Ch. 701..710
Chapter 701 The Arroyos
Catherine didn’t lose her temper, but Zobber was getting impatient. She directly slapped Davy in the face, saying, “What are you saying? How dare you lie here? Do you want to die?”
“Smack!” The loud slap echoed throughout the private room.
Davy covered his face and cried in pain. Then he coughed violently, spitting out blood with a white tooth mixed in it.
The surrounding people watched this scene coldly. For them, it wasn’t entertaining at all.
Zobber had already restrained the force of the slap. If she had used full strength, Davy might have already passed out.
“Here’s another chance. If you don’t talk, don’t blame me for being ruthless!
“Zobber threatened.
“Miss, spare me!” Davy knelt on the ground, continuously bowing. “I really didn’t lie. Please spare my life.”
Zobber took out a fruit knife from the side and waved it in her hand. Davy was frightened and seemed on the verge of fainting at any moment.
But he remained silent, no matter how Zobber threatened him.
Suddenly, Catherine, who had been sitting aside, stood up, making everyone tense.
It had been a long time since they had seen Catherine take action, and they didn’t know what fate awaited Davy this time.
Catherine approached Davy step by step with a powerful aura that almost suffocated him. He looked up, and fear filled his eyes.
The unexpected happened the next moment.
Catherine did strike, but her target wasn’t Davy. It was Davy’s wife lying on the side. With great force, a single strike from Catherine knocked Davy’s wife unconscious.
After dealing with Davy’s wife, Catherine shifted her icy gaze back to Davy. Davy trembled in fear. “Miss, spare me. I’ll confess everything!”
Catherine lifted her chin and pointed to the woman lying on the side. She said, ” She’s out. I don’t have to teach you what to say, right?”
Davy looked at his unconscious wife and nervously swallowed. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to reveal the truth. With his fierce wife unconscious and unable to hear, he felt bold.
“Miss, it really wasn’t me this time. Someone sent me a room number, saying Audrey was waiting for me inside. When I arrived, Audrey was already unconscious in bed. I didn’t touch her.” Trying to clear his name, Davy hurriedly added, “I just lifted the quilt, and then my wife came in. The media has reported the rest. I don’t need to say more.”
“Phone,” Catherine said in a low voice, and Zobber immediately approached, taking Davy’s phone from his pocket.
Catherine didn’t let Davy off there. She lifted Davy’s chin with the toe of her shoe. “Your methods are quite skilled. You’ve done this a lot, haven’t you?”
Davy grinned at Catherine, his face full of flattery. His sycophantic demeanor was highly disgusting. People like him could sacrifice anything for their own interests. “Miss, not really. Most of the time, those women climb into my bed for fame and fortune. I have some status in the industry, and they’ll do anything to make a name for themselves.”
The woman on the floor moved her fingers; Catherine lightly stepped on her, and she quieted down.
Davy, eager to please Catherine, didn’t notice the movement on the side.
“What about your wife? I heard you climbed up using her family’s connections. You’re cheating on her outside so openly. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out?” asked Catherine.
Of course, he was afraid. Davy was only daring to confess because his wife was unconscious and couldn’t hear.
However, faced with Catherine’s inquiry, he arrogantly said, “How could the fool woman find out? She’s stupid.
If it weren’t for her family being somewhat useful, I would have divorced her long ago. She doesn’t realize what kind of person she is. How can someone like her match up to me?”
Davy got more excited as he spoke, revealing all his vulgar thoughts. Unbeknownst to him, as he spoke, his wife, who had been lying on the side, had opened her eyes. Her not-so- beautiful eyes were now filled with rage, like a volcano ready to erupt.
Except for Davy, everyone else noticed this scene and eagerly anticipated the drama.
As Davy continued his vulgar tirade, his wife, unable to endure it any longer, exploded and shouted. “Davy, you scumbag!”
Davy’s face instantly turned pale at this roar. Stiffening, he turned to face his wife’s furious expression, and his heart felt like it was about to stop.
“Darling, you’ve misunderstood. I…” He wanted to explain.
“Misunderstood? Haha…” His wife, no longer deceived, went straight into action.
The two struggled, but throughout, it was Davy who took the beating. Although his wife’s appearance was average, her fighting skills were not bad, and she had Davy fleeing with his head in his hands.
Catherine, with her people, left the private room, leaving the couple to settle their disputes.
Zobber was efficient in her work. She restored Davy’s phone using technology, recovering all the deleted messages. “Catherine, Davy wasn’t lying. He did receive a message.”
“Who’s the sender?” Catherine asked.
“A strange number, only active for a week.” Zobber had already investigated the number as soon as the data was restored, but there were no useful clues.
Catherine handed the number to Ronin. “Check it.”
Ronin confidently took the number. ” Rest assured, Catherine.”
Zobber was curious about Ronin’s investigative methods, so she looked over at his computer.
She was surprised to find that Ronin could control the entire video surveillance system, accurately locating the store that sold the phone card.
Although the phone card wasn’t registered with real names, the communication service provider had records of purchase and activation times. By matching the times, they could find the buyer.
When the surveillance footage was pulled up, everyone saw the person who bought the card-a face that looked unfamiliar, plain, and unmemorable.
Zobber felt somewhat disappointed, but Ronin wasn’t disheartened. This was just the first step; there was no rush.
He took a screenshot of the face, fed it into the facial recognition database, and soon got results.
He immediately reported to Catherine, saying, “Catherine, I found it! The person who bought the card has been working at the Arroyos, serving as a driver.”
Catherine squinted at Ronin. “The Arroyos?”
Ronin supplied additional information. “Kamren’s home, the place Emma was sent to by her own uncle not long ago.”
“Humph.” Catherine sneered, a glint of coldness flashing in her sharp eyes, causing a chill to run down the spines of everyone present.
Gathering courage, Ronin asked in a low voice, “Catherine, do you want me to bring the person over?”
“No need.” Catherine stood up and said, “We’ll personally pay them a visit.
Chapter 702 Is This Woman Crazy
Kamren was still indulging in his sweet dreams when the Arroyos’ gate was kicked open.
Upon hearing the servant’s report, Kamren abruptly woke up and glared angrily at the servant. “Who dares to kick open the Arroyos’ gate? Had enough of living, huh?”
Trembling, the servant looked at Kamren and said, “Mr. Arroyo, you better go and see. The people who came are really fierce.”
Kamren kicked away the alluring woman lying beside him and hastily put on his clothes before he headed toward the gate. He wanted to see who had the guts.
Reaching the gate, Kamren was shocked by the scene before him. His bodyguards, the ones who usually served as his henchmen, were all sprawled on the ground.
Their expressions twisted in agony, limbs contorted in peculiar ways.
Kamren initially thought there must be dozens of skilled individuals to create such a scene, but to his surprise, there were only five people when he counted.
Three men and two women, all seemingly young. This group had defeated his formidable bodyguard team.
Kamren advanced furiously, shouting, ” Are you the guys who dared to attack my people?”
Ronin was about to step forward when Zobber beat him to it.
She briskly walked up to Kamren, scrutinizing him with a disdainful sneer. “Humph, old man, you’re quite advanced in age. Shouting so loudly, aren’t you afraid of having a stroke?”
Kamren was about to get angry but took a closer look at Zobber. She had an exquisite oval face, big eyes, a delicate waist, and a fierce attitude- everything he loved.
Instantly, an itching sensation overwhelmed him. Such a girl was a top -notch kind.
“Girl, you’re so loud. Do you know who I am? It’s not too late to apologize. As long as you serve me well tonight, I’ll forgive you for today’s incident,” said Kamren.
He stared at Zobber’s body with lustful eyes and even dared to reach for her face.
However, Zobber was quicker. She grabbed it before Kamren’s hand could reach her face. With a swift motion, Zobber twisted Kamren’s hand into a crescent shape.
The speed was so fast that Kamren was momentarily stunned. “Ah…” A miserable yell echoed through the air as he reacted.
Impatiently, Zobber cleaned her ear, grabbed Kamren’s hand, and forcefully shoved it into his mouth, denying him the chance to speak.
Kamren wanted to resist, but his feeble attempts were futile against Zobber’s overwhelming strength.
Others tried to intervene, but a slight move from Ronin and Withal had them pinned to the ground. In just ten minutes, Kamren found himself subdued by Zobber, with no chance to move.
“Catherine, this old man is now obedient,” said Zobber.
Could he be anything but obedient? In just a dozen minutes, Kamren had been tormented enough. If he still resisted, it seemed like he really had a death wish.
“If you want to live, tell me where Emma is.”
Kamren hadn’t expected this group of menacing figures to only come for Emma. If he had known earlier, he would have willingly handed her over without enduring such torture. “Please don’t hit me. I’ll spill everything!”
Emma held her phone and watched the continuous flood of negative comments. A smirk grew on her face.
Kamren had sent her to someone else last night, and she was tortured again, but seeing the news of Audrey’s misery today washed away all her pain.
She wasn’t yet capable of dealing with Catherine, but that was okay. Audrey’s suffering was satisfying enough for now.
When she became a little stronger, she would be able to make even Catherine suffer.
Holding her phone, she sent a message and then immediately deleted it. Just as she was about to rest, a tremendous force struck, and the tightly closed wooden door was kicked open.
She was startled, and her heart almost stopped. However, when she saw the intruder, anger burned in her chest. ” Catherine, how dare you barge in here?”
Catherine did not reply and strode into the room, completely ignoring her presence.
Emma stood up in rage and glared at Catherine, her teeth gritted. ”
Catherine, this is the Arroyos’. Have you heard of Kamren? Aren’t you afraid he’ll kill you for barging in here?”
Kamren was a well-known figure in the underworld. Emma believed Catherine must know him.
Branden was supposed to deal with her, but since she was with Kamren, not even Branden dared to touch her. She believed that Catherine would be afraid of Kamren as well.
Catherine glanced behind her, and a sudden, cold, girlish voice rang out. “Is it him the Kamren you mentioned?”
“Thud!” With a muffled sound, a big figure fell in front of Emma.
If it weren’t for the familiar gold robe, Emma wouldn’t have believed that the person being beaten beyond recognition was Kamren.
Emma stared up at Catherine in disbelief and shouted in shock, “You dared to lay a hand on Kamren. Catherine, you’re finished this time. Do you know who Kamren is?”
Emma became more excited as she spoke, her eyes even showing a hint of satisfaction, as if she could already see Catherine’s impending doom.
Zobber tilted her head toward Catherine and muttered, “Catherine, is this woman crazy? Or is her brain not functioning properly? This old man got beaten like this in his own home, yet she’s still thinking he’ll protect her. If he’s really that capable, does he have to endure a beating?”
Catherine scrutinized Emma and sneered. “If she had a brain, would she do something so foolish?”
“That’s right!” Zobber agreed with a nod.
Emma would know who she could and couldn’t provoke if she had a brain.
Kamren, lying on the side, gasped for breath. Seeing Emma, the foolish woman, didn’t repent and was trying to implicate him even in the face of death, he truly wished he could tear her apart.
He summoned the last bit of strength and wanted to disassociate himself from this foolish woman.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have absolutely no connection with her. She’s just a companion at my place, and I have nothing to do with her, let alone assist her. Please believe me. If you want to settle scores, go find her.”
Kamren urgently distanced himself, making everyone in the room nauseous. Emma was supposed to be his woman. To give her out like this just for self- preservation was utterly disgusting.
Catherine approached, pulling Emma up by her collar and tossing her directly in front of Kamren. “I’ll give you a chance. As long as he’s willing to take responsibility for you, your debts will be on him.”
Chapter 703 One More Person to Meet
Kamren’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he heard Catherine’s words. “How is this possible?” He immediately objected, disagreeing with Catherine’s proposal.
However, as soon as he finished his sentence, Zobber slapped him hard. She glared at him fiercely, exuding a menacing aura. “When is it your turn to object to Catherine’s words?”
Terrified, Kamren begged, “Madam, I was wrong. It’s all my fault. Can you forgive me? I shouldn’t have objected. Please spare me!”
Seeing his timely apology, Zobber chose not to pursue the matter further.
Kamren glanced at Emma, his eyes filled with warning and threat. He couldn’t handle these people, but dealing with Emma was well within his capabilities.
Emma was frightened by the way he looked at her. She had been with Kamren for a while and understood his character. She knew what his gaze meant.
She hadn’t expected Kamren, someone even the Duncans feared, to end up like this because of Catherine. Emma looked at Catherine with an incredulous and fearful gaze. Besides, there was still a hint of hatred in her eyes.
“Catherine, even the Duncans are afraid of Kamren. Aren’t you afraid?” asked Emma.
“What?” Catherine raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes as she looked at Emma. “Who told you the Duncans are afraid?”
Emma was unsure how to answer Catherine’s question. If the Duncans weren’t afraid, why didn’t they pursue her before?
Observing Emma’s changing expressions, Catherine guessed everything.
She lifted Emma’s chin with the toe of her shoe, forcing Emma to meet her eyes. “According to you, the Duncans didn’t act against you because they feared Kamren, huh?”
“Isn’t that the case?” Emma thought. She wanted to say, but seeing Zobber’s fierce face, she swallowed her words, not daring to speak.
Even if she didn’t say it, Catherine could see through her. “Humph!” Catherine chuckled coldly, a mocking tone in her laughter, and her words were full of disdain for Emma.
That smile made Emma anxious. She felt she had no dignity in front of Catherine. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“What do I mean?” Catherine leaned in, her scornful gaze moving over Emma. “Back then, if you didn’t run away, at most, you would have faced some disciplinary action and been advised to leave the school. Think for yourself. Compared to the Arroyos, which one is more bearable?”
Sending her to the Arroyos and making her Kamren’s lover was an idea her uncle had to save the Wales.
After arriving at the Arroyos, she truly understood what a living hell was- every moment in there was torture. Kamren didn’t see her as a person, torturing her daily and treating her as a commodity for transactions.
Now, Emma understood. The Duncans didn’t act, not out of fear of the Arroyos, but because they knew what kind of person Kamren was and what sort of situation she would face after being thrown into the Arroyos.
The Duncans did not even need to take action. The Arroyos were the real hell.
Once Emma understood this, her red eyes glared at Catherine with anger, and she couldn’t contain the fury within her. “Why didn’t you save me back then? Since you knew what situation I would face being with Kamren, why didn’t you help me, Catherine? You’re truly heartless.”
Facing Emma’s accusations, Catherine couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve said it before. I’m not a saint, and I didn’t intentionally harm you. Your predicament was caused by your uncle, and it has nothing to do with me.
Furthermore, you provoked someone close to me and offended me. Why should I save you?”
This merciless sarcasm left Emma sitting on the ground. She realized that she had walked into this pit herself, not pushed by Catherine.
Red-eyed, she stared at Catherine. “I admit I planned Audrey’s situation. I bribed a makeup assistant to put something in her drink during the event. Are you satisfied now? Do whatever you want to me.”
Emma casually lay on the side, not struggling, completely appearing as if a hopeless person.
Catherine glanced around and saw a crystal hairpin on the table. She picked it up and examined it before tossing it in front of Emma.
Emma stared at her beloved hairpin for a while, then tremblingly picked it up, using its sharpest end to cut her own cheek.
She screamed in pain. Then, enduring the intense agony, she looked at Catherine. “Is this satisfying for you?” She had ruined her once-prized appearance. She thought that was enough for Catherine.
Catherine lowered her head, contemptuously gazing at Emma’s face. The blood flowing down seemed to bring her no emotions. “I just thought the hairpin was nice. Why did you ruin your face? It’s a pity. Originally, you could have fetched a decent price, but now, I’m afraid you’ll only attract the lowest bidders.”
Like a sharp blade, Catherine’s words left nothing of Emma’s shattered self- esteem. Emma had hated Catherine so much and had once looked down on her, but now, she found herself in such a miserable state in front of Catherine.
This was what Emma couldn’t accept the most. And Catherine’s previous words were undoubtedly the greatest intimidation to Emma. Now, with her face ruined, Emma didn’t know what her future would be.
Thinking about all this, Emma began to cry out loud.
Catherine glanced at her and left the Arroyos with the others. She didn’t have time to listen to Emma’s miserable screams here.
Zobber had already gathered evidence. She handed it to Ronin and instructed him to give it to the police.
As long as Emma was arrested, she could be charged with intentionally framing someone, and Audrey’s case would be settled.
“No need!” Catherine interrupted Ronin’s actions.
Ronin looked up at Catherine in surprise. “Catherine, what do you mean?”
Seeing Catherine’s firm expression, Ronin had no choice but to follow her orders.
Sometimes, online violence lacks a sense of justice. Although most netizens were rational, there were always a few stubborn ones who couldn’t be convinced, no matter how much evidence was presented.
Rumors stopped with the wise, but there would always be a few idiots.
Even if they made all the evidence public, Audrey would still be pointed fingers at. Catherine didn’t plan to help Audrey in this way.
Zobber guessed Catherine’s thoughts. She didn’t care about those things. As long as it was what Catherine ordered, she would do it.
“Catherine, Audrey’s matter is settled. Where do we go next?” she asked.
Catherine gazed ahead with cold, unfeeling eyes and said in a chilling voice, “There’s one more person to meet.”
Chapter 704 Crash
Looking at the closed gates of the Silvas ‘, Zobber suggested to Catherine. ” Catherine, should I climb over the wall, beat up the person in charge, and have them open the gates?”
“No need.” Catherine coldly rejected Zobber’s suggestion. She took out her phone and dialed Withal’s number. ” Come over.”
Sitting in the car, Ronin and Zobber were unsure of Catherine’s plan. When they left the Arroyos’ earlier, Withal had separated from them, and they thought he had some matters to attend to. Now, they understood that Catherine had assigned a new task to Withal.
A few minutes later, a modified top-of- the-line Hummer slowly approached them. Ronin immediately recognized it as Withal’s new ride, the one he had shown off to Ronin last time.
“Catherine, how did you get Withal to drive this car out?” Ronin asked.
Catherine didn’t respond; instead, she backed up the car, making way for the Hummer.
The heavily modified Hummer, which had been moving like a tortoise, suddenly accelerated and charged at the gates of the Silvas’.
“Bang!” A loud noise echoed through the sky. Zobber rubbed her ears before she excitedly applauded and shouted, ” Well done, Withal!”
Little did Zobber expect that Catherine’s move was so domineering. She had Withal drive straight into the Silvas’ gates.
Withal’s car was reinforced with super- strong materials. It was bulletproof and capable of easily crashing through the gates of the Silvas’.
Inside the mansion, everyone was startled by the loud noise, thinking a war had broken out. They rushed out to see what was happening. When they reached the entrance, they realized it was not an explosion but that their gates had been rammed.
Looking at the large Hummer parked in the yard, the Silvas felt like they were in a dream. They couldn’t fathom how this car had seemingly fallen from the sky.
Withal had just bottomed out the gas. Although the car was not severely damaged, the recoil had hit him in the chest, causing him some pain.
Holding his chest, he jumped out of the car and shook off the dust from his head. The car, unwashed for two weeks, was now quite dirty.
Seeing the person from the driver’s seat, the family members of the Silvas approached angrily. “You brat, don’t you have eyes when you drive? Do you know where this is? How dare you crash here? You’re simply courting death!”
The person cursing was about to grab Withal’s collar when Withal waved his hand, knocking him aside.
Withal gave the person a disdainful look, climbed back into the car, and forcefully reversed. The gate, already hit, was pulled out by Withal’s car, leaving the Silvas’ without a gate.
After driving his car out, Withal made way for the road. Catherine drove her car and boldly entered the Silvas’.
The black car, whose license plate could not be read, was arrogantly parked in the center of the Silvas’ courtyard..
Following the opening of the four car doors, four pretty men and women got out.
The head of the Silvas arrived, and his expression immediately darkened when he saw the chaos. He was terrifyingly angry. “Who are you, and how dare you cause trouble at our Silvas ‘place!”
Catherine crossed her arms, looked up at the old man, and sized him up. “You must be Erasmus Silva, right?”
Erasmus sneered and observed Catherine. “It’s been many years since someone dared to address me directly by my name. Now that you’re here, speak up about who you are.”
Catherine’s face was slightly smiling, but her gaze was as cold as a bottomless ice cellar. “It doesn’t matter who I am. What matters is that today, I’ve come here to demand someone from you.”
“Who?” asked Erasmus.
“Andrea!” said Catherine.
Erasmus squinted, his gaze dangerously fixed on Catherine. “You crash our gates and demand someone. You’ve got guts. What if I refuse? What will you do?” he said in a cold, threatening tone.
Catherine was unafraid and replied, “If you refuse, I’ll demolish the Silvas’!” She was sure to come back in one piece if she dared to come today.
Since she had already smashed the gate, she didn’t mind expending a little more effort to destroy the courtyard.
Erasmus’s face turned green with anger when he heard this, his eyes widening in shock. “Such audacity!” he said.
The family members of the Silvas behind Erasmus were increasingly furious. They had never seen anyone so audacious at the Silvas’.
They prepared to gather people to deal with Catherine, but at this moment, Andrea returned.
Seeing the chaos in front of the entrance, she was dumbfounded. She hurriedly got out of the car and ran toward the courtyard.
Then, she saw the yard filled with people. “Grandfather, what’s going on? “Andrea rushed toward Erasmus, who was at the forefront.
Erasmus gestured toward the front. ” She said she was here to find you and crashed the gates open with her car.”
Andrea felt as if she had heard a fantasy. She could not believe someone dared to crash the gates of the Silvas’ with a car.
She turned around in disbelief and saw Catherine standing at the forefront. ” It’s you!” Andrea exclaimed in surprise.
Seeing that Andrea knew the person, Erasmus quickly inquired, “Andrea, who is this? She is so arrogant.”
Andrea revealed Catherine’s identity to Erasmus, informing him that Catherine was the head of the Swanns in Casier and also the acknowledged fiancée of Branden.
Erasmus hadn’t expected Catherine to have such a background. But Erasmus’s anger did not dissipate after he learned about Catherine’s identity. Instead, he looked at Catherine with disdain.
“Even if you are the future daughter-in -law of the Duncans, so what? You haven’t even set foot inside, yet you dare act so arrogantly. I’ve known Karl for a long time. I wonder if Karl is aware of your audacious side,” said Erasmus.
Catherine knew Erasmus was trying to threaten her. “Who told you I rely on the Duncans? If I wanted to, even if Karl were here, I could still demolish your place today.”
Before Erasmus could respond, a servant of the Silvas rushed over with a phone, handing it to Erasmus.
After Erasmus took the call, he listened to the information with a serious expression. Just as he hung up, another call came in.
With consecutive blows, Erasmus could not hold back his initial shock and revealed fear on his face. He pointed a trembling finger at Catherine. “Who are you?”
Catherine sneered disdainfully and said slowly, “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that from today onwards, the Silvas will be completely expelled from Loxton.”
Chapter 705 Give Me a Reason
Erasmus was infuriated by Catherine’s domineering declaration, almost triggering a heart attack.
If it weren’t for the fact that those incompetent people among the Silvas of this generation needed him to oversee things, he wouldn’t have to endure it.
He had just received calls from several business partners, all announcing the cancellation of their cooperation with the Silvas.
Also, the influential figure within the Silvas, Erasmus’s brother-in-law, the current leader of a particular district, had also called. He was now under investigation for corruption.
In one night, the Silvas fell like a house of cards.
Erasmus genuinely could not ignore Catherine’s bold words now because he wasn’t sure if Catherine’s warnings would come true.
He lifted his head and stared fixedly at Catherine with a slight tremor. ” Whether it’s the Duncans or the Swanns, the Silvas have never had any dealings with them, let alone conflicts. Why must you push us to our doom?”
Catherine directed her gaze at Andrea, who was standing beside her.
The intensity in her eyes was so powerful that Andrea involuntarily stepped back, not daring to make eye contact with Catherine.
Sensing Andrea’s change in look, Erasmus questioned his granddaughter with a stern face. “What have you done?
It was the first time Andrea had seen her grandfather so angry. She didn’t understand what Catherine had done to cause such a change in her grandfather. After receiving the phone call earlier, her grandfather’s momentum had weakened instantly.
Catherine made bold threats, yet her grandfather suddenly showed weakness. This indicated that Catherine had caught hold of something, and Andrea’s heart skipped a beat.
She believed her grandfather must have other ways to handle this. With a face full of grievances, she looked at Erasmus. “Grandpa, don’t listen to her nonsense. I’m not even friends with her. We met once just because of Triston. I’ve never offended her.”
Trying to argue at this point was pointless. But since Andrea wanted to, Catherine might as well cooperate with her.
Catherine tilted her chin and glanced at her. “You’re not familiar with me, but what about Audrey? You’re not familiar with her either?”
Andrea’s face immediately showed a disdainful expression when she heard Audrey’s name. “So, this is why you’re here. Grandpa, Audrey is just a celebrity that Triston is keeping outside. She tried to give me money to make me leave Triston.”
Andrea kept complaining to Erasmus about Audrey, portraying Audrey as a home-wrecker in her eyes.
Hearing her granddaughter’s words, Erasmus was naturally furious. He looked at Catherine with anger. “Did you come for this?”
Catherine said, “Mr. Silva, the affairs of the heart are common among people. I never interfere in Audrey’s love matters. Besides, the right and wrong of the situation haven’t been determined. Audrey and Triston were in a relationship before, and the Silvas approached the Lamberts for marriage afterward. Now, Triston is entangled with Audrey.
“He would rather sever ties with the Lamberts to avoid marrying Miss Silva. I don’t know what’s wrong with Miss Silva that Mr. Lambert doesn’t like. He would rather give up the ties of blood relationship than marry her.”
This statement made the faces of the Silvas particularly gloomy. Andrea, in particular, displayed embarrassment and anger and glared at Catherine.
Not long ago, Triston publicly announced his separation from the Lamberts. Others didn’t know the inside story, but the Silvas were well aware.
Triston wanted to sever ties with the Lamberts because he didn’t like Andrea.
Erasmus ordered everyone not to discuss this matter. Such embarrassing matters were only gossiped about within the Silvas. Naturally, they wouldn’t bring it out into the open.
Now, Catherine had publicly exposed this shame, making it even more embarrassing.
Erasmus was puzzled and looked at Catherine. “If it’s not a romantic dispute, why are you targeting the Silvas and demanding Andrea from us?”
Catherine directed her gaze at Andrea and observed her unrepentant demeanor. Andrea still thought she could escape the consequences. What a joke.
“Do you think you can get away with it just because Emma won’t expose you? Do you really believe that your actions are flawless?” asked Catherine.
Andrea’s eyes widened in astonishment when she heard this. She looked at Catherine in disbelief and muttered under her breath. “How is that even possible? I have…”
“You’ve erased all the evidence and even used a new phone and a new network to contact Emma, so how come I can still trace you, right?” Catherine retorted.
As Andrea heard Catherine’s words, a sense of terror washed over her. It seemed to Andrea that Catherine could read minds. Whatever she wanted to say, Catherine seemed to already know.
“No need to guess. With your intelligence, there’s no way you could figure it out.” Catherine’s words were full of mockery.
Andrea hated Catherine the most for this. Unfortunately, she had no way to change it.
Seeing Andrea acting foolishly, Catherine stopped circling around the issue and directly told her the truth. ” I’ve known Shane for many years. He’s got my people around him.”
Andrea immediately woke up when she heard this. To thoroughly ruin Audrey, she had conspired with Shane, Catherine’s mortal enemy.
Shane wanted to deal with Catherine, so he was willing to fan the flames as long as it harmed Catherine.
Otherwise, with their abilities alone, they wouldn’t have been able to escalate public opinion to such an extent.
Realizing that Catherine had discovered everything she had done, Andrea was unsure of what to do, and her face turned ashen.
Observing his granddaughter’s performance, Erasmus understood the truth.
In the business world, deceitful tactics were used to handle people, and he didn’t consider it a big deal. If his granddaughter could use such methods to marry into the Lamberts and become Triston’s wife, he would be happy for her.
But Andrea was useless. Not only did she fail, but she also brought trouble to their doorstep.
Erasmus’s face darkened, and he gave the ultimatum. “Andrea, I don’t care what you’ve done. But as long as you damage the reputation of the Silvas, you will no longer be a part of the Silvas.
Andrea forced a bitter smile. She understood her grandfather’s meaning. She looked up at Erasmus, a touch of sadness in her eyes. “Grandpa, rest assured. I’ll bear the consequences of my actions.”
After saying this, she turned to face Catherine. “I admit it was me who contacted Shane. I orchestrated the entire plan to frame Audrey. If you want revenge, just come to me. But this has nothing to do with the Silvas. Please let them go.”
Catherine assessed the situation. Despite Andrea’s arrogant posture, she preferred Andrea over Emma. She didn’t deny Andrea’s intelligence but lamented that Andrea had used it in the wrong place.
“Give me a reason to spare the Silvas,” said Catherine.
Chapter 706 Sacrifices
Andrea seemed to have prepared a countermeasure long before Catherine’s question, and she immediately provided an answer after Catherine finished speaking.
“I orchestrated this whole thing, so I’ll be the one to end it. Even if you expose all the evidence, some haters will still cling to this, and Audrey will be criticized for the rest of her life because of this.”
“Go on,” Catherine said with interest, looking at Andrea.
Andrea took a deep breath and revealed her last trump card. “As long as you let the Silvas go, I have a way to ensure that Audrey escapes this situation successfully.”
She knew that just having this wouldn’t be enough. Catherine wouldn’t easily let her off. She also had to impose punishment on herself to quell Catherine’s anger. “After everything is settled, I’ll leave the country. I’ll never set foot in Eskana again unless absolutely necessary.”
Catherine had come to the Silvas’ today with such a firm stance, crashing their gates in front of everyone, indicating she wasn’t afraid of the Silvas. For the sake of the Silvas, Andrea was willing to make sacrifices.
Catherine gave Andrea an approving look. There was no doubt Andrea was smart because she understood what Catherine wanted.
Catherine claimed not to interfere in Audrey’s love matters, but she wanted to protect Audrey. While issues of the heart were left to individual capabilities, Andrea shouldn’t use malicious intentions to ruin Audrey’s reputation. This touched Catherine’s bottom line, or else Catherine wouldn’t have personally come to the Silvas’ today.
Catherine looked at her carefully and said slowly, “As long as you satisfy me, I’ll consider today as if I never came to the Silvas’.”
“If you’re not satisfied, you can do whatever you want to the Silvas,” Andrea said.
Hearing this, Catherine turned and left without any hesitation.
Ronin still felt dissatisfied and caught up with Catherine. “Catherine, are we just letting her go?”
Catherine looked at him and said, “So, what’s your plan? The gates are broken, and she’s gone. Besides, didn’t she promise to resolve the matter?”
After Catherine said this, Ronin couldn’t find any words to argue. He really didn’t know what to do. Anyway, they could not really drive the Silvas out of Loxton. It seemed a bit too much.
Seeing him still contemplating, Zobber slapped the back of his head. “Do what Catherine says. Why bother getting entangled in these things!”
After a moment of thought, Ronin found it reasonable. Since they were following Catherine, they should just listen to her.
Catherine got into the car, and the group drove away.
Erasmus stood in the desolate courtyard of the Silvas and looked at the mess on the ground. In the dust raised by the departing car, he exclaimed silently, “I’m truly getting old.”
“Grandpa.” Andrea stepped forward to help, but he glared at her. “I can walk by myself!” he said.
Erasmus left in anger, leaving Andrea standing in place, facing the disdainful looks of the other members of the Silvas.
“How dare a loser like you to plot against others? Now, trouble has come knocking. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Why are you stirring up trouble for no reason? Are you bored with nothing to do all day?”
“How did her father educate her? How did he raise her like this?”
They were gossiping and pointing fingers, but Andrea didn’t care. She had long seen through the true nature of the Silvas.
She cast her hopeful gaze on her parents, who were standing bent over beside her. Her father sighed deeply and left with a hunched back.
When everyone was gone entirely, Tasha cast a sharp gaze at Andrea. “You jinx!”
Andrea stood still without arguing, wearing a bitter smile on her face. The deep sense of desperation in her heart magnified. She would rather be born into an ordinary family than walk down this path if she could.
Chapter 707 No Reneging
Audrey’s situation was still brewing in the entertainment circle.
The online chatter was growing louder, with many netizens leaving messages on Audrey’s social media accounts, hoping she’d come out and clarify things to give everyone an explanation.
Just this afternoon, a reputable media outlet in the entertainment industry suddenly released a message.
They released the first half of the original video, showing the faces of the male and female leads.
The male lead was indeed the well- known director Davy in the industry, but the female lead was not Audrey. It was just a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Audrey, reportedly a popular internet celebrity engaged in certain business activities.
Differences could be seen from the front, but the similarity between the internet celebrity and Audrey was evident from the side. The video was somewhat blurry, making it almost indistinguishable.
Following this, Audrey’s agency reposted this on Twitter, informing the public that the person in the video was not Audrey and urging people to stop spreading false accusations against her. If anyone continued to attack Audrey over this, the agency would take legal action to defend Audrey’s rights.
Once the lawyer’s letter was out, the online haters fell silent immediately, afraid to comment on Audrey’s social media accounts.
Later, Audrey’s fans discovered the internet celebrity’s video account, where she had posted numerous videos imitating Audrey. From certain angles, it was indeed difficult to distinguish between them.
With this news, the rumors were instantly dispelled. Audrey’s popularity continued to rise, firmly securing a spot on the trending topics list.
The male lead, Davy, also faced a tough time after the news completely unfolded. His social media accounts were flooded with criticism.
Many actresses who had suffered from his harassment came forward collectively, denouncing him. Some even took legal measures to defend their dignity.
Davy’s wife issued a divorce statement on her social media account, claiming to have signed the divorce agreement with Davy yesterday. She accused Davy of being irresponsible to the family and labeled him as a scumbag in relationships.
Suddenly, the once-promising Davy found himself infamous, and those who were once mistreated by him now took the opportunity to accuse him, preventing him from making a comeback.
Catherine finished reading all the news and casually tossed her phone aside.
Branden sat nearby and, noticing her action, reached out to pick her up, embracing her in his arms. “There have been quite a few rumors about you lately.” The man buried his face in her neck, and his deep voice sounded slowly.
“Guessed it,” Catherine responded very casually. This matter didn’t trouble her.
Yesterday, she had made a high-profile scene by crashing the Silvas’ gate, publicly humiliating Erasmus, and eventually forcing Andrea to promise to leave Loxton forever.
Such significant news must have spread among the upper circles in Loxton. But so what? She did not care. She looked up and met the man’s profound eyes, squinting with a hint of curiosity.
“Don’t you like it?” Her voice was cold, without warmth or emotion. But this tone unexpectedly brought a light smile to the man’s lips.
“Indeed, I don’t like it,” said Branden.
Catherine frowned slightly, thinking her actions had negatively affected him. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Branden say domineeringly, The Prado in my garage has been gathering dust. It’s more powerful than a Hummer. If you use that car to crash, not only the gate but even the walls could be destroyed.”
Hearing this, Catherine couldn’t help but smile and nod in approval.
It turned out he thought she didn’t crash with enough dominance.
“Okay, next time I’ll use yours!” said Catherine.
Branden furrowed his brows slightly. He could not help but give a piece of advice, saying, “Don’t drive yourself. Let Ronin or Withal do it.”
“Okay!” Catherine readily agreed.
Mentioning the Silvas reminded Catherine of something. “I heard Erasmus and Karl seem to have a good relationship.”
“Grandpa called me this morning.”
Branden looked at her with a complaining expression.
Catherine’s expression became a bit more serious when she heard this. She wasn’t worried that Karl would blame her. It was just that Karl had always treated her well, and she didn’t want him to be angry and affect his health because of such things. “How did Karl react?” she asked.
“Alas!” Branden sighed deeply, then slowly said, “When Grandpa knew it wasn’t me driving, and I didn’t even accompany you, he scolded me over the phone for a good ten minutes. And he said that next time I return to Casier, I have to stay home for a whole day to reflect.”
Catherine was confused. “Isn’t Karl on good terms with Erasmus?”
If they had a good relationship, why was the situation like this?
Later, Branden provided the final explanation. He said, “They indeed had a good relationship and even pursued a girl together in the past. However, when the girl was about to confirm the relationship with Grandpa, Erasmus used some means to send the girl abroad, and that relationship naturally fell apart.”
Catherine knew Karl was a playboy in his youth, but she didn’t expect him to be so romantic and have so many old stories.
Branden imitated Karl’s tone and said to Catherine, “You brat! You’re not as good as Cassie. I’ve been displeased with that old man from the Silvas for a long time. If it weren’t for him behaving well in Loxton in recent years, I would have personally driven to demolish his house, leaving him with nowhere to live for the rest of his life! Good relationship? I have no connection with the old man from the Silvas.”
It was rare to see Branden’s lively side. Catherine burst into laughter and fell into Branden’s arms, laughing incessantly. “Karl is quite something.”
When he saw that Catherine was in a good mood, Branden’s tongue touched his upper palate, and his eyes were full of joy. Since she was so happy, it wasn’t in vain that he had worked hard.
“You’re happy now. What about me then?” he asked.
Catherine looked up at him in confusion. “You?”
“Didn’t you hear Grandpa say I have to stay home for a whole day to reflect next time I go back to Casier?” added Branden.
In a contest of wits, even a fleeting glance could be easily captured.
Catherine didn’t miss the slyness in Branden’s eyes. She deliberately said seriously, “How can I interfere with your family matters? You’re the old man’s favorite grandson. Nothing will happen to you!” She generously reassured Branden.
Knowing she was joking, Branden was annoyed and bit her lips lightly in punishment. “I’ve been coaxing you for so long. Can’t you say something nice to coax me?”
Catherine blinked those gem-like eyes and proudly said, “If it doesn’t work, I’ll accompany you back next time. I hope Karl will spare you for my sake.”
Branden tightly hugged her, his face filled with satisfaction. “Okay, you’ve promised. No reneging!”
Chapter 708 Coffee Beans
When Catherine came out of the lab, she received a call from Audrey.
“Wait a moment. I’m coming right away!” At the school gate, Catherine saw Audrey. In just a few days, Audrey had lost weight.
“Do you need something from me?” Despite facing her sister, Catherine’s attitude was still chilly, and she spoke without warmth.
Audrey had long been accustomed to her sister, who seemed cold on the outside but actually valued the people she cared about more than anything.
“Kathy, are you getting used to being at Styre University?” Audrey looked at Catherine, feeling she was not doing a responsible job as an older sister. Instead of taking care of her sister, she often caused trouble for Catherine.
Without Catherine stepping in this time, she wouldn’t have made it through unscathed. Catherine not only helped her restore her reputation but also increased her popularity.
Now, calls for business were flooding in from Kim, and her external quotes kept rising. However, she wasn’t in a hurry to work. She could never earn enough money and wanted to take a break.
“Kathy, I plan to go on a trip for a while. I’ve been busy lately, working non-stop. I want to take advantage of this reason to relax and unwind on a trip,” said Audrey.
“Sure.” Catherine nodded slightly, agreeing with Audrey’s decision.
Audrey reached out to touch her but suddenly remembered that Catherine didn’t like being touched, so she lowered her raised hand. “I don’t have anything specific to discuss; I just wanted to see you before heading out. Take care of yourself at school. I’ll come back once I’ve had my fun.”
Unusually, Catherine didn’t show impatience. “Okay.”
In her view, it was good that Audrey wanted to take a break. With Shane keeping watch in Loxton recently, the people around her wouldn’t be too peaceful. Audrey’s leaving would reduce her concerns.
“I won’t disturb your studies. I’ll go now.” Audrey turned and left gracefully.
Catherine stood in place, watching her leave. She didn’t ask about Audrey’s development with Triston. She had made it clear earlier. She wouldn’t interfere in Audrey’s love matters.
Once Audrey completely disappeared, Catherine prepared to return to school.
The buzzing sound of her phone came from her pocket. Catherine took out her phone, looked at it, and silently sneered. She thought she had been quite busy today.
A few minutes later, Catherine knocked on Marshall’s office door.
“Come in!” said Marshall.
Seeing Catherine enter, Marshall got up and poured her a cup of coffee. “This is something good from Mr. Farrell. Try it.
He used the coffee beans he hadn’t been willing to drink himself and made a cup for Catherine as soon as she came.
He always valued his students more than his own children, especially this newest one.
Catherine took a sip. The coffee tasted good, and she took another sip.
Seeing that Catherine liked it, Marshall felt pleased. “If you like it, you can take the whole can later.”
If Winston passed by at this time, he would definitely stand at the door and curse at Marshall. Marshall hadn’t agreed to give him a cup of this coffee when he asked for it. Now, he generously gave all the coffee beans to Catherine. This old scholar was really biased.
“No need, Professor Hartley. If you like coffee, I’ll have Branden bring some,” said Catherine.
Karl also liked coffee, and the Duncans had many good coffee beans.
Sometimes, Branden would proactively buy some high-quality coffee, and there were quite a few of this quality in their apartment.
Upon hearing this, Marshall suddenly smiled. “No need. It’s enough that you have this intention.”
With her usually cold temperament, Catherine found it redundant even to glance at strangers. The fact that she thought of bringing him coffee showed that she sincerely regarded him as a teacher and a mentor.
Marshall felt happy in his heart. This student of his cared about him. “Let’s get to the point. I called you here to discuss something.”
Marshall knew Catherine’s nature of not liking to stand out. He wouldn’t have asked if anyone else had that opportunity, but Catherine was different.
Chapter 709 Team-Building Excursion
Catherine glanced expressionlessly at Marshall. “Professor Hartley, just tell me what you need.”
Marshall turned and handed a document to Catherine. “The Bide Cup, held every four years in Alton, is about to begin. As the highest institution in Eskana, Styre University naturally needs to participate. Due to the last project leak, our reputation was damaged. This competition is important for the school, and the higher-ups also attach great importance to it. Mr. Farrell is under a lot of pressure.”
Originally, Marshall wasn’t one to care about competition rankings. He valued experimental research projects. However, this competition held considerable weight in the industry. If the ranking in the competition is too low, it could affect Styre University’s global standing.
Ultan approached him to come up with a solution. As a teacher at Styre University, he didn’t want the school to lose face. And it was a fact that their team’s leak incident had brought a lot of negative publicity to Styre University.
Catherine understood Marshall’s meaning. She was not fond of participating in such competitions. For her, competitions were just a group of people playing a boring game.
However, since Marshall rarely made such requests, Catherine chose to agree. Joining a competition wasn’t too difficult; it would just take some effort.
Catherine stood up expressionlessly. Let me know when it’s time to depart.”
Sensing Catherine’s agreement, Marshall smiled. As Catherine was about to leave, he quickly stopped her. ” Wait!”
Catherine continued walking without turning her head. “Is there anything else?”
“I have the competition details here. Take a look. If you have time, I’ll go through the key points and analyze them with you,” said Marshall.
“No need,” Catherine said assertively, disappearing from Marshall’s office.
Looking at the empty office door, Marshall chuckled silently.
This student of his indeed had personality and talent, and for some reason, he was particularly fond of her temper. She was so likable.
Branden noticed that Catherine had a consistently displeased expression after getting into the car.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Paxton also sensed the oppressive atmosphere and silently raised the partition between the front and back seats.
Branden held her hand and gently rubbed it in his palm. “What’s wrong? Who made you upset?”
“Not upset,” Catherine said indifferently.
Branden believed she wasn’t upset, but the lingering hostility in her demeanor indicated some impatience. “Then what’s bothering you?” he asked.
“The professor wants me to participate in the Bide Cup in Alton,” said Catherine.
In the past, Catherine never used to share her unhappiness with anyone, even if something bothered her deep inside. Anything that made her upset, she preferred to ruin it.
But ever since she returned to the Swanns, she noticed herself becoming more considerate in her actions. Now, she even started sharing her inner thoughts and emotions with Branden.
Catherine dropped a hint, and Branden quickly pieced together the whole story. The last leak incident not only became known within Eskana’s internal research community but also spread worldwide, reaching several major research institutions and schools.
For a while, all the research studios began self-inspections, scrutinizing the backgrounds of their research personnel from parents’ generation to grandparents’ generation. It was almost as if they were about to trace their ancestors.
Although Branden wasn’t in the research circle, he knew about the prestigious Bide Cup.
Styre University’s previous loss in the competition was due to the leak incident, and this time, the higher-ups wouldn’t let the opportunity pass. To secure a solid victory in the competition, they were bound to exert pressure on Styre University.
Marshall’s research team was at the forefront of research projects throughout Styre University. Though Marshall’s team was competitive, there was no certainty of winning without Catherine. For them, Catherine was undoubtedly the ultimate cheat code. To ensure a stable victory, Catherine had to participate.
“Don’t want to go? Then reject it.”
Branden was indifferent. As long as Catherine disliked something, he advised rejecting it all. No one could make Catherine do something she disliked, and no one could force her.
“No need. I just don’t feel like making a trip to Alton. It’s boring over there,” said Catherine.
Understanding the source of Catherine’s irritation, Branden gently pinched her cheek. “Consider it a vacation, okay? How about I accompany you? After the competition, there should be a two-day break. Despite Alton’s notorious reputation, some places there have decent scenery. I’ll take you for a two-day visit!”
Catherine knew that Branden attended college in Alton, and later on, he even pursued his Ph.D. there. He spent five years in Alton and was very familiar with the environment.
Branden’s suggestion made her hesitate. She had been struggling to find a breakthrough in her experimental projects. Although her experiments were progressing at an almost unimaginable pace, everything still seemed too slow for Catherine.
She wanted to quickly break through the experimental bottleneck and move on to the next stage. However, her impatience made her more prone to failure.
When Audrey mentioned going on a vacation to relax this morning, a fleeting thought crossed Catherine’s mind. It seemed like a long time since she had taken a break.
Seeing her silence, Branden gently reached out and pulled her into his embrace. “Don’t think about those things. Consider it a vacation, okay?”
He wasn’t worried about Catherine’s competition results. He believed she had the strength, Besides, even if she didn’t win, so what? No one had the right to dictate what she did.
“Okay.” Catherine’s slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. The next day, the news of Catherine going to Alton for the Bide Cup spread like wildfire in their group chat.
Ronin heard it from Amelia and was the first to start the conversation. [ Catherine, are you going to Alton for the Bide Cup?]
Catherine was about to respond to Ronin when a flood of messages erupted.
Zobber asked, [What? Catherine, are you going to Alton?]
Withal sent, [Catherine is participating in the Bide Cup, huh?)
Connie replied, [Catherine is planning to make Alton’s cuties cry again. I want to go, too.] She also added a crying emoji.
[Wanna go, too!] Zobber sent.
[Me too!] Withal added.
[I don’t care. Anyway, I’m Catherine’s people. I’m definitely going!] Ronin sent.
Looking at the screen full of messages and various pleas, Catherine deleted the two words she had just typed, closed WhatsApp, and ignored their chat.
Little did she expect that what she initially thought would be a solitary trip to Alton for the competition would turn into a large team-building excursion.
Some took leave, some skipped work, and a few even abandoned their families. Anyway, in the end, they all boarded Branden’s private plane.
Upon arriving at the airport and seeing the diverse group of people with various dress styles, Catherine furrowed her brow.
Chapter 710 His Favorite Student
Zobber and the others were very excited to see Catherine, who frowned as she looked at them, asking, “Are you all going?”
Zobber smiled brightly and slowly approached Catherine. She originally planned to hug Catherine to brush off the matter. But as she was about to reach out, she lifted her head and met Branden’s calm yet icy cold gaze that sent shivers down her spine.
Zobber, who was never afraid of anything, suddenly felt timid at this moment and quietly withdrew her outstretched hand. “Catherine, we also want to go. Please!”
Even though everyone had packed their bags, at a single glance from Catherine, they would immediately have to leave, as no one dared to oppose her orders.
Seeing their earnest and hopeful gazes, Catherine finally relented. “I’ll go with Professor Hartley. You can take the plane yourselves.”
Hearing that Catherine had finally agreed, the group of people, who had acted without permission, suppressed their joy and nodded at Catherine.
11 Ronin stepped up to assure, ” Catherine, don’t worry. I’ll make sure they behave. They won’t cause any trouble for you!”
The group of people rolled their eyes at Ronin. He was just an immature young student, yet he dared to say such bold words. However, as Catherine was still there, the group did not dare to complain in case it might provoke her.
Catherine could tell at a glance what they were thinking, but she just didn’t want to bother with them.
Seeing that Catherine had got prepared, Branden decided to accompany her to another boarding gate. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to Professor Hartley.”
“Okay!” Catherine followed him empty -handed.
Because they were heading to the same destination, Catherine only brought along the necessary documents and her phone. As for her luggage, it was all with Branden now, and he was responsible for sending it to Alton.
When they arrived at the boarding gate, little time was left before the flight. Catherine asked Branden to go back first, as the team this time was quite large, consisting not only of teachers and students from the school but also of the leaders arranged by the higher- ups. With so many people, Branden’s appearance would undoubtedly attract a lot of attention.
Catherine didn’t want to cause herself any trouble, and Branden understood her intentions. He gazed intently at Catherine. “Take care!”
Catherine nodded slightly, and Branden smiled. She didn’t show any reluctance at all. He felt a little helpless, but he was the one who spoiled her, so he only had himself to blame. He could only continue to indulge her until she couldn’t bear to leave him anymore.
Branden left, and Catherine turned and walked toward the meeting place.
This time, besides Marshall’s experimental group from Styre University, the school secured an extra spot for a competition, giving it to the research group of the biology department, second only to Marshall’s experimental group.
Paddy was also part of this participation. Although he wasn’t the most outstanding student in the biology department, he had been following the professor in the biology department for many years and was thus allowed to participate.
Upon seeing Catherine, Paddy displayed great displeasure. Even though the last leak incident had nothing to do with Catherine, Paddy had long been unable to tolerate her, the youngest student in the Styre Laboratory.
In Paddy’s opinion, someone like Catherine would have no qualifications to enter the laboratory if it weren’t for Marshall’s biased favoritism. The fact that she could participate in this competition made him wonder what methods she had used.
Catching a glimpse of Catherine’s beautiful face, Paddy felt increasingly disdainful. “Who knows how she managed to rise to her position?” he complained inwardly.
Sensing the attention, Catherine looked coldly in the direction of the gaze, which made Paddy feel a suffocating sensation as if his throat was being squeezed, making it difficult even to breathe.
Catherine glanced at Paddy and then looked away. In her view, unimportant people didn’t need much attention.
The moment Catherine’s gaze shifted, Paddy felt the joy of breathing again. He didn’t understand why Catherine’s glance could be so powerful. Perhaps it was because he was too excited and hadn’t slept well last night.
For Paddy, being able to go to Alton to participate in the Bide Cup was a rare opportunity. If he could achieve a good result in this competition, he would undoubtedly become one of the brightest stars in the scientific research field.
Initially impatiently listening to the leaders boasting, Marshall smiled when he saw Catherine. “Catherine, you finally showed up!”
Originally, Marshall had been worried that Catherine might not come. He could make decisions for other students, but when it came to Catherine, he had no assurance at all.
Seeing Catherine, Marshall felt much more at ease.
The leaders who came with the group had never seen Catherine before. Seeing Marshall, who usually appeared aloof, show such a friendly expression towards a student, one of them couldn’t help but ask, “Professor Hartley, who is she?”
Before Marshall could respond, the other professors by his side teased, ” Oh, Mr. Ferguson, she is Professor Hartley’s favorite student, highly esteemed by him.”
Upon hearing this, the man called Caelan Ferguson couldn’t help but give Catherine a second look. At first, he thought this exceptionally beautiful girl was some relative of Marshall, perhaps Marshall’s daughter. Caelan never expected her to be a member of Marshall’s laboratory and, even more surprisingly, Marshall’s most prized student. “But she looks so young!” Caelan couldn’t help but comment in his mind.
As the crowd’s attention turned back to Catherine, Paddy felt extremely jealous. His anger filled his mind, causing him to blurt out some words he couldn’t control. “Favorite student? Who knows what their relationship is?”
His voice was not loud, but it caught the attention of a nearby professor from the biology department, Fergus Lynch, who immediately furrowed his brow. Paddy’s comment carried too much sarcasm, and if it got out, it would cause much trouble. Fergus immediately glared at Paddy and scolded him, “What nonsense are you talking about? If you don’t want to participate, get out of here!”
Upon hearing the threat, Paddy immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, Professor Lynch. Please forgive me. Give me another chance, please!”
Fergus glanced at Paddy and swallowed his anger. “Behave yourself!”
“Yes, sir!”
Paddy turned away. He appeared obedient, but his heart was filled with great dissatisfaction. In his view, Fergus was just too humble, not like Marshall, who was good at putting on a show. Otherwise, Fergus would have been in a higher position long ago.
Fergus watched Paddy’s departing figure with a hint of malice in his eyes behind his dark-framed glasses. Marshall was currently the most esteemed professor at school, and if Fergus clashed with Marshall now, Fergus would be the one to suffer.
“You nearly ruined everything, you idiot!” Fergus cursed inwardly as he watched Paddy’s back.