Ghost Billionaire

"What does her peace have to do with me?" Matthew asked. He moved to walk past, but Lenox stepped in front of him again.

"Matthew, you don't understand… Catherine is really going to struggle if she doesn't—"

This time, Matthew didn't let him finish. He sidestepped, but Lenox caught his wrist.

Matthew stopped. "Don't do that," he said flatly. "You wouldn't want the others to think I pushed you again."

Lenox clenched his jaw. "Catherine just received news the other day. Her mother only has a few months left. This should be the least of her worries."

Matthew's eyes narrowed. In his past life, Catherine's mother never reached that point. Because of him. Because he made sure she didn't have to worry about hospital bills or medications or doctors. He even sent her mother abroad just to recover. That version of him didn't exist anymore.

"That's none of my business," he said. "If she wanted the scholarship, she should've worked harder."

He walked off.

Lenox stood frozen for a moment, then turned around. Catherine was still crying quietly on the bench. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her without a word. She clutched his shirt and buried her face into his chest.

May frowned. "You should talk to the board. They can give her some kind of scholarship, right? If not, she's not going to be able to pay the rest of the tuition, let alone go to college."

Lenox shook his head. "My father won't help her. Not this time. He's been very busy and… he will only listen to Matthew.."

"That damn man!" May scoffed. "Why is Matthew acting like he's the heir of the Lindberg family now? Honestly, you're too kind. If it were me, I would've kicked him out of the house a long time ago."

Lenox sighed. He looked down at Catherine, then brushed her hair back gently. "I still believe she can do something about this."

May folded her arms. "Like what?"

Lenox glanced at the direction Matthew had walked off to. "Maybe… he'll change his mind if Catherine talks to him herself."

Catherine slowly pulled away from Lenox's arms. Her hands clenched around the edge of her skirt.

"You want me to talk to him?" she asked. "Do you want him to humiliate me again?"

Lenox said nothing.

Catherine looked down. Her thoughts went back to the Gala. That night, she had schemed against him. She wanted to embarrass him, maybe even make him snap in front of everyone. But it didn't go the way she planned. Instead, he threw her words back at her like knives. She could still remember how he mocked her. And then Elisa…

She swallowed hard.

She hadn't spoken to Elisa since. The girl probably hated her now. Catherine couldn't even blame her. She had used her friend for a plan that didn't work. It backfired in the worst way.

She hadn't had a good night's sleep since. Every time she closed her eyes, the image of Matthew standing in that room came back. The quiet look on his face. Not broken. Not angry. Just… mockery. He was staring at her as if she was a fool.

Now, seeing him confident, seeing him stand tall like none of it mattered—it scared her.

What if he figured it out? What if he already knew she was involved?

Her goal that night had been clear. Let everyone see Matthew in that room. Let them talk. Let him fall.

But he didn't.

And now she had no idea what he might do to her.

Lenox leaned closer. "He's just being stubborn. He chased after you for years. You think he just gave up overnight?"

Catherine didn't answer.

"He's angry," Lenox continued. "But I know him. If you ask for his forgiveness, if you're sincere, he'll come around."

May stepped in. "Exactly. Matthew's been your dog for years. He followed you everywhere. You really think he suddenly flipped a switch?"

Catherine's jaw tightened.

May didn't stop. "He probably still likes you. He's mad now, sure. But how could he not help you? After everything? Just say sorry or whatever. He'll help."

Catherine stayed quiet. Her chest felt tight.

She didn't know what scared her more, losing the scholarship or what Matthew might do if he ever learned the truth. She bit her lower lip.

Catherine kept her eyes on the floor. Her hands trembled slightly, hidden under the hem of her sleeves.

Lenox sat beside her again. "Look, I'm not saying you have to like him. I'm not even saying you have to forgive him for what happened at the Gala. But this… this isn't the time to be proud. You understand what I mean, right?"

May crossed her arms. "Exactly. You want to get even with him? Fine. Do it later. Right now, just be nice to him. Pretend, if you have to. Get the scholarship back first."

Catherine bit her lower lip. "You're asking me to beg."

"No," Lenox said. "We're asking you to be smart."

May nodded. "I'm sure he will forgive you after what happened to your mother and your exam scores. You only have one shot left, Catherine. Matthew."

"He humiliated me."

"Well, that's just because he wanted your attention. He is clearly enjoying it," May said. "Can't you see? He was staring at you when you were crying earlier. He clearly cared about you."

Catherine turned away. She wanted to ask Lenox to just help her instead, but she also knew that he had been kicked out of the mansion thanks to Matthew's schemes. Just like her, Lenox had become Matthew's victim.

"Talk to him," Lenox said. "Tell him you're sorry. Say you've made a mistake. You don't have to mean it. You just have to say it."

"And then what?" Catherine asked. "Hope he suddenly becomes soft again? That he forgets everything I did?"

"He doesn't have to forget. He just has to say one word to the board. That's it. And then you're safe."

May stepped beside her and crouched down. "We'll help you later, alright? If you still want to mess with him after this, we'll figure something out. But right now, you're out of options. You need him."

Catherine took a slow breath. Since Matthew wanted her to bend, then she was doing just that. They were right. She could have her revenge later, but for now, she needed to lower her pride and coax that evil man.