Chapter 14 Theodore himself couldn't quite tell whether he started looking for a substitute because he liked Isabelle, or simply to spite Katherine. He always felt that Katherine only seemed to love him more than life itself, but in reality, she didn't really care about him. He couldn't believe that there could truly be someone who, in front of his fiancée, would turn a blind eye to his ro- mantic affairs. But why did he want to upset Katherine in the first place? It seemed... it was because he liked her. It was like coming home every day to a steaming hot dinner; It was like when he was tired and wanted a cup of coffee, she would snatch it away and replace it with her special re- vitalizing tea, saying that caffeine was bad for his heart; It was like when he was sick and hospitalized, she stayed by his side day and night, her eyes red but still comforting him that everything would be fine... Unknowingly, Katherine's gentle smile had already taken root in his heart. Thinking of this, Theodore couldn't help but let a trace of a happy smile appear at the corner of his lips. No matter what Isabelle thought, he had a clear conscience towards her. From now on, he wanted to live well with Katherine and make up for everything he owed her over the past five years. Theodore returned to the wedding venue, which had already been decorated in Katherine's favorite style-a castle from a century ago. He didn't know Katherine's preferences; he had asked Katherine's parents, Henry and Winifred Pearson, just to give Katherine a surprise. Even though Theodore didn't like this style, and even though Theodore's parents thought it was too informal, he still insisted on it. He had already taken full control of the Bagnall family's business, securing their position as the wealthiest family. No one dared to disobey him. From now on, no one would dare disrespect Katherine. As he was thinking, Henry approached with a fawning smile, accompanied by a young woman dressed in a mature style, holding his arm. 0.0 % 09:44 Judging by her appearance, this woman should be Katherine's sister. But... wasn't Katherine an only child? Thinking of Katherine, he patiently finished greeting Henry and tried to leave, but Henry stopped him. "Mr. Bagnall, this is my daughter Cecelia Acrea, the current president of the Acrea Group. The recent new project completed with the Bagnall Group was all managed by her." Cecelia stepped forward, her confident and radiant expression tinged with a hint of admiration, and she graciously raised her hand to greet him: "Hello, Mr. Bagnall." Theodore had met no fewer than a hundred women like her. Moreover, the ambition in her eyes was too strong, far less pure and kind than Katherine. He had no interest in be- friending her at all. He put his hands in his pockets, gave a cold "Mm," and was about to leave. But Cecelia kept chattering on about her business philosophy and plans for the new project, which greatly annoyed Theodore. Just as he found an excuse to leave, Winifred came over from the other side, bringing with her a young man about Katherine's age to greet him. The flattery on both sides was exactly the same. Already in a bad mood from not seeing Katherine, Theodore grew even more irritable. Not to mention, he keenly sensed the hostility between the two parties, and noticed that the young man resembled Winifred but not Henry. A thought seemed to occur to Theodore. He swept his cold gaze over the four of them and said, "I'm marrying Kather- ine, not the Acrea family or the Pearson family. Don't try to force a connection." Taking advantage of the fear in their eyes, Theodore pushed past them and left. He called his assistant over and said, "Look into what kind of life Katherine had in the Acrea family, and what her re- lationship with Henry and Winifred is like." 52.8 % 09:44