Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 307: Can you please not humiliate me

Kathrine’s heart skipped a beat, her thoughts blurring for a moment.

Why would he say something like that? she wondered as she felt her heartbeat thudding loudly against her ribs.

The nervousness and unease she had been carrying somehow melted away. Even her doubts about why Ethan wanted her as his fake girlfriend faded, her mind going strangely quiet. The rest of the ride passed in silence as she stared ahead, busy fighting the emotions he had stirred so effortlessly in her heart.

"Oh my goodness," Kathrine gasped suddenly, peeking out the window. "Why are there so many fans outside your place?"

She quickly covered her face with her hand.

Ethan chuckled at her reaction. "Relax. They won’t see you," he assured her, smoothly steering past the crowd gathered outside his condo.

He was used to this—constant attention, endless curiosity. His popularity was something he could never escape. But indulging overenthusiastic fans every single day was hardly his idea of fun.

Soon, he parked the car and guided Kathrine toward the elevator.

As the doors slid shut, Kathrine’s thoughts spiraled again. She had no idea what she was supposed to say to Ethan’s mother, let alone how to act around her. But since Ethan had already given his mother a heads-up about who he was "dating," she wouldn’t have to lie too much.

All she had to do was pretend.

Pretend they were in love.

***

"Oh my goodness," Stephane gasped the moment she reached Kathrine, holding her hands as she looked her over without the slightest filter. "You’re even more beautiful in person than in the business magazines."

Ethan pressed his lips together, watching his mother’s dramatic reaction with mild resignation. This was exactly what he had expected when he told her who he was dating.

Stephane had always wanted him to settle down. While Ethan was still skeptical about love—let alone marriage or a family—her constant nagging and carefully selected blind dates had eventually forced him to find a solution of his own.

"You look beautiful too, Mrs. Benford," Kathrine said sincerely, her praise easing some of her nerves as she met the woman’s warm gaze.

Kathrine already knew about Ethan’s family—his parents’ divorce, Stephane’s remarriage to a businessman settled overseas, and how, despite the separation, she had never distanced herself from her elder son.

"Stephane," she corrected with a light laugh, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Please call me Stephane. ’Mrs.’ makes me sound far too old."

Ethan shook his head, amused and helpless all at once.

"Should we sit?" he finally interjected. "I’m sure you don’t want to keep her standing, Mom."

That did the trick. Stephane released Kathrine at once, linking her arm with hers as if the matter were already settled. Moments later, the three of them were seated comfortably in the living area, the atmosphere warm and surprisingly easy.

Stephane settled back against the couch, her gaze drifting between Ethan and Kathrine as if she were still trying to convince herself this was real.

"I still can’t believe this," she said with a soft laugh. "All those girls I showed you—brilliant, beautiful, from excellent families—and you rejected every single one."

Ethan picked up a glass of water, unfazed. "Because none of them were right."

Stephane raised a brow. "And suddenly she is?"

Kathrine smiled politely, unsure whether to feel flattered or put on the spot.

"Sincerely, Ethan," Stephane continued, turning fully toward him, "I thought you’d sworn off dating altogether. You made it sound like love was some sort of long-term disease."

"That was taken out of context," Ethan replied smoothly.

"It was not," Stephane shot back. "You told me you were ’perfectly happy alone’ and that I should stop trying to plan your future."

Kathrine glanced at him, amused. "Did he really say that?"

"Word for word," Stephane confirmed. "Which is why I nearly fainted when he told me he was dating."

Ethan sighed. "I said I wasn’t interested in being forced into something."

Stephane’s expression softened as she looked at Kathrine again. "Then you must be very different."

Kathrine chuckled lightly. "I think I just met him at the wrong—or maybe the right—time."

Stephane smiled, clearly pleased with the answer. "Well, whatever it is, I like it. And I like you."

Ethan leaned back, watching the two women bond far more easily than he had expected, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Stephane’s smile slowly softened, her expression turning thoughtful as she studied Kathrine more closely.

"I hope you don’t mind me saying this," she began gently, "but I recognized you the moment Ethan showed me your picture."

Kathrine’s posture stiffened just a little.

"I saw the news," Stephane continued, her voice quieter now. "What happened to your mother... it was all over the media." She shook her head, genuine regret lining her features. "I’m truly sorry for what your family was put through."

Kathrine blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in her tone. "Thank you," she said after a moment. "It wasn’t easy."

"But still," Stephane said softly, sincerity filling her voice, "your family stood strong. And I truly pray for your mother’s recovery."

The words weren’t spoken out of obligation or politeness—they came straight from her heart.

Kathrine felt a warmth settle in her chest. Stephane may not have known every detail, nor the full extent of the controversy that had surrounded her family, but she also wasn’t the judgmental woman Kathrine had half-expected her to be.

Instead, she was kind. Genuine.

Stephane smiled at her then, relieved. "I’m glad," she added quietly, "that you’re not who the media tried to paint you as."

And in that moment, Kathrine realized something unexpected—this meeting, which she had dreaded all morning, had turned into something far gentler than she ever imagined.

Ethan and Kathrine shared a brief look, and a quiet tenderness washed over her heart.

"You never really know someone until you meet them," Ethan said, glancing at his mother. Stephane frowned for a second—then smiled knowingly.

"Which is exactly why I kept telling you to socialize," she replied pointedly. "You gave every other girl the cold shoulder. At one point, I genuinely wondered if you were into men." She paused, then added with a dramatic sigh, "Unfortunately, you weren’t."

Kathrine burst out laughing, unable to stop herself, while Ethan groaned, completely cornered by his mother’s sarcasm.

"Can you please not humiliate me, Mom?" he protested. "I’m here with my date. What is she supposed to think of me?"

Stephane raised an eyebrow, utterly unrepentant. "She’s supposed to think you were selective."

Ethan shook his head, embarrassed but amused. He had never minded his mother’s teasing, but with Kathrine there, he didn’t want to look pathetic—especially not when this mattered more than he was willing to admit.

Kathrine, still smiling, glanced at him and said lightly, "I think it’s nice. It means you don’t settle easily."

Stephane’s smile widened. "See? She understands you far better than you do yourself."

And Ethan, despite himself, couldn’t help but smile too.