NOVEL NEXT Chapter 683: Sign it, and you can leave.
Emily's eyes sparkled and she quickly nodded, "Yes, Mom. She said that. Everyone heard. If you don't believe me, you can ask anyone here."
She then looked around at the people, hoping for them to speak for her. And some truly did.
They did hear Arwen throw that challenge openly.
Catrin turned to look at her daughter. Her eyes were sharp, holding hints of victory. "Aren't you too audaciously confident of that?" She then paused and only moved her hand to press over Emily's as if supporting her. "What made you think that things would go as per your wish?"
Emily felt overjoyed. She knew it. Catrin was serious about anything. Even if Arwen wanted to return now, she couldn't.
Arwen didn't respond. She just stood and stared at the duo, her expression unreadable.
And like always, Catrin mistook that expression. She thought Arwen was finally coming to her senses, as she had expected her to come.
"Why aren't you answering me, Arwen?" Catrin asked sharply. Although she was waiting for Arwen to come back, she wasn't going to make it easy for her. She would make sure to let her know what she actually did wrong. "I told you, you would regret your decision. But at that time, you were so confident that you wouldn't. What happened now? It's just been a few months and you are regretting?"
"Regretting?" Arwen finally spoke, her voice not loud, but very clear for everyone. "Mrs. Quinn, how do you know I am regretting?"
Catrin frowned at her words. "You aren't regretting?" She said that with a scoff. "Really? Then if you aren't regretting, then why are you weaving such stories?"
Arwen smiled. Her eyes flicked to look at Emily once before returning to Catrin again. "Whether I am weaving stories or not —you would know better if you ask Emily in detail."
Emily faltered, and the colour of her face drained when Catrin turned to look at her with a questioning gaze. "I … I am not lying. She —" She then turned to Arwen and said, "Arwen, why are you ruining my important day? Why can't you just leave?"
Arwen wanted to chuckle. But she held it in. "I was about to leave, Emily. It was you who held me back," she said, pretty casually, not at all looking bothered. "You started it all, and now, very conveniently, you are making it look like I caused it. Do you think I will just let you dictate it all?"
Emily felt the situation slipping out of her control. "Fine, I accept. I wronged you. Is that fine now? Can you leave?" She didn't know why, but she felt that the longer Arwen would stay, the more difficult it would become for her.
So, at this moment, she just wanted Arwen to leave.
However, she was oblivious to Catrin's plans.
Catrin didn't want Arwen to leave. Not so soon … not tonight, not ever.
She turned to look at Arwen and asked, "Are you not regretting it at all?"
Arwen looked at her evenly and smiled. "Mrs. Quinn, I came here to attend your banquet … to be part of your celebration. If I were regretting, why would I be here?"
Her words made sense, but Catrin refused to believe it.
She couldn't believe that Arwen wasn't scared of losing her position in the family.
She couldn't believe that Arwen wasn't scared of losing the parents she had always loved dearly.
'She must be regretting. It's just that she was too hard-headed to accept it openly,' Catrin spoke to herself internally. 'But Arwen, you are forgetting something very essential. I am your mother. I wouldn't let you deny it for long.'
As her confidence grew, Catrin stared at Arwen with an intent —one powerful enough to make Arwen frown.
"Since you are not regretting Arwen, why don't you leave already?" Emily pressed again. "You came here to attend the party, and I am very happy about it. But your presence here is only ruining the evening. Kindly leave."
Arwen stared at her with knitted brows. She didn't mean to stay as well. She had long had plans of leaving early. If things hadn't ended up the way they did, by now she would have already left.
She was sure Aiden was already out … waiting for her.
Making him wait … she thought for a moment and realized it wasn't worth it. So, deciding, she nodded. "Fine, then I would congratulate you once again before leaving."
She paused only to raise her flute to toast, "Congratulations on starting a new journey. Hope you enjoy it to the fullest."
Emily also quickly picked a glass of wine, downing it all in one go to accept it. Then, showing it to Arwen, she gave a slow nod, "Thank you."
Arwen smiled and looked at her for the last time before gesturing for Mia to follow her.
Mia gave a subtle nod and was about to follow her when Catrin stopped her.
"Wait, Arwen."
Arwen had only taken a step. She paused and looked at Catrin. "What else, Mrs. Quinn?"
Catrin looked at her secretary briefly, giving her a cue before returning to look at Arwen, speaking. "You can't leave yet."
Arwen raised a brow at her. "Sorry?"
"I said, you can't leave now," Catrin repeated, continuing, "There is something you need to finish before you leave."
Emily stiffened. Her heart was beating fast in nervousness, her hands and feet feeling numb. She dared not think of the possibilities behind Catrin's intention.
"What do you want me to finish, Mrs. Quinn?" Arwen asked.
But instead of answering her, Catrin simply gestured her lawyer to step forward. "Mr. Blackwood!"
The lawyer nodded at her call before he walked forward with his bag in his hand. Setting it at the table nearby, he pulled out a file before extending it to Arwen.
Arwen's brows knitted. She didn't understand and stared up at him. "What is this?"
Before the lawyer could explain, Catrin spoke. "These papers are the last string that connects you to us."
Arwen still didn't understand. She frowned and took the file to check. And just as she opened it, Catrin spoke out loud.
"The letter of severance. Sign it and you can leave."