Chapter 304 Letting Him Off
As Rachael Lang listened to her husband’s changing tone, she instantly grasped the situation. Despite the ups and downs of their many years of marriage, the level of understanding and unspoken communication between them was still intact.
She turned and angrily scolded Johnathan Swann, looking like she couldn’t believe his recklessness.
“John, you are such a foolish child. How could you do this? It’s bad enough that you’re overthinking things, but you went as far as harming your sister, Kathy, as well. She is your sister, and we’re family. How could you do this?” rebuked Rachael incredulously.
Rachael sternly warned Johnathan,” I’m telling you now, I won’t tolerate this incident today. You owe your sister an explanation!”
This reprimand even made Paxton Duncan, who was standing nearby, feel uncomfortable. He seemed to understand why Catherine Swann always had that icy and distant demeanor in order to keep everyone at arm’s length.
Dealing with a family like this would be strange if she weren’t so distant. They would be all smiles when they needed something, addressing each other as family.
However, in contrast, when there was no need, they wished the other person would disappear immediately, and they were experts at placing blame. It was truly sickening.
After Rachael finished scolding Johnathan, she went on to appease Catherine. Although she secretly wished she could strangle Catherine, she had to lower her pride to please Catherine for the sake of her beloved son.
“Kathy, I know your younger brother made a mistake this time, but this is a family matter. There’s no need to take it to court, right?”
“Don’t worry; after this incident, I will definitely teach Johnathan a lesson so that he won’t dare to repeat such actions!” claimed Rachael.
In the face of Rachael’s attempts to please her, Catherine didn’t even glance at her. She stared at her phone throughout and completely ignored her. Rachael trembled with anger at the moment as she noticed Catherine didn’t bother about her.
She would have charged up and given Catherine a piece of her mind if it weren’t for Branden Duncan being present. As Rachael was unable to confront Catherine directly, she pretended to look helpless as she turned to Branden.
“Mr. Duncan, you’ve seen it too. My daughter has been distant from us since she was young. She doesn’t respond or agree to anything I say. I don’t know how to communicate with her anymore!” said Rachael.
Rachael had only one purpose in saying all this, as she wanted to expose Catherine’s true nature in front of Branden.
She couldn’t believe that a prestigious family like the Duncans would accept a girl who showed no respect for her elders and had no manners, even towards her parents.
It was known that in the world of elite families, the utmost importance was placed on etiquette and hierarchy.
While a girl like Catherine, who was lacking in manners and refinement, wouldn’t even have a chance to step into it. Branden’s lips raised slightly, and he looked at Rachael with an amused and worldly-wise smile.
“I believe motherly love is noble, but Mrs. Swann, are you worthy of it?” asked Branden. The response from Branden didn’t cause any significant injury but rather a severe insult.
Clearly, Rachael had abandoned her child out of selfishness and left her to fend for herself in the countryside. Branden thought that it was shameless of her to even blame Catherine for not being close to her.
Rachael’s face alternated with anger. She hadn’t expected Branden to come to Catherine’s defense, and she certainly hadn’t anticipated that he would show her no respect in front of everyone. She fixed her eyes on Branden and hoped to find a way to justify herself.
“Mr. Duncan, could it be that my nine months of pregnancy were a sham? I am her mother, isn’t that real?” said Rachael.
However, in contrast to Rachael’s frustration, Branden remained remarkably composed. He spoke with a calm and indifferent demeanor, a stark contrast to his heated argument with her just moments ago.
He continued, “I wonder, Mrs. Swann, if you’ve ever heard the saying, “To give birth but not raise is to be ungrateful and sinful.””
Since no one had ever spoken to her like this due to their respect for the Swanns’ influence, Rachael had been left speechless by this retort.
After all, as Catherine was a girl that nobody wanted, it wasn’t worth offending the Swanns for her sake. However, Branden was the first to speak such words, and Rachael was too shocked to know how to respond.
After she fell silent, Branden gently removed the earphones from Catherine’s ears.
“Take a break,” said Branden to Catherine. He continued, “You’ve been playing games for nearly an hour and stared at your phone screen the whole time. It’s not good for your eyes.”
His advice was delivered so gently, completely different from the way he had fiercely confronted Rachael earlier. The transformation was striking.
Then, Catherine obediently set her phone aside without hesitation. Rachael finally realized that everything she had said to Catherine earlier, and even as well as the subsequent slander, had been brushed aside.
She had acted in a play with no leading character. This realization was more embarrassing than being slapped in the face in public.
At this point, she harbored a deep hatred for Branden. However, she knew that the Duncans wielded immense power, and she had no means of resistance to them.
This feeling of pent-up anger and nowhere to vent it was enough to drive her mad. Korbin Swann had no choice but to step in after seeing his wife, who was unable to salvage the situation.
He knew that without explaining to Catherine today, or more accurately, without explaining to Branden, who was supporting Catherine, they would never be able to resolve this matter.
Since they had already obtained favorable evidence, Johnathan might actually go to jail.
“Kathy, no matter what, Johnathan is your younger brother. Please, for my sake as your father, let him off the hook. If you have any requests, name them, and I will do my best to fulfill them,” said Korbin.
Even the parents, who usually held themselves high, were bowing their heads to Catherine.
Johnathan, the fool that he was, genuinely began to feel scared. His face turned pale, and he huddled behind Rachael. He was too frightened to show his face and thus relied on his parents to resolve the matter.
Catherine smirked coldly, and her stunning face bore a chilly smile with a touch of sarcasm when she faced Korbin’s request.
“You’ll agree to any request?” she questioned. Korbin and Liana Swann felt that Catherine’s gaze was off-putting, creating an inexplicable sense of fear. But for the sake of saving Johnathan, they had no other choice.
After all, Johnathan was their only son. Korbin nodded and then looked at Catherine with a fatherly expression.
“Kathy, we’re family, and Johnathan is your brother. You wouldn’t harm him, would you?” said Korbin.
“Of course, not going to jail works too, “Catherine casually remarked in a light voice and indifferent appearance.
Korbin silently breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought that Catherine, along with Branden, had come here to make a big fuss and strip him of his dignity.
He had even prepared himself to part with some of his assets. He hadn’t expected Catherine to be so accommodating.
“It seemed that she still wanted to please us in the end.” thought Korbin. Korbin felt that Catherine was still clever in the end. After all, her blood ran with the Swanns’ lineage. Korbin assumed, “Her goal was clearly to marry the Duncans by getting closer to Branden.
“Furthermore, how could she have a better life in the Duncans without a powerful family backing her?
“Smart women knew how to make choices,” he muttered. Korbin smiled and nodded with his eyes containing a hint of satisfaction.” Catherine, I always knew that you were sensible and cared for your younger brother!” said Korbin.
Catherine gave a faint smile looking at Korbin, but her charming expression hid an unfathomable chill. She said, “Hold on!”
