Chapter 2

"Poor little fool! Richard, do they treat you like this at home too when you act like an idiot?"

Not far away, a baby-faced guy in a black suit clicked his tongue as he looked at the disheveled Catherine. He instinctively glanced at the tall figure in sunglasses sitting in a wheelchair beside him. The baby-faced guy leaned lazily against the wheelchair and stretched with a big yawn. "How long are you gonna keep this up? I heard your grandpa wants you to marry that Spencer family heiress to secure your future early."

Richard withdrew his gaze from Catherine's delicate yet disheveled face and, after a moment of contemplation, finally spoke. "No rush. The fish hasn't taken the bait yet."

The baby-faced guy hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.

Back then, when he learned that his extraordinarily talented friend Richard had become paralyzed and a fool, he only felt that God was unfair. Little did he expect that Richard would quietly send him a message, saying he suspected someone in the family was plotting against him and hoped for his help.

He marveled at Richard's meticulous mind, even more so because Richard was still a teenager at the time. At the same time, he also felt a pang of pity for this friend who was just sixteen.

"Stop daydreaming, let's go."

Without looking back, Richard turned his wheelchair towards the narrow country path. His wheelchair had been specially modified to adapt to various terrains, making it more convenient than ordinary legs.

"I have to get back today, or it'll raise suspicion."

"So are you gonna marry Ms. Spencer or not..."

Their voices faded into the night wind. Not long after, a black sedan suddenly stopped at the door of the dilapidated cottage.

Oliver and Clara, looking impatient, followed Elodie into the small house, wrinkling their noses in disgust.

This place was so shabby! If it weren't for Amara...

Catherine was leaning on her desk, pondering her next move when she saw Elodie leading two people into the room. Elodie trembled as she hugged Catherine.

"Catherine, your mom and dad are here to take you back to the city. You have to listen to them, okay? There are pretty clothes and your favorite snacks..."

Catherine frowned.

Oliver had remarried quickly after her mother passed away and had left her in the countryside for years.

After all these years of neglect, suddenly wanting to take her back was definitely suspicious.

Catherine's contemplation looked like a fool's daze to Oliver and Amara. Clara sneered, "Don't waste time. We'll take good care of her. Let's get her out of here."

What was that attitude?

Catherine spoke coldly, enunciating each word. "I'm not going."

Clara was stunned for a second, realizing that this fool could talk.

"We're your parents! You have to go whether you want to or not!" Oliver scolded, "Do you think we'd mistreat you? We've arranged a good marriage for you! You're going to marry into the Smith family in Harmony City... Forget it, you wouldn't understand! Just come with us!"

Elodie frowned at this remark, stammering, "Catherine is still young, how can she..."

'The Smith family in Harmony City? Is that the family Aurora visited before she disappeared?' Catherine pondered.

Oliver and Amara, growing impatient, were about to have the bodyguards drag Catherine away when she lifted her eyelids and spoke in a flat tone. "I'll go with you, but you have to give my grandma some money."

Catherine's clear speech made it hard to believe she was a fool. Even Elodie looked at her in disbelief.

"Elodie, you're quite the opportunist, claiming it's for Catherine's sake, but all along it's just a roundabout way to get our money?" Clara sneered.

Clara didn't believe Catherine had suddenly gotten better. If she had, she wouldn't be foolishly staying here instead of going back to a better life.

So Clara naturally thought Elodie had taught her to say this. Just as she was about to mock Elodie, Catherine's impatient voice interrupted.

"A million dollars. No money, no deal."

So greedy!

Clara took a deep breath but, for Amara's sake, reluctantly signed a check and threw it on the table. "Can we go now?"

Catherine glanced at the check, saw no issues, and nodded, standing up.

Elodie hurriedly grabbed her hand. "Catherine, marriage is no small matter. I can still take care of you..."

"I'll go with them. Take care of yourself. I'll come back to see you."

She hugged Elodie gently, feeling a sudden surge of affection that made her nose tingle.

Catherine's hand paused, then she let go after a moment, following Oliver and Amara out with a blank expression.

She couldn't stay here forever, but she would bring Elodie to live with her when she had the chance.

The black Maybach sped along, with Oliver and Amara chatting away, completely ignoring Catherine. Perfectly, she felt content being left alone.

To her surprise, the Maybach stopped at a tailor shop. Oliver and Amara had her change clothes and get her makeup done before taking her directly to the Smith Villa.

Catherine frowned.

Such urgency suggested that there must be significant problems with the marriage.

The Smith family didn't seem to have anyone her age. In her memory, the old patriarch of the Smith family, Simon, had three sons. The eldest son had already passed away, and now the second son, Lucas Smith, was in charge of the family. That Lucas must be nearly forty or fifty years old by now.

Could they be planning to marry her to Lucas?

Catherine shuddered at the thought. Just as she was considering escaping, Clara spoke coldly. "After you marry Simon's grandson, you'd better behave. The Smith family has strict rules. If they kick you out, you'll starve on the streets! Your grandma won't be able to help you!"

"I'm telling you, this is a good marriage. If your sister hadn't turned down that fool, you wouldn't have had a chance."

Oliver snorted, his gaze threatening. Catherine, however, had no time to deal with their pettiness.

A fool?

Simon's grandson?

Did Simon have grandsons? She didn't seem to recall. Having been out of the country for many years, she wasn't so well-informed about these matters anymore.

Catherine frowned, pondering these oddities. The car stopped at the entrance, and Oliver made a call. A servant then led Catherine inside.

"Mr. Smith, your bride is here."

Catherine was led into the hall, where she saw a man in a loose hospital gown sitting in a wheelchair, grinning foolishly, drool dripping from his chin.

Wasn't he...

A malicious snicker came from the side. "Two fools, this should be interesting."

"What fool? How could the Spencer family heiress be a fool?"

"You didn't know? Someone from the Spencer family just said this Ms. Spencer is Oliver's first wife's daughter, and she became an idiot from a fever."

"Mr. Simon Smith must be furious."

Catherine stared at the man in the wheelchair, a flash of surprise and disbelief in her eyes.

How could she mistake that face? Wasn't he Cedric, the CEO of TY Group, with whom she was about to collaborate?