A Replacement Bride

Chapter 187

Katherine woke up the next day and found herself tucked into her own bed with Noah beside her. Joaquin was still breathing evenly and sleeping on the floor. Perhaps it was the alcohol; Katherine felt like yesterday was just a dream because it was surreal. Just when she fell into a trance, she heard Noah calling for her and regained her senses. Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.

"Mom." Noah opened her eyes as she sensed movement beside her. She stretched out to grab her mother's wrist. "Mom, don't be afraid. I will protect you when I grow up."

Katherine's heart softened when she heard that. She reached out and gently pulled Noah into her arms. "Why do you think Mom needs protection?"

"Well… Noah will become very powerful in the future, and I will protect you." Noah tried to think of a good answer but couldn't. So, she merely repeated what she said as she scratched her head and gave her a silly smile. Katherine simply treated Noah's reply as a child's babble. She raised her hand, flicked Noah's forehead lightly, and then got up to prepare breakfast.

Joaquin and Katherine had a tacit understanding about what happened yesterday, so he acted as if nothing had happened after she got drunk.

As soon as Katherine finished her breakfast, her phone rang. She took a glance and frowned in slight annoyance but still answered the call anyway. "What's the matter?"

"Katy, do you know you're a sensation now? How did you manage to cure Elizabeth yesterday?" Aberama's voice sounded somewhat agitated over the phone.

Katherine moved the phone away from her ear in distaste. She instantly knew what had happened, so she did not beat around the bush. "Get to the point, Aberama."

"Well, the video of you treating Elizabeth went viral on the internet, and you became a sensation. Everyone is talking about you now. I knew some people had been trying to build up the momentum, and they were probably waiting for yesterday's incident to be the climax. Now, everyone knows that your medical skills are so darn good that you can even bring the dead alive. So I'm estimating there will be long queues at your place soon! Also, your secret identity as Mrs. Levisay has been exposed, so those people will probably try and beg the Levisay Family to get an appointment with you. There is no doubt the Levisay Family will become popular!"

Aberama kept babbling without waiting for Katherine to respond. Finally, he stopped for a while before continuing in a rather dissatisfied tone, "Katy, I worked so hard to keep your identity a secret. Can't you be more vigilant?"

"It's obvious that someone framed me. So, I need you to check who's pulling the strings behind the scene. Don't forget to also find out who posted the video of me at Levisay Residence." She rubbed her temples while she was instructing Aberama. It must have been yesterday's alcohol.

Although she no longer wanted to keep a low profile, she had never entertained such an idea in order to become famous. But, now that her video had gone viral, it seemed she could no longer conceal her identity. She instinctively glanced at Joaquin, who was not far away and felt troubled.

After she hung up the phone, she knocked on the table before Joaquin and said, "Come to the room. I have something to tell you." He got up obediently and followed her. Meanwhile, Jennifer exchanged glances with Noah and shared a meaningful smile.

Katherine sat on the bed and looked up at Joaquin once they were alone. "The fact that we went to the Levisay Residence has been revealed." She bit the bullet and broke the silence.

"Okay." He did not sound surprised at all. He knew well that the Levisay Family would never pass up this great opportunity to publicize yesterday's incident so that everyone knew how excellent Katherine's

skills were. By that time, many dignitaries, who were not able to contact Katherine, could only ask the Levisay Family for help. As a result, the Family could make huge and immeasurable profits.

The Family would soon rank among the top ten families in the country in the next few years, with Katherine as their cash cow. By then, they could move from Hovington to Kyoland and be part of the upper-class society.

"I suspect someone deliberately instigated Elizabeth to organize a birthday party. Also, you might get into trouble now that my identity is exposed. Be mentally prepared." She felt guilty as she coughed dryly and glanced at him from below her lashes.

Nevertheless, Joaquin remained calm during the whole discussion. He merely looked at her with a strange smile but did not say a word. So, Katherine, forced to monologue, was unsure how to react. Thus, she figured fleeing would be her next best option to ease the awkwardness she was feeling. "I'm going to the research institute today. I'll be taking my leave now." Then, she left without a hint of hesitation in her steps.

Just when she arrived at her destination, she saw Theodore walking out anxiously. Theodore was stunned when he saw her but quickly stepped forward and pulled her aside. "Why are you here at a time like this? Go and hide in the laboratory now."

"What's the matter?" She was bewildered at Theodore's words.

"The higher-ups are coming for you. And I assure you, they aren't bearing good intentions. They're asking us to hand over the research result of the experimental drug, which I refused. They're on the way here now. Go find somewhere to hide, and don't confront them." He was pretty upset when he explained their situation as he pulled her toward the laboratory's direction.

She froze for a bit when she heard his clarification. It was only after a while that she looked at him and said, "Just give them whatever they want."

"What did you just say?" He asked again in disbelief, thinking he might mishear things due to his age.

"The result in itself is meaningless. Even if we give it to them, they won't be able to reproduce the exact same experimental drug. So, just give them the result. Trust me. They'll come around and beg you. It's not too late for us by then to take revenge." She sneered.

These people saw that the clinical trial of the experimental drug had been successful and would definitely bring in a lot of profits. And just like that, they could not wait to reap the benefits of the experimental drug without having to put in any effort. Did they really think that they could steal her achievements that easily?

He carefully contemplated her words, and in that instant, he figured out what she was trying to say. The experimental data was just a set of data, and the key was in the formula, which was not owned by the research institute but by Katherine. The research institute was only responsible for conducting the clinical experiment.

After he gave it some thought, he finally felt as though a boulder had been removed from his shoulders. "Okay, then. I'll go and deal with them, and you wait here. They'll be here soon. I guess that never in a million years would they have thought that the experimental data they worked so hard to get their hands on is just a stack of paper." As the thought crossed his mind, he was in such a good mood that he laughed in amusement.

She looked at his sudden change in mood and knew that he had been feeling aggrieved these few days but did not want to tell her for fear of adding to her burden.

Just as he stepped out of the laboratory, he happened to see those people from the Shioul Institute. They all looked so arrogant and indomitable that they made him gnash his teeth in frustration. "Dina, go

and take the experimental data, give it to them, and tell them to get lost!"