Breaking Free, Loving Again -The Flash Marriage with Mr. CEO

"An invite?" Idris asked, pausing mid-step.

Mr. Cole nodded before extending the envelope he had received earlier. "It's from the Davies."

Idris had expected the invite. But he had assumed it would be delivered to the office.

His gaze slowly narrowed at the elegantly embellished envelope before taking it in hand.

Catrin also stepped forward, curiosity flickering in her eyes —until she caught the main highlight of the event. Her expression immediately hardened. "This …"

"They have found the next person to take over the leadership position in the company. The heir of the legacy," Idris said quietly, confirming what she had just read.

Even though she had seen it printed clearly on the invite, hearing Idris repeat it made the reality sting more.

Her gaze turned icy as she tasted venom on the tip of her tongue. "The position of President is not a joke in any company. Do you think she is doing this right?"

After living together for so many years, Idris could read her intentions clearly —sometimes better than she could read them herself.

Though Catrin had never openly fought her mother for the position in Davies International, he knew it had always been her silent ambition. She had worked for years —pushing herself, molding her image, building her influence —all so that when the time came, she would stand unrivalled.

But now, all of that had been undone in a single announcement.

Given how her expression had hardened, he could tell that she wasn't informed about it at all. And since she wasn't informed —it only confirmed that she wasn't the one chosen for the position.

If it had been before, Idris might have felt bad for her. But now, all he felt was a weary indifference.

Shifting slightly on his feet, he looked at her and said with calm finality, "It's not a joke. That's exactly why she must have chosen the right fit. More than anyone else, Davies International is her legacy. She wouldn't hand it over to just anyone. If she has chosen someone, it's because she truly believes they are the right person."

"Right person?" Catrin scoffed with thinly veiled contempt. "Has she ever chosen the right person in her life that she would now? This is nothing but her trying to defeat me. To remind me how little I am in her eyes."

Idris sighed. He hadn't planned to argue, but her words tugged at something in him.

He had always respected Brenda —not just as his mother-in-law but as a mentor, a mother figure. So, hearing Catrin speak of her with such bitterness stung.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, "Catrin, it has been years. Can't you still see? Mother never took you as her competition. She had always wanted the best for you. You simply never understood her."

"I never understood her?" Catrin laughed coldly. "Really, Idris? You talk about respect, but let me tell you —she never gave you the respect you give her. If she had, she wouldn't have let you struggle to re-establish your family when she had all the resources to help you."

Her voice trembled slightly now, a mix of frustration and long-buried pain leaking through.

"If she never saw me as competition, then why eliminate me from the game by marrying me off to you? IO was her daughter, not a burden. Yet she pushed me into a future filled with struggles when I could have easily carried forward her legacy. I was capable, but she never believed me."

Idris felt the knot in his chest tighten.

He had always known that she resented their marriage —resented the path she had been forced onto.

But no matter how many years passed, hearing it so plainly it still hurt. \\

Even after everything, she still hadn't let go of that bitterness.

And knowing that he only felt defeated as a husband.

"Davies International might be a legacy now, Catrin," Idris said, his voice low but firm. "But it was built from scratch by your mother. You have no right to claim it unless she gives you that right."

He slipped the invitation back into the envelope and placed it on the coffee table. "And since she didn't choose you … you should accept that."

With that, he turned to leave.

But he had only taken a few steps when her voice rang out behind him.

"I won't be accepting her terms anymore."

Idris halted. His brows furrowed as he turned to face her again.

Catrin looked at him, a cold fire burning in her gaze. "I won't let her disregard me any longer. She may never have taken me seriously, but I take myself seriously. And just for her satisfaction, I won't let myself trampled anymore."

"Catrin —" he warned, but she cut him off.

"Davies Internation may be her creation," she said, her voice growing louder, firmer, "But as her daughter, it should belong to me. I will do everything in my power to make sure that it does."

Idris wanted to warn her against the idea. Not because he believed that she didn't deserve the position in Davies International —but because he believed Brenda's choice better. If she hadn't chosen her daughter for it, she must be holding the reason for it.

However, he also knew, that no matter what he said, Catrin wouldn't take him seriously. Hence, he chose not to meddle in the matter anymore.

Turning, he didn't bother any longer. He walked away, leaving her to decide on her own.

While behind, fire lit in Catrin's gaze. Just the thought of someone else taking something that should have rightfully belonged to her put her at the edge.

"No, mother. I am not letting you do this. After you, the company should belong to me. You can't take that away from me —not when I did everything to deserve it." She muttered to herself as her fingers clenched tight forming a fist.

She pulled out her phone and dialled a number. As the call was connected, she spoke, "Help me find something."