Chapter 227

Chapter 227

Philip fulfilled his promise and withdrew the suit against Lyra.

Catherine knew very well that with Philip's vengeful nature, he would never easily let an "accomplice" off the hook.

He dropped the lawsuit not because he'd gone soft, and not because she'd talked him into it.

It was because he'd sensed Cecil's involvement.

His extreme possessiveness wouldn't allow other men to show her kindness, much less allow her to owe anyone a favor.

So Philip would rather let Lyra go than give Cecil a chance to show off in front of her.

Catherine leaned against the headboard, her feelings all mixed up.

She had used Cecil, and once again seen clearly Philip's domineering and controlling nature.

But strangely, this feeling of being tightly controlled actually gave her a twisted sense of security.

At least she didn't have to worry about Lyra's situation anymore.

After Philip left, only she and a few servants remained in the huge villa.

Blondie dutifully took care of her meals and daily needs, respectful in attitude, yet also like an ever-present surveillance camera.

Catherine lay on the sofa, listlessly flipping through a fashion magazine, her mind completely elsewhere.

Just then her phone screen lit up with a text from an unknown number.

She opened the message and her pupils contracted.

[This is James. I've obtained some truth and evidence about your parents' deaths. I'd like to meet with you.]

She let out a cold laugh, preparing to delete the message.

But the words "truth" and "evidence" gripped her attention like a vice.

She knew James was weak and incompetent, but he was also the only person who could access Terry's core secrets.

What if he really knew something?

Catherine's heart began to pound violently, reason and the desire for revenge battling fiercely in her mind.

Did she go, or not?

This was a dangerous gamble.

If Philip found out she went to meet James privately, the consequences would be unthinkable.

But if she didn't go, she might miss a perfect opportunity to uncover the truth.

A few minutes later, Catherine took a deep breath and made her decision.

She sat up from the sofa and said to Blondie, who was tidying the living room, "Blondie, I'm feeling a bit cooped up. I want to go out for a bit."

Blondie immediately put down what she was doing and walked over with a smile. "Of course, Ms. Levin. Should I arrange a car for you?"

"Yes, please." Catherine nodded, saying calmly. "I want to check out the mall downtown."

Blondie moved quickly, and within minutes, a black Bentley was parked at the villa entrance.

Throughout the ride, Catherine seemed lost in thought, her eyes glazing over as the city zoomed past the window.

At the mall, she casually browsed a few luxury stores and bought some clothes, appearing uninterested the whole time.

Blondie followed behind her, carrying bags large and small.

As she left the clothing store, Catherine suddenly stopped and ran her fingers through her hair.

"My hair feels terrible lately. I want to get a hair treatment."

She pointed to a high-end beauty salon not far away. "Let's go there. I remember... Philip brought me there once."

She deliberately mentioned Philip's name to dispel any suspicion from Blondie.

Sure enough, Blondie didn't doubt her and nodded. "Alright, Ms. Levin."

The salon ensured privacy by giving each client a VIP room.

Catherine entered her reserved room and said to Blondie, who had followed her in, "Just wait outside for me."

Blondie hesitated but still nodded obediently. "Alright, I'll wait for you in the lounge area outside. If you need anything, just call me."

Catherine's face grew serious as she watched Blondie close the door and leave.

She walked to the innermost partition of the room and pushed open the hidden door.

In the dim lighting, James was already waiting there.He looked much more haggard than before, with faint dark circles under his eyes, his former handsome charm replaced by dejection.

Seeing Catherine, his eyes brightened and he eagerly took two steps forward.

"Emily... you came."

Catherine stood still, looking at him coldly.

"Where's the evidence?"

She got straight to the point, not wanting any unnecessary conversation with him.

James's expression froze, then he showed a bitter smile. "Can't we... talk about something else first?"

He looked at Catherine's face greedily, begging. "Emily, I know I was wrong. I know I wronged you before. Come with me, I'll take you away from here, away from Brightonfield City. We'll go somewhere no one knows us and start over."

Catherine smirked.

"James, are you dreaming?"

"Run away together? What gives you the right? Your identity as my enemy's son, or your weak and incompetent character?"

James's face instantly turned pale. He tried to speak but stayed silent.

Catherine's gaze grew even colder. "Put away your ridiculous fantasies. I came here today only for the evidence. If you can't produce it, I'm leaving right now."

With that, she turned to leave.

"Wait!" James panicked and quickly pulled a black voice recorder from his pocket. "The evidence is here!"

Catherine stopped and turned around, her gaze fixed on the recorder in his hand.

James, seeing the urgency in her eyes, felt a surge of vengeful satisfaction.

He pressed play.

A voice Catherine knew well sounded.

It was Philip.

"The Winters Group's cancer drug formula must be obtained."

Catherine's heart sank.

Next came Terry's cold voice.

"Don't worry, when have I, Terry, ever let you down?"

"However, the chairman of the Winters Group is a bit difficult to deal with."

"In extraordinary times, we must use any means necessary, right?"

After a brief silence, Philip's voice rang out again.

"Yes."

From the moment that "yes" sounded, Catherine was completely frozen in place.

Her ears roared, drowning out the world until all that remained were the two cold voices on the recording.

Yes, use any means necessary.

So her parents' death, the Emily family's destruction... were all the result of his one word "yes."

James, holding the recorder, walked toward her step by step.

"This is a recorded phone conversation between my dad and Philip from seven years ago."

His voice seemed to come from far away, ethereal and unreal.

"This recording can prove that Philip was determined to get your father's drug formula."

Catherine's eyes instantly filled with a thick layer of moisture, everything before her becoming blurry.

She suddenly turned and lunged at James like a madwoman, trying to grab the recorder from his hand.

"Give it to me!"