Chapter 271 I Shouldn't Have Given Birth to You Back Then
Franklin's face was tight. "Did Marcus really sign off on this nonsense? This is a university, not your playground!"
Catherine pointed to the withdrawal form, showing Marcus's signature clear as day.
Even his personal seal was there, all official and everything.
"Marcus backs all my choices," Catherine said.
"Ridiculous! Has Marcus lost his mind? A good kid skipping school to mess around? I don't buy it!" Franklin shot back.
Catherine, with her backpack slung over one shoulder and her ponytail high, stayed cool as a cucumber in front of the fuming Franklin. "I don't need school to learn how to follow orders. If you think you can keep me here, you're wrong."
Franklin looked up at her.
A beam of light hit her just right, making her look almost otherworldly, like she had everything under control.
Catherine was the current leader of the Galactic Aurora Collective, and Franklin, as the original leader, knew that her attending Imperial University was a waste of time.
What Franklin wanted was for Catherine to follow his lead!
But Catherine had no time for that kind of boring obedience training.
Franklin's eyes darkened. "I really want to know what those old guys taught you. Your job is to follow orders, and you can't even do that!"
Catherine raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Mr. Morales, the ones who first told me to follow orders are now fertilizer in the Galactic Aurora Collective's nursery."
The fact that Catherine was standing here meant she was now the one making the rules! "Mr. Morales, there are two forms. Sign them or don't. Your call."
Catherine turned and walked away without a second thought, like Franklin didn't even matter.
Her nonchalance got under Franklin's skin, and he clenched his fist, his voice tight with anger. "Fine, I'll sign your exemption, but you have to attend my class!"
"Got it, thanks," Catherine said.
Starry Residence Sunlit Mansion, The Howard Mansion.
The car pulled up in front of the Howard Mansion, and Evander stepped out, opening the door and offering his hand to help the elderly woman inside.
Arabella, draped in a silk coat and sporting a ruby necklace, got out with an air of elegance. She glanced at the villa next door and then at the cold, quiet Howard Mansion. "Where's Felix?"
"He's been staying at the Windsor Mansion lately. Says Mr. Windsor can't stand to be without him," Evander said.
Arabella sneered, her thin lips curling. "Marcus can't stand to be without him? More like he can't wait to see him in a coffin. Where's my granddaughter?"
Evander wiped the sweat from his face. "Mom, Juniper's at the Windsor Mansion too."
"Useless!" Arabella snapped, whacking Evander's leg with her cane. "A perfectly good child, and you can't even keep track of her. What's wrong with you? I should've never had you! Alexander, help me inside! I want to see my granddaughter!"
After getting whacked by Arabella's cane, Evander didn't dare say a word and, along with Alexander, helped her into the Windsor Mansion.
Marcus was playing chess with Felix. When Felix saw the bejeweled Arabella walk in, the chess piece in his hand dropped to the floor. "Arabella, why are you out of the hospital?"
Arabella shot Felix a frosty glare. "None of your business! Move aside! Where's my granddaughter?"
She hadn't left the hospital to deal with Felix. After being out for so long, she had only encountered irrelevant people, which made her furious.
Just then, Juniper came downstairs, holding a bunch of fresh-cut flowers, and placed them in a vase in the living room.
Arabella's eyes lit up. She pushed Evander and Alexander aside, lifted her skirt, and walked briskly toward Juniper.
"Who are you?" Juniper asked, a bit taken aback.
"I'm your grandmother! You're Juniper, right? And your last name is Windsor?" Arabella frowned, her face stern and intimidating, making Juniper a bit uneasy.
"Yes, I'm Juniper."
Evander, worried that Arabella might say something to upset Juniper, tried to intervene. "Mom, it doesn't matter what Juniper's last name is. Please don't make things difficult for her."
Arabella shoved Evander aside and raised her voice. "Why are you blocking me? Move!"
Her voice was sharp; she had been a professional soprano singer in her younger days. "My last name is Pearl. Why can't you take my last name? What's so great about Windsor or Howard?"
Juniper looked confused, not quite understanding.
"My daughter takes my last name. Don't you take your mother's last name, Martinez? Marcus is just old-fashioned. Look at you, so thin. Are you studying archaeology?" Arabella asked.
Juniper shook her head. "No, I'm studying paleogenetics."
"I thought you liked skeletons. Weird taste, but you're pretty. Do you look like Brandon or Aurora?" Arabella asked.
Evander felt embarrassed. "Mom, Juniper is my child."
'Juniper is my child, so how could she look like Brandon or Aurora?' Evander thought.
Arabella didn't take him seriously. "Your child? Are you kidding? Can you raise such a good daughter? Juniper, right? Help me back."
Juniper, still trying to figure out Arabella's temperament, reluctantly complied. "Grandma, take it easy."
"Alright. The Windsor Family raised you well. It's only right that Evander doesn't have the face to claim you back. I feel like I'm taking advantage."
Juniper's mouth twitched. This was the first time she had heard such a statement.
After escorting Arabella to the somewhat cold Howard Mansion, Arabella spoke up, "Alexander, bring your wife to see me tomorrow, and Juniper too. I have prepared gifts for you. It's too late tonight. I need to rest. You all can leave now."
Evander tentatively suggested, "Mom, Dad is still staying at the Windsor Mansion. How about letting him come back to keep you company?"
"Don't bother, it's nice to have one less old man at home. Let him stay away! Keeping me company? I was doing just fine in the nursing home. I don't need him to come and be a nuisance! If he comes home, I'll have to take care of him!" Arabella said.
Evander smiled awkwardly. "Mom, we have maids at home, so you don't need to take care of Dad. We're just worried you might feel lonely!"
Arabella raised an eyebrow, looking fierce. "Then let Juniper keep me company. If Alexander's wife can come, that would be even better. But she's not officially recognized, so if she comes to keep me company, it would be embarrassing to talk about. You all may not care about dignity, but I do."
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