Meanwhile, on the other side —
After Catrin disconnected the call, her expression changed.
The evening, the party, the media, and the guests —everything was exactly as she had planned.
Now, she was only waiting for Arwen to give up her stubbornness.
She had orchestrated the entire night to break her daughter’s resistance, to make her obedient again. And Catrin believed after tonight, she would get Arwen back. Her daughter would be back on her side ... docile and obedient as she had made her over the years.
After all, Arwen loved her deeply. She knew it. And there is no way she would sit back and watch someone else take her place in the family —especially not in her parents’ lives.
Arwen might have been sensible and kind, but Catrin knew her daughter too well. She wasn’t good at sharing the people she loved. She might not speak it aloud, but she didn’t like her things —or her people —being taken away from her.
And that has been exactly what Catrin had been counting on. That Arwen would snap. That she would walk into the ballroom, see Emily basking in the limelight, and announce before everyone that the position of the Quinn family heiress belonged to her. Her parents belonged to her —and her alone.
As long as she did that, everything would fall into place.
Bringing her back home would be easy.
A smug smile played on Catrin’s lips as she imagined the moment unfolding. She had waited for it for far too long now.
"Madam," Lia’s voice interrupted her thoughts. "Everything is ready. The guest has started arriving."
Catrin didn’t turn around to acknowledge her. With her back still at Lia, she asked, "Did Arwen arrive?"
"No, madam. Ms. Quinn is not here yet," Lia replied. "The party has just started. She might come a little later."
Catrin’s brows furrowed, but she nodded. "Fine. Then, let me know the moment she arrives. I will only enter the party after her."
She couldn’t go in first.
The evening was arranged entirely for Arwen. To make her ... push her to give in. Entertaining others, or introducing Emily, was never in her plan.
"But Madam, Ms. Brown will be arriving soon at the party. Without you, it would be —"
"She is just a prop for the evening," Catrin interrupted coldly. "Let her enjoy the party on her own."
Lia hesitated but said nothing more. She knew what her boss was planning, but she was scared that something had gotten misinterpreted in between. Instead of pulling Ms. Quinn close, all this would only push her further away.
"Anything else?" Catrin asked, turning to look at her secretary.
Lia shook her head. "No, Madam. I will take my leave first. I will let you know when Ms. Quinn arrives." And with that, she turned and left.
————
At the same time, at Winslow Residence —
Arwen was finally ready for the evening.
She didn’t want to make a big fuss out of the things, but tonight was her first appearance as the President of Davies Internationals. She doesn’t want to embarrass her grandmother.
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