Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Katherine's mood deflated at once. She had thought that Richard would stay in hiding for the time
being, she didn't expect him to charge up in a short time and send her a subpoena. Shows how
desperate he is.
She became bewildered and a little helpless. Her head hung low as she began to think of a possible
way out of this. All of a sudden, a subtle knock landed on the door.
She raised her head up and spoke, "come in."
She unexpectedly saw Derick walk in. Again, he was dressed in suit rather than his military dress.
Does he just like wearing suits or does he wear it for a purpose? Katherine thought and greeted, "hi,
Derick."
Derick walked over to her, he had come to discuss something with her but he could sense how worried
she looked. He sat down gently on the couch in the room and said, "you eventually vindicated yourself.
That's quiet brilliant of you." He praised her.
Katherine blushed and spoke, "thank you."
"What's wrong? You look very worried?" Even Derick didn't know why he was concerned.
Katherine noticed the gentle tone at which he spoke and wondered why he suddenly sounded caring.
Last he checked, he doesn't give a damn about her or does he?
"I'm fine," Katherine said.
Derick's eyes fell on the paper in her hand and then asked, "what's that?"
Katherine wanted to hide it as soon as he saw him looking at it but it was already too late. "It's nothing."
She didn't want Derick to help her in any way in her six months of stay here so that she will never feel
indebted to him by the time she's leaving back to Eastern Ocean City.
"Are we supposed to be hiding something from eachother?" Derick asked.
"Honestly, if I see you holding anything, will I even be able to question you? You even took in a fiancee
eventhough we are secretly married yet I didn't say anything. This marriage is just a nominal one, let's
not act like it's a real marriage." Katherine said.
Derick was however curious to know what she was holding. It looked like an official file, he took his
gaze away from the letter in her hand and set his gaze on her, "you and the children went to the
hospital to have a DNA test with Richard, how was it?"
"Some military men came in and disrupt it when we were about having the test," She replied honestly.
"Oh! Isn't that what you wished for? For something to hinder the DNA test from happening. That way,
you won't be able to confirm if the children are really for Richard," he said.
"Yes. But..." She swallowed. Either she performs a DNA test or not, Richard already have a prove in his
hand and he was ready to use it in claiming the children.
Derick noticed how uncomfortable she is and how unwilling she was to disclose things to him so he
said," our soldiers are recovering fast. All thanks to you."
She smiled faintly, "you are welcome."
Derick then stood, obviously ready to leave. "Why did you come?" Katherine just had this feeling that
he came for a purpose to which she thinks that he hasn't stated yet.
"I came to thank you for working hard on getting many of our injured soldiers back to their feet in a
short period of time, "he said and then walked away.
Once Derick appeared outside of the building, Alessio walked up to him at once. He had instructed
Alessio to come and wait outside for him as he didn't plan on staying inside the building for a long time.
"Marshall," Alessio greeted but noticed the slight change on his boss's face. His usually aloof
expression looks like it was a bit troubled. "What's wrong?"
"She's troubled," he mumbled.
Since when did his boss start caring if anyone is troubled or not. Since he had been with Derick, he had
never seen him care about anyone. To him, Derick doesn't even have a heart. Yet now, he looked
troubled cause a woman is troubled. Alessio thought to himself. Alessio was the only person who
knows that Derick and Katherine are married. Derick had told him and told him to keep it a secrete from
others. Derick fully trusted in Alessio. They had fought numerous wars together.
"Marshall, the last time, you literally sent military men to the hospital just to disrupt the DNA test she
went to do from happening, what do you plan to do this time?" Alessio was curious.
"She won't tell me what is wrong with her," Derick then began to walk to his car.
Alessio hummed. He doesn't like it when his boss is troubled. It's only when his boss has a clear heart
that he can think clearly and stay on guard always. "I have an idea... Give me a few seconds boss."
Alessio requested and Derick gestured he could leave to wherever he went to.
Alessio quickly walked inside and called loudly, "Samantha! Samantha!" After calling a few times,
Samantha walked out of her room. She was taking a nap at that time.
Seeing Alessio, she immediately saluted him as Alessio was far greater in rank than her. "At ease, I
need your help." He said and gestured for her to come over to sit at the living room.
After they had sat, Samantha looked at Alessio intimately, for many years, he had a secret crush on
Alessio but she knows that it will always remain a crush cause Alessio is just like his boss, Derrick-
heartless. An heartless man can not obviously understand the language of love. Plus, Alessio is far
higher in rank than her.
"Could you guess why General Katherine is troubled?" He quickly added, "if you corporate with me, I'll
make your promotion faster than your colleagues."
Once she heard this offer coming from Alessio, her face lightened up. She knew for sure that Alessio
has such power to make her promotion fast. He wasn't just boasting vainly. Samantha then thought
about why Katherine could be troubled and said, "actually, I received a subpoena from a court
representative. The subpoena was for General Katherine."
"A subpoena?" Alessio wondered, "someone must have obviously sued General Katherine to court."
"Yes," Samantha agreed.
"Can you think of anything else?" Alessio said, looking into her face intently as if his answers were
there.
She thought for a couple of seconds more and answered, "No, Lieutenant General."
"Thank you," Alessio stood and walked out of the building. He began to walk over to Derick who was
leaning by the car. He already had a cigarette between his two fingers.
"Where did you go?" He asked, then smoked from his cigarette.
"I think someone sued General Katherine. Samantha made me understood that she received a
subpoena from a court representative and this subpoena was for General Katherine." Alessio
explained.
Derick thought back to the letter he saw on Katherine's hand. Obviously, that was the subpoena.
"Okay, arrange a meeting with the chief judge and I," Derick commanded.
"Noted boss," soon, both men entered the car and drove away.
As the court day approaches, Katherine's heart became more and more troubled. Though she had
hired a good lawyer who was known to have won several cases, she was still skeptical as nothing is
guaranteed in court. Even the best lawyer could loose case. Plus, Richard has evidence that the
children are for him.
It was finally the court day and a few people were present in the court room. Sharon and Richard were
present of course, they were so certain that they would win this case and abduct the children.
Also, Michael, Mark and Marie were also present but they were made to sit in a special room. The little
ones didn't know that they were awaiting their fate.
"Mark, do you have any idea why mom brought us here?" Mark asked.
"I don't know yet, "Michael responded. "If mom had told us earlier that we would be coming to court, I
would have investigated."
Marie chirped in, "I guess we just have to wait until mom is done. Mom is the surgeon General, no one
can bully her."
"What did you know? Mom can be sent to prison if found guilty of a crime." Mark said.
"Huh! Did mom commit a crime?" Marie immediately asked, her face had immediately become dull and
her heart became troubled. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
"We can't say yet but coming to court is not always a good experience, "Mark answered her sister.
"Mark, it's not everything that you should be telling Marie. Her heart is too soft to handle this kind of
things," Michael said.
Marie pouted her lips, "you people should stop hiding things from me. We are age mate. Don't worry, I
won't be troubled because of this." Marie acted confident but actually, she had became scared for
Katherine but she had to hide her emotions from her brothers.