Chapter 29 The Smith Family Should Also Go Bankrupt
The attitude on the other end of the phone was quite nasty: "I've been nice enough already. Get Catherine to the police station right now. If she pisses off the Smith family, she won't be able to handle the consequences! I heard your whole family farms and raises chickens in Tranquil County. Better watch out or you won't even have land to farm!"
Juniper was speechless.
This was being nice?
Although her number was registered in Tranquil County, her account was fully monitored by the NSA - basically a government-issued phone.
As for not letting her raise chickens, are you trying to go against the government?
What kind of big family is the Smith family anyway?
Does Catherine even care about the Smith family's status?
Veins popped on the back of Juniper's hand. A curse word she'd been holding back was right on her lips, but seeing Catherine's concerned look from across the table, she swallowed it back down.
Thinking about how Catherine had been living with those people all this time, Juniper gripped her fork so hard it bent out of shape!
"Crazy people."
Juniper took a deep breath, hung up, blocked the number, and continued using her insured hands to peel shrimp for Catherine.
"Here, these shrimp were just flown in. Eat more."
"Thanks, Juniper."
Charles glanced at the bent fork beside Juniper, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Who called to make you this angry?"
"Some lunatics, not important. Charles, let's broadcast Catherine's birthday party worldwide. I'll buy a few plaza display screens and have them play it on loop!"
She wanted the whole world to know that Catherine was part of the Windsor family!
Not someone just anyone could bully!
Aurora was the first to approve: "That's great! I was already thinking the event wasn't grand enough. It's really not fair to Catherine. Juniper, can you contact the publicity department and have everyone watching TV see Catherine's birthday broadcast?"
"Yes, I'll call the publicity department right now. Charles, come with me to the study. Let's discuss how to make this happen!"
"Okay."
Charles put on his suit jacket and followed Juniper.
Catherine was silent.
A global broadcast just for her birthday seemed unnecessary, right?
But seeing the whole family brainstorming for her birthday, and meeting Aurora's teary eyes, Catherine's heart softened.
In the study, Juniper's smile disappeared, her beautiful face turning serious: "Charles, what kind of life did Catherine have before? The Smith family called me saying if Catherine doesn't forgive Celeste and Clara, they'll make sure she can't survive! They even threatened our family!"
Charles knew Juniper had called him to the study for another reason.
Hearing this, his usually refined and handsome face filled with cold anger!
"Damn the Smith family! Dealing with them is simple, but we need to ask Catherine first. After all, she lived with the Smith family for so many years. What if she still has some feelings for them? We don't want to do something that upsets her."
Juniper understood this reasoning.
"I'm also worried Catherine might still care about them and would be sad knowing how they're treating her. Those people keep calling us poor farmers. They must think our family is broke!"
Charles was speechless.
First time anyone had called the Windsor family poor.
He pressed his thin lips together, reached up with his slender fingers to remove his glasses, and carefully cleaned them with a tissue.
The whole motion was smooth and elegant.
"We have many ways to deal with the Smith family, but we need to ask Catherine first. Whatever she says, we'll respect her decision."
Juniper nodded.
Just as they left the study, they saw Catherine standing at the door with a fruit plate, her soft hair falling behind her ears, looking especially well-behaved in her casual clothes.
"Mom asked me to bring this. She said you two didn't eat much earlier."
Aurora treated all her children equally, naturally noticing that Juniper and Charles had been serving Catherine food at dinner without eating much themselves.
"Thanks, Catherine. Come in. Charles and I have something to tell you."
Catherine followed her in. Juniper told Catherine everything about the phone call, then carefully asked: "What do you think we should do about this?"
Catherine's expression was calm, showing no sign of sadness.
"I won't go to the police station, and I won't forgive them."
The Smith family was already in her past.
Charles felt relieved.
Although he would support Catherine's decision no matter what, he was glad to see she wasn't upset by the Smith family's attitude.
Catherine smiled, looking at Charles and Juniper's concerned faces.
"I won't be sad over people who aren't worth it. Now my family is Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Charles, George, Richard, Philip, and Juniper."
As for the Smith family, they had nothing to do with her from the moment she left!
Juniper thought of the video Esme had shown her, touched her nose, and asked tentatively: "Catherine, do you have a boy you like?"
Charles immediately tensed up, sitting up straight to look at Catherine.
Catherine shook her head.
"No, why do you ask?"
Juniper looked at Catherine with an "I understand everything" expression.
Catherine must be shy!
"Catherine, it doesn't matter who you like. The Windsor family doesn't care about family background or status. Even if the guy's family has no money or power, as long as he treats you well and you like him enough, worst case he can marry into our family."
For some reason, Juniper's words made Catherine think of Alexander.
But would someone like Alexander be willing to marry into a family?
Thinking this, Catherine's face suddenly felt warm.
"We do have that engagement, but if you don't like the Howard family guy, we can just break it off!"
Charles coughed lightly, interrupting Juniper's rambling.
"Don't talk nonsense. What do you mean break it off? The engagement between the Howard family and ours was arranged by Grandpa. It's not that easy to change. If Catherine has someone she likes, just keep him at home. As my sister, what's wrong with having a few men?"
Catherine was shocked.
What did he mean by keeping him at home?
What's wrong with having a few men?
Had the Windsor family become this open-minded?
Charles patted Catherine's head. "I'll handle the Smith family matter for you. Don't worry. How can we let our Windsor family member suffer like this?"
"Thanks, Charles. I'll go rest now."
"Go ahead."
Catherine knew Juniper and Charles still had things to discuss, so she closed the study door and left.
Charles's face immediately darkened, clouds gathering.
"Juniper, call the NSA. Say someone threatened your lab, repeatedly calling to harass you, suspected of trying to steal national secrets."
Juniper agreed. The two exchanged glances, both seeing burning anger in each other's eyes.
The Smith family was really something!
The Smith Mansion
Oliver paced anxiously back and forth in the living room.
"Mr. Smith, I've already contacted people in Tranquil County and told them to have Catherine come back immediately to forgive Celeste and Clara."
"What did they say? When will Catherine arrive?"
The secretary hesitated. "Those people were so unreasonable. They just hung up on me and said you're crazy!"
Oliver was so angry his head hurt!
"We shouldn't have been kind enough to raise Catherine all those years. Clara is my real daughter. Catherine just can't stand seeing Clara doing well now and wants to scheme her way back into the Smith family!"
"Clara and Celeste kidnapped her? Was that kidnapping? They clearly arranged for people to send her back to Tranquil County. Otherwise she'd still be hanging around Imperia City! She's a parasite on society!"
The secretary stepped forward, standing beside Oliver.
"Mr. Smith, Clara and Celeste said they took Catherine from the entrance of Evergreen Mall. Why don't you go to Evergreen Mall and check? If you can find her and get her to sign a settlement agreement, Clara and Celeste will be safe."
A flash of delight crossed Oliver's eyes!