Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 512: I’ll deal with them tomorrow

Kathrine’s thoughts had only just drifted away from Anna when another notification lit up her screen.

Marcus.

Her expression shifted instantly.

He wanted to meet her.

Alone.

And specifically without Ethan knowing.

For a brief second, she considered ignoring it. Pretending she hadn’t seen it. Marcus was not a man who made casual requests, and she didn’t like the tone implied between the lines.

But after everything Ethan had told her earlier, she understood exactly what this was.

A test.

Or worse—a negotiation.

If Marcus believed she was a liability to his son’s future, then of course he would want to assess her personally.

Kathrine’s jaw tightened slightly.

She wouldn’t avoid it.

If he wanted to measure her, she would let him.

And she would make sure he left with no doubts.

Without hesitating further, she typed a short reply agreeing to meet. Calm. Direct. No emotion.

Once the message was sent, she set the phone aside and tried to let the thought rest.

But before she could settle back into stillness—

"How long are you planning on staring at your phone?" Ethan’s voice came from across the room. "Your man needs attention."

Kathrine flinched slightly, snapping out of her thoughts.

She looked up.

And immediately forgot whatever she had been thinking about.

Ethan stood near the bathroom doorway with nothing but a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His hair was still damp, water tracing faint lines down his neck and collarbone.

She hadn’t even heard him come out.

Her eyes widened before she could stop herself.

Ethan noticed.

He didn’t smile.

But there was unmistakable satisfaction in the way he watched her.

"You weren’t this focused on me five minutes ago," he remarked casually.

Kathrine swallowed, quickly attempting to regain composure.

"I was thinking," she said, though her voice betrayed the distraction.

"About?" he asked, stepping closer.

Her gaze flickered back to the phone on the bed before she could stop it.

Ethan’s eyes followed the movement.

"You’ve been holding that since before I went in to shower," he said quietly. "And you’re still holding it."

Kathrine straightened slightly. "It’s nothing important."

He raised a brow. "You’re a terrible liar."

Kathrine let out a soft sigh before breaking into a quiet chuckle.

"Are you jealous, babe?" she asked, stepping down from the bed and walking toward him.

She stopped right in front of him, tilting her head slightly as she studied his expression.

Ethan didn’t look amused. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"No," he replied calmly. "But when you’re with me, I want all of your attention."

The seriousness in his tone made her laugh even more.

"Oh, you’re impossible," she teased.

Kathrine remembered clearly—they had practically spent the entire day together. Between work, the drive, the conversation about Marcus, and now this quiet evening at his place, there had barely been a moment apart.

And yet here he was.

Still demanding more.

"You know," she said playfully, stepping closer, "technically we’ve been together the whole day. And you still want my attention?"

Her hand lifted, tracing lightly along the line of his chest, following the firm contour of muscle beneath her fingertips. The towel sat low on his waist, water droplets still clinging to his skin.

Ethan inhaled slowly but didn’t step back.

"Quantity doesn’t equal focus," he said quietly.

She raised a brow. "Oh? And you think I wasn’t focused?"

"Yes," Ethan said smoothly, stepping closer, "because if you were giving me your full attention, I wouldn’t still have this towel wrapped around me."

The bluntness of his words made Kathrine blush instantly.

"Ethan," she muttered, half embarrassed, half amused.

He watched her reaction carefully, clearly pleased with himself.

She couldn’t deny it—there was something dangerously distracting about him standing there like that. The memory of being pressed against him, of the way he looked at her when they were alone, still lingered fresh in her mind.

And yet...

She had been glued to her phone.

Even after he had stepped out of the shower.

Even after he had been standing in front of her for a full minute.

Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I’m really intrigued by whoever you were chatting with," he said casually. "Maybe I should send them a warning."

That snapped her out of her daze.

"What?" she gaped.

"Yes," he continued calmly. "I’m sure it’s your assistant. The one who keeps you buried in work all day."

Kathrine crossed her arms, trying to suppress her smile.

"You’re unbelievable."

"I’m observant," he corrected.

Ever since she stepped into Hugo’s position, the weight of Bennett Enterprise had fallen entirely on her shoulders. Meetings, investors, crisis control, media, board pressure—she had been working harder than she ever had in her life.

Ten times harder.

And Ethan had seen it.

"You barely sleep," he added, stepping closer. "You answer emails at midnight. And now you’re texting someone during my designated time."

She raised a brow. "Designated time?"

"Yes. When you’re in my presence, I expect priority."

Kathrine couldn’t help laughing.

"You sound like a spoiled king."

"And you’re my overworked queen," he replied smoothly.

She shook her head, but there was no irritation in her expression.

"I’m done with it now," she said softly, though Ethan could still hear the faint strain beneath her words.

His hand tightened slightly around her waist.

"And what if they interrupt again?" he asked quietly.

"Then I’ll deal with them tomorrow," she replied, her tone turning steady, almost authoritative. Her fingers traced slowly down his chest, deliberate and unhurried. "Because right now, all my attention is yours."

The words settled between them like a promise.

Ethan studied her for a second longer, searching her eyes to make sure she meant it. When he saw no hesitation there, only warmth and quiet certainty, something in his expression softened.

"Good," he murmured.

He pulled her closer, and this time there was no distraction, no phone, no unfinished thought lingering in the background. Just the steady rhythm of their breathing blending together.

Kathrine rested her forehead against his, her earlier tension finally dissolving. The weight of responsibilities, Marcus’s message, the company’s pressure—all of it faded into the quiet intimacy of the room.

His hands slid gently along her back as she leaned into him, surrendering not out of weakness but by choice.

Outside, the city lights flickered against the windows.

Inside, the world narrowed to just the two of them—slow touches, soft laughter, whispered reassurances.

And as the night deepened, they let everything else wait until morning.