Ch. 111..120
Chapter 111 Causing Trouble
Kate seemed all right after they left the sea, but she, after all, had choked on the seawater. After she was taken to the medical room, she had a sore throat, which led to a fever.
She had a high fever and had been making a fuss, which made the issue a grave situation.
The program team had to ask Kate’s agent to inform her parents.
Kate’s parents rushed to the program team without delay.
Seeing her parents, Kate whined to her mother, “Mommy, someone was trying to kill me.”
Kate’s mother was shocked. She asked, “Wasn’t it an accident? Why would someone want to kill you?”
The program team told them that Kate did not prepare well before she entered the water, which caused her to choke on the water.
The
program team also passed the buck by implying that the accident was caused because Kate had not followed the instructions.
Kate’s mother was now confused upon hearing what Kate said.
Since her parents had arrived and backed her up, Kate told them everything she had been through.
She accused Catherine of bullying her during the program and nearly killed her in the water.
Kate’s parents knew their daughter well.
Kate had asked them to find the higher-ups to press the program team and cast Catherine and Audrey out.
However, Catherine and Audrey were favored among the audience and helped increase the audience rating of the program. Why would the program team want to let such magnets go?
Kate’s parents thought Kate only quarreled with the Swanns, so they did not force the program team to remove Catherine and Audrey. Now that they heard Catherine tried to kill Kate, they were irritated and had to take action.
Kate’s father banged on the table hard and snapped, “How dare you let this happen to my daughter? You must be answerable for this today, or I won’t let you off!”
On the other side, some staff members of the program team were preparing the after-party for the first show. The other three groups of families were also there. They had heard the biggest investor in the program would attend the party tonight.
The producer naa ordered the director not to make any mistakes since their Deneractor would be at the scene. Everyone seemed to be pumped with adrenalin.
When the three groups gathered together, Cindy kindly reminded Audrey of the attendance of the investor.
Audrey thanked her and ran back to Catherine in excitement.
“Kathy, you know what? Our biggest investor will come to tonight’s party, and so will Cindy! Do you think it’s a good chance for me to reverse the situation?”
Audrey also got the news from her agent, Kim. Kim texted and asked her to be on her best behavior and leave a good impression on the investor. In that case, Audrey would have more opportunities in her career.
Unlike Audrey’s excitement, Catherine did not react to the news. She was still emotionless as she heard Audrey’s words.
But Audrey thought it understandable. Catherine would not stay in the entertainment industry. She only joined the program this time for Audrey.
Audrey had benefited from the program. Kim told her that some advertisers had already contacted him, and they wanted Audrey to endorse their products.
It was something that Audrey did not even dare to think about in the past.
She asked Catherine, “Kathy, are you coming to the party with me tonight?”
Catherine shook her head without even thinking about it. She had no time for that investor. If she had time, she preferred to take a nap.
“No.”
Her answer was simple but firm and non-negotiable.
Audrey knew her well, so she did not force Catherine. “Alright, take a rest in the room. I’ll
leave the party earlier and meet you here. Then, we can go home. Don’t worry about me. Kim will pick me up and go to the party with me.”
“Okay.”
Catherine turned over and went back to sleep.
Audrey left Catherine to rest. She took the things she needed and left the room.
She did her makeup and went to the party.
Kim was waiting for her at the hotel and was surprised to see her alone.
“Audrey, where’s your sister?”
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Audrey answered straightforwardly, “Katny is resting in the room.”
“Call her and ask her to come. You know how important the party is. How can she not be here?
||
said Kim seriously. He believed if he could sign her and be her agent, Catherine could do well in the entertainment industry.
Audrey disagreed with what he said. She even frowned and eyed Kim in displeasure.
“Kim, my sister’s character is unfit for showbiz. Don’t even try. She said she didn’t want to come here, so don’t force her.”
Kim had known Audrey for years and knew what mattered to Audrey.
Audrey valued her family and would not allow anyone to force her sister to do anything she did not want to.
Kim had to give up and said, “Alright, alright. Anything you say, honey. Get in there. We can’t be late.”
Audrey arrived right on time, and she had a seat behind Kim.
The guests were seated and waiting for the investor to show up.
The door was suddenly opened. The program producer stood up excitedly, thinking it was the investor who arrived, but it turned out to be Bobby Cooper.
The producer knew Bobby. They had dealt with each other. Seeing Bobby’s darkened look, the producer walked to Bobby and greeted him with a smile.
“Mr. Cooper, what brings you here?”
Bobby snorted coldly, still wearing his grim expression. He said somewhat sourly, “Mr. Palmer, while you’re having such a lively party, my poor daughter has a high fever on a sickbed in the hospital.”
Everyone’s face changed.
Kim whispered to the puzzled Audrey, “This man is Kate’s father. He’s powerful and has good connections in the industry.”
Audrey changed color slightly and realized that trouble had come. She was only glad that Catherine was not there at the party.
She would take all the blame and not incriminate Catherine.
Peter Palmer, the producer, was astute. He smiled at Bobby and said, “Mr. Cooper, it was an accident. No one wanted it to happen. Still, please accept my apology. How about you join us and take a seat? Let’s have a drink. If I have a new program next time, I’ll definitely invite Kate.
“I
The investor might arrive at any minute. Peter aid not want to get into any trouDie.
Bobby refused to let it go. He turned Peter down with a cold face. “It’s not that I don’t want to drink with you. What happened to my daughter was not an accident. Someone tried to kill her.”
Bobby glanced at the people around icily, and when he saw Audrey, he looked daggers at her.
Bobby went on pressing the program team. He said to Peter, “Give her to me. Let me take her to apologize to my daughter. Then, we can still be friends, and I’ll do everything to help you next time you need me.”
Kim sensed something wrong. He took Audrey’s hand and got up.
Bobby had the means to achieve what he wanted in the industry, and they could not afford to offend him.
Kim put on his standard smile and walked to Bobby with a glass of wine, “Mr. Cooper, I’m Audrey’s agent. I knew her well. She would never harm anyone. This must be a
misunderstanding. Please don’t be mad and accept our apologies. It’s our fault that made you
angry.”
Kim was so humble, trying to calm things down.
However, Bobby did not show any respect to Kim. He knocked the glass in Kim’s hand down, glared at Kim, and snarled, “Who are you? You’re not qualified enough to talk to me.”
It was a slap on Kim’s face. Audrey was furious. She could not suppress her anger and roared at Bobby, “How could you do that? It was your daughter who started that fight. It’s unfair that you blame the innocent!”
Bobby’s face was as gloomy as a tremendous storm was coming.
“Are you saying that I bullied you?” Bobby nodded repeatedly and fiercely. He growled at Audrey and said, “Fine, I’ll let you know what bullying is.”
Bobby raised his hand abruptly and slapped hard on Audrey’s cheek.
It was loud.
Everyone present was stunned.
Chapter 112 How About You?
That was the rule of the entertainment industry. There were strict rankings. Facing a big shot like Bobby, Audrey, a little celebrity, was nothing. Elliot, at the side, wanted to do something when his mother grabbed his arm to stop him.
Cindy was not afraid of Bobby, but she would not offend a potential investor for Audrey, who was useless to her. The entertainment industry was realistic and ridiculous.
Audrey covered her cheek and gaped at Bobby in disbelief. She never thought that the old guy would hit her. Kim was also dumbfounded. When he recovered from the shock, he even dragged Audrey to apologize to Bobby.
“Audrey, how could you irritate Mr. Cooper? Come on. Apologize now!”
He handed his glass to Audrey. Audrey slammed the glass upside down on the table heavily and rejected, “No! He slapped me. Why would I apologize to him?”
People around them were out of countenance. They thought Bobby was rude and unreasonable, but no one would want to provoke him for Audrey.
They all thought Audrey did not know what was good for her. She should have bowed down to Bobby and begged for his forgiveness.
They had witnessed too many unyielding people like Audrey, and those people did not
end well.
The room fell silent, which Bobby had already expected. He stared sternly at Audrey and said coldly, “Young lady, I don’t blame you for not being sensible. But I’ll teach you the rules of the entertainment world so that you’ll have the chance to have a better
career.”
With that, he turned to Peter and changed the target. “I know you’re expecting a guest. Girl, I’ll forgive you, for Peter’s sake, if you slap yourself.
“If you don’t do what I said, I swear the gloves are coming off. Understand?”
Audrey stood helplessly in between Bobby and Peter. Kim had been her agent for
several years and wanted to help her out of the situation.
“Mr. Cooper, how about I slap myself? And then you can forgive Audrey. What do you think?”
Bobby squinted his eyes at Kim. There was sarcasm in his sharp eyes.
“Who do you think you are? You don’t deserve to talk to me.”
Being humiliated, Kim stood still with an ugly look.
He did not expect Bobby’s abrupt appearance. They were unprepared and at a disadvantage situation.
Suddenly, a calm and unexpected voice broke the deadlock.
“How about you? Who do you think you are, then?”
The impassive voice rang out behind the crowd, along with the clickety-clacking of boots. The voice was frigid and creepy, making people’s toes curl.
The crowd turned their heads back and saw Catherine striding toward them with her hands in her pockets.
Although Catherine had a terrifying aura and frightened people at first sight, Bobby did not fear her.
He recognized Catherine and knew she was Audrey’s younger sister.
However, he thought Catherine was just a young girl, and he could deal with both her and Audrey.
Catherine walked directly to Audrey. She narrowed her eyes, and fury rose in them.
She lifted Audrey’s chin and fixed her eyes on Audrey’s red and swollen face. Her eyes darkened, and her face was as cold as ice.
Audrey automatically averted her eyes and looked sideways at Kim. She mumbled to complain to Kim, “Did you inform Kathy to be here?”
Kim lowered his head and dared not answer Audrey. He felt that Audrey was in danger, so he texted Kathy and asked for help.
No one could know that Bobby was so overbearing. Now, they were in great trouble.
Catherine did not lose her temper instantly. She pulled out a chair and said on it
casually. She had her legs crossed and looked up at Bobby harshly.
The coldness and harshness in Catherine’s deep eyes sent a chill down Bobby’s spine and made him feel an oppressing sensation in his chest.
Bobby was taken aback for a few seconds before he reacted. He sneered. “I have to admit that your acting skills are quite good. Interesting.”
He was still arrogant at that moment because he thought he was above the Swann sisters.
He stared at Catherine with ridicule and provocation. He said maliciously, “What? The knives are out, and you want to take revenge on me for your sister?
“Do you think you are capable of it, girl?”
Catherine chuckled. Her pretty face looked even more vivid and aggressive because of her chuckle. She put her chin in her hand and twisted her other wrist relaxedly. “You made me feel somewhat regretful.”
“Of what?” Bobby asked through his gritted teeth.
Catherine said softly, but her words were like a knife, “I was regretful not to drown your daughter in the sea this morning.”
People were astounded to hear what she said.
No one had thought that Catherine would announce her crime blatantly and arrogantly.
Bobby narrowed his eyes at Catherine and nodded his head in rage. “Great. You’re bold. I hope you can still say such brave words soon.”
Bobby redid what he had done to Audrey. He lifted his hand and was about to slap Catherine.
But the result was different. Before Bobby’s hand could land on Catherine’s face, she gripped it and stopped it.
Catherine clutched his wrist with one hand and stretched out her other hand.
Slaps sounded.
She slapped Bobby’s cheeks crazily and did not stop until the tenth slap.
People’s eyes were popping out when they watched the scene. They almost forgot how
A long while after Catherine stopped, Bobby finally came round from dizziness.
He opened his mouth and wanted to talk, only to spit out a mouthful of blood and two of his teeth.
The blood streamed down from the corners of his mouth to his chin and chest. He looked awful.
Bobby covered his face. His eyes were malicious and murderous as he glared at Catherine.
“D-Damn…” Bobby stuttered because he lost his teeth and his face was swollen. ” Damn it! How dare you attack me? Do you know who I am?”
An evil smile appeared on Catherine’s face. She raised her brow, her eyes still cold.
you are!
“I don’t fucking care who
“Who cares?” Catherine added, “You must pay your price after hitting my sister.”
Catherine sat back on the chair. At the same time, she raised her leg and kicked Bobby hard.
Bobby flew forward and slumped onto the ground before Catherine with a loud bang.
At that critical moment, Bobby’s bodyguards rushed in.
The four bodyguards stood behind Bobby to protect him. Bobby heaved a sigh of relief. He would never spare Catherine for what she had done to him.
All Her Secrets Chapter 113 by Chestnut
All Her Secrets Chapter 113 by Chestnut
Bobby turned around and angrily shouted at the bodyguards behind him, “Help me up quickly!”
The kick from Catherine had left him completely drained of strength. He couldn’t even summon enough energy to stand up now. The bodyguards quickly realized the situation and moved to help him up.
Catherine glanced over and swiftly snatched two forks from the table. With a swift motion of her wrist, she sent them flying. What were once two ordinary forks now resembled two deadly arrows.
They sliced through the air and embedded themselves directly into the hands of the two bodyguards. The, speed was so fast that not even a drop of blood splattered.
“Ah…”
The agonizing screams of the two bodyguards snapped everyone’s attention back to reality. People stared in shock and terror at Catherine as if she were a monster.
Kim cautiously stood next to Audrey. He quietly tugged at Audrey’s hand and asked in a low voice,” Audrey, why is your sister so terrifying?”
Audrey was so surprised that she opened her mouth wide and didn’t respond.
She genuinely had no idea about that.
No one had witnessed how Catherine had acted. And the fact that an ordinary fork could turn into a deadly weapon in her hands was incredibly frightening.
The bodyguards were seasoned fighters. They saw Catherine’s action. And they knew that even if all four of them attacked at once, they wouldn’t defeat Catherine.
They were just there for the money. They weren’t about to risk their lives for Bobby.
Another two bodyguards supported the two injured bodyguards. They quickly retreated from the scene. They gave Bobby a look of sympathy as they left.
Catherine only dealt with those who deserved it. As for the bodyguards, they were just doing their job for money. As long as they didn’t interfere with her affairs, whether they stayed or left didn’t matter to her.
Catherine’s skills finally scared Bobby. He stared at Catherine in a panic. His face turned pale.
“Do you… know who I am?” Bobby asked.
Ten minutes earlier, Catherine had received a dossier containing all of Bobby’s Information.
Hearing that, Catherine slowly lifted her head and raised an eyebrow. She cast a cold gaze at Bobby lying on the ground.
Catherine’s skills finally scared Bobby. He stared at Catherine in a panic. His face turned pale.
“Do you… know who I am?” Bobby asked.
Ten minutes earlier, Catherine had received a dossier containing all of Bobby’s information.
Hearing that, Catherine slowly lifted her head and raised an eyebrow. She cast a cold gaze at Bobby lying on the ground.
“Who you are doesn’t concern me. And you’re not worthy of knowing who I am.”
Catherine was dominant, arrogant, defiant, and sinister.
At that moment, no one dared to question Catherine’s words. With her skills, no one dared to question her arrogance.
Catherine pulled out her phone and dialed a number. When the call connected, she said into the phone, “Give you five minutes, and I want the Coopers bankrupt.”
Her tone was plain and unassuming, as if she were asking for a glass of water.
Although the Coopers might not have been at the very top of the wealth ladder in Casier, they were still significant figures.
Now, Catherine claimed she could bankrupt them in five minutes. It was simply unimaginable.
Inside, everyone doubted her words. But they had seen her astounding power moments ago. So, no one dared to challenge her.
As seconds ticked away, the atmosphere grew more tense. No one dared to move.
No one could have predicted that this celebratory banquet would devolve into this.
The only one at ease was Catherine. She adjusted her posture to a supremely comfortable
position. Then she reclined in her chair to rest with her eyes shut.
Everyone was eager to leave. But Catherine remained silent. It felt as if an invisible glass barrier enclosed the room. It prevented anyone from exiting.
It was an aura of power. Although it was unseen, it could be sensed. Nobody dared to risk it.
Suddenly, something unexpected happened.
2/5
On the table, Peter’s phone began to ring. In this quiet, private room, its ringtone sounded unusually loud. It caused several individuals to jump in surprise.
Peter’s face turned pale as he looked at the phone. He had been about to complain about who would dare to call him at that moment. But when he saw the caller ID, his expression turned grim.
He looked at the others helplessly and whispered, “The investor is calling.”
This investor held a significant position. And he was someone Peter couldn’t afford to offend.
Peter wanted to answer, yet he didn’t dare. Just then, the door to the private room swung open once again.
A tall and poised man stepped in. He was very handsome and elegant. His features were so perfect that they seemed to be sculpted by an artist’s hand.
Someone recognized him. He was known as the heir of the Duncans, the wealthiest in Casier. Their amazement was palpable as they realized he was the backer behind the program. The moment the door opened, the man’s gaze fell upon Catherine. She appeared to be dozing off in the private room.
His thin lips curved up. A hint of a smile flashed across his handsome face. He thought inwardly, “She really can fall asleep anywhere, no matter the occasion.”
Audrey hadn’t expected the newcomer to be Branden. But she was excited She had been worried that the situation might spiral out of control. But with Branden here, everything would be easier to handle.
Kim saw the excitement in Audrey’s eyes. He realized that Audrey knew the newcomer. After all, Branden was a major financial supporter.
“Audrey, do you know Mr. Duncan?” Kim asked. Audrey didn’t say a word. She nodded silently. To everyone’s surprise, as soon as Branden entered the room, he walked straight to Catherine’s side.
The others assumed Branden might be displeased with her. But instead, Branden swiftly removed his coat and draped it over Catherine.
A delightful fragrance wafted through the air. Catherine slowly opened her eyes. After she saw the handsome face before her, she frowned slightly. Then she whispered, “Why are you here?”
Branden chuckled softly. He looked at Catherine with a self-satisfied gleam in his eyes He asked, ” Don’t you know that the investor for this program has been changed to the Duncan Corporation?”
Catherine really had no idea.
She didn’t care about these things. So she hadn’t looked into it. She naturally wouldn’t know about the midway change of investors. Catherine adjusted her posture slightly. Then she sat up a bit straighter and glanced at the time. The five minutes were up.
As Catherine put down her phone, Bobby’s phone in his pocket began to ring. Catherine raised an eyebrow as she looked at Bobby. She tilted her chin up and said, “Answer it. Why aren’t you picking up?”
For some unknown reason, Bobby had a foreboding feeling. He cautiously answered the call. In the next second, his eyes widened in shock. And his voice grew louder in an instant. “What? What did you say? How could this be?”
The call seemed to be forcefully disconnected not long after. Moments later, Bobby regained his composure. When he looked up at Catherine, his gaze held more than just fear. There was a deep sense of dread in it.
Bobby crawled to Catherine’s feet. And he pleaded in a low voice, “Miss Swann, I was wrong. I beg you for mercy. Please spare me. Can you give me a chance to survive?”
Catherine lazily extended her hand and pointed in the direction of the exit. “The door is over there. Walk out yourself.”
However, Bobby wasn’t looking for that. Just moments ago, he received that call. He was informed that he had gone bankrupt in just five minutes.
Something entirely implausible had become a reality under Catherine’s influence. It showed just how terrifying her power could be.
“Miss Swann, please give me a chance to start anew. I know I’ve made mistakes. I’ll have my daughter come and apologize sincerely. Can you please not hold this against us?”
Chapter 114 Catherine’s Fiancé
Catherine, with her tongue pressed against her cheek, let out a cold sneer. She didn’t even bother to lift her eyelids as she said, “You slapped her, and I want a whole company from you. That’s fair.”
This statement clearly left no room for negotiation.
A slap for a company was Catherine’s idea of fairness.
Bobby realized that trying to plead with Catherine was futile. He then shifted his gaze to Branden.
Branden was now the only one who could help Bobby. In Casier, no one dared to cross Branden. He was like a king in the shadows in Casier.
As long as Branden said a word for him, Bobby didn’t believe that Catherine could do anything to him.
“Mr. Duncan, I’m Bobby from the Coopers. As you know, the Coopers have some acquaintance with the Duncans. And we’re currently working on a project together. Considering the reputation of both our families, can you lend me a hand today?”
Facing Bobby’s plea for help, Catherine chuckled softly. Then she pursed her lips and remained silent.
She thought inwardly, “He is just irredeemably foolish.”
Even if Bobby managed to bring the mightiest forces today, it couldn’t save him.
Hearing Bobby’s plea, Branden slowly raised his head. He stared at Bobby coldly.
“Mr. Duncan…” That look made Bobby feel like an invisible hand was choking his throat, which left him breathless and speechless.
As Branden saw Bobby’s startled expression, he raised an eyebrow. Then he leaned casually
against the chair Catherine was sitting on. He nonchalantly said, “Mr. Cooper, you have connections with the Duncans. Do you know what kind of relationship she has with the Duncans?”
Branden pointed at Catherine.
Not only Bobby but everyone present was curious.
They all knew Branden was the investor behind this program and the ultimate financial supporter.
1/5
However, upon his arrival, Branden immediately interacted with Catherine. It was clear that their relationship wasn’t ordinary.
Bobby was left stunned by the question. He silently shook his head.
Paxton, who was standing beside Branden, stepped in to clarify the situation.
“Mr. Cooper, Miss Catherine is Mr. Duncan’s fiancée. You slapped Miss Audrey and wanted to beat
Miss Catherine, and now you want the Duncans to help you? Do you think that’s possible?”
Bobby was instantly stunned. Then, his face twisted in disbelief. Finally, he slumped to the ground in helplessness.
At that moment, Bobby finally understood whom he had offended.
No wonder Catherine had such power. After all, she was Branden’s fiancée. Dealing with the Coopers was a piece of cake for her.
Apart from Bobby, everyone in the room was taken aback by this revelation. No one had imagined that Catherine and Audrey, who were from the Swanns and seemingly insignificant, had such a significant background.
Fear and unease filled the hearts of all present. After all, they hadn’t uttered a word for Audrey
when she was humiliated earlier.
If the Swanns decided to hold a grudge, they would be in big trouble.
Peter’s face darkened. He wouldn’t have wasted his efforts if he had known Catherine and Audrey
had such powerful connections. He should have just tried to please the two of them.
Elliot turned his head to look at his mother’s embarrassed expression. And he couldn’t help but
mock.
The reason Cindy had managed to stay relevant in the industry for so many years was because of
her shrewdness in protecting herself.
However, Cindy’s lack of breakthroughs over the years was also due to her excessive caution.
Bobby was dragged out by Paxton’s men. And from then on, the Coopers had fallen from grace.
The events of today had come to an end here.
Branden stared at Catherine. At that moment, when he looked at her, his originally cold, dark eyes
“Want to leave or stay here?” Branden asked.
The reason Branden had agreed to attend the evening banquet was to accompany Catherine out.
He hadn’t expected there would be such an incident in between.
Catherine had initially not intended to come. If she hadn’t received the last-minute message about Audrey being in danger, she wouldn’t have rushed over.
Now that things were settled, Catherine naturally wanted to leave.
Catherine stood up and stared at Audrey.
Audrey met Catherine’s gaze and immediately said, “Kathy, if you’re tired, you can go ahead. Don’t worry about me. I have Kim.”
After Catherine heard this, she turned to look at Audrey’s agent.
Kim hadn’t known about Catherine’s significant background. Catherine might not have been favored within the Swanns. However, being officially acknowledged as Branden’s fiancée was enough for her to command respect in Casier.
Moreover, Catherine’s strength was considerable. When Catherine took action earlier, Kim was shocked by her power.
As Kim sensed Catherine’s gaze, he shivered and quickly said, “Miss Swann, rest assured. I’ll take good care of Audrey. I promise!”
His demeanor was almost like he was making an oath.
Catherine caught a glimpse of the marks on his clothes from being splashed with alcohol earlier. Then she didn’t say anything more.
Following Catherine’s gaze, Kim secretly felt lucky. Fortunately, he had strongly discouraged Bobby earlier. Though Kim had suffered some humiliation, he had also protected Audrey.
This could be considered making up for his mistakes.
After all, it wasn’t that Kim didn’t want to protect Audrey. He was just an insignificant agent with
no background or influence. His abilities were limited.
After Catherine settled Audrey’s situation, she left directly.
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Catherine didn’t inform Branden before leaving. She strode forward confidently and left gracefully in front of everyone.
Unlike those women who cling to the big shots, acting submissive and being the obedient
girlfriend, Catherine was different.
Catherine wasn’t the one following Branden. It was Branden who followed her.
Catherine’s attitude was undoubtedly quite audacious.
The people present were stunned. After all, this man was Branden.
He was the current head of the Duncans.
As Catherine walked further away, it finally dawned on Kim and the others. Kim turned to look at Audrey with surprise in his eyes.
“Audrey, your sister has such a dominant attitude. You two sisters…”
Audrey knew what Kim was about to say. Even Audrey was astonished by Catherine’s behavior, let alone Kim.
Audrey replied, “There are differences among different people. So what’s the problem if there’s a slight gap between me and my sister?”
Kim thought inwardly, “Is that just a slight gap?”
Then Kim stared at Audrey with a strange expression.
Audrey admitted that she and Catherine were quite different. But Audrey and Catherine had grown up in different environments. The disparities in their upbringing were bound to lead to differences in their personalities.
Not to mention comparing Audrey with Catherine, even though Audrey and Liana grew up under the same roof, they were still worlds apart.
Kim thought of something and changed his expression slightly. He looked at Audrey seriously.
Then he asked, “You wouldn’t have some mysterious, influential fiancé you haven’t told me about,
would you?”
“I don’t!” Audrey rolled her eyes at Kim and thought inwardly, “This man has a terrible memory. Did he forget that I was just dumped not long ago?
“Where can I find a boyfriend so quickly, let alone an influential fiancé?”
Kim nodded in relief. He was just shocked by the fact that Catherine’s fiancé was incredibly influential.
Kim thought inwardly, “If Audrey also has such a heavyweight fiancé, why bother staying in the entertainment industry? She can directly become a top-tier wealthy housewife.
Chapter 115 A Jinx
After Catherine left the private room, she got ready to leave the restaurant. However, Branden suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into another private room. Catherine frowned at Branden’s action. She was just about to warn Branden not to get handsy with her.
But then a waft of spicy fragrance hit her. It caused Catherine to forget her previous thoughts in an instant. Catherine turned her head. Then she caught sight of the server inside the room putting some kebabs on the grill.
It turned out that the barbecue was ready. No wonder the aroma was so enticing. As Catherine stared at the barbecue, Branden observed her with a subtle smile on his handsome face.
Branden thought inwardly, “What should I do? “Although I am the heir of the Duncans, I seem to hold less significance in this woman’s eyes than a barbecue.”
Branden knew that his current value might not match that of a barbecue. However, when he saw
Catherine’s smile, Branden found it all worth it. “Why are you still standing? It’s late now. Let’s eat first and then talk.”
Branden directly guided the unmoving Catherine to her seat. He firmly pressed her down. Catherine still stared at the barbecue. Catherine had to admit that Branden really understood her.
After Catherine returned from the program team, she had been resting in her room all along. If it weren’t for Kim’s news, Catherine might have slept right through to the next day.
Catherine didn’t feel hungry until she saw food. But once she saw it and caught the aroma of the barbecue, she was starving.
Most importantly, Branden had a precise understanding of Catherine’s taste. On the table, on one side was her favorite beef brisket, while on the other side was pork steak. The food looked incredibly tempting just from its appearance. This made Catherine’s appetite even more voracious.
Paxton stood on the side and took in the aroma that filled the room. He was shocked when he saw Branden serve Catherine with care.
Branden was always aloof and held a strong aversion to women. Rumor had it that Branden didn’t allow women within 100 yards of his vicinity.
If Paxton hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed that Branden would personally serve a woman a meal. No one would believe such a thing.
As Paxton saw Catherine enjoying the feast and Branden constantly adding dishes to her plate, he silently closed his eyes. Paxton thought inwardly, “Out of sight, out of mind.”
After finishing the barbecue, Catherine headed straight back to the Swanns”.
After a while, Catherine was back at the Swanns’ and entered the living room. She noticed that the usually deserted living room was still brightly lit today. Moreover, a surprising number of people were present.
Aside from Audrey, all four members of the Swanns were there. Catherine gave them a quick glance. Then she turned to pass through the hallway and headed to her room. But just as Catherine turned, she heard Rachael’s sharp reprimand.
“You uncouth thing! We are here, and you can’t even offer a greeting upon your return? Is it that you never learned, or have your manners all disappeared?”
Catherine stopped and slowly turned around. Then she looked at Rachael coldly. The coldness in Catherine’s gaze was intense. Rachael felt a shiver run down her spine as if a gust of icy wind had hit her.
However, Rachael thought she had dressed too lightly for the evening, which was why she felt After all, in Rachael’s eyes, Catherine was utterly disgraceful. Rachael rolled her eyes at Catherine. Then she asked coldly, “What? Do you dare defy me?”
Catherine chuckled lightly. She looked at Rachael with a smile. And a sharp glint flashed in her gaze. Catherine asked, “Whether or not I’ve learned, isn’t Mrs. Swann well aware?
“In your eyes, I’m just an uncultured girl, abandoned in the countryside from a young age. What manners could I possibly have?”
Rachael hadn’t expected Catherine to retort. The words Rachael had planned to say got stuck in her throat.
A trace of unease flickered across Rachael’s delicate face. But she quickly regained her composure. Then she stared at Catherine with her sharp eyes.
“Blame it on your bad luck. It’s your misfortune to bring death to your grandmother as soon as you were born.”
Catherine replied coldly, “It’s you who gave birth to me.”
“You…” Rachael was thoroughly provoked. She had always paid attention to her appearance. And she prided herself on her image as a socialite. Besides, she always appeared refined and elegant. It had been years since she had been this angry..
Now Rachael’s face turned red due to Catherine’s words. In reality, Rachael’s disdain wasn’t solely due to the belief that Catherine was a jinx. Deep within. her thoughts, Rachael held strong traditional views of favoring male heirs over female ones.
When Laura was still alive, she didn’t like Rachael from the beginning. Because Rachael wasn’t from a prestigious family. Rachael was just a low-ranking woman with some charm.
Most importantly, Laura had already arranged a marriage for her son back then. If Rachael hadn’t hooked up with Korbin and subsequently become pregnant, Rachael wouldn’t have had a chance to join the Swanns.
As Vicente learned of Rachael’s pregnancy, he arranged for Korbin to marry Rachael. Laura might have softened toward her if Rachael had given birth to a son during her first.
Unfortunately, Rachael’s first child was Audrey, a daughter. Laura was displeased because her mindset was even more traditional. She thought that the Swanns needed a male heir.
Rachael knew her position in the Swanns wasn’t secure. Disregarding her own health, Rachael became pregnant with Catherine when Audrey had just turned one year old.
During her second pregnancy, perhaps due to the stress, Rachael developed anxiety. Not only that, but Korbin also started having affairs.
Although Rachael knew about Korbin’s infidelity, she chose to endure it to secure her position in the Swanns and become the mistress of the Swanns. Rachael placed her hope in her pregnancy. And she prayed that she would give birth to a son.
If she had a son, Laura might have been less critical. Rachael’s status within the Swanns could have been secured. However, fate had other plans. Rachael gave birth to another daughter during her second pregnancy.
As Rachael faced Laura’s sarcastic remarks, her illness worsened. Laura passed away not long after Catherine was born into the Swanns, and Rachael was seriously ill.
Korbin sought help from an astrologer who was from nowhere. The astrologer claimed that Catherine was a jinx.
Upon hearing this, Rachael wholeheartedly believed it.
She firmly convinced Vicente to send Catherine to the countryside for the sake of the Swanns’ tranquility. So, Vicente ordered that the young Catherine be sent away to live alone in the countryside.
From the moment Catherine returned, Rachael felt upset.
These years, Rachael had enjoyed a comfortable life. She was envied as one of the most prosperous ladies in Casier. However, Catherine’s arrival it all.
Perhaps Rachael had initially known the claim was false. But now, she wholeheartedly believed that Catherine was a jinx.
The past was brought back to light. And Rachael could no longer contain herself. She pointed at Catherine with anger.
Rachael shouted uncontrollably. “Catherine, you’re a jinx that brings bad luck upon your parents!”
Chapter 116 Korbin’s Plan
Catherine’s face turned chillingly cold when she heard Rachael’s hysterical outburst. In an instant, the living room seemed enveloped in a transparent barrier. It was suffocating.
Liana and Johnathan had been watching the drama unfold. At that moment, they felt an unsettling panic in the atmosphere. Rachael was stunned, her words dying on her lips because Catherine’s gaze was too unnerving.
Seeing the situation deadlock, Korbin, who had been sitting silently on the side all the time, suddenly spoke up. He said with a serious and deep tone, Rachael, that’s enough.”
Korbin was the current head of the Swanns. And Rachael dared not argue with her husband. Moreover, she realized she had gone too far in her anger.
For Rachael, although it was true that Catherine was a jinx, these words were not suitable to say publicly. After all, she was Catherine’s mother.
However, although Rachael recognized her slip of the tongue, she attributed all of it to Catherine’s lack of manners. She blamed Catherine for triggering her rage.
Rachael stepped back, and Korbin stepped forward. As a leader accustomed to managing situations, Korbin was skilled at reading people’s expressions when making decisions. He understood that Catherine’s current anger was entirely natural from his perspective.
To prevent Catherine from acting impulsively and making consequential decisions, Korbin sighed and continued, “Kathy, your mother just got overly upset. She said some odd things in the heat of the moment.
“She’s angry because she worries about you. You went off to record a show with Audrey without a word. In the Swanns, we already have one daughter who gets into the limelight and doesn’t focus on her responsibilities. And now, you joined her. Naturally, your mother is frustrated.”
Hearing Korbin’s words, Catherine lazily raised her gaze and coldly stared at him. Catherine seemed to understand why Audrey didn’t seek help from the Swanns, even though she endured mistreatment outside.
It was because even if Audrey asked for help, Korbin wouldn’t assist even though Audrey was his daughter.
In the end, it might even provoke mockery from Korbin’s side. After all, Korbin genuinely looked down upon the line of work his daughters were involved in. He even considered it a disgrace.
Catherine didn’t respond. Korbin continued. “Kathy, be obedient. Tomorrow, ask Audrey to withdraw from that show.”
“I can’t.”
Catherine coldly rejected, leaving no room for negotiation. Korbin hadn’t expected Catherine to challenge him in this manner publicly. He raised his head abruptly and stared coldly at Catherine with his sharp eyes.
He was the head of the Swanns. And his authority was not to be challenged. He could indulge Catherine to an extent, but his patience had its limits.
As their eyes locked, Catherine sensed the restrained anger in Korbin’s gaze. She realized that Korbin would likely resort to force if she resisted further. Catherine wasn’t worried about Korbin physically confronting her. He didn’t have that capability.
However, Catherine didn’t want to get into a conflict with Korbin. She had promised Vicente that she wouldn’t harm the Swanns, no matter the circumstances. Korbin composed himself and spoke calmly again, “Kathy, be good. You shouldn’t have joined that show.”
Catherine’s mind raced. She frowned and responded with a hint of annoyance. “Why are you and Mr. Bolton both against me being on the show? I am just accompanying Audrey for the recording, and it doesn’t interfere with my classes.”
After hearing that, Korbin was stunned. He had only heard complaints from his wife and daughter. They said that Catherine aimlessly hung out with Audrey and appeared on television. It damaged the Swanns’ reputation.
Now that Catherine had put it this way, it made Korbin realize it in time. Catherine’s words had directly awakened him.
Leonel and his backers wished to use Catherine to gain control over the Swanns’ assets and oust Korbin from his position. Leonel chose Catherine because Catherine was the most controllable candidate. Moreover, Catherine had the will left by Vicente. She was an ideal choice.
In Korbin’s view, Catherine had grown up in the countryside and had never seen the world. So she naturally enjoyed the limelight and the feeling of being a star adored by the public.
If Catherine became engrossed in the entertainment industry and couldn’t be manipulated by Leonel, Korbin could secure his victory in the previous bet. In the face of wealth, personal dignity seemed insignificant.
Korbin suddenly realized the situation. To avoid revealing his intentions too blatantly, he put on a facade of helplessness as he gazed at Catherine.
“Do you really enjoy it?” Catherine didn’t speak, nor did she deny it. She looked at Korbin with a calm expression. She observed the hint of a smile in his eyes.
After a moment, Korbin sighed and whispered. “Since you like it, go ahead. Consider it compensation for you. Just be mindful of your studies.”
Catherine remained indifferent. She had long seen through Korbin’s intentions, but she chose not to expose them. The best way to ruin someone was to let him indulge in corruption without a chance to rise.
Rachael had just returned to her seat. She widened her eyes upon hearing this. And she found it hard to believe as she stared at Korbin. Unexpectedly, Korbin gave Rachael a warning look, prohibiting her from making a scene.
Korbin smiled slightly as he waved at Catherine. He said, “You must be tired from just returning. Go rest.”
“Alright,” Catherine replied. After that, Catherine turned and left the living room. This time, no one stopped her. Just as Catherine walked away, Johnathan immediately exclaimed. ” Dad, how could you let that jinx go? She’s involved in damaging the Swanns 1 reputation like this. Why don’t you kick her out?”
Since Catherine had beaten him up last time, Johnathan held a deep grudge against her. He was determined to find a way to get rid of her. Finally, he had found an excuse, but he never expected his father wouldn’t take action.
Korbin gave Johnathan a cold glance. Korbin was extremely dissatisfied with Johnathan, who didn’t inherit his own intelligence and wisdom. “Use your brain and think about it. Even if Catherine participates in the show, how could she disgrace you?”
After being scolded, Johnathan instantly backed down. He sat on the side quietly without a word. Liana, who was sitting nearby, was the first to catch on. She had listened to the entire conversation, including Catherine’s words.
Initially, Liana couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t just kick Catherine out. Now, she seemed to understand her father’s reasons for not doing so. “Dad, the appointed time is approaching. Do you intend to let it be?
Korbin looked at Liana with appreciation. Among his children, Liana had the highest intelligence. But for Korbin, it was a pity that Liana was a girl.
“What Liana said is right. I know your thoughts. Just endure a bit longer,” Korbin said. Rachael had initially been reluctant to comply. But after hearing these words, she knew she had to endure it.
She knew that compared to the Swanns ‘wealth, it was insignificant.
Everyone assumed that Catherine had walked far enough away not to hear them and was speaking boldly. They had no idea that Catherine had an extraordinary hearing.
After Catherine heard their words, a chilling smile appeared on her cold face.
Chapter 117 The New Student
As Catherine entered the school, she was met with numerous curious gazes. That reality show was top-rated now. So a lot of people knew that Catherine had participated in the show. Their impression of her had changed quite a bit. It turned out that Catherine was like this in private and was really good at playing games.
With her confident demeanor and charming big-sister vibe, Catherine was a hit among the girls.
Initially, everyone thought Catherine had a problematic personality. In their view, she was cold and even a bit pretentious. But after seeing Catherine on the show, they realized she was not what they thought. She was just genuinely not interested in socializing. And it was not an act.
As for the attention from those around her, Catherine didn’t pay it any mind. After entering the classroom, Catherine kept a composed face. She took confident strides and looked straight ahead as she walked to her seat.
But as soon as she sat down, Bryan rushed over. His face was full of excitement as he looked at her. “Boss, how did you decide to join the reality show without even telling me?” he exclaimed. Bryan sounded a bit aggrieved.
Catherine remained calm. She raised an eyebrow and gave him a sidelong glance. “You found out on your own, didn’t you?”
Bryan retorted. “That’s not the point!”
Bryan thought inwardly, “How can that be the same?” For Bryan, hearing about it directly from Catherine was completely different from discovering it on his own or receiving a report from David.
If Catherine had told him herself, it would authenticate Bryan’s status in her eyes. Naturally, it would be different.
Catherine couldn’t be bothered with Bryan. She felt a bit tired because she had helped with a project for Ronin the previous night. And it kept her up late. Now she was a little weary. “Fine. I’ll let you know next time.”
With that, Catherine laid her head down on the table to sleep. Though her response was somewhat dismissive, it was quite satisfying for Bryan. At least Catherine talked to him.
That was enough. Seeing Bryan’s contented smile, David and the others felt slightly disdainful. Ever since the arrival of Catherine, Bryan had changed.
The current Bryan wasn’t the same as before. Bryan had become Catherine’s lackey. Bryan turned around and coincidentally caught David and the others’ gaze. He witnessed the thick mockery they didn’t manage to conceal in time.
Bryan sneered with a disdainful look, 11 Well. You’re just jealous of me. Got it?” David and the others felt indignant and couldn’t help but retort, “Jealous of you for what?”
“Then let me ask you. Can you guys get any attention from Boss when you talk to her?
With a triumphantly raised eyebrow, Bryan looked at them. After David and the others thought for a moment, they conceded defeat. Seeing their initially confident demeanor crumble, Bryan secretly relished the moment.
The joy of basking in Catherine’s protection and relaxing was truly remarkable for Bryan. With Catherine around, Bryan’s days were indeed happy.
Seeing the satisfied smile on Bryan’s face, David and the others felt a mix of mockery and envy. But they had no way to compete. They were not as handsome as Bryan, and their ability to please was not as strong as his. It was a tragic situation. When the bell rang, all the students returned to their seats.
The homeroom teacher taught the first class. As soon as the homeroom teacher entered the room and stood at the front, she announced something to the class. She said, “Class, we have a new student joining us today. Let’s welcome him with applause.”
The entire class was surprised. Catherine had just transferred not long ago, and now there was another new student. They thought inwardly, “Is Class 8 really that easy to get into?”
In the next moment, their attention was drawn. Guided by the principal, a boy wearing a black T-shirt entered the classroom.
The students thought inwardly, “What a background! The principal personally brought him in.” With a cheerful smile, the principal led the boy in and said, “Ronin, introduce yourself to everyone.”
The boy had been keeping his head down. He slowly raised his head upon hearing the principal’s instruction. He was fair-skinned, even fairer than some girls. He had great skin that seemed translucent enough to see veins underneath.
Unfortunately, his face wasn’t that impressive. He had a big bowl hairdo with thick, heavy bangs. Although his face wasn’t big, those oversized black glasses covered a significant portion.
His overall appearance was quite plain. And he had a typical nerd look. He looked up and introduced himself in a low voice, “Hello, everyone. I’m Ronin Oconnor, the new transfer student.”
With that, he lowered his head again. He appeared quite shy. But this kind of student was very much favored by the principal. The principal had come out to introduce him personally.
The principal said, “Ronin is this year’s national math competition champion. He is an outstanding student. His ability to join and become a part of our school is remarkable. Let’s give him a round of applause!”
No wonder the principal personally welcomed him. It turned out he was a top student. Now everyone was no longer in doubt.
Although their school was private, this institution placed great emphasis on academic performance. Truly exceptional students with excellent grades could easily get in, but they must be among the top.
The principal finished his introduction and left. The homeroom teacher was exceptionally courteous since Ronin was a student the principal personally brought in. “Ronin, where would you like to sit?”
Ronin looked up suddenly. He extended his hand and pointed to an empty seat without hesitation. He asked the homeroom teacher, “Can I sit there?”
Once it was confirmed where Ronin wanted to sit, everyone was stunned. No one had expected that Ronin would want to sit in Bryan’s seat, and even the homeroom teacher was momentarily taken aback.
Initially, Bryan had no interest in the new arrival. But now that everyone’s attention was on Bryan, he lifted his head and looked toward Ronin.
Bryan’s fierce gaze carried a challenging dominance. Despite Bryan evolving into a lackey, he was still immensely intimidating when he got angry.
The moment Bryan lifted his head, the entire class felt a shift in the atmosphere. The others remained silent and watched the intense gaze lock between the two. Even the homeroom teacher found it a bit strange. She thought inwardly, 11 Ronin seems gentle. But why does he choose Bryan’s seat?”
She tried to persuade Ronin. She said, ” Ronin, that seat is already taken by another student. How about you choose a different seat?”
However, Ronin remained firm and looked at Bryan’s seat without saying a word. Bryan raised an eyebrow and looked at him with confidence and dominance, Bryan couldn’t believe that this newcomer dared to challenge him.
Bryan thought inwardly, “Who does he think I am?
“Does he think I am an easy target to be bullied?
“If he has the guts, he should try it.” As tensions escalated, the situation quickly turned into a deadlock. Even the homeroom teacher found it hard to mediate now.
On one side was Bryan, and on the other side was the new top student. It wouldn’t be wise to offend either. Just as everyone held their breaths, Catherine, who had been in a doze, suddenly woke up.
She slowly lifted her head and propped her chin on her hand. Then she looked toward the front of the class. As everyone knew, Bryan was now Catherine’s lackey. The others thought inwardly, “Since her lackey is being bullied, Catherine shouldn’t just stand by and do nothing.”
All eyes were on Catherine. They were waiting to see how Catherine would handle the new top student.
Chapter 118 Do You Know Him?
Catherine looked up, immediately recognizing Ronin standing on the podium. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, making everyone think that she would teach Ronin a lesson.
However, she was just secretly complaining that Ronin’s costume was so ugly. She wondered what Ronin was thinking. Why would he dress up like that at school? Did he think he was cosplaying or something?
Ronin looked at Catherine as she looked over, and his eyebrows furrowed. He felt uneasy, unsure if Catherine was angry because he acted without permission. Catherine’s rosy lips slightly parted as she spoke in a cold voice.
“Sit down!”
She pointed to the seat next to her in the adiacent aisle. Ronin glanced at it. Although it wasn’t Catherine’s desk, the distance wasn’t that far, so it could be considered sitting next to her. Out of respect for Catherine, he decided not to argue with Bryan. Ronin happily said, “Okay!”
Then, he slung his backpack and happily skipped over to the seat. The crisis was averted. The homeroom teacher breathed a sigh of relief, intensely appreciating Catherine’s initiative to speak up and help maintain class unity.
Although Catherine appeared to have a cold personality, she had a warm heart. She just lent a hand at the right time.
Bryan looked at Ronin, smiling at Catherine. For some reason, he felt uncomfortable. He had a feeling that Ronin was trying to steal his throne, and his position was insecure.
Ever since Ronin appeared, Bryan had inexplicably developed a sense of hostility towards him. There were no accidents during class. But as soon as the dismissal bell rang and the homeroom teacher left, the atmosphere in Class 8 changed.
The originally quiet Class 8 became even quieter during dismissal. Suddenly, Bryan stood up. Students present could all feel the atmosphere was thick with tension. The few people who usually followed Bryan gathered around him.
To avoid disturbing Catherine’s rest, Bryan circled around and walked to the middle of the aisle, lowering his head to scrutinize Ronin.
Ronin, who had always been obedient and studious stood un directly With one hand in his pocket, he looked at Bryan contemptuously. There was a hint of provocation in Ronin’s eyes behind the black-frame glasses. Ronin did have the guts to provoke Bryan, which was truly admirable to everyone.
As their eyes met, Bryan felt a strong sense of aggression emanating from Ronin. A mischievous smile curled on Bryan’s face. He realized that Ronin was not as ordinary as he seemed.
After exchanging glances, they reached a consensus. Bryan said first, “My boss is sleeping. Let’s go outside and talk!”
The meaning behind the word “talk” was profound. When Ronin heard Bryan refer to Catherine as his boss, his mocking smile instantly faded.
By trying to compete for Catherine’s favor, Bryan’s ignorant attitude obviously crossed Ronin’s bottom line. Ronin clenched his teeth and coldly responded, “I was thinking the same thing!”
Then, Ronin followed Bryan out of the classroom. Before leaving, Bryan instructed David and the others not to follow.
David and other students expressed concern about potential trouble. They weren’t worried about Bryan getting into trouble; they knew his skills well.
However, they thought the newcomer, Ronin, was dangerous. He was so academically talented that he must be the principal’s favorite. What if he got injured?
After much hesitation, David summoned his courage and approached Catherine.
“Catherine, wake up!”
Catherine heard the voice and slowly raised her head, her eyelids slightly lifted. A cold light gleamed in her drowsy eyes as she looked in David’s direction.
That gaze nearly scared David to death. He quickly explained, “Catherine, please don’t get angry with me. I have something important to report.”
“Go on!” These two cold words clearly showed Catherine’s attitude. David briefly explained what happened to Bryan and Ronin, along with his concerns. Catherine glanced at Ronin’s seat, which was empty. She nodded and replied with a single word. “Okay!”
Then she lowered her head again. It wasn’t that Catherine didn’t care about Ronin. He had been trained for a long time under her guidance, likely on par with Bryan.
Young people had hot tempers and good physical strength, so occasional venting could be helpful. Seeing that Catherine didn’t intervene, David and the others dared not ask further. Everyone waited anxiously for the two to return.
The two people who had just stepped out for a “talk” returned the moment the bell rang. All eyes were on them. Seeing that Bryan and Ronin were dressed neatly, everyone was even more confused.
David carefully observed Ronin and felt conflicted. Could it be that Bryan was really just talking to Ronin? When had Bryan become so gentle?
After the two returned, Catherine woke up. Her cold gaze swept over both of them, and she came to a conclusion. It seemed that the two were indeed evenly matched in strength. However, from Bryan’s seating posture, it was evident that Ronin had a slight advantage.
Ronin had been fighting on the streets since he was young. Although his strength and skills were lacking, he was cunning enough. An ordinary person couldn’t take advantage of him.
After Ronin sat down, he noticed that Catherine was awake and quickly smiled at her in an attempt to please her.
“Boss!” Everyone was shocked, wondering if Ronin had a close relationship with Catherine. Catherine glanced at him and coldly said, “It’s time for class!”
Ronin wasn’t upset by Catherine’s coldness. On the contrary, he felt happy that she spoke to him.
“Okay, Boss, don’t worry. I’ll pay attention in class!” Bryan secretly rubbed his leg in pain, venting his frustration internally. He felt particularly annoyed after seeing Ronin trying to please Catherine. “You little brat,” he thought, “I’ll never let you take advantage of my boss!”
Bryan looked at Catherine with a pitiful expression and asked, “Boss, do you know this guy?” Catherine nodded but didn’t speak.
Upon hearing Bryan’s question, Ronin raised an eyebrow at him. Then, he flashed a provocative smile that could drive Bryan crazy. “Boss has known me for much longer, you know!”
“You goddamn…” Bryan couldn’t stand it, and they were about to argue. Hearing footsteps approaching, Catherine knew that the teacher was about to arrive. Her face immediately darkened as she coldly said, “Time for class, understood?”
Bryan and Ronin immediately shut up, knowing personal grievances could be resolved anytime. The top priority at the moment was not to anger their boss.
Bryan and Ronin were about to fight to the death. However, their anger instantly subsided with just a few simple words from Catherine.
The classmates who were ready to watch the show were left dumbfounded. Indeed, Catherine was formidable. She was the true boss here!
Chapter 119 Two Servants
Under Catherine’s intimidating presence, everyone attended another peaceful class. After the class ended, Catherine woke up. The previous days of recording variety shows had disrupted her sleep schedule, and she couldn’t stick to her habits.
As she woke up, Ronin immediately took a box of pastries and a thermos from his backpack and handed them to her. His actions were skilled and natural, indicating that it was a habit he had developed over a long time. “Boss, have some.”
Catherine had a tendency for low blood sugar since she was young. Perhaps because she was too smart and talented, she was given some flaws to make her appear more perfect.
Moreover, Catherine preferred salty and spicy food and didn’t like sweets. She often felt dizzy due to low blood sugar. Ronin had been by her side for many years and was accustomed to caring for her.
With the familiar voice and aroma, Catherine naturally reached out and took a pastry, stuffing it into her mouth. Seeing her eat it, Ronin was pleased. He opened the thermos and handed it to her, saying, “Boss, have some rose liqueur!”
Catherine took it and took a sip. Indeed, the rose liqueur made by Ronin was the most authentic, even better than the imported one she had drunk at David’s house last time.
The other students in Class 8 were dumbfounded. Wasn’t this how kings were served in ancient times? It wasn’t enough to have Bryan as a servant. Now there was Ronin, who was a servant and a top student. They began to wonder about Catherine’s identity. Why was everyone around her trying to please her?
Bryan had an unhappy expression on his face. However, his unhappiness was not directed at Catherine but at Ronin by her side. He didn’t know that Catherine was interested in pastries and liked drinking rose liqueur. “What kind of person is Ronin?” he thought. ” He’s such a bold guy.”
Bryan had always been pampered and sheltered by his family, never experiencing the darkness of society. He found it hard to hide his straightforwardness, especially around Catherine. “Boss, did you know Ronin before?”
As soon as this remark was made, almost all the students in Class 8 perked up their ears, eagerly waiting for the gossip.
Ronin had a hopeful look in his eyes. This time, he acted without seeking permission first and didn’t know if Catherine would be angry. Catherine had no intention of hiding the truth. Seeing Bryan’s interest, she nodded lightly and replied, “Yeah.”
Perhaps it was because Bryan’s expression was too innocent, it reminded Catherine of Audrey. She explained, “We knew each other in the countryside.”
Bryan was satisfied with Catherine’s explanation. It turned out they knew each other in the countryside. No wonder they were so close.
Ronin was happy as well. If Catherine was willing to say that, it meant she wasn’t blaming him. Overjoyed, he even forgot about the unpleasantness between him and Bryan. He started bragging. “I used to be with Boss in the countryside. Boss took good care of me, understand?”
Bryan didn’t want to understand it at all. The thought of Ronin knowing Catherine earlier than him made him feel uneasy.
Now, everyone knew Ronin’s background. They initially thought he was from a prestigious family, a top student, but it turned out he was just a country boy who got in based on his grades.
It wasn’t surprising to have a few high- achieving students who were used as examples by schools to compete for rankings. Those who had wanted to flatter Ronin suddenly lost interest. People’s attention diminished, and they focused less on Ronin.
Suddenly, George came back from the teacher’s office holding a stack of forms. He went straight to the podium, facing the whole class. “Give me a minute, guys. I’ve got something to tell you!”
George had a good reputation in Class 8. He was a typical nice guy who was helpful to everyone. Although he lacked authority, everyone was willing to show him some respect. Everyone looked up at George.
George pushed his black-framed glasses up his nose and smiled pleasingly. “The annual school celebration is here. This year is the 10th anniversary of our school’s founding, and the school plans to hold a grand event. Each class must perform several talent shows, so please participate actively and help our class achieve a good ranking.”
At this point, George paused and sighed, saying, “I don’t want other students to misunderstand our class. We are not just good at academics. We must also excel in such activities.”
Everyone knew what George meant. It was well-known that the students in Class 8 were arrogant because they had good grades. All the top students were in Class 8. But as young people, no one was willing to back down. So what if Class 8 had good grades? They were all bookworms, lacking in arts and sports!
Whenever there was a school competition, Class 8 would be humiliated by students from other classes. The whole Class 8 had endured such humiliation for a long time.
Someone couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted, “George, who said there are no talented students in Class 8? We have Liana, a talented pianist who could potentially become world- famous!”
“That’s right!” someone echoed. Liana sat in her seat with a faint smile, not making any statement. She exuded an aura of an artistic genius.
She had been learning the piano since she was young and was known as a prodigy. Her dream was to become the chief pianist of the best vocal ensemble in Vienna in the future. At that time, she would bring honor not only to the Swann family but also to her country.
She thought that Catherine, a country girl, could never compare to her. Also, Liana thought Catherine was a rude and unreasonable girl who relied on her rural upbringing to threaten people with her fists.
“Hmph!” Liana scoffed inwardly. ” What’s so great about her? She’s just a low-class person.” George nodded and said to Liana,” Liana, I’ll register you first. Can you perform a piano solo?”
Liana gracefully nodded and softly said, “Okay, every Class 8 student must strive for honor without tarnishing the class’s reputation.”
That statement made Liana sound like a leader. However, it was despicable for one to boost oneself while belittling others.
The words “tarnishing the class’s reputation” referred to the plagiarism incident involving Catherine, which made Class 8 infamous throughout the grade. This was indeed a case of boosting oneself by tearing others down.
Although Liana kept belittling Catherine, Catherine didn’t react at all. Her scheme seemed to have no effect on Catherine. Catherine didn’t pay any attention to her, not even a glance.
Although Liana had agreed to perform a piano solo, it wasn’t enough. After all, the school required at least five talent shows to be showcased.
Not to mention achieving a good ranking, if they couldn’t even come up with five talent shows, the whole Class 8 would be humiliated again.
George’s earnest persuasion was in vain, so he had to turn to Bryan for help. It was well known that Bryan had a lot of influence in the class. It would be much more effective if he spoke up than George doing it himself.
However, Bryan never liked getting involved in these things. He flatly refused. Later, something happened after school, which solved George’s problem.
Chapter 120 Teach Him a Lesson
At the end of the school day, Catherine woke up and grabbed her backpack to leave. Bryan quickly caught up, not noticing a figure rushing towards them even faster. The figure bumped into him and squeezed next to Catherine. Bryan was furious, thinking, “This little brat has got some nerve!”
Ronin felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart. Catherine would always be his, and no one could take her away.
“Boss, let’s have a barbecue together tonight. I’ll cook for you. I’ve developed a new barbecue sauce that tastes amazing,” Ronin said.
Besides studying computers, Ronin loved cooking. Making Catherine happy with his cooking was the most important thing to him. He couldn’t compete with Catherine on computers. After all, Catherine was his teacher. But having culinary skills that impressed her was also a kind of ability.
It had been a while since Catherine had tasted the food Ronin cooked, and she missed it a bit. The rose liqueur today awakened her taste buds. The food she had been eating recently was a disappointment, so it would be a good idea to try some Ronin’s food.
Catherine nodded in agreement, and Bryan quickly caught up and said, 11 Boss, I found an amazing chef. Can I treat you to a meal?”
Ronin thought Bryan was so shameless that he tried acting cute to steal Catherine’s attention. “Act cute, huh?” Ronin complained inwardly. “I thought you were a tough guy. Shame on you, bastard!”
While the two were in a tense competition, Catherine noticed a sound coming from the side. She frowned and walked towards it with a cold face. Bryan was the first to notice Catherine’s action. He wanted to call out to her but was quickly silenced by Ronin’s hand.
Ronin glared at Bryan, looking at him as if he were an idiot. Bryan realized what was happening and blinked at Ronin. Only then did Ronin let him go, and the two followed Catherine’s direction.
Catherine leaned against the corner of the corridor, watching the violent scene inside. George was surrounded by several boys from Class 5, definitely at a disadvantage. George stood among them, trying to please the others. his eves somewhat cautious.
“Hey guys, we are schoolmates. There’s no need for this, right? How about I treat you all to a meal today?” George said.
A boy stood at the forefront, provocatively slapping George’s face with a smirk. “Meal? Kid, are you trying to bribe us? How dare you come to our class and cause trouble? You’ve got some nerve,” he sarcastically taunted.
These boys were extremely rude. However, George could only show weakness at the moment. “It’s a misunderstanding, I swear,” he pleaded.
“Don’t deny it, boy. I think you’re asking for trouble!” One of the boys from Class 5 grabbed George by the collar, threatening, “Are you sneaking around our class trying to find out about our talent shows for the school anniversary?”
“Class 8 is so despicable. You have no skills of your own, yet you try to steal from others? Just because you have better grades doesn’t mean you’re superior to us. Who knows if you cheated, ha!”
Mocking voices continued, filled with insulting words. George couldn’t take it anymore. He felt his blood boiling, causing him to forget that he was still in a weaker position. He yelled furiously, “You’re talking nonsense!”
The air fell silent for a moment, and then the leader of Class 5 showed a wicked grin, his fierce gaze fixed on George. “You’re asking for trouble, brat! Hey, guys, let’s teach him a lesson!”
George covered his head, preparing himself for the punches and kicks, but the expected pain didn’t come. He slowly opened his eyes and was shocked by the scene before him. Bryan and Ronin quickly subdued several boys from Class 5 who were about to attack him.
Leaning lazily against the wall with her hands in her pockets, Catherine exuded an extraordinary aura. Despite her relaxed posture, she emitted an intimidating presence that made her seem incredibly powerful.
At that moment, George finally understood why someone like Bryan, who was usually so powerful, was willing to call Catherine “Boss.” She looked truly intimidating!
Bryan held the leader of Class 5 by the neck, positioning his head under his armpit. Then, he stared at that boy with a sinister smile. Bryan’s voice was icy cold as he said, “Kid, you’ve got some guts to bully George, huh?”
That boy trembled in fear, knowing Bryan’s reputation. They dared to bully George but wouldn’t dare mess with Bryan. Bryan’s title wasn’t given for nothing. Everyone feared him.
Bryan looked up at Catherine. Since she was his “boss,” he was supposed to listen to her. “Boss, should I teach this guy a lesson? He really deserves it.”
Catherine didn’t respond. Instead, she looked at George. George was terrified when he felt Catherine’s cold gaze on him. He asked in a trembling voice, “Catherine, do you have any orders for me?”
Catherine pointed at the several boys from Class 5 and said coldly to George, You decide how to handle them.”
This decision caught George off guard. He didn’t expect Catherine to do this. Bryan understood Catherine’s intention. It was George’s right to deal with those who bullied him. Thinking about taking Catherine out for a barbecue, Bryan impatiently said to George, “Hurry up!”
Startled by the shout, George trembled and stammered. “We’re schoolmates. We shouldn’t fight and ruin our friendship!”
After he finished speaking, Bryan released the person he held captive. The people from Class 5 didn’t expect to escape unscathed. It seemed that the rumors were true. The leader of Class 8 was this girl named Catherine, not Bryan anymore.
Before walking away, those boys cautiously looked around to confirm what George said was true. Just as they took a few steps, they heard Bryan’s voice from behind, almost causing them to stumble. The leader of Class 5 turned around carefully and asked Bryan, “Bryan, do you have any orders?”
Bryan looked at them with a cold face and said domineeringly, “Kids, focus. on studying and stop causing trouble. If I catch you bullying any other students, I’ll beat the crap out of you. Got it?”
These boys nodded quickly, continuously bowing. “Yes, we will remember that!”
Bryan waved his hand, allowing them to leave. At that moment, Bryan’s image in George’s mind instantly improved. Bryan was such a positive and loving person!
George’s thoughts became active. He didn’t ask for Bryan’s help before, but now he had found a new target- Catherine! As long as Catherine agreed to help, all the problems would be solved.
George carefully approached Catherine and rehearsed countless times in his mind before saying, “Catherine, can I ask you for a favor?”