Whisper Destiny

Chapter 8

~ Natasha ~

As the night wore on, each passing minutes felt like eternity. I found myself at my breaking point, unable to bear the wait until midnight, she just wanted to go home. This party is not her scene. I try to call Nick, but only meet with unanswered call.

I stood alone on the balcony, accompanied by the moon that cast its ethereal glow upon the scene.

As the cold seeped into my bones, I contemplated returning to the warmth of the ballroom, but a sudden gesture shattered my solitude. A familiar scent, enveloped me as a jacket was draped over my shoulders. Startled, I turned to face the person behind me, only to find myself locked in a silent exchange with Catherine. Her presence stirred my emotion.

Before I could protest, before I could push her away, her voice, soft and imploring, pierced the stillness like a whisper on the wind. "Just take it, you're freezing" she urged, her words a gentle plea against the backdrop of my resentment. "And, please stay. I will go..."

But before she could turn away, something within me halted her departure. The emotions swirling inside me were a turbulent storm, fueled by a mixture of hurt, anger, and perhaps a hint of vulnerability.

"Stop," I interjected, my voice tinged with an unexpected edge. "Stop doing what you're doing right now. We're not friends, nor are we related in any way."

Catherine remained silent, her expression unreadable, her demeanor poised and calm in contrast to my mounting frustration.

"I still hate you," I continued, my words punctuated by the bitterness that had festered within me for far too long. "Because you took away what was mine a long time ago, and I'll never accept you in my life."

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I unleashed the pent-up emotions that had been festering beneath the surface.

"Don't think that by giving me a gift like that you can change my mind about you," I spat, my voice laced with venom. "So stop trying to be nice to me. Stop trying to be friendly. I hate it. And I'm not my mom or dad. I'm not going to fall into your trap."

My voice rang sharply through the night air, the words hanging between us like a heavy curtain of tension.

Yet despite my outburst, Catherine remained completely still. Her expression didn't change. She simply stood there, silent, composed.

Like a statue.

Unmoved by my accusations. Unshaken by my anger.

Before I could launch into another attack, my father's voice sliced through the chaos.

"Enough, Natasha."

The authority in his tone halted me instantly.

I turned toward him, startled, the fire in my eyes dimming under the weight of his voice.

"Come here," he said, quieter now, though no less firm. "This is not the place to discuss family matters. People are starting to notice."

He led us toward the VIP lounge, a more secluded space away from curious eyes and listening ears.

By the time we stepped inside, the tension in the room felt thick enough to choke on.

My mother arrived moments later, her presence doing little to soften the charged atmosphere.

"What happened?" she asked.

Her question lingered in the air, heavy with expectation, as my father turned his gaze toward me, silently demanding an explanation.

"Why is it always me?" I snapped, frustration spilling over. "Why am I always the one under scrutiny?"

My father let out an exhausted sigh, which only fueled my anger further.

"Because," he began, disappointment evident in his voice, "you are the one who constantly finds herself in trouble."

My laugh came out sharp and bitter.

"Of course," I said coldly. "You and Mom always defend her, don't you?"

I looked straight at him, resentment burning in my chest.

"But what about me? I'm your daughter, Dad. Not her."

His attempt to reason with me fell on deaf ears as I pushed back even harder, anger rising in my chest like a storm that refused to settle.

"Enough, Natasha." he said finally, his tone firm. "You need to grow up, Natasha. One day you will inherit the responsibility of our family business and take over my position. Thousands of people will be depending on you."

But his words only ignited the fire burning inside me.

With my mother and Catherine sitting silently on the couch, I finally let everything spill out. The raw honesty of my confession hung in the air like a thundercloud ready to break.

"This business isn't where I belong," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I've told you countless times, but you keep trying to force me into this mold. And every time we have this conversation, you lecture me about growing up."

I glanced briefly at my mother before continuing, gathering the courage to reveal what I had been holding back for so long.

"What I want is a future filled with love and understanding. Not a life buried in our family business," I confessed quietly. "And I've found that with someone special. His name is Nicholas."

The words felt heavier once they were spoken.

"We're planning to build a life together," I continued, my heart pounding. "A life based on mutual respect and support. After we graduate, we plan to get engaged and take our relationship to the next step."

The bombshell landed.

My parents were left momentarily speechless, clearly caught off guard by the weight of my revelation. Even Catherine who was usually so composed looked momentarily surprised.

"And when we marry," I added, my voice wavering between defiance and vulnerability, "I want Nick to help me run Grayson Industries."

Silence settled over the room, thick and suffocating.

This was not how I had imagined sharing the news.

But somehow, the truth had forced its way out anyway.

Catherine was the first to break the stillness. Rising gracefully from her seat, she gave a small nod.

"I think it's best if I excuse myself," she said quietly.

And with that, she left the room, leaving the rest of us behind to face the aftermath of my confession.

As my father opened his mouth to respond, my mother quickly intervened.

"We will discuss this at home," she said firmly, her voice leaving little room for argument. "There are still guests outside we need to attend to."

The conversation ended as abruptly as it had begun.

Yet the weight of everything left unsaid lingered heavily in the room.

I had a feeling this discussion was far from over.

But when the time came, I told myself I would be ready to face it.