The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 294. The feud has intensified (16 more updates)

Chapter 294: 294. The feud has intensified (16 more updates)

Catherine returned home only to see the housekeeper waiting at the door, who took her luggage and said, "Miss, your mother is waiting for you in her room and wants you to see her right after you get back." He lowered his voice, "Your mother is very angry, try not to provoke her when you speak."

Catherine’s pupils shrank, a hint of fear flashing deep in her eyes, "Where is my father?"

"The gentleman has gone to Lin City to inspect the branch office. He is not in Xueli City."

Catherine understood immediately that her father had been sent away by her mother, clearly not wanting him to help her.

With heavy steps, Catherine walked upstairs and hesitated a long time at the door of her parents’ room before gathering the courage to knock.

"Come in," came an elegant female voice from inside, but it wasn’t a cheerful sound to Catherine’s ears.

She opened the door and walked over to her mother, Daisy Myer, "Mommy, I’m back."

Daisy was reclining on a lounge chair with her eyes closed. Even though she heard Catherine’s words, she didn’t open her eyes, her expression indifferent, simply asking faintly, "Do you know why I’ve called you back?"

Catherine cast her eyes down, "I don’t know."

Daisy opened her eyes and glanced at her daughter, the coldness in that look made Catherine’s body involuntarily shiver. Daisy gestured for her to look at a computer on the side.

Once Catherine saw what her mother was showing her, anger and shock crossed her face, "Mommy, who sent these to you?"

Daisy looked at her coldly, "Did you do these things?"

The computer screen displayed an email detailing the misdeeds Catherine had committed in Beijing.

Catherine wanted to deny it, but under Daisy’s icy stare, she dared not, "Yes."

Daisy stood up and slapped Catherine across the face, "Fool, who told you to do this? If you’d cleaned up your mess, I wouldn’t care, but you fool, you let others come to our doorstep."

Catherine, clutching her sore cheek and enduring Daisy’s scolding, didn’t dare talk back nor even show a hint of dissatisfaction on her face. Her mother was truly cold-hearted, even to her own daughter, ready to punish without a second thought.

Catherine had often suffered at Daisy’s hands since she was young. Seeing her mother angry now, she dared not talk back, meekly standing there with her head bowed, far from her usual haughty behavior.

After a few sentences, Daisy paused and looked at Catherine, "Go and apologize to them immediately."

Catherine suddenly looked up, "Mommy."

"What, you don’t want to?"

Catherine certainly didn’t want to—apologizing to Shen Qinglan would mean admitting in front of her that she had ruined her paintings, and it would also reveal her negative traits to that man, which was not what she desired.

Although Catherine didn’t speak, Daisy understood her meaning and scoffed, "Fine, if you don’t want to, let’s forget it."

Catherine unbelievingly looked at her mother, not expecting her to be so agreeable.

"Go out," Daisy said coldly.

Catherine gave her mother a perplexed look. Was it really over just like that? But she didn’t dare to voice her questions and simply walked out. Yet, a vague sense of unease lingered in her heart, which was confirmed the next day.

Catherine had been slapped by her mother, leaving a clear imprint on her face. As a person greatly concerned with appearances, she naturally didn’t want the house staff to see her in disgrace, so she didn’t even come down for dinner and only appeared in the dining room the next day.

"Bring me today’s newspaper," Catherine said to a servant, her mother being absent and her previous haughty manner returning.

The servant hesitated, and Catherine frowned, "Hurry up and bring me today’s newspaper, can’t you hear?"

The servant quickly nodded, "Miss, please wait a moment."

Catherine casually glanced at the newspaper, her eyes suddenly narrowing, staring intensely at the front-page headline, which alleged that a young miss from a prominent family in Xueli City, driven by jealousy and relying on her family’s power, had oppressed other more talented artists. The article also listed various pieces of evidence, and though it didn’t name names, everyone knew there was only one female artist who fit the description.

"It’s absolute nonsense, who wrote this news? I’ll make them pay," Catherine raged, even throwing the breakfast on the dining table to the ground.

"What is this behavior so early in the morning?" Daisy’s cold voice came from the entrance of the dining room, causing Catherine’s body to stiffen sharply. She turned around to see her mother watching her coldly.

Catherine forced a smile, rather dryly explaining, "I accidentally dropped breakfast on the floor."

Daisy’s expression remained cold, "Since it was an accident, be more careful next time."

"Yes, Mommy."

The maid quickly cleaned up the floor and served a new breakfast, placing it in front of Catherine. This time, Catherine did not dare to lose her temper again and quietly sat down to eat.

"Have you read today’s newspaper?" Daisy asked.

"I have."

"What are your thoughts?"

Hearing this, Catherine spoke softly, "Mommy, please help me." Catherine knew clearly that if her mother did not help her, she would be utterly ruined and would never have a place in the art circles anymore.

"You brought this upon yourself; solve it yourself," Daisy said indifferently, showing no emotion.

Catherine looked at her, "Mommy, I am your daughter, won’t you help me?"

Daisy finally looked at her, "Now you know you’re my daughter? When I asked you to apologize back then, why didn’t you listen to me?"

Catherine stiffened and murmured, "Mommy, I know I was wrong, please help me this one time." She hadn’t expected Shen Qinglan to be so ruthless. But thinking it over, she still felt a deep fear of Shen Qinglan. This woman was too frightening, already having so much evidence at hand, yet she had not exposed her back in Beijing; instead, she leaked it directly to the media in Xueli City, even managing to influence the journalists there.

If Shen Qinglan knew what Catherine was thinking, she would definitely cry foul as she had not done this.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fu was tending to his wife during breakfast, peeled a shrimp, and placed it in Shen Qinglan’s bowl, Fu Hengyi said softly, "What are you thinking about? You are not even focusing on eating."

Shen Qinglan looked thoughtfully at him and shared the events that had unfolded in Xueli City that morning, the details of which Daniel had specifically called to tell her, "Did you do this?" Shen Qinglan asked tentatively.

Just a couple of days ago, Fu Hengyi had said he would handle this matter, and today Catherine was almost ruined, which did not seem like a coincidence.

Fu Hengyi chuckled lightly, "Miss Shen, your husband is just a soldier; it’s possible if it were within the country, but overseas, I really don’t have such influence."

Shen Qinglan thought about it, "Then who did it?"

"Maybe it’s some other enemies of hers. She has blocked the paths of many painters, who all despise her deeply," Fu Hengyi spoke casually. Revealing this information to the media in Xueli City truly had nothing to do with Fu Hengyi; he had merely included this email to Daisy when he emailed others, and the rest was out of his control.

Shen Qinglan wasn’t inclined to delve into these issues anymore. Since becoming pregnant, she genuinely felt as if her intelligence had shifted to the child in her belly, unable to comprehend such convoluted issues.

**

Xueli City.

Catherine looked beseechingly at her mother, "Mommy, please help me. If this continues to ferment, I’m really done for. I’m your daughter; if I’m ruined, it won’t look good for you either, right?"

Daisy looked at her, her gaze icy, "I’ve told you before, some things you either don’t do or you must do cleanly without leaving any traces. Look at what you have done now, how big this has become. They are prepared. How do you expect me to help you?"

Catherine bowed her head, "Mommy, I know you know many people and definitely have a way out. Please, just help me this time."

Daisy snorted coldly, "Now you’ve come to beg me; what were you doing earlier? I’ve told you so many times not to be so arrogant when you’re outside."

Regardless of what Daisy said, Catherine didn’t argue, just listened obediently until even Daisy herself found it boring. She waved her hand, "You go out first. Let me think about this issue."

Hearing this, Catherine’s eyes brightened, "Thank you, Mommy." As long as her mother was willing to help her, this issue would not have negative effects on her.

After leaving her parents’ room, Catherine’s expression instantly changed. This time, her grudge against Shen Qinglan had significantly intensified; once this issue was over, she would definitely settle the score with Shen Qinglan.

After Catherine left, Daisy took out her cellphone and made a call, "Benjamin, it’s been a long time. Are you free for a meal together?"

"Sure, today at noon at twelve, I’ll reserve a restaurant and wait for you."

When Daisy came downstairs, she did not see Catherine and asked the maid,

"Miss is in the studio."

Hearing this, Daisy did not say much, but as she reached the doorway, she remarked, "Today Miss is not allowed to go out; she has to stay home obediently."

Catherine, upon hearing the maid’s relayed message, just responded with an acknowledgment. She had no intention of going out anyway; now that her news was all over, why would she go out and be a laughingstock?