Ch. 691..700

Chapter 691 His Sore Point

Zobber had heard about what was going on at Styre University, but she shrugged it off as nothing much.

She thought a tiny matter like that wouldn’t bother Catherine. So, she ignored it. She just focused on the tasks Catherine had assigned her.

“Catherine, Branden just put in an order for Hacker Alliance again. This time, he jacks up the price by tenfold! He is so generous!”

For a regular order, even double the commission would’ve been a big deal. The Duncans were loaded, but no one expected them to jack up the price by tenfold. Even the seasoned members of the Hacker Alliance were taken aback by the Duncans’ extravagance.

Hearing that, Catherine was unfazed as ever.

Branden had always been like this- anything he set his mind to could be accomplished. Money was just a number for the Duncans.

She simply replied, “I told you to take the order. Any issues?”

Zobber wouldn’t have bothered making this call if it were a regular order. The demands were so high that Zobber couldn’t make the decision herself. So, she turned to Catherine.

“Catherine, the Duncans specifically want the chief of the Hacker Alliance to take the order. They won’t accept anyone else.”

Hearing that, Catherine frowned.”

They want me to take it?”

“Yeah. Specifically, you!”

The Duncans upped the reward tenfold precisely because they demanded the chief of the Hacker Alliance to handle it. It was something unheard of in the industry.

Zobber hesitated for a moment before voicing her thoughts. She asked, ” Catherine, what if the Duncans just want to confirm your identity? Maybe Branden’s bluffing, and they’re actually looking for you!”

“No way!” Catherine decisively dismissed Zobber’s speculation.

She and Branden had kept plenty of their identities hidden from each other. It wasn’t that they deliberately avoided sharing. Rather, they felt it unnecessary.

They believed what needed to be known would surface naturally without explicitly stating it. It was an unspoken understanding between the two of them.

If Branden truly believed she was the chief of the Hacker Alliance, he’d ask directly, not beat around the bush like this.

“Zobber, tell them that if they want the Hacker Alliance to take the order, they’ll have to abide by the Hacker Alliance’s rules.”

The Hacker Alliance had been around for a while. Although they didn’t take many orders, every one of them was significant.

Despite this, they upheld their rules strictly. Once an order was with the Hacker Alliance, the employers had no right to interfere until the result was out. They had to trust the Hacker Alliance unconditionally.

The Duncans’ attempt to specify the person taking the order was meddling with the Hacker Alliance’s internal rules. It was something Catherine wouldn’t allow, even if it involved her boyfriend.

Zobber understood Catherine’s stance. Catherine was the chief and respected the rules of the Hacker Alliance more than anyone else. Otherwise, she couldn’t lead the Hacker Alliance.

“Okay, Catherine. I’ll turn down the Duncans later. Anything at the lab needing my help?”

“Not necessary. Ronin’s on it,”

Catherine replied before ending the call.

Paxton knocked on the study door with the latest news.

“Come in.”

Inside the room, Branden sat at his desk and was engrossed in his work.

Paxton hesitated, wearing a troubled expression.

“Something wrong?”

Hearing the cold tone, Paxton looked up and saw Branden still working away without even glancing up. He was a bit surprised. “Mr. Duncan, how did you know I wasn’t bringing good news?”

Branden paused and set down his papers. He looked up and stared at Paxton.

Without delay, Paxton relayed the rules from Hacker Alliance that had come through.

“Mr. Duncan, the Hacker Alliance says for them to take the job, we must abide by their rules. They don’t have a tradition of assigning tasks and won’t set a precedent for us.”

They had offered a staggering one billion dollars, yet the Hacker Alliance still refused. Paxton wondered what was going on in their minds. He wondered if they really did not need the money that badly.

Hearing the bad news, Branden didn’t even furrow his brow. He calmly said, ” Increase it.”

Paxton thought inwardly, “Increase it? “They had already offered an astronomical sum. It was beyond anything the industry had seen.

“Mr. Duncan, should we consider reaching out to Catherine…”

Before Paxton could finish, Branden suddenly looked up with his cold eyes. It sent shivers down Paxton’s spine and left him breathless.

Realizing his mistake, Paxton immediately knelt before Branden. ”

Mr. Duncan, I’ve erred!”

He knew Catherine was a sore point for Branden. Proposing involving her was self-destructive. No wonder Branden was angry.

Even if it was just seeking Catherine’s help, in Branden’s eyes, it was using Catherine. Branden couldn’t agree.

“Get out!”

“Yes!” With command, Paxton didn’t hesitate. He stood up and swiftly left. He feared any delay might result in severe punishment.

Outside the study, Paxton breathed a long sigh of relief. He felt as if he had narrowly escaped a disaster.

He might not have walked out of that room if he had uttered a few more words just now. The next day, Catherine got up as usual and headed to the school’s laboratory.

When she appeared, Marshall looked surprised. “You’re diligent. Why not take a half-day break at home?”

Although Marshall was teasing Catherine, deep down, he was genuinely shocked by her presence.

With so much evidence emerging, he thought Catherine might face some constraints and not show up at the procuratorate so quickly. However, she was back in the laboratory the next day. She was seemingly unaffected by whatever had happened.

It appeared he had underestimated Catherine. She was much more formidable than he had imagined.

“The second phase of the experimental project is almost done. I came to make the final adjustments. If everything goes well, I’ll send the data to your email later.”

After Marshall heard Catherine’s words, his eyes lit up. “Really? Don’t use this to joke with me!”

“I never joke.” Catherine’s expression was somewhat serious.

Ciaran, who was nearby, couldn’t help but approach. “Professor Hartley, what did you say to Catherine? Why are you so happy?”

Marshall looked at him excitedly and said proudly, “Catherine said her experimental project’s second phase is almost complete. She’ll be able to send me the data tonight.”

“Really?” Ciaran was excited, too. ”

Well done, Catherine! You’re amazing!”

“I’ll go work on the experiment. You guys chat,” Catherine said. Then, she turned away and headed toward the laboratory.

As Catherine left, Marshall watched her with excitement in his eyes.

Ciaran had a happy expression on his face. However, there was a hint of loss in his eyes. It made his expression somewhat peculiar and difficult to decipher.

Chapter 692 The Leaker

“Phew…” Ronin breathed out softly and finally shifted his position. He’d been lying on the ceiling for two days without a stir below.

Ronin moved slightly and turned to give his numb thighs a break. A growl from his stomach prompted him to carefully retrieve an energy bar from his pocket to replenish his energy. After that, he settled back into position quietly.

Under Catherine’s orders, he wouldn’t stop until he unearthed who was causing the disturbances.

However, after he stayed there for two days, the office remained eerily quiet. Ronin wondered whether he had misjudged the direction.

Just as Ronin contemplated revising his plan, the office door lock made a slight sound.

A soft click caught Ronin’s attention. He adjusted and barely breathing. He feared detection.

When he spotted the person entering, he rolled his eyes silently.

It was Ciaran, Marshall’s earliest student, who had been working with Marshall. He often frequented Marshall’s office. His entrance was nothing out of the ordinary.

Ronin stifled a yawn and planned to rest a bit. But he noticed Ciaran moving stealthily toward Marshall’s desk. Then Ciaran sat down at the desk and turned on Marshall’s computer.

If it weren’t for Ronin taking a second glance, he wouldn’t detect anything unusual. He noticed that Ciaran’s expressions and gaze were off.

Ciaran occasionally glanced around and looked incredibly uneasy. It was a far cry from his usual relaxed demeanor when helping Marshall. This was seriously problematic.

Sensing something wrong, Ronin immediately opened his laptop. His mini-computer was already linked to Marshall’s. It mirrored every move made on the other machine.

Ciaran probably didn’t anticipate someone monitoring his every move from such close quarters.

As Ronin watched the files open on the computer, he held onto a last shred of hope. While not a student of Marshall, he was well acquainted with Marshall’s team through his connection with Catherine.

Usually, Ciaran was the most amiable and caring. He was akin to a dependable older brother to them all. Deep down, Ronin hoped it wasn’t Ciaran.

However, when Ronin witnessed Ciaran copying files onto his storage card, he realized the matter had been settled. Ciaran might not be able to clear his name.

As Ciaran saw the files finish copying, his face lit up with a smile of satisfaction. He removed the card and meticulously wiped any fingerprints from the computer. Only then did Ciaran stand up and prepare to leave the office.

Just as Ciaran was about to touch the doorknob, a loud bang echoed behind him. It was followed by a cold voice. ” Ciaran, where are you going?”

Ciaran felt a chill down his spine and slowly turned around. As he spotted Ronin, he eased a bit. Then he frowned and stared at Ronin in displeasure. ” Ronin, what are you doing sneaking around Professor Hartley’s office? You shouldn’t be here. Get out and stop causing trouble.”

Ronin sneered and looked disdainfully at him. “Ciaran, that’s an interesting statement. If I’m not supposed to be here, then what about you?”

Unflinchingly, Ciaran began weaving a lie. He replied, “Professor Hartley asked me to get something. Can’t I come in and help him?”

If Ronin hadn’t seen it firsthand, he almost believed Ciaran’s words when he saw Ciaran’s flawless acting.

“Ciaran, you don’t need to keep pretending. Didn’t Professor Hartley inform you his computer was being monitored? Every move you just made has been recorded.”

These words drained the color from Ciaran’s face. He struggled to deny the fact. He shouted, “You’re talking nonsense! What moves? I just came to deliver something to Professor Hartley. Are you going to investigate that?”

Ronin thought inwardly, “Deliver something? As if anyone will buy that story.” Seeing Ciaran’s stubborn attitude without a trace of remorse, Ronin decided not to indulge him anymore.

“Ciaran, if you insist you came to deliver something to Professor Hartley, let’s call him now and have him come over.”

Ciaran felt a pang of fear at Ronin’s words. If Marshall arrived, it would mean certain doom for him.

“Enough, Ronin. You’re not one of us, yet here you are, hiding in Professor Hartley’s office. Out of respect for Catherine, I haven’t come at you. Don’t push your luck.” Soft approaches failed, so Ciaran opted for a harder stance.

Ronin hadn’t expected this from Ciaran. Since that was the case, there was no need for him to dwell on their relationship.

Right in front of Ciaran, Ronin pulled out his phone and prepared to call Catherine.

Unexpectedly, Ciaran lunged for Ronin’s phone and aimed to snatch it away. The sudden move caught Ronin off guard, but his agility saved him. He swiftly deflected Ciaran with a sidekick, which made Ciaran stumble back.

Taking advantage of the moment, Ciaran turned to leave. Before he reached the door, it swung open from outside. Catherine and Marshall appeared simultaneously. Ciaran gave up resistance and slumped to the floor with a paled face. He knew he had no chance and was awaiting judgment.

Catherine glanced at Ronin and noticed the stubble on his chin. She found it somewhat amusing and sympathetic. ” You go rest. I’ll take care of this.”

Rest wasn’t an option for Ronin until he settled this matter. He wanted to clear Catherine’s name. He’d make sure everyone knew she couldn’t possibly be the leak.

“Catherine, I’ll stand guard at the door while you question.” With Ronin there, no one would get in.

Catherine was unable to persuade him otherwise and let him be. “Fine. Then, guard the door.”

After Ronin left, the office was left with just the three of them. Marshall was so angry that he clutched his chest and sat silent.

Catherine didn’t immediately confront Ciaran. She politely invited him to sit and talk. She said, “Take a seat. There’s no one else here. Let’s chat.”

Ciaran didn’t grasp Catherine’s intent. Despite being the youngest in their experimental team, Catherine exuded the most powerful aura among them.

He even found her more intimidating than Marshall. After being discovered, he lacked the courage to meet Catherine’s eyes.

Ciaran slumped on the couch and stared ahead in dismay. “What do you want to ask? Go ahead and ask.”

Chapter 693 The Sender

After a few minutes, Marshall finally caught his breath. He stared at his student, Ciaran, with a mix of sadness and frustration. Ciaran had been in his lab the longest, almost like a son to him. However, Marshall didn’t expect that Ciaran was the one stealing lab data. He wouldn’t have believed this if it hadn’t been for Marshall catching it on the spot.

“Why, Ciaran? Tell me.” Marshall’s voice choked as he struggled to get the words out.

Ciaran kept his head low and remained silent. It wasn’t until pushed that he responded. He said, “Professor Hartley, please don’t ask anymore. Just hand me over to the procuratorate.”

Marshall was furious and slammed his favorite coffee mug on the table. “Why can’t you tell me your troubles? I’m your teacher. I can help you. Don’t you trust me?”

As the standoff lingered, Catherine, who sat nearby, said casually yet assertively, “It’s not about trust. It’s about the hidden agenda from the start.

Her words instantly drew their attention. Marshall looked at Catherine in confusion while Ciaran was shocked. He couldn’t believe it, let alone confront it. He wondered how Catherine knew. Then he thought he must be overthinking things.

But Catherine’s following words plunged him into despair before Ciaran could fathom it. “Ciaran, you were born in Bateny, Rexinheim. You moved to Eskana at three. You are Rexinish, right?”

Catherine looked up and stared at Ciaran with her sharp gaze, leaving no room for evasion. The silent Ciaran was now utterly rattled.

After hearing Catherine’s words, Marshall finally grasped the truth. He looked at Ciaran in disbelief. His lips trembled as he struggled to speak. He asked, “So, were you approaching me with an ulterior motive from the start?”

Marshall dared not think further. “My God! All these years… It’s terrifying.”

Catherine sneered in disdain. Ciaran hid his identity for so long. Human nature was truly terrifying.

“Ciaran, you’ve endured for years. Why expose yourself now? Are you willing to sacrifice as a pawn?” Catherine asked.

If this data were stolen again, Catherine’s name would easily be cleared. She held the data and could transfer it discreetly without the need for such effort.

After a long silence, Ciaran finally lifted his head after hearing Catherine’s words. His eyes were filled with resignation, and he said depressedly, This project is too significant. Everyone around the world wants it.”

Otherwise, the organization wouldn’t put Ciaran at risk. After all, Ciaran had been undercover by Marshall’s side for so many years. His position was irreplaceable.

Marshall pondered for a while before finally asking the burning question. He asked, “Previously, it was also your doing, and you framed Catherine, right?

Ciaran shook his head. “I stole the data, but I never intended to frame Catherine. Someone manipulated the surveillance to incriminate Catherine.

It’s not my doing!”

Ciaran admitted to the theft, but their original plan was to use a hacker’s identity. Unexpectedly, someone took advantage and pinned it on Catherine. Ciaran’s organization exploited it and made everyone believe Catherine was the leaker.

Marshall looked up at Catherine and sought her opinion. He wasn’t sure if his once-favorite student was lying, so he turned to Catherine for help.

“He’s not lying,” Catherine said firmly. Ciaran indeed stole the data, but he wasn’t the one responsible for framing her. Someone else took the advantage and stirred the trouble.

Marshall looked worriedly at Catherine and was surprised by the complexity of the situation. “Catherine, should we keep investigating?” He couldn’t rest until he found the person behind Catherine’s false accusation.

“No need. Professor Hartley, hand him over to Lorcan. I’ll handle the rest,” Catherine replied.

Catherine made such arrangements because she knew who was stirring the pot behind the scenes. His aim wasn’t the research data but to ruin Catherine’s reputation at Styre University.

With the matter settled, Catherine left Marshall’s office.

Ronin, who had been waiting and listening from the wall, stood up promptly to meet her. “Catherine, where are we heading next?”

“Follow me.”

With Catherine’s command, Ronin didn’t hesitate and trailed behind her.

“I’ll drive. You rest. I’ll wake you when we’re there,” Catherine said.

Concerned that Ronin hadn’t rested for days, Catherine decided to let him take a break. Even just 15 minutes of quality sleep could greatly relieve his exhaustion. They had all been professionally trained to control their bodies for rapid entry into quality sleep efficiently.

Ronin didn’t know what was coming next, but he obeyed Catherine’s order. He prepared himself for whatever lay ahead in his best mental state.

Half an hour later, Catherine parked the car steadily beneath a business building.

“Get out!” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it jolted Ronin awake in the backseat. He swiftly followed Catherine out of the car and toward the building.

At the entrance, the building’s security guards sternly intercepted them. “Who are you? You can’t go upstairs without invitations.”

Ignoring the guards, Catherine glanced at Ronin beside her.

With lightning speed, Ronin swiftly subdued the two guards with precise strikes. He didn’t harm them, but he incapacitated them temporarily.

Then, Catherine and Ronin swaggered into the elevator. With no outsiders in sight, Ronin couldn’t help but ask Catherine, “Catherine, how do you know Ciaran is Rexinish?”

“Check your inbox,” Catherine replied.

Hearing that, Ronin looked puzzled. He pulled out his phone and opened his inbox.

In the inbox, there was a new email. It contained detailed information about Ciaran, even his life before he was three years old, and his parents’ backgrounds. No wonder Catherine wasn’t surprised when they caught the leaker. She had known all along.

“Catherine, who sent this? It’s incredible!” Ronin had been searching for Rexinheim’s confidential information for so long without success, and the sender was so skilled. He provided such detailed information.

Catherine smirked and didn’t answer Ronin’s query.

Chapter 694 Threat

Catherine led Ronin to the topmost office area. As soon as the door opened, several black-clothed security guards rushed straight out.

Catherine glanced at them expressionlessly. She turned back toward Ronin behind her and said in a low voice, “I’ll leave them to you!”

“No problem!” Ronin confidently patted his chest. “Catherine, don’t worry. I’ll keep up later!”

Several black-clothed bodyguards rushed forward and wanted to surround Catherine, but Ronin blocked them before they could reach Catherine.

Ronin gave a handsome kick. After kicking down one of the black-clothed bodyguards, he scanned around with an intense look of disdain in his eyes.

“What are you waiting for? Just come together!”

He did not put these people in his eyes at all. He was not worried even if there were ten more security guards.

He thought to himself, “Anyone who dares to stop Catherine must die!”

Seeing that these bodyguards could not even stop Ronin alone, the higher-ups arranged new helpers. These new helpers were all skilled, burly men.

They were not only very strong, but more importantly, they were also very good at fighting. With the sudden addition of such a new group of burly men, Ronin was a bit flustered.

The group of black-clothed security guards was easy for him to deal with just now, but now, with the addition of these new men, Ronin was afraid that he would not be able to handle them.

However, the target of these new big guys did not seem to be Ronin. They rushed directly toward Catherine. Their goal was very clear, and that was to stop Catherine.

Hearing the sound of footsteps coming from behind her, Catherine unhurriedly stopped her steps and turned back to look at them.

She calmly took out the chocolate from inside her pocket. Branden had prepared this for her, and she happened to be hungry. She could eat it.

The battle was about to start. There were more and more people on the other side, and Catherine was alone, but she was not afraid at all.

A few of the big guys tried to attack Catherine, but she knocked them over before they could touch her.

Her movements were fast and sharp, without any hesitation.

Seeing that they could not stop Catherine by attacking her separately, they decided to join forces and completely defeat her.

Before they could do it, an old voice suddenly interrupted them.

“Okay, stop it!”

Shane slowly appeared in front of the crowd. His sharp eyes were fixed on Catherine.

“You all back off. You are no match for her.”

Shane knew clearly that even if there were twice as many people, none of them would be a match for Catherine.

He knew Catherine’s power better than anyone.

“Catherine, come with me!”

Shane raised his hand in a gesture, and Catherine walked into the office right after him.

Ronin was about to follow but was stopped by a few bodyguards in black. Ronin’s face immediately sank, staring menacingly at those bodyguards.

“What? You guys still want to fight me?

A black-clothed security guard looked at Ronin and said coldly, “Mr. Shane didn’t let you in!”

Ronin raised his eyebrows and looked at the other party with disdain. “What if I want to break in?”

There was no place he could not enter in his life.

He was going in to keep Catherine safe. There was nothing anyone could do to stop him.

“Ronin!” Catherine shouted.

Ronin immediately looked up. “Yes?”

“Wait for me at the door!”

Upon hearing Catherine’s order, Ronin turned around to sit beside the door without hesitation.

He could ignore anyone’s words, but he would not ignore Catherine’s words. With that, Catherine turned around and walked into the office.

The building was a subsidiary of the Breens. Although Shane seldom came there, all the decorations there were decorated according to Shane’s favorite style, which showed that Shane’s status was not ordinary.

He asked Catherine to have a seat warmly. His kind appearance resembled that of an elder who doted on his younger generation with no hint of hostility at all.

Catherine didn’t make any pretense and sat down graciously.

Only after she was seated did Shane ask slowly and leisurely, “What’s the reason you came here so aggressively?”

Catherine turned her head to look at him. Her disdainful gaze was filled with mockery.

“Aren’t you the one who knows best in your heart about the reason? Or do you have a bad memory in your old age and have even forgotten what you have done?”

Anyone else could not walk out of this door after saying such impolite words in front of Shane.

But Catherine was different. She was born that way.

Even when she came to the Breens, down and out, she had never once flattered Shane to please him.

This was what Shane appreciated most about her.

“Hahaha…” Shane burst out laughing nonchalantly. Apparently, he didn’t feel bad about everything he did.

“Catherine, I just got you a small stumbling block, and you’re so tired of dealing with it? How long do you think you can withstand if I really take action?”

Although the video was just an accident, Shane was the one who seized this opportunity to cause the situation.

He used a little trick to shift the blame for the leak onto Catherine.

His fundamental goal was to make Catherine unable to stay at Styre University. He wanted to drive Catherine out of Styre University so that she would return to him obediently, inherit the Breens’ property, and keep working for the Breens for the rest of her life.

For so long, no one had ever been able to refuse the offer of the Breens.

Whether through natural cooperation or means, as long as the Breens wanted someone, no one could refuse them, which was the survival law of the Breens.

This time, Shane still felt the same way.

After his negotiations with Catherine broke down, he began to look for the right moment. He looked at Catherine smugly and raised his eyebrows.

“You should know very well that this is merely an appetizer. If I really want to make a move on you, I’m afraid the consequences will be more than that!”

Catherine sat calmly. The expression on her face remained rebellious and disdainful. From beginning to end, she did not take this top-notch tycoon seriously.

Shane was in no hurry. He believed there was always something that could subdue Catherine.

“Have you ever thought it? You can escape alone, but what about people from the Swanns and the Duncans? Right, do you know that? Branden’s Duncan Corporation is now in trouble. Don’t you want to save it?”

Shane’s threat was now very clear.

Catherine chuckled softly. She felt it was better to confront her directly in public than to use covert tactics against her in private.

“Do you think I would be afraid? The bankruptcy of the Duncans is the business of Branden. What does it have to do with me? As for the Swanns, you know my childhood experience best. Do you think I would sacrifice myself for them?”

Chapter 695 The Game

Catherine escaped from the Breens that year on her own. She was also the first person who managed to escape from Shane even after he inherited the Breens.

After these few years of biding his time, Shane himself knew that it would be very difficult for him to trap Catherine.

If it were in the past, he really couldn’t do anything to Catherine.

It was different this time. After Shane came to Eskana, he did not directly attack Catherine but investigated all the people and situations around Catherine.

He knew the weaknesses of human nature too well. He knew that Catherine’s seemingly cold exterior hid a warm heart.

If once Catherine was invulnerable, now Catherine was full of weaknesses.

Audrey and the Duncans were the people she cared about and her weaknesses.

As long as one had weaknesses, one would be easily controlled.

“Catherine, if everything is as you said, congratulations! And yes, it was me who did it. I accept your challenge.”

Shane looked at Catherine with a smirk on his face.

It was a silent game, and Catherine smiled calmly.

“Let’s start the game!”

With that, Catherine stood straight up and turned to walk out of the office. Hearing footsteps coming, Ronin immediately stood up. “Catherine, are we going to fight?”

“Let’s leave!”

Ronin was a bit puzzled. He gave Catherine a surprised look and reconfirmed the answer.

He mentally asked himself, “Leave? Did I hear her right? I thought we were coming to fight. Are we just going to let Shane go so easily?”

“Fighting won’t solve the problem! We should beat his weak part.”

If Shane could be beaten up just by their fists, then Shane would not have reached his position today.

After the two of them got in the car, Ronin thought carefully about what Catherine had said just now and finally understood.

“Catherine, come on. I can’t wait to take the assignment.”

“I’ll message you at night. Drive me back to my apartment first.”

“Okay!”

Ronin nodded excitedly. He stepped on the gas pedal, and the car sped out at full speed.

In front of the glass window on the top floor, the old butler stood beside Shane and spoke respectfully, “Mr. Shane, are we just going to let Miss Swann leave like this?”

Staring at the distant car in front of him, Shane’s expression was very calm.

“Let her go. No matter how high a kite flies, there will be a moment when it is retrieved!”

“You are right. Miss Swann is the kite in your hands!”

Shane did not say a word in the face of his servant’s agreement. His eyes narrowed slightly into a line as he stared into the distance, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

In Kamren’s villa, there was singing and dancing, and the music was deafening. Kamren was having another party within his villa, with men and women gathered in a circle.

Despite Kamren’s age, his life was much more exciting than that of young people.

Emma slowly entered the door, holding fruit. Looking at the chaotic and lewd scene around her, she felt disgusted and even felt extremely nauseous.

She put down the fruit and turned around, ready to leave.

“Mr. Arroyo, is this your new wife?”

The person who said this was Chaim Bartlett. He had recently been following Kamren in business. He was also a man who only knew enjoying life but did nothing serious.

Watching Emma’s graceful figure, he felt an itch in his heart.

Upon hearing Chaim’s question, Kamren glanced at him with a disdainful expression on his face.

“Bullshit. She’s not my wife. I’m still a bachelor. This woman is, at best, my mistress. If you like her, I can give her to you.”

Emma’s hand tightly gripped the fruit plate. She had the urge to crush it.

It was not the first time Kamren had disrespected her in public like this. When she first came to Kamren’s house, Kamren still favored her.

But now, Kamren no longer liked her. Once Kamren was slightly unhappy, he would either scold or beat her.

She was currently living a miserable life.

When Chaim heard Kamren say this, he knew that Emma did not matter at all in Kamren’s heart, and he suddenly became bold.

“Mr. Arroyo, I’ve heard that Emma is from an art academy and is very good at dancing. How about asking her to dance for us?”

Kamren agreed generously. He reached out to point at Emma and ordered, ” Come on, dance for us.”

Emma was a bit reluctant, biting her lip, and did not move. Kamren instantly felt embarrassed. He picked up the wine glass and slammed it toward Emma.

“I asked you to dance for us. What are you waiting for? Why are you putting on a long face?”

The glass smashed heavily at Emma, hitting her knee directly. If it weren’t for her bracing herself against the wall with her hands, she would have already fallen on the ground in embarrassment.

She knew that if she did not do what Kamren said, she would only end up worse off.

She dared not resist and slowly stepped forward to wriggle.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she swallowed all the humiliation.

She had never suffered such humiliation in her life.

She had initially thought that her obediently bowing down would bring her peace, but she did not expect that Kamren was simply a scumbag.

Kamren looked dissatisfied as Emma danced. He cursed with a black face and said, “Why are you wearing so many clothes? How can you dance with so many clothes on? Take off all your clothes!”

Emma did not move, and Kamren directly stepped forward to make his move. He tore up Emma’s outer skirt and made her dance on the coffee table wearing underwear.

“Keep dancing, or I’ll whip you to death!”

Emma knew that Kamren would do what he said. She had been sold to Kamren by the Wales. She did not even have the most basic human rights in front of Kamren.

Even if Kamren beat her to death, the Wales would not help her. At most, they would use her as a bargaining chip to make another profit.

She would never benefit the Wales again. She now wished to kill all the people of the Wales.

Her uncle actually sold her to a scumbag.

Thinking of this, Emma swallowed all her humiliation.

She made up her mind secretly. “It’s all caused by the Wales and Catherine. If it wasn’t Catherine, how could I have become like this? I must live. I must live until the day I see Catherine get her comeuppance. Even if I go to hell, I will take Catherine with me.”

With humiliation, Emma danced quickly.

Looking at the faces with lewd smiles, her gaze became more determined, and her expression became even colder.

Kamren recognized Emma’s endurance. He stood up to pick up some cash from the table and shoved it into Emma’s chest.

“You’re such a good girl. Here’s your reward!”

Emma clenched her teeth and forced herself to part her lips. “Mr. Arroyo, thank you!”

“Hahaha…”

Kamren burst out laughing. He then pushed Emma into Chaim’s arms as he did so.

“Chaim, we’re good brothers. Let’s play together!”

Chapter 696 The Hacker Alliance

“Mr. Duncan, the Hacker Alliance has replied,” Paxton reported to Banden.

Hearing what Paxton said, Branden stopped to look up at him, waiting for him to continue.

Paxton received the signal from Branden’s stare and continued, “The Hacker Alliance replied and made it clear that they wouldn’t accept the mission no matter how high the price was unless we agreed to their rules.”

Aidan happened to be at Branden’s office for a business meeting. He knew Branden was seeking cooperation with the Hacker Alliance recently. The surprisingly high price offered by the Duncans had created quite a stir in the black market. Aidan naturally knew about it.

He asked Branden, “The Hacker Alliance refused to cooperate with you despite the high price. Had the Duncans ever offended them?” It was said a golden key could open any door. With the money the Duncans offered, they could hire anyone they wanted. But the Hacker Alliance was not swayed, making Aidan deeply doubt they had a history with the Duncans.

Branden narrowed his eyes and glanced at Aidan. His gaze was aloof and emotionless. The Duncans had offended so many people these years. But Branden was unaware of the history between them and the Hacker Alliance.

He turned to Paxton and ordered, ” Check on it.”

Paxton nodded and responded, “I’ll be right on it.”

They had just finished talking before Branden’s phone rang. He picked up his phone and glanced at the caller ID. With that, he grabbed his coat and walked out.

Seeing him leave so quickly, Aidan chased after Branden and asked, ” Where are you going, Branden? Didn’t we say to grab lunch together?”

“Home.” Branden left him one word and strode away without saying goodbye.

Aidan glanced at Paxton beside him and frowned, asking, “Why is he in a hurry? Is his house on fire?”

Paxton gave him a cold gaze and answered, “You won’t understand. You are single and alone.”

Aidan was momentarily stunned before he finally realized he was mocked by Paxton.

So he cursed loudly toward Paxton, who was leaving. “Who are you calling ‘

alone’? I’m single but not alone. I have company every night. It’s you that’s single and alone.” After cursing for a while, Aidan finally calmed down and left. He thought, “I shouldn’t have come to Branden today. Or else I wouldn’t have been stood up by him and mocked by Paxton. Why did I ask for trouble?’

After Catherine returned to the apartment, she turned on her laptop and made a video call to Withal on Skype.

When Withal received the call, he was slightly surprised and asked, ” Catherine, are you calling me on Skype?

Catherine rolled her eyes at him and said, “Who else would it be?”

Withal realized his question was stupid, grinning and saying, “I just find it strange. You’ve always emailed me, and suddenly, a video popped up. I’m not used to it!”

“Get up, you lazy dog. Get to work.” Catherine didn’t explain much and woke up Withal from his bed.

If she sent an email, he probably wouldn’t read it till he woke up in the morning. Withal slept with his phone shut down. But he kept his computer on. So, a video call on Skype would be the best way to wake him up.

Withal took a closer look at the document sent by Catherine and frowned slightly. He instantly realized things were not simple and immediately followed Catherine’s instructions. “I’m on it, Catherine.”

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you,” Catherine answered.

Upon hearing the sound of the door opening and knowing that Branden had returned, Catherine hung up and walked out of the room. As soon as she was out of the room, she looked up at Branden in his eyes. Branden’s cold eyes instantly became warm.

“Have you been resting?” Branden asked.

“No,” answered Catherine.

“Are you hungry?” Branden asked again.

“A little bit,” said Catherine.

Branden lifted the grocery bag in his hand to show her. “I went to the grocery store on the way home. How about I make a sandwich for you?”

“Terrific!” Catherine agreed.

Her flat and faint voice, with almost no ups and downs, flowed slowly into Branden’s heart like a clear spring and instantly nourished him.

“You sit and rest. I’ll let you know when it’s ready,” said Branden.

“Alright,” answered Catherine. Seeing him walking into the kitchen, Catherine turned around and sat on the sofa. She was not helpful in the kitchen. And even if she wanted to help, Branden wouldn’t allow it.

Branden washed some strawberries for her before dinner was ready. Catherine sat back on the sofa with the TV on. It was not playing any famous movie but a classic anime.

The breeze blew gently outside the window. This moment was more precious to Branden than anything.

According to the laws of Eskana, there was still one year, six months, and eight days left. At that time, the world and the laws would know she belonged to him!

Sensing someone behind her, Catherine turned around and looked. Branden handed her a strawberry. Catherine bit the upper half of it as usual. And Branden ate the left half.

Branden left the fruit tray within her reach. He heard her voice from behind when he was about to return to the kitchen. “Is the Duncan Corporation doing well recently?” she asked.

Branden paused. He turned around to gently pinch her cheek with his hand, giving it a gentle caress. “Don’t worry. Everything’s fine,” he said.

Upon hearing this, Catherine had no intention of continuing. She changed the topic. “When will the sandwich be ready? I’m starving.”

It’s rare to hear her urge. Branden’s face lit up with a smile, and he looked at her tenderly. “Just a second.”

As soon as Branden entered the kitchen, Catherine’s phone buzzed in her hand.

She glanced at it. Ronin sent a message, reading, [Catherine, the investigation is done. The files have been sent to your email.] The instant Catherine finished reading, she deleted the message with just one click. She switched to her email box and read the email from Ronin. There were a lot of files in the email, and Catherine quickly browsed through it.

This was the basic information of the Duncans. It showed that although the Duncans won the business war with the Breens, it had already caused damage to the foundation of the Duncans. To defeat the Breens, who were the world’s top financial conglomerates, the Duncans and Branden almost devoted all their strength. In addition, with the recent failures of several projects, the situation of companies under the Duncans was not optimistic. If Shane Breen were to attack the Duncans again at this time, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster for them. Shane was a cunning person. He was undoubtedly one of the top in the world of capital. He intended to get his way by hook or by crook.

Catherine turned around and glanced at the busy figure in the kitchen, pondered for a moment, then lowered her head and deleted the email in her hand.

Since her man said it was okay, then it was okay.

Chapter 697 The Cartridge Case

The news of Ciaran being taken away was blocked by the university. But one person down in the laboratory raised a storm of conjecture. Let alone Ciaran was the most popular one in the lab.

People inquired privately, and gossip always found its way to people. The news was leaked, more or less. However, the university had already ordered that discussions on this matter be strictly prohibited. No one dared to mention this accident in public. To avoid this situation, the school collaborated with the Procuratorate to conduct a detailed investigation into the family situation of the laboratory members and students enrolled. Not only did they investigate the backgrounds of the members, students themselves, and their parents, but they even investigated their grandparents to eradicate the occurrence of this situation.

When Catherine arrived at the laboratory, most of the members of their group were present. Seeing Catherine walking towards her seat calmly, a nosy senior immediately approached. Afraid of punishment, he could only ask Catherine about the situation in a low voice, “Catherine, could they have the wrong person? How could Ciaran be a snitch?”

Catherine turned her head to look at him and spoke calmly, “Let’s leave this to the professor and focus on experiments.” With that, Catherine sat down in her cube without looking back and started working.

Others would scold anyone in the lab who said so, but not Catherine. They all know Catherine very well, and nothing was more important to her than experiments. Even when things happened to her, she remained calm and focused entirely on her work. She only answered the question because they were in the same group. What more could they ask for? The senior, who got nothing from Catherine, could only sigh helplessly and leave.

Catherine was about to start the experiment. She took out her phone to turn it off when Zobber called. Catherine turned off her computer and left the lab to answer the phone.

“Catherine, thank god you answered the phone. I thought you had shut down your phone in the lab,” said Zobber on the phone.

“Almost,” answered Catherine.

“What?” Zobber was confused. But then she realized what Catherine meant.

She said, “That means we have a strong connection. I called just in time!”

Hearing the silence on the phone, Zobber dared not hesitate and quickly stated the purpose of the call. ” Catherine, I have something to tell you. Let’s meet somewhere!”

Catherine took a look at her watch and answered, “Meet me at Styre University in half an hour.”

“No problem!” Zobber agreed.

After half an hour, they met at the student center in Styre University. This was the busiest place in this area on weekdays, but now it was class time, so it seemed a bit lonely. Catherine found the coffee shop mentioned by Zobber and walked in.

“Catherine, here!” Zobber kept waving at Catherine from the second floor. Catherine nodded and walked up the stairs. She pulled a chair and sat across Zobber.

“Catherine, the Hacker Alliance recently took on a mission to find someone,” said Zobber.

Hearing what Zobber said, Catherine lifted her eyes and squinted at her. Catherine never intervened in their missions as long as the other party played under the rules of the Hacker Alliance.

Catherine’s stare gave Zobber goosebumps and made her tremble with coldness. “Catherine, this situation is complicated. The other party offered a high enough price and followed our rules, so we naturally had no reason to push them away, right? However, it was difficult to find the person with so few clues they provided.

Since Catherine rejected the exorbitantly-priced task placed by the Duncans, there had been many voices within the Alliance. If she did not take on the order now, the discussion would become uncontrollable, and it would not benefit anyone.

Zobber took out a photo and placed it in front of Catherine. “The picture is the only clue they provided.”

This photo was highly blurry. Obviously, it was taken secretly from a distance. The photo was taken from the side, and the woman’s face was covered with a veil, revealing only a pair of eyes.

“Do you know where the photo was taken?” asked Catherine.

“I found out about the location, but this is a photo taken ten years ago, and it’s difficult to find her,” answered Zobber. They had no choice but to come to Catherine.

Catherine ordered, “Carefully investigate. If you fail, give the customer a double refund.”

This was the rule of the Hacker Alliance. The customer would receive a double refund if the request was not fulfilled. However, this never happened even since the Hacker Alliance was established.

Catherine finished speaking expressionlessly, ready to get up and leave. If she was free, she might take the order and help find the woman in the photo. But she hadn’t been available recently, and the laboratory project was already quite promising. She planned to continue until the experiment was successfully done. In addition, with Shane’s eyes on her side, she had to pay constant attention. She had no plans to assign tasks to herself at the moment, let alone leave Loxton.

Seeing Catherine was about to leave, Zobber quickly stopped her, saying, ” Catherine, wait a minute, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Catherine turned to look at Zobber and said, “Speak up!”

Zobber took out a cartridge case from her pocket and handed it to Catherine. ” The person who posted the task also gave this to me. That was the person who saved us when we encountered an ambush in the central region.”

Catherine naturally recognized that special bullet. A few years ago, she sent Zobber and the others to complete a mission in the war-torn central region. Unexpectedly, the buyer suddenly backed out, causing them to be ambushed. Catherine was unable to participate in this mission for some unexpected reasons. To rescue Zobber and the others, Catherine used her power to connect with the leader of the local armed organization, asking them to find a way to save them.

But they could not rescue them in the military’s name. So, the leader hired a group of mercenaries to help Zobber and the others. Zobber specially made this bullet. Catherine asked her to hand it over to the mercenaries, considered a favor owed.

After that, she rushed to the central region and taught the buyers a lesson, ensuring they were scared to death every time they heard of Hacker Alliance.

She didn’t expect to see this cartridge case here today. Catherine was originally going to refuse but immediately changed her mind. She picked up the photo from the table and stuffed it into her pocket. “I’ll take on the task. You can go back now.”

Hearing this, Zobber breathed a sigh of relief and cheered loudly, “Hooray!”

Chapter 698 Audrey’s Scandal

After taking on the task, Catherine went back to the laboratory. But Ronin insisted on meeting and said they hadn’t seen each other for too long and needed a gathering after he knew Zobber met with Catherine. “Catherine, please!” Ronin begged. Ronin tried his best to beg. Catherine thought there was still some time for a meal, so she agreed. Unexpectedly, when Withal learned that Ronin was having a meal with Zobber and, more importantly, Catherine was also there, he rushed over regardless. Three became four.

Zobber carefully glanced at Ronin and pursed her lips, laughing and teasing him. “Ronin, you’re the star in the Hacker Alliance. It seems that Catherine has given you quite a few tasks recently. Indeed, Catherine is partial to you.”

Ronin raised his eyebrows and looked disdainfully at Zobber. “Are you jealous?”

Ronin thought, ‘Catherine did have a preference for me. After all, I am the most capable person in Hacker Alliance. The others, whether they are jealous or not, have to shut up about it.’

Ronin’s tone made Zobber want to punch him in the face. “Hurry up and tell me what you’re up to. What tasks did Catherine give you?”

The Hacker Alliance assigned many tasks to them. But they liked to work for Catherine. Not only could they act recklessly without being bound, but they also had someone to protect them.

Ronin remained silent. Zobber began making various speculations. “Could it be that old Shane Breen?”

Ronin’s gaze immediately darkened when it came to Shane. Zobber knew she had come close. What Ronin had been up to was related to the Breens.

“Catherine, we don’t have as much money as the Breens, but that doesn’t mean we should be afraid of them. How about Withal and I carry two boxes of TNT to the building where Shane is located, and we blow it down? It would be best if he were to die from the explosion, but even if he didn’t die, that could teach him a lesson!”

Just listening to what Zobber said relieved Ronin’s anger toward the Breens. He gave her a thumbs up. ”

When it comes to crazy revenge, Zobber is the one you look for. Nice job!

Withal sat on the side, listening to the two of them talking incoherently, looking up at Catherine. He asked, Catherine, what do you think of this?”

Catherine didn’t answer but ate slowly. Withal had long been accustomed to her composure, and he admired that genuinely. “Catherine, You are not alone in this. Since Shane Breen wants to go against you, he is against the entire Hacker Alliance. It’s said that the Breens are invincible. But they are devastated by the Duncans. The Hacker Alliance is not inferior to the Duncans. Let’s smash the Breens,” said Withal.

If Hacker Alliance could not handle the Breens, what if the Duncans looked down on them in the future? It’s a battle they could not afford to lose.

“Withal made a point,” said Zobber. ” How about we give the Breens a big surprise? Milo is in Europe now. Since Shane is in Eskana, why not ask Milo to create chaos in the Breens’ base camp?”

When Zobber spoke, her eyes were filled with excitement, almost recommending herself to be the troublemaker in Euphosean.

Seeing Zobber was so into this, Catherine did not reject her suggestion. “Okay. I’ll leave it to you then.”

“Got it!” Zobber took on the task quickly. She thought, ‘I was worried that Catherine might disagree. Now that she has given me the chance, I will take it and have fun. Let’s set the cat among the pigeons.’

While they were talking and laughing, Ronin received a message. He instantly showed it to Catherine after reading the message. “Something’s wrong, Catherine. There’s a hot topic on Twitter.”

Catherine took his phone and glanced, her cold eyes immediately darkening.

[Famous actress Catherine, who intervened in the marriage of a famous director, was caught on the spot by his current wife and fled in embarrassment.]

The title was very eye-catching, and the content was incredibly stunning. In the picture, Audrey ran in panic, wrapped in bed sheets. Although the photo was very blurry, one could still tell it was Audrey from her appearance. Moreover, the netizens were very capable of seeking truth through blurry pictures. Twitter almost broke down because of the news. The comments were adding up. Quite a few anti-fans intentionally fueled the flames, while rational fans were eager to know the truth.

Catherine returned Ronin’s phone and said to Zobber, “Locate Audrey.” It was impossible to reach Audrey by phone now. To find her as quickly as possible, they must rely on themselves.

“I’m on it,” answered Zobber. She was aware of the enormity of the matter and immediately began working.

Catherine turned to Ronin and said, ” Find out who was behind the scene.” She thought inwardly, ‘If it was the Breens, I might blow up the Breens’ building, and that old dog Shane like Zobber said!’

Zobber acted quickly and immediately gave Catherine Audrey’s current address. “She’s here, Catherine. It is a villa under Triston’s name. Audrey’s apartment is now occupied by her agent to confuse the journalists.”

Without Catherine saying, Withal got on his feet and said, “I’ll get the car.”

Ten minutes later, Catherine and Zobber arrived at a villa in Loxton owned by Triston.

Zobber rang the doorbell. Seeing two strangers, the servant who opened the door refused to let them in.

Zobber said, “Tell Triston to come out and see us.”

The servant was shocked. More importantly, they knew the owner of the villa. So she politely asked them to wait and went in to ask for instructions.

Triston was not surprised to see Catherine from the surveillance camera. Audrey’s scandal caused a great clamor. She would look for Audrey the second she found out about it. And it would only be too easy for her to locate Audrey.

He went downstairs to let them in. He said to Catherine, “Audrey is upstairs. Go check on her.” He said that with a stern expression and a particularly fierce gaze.

Zobber glanced at him and couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Lambert, you don’t believe all the nonsense in the news, do you?”

She knew Audrey’s personality. That director was ugly. Even if he paid Audrey to be his mistress, Audrey would not agree. Not to mention come between him and his wife as a third person. She must have been framed. If Triston were stupid enough to believe the news, Zobber would stab him to death without Catherine asking.

Triston didn’t answer Zobber’s question. He felt upset and only wanted to be left alone.

Seeing Catherine had already entered the door, Zobber glared fiercely at Triston and chased after her. “Wait for me, Catherine,”

Chapter 699 Handle It as You Wish

The second-floor master bedroom door was tightly closed, and several untouched meals were placed at the entrance. The maid knocked on the door cautiously, signaling the person inside to open it.

“Do you have a spare key?” Catherine asked.

The maid nodded. “Yes, on the first floor. I’ll go get it for you.”

Zobber, who was behind them, heard it and briskly approached. “Catherine, using a spare key is troublesome. Let me handle it.”

Catherine glanced at her and agreed.

Zobber removed a hairpin from her head, and in just three seconds, she opened the door.

The maid on the side was left stunned; she didn’t even have a chance to fetch the key before the door opened.

“Get out!” A woman’s angry shout came from inside, unmistakably Audrey’s voice.

Catherine walked in slowly, catching the pillow that smashed into her. ” What’s going on?”

The cold voice brought Audrey back to her senses. She looked up and saw Catherine, instantly flustered. “Kathy, I thought it was Triston. Did you get hurt?”

Audrey hastily got out of bed and approached Catherine.

Catherine casually threw the pillow in her hand and walked toward a single sofa, sitting down without any courtesy.

Zobber, following closely behind, smiled and greeted Audrey, “Audrey, long time no see!”

Facing Catherine’s friend, Audrey forced a smile. “Have a seat.”

After everyone sat down, Audrey remained silent, lowering her head like a child who had done something wrong.

With little time to spare, Catherine directly addressed the key point of the issue. She asked, “Do you know who did that?”

Audrey hesitated, biting her lip and shaking her head. “I don’t know. When I woke up, I was lying there with a terrible headache.”

Then, a series of events unfolded. The wicked woman barged in and violently attacked her, leaving Audrey no choice but to flee in fear.

Catherine’s initially calm eyes darkened at Audrey’s response. Zobber, sitting on the side, sensed it and scrunched her neck in fear. “Whoever dared to offend Catherine was like seeking death,” she thought.

Seeing Catherine’s stern and silent expression, Audrey, full of guilt, looked at her. “Kathy, I’m sorry, I was useless. I’ll handle this myself. You don’t need to worry.”

Catherine glanced at her, and Audrey immediately stopped speaking. Zobber, arrange for Connie to come over,” said Catherine.

“Yes, Catherine, I’ll contact her right away,” replied Zobber.

Half an hour later, a young woman in sportswear appeared in Triston’s mansion, carrying a large box. “Zobber, I’m here. Is Catherine really here?”

Zobber, who received the call, quickly came downstairs and then led Connie upstairs.

Connie finally spotted Catherine in the room. She was also a member of the Hacker Alliance, renowned as the skilled medic among them.

On regular days, whenever a Hacker Alliance member had a broken arm or leg, they would seek Connie’s help. After all, some situations weren’t suitable for a hospital visit-it was too troublesome.

For someone like Thomas, unless it was a matter of life and death, nobody would bother him.

However, it didn’t mean Connie’s medical skills were lacking. Unlike Thomas, who specialized in traditional medicine, Connie excelled in modern medicine diagnostics and treatment.

Seeing Catherine, Connie was so excited she didn’t know how to contain herself. While she had encountered Catherine before, it was a rare occasion.

When she heard Catherine was in Loxton, she had wanted to visit. But without Catherine’s summon, she couldn’t come on her own.

Now that she finally saw Catherine, her inner excitement was almost uncontrollable. “Catherine!”

Zobber knew Catherine was currently bothered. Fearing that Connie might upset her, she quickly stopped Connie. ” Focus on the task first.”

Zobber quietly briefed Connie on Audrey’s situation and asked her to examine Audrey.

Connie was brought to Audrey. She carefully studied Audrey. Though not on par with Catherine’s beauty, Audrey was a pretty woman, and most importantly, she was Catherine’s sister. Due to this, Connie immediately took a liking to Audrey.

“Audrey, don’t be afraid. It’s just a routine check. As long as you cooperate, we’ll finish in ten minutes,” said Connie.

Audrey nodded reluctantly. It was uncomfortable, but she knew that Catherine was doing it for her good. ” Let’s begin,” she said.

In the hall on the first floor, Catherine and Zobber stayed in the living room, leaving the second floor for Connie to examine Audrey.

Knowing Audrey was feeling uneasy, Catherine deliberately cleared the area, providing Audrey with a quiet environment.

After about ten minutes, Connie came downstairs.

Triston, who had been anxiously waiting, immediately reacted. However, Connie ignored him and went straight to Catherine. “Catherine, I’m done.”

“Speak!” said Catherine.

“Audrey is fine, but I detected an overdose of barbiturates in her system, “said Connie.

Although Catherine wasn’t a medical professional, she knew the chemical was a major component of sleeping pills.

It seemed someone drugged Audrey, but fortunately, they didn’t do anything to her.

Triston visibly relaxed. It was not that he minded such things. He was just worried that Audrey would be psychologically affected.

After understanding the situation, Catherine stood up. Her pure brown eyes emitted a chilling light, piercing Triston.

Even someone like Triston, accustomed to big scenes, couldn’t help but tremble under that gaze.

“Catherine, if you have something to say, say it. Don’t look at me like that,” said he.

“Audrey is your responsibility. Handle the media side of things. I’ll investigate the person,” said Catherine.

“Okay!” Triston agreed without hesitation. Audrey was his girlfriend. These fools dared to lay hands on her; he wouldn’t let them off.

“Don’t worry; I’ll give you a satisfactory explanation,” Triston added.

Catherine raised an eyebrow, her gaze carrying a menacing intent, and her low voice sent a bone-chilling coldness. “If not, I’ll castrate you.”

Zobber, standing behind Catherine, pulled out a dagger and deliberately waved it in front of Triston. It was as if Catherine just needed to give an order, and she would immediately take action.

Triston’s body involuntarily trembled. He could be sure Catherine wasn’t joking. If he didn’t satisfy her, he might indeed suffer from Catherine.

“Don’t worry. If not satisfied, you can handle it as you wish,” said Triston.

Chapter 700 Preparing for Pregnancy

Catherine left with Zobber and the others. Connie gave Audrey some medicine, and Audrey had already fallen asleep peacefully.

She was now in Triston’s mansion. Even if the media found out, they would hesitate due to Triston’s reputation and not easily enter. Audrey was safest here.

Zobber owned a bar in Loxton, satisfying her occasional desire for drinks. “Come on, Catherine, Connie, order whatever you want. It’s on me.”

Connie took the drink menu from Zobber and raised her eyebrows. “Wow, so generous. Then get me ten of your most expensive ones.”

“No problem!” Zobber was very generous. Just ten drinks wouldn’t be too extravagant for her. “Catherine, what about you?” she asked.

“A cup of hot water,” Catherine said.

Zobber was shocked, looking at Catherine in disbelief. “Are you sure it’s hot water and not the elixir of life?”

Catherine didn’t respond, but her eyes carried an attitude that brooked no refusal. Understanding her, Zobber called the waiter as instructed.

After arranging the drinks, Zobber couldn’t help but mutter, “I thought you were preparing for pregnancy, coming to a bar to order hot water.”

Upon hearing this, Connie, sitting nearby, suddenly spewed the wine in her mouth. “Preparing for pregnancy?” Connie seriously doubted she misheard. “Isn’t Catherine studying?”

Catherine gave Zobber a cold glance, frightening her almost to her knees. ” Catherine, my bad. I just spoke without thinking. Forgive me. I promise not to say such things next time.”

As they chatted, the door of the private room was suddenly pushed open.

Ronin walked in with Withal. Seeing the odd expressions on the faces of the three inside the room, and Zobber looked terrified, he found it strange.

“What are you guys talking about? Why does everyone’s expression seem off?” he asked.

Zobber glanced cautiously at Catherine. Seeing her remain silent, Zobber didn’t dare to relax and could only vent her emotions toward Ronin. “Why do you need to know? When we girls are doing something, what business is it of yours?

Facing Zobber’s retorting, Ronin was quite displeased. “Are you serious? I don’t agree with what you said. You’re a witch, a bad woman…”

Listening to their childish conversation, the others shook their heads. Withal, the oldest among them, couldn’t help but intervene. He said, ” Alright, can you guys stop messing around and get to the point?”

Seeing Catherine’s stern face, Ronin immediately restrained himself and reported the results he found. ” Catherine, it wasn’t Shane who did it, but he tried to stop us from pressing the news,” he said.

If it weren’t for Shane’s constant interference, the gossip would have been under control by now, and it wouldn’t have escalated to this extent.

Since Audrey’s incidents, Ronin had set up entries on several portals. He would detect any negative news related to Audrey. Even if he weren’t around, the system would suppress it in the first place, reducing the chances of it spreading and preventing the news from becoming uncontrollable.

This time, the gossip quickly spread not only because of the topic itself but also due to Shane’s behind-the-scenes actions. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have developed into the current situation.

Thinking about this, Ronin became angry. “This old man always knew how to provoke Catherine. Damn!” he thought.

“Catherine, my people caught the director couple. Do you want to go over? “Zobber reported the latest information from her subordinates to Catherine.

After hearing it, Ronin was quite dissatisfied and glared at Zobber. “Does Catherine need to go over it personally? Can’t you bring them here?”

Zobber was about to refute Ronin but felt that he made some sense, so she swallowed back her words. “I’ll take care of it now.”

She was efficient. About half an hour later, two large sacks were thrown into the private room.

Zobber opened the sacks, revealing the famous director couple in the entertainment industry in front of everyone.

Originally from an art film background, Davy Morales used to be a poor boy doing odd jobs on set. Later, he met his current wife.

His wife was really something. She came from a family in the entertainment industry, with strong connections within the circle.

After many struggles, Davy had never seen the light of day. Later, he learned of his current wife’s affection for him. He then abandoned his legally married wife and married his current wife.

Through her family’s connections, he made several movies and won numerous awards, instantly becoming a name in the industry.

After gaining fame, he succumbed to the industry’s harmful practices, liking to flirt with actresses.

Due to his wife’s powerful family, he kept his head low. This time, being caught in the act was enough to terrify him. If he lost his wife and were suppressed by her family, his career would undoubtedly return to square one.

The couple looked around in fear as the blindfolds were lifted from their eyes. ” What are you doing? Why did you capture us?”

Compared to his wife, Davy was evidently more fearful. “What have we done to offend you guys? We beg you to spare us!”

Zobber glanced at Catherine and, after receiving her approval, began interrogating the couple.

She preferred to get straight to the point and didn’t like beating around the bush. Grabbing Davy by the collar, she started questioning.

“I’ll give you a chance. Confess your involvement with Audrey. Say it nicely, and I’ll spare your lives. Otherwise, I’ll feed you to the crocodiles. Got it?” said Zobber.

Davy trembled in fear and nodded vigorously. “I understand. I promise to confess honestly.”

“Enough nonsense. Get to it!” Zobber impatiently yelled.

Seeing her fierceness, Davy obediently began to confess. He said, “In the entertainment industry, people are more open-minded. Audrey saw me as a director and wanted to star in my movie to win awards. She tried to seduce me, but I didn’t agree. Please don’t misunderstand; it was all Audrey’s doing.”