Ch. 661..670
Chapter 661 Isadora Was Beaten Up
Elton did not know what Catherine would do exactly, but he could already see something wrong in Catherine’s eyes.
There was a dangerous look in Catherine’s icy-cold eyes.
This look made Fletcher subconsciously panic, and he did not dare to agree.
But Branden behind Catherine did not let him go. The threat was right in front of him.
After hesitating for a while, Elton nodded.
Without further ado, Catherine made a move quickly.
She yanked Isadora up and flung her hard. The crowd gasped out in shock, and Isadora’s mother even screamed.
Isadora was knocked unconscious directly.
Elton was so angry that his face turned dark, but he could do nothing about Catherine. Catherine had Branden behind her back!
After handling Isadora, Catherine looked toward Emma.
Since Emma saw her uncle’s attitude change, she was smart enough to know that she could not afford to offend Catherine. She then hid at the side and did not make a sound.
Her silence was not enough to make Catherine let her go.
Catherine did not take action against Emma herself. She looked at Emma and smiled softly. That smile made Emma’s heart feel creepy somehow.
Just when Emma thought Catherine would beat her, Catherine turned her head to the side. “Your niece is really cunning. She even wants to use someone else’s hands to do evil!”
Elton instantly froze at Catherine’s comment.
Emma’s face instantly turned pale. She did not expect Catherine to be even more ruthless than she imagined. Catherine actually used such a way to deal with her.
She was now boarding at her uncle Elton’s house. She had to rely on Elton’s family to help her with many things while she was studying in Loxton.
So she could not offend Elton and his family.
After reacting, Emma immediately opened her mouth to defend herself.
“Uncle Elton, don’t listen to her. She’s stirring up discord and deliberately setting me up!”
Catherine laughed disdainfully and turned to leave the Wales’.
Elton, however, did not believe Emma’s defense. From Emma’s panicked look, he could guess the rough situation.
Moreover, although he was unfamiliar with Catherine, he could tell from her way of doing things that she was direct and did not like to beat around the bush.
If Catherine really wanted to deal with Emma, she could have done it directly. There was no need to sow discord.
He looked coldly at Emma and said mercilessly, “You get the hell out of here now!”
Emma begged Elton not to treat her like this, but Elton did not give her a chance. Elton directly had the servant throw her things out.
Catherine left the Wales’ and came to the hospital.
Amelia had already woken up, and her wound was not a big deal. For safety reasons, the doctor asked her to stay in the hospital for two days.
Seeing Catherine appear and the murderous look in her eyes not completely dissipating, Amelia was a bit panicked.
“Super Catherine, you didn’t go to Isadora’s to settle the score, did you?”
Catherine did not hide it from Amelia. ” Yes, I took her back to the Wales’ and beat her up! She’ll find a chance to apologize to you tomorrow when she wakes up.”
Amelia was shocked and looked at Catherine with wide eyes.
She thought in shock, “Did I hear right? Super Catherine actually brought Isadora back to her home and beat her up?”
She gulped silently. Although Isadora getting beaten up made her happy, she was worried that something would happen to Catherine.
She had heard before that the Wales had quite a powerful background, and because of this, Isadora dared to be so arrogant at school.
Amelia asked with concern, “Will the Wales come after you?”
“No!” Catherine answered decisively.
Catherine muttered in her mind sarcastically, “Hmph! The Wales don’t have time to come after me now.
They’re about to go bankrupt, so how can they have time to bother me?”
Chapter 662 The Retribution of Bad People
The next day, the post on the school forum that slandered Catherine disappeared.
The top post was a post from Isadora’s account. The post’s content was Isadora apologizing to Catherine solemnly and stating the true situation.
Isadora just happened to see Catherine eating with someone. Out of jealousy, she took a photo and posted it on the forum to slander Catherine.
After the top post was posted, it became even more hotter than the post that slandered Catherine.
Both Isadora and Catherine were well- known figures in the school.
No one would have thought that these two seemingly unrelated people to bump into each other and that Isadora would frame Catherine because she was jealous of her fame.
In schools like Styre University, where top-notch students gathered, there were actually bad students like Isadora. There was a big uproar among the students.
Many people began to boycott Isadora spontaneously on the forum without anyone organizing, demanding the school expel Isadora.
Quickly, in the afternoon of that day, the school issued a notice on how to deal with Isadora.
In addition to slandering Catherine, Isadora was also suspected of intentionally harming others. After discussion, the school had decided to expel Isadora.
Many students expressed great satisfaction when this topic was brought up.
As for Isadora’s roommates and classmates who had been bullied by Isadora before, they all came out to complain when they saw her finally fall.
They made all of Isadora’s malignant behavior public. The events about to be quelled were pushed to a climax once again due to their revelations.
Due to these students’ revelations, everyone’s resentment toward Isadora reached its peak, and some people took the opportunity to post Isadora’s incidents on the internet.
Everyone thought Isadora’s arrogance was due to the wealth of the Wales, which hit everyone’s nerves even more.
Many netizens followed this clue to dig deeper and indeed found that Isadora’s family’s company was suspected of tax evasion.
On the same day, the Administration for Industry and Commerce intervened in the investigation. The netizens provided a large amount of evidence. The Wales had more than tax evasion problems.
Such a problematic enterprise would definitely face severe crackdowns and bans. If the situation continued, it would only be a matter of time before the Wales went bankrupt.
Overnight, the once glorious Wales suddenly faced bankruptcy. This was probably something that the people of the Wales never imagined.
Ronin rushed to the hospital as soon as he received the news.
“Amelia, your revenge has already been taken!”
Amelia was lying on the bed eating delicious fruits and looked at Ronin with a dumbfounded face.
“Ronin, what do you mean?”
Amelia had always addressed Ronin in the tone of a big sister calling her little brother ever since she learned that Ronin was still three years younger than her.
Ronin did not allow her to call him in that tone before. Seeing that Amelia was injured due to Catherine, Ronin did not argue about it with her this time.
“Isadora is expelled from school, and the Wales goes bankrupt. Don’t you think your revenge has already been taken?”
“What?” Hearing this news so suddenly, Amelia was so shocked that she dropped the fruit in her hand.
She looked at everyone in the ward incredulously. “What? Is the Wales so miserable? Or am I really that powerful that the Wales suffered such a severe backlash after beating me?”
Isabella was also in the hospital room. Looking at Amelia with an innocent expression on her face, she did not even know what to say.
She was different from Amelia. She saw things more thoroughly.
When Amelia was beaten up, she thought of helping her to sue the Wales. But after investigating the background of the Wales, she felt that she could not do it with her own strength.
The Wales had a strong background and was a new force rooted in Loxton, so it was not someone that a small fry like her could go against. This was also the reason why Isadora could be so arrogant in the school.
Seriously, Isadora’s victory lay in having an amazing father.
Now that the Wales had fallen so quickly, Amelia did not understand why and was still guessing. But Isabella knew the power of the Wales, and she understood the reason.
It was not some enthusiastic netizen who could provide complete evidence to bring down the Wales in one fell swoop like this. It should be Catherine.
Catherine could instantly make Wales bankrupt, and her strength was so terrifying that people dared not even imagine.
The only thing Isabella was thankful for now was that she did not listen to another roommate’s compulsion to fight against Catherine together. Otherwise, she would have ended up in a miserable situation.
As long as others did not provoke Catherine, she would never take the initiative to attack others. She was actually a very easy-going type of person.
They were still chatting when Catherine walked in from outside.
Seeing that Catherine was carrying another basket of fresh fruits in her hands, Amelia could not help but gulp.
“Super Catherine, I have a lot of fruits here. You don’t need to take fruits to me anymore. I haven’t even finished the ones you brought yesterday. It will be wasteful if such expensive fruits are left to go bad!”
At first, she only felt that the fruits Catherine brought were particularly delicious, and after checking, she realized that they were all very expensive. She was so shocked by the price of the fruits that she almost swallowed her tongue.
The price of those fruits she ate in the morning was equivalent to half a year of her living expenses.
Catherine placed the fruits on the table and said indifferently, “You can eat as much as you can.”
She implied that Amelia should not feel it was wasteful and that Amelia could eat as many fruits as she wanted.
“Are you feeling better?”
Amelia rarely heard Catherine speak so much proactively. She suddenly felt that her injury was worth it.
“Much better. I don’t feel any pain from my wound. You know what? There have been many doctors coming to my ward. They all wanted to check my wound and even felt it was a pity that they weren’t on duty after finishing their work. They felt sad because they weren’t able to see Professor Keane treat me in person with their own eyes!
Those doctors had taken many of Fletcher’s theoretical classes, but they rarely had the opportunity to take Fletcher’s practical classes.
Their group of medical students all cherished such an opportunity, and everyone felt it was a pity that they missed it. After all, no one expected Catherine to actually be able to invite Fletcher.
Catherine frowned slightly when she heard that. “How about I talk to the doctors and tell them not to come to bother you?”
Catherine really didn’t expect Amelia to be so valued by the doctors there.
Amelia immediately rejected Catherine’s offer after hearing it. “No!”
Catherine raised her eyebrows and looked at her. She did not understand what Amelia meant.
Amelia was a little embarrassed, saying, “I like to make friends with different people. I rarely get the chance to interact with so many people, so I’ll just consider it as making more friends. I think it’s great!”
Students at Styre Medical College were usually very condescending. If someone tried to speak to them more than a couple of times, this person would be suspected of being premeditated and wanting free medical treatment.
They rarely approached others actively, and Amelia naturally wanted to cherish this chance.
Seeing Amelia enjoying such an occasion, Catherine agreed to her request.
“Super Catherine, you don’t have to stay here with me. Haven’t you been busy with the laboratory recently? I’ll let you go!”
Catherine did have something to do in the laboratory. Seeing that Amelia was in a good situation, she stood up and prepared to leave.
“I’m leaving. Call me if anything happens!”
Looking at Catherine’s back as she left, Amelia began to envy Ronin again.
“Catherine is just so cool. She can give me a sense of security that even handsome guys can’t give me. I like her so much!”
Ronin glanced at her in disgust. “You can’t have unrealistic fantasies about Catherine. You don’t deserve her!”
Chapter 663 Reasons for Choosing Him
At that moment, the Wales was in a mess. Elton had called all morning, but no one answered his phone calls.
No one was willing to help the Wales at this time. Everyone knew that the Wales had offended someone they shouldn’t have, so no one was willing to get involved.
Elton made another phone call to an old friend, but before the phone call was connected, it was immediately hung up.
He was so angry that he threw his phone directly on the floor and cursed loudly, “These bastards. I haven’t gone bankrupt yet. Do they need to be so afraid?”
The butler entered the door with trepidation, just in time to see this scene. He fell to his knees in fear.
Elton turned back to the butler kneeling on the floor and asked in a cold voice, “What’s up?”
The butler said carefully, “Miss Emma is here again. She’s still kneeling at the door!”
Elton was about to get angry when his wife said suddenly, “Honey, isn’t Kamren from Northeville also a support?”
Kamren Arroyo from Northeville was always doing illegal and shady business deals.
Once, the Wales’ company was short of funds due to special circumstances, and Elton borrowed money from him, so the two of them got to know each other.
Although Kamren had a lot of money, he did not take the right path. If it were not for the last resort, Elton would not have any further interaction with him.
At present, this was indeed a solution. Elton frowned slightly and said with some worry, “But now that everyone knows about the situation of our Wales. It’s impossible for Kamren not to know. He will definitely make fun of us!”
Ruth said calmly, “So what? As long as he’s willing to help us, he can make fun of us as much as he wants! I’ve heard Kamren has a hobby. He likes spirited young girls. Many of the girls accompanying him are students who graduated from art schools!”
Kamren was already over sixty years old, but he worked out all year round and was strong.
He loved young girls who were skilled in singing and dancing, with charming figures and educational backgrounds. He enjoyed this kind of girl the most.
Elton immediately realized his wife’s intentions. “You mean Emma? But she is my brother’s daughter!”
Elton resented Emma in his heart, but she was his niece, after all.
He still felt a bit reluctant to push his niece into the abyss.
Ruth said with a face full of disdain, Don’t forget who caused all of this!”
In Ruth’s opinion, if it weren’t for Emma’s instigation, her daughter Isadora would not mess with Catherine.
Now, not only had Isadora lost her reputation and suffered a beating, but she had also implicated the Wales in the current situation.
Emma caused all of this. She should take responsibility.
Seeing her husband looking gloomy, Ruth softly said, “There’s nothing we can do right now. Emma isn’t a little girl anymore, and she should also know how to share the burden for the Wales. When the situation improves in the future, we can just give her a little more compensation!”
A slight change appeared in Elton’s eyes, and Ruth, who caught this change, immediately instructed the butler, “Let Emma come in!”
Elton did not stop her. It could be considered that he had acquiesced to all this.
Catherine returned to the laboratory. The rumors outside did not affect the laboratory.
Those senior brothers and sisters who were focused on the laboratory still greeted Catherine warmly when they saw her return.
“Catherine, you look happy today. I heard that your roommate was injured. Is she alright?”
Catherine responded politely. “Thanks for your concern. My roommate’s injury isn’t serious!”
During this period, everyone learned about Catherine’s nature.
She was cold, but she was not pretentious or ostentatious and was easy to get along with.
For Catherine, their highly skilled junior sister, everyone admired and loved her from the bottom of their hearts.
“That’s good. Just let us know if you need any help!”
Catherine nodded slightly.
When Marshall entered, he saw Catherine holding her computer and heading back to the computer room.
He stopped her in a hurry. “Catherine, I heard your roommate was injured?”
“Yes!” Catherine responded.
Marshall smiled at her and gossiped. ” And I heard you even got Fletcher, that old man, to treat her!”
Marshall’s image had changed quite a bit since Catherine had shown up.
He no longer had a stern face all day long. He used to have a stern face because he was annoyed that he could not solve his problems.
Now, he had Catherine to help him with his problems. He did not need to worry about anything anymore.
Even their principal said that Marshall had been smiling a lot more lately.
Hearing Marshall mention Fletcher, the rest of his disciples immediately gathered around.
“What? Catherine, you actually invited Professor Keane!”
“Was it really Professor Keane himself who came to treat your roommate?”
“Catherine, you are amazing!”
Marshall’s eldest disciple said bluntly, ” Even if Professor Hartley personally invites Professor Keane to treat him, Professor Keane may not come!”
Marshall and Fletcher were not only colleagues but also friends who often played chess together for many years. The two of them had been friends for many years with a good relationship.
But as Marshall’s eldest disciple said, Fletcher was eccentric. Even if Marshall personally asked him to treat him, he might not come, However, those words made Marshall unhappy.
Marshall turned his head and angrily rebuked his most experienced disciple, “Nonsense. Are you cursing me?”
Seeing that Marshall was angry, Marshall’s eldest disciple immediately admitted his mistake.
“Professor Hartley, I was just joking. I just wanted to express my curiosity about this matter!”
Everyone laughed in unison, and the happy atmosphere also put Catherine in a good mood. Being with a group of pure people, she even had pure smiles. She was enjoying herself there.
“An elder I know used to teach Professor Keane, sort of Professor Keane’s teacher. He was the one who made the call for me to invite Professor Keane!”
Years ago, Fletcher wanted to become a disciple of Thomas.
Unfortunately, Thomas thought Fletcher was neither qualified nor intelligent enough to meet his requirements. So, he did not accept Fletcher as his disciple.
Fletcher was not discouraged and studied at Thomas’ side for three years.
During these three years, although Thomas did not accept him as his disciple, he still gave him a lot of guidance in his medical skills.
This was also the reason why Fletcher had always regarded Thomas as his mentor. Although he was eccentric and did not listen to others, it was impossible that he did not listen to his mentor!
After listening to Catherine’s explanation, the surrounding senior brothers and sisters all looked at Catherine with envious looks on their faces.
“Catherine, I didn’t expect you to be so amazing, and the people around you are even better!”
“That’s right. The only one who can be Fletcher’s teacher is Dr. Miracle!”
Catherine smiled faintly and did not respond.
The senior brothers and sisters were also smiling. When they saw that Catherine had no desire to continue the conversation, they dispersed.
Catherine took the computer and turned toward the computer room.
Marshall stood in the same place, looking at her back.
He began to have some self-doubt.
He asked himself in his heart, “What kind of charisma do I possess that makes Catherine willing to choose me as her mentor? A genius like Catherine is even qualified to be my mentor! Is it really like what Winston from the computer science department said, that she chose me to be her mentor just because I am older and she respects the old?”
Chapter 664 Kiss of Death
At this moment, Triston was at the Lamberts’.
Branden had a business deal with Triston, so he let his driver drop him off at the Lamberts’.
The day before yesterday, Triston got injured, and now he was lying at home. Branden came by to check on him.
After stepping into the house, Branden spotted Triston lounging in the living room on a chaise longue, and his foot was dramatically swathed in bandages. If one didn’t know better, he would think the injury was severe.
Aidan was also there. He slouched across from Triston with a casual demeanor. His phone was in hand, and his fingers darted across the screen as he played a game.
As soon as Branden entered, Aidan dropped the phone and ignored his in- game teammates.
Triston had the same reaction. If not for his limited mobility, he would have rushed over to Branden already.
As Branden settled down, he glanced at Triston’s heavily bandaged leg. “That bad of an injury?”
Before Triston could say a word, Aidan preemptively exposed his charade.
Aidan said, “He’s just putting on a show! I was with him at the hospital. The doctor said it was just a tiny fracture. Mr. Lambert exaggerated it all for sympathy!”
Audrey had a film shoot in Loxton these past few days. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Triston went to visit the set. However, during the shoot, Audrey’s wire rigging malfunctioned. Triston quickly rushed to the scene and successfully rescued her.
He did save her, but in the process, he got a minor leg fracture.
Initially, the doctor thought Triston was young and strong and didn’t need a cast.
But Triston was full of cunning plans and wanted Audrey to appreciate his heroics more. He not only convinced the doctor to cast his leg but also exaggerated the bandaging to the extreme. He almost had them carry him out on a stretcher.
Triston felt irked by the interference. He gave Aidan a swift kick with his uninjured foot. “My leg’s hurt, not my mouth. Got something useful to say?”
Aidan glanced at him with disdain. “I don’t even care to bother with you!”
Then Aidan turned to Branden and said, “Mr. Duncan, I heard the folks from the Wales offended Catherine, and you took care of them. Is that true? 11
Today, the internet buzzed with news about the Wales, from the daughter of the Wales to the entire household. The once-prominent family seemed to be on the brink of collapse overnight.
Outsiders didn’t know the situation and speculated wildly, but insiders whispered that the Wales’ sudden downfall was due to crossing paths with the Duncans.
During recent business wars, both domestic and international, the Duncans’ strength had astonished everyone in the industry.
In such a situation, the fact that the Duncans managed to defeat the Breens and come out unscathed spoke volumes about their power.
While the Wales had been riding high, how long their streak would last remained a mystery. For the Wales, facing off against the Duncans seemed like taking on a titan.
Seeing Aidan gossiping, Triston chimed in. “I heard it was the daughter of the Wales who hit one of Catherine’s friends.”
As soon as Triston got wind that the collapse of the Wales was related to the Duncans, he reached out to Paxton. After persistent persuasion, he managed to extract some information from Paxton.
Paxton had a poker face and was tight- lipped. Getting anything out of him was no easy feat.
There was no need for Branden to keep secrets from his two friends. He said, Kathy did it herself. She hacked into the Wales’ computer and got all that info out.”
Not only did she hack the Wales’ computer, but she also orchestrated the downfall.
The world believed the Duncans were behind the Wales’ collapse, but in reality, the Duncans hadn’t lifted a finger.
Triston and the others believed Branden. They knew that Catherine’s prowess was unfathomable and par with Branden’s.
The Wales really lacked foresight. They dared to offend Catherine’s friend. That was just asking for trouble.
Aidan shared the latest news. He said, I heard that the head of the Wales is in a panic now. He tries to cozy up to Kamren from Northeville. He even sent his niece over!”
In their circle, secrets didn’t stay secret, especially with someone as flashy and loud as Kamren. As soon as he received the kind gesture of the Wales, he boasted about it everywhere. Rumor had it that the niece of the Wales became a joke in her art school.
Within hours, word spread within their circle.
Triston knew of Kamren. Despite being known as a playboy, Triston believed in mutual consent and never forced anyone. But Kamren didn’t have such standards. The niece of the Wales even could be treated as his granddaughter. He really had no scruples.
However, the Wales had offended Catherine. As Catherine’s friends, they couldn’t easily let the Wales rise from their mess.
“Mr. Duncan, Kamren may not have much else, but he’s wealthy. If we don’t intervene, the Wales might get through this crisis. Why don’t we team up and give the Wales a bit of a setback?”
“No need,” Branden replied coldly.
Catherine’s actions merely prevented the Wales from being as overbearing as before. But the Wales’ current decision was digging their own grave. Kamren operated in shady ways. The Wales’ association with him would lead to their downfall.
As for the niece of the Wales, being troubled by her own uncle was perhaps her just deserts.
Watching them teeter on the edge of ruin, there was no reason for Branden to play the hero and pull them back from the brink.
Seeing Branden’s smile, Triston gulped nervously. He whispered to Aidan cautiously, “Don’t you find Mr. Duncan’s smile a bit terrifying?”
After seeing that, Aidan shuddered, too. He inwardly swore never to cross paths with Branden.
“We’ll stay out of the Wales’ affairs. With what Mr. Duncan said, the Wales won’t have a good outcome. Let’s just wait and watch,” Aidan said.
Triston believed every word. Just by Branden’s smile, he knew the Wales were in for a rough ride.
It was almost 10 PM. Catherine walked out of the lab slowly.
She had explained the situation to Branden before, so he was afraid of disturbing her and didn’t call during this period.
Gazing at the stars in the night sky, Catherine began walking toward her dorm. She needed to return to the lab tomorrow, so she decided to spend the night in her dorm.
Midway, her phone suddenly rang in her pocket.
Catherine took out her phone and checked the caller ID. It was Kim, someone she hadn’t heard from in a while. She frowned and answered the call. She asked, “Kim?”
The moment the call was connected, an urgent voice echoed through the receiver. “Catherine, hurry to Serenity General Hospital. Audrey is injured!”
Chapter 665 Audrey’s Injury
When Catherine rushed out of the school gate, she met Branden, who was there to pick her up. Branden took a chance to see if Catherine was free because he knew she had been busy in the laboratory these days.
Seeing Catherine walking fast, Branden hurriedly stepped forward and asked, ” What’s the hurry? What happened?” Catherine got into the car before she could answer him. “Go to Serenity General Hospital,” said Catherine to Paxton. Without asking any questions, Paxton started the car and quickly drove away.
Catherine caught Branden up with what had happened before they met. ” Kim called and said that Audrey had an accident while filming. She’s at the Serenity General Hospital now.”
Branden held her hand gently and comforted her, “Don’t worry. she will be okay.” Hearing what happened, Paxton had already driven the car to the fastest speed without being instructed.
The car stopped at the entrance of Serenity General Hospital in the shortest possible time. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Catherine opened the door and jumped off, followed closely by Branden. Outside the operating room, Kim paced back and forth anxiously, not knowing what to do. Upon hearing the chaotic footsteps, Kim turned around and immediately rushed forward when he saw it was Catherine coming. All kinds of emotions mixing made him even want to hug Catherine. Because now, Catherine was like a life-saving straw for him.
After catching a glimpse of Branden behind Catherine, Kim forced himself to stop and said, “Catherine, fortunately, you’re here. Your sister hasn’t come out yet.” Catherine nodded, and Paxton had brought the head of the hospital here as soon as possible. “Mr. Ducan,” Rhys Parry said. He and the two chief doctors came directly to Branden.
Catherine comforted Kim and turned around to ask Rhys about Audrey’s situation. “How is Audrey now?” When Catherine spoke, Branden listened motionlessly.
Rhys knew that Catherine was in the lead. At first, he thought Audrey was just an ordinary female celebrity who was injured. He arranged a chief doctor for her, and that was it. Unexpectedly, she turned out to be close to Branden. Branden came to the hospital in person for her. Rhys didn’t even know her situation when asked. Fortunately, he had received many high-ranking big shots daily and was very experienced. He quickly shifted the question to Morrison Rayes. “Dr. Rayes will give you the details.”
Morrison stepped forward and calmed everyone down with his first sentence. He said, “Miss Swann’s injury was not life-threatening. When she fell, she covered her head with both hands. Her head remained unhurt. It’s the upper half of the right arm that’s severely injured. There are also many cuts on the right forearm, one of which was as long as four inches!
“Most of the wounds can be cured without leaving a scar, but it’s probably difficult not to leave a scar on this one. “Knowing Audrey’s profession, Morrison truthfully classified all the risks. These people were difficult to deal with. Even Rhys could not afford to offend them, let alone him.
After Morrison finished speaking, Kim became worried. He said, “But Audrey is going to Paris to attend the Fashion Week next month. She worked hard for half a year to gain this opportunity. How could she still go with a big ugly scar on her arm?”
Audrey had been climbing up the career ladder recently, and this was the opportunity she chased for so long. They even hid the accident from the public in order not to affect her future.
Footsteps echoed throughout the corridor. Subconsciously, everyone turned around and saw Triston rushing over with crutches and gauze wrapped around his legs.
“How’s it going? How is Audrey doing? “Triston asked eagerly. Seeing another big shot coming in, Rhys was so nervous that he couldn’t even catch his breath.
Triston grabbed Rhys’s sleeve and took a quick step towards him. “Rhys, the woman lying inside is my future wife, the future hostess of the Lamberts. My whole family is now in your hands! ”
Rhys almost broke down when he heard this. His face turning pale, he quickly repeated what Morrison had just said to Triston.
Knowing Audrey’s life was not in danger, Triston also calmed down a bit, but he had the same attitude as Kim on the scar issue. “She can’t have scars. Audrey cares about her appearance so much, and she is an actress. You have to get rid of the scar.”
Morrison was embarrassed. Removing scar’s has always been a challenging problem in the medical community. Serenity General Hospital represented the highest level of medicine in Loxton. However, Audrey’s scar was long and
deep. They were not confident about getting rid of the scar. Morrison said, ” Mr. Lamberts, there’s nothing we could do about it.”
“A bunch of good-for-nothing!” Triston cursed.
Faced with Triston’s anger, everyone present lowered their heads. Rhys, who had been silent for a while, suddenly suggested, “Professor Keane from Styre University is a special-invited doctor of our hospital. If he is willing to come, there may be a way.”
Upon hearing this, Catherine went to the hallway with her phone. Triston immediately noticed Catherine walking away and asked Branden, “Where is she going?” Branden glanced at him impatiently and said, “To call someone.
“The contempt for Triston was shown starkly. And Triston could not say anything about it. Audrey needed help from Fletcher, and Catherine had access to him. He would do anything for Audrey, including being despised by Branden.
Catherine called and invited Fletcher over. Amelia had Fletcher’s number from Thomas. This time, Catherine didn’t seek help from Thomas. With just one phone call, Fletcher came in person.
Fletcher came with an orthopedic expert from Styre University. “Miss Swann, let me introduce him to you. This is my friend Julius Ghett. We usually play chess together. He is also a professor at Styre University. He sucks at chess, but he is quite an expert in orthopedics. I heard your sister was injured, so I asked him to come with me,” said Fletcher.
Catherine knew Julius must be extraordinary in his field. That’s why Fletcher would invite him. She was very grateful for Fletcher’s kindness.
“Thank you very much, Fletcher,” said Catherine. Fletcher waved and replied, ” My pleasure.”
Julius looked at Catherine, full of joy. “I met Marshall before I left. He told me that if I couldn’t cure your sister, he wouldn’t play chess with me in the future. What a threat,” he joked. Julius’s wit lightened the atmosphere instantly.
Catherine was about to say something, but Morrison stepped forward and asked, “Dr. Ghett, why are you here?”
Chapter 666 The Surgery
Morrison, standing silently on the side, suddenly talked to Julius. He said in a humble and respectful tone.
Julius took a look at him with a strict expression. He asked, “Are you in charge of this surgery?”
Morrison nodded and responded. “Yes, professor, I’m in charge of orthopedics and wound suturing.”
Julius generously offered, “Fine, you can assist Fletcher and me today. Consider it a lesson out of school.”
Morrison was flooded with joy. He nodded quickly and kept saying, ” Thanks.”
Rhys was filled with a surge of astonishment by what he saw. He thought, ‘Dr. Rayes is an expert in orthopedics at Serenity General Hospital. Professor Ghett must be an authority in orthopedics to gain Dr. Rayes’ respect. Not to mention that Professor Keane hardly accepts any invitations from hospitals. Catherine made a phone call, and both of them were here in person. How powerful is she.’
Catherine stepped forward and shook their hands. “Thanks, professors. I owe you one.”
Fletcher approached Catherine with a shy smile and said, “Miss Swann, could you do me a favor? Let me know the next time Mr. Theo is in Loxton. It’s been a long time since I last saw him. I miss him a lot.”
Thomas’s whereabouts were always mysterious. Many people wanted to look for him.
Even Fletcher, as Thomas’s student, barely had the chance to see him without being called.
Only Catherine was able to make Thomas available on call. So, this was also a request by Fletcher out of selfishness.
Catherine agreed without hesitation, ” Okay!”She thought, ‘It happens to be Scott’s birthday next month. Thomas loved his grandson very much. He will come to Loxton. Just notify Fletcher when the time comes.’
Seeing that Catherine agreed, Fletcher couldn’t stop smiling. He pulled Julius towards the operating room and said, Hurry! Don’t waste time here.”
The surgery, originally scheduled for two hours, ended in over an hour.
Two professors walked out wearing green surgical uniforms, followed by Morrison.
Before the two professors could speak, Morrison eagerly promoted, “The professors are extraordinary. This surgery is so successful.
It was not a major surgery and can be performed in any big hospital. It’s just that Audrey was an actress. To avoid leaving scars increased the difficulty of the surgery. So Catherine specifically invited them to perform the surgery.
Catherine didn’t need to ask for the result. Fletcher had guaranteed that it wouldn’t leave a scar. Catherine trusted him.
Kim excitedly moved forward and welcomed Audrey, who was pushed out of the operating room. The surgery was performed under semi-anesthesia, and when Audrey came out, she was conscious but unable to move her body. When she saw Catherine standing on the side, tears of excitement almost came to her eyes.
Kim thought she was worried about her condition and quickly explained it to her, “Audrey, don’t worry. Catherine has hired the best doctors for you, ensuring no scars will be left and your fashion show in Paris next month won’t be affected.”
Audrey was annoyed by Kim’s nagging and impatiently closed her eyes. Triston took the opportunity to step forward and pulled Kim away. “Step aside, didn’t you see that she needs to rest? Let me tell you, she’s not allowed to work for the next month, and I’ll cover all the losses,” said Triston. ‘If I can’t even protect my women, what else can I do?” Triston thought. Triston dropped his words and ended the discussion. He accompanied Audrey into the ward to rest.
Kim stood on the side and muttered, “I don’t know what went wrong with Audrey lately. She has been unlucky for a long time. So far, it is the third time.”
What Kim said alerted Catherine. Catherine knew Triston took a hit for Audrey last time. Triston posted on his social media and boasted about it, claiming to be the Medal of Love.
There was no such thing as a coincidence in the world. If it happened several times in a row, there was a problem.
“Kim, how often did you say Audrey had been in trouble by now?” Catherine asked.
Seeing that Catherine was interested, Kim couldn’t help complaining, “Yeah, she has been unlucky for a while. When she was recording a variety show before, bad things kept happening to her. Recently, she has been filming with a crew, and the props always went wrong, which could be dangerous for actors and actresses. My heart has been beating fast lately. I feel like something else is going to happen. Catherine, do you think I should go to the church to pray for good luck?”
Catherine was an atheist. She believed someone was behind all these accidents. She gave a hint to Paxton beside her, and he nodded slightly at her before turning and leaving.
Catherine and Branden were pretty close. What Catherine said was equivalent to what Banden said. So Paxton knew what to do without Catherine’s order.
Triston accompanied Audrey closely in the ward, and Audrey’s condition also stabilized. As long as she stayed in the hospital and rested well, she would get well soon. Branden decided to take Catherine back home to take a break first.
He said to Catherine, “Let’s go. I’ll come with you tomorrow!” Catherine did not refuse and followed Branden into the car. Paxton was not there, so Branden drove.
A low-key black car slowly drove through the noisy neighborhood, and Catherine looked through the window at the lively scene under the night lights, unable to help but keep looking.
The car slowed down, and Branden pulled it over by the road. Catherine turned to look at him and saw that his eyes were bright. He smiled at her and casually said, “Let’s get out of the car and grab a bite.”
There were many small restaurants along the road. The most attractive one was a fried chicken shop, releasing waves of food smell that stimulated the taste buds of passersby.
Branden and Catherine walked into the small fried chicken shop and sat down. The moment they sat down, they caught everyone’s attention. The way they dressed and their faces showed they were not ordinary people. Such figures often sat in high-end restaurants, not casually in small roadside shops.
The fried chicken shop was not far from the hospital, and not long after the two of them drove out, they came across this street, providing small snacks.
Thinking of Kim being busy at the hospital all day, Catherine sent a message in their chat room on WhatsApp and left the address, inviting Kim to grab a bite together.
Kim was awkward about staying with Audrey and Triston. So he replied right away, [Be there in a minute. Order me a cheeseburger.]
Ronin initiated the chat room. They were all good friends who enjoyed spending time together. Knowing Branden and Catherine were having dinner with a third one, they all wanted to come.
Ronin texted, [I’m there.]
Zobber sent a message, saying, [I’m in.] Aidan responded, [What’s the address?]
Chapter 667 The Silvas
The small, shabby fried chicken shop was now crowded with good-looking people casually sitting around the table, talking and laughing. Their sports cars formed a line parking by the road. The fried chicken shop was taken over. Not only did Ronin and Kim come, but Drake and Withal rushed in as soon as they saw the message.
Ronin handed the fries to Catherine and asked, “Catherine, is Audrey okay?”
Catherine explained, “The surgery was successful. She still needs to rest for a while.”
Everyone knew that Audrey was Catherine’s elder sister, and Triston dreamed of marrying Audrey and followed her everywhere. They all cared about Audrey’s injury.
The shop owner was glad to see so many people eating there. He served another tray of fried chicken to their table. The chicken was taken by someone on the way. Judging by how he dressed, the shop owner knew he was one of them. So he said, “Are you one of them? Here’s your fried chicken.”
The food in the roadside shop didn’t come with rules and services. But Aidan didn’t care and took the fried chicken tray to his friend’s table. “It’s rare for you to come out. When I saw the message, I drove over a hundred miles to get here,” said Aidan.
Upon hearing his ramble, Zobber could not help but tease him, “I didn’t expect that street food could attract the attention of the noble Mr. Lane. I thought you only eat in those top Michelin restaurants.”
Aidan was not offended by her teasing.
Instead, he was in such a good mood. He responded, “You’re wrong. It’s not about where or what you eat. It’s about whom you eat with. I’m happy to squat on the roadside and chew on lollipops with friends!”
After hearing his words, Zobber did not tease him again. She said, “That’s more like it.”
If it were in the past, they would have bickered with each other until the end of this gathering. Aidan felt bored when Zobber stopped talking back. He turned to Catherine and said, “Triston said we were heartless to have this gathering while he accompanied Audrey at the hospital.”
If not for Audrey’s injury, Triston would have grabbed a seat and sat here by now.
Catherine grinned and raised her cup to clink Aidan’s. They both drank up. After drinking some beer, Aidan became talkative. He said, “Catherine, I’m unsure if I should tell you this.”
Ronin was most annoyed by this and couldn’t help but argue with him. ” Either say it straightly or do not mention it. Are you afraid we pass out for your explosive news?”
Aidan thought for a moment and felt that Ronin made some sense. So he continued, “I feel that Audrey has been particularly unlucky lately. Didn’t Triston take a hit for Audrey last time?”
Catherine had just heard Kim complain about this. She had already arranged for someone to investigate. Now, Aidan brought it up again.
Aidan was different from Kim. His last name was Lane, which made him accessible to all kinds of people and information. He knew way more than Kim did. Catherine felt that he had something else to say. She asked, ” What do you mean?”
There was no turning back. Aidan had to spit it out. Let alone Catherine was his good friend.
“A few days ago, the Lamberts arranged a marriage for Triston with a girl from the Silvas in Loxton. It is said that the Silvas approached them first, hoping to strengthen their power through the alliance!”
The Lamberts had always been a wealthy and influential family in Casier. Recently, the Duncans had moved to Loxton, transferring a large portion of their business here.
The Lamberts also determined that the prospects in Casier were limited, and they intended to follow the Duncans to Loxton.
The Silvas were prominent clans in Loxton. Unlike the rising Lamberts, the Silvers had been constantly declining over the past decade, only looking good on the outside.
To maintain their status, the Silvas wanted to ally with the Lamberts through a marriage between the two families.
A broke rich man was still wealthier than the poor. Although the Silvas were in dire straits, as a prominent family in Loxton, they still had relations and connections. These were what the Lamberts urgently needed.
The Silvas took the initiative to propose a marriage with the Lamberts. The elders of the Lamberts were not aware of Triston’s personal life. Seeing him hanging around all day long, they decided on the marriage without Triston’s consensus after meeting with the Silvas’ daughter.
Triston had become accustomed to being unchained, and it was not the first time his elders had made decisions for him. He didn’t even take it to heart.
As soon as Audrey consented, he would go public with their relationship. No one can say anything then.
Catherine’s patience wore off because Aidan kept beating about the bush. She got to the point and asked, “Are you saying Audrey’s injury is related to the Silvas?”
Aidan nodded, “To be precise, I think it’s related to Andrea Silva, the daughter of the Silvas. I’ve met her before. She is good-looking and smart. An intelligent woman with a clear target can be difficult to deal with.”
The eldest son of the Lamberts, Michael, was already engaged. He and his fiancée were a loving couple widely known in Casier. So Andrea could not be aiming at Michael. It could only be Triston.
Triston’s high-profile pursuit of Audrey is notable for everyone in their social circle. A woman like Andrea could not allow others to sabotage her plans.
The Silvas were involved in many cultural industries. Picking on an actress with no background and not getting caught should be easy for them.
Triston was deeply trapped in the situation. Aidan, on the other hand, saw through as a bystander.
In addition, the relationship network of the Lanes in Loxton was much deeper than that of the Lamberts, and Aidan had also met Andrea several times and knew how smart she was. He didn’t have concrete evidence to prove Andea was behind the scenes, but he felt she had something to do with it.
Catherine nodded slightly, lifted the cup in her hand, and drank it all in one gulp as a gesture of gratitude.
She thought inwardly, “It seems like I have to meet with Andrea. It’s best if Audrey’s accidents have nothing to do with her. Then I’ll leave her to Triston. If Andrea is behind the scenes, I won’t go easy on her.”
Chapter 668 An Economics Seminar
Even after a late-night street barbecue session, Catherine couldn’t resist getting up early to head to the lab.
If she hadn’t received an unexpected message about Audrey’s mishap, she would’ve arrived even earlier, straight from the dorm to the lab.
Once inside the lab, Catherine immediately delved into her work.
To ensure she had a quiet work environment, Marshall cleared out his own exclusive lab space for Catherine.
In the research building, this was a treatment usually reserved for esteemed professors.
When professors from other departments got wind of this, they sought out Marshall and claimed he was breaking the rules. Once a precedent was set, it made things difficult for everyone else.
However, Marshall just chuckled and even teased them, saying, “If you had a gem like mine, you’d offer not just a lab but even your last penny.”
Those folks thought it was against the rules, but their arguments fell flat against Marshall’s words because Catherine’s capabilities spoke volumes. It left them envious and resigned.
After working all morning, Catherine finally emerged from the lab. Right at mealtime, Branden messaged her and reminded her to eat on time.
If she didn’t respond or eat as scheduled, Branden would probably show up at the lab with a food container in hand.
As soon as she stepped out of the lab, Catherine spotted Ciaran rushing toward her. “I knew you’d be out at mealtime!”
“Ciaran, did you need me?”
“It’s not me.” Ciaran pointed behind him and looked flustered. “Mr. Farrell is here and has been waiting for you for a long time!”
“Why didn’t you call me then, Ciaran?”
Ciaran looked embarrassed. “You know the instruction of the professor.”
Marshall had made it clear that no one was to disturb Catherine during her experiments, or they’d face consequences for violating lab rules. Given the severity of the offense, no one dared to cross that line.
Hearing this, Catherine didn’t know how to argue back.
She didn’t like being disturbed while working, but if there was a genuine reason, it was understandable. She wasn’t unreasonable and she could understand the situation. Marshall had just gone above and beyond to protect her.
“I’ll go find Mr. Farrell,” Catherine replied.
Ultan had been sipping coffee for two to three hours before finally meeting Catherine. “Catherine, seeing you is harder than catching Professor Hartley!
“Sorry, Mr. Farrell. I was in the lab, engrossed in some experiments,” Catherine politely explained.
Seeing her friendly attitude, Ultan didn’t dwell on it. He was more worried that if he counted things up too much, Marshall might come to him about it.
Then he said, “The school is inviting an economics expert for a seminar this afternoon. I hope you can attend.”
As a student from the EIE department, she was asked to attend an economics seminar. Catherine looked at Ultan skeptically and wondered if one of her secret identities had been inadvertently revealed.
“We’ve invited Mr. Shane, a financial bigwig from Euphosean,” Ultan added.
After Ultan said that, Catherine understood the situation. “Okay. Got it, ” she replied and turned to leave.
Watching Catherine depart, Ultan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It was the first time he’d felt so stifled in front of a student. He realized that Catherine was definitely someone extraordinary.
At 2 PM sharp, Catherine appeared in the meeting room of the economics department, which caused a small stir among those present. Whispers buzzed around discreetly.
“Isn’t that Catherine from the EIE department?”
“Yeah. Her face is stunning. You won’t find another like hers.”
“She’s from the EIE department, right? What’s she doing in the forum of our economics department?”
“Who knows? Maybe she’s got some hidden connection to the big shots.”
“Keep it down. I heard she’s got some powerful backing.”
Many recognized Catherine. Isadora’s incident had caused a sensation not just at Styre University but across the entire academic circle in Loxton.
As the other main character in that event, Catherine naturally attracted much attention.
Combined with the previous rumors about her and Shane, even though Isadora later clarified it was all false, the fact that they were seen together in a restaurant was undeniable. This led people to speculate about their relationship.
Catherine strode forward with a cool demeanor and ignored the gazes of those around her. She had intended to find a corner to sit in, but Ultan noticed the commotion, turned his head, and spotted her. He waved at Catherine enthusiastically and called out, “Come!
With Ultan’s gesture, Catherine, who was already the center of attention, instantly drew the eyes of the entire room.
Under the gaze of everyone, Catherine walked to the front row and sat beside Ultan.
Once seated, the president began quietly conversing with Catherine. He said, “Having Mr. Shane here at our school for this exchange is a rare opportunity!”
Catherine agreed with this. In the business world, Shane was an absolute titan. He had years of experience in the business world, so securing him to lecture at a forum for students was an honor for everyone present.
Moreover, over the years, as his age advanced, Shane gradually faded from public view. He even declined invitations to several economic forums, let alone school lectures.
The doors of the meeting room closed, and the stage lights brightened. The entire venue fell silent. In this enthusiastic yet serious atmosphere, Shane slowly appeared on stage.
His opening words were humorous, infused with Theisian theatrical flair, instantly elevating the energy of the room.
At that moment, in the eyes of everyone present, he ceased to be just a financial giant. He became a sophisticated gentleman.
Shane mentioned his dislike for lengthy academic presentations and expressed a preference for conversation. He skipped the preliminary parts and directly dove into the discussion and research segment.
Many students eagerly raised their questions, and Shane did his best to answer each one earnestly.
Someone asked, “Sir, how do you view the recent economic crisis forecasted by the authoritative economic journal of Alton for the next six months?”
Shane chuckled lightly and then spoke into the microphone. He replied, “I’d like a student to answer that first, and I’ll supplement.”
It was a normal process, but when Shane looked at Catherine, the atmosphere suddenly felt tense.
Just as everyone speculated on Shane’s next move, he unexpectedly called out Catherine’s name.
“Cassie, would you like to answer this question?”
The statement shocked everyone, especially Shane’s intimate way of addressing Catherine. He addressed her with such familiarity and without any reservations.
Chapter 669 The Ward
With Shane’s prompting, someone eagerly passed the microphone to Catherine. Without hesitation, Catherine confidently reached for the microphone and shared her thoughts on the earlier question.
Her viewpoint was fresh. She offered unique insights peppered with professional jargon, which left the students from the economics department in the audience wide-eyed and impressed.
As a student from the EIE department, she responded to an economics query more astutely than those who had been studying in the economics department for years.
Those who had initially anticipated amusement found themselves deeply impressed by Catherine. They thought Catherine was a genius who could excel outside her field with remarkable achievements.
Catherine succinctly finished speaking and set the microphone down.
On the stage, Shane voluntarily applauded Catherine. Soon after, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. It was a testament to their admiration for Catherine. Her insights garnered such appreciation.
As the applause gradually died down, Shane raised the microphone once more. “From the applause I’ve heard, it’s clear we all resonate with Catherine’s insights. Like you, I agree with her. In my entire teaching career, there’s only been one student. She is so outstanding that it made me very proud. And that student is right here among us today. She is Catherine Swann.”
The room erupted into a buzz. Everyone understood Shane’s significance. To be his sole student was an incredible honor, and it was evident that Catherine was destined to be a leading figure in the field of economics.
Nobody expected this person to be Catherine, nor did they anticipate her belonging to Styre University’s EIE department instead of the economics department.
Even Ultan, who sat beside Catherine, was surprised. He wondered what kind of prodigy their institution had acquired. Catherine seemed to have connections with many prominent figures.
As the meeting adjourned, Catherine’s name once again dominated the school forum’s hot topics, and she was widely discussed.
However, Catherine herself appeared unfazed, as if nothing extraordinary had occurred during the meeting. As soon as it concluded, she rose from her seat and exited the room.
As she stepped out of the elevator, she encountered Shane coming down the stairs. He looked at her with a gentle smile. “Care for a cup of coffee?”
Catherine didn’t refuse and accompanied Shane to the nearby campus café.
Shane took a sip of the coffee Catherine had ordered for him. Then he furrowed his brow and put it down. The instant coffee here didn’t suit the finance bigwig.
However, Catherine didn’t mind and continued sipping away. She had drunk water straight from rivers in the primordial rainforests. This was nothing compared to that.
“Why help me?” Catherine asked.
Initially, Catherine hadn’t been clear about Shane’s intentions. But when the microphone came her way, she understood. Shane was preparing to clear the air for her.
Rumors are the hardest to dispel. She hadn’t cared initially. They couldn’t harm her. But Shane went out of his way to participate in Styre University’s activities just to set the record straight most directly and effectively.
When Catherine questioned him, Shane raised an eyebrow with a smile. His reason was simple. He replied, “Some things I can do that others can’t!”
Catherine was his protege whom he had personally mentored. He couldn’t allow others to defame her.
Shane continued, “Cassie, come back with me. If you don’t want to marry my nephew, you can choose someone you like, and I’ll still let you inherit the fortune of the Breens.”
Catherine looked up and glanced at Shane with a meaningful look. This was the first time she’d seen Shane compromise. For someone who always emerged victorious in the business arena like him, compromise had never been in his vocabulary.
Shane understood Catherine’s gaze and her meaning. He replied, “Only you!”
His special treatment was reserved solely for Catherine, whom he regarded as his daughter. Catherine’s capabilities warranted such treatment.
However, Catherine didn’t give Shane the answer he desired. She said, “Sorry.
I don’t need it.” With that, she stood up and left.
If she inherited the fortune of the Breens, her life would be confined. What others saw as treasures were worthless to her.
Shane looked at the coffee left on the table by Catherine with a cold smirk.
Since that was how it was, he would have to kick off the war. In his view, he had never lost in his life, and this time wouldn’t be any different.
After parting ways with Shane, Catherine didn’t head to the lab. Instead, she took some time off with Marshall.
“Go ahead. Give my regards to your sister!” Marshall said.
“Thank you, Professor!” Just as Catherine was about to hang up, Marshall’s hesitant voice chimed in.
He asked, “Catherine, is Shane really your mentor?”
Catherine didn’t hide it from Marshall. She replied, “I studied by Shane’s side for five years.”
During those five years, Shane personally guided her through the business world. In some way, Shane, indeed, was her mentor.
Marshall muttered to himself, “Why are you so incredible in all aspects?” Suddenly, he felt a bit anxious. He wondered whether being Catherine’s teacher might bring her shame.
“Professor Hartley, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.” Catherine politely ended the call and headed to the hospital.
Inside the ward, Audrey sat on the bed with a gloomy expression. It was evident that she was not happy.
Triston sat beside her and held a bowl. He tried hard to cheer her up.
Both of them were a bit excited when they saw Catherine arrive, and Triston spoke first.
He said, “Catherine, you’ve come at the right time. Try persuading your sister. She’s lost a lot of blood this time, but she refuses to eat pig’s liver or even her meals!”
Facing Triston’s complaint, Audrey retorted, “I’ve eaten twice as much as usual today. He wants me to eat pig’s liver! Isn’t he the one with a brain injury?”
Being in the entertainment industry, Audrey was conscious of her appearance and had always kept her weight below 90 pounds. She didn’t want to leave the hospital only to have the media capture pictures of her looking overweight.
Everyone had their say, and Catherine shrugged indifferently. “You guys continue.” Then she turned and walked out of the ward.
In the corridor, Catherine sat on a bench playing games on her phone and waited for the situation inside to settle.
Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed. The sound of high heels hitting the floor caught Catherine’s attention.
She glanced up to see a tall, elegant girl in a khaki trench coat making her way toward the ward. Catherine observed her, and the girl cast a glance at Catherine.
The girl spoke first as they looked at each other for a while. She asked, ” Where’s Ward 9?”
Catherine glanced at her. Ward 9 had only one bed, and it was occupied by Audrey.
Though the girl appeared polite, Catherine sensed a hint of hostility in her eyes. It was clear she wasn’t here for a friendly visit to Audrey.
Catherine gestured with her hand toward the left.
The girl smiled slightly and politely said, “Thanks!”
As the girl entered the ward, Catherine stood up, moved to the doorway, and watched from outside.
Once the girl entered the room, she stared at Triston. The atmosphere in the ward instantly changed.
Triston sensed someone behind him. As he looked back, he was scared and almost dropped the bowl in his hand.
Chapter 670 Andrea’s Plan
The atmosphere in the ward suddenly turned eerie. Audrey noticed Triston’s odd expression. She glanced at him and then looked at the woman in front. ” Who are you looking for?”
Andrea looked at Audrey with a graceful smile. “Miss Swann, I’m Triston’s fiancée. Since you and my fiancé are friends, and I heard about your injury while filming in Loxton, I came to check on you. Though it may seem sudden, it’s just out of concern. Please don’t mind!”
Audrey thought inwardly, “What a bitch! She is here to make a scene and even asked me not to mind.”
Audrey crossed her arms and fixed her eyes back on Triston.
Her face turned grim, and she said coldly in a sardonic tone, “Mr. Lambert, I didn’t expect that my minor injury would prompt such a personal visit from you and your fiancée. Quite an effort!”
Triston felt a chill down his spine from Audrey’s glare. And he became upset.
Though Triston used to be a playboy, those women never dared to say a word against him. He used the money to deal with everything. But he didn’t expect that Andrea was different.
Seeing Audrey’s anger, Triston got anxious and turned to lash out at Andrea without hesitation.
He shouted. “Have some shame, will you? Who’s your fiancé? If you’re in need, I don’t mind tossing some money to help you find several men to make you happy. Stop acting up, and get out of here.”
Facing Triston’s harsh words, Andrea stood composed, and her expression was unchanged. Triston’s insults didn’t seem to faze her.
“Triston, your father isn’t well these days. Since I have free time, let me accompany you to Casier to visit him!”
Triston looked at her coldly and replied sarcastically, “Andrea, I’m not interested in you. The Lamberts and the Silvas aren’t that close. If you’re looking to bind the Lamberts, you’d better figure out how to win over my father. If you’re capable, I wouldn’t mind having you as my stepmother.”
Since Triston’s father acted unfairly, he shouldn’t expect fairness in return.
After Andrea heard that, her expression changed, and she looked embarrassed.
Audrey felt exhausted from the drama and frowned impatiently. She shouted,
“Everyone out! I have a headache. Let me rest!”
Triston wanted to check on her, but Audrey’s piercing gaze made him freeze on the spot.
Triston said, “Okay. Calm down. I’ll go out and stay in the corridor. If you need anything, just call me.”
This was the first time Andrea had seen Triston like this. She had done her research and knew of Triston’s reputation as a carefree playboy. Despite his easygoing nature, he had a good character and was not as frivolous as he appeared.
In Andrea’s view, Triston might be a good choice if she had to bind herself to someone. His disgust and sarcasm toward her were never hidden.
After all, Triston could afford to look down upon everything. He was the most beloved heir of the Lamberts. Unlike other wealthy families, the two brothers of the Lamberts didn’t squabble over inheritance. The two brothers were always close.
However, when Triston faced Audrey, he displayed such humility. Even a mere glance from Audrey could provoke such a change in him.
Triston stepped toward the door and noticed Andrea didn’t move.
He glanced back at her and said coldly, “Out of respect for the Silvas, I won’t call security. Don’t push me!”
Andrea clenched her lips. This was her first meeting with Audrey today, and her purpose had been solely to meet her. Now that her objective was met, she could leave.
As Triston and Andrea exited the ward, they spotted Catherine. With hands in her pockets, she looked relaxed and elegant.
“Catherine, let me explain…”
Catherine raised a hand and halted what Triston wanted to say. She said, “I don’t care about Audrey’s affairs.”
Her simple statement shut down Triston’s flood of words. Pausing for a moment, she added, “Unless someone harms Audrey. Whoever touches her will pay!”
Though her gaze toward Andrea was calm and emotionless, it sent shivers down Andrea’s spine as if someone was choking her.
Instinctively, Andrea looked away. She was startled by Catherine’s overwhelming presence, and she didn’t dare to look at Catherine.
However, Andrea was certain Catherine knew nothing. She had been cautious in her actions, which was seamless to the point where even Triston, let alone Catherine, couldn’t detect it.
Andrea knew Catherine. Once she decided to marry Triston, she conducted an investigation not only on him but also on the people around him.
She knew Triston was now pursuing Audrey, and since the passing of Vicente, the Swanns had faced decline. After Korbin’s imprisonment, the Swanns were controlled by Catherine. While Catherine was studying in Loxton, the Swanns were managed by professional executives.
The Swanns, which were once formidable, had lost their core and were barely holding on.
If Catherine hadn’t allied herself with the Duncans, which was influential, the Swanns might have been completely wiped out by now. In Andrea’s view, it was Vicente’s shrewdest move. He arranged the marriage between Catherine and Branden to strengthen the Swanns.
The Silvas chose to ally with the Lamberts for the same reason. Andrea believed she could rejuvenate the Silvas with her intelligence.
As for the Duncans behind Catherine, Andrea wasn’t afraid. Triston was Branden’s best friend. If Triston accepted her as his fiancée, Branden wouldn’t touch her.
A single glance from Catherine made Andrea think a lot.
Though Triston found Catherine’s words odd, he didn’t suspect Andrea.
He assured Catherine firmly and said, ” Rest assured. I won’t let anything happen to Audrey! I’ll sort everything out with my family.”
Uninterested in Triston’s lengthy assurances, Catherine walked toward the doctor’s office. She wanted to check on Audrey’s recovery. That was her purpose for being at the hospital.