A Replacement Bride

Chapter 129
"Yes. The guests are here to meet you. It's Mrs. Leigh and her daughter. The ones who came by our home the last time. They
said that they have something urgent to discuss with you. They look quite desperate." Under Tessa and London's watchful eyes,
Jorge hurriedly put in a few good words as he thought of the benefits that they had promised him.
"Me? I'm just an ordinary person. How can I help them?" Katherine feigned astonishment.
"That's..." Jorge was lost for words.
"Mr. Cornell, this daughter of yours is truly an unfilial one. You're personally making a call to ask her to come back, yet she's still
trying to play coy. Looks like your position in this family isn't all that." London grew slightly displeased as there wasn't even a
shadow of Katherine around even after her father had been nagging for her to come home. If it weren't for her mother's
condition, she wouldn't have come here only to suffer at the whim of some child.
"Mrs—"
"Dad, with how they're acting, I doubt they're coming to meet me for a good reason. Anyway, if there's nothing else, then I have
to go. Joaquin's calling me." As Katherine heard how arrogant London was through the phone, she immediately ended the call.
With his mouth slightly gaped, Jorge was about to say something but couldn't bring his voice out in the end.
"Mr. Cornell, what did she say?" Tessa inquired eagerly.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Leigh. Because my daughter's fiancé has gotten into an accident, so..."
"Excuses. She just doesn't want to come back. Mom, we have no need to beg for her help. With how big the country is, surely
we can find someone who can cure your condition. That Katherine girl only looks impressive, but I doubt that she has the ability
to cure you," London said in utter irritation.
However, Tessa glared at her child in displeasure and said, "She's someone who can even cure your father's illness."
In the end, London could only swallow the retorts she was about to make about Katherine under her mother's glare.
As Tessa did not dare to throw a tantrum in Jorge's presence, she politely thanked him and left some gifts for the family before
leaving with London.

When the mother-daughter pair left the residence, London snapped, "Mom, why are you being so nice to them? If you would just
arrange for someone to tie that Katherine up and bring her to you, I doubt that she would dare to be this disobedient in treating
you."
"Cease your nonsense. If you're not happy having to accompany me here, then you should just get lost and go back to Kyoland,"
Tessa chided unhappily with a dark expression.
Although London was feeling reluctant, she didn't dare continue talking.
After Tessa made a few phone calls and found Katherine's current location, she ordered her driver to send them there. She
absolutely needed Katherine's help in saving her no matter what, as she loathed having to do a resection. Not only was her
position in the family on shaky grounds, but she doubted that Hebert would even spare her another look should her body have
any 'defects.'
In a certain café, Katherine was leisurely having tea when the staff welcomed a new customer. Following the staff's greetings,
Tessa entered the café in a hurry with London in tow. The moment she found where Katherine was sitting, she went straight over
to her.
"Miss Cornell, I'm really sorry for taking the liberty to come up to you." Tessa's attitude was quite polite, though her smile seemed
slightly stiff.
Taking a sip of her tea, Katherine raised her head and took a glance at Tessa before she asked blankly, "Do I know you?"
At that, Tessa choked back her annoyance as she found the situation difficult to bear. Nevertheless, she could only suppress her
emotions when she thought about her condition. "Miss Cornell, we've met once in the hospital. I'm here to apologize for how poor
my attitude was back then, so much so that I ended up offending you. Will you be the bigger person and forgive me?"
"But, I'm not a bigger person." Katherine blinked dumbfoundedly with an innocent look.
Tessa was on the verge of vomiting a mouthful of blood as she thought just why Katherine's answers were not only conversation-
killers but also extremely hard to stomach. Since she felt a surge of anger rising and she knew she had to hold it in, the
expression on her face was a wonderful sight to behold.
On the other hand, London couldn't keep her temper in check any longer as she saw how arrogant Katherine was being. Then,
in a fit of anger, she said, "Katherine Cornell! You'd better show some respect here. My mother is part of the Leigh Family! She's
already paying you enough respect by asking for your help politely, yet you continue to make a fool out of—"

Slap!
Before London could finish her sentence, Tessa had turned to her with a furious expression and interrupted her by slapping her
right on the face.
Holding her cheek with one hand, London looked at her mother in disbelief. "Mom, you..."
"Shut up! Get down on your knees and apologize to Miss Cornell, now!" Tessa was angry to the point where she was breathing
heavily. It was hard enough for her to grovel to Katherine for a favor, yet her actions were rendered invalid due to the words of
her own daughter. Right now, all she could think about was how she wanted to vent this anger on London.
Looking at the drama the mother-daughter pair had put on for her, Katherine smiled a little.
Although London was reluctant, she still kneeled in the end, albeit with hostility in her eyes that were to the point of contempt,
under her mother's watchful gaze. It was then that the customers in the café all looked toward her. With Tessa wearing a
subservient expression and acting to please Katherine, there was a sense of unpleasantness for all those who were watching the
scene.
"Mrs. Leigh, there's no need to do this." Sneering inwardly, Katherine looked at Tessa and sighed.
"Miss Cornell, I beg you. Please help me," Tessa said as she wiped the corner of her reddened eye.
"But, I'm just an ordinary woman. How am I supposed to help you?" Katherine asked with a puzzled look.
"If you can cure my husband's illness, then you'll definitely be able to cure my condition. Please, I beg you, Miss Cornell. I'll
agree to whatever conditions you ask. Just please help me." As Tessa was begging Katherine for help, she was about to drop
down to her knees and beg.
However, what Katherine said next managed to stop Tessa from doing so. "But, I'm not the one who cured your husband."
"W-What?" Tessa widened her eyes in disbelief.
"I'm not the one who cured your husband. Did your husband say it was me?" Katherine looked at Tessa with her head slightly
tilted to one side.
Tessa immediately went through her memory and confirmed that Hebert had indeed made no mention of Katherine. But, the
doctors said... It was then she understood that she was being deceived by her husband from the very beginning. He must have

wanted to take his revenge on me, so he orchestrated this whole thing! This Katherine is not capable at all! It was all a sham! It
was all so that I would be humiliated! The more she stewed in her thoughts, the angrier she became. Then, the politeness in her
eyes vanished as she looked at Katherine and asked, "So you're simply just a piece of trash? You know nothing of medicine at
all?"
"Right. Didn't you investigate properly? I'm just a piece of trash that couldn't even graduate from college. So, how could I have
the medical knowledge to bring about a miracle?" Katherine nodded with great vigor, as though she was unashamed to be called
a piece of trash.
"Since you don't know anything about medicine, then..." Tessa said indignantly.
"I've never said that I have medical knowledge. Weren't you the one who kept saying I do?"