Chapter 427

“...In our society, a woman who loses her chastity before marriage loses value. And now you are saying I should have done something to give away my chastity? How could you!”

Catherine’s eyes were burning in rage.

“It’s your son who cannot control his desire. It’s his fault to give in to someone’s seduction when he already pledged his love and loyalty to me.

“You talk about men’s desire. I’ve been working with men for several years but I haven’t seen anyone lust for women so crazily that they would cheat on their wives. You have a husband. Did he ever lust for other women?”

“Watch your tongue, girl!” Vincent’s mother sternly reprimanded her. “I didn’t want you to get married in the first place but only agreed because my son chose you. An orphan like you is not even fit for my son!”

Catherine coldly gazed at her. “Fit for your son? I’m afraid he is the one who isn’t fit for me. I mean you said so yourself. How can a guy who sleeps with a whore just because of his desire actually fit me, a woman with dignity? Only a whore sleeps with a whore.”

The face of Vincent’s mother turned red in anger. She yelled, “You... you dare to say that again!”

.....

The customers from other tables looked in their direction. Some were enjoying the argument and some were offended by the chaos.

“She doesn’t need to say anything. I’ll say instead,” Veronica stepped forward and held Catherine’s shoulder.

There was no way she could stand it when her friend was being framed and humiliated when she did nothing wrong.

She continued, “Your son is a whore. Do you know why? Because he sleeps with a whore. And you cannot stop our mouths. You have no right to yell at us. Rather, you should try teaching your son some basic norms and values or everyone will treat him like a whore.”

After saying her mind, she pulled Catherine. “Don’t just sit there. Let’s leave this place. I can’t stand sitting next to a whore’s mother.”

Catherine was stunned at first when Veronica used the word ‘whore’. She never saw her friend cursing at anyone. Her heart filled with gratitude.

She nodded and stood up. Without looking back, the girls paid their bills and left the restaurant.

If they looked back, they would be able to see a priceless expression on the face of Vincent’s mother.

Veronica sat on the carriage and looked at Catherine who was sitting in the opposite direction.

Catherine was looking outside the window. She was wearing a grim expression on her face.

Veronica hesitated before asking, “Cathy, you have been stuck in this kingdom for over a year. Do you want to travel somewhere far from here?

“How about going to Ironin’s place? Lady Jenette is a friendly person and she wanted to meet you. Everyone is caring. There is a huge rose garden and I’m sure you will want to see it.”

Catherine finally looked at her. “What about the work? Ovior won’t like it if I take too many days off.”

Veronica replied, “He won’t be upset if Ironin and I work on your place. He’d be happy to have two assistants then one.”

Catherine liked the idea but there was always something that made her hesitate. “But I don’t want to go there alone. I don’t know anyone.”

“I’ll ask Zinnia to accompany you,” Veronica assured her. “Let’s see what she says.”

——–

“Sorry, folks. I can’t go. I’m working on something right now,” Zinnia replied.

After Veronica and Catherine came back, they went directly to Ovior’s place. Ovior permitted Catherine to take a month off and pressed Veronica to work for him.

After that, they asked Ironin’s permission to stay at his palace. Ironin did not object.

Everything went smoothly until they talked to Zinnia. Apparently, she had some work and could not accompany Catherine.

She had to reject the offer.

“I should have thought that you were busy.” Veronica scratched her cheek. “Who should I ask?”

“Felix can do,” Zinnia suggested. “Ask him if he is free or not. Don’t ask Darius to join. Ironin might not like it since he tried to flirt with precious Duchess.”

“Duchess?” Catherine frowned. “Who is the Duchess?”

“Oh, I wanted to tell you but then things happened and I couldn’t. It’s Ironin. He is a Duke. Can you believe it? He even married Lady Jenette because he loved her!”

Veronica excitedly told Catherine about their team discovery. She even told her about everyone’s portrait.

Catherine was stunned. “What a low-profile Duke! I can’t believe this. It’s more unbelievable that he had a love marriage.”

Veronica responded, “Right? I thought all aristocrats marry for their prestige. They have lovers outside. Ironin completely changed my views of the aristocrats.”

“But now the problem is a company. Shall we talk to Felix?” Catherine asked.

“Sure. Let’s go,” Veronica agreed.

Felix was in the library. He would sometimes read books to pass the time.

Surprisingly, he readily agreed. “Sure, I will gladly accompany Catherine if that’s what she wants.”

“Are you sure? Don’t you have any mission to deal with?” Veronica asked carefully.

“Not at all. I’m free. I will tell Arthur that I’ll be on a vacation for a month. He is not my superior. He has no say in what I do,” Felix eased their worry.

‘It’s good that I can guard her away from this place. A good way to relax and enjoy a vacation,’ he thought while hiding the fact that his mission was to guard Catherine from Vincent.

———–

“Mother, you met her and you couldn’t persuade her?!” Vincent looked at his mother in disbelief.

His mother came back home right after being humiliated by Veronica and Catherine.

She complained to her husband and son and she just kept going until Vincent started to have a headache.

“Don’t look at me like that. The audacity of an orphan. She dares to call me a ‘whore’s mother’! How dare she!”

She glared at her son and chastised, “If it wasn’t for you, would I have gone to lower myself and talk to her? Just who does she think she is?!”

“Mother. Please calm down,” Vincent nervously said.

He was having a roller coaster ride from the day Catherine saw them in bed.

After he chased her for some time, he couldn’t find her because she just simply vanished.

He was astonished wondering how she could leave the place so quickly. As a city girl, she wasn’t as quick on her feet as him.

He was confident that he could soften her heart by asking for forgiveness using nothing but his sweet voice.

When he couldn’t find her and talk to her, he felt terror in his heart.

After he came back, he got shocking news.

Betty was pregnant.

With his child.

He recalled every time they slept together, he came inside her. At that moment, he was only thinking about pleasure and lust. He did not think about the consequences.

Now he realized the problem he was in.

But it was too late.

He kept writing letters to Catherine but got no response. Anxiety filled his heart.

He remembered that their wedding was only twenty days later.

He wanted to go to her house and apologize to her but he knew nothing about where she lived.

And two days later, his mother coincidentally met her but completely ruined the chance for him to apologize.

Moreover, his mother was enraged by her attitude.

He had no idea what to do.

Betty watched the family show quietly and then sneered in her heart.

‘Wasn’t she heartbroken? How come she didn’t beg for Vincent’s love? Why did she call him a whore in front of his mother?’ she wondered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her trick was simple. Just the way Veronica snatched Arthur from her, she snatched Vincent from Catherine.

Then, everything would go her way. That’s what she thought.

However, unexpectedly, Catherine didn’t act the way she did.

Betty begged for Arthur’s love. She thought Catherine would do the same

She always imagined Catherine crying and begging while she was down to her knees.

She was displeased that things didn’t go in her way.

Biting her nails, she stepped forward. When she reached Vincent, she hugged his arm.

“What should we do, Vincent? If she doesn’t listen to your mother and obey her, it means she doesn’t want to marry you, right? Does she hate you now?”

Her sweet, honey voice didn’t melt his heart. Rather, he became annoyed.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Why will she hate me? She’s just sulking. I’ll just have to talk to her. Then, everything will be fine. That’s it!”

.....

Seeing him irritated, Betty shed tears.

“Vincent, how can you talk to me like that? Please don’t upset me. I’m carrying your child right now.”

Her sweet threat worked on him. He shuddered and became quiet.

However, his mother wasn’t easy to deal with. She glared at Betty.

“You bitchy whore! How dare you threaten us with your child? Do you think we will cower because of that unborn child?