Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 370: Why does it hurts so much

There was something unspoken hanging between them now, heavier than before. Ethan seemed to sense it too. His voice dropped. "Kathrine... this doesn’t have to mean anything more than what it is right now."

Her heart thudded, but she kept her tone steady. "And what is it right now?"

"Two people who wanted a moment," he replied. "And took it."

She considered that, then nodded. "I can live with that."

His eyes searched hers, as if making sure she truly meant it. Whatever he saw there seemed to ease him. He leaned in, brushing a soft kiss to her forehead, then to her temple. It was gentler than before, unhurried.

"Thank you," he murmured.

"For what?" she asked, surprised.

"For not pushing," he said. "And for not pulling away either."

Kathrine smiled, her fingers curling lightly into his shirt. "You’re welcome."

They stayed like that for a while, close but no longer rushing toward anything, just sharing the quiet. When Ethan finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers again.

"I should really go," he said, though there was reluctance in every word.

She nodded, even though a small part of her didn’t want him to. "Probably before you decide climbing balconies is a habit too."

He laughed softly. "Don’t give me ideas."

He stood, straightening his clothes with a practiced calm, but before heading toward the balcony he turned back. Their eyes met one last time, something unspoken passing between them. Then, without another word, he swung himself over the railing and caught the pipe he had used to climb up, disappearing downward with the ease of someone who had done reckless things before.

Kathrine rushed after him, pushing the balcony door open and leaning against the cool railing. She watched him descend, her heart still racing, her lips curved in a soft, foolish smile she made no attempt to hide. The night air brushed her flushed skin, carrying with it the echo of his presence.

For the first time in a long while, she felt... light.

As Ethan’s figure finally vanished into the shadows below, she lingered there, hugging her arms around herself. Something warm had taken root in her chest, unfamiliar and thrilling all at once. Hope, maybe.

But then her phone vibrated softly on the bedside table behind her, only for her to realize it was none other than Ethan.

"This boy," she smiled, ready to tease him, but what he said made her smile fade.

***

Meanwhile downstairs, Officer Clement stood stiffly in the living room, his sudden presence catching Hugo and Roseline completely off guard.

Roseline, who had been informed about his arrival by Ethan, hurried down the stairs. The second her eyes met Clement’s, he looked away almost instantly, his jaw tightening. The small gesture did not go unnoticed.

What is he doing here? Kathrine wondered, unease creeping back into her chest.

Anna had been very clear about wanting to keep Collin’s detention under wraps for now. Seeing Officer Clement standing here, in their house, set Kathrine on edge. This was not how it was supposed to happen.

"We have found the culprit," Clement announced abruptly.

The words hit like a blow.

Kathrine’s fingers curled at her side. So her fear had been right after all. But why now? Why so suddenly?

Roseline’s face drained of color, and Hugo’s expression hardened instantly.

"Who is it?" Hugo asked without hesitation.

Ever since Roseline had been attacked, Hugo had been on constant alert, scrutinizing every shadow, every sound. He had barely slept, barely breathed without suspicion. Now, after so long, the possibility of an answer both relieved and terrified him.

Clement glanced between them before speaking again. "Collin Forts. Former prisoner."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

For Kathrine, it was pure shock. She had suspected many things, but hearing his name spoken aloud felt unreal. For Hugo and Roseline, it was far worse. It was like being dragged back into a past they had spent years trying to bury.

Roseline swayed slightly, her hand instinctively clutching the arm of the chair beside her.

H How did he—

"Mrs. Bennett," Clement continued, his voice professional but firm, "we will be needing you for further investigation."

Roseline’s breath hitched. Fear wrapped tight around her heart, but she forced herself to nod, even managing a weak, composed smile. "Of course."

"With that, I will take my leave," Clement said, turning toward the door.

Kathrine, who had remained silent the entire time, watched him carefully. Something about this felt wrong. Too rushed. Too exposed.

As Clement stepped outside, Kathrine moved without thinking. She slipped out after him, careful to stay out of her parents’ line of sight. The morning air hit her face as she caught up to him near the gate.

"Officer Clement," she called sharply.

He stopped and turned, surprise flashing across his face before it was quickly masked. "Miss Bennett."

Kathrine crossed her arms. "Why now?" she demanded. "You show up unannounced, reveal everything, and ask for my mother like this. This wasn’t the plan."

Clement studied her for a moment, then sighed, as if the weight of the situation finally caught up to him. "You’re right," he admitted quietly. "It wasn’t."

"Then whose decision was it?" Kathrine pressed.

For a split second, he hesitated. Then he straightened, his tone lowering. "It was Miss Anna."

Kathrine froze. "Anna?"

"She instructed us to proceed," Clement said.

Kathrine’s mind raced. Anna never acted without reason. If she had pushed this forward, then something must have changed.

"Okay," Kathrine mumbled, forcing the word past the tightness in her throat as she watched Officer Clement walk away.

She stood there a moment longer, staring at the empty road, before turning back toward the house.

***

[Daniel’s office]

"I’m sure Officer Clement must have delivered the news by now," Anna muttered, sitting across from Daniel. Her fingers were laced together in her lap, knuckles pale. She watched him nod once, his expression unreadable.

"Now we only have to wait and see what she plans on doing next," Daniel said calmly.

Anna nodded, but the calm in the room felt deceptive. Inside her chest, everything was anything but calm. The hospital room, Collin’s words, the truth she could no longer ignore—it all pressed down on her at once.

Her brows drew together slightly. "Where did you go," she asked quietly, "when I came out after meeting Collin?"

Daniel glanced up at her, surprised by the question. "What?"

"I didn’t find you," she continued, her voice steady but thoughtful. "Not until you came walking toward me from the other corridor."

He studied her face for a second, then sighed softly. "I went to attend a call."

She nodded slowly, accepting the answer without probing further. Yet the silence that followed felt louder than before.

Daniel leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving her. Something about the way she had gone quiet unsettled him. Anna was many things—sharp, composed, terrifyingly in control—but silence like this usually meant she was holding too much inside.

And now... now she knew the truth.

That she wasn’t Hugo Bennett’s daughter.

"What are you thinking, my love?" Daniel asked gently, breaking the heavy stillness.

Anna looked up at him then. She tried to smile, but it faltered halfway, turning fragile. Her eyes shimmered, tears gathering at the edges despite her efforts to keep them at bay.

The sight made Daniel’s chest tighten painfully.

"Come here," he said softly, extending his hand.

Anna didn’t hesitate. She stood and took it, letting him pull her closer until she was guided onto his lap. The moment she settled against him, the walls she had so carefully maintained began to crack.

She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her fingers curling into his shirt as if anchoring herself to him. Daniel wrapped his arms around her instantly, holding her firmly, protectively.

"I didn’t expect it to feel like this," she whispered, her voice muffled against his skin. "I thought knowing would make things clearer."

"And instead?" he asked quietly, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"It made everything heavier," she admitted.

"Then let it release. I am here for you."

The moment Daniel said those words, something inside Anna finally gave way. The tears she had been holding back spilled freely, tracing silent paths down her cheeks as her body trembled against him.

She had lived her entire life reaching for a kind of love that always seemed just out of reach.

Anna had wanted to be seen. Not for her intelligence, not for her sacrifices, not for what she could fix or protect—but for who she was. She wanted to be appreciated without conditions, recognized without expectation, cherished the way Kathrine had always been.

But that had never happened.

Every sacrifice she made was acknowledged briefly, almost formally, before another was demanded of her. There was never a pause long enough for her to feel enough. Never a moment where she felt chosen.

She had always felt like an outsider in that house. Even with her mother.

Yes, Roseline praised her when she had to. She defended her when it was necessary. But it was never instinctive. Never warm. It was careful, restrained, as if Roseline feared loving her too openly, feared what that love might reveal.

And Hugo...

Anna couldn’t remember a single time he had called her his daughter with the same softness he reserved for Kathrine. That word had always sounded different on his tongue when it was meant for someone else.

The realization burned now, sharper than any wound she had carried before.

Everything was becoming clearer as the truth slowly unfolded, and the clarity was more painful than the ignorance ever had been.

"Why does it hurt so much, Daniel?" she sobbed, clutching him tighter, as if he were the only thing holding her together. "Why is there no place for me anywhere?"

Her voice cracked completely, the sound raw and unguarded. Daniel wrapped his arms around her, one hand pressing firmly against her back, the other cradling her head, letting her cry without interruption.