Ch. 131..140

Chapter 131 Play Games

Branden made a move, but his actions shocked people even more. “If you’re tired and want to rest, I’ll take you downstairs!”

It was only one elevator ride away from upstairs to downstairs. But Branden said he would take her downstairs! Everyone could tell that Branden really cared about the beautiful woman in front of him.

Watching Branden’s astonishing behavior on the side, Triston clicked his tongue secretly. How did he not know Branden had such a good temper?

Sure enough, it was a world where only good-looking people could be treated kindly, and he had no fairness. If one were nice to Catherine, she would also show them some respect.

Audrey didn’t want to leave, and Branden had just arrived, so it really wasn’t the right time to go. She adjusted her posture and leaned back in her chair without leaving. Seeing that she hadn’t left, Branden also put away the thought of leaving.

“Do you want something to drink?” The man’s low voice sounded lazy and hoarse. Catherine had little interest in alcohol. Audrey had already drunk a lot, so she didn’t plan to drink anymore.

“Soda!” Catherine answered faintly. Before Branden could do anything, Triston had already stepped forward. “I’ll serve it. I’m the host, at least. How can I let you guests serve yourself? I’ll do it!”

Carrying a bottle of cold beer for Branden and a soda for Catherine, Triston obediently stepped back. His service was thoughtful and considerate.

The apartment Triston bought was about 3,000 square feet, with all the walls in the middle being knocked, and the oversized living room was enough for everyone to enjoy themselves.

Triston had spent a lot of money on purchasing a complete set of sound equipment during the renovation, ensuring that its sound effect was better than that of hotels.

However, although the lively room had been completely opened up, an invisible barrier in the middle seemed to separate the two sides of the room.

The left side was filled with singing, dancing, and bustling, while the right was quiet and indifferent. Branden sat beside Catherine, one drinking beer and the other drinking soda, and the others dared not to come up to interrupt them.

They were curious, but neither of them dared to step forward. After all, they didn’t want to lose their lives. Neither Branden nor Catherine spoke. Branden had a cold temper and didn’t talk much. Catherine was even colder than him.

After a while, someone finally spoke up. Not surprisingly, the person who spoke was Branden. “Kathy, what game did you play with Bryan last time?” Catherine tilted her head. Her dark eyes met Branden’s gaze. “You want to play too?”

The man’s thin lips slightly raised, his gaze deep was serene, as if everything was so natural. He handed her his cell phone, saying, “Please download it for me!”

His phone’s screen lit up. Catherine was instantly attracted by the picture on his screen because she recognized the image as the very picture she had shared in her WhatsApp moments.

Ordinary people would think that it was just a black picture, but only Catherine could tell the secret at a glance. Because the image was designed by herself, and there was a dark pattern in it that ordinary people couldn’t recognize.

Catherine just glanced at it and then moved her gaze away. After she helped Branden download the game, she handed him his cell phone.

The internet speed of Branden’s phone was exceptionally fast. At a glance, it was clear that his phone had been specially set up. She handed Branden his phone with the game downloaded. “Here you go!”

Although Branden had never played games, he knew the basics. After logging in, he saw Catherine’s account inside his friend’s list. He raised his eyebrows and looked toward Catherine. “Let’s play it?”

Catherine was feeling bored. Since Branden wanted to play, she could accompany him to play. Without saying a word, Catherine logged in.

Branden invited her to play together, so after she logged in, Branden formed a team with her. Seeing that she was online, Branden was about to start the game. But he saw that someone had applied to join their team then.

After a quick glance, he realized that it was Bryan who wanted to join them. Branden clicked refuse without even thinking.

Branden didn’t expect to find two strangers on their team when he started the game. He looked up at Catherine with surprised eyes. “Did you invite them?”

Catherine sneered. “You started with a team of four!”

All right, Branden felt like he was being taunted. He didn’t know the game had this kind of operation. He felt disdained and said, “The game developer isn’t smart. Why doesn’t it ask me how many team players I needed for the game before I started?”

Branden was focused on his phone’s interface and didn’t see Catherine’s eyes gradually darken after he said that.

However, Catherine admitted that the problem raised by the man did exist. She needed to arrange for the technical department to add an extra step to save some of the game idiots from not knowing how to operate it.

The game had already started. Branden was not a tangled personality, so he naturally wouldn’t be entangled in such a small problem in front of him.

“Do we need to exit and start over?” he asked. Catherine didn’t care. Playing with Branden, a complete novice, might not be as good as playing with two other strangers anyway. She didn’t bother to quit!

“Go on!”

After she said that, Branden naturally had no intention of exiting.

Branden’s operating interface was still the most primitive one. He had only watched Catherine play it without having played the game himself.

When one of the other teammates invited him for a joint skydive, Branden didn’t click to accept or decline. Only after seeing Catherine’s acceptance did he click to accept.

He didn’t realize that the other teammate had invited Catherine to follow him long before asking him. Because the other teammate saw Catherine was a girl from her account.

Catherine had always been lazy to operate before landing, so the system defaulted to follow her teammate.

These two other teammates knew each other. The intelligent system would usually match the corresponding teammates according to each other’s performance. For example, Catherine and Branden were on their respective friend lists. They knew each other.

The teammates matched by the system would also be people who knew each other. Catherine and Branden were No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, and their two teammates were male and female. The female was No. 3, and the male was No. 4.

Now, No. 4 was in charge of taking them skydiving. He picked a place with relatively abundant supplies and few people.

Unfortunately, they were unlucky this time. Although they had chosen a safe place, quite a few teams were landing there. Catherine swept a glance. There were at least four teams in this place.

Just after they landed, No. 3, the girl spoke. Her voice was filled with dislike. “Why did we match two people who don’t talk? Can you guys make it? If you get shot, don’t ask us to come to get you up!”

After hearing her complaint, No. 4 hurriedly consoled her, “Don’t be afraid. Don’t you still have me if they get attacked? I promise to take you to the end game.”

No. 3 said, “Our team can only rely on you. I have great faith in your marksmanship!” Letting the two teammates boast each other up, Catherine picked up two guns. She threw one of them at Branden’s feet.

She didn’t turn on her mike because it wasn’t needed. Branden was right beside her.

“Take the gun and stay close to me!” Just after she said those words, she and Branden heard a gunshot coming, followed by the screams of their female teammate coming from inside their headphones, “Ahh…”

Chapter 132 Had a Crush on Her

No one expected someone to use a sniper rifle in this kind of venue as soon as the game started. The sniper directly exploded the level 1 helmet of No. 3 with a single shot, scaring her into a terrified scream. Branden raised his eyes toward Catherine with a questioning look in his eyes.

When their gaze met, Catherine instantly read Branden’s meaning. She pressed down on the small eye icon at the top of the screen and scanned to make sure of the enemy’s location. “Direction 170, southeast. You take a cover in the next room.”

Hearing Catherine report a direction, Branden glanced in the direction. He crouched down and did not hide inside the small room next door.

He would not hide behind a woman and let her face the bullets. He would feel ashamed of himself if he did so.

Catherine was observing the enemy’s position when she heard No. 3 shouting in her earphones. “No.1, No. 2, can you guys make a move? I’m hit. Get me up. What are you waiting for? No. 4 has to shoot the enemy and save us, but you just stand there without moving. Isn’t it too much?”

Hearing the complaining voice, Catherine frowned slightly. She had already discovered the position of the sniper who had just fired. That sniper would inevitably run away if she went up to save No. 3 now.

Catherine didn’t go up to save her. Besides, she was some distance away from No. 3. It wasn’t her who should have stepped up to save No. 3, but instead, No. 4, who wasn’t far from No. 3.

As for Branden, he had no interest in others at all. Even if his teammates died, he wouldn’t look at them. His microphone had been turned off long ago. He didn’t even want to hear what those two other teammates were saying.

No. 3’s heart had long been overwhelmed with anger. Even though they were virtual characters in the game, she still wanted to scold Catherine. She rushed toward Catherine as soon as she was up.

As a result, her location was instantly exposed just as she stood up. Without helmet protection on her head, she was shot again the next second.

At the same time, the person who shot her also exposed his location. Catherine instantly fired. While No. 3 was knocked down, their opponent was also knocked down by Catherine. Her shooting was fantastic. The No. 4 boy couldn’t help but exclaim, “Nice shooting!”

While amazed at Catherine’s excellent shooting skills, he worshipped her perfect performance.

“No. 1, that was a great shooting!”

On the other hand, Branden was observing everything with a faint smile on the side. Catherine didn’t say anything. Once the gunshot rang out, the remaining enemies around them sensed something and would rush in the direction they were in.

They had limited supplies, but their enemies had abundant supplies. If they attacked forcefully, it would be difficult to rely on her alone with three newbie teammates.

No. 3 was very dissatisfied with her teammate’s praising of Catherine, and she said with sarcasm, “No. 4, do you think No. 1 could be a transvestite? The kind of disgusting man who specializes in playing with girl accounts.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t she dare turn on her microphone to let us hear her voice?” Facing her slander, Catherine didn’t care at all.

Seeing that Catherine didn’t say anything, No. 4 didn’t know what to answer. In the eyes of No. 3, this was tacit acceptance. After she was rescued, she didn’t even take any meds and fired two shots, instantly exposing their location.

It wasn’t long before they heard someone coming. The other two teams had arrived at the location of the next house. Seeing that they were closing in, Catherine remained calm and composed.

Branden watched the screen while sizing up Catherine with interest. Perhaps his gaze was too hot. Catherine sensed his gaze and looked up at him in a rush.

“Why are you looking at me?”

The man’s gaze was somewhat deep and hot, staring intently into her cold and beautiful eyes. The tip of his tongue lightly touched his thin lips. He looked evil but also seductive. He spoke in a very light and magnetic voice with a seductive flavor, making people inexplicably have a feeling of desire.

“Kathy, do you know what it means that a serious woman is the most beautiful?”

While Catherine was communicating with him, her eyes were fixed on every move inside the phone screen. The moment Branden said those words, Catherine shouted sternly in a cold and slightly deep voice, “Crouch down!”

Although Branden didn’t know how to play the game, he naturally wouldn’t become Catherine’s burden. He was very obedient. Of course, he would only listen to Catherine.

Just after Catherine asked him to crouch down, Branden immediately made a move. He instantly operated his cell phone to get himself crouched down.

Although two teams were besieging their squad. these two teams seemed to have reached a tacit understanding, which was commonly known as illegal teaming.

The two teams joined forces to besiege Catherine and her squad. The other two teammates were instantly knocked down.

Catherine commanded Branden to go to get them up. Branden initially didn’t want to move, but Catherine asked him to go. He made a move for Catherine’s sake.

What he didn’t expect was that the foolish No. 3 rushed out just after she was rescued. She was killed immediately. What a waste of his time. Although No. 3 was completely done, she didn’t quit the game. She was still there, constantly nagging.

“Hmph, a disgusting man playing a girl’s account. You guys will also be knocked out soon. Do you think you’re powerful? I’m afraid you won’t be able to last more than three minutes.” ”

Branden had turned off his microphone and had no idea what No. 3 was saying, but as Catherine’s brows furrowed, he felt something was wrong. He turned on his microphone.

Then he heard what No.3 was saying. Branden retorted without thinking, ” You’re already knocked out. Don’t you feel ashamed to talk so much still? No wonder you can only date men inside the game, but unfortunately, No. 4 doesn’t seem to like you. No. 1 is my woman. Who do you think you are? How dare you speak ill of her?”

No one expected that the always silent No.2 would suddenly speak up and still be so domineering.

It was said that listening to one’s voice was like seeing one. As soon as they heard Branden’s voice they knew he was not ordinary.

No. 3 didn’t know what to reply. While the two were arguing, Catherine quickly shot their enemies. Their enemies did not expect Catherine to be so powerful and openly surrender in the public channel. Catherine was tired and didn’t want to knock them all out, so she let them go.

No. 3, who was screaming just now, was completely silent. Catherine didn’t bother to keep playing this round, so she pulled out a frag and then a Molotov cocktail. She knocked herself out. Branden followed her. He taunted No. 3 before he exited the game.

“No. 3, your voice is very unpleasant, like a man’s. Don’t nag in the game in the future so as not to scare others.”

After saying this, he directly exited the game, not giving No. 3 the opportunity to answer. His attitude could definitely make No. 3 angry enough to uninstall the game.

After Branden exited the game, put down his cell phone. He inclined his head, and his eyes slowly fell on Catherine. he “Don’t want to play another round?”

Catherine shook her head. Her eyeballs rolled slightly, and she said in a low voice, “Branden, why? You have a crush on me?”

Chapter 133 The Contract Was in Effect

Because of Catherine’s words, Branden, who had always been unsmiling and cold, raised the corner of his mouth slightly. In a deep, hoarse, and magnetic voice, he said, “Wasn’t it obvious enough?”

Catherine was silent for a while. There wasn’t much emotion on her face, making it impossible for others to guess what she was thinking.

After a while, Catherine slowly raised her head to look at Branden, an obscure enveloping between her eyebrows on her delicate face.

Her beautiful eyes were slightly raised. She looked calm and relaxed, and her tone was light, as if she was not talking about herself.

“I’m a jinx. I’m destined to be lonely, and the people I am with will either be dead or injured!” It was the 21st century, but some people still cringed because of these ridiculous remarks.

After hearing Catherine’s words, Branden smiled faintly. His deep gaze fell carelessly on Catherine’s face, gently sweeping over. He looked lazy, but his attitude was firm, and his tone was even more domineering.

“My fate is in my own hands!” Catherine appreciated Branden’s personality, and he was right. Her fate was also in her own hands.

“Heh!” Catherine let out a light laugh and put away her cell phone, then stood up. “Let’s go out for some fresh air!”

Branden immediately stood up and followed without hesitation. Although Triston and the others dared not approach, they had been watching every move of Branden and Catherine.

They watched Catherine standing up to leave and Branden following. Those initially a little worried and didn’t dare to watch Branden and Catherine directly started to discuss when they saw them leave. They looked at each other and finally sent a representative to approach Triston to inquire.

“Mr. Lambert, who’s Mr. Duncan’s fiancée? I think Mr. Duncan quite favors her. She’ll become his wife without any doubts, right?”

Prominent and wealthy families have always emphasized the importance of family status. Even ordinary wealthy families would consider the family background when looking for a partner, not to mention the top wealthy families like the Duncans.

If that girl also came from a wealthy family, she would become the matriarch of the Duncans in the future.

Triston smiled elegantly while holding the wine, with a hint of pride on his face. “She’ll become his wife without any doubts. After all, this was the marriage agreement made by Branden’s grandfather and Mr. Swann himself. Don’t you think that’s a certain thing?”

Everyone was somewhat surprised when they heard this. Not many wealthy families were surnamed Swann in Casier, and even fewer people could make Triston respectfully call “Mr. Swann.”

After their analysis, they found that only the Swanns in the south of the city remained eligible.

Suddenly, someone remembered something and said anxiously, “I did hear my mom say that she had attended Mr. Swann’s funeral before. Could it be that the girl just now is Mr. Swann’s second granddaughter, Miss Catherine, who has just returned to the Swanns?”

Those in the upper circles knew that the Swanns had made a fool of themselves, and the Swanns were considered one of the four famous families.

After the death of Vicente, the most authoritative person of the Swanns, he did not entrust the assets of the Swanns to Korbin. Instead, he handed them over to his second granddaughter, who had been thrown into the countryside since childhood.

Due to the Swanns being a powerful family, everyone did not dare to discuss this matter openly, but this matter was still spread on a small scale.

There were always a few brain-dead people who knew this. Someone subconsciously blurted out, “Isn’t Miss Catherine the jinx of the Swanns?”

The atmosphere was quiet for a second. Everyone knew about this, but those who could publicly say such words were brainless.

[Slap!]

A slap was hit heavily on the back of the head of the person who had just said those words. Audrey then staggered up, looking at the person who spoke with confused eyes. She couldn’t stand still.

“Brat, what kind of nonsense are you babbling? How can my sister be a jinx? My sister is a blessing from God. I’m her sister. How could I not know? If you keep talking nonsense, beware, I’ll cut out your tongue.”

Audrey was already a little drunk, and her speech was a little slurred. But that was just good. She could alleviate some awkwardness with the help of alcohol. The man who spoke reacted to his mistake and hurriedly bowed his head to apologize.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’m wrong.”

As the host, Triston stepped forward at the right time and pulled Audrey away. “Let’s go, Audrey. You’re drunk. I’ll take you back.”

Getting out of Triston’s house and breathing in the fresh air outside, Catherine took a few deep breaths in contentment. When she was in Triston’s house just now, it all smelled of cigarettes and alcohol, which didn’t make her comfortable.

It was windy outside, so Branden took off his suit jacket and handed it to Catherine. He had come straight from the office and was still in his formal attire.

Seeing the jacket in Branden’s hand, Catherine’s beautiful eyes held a faint smile. She raised her eyebrows to look at him.

“No need. I’m not cold!”

Although she didn’t wear much, she wore a lot more than Branden. Despite her refusal, Branden still draped his jacket over her shoulders.

“It’s windy. You’d better drape it!”

The jacket covering her still carried the temperature belonging to him. The warmth caught her off guard. The faint aroma was refreshing.

Not knowing what to do, Catherine sat quietly on the stone steps, staring at the boundless and beautiful moonlight. Branden, on the other hand, stood quietly observing her. The dim street light fully presented her beautiful appearance.

Catherine’s skin was very smooth. She looked very charming. After a long silence, Catherine suddenly said, “You should have received the contract, right?”

Branden said, “Uh-huh.” Then he stood up and walked to Catherine, facing her. Their gaze met. The man suddenly leaned down and braced his hands on Catherine’s sides, his eyes looking at her thoughtfully.

“The contract is in effect, and so is our one-year contract, right? My fiancée!”

His deep, moonlike eyes were staring at Catherine. His gaze was so hot that Catherine’s heart couldn’t help but tremble momentarily.

The man in front of her knew how to seduce people too well. In Vicente’s will, Catherine asked Branden to agree to be her fiancé for a year. Now that she had fulfilled Branden’s conditions, the contract had officially come into effect.

In just a second, Catherine adjusted her emotions. She looked straight at Branden with her beautiful eyes, the ends of which were slightly raised, with a mysterious and enigmatic smile.

“Yes, the contract is in effect. You remember to go home and read the contract regulations when you have time.”

Branden could tell from Catherine’s smile that she had other intentions. It seemed that he needed to find time to go back and study the contract still lying in the drawer of the Duncans’ living room. But now, he had another question for Catherine.

“What is your relationship with The Storm?”

It was impossible for one to determine the global copyright agency of a game without some strength. This made him somewhat curious about Catherine’s identity!

Chapter 134 Understanding Her

The corner of Catherine’s mouth curled up into a faint smile, making her look quite mysterious and unpredictable. She stared intently at the handsome man at her side. Her gentle voice sounded both deep and hoarse. “Guess!”

The simple word made the gentleness in the bottom of the man’s eyes grow deeper and thicker, just like the beautiful moonlight that could not be dissipated.

Branden understood what she meant. Since she wanted him to investigate independently, he would do it himself. He didn’t believe that with the ability of the Duncans, he couldn’t even find out about this. The more challenging something was, the more interesting it was, wasn’t it?

It was getting late. Catherine had classes tomorrow, and Branden was in control of her situation. “Let’s go. I’ll send you back to rest. You have classes tomorrow!”

Was this man treating her as one of those little girls who had just become an adult and was busy with daily classes?

Fine with her. As long as he was happy! Catherine put her hands in her pockets and turned around coolly without saying goodbye to Branden. Her posture was arrogant to the extreme.

Branden didn’t mind. He had long known that her personality was reckless and arrogant. How could he care about this little matter?

Returning upstairs, Catherine realized that Audrey had not returned yet. When she was about to go upstairs to find her, Branden stopped her.

“Get some rest. It’s not polite if you go to Triston’s house and come back. Audrey is an adult, and she’ll be fine with Triston around!”

After thinking about it, Catherine thought it made sense. Audrey was even older than her and had been working in society for a long time. She nodded at Branden. “Well, I’m going to get some rest!”

Looking at the way she turned and closed the door, Branden laughed with a helpless face. She was so mean to him. She didn’t even say goodbye to him.

Just after he finished thinking about it, the door opened, followed by Catherine’s clear face appearing in front of him.

Being confused by the sudden action, Branden was a bit puzzled. He asked by the look in his eyes, “Is there anything else?”

On Catherine’s delicate face, her pink lips curled slightly upward. She said. with a hoarse voice, “Nothing much. I just want to say to you… Good night.”

She deliberately intoned the last syllable. Her voice attracted Branden’s soul away instantly. Until the sound of the door closing sounded again, Branden’s thoughts were pulled back. Looking at the closed door of the room, he burst into laughter.

He had always been sober, and few things could tempt him. But in front of Catherine, he had repeatedly lost his mind for various reasons that he hadn’t figured out.

Before leaving, he took another look at the closed door of the room. He parted his thin lips slightly to murmur, “Good night!”

The next day, when Catherine got up to go to school, she noticed that the slippers placed at the door hadn’t even been changed position, indicating that Audrey hadn’t returned last night.

Catherine frowned slightly but didn’t do anything. Branden was right. Audrey was an adult, and she was capable of taking responsibility for her behavior. She didn’t need to worry about Audrey.

Catherine went downstairs with her book bag. It was her first time going to school from Audrey’s house, and she planned to take a cab.

Just as she went downstairs, she saw the black Bentley parked out front. Catherine swept a glance at it and left. Unexpectedly, the black Bentley drove slowly toward her and stopped beside her.

The moment the car window was rolled down, the handsome face was revealed inside the car. Catherine froze momentarily when she saw the handsome face, not realizing it was actually Branden.

Paxton got out of the car and respectfully opened the door for Catherine. Seeing Catherine’s uncertain look, Paxton hurriedly opened his mouth and spoke.

“Miss Swann, Mr. Duncan came to wait for you early in the morning!”

Hearing Paxton’s words, Catherine raised her eyebrows and looked toward Branden inside the car. The man lowered his eyebrows as his gaze gently locked onto hers. “Get in the car!”

Catherine bent down and sat in the car. When Branden came to pick her up before, he drove the iconic Maybach. She had never seen the Bentley before, so she didn’t recognize it just now.

After getting into the car, she casually asked, “You changed your car?”

“Uh-huh!” Branden responded. Paxton, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, murmured softly in his heart, “He not only changed his car but also his house.”

Knowing that Catherine had been living in Audrey’s house these days, Branden moved to a nearby house overnight. Branden had bought that house long ago but had never lived in it.

He moved there temporarily last night and came to pick up Catherine to send her to school early in the morning. So, he didn’t use the car he usually used, and even the driver couldn’t be dispatched in time.

All the equipment used there was from the house. Even the car was a new one placed in the underground garage there. Seeing that Catherine was about to close her eyes again, Branden stopped her.

“Have your breakfast now!”

Catherine had plenty of time to sleep after arriving at school. Although Branden was not studying at the school, he was still very familiar with Catherine’s situation at school. He knew that she slept every day during class.

He reached out and picked up the food box on the side to put it in front of Catherine. Inside the spacious carriage, all the equipment was designed to be fully automated. In the driver seat, Paxton had considerately operated the car to automatically raise a small table board for placing the food box.

Catherine frowned slightly. She didn’t like having breakfast, just like she didn’t like getting up early. Ronin used to force her to have breakfast. He always prepared breakfast and brought it to her, trying all means to make her eat a little.

It had been a long time since she had eaten breakfast in this period. Noticing a slight frown on her delicate face, Branden showed his rare patience to persuade her, “Breakfast is important. You must eat at least a little.

While saying this, he helped her open the food box and showed her the exquisite dishes inside. There were pancakes, sandwiches, fries, and milk!

Catherine didn’t like eating sweets. What she hated the most for breakfast was coffee with sugar and bread. On the contrary, these snacks were a little more acceptable to her.

Seeing the food Branden had prepared, Catherine’s originally furrowed brows gradually relaxed. She didn’t expect this man to be careful with his arrangements, even noticing such small details.

Quite a few foods were prepared, and it didn’t look like it was for only one person.

“Let’s eat together!”

Catherine placed a fork aside, signaling Branden to have breakfast with her. The look in the man’s delicate eyes changed slightly as if he didn’t expect her to extend an invitation. It seemed that Catherine wasn’t that cold. She started to share food with him!

The food prepared by Branden was to her liking, and she ate a lot of it. She rarely ate so much. If Ronin saw this scene, he might chase after Branden for the chef who cooked the food.

By the time they reached the school entrance, Catherine had just finished her breakfast. She took a paper napkin to wipe her mouth and dashingly pushed the door to get out of the car. Unlike before, Catherine took the initiative to turn around and waved to Branden.

“Bye!” Branden nodded his head. After her figure disappeared through the campus gate, he ordered Paxton to drive.

Initially, he should have had a meeting in the morning. However, because of Catherine, he had explicitly excused himself for half an hour. All the executives were now waiting for him.

Chapter 135 Wait and See

As soon as Catherine stepped into the classroom, Ronin immediately stood up and went up to say hello to her.

Previously, it was George who used to be the first one to reach class. Today, George discovered that Ronin had arrived when he arrived at class.

At first, he thought Ronin was a good student who loved to study and who wished he could go to class early to study every day, but later, he realized that he was wrong. He was completely wrong.

It turned out that Ronin didn’t go to class so early to study. After entering the class, Ronin took a small electric pot from his school bag. It was the kind of pot that could heat food. Afterward, his actions dumbfounded George.

George didn’t expect Ronin’s cooking skills to be so good, and even more so, he didn’t expect Ronin to go to class early in the morning to make breakfast.

He initially thought Ronin was living an exquisite life and pursuing perfection, but then he found out that Ronin didn’t eat the food he cooked. It wasn’t until Catherine showed up that George finally realized what was happening.

It turned out Ronin’s breakfast was all prepared for Catherine. Catherine’s position in Ronin’s heart made George exclaim and envy.

Ronin presented his prepared breakfast to Catherine as if he were offering a treasure. He knew that Catherine didn’t like to eat stale food. She only liked freshly made food. That was why he went to school early to cook breakfast.

“Boss, I prepared pizza, oatmeal, and some delicious pickles for you today. Do you want to eat some?”

Catherine took a look. Ronin’s cooking skills were indeed excellent, worthy of someone who was of the highest standard of skill in cooking.

But she was full now and didn’t have any appetite. Even if someone put her favorite dish in front of her, she wouldn’t want to eat it. Catherine shook her head and told Ronin, “I just got full!”

Hearing this, Ronin looked up at Catherine in surprise. “You just got full? Catherine didn’t respond to him but went straight to her seat and sat down. Ronin froze for a while before reacting that Catherine wasn’t joking.

But Catherine had never liked having breakfast. Why did she take the initiative to have breakfast today?

Ronin originally wanted to inquire about the reason. But when he turned his head, he realized that Catherine was already bending over the desk and sleeping. He had to shut up. Seeing Ronin’s hospitality toward Catherine failed, Bryan couldn’t help but laugh at the side.

Catherine was resting. The two didn’t dare to make any noise, but they had never stopped arguing with their eyes, and neither had let go of the other.

The people around were envious of Catherine when they saw this scene. Ronin not only was a good student but also had particularly good looks. He was sunny and handsome. He and Bryan were two completely different types of men.

Bryan was originally an influential man in the class. Many girls secretly had a crush on him. Now, these two excellent and handsome men were all around Catherine, and they couldn’t wait to hold her in their hands as a treasure, making people envy her.

Many people envied Catherine, and even more people were jealous of her. Liana’s deskmate’s face twisted in anger when she saw this scene.

“Liana, do you know what’s so good about Catherine? Or are those men possessed? Otherwise, why would they all be around her? Are they blind?”

Liana was also so angry that her face was twisted. She also couldn’t figure out what was so good about Catherine; the jinx came from the countryside. There were so many people chasing after her. Those people were really blind.

But she didn’t say these things out loud. After all, Catherine, a country girl, was not worthy of being compared to her in her eyes.

Hearing her deskmate’s words, Liana said coldly, “There’s no need to take it seriously. They just haven’t seen her true face.”

Looking at Liana’s relaxed face, her deskmate was still slightly angry.

“Liana, you’re just too good-tempered. Catherine is obviously comparing herself to you both in the open and the dark. If it were me, I would have gotten angry long ago. It’s just that you have a good temper and don’t bother with her!

Liana’s hand holding the pen kept tightening, and a touch of hostility flashed in her big eyes. Her deskmate was right. Catherine was too shameless. Did Catherine want to defeat her and make everyone think that she was the real lady from the Swanns?

There was no way she was going to let Catherine achieve that. Catherine was just dreaming of it.

“Liana, the audition will start tomorrow. You must show Catherine what true music art is! She doesn’t know anything at all!”

Liana’s deskmate looked in Catherine’s direction with great disdain in her eyes and said to Liana with sarcasm.

Liana thought that her deskmate was right. This time, she would make Catherine lose completely. During break time, Catherine woke up and leaned back in the chair in a daze.

Ronin noticed that Catherine’s sleeping time had been getting shorter and shorter lately, and he frowned slightly. “Boss, have you been in a bad state lately?”

“Nope!” Catherine answered in a cold voice. She was in pretty good shape lately and didn’t need to rest for that long.

Bryan finally found a chance to talk to Catherine. He naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity. “Boss, I went back and practiced the song you chose a few times last week, and I feel like I can play it better now. If you’re free this afternoon, would you like to listen to me play it?”

Catherine would participate in the celebration gala’s performance. Ronin was in charge of playing the drum set, and Bryan was naturally unwilling to be left behind.

He practiced guitar every day these days. He paid for three teachers who were specifically responsible for teaching guitar and followed the teaching throughout without missing a second.

He could finally play a piece proficiently and completely, so he couldn’t wait to show Catherine what he had practiced.

“Okay!” Catherine didn’t think much of it. Since Bryan wanted her to listen, then she would help him listen to it. Seeing Catherine agree, Bryan was very happy and looked at her with a smile on his face.

“Thank you, boss!”

Facing Bryan’s complacency, Ronin snorted in disdain. “Hmph, you’ve only been practicing for a few days. Do you really think you’re a musical genius? You don’t feel ashamed to show it off?”

Ronin’s sarcasm didn’t irritate Bryan, and he directly refuted, “Let’s just wait and see who’s the musical genius!”

“Yeah, I’ll wait and see!”

The argument between the two continued. With their eyes fixed on each other, they were eager to kill each other with their eyes if they could.

David and the others who were sitting around were trembling in fear. Ronin and Bryan could really get into a fight as soon as they meet. Catherine was probably the only one who could sit between them and let them bicker with no reaction.

She didn’t understand how Bryan and Ronin, who were originally quite cold, could become so childish when they met. She felt that both of them wanted to pounce on each other and bite each other before they would stop.

But Catherine didn’t want to care about it. She let the two bicker with each other. She thought it was their own business anyway.

Chapter 136 The Fight

In the afternoon, because of the approaching celebration gala, the students used gym class as a practice class under the arrangement of the gym teacher.

Bryan had someone take over the practice room early in the morning. He couldn’t wait to take Catherine there, ready to let her feel his efforts these days. After choosing the best viewing position, Bryan carried a stool and placed it before Catherine.

“Boss, please!”

David and the others followed, looking at Bryan expectantly.

“Bryan, go for it!”

Ronin was the last one to enter the door. He just happened to hear the cheers of David and the others. He disdainfully snorted and said sarcastically, “Tsk, tsk… You’ve only practiced for a few days and are so arrogant. Do you really think you’re a genius?”

Bryan turned his head slowly sideways, his eyes staring at Ronin with disdain. The atmosphere in the practice room instantly became weird. Inexplicably, there was a kind of tension.

After David and the others felt the pressure of the atmosphere, they silently scrunched their necks and didn’t dare to move.

Although Ronin was new there, judging from his imposing manner, they knew that he wasn’t someone to be messed with. The pressure in the practice room continued to increase, and everyone began to tremble without knowing what to do.

At the moment when the fight between Ronin and Bryan was about to break out, Catherine suddenly made a move. She looked up, and her slightly narrowed eyes swept lightly between the two. “Can we begin?”

It was a simple question. She spoke without emotion, but it instantly calmed the two, who were on the verge of a fight. Ronin was the first to give up the fight and found an empty seat to sit down.

He stopped fighting with Bryan, and Bryan didn’t keep arguing with him either. He took out his guitar and found a good seat to sit down. Bryan, who had never had stage fright, suddenly panicked a little as he looked up at Catherine. A saying flashed through his mind. ”

The more one wants to be recognized, the more one will be afraid of not being recognized!”

In order not to be emotionally affected, Bryan closed his eyes. Familiar melodies flashed through his mind, as well as every position he played.

Although he only had a few days of practice time, his muscles allowed him to naturally and proficiently pluck the guitar strings as if he had muscle memory.

It was a short music piece. If it weren’t for everyone’s knowledge that Bryan had only been practicing for a few days, they would think he was hiding something about his musicianship.

The level and fluidity he showed just now could not be achieved unless he was a musical genius. David and the others were all excited and thrilled. After Bryan finished playing, they started clapping like crazy. “Bryan, you’re amazing!”

Ronin’s eyes toward Bryan also changed. He had to admit that Bryan was indeed smart enough to play a song to this level after such a short time of practicing. It was really impressive. After Bryan finished playing, his gaze was directly locked on Catherine.

He didn’t care what other people thought. He only cared about Catherine’s opinion. After hesitating for a moment, Bryan slowly asked, “Boss, how was it?”

Perhaps his level was already very impressive in the eyes of ordinary people, but in Catherine’s opinion, it was not enough.

She opened her eyes and raised them toward Bryan. Her slightly serious expression caused the initially cheerful atmosphere to become silent instantly. It wasn’t until the moment she spoke that the atmosphere changed.

“It’s not bad. But a few pitches in the middle part aren’t quite good enough. If you’re going to perform on stage, it would be better if you practiced for a while longer!”

In David’s and the other’s opinion, Bryan was already considered a genius for being able to do this, but they didn’t expect Catherine to think that it wasn’t enough. What a high standard did this require!

Perhaps this was the first time Bryan, who had always been held in high regard, had not received recognition. Everyone was a bit worried that Bryan might be unable to accept it and silently looked at him.

Before Bryan could say anything, a few students standing outside the door watching the show couldn’t help but make sarcastic remarks.

“I don’t know if she understands music or not. How could she comment blindly here? Maybe she’s not as good as Bryan when she goes on stage!”

Those who could come to the practice room were some who understood music. The piece of music that Bryan just showed off had already amazed many people. They couldn’t tell that Bryan was just a newcomer learning to play the guitar.

The person who made the sarcastic remarks and disagreed with Catherine’s comments was none other than Elena Leigh, the belle of the other class. She had been studying dance since she was a child and was proficient in ballet. She had a good relationship with Liana.

Most importantly, there were rumors that she had a crush on Bryan and had been chasing after him for a long time. But she was not favored by Bryan. Elena not only satirized Catherine by herself but also invited Liana with her.

“Liana, in terms of musical attainment, none of us here are as good as you. Even our music teachers often discuss music with you. Why don’t you come and give Bryan a review of how he played just now?”

Liana glanced sideways at Elena. Compared to her deskmate, Elena was much smarter.

“Elena, don’t flatter me like that. I’ve just studied music for a few more years and have a bit more of a foundation than everyone else!”

“Liana, don’t be so modest. Who doesn’t know that you won a prize only a while ago? You’re destined to further your studies in the world’s top music academies in the future. Come on, comment on it. Destroy Catherine’s arrogance!”

Elena didn’t mind praising Liana at this time. She aimed to weaken Catherine’s arrogant and domineering aura. She had long been displeased with Catherine. She didn’t know what was so good about Catherine that she could make Bryan so attached to her.

Elena just wasn’t convinced. She just wanted Bryan to know that Catherine was just a bitch who liked to pretend.

Liana smiled faintly. “Well then, I’ll just give a brief comment. You guys don’t mind if I don’t have a good comment!”

After giving herself an opening speech, Liana turned her gaze to Catherine. Her originally gentle eyes became cold as she looked at Catherine. She instantly looked much more stern.

“I do think Bryan really plays well. Professionals may still lack control, but for a beginner like Bryan, it’s not too much to call him a genius!

“Catherine, since you think he doesn’t play well enough, why don’t you play a piece and highlight Bryan’s shortcomings? Wouldn’t that be more convincing?”

Liana predicted that Catherine didn’t understand music. She felt that Catherine was pretending to understand music to gain attention. She felt that all she had done was to expose everything and let everyone know how hypocritical Catherine was.

As Liana said those words, her eyes swept over the crowd, awaiting a response. There was no confrontation or rudeness in her words, which were well -founded, making everyone especially convinced.

“Yeah, I think Liana’s right. If you have the ability, play it yourself to convince us. If you don’t have the ability, don’t blindly criticize others!”

“That’s right. You play it and show us your level. You’ll have to perform on stage eventually, anyway. Isn’t it the same for you to perform here? Just consider it as a practice!”

Everyone was giving their remarks. Their words were full of contempt and disparagement toward Catherine.

Ronin was on the side. His eyes slightly narrowed as he contemptuously looked at the group, who had an exaggerated opinion of their abilities. Did they deserve to dominate his boss? They were really overconfident.

Chapter 137 The Culprits

Catherine glanced at the crowd coldly before fixing her icy gaze on Bryan. The moment her gaze landed on him, Bryan reacted swiftly.

Bryan stood up abruptly. His handsome face darkened as he looked unfriendly at Elena and the others. He didn’t mince words as he said, “You think you can play a couple of tunes and dance a bit, and suddenly you’re an expert? And now you want to give others advice? When did it become your turn to instruct me?”

Elena blushed deeply at Bryan’s blunt taunt. She hadn’t expected Bryan to be so harsh. She stomped in frustration and tried to explain herself. She didn’t want Bryan to misunderstand her.

“Bryan, I…”

Before she could utter another word, Bryan raised a hand to silence her. The sound of her voice seemed to send shivers down Bryan’s spine. Annoyance was written all over his face. Bryan said, “Enough. Just shut up!”

After Elena was scolded twice in a row, although she usually had a strong composure, well up her eyes I couldn’t help but with tears.

Elena just wanted to defend Bryan. But she never imagined that Bryan would publicly criticize her. “Bryan, I was only trying to help you!”

Bryan snorted disdainfully as he looked at Elena coldly. “Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to say you’re trying to help me? You claim you’re trying to help me, but you don’t even respect the people I hold in the highest regard. Is that your idea of helping me?”

Bryan pointed a finger at Catherine as he looked scornfully at her.

“I call her Boss. Whatever she says is right. If she says my playing isn’t good enough, it isn’t. Do you really think I need your comments?”

When Bryan turned to look at Catherine, his expression changed. His eyes were filled with admiration and awe.

“Boss, your critique is spot on. My vocal teacher, who taught me guitar, said something similar before. These aspects do need improvement. And you can trust me. I’ll practice diligently later. I won’t let you down.”

“Well,” Catherine grunted. She showed no interest in the people standing beside her. She even didn’t spare them a glance. Bryan’s response was an unexpected turn of events for all the onlookers.

Regardless of whether he had intentionally praised Catherine with his previous words, his response as the person involved left Elena utterly humiliated.

Bryan effectively helped Catherine embarrass Elena. And Catherine didn’t even need to make a move to make her opponents crumble. That was the most brilliant aspect of the whole situation.

As the matter came to a close, Catherine felt tired. She slowly uncrossed her long legs and stood up. She said, “Let’s go.”

Catherine strode toward the practice room’s exit. Her presence there had been solely for Bryan’s sake. Now that Bryan had finished practicing, there was no need for her to linger.

Ronin followed closely as he noticed Catherine had gotten up. After Bryan saw Ronin’s movement, he hastily packed up his things and followed them. As a result, the others followed suit one after another, which created a bustling exodus.

Elena watched them leave with red eyes. She angrily looked at them with a mixture of bewilderment and resentment. She muttered to herself, ” What’s the deal? What’s so special about Catherine? She’s managed to enchant them all. Are they all crazy?

“That damn seductress! She’s quite the schemer!” Liana, who also glanced in Catherine’s direction, had a look of anger and jealousy in her eyes.

“Elena, all we can do now is show everyone how exceptional we are,” Liana said. Elena sneered dismissively, “Even if we’re exceptional, what good does it do us? In front of Catherine, we’ll still end up losing. Just wait and see. I won’t let her have it easy.”

After her statement, Elena angrily departed. Liana watched Elena leave and let out a cold, mocking laugh. She murmured, What a stupid woman. She’s only fit to be a stepping stone for Catherine.”

Liana had cleverly used Elena to undermine Catherine. If Elena succeeded, it would be the best outcome. Even if Elena didn’t, causing some trouble for Catherine was still a great achievement. After all, Liana did not need to intervene. She relished the situation as it unfolded.

School was out, and Catherine picked up her backpack and headed outside. Ronin quickly caught up with her and spoke hushedly at her side, “Boss, have you received any news from Arthur?”

“What kind of news?” Catherine had been focusing on her classes and spending time with Audrey recently. She hadn’t been involved in company matters during that time. Realizing that Catherine might not be aware, Ronin quickly explained the situation.

“Our company’s network has been under continuous attack these past few days. And the attackers are getting more skilled with each attempt.” Catherine raised an eyebrow at the information. She looked at Ronin with curiosity. “Oh. Really?”

Their company was a renowned tech firm in the industry, and their tech experts were top-notch hackers. It was pretty interesting that someone would dare challenge their company. Catherine asked coldly, “You haven’t tracked down the culprits yet?”

Ronin nodded reluctantly. Then he realized something was amiss. “Boss, how did you them yet?” know we haven’t caught Ronin looked at Catherine anxiously. He was worried that Catherine might punish them for their lack of ability.

He was pretty uneasy about it. He thought inwardly, “Boss asked directly like this. Has she already doubted our abilities?”

To dispel any doubt, Ronin quickly reassured her. “Boss, rest assured. We’ll work hard and do our best to catch them as quickly as possible.”

In the age of the Internet, information changed rapidly. If they didn’t catch the culprits immediately, their chances of success would diminish over time.

Catherine didn’t doubt their capabilities. However, Catherine knew Ronin very well. If Ronin had already caught the culprits, he would have been bragging about it to her. Since he was sharing this matter with her in a troubled manner, it likely meant they hadn’t been successful yet.

However, what piqued Catherine’s interest was the real motive behind these top-notch experts attacking their website. She thought inwardly, “Who could coordinate so many experts within such a short time?”

“Ronin, did they leave any information behind?” Catherine inquired.

“Yes,” Ronin replied. He became angry when Catherine mentioned it. He thought inwardly, “Those audacious troublemakers have gone too far.” He was determined to make them realize the extent of his prowess once he caught them.

“Boss, they left a challenge. They said they’ll continue their attacks tomorrow night and guarantee that they will breach our defenses.”

Catherine tilted her head and casually glanced at Ronin. Her face was exquisitely beautiful.

“So, do you need me to step in?” she asked.

Ronin chuckled awkwardly and replied, “Boss, with you leading, victory is assured. With you, we’ll easily take down these little troublemakers and show them how formidable we are. They won’t dare to challenge us again in the future.”

Catherine looked at him with disdain.” Why don’t you just admit you’re useless?” Ronin rubbed his nose in frustration. He couldn’t explain why he hadn’t been able to handle these hackers this time.

“Boss, please lend a hand,” Ronin pleaded with Catherine repeatedly. Catherine maintained her cold demeanor and replied coldly, “I’ll consider it.”

Chapter 138 Branden’s Advantage

After speaking, Catherine walked away, and Ronin followed closely behind. As Catherine stood at the doorway, a Murion-made Rolls-Royce suddenly pulled up. It came to a smooth stop right in front of Catherine.

Branden, who was in the car, rolled down the window and revealed his handsome face. He tilted his head and looked at Catherine. His eyes were clear and deep, which radiated a lethal charm.

“Get in.”

Branden’s husky voice came through his parted, thin lips. Ronin, who had caught up, happened to witness this scene. He looked at Branden with disdain.

Ronin thought inwardly, “Everyone seemed to be trying to get close to Boss. “Ronin was determined not to let the scheming Branden succeed.

“Boss, I drove here today too. Let me give you a ride back.” Catherine agreed to the car ride. Naturally, she had to show him some respect.

She had no reason to decline since he was willing to pick her up personally. She turned and glanced at Ronin. Then she said in a soft voice, “No need.”

After rejecting Ronin, Catherine opened the car door and got in. As Ronin watched Catherine’s actions, he pouted sadly. He just looked as if he was hurt and deprived of Catherine’s favor.

Catherine lowered the car window and reached out to pat his head. She comforted him and said, “Go back and wait for me.’ Ronin thought inwardly, “She wants me to wait for her.”

Ronin understood Catherine’s words. Those simple words immediately transformed his sulky expression into a sunny smile.

“Alright. Boss, I promise to take care of the logistics for you.”

After saying this, he shot a warning glance at Branden. “Boss, be careful when you’re out there. Some people may look good on the surface. But who knows what they’re up to behind your back?”

Branden leaned on the car window with one hand and stared at Ronin. Branden’s slightly narrowed eyes carried a dangerous smirk.

Branden wasn’t quite sure why he had become so detestable to Ronin. He hadn’t offended Ronin in any way. However, it seemed that Branden had committed some unforgivable crime in Ronin’s eyes.

Catherine chuckled helplessly. She thought Ronin was interesting. As soon as Catherine finished speaking, Branden started the car. He hit the gas pedal and sped away. He didn’t give Ronin a chance to chatter on.

This infuriated Ronin, who stood there and stomped in frustration. Ronin cursed Branden hundreds of times in his heart. Inside the car. Branden broke the silent atmosphere.

“That guy seems quite attached to you, “he said. The passenger seat was set low. It allowed Catherine to relax comfortably against the seat.

With a slight upward tilt of her eyes, she could observe Branden’s expressions through the rearview mirror. She raised an eyebrow and lazily stared at Branden. Then she asked in a cold, low voice,” Are you jealous?”

Branden used his tongue to touch his cheek. Then he sneered, “Huh?

“Jealous over a child? Are you sure?” In Branden’s eyes, Ronin was like a half -grown kid. He behaved more immaturely than a five-year-old child.

For Branden, the idea of him being jealous of a five-year-old child was absurd. Following Branden’s words, Catherine calmly asked, “If that’s the case, why bother asking?”

Branden was speechless by Catherine’s words. In a battle of wits, every move was critical. After another silence, this time, it was Catherine who broke it.

“Why are you driving yourself today, and where are we heading?” Catherine rarely saw Branden drive on his own. It was usually either Triston or Paxton behind the wheel.

When Catherine took the initiative to inquire about his actions, Branden’s initial discontentment melted away instantly.

“I’m going to see a friend. Triston said he would come on his own.” No wonder Catherine found it strange. Even Branden was puzzled by Triston’s behavior.

Triston usually liked to stick to Branden. But this time, Triston hadn’t actively sought him out. After Branden called to inquire about the situation, Triston even said he would come alone.

Behind the unusual circumstances, there was always a hidden motive. Branden wondered what Triston was up to this time. Through the rearview mirror, Catherine could clearly see the hint of satisfaction in Branden’s eyes.

Some men might talk maturely, but deep down, they could be childish. With the destination clarified, Catherine didn’t ask further questions, She lazily reclined in her seat to rest.

The stability and responsive brakes were advantages of luxury cars. Even in the midst of crowded city traffic, with constant braking, it was still a comfortable ride.

Branden’s strength lay in his ability to effortlessly understand others’ preferences without the need for words or overt actions. He could easily grasp the other person’s preferences as long as he wanted to.

After Catherine got into the car, even the angle of her seat had been adjusted to her liking. It made Catherine feel Branden was even more considerate than Ronin.

At the same time, Triston was at the Skritan Apartment. Triston sat in his luxurious penthouse apartment. He stared at the mess on the floor. His hair was messy, and his eyes were vacant, as if he had lost his soul.

He wasn’t worried about the aftermath of the chaos in his apartment. He was worried about himself. After a period of silence, Triston looked down again.

After gazing at his naked body, he covered his face in agony. Alcohol was a curse. He couldn’t remember anything about what had happened the night before.

In his fragmented memories, he could only recall images of himself entangled with a seductive figure. It drove him almost insane. Many people had come and gone last night, and he couldn’t remember who he had been with.

Although Triston had a reputation as a playboy, no one knew that he hadn’t gotten involved with anyone. This time, he had truly ruined himself. Triston collapsed in pain on the couch, with his mind buzzing.

After a while, his phone rang loudly, which broke the silence. He tiredly reached for the phone and instinctively answered it. His friend’s voice came through the microphone.

“Mr. Lambert, you really know how to enjoy life, huh? Are you curled up in some woman’s arms again and living for the moment without a care in the world?”

For Triston, those words hit a nerve. It instantly roused him from his stupor. He yelled into the phone, “Get lost! What nonsense are you blabbering about?”

On the other end of the call, as the people heard Triston speak so seriously, he thought Triston might be busy with something important. He quickly changed his tone. “Mr. Lambert, what’s up? Haven’t you left yet? Branden is on his way. You don’t want him to think you’re arrogant, right?”

Hearing Branden’s name, Triston finally remembered the gathering with his friends today. He was always attending parties day after day, with very few moments of rest.

If it weren’t for last night’s unexpected turn of events, he should be setting off with Branden right now. Once he realized this, Triston coldly responded to his friend. He gave a brief reply and then hung up the phone.

He needed to sober up. And he had to find out who the woman was that had slept with him last night. She was so audacious and irresponsible.

Chapter 139 Official Confirmation

Catherine, who was accompanied by Branden, walked into the Charm Bar. It was the top entertainment venue in Casier. For Catherine, it wasn’t her first time here. She knew her way around.

Today marked the birthday of Aidan Lane, a close friend of Branden’s. Moreover, the Lanes were once a famous wealthy family in Casier. Aidan had settled abroad with his family as the Lanes’ overseas business flourished.

This year, their business brought them to Casier. And it happened to coincide with his birthday. So, Aidan had gathered a group of friends to celebrate.

Even Branden couldn’t resist the rare occasion and made a personal appearance at the gathering. He rarely participated in gatherings within the circle.

The most luxurious room at the Charm Bar had been reserved for the occasion by Aidan. The people who presented were all his closest friends.

As everyone began to arrive, they noticed that Branden had yet to show up. Someone decided to ask Aidan directly. One of them asked, “Aidan, didn’t you say Mr. Duncan would be here today? Where is he?”

Aidan grinned confidently at the questioner and replied, “Don’t worry. He’ll be here. I just spoke to him on the phone, and he should be arriving soon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the private room swung open. Everyone instinctively turned to see who it was. It was indeed Branden, but he didn’t walk in immediately. Instead, he stood there holding the door like a service attendant..

Those who witnessed this scene were taken aback. They thought inwardly, “Wow. Is there someone even more important than Mr. Duncan? He is personally holding the door!’

Aidan thought inwardly, “Triston has climbed to such a position?” Catherine didn’t know the people inside the private room, and they were guessing about her identity.

The crowd held their breath and waited to see who the newcomer was. They never expected the person to step forward in front of Branden to be a girl. Moreover, she was a very beautiful girl.

This development surprised them once again. Branden, who usually kept his distance from romantic entanglements, was attending a gathering with a female companion. The crowd thought inwardly, “Could the rumors be true?

“Does Mr. Duncan really have a girlfriend?”

If this were true, it would be international news. Aidan was momentarily stunned. He finally realized the situation. He quickly stepped forward to greet Branden. He said, “Mr. Duncan, you’re finally here.”

After exchanging greetings with Branden, Aidan turned his attention to Catherine, who was standing nearby.

He gave her a quick glance. Then he thought inwardly, “This is Mr. Duncan’s first time bringing a female companion.” Moreover, Aidan didn’t know her identity. So, Aidan didn’t dare to take it lightly. Aidan politely asked, “Mr. Duncan, would you mind introducing her to us?”

Branden gently took Catherine’s arm and pulled her closer to him. Catherine didn’t resist and allowed him to shorten the distance between them.

Branden had a handsome face and dark, captivating eyes. He changed his usual cold demeanor. At that moment, he turned his head slightly and smiled at Catherine.

“This is Catherine, my girlfriend,” Branden said. This simple introduction sent a shiver through everyone present. They thought inwardly, “Who is this woman?

“She managed to make Mr. Duncan openly acknowledge her in front of everyone. That is not something to be taken lightly.”

Upon hearing Branden’s introduction, Aidan’s face lit up with surprise. He greeted Catherine with a smile and then teased, “Well. It seems my status has earned me quite a favor. We all thought Mr. Duncan was single, but it appears he had a girlfriend. It’s truly an honor to have you, Miss Swann, join us at the gathering today!”

At their age, it was natural to be somewhat influenced by societal norms. However, Aidan’s attitude was quite amiable. Catherine managed a polite nod in response and returned the courtesy.

Aidan was about to invite Branden and the others to take their seats when the closed private room door swung open once more. A strong perfume scent filled the air, and the charismatic Triston made his grand entrance.

Triston had a deeper connection with Aidan than Branden, as they shared common interests. Aidan, known as a playboy, was also a charismatic young gentleman.

“Mr. Lambert, you arrived later than Mr. Duncan today. Looks like the Lamberts are really on the rise lately, and so is Mr. Lambert himself,” Aidan teased. Hearing Aidan’s jest, Triston shot him a cold glance. Triston retorted, “Shut your mouth, or I might just make sure you don’t get any cake later.”

The two were used to bantering with each other, and neither took these jokes to heart. Aidan kept winking and making gestures toward Triston. However, Triston didn’t catch on.

Triston suddenly quipped. “Aidan, have you been indulging in too many beauties lately? Are your eyes playing tricks on you?”

In Aidan’s eyes, Triston was beyond help at this point. He shot Triston a disdainful look. Aidan said, “Damn it. You must be suffering from the consequences of excessive debauchery. You are clearly out of mind.”

Aidan didn’t bother paying any further attention to Triston. However, Triston turned his head and spotted Branden and Catherine sitting nearby.

This time, his focus was primarily on Catherine. When he saw Catherine, Triston greeted her with a cheerful grin. “Wow. Catherine is here too!”

Catherine gestured in response and offered a simple greeting. Aidan was left dumbfounded. He reached out and hooked his hand onto Triston’s shoulder. Then he stared at Catherine. Aidan asked, “So, you know Miss Swann?”

Triston misunderstood the situation and thought Aidan was interested in Catherine due to her looks. He quickly cautioned Aidan, “Yeah. I know her. But you should be careful. Don’t go fancying everyone you meet.”

Hearing this, Aidan’s face turned pale with shock. He anxiously glanced in Branden’s direction. When Aidan saw no change in Branden’s expression, it finally calmed his racing heart.

Then he glanced at Triston with disdain and retorted. “We’re friends, and you’re doing this to me? Miss Swann is Mr. Duncan’s girlfriend. Just for that, even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to fancy her. Triston, you have a wicked heart.”

Triston responded with a sly smile. And he replied with a playful glint in his eyes, “Well. Aidan, I’m impressed. It’s been only a short while, and you’ve already figured out the relationship between Mr. Duncan and Catherine?”

Aidan glanced at Triston with disdain. ” Mr. Duncan made it public the moment he arrived. How loyal of him. No need to guess or figure anything out.”

After hearing that, Triston was utterly astonished. He widened his eyes dramatically and looked back and forth between Aidan and Branden. “Aidan, are you telling me that Mr. Duncan publicly announced his relationship with Catherine when he arrived?”

Seeing Aidan nod, Triston immediately pounced toward Branden. Triston’s gaze darted back and forth between Branden and Catherine. His expression was funny. Even Catherine couldn’t help but find it amusing.

However, she remained silent and left Branden to handle the situation himself. Triston stared at Branden in shock. He raised his voice and asked, “Mr. Duncan, is this an official confirmation? Why didn’t I know about this?”

Branden let out a disdainful snort. He coldly stared at Triston with his clear eyes. Then he replied in a cold and low voice, “Since when do I need to report my love life to you, Triston?”

Chapter 140 Play Poker

Triston had just received a stern lecture from Branden, and he was finally behaving himself. Now Triston sat obediently beside Aidan. He kept sneaking glances in the direction of Branden.

Triston looked at Branden with curiosity. But he didn’t dare to size up Branden openly. He could only steal glances cautiously.

Although Triston had known for a while that Branden had taken an interest in Catherine, he hadn’t expected Branden to take action so swiftly.

In Triston’s view, Catherine looked incredibly youthful. Branden was quite audacious. Aidan noticed that Triston wasn’t touching his drink. Triston just sat there and gritted his teeth. Aidan found it oddly amusing.

Aidan poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to Triston.

“Mr. Lambert, have a drink.”

Triston glanced down at the glass and realized it was whiskey. He instantly felt a bit nauseous. “Take it away. I don’t drink this stuff.”

Seeing his reaction, Aidan felt curious and couldn’t help but tease him. He asked playfully, “Oh, look who’s refusing a drink now? Mr. Duncan gave us a big surprise today. Did it inspire you to quit drinking, Mr. Lambert?”

Triston had no intentions of quitting drinking. He was just still shaken by yesterday’s events. Watching Aidan take big gulps of drink, Triston shook his head in resignation and said seriously, “Aidan, it’s okay to drink less. Drinking too much can lead to trouble.”

After saying this, Triston stood up and walked out of the private room. Aidan was thoroughly puzzled. He had no idea what was going on. Aidan stared blankly in the direction Triston had left. He muttered to himself, “Have they all gone crazy?”

Catherine sat beside Branden. Branden was concerned that she might be bored. He placed some hazelnuts in front of her.

Hazelnuts tasted great, but they were a bit tricky to eat. The shells were tough and required a special tool to crack open to get to the flesh inside.

As for pre-shelled products, the flavor suffered due to prolonged exposure to air. To enjoy them, one had to go for these freshly cracked nuts. Catherine glanced at the nuts and frowned.

Aidan noticed that no one was singing and few people were drinking. He silently lamented how age seemed to take a toll on everyone’s enthusiasm for fun. Then he suggested switching to poker.

“Mr. Duncan, how about a few rounds of poker?” he proposed. Triston leaned back and sneered. ” Haha. Aidan, why would you invite us when you’re financially comfortable these days? Playing cards with Mr. Duncan? Who could beat him?”

They had known each other for so many years and played every trick in the book. Branden was simply a monster in everything he did. No one could beat him in business or games.

Aidan knew very well how formidable Branden was. But with Branden here, they couldn’t possibly leave him out when they played games.

After Catherine heard the conversation, she slowly raised her head. She looked at Branden with her clear, dark eyes, which carried a hint of playfulness. She was rebellious and wild-spirited.

Her soft, rosy lips parted slightly, and a fragrance wafted gently toward Branden. She asked, “You’re good at playing cards?”

Branden’s handsome face bore a charming yet somewhat cynical smile. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Catherine gently.

“Not bad. I know a thing or two,” he replied. Triston, Aidan, and the others couldn’t help but feel a twinge of exasperation. They thought inwardly, “Branden is truly something else. He can spin tales in front of a lady without batting an eyelid.” They were almost convinced.

If they hadn’t played cards with Branden for so many years and never gained the upper hand in any game, they might have actually believed him a bit.

They thought Branden was a master at bluffing. Catherine didn’t need to guess. She could tell from the amusement in Branden’s eyes.

On the other hand, as Triston noticed Catherine’s sudden interest, he thought she might be keen. Then he asked, “Catherine, we’re as good as done for when Mr. Duncan plays cards. How about you join for a couple of rounds?”

Catherine shook her head and declined Triston’s invitation. She said, “I don’t know how to play poker.”

Unexpectedly, Triston clapped his hands excitedly and raised an eyebrow. He looked at Catherine with enthusiasm and said, “You don’t need to know much. You play, and Mr. Duncan can be your backer. If you win, it’s yours. If you lose, it’s on Mr. Duncan. How about that?”

Catherine thought inwardly, “If I win, it’s my prize. If I lose, Branden covers it?” She wasn’t about to stoop to playing cards and having someone else foot the bill. Before Catherine could respond, Branden, seated beside her, spoke up, Alright. Let Catherine play.”

Catherine turned her head to Branden beside her and stared at him with a questioning look. But Branden gently looked at her with indulgence. He said, “I’m in a good mood today. Just play a couple of rounds.”

After Branden finished speaking, Triston, Aidan, and the others erupted joyfully. Triston clapped his hands dramatically and said, “I thought I’d never get a chance to dig money out of Mr. Duncan’s pockets in my lifetime. Little did I know that Catherine would bring us such a great opportunity.”

He even prepared to celebrate in advance. “Catherine, don’t worry. Mr. Duncan is wealthy, so feel free to lose. If I win, I’ll give you half of the earnings. Just enjoy the game.”

Hearing what Triston said, Aidan quickly echoed Triston’s words. He said, “I’ll also give half of my winnings to Miss Swann as a bonus.”

Branden gently squeezed Catherine’s tender hand and lightly rubbed his thumb over her palm. He asked in a deep, attractive voice, “Got it? Play boldly. They’ll both give you half their winnings. And you might end up making quite a bit.”

On her cold and stunning face, Catherine didn’t change her expression. But she frowned slightly with a mocking smile. She thought inwardly, “When have I ever been worried?

“How can I not know that?

“Branden sure has quite an imagination!”

Aidan witnessed Branden’s seductive and shameless side for the first time. He turned to Triston beside him and whispered in amazement, “Are you sure this is the same Mr. Duncan I know, the ruthless and indifferent one who considers everything meaningless?

Triston rubbed his forehead with resignation. He raised a hand to pat Aidan’s shoulder and replied in a hushed tone. “Aidan, times have changed.”

As Branden saw the two of them still quietly discussing, he lifted his foot and gave the table a light kick. He asked coldly, “Are you playing or not? If not, leave now.”

Although the force wasn’t strong, the table jolted abruptly and hit Triston’s diaphragm. It nearly caused him to regurgitate last night’s drinks. Triston clutched his stomach and looked in the direction of Branden. He was too afraid to retort. Then he said, ” We’re playing. Let’s get started!”

Triston thought inwardly, “Why does all the bad luck seem to fall on me?” Triston was unable to compete head- on with Branden. He had already decided to regain his pride through Catherine.

Initially, he considered being gentle since Catherine didn’t know how to play poker. After all, he had always been very friendly toward girls. But now, it seemed entirely unnecessary.

Catherine coldly looked at Triston, who was gritting his teeth. Her hand hanging by her side moved slightly. Catherine thought inwardly, “Who can guarantee I will definitely lose?”