Bloom 9

Chapter 9 

Catherine lay in the hospital bed. Her face was as white as a sheet, her lips drained of color, and her eyes clamped shut. Her brows were scrunched up like she was trapped in some never- ending nightmare. 

Donovan and Meredith anxiously paced back and forth. Meanwhile, Kenny kept dialing Gigi over and over, but all he got was a prerecorded message telling him the person he was trying to call was unavailable. 

Rylan stood off to the side, a dark look flashing in his eyes. He whipped out his phone, dialed a number, and spat out, “Find me someone with Rh-null blood and send them to the hospital. I don’t care what it takes.” 

After telling them what to do, he ended the call and hurried over to Catherine’s bed, his face tight with worry. 

After the transfusion, Catherine’s face regained some color. Donovan, Meredith, and Kenny breathed a sigh of relief. 

Rylan’s eyes were still full of concern as he looked at Catherine. “Rest up, Catherine. I’m heading back to check on Gigi.” 

He rushed back to the Hart residence. As soon as he walked through the door, he was immediately struck by how eerily quiet it was. 

As he entered the living room, he saw the Bowen family’s heirloom and the document that indicated Gigi was severing ties with her parents on the table. His face went ashen. 

His fingers trembled as he picked up the document, eyes locked on Gigi’s signature. 

Donovan, Meredith, and Kenny came back shortly after. When they saw what was on the table, they all froze. 

Meredith snapped back to reality first. She grabbed the document, tore it to shreds, and shouted, “What an ungrateful brat! How could she do this?” 

Donovan’s face twisted with anger as he muttered, “She’s just throwing a tantrum. She really thinks she can walk away from this family and call off the wedding with the Bowen family? 

“She’s just being a brat. Let’s see how long she lasts out there on her own. She’ll be back with her tail between her legs soon enough.” 

Kenny snorted. “That’s all it is. She’s just trying to get our attention. Someone needs to set her straight. Let’s forget about her for now. We should get back to the hospital and stay with 

Chapter 9 

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Catherine. 

“Gigi picked the worst possible time to act out. Catherine just got hurt. If something happens to Catherine, Gigi is going to pay for it.” 

With that, the Harts stormed out, slamming the door behind them. 

Only Rylan stayed behind, clutching the family heirloom as a wave of dread washed over him. Was Gigi just throwing a fit? Was she coming back? 

They hadn’t gotten married yet, and she loved him so much. She had to come back. 

He kept telling himself that over and over, then tucked the necklace close to his chest and 

hurried out the door. 

Rylan and the rest of the Hart family hurried back to the hospital, worry weighing heavily on them as they made their way to Catherine’s room. 

As they reached the door, they heard her soft, delicate voice from inside. She seemed to be on the phone. “I’m exhausted from pretending to fall off that mountain. I went through so much to get rid of Gigi. 

“I’ve faked everything from fainting to falling down the stairs. Last time, I even pretended to 

hit the gas by mistake and ran her over. Despite that, she still stuck around. 

“But thank God it’s all over now. Gigi is gone, and no one will fight me for anything anymore. I can finally stop acting like some poor little thing.” 

The revelation struck them like a lightning bolt. Everyone stood rooted in shock. 

No one ever thought Catherine could pull something like this. They truly believed she was innocent and delicate, but the whole fiasco was her doing. 

Donovan, Meredith, and Kenny rushed into the room, looking absolutely livid. 

Catherine went pale the second she saw them. Her phone fell from her hand and hit the floor 

with a thud. 

Meredith’s voice cracked, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Why did you do that, Catherine?” 

Catherine rushed over and grabbed them, bawling her eyes out. “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad, Kenny. I was just so scared of losing your love. It was just me at first, and then Gigi came along. I was afraid you would stop loving me as much.” 

Donovan and Meredith lashed out. “Gigi was born because of you. How could you even think we would treat her better than you? If anything, we spoiled you even more over the years. Didn’t you realize that? Why pull all these stunts?” 

Chespie 6 

Kenny was also infuriated, adding, “I honestly thought it was an accident. Gigi was bleeding all over, and all I did was comfort you. Now you’re saying it’s intentional? You’ve let me down, 

Catherine.” 

Noticing her parents’ and brother’s fury, Catherine instantly changed her tune. She clung to their sleeves, crying and pleading, “I didn’t mean for it to happen. I swear it won’t happen again. I know I broke your hearts, but you’ve always loved me the most. Can you please forgive 

me? 

“Every time you couldn’t sleep or had a splitting headache, I made those scented candles for you, Dad, Mom. And don’t forget about the earthquake, Kenny-I risked my life to pull you out of the rubble.” 

Kenny’s gaze wavered for a moment. Meanwhile, Donovan and Meredith looked a little torn. 

Catherine turned to Rylan with a pitiful look. “I know you like me, Rylan. You fell in love with 

me the moment you saw me dancing in the garden. 

“Gigi was only brought into this world to give me blood. I know I shouldn’t have made her do 

it so often, but I hated how she took all your attention.” 

Rylan’s brows knitted together, and he felt overwhelmed with conflicting feelings. He had always thought Catherine was sweet and genuine, but she had been hiding how manipulative she really was. 

Doris Granger, the housekeeper, had been silently watching from the side. She suddenly stepped forward, choking out her words through tears, “I can’t keep this to myself any longer, Mr. and Mrs. Hart, Mr. Kenny, Mr. Bowen. I have to tell the truth.”