Chapter 5 The Strange Proposal
Chapter 5 The Strange Proposal
Chapter 5 The Strange Proposal
Catalina bit her lip and took a big step back to keep a safe distance from Ralph.
With vigilance and hostility in her eyes, she glared at Ralph, "What do you want?"
"Take it easy, Ms. Grant."
Being elegant, Ralph said with a smile, "We have no malice and will never hurt you."
As he spoke, he spread out his hand to the young man waiting behind him.
The young man soon took out a file from his briefcase and handed it to Ralph respectfully.
Ralph glanced at the file. After checking it, he then handed it to Catalina. "Please have a look at this
file. If there is no problems, please sign here."
Catalina was confused.
File?
"What file?"
She took it over in confusion.
And she was shocked as she saw the words on it, "Marriage application?"
"Yes."
Ralph smiled and nodded.
Catalina looked at Ralph in disbelieve, "What is it? Who is going to get married?"
"Of course it's you and Mr. Shaffer."
"Bennett and me?!"
"Yes."
Ralph nodded and smiled, with his hands put together in front.
Catalina felt as if being struck by lightning, and her mind was blank.
What happened? Bennett wanted to marry her?
Catalina seemed to have heard the funniest joke. With a sarcastic sneer, she returned the file to Ralph,
"It's not funny at all."
"Ms. Grant, it's not a joke. Mr. Shaffer means seriously. You can have a look. Both applications have
been signed by Mr. Shaffer."
Hearing this, Catalina checked it.
It was true!
The marriage application was made in duplicate, and there was the name "Bennett Shaffer" written
perfunctorily on the signature column of each file.
The signature was powerful and vigorous, just as the majestic aura of Bennett.
"You could recognize the handwriting of Mr. Shaffer, right?"
She did.
When she wrote homework for him when they were young, she always imitated his handwriting.
So what?
Catalina frowned, "What does he mean?"
"We dare not to speculate about the thoughts of Mr. Shaffer. But for the marriage, Mr. Shaffer is
serious."
When saying this, Ralph took a look at Catalina, then he continued, "Ms. Grant, for what I can tell, you
should be short of money now, right? Your grandmother needs money for her treatment. So why don't
you take a look at the file? It is clearly written on the application that as long as you sign on it, 200
thousand of dollars will enter your account immediately. Why don't you accept it?"
200 thousand dollars?
Catalina was shocked and widened her eyes.
She had no time to think about how Ralph knew that. She opened the file again and read it carefully
this time.
It was true!
As Ralph said, she wanted money. She only needed to sign her name on the marriage application, and
then she would get 200 thousand dollars.
Catalina's heart jumped fast.
She was desperately short of money. Now, the god was sending money to her!
Took it or no?
She was quite ambivalent.
Thinking of the devil who nearly tore her up in bed last night, she bit her lip and said, "No."
Catalina made up her mind, handed the file back and said firmly: "Even if I'm poor, I will never sell
myself, especially to...Bennett!"
Ralph didn't seem surprised by Catalina's refusal.
He just took the file over and asked, "Don't you think about it again?"
"I have thought about it."
"That's a pity."
Ralph looked upset. He handed the file back to the young man behind him.
He didn't coerce or force Catalina but just left quietly with the motorcade.
Until the motorcade disappeared, Catalina still felt unbelievable, and everything seemed to be in a
dream.
...
As soon as Catalina entered the ward, the nurse sent the bill to her.
"The medical fee of last month was 100 dollars in total. You have been in arrears for more than half a
month. If you don't pay the fee, I'm afraid the treatment would stop."
"Shh..."
Catalina was afraid that her grandmother in sleep would hear this. She soon pulled the nurse out of the
ward.
"I had paid the fee of last month. What's wrong?" she asked.
She sent the money back home on time at the beginning of the month. Why did the nurse say she
didn't pay the bill?
"It's unpaid! It's written here clearly."
Catalina took the bill and looked over it carefully.
It was really unpaid.
It seemed the money she gave her father was taken by her stepmother.
Catalina felt fretful.
She checked her balance on her mobile phone, and there was only 700 dollars left.
This was the money she managed to save as the living expenses in these months.
Catalina said, "I have only 700 dollars. Please take it first. I'll try to make up the remaining as soon as
possible."
"Come on. There are only three days left."
"Alright, I got it." Catalina bit her teeth and replied.
It should be possible to get 300 dollars in three days, right?
After Catalina paid the fee, the nurse kindly reminded her, "Catalina, your grandmother's operation will
cost a large amount of money. Do you really want to do it?"
"Of course, I'm already trying to raise money for the operation."
"If you have really decided, the sooner, the better! The operation can't be delayed any longer. The
success rate will be lower and lower."
"...OK."
Catalina was upset.
If she had money, she would have asked the doctor to operate on her grandmother.
But in fact, Catalina now had only 5 dollars in her pocket. That was all she had.
She didn't even know where to stay this night, let alone the operation fee of 100 thousand dollars.
But she insisted on curing her grandmother.
At that time, her mother had a chance to survive, but in the end, her father had to give up the treatment
because of lack of money.
Now, she would not let the tragedy happen again.
Catalina came out of the hospital at nine o'clock.
It was freezing outside, and she was penniless. She didn't eat anything this day, and now only the doll
in her hand was with her.
Now, standing at the gate of the hospital, she was caught by the cold wind. She was so cold that she
shrank and didn't know where to go.
She had a home, but there was no place for her at that home.
Grandma was still in the hospital bed, waiting for her to save her life.
Catalina suddenly remembered Bennett's proposal.
She kicked the snowball beside her feet gloomily.
"Catalina, Catalina, why did you refuse that?"
If she accepted it, these problems would have been solved!
While she was thinking about it. Suddenly, a black Bentley motorcade passed through the snow. With a
"quack", it stopped steadily in front of her, setting off a piercing cold wind.