My brother-in-law My husband
Chapter 13

Catherine ordered a Taxi and headed straight to the company that offered her a job as a secretary. He reached the end of the age limit as they only accepted women from the age of twenty-five to thirty-five.

'That means I have a chance!' Catherine thought positively.

**

He walked over to the receptionist and asked about the interview. The receptionist took him to their CEO's office.

But when Catherine opened the door, she saw the old CEO sitting in his chair, seemingly thinking of something heavy.

Catherine excused herself and sat in the opposite seat because the old CEO did not seem to respond at all. He just kept looking at her with a troubled look.

"Good day, Mr. Lawson. I'm Catherine Anderson, one of the new secretary candidates," Catherine introduced herself. He expected the CEO to start the interview, but he instead asked a different question.

"Your name is Catherine Carlson or Catherine Sebastian?"

"Huh?" Catherine thought she heard wrong. "Mr Lawson, how do you know about—"

"My jawab. Is your name Catherine Sebastian?"

"I—That's my ex-husband's last name, sir."

"Ah, I see," the old CEO sighed. "Your application was rejected. You can go now, Miss Sebastian."

…

Catherine was astonished by the sudden refusal. He hasn't even started the interview yet!

"Mr Lawson, why did you suddenly reject my proposal? We haven't started the interview yet. Please give me a chance!" Catherine begged. He's out of his mind now. If she doesn't get a job today, she might not be able to feed Amanda next week.

Mr. Lawson looks upset. He clicked his tongue, "Because your surname is Sebastian.I just got a call from Sebastian, telling me to reject your proposal or I'll face the consequences."

"Seriously, a strong family like Sebastian wants to bully my small company for a woman like you. Get out now before I get in trouble!" shouted Mr. Lawson. He got up and walked towards Catherine.

He grabbed Catherine's arm and dragged her out. He pushed Catherine out of his office violently. Catherine lost her balance and fell to the floor. He looked up, and the door slammed, making sure Catherine didn't think of a second chance.

Secretary Mr. Lawson saw it all, but he was glued to his chair. He also did not dare to help Catherine as this was the first time he had heard Mr. Lawson so angry.

"B—Bu, I suggest you go now. I think Mr. Lawson is out of his mind right now" the secretary suggested.

Catherine did not respond. He had just risen from his ground and limped as he left the office. He sat on the bench to rest as everything surprised him.

Catherine was still trying to process what had just happened when she noticed it when she got an email from another company. He should have done an interview today.

—

Lady Catherine Anderson: Lady Catherine Sebastian;

Due to the sudden change of decision of the HR Department, we regretfully decline your application to work as a receptionist at our company.

We also beg you not to come to our office today, and this is a direct order from the superior.

Thank you, and good luck with your application.

—Katherine's hand trembled as she was completely heartbroken after reading the email. He thought this job interview would be his last chance, hoping it would be enough to bounce back and support him and his daughter.

But a certain man dared to further destroy his already messed up life! He could not just sit still and let her live as a middle-aged woman trying to put her life together!

She clenched her phone, trying her hardest not to cry as it would indicate that she had failed to live independently.

"That bastard!" Catherine cursed. She seeks out her ex-husband's contacts and suppresses the call immediately.

"Suckers! How could he— I know he's a cheating bastard, but how could he do this to his own daughter? Did she not realize that doing this to me would also hurt Amanda?"

Catherine was convinced that Marcell was stopping the two companies from accepting her. Marcell was a person who had the power to do this kind of thing.

Naturally, those companies decided to save themselves first.

The phone rang so many times that a long beep was heard. Marcell didn't pick up the phone.

"Suck!"

Catherine tried to call him a few more times, hoping he would pick her up. He didn't know what he was going to say to the bastard, but he wanted to vent his anger first.

Unfortunately, Marcell cannot be contacted now.

Catherine scoffed, "Maybe that bastard is laughing out loud right now, thinking about how desperate I am to get a job to feed Amanda…."

…

"Am I really a useless woman who can't do anything?" Catherine asked herself. He was beginning to doubt, perhaps even fear. Frightened about how he might need to go back to Marcell and kiss his feet, begging for his forgiveness…

Catherine bites her lower lip, trying hard not to cry as she refuses to return to the same life of tormenting her with Marcell.

He wakes up in defeat and buys two sandwiches from a nearby booth for Amanda's dinner. She doesn't have much money to pick Amanda up from her school by taxi, but her school is private, and there are no bus stops.

He arrives at Amanda's school and sees the little girl standing in front of the school gate. He looks upset. Maybe Jaden's kid is playing with him again.

Catherine got out of the car and approached her daughter, "Amanda, what's wrong?"

…

Amanda looked at her Mommy and grabbed her hand, "Mommy, I want to go home…."

"Okay, let's go home, okay?"

Amanda obediently follows her mother to a Taxi car, and they return to the Motel. Amanda was quiet the whole time, even after changing clothes and eating sandwiches at dinner in the Motel room.

"Amanda, what's wrong? Can you tell Mommy?" Catherine asked.

Amanda finally looked at her mother, and tears began to tear.

"Oh no, don't cry!" Catherine knelt down in front of Amanda and wiped away the tears at the end of her eyes.

"What's wrong? Jaden again?"

"Yes, Mom.." Amanda nodded weakly. "She said that she heard her mother, Aunt Jada, kiss Dad, and Dad told Aunt Jada that she."

"Mommy, Jaden said Amanda's going to be kicked out of school because I can't pay…." Amanda looked at Catherine, begging for bail,

"Mom, that's not true, is it? Why would you do that?"

Once again, Catherine is confused between telling Amanda the truth about her cheating father or continuing to defend him. Had he followed his ego, he would have instantly said that Marcell was a cheating bastard with no regrets or love, even for his own daughter.

But at the same time, he doesn't want to hurt Amanda for life.

Catherine hugged Amanda gently and stroked her hair, "Of course, that's not true! You'll keep going to school every day, of course."

"But what about Jaden…"

"He's just talking nonsense! Just ignore him!"

"Um.." Amanda rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "Mom, I want to go home."

"We're home now."

"Not here, I mean. Our home is with Dad! I want to see Dad!"