Chapter 185 Foolish Johnathan
There was no way to deal with Catherine, so Johnathan had to seek help from his parents.
“Mom, Dad, look. She dared to hit me in front of you. She used to bully me every day! She’s so arrogant! She’s a monster. If you don’t punish her, she’ll make more trouble,” he exclaimed.
Rachael didn’t lose her temper. They were in public, and she had to maintain her composure in front of Korbin, the head of the family. She turned her gaze towards Korbin, expecting him to handle the situation.
Korbin looked at Catherine with a dark expression, his eyes sharp and fierce. “Catherine, why are you so rude? What do you think you are doing?”
Audrey was frightened. She grabbed Catherine’s hand, trying to prevent her from acting impulsively. But Catherine wasn’t being impulsive.
Catherine didn’t lose her temper or show much emotion from beginning to end. She calmly met Korbin’s gaze, her indifferent attitude revealing an unknown hint of coldness.
“So, in your opinion, it’s acceptable for Johnathan, the legitimate heir of the Swanns, to shout and insult his sister in public?” she asked. “Or perhaps Johnathan’s actions were instructed by his parents?”
Korbin felt embarrassed being publicly questioned like this. Seeing that Korbin didn’t immediately punish Catherine, Johnathan grew impatient and angrily suggested. “Dad, why waste time talking to her? Just get someone to hold her down and teach her a lesson!”
Korbin turned his head and glared at Johnathan, scolding. “Sit down!” The authoritative and stern words almost made Johnathan kneel in fear.
Under Rachael’s gaze, Johnathan reluctantly sat down, his eyes filled with resentment. Korbin coldly stared at the disobedient Johnathan, feeling that he was stupid. It was true that Catherine was a troublemaker, but that was just a rumor spread in private.
Before Vicente passed away, he personally brought Catherine back, acknowledging her identity. As a daughter of the Swanns, she was a part of the Swanns.
Prominent families always valued their reputation, and Johnathan’s outburst had indeed tarnished the Swanns’ image.
Regardless of how they treated Catherine privately, those scandals couldn’t be brought to light. If people found out that the Swanns couldn’t even accept their own daughter and treated her so poorly in private, what would happen to the Swanns’ reputation?
Korbin observed Catherine, and from her calm and composed demeanor, he sensed something. It turned out that this girl dared to be so audacious because she believed he wouldn’t allow the Swanns’ reputation to be insulted in public. No wonder she was so confident.
If anyone was to blame, it could only be his foolish son, who acted without using his brain.
Despite knowing how arrogant Catherine was, Korbin had to swallow his anger silently. He was highly frustrated. He suppressed his anger and reprimanded Johnathan, “Johnathan, if I hear those words from your mouth again, there will be severe consequences. Now, apologize to your sister!”
Johnathan was dumbfounded. He didn’t expect to be the one who had to apologize to Catherine. What kind of logic was this?
Johnathan almost exploded with rage, but Rachael stopped him in time. She whispered, “My dear son, don’t forget why we came here today. Let that troublemaker be arrogant. The more arrogant she is, the less people will tolerate her. It’s best to let everyone witness her rudeness, and then your uncle can deal with her.”
Under Rachael’s persuasion, Johnathan finally managed to hold back his anger. At the moment, Korbin had made a decision. Just because Catherine wasn’t afraid of him didn’t mean that the other Swanns weren’t scared of him.
Rachael was just a housewife without any real power. Everything she had came from the Swanns. Now that Vicente had passed away, she could only rely on her husband, Korbin. Johnathan was facing the same situation. Therefore, they couldn’t offend Korbin as Catherine did.
In their opinion, Catherine was just temporarily arrogant and would eventually be kicked out. They didn’t even want to pay much attention to her.
Everyone thought Catherine would be severely punished, but it turned out that Johnathan was the one who apologized. Those who had looked down on Catherine and considered her a troublemaker were dumbfounded.
Could it be that Catherine held a high position within the Swanns? Nobody knew for sure. However, her arrogant attitude and the aftermath of her defiance made everyone cautious about underestimating her.
These people were trying to curry favor with the Swanns during this birthday banquet, but now they didn’t even dare to offend Catherine. Even the legitimate son of the Swanns would get hit for calling her a “troublemaker,” let alone these people.
The situation quickly calmed down, and Audrey finally breathed a sigh of relief. She cautiously pulled on Catherine’s sleeve and whispered, ” Kathy, I was so scared just now. I was going to run away with you.”
Audrey showed Catherine the car keys she had taken out of her bag. She had decided just now that if Korbin ordered someone to punish Catherine, she would run away with her. Anyway, they didn’t live in the Swanns’ house anymore. She could run away with Catherine, buying them some time to consider what they should do next.
Looking at Audrey’s serious expression, Catherine found it amusing, which was a peculiar feeling.
Catherine didn’t expect that when faced with conflict with the Swanns, the once obedient eldest daughter of the Swanns would want to run away with her.
Catherine felt that her cold heart seemed to melt, and an unknown affection swept over her. Liana suppressed all her dissatisfaction. She thought that under Johnathan’s provocation, Korbin could teach Catherine a lesson.
However, Johnathan was such a fool. Not only did he fail to teach Catherine a lesson, but he also got slapped himself.
How stupid!
Now that Catherine was showing her edge, it wasn’t the time for Liana to confront her directly.
Liana decided to stay put. She was always good at reading the situation and knew her mother would not let Catherine off the hook. She could do nothing now but wait for her mother to take action.
A sound came from behind, and everyone turned their heads in unison. Catherine also turned back to take a look.
It turned out that Donna and her husband had arrived. Today was her seventieth birthday, and she entered the hall in a festive red traditional dress, looking energetic. Everyone stood up and happily wished Donna a happy birthday, their faces filled with smiles.
The two elders walked towards the main table, where the close relatives, including Korbin and the others, were seated.
After the two elders approached, their gazes fell on Catherine. Donna suddenly asked, “You’re Catherine Swann, aren’t you?”
