CHAPTER 151: STEAL YOUR MAN

Anna’s car slowed to a stop in front of the small café tucked between glass-fronted buildings. The hum of the city dimmed as Kevin parked, and before Anna could unbuckle her seatbelt, Betty finally broke the silence.

"Big Sis," she began hesitantly, twisting her fingers together, "who are you meeting?"

She hadn’t wanted to overstep, but ever since Anna had suddenly changed the route and asked Kevin to drive toward a café instead of the film set, curiosity had been gnawing at her.

Anna paused with her hand on the door handle, then turned to look at Betty.

She didn’t bother hiding it — not now. After all, Shawn had already helped her trace her sister’s whereabouts. Keeping it a secret any longer made no sense.

"My sister," Anna said simply.

Betty blinked, her mouth parting slightly. "Your... sister?"

The weight of realization hit her a second later, and her eyes widened.

’Wait—does she mean Kathrine?’

As if on cue, the faint roar of an engine drew their attention. Another car pulled up beside them — sleek, dark, and deliberate.

Both Anna and Betty turned toward the sound, their eyes fixed on the woman who stepped out.

Graceful, poised, and dressed to perfection, Kathrine Bennett looked every bit like the woman the media had adored — elegant, confident, untouchable.

Even in the simple daylight, she carried an aura of importance that demanded attention.

Betty couldn’t help but gape, her jaw slightly slack.

’Oh my goodness... it is Kathrine Bennett!’ she thought, nearly pressing her face to the glass. ’She looks even prettier than she does in those photos online.’

Then her eyes flicked to Anna — calm, poised, and unshaken.

A slow, proud smile curved Betty’s lips. ’But she’s still not prettier than my Big Sis.’

Anna, unaware of Betty’s silent defense, exhaled slowly. Her eyes followed Kathrine as she entered the café, her movements graceful yet deliberate — like someone who always made an entrance.

"Kevin," Anna said finally, her voice steady but laced with something unreadable, "wait here. I won’t be long."

Kevin nodded silently. He knew better than to argue.

As Anna stepped out of the car, the late afternoon breeze brushed past her, carrying with it the faint scent of roasted coffee and tension that promised this wasn’t going to be just a sisterly chat.

This was long overdue.

***

Inside the café, Kathrine sat at a quiet corner, the kind of spot where the hum of conversation faded into a soft murmur. Her fingers wrapped around a warm cup of coffee as her eyes wandered over the peaceful space.

"It’s been a while since I’ve had such a calm moment," she murmured, half to herself.

Her reflection in the window smiled faintly — a rare, unguarded smile.

For years, peace had been a luxury she couldn’t afford. Being Hugo Bennett’s daughter meant constant eyes on her, a life shadowed by bodyguards and restrictions. Every move monitored. Every breath accounted for.

She had been the fragile one — the weak link in a powerful family — and protection, as her father called it, had been another word for control.

But now, after everything, she could finally breathe again.

The faint chime of the café door broke her reverie.

Kathrine’s gaze lifted, and there she was — Anna.

It had been years since they’d last sat across from each other like this, but seeing her now — poised, stronger than before — stirred something complicated inside Kathrine.

Guilt. Admiration. Affection.

’After all, I caused enough damage to her life,’ she thought, remembering the search she had ordered, the manipulation that followed — and the chaos she had set into motion.

Anna approached calmly, her heels clicking against the tiled floor before she pulled out the chair opposite and sat down.

"So you finally decided to show up, huh?" Kathrine said, a wry smile curving her lips.

"Did you leave me any choice?" Anna countered dryly. "My phone almost cracked from your constant calls."

Kathrine chuckled softly at that. Beneath the barbed tone, she could still hear traces of the sister she once knew — the one who, despite everything, still answered her calls in the end.

Anna had every reason to resent her. Their relationship had always been an intricate mix of rivalry and reluctant affection — two women shaped by the same father’s favoritism but bound by something deeper than blood.

"So," Kathrine said, setting her cup down and meeting Anna’s gaze, "welcome to the family, Anna Bennett. Dad finally admitted you to the world."

The words came out light, but the glint in her eyes betrayed a tangle of emotions.

Anna didn’t respond immediately. Her expression remained composed, but the tension in her posture gave her away.

Kathrine knew the truth — that Anna wasn’t truly her sister by blood. But that never mattered to her. Rosiline had treated her like family, and Anna...

Anna had saved her life once — when she was barely breathing, fragile, and slipping away.

’She’s not my sister by birth,’ Kathrine thought, her gaze softening, ’but she’s the only sister I’ll ever claim.’

Even if their father had twisted that truth for his own gain.

Even if his manipulation had left scars neither of them could erase.

"Is this why you finally showed up after disappearing for so long?" Anna asked, her tone sharp though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

Across from her, Kathrine only smiled—calm, composed, and maddeningly confident.

"Sorry for the trouble, Anna," she said lightly, her voice laced with amusement. "But it was entertaining, watching you go through all that effort to find me. Did you really think by doing that, you could make me marry Daniel?"

The words hit harder than Anna expected.

She stared at her sister, speechless for a moment. Of course Kathrine would see through her intentions—no one knew Anna better. They had grown up together, practically learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses as if they were reflections in the same mirror.

And yet, even after everything, Anna could never truly understand what had made Kathrine run away from the marriage in the first place.

"So you’d rather I stay with him forever, then?" Anna asked quietly, her voice edged with frustration. "Aren’t you going to steal your man back from the sister who replaced you on your wedding day?"

For a heartbeat, silence hung between them. Then Kathrine’s eyes sparkled with something unreadable—a mix of challenge and irony.

"Do you want me to steal your man?" she asked softly, the hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

The question caught Anna completely off guard.

Her breath faltered, and for a fleeting second, her mind spun back to the past—their past.

Because this wasn’t the first time Kathrine had come back. In another life, when she had returned to their lives, everything between them had changed. Their once-friendly, sisterly bond had fractured into something darker—something Anna had buried deep and never wanted to think about again.

’Even so... can I still trust her?’ she wondered bitterly, studying the woman across from her.

Kathrine’s expression was unreadable—too calm, too knowing.

Pushing her unease aside, Anna finally exhaled and asked flatly, "Why did you call me here, Kathrine?"

She wasn’t in the mood for riddles.

By all logic, she should have been relieved now—Kathrine was back, Daniel’s first love had returned, and that meant Anna could finally walk away from the farce of a marriage she’d been trapped in.

But her heart refused to celebrate.

She couldn’t explain why... but the thought of letting go, of leaving Daniel behind now, filled her not with relief—but with a quiet, aching fear she didn’t want to name.

"I heard you finally decided to pursue your acting career," Kathrine said with an easy smile, swirling the coffee cup between her hands that the waiter left on their table. "Congratulations."

Anna leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. The tension that had once filled the air was starting to thin, replaced by something calmer — familiar, even.

"Haven’t you already done that by liking my post?" she asked dryly, one brow lifting.

Kathrine laughed, genuinely amused. "You saw that?"

"I notice everything, Kathrine," Anna replied, her tone light but sharp enough to draw the edge of truth. "You of all people should know — hiding for too long was never really an option."

Kathrine was surprised how bold Anna sounded but nodded, the smile on her lips softening. "That’s true," she said quietly. "You always were the observant one."

’The only reason why I never told you about my escape ’

She wasn’t surprised Anna had found her. In fact, she’d expected it. All those subtle breadcrumbs she’d left behind — the social media activity, the casual posts — were never accidents. She wanted Anna to find her, even if she’d never admit it outright.

But Kathrine, being who she was, couldn’t resist stirring the calm waters.

"So..." she began, a sly glint flickering in her eyes, "what about Ethan? Does Daniel know he used to be your long-time crush?"

Anna froze mid-breath. The flicker across her face — quick, defensive — was all the confirmation Kathrine needed.

Kathrine grinned. "So he doesn’t? Nice."

Anna’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean nice? Are you planning on telling him that?"

Her tone was sharp, but beneath it was something else — a flicker of uncertainty she didn’t like showing, especially not in front of Kathrine.

Kathrine leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied her sister’s expression with a teasing glint. "Relax, Anna. I’m not here to expose your secrets."

Anna’s gaze hardened, but Kathrine only smiled wider.

"I just like knowing that my little sister still has a few things that can make her blush," Kathrine said softly, her tone a strange mix of affection and mischief.

Anna looked away, trying to hide the faint color that crept to her cheeks. "You haven’t changed," she muttered.

Kathrine chuckled under her breath. "Neither have you."

But behind the playful exchange, both women knew — this wasn’t just a reunion.

It was the calm before the storm.