Kathryn nodded her head pitifully. She was genuinely aggrieved. Being involved with Chris had already been her worst mistake. To make matters worse, his stepmother was bullying her now. There was no way she would allow that to happen. Her life would be miserable if she allowed that woman to bully her. Chris smiled as he pulled her onto his lap. "You've made her livid, yet you still feel aggrieved?"He had heard everything when he walked in just now. Krista was so angry that she broke her high heels in the lobby downstairs. She was clearly walking with too much force because she was angry.Kathryn huffed, "Who gave her permission to say such things about me!"Chris was amused by her "miss goody two-shoes" look, which said, "It's not me. It's her!"He observed the usually timid girl and was surprised that she had managed to make Krista so angry. He believed that this was the second time she had done so.Chris felt he had made the right choice at that moment. This girl might look
Kathryn's face reddened even further as she realized she was still sitting on Chris' lap.Chris had no idea how the former had settled matters with Krista. But he was pleased that Kathryn had managed to provoke his stepmother's rage. Just as he picked up his phone, Kathryn received a notification."One hundred thousand dollars—" Her heart skipped a beat as she read its contents. "Chris!" she called out, stunned.They had talked about this before. In addition to her two-thousand-dollar salary, she received a fifty-thousand-dollar monthly allowance. Along with the leaves she had taken this month, she should not receive more than 52 thousand dollars.But now, the numbers on her screen demanded her attention.Ten thousand dollars … It felt like the sky had simply parted for an influx of undeserved cash to drop into her lap.Her dazed expression earned a chuckle from Chris. "Your performance has been exceptional. Consider the rest a bonus.""Thank you, Mr. Albert!" Kathryn's smil
Abruptly, her phone vibrated on the couch, prompting Kathryn to pick it up hurriedly. As she did so, she did not forget to peer in Chris' direction.It wasn't until she was certain she hadn't disrupted his work that Kathryn let out a sigh of relief.Chris hated disruptions, especially when he was editing his documents.Kathryn picked up her phone and headed to the balcony outside the lounge. Only then did she glance at the caller ID.It was Wendy.Kathryn's expression darkened. She answered the call anyway. "Hi," she began coolly."Hi, Kathryn. I-It's me!" Wendy's voice came through her phone, filled with feigned gentleness. She was probably feeling rather awkward herself, for her voice sounded unnatural.Kathryn hummed coldly.Her indifference enraged Wendy, but the latter attempted to suppress her temper. "So, when are you bringing Chris back home?" she asked.A flash of iciness crossed Kathryn's face. "Why do I have to bring him back home?" she asked unceremoniously."Kath
Kathryn wiped the tears away from her face clumsily. She turned, only to meet Chris' fathomless gaze."Mr-Mr. Albert." She shivered involuntarily.The contrast between the two of them was stark.Chris' gaze darkened as he strode in her direction. Instinct had her stepping back at once.Despite her retreat, Chris managed to grab her chin, his other arm circling her slender wrist. "Who were you calling just now?" he asked."Someone as shitty as Krista," Kathryn told him with a snort.Chris raised a brow. "Your stepmother?""No!" Kathryn's rage flared even more.To some degree, she could understand Krista's horridness. After all, evil stepmothers were prevalent—they always have been."Do the two of you not get along?" Chris pressed on."My grandmother was the one who raised me," Kathryn replied.Chris nodded.The investigation's information matched what she had told him now. She was an orphan who was completely dependent on her grandmother for her survival.Even so, he had ne
Meanwhile, Krista was enraged when she returned to Albert Manor. She was intent on gathering some of her things there before heading to the hospital.Unfortunately for her, her mother, Savanna, was there as well.Upon her return, Savanna stood up from the couch. "Where have you been? I went to the hospital, but you weren't there!"Krista limped over and hurled her bag onto the couch. "Franco wants to see Chris. I went by the company."Her anger flared as she spoke.Now that the entire domestic group belonged to Chris, Krista didn't want to stop by the company if she could help it.Franco's loyal employees were still working within the company. So she dared not stay away for too long as well.Krista didn't expect Chris to be absent and that shameless person to be there when she arrived.A trace of frostiness graced Savanna's eyes as soon as Krista mentioned Chris' name."Is that Michaels woman taken care of yet? Don't you, for one second, forget your agreement with the Winchest
After picking up a few files, Chris asked Kathryn, "Can you walk on your own?""I'm fine." Kathryn nodded hurriedly.Shortly after, she left the office together with Chris.As the office assistants prepared to leave, they pretended to be busy when Chris walked past them.Then, they caught sight of Kathryn walking behind Chris subserviently.When they recalled Kathryn causing Krista's ankle sprain, they silently cursed her together.How they wished Chris could see through her simpering faꞔade. How they wished he could chance upon her true colors!Unbeknownst to them, Kathryn had received a bonus of 48 thousand dollars due to her true colors.The pair soon boarded the car.Chris' phone vibrated at that moment. When he took it out, he realized it was a call from Franco.The way he saved Franco's contact as his full name pointed to their strained relationship. Immediately, Chris declined the call.Yet, a new call came through once more. It seemed that Franco wasn't about to gi
After Chris sent Kathryn back to Rexton Manor, he left. He didn't say where he was going, and Kathryn didn't dare ask.Cara was still there. Usually, Chris spent his nights outside, so she didn't have to spend that much effort on cooking.But now, he had a wife who'd burn the kitchen down if she tried. That was why she had to cook three meals.Cara's meals were both delicious and nutritious. However, Kathryn was nauseous because of her pregnancy. She had no appetite at all.When Cara noticed Kathryn wasn't eating much, she asked, "What's wrong, Madam? Is the food not to your liking?""No, I just had some snacks this afternoon at the office, so I'm not hungry," Kathryn replied.Kathryn didn't dare reveal a single clue when she thought about Cara's sharp gaze!She and Tally hadn't really thought about coming up with excuses to cover up her nausea yet. However, Cara had already asked her about it! If anyone checked ...Kathryn got a headache just thinking about it."You can clock
Jessica heard the tension in Kathryn's voice. It only appeared whenever Kathryn dealt with Wendy and Maxwell.Finally, Jessica sighed. "Wendy is coming to Harborlean!""What?" Kathryn wondered if Wendy would come for her now, considering how she had tormented Jessica for so long."Kathryn, I know she has mistreated you this whole time, but you know how difficult someone like her can be!" Jessica felt lost dealing with a mother like Wendy. She grew up with Wendy but struggled more than Kathryn, who stayed with their grandmother.At least their grandmother was gentle. Despite her age and poverty, she cared about Kathryn.Jessica married, moved to Harborlean, and tried her best to appease Wendy. She did all of these to prevent Wendy from coming over to bother her. But because Jessica always appeased Wendy, her appetite only got bigger. Now, the moment she found out Kathryn had married into a rich family, she tried to get something out of it too.But Kathryn wasn't a pushover. Sh