The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 142 : Depression

The girls quietly went into the basement and got in one of the Hover-Buses. They did not want anyone to see them at the court. The government intended to keep the fact that a member of the Royal Family was the victim a secret. Further, if the rebel's intent to attack Dusk Hale was known, it would open up a lot of questions on her relation to the Royal Family and bring into public eye speculations that were today discussed only in some quarters. Her vulnerability was not something Julien wanted publicised.

Dusk still wondered how it was possible that a trial so large in magnitude would be kept a secret. However, she decided it was not her problem. The incident and the attack on her had actually frightened her but she did not want to respond by retreating into one of the palaces that Lord Sunjune seem to think is the best solution.

She could think of no other reason why she was forced to stay at Occulta Palace for 2 months earlier. Catherine was just an excuse. She was glad that there were no palaces in Ci'gazze and she hoped the Emperor had not considered building one there for Rosemary and Catherine! Having Imperial Security monitor her every move was bad enough. She wondered if Lord Sunjune had a report on how many times she drank water in a day and which days she had alcohol...

Catherine was quiet and subdued. She had not spoken at all since the ICJ had order her to be quiet, except when he asked her about the compensation. They returned to Occulta Palace, and for some reason, Catherine was reluctant to go to her own home, the Flower Palace.

Lady Crystala joined them along with Dawn, who had been keeping her company ever since she came to Regis the previous night. Dusk in fact, did not even know when Dawn reached the Palace. She had not come till late evening. After dinner Dusk had been busy with some catch-up work that she needed to do with the university course.

Lady Crystala did not bother to wake up Dusk and ensured that Dawn had dinner properly. Next day, she let Dawn sleep peacefully till almost 9:30 when the girls left. Dawn had never slept in a palace before and the bed was just awesome. She did not get up early like she had planned. Lady Crystala took her along for shopping and to the parlour and spa, enjoying the reactions of the teenager to new things she had never experienced before.

They sat in the garden, having lunch. Neither of the three wanted to talk. Dawn tried to tell what she had done but stopped talking when she found even Catherine were not responding.

Crystala took one look at morose look at the face of the girls and knew they were upset when the details of the plot were disclosed in the Hearing.

"Dusk, what is the settlement that Lord Cartier offered you? I thought it was only the Cartier Manor. But I think it was more." Catherine asked at last.

Scarlet looked warily. She knew the settlement because Julien had told her about it. But she was not sure how Catherine would react to it. The amount Dusk got was lower but had escalated in value.

For some reason, Catherine found, Dusk looked extremely embarrassed. Seeing all eyes on her, Dusk knew she could not keep quiet. "Along with Cartier Manor he gave me the Cartier Fruit Masters Inc. shares."

The transaction now made sense. Catherine had wondered why Dusk would suddenly spend billions buying a company when earlier she was fighting against investing far smaller amounts. It looked out of character, but it made sense if she had got the company free. Catherine also realised how that single action had changed her public image.

Then the value proposition dawned on Catherine and she looked on aghast. "He agreed to give you a $5 Billion company? Brother Julien must have really scared him."

"Cath, the shares at that time were valued somewhere at $1.2 Billion. Didn't you listen to what the Advocate General said? In fact, considering how we got Rojes at lower than market capitalisation, the value of Cartier Fruit would be also be lower than the 1.2 Billion of market price at that time. Both of the assets together also, it is less than what you got." Scarlet said.