Chapter 16 Catherine Has Been Kidnapped!
Charles whipped out a pass card and handed it to Catherine.
"Yo, this is a VIP card for all the malls under the Evergreen Group. It’s got 5% of the group's shares. Wherever you go, you get the red carpet treatment, no lines, no waiting."
"Shares?"
Charles grinned, his handsome face showing a bit of that big-brother affection.
"Yeah, you're my sis. Giving you some shares so you can splurge is no biggie. From now on, just use this card for shopping. No limits. If you need more, just holler!"
"Do the other brothers have this too?" Catherine asked.
Charles shrugged, "Why would those knuckleheads ask me for shares? I've been planning this for ages, just waiting for you to come home."
A few years back, when Charles, George, Richard, and Philip found out that Juniper, who had been living with them, wasn't their real sister, they started prepping a welcome gift for their real sister.
Besides the two cards Charles already handed out, they still got a ton of gifts left to give!
'Seeing the guys at home is getting on my nerves. Now that my sister's finally back, I gotta treat her right! After all, she’s my real sister!' Charles thought.
"How about lunch with me? The rooftop garden was built just for you! I'll clear it out so you can enjoy it."
Everyone knew that dining in the rooftop garden of the Evergreen Mall was something money couldn't buy.
Catherine was about to say she had plans for the evening, but seeing the hopeful look in Charles' eyes, she couldn't say no.
"No need to clear it out. I'll have lunch with you."
"Alright, whatever you say."
Charles looked at Catherine, liking her more and more. The loving expression on his face was almost identical to that of Brandon and Aurora.
'Catherine is so understanding and considerate!' Charles, feeling pleased, told Catherine something and then went off to work.
Meanwhile, a security guard stood in front of Celeste and the other two, politely but firmly telling them they were banned from shopping at the Evergreen Group.
Celeste snapped, "Why can't we shop? We're customers! What's wrong with the Evergreen Group? I want to file a complaint!"
Clara chimed in, "We won the lottery to buy Quinn's new products. Why can't we shop?"
The security guard, with a professional smile, said, "I'm sorry, but you ticked off someone you shouldn't have. From now on, all businesses under the Evergreen Group will blacklist you. Thanks."
Celeste fell silent as she thought, 'What the heck is going on? If we're blacklisted by the Evergreen Group, where are Clara and I gonna shop in the future?'
"Why? We're here to shop!" Celeste said.
The security guard waved his hand, and several more guards came over, grabbing the struggling trio and tossing them out. "Don't disturb our other customers. Mr. Windsor said you offended Ms. Windsor, and you're permanently blacklisted by the Evergreen Group!"
The security guard clapped his hands and walked away.
The surrounding socialites, who had been eager to watch the drama, quickly distanced themselves from the trio, fearing they might get involved after hearing they had offended someone from the Evergreen Group.
Celeste couldn't believe it, thinking, 'We actually got thrown out just like that? When have the Smith family and the Johnson family ever been treated like this?'
Clara burst into tears, "Celeste, when did we offend Ms. Windsor? We just talked to Catherine!"
Celeste, extremely annoyed, said, "Catherine is just a bumpkin from the countryside. From now on, stay away from her!"
Lucas got up from the ground, dusting himself off.
"I've never heard that Mr. Windsor has a sister. Could it be Catherine?"
Celeste waved her hand, "Impossible. Catherine's family is from Tranquil County. You know how poor they are. She's just trying to latch onto our family by doing something shady."
"Let's go back. Lucas, I've watched you grow up. Hurry up and get engaged to Clara so I can be at ease."
A blush appeared on Clara's face.
Lucas, from a good family, was handsome and generous. He had been Clara's dream man since childhood.
She'd always dreamed of marrying Lucas and becoming his wife.
Lucas smiled and said, "Clara and I are still young, no need to rush."
Celeste was a bit miffed but kept her mouth shut.
Lucas got a few calls from his rowdy friends, who told him a new model had shown up at a nearby bar, so he quickly found an excuse to bail.
Watching him leave, Clara stomped her foot. "Celeste, is he going to see Catherine? I'm supposed to be his fiancée!"
Celeste gritted her teeth, "Catherine must've hit up Lucas behind our backs. It's normal for her to be into Lucas. After all, she can't find a guy like him in Tranquil County."
"What should we do? What if Lucas gets seduced by her?" Clara asked, worried.
A cold, calculating look flashed in Celeste's eyes, and she said, "Since Catherine didn't go back to Tranquil County, she's definitely clueless about Imperia City. It's normal for something to 'happen' to her."
Backstage at Quinn's new store...
Simon handed over a thick reservation list, his face lit up with joy.
"Miss, check this out. These are the profits from our new store, pretty hefty! But why are you giving the Evergreen Group such a discount?"
Catherine replied calmly, "I have shares in the Evergreen Group."
Simon was floored! "You're just moving money from one pocket to another, and it makes the entire Evergreen Group look at us differently!"
Catherine stayed quiet, thinking, 'That isn't my intention. I just think Charles has it tough and wanted to help him out. Besides, I have Charles' secondary card, so making money for Charles is also making money for myself.'
Simon, still thrilled, said, "Yesterday, a super-rich person ordered a thousand pieces of clothing from us, even clearing out our overstock. They said they want to keep ordering our next season's new products."
"Who placed the order?" Catherine asked.
Simon flipped to the first page and pointed to a name, "Brandon, have you heard?"
'Not only have I heard, but I also had breakfast with him this morning.'
"Give the Windsor family priority in the future."
"As for priority, how much should we charge?"
Catherine said, glancing at him lightly, "No charge."
Simon was puzzled, thinking, 'Since when is Catherine so easygoing? The priority rights for the Quinn brand are usually super pricey annually! The Windsor family must've hit the jackpot to save such a huge amount of money!'
After leaving Evergreen Mall, Catherine planned to visit Marcus at the hospital.
Marcus had already called her a dozen times, urging her to visit.
Ever since Catherine had pushed Marcus out to sunbathe, running into one of Marcus's old chess buddies, the old men had immediately started a game. When Marcus was about to lose, Catherine stepped in and shocked the others.
How could Marcus's granddaughter be so skilled!
These lifelong chess players couldn't even understand her moves!
Since then, Marcus had been strutting around the hospital with pride.
Every day, he would frantically urge Catherine to come to the hospital, waiting for others to challenge her.
Esme, wearing a pink lace dress and holding an umbrella, got out of Lila's car.
Lila hated extravagance, so Esme had to share a car with her. She only got the chance to have the driver take her to the mall when Lila was sick.
Esme fanned herself, walking towards the queue.
"Isn't that Catherine?"
Catherine was standing by the roadside, wearing a new dress from Quinn, which made Esme's eye twitch with envy!
Suddenly, a few masked individuals sneaked up from behind, covered Catherine's mouth and nose, and dragged her into a van parked by the roadside, which then sped away!
Esme covered her mouth, afraid she might laugh out loud on the spot as she thought, 'Catherine has been kidnapped! This is great! Truly heaven-sent!'
Esme was overjoyed, hoping the kidnappers wouldn't be gentle with Catherine. The Windsor family would never accept a tainted daughter. Once Catherine was abandoned, the Windsor family would be hers!
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