?Chapter 209:

    Neil would rather have Katelyn hate him than look at him with those detached eyes. Hate, after all, often stemmed from deep love.

    At that moment, her expression stirred a growing panic within him.

    The fear of losing her was more intense than ever.

    He feltpelled to reach out and grasp her desperately, yet he knew that, like sand slipping through his fingers, the tighter he held on, the quicker she would slip away.

    Resigned, he could only look at her with cold detachment.

    “I promise to make things difficult for you, even if it means suffering in the process,” he dered.

    Katelyn responded with anguid smile, as if she were merely an observer to a farce unfolding before her.

    “I have all the time in the world to entertain your threats, but Lise’s baby will not. If your name isn’t on the divorce papers by tomorrow morning, expect awsuit demanding half of everything you own.”

    Katelyn remained silent after her deration, ready to forfeit any im to his assets. She had never cared for his wealth, only seeking to sever their ties swiftly.

    Yet, Neil’s provocations necessitated a harsh response. As frustration took hold, Neil clenched his teeth, thrown off bnce by the leverage Lise’s pregnancy gave Katelyn. In that moment, he resented the impending arrival of the baby—not because of his disdain for the child, but because of the unfortunate timing.

    Caught in a vulnerable moment, Neil realized his disadvantage was all too apparent to Katelyn.

    Katelyn, about to exit, suddenly paused, her attention caught by a faint sound—the distinct click of a camera shutter.

    The sound was subtle, but her acute hearing pinpointed its source precisely.

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    Memories of past public confrontations with Vincent, spurred by opportunistic photographs, shed through her mind. If this argument were also captured, she knew it could be used to fabricate narratives for those seeking fame or profit at her expense.

    Katelyn reached a blind corner of the staircase, a spot where she couldn’t see if anyone was lurking below, but someone could easily photograph from such a hidden angle.

    She moved silently, her t shoes making almost no sound on the floor as she cautiously proceeded.

    Suddenly, she heard the distinct click of a camera shutter. Without hesitation, she sprinted down the stairs, chasing the sound.

    The photographer, realizing he had been spotted, quickly fled. They were a considerable distance from the elevator, turning their pursuit into a test of stamina and speed.

    With just one floor separating them, Katelyn’s swift response allowed her to catch a glimpse of the man.

    Dressed in ck with a hat obscuring his face, his camera was the most telling sign of his activities.

    This man was likely the secret photographer who had been capturing images of her. Catching him could lead her to the mastermind.

    “Stop!” she yelled, elerating her pace.

    The man sped up, but Katelyn was determined not to let him escape.

    The distance between them began to widen as her energy gged. Gritting her teeth, she nced at the stair handrail and made a split-second decision.

    With extraordinary agility, she leaped down two flights of stairs, one hand steadying herself against the handrail.

    The risky move was fraught with danger. A misstep could lead to severe injury.

    Even professional stunt performers would practice extensively to perfect such a jump, adjusting their trajectory for a safending. Katelyn had no such preparation. The stairwell was exceptionally long, making her leap akin to jumping from a ten-meter height.

    Landing in front of the startled photographer, she confronted him with a confident smile.

    “Gotcha.”

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