Chapter 7

"Cathy!" Samuel's voice suddenly came from behind. Catherine turned around and saw him getting out of his car. Then, he pulled her into his embrace. Unexpectedly, he sounded panicked as he asked, "Why didn't you inform me after you escaped Leonard's subordinate? Why didn't you go home? Do you know how long I've been looking for you?" Catherine leaned against his chest and could still smell the lingering scent of Natalie's perfume on him. She asked softly, "Do you still care about me now?" "Why wouldn't I" Samuel held her tighter. "I came looking for you right after I sent Natalie back." Catherine felt like laughing, but she couldn't. She raised the soaked letter. "Do you still remember this? The time capsule we buried when we were 18." Frowning, Samuel asked, "What time capsule? Did we bury something like this before?" He looked at the sky and continued, "Okay, let's go back. It's so windy here. Natalie would have to take care of you if you fell sick later." At that point, Catherine laughed until she started tearing up. It turned out that he had forgotten about the thing she had been thinking about. "Catherine, did you hear that? He forgot about it long ago!" she thought. In the following days, Catherine recuperated at home and saw how Natalie gradually relented toward Samuel. Natalie began accepting the jewelry and bags he gave her. She would wait in the living room when he came home late at night. Sometimes, Catherine would even see Natalie holding Samuel's hand secretly. A week later, the three of them attended a business banquet together. Samuel had to attend to some business owners, so he reminded Catherine before he left, "Take care of Natalie." The socialites around them started whispering. "Did you see that? He actually told his lawfully-wedded wife to take care of his sugar baby. Mr. Lynch really dotes on her." "Not only that, a mistress is dressed more extravagantly than the wife. He surely loves her to bits." "I heard that Mr. Lynch used to be so in love with Mrs. Lynch, but now…" "He used to love his wife, but now, he's met someone he loves more. Love is ever changing." Catherine listened to their conversation without saying a word. It wasn't until Natalie felt bored that she said impatiently to Catherine, "I'll walk around on my own. Mrs. Lynch, you don't have to follow me around. I won't cause trouble." Before Catherine could respond, Natalie, holding a glass of champagne, disappeared. It had barely been ten minutes when Catherine heard a familiar shriek from a distance. She rushed over and saw a scion gripping Natalie's wrist tightly. "Bitch, stop acting all high and mighty. I can have any woman I want in Berning!" "You jerk! Don't touch me!" Natalie's eyes were bloodshot as she struggled. "Let me tell you. I'm indeed poor, but I have dignity. I won't let you humiliate me like this!" Just as Catherine was about to step forward, she saw Natalie fish out an exquisite penknife from her bag. A cold glint flashed by, and blood instantly oozed out of that scion's face. That scion flew into a rage and raised his arm, wanting to hit her. Just then, a figure dashed over. Samuel threw a solid punch in that man's face. Catherine froze on the spot as she watched the raging Samuel punch that man again and again, until the latter's face was covered in blood. "M-Mr. Lynch…" The scion's face was bloody as he cried out, "We still have a collaboration!" "Not anymore now!" Samuel declared as he looked at the crowd. "Keep this in mind. From now on, anyone who lays their fingers on Natalie will be going against the Lynch family! "And you'll end up like him!" A profound stillness filled the banquet hall as Samuel dragged the half-dead scion away. When he turned around, Catherine stepped backward subconsciously. "Catherine Jackman! Was that how you took care of Natalie?" The fury in his eyes hadn't dissipated the slightest bit. She opened her mouth but couldn't force a word out. The chandelier was too glaring, and her eyes hurt. She watched him shield Natalie in his arms carefully before he left. Suddenly, she thought of that time when they got married, someone had accidentally spilled red wine on her dress. He had also lost his temper on the spot. At that time, he said, "No one can bully my wife." But now, he said, "No one can bully Natalie." Those women were right. Love was ever-changing. After the banquet ended, the three of them went back together. A piercing ringtone broke the silence abruptly. "What? Okay, I'll be there right away!" Natalie ended the call and burst into tears. "Mr. Lynch, can you send me to the hospital? My grandma… My grandma is in a critical condition." Without a second thought, Samuel made a quick U-turn. Amidst the noise of the screeching tires, Catherine's forehead hit against the car window. However, he didn't even spare her a glance and kept comforting Natalie, who was crying uncontrollably. "Don't be scared." Samuel held the steering wheel with one hand and grabbed Natalie's trembling fingers tightly with the other hand. "I'm here." When they arrived at the corridor, the doctor had just come out of the operating room. "Her liver is failing. She'd probably live a bit longer if she received a liver transplant. However, I don't see the need for a transplant surgery. She's really old, and it isn't easy to find a donor now." "She needs it! She must undergo the surgery!" Natalie suddenly clutched the doctor's coat, almost digging her nails into it. "No matter how much it costs!" Right then, Samuel had taken his phone out. "I'll have someone look for liver donors." From behind, he stood tall and resolute as he made the call. That sight reminded Catherine of the time when her father suffered a heart attack. Samuel had been sharp and decisive, and he had summoned the best specialist in the city. But now, his resolve was meant for someone else. Soon, his assistant called. Catherine stood at the side and could clearly see Samuel frowning. "Who is it?" The person on the other end of the line hesitated, but in the end, the assistant's voice could be heard clearly. "Yes. Mrs. Lynch is a perfect match." Natalie immediately turned to look at Catherine. With her face still covered with tears, she dashed over and grabbed Catherine's hand. "Mrs. Lynch, please…" Her fingers were cold and clammy. Catherine withdrew her hand subconsciously, but Samuel held it. "Cathy, just donate a part of it." His voice was soft as he added, "You won't die."