Ch. 201..210

Chapter 201 She Was Attracted to Him

The next day, Audrey was still in bed when Catherine was ready for school. Audrey struggled to get up and walk out of the room after she heard vague noises.

Seeing Catherine with her bag, Audrey’s eyes instantly widened as she glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Geez, it’s so late. Kathy, sorry. I’m up late again.” ”

She looked at Catherine with a frustrated look and said, “I was going to make you breakfast, but I got up late again.”

Catherine knew Audrey got back from her event in the early morning, and it was almost impossible for Audrey to wake up at 7 o’clock to cook breakfast for her.

“I’ll just eat in the restaurant!”

Audrey reminded Catherine with a guilty expression, “Please do. Breakfast is the foundation of the day!”

After all, Catherine could only eat out because Audrey couldn’t get up early.

“Okay!”

Catherine continued, “You can go back to sleep. I’m leaving!”

Looking at the door open and close, a sweet smile appeared on Audrey’s face. The two dimples on the corner of her mouth made her look adorable, and she might not even know how cute she looked now.

“Kathy has been talking to me a little more lately. That’s so nice!” After muttering to herself, Audrey returned to her room to continue sleeping.

There was nothing more comfortable and joyful than being able to sleep. As soon as Catherine walked out the door, she heard a deep and hoarse voice coming from not far ahead. “Good morning!”

The familiar voice evoked Catherine’s good mood for the day. She looked up slowly and saw the man standing across from her in a straight suit.

Unlike the seriousness of the traditional black suit, the navy blue slim-fitting suit added a gentlemanly aura to the man.

The man leaned against the door. With a gentle smile on his handsome face, he looked at her with his bright black eyes. Catherine graciously and casually replied, “Good morning!”

At the same time, she raised the car keys in her hand and waved them in front of the man. The clanking sound of keys colliding made the man laugh helplessly. His little girl had a stubborn nature!

The man suddenly stepped forward, reducing the distance between the two. The proximity allowed Catherine to feel the man’s breath. Catherine felt the warm breath on her face. Catherine’s heart skipped and beat irregularly as she tingled.

The man seemed to lower his voice intentionally. His hoarse voice appeared more and more seductive at the moment. “Kathy, I asked Paxton to prepare your favorite pancake. Are you sure you don’t want to have some?”

“Breakfast is the foundation of the day, isn’t it? Kathy…” Branden elongated the last syllable deliberately, which made the original simple word sound ambiguous.

Catherine grunted subconsciously. ” Mmm!”

The man’s eyes lit up. His raised eyes had betrayed his thinking. He looked at Catherine dotingly and said softly, “Good girl, Kathy. Let’s go!”

He took the bag off her and held her hand to pull her toward the stairs. A while later, Catherine finally reacted and cursed Branden countless times in her heart.

“He’s such a bastard. He has excellent hearing, and he eavesdropped on my conversation with Audrey.

“The point is, he also seduces me with his handsome looks!

“He’s good at flirting with me now. I’ve been tricked by him, and it’s too late to say ‘no’ now. “It looks like I won’t be able to escape from him.

“He’s so charming!”

Looking at the little girl sitting in the car eating pancakes quietly with bulging cheeks, Branden’s mood improved greatly.

There was none of the cold and aloof look that Catherine usually had. There was even a little resentment at the corner of her eyes, which made her look cute and made Branden want to kiss her.

It was as if he had discovered something new. He was in a good mood after discovering another lovely side of Catherine!

It seemed that his decision to move there was not a bad one after all. When Catherine entered the classroom, she went to Ronin’s seat immediately. When she was eating the pancake, she thought it was tasty, but now, was a little salty. she felt it

“Ronin, is there any coffee?”

“Boss, is rose liqueur okay?” Ronin asked. Catherine reached out. Ronin poured the rose liqueur into a glass and handed it over to her.

Seeing that she was drinking it in a hurry, Ronin couldn’t help but ask, ‘ Boss, did you have breakfast today?”

Catherine answered casually, “I had some pancakes. It was a bit salty.”

She leaned back in her seat idly and lazily, drinking the rose liqueur Ronin gave. She did not notice the change in expression on his face.

Ronin’s face was filled with resentment throughout. The once cute and handsome face was now twisted. He couldn’t understand. Branden was the head of the Duncans.

He had such a huge business and had a lot of affairs to deal with every day. But he had the time to bring breakfast to his boss and took her to and fro from school in person. Ronin thought to himself, “Is he that idle?

“Doesn’t he need to deal with his business? “Will a man like him who doesn’t do his job ruin his family? Will he make Boss suffer in the future?”

The more Ronin thought about it, the more he felt that Branden was unreliable. He decided to spend some time investigating Branden thoroughly.

If Branden was found unreliable, Ronin would have to advise his boss to stay away from him, even at the risk of death.

Branden dropped off Catherine at school before rushing in his car to a meeting at the office. It was a half-hour drive from the Duncans’ to Audrey’s apartment at top speed.

Not only was this a waste of time, but there was also no way for him to get breakfast to Catherine in the best condition.

After a few tries, Branden decided to move to the neighborhood and live in the apartment across from hers. In this way, he saved time and maximized his time with Catherine. This enabled him to achieve two goals at one time..

Representatives from several partner companies were coming to his company today to discuss the renewal of their contracts. There was no way he could be late for it.

Shortly after the car started, Branden sneezed three times in a row. His whole face sank. He didn’t believe his strong body could catch a cold, and there was no reason for the sneezes.

He raised his eyes to the front coldly. Paxton, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, instantly felt a feeling of oppression from a mysterious force.

Paxton felt as if he was strangled. He expressed his innocence hastily. ” Sir, the car was cleaned yesterday.”

What he meant was, it was unlikely for Branden to sneeze because there was dust inside the car! After hesitating for several minutes, Paxton couldn’t hold himself back. ” Could it be that someone is scolding you right now?” he whispered slowly.

This was possible. No one dared to challenge Branden’s authority face to face, but it was possible to do it behind Branden’s back.

Branden’s face instantly sank. He looked terrifying. His cold eyes swept over Paxton, and the latter felt like he could die any time. Paxton shut his mouth obediently and dared not speak again.

He shut his mouth and focused on driving.

Chapter 202 Conversation between Bitches

Recently, the last class of the day has changed to become a self-study class. As for the students who had signed up to be part of the performance, they went to the practice room to practice.

Ever since the school announced the scale of the celebration gala, everyone had been eager to compete for fame.

Because of the incident with Grayson, many girls changed their opinion of Catherine. There are a lot more classmates who dared to take the initiative to talk to Catherine.

“Catherine, doesn’t your group need practice? It’s not too late for now. If you go later, the practice room will be occupied!”

Without even raising her head, Catherine answered lazily and nonchalantly, “I’m not interested!”

The classmate who asked Catherine the question had gotten used to Catherine’s attitude and stopped asking. Anyway, Catherine had been like this since she came to Class 8.

At first, everyone felt offended by Catherine’s attitude, but then they realized this was her nature and got used to it.

Liana followed her best friend, Jessica Freeman, to the classroom door and overheard the conversation between Catherine and that classmate. As she walked out of the classroom, Jessica frowned and asked, “Liana, your sister’s attitude is a little bad!”

Jessica was Liana’s new best friend after Elena. Like Elena, Jessica was also a rich young lady from a wealthy family. She had a beautiful and dignified look.

She was talented, and her swan dance surprised the audience. Liana had excellent communication skills. From a young age, Rachael had brought her out to participate in various social activities. As such, she knew best how to make friends with these wealthy ladies.

Since Jessica started talking about Catherine, Liana looked at her apologetically and whispered, “Jessica, don’t mind her. It’s just that my sister is not quite sure how to get along with others. She was sent to the countryside by my Grandpa when she was a child. It hasn’t been long since she returned, so she probably hasn’t gotten used to it yet!”

“Hmph!” Jessica snorted coldly, her face full of disgust. “You’re right! She suddenly goes into the city and thinks she isn’t a humble country girl anymore, so she’s arrogant now.”

They were all in the same circle, and Jessica naturally had heard about the story of the Swanns. Her mother was close to Rachael and as such, she too heard only bad things about Catherine. In her heart, she was very disdainful of Catherine.

Liana sighed silently and didn’t say anything. But from her big, watery eyes, one could see her sadness and helplessness. Jessica realized she had said the wrong thing and hurriedly comforted Liana.

“Liana, don’t take it to heart. Although you are sisters, we know you are the real young lady from the Swanns. You’re the cultured young lady raised in a powerful and rich family. That country girl is no match for you. I don’t think Catherine can remain arrogant for long. Don’t worry!”

All Liana wanted was for outsiders to recognize her. She wanted everyone to know that the Swanns only had one young lady, and that was her.

Liana nodded politely. “Jessica, you can’t say that. Catherine is my sister after all. If she can be a little more modest, I’ll be satisfied. I hope she can get the championship at the celebration gala. As long as she is happy, I’ll do anything!”

Jessica looked at Liana with heartache, her dislike for Catherine growing stronger.

“Someone said she’s not interested, but she brought down the Student Union by some means to get promoted. Look at how she flatters Bryan. The Duncans must have helped her a lot in this.”

Everyone didn’t believe that Catherine could make the Wales bow down, and they all thought that the Duncans stepped in to resolve the matter.

They all believed that Catherine’s victory in the Student Union incident was because she had Bryan’s favor and the support of the powerful Duncans. But no one in their group liked Catherine. When it came to Bryan, Jessica couldn’t help but complain.

She had a good feeling about Bryan initially, but she didn’t expect Bryan to like Catherine. In Jessica’s opinion, Bryan followed Catherine around like a dog all day long. It caused Jessica to hate Catherine subconsciously.

“Liana, don’t worry. We’re all on your side. Bryan will see that country girl’s true face one day, and that will be the time for her misfortune!”

Jessica didn’t even bother to call Catherine by her name. In her opinion, Catherine didn’t deserve to have Swann as her first name. Liana lowered her head, and beneath her lowered eyes was all icy coldness.

Bryan wasn’t important! She needed Branden to see Catherine’s true face, and that was the key. Bryan was a junior in front of Branden. The person in power of the Duncans was Branden, the person standing at the top.

Liana didn’t realize that her Grandpa would be that biased toward Catherine. Not only did he leave all the family assets to Catherine before his death, he also arranged for Branden to be Catherine’s fiancé.

The most annoying thing was that the Duncans agreed to this marriage.

If the Duncans were any other family, others might think that they agreed to the marriage because they coveted the Swanns’ assets. However, the Duncans were so rich that the wealth of the Swanns was several times lesser than that of the Duncans. How could the Duncans possibly covet the assets of the Swanns?

Thinking about this, Liana became angry.

“Jessica, come on. Let’s practice the piano!”

Jessica could see that Liana was in a bad mood but she could understand. Anyone else who had such a jinxed sister would be unhappy, right?

“Liana, it’s fine. You play the piano so well. The overall championship is yours for sure, and no one can steal your thunder.”

Liana smiled in embarrassment. Jessica, don’t forget that your dance is also amazing!” Jessica had a domineering appearance. “Don’t worry. I’m not interested in the overall championship. I’ll have all my fans vote for you then!”

Jessica had been famous for a long time and had quite a few supporters inside the school.

“Thank you, Jessica. You’re so nice to me!”

Liana’s face was covered in smiles. If one looked at her carefully, one could see the icy evil within her smile. That was a smile of an ambitious victory!

Catherine’s newly composed music score was finally ready. She sent the score to Ronin and Bryan.

“You should practice it sometime.”

Ronin shook his phone happily. “Boss, don’t worry. The tune you made is unprecedented.”

Bryan glanced at the music score and was shocked. Although he didn’t know much about music, he could feel the power of the song just from scanning the score.

Not only was its melody superb, but the lyrics had a great artistic conception. It was ethereal and overbearing, like the feeling of a great secret hidden behind the clouds.

It was subtle, weird, and overbearing. Bryan looked at the music score and then at Catherine in amazement. Boss, did you compose this?”

Without waiting for Catherine to answer, Ronin jumped in and said, “Are you stupid? If it wasn’t Boss, who else could have composed such an exquisite song? You idiot.”

Bryan felt that Ronin was right to praise Catherine. After all, their boss was excellent, but he couldn’t accept Ronin complimenting their boss while belittling him in the process. Bryan stood up suddenly, glaring at Ronin. “Idiot, who are you insulting?”

Ronin didn’t want to lose to Bryan. He responded, “Idiot, I’m insulting you!”

Seeing that the two were about to fight again, Catherine stood up and walked out. These two must have been enemies in their previous lives.

Chapter 203 Catherine’s Rules

After Catherine left the classroom, her phone rang once again. It was an unfamiliar number. But it had special symbols, which was rare. With one glance, she instantly recognized the caller.

She casually pressed the answer button and held the phone to her ear. From the noise on the other end, it seemed that the caller was extremely cautious and even surprised that the call was answered.

“Wow. The call went through. Is it Sugar?”

As Catherine spoke, her voice had changed. It was deep and husky, like a man’s smoky voice. No one would believe that this voice belonged to such a charming young lady.

“Speak!”

Catherine replied with a single word in a tone filled with a powerful presence. On the other end, the caller’s voice sounded excited but he managed to restrain himself.

“Sugar, the black market is offering 100 million dollars for your expertise, and a few of the top hackers will work with you.”

“Who?” Catherine asked succinctly. The caller replied, “Sugar, it was an anonymous order.” Catherine frowned. Her eyes were cold and terrifyingly chilling. “Don’t they know my rules?”

Even though they were on the phone, the person on the other end of the line was so scared. He realized that the rumors were true. Sugar was indeed a fearsome figure.

According to the rumors, this mysterious top-tier hacker, Sugar, was exceptionally skilled, ruthless, and utterly cold-blooded. If someone dared to cross Sugar, he would get into big trouble.

“But, they…”

Before he could finish, Catherine cut him off abruptly. She said, “If there is a next time, I’ll make you disappear from this world.”

With her assertive words, she promptly hung up the phone. After the conversation, Catherine felt somewhat agitated.

She had her own rules when it came to her business dealings. Making money was fine, but the money had to from a clean source. Regardless of who they are, they had to identify themselves first.

Catherine does not accept anonymous orders. Anyone who dared to break her rules was courting their demise. After she put her phone away, she turned and saw Ronin walking straight toward her. Bryan walked steadily behind Ronin. He moved with a calm and unhurried pace.

Bryan had grown up in the Duncans’ and was practically raised by Karl himself. There was a hint of Branden’s composure in him.

Compared to Ronin, who was a playful young lad, Bryan was much more mature,Catherine gave them a cold look, which scared Ronin. He realized he had forgotten about it again.

Every time Bryan teased him, he couldn’t help but lose his temper. Despite knowing that Catherine despised disturbances, Ronin couldn’t help himself. As such, he could only come over to apologize sincerely. He said, “Boss, we were wrong. We won’t make a fuss again.”

Catherine didn’t trust him at all. Ronin had always kept his promises to her in the past. But since he encountered Bryan, he couldn’t control himself.

Ronin glanced at Catherine’s expression before lowering his head in guilt. Compared to Ronin, Bryan was much more straightforward. He said to Catherine, “Boss, we’ve gone through this piece. It feels perfect for our duo. I think I’ll be able to master it quickly. How about we find a time to rehearse it?

Catherine had tailored this piece of music for these two and Catherine made special adjustments to Bryan’s part. While Bryan could ensure pitch accuracy, he sometimes struggled with maintaining a sense of rhythm.

Therefore, Catherine made adjustments specifically for him, which made him feel that the song perfectly suited him.

“There’s no rush for it. You guys should practice for another night, and we’ll schedule a full dress rehearsal tomorrow.”

Upon hearing Catherine’s answer, Bryan didn’t press further. He understood that once Catherine made a decision, it wouldn’t change.

Moreover, one of Catherine’s remarkable qualities was her ability to see the big picture. Although some of her decisions seemed bizarre at first glance, they ultimately prove that Catherine had been right all along. Therefore, Bryan simply followed Catherine’s orders obediently. Nothing would go wrong.

However, Ronin sensed another meaning behind this. “Boss, do have plans for tonight?” you Ronin had been by Catherine’s side from a young age, and no one understood her better than he did.

Catherine nodded and turned to look at Ronin. “I promised Audrey to pick her up tonight.”

“Alright.”

After hearing that, Ronin responded reluctantly. He was starting to envy Audrey. In the past, Catherine favored him solely. But now Catherine favored her older sister, another man, and even Bryan. Ronin was quite upset about it.

Catherine had had enough of the wind. on the rooftop and felt cold. At that moment, she suddenly remembered a certain man’s repeated advice. He said, “Girls shouldn’t expose themselves to the cold. It’s not good for health.”

With a single hand to support herself, Catherine gracefully leaped down from the high platform and strode away. Ronin realized something and muttered, “Did Boss just smile?”

Bryan looked at him with disdain and wanted to retort. However, Bryan remembered that Catherine didn’t like them arguing, so he held his tongue. He gave Ronin a disdainful look and followed Catherine.

After school, Catherine rode her motorcycle to Audrey’s filming location. Audrey had been complaining all evening since they hadn’t been able to go out for a barbecue last night.

Catherine promised to pick her up tonight and accompany her to have a barbecue. As soon as she parked her motorcycle, Catherine felt eyes on her from behind. She had intended to enter the building, but she shifted her body and walked toward a nearby alley.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with coldness, casual yet domineering. Once inside the alley, Catherine went straight to the darkest corner. In the next moment, a gust of wind swept by. Catherine remained calm. She even didn’t blink.

If it was any other ordinary person, he might have screamed and fled long ago. A tall figure completely obscured Catherine and radiated a menacing aura.

The next second, the tall figure suddenly knelt on one knee and lowered his head. He knelt before Catherine in an extremely submissive manner.

“Boss, there’s something I need to report to you.”

“Speak!” Catherine spoke up coldly.Joseph dared to speak only after receiving the permission to do so. He continued, “Boss, Miss Audrey was harassed today. I’ve identified the harasser. He’s the son of an investor in this drama. He had come to visit his girlfriend before he ran into Miss Audrey by accident. He was promptly stopped by Miss Swann’s agent but I think he won’t let this matter go.”

Although Joseph betrayed the organization, Catherine didn’t punish him as she felt that his actions were for a good reason. However, there were rules within the organization.

Catherine could spare Joseph’s life. However, Joseph couldn’t return to the organization. It was the rules that everyone in the organization must adhere to.

Joseph appreciated the leniency Catherine showed and requested to stay by her side to work. Then Catherine assigned him to Audrey’s side to protect Audrey.

Audrey was in the entertainment industry. This industry was extremely complex, with many dangers lurking. Catherine couldn’t always be there to watch over Audrey, so she arranged for Joseph to take care of Audrey.

Under normal circumstances, Joseph wouldn’t appear unless there was a threat to Audrey’s life.

Chapter 204 Catherine’s Driving Skills

As soon as Audrey saw Catherine, her tired face immediately lit up with a sweet smile.

“Kathy, you’re here! I just finished my work,” Audrey exclaimed excitedly. As everyone heard Audrey’s excited voice, they all turned in the direction of her shouts.

At the doorway not too far away, a slender black figure stood silhouetted against the backlight. The golden sunlight framed her from behind, making her appear radiant. She sported a black peaked cap, which barely revealed her petite face.

If it weren’t for the momentary glimpse of her beauty when she raised her head in response to Audrey’s call, no one would have guessed she was so beautiful. Since Catherine had appeared on a show with Audrey, some people recognized Catherine and began discussing in a low voice.

“Oh, my God. She’s Audrey’s sister, Catherine. She looks even better in person. I thought it was just some video filter trick, but she’s genuinely gorgeous!”

“Yeah. We all worked in the same industry and you know how it is with all this talk about natural look with no makeup and filters. But I never imagined Audrey’s sister would be this stunning even without makeup on.”

“She’s so beautiful, and her skin looks amazing.”Amidst the chatter, Audrey packed up her things and rushed over to Catherine. Kim followed her closely.

Kim’s eyes always lit up when he saw Catherine, but he quickly restrained himself. He didn’t want to be too bold. In his mind, if Catherine ever decides to enter the entertainment world, she could easily become the next big star with just a little push.

With such a lucrative opportunity right in front of him, Kim couldn’t help but feel excited. However, Catherine’s presence was commanding, even to someone like Kim, a seasoned figure in the entertainment industry.

Kim was a master at adapting to different situations. But when he stands before Catherine, he has to be cautious. Catherine gave Kim a brief look, and she understood that he had something to say. So she nodded in acknowledgment.

Kim immediately understood and cautiously said, “It’s not a big deal, but your sister has to work early tomorrow. You should keep an eye on her tonight. No alcohol, and be careful with the barbecue food. Or else she might wake up puffy. It won’t look good on camera tomorrow.”

Audrey was irritated and glared at Kim. “Kim, I’ve been working non-stop for over a month. Can’t you let me indulge for one night?”

“If it weren’t for your relentless dedication, do you think I’d allow to go for a barbecue? You’ll still be eating garden salad every day,” Kim sneered dismissively. you Catherine crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. She found their banter quite amusing.

After Kim finished speaking, Catherine spoke up calmly. “Why don’t you come and oversee her yourself?”

Kim was momentarily taken aback by Catherine’s suggestion. He hadn’t expected Catherine to invite him. In his perception, Catherine wasn’t one to engage with outsiders easily. It was rare for others to get close to her as she exuded a cold and noble aura that commanded respect.

As Audrey noticed that Kim was still in a daze, she gave his shoulder a light pat and chuckled. Then she asked, “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

Kim followed Audrey closely. After closing some distance, he whispered, ” Is your sister just being polite?”

Audrey shot him a sidelong glance with disdain. She replied, “You think too much. ‘Does my sister need to be polite?”

After saying this, Audrey intentionally picked up her pace and distanced herself from Kim. She had always felt that Kim’s intelligence would diminish whenever he stood before Catherine. Audrey didn’t want to associate with him.

Kim understood what Audrey was thinking about. Kim was greatly displeased with Audrey’s arrogance and disdain. He stared at Audrey’s retreating figure and pounded his chest in frustration. He murmured, “Well. What’s so great about having a sister?”

The fact is, having a sister like Catherine was indeed great. Audrey initially thought Catherine would be coming on her motorcycle, as that was Catherine’s usual mode of transportation for commuting to school.

She had planned for just the two of them but with Kim joining, there wouldn’t be enough space.

Audrey had intended for Catherine to ride with Kim in his car. But to her surprise, Catherine had driven an older model Mercedes. Audrey was a bit shocked as she saw Catherine’s Mercedes. “Kathy, you have a driver’s license?”

Catherine nodded. “Yes. Get in.”

Audrey opened the car door and got in with Kim. Audrey knew Catherine’s personality well. As such, she had chosen a restaurant and mapped out the route. She opened her phone’s navigation app and handed it to Catherine.

“Kathy, I’ve made reservations at the restaurant. Just follow the directions and drive there. We’ll be eating in no time!”

Catherine wore a sweet smile on her beautiful face. Catherine thought to herself, “Audrey is indeed thoughtful and attentive.”

Catherine glanced at the navigation map on the phone in Audrey’s hand. And she didn’t take Audrey’s phone from her. Audrey raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Kathy, you don’t need the navigator?”

“Nope,” Catherine replied softly. Kim couldn’t resist chiming in, “Well. Catherine knows this place like the back of her hand. A seasoned driver like her doesn’t need the navigator for directions. Not everyone is as clueless as you.”

Faced with her manager’s sarcastic remark, Audrey was visibly irked. “You have no idea. Kathy isn’t familiar with this place. She’s amazing. She can look at a map once and remember all the routes. She can even choose the best ones.”

Kim had wanted to argue with Audrey. Afterall, such a skill was beyond what normal humans could comprehend. He was about to speak up. However, he remembered Catherine’s incredible performance in the amusement park during the last show. Then he remained silent.

He could be sarcastic with ordinary people without any issue. But when faced with someone like Catherine, who surpassed normal human abilities, Kim felt it was better to remain quiet and obedient.

Just as Audrey had mentioned, Catherine could find the best route and reach their destination in the shortest time without needing to rely on the navigator.

As they got out of the car, Audrey couldn’t help but praise Catherine. She said, “Kathy, you’re skilled at driving. It’s the first time I’ve been able to fall asleep in a car. You drive so smoothly.”

Catherine smiled faintly and remained silent. Audrey had reserved a spot at a popular barbecue restaurant. Despite the bustling atmosphere, there was no need for them to wait in line and they were seated right away.

As they settled into their seats, Audrey sensed that there were incessant noises from their surroundings. She felt a bit guilty as she looked at Catherine.

“Kathy, I could only get a table in the central area. The private rooms were fully booked three months ago.”

This barbecue restaurant garnered a lot of attention recently. Being able to secure a reservation was quite an achievement for Audrey.

However, for Catherine, these details didn’t matter. As long as the food was good, it was fine. With a composed expression, Catherine responded in a soft voice, “It’s okay, as long as the food is delicious.”

As Catherine got up to visit the restroom, Kim leaned in close to Audrey and whispered, “Is your sister always this cold toward you?”

As Kim saw Catherine’s demeanor earlier, he almost froze in place and he couldn’t help but admire Audrey’s courage.

Audrey kept approaching Catherine without any fear. In Kim’s eyes, Audrey was impressive for having such courage. Audrey glanced at Kim with confusion. She frowned and asked, “Cold? She seemed quite warm to me.”

Audrey thought, “Catherine responded to me. Wasn’t that considered warm enough?”

Kim wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead in silence. The sisters from the Swanns were not ordinary people. Kim had finally come to realize that.

Chapter 205 Catherine’s Beauty

The barbecue was piping hot and had vibrant colors. Under the relentless heat, the mouthwatering aroma filled the air. The enticing scent tickled the senses and whetted appetites. Catherine had a refined taste for barbecue, and at that moment, she was indulging in it gracefully.

Audrey grew up in the Swanns’. She had always known the rules at the dinner table. But today, she found herself struggling to control her cravings.

It had been three months since she had enjoyed a proper meal. Now, in the face of the delicious barbecue, she couldn’t resist. Kim noticed Audrey’s voracious appetite and shook his head.

“Audrey, you’re one of the hottest actresses out there. Can you please be a bit more conscious of your image?”

Audrey waved her hand and replied, 11 Don’t worry. I’m not famous enough for everyone to recognize me yet.”

Her words barely left her lips before she was proven wrong.

“Wow. Isn’t this Audrey, the big star?”

A mocking voice came from the front. It was filled with mischief and teasing. Audrey heard the voice and found it somewhat familiar. She looked up and then frowned instantly. She muttered under her breath, “It’s him again.”

Although her voice was barely audible, Catherine heard it. Catherine hadn’t intended to intervene, but Audrey’s words made her look up.

More than one person had arrived. They were led by a fat man with a round face. He was dressed in ostentatious clothes covered in logo prints. He exuded an air of arrogance.

He had his arm around a hot lady with a seductive figure. The woman’s attire barely qualified as clothing. It was more like a piece of fabric, which barely covered her from just above her navel to below her collarbone.

Seeing his appearance, Catherine felt a bit disgusted. Just a single glance at him gave Catherine a nauseating feeling. The beef slices in front of her suddenly didn’t look appetizing anymore.

Kim noticed the way the newcomers were eyeing Audrey and sensed that something was off. He quickly stood up to defuse the situation.

“Well. Isn’t this Mr. Blaton? What a coincidence! We meet again. Mr. Blaton, since it’s such a rare occasion, would you do me the honor of letting me treat you to a meal?”

Catherine thought inwardly, “Mr. Blaton?”

Catherine’s eyes darkened as she realized the situation. She remembered that Joseph had mentioned someone nicknamed Mr. Blaton. He was Aaron Blaton, the youngest son of the Blatons from the west side of the city.

Actually, Aaron’s mother was originally a mistress. She wasn’t the legal wife of the head of the Blatons back then.

However, Aaron’s mother was cunning. She was greatly favored by the head of the Blatons, which made him dote on Aaron exceptionally, sometimes even more than the legitimate eldest son of the Blatons.

This had made Aaron exceptionally arrogant. The Blatons were involved in the entertainment industry, and Aaron often used his connections to pursue female celebrities.

The project Audrey was working on today happened to be the one that Aaron had initiated to promote his current girlfriend. When Aaron came to visit the set and saw Audrey in her traditional costume, he was instantly captivated.

Upon hearing Kim’s words, Aaron sneered. Although he was a playboy, he wasn’t foolish. He saw through Kim’s attempt to distract him. Aaron pointed at Kim and chuckled. Then, he said, “Sure. Treat me to a meal. I’ll do you a favor and join you.”

He directly pulled out a nearby chair that had a bag on it. Then, he plopped down right on top of Audrey’s bag. Audrey’s eyes widened in shock. That was the bag she had just bought. It was her latest obsession, and it was a new Hermès piece that she had waited for a long time.

Seeing Audrey’s shock, Aaron chuckled. He stared at Audrey with his small eyes. Then, he sneered, “Oh, Miss Swann, my apologies for my clumsiness. I seem to have sat on your bag. How about I compensate you? If one is not enough, I’ll compensate you with 10 bags.”

His arrogant attitude made Audrey wish she could pick up the scorching barbecue and throw it over his head to give him a much-needed wake-up call.

Audrey was seething. As she was ready to explode in anger, Kim discreetly held her back. At the same time, Catherine was sitting quietly on the side. She suddenly reached for two forks on the table.

Then, a subtle sound could be heard. The next moment, the chair Aaron was sitting on suddenly collapsed. Aaron, who was caught off guard, tumbled to the ground. Everyone was stunned. No one had expected this to happen.

Three seconds had passed. Audrey couldn’t contain her laughter, and neither could Kim. Catherine put down the fork and sat quietly on the side. She wore a faint smile on her beautiful face.

The people around Aaron were usually the ones who flattered him the most. Seeing Aaron in such a humiliating situation, they hurriedly helped him up and comforted him.

Once Aaron sat down again, he felt deeply embarrassed and couldn’t ignore Audrey’s mocking smile. He was ready to cause a scene.

As he stood Catherine. up, he suddenly noticed Catherine had been sitting quietly with her head down and her hat on. So, Aaron didn’t notice her just now. Now, after seeing Catherine’s face, he was instantly captivated.

In his eyes, Catherine was incredibly beautiful. She had delicate features, perfect proportions, and a pair of eyes that were both cold and sharp.

His anger dissipated as he stared at Catherine. He smiled at Catherine and called out, “Wow. Such a beautiful lady! How did I miss you? Miss, my apologies. May I know your name?”

Audrey realized that Aaron had taken an interest in Catherine. She panicked and instinctively moved to shield Catherine with her arm. Catherine looked down at Audrey’s hand on her arm. Then, she slightly smiled.

Audrey was so brave that she decided to protect Catherine. The Blatons held significant influence within the entertainment industry, and Audrey didn’t want to antagonize them.

To protect Catherine while also safeguarding her own career, Audrey had no choice but to yield to Aaron. Audrey forced a smile and gazed at Aaron. “Mr. Blaton, are you okay?”

She planned to divert Aaron’s attention away from Catherine and get Catherine to leave quietly. However, Aaron looked at Audrey with disdain. He thought Audrey was just like any other woman he had encountered and was playing hard to get.

Aaron thought Audrey was upset because she saw him shift his focus to someone else. “Step aside. Don’t obstruct me from chatting with this beauty.”

Audrey couldn’t take it anymore. If he targeted her, that was one thing. But messing with her sister was an entirely different matter.

The sisters from the Swanns had fiery tempers. One should never cross their boundaries, or the consequences would be dire.

“Mr. Blaton, this is my sister. Please mind your words.”

But Aaron ignored Audrey’s warning. He smiled arrogantly. He ran his hand along his chin, and his lecherous gaze shifted between the two sisters.

“Well, I didn’t expect you two to be sisters. I like that.”

After saying this, Aaron couldn’t resist adding with a grin. “Especially in bed…”

Chapter 206 Catherine’s Car

As soon as those words were uttered, Audrey couldn’t hold back any longer. She stepped forward and delivered a resounding slap. Audrey slapped Aaron.

The sharp sound of the slap left everyone stunned, and Aaron was dumbfounded. No one had expected Audrey to be so daring as to strike Aaron.

Kim, who was standing nearby, instinctively wanted to applaud. That slap was undeniably precise and clean. There was a bit of Catherine’s swagger in Audrey, and it was evident that they were indeed sisters.

However, as Kim came to his senses, he realized this was too impulsive. Kim quietly turned to look at Catherine, who remained calm as ever. He couldn’t help but admire her. Catherine was indeed impressive.

Catherine glanced at Audrey’s trembling arm with a hint of disappointment. It seemed like she would need to find time to teach Audrey how to pack a punch. That slap was far too weak.

Finally, Aaron realized the situation. He looked up, gritted his teeth, and glared at Audrey with a terrifyingly grim expression. He hadn’t expected Audrey to actually slap him.

“Bitch, how dare you strike me?” Audrey stared back defiantly. She shielded Catherine behind her and intended to protect Catherine.

“Aaron, don’t forget my surname. The Swanns’ power exceeds that of the Blatons. Are you sure you want to escalate this?”

Aaron was aware of the Swanns’ influence surpassing that of the Blatons. They were all part of the same circle, and he had interactions with Johnathan. He sneered at Audrey with scorn. Then, he shouted, “Haha. The Swanns!”

Aaron rolled his small eyes. Then, he continued, “The Swanns may be impressive, but what are you in the Swanns? I’m the heir of the Blatons, and my dad spoils me, so I can do as I please. But you are expelled by the Swanns. What are you?”

Audrey’s face instantly paled. Catherine, who was standing behind her, stared at Aaron with her cold eyes. It seemed that Aaron needed a lesson to discern their boundaries. Catherine was about to take action when someone suddenly barged in.

“Hey, what’s going on here?”

A crisp male voice broke the tense atmosphere, and everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice. A sharply dressed man with a somewhat handsome appearance entered the scene.

Catherine glanced at him and felt a sense of familiarity. However, Aaron displayed a surprised expression when he saw the newcomer.

“Zachary, what are you doing here?”

Zachary Lewis was the owner of the barbecue restaurant. He was also from a wealthy family, which was quite different from the Blatons.

The Lewises had some influence in the underworld, so Aaron always addressed Zachary with great respect. “Aaron, what’s going on with you guys here?”

After Aaron heard Zachary’s question, his attitude became even more arrogant. “Zachary, these two girls dared to lay hands on me. Today…”

Zachary glanced at the two sisters from the Swanns. When he looked at Catherine, he paused for a moment.

He immediately interrupted Aaron and turned to Catherine. Then, he said, ” Miss Swann, you’re dining here today too?”

Catherine squinted her eyes as she assessed him. She frowned slightly with confusion. Seeing her reaction, Zachary preemptively said, “Miss Swann, I was also at the gathering of Mr. Lambert and Mr. Lane last time.”

Catherine realized why Zachary seemed familiar. They had crossed paths inadvertently. Zachary had grown up in the business under his father. He quickly understood the situation. The Lewises had close dealings with the Blatons, and he needed to save Aaron.

Zachary raised his foot and gave Aaron’s thigh a hard kick. Then, he scolded Aaron fiercely, “You brat! Did you offend them? Apologize right now….

Aaron felt like he had never been so clueless in his life. As the heir of the Blatons, he was accustomed to doing as he pleased. But he had been slapped twice in a day. And this time, he couldn’t retaliate..

Zachary’s words were sharp, and his expression was serious. He didn’t let Aaron ask for the reason and repeatedly demanded an apology.

With no other option, Aaron reluctantly apologized. After learning the situation, Zachary compensated Audrey with a shopping card.

“Miss Swann, this is a shopping card for Seaside Mall. Consider it my way of compensating for your bag on behalf of Aaron. I hope you can forgive Aaron.”

Audrey turned to glance at Catherine. She recognized the card. It would be enough to buy several bags of the same style.

Not only Audrey but everyone instinctively turned to look at Catherine. Audrey understood from Zachary’s words that he must know about Catherine’s relationship with Branden. So, he was so cautious and insisted on making Aaron apologize.

Audrey didn’t want Catherine to get in trouble with Branden because of her own actions.

“Kathy, should we just let it go?”

Catherine didn’t mind it. Since Audrey didn’t want to pursue it, Catherine decided to let it go and show some respect to Zachary.

So, Catherine nodded slightly and agreed to let the matter go. After Zachary expressed his gratitude, he left with Aaron. On the way, Aaron was still very unhappy.

“Zachary, why did you force me to apologize to those two girls? Are we supposed to be afraid of them?”

When Aaron mentioned the incident, his anger flared up, and he complained repeatedly. Zachary suppressed his anger and gave Aaron a stern look. “Don’t worry about that. Just remember not to mess with those two sisters, okay?”

For no apparent reason, Zachary had to bend over backward for Aaron. He was unhappy, too. Zachary wasn’t afraid of the two girls. He was afraid of the man behind Catherine.

Catherine was someone Branden took out to social gatherings. She was pampered by Branden. Even Triston showed some respect to her. She was not someone to be trifled with easily.

Catherine might very well be the future mistress of the Duncans. In Casier, no one dared to offend the Duncans. Zachary thought inwardly, “Anyone who offends Mr. Duncan’s lover will get into big trouble.”

“Aaron, go have fun on your own. I have something to take care of.” Zachary had originally come here for work and didn’t expect to get involved in this mess.

After Zachary left, Aaron still felt dissatisfied and agitated. One of his underlings realized Zachary’s intentions and came up with a new idea.

“Mr. Blaton, we can’t touch them, but what if we break something to vent our frustration?” Aaron’s eyes lit up with a sinister smile. He patted the person’s face next to him. “You’ve got a point.”

Due to the unexpected incident, Catherine lost her appetite for barbecue. Not only Catherine but Kim and Audrey also didn’t want to eat.

So, they decided to head back home. When they walked out of the barbecue restaurant, they happened to see a group of people playing with cars.

One person was driving a car and repeatedly ramming it into a black car. Audrey recognized the car and exclaimed, “Oh, my God. Kathy, is that your friend’s car?”

Audrey assumed Catherine had borrowed her friend’s car since the old- model Mercedes didn’t fit Catherine’s style. Catherine took a quick glance and confirmed it was indeed her car.

Through the car window, she could see the person in the driver’s seat of the other car. It was none other than Aaron.

When Aaron noticed their arrival, he confidently got out of the car with an arrogant and unruffled demeanor. As he surveyed the sisters from the Swanns, he raised his chin in arrogance.

“There is no doubt that the car is my doing. I’ll compensate you, and that’s that.”

After that, Aaron took out a card from his pocket and tossed it in front of Catherine. Then, he said, “This card has one million dollars in it. It doesn’t have a password.

“Darling, that’s more than enough to cover the cost of your old Mercedes.”

Chapter 207 The Compensation

Aaron was so audacious. And he was really arrogant. Catherine had encountered many arrogant people in her life. And she was eager to see how long Aaron could maintain his arrogance.

Catherine took a slow step forward. With her leather boots, she casually stamped on the bank card Aaron had thrown on the ground. Catherine thought inwardly, “He is arrogant, huh?

“Let’s see who can be more arrogant. than me.” Aaron gave Catherine a sidelong glance and felt her overpowering presence. Catherine’s fiery yet cold disposition piqued his interest.

“What? One million dollars isn’t enough? Darling, your appetite is quite something. One million dollars is more than enough to buy three of your clunker. I’m offering three times the compensation. You should be satisfied.”

Catherine chuckled coldly. Her voice was crisp and crystal clear amidst the crowd. Catherine’s eyes flickered. Her domineering and mocking gaze fell upon Aaron. Her voice was cold and scornful. “Hey, this car doesn’t have a small window on the door.”

When she spoke, everyone present was momentarily stunned. Some widened their eyes in astonishment, while others were utterly bewildered.

Kim slowly rotated his eyes, which were starting to ache from staring. He exclaimed, “Oh my God! There is no small window on the door.”

Audrey, who was standing on the side, was utterly perplexed. “What do you mean by ‘no small window on the door ? What are you guys talking about? Why don’t I understand?”

Kim looked at Audrey with disdain. ” Audrey, your family, the Swanns, is one of Casier’s top four wealthy families. How can you not know this? It’s Maybach that doesn’t have a small window on the door. Do you understand?”

Audrey was unfazed by the disdain. She responded confidently, “How am I supposed to know all this? Although the Swanns are rich, no one ever told me I had to know about cars.”

Kim realized he couldn’t communicate with Audrey. He silently chose to give up. At the same time, Aaron was stunned when he heard that.

Among Aaron’s group, there were indeed some car enthusiasts. After closely inspecting Catherine’s car, one of them muttered to Aaron uncomfortably, “Mr. Blaton, it really is a Maybach. I checked the limited edition emblem on the tail.”

Maybach was an ultra-luxury car series and belonged to the top tier of luxury cars. Because its emblem was similar to the emblem of the Mercedes, it was often mistaken for an older-model Mercedes.

The simplest and easiest way to distinguish between the two series of cars was to look at the small window on the rear door.

A small window on the door indicated a Mercedes S-class car, while the absence of a small window on the door indicated the top-of-the-line luxury car, the Maybach. Maybach was synonymous with understated elegance. It was the preferred car for top-level executives.

Catherine crossed her arms. She adopted a languid posture as she stood there. She looked at Aaron coldly. Aaron’s expression changed slightly after he confirmed this information. His face darkened. Nevertheless, he feigned composure as he looked at Catherine. “Not bad.

You’re driving your dad’s car, huh? You take advantage of me not knowing the market value. This car is worth four or five million dollars. I’m offering three million dollars. That should be enough.

As he spoke, Aaron was preparing to take out the money from his pocket. Though it pained him deeply, Aaron had to appear nonchalant at this moment. He treated it as if he were requesting an advance from his father for a new car.

Catherine stared at him with her cold eyes. She raised her hand and pointed her finger directly at Aaron’s forehead.

“Triple compensation. Mr. Blaton, you sounded so confident earlier. Can’t you afford it?”

Aaron was extremely awkward. He didn’t expect Catherine to ask for that. He was both embarrassed and irritated. But he maintained a pretense of calm as he looked at Catherine.

“What? You’re pushing it with that request. Let me tell you. Your car is probably not worth more than one million dollars on the second-hand market.”

Upon hearing about the commotion at the entrance, Zachary inquired and rushed over. Seeing that Aaron was causing trouble again, Zachary couldn’t help but frown and sternly scolded him.

“Aaron, what’s the matter with you? Didn’t I tell you to show some respect to Miss Swann?”

Before Aaron could respond, Catherine spoke up, “Zachary, Mr. Blaton hit my car. He said he would pay triple compensation. Can you estimate Mr. Blaton’s payment?”

After realizing the situation, Zachary took a closer look at Catherine’s car and frowned. He recalled that there were no more than three of these cars in the entire country, and one of them was owned by Branden.

Aaron was really audacious. He got into big trouble this time. Zachary suppressed his desire to hit Aaron. He scolded Aaron furiously, You brat! You’ve really done it this time. You’d better call your father and ask him to help with this.”

Aaron had an indignant look on his face. He felt that Zachary lacked courage. He resented Zachary for it.

“Zachary, why bother my dad with such a trivial matter? If three million dollars isn’t enough, I’ll give her five million dollars. Consider it as if I had a rendezvous with an upscale whore.”

Zachary recognized Aaron was extremely stupid. He quickly distanced himself from the Blatons. With someone as foolish as Aaron, the Blatons would get into big trouble.

“Aaron, you really don’t understand anything. This is a top-of-the-line Maybach, with a market price starting at a minimum of 30 million dollars.

Add in the top-of-the-line features inside, and if you triple the compensation, you should pay at least 100 million dollars. Can you handle that?”

Aaron exclaimed, “What?

“100 million dollars?”

Aaron gaped at Zachary in shock. Then, he turned to look at Catherine with surprise. He finally understood why Catherine had remained calm throughout and looked at him as if he were a fool.

Zachary couldn’t possibly be lying at a time like this, so the car’s actual value might indeed exceed 30 million dollars, and tripling that meant 100 million dollars.

It was 100 million dollars. Aaron couldn’t possibly come up with that much money. While the Blatons were wealthy, Aaron was just the heir of the Blatons. He had not yet inherited the family fortune.

Zachary realized the gravity of the situation and promptly contacted Aaron’s father. Ten minutes later, Jameson Blaton, Aaron’s father, arrived at the scene.

Zachary subtly reminded Jameson of Catherine’s relationship with the Duncans. Then, Jameson immediately approached Catherine and greeted her. He said, “Miss Swann, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Catherine glanced at him and didn’t respond. She didn’t want to waste her time acknowledging everyone who approached her. Jameson felt somewhat embarrassed. But he kept a straight face as he had his secretary hand over a check.

“Miss Swann, here is 10 million dollars. Consider it compensation on behalf of my son. Let’s maintain a good relationship in the future.”

Zachary remained by the side and watched closely. When he saw that Jameson had offered only 10 million dollars, he had a bad feeling about it.

Catherine glanced at the elderly man standing opposite her coldly. She thought inwardly, “He and his son are both bastards.”

Catherine took the check from Jameson’s secretary and held it in her hand. She casually tapped it. Jameson’s smile deepened. He was relieved that he hadn’t listened to Zachary. Otherwise, he might have lost 80 to 90 million dollars.

No one’s money came from thin air, and his family was not so wealthy. At this moment, Jameson was celebrating his decision. But in the next moment, the smile froze on his face.

Because Catherine tore the ten-million -dollar check into pieces right in front of Jameson with a smile. Her attitude was incredibly relaxed, which gave the impression of playfulness. However, it sent chills down people’s spines. Catherine spoke in a casual tone, but her words were cold and menacing.

“I don’t want your money…”

Jameson’s face darkened. Being humiliated by a young girl in public was embarrassing. He wondered how he would save his reputation after this.

He gritted his teeth and warned in a low voice, “Miss Swann, what do you want then?” Catherine smiled slightly. She spoke with an air of nonchalance and delivered the ruthless words.

She said, “In the black market, 10 million dollars can buy a life. “Your son owes me 100 million dollars. I’ll take two of his legs. Is that unreasonable?”

Catherine wore a smile on her stunning face. Her beautiful eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty killing intent, which sent shivers down spines.

It was 50 million dollars for each leg. Catherine was really impressive.

Chapter 208 Catherine’s Identity

Jameson stared at Catherine in shock. He hadn’t expected this young girl to have such audacity and disregard his family’s status.

Although Catherine’s relationship with Branden was good, she was just a Woman. Jameson didn’t believe that Branden would confront the Blatons for the sake of a woman.

Jameson stared at Catherine coldly with his sharp eyes. His words were laden with a strong warning. “Miss Swann, I believe in the principle of resolving disputes amicably. You should understand that.”

Catherine provocatively stared at Jameson. Her attitude was seemingly carefree, but her presence was overpowering.

She had given them enough time to consider their actions, but it seemed these people were eager to test her patience. They were just asking for trouble.

“So, you want to protect this guy?”

Catherine wore a faint smile on her beautiful face. She continued, “Use the Blatons to save your son’s legs. Jameson, you’re getting quite shrewd in business.”

The irony in her words was clear, and Jameson certainly caught it. “Miss Swann, I advise you not to speak too recklessly. Even if you become the Duncans’ mistress, it won’t be easy to bring down the Blatons. If you choose to confront us, I won’t be afraid of you.”

Both of them were arrogant. The atmosphere became increasingly tense. Audrey was worried about Catherine, After all, they were dealing with Jameson, a big shot from the Blaton Group.

In the business world, Jameson’s counterparts were figures like Audrey’s father. Audrey discreetly tugged at Catherine’s sleeve and signaled her to calm down.

Jameson noticed Audrey’s gesture. His sharp eyes flickered with hostility. “Miss Swann, sometimes it’s not a bad idea to listen to the advice of those around you.”

Jameson had always wanted to connect with the Duncans. If paying 10 million dollars could resolve this situation, Jameson was willing to do it. After all, he was well aware of how troublesome his son could be. Otherwise, Zachary wouldn’t call him over.

Damaging Branden’s car could be a significant or minor issue, depending on perspective. In terms of money, it was a relatively big deal. However, when it came to Jameson’s son, money was a smaller matter.

Audrey wanted to let it go, but Catherine had different plans. Catherine wasn’t so kind. Since Aaron dared to provoke her repeatedly, there had to be consequences.

“Mr. Blaton, since you decided to abandon the Blaton Group, just enjoy the consequences of your decision.” Catherine glanced at Jameson with a smile. Then, she turned and gestured to Audrey. “Let’s go.”

The onlookers found it strange. Just a moment ago, Catherine had been acting arrogant, and now she was ending the confrontation so easily. Jameson felt that something wasn’t right. He saw something unusual in Catherine’s eves, but he couldn’t understand it.

Audrey thought Catherine chose to let it go. Although Audrey was not pleased with Aaron’s actions, she didn’t want to escalate the situation and cause Catherine to get involved in any more trouble. However, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for the damaged car.

Aside from Branden, Audrey couldn’t think of anyone else who might lend Catherine this car. Audrey couldn’t help but wonder if this would lead to even more trouble. Aaron reveled in his victory. He turned to Zachary with a smug smile.

“Zachary, you see? We’ve settled this matter so easily.”

Zachary remained silent and stared at Aaron. He felt extremely upset. Zachary had noticed Catherine’s final expression before she turned away.

That expression sent shivers down his spine. Just then, a jarring ringtone interrupted the silence. Hearing that, everyone turned their attention to the source. It was Jameson’s phone. Jameson answered the call and placed the phone to his ear.

The next moment, his face turned pale. Without regard for the curious eyes around him, he shouted, “What? Do you say the investment is withdrawn? How is that possible?”

Moments later, Jameson’s secretary’s phone rang too. When the secretary answered the call, his face became even more ashen than Jameson’s. He shouted, “You say the entire cooperation is canceled? How can this be?

“Have we offended someone?”

The onlookers observed the panicked reactions of the Blatons with curiosity. As the head of the Blatons, Jameson displayed such a disconcerted expression in public. It indicated the seriousness of the situation.

Actually, leaders of major corporations were under constant scrutiny. Even a single action or expression could raise questions about their leadership.

At this moment, Jameson’s demeanor in a public setting was certainly unusual. Jameson was tunned. It was Jameson’s secretary who was the first to put the pieces together.

As the strategist and secretary, he had an impressive reaction time. He didn’t say much to Jameson. Instead, he moved forward to intercept Catherine.

“Miss Swann, please wait.”

Catherine glanced up at him with her cold eyes.

“If you don’t want to die, step aside.”

Her voice was light, but it carried an overwhelming sense of oppression and sent shivers down spines. The secretary, who was overwhelmed by her powerful aura, instinctively took a step back.

He hadn’t expected her presence to be so formidable. It seemed they had truly underestimated the situation this time. Jameson wasn’t foolish. He realized the seriousness of the situation after his secretary did.

When the secretary failed to stop Catherine, Jameson gestured to his bodyguards. They immediately rushed to stand in front of Catherine.

Catherine remained calm. At this moment, a black figure darted out from the shadows. The figure moved swiftly. And a series of painful screams filled the air.

In less than a minute, the four bodyguards who had been blocking Catherine’s path were incapacitated. They were lying on the ground in agony. However, the assailant stood unscathed in the center. Everyone looked at him with fear.

As the assailant approached them, Audrey was upset. She instinctively reached for Catherine, thinking of pulling her away from the chaos. But she was not prepared for what came next. The assailant did something astonishing.

He knelt down. In front of Catherine, he knelt down with deep respect. He was extremely serious. Joseph lowered his head and spoke to Catherine with great reverence.

“Boss, I have taken care of all the trash. Joseph had been lurking in the shadows. He was responsible for protecting Audrey’s safety. When Catherine signaled him, he acted swiftly.

In truth, he had been growing impatient. These hooligans had dared to insult Catherine. They were asking for trouble. Joseph’s attitude toward Catherine left everyone in shock.

Jameson was stunned. Joseph possessed such remarkable skills. He wasn’t a bodyguard that an ordinary person could afford. Jameson’s four personal bodyguards were seasoned combat veterans. With military and mercenary backgrounds, they were top-notch fighters.

However, Joseph had single-handedly defeated all four of them in a short span. It showcased Joseph’s exceptional skills.

The onlookers wondered about Catherine’s identity. They thought inwardly, “Why does she have such a powerful and skilled protector by her side?

“Could it be the bodyguard Vicente arranges for her?”

After thinking it over, they realized that this was the only plausible explanation. Realizing that the situation had taken an unexpected turn, Jameson quickly changed his attitude and turned to Catherine.

He said, “Miss Swann, I misunderstood the situation earlier, and I apologize. I’m willing to make amends.

“Can I offer you 100 million dollars?”

Chapter 209 No Short of Money

Catherine’s face was expressionless as she said lazily, her tone cold and low, ” I’m not short of money. Besides, haven’t you already decided to save your son?”

Jameson finally understood Catherine’s meaning. He had never expected Catherine to have so much power. She was actually able to undo the financing that Blaton Group had struggled to get in just a few minutes.

Even several of the most important project partners of Blaton Group had called Jameson, saying that they wanted to cancel their cooperation.

If all of this came true, then Blaton Group was considered to be completely finished. Catherine was holding Blaton Group by the throat and could make it collapse at any time.

Jameson was flustered. His arrogant face was now covered in cold sweat. ” Miss Swann, let’s discuss this further!”

Catherine didn’t even bother to look at him and was about to leave. Jameson wanted to block her way, but one look from Joseph scared Jameson to take a big step back. “He wasn’t someone to be messed with! thought Jameson.

The quick-witted secretary quickly signaled to Jameson, who immediately reacted and kicked Aaron, who was still standing on the sidelines with a dumbfounded look. Aaron failed to stand still from his father’s kick and fell onto his knees steadily in front of Catherine.

Catherine stopped in her tracks, and Jameson politely stepped forward and apologized to Catherine while slapping Aaron.

“Miss Swann, just give us another chance, please!”

Aaron realized the gravity of the situation as well. He did not dare to speak and allowed his father to slap him. It was the first time in his life that he had seen his father being so groveling. Feeling as if his apology alone wasn’t enough, he asked Zachary to help beg Catherine as well.

“Zachary, you’re on good terms with Miss Swann, right? Put some good words for me, okay? Things are negotiable, right?”

A wave of disgust surged through Zachary’s heart as he secretly cursed, ” You disliked me for being nosy just now. But now you’re begging me to help! Who do you think you are? Do you think everyone has to serve you guys?”

Now, he only felt grateful that he was smart enough not to bully Catherine along with them. Otherwise, the Lewises would also be implicated. Since he had already decided to break up with the Blatons, it was impossible for Zachary to help them.

He reluctantly looked at Jameson. “Mr. Blaton, I’m sorry. I don’t know Miss Swann very well, and I don’t really have a say in front of Miss Swann.” His attitude was very humble.

Jameson knew that Aaron’s words just now had offended Zachary. So, he couldn’t say any more. He could only turn his head and continue to beg Catherine to give him another chance.

This matter kept reversing, and the attention of the crowd was focused on these guys. No one noticed that three people were standing in the dark not far away, watching all of this.

Even if Joseph hadn’t made a move earlier, Paxton would have been the first to rush over. Triston received a message about Catherine from Zachary, and he informed Branden at the first opportunity.

The trio arrived as fast as they could, just in time to run into the scene where Jameson mobilized his bodyguards against Catherine. Paxton originally wanted to make a move, but he stopped when Joseph suddenly came out of nowhere.

Looking at Joseph’s somewhat familiar face, Triston pondered for a good while and said in surprise, “I remember. Isn’t this the guy that Catherine dealt with on the day at Charm Bar? So, it’s Catherine’s people. He’s quite skilled.”

He finished with a look like he was waiting for Branden’s compliments. But Branden shot a cold and merciless look at him, and he could only shut his mouth silently. Paxton stood by the side and asked in a low voice, “Sir, should we go over now?

Branden fixed his eyes in Catherine’s direction without saying anything. Getting no answer, Paxton knew Branden had no intention of going over, so he remained standing in the darkness with Branden.

On the other side, Catherine finally reacted to Jameson’s begging. She looked down at Jameson and asked in a cold voice, “Regret? Want to have a talk?”

Catching a hint of hope, Jameson, who was so afraid of losing the opportunity, nodded his head in a hurry.

“Thank you for the opportunity, Miss Swann. Please name any conditions you have as long as we can keep Blaton Group. Then, we can talk!”

“Okay!” Catherine readily agreed. Her smile was warm, but her eyes remained cold, deterring anyone from meeting her gaze. “The conditions are simple. Before, it was two legs. Now, it’s two legs plus a hand!” added Catherine. Jameson instantly froze, his eyes glaring.

Catherine, however, still looked at him with a smile as if she was doing him a favor. “I’ll take a loss and take your left hand!”

Aaron panicked and tried to escape, but he failed because Jameson had him trapped. Now, he couldn’t care about anything but crying for mercy. “Father, I’m your most precious son. Do you really want to sacrifice me for your benefit? I don’t want to be disabled. I don’t want it!”

Tears and snot were flowing down his face as he cried, a scene incomparably lousy and ridiculous. Jameson’s heart ached. As his son had said, Aaron was his most precious son, so how could he bear to see Aaron suffer?

But there was no way he could let Aaron off the hook. After all, if the Blaton Group collapsed, everything they had would be gone, and all those who they had once offended would take advantage of the opportunity to retaliate.

At that time, the fate of the Blatons would be sealed. The secretary whispered to remind Jameson from the side, “Mr. Blaton, you should be more decisive when you have to do so.”

Jameson had also been through the business world. When he heard this, a hint of ferocity flashed within his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he pushed Aaron in front of Catherine. His voice was trembling as he said, “I hope you’re true to your word!”

Catherine didn’t answer and coldly stared at the shivering Aaron on the ground. Aaron tried to escape but was trapped by Joseph.

Catherine turned to Audrey and gestured for her to teach him a lesson. Audrey, however, subconsciously dodged back, intimidated by Catherine’s cold demeanor.

Kim stood by Audrey’s side and trembled with fear as well. At this moment, he finally understood why Audrey had said Catherine’s attitude towards them was not cold. Compared to Catherine’s current attitude, her earlier demeanor was warm and passionate.

Upon seeing Audrey step back in fear, Catherine sneered. She thought, “If she doesn’t want to get her hands dirty, then I’ll do it. Those who dare to touch my sister have to pay the price!”

Catherine took two steps forward and opened the trunk of the car. Inside was a set of golf clubs, which sparkled in the moonlight like sharp knives. Catherine drew out a club and gently swung it twice in the air, and it was quite handy.

She dragged the golf club along the ground, producing an ear-piercing sound, and confidently strode towards Aaron. Her posture was as leisurely as if she was about to play golf, but Aaron almost peed in fear when he saw her eyes. He thought, “Her eyes were just too scary!”

The golf club gleamed like an icy blade. Catherine swung it in her hand and suddenly stopped its motion midway through the air. Aaron kept shaking his head, woefully begging for mercy. “Please don’t! I’m begging you!”

Catherine sneered, “I heard that you like visiting prostitutes, and the ordinary ones can’t get into your eyes, huh? Let me give you a hand!”

“Ah…” Aaron let out a miserable cry as the golf club made contact.

Chapter 210 My Woman is Timid

Those who were present to witness the scene all widened their eyes in shock, their faces as pale as sheets. They had never seen a girl who was so ruthless and decisive in her actions.

On that stunningly beautiful face, her eyes were cold and indifferent. A wicked smile escaped from the corner of her mouth, seemingly indistinct, making people feel unreal.

When she sat there quietly without moving, she was like a holy flower on the top of a snowy mountain, lonely and cold. Her strikingly beautiful appearance and her cold, distant demeanor made it difficult for people to approach her with ease.

On the contrary, as soon as she made her move, her expression remained unchanged, but her aura became terrifying, just like Satan descending to earth.

She only struck three times, respectively aiming at Aaron’s two legs and an arm, each blow faster and harder than the last.

Aaron’s desperate screams echoed through the scene. The arrogant and unruly Mr. Blaton of half an hour ago was now like meat on the chopping block and could not do anything. Aaron passed out from the pain after Catherine’s beating.

Jameson was better. At least he wasn’t fainting. However, his sweaty face and bloodshot eyes gave away how much he was holding back his emotions and restraining himself at this moment.

Catherine swung the golf club and stood aside. Joseph respectfully stepped forward and held a clean white handkerchief in front of Catherine.

Catherine casually handed the golf club to Joseph and naturally took the white handkerchief to wipe her hands, like an elegant and noble queen.

Jameson did not look very well at this moment, so his secretary took the initiative to help him with the situation and came to Catherine to ask her about it.

After watching the whole process, everyone present no longer dared to look down on Catherine. The breathtaking aura around her overwhelmed the crowd. “Miss Swann, about the Blaton Group, may I ask…”

Catherine knew what the other party was going to say without him finishing his words, and she lazily glanced at the secretary.

Just a single glance gave the secretary the feeling of being pressurized by a powerful aura, so much so that even breathing became a bit of an agony.

Catherine remained silent, and at the side, Joseph took the initiative to Since say, you guys agreed to the deal, we will naturally not pursue Blaton Group any further. As for the losses caused by your own wrong decisions, you’ll have to bear them yourselves!”

Joseph’s face was full of smiles as he spoke, and the cold and heartless words coming out of his mouth gave off a feeling of thoughtfulness and care, which was just too scary. Jameson’s secretary shuddered and inwardly felt a pang of remorse for his boss.

Perhaps if they had decisively paid out 100 million dollars just now and acted a little more sincerely, they wouldn’t have gotten into this situation now.

In just a short 10 minutes, Blaton Group’s market value at least evaporated more than a billion dollars. Not only that, but Aaron also lost a pair of legs and an arm.

At the end of the day, it was all because they were too ignorant and arrogant to mess with someone they couldn’t afford to. Jameson arranged for his son to be sent away, and his bloodshot eyes fixed on Catherine. Catherine did not say anything and just stood there, her eyes cold and dark, without any change.

She knew that Jameson hated her. She had crippled Jameson’s son, and it was impossible for Jameson to let her off. As long as there was a chance, Jameson would make her worse than Aaron!

But the question was whether Jameson could get the chance. Catherine would wait and see if Jameson was so capable. Catherine looked up and caught the sight of the three men slowly approaching her.

Her gaze accurately landed on the man standing in the very center, who seemed to come in a hurry and didn’t even wear his coat. His tall, slender frame was perfectly showcased by a black slim-fit shirt.

The moment Catherine looked back, the man was already standing in front of her, making her unable to resist exclaiming in her heart, “Longer legs are better. They walk faster than others.

Branden stood beside Catherine and slightly bent down to hold her small hand hanging at her side. His sharp brows slightly furrowed on his stunningly handsome face. He asked in a low, magnetic voice, “Why is your hand so cold?”

Catherine had been standing in the cold wind for so long that her hands were naturally cold. She raised her head and fixed her clear eyes on the man in front of her, saying, “I’m pretty much dressed, and it’s not very cold!”

The man was already less than pleased. Even if she had worn enough, after standing in the wind for so long, she would still get cold from the blowing. He took Catherine’s hand and turned back towards Jameson, who was watching them from the side.

Jameson stared at Catherine with intense hatred in his eyes, and inside his brain were images of how to get back at Catherine. He couldn’t even wait to kill this audacious woman right now.

Branden’s sudden stare caught him off guard, and he failed in time to retract his ferocious gaze. Branden’s face darkened at the ferocious look, and a murderous aura emanated from his body as the corners of his mouth lowered.

There was clearly a sense of arrogance and evil dominance in the man’s dark, deep, icy eyes that gripped Jameson’s throat like a vise.

“Mr. Blaton, my woman went too far and caused trouble for you.”

Jameson stiffened at Branden’s words. His already pale face became even uglier at this moment, and his bloodshot eyes instantly filled with desperation.

He looked at Branden in a panic. “Mr. Duncan, please don’t say so. It’s my son who was ignorant and offended Miss Swann. Mr. Duncan, please forgive us. It’s all a misunderstanding!”

“Misunderstanding?” Branden murmured softly, with a touch of weird teasing inside his eyes. “It’s better to be a misunderstanding! My woman is timid, so Mr. Blaton, you’d better not scare her. Just come to me anytime if there’s something you want to talk about.”

“What? Timid? Are you sure you’re not telling a joke? She wasn’t even hesitant when she broke my son’s legs, and that’s still considered timid? Then, what constitutes boldness? Fighting a tiger with bare hands? You’re just having her faults shielded,” cursed Jameson inwardly.

The Duncans stood unrivaled in Casier. If one wanted to do business in Casier, the most important thing was not to offend the Duncans. Jameson was not that stupid to fight with Branden. He wouldn’t court death, just like hitting a stone with an egg.

He knew Branden had seen through his thoughts. Given the power of the Duncans, Branden could easily make the Blatons disappear in Casier if he ever dared to have such thoughts in the future. Jameson hastily bowed his head to apologize, totally giving up what he had in his mind.

“Mr. Duncan, it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Branden did not bother with him anymore and led Catherine away. He didn’t know exactly what had happened tonight, but he knew the Blatons’ business in Casier was considered to be at its end.

Branden’s words had just been heard by a lot of people, and by tomorrow, the news was expected to spread throughout the entire city. It did not take a genius to realize that the Blatons had offended the Duncans, so who would dare to do business with the Blatons in the future?

Aaron really brought a big disaster to the Blatons this time!