Chapter 30 Esme Jealous and Mad
As long as he found Catherine, he didn't believe she wouldn't soften when she saw him!
After all, he was the father who had raised her for over ten years!
Oliver hesitated again.
"Catherine must be working as a cleaner at Evergreen Mall, but who knows what time she goes to work every day? If she doesn't show up, I'll have to keep waiting? That's beneath my dignity."
No matter what, he was still a wealthy businessman in Serenitia City. Waiting at the mall entrance for a cleaner—how could he face people after that?
"Mr. Smith, you can just find a café near Evergreen Mall and wait there. You'll probably see Catherine soon."
Oliver thought about it and reluctantly agreed.
"This is all Catherine's fault. When Celeste and Clara get out, I'll show her what's coming!"
"Of course. Catherine's family are just a bunch of unreasonable farmers. In the end, they'll still have to listen to you."
The Windsor Villa
The huge living room was filled with jewelry boxes.
Diamond necklaces and gemstone necklaces sparkled in their velvet cases. In the center sat a pink diamond necklace, each diamond at least three carats, with the center stone shining the brightest!
As soon as Esme walked in, she was captivated by the sea of diamond necklaces before her!
Did Aurora buy all these?
Aurora had always loved jewelry and purchased quite a bit every year. As a member of the Windsor family, jewelry was an essential accessory for Aurora.
Juniper wasn't interested in these things, so Esme always accompanied her when shopping. The more Aurora bought, the more benefits Esme would get.
Looking at this vast array of diamond necklaces, Esme was practically drooling!
She'd even picked out which necklace would look best around her neck!
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Aurora waved her over. "Catherine's birthday party is coming up, and I need to pick a necklace to wear. Come help me see which one suits me best."
Esme pretended to struggle, picking up a rather old-fashioned necklace.
"This one suits you best. That pink diamond is beautiful, but it's a bit too young. Your style fits this necklace better."
She'd had her eye on that pink diamond necklace the moment she walked in!
Of course Aurora could wear pink diamonds—a beauty like her looked elegant and precious in any jewelry.
But Esme knew that if she said this, Aurora wouldn't choose the pink diamond.
That way, the pink diamond would be hers!
Aurora did indeed pick up the necklace she suggested and held it against her neck.
"You're right. I'll wear this one then. I'll give that pink diamond to Catherine."
The smile froze on Esme's face!
"Mom, that necklace is for Catherine?"
Aurora nodded, pointing to the vast array of jewelry before them. "All of these are for her. I only bought one necklace for myself because of Catherine."
Esme was shocked!
Was this some kind of joke?
There were at least a hundred necklaces in front of them—diamonds, rubies, and several rare Australian white pearl necklaces. All of this together could buy a villa in Imperia City!
And it was all for Catherine?
When she used to spend afternoons helping Aurora pick jewelry, she'd only get a small two-carat diamond necklace at most. Catherine comes back and gets all these wonderful things right away!
"Mom, this is way too much. Catherine's room won't have space for all this."
Aurora waved her hand. "No problem. If there's no space, we'll buy another house. This little bit won't be a problem. I just hope Catherine likes them. If not, we'll buy more!"
Esme was so jealous!
Why did Catherine get all this!
She was also a member of the Windsor family!
Esme watched Aurora moving through the pile of jewelry that should have been hers, and her expression nearly twisted thinking about how it was all for Catherine!
No, these things should all belong to her!
The maid Lucy stood behind Esme and spoke quietly, "Ms. Windsor, all these things should belong to you. Catherine just came back—she has no right to compete with you!"
Esme looked at Lucy with some surprise.
"I used to take care of Mrs. Windsor and watched you grow up. I know your character best. You're the one most suited to be the Windsor family's daughter, most suited to marry into the Howard family."
"Really? What should I do? Mom and Dad are both completely fooled by Catherine now."
Lucy lowered her voice. "While cooking, I heard that Catherine used to have a fiancé. You could investigate that. Maybe she's not a clean woman at all and doesn't deserve the Windsor family or the Howard family."
Esme's eyes lit up with delight!
Catherine used to have a fiancé!
She would make sure Catherine was too embarrassed to stay with the Windsor family!
Evergreen Mall
Oliver stood at the mall entrance, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
He'd been waiting here for several days!
Each time he waited until the café closed and kicked him out, he never saw any sign of Catherine.
Were mall cleaners really this relaxed these days? He came every day after lunch and a nap, waited until the café closed, and still couldn't see Catherine.
Oliver was so frustrated his feet had developed several blisters!
A black Cayenne stopped by the roadside, its gleaming emblem making Oliver squint.
Catherine opened the car door and stepped out, wearing a light blue dress with a white cape and a light blue hat. Her beauty was stunning, her skin flawless, and every movement showed the elegant composure of the wealthy, like a princess from a fairy tale.
Oliver almost didn't recognize her as Catherine!
He rushed forward, extremely agitated!
"I told you to go to the police station and get your mother and sister out, and you still have the mood to go shopping? Do you have no conscience!"
Catherine's outfit clearly had no logos—definitely cheap knockoffs bought online.
Dressing like this, wasn't she just unwilling to leave Imperia City and the Smith family?
"Come back with me right now. You must get your mother and sister out!"
Oliver was about to grab Catherine's wrist when a man blocked his way and kicked his leg hard, sending him tumbling!
"You dare hit me!"
Philip brushed the wrinkles from his clothes, frowning at Oliver sitting on the ground.
"You just spoke rudely to Catherine and showed aggressive behavior. The surveillance here can prove it."
If he hadn't noticed Catherine's cape was missing a brooch when he invited her to dinner, he wouldn't have come to Evergreen Mall.
He should have just had the designer deliver it.
Philip felt a bit regretful, and his look at Oliver was very unfriendly.
Interrupting his time with Catherine was truly hateful!
At the Evergreen Mall entrance, over a dozen cameras pointed in one direction. Oliver felt a bit guilty.
This man looked distinguished, and the car behind him was a limited edition Cayenne.
Catherine must have seduced this man!
That's why she dared to hang up on him—she'd found a new backer.
He got up from the ground, his neck stiff. "This is a family matter. Who are you to interfere? We raised Catherine for over ten years, and she sent my wife and daughter to the police station over a small matter!"
Philip understood.
This troublemaker was the poor guy who had raised Catherine?
The one from the Smith family who kidnapped Catherine and demanded she forgive them?
"I'm Philip, Catherine's lawyer. If you have something to say, say it all now."
Oliver's eyes widened!
Philip—the famous ace lawyer in legal circles, who supposedly never lost a case and could make a dead person come alive in court!
The Smith family had contacted Philip before, but his fees were too high for Oliver to afford, so they hired another lawyer.
Someone like that was Catherine's lawyer?