Ch. 231..240

Chapter 231 Fight

Catherine glanced at the four. In fact, there was no need for Grayson to take action. Ronin alone should be enough. If Ronin couldn’t defeat the four, then Catherine should seriously consider sending him back for further training.

Ronin and Grayson were not actually fighting for their lives but rather competing against each other. Grayson showed no mercy when fighting. Ronin didn’t want to be behind and increased his speed.

They knocked out the four top-tier bodyguards within five minutes. Ronin arrogantly stomped his foot on a bodyguard, looking at Loraine provocatively.

“Are you so looking down on us as to actually send someone like this? Can’t you find someone stronger so that I can move my muscles a bit?”

Yesenia and the others were dumbfounded. They never would have thought that Ronin, who looked like a young boy with delicate features, would be such a good fighter.

What surprised her the most was Grayson. She used to watch his movies and thought his martial arts moves were impressive. However, those were all just movies. She didn’t take it seriously.

Unexpectedly, he was able to fight exactly like in the movies. Yesenia felt that she liked Grayson a little more.

“It’s a pity that Grayson flattered that jinx. How hateful!” thought she. Loraine also didn’t expect the two boys by Catherine’s side to be such skilled fighters. While she didn’t send out her best fighters, it was not a problem for her bodyguards to deal with a dozen or so big men.

It was shameful that two thin young men defeated them within five minutes. Loraine took out her phone and sent out a distress signal. Soon, two men hurriedly rushed over.

The two were arranged by her father to protect her. Unless facing a life-or- death situation, she rarely resorted to their assistance.

Today, she was genuinely infuriated by Catherine. “I must teach her a lesson to regain my dignity,” Loraine said inwardly.

Of the two men brought by Loraine, one was tall, and one was short. The taller one had a towering stature and was a world champion boxer.

The shorter one was the grandmaster of boxing. They were both hired by the Sanfords to protect Loraine, and their combat force was exceptional.

Ronin’s eyes brightened when he saw the two. Finally came two interesting ones. He could have a good time fighting. The two experts recognized that Ronin and Grayson were skilled fighters and also looked forward to having a good fight.

For experts like them, it was quite rare to come across worthy opponents in their daily lives. Unfortunately, before Ronin could approach them, Catherine had already reached out and firmly grabbed onto his shoulder.

Ronin looked back. After figuring out Catherine’s meaning, he obediently retreated, though somewhat unwillingly. It was not that Catherine wanted to fight, but rather that she did not want to waste time.

“The two possess good combat skills. If Ronin and Grayson team up, they can easily handle one opponent each. “However, the opponents are also top- notch experts, and this tug-of-war might not end in a short period of time, ‘thought she.

She seldom went out to have fun and did not want to waste her time here. Seeing Catherine suddenly walk out, the two experts were a bit confused.

They carefully observed Catherine and did not see any significant signs of her having formidable strength. They pointed to Ronin and Grayson behind Catherine and said arrogantly, We don’t fight with a girl. Let the two brats behind come out.”

“Humph!” Catherine sneered coldly, tilting her head and glancing at the two with disdain. Her posture was lazy and domineering. “Stop babbling and just fight if you can!”

The two were provoked by Catherine significantly and intended to teach her a lesson. One excelled in using fists, while the other excelled in using legs.

The coordination between the two was very tacit, with one on the left and one on the right. In the beginning, both looked down on Catherine and only sent one person to fight.

After Catherine performed a sweeping kick and knocked down the short person, they realized she was an unfathomable expert.

Catherine gave the fallen man a chance to get up, hooking her finger at them with a defiant expression. Ronin and Grayson held their chins up in unison, watching Catherine fight with admiration.

It had been a long time since they had seen her fighting. How could they miss such a rare opportunity?

They hoped these two fools would put more effort into their fight and last for a while longer so that they might also learn from it.

The two experts attacked Catherine with full force. This time, they did not dare to underestimate her and fought with utmost determination.

One attacked her upper body, and one struck her lower body. They made every effort to attack but still could not resist Catherine’s moves.

Catherine’s movements were exceptionally nimble, and her punches contained a powerful force that could inflict severe injuries upon her opponents.

Seeing that they couldn’t take advantage of the situation and both of them together were no match for Catherine, the shorter person made the decision to resort to treachery. He quietly reached into his pocket and drew out a specially-made small dagger, preparing to ambush Catherine. Catherine had noticed it, but she didn’t care.

“Playing dirty? Don’t they know that I am their teacher in this field?” she thought. When the tall one lunged with his punch aiming at Catherine, Catherine greeted him head-on.

Her two slender and tender arms were like a huge pair of scissors at this moment, restraining the big man’s arm and bending it sharply.

“Clank!” There was a crisp sound. Then, they heard the big man open his mouth and let out a shocking scream. Ah…”

Under the terrified gaze of everyone, Catherine broke the big man’s arm forcefully without the slightest mercy. The short man saw the opportunity and rushed forward with his small dagger. Catherine was ready to lift her leg, but in the nick of time, suddenly…

“Ah!”

With a scream, the short man rushing toward Catherine abruptly collapsed to the ground in anguish and clutched at his leg. Catherine fixed her gaze and saw a knife was stuck in the man’s leg.

Perhaps due to the excessive speed and force, there was not much blood on his leg, but the scene was truly terrifying.

Everyone looked in the direction where the knife was shot from and saw a group of men with extraordinary temperament.

Branden was taking the lead, followed by Bryan and Triston. Bryan had just finished a phone call and happened to run into Triston. He asked a few questions only to know that his uncle was also coming, so he waited for his uncle to come together. To his surprise, he was greeted by such a stunning scene as soon as he arrived.

Loraine also saw Branden. She slowly stepped forward with a slight smile, ready to make the most beautiful impression on Branden. Seeing Branden walking toward them, she couldn’t suppress the excitement in her heart and shouted in a low voice, “Branden!”

Unexpectedly, when passing by her, Branden did not pause and passed by her as he walked forward. Loraine turned back in anger, only to find that Branden had stopped before Catherine. In front of everyone, he directly took Catherine’s hand.

On Branden’s handsome and stunning face, his two beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed, and his deep and dark ice-cold eyes glanced disapprovingly at Catherine. His tone was also cold. He seemed to be suppressing his anger.

He was really worried that his outburst would scare Catherine. The scene just now was too dangerous. He spoke coldly with a hint of suppressed anger in his tone. “Why did you do it yourself?”

Chapter 232 Exercise

Catherine lowered her head to glance at her hand, which had not a single scratch but was slightly reddened.

Upon gazing at the gloomy yet handsome face before her, she saw the man who seemed capable of destroying the world at any moment and chuckled silently. Feeling her laughing, Branden raised his head and gave her a displeasing stare as a warning.

“What do you mean by laughing when I ask why you are doing it yourself?”

Catherine casually waved her wrist. Her expression seemed lazy and relaxed. “I have nothing else to do, so I’m just stretching my muscles a bit.”

“Stretching muscles?” said Aidan inwardly. Upon hearing these words, Aidan, who stood on one side, was shocked. Although his strength was average, he had received a lot of training since childhood and gained some insights into fighting.

The duel between Catherine and the two experts just now was not just an exercise but a life-and-death fight, where Catherine ruthlessly dominated the two. He had never seen a girl who could fight so well before.

Catherine’s combat skills completely shocked Aidan. He pulled on Triston’s sleeve quietly, suppressing his amazement and saying in a low voice,” Damn, Catherine is such a strong figure. Did she pretend to be weak to make fun of us before?”

Triston glanced sideways, casting a disdainful and cold gaze at Aidan, saying, “You realized it now?”

When they were in Charm Bar, Catherine displayed an impressive performance by single-handedly taking on multiple opponents. The incident today was only a minor event. Aidan was left dumbfounded.

After confirming that Catherine was unharmed, Branden took the initiative to take her hand and turned to look at Paxton beside him.

A glance from Branden was all it took to grasp his intention immediately. After Paxton’s order, two men appeared from either side and took the two experts lying on the ground in pain away.

Paxton glanced coldly at the two, secretly sneering at their lack of self- awareness for daring to challenge Catherine.

“She was the little sweetheart my boss held dear in his heart, and wouldn’t even speak with her in a loud voice. “These idiots were getting bolder and daring to fight with her.

“Weren’t they simply courting death? “Since they refuse to take the path to heaven and barge into hell, don’t blame us for being merciless,” said he inwardly.

From the coldness emanating from his piercing gaze, one could foresee how tragic the fates of the two experts would be.

Loraine felt a sudden shiver in her heart inexplicably. These were the best bodyguards her father had arranged for her. Now, they had been injured by Catherine, and even the Duncans were retaliating against them.

It would be a great loss for her if the two were dismissed. Unwillingly, Loraine looked in Branden’s direction and was about to speak. As if anticipating her to speak, Branden cast a cold glance toward her.

The cold and sinister aura emitted from those deep and profound eyes rendered Loraine unable to express her intended words. It seemed as though her voice had been stifled in her throat. She lowered her head anxiously, not daring to make eye contact with Branden again.

The former Branden might have been cold, but that icy demeanor was a grandeur that kept people at a distance, exuding a mysterious and extraordinary aristocratic aura.

At that moment, the icy and aggressive gaze of Branden instilled fear and panic in the hearts of those who witnessed it.

“All this is brought by that jinx, Catherine. I will not let her go. I swear! ” said Loraine inwardly. Catherine knew that Loraine was staring at her with hatred. She didn’t care if Loraine would retaliate against her. It was okay as long as Loraine had the ability.

“If she had the guts, just come for me.

“I’ll be waiting,” thought she. Yesenia finally snapped out of the incident in front of her. She did not expect that jinx Catherine could fight so well.

“Oh my goodness! Can she even be considered a girl?” wondered she. She looked back and found that Bryan was standing beside her. She was a little surprised. “Bryan, why are you and Uncle Branden here?”

She didn’t have the courage to ask why Branden was holding Catherine’s hand. Her uncle was always a fierce and formidable beast, cold and unrelenting.

Although everyone said Branden was already very friendly to her, she was still afraid of him. After all, Branden’s temper and momentum could scare many without him speaking.

Seeing that Yesenia was also here, Bryan was kind of worried about her. Before he could reply, Ronin shouted from the side. Pointing at Bryan’s nose, he rushed toward Bryan viciously with his gaze fixed on Bryan.

“It turns out that you are a traitor!” said he.

Bryan looked puzzled. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Seeing that her cousin was bullied, Yesenia rushed forward instantly.” What are you doing? Don’t you dare point at my cousin! Be careful, or I’ll have someone beat you up!”

“Humph!” Ronin sneered disdainfully. “Why don’t you send someone over now? I’ve been itching for a good fight.”

He waved his fists and glared threateningly at Yesenia. “Believe it or not, after I finish beating up your men, I’ll give you a good thrashing too.”

Yesenia had seen Ronin’s fierce fight just now, and she knew that Ronin was a good fighter. Now threatened by him, she subconsciously hid behind Bryan. After all, Yesenia was his cousin. Now that Ronin threatened her, Bryan naturally wouldn’t accept it.

“Duncan boy, what’s your problem? If you have grudges, come for me. What’s the point of making things difficult for a young girl?”

“Come for you?” Ronin shook his head and clenched his teeth, his face full of anger. “Alright then, I’m coming for you! I knew you were cut from the same cloth. You’re not a good person, kid. And now I’ve found out that you’re just a rotten apple!”

“Let’s talk this over. What the hell are you talking about?” Bryan felt something was wrong when he saw Ronin so angry.

Grayson also sensed it and stepped forward to hold back the raging Ronin. “Ronin, let’s discuss matters directly. I don’t think Bryan is aware of the situation.”

Observing the state of the two, Bryan was getting increasingly confused. He did not wish to engage in any argument with Ronin. Therefore, he turned his attention toward Grayson.

“What on earth is going on?”

Grayson glared at Yesenia behind Bryan and said, “This girl spoke impolitely to our boss, and she asked her friend Loraine to summon the bodyguards as well.”

Bryan paused for a moment, not expecting it to be like this. No wonder Ronin was so angry. He knew better than anyone about Ronin’s respect and admiration for Catherine. In Ronin’s heart, Catherine was like a divine being and not to be desecrated.

Yesenia felt somewhat dissatisfied. ” How is it that all the blame is solely on me?” said she inwardly. Just as she was about to excuse herself, she raised her head and met Bryan’s angry and sinister gaze.

Although they weren’t particularly close, it was the first time Bryan looked at her with such a gaze. Bryan glared at her with great anger. Ignoring the fact that they were still in a public place, he reprimanded Yesenia loudly.

“Yesenia, you are truly becoming more and more outrageous. Relying on your family’s favor, you become more unruly, aren’t you? Hurry up and apologize to the boss. Your behavior is not at all in line with that of a member of the Duncans. The Duncans are not that stupid!”

Yesenia had always been proud to be part of the Duncans, so Bryan’s words really hit her sore spot.

How could she, who was always arrogant and overbearing, possibly bow her head now?

She totally lost her temper, disregarded everything, and chucked a fit.

Chapter 233 Soland Women’s College

Yesenia was quite spoiled and could be very fierce when she threw a fit. Her anger took over, making her lose all reason as she shouted directly at Bryan.

“What, you got a problem with me not liking her?

“Who does she think she is? Why are so many people flocking around her?” Yesenia vented her frustrations by speaking out all the hatred in her heart. She couldn’t be stopped when she threw a tantrum like a princess.

Relying on the Duncans’ favor toward her, she had gotten used to acting arrogantly and not considering the consequences.

When he looked at Yesenia’s arrogant and domineering behavior, Bryan finally understood why Ronin wanted to slap her.

If Yesenia were not his cousin, he would also want to slap her. He turned apologetically toward Catherine while anxiously worrying for Yesenia.

“Silly girl! She doesn’t even know what’s going on and is just talking nonsense,” said he inwardly. However, Catherine remained calm and showed no signs of anger on her face.

She kept giving Yesenia a cold stare, with a hint of sarcasm in her eyes as if saying, “What a reckless girl.”

She withdrew her gaze and turned to face Branden. However, she noticed that Branden’s gaze was not directed at herself but toward the direction of Yesenia with a furrowed brow.

Noticing the displeasure emanating from his entire body at this moment, Catherine silently sneered with a cold face.

“Seems like I don’t have to make a move myself. It’s fine. I’m happy to sit by.”

Yesenia still hadn’t realized the danger approaching her, arrogantly tilting her head up and looking at Bryan. Bryan ignored her and looked directly behind Yesenia. He respectfully spoke.” Uncle…”

The simple word made Yesenia’s face pale instantly. She turned around instinctively and looked behind her. Upon seeing the gloomy expression on Branden’s face, she was so startled that she almost couldn’t find her words.

This was the first time she had seen such a terrifying Branden. Her heart was pounding wildly, and her gaze panicked as she looked at Branden.

Branden’s eyes flashed with a cold light. He looked at Yesenia’s face gloomily as he spoke in a cold and emotionless voice.

“Seems like I’ve been too lenient on your education lately. So starting next week, you’ll attend classes at Soland Women’s College. Maybe that’ll help you to shape up.”

Upon hearing this news, Yesenia felt it was like a bolt out of the blue. Soland Women’s College was widely known by the nickname “Soland Women’s Prison,” as entering this institution was akin to half dead, even if one managed to survive.

This was a college exclusively for girls. Its management was quite strict, almost like a military discipline. Usually, the students could only come out once a week. “It would be better to kill me than to send me into this college,” thought Yesenia. She opened her mouth to argue but was cut off by Branden’s prompt intervention.

“If you don’t want to stay in the Soland, I can arrange for someone to send you to the Women’s Religious Studies Academy of Theisia.”

It was a place more terrifying than Soland Women’s College. For ordinary students, it was like a purgatory on earth. Yesenia never expected Branden to be so ruthless. She immediately turned red -eyed and felt like the world was falling apart.

Triston and the others had all watched Yesenia grow up since she was little. It was heartbreaking for them to see her cry like this now.

Triston sneaked up and stopped Yesenia. Branden gave a warning glance at Yesenia, then turned around and grabbed Catherine to leave the scene.

“It’s windy here. Your hands are freezing!”

Catherine did a quick self-check and wondered if Branden operated on a different temperature scale than her. “I feel just fine, but why does he always feel cold all the time?” she wondered.

After Branden left, Yesenia finally couldn’t hold it in and yelled at Tristan in confusion, “Uncle Triston, why don’t you let me speak? I don’t want to go to Soland Women’s College! I would rather die!

“Uncle Triston, why didn’t you speak up for me just now?”

Triston looked at her seriously and said, “Yesenia, aren’t you making things difficult for me? I’m sure Branden would’ve sent you to Theisia if I hadn’t pulled you away just now. When has he ever not fulfilled his promises?

“You’ve got guts, daring to go against him like that. Do you even know who Catherine Swann is? Yet here you are, openly insulting her. You really have no fear, like a naive kid who doesn’t know any better.”

Yesenia was not convinced. Although she thought it was rare for her uncle to treat a girl so well, as soon as she thought about the girl being Catherine, she felt annoyed.

“Who else could she be? She’s just the damn jinx from the Swanns.”

Right before Bryan was about to leave, he heard Yesenia say something that instantly got him fired up.

He turned around and glared angrily at Yesenia, scolding in a low voice, “You are hopeless. I should have advised Uncle Branden to send you away.

You’ve been influenced badly by Casier. I will talk to Grandpa and ask him to remind my uncle and aunt to educate you properly when I go back tonight!”

Seeing Bryan storming off, Yesenia stomped her foot in frustration.

“They are both under a spell, aren’t they?

“Why is everyone speaking up for Catherine? It’s really pissing me off!” said she inwardly.

Triston didn’t want Yesenia to go astray. She was young. They had watched her grow up since she was little, so Triston advised her with a few words.

“Yesenia, you gotta remember, Catherine was the treasure for Branden. She’s the one he holds dear, and if Catherine is willing, she might become your aunt-in-law. So, I suggest you don’t mess with her.

“Moreover, you saw for yourself Bryan’s attitude. He touted Catherine as an idol. So, don’t give yourself any unnecessary trouble.”

Upon hearing Triston’s words, Yesenia widened her eyes and looked at him in disbelief.

“What do you mean by ‘if Catherine is willing?’ It is a blessing for her that my uncle is interested in her!” Although Yesenia didn’t quite understand why Branden would be interested in this disaster-causing Catherine.

Based on Branden’s attitude toward Catherine earlier, Yesenia could tell it was indeed very different. It was the first time she saw Branden getting so close to a girl in her lifetime.

She had always idolized Branden despite Branden’s moody temperament and distant attitude toward the family members.

However, there was no doubt about his abilities. He was a legend and a mythical figure in the business world that would endure forever.

In her eyes, the fact that Branden was willing to take a glance at Catherine was considered a blessing. How dare Catherine possibly dare to refuse him?

Triston glanced at the few girls standing on the side, all of them having weird and ironic expressions on their faces. These girls were not easy to deal with. They usually liked to gather together and gossip when they had nothing to do.

Triston’s group of men had no other distinguishing characteristics except their tendency to defend their interests. As long as these girls didn’t mess with them, they wouldn’t care. But if someone messed with them, they wouldn’t show mercy.

“Yesenia, your uncle and cousin are your relatives and will not harm you. You should stay away from outside influences and keep your eyes clear.

“Do you really think your uncle is worse at judging people than you? If that’s really the case, then how did the Duncans reach where it is today?”

It was all thanks to Branden that the Duncans could achieve another triumph. Triston’s insinuation made the several girls standing on the side very embarrassed.

Especially Jessica. She was the most lively and active speaker just now. 11 Isn’t Triston referring to me?” said she inwardly.

Loraine’s face darkened a little more. She didn’t expect that Catherine had such a stronghold in these people. “Damn it!” thought she.

Chapter 234 Realization

Yesenia was not dumb. How could a girl born into the Duncans and raised by Karl be foolish? With Bryan taking care of her and playing with her, how could she be anything but astute?

She was just too young, so there were things she didn’t really understand yet.

When she encountered more shrewd people, it was easy for her to get lost. Moreover, she was born into a wealthy family and had been showered with love and affection. Naturally, she became arrogant and overbearing.

After receiving some advice from Triston, Yesenia began to awaken to realizations.

“Could it be that I have truly misunderstood Catherine?

“Is it possible that Catherine is not as despicable as I imagine?

“Uncle Branden is not an ordinary person. Any evil person would have to reveal their true colors before him and obediently await punishment.

“Since Catherine has gained the recognition of Uncle Branden and is respected by Bryan, she must have some exceptional qualities,” said she inwardly.

Yesenia glanced back at the several women behind her, feeling a hint of suspicion in her heart. Seeing that she had already come to her senses, Triston couldn’t be bothered to deal with this group of girls anymore.

He left the scene with his hands in his pockets. Branden dragged Catherine to the rest area. As soon as she sat down, Paxton brought over the prepared fruits and placed them in front of Catherine.

These were all the tropical fruits that Catherine loved. They were washed, cut neatly, and arranged beautifully on the plate. Branden discovered that although Catherine didn’t like sweets, she did not resist the sugar content of fruits.

However, she didn’t like fruits that needed to be peeled, and the reason was that she was lazy. However, if someone cut the fruit nicely and served it to her like Ronin did, she could still accept it.

Catherine glanced at the brightly colored fruits, which looked particularly tempting. She didn’t delay and picked up the skewer, sitting down and eating it right away.

Aidan and the others were sitting on the side, watching Branden attend to Catherine like caring for a child. Branden occasionally handed her tissues and such, leaving the people present dumbfounded.

On the other hand, Triston covered his eyes, unable to bear the sight. As a single man, he couldn’t bear to witness this scene.

“Don’t just stand here. Since you guys don’t want to soak in the hot springs, why not have some fun in the recreation area? What’s the point of staring at others?” said Triston.

Aidan agreed with Triston for the first time. Watching someone else being lovey-dovey was indeed dull. Before they left, they brought Bryan and Ronin with them.

So many third wheels being present with lovers was not suitable. A short while after they left, Loraine arrived. All her girls were there, but only she dared approach Catherine.

Loraine portrayed herself with grace and elegance. Her face was adorned with a slight smile as if the unpleasant incident that had just occurred had never happened. She first greeted Branden, “Branden, it’s been a while since we last met!”

Branden was wholly focused on Catherine, not even giving an extra glance at her. Loraine’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, with a cold and gloomy shade passing through her eyes. However, she quickly concealed it.

She thought she was hiding it quickly, unaware that everyone around her could see it very clearly. Even Yesenia noticed that. One of the reasons why she got along well with Loraine was Loraine was truly outstanding.

Loraine held the title of the number one socialite lady in Casier, not only due to her honorable family background but also her exceptional talent and knowledge.

Furthermore, she had a strong and confident temperament and was sent to undergo military training for a few years. In times of crisis, she remained calm and collected, making her the ideal marriage partner of many prominent families.

Furthermore, she was Branden’s classmate and one of the few girls who could appear beside him. There had been rumors circulating that she was the girlfriend of Branden. Yesenia had also witnessed several interactions between Loraine and Branden.

It should be known that Branden had a slight case of mysophobia when it came to women. There were hardly any female maids in his house. Even more astonishing was that the entire floor of the president’s office lacked even a single female staff member.

Loraine’s presence by Branden’s side led Yesenia to naturally perceive Loraine as a special presence. Thinking that they would be a family in the future, Yesenia got closer to her to avoid any future estrangement.

In addition to Loraine’s kindness toward her, there was a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze when she was around such a highly thoughtful girl, which was why Yesenia gradually grew closer to Loraine.

However, upon witnessing Branden’s attitude toward Loraine today, Yesenia was fully aware that there was no relationship between her uncle and Loraine.

Noticing that Branden was ignoring her and only had his eyes on Catherine, Loraine shifted her gaze toward Catherine.

“Miss Swann, I am Loraine Sanford!”

Catherine happened to be munching on a slice of cantaloupe. When she heard Loraine calling out to her, she slowly raised her head. With her rosy lips still biting onto the fruit, she gazed at Loraine innocently.

With a questioning look, she seemed to ask, “What’s the matter?” Loraine had a gentle, perfect smile, exuding the elegance of a high society lady.

“Miss Swann, I apologize for any misunderstanding that occurred between us today. I have come here specifically to offer my sincere apologies, and I hope you can forgive me.”

Triston and the others also noticed the situation here. After watching Loraine’s performance, Triston applauded her inwardly.

“It must be admitted that Loraine can become Casier’s number one socialite lady for a reason.

“Her demeanor is impressive!

“She can be flexible and adaptable. Even if she may be infuriated inside, she can still maintain a calm and composed appearance, which is her remarkable trait,” thought he.

Catherine finally managed to swallow the cantaloupe. The next second, Branden handed her a cherry. She was somewhat disgusted, turning her head away.

Branden coaxed her like a child, saying, “Just one more!”

When she saw the interaction between the two, Loraine’s hand hanging by her side clenched into a fist. Under her continuous force, her intricately decorated nails forcefully stuck into the flesh of the palm.

It was often said that the pain in your fingers was the most unbearable, so her pain could be imagined. Loraine still had a smile on her face. Only with this kind of pain could she suppress her inner emotions and maintain the most elegant smile.

Standing behind, Jessica saw this scene and quietly recorded it with her phone. After she took the video, she sent it to her good friend Liana when no one was paying attention.

Catherine reluctantly ate the cherry and then glanced casually at Loraine. A slight smile appeared on her stunningly beautiful face as she looked at Loraine.

Loraine was behaving generously, so she must also show generosity to avoid being rude. With a nonchalant glance, Catherine lazily scanned Loraine. She comfortably leaned back on the leather sofa, assuming a posture that made her comfortable.

“No need to apologize. I have to thank you.”

Loraine looked at Catherine skeptically. “Miss Swann, what do you mean?”

Catherine smiled. Her beauty was indescribable. Her delicate pink lips slightly parted, slowly uttering a few words, “Thank you for sending two people to help me relieve the boredom!”

Triston and the others secretly gave a thumbs up. “Catherine is indeed a pro. “When it comes to being sarcastic, no one can match her wit,” said they inwardly.

Chapter 235 Playing a Game

Branden pulled Catherine’s hand and placed it inside his pocket with the excuse that her hand was too cold.

Triston and the others could not bear to witness the scene any longer. They came here for vacation, not to see someone show off love. Therefore, Triston spoke up fearlessly. “Mr. Duncan, since we have nothing better to do, how about a game?”

They were playing billiards. Catherine and Branden were standing nearby. Their aura was so strong that the players could hardly concentrate on their game. Branden raised his eyebrows.

“Are you sure?”

Triston grinned, knowing that he was literally courting humiliation.

“If Branden is joining the game, how could I have a chance to beat him? I’ll just be completely dominated,” thought he. Just as Triston was hesitating, Loraine appeared again. She walked up to him with a beaming smile on her face.

“Mr. Lambert, since you know you’re no match for Mr. Duncan, why don’t I play with you instead?”

Triston’s heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, “Uh oh, this isn’t good.” Even though Loraine was a beauty, Triston couldn’t be tempted easily by good looks. On Loraine’s pretty face, her bright eyes flickered slightly as she put on a charming and alluring smile.

“Mr. Lambert. It looks like you are unwilling to play a game with me. Are you afraid that defeating a girl like me would not be honorable?”

“Defeating Loraine?” said Triston inwardly.

He knew that he might not have the ability to win over Loraine. Everyone knew that Loraine had played billiards since childhood and was once the snooker champion in Casier.

If it were not for her affluent family, she would probably be pursuing a career as a professional and performing on the world’s largest stages at present.

Although Triston played quite well, he couldn’t compare to professional players. Just as he was about to refuse, to his surprise, Loraine beat him to it and spoke up first.

She turned her head and fixed her gaze upon Catherine. Although there was a smile on her face, her eyes were as cold as ice.

“Miss Swann, since we all have some free time, why don’t we play a game?”

Branden furrowed his brows, his deep- set eyes lowered. A touch of displeasure flickered across his face. Loraine noticed Branden’s aura was too strong, and she didn’t dare to make eye contact with him.

However, she harbored great discontent in her heart toward Branden’s excessive care for Catherine.

“Is he protecting her so well that he wouldn’t even let her lose a game?” said she inwardly. Her face darkened slightly. With an unpleasant expression, she spoke.” Miss Swann, if you refuse to accept the offer, forget about it.

“Reluctant as she look, would she be willing to give it up? I don’t believe it. “Now, she might say forget about it, but tomorrow she will go around telling everyone how cocky and disdainful I am.

“Does she really think I couldn’t see through her shabby tactics?

“Although I do not care at all about what others say about me, why do I have to allow this woman to slander me?

“I refuse!” said Catherine inwardly. With her chin raised toward Loraine, Catherine asked, “Would you like to have a game?”

Loraine pursed her lips, a slight smile escaping the corners of her mouth. ” Why not? What a rare opportunity. However, I have been playing billiards for quite some time. How about I give you a handicap of three balls and let you make the first shot?

“If necessary, would you like me to give you a chance to start over again?”

Ronin was left dumbfounded.

“Oh my, this woman is too arrogant and presumptuous.

“This is not showing mercy. It’s clearly a humiliation. “And to top it off, it was a humiliation in front of everyone. Seriously, it’s just too much.

“Can’t believe she dares to disrespect our boss like this. I’ll have to teach this woman a lesson,” said Ronin inwardly.

As Ronin was about to move forward, his coat was pulled by Grayson from behind. Grayson pulled on Ronin’s clothes and whispered softly in his ear, saying, ” Don’t be impulsive!”

Rushing forward at this moment had no help in avenging Catherine. Instead, this was the perfect opportunity for the other party to slander Catherine. Furthermore, Grayson firmly believed that Catherine would win. Not only Ronin and Grayson, but the others also felt Loraine’s words were too much.

“Although Loraine’s billiards skills are quite good, she’s being a bit too arrogant by saying this.

“Is it really fitting for a player of almost professional level to humiliate others?” thought they. Upon hearing Loraine’s arrogant remarks, Catherine remained composed and unaffected, showing a nonchalant expression that carried a hint of disdain.

“No need for that. Since we’re going to play, let’s get started!”

It was precisely this expression that annoyed Loraine the most. It made her feel deeply humiliated as if Catherine completely looked down on her.

Loraine held back her anger and put on a generous smile. “Miss Swann, since you said so, let’s put friendship first. Since it’s a game, why not make it a little interesting?

“If I lose, I will give you 10% of the shares of Holiday Mansion. How about that?” Grayson’s partner wanted to butter up Loraine and boost Holiday Mansion’s profile. So, he gave Loraine 10% of the shares as a gift.

The construction cost of Holiday Mansion was several million dollars. Its current market value was definitely over a billion dollars. The 10% of shares represented millions of capital. Loraine really was of incredible generosity.

This was clearly a provocation. Catherine had just returned to the Swanns, and the entire Swanns was under the control of Korbin Swann. How could she afford to gamble against Loraine?

Everyone felt nervous for Catherine silently while despising Loraine’s tricks. Branden glanced over at Paxton beside him. Paxton reached into his pocket, preparing to take out some capital for Catherine to bet against Loraine.

To everyone’s surprise, Catherine casually waved her hand and pointed to Grayson beside her, saying, “If I lose, Grayson will forsake his share of Holiday Mansion and give you his shares!”

Grayson owned 30% of the shares, three times as much as Loraine’s. Loraine’s face turned unpleasant. She could hardly maintain her composure any longer.

“Catherine doesn’t have many fundamental abilities but is good at talking big.

“Does she intend to humiliate me with the 30% shares?

“Ridiculous!” said Loraine inwardly.

She forced an awkward smile, revealing a hideous expression. “Miss Swann, don’t you need to ask Peerless Grayson’s opinion first?”

After Loraine finished speaking, Grayson spoke up. “Miss Sanford, there’s no need to worry about it. Boss owns all of my assets. You can consider me her employee.”

“Peerless Grayson, the top star of the entertainment industry, actually behaved so humbly in the presence of such a disaster as Catherine.

“Is he out of his mind?

“Has Catherine cursed him and taken away his consciousness?” said Loraine inwardly. She was extremely jealous. Although she looked down upon Grayson, a mere actor, the thought of him being so respectful toward the disaster-causing Catherine made her uncomfortable.

“Why is it that every man revolves around her?

“What’s so great about a disaster like her?” thought she.

Loraine didn’t plan on making things too difficult for Catherine at first, but her anger was on fire at this moment, and she had to give Catherine a serious lesson to make sure Catherine would conduct herself and embarrass her in front of everyone.

“Since that’s the case, let’s get started!

” she said.

Chapter 236 Game

Unlike Loraine, Catherine did not go directly to the billiard table. Instead, she turned her head and looked at Branden standing beside her. “Please, explain the rules to me.”

The people around were all shocked when they heard Catherine say this.

“Doesn’t she know how to play it yet? “How dare she agree to participate in such a high-stakes event without understanding the rules?

“Should I praise her bravery and courage or just call her a young and fearless newbie?” thought they. Loraine fixed her gaze in the direction of Catherine with a hint of coldness in the corner of her mouth.

“How dare she bet against me without any knowledge about billiard? She’s biting off more than she can chew,” said Loraine inwardly. Compared to the astonishment and ridicule of others, Branden’s gaze at Catherine was much more meaningful.

On that stunning face that looked like a sculpture, his eyes sparkled like gemstones as he smiled at Catherine. This girl really has some guts!” he thought.

He explained the rules of snooker to Catherine with great patience. His voice was deep and magnetic, and the two seemed to be flirting rather than teaching.

“From low score to high score, hit the balls in. Among them, the red ball has the lowest score, and the black ball is worth seven scores. The person with the highest score in the end wins!”

Catherine listened attentively to what Branden had said. On one hand, his explanation was concise and clear, while on the other hand, his voice was undeniably pleasing to the ears.

“If he were to be a singer in the entertainment industry with such a voice, I’m afraid Grayson wouldn’t stand a chance now.

“With his voice alone, he can slay every competitor in an instant,” said Catherine inwardly. Catherine raised a brow and confidently glanced at Branden opposite her.

Then, with a pompous stride, she walked toward the billiard table. Triston and the others noticed that when Catherine turned around, Branden glanced at Paxton.

Paxton nodded silently.

Inwardly, they were pretty shocked. There should be no need to worry about Catherine anymore. As was widely known, Paxton was a master of a unique skill. He could accurately nail a grain of rice-sized stone into a wall.

With Paxton’s covert support, Catherine would not lose too badly, even if she lost the game. However, what surprised them was that Branden was actually willing to go to such lengths for Catherine.

He had always detested these things, yet he was now willing to cheat for Catherine. This demonstrated how significant Catherine was in his heart.

As Catherine approached, Loraine was filled with such intense hatred that she almost snapped the cue she was holding.

She forced herself to put on a smile and looked at Catherine. “Miss Swann, have you finished consulting? Or perhaps, let Mr. Duncan give you a head start of two strokes?”

This statement sounded really arrogant. One could detect an air of confidence and assurance on Loraine’s face, as if victory was already within her grasp. Even before the game had begun, she was already behaving like someone giving an acceptance speech.

She was truly arrogant. Perhaps someone else could get away with it, but Loraine was confronting Catherine. Who could be more audacious than Catherine?

Catherine lazily picked up a cue and leaned on it, putting her entire body weight on it. She was like a soft-bodied animal.

Her voice was also lazy, cold, and void of emotion. “Well, there’s no need for that. I don’t even think his skills are worth mentioning!”

Standing on one foot, Aidan fell directly onto Triston next to him upon hearing this.

“This girl surely knows how to stab people in the heart. “Loraine was arrogant, but Catherine was a hundred times more arrogant than her. “There was no doubt about Branden’s abilities.

“Who among the present can match him?

“Catherine actually said that she looked down on Branden’s abilities,” thought Aidan. Catherine’s words were much more meaningful than Loraine’s blunt and harsh remarks.

Branden chuckled slightly. In all his years, it was the first time he had ever heard of someone not impressed by his abilities.

“My woman is quite interesting. “Forget it. It’s fine that she looked down on my abilities. Anyway, I like her. That’s all that matters,” thought he.

Initially, the onlookers thought that being looked down upon like this would anger even the calmest person.

To their surprise, Branden was laughing when they looked over.

“This frosty iceberg laughed when he was scolded.

“This is a rare sight!

“Indeed, anything that seemed impossible for Branden became possible when it came to Catherine,” said they inwardly. Loraine held her cue, took a step forward, and looked at Catherine. ” Miss Swann, after you.”

With a casual nod, Catherine fiercely swung her cue toward the white ball. The neatly arranged triangle of balls suddenly scattered like a startled school of fish.

Upon witnessing this scene, Ronin was the most exhilarated. He could not help but let out an exclamation of astonishment. “Wow, amazing!”

Triston and the others couldn’t help but applaud as well. Catherine started off well, and the positions of her balls were all good. Loraine snorted coldly. “Is it really necessary to be so happy about a decent shot?

“So spoffish!” said she inwardly. She simply didn’t believe that Catherine, a novice, could perform any remarkable shots. Catherine remained remarkably calm, maintaining the same expression even when she hit a good shot.

After glancing at the overall situation, she chose the ball with the greatest difficulty on the edge of the table as her first ball. With one forceful shot, the ball was flawlessly hit into the hole.

Loraine was still calm and composed. ” It is just one score. Even if Catherine scores three more goals, I can handle it, thought she.

As time passed, Catherine hit more balls into the holes. Moreover, she did it super quickly. One shot at a time. The people around were all amazed.

“With such precision and the ability to score even in the trickiest routes effortlessly, is she really a novice?

“Could it be that she is a big shot acting dumb to deceive others again?” thought the onlookers. Loraine couldn’t sit still as she watched Catherine finish hitting all the red balls on the table.

However, Catherine did not even give Loraine a moment to be surprised before she quickly hit the remaining colored balls with the fastest speed possible. On the table, there was only one black ball left, which had the highest score.

At this moment, Catherine stopped and set down her cue. Ronin was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle before him. Seeing Catherine cease her actions, he couldn’t help but exclaim in frustration, “Boss, why did you stop? Go on!

“Clearance!”

He was waiting for Catherine to clear the table so he could harshly mock Loraine, who had just acted so arrogantly. But unexpectedly, Catherine stopped. Catherine glanced at the roaring Ronin, causing him to shut his mouth immediately.

After he had quieted down, Catherine yawned tiredly and turned to Loraine, softly saying, “Miss Sanford, it’s your turn for the rest of the game. I feel bad for making you wait so long and not even giving you a chance to hit the ball.

“Oh my God!” said Ronin inwardly. He was applauding Catherine fervently inside. Grayson raised the corner of his mouth and smiled disdainfully.

Triston and Aidan silently gave a thumbs up to Catherine, thinking that the title of Sharp-tongued Boss was well-deserved.

“She is phenomenal!” thought they. Branden gazed fondly in the direction of Catherine. “If she were to invest her efforts in the business world, her achievements would likely surpass mine,” thought he.

A question suddenly occurred to him. ” Should I perhaps put more effort into my business?

“If I don’t start getting serious about my career, I’m afraid that she will really look down on me.”

Chapter 237 Yesenia’s Trouble

Mixed emotions plagued Loraine. She had probably never been so embarrassed in her entire life. She glared at Catherine and forcefully slammed the pool cue she held onto the table. Loraine decided to endure it.

She gritted her teeth and kept her temper.

“Miss Swann, congratulations!”

Triston and the others were genuinely impressed by Loraine’s composure. They thought she was indeed something.

But Catherine was even more formidable. She surprised them every time. Catherine stared at Loraine with a faint smile.

She enjoyed seeing Loraine being helpless while consumed with intense hatred.

“Miss Sanford, thank you for your generosity,” Catherine said. After that, Catherine waved to Grayson, who stood behind her.

Grayson instantly understood and smiled at Loraine. “Miss Sanford, thanks to you, I am now the largest shareholder of this resort.”

Originally, the three of them had been partners. Grayson owned a thirty percent stake. The majority shareholder was Grayson’s wealthy friend with a forty percent stake.

But now, an extra ten percent stake had shifted into Grayson’s hands, which made him the shareholder with a majority. This simple sentence left Loraine completely unraveled.

She knew that losing her temper at this moment would only make her look worse. Loraine suppressed her anger. After forcefully placing the pool cue on the table, she left the lounge area.

She made her exit from the crowd’s gaze. Once Loraine had left, Triston and the others enthusiastically approached Catherine and applauded her.

“Nice job, Catherine!”

Catherine didn’t say much, but Ronin couldn’t contain himself. He exclaimed, “Of course. Boss is always this amazing. No one can compare to her.”

His proud demeanor made it seem as if he had won the match. Ronin was Catherine’s biggest fan, and this fact could never be changed. Ronin was happily immersed in his admiration for Catherine.

Aidan was more curious about something else. He looked at Catherine with curiosity and asked, “Catherine, didn’t you say you’ve never played snooker before, and you didn’t even know the rules? How did you play so well?

“Are you a snooker prodigy? Do you deliberately pretend to be clueless to mess with Loraine?” Considering Catherine’s previous disinterest in Loraine, Aidan believed in his speculation, as it seemed more logical.

It was likely that Catherine deliberately pretended to be clueless to lower Loraine’s guard. Then she could humiliate Loraine when Loraine least expected it.

The others were equally curious. They watched Catherine to see if she truly matched Aidan’s theory. Catherine glanced coldly at Aidan, raised her chin disdainfully, and spoke softly yet with a powerful aura.

“Is it necessary?”

Her tone was dripping with contempt and dominance. She was truly awe- inspiring. After she spoke, Ronin chimed in, 11 Well. It’s absolutely unnecessary. Just silly of you!”

“Hey, you!” Aidan reached out to hit Ronin, only to hear Grayson beside him say, “Indeed, it’s absolutely unnecessary.”

Following that, Triston and Bryan also mocked him. Aidan’s face contorted in anger. He just questioned Catherine, and then he became the enemy of everyone.

Branden reached out, pulled Catherine’s hand from her pocket, and smoothly slipped it into his own jacket pocket. Catherine raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a hint of confusion in her eyes. However, Branden stared at Catherine earnestly. “My pocket is warmer. Your hands are cold.”

Catherine thought inwardly, “Cold?”

Catherine’s hands were practically sweating, and Branden was talking about them being cold. It was clear he was just trying to take advantage of her. Branden was doing it with such a righteous tone as if he were pacifying a child.

Branden led Catherine to the side and sat down. When Catherine wanted to play a game, Branden became her backrest and allowed Catherine to comfortably lean against him. He pampered Catherine throughout, which caused envy among the single men, especially Triston.

Triston and Aidan had known Branden for many years. They were witnessing him pampering a girl like this for the first time. It was almost to an unbearable extent.

As Loraine left, the group of wealthy girls followed her. However, Yesenia stood to the side with a bitter expression. She appeared torn and conflicted, which was oddly amusing to observe.

After seeing this, Triston approached her and tried to cheer her up. He said, “Yesenia, changing schools isn’t such a big deal. Why do you look so upset?”

Yesenia glared at Triston with intensity. She thought inwardly, “How can I not feel upset?

“It is like a prison. Like hell.”

Thinking about it, Yesenia felt like she was about to explode. She was in a state of panic. Unable to bear it any longer, she turned to Triston for help.

“Uncle Triston, you’re closest to Branden. Can you please help me plead with him? I really don’t want to go.”

This time, it was Triston’s turn to wear a troubled expression. “Yesenia, you’re overestimating me. If I had that kind of power, would I be living this humble and tough life?”

Although Triston didn’t have that ability, he had a clever mind. He said, “I don’t want to see you suffer. I can show you a way.”

“Yes!” Yesenia eagerly agreed. Triston discreetly gestured in Catherine’s direction. “Yesenia, this person is your savior. Just look at how much Branden dotes on her. With just a few words, she can handle everything.”

Yesenia thought for a moment and realized the logic behind it. Indeed, Branden lavished Catherine with care and affection.

Yesenia felt torn. She knew Catherine could help her. However, it was not easy for her to ask Catherine for a favor in person. Triston nodded at Yesenia. “Figure it out on your own.”

He had given Yesenia a solution, but whether she could do it was up to her. If she was not even willing to do it, she would have to suffer the consequences on her own. After Triston left, Yesenia wrestled with her thoughts for a while and finally made up her mind.

She slowly approached Catherine. She was initially unsure of how to start the conversation with Catherine without being embarrassed.

However, when she saw the mobile game that Catherine was playing, she unintentionally got immersed in it. Yesenia was not only a fan of celebrities but also loved playing games. She liked everything that young girls were into these days.

Her recent obsession was a popular battle royale game. Surprisingly, Catherine was playing it too. Yesenia had a high rank in the game. She was initially planning to give Catherine some pointers.

However, after watching Catherine play for a few minutes, Yesenia was completely captivated. Her eyes were fixed on Catherine’s screen, and she couldn’t even blink.

When Catherine finished off the last enemy with a triumphant shot, Yesenia couldn’t contain her excitement and exclaimed, “You’re awesome!”

Chapter 238 The Mysterious Player

A few seconds later, Yesenia realized that everyone was giving her a strange look. She awkwardly smiled and said, “I’m just a gaming enthusiast.”

Afterward, she focused entirely on Catherine. Earlier, she had been dismissive of Catherine, but now, she had no reservations. She sat right next to Catherine. If Catherine’s presence weren’t so commanding, Yesenia might have even snuggled up to Catherine.

Yesenia stared at Catherine with admiration and asked, “Oh, my God. How did you make that shot earlier? I didn’t see you use a scope, so how did you hit your target?”

Yesenia estimated that the distance was at least two to three hundred yards. But Catherine had managed to take down an opponent’s level-two helmet with a single shot, all without using a scope.

Such skill was terrifying. If Yesenia hadn’t witnessed it firsthand by Catherine’s side, she would have suspected that Catherine was using cheats or hacks.

Upon hearing Yesenia’s question, Ronin coldly snorted with disdain. He said, “You claim to be a gaming enthusiast, but you don’t even know what a quickscope is? It’s laughable.”

Although Yesenia had already received Branden’s punishment, Ronin still didn’t like her. Finally, when he had the chance, he naturally took the opportunity to taunt Yesenia.

Ronin didn’t like girls like Yesenia, who came from wealthy families and were extremely arrogant. She acted as if everyone owed her millions of dollars.

If he had met Yesenia initially, he might have just found her annoying, but he wouldn’t have bothered with her. However, after Yesenia had conflicts with them and especially insulted Catherine, Ronin grew to hate Yesenia to the core.

For Ronin, anyone who dared to disrespect Catherine, regardless of age or gender, should be dealt with mercilessly.

Yesenia was angered by Ronin’s comment and stood up. She glared at Ronin with her big, clean eyes. She shouted, “Did I ask for your opinion? Is it your turn to butt in?

“Do you even understand quickscope?

Can you do it? You’re just blabbering here. What’s your rank? What gives you the right to talk here?”

Yesenia had no respect for Ronin. He didn’t seem much older than her, but he acted like an elder lecturing her. Yesenia didn’t see why he had the right to do so.

As the two of them engaged in a heated argument, onlookers silently watched them. They found it more entertaining than playing pool.

Bryan believed that Ronin was naturally incompatible with the Duncans. Ronin had frequently clashed with him. Now Ronin was going up against Bryan’s cousin. It was no different. Bryan decided not to get involved.

Yesenia had a fiery personality. Bryan decided to let Ronin handle Yesenia with his sharp tongue. It would give Bryan some relaxation and spare him from engaging in arguments with Ronin.

Not only Bryan but also Catherine paused and watched with amusement as Yesenia and Ronin argued. Catherine was a bit tired from playing, so she decided to take a break and enjoy the banter.

Branden didn’t care about it. He sat up straight and positioned himself perfectly as Catherine’s backrest to ensure she was comfortable.

One of his arms rested casually on Catherine’s shoulder, while the other held a stack of fruits, which created the ideal backrest. Meanwhile, in response to Yesenia’s retort, Ronin didn’t back down. He countered with anger.

“You’re right. I have no right to speak about you. After all, I’m just a gaming legend, consistently in the top three in the Casier region. How can I have the right to judge you?”

Some of his words may have been self- deprecating, but each one seemed to hit a nerve. Yesenia couldn’t believe her ears. As she looked at Ronin, she pointed her finger at him and asked, “You? You are the gaming legend, consistently top three in the entire region?”

Ronin pursed his lips with a faint smile. “I didn’t intend to, but I somehow ended up there.”

Yesenia remained skeptical and turned to the others for confirmation. Finally, she looked at Bryan. Bryan nodded in agreement. He couldn’t deny that Ronin was slightly better at the game than him.

Seeing her cousin’s confirmation, Yesenia was stunned. She hadn’t expected Ronin to be this skilled. She thought inwardly, “What about Catherine?”

Perhaps sensing Yesenia’s thoughts, before she could ask, Ronin said in a sarcastic tone, “If it weren’t for Boss in front of me, I might have climbed even higher.”

The top one in this region had a well- deserved title. Since entering the game, he had never been defeated.

Furthermore, nobody heard him speak, and nobody knew who he was. Nobody knew whether he was a man or a woman or how old he was. Gaming legends with such achievements typically went into live streaming to make money.

But this player had never shown his face, and he rarely even shared game footage. That’s why some speculated that this player might be a tester for the game development company or even a bot for testing. Because achieving such a level of skill with conventional human speed seemed impossible.

Setting aside the first-place finish, the second-place player’s performance was very close. He trailed the top spot by just a few points and secured the second position in the entire region.

As for this mysterious player, there had been no information available to the public for a long time. However, recently, someone claimed that this player’s identity was uncovered and this player was actually a female.

At that time, Yesenia didn’t believe it. But now, with Ronin’s words, she was genuinely shocked. In front of so many gaming elites, Ronin couldn’t possibly be lying. Given their skill levels, any lie would be exposed in a heartbeat.

Moreover, what Catherine just pulled off was truly astounding. If she were indeed the mysterious player, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility.

With wide eyes and a face filled with astonishment, Yesenia looked at Catherine Swann in disbelief.

“Oh, my God. Could you be the legendary player, S1?”

In the face of Yesenia’s amazement, Catherine remained much calmer. She squinted her eyes and gazed at Yesenia with a hint of playfulness. With arms folded across her chest, she adopted a lazy and nonchalant posture.

“So what?”

Ronin seized the opportunity to tease Yesenia. “So, when some people see how amazing Boss is and how much they are wrong, they get scared.”

Ronin hadn’t even mentioned that Catherine occupied the top two positions on the leaderboard, and yet Yesenia was already this astonished. It was truly amusing.

Catherine had reached the maximum level in the game and then created a new account to play again. In Catherine’s eyes, the game was child’s play, and she effortlessly claimed the top three spots. Her skills were so formidable that she could be arrogant.

As for her gaming name, it was simply because she couldn’t be bothered to come up with one, so she went with codes like S1 and S2.

The others had expected Yesenia to get furious after being teased like this. But to their surprise, she went from being shocked to staring at Catherine with a bright smile.

“Catherine, I never expected the legendary player I’ve always looked forward to meeting to be in front of me.

“Catherine, please take me as your apprentice.” Triston and the others had been waiting for a dramatic showdown, but Yesenia had transformed her attitude completely.

This sudden change in Yesenia’s attitude left the others dumbfounded. However, Catherine showed no interest and glanced at Yesenia. Then she responded coldly, “I don’t take apprentices.”

Despite Catherine’s refusal, Yesenia was undeterred. After learning that Catherine was a gaming legend, Yesenia admired her deeply.

In Yesenia’s mind, a true gaming legend should be aloof and unapproachable just like Catherine. After racking her brain for ideas, Yesenia came up with a new approach. She looked at Catherine with a pleading expression.

“Catherine, I promise to attend Soland Women’s College obediently. Will you take me as your apprentice?”

Triston was left dumbfounded. He thought inwardly, “Isn’t she the one who cried and said that Soland Women’s College was a living hell just moments ago?

“How does a game become more important than escaping a living hell?”

Chapter 239 Catherine’s Spell

At first, Yesenia had shown disdain for Catherine and even called her a jinx. However, she had now transformed into a devoted follower. She stuck closely to Catherine’s side, even more so than Branden did.

Branden and Triston had gone to discuss some business matters. Branden had intended to take Catherine with him. However, Catherine firmly declined. She showed no interest in boring business discussions.

So, Catherine remained in place to rest, while Bryan and Ronin were pulled away. This left only Yesenia, who clung to Catherine relentlessly.

“Catherine, will you play a game with me? I really want to experience what it’s like to be guided by someone!” Yesenia pleaded with eagerness as she looked at Catherine. In her eyes, Catherine was an unattainable character and a top-tier gamer.

Yesenia was accustomed to leading others and raising their ranks in games. It was her first time begging someone to guide her in games.

Considering Catherine’s stature, it was natural to make such a request. Catherine had initially planned to take a quick nap, but she was swayed by Yesenia’s pleading eyes.

Yesenia’s eyes were remarkably similar to Ronin’s. They were bright and attractive. However, unlike Ronin’s sharpness, Yesenia appeared more innocent and pure. Catherine remained calm. She lazily glanced at Yesenia with her beautiful eyes and casually nodded.

“Sure. Let’s play.”

At first, Yesenia didn’t realize the situation. She had expected Catherine to be difficult with her. To her surprise, Catherine agreed so readily. After a moment of processing, Yesenia clapped her hands enthusiastically. She smiled brightly in excitement.

“Yes. Thank you, Catherine.”

After Yesenia finished speaking, she couldn’t wait any longer and quickly opened her phone. She successfully joined a team with Catherine face-to- face.

The moment Catherine joined the team, Yesenia couldn’t contain her excitement and let out another scream. She appeared like a big fan of Catherine.

“Wow. Catherine, the way you entered is just so cool.”

In this game, there was no need for in- app purchases. Instead, rare resources were distributed based on players’ levels.

The higher one’s level was, the more dazzling the way one entered the would be. game The way Catherine entered the game was something that Yesenia had spent countless sleepless nights trying to achieve.

As soon as Catherine pressed the ready button, Yesenia eagerly hit the start button. Although it was a four-person team game, Yesenia chose to cancel the matchmaking with random teammates.

There was no way she was going to share this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with strangers. Yesenia wanted to enjoy it herself and learn skills from Catherine.

The game officially started as they joined the battle royale. After that, Yesenia continued her usual strategy. She selected a location with the most resources and the highest number of enemies. She then began frantically looting resources and engaging in battles.

However, she forgot that this game had a rule of matching teammates based on the team’s average ranking. Actually, Yesenia was a good player within her rank.

However, Catherine’s rank was significantly higher. When combined, the overall ranking of their team was higher than Yesenia’s individual rank. Then the opponents all had higher ranks than Yesenia.

Yesenia continued to play aggressively as she usually did. In less than three minutes, she was taken down by an opponent and needed to be rescued.

She panicked and shouted for help. But she was taken down so quickly that she felt embarrassed to trouble Catherine.

Thankfully, Catherine was not heartless. After eliminating Yesenia’s attacker, Catherine rushed to her side. After saving Yesenia, Catherine tossed a health pack to her and left to continue her gameplay.

Yesenia watched Catherine’s stylish departure with amazement. She was stunned for a while. In high-level matches like this, even a one-second hesitation could lead to fatal consequences.

As Yesenia watched Catherine in shock, the sound of gunfire rang, and Yesenia was down again. Yesenia was frustrated and couldn’t help but curse, “Damn it. Who’s that jerk? Can’t you give me a chance to watch Catherine for a bit longer?”

As time passed, the gunfire in the vicinity grew more intense. Now that everyone was well-equipped, the less skilled players had been eliminated. Only the experts left.

Although Yesenia wasn’t the best player, she knew that this was not the time for Catherine to be distracted. Seeing that Catherine’s location was surrounded by gunfire and Catherine couldn’t come to her aid, Yesenia generously said, “Catherine, don’t worry about me. Be brave and go for the victory.”

With no response from Catherine, Yesenia assumed that Catherine had accepted her plan. As she quietly hid in a corner of the ruins, she waited for her health bar to deplete gradually, which would lead to her inevitable death.

She decided to end her game like this. She couldn’t let her death be caused by those other players. Her health bar slowly dwindled. In just a matter of seconds, it was completely depleted.

Yesenia thought the game would soon be over. She was about to set aside her phone and take some fruit to enjoy Catherine’s performance. However, the next moment, Catherine suddenly appeared.

Just as Yesenia’s health bar was about to vanish completely, Catherine triggered the rescue button and saved Yesenia in the nick of time.

Yesenia’s eyes lit up instantly. She quickly got up and held her phone again. “Catherine, I told you don’t save me. In this high-level match, I’ll be a burden to you.”

Catherine looked at her with a sidelong glance and calmly replied, “A burden? That’s not a thing. Just stick with me.’

After the rescue, Catherine dropped a series of high-end equipment for Yesenia, including weapons, medicines, armor, and so on.

Seeing the pile of items on the ground, Yesenia was astonished. “Catherine, are you sure about this? What about yourself?”

“Just take care of yourself,” Catherine said nonchalantly. At that moment, Yesenia finally understood what it felt like to be taken care of by someone.

This feeling warmed her heart to the point of tears. Yesenia felt so blessed. It only reinforced her determination to cling to Catherine, and she wouldn’t waver.

In the end, there were no surprises. Catherine eliminated the last enemy and claimed victory. Yesenia enjoyed a carefree victory experience. When Branden and the others came out, they were greeted by a rather surprising sight.

Catherine and Yesenia were both sitting on the sofa. What made it amusing was that Yesenia sat upright with a serious expression, as if filled with reverence.

Meanwhile, Catherine was reclining on the sofa with her legs crossed. She was in a lazy and relaxed posture that seemed incredibly comfortable.

From a distance, they could hear Yesenia’s excited comments now and then.

“Oh, my God. Catherine, you’re amazing. One shot and they’re down. That’s incredible!

“Go ahead. Let’s eliminate these little trashes. They think they can gang up on us because we’re outnumbered.

“With Catherine by my side, I won’t worry about winning.”

Aidan gave a sidelong glance at Branden and teased, “Mr. Duncan, it seems like the Duncans have fallen under the spell of someone named Catherine. I remember not too long ago, this girl was rather critical of Catherine.

“Now, with this posture, it seems like she’s turned Catherine into her idol. ”

He had thought that Branden would be annoyed by his words, and Aidan was prepared to be scolded.

However, when he looked at Branden again, he saw a faint smile on his lips. It seemed that Branden was in a good mood.

Branden stared at Catherine with his intense gaze. His eyes darkened and became more gentle.

“What’s wrong with that?” he responded. Aidan’s mouth twitched. He thought inwardly, “It seems like the world has turned upside down.”

Chapter 240 Live Together

Originally, the group had planned to spend the night at Grayson’s villa, but Ronin had some last-minute business to attend to and needed to leave early. Catherine found it a bit boring and decided to leave early as well.

When she suggested it, Branden wouldn’t refuse. The two most important people were leaving, and the others also found it uninteresting and decided to leave.

So they all naturally dispersed. Bryan had originally intended to take Yesenia home. But as Yesenia saw Catherine left with Branden in his car, she insisted on going with them. In front of her idol, Yesenia didn’t even fear her scary uncle.

She directly let go of Bryan’s hand and rushed over to Catherine. Then she smiled sweetly at Branden, who was standing by Catherine.

“Branden, I know you’re going to drive Catherine home. I want to go with you. After you drop off Catherine, I’ll go back with you.”

Yesenia had planned everything, even what she wanted to learn from Catherine during the drive. Unfortunately, no matter how perfectly she planned, it couldn’t become a reality.

Branden gave her a cold look and said, ” It’s not on the way. Then he opened the car door and gently helped Catherine into the car. With a sharp slam, the car door closed.

Yesenia was left outside the car without any mercy by him. Yesenia felt resentful. She thought inwardly, “Why isn’t it on the way?

“Can’t I go see my grandfather tonight?

She wanted to confront Branden about this. It was a family matter after all, and Bryan had no reason to stand by and watch his cousin walk into danger without intervening.

Then Bryan grabbed Yesenia and pulled her back. Yesenia turned around and looked at Bryan with resentment. She felt he was ruining her chance to get close to Catherine. “What are you doing? Let me go. If you don’t release me soon, Branden’s car is going to leave.”

Bryan rolled his eyes at Yesenia in silence. He thought inwardly, “How can my cousin be so foolish?”

Then he asked, “Didn’t you hear Branden say it’s not on the way?”

“Why isn’t it on the way? Can’t I go to Grandpa’s house?”

Yesenia argued vigorously. She was eager to catch up to Branden’s car. However, Bryan’s next words completely shocked her.

“Branden doesn’t live at the old mansion anymore. Catherine.” He lives with Bryan only said that they lived together, without specifying whether it meant living in the same house. If others misunderstood, that wasn’t his concern.

After hearing that, Yesenia was stunned. Yesenia turned back and looked at Bryan with astonishment. Her eyes were filled with disbelief.

She glanced at the others nearby. They all remained calm and showed no surprise. It seemed like everyone knew this news except for her.

This was embarrassing. Yesenia stayed silent for a moment. Then she muttered quietly, “Branden is such an old fox. He actually seduced Catherine into living together. It’s really inhumane.”

The people standing behind her were speechless. After all, it was Yesenia who had always idolized Branden the most since she was a child. But now she seemed to be having a change of heart.

It just went to show that women could be quite fickle. As soon as Catherine got into the car, she fell asleep. When the car came to a stop, she was still resting and didn’t even show the slightest intention of moving.

However, Branden pampered her and didn’t need her to say a word. He simply reached out and lifted her body. Then he carried her upstairs.

Catherine realized that having Branden as her neighbor had its perks. At least she could comfortably treat him as her personal mover, without a hint of guilt. Branden could directly carry her from the car to upstairs.

As the elevator doors opened, Catherine gracefully got rid of Branden’s arms without him having to say a word.

He barely managed to reach out and hold her waist. He cautioned her, “Take it slow.”

Although Branden knew that, given her agility, there was no chance of her stumbling, he couldn’t help but remind her.

Catherine turned to him with a faint smile. It made her already exquisite face appear even more radiant, which filled anyone who looked at her with joy.

“I got it,” she replied lazily.

Although her voice was soft and gentle, it was sweet. Branden was tickled by her voice. He lowered his eyes and intentionally avoided eye contact.

Sensing the man’s subtle change, Catherine waved at him contentedly and turned to reach into her pocket for her keys. As she reached in, she realized she had left her keys on the shoe rack when she left in the morning.

At that time, she had thought Audrey was home, so she hadn’t been in a rush. She immediately pulled out her phone and dialed Audrey’s number. After a few rings, the call was quickly answered.

“Kathy, is there something you need?” Audrey asked.

“Where are you?” Catherine inquired. Audrey found it a bit odd that Catherine was calling her at this hour, which wasn’t usual. “I’m on set, shooting a scene. I’m waiting for the next take. Do you need something? I probably won’t be back until tonight.”

Hearing that Audrey was on set, Catherine abandoned the idea of asking her to come back. Audrey was at the peak of her career, and filming was her top priority. There was no need to disrupt Audrey’s work for her own sake.

Catherine casually made up an excuse and let her sister off the hook before hanging up the phone.

Branden didn’t leave. He stayed by the side and waited for Catherine to hang up the phone. He spoke slowly, “You forgot your keys?”

Though she didn’t want to admit it, Catherine nodded obediently. Branden walked toward his unit and unlocked the door with his fingerprint. Then he leaned against the door frame and looked at Catherine tenderly. He extended an invitation.

“Come on. Go inside and wait.”

He didn’t want to appear too eager. He wanted to avoid scaring Catherine into thinking he had ulterior motives for moving next door.

Catherine didn’t make a fuss. Standing at the door and waiting for Audrey to come back in the evening was less comfortable than going inside his house. She walked briskly toward Branden. But Branden grabbed her hand and stopped her at the door.

Catherine looked up in confusion, while Branden lowered his head in silence to work on the keypad lock on the door.

Then he took Catherine’s hand and pressed her slender fingers against the fingerprint scanner. A mechanical prompt sounded.” Fingerprint added successfully.”

Only then did Branden release Catherine’s fingers and lead her inside. Throughout the process, he gave her advice cautiously and patiently.

“If you forget your keys in the future, just come straight here. Don’t wait at the door.”

Branden couldn’t bear to see Catherine suffer. Catherine didn’t respond. She looked around the room and examined the layout and decor.

Branden’s personal taste was quite distinctive. The design of this room was identical to his room in the Duncans’.

It was all done in black, white, and gray tones, which combined coldness and strictness with understated luxury. Although it leaned toward cold, it was particularly comfortable for Catherine. Branden pulled Catherine to sit on the sofa. He knew her nature too well.

She didn’t like standing and preferred to lounge around when she had nothing to do. “Sit and take your time to tour around. I’ll go prepare some food for you.”

Catherine looked at him in surprise and asked, “You can cook?”

A faintly indulgent smile appeared on Branden’s handsome face. He raised an eyebrow and winked at Catherine.”

Why don’t you wait and see?”