Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 158: The Reveal

Chapter 158: The Reveal

Catherine hurried to her aunt’s side, her smile warm as she greeted Arthur.

"Hello, Uncle."

Arthur nodded in response, his lips curling in approval. He had always liked this girl. She had once nearly gone toe-to-toe with him, fiercely standing up for Jerica and Jared. At the time, he assumed she was simply a close friend of theirs, but he later realized—she had done it for Harold Braddock.

The Glover women fall hard when they love.

He watched as Lydia and Catherine whispered quietly to each other, their bond evident. He didn’t bother to listen—whatever it was, it was their business.

A minute after Catherine’s arrival, the air in the room shifted.

The heavy doors swung open, and Richard Glover, the family patriarch, entered.

Everyone immediately stood, a silent show of respect, waiting for him to take his seat.

Richard exhaled deeply, his sharp gaze sweeping the room. "I called you all here for a preemptive reading of my will." His voice was calm yet commanding. "I will not have my children fighting over my estate after I’m gone."

"Daddy!" Lydia cut in, her tone distressed. "Don’t say that. You’re going to live forever."

Richard’s lips twitched slightly in amusement. He knew how much his daughter adored him.

"But I want to do this while I’m alive," Richard insisted.

Arthur reached for Lydia’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She bit her lip but fell silent.

And so, the will was read.

As Philip had predicted, the lion’s share—the wealth and conglomerate Richard had inherited—was entrusted to Catherine.

She was named the heir of the Glover family.

It was made clear that the family line would continue through Catherine’s children.

The wealth Richard himself had earned over the years was divided among his other children. Lydia received the island she loved. Ragland was given the ski resort. Philip, being more involved in business, was given a slightly larger share—he inherited their summer estate and several companies run by their proxies.

Then came the twist.

Richard leaned forward, his tone resolute.

"I am going to allow Brandon’s secrets to be exposed," he declared. "He will make a public apology for his cruelty against women. That is what my dear daughter wants."

His gaze softened as he turned to Lydia.

Lydia nodded, her expression unwavering.

Philip, however, was livid.

If Brandon’s scandal broke out, it would send shockwaves through their businesses. Stock prices would plummet. The family’s reputation would be dragged through the mud.

Would his father really burn down the entire family name just because he was on his deathbed?

And Catherine as heir? Not him? Not his children?

Unacceptable.

Philip rose to speak, but before he could utter a single word, Richard shut him down.

"I will speak to you in a month’s time."

Philip’s face darkened with barely restrained fury. His hands clenched into fists, but he knew better than to challenge his father now. With a sharp exhale, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

Brandon, on the other hand, began to beg.

But Richard was unmoved.

When he realized his father would not be swayed, his desperation turned to rage.

His eyes flickered toward Lydia, blaming her.

"You—" he snarled, lunging forward.

But before he could touch her, Arthur moved.

With one swift motion, Arthur grabbed Brandon’s arm and twisted it sharply—

CRACK.

A strangled cry tore from Brandon’s throat as he crumpled to the floor, clutching his broken wrist.

Richard barely spared him a glance.

"Keep him under house arrest until everything is settled," he ordered coolly.

Lydia turned to Catherine, her expression softening.

"Congratulations," she said warmly.

Catherine nodded, still absorbing everything.

Lydia turned back to her father, her voice tender. "Thank you."

"I want to have dinner with your family," Richard said.

Lydia understood that her father wanted to meet her daughter and son-in-law. She nodded.

With that, she and Arthur left together, the door clicking shut behind them.

And just like that, the future of the Glover family had been rewritten.

-----

Harold sat in the lavish café, absently stirring his coffee as he waited.

He wasn’t sure why he had come. He had planned to end things with Catherine—to give her closure so she could move on.

And yet, here he was.

Strangely, the thirty minutes he had been waiting didn’t feel long at all. Maybe he had developed Stockholm syndrome after weeks of not seeing her following him everywhere. That must be it.

Just as he considered leaving, the door swung open.

Catherine Glover entered, moving with an urgency that caught his attention.

Harold froze.

Something about her had changed.

She wasn’t the same awkward girl who used to hover in the background, watching him from afar. The way she carried herself now—it was different. There was a self-assurance in her stride, an undeniable presence that demanded attention.

For a moment, he just stared.

Then, he stood and greeted her with a small smile. "Hello, Catherine."

"I’m sorry, I was caught at—"

"Ladies are never late," he interjected smoothly, winking as he pulled out a chair for her. His upbringing never allowed him to forget his manners.

Catherine’s cheeks tinged pink.

This was the first time they were meeting in such a relaxed setting. And for the first time, he was looking only at her.

They settled in and ordered.

Catherine couldn’t stop studying him.

Harold had always carried a quiet loneliness about him, and perhaps that was what had drawn her to him in the first place. But now? Now, that loneliness felt heavier.

No, it was more than that.

He looked... borderline broken.

Her heart clenched.

"You look good," Harold said, breaking the silence.

Catherine’s lips parted slightly before she spoke.

"You look terrible."

Harold blinked, then ran a hand through his hair. "Do I look that bad?" He chuckled lightly, attempting to brush it off. "I came straight from work—maybe that’s why."

But Catherine wasn’t convinced. Her gaze was filled with something that made Harold uneasy. Pity.

He didn’t want that from her.

She hesitated for a second before chewing on the inside of her cheek. Then, she straightened.

"I have something to tell you," she said.