"Isabella, you don't know how much that is worth," Catarina snapped as she took back the bottle of medicine she was the creator of this medicine. Countless of top medical experts wanted this but this woman wouldn't know that would she nor was Catarina going to bother explaining that to her.
"Great Grandpa you shouldn't trust this newcomer in the family!" Isabella snapped. Catarina touched her temples and she pointed at Isabella.
"You truly don't know my temper," Catarina snapped.
"So what you would be beat?" "I would actually, Great Pop take it."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
The argument between Catarina and Isabella continued, with Old Man Jenkins trying to intervene. Ryder, who had been watching the exchange with interest, finally spoke up, his voice calm and authoritative.
"I think that's enough, Isabella. Catarina is trying to help Great Grandfather, and we should let her." Isabella's face turned red with anger, but Ryder's words seemed to have an effect on Old Man Jenkins, who nodded and took the bottle from Catarina.
"Thank you, Catarina. I'll take it." Catarina's expression remained stern, but she seemed to relax slightly, her eyes never leaving Isabella's face.
"Good," she said, her voice low and even.
"I hope it helps, Great Grandfather." The tension in the room was still palpable, but it seemed to have been diffused slightly by Ryder's intervention.
The vip room opened a middle man around in his forties walked up his eyes where gentle there was a beautiful woman with him as Catarina turned around saw the two married couple they looked like movie stars or something.
"Mom, dad," Lucas said and smiled at Catarina.
"Little sis this is your mom and dad," Lucas said. Catarina stood up she put her hands inside her sweatpants. Her mother Candy, and her father Michael looked their long lost daughter. Candy burst into tears and held Catarina in her arms she didn't move she just stood there and patted her mother back.
Catarina's expression remained neutral, her eyes gazing blankly at her mother's tear-stained face. She patted her mother's back in a mechanical motion, her movements stiff and awkward. She didn't seem to know how to react to her mother's emotional display, and instead, she just stood there, frozen in place. Her father, Michael, looked on, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and longing. He reached out a hand to touch Catarina's face, but hesitated, unsure of how she would react. Lucas, sensing the tension, stepped forward, his voice soft and gentle.
"Mom, maybe we should give Catarina some space. She's been through a lot." Candy nodded, still sniffling, and stepped back, her eyes never leaving Catarina's face.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I just...I've missed you so much." Catarina's expression didn't change, but she did speak, her voice flat and detached.
"I've been fine."
Candy's face fell, and she looked like she was about to cry again. Michael put a hand on her arm, his eyes never leaving Catarina's face.
"We're just glad to have you back, sweetie," he said, his voice warm and gentle. Catarina's gaze flicked to her father, and for a moment, there was a glimmer of something in her eyes, but it was quickly extinguished. She looked away, her expression returning to its usual neutral state. Lucas stepped forward, his eyes locked on Catarina's face.
"Catarina, why don't we sit down and talk? There's a lot we need to discuss." Catarina nodded, her movements stiff, and followed Lucas to the couch. Her parents sat down beside her, and Lucas sat across from them, his eyes never leaving Catarina's face. The room was silent for a moment, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning. Then, Michael spoke up, his voice gentle.
"Catarina, we know you've been through a lot. We're sorry we weren't there for you. But we're here now, and we want to help." Catarina's expression didn't change, but she did speak, her voice flat.
"I don't need your help."
Catarina was used to being alone even since she was one years old her adoptive parents might have been wealthy but they dislike Catarina and she didn't mind to much when she became pregnant with a unknown man child she truly had to become stronger then before so that her kids don't experience the same hardship so helping or saying she is hurting weren't part of her vocabulary. It wasn't the fact she was trying to be rude or mean it's just her way she has always been this way be cold, be emotionless, and always pay back favors. Candy and Michael didn't know what to say.
Candy and Michael exchanged a glance, unsure of how to react to Catarina's detached demeanor. Candy's eyes welled up with tears again, but she bit her lip, trying to hold back her emotions. Michael's face was etched with concern, his eyes searching for a crack in Catarina's tough exterior. Lucas, sensing the tension, spoke up, his voice gentle.
"Catarina, we're not trying to hurt you. We just want to get to know you, to help if we can." Catarina's expression remained neutral, her eyes fixed on some point beyond her parents.
Catarina chewed on her bottom lip she knew it as well she would be upset if her kids didn't want her help but at the same time her kids just far…?
"Okay, mom, dad," Catarina said. Michael and Candy both cried and hugged each other they have seven boys of course hearing their daughter call them mom and dad was the best thing that has ever happened to them!
"I heard I am a grandma, and my husband is a grandpa, if you don't mind your kids stay with us?" Candy asked.
"Mmm sure," Catarina said her voice low.
"Thank you sweetie!" Candy said happily.
"Yes you are our little princess Catarina."
Catarina's expression didn't change, but her eyes narrowed slightly at the term "little princess". She wasn't used to being called that, and it made her uncomfortable. She looked away, her gaze drifting to Lucas, who was watching her with a knowing glint in his eye. Michael and Candy, still beaming with joy, didn't notice Catarina's reaction. They were too busy basking in the happiness of being reunited with their daughter.
"We'll make sure to spoil them rotten," Michael said, chuckling.
"And we'll get to know them, and you, better." Candy nodded, her eyes shining with tears.
"We have so much to catch up on, sweetie. So much to make up for." Catarina's gaze flicked back to her parents, her expression still neutral, but a hint of wariness in her eyes.
After eating Catarina pushed her Great Pops wheelchair. As she walked along followed her. Catarina didn't speak much other then nodded her head and showing little expression.
"Old Man Jenkins!?" A old woman asked.
"Ahh Grace?" "Old Man Jenkins, what brings you here?" The sweet old woman asked.
"This is my great granddaughter Skyler." Skyler looked at Catarina and she grabbed Catarina hand. "Dear call me Grandma Skyler, this bracelet is for you," Skyler said sweetly.
"No i…"
"You must in refuse me, your Old Man Jenkins is a kind man pleas: little girl take it?" Skyler said. Catarina frowned.