Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 375: My long lost crush

Daniel raised a brow. "You don’t trust Kathrine?"

"I trust her," Ethan said. "I don’t trust the world around her. Or myself, when something happens and I realize I should have seen it coming."

Daniel studied him for a moment before nodding. "You’re afraid of losing control."

Ethan scoffed softly. "I never had it."

They watched as Anna leaned onto Kathrine, whispering something that made both of them laugh again, softer this time.

"They look lighter," Daniel said quietly.

Ethan’s lips curved faintly. "She does. When she forgets she has to be strong."

Daniel finished his drink. "Then let them have the night. We’ll handle the consequences."

Ethan finally pushed his glass away. "I’ll drive."

Daniel chuckled. "Of course you will."

Ethan’s gaze remained on Kathrine, unwavering. "Someone has to make sure she gets home safe."

Daniel followed his line of sight, his expression softening. "Looks like they’re in good hands."

Ethan didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His watchful silence said everything.

***

Kathrine rested her elbow on the table, her chin sinking into her palm as she watched Anna swirl her drink like it held answers at the bottom. The laughter from earlier had faded into a softer, heavier quiet, the kind that only came when alcohol loosened things people spent years tying down.

"You know," Anna said suddenly, her words slower now, less playful, "sometimes I envy you."

Kathrine blinked. "Me?" She let out a short laugh. "You need another drink if that’s what your brain is telling you."

Anna shook her head, almost stubbornly. "No. You. You always had his attention."

Kathrine stiffened, then scoffed. "That’s not true."

Anna looked at her, really looked at her, eyes glassy but sharp in that drunk honesty way. "You don’t even see it, do you?"

"See what?" Kathrine muttered.

Anna sighed and leaned back, staring at the ceiling as if it might help her keep her balance. "The way Daniel looks at you. Like you matter. Like what you say weighs something."

Kathrine laughed again, but this time it cracked in the middle. "Anna, he’s your husband."

"I know," Anna said quickly. "I’m not talking about now. I’m talking about before. A long time ago."

Kathrine’s smile faltered, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if her mind was trying to catch up with her heart.

"I used to think," Anna continued, her voice quieter, heavier, "that being a good wife would make him forget you. But he never did. He always loved you."

Kathrine’s chest tightened painfully. "He never—"

"I know," Anna interrupted, lifting her head to look at her again. "I know he did." Her voice wavered, thick with emotions she had buried so deep she thought they no longer existed.

Kathrine stared down at her drink. The alcohol burned going down, but it didn’t burn enough to drown the sudden rush of guilt flooding her chest. Even though she knew they were both drunk, Anna’s words felt terrifyingly real. Too real. Her heart felt heavy, as if it were carrying the weight of a life she didn’t fully remember but somehow mourned.

It felt like living through a regret she didn’t know how to name.

"I know an apology wouldn’t fix anything, Anna," Kathrine murmured softly. Then she laughed, sharp and hollow. "But I’m still going to say it."

Her thoughts drifted to a memory she didn’t clearly recall, yet it felt vivid, like she had been there, like she had lived it and simply forgotten how much it hurt.

"I’m sorry, Anna," she said, lifting her eyes to her sister’s face. There was something pitiful in her smile, something broken.

Anna frowned. "For what?"

"For everything," Kathrine blurted, the words tumbling out faster than her thoughts. "For choosing wrong. For ruining things. For wanting something I wasn’t supposed to want."

Anna’s brows knitted together in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Kathrine swallowed hard, her throat tight. "I blamed myself back then. But I was never even given a chance. Maybe that was my punishment. For ruining so many lives."

Tears slipped down her cheeks without warning.

Anna’s eyes softened instantly. She reached across the table and gently wiped the tears away with her thumb. "But you’re not like that in this life," she said quietly, a small smile returning to her lips. "Not anymore."

Kathrine looked at her and smiled back, fragile but sincere.

"But," Anna added, tilting her head, her drunk logic clearly kicking in, "that doesn’t mean I forgive you for what you did back then. If you hadn’t returned, Daniel wouldn’t have neglected me and my baby."

Kathrine blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"Baby?" she repeated slowly. "What baby?" Her head tilted slightly. "And when did I even go anywhere?"

Anna stared at her, equally confused now. "You don’t remember?"

Kathrine’s thoughts scrambled, moving back and forth like puzzle pieces that refused to fit. Then suddenly, her eyes widened in shock.

"ANNA," she gasped loudly, nearly knocking over her glass, "HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET PREGNANT?"

Anna froze.

"...Oops."

Kathrine stared at her in horror. "That was not an oops answer!"

Anna squinted at her sister, then burst out laughing. "Wow. You really don’t remember anything."

While Anna was still thinking about her past Kathrine had long lost her sense of thinking wondering despite warning Anna to not fall for Daniel she ended up getting pregnant with his child.

’Cheater’

Kathrine grabbed her arm. "Remember what? Start talking. Slowly. And with details." she instructed.

Anna leaned back in her chair, grinning lazily. "Well... when a man and a woman love each other very much—"

"ANNA," Kathrine groaned, slapping a hand over her face. "I swear, if you don’t explain this properly—"

Anna laughed harder, her words slurring. "Relax. You’ll find out. Eventually."

Kathrine stared at her, half panicked, half annoyed, and completely drunk. "I hate drinking with you."

Anna smiled sweetly. "Liar. You love me."

And despite the chaos spinning in her head, Kathrine couldn’t deny it.

"Okay, ladies, it’s time to get back home."

The sudden voice broke their fragile trance.

Anna’s head snapped up, her eyes widening before instantly lighting up like someone had just switched on a chandelier. "Ah... husband," she gasped dramatically, clasping her hands together as she looked up at Daniel. "You came."

Daniel sighed, the kind of sigh that carried years of patience and very little hope. "You’re drunk."

"Drunk?" Anna repeated, offended. "No. I am emotionally honest."

Kathrine snorted beside her.

Anna then tilted her head, her gaze sliding past Daniel. Her eyes widened even more when she spotted Ethan standing slightly behind him, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"Oh my God," Anna whispered loudly. "My long-lost crush is also here."

Daniel:"..."

Ethan:"..."

Kathrine:"..."