Chapter 30 Esme's Jealousy and Madness
'Man, if I can just find Catherine, there's no way she won't melt when she sees me! I mean, I've been her dad for over ten years!'
Oliver hesitated again.
"Catherine's gotta be working as a cleaner at Evergreen Mall. But who knows her schedule? What if she doesn't show up? Do I have to hang around all day? That's so beneath me."
'I'm a big-shot businessman in Serenitia City. Waiting at a mall for a cleaner? How would I ever live that down?'
"Mr. Smith, just chill at a café near Evergreen Mall. You'll probably spot Catherine soon."
Oliver thought for a moment and reluctantly agreed, saying, "This is all Catherine's fault. When Celeste and Clara come out, I'll deal with her!"
"Of course, Catherine's family are just a bunch of stubborn farmers. In the end, they'll have to listen to you."
The Windsor Villa.
The huge living room was packed with jewelry boxes. Diamond necklaces and gemstone necklaces sparkled in velvet boxes. In the center was a pink diamond necklace, each diamond at least three carats, with the central diamond as big as a pigeon egg, glittering!
Esme was almost floored by the sight of so many diamond necklaces as soon as she walked in!
'Did Aurora buy all these?'
Aurora has always been a jewelry fanatic, buying loads every year. As the Windsor family's matriarch, jewelry is a must-have for Aurora.
Juniper wasn't into this stuff, so Esme always tagged along with Aurora to pick out pieces. The more Aurora bought, the more Esme scored.
Seeing the massive collection of diamond necklaces, Esme was practically drooling!
She even imagined which necklace would look best around her neck!
"Aurora, what's going on?" Esme asked.
Aurora waved her over and said, "Catherine's birthday party is coming up, and I need to pick a necklace to wear. Help me choose the best one."
Esme pretended to be in a dilemma, picking up an old-fashioned necklace, and said, "This one suits you best. The pink diamond is gorgeous, but it's a bit too youthful. Your elegance matches this necklace better."
Esme had her eyes on that pink diamond necklace the moment she walked in! Aurora could wear any jewelry and look elegant and precious. But she knew if she said that, Aurora wouldn't choose the pink diamond. That way, the piece would be hers!
Sure enough, Aurora picked up the old-fashioned necklace and tried it on.
"You're right. I'll wear this one. The pink diamond can go to Catherine," Aurora said.
Esme's smile froze!
"Aurora, is that necklace for Catherine?"
Aurora nodded and pointed to the array of jewelry, "These are all for her. I just bought an extra necklace for myself while shopping for Catherine."
Esme was shocked!
'Is this a joke? There are at least a hundred necklaces, either diamonds or rubies, and a few rare white pearls. These could buy a house in Imperia City! All of this for Catherine? When I accompanied Aurora to pick out jewelry, I would at most get a small two-carat diamond necklace. Catherine comes back and gets all these treasures!'
"Aurora, this is too much. Catherine's room will burst at the seams."
Aurora waved her hand, "If it will, we can buy another house. It won't take up that much space. If Catherine doesn't like them, we'll buy more!"
Esme was super jealous! 'Why should all this go to Catherine? I am also a daughter of the Windsor family!'
Esme watched Aurora move through the jewelry that should have been hers, her face contorting with anger at the thought that it was all for Catherine!
'No, these things should be mine!' Esme thought.
Lucy stood behind Esme and whispered, "Esme, these things should be yours. Catherine just came back. She has no right to compete with you!"
Esme glanced at Lucy in surprise.
"I used to take care of Lila and watched you grow up. I know you better than anyone. You're the perfect daughter for the Windsor family and the best daughter-in-law for the Howard family," Lucy added.
"Do you really think so? What should I do? Aurora and Brandon are totally fooled by Catherine now."
Lucy lowered her voice and said, "I overheard while cooking that Catherine might've had a fiancé before. You could dig into that. Maybe she's not as innocent as she seems and doesn't deserve to be part of the Windsor or Howard families."
Esme's eyes lit up with delight! 'Who would've thought Catherine had a fiancé before! I gotta make sure she can't stay in the Windsor family!'
Evergreen Mall.
Oliver was pacing back and forth at the mall entrance, waiting for days.
Every time, he waited until the café closed and kicked him out, but he never saw a trace of Catherine.
'Are mall cleaners so lazy these days? I come over every day after lunch and a nap, wait until the café closes, and still no sign of Catherine.'
Oliver was super frustrated, his feet covered in blisters!
A black Cayenne pulled up by the curb, its emblem shining so brightly that it made Oliver's eyes hurt.
Catherine stepped out of the car, wearing a light blue dress paired with a white cape, a light blue hat on her head. Her beauty was stunning, her skin flawless, and her every move exuded the elegance and composure of a lady from a prestigious family, like a princess from a fairy tale.
Oliver almost didn't recognize Catherine!
He rushed forward, emotionally charged, and said, "I told you to go to the police station to get Celeste and Clara out, and you still have the nerve to go shopping? Do you have any conscience?"
'Catherine's outfit doesn't even have a logo, clearly a cheap knockoff bought online. Dressing like this, she obviously doesn't want to leave Imperia City and the Smith family!'
"You need to come back with me right now and get Celeste and Clara out!"
Just as Oliver was about to grab Catherine's wrist, a man stepped in front of her and kicked him hard, sending him sprawling!
"Ouch, you dare to hit me!" Oliver cursed.
Philip dusted off the wrinkles on his clothes, frowning at Oliver sitting on the ground, and said, "You just spoke rudely to Catherine and acted aggressively. The surveillance cameras here can testify."
'If I hadn't noticed Catherine's missing brooch on her cape when I invited her to dinner, I wouldn't have come to Evergreen Mall. I should have just had the designer deliver it to her.'
Philip was a bit annoyed, looking at Oliver with great displeasure.
'Interrupting my time with Catherine is utterly unforgivable!'
At the entrance of Evergreen Mall, a dozen surveillance cameras were pointed in one direction, making Oliver feel uneasy.
'This guy looks like a big deal, and the car behind him is a limited edition Cayenne. He must be the guy Catherine is messing around with! No wonder she has the nerve to hang up on me. She has found a new backer.'
He got up from the ground and spoke with a strained neck, "This is a family matter. Who are you to interfere? We raised her for over ten years, and just because of a small issue, she sent my wife and daughter to the police station. She's inhuman!"
Philip understood.
'This troublemaker is the poor guy who raised Catherine? The one who kidnapped Catherine and demanded her forgiveness, part of the Smith family?'
"I am Philip, Catherine's lawyer. Say whatever you have to say."
Oliver's eyes widened!
Philip, the famous top lawyer in the legal world, known for never losing a case, could even bring the dead back to life in court!
The Smith family had contacted Philip before, but his fees were too high for Oliver to afford, so they hired another one.
'He is Catherine's lawyer?'
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