Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 489: Most people are not me

Kathrine stepped out of Hugo’s ward, the door closing softly behind her.

Roseline’s expression lingered in her mind. That sharp, calculating look. She had clearly suspected that Kathrine and Hugo had discussed something she did not want revealed.

But now that Kathrine knew even her father had begun to question Roseline’s true intentions, a strange calm settled in her chest.

She was no longer alone in her doubts.

Releasing a slow breath, she pulled out her phone and dialed Ben, her father’s assistant.

"Hello, Ben," she said.

The response on the other end made her expression change instantly.

"What do you mean?"

Her steps quickened.

Without another word, she ended the call and hurried out of the hospital, her mind racing.

***

[ Bennett Enterprise ]

"How is this possible?" Kathrine’s voice was tight as she stared at the documents spread across the conference table. "I do not remember us ever signing a clause like this."

Silence hung heavily in the room.

The file lay open in front of her, the official seals and signatures impossible to ignore. Every page carried the Bennett Enterprise authorization stamp. The dates aligned. The legal terms were clear.

According to the agreement, a controlling portion of Bennett Enterprise’s operational rights had been transferred to Glorious International months ago.

Her fingers curled slightly against the table.

No. That was impossible.

This was not a minor collaboration. This was a surrender.

Yet the contract stated it plainly. In black and white.

Her gaze hardened as she flipped to the final page and saw the signature that mattered most.

Her father’s.

A chill ran down her spine.

Either someone had forged this with terrifying precision, or someone within their own walls had orchestrated a takeover while they were distracted.

And somehow, she was only finding out now.

"Ahem."

The deliberate sound broke through her spiraling thoughts.

Kathrine’s eyes snapped toward Ben. He stood a few steps away, hands clasped in front of him, looking unusually hesitant.

"What?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Something in his posture felt cautious. Almost guilty.

"Madam," Ben began carefully, choosing his words, "I know what you are thinking. But the boss did agree to the clause."

Her brows knitted together.

"He believed it would not pose any risk," Ben continued, "especially since your marriage with Mr. Clafford was already being discussed at that time."

The words hit her like cold water.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

All the suspicions she had been weaving in her mind slowly unraveled. This was not a hidden betrayal. Not a forged document. Not a secret conspiracy within the walls.

It had been a decision.

A calculated one.

Her shoulders gradually dropped, the tension draining from them.

"So this means..." she swallowed lightly, forcing herself to stay composed, "we will have to operate under Glorious International?"

Ben nodded apologetically. "Yes, Madam. At least until further restructuring is negotiated."

The room felt different now. Less threatening, yet heavier.

Kathrine had stepped back from company affairs recently, trusting her father to manage everything while she focused on stabilizing the family situation. She had assumed there was still time. That Bennett Enterprise, though weakened, was steady enough to stand on its own.

But seeing Hugo lying in that hospital bed had shaken her.

She could not afford to retreat from her responsibilities anymore.

The company might have suffered losses. It might have endured scrutiny and pressure. But it had not collapsed.

Not yet.

And as long as it still stood, even if only on fragile foundations, she would not let it crumble.

Her gaze returned to the contract.

Working under Glorious International was not the worst outcome. Daniel was pragmatic. He would not deliberately make things difficult, especially given their intertwined interests.

But Daniel was not the only factor anymore.

There was someone else stepping into the picture.

Norma.

The mere thought of her tightened Kathrine’s jaw.

Norma was ambitious. Sharp. And far less restrained. And after knowing what her family caused them, she would sure give them a hard time.

That night at Clafford Mansion, the atmosphere felt unusually heavy.

Daniel had finally opened up.

Not just about business. Not just about strategy. But about himself. About the fractures within his own family that had long been hidden. And among those truths, one name stood out.

Norma.

His aunt.

The woman who had quietly orchestrated the shift in power while keeping even Daniel in the dark.

Kathrine listened in silence as Daniel explained how certain approvals had been rerouted, how internal influence had been exercised at just the right moment, and how the clause involving Bennett Enterprise had been pushed forward under the guise of strengthening alliances.

"She believes in control," Daniel had said calmly, though there was an edge beneath his tone. "And she believes sentiment is weakness."

It was not just a corporate maneuver.

It had been deliberate.

Norma had flipped the table on Bennett Enterprise while allowing Daniel to assume everything was progressing according to plan. By the time he realized the extent of the restructuring, the paperwork had already been sealed.

Kathrine had never met Norma in person.

But she did not need to.

From the way Daniel spoke, from the calculated timing of the takeover, and from the silence that had followed it, she could already form a clear picture.

Norma was not impulsive. She was patient. Strategic. The kind of person who would smile while tightening a noose.

And now that she had secured leverage over Bennett Enterprise, there was no chance she would let it slip through her fingers easily.

Kathrine slowly closed the file.

"Prepare the internal reports," she said calmly. "If we are operating under them, I want every department’s current standing on my desk by tomorrow."

Ben blinked, then straightened. "Yes, Madam."

She lifted her chin slightly, resolve settling into her features.

If she had to work under Glorious International, then she would make sure Bennett Enterprise remained strong enough that one day, they would not need to.

And as for Norma— Kathrine would not be caught unprepared.

***

[Afternoon]

"No doubt you love me so much. I missed you all day and look at you, here you are," Anna said with a cheeky smile as she took a bite from her food.

Daniel’s unexpected appearance at her shooting location had caused quite a stir. Not just among the crew, but across social media too.

Only a day ago they had made their relationship official. The backlash had been brutal. Accusations that Anna had seduced Daniel for roles. Claims that her career was built on favoritism rather than talent.

But the noise slowly died down when they refused to react emotionally. They stood tall, calm, composed, and let her performance speak. Talent, when undeniable, silences the loudest critics.

Daniel smiled faintly as she kept talking. He loved this version of her. Unfiltered. Dramatic. Honest.

Sometimes he found himself wondering, if she had never walked into his life, would he still know what this kind of happiness felt like?

"I heard you visited aunt Norma the other day," he said suddenly.

Anna froze mid bite.

"Oh. So you found out," she replied, her tone shifting just enough to betray her displeasure.

She did not like talking about Norma.

Anna had a strange instinct when it came to people. Like a cat that could sniff out what did not belong. And Norma had always carried a scent of something... off.

She had tried to be polite. Tried to understand why the older woman was cold and quietly hostile toward her. At first Anna assumed it was protectiveness. Maybe Norma simply did not trust her intentions with Daniel.

But now she was not so sure.

"I simply went to warn her," Anna muttered when Daniel remained silent. "And I assume she understood me very clearly."

Daniel did not respond immediately.

Instead, the corner of his lips slowly lifted. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, studying her like she was his favorite scene unfolding in real time.

"And what exactly did you say to her?" he asked, voice calm, eyes amused.

Anna narrowed her gaze slightly. He was not upset. He was entertained.

Which meant he already had a rough idea of what she had done. Otherwise he would have questioned why she went at all. Instead, he was teasing her.

Anna smirked and leaned forward across the table, her eyes locking onto his.

"I warned her," she said softly, "that I do not go easy on anyone who tries to hurt my husband."

The word lingered between them.

Husband.

She said it deliberately.

Daniel’s expression changed in a way that was almost imperceptible to anyone else. The teasing amusement deepened into something warmer. Something proud.

"My husband?" he repeated slowly.

Anna shrugged, pretending nonchalance.

"You went public with me. You stood in front of cameras and chose me. That makes you mine," she said. "At least in spirit."

His smile widened.

"And you threatened my aunt in that spirit?"

"I did not threaten," Anna corrected smoothly. "I clarified boundaries."

Daniel let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly before reaching for his glass.

"You really went there to defend me."

Anna leaned back now, lifting her chin.

"You think I would let someone undermine you from the inside?" she asked. "I can tolerate insults toward me. I have handled worse. But I will not tolerate manipulation around you."

There was no drama in her voice. Just certainty.

Daniel studied her for a moment longer, the amusement fading into something deeper. Respect. Affection. Maybe even a touch of awe.

"You know," he said thoughtfully, "most people would be intimidated by her."

Anna gave him a sweet smile.

"Most people are not me."

That did it.

Daniel chuckled softly and resumed eating, but the satisfaction on his face remained. Not because she confronted Norma.

But because she had claimed him without hesitation.

And Anna noticed.

She always noticed.