Ch. 221..230
Chapter 221 The Champion
The celebration gala came to an end. Many of the judges were celebrities in the industry. These big shots made the celebration gala a media frenzy, creating a new trending topic for today.
The smile on the principal’s face never faded, and as one of the judges, he also voted for Catherine’s team. This was not only because they were famous but also because their performance was truly outstanding, giving him a sense of excitement in his old age.
After going around with Nash, Liana returned to the auditorium. The selection began, and the principal stood on the stage with the award results in hand.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is my honor to stand on this stage and announce tonight’s champion. The champion tonight is…” The principal deliberately paused momentarily before excitedly saying, “Catherine’s team! Congratulations!”
“Wow…”
Cheers and screams filled the entire venue. Compared to the enthusiasm and cheers from the crowd, Catherine remained calm. She sat quietly in her seat, her gaze calm. There was only a faint smile on her face.
Branden reached out and held her hand. His initially icy eyes were now filled with tenderness as he softly said, “Congratulations!” Catherine glanced at him, and the smile deepened on her face. “Thank you!”
Just as Liana returned, she happened to witness this scene. She had already prepared herself for the admiration and congratulations from everyone. But she never expected that Catherine would win the championship.
How was this possible?
Seeing that Liana’s expression was off, Nash tried to comfort her. “Liana, don’t be like this. You are also excellent. One failure doesn’t mean anything, right?”
Liana wanted to slap this stupid guy in the face. What he said was meaningless. However, Liana didn’t throw a fit right away. After all, Nash was still helpful, and she couldn’t abandon him for now. She covered her face and looked pitifully at him. “I’m sorry, Nash, but I need some time alone!”
After saying that, Liana turned and ran away. As soon as she returned to the dressing room, she dialed a mysterious number. At the same time, a hint of ruthlessness appeared in her eyes.
This championship was hers, and she would not let Catherine easily take it away, no matter what. Amidst the audience’s applause, Catherine and her teammates stepped onto the stage.
It wasn’t the principal who presented them with the award but an elderly gentleman. Despite his advanced age, he looked energetic in his well-tailored suit, his sharp eyes exuding vitality.
Seeing the respectful demeanor of the principal in front of him, everybody present could tell that the old man held significant influence. The old man approached Catherine with the trophy in hand. Smiling, he asked, “Are you Catherine?”
Catherine nodded slowly, not overly enthusiastic. On the other hand, Bryan, standing beside her, was astonished. The old man praised Catherine voluntarily, “You sing well. Do you plan to enter the entertainment industry in the future?”
Although Catherine found the old man a little annoying, considering his seniority, she politely responded, ” Thank you, but I don’t plan to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.”
She had plenty of other things to keep her busy. The entertainment industry was not included, though. The old man nodded satisfactorily and handed the trophy to Catherine, saying, “Congratulations!”
Just as Catherine received the trophy…
“Shameless! Catherine’s team doesn’t deserve the award!”
A jarring voice rang out, surprising everyone. As they turned their heads, they saw a young man standing on a chair in the audience, holding a microphone, loudly shouting at Catherine.
The man had an average appearance, wore glasses with black frames, and looked somewhat sleazy and disgusting.
Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, the principal immediately signaled for two security guards to take the young man away.
However, the young man went even more berserk, yelling, “Catherine cheated! She doesn’t deserve to be the champion. The principal is protecting a shameless cheater like her. The principal should step down!”
The principal’s face turned dark. He trembled with anger. On such a grand occasion, someone was causing trouble, which was absolutely unacceptable.
Besides the principal, Ronin and Bryan were also furious. How dare this brat defame their boss? Was this guy courting death?
Catherine raised her hand gently, stopping Ronin and Bryan from taking action. Her cold gaze fell on the young man, showing a hint of disdain. It seemed as if she was completely unaffected by his words, not even bothering to argue with him.
As the young man struggled desperately, the elderly gentleman who had just presented Catherine with the award suddenly spoke up, “Hold on!”
The principal’s face froze, and the two security guards halted their movements. The gentleman stared at the young man, his sharp eyes filled with curiosity as he asked him, “So, you’re saying Catherine cheated? Why don’t you tell us how she cheated? The voting for this competition was done by all the students here. I don’t think cheating in front of so many people is easy!”
The difference in votes between the first and second place was significant, with the first place winning by an overwhelming majority. In fact, if only a few students had voted for Catherine, there would have been a commotion among them.
The principal followed the old man’s words and asked the crowd, “Raise your hand if you voted for Catherine’s team!”
A sea of hands went up, and there was no need to count. It was clear at a glance that more than half of the students had raised their hands.
The young man, however, remained resolute. “I’m not talking about the voting being rigged. I’m saying Catherine cheated.”
After saying that, he fixed his gaze on Catherine, his tone filled with accusation. “Catherine, you told everyone that this song is your creation, didn’t you?”
Catherine snorted disdainfully, not even bothering to talk to him. “So what if I did?” Although she hadn’t publicly declared it, she had told Bryan and the others, and everyone in the class knew.
A cold smile appeared on the young man’s face. “You’re lying. This is not your composition. It’s a famous piece by the renowned music producer Sugar. You just plagiarized and adapted her work. You don’t deserve to be the champion!”
After speaking, the young man. declared, “If you don’t believe me, you can go on Twitter. Someone has already posted a comparison, and I believe everyone can easily tell the difference.”
Many fans of the entertainment industry knew Sugar, and they knew she was a legendary musician. Although they hadn’t seen her face, her legend pervaded the entire industry.
Many students took out their phones, and the media invited to the event naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity for breaking news.
Before long, everyone saw the anonymous post and read its contents. The two songs had an 80 percent similarity! How could this be?
Chapter 222 Plagiarism
The scene was in an uproar as the two songs were undeniably similar. After teachers of the music department analyzed them, they confirmed that they were both composed by the same person, or rather, the latter was a slightly modified version of the former.
Many people knew that Catherine claimed to be the creator of this song. Now, it was so similar to the music of a famous musician, which was clearly plagiarism.
The young man who exposed Catherine listened to the surrounding discussions and felt he had received reinforcements. He pointed at Catherine triumphantly, saying, “The reason she dares to plagiarize is because this song was posted by Sugar on a forum a long time ago. She ruined a great musician’s work. Do you think someone like her deserves to be the champion?”
Branden stood in the audience, accompanied by Triston. Seeing Branden’s cold expression, Triston quietly asked him, “Mr. Duncan, should I arrange for a couple of guys to drag this guy away and shut him up?”
“This four-eyed fool is courting death, “Triston cursed inwardly. “How dare he insult Catherine like that? Branden’s going to kick his ass!”
Branden spoke coldly, rejecting Triston’s suggestion. “No need!” From the calmness in Catherine’s eyes, he could tell she had everything under control. “Arrange for someone to investigate!”
Triston instantly realized something and a wicked smile appeared on his raised lips. “Alright!”
It seemed that there was someone behind this young man. It didn’t matter if Branden caught this young man. What was important was exposing the person behind him. Catherine stood on the stage calmly, enduring the disdainful gazes of the crowd.
In their opinion, although Catherine sang well, claiming to have composed a song that wasn’t her own was despicable. Her blatant attempt to elevate herself was truly contemptible!
The media on-site swarmed like they had discovered a treasure trove. After all, all the top figures of Loyalty Academy were present.
Catherine was famous as well. She was currently appearing on a popular variety show, and she had quite a number of fans. Moreover, she was not only the younger sister of the superstar Audrey Swann but also the publicly acknowledged special girl of the celebrity Terry Hanke. Any one of these connections was enough to create a new trending topic.
At the same time, this incident involved the top musician, Sugar. There had been cases of people plagiarizing Sugar’s work in the past, and the result was always the plagiarizer being doxxed by her fans.
Although Sugar didn’t actively promote herself on the Internet, her fans fiercely protected her reputation. Anyone who dared to taint Sugar’s work would meet one fate- destruction. The reporters thrust their microphones in front of Catherine, bombarding her with questions.
“Catherine, what do you have to say about the accusation of plagiarism?”
“Do you have anything to defend yourself?”
“You plagiarized the work of Sugar, but aren’t you worried about her fans finding out? Are you not concerned about your future in the entertainment industry or even your sister’s reputation in the entertainment industry?”
The more they spoke, the more outrageous their comments became. Ronin couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted, “What nonsense are you all spouting? Our boss composed this song. Plagiarism? You’re a bunch of idiots!”
Feeling embarrassed by Ronin’s outburst, the reporters shifted their target to the principal standing nearby.
“Sir, we now have evidence confirming that your student, Catherine Swann, plagiarized the work of Sugar. How do you plan to handle this? Will you still award her the title of the championship?”
Before the principal could respond, the crowd below began to voice their opinions loudly. “No, it’s absolutely unacceptable to let someone like her become the champion!”
“That’s right, absolutely not!”
“She’s not the Champion!”
People’s opposition made the principal extremely awkward. If it were a regular team, he could announce the decision, but this team included Bryan.
Even Karl had come personally, and the principal wouldn’t allow any haphazard handling of the situation. Soon, the principal found himself in a dilemma.
After hearing Ronin’s rebuttal, the young man who exposed Catherine yelled again, “Ronin, I don’t blame you for favoring Catherine since you have a good relationship with her. But you are still trying to defend her even in such an obvious situation? Are you trying to tell us that Catherine is Sugar?”
Ronin was indeed infuriated by this foolish young man. “You goddamn idiot!” he cursed inwardly. Catherine pulled Ronin aside and took a step forward. Standing before the young man, she crossed her arms and maintained a calm expression devoid of anger.
The moment the young man saw Catherine’s eyes, he instinctively stepped back. Those eyes were too sharp, and Catherine’s aura was incredibly strong. She looked so intimidating that even the thought of not taking a step back was impossible. After taking two steps back, the young man looked at Catherine in a panic.
“What do you want? If you dare to lay a finger on me in front of all these people, not only would it show your guilt, but it would also bring you severe consequences! Do you understand?”
“Huh!” Catherine sneered. “Good point, idiot. But what makes you think I don’t know?”
The young man was speechless, unable to respond fluently. “You… You’re…”
Catherine tilted her head, looking down at the insignificant person before her. This man had a pointed nose, hunched back, and rounded shoulders. It was clear he wasn’t a good person.
“So, if I am Sugar, what will you do?”
The young man seemed intimidated by Catherine’s powerful aura, unable to speak for a moment.
Liana, who had been watching the scene, furrowed her brows upon seeing this. She didn’t expect the young man to be easily frightened by Catherine’s few words. He couldn’t even say anything!
To destroy Catherine, Liana had to step forward. She approached Catherine, her voice not loud but clear enough for the surrounding reporters to hear.
“Catherine, why don’t you just admit it? If you keep behaving like this, it might get Audrey in trouble. You have such a good relationship with her, don’t you? She’s worked so hard in the entertainment industry. You can’t ruin her career.”
Hearing this, Catherine turned her head to look at Liana. Not daring to meet Catherine’s gaze, Liana lowered her head.
The reporters around them had heard what Liana said. They now knew that she was indeed Catherine’s younger sister.
They quickly handed the microphone to Liana. “You’re Catherine’s sister, right? Catherine plagiarized Sugar’s work and passed it off as her own. Now that you know about this, what are you going to do? Can you provide evidence of Catherine’s plagiarism?”
Chapter 223 A Stupid Fraud
Facing the reporters’ questions, Liana looked troubled. She had been speaking on behalf of Catherine, but her demeanor revealed some new information.
“Don’t blame my sister. It’s probably just a misunderstanding. She just came back from the countryside. She may not know the rules. She thought that by adapting it, it would be her work. But her singing voice is good, isn’t it? She has never learned music before, so being able to sing so well is already very impressive. The celebration gala is just an artistic competition, not a creative one, right?”
While insisting on preserving Catherine’s champion title, she inadvertently confirmed the accusation that Catherine plagiarized Sugar’s work. The young man who exposed Catherine earlier suddenly became arrogant again.
“Hmph, so she hasn’t even learned music before, huh? Then how dare she say she is Sugar? Can’t believe she’s such a shameless person!”
Catherine leaned to the side as if watching a show. She felt that if this performance were brought on stage as a group act, this young man and Liana would become the champions today. They indeed had exquisite acting skills!
When Catherine stood to the side, Branden approached her. Catherine naturally leaned against him, treating Branden as a pillar.
The people present couldn’t believe their eyes! They all knew Branden’s supreme identity, yet Catherine treated him so casually.
Liana also noticed, her eyes glaring blood red. She couldn’t understand why Catherine had won the favor of Branden. Her jealousy was driving her mad.
These reporters were all astute individuals. Seeing the connection between Catherine and Branden, they dared not ask any more questions.
“Catherine, I suggest you explain whether or not you plagiarized Sugar!”
“That’s right. If you didn’t do it, show us the evidence!”
Some people didn’t dare to speak loudly, only whispering, “What evidence do we need? Isn’t it obvious? She copied someone else’s work. She can’t be Sugar, can she?”
Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from behind, diverting everyone’s attention.
“Why can’t she be Sugar?”
Everyone turned around, and someone exclaimed in surprise.
“It’s Peerless Grayson! It’s Peerless Grayson!”
“Oh my god, Grayson…”
Nobody expected Grayson to show up in person, especially at this time. The crowd on both sides voluntarily parted, creating a path for Grayson to approach Catherine effortlessly.
Grayson flashed his signature charming smile, his eyes filled with gentleness as he gazed deeply at Catherine.
“Sorry, Boss, filming delayed me, so I couldn’t see your brilliant performance. Congratulations on winning the championship.”
Catherine nodded lightly. On the other hand, Branden paid even more attention to Grayson than Catherine did. His icy gaze carefully assessed Grayson, his expression unpleasant.
That look startled Grayson. He originally wanted to see which audacious man dared to stand beside Catherine. But when he looked up, he was immediately intimidated by Branden’s gaze.
It was such an intimidating gaze. No wonder he was qualified to stand beside Catherine. He looked truly extraordinary.
Grayson’s appearance changed the atmosphere of the scene. The reporters thrusted their microphones in front of Grayson. ” Peerless Grayson, is it true that Catherine is Sugar?”
“Do I have any reason to lie?” Grayson replied calmly, his face full of confidence. “I’m the only one in the entire entertainment industry who has seen Sugar in person.”
The scene erupted in uproar. No one had expected such a plot twist. Catherine turned out to be the musical genius Sugar. It was truly astonishing.
Liana couldn’t believe her ears as she looked at Catherine. “This country bumpkin…” she thought in disbelief.” How could she possibly be Sugar? It’s absolutely impossible!”
She immediately approached the young man, ignoring the surrounding gazes, and muttered something. Instantly, the young man’s expression changed. He glared at Grayson, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
“Peerless Grayson, I am so disappointed in you. I always thought you were Sugar’s good friend, someone she trusted deeply. But I never expected vou to help a plagiarist iust to clear her name. Do you think no one has ever seen Sugar before? Do you think no one can expose your lies? You’re wrong! I have evidence that she is not Sugar!”
The young man’s words plunged the situation into further confusion. Everyone’s attention shifted back to him, demanding to know what evidence he had.
Grayson glanced at Catherine, silently asking her what was going on. Catherine raised an eyebrow, signaling him not to act impulsively.
Seeing her calm and composed, Grayson relaxed. After all, she would never be defeated by such a trivial matter. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, the young man took out his phone and displayed it for everyone to see.
“Look, here’s an email sent to Sugar by a fan detailing Catherine’s plagiarism. And there’s a reply from Sugar, stating that she will defend her rights with the law. Does Sugar not recognize herself?”
His statement was true. The email even had pictures of Catherine’s team, presumably taken during the preliminary rounds. If Catherine was Sugar, she couldn’t possibly not recognize herself.
Now, all eyes were once again on Catherine. People wanted to see if she had any defense now that the evidence seemed irrefutable.
Faced with the multiple pieces of evidence presented, Catherine realized one thing-the other party had come prepared. His evidence was well-prepared, and if it were someone else, they would have been caught off guard.
Unfortunately, she was Catherine Swann!
These cunning people were destined to lose! Ronin, who had been silent for a while, suddenly burst out and shouted at the young man, “You four-eyed loser! Not only are you stupid, but you’re also a fraud. You’re truly shameless.”
The young man, being scolded, became very angry. If it weren’t for Ronin’s strong presence, he would have rushed over and started a fight. But now he had the upper hand and could sarcastically taunt Ronin.
“What’s wrong? Can’t believe it when you know your boss has done something disgusting? Even if you scold me, she must admit she is a plagiarist!”
“Bullshit!” After cursing, Ronin turned to Catherine. “Boss, I can’t stand it anymore!”
Catherine glanced at him, bored. “Then go ahead!” Given permission, Ronin was like a person who had taken an adrenaline shot, instantly becoming excited.
“Nice!”
Ronin waved the tablet he had just retrieved backstage before the young man.
“Use your four eyes to take a good look at what this is, you little punk!”
Chapter 224 The Truth
Ronin held up Sugar’s email, which displayed the report sent by the so- called “fan.” The young man’s eyes widened, almost popping out of his head. His stuttered, lips trembling, “How… How is this possible?”
Ronin sneered. “I was wondering which idiot sent my boss such a stupid message. So it was you who did it, you four-eyed loser! Are you saying that we’re pulling a plagiarism stunt on ourselves? How ridiculous!”
With Grayson as a witness and the email as physical evidence, there was no doubt that Catherine was the legendary music composer, Sugar.
As people marveled at Catherine’s identity, they were even more astonished by her talent and youth. They couldn’t believe someone so young could create such exceptional music.
A curious journalist stepped forward and asked, “Catherine, why didn’t you admit it when everyone was questioning you earlier?”
Catherine looked disdainfully at the journalist, exuding an air of dominance. “Who are you? Why should I answer your questions?”
Her response left the journalist dumbfounded, and the surrounding crowd fell silent. Now that Catherine’s identity was confirmed, no one dared to question her abilities anymore. Her arrogance seemed justified.
The young man who had exposed Catherine earlier planned to slip unnoticed while everyone was distracted. But as he turned around, he found himself flanked by two imposing men. The two men glared at the young man with sinister smiles, causing his legs to go weak.
“What… What do you want?” he stammered. Triston abruptly reached out and pushed him in front of the crowd.
The young man stumbled, fell to the ground, and then struggled to get back up in a disheveled state. However, it was too late. The media had captured the entire scene, and he could not escape.
Triston surveyed the young man on the ground and, under Branden’s guidance, revealed the information they had just uncovered.
“Look, I have a record of a bank transfer in my hands. This young man suddenly received a large sum of money and an email. The email happens to be a clip of the viral video from Twitter earlier. I know coincidences happen daily, but when there are too many of them, it becomes suspicious.”
Triston provided the background, while Aidan tried to pique everybody’s curiosity, their teamwork seamless.
“Don’t you think this is too much of a coincidence, guys?”
Everyone nodded in agreement. There were no fools present, and with that statement, they understood what was going on.
Realizing that he had been exposed, the young man panicked. Triston, Aidan, Ronin, and Bryan, four tall and imposing men, surrounded him, their eyes filled with menace.
The young man in the middle was so terrified that he nearly wet himself. Any one of these four could easily crush him. In this situation, he was indeed doomed. The young man held his head in agony.
“Please, stop treating me like this. I confess!” Just as it seemed that everything was about to be revealed, suddenly…
“Hold on!”
Another unexpected figure appeared. Could there be another plot twist? Excitement filled the air as everyone turned to see Nash walking calmly toward them, his face serious.
“You don’t need to pressure him anymore. I was the one who instructed him to do this!”
He admitted it so suddenly, leaving everyone in astonishment. The principal looked at Nash in disbelief. “Why? Nash, you have always been well-behaved and academically excellent. Why would you do something so foolish today?”
Nash came from a privileged background, and he had the capability to carry out such an act. However, no one knew the reasons. Facing the principal’s questioning, Nash remained calm..
“Sir, as you said, I strive for excellence and serve as an example to many in the school. But because of Catherine, I am now being labeled a corrupt person. Even my position as the president of the Student Union has been revoked. Can you blame me for hating Catherine? I accidentally discovered that Catherine’s compositions were similar to Sugar’s. I thought she was plagiarizing. In my opinion, a despicable person like her doesn’t have the right to accuse me! I couldn’t accept it, so I devised this plan.”
However, no one expected that Catherine was Sugar, so Nash’s scheme fell apart. There were consequences for his actions. The principal could only look at Nash regretfully and inform him to await the school’s punishment.
Catherine glanced at Branden, and they shared an unspoken understanding. They knew the real culprit, but there was no need to expose her.
Nash had taken the blame for everything, destroying all the evidence. It wouldn’t be easy to uncover the mastermind behind it all.
Catherine was tired and didn’t feel like arguing anymore. At the same time, she felt some sympathy for Nash. She didn’t expect him to have the guts to take all the blame in front of so many people.
As long as the previous incident with the Student Union was kept under wraps, the Wales had the power to avoid any harm. But this time was different. It was a public confrontation in front of everyone. After Nash admitted his actions, his future was ruined.
Catherine looked toward Liana, who was crouched in a corner, completely focused on Nash. Perhaps sensing Catherine’s gaze, Liana turned her head, and their eyes met.
Liana’s gaze was intense, as if she wanted to devour Catherine. There was no expected remorse or fear in it. Catherine thought Nash was a fool, completely manipulated by Liana.
If it weren’t for her grandfather’s dying request, Catherine might have taught Liana a lesson, completely getting rid of her trouble-making sister and bringing some peace to her life.
Catherine found the constant disturbances annoying. Because of the revelation of Sugar’s identity, Catherine became the center of attention for everyone. The media never expected to get such an amazing scoop at a school celebration gala.
Each of them wanted to interview Catherine, hoping to dig up the latest gossip from her. The tall man standing beside Catherine turned around and draped his suit jacket over her shoulders, firmly holding her hand.
He pulled Catherine forward, and the media, who were initially swarming around her, spontaneously split into two groups, creating a clear path. No one dared to stop them. After all, this man was known as the Grim Reaper.
Nobody dared to step forward because offending Branden would result in very severe consequences.
After Branden led Catherine away, Paxton stepped forward and faced the reporters, saying only one sentence. Mr. Duncan doesn’t want to see her name on social media. Please stop interviewing!”
This would be a great news story, but they couldn’t report it! The reporters who were cheering just a moment ago now felt like crying.
However, no one dared to argue with Paxton, the current spokesperson for the Duncans. He had made it clear that it was Branden’s decision. Who would dare to stir up trouble?
Chapter 225 The Celebration Banquet
The celebration gala had ended, and Catherine was ready to go back and rest. However, her arm was tightly grabbed by Branden. Catherine turned to look at him, her eyes filled with confusion. “What’s wrong?”
Branden smiled at Catherine, his eyes filled with gentleness. His deep voice sounded incredibly charming as he said, “You won the competition. Shouldn’t we celebrate?”
Before Catherine could respond, Branden led her into the car, holding her hand. Paxton, who arrived late, sat in the driver’s seat and briefed them on the basic situation.
“Sir, I’ve made contact with the Wales. Nash will no longer appear in Casier starting tonight!”
Branden’s eyes grew cold. He remained silent in response to Paxton. Sitting beside them, Catherine clearly heard what Paxton had said. She was not surprised and had no intention of speaking up for Nash.
They were all adults and should be brave enough to face the consequences. If Nash was willing to take the blame for the person he loved, then he had to accept the punishment. Even if the punishment was severe, it was his own choice!.
As for whether he would regret it, that was none of Catherine’s business. The so-called celebration banquet turned out to be a barbecue, which was not surprising. Catherine loved it!
The waiter handed her the menu for her to choose from. She didn’t hesitate and selected her favorite dishes before giving the menu to Branden.
After taking the menu, Branden didn’t order anything. He took a pen and changed the flavor option from “extra spicy” to “mild.”
Catherine glanced at it and instantly furrowed her eyebrows. “Mild?” she asked inwardly. “Is he a baby or something?
At that moment, Branden looked up and coincidentally saw Catherine’s perplexed expression. His cold eyes instantly brightened upon seeing this.
In an instant, Branden knew what was bothering Catherine. His voice was gentle and calm, yet still carried a hint of warmth. “Too much spice can hurt your stomach!”
Catherine loved spicy food and couldn’t resist it. Branden didn’t want to stop her from enjoying herself, but he had to pay attention to her health.
Health was a matter of principle, and he had always been assertive about it. Catherine was also aware of his character. Mild spice was better than no spice at all.
The dishes had just arrived when they looked up and saw a group of people swaggering in, led by Triston. Behind him were Aidan, Ronin, and Bryan, four men with distinct styles. Without exception, they were all handsome and tall and exuded an extraordinary aura.
As soon as the four of them entered the barbecue restaurant, they attracted the attention of the entire place. It was not easy to see a handsome guy on a regular day, and suddenly, there were four. How could one not be excited?
These handsome guys looked more attractive than the other, each with a unique temperament. They were indeed a sight for sore eyes.
The four of them walked straight to Catherine’s table. Triston was the first to speak. “You guys are not considerate enough. You didn’t even call us for a celebration banquet? After all, we also put in effort and tried our best to help, right?”
When he turned around, seeking agreement, he found that the three behind him had all taken a step back, distancing themselves. Triston became angry. “Hey, give me a hand, will you?”
Bryan and Ronin simultaneously rolled their eyes at Triston and then turned around and left.
As for Aidan, he was most delighted to have this opportunity to tease Triston. It seemed that the crowd’s wisdom was infinite, effortlessly trapping Triston in a pit. Aidan reached out and patted Triston’s shoulder. “Hey bro, easy, easy!”
Ronin quickly walked to Catherine’s side, pulled out a chair, and sat down, looking smugly at Bryan. Bryan could only grit his teeth and curse Ronin countless times in his heart, “Damn despicable bastard! How dare you step on my toes? Damn it!”
After Ronin sat down, he glanced at the barbecue and noticed that there was only half as much chili as usual. Without hesitation, he exclaimed, ” Why is it mild spice? How can we eat this? Who ordered it?”
The disdain in his tone of voice was obvious. Catherine turned her head to look at Ronin, her gaze indifferent.
Ronin suddenly felt like he was being hit head-on by a cold wind, leaving him shivering in the cold. He looked up silently at Catherine, not realizing what mistake he had just made. Catherine casually said, “Mild spice is good!”
Ronin suddenly understood that it was his boss who ordered mild spice today. He had unintentionally offended his boss. No wonder she glanced at him like that. Luckily, he hadn’t said any insulting words, or else it would be too late to dial 911 now.
Ronin smiled and nodded, acting like a sycophant. “You’re right, Boss. Mild spice is good.”
Although he agreed on the surface, he couldn’t help but feel strange in his heart. Catherine always loved spicy food and couldn’t live without it. Why did she suddenly stop eating spicy food today?
Perhaps knowing Ronin’s thoughts, Catherine emphasized, “You should eat less spicy food in the future.” She then added, “It’s good for your health!”
Ronin had been wondering why Catherine was giving up spicy food. Hearing what Catherine said, he instantly understood. It turned out that his boss was worried about his health.
“Wow!” Ronin exclaimed in his heart.” You’re so good to me, Boss!”
Catherine didn’t expect her casual remark to evoke such strong emotions in Ronin. She just didn’t want him to keep guessing. Sometimes, he liked to keep guessing, and it wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
After enjoying the barbecue, Catherine realized that mild spice was acceptable. As they left the restaurant, Paxton was already parked at the entrance, waiting for them.
Aidan greeted Branden with a smile. ”
Mr. Duncan, I’m going back to the Lanes’ tonight. It happens to be on your way, so could you give me a ride?”
He had arrived in Triston’s car, but now he didn’t feel like riding back in it. Since Branden was going the same way, he thought he could catch a ride.
To Aidan’s surprise, Branden replied without even turning his head. “It’s not on the way!” Then, he got into the car.
The Lanes’ was next to Branden’s mansion, so how could it not be on the way? Aidan couldn’t understand and decided to ask Paxton.
“Where does your boss live now? Why is it not on the way?” Paxton glanced at him and mentioned the name of a residential area.
“The Earl’s Mansion!”
Aidan found the name familiar and thought about it for a moment before it hit him. “Oh, Catherine lives there as well, right? It’s Audrey’s house!”
It was indeed that house. After a moment’s pause, Aidan seemed to have realized something and exclaimed in disbelief, “Are you two living together?”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Chapter 226 You Two Sly Dogs
Instantly, everyone’s attention was focused on Catherine and Branden, as the news shouted out by Aidan was genuinely astonishing. Especially Ronin, his eyes were almost popping out of their sockets. His voice trembled as he said, “B-Boss…”
The moment Aidan spoke up, Catherine sightly furrowed her brows, but soon her expression turned calm.
“Calm down.”
The two cold words instantly calmed Ronin. He carefully observed Catherine and figured that it probably wasn’t cohabitation.
As for Aidan, he already knew he had caused an enormous mess. He cowered behind Triston, seeking refuge. He was now filled with anxiety, worried that Branden would come storming out of the car in anger to silence him forever.
After all, Branden’s gaze was extremely intimidating just now. Branden rolled up the window, knowing there was no point in arguing with the single guys outside the car.
Paxton understood Branden’s intentions and stepped on the gas pedal, leaving the scene and a cloud of dust behind them. Left behind were the four handsome men still standing in the wind, looking confused.
Triston stared in the direction the black car had departed, a wicked smirk on his face. “Mr. Duncan is truly impressive. His skills in picking up girls are top- notch. He has already progressed to living together with Catherine in such a short time. There’ll be more shocking news coming, I guess.”
No sooner had Triston finished speaking than he let out a cry of pain. from his mouth. In an instant, both Ronin and Bryan struck Triston. Each delivered a punch to Triston’s stomach, one from the front and the other from the back.
These two punches were quite powerful, and Triston bent over in pain, his face contorted. He propped himself up, slowly standing up straight, and muttered under his breath, “You two little brats, how dare you plot against me? I’ll teach you a lesson!”
Triston didn’t immediately retaliate but instead turned to look at Aidan. “Doing nothing, huh? Will you just stand there and watch me get beat up?”
Aidan looked at Triston with a half- smile, a burst of joy in his heart. At the same time, he gestured for Triston to look ahead.
“Coward!” Triston muttered under his breath before confidently standing up. But as he looked up, his once imposing demeanor instantly deflated. The glares from Ronin and Bryan seemed as if they wanted to suck his blood and break his bones.
Triston felt a wave of fear wash over him and quietly asked, “Are you going to keep hitting me? If you’re still not satisfied, how about two more punches? As long as you don’t hit my face!”
“Hmph!” Ronin coldly snorted and gave Triston a final warning glance, thinking, “Keep complaining, and I’ll make sure you regret it!”
Accompanied by Bryan, Ronin walked away while Triston held his stomach, grimacing in pain. He muttered, “You two sly dogs!”
Liana sat anxiously in Korbin’s study, accompanied by Rachael. It was almost half past ten, and she should be getting her sleep by now, but the matter at hand was still unresolved.
Rachael grew impatient. She glared at Liana disapprovingly and said, slightly annoyed, “You’ve always been smart, and we’ve always trusted you. But why have you been making one mistake after another recently? And now you’ve caused such a mess!”
Liana’s face instantly turned pale. She had always been the pride of the Swanns. Rachael strongly preferred boys over girls, and one of the reasons she doted on Liana so much was because Liana was ambitious enough.
Among all the children, Liana had the most similar personality and temperament to Rachael. Her excellence was enough for Rachael to show off in front of those wealthy ladies. Hearing Rachael’s words was undoubtedly the most devastating blow to Liana.
All of this was caused by Catherine, just as the astrologer had predicted. Catherine was a disaster. She brought misfortune to those around her, and anyone who encountered her didn’t have good luck. Liana didn’t want to go back and confess, but she had no choice.
Now that Nash had been punished, this matter had escalated. If the Wales didn’t let it go, and she continued hiding it from Korbin, it would become a major disaster. She would be the first one sacrificed by Korbin.
In contrast to Rachael’s anger, Korbin remained calm. In his opinion, this was just child’s play. What he cared more about was the impact of this matter on the relationship between the Swanns and the Wales.
“Liana, are you sure Nash won’t expose you?” Korbin asked calmly. Liana understood what her father was thinking. In the eyes of the Swanns, only interests mattered. She didn’t think it was a big deal because she was just the same type of person.
“Don’t worry, Dad. Nash said he will take responsibility for this matter!” Liana reassured her father.
As Liana said those words, however, she couldn’t help but think of what Nash had said to her before they parted ways, and it made her inexplicably heartbroken.
The pain only lasted for a moment, and what was left was the worry caused by the current problem.
She didn’t even win first place in the celebration gala. Did she still have a chance at the Ealsmen Conservatory? After all, this school was famous for only accepting the best students. Every student there was at the top of the world.
When he heard Liana’s answer, Korbin wasn’t too worried about this issue. Since Liana said so, it meant that she was very confident in handling this matter, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.
He was more concerned about another matter. “Is Sugar, the legend in the music industry, well-known?”
Although Liana didn’t want to admit it, she had to nod. If one didn’t know about Sugar, the legend in the music industry, then it could be said that one was out of touch with the industry.
People of the traditional singing circle always looked down on the pop music industry. In the eyes of many traditional musicians, pop singers couldn’t be considered musicians.
But Sugar was different. Although she had few compositions, each of her works was widely recognized and even gained the approval of many traditional musicians. It was rare for a pop song to receive such recognition. She was truly a top figure in the industry!
However, what Liana didn’t expect was that this mysterious giant turned out to be Catherine, a country bumpkin.
How was that possible?
Liana couldn’t believe all this. She looked at Korbin and said, “Dad, how could Catherine, a country bumpkin who didn’t even finish school, know all these things? Sugar is a legend in the music industry. How could she be this disaster, Catherine?”
Korbin didn’t want to admit it, but the fact was right in front of them, wasn’t it?
He sighed and replied, “Who knows what your grandfather taught Catherine? After all, she is a Swann, and your grandfather is responsible for caring for her.”
Upon hearing this, Liana was about to explode with anger. Rachael, on the other hand, noticed another issue. “Korbin, if news of Catherine being some kind of musical genius spreads, could it affect the Swann Corporation’s stock price?”
Korbin was worried about this. With the deadline approaching, there was no way he would give Catherine a chance to turn things around.
The Swann Corporation could only remain in his hands, and the future heir could only be Johnathan, not Catherine!
“Take care of your affairs, and don’t give me any more trouble!”
Korbin left the study, leaving behind a warning for Liana and Rachael.
Chapter 227 Admire Her Talent
Branden and Catherine returned to the residential area and coincidentally ran into Audrey downstairs. Audrey, with a tired expression, was dragging her suitcase. The dark circles around her eyes were obvious.
Hearing a voice behind her, Audrey instinctively turned around and saw Catherine and Branden standing there.
“Hey, Kathy!” Audrey greeted happily, and Catherine nodded calmly in response. Having grown accustomed to her sister’s temperament, Audrey didn’t think much of it, but she looked at Catherine with a face full of regret.
“Kathy, I heard that you performed on stage at a celebration gala. Why didn’t you invite me? I could have cheered you on, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to see your performance!”
Audrey learned about the news from Triston’s social media, where he had explicitly posted a photo of himself with Aidan, saying they were there to support Catherine. Audrey was indignant. Why was Triston notified and able to support Catherine but not her, Catherine’s own sister?
Catherine glanced at Audrey’s face, which seemed to have aged a few years in an instant. Her voice turned cold as she asked, “Do you have time?”
The confidence that had just surged within Audrey was instantly extinguished. Audrey now wished she could collapse on the ground. She wouldn’t mind sleeping on the bare ground either. As the variety show she participated in became increasingly popular, she received more and more endorsement deals and appearance requests.
In the drama Audrey had previously participated in, she was just a supporting character with limited screen time. But now, the director had the screenwriter change her role into the lead, instantly tripling her screen time. She was so tired that she could just close her eyes and fall asleep.
The original female lead of that drama was the new girlfriend being promoted by Aaron, an actress who had just risen to fame not long ago. She lacked acting skills but had often abused her power on set, relying on Aaron’s influence.
Now that Aaron had gotten into trouble and was completely kicked out by the Blatons, the director couldn’t tolerate her and demoted her to a supporting role.
Audrey’s popularity was rising, and her fame was even higher than when she signed on to this drama. The director chose to promote her to the female lead, reducing costs.
Audrey was helpless. Knowing that Catherine didn’t purposely not invite her, Audrey felt much more relieved. With no more grievances, Audrey became more tired. “Let’s go upstairs and rest, Kathy.”
When Paxton offered to carry her luggage, Audrey politely declined, “It’s fine. I don’t have much stuff. We’ll go up ourselves. You can go back with Mr. Duncan.”
There was no need to prolong this any further. However, Paxton looked at Audrey seriously and said, “It’s alright, Miss Swann. Mr. Duncan also lives here.”
Branden lived here? The news shocked Audrey. “When did Branden move in here?” she wondered. “Why did I not know?”
The shock continued until Catherine and Audrey returned to their apartment. Hearing a sound from outside the door, Audrey snapped back to reality. She turned her head silently, her eyes widening as she looked at Catherine. When did Branden move in?”
Catherine didn’t know the exact details, but seeing Audrey’s serious expression, she casually replied, “Just a few days ago, I guess.”
Audrey instantly sat on the floor, and Catherine frowned at her dejected appearance. “What’s the matter?”
Audrey lifted her head and looked at Catherine with a pained expression. ” Kathy, can you imagine how difficult our lives will be with such a big shot living next door? It’s unbearable just thinking about it.’
“Does it directly affect our future with Branden living next door?” Catherine asked inwardly. She didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Audrey’s words.
Seeing Catherine looking confused, Audrey helplessly exclaimed, “Never mind. You wouldn’t understand. I’m going to rest!”
For Audrey, having such a big shot living next door meant that every move she made would be under his watchful eyes. If, one day, she accidentally offended him, it could be a huge problem. She knew that Branden was not like any other man. His heart was difficult to fathom. It would be challenging to have such a big shot as a neighbor.
All she hoped for now was that in the future, Branden would forgive her for the sake of Catherine and not hold grudges against her. Catherine didn’t understand Audrey’s train of thought and didn’t need to understand it.
Returning to the room, Catherine felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She took it out and saw that it was a call from Grayson.
Catherine suddenly thought of what had happened that day. She tapped the answer button, tossed the phone aside, and then comfortably lay on the bed, stretching out in a star shape. Grayson’s deep and pleasant voice came through the earpiece. “Boss, are you there?”
“Mhm!” Catherine hummed in response. In an instant, his composed voice became somewhat excited. “Boss, I listened to your performance, and it was amazing. Can you give me that song? I love it, and it happens that the next album I’m working on doesn’t have a lead single yet!”
“No!”
Despite her excellent relationship with Grayson, Catherine responded firmly without hesitation or explanation.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone before Grayson’s voice, now tinged with sadness, sounded again. “Alright, but that won’t stop me from liking that song. Boss, your voice is truly incredible. If you were to enter the music industry, the level of the entire industry would be elevated because of you! I’m one hundred percent sure!”
Grayson wasn’t just flattering Catherine. He genuinely believed she was a rare musical genius and admired her talent.
Unfortunately, Catherine had no interest in entering the industry. She saw music as nothing more than a hobby. Ironically, her casual hobby reached heights many could never achieve, no matter how hard they worked.
Sometimes, Grayson felt envious of Catherine because he knew that even if he worked his whole life, he would never come close to Catherine’s level of talent, not even a fraction of it.
Just as Grayson was disappointed that he wouldn’t have the chance to sing Catherine’s new song, she spoke up again. Her voice sounded lazy, with a hint of weariness. “That song isn’t suitable for you. If you insist on making it the lead single, I’ll make another one for you!”
She had adjusted many of the melodies to complement Bryan and Ronin, and it didn’t suit Grayson’s style as a performing artist. Grayson exclaimed in surprise,” Really? Boss, are you serious?”
“Yes, I’ll give it to you in a few days!” For Catherine, writing songs was as easy as picking up a pen, especially when writing for Grayson. She knew his style too well.
She had always controlled Grayson’s musical style and could effortlessly write the most suitable songs for him.
“Thank you, Boss! You’re amazing!” Grayson couldn’t contain his excitement and kept expressing his gratitude.
“I have two things for you to do!” Catherine said. Grayson immediately straightened up, even though they were communicating through the phone. He listened attentively, waiting for Catherine’s orders.
“Boss, just tell me what you need, and I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”
Chapter 228 The Resort
The thing Catherine asked Grayson to do wasn’t difficult. She asked if Grayson knew anyone suitable to be a celebrity assistant.
“Is it for Audrey?” Grayson asked. Catherine made a disgruntled sound in response to Grayson. Grayson knew Catherine always protected her loved ones. She would protect them in every way.
Audrey was lucky. She wasn’t a bad person. The fact that Catherine was willing to live with her meant that Audrey had been accepted as Catherine’s sister. Naturally, Catherine was willing to protect her, and it was normal for Catherine to arrange a job for her.
“Boss, I used to have a good and hardworking assistant. She got fired by the company because she was a girl. How about I introduce her to Audrey?” Grayson suggested.
“Sure!” Catherine responded to Grayson. She knew Grayson well. Compared to Ronin, Grayson was more mature. He knew exactly what he wanted and had clear goals for the future.
The reason Audrey was so exhausted was because she didn’t have an assistant. She had to handle many things herself, and her company exploited its artists severely. But in the entertainment industry, artists without backgrounds were always treated like this.
Audrey was relatively better off because she had Kim, a considerate manager. And Audrey didn’t complain much. She was currently satisfied, so Catherine didn’t interfere in her affairs unless it involved safety issues.
However, seeing Audrey come back every day exhausted and carrying her own luggage, Catherine decided to arrange for an assistant for her.
“Boss, is there anything else you want me to do?” Grayson asked as Catherine had mentioned more than one thing earlier.
“Not really, just bring me two autographed photos when you have time!” Catherine said. Grayson’s call reminded her of the promise she made to her classmate. Since she had agreed, she had to follow through. It was just a simple task, nothing complicated.
Upon hearing Catherine’s request, Grayson was momentarily stunned. He didn’t expect Catherine to ask him for autographed photos. Even if Catherine wanted him, it wouldn’t be a problem. Perhaps sensing Grayson’s surprise, Catherine added, “It’s for a classmate!”
Grayson was surprised when he learned that Catherine had returned to school. With her level of expertise, she could easily become a university professor. So, it was pretty amusing to him that she decided to return to high school.
He initially thought it was some mission where she had to disguise herself as a high school student for a few days.
But as time went on, Catherine became more and more serious about her studies, to the point where even Ronin joined her school and became her classmate.
Grayson had no choice but to believe that Catherine was genuinely studying as a high school student. It seemed like she was doing quite well in her studies.
“Boss, I can take care of this small issue for you,” Grayson assured her. ” Oh, by the way, are you free tomorrow?
“Yeah, why?” Catherine responded absentmindedly.
“Well, a friend of mine is opening a resort for trial operations tomorrow. I’ve invested a portion of the funds. It has hot springs and golf courses. I think it’s a nice place. How about you bring Ronin and the others to join us?”
Catherine hesitated for a second, thinking that the next day was the weekend. They had won the competition, and she hadn’t rewarded Ronin and Bryan yet. Hanging out with them on the weekend would be a good idea.
She casually agreed. “Sure.”
After saying that, without waiting for Grayson’s response, Catherine hung up the phone. After all, it wasn’t the first day they had known each other, so hanging up without any further conversation wasn’t a problem.
Little did she know how much of a reward her simple response was for Grayson. He was so excited that he couldn’t sleep that night. He immediately informed his partners and raised the standards of the trial operations to ensure that there would be no problems when Catherine went on her vacation.
The next morning, when Catherine was about to leave, she coincidentally ran into Audrey, who had just awakened from a dream and needed to use the bathroom.
“Kathy, isn’t today the weekend? Why are you up so early?”
Catherine looked at Audrey’s ruffled hair and puffy eyes, feeling a bit helpless. “I’m going to a friend’s resort for a vacation. Do you want to come?”
Shaking her head wearily, Audrey said, “No, I have a performance in the afternoon. I wanted to sleep in a bit longer in the morning! Kathy, have a great time! If you need money, I can give you some later!”
Catherine chuckled silently. Did Audrey think she was a child, going out to play and expecting pocket money?
“No need. Have a good rest!”
With that, Catherine turned and opened the door, leaving the house. As she reached the downstairs area, she saw Bryan and Ronin standing in front of a blue Ferrari. This car was clearly Bryan’s style, and what was even more surprising was that there was only one car. Ronin was the first to notice Catherine. He happily waved his hand. “Boss, over here!”
Catherine silently furrowed her brow.” Am I blind or something?” she asked inwardly. She walked straight up to them, scanning left and right, and whispered, “Did you agree to come together?”
Ronin nodded. He had received a message from Catherine yesterday, informing him that they would be going on a trip. He had been excited all night. He immediately contacted Bryan, and after discussing it, they decided to try their best to avoid giving those “bad guys” an opportunity.
They decided to drive one car so that, no matter what, they and Catherine would be in the same vehicle. Seeing the expression on Catherine’s face today, Ronin felt that their decision was excellent.
Ronin approached Catherine with a sycophantic smile and asked, “Boss, how is my arrangement today?”
“Not bad!” Catherine praised him, glancing at him. After being praised, Ronin became more attentive and invited Catherine into the car.
Bryan was driving while Ronin played the role of a helpful servant, serving Catherine attentively throughout the journey. Grayson’s resort was on the outskirts, and driving there would take at least an hour.
“Boss, take a rest. I’ll wake you up when we arrive!”
Ronin’s reminder was unnecessary. Catherine knew that she should go to sleep. Adjusting the seat back and finding the most comfortable position, Catherine slowly closed her eyes.
The entire car became incredibly quiet because of Catherine’s deep sleep. It wasn’t until the car slowly arrived at the location provided by Grayson that Bryan saw Grayson standing there, eagerly awaiting their arrival.
He couldn’t believe it. Who exactly was Catherine? How did she know such top- tier celebrities like Grayson? Why was Grayson so respectful toward her?
Chapter 229 Kept by a Wealthy Woman
Bryan stopped the car, and Ronin made. a gesture, signaling him not to speak. Bryan’s hand froze in an instant. He slowly turned back and sat quietly in his seat, not even daring to open the door for fear of disturbing Catherine’s rest.
Grayson saw that they hadn’t gotten out of the car and looked through the window to see Catherine leaning against the seat. His view was obstructed, preventing him from seeing inside the car clearly. Despite this, he could still guess what was happening. He stopped in his tracks, standing in place, not approaching.
Bryan squinted at Grayson standing in front, a top-tier celebrity who was usually surrounded by countless fans waiting for him day and night. Now, he willingly stood there, waiting for Catherine to wake up. It was evident how powerful Catherine’s charm was,. as it unconsciously evoked a sense of awe and respect for her in people’s hearts.
Catherine hadn’t been asleep for long. After the sound of the car engine completely ceased, she slowly opened her eyes.
Ronin had been attending to Catherine. As soon as she woke up, he lowered his voice, saying softly, “Boss, would you like to sleep a little longer?”
Recently, he had noticed that Catherine had been sleeping less during class. Although he didn’t know the reason, he believed that she had her own purpose for doing so.
Ronin was more concerned about Catherine’s health because, as a genius, her brain consumed energy quickly. She would easily become fatigued. She often needed more rest. He was worried that lack of sleep for long periods would have an impact on her health.
Catherine simply found the journey boring, so she closed her eyes and rested for a while. It was not because she was tired. Now that they had arrived, it was time for her to wake up. Otherwise, it would be a waste to come all the way here for nothing.
“No need, let’s go!” Catherine ordered, pushing open the car door and getting out. Grayson stood in front of her, wearing a smile on his face.
“Boss, was the journey tiring?”
Catherine slowly raised her head, a hint of a sneer in her eyes and a slight hint of mockery on her lips.
“I’m not that old. It’s just a short journey. How could it be tiring?”
Grayson awkwardly scratched his head. Seeing Catherine sleeping in the car and Ronin not allowing anyone to disturb her, he thought she must have been exhausted from the recent development of the base project.
Catherine was a once-in-a-century genius. She guided and participated in many research projects. Research projects that contributed to the future development of humanity required a great deal of effort, and even someone like Catherine often found herself physically exhausted.
In addition, Catherine was stubborn and would not give up until she conquered a difficult problem. Over the years, this led to health issues, such as chronic low blood sugar. However, despite her lazy posture, her eyes were full of vitality and fierceness. She didn’t seem tired at all. After observing her for a while, Grayson felt relieved.
“Boss, let me show you around!”
Catherine nodded slightly, and Grayson excitedly walked ahead, followed by Ronin. Bryan received a sudden phone call and didn’t catch up with them, saying he would join them later.
This resort was located in a scenic area near Casier, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with high oxygen levels in the air, making it perfect for a vacation. Moreover, it had abundant hot spring resources, so it was evident that Grayson had truly made a name for himself by securing this project.
The entertainment industry was not like it used to be. In the current capital- dominated entertainment industry, those who had financial backing had the final say. Whoever had capital support could rise to the top.
Since Grayson’s debut, there were always rumors about his background. There were even rumors claiming that a wealthy woman kept him and that this mysterious woman had richly funded his debut.
In the first few years, these rumors spread widely and seemed genuine. Especially when Grayson got out of a luxury car one time, the paparazzi captured a blurry figure that could only be identified as a woman.
This photo was later hailed as solid evidence of Grayson being kept by a wealthy woman.
Fortunately, Grayson overcame this scandal and used his talent to debunk all the rumors. He became the fastest- rising young actor and eventually reached the top.
Grayson was very smart. He understood that as a celebrity, he would always be controlled by capital. So he took the initiative to engage with capital, integrate himself into it, and befriend those wealthy young men.
This resort was one of the investment projects he undertook with those wealthy young men. With their endorsement and his fame, this resort would undoubtedly become a highly sought-after luxury item, with limited availability for the rich.
Grayson arranged the best treatment for Catherine and acted as her personal tour guide. “Boss, the basement is the leisure room. Behind it is the hot spring pool with public and private areas. I have arranged a private one for you. You can try it later.”
The basement leisure area had everything one could imagine, with various entertainment projects that could fulfill any desire.
Today, the resort had a trial opening, and Grayson invited Catherine and the others here. Grayson’s business partners invited a group of wealthy young men and women to come and have fun, hoping to increase its fame within the industry.
“Wow, isn’t that Grayson?”
A sudden female voice caught the attention of Grayson and the others. They all turned to look and saw a group of girls standing far away, one of whom looked familiar. Jessica was among them, but this time, she wasn’t standing in the center but instead on the side.
In the middle stood a girl wearing a pale yellow chiffon dress. Her appearance was not particularly stunning, but she exuded an air of sophistication and elegance. She was the kind of exquisitely beautiful woman that one would notice at a glance. In her every move, it was evident that she came from a wealthy family. One of the girls in their group called out to Grayson. When she saw Catherine, she frowned.
She scrutinized Catherine, who was dressed casually without any famous logos on her clothes. It seemed like they were not custom-made, which made the girl somewhat disdainful of Catherine.
“Who is she? Why is she standing next to Grayson and even letting him be her tour guide?”
The girl’s voice was loud, and Catherine immediately noticed her. That girl’s beautiful eyes were filled with innocence. She looked younger than others. Having been born into a wealthy family, she carried an air of arrogance and petulance. If there were no intervention, she would truly become insufferable in the future.
Grayson’s expression turned sour. He didn’t expect to encounter this group of wealthy young women. He didn’t want them to ruin Catherine’s mood, so he hesitated to say something. But Catherine spoke up. “Let’s go. I wanna explore over there!”
Grayson respectfully nodded and said, ” Alright, Boss!”
Catherine’s attempt to be polite didn’t bring about peace. Instead, it only made those young ladies angrier.
Chapter 230 Branden’s Girlfriend
Jessica approached Yesenia Duncan and said a few words, causing Yesenia’s face to darken immediately. Yesenia was the girl who had called out to Grayson earlier, and she glared in the direction Catherine had left, displeased.
Yesenia had heard in a fans’ group chat that Grayson was participating in a variety show, so she had done some digging.
So this woman was Catherine, the woman who had unintentionally crushed Yesenia’s image in Grayson’s heart. How could Grayson, whom Yesenia held in such high regard, stoop so low as to accompany an unknown stranger?
Yesenia was furious. She watched as Grayson publicly acknowledged Catherine as his most esteemed person, and it became even harder for her to accept the truth. She couldn’t understand what Catherine had that she didn’t.
Rumors had it that Catherine was nothing more than an abandoned girl from the countryside, brought back by the Swanns. How dare she be so arrogant?
Unable to contain her anger, Yesenia rushed forward and shouted at their retreating figures, “Stop right there!”
Ronin had been irritated by the young girl just now. How dare such a young girl look down on his boss? Was she asking for trouble?
If it weren’t for Catherine’s generosity in not wanting to make a scene, Ronin would have taught this ignorant girl a lesson earlier. And now she dared to chase after them. Did she really think they were pushovers?
Ronin turned around, glaring at Yesenia, and bellowed, “Silly girl, did your parents not teach you manners? When addressing someone older, you should use respectful language. Don’t you even know that? You’re so young, but your manner is so terrible. It seems like you’ve been up to no good. Truly, as the saying goes, ‘ugliness comes from within.’ You should take a good look in the mirror because your face looks hideous right now! With such an ugly appearance, you still want to intimidate us? Do you have any sense of decency?”
Yesenia had initially intended to teach Catherine a lesson, but before she could say anything, Ronin launched a scathing attack, leaving her completely defenseless. Ronin’s sharp tongue was not something an ordinary person could withstand. His harsh words made Yesenia feel like crying.
Loraine, who stood in the middle, couldn’t hold back her anger any longer. Initially, she didn’t think much of Catherine.
Even Grayson, in her opinion, was just a small-time celebrity. Calling him a mere actor wouldn’t be an exaggeration. She held the view that people were divided into different classes, and actors were considered part of the lowest class. How could they compare to nobles like her?
“You ignorant brat!” Loraine cursed inwardly. “How dare you disrespect Yesenia? You’re courting death!”
Loraine stepped forward and grabbed Yesenia, her eyes casting a cold and ominous gaze toward Grayson. Loraine’s voice carried an obvious warning as she spoke.
“Mr. Clifford, these friends of yours have no manners at all. I hope you handle this properly!”
One of the owners of this resort was a loyal pursuer of Loraine. She hadn’t planned on coming here in the first place, but when Yesenia heard that one of the owners was Grayson, Yesenia insisted on coming, and Loraine decided to come with her.
Although Yesenia wasn’t a direct descendant of the Duncans, she was the only girl in her generation and was favored by Karl. Even Branden treated her well. That was why Loraine always had her by her side.
Now that Yesenia had been bullied, Loraine had to stand up for her and let Yesenia feel her charm.
Although Loraine didn’t know how Grayson managed to get acquainted with Yesenia, she was certain that Grayson wouldn’t dare to offend her. After all, he was just a small-time celebrity with some popularity, not comparable to the true aristocratic Sanfords.
Grayson glanced at her, knowing that she was Loraine Sanford, the only daughter of the Sanfords, a true heiress who was pampered and held in high regard. If Loraine had offended someone else, he wouldn’t say much. But now, she was offending Catherine, which was definitely unacceptable! He wouldn’t let anyone insult his boss!
Grayson looked at Loraine with a cold expression and said, “Miss Sanford, I’m sorry, but I cannot fulfill your request.”
When Loraine heard this, her expression became highly unpleasant. She didn’t expect that what Grayson said next would be the source of her anger.
Grayson said coldly, “And Miss Sanford, I ask that you apologize to my most esteemed guest for your improper words and actions.”
Catherine crossed her arms and calmly observed the changing expressions on everyone’s faces. It was truly fascinating. This show was much more entertaining than the resort itself.
Loraine stared at Grayson in disbelief, her eyes wide open, what she was hearing. unable to believe Jessica stepped forward and bellowed, Grayson, have you gone mad? How dare you go against Yesenia for the sake of a disaster?”
After speaking, she turned her attention towards Catherine. “Indeed, you are a disaster. Whoever is with you gets unlucky. Do you even know who Yesenia is? She is Branden’s girlfriend. How dare you offend her? Now both you and Grayson are done, do you understand?”
Loraine glanced at Jessica with displeasure in her eyes. “Jessica!”
Jessica stepped back, not daring to show any annoyance. She looked extremely obedient.
Branden’s girlfriend?
Catherine glanced at Loraine with curiosity. Indeed, Loraine’s appearance fit the type that Branden would be interested in. But why hadn’t she heard of this “girlfriend” before?
Ronin, who was standing nearby, heard the conversation. He was clearly angrier than Catherine.
“Damn!” he cursed inwardly. “I didn’t expect Branden actually to have a girlfriend! This scumbag already has a woman, yet he still dared to get close to Boss!”
He secretly vowed that the next time he saw this scumbag, he would definitely cripple his legs, no matter the cost. How could Yesenia, who had never experienced such an insult in her life, endure it?
She said to Loraine, “Loraine, don’t waste time talking to them. Just teach them a lesson. Only then will they know their place.”
Loraine agreed. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. She was being condemned by an actor. It was truly ridiculous.
Loraine glanced around and saw that her father had arranged a team of bodyguards to protect her safety. These were top-notch professionals in the industry, many of them former special forces with exceptional combat skills.
With a single gesture of hers, four people emerged from the shadows and respectfully awaited Loraine’s orders. Before Loraine could speak, Yesenia said, “Catch those people for me, except for Grayson!”
The four bodyguards glanced at Loraine, waiting for her approval before taking action. Ronin had been itching for a fight, and now four people were available.
Grayson hadn’t had a chance to fight in a while, so he loosened the buttons on his sleeves, preparing to stretch his muscles.
They exchanged a glance, and the assignments were silently made.
They each would deal with two bodyguards!