Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 206: A coincidence

Kathrine blinked in surprise as the man casually took a seat beside her on the bench.Ethan rested one arm across the backrest, his body angled toward her, eyes narrowed with blatant suspicion as he stared.

Of all people in the world...Kathrine definitely hadn’t expected to run into him here.

And stalking? Me? When have I ever— She paused and then pursed her lips.

...Okay, maybe she did follow him a little when she found out he was working with Anna. Just a little to make sure he was the same Ethan her sister had a crush on.

"Mr. Helmsworth, w-what a pleasant surprise," Kathrine said with a stiff, awkward smile.

But it failed. Spectacularly. Because Ethan didn’t return the smile. He just kept staring at her, unimpressed.

"I doubt that," he said flatly, now folding his arms across his chest as if interrogating her.

Kathrine’s lips twitched in irritation. ’What is wrong with this guy? And why is he still wearing that mask like some undercover spy?’

Honestly, she wouldn’t have recognized him at all if not for his voice. That deep, composed tone was unmistakable.

But now, sitting beside her like this...mask on, suspicion dripping from every word...

It felt less like she was stalking him and more like he had come to stalk her.

And that made her shift uneasily on the bench.

"So, Miss Kathrine... you still haven’t answered me." Ethan tilted his head slightly, eyes fixed on her. "Are you stalking me?"

He repeated the question deliberately.

Ethan wasn’t the type to repeat himself—not for anyone. But something about Kathrine’s presence here didn’t sit right with him.

The Kathrine he’d seen in magazines and business articles was always impeccably poised.A proud, confident woman who stood beside her father, sharp and untouchable—the kind who commanded boardrooms and inspired headlines.

Yet the woman sitting beside him now? Was startled, flustered even, stammering out greetings and avoiding his gaze like a nervous intern.

Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly. Was she really the same person?

Because her reaction made him question everything he thought he knew about her.

And for the first time... he was actually curious.

Kathrine on the other hand, clutched her bag a little tighter, subtly pushing it further behind her.

She hadn’t come here to stalk him, as Ethan had made it painfully clear last evening that he wanted nothing to do with her or the blind date arrangement.

But even with him accusing her now... her voice refused to come out.

Was she actually intimidated by him? Or was it because of the thing she was hiding in her bag?

Inside it was another anonymous letter—one that had asked her to meet "the sender" here, in this very park. And like a foolishly intrigued person, Kathrine had driven straight here without thinking twice. But after waiting so long... after expecting to meet someone important or dangerous, all she found was Ethan of all people.

No. I can’t let him get suspicious.

Not about the letter. Not about anything.

Kathrine straightened her posture. The flicker of uncertainty vanished from her eyes, replaced with the elegant poise she was known for.

"You have got it all wrong, Mr. Helmsworth," she said finally, her voice calm and smooth once again.

Her gaze met his steady, confident and unflinching one

For a moment, she looked exactly like the woman the world saw in magazines and business headlines. And Ethan recognized that shift instantly.

Ethan arched his brow in amusement. Just a moment ago, she looked cornered and unsure.Now she sat straighter, her chin lifted, her confidence settling around her like a well-fitted coat.

There she was—the Kathrine everyone talked about.

"Got it wrong, huh?" He murmured, leaning back slightly. His gaze didn’t soften; if anything, it sharpened. "Then explain."

Kathrine didn’t flinch and met him head-on. "There’s no stalking involved," she said evenly. "I came here for something else."

Ethan’s eyes flicked to the bag she had slid behind her. Just for a fraction of a second—but he noticed her subtle movement earlier.

And Kathrine noticed him noticing.

Damn it.

Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, turning his body fully toward her.

"So, this ’something else’ brought you to the exact park I’m in?" His tone was too casual to be casual. "Quite a coincidence."

Kathrine held her breath. She couldn’t tell him about the letter—not when she had no idea who sent it or why.

"Yes," she replied, voice composed. "Coincidences do happen, Mr. Helmsworth."

He hummed, unconvinced.

His eyes drifted to the bag once again. The way she tried to hide it... the way her fingers tightened around it... It made him wonder what she was protecting so fiercely.

But Ethan wasn’t someone who meddled in other people’s private matters. So when he realized Kathrine didn’t intend to say a word, he let it go.

"If you say so," he said quietly, leaning back. "Then let’s call it a coincidence."

He finally dropped the interrogation and looked away.

With a sigh, Ethan rose to his feet. "Well then, I’ll take my leave, Miss Kathrine. You can continue sitting here, watching the kids play."

Just when he turned to leave, but Kathrine spoke up quickly. "I—I’m about to leave too. It’s been too long since I came out."

Her response was too fast, too abrupt.

Ethan raised a brow, clearly noticing her flustered tone, but he didn’t comment on it.

He simply nodded.

Kathrine exhaled softly. The person who had asked her to meet them clearly wasn’t coming.

If they had intended to, they would’ve shown up long ago.

And oddly, Kathrine felt... relieved. Because the last thing she needed was Ethan catching her meeting someone mysterious—especially after he coincidentally ended up at the same park.

Fate had a twisted sense of humor. But this time, she was glad it spared her.

As Kathrine hurried out of the park, practically sprinting to put distance between them, Ethan followed behind at a leisurely pace, watching her with mild disbelief.

She looked like she was running away from something.

Or... from him.

He shook his head and continued walking until a sudden crash split through the air causing his eyes to widen in shock.

"Kathrine!"