A Replacement Bride

Chapter 45

"Joe? What exactly are you looking at?"

Beatrice did not receive a response to her inquiry. Instead, she noticed Joaquin staring at the private room beside him when she looked up. As such, she turned around to see a woman sitting idly in the private room.

The woman appeared to be lazy and dressed in an ordinary T-shirt and jeans with her black hair casually tied in a ponytail; still, she was neat. Beatrice gave a quick glance before pinching her palm subconsciously as her expression grew unappealing.

How could it possibly be that woman?

Beatrice was already nervous enough when she encountered Katherine and her anxiety worsened as she found Joaquin staring at Katherine.

"Joe, I'm suddenly feeling unwell. Why don't we head back? I'm not hungry anymore." Beatrice's tone was filled with worry as she clutched onto Joaquin's arm tightly with her entire body almost glued to him.

When Joaquin heard her words, he lowered his gaze at Beatrice, who was standing in front of him. She appeared to be very uncomfortable, as evidenced by her pale face and beads of cold sweat on her forehead.

He raised his hand and placed it on Beatrice's forehead. Sensing her cold forehead, he believed her words and said gently, "Okay, let's come again next time."

"I'm sorry, Joe. I… I didn't expect to feel this uncomfortable." Beatrice dragged Joaquin out with a guilty expression.

She could not help but look at Katherine one last time before leaving and her panic did not seem to dissipate anytime soon.

What brings this woman here?

Even for the wealthy, making reservations at this private restaurant is difficult. Is Katherine's presence here an indication of her upper-class identity?

Agitated, Beatrice was terrified that Joaquin would see Katherine and recognize her. She was nervous for the entire journey and she did not even respond when he spoke to her.

Joaquin looked thoughtfully at her, knowing that she was acting strangely today.

not respond to his question,

drove her back to school and watched her entering the campus, Joaquin paused for a

with Aberama and scheduled a time plus location for the medicine delivery with him. Since it was getting late, she

remind her of the interview the following day. A new employee had been hired at the research institute

gave some affirmative hums and responses before hanging up the phone before rubbing her temples

to a halt at Soulin International and Katherine had just paid the driver. As soon as she alighted

checked the caller ID and it was an unknown local number from

people in Hovington, she paused and stared

Cornell's guardian? We are calling from the Hovington Downtown Public Security Bureau. Keith Cornell is currently being held here on suspicion of drug possession. He asked that we contact you so that you could come and bail him

remaining silent for a long time, Katherine pondered about the possibilities of this call being a

has just returned from a two-day visit to Hovington. Despite his playful appearance, he is a

be there right away." She took a brief

Downtown, I'll

large city with numerous jurisdictions and that

to the Downtown Public Security Bureau. In less than thirty minutes, the car arrived at

jumped off the car, and

busy employees in the bureau paused for a moment when they saw Katherine and asked

a young man named Keith Cornell? I'm his

behind the drug trafficking, though. It is still under consideration whether he

and realized that the

to talk about the bailing situation; the most important thing at the time was determining the cause of

fine. Take her in for a half-hour

arrived and took Katherine into the bureau's detention

beaten too as he sat there dejectedly. When Katherine came in, he