A Replacement Bride

Chapter 396

Chapter 395 Lower Than a Beast

Three days? Katherine looked at her pale friend, and the air around her tensed up. Coldly, she asked, "How long before the poison acts?"

Slowly, Emmanuel raised his fingers. "Three days. Sharp."

Katherine's face fell, her eyes filled with fury. He doesn't even care about his son, the sly old fox. He thinks I would give him the file if I don't want Corey to die.

"Don't give me that look." Emmanuel didn't care that Katherine was glaring at him. He straightened out his coat. "I have to sacrifice something to get something. You know what I'm saying. If I don't use him as a hostage, you won't ever give me the file, but…" He smiled, his eyes glinting with cunning. "If you don't give me the file, then he will die, and you're the main reason for that."

Katherine laughed mirthlessly. "That's brazen. You poisoned your own son with all the intention to kill him, and yet you call me the killer? You have no conscience at all. You're the culprit here, but I guess you're shameless enough to not admit it. You're worse than an animal, Emmanuel. Most animals won't hurt their own children, but you? Heh. I can put you in a pig's pen and nobody could tell that you're any different from them."

Emmanuel froze for a moment, but he calmed down quickly. "Talk all you want. I've given you the choice, and now it's up to you. Don't disappoint me. Hand it over, and everyone will be happy." He looked at the unconscious Corey like he was but a stranger. "Since he's your friend, I'll let you take him. I think you'd be able to reach a decision faster if you can see him languish right before your eyes." He and his men left.

Katherine glared at him, biting her lip so hard it was turning white. And then only she and Corey were left. The sun was scorching, and her forehead was drenched in sweat. She clenched her teeth and

tried to hold Corey up, but she fell back down right away. A frown furrowed her forehead, and she called Carmine.

Fifteen minutes later, Carmine came. She noticed the unconscious Corey and froze. "Miss, that's—"

Katherine pursed her lips, but she didn't explain. "Take him into the car. We're going to Silver Gardens."

Carmine did as she was told.

While on the way back, Katherine called Joaquin. Someone picked the phone up, but it wasn't Joaquin. Noah said, "Daddy's cooking, Mommy. When are you coming back?"

The voice of her daughter made Katherine ease up a little. Patiently, she said, "I have something to settle in Kyoland, so I might not be back for a while. Give me a few days, sweetie. I'll have time for you then."

Noah was smart enough not to throw a tantrum at this moment, so she said, "Okay. Be careful there, alright? Remember to eat your meals and sleep on time and…"

She babbled on and on, and a hint of warmth flickered in Katherine's eyes. She cleared her throat. "I know, I know. Tell Daddy to take the call. I need to talk to him." ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Aww…" The girl reluctantly went to the kitchen and looked up at her father. "Mommy wants to talk to you, Daddy."

Joaquin wiped his hands off and pinched Noah's cheek, then he took the phone. Gently, he said, "What's wrong? Coming home soon? When? I'll pick you up."

"No. Something happened."

Joaquin knew something was wrong. His smile faded, and he tensed up. "What happened? Where are you?"

Katherine looked outside the window and frowned again. "I went to the cemetery, and I'm on my way back to Silver Gardens. Corey's poisoned."

Joaquin froze for a moment. "What? How did that happen? Are you going to see the Grays?"

Katherine massaged her forehead. "No. He's with me. I'm taking him back to Silver Gardens."

She told him what happened in the cemetery, and Joaquin frowned. "I don't know Emmanuel well, but I do know he's a cunning man. A quote-and-unquote friendly guy. He backstabs his friends and has a lot of kids. I can see why he doesn't care about Corey. Corey might be the legal heir, but Emmanuel can always take his position away, so Corey's status in his family isn't that strong. I can't believe he'd poison his own son for the file, though."

Katherine closed her eyes. Solemnly, she said, "I have no idea what kind of poison Corey has, and I'll need to check his pulse. I have three days to give the file to him, or Corey dies. He won't give me the cure unless I hand the file to him."

Joaquin didn't look too happy. "So, what will you do? Will you give it to him? I still have the file, and I won't be seeing my boss until later. You still have time."

Katherine sneered. "As if. This file is crucial. If I hand it to him, he's going to sell it off to someone else just to make money. It'd be disastrous for everyone."

Joaquin could see that happening, and he nodded. "What about Corey? If he's handed Corey over, that means he knows you can't solve this problem. The poison must be custom-made, at least."

Katherine chortled, her eyes filled with mockery. "He's ten years too early to pull the rug from underneath me. I cured the man-faced curse. This poison is nothing."