Chapter 17 The Whole Family Sets Out to Find Catherine!
The car bumped along, heading out of the city.
Catherine noticed they were going in the direction of Bright Heal Hospital.
"Who sent you?"
The kidnapper gave a sleazy laugh, his face full of lewdness.
"We don't want to hurt you, but who told you to have bad intentions and keep thinking about things that don't belong to you!"
"We'll find some mountain area and dump you there. Don't worry, we'll make sure you can never get out for the rest of your life!"
"Lucky for us you're pretty. We can make some money selling that face to the mountains."
Catherine was speechless.
She reached for the small knife at her waist, quickly knocked out the kidnappers beside her, and pressed the knife against the driver's neck.
"Who sent you? Tell the truth. My patience is limited."
The driver was so scared his hands shook on the steering wheel. "Please spare me! We're just doing a job for money! Celeste sent us! She gave us a hundred thousand dollars to sell you off to some remote area!"
Celeste never mentioned that Catherine knew how to fight!
Catherine responded coolly, "Go to Bright Heal Hospital."
The driver heard her voice like the grim reaper sharpening his scythe. The steering wheel nearly sparked from friction as he rushed to deliver her to Bright Heal Hospital.
As soon as Catherine got out of the car, she shouted to the guards at the entrance: "They kidnapped me!"
She'd been in and out of Bright Heal Hospital these past few days, and the guards at the entrance all recognized her as Marcus's pretty granddaughter who played chess.
The guards at Bright Heal Hospital were all special forces soldiers on rotation duty.
Hearing Catherine's voice, several special forces soldiers strode forward and subdued the criminals in moments.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Please go on in. Mr. Windsor has been asking about you. We'll handle things here!"
They had a very good impression of Catherine - beautiful, polite, and well-mannered. Truly worthy of the Windsor family.
As soon as Catherine walked into the hospital room, she heard Marcus's vigorous voice: "Where's Catherine? Didn't you say she was already on her way?"
"Grandpa, did you take your medicine today?"
Marcus's eyes lit up when he saw Catherine!
"Come here quick. Brady Powell from Building Three wants to play chess with you today."
Catherine could tell Marcus hadn't taken his medicine yet - he was clearly trying to change the subject.
She gave the nurses a look, took Marcus's daily medication, and handed it over. "Grandpa, be good."
Marcus reluctantly swallowed the medicine, making a face. "Tastes awful! Why are you only coming now today?"
"I went shopping this morning and had lunch with Charles."
She didn't mention the kidnapping, not wanting Marcus to worry.
She could handle what Celeste did herself.
"What's so great about having lunch with Charles? Shopping is fine though - you should dress up beautifully. I'll send you some jewelry later, for you to play with."
"Thank you, Grandpa."
Marcus pulled her along, excitedly heading toward the other rooms. "Come on, let's go play chess!"
When they used to work in the same department, Brady always made him lose at chess. This time he had to win back his pride!
After several games, Marcus's smile was practically overflowing.
Catherine was amazing - she won every single game!
Brady, once Stellara's second leader, looked at the chess board with admiration in his eyes.
Watching someone play chess is like seeing their character. Marcus really found a treasure this time!
Brady said with a smile, "Catherine, if you ever have any trouble, come find me. I'll help you sort it out!"
Marcus got annoyed: "Who needs you showing off? I'm not dead yet!"
"Whether you're dead or not doesn't matter. I have more pull than you."
"Catherine, you go play. I need to have a fight with Brady!"
Catherine fell silent.
She nodded, bowed to Brady, and left the room.
As soon as she walked out, the smile disappeared from Catherine's face, replaced by icy killing intent.
She sensed the presence of an assassin.
It seemed the killer sent by Phantom Crew had arrived!
Catherine turned into the emergency stairwell with its flickering green light, pulled out her custom silenced pistol, and melted into the deep darkness.
The Windsor Villa.
As soon as Esme entered, she rushed toward Aurora, who was watering flowers.
"Mom, something terrible happened! I saw Catherine being taken away!"
Aurora was shocked and dropped her expensive watering can, which shattered on the ground!
"What did you say?"
Bethany heard the commotion and came out of the study with Charles, George, Richard, and Philip following behind.
They had just been discussing which country to buy Catherine a castle in when they heard Esme's reckless words!
"I saw Catherine get into a van. I was so scared I rushed back to tell Mom and Dad. What if something happened to Catherine? I saw those people putting their hands on her."
Aurora nearly fainted on the spot!
Charles asked with a dark expression, "Where did you see this? Why didn't you call Mom and Dad? Why didn't you call the police first? What if something happens to Catherine!"
Esme cried pitifully: "I was too scared. I even fell on the way back and broke my phone. I was worried about Catherine so I rushed back to tell Mom and Dad! It was at three this afternoon at the Evergreen Mall entrance."
She cried while showing her shattered phone and her somewhat bruised knees.
She'd gotten these when she was so happy about seeing Catherine in trouble that she accidentally fell.
To give those criminals enough time to commit their crime, she went to Evergreen Mall for a nice shopping trip, had a meal, and got a full skin treatment.
All so she could be in the best condition to watch Catherine get kicked out of the Windsor family!
George picked up his phone and called the police.
Philip frowned. "This happened at three in the afternoon and you're only saying something now? What were you doing before?"
Esme wiped her tears, looking pitiful. "Philip, what are you trying to say? Of course I went to the hospital to take care of Grandma. I've been the one taking care of Grandma since she was hospitalized. Catherine hasn't visited Grandma even once."
Bethany roared, "Everyone shut up! The whole family is going out to find Catherine!"
"Charles, you check the mall surveillance. George, you go to the police. Richard, drive around looking for Catherine. Philip, come with me to the traffic department! Catherine suffered so much outside, and now something this serious happened right under the Windsor family's nose. All four of you get your allowances cut for a year!"
The four responded solemnly: "Yes!"
Catherine stood at the doorway, looking at Charles, George, Richard, Philip, and Bethany with their serious expressions.
"Dad, Charles, George, Richard, Philip - where are you all going?"
Aurora rushed over like a gust of wind and hugged Catherine.
"Are you okay? Let me see. Esme said she saw you get kidnapped. I was scared to death!"
Aurora examined Catherine from head to toe, making sure every strand of her hair was intact, while tears streamed down her face.
Catherine quickly wiped her tears.
"I'm fine. I did run into kidnappers, but Grandpa's people saved me. The criminals have all been taken away now."
"Thank goodness your dad was sharp. If I lost you again, I wouldn't want to live!"
Aurora was extremely emotional.
"I'm fine. I had dinner with Grandpa before coming back."
She took out her phone and showed a photo of her having dinner with Marcus.
Esme nearly crushed the handkerchief in her hands.
"Catherine, I was so worried. I saw those people putting their hands on you. Are you okay?"
Catherine was speechless.
Was she trying to make the Windsor family think those kidnappers did something to her?
Couldn't her tactics be a bit more sophisticated?
"I'm fine."
Esme hid the resentment in her eyes.
Why! Why would Marcus care so much about Catherine, a woman who just came home?
Once he got to know her better, Marcus would realize she was the granddaughter most suitable for the Windsor family. Blood relation didn't matter at all!
She would definitely drive Catherine out of the Windsor family!