Whisper Destiny

Chapter 82

~ Catherine ~

"You're cheating, you asshole," Natasha's exasperated voice carried through the living room, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the crackling fireplace.

"I'm not cheating. You're just a sore loser, Natty," Chase quipped, the smirk in his voice as audible as if it were painted across his face.

I smiled to myself, the knife in my hand pausing mid-slice as I worked on the apples for our dessert tonight. Their playful banter filled the lake house with an easy warmth, the kind of noise that made a place feel like home. It was good to hear Natasha this relaxed after everything—the months of relentless work for her Savoy deal, my whirlwind spring-summer fashion weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris and, of course, the lingering shadows of the Alice situation. The last few weeks had been a storm of distance and schedules, but now, here we were, tucked away from the world, sharing quiet moments like these.

When she suggested coming to her family's lake house, I agreed without hesitation. It had been years since I'd last been here, and the thought of returning—of grounding ourselves in a place so serene—felt like exactly what we both needed.

I couldn't deny it: after our getaway in Nice, I'd started craving moments like this more often—moments that felt normal. It was a stark contrast to the way I used to be, burying myself in work, locking myself away in the office for days on end. But now... now I wanted more... more of moment like this, more colour in my life, more warmth, with Natasha in it.

For good measure, we invited Louisa and Chase to join us. The four of us had never vacationed together before, but the idea sounded perfect: close friends, a cozy lake house, and no obligations. The more, the merrier, as Natasha put it. And honestly, seeing the way Chase and Louisa blended into this shared rhythm of ours made the weekend feel even more complete in chaotic way.

"Need any help?" Louisa's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I turned to see her leaning against the kitchen doorway, her arms crossed, her easygoing smile softening the sharp edges of her features.

"Nah, I'm almost done," I replied.

"Just a simple dinner tonight."

She ambled over and perched herself on the edge of the kitchen island, one leg tucked underneath her.

"You know, Cate, I like you better like this," Louisa said, her tone playful but her words carrying weight. She leaned casually against the kitchen island, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You're more relaxed, casual... normal. You look so... domesticated now."

I chuckled softly, shaking my head as I finished slicing the apples, as I plan to bake the puff pastry apple rings as our dessert tonight. "Me too," I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I like me better like this."

"And this..." Louisa gestured loosely, as if encompassing not just the cozy kitchen scene but something larger, "this is all because of Natasha, isn't it?"

Her question hung in the air for a moment, and I paused, the knife still in my hand. There was no point in pretending otherwise. "Yes, she is," I answered honestly, my voice softer than I intended.

Louisa's gaze didn't waver. I could feel her studying me, her expression shifting into something more serious. When she finally spoke, her words were firm yet kind. "I really hope you won't do something stupid, Cate. Like pushing her away... the way you tend to do when things start feeling too real." She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "She's worth it. Worth fighting for. I want you to realize that."

But I didn't respond, instead turning my attention back to the task at hand.

After dinner, we all drifted to the living room, carrying plates of the warm apple puff pastry rings I'd prepared and glasses of wine. The fireplace cast a soft, golden glow across the room, and the air was filled with the faint scent of cinnamon and mulled wine. It was the kind of night that made you want to linger, to savor every second.