Chapter 4 Paternity Test

Dylan coughed a couple of times, thinking about the job Marcus had dumped on him, and asked softly, "Hey, Miss, are Oliver and Celeste treating you alright?"

Catherine glanced up, her eyes calm but somehow making Dylan feel all kinds of uneasy.

'Catherine's just eighteen, but why does her stare feel scarier than Marcus's? It's like she can see right through me.'

Catherine looked away, her lashes lowering as she focused on the design in her hand.

Noticing Dylan's worry, Catherine said lightly, "It's fine. Dylan, how's the scenery in Tranquil County? I haven't been there yet."

"Huh? Tranquil County? Juniper Windsor's doing research there, running a 500-acre chicken farm. The person who called you last time was from the research institute. If you're interested, I'll take you there next time. But today, we're not going there. Your family's waiting for you back home in Imperia City."

'Imperia City, the political and economic hub of Stellara, where every inch of land costs a fortune. Buying a house there, even a tiny one, would cost a ton. Yesterday, Clara wanted to buy a house in Imperia City for college, but Oliver shot it down, saying it wasn't worth the investment. He said that besides money, you need connections to buy a house in Imperia City! Oliver's connections and cash are just enough to make him the richest guy in the smallest district of Serenitia City. It's only because I've secretly given him a lot of resources for Elodie's sake that Oliver could afford a villa. But that title of the richest man might soon be gone!' Catherine thought.

After the Smith family saw Catherine off, the three of them sat together in the living room.

Clara asked uncertainly, "Celeste, if Catherine doesn't live well and gets tired of feeding chickens in the future, will she come back to us?"

Celeste responded coldly, "Let me tell you, we should stay away from her. We're not in the same league as a farmer like her."

Clara's earlier worry was that if the Smith family saw Catherine living miserably, they might take pity and bring her back.

Hearing Celeste's words, Clara felt much better.

"There was a helicopter flying by, it couldn't have been Catherine, right?"

Oliver also smiled, tapping Clara's nose affectionately and saying, "What a joke! That was the latest combat helicopter, a newly developed technology. How could Catherine's family possibly have the means for that? She must have taken the bus, probably bumping along the road right now."

'Someone who could ride such a helicopter is someone I could never meet in my lifetime. If that were from Catherine's family, I'd cook fish for Catherine with my bare hands,' Oliver swore in his heart.

"But they..." Clara was about to say when Celeste interrupted impatiently, "Didn't Oliver say? She must have taken the bus back, covered in dust and looking miserable. This afternoon, I'll take you shopping and get you more jewelry and clothes!"

Clara smiled sweetly, snuggling into Celeste's arms, "I want Quinn's new collection!"

Even a small handkerchief from Quinn's designs would make Clara the envy of the socialite circle.

Celeste agreed wholeheartedly.

The maid walked in with a package, "Sir, your package has arrived."

Oliver received so many documents and packages daily that he couldn't remember them all.

But when he opened it, the contents left him dumbfounded!

Inside were two paternity test reports.

One was for him and Clara.

The other was for Celeste and Clara.

The results of these two reports proved that Clara was Celeste's daughter but not Oliver's!

Oliver's hands trembled as he looked at the string of words and numbers.

"What is this about?"

Celeste quickly leaned in, looking at the two documents, suddenly recalling Catherine's parting words about a gift.

'That damned Catherine, spilling a secret I'd kept under wraps for over a decade, how evil!'

Celeste gritted her teeth, "Oliver, this has to be Catherine's doing. She must've had these reports faked to mess with us. Paternity tests cost a ton, and I never gave her any allowance. Where would she get the cash? She just wants to hurt Clara before she leaves!"

"Oliver, Clara looks so much like you. You can't doubt her, or you'll fall right into Catherine's trap!"

Clara, tears streaming down her face, looked pitiful.

Oliver eyed her suspiciously. 'I do see my own features in Clara's face. I also don't believe Catherine had the money or connections to secretly get a paternity test done. Thinking this way, Clara must be my real daughter.'

Oliver put down the documents, exhausted, "I'm not doubting you and Clara. I just don't want to mistake my daughter. This must be Catherine's twisted mind, trying to sow discord. Luckily, we've cut ties with her."

'Such a malicious girl, sending her away was the smartest move!' Oliver thought.

After Oliver left, Celeste finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She instructed Clara, "I've enrolled you in a class to learn various micro-expressions. As long as you mimic Oliver's expressions and demeanor, he won't doubt you anymore."

Clara dared not disobey Celeste, knowing the consequences if the truth came out, and reluctantly agreed, "Then buy me another piece from Quinn's collection. I want a matching hairpin!"

Celeste hugged her, smiling lovingly, "Sure, I'll buy it all for you."

Clara smiled with satisfaction.

'Catherine probably doesn't even know who Quinn is. Our lives would be worlds apart from now on!'

On the plane, Catherine looked at the messages on her phone, selectively replying.

She had also participated in the development of this helicopter, which had a signal even at 30,000 feet above the ground.

The phone hadn't been completely formatted. She could restore it with a few operations.

She had no interest in keeping anything from the Smith family.

Simon Miller: [Miss, the latest collection is out. I've sent the pre-order information to your phone. This design is amazing! It sold out as soon as it was released, and the money has been transferred to your account. Several wealthy ladies even fought over a scarf on the spot!]

Catherine replied indifferently, [Ensure security.]

Simon: [Don't worry, we'll make sure they compensate without a penny less!]

Having worked with Catherine for a long time, they knew her personality well.

Simon: [Have you finished the designs for the next quarter? Of course, I'm not rushing you!]

Simon had seen Catherine draw design drafts before. In an hour, while he hadn't even finished his meal, she had completed a whole quarter's worth of designs!

Each design was stunning, and by the end, Simon wanted to worship Catherine's hands.

People from the circle praised Quinn's designs as breathtaking. If they knew these were drawn during Quinn's meal breaks, their jaws would drop!

Catherine looked at the stack of blank white papers beside her.

Catherine: [They're done. I'll send them over. I'll let you know once I've prepared the developing agent.]

Simon: [Got it!]

Simon knew Quinn was extremely cautious.

She always used her specially made paper and pen for her designs, making the patterns invisible to the naked eye.

Each design required a developing agent that Catherine herself prepared to reveal the true design.

Even if someone accidentally got hold of these drafts, they would only see blank paper.

Getting Quinn's designs was harder than reaching the sky.

Dylan, having picked her up, was in high spirits, even happier than when he won the lottery a few days ago.

"Miss, you're finally home. Now our family's engagement with the Howard family is secured."