Gerald's parents had despised her from the very beginning. If it weren't for Gerald's own willingness, and Channing's strong efforts to push things forward, her parents would never have agreed to their engagement. Even though she was Channing's legitimate daughter, the S family still didn't think much of her. At most, they probably just assumed she had no power or influence and couldn't inherit Channing's wealth.
Now, his status, position, and wealth far surpassed those of the S family. Catherine didn't know what kind of person his mother was, but she had heard about his father, Daniel, and the Washington Co. that backed them. By the standards of Burg Eltz, their family was top-tier. If the S family had looked down on her, then Burg Eltz would be even less likely to regard her highly.
Catherine didn't want to endure the same humiliation a second time, which made her heart reject the idea entirely.
