Chapter 192 Sowing Discord
Juniper still had a piece of bread in her mouth that Aurora had baked herself.
Seeing this message from an unknown sender, Juniper nearly choked on the rock-hard bread.
As soon as Catherine walked in, she saw Juniper typing rapidly on the computer, with a pile of charcoal-black things sitting beside her.
"Juniper, have you been studying the composition of charcoal lately?"
"Oh Catherine, I really do want to study the composition of this stuff - why is it so hard! But this is bread Mom made."
Catherine was well aware of Aurora's baking skills and gave an honest assessment: "Better than last time, there's improvement, worth praising."
Though it still wasn't great, Bethany would insist on finishing whatever Aurora made.
Juniper waved Catherine over.
"Look, I got some anonymous texts. I used my internal access to track the IP and check the identity - it shows they're from Maurice of the Hughes family. I don't even know him!"
Juniper's phone number was directly monitored by higher-ups, and all messages she received were backed up to her superiors.
Since the messages mentioned things related to Phoenix Lab, she simply investigated thoroughly.
Juniper was someone who only believed in data.
Rather than the mastermind Maurice mentioned, she wanted to know why Maurice was contacting her.
After hearing Catherine's casual account of what happened at the Hughes family, Juniper's brow furrowed.
"So, when Maurice found he couldn't get close to you, he tried to find me instead? That thinking really shows he's family with Esme - stupid as can be."
Maurice probably believed Juniper would definitely contact him after seeing those messages, so his follow-up messages were invitations to dinner.
Juniper sneered and immediately filed a report.
"My number is protected. Since Maurice knows so much about Phoenix Lab, who knows what role he's playing in all this - let him explain it clearly at the National Security Bureau."
Juniper quickly reported Maurice for attempting to spy on state secrets.
Catherine could imagine that when Maurice received the call from the National Security Bureau, his expression would be quite ugly!
After sending the report, Juniper was in high spirits.
"Come on, Catherine, let's go shopping! I'll pay for whatever you like!"
Juniper lowered her voice, "You don't know - I've received so much money lately, from the Howard family, from Mom and Dad, from my brothers. I'm super rich now!"
When Juniper first received money from the Windsor family, she thought she was being kicked out.
But it turned out Bethany and Aurora and her brothers felt sorry for her. The Howard family went even further and gave her shares directly.
There was even money from the Harrison family.
Juniper put her arm around Catherine's shoulder, resting her head against Catherine, her voice somewhat muffled, dejected and at a loss.
"I've had a good life with the Windsor family, and I'm not pitiful. I'm the one who took away your life, Catherine. I'm sorry."
Whenever Juniper thought about how Catherine had experienced all those things Elodie mentioned in the video, she wanted to cry.
Juniper didn't think any of that should have been experienced by Catherine or herself, but she still felt she had stolen Catherine's rightful comfortable and easy life.
Catherine felt warmth in her heart, knowing this was what Juniper had always wanted to say. Having such a sister was also good for her.
Smiling gently, Catherine patted Juniper's hand comfortingly.
"It wasn't your choice. You're not the one who did wrong, you don't need to apologize to me."
Juniper's head, buried in Catherine's neck, nuzzled and pressed against Catherine's face.
"Catherine, I got the paternity test results."
The data matched exactly what she had guessed, but seeing those numbers, she felt somewhat afraid.
"My mother doesn't recognize me and doesn't remember me. That's actually good, right? At least she won't be sad because of me."
Juniper had wanted to smile, but as she spoke, she started crying.
"Catherine, I went to find her, but she doesn't remember me at all."
Her father denied her to her face, her mother forgot her existence - she was a child abandoned by them.
Juniper pressed against Catherine, her shoulders shaking continuously, crying silently.
Catherine didn't move either, quietly listening to Juniper talk.
"I already have the best mother in the world, but I still want more. Isn't that too greedy?"
Catherine shook her head.
"That's your biological mother. She just forgot about the past because of certain reasons. One day she'll remember."
Just when that day would be, Catherine couldn't say.
The reason both Paloma and Elodie forgot everything was probably due to external forces, but whether it was the same external force couldn't be determined. Catherine also didn't know how Elodie had remembered.
Since the events from back then involved parts of Galactic Aurora Collective that Catherine wasn't clear about, investigating wouldn't be easy either.
After holding Catherine, Juniper's emotions calmed down. Catherine really was the best - she would comfort her at times like this!
Her phone rang at that moment, and Juniper casually put it on speaker.
"Ms. Windsor, I didn't mean to offend you. I just wanted to tell you some things about Phoenix Lab. Why are you being so unreasonable?"
Juniper looked at Catherine questioningly, confirming this was Maurice's voice.
"Then why don't you tell me - how do you know about things that even the National Security Bureau hasn't made public?"
"The Hughes family naturally has some channels you don't know about. If you're interested, I'd like to invite you to dinner. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you everything."
"Not interested. I'm afraid seeing you would ruin my appetite! Since you insist on calling, then go ahead and tell me - who exactly is the mastermind behind Phoenix Lab?"
After receiving the call from the National Security Bureau, Maurice knew Juniper wasn't an easy woman to approach.
On the contrary, Maurice developed a strong interest in her.
If she were an idiot, she wouldn't be worthy of him!
"Ms. Windsor, what I'm about to say might shock you. Are you sure you want to learn about something this important over the phone?"
"If you won't say it, I'm hanging up."
Maurice was choked by Juniper's cold attitude, and the smile he thought was proper and elegant could barely stay on his face!
Were all the Windsor family daughters like this?
Maurice was practically grinding his teeth.
Damn woman, just an adopted daughter with no real status in the Windsor family, and she really thinks she's someone high and mighty?
If she ever fell into his hands one day, he'd see how he'd deal with her!
"Ms. Windsor, the person who tampered with Phoenix Lab trying to harm you is someone close to you. You trust the Windsor family, but the Windsor family has never considered you family."
Juniper rolled her eyes and gave Maurice's number the middle finger.
Listen to this - what breed of idiot is this!
Someone actually trying to drive a wedge between her and the Windsor family?
Juniper laughed coldly twice. "Then tell me who wants to harm me. Since you know so clearly, you should also know exactly who in the Windsor family wants to make a move against me, right?"
Maurice smiled confidently.
"Ms. Windsor, you're so outstanding, naturally you're blocking someone's path. The one who wants to harm you is that Catherine who just returned to the Windsor family!"
"Ms. Windsor, you've been trusting the wrong person all along!"