Ch. 191..200

Chapter 191 Favor

This plot twist caught everyone off guard. After all, they tried every possible means to send Catherine, the jinx, to the army, not Johnathan, the precious little darling of the Swanns.

Everyone was freaking out, but Catherine remained calm as ever. She treated it as a hilarious comedy- drama to pass the time. Johnathan became agitated and immediately retorted loudly, “No, I will not go!”

Adrien gave him a cold stare and said sternly, “I’m afraid you have no say in this!” Rachael knew her son’s temperament well and quickly stopped Johnathan while asking for her mother’s help.

Donna loved her grandson too much to watch Johnathan suffer like that. She urgently told Adrien, “Adrien, let’s discuss this later. Johnathan is still young.”

The astute Donna had grasped the situation. There was a glimmer of intelligence in her eyes. “No wonder my clever daughter came back to seek my help. It seems that the jinx thrown into the countryside by the Swanns was challenging to deal with.

“With a few words, she turned everything upside down,” she said inwardly. She gave a fake smile and looked at everyone.

“Enough, let’s not talk about this now. Today is my birthday banquet, so everyone has to listen to me. The dishes are getting cold. Let’s start eating!”

Upon seeing Donna take charge of the situation, the crowd took the initiative to step back. Donna suddenly retreated without intending to target Catherine again because she realized that she had underestimated Catherine. “This girl is much more shrewd than I had imagined,” she thought.

In the eyes of Donna, the reason why Catherine didn’t speak up and perform well before must be because she was pretending to be a weakling but was secretly strong.

“If we continue to persist, judging from the current situation, it is possible that we may end up as the losers. Might as well leave it as it is for now and make alternative plans later on,” she said inwardly.

Since Donna had made a decision, Rachael couldn’t push her anymore. Although she was angry inside and felt like Catherine had escaped, she could only accept it temporarily to protect Johnathan.

Everyone spread out and took their seats. The birthday banquet officially began. Audrey was concerned about the impact on Catherine. In her view, if she were the one being targeted, she would probably hide away crying and not have the appetite to eat anything.

She comforted Catherine softly, saying, “Kathy, I know you’ve been wronged. It’s all because of Johnathan being such a scoundrel. Luckily, you diffused the crisis smartly. Now, even Grandma knows it was Johnathan causing trouble. Look, Grandma didn’t mention sending you to the army anymore.”

Catherine smiled slightly with a hint of mockery in her eerie expression.

“Grandmother saw through the truth, knowing I wasn’t in the wrong. Or was it that she saw how smart I was and knew there was no way to get the upper hand?

“Everyone knows this very well, except for this silly girl, Audrey, who is still blinded by so-called family ties and can’t clearly see the wickedness of this world,” she said inwardly. However, Catherine had no intention of telling the truth to Audrey.

“Since I have the ability, why not keep this innocence and beauty for her?” she thought. Without more drama caused by differing evil intentions, the birthday banquet went relatively smoothly, presenting a wonderful and heartwarming scene of a family reunion as Donna was showered with birthday wishes from all.

The banquet was almost over. Audrey didn’t dare to stay any longer. As soon as the meal ended, she grabbed Catherine and wanted to leave.

Catherine was still staying at Audrey’s house, so she didn’t have to wait for Korbin and the others to finish. She could leave with Audrey first. Then, the two of them went up to say goodbye to Enzo and Donna and got ready to leave.

Audrey knew that Catherine was not talkative, so she took the initiative to speak for her. “Grandpa, Grandma, I have a show to attend tomorrow. Catherine must also wake up early for class, so we will leave first.”

Donna nodded calmly and said, “You two are thoughtful. Be careful on the road. Here are two gifts for each of you. Catherine glanced at the two shabby gift boxes and could tell they didn’t contain many precious things without even opening them.

Their gifts were quite pathetic compared to the splendid gift box Johnathan just received. However, Audrey didn’t refuse because it was a gesture from the elders. It wouldn’t be polite to reject it. After Audrey received it, Donna didn’t forget her identity as an elder and reminded her again before leaving.

“Audrey, you’re a lady of the Swanns. That job of yours isn’t going to get you anywhere. If you like it, you can play for a bit. But once you’ve had your fun, settle down and wait for your father to arrange a suitable marriage for you.”

Audrey’s face instantly turned ghastly pale, as if it had been drained of all color and resembled a sheet of white paper. The sight of her pale face made Catherine feel a twinge of pity.

Catherine was well aware that Audrey treated her work in the entertainment industry as her career and worked hard for it. However, Audrey did not expect that the outcome of her hard work would be considered shameful in her elders’ eyes.

“That job of yours isn’t going to get you anywhere.

“If you like it, you can play for a bit.

“This old lady of the Langs really knows how to hit you where it hurts, not giving Audrey any face at all,” said Catherine inwardly.

“Let’s go!”

She suddenly spoke up, bringing Audrey’s scattered rationality back. Audrey struggled to say goodbye to the two elders and then followed Catherine to leave. Once they walked away, Donna couldn’t help but complain to her husband.

“Rachael was right. This Catherine is really a troublemaker. Just look at her attitude. It’s infuriating.

“Even if she’s a troublemaker herself, she has led Audrey astray. Such a girl should stay in the countryside for the rest of her life and never return.”

Enzo nodded approvingly as he watched the two walking away.

“It’s okay. It didn’t work this time. We’ll think of another solution next time. Since we sent her away back then, we can still let her disappear now.”

Catherine and Audrey walked out of the Langs’ hall. When they reached the doorway, Audrey suddenly remembered something.

“Kathy, I forgot to bring my handbag. Just wait here for me. I’ll go in and grab it real quick.”

After hearing what her grandmother said, Audrey was very upset. She left in a daze and even forgot to take her bag. Before she even finished her words, Audrey rushed into the house in a fluster.

Looking at her panicking figure, Catherine shook her head helplessly. ” How on earth do I have such an older sister? She’s always losing things and being disorganized,” she said inwardly.

Catherine withdrew her gaze. As she turned around, she noticed a flash of scarlet in the shadows of the corner. She gazed intently at it for a couple of seconds before the person under scrutiny emerged gradually from the dark corner.

Adrien hated the noise inside, so he hid in this dark corner to smoke. Countless people have passed through here, but nobody noticed his presence except for this little girl in front of him. Adrien looked up at her and revealed a playful smile on his solemn face.

“Girl, your eyes are quite sharp and observant.”

Catherine didn’t respond to him. She only gave him a cold glance with a hint of disdain. “Does he seriously think he’s a Ninja Turtle who can make himself invisible?

“The smoke odor is so obvious. Am I stupid enough not to notice it?

“What’s the point of him saying these things?” she said inwardly. Adrien could see the contempt in Catherine’s eyes, given that she was exposing her disdain blatantly.

Hurried footsteps approached as Adrien approached Catherine’s side and whispered, “No matter what, you’re still my niece. Here’s my contact information. Call me if you need anything!

Catherine lowered her head and glanced at the business card that had been given to her. She glanced at the name and looked up with a meaningful expression. She snorted contemptuously and casually put the business card in her pocket.

As Catherine turned around, Audrey happened to return and lifted the bag in her hand, looking at her happily. “Kathy, I found it! Let’s hit the road!”

Chapter 192 Coincidence

After getting her bag, Audrey took Catherine with her to the car. The two were about to take the car and go back, but when they reached the car, Catherine suddenly reached out to stop Audrey.

Audrey was taken aback for a second before staring at Catherine with a puzzled expression. “Kathy, what’s up? Aren’t you getting in the car?”

Catherine lowered her eyes. Her gaze was freezing as she gestured to the side, signaling Audrey to be mindful of her surroundings. Audrey looked in the direction of Catherine’s gaze and found that the car’s tires were flat.

She walked around the car again and discovered all four tires were flat. She looked at Catherine in panic. Kathy, what should we do? My car broke down, and I’m sure someone intentionally sabotaged it!”

There was no need for Audrey’s assurance. Catherine knew that someone must have deliberately caused the damage. After all, this was something that anyone with eyes could tell. No need to guess. Catherine already knew who the mastermind was.

“Who else but that ignorant young mister from the Swanns could come up with such boring and childish tricks?” she thought.

Compared to the composure of Catherine, Audrey was quite restless and even a bit jumpy.

“Kathy, what do you suggest we do?

“This is a villa area where people usually drive in, and no one would take a taxi. Even if someone wants to, they would have to walk to the entrance of the villa area.

“It’s at least two or three miles to walk from here.”

After Audrey finished complaining, she angrily stomped her foot and said, ” Forget it. I’ll go inside and ask Father to arrange a driver for us!”

Catherine grabbed Audrey, who was about to leave. “Now that Johnathan carried out this matter, how could the Swanns offer assistance at such a time?

“If it were to cause a commotion, the Swanns would face the embarrassment, she thought. Korbin was undoubtedly not going to provide any assistance. Catherine knew that without even having to think about it.

“Let’s go. I’ll figure it out!”

She wouldn’t be stumped by a car. Catherine seemed to have the magical ability to instantly calm the listener’s agitated heart with a simple sentence.

Such was the case with Audrey. She lost all her previous anxiety and uneasiness in a moment, obediently following behind Catherine to walk out.

They walked out of the parking lot and saw a man in a black coat standing not far away. The man leaned his slender body against a black Bentley in the chilly wind.

His clean and neat bangs partially concealed the deep eyes. Those bright moon-like eyes were gazing ahead, shimmering like clear lakes.

A gentle breeze brushed against the hem of his clothes, causing the loosely scattered ribbons to flutter about and bringing a slight hint of coldness. Seeing Catherine approaching, he quickened his pace toward her.

“Why are you here?” asked Catherine. As he saw Catherine’s face, the man’s initially icy, deep eyes thawed instantly, as gentle as the moonlight tonight.

“I know that the Langs are holding a birthday banquet, and you would come, so I came here to take a look. If we meet coincidentally, I can give you a ride home.”

Standing behind him, Paxton couldn’t help but feel a pang of anguish as he heard Branden’s words.

“Has it anything to do with coincidence? He has been waiting for two hours already!

“His legs were shivering so much from the cold wind!” he said inwardly. Catherine’s cold gaze swept over the man’s shoulder, and a beautiful curve appeared at the corner of her lips. Her sparkling eyes were filled with hidden meaning as she smiled.

“Then, it’s such a coincidence!”

The man chuckled without saying a word. Audrey, who was by Catherine’s side, ran toward Branden slowly and exclaimed excitedly, “Mr. Duncan, what perfect timing! It’s like you read our minds. Our car broke down, and we were stuck here without a ride. It’s so thoughtful of you to give us a ride!”

From Audrey’s words, Branden discerned the unspoken words. With a raised eyebrow, he looked at Catherine with his eyes filled with a questioning expression, seeking her opinion.

Catherine shook her head discreetly. What she liked about this man was that he would consult her opinion. Men who reached his position had long been accustomed to giving orders and having a self-centered attitude toward everything.

Branden was different. No matter how small the issue was, as long as it involved Catherine, he would take the initiative to ask her opinion and wouldn’t make decisions on his own. Seeing that Catherine didn’t want him to take action, Branden didn’t insist.

“Come on. Let’s get in the car. It’s super windy outside!”

Audrey was following Catherine, and Branden was in front of them. Branden was so sweet that he even blocked the car doorframe for Catherine while she was getting in, making people jealous.

In Audrey’s mind, the young and famous heir of the Duncans had always been a cold man, forever aloof and proud, towering above everyone else.

“How did he end up being taken down by my younger sister?” she wondered. Anyway, Audrey was super happy. She initially thought that Branden was helping because of the agreement between their families, but now it seemed that maybe he really liked Catherine.

The car slowly pulled up to Audrey’s house. It was unknown if it was intentional or what. The distance that should have taken only half an hour took Paxton an hour and a half.

The top-of-the-line luxury and high- performance Bentley drove slower than the beat-up old car gasping for breath next to it.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Audrey pushed open the door and rushed out of the car without even looking back, shouting, “Kathy, I need to use the bathroom. Take your time. It’s not a problem if you come up later!”

When Catherine saw Audrey running away as if being chased by a beast, she shook her head helplessly. Branden’s eyes landed on the raised corner of Catherine’s mouth, his clear eyes pausing for a moment before he smiled. The corner of his mouth curved in the exact same way as Catherine’s. His voice was very soft and gentle.” Your sister is interesting!”

“Indeed!” Catherine replied. Branden reached out and rubbed Catherine’s head gently. Her hair was very soft and fine and had not been damaged by various dyeing and perming treatments. So it was incredibly well taken care of.

It felt extremely comfortable, which gave people a sense of satisfaction. Branden couldn’t help but become addicted to touching it, repeatedly feeling it a few more times.

“Scumbag! Is he treating me as a little kitten or puppy and is addicted to touching me?” said Catherine inwardly. Just as she was about to lose her temper, Branden seemed to have guessed her thoughts and withdrew his hand quickly.

He turned around and grabbed a little box from the side. The packaging of the small box was highly exquisite. With just one glance, one could tell it was pretty valuable.

“Here! I had someone reduce the amount of sugar by half. Just have one when you have nothing to do!”

Catherine furrowed her eyebrows slightly, feeling somewhat displeased, but Branden stuffed the small box into her hands forcefully. “Behave, listen to me. They are not as sweet as before and will raise your blood sugar levels faster.”

This was a fast-acting pill. Branden specifically sought out a biomedical team to develop it to address Catherine’s hypoglycemic symptoms.

Upon hearing the explanation, Catherine appeared delighted as a contented cat, gladly accepting it. She was not incapable of treating her hypoglycemia. Though it might require some effort, it was not impossible to alleviate it.

She had gotten used to this constant state of exhaustion as it was the only way to rest and replenish her energy fully.

“However, since this man cannot bear to see me tired, I will listen to him. It wouldn’t hurt to have a not-so-sweet candy like this occasionally,” she thought.

“Thank you!”

Catherine shook the small box in her hand and stepped out of the car. Branden didn’t try to convince her to stay as Catherine still had to attend school the next day. It was not good for her health to sleep too late.

After confirming that Catherine had gone upstairs and receiving instructions, Paxton was ready to start the car. Suddenly, he caught sight of the figure standing in the shadows ahead. His piercing eyes darkened immediately as he said respectfully, “Sir, there is someone ahead!”

Chapter 193 The Virtue of Men

The black Bentley that had initially started its engine came to a stop. Ronin knew that he had already been discovered. He slowly approached the black Bentley, his young face carrying a cold and gloomy expression that did not belong to his age. It was solemn and intimidating.

He carried a backpack and walked with a rigid and straight posture. If one did not make eye contact with him, they would mistake him for a studious and obedient young man. However, if one were to look into his clear black and white eyes, one would see a piercingly cold gaze.

Paxton stopped the car, releasing his hands from the steering wheel. He gripped the door handle with one hand and was ready to step out to engage in combat at any moment.

Branden slowly lowered the car window. His gaze was coldly fixed on the outside. Ronin was planning to provoke Branden and show Branden how good he was at hitting where it hurt the most. However, Branden raised his eyebrow and said softly, “You don’t need to stand guard!”

“Stand guard?

“Stand guard?” said Ronin inwardly. He could hardly contain his anger anymore. “I came to negotiate with this man, and this man actually said he was on guard.

“Is he saying he’s a security guard?

“Man, that dude can really spit some venomous words,” he said inwardly. He knew that Catherine would attend a birthday banquet in the evening and was worried that Catherine would not be accustomed to the food outside, so he specially wrapped up some fruit pizza and brought it over. It was still steaming hot.

Instead of seeing Audrey’s car returning, he saw a flashy Bentley parked downstairs at Audrey’s apartment. When he saw Audrey rushing out of the car, he knew that the playboy had begun his amorous pursuits once again.

With a face full of disdain, he originally planned to remind Catherine after she got out of the car. Surprisingly, after Audrey exited the car, Catherine still hadn’t gotten off.

Through the car window, he saw the despicable man daringly extend his hand to pat his boss’ head as if petting a small pet.

“Oh my goodness, can this scumbag do such a thing? “I’m gonna chop off that bastard’s hands, and nobody can stop me,” he thought.

After suppressing his inner anger with rationality, he finally rushed forward once Catherine exited the car. He was prepared to teach that guy a lesson but was taken aback when the guy claimed he was on guard.

“How despicable and vulgar this man is!” thought Ronin. After a long while, he finally regained his composure. He gave Branden a dismissive glance and looked at him with disdain. He snorted and said, “Speak up. Are you interested in my boss?”

Upon hearing this, Branden looked at him casually and said, “I thought Kathy had already told you that we were dating.”

After speaking, Branden stared at him, smiled slightly, leaned back slowly in his chair, and scanned Ronin with a casual gaze. The gaze made Ronin feel despised.

“What does this guy mean?

“Is he showing off that he’s with the boss? Or is he indicating that my relationship with my boss isn’t close enough that she didn’t tell me about something like this?

“No matter what, I cannot allow that despicable man to belittle me.

“And he’s still using such an intimate nickname as Kathy?

“I can’t take it anymore. I absolutely can’t,” he said inwardly. With a stiff neck and an angry expression, Ronin stared at Branden and said, “Of course, I know all about my boss’ affairs. I am here to inspect you on her behalf and see if you are qualified enough.

“Do you know how prestigious my boss is? She’s not someone that any ordinary man can get in touch with. Those who admire her lined up from Casier to Paris, but she wouldn’t even spare a glance, understand?”

Ronin thought that he finally managed to regain some ground this time. To his surprise, Branden gave a slight smile with a surprisingly gentle look in his eyes. “You’re absolutely right!” he agreed.

“What does he mean?” wondered Ronin. He didn’t quite catch the meaning behind Branden’s words before he heard Branden say indifferently, “Kathy does have high standards. Otherwise, why would she be with me?”

Ronin was momentarily speechless, feeling a sense of unease about making sarcastic remarks.

“If I argue with the bastard now and show my disgust toward him, aren’t I saying that the boss has a bad taste and is interested in such trash?

“No way! I can’t do it!

“My boss has always been wise, brave, and extraordinarily intelligent. It’s impossible for her to have a misjudgment,” he thought. Ronin couldn’t find any reason to refute, so he sulked. In this round, Ronin suffered a complete defeat in his battle with Branden.

Although somewhat reluctant and inexplicably feeling like he was being pushed into a trap, Ronin had to admit that Branden could indeed be considered outstanding.

He had heard of the power of the Duncans, and it was said that they were unrivaled in Casier. They possessed overwhelming authority and were a force to be reckoned with.

At a young age, Branden had surpassed his uncles and older relatives, directly inheriting the position of head of the Duncans. This demonstrated his incredible abilities.

However, for Ronin, no matter how powerful Branden was, as long as Branden couldn’t convince him, it didn’t matter. Even if the great God himself appeared, he wouldn’t change his attitude.

“I must warn you that my boss is very honorable. If you are in a relationship with her, you must adhere to the principles of being a good husband and obey the virtue of men. Do you understand?”

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Paxton almost had a stroke when he heard Ronin’s arrogant words. “Is this kid crazy or what? He wants Mr. Duncan to obey the virtue of men!

“Does he even know the status of Mr. Duncan?

“Ridiculous!” he thought. As the party involved, Branden listened to Ronin’s words with a calm and elegant expression, showing no hint of anger. Instead, he propped his chin up with one hand and looked at Ronin with an interested gaze.

“Share your thoughts!”

Ronin initially intended to humiliate Branden and turn the tables on him, but unexpectedly, Branden became interested in his words.

“Since that’s how it is, I should just have a good chat with him,” thought Ronin.

“It’s super easy to be a good husband. All you have to do is be devoted to my boss while you’re together. You should treat her with all your heart and never cheat on her, or else… I’ll…” “Chop off your penis” was what he wanted to say.

But he didn’t dare to say the second half of the sentence out loud. He hesitated briefly before emphasizing, ” Anyway, the consequences are very serious, you know what I mean.”

Branden just gave a slight nod and replied with a simple word.

“Okay!”

Ronin did not argue with Branden. In his view, a man of Branden’s status would not make promises easily, so if he agreed to something, he would follow through on it.

Regarding this matter, he still trusted Branden. Due to Branden’s prompt response, Ronin’s gaze toward him changed, at least without the previous disdain and contempt.

However, he was not so easily convinced. After all, concerned his boss, who was more important than his life.

“Next is the virtue of men, which is also easy! “My boss has a bad temper. You must comply with her opinions, obey her commands, and respect her decisions!

“As for the other requirements, I have not decided yet. Let’s see your performance and decide later on!”

After he spoke domineeringly, he fixed his gaze on Branden, awaiting his response. He didn’t believe that such a man, wielding power and standing on a pedestal, would agree to such harsh conditions.

Chapter 194 Bad Habits

Catherine received a call from Ronin just after showering in the bathroom. She wouldn’t have bothered to answer Ronin’s call if it weren’t for the phone ringing incessantly on the bed.

Pressing the hands-free button, Catherine casually tossed her phone aside and lazily leaned back on the bed, waiting for Ronin to speak.

“Boss, listen up! I have to tell you something super exciting, and it’s about someone. Can you guess who this person is?”

Catherine squinted, adjusted slightly, and casually blurted out a name. Ronin was stunned on the other end of the phone. His suddenly elevated voice through the speaker was transmitted directly into Catherine’s ears.

“Oh my God, Boss, how did you guess so accurately?”

The next second, he realized and asked cautiously, “Did Branden tell you?” Catherine rolled her eyes. “Why do I always have to deal with these things all day?” she thought. Unable to restrain herself, she made a few sarcastic comments.

“Do you think you can hide downstairs like a sneaky ghost, and nobody can see you?” Even though it was over the phone, Ronin couldn’t help but instinctively shrink his neck.

He wasn’t surprised that Catherine could see through him because Catherine was a god-like existence. It was reasonable for her to see through things.

“Boss, let me tell you. I just had a showdown with Branden. I demanded that he adhere to the principles of a good husband and follow the virtue of men!” he said.

“The principles of a good husband?

“The virtue of men?” wondered Catherine. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Only a kid with a wild imagination like Ronin could come up with such an absurd idea. It’s ridiculous,” she thought.

“So, what happened?” Catherine asked. Ronin exclaimed in shock, “He said yes to everything!”

Then, he repeated his requirements for Branden. Let alone Branden; even he felt he was being a little too outrageous. However, it was unexpected that Branden agreed to everything he proposed.

When Ronin thought of the scene where Branden had agreed to his requirements, he couldn’t help but shudder. He finally realized and wondered, ” How did I have the audacity to make such a request to Branden then?”

He still remembered that Branden nodded and agreed without any hesitation immediately after he finished speaking. Then, Branden glanced at him casually.

At that moment, he felt a strong sense of oppression, as if a tornado had swept toward him, pressing him down and nearly suffocating him. Branden asked him coldly, “Have you finished?”

Ronin had no time for any other response, so he could only nod silently. Then, Branden closed the car window, and the black Bentley disappeared into the night, leaving only the smell of exhaust that lingered on the road for a long time.

Ronin excitedly recounted the thrilling scene that had just taken place, eagerly awaiting Catherine’s response. In his opinion, his boss must also be shocked. After all, the man was Branden! In the next second, a cold and flat voice sounded in the ear of Ronin.

“Have you finished?”

Ronin had a particular illusion as if he had heard Branden repeat it. “The two not only said the exact same thing, but astonishingly, their tone was so similar that it was as if one person was speaking,” he thought. Ronin replied honestly, “Yes!”

After that, he heard: [Beep, beep, beep….

The sound of the telephone hanging up came through. Ronin stared blankly at his phone for three seconds. On his handsome face, his lips curved up widely, revealing a bright smile.

After a few seconds of silly laughter, he finally reacted and exclaimed excitedly to himself, “Hahaha, the boss is always the boss. No matter what happens, she can stay so calm and collected.”

In Catherine’s room. After hanging up the phone, Catherine stared at her phone for a moment. A rare smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of her mouth, even with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

She could imagine Ronin’s lively personality and his bouncing around in front of Branden. However, it was unexpected that Branden would actually cooperate and agree to the immature terms.

“This man is truly interesting!” she said inwardly.

The next day. When Catherine was about to ride her motorcycle to school, she saw the same Bentley parked downstairs. She glanced at the key in her hand and smiled slightly.

Apparently, the motorcycle that Ronin had prepared for her would accumulate dust in the garage. Branden always came to pick her up, like he knew her schedule.

Catherine did not mind how Branden knew about her whereabouts or even her departure time. In her opinion, it was simply the power of this man.

As long as it didn’t bother her, she didn’t mind. She headed straight to the car. Paxton respectfully greeted her, “Good morning, Miss Swann!”

Subsequently, he opened the car door and invited her to sit. When the car door opened, Catherine saw Branden inside, still working.

The man lazily sat in the car seat with a relaxed attitude. His straight back firmly rested against the cushion while his long legs were crossed in front of him.

Before him was a computer. His profound and dazzling black eyes were fixed on the computer screen as he dealt with some businesses. From Catherine’s perspective, she happened to catch a glimpse of the man’s profile.

His impeccable features were eye- catching, with perfectly carved facial contours, making it impossible for one’s eyes to look away.

What made Catherine most jealous was the man’s eyelashes above his star-like eyes. They were thick, long, and curly. She could not comprehend what this man had consumed to grow such a handsome face.

When Catherine got in the car, Branden closed his computer screen, pushed the small table aside, and turned to her with effortless grace. His movements were as elegant as a perfect performance.

As their eyes met, Catherine pursed her lips softly and responded casually and carefreely, “If you have work to attend to, go ahead!” Branden reached out to take her hand naturally, only to find it was cold. His beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Your hands are so cold. Are you not wearing enough clothes?” As Branden glanced at Catherine’s dark -colored, thin clothes, he couldn’t help but feel a slight disapproval.

Catherine lowered her head and took a glance. Seeing his movements appear so natural, she couldn’t help but say inwardly, “He certainly was skilled at this.”

Seeing that Catherine didn’t respond, Branden decided not to wait any longer and directly instructed Paxton in the driver’s seat.

“Turn on the heater!”

Paxton was left dumbfounded. “It is nearly ninety degrees outside. He wants me to turn on the heater?” he said inwardly. Before Paxton could react, Catherine immediately opened her mouth to stop Branden.

“No need. I am not cold,” she said. Without the command from Branden, Paxton remained stationary, uncertain whether to turn it on. Seeing that Branden was so stubborn, Catherine had to explain herself.

“I like to wash my hands with cold water!”

Hearing Catherine’s explanation, Branden furrowed his brows even tighter.

“The girl is so young, but she’s got quite a few bad habits. “Looks like there’s gonna be more headaches for me in the future,” he thought.

Chapter 195 Boss, We Were Wrong

Arriving at Class 8, Catherine walked to her seat and sat down as usual. Under the supervision of Branden, her blood sugar control had been good, and she was not as tired as before during this period.

It was no longer like before, where she would immediately lie down and fall asleep upon entering the classroom.

Ronin sat to the side, observing his boss from across the aisle. Since Catherine entered the classroom, she never even glanced at Ronin. It was apparent that Ronin had prepared breakfast in vain today.

After feeling down for three seconds, Ronin quickly regained his lively demeanor and scampered over to Catherine joyfully.

“Boss, wanna drink some hot coffee?”

Catherine had another hobby. She liked to drink hot coffee.

Apart from rose liqueur, Ronin always had a variety of fragrant coffee beans with him. He boiled the coffee until it was slightly hot and served it to Catherine.

Catherine did not refuse and extended her hand toward Ronin. Immediately, Ronin handed the cup of coffee to Catherine.

“Boss, please be careful. It’s a little hot! Since Catherine appeared in Class 8, it was destined that she would be the focus of attention no matter what.

At first, everyone in Class 8 thought that she would be quickly eliminated due to her inability to adapt.

But who would’ve thought that the big shot of Class 8, Bryan, would become Catherine’s lackey while Catherine would become the biggest boss in the entire grade since the moment she stood up against the Student Union president?

Some students noticed that Catherine didn’t start resting like she usually did, so their thoughts became restless.

A group of girls gathered together and approached Catherine cautiously. They dared not approach Catherine too closely, keeping their gazes tightly fixed on her.

Ronin did not like these girls. It was apparent that they did not have good intentions. He was just about to intervene and protect Catherine when she spoke up. “Is there something you need?”

She lazily leaned against the back of the chair with her chin slightly lifted, squinting her eyes and looking at them calmly.

The seemingly lazy but piercing gaze made the girls feel a sudden tremor in their hearts. However, they were not intimidated, which aroused Catherine’s curiosity about their purpose for approaching her.

She raised her eyelids slightly. One of the girls understood Catherine’s gesture and took the initiative to speak about her purpose.

“Catherine, we’ve been watching you and your sister’s variety show.”

Someone started it. Everyone else couldn’t bear to be outdone and eagerly chimed in, saying, “Yeah, we watched every single episode!”

In fact, they weren’t paying attention to Catherine at all. From the moment they heard that she would be on it, they were curious to see how she would embarrass herself.

Surprisingly, Catherine not only did not embarrass herself but became famous after appearing on the variety show, which was quite desirable.

“And then?” Catherine patiently waited for the next part of the story. Seeing that Catherine did not drive them away and was listening to them talk patiently, the few girls got excited and started chatting around her.

“Catherine, you’re so impressive! You know Grayson Clifford!”

“Yes, you even know Peerless Grayson, and he says that you are a very important person to him.”

“Peerless Grayson is my lifelong idol. Could you please help me get his autograph?”

From the chatter of these girls, Catherine managed to figure it out.

“So they came here for Grayson Clifford. No wonder those few people who always avoided me had the guts to come up and talk to me directly today.

“Looks like the power of idols is still strong.

“Every difficulty becomes insignificant for a star-struck girl,” she thought. With a slight smile, Catherine summed up the purpose of their trip. “Do you want his autograph?”

The few girls nodded as if they saw hope, their eyes filled with excitement as they looked at Catherine.

“Can we? If that’s possible, please!”

Their attitude was okay. Since they were classmates and Catherine was not mean, she did not intend to make things difficult for them.

“I heard that Grayson only attended an episode. If I bump into him next time, I will get some autographed photos for you all!”

Although Catherine did not give a definite answer, it was enough to make the girls happy. At first, they had presumed that with Catherine’s aloof personality, she might even scold them. However, they were pleasantly surprised by Catherine’s quick acceptance.

They also knew that Grayson would only be a guest on one episode. However, it was a pleasant surprise that Catherine agreed to their request. The few girls looked gratefully at Catherine, constantly expressing their thanks.

After they left, Ronin reluctantly approached Catherine and muttered, ” Boss, why did you say yes? These people usually look at you with disdain. Why bother with them?”

Although having that brat Grayson sign a few words would be very simple, Ronin did not want to do so. Those who did not like his boss were hated and cursed by him.

Upon hearing Ronin’s words, Bryan couldn’t help but frown and look at him disdainfully. “You’re a man. How can you be so narrow-minded and petty? Can’t you be more open-minded?”

If those words were spoken by Catherine, Ronin would take it as a warning and listen to them obediently. When someone else, especially Bryan, said it, it was considered a provocation. Ronin instantly became furious, like a cat on a.rampage.

He slammed the table and gave Bryan a fierce glare.

“You brat! Say it again!

“So what if I’m petty and narrow- minded? If you’re open-minded, then why don’t you step up?”

Bryan shouted aggressively, “Are you crazy?”

Seeing the two about to argue again, Catherine slammed the book in her hands onto the table impatiently.

[Bang!]

With a deafening sound, the classroom fell silent. Catherine took a glance around. Both of them lowered their heads obediently, showing an expression of guilt.

Seeing that the two were quiet, Catherine scolded impatiently, “Do you think you are still in kindergarten?

“You are arguing every day. Don’t you get tired? If you want to keep arguing, then get lost! All of you!” One “get lost” made Ronin so scared that the blood drained from his face. He looked as pale as a ghost.

He immediately apologized and promised Catherine that he wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

“Boss, I swear I won’t do it again. Please don’t kick me out, I beg you!”

Catherine crossed her arms and didn’t say anything. Seeing that she was still angry, Ronin quickly signaled to Bryan with his eyes.

Although Bryan was reluctant and felt that the fault was not his, he didn’t want to be driven away by Catherine and obediently lowered his head to apologize.

“Boss, we were wrong. I won’t argue with Ronin again!” “At least not in front of you,” he continued inwardly.

Both parties admitted their mistakes with a unified attitude and maintained a friendly and dignified demeanor. Catherine wanted to quiet her mind so she didn’t make things difficult for them.

“If you keep making trouble, just get lost!”

“Sure!” The two of them promised in unison. Catherine lay down to rest and ignored them. Ronin and Bryan were exchanging blows remotely again, but they wised up this time.

They didn’t argue but instead exchanged fiery glances. After all, neither of them liked each other. Bryan thought Ronin was too brutal and didn’t follow the rules when doing things.

Ronin couldn’t stand how Bryan always acted like a spoiled brat. “Just because he’s a rich kid, does that make him special?” he thought.

Long story short, they were born enemies.

Chapter 196 Celebration Gala

During the school celebration gala auditions last time, the results of Catherine’s group were not announced due to their questioning of the Student Union.

Later on, the president of the Student Union voluntarily resigned due to corruption and misconduct within the Student Union.

The authority to judge was given to the music department’s teachers. After watching the recording of that day, they granted Catherine’s group the qualification to advance directly. Half of the candidates made it through the auditions, and the other half would compete in the next round.

After the first round of the competition was over, there was still the second round to go. The finals would be the performance at the school anniversary celebration.

The entire school would vote on the finals, including teachers, students, and notable alumni. The best performance would be chosen to be the overall champion.

The school held this celebration gala with great grandeur. Many people were scrambling to be crowned the champions. Even if they couldn’t win the ultimate championship, it was still great to make it to the finals.

After all, the school had put a lot of effort this time to invite the excellent alums. They were all business elites, including many top-notch leaders.

If this news had been released from the beginning, people would undoubtedly have applied for it on their own. George would not have needed to go through so much trouble seeking people to apply for it.

Other classmates had already begun preparing actively, but Catherine’s group had not made any further moves after stunning at the audition. Honestly, this really baffled some students.

Some rumors even said that Catherine’s group only performed well last time because of luck. After all, someone like Bryan just learned to play at the last minute. How could he have any real skills?

At first, these rumors were whispered. However, people started to believe it more as Catherine’s attitude toward the game reinforced the rumors.

Catherine’s three-person group was the most relaxed. When she was not sleeping, she was playing games. But she followed the class rules and would never do these things during class time.

The teachers stayed out of her business, and she would show the teachers some basic respect and not cause any trouble for her classmates.

After the class, Ronin noticed Catherine staring at her phone. He thought she was playing a game and was about to invite her to play together.

Approaching her, he was surprised to find that Catherine was writing musical scores on her phone. Ronin was surprised. “Boss, isn’t it just a celebration gala? Are you really taking it seriously?”

Catherine turned her head and gave him a cold glance. At that moment, Ronin felt like he was in the center of a tornado, enduring immense pressure and almost suffocating.

Just as Ronin was about to compromise and apologize, Catherine suddenly asked, “When have I ever not been serious about the things I want to do?”

Ronin dared not question her and laughed obsequiously, saying, “Boss, you’re absolutely right. Your attitude is worth learning for all of us. Undoubtedly, we will be the champions of the finals!”

“Others might not know about my boss’s capability, but I know it clearly,” he thought.

Those few songs that made Grayson famous were all made for him by Catherine, and it was just done casually without much effort.

At that time, Grayson rose to fame with a single song and later became a legend. It could be said that Grayson wouldn’t be where he is today without Catherine.

When Grayson’s first song came out, it was hailed by all music critics as a masterpiece. Not only was the composition excellent, but it also had great popularity, making it the epitome of perfection.

“What’s so difficult about a small school celebration gala? “It’s just a matter of reaching out and grabbing it for us,” thought Ronin.

Listening to Ronin’s lengthy speech, Catherine raised an eyebrow at him. 11 Okay, stop kissing up. Go have fun by yourself.”

Ronin knew that Catherine didn’t like to be disturbed when she was working, so he quickly returned to his seat.

He didn’t play alone. He must keep watch over his boss to prevent others from bothering her because Catherine would be unhappy if disturbed.

He did not wish for her to be unhappy. Catherine couldn’t care less about the championship. She didn’t need to chase after fame and wealth either.

She found the newly formed group quite interesting. Naturally, Ronin’s excellence went without saying, but she didn’t expect Bryan to cooperate so well and be so in sync.

All of these things sparked her inspiration. Since she had some free time, she decided to create something.

After school, Branden messaged Catherine, saying that Triston was treating them to dinner tonight, and invited her to come along.

“Triston was truly idle!” thought Catherine.

She was just about to reply when she received a call from Audrey. “Kathy, let’s have a barbecue together tonight. I have no work today, so I must indulge tonight!”

Catherine thought that whenever Triston was around, there should be a barbecue. After all, that guy was also a barbecue enthusiast.

So she invited Audrey to come along. When Audrey heard it, she got all excited. “Is Mr. Duncan inviting us for dinner? Sure! Following him means I get to eat and drink like a king!”

“It is not Branden but Triston Lambert who would treat us to dinner tonight,” replied Catherine.

After Catherine explained the situation, there was an obvious two to three seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

After a short while, Audrey’s voice came through. “Kathy, Kim suddenly hit me up with something. I can’t go in the evening. Go by yourself!”

After talking, she immediately hung up the phone without waiting for Catherine to respond. Catherine looked down, furrowing her eyebrows, staring at the pitch-black screen.

“She’s excitedly telling me there’s no work one second ago, and the next, she’s saying there’s an urgent matter. Seriously, if she’s going to lie, at least make it believable,” thought Catherine, feeling Audrey had been acting super weird lately.

And also, it seemed to be related to Triston. “If the last time they came back together from the film set was a coincidence, then is it also a coincidence this time?” she wondered.

Catherine did not want to get involved too much in Audrey’s affairs. As she walked out of the school gate, Branden’s car was already parked at the entrance.

Catherine walked straight toward the car, where Branden was leaning against the door and waiting for her. As Catherine approached the car door, hurried footsteps could be heard behind her.

Ronin happened to overhear Catherine’s phone call before leaving, but by the time he was ready to follow, Catherine had already disappeared. To catch up with her, Ronin called Bryan together.

At that moment, the two finally had a harmonious relationship. Branden raised his gaze. His eyes gleamed like black gemstones, emitting a chilling light as it swept over the two.

The hurried steps of the two suddenly stopped, and they froze in place instinctively. Bryan was afraid of nothing but his uncle Branden.

As he watched Branden’s darkened expression, he could sense that Branden was on the verge of losing his temper.

Bryan immediately changed his expression and frowned at Ronin next to him, saying, “What’s the matter, brat? Why did you drag me over here?”

Ronin was left dumbfounded.

He was cursing inwardly and wanted to throw a fucking landmine at Bryan to blow him up. With one hand behind his back, Bryan tugged on Ronin’s sleeve and gestured a few times.

Ronin understood Bryan’s plea and swallowed his anger forcibly. They were now on the same side, and there was no way to plot against each other.

Ronin always felt an intense beam of light shining upon him at this time, so he instinctively looked up and met Catherine’s cold gaze.

His face stiffened, and he was so scared that he almost choked on his saliva. “Boss, I…”

Chapter 197 Triston Was Despised

Catherine raised her eyebrows and waited for Ronin’s next words. Ronin originally had a spirited look, but he instantly drooped after meeting Catherine’s gaze.

He knew that Catherine was waiting for his next words, but he was terrified in his heart and dared not continue. He asked trembly, “Boss, are you going to dinner?”

“Uh-huh,” Catherine replied. Ronin couldn’t tell what her mood was at the moment. He continued cautiously, “How about you take me with you? I have nowhere to have dinner yet!”

His pathetic look would make those who didn’t know the situation think Catherine was abusing her men. As Ronin spoke, he pulled Bryan’s sleeve, signaling him to say something as well.

It was not that Catherine didn’t notice the interaction between the two. It was just that they were so funny that she didn’t even know what to say.

Bryan had just tricked Ronin once. He feared Ronin would get angry if he didn’t help him now. Therefore, he still forced himself to speak despite Bryan’s fear of his uncle’s dominance.

He looked toward his uncle’s car. His uncle’s car today was a luxurious and low-key McLaren. He had an idea instantly and said cleverly, “Boss, don’t worry. That car can’t accommodate so many people. I’ll take Ronin’s car!”

The most prominent feature of this McLaren was its integrated central control, which meant that only two people could sit in the back seat.

So Bryan arranged everything and put forward his ideas politely. Ronin secretly gave Bryan a thumbs up. He didn’t expect that Bryan, a man from a wealthy family, could almost be as cheeky as he was.

The two of them looked pitifully at Catherine with the same gaze. Catherine didn’t make a decision and turned her head to look at Branden.

Branden glanced coldly at the two of them. He didn’t know that these two boys were addicted to following Catherine. Since they liked to follow Catherine, he would just let them.

“Okay!”

After finishing speaking generously, he opened.the car door and led Catherine into the car.

As soon as the two of them got into the car, Bryan and Ronin, who were standing at the window, heard the ” snap” sound of the central locking system.

The car was locked, blocking Bryan and Ronin outside. With a faint glance, Branden looked at Bryan and Ronin outside the car window. He curled his thin lips gently into a smile, which looked very sinister.

Paxton had been with Branden for many years and understood him the most. The high-performance McLaren was driven away with just one step on the accelerator. Ronin and Bryan breathed in a lot of exhaust fumes, and their faces twisted with anger.

Seeing Bryan standing still without moving, Ronin said disgustedly, ” Alright, stop looking at it. They’ve already gone. Hurry up and get in the car to catch up!”

Catherine leaned back lazily on the back seat of the car. Watching the childish actions of the three men, she couldn’t help but want to laugh.

The place where Triston hosted the banquet was the Charm Bar, which was also the largest entertainment venue in the entire Casier. Watching the vast group of people come in, Triston grinned happily.

Glancing around, he realized that all these people were related to Catherine. It went without saying who they had come for.

“Catherine, thank you for coming. You brought so many people here. I like it.

The more the merrier!”

Facing Triston with an oily look, Catherine was filled with disgust. Fortunately, she was used to being cold, and Triston didn’t dare to be reckless in front of her. With Branden, a big shot protecting her, who dared to make a scene in front of her?

If she were anyone else, Triston would have rushed up and given her a big hug first. Triston suddenly asked, “Everyone else came, but why didn’t your sister Audrey come?”

Upon hearing Audrey’s name, Catherine’s eyes flashed a hint of strangeness. And then she fixed her gaze on Triston’s face as she asked, ” 11 She has an event to attend tonight. Why? You’re dying for her to come?”

Triston replied generously, “Yes, of course. The more, the merrier, and Audrey has a good personality. I like being with friends who get along!”

His attitude was sincere and generous, and he had no guilty look. Upon seeing that, Catherine felt that the reason for the change in Audrey’s attitude just now could not be attributed to him.

But Triston, who finally returned to his senses after a while, looked at Catherine with a fearful; gaze.

“Catherine, why are you staring at me like that? Could it be…

Before he could finish his words, Catherine said, “You have a pimple on your face!” After saying that, Catherine sidled around Triston and entered the private room.

Triston had indeed had some insomnia during this time. After staying up late every day recently, he had a small pimple on his face. He didn’t expect Catherine to notice it..

He couldn’t help but ask himself, “Is it that obvious?”

Ronin followed Catherine into the private room. As he passed by Triston’s side, he ridiculed coldly, “Your pores are huge!”

“What…” Triston became angry. He stopped Bryan, who was walking at the end of the line, and put his arm around his shoulder threateningly. “Bryan, tell me. Do I look that bad?”

Bryan hated it when Triston spoke to him threateningly just because he was his uncle’s peer.

And what he couldn’t bear the most was when Triston called him “Bryan” in a disgusting tone. Triston refused to change even after Bryan had asked him many times. He was simply seeking death.

Bryan pushed Triston away with a look of disgust and said nonchalantly, “If you have time, wash your face more often!”

Triston froze instantly!

So, how bad did he look now? So many people had despised him!

Was his skin really hopeless? After entering the private room, Catherine realized that there were quite a few other people in it, and Aidan was there too.

But she didn’t pay much attention and walked along with Branden to sit at the seats. When he saw Catherine, Aidan was about to say hello, but his attention was drawn to Bryan behind him.

He turned his head toward Bryan. ”

Hey, yo. Bryan, right? I haven’t seen you in a few years. I can’t even recognize you!”

Bryan frowned tightly, his handsome face turning livid. How could so many of them try to suppress and bully him because of their seniority?

Aidan, however, kept talking as if he hadn’t noticed that Bryan was already angry. “You were only in elementary school when I went abroad, right? In the blink of an eye, you are so big now. It’s rare that you’re willing to follow your uncle today.”

He could remember Bryan being very rebellious from a young age. He was always fearless, and only his uncle Branden could suppress him.

But it was normal. After all, there was no one Branden could not suppress. Bryan glared at Aidan with dissatisfaction and denied instantly, “I followed Boss here, not my uncle!”

Aidan was deliberately making fun of Bryan, trying to piss him off for fun. He didn’t expect Bryan to give him such an answer and confuse him. ” Boss?”

His eyes swept over Branden and the group. He didn’t believe Bryan had the guts to challenge Branden, calling him

“Boss” instead of “Uncle.”

Could it be that the “Boss” Bryan referred to was the cute boy on the side with a backpack?

Branden’s expression changed when he heard the way Bryan addressed Catherine. His well-defined and slender fingers rubbed back and forth at the position of his chin.

He was thinking, “Maybe now is the time. I should find a time for Grandpa to teach Bryan the importance of honor and respect for the elder and the difference between the elder and the young.”

Bryan didn’t know that his uncle was planning to torture him, and he was still focused on expressing his displeasure toward Aidan.

Chapter 198 Truth or Dare

Triston entered the door with his head and shoulders hanging down. He was covered in water stains, causing Aidan to be surprised for a moment. “What the fuck. Mr. Lambert, did you stick your head into a ditch?”

Triston glanced at Aidan coldly and said impatiently, “Fuck off. You’re the one whose head was stuck in the toilet. Don’t bother me. Can’t you see a pimple had popped up on my face?”

Aidan didn’t want to lose to Triston and retorted casually, “You’ve got pimples, and you still want to have barbecued food? You should eat something light.”

“I like it. Who do you think you are to meddle in my business!” With one hand supporting her chin, Catherine propped her head on the table as she watched their verbal battle.

It was as if she were watching an extremely entertaining comedy show. Aidan and Triston were used to having verbal battles since they were young, and after a while, they sat down to have dinner.

Triston liked lively environments and was not used to eating without banter or games. He waved his hand and shouted, “Don’t just enjoy the food silently. Come on. How about let’s play some games to cheer up?”

The crowd glanced at him and stared at him with disdain. Triston didn’t mind it. His friends always had this attitude toward him, and he’s used to it.

Without waiting for anyone to agree with his suggestion, Triston got the waiters to serve alcoholic drinks, cleared the middle section of the table, and placed an empty bottle there.

“Come on. Let’s play Truth or Dare. The player is whoever the bottle mouth points to. Whoever does not dare to play should leave right now. I won’t force you to stay!”

Seeing him in such high spirits, the crowd went along with him. Branden glanced sideways at Catherine. Her expression remained unchanged. She didn’t look like she did not want to play the game, so he didn’t object to Triston’s suggestion either.

For Catherine, it was normal for everyone to have some entertainment after dinner. Others shared Catherine’s thoughts. So, under the passionate call of Triston, the game of Truth or Dare officially began.

The games started from left to right. No one expected Triston to become the first player appointed by the spinning bottle.

Everyone glanced at him, waiting to see what would happen. Someone teased, “Mr. Lambert, is there a restriction to the game? Or any request is okay?”

Triston did not expect himself to be that unlucky. He was the proposer of the game, and he was also the first to play the game.

But he had no choice. He could only brace himself to continue playing the game. Furthermore, he was the one who proposed it. If he pulled out of the game right now, how would he face his friends in the future?

Triston waved his hand generously to express his thoughts about the game. Any request is fine. There is no restriction.”

Hearing this, the crowd became agitated, and that man asked Triston, ” Mr. Lambert, when was the last time you had s3x?”

That man wasn’t afraid of offending Triston, and the crowd’s spirits rose again. After hearing the question, Triston froze. He hadn’t expected that man to ask such a private and embarrassing question. Everyone was waiting for him to answer, and he could only force himself to give it.

“It was not long ago, the night I hosted the housewarming party!”

The man who asked the question teased, “Haha, I thought it was last night. It looks like Mr. Lambert is restraining himself!”

Triston’s answer attracted the attention of the jokers in the group, and also Catherine’s. She had been watching from the side.

If she remembered correctly, she and Audrey had been there the day Triston. moved into his new apartment, and it seemed that something had been off about Audrey since that day.

Could it be…

Triston waved his hand impatiently and said, “Okay, stop yakking. I’ve done my turn, and it’s my turn to spin the destiny bottle!”

He spun it violently, and the bottle spun wildly in the middle of the table. The crowd stared intently at the bottle. Their heartbeats began to speed up, and their eyes rolled in time with the bottle’s rotation in excitement.

The moment the bottle stopped, the crowd silently took a deep breath. No one expected the bottle to… stop in front of… Branden.

That was awkward!

Even Triston swallowed silently and gazed cautiously at Branden. “Mr. Duncan?”

Branden rested one of his hands on the back of Catherine’s chair. Leaning lazily against the back of his chair, he narrowed his eyes. His gaze seemed to be ignoring everything before him. Three buttons on his collar from top to bottom were unbuttoned, giving him a sense of casual yet domineering arrogance and recklessness.

“Truth!”

His simple word was like an irresistible command. Triston instantly smiled and laughed flatteringly. “Mr. Duncan, remember what you said. There is no restriction. Here I come!”

Triston said as if he would not give any chances, but in his heart, he didn’t dare to take it too far. The person at the receiving end of his question was Branden, who was as ruthless as a demon from hell. No one dared to offend him!

Triston knew Branden very well. He knew clearly that Branden had a vengeful nature. If he made Branden unhappy now, Branden would not let him have a good time in the future either. Triston didn’t want to be retaliated against.

So Triston asked a simple question. ” Mr. Duncan, when was your first kiss?”

Branden answered without any hesitation. His answer shocked everyone.

“Six years old!”

There was silence after Branden said that. The crowd’s gaze drifted back and forth between Branden and Catherine.

Catherine leaned one hand under her chin and looked at the man on her side with her head tilted. In her twinkling eyes, there was an ambiguous smile.

Her soft lips curled slowly, and she said softly, “Six years old? When you were in kindergarten?”

Ronin was indignant. Due to the recent incident, he thought Branden was a good man and started to like him as a person. He didn’t expect Branden to start kissing a girl in kindergarten.

He gritted his teeth and cursed in his heart, “What an animal!”

No one expected Catherine to question and tease Branden in public like this. Although everyone was afraid, they couldn’t help but observe Branden and Catherine on the sly. They were curious to see Branden’s reaction.

No one could guarantee that Branden wouldn’t get angry. After all, a man with such power had never been questioned, let alone in public.

Branden’s dark and deep pupils were like the soft night sky. He fixed his gaze on Catherine’s face.

His angular face was exceptionally handsome. With his thin lips parted slightly, a deep and magnetic voice slowly voicing out.

“Not when I was in kindergarten. Do you want to know?” Catherine stared into his teasing eyes. She curved her lips into a smile before replying. “No!”

She was not interested to know the details of his game of playing house as a child. After all, she kissed a little boy when she was over one year old. In that comparison, she didn’t lose to Branden, right?

Since Catherine stopped asking, no one dared to continue that topic. Gossip was interesting, but no one wanted to risk their life to gossip about Branden.

No one dared to challenge Branden’s authority, and the game continued. Most of the people playing the game had no secrets that they didn’t dare to tell others. Finally, it was Aidan’s turn to spin the bottle.

Aidan had been waiting all night for his turn to spin the bottle. He had a plan about how he would play the game in his heart. As such, even before it was his turn to spin the bottle, he was looking at everyone playfully.

“I demand that the next person chosen by the bottle must choose ‘dare’ and not ‘truth’!”

The crowd was in high spirits and didn’t care whether the next player wanted to choose “dare” or “truth”. All they cared about were that they were having a good time, and they wanted to keep it going.

The bottle began to spin. After spinning round and round, it finally stopped.

The mouth of the bottle was pointing straight in Catherine’s direction, and Aidan’s heart burst with joy. He didn’t expect that he would be able to get Catherine to choose.

Chapter 199 Dare?

Aidan rubbed his hands together in glee. His eyes were full of anticipation, but he asked for Catherine’s opinion as a symbolic gesture.

“Catherine, is doing a ‘dare’ okay?”

Did he dare to mess with Branden’s woman? Of course, he doesn’t dare to do so. He could only play the game with caution.

Both Ronin and Bryan disagreed. The two tried to stop the game but were stopped by Catherine. Since she dared to sit there, she naturally would dare to play the game. And she could see that everyone in the room was expecting it. She said graciously, “Go ahead!”

Her attitude was the same as when Branden responded earlier, perhaps even more arrogantly. Aidan was so happy that he almost jumped up and applauded. “Okay, Catherine. Great!”

Although Catherine was Branden’s woman, since she was willing to play the game, Branden couldn’t blame him. Aidan narrowed his eyes and showed an evil smile. He fixed his eyes on Catherine.

“Catherine, my request is simple. Kiss the person sitting to your left or right for three seconds.”

Branden was sitting on Catherine’s left while Ronin was on her right. Upon hearing this, each of the three had very different expressions.

Ronin didn’t expect Aidan, the junk, to think of such a perverted way of playing the game. Catherine was his boss, a sacred and inviolable being. Branden’s posture remained unchanged. He sat lazily without even a slight change in his posture.

But if one looked closely, one would see a wicked smile on the corner of his mouth. It was quite a meaningful and somewhat unpredictable smile.

The private room instantly quieted down. The air around gave people a feeling of suffocation, and the smile on Aidan’s face gradually froze.

To avoid getting into trouble, he decided to do something to save himself. “How about you choose the punishment? Catherine, you can do the ‘dare’ or drink three bottles of beer!”

As soon as the words left his lips, Ronin picked up a bottle of beer. He knocked it sharply toward the table, and the metal cap leaped up with a pop. It was as though a performance as he did it so skillfully.

“I’ll drink the beer for Boss!”

Seeing that he had picked up the bottle of beer and was about to drink it without hesitation, Catherine stopped him. Ronin turned his head sideways in puzzlement, intending to ask the reason for her to stop him.

Unexpectedly, Catherine turned her head away without even looking at him. She reached out to wrap her arms around Branden’s neck in a domineering manner.

Their gazes met. Branden’s beautiful eyes were like a sea of stars with magic, causing Catherine to go into a trance momentarily.

However, it was only for an instant as Catherine quickly came to her senses. The corners of her mouth curled into a shallow smile, making her look like a seductive siren with a deadly charm.

The distance between the two was reduced to zero by Catherine. Her soft, thin lips approached Branden’s cold and thin lips. The unique aroma from Branden’s body surrounded Catherine’s body, giving her a dreamy feeling.

She closed her eyes silently to stop meeting Branden’s eyes. Branden was the most powerful demon. He was the evil demon specializing in possessing people’s hearts and souls. Everyone was stunned. Catherine was too domineering.

They were careful whenever they talked to Branden, but Catherine dared to force a kiss on him!

They thought in their hearts, “Oh, my goodness. She’s indeed a powerful girl.”

Watching Catherine force a kiss on Branden, Ronin felt a surge of joy in his heart. In his heart, he kept rooting for Catherine. “Boss, go! Kiss him to death. Show him your power.”

Bryan looked at Ronin’s excited expression with disdain. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes and said, “What’s so happy about? Can’t you tell who’s at the losing end?”

With Bryan’s reminder, Ronin finally reacts. Right, his boss was a girl, after all. In the end, his boss is at the losing end! He immediately became angry. What should he do now?

Catherine counted down three seconds silently in her mind. But as she counted down to the last second and was about to let Branden go, Branden suddenly pressed against her head with his hand. His flexible tongue skillfully pried open her soft red lips and slipped within.

In just a short moment, he had taken over the situation. He had the control now. Fortunately, Branden did not have the habit of kissing in public. After deepening the kiss slightly, he let go of Catherine.

Otherwise, the situation might be out of control. Ronin had picked up a bottle by then. He put down the bottle only after seeing that the scumbag, Branden, had loosened his grip on Catherine.

That scene just now was inappropriate for children. Catherine noticed Branden’s eyes were red as he let go of her. It could be seen how much control this man had used to restrain himself!

Branden leaned back in his chair quietly. His hand, which was on the back of Catherine’s chair a moment ago, had now fallen to rest on Catherine’s waist in a natural movement.

He gasped imperceptibly as his strong self-control constantly worked to restrain the aroused desire within him from showing.

He lowered his eyes and glanced at the tent at his lower body, chuckling in his heart silently. He dared not express too much.

His girl was still young, and he didn’t want to scare her. For some reason, it was as if this game stopped since the kiss ended.

Everyone began to enjoy the food and drinks tacitly, and the bottle in the middle of the table, which was used as a game prop, was righted and set aside. The meal was over. If it weren’t for Bryan’s obstruction, Ronin would have squeezed into Branden’s car.

After being stopped, Ronin looked at Bryan with dissatisfaction and asked, ” Why did you stop me?

“I know there’s only one seat left in that car. I could give you the key of my car. Couldn’t you go back on your own?”

Although it was his precious car, he could bear to give Bryan control of his precious car for the sake of his boss’ safety. Bryan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He asked Ronin patiently, “Why did you have to squeeze in that car?”

Ronin replied without even thinking, To protect Boss. If you don’t want to protect her, I’ll do it myself!”

“Idiot!” Bryan scolded him coldly and turned to leave. Ronin chased after him. “Bastard, what do you mean? Explain yourself!”

Bryan didn’t bother to pay attention to him. “Does Ronin think of Uncle Branden as an ordinary person?” he thought. If it weren’t for Catherine, why would Branden allow them to be so reckless in front of him?

Branden was notorious for his brutality and would never give others a chance. Bryan had seen a lot of his uncle’s cruel behavior ever since he was a child. If Ronin weren’t so stupid, Bryan wouldn’t have cared about his life or death.

Besides, his uncle controlled himself so much earlier that even his eyes turned red. He believed his uncle would protect their boss.

Of course, they don’t have to worry about their boss. Even if his uncle and their boss started a fight, he believed in their boss’ ability.

On the contrary, if Ronin, the idiot, followed in the car, there would only be one ending for him. That was death!

Chapter 200 You Knew A Lot

Branden looked sideways and saw Catherine holding her face with one hand. She was leaning against the window with her eyes closed in a nap.

He reached out to wrap his broad palm around Catherine’s shoulders, exerting a slight force to make her lean into his arms. Catherine frowned slightly, thinking that Branden’s movements of embracing her were becoming more natural and proficient.

Just as she was about to struggle, she heard the man’s warm and magnetic low voice from above her head. “Don’t move. Taking a nap this way would be more comfortable.”

As Branden spoke, he pressed his cold fingertips repeatedly against Catherine’s head, soothing her entire head. It was a pleasant feeling.

Catherine, who had wanted to struggle free initially, closed her eyes in comfort as though a well-fed cat. The man’s eyes lowered. He saw Catherine leaning against his abdomen with her eyes closed and her face full of cute looks.

She now was completely different from her usual indifferent and aloof look. She was completely different from when she was on the motorcycle as she accelerated, racing with the wind.

And she was now also completely different from the domineering Catherine, who fought against many people alone inside Charm Bar.

At this moment, Catherine was just like a well-behaved little girl. She was so cute that he couldn’t help but stroke her.

How many identities and appearances did she have? Branden didn’t know. The only thing he knew was that this little girl continuously brings surprises.

He didn’t even want to investigate her. He just wanted to look forward to her brilliance every time, feeling her changes silently. Catherine didn’t know how long has she slept, and this was the first time she had fallen asleep unconsciously.

She was a particularly poor sleeper. Under normal circumstances, it was difficult for her to fall asleep. If she wasn’t in a place that made her feel extremely safe, her brain would remain on high alert even if asleep. Any noise and movement could wake her up immediately, and she rarely slept as deeply.

When she opened her eyes, there was blackness in front of her. After a moment of confusion, she realized she was still in Branden’s car, with her head resting on Branden’s soft abdomen.

“You’re awake?”

The man’s gentle voice rang out inside the pitch-black space, waking every single cell in Catherine’s body instantly.

She grunted. “Uh-huh.” After that, she sat up slowly with her elbows propped on the cushions. The man’s hand reached her neck and gently kneaded her slender neck with his fingertips.

She fell asleep leaning against him just now. Now that she was awake, her neck was indeed sore. With his massage, she felt much better.

She closed her eyes to enjoy the man’s attentive service silently. “How long did I sleep for?” she asked casually.

“About an hour!” Branden replied before handing Catherine coffee. “Have some hot coffee. It will soothe your throat!”

It was as if he had the power to read minds. He knew what she needed and wanted the most without her stating it. After a few sips of hot coffee, Catherine felt her whole body was comfortable and in good spirits.

She never expected to sleep for such a long time. Subconsciously, she thought she had only slept for 10 minutes or so.

“Have you learned how to massage?”

She realized that all the positions that the man massaged her at were just right. He massaged her precisely and patiently, which instantly relieved her fatigue.

The man smiled faintly, and his handsome face became more charming. “I often give myself a massage!”

Catherine froze for a moment. She didn’t expect that this would be the answer she got. “You have a shoulder or neck problem?”

Branden shook his head and said, “I’ve been sent to train by my Grandpa since I was young. There were always times of intensity and exhaustion.”

He didn’t continue his words, but Catherine understood what he meant. Although she hadn’t seen Branden in a fight, she could vouch that Branden’s fighting skill was not inferior to hers.

It would be impossible to achieve such abilities without plenty of training, even if someone had an innate advantage. She had experienced this before and knew the bitterness and hardship involved better than anyone else.

“I often give myself a massage” was a seemingly simple sentence. However, no one knew how much hardship and sweat it took to say it.

Although the process of becoming stronger was difficult, in retrospect, it wasn’t that hard. After enduring that process, Catherine now thought it wasn’t that difficult.

Catherine stretched herself and pushed the car door open to get out of the car. She was ready to go upstairs to rest. Unexpectedly, Branden also pushed the door open and stood next to her.

“I can go up by myself,” Catherine said.

Branden smiled faintly. There was a bright sparkle in his obsidian eyes. They were as bright as the stars shining in the night sky.

“You’re wrong!”

“Huh?” Catherine looked at him in disbelief. Branden stepped forward. He held her hand naturally, moving forward. When the elevator reached the floor where she lived, Branden took out the key in his pocket and shook it in front of her.

He was full of smugness, with that rare smile on his face. He looked less serious and aloof than usual, with a hint of childishness.

“Nice to meet you, my new neighbor!”

Catherine realized that the new neighbor moving in next door that Audrey mentioned was none other than Branden!

“Why did you think of moving here out of the blue?” For the Duncans, who owned countless top-class villas, it was condescending to have the current head of the family live in a small apartment.

“The Lamberts are the developers of this property. When Triston reserved a large flat for himself, he also kept one for me!” Branden responded to Catherine casually.

The world of wealthy people was truly unique, as they freely gave an apartment as a casual gift. Branden said it lightly. Triston did indeed gift Branden a large apartment.

But it was the most luxurious one on the top floor instead of the small apartment on this floor. If Catherine had known that Branden had traded his large apartment for such a small apartment, she would probably think that the man in front of her was crazy.

Branden had already moved in, so Catherine couldn’t say anything! All she could do was to congratulate him on the new move. Right? She reached out her hand to Branden and said gracefully, “Nice to meet you, too, my new neighbor!”

Catherine’s hand and Branden’s hand were stacked together. Branden’s wide palm tightly surrounded Catherine’s small hand and gently kneaded it. ” Kathy, I’ll be in charge of taking you to school from now on!”

Catherine raised her eyebrows and looked at him. There was an inquiring look in her sharp eyes!

There was such a shrewd look in her eyes that not even the sophisticated Branden could hold his cool. He had no choice but to shrug his shoulders and give an honest explanation. “The weather has turned cold. It’s too cold to go to school by motorcycle in the morning. Girls should keep warm for the sake of their health!”

Catherine glanced coldly at him and said sarcastically, “You know a lot!”

After saying that, she turned around and entered the door.

“Bang!” The door of Catherine’s apartment slammed shut, and Branden was turned away for the first time in his life. He couldn’t fool Catherine.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Catherine’s riding skills, but riding a motorcycle wasn’t as safe as taking a car. He didn’t want any accidents to happen to Catherine.

He didn’t want her to take any risks!