Chapter 132: An unexpected cross in paths

As Selen and her driver walked past the central food court toward the elevators, she noticed a woman stepping out of a high-end baby boutique directly across the hall. The woman was holding a small shopping bag, her hand resting naturally over a very visible belly bump that was clearly framed by her coat.

Selen froze instantly as she recognized her. It was Katherine, Clancy’s sister.

Before Selen could even process the sudden shock of the encounter or decide whether to turn around, Katherine looked up and caught her eye.

The moment Katherine registered Selen’s presence, her expression shifted from calm relaxation to pure, frantic disbelief.

Considering their heavy, complicated past and the toxic history that had forced Selen into staying away for over seven years, Katherine did not hesitate for a single second.

She practically ran across the polished floor toward Selen, her boots clicking sharply against the tile as she closed the distance between them before Selen could move away.

"Selen! Oh my god, Selen, please don’t walk away," Katherine gasped out, her voice trembling with immediate emotion as she came to an abrupt halt right in front of her. She did not try to make a polite greeting, maintain high-society pleasantries, or hide behind their family’s usual armor.

Instead, she began apologizing immediately, the words spilling out of her in a frantic, desperate rush. "I am so incredibly sorry. I have wanted to tell you this for years, Selen. The way I treated you, for the way my family treated you when you were pregnant, the awful things that were said, and the way we let you leave without a single shred of support, it was completely monstrous. You did not deserve any of it." she said with tears.

Selen stood entirely still, her posture rigid as she listened to the unfiltered confession. Her driver moved up slightly, his physical presence a silent boundary of security, but Selen raised her hand gently to signal that she was under complete control of the situation.

She looked at Katherine’s flushed face and then down at her visible belly bump, her mind spinning with a thousand memories of the night she was cast out by the Avelinos.

"Katherine," Selen said, her voice remaining low, steady, and entirely calm, matching her standard professional profile. "You do not need to do this in the middle of a public corridor." Selen said as she looked at onlookers.

"No, I do need to do this," Katherine insisted, her eyes watering as she shook her head firmly, completely ignoring the shoppers walking past them. She took a shuddering breath, her hand pressing more firmly against her abdomen.

"Seeing you here today, right now, Selen, I truly believe this is a sign. I believe that seeing you is a sign that this pregnancy will not be like the rest. I have had so many heartbreaks before this, so many failed attempts that tore me apart, and I always felt it was because of the cosmic weight of what we did to you.

Meeting you like this, when I am finally carrying this child, feels like a clean break from my curse. I need you to know that I never agreed with what happened to you." she said.

The raw desperation in Katherine’s voice cut straight through the awkwardness of the encounter. She was completely unraveled, looking at Selen not with high society arrogance, but with the fragile hope of a woman trying to protect her unborn child from the sins of her past.

"When Clancy found out the truth and completely tore into the family, I realized how broken our dynamics were. Seeing you now, knowing that my niece and nephews are eight years old and I have not even been a part of their lives because of my guilt and shame, it breaks my heart.

Now that I am carrying this baby, the sheer weight of what we put you through when you were completely alone makes me sick. Please, Selen, you do not have to forgive me, and you do not have to let me near your home, but please just hear me when I say I am deeply, truly sorry for my part in your pain." she continued through tears.

The raw sincerity in Katherine’s voice cut straight through the boundaries of the encounter. Selen looked at her former sister-in-law, recognizing that this apology was not a calculated move.

It was a deeply personal, authentic release of guilt from a woman who was finally facing motherhood herself after years of private sorrow. The sharp friction of the old grudge began to ease just a fraction.

"Thank you for saying that, Katherine," Selen replied softly, her tone entirely genuine. "It takes a lot of courage to face the past like this. I appreciate the apology, and I am glad you told me the truth about how you felt." Selen said.

Katherine wiped the tears from her cheek, letting out a shaky breath as she looked at Selen with immense gratitude.

"Thank you for just listening to me. Knowing that you are back, and that you can look at me without hatred, gives me so much strength for this baby. I want to be a better person for this child, Selen. I want our family tree to finally have some honest, healthy branches. If you ever need anything, or if you ever decide you are comfortable letting the kids meet their aunt, I will be right here, completely on your terms." Katherine said.

"We are taking things step by step, Katherine," Selen explained calmly, keeping her boundaries clear. "But I am glad we ran into each other today. Congratulations on your pregnancy." Selen said, hinting at wanting to end the interaction already.

"Thank you," Katherine whispered, stepping back to give her some space.

Selen gave her a final respectful nod, turned toward her driver, and continued her walk toward the elevators. As they stepped into the parking structure and loaded the party decorations into the back seat, Selen sat back against the chair with a profound sense of clarity.

The pieces of her life in England were moving rapidly, but for the first time in years, the old ghosts were losing their power to hurt her, leaving her entirely free to manage her family’s future on her own terms.