SWNOVELS Chapter 497
Chapter 497 You Have Two Choices Samuel cleared his throat. “Yeah.” “I’ll be off then. See you later,” Kathleen said as she
pecked Samuel’s cheek and left alongside Charles. Samuel’s black eyes shone with tenderness as he touched his cheek.
Selfishly, he hoped no one would notice how great of a person Kathleen was. “Tyson,” Samuel muttered, his tone drastically
different. Tyson walked over. “Yes, Mr. Macari.” “Is the car ready?” Samuel asked in a frigid voice. “Everything is ready,” Tyson
replied. Samuel nodded. “Let’s go.” “Yes, sir.” Meanwhile, Kathleen had followed Charles’ car and arrived at Raymond’s house.
The banquet that night was attended by a sizable crowd.
Raymond anticipated Charles’ arrival. He did not, however, anticipate Kathleen to join him. Furthermore, he had no idea when
Kathleen had returned. Indeed, while traveling back, Kathleen had concealed her whereabouts. She kept it a secret from
everyone. As a result, Raymond had not heard anything about her return. Raymond was certain, though, that the siblings were
unaware of his intentions that evening based on how they entered the banquet. As a result, a satisfied smirk flashed on his face.
“Godfather,” Charles greeted impassively. Raymond nodded. “You’ve arrived.” “Long time no see, Mr. Watson,” Kathleen greeted
flatly. Raymond smiled. “Ms. Johnson. I wasn’t expecting you.” Kathleen only smiled faintly in return. “It’s good, though,”
Raymond added, a sly grin on his face. “I have an important announcement to make tonight. It’ll be even more lively now that
you’re both here.” “I wonder what the good news is?” Kathleen asked. Raymond cracked a half-smile. “I wouldn’t want to spoil
the surprise for you. You’ll know eventually.” He cast a quick glance at the visitors. “I should head over and say a few words as
it’s almost time and the guests are almost all here.” “Go ahead,” Kathleen replied indifferently. With that, Raymond turned on his
heel and headed for the stage. Kathleen glanced around before whispering, “Where’s Clarissa, Charles?” “She returned with me,
but I’m not sure what happened to her after that,” Charles replied nonchalantly. Kathleen did nothing but give Charles a
thoughtful look. He still did not seem to be feeling anything for Clarissa. Relationships, though, were in fact, complicated. “It’s
odd.
I haven’t seen Wilbur either,” Kathleen remarked, her brows knitted together. In a low voice, Charles replied, “Maybe Wilbur isn’t
even here.” “Don’t tell me he went to deal with Axeworth Corporation on Raymond’s behalf?” Kathleen inquired, her temples
throbbing. “It’s possible,” Charles muttered. Kathleen lowered her gaze. She could not help but feel slightly worried for Samuel.
“Are you really treating Samuel as a hothouse flower?” Charles asked in an attempt to console Kathleen. Kathleen was taken
aback by his words. “He’s Samuel Macari, for crying out loud,” Charles continued. “Even if he’s lost his memories, he’s not an
easy opponent.” Kathleen nodded. Raymond’s voice came through before Kathleen could even utter a reply. “Truth to be told,
I’ve invited everyone tonight to attend my daughter Clarissa’s engagement ceremony.” Everyone, including Kathleen and
Charles, was stunned. Who is Clarissa getting engaged to? “And the person who’s going to be engaged to my daughter is no
one other than Charles Johnson,” Raymond announced as he looked at Charles. Charles furrowed his brows. What the hell does
Raymond mean by this? Kathleen, too, had her brows furrowed into a severe frown. “I believe everyone’s aware that Charles is
my godson. I have been treating him like my own. Thus, I wish to marry my beloved daughter to him. I hope everyone can give
them your blessings.” Then Raymond began to applaud, and the crowd soon joined in. Charles’ expression was grim. “Charles,
this appears to be something Raymond had in mind from the start. You might humiliate Clarissa if you leave,” Kathleen stated
flatly. “I reckon he knows that we’re helping Clarissa.” However, Charles had no plans of getting engaged to Clarissa. He was not
romantically interested in Clarissa. He had only ever regarded her as his little sister for as long as he could remember. Thus, this
arrangement was rather absurd to him. Kathleen’s eyes were cold as she locked her gaze on Raymond. “Now that the groom-to-
be is here, I’m curious where the bride-to-be is.” Raymond narrowed his eyes. “Clarissa is feeling under the weather.” “Why
didn’t you postpone the engagement banquet if she was sick? Is it even appropriate to refer to it as an engagement banquet
without the bride-to-be?” Kathleen inquired matter-of-factly. “Moreover, you did not inform anyone that tonight was the
engagement banquet for Charles and Clarissa.” Raymond merely stared at her in silence. He genuinely did not expect Kathleen
to show up at the banquet. “I’m sure you’re familiar with my line of occupation, Mr. Watson. Why don’t you let me take a look at
Clarissa? She might feel better after my consultation. What do you think?” Kathleen asked, staring intently at Raymond.
Raymond frowned at that. Discreetly, Kathleen tugged at Charles’ sleeves. Charles picked up on her signal right away. Coldly, he
declared, “I won’t agree to this engagement if Clarissa isn’t present.” “I assume you’re implying that you’ll marry Clarissa as long
as she’s present?” Raymond retorted. With a calm expression on his face, Charles replied, “Yes.” Raymond smirked as he
ordered, “Bring Clarissa here.” Right as his words were out of his mouth, one of the help came pushing Clarissa, who was
seated in a wheelchair. Her eyes were dull and soulless— an obvious sign that something was wrong. Kathleen approached
Clarissa in an instant. Raymond, however, intervened and stopped her. “What do you think you’re doing?” “I’m just trying to care
for my future sister-in-law. Am I not allowed to do so?” Kathleen asked icily. “Precisely. You are not allowed to do so,” Raymond
replied, his tone radiating the same coldness. Charles stepped up. “I’m sure I have the right to do so as Clarissa is my fiancée.”
With that, he pushed Raymond away and walked up to Clarissa. “Clarissa?” Charles mumbled as he caressed the said woman’s
cheek. However, there was no reaction from Clarissa. Charles turned around to look at Kathleen. Kathleen pushed Raymond
away and immediately went to Clarissa. She frowned upon checking Clarissa’s pulse. “How is she?” Charles asked worriedly.
Kathleen took a deep breath as she placed her hand on Clarissa’s head and felt around the area. As she had expected, she
managed to pull out a silver needle from the crown of Clarissa’s head. Raymond’s expression darkened. Damn it. Kathleen found
out. Suddenly, Clarissa spat a mouthful of black blood. “Clarissa!” Charles cried out as he held onto her. “Are you okay?”
Clarissa first looked at Charles, then at Raymond. Her face took on a pained expression. “Her body is extremely frail now,
Charles. We have to get her to a hospital as soon as possible,” Kathleen urged, her eyebrows pinched in a frown. Charles
frowned. Instantly, he carried Clarissa from the wheelchair, bridal-style, and prepared to leave. However, Raymond had ordered
his men to stop them. “What are you trying to do?” Charles demanded, his gaze steely. Raymond grinned. “The engagement
ceremony is not finished yet. Where do you think you’re going?” “Don’t you see the state your daughter is in right now,
Raymond?” Kathleen exclaimed exasperatedly. “Her life will be at risk if we don’t act quickly.” Raymond merely scoffed at that.
“Don’t think I’m unaware of your goal, Charles. It’s your fault that she’s in this state. You have to get engaged to her to save her.
If not, you have no right to take her away!” “Was this your goal all along?” Charles asked, his expression icy. Raymond wanted to
induct him into Blissful Sect. “Yes,” Raymond answered. He was not planning to hide his intentions anymore. “You have two
choices. Either watch Clarissa die before your eyes, or get engaged to her and become one of Blissful Sect.”