Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 394: Just don’t disappear on me

The next morning, while Roseline was attending to her usual routine, Kathrine barged into her room without knocking. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Roseline was seated at the dressing table, calmly combing her hair, the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains as if nothing in the world was amiss.

"Did you visit Collin yesterday?" Kathrine demanded, not bothering with pleasantries.

Roseline’s hand paused mid-stroke. Slowly, she placed the comb aside and rose from the stool, turning to face her daughter.

"What are you talking about, Kathrine?" she asked, her voice smooth, practiced—too practiced.

Kathrine’s jaw tightened. Seeing Roseline standing there, composed and unbothered, only confirmed what she already feared. Collin had escaped barely hours after that visit. Anna’s instinct hadn’t been paranoia after all.

"Don’t lie to me, Mom," Kathrine said sharply. "I know you went to see him. And now that man has escaped."

For the first time, she expected panic. Denial. Anger. Anything.

Instead, Roseline’s face remained eerily stoic.

"And you think it was me who helped him run away?" Roseline asked coolly.

The question caught Kathrine off guard, but she didn’t falter. She straightened, meeting her mother’s gaze head-on. "I think you’re the last person who saw him before he escaped."

Roseline let out a short, incredulous laugh. "So that’s it? You’ve already convicted me?"

Kathrine clenched her fists. "You were inside his ward for nearly an hour. Surveillance doesn’t lie."

Roseline’s eyes darkened just a fraction. "And you think I’m stupid enough to free my own culprit?" she asked sharply. "No, Kathrine. I didn’t help him escape."

Her words were firm. Final.

Kathrine frowned, confusion creeping in despite herself. "Then what did you do in that room?"

Roseline turned away, walking back to the dressing table, straightening an already perfect item as if buying time. "I confronted him," she said finally. "That’s all."

"That’s not believable," Kathrine shot back. "You expect me to think nothing came out of that conversation?"

Roseline met her eyes in the mirror. "Believe what you want. But I didn’t help him."

Kathrine stared at her, unsettled. She had seen the footage herself—Roseline stepping into Collin’s ward, then leaving nearly an hour later. There was no way words hadn’t been exchanged. No way plans hadn’t been hinted at.

And yet, standing before her now, Roseline looked unshaken. Convincing. Almost... too calm.

Kathrine clenched her jaw and storm out of the room while Roseline smirked before she reached for her phone resting on the stand and typed something.

***

[Outside]

Kathrine stormed into her room and slammed the door shut behind her, the loud thud echoing through the walls. She stood there for a moment, chest heaving, fists clenched at her sides.

Anna had warned her to stay calm.

She scoffed bitterly. Calm? How was she supposed to stay calm when Roseline had looked her straight in the eye and lied so effortlessly?

"How... how can she lie right through her teeth?" Kathrine muttered, running a hand through her hair. "Does she not regret even an ounce of it?"

Her chest tightened painfully as images replayed in her mind—Roseline’s composed face, her steady voice, that innocent expression she wore so convincingly. For years, Kathrine had believed in that woman. Had clung to the idea of a kind, loving mother she had desperately wanted.

And now?

Now she regretted learning the truth so late in her life.

Roseline hadn’t entered their lives out of love. She had come with a motive. And the worst part was that Kathrine wasn’t even sure how deep that motive ran. Had she dragged her father into it too? Or had he been another pawn, just like them?

Kathrine pressed her palms against her temples, her thoughts spiraling.

One thing was clear—Collin being free changed everything. And Roseline acting so nonchalant, so untouched by guilt, only made it more dangerous. People like that didn’t panic. They planned.

And whatever they were planning, Kathrine was certain it wasn’t something she or Anna were prepared for.

She exhaled shakily and dropped onto the couch, forcing herself to breathe. Calm down, she told herself. Think. But her heart refused to slow.

Just then, her phone rang and she glanced at the screen and froze.

Ethan.

She hesitated for half a second before answering. "Hello?"

"Kathrine," Ethan’s voice came through, carefully controlled, but she could hear it—the sulk he was trying not to admit. "What’s wrong? You completely forgot about me ever since I dropped you at Anna’s place."

The words hit her harder than she expected.

She blinked, guilt washing over her as reality caught up. She really hadn’t spoken to him since she’d abruptly asked him to change routes. Everything after that had been chaos.

"I—" She stopped herself and let out a sigh. "I’m sorry. I just... forgot."

Her voice came out softer, lower, edged with exhaustion. And instantly, she felt the tension on the other end ease.

Ethan hadn’t meant to sound annoyed. Hearing her now, he realized he’d overreacted. It wasn’t like she’d disappeared with someone else. She was with Anna—her sister. And clearly, something was wrong.

"It’s okay," he said more gently. "I shouldn’t have sounded like that. I was just worried."

Kathrine swallowed and stood up, walking toward the balcony. The cool air hit her face as she stepped outside, her grip tightening around the phone. For a fleeting, foolish second, she imagined Ethan suddenly appearing, climbing up like he always did, wrapping his arms around her and grounding her in his warmth.

God, she needed that right now.

"I’ve had a rough morning," she admitted quietly. "Everything feels... messy."

Ethan didn’t push. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She leaned against the railing, staring out at the sky. "Not yet," she said honestly. "But when we meet in person yes."

"Then tell me where to meet. I just want to be with you"

Kathrine smiled faintly. Just a few seconds ago he was scolding her and look at him now all clingy and warm.

"I’m really sorry," she repeated.

"I know," Ethan replied. "Just don’t disappear on me next time, okay?"

"I’ll try," she said, trying to tease him, but laughed the very next second.

The couple were talking on the call, when Kathrine’s eyes flickered at the sight of Roseline’s car leaving the mansion.

’Where is she going?’ she thought but soon her eyes turned dark with realization.