The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 40

Cabinda was alive with New Year festivities, the air outside buzzing with laughter and bursts of fireworks. Inside, Catherine’s room was dim and quiet, the curtains drawn tight. The silence felt heavy and lonely. One phone call was all it took to chase away any hope of sleep, leaving her heart aching in sharp, restless waves.

She curled up tighter, sinking under the covers. Somewhere between sleep and waking, she drifted through most of the day, lost in a fog. Eventually, hunger broke through the haze, dragging her fully awake.

She was just getting out of bed when Lorinda called her on video.

“You’re not at the orphanage?” Lorinda’s surprise was obvious. “Did Amanda say something out of line again?”

“No, something came up yesterday. I had to come home,” Catherine replied. But deep down, she already knew she wasn’t going back to the orphanage.

Lorinda frowned. “Next time, don’t go alone. You always end up getting pushed around.” Lorinda was tough. Amanda never dared mess with her. But when it came to Catherine, Amanda never missed a chance to make things difficult.

Catherine managed a small smile. “There won’t be a next time. Once I quit, we’ll be together all the time.”

“I found another great place,” Lorinda said. “Hurry and get changed. The babysitter’s gone, so it’s just us and the kids for New Year’s.”

Lorinda had already decided Catherine would spend the holiday at her place. Catherine had wanted to help at the orphanage, not for Amanda, but for the kids. She wanted to do something good for them. But now, her kitchen was empty and every store was closed. She had no choice but to go to Lorinda’s.

She grabbed some bread to tide her over and headed out.

At Lorinda’s, they made dumplings together and stayed up late with Jasper, celebrating their first New Year’s as a little family. While everyone else spent the holiday visiting relatives or friends, they spent day after day at home. At night, they watched fireworks through the window. During the day, they cooked, binged TV shows, and talked about where life might take them after Cabinda.

The holiday passed in a blur. Suddenly, it was over.

On the sixth day of the New Year, SilverLeaf Industries reopened. At nine o’clock, Catherine arrived at her desk, a resignation letter in hand.

There was a company reception that morning. Lance showed up, then went straight to the eighth floor for the event. It was half an hour before he finally escaped and came upstairs.

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