Chapter 101
The cunning Weaver Group would never truly ally with the Purchas Group before Grace married into the Purchas family. It was only prudent to leave themselves with a way out.
“I understand, Dominick,” Grace said, nodding with a smile. I still need to do my makeup. You should go downstairs to see if Kyla has arrived.”
“There are so many people greeting the guests. There’s no need for me to wait at the door,” Dominick said while trying to sound indifferent. He turned on his heel and started walking away.
“You’re just being stubborn. Be careful, or Kyla might be snatched away by someone else. I can tell Kyla and Chris get along well; they’ve known each other for years. You’d better put in some effort. First, you need to confess your feelings to her.
“If I set my sights on someone, no one else can take her away unless I give up,” Dominick said confidently. “Chris? Only a country bumpkin like Kate would have any interest in him. A woman as proud and intelligent as Kyla would never give Chris a second thought.”
Dominick considered himself superior to Chris in terms of background, and he was quite good-looking. He believed that as long as he confessed to Kyla, she would surely agree to date him.
“Alright, my brother is the best. Hurry up and give my future sister-in-law a warm welcome,” Grace teased Dominick before turning her attention back to her makeup.
Kate and Kyla had barely exchanged a word throughout the journey. As they approached the Weaver Residence, Kyla finally asked, “Kate, what gift did you prepare for Grace?”
Kate glanced at the gift beside Kyla and picked up a set of cosmetics she had prepared. “I wasn’t sure what Miss Weaver would like, so I bought a set of cosmetics. Women generally like cosmetics, so you can’t go wrong with that.”
Kyla’s eyes briefly flickered with derision, though her smile remained intact. “That’s true. Most girls do like cosmetics and skincare products. It’s certainly a safe choice.”
“Ms. Kyla, we’ve arrived at the Weaver Residence, but there are so many vehicles. We’ll have to wait in line to get in,” the chauffeur informed.
Kyla lowered the car window and looked toward the entrance of the Weaver Residence. The gate was wide open, but only two cars could enter at a time. With so many guests arriving tonight, a queue was inevitable. However, with the Weaver family’s security personnel directing traffic, they wouldn’t have to wait too long.
Soon, it was the Sutton family’s turn to enter. The Weaver Residence’s parking lot in the courtyard was spacious enough to accommodate all the guests’ vehicles for the evening.
Kate looked on coldly at the scene. Before she went back in time, she had never stayed at the Davidson residence and had no idea of its true size. Accompanying Kyla to the Weaver Residence, she was struck by its grandeur and marveled at its vastness. Kyla had mocked her for being inexperienced and unworldly.
As the car came to a stop, Kate saw a tall man in a tailcoat walking toward them.
“Kyla,” Dominick said, hurrying over and opening the car door for Kyla with a smile. “You’ve finally arrived. Grace was just mentioning you.”
“Dominick, I’m not late, am I?” Kyla spoke softly and gracefully in front of Dominick, her smile perfectly measured, neither too enthusiastic nor too reserved.
Kate pushed open the car door and stepped out. She took a glance at Dominick, whose gaze was entirely on Kyla, and figured that this man was clearly infatuated with Kyla. ‘She had such a fine man pining for her, yet she ignored him in favor of Chris, choosing to be his mistress instead. What’s wrong with her? Did she do it just to spite me and make my life miserable?’ Kate wondered about Kyla’s judgment.
Surveying her surroundings, Kate took the gift she had prepared, quietly approached Kyla, and waited while Kyla and Dominick exchanged pleasantries.
Dominick cast a glance at Kate as she approached, feeling rather surprised. He had seen Kate before and found her pretty but somewhat unsophisticated. Tonight, however, she appeared elegant and poised, which took him aback. “Ms. Sutton has arrived as well,” Dominick said with a touch of courtesy, nodding politely at Kate.
Kate responded with a smile but remained silent.
“I heard Ms. Sutton is now working as an unpaid servant for the Davidson family. Is that true?” Dominick asked, his curiosity masking a hint of condescension.
Just when Kate thought Dominick had some class, his words shattered that impression. She smiled and retorted, Does being a servant for the Davidson family mean I’m not eligible to attend the Weaver family’s banquet?”
“No, I’m just curious why Ms. Sutton would work as a servant for the Davidson family,” Dominick said, letting out a chuckle.
With a faint smile, Kate’s piercing stare made Dominick feel a little awkward. She said, “Mr. Weaver, you already knew this, so why pretend otherwise? It seems you intend to embarrass me. Look at all the guests here; they’ve overheard your question.”
“Your hospitality, Mr. Weaver, is quite exceptional,” Kate added with biting sarcasm.
Dominick’s eyes darkened as he looked at Kate. ‘How dare this country bumpkin criticize me on my turf?’ he thought scornfully.
Dominick forced a smile. “Ms. Sutton, I was merely curious and meant no offense. I apologize if I have offended you.”
Kate straightened up, demanding, “Then you should apologize to me right now.”
Dominick was momentarily speechless.
“Kate, Dominick is just curious. He meant no malice,” Kyla quickly interjected to smooth things over. She turned to Dominick and said, “Is Grace inside? Take me to the birthday girl, so I can see how stunning she looks tonight.” Kyla tried to deflect the situation so that Dominick wouldn’t have to apologize to Kate in front of everyone.
“You’ve offended others, but you didn’t apologize like you said you would. Mr. Weaver’s hospitality is indeed questionable,” a chilling voice interrupted.
Everyone turned to see Elijah, the head of the Purchas family, stepping out of his car. Elijah commanded attention wherever he went, his entourage surpassing even that of Alfred.
Surrounded by bodyguards, Elijah strode forward and naturally positioned himself beside Kate, facing Dominick and Kyla, though he didn’t look at Kate at all. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Dominick and said, “I don’t like to meddle in others’ affairs, but Mr. Weaver’s behavior has brought shame to all men.”
Dominick was at a loss for words. ‘You’re practically meddling here, aren’t you?’ he thought.
Dominick smiled and said, “I was wrong.” He turned to Kate and said earnestly, “Ms. Sutton, I apologize for my earlier comments. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. I’m a magnanimous person. Since Mr. Weaver has apologized, I will forgive you and won’t hold a grudge,” Kate replied with a barely concealed smirk.
Dominick could only swallow his frustration.
Chapter 102
After receiving Kate’s forgiveness, Dominick invited Elijah into the house. “Mr. Purchas, please come inside,” Dominick said with a smile.
Elijah, still not looking at Kate, followed Dominick inside, leading his entourage of bodyguards. It was as if he had simply intervened in something that put him off.
Kyla cast an ambiguous glance at Kate before taking her hand and gently saying, “Kate, let’s go inside as well.”
In the eyes of outsiders, even though they were swapped at birth and lived under each other’s identities for twenty-five years, they appeared to have a strong bond and a harmonious relationship. As the elder one, Kyla took great care of Kate in every way.
Once the Sutton girls left, the remaining guests in the parking lot whispered among themselves. Some thought that Kate had been overly contentious by standing up to Dominick.
“It reflects on her upbringing. She’s so audacious. Doesn’t she understand the risks of offending powerful figures like Mr. Weaver?” someone commented, “Her actions could have serious repercussions for the Sutton family.”
Others, however, felt that Kate’s stance was commendable. “It shows she’s not one to be trifled with. By demanding an apology so assertively, she ensures that Mr. Weaver won’t ridicule her again,” remarked another guest.
As the crowd slowly grasped the implication of Dominick’s words, it became apparent that Kate was now living with the Davidson family as Alfred’s unpaid servant.
Word of the minor commotion in the parking lot quickly reached Grace. By the time Kate and Kyla entered the house, Grace had already come down from upstairs. Among the beauties gathered that night, Grace stood out as the most stunning.
“Grace,” Kyla called out as she walked over with Kate. She lavished praise on her before presenting a gift she had “Kyla, you’re late. I’ll have to punish you with three drinks later,” Grace said with a smile as she accepted the gift. Her gaze lingered briefly on the necklace Kyla was wearing before she casually handed the gift to a nearby servant. Kate noticed the look in Grace’s eyes. She knew that there would be no further drama. After all, Grace and Kyla were close friends, and with her brother’s fondness for Kyla, Grace wouldn’t fall out with her over a mere necklace. As long as the necklace wasn’t on Kate’s neck, she wouldn’t throw a fit. However, given Grace’s character, it was clear that she was somewhat displeased.
“Miss Weaver, this is my birthday gift to you.” Kate handed her gift to Grace.
Grace raised her chin and took a while before reaching out to accept the gift. Unlike other presents she received, which were handed to her servants to be taken upstairs, she unwrapped Kate’s gift in front of all the guests. The cosmetics, valued at over 2 thousand dollars, were quite expensive in Kate’s former social circle, but in high society, they weren’t impressive at all.
Grace deliberately displayed the gift to everyone, then turned and handed it to a servant, saying, “Louisa, this is for you.”
Louisa quickly accepted it, then glanced briefly at the item. Miss Weaver, I don’t use such low-end cosmetics.”
Grace shoved the set of cosmetics toward Louisa. “Give it to your relatives in the countryside.”
“Then I’ll thank you on behalf of them,” Louisa replied with a slight bow.
The exchange between the two was a deliberate
humiliation of Kate. The guests murmured, mocking Kate for being so stingy as to present a gift worth only a little over 2 thousand dollars.
“Ms. Sutton, you wouldn’t mind if I passed on the gift to someone else, would you?” Grace asked, her tone dripping with condescension.
Others would have been mortified and sought to disappear if treated like this by Grace, but Kate remained unperturbed. She replied nonchalantly, “Once the gift is in your hands, it belongs to you. Even if you were to throw it in the trash, it would still be yours. Why should I mind?”
Grace’s gaze turned cold.
“Mr. Davidson, Miss Davidson,” someone called out. “Mr. Davidson is here!”
Just as Grace was about to make things difficult for Kate, she heard the excited shouts outside. She froze momentarily, then, with an ecstatic smile, left the crowd to eagerly welcome Alfred and Cynthia, completely forgetting her brother’s instructions.
Yael pushed Alfred’s wheelchair as they arrived with Cynthia and an entourage of seven bodyguards. Levi, one of the bodyguards, held a rectangular box wrapped with ribbons and a bow, clearly a birthday gift for Grace. Alfred always brought eight bodyguards with him, with Yael pushing his wheelchair while the others trailed behind. He had two fewer bodyguards than Elijah.
Grace smiled brightly and walked quickly toward Alfred. She said in a sweet voice, “Mr. Davidson, you’re here.”
“Happy birthday, Grace.” Cynthia offered her blessing and then handed over her gift to Grace.
“Thank you, Cynthia,” Grace replied warmly. Her attitude toward Cynthia was worlds apart from her treatment of Kate, and even Kyla, her close friend, wasn’t shown the same amount of respect.
Alfred looked behind Grace but only saw Kyla, not his brazen wife. He let out a soft sigh, figuring that Kate had slipped away to find some food while everyone was focused on him. As usual, her love for food came first.
Levi, carrying the rectangular box, stepped forward. He handed the box to Alfred, who then passed it to Grace, coldly saying, “Miss Weaver, a birthday gift.”
“Thank you, Mr. Davidson. Your presence at my birthday party is the best gift. You’re too kind.” Grace handed Cynthia’s gift to a servant and took the box with both hands. ‘It’s heavy. I wonder what’s inside, she thought, her eyes sparkling with joy. Regardless of what was inside, as long as it was from Alfred, she would cherish and keep it safe. Everyone was eager to see what Alfred’s gift was, but Grace, protective of her treasure, didn’t open it in front of everyone.
The head of the Weaver family, along with the younger members, came out to greet Alfred and lead him into the house.
“What a pleasant surprise. Mr. Davidson actually graced a young lady’s birthday party with his presence. It’s truly unprecedented,” came a cold, sarcastic voice.
The room fell silent instantly. It was Elijah’s voice.
Elijah and Alfred were rivals. The Weaver family was dismayed. Had they known Alfred would show up, they
would never have sent an invitation to Elijah. The encounter between these two powerful figures meant a clash of titans, and people were wary of getting too close.
Chapter 103
“Indeed, the head of the Purchas family also came to attend Miss Weaver’s birthday banquet. Isn’t this the first time in history? If Mr. Purchas sees the sun rise in the west tomorrow, make sure to capture it on video and send it my way.” Alfred’s retort left Elijah speechless.
Elijah looked at Grace, who was holding a cardboard box, her eyes sparkling and her lips curved into a smile. He said, “Miss Weaver, since you unwrapped Ms. Sutton’s gift in front of everyone, why not unwrap the gift from Mr. Davidson as well? He rarely gives gifts, so why not satisfy our curiosity?”
Grace hesitated. She didn’t want to open Alfred’s gift in front of everyone, but she also didn’t want to refuse Elijah. One was the man she had pursued for years and desperately wanted to marry, while the other was her current target. Grace wasn’t a hopeless romantic. Though she appeared to be willful, she was surprisingly clear-headed.
For her, marriage needed to align with social standing, while feelings could develop later. Among the families in Sherpsel, only the Davidson and Purchas families were on par with the Weaver family. The Davidson family was still a bit beyond her reach, but the Purchas family was a perfect match.
Alfred looked at Grace, thinking with contempt, ‘This woman opened Kate’s gift in front of others to humiliate her.’
Grace, unaware of Alfred’s thoughts, quickly made her decision. She maintained a polite smile as she responded to Elijah, “Mr. Purchas, unwrapping gifts in public can be a bit impolite. I’d prefer to open it after the party. If you’re interested, you can stay after the party and help me unwrap the gifts.” This way, she could satisfy Elijah’s curiosity and also spend some time alone with him.
In Sherpsel, the most prominent young men were Alfred and Elijah, yet they were also the hardest to approach. They always had bodyguards with them, all of whom were agile and loyal. They couldn’t be bribed with money or benefits, making it nearly impossible for anyone to get close to them. Alfred and Elijah were rivals, not only because of their corporate feud but also because of their similar personalities. Neither of them was willing to yield to the other, turning them into sworn enemies.
Elijah chuckled sarcastically. “So, Miss Weaver, you’re aware that unwrapping gifts in public can be a bit rude.”
The remark caused Grace’s face to flush red. Elijah’s words were a veiled criticism of her humiliation of Kate.
“Let’s all go inside, everyone. Mr. and Miss Davidson, please,” Grace’s father hurriedly interjected, trying to defuse the tension and usher everyone inside.
The two prominent figures glared at each other, as though trying to make the other submit with their eyes. Alfred was always aloof in front of others, while Elijah, though also cold, was particularly voluble in Alfred’s presence.
“Mr. Davidson, your servant is here as well. I wonder why she didn’t come with you. If she had, she wouldn’t have been looked down upon or slighted, and I wouldn’t have had to speak up for her,” Elijah said with a cutting edge. Elijah’s comment made everyone realize the underlying intention. “I knew it. Why would Mr. Purchas, who had no connection to Kate, defend her? He was deliberately trying to provoke Mr. Davidson by implying that he couldn’t even protect his own servant,” the guests murmured among themselves.
Even Grace, who had long harbored grudges against Kate, was appeased by what Elijah said. She thought with disdain, ‘Elijah could never be interested in Kate. Only I am worthy of men like Elijah and Alfred.’
“Is Mr. Purchas asking for a reward?” Alfred’s voice was icy. “Kate is not my servant.”
Though Alfred hadn’t yet arrived to protect his wife when she was mistreated, he knew Kate wouldn’t suffer, nor would she care about Grace unwrapping her gift publicly. What irked him was that it gave Elijah an opportunity to interfere. It seemed that his sworn enemy was getting too close to his wife.
“Oh, she’s not your servant? Well, she could be considered your former fiancée, since you once proposed to her.” Elijah pressed on, refusing to let the issue rest.
“She’s not my fiancée either,” Alfred responded tersely.
“Then what is she to you? She’s living with you now, Mr. Davidson.”
Alfred countered, “Mr. Purchas, that’s a personal matter. What does it have to do with you? Are you so deeply in love with me that you’re jealous? Are you blaming me for neglecting you?”
Elijah was dumbfounded. He snorted and said, “Alfred, what are you talking about? Who’s in love with you?”
“Why else would you pry into my private life? Tonight is Miss Weaver’s birthday, and as a guest, you’ve overstepped your bounds with the host. You’re obsessing over me and seem desperate to win my attention.”
The crowd was stunned. Elijah was speechless and furious, his face reddening with anger. If he had a beard, it would have bristled with rage.
Alfred’s unexpected and provocative comments left Elijah fuming yet powerless. While others were wary of offending Elijah, Alfred had no such fear and frequently antagonized him.
Kate, hidden behind the crowd with a plate in one hand and a fork in the other, almost choked when she heard her husband’s suggestive words. She barely managed to swallow and quickly took a few sips of red wine to ease it. Alfred always called her shameless, but he was even more so. ‘We’re truly a match made in heaven, she thought.
As the evening continued, Elijah was finally silenced, and the Davidson siblings were welcomed into the house by the Weaver family. Grace’s father subtly signaled a few nephews to keep Elijah company, while he and his children attended to Alfred.
Kyla shot Kate a look of barely concealed disdain when she saw her retreat to a corner, indulging in the food and drink. She muttered, “Kate, how long have you been starving? All you do is eat.”
“I didn’t eat anything before I left. I’m hungry. Aren’t you?” Kate replied plainly.
Kyla pursed her lips. She was hungry.
“When the titans clash, the small fries get caught in the crossfire. It’s safer for us to stay far away,” Kate said with a shrug.
Kyla felt an uncontrollable fear as she looked at Alfred, who was treated as an honored guest by the Weaver family. The sight of that cold, ruthless man sent a chill down her spine. ‘Right, it’s better to stay away, she thought.
With Alfred present, Grace would certainly be too occupied to pay attention to her friends. Kyla, knowing her place, grabbed some food and mingled with her other friends, leaving Kate out.
Chapter 104
“Kate.” Hearing the familiar voice, Kate turned in surprise, her gaze meeting Xena’s. Like Kate, Xena, the daughter of the Phillips family, was also an outcast in high society. At every social event, after exchanging the customary pleasantries with the host, Xena would go her own way.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t get along with the others; rather, they simply didn’t want to associate with her. When Xena and Kate first met, Xena felt that they were both outliers in high society. They immediately hit it off and became close friends.
“What took you so long?” Kate shifted to make room for Xena, who approached with a plate of food and a glass of wine.
“My mother, of course. She took the entire afternoon just to put on makeup. I waited so long I thought I’d turn into a fossil,” Xena grumbled as she sat down, pouring her frustrations out to Kate.
The two of them chatted softly while eating and sipping wine.
“I heard there was quite the spectacle earlier?” Xena, having arrived late, had missed the drama but was piqued by the gossip she had overheard. “Mr. Davidson actually showed up. I’ve attended countless banquets, but it’s the first time I’ve seen him at one,” Xena said, sneaking a glance at the distant figure of Alfred, who sat in a wheelchair yet still exuded an air of prestige.
“That must mean Miss Weaver has some serious influence. We ordinary folks can’t compare,” Kate remarked, casting a glance at her husband. She was startled to see Alfred at the banquet, especially since he hadn’t mentioned to her that he was attending.
“True,” Xena agreed. The Phillips family was wealthy, but they couldn’t compare to the Weaver family. Xena’s mother had pulled every string she could to secure two invitations for this banquet just so she could introduce Xena to all the eligible bachelors and beauties of Sherpsel.
“Mr. Davidson is really handsome,” Xena commented, letting out a sigh. ‘But he’s crippled. What a shame,’ she thought, lamenting Alfred’s unfortunate condition.
“Indeed. Would you like to take a few photos of this handsome man?” Kate teased.
Xena shook her head vigorously. “I’d dare to secretly photograph any man in the world, except for Mr. Davidson. I still want to live a few more years.”
Kate chuckled. “He’s not going to eat you.”
“Still, I wouldn’t dare mess with him. Unless he permits me, I won’t take a single shot. I’d rather regret it forever than make a move,” Xena replied, genuinely feeling the loss. She had collected photos of countless handsome men, but none could compare to Alfred. If she could get just one photo of him, she would treasure it like a sacred relic, placing it in the most conspicuous spot in her home, where she could worship it.
Kate smiled but said nothing more. In the past, she had recklessly offended Alfred for the sake of Chris. In hindsight, she had been terrified of the consequences. Fortunately, Alfred hadn’t held a grudge. Instead, he had even offered her help when she needed it most. Help during difficult times was more significant than support during times of success.
“By the way, Kate, I heard you’re working as a servant at the Davidson family. Is that true? What’s going on?” Xena asked with concern, recalling another piece of gossip. “Is it because of what you did? Is Mr. Davidson taking revenge on you? You were really bold back then, dragging yourself and the entire Sutton family down for Chris.”
Sacrificing one’s family for love didn’t seem worth it to Xena. ‘What kind of spell did Chris cast on Kate? Making her plunge headfirst into disaster, like a moth to a flame,’ she wondered, shaking her head.
“I know I was wrong. I’ve completely given up on Chris now. I went to great lengths to defy Mr. Davidson but after I was injured, Chris didn’t even visit me. That’s when I finally let go,” Kate said with a resigned sigh. Kate had told Xena before that she was done with Chris, but she hadn’t explained why. Now, she added the reason, making her change of heart more convincing.
Kate continued, “I’m at the Davidson family to take care of Mr. Davidson. But it’s not too bad. He hasn’t made things particularly difficult for me.”
At most, he would knock her on the head a few times or punish her by making her write a ten-thousand-word reflection. ‘That reminds me… I haven’t submitted the second reflection letter yet, and Alfred hasn’t brought it up, Kate thought. She hoped Alfred would let it slide, as she really couldn’t write another ten thousand words without repeating herself.
“That’s good,” Xena said, relieved that Kate wasn’t being treated too harshly. She didn’t press further, fearing that asking too many questions might delve into Alfred’s private matters. For the sake of her own safety, she had to keep her curiosity in check, no matter how strong it was.
As the two girls happily chatted in the corner, the birthday banquet officially began. The Weaver family members stopped fawning over the two esteemed guests and pushed a large cake in front of Grace, gathering around her to sing the birthday song and offer their blessings.
Grace was the Weaver family’s only precious daughter of her generation, much like Cynthia in the Davidson family; she was always the center of attention. Many people, including Kyla, gathered around Grace, eager to be seen on camera.
Xena nudged Kate playfully. “Look at Kyla. She really knows how to socialize. You should learn a thing or two from her. Why don’t you join in?”
“No, thanks. I’m not friends with Grace. The two of them are besties.” Kate snorted. Before leaving the house, Kyla had promised Celia that she would look after Kate and introduce her to the business moguls. ‘Only Mom would believe her. Kyla would probably do whatever it takes to avoid introducing me to key figures in the business world,’ Kate thought, rolling her eyes.
“Come on, cheers,” Kate said, raising her glass to Xena. They clinked glasses, smiled at each other, and drank up. Meanwhile, Chris, who hadn’t appeared before Kate since entering the Weaver Residence, placed a glass of red wine on a server’s tray. Pointing toward the corner where Kate sat, he said to a servant, “Could you please take this glass of wine to that lady over there? She’s finished hers. And don’t let her know it’s from me. Thank you.”
The Weaver family’s servant glanced at Kate and nodded. She carried the tray over to her, replacing both Kate’s and Xena’s empty glasses with new ones. The glass of red wine placed before Kate was the very one that Chris had asked the servant to bring over.
“Xena.” Just as the two girls were about to clink glasses again, Marjorie, Xena’s mother, appeared. She walked over, took the plate and glass from Xena’s hands, set them down, and pulled her up. Smiling at Kate, she said, “Kate, I’ve run into an old friend and I’m taking Xena to greet them.”
“Mrs. Phillips, please go ahead,” Kate replied.
The banquet was practically a grand matchmaking event. Every family with children was eager to seize the opportunity to find an eligible match for their sons and daughters. Marjorie was no exception.
After Xena was whisked away by her mother, Kate set down her glass and stood up to get herself some more food.
At that moment, the bodyguards of the Purchas and Davidson families simultaneously leaned in to whisper something to their bosses. Alfred acted quickly, sending Yael to switch out the glass of wine that Chris had intended for Kate, without letting Chris notice.
Elijah, who had been watching his rival’s every move, said nothing and let out a cold laugh.
Chapter 105
When Kate returned with the food, she forgot which glass of wine was hers. Recalling that Xena hadn’t drunk from that glass before leaving, she casually picked one up and leaned back in her chair. As she observed the lively scene before her, she leisurely sipped her wine, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
Occasionally, she would cast a furtive glance toward Alfred. Each time their eyes met across the room, Kate would feign nonchalance, quickly averting her gaze.
In such a setting, Kate preferred not to join Alfred, fearing that she might be torn apart by his admirers. ‘This man is remarkable. His former admirers still can’t forget him even though he’s now impotent,’ she thought.
After finishing half her glass, Kate looked toward Alfred
again, only to find that he was no longer in his original spot. She quickly scanned the room but couldn’t find him. Even his bodyguards were nowhere to be seen. Only Cynthia and Grace were surrounded by a crowd.
Though it was Grace’s birthday, Cynthia’s popularity wasn’t inferior to hers. If it weren’t for the fact that the Davidson family held more influence than the Weaver family, Cynthia might face trouble after tonight.
Kate’s lips curled into a smirk. This time, she wouldn’t linger around Grace with Kyla. ‘As long as Grace doesn’t come past looking for trouble like she did before, the night will be peaceful, she thought. Though Kate wished to avoid conflict, trouble had a way of finding her. She had barely begun to enjoy the scene when Grace, flanked by a few friends, approached her.
As Grace made her way over, Kate’s mind replayed the events in the initial timeline. Under Kyla’s suggestion, she had toasted Grace with good wishes, only for Grace to deliberately shake her glass, causing the wine to spill onto Kate’s white evening gown. The red wine stood out starkly against the white fabric, making her the center of ridicule.
At that time, though Grace feigned panic and apologized, she had taken the opportunity to pour the remaining wine over Kate, ruining her gown and turning her into the evening’s joke. Kate had been furious, but with Grace’s apologies, she couldn’t show her anger. ‘Would Grace repeat the same act this time?’ Kate thought, keeping a wary eye.
“Kate, why are you hiding here alone?” asked Kyla. She moved closer and whispered, “Grace is coming over. Offer her a few words of blessing. It will make your future interactions in this circle easier.”
“Alright,” Kate responded with a nod.
As Grace approached, Kate set down her plate and delicately wiped her mouth with a napkin. Then she picked up her glass and stood up. Smiling at Grace, she raised her glass. “Happy Birthday, Miss Weaver. I wish you nothing but happiness and good health.”
Grace looked at Kate with a haughty glance. Kate maintained her smile, meeting Grace’s gaze with calm composure.
“Grace, Kate is extending her wishes to you,” Cynthia said with a smile. She couldn’t tolerate Grace’s disdain toward Kate and prompted Grace to respond politely.
A smile broke through Grace’s haughty expression. “Thank you for your blessing, Ms. Sutton. Cheers,” she replied, raising her glass.
‘Here it comes, Kate sneered inwardly. ‘What’s bound to happen will happen.’
Kate put on a look of flattery and raised her glass. “Cheers.”
The glasses clinked. Kate watched Grace closely as she anticipated the deliberate shake of the wine glass. When Grace, as expected, attempted to spill wine on her gown, Kate swiftly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the splash.
A flicker of anger crossed Grace’s eyes but was quickly masked by an apologetic expression. She looked embarrassed and said, “Ms. Sutton, I’m so sorry. Thankfully, none of the wine got on your dress.”
“It’s fine,” Kate replied graciously. She remained poised in front of the crowd, choosing not to take offense at Grace’s action Grace smiled and said, “Ms. Sutton, please enjoy the rest of your evening. I’ll attend to other guests.”
As Grace turned away. Kate kept her eyes on her, staying vigilant. As expected, Grace, pretending to stumble, managed to splash the remaining wine in Kate’s direction. Kate took several steps back to avoid the splash, but in doing so, she bumped into someone and accidentally stepped on their foot.
“Grace,” Kyla uttered as she quickly moved to steady Grace, preventing her from falling, though it seemed more like an act. Kate could confidently surmise that Grace wouldn’t have fallen even without Kyla’s support. She wasn’t about to embarrass herself at her own birthday party.
I’m fine. Ms. Sutton, are you alright?” Grace asked with feigned concern.
Before Kate could respond, Grace spotted Elijah behind Kate and exclaimed with genuine surprise, “Mr. Purchas!” Kate turned around and met Elijah’s strikingly attractive eyes. Although captivating eyes often came with a flirtatious reputation, Elijah was an exception. He had no official girlfriend, only a few fleeting rumors involving female stars from the Purchas Group’s entertainment company, which were soon clarified as false.
Those women had sought to cling to Elijah for publicity and to climb the social ladder, aiming to become Mrs. Purchas. Since then, they faded into obscurity. It was clear that Elijah had dealt them a blow, leaving their careers in ruins. “Ms. Sutton, you stepped on my foot,” Elijah said coldly. The people beside him were all big shots in the business world. They could attest that Elijah hadn’t deliberately approached Kate; rather, Kate had bumped into him while backing away and accidentally stepped on his foot.
“Mr. Purchas, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to,” Kate quickly apologized.
Grace hurried over and said apologetically, “Mr. Purchas, it’s all my fault. I accidentally stumbled and almost spilled wine on Ms. Sutton. She only bumped into you while trying to avoid the spill. Please, for my sake, don’t hold it against her.”
Kate looked at Grace in surprise. Then, she turned her gaze to the dashing Elijah, whose alluring eyes seemed to possess the power to charm anyone who looked his way. Has Grace set her sights on Elijah?’ she wondered.
Given Alfred’s current state and Grace’s shrewdness, it was unlikely she would stake her future on Alfred. With the Weaver family’s status, a match with Elijah would be the logical choice for her.
‘How cold, Kate thought, feeling a twinge of sympathy for Elijah.
Chapter 106
“Ms. Sutton is wearing high heels. It doesn’t feel good to be stepped on,” Elijah spoke coldly. It was clear that he wasn’t going to let Kate off easily.
“Shall I have Mr. Purchas step on my foot in return?” Kate asked tentatively.
Elijah’s gaze was deep and inscrutable. Kate’s heart raced; she had no idea how Rowena’s biological father planned to deal with her.
Seeing Elijah’s unblinking stare at Kate, Grace quickly interjected, “Mr. Purchas, Ms. Sutton didn’t mean any harm. Perhaps I could have someone assist you upstairs to get some medication?”
Elijah’s eyes shifted to Grace, his expression softening considerably. He spoke gently to her, “There’s no need, but thank you, Miss Weaver.”
Turning his gaze to Kate, he said coldly, “Considering Miss Weaver’s plea on your behalf, I won’t hold it against you. However, I reserve the right to hold you accountable. If I wake up with a swollen foot tomorrow, you will be held responsible.”
Kate was speechless. If her accidental misstep caused his foot to swell, she would indeed be in trouble. Avoiding responsibility wasn’t her style.
After Elijah had spoken his mind, he turned and resumed his conversation with the business tycoons, signaling the end of the commotion.
Grace glared at Kate before leaving with her entourage.
“Are you alright?” Cynthia asked with concern. She had stayed behind instead of following Grace.
“I’m fine,” Kate replied.
Cynthia looked around and whispered, “Stick with me now. Don’t hide alone here. If someone is out to cause trouble, they’ll find you even if you’re in a corner.”
Kate had made every effort to stay out of sight, yet Grace still managed to find her. Elijah, who should have been elsewhere, was strangely nearby, mingling with the top executives.
Cynthia felt as if a net was closing in on Kate, with plans to make her suffer. She let out a sigh, thinking, ‘Where did Alfred go? Kate is now under his protection. If he were here, who would dare to mess with her?’
“Thank you, Miss Davidson.” Kate was aware that Grace wouldn’t back down until she relived the same humiliation. She was uncertain about what would come next, but being with Cynthia would indeed help her avoid much unnecessary trouble.
“There’s no need to thank me,” Cynthia replied. “You’re under Alfred’s care; it’s my duty to look out for you. They dared to act this way only because they saw my brother wasn’t around.”
The news that Kate had become Alfred’s unpaid servant spread fast, even before Dominick purposely asked about it earlier. With high society from Sherpsel present at the banquet, everyone knew that Kate was living with the Davidson family as Alfred’s unpaid servant.
Even if Alfred was taking revenge on Kate, no one would dare to mistreat her in his presence.
“Where did Mr. Davidson go?” Kate asked.
Cynthia shook her head. “I don’t know. I just stepped away for a moment, and when I came back, he was gone.”
Kate nodded in response, wondering where Alfred was. He was dealing with Chris.
Chris had spiked the drink meant for Kate. If she drank it, she would feel an intense heat and gradually lose her senses. His plan was to get her drunk and then take her to his car, where he intended to take advantage of her.
Once he had his way, he would use the excuse of taking responsibility to propose to Kate. He was certain that the Sutton family would agree to the marriage.
In the corner of the Weaver family’s backyard, Chris, who had been beaten, was being held down. A blindfold covered his eyes as someone forced alcohol down his throat. Chris struggled desperately but to no avail. The fiery liquid forced into his throat was almost unbearable. Even before he could swallow one gulp, more alcohol was poured in, making him choke and reluctantly swallow.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Alfred watched coldly as Chris writhed. Once the spiked drink had been sufficiently consumed by Chris, Yael quietly pushed Alfred away. After Alfred was gone, Logan and others released Chris and quickly left the scene.
Chris lay on the ground, gasping for breath, and took his time mustering the strength to pull off the blindfold. When he finally sat up and glanced around, he found himself alone.
‘Who did this to me?’ Chris thought as he wiped the blood from his nose and stood up. He pulled out his phone and called Kyla. He was in no condition to return to the banquet, looking disheveled and beaten.
“Hey Chris, what’s the matter?” Kyla quickly answered the call. She lowered her voice and asked, “Aren’t you here? Where did you go? I don’t see you.”
“Kyla, I’m likely in the Weaver Residence’s backyard. It’s very quiet here. Slip out when no one is looking,” Chris said urgently. “I’ve been blindfolded and beaten, and I’m in no shape to return to the banquet. My face is bruised and swollen.”
Kyla was shocked. If Dominick hadn’t been watching her from nearby, she would have screamed. ‘This is the Weaver Residence. Who would dare to assault a guest?’ she thought in disbelief. Moreover, the act was done so stealthily that no one had noticed.
“Do you know who did this to you?” Kyla asked in a hushed tone.
“I don’t know. After they hooded me and beat me, they covered my eyes with a blindfold, held me down, and forced alcohol down my throat. I nearly choked.” Chris wiped his nosebleed, feeling a surge of heat. He loosened his tie and said, “Kyla, please come quickly and bring a lot of tissues. I’m still bleeding.”
“Alright, I’ll come find you right away,” Kyla told Chris to hang tight and then hung up.
After Kyla ended the call, Dominick approached her with concern. “Kyla, what’s wrong? You look upset after the call,” he asked.
“I’m fine,” Kyla replied softly. “Dominick, everyone is dancing. Aren’t you going to join them?”
Dominick looked at her tenderly and extended his right hand with a smile. “I need a dance partner. Would you do me the honor?”
Kyla couldn’t refuse, so she accepted his invitation. Throughout the dance, her mind was preoccupied with Chris, and she kept stepping on Dominick’s toes. After the dance, she said apologetically, “I haven’t danced in a while and seem to be out of practice. I’m sorry for stepping on your feet.”
Dominick gazed at her and said gently, “It’s alright. Do you have something on your mind? Feel free to share it with me. If I can help, I will.”
Chapter 107
Kyla did not dare to look him in the eye and said, “Dominick, I’m fine. Dominick, I’ll go…” Before she could say the words bathroom”, she heard a commotion outside.
Dominick frowned. ‘Who would dare to make a racket in their house on such an occasion tonight?’
As the host, Dominick had to go out and take a look.
He was not the only one. When the others in the house heard the commotion outside, they followed out curiously. Kyla was no exception.
After the two of them left the main house, they saw that the people outside were walking toward the backyard.
Kyla suddenly remembered what Chris said on the phone. He said that he was in the backyard. Now, everyone was running to the backyard to watch the commotion. Could it be that they were going to watch Chris make a fool of himself?
“Dominick, let’s go and see what’s going on.” Kyla was anxious, but on the surface, she pretended to be very curious. She held Dominick’s hand and followed everyone to the backyard.
Everyone had the heart of gossip.
After Kate ate and drank her fill, she saw that everyone had gone to watch the commotion. She also planned to go out with Cynthia to join in the fun.
“Kate.” A low and cold shout sounded.
It was Alfred’s voice.
Kate and Cynthia stopped in their tracks at the same time.
“Mr. Davidson.” Kate returned to Alfred and asked with a smile, “Mr. Davidson, what can I do for you?”
“Where are you taking Cynthia?” asked Alfred.
Cynthia also turned back and defended Kate, “Alfred, it was me who wanted to bring Kate out to take a look. It wasn’t her idea.”
Alfred ordered coldly, “Stay in the house!”
Kate and Cynthia exchanged glances and did not dare to say anything else.
However, Alfred sent Logan out to find out what was happening.
Those who were still in the room were the real big shots of Sherpsel. Even if they wanted to know the situation outside, they would not personally watch the commotion.
Someone would tell them later.
Elijah spun the glass and looked at the beautiful curve of the wine in the glass.
The corners of his mouth curled up, and there was a smile in his eyes, but no one knew what he was smiling about. Soon, Logan returned.
He walked to Alfred’s side and bent down to whisper into Alfred’s ear.
Kate stared at Alfred’s expression. Seeing that his expression did not change, Kate was a little disappointed. Alfred was too shrewd. Even if she had lived two lifetimes, she could not see through Alfred’s thoughts.
Seeing that Alfred did not intend to say anything, Cynthia asked curiously, “Logan, what happened outside?”
Logan looked at Alfred. Seeing that Alfred did not seem to want to stop him, he replied in a low voice, “Miss, something happened to Mr. Cohen. He molested Miss Moore in the backyard.”
Kate was stunned. ‘Did Chris molest Miss Moore in the Weaver family’s backyard? Did Chris come?
‘I did not see him and thought that he would stay low for a while because his arm had been dislocated by Elijah.
“Ah!” Cynthia exclaimed and quickly asked Logan, “Was Miss Moore molested?”
Logan replied, “Miss Moore screamed desperately for help. Someone heard her and rushed to save her, so nothing happened. However, Miss Moore’s evening gown was torn into pieces. She was frightened enough. When Mrs. Moore found out, she almost tore Mr. Cohen apart.”
Kate looked at Alfred, and Alfred looked back at her.
Kate understood in her heart, but she did not ask. The occasion was not right.
Even Cynthia understood that there might be some conspiracy involved. It was not appropriate to discuss it here.
Anyway, Grace’s birthday party was ruined by this episode. One could imagine how Grace felt. She would definitely bear a grudge against Chris.
Kyla loved Chris deeply. If Grace wanted to punish Chris, what should Kyla do?
Kate thought about the future and was in a good mood.
She did not follow Kyla’s home. Before she left, she told her mother that after the banquet ended, her vacation would end and she would return to the Davidson family.
“Mr. Davidson.” Kate got close to Alfred who was resting with his eyes closed.
Alfred said, “Speak.”
“Did you ask Chris to do that?” asked Kate. ‘Chris is not a fool. Why would he molest Miss Moore in the Weaver family’s backyard?
‘He must have been schemed against.
‘Other than Alfred, I can’t think of anyone else who could scheme against someone under such circumstances.
‘Didn’t Alfred leave for a while?”
“Why? Do you feel sorry for him?” Alfred asked instead of answering.
His closed eyes opened. He tilted his head and looked at Kate coldly.
There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. If Kate dared to say that her heart ached, he would immediately strangle her to death.
“Well done, well done!” Kate praised him.
She couldn’t wait for Chris to die. How could her heart ache for Chris?
She would never feel sorry for Chris in this life.
Alfred snorted coldly. “How heartless.”
Kate replied, “I’m not heartless. I just don’t want to lose twice in one place.”
Alfred frowned and felt that her words didn’t make sense.
However, he did not pursue the matter.
She had a secret, but she refused to share it with him. Alfred was a little unhappy. I hope she would be honest with me…”
“Did Grace make things difficult for you?” Alfred changed the topic.
“She and Kyla are best friends. It’s normal for her to dislike me.” Kate said calmly, “Don’t worry, I wasn’t tricked by her.” Alfred’s eyes were cold. “You saved her.”
Kate was speechless and looked at Alfred in a daze.
After a long time, she plunged into Alfred’s arms and hugged his waist tightly. Alfred tried to push her away a few times, but he could not. He could only let her throw herself into his arms shamelessly.
“Mr. Davidson, thank you!” Kate gently thanked him in his arms. “You’re really too good to me.”
In her previous life, after she offended Alfred, Alfred did not pursue the matter. Later on, when she needed help, Alfred helped her again.
He had treated her very well in both lifetimes. In the previous life, she was blind and could not see clearly. She had missed out on such a good man.
“Who’s treating you well? I just don’t like to see the people in my house being bullied by others. You have to look at the owner to hit a dog.” Alfred was stubborn and denied that he was good to Kate.
Kate raised her head in his arms. He lowered his head and looked at her for a moment before looking away. His tone was still cold. “You’re indeed not heartless. You’re just too sentimental.”
“Honey,” Kate called out softly.
Alfred pulled a long face. “I told you not to call me that.”
Kate said, “I want to call you honey. You’re my husband. We’ve registered our marriage.”
“Where are the marriage papers?” asked Alfred.
Kate replied, “They’re gone. No, I suspect they are with you.”
When she came out of city hall, she was with him. Later, he knocked her out. When she woke up, the marriage papers were gone.
Alfred said, “I have mine, so why should I keep the copy of yours? What’s the use of it?”
Kate instinctively answered, “How many more do you want? Do you believe that I’ll sue you for bigamy?”
Alfred choked.
Chapter 108
“Hubby, do you think my marriage papers are with you?” asked Kate.
Alfred didn’t reply. “You saw them with me?”
Kate joked, “No. If they were not with you, would they have run away on their own? Oh, my marriage papers have cheated on me. What should I do?”
“Ha-ha!” Someone burst into laughter.
Kate looked up at Alfred.
Alfred also looked down at her.
Neither of them smiled. Then, they looked ahead in unison. Yael pursed his lips tightly and reminded the driver with a suppressed smile, “Josh, focus on driving.”
So the person who burst into laughter was the driver. “Mr. Davidson, I’m sorry. I really couldn’t help it.” Josh tried his best to suppress his smile, but he couldn’t. Alfred said expressionlessly and coldly, “Normal reaction.” Sometimes, shameless people were indeed amusing.
Josh and Yael did not dare to reply. Kate pretended to be coquettish and said, “Hubby, are you trying to say that I’m shameless?”
Alfred asked, “Kate, do you have any shame?”
“Of course I do,” answered Kate.
Even someone as smart as Alfred did not know how to respond. He was a little angry, so he simply pressed this shameless woman’s head into his arms. He tightened his arms, and Kate immediately felt that he wanted to rub her entire body into his.
Kate thought, ‘He’s so domineering! But I like it!’
After a long time, Kate still did not move.
Alfred loosened his grip and looked down. Good lord, this shameless person actually used his chest as a pillow and went to sleep.
Looking at her sleeping face, Alfred was helpless.
However, he didn’t push her away or wake her up. He just let her continue sleeping in his arms.
It was late at night, so it was normal for her to feel sleepy.
Alfred was not sleepy at all.
In fact, he had been holding back his anger.
When he went to deal with Chris, Kate was troubled by Grace. He was not present and could not protect her. He allowed Elijah to take advantage of the situation and secretly helped Kate out. ‘If my legs were not crippled, I would have rushed to her side as quickly as possible to protect her when she was troubled by Grace.
“Kate.” Alfred whispered in Kate’s ear, “I will stand up again for both of us!”
Although he hoped that she could become stronger through the training of life, as her husband, he had promised his mother-in-law that as long as she was still his wife, he would protect her for the rest of her life.
*****
In the Center Hospital in Sherpsel, Chris was hospitalized again.
He had drunk the drugged wine and could not control himself. He molested Miss Moore under the effects of the drug before Kyla appeared.
In the end, it did not cause a huge mistake, but it damaged the reputation of Miss Moore. The Moore and Cohen families had formed a grudge.
Chris was sent to the hospital after being struck unconscious. His mother Aura, Dominick, and Kyla were accompanying him.
No matter what, it happened in the Weaver family. As the fourth son of the Weaver family, Dominick had to be responsible for his guests.
Chris had obviously been set up. Dominick wanted to wait for Chris to wake up and figure out who had set Chris up.
In the ward, Chris was still asleep.
Aura sat in front of the hospital bed and kept wiping her tears. Looking at Chris’s bruised face and swollen nose, she felt that her heart was being stabbed by a knife. “Which bastard dared to use such a despicable method to plot against my son in the Weaver family? Did he think that I would let Chris marry anyone?’
Kyla could not help much now. She quietly left the ward. She followed Chris to the hospital because on the surface, she and Chris were good friends and the two companies had business dealings.
“Kyla.” Dominick followed Kyla out of the ward and the two of them walked to the end of the corridor.
“Chris has been very unlucky lately.” Kyla sighed and said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He was either bitten by a dog, offended someone, or dislocated his arm, or something like tonight.”
She had mixed feelings. ‘If Dominick hadn’t dragged me to the backyard to look for Chris, Chris would have…
She and Chris were in love with each other. She would definitely let him have his way.
However, that was the backyard of the Weaver family. There would be guests wandering around the backyard at any time. If someone saw them…
Kyla didn’t even dare to think about what would happen next.
Dominick said, “Everyone has their periods of decline and prosperity. Mr. Cohen’s luck has probably been bad recently.” After this incident, Dominick was the happiest person.
He liked Kyla. How could he not know that Kyla actually loved Chris? ‘Now that Chris is in trouble, Kyla will definitely not be with Chris anymore. Moreover, they can’t ignore Kate.’
“Maybe.” Kyla turned around and looked at Dominick. She said gently, “Dominick, it’s late. You can go back first. I’ll stay here and accompany Mrs. Cohen for a while. When Chris wakes up tomorrow, I’ll ask him what happened and who dared to treat your guests like this in your house.”
“Are you staying?” Dominick’s words were filled with jealousy,
Kyla said, “Yes, I’ll accompany Mrs. Cohen.”
Dominick could not help but reach out to hold her shoulders and said seriously, “Kyla, do you really not know my feelings for you or are you pretending not to know? How am I inferior to Chris? He’s about to marry your sister, but you’re still thinking about him!”
Kyla’s face was a little red. She gently removed Dominick’s hand and looked at him. “Dominick, my heart is in a mess now. Let’s not talk about love for now, okay? Chris… is just my friend.”
Dominick asked, “Are you really friends?
“Kyla, you can lie to anyone, but you can’t lie to me. I know you’ve always loved Chris, but Kate also likes Chris. You feel guilty because you took everything that should have belonged to Kate, so you suppressed your love and gave Chris to Kate, right?
“Kyla, although I’m very happy that you gave Chris away, I don’t like your aggrieved behavior. It’s not your fault that you swapped 25 years of your life with Kate. You don’t have to blame yourself.”
Kyla sighed softly. “Dominick, I know it’s not my fault, but it’s the truth that I’m not the Sutton family’s biological daughter. Everything I have today should have belonged to Kate. It’s the truth. I feel guilty. I only hope that Kate can live a better life than me. No matter what she wants, I will give it to her.”
Dominick said in disgust, “Is she worthy? She’s just a country bumpkin with no manners at all. It’s unfair for you to call her sister. In the past 25 years, she hasn’t been filial to her parents. You’ve been taking care of her parents. She should be grateful to you, not think that you’ve snatched everything from her.”
Chapter 109
“You and your father are the ones supporting the Sutton Group now. What did Kate do?” Dominick made Kate sound worthless. Kyla was extremely happy to hear that.
However, on the surface, she looked reproachful as she blamed Dominick. “Dominick, don’t say that about Kate. Although she grew up in the countryside, my biological parents doted on her very much and gave her the best they could. Now that she has entered the Sutton Group to work, my father will personally teach her. She will definitely slowly get up.
“The Sutton Group is surnamed Sutton after all. I’m just an outsider. In the future, the Sutton Group will still rely on Kate.”
Dominick said sarcastically, “If your father handed the Sutton Group to Kate, the Sutton Group would be closed down in less than half a year.”
Even if it didn’t close, he would make the Sutton Group close down unless Leland handed over the Sutton Group to Kyla!.
Kyla did not reply.
“Ding-ling…” Kyla’s phone rang.
She took out her phone from her bag and answered the call.
When Dominick heard her call “Dad”, he knew that it was Leland.
He did not deliberately listen to their conversation.
A few minutes later, Kyla hung up the phone and said to Dominick hesitantly, “Dominick, my father wants me to go back immediately, but I’m worried about Mrs. Cohen and Chris.”
Dominick said, “You can go back first. Chris just drank the drugged alcohol. The doctor said that he’s fine and can be discharged when he wakes up.”
Kyla thought for a moment and nodded. “Then I’ll go in and tell Mrs. Cohen. Dominick, wait for me here.”
“Will do.” Dominick agreed readily.
Kyla walked back to the ward alone.
Aura was still wiping her tears. When she saw Kyla enter, she wiped her tears with a tissue and asked in a choked voice, “Kyla, why isn’t Chris awake yet?”
Kyla comforted her, “Mrs. Cohen, don’t worry. The doctor said that he was fine. He’ll be fine when he wakes up.”
Aura nodded and then scolded fiercely, “Don’t let me know who schemed against Chris, or I’ll definitely teach her a lesson. Does she think that she can marry Chris just because she schemed against Chris?”
After a moment of silence, Kyla probed, “Mrs. Cohen, who do you think schemed against Chris? Who wants to marry Chris the most?”
“Kate! Yes, it must be her. That shameless woman actually dared to scheme against Chris. When Chris wakes up, I’ll settle the score with Kate tomorrow.” Aura believed it was Kate. She even said to Kyla, “Kyla, I know you’re torn, but I can’t take this lying down. You and Chris are really in love. Can you just watch Chris be tricked by that country bumpkin?”
“Mrs. Cohen, Kate was just impulsive.” Kyla labeled Kate as the person who drugged Chris.
Aura asked, “Kyla, do you know something? Did Kate really do it? That shameless person, Chris told her nicely that he wanted to marry her, but she put on airs and said that she didn’t want to marry him. The moment I went to your house to deliver the wedding gift and said that I was helping Chris to marry you, Kate was anxious, right?”
“Mrs. Cohen, now that Chris hasn’t made a big mistake, let’s forget it. Kate is living with the Davidson family now. Do you dare to go to Davidson’s family to settle the score with her?” Aura was stunned. “Mr. Davidson isn’t an unreasonable person, right?”
Kyla replied, “Mrs. Cohen, for the future of Chris and the Cohen Group, it’s better not to go to the Davidson family to look for Kate. If you really want to look for her, it won’t be too late for you to look for her when she comes home.”
When Aura thought of Alfred’s coldness, she shuddered and said, “Kyla, I’ll listen to you.”
She held Kyla’s hand and said with heartache, “Kyla, you’ve always considered my family and you’re the person Chris truly loves, but… it’s been hard on you. Don’t worry, in my heart, I only acknowledge you as my daughter-in-law. Other than you, I won’t be satisfied with anyone else being my daughter-in-law.”
Kyla smiled and did not comment on that. “By the way, Mrs. Cohen, Chris did that to Miss Moore…”
“What did Chris do? He didn’t do anything, right? Melanie is perfectly fine. She just had her evening gown torn by Chris. I can simply compensate her with a new one.” Aura felt that Chris did not really rape Moore, so he did not have to take responsibility.
The Moore family’s status in Sherpsel was not even comparable to the Cohen family’s.
Aura’s requirements for a daughter-in-law had always been of equal social status. She looked down on those whose threshold was lower than the Cohen family.
Kyla replied, “So many people have seen it. I’m afraid… the Moore family will not let it go. Although the Moore family is not as good as our two families, the Moore family is related to the Weaver family. The Weaver family will definitely stand on the Moore family’s side. There are only two choices in front of Chris. Either he becomes enemies with the Weaver and Moore families, or he marries Moore.” Aura’s face turned pale. ‘I forgot that Mrs. Moore is the Weaver family’s third wife’s cousin. She’s related to the Weaver family!’
The Cohen family did not take the Moore family seriously, but they did not dare to offend the Weaver family.
Chris told her and her husband that Kyla would persuade Miss Weaver to help the Cohen Group get through the current crisis…
Aura suddenly felt that she had underestimated the situation.
She also felt that this result was caused by Kate, which made her grit her teeth in hatred.
Kyla added, “Mrs. Cohen, don’t think too much about it. We’ Il talk about it when Chris wakes up. Mrs. Cohen, I originally wanted to stay and accompany you, but my father called me just now and asked me to go home. I’ll leave first. Call me if anything happens.”
Aura was reluctant, but she stood up and sent Kyla out of the ward. She said, “Kyla, I know how good you are. You and Miss Weaver are good friends. Go and beg Miss Weaver. No matter what request the Moore family makes, as long as it’s not too much, we will satisfy them. “However, they can’t use marriage to threaten Chris. You and Chris are so in love. I can’t bear to see you suffer again. After this matter blows over, I’ll go to your house to propose marriage. However, you and Chris can’t have an underground relationship anymore. If you love each other, you can be together openly.”
Aura would not admit that she had despised Kyla for being the Sutton family’s adopted daughter for years and thought that Kyla was not worthy of Chris.
After tonight’s incident, Aura realized that Kyla was smart and calm. She was the right-hand woman who could really help Chris obtain the Cohen Group’s inheritance rights.
“Mrs. Cohen, everything is Chris’s priority. So what if I feel a little wrong? As long as he’s fine, I’m willing to suffer all kinds of grievances.” Kyla’s words were half-truths.
Whether she was telling the truth or not, Aura was extremely grateful to her.
Kyla added, “Mrs. Cohen, I’ll go back first. I’ll explain to Grace on behalf of Chris.”
‘It affected Grace’s good mood for her birthday. Grace must be so mad.’ Kyla had a headache. ‘I have to think about how to appease Grace and persuade Grace to spare Chris.
Chapter 110
Kate did not know that Kyla had framed her.
When she woke up, the sky was already bright.
She instinctively touched her side and felt Alfred. She sat up with a start.
Alfred’s dark eyes were looking at her.
Kate asked, “Honey, are we home?”
“What else could it be?” said Alfred.
Kate blinked. “How did I get back to my room?”
She seemed to have fallen asleep in the car.
Alfred replied, “Sleepwalking. You walked back on your own.” Kate smiled and leaned over Alfred. She pinched the muscles on Alfred’s face and said, “Hubby, the muscles on your face are quite soft. I heard that those who have muscles on their faces have a good temper. Why is your temper so bad?”
Alfred teased her, “You think I have a bad temper but shamelessly want to marry me. Now, you’re shamelessly lying on top of me. Why? Do you want to force yourself on me so early in the morning?”
Kate was speechless. “Hubby, your words are so unpleasant. Even if I wanted to force you, you… That would be in vain.”
Alfred’s face darkened.
Kate asked, “Hubby, is it dawn now? Were you the one who carried me back to my room last night? Why didn’t you help me take a shower and change my clothes? I didn’t sleep well in my gown. No wonder I had nightmares.”
Alfred said angrily, “How could I help you bathe when you slept like a pig? I’m afraid you would drown in the bathtub.”
“You won’t let me drown. Besides, I know how to swim,” replied Kate.
Alfred snorted, “You’re really versatile.”
Kate said, “That’s true. If I don’t have some real ability, how would I dare to open such a big training institution? Alas, I really miss my training institution. My dream is to develop my training institution into a national chain store.” Alfred said indifferently, “When you can take over the Sutton Group and handle business with ease, you can continue to open your training institute. Over the past few years, the interest class has been very popular and has a bright future.”
“Yeah.” Kate nodded. ‘I will take it slow. After all, I had no experience in business management in my previous life. ‘After I traveled back, I managed to attach myself to Alfred, but I have to rely on myself to protect the family business.
‘I also want to rely on myself to take revenge. Only then could I vent my hatred.’
Kate asked, “Honey, are you tired?”
Alfred looked at her with a burning gaze.
Kate said embarrassedly, “I’ve been pressing on you for so long. Are you tired? I’m quite heavy.”
Alfred said, “You are indeed heavy.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Kate punched him lightly.
Then, she kissed Alfred’s thin lips and forcefully ravaged them. Then, she smiled sweetly. “Hubby, this is your morning kiss.”
Alfred’s eyes darkened. Being stared at like this, Kate was a little scared. She quickly rolled away from him and tried to help him up. Her face was filled with a fawning smile. Hubby, let me help you up.”
Alfred shook off her hand and said with a straight face, “I’ll do it myself.”
“Alright, you do it yourself.” Kate let him sit up and watched him get out of bed. He slowly walked to the wheelchair and sat down. “Hubby, I think you can walk steadily today and take one more step.”
Alfred asked, “Do you know how many steps I usually walk?” Kate was in front of the dressing table. As she combed her long hair, she replied, “Of course I know. I’ve counted. Usually, you can only take three steps at most. That way, your face will turn pale and you will break out in cold sweat. Just now, you took four steps.”
Alfred opened his mouth. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t.
However, he felt a little sweet in his heart.
After Kate tied up her long hair, she turned around and saw Alfred looking at her deeply. She smiled sweetly and said, Mr. Davidson, what do you think? Do I embarrass you after dressing up?”
Alfred wheeled his wheelchair to help Kate get her clothes.
His deep voice sounded in the room. “But you don’t make me proud either.”
Kate promised, “I’ll make you proud one day.”
“Okay, I’ll wait.” Alfred threw her clothes to her.
Kate nimbly caught the clothes he threw over and said coquettishly, “Mr. Davidson, you’re already considerate of me. You should be considerate to the end.”
Alfred replied, “Who’s being considerate of you? I just can’t stand the smell of alcohol all over you. You’re a girl, yet you drink so much. Try to drink less in the future.”
Kate said, “I can hold my liquor very well. I won’t get drunk even after many glasses.”
Alfred scoffed with sarcasm.
Kate’s face turned red. He had investigated her. Naturally, he knew her alcohol tolerance.
Her alcohol tolerance wasn’t bad, but she was still a long way off from being able to drink much without getting drunk.
When Kate went in to take a shower, Alfred slid his wheelchair to her dressing table. He stood up and moved to the front of the table. He found a pen and a piece of paper and wrote something on the paper.
Ten minutes later, Kate walked over and asked curiously,” Mr. Davidson, what are you writing?”
Alfred did not hide anything and let her head lean over to take a look.
It was the list of the wedding gifts.
The title made Kate extremely curious. She asked him, “Mr. Davidson, whose wedding gift list is this? Numerous mansions, gold, silver, and jewelry, wow, there’s so much! But how come there are no luxury cars?”
Alfred did not even raise his head. He said coldly,”
Someone likes to drive a car like a plane and I want her to live a few more years. I thought about it and decided to delete luxury cars.”
Kate asked, “Someone? Mr. Davidson, is this the list of my wedding gifts?”
Alfred finally raised his head to look at her. Then, he knocked her head with the tip of his pen. “Not bad. You’re not stupid.”
“You’re always knocking on my head. Even if I’m not stupid, you’ve made me stupid.” Kate snatched his pen angrily and knocked on his head a few times. After knocking, she asked him, “Does it hurt?”
“It hurts,” answered Alfred.
“Really? Let me see if it’s red.” Kate pretended to check.
Alfred took back the pen and said indifferently, “You can’t even bear to use force. How painful can it be? Kate, I’ll ask you again. Do you really not regret marrying me?”
Kate said, “I said I won’t regret it.”
Alfred told her, “I gave you a chance to go back on your word. If you don’t grasp it well, that’s your business. After today, you won’t have a chance even if you regret it.”
Kate asked, “We’ve already registered our marriage. Unless you divorce me, I won’t regret it. Speaking of which, Mr. Davidson, if you can stand up, will you divorce me? After all, I’m not worthy of you.”
Alfred ignored her and continued to write the list…
Kate looked at it and sighed. “That woman is really lucky to marry you, becoming Sherpsel’s richest woman overnight.”
After sighing, Kate giggled. “Looks like I’m that lucky woman.
“I always thought that to become the richest woman in Sherpsel, I would have to struggle for decades. But now I realize it’s quite simple-all I have to do is marry you. If you could, we would have more children. The rewards we get could also contribute to my wealth.”
Alfred put down his pen and glared at her.
“What’s wrong?” asked Kate.
Alfred replied, “How noisy you are!”
Kate stuck out her tongue playfully and quickly said, “Mr. Davidson, go on. I’ll just watch and not say anything.”
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