Chapter 36 The Smith Family Has Cut Ties with Catherine!
"Bringing up breaking off the engagement at Ms. Windsor's birthday party—isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
After all, the Windsor family and the Howard family had been close friends for many years. The marriage arrangement was meant to strengthen their relationship, so Alexander bringing up breaking off the engagement at the birthday party would embarrass the Windsor family.
Alexander said coldly, "I'm definitely breaking off this engagement. I can't wait any longer!"
If he didn't break off the engagement, he wouldn't be in the right position to pursue Catherine!
Even though Esme's character wasn't what he liked, they were still engaged. Breaking it off was showing respect to both her and Catherine!
It was also showing respect to his feelings!
Annie thought about what Esme was like and couldn't bring herself to like her either.
She had no good feelings toward Esme, who wanted to fire her as soon as she married into the family.
In comparison, that Catherine was so much better!
"Yes, I understand!"
Serenity City, The Smith Villa
A servant handed Celeste a bowl of tonic and said in a low voice, "Mrs. Celeste Smith, Mr. Oliver Smith seems to have gone to see Catherine."
Celeste knew perfectly well that Elodie had no shares at all!
The money that went missing from the Smith family had been secretly taken by her to support her parents!
If Oliver found out, he'd argue with her again. Just thinking about it gave her a headache.
"Mrs. Smith, Catherine is very clever. She's never been on your side since she was little. I think she'll definitely try to get back into the Smith family. Mr. Smith is soft-hearted. If Catherine succeeds, what will happen to Clara?"
"You're right. Catherine keeps hanging around and won't leave—she must still be thinking about the Smith family. Last time she was flirting with Lucas right in front of me. Go contact the newspaper. The Smith family needs to publish an announcement cutting all ties with her, to end her hopes!"
"Okay!"
Imperia City, The Windsor Mansion
As soon as Catherine walked in the door, she saw Aurora wearing an apron, busy in the kitchen.
"Mom, what are you making? Let me help you."
"No need, no need. I made you a cake, but I just can't get this little rabbit right!"
Aurora came from a good family and had never cooked for herself growing up.
Catherine watched as her beautiful hands picked up a small knife and stabbed down at the chocolate—the little rabbit split right in half.
"How did I mess it up again! I'm so useless!"
The trash can next to her was full of failed cakes!
"It's fine, it looks great like this. It looks cute."
"Really? I'm so glad you like it!"
Catherine picked up the small cake and took a bite in front of Aurora. "It's delicious. Thank you, Mom. You don't have to do these things for me."
"How can I not? I've never done anything for you, and you've suffered so much. Just thinking about how hard things were for you breaks my heart!"
"I wasn't suffering."
Aurora patted Catherine's hand. "You eat first. I have a gift for you!"
"Okay."
As soon as Esme walked in, she saw Catherine sitting alone at the table eating a cake that didn't look like anything!
How shabby!
As a daughter of the Windsor family, she only ate desserts made by Jacks. Only someone as lowly as Catherine would think anything was good.
"Catherine, what are you eating? Oh my, what is that thing? I know you're used to being poor and like to be frugal, but you can't just eat any garbage."
Catherine glanced at her calmly and said nothing.
"But come to think of it, even the family that raised you for eighteen years abandoned you, so you probably haven't seen anything nice, have you?"
Esme's face was full of superiority!
"What do you mean?"
"You don't know yet? How pitiful. Your former foster parents have published an announcement saying they're cutting all ties with you and telling you not to bother them!"
Catherine said calmly, "Fine."
It was actually good that the Smith family did this themselves—it saved her a lot of trouble.
What did that mean?
Shouldn't Catherine be crying her eyes out after hearing this?
Even the family that raised her for so many years could abandon her, which showed how terrible Catherine's character was!
Once Bethany and Aurora found out about this, they'd definitely be disappointed in her, and then they'd know that she, Esme, was the most elegant daughter of the Windsor family!
Esme pulled out the newspaper, full of confidence!
Aurora, coming down from upstairs, snatched the newspaper from her hand and read it carefully.
"What is this?"
"Mom! Catherine's foster parents published an announcement cutting ties with her! Doesn't this mean..."
Aurora said angrily, "This family is way out of line! How could they treat my child like this? I'm so angry!"
Esme was confused.
Shouldn't she be blaming Catherine?
Why was she scolding the Smith family instead?
Aurora hugged Catherine tightly, her heart aching.
"Catherine, don't be sad. They'll get what's coming to them for treating you this way! I'll protect you!"
Catherine patted Aurora's trembling back, feeling warm inside.
She didn't care about the Smith family at all. The only attachment she had to the Smith family had disappeared with Elodie's death.
"Okay, I'm not sad."
Aurora thought about the kind of life Catherine had lived before and wanted to beat up the Smith family!
"Catherine, this is the necklace I just bought you. Wear it for now. There's an auction tomorrow, and I'll buy you some more things."
Esme looked at the string of brilliant pink diamonds in Aurora's hand, jealous to the point of a headache!
Why, even after all this, was Aurora still buying Catherine such an expensive necklace!
Shouldn't she be kicking her out of the house?
Esme was extremely disappointed by the scene before her!
While Aurora and Catherine weren't paying attention, she quietly walked to a corner and called Lila, telling her about this with exaggerations.
"Grandma, isn't Catherine really unlucky? Why else would people not want her? Grandma raised me for so many years—if you suddenly said you didn't want me anymore, I'd be heartbroken. But Catherine isn't sad at all. She even looks happy."
"An ungrateful and unlucky woman! Even country people don't want her—why does she think the Windsor family would? Whether she can enter the Windsor family is up to me! Esme, your priority is to contact Alexander. Getting the Howard family is your best bet!"
Lying in her hospital bed, Lila opened her eyes and sneered, "As for Catherine, I have plenty of ways to deal with her!"
"You love me the most! I understand. I'll call Alexander later, don't worry!"
"Good."
Lila called Aurora's phone.
"I've been sick for so long, and the kids won't even come see me. Fine. But Catherine is a daughter—why isn't she coming to take care of me? Does the Windsor family even consider me their grandmother anymore? Tell Catherine to come to the hospital tomorrow to take care of me!"
Aurora got a headache just hearing her voice.
"Mom, there are caregivers at the hospital. Catherine doesn't know how to take care of people."
"Stop making excuses! She has nothing to do all day—if she's not coming to take care of me, is she out there seducing men?"
"Mom, don't talk like that."
"She must come tomorrow! Or else let's see how you handle this!"
Lila hung up. Aurora felt a headache coming on.
Lila had targeted her when she was young, and now she was targeting Catherine!
But Lila was an elder, and she didn't want the children to resent her.
At worst, she'd grit her teeth and go herself. She couldn't let Catherine be wronged!
"Catherine, if you don't want to go, don't. I'll handle it!"
"It's fine. I'll go tomorrow."