Ch. 441..450

Chapter 441 Are You Joking?

Thomas’s scolding left everyone present dumbfounded. The attending physician stared at Thomas in disbelief, his face filled with fear.

“Mr. Theo, what’s going on? Is there anything wrong with my previous treatment plan?” he asked.

“What treatment did you perform? Tell me!” Thomas impatiently looked at the attending physician, his eyes filled with disgust.

The attending physician lowered his head and responded cautiously, “Mr. Theo, since we haven’t been able to determine the cause of Mr. Duncan’s coma, we have only conducted various tests and have not administered any medication.”

He had no choice. He was also innocent. Branden’s status was so noble that he couldn’t just come up with a treatment plan casually. What if something unexpected happened? He couldn’t afford the consequences! Every step he took was extremely cautious. After numerous discussions, he finally made the decision.

And because there were different opposing opinions each time, which required constant argumentation, they hadn’t administered any medication yet. They had only conducted extensive examinations, but all the results were within the normal range.

However, Branden had still not awakened.

They suspected that the reagent had affected Branden’s brain nerves because it was still in the experimental stage, with too much uncertainty.

In addition, the human brain was too complex, so they couldn’t determine the exact cause of Branden’s unconsciousness. They could only choose conservative treatment and conduct various tests to determine the outcome.

And before they could determine the cause, Thomas arrived.

“Humph!” Thomas coldly snorted. “I knew it. Look at you. You don’t even know where you went wrong. Now I’ll tell you why I scolded you!”

Thomas pointed at Branden, who was lying motionless on the hospital bed, and shouted at the attending physician, “I’m telling you. This kid is not ill at all. He is just exhausted and sleeping!”

What?

Thomas’s voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly. Not to mention the attending physician, even Paxton was shocked.

“Mr. Theo, are you joking?”

Despite Thomas’s amiable appearance, he could be quite intimidating when he got angry. He shrugged, his face cold, and cursed at Paxton, “Don’t you believe me? Then, why did you make me come here? Do you think it’s goddamn fun?”

Paxton was scolded mercilessly, but he had to face Thomas with a smile. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Thomas, but this whole situation sounded incredibly absurd. After scolding Paxton, Thomas continued to berate the attending physician.

“You’ve studied medicine for so long, yet you lack confidence and are so hesitant. Are you even qualified to be a doctor if you can’t even examine a patient?”

The attending physician couldn’t even lift his head. Throughout the process of treating Branden, he had indeed been excessively cautious.

But then again, he had no choice. Branden was a big shot, so he had to be cautious. Moreover, Paxton was always by his side, and any careless move could bring disaster upon him. He couldn’t afford to be careless. Now, after hearing the teachings of a medical senior, he could only nod obediently.

“Mr. Theo, I will remember your teachings!”

Thomas unleashed his full fury, scolding everyone present. By the end, even Paxton couldn’t take it anymore and had to seek help from Catherine.

Throughout the whole ordeal, Catherine remained the calmest, standing by as if nothing was happening.

Catherine originally didn’t want to get involved, but she couldn’t stand Paxton’s help-seeking winks and gestures anymore. She chose to step forward and persuade Thomas, saying, “Mr. Theo, when will Branden wake up?

Thomas, who had been cursing up a storm, immediately changed his attitude upon hearing Catherine speak. He regained his amiable appearance and looked at her, saying, “Cassie, don’t worry. I need to examine him again and then administer some additional medication to boost his energy. He should wake up today!”

Then, he added, “The medication that was administered has a powerful stimulating effect on his body, consuming his energy in advance, which has led to this bizarre sleep. As for his legs, I don’t see any major issues. Rest assured. I’ll cure him!”

“Thank you,” Catherine responded, her attitude indifferent and not very enthusiastic. But compared to her usual attitude towards others, her attitude towards Thomas was already considered quite warm.

Thomas smiled and looked at Catherine as if the old man who had just exploded in anger and cursed at people was not him. “It’s no big deal. How could I not do my best for you? Scott said that if I don’t help you, he won’t call me Grandpa anymore.”

Despite Thomas having a rosy complexion and appearing to be in his fifties, he was actually in his seventies. The little genius Scott Theo from the Arbotte Laboratory was his grandson.

Catherine had a complicated relationship with the Theo family members, and Thomas was one of the few people who knew her background. That was why he was willing to let his grandson be in Catherine’s laboratory for research.

After Catherine learned that Scorpion Island was looking for Dr. Miracle, she knew it must be for Branden. Luckily, she had a connection with Thomas and knew that he was the patriarch of the Theos. So, she immediately contacted him.

Catherine had known Thomas for many years, and with just one phone call, she managed to bring him to the island without much effort.

Watching Thomas’s friendliness and affection towards Catherine, Paxton quietly rubbed his nose. He never expected Thomas to have two kinds of attitudes. While he treated them like a fierce and terrifying demon, he was all smiles and kindness towards Catherine.

Catherine had great faith in Thomas’s medical skills. Back then, impressed by her talent, Thomas was determined to pass on his medical knowledge to her. However, she had no interest in it and didn’t agree.

She didn’t know how to heal or save lives, but she had a knack for making and using poisons. However, she rarely had the opportunity to use poisons. She didn’t like the idea of doing things in secret. If she found something displeasing, she would simply eliminate it directly. Why bother with the trouble of poisoning?

Catherine entrusted Branden to Thomas without any worries. Since Thomas had provided an answer, saying that Branden would wake up today, then Branden would surely wake up today.

She had known Thomas for so many years and understood his character.

She knew he wouldn’t say anything without confidence.

Branden had already delayed her training for half a day, and she couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

“Mr. Theo, I’ll leave him to you here. I have something to attend to at the training ground, so I’ll go first!”

Thomas waved at her with a smile. “Go ahead and take care of yourself. Leave him to me, and make sure to rest well!”

Chapter 442 Step Forward!

Catherine returned to the training ground, where the trainees were diligently conducting physical training.

Even if Catherine, their instructor, wasn’t present, they didn’t dare to slack off.

Carlo and his two brothers had already returned to the training ground. Their gaze remained fixed on Catherine when she appeared.

Catherine approached them with an arrogant stride, her cold eyes giving off an icy aura.

Once their eyes met Catherine’s, fear gripped the hearts of the three men. It felt as if the funeral bells were tolling, accompanied by a mournful lament.

Catherine glanced at the three men and pointed at them with her hand. “You, you, and you, step forward!”

Silently, the three men stepped forward, their hearts pounding wildly. Their teammates beside them mourned silently for them. Everyone knew that the instructor had a reputation for being ruthless. If the instructor suddenly called them out by name, it couldn’t be anything good.

With her hands behind her back, Catherine casually circled around the three men. “You left the camp without permission, quit training without reporting, disobeyed orders, and challenged your instructor…”

Catherine recited each of the mistakes committed by the three men.

Carlo had initially held a glimmer of hope in his heart, thinking that Catherine wasn’t a mean person and that her cold demeanor was just a facade. He hoped that, perhaps, she would spare them for the sake of Branden. But now it seemed impossible for him to escape punishment, and he could only hope that she wouldn’t be too harsh.

Catherine remained silent, continuing to circle around them. She had a commanding presence, and the cold aura emanating from her alone was enough to kill them.

After contemplating for a while, Carlo decided it was better to face his fate as soon as possible. Since they were bound to face punishment sooner or later, it was better to take the initiative to face it.

“Catherine, it’s our fault. Please punish us. We accept any punishment!” he pleaded.

They had already received news from Paxton that Catherine had brought Dr. Miracle to treat Branden. Paxton had also advised them to focus on training and not argue with Catherine. They had indeed overestimated themselves!

But then again, who would dare to argue with her? It would be suicidal. If it weren’t for Branden’s “coma,” they wouldn’t have had the courage to confront her. Now that Branden was fine, it was time for them to accept their punishment.

Catherine’s eyes lit up, revealing a shrewd look.

“It seems that you have no objections to the mistakes you’ve made,” she said.

“Yes!” the three of them replied in unison, their bodies stiff and straight.

“Good.” Catherine nodded and clapped her hands.

Clap, clap, clap…

After a series of loud applause, Jon arrived, driving a pickup truck. With her hands behind her back, Catherine stood in front of everyone, exuding a chilling aura.

“For the remaining time today, let’s learn how to deal with interrogation! As prisoners of war, it is essential for each of you to learn how to preserve your life while keeping the secrets hidden,” she declared.

Everyone present thought that Catherine’s viewpoint was correct. They could sacrifice their lives to protect secrets, but they shouldn’t sacrifice themselves needlessly. If they had a chance to save their lives, they should prioritize that.

Catherine’s attitude towards sacrifice was different from that of other instructors, so she instantly gained people’s support.

Just as everyone was waiting for Catherine to announce the cruel training to come, they heard her say, ” We won’t have a collective training session this afternoon. These three boys will demonstrate the training first, and then we will practice together.

Other people couldn’t hold back their laughter. It was too tragic! The Duncan trio was in for a real punishment.

After hearing Catherine’s announcement, the faces of the Duncan trio turned completely dark. They knew that Catherine’s training was always brutal, and now they not only had to train but also had to do it twice. Who could be unluckier than them?

However, the three of them dared not complain. Complaining only led to even more torture. Catherine glanced at Jon behind her and beckoned him. “Let’s begin!”

Jon directed his men to unload several large barrels from the truck, and with a sympathetic look, he winked at the three of them.

After all, they shouldn’t have offended Catherine. The three of them were placed inside three large barrels, and someone poured something from a can onto their heads.

As Carlo smelled the sweet fragrance, he couldn’t help but quietly discuss it with his two brothers.

“Why do I feel like it’s honey?”

Francis glanced at him and said coldly, “Why don’t you give it a lick and find out?”

Carlo took it seriously and actually stuck out his tongue and licked it. He then exclaimed in surprise, “It’s sweet. It really is honey!”

Honey?

Cory’s face turned completely dark, with a hint of despair in his eyes.

Carlo, who was always naive, still thought that it was sweet, unaware of the tragedy he was about to face.

Francis’s expression grew increasingly grim, and if one looked closely, one could sense a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

Cory knew Francis all too well. Growing up together with Francis, he knew that whatever scared Francis must be truly terrifying.

Three instructors approached with gloves on, carrying three large jars.

As they got closer, Carlo and the other two couldn’t help but gulp nervously. The fear of the unknown was truly testing their hearts, something that ordinary people would struggle to bear.

The lids of the jars were opened, and thousands of ants were poured out from them. Under the scorching sun, they endured the ants’ biting.

These were not ordinary ants but red ants that lived in the nearby rainforest. Being bitten by these ants caused not only swelling but also unbearable itching and excruciating pain.

This torture was much worse than being beaten or stabbed. Catherine coldly observed the three of them, her face devoid of any expression.

The more indifferent and emotionless she appeared, the more people felt fearful of her.

“If you can’t take it, you can choose to surrender,” she said.

Carlo had never been a deserter in his life and would never surrender, no matter what. However, before he could say anything, Catherine continued, ” After all, this is just the first level!”

Her words meant that there were even more intense challenges ahead!

Carlo was instantly frightened. He turned his head to look at his two brothers, weakly suggesting, “Should we surrender?”

However, he was met with fierce glares from Francis and Cory. In their opinion, there was only a possibility of death, not surrender.

They would rather die than surrender, and they would never quit!

Chapter 443 Are You Jealous?

After the training was over, Catherine headed straight to the hospital. At the entrance of the ward, the people guarding Branden saw Catherine and voluntarily saluted her, each one more devout and respectful than the last.

Catherine still had a cold expression on her face, showing no emotions and emitting a formidable aura.

Paxton was inside the ward, and when he saw Catherine enter, he immediately saluted her with admiration in his eyes.

“Miss Swann!”

Catherine glanced at him, her icy gaze at him lingering for only a second before shifting away.

Branden had awakened. Just as Thomas had mentioned, Branden had exhausted himself physically and was too tired, so he fell asleep.

This kind of physical exhaustion was not the ordinary tiredness that was caused by running too much, which only needed some sleep.

Humans had only tapped into less than twenty percent of their physical potential, but under the influence of the experimental reagent, Branden had unlocked more than half of his potential. It was as if all his energy had been emptied, leaving him exhausted and unconscious.

Thomas only said it was excessive sleepiness because he knew how to help Branden’s body recover. But if an ordinary person were in Branden’s situation, it was highly likely that they would never wake up from being physically overused.

The reason why Branden was able to wake up so quickly was not solely due to Thomas’s treatment. The more important factor was that his physical strength was extraordinary.

When Catherine looked at Branden, he was also looking at her. However, the gaze in his eyes, perhaps because of the stern look on his face, looked somewhat weird. It didn’t resemble the joy of seeing someone after a long time but rather a sense of resentment.

Catherine frowned, not understanding what Branden meant.

Was he blaming her?

Catherine’s aura gradually became colder, her face expressionless. The atmosphere in the ward turned thick with tension, and the few people present noticed this as well.

Thomas was the first to break the awkward silence in the ward. After all, he had seen countless scenarios like this.

“Cassie, my examination is almost done. His condition is stable. I’ll come to check on him later!”

Catherine didn’t respond, and Thomas quickly slipped away.

Seeing Thomas trying to leave, Paxton quickly caught up.

“Mr. Theo, let me see you off!”

Paxton was smart. Knowing that the atmosphere was getting off and that both big shots were in a bad mood, he decided to leave as soon as possible. What if Catherine and Branden started fighting later and he got caught in the crossfire?

It was better to leave now. After all, if Catherine was injured, Branden would take care of her. If Branden got injured… Well, that was none of his business… No one would die from this conflict. Why should he worry so much?

After a few people left, the entire ward quieted down. Catherine crossed her arms and stared at Branden. Her eyes looked cold, and her whole body exuded a dangerous and icy aura.

Compared to Catherine’s coldness, Branden, who was lying on the hospital bed, seemed somewhat innocent. He stared directly at her, unmoving.

Catherine’s gaze fell on his pale and bloodless face. Due to excessive bleeding from his injuries, his face appeared much paler than usual.

She couldn’t help but approach Branden slowly, reaching out to lift his chin. Her sharp gaze swept across his handsome face. Her soft pink lips parted slightly as she coldly uttered three words.

“Angry with me?”

Branden, who was enjoying Catherine’s flirting, didn’t expect her to suddenly raise such a question. His eyes paused for a moment before he quickly came back to his senses, a faint smile appearing on his face.

“Yes.”

Catherine let go of him and turned around to leave. He should blame himself for his own suffering. What right did he have to blame her? How shameless!

Seeing that Catherine was about to leave, Branden panicked. Ignoring the needle of IV drip in his hand, he reached out and grabbed Catherine’s waist, pulling her into his embrace.

“Don’t go!” His domineering tone was unapologetically arrogant. “When you came in, the first person you looked at was Paxton. Shouldn’t I blame you for that?”

Although his tone was cold, there was a hint of grievance in his accusation. Most importantly, this was not his usual noble and aloof demeanor.

A faint smile appeared in Catherine’s cold eyes, so faint that if one didn’t look carefully, they wouldn’t be able to notice it.

So, the reason for this sudden change in Branden’s attitude was because of this!

Catherine turned around, lowered her gaze, and looked at him with a smile in her eyes.

“Seriously? You’re jealous of Paxton?”

She didn’t expect Branden to be angry because of that, which made her find him a little cute.

“He’s a man, after all!” Branden answered without any hesitation, a resolute expression on his face. Catherine had just glanced at Paxton earlier. If the two of them had had any physical contact, Branden might have killed him.

As soon as Branden thought of this scene, he couldn’t help but want to teach all those audacious and presumptuous people who tried to peep at his girl a lesson.

“Achoo!”

Paxton sneezed several times, tears flying out of his eyes.

He had just sent Thomas back to rest when he suddenly started sneezing. Could it be that someone was badmouthing him behind his back?

Catherine twisted her body and glanced at Branden on the hospital bed with lowered eyes.

“Let go of me!”

“No!”

Branden, in contrast to his usual cold attitude, tightly held onto Catherine’s slender waist.

“Are you crazy?” Catherine now suspected that the reagent might have had an impact on his brain nerves. Otherwise, how could this man become so abnormal?

Branden did know whether he was crazy or not. But now, in this private space, he was holding the girl he loved. He didn’t want to put on a cold face in front of her.

In order to prevent Catherine from leaving, Branden resorted to various tactics.

“I’m hungry. I want to eat some fruit!”

“Eat fruit?”

Catherine sat beside him with a frown, selecting a red apple and slowly peeling off the skin with a knife. The shiny knife in her nimble fingers continuously pushed forward, peeling off the skin of the apple cleanly.

The apple peel remained intact from beginning to end, neatly piled up in a small circle on the table.

Branden leaned against the hospital bed, enjoying Catherine’s every movement as if watching a movie. Catherine divided the peeled apple in half and handed one half to Branden who was staring at her.

“Eat it!”

“Okay!” Branden smiled and took the apple, looking satisfied.

Watching Branden eat bite by bite, Catherine couldn’t resist the aroma and took a bite of the other half of the apple.

In the split second she bit into it, Catherine instantly frowned. This apple looked sweet, but it was unexpectedly sour. After taking a bite, Catherine threw it into the nearby trash can, showing a disgusted expression.

Seeing Catherine’s actions, Branden seemed somewhat reluctant.

When Catherine reached out to take the half of apple from Branden’s hand, he quickly avoided her.

“This one is too sour. Let me get you another one!”

Branden finished the remaining apple in his hand with one bite, squinting his eyes and smiling at Catherine, his face filled with gentleness. “It’s not sour. It’s sweet!”

Chapter 444 Are You Monsters?

When Paxton arrived, Catherine was no longer in the ward. He heard that she had gone to the training ground to train those little brats. He also received news that the Duncan trio had been severely tortured.

Carlo had attempted to surrender several times, but the other two stopped him. Paxton could imagine how cruel Catherine’s methods were.

Branden, lying on the hospital bed, opened his eyes instantly when Paxton entered the room. His icy gaze was like a sword, bursting out from his eyes, sharp and horrified!

“Where is she?”

Paxton understood Branden’s meaning and immediately gave an answer.”

Boss, Miss Swann is still training them on the training ground!”

If Branden had known earlier that Catherine was Anon, he wouldn’t have spent a fortune to hire this instructor and bring her to Scorpion Island for training.

The environment on Scorpion Island was harsh, and the training was tough. Catherine had gotten tanned these past few days, which made him feel heartbroken.

Paxton didn’t know what was going on in Branden’s heart at the moment, but seeing Branden squinting his eyes and looking dangerous, he was so frightened that he knelt down. Branden must be thinking about how to punish him right now.

“Boss, I offended Miss Swann. So, I beg for your punishment!”

Then, Paxton explained in detail what happened during the past two days of Branden’s unconsciousness, including his confrontation with Catherine and the punishment of the Duncan trio.

After finishing, Paxton looked up and saw that Branden’s face had completely darkened. Suddenly, a faint voice in Paxton’s heart told him, “You’re done for!”

Branden glanced at Paxton coldly.

“Paxton, you do have some nerve! I’ve only been asleep for two days, yet you’ve caused so much trouble for me!”

Paxton’s heart sank. Apparently, Branden didn’t know about these things.

“I’m done for,” Paxton murmured inwardly.

“Boss, it’s all my fault. I accept my punishment!”

Branden showed no mercy. He could forgive Paxton for other things, but not when it came to Catherine.

“Next month, there’ll be a project in South Apridon, and you’re going!”

Paxton’s legs went weak with fear. It seemed like he was being sent to the border to do hard labor. Reluctant as he was, Paxton dared not disobey the order. He nodded obediently.

“Yes, sir!”

Thinking about the punishment this time, Paxton trembled and looked toward Branden.

“Boss, should we investigate Miss Swann or ask if she has any other identities, like a powerful figure that would scare people to death when revealed?”

Seeing Branden’s face darken, Paxton quickly explained, “Boss, Miss Swann is now considered our family. If we happen to encounter her in the future, it would save us a lot of trouble if we know her identity.”

The word “family” seemed to please Branden a lot, and his expression softened a bit. Paxton secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had already been sent to South Apridon. If he offended Branden again, he might be expelled from the Duncans.

Branden had never investigated Catherine and had never planned to do So. Seeing that Branden’s mood seemed to be good, Paxton boldly asked again, Boss, should I arrange for someone to investigate now?”

Branden coldly glanced at him. “Even if I let you investigate, what would you find?”

Those simple words were truly discouraging.

Branden was right. Even if Paxton investigated, he wouldn’t find anything. Judging from the exposure of Catherine’s disguises, any one of them was of the level of a super powerful figure. It wasn’t something that could be easily investigated.

After careful consideration, Paxton decided to give up.

“Boss, please consider what I said as nonsense.”

Catherine was still giving them training on the training ground. The team members were all in awe of Catherine because she could maintain a cold and emotionless expression in such circumstances. She must have incredible skills.

The three Duncans looked at Catherine with painful expressions. Their faces were swollen, each bigger and funnier than the other.

Carlo’s head, which was already very big, now looked like a pumpkin. It was swollen all over, making people unable to hold back their laughter.

The toxicity of those red ants was too strong. They managed to endure the training yesterday, but it came at a painful cost!

Now, whenever people saw their faces, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Their faces looked truly ridiculous.

For the three Duncans, being laughed at was no longer their concern. They now simply hoped that Catherine would not punish them like this again, as they couldn’t take it anymore. Catherine looked around, preparing to announce the next command.

Suddenly, a jarring sound came.”

Reporting to the instructor, 0399 is back!”

Catherine turned her head and saw Branden, who was now wearing training attire, standing beside her and saluting her.

His injuries seemed like they were still healing. He had just woken up, and now he was ready to cause trouble again?

Catherine looked at him seriously and said in an unusually stern tone, “0399, this is a training camp, not a preschool. If your body can’t take my training, I don’t recommend you enter the camp!”

Branden looked at Catherine seriously, his eyes filled with a smile and gentleness that was only directed at her.

“Sir, I understand. But please rest assured. I will definitely complete the training tasks. I will train myself hard until the end of the training!”

From his eyes, Catherine sensed determination and an unwavering resolve. Everyone had to take responsibility for their own choices. Since Branden had chosen to participate in the training, he would have to bear whatever consequences came with it.

“0399, back to the team!”

“Yes, sir!” Branden saluted Catherine and quickly walked towards the team. When he saw Carlo and the other two Duncans, he frowned and couldn’t help but make a comment.

“Are you three monsters or something?

Carlo felt terrible and wanted to cry, but he managed to hold it in. With his current appearance and his actions, he looked both funny and disgusting.

Branden looked at Carlo disdainfully and sarcastically remarked, “You look so ugly. Why do you have to participate in the training?”

Carlo couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. He never expected that one day his own boss would look down on him.

The reason? He was too ugly right now!

“Quiet!” Catherine commanded, and silence fell over the surroundings. There was only one week left for training, and considering the current situation, there would be a need to eliminate a few people.

“Brace yourselves up! Don’t get caught by me. Otherwise, none of you will graduate!”

Her words scared everyone present, their faces turning pale and trembling. The coming days were bound to become more and more brutal.

Chapter 445 A Secret

As expected, Catherine’s next move was incredibly cruel, mercilessly torturing people without any mercy. There weren’t many people left to begin with, and she managed to torture them to the point where only eight people remained, including Branden.

However, this wasn’t the result of Catherine going easy on Branden. It was because of his overwhelming power. Despite suffering serious injuries, he was still able to stand out among this group of people and successfully survive.

Tomorrow would be the last day of training. As long as they could survive the final test tonight, they would be considered successful in their training.

No one knew how many more people Catherine was planning to eliminate. Or perhaps, none of them would be able to pass the test.

On the first day of entering the training camp, everyone thought Catherine was joking. After all, they were here to train. How could they all be eliminated?

But now, those who had said that Catherine was joking knew they were naïve. With her ruthlessness, it was very likely for them to be annihilated or even tortured to death. The more critical the situation became, the less they dared to relax.

After the morning training session ended, they had a two-hour break for lunch. As soon as Catherine announced the training pause, everyone immediately collapsed on the ground, causing a small dust storm.

However, there was an exception, Branden. From the moment Catherine announced the pause of training, he started approaching her.

Catherine turned and walked away, and he followed her closely from behind. Those present who had sharp eyes noticed that something was off between these two big shots, but no one dared to say anything.

In order to better complete the training, except for a few members of the Duncan team, the rest of the people were unaware of Catherine’s identity. They naturally had no idea about her relationship with Branden.

Even Jon was kept in the dark, so whenever he saw the two of them, he couldn’t help but feel strange. However, his lack of strength prevented him from privately discussing it with others.

Branden turned the corner, making sure no one could see them. Then, he quickened his pace and took two steps forward, grabbing Catherine’s hand.

Catherine made no attempt to struggle and allowed Branden to hold her hand. he looked at her with a smile, his eyes sparkling with tenderness. They looked like two iron-faced executioners on the training ground, but now they looked completely different.

“What would you like to eat for lunch? I’ll prepare it for you!”

The food in the training camp had one requirement, which was nutritional balance. As for the taste, it was indeed mediocre.

Catherine’s appetite had long been spoiled by Branden. Filling her stomach was not a problem, but making her feel like she was eating well was difficult.

Whenever Branden had the time, he would try to improve Catherine’s meals.

Catherine shook her head and refused Branden. “No need. I want to go to the cafeteria for lunch today.”

Seeing her refusal, Branden didn’t insist but cooperatively said, “Then, I’ll accompany you to the cafeteria for lunch!”

After a simple lunch in the cafeteria, Catherine said to Branden, “I’m full. I want to take a nap!”

Branden looked at her gently and nodded. “Okay!”

Catherine stood up and walked away without hesitation. To her surprise, Branden didn’t follow her but obediently went to take a nap.

Catherine thought he was just too tired, so she didn’t think much of it. After all, her training camp was known for its cruelty and was not a place where just anyone could easily graduate.

After returning to the dormitory, Catherine casually lay on the bed and took out her phone to play games. She didn’t need a nap. For her, the best way to relax was to do something entertaining. Like playing games!

Games could relax her entire nervous system. When her brain relaxed, her body could enter a state of rest that was similar to closing her eyes and sleeping.

When a round of the game ended, Catherine noticed some movement outside the door. She then threw her phone aside, stood up, and walked towards the door. Paxton stood at the door hesitating for a long time, unsure if he should knock on the door.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew behind him. Paxton instinctively turned around, only to be punched and sent flying the next second. His bandaged ribs would probably need medical treatment again.

Paxton held his chest, struggling to stand up. Due to the impact just now, his arm was dislocated, and now he couldn’t move it at all.

Catherine approached, glanced at him, and stretched her hand towards him. Paxton slowly lifted his injured arm and handed it to Catherine. After she took it, she quickly twisted it.

With a “snap,” the dislocated bone instantly returned to its original position. It happened so fast that Paxton didn’t even have time to see Catherine’s movements before his arm was completely restored.

Paxton moved his wrist and felt a bit sore, but it was much better than he expected. “Thank you, Miss Swann!” Paxton smiled sincerely.

Catherine looked at him coldly, her face showing indifference and her eyes filled with a strong warning. “Next time, don’t lurk around my door!”

“Lurk around?” Paxton murmured inwardly. “Me?”

Paxton wanted to explain, but thinking about Catherine’s temper, he silently shut his mouth. He almost forgot that Catherine had another identity, one of the top three assassins in the world. With his suspicious actions just now, she could have easily killed him. He was only slightly injured, and that was on the basis of his previous injuries, which indicated that she had shown extreme mercy.

Paxton was about to tell Catherine the purpose of his visit when he heard her coldly say, “Lead the way!”

Paxton was stunned and looked at Catherine in surprise.

The aura of dominance emanating from her was terrifying, and Paxton lowered his head in awe without saying a word. He silently led the way, not daring to ask any more questions, though he didn’t know how she had figured out the purpose of his visit. Did Thomas tell her?

Catherine followed Paxton all the way to the hospital. In fact, she knew exactly what the purpose of this visit was. The fact that Paxton came to find her so cautiously could only mean that it had something to do with Branden.

The top floor of the hospital had a huge treatment room, and from the outside, one could see the scene inside through the glass windows, but the inside couldn’t see the outside.

At this moment, Branden was fixed on a large circular contraption. It looked as if he was tied to a huge gyroscope, and as it kept rotating, the expression on Branden’s face became increasingly painful.

Thomas stood by, monitoring the various data on the screen. Seeing Catherine’s serious expression, Paxton lowered his head and explained to her in a low voice.

“In order to participate in your training camp, Boss asked Mr. Theo to use banned drugs on him. These drugs have significant side effects, but only in this way can the blood circulation in his body be accelerated, allowing the toxins to be quickly eliminated. Although his life is saved, it is as painful as being skinned and having tendons pulled apart. It’s unbearable for ordinary people.”

Saying this, Paxton thought, “It’s even more painful than what you experienced back then.”

Paxton only dared to silently say it in his mind, not daring to say it out loud.

Chapter 446 Wait for Me

Catherine turned her head and looked at Paxton, her sharp gaze instantly tightening his heart, making even his breath unstable.

“Miss Swann, why are you looking at me like that?” Paxton asked, his voice trembling. Catherine said coldly, her face expressionless, “Since Branden forbids you from telling me, why do you bring me here?”

People like them had to constantly remember their identities and responsibilities. They could be devoid of emotions and even cold-blooded, but they must always obey orders. Their only duty was to obey their superiors.

Paxton knew that he had violated his boss’s command, committing the most unforgivable and deadly mistake a follower could make. He silently lowered his head, straightened his back, and faced Catherine.

“Miss Swann, after the training ends tomorrow, I will go to my boss and accept my punishment.”

The consequences of disobeying orders would be more painful than death. Having worked for Branden for so many years, Paxton understood this better than anyone.

“Miss Swann, I can accept punishment. But please, consider my loyalty to my boss and find a solution!” Paxton pleaded.

Catherine’s gaze fixed on him, making him feel as if he were naked, with nowhere to hide, no chance of escape.

After a long while, she glanced at him and turned away. Before taking her first step, she coldly uttered a sentence.

“The final test will be changed to jungle shooting!”

Paxton, who had already given up hope, was surprised by this unexpected turn of events. His eyes lit up instantly, and he exclaimed, “Thank you, Miss Swann!”

On the training ground, all eight members of the training group were present. Catherine stood with her hands behind her back, her posture appearing lazy. She would always do things in the most comfortable way.

Ironically, despite her relaxed and casual attitude, there was an aura of chilliness emanating from her that made everyone hesitate to underestimate her.

Catherine circled around the eight individuals, and with each step she took. the atmosphere in the area seemed to be more intimidating, making it increasingly difficult for everyone to breathe.

“Your training will come to an end at 12 o’clock noon tomorrow. Can you make it to the end?” Her voice was cold and devoid of warmth, chilling to the bone. No one dared to answer. On the silent training ground, Catherine’s voice sounded exceptionally loud and sharp.

“The training officially begins now. It’s jungle shooting. Within this jungle, there will be 80 trained soldiers, including all the instructors from Scorpion Island. As long as you can survive their attacks without being eliminated, you will pass.”

The eight men looked helpless. They had to face ten opponents, all of them elite instructors. It seemed like a setup to annihilate them all.

Sensing their low morale, Catherine decided to inject them with a dose of encouragement.

“I won’t participate!”

Three simple words relieved the tension in their hearts.

Even Branden secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Catherine was formidable, and with his current injuries, he couldn’t guarantee victory against her. What mattered most was that she was on the opposing side. He might choose to surrender directly. It was better to let him end himself rather than attack Catherine.

Catherine casually fired a signal gun and lazily announced, “Training begins!”

As the gun went off, the trainees immediately picked up their backpacks and rushed towards the dense forest. Only Branden slowly walked towards Catherine, gently taking her hand.

“See you on the training ground tomorrow!”

Catherine’s cold gaze slowly fell on Branden’s handsome face. His facial features were sculpted, evoking envy.

In her calm eyes, there seemed to be no warmth, as usual. However, Branden still noticed the difference. When Catherine looked at him, her eyes weren’t as cold as before.

This made Branden feel better. He seemed to have seen the dawn of victory. He looked at Catherine with joy. “Wait for me to come back!”

After a moment’s pause, Catherine nodded.

Time was running out.

Branden held Catherine’s hand, gently rubbing it before turning and disappearing into the darkness of the forest.

Jon stood on the side, his body covered in goosebumps as he saw this. He suppressed the urge to feel disgusted and looked at Paxton with disdain. “So, this is the reason why Branden has been avoiding women for so many years?”

His tone carried both disdain and excitement, two contradictory emotions that were somehow reflected in one person.

After Paxton heard what Jon said, his face turned dark with rage. “Shut up, you fool!” The way he looked at Jon was filled with disgust.

Jon was scolded for no reason, and the fact that Paxton looked down on him made him extremely resentful.

“What? Do you wanna fight me?” Jon challenged.

“Forget it!” Paxton sneered coldly.” The jungle needs you, Instructor Jon!”

All the instructors from Scorpion Island, except for Catherine, were required to participate, including Jon. The trainees had all entered the jungle to begin their battle, leaving only Catherine on the training ground.

Paxton approached Catherine, trying to please her. He handed her the food that Branden had instructed him to give her.

“Miss Swann, these are what my boss asked me to give you. In addition to fruits, there are also some cakes and jerky that can fill you up!”

These were the foods that Catherine loved to eat and were usually stocked in her apartment. After Branden arrived on the island, he had his men regularly deliver them to her.

Even the strawberries in the box were the ones recommended by Triston. They were milk strawberries air- shipped from another country and were the top-tier variety in the strawberry

world. Paxton was deeply moved by all these foods. He never expected that his boss would go to such lengths for a woman. If it were him being doted on, he would probably love the other party to the point of being unable to extricate himself.

Only Catherine had such outstanding self-control. Facing Branden’s pampering, she remained steady and completely unaffected.

Catherine expressionlessly accepted the food and didn’t immediately open it to eat. Seeing that she was about to leave, Paxton quickly followed. Catherine turned around and stared at him with an unfriendly gaze. “Why are you following me?”

That one look almost gave Paxton a heart attack. It was so intimidating. He was stunned for a moment before regaining his composure. Then, he explained his actions calmly.

“Miss Swann, I’m going with you to the surveillance room.”

“Who told you I’m going to the surveillance room?” Catherine looked at him coldly.

“Where are you going, then?” Paxton didn’t quite understand. As the head instructor, shouldn’t Catherine be in the surveillance room monitoring the trainees?

Catherine was indeed different from everyone else. She didn’t need anyone to teach her how to do things, nor did she need to follow any training patterns. She only did as she pleased, and right now, she only wanted one thing.

“To sleep. Don’t follow me!”

Chapter 447 Don’t You Trust Him?

Catherine did go to sleep. When she woke up, it was already past ten in the morning. Catherine leisurely finished washing up and headed towards the surveillance room.

Inside the surveillance room, Paxton was still engrossed in staring at the monitor screens, not even noticing Catherine’s entrance.

It was only when Catherine pulled out a chair and sat down that he heard the sound of the chair sliding on the floor. He quickly turned around. Upon seeing that it was Catherine, he let out a sigh of relief.

“Miss Swann!” Paxton exclaimed.

Catherine nodded slightly and glanced at him, noticing that his eyes were bloodshot. Frowning, Catherine asked, “You’ve been here all night?”

“Yes!” Paxton admitted, nodding.

The battle was more interesting than watching a movie. More importantly, he was worried about Branden’s physical condition, so he stayed up all night without resting.

For Paxton, not resting for a night wouldn’t be a problem. He was still full of energy. But staring at the screen without blinking for too long had made his eyes sore and swollen.

“How many people have been eliminated?” Catherine asked.

Paxton waved his hand, excitedly answering, “None!”

This surprised Catherine a little. None of them had been eliminated! Paxton was so excited that he wanted to pull her over and make her watch the monitor herself.

“Miss Swann, look. They’ve formed a team, and Boss is the team leader. Under his leadership, they have been fighting a guerrilla war and haven’t lost a single teammate!”

Catherine raised her gaze to the monitor screen and immediately spotted the most handsome face among them.

Branden’s face was smeared with camouflage, but it couldn’t hide his handsomeness and charisma. He was a born leader, and even in his injured state, he effortlessly became the one leading the team.

With only an hour left until the end of the competition, the instructors, led by Jon, were also fueled by a killing frenzy.

Both sides wanted to deliver a fatal blow to the other, and Jon was a little annoyed. With so many of them against only eight opponents, even if they didn’t wipe out the entire enemy team, they had to take down a few to show their strength.

But now, not a single one had been eliminated, which greatly hurt the pride of the instructors. Therefore, in the last hour, the instructors had to gather all their strength and take down at least a few of the enemy teams, no matter what.

As for Branden’s team, they had been battling continuously for a day, and their strength was nearly depleted.

Almost everyone was injured. They couldn’t withstand the opponents’ full- force counterattack. The only consolation for them was that this brutal training was about to end in an hour. As long as they survived this hour, they would win.

Everyone held on with their last bit of strength. They had trained so hard for so many days. There was no reason to give up at the final moment.

Some teammates suggested adopting guerrilla tactics to disperse the enemy’s strength and ensure at least one person survived. However, Branden immediately rejected this suggestion and ordered everyone to stick together.

“We’ll pass this together! Trust me and follow my lead!”

This simple sentence was like a rope thrown to a group of drowning people, giving everyone motivation.

Among them, there were several who should have been eliminated earlier. If they hadn’t stuck together with Branden, constantly breaking through encirclements and escaping traps under his command, they would have already been kicked out.

They firmly believed in Branden’s decision, knowing that following him would lead to a way out. Since Catherine took her seat, she had been watching every move of the team of eight on the screen.

Branden was very clever, and even she had to admire his intelligence. The traps and ambushes he set up were impossible to discern until the very last moment.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the team of eight remained without any casualties. With only ten minutes left, Jon decided to go all in and make a big move.

Paxton heard the roaring sound of the jet in the sky, his eyes widening in shock. He stood up abruptly and exclaimed, “Is Jon crazy? How dare he use a fighter jet? This is completely insane!”

Catherine remained unfazed, making Paxton a little confused.

“Miss Swann, Jon is deploying a fighter jet. They’re going to bomb the jungle. Aren’t you going to stop him?”

Catherine crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, looking at Paxton with indifference.

“Stop him? Why should I?”

Paxton was on the verge of going crazy. Not only did he encounter one lunatic, but now he had come across two.

“Miss Swann, the jungle isn’t that vast. And they just had a confrontation. Jon and his team can accurately pinpoint the location of the eight-member squad. With this bombing, the entire squad will be wiped out. Shouldn’t you stop it?”

Facing Paxton’s argument, Catherine only made one comment.

“Jon has the right to do that!”

During a battle between two forces, there was no room for such discussions. The instructors had the right to mobilize all resources on the island for the fight.

From opposing perspectives, Jon had no reason or obligation to think for the other side and give up his team’s victory.

Paxton understood Catherine’s point. Now that the two teams were at war, Jon’s actions were not wrong.

Catherine knew that Jon was acting out of anger, but his actions were reasonable, and no one had the right to stop him. As third-party observers, all they could do was silently watch everything unfold.

“But…” Paxton wanted to make one last attempt. Catherine gave him a cold stare and asked in a cold voice, “Don’t you trust your boss?”

With a simple sentence, Paxton was stumped.

Branden had always been his faith, and there was nothing impossible for him. No matter how difficult the task, Branden could easily accomplish it.

The fighter jet flew overhead, its roaring deafening. Jon provided precise coordinates, leaving the enemy with nowhere to hide.

The fighter jet took its position, and the pilot above sent a signal to Jon, indicating they had reached the designated location. He was requesting final instructions.

At the moment of issuing the command, Jon hesitated.

This was a desperate move, but they were now on opposing teams, each with a simple goal and mission, which was to win!

“Begin the bombing!”

With Jon’s command, the bombing commenced.

Within ten minutes, the jungle turned into a sea of fire.

Paxton couldn’t even bear to look at the screen.

It was too cruel. Under such bombing, the eight-member team should have been completely wiped out.

Paxton’s heart sank, and he stared blankly at the blackened monitor screen, which was devoid of any signs of life.

Chapter 448 I’m Your Instructor

Paxton’s heart sank, and he rushed out of the surveillance room towards the training ground. Jon slowly emerged from the dense jungle with his teammates and made his way to the training ground.

The instructors’ team had suffered severe damage, and those who could still stand were supporting each other, looking defeated.

Paxton became infuriated when he saw Jon. He charged at Jon, grabbing him by the collar and yelling, “Isn’t this just training? Is it necessary to take it so seriously? Are you happy only if the whole team is wiped out?”

Jon, exhausted and powerless, was no match for Paxton. He allowed Paxton to grab his collar and scold him.

After a while, Jon finally caught his breath. Weakly, he pointed behind himself, saying, “Look!”

Paxton, confused, instinctively looked up and was instantly shocked.

His boss, Branden, was leading a group of people, approaching them. He walked at the forefront with an imposing aura, followed by a group of exactly seven people.

All eight teammates survived!

Jon stared at Paxton, looking helpless.

“You can let go now, man!”

Paxton finally realized what was happening and released his grip. He gave Jon a push, showing his disgust.

Jon was so angry that he wanted to attack Paxton. If he had enough strength, he would have done so.

Paxton rushed towards Branden. In this situation, his boss could still achieve victory with his seven teammates being alive. It was truly impressive. It was a miracle!

Facing Paxton’s enthusiasm, Branden simply bypassed him and walked in the direction behind him.

Paxton felt embarrassed and turned around to take a look. Catherine stood dominantly not far away, leaning against a pillar of the training frame with a very relaxed posture. Branden walked straight to Catherine, his gaze never leaving her.

Paxton couldn’t bear to watch that scene. Since he couldn’t embrace Branden, he could only choose to greet the three Duncan brothers.

Catherine stood silently in place, her gaze coldly fixed on Branden approaching her. Branden stopped a step away from Catherine and saluted her. A deep smile gradually appeared in his eyes.

“Reporting to the instructor, Trainee 0399 has completed the task. Please give further instructions!”

Catherine raised an eyebrow, and her once cold expression gradually softened. “Good job. Assessment complete. Congratulations, 0399, you have successfully graduated!”

As Catherine spoke, Branden took another step closer.

“Thank you. May I hold your hand now?

Catherine watched as the distance between them narrowed. She even began to admire the audacity of this man to push his luck. He could always seize every single chance she gave him.

“0399, I’m your instructor. It’s not appropriate for you to be so attentive to your instructor, isn’t it?”

Branden was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting Catherine to tease him like this.

“My instructor?” he murmured inwardly. “Good point. Can’t believe you can come up with such a good excuse.”

Catherine blinked at him and smiled triumphantly. “What’s wrong, Trainee 0399? Do you have any objections to your instructor?”

When Branden saw the smile on her face, his grievances instantly disappeared. Since she was the girl he loved, he had to bear with her, and any objections would be useless.

“No objections. Whatever the instructor says is right!”

The smile on Catherine’s face grew wider. Branden could be considered a gentleman. At least he could handle her teasing.

“Good. Congratulations on your successful graduation!”

Catherine reached out her hand, holding it out in the air.

Branden extended his hand and firmly held hers. A smile instantly appeared on his face.

“Thank you, Instructor!”

But the next moment, Catherine sensed something was off about Branden. Her expression instantly turned serious. “What’s wrong?”

Branden struggled to force a bitter smile. “The effects of the drugs have worn off!”

Catherine immediately realized that Branden had used some banned drugs gain, and now the effects had worn off. She quickly helped Branden up and pulled him in the direction of the hospital.

Branden had initially wanted to tell her that he could manage to walk on his own. But then, he realized that she rarely showed such concern for him, so he decided to keep quiet.

Jon was shocked to see Catherine holding onto Branden and leaving so quickly. He lowered his voice and whispered to Paxton beside him, “Is it appropriate for Mr. Anon to act like this in public?”

Paxton rolled his eyes at him and replied, “What’s wrong with it? You’re making a big deal out of nothing. They have a normal romantic relationship, not an affair!”

Jon was even more shocked. He didn’t expect Paxton to be so open-minded.

Was this acceptable?

Could it be that Paxton was also a… Thinking of how Paxton interacted with the Duncan trio, Jon suddenly felt uneasy. The more he thought about it, the more nervous he became. He instinctively distanced himself from Paxton.

Catherine and Branden went to Thomas. Thomas seemed to have been waiting for Branden, as he immediately called over the medical staff to support Branden when Branden appeared.

“You brat, aren’t you afraid of death? You’re more than half an hour late.

Aren’t you worried about your own life?

As Catherine watched Thomas angrily take Branden away, her eyes couldn’t help but darken. She stopped Thomas and blocked his way.

Thomas had a bad temper, and he had his own rules when it came to treating and saving people. He didn’t allow others to interfere.

But if it was Catherine, then things were different.

Thomas looked at Catherine with a loving expression. “Cassie, if there’s anything you need, just tell me, and I’ll take care of it for you!”

“Mr. Theo, how is Branden now?” Catherine asked directly.

When it came to Branden’s condition, a frown appeared on Thomas’s face.” This young man is quite headstrong.

His injuries are more severe than yours were back then, yet he stubbornly held on. This is crazy. If anything goes wrong, he could lose his life.”

Back then, Ronin had found a lot of doctors for Catherine, and many of them had admitted their helplessness after examining her condition. It was only after he found Thomas that she was successfully treated.

At that time, Catherine was feeling very terrible, but what surprised her was that Branden’s condition now was even more serious than hers back then.

It seemed that Branden was truly pushing himself to the brink of death with an unyielding determination.

To be so ruthless towards himself, this man was truly merciless.

Chapter 449 Calm Down

The surgery lasted for a full three hours, and all the members of the Duncans on Scorpion Island gathered outside the operating room.

No one knew what was happening inside, and they all anxiously waited outside. Three hours had passed, and Paxton couldn’t bear it any longer. His eyes turned red, and he shouted angrily, ” No, I have to go in and take a look!”

As soon as Paxton finished speaking, he rushed towards the door of the operating room, ready to forcefully open it. But as soon as his hand touched the door handle, his body froze instantly.

There was a gun pressed against his waist!

Paxton quickly turned around and realized that it was Catherine who was threatening him.

Catherine stared at him coldly, her lips pursed without saying a word. However, her dominant and powerful aura made him hesitate to make any rash movements.

The people around were shocked to see Catherine pull out a gun. No one expected her to act in such a way.

Carlo and the others were even more frightened, as they knew that no one here could stop Catherine from doing anything.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to stop her, but it was simply impossible.

The extent of Catherine’s power was well-known to everyone present. Even if the four of them confronted her at once, they wouldn’t stand a chance against her.

Realizing the unfavorable situation, Carlo had no choice but to come forward and persuade her at the risk of his own life.

“Catherine, calm down. Bullets don’t discriminate, and it wouldn’t be good if someone got injured.”

Catherine glanced coldly at Paxton and ordered directly, “Get out of the way!”

Although Paxton didn’t dare to make any rash movements, he couldn’t swallow his anger. He desperately tried to explain, “Miss Swann, we still don’t know the situation inside. Aren’t you worried?”

Catherine looked at him dominantly, asking only one question.

“Are you a doctor?”

Paxton was momentarily stunned.

He wasn’t a doctor, so even if he rushed in, what could he do? Could he save Branden?

The answer was obvious. He couldn’t.

Paxton could only helplessly step aside and squat against the wall. The other three Duncans came forward to comfort Paxton. They were also concerned about Branden’s safety.

Among the four brothers, Paxton had spent the most time with Branden and had the best relationship with him. It was understandable that he was so anxious.

After another ten minutes or so, the door of the operating room finally opened.

The four men immediately rushed forward, but Catherine remained sitting on a nearby bench, seemingly indifferent to the situation.

As soon as Thomas came out, he rushed directly towards Catherine, completely ignoring the Duncans.

“Cassie, I’m sorry it takes such a long time.”

Catherine patted the seat next to her, gesturing for Thomas to sit down. Thomas was not young, and although he was in good health, he had performed surgery for over three hours. Even a normal person would find it unbearable, let alone someone of his age.

After Thomas sat down, he began to update Catherine on Branden’s condition.

“Cassie, you don’t need to worry too much. Branden is not in life- threatening danger, and his legs will be fine. At most, he’ll have to stay in bed for three months.”

Then, he added, “After all, he is your boyfriend. I will try my best to save him. You can rest assured!”

Catherine’s attitude remained cold, but the slight frown on her face softened a bit. The situation was better than she expected. At least, Branden’s life was saved, and he wouldn’t be left with any disabilities.

“Mr. Theo, let’s go!”

Catherine stood up first, with Thomas following behind her.

The surgery had just ended, but the two of them left in such a carefree manner. The four Duncans were left dumbfounded, with Francis being the most perplexed.

“Didn’t Boss and Miss Swann have a good relationship? Why does Miss Swann seem so indifferent to him?”

Carlo couldn’t help but complain, ” She’s just a heartless woman!”

Thinking about Catherine’s ruthless training methods, Carlo was sure that this woman had no emotions and was extremely ruthless!

They all held a strong dislike towards Catherine. Although her combat skills were formidable, she could never replace the place Branden held in their hearts.

At that moment, Paxton suddenly spoke up.

“Perhaps the truth is not as it seems!”

Carlo looked at Paxton in surprise. ”

Paxton, are you planning to defend her?

After all, just a moment ago, Paxton and Catherine were on the verge of a confrontation. Why would Paxton suddenly defend Catherine?

Paxton gave an annoyed look at Carlo, saying, “You know nothing about her! Some people are naturally cold. Don’t you understand?”

Paxton had spent the most time with Branden, which meant that among the four Duncans, he knew Catherine the best.

He knew better than anyone else how cold and ruthless Catherine could be. No one else could have persuaded her to stay here for over three hours, and most importantly, Thomas was brought here by her. If it were someone else, how could Catherine have offered to help?

Therefore, Paxton believed that Catherine do have feelings for Branden, but everyone expressed their love differently.

The nurse in the ward came out and explained the situation, instantly breaking the commotion.

“Mr. Duncan has woken up. You can go in and see him now!”

Inside the ward, Branden looked better than they expected. He only looked a little pale, not weak to the point of being unrecognizable.

Paxton was the first to stand by his side, quietly asking Branden, “Boss, do you have any orders?”

Branden scanned the room and didn’t see Catherine. His eyebrows furrowed instantly. A gloomy expression appeared on his pale face.

“Where is Catherine?”

Paxton had already guessed that the first thing Branden would ask when he woke up was about Catherine.

“Boss, Miss Swann just went out with Mr. Theo. She was waiting outside the operating room, and she has just left!”

Worried that Branden would be upset, Paxton explained it in detail.

“I see.” Branden nodded lightly and then instructed, “Go check if she hasn’t had lunch. Have the cafeteria prepare a separate meal for her and deliver it to her!”

The three Duncans beside Branden were dumbfounded. Their boss was lying on the hospital bed, but he was still taking care of Catherine’s meal.

What kind of fairy-tale relationship was this? Paxton knew Branden’s temper well. Since he had given the order, no one was allowed to change it.

“Yes, Boss, I’ll have Cory go now.”

Paxton didn’t want to leave because he was worried that Branden might need him. Seeing that their boss didn’t object, Cory saluted and immediately went to handle it.

After Cory left, Branden ordered the remaining few people, “All of you, go out!”

Carlo and the others had originally wanted to stay, but seeing that Branden had closed his eyes to rest, they didn’t dare to disturb him and obediently left.

Once they were outside the door, they began to discuss in low voices.

“Isn’t our boss too heartless? How could he just chase us out like this?”

Paxton sneered. “What? Are you not satisfied? Even if you’re not satisfied, what can you do? You’re not Catherine, are you?”

If Catherine had entered the ward just now, things might have been different. Branden would do everything possible to keep her there.

Chapter 450 I Don’t Have the Guts

In the cafeteria, Catherine personally carried a bowl of hot soup and a plate of food to Thomas’s table. Thomas looked at her with a smile; it was even happier than that of a three- year-old child.

“Cassie, you’re so good to me. You remember all my preferences and prepare everything for me.”

After saying that, he picked up a spoonful of soup and took a sip, his face filled with delight.

“It’s delicious, Cassie! The soup you brought is really tasty!”

Catherine looked at Thomas’s exaggerated acting, a smile forming at the corner of her mouth. This old man was really good at making a fuss.

Thomas was so happy that Catherine personally took care of him. In his opinion, Catherine was someone who appeared cold on the outside but had a warm heart. Despite her icy and distant demeanor, she was actually a caring person who paid attention to details and remembered more than others.

The Theos had a genetic blood issue since childhood, and despite studying medicine for many years, Thomas couldn’t find a way to solve the genetic issue for the Theos. It was as if they were cursed, as the men of the Theos couldn’t live past forty.

This was the reason why Thomas dedicated his life to medicine, not only to treat and save others but also to save himself.

However, despite his efforts, he still hadn’t made a breakthrough.

Luckily, he met Catherine and learned a special method to improve the Theos’ genes. However, although it could save the Theos from the curse, compared to others, they would still experience more health problems after the age of forty.

After performing a surgery that lasted over three hours, his physical strength had reached its limit. While others might not have noticed, Catherine knew it well, so she brought Thomas to the cafeteria.

The more Thomas thought about it, the happier he became. After his mood improved, he found the things in front of him more pleasing to the eye as well. After a satisfying meal, Thomas started urging Catherine.

“Branden can start eating now. Go order some food and bring it to him!”

Catherine was about to say that it wasn’t necessary, but then she remembered Thomas’s words from earlier. She stood up and went to order some food for Branden.

Ten minutes later, Catherine returned to the ward.

The room was quiet. Not a sound could be heard. Branden lay on the hospital bed, resting with his eyes closed. When he sensed someone’s presence, he immediately opened his eyes.

His handsome face, with well-defined features, appeared even paler due to the surgery. When he saw her, however, the look in his eyes instantly transformed from sharpness to gentleness.

“Catherine?” he said in a deep voice, slightly hoarse, making it particularly soothing to listen to. Catherine placed the packed cereal in front of him and raised the small table on the bed.

“Eat some!”

Branden squinted his eyes, looking at her with a faint smile. His eyes were fixed on her, unmoving. After being stared at for a few seconds, Catherine couldn’t help but frown.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Branden chuckled and raised his arm helplessly. At the moment, his right hand was in a cast and couldn’t move, and his left hand was wrapped in gauze, which affected its normal use.

“What do you think, Kathy?”

Catherine glared at him with faint despise on her face. “Sense of humor, huh?”

After expressing her disdain for Branden, Catherine uncovered the lid of the bowl of cereal and scooped some with a spoon to feed Branden.

With a smile on his face, Branden approached and swallowed the cereal from the spoon.

Branden ate quickly from Catherine’s hand-feeding. Soon, the bowl of cereal was empty, and it was precisely at this moment that Paxton entered with medicine in hand.

Thomas prescribed traditional medicine, which needed to be processed. Paxton had just gone to get the prepared medicine for Branden.

As soon as Paxton entered, he saw Catherine sitting on the edge of the bed, feeding his boss the cereal.

Without much thought, Paxton asked, ” Boss, didn’t you just finish eating? Why are you eating again? Should you wait a little longer to take the medicine?”

After all, Thomas had instructed that medicine should be taken half an hour after a meal. Catherine paused with the spoon in her hand. How dare this man lie to her?

Branden quickly regained his composure. Although he was seething with anger inside and had mentally executed Paxton hundreds of times, he maintained a smile on his face and looked at Catherine, trying to please her.

“Paxton’s food is too bad. Your cereal is much better!” he said.

Paxton was shocked by the cold aura emanating from Branden. From the tone of Branden’s words, Paxton knew he had ruined something. He quickly changed the subject, hoping to salvage the situation.

“No wonder you only took several bites earlier, Boss. Miss Swann really cares about you. The cereal must be tasty, right?”

Branden glanced at Paxton and thought Paxton was clever enough to go along with the lie. Catherine coldly watched their act.

Paxton was a considerate subordinate. How could the food he prepared for Branden be less delicious than the cereal she brought back from the cafeteria? He must have realized what was happening and just played along with Branden.

Branden lied to her, making her personally feed him the cereal.

Catherine thought that she needed to teach Branden a lesson. She accurately threw the nearly empty bowl of cereal into the trash can nearby and clapped her hands before standing up.

“You’re done eating. I’m leaving!”

Seeing her about to leave, Branden quickly got up, trying to chase after her. But he forgot that he still had an IV drip in his arm. The needle flew out, causing Paxton’s heart to skip a beat.

For other people in love, their relationships were usually sweet and harmonious. But why was it so thrilling and dangerous when it came to Branden’s, with so many minor injuries and even life-threatening situations?

Could it be that exceptional people have a unique way of dating?

Fortunately, Branden immediately grabbed Catherine’s hand. Catherine turned her head and looked at Branden with a cold gaze.

Branden looked at her with an expression full of flattery, his forced smile somewhat ruining his handsomeness.

“Kathy, won’t you stay a little longer?”

Catherine sneered at him with a cold face. “Stay longer? So you can keep deceiving me?”

“No!” Branden raised his hand in a surrendering gesture. “I don’t have the guts to do that!”

“You don’t have the guts? Well…” Catherine coldly laughed. “Is there anything that you wouldn’t dare to do? The Red Star has always been invincible, right? How come you, as its leader, don’t have the guts to deceive me?”

Branden smiled helplessly. How did they end up talking about this again? It made him feel guilty.

Thinking about the suffering Catherine had endured, Branden decided to admit his mistake obediently. He would never show weakness in front of others, but in front of the girl he loved, playing weak was necessary!

“Kathy, it’s my fault!”

Watching Branden and Catherine confront each other, Paxton decided to avoid the situation for now. In case his boss couldn’t get what he wanted from Catherine and decided to vent his anger on him, he should leave here as fast as he could. Running away was the best option for now.