A Replacement Bride

Chapter 196

"What's this? How could anyone dump trash into someone's house?" Jennifer, who was ready for a morning jog, saw a discarded box at the doorstep. Given how there was no courier receipt on it, it seemed to be a prank.

Instinctively, she reached out her arm to throw it away. However, the content fell out of the substandard cardboard the moment she picked it up.

"Ah!"

A couple of minutes later, Katherine was in the living room with a cruddy box placed in front of her. The finger in it was appalling and the blue diamond ring it wore seemed familiar.

There was also a bloody memo alongside it.

She took it to read the chicken-scratch words. 'Jorge Cornell is in my hand. If you wanna save him, come to the Ewing Factory within two hours. After that, I'll chop off his finger with every hour that you're late.'

She put the memo back and stared at the finger in silence.

She could recall something about the blue diamond ring. It was Jorge's favorite ring and it was a very expensive one. Now that the Cornell Family was announced bankrupt, he began to keep a low profile. He had been staying under the radar probably because he was aware that he did not have the chance to make a comeback.

Even Katherine barely remembered his existence. Once she found out that he was kidnapped, mixed feelings were churning in her stomach.

"Kathy, you mustn't go! Have you forgotten how Jorge treated you and your mother? His life and death has nothing to do with us. You can't take the risk for him. I forbid it!" Jennifer insisted on disagreeing with the risky decision upon reading the content on the memo.

Meanwhile, Joaquin was all quiet as he merely watched Katherine.

"Grandma." She picked her words carefully in her head. "Jorge is wrong, but he can't just die in their hands. He's the cause of Mom's death and I haven't got to the bottom of the truth yet. I need to know how she died. Please, let me go."

"Impossible! I've lost your mother and I can't lose you too. Can't you let me live at ease? I'm just an old lady. If I take another blow again, I might lose my life." A crying Jennifer drubbed her chest. No matter what Katherine said, she would never let her granddaughter risk her life.

Fear had never swallowed Katherine one bit when she faced the world's most dangerous virus, but Jennifer's tears rendered her helpless. After a while, she finally relented. "Fine, Grandma. Stop crying. I won't go, alright?"

As she had caved in, Jennifer stopped crying before glaring at Keith warningly. "Yes, you must not go! And you, Keith. Never set your foot out of the door. Those people have no heart. Who knows if they want to kidnap you? Jorge has nothing to do with us. We can choose to not save him, but you're different. If that event comes to pass, your sister will save you even if it costs her life."

He touched his nose innocently. "I didn't say I'm going outside, Grandma."

"I know you like the back of my hand, young man. I overheard you when you were over the phone. 8.00PM at Blue Diamond Club? If you go there, you'll be abducted for sure. They'll chop off your fingers and maybe even your ears!" She snorted and raised her chin pridefully.

Katherine narrowed her eyes coldly at him.

This brat is going out without my knowledge?

The revelation by his own grandmother pricked Keith's guilty conscience. When he noticed Katherine's gaze, he lifted his hands mid-air cowardly. "Sorry, Kathy. I really didn't wanna go, but they kept ringing me. They said I should join them because it's been a long while since the last time I was here."

"How did they know that you've returned?" She frowned, sensing that something was off.

He was baffled too. "I'm not sure about that."

"Who called you?" questioned Katherine.

"Jack. We're quite close before this. When I was in trouble, he was the one informing you secretly." Keith leveled with her since he dared not hide anything from her.

"Call him right now." Her fingers tapped on the couch as she lifted her chin at him.

Obediently, he fished out his phone and contacted Jack.

"Hey, Keith. Are you on your way now?" Jack picked up the phone very soon.

Keith glanced at Katherine before answering, "Nope, but how did you know that I've returned to Hovington? Who told you?"

"Doesn't everyone know about this? They told me and specifically informed me to bring you along. What's the matter? Are you still up for it? I'm heading out now. Need a lift?" Jack replied naturally.

"Who are they?" inquired Keith.

"Is this an interrogation? Why are there so many questions? It's Bentley and the gang. I've been hanging out with them after you left for Kyoland. They're quite the wild players. I heard there's some hot chicks joining us today. It'll be your loss if you don't come." Jack smiled sinisterly upon giving the hint.

Keith flushed instantly as he retorted, "Cut it out! I'm not that kind of person!"

"Tsk. Stop pretending. It's me! Your bro! Enough of the talking, Bentley is phoning me. I gotta go." Jack wanted to hang up the phone upon scolding him.

"Wait," Katherine piped up when she had been quiet the whole time.

Hearing her voice, Jack paused for a moment and did not terminate the call.

After a moment of silence, she continued, "Come to Soulin International. I'll ask the guards to let you in."

Despite the doubt, Jack gladly responded since he was close with Keith and recognized Katherine.

An hour later, he arrived at the destination.

"Katherine, are you looking for me? What's the matter?" He entered and smiled at her.

She observed him from head to toe before motioning him to sit by lifting her chin after which he followed. "Katherine, I didn't teach Keith anything bad. I'm just inviting him to hang out with us. If he doesn't want to go, I won't say anything."

She glanced at him differently without commenting on his sayings. "Not this. Don't go to Blue Diamond. Keith is their target."

As soon as she said that, his phone rang and he took a glimpse at it. "It's Bentley and the gang."

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