A Decade’s Reunion novel

---- Chapter 5 I let out a cold snort. "Money can't harm real relationships. What matters more than money is the truth." Catherine nodded in agreement. She then asked, " Did you drink?" I gave her an apologetic smile. "Just a little. You know I've mostly quit." Catherine shook her head gently. "I'm not scolding you. I just meant to say that drinking cheap liquor isn't good for you." "Cheap liquor?" The room fell silent for a moment as the guests picked up on that critical detail. "No way.

This is the wine James brought back from a famous vineyard abroad." "Yeah, you must be mistaken, Catherine." ---- My father-in-law was a wine lover who had a collection of thousands of bottles. Having been brought up in that environment, Catherine could tell quality at a glance. "Tt's not some rare treasure. What's so hard about telling the real from the fake?" James's fake smile faltered, and his tone took ona sharp edge.

"Catherine, you and Alex sure seem close." Catherine gave a slight nod, then pulled out her phone and made a call. Everyone watched, confused. "Give it a few minutes, and the truth will come out. This hotel is part of our family's chain. The manager will be up soon with the security footage. Seeing Catherine so protective, my earlier anger melted away. I glanced around and noticed a few ---- people shifting uncomfortably, perhaps regretting their earlier attempts to curry favor with James.

James's eyes flickered with a hint of panic, but he tried to cover it up. "Catherine, you're not going to fabricate some evidence just to protect Alex, are you?" Catherine responded coolly, "Fake evidence? Not necessary. But passing off cheap liquor as fine wine-who do you think you' re fooling?" James's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Sophia stood beside him, her face set in acold, silent glare. The truth came out soon enough. The security footage revealed everything.

James had deliberately slipped his watch into my jacket pocket and had a friend push me into him at just the right moment. In the video, a voice whispered to James, "Bro, was it worth wasting this wine just to mess with