Catherine’s POV

Another suffocating breakfast with the family, meaning Richard, who sat at the head of the table, his eyes fixed on his phone as if the rest of us didn’t exist. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Julian wasn’t here. He left early, he mentioned going to meet Ethan about "something serious", which he refused to reveal to me.

Richard switched his phone off and took a slow sip of his black coffee. "We’ll be expecting a guest today," he announced, not looking at anyone in particular. "I trust the house is in order?"

Lisa looked up with a start, setting down her tea. "A guest, Richard? Who is it? I didn’t know we were hosting anyone so soon after... well, everything."

"You don’t need to know who it is," Richard replied with a flat voice and I kinda found it rude. "You only need to ensure they are made to feel welcome. I’ll be out for most of the day on campaign business. I expect no drama upon my return."

He stood up, adjusted his cufflinks, and walked out without another word. Mom stood and followed him, playing the dutiful wife role, which is so annoying. Hopefully, she would start listening to feminists so she can stop playing the role of a servant instead of a wife.

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, whistling lowly. "A mystery guest. How very "Richard" of him. Any guesses, Cat? Maybe a high-level donor? Or perhaps a long-lost relative coming to claim a piece of the throne?"

"I don’t know," I muttered, a cold knot forming in my stomach. "But Richard’s surprises are never actually gifts."

We were still eating when we heard the sound of a car. That was probably the guest. Gabriel and I walked to the window just as a silver town car began to pull away, leaving a mountain of luggage on the curb.

And standing next to the suitcases was Lucy.

She was wearing a tailored white trench coat and oversized sunglasses, looking like she’d just stepped off a flight from Paris. She looked up at the house, a slow smirk spreading across her face.

"You have got to be kidding me," Gabriel whispered. "The guest is Lucy? And by the look of those bags, she’s not here for a weekend getaway. She’s moving in."

"I have to tell Julian," I muttered to myself, pulling out my phone and quickly typing a message.

Catherine [10:14 AM]: Lucy is here as Richard’s guest. She’s with enough luggage to stay for a year. Julian, she’s moving into the house. Whatever they talked about must have been beneficial to the two of them. Hurry up and come home.

I didn’t wait for a reply. I walked over to the entrance just as Lucy made through the door, her heels clicking aggressively. My mother was already there, to welcome her ’husband’s’ guest.

"Hell dear," Lisa greeted her with a huge smile, which made me bawl my fist in annoyance.

"Hi, Mrs. Vaughn," Lucy said, her voice smooth and dripping with a new, artificial sweetness. She slid her sunglasses onto the top of her head. "Nice to meet you, ma’am."

"Nice to meet you too. Richard mentioned you to us."

"That’s very thoughtful of him. He was very insistent that I come stay. He thinks my presence will be... beneficial for everyone."

"Well, I... I suppose," Lisa stammered, her submissiveness taking over. "Please, make yourself comfortable. The staff will help you with your bags."

"Thank you, Lisa," Lucy said, using my mother’s first name which made my jaw tighten. She had no right to address my mom like that.

"I have to step out for a bit. I forgot I promised to pick up some things from the supermarket for the charity gala. Gabriel, Catherine... take care of our Lucy. We don’t want Richard getting upset," Lisa’s voice came.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom, please—-" I started with a frown and a cold voice, but she was already grabbing her purse and heading for the garage.

The second the door closed behind my mother, Lucy’s face changed. The sweetness got replaced by a cold, sharp-edged arrogance. She turned to Gabriel, her eyes lighting up with a charm that I knew was fake.

"Hey Gabs," she purred, walking toward him. "It’s been a few days. You’re looking well. Still the only one in this house with a sense of humor, I imagine?"

Gabriel gave a non-committal shrug, he turned to me and probably noticed my jaw tightening because he quickly became uncomfortable. "I try, Lucy. Welcome back, I guess."

Then, she turned to me. The warmth she’d shown Gabriel died instantly, replaced by a gaze like a splash of acid.

"And you," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "Still hanging around like a bad smell? I’m surprised Richard hasn’t found a place in the Alps to tuck you away in yet."

"Excuse me?" I asked, stepping forward. "You’ve been in this house for five minutes as a guest and you’re already forgetting your place?"

Lucy let out a sharp laugh, before she took a step closer to me. "My place? My place is wherever the Senator wants me to be. And right now, he wants me right here. In the middle of everything. And guess what, he thinks I’m the only one capable of keeping an eye on his precious son."

I was about to attack her for referring to Julian but I remembered Gabriel was here too and so, I couldn’t make him think I have something with Julian.

"You’re a guest, Lucy," I snapped, my voice filled with rage. "A guest. We don’t care why Richard let you here but don’t mistake his interest for permanent status."

Lucy’s eyes narrowed into slits. "What about you, huh? You think you’re so special because you live with them? Don’t forget that you’re just a stray he picked up to make the family portrait look more ’inclusive.’ You’re nothing to them."

"I may not be a Vaughn by blood, Lucy," I said, my voice dropping to a low, steady hiss. "But I am a Vaughn by certificate. The law, the press, and this entire city identify me as family. I have the name and the standing. As for You? You are a guest in a house that doesn’t want you. And if you move funny, or if you disrespect a single member of this family again—myself included—I will make it my personal mission to ensure Richard sees exactly how much of a liability you are."

The air suddenly felt like it was charged with electricity. Lucy stared at me, her chest heaving, clearly shocked that my words hit harder than hers.

Gabriel stepped between us, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Okay, okay! Let’s all just take a breath. It’s a big house. There’s plenty of room for everyone to coexist without drawing blood before lunch."

He looked at me, then at Lucy, a nervous, hopeful smile on his face. "Look, we’re all under a lot of stress. Why don’t we just try to settle these differences? The two of you should try to be friends. For the sake of the house, right?"

Both Lucy and I turned our heads slowly to look at him.

"Shut up, Gabriel," we said in unison.

The fury in my look must have matched Lucy’s, because Gabriel immediately took a step back, his smile vanishing.

"Right," he muttered, holding his hands up in retreat. "I’ll just... go check on my unfinished work."

Lucy turned back to me, her smirk returning, though it was tighter now, more defensive. "We’ll see how long that ’certificate’ protects you, Catherine.."