Chapter 184
Halfway through, Audrey received a call from Rachael, asking where Audrey was and specifically emphasizing one question.
“Has Catherine come along?”
After hanging up the phone, Audrey turned her head to look at Catherine, her eyes still filled with confusion.
“Kathy, why is Mom suddenly so concerned about us this time? She keeps asking if you’re coming or not. It’s really strange!”
Then, Audrey answered herself, lost in her own thoughts, “Maybe it’s because our relatives on Grandma’s side haven’t seen you for a long time, and they’re eager to see you since you rarely come back. Well, old people always hope for family reunions, right?”
Audrey muttered to herself, and Catherine remained silent. Audrey was used to Catherine’s silence, so she didn’t think much of it and continued to speak from time to time.
Catherine lazily leaned against the car door, her eyes half-open. The slanting sun made her face appear fair and radiant, which looked incredibly beautiful.
A hint of mockery was on her exquisitely perfect face, hidden within her lazy and carefree posture. “They want to see me?” Catherine murmured in her heart. “Perhaps. But anyway, I don’t care.”
After a journey of over half an hour, their car finally stopped at the entrance of the Langs’.
The Langs were originally an ordinary small family, but things changed because Rachael married into the Swann family.
The Langs’ children benefited from this marriage and gained many advantages from the Swanns. They went from an ordinary small family to a wealthy one. The rest of the Swanns had already arrived. Korbin, Rachael, Liana, and Johnathan were already seated and waiting.
Audrey glanced at them, a bitter smile appearing on her face. She whispered to Catherine, “Kathy, don’t you think they look more like a family? And we…”
Audrey didn’t finish her latter sentence of “and we seem so out of place” because she was worried it would upset Catherine. After all, being excluded and not valued by one’s biological parents was too painful.
Audrey had endured it for so many years, and she didn’t want her sister to experience the same tragedy.
Catherine nodded, agreeing with Audrey’s observation. In her opinion, Audrey was right. These four people indeed looked more like a family, birds of a feather!
Liana noticed their arrival but didn’t immediately greet them or inform Rachael. She discreetly tugged at Johnathan’s sleeve, gesturing for him to look over there.
Johnathan glanced over, and his eyes instantly lit up, excitement radiating from his whole being. The one they had been waiting for had finally arrived!
“Mom, look over there. The troublemaker has arrived!”
Rachael put down her cup of coffee and looked in the direction indicated. It was Catherine, with Audrey standing beside her. As she glanced over Catherine, the noble and dignified look in Rachael’s eyes was instantly replaced by disdain.
She despised Catherine, considering her a disaster who kept causing trouble. Not only did she dislike Catherine, but she also hated Audrey, who was close to Catherine. Rachael’s remaining fondness for Audrey disappeared, replaced by disgust.
“Johnathan, go and bring those two over. Don’t let them stand at the door. It’s embarrassing!”
“Alright!”
Johnathan happily agreed and stood up, shouting in Audrey and Catherine’s direction, “Audrey, troublemaker, over here!”
Johnathan’s sudden movement and increased volume caught everyone’s attention towards Catherine. Audrey had met these people before and could recognize them.
Now, everyone’s gaze was focused on Catherine, scrutinizing her. Then, they began to whisper to each other.
“So, this is the second daughter the Swanns threw to the countryside! She looks good!”
“She might look good, but so what? She’s a disaster!”
“That’s right. We must stay away from girls like her. She will bring bad luck to her husband!”
Catherine stood quietly on the side, her hands in her pockets. Her neat bangs partially covered her star-like eyes, filled with a deep, serene gaze.
A hint of arrogance and cunning could be seen on her face. Her lightly pursed, thin lips showed a faint trace of coldness. She heard every word around her clearly, and her gaze gradually turned icy as she listened to those comments.
These people were not worthy of her taking action, were they? Audrey also heard the discussions of those people. Her face instantly darkened, and she frowned, complaining, “Johnathan is such a bastard! How could he call you like that?”
Catherine turned her head and looked at Audrey with a piercing gaze, a hint of seriousness and mischief in her eyes. So you think he is a bastard too, huh?”
Audrey was taken aback by her question but soon nodded silently.
“Yeah, you’re his sister. He shouldn’t speak like that! I’ll talk to him later and teach him a lesson.”
Before Audrey could finish speaking, she noticed Catherine walking straight towards that table. Her steps were arrogant and domineering, like a gust of wind.
Audrey quickly followed, sensing that something was wrong. Johnathan looked at Catherine and Audrey as they approached, a proud expression on his face. Finally, he had the opportunity to teach Catherine a lesson.
As Catherine approached, a wicked smile appeared on Johnathan’s lips, a particularly despicable look in his eyes. He crossed his arms, trying to provoke Catherine. “Hey, troublemaker, you sure have a big ego. We’ve been here for so long, and you’re just arriving!”
Noticing Catherine staring at him with a cold gaze, Johnathan said with disdain, “What? You want to hit me? Come on, give it a try!”
Catherine nodded and instantly fulfilled Johnathan’s request. She slapped him right across the face! With a loud sound, everyone was stunned. How dare she!
Johnathan covered his face, unable to react for a long time. The first to react was Rachael. She didn’t expect Catherine to have the audacity to hit her son in front of so many people. She slammed the table,
expressing her anger and dissatisfaction, and this loud noise brought Johnathan’s senses back.
After Johnathan realized what had happened, his face instantly turned red with anger, and his eyes glared at Catherine like daggers.
“How dare you hit me?”
Catherine looked calmly at Johnathan with a smirk on her lips, exuding a playful arrogance and wickedness.
“You asked for it, didn’t you? You asked me to hit you, and I gave you what you want.”
Johnathan was furious. He wanted to retaliate, but when he remembered Catherine’s aggressive posture when she hit him, he knew he would only end up being pinned down and beaten by her.
He cursed, “You goddamn…” but before he could finish his sentence, she silenced him by a single glance. The last word instantly got stuck in his throat and couldn’t come out.