Chapter 198 The Hughes Family Bankruptcy Countdown!
Catherine met Alexander's burning gaze, and for a moment, the gemstone ring in her hand felt scorching hot, making her palm tingle.
"I can't accept this. You should take it back."
"If you won't accept it, then everything I did today was meaningless."
Alexander struggled to lift his hand but still managed to ruffle Catherine's hair.
"Even if you don't like me, please don't refuse, okay?"
Perhaps it was the weakness from excessive blood loss, but Alexander's eyes held a pleading vulnerability that made Catherine's heart soften.
Catherine looked at the ring in her palm. The gemstone carved into a rose shape sparkled brilliantly, each stone shining with light, proof enough of how much its previous owner had treasured it.
Alexander looked at Catherine before him and said softly, "Keep it, okay?"
Catherine could feel heat rising within her from just their locked gazes. Before it could get any more intense, she quickly looked away from him and forced a smile.
"Fine, I'll keep it."
Meeting Alexander's delighted gaze, Catherine added, "I don't dislike you. Maybe I can't say I like you either, but you don't need to test me."
She wasn't clear about her feelings toward Alexander. To call it "like" might not be strong enough, but it was far from dislike.
"I'm not testing you. I just lack confidence."
Catherine said nothing more and carefully applied medicine to Alexander's wounds, then handed him a new shirt—Quinn Couture's latest design that hadn't been embroidered or labeled yet, looking like just an ordinary shirt.
He probably couldn't tell it was Quinn's work.
Alexander looked at the shirt on his body. Why did the cut of this shirt look so similar to several in his closet?
High-end brands all had their own signature style, each brand with its own distinct feel.
Catherine let out a cough, clearing her throat before she continued in a serious tone, "Take off your pants."
"You have injuries on your legs too, scraped during the explosion. Will you do it yourself or should I help?"
Alexander looked at the serious-faced Catherine before him and suddenly laughed softly.
"I can do it myself. I've always treated my own wounds before. Just help me prepare the medicine, please."
Alexander looked at Catherine with suggestive eyes. "I know you're a doctor and don't see gender differences, but I selfishly hope that next time you say something like that, it'll be in a different situation—like in your bedroom. Then I'd be very happy."
Catherine's ears turned red,her tongue curling in her cheek as she did her best to keep her face as neutral as possible. She looked away for a second then glanced at him coolly again, her expression calm.Still making jokes like that—looks like he's got plenty of energy.
Catherine handed the medicine to Alexander.
"Emilia's mother and your mother were friends?"
"Yes. They were friends in the early years, but she died after Emilia was born."
Catherine leaned slightly against the wall, frowning. "Did you know Emilia before?"
"No. Her mother died early, and my mother died early too, but I had met her mother. So when she needed the Howard family as a shield and went to my grandfather, he helped her."
Felix liked Emilia partly because of her pleasant personality, and partly because Emilia's mother and Alexander's mother were good friends. As a result, Felix always treated Emilia like his own granddaughter.
Alexander looked up at Catherine. "Are you going to stay and watch me apply the medicine?"
Watching Alexander's hand slowly move to his belt in an attempt to unbuckle it, Catherinespun around and strode out.
Alexander chuckled softly, thoroughly pleased.
The Hughes Manor.
Maurice ran to Anthony's side clutching a pile of things, his face full of panic.
"Grandpa, all our business deals have been sanctioned! The deals that were already agreed upon—they suddenly backed out and said they won't work with us anymore!"
Anthony's gaze fell outside the window. Moonlight gradually fell, and The Hughes Manor was quiet and still.
He picked up his teacup and gently blew away the tea leaves floating on top, his voice calm.
"Why panic? This has happened before, hasn't it? Is it worth getting this worked up?"
The secretary rushed in from outside, gasping for air. "Mr. Hughes, all the Blade of Dusk people have been wiped out! The survivors were all taken by the police! All our business has been restricted, and your cards have all been frozen!"
Slipping out of his hands, Anthony's teacup fell onto the carpet and crashed into a thousand pieces!
"What did you say? Who did this? I'd like to see who dares!"
"Blade of Dusk was planning to go after Oscar today, but he brought the police directly to several of Blade of Dusk's hideouts. We lost most of our people."
"The Windsor family, Alexander, and Galactic Aurora Financial have all sanctioned our group's businesses. We're going bankrupt!"
Anthony staredat his secretary in disbelief.
"Have the Howard family and the Windsor family lost their minds?! And that Galactic Aurora Financial—a little company that just got started, and they think they can sanction me!"
The secretary stammered, "Blade of Dusk hired Thunderstrike Mercenaries to help. They joined forces to attack Alexander."
Anthony's eyes widened so much they almost fell out of their sockets.
Had these people lost their minds?
They actually dared to attack Alexander!
If they pulled it off, the Hughes family would have one less rival in the future, but if they failed, it would be total disaster for the Hughes family!
Anthony slumped to the floor, his face covered in cold sweat.
"Get me the phone. I need to make a call."
As soon as the call connected, Anthony spoke frantically, "Owen, you have to save me! The Hughes family was built up by you. Can you bear to watch us go bankrupt?"
Owen leisurely made his chess move, looking at Oscar across from him.
"Your turn."
"Anthony, what was that? The Hughes family is going bankrupt? No worries, your family doesn't have that much money anyway. If you go bankrupt, you go bankrupt. No big deal. Oscar, don't take back your move!"
Anthony gritted his teeth. "Owen, I know I was wrong. I'll listen to you from now on. I'll never oppose the Harrison family again. Please save the Hughes family. All the younger generation of the Hughes family will listen to you!"
"Look at you, getting old and making jokes. When has the Hughes family ever had the ability to oppose the Harrison family? Anthony, let me at least let you die knowing why."
Owen looked at the chess piece in his hand and said coolly, "Maurice wanted to make a move against my only granddaughter. He should have thought about the consequences."
He hung up with a smile and continued his chess game.
Anthony looked confused, then received a recording—all of Maurice's attempts to drive a wedge between Juniper and Catherine!
"You bastard! The Hughes family is in this situation because of you! But who is Owen talking about when he says his only granddaughter?"
Anthony couldn't figure it out, and he had no chance to figure it out!
Maurice looked panicked.
"Grandpa, I just wanted to have dinner with Ms. Windsor!"
Anthony slapped him across the face!
"Get lost! You worthless piece of trash! If the Hughes family goes bankrupt tonight, you can go sleep on the streets!"
At the study door, Emilia leaned against the doorframe, chewing gum and blowing abubble out of it contentedly.
"Going bankrupt? Faster than I expected."