Ch. 321..330
Chapter 321 Just a Deal
The Winfreds were a prestigious family in Oceanvile. Oceanvile was renowned alongside Casier, and if Casier were considered the aristocracy, then Oceanvile would be a rising star.
The Winfreds were involved in the mining business and made a fortune in previous years. Although they had a tough time in recent years, they had a solid financial foundation.
A few months ago, they acquired a rare mine in South Apridon, which attracted envy from the whole industry.
Now, they unexpectedly let go of this lucrative opportunity for the sake of an illegitimate child, which was a generous act.
It was no wonder Sean didn’t value family ties. The Scotts also used to be a prestigious family, and there was a lot of scheming and deceit among the wealthy. He had seen it all. When it came to profit, parents and siblings were all considered trivial matters.
“Cassie, is this a trap?”
Catherine always thought Sean was reliable in his actions, and indeed he was. He never did anything without certainty.
People thought that Sean was reckless, heartless, and did whatever he wanted. But they didn’t know he was discreet, leaving no detail unattended!
Catherine understood Sean’s meaning, and compared to his worries, she seemed much calmer. “No. That mine is too rare. Even if the Winfreds choose to keep it, they won’t be able to benefit from it. The Winfreds are facing financial difficulties, and although they have handed over the mining rights, the rest will still belong to the Winfreds three years from now!”
Sean had heard about that mine, and it was said to have a considerable reserve.
At present, it was only in the exploration phase. It would take at least a year or two before actual mining could commence. The Winfreds had granted a three-year window for these mining rights.
In reality, only one year of the mining rights was available. After three years, they would take it back. By then, they would get pure profit.
Xavier was truly cunning. Sean thought of something else and quickly reminded Catherine, “Cassie, I heard that the Duncans are also eyeing that mine. The Duncans are like fierce tigers. It won’t be good if they set their sights on it!”
“The Duncans…” Catherine muttered softly. Her neat bangs partially covered her starry eyes, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Do they want it?”
Sean didn’t understand what Catherine meant by this, and he felt that something was off about her.
“Anyway, be more cautious, Cassie. The Duncans are powerful. We should avoid them!”
Catherine didn’t respond to him, and the smile in her eyes grew wicked. Half an hour later, Ronin arrived on time with Erick. After changing his new clothes, Erick looked completely different.
Living in the black market for years had drained some color from his originally fair skin. The pale-skinned teenager possessed an exquisite appearance, and his slightly upturned eyes were filled with a captivating aura.
His cold temperament perfectly embodied the image of a mysterious young man. Even Sean couldn’t help but compliment, “This kid looks even more delicious in new clothes!”
In the next second, Ronin retorted.
“I chose this outfit for him, you know? By the way, Sean, you are such a sick pervert. What kind of adjective are you using? Delicious? You’re so disgusting!”
Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Catherine shook her head helplessly, stood up, and coldly uttered one word, “Hungry!”
After saying that, she walked away quickly, and the two promptly followed, forgetting about their argument.
Erick stood still, looking down at his new attire, furrowing his eyebrows. In his mind, he replayed Catherine’s expression just now.
“Is it not good-looking?” he wondered.
“Why didn’t she compliment me?
Ronin chose the restaurant for dinner. Unsurprisingly, it was a barbecue restaurant. By the time they reached the entrance, Ronin and Sean had already rushed in while Erick hesitated at the door.
Catherine, who was walking at the back, noticed Erick’s hesitation and cast a cold gaze at him.
“Aren’t you coming with us?”
Erick hesitated momentarily, lowered his head with a hint of shyness, and softly asked, “Can I come in, too?”
“Of course!” Catherine replied without hesitation. “Why would I bring you here if not?”
Catherine had said what needed to be said. Whether he entered or not was up to him! Seeing Catherine had already left, Erick immediately followed suit.
This was Erick’s first time dining with others at the same table. When he was with Killian, Killian would occasionally take him out to eat after winning a match, but he always stood at the door, waiting for leftovers.
He could choose not to eat, but the result would be hunger. Ronin diligently helped Catherine with everything, cutting meat for her and putting it on her plate.
Seeing this, Sean couldn’t help but tease Ronin. “Why don’t you just feed it to Catherine’s mouth so she doesn’t even have to lift a finger!”
Ronin knew Sean was teasing him, but he wasn’t angry. Instead, he confidently responded to Sean, “If Catherine is willing, I’ll do that for her!
Sean couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Unbelievable!
Had he not been aware of Ronin’s admiration for Catherine, he might have suspected that Ronin had feelings for her.
Erick quietly ate his food, silently observing the movements of the people around him. In his slightly squinted eyes, there was envy. He believed that one day, he would also be able to sit by Catherine’s side and prepare everything she liked.
Catherine had agreed to meet the Winfreds at 8 p.m. After finishing the barbecue, Ronin drove them to the Winfreds’.
Sean thought he shouldn’t go there, so only the three of them went. Once they got in the car, Catherine leaned on the backseat and closed her eyes to rest. Erick sat silently beside her while Ronin, the chatterbox, drove in boredom.
Although Ronin focused on driving, his eyes never left Catherine for a moment. With a stranger in the car, he didn’t trust anyone except Catherine. He had to keep a close eye on this “Tyler” to prevent any accidents from happening.
After a while, Ronin couldn’t help but ask Erick when he noticed that Erick hadn’t said a word.
“Aren’t you worried that we might sell you?”
Hearing this, Erick slowly lifted his head. His eyes emitted a faint green light in the dim car, cold and eerie.
“She has the right to.”
The “she” he referred to was Catherine.
Ronin couldn’t help but praise Erick, ” Kid, you’ve got some guts. Don’t worry. Catherine isn’t a bad person. We made a deal with the Winfreds. You can return to your home once we get what we want. It’s better to live with the Winfreds than to follow Killian in the black market.”
“Is that so?” Erick said in a cold voice. Ronin drove through the green light, not noticing Erick’s faint smile and the killing intent in his eyes!
Chapter 322 The Winfreds
A black car slowly pulled up in front of the Winfreds’. This wasn’t the Winfreds’ primary residence, so the home wasn’t magnificent.
Before they arrived, someone had already gotten in touch with the Winfreds. Therefore, as soon as the car pulled up, someone was there to greet them.
“Greetings, I’m the butler. Mr. Winfreds and the others are waiting inside. Please follow me.”
Ronin nodded and walked in front. Erick was in the middle, and Catherine strolled along at the back. The butler locked his eyes on Erick as soon as the three of them got out of the car. It seemed that he had recognized Erick at first sight.
Ronin found it odd and slowed down to walk beside Catherine.
“Hey, Catherine, why’s the butler so fixated on Erick? Does he know him?”
Catherine stayed silent, and Ronin didn’t push it when he realized she didn’t want to discuss it. Once they entered the Winfreds’ digs, Ronin finally understood why the butler had been staring at Erick.
“Sir, Miss, the man at the forefront is the leader of the Winfreds, and the one beside him is his eldest son.”
Ronin followed the butler’s gesture and thought, “Dang, they really look alike!”
The Winfreds’ master, Xavier, and Erick were like peas in a pod. Seeing Xavier, Ronin didn’t need to wait for years to learn what Erick would look like when he got older.
No wonder Catherine didn’t bat an eye earlier. She must’ve been in the know. Ronin playfully nudged Erick’s arm and whispered, “Man, you’re the spitting image of your dad!”
Erick looked up at Xavier with a fierce look in his eyes. Xavier got up enthusiastically, his face showing a lot of excitement, and he hurried over to Ronin.
“I guess you’re the experts of Hacker Alliance. Thank you so much for helping me find my son. I really appreciate it!”
The sudden warmth caught Ronin off guard, and he wasn’t sure how to react. Catherine stood to the side, showing an indifferent attitude. She squinted her eyes a bit and kept a close eye on Xavier.
After putting in a great deal of effort, Xavier had finally found his long-lost son, Erick, who had been missing for years.
Now that Erick had returned, instead of immediately going to see him, Xavier was surprisingly warm and welcoming to her and Ronin.
Wasn’t that strange?
Catherine chose not to comment. After some small talk with Ronin, Xavier finally noticed Erick standing nearby. He fixed an intense gaze on Erick, and a hint of redness appeared in his eyes.
“Erick, isn’t it?” Xavier asked. “It’s been many years, and I’ve put in a lot of effort to find you!”
In contrast to Xavier’s warmth, Erick remained incredibly composed. His stern face showed no signs of warmth or joy from the reunion. Xavier was slightly surprised by Erick’s coldness, but he quickly regained his composure.
After all, he was an influential figure in the region. If he couldn’t handle this situation, it would be pretty disappointing. He said to Erick, “Your older brother is here today. Let me introduce you.”
Then, Xavier glanced back, and the Winfreds’ eldest son, Jeremy, reluctantly stood up. His displeasure was written on his face, indicating that he didn’t have much affection for his younger brother. After all, they weren’t blood brothers.
People in high society were often quite cold-hearted. Who would have wanted a half-brother with an illegitimate status?
But under Xavier’s hint, more accurately, his coercion, Jeremy took the initiative to greet Erick.
“I’m Jeremy, the eldest son of the Winfreds. Welcome to the Winfreds!”
His words made his attitude crystal clear, even though he didn’t verbally taunt Erick. From Jeremy’s assertion of his authority and emphasis on his status as the eldest son, it was evident how unwelcome Erick was.
It was “Welcome to the Winfreds,” not “Welcome back to the Winfreds!”
Whose home was this, anyway?
Everyone heard it loud and clear, and they understood the message. With Erick handed over, Catherine had no desire to linger with the Winfreds.
They had no business or reason to engage with them. Catherine glanced at Ronin, and he immediately grasped her intention. He stepped forward to bid farewell to the Winfreds.
“Mr. Winfred, now that we’ve safely handed Eric over to you, we still have something to do, so we’ll take our leave. Xavier politely wished them well, saying, “Take care!”
Catherine casually put her hands in her pockets and turned around, locking eyes with Jeremy just as they left.
Jeremy’s expression was complex, blending resentment with gratitude toward them. His conflicted look left Catherine wondering about his intentions.
As Catherine and Ronin walked out, they suddenly heard desperate footsteps behind them when they were about to get into their car.
Catherine stopped and turned around, only to see Erick rushing out anxiously. Catherine glanced at Ronin, and he understood her cue, promptly getting into the car and waiting for her.
Erick quickly approached Catherine, coming to a stop in front of her. His beautiful eyes were locked onto Catherine.
His lips were quivering, revealing the inner conflict and distress. Catherine calmly observed him, silently counting the seconds. She didn’t like waiting, granting everyone only a limited amount of time without exceptions.
Right at the last moment, Erick finally spoke up. He looked at Catherine with a determined gaze, and it was obvious from his body language that he had gathered a lot of courage to say something.
“If I agree to your terms and follow your orders, can you take me with you?”
His voice was hushed, tinged with humility, and tugging at the heartstrings. It felt like a wounded creature yearning for rescue. Unfortunately, Erick was unaware of Catherine’s frosty nature.
She had a reputation for her cold demeanor, and her decision to save Erick, aside from his Ronin-like eyes, was driven by her ties to the Winfreds.
Catherine pressed her lips together, maintaining her silence, but her decision was evident in her expression. Erick felt somewhat discouraged. Although he wasn’t surprised by her response, he still felt a sense of despair.
He struggled to speak, his voice barely above a whisper, his head lowered, and unable to summon the courage to make eye contact.
“I understand. Thank you!”
Then, he turned to leave. In that fleeting moment, Catherine suddenly seized his hand. She pulled his arm and wrote down a series of numbers on his palm.
“For emergencies, call me.”
Erick’s faint smile appeared as he gently tugged at the corner of his mouth. It was as though he had caught a glimmer of hope in the midst of despair.
He had forgotten how long it had been since he had smiled like this.
Chapter 323 Prepare a Midnight Snack
Catherine had just settled into the car when Ronin couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“Catherine, what was Erick up to just now?” What made Ronin wonder was when Catherine casually reached out and touched Erick’s hand at the end.
They’d only met a few times, but they seemed really tight, which made him jealous! Catherine decided to brush off Ronin’s question. She knew him too well.
Every so often, Ronin would do something like this. Ignoring him was the way to go. Catherine adjusted her seat and told Ronin, “Give me a heads up when we arrive!”
Seeing that Catherine wanted to take a break, Ronin understood that she didn’t feel like talking. He stayed quiet and let her relax with her eyes closed.
At the Duncans’.
With the latest information in hand, Paxton knocked on the study door. He opened the door and entered the study only after hearing a “coming” from inside.
“Mr. Duncan, I have a message from the Winfreds!”
In the dimly lit study, Branden was completely immersed in a crucial online meeting while seated at his desk.
“Let’s take a ten-minute break.”
Branden’s cold voice came through the microphone, and they all quickly logged off, not wanting to be slow. After muting the microphone, Branden turned to look at Paxton.
The room was dark, but Branden’s face was clear in the computer screen’s glow. That stunning face was the object of envy for many.
When Paxton noticed Branden glancing his way, he quickly got the message and gave a brief report.
“Mr. Duncan, Erick has been returned to the Winfreds. Miss Swann and Ronin were the ones who took him back, but currently, there’s no news of them signing any agreement with Xavier.”
Paxton couldn’t help but furrow his brow as he continued, “It doesn’t look like Miss Swann and Ronin are actual Hacker Alliance members, Mr. Duncan. It seems more like they were hired by the Hacker Alliance to bring Erick back to the Winfreds.”
Otherwise, why’d they finish the job but not sign any contract? That would be giving away their leverage. If the Winfreds were to change their minds, what would the Hacker Alliance use as bargaining chips?
The Hacker Alliance is a super secretive group with exceptional members, each having unique skills. Saying Catherine and Ronin were part of the Hacker Alliance might have been a bit much, but they could have been hired or had some connection with them.
But these were just Paxton’s opinions. The final verdict would be up to Branden. “Keep an eye on Catherine and make sure she’s safe!” Branden ordered. Paxton didn’t hesitate. “Got it, Mr. Duncan. We’re all set!”
Though he responded fast, Paxton didn’t think Catherine needed protection. He was well aware of Catherine’s abilities, and even two of him might not stand a chance against her.
The world saw the “cursed daughter” of the Swanns as useless, but little did they know she was a real pro! Seeing Branden stand up suddenly, Paxton followed suit immediately.
“Mr. Duncan, where are you off to?”
Branden gave him a quick look and whispered, “Now’s the right time to get some late-night snacks for her!” Paxton was momentarily surprised, and his eyes widened.
Did Mr. Duncan realize what he had just said?
Late at night, at the Winfreds’.
The lights were still on inside the Winfreds’ study at that moment. The old butler stood respectfully to the side, bowing his head slightly as he reported to Xavier.
“Mr. Winfred, Mr. Erick is all good now. He’s in that little west-side building, and we’ve got someone taking care of him.”
When they mentioned “taking care of,” they meant having someone watch him to ensure Erick didn’t run off.
Once the butler wrapped up, Jeremy, standing beside him, couldn’t hold back and said, “Hey, are you losing your marbles? That guy, what sort of ‘ young master’ is he? He’s just a useless, homeless bum! If it weren’t for Dad-”
Before Jeremy could finish his sentence, Xavier coldly interrupted, ” Jeremy, shut your mouth!”
Xavier scolded loudly, and Jeremy felt some fear, “Dad, it’s just us here, even if I say it, so what? That bastard won’t know!” he said. Xavier glared at Jeremy, frustrated.
He couldn’t understand why he had a son who was nothing like him. Jeremy wasn’t just lacking in guile. He often rushed into things with little thought.
Before Xavier could speak, Jeremy suggested again, “Dad, since we’ve found Erick, why don’t we just take him to the hospital for a test?”
Xavier shot Jeremy an annoyed look and said, “Do you know what Erick went through in the black market?”
“Are you feeling sorry for him?” Jeremy asked with great displeasure in his eyes. Frustrated by Jeremy’s stubbornness, Xavier coughed violently.
The butler immediately poured him some coffee, comforting Xavier while trying to explain things to Jeremy.
“Young master, there’s a misunderstanding. Your father isn’t feeling sorry for Eric. What he’s getting at is that Erick’s thriving in the black market and serving as a right-hand man to a local boss highlights his capabilities. He meant not to rush things too much to avoid jeopardizing the entire plan.”
Even though Jeremy knew his father wasn’t sympathizing with Eric, he still couldn’t accept it. “Dad, he’s just a henchman. We can assign more bodyguards to deal with him!”
Xavier didn’t want to argue with Jeremy. After all, a person’s potential was limitless, and it was impossible to predict how much they could unleash in a crisis.
He always aimed for business stability, requiring thorough planning before moving forward. The black market was filled with all sorts of people, and Erick’s survival and usefulness there indicated his abilities.
To be cautious was better in case of any unexpected situations.
“Drop this for now, Jeremy. Focus on overseeing the company. The contract for the South Apridon project with the Hacker Alliance isn’t finalized.”
Jeremy proudly interjected, “Dad, you won’t believe it. Two green Hacker Alliance members turned up today, looking like fresh high school grads. I doubt they can handle our project. Why not explore other options and make some money?”
Xavier shared Jeremy’s concerns about the two guys not mentioning the contract. Still, he felt something was amiss.
“Don’t underestimate them. While the Hacker Alliance might struggle with this project, we can’t afford to alienate them. They’ll sign the contract eventually. It’s just a matter of time.”
Jeremy kept his reservations quiet, thinking his father was growing overly cautious due to age. Even if the Hacker Alliance signed, Jeremy had no intention of cooperating.
He could readily find other buyers, make a profit, and let them uncover their internal discord. Wouldn’t that be a case of “when two dogs fight for a bone, the third one runs away with it”? In business, one needs to be bold!
Chapter 324 Their True Purpose
Catherine had just scolded Johnathan and given a little warning to the mischievous Liana. The house had become surprisingly quiet in the past few days.
After a significant setback, Korbin was wary of picking fights with Catherine. Rachael was also busy looking after Johnathan to keep him out of trouble, leaving her with no time or energy to deal with Catherine.
In Class 8, the atmosphere had changed significantly. Even after class, there were no more rowdy noises. Students mostly sat quietly, chatting in their seats, and the chaos was a thing of the past.
Noticing that Catherine wasn’t resting or playing games, Ronin brought a chair and sat close to her.
“Catherine, did you really send Johnathan to Dentler Academy?”
Catherine casually nodded. Ronin believed sending Johnathan to Dentler Academy was a fitting punishment, but he couldn’t help but worry.
Dentler Academy was renowned for its life-and-death waiver agreement, which required all students to sign it. Although the chances of accidental death were slim, it wasn’t impossible.
Some students suffered severe injuries, and a few even died on campus. Moreover, Johnathan was the Swanns’ only son, and Catherine had promised Vicente to protect the Swanns.
Wasn’t she concerned about Johnathan’s safety at that school? Little did Ronin know that Catherine had taken precautions to ensure Johnathan’s safety at Dentler Academy.
She had connections with the current headmaster and had made arrangements to protect Johnathan from harm, ensuring he wouldn’t suffer any injuries.
Leaving Johnathan in Casier to continue his unruly behavior would have been a surer path to his destruction. A lot of Johnathan’s rebellious behavior had been caused by Rachael spoiling him. If Dentler Academy couldn’t straighten him out, he’d be a lost cause.
“Catherine, we haven’t signed the contract with the Winfreds yet. I’ve already sent someone to their place today. Once they finish signing, I’ll arrange for a team to head to South Apridon as soon as possible. The sooner we act, the sooner we’ll get our hands on everything!”
Catherine was responsible for the big- picture planning, while Ronin handled the deployment details. Catherine lazily replied, “You arrange everything.”
As she finished speaking, Ronin noticed his phone ringing.
“Catherine, I need to answer this!”
Catherine initially paid it no mind, but as she turned her head, she noticed Ronin’s face change.
Despite Ronin’s seemingly carefree demeanor, he had been with her for many years and had matured significantly. He was exceptionally composed in his actions.
He wouldn’t be wearing that expression if it weren’t for something serious. Catherine stood up, walked over to Ronin, frowned, and asked in a low voice, “What’s happening?”
Ronin ended the call and nodded at her, a rare hint of frustration visible on his face.
“Catherine, the Winfreds are going way too far. We worked hard to find their son and spent over ten million, and now that old brat is denying it.”
Catherine didn’t need to guess. She knew something must have gone wrong when signing the contract with the Winfreds. Her face stayed neutral as she asked calmly, “What did our people say?”
“They said the Winfreds were making excuses, clearly stalling to avoid signing the contract. I think they’re being dishonest and want out!”
Ronin was furious. They had never encountered such a situation in all the years of doing business with Catherine. The Winfreds had pushed their limits.
Ronin wanted to return to their base immediately, get a bunch of people, and attack the Winfreds to make them disappear for good. In contrast to Ronin’s anger, Catherine remained calm, almost like an observer.
“Don’t rush it. Tell our folks to return. If the Winfreds don’t want to sign, we won’t push them.”
Catherine’s response shocked Ronin. He looked at her with intense disbelief in his eyes.
“Catherine, are we just letting them off like this?”
“Hmph!” Catherine’s icy tone sent shivers down the spine.
“Don’t worry, I never make bad deals.”
Catherine’s frosty tone gave Ronin chills. Catherine’s ominous words immediately made Ronin feel much better. He soon realized the Winfreds had made a big mistake, and when Catherine acted, they would be in trouble!
“Hehe, Catherine, I’ll follow your lead. When the time comes, the Winfreds will beg us to sign the contract.”
Just as they finished discussing the Winfreds, Ronin’s phone rang again. The constant ringing annoyed Ronin, and he couldn’t help but mutter, ” Who’s got time to call me every day?”
Ronin reluctantly answered and then went cold when he heard the other person’s words. After hanging up the phone, Ronin hurriedly told Catherine, “Catherine, the Winfreds are ruthless. They took Erick to the hospital, but they don’t plan to accept him at all!”
“What do you mean?” Catherine inquired. After regaining his composure, Ronin explained the situation to Catherine.
If the Winfreds hadn’t rushed to take Erick to the hospital, their true intentions wouldn’t have been revealed so quickly. Xavier was seriously ill, with both of his kidneys failing.
To survive, he needed a kidney transplant. However, the Winfreds’ two sons were unsuitable donors. The elder son had kidney damage from an injury several years ago, and donating to Xavier would ruin his life.
The younger son was too young, and Xavier couldn’t bear to make him a donor. After his daughter’s compatibility test, it turned out she wasn’t a match.
So, Xavier thought of his abandoned son, Erick. On the second day of finding Erick, Xavier rushed him to the hospital.
“Catherine, Xavier is ruthless! He doesn’t even want to wait a moment! Doesn’t he realize that if Erick donates a kidney, he’ll be in a worse condition than Jeremy?”
Catherine sensed something was off in Ronin’s words. “What’s happening? Is Erick also unwell?”
“Yeah, I checked his background. He had a kidney injury from a past fight, and it ruptured. Although it’s healed, donating another kidney to Xavier would be hard on him. Such bad luck.”
Before Ronin could finish, he noticed Catherine had left. He hurried after her. “Catherine, where are you going? I’m coming too!”
He needed to protect Catherine and make sure she was safe.
Chapter 325 Not Good People
Catherine and Ronin had taken a temporary leave from school to visit a relatively unknown hospital in Casier. Based on the information Ronin had received, Erick had been brought to this hospital.
He needed a series of tests, and once they were completed without issues, he would be taken to Oceanvile.
Oceanvile was where the Winfreds had their roots. If they waited until Erick was brought there, it would be much harder to get close to him. At the far end of the top floor’s corridor, Ronin and Catherine waited near the stairs.
“Catherine, the room at the very end is Erick’s. There are guards at the door, we should be in the right place.”
“Ok,” Catherine replied tersely. Ronin hesitated for a moment before asking, “Catherine, are we really going to save him?”
Their prior deal with the Winfreds included an agreement not to interfere once the deal was completed. While the Winfreds might be unethical, it was their business, and they didn’t need to get involved.
In terms of a business perspective, messing with the Winfreds for Erick wasn’t a profitable deal. Catherine understood Ronin’s point. From a business standpoint, this deal didn’t make sense.
However, she always went with her gut. Given her connection with Erick, giving him a helping hand was something she was willing to do.
The Winfreds’ unethical behavior was something she disliked. Catherine coldly responded to Ronin with two words, clearly indicating her stance.
“I’m unhappy.”
Ronin didn’t say more. If Catherine was upset with the Winfreds, it was their bad luck. They were ready to take actions. The entrance was guarded by two burly bodyguards, and with their skills, taking them out would be a piece of cake.
But if they wanted to do this without raising any suspicions, distracting the guards required careful planning. Seeing Catherine about to enter, Ronin quickly stopped her.
“Catherine, hold on. Let me check first. Then he took out a laptop he carried with him and sat down. This laptop was as compact as a tablet but packed a punch with its impressive features.
He effortlessly hacked into the hospital’s computer system, quickly mapping out their route. After taking Catherine to the janitor’s room on the upper level, Ronin pointed at a ventilation shaft above.
“This vent goes straight to Erick’s room. If we want to avoid alerting the Winfreds, we can use it to enter directly,” Ronin explained.
“Alright,” Catherine nodded. Hospital computer systems weren’t flawless, and Ronin’s speedy hacking was no surprise.
After all, Ronin was a skilled hacker who could break into even high- security systems, so this was easy for him. Catherine gave a strong push off the wall, climbed onto the ceiling, and effortlessly opened the vent’s louvers, sliding inside.
Her small size made it easy for her to move through the narrow vent. After Catherine vanished into the vent, Ronin skillfully shut the louvers.
He grabbed a tissue and wiped off any faint footprints on the wall, clearly showing his keen eye for detail from years of experience.
His coordination with Catherine was exceptionally seamless. Catherine navigated a bend and quickly reached the ceiling of the next floor.
The bend led to the end of the corridor, right where Erick’s room was. Catherine peeked through the small openings in the louvers and saw only Erick lying in the bed, with nothing else in sight.
Catherine moved silently, lifting the louvers and jumping down gracefully. She didn’t make any sound. In his drowsy state, Erick felt someone approaching him.
He didn’t even bother to open his eyes but stubbornly shouted, “Whatever you want, bring it on. I’m not afraid of you!”
Although he seemed defiant, his voice was hoarse. Catherine gazed at Erick, who lay on the bed, appearing tired with dark circles under his eyes. She chuckled coldly.
“Heh!”
The faint sound startled Erick, and he mustered all his strength to open his eyes wide. There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes, which quickly faded.
He gazed at Catherine with a lazy, indifferent expression. “I’m already with the Winfreds. I’m useless to you now. No need for you to be here!”
Catherine ignored his words and reached for the IV bag hanging beside him. She inspected the bag, which had complicated scientific terms written on it.
Catherine couldn’t help but smile coldly. It was just as she suspected. To control Erick, the Winfreds had injected him with a drug that rendered his muscles powerless.
They had also added a small amount of sedative to the medication, making him both awake and helpless.
This was not something that should be done in a legitimate hospital, which is probably why the Winfreds went for this small private hospital for Erick’s checkup.
Once the tests were completed, they would take Erick back to Oceanvile, where the Winfreds would have complete control.
Catherine deftly removed the needle from Erick’s hand, and Erick, unable to move, watched her with a cold gaze. Catherine sat down casually, showing no signs of being an intruder. Her beautiful face had a sneaky smile, and her pretty eyes looked around the room.
“I answered your questions before, now it’s your turn,” she said. Erick, still suspicious, looked at her but didn’t respond. On the other hand, Catherine didn’t care about Erick’s attitude. In her world, she did what she wanted, plain and simple.
“Did you know beforehand that they planned to take your kidney?”
After all, Erick had sent her a distress signal before, or else he wouldn’t have chased after her when she left the Winfreds’.
He knew he couldn’t confront her and didn’t trust her either, so he merely asked inquisitively without taking any action. Erick simply shook his head.
Then he shared a long-buried secret from his past. His expression was cold, and despite a faint smile on his pale face, it held a sharp and mocking edge.
“I didn’t know the Winfreds’ intentions, but I was certain it couldn’t be anything good.
“The Winfreds are not good people!”
Chapter 326 So Powerful
The reason Erick said there was not a single good person among the Winfreds dated back to the relationship between Xavier and Erick’s mother many years ago.
While the Winfreds had wealth, it had dwindled in Xavier’s father’s time. To revive the Winfreds, Xavier married Jeremy’s mother and used her family’s money and his business skills to turn the Winfred Group into a successful company.
Erick’s mother and Xavier were originally college sweethearts. However, they separated after graduating. When they met again later, Xavier lied about being married and got back together with Erick’s mother.
When Jeremy’s mother found out about Erick mother’s pregnancy, she confronted them.
As a result, Erick’s mother had a tough delivery and passed away shortly after giving birth to Erick.
To prevent Jeremy’s mother’s family from withdrawing their investment, Xavier abandoned Erick and left him to be cared for by his grandparents.
Erick’s grandparents were devastated by their daughter’s sudden death, and their health declined. Within a few years, they passed away, leaving Erick as an orphan who was eventually sent to an orphanage.
Erick spoke monotonously about his past as if he were telling an unrelated story. His expression remained cold as he locked eyes with Catherine.
“What good can my father, who abandoned me long ago, expect from me now?”
The bitterness in his look showed how cold Erick’s heart was. After listening to his story, Catherine remained composed.
Her expression lacked both mockery and sympathy because she was used to. hardships, which made Erick’s story seem ordinary to her. She then asked her second question, Wanna leave?”
Erick hesitated for a moment, then looked at Catherine with a mocking expression. “I have no value left, will you help me?” Catherine narrowed her eyes at him. ” Answer my question.”
Erick nodded without hesitation. “Yes!”
The Winfreds treated him unfairly, and his connection to Xavier was severed when Xavier abandoned him. All he felt now was anger. If it weren’t for Jeremy’s mother, his own mother might still be alive.
He could have had a better childhood without all the suffering. His grandparents were well-educated and refined people, and he could see from his mother’s photos that she was a kind woman.
Catherine grabbed her phone, dialed Ronin, and said, “Get the things ready. I’m bringing him with me.”
Then she ended the call. Erick had no idea what she was planning. He was weak and could only lie on the bed, watching Catherine.
Catherine glanced around and spotted a wheelchair nearby. She wheeled it over and helped Erick onto it. When everything was ready, her phone buzzed.
Catherine picked up the call, hearing Ronin’s breathless voice. “Catherine, I’ve distracted them. You’ve got three minutes to get to the entrance, and I’ll be there to pick you up. Hurry!”
Catherine spoke calmly, “Don’t worry, we have enough time.”
She pushed the wheelchair and headed straight out of the ward. Instead of taking the elevator, she chose the stairs.
There were five floors between here and the ground floor. Erick was too weak to walk, and even if he tried, he wouldn’t reach the entrance in three minutes, let alone thirty.
He didn’t understand why Catherine was so confident in her words. Catherine wheeled Erick over to the staircase railing. She opened her arms, preparing to lift Erick and place him on the railing. With a raised eyebrow and a curious look, she asked, “You ok?”
Erick grasped Catherine’s plan the moment he saw the staircase railing. He knew she was truly determined to get him out of there. Without hesitation, he nodded and said, “I’m ok.”
Giving it a try wouldn’t hurt. Seeing Erick’s determined expression, Catherine couldn’t help but smile. She whispered, “Don’t worry, you won’t die.
Without further ado, she grabbed Erick and swiftly jumped off the railing. Taking advantage of the railing’s slick surface, they slid down the stairs one after the other.
The whole thing felt like an exciting roller coaster. Erick was weak, and his senses were dull, making the exhilarating sensation even more intense. His innate fear was amplified, making him feel even more vulnerable than usual.
As they descended from the fifth floor, their combined weight without protection meant they would likely get hurt.
Erick knew even if he didn’t get killed by this, he would probably break several ribs. Closing his eyes, he braced himself for the pain.
“Thud!”
A sound echoed, but the expected pain didn’t follow. Even though they still bumped into something, it wasn’t too hard, and the pain didn’t last long.
In a moment of confusion, Erick opened his eyes and saw Catherine flipping herself over gracefully and landing without a hitch.
She had also managed to pull him down effortlessly. Despite Erick’s tall and lean stature, he still weighed quite a bit. However, Catherine skillfully handled him, and what amazed Erick the most was that neither of them get hurt.
Pulling off such a feat required immense arm strength. Erick silently looked at Catherine, focusing on her slim arms. It was difficult to believe that her slender and delicate arms could be so incredibly strong.
“Hey, hey!”
Catherine’s stern voice snapped Erick back from his thoughts, leaving him puzzled as he looked at her. Without a word, Catherine took his arm and quickly led him away.
When they reached the hospital entrance, a black car sped towards them. Catherine swiftly opened the car door and pushed Erick inside, following right behind him.
Before the car door had even shut completely, Ronin revved the engine and accelerated.
“Catherine, you did it in just two minutes and thirty-eight seconds, faster than expected!” Ronin’s enthusiastic voice revealed his excitement. He was clearly thrilled with how quickly Catherine was..
“Those idiot guards are probably still stuck in the bathroom. They might not have even realized what happened!” Ronin added.
Compared to Ronin’s excitement, Catherine remained composed. She simply advised, “Focus on driving!”
Ronin calmed down and concentrated on driving. Erick sat in the back seat, silently watching the two of them. In his chilly gaze, there was a touch of admiration.
He liked their teamwork, and the trust between them.
Chapter 327 Offending the Wrong People
The Winfred Group’s Subsidiary Company. When Jeremy got the phone call, he got incredibly angry that the veins in his neck were bulging.
He clenched the phone firmly and scolded angrily, “You bunch of morons! How can you screw up so badly? Can’t you even watch over one useless guy?”
The other end of the phone remained silent, and Jeremy’s anger grew to the point where he slammed the phone against the wall.
“Bang!”
With a loud crash, his state-of-the-art phone shattered into pieces and fell to the ground. At the same time, the office door was pushed open from the outside.
Xavier entered with a cold expression. When he saw who it was, Jeremy didn’t even have time to hide the anger on his face.
Xavier’s leather shoes thudded heavily on the wooden floor as he walked, each step feeling like a punch to Jeremy’s gut. He just stood there, unable to say a word. Xavier slowly sat down and scolded in a cold tone, “You have quite the temper.”
Jeremy kept his head down, too scared to look up. He knew very well that his father was not someone to be trifled with when he was in such a rage.
Looking at Jeremy’s helpless appearance, Xavier felt even more annoyed and couldn’t help but curse, I’ve told you countless times to be cautious and not rush into things. Why won’t you ever listen?”
Jeremy knew that his father must have come for the matter concerning Erick, and he couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
“Dad, I had people watching the hospital, and I injected medicine into Erick. How did he disappear like that? Plus, the hospital cameras stopped working exactly when Erick disappeared. It’s too much of a coincidence!”
“Are you telling the truth?” Xavier asked, raising his eyebrows in slight surprise.
“Of course not, Dad. I’d never lie about something this big,” Jeremy confidently replied. Xavier could tell that Jeremy was telling the truth, but he also found it strange.
“Dad, could this be the Hacker Alliance’s doing? I doubt Erick, that brat, has the skills for this!”
Xavier quickly noticed something amiss and gave Jeremy a stern look.
“Did you offend the Hacker Alliance?”
Jeremy realized he had accidentally let something slip and looked extremely embarrassed. Xavier slammed his hand on the nearby table in frustration, “You fool! At a time like this, you’re still trying to hide things from me?”
“Dad, it’s not a big deal. The Hacker Alliance sent someone this morning to discuss the contract, and I managed to send them away. They didn’t say much and just left. I thought it was fine!” Jeremy said.
Seeing Jeremy still seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation, Xavier felt like he was about to have a heart attack.
“You thought it was fine? Do you know what kind of organization the Hacker Alliance is? Do they easily let go of what they’re interested in?”
Just as they were arguing, Xavier’s phone suddenly rang. He picked up the phone and his expression grew increasingly grave. Seeing Xavier’s reaction, Jeremy panicked, “Dad, what’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?”
Xavier pointed a trembling finger at Jeremy, his eyes widening significantly, “You… you…”
Before he could finish his sentences, he passed out completely! Erick never expected that Catherine would bring him back to the black market.
As he observed Catherine confidently entering the heart of the black market, he began to question what Catherine’s relationship with Sean really was.
He hadn’t known Sean’s identity before, but later, he learned that Sean was the Mr. Scott of the black market. Gaining a high position in the black market at a young age gave Sean great influence and power there.
Unless someone had a death wish, nobody dared to mess with Sean. Although Catherine was a skilled boxer, she was still just a boxer. How could she casually enter the core of the black market?
What was her relationship with Sean?
Before Erick could come up with an answer, they were already back in Sean’s office. Sean was reading documents when someone barged in without even a greeting.
He was nearly losing his temper because they barged in suddenly. But everything changed when he glanced up and spotted Catherine. In an instant, he calmed down.
He couldn’t afford to provoke Catherine. Taking a closer look, Sean realized that not only Catherine but also Ronin and Erick were there. He put down the documents and stood up slowly, assessing them.
“Well, how come you left just yesterday, and today you’re back? Has my shabby place suddenly become a hot spot that everyone likes to visit?”
Catherine didn’t say anything. She strolled over to a bookshelf, grabbed a
book in front of everyone, and opened a hidden compartment next to it, revealing a black cabinet.
Sean, feeling impatient, yelled at Catherine’s back, “What’s going on here? Don’t you see how many people are in here? Why are you opening my compartment?”
The black cabinet was actually a fridge, but Catherine didn’t pay attention to Sean’s complaints. She opened the fridge and began to take something out.
Sean didn’t know what she was up to and rushed to stop her. Ronin stepped forward and stood in Sean’s way. He assumed a confident posture and declared, “If you want to get past, you’ll have to step over my dead body!”
Seeing Ronin’s stance, Sean turned red with anger.
“You’re insane!”
Catherine found what she was looking for, turned around, and waved Erick over, signaling him to come closer. Erick didn’t hesitate and approached obediently, walking unusually slowly.
While Erick was walking, Catherine explained to Sean, “Don’t worry, I haven’t touched your precious belongings!”
Then, she rolled up Erick’s sleeve, took a syringe from the nearby area, and injected its contents into Erick’s arm.
“Alright, go rest for a bit!”
After finishing the injection for Erick, Catherine casually closed Sean’s little secret compartment. Sean, seeing that Catherine indeed hadn’t tampered with his valuables, breathed a sigh of relief.
Nevertheless, he decided that as soon as they left, he would relocate his precious items. Glancing at the small medicine vial Catherine had used, Sean suddenly realized what had happened. He shifted his gaze to Erick.
“Did someone give Tyler a dose of Softener?”
“Softener” was just another name for this drug. Actually, it was a drug that weakened one’s limbs. This kind of thing was quite common in the black market.
Correspondingly, Sean also had an antidote for this type of drug. Just now, Catherine had administered the antidote to Erick, and its effects would kick in within ten minutes.
No wonder Sean had noticed that Erick seemed sluggish today, lacking his usual fierceness. It turned out he had been drugged!
Chapter 328 Going Back to Cook
Sean looked at Catherine in confusion. ” Catherine, didn’t you send Erick back to the Winfreds? Why did you bring him back?”
Catherine leaned against the wall, appearing indifferent, and didn’t respond to Sean at all. Well, Sean had to turn to Ronin, who was standing nearby. Ronin, clearly irritated, chimed in, ” Xavier, that old brat, plays dirty.
Catherine doesn’t like him!”
Sean finally grasped the situation, Xavier must have crossed a line. Otherwise, Catherine, known for her laid-back attitude, wouldn’t bother getting involved.
Feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket, Catherine nonchalantly took it out and checked the message, [Are you coming back for dinner?)
Catherine glanced at the message, put her phone back in her pocket, and without turning around, she casually told Sean, “I’m leaving him here for now.”
Sean, looking visibly alarmed, glanced at Ronin next to him and asked in disbelief, “Did I just see Catherine smiling? Who on earth has the magic touch to make her smile like that? Unbelievable!”
Of course, Ronin knew who it was without a second thought.
“Who else could it be? Besides that Dandy,” Ronin replied with a touch of anger. In Ronin’s eyes, Branden was nothing more than a charming flirt who had managed to captivate Catherine with his looks.
Sean wanted to probe further, but Ronin chose to remain tight-lipped. The two of them were so caught up in their talk that they didn’t see Erick’s expression.
Catherine’s smile was like a breath of fresh air, gradually quenching his parched heart and reigniting his hope. At the Duncan Corporation. Triston kept hanging around in Branden’s office, waiting for him to go party together in the evening.
“Branden, come on, do me a favor. It’s been so long since you partied with us. Taking a little break from work won’t hurt, and the Duncan Corporation can handle things without you!”
Triston stayed in Branden’s office because he was afraid that Branden would disappear again. It had been a while since no one could find Branden, leaving all friends baffled.
Triston had promised in front of a few friends that he would definitely bring Branden along today. How would he face them if he failed?
Branden ignored Triston. Once he saw Catherine’s reply, he promptly stood up to leave. Triston, seeing Branden about to leave, hurriedly followed, “Branden, no need to rush. We can first go change our clothes.”
However, Paxton stopped him right after he had taken a few steps. He looked at Paxton, puzzled, “What’s the matter? I’m going to party with Branden. Don’t you understand?”
would disappear again.
It had been a while since no one could find Branden, leaving all friends baffled. Triston had promised in front of a few friends that he would definitely bring Branden along today. How would he face them if he failed?
Branden ignored Triston.
Once he saw Catherine’s reply, he promptly stood up to leave. Triston, seeing Branden about to leave, hurriedly followed, “Branden, no need to rush. We can first go change our clothes.”
However, Paxton stopped him right after he had taken a few steps. He looked at Paxton, puzzled, “What’s the matter? I’m going to party with Branden. Don’t you understand?”
Paxton looked expressionless at Triston. “Mr. Duncan isn’t going to hang out with you.”
“What?” Triston looked puzzled at Paxton, his eyes showing his confusion. “How did you know?”
Paxton rolled his eyes in silence as a response. Feeling disrespected, Triston got angry and tried to confront Paxton. However, in the next moment, Paxton grabbed his arm.
Knowing he couldn’t win a physical confrontation with Paxton, Triston persisted in bothering him. Paxton reluctantly shared a few details with him. The next second, Triston was so surprised that his mouth hung open.
He stared wide-eyed at Paxton and exclaimed, “Is what you’re saying true? Branden leaves work on time every day just to go home and cook for his girlfriend?”
“Branden cooks?” Triston asked again. Paxton nodded silently, Even though he also thought it was odd, that’s how it was. Triston was so stunned that he nearly passed out. He yelled in frustration, ” Well, I’ll be damned!”
When Branden returned home, Catherine was already there. She sat with her legs crossed near the front door, and her small size made her seem even tinier when she huddled up.
In this curled-up position, she looked quite sad, like a lonely, abandoned kitten. Branden’s heart twinged with guilt for making her wait so long. He squatted down to face Catherine, saying, “Why aren’t you going inside?”
Branden had replaced the front door with a fingerprint lock to for Catherine and had recorded her fingerprint for easy access.
Because he knew that Catherine didn’t. like carrying keys. When Catherine heard him, she looked up and calmly responded, “Too lazy.”
Branden couldn’t help but chuckle. His girl was incredibly cute. Actually, the reason Catherine sat right in front of the door and didn’t bother unlocking it, even though she had the ability to do so, was simply because she knew Branden would arrive very soon. If he was coming right away, why bother hurrying?
Well, she could aways relied on Branden! Branden reached out and gently stroked Catherine’s hair, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at her. ” Alright, let me open the door.”
“Click!”
The door was open. Branden had just stood up when he turned back to squat down. He simply reached out and picked her up, not giving Catherine a chance to react.
“I bet you’re too lazy to walk, aren’t you?”
Catherine leaned on him silently, but the slight smile on her lips showed how she felt. Branden put her on her favorite reclining sofa, so that she could relax.
Meanwhile, he began to prepare ingredients in the kitchen. They talked casually, like any regular couple, showing their warm affection without making a big show of it.
“Why are you back so early today?” Branden asked. At this time, Catherine’s classes should have just ended. That’s why Branden had returned home later than Catherine. He didn’t know she had skipped her classes.
“I had to go out for something this afternoon and came back as soon as I got your message,” Catherine quickly replied. Branden didn’t dig further.
Catherine had her own life, and they didn’t have to spill everything. Sharing everything wouldn’t improve their relationship but make things more complex.
Branden got some fruit ready and placed it nearby for her to grab easily.
“Don’t eat too much fruit. We’ll have dinner later!”
“Okay!” Catherine nodded obediently. Branden always did this, offering her a variety of fruits but not letting her eat too much, claiming it might spoil her appetite for dinner!
Branden went into the kitchen, and shortly after, his phone in his pocket started ringing. Once the call connected, Paxton’s voice sounded cold as he said, “Mr. Duncan, I’ve got some information.”
Chapter 329 Her Happiness Mattered
Paxton reported the latest information to Branden. “Mr. Duncan, the Hacker Alliance acted against the Winfreds because they expelled the Alliance’s representative. They’ve completely stopped the Winfreds’ maritime shipping in Oceanvile. Xavier, upon hearing this, got extremely angry and was rushed to the hospital. We don’t know how he’s doing now.”
From Paxton’s report, Branden instantly deduced the situation. The shipping route was like the heart of the Winfred Group. They made a lot of money from it in recent years.
If the Hacker Alliance had the power to cut off the Winfreds’ lifeline, it meant they could destroy them in the blink of an eye. How could Xavier not be anxious?
Branden coldly commented, “”The Winfreds brought this upon themselves!”
Paxton agreed with Branden. In business, honesty was important, and the Winfreds deserved their problems for not being truthful.
“Mr. Duncan, word has it that the Hacker Alliance not only messed up the Winfreds’ business but also sent two pros to snatch Erick.”
When Branden heard this, he stopped chopping vegetables for a moment and glanced out of the kitchen.
Catherine was still busy playing a game. Branden shook his head quietly, wearing a slight smile on his face, and went on listening to Paxton’s report.
“Mr. Duncan, right now, the Winfreds. are actively searching for Erick, and it seems they’re seeking help from the Swanns,” Paxton reported.
In the Four Noble Families of Casier, the Lamberts had strong connections with the Duncans. So, if the Winfreds asked the Swanns for help, it was like asking the Duncans for help.
However, Xavier wouldn’t easily approach the Duncans unless it was a last resort. Other than Lamberts and the Duncans, the remaining options were the Andersons and the Swanns.
The Swanns had a well-established business in Oceanvile, making it a logical choice for the Winfreds to approach first. Branden wasn’t surprised by this.
“Keep a close eye on them,” Branden ordered.
Paxton knew that Branden currently cared about Miss Catherine, so they had to be extra cautious when it came to the Swanns.
“Mr. Duncan, rest assured. Everything is set up,” Paxton said.
“Oh, one more thing!”
Branden stayed calm and just said, “Go on. Paxton went on, “Mr. Duncan, it looks like the people we placed around Miss Swann have been found out. She’s purposely avoiding them. Should we consider sending more people?”
Speaking of this, Paxton felt guilty. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if this became public? The famous Duncan guard team couldn’t even watch over a young girl?
Paxton had expected Branden to be angry, but Branden remained calm.
“No need. Withdraw them all,” Branden said. Paxton hesitated for a moment but then quickly replied, “Understood, Mr. Duncan.”
Branden had his men watching over Catherine mostly to keep her safe because her sudden return had sparked interest of some greedy people regarding her inheritance. But now that he saw Catherine could handle things on her own, adding more guards would be pointless. There’s a saying, “The eyes are bigger than the stomach.”
Now that Branden knew Catherine could take care of herself and had some skills, adding more people would be pointless.
With her abilities, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to find it. Since she was intentionally avoiding them, it meant she didn’t like their presence.
In that case, then removing the surveillance was the right choice.
Her happiness mattered most.
At the Swann Corporation. It was already quitting time, and the meeting room was brightly lit. Korbin, accompanied by his secretary, personally met with Xavier. The news had spread; Xavier was seriously ill and unconscious in the hospital.
But no one could have expected that the very leader of the Winfreds, who. was rumored to be unconscious, was now in the Swann Corporation’s meeting room negotiating face-to-face with Korbin.
“Mr. Swann, if you can lend a hand this time, I will be extremely grateful,” said Korbin. Both Korbin and Xavier were seasoned players in the business world, known for their polite exteriors but ruthless natures underneath.
Now that Xavier had come knocking on his door, how could Korbin easily let go of this opportunity?
If he didn’t extract something substantial from Xavier, could he still deserve the title of a seasoned player?
“Mr. Winfred, it’s a pleasure to have you here in Casier. You came straight to me with your concerns, which speaks volumes about our mutual respect. If you need a hand, count on me to give it my all,” said Korbin, flashing a polite smile at Xavier.
Then he added, “Rest assured. I will do whatever I can!”
Xavier maintained his composure, trying to appear calm. How could Xavier not understand Korbin’s true intentions?
Despite the polite facade, he knew that Korbin had no real intention of helping him unless he gained concrete benefits.
Given the immense crisis facing the Winfreds right now, Xavier also had to swallow his pride and observe if there was any room for negotiation with the Hacker Alliance.
As for Erick, that pesky kid, he had no choice but to seek the assistance of the Swanns in finding him. Furthermore, he suspected that the Swanns might have played a role in it.
In order to minimize the damage, Xavier had to throw out his most valuable bargaining chip.
“”Thank you, Mr. Swann, for your generous help. If we can find my son this time, I am willing to offer a 20% share of our maritime shipping routes as a token of appreciation!”
Korbin had long been extending his reach into Oceanvile, aiming to expand the Swanns’ territory.
In Casier, as long as the Duncan Corporation was around, there was no room for the Swann Corporation to grow, unless they allied with the Duncan Corporation.
The Duncan Corporation was much more powerful than the Swann Corporation and had no plans to team up with them.
If the Swann Corporation was the one reaching out for cooperation first, it would mean they were in a less favorable position.
Since that plan didn’t work, given Korbin’s eager nature, he naturally sought to grow the Swann Corporation’s influence elsewhere.
Oceanvile was his top priority, but there were several influential families here, making it challenging for him to establish his business there.
Now that the Winfreds were offering their main business, it was like giving Korbin a key to enter Oceanvile.
When Korbin heard about this offer, his eyes lit up instantly, and he struggled to control his emotions, saying, “Mr. Winfred, I’m really moved by your deep love for your son, just like any parents in the world have for their children. We’re close in age, so I can empathize with your emotions. Don’t worry, I’ll. use all our resources to find your son.”
Xavier knew he had made the right bet. He could tell the outcome from Korbin’s unguarded expression. With the chips on the table, he decided to speak straightforwardly.
“Mr. Swann, I wonder if your second daughter could also help?” Xavier inquired. Korbin looked at Xavier with confusion, not sure what he meant. “Catherine?”
Xavier nodded and showed a photo to Korbin. The photo displayed surveillance footage from the Winfreds’ living room, with several people present, including Catherine.
“My son, Erick, was brought back by Catherine, Mr. Swann. I think she might know something,” Xavier explained.
Korbin was astonished. He hadn’t expected Catherine to be involved. Who exactly was Catherine, and why did she seem to be involved in so many things?
Chapter 330 Disrespecting Father
Korbin looked puzzled as he held Xavier’s photo, his mind swirling with questions. From the photo, there was no doubt that the person in it was Catherine, but what worried him more was the Winfreds’ intentions.
Did it make sense to sacrifice a portion of the mining and shipping businesses for an illegitimate child?
If the Winfreds had no other heirs, Korbin could somewhat understand such a sacrifice. However, Xavier had two legitimate sons, and his wife’s family had significant influence. Allowing Xavier to act recklessly couldn’t be permitted.
Korbin’s greater concern was that Xavier might set a trap and harm the Swanns. After all, the Swanns were currently the weakest among the Four Noble Families. It’s possible that Xavier planned to use them to gain more advantages in Casier.
He gave the photo to his secretary and said, “Take a look!”
After receiving the photo, the secretary took a picture of it and sent it to someone. A few minutes later, the photo analysis results came out.
“Mr. Swann, the verification team has confirmed that the photo is real.”
Korbin fell silent for a few seconds. Then, he stood up directly and instructed his secretary, “Prepare the car. We’re going back.”
The secretary, being thoughtful, asked, “Mr. Swann, should we also call Miss Catherine to return?”
He guessed that Korbin’s quick return to the Swanns had something to do with Catherine. Korbin nodded, and the secretary immediately made the arrangements.
At the Swanns’.
The Swanns’, usually brightly lit, had been quieter lately. All the servants walked carefully, didn’t dare to make any sound. Lately, Rachael had been in a moody and unpredictable state.
As the servants, they had to be cautious. When Korbin came back and saw the strange behavior of the servants and Rachael’s absence, his expression turned serious right away. He turned his gaze to the butler and asked in a cold tone, “Where’s Mrs. Swann?”
The butler answered cautiously with his head down, “Mr. Swann, Mrs. Swann mentioned she’s not feeling great and went to her mother’s place to chill out.”
That was just an excuse. Rachael had actually gone shopping. Since Johnathan was sent away, Rachael had lost her spark. She couldn’t find the energy to hang out with her wealthy friends anymore.
She couldn’t even keep her son safe, and her daughter had sent her packing. When this news spread, people would laugh at her.
Originally, they could have kept this. matter quiet since not many people knew about it. However, Liana, in her attempt to scheme against Catherine, caused a chaos at school.
In the end, she made a fool of herself, and Catherine turned the tables, making her the laughingstock of everyone. This also exposed the fact that Johnathan had been sent away.
Now, the entire upper-class circle in Casier knew that nobody in the Swanns could handle Catherine, the jinx who had returned from the countryside.
Even their most precious son was sent to Dentler Academy because of Catherine. Rachael had become a joke, and she didn’t want to face people outside anymore.
She spent her days venting her anger through excessive shopping. Liana, knowing she had made a mistake, didn’t dare to provoke her mother again.
The most pitiful ones were the servants, who had to endure Rachael’s unpredictable temper every day. Korbin’s first reaction was to curse Rachael, but after some thought, he changed his attitude.
He calmly told the butler, “Never mind, she’s been in a bad mood these days. Let her be.”
Then he added, “When Catherine returns later, bring her to me.”
The butler nodded respectfully and sighed in relief, “Copy that, Mr. Swann.
Soon, the guards said that Audrey had brought Catherine back. This time, the butler immediately had someone brought them in. Audrey had received a call from Korbin’s secretary, telling her to bring Catherine back right away.
Audrey rarely encountered such situations and thought something big had happened, so she promptly contacted Catherine.
Originally, Catherine didn’t want to come, but Audrey insisted. In reality, Korbin’s secretary didn’t have Catherine’s contact information and had no choice but to contact Audrey.
The two hurried back to the Swanns’, and Audrey walked in with Catherine, not forgetting to reassure her, “Kathy, don’t worry. I’ve got your back. If Dad. and Mom give you a hard time, then we will leave!”
Audrey also knew the situation with her parents and was concerned that Catherine might be mistreated. Catherine, with a cold expression and without saying a word, followed behind Audrey as they entered the house.
In the living room, they saw that only Korbin was there. The room looked quite empty. Rachael and Liana were nowhere to be found, and the atmosphere in the living room felt unusually eerie.
Seeing Catherine and Audrey enter, Korbin slowly lifted his head, took his cigar out of his mouth, and cast a cold gaze on them.
“You’re here. Have a seat.”
Audrey took the initiative to ask Korbin after sitting down.
“Dad, is it just you at home?”
“Hmph,” Korbin responded curtly, his attitude cold, as if he didn’t want to answer that question.
Audrey felt a bit awkward and remained silent.
Korbin shifted his gaze to Catherine. “I heard you know people from Hacker Alliance. What’s the situation?”
Catherine’s attitude was even colder than Korbin’s. She remained silent. Korbin thought she hadn’t heard, so he asked again. However, Catherine still didn’t say anything.
Now, Korbin was getting angry.
In Korbin’s mind, Catherine’s behavior was more than just disrespect; it was ignorance. He frowned and stared at Catherine with an annoyed look. “Are you deaf or mute? Why aren’t you answering my question?”
Catherine didn’t hold back and gave him a straight look, countering, “What about you then?”
Korbin got what Catherine meant. She was blaming him for not answering Audrey earlier. Well, she was really stubborn. Korbin could feel anger building up, but he tried to keep his cool and said to Catherine, “I’m your father. Do you understand?”
Catherine just responded with an indifferent “Ok.”
Her attitude made Korbin even more furious.
He had never met someone so disrespectful. Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to handle her. As tensions rose, Audrey stepped in to mediate. “Dad, Kathy, let’s have a calm conversation. Don’t get upset.”
Korbin used his eyes to signal Audrey, encouraging her to persuade Catherine. Audrey had to follow her father’s request and asked Catherine, “Kathy, do you know what the Hacker Alliance is? Have you heard of it?”