Chapter 187 Alexander Gets Jealous
Michael's face turned beet red with embarrassment. He thought, 'They're just trying to humiliate me because they're jealous of my talent and scared I'll become the Hughes Family heir, crushing the Howard and Windsor Families. I can't count on Anthony keeping me around just because of Catherine and Alexander. If I can't join the stone gambling event, I'm done in the Hughes Family!'
"Grandpa, I organized today's stone gambling event. If I'm not there, it might be tough to pull off," Michael said.
Catherine replied coolly, "Alexander, let's go. I'll tell Charles the Windsor Family doesn't need to deal with the Hughes Family anymore."
"Okay," Alexander responded.
Anthony clenched his teeth. "Michael! Let Maurice take the lead, and you assist him!"
"Grandpa!" Michael protested, thinking, 'I busted my butt planning this event and invited the King of Stone Gambling. Why should Maurice Hughes get all the glory?'
"Are you defying my orders?" Anthony asked.
Michael gritted his teeth. "No!"
Anthony had absolute power in the Hughes Family. Even though Michael had used some tricks to get Anthony to give him a chance, he didn't dare to go against him.
Emilia quickly jumped up and waved. "Maurice! Grandpa wants you to lead the meeting! Grandpa is so good to you!"
Michael looked at Emilia, his heart aching. "Emilia, haven't you always wanted to meet Mr. Howard? There's a good chance today."
Anthony looked at Emilia, thinking, 'If Emilia can catch Alexander's eye, the Hughes Group will have more chances to work with the Howard Group, and maybe even take over the Windsor Group. As for Alexander's engagement to the Windsor Family, rich families have plenty of arranged marriages. Alexander can pick whoever he wants.'
"Emilia wants to meet Mr. Howard? Why haven't I heard this before?" Anthony asked.
Emilia was caught off guard but quickly smiled sweetly. "Grandpa, now you know. Not only have I met Mr. Howard, but I've also met his fiancée!"
She turned to Catherine, holding her hand, "Catherine and I are already friends!"
Seeing Emilia's pleading look, Catherine felt her hand trembling. Emotions didn't lie; Emilia was scared. She wasn't as confident facing Anthony as she seemed.
Catherine nodded. "Ms. Hughes is quite interesting."
"Just call me Emilia."
Anthony's eyes were serious, assessing the relationship between Emilia and Catherine, and considering the possibility of Emilia getting close to Alexander. "Since Emilia and Catherine are close, you should stick with Catherine and Alexander today. Don't embarrass the Hughes Family."
"Okay!"
Anthony gave Emilia a meaningful look, full of pressure and warning, making Emilia's back stiffen.
Michael pushed Anthony away, giving Catherine a nasty look before leaving, thinking, 'I've humbled myself so much, why can't Catherine see my sincerity? Am I really that much worse than Alexander?'
Emilia watched them leave and quietly sighed in relief.
Catherine's voice was faint, "You're afraid of your grandpa."
Emilia smiled bitterly. "You'd better not know why I'm afraid of him. He's really scary! He just asked me to stick with you, probably to seduce Mr. Howard. Don't worry, I'm not interested in him, but I have to follow you, otherwise..."
Emilia was pretty straightforward. She shivered, not wanting to think about how Anthony would punish her if she disobeyed! "Please, Catherine, I'm not here to mess things up between you two; I'm here to join you! Let me stick around. I swear I won't try to seduce Mr. Howard, at most I'll flirt with you!"
Catherine looked at Emilia, speechless.
Alexander's face darkened as he grabbed Catherine's hand, saying coldly, "Emilia, you better stay away from Catherine!"
"If I stay away from her, I'll be closer to you. I don't want that. Catherine, let me stay with you! Please!" Emilia looked at Catherine with wide, pleading eyes, acting all cutesy.
Catherine had some idea of Anthony's methods.
The Hughes Family had initially made their fortune through shady businesses. After breaking away from the Harrison Family, they engaged in semi-legal industries. Anthony's clothes were also representative of the Blade of Dusk.
Blade of Dusk had never done a single legitimate thing, and the Hughes Family's business had always been somewhat connected to the underworld.
"I want to know some things about the Hughes Family," Catherine said.
Emilia breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
'As long as Catherine lets me stay with them, otherwise, once they leave, Anthony definitely won't let me off!' Emilia thought as she led them towards the venue, holding Catherine's hand and explaining in a low voice. "I did say I was interested in Mr. Howard before, but that was because I had no choice. My grandpa wants me to marry one of his business partners."
"You don't like him?" Catherine asked.
"Are you kidding? That guy is even uglier than Michael! The first time I saw him, I thought he was a gender-swapped version of Esme. He was so ugly that I couldn't sleep for three days!"
Catherine understood. Emilia liked good-looking people, and her unfriendly attitude towards Esme and Michael was mostly because they weren't good-looking.
"Mr. Howard, on the other hand, has a high status, is wealthy, and most importantly, he ignores me! He doesn't even reply to my messages. Last time I went to see Felix, he was great, and I could easily report back!" Emilia said.
Catherine was surprised. "You went to see Felix just to report back?"
"Yes, I swear, I'm really not interested in Mr. Alexander Howard! If I'm lying, may my face break out in pimples so bad that I can't go out of the house!" Just imagining that scene made Emilia want to cry.
Catherine chuckled softly, knowing Emilia was serious. Her attitude towards Alexander didn't seem like she had any real interest in him. "I believe you."
"Thank you, Catherine! You guys wait here for a bit; I'll go ahead and make some arrangements!" Emilia lifted her dress and hurried towards the front of the venue.
Alexander wrapped his arm around Catherine's waist, pulling her closer to him. His forehead touched hers, and his voice sounded a bit muffled. "Catherine, do you really not care about me?"
Alexander didn't want Catherine to be influenced by Emilia, but seeing her talk about him with Emilia so calmly and rationally made his heart ache.
Catherine looked at Alexander, meeting his deep eyes. "But she's not interested in you."
"That's not the point," he said.
Catherine wondered, 'If that isn't the point, then what is?'
Alexander looked at Catherine, sighed softly, and hugged her, saying in a low voice, "Forget it, I'm overthinking. It's normal for you not to care about me; after all, it's just my wishful thinking."
Catherine's eyelashes cast a shadow, and she instinctively wanted to explain, "That's not what I meant."
Suddenly, the table next to them moved.
The tablecloth was lifted, revealing Sophia with a piece of cake in her mouth and Oscar beside her, both looking at Catherine and Alexander with wide eyes. "What a coincidence! You guys continue."
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