Chapter 5
But now, if I were not even afraid of dying, why would I care about some pointless fame?
I stared at him coldly, like he was just a clown performing for laughs.
"You don't need to worry about my reputation, Mr. Castaneda," I said. "Maybe you should worry about your own reputation first."
Just then, Grace came back with the ledger.
I took it, flipped it open, and handed it straight to Alfonso.
"Mr. Castaneda, we can call off the engagement, but before we do, let's settle the accounts first," I said.
I continued, "This ledger lists every single expense the Gordon family has covered for you over the past six months. The vital essence and medicinal herbs for your recovery cost 4 thousand dollars.
"Expenses for your daily social activities and connections came to 3 thousand dollars. And the purchase and renovation of that villa on the outskirts of town cost us 10 thousand dollars."
"And all these so-called betrothal gifts you brought today," I said, gesturing at the items in the hall, "as far as I know, most of them were actually prepared by the Gordon family for you in advance.
"Altogether, that's 17 thousand dollars.
I closed the ledger and looked up, my gaze sharp and frosty.
"Mr. Castaneda, settle your debt," I said.
Alfonso's threats were like a limp straw tossed onto a frozen lake inside me, not even a ripple.
Reputation? In my last life, I swallowed my pride and bent over backwards for some empty reputation. And what did it get me in the end?
My family was ruined, and not even my bones were left behind.
If I still cared about reputation in this life, wouldn't all the blood and tears I shed before have been for nothing?
I watched him put on a tough act, but it was all bark and no bite; the sneer at the corner of my lips grew sharper.
"Mr. Castaneda, are you seriously threatening me?" I asked. "You used the Gordon family's money to keep your mistress, and now that I've called you out, you want to drag my name through the mud?"
"Is there a bigger joke in this world than that?" My voice wasn't loud, but my words echoed through the hall, clear as day.
The servants, who had been keeping their heads down, couldn't help but peek up now, their eyes burning with shock and hungry for gossip.
The future mistress of the Castaneda family was actually pointing a finger in her fiancé's face on their engagement day, accusing him of using her family's money to keep a mistress.
If word of this got out, Eldoraville would absolutely explode.
Alfonso realized it too. His face went from pale to red with fury, and he was trembling with rage.
"You... you're slandering me!" Alfonso shouted.
He jabbed his trembling finger at me. "Katherine, I've tolerated you again and again because you're the Gordon family's legitimate daughter, but don't push your luck!
"Yasmin and I are completely innocent. That hairpin was just a gesture of pity for her unfortunate background, a small kindness, nothing more. How could you accuse me of keeping a mistress?
"You're so jealous, always believing every rumor you hear. How could you ever be the mistress of the Castaneda family?"
He kept arguing, still trying to shift all the blame onto me.
He could spin any story to suit himself. Twisting facts was practically his superpower.
But he was out of luck now. I wasn't the idiot who'd fall for his cheap tricks like before.
I snorted coldly, ready to say something.
But before I could speak, an authoritative voice boomed from outside the hall. "What's all this commotion? Making such a scene so early. Have you forgotten your manners?"
I felt a sudden jolt and turned to look.
There, striding in with confident steps, was a middle-aged man in a deep purple robe, his features unmistakably similar to mine. He radiated authority without even needing to raise his voice.
It was my father, Jerome Gordon.
He was followed by a few bookkeepers and managers, clearly just coming from the bookkeeping room.
As soon as he walked in and saw the air crackling with tension in the hall, he knitted his brows in a deep frown.
The moment my mother saw my father, she rushed over like she'd finally found her anchor, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded, "Jerome, you're finally here! Please, talk to Katherine. She... she wants to call off the engagement!"
"What?!" Jerome's face darkened instantly.
"Katherine, is what your mother said true? Ridiculous!" he said.
His tone brooked no argument, every word carrying the weight of authority.
After all, marrying into the Castaneda family was a scheme he'd plotted for years. It was the key to the Gordon family's fate, their pride and fortune all riding on it. There was no room for mistakes.
When Alfonso saw my father walk in, a glint of triumph flashed in his eyes.
He was certain Jerome would never allow me to pull off something this outrageous.
He instantly put on his most respectful face, giving my father a polite bow.
"Jerome, you're here," Alfonso said.
"It's my fault for not keeping Katherine in check. She was just upset and said some things she didn't mean. Please don't take it seriously," he said.
He delivered his words flawlessly, shouldering the blame himself while subtly implying I was just being unreasonable.
If this had been before, my father would've believed him without a second thought and would have scolded me instead.