Chapter 186 I Slapped Him Indeed
Donna was 70 years old now, but she didn’t look like a 70-year-old at all. There was no wrinkle on her fair and smooth skin. She looked like she was in her 50s, indicating that she must have spent quite some effort on skincare.
Audrey was worried that Catherine might be too shy to deal with this kind of occasion. So, she took Catherine to Donna and said with a smile, Grandpa, Grandma, you’re right. This
is Catherine, my sister!”
Then, she tugged at Catherine’s hand to signal the latter to say hi. Catherine said cooperatively, ” Grandpa, Grandma!”
Her voice was cold and aloof. Donna nodded with a smile on her face. “Good. Good thing that all your family are here!”
Everyone looked at Donna’s loving face and started to flatter her again. Only Catherine noticed that Donna’s smile didn’t touch her eyes at all.
And Liana, who always watched over others’ shoulders, would only lower her head and act like a good girl in front of the seniors.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I’ve been busy with my schoolwork lately, so I didn’t come to visit you often. Please don’t be mad at me!”
Donna stared at Liana affectionately with an overjoyed expression. “What a sweetheart! You have a lot of academic work to do. Of course, I won’t blame you. Your thought is the only thing that matters.
Before Liana could respond, Johnathan came over here. Compared with Liana’s obedience, Johnathan was a lot more perfunctory, just like a spoiled kid.
He looked at his grandparents in a low spirit and said casually, “Grandpa, Grandma!”
Yet, such a simple greeting just made Donna burst with joy. She broke into a beaming smile. It looked like she loved Johnathan to the core.
“Johnathan, my good boy. I haven’t seen you for quite a while. Why didn’t you come to visit me? Let me take a look at you carefully.”
Faced with Donna’s warm concerns, Johnathan was a bit grumpy, just like an unruly kid. Liana stayed aside with a composed look, but her clenched hands hanging by her sides just gave away her real feelings.
If anyone looked carefully, they would find how angry Liana was now. Catherine stood aside and looked at the scene dismissively. There was a profound look of mockery in her beautiful eyes.
It turned out that Liana wasn’t taken as seriously by the Swanns as she imagined. She was merely a bit more favored than Audrey. Johnathan was still the most loved child in the Swanns.
Johnathan darted a glance at Rachael in secret. This time, it was smart of him to turn to his mother for help. Seeing Rachael nod at him, he showed Donna his red and swollen cheek.
Just now, Donna didn’t notice Johnathan’s face. Now that he deliberately showed it to her, she immediately saw his cheek.
Instantly, she widened her eyes in shock. “Oh, my goodness. My dear, what’s wrong with your face? Who dared to beat you?” she growled.
Her loud voice just drew everyone’s attention. Audrey also noticed that. Having shot a glance over, she asked Catherine in confusion, “Kathy, did you slap him hard just now? Why does his cheek look so red and swollen? And the marks of fingers are so obvious.”
Catherine turned her head and took a look. With her eyes slightly hardening, she snorted. “Hmph. Is this all he has got?”
Somehow, Audrey felt that Catherine meant more than what she said.
“Kathy, what do you mean? Don’t tell me Johnathan slapped himself to make it look worse. Is he so crazy?”
Sometimes, Audrey didn’t know what to do with her brother. She had such a guess because she believed Johnathan might really do this kind of thing. Catherine didn’t give Audrey an answer directly. Instead, she replied in a steely voice, “You’ll know later!”
Johnathan was always trying to find a way to get revenge for himself. Now, he finally had the chance. He would never let it slip through his fingers.
Johnathan replaced his arrogant look with a pitiful and helpless expression, acting like a child who had just been hurt. He said to Donna, “I misspoke just now. Catherine heard that and then slapped me out of anger.”
Meanwhile, a relative who was on good terms with Rachael immediately chimed in. She just complained a lot about Catherine. According to her description, Catherine was like a mean girl who had done many evil deeds.
Donna shivered in a fury and thumped the table. “Just because of a few words, she beat you so hard? What kind of sister is she? I must ask her for an explanation.”
Donna angrily pointed at Catherine and said coldly, “Catherine, come here!” Catherine walked to Donna as told and then stood there lazily with her hands in her pockets.
She looked at everyone with a calm expression. If one was careful enough, he might find the chilling cold in her eyes. Donna was displeased to see Catherine’s attitude, but she didn’t show it.
Today was her birthday party. She would inevitably become a laughingstock if she lashed out at a junior in front of so many people. People would accuse her of not being amiable and forgiving enough.
Besides, Catherine was taken to the countryside when she was little. If Donna showed her detestation of Catherine from the very beginning, it would easily arouse suspicion.
She tried to look at Catherine composedly and not that seriously. Catherine, don’t worry. I won’t be biased to anyone. Tell me, did you slap Johnathan? If you say you didn’t, I’ll trust you anyway.”
She believed that Catherine wouldn’t dare to lie in plain sight. If Catherine did, Donna would definitely disclose the truth, making it easier for her to stand up for Johnathan. Catherine nodded at Donna without hesitation. “Yes, I slapped him indeed!”
As Catherine admitted it arrogantly, Johnathan got excited as if having the goods on her and yelled, “Grandma, see? She is so arrogant. She shows no respect for you at all.”
Johnathan wanted to call Catherine the bane, but after dealing with her a few times, he had learned something.
Catherine even dared to beat him in front of their parents. Who knew whether she would beat him again in front of their grandparents?
He didn’t want to take risks, so he didn’t refer to her that way. Seeing Johnathan’s anxious face, Donna slightly frowned with a disapproving look.
Yet, after all, he was her dear grandson. She didn’t scold him, though she knew his behavior was inappropriate. Instead, she said in a comforting tone, Johnny, no hurry. I’ll do you justice when I figure out what actually happened.”
