Chapter 221 Claire Austin
The Galatea family lived in a grand villa and alwaysmaintained an appearance of wealth and respectability, but it was merely a facade.
Joshua had inherited properties from previous generations, but they were not prime real estate. Even if he wanted to sell them, they were hard to liquidate.
Joshua had rented out these properties over the years, but the income barely covered the Galatea family's extravagant expenses, driven by their vanity and need to maintain appearances.
Previously,Sherry's earnings from the entertainment industry sustained their glamorous lifestyle.
Now, Sherry's career was over, her reputation tarnished, and she couldn't secure any work. The family was basically living off their savings!
The gifts from the Melville family were undoubtedly treasures that could allow them to maintain their dignity for a lifetime, so they were naturally unwilling to let go.
Joshua, unable to pull his hand free despite his efforts, was restrained by Katherine. Always arrogant, he couldn't stand this kind of suppression and angrily shouted, "Katherine, it's one thing for you not to recognize me as your father after marrying into a wealthy family, but now you want to take the gifts? Let me make this clear: don't even consider it! Throughout history, it's been the father's role to oversee the giving of gifts! Let go of me now!"
Katherine, however, did not let go but tightened her grip. "Mr. Galatea, I'll ask you one more time, do you want to discuss or not?"
Joshua gritted his teeth in pain, feeling like his wrist bones were about to be crushed. He never knew Katherine had such strength!
He then replied, "Okay, I'll discuss it. But you have to let go first. Go to my study!"
Katherine finally let go, smiling slightly. "Alright, let's go to Mr. Galatea's study then. After you, Mr. Galatea."
Joshua shook his painful wrist and glared at Katherine before turning to lead her upstairs to the study.
On the side, Sherry worried that Katherine might manipulate Joshua with sweet talk and anxiously tried to intervene. "Daddy, don't listen to her. What's the point of discussing with her? We should just kick this heartless woman out!"
Joshua frowned but didn't agree.
No matter how outrageous Katherine was, she was now the daughter-in-law of the Melville family. Kicking her out would be easy, but if she went back and complained to Mr. Melville, they'd be in trouble.
Lillian was also uneasy about leaving Joshua and Katherine alone to talk. That bitch Katherine was too cunning!
Lillian called out, "Joshua, I think Katherine..."
Joshua impatiently waved his hand and said, "Enough, you two stay out of this! She just wants a discussion, and I want to hear what she'll say!"
Unable to stop them, they could only watch as Katherine followed Joshua upstairs to the study helplessly.
Joshua walked behind the study desk, sat down with a stern expression, and demanded, "Speak quickly about whatever it is you want to discuss!"
Katherine pulled up a chair and sat down uninvited. "Mr. Galatea, let's get straight to the point. What's your relationship with my biological mother? Why did you take me from the hospital on her behalf back then?"
Joshua's face stiffened, looking at her in shock. "You... what do you know?"
Katherine said, "Well, I know you're not my biological father."
No wonder Katherine had been calling him Mr. Galatea recently. Joshua's eyes flickered unnaturally. "Nonsense! What are you talking about? You are my daughter! Katherine, even if you've married into a wealthy family, you don't have to cut ties with me to this extent, denying even our blood relationship."
Katherine remained calm and said, "Sorry, Mr. Galatea, I've already done a paternity test. There's indeed no blood relationship between us. You can't fool me."
Joshua was stunned, never expecting her to have done this. "You... you did a paternity test secretly!"
Katherine lazily crossed her arms and replied, "It wasn't intentional. I just did it along with the paternity test you and Sherry did earlier."
Joshua realized he couldn't hide it anymore, gritted his teeth, and snorted, "So what if we have no blood relationship? I raised you, so I'm your dad!"
Katherine laughed and then scoffed, "Did you raise me? I don't recall that."
Joshua was rendered speechless by Katherine's retort. He, indeed, hadn't properly raised this little girl he brought back from outside. He had left her in the countryside and only brought her back when she got into college.
Moreover, Katherine attended college on a full scholarship without costing him a penny.
Today, she wasn't here to debate Joshua's shortcomings as a father. "Alright! Let's talk about my mother! Mr. Galatea, I hope you can tell me everything about my mother."
Joshua seemed very reluctant to mention Katherine's mother, frowning and saying seriously, "What do I have to tell you? You don't need to know too much about that!"
Katherine squinted her eyes and insisted, "I have the right to know about my mother!"
Joshua remained indifferent. "Even if you have the right to know, I've long forgotten those past people and events. I have nothing to tell you!"
"Forgotten, huh?" Katherine wasn't in a hurry or angry. She stood up. "Alright then, since Mr. Galatea doesn't want to say more, I'll leave and take the Melville family's gifts with me!"
Upon hearing that Katherine intended to take the gifts away, Joshua panicked. "Wait!"
Katherine stopped and looked back at him. "What? Did Mr. Galatea remember something?"
Joshua glared at her in frustration. "I can only tell you what I know. I really don't know anything else!"
Katherine sat back down and urged, "Okay, tell me everything you know!"
Joshua, a bit annoyed, recalled the past. "Your mother went to the same college as me. I pursued her but never succeeded. Fifteen years ago, I ran into her by chance. She urgently asked me to pick up her daughter from the children's hospital, and then we lost contact."
Katherine's eyes tightened. "What was my mother's name?"
Joshua replied, "Austin, Claire Austin."
Claire Austin.
Katherine silently repeated her mother's name in her heart, then stared at Joshua again. "Go on, what else?"
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