Chapter 37: Aurora's Homemade Cake
Aurora was still a bit reluctant to let her go.
Just thinking about Lila's tactics made her feel uneasy.
"Don't worry, Mom. Grandpa is also at Bright Heal Hospital. I'll visit them both while I'm there."
"Catherine, you can do it! I won't go! I'll make you another cake tomorrow!"
She hadn't really expected Aurora to come with her anyway.
Esme was shocked.
That unidentifiable blob Catherine had eaten was actually a little cake Aurora made herself!
Her face twisted with jealousy.
Thinking about Catherine going to the hospital tomorrow and suffering at Lila's hands, Esme felt a bit better!
If this continued, Catherine would definitely steal everything from her!
Imperia City, The Howard Mansion
Annie knocked on Alexander's study door with a newspaper and placed it on his desk.
"Read it. I don't remember having a habit of reading newspapers."
"You said it yourself, so I'll read it! Oliver and Celeste of the Smith family in Serenitia City have severed their parental relationship with their adopted daughter Catherine. Everything in the Smith family has nothing to do with Catherine. Please do not harass them."
She cleared her throat, reading the official announcement with dramatic inflection. Before she could finish, Alexander snatched the newspaper from her hands.
"An official announcement from the Smith family?"
"Yes, they've severed ties with Catherine. I looked into it - Catherine was their adopted daughter. Now that their biological daughter has been found, Catherine was kicked out."
Kicked out?
How dare they!
Seeing the news, Alexander's mind filled with that soft yet stubborn face. She cared so much about her family, yet this was how they treated her.
His heart ached uncontrollably!
He wanted to see her, right now!
Annie was somewhat indignant. "Catherine is so wonderful - what they did is just too much!"
Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose, stood up, grabbed his coat and the car keys from the desk. This beat-up car had recently become his dedicated vehicle, and even the mansion's chef in charge of grocery shopping had gotten a new car.
"Mr. Howard, are you going to see Catherine? Should we switch cars? This one is really too shabby!"
Every time Annie saw Alexander wearing his fully custom-tailored suit while driving a car that cost less than one of his cufflinks, she felt heartbroken.
Alexander, who had topped the world's young billionaires list for six consecutive years, had been reduced to driving such a cheap manual transmission sedan and even acting as someone's driver.
If word got out, no one would believe it!
Annie said worriedly, "I'm afraid if the Howard Group's business partners see this, they'll think the Howard Group has gone bankrupt."
"She likes this one."
"Mr. Howard, listen to me! No girl likes a beat-up car. Catherine must be upset after seeing the newspaper. You should pick her up in a different car!"
Alexander frowned slightly, somewhat uncertain. "Won't I scare her away?"
"Absolutely not! If you switch cars now and show your capabilities, it's very important!"
"Alright, I understand."
Meanwhile.
Evergreen Mall, in the back room of Quinn's shop, Catherine's slender fingers tapped on the keyboard as a string of code-like characters appeared before her eyes.
Catherine paid no attention to the data as information from a website she had developed herself quickly appeared.
An encrypted call came through the internal website.
"Boss, Ethan has been searching for the Phantom Doctor 'Moon' recently and posted a recruitment notice on the dark web, hoping Moon would join their organization."
"Ignore it."
Ethan's recruitment message for Moon had also been sent to her Moon account on the dark web.
"Yes. Also, we had a problem with one of our deals and were going to lose some money, but someone helped us. I checked and it was Shadow Syndicate's IP. Do we have any recent cooperation with Shadow Syndicate?"
"Some."
"The Smith family published an announcement severing ties with you. Should we also cut off all cooperation with the Smith family?"
Jared got angry just thinking about it. If it weren't for Catherine's secret help, Oliver would really think he was some kind of business genius who could get where he is today?
With his limited brain, forget making money - he'd be lucky not to be drowning in debt!
Catherine had done so much for the Smith family, yet Oliver severed ties with her, afraid Catherine wouldn't let go of their little bit of money. Just thinking about it made Jared sick!
Catherine was silent for a moment, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the desk as if thinking.
She said coolly, "No. According to market partnership terms, demand compensation from the Smith family."
Jared was shocked.
As business partners of the Smith Group, they had the right to demand compensation from the Smith family for the losses Oliver caused!
The more Jared thought about it, the more excited he got!
"Alright, I'll prepare the contract right away! Let Oliver experience what bankruptcy feels like!"
Catherine responded faintly, ignoring the complex information on the dark web and closed the page.
Clara pushed Lucas, who had just recovered a bit from his illness, along the luxury brand street outside Evergreen Mall.
"Lucas, you're so good to me. You just got a little better and you came to Imperia City to buy me bags. I'm so happy!"
Lucas waved his plastered hand a few times, showing what he thought was a charming smile.
If Clara hadn't brought him out, he wouldn't have had the chance to leave Serenitia City and come to Imperia City for the newest bar opening.
Thinking about the new sex workers coming tonight, Lucas felt an itch in his heart.
Buying Clara a few bags was just to get rid of her so she wouldn't follow him tonight.
"Clara, thank goodness you brought me those documents and solved the Johnson family's urgent problem. Don't worry, I'll definitely treat you well!"
Clara looked blissful, her shyness evident.
"Isn't that Catherine? Why is she still in Imperia City?"
Clara frowned, looking at Catherine at the entrance of Evergreen Mall. She was wearing a plain-colored dress and getting into a black Bentley.
"It must be one of those men Catherine seduced. I really don't know what they see in her!"
A dark gleam flashed in Lucas's eyes.
Damn Catherine - if it weren't for her last time, he wouldn't have ended up like this.
"Don't worry about her. She's degrading herself. Clara, you're my destined bride."
Clara nodded shyly, but her eyes didn't leave the car Catherine got into.
The man driving looked middle-aged, older than Oliver, and balding - probably Catherine's current sugar daddy.
Lucas thought so too.
When these men abandoned her, she'd have plenty of time to cry!
By then, she'd definitely come begging to him.
Inside the Bentley, Alexander handed Catherine a stack of documents.
"Information about Ethan - these are Shadow Syndicate's files."
"Thank you. I'll share Faceless Ones' information with you too."
Alexander's face showed a gentle smile, as if he didn't care whether the files were shared or not.
"The international police sent word that Eli wants to sell the newly developed Snowflake II in the Stellara region this time. If successful, it'll be another tough battle."
"Snowflake II? Eli's side has mastered the formula for refining Snowflake II?"
Catherine's brow furrowed slightly. Her slightly displeased expression made her look like she'd stepped out of a painting, with a commanding presence like a queen!
Snowflake II was known as the purest drug in the world today. Just a tiny bit of Snowflake II was enough to tear an ordinary family apart and destroy them, and it also represented absolute profit!
Three years ago, Catherine had promised someone that Snowflake II would never enter Stellara territory in this lifetime!
"Yes, but fortunately Eli has been arrested. Snowflake II is currently in the hands of the international police. You don't need to worry."
"Good. You changed cars?"
Alexander was a bit nervous. "Do you like it?"
Catherine was puzzled.
What did it have to do with her?
The driver smiled and said, "This is to pick you up. Mr. Howard said the old car had been driven too long and he was worried you'd be uncomfortable, so he quickly changed it."
Alexander's eyes held a smile as fine as scattered stars.
"I saw the newspaper and was worried that if I drove, I wouldn't be able to control myself from doing something impulsive, so I can't be your driver today. I'm sorry."
Something impulsive?
Catherine's mind filled with the image of Alexander beating up Lucas at the bar, his fists full of explosive power and suppressed rage seeming to appear before her eyes again, making her heart inexplicably race.