CHAPTER 76: CATCH AND BEAT

Catherine’s POV

For a moment, I truly believed I was going to make it out of the kitchen without collapsing. My legs were shaking, my throat felt raw, but I was still holding myself together.

Until Sasha spoke again. "Running off so soon?" Her voice dripped with mock sweetness.

My spine stiffened. I didn’t turn around, but I didn’t move forward either.

Lucy’s laugh followed. "Aww, not so fast. We were starting to have fun."

I finally turned around and saw the vicious look they had on their faces.

Lucy stepped forward first and crossed her arms. "You know, it’s funny how you made Sasha and me hate each other."

"This bitch thought she was smart," Sasha drawled. "Well, we beat her at her own game."

I swallowed, my fingers squeezing my shirt. "What do you both want? To have Julian to yourselves?"

Sasha’s smile widened into something feral. "Exactly."

"You need to stop throwing yourself at him," Lucy added with a sharp voice. "Be glad that your mom already married his dad and took you out of poverty. Leave Julian alone!"

I blinked. "Me? Throw myself at Julian? You have no idea of what you are talking about."

They scoffed in unison.

"Have you forgotten I’ve been living here for a while now? Don’t act innocent, Catherine. I see all your movements."

I opened my mouth, but Sasha cut in, stepping right into my space. "You’ve always been the problem. And now, we’ve decided it’s time to fix that."

A lump formed in my throat. "Fix that?"

Neither of them answered. Sasha shoved me first—hard—sending the plate in my hand to the floor and my back slamming into the counter.

Pain shot through me. I gasped, gripping the edge, but Lucy was already moving.

Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist, twisting it painfully. I cried out as Sasha shoved my shoulder again, the two of them circling me like predators.

"Stop—" I tried. "You guys are hurting me."

But Lucy leaned in, with cold-looking eyes. "Let me tell you a secret: we don’t care."

Sasha’s palm connected with my cheek so fast I didn’t see it coming. The slap rang in my ear, and white heat flashed behind my eyes.

I stumbled sideways, barely catching myself.

"Get up," Sasha hissed. "We’re not done."

I lifted my head, breathing hard. "Stop! I don’t want to fight."

"That’s the problem," Lucy said, grabbing a fistful of my shirt and yanking me forward. "You never want to fight. You just want to exist quietly, while playing your games in the dark. Well, sweetheart, we are about to be your worst nightmare."

I barely had seconds to brace myself before Sasha’s knee rammed into my stomach. Air punched out of me violently, and I folded over, gripping my abdomen, wheezing.

My eyes watered uncontrollably.

"Look at how helpless you are," Sasha sneered. "You can’t even throw a punch."

"She doesn’t have to breathe," Lucy shot back. "She’s just a useless lowlife."

They grabbed my arms at the same time, hauling me upright. I tried pulling away, but they were stronger and two against one. My feet scraped uselessly against the floor as they shoved me toward the dining table, slamming me against the edge.

Pain shot through my ribs.

"Ahh," I gasped again, my voice breaking. "Please—"

Sasha leaned down, bringing her lips close to my ear. "Start crying. It makes it more fun."

My knees gave out a little, but Lucy jerked me back up, digging her nails into my skin and that was when they really began.

They pushed, slapped, yanked, hit, nothing too loud, nothing that would leave visible bruises, just enough to hurt, and break me.

I couldn’t fight back, even though I tried. God knows I tried. But I was too weak, too dizzy, too overwhelmed.

Tears blurred my vision as Sasha delivered another stinging blow to my arm, and Lucy shoved my shoulder so hard I nearly hit the floor.

That was when the noise started. From creaking doors to footsteps, to whispering voices.

Relief washed over me when I saw it was the staff.

Mara pushed open the kitchen door, eyes widening when she saw the scene. "Miss Vaughn? Miss Lucy? What’s happening here?"

Lucy’s eyes coldly turned to her. "Get. Out."

She blinked. "But—"

"Did you not hear me?" Lucy’s voice snapped like a whip. "Leave before I call Julian and have him fire every single one of you."

There were more staff gathered behind her, about three, maybe four. They all looked nervous and concerned.

"Miss, we....," one of them said gently. "It seems like—"

"Like none of your business," Lucy spat. "You are just servants here. You don’t get to involve yourselves whenever you want."

Sasha crossed her arms, giving them a look of pure disgust. "Honestly, the nerve. Lucy, get them out of here. We were having fun until they interrupted."

Fun.

"But Miss—Catherine—she looks—" Mara tried again.

But before she could complete her sentence, Lucy shoved her to the floor.

The woman shrank instantly and her stomach twisted in disgust and disbelief. Did she not have any boundaries? Mara’s old enough to be her mom!

She stood on the floor and together with the other staff, left hesitantly.

"You are despicable! Mara is old enough to be your mom, Lucy!" I forced the words out of my mouth, pain shooting at me.

Sasha immediately dashed a heavy slap to my face. They began another round of torture.

"Whoa! What the hell!" Gabriel exclaimed, blinking at us, especially me, because I was hunched slightly against the table, flushed, trembling, trying to stand straight.

"What’s going on?"

Lucy moved first. "Gabe!" she said brightly, linking her arm through mine so fast my body jerked in shock. "It’s nothing. We were playing."

Sasha grabbed my other arm, pressing close to me like we were best friends in a TikTok challenge. "Yeah! A game."

Gabriel stared at us like we’d all lost our minds. "What kind of game?"

His eyes drifted to my face and his brow furrowed.

Lucy jumped in quickly. "It’s called... uhm... Catch and Beat!"

Gabriel blinked. "Catch and what?"

"Catch and beat," she repeated confidently. "It’s like tag but... You know, rougher."

"That doesn’t sound like a real game," he said flatly.

"It is," Sasha said, tightening her grip on my arm. Her nails dug into my skin as she leaned in, whispering so only I could hear: "Say it’s a game, or that photo goes straight to the internet."

My stomach flipped violently. The world spun for a second.

If that photo got out... Richard Vaughn’s obsession with keeping scandals buried. His family’s reputation.

I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to be steady. "It’s a game," I said weakly. "Yeah. A stupid game."

Gabriel squinted at me. "Catherine, are you—"

"Trust me, Gabriel," I cut him off quickly. "Lucy got beaten too. It’s my turn now."

I wasn’t sure if he believed me. He opened his mouth to speak again but Sasha tightened her hold.

And Lucy’s smile grew. "You have to excuse us now, Gabe. The girls have to continue with their fun."

Gabriel nodded and turned to leave. Fuck! I was trapped.