From Broken to Beloved-Chapter 174- I’ll talk to her

Channing was furious, but Bert had already risen calmly, clearly intending to leave. In that moment, it was as if Channing himself had given up the chance to be supported.

In truth, supporting Channing would have been effortless for Bert. He could even have allowed him to continue living the same luxurious, comfortable life as before. But Channing’s stubborn refusal to hand Channing Group over to Catherine had completely enraged him.

Bert felt heartache for Catherine—heartache and deep injustice on her behalf.

Channing had already been driven into a corner, yet he still refused to let Catherine gain anything. And Catherine would not have been receiving it for free. Bert had spent his own money to acquire the company and save Channing Group from collapse. What belonged to him belonged to Catherine as well. In every sense, it was Catherine who had rescued the company. Yet even so, Channing would not let her have it.

Did he not understand?

Without Catherine, he wouldn’t even be able to keep the empty shell of Channing Group.

Instead of gratitude, Channing still tried to scheme. How could Bert not be angry? So he simply canceled all previous agreements about supporting him and left without a second glance.

Even if Channing ended up with nothing and had to beg on the streets—what did that have to do with him? Or with Catherine?

The opportunity had been given. Channing had thrown it away himself. He had no one to blame but his own selfishness.

As Bert and the lawyer were about to disappear through the private room door, panic and fear finally seized Channing. Bert was not someone who broke his word.

Everything he said, he carried out.

He had meant it when he said he would acquire Channing Group.

He had meant it when he said he would support him.

And now, when he said he would not—he meant that too.

If Bert was determined to take over Channing Group, then accepting his support would have been the wisest choice. Yet Channing himself didn’t know what madness had possessed him—why he had stubbornly refused.

Now that he realized what he had lost, terror overwhelmed him.

He had lost the company.

And he had lost Bert’s support.

He shoved his chair back and rushed forward, grabbing Bert’s arm at the doorway.

"Wait!"

"I accept your proposal. Take Channing Group—take it all!"

Bert pushed him away without mercy and looked at him cold.

"President Channing, I already gave you time to think."

"You missed your chance. The moment you chose to scheme for your son, you lost Catherine’s protection."

With those words, Bert struck straight at Channing’s heart. His chest ached, yet he couldn’t cry out—because he knew it was all the result of his own selfishness.

Bert and the lawyer left without hesitation.

Channing, pale and weak, leaned against the hallway wall outside the room, clutching his chest and gasping for air. Anger and despair twisted together inside him. Thinking of how he now had nothing—thinking of everything that had happened to him recently—his vision went black.

He collapsed at the doorway.

A café attendant rushed over and immediately called an ambulance. After Lucca, he became the second person in their family to be hospitalized from a surge of rage and emotional collapse.

Bert said nothing to Catherine about the acquisition of Channing Group. He intended it as a surprise—a gift for his proposal. All the procedures were carried out in secrecy, alongside the careful planning of his engagement.

One weekend, Bert drove Catherine and Renata to a countryside villa for a short rest. The moment Renata arrived, she fell in love with the place. It was quiet and peaceful—perfect for recovery.

Finding an opportunity, she pulled Catherine aside.

"Mom thinks this place is wonderful—the air, the environment, everything. You should talk to Bert and let me live here. It’s not very convenient for me to live with you two all the time."

Catherine blushed slightly.

Bert... in that regard, he was extremely demanding. She had protested, but he claimed he had been abstinent for too many years and now couldn’t restrain himself. Sometimes in the kitchen or living room, he would suddenly pull her into his arms. Because of Renata, she was constantly on edge.

Yet Catherine truly wanted to live with her mother. Renata was already old, and Catherine didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone.

"Mom, your health hasn’t fully recovered yet. I’d be worried if you lived alone."

Renata waved it off.

"I know my own body. I’m fine now. The doctor said so at my last checkup—I’m recovering very well. I’ll take care of myself."

Catherine still didn’t want to be separated. After so many years of relying on each other, it was hard to imagine living apart.

"Mom—"

Renata cut her off.

"If you don’t want to say it, I’ll go tell him myself."

Renata insisted on living by herself—not only for the reasons Catherine had already thought of, but also because she had considered other things.

"Even his own mother doesn’t get to live with her children like this," Renata said gently. "I’m only his mother-in-law, yet I stay in your home every day—it’s not appropriate. If his mother knew, she wouldn’t feel good about it either."

"And besides, I still have my hands and feet. I can take care of myself. I don’t need to live with you. You should focus on your work when you need to, enjoy yourselves when you can, go on dates—without rushing home every evening just because of me."

Because Renata was there, Bert and Catherine usually went straight home for dinner after work. Even when they ate out, they rarely went on proper dates. Renata felt their lives had become tied to hers, like those of an elderly person, instead of two young people in love.

At first, she had liked living with her daughter. But now, she no longer felt the same.

They both worked all day, and she was alone at home most of the time anyway. They only kept her company in the evenings. If she moved out, her days would not be very different.

Seeing how firm Renata was, Catherine finally gave in and said she would talk it over with Bert before deciding.

Bert was busy in the kitchen. That evening, he had invited Lilian, Morrison, and Dave Laurent over for a small gathering. Ever since being with Catherine, Bert finally felt like he had a real home, and he was more willing than before to spend time with friends—because now it truly felt like a family.

Catherine went over to help wash the vegetables, but Bert stopped her.

"Aren’t you not feeling well these days? Don’t touch cold water."

She felt a warm flutter in her heart that he remembered something so small, and answered softly,

"It’s already over..."

Bert’s gaze instantly darkened. He stared at her and asked again in a low voice,

"Over?"

Just looking at his eyes made her want to ignore him—but he leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear, his voice hot and teasing.

"Then tonight we don’t need to take any precautions... just thinking about it feels amazing."

Catherine’s face turned completely red.

She raised a hand and pushed him away, forcing herself to talk about something serious.

"Well... my mom says she likes the environment here and wants to live here on her own. What do you think?"

Bert had already been restless for nearly a week, and her words only stirred him further. He leaned closer, breathing in her faint fragrance, his desire rising.

If Renata weren’t there, he would have wanted to pull her into his arms right there in the kitchen.

He admitted to himself that he wanted her too often—but after so long without her, and now being in the height of passion, he simply couldn’t help it. Whether this would calm down later, he didn’t know. All he knew was that right now, he needed her.

After hearing what Catherine said, Bert frowned slightly in thought. He could guess why Renata no longer wanted to live with them. They were deeply in love, and in some ways it truly wasn’t convenient for an elder to be around.

Still, he respected Catherine’s feelings completely. He knew how close she was to Renata. Except for the two years she spent abroad, Catherine had never lived apart from her. Now that Renata wanted to live separately, Catherine must be hurting inside.

So he spoke gently, trying to reassure her.

"I’ll talk to her."

He understood her wish to live with Renata and supported her wholeheartedly. Catherine felt deeply moved. How many men would willingly live with their mother-in-law every day and take care of her in every possible way?

All of her emotions were written on her face. Bert simply leaned in and kissed her lips hard, then murmured against her ear,

"No need to thank me. Just make it up to me tonight."

Then he washed his hands and walked out.

Catherine was both embarrassed and flustered, but she soon followed after him.