.

For Renata, this kind of quiet comfort was exactly what she longed for.

Living here—cut off from the world, far from all the noise and disturbances of Burg Eltz—she could spend her later years in peace. That, she felt, was more than enough.

Bert sat down on the sofa across from her.

"Cici said you’d like to live here by yourself?"

Renata knew his purpose the moment she saw him. This man, ruthless and decisive in the outside world, was utterly soft when it came to Catherine. He could not bear to see his daughter wronged in the slightest.

If he had come, it was surely to speak for Catherine. Renata understood her daughter’s wish for them to live together.

So she spoke directly.

"I won’t beat around the bush. If you don’t want me to stay here, I’ll find somewhere else to live when we go back."

The moment she said that, Bert knew how firm her resolve was. He did not try to persuade her further.

"Since you’re so determined, I’m of course happy for you to live here. I was only worried you might feel lonely."

Rather than letting Renata move out and find another place, it was better for her to stay here. The environment was good, the air was clean, and the surroundings were ideal—especially for someone still in recovery.

Renata smiled and shook her head.

"When I live with you, you’re busy working all day and only see me at night anyway. At my age, loneliness isn’t really the point. If I move out, you can properly enjoy your life as young people."

Since Renata insisted, Bert had nothing more to say.

"Then I’ll stay here," she added. "When you have time, just pack up my things and bring them over."

She truly was decisive—choosing to settle in at once.

Bert then explained the neighborhood to her in detail: where the nearest supermarket was, the mountain nearby for morning walks, what the neighbors were like, and that housekeeping came twice a week to clean and help with groceries. If she needed anything, she could simply leave a note for them.

And since she would be living here, Bert and Catherine would come every weekend with supplies. She would never lack for anything.

In the end, Catherine could only agree to Renata’s decision.

That evening, Lilian and Dave’s family arrived. Dave and Laurent brought their two children, and Lilian came with her belly already rounded from pregnancy. Seeing this, Renata couldn’t help feeling anxious for Bert and Catherine.

Lilian and Dave were both younger than Bert, yet one was expecting and the other already had two children. Meanwhile, Bert—the oldest—was still not even married.

Renata wasn’t worried about Catherine. At twenty-seven, her daughter still had plenty of time. But Bert was no longer young.

So during dinner, she couldn’t help urging them in front of everyone.

"You two don’t need to use protection anymore. If you get pregnant, just get married and have the baby."

Catherine had been drinking soup and almost choked in shock. After Renata’s last comment about them living together, this was yet another statement that left her speechless.

Her face burned red with embarrassment. Bert, however, showed little reaction, while Lilian and Laurent pressed their lips together, smiling quietly.

Renata glanced at them and added,

"Don’t feel shy. Bert’s mother isn’t here to urge him on, so I’ll do it for her. After all, he’s not young anymore."

What Renata said was simply the truth. At Bert’s age, any parent would be anxious about their child’s future.

Though Bert wasn’t especially close to his mother, she had once tried to arrange his marriage when he reached the age to settle down. But he had never taken it seriously and had little desire for family life. Whenever she pressed too hard, he would lash out—sometimes even using the pain caused by her failed relationship with Daniel to hurt her back. After that, she never interfered again, and so the years slipped by.

Now, looking back, Bert felt that his refusal had been the right choice. Otherwise, he would never have met Catherine—never found the happiness and peace he now had.

Lilian laughed softly and chimed in,

"Yes, you two really should start thinking about getting married and having children."

When it came to such topics, Catherine was too shy to say a word. It was Bert who replied with a faint smile,

"We’re already preparing for the wedding. As for children—let’s leave that to fate."

Bert had never felt strongly about having children. But after meeting Catherine and being with her, he sometimes found himself longing for a child of their own. Just the thought of it felt beautiful. Still, he believed such things should come naturally.

Since the conversation had turned to marriage and children—and then to parents—Bert spoke again at the table.

"Once this busy period is over, I plan to take Catherine to the U.S. to visit my mother."

By "after this busy period," he meant after the formal proposal.

He had already taken Catherine to meet Daniel. As for his mother, although their relationship was not close, she was still someone he needed to see. As he had said before—bringing Catherine to meet his parents was a form of respect, both toward them and toward Catherine.

As for Catherine’s family, he had already formally met Renata. And as for Channing, he would find time to visit him properly as well—setting aside any status that Channing might cling to, and going simply as Catherine’s future partner.

Catherine was once again startled by his words about going to America to see his mother. He had never mentioned it before. She felt surprised—and also uneasy. Every time Bert spoke of how his mother had once neglected him, her heart ached for him.

So in truth, Catherine felt a faint resistance toward Bert’s mother.

But she also knew that no matter how she felt, that woman was still his mother—the one who had given him life. She had to be respected.

The surprise on her face slowly faded. Renata added softly,

"It’s right to go and visit your mother."

When two people begin to speak of marriage, meeting each other’s parents is an essential courtesy and ritual.