Chapter 36 The Smith Family Has Cut Ties With Catherine!
"Yo, isn't it kinda messed up to call off the engagement at Ms. Windsor's birthday bash?" Annie said.
'Like, the Windsor and Howard families go way back. This marriage was supposed to tighten their bond. If Alexander calls it off now, he's totally gonna embarrass the Windsors.'
Alexander, with a cold tone, said, "I gotta end this engagement. Can't wait any longer!"
'If I don't, I won't be in the right headspace to go after Catherine! Even though Esme's not my type, we were engaged. Ending it is the right move for both her and Catherine! It's the respect this relationship deserves!'
Annie couldn't stand Esme, especially after all her shady moves.
'Esme even wanted to fire me as soon as she got hitched into the family, so yeah, no love lost there. Catherine's way better in comparison!'
"Yeah, I get it!"
---
The Smith Villa, Serenitia City.
The housekeeper handed Celeste a bowl of tonic and whispered, "Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith's gone to see Catherine."
Elodie had no shares in the company, and Celeste knew it all too well! The money the Smith family lost was secretly taken by her to support her parents! If Oliver found out, they'd argue again, and just thinking about it gave her a headache.
"Mrs. Smith, Catherine's pretty sharp. She's never been on the same page as you since she was a kid. I bet she'll try to come back to the Smith family. Mr. Smith's a softie. If Catherine succeeds, what happens to Clara?"
"You're right. Catherine's been hanging on, clearly still thinking about the Smith family. Last time, she was even flirting with Lucas right in front of me. Contact the newspaper. The Smith family needs to publicly cut ties with her to crush her hopes!"
"Got it!"
---
The Windsor Mansion, Imperia City.
As soon as Catherine walked in, she saw Aurora in an apron, busy in the kitchen, and said, "Aurora, what are you doing? Let me help."
"No, I made you a cake, but I just can't get this little bunny right!"
Aurora came from a fancy background, never cooked for herself. Catherine watched as Aurora's perfect hands picked up a knife and split the chocolate bunny in half.
"Oh no, I messed it up again! I'm just so useless!" Aurora said sadly. The trash can nearby was filled with failed bunny attempts!
"No need, this is perfect. It looks super cute," Catherine comforted her.
"Really? I'm so glad you like it!"
Catherine picked up the small cake, took a bite in front of Aurora, and said, "It's delicious. Thanks, Aurora. You don't have to do this for me."
"No, I've never done anything for you and have let you suffer so much. Just thinking about how hard your life has been makes me feel terrible!" Aurora said regretfully.
"I'm not suffering."
Aurora patted Catherine's hand and said, "You eat first. I have a gift for you!"
"Okay."
As soon as Esme walked in, she saw Catherine sitting alone at the table, eating a cake that looked unrecognizable!
'How pathetic! As the daughter of the Windsor family, I've always only eaten desserts made by Jacks. Only Catherine would think anything is good.'
"Catherine, what are you eating? Oh, what is this? I know you're used to being poor and like to save money, but not everything can be eaten," Esme teased.
Catherine glanced at her indifferently and said nothing.
"But then again, even the family that raised you for eighteen years abandoned you. You probably haven't seen anything good, right?" Esme continued to tease, her face full of superiority.
"What do you mean?" Catherine asked.
"Oh, don't you know yet? How pitiful. The Smith family already published a notice saying they want to cut all ties with you and that you shouldn't bother them anymore!"
Catherine shrugged, "Okay."
'Honestly, it's kinda a relief the Smith family did this. Saves me a ton of hassle.'
'What does "Okay" even mean? Shouldn't Catherine be bawling her eyes out over this news? If even the family that raised her for so long could ditch her, it just shows how crappy her character must be! If Brandon and Aurora find out, they'll see I'm the real classy daughter of the Windsor family!'
Esme, feeling all smug, whipped out the newspaper.
Aurora, who had just come downstairs, snatched the newspaper from Esme's hand, reading it seriously, and asked, "What's this?"
"Aurora! Catherine's adoptive parents have publicly cut ties with her! Doesn't this mean..."
Aurora cut her off, fuming, "This family is too much! How can they treat Catherine like this? I'm furious!"
Esme was baffled.
'Wait, shouldn't she be blaming Catherine? Why's she mad at the Smith family?'
Aurora hugged Catherine tightly, her heart aching, and said, "Catherine, don't be sad. They'll get what's coming to them for treating you like this! I'll protect you!"
Catherine patted Aurora's trembling back, feeling warm inside. She didn't care about the Smith family at all. The only attachment she had had faded with Elodie's death.
"I'm not sad."
Thinking about the kind of life Catherine had lived, Aurora was so angry she wanted to beat up the Smith family!
"Catherine, here's a necklace I just bought for you. Take it for now. There's an auction tomorrow, and I'll get you something else."
Esme looked at the dazzling pink diamond necklace in Aurora's hand, feeling super jealous!
'Why, after all this, is Aurora still buying such an expensive necklace for Catherine? Shouldn't she be kicking her out of the house?'
Esme was totally disappointed with the scene in front of her! Taking advantage of Aurora and Catherine's distraction, she quietly walked to the corner and called Lila, exaggerating the situation.
"Lila, isn't Catherine so unlucky? Why else would her adoptive parents abandon her? If you suddenly said you wouldn't take care of me after raising me for so many years, I'd be heartbroken. But Catherine doesn't seem sad at all. She even looks happy."
"That ungrateful and unlucky girl! Even country folks don't want her. Why does she think the Windsor family would? If she wants to enter the Windsor family, she has to get my approval first! Esme, your priority should be to contact Alexander and secure the Howard family. That's your real hope!" Lying in her hospital bed, Lila opened her eyes and sneered, "As for Catherine, I have plenty of ways to deal with her!"
"You love me the most! I'll call Alexander right away, don't worry!" Esme said.
"Good."
Lila called Aurora.
"I've been sick for so long, and none of the kids have come to see me. Catherine, as a girl, why isn't she taking care of me? Does the Windsor family still see me as their grandmother? Have Catherine come to the hospital to take care of me tomorrow!"
Aurora felt a headache just hearing her voice and said, "Lila, doesn't the hospital have caregivers? Catherine doesn't know how to take care of people."
"Stop making excuses! She has nothing to do all day. If she doesn't come to take care of me, is she going out to flirt with men?" Lila said.
"Lila, please don't speak so harshly."
"She must come tomorrow! Otherwise, let's see how you handle it!"
Lila hung up, leaving Aurora with a headache.
'Lila hasn't had enough of tormenting me when I was young, and now she's targeting Catherine! But Lila is still an elder, and I don't want the kids to have a bad opinion of her. At worst, I'll go myself. I can't let Catherine suffer!'
"Catherine, if you don't want to go, it's fine. I'll cover for you!" Aurora said.
"It's okay, I'll go tomorrow," Catherine said.
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