Chapter 115 A Jinx
After Catherine left the private room, she got ready to leave the restaurant. However, Branden suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into another private room. Catherine frowned at Branden’s action. She was just about to warn Branden not to get handsy with her.
But then a waft of spicy fragrance hit her. It caused Catherine to forget her previous thoughts in an instant. Catherine turned her head. Then she caught sight of the server inside the room putting some kebabs on the grill.
It turned out that the barbecue was ready. No wonder the aroma was so enticing. As Catherine stared at the barbecue, Branden observed her with a subtle smile on his handsome face.
Branden thought inwardly, “What should I do? “Although I am the heir of the Duncans, I seem to hold less significance in this woman’s eyes than a barbecue.”
Branden knew that his current value might not match that of a barbecue. However, when he saw
Catherine’s smile, Branden found it all worth it. “Why are you still standing? It’s late now. Let’s eat first and then talk.”
Branden directly guided the unmoving Catherine to her seat. He firmly pressed her down. Catherine still stared at the barbecue. Catherine had to admit that Branden really understood her.
After Catherine returned from the program team, she had been resting in her room all along. If it weren’t for Kim’s news, Catherine might have slept right through to the next day.
Catherine didn’t feel hungry until she saw food. But once she saw it and caught the aroma of the barbecue, she was starving.
Most importantly, Branden had a precise understanding of Catherine’s taste. On the table, on one side was her favorite beef brisket, while on the other side was pork steak. The food looked incredibly tempting just from its appearance. This made Catherine’s appetite even more voracious.
Paxton stood on the side and took in the aroma that filled the room. He was shocked when he saw Branden serve Catherine with care.
Branden was always aloof and held a strong aversion to women. Rumor had it that Branden didn’t allow women within 100 yards of his vicinity.
If Paxton hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed that Branden would personally serve a woman a meal. No one would believe such a thing.
As Paxton saw Catherine enjoying the feast and Branden constantly adding dishes to her plate, he silently closed his eyes. Paxton thought inwardly, “Out of sight, out of mind.”
After finishing the barbecue, Catherine headed straight back to the Swanns”.
After a while, Catherine was back at the Swanns’ and entered the living room. She noticed that the usually deserted living room was still brightly lit today. Moreover, a surprising number of people were present.
Aside from Audrey, all four members of the Swanns were there. Catherine gave them a quick glance. Then she turned to pass through the hallway and headed to her room. But just as Catherine turned, she heard Rachael’s sharp reprimand.
“You uncouth thing! We are here, and you can’t even offer a greeting upon your return? Is it that you never learned, or have your manners all disappeared?”
Catherine stopped and slowly turned around. Then she looked at Rachael coldly. The coldness in Catherine’s gaze was intense. Rachael felt a shiver run down her spine as if a gust of icy wind had hit her.
However, Rachael thought she had dressed too lightly for the evening, which was why she felt After all, in Rachael’s eyes, Catherine was utterly disgraceful. Rachael rolled her eyes at Catherine. Then she asked coldly, “What? Do you dare defy me?”
Catherine chuckled lightly. She looked at Rachael with a smile. And a sharp glint flashed in her gaze. Catherine asked, “Whether or not I’ve learned, isn’t Mrs. Swann well aware?
“In your eyes, I’m just an uncultured girl, abandoned in the countryside from a young age. What manners could I possibly have?”
Rachael hadn’t expected Catherine to retort. The words Rachael had planned to say got stuck in her throat.
A trace of unease flickered across Rachael’s delicate face. But she quickly regained her composure. Then she stared at Catherine with her sharp eyes.
“Blame it on your bad luck. It’s your misfortune to bring death to your grandmother as soon as you were born.”
Catherine replied coldly, “It’s you who gave birth to me.”
“You…” Rachael was thoroughly provoked. She had always paid attention to her appearance. And she prided herself on her image as a socialite. Besides, she always appeared refined and elegant. It had been years since she had been this angry..
Now Rachael’s face turned red due to Catherine’s words. In reality, Rachael’s disdain wasn’t solely due to the belief that Catherine was a jinx. Deep within. her thoughts, Rachael held strong traditional views of favoring male heirs over female ones.
When Laura was still alive, she didn’t like Rachael from the beginning. Because Rachael wasn’t from a prestigious family. Rachael was just a low-ranking woman with some charm.
Most importantly, Laura had already arranged a marriage for her son back then. If Rachael hadn’t hooked up with Korbin and subsequently become pregnant, Rachael wouldn’t have had a chance to join the Swanns.
As Vicente learned of Rachael’s pregnancy, he arranged for Korbin to marry Rachael. Laura might have softened toward her if Rachael had given birth to a son during her first.
Unfortunately, Rachael’s first child was Audrey, a daughter. Laura was displeased because her mindset was even more traditional. She thought that the Swanns needed a male heir.
Rachael knew her position in the Swanns wasn’t secure. Disregarding her own health, Rachael became pregnant with Catherine when Audrey had just turned one year old.
During her second pregnancy, perhaps due to the stress, Rachael developed anxiety. Not only that, but Korbin also started having affairs.
Although Rachael knew about Korbin’s infidelity, she chose to endure it to secure her position in the Swanns and become the mistress of the Swanns. Rachael placed her hope in her pregnancy. And she prayed that she would give birth to a son.
If she had a son, Laura might have been less critical. Rachael’s status within the Swanns could have been secured. However, fate had other plans. Rachael gave birth to another daughter during her second pregnancy.
As Rachael faced Laura’s sarcastic remarks, her illness worsened. Laura passed away not long after Catherine was born into the Swanns, and Rachael was seriously ill.
Korbin sought help from an astrologer who was from nowhere. The astrologer claimed that Catherine was a jinx.
Upon hearing this, Rachael wholeheartedly believed it.
She firmly convinced Vicente to send Catherine to the countryside for the sake of the Swanns’ tranquility. So, Vicente ordered that the young Catherine be sent away to live alone in the countryside.
From the moment Catherine returned, Rachael felt upset.
These years, Rachael had enjoyed a comfortable life. She was envied as one of the most prosperous ladies in Casier. However, Catherine’s arrival it all.
Perhaps Rachael had initially known the claim was false. But now, she wholeheartedly believed that Catherine was a jinx.
The past was brought back to light. And Rachael could no longer contain herself. She pointed at Catherine with anger.
Rachael shouted uncontrollably. “Catherine, you’re a jinx that brings bad luck upon your parents!”
