Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 459: That was the worst comfort speech I’ve ever heard.
Kathrine was probably on the other end of the line, fully aware of every ridiculous noise, every flustered pause, every not-so-subtle reaction.
Fantastic.
"I’m never emotionally recovering from this," she muttered. "Ever."
Her ears burned. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.
"Are you having wild dreams about me now?"
The sudden voice jolted her out of her spiral.
Kathrine yelped and looked up to find Ethan climbing onto the bed, one arm braced on either side of her, his face hovering far too close for her heart’s liking.
She blinked, momentarily forgetting she was at Ethan’s place.
And that he was very much half dressed.
"For a second there, I thought you were confessing something," he said with a lazy grin. "Should I be flattered or concerned?"
Kathrine groaned and covered her face again. "Please don’t start."
Ethan’s grin widened. "Oh, I’m definitely starting. You were blushing, mumbling, and hiding in a pillow. That usually means someone else is in the picture."
He glanced pointedly at the phone still in her hand. "So... who’s the mysterious person making my girlfriend emotionally unstable?"
She peeked at him through her fingers. "You’re jealous of a voice on the phone?"
"I’m very open-minded with my jealousy," he said seriously. "Could be a secret admirer. Could be an ex. Could be some rich stranger trying to steal you."
Kathrine snorted. "You’re ridiculous."
"Yet here you are, blushing."
He leaned in closer, pretending to narrow his eyes. "Is it a man?"
"No."
"A woman?"
"...Yes."
His expression faltered. "Wait, what?"
She finally sat up, laughing. "It’s Anna."
There was a full second of silence.
Then Ethan froze.
"...Your sister?"
"Yes, detective."
He stared at her, processing. "So I just mentally fought your sister in my head for absolutely no reason."
Kathrine nodded. "And lost."
He groaned and flopped back dramatically on the bed. "Great. I was gearing up for a dramatic confrontation with a mysterious rival and it turns out I’m competing with family."
She laughed, finally relaxing. "You looked so serious too."
"I was about to demand names," he muttered. "Maybe throw in a heroic speech."
Kathrine nudged him with her elbow. "You were fake jealous for nothing."
He turned his head toward her, smirking again. "Still counts. You were emotionally unavailable for at least thirty seconds."
She rolled her eyes and finally lay back properly on the bed, Ethan settling beside her without a word.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ethan broke the silence softly. "Don’t you want to go meet your father?"
"No." The answer came instantly. Flat. Certain.
Ethan studied her face, but Kathrine didn’t look conflicted. If anything, she looked tired.
Normally, she would have been there by now—sitting across from Hugo, listening to his justifications, trying to comfort him after whatever disaster had unfolded in the boardroom.
But not this time.
After everything she had uncovered, whatever small sympathy she once had for him had completely evaporated.
Her father had always been greedy. That much she’d known.
But she had never imagined he was so desperate for power that he would willingly dig his own grave—and drag everyone else down with him.
Almost every major investor was pulling out. The damage was already done. No clever strategy, no last-minute deal, no emotional appeal from her could fix this overnight.
The company had fallen.
And it would only rise again with time—if it was rebuilt with honesty instead of lies.
"I thought I was protecting the company because it was my father’s life’s work," she said quietly. "But I ignored what he was doing behind the scenes. I kept pretending it wasn’t my problem."
She turned her head slightly, staring at the ceiling.
"I don’t want to be part of that anymore."
Ethan reached for her hand, squeezing it gently.
Kathrine had spent years trying to clean up Hugo’s messes, trying to be the responsible one, the fixer, the daughter who could hold everything together.
But she didn’t want to become him.
So when things finally turned against Hugo, she made a choice she never thought she would.
She stepped back.
Not out of revenge. But out of self-respect.
Ethan was quiet for a few seconds, just watching her stare at the ceiling like it personally owed her answers.
Then he sighed dramatically.
"Well. That was incredibly deep."
Kathrine blinked. "What?"
He turned onto his side, propping his head up on his hand. "I mean, wow. Powerful. Emotional. I almost felt like I should clap or throw roses or something."
She groaned. "Don’t ruin it."
"I’m not ruining it," he said innocently. "I’m emotionally supporting you with sarcasm. It’s my love language."
She turned her head to glare at him. "You’re impossible."
"And yet," he replied smugly, "you’re lying in my bed instead of having a dramatic confrontation with your morally corrupt father. So clearly I’m doing something right."
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
Ethan noticed immediately.
"Oh, there it is," he said, pointing. "The smile. I was worried you were going to stay in ’tragic main character’ mode for the rest of the night."
Kathrine huffed. "I’m allowed to be serious for once."
"Yes, but only for limited periods," he said. "Any longer and you start looking like you’re about to deliver a three-hour courtroom monologue."
She rolled her eyes. "You’re not funny."
"Objectively false. I’m hilarious."
He shifted closer, poking her cheek lightly. "Also, just so you know, you not running to save your father? Very healthy decision. Ten out of ten character development."
She sighed. "It still feels wrong."
"Of course it does," he said gently. "You’ve been playing hero for years. Retiring from that role feels illegal."
Kathrine stared at him. "So what, I’m just supposed to stop caring?"
"No," he said immediately. "You’re just supposed to stop sacrificing yourself."
She went quiet at that.
Ethan softened, his teasing tone lowering just a notch. "There’s a difference, you know. Between loving someone and letting them drag you down with them."
She swallowed. "You make it sound so simple."
"It’s not," he admitted. "But it’s simpler than setting yourself on fire every time someone else makes a bad decision."
She snorted weakly. "That’s a very dramatic metaphor."
"I’m a dramatic person."
He rolled onto his back beside her. "Besides, if anyone’s going to ruin your life, it should be me. Not your father." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
She burst out laughing before she could stop herself.
"Wow. That was the worst comfort speech I’ve ever heard."
