If Catherine wanted to serve herself up as a target, she couldn't blame her for hitting hard when the time came.

Catherine delicately set down her small fork and gracefully picked up a glass of red wine.

"Everything has its reason for being here. These wines and snacks are here for people to enjoy—surely you've tried them before, haven't you?"

"And one more thing, Catherine-I need to correct you on something. I'm just Mr. Harris' assistant, nothing more. If you're going to speak, speak clearly. There's no need to be ambiguous, as if there's something improper between me and Mr. Harris. Isn't that just deliberately misleading these ladies?Do you find that amusing?"

Catherine stopped there, but the wealthy daughters were far from clueless. They quickly realized something was off.

If Catherine was truly just an assistant, then she posed no threat to them.

Catherine's deliberate misdirection was clearly an attempt to use them as pawns.

Their gazes turned to Catherine, their expressions now unfriendly.

Catherine hadn't expected Jerrold and Catherine to merely have a superior-subordinate relationship. She hadn't known that beforehand, but now, any explanation she offered would fall on deaf ears.

It was over. In one fell swoop, she had offended so many people.

Catherine glared at Catherine. "You did this on purpose! Do you even realize what kind of consequences you'll face for offending them? The Lee Corporation was built by your father himself—are you trying to ruin it?"

Catherine let out a soft laugh. "If it belongs to my father, then it belongs to me. And if it's mine, I'd rather destroy it than let anyone else have it!"

With that, Catherine turned and walked away.

Catherine seethed with hatred, but the damage was done. At this point, her only chance was to win Jerrold over—to become his woman. If she succeeded, wouldn't he protect the Lee family for her?

With this thought in mind, she positioned herself to Catherine's left, just as Jerrold approached.

A flicker of resolve crossed Catherine's face as she raised her wine glass, preparing to stage an "accidental" encounter with him.

But the encounter she had envisioned with Jerrold didn't happen.

Instead, Catherine found herself pulled aside by Jerrold, his arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

They both looked down at Catherine, who had fallen at their feet, disheveled and humiliated.

The wealthy daughters who had left earlier saw this scene unfold and immediately snickered.

"I thought she was up to something clever. Turns out she was just trying to seduce Mr. Harris. Such a clumsy attempt."

Catherine lay on the floor, her clothes stained with red wine.

Listening to the whispers and judgment from those around her, she clenched her fists tightly.

Jerrold's gaze was cold as he looked away. He motioned for someone to throw her out.