A Replacement Bride

Chapter 199

"I will go with you." Joaquin stood up and looked at Katherine with a burning gaze.

They still didn't know how many people there were, but Joaquin knew that their opponents were ruthless. There was no way he could feel at ease about letting her go to the appointment alone.

Even though he knew that she was not a weak woman, he didn't want her to face everything alone.

He wanted to stand behind her and be her shelter.

She then turned her head and smilingly looked at him. "Do you think they can do anything to me?"

"I am your man. I can't just watch you march into the lion's den by yourself," he solemnly told her with his lips pursed.

Katherine was caught off-guard by him calling himself her man. Her pale cheeks already had a hint of pink by the time she came back to her senses.

She then quickly turned around as she didn't dare look at him any longer. "Stay here and protect Grandma and Noah. Since they managed to send things here, they must also have the ability to sneak in. I worry about leaving Grandma and Noah at home. I will need your help to protect them."

"I—" As Joaquin tried to voice his disapproval, he was stopped by her finger that pressed against his lips. The electrifying sensation immediately made it unable for him to talk as he stared at her, his eyes ablaze.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable by the look he was giving her, Katherine quickly avoided his gaze and reassured him, "I will be fine by myself. If you are still worried, you can lend me Jeremy."

"Alright," he unhesitantly agreed.

He then called Jeremy over to send Katherine to the Ewing Factory.

Jeremy arrived soon after. Katherine only went out by herself after she gave him some orders.

Joaquin started pacing back and forth restlessly then. Even though he had been on life-endangering missions, he had never been so nervous and worried. This was the first time he was so overwhelmed by those emotions.

"Joaquin, will my sister be safe?" Keith worriedly asked Joaquin with his eyebrows pulled together into a frown.

Joaquin only got more upset hearing that. "I don't know. Jeremy is with her."

Seeing how it was impossible for Joaquin to settle down, Keith kindly suggested, "How about you go there yourself? You will probably feel more at ease that way."

Joaquin only resolutely shook his head. "I can't do that," he stated. "Your sister is worried for a reason. All of you will be in danger if those people came to Soulin International and found their way in. I can't just abandon you here."

"But Kathy—"

"I trust her!" Joaquin's eyes were very firm. He believed in Katherine. He knew that she would be fine and that she would come back safely.

When Katherine and Jeremy arrived at the Ewing Factory, she opened the car door and got out. She then went into the factory by herself after instructing Jeremy to stay in the car.

The entire factory building had been abandoned because of a big explosion here five years ago. There was still a pungent smell of chemicals in the air. Grass couldn't grow on the soil around the area because of the chemical pollution from the explosion.

She was greeted by the sight of Jorge being barely alive on the floor as soon as she entered the building. He was drifting in and out of consciousness at this moment. The floor he was on was covered in blood because of the three fingers that were cut off out of his five.

Despite the sight, Katherine only glanced at him briefly, and then looked at the woman in the red dress sitting in front. She lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "You are the one who kidnapped Jorge? That means you are also the one who tried everything you could to see me?"

"That is right. It is me. Bet you didn't expect it to be me, huh?" Beatrice glared at Katherine with an evil look on her face. It was as if she wanted to tear off Katherine's limbs if she could.

Not only were Beatrice's legs crippled and Joaquin didn't want her anymore, even Theodore was completely disappointed in her and had left her alone. However, hope came to Beatrice just as she was about to fall into utter despair. Someone had found her and told her that the mysterious Professor W could heal her legs as long as they were found. Beatrice might even have the chance to return to Joaquin's side.

There was no way Beatrice could say no to an offer like this, and that was why she had unhesitantly sold all the information on Katherine that she had to the person who approached her.

The person had turned out to be telling the truth, as Beatrice could now stand on her feet again.

As she stood up from the chair, her gait still looked a little awkward, but at least she didn't need to sit in a wheelchair anymore. Her eyes were burning with hatred as she looked at Katherine coldly. "Katherine Cornell, I will make you pay back what you owe me! I want your legs, and I want you to wish you were dead!"© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"Is the video also in your hands?" Katherine went straight to the point as she didn't have the patience to listen to her declarations of revenge.

"Video? Haha! Of course not. Your dear sister was the one who handed me the video. Do you want it? If you do, kneel and bark like a dog. I also want you to say that you are a shameless sl*t who doesn't deserve Joaquin!" Beatrice growled, looking pleased at being able to vent her hatred.

Katherine only wiggled her eyebrows and mockingly peered at her. "You really think you can threaten me?"

Provoked by her attitude, Beatrice brought a foot up and stomped on Jorge's injured hand. "Katherine, you'd better kneel down right this instant or I will kill him!"

"What makes you think I care about whether my mother's killer dies or not? Why don't you ask him if I will save him?" Katherine snickered and glanced at Jorge, who had a pained look on his face.

Jorge then struggled to open his eyes.

He seemed to have fallen into a trance the moment he saw Katherine—he thought he was looking at Elsie.

In fact, he had liked Elsie from the first time he saw her, or else he wouldn't have married her regardless of anything, and he didn't even mind taking her family name.

It was just that he had lost all hope in her after the numerous times he came to hit a wall when she treated him with indifference, and didn't allow him to touch her.

The incident that caused all hell to break loose, and even made him hate her was Keith's birth.

He had never once had a physical relationship with Elsie after they got married. That was why it was a big shame for Jorge when Elsie got pregnant and gave birth to Keith.

Not long after Keith was born, Jorge had completely ignored Elsie's resistance, and had taken her by force. That was the moment Jorge felt like he was finally a man.

He only got worse after that by blatantly bringing Lisa home and having his way with her in front of Elsie. However, Elsie had completely ignored him and didn't react in any way whatsoever.

She was basically a zombie at that point. She showed no emotions, and nothing could provoke her into reacting. She didn't even show an ounce of gentleness to Katherine and Keith.

Jorge was momentarily dazed, but he suddenly snickered at himself. "You are not my daughter. Every one of you go on and on about how I have betrayed Elsie when in fact, she was the one who betrayed me first. Why can't I take my revenge on someone who cheated on me first? Katherine, your mother is the one who is shameless!"