From Broken to Beloved-Chapter 165- make a decision

Catherine had no interest whatsoever in Gerald’s wedding—and she didn’t even remember that today was the day Gerald and Lucca were getting married. To her, she had long since stopped paying attention to them. Although news of their wedding had circulated a few days earlier, Catherine hadn’t bothered to remember the exact date.

She had once said she would expose everything Lucca had done at her wedding and completely ruin her reputation. But Lucca was already miserable enough now, and Catherine herself had Bert by her side. The urge for revenge simply wasn’t that strong anymore.

Gerald or Lucca—both had become complete strangers to her. Every day, countless strangers got married in this world. There was no reason for her to care.

It wasn’t until she got up, washed, and started changing clothes that she realized the outfit Bert had brought for her was unusually formal. It was the weekend—she should have been wearing something simple and comfortable.

When she looked at Bert, she realized he, too, was dressed formally. A tailored black suit, exquisite and subtly sensual cufflinks, a perfectly knotted tie, and a neatly folded pocket square—every detail spoke of elegance, maturity, and quiet restraint.

When he pressed his lips together and moved through a crowd with that calm, composed expression, it was as though everything around him existed merely to set him off. He didn’t need to say a word—his presence alone was enough to make him stand out.

Watching him like this, Catherine couldn’t help but feel her heart race and her cheeks warm.

She had always known he was a captivating man. She’d thought that once they were together, she wouldn’t be so affected by him anymore—but to her surprise, he still left her dizzy and breathless.

Bert adjusted his cufflinks, lifted his gaze, and asked when he noticed her staring,

"What is it?"

His expression was restrained, his eyes deep and steady.

Catherine quickly pulled her gaze back.

"Is today some special day? Why are we both dressed so formally?"

Bert walked over and leaned casually against the nearby cabinet, tilting his head slightly as he looked her over, an eyebrow lifting.

"You don’t know what day it is today?"

The outfit she was wearing had been chosen by him as well—a camel-red knitted dress that traced her slender, graceful figure. The color was warm and perfect for autumn and winter, making her skin look porcelain-smooth and her beauty all the more striking.

Paired with a coat on top, it was warm, stylish—and undeniably beautiful.

Most of the time, Bert preferred Catherine in dresses. She was rather slim, and trousers tended to make her look almost too slight, like a paper cutout. Dresses balanced that out beautifully, making her proportions—and her overall presence—look softer, more harmonious, more pleasing to the eye.

Once he managed to put a little more weight on her, he’d consider designing more trousers for her then.

Catherine shook her head, indicating that she truly had no idea what day it was. Bert smiled faintly.

"Today is the day your former fiancé is getting married."

Catherine shot him a look. Was it really necessary for him to sound so sour? Gerald was long, long in the past for her—so far past that it hardly mattered. And now Gerald was marrying Lucca, of all people.

"Are we going to their wedding?"

She frowned slightly. To be honest, she had no desire to go at all. Back when Gerald had broken off their engagement, it had been common knowledge throughout Burg Eltz. If she showed up at their wedding today, who knew what people would say?

If she were alone, it wouldn’t matter. But she was with Bert now. How would others look at him? What would they say about him?

She knew the truth about the man from two years ago—but no one else did. All the outside world knew was that she had slept with someone. People would surely mock Bert for choosing a woman with such a tarnished reputation. Instinctively, Catherine resisted the idea. She didn’t want Bert to be placed in such a position.

She loved him too much to allow others to speak ill of him because of her.

Bert saw straight through her thoughts. He stepped forward, gently wrapped an arm around her waist, and looked down at her.

"Of course we’re going," he said softly. "We’re going to prove your innocence."

Catherine opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her. His voice was unhurried, steady, and calm.

"Don’t you know me by now? Even if the man from two years ago hadn’t been me, I still wouldn’t care about any rumors or gossip. I would still take you to any public occasion without hesitation."

Catherine stared at him blankly. His eyes were deep and tranquil, like a still sea, filling her with an overwhelming sense of security.

"Have you forgotten what I said?" he continued. "Once I, Bert, make a decision, no one can shake it." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

At that moment, Catherine truly felt like crying.

He loved her not merely through sweet words or romance, but by gently guiding her heart out of the shadows of the past, by protecting her from even the smallest harm.

His love, much like the man he was, gave her a steady sense of happiness and security—and, just as importantly, a great deal of confidence.

A good love, and a good partner, are meant to make a person feel warm and whole from the inside out.

That was exactly how Catherine felt now. And the way he loved her only made her want to love him more, and better—because she felt that only by loving him just as deeply could she be worthy of all the love he gave her.

So although Catherine had initially resisted attending the wedding, after hearing Bert’s words, she chose to go with him—head held high, confidence restored.

As for Bert, he had always lived freely, unrestrained and fearless. Just as he had said, he had never cared about anyone’s gaze, nor about rumors or idle talk. He carried no such burdens. He was simply himself. Whom he loved, what he chose to do—no one had the power to stop him.

And when it came to Catherine, his determination was absolute. He wanted her, and so he loved her without the slightest hesitation or fear.

By the time Bert and Catherine arrived at Gerald and Lucca’s wedding, the ceremony had already begun. They quietly found seats toward the back. Bert hadn’t come to truly attend the wedding anyway—he was there to watch the spectacle—so seating hardly mattered.

Gerald wore a cold, expressionless face throughout. Lucca, on the other hand, was glowing with happiness and pride—especially after spotting Catherine entering through the back with Bert. Her smile only grew sweeter.

To Lucca, Gerald was someone she had successfully snatched away from Catherine. Now that Gerald was marrying her, she believed she had won—and so she reveled in her triumph.

What she didn’t know was that, to Catherine, Gerald had long since been discarded like something worthless. Even if Catherine had never ended up with Bert—even if she were still single—Gerald would never again have been someone she cared about.

So Catherine couldn’t understand where Lucca’s smugness came from—and she didn’t care to.

Every detail of the wedding had been planned by Lucca herself. Gerald had originally insisted on breaking off the engagement, only to suddenly change his mind one day and suggest getting married instead. Naturally, Lucca had been overjoyed.

After the plagiarism scandal, Lucca had hit rock bottom, suffering both professionally and emotionally. Gerald’s sudden proposal was like a lifeline—it made her feel reborn. Once again, she lived with confidence, arrogance, and flamboyant pride.

What Lucca didn’t know was that Gerald was marrying her merely as a stopgap measure—an unwilling compromise with Bert to save his company. Nor did she know that an even more devastating blow awaited her at this very wedding.

She believed, with absolute confidence, that Gerald had finally developed genuine feelings for her over the years.