KATARINA WOKE UP WITH A THROBBING HEAD.
She heaved a sigh and patted her chest when she realised she just had a nightmare.
A thriving forest teeming with ferocious animals and human skeletons. And there was fresh blood scattered on grasslands.
Katarina shivered and quickly shoved the memory back into the deepest part of her mind.
It's over.
It's already over. There's no need to dwell on unpleasant memories. Katarina reminded herself.
After taking medicine for her headache, she returned to her bedroom and checked her phone.
10 missed calls from Calvin.
7 missed calls from Mom.
1 missed call from Wyn.
Katarina couldn't help but frown when she saw her ex-fiancee's name. Her eyes were filled with displeasure and disgust. To avoid further stress, she decided to block the man. Then, she dialled her mother's number.
"Mom, it's too early in the morning. Why did you call?" she inquired as soon as her mother picked up the phone. She then went to her closet to find something to wear.
"How are you doing?" Her mother instead asked, not answering her questions.
Cold as usual, Katarina thought.
"All right, I guess. Summer is approaching. After two weeks, I think I'll return to Country A. Dad isn't doing well with our business as usual. I'm not going to let him do whatever he wants this time. Otherwise, the Ivanov Group will perish," she explained.
Recalling the consecutive emails and calls she had received from the stockholders and Board of Directors over the past few days, Katarina's face darkened.
Her father never learned from his mistakes. To be honest, Katarina didn't know what to do with him anymore.
There was a brief pause before the person on the other end of the line said, "Do not be too harsh with your father. He's stupid and has no business sense. Bear with him this time. Although you're yet to reach adulthood, you have been in charge of the company for many years. If you can't trust him with his job, just force him to retire."
"I'll take note of that," Katarina replied casually. But she was not going to let her father retire early. Retirement has been her father's dream since who knows when, and she has no intention of fulfilling it. Let it be a punishment for losing money three times this year.
"By the way, I heard about the matter between you and Calvin. His mom called me. She said you cancelled your engagement with his son. What's the matter?"
After selecting the right school outfit, she tossed it on her bed before sitting down.
"He and Diana shared a bed," she flippantly explained. During their childhood, she and Calvin were engaged to be married. Calvin was a nice guy, so she didn't say no. However, because Calvin did something irreparable this time, Katarina believes there is no reason to continue this marriage agreement. And she had no feelings towards him, anyway. "Grandpa and Dad already approved of it," she added, not waiting for her mother's response. "What was Aunt Elizabeth thinking when she called you? "
"She was angry and felt we owed her and her son an explanation," her mother stated. "Don't bother with them any longer. Since it is their fault, there is no need to play nice with them. If Calvin and his family continue to bother you, don't be polite and teach them a lesson they'll never forget."
"I'm thinking the same thing," Katarina said, sneering.
They talked for another minute before hanging up the phone.
Katarina's mother had been away for years and only visited her once while in the state. Her brother also informed her that her mother only returns home once a year. As a result, their father cried every night, muttering their mother's name until he fell asleep. They felt sorry for their father but were also embarrassed by his behaviour. Alexander Ivanov was already in his forties. Why was he acting like a three-year-old who couldn't live without his mother?
Dressed and ready, Katarina left her apartment. And as soon as she stepped outside, she was greeted by a familiar face.
"What are you doing outside my apartment? Why didn't you send me a text?" Katarina inquired, giving the girl a look.
"I don't know how to use a smartphone!" The girl replied grudgingly. She only knew how to dial a phone number. When it came to texting, she had difficulty typing. She didn't have the patience to look for the letters.
Katarina rolled her eyes. "You act like an old woman more than other old women nowadays," she observed. "Why didn't you even knock on my door?"
"You're leaving anyhow. What's the point of going inside your apartment if we only stay for a few minutes? "
Katarina didn't respond to that logic.
"Come with me, then. I'm going to class. The researchers have been bothering me lately, asking when you're going back there," Katarina explained. She got into her car, and when the girl joined her, she added, "They were fascinated by your intelligence last time. Thanks to your assistance, they solved the research they'd been working on for years."
The girl pursed her lips. That was purely coincidental. She remembered Xerxes conducting similar research when she was seven years old. That particular study was imprinted on her mind because it occurred during her visit to the Sage facility to observe. As for the researchers at Stanford claiming that she was a genius, too, she felt embarrassed. She was terrible at science!
"By the way, what are you doing here?" Katarina inquired. She had already begun driving to Stanford.
Wyn rarely visited. And she only did so when she had something important to tell her. It's been five years since the two of them first met. Katarina had no idea where Wyn came from. However, the girl had been assisting her since she had escaped from that hell. Without Wyn, she might not have been able to overcome her trauma and live an ordinary life. Wyn had also been assisting her in making connections with powerful and influential people. Otherwise, she didn't know what would have become of the Ivanov Group at the time.
Katarina had the brains and the talent to succeed in business. But she was still young and needed assistance to achieve her goals. And Wyn gave it to her. And now, the Ivanov Group has risen to the top, becoming the wealthiest group in Country A.
"I won't be able to visit you anymore," Wyn stated solemnly.
Katarina was taken aback. But she quickly returned to her senses. "Why?" she inquired, her heart suddenly filled with sadness.
"I'm fifteen now," Wyn explained. For a brief moment, there was silence. Wyn was staring blankly out the window when Katarina looked at her.
"Things are going to be harder in our family from now on," Wyn added before Katarina could say anything else. "I must take action."
"Do you need my help and support?" "
Wyn shook her head. "It is fate. Nothing else could be done."
Katarina inhaled deeply. She didn't understand the girl. When something terrible happened, Wyn would always mutter fate and destiny. But she couldn't respond because the girl was always correct regarding complicated events.
Katarina also felt that certain events would not go as planned, no matter how hard she tried to change them.
Half an hour later, they arrived at their destination. Stanford researchers were dedicated to their work and took their studies seriously.
Others nodded their heads to acknowledge Katarina and Wyn before returning to work, while others on breaks smiled as they passed by. Some surrounded Wyn, asking probing questions, while others spoke with Katarina about specific topics.