Ch. 621..630

Chapter 621 Convention

When Edson woke up, he was almost scared to death. He had been tied up on the bed by someone, and the person tying the ropes was obviously very professional. No matter how hard Edson struggled, he couldn’t break free from the restraints.

What was even more terrifying was the group of grotesque figures around him, greedily sticking out their tongues.

Seeing this, Edson almost vomited on the spot. At the critical moment, his men arrived in time and rescued him.

Although Edson was saved, he had also suffered a lot of torture. The group of grotesque figures had stripped him of his clothes. He had many bruises on his body.

Sitting in the car, now safe, Edson couldn’t help but explode with rage. He kicked the back of the front seat and angrily shouted, “Find out who did this. When we catch the culprit, I’m going to kill him.”

His subordinate sitting in the front seat responded meekly, “Boss, the surveillance in the parking lot has been tampered with, and we can’t find any clues.”

This only fueled Edson’s anger. Unable to accept the fact that they couldn’t find any clues, he shouted furiously, “I don’t care how much it costs, find it for me. Do whatever you can to find the clues! Tell them I will reward whoever provides useful information with ten million dollars. That’s a large sum of money, and if they wanna get it, find the culprit for me!”

Edson had already made up his mind.

Once he found the mastermind, he would ruthlessly punish them and make them suffer tenfold for what he had endured.

Paxton, who had just returned from a mission, sneezed twice the moment he walked through the door. His subordinate immediately said, Paxton, is someone secretly cursing you?” ”

Paxton coldly smiled. “Who knows?”

It wasn’t just a curse. Perhaps that person even wanted to skin him alive.

“Did you get it back?” Paxton asked.

His subordinate immediately presented the items to him. “Yes, here it is!”

Paxton opened the video and couldn’t help but laugh at the exciting footage. ” Well done!” Watching the video made Paxton feel somewhat satisfied. “How dare that audacious foreigner challenge Boss?” he murmured inwardly. “He’s getting on our nerves. This time, it was just a small lesson. If he dares to provoke us again, we’ll blow that motherfucker’s head!”

“Arrange some people to keep an eye on Edson,” Paxton ordered.

The group responded in unison, “Yes!”

After finishing dinner with Branden, Catherine returned to her dormitory. She had experiments to conduct in the following days, and Branden was busy with company matters, so they didn’t live together in the apartment.

When Amelia saw Catherine, she seemed surprised. “Catherine, why are you back today?” She then felt something was wrong and asked softly, “Is everything okay?”

Catherine gave her a faint glance and replied, “What could possibly be wrong?

“She then sat down at her desk and turned on her laptop.

Seeing her open the laptop, Amelia knew she was going to work. Nobody dared to disturb Catherine when she was conducting experiments.

Just as Catherine was about to start working, her phone started ringing. She glanced at it and saw that it was Marshall calling. Marshall rarely contacted her, so it must be something important. Therefore, she reached for the phone.

“Hello,” Catherine answered.

As soon as she picked up the phone, Marshall’s voice came from the other end. “Catherine, it’s me, Marshall. You’re not resting yet, are you?”

“No,” Catherine replied indifferently.

“Good. There’s something I want to tell you. Tomorrow, there will be a convention, and the experimental project they will be discussing is the one you are working on. I want you to go with me. The people coming are all world-renowned experts, and it’s a rare opportunity. You should go.”

Catherine didn’t really care about the experts; she was always casual about her experiments and didn’t need to exchange ideas with others. But out of respect for Marshall, she agreed.

“I will attend tomorrow as scheduled, Professor Hartley.”

Upon hearing Catherine’s agreement, Marshall became a little excited. He knew that all his students would be willing to go if they were given the chance, but Catherine was an exception. He always felt he couldn’t figure out her thoughts. If she really refused, he would probably have to give up.

“Okay, get some rest. See you tomorrow.”

The next day, Catherine woke up on time. As she walked downstairs, she bumped into Marshall. She raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “Professor Hartley, are you worried that I might run away, or are you worried that I might be late?”

Marshall smiled awkwardly. “Neither, I just happened to be passing by. I’m afraid you might not find the place, so I’ll show you the way.”

Catherine walked alongside Marshall as he briefly introduced the situation of today’s convention.

“All the experts who are coming are world-renowned, and because of their special status, the confidentiality work has been done exceptionally well. I only received the news yesterday,” he said. ” After the school leadership discussion, we decided to bring you along.”

Others might not understand Catherine’s achievements, but Marshall did. He had a vague feeling that Catherine’s abilities were definitely more than what he had known. She was one hundred percent qualified to attend the convention.

As the representative of Styre University, Catherine, under Marshall’s leadership, arrived at the convention venue.

Just as Marshall had said, all the top experts in this field had come, and everyone knew each other. Many people greeted Marshall and, at the same time, curiously looked at Catherine.

Many of them were already in their fifties or sixties, and Catherine, being so young, instantly attracted their attention.

Someone with a good relationship with Marshall couldn’t help but ask, ” Marshall, who is this young lady?”

Marshall proudly smiled. “My student, with abilities surpassing mine!”

“Abilities surpassing Marshall’s?” they wondered. “How could that be?” Everyone thought Marshall was just exaggerating to show his affection for his students. After all, no one believed that such a young girl could be more capable than Marshall, a heavyweight in the field.

However, there was one exception. When he saw Catherine, he was stunned, as if he hadn’t expected to see her here.

Catherine also noticed Patrick Phillips and nodded slightly at him. Not knowing Catherine’s current situation, Patrick didn’t dare to greet her rashly and just nodded subtly before retreating to the side.

The convention officially began, and as experts in the same field, after complimenting each other, they began to share their current research progress and achievements.

Marshall’s progress was the fastest, which sparked jealousy among many. After all, if this project succeeded, it would be a world-renowned achievement.

Who wouldn’t want to leave a brilliant mark in history?

Chapter 622 Be Your Teacher

The convention officially began, and Catherine sat on the left of Marshall, with a representative from Ellinos Academy sitting on his right.

This university ranked far above Styre University in the world. Unfortunately, their research and development in this experimental project were far behind that of Styre University’s laboratory. The Ellinos Academy representatives were very dissatisfied with this.

Seeing Marshall bringing a student here, the representative of Ellinos Academy, Atticus Sterling, sarcastically remarked, “It looks like Styre University’s research has made breakthrough progress, huh?”

This sudden remark attracted everyone’s attention. No one knew what was going on with Atticus. Curiously, someone asked him, “Mr. Sterling, have you received some secret information?”

Atticus sneered. “No, but it’s just obvious, isn’t it? Look, Professor Hartley is bringing his student to this convention, allowing a freshman to communicate with us. If there hadn’t been significant achievements, how could he do this?”

His implication was that Marshall looked down on them by sending a student to communicate to talk with them. This statement made everyone’s expression turn sour. All eyes shifted back and forth between Marshall and Atticus.

Marshall looked embarrassed, not knowing how to explain. He struggled to say, “Please, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean that. The reason I brought Catherine here is because I believe in her outstanding abilities. She has great insight into the experimental project and is much more capable than I am.”

Atticus coldly scrutinized Marshall and said, “Professor Hartley, why bother? You don’t have to belittle yourself like this, do you? If you’re less capable than her, why don’t you let her be your teacher? I heard she’s just a freshman!”

Marshall’s face became extremely embarrassed, not knowing how to explain himself.

Catherine snapped out of her daze and looked at Atticus. His heart skipped a beat when her cold and indifferent gaze swept over him. He didn’t expect a young girl to have such an intimidating look in her eyes. He was stunned for a moment before slowly regaining his composure.

“You’re Professor Hartley’s student, right? Do you have a problem with what I said?” Atticus asked.

Catherine coldly stared at him. “You’re absolutely right.”

Seemingly surprised by Catherine’s response, Atticus then smiled triumphantly and looked at Marshall with a smug expression. “Professor Hartley, your student seems to agree with my statement. Why don’t you tell us how your project has progressed and why you seem to look down on us?”

Marshall’s face darkened in an instant. He didn’t know what Catherine was thinking. He always knew that Catherine wasn’t that kind of person, but what did she mean by this?

Before Marshall could figure it out, he heard Catherine coldly say to Atticus, ” You’re right. Not only can I be Professor Hartley’s teacher, but I can also be yours.” She then raised her eyebrows and looked at Atticus mockingly. “Come on, be my student, and maybe I’ll kindly teach you something.”

Atticus’s face immediately darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table, angrily shouting at Catherine, “How dare you? Who do you think you are to speak to me like that? Don’t underestimate Ellinos Academy.”

Catherine looked at him disdainfully and said loudly, “So what if I look down on you?”

She didn’t understand why such a small fry dared to speak so arrogantly in front of her. Maybe she had been so friendly recently that these people, who didn’t know their place, began to act arrogantly.

The atmosphere became tense, and everyone watched the battle between Styre University and Ellinos Academy with great interest.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter caught everyone’s attention.

Seeing others look at him, Patrick raised his hand and said, “Sorry, I just couldn’t help it. Please continue.”

Seeing that it was Patrick who laughed, Atticus immediately said to him, ” Professor Phillips, you’re laughing because Styre University has become too arrogant, right?”

Patrick had a higher status in the field than Marshall. Among the people present, his research results were the most impressive. In the academic world, it was all about the results. Whoever had the most impressive achievement had the final say.

Patrick didn’t want to get involved in the first place, but since Atticus had mentioned him, he had to say something.

“Mr. Sterling, in this field, abilities speak louder than words. If you really want me to say something, then I will tell you something. In this field, Catherine is my teacher as well.”

Atticus widened his eyes in disbelief as he looked at Patrick.

“Professor Phillips, are you sure you’re not joking?”

Patrick looked at him seriously and said, “Mr. Sterling, you know I never joke around.”

Everyone present was shocked. First, Marshall said that Catherine was even more talented than him, and now Patrick said that Catherine was his teacher. If Marshall was biased toward his student, what about Patrick? Why would he do that?

Facing the curious looks of everyone, Patrick decided to pass the difficult question to Catherine. “Miss Swann, why don’t you tell us about your research results? Since this is a convention, we might as well learn from you!”

Catherine stood up with the microphone in her hand. The people sitting in front of her were all big shots in the field. Standing in front of them, she remained calm and composed. She casually held the microphone and explained the more straightforward parts of her research results.

At first, the big shots in front of her were just listening out of curiosity. But as they listened, they became increasingly serious.

When Atticus noticed that the professors sitting next to him had all started taking notes, he looked increasingly embarrassed. At this moment, they did look like a bunch of students.

Catherine didn’t like to talk much, and her speech was concise, even at a convention like this. Yet, her words were all essential. After speaking for five minutes, she stopped and said, That’s all I have to say.”.

As she finished speaking, many people were still immersed in it. Someone proactively suggested, “It’s over? Please continue, Miss Swann. We want to hear more.”

One person stared at Catherine for a long time and exclaimed, “Miss Swann, have I seen you before? Weren’t you at the Mistel Institute of Technology for an academic exchange five years ago?”

Catherine nodded slightly, admitting it.

The Mistel Institute of Technology was the top-ranked school in the field globally. Other universities weren’t its match. Yet now, a professor at this university said that Catherine had been to the Mistel Institute of Technology for an academic exchange five years ago. But how old was she five years ago?

Once again, everyone looked at Catherine in disbelief, wondering who this extraordinary person was. Now, they finally understood why Patrick had seen her as his teacher. It made sense.

When Catherine’s identity was confirmed, Atticus realized how naive he had been. He now felt like a clown standing in the middle of everyone, extremely embarrassed.

Chapter 623 I’m from Eskana!

The people who came to the scene were all authoritative figures in the academic field. After Catherine had finished expressing her views, she handed over the floor to others.

With someone as influential as Catherine setting a good example, the convention went very smoothly.

During the two-hour convention, Catherine, apart from listening to their discussion for a little while at the beginning, played games on her phone the whole time without any restraint. Although she behaved so casually. However, not a single person dared to complain. With her formidable abilities, who would dare to speak against her?

After the convention ended, Catherine stood up, ready to leave, but someone stopped her. She lowered her eyes and looked at the person with a faint gaze. ” What’s the matter?”

Atticus rubbed his hands, looking a bit embarrassed. It was evident that he was indeed nervous. “Miss Swann, I really admire your talent and your research in the professional field…”

Catherine didn’t have time to listen to Atticus’s long-winded praise. She bluntly interrupted his rambling. “Get to the point!”

The four seemingly casual words instantly changed Atticus’s attitude. He stopped his long-winded speech and whispered to Catherine, “Miss Swann, are you interested in coming to our laboratory? Our laboratory has not only the most professional team in the world but also substantial sponsorship funds. Most importantly, our laboratory is located in Mistel.”

As the most prosperous country globally, Mistel dominated the world with its immense comprehensive strength. If this kind of leading project were conducted in Mistel, there would be no worries about issues with core research and development. If it were in other countries, however, once developed, it could potentially be a disaster. Mistel absolutely did not allow other countries to take the lead in the research and development of this project, thus threatening its status.

Based on this, many of the world’s top scientists set up their laboratories in Mistel, not just because of Mistel’s top- notch technology but also to protect themselves.

After listening to Atticus’s persuasion, Catherine sneered and gave a response. “Remember, I am from Eskana! I will never be a lackey for Mistel. My research and my achievements can only be handed over to my country.”

Marshall was extremely anxious when he saw Catherine stopped by Atticus. He knew Atticus’s intentions well. After all, he had been tempted by Atticus before and knew how powerful Atticus’s methods were. In order to recruit people, he could double and redouble his offers. Catherine was still so young, and the temptation might have been too much for her to handle. Marshall had just been about to make a move when Patrick pulled him back.

“Professor Hartley, you have to believe in your students,” Patrick said, stopping Marshall’s actions with a simple sentence.

Marshall didn’t rush forward. He stood in place, watching Catherine’s every move, afraid that she might accidentally agree to Atticus’s offer.

Finally, when Catherine said she was from Eskana, Marshall felt the weight lifted from his heart. He clenched his fists tightly and waved them in excitement, saying, “Well done! If all young people love our country like Catherine does, our country will be even stronger!”

After hearing Catherine’s words, Patrick felt a surge of excitement. He had stopped Marshall because of Branden. He knew how patriotic and upright his boss was. Catherine, as Branden’s fiancée, must be a patriot as well.

Moreover, the Duncans were not short of money, and the laboratory of Red Star was no less inferior to Mistel’s laboratories. If Catherine really wanted to enter a world-class laboratory, wouldn’t Red Star be better than Ellinos Academy?

He also knew a secret-Catherine was the head of the Arbotte Laboratory, one of the world’s three major laboratories. How could she possibly be interested in Ellinos Academy’s laboratory?

Even though Patrick already knew the answer, he couldn’t help but feel excited after hearing Catherine’s words. It was truly exhilarating!

Atticus still wanted to persuade Catherine. He had seen too many young people like her who hadn’t endured life’s hardships and hadn’t experienced suffering. They didn’t know the allure of money or the pleasure of power.

The moment Atticus reached out, Catherine glared at him, which forced him to withdraw his hand. Her gaze was too intimidating, which scared him into immobility.

Seeing that he fell silent, Catherine stepped away.

After leaving the convention, Catherine immediately spotted the familiar car. She walked straight toward the car as Branden was just about to get out of it, but she stopped him, opened the door for herself, and got in. Once inside, she immediately lay back, comfortably resting on the man’s lap.

Branden took her hand and gently massaged it, asking, “Are you so tired? “His gentle tone was filled with concern, as he knew Catherine had been busy with her experiments lately. This experiment was not easy at all. If it succeeded, it would be a groundbreaking development that shocked the entire world.

He understood the hardships she was overcoming and couldn’t stop her pursuit of her dreams, so he could only silently support her. Knowing that Styre University was attending the convention, he arranged for Patrick to be there. Even though Catherine might not need someone to protect her, Branden would feel more at ease with someone looking out for her.

Catherine shook her head slightly and said, “I’m not tired. I’m just so comfortable like this!” She would rather lie down than sit.

Branden smiled indulgently, his voice filled with infinite tenderness as he said, “Alright, then just lie down like this!”

Atticus happened to walk out and witnessed Catherine getting into the car. He glanced at the car emblem and smirked maliciously. “So she’s rich. No wonder she’s not interested in money. She is just an ignorant freshman who doesn’t know her place.”

Patrick overheard this and couldn’t help but retort, “Mr. Sterling, it seems like you’re the ignorant one. I advise you not to meddle in things you shouldn’t.”

Atticus could tell that Patrick and Catherine must be acquainted, and Patrick must know something.

“Professor Phillips, what do you mean by this?” Atticus curiously asked, ” What is Catherine’s background?”

Patrick recognized the car as Branden’s and knew that his boss personally came to pick Catherine up, feeling a hint of envy. Seeing Atticus still trying to cause trouble, he couldn’t help but warn him, “As we’re acquainted, I’ll give you a warning. Some people are not for you to scheme against. I advise you to give up on your tricks.”

After saying that, Patrick left without even sparing a glance for Atticus.

Watching Patrick’s retreating figure, Atticus became even more interested in Catherine. This mysterious woman was a talent. It would be great if she could become his student. It would be a shame not to win her over.

Atticus made up his mind to figure out Catherine’s background. Even if they were in Eskana, it wouldn’t stop him from investigating her.

Chapter 624 Not So Serious

Catherine lay bored next to Branden, playing with her phone. Suddenly, a buzzing sound caught her attention, and she looked up to see Branden answering the phone that was ringing next to him.

Catherine was close enough to hear the voice on the other end of the phone. It was Aidan. “Mr. Duncan, where are you? Let’s have dinner together!”

Branden glanced down at Catherine, who was comfortably resting on his lap. He heard her lazily reply, “I don’t want to go out to eat.”

Just as Branden was about to refuse, Aidan heard Catherine’s voice and immediately said, “Let’s have dinner at home. I’ll cook. I’m really good at it. Catherine, long time no see. Let’s eat together!” His tone was urgent as if he was afraid that Catherine and the others had forgotten him.

Catherine felt it was a good idea and didn’t hesitate to give instructions. ” Tell him we’ll meet at the supermarket!

She would like to choose the dishes if they were going to have dinner.

Without Branden needing to relay the message, Aidan, on the other end of the phone, had already heard Catherine’s instructions. He quickly responded, Alright, I’ll follow your orders!”

Aidan’s serious tone of voice made Catherine laugh. Seeing her in a good mood, Branden agreed. “Go to the Bestsellmart!”

Hearing this, the driver immediately changed direction and drove toward the supermarket. When Catherine and Branden arrived at the supermarket, Aidan was already there. He wasn’t alone. Triston was with him.

Recently, Triston had received a message and heard that the Duncan Corporation had clashed with the Breens, and he rushed to Loxton as soon as he could.

When Aidan called to invite Branden to dinner, Triston was right there and naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Seeing Catherine and Branden getting out of the car, Triston rushed forward. ” Cassie, we’re in for a treat today. Aidan is going to cook for us, and we can’t miss it.”

“Is he a good cook?” Catherine asked, turning her head to look at Branden beside her. It was clear she was asking him.

Branden remained silent momentarily and then provocatively replied, “Far from it!”

With just three simple words, he sparked a war of words between the men. Aidan stepped forward aggressively, glaring at Branden.

“Mr. Duncan, I’ll admit it if you say I’m not as good as you at doing business. But if you say my cooking is not as good as yours… I’m sorry, but I’ve been single for eighteen years, and I’ve been honing my cooking skills!”

Triston overheard Aidan’s joking tone and burst out laughing. “Kid, didn’t you wake up in someone else’s bed last night? You’re single? What a joke!”

Then, he added, “But then again, Aidan is indeed a good cook.”

After speaking with Branden, Aidan approached Catherine. “Cassie, get ready to be amazed by my culinary skills later!”

Once inside the supermarket, Aidan generously asked Catherine what she wanted for dinner. “Catherine, feel free to order whatever you want. After all, your fiancé is footing the bill!”

Seeing Catherine’s lack of response, Aidan was somewhat surprised. “You do know that this supermarket is Mr. Duncan’s private property, right?”

Apart from the Duncan Corporation, Branden had numerous investments and assets. He was the largest shareholder behind the nationally renowned chain supermarket, Bestsellmart.

Catherine turned around, stared at Branden for a few seconds, and looked at him with a sly smile. “Yeah, he has quite a lot of private property!”

She knew Branden had a lot of private property, not just the shares in the Duncan Corporation. With so much wealth, not even Branden himself could remember exactly how much he had.

Branden smiled faintly, his face exuding a carefree air. “Yeah, want to audit my accounts?” His playful tone was quite charming.

Catherine coldly glanced at him and said, “Be serious.”

Branden took a step forward and embraced Catherine’s waist, resting her head against his chest. His deliberately lowered voice carried a hint of playfulness as he said, “If I’m too serious, you won’t like me.”

Catherine remained silent.

Watching this scene from the side, Aidan couldn’t help but shiver. Triston, who was standing nearby, nudged him and shrugged, saying smugly, “I told you! Branden is an experienced lover. He’s got his ways. Kathy might not necessarily be his match.”

Just now, Aidan was worried that he might say something wrong and cause a fight between the two. If his words really led to an argument between them, given Branden’s scheming nature, he would definitely teach Aidan a lesson.

It turned out that Branden, who usually looked cold and unfeeling, was the most flirtatious among this group of people, and he was quite good at it! This was unbelievable!

Aidan hurried to buy groceries, and Branden was busy buying snacks for Catherine. It seemed as if they were spoiling their daughters.

As long as Catherine gave a glance at a snack, Branden would definitely throw it into the shopping cart.

After leaving the supermarket, the four headed straight to Branden’s apartment near Styre University.

The apartment was not big compared to the Duncans’ villas. This one, less than 2000 square feet, was considered small. But as soon as one entered, one could feel a sense of home.

It was like a newlywed couple’s home. Although the decoration style was as cold as their personalities, it was still proof of their happy life.

At the entrance, there was a figurine holding a gold plate. On the gold plate were Catherine’s favorite chocolates. Branden placed them there so that she could eat them whenever she entered or left home.

In the living room, there was no longer a tough-designed sofa. Now, there was a very comfortable sofa that made people feel relaxed lying on it.

Obviously, it must have been prepared for Catherine.

After entering, Catherine went straight to her exclusive sofa. Then, she threw herself on the sofa, lying comfortably with her long legs hanging on the coffee table in front.

She didn’t act formal at all. It was clear that she didn’t treat everyone as outsiders. She could just do as she pleased.

Branden took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves, resembling a husband preparing to cook for his family after a long day at work.

Unfortunately, Aidan guessed wrong. Branden was only doing this for Catherine.

Branden’s gaze was fixed on Catherine as he softly asked, “Do you want some fruit?”

“Yeah,” Catherine mumbled in response. Branden then turned and walked into the kitchen.

Triston walked over to Catherine and sat down on the sofa to her right. ”

Cassie, want to play a game? Can we play it together?”

Playing games with Catherine was a pleasure, and Triston finally seized the opportunity. Catherine nonchalantly nodded. She was about to play a game, and having Triston around wouldn’t affect her performance.

Seeing Catherine willing to play with him, Triston quickly took out his phone and logged in. Seeing this, Aidan was dumbfounded. “Mr. Lambert, you’re going to play games? But who will help me?”

Without looking back, Triston replied, ” You’re the chef. I believe in you!”

Aidan was helpless. At this moment, he suddenly realized how unreliable Triston was.

Chapter 625 Let It Be!

Aidan was indeed good at cooking.

The Lanes had moved overseas many years ago. Despite Aidan’s usual carefree appearance, resembling a playboy, he was patriotic. Most importantly, he had a strong love for Eskanese cuisine. To preserve the authenticity of his taste buds, Aidan had sought out many chefs to learn how to cook.

What started as a fun activity became his proficiency, and his culinary skills were now ready to be showcased.

Aidan was busy cooking while Branden emerged from the kitchen after cutting the fruit.

Catherine was playing games with Triston. Totally different from Catherine, who remained calm, Triston was visibly excited, veins bulging on his neck. When Catherine scored a direct hit on the opponent in the game, Triston cheered, “Wow, Cassie, that was awesome! Now, those wimps on the other side won’t be able to act tough! You beat the shit out of them! Anyway, I’ll use a frying pan to knock them out.”

Seeing their excitement, Branden sat down next to Catherine and offered her the cut fruit. She ate it without even looking at it.

Seeing Branden do this, Triston couldn’t help but-turn his head away, unable to stand such a show-off.

As the round of the game ended, Bryan and Ronin could be heard protesting over the headset. Triston’s sudden appearance had prevented them from teaming up with Catherine.

“Catherine, it’s my turn now,” Ronin said in a pitiful tone.

Ronin and Bryan had been waiting for Catherine online for a long time, and Triston suddenly appeared out of nowhere, taking their place to team up with her.

Then, Triston was forcibly kicked out of the team. Despite his disappointment, he had enjoyed the previous round of the game.

Seeing the drinks on the cabinet next to Branden, Triston took the initiative and asked, “Mr. Duncan, care for a drink?”

Branden released Catherine’s hand and went to the cabinet to take the whisky that Triston had offered. Triston casually remarked, “I heard Catherine attended a convention this morning!”

“Yes,” Branden responded generously. He didn’t look up, so he didn’t notice Triston’s furrowed brow at that moment.

“I heard that this convention was on a world-class level, and many of the world’s top scientists came, including Atticus from the Ellinos Laboratory in Mistel. This person has a new identity now, and I just received the news.”

Triston paused momentarily but ultimately decided to share the information with Branden. After all, they had been friends for so many years.

“Atticus has entered the Xenion Laboratory and is now in charge of the laboratory. I heard he has set his sights on a female student from Styre University at the convention.”

The Xenion Laboratory had a notorious reputation worldwide. The true backer of this laboratory was Mistel’s military, so their actions were very arrogant. Although their experiments were very successful and significant, they still had a bad reputation, mainly because they were too despicable. They stopped at nothing to achieve their goals.

Seeing Branden indifferent, Triston hesitated momentarily but still decided to speak up. “I heard that Atticus has set his sights on a female student from Styre University at this convention. But you know, Atticus is not easy to deal with!”

Who else but Catherine could attend the convention?

Triston understood that it was not Atticus who was difficult to deal with but the Xenion Laboratory. This laboratory, backed by Mistel’s military, had always been bold in its actions and reckless in its deeds. If they targeted Catherine, it would be troublesome.

Triston informed Branden as soon as he received the news, knowing that preparing in advance could reduce some trouble.

Branden casually picked up the glass of whisky, swaying it slightly. Then, he tilted his head back and took a sip. The high-proof liquor gradually slid down his throat, and his expression did not change at all.

After putting down the glass, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at Triston. The seemingly plain and cold gaze carried endless arrogance and dominance. “Let it be!”

Even if the Xenion Laboratory had the backing of the Mistel military, Branden would make anyone who dared to hurt Catherine pay for it.

Upon hearing this, Triston no longer felt worried. He had known Branden for so many years and naturally knew that Branden was confident and domineering at this moment.

“That’s true. This is our country. If people from Mistel dare to act recklessly here, we’ll make them regret it.”

Branden raised his glass and lightly tilted it. The two of them clinked glasses and drank together.

For Branden, Catherine was his bottom line. Anyone who dared to mess with her would meet their demise. Whether it was Edson or Atticus, if they dared to hurt her, they would soon be sent to Hell.

After discussing Catherine, Triston brought up another matter. “I heard from Aidan that you’ve started a head- on confrontation with that foreign guy, right?”

Rumors were circulating outside that the Duncans would suffer a great loss in their confrontation with the Breens. On the surface, the Duncans had been dragged to the point of exhaustion, and bankruptcy seemed imminent. Many people were ready to take advantage of their misfortune.

Only Triston knew that Branden, who was invincible and powerful, couldn’t possibly lose so easily. After talking to Aidan for a while, Triston finally understood some of the inside story. He was now at ease and wanted to get a piece of the action, too.

“Mr. Duncan, this is like a grand banquet, and I wouldn’t mind joining for fun,” Triston said.

Triston’s concern for Catherine prompted Branden to bring him along. They would teach that foreign guy a lesson and make a good profit.

“Your family has never been involved in business in Northeville. I think the Easeville project is a better choice. You should give it a try,” Branden said.

Triston, as an insider, knew what Branden meant. The Easeville project required a large amount of capital, and a misstep could easily drag the family into it. But Branden’s willingness to recommend this project to him must mean Branden knew something. This project was likely to be a surefire success.

Triston raised his glass, smiling contentedly. “Thank you, Mr. Duncan!”

Then, he gulped it down in one go.

Triston knew Branden’s willingness to share the profits was likely due to Catherine. They were friends, and behind them were two huge families.

They had to consider both their friendship and the interests of their families.

Meanwhile, Catherine had ended a round of the game, and Aidan emerged from the kitchen with the final dish. “Come on. The meal is ready!”

Chapter 627 Try It on the Couch

Catherine had been playing games for an hour when the sound of the game ending was suddenly interrupted by someone snatching her phone away. As she looked up, she met the man’s gaze with deep, captivating eyes.

Many people had praised Edson’s beautiful blue eyes, claiming they were a creation of God. However, Catherine felt that those people had never seen Branden’s eyes. The man in front of her had the most beautiful eyes. His clear eyes seemed to possess the vastness and brilliance of stars.

Branden initially intended to advise Catherine to spend less time on games. He was concerned about her eyes. However, when he noticed Catherine’s gaze fixed on him for a long time, all his eagerness to preach dissipated. He knew he had fallen for Catherine, willingly and wholeheartedly.

In his gentle and deep voice, he concealed endless love. “How about taking a break? You can play tomorrow, okay?”

Branden, a man who was always firm and decisive, would only use a questioning tone in her presence.

Catherine raised her eyebrows and gazed at him. “The night is so long. Why would you want me to rest so early?”

For a moment, Branden was stunned, and then Catherine heard him excitedly suggest, “How about trying it on the couch tonight? Then we can move to the bed. It should help pass the time!”

“Try it on the couch?” Catherine murmured inwardly. After a brief pause, she finally understood what Branden meant.

Without giving Catherine a chance to refuse, Branden wrapped his hands around her waist, and with a sudden force, he pulled her onto his lap. Then, Catherine saw a wicked smile on his face. “Let’s try!”

After a long time, Catherine finally left her beloved couch. Her hair was completely drenched in sweat, and her cheeks were as red as if she had just come out of the shower, looking extremely cute. She lay weakly in Branden’s arms, not even wanting to move her fingers.

With one hand, Branden lifted Catherine and then walked towards the room. His entire back was covered with various sizes of red scratching marks.

Branden quickly walked to the room but gently and slowly placed Catherine on the bed.

Catherine was too tired to move. While Branden was covering her with a blanket, she wearily raised her eyes and muttered irritably, “You’re like a beast!

Her weak voice made the words sound less like an insult and more like a coquettish complaint. Branden’s heart instantly softened, and he took her delicate hand, gently kissing it. “You’re right. I am a beast.”

Seeing the man acting shamelessly, Catherine rolled her eyes at him in disdain. “This is not a compliment!”

Reveling in his triumph, Branden was in a particularly good mood, almost humming a tune to express his happiness. He wore a faint smile as he responded playfully to Catherine’s complaints. “I’ll take that as a compliment!”

He took out a tissue and gently wiped the sweat from Catherine’s body. It was just a little sweat, something Catherine would normally leave to dry on its own. Why bother wiping it? However, she couldn’t be bothered to stop him. She just shifted slightly to avoid his hand.

Branden was somewhat helpless. Unable to preach, he patiently coaxed her, “Be good. It’ll be more comfortable when you’re dry. With so much sweat on your body, you may catch a cold.”

Catherine gradually realized that this man had the potential to be a preacher. However, this situation only occurred when they were alone together. Otherwise, this man was still strict and reserved.

Knowing that her resistance was futile, Catherine leaned into Branden’s arms and let him fuss over her. He gently wiped the sweat from her body, flipping her over.

As time passed, the temperature in the room seemed to be rising. Branden looked at Catherine’s eyes, his eyes full of desire. He was clearly trying to restrain himself.

However, as Catherine let out a soft moan, he suddenly lowered his eyes, leaned down, and gently kissed Catherine’s forehead and earlobe. In a particularly serious tone, he said, ” We’ve tried it on the couch. It’s time to try it on the bed.”

Catherine furrowed her brow, speechless.

“Is he out of his mind?” she wondered. Even if she had extraordinary stamina, she couldn’t withstand doing it again within such a short time.

The moment Atticus found Edson, Paxton received the news immediately. As it involved Catherine, he immediately called Branden.

When the screen of the phone lit up, Branden became aware. Не immediately reached out to silence the phone, preventing the ring from disturbing the deeply sleeping Catherine, exhausted from two rounds of sex.

Branden carefully withdrew his hand, but Catherine, trained since childhood, still noticed it even when tired. Sleeping next to Branden, however, she had let down her guard. She just let out a tired hum.

Branden kissed her forehead and reassured her in a low voice, “I’ll take a call and be right back.”

“Okay,” Catherine agreed.

Only after receiving her consent did Branden get up from the bed and walk to the bathroom to answer the phone.

“Speak!” Unlike the gentle tone a minute ago, Branden’s cold voice scared Paxton out of his wits.

Knowing he had angered his boss, Paxton quickly reported the situation. ” Boss, Atticus just contacted Edson, and they’ve arranged to meet tomorrow morning. Our investigation revealed that Atticus is actually Edson’s mother’s cousin, so they are relatives.”

After receiving instructions to monitor Atticus, Paxton arranged elite forces to keep an eye on him, ensuring they wouldn’t miss any information.

Atticus’s whereabouts in Casier were all under their surveillance. Although Atticus’s movements were mysterious, it was hard for him to escape their monitoring. His every move was under their watchful eyes.

Atticus and Edson getting together could only mean trouble. It was definitely not just a simple visit between relatives.

Branden speculated that their target was Catherine. “Keep a close eye on them. I want to know everything they talk about, not a single word missed,” he ordered.

Upon receiving the command, Paxton responded with exceptional seriousness, “Yes, Boss. I’m on it!”

Chapter 628 Long Time No See

Catherine slept until noon the next day. Seeing her sleep for so long, Branden didn’t dare to make greasy dishes for her. He made some soup and a few light side dishes. Although they were light, they were very delicious.

After Catherine got up and sat at the dining table, Branden brought the hot soup to her. She picked up the bowl of soup and began to enjoy it. Ever since she met Branden, her stomach problems have improved a lot.

The soup Branden made tasted more and more delicious. It smelled so good! As Catherine ate it, Branden wore a bright smile on his face. For him, watching Catherine eat the food he cooked was more satisfying than making a business deal worth tens of billions of dollars.

When Catherine put down her bowl, Branden reached out to take it, but Catherine stopped him. “Enough!”

Brariden couldn’t stand to see her bowl empty and wanted to refill it at any time. She actually ate a lot. Compared to most girls, she did have a bigger appetite. The reason she didn’t gain weight was that she was still relatively young with a fast metabolism and high -intensity exercise all year round, making it impossible for her to gain weight.

But staying with Branden, she had gained several pounds, an effect that Ronin had been working on for many years without achieving.

Seeing that she was unwilling, Branden did not insist. Instead, he gazed at her with one hand supporting his face. “Are you going to the lab today?”

Catherine thought for a moment. The laboratory’s calculation data was still running, and the speed of mathematical modeling was not that fast. She didn’t have a reason to go back to the laboratory now. “I don’t have to.”

These four words meant that she didn’t have to go back if he needed her to stay, but she would rather stay in the laboratory if there was nothing to do. She believed that with Branden’s understanding of her, he would make the most appropriate judgment.

Branden smiled gently. “Well then, accompany me to a banquet tonight.”

Catherine didn’t ask anything and agreed directly, “Okay!” She knew that Branden, like her, did not like noisy places. There must be a reason since he asked her to go with him. Besides, with Branden there, she didn’t have to overthink.

“Did you need me to arrange a stylist for you?” Branden asked.

Catherine wearily waved her hand. ” There’s no need.”

Each styling session took hours, and Catherine didn’t want to waste time on these meaningless things.

In the evening, she would just put on any clothes and apply light makeup. She thought that was enough.

“Okay.” Branden’s voice was incredibly gentle, filled with indulgence.

He was sure that his woman would still be the center of attention throughout the event, even without makeup.

At night, the stars shone brightly. An estate on the outskirts of Loxton was radiant and brightly lit. Luxury cars filled the entrance.

Men and women, dressed in high-end and glamorous attire with an air of nobility, got out of their cars and walked slowly on the red carpet towards the main entrance.

Any one of them was a well-known entrepreneur in Loxton. Those invited to this banquet were not ordinary people.

As the crowd walked up the hill, a black Bentley slowly passed by, heading towards the main entrance. The tires rolled over the red carpet, drawing sidelong glances.

“Whose car is this? Why can this person drive straight to the main entrance?”

“Just look at the license plate!”

“Oh my…”

The whispers were continuous, and people only dared to discuss quietly. No one dared to accuse loudly.

Everyone present was shrewd. This person could drive so blatantly despite the strict control of the host. The host must have approved this. But then again, how many people in Loxton had such power?

Nobody dared to offend someone with such power.

After the Bentley stopped, the head of the Claytons stepped forward and personally opened the door for the person inside.

“Mr. Duncan, welcome!”

Branden glanced at the other party and walked around to the other side of the car, opening the door.

Jaxton naturally knew who could get Branden to open the door for them personally. He stood still, waiting for the person in the car to come out.

Everyone was focused on this scene.

The Claytons were the host of today’s banquet. Since the decline of the Facers, led by Conor, the branch of the Claytons, led by Jaxton, had risen. It was said that their family had received mysterious investments. Not only did they successfully take on several profitable projects, but they also obtained a lot of insider information.

The Facers, once the center of attention in Loxton, was no longer the focus. The Claytons, led by Jaxton had taken their place.

It was a mystery as to who could be so important that both the head of the Claytons and Branden personally greeted them.

Catherine sat in the chair, resting. The moment the car door opened, she slowly opened her eyes.

Seeing her tired face, Branden felt a twinge of pity. Perhaps he shouldn’t have brought her along. “You can sleep a little longer. I’ll wait for you,” he said.

Facing the attention of the crowd, Branden was indifferent. All he could see was Catherine, and all he wanted to care about was Catherine.

Since everyone was there, Catherine didn’t want to be too affected. Besides, she wasn’t even tired. She was just resting with her eyes closed.

“No need, let’s go,” she said, handing her hand to Branden and slowly getting out of the car.

All eyes were fixed on this scene as the girl was gracefully led out of the car. Unlike the grand attire of others, the girl was wearing only a plain white dress, her beautiful straight hair loose, and her makeup very light. This kind of attire, coupled with the ethereal aura she exuded, made her look stunning, almost unreal.

Everyone gazed in awe at this scene, and even Jaxton was momentarily stunned to see Catherine again. This assertive girl from last time looked like a fairy today.

Since Catherine had mentioned wanting to collaborate with him last time, Jaxton hadn’t seen her again. Catherine’s manager handled the collaboration. He admired Catherine’s composure in entrusting such a large project to an outsider.

Finally returning to his senses, Jaxton stepped forward, extending his hand politely. “Miss Swann, long time no see, “he said.

Catherine stared at him for a second, recognizing him. Out of politeness, she responded, “Hello, Mr. Clayton.”

Chapter 629 An Unpleasant Encounter

Jaxton personally welcomed Branden and Catherine into the venue. Once inside, Catherine finally understood why Branden had brought her to the banquet.

When Edson saw Catherine, his eyes lit up instantly, and he walked straight towards her with a raised glass.

“Cassie, I haven’t seen you in a few days. I missed you so much!” Edson’s voice wasn’t quiet, and the people around clearly heard him.

They were initially surprised that Catherine could accompany Branden to the event. But they didn’t expect Catherine to know Edson as well. It was well known that the Breens and the Duncan Corporation have been at odds in recent days. Now, however, the girl who accompanied Branden to the event had such a close relationship with Edson. The complex relationship between them immediately stirred up gossip among the crowd.

Everyone wanted to know what Catherine’s background was and what the relationship between them actually was.

When Branden saw Edson coming over, his eyes instantly darkened, exuding a strong sense of hostility. An intimidating aura surrounded him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, as if a powerful cold front had swept in.

Catherine glanced at Edson expressionlessly and then walked past him without even giving him a second glance, completely ignoring him.

Edson stood still for a moment, seemingly not expecting Catherine to treat him this way.

Branden followed behind Catherine, and as he passed Edson, he snorted in disdain and looked him up and down.” Looks like you haven’t learned your lesson yet!”

Edson frowned as he watched Branden leave, not understanding the meaning behind his words. However, a few minutes later, he figured it out.

The assistant hurriedly found Edson, who was talking to someone else. ” Boss, something big is happening!”

Edson glared at him disapprovingly, warning, “You better have a good reason for this, or else I’ll kick your ass!

The assistant tremblingly handed over his phone. After looking at it, Edson suspiciously took it and was utterly shocked. He hadn’t expected that the incident of him being abducted and brought to that hellhole a while back had been recorded, and the most frightening thing was that these photos had now been posted online.

Seeing the photos of his disheveled self, Edson couldn’t control himself and threw the phone to the ground. Instantly, the phone shattered into pieces.

All eyes once again focused on Edson. The photos had already gone viral on social media, and many people had received Edson’s photos. Now, when they looked at him, there was a mocking gleam in their eyes.

The look in their eyes made Edson unable to stay at the event any longer. He immediately left the venue, followed by his assistant.

His assistant ran after him, reporting, ” Boss, I’m arranging for people to investigate. We’ll definitely find out who’s behind this!”

Edson stopped in his tracks, turned around, and angrily scolded his assistant, “You fool, there’s no need to investigate! Besides Branden Duncan, who else could be the mastermind behind this?”

At that moment, Edson finally understood why Branden had issued that warning earlier. It turned out Branden was waiting for him here. Branden was blatantly retaliating against him!

No wonder he still couldn’t find any information even if he had arranged for so many men to investigate it. It was Branden pulling the strings behind the scenes. Loxton was Branden’s territory, and he covered up this matter so that no one could find out.

Thinking about everything he had endured, Edson couldn’t take it anymore. The rage inside him was overwhelming. Now, he had no other thought except to take down Branden.

Edson stared at his assistant with a fierce and predatory look in his eyes. ” Issue the command. We’re launching a full-scale attack. I want the Duncan Corporation destroyed within three days!”

Chapter 630 Do I Need a Reason?

Catherine was playing games with Branden in the lounge when Paxton knocked on the door.

“Boss, the guests have arrived,” Paxton said.

Branden glanced at Catherine, who was still playing the game and casually dismissed Paxton. “We’ll go out later.”

Paxton understood his boss’s intention and obediently stepped aside to wait.

Catherine reclined on the comfortable sofa the whole time, only putting down her phone after finishing a round of the game.

Even though she had been playing the game, she had still heard Paxton’s report earlier.

“Let’s go.”

Branden didn’t move immediately. Instead, he patiently asked Catherine, ”

Not interested in your game anymore?”

“I’m bored of always winning,” she replied, her words carrying extreme arrogance.

If someone else had said that, they would have been despised. However, it was Catherine who said those words, and that made all the difference. After all, everyone knew what a legendary figure she was in the gaming world.

She didn’t just play games; she also developed them. Several of the world’s most popular games only existed because of Catherine’s participation and design. The copyright income from these games alone enabled Catherine to make a fortune every day.

If it weren’t for Catherine’s absolute control over Arbotte Laboratory, a world-class laboratory she single- handedly supported, she wouldn’t need to complain about being short of money all the time. She made money faster than a money-printing machine, but unfortunately, Arbotte Laboratory was just a money shredder.

The two of them left the lounge with Paxton, and they soon saw Atticus chatting and mingling with the crowd.

Catherine immediately recognized the man with a goatee and mischievous eyes. One could tell at a glance from his shifty face that he was a bad guy.

The moment Atticus noticed Catherine, his eyes lit up with excitement.

It seemed he wasn’t surprised to see Catherine at this kind of event, considering he had already investigated her background and knew she came from a wealthy family, had a high net worth, and, most importantly, was engaged to a billionaire.

With such a background, seeing her at this high-society gathering wasn’t surprising. Atticus walked straight towards Catherine, his face beaming with excitement.

“Miss Swann, I didn’t expect to see you here. It seems that what the Eskanese say about fate bringing people together is true, right?”

Catherine gave him a cold glance and sarcastically said, “The culture of Eskana is profound and extensive. It’s normal for you to have a shallow understanding of it, Professor Sterling. In Eskana, there’s indeed a saying that goes, ‘Enemies are bound to meet!'”

Atticus’s smile froze momentarily, but then he quickly regained his eerie grin. “Miss Swann, I truly admire and respect you. It’s truly remarkable for someone of your age to achieve such success in your field. You don’t need to be hostile towards me. If we can’t work together, we can still be friends!”

Catherine lowered her eyes, and her deep gaze seemed like an endless abyss of darkness. “Hostile? That’s not the case, Professor Sterling. Not everyone has the right to be my enemy.”

Her bold words felt like a resounding slap across Atticus’s face, leaving him utterly humiliated. “You…” Atticus trembled with anger, his cheeks turning red.

Seeing the situation escalating, Branden stepped forward, wrapping his arm around Catherine’s waist. Like Catherine, he looked at Atticus with disdain and mockery in his eyes. His sharp gaze. The bloodthirsty aura he exuded sent shivers down Atticus’s spine.

“Professor Sterling, I advise you to have some self-awareness. Stay away from people you shouldn’t get close to.”

He wouldn’t allow anyone to have ill intentions towards Catherine.

Atticus recognized Branden and had heard some rumors about this young genius.

Decisive, ruthless, and extremely cruel, Branden was a rare and talented businessman.

Suppressing his anger, Atticus forced a smile. “Mr. Duncan, your words make me feel like there might be a misunderstanding between us!”

Branden was not polite, his icy voice dripping with sarcasm. ” Misunderstanding? That’s not the case, Professor Sterling. Not everyone has the right to misunderstand me.”

His tone and phrasing were exactly what Catherine had used to retort Atticus!

They were indeed a perfect match, publicly displaying their affection.

After being confronted twice in a short period, Atticus was on the verge of losing his composure. He almost threw a fit but managed to hold it in. Eventually, he found an excuse and left with a friend of his.

As soon as Atticus left, Paxton immediately approached and whispered, “Boss, Professor Vulture really has some patience. The nickname ‘Vulture’ suits him well. If he doesn’t get angry, do we still need to make a move?”

Initially, they planned to provoke Atticus, and then they would have a good reason to deal with him. Even if Mistel were to investigate later, it would be “Professor Vulture” who caused the trouble, and their retaliation would be justified. However, who would have known that “Professor Vulture” endured all the humiliation without getting angry?

Branden sneered and looked in the direction Atticus had left, his eyes filled with a hint of hostility. “Do I need a reason to make a move?”

Catherine stood to the side, listening to the conversation between the two men. She understood Branden’s intentions. Although there was no need to fear Atticus, the fact that he had now sided with Mistel was a concern. After all, Mistel was still the world’s largest powerhouse. It could potentially cause some trouble. Just because they wanted to teach Atticus a lesson didn’t mean they had to anger Mistel.

Catherine raised an eyebrow, her smile playful and eerie. “I have an idea!”

Although Branden didn’t know what idea she had, he was intrigued by her playful mood and decided to go along with her.

His eyes were filled with indulgence, and he was brimming with joy as he said, “Be mindful of your promise to me!”

Catherine knew what he was going to say. It must be about staying safe and not taking unnecessary risks. She leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. In a low voice, she said, ” Have I ever told you that you’re starting to resemble a preachy old man more and more?”

The next moment, she bit him fiercely.

Branden stood still, allowing her to act as she pleased, not even furrowing his brows. The pain in his neck brought back memories of the previous night, and an indescribable heat surged through his mind, causing his body to tense involuntarily.

If it weren’t for the inappropriate setting, he would have banged this little troublemaker on the spot.

After biting him, Catherine released Branden and gazed at him with a mischievous smile, even poking his chest with her finger. Deliberately lowering her voice, she teased, “Wait until I deal with the bad guys, then I’ll come and deal with you!”

Branden’s expression softened, and a bright smile appeared on his face. ”

Alright, I’ll be waiting for you!”