Ch. 401..410
Chapter 401 She’s Pregnant
Half an hour later, Catherine arrived at the destination according to the address provided by Kim. In a parlor of a remote coffee shop, she met Kim, who was wearing a cap and sunglasses.
Catherine took a seat. Kim stared at her mysteriously. “Did you look around and notice if you were stalked on the way here?”
“No!” Catherine replied coldly.
Kim didn’t believe her and then asked again, “Are you sure?”
Catherine shot him a look, which was intimidating enough for him.
Kim trembled all over and dared not ask further.
He smiled coquettishly and then looked at Catherine fawningly.
“Force of habit. You know, your sister is getting more popular. I have to be cautious.”
Catherine didn’t take that to heart and then asked coldly, “You said that Audrey was in trouble. What happened?
She didn’t think anything serious would happen to Audrey. After all, she had arranged for someone to protect Audrey. Audrey couldn’t be in danger.
Just now, Kim called her anxiously, saying that he wanted to talk with her about Audrey.
He also mentioned Audrey was in trouble.
At his request, Catherine came to meet him. As Catherine asked the question, Kim hastened to lower his voice and acted like he was nervous.
“I’ll tell only you about this. She’s your sister. You won’t hurt her, right?”
Catherine was a bit annoyed about Kim’s shilly-shallying, so she cast a warning glance at him again.
Her eyes only were enough to make Kim feel suffocated. Kim felt a bit regretful about calling Catherine out. It was like torment to him.
Now he didn’t dare to hesitate or keep her in suspense. He hastened to tell her what she wanted to know.
“Catherine, I suspect your sister is pregnant!”
That was quite shocking. Even Catherine was taken aback.
These days, she didn’t show concern for Audrey.
Although she felt something was wrong with Audrey, she believed Audrey was an adult, who should be able to solve problems on her own. So, Catherine didn’t pay much attention to her.
Now as it appeared, Audrey didn’t seem to have been able to solve problems on her own. As Catherine stayed quiet, Kim thought she was astonished by the news. So, he continued talking about his conjecture.
“Catherine, I noticed your sister often felt like throwing up. I also accidentally found she had bought pregnancy test sticks. Is she really pregnant?
“Besides, I can’t reach her these days. I told her to have a few days off and she really did. She even turned off her phone!”
After hearing that, Catherine stood up and left.
“Catherine, where are you going?”
When Kim ran out, Catherine was gone.
He couldn’t find her at all.
Kim was really helpless when it came to Audrey and Catherine. Audrey was the most difficult celebrity to work with for him.
Catherine returned to the apartment at the fastest speed. The moment she opened the door, she saw the shoes on the ground. Then, she knew she guessed it right.
Audrey didn’t leave. She was hiding in the apartment. Catherine knocked on the door to Audrey’s room. A while later, Audrey finally opened the door with messy hair.
“Eh, Kathy, why are you back?”
Without saying a word, Catherine grabbed a coat from aside and put it on Audrey. Then, she just grasped Audrey’s hand and walked outside. Audrey was confused and subconsciously asked, “Kathy, where are you taking me to?”
Catherine said nothing and kept dragging Catherine forward. Audrey was dragged to the underground garage without a chance to struggle.
Catherine wanted to ride her motorcycle but something suddenly occurred to her. Then, she turned her head and asked Audrey, “Where is your car key?”
Audrey never took her car key with her, because she always left things behind. She lost things too easily.
She had installed the related software on her phone so that she could drive the car with her phone.
She started the car. Blinking her eyes, she looked at Catherine. “Kathy, what on earth do you want to do?”
Catherine paid no attention to Audrey’s question. After sending a message to Branden, she focused on driving.
She had never driven such a slow car. And this was also a mini Beetle, which was very girly as well. Driven by Catherine, the car finally arrived at the underground garage of the hospital. Then, Catherine received a call from Branden and he offered her an address.
Paxton was waiting there for them. Seeing their car appear, Paxton immediately rushed forward to open the door and welcomed Catherine’s arrival.
“Miss Swann, Mr. Branden has arranged everything. Please follow me.”
Catherine dragged Audrey out of the car and followed Paxton forward. Then, totally at a loss, Audrey was pushed into the examination room for a series of checkups.
Half an hour later, Audrey got out of the examination room together with the doctor. The doctor had received an order. She knew what to do.
Without saying anything, she directly passed the result of the examination to Catherine. Catherine glanced at it only to find the result wrote, “No fertilized egg is found!”
And the blood test also showed that Audrey wasn’t pregnant.
After doing a series of checkups, Audrey finally figured out what was going on. It turned out that Catherine thought Audrey was pregnant, so Catherine took her to the hospital for an examination.
Audrey looked at Catherine with a bitter smile. “Kathy, why did you think I was pregnant? I’m not pregnant!”
She was taken to the hospital by Catherine before she found out what happened.
What a huge mistake!
Catherine stared at her suspiciously, ” Since you’re not pregnant, why did you buy the pregnancy test stick?”
Audrey lowered her head and didn’t dare to respond to Catherine.
Paxton found something was wrong and realized that he shouldn’t stay there. He hastened to excuse himself and also empty the whole floor. After all the people left, Catherine finally opened her mouth.
“Tell me. What on earth happened?”
With her arms around her chest, she looked into Audrey’s eyes. Without raising her head, Audrey still could feel Catherine was sizing her up. She couldn’t help it. Catherine’s sense of presence was so strong that Audrey couldn’t ignore them.
Catherine asked further, “Do you need me to find the man?”
Hearing Catherine’s words, Audrey raised her head and looked at Catherine in horror and kept shaking her head.
“No need!”
After saying that, Audrey lowered her head and kept quiet. Audrey knew that Catherine wouldn’t let go since she was aware of this matter. So, Audrey had to explain it to her.
“The other day, I felt sick to my stomach and wanted to throw up. I thought I was pregnant. I was worried about being found if I came to the hospital. So, I used Kim’s account to buy pregnant test sticks!”
She often used Kim’s account to buy things to avoid being found by her crazy fans.
“But I didn’t expect something would be wrong with the pregnant test sticks I bought. After I used the stick, I thought I was pregnant!”
Catherine finally understood why. No wonder Audrey looked so weird before. It turned out that Audrey thought she was pregnant.
“What happened after that?”
Chapter 402 How Dare You Call Her That Way
Faced with Catherine’s questions, Audrey felt that Catherine was even more terrifying than Korbin and exuded a feeling as imposing as Vicente.
Audrey even felt that the reason why Vicente passed the Swanns’ assets to Catherine was that Catherine shared similar character traits to Vicente.
Somehow, she felt frightened and couldn’t even look into Catherine’s eyes.
“I was deceived by the fake product and thought I was pregnant. As a result, I acted a bit decadently for a few days, and then Kim found it. The other day, I had a stomachache and went to the hospital only to find that I was diagnosed with a stomach flu!”
After saying that, Audrey felt extremely awkward. For the moment, she wished to bury her head in the sand. After hearing Audrey out, Catherine felt relieved for Audrey.
Audrey was in the crucial stage of her career. If she was pregnant, she would have to choose between her career and her baby.
Just as well it was a mistake. It would save a lot of trouble.
“Let’s go back and take a rest!”
Audrey was originally worried about if Catherine would ask who she had slept with. Unexpectedly, Catherine asked nothing. Audrey let out a sigh of relief in secret and followed Catherine away.
Now that she knew that Audrey was fine, Catherine had no scruples then. Catherine took an elevator downstairs with Audrey. As they opened the door, they heard a voice coming from the front.
“Catherine…”
The familiar voice made Catherine raise her head subconsciously. She saw Triston standing in front of them slovenly.
He stood there, putting his arm around the shoulders of a sexy and pretty girl with a curvy body shape. The girl must have had a lot of plastic surgeries on her face, which suited Triston’s taste.
Triston saw not only Catherine but also Audrey.
“Whoa, why are you two here? Are you injured?”
Catherine said nothing. Instead, Audrey couldn’t help roasting Triston after seeing him.
“What are the odds? I didn’t expect to meet you here. Are you infected with any illness as you didn’t take proper measures?”
Triston didn’t expect Audrey to mock him on purpose. His face immediately sank. “Audrey, we’re friends anyway. Why are you being so mean?”
“Hmph!” Audrey snorted with contempt. “Mr. Lambert, I’m kindly reminding you to be careful of your health!”
Seeing that Triston was about to refute her, Audrey argued back ahead of him, ” Enough, Mr. Lambert. I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Kathy, let’s go!”
After saying that, Audrey dragged Catherine away.
Triston felt so mad that he got out of control at once.
The pretty girl next to him said in a soft voice, “Mr. Lambert, please don’t take this kind of annoying bitch to heart. She looks so cheap!”
Upon hearing the word bitch, Triston wore a sullen look right away.
He stared at the girl coldly.
“You’ve been with me for two days only, but you’ve got some nerve. How dare you call her bitch?”
The girl didn’t expect Triston would take it out on her all of a sudden. She was freaked out and instantly wanted to defend herself in a flurry.
“Mr. Lambert, I…”
Triston shook away her arm and cast a gloomy glance at her. “The car at the door is for you. Don’t contact me anymore!”
After saying that, Triston left on his own. The girl wanted to rush forward but didn’t dare to. She couldn’t afford to offend Triston. If she messed with him, she would be in big trouble. Staring at the key to the sports car, the girl felt unwilling to let go.
It took her a lot of effort to triumph over other girls and snatch a great man like Triston, but she had been dumped.
It was so outrageous!
It was the two women’s fault. And she knew one of them.
After all, she was a model. Of course, she knew that Audrey was a star.
The girl originally intended to leave, but as she realized that she was still in the hospital, she came up with a brilliant idea.
She decided to teach Audrey a lesson.
She took out her phone and sent a message. Since Audrey caused trouble for her, the girl would make life difficult for Audrey.
Audrey didn’t expect to meet Triston here. As she thought of Triston, she felt increasingly angry. She couldn’t help losing her temper.
“Kathy, why was I so unlucky? Why did I meet Triston the scumbag?”
Catherine replied with a cold expression.
“No matter what kind of man Triston is, it has nothing to do with you or me!
“Psychologically, the more you take somebody to heart, the more concern you will show for him!”
Her simple words instantly struck Audrey dumb. After she collected herself, she didn’t dare to look into Catherine’s eyes. She looked away and didn’t dare to look at Catherine.
“Stop talking nonsense. I just dislike that scumbag and want to get rid of him for the society!”
Catherine didn’t refute her. One should never try to wake up the beast. Afterward, Audrey and Catherine took some intestines and stomach coordinating medicine together and decided to leave the hospital.
Audrey went to a clinic before. Of course, it wasn’t as reliable as the hospital. Since Audrey had done the checkups, she might as well take some medicine for body conditioning.
As soon as the two of them got out of the hospital, a group of people suddenly rushed to them. The overwhelming flashlights made the two of them unable to open their eyes at all. A group of journalists gathered around them, holding microphones and followed by photographers.
“Audrey, I heard you are pregnant. Is it real?”
“Who’s the father of your baby?”
“Are you here for an abortion?”
“Aren’t you afraid the sudden pregnancy will affect your career and hurt your fans’ hearts?”
Various questions kept coming to her. Even though Audrey was used to this kind of life, she didn’t know how to deal with the situation at the moment.
At other times, Kim would protect her from this. Now, she didn’t know what to say. The journalists strived to squeeze forward as if they could get first-hand information as long as they arrived in front of her.
Audrey couldn’t respond to the questions. She could only lower her head instinctively. With a frown, Catherine held Audrey’s hand and wanted to leave with her.
The journalists kept following them. Catherine and Audrey couldn’t leave at all.
A journalist even deliberately triggered a conflict to acquire better news.
He poked the camera at Audrey’s head, seemingly trying to make her raise her head this way.
“Ouch…”
Audrey’s head was hit. She let out a scream in pain.
Audrey turned her head and happened to see the journalist taking photos of the scene with a complacent expression.
When she saw the scene, Catherine’s face sank at once.
Originally, she thought since Audrey was working in showbiz, for Audrey’s own good, it was better not to intervene in Audrey’s matter.
However, these people were really out of line.
Catherine stopped and looked back.
The journalist got excited and thought there would be big news for him. He wished it could be the news big enough to hit the headline. He kept pressing the camera button. His excitement even surpassed the sense of crisis.
He didn’t realize how dangerous the situation would be.
Chapter 403 Show No Respect for Laws
Catherine reached out her hand to knock down the camera. The journalist was dumbfounded. He didn’t expect Catherine to be so fierce. A camera would cost a few ten thousand dollars. However, he collected himself at once and scolded Catherine with a stern look.
“What’s wrong with you? How could you hit me? I’m a journalist. It’s my job to take photos.”
He was surrounded by journalists. To stir things up, other journalists all showed support for the one who had been hit.
“Exactly! How can you beat him?”
“You show no respect for laws at all!”
Catherine glanced around and settled her gloomy gaze on everyone. Her eyes were as sharp as arrows.
Some journalists who were cowardly had subconsciously stayed back. Even those bold journalists didn’t dare to make a sound.
Even the journalist who stirred up the trouble ceased his trap!
Catherine took a step forward and grabbed his collar in front of all.
She lifted him off the ground directly. The journalist didn’t expect Catherine to be so tough. Instantly, he was stupefied.
He merely wanted to do his job. He didn’t want to risk his life. A glint of fierceness flashed across Catherine’s eyes. Her beautiful face looked rather terrifying as if being covered with a layer of ice.
Her voice was as cold as frost.
“Audrey is a star. You’re a journalist. It’s your job to take photos of her, but you shouldn’t hurt her!”
“Show no respect for laws? Hmph…”
Catherine snorted coldly. “How about I take her to check her wound and see who attacked first?”
The journalist knew that he had hurt Audrey indeed. Yet, he didn’t expect Audrey’s sister to be so tough and fight back at once.
Catherine threw him aside as he didn’t respond. Then, she leaned aside and reached out her finger to point at the people who had said awful things to Audrey.
“Just now, you said Audrey came to the hospital for an abortion!
“You said Audrey was pregnant!
“You asked who the baby’s father was!
“Am I right?”
The journalists whom Catherine had pointed at didn’t know what she wanted to do.
They only felt that Catherine’s momentum was so powerful that they were all awed and wanted to run for their lives.
Catherine withdrew the report result from Audrey’s hand in front of them and then showed the medicine to them.
“Look carefully. This is the statement for the stomach flu examination. And this is the doctor’s diagnosis report. This is the medicine!
“Audrey merely has the stomach flu. So, you’re all slandering her!”
Audrey stood aside, watching Catherine confronting the journalists for her. She was aware of Catherine’s character. Catherine disliked explaining things and spent her words as if every word were a golden coin.
Nevertheless, for Audrey’s sake, Catherine had to explain the whole thing in front of so many people.
They were all journalists. If Catherine didn’t show evidence on the spot, Audrey would be affected no matter how hard she tried to clarify the matter later.
The most effective way was to show the evidence and slap them in the face right now. The journalists present were astonished to see the evidence in Catherine’s hands. They received a tip that Audrey was having a pregnancy test in the hospital, so they just rushed here.
This was a common practice. As long as a female star showed up at the door of the hospital, the journalists would report on their pregnancy.
Even if that was not the truth, the female star would clarify it later. Never had anyone been so tough.
Originally, they all thought things would be over after Catherine showed the diagnosis result. However, Catherine didn’t mean to let them go.
Raising the diagnosis result, Catherine settled her gaze on the journalists who had clamored just now.
“You slandered Audrey before you figured out the truth. Even though you are journalists, so what?
“Just wait for the lawyer’s letters!”
Unexpectedly, Catherine was not only tough but also acted immediately and resolutely.
Yet, the journalists weren’t that worried. After all, this had happened before.
The case would be delayed. Even if the journalists lost the case, they would be required to make an apology letter in public at worst.
After all, Audrey still had to stay in showbiz. She couldn’t offend them.
Several journalists often covered entertainment news. They all knew each other and then exchanged glances. They decided to work together to confront Catherine.
Before they made a sound, a dozen men in uniform arrived in a hurry and protected Catherine and Audrey.
The journalists saw the spokesman of the Duncan Corporation bowing to Catherine respectfully before they recovered from astonishment. They were slack-jawed in astoundment. The spokesman for the president’s office of the Duncan Corporation actually bowed to Catherine!
Paxton stood in front of Catherine respectfully. “Miss Swann, the car has been ready for you. Leave the rest to me!
Catherine slightly nodded, signaling to him to take over the matter. After getting the approval, Paxton turned around and looked at the journalists’ names called by Catherine.
“Guys, you’ll receive the lawyer’s letter from the Duncan Corporation later. Our lawyers will file a sue against you!”
The journalists were all shocked and the others didn’t dare to make a sound. They were ordinary people. How could they confront the competent lawyers of the Duncan Corporation?
Everybody knew that the Duncan Corporation’s competent lawyers were ever-victorious and never lost any case.
Previously, in an infringement case, an ordinary lawyer could only make the defendant make an economic compensation.
Yet, the competent lawyers of the Duncan Corporation directly made the defendant go broke. Their ability was imaginable. No one expected Audrey’s sister’s backer would be so powerful!
Now they were really in big trouble. And even if they regretted their actions, there was nothing they could do.
Then, Paxton said to the journalists present in a warning tone, “Guys, things have been very clear. Audrey came here for medical treatment only. I hope you can show some respect. Don’t leave any photos to bring trouble for yourselves!”
As soon as Paxton finished speaking, the journalists present all took out their cameras. They deleted the photos and videos right away. None of them dared to delay.
After all, if they were targeted by the Duncan Corporation, they couldn’t make a living in Zerwick for the rest of their life. Paxton looked around and found they were more or less done. Then, he escorted Catherine to get in the car.
Since the Swanns assaulted Catherine, Branden had ordered Paxton to drive for Catherine as long as she went out. Branden would be worried if others drove for her.
After they got in the car, Audrey was still a bit at sea.
Her phone aside rang. She found it was from Kim and hastened to pick up the call.
As soon as the call was put through, Kim’s voice came, “Audrey, how are you doing now? Are you alright? Why were you caught at the door of the hospital? I’ll be right there. Hang in there. Don’t answer any questions. Got it?”
After Kim asked a series of questions, Audrey finally got a chance to talk.
“Kim, you don’t need to come. Catherine has dealt with the matter for me. I’m not pregnant. I’ve got the stomach flu only. The journalists won’t dare to cover this matter. Today, there won’t be any news about me!”
Chapter 404 Hospitalized
The phone call remained unanswered for a while, and Kim took a moment to realize what was happening. He hadn’t expected the situation to be resolved so easily and with the assurance that there would be no more traces in the news. Catherine was truly remarkable.
“Since I’m not needed there, I’ll forget about it. If you’re not feeling well, you should go back and rest!”
After hanging up the phone, Kim received another call shortly. Upon hearing the content of the call, Kim was overwhelmed.
His head was buzzing after ending the call. He had never expected that a top- tier production and a renowned director’s crew would personally call him to have Audrey audition.
Even if it was just an audition invitation for such a high-profile production, it was something worth showing off.
Kim immediately notified Audrey of this good news to share the joy.
Upon receiving the message, Audrey was also shocked for a while.
Catherine was by her side at the moment, so she shared the news with her.
“Kathy, I received an invitation from Cloudy World. The director of this drama is a legend, and even though it’s just a supporting role, it’s still something to be happy about, even if I only appear for a second.”
“A legend, that’s amazing!”
Compared to Audrey’s excitement, Catherine appeared much more composed, even somewhat aloof. After hearing Audrey express her joyful emotions, Audrey only nodded lightly.
Audrey thought she might not be aware of the director’s status, so she took the opportunity to explain the background of the renowned director to her.
Catherine still remained quite indifferent. In the end, Audrey decided to drop the topic. In the front seat, Paxton listened attentively to the entire conversation between the two sisters.
He suddenly felt that Catherine was incredibly tolerant of her sister, Audrey. He had always seen Catherine as aloof and commanding, and people around her were usually quite afraid of her.
Even those close to her dared not be too chatty in her presence, but Audrey remained silent without giving any feedback.
Most importantly, Paxton knew that the Duncan Corporation had recently invested in a big-budget film produced by Triston’s entertainment company.
The movie was titled Cloudy World.
It was impossible that they hadn’t informed Catherine about it. So, Catherine had likely known about Audrey’s invitation from the Cloudy World crew and her potential role for a long time but had remained silent.
What else could this be if not a form of favoritism?
Catherine and Audrey returned to their apartment. As they approached the door, they saw an unexpected visitor waiting in front of it.
Audrey was taken aback for a moment, then realized who it was and greeted Rachael.
“Mom, what brings you here?”
She couldn’t address Rachael with the same affection as Liana did; she knew that Rachael didn’t like it. Catherine, standing to the side, maintained her cool posture with her hands in her pockets.
She glanced at Rachael but didn’t bother with unnecessary greetings. From the moment Catherine appeared, Rachael’s gaze was fixed on her, observing her every move. Seeing Audrey greet them while Catherine remained silent, Rachael’s temper flared instantly.
“Don’t you understand basic etiquette? When you see someone older from your family, don’t you know how to offer someone a greeting?”
Catherine initially had no intention of acknowledging her. If it weren’t for Audrey tugging at her sleeve, she would have already started ushering Rachael out the door.
After Audrey’s greeting, Catherine, under her sister’s signal, lazily said hello.
“Hello, Rachael.” 1
The moment she spoke, Audrey wanted to cover her face with her hands.
Hearing this form of address, Rachael was momentarily taken aback. “What did you call me?”
Catherine sneered and answered, “I thought maybe it would make you a little happier, Rachael.”
Rachael’s face turned particularly sour. She didn’t like Catherine, but she hadn’t expected the jinx to openly disrespect her like this.
To diffuse the tension, Audrey suggested they go inside to talk.
However, Rachael interrupted her, “No need. I came here to find out what this brat did to your father. Do you know that your father was hospitalized last night because of her?”
“Dad is in the hospital?” Audrey exclaimed in shock.
She was genuinely unaware of this news.
Rachael, although not fond of Audrey, realized that she had no knowledge of the situation.
She couldn’t hide her frustration as she complained to Audrey, “You really need to talk to that jinx by your side. Since she came back, our family hasn’t known peace.
“Your brother has been sent away, and Liana has been moody every day. Now, even your father is hospitalized because of her.
“That jinx is indeed a jinx, born to bring calamity upon our family!”
Initially, Audrey had thought she should be patient since the person in question was her own mother.
But now, seeing how her mother treated Catherine, Audrey could no longer hold back.
“Mother, calling Catherine a jinx is nothing but superstitious nonsense. She’s still your daughter, no matter what. Your constant use of that term is why Catherine calls you by your first name.”
Rachael had raised Audrey for so many years, and the girl had always been respectful. She had never spoken to Rachael like this before.
She was momentarily taken aback and couldn’t believe her ears. Her eyes widened as she stared at Audrey in shock.
“You’ve gone too far. Have you been influenced by that jinx after spending so much time with her?
“How dare you talk to me like this? If you persist, I’ll cut off all contact with you. You won’t be part of the Swanns from then on.”
Audrey greeted her teeth, her eyes red and determined. She didn’t believe she was in the wrong. She just couldn’t tolerate her mother’s constant use of the term ‘jinx.
After all, Catherine was her sister, and Audrey was only trying to protect her. How could her mother threaten to cut ties over this?
Catherine’s favorite sight was seeing Audrey, usually mild-mannered, suddenly assert herself. However, she hadn’t expected her to do so quickly. Using her seniority to bully others wasn’t a commendable approach from Rachael.
Catherine took a step forward, positioning herself between Audrey and Rachael, her cold gaze fixed on Rachael.
“If you’re here to blame someone for Korbin’s hospitalization, I believe you’re looking in the wrong place. Whatever he did to land himself in the hospital, you should ask him.”
Rachael had no idea about the situation between Korbin and Catherine, as she had only heard that he had been hospitalized when she returned home last night.
She had inquired with the household staff, who mentioned that Catherine had visited and that there had been an argument.
But when she asked Korbin about it, he refused to speak.
He only told her that he had lost and that the Swann Corporation’s future was entirely in Catherine’s hands.
How could this be?
The Swann Corporation’s future belonged to her son, not to Catherine, the so-called jinx.
She absolutely would not allow it!
Chapter 405 A Parent?
In the face of Catherine’s explanation, Rachael couldn’t hear a word. She scolded Catherine with fury, asserting her authority as Korbin’s wife.
“Catherine, how dare you try to explain yourself? The servants have already made it clear that it’s your fault your father fell ill!”
Catherine looked at her askance, adopting an air of superiority as if she couldn’t care less about her.
“If you don’t believe me, why bother explaining further?”
Rachael was on the verge of exasperation, facing Catherine’s arrogance. She felt helpless, unable to hurt Catherine no matter what she did.
This feeling of powerlessness was what angered her the most. Knowing that Catherine cared about Audrey, Rachael decided to hit Catherine where it would hurt the most through Audrey.
“Catherine, calling you a jinx is spot on. Your influence on your sister has brought nothing but misfortune. A daughter like this isn’t worth having!
“Remember this!” Rachael pointed her finger menacingly at Catherine. She had dropped the facade of a high and mighty lady. “It’s because of you that Audrey was kicked out of this house by her parents. Do you understand?”
Rachael’s threats made Catherine quietly chuckle. With a sly twinkle in her eyes, Catherine watched Rachael with an amused smile.
“Is that so? Do you plan to pin this accusation on me forcibly? But I have a different perspective from the norm. In my eyes, some people, despite having children, don’t deserve to be parents…
“Just left home? Hmph, Rachael, have you forgotten whose name the properties you’re living in are registered under now?”
All of the Swanns’ assets now belonged to Catherine. Originally, the Swanns’ had been in her father’s name. After his passing, he had left all the assets to Catherine, including this house.
Rachael tried to remain composed, but her eyes burned with hatred as she glared at Catherine. Her face turned pale, and her breathing became heavy.”
You insolent wretch, do you intend to kick me out of the Swanns’?”
“If you continue to harass me, it’s not entirely impossible for such a thing to happen!”
With a sly smile in her eyes, Catherine added, “After all, in your eyes, I’m just a star-crossed disaster who disregards family ties, right?”
Rachael had intended to scold Catherine further, but she quickly changed her mind. She had come unprepared, and she knew she would lose in a direct confrontation.
Catherine, that insolent brat, wouldn’t yield to any pressure, and nobody could predict her next move. Even Korbin had been hospitalized due to her, which showed how capable she was.
In the end, Rachael issued a final warning to Catherine and reluctantly left, clutching her purse. Catherine pushed the door open and walked inside, comfortably sinking into a sofa.
These people were all so annoying, wasting so much of her precious rest time. Audrey followed, her curiosity piqued, and came over to Catherine.
“Kathy, did you really make Dad ill?”
Catherine made a lazy sound, giving off an air of indifference.
“Whether he’s sick or not, one thing is certain, he’s definitely angry.”
Audrey was jaw-dropped when she heard Catherine’s response. It seemed that among the four siblings, only Catherine had the power to make their father ill.
The others, even Johnathan, were always respectful in their father’s presence. Their father had a cold demeanor and seldom showed leniency toward his children.
Audrey asked, “Kathy, what did you do to make Dad so angry?”
Catherine couldn’t be bothered to answer and simply replied, “Ask him yourself.”
With that, Catherine closed her eyes to rest. Seeing her fatigue, Audrey refrained from further questions and quietly retreated to her room to rest.
Catherine had initially intended to recline on the sofa for a brief respite, but she unexpectedly drifted into slumber.
Had it not been for the ringing of her cell phone, she might have continued to sleep. Catherine reached for her phone, pressed the answer button, and brought it to her ear, inquiring, “Who’s this?”
Just one cold question from her made the person on the other end almost tremble in fear. Disturbing Catherine during her sleep was practically asking for trouble!
However, the call had already been made, so it couldn’t be disconnected now. If it were, Catherine might issue an order to hunt him down for the interruption.
In a trembling voice, he said, “”
Catherine, Scorpion Island is offering a high price for you to act as an instructor and train for a month.”
“No,” came Catherine’s prompt and resolute response. Still not giving up, he muttered softly, ” They’re offering 100 million dollars for just a month.”
Without any response, Catherine promptly ended the call. After all, when had she become someone who could be bought with money?
With the call done, Catherine initially thought of resting a bit more but realized her stomach was growling.
Holding her phone, she considered ordering takeout, but it seemed more reliable to depend on the delivery person than on Audrey.
Seeing an unread message, Catherine decided to check it.
“Come to eat when you wake up. I’m waiting for you!”
Seeing the message from the man, Catherine’s lips curved into a somewhat self-satisfied smile. Now, she didn’t need to open a food delivery app. She rose from the sofa and headed to the apartment next door.
Upon entering, she was greeted by the delightful aroma of a well-prepared meal filling the room. It wasn’t greasy but rather a scent of dishes she was familiar with and loved.
Catherine felt that her stomach was slowly being tamed by Branden. Witnessing her enter, the man emerged from the kitchen with some cheese. Just like every time, the final course was cheese.
Catherine enjoyed strong cheese, preferably blue cheese. If it was mildly flavored, she would furrow her brows. Though she never voiced it, the man seemed to have noticed. Every time he prepared cheese, it was always at that perfect, pungent, earthy aroma.
As she gazed at the simple yet delicious dishes on the table, Catherine squinted with a faint smile on her face. The man took her hand and led her to the seat.
“Sit and eat!”
Catherine thought she hadn’t asked for any assistance. With no objections, she picked up a fork and started to savor the meal with a contented heart.
Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. Perhaps continuing to live like this wouldn’t be so bad. Rachael returned to the Swanns’; a vast mansion with not a single Swann family member present except for the servants.
Korbin was in the hospital, and Liana had been acting oddly recently, leaving early and returning late each day, claiming that she wanted to surpass Catherine in her studies to prove herself.
As for Johnathan, that poor child had been sent to a full-time boarding school overseas to endure his own hardships.
Staring at the empty mansion without a hint of sound, Rachael couldn’t help but feel aggrieved.
Catherine was far too arrogant, daring to speak such words to her. If she just sat back and did nothing, she would certainly be underestimated by Catherine.
She needed to do something about it!
The Swanns were devoid of family now, and Rachael decided to consult her parents. She couldn’t allow Catherine to continue living in such comfort.
Chapter 406 Jokes
Faced with Catherine’s resolute refusal, Sean couldn’t help feeling a bit frustrated. A project worth 100 million dollars, with a ten percent commission, meant a cool ten million dollars in his pocket.
He couldn’t help but feel like he had let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers. Ten million dollars was a big number, but Sean was no ordinary businessman. He ran the black market, and in this business, if you weren’t a bit ruthless, you wouldn’t last long.
It was all about mutual consent, and he believed it wouldn’t hurt anyone. After giving it some thought, he decided to consult Ronin.
Ronin was often by Catherine’s side and knew her better than anyone else in their circle. He might hold some valuable information or provide insights into her decision. Sean gave Ronin a call, briefly explaining the situation.
On the other end of the line, Ronin’s response was curt. “Thirty-seventy.”
Sean felt a pang of regret. He had forgotten that Ronin wasn’t just a follower of Catherine but also her trusted financial advisor.
Ronin had a reputation for being shrewd when it came to money, and his blade was sharper than Sean’s in the realm of finance.
Sean was desperate. He would need to pay a high price to extract information from him. After some contemplation, Sean clenched his teeth and replied, “You get three, I get seven.”
Ronin hadn’t originally planned to aim for a big profit. After all, the business belonged to Sean, and he was just providing some assistance. Taking too much would be unethical.
“Sean, don’t tell me you’ve become blinded by the allure of money. How can you not see the bigger picture?
“Catherine refuses to accept it. What’s the use of trying to convince her? You should be trying to persuade the other side. If she didn’t accept 100 million dollars, wouldn’t she accept a billion dollars?”
Sean was taken aback. Ronin had just raised the stakes tenfold. Under any other circumstances, it would be a no-brainer. But with Catherine, nothing was certain. Sean inquired cautiously, “Are you sure she’d agree to the higher price?”
“If she doesn’t, we have me, remember? Besides, Catherine is just flesh and blood, not a deity. Money is something she naturally likes. No problem.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, Sean decided to seek out potential buyers for the project. He declared, “Alright, I’ll find the buyers. You handle the rest.”
“Sure thing,” Ronin agreed.
He then ended the call with a smug face.
After disconnecting the call with Sean, Ronin sent a message to Catherine.
“Catherine, Sean contacted me!”
Making money was one thing, but betraying Catherine? He wouldn’t even consider it, no matter what. On Catherine’s end, just after finishing her meal and preparing to rest, she received a text message from Ronin.
Catherine pocketed her phone with a faint smile upon reading the message. She then looked up and noticed the man sitting across from her, who had been watching her intently.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she inquired. The man raised an eyebrow, and his starry eyes sparkled with a radiant light. “I’m just wondering what kind of message could make you smile like that. Sometimes, just a random smile on her face could make his heart beat faster.
“Haha.” Catherine Swann chuckled lightly and said, “It’s nothing. Ronin sent me a joke.”
With that, Catherine reclined on her dedicated beanbag. The beanbag here was genuinely comfortable!
As she watched the man tidying up the desk, the smile on Catherine’s lips lingered for quite some time. Little did she know that after she uttered those words…
The man had assigned Paxton a task, leading him to flip through various joke books throughout the night.
Yesterday, after Catherine had dealt with Rachael, she was cornered by Liana the very next day. Liana wore a look of righteous indignation as she raised her voice, seemingly ready to break into song.
“Catherine, what have you done to Dad? Why did you upset him so much that he ended up in the hospital?”
Catherine watched her coldly as she squinted her eyes, arms folded.
“Liana, sometimes you have to know your limits when you’re acting. Haven’t the previous lessons taught you anything?”
Liana’s face turned pale. While Catherine’s words seemed harmless, they felt like a slap across her face, leaving her embarrassed.
“Catherine, what do you mean?” Liana clenched her teeth, glaring at her. Catherine pushed Liana’s shoulder with one hand.
“We both came from the same womb. Even if there’s a difference, I don’t believe it’s that big. Use your brain to think, is this something you should be meddling in?”
If Liana could not handle it, she shouldn’t have interfered. How foolish could someone be to meddle in something that was bound to have no result?
Catherine had said what she needed to. Whether Liana could understand it was up to her.
If she brought it upon herself, Catherine wouldn’t be lenient. Liana watched Catherine’s retreating figure, and her teeth clenched so hard that she bit her lip.
Catherine was detestable. A person like her deserved to go to hell. Now that Catherine had thrown the Swanns into turmoil, Liana was determined not to let her get away with it.
She had been too impulsive in the past, underestimating Catherine’s strength.
It was surprising to see that Catherine, who had grown up in the countryside, had this kind of influence. It seemed that her grandfather hadn’t completely abandoned her. He must have secretly arranged for someone to nurture her in the countryside. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be the person she was today.
She would plan more carefully and not give Catherine another chance. The next day, Rachael got up early, a rare sight considering she usually slept in until noon. She rushed to her parents ‘house.
Her parents were somewhat surprised to see her.
“Rachael, why are you back all of a sudden?”
Rachael, who was used to acting sophisticated in front of others and flaunting her status as a rich man’s wife, didn’t hold back in front of her parents.
She angrily threw her handbag aside and complained to her mother, “Mom, I can’t go on like this anymore. Why did I give birth to a jinx?”
Seeing her daughter’s sudden outburst, Rachael’s parents were puzzled. They comforted her while urging her to explain what happened.
Rachael explained the recent events at the Swanns. Her parents were equally shocked, never expecting such a turn of events in the Swanns. In their eyes, Korbin was quite a capable individual.
“Korbin was really hospitalized because of her actions?” Enzo still found it hard to believe.
Rachael’s eyes widened in anger. Every time she thought about Catherine, she couldn’t control her facial expressions, and her entire face twisted with frustration.
“If it weren’t for such a significant incident, could I have come back to discuss things with you? Right now, I don’t even have anyone to confide in. Korbin said she not only angered him but also gained control over the Swanns. She even claims that the Swanns’ is her property, and she intends to kick me out of my own home.
This news was indeed shocking for Enzo and Donna, as nobody could have foreseen such a dramatic turn of events in the Swanns. They had assumed that with the passing of Vicente, Rachael’s husband would take over the family smoothly.
They had been relieved that her husband’s family had no significant property disputes, which meant fewer headaches for them. But now, instead of sibling rivalries, father-daughter conflicts were taking center stage!
Rachael’s words deeply concerned her mother, and she urgently turned to her husband. “Dear, you must help our daughter find a solution!” she said.
Chapter 407 You Better Not
After learning about his daughter’s situation, Enzo fell silent for a long while. Their eldest son had relied on the Swanns’ business, and now, not even Korbin could handle that troublesome girl. So, there was no hope to count on their eldest son.
The only one they could rely on was their second son, Adrien. After pondering for a long time, Enzo made up his mind.
“I’ll make a call to Adrien.”
With those words, he headed to the study. Donna reached out and held Rachael’s hand, whispering to comfort her, ”
Don’t worry. Your father has gone to see Adrien for help. Adrien is capable, and Catherine Swann won’t be a problem.”
In the past, Rachael would have believed those words. But now, even Korbin couldn’t deal with that girl. Though Adrien was indeed capable, his skills mainly lay in politics. Rachael wasn’t certain about his ability in the business world.
Rachael and Donna discussed their situation in the living room. They were unaware that there was a figure lurking in the corner, eavesdropping on their conversation.
Alyssa had heard from a servant that her sister, Rachael, had returned, which was unusual. Rachael visited them from time to time, but she rarely showed up in the morning.
There must be something wrong at this hour. Quietly, she stood in the corner of the living room, not making a sound, hoping to learn what they were discussing. Unexpectedly, she heard such significant news.
Her earlier judgment was correct. Catherine was not an ordinary girl. She had even brought down Korbin.
Alyssa needed to inform her husband of this news quickly. No matter what, she had to be prepared not to offend either side so they could maximize their profits.
The security officer watched as Adrien answered the phone. Adrien’s smile held an odd, eerie expression that made the officer wonder.
“Chief, what’s made you so happy today?”
He remembered that Mr. Lang wasn’t particularly fond of the Langs, and each time they called, his face remained indifferent.
Why did he seem that pleased today?
Adrien Lang looked up at him, his eyes carrying a profound meaning. “How did the investigation I asked you to conduct go?”
As for the matter in question, the security officer couldn’t help but furrow his brow. “Chief, I was wondering why you wanted me to investigate a young girl. I now understand she’s not ordinary. She’s like a blank canvas, and nothing amiss about her.”
As long as a person existed in this world, they would inevitably leave some traces. The only possibility for this blank page was that the person who carried out the investigation didn’t have sufficient authority to access core information.
Adrien’s expression changed at the response, furrowing his brow. He asked again, “Did you follow my orders properly?”
The officer replied earnestly, “Yes, Chief. I even checked in the archives under your name, but there is no information about this girl.”
Modern archives were all interconnected. As long as someone lived in this world, they left some sort of record.
However, the last time he investigated, he couldn’t find any information. Adrien became interested, for he hadn’t expected there were people they couldn’t trace. It seemed that his niece was truly extraordinary!
But if she were ordinary, the situation wouldn’t be interesting. After all, she had managed to infuriate Korbin to the point of being hospitalized, which made her either a genius or a devil.
Seeing Adrien rise, the security officer promptly followed.
“Chief, are you going out?” the officer asked. Adrien grunted in agreement, and the officer rushed to prepare the car.
Adrien intended to investigate personally to understand who his niece really was. Once he had gathered enough information he could report back to Enzo.
After school, Catherine arrived at the school gate and saw Branden’s car parked in front. The moment she appeared, Branden stepped out of the car.
To avoid attracting more attention, Catherine didn’t linger. She walked straight to the car and didn’t hesitate for a second.
Even so, her actions drew considerable attention. This included her envious stepsister, Liana. She saw Branden bend to open the car door for Catherine, and her jealousy reached its peak.
“Why does Catherine have so many people showering her with favor?” Liana wondered.
“Isn’t it all because of her charms that she beguiled Branden? If it weren’t for the Duncans supporting her, what would she be?”
Liana saw Catherine as nothing more than a rural disaster child that no one wanted. As Catherine’s car gradually departed, there was hatred burning in her eyes.
She vowed to make Catherine pay the price she deserved. Catherine sat in the car, with Branden playing with her hand as they chatted.
“Triston invited us for dinner, so we are eating out tonight. Are you up for it?
Triston and Aidan were eager to meet Catherine after hearing she had returned. Branden was open to the idea as long as Catherine agreed.
Catherine didn’t mind eating out, even if the food couldn’t compare to Branden’s culinary skills. However, she wouldn’t mind dining out from time to time.
“Yes,” Catherine replied.
It was never a bad thing when someone else paid for dinner. With Branden, Catherine arrived at Restaurant l’Aménite, which they often visited. There, she discovered that not only Triston and Aidan were present.
Yesenia and Ronin had both arrived, even earlier than Catherine. Seeing Yesenia, Catherine was not surprised that all of them were gathered there. Yesenia’s persuasive skills were unparalleled. The restaurant manager noticed Branden’s arrival and came out personally to greet him.
Adrien had a private dinner engagement tonight, and to ensure privacy, he had deliberately chosen Restaurant l’Aménite.
The person hosting the dinner had some influence on Casier, given that even the manager of Restaurant l’Aménite greeted them.
“Sorry, gentlemen, I need to attend to a few more VIP guests. I’ll be right back,” the manager said.
He was about to leave.
Then, Adrien, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, “Were those two young people who entered the private room just now?”
The manager’s gaze shifted to Adrien.
Although he wasn’t wearing a uniform today, his presence was extraordinary. After years in the service industry, the manager honed his ability to spot important individuals.
The manager quickly turned around. He responded with respect, “Sir, it’s better not to inquire further about those two.”
This remark caused a change in the expressions of those present. The host who had invited Adrien to dinner frowned, feeling somewhat challenged by the response.
“Why can’t I ask about their background? Is their influence so great? “the host inquired. Understanding the host’s intention, the manager was careful to safeguard the interests of the guests.
“Mr. Hauray, the person you just inquired about is from the Duncans,” the manager stated, making his point clear.
The person asking the questions was jaw-dropped. To be of this age and still from the Duncans and to have the manager of Restaurant l’Aménite acting so cautiously, could it be that…
“Branden Duncan, Mr. Duncan?” the person exclaimed and then immediately fell silent.
In Casier, everyone knew about the Duncans. Their overwhelming influence made them untouchable, especially Branden, who was renowned for his ruthlessness. No one dared to provoke them.
Compared to the others’ astonishment, Adrien remained silent. He couldn’t help but wonder if the girl who had stood by Branden’s side was indeed Catherine. He noticed that their hands seemed to be linked!
The fact intrigued him more and more. His niece was turning out to be an interesting woman.
Chapter 408 Just a Little Business
Catherine emerged from the private booth, heading for the restroom. As she turned the corner, she felt a pair of eyes fixated on her from behind.
Catherine halted and turned.
She saw Adrien standing at the far end of the corridor, his gaze clearly sizing her up. He also noticed Catherine turn around. He initiated the greeting. “What a coincidence, us dining here?”
He had clearly been standing there for a few minutes.
Was it a coincidence?
Not at all.
Catherine gave him an indifferent look, then turned to leave. Adrien hadn’t anticipated Catherine’s reaction.
He immediately tried to stop her.
“Catherine, we cross paths, and you can’t even say hello?” he called out. Turning back once more, Catherine cast a nonchalant glance at Adrien and scrutinized him from head to toe.
She dismissively uttered, “Hi, Adrien.”
Her expression seemed to question him.
“Is that enough?
“Are you satisfied?”
Adrien was growing more intrigued by his niece. She was certainly different from the rest of the Langs. He approached Catherine with a friendly smile.
Meanwhile, his eyes were brimming with warmth.
“Though we may not share any blood relation, there’s no need for hostilities, right? Why not be friends, even if just in name?”
Catherine scoffed and answered with disdain in her eyes, “Hmph. I’m not in the habit of making friends.”
Adrien watched Catherine’s confident departure and let out a bitter laugh. This was the first time he’d faced rejection.
Accustomed to being admired, he had failed in his attempt to befriend her. As Catherine left, the hidden security officer finally emerged from the shadows and approached Adrien.
“Chief, this young lady doesn’t seem to have a pleasant personality. You are older than her, but she’s showing disrespect to you.”
Adrien replied, “She’s already being relatively nice to me. She’s been through a lot from childhood. I only hope she’ll have an easier life in the future.”
Earlier, Adrien received a call from Enzo, who informed him of Catherine’s ruthless tactics. She had pushed Korbin into the hospital, ejected Rachael from the family home, and asked for Enzo’s advice.
At that moment, Adrien contemplated that this young woman was clever, but facing someone like Korbin in the business world would not be easy.
It turned out that Catherine had the support of the Duncans. Adrien was well aware that the Duncans ‘influence extended beyond the business world.
Originally, he had no intention of helping Donna and Enzo deal with Catherine, as he knew what kind of people they were. Catherine had been sent to the countryside while still a child.
Still, it was one of those baseless accusations rooted in feudal superstition. Could normal parents really do such a thing?
They had sown the seeds of their own wrongdoing, and now it was time for them to reap the harvest. Catherine had no intention of having one person after another corner her in the restroom. It was Adrien earlier, and now Ronin.
When she appeared, Ronin quickly approached.
“Catherine, I need to talk to you,” he said.
Catherine glanced at him and nodded in agreement.
“Catherine, our final exams are just a week away. After that, we’ll have a month off. Isn’t that great?” Ronin spoke. Catherine, growing impatient with his circumlocution, replied curtly, “Cut the crap.”
One stern command was enough to make Ronin shiver. He quickly got to the point.
“Catherine, we received a message from Sean offering a billion dollars for you to be an instructor for a month.”
As Catherine finally understood his real intention, she scanned him from head to toe with a chilling expression. It sent shivers down Ronin’s spine.
It was terrifying.
Finally, Ronin couldn’t bear the tension any longer.
“Catherine, Sean Scott is willing to pay me thirty million dollars. I don’t intend to keep the money for myself. I just think that instead of letting Sean earn that money, we could siphon some into your pocket. After all, we don’t have much left in our accounts,” he pleaded.
Upon hearing this, Catherine furrowed her brows slightly and asked, “Are we out of money?”
Even though he risked getting a beating from Catherine, Ronin decided to come clean. At Catherine’s quizzical look, he added, “The money you had me transfer to the lab last time was the last of it.”
Without the money from the Winfreds, courtesy of an arrangement facilitated by Withal, they wouldn’t have had enough to fund their experiments.
Catherine had many qualities, but a sense of financial responsibility was not one of them. No matter how much they earned, she often spent money without keeping track.
Once Ronin realized Catherine’s financial tendencies, he took control of her accounts, earning a degree in financial management in the process to help with her finances.
Not only could he manage their income and expenses efficiently, but he could also invest the surplus funds wisely, allowing them to generate even more income!
Catherine was terrible with money. She believed the money they received from the Winfreds was enough to support the lab for a while. She didn’t expect it to be gone so soon.
The lab’s expenditures were truly fast. It seemed she’d have to work hard to earn some money.
Otherwise, all the research projects would stall, and the lab’s competition was about who could burn money faster and spend more.
As long as a laboratory was willing to spend generously, they could achieve anything.
Catherine asked, “Find out who this person is.” Anyone willing to pay her 100 million dollars to be an instructor was no ordinary person.
Ronin shook his head, “We haven’t received any information from Sean, but it seems there’s a connection to the 417 Laboratory. They train people to join Shadow Guard for the 417 Laboratory.”
417 Laboratory?
Interesting.
Since the buyer was willing to pay, he reluctantly accepted the role of an instructor. After all, it wasn’t her first time doing such a job.
In the past, she had trained her own people for free, but now that she would be paid for it, it felt different.
Catherine set a strict deadline, “Ronin, inform them we’ll give them 21 days. Only 21 days, life or death.”
If they wanted her to be the instructor, they should be prepared to have their skin peeled off and possibly lose their lives at any moment.
When Catherine agreed to the proposal, Ronin didn’t care whether the buyer would accept these stringent conditions.
Ronin agreed readily, “Alright, Catherine, I’ll have Sean negotiate with the buyer. If they refuse, so be it.”
If the buyer didn’t agree, they would just walk away.
Catherine was not someone anyone could hire. They were running low on funds, but as long as their Catherine did something, they had many fortunes waiting to be obtained.
He thought that the buyer seemed generous. He had increased the price tenfold, and they had not hesitated. Now, he was trying to persuade his Catherine to accept.
In the end, it was a simple decision. If they didn’t accept, they wouldn’t negotiate further..
Chapter 409 The Final Exams
Before everyone knew it, the final exams were upon them, and this time, the school was placing a significant emphasis on these year-end assessments.
Next semester, their cohort was scheduled to graduate. Loyalty Academy always had a head start on other schools, having completed the curriculum that other schools would cover in the latter half of the semester.
In the upcoming semester, they would focus entirely on revision, preparing themselves as best as possible for their quest to secure spots at prestigious universities.
Class 8 was renowned as one of the top- performing classes in the school. Class 4 next door was always eager to surpass Class 8.
Recently, Class 8 had gained significant momentum and had become the target of jealousy for several other classes.
The teachers from nearby classes couldn’t help but mention Class 8 frequently, causing anxiety and insecurity among other students. Liana watched Catherine napping with her head on the desk and felt a sense of triumph.
The first day of the final exams was just around the corner, and Liana couldn’t accept that after all her hard work, she was still lagging behind Catherine, who didn’t even seem to know where her books were kept.
Liana needed to outperform her academically, as she couldn’t yet challenge Catherine in any other way.
For this reason, Liana was dedicating herself to her studies, avoiding any trouble with Catherine, which was a rare occurrence anyway.
David and his friends began to notice Liana’s unusual behavior. They realized that asking Bryan for information was pointless, so they turned to Ronin, who always had the inside scoop.
“Ronin, do you think something’s wrong with Liana? Why is she suddenly studying so hard and not causing troubles?” they inquired.
After observing Liana’s actions over time, they had a fairly good idea of her character. Naturally, her shameless behavior alienated many people.
Now, they found her new dedication to her studies strange. Worried that she might be up to something, they decided to seek Ronin’s opinion.
Ronin glanced in Liana’s direction and noticed her newfound commitment to studying. He smirked and thought to himself, ” Seems like a miracle has occurred.”
Ronin’s quick mind allowed him to guess what Liana was up to. She was likely trying to win Catherine’s favor through her academic achievements. However, it would be a rather futile attempt.
Who did Liana think she was? How ridiculous!
These simple study topics were something Catherine could ace without even thinking, let alone teaching.
After understanding Liana’s motives, Ronin chose not to reveal them immediately. He turned to the others and said, “Let her be. If she’s planning any mischief, she’ll have to deal with me.”
This reassurance put everyone’s mind at ease. With Ronin keeping an eye on her, they didn’t have to worry about Liana causing any trouble.
Meanwhile, to Catherine’s surprise, her upcoming final exams became a significant event within the small apartment. Audrey had requested two days off from Kim to come home and assist Catherine in her preparations.
She found Catherine engrossed in a mobile game and knew that, as the elder sister, she had to do something.
“Kathy, your exams start tomorrow, and you’re not studying?” Audrey inquired. Catherine had just finished a game on her phone and looked at Audrey with a serious expression.
“Will my performance on these exams make a big difference?” she questioned. Audrey was momentarily taken aback. Were students nowadays this unconcerned about their grades?
After some thought, she offered a perfect response, once again adopting her elder-sister authority.
“It may not affect me, but it can significantly impact your future. You mustn’t give up on going to a good university, okay?”
Catherine furrowed her brows slightly, wondering if she had to go to university. She had attended high school previously, driven by Audrey’s aspirations and a desire to experience high school life.
“I have to go to university?” Catherine questioned.
“Are you saying you don’t want to?” Audrey looked surprised. Without waiting for Catherine’s response, she began listing a hundred disadvantages of not attending university.
“Kathy, I support you in everything else, whether it’s your grades or anything else. But university is something you must not give up on, understand?”
Catherine gazed at her earnestly and asked, “Do I have to?”
Audrey nodded without hesitation, “A life without a university education is incomplete. So yes, you must.”
“A life without a university education is incomplete?”
Well, if she put it that way, she had never attended university. At the age of seven, she took the university entrance exam, and shortly after that, her mentor sent her to the research lab. She barely spent any time in a university setting.
Listening to Audrey’s comprehensive arguments, Catherine began to look forward to her university life. Audrey was deeply concerned that Catherine might not want to attend university and persisted in trying to persuade her.
Catherine, feeling increasingly agitated, finally interrupted Audrey’s lengthy lecture, “Alright, I promise you. Is this enough?
“I’ll go to university, okay?”
Audrey, satisfied with Catherine’s commitment, relaxed her initially wrinkled face and beamed at her sister.
“Great, as long as you promise to excel in university!”
Audrey was worried that due to the excessive pressure from her constant reminders, Catherine would stop attending university altogether. Now, she was even hesitant to push her to study for the upcoming final exams.
Catherine, realizing Audrey’s intentions were pure, resumed playing her game.
Meanwhile, Audrey occupied herself by reading a script. She had not taken any acting gigs or participated in any TV shows for the past few days.
She had already successfully passed the first audition for “Cloudy World,” and the director seemed pleased with her performance. They had given her a new script for the next round of auditions.
To secure this rare opportunity for Audrey, Kim canceled all of her engagements to give her time to focus on her preparations.
According to the information he’d gathered, she had a good chance of receiving the script for the supporting character. This was her golden opportunity to break into the big screen, and she couldn’t afford to miss it.
The two sisters continued with their respective routines, not interfering with each other, creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
The next morning, Catherine was jolted awake by Audrey’s alarm. She usually woke up naturally, but today, Audrey had shown an unusual interest in her studies, worried she might miss her final exams. So, she had set an alarm for her.
Catherine found this wake-up call rather infuriating. Dragged down by fatigue, Catherine was just about to leave her room when she collided with Audrey, who was rushing towards her with disheveled hair.
Fortunately, Catherine was not easily scared, and she remained calm, even though she frowned slightly as she took a step back.
“Good morning, Kathy. Go have a shower. I’ll prepare breakfast for you.”
Catherine initially thought she could decline, but before she could speak, Audrey had rushed off and entered the kitchen.
Audrey was a passionate person, and Catherine decided not to stop her. When Catherine emerged from the bathroom, a subtle aroma already filled the air around the dining table.
Soon, Audrey’s head peeked out from the kitchen, and she smiled warmly at her sister. “Kathy, your breakfast is on the table. If you’re in a hurry, go ahead and eat.”
Catherine Swann walked to the table and glanced at the spread. There were partly-made fries, milk, and two slightly overcooked sunny-side-up eggs.
Even the arrangement of the fries and eggs formed A+, revealing Audrey’s genuine effort and care. Catherine sat down and ate her breakfast in silence.
By the time Audrey came out of the kitchen, Catherine had finished her meal.
“You already finished everything? I’ll get your backpack. Do you want me to take you to school?”
“No need,” Catherine replied directly.
When Catherine opened the door, she saw her neighbor from across the hall, Branden, waiting outside to give her a ride to university. Audrey noticed this and decided not to insist.
She waved in Catherine’s direction, her face beaming with a smile, making a supportive gesture.
“Kathy, good luck with your exams!”
Catherine watched the innocent and cute expression on Audrey’s face, pursed her lips, and stepped into the elevator.
As she did, the smile on Audrey’s face slowly faded. When she was a student, she had always envied her classmates, who received support and encouragement from their parents. She also wished for that, but being part of the Swanns meant she was denied this opportunity.
Now, she wanted to provide Catherine with all the love and support she never received herself so that Catherine could feel the warmth of a family.
She wanted everyone, including Catherine herself, to know that she was the one who was loved.
Chapter 410 Extraordinary
Two days of final exams finally came to a close yesterday.
At Loyalty Academy, unlike other schools, after the exams, all the teachers stayed late on the same day to release the rankings and results on the following day.
On the second day after the exams, many students with dark circles under their eyes arrived at the school early, eagerly waiting for the results to be posted.
Liana arrived early today, brimming with confidence that she had done well this time. In her quest to get the results faster, she discreetly inquired with her teachers.
When the results were finally announced, they did not disappoint her. She ranked second in Class 8 and third in the entire grade. After learning her results, Liana immediately asked a teacher if Catherine was the first in the class.
The teacher was very sure and firmly denied it. Thinking about this, Liana couldn’t help but feel pleased and looked forward to the moment when the results would be made public. She would love to see Catherine’s reaction when she found out.
As the homeroom teacher walked in, Liana’s heart raced. She deliberately glanced in Catherine’s direction and couldn’t help but smile when she saw her still napping on the desk.
All the students were focused on their homeroom teacher, eagerly waiting for the results. To everyone’s surprise, the first place went to Ronin, with Liana and Bryan following in the top three.
Catherine hadn’t even made it to the top three.
After the teacher announced the top three rankings, she distributed the remaining results and left the stage.
As a teacher, she understood that students needed a space for discussion and processing. Since she couldn’t effectively suppress it, she decided to simply let go and allow the students to engage in free discussion.
Holding her second-place result, Liana casually walked over to Catherine. Catherine was still napping, and Liana gently tapped the desk to get her attention.
Catherine lifted her head, and her drowsy, slightly hoarse voice carried an intriguing allure. Liana quietly took a step back, fear stifling her words.
“What do you want?” Catherine Swann lazily inquired as she awoke, her voice tinged with sleepiness and a husky allure.
Catherine’s voice snapped Liana back to reality. She gazed at Catherine, her expression full of pride. “Catherine, what was your score this time?”
Catherine stared at her with an icy gaze and retorted, “What’s it to you?”
Liana wasn’t surprised by Catherine’s response. After all, the teacher had already revealed the top three rankings, and she had outperformed Catherine.
Liana thought that feeling a tinge of shame, Catherine had a point in not wanting to reveal her score, and it was perfectly normal.
“Catherine, you’re my sister, after all. I just wanted to know your score. Isn’t that a normal thing to do?” Liana insisted.
Catherine could easily tell what was on Liana’s mind. She pretended to care about her sister, which she found nauseating. Before Catherine could make another sarcastic remark, Ronin, who was nearby, suddenly showed up.
“Liana, it’s really self-inflicted humiliation to ask about our family head Catherine’s score. I, who am the first, even feel awkward doing it. You, as the second, should definitely avoid it, ” he said.
“After all, you’re Catherine’s little sister,” one of them said, “I’m just offering you some friendly advice.”
She despised both Catherine and Ronin, with Catherine being her top target. For he was Catherine’s most loyal lapdog, and at times, he could turn into a fierce wolf.
In her eyes, Catherine was merely afraid of embarrassment and didn’t dare to share her score.
“Ronin, you’re the first in the class. What’s so embarrassing about that? Can Catherine be even more formidable than you?”
“Of course!” Ronin said, oozing confidence.
Their argument caught the attention of onlookers, and a crowd began to gather.
David, always eager for gossip, couldn’t resist and approached Catherine. ” Catherine, how did you do on the test? Why did Ronin say you scored higher than him?”
Catherine grew impatient with the crowd around her.
She responded curtly, “Zero.”
Zero!
The crowd was shocked by this response. Zero in all seven subjects? Wouldn’t that make her the lowest in the whole grade?
Even Liana, who had seen Catherine’s previous scores, was surprised, Liana had seen Catherine’s impressive scores before, so how could she have scored a zero this time?
Had Catherine cheated before?
David, now realizing the implications, exclaimed, “Catherine, you can’t be serious! How could you score zero?”
Catherine was seemingly indifferent to the reactions of the people around her.
Ronin, who had overheard the conversation, approached them, pushing David aside. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.
“You know nothing! Do you think it’s easy to get a zero? There are hundreds of multiple-choice questions in seven subjects. Even if you had no clue, you’d guess a couple, right? To get a full zero, you’d have to know all the correct answers. Find me one example.”
The listeners initially didn’t grasp Ronin’s point but soon understood.
Even if your scores were bad or you were unlucky, you could still fill in the answers randomly to score some points.
There was the existence of some easy questions. Falling behind every student with a perfect zero required knowing all the correct answers in advance. David belatedly caught on and slapped his thigh, giving Catherine a thumbs- up.
“Impressive!”
“Catherine is truly extraordinary. Being first is nothing special. To rank the lowest in the grade and still hold all the correct answers, that’s what real talent is!” he exclaimed.
“Unconventional and amazing, I admire you,” added another student.
As a result of David’s enthusiastic account, the crowd’s perception of Catherine changed. Initially, they couldn’t understand why Catherine had the lowest score, but now they admired her.
Indeed, Catherine was always full of surprises. The way she carried herself and her unexpected attitude set her apart from ordinary folks.
It turned out that even the lowest score could be something to be proud of if done with style. Everyone was praising Catherine with appreciative looks.
Liana couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. But she wasn’t foolish enough to argue with these people who seemed to have lost their minds.
If she attempted to argue, they wouldn’t listen anyway. Liana hadn’t expected Catherine to outshine her, scoring a perfect zero.
She felt suffocated, trapped with these crazies in the room. Being surrounded by these people, she could hardly breathe. She had to get out for some fresh air.
Meanwhile, Ronin sat back comfortably, imitating Catherine’s posture. He leaned back in his chair, sharing an update with her.
“Catherine, you didn’t see Liana’s face. It was priceless. The brat tried to use her scores to taunt you, but she’s daydreaming.”
Catherine’s willingness to let herself be the worst in the class meant that Liana couldn’t take advantage of the situation.
With him around, Liana had no chance of turning the tables. After discussing the gossip, Ronin had to address more serious matters. He didn’t want Catherine to find him irritating.
“Catherine, they’ve agreed to the 21 days. When are you planning to leave?”
Catherine, with her eyes half-closed and a lazy demeanor, responded, ”
Alright.”