A Replacement Bride

Chapter 375

Katherine was stumped by his words for a moment before becoming fully awake. "What led you to make that decision in the early morning? Has something come up?"

Joaquin was contemplating how to answer her when a knock came at the door.

"Kathy, are you awake?" It was Jayden.

Joaquin frowned in response, looking clearly displeased. This guy is everywhere!

Of course, his displeasure hadn't gone unnoticed by Katherine, and she felt inexplicably amused, for she thought she had figured something out while blinking.

"I am." Katherine cleared her throat and answered, seeing Joaquin had no intentions of speaking up.

At that, Joaquin could only get up and answer the door to look into Jayden's eyes with his piercing gaze.

Jayden, on the other hand, was originally wearing a smile behind the door, but upon seeing that it was Joaquin, he frowned at once.

"Good morning, Mr. Hall," Joaquin greeted dispassionately while leaning against the doorframe, and a hint of ridicule flashed across his eyes when he saw the change in Jayden's eyes.

"Morning. Where's Kathy?" Jayden also replied emotionlessly, not intending to be welcoming toward Joaquin.

While speaking, Jayden gazed into the room, only for Joaquin to stretch his arm out and obstruct the former's view. "Don't you think it's a little rude for you to look into the room of another man's wife, Mr.

Hall?"

Jayden frowned in response, but he knew he shouldn't retort, so he just monotoned, "Breakfast is ready. Tell Kathy to come down and eat."

With that, he turned around to leave but looked as though he remembered something as he looked toward Joaquin and added, "I've personally made her favorite—beef congee."

Exasperated, Joaquin narrowed his eyes and jabbed the inside of his left cheek with the tip of his tongue as he recalled Jayden's provocative words while boring into his retreating figure.

As if he wasn't already exasperated enough, Katherine's voice came from behind. "You're in luck. Jayden's beef congee is a must-try. C'mon, let's go."

"Why is eating all you can think about?" Joaquin gazed grimly at her.

"Because I'm hungry." Katherine looked at him with her eyes curved, then lowered her head to pass through under the arm he propped against the doorframe and went downstairs.

Katherine became inexplicably happier at the thought of Joaquin's grim countenance, and her footsteps couldn't help becoming lighter.

In no time, the three took their seats at the dining table, and Jayden personally served Katherine a bowl of congee, even placing it in front of her. He was arguably attentive, and his gaze at Katherine was beyond gentle.

Joaquin, on the other hand, couldn't help feeling even more jealous as he watched the two's interaction.

Of course, he knew Katherine didn't reciprocate Jayden's feelings, but it still couldn't stop him from feeling upset toward Jayden's fawning. Even more, what upset him was the man's agenda.

Hence, he couldn't care less about sweeping everything under the rug anymore like he had the day before toward Jayden and just stood up to him.

"Thank you, Mr. Hall, but I will take care of my wife. Your service won't be necessary."

At that, he took the bowl of congee in front of Katherine away before scooping another bowl of congee and placing it in front of Katherine while saying softly, "Here. Careful, it's hot."

Katherine, on the other hand, inevitably felt somewhat awkward, and she quirked her lips somewhat apologetically at Jayden, gesturing for him not to mind the situation.

But how could Jayden not mind it?! The man's countenance was beyond grim at this point, and if it wasn't that Katherine was still present, he would've probably flipped out right there and then.

Yet, Joaquin wasn't stopping, even deliberately challenging him. "I admit that you are good at taking care of others, Mr. Hall. But I suggest you save the attentiveness for after you have gotten yourself a wife."

At that, he stared at Jayden with great interest and brightly lit eyes. "Speaking of which, you're already at the age of starting a family. I'm sure your family has introduced you to many suitable maidens, haven't they? I wonder whom you'll end up taking a fancy to and marry."

Grim had become an understatement to describe Jayden's countenance at this point, and he kept silent for a few seconds before finally seething impassively. "That's my private matter. Your concern won't be necessary."

"C'mon, don't say that," Joaquin pulled a faint smile and said somewhat carelessly. "You're Kathy's friend, so that also makes you my friend. I should be more caring."

Not even Katherine, who had been eating her congee the whole time, could take it anymore at this point. What is up with Joaquin? Why is he acting so pushy?

At that, she put her spoon down and cleared her throat to break the awkward atmosphere. "Um, the congee's getting cold, guys. Jayden, your cooking is amazing, as usual. The congee's really good."

Jayden's grimness alleviated in response, and he said, "Glad you like it."

Joaquin, on the other hand, quirked a brow subtly and said, "Yeah, whatever it is, it's important that Kathy likes it."

And just like that, the atmosphere that had just eased tensed up again.

With that, Katherine slipped a hand under the table and tugged Joaquin's sleeve, indicating for him to stop. However, it was as though the man didn't get what she was trying to tell him, for he held her hand and smiled tenderly at her instead. "Eat your breakfast. We can wait until it's just the two of us to whisper and fiddle."

Joaquin Levisay, I swear to God… Katherine was rendered exasperated. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Clang! Having had enough of this, Jayden chucked his spoon into the bowl and gazed maliciously at Joaquin while commenting, "You seem to have a big problem with me, Mr. Levisay."

"Do I?" Joaquin asked with feigned innocence.

"Do you not? Why would you have something to rebut about everything I say then?"

Joaquin smiled in response. "I have a problem with you just because I rebut whatever you say? Maybe I do, then."

His answer upset Jayden as it was as though the latter had thrown a punch at cotton candy. However, before he could say anything else, Joaquin sighed, "Looks like Mr. Hall and I can't be friends. In that case, Kathy and I won't bother you much longer."

"You're leaving?" A hint of hostility flashed across Jayden's eyes upon hearing Joaquin's words.

"Yeah," Joaquin shrugged. "Is there a problem?"

Katherine was also taken aback as she thought Joaquin wasn't actually serious about leaving. Who'd have thought he actually meant it?

Jayden pressed his lips into a straight line as grimness enveloped his eyes before warning gravely, "We still don't know the situation outside. If you take Kathy away just like that—"

"Don't worry," Joaquin interjected with a faint smile. "Kathy's my wife, and I will naturally keep her safe at all times."

Seeing that the man had made up his mind about leaving, Jayden frowned and asked bluntly, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave, Mr. Levisay?"