Chapter 74: Block
Seeing how stubborn Samuel and Grace were, Aurora didn't try to persuade them further.
The extended Bentley pulled up at the entrance. The luxurious car's sleek body glided along the flower-lined driveway, fragrance filling the air.
Two tall, handsome men got out first. Richard had just extended his hand when he saw Alexander already bending down, offering his hand to Catherine.
"Catherine, I want to help too!"
Richard was almost in tears. At home, Charles always rushed forward first, and he couldn't hold Catherine's hand. Now there was Alexander too!
Catherine held one hand on each side as she got out of the car and walked over to Samuel and Grace.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I'm home."
"Good, good. This is your home now too!"
Samuel wasn't seeing Catherine for the first time, so he was relatively calm, patting her hand.
Grace was meeting Catherine for the first time. She had mixed feelings about Catherine due to her worry about Juniper, but when she saw that face that looked seventy percent like Aurora's, tears streamed down Grace's cheeks.
"Dear child, you're finally home. I didn't come to your birthday last time—please don't be upset."
Aurora was startled. "Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Don't scare Catherine. Let's go inside."
Catherine crouched in front of Grace, looking up at the elderly woman.
Grace, a scientist who had made outstanding contributions to Stellara and was a true hero, hadn't even cried like this when receiving the national honor medal.
"Grandma, I'm not upset."
Richard moved closer. "Grandma, I'm still here! Don't play favorites! Don't only see Catherine and not me—you said you loved me the most!"
Grace looked at Richard and laughed.
"How could anyone miss you? Let's go in. Catherine, don't stand at the door and get tired. And Alexander's here too—wonderful! I love having everyone together."
Alexander politely presented gifts. "These are what Catherine and I prepared for you both."
Aurora watched Alexander and Catherine standing together harmoniously and thought they looked perfect together!
Catherine and Alexander seemed like a great match!
She had worried that someone from Alexander's background might look down on Catherine, but Alexander didn't mind at all. He was attentive and caring toward Catherine—absolutely considerate in every way!
Grace and Samuel only had one daughter, Aurora, and had always treated Aurora's children as their treasures.
At the dinner table, the family rarely sat together for a meal.
Grace looked at Aurora and put down her utensils.
"Aurora, you mentioned wanting to divorce Bethany? What happened? I came back last night but didn't get a chance to ask. What's going on?"
Bethany almost cried when he heard this!
He had finally smoothed things over, and Aurora had agreed not to bring it up. Now that Grace mentioned it, Aurora would definitely get emotional again!
Aurora put down her utensils, looking intently at her parents.
"Yes, and I'm determined to do it! Mom, Dad, I've thought it through. I didn't divorce before because I loved Bethany, and because Catherine hadn't come home yet. I felt guilty toward the child and thought if Catherine came home to find her parents divorced, how devastating would that be?"
She looked lovingly at Catherine sitting beside her, her decision made.
"But I can't tolerate Lila bullying Catherine over and over again! Why should Catherine be at her beck and call? Mom, Dad, you know she was saying bad things about my Catherine right to my face—I wanted to slap her!"
Aurora had been well-mannered since childhood, never raising her voice, always speaking softly.
But when she mentioned Lila, her eyes turned red with anger. Thinking of Lila speaking badly about Catherine in front of her made her want to cry.
Samuel looked at Bethany.
"Bethany, we really can't control this. What Lila did was truly too much. All these years, Aurora and we have been patient because of you and the children. But it turns out Lila won't show mercy just because we're patient!"
Bethany was desperate!
"Yes, yes, I've already discussed this with my father. He thinks we should get divorced tomorrow, and from now on, Aurora and Catherine won't have to see her. I promise, I absolutely promise this will never happen again!"
Aurora snorted coldly.
"You promise? How can you promise? Do you know that the person who called you last night got your phone number from Lila!"
Bethany's eyes suddenly turned sharp.
What the Smith family did to Catherine was unforgivable to the Windsor family.
If Lila, as a member of the Windsor family, had indirectly helped the Smith family hurt Catherine, he might not be able to forgive her either!
"Honey, I'll definitely investigate this thoroughly. Don't worry, no matter what she says, I won't let her bother you and Catherine anymore!"
Bethany was practically ready to swear an oath to Aurora in front of Samuel and Grace.
Though middle-aged and still the elegant, handsome head of the Windsor family, Bethany never acted superior in front of Aurora.
"Aurora, I can't live without you. How about we just stay here and don't go home!"
Aurora softened at his tearful appearance.
She held Catherine's hand, looking guilty.
"Catherine, if Lila tries to contact you in the future, just block her directly."
"I understand."
Aurora looked at Alexander behind Catherine. "Mr. Howard, Catherine is young and soft-hearted like me. Please take good care of her."
Alexander nodded firmly, holding Catherine's waist intimately yet appropriately.
"Don't worry. Catherine is my fiancée. I'll protect her."
Grace secretly smiled and kicked Samuel beside her, watching how well they got along.
Samuel had been saying Alexander wasn't good last night and wanted to find a chance to break off the engagement. But now, seeing how Alexander looked at Catherine like she was a treasure, their relationship was clearly wonderful!
"Aurora, why won't Lila just leave you alone?"
"She's hoping her niece can marry Bethany. She's determined to have her own relative become Bethany's wife."
Mentioning this, Aurora rolled her eyes and extended her hand to show Samuel and Grace the burn Lila had unreasonably caused.
When she held out her hand, she found the redness and swelling were gone!
"Catherine, that medicine you gave me last time was amazing! I thought it would take weeks to heal! Give me some more—I can use it if I get hurt again!"
"Okay, I'll get it for you when I go home."
The ointment Catherine gave Aurora was made by her personally and worked best. On the black market, medicine from Phantom Doctor Moon was extremely valuable.
But in front of the Windsor family, her medicine could serve its greatest purpose.
These were family members who wanted to protect her, and she hoped they could be happy and safe!
Alexander, sitting nearby, didn't feel like an outsider at all, watching Catherine with smiling eyes.
The family she valued would be the people he was willing to protect too!
Clara just went to the bathroom, and when she came back, Oliver and Celeste were gone. After searching for a long time without finding them, she simply found a hotel and got a room to sleep.
She still had a movie audition coming up and needed to get good rest.
To prevent Oliver and Celeste from calling and interfering with her audition, Clara turned off her phone in advance and arrived at the set early.
Everyone there was preparing for auditions. Clara was so nervous her hands were shaking.
"Ms. Windsor, this way please."
Esme walked into the set with her head held high, looked around at everyone competing for the same role, and sneered.
"I want this role. The rest of you can forget about it!"