Chapter 210
‘Shut. Your, Mouth.” Each word was like an ice cube, precise and cutting. ‘Get out of here right now!”
Outside, the night was dark as ink, with no moon visible. The light pierced through the dense darkness, shooting toward the distance, feeble and pitiful, appearing particularly desolate.
Beyond the window, tall trees swayed in the wind, mirroring Catherine’s current state of mind.
In that moment, Catherine felt utterly desolate. The son she had raised with her own hands–though not her biological child–was now rebelling against her for a woman. He was even willing to sever their mother–son relationship.
For several heartbeats, Catherine stood frozen in disbelief. How could this be happening? What kind of spell had that bitch Sophia cast on Henry? She’d always known Sophia was trash, unworthy of the Harding name, only capable of using cheap tricks to seduce men.
The overhead light cast a harsh glow on Henry’s handsome face, highlighting the murderous intent in his expression. His eyes were deep and bright, seemingly able to penetrate her very soul as he stared directly at her. The intense hostility radiating from him was almost palpable, threatening to crush her.
Catherine didn’t immediately lash out, instead studying Henry carefully, searching his face for any trace of the boy she’d raised.
“Sophia is important to you,” she finally said, her voice unnaturally calm. “But what about me? Henry, I’m your mother. All these years, I’ve taken care of you, raised you. Have I ever asked you for anything in return?”
In truth, Catherine had been a good stepmother. She was the younger sister of Henry’s birth mother, who had passed away shortly after giving birth to him. leaving the newborn behind. Richard had loved his wife deeply, becoming so devastated after her death that he nearly collapsed from grief. For an entire week, he didn’t eat anything at all, his body wasting away to skin and bone. William had been the one to handle his daughter–in–law’s funeral arrangements.
During that dark time, the Harding household had lost its mistress. Richard had no will to live, locking himself in his room to mourn his wife. The family was falling apart. Catherine, heartbroken for her nephew and brother–in–law, had moved into the Harding home shortly after her sister’s death to care for Henry. Without Catherine, there would be no Henry Harding today. Without her meticulous care, it was questionable whether Henry would have even survived to adulthood.
It was Catherine’s selfless dedication that had helped Richard emerge from his grief and allowed Henry to grow up healthy. This foundation had secured her position as the Harding family matriarch.
Henry remained unmoved by her reminder. “Your care was directed at me,” he replied coldly. “It has nothing to do with Sophia. Get this straight–I’m the one who owes you, not Sophia.”
As Henry spoke, an overwhelming pressure seemed to emanate from him.
Catherine felt a surge of grief and rage. “Yes!” she shouted. “I raised you! And yet you defy my wishes. Do you even consider me your mother anymore?”
Henry stood tall and straight, like a towering tree, unyielding. “I’ve always respected and loved you, Mother. I’ve always kept you in my heart. But that doesn’t mean blind obedience is the only way to honor you. True filial piety isn’t just empty words or endlessly satisfying unreasonable demands. It certainly doesn’t mean letting you hurt my wife, Sophia! As a mother, what you should be doing is letting go–stop interfering in matters between So and me.
His words were clear and resolute, each syllable landing with the weight of an ultimatum.
Catherine gritted her teeth and decided to force Henry’s hand. “If you insist on protecting Sophia, you’ll lose me as your mother. Make your choice!
However, Catherine had severely overestimated her influence over Henry.
Just when she thought Henry would eventually yield, he stood his ground without the slightest hesitation, “What if I asked you to choose between Father and Grace?” Henry scoffed at her ultimatum. “You know this is a meaningless choice. Both are people you don’t want to give up. So why force me to choose? Sophia is a good person. If you don’t like her, stay away from her, but don’t hurt her!”
He realized now that his previous dislike of Sophia had been misguided. He had believed she was calculating and manipulative, but he now saw that most of his perceptions had been wrong–he had misunderstood Sophia all along.
Catherine stood motionless, taking what felt like an eternity to find her voice again. “You… you’re really choosing to protect Sophia? You’d reject me, your mother, for her?”
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Chapter 210
Henry clarified, ‘I’m not rejecting you. I’m adding someone else who can respect you. You should learn to appreciate what you have now and stop meddling in my household affairs!”
Only now did he truly understand Sophia’s suffering. For more than six years after marrying into the Harding family, she had never quarreled with his mother or sister, enduring their mistreatment silently. How much pain had she suffered? His heart, which had already ached once tonight, began to throb again with a sharp, spreading pain. He desperately wanted to see Sophia, to look at her, even if they didn’t exchange a single word. Just seeing her would be enough.
The son she had raised with her own hands had turned against her without hesitation, leaving Catherine humiliated and devastated.
She simply couldn’t accept this outcome. With tears in her eyes, she shouted at Henry, “What’s so great about Sophia? Didn’t you hate her the most?”
Then a new thought was born in her mind.
“And that child!” she exclaimed, her voice rising with each word. “Yes, that’s right, the child!”
Her eyes gleamed with cruel triumph as she played what she believed was her trump card.
“Billy isn’t even your biological son! Why are you raising someone else’s child? Why willingly endure such humiliation?”
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