Chapter 7 Back To The Past (2)

• In October, autumn tinges Central Park in New York with gold, making it the best place to enjoy the red leaves of the season. Sitting on the red leaves, a man and a woman embraced. The man's profile was masculine and elegant, as he leaned in and kissed the woman in his arms. The setting sun cast their shadows in a circle of light, and Catherine couldn't see the woman's appearance clearly. She clenched her fists and took a step forward impulsively. She quickly approached and pulled Lucian away from the woman, looking him in the face. She protested.
• " How can you be with other women? How can you? Lucian, I am the only woman who can please you. Only me."
• She took out her university diploma and graduation photo from her bag and waved them in front of him enthusiastically.
• " I have worked hard to be worthy of you. You can't be with other women. When Catherine pushed him away a moment ago, he was surprised. But now, hearing her words, Lucian's face was filled with disgust. In his opinion, Catherine was a girl who had not grown up, a spoiled daughter who would get what she wanted. And he was on her list. This made him very unhappy."
• He reached out and took the woman next to him. Again, he looked at Catherine calmly.
• " Catherine, you have grown up but your stubbornness is still the same. You must know that I have someone I like, and it's her, not you. No, I liked you before and I don't like you now, and you won't be able to please me in the future. So give up."
• Lucian's words stabbed Catherine's heart. She didn't understand what she did wrong. Can't he see her love?
• " Lucian, do you like a woman like that? A woman who has no figure, appearance, or family status? What does she have to offer you?"
• " Watch your words! " Lucian didn't like Catherine's attitude and hugged the woman next to him.
• " She is Franchesca, and she is the type of woman I like. Who do you think you are to judge her? Do you think you're better than her?"
• " I... " Catherine was hurt and angry. Throwing things in her bag, she sharply looked at Lucian " You, you said you liked me. How can you fall in love with someone else?"
• " I never said I liked you, I never said I would wait for you. It was you who created false hopes " Lucian spat out his words with disdain, hugged the girl next to him, and walked away.
• As she watched the woman in his arms, the tenderness in his eyes for her, all of this hurt Catherine's heart. She watched the two people embracing, feeling like her world was growing darker.
• What is the purpose of years of perseverance? Did I work hard for so long for what? Lucian was with another woman, so what was she?
• Turning her face to look at the beautiful sunset, she suddenly decided that she would not give up. " No, I will not give up like this, I will not give up at all."
• Catherine James. Don't give up. Absolutely not!
• Catherine took a few days to clearly address the issue. The name of that woman was Franchesca, she had found out that she was a teacher in the county where Lucian is now. After graduating, she left her job in the coastal cities. She returned to a small town to support education. After teaching for a year, she was awarded as the most dedicated teacher. And at the ceremony, Lucian was in charge of presenting the award.
• She didn't know how they had been together afterwards.
• This time, Lucian brought Franchesca with the intention of officially introducing her as his girlfriend to his family and then marrying her.
• Marry that woman? What about her?
• Catherine decided to personally confront Franchesca, she wanted to know how she had gotten close to Lucian, deep down, that woman was not what she seemed. So she planned to visit her at the hotel where she was staying. Upon seeing Catherine, Franchesca was surprised. But she politely took her back to her room, and after entering, Catherine made her requests bluntly.
• " I want you to stay away from Lucian."
• " What? " Franchesca was astonished, looking at the haughty woman who had suddenly appeared at the hotel " I don't understand what you mean."
• " You don't understand? " she sighed " Lucian is now the magistrate of the county and will soon have an official career in the army. Maybe even a position in the government. If you're with him, what can you offer him?"
• " I... " Franchesca was cut off by Catherine, she wanted to say that she and Lucian had fallen in love, and that he didn't care about her background, but Catherine smiled again as she said.
• " I have investigated you, you are an orphan. You were raised by villagers, and to repay their kindness, you promised to stay there for the rest of your life. But have you ever thought about it? If you stay there, what will happen to Lucian? Do you know the status of the Landong family? Look at your appearance, look at your background, if Lucian stays with you, you will only embarrass him. Franchesca was hurt by Catherine, biting her lip, she was unable to say a word for a long time."
• " If they laugh, it's at me, and that's none of your business " Lucian suddenly said, Catherine didn't hear him come in. His face showed anger, when he arrived he stood at the door listening to Catherine coldly.
• " What right do you have to humiliate and attack Franchesca? Who do you think you are, to speak to her like that?"
• " Lucian " Catherine refused to accept that he preferred to be with a woman like her " I love you, this woman is not worthy of you. Why can't you love me? Why don't you give me a chance? He didn't even look at Catherine, he approached Franchesca and gently took her into his arms. " Don't be afraid, I'm here. It's her who is not worthy of me.
• Saying this, he sweetly kissed Franchesca's hair and then turned to look at Catherine with disdain.
• " I warn you, do not look for her again. Understand that I have never liked you, I have never loved you. I will never love you. Even if you were the only option between living or dying, then I would choose death. Have some shame, and stay away from us!"
• Lucian's words once again pierced Catherine's heart. Each word he had spoken a moment ago was a new wound, while the old ones had not yet healed. But even so, she refused to give up. As she turned to leave, she swore in her heart that someday Lucian would love her and regret his words.
• A few months later, Catherine did not expect to encounter Franchesca. She had accompanied some clients who came to the city for business. Before she could say anything, Franchesca entered the elevator like a lost soul and didn't even notice her presence.
• Seeing the closed elevator doors, Catherine inwardly sighed.
• "Don't you have any manners? Walking without even looking at people."
• As Franchesca was about to exit, a paper on the floor caught her attention. It was a medical history diagnostic report.
• "Is she sick?"
• There was a touch of complexity in her heart. After picking up the paper and reading it, Catherine felt like God was helping her.
• "Franchesca, do you have cancer?"
• Catherine did not leave the hotel. After asking about the room where Franchesca was staying, she quickly went up. Catherine confronted her. She told her that she was willing to give her five million, money she would never earn in her life, but in exchange she had to leave and abandon Lucian. Franchesca had just learned about her illness and looked at Catherine in surprise. She didn't care about this woman's opinion of her. She has a friend studying medicine, so she asked him about the topic before coming here.
• She looked at Franchesca and continued.
• "Now you're sick, and it's not just any illness, it has an expensive treatment. I am willing to pay for your treatment, and you can keep living. Isn't that altruistic of me?"
• Franchesca was confused, the news had taken her by surprise, but she still wanted to tell Lucian. Maybe together they could face the illness.
• Catherine saw the doubt in her eyes, then said relentlessly.
• "Even if your illness is cured, you won't be able to have children in the future. Lucian is the eldest son of the family, everyone expects him to have heirs, even though he is so cold and serious, at some point he will want to have children. What will you do then? Have you thought about it? He will never want a woman who can't have children. So it's best for you to leave. Otherwise, when his parents hate you and his grandfather hates you, do you think he will be happy?"
• After signing the check and placing it in front of Franchesca, Catherine sighed.
• She had already given her heart, so she was unable to give up. Even if she acted dishonorably, she was determined to get the man who was meant for her.
• "Fine... I'll leave."
• Franchesca turned around to pack her things. Before leaving, she took the check from Catherine's hand.