Chapter 221
Catherine smiled and shook her head. "Nope."
Philip smiled back. "Let's go home."
Cecil watched the two of them leave in a hurry, his eyes full of discontent.
The silver Bugatti sped down the asphalt road.
Catherine didn't say a word after getting in the car, her face puffed up with anger.
Philip found her temper inexplicable and scoffed. "I'm not even mad. What's your problem?"
"Childish," Catherine replied.
"Me, childish?" Philip laughed sarcastically. "Why do you say that?"
Catherine couldn't understand what Philip was thinking. "You think proposing to me is something to brag about?"
Philip understood her point and cut straight to the chase. "So, you don't want Cecil to know we're getting married. Why? Is Cecil one of your flings? Are you afraid he'll stop talking to you if he finds out?"
He couldn't understand why she always wanted to be around Cecil.
Cecil sent her several calls and messages after Philip confiscated her phone.
She even helped Cecil take over the West Group. And the most infuriating part? Cecil's messages were filled with "Cathy," which made Philip's blood boil!
Catherine frowned and stayed quiet.
If she kept talking, they'd definitely start fighting again.
Philip waited for Catherine to argue back, but she said nothing, almost as if she agreed with him.
He punched the steering wheel in frustration, causing the horn to blare.
Philip cursed under his breath and demanded, "Explain yourself!"
Compared to his anger, Catherine was much calmer. She spoke slowly and deliberately. "Would you believe me if I did? You think I'm seeing Cecil. No matter what I say, it won't make a difference."
Philip laughed bitterly. "So you're just going to let me misunderstand you?"
Catherine turned her head, her bright eyes filled with a mix of liveliness and sorrow.
"Philip, you're twisting my words. My explanation only matters if you actually trust me."
Back at home, Philip didn't lash out at Catherine again, but his face was cold and unwelcoming.
Catherine felt wronged and complained tearfully. "You don't trust me."
Philip grabbed her small hand and turned to face her. "Then tell me honestly, what did you and Cecil talk about earlier?"
Catherine sat up straight and confessed seriously. "I worked with Cecil before. He helped me, and I gave him information to help him smoothly acquire the West Group."
"He's been contacting me recently because," Catherine glanced at Philip, observing his expression, "he said you've also been trying to acquire the West Group."
Catherine stared at Philip, trying to read his impassive face.
"Why do you want to acquire the West Group?"
Philip crossed his arms and leaned back on the couch, looking all business. "No special reason, just a business decision."
Catherine's voice was soft, but her tone carried a hint of accusation. "You said before that for my sake, you wouldn't collaborate with the West Group."
"I'm acquiring the West Group, not collaborating," Philip didn't see himself as breaking his word.
Catherine felt a bit angry inside. "Is there really a difference? Sure, everyone in the Foster family hates Terry, but James is your nephew, Alvin's grandson. You could let James manage the West Group, and in the end, it would still be in the hands of the West family. Terry would just pass the position to his son, his power and status unchanged."
She wasn't in the business world, but she could see the situation clearly.
If the West Group ended up with Cecil, it would be a completely different outcome.
If Cecil successfully acquired the West Group, that would be a real change of ownership!
Catherine concluded, "Philip, you broke your promise to me."
Philip knew Catherine was smart, which was why he took her phone away to avoid complications.
Some things she didn't know, so she wouldn't overthink them. Now that she met with Cecil, she figured everything out.
Catherine took off the ring from her left hand's middle finger, feeling sad and hurt, and handed it to Philip.
Philip looked at the ring in her palm, his face darkening. "What's this supposed to mean?"
Catherine looked at Philip, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Philip, I've told you, marriage is built on mutual trust and support."
She lowered her gaze, feeling let down. "Neither of those things exists between us."
She let out a bitter laugh, taking the blame herself. "Maybe I'm just not good enough, not worthy of being your partner."
Philip offered a cold smile, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Put the ring back on before I get mad." He raised his voice, demanding.
Catherine refused, her hand still outstretched in front of him, an eyesore.
Philip sighed at her stubbornness. "You just want to force me to stop interfering with Cecil's acquisition of the West Group, don't you?"
Catherine turned away, not admitting it. "That's not what I mean. Nova Pharmaceuticals is yours, and it's your job to make decisions that benefit the company. We lack communication, and aren't suited to spend a lifetime together."
Philip's face remained stern as he scoffed and headed upstairs without another word.
On the night of her birthday, the first night after his proposal, they ended on a sour note.
Catherine slept in the guest room last night. When she woke up, she found her right ankle swollen like a balloon.
Blondie came to the guest room door and knocked. "Ms. Levin, are you awake?"
Catherine turned over and lazily sat up in bed. "I'm awake."
Hearing her response, Blondie come in. "Ms. Levin, let me take a look at your foot."
Catherine lifted the blanket to show Blondie.
Blondie took one look and was shocked. "Your foot is really swollen; you need to go to the hospital."
Catherine nodded, cooperating indifferently. "I think so too."
After breakfast, Blondie took Catherine to the hospital, staying with her the whole time.
Catherine first went to orthopedics. The doctor checked her foot and confirmed it was just soft tissue damage, no bone or ligament injury.
After orthopedics, Catherine went to the obstetrics and gynecology department.
Blondie wanted to accompany Catherine for her prenatal checkup, but Catherine refused.
"You brought me to see the doctor on Philip's orders, right?"
Blondie smiled and diplomatically spoke for Philip. "Mr. Foster really cares about you."
Catherine smiled gently. "Go report back to him. I'll do the checkup and chat with Lyra about my friend's pregnancy. It's not convenient for you to be there."
Blondie had no objections and nodded. "Alright, I'll report to Mr. Foster and wait for you outside the office."
Watching Blondie leave to make a call, Catherine walked straight into Lyra's office.
Lyra saw Catherine limping in and found it strange. "Twisted your ankle?"
Catherine was nonchalant. "It's not serious, just a soft tissue injury. It'll be fine in a few days."
Lyra looked at Catherine's swollen ankle and didn't ask further, instead getting to the point. "Have you decided when to have the surgery?"
Catherine nodded firmly. "Do you have time tomorrow? If you do, I'd like to have the surgery then."
Meantime, Blondie was reporting Catherine's foot injury to Philip concisely.
"Mr. Foster, don't worry. The doctor checked Ms. Levin's foot and said it's just a soft tissue injury. As long as she uses the medication as directed, it should heal in three or four days."
Philip listened attentively and responded.
After a few seconds of silence, he asked, "How's her mood today?"
Blondie compared it to Catherine's previous behavior. "She's acting pretty normal today, just hasn't smiled much."
Philip understood. Catherine was still sulking; naturally, she wouldn't smile if she was upset.
What a hassle. If he had known, he wouldn't have attended that business cocktail party last night.
If he hadn't attended, she wouldn't have met Cecil.
Philip instructed Blondie, "Stay with her. Whatever she wants, buy it for her."
Hearing Philip's request, Blondie couldn't help but want to laugh.
Shouldn't Philip be the one to buy Catherine whatever she wanted?
Despite the internal critique, Blondie responded professionally. "Yes, Mr. Foster, I know what to do."
After hanging up with Blondie, Philip held his phone and opened his chat with Catherine.
Philip: [Is your foot still hurting?]