Ch. 751..760
Chapter 751 Safe
Loxton, calm for several months, suddenly became turbulent again.
Several foreign enterprises had either announced bankruptcy and reorganization due to the breakdown of their capital chains or had been exposed to various fatal problems.
The ordinary people could only look at the daily green stock market with a sigh.
The true big shots who knew the truth were already in a state of anxiety.
The top leaders were fighting, and those small fry were also getting caught in the crossfire.
The financial channel was excitedly broadcasting news. Zobber walked out, picked up the remote control on the table, and turned off the TV. “Withal, how come you’re even listening to such rubbish news?”
Catherine would return to Loxton in two days. They chose to stay in Loxton and wait for Catherine to return so they could have a good time together.
Hearing Zobber’s sarcasm, Withal casually leaned back, comfortably settled on the couch, and nonchalantly said, “Just killing time. Besides, he’s not wrong. It really is like gods fighting. The Duncans’ big shot is taking advantage of Catherine not being here to deal with that old guy who doesn’t know his place.”
Even if Branden didn’t take action, the Hacker Alliance would still make a move to give the Breens a lesson and let these stubborn old folks know that they couldn’t be easily provoked.
Zobber usually paid no attention to financial news at all. Even though she knew that the business world in Loxton had been uneasy lately, she had no idea what was really going on behind the scenes.
Upon hearing Withal’s whimsical remarks, she immediately became interested and rushed to Withal’s side the next second. “What does that mean? Who did Mr. Duncan deal with?”
Withal looked at her disdainfully. “Do you love listening to this kind of gossip?
Zobber knew Withal was teasing her, but now she needed something from him, so she naturally tried to please him. “I do. Won’t you please forgive me for my previous mistake?”
Withal informed Zobber of Branden’s retaliatory actions against the Breens’ subsidiaries in Eskana after Branden returned to Loxton.
Initially, the Breens relied on the widespread presence of their parent company in Euphosean and Bothor and were highly arrogant. However, they did not know that during Branden’s absence from the country, he did many things.
He dealt a severe blow to the Breens, causing unprecedented crises in several key Breens companies in Alton.
The backyard fire kept the Breens busy putting out the flames everywhere.
For them, the subsidiaries of Eskana were undoubtedly important, but they couldn’t compare to their large group in Alton because that was where their foundation lay.
While the Breens were busy covering for the company in Alton, Branden’s Duncan Corporation in Eskana launched a furious attack against the Breens.
When encountering a company that could be acquired, he directly acquired it. Their financial chain was severed for those that couldn’t be acquired, forcing them to declare bankruptcy on their own.
Some companies had been strutting around in Eskana, relying on foreign capital, but they had been directly exposed to scandals and were now facing the crisis of closure.
The combination of these measures took Shane’s company by surprise and won the appreciation of many other companies.
Because those companies had relied on the protection of significant capital to do many bad things in the past, they had used shady tactics against some small businesses in Eskana, monopolized specific industries, and taken a large portion of the profits.
Branden meant real this time. He was really trying to kick the Breens’ company out of Eskana for good so they couldn’t make any more money there.
After listening to Withal’s account, Zobber excitedly danced and waved her hands. “Mr. Duncan is too handsome. That old man Shane probably didn’t expect to kick the iron plate this time. Catherine is concerned with the previous favors and does not have time to deal with him. Does he think he can live in peace without any worries? It’s simply a ridiculous dream! Mr. Duncan is so powerful. With such a big drama, I must also join in the fun.”
Having said that, Zobber stood up and brought out the computer.
She was preparing to contact Wantel, who was far away in Alton, to encourage him to stir up some trouble in Alton and irritate the old man, Shane Breen, hopefully even causing him to die from anger.
After a while, Zobber angrily slammed the computer. “What is this hermit Wanetells up to? I messaged him and waited for half a day, but he didn’t reply to me.”
After hearing this, Ronin, who was sitting quietly playing on his phone, casually remarked, “I looked for him last night, but he still hasn’t replied to me.”
After the voice fell, the originally noisy room suddenly quieted down.
A few seconds later, Zobber was the first to react, her expression turning solemn as she looked at the two people. “I’ll immediately contact the members of the Hacker Alliance in Alton to find out the whereabouts of Wantel.”
Withal agreed, saying, “Yes, I will go find some friends to check out a few accommodations of Wantel.”
Ronin also opened the hacker system to check the latest developments on it.
After speaking, they took action simultaneously.
They had known Wantel for many years and were well aware of his character.
Although Wantel was a big homebody and usually did not like to communicate with others, he had the highest degree of cooperation with the tasks arranged by the organization. Zobber just sent a message to him. He might be busy and did not see it. But he hadn’t replied to the message Ronin sent him last night until now, which was very wrong.
Their sharp intuition made them realize that something might be about to happen.
At present, their top priority was to find Wantel and ensure his safety.
On the remote Snake Island, Wantel was not yet aware that he had been listed as a missing person, and he was also unaware that his friends were frantically searching for him.
He didn’t expect that after several months of nobody contacting him, just on the day they separated, a few of his buddies would come looking for him.
Looking at the venomous snakes around him, Wantel felt a shiver down his spine. He had a strong aversion to these cold-blooded animals and found them highly disgusting.
Fortunately, the snake-repellent Connie gave him worked pretty well. The snakes stood 30 feet away, glaring at him and not approaching.
Despite feeling intense fear, he still resolutely stayed on Snake Island.
This was the closest place to Florona. If something came up to Catherine, he could get there as soon as possible.
He vowed that even if it meant paying the price of his life, he would still protect Catherine.
“Ding!”
After guarding for a whole day and night, Wantel finally heard the sound of the incoming message. He excitedly opened the satellite receiver to check the message he had received.
There was only one word, but enough to calm his anxious heart. [Safe!]
This was Catherine giving him an update, telling him that she was safe and sound at the moment.
There were two more days left. Hopefully, Catherine could find the person soon and come back safely.
Chapter 752 Paper Couldn’t Hold Fire
Catherine went on a tour and didn’t return until it was getting dark in the evening.
Although she did not find Branden’s mother’s whereabouts, she uncovered an essential piece of information.
“What?” Amos looked at her in shock. ” Miss, this is absolutely not acceptable. Those invited to the flower appreciation event are the most elite citizens of Florona. If you were to go, you would surely be recognized, and it would be difficult for you to leave the island afterward.”
Today, Catherine went out and unexpectedly obtained some information.
The community committee of Florona would be holding its annual flower appreciation event tomorrow night, exhibiting precious varieties of flowers. Only the elite citizens of Florona had been invited to attend.
Relying on the identity of Branden’s mother and the wealth and power possessed by her first love at that time, Branden’s mother could inevitably be upgraded to a citizen of the upper class in Florona.
Restricting the search scope was necessary in order to maximize the possibility of finding the person.
Although this was a good idea, Amos felt it was too risky. He was still unwilling to let Catherine take the risk.
He didn’t know what kind of relationship the person Catherine was looking for had with her, but he understood that this person must be very important to Catherine. “Miss, let me go!”
Catherine looked at him with suspicion.
Amos then explained, “Miss, I have a way to infiltrate the chefs. The annual flower appreciation event involves appreciating various rare flowers and tasting and evaluating the exquisite dishes made from edible flowers.”
Amos had been spending a lot of time in Florona. Although he was relatively unsociable and had few visitors, he still had a few friends, one of whom was a well-known vegetarian chef.
Catherine disagreed with Amos’s decision. “Since you have this channel, then it’s perfect.”
Amos couldn’t persuade her, so he could only go along with her. Finally, the two of them unanimously decided to set off together the next day.
Amos would take Catherine and slip into the ranks of the chefs, acting as a helper in the kitchen.
Although there had been no progress on Catherine’s side, the situation was still relatively safe overall. However, things had already become chaotic in Loxton.
Zobber contacted members of the Hacker Alliance in Alton, but they were also unable to reach Wantel.
Withal asked his friend to check several places where Wantel could possibly appear, but they did not find any trace of Wantel.
The message they sent out was as if it had fallen on deaf ears, with no response whatsoever.
This had made Zobber anxious. She already arranged her plane ticket and was ready to depart for Alton.
Not only could they not contact Wantel, they couldn’t even contact Catherine.
At this moment, if she still hadn’t gone and seen for herself, how could she justify the many years of friendship with them?
Zobber was preparing to pack up when suddenly, Ronin burst in. “We have some news!”
Upon hearing these words, several people immediately surrounded Ronin. “What’s the news?”
“Look for yourself!” Ronin handed his tablet to everyone and opened a video. ” In order to find Wantel, I started searching from the surveillance footage after we left the airport. However, I found that Wantel never actually left the airport and had even boarded a private plane before we even got on our flight. You couldn’t imagine the people traveling with him.”
When Zobber saw the end of the video, she finally understood why Ronin had said that they couldn’t imagine.
She was shocked when she saw the familiar figure appear in the video. ” Catherine! It turns out to be Catherine! What did she and Wantel actually hide from us?”
Ronin also found it strange. When he discovered this video, without wasting time on further thoughts, he immediately brought the video to show others.
No wonder they couldn’t get in touch with Wantel, or with Catherine. It turned out that the two left at the same time.
Zobber was furious. “How can this be? Abandoning us to act alone… This is outrageous.”
After speaking, Zobber was about to rush out.
Withal grabbed her. “Where are you going?”
Zobber forcefully shook off his hand. “I need to go find Mr. Duncan. I have to ask him where Catherine is.”
Withal seemed to have already guessed Zobber’s thought. Upon hearing Zobber’s words, he quietly rolled his eyes at her. “Do you think that Catherine will not tell us but Mr. Duncan? Don’t forget. Just like us, Mr. Duncan believes that Catherine is currently attending a seminar in Theisia. Or perhaps you should think again: Catherine is keeping us in the dark to prevent Mr. Duncan from finding out?”
This statement immediately let Zobber come to a realization.
She had always been clever and already understood the deeper meaning behind Withal’s words. “You make a good point, but why do you think Catherine would go on a mission with Wantel and not bring us along?”
After some contemplation, Withal asked Zobber, “Have you carefully considered if there have been any recent tasks that only Wantel has been in contact with and that none of us have taken on?”
Zobber was now responsible for receiving and allocating orders for Hacker Alliance. Basically, any large order needed to be allocated through her.
However, there was one exception, and that was Catherine herself.
She was the chief of the Hacker Alliance and had the authority to take orders independently of Zobber and then distribute them secretly.
After careful consideration, Zobber finally reacted. “I recall that this matter may indeed be related to Mr. Duncan. The Duncans had previously approached the Hacker Alliance, requesting the chief of the Hacker Alliance to take on the job personally, and even offered a sky-high price. At that time, Catherine refused the job on the grounds that it did not comply with the rules. Later, they wanted to switch to Wantel, but Catherine found out that going to Wantel was actually a trap set by the Duncans.”
After listening to Zobber’s narration, Withal couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Catherine and Mr. Duncan are really something. They’re obviously a couple. Why are they still playing coy?
Zobber shrugged silently and said, “I don’t know about that. This is the only recent task in which Wantel has had contact with Catherine.”
After a discussion, they decided first to go and explore what the Duncan Corporation’s mission was.
Because Catherine was doing it secretly, they didn’t want Branden to know about it either. They were afraid of ruining it, and Catherine would come back to punish them severely.
To their utter surprise, before they could even attempt to investigate, Branden had already noticed something amiss.
He had been trying to contact Catherine since yesterday, but there had been no answer to his calls.
Finally, he called Marshall’s mobile phone. Marshall answered and said that Catherine was in the laboratory and couldn’t answer the phone.
It sounded flawless, but Branden always felt like something was off.
Paxton rushed into the office with the intelligence from Theisia. “Sir, there is news!”
Branden spoke in a cold tone and uttered a single word, “Read!”
Paxton bravely reported the information, “Sir, the people from Theisia have come to report that only Professor Marshall Hartley participated in the seminar from start to finish. They have never seen Miss Swann, and her name was not on the invited list.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Paxton felt the air pressure within the office suddenly drop, engulfing him in an eerie atmosphere.
Chapter 753 Surprise
After discussing, they decided that they would go to Alton together.
They had just come out of the villa, and the door behind them hadn’t even closed when several black cars suddenly surged and rushed in front of them.
The atmosphere on the scene suddenly changed. The few people’s faces darkened, and their eyes became much more sharp in an instant.
Soon afterward, they quickly reacted and took on a defensive stance, ready for battle at any moment.
The front passenger door of the lead vehicle was opened, and Paxton quickly got out of the car, approaching the group of people.
Upon seeing the visitor was Paxton, they inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it might have been the enemies coming to their door.
Ronin glanced at Zobber, and Zobber took the initiative to step forward, raising her eyebrows and appraising Paxton. “What’s the meaning of this? Are you ready to spar with us?”
Paxton gave a faint smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes. “Please don’t misunderstand. We are all on the same side. Mr. Branden Duncan has some questions he would like to understand.”
Everyone was well aware, whether it was to understand the issue or a subtle manipulation.
By taking such a stance, Branden didn’t intend to let them leave.
Zobber had no intention of resisting. This was Loxton, the power base of the Duncans. Even if they resisted, it would be futile, not to mention that Branden would not lay a hand on them.
Zobber followed Paxton to see Branden. Branden’s face was extremely grim, emitting a terrifying aura. Even Zobber, who was never afraid of anything, couldn’t help but feel a palpitation.
Branden sat in the armchair, his long arms hanging over the armrest, fingers fidgeting with a lighter.
He was a man who usually didn’t show his emotions on his face. However, anyone could see his impatience at a glance right now.
Zobber originally planned to negotiate a bit, but unexpectedly, Branden didn’t give them the opportunity at all. He even directly challenged. “You tell me, or should I make the move?”
With his posture set up, even Zobber must concede. “Mr. Duncan, it’s not a matter of whether we want to say it or not, but rather that we also don’t know the situation. We are planning to do some thorough investigation to see if we can find any information.”
Zobber gave in, and Ronin followed closely behind. “Yes, even I wasn’t informed by Catherine this time. It’s truly outrageous.”
After repeated questioning, Zobber and her team spent a lot of effort convincing Branden that they were not lying.
They were also anxious, as they really didn’t know where Catherine had gone.
After a lot of searching, there was no clue at all. Everyone found that the atmosphere in the room instantly dropped to a freezing point, making them shiver from the cold.
The silent Withal finally couldn’t help but stand up and say, “Mr. Duncan, there is something I would like to ask you.”
Ronin had been with Withal for many years and instantly guessed what Withal was thinking. He wanted to stop Withal but was instantly pinned down by Paxton.
Withal turned his head and smiled at Ronin. “We’re all family. After all, the truth will ultimately come to light.”
Ronin was unwaveringly loyal to Catherine, and in his world, there was no right or wrong in her decisions.
He would unconditionally obey anything Catherine did.
Paxton’s threat didn’t scare Ronin, but he didn’t attempt to stop Ronin again because he felt that Withal’s words were not wrong.
Withal had been by Catherine’s side the longest, and Branden’s feelings toward Catherine were clear to him.
Withal used to think that there was no man in this world who could match up to Catherine until the appearance of Branden made him change his mind. ” Mr. Duncan, what is the task for which you have placed an exorbitant order with the Hacker Alliance?”
Branden understood that Withal would not have said this without reason. He did not conceal it and directly told everyone the purpose of finding the Hacker Alliance. “Find someone in Florona.”
“Florona!” exclaimed Ronin.
He hadn’t forgotten the high price they paid when Catherine came out of Florona.
Paxton was a bit puzzled about Ronin’s surprise. “Why are you all so surprised?
Ronin was so angry that he rolled his eyes at Paxton and said, “You specifically requested the chief of the Hacker Alliance to take the job. Do you even know who the chief of the Hacker Alliance is?”
Hearing Ronin’s angry tone, Paxton felt a sudden sense of unease. “Could it be Miss Swann?”
The silence of the crowd spoke volumes. Paxton felt as though his heart was about to stop beating. ‘Who would have thought that Miss Swann is actually the chief of the Hacker Alliance? I sincerely feel like kneeling for her. How many identities does Catherine have that we don’t know about? She is truly powerful.’
After hearing the news, Branden stood up immediately.
Upon seeing Branden leave, Paxton hurriedly caught up with him.
Ronin turned to look at the others and asked, “They left. What should we do?”
“What else can we do? Let’s go together!” Withal said, then chased after the others.
Half an hour later, everyone boarded Branden’s private plane.
Branden was aware of Catherine’s association with the Hacker Alliance, but he did not expect her to be the chief of the Hacker Alliance.
If he knew, under no circumstances would he allow Catherine to take this risk. At this moment, he really wished to grab that disobedient girl and bring her back to educate her in bed properly.
Zobber saw that the atmosphere inside the airplane was too gloomy, so she decided to find some topics to lighten the mood. “Mr. Duncan, we are not aware of Florona’s specific coordinates. Only Catherine knows that. However, from what we understand, one must first make a trip to Snake Island in order to reach Florona.”
Originally, Catherine asked Connie to develop serums and snake repellent in order to survive on Snake Island. They only then realized that they needed to pass through Snake Island to get to Florona.
Branden glanced at Paxton, and Paxton immediately responded, “Sir, I will make the arrangements.”
On Snake Island, Wantel held a compressed biscuit, nibbling on it while observing the surrounding restless, poisonous snakes.
He felt that these venomous snakes were becoming increasingly drawn to him, with several even lingering in one place for a long time, just waiting for the right opportunity to strike. This made him feel extremely uneasy for a while.
Perhaps he was too nervous, to the point of even experiencing hallucinations, as he actually heard the roar of an airplane.
“This sound is too real!” Wantel couldn’t help but mutter to himself.
The sound continued to grow louder as if the distance was getting closer and closer.
He instinctively felt that something was wrong. “Could there really be someone coming to the island?” he wondered.
After putting on the protective clothing and taking the snake-repelling stick, Wantel prepared to go out and take a look.
Following the direction of the sound, he actually saw a helicopter.
The situation was unclear. Wantel dared not make any moves. He was hiding in the bushes, waiting for the right moment.
The plane landed steadily, and the cabin door was also opened by some burly men who then came down from the plane.
Wantel didn’t know how this group came to Snake Island or their purpose for coming here. He dared not act rashly.
Just as he was full of doubt, he suddenly saw a few familiar figures, which almost made him exclaim in surprise. ‘
How did they come?’
Without hesitation, Wantel rushed out immediately when he saw his good friends.
He greeted them with a look of surprise on his face and exclaimed, “Oh my, how come you guys are here?”
Unexpectedly, what he got in return was a beating, causing him to scream in pain.
Chapter 754 Her Trouble Had Arrived
Just because Wantel had impressive combat strength didn’t mean he could withstand so many people’s attacks. Moreover, those attacking Wantel were his training partners whose strength was not inferior to his.
Wantel could only surrender and allow himself to be beaten by them. After enduring the assault, he lay on the ground, exhausted.
“Is that enough? Or should we throw a few more punches?” Ronin was about to attack again when Wantel immediately grabbed his fist. “Hey, man, we are good friends, right? You shouldn’t do this.”
Ronin rolled his eyes at him. “You took Catherine away without telling us. Did you treat us as your friends?”
“Exactly,” Zobber chimed in.
Wantel protested loudly, looking at everyone with a pleading expression. ” It’s not my fault! It’s Catherine’s order. Who dares to defy her? Come on. Tell me. Who dares to disobey her orders?”
These questions made Ronin, who was the most arrogant among them, calm down. After all, any one of them would unquestionably obey Catherine’s commands.
Seeing that they no longer intended to attack him, Wantel finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to take a rest, a shadow suddenly loomed over him. Looking up, he saw the grim- faced Branden standing in front of him. He knew Branden, but he hadn’t expected Branden’s aura to be so intimidating in a confrontation, causing his heart to race.
Branden didn’t intend to waste time on Wantel. “Give me Florona’s coordinates,” he demanded.
Wantel was about to protest, but a gun was suddenly pressed against his forehead.
Everyone was shocked, sensing the murderous intent in Branden’s eyes.
If Wantel said another word, Branden might actually pull the trigger and end his life with a single shot.
The atmosphere instantly turned thick with tension. Zobber had thought she was accustomed to it, but when Branden got serious, she realized how terrifying he truly was. She didn’t dare to persuade him and certainly didn’t want to witness anything happen to Wantel. “Wantel, stop the nonsense and spit it out. Mr. Duncan is doing this for the good of Catherine. It’s too dangerous for her to go to Florona alone,” she urged.
Wantel had no choice. He wasn’t afraid of death, but he understood the reasoning behind Zobber’s words. “I can provide the coordinates of Florona, but even with the coordinates, getting there is not an easy task. For so many years, only Catherine has been there,” he said.
Hearing Wantel’s blabbering, Paxton, who knew Branden well, knew that Branden’s patience had reached its limit. He quickly persuaded, “Just say it. You don’t have to bear the danger anyway.”
Wantel thought he was being seen as a coward, so he quickly expressed his loyalty and then provided the coordinates. “I have already decided that if Catherine doesn’t come back tomorrow, I will go to the island myself. Even if it means death, I choose to die with Catherine,” he declared.
With the coordinates, Branden was ready to take action.
However, Zobber had another piece of information, and she nervously stopped Branden. “Mr. Duncan, just hear me out,” she said.
Branden glanced at her, indicating for her to speak.
That glance made Zobber’s heart skip a beat, and her legs couldn’t help but tremble. “Mr. Duncan, Wantel has a device that can communicate with Catherine. Shouldn’t we try to contact her before taking action?” she suggested. “Instead of continuously trying to contact her, it’s better for Catherine to provide a shortcut so that we can find her in the shortest time,” she added.
Even though they were willing to sacrifice themselves for Catherine, it was better to take a more efficient approach rather than make unnecessary sacrifices.
Paxton also felt that Zobber’s words made sense. He could tell that Branden, who was usually rational, was getting a bit impulsive at this moment. After all, it was difficult for Branden to remain calm when it came to Catherine.
“Boss, I think Zobber has a point,” Paxton said.
Seeing Zobber signaling to him, Wantel immediately understood what she meant. “I’ll contact Catherine now. If she doesn’t respond within half an hour, we’ll go find her ourselves. It doesn’t matter if we wait for another half an hour, right?” he proposed.
After a series of persuasions, Branden finally halted his steps. He decided to wait for another half an hour. If Catherine didn’t respond after half an hour, even if she were in Hell, he would go and bring her back.
In Florona, preparations were underway for the annual flower appreciation event, attended only by the island’s prominent figures.
Catherine was among the kitchen staff, helping Amos prepare the floral arrangements. Seeing that everyone in the kitchen was busy and not paying attention, Catherine whispered to Amos, “I just heard that the head chef has the list of attendees. I’m going to borrow it and take a look.”
Amos initially planned to do it for Catherine, afraid that she would expose herself, but knowing her personality, he abandoned the idea. “Miss Swann, you must be careful,” he warned.
“Alright,” Catherine replied, carrying the prepared ingredients towards the head chef. “Chef, here are the ingredients you requested,” she said.
The head chef, without even looking at Catherine, coldly replied, “Just put them there.”
As Catherine approached, she paused for a second, swiftly snatching the list from the head chef’s pocket with a quick flick of her finger, using the slightest force she could. She then discreetly left, and as she headed towards the hallway, everyone assumed she was going to move some goods, paying her no mind.
Once out of sight, Catherine opened the list. A total of 40 guests were invited to the event. After memorizing the list at a glance, she stealthily returned it to its place.
There were no familiar names, but only two female guests with the surname ” Bradley.” Typically, citizens living on Florona would change their names, but most would retain their original surnames. She made a mental note to pay attention to these two Bradley- named female guests later, hoping for some discovery.
After packing up the things she needed, Catherine was preparing to initiate the next phase of her plan when her electronic wristwatch emitted a faint light. She accessed the hidden system and read the message from Wantel. Upon learning its contents, Catherine furrowed her brow. She knew she wouldn’t be able to hide this from Branden for long, but she hadn’t expected him to personally come looking for her. This time, he probably wouldn’t let her off easily.
The image of Branden’s handsome face flashed in her mind, and for the first time, Catherine smiled helplessly. Her trouble had arrived.
Chapter 755 Same Eyes
“Catherine replied! Catherine replied!” Wantel’s shout drew everyone’s attention.
Branden was the first to rush to Wantel’s side. If it were anyone else, Wantel might not have shared the message, but Branden’s imposing presence made him tremble. He barely had time to turn on the device before handing it over to Branden.
After Branden read the message, his expression turned extremely peculiar. Those around him noticed his unusual demeanor, feeling a sense of unease, but no one dared to inquire about the situation. All their gazes turned to Wantel, pressing him for answers.
“Wantel, what did Catherine say?” Ronin asked.
Facing Ronin’s probing, Wantel felt like rolling his eyes. These people didn’t have the guts to approach Branden, so they began pressuring him. They sure knew how to pick on the easy target. Luckily, his laptop could also access the message, albeit not as conveniently as the device.
Wantel turned on his laptop, opened the message sent by Catherine, and read its contents aloud. “Catherine sent a message with the instructions on how to reach Florona Island, but she told us not to go immediately. She said that if she hasn’t sent another message within two hours, then we should proceed to the island.”
After hearing Wantel’s words, the group fell into silence once again. They had always followed Catherine’s orders, but now there was an unexpected factor-they weren’t the only ones present. Branden was here as well. This time, all eyes turned to Branden, waiting for his command.
Paxton hesitated for a moment and then suggested to Branden, “Boss, why don’t we just follow Miss Swann’s orders?”
Branden didn’t respond, nor did he request to take action. Instead, he sat in the nearby rest area, closing his eyes to rest.
Seeing this, the group of people understood that Branden intended to respect Catherine’s decision. In order to be in the best possible condition when they reached the island, they decided to prepare the equipment they needed for the journey to Florona.
In Florona, the flower appreciation event had already begun. As a chef assistant, Catherine wasn’t qualified to enter the banquet hall. However, in order to get into the hall and find her target, she bribed a waitress, exchanging identities with her and voluntarily taking on the task of serving dishes.
Each guest’s name was set at their respective table, allowing them to quickly find their seats. Catherine had already located the positions of the two female guests with the surname Bradley” and was now waiting for them to enter the hall.
Ten minutes later, the flower appreciation event ended, and the tasting event officially began. The first female guest with the surname ” Bradley” had already entered the hall. However, she bore no resemblance to Branden’s mother, and Catherine immediately dismissed her based on this guest’s appearance.
The second female guest with the surname “Bradley” hadn’t yet arrived, but the banquet management had already begun notifying the servers to clear the area.
Standing beside Catherine, a waitress noticed her lack of movement and assumed she hadn’t received the order, so she reached out and pulled Catherine’s sleeve.
At that moment, Catherine’s hand was already on the blade at her waist, ready to unsheathe it at any time. Fortunately, the waitress’s timely words prevented an assassination. “We should leave, or we’ll face punishment.
“Okay.” Catherine nodded and followed the waitress, preparing to retreat. Just as they were about to leave the banquet hall, the final female guest entered with a male companion.
In a fleeting glance, Catherine saw that the woman’s face was veiled, but she managed to catch a glimpse of her eyes. With just one glance, Catherine recognized her. This woman’s eyes were identical to Branden’s. Catherine had always thought Branden’s eyes were remarkably beautiful, shining like the sparkling stars in the sky. The eyes of this female guest were the same as if they held all the dazzling stars of the galaxy, exuding exceptional charm.
Amos, seeing Catherine’s prolonged absence, grew anxious and hurriedly went to find her. He had been prepared to barge into the banquet hall, but halfway there, he encountered Catherine coming out with other people, which greatly relieved him. He quickly approached Catherine, lowered his voice, and inquired about her situation. “Miss Swann, are you okay?”
“I’m fine!” Catherine explained the situation to Amos in a low voice. “I’ve found the person. Cover me for a while. I’ll go take a look.”
“Alright, be careful, Miss Swann,” Amos reminded her.
Catherine nodded and disappeared into the darkness.
“I’m going to the restroom,” Regan Bradley said to the person beside her, then got up and headed towards the restroom. As she entered, a lithe figure flashed past the entrance to the restroom. Then, a temporary maintenance sign had been put up there.
Just as Regan entered the restroom, she felt that something was off behind her. She sensed that someone was following her, but the other party didn’t seem to have any intention of harming her. She turned around, only to find a young woman dressed as a waitress standing behind her.
Regan immediately recognized that the woman was not just an ordinary waitress. “Who are you? Are you here to find me?”
Catherine carefully observed the woman, whose cold and aristocratic demeanor indicated her inner strength, even in such a critical situation.
“Ms. Cynthia Bradley,” Catherine said.
A hint of surprise flashed through Regan’s beautiful eyes. She had forgotten how long it had been since she last heard that form of address. She never expected to hear it again in her lifetime. “Who are you?” she asked again.
From Regan’s reaction, Catherine knew she had found the right person. She stared intently at Regan’s face and uttered a name. “Do you remember Branden?”
The name astonished Regan even more than hearing her own name. She seemed lost in thought as if she were trapped in her memories, murmuring, ” Branden… Are you one of Branden’s people?”
Catherine didn’t answer her, as she had heard a commotion outside. She knew someone was coming this way. Given her current situation, she could easily escape a confrontation. However, it would inevitably get others, especially Amos, in big trouble. She couldn’t risk being discovered.
Judging from Regan’s expression, Catherine sensed that she still held some feelings for Branden. Catherine decided to take a chance. “If you still remember Branden, I’ll be waiting for you at the back garden gate later. Someone’s coming. I have to go,” Catherine said and then leaped out of the window.
The building had 24 floors, yet Catherine jumped out as if it were nothing. Regan was so shocked her mouth widened. But before she could fully process the shock, the restroom door was kicked open from the outside. Leading the charge was her male companion, her first love, now named Jotham Johnson.
Seeing Regan standing there safe and sound, Jotham rushed forward and embraced her. “Are you okay, Regan?”
Chapter 756 Come with Me
Regan looked at Jotham with a puzzled expression, seemingly very surprised by his sudden appearance. “Jotham, why did you come all of a sudden? Did something happen outside?” Seeing her uninjured, Jotham felt relieved. ” It’s nothing. I just saw a maintenance sign hanging on the restroom door, and I was worried that something might have happened to you, so I came to check on you,” he replied.
Ever since Jotham took Regan away from the Duncans, he had been taking good care of her, never leaving her side. Even when they attended events, his gaze always followed her. When he saw the maintenance sign on the restroom door shortly after Regan entered, he found it strange. He rushed over immediately, concerned that something might have happened to her.
Regan smiled gently at Jotham. ”
Jotham, you’re always so nervous. Look, I’m perfectly fine, and there’s nothing unusual in the restroom. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that they need to do some repairs.”
To avoid further questioning from Jotham, Regan suggested leaving. Always obedient to Regan’s requests, Jotham left the restroom with her.
Regan proposed taking a walk in the back garden, and she politely declined Jotham’s offer to accompany her. ” Don’t you have something to discuss with the Alliance Leader later?”
The full name of Florona was the Republic Alliance of Florona, and the highest commander here was known as the Alliance Leader. The Alliance Leader and Jotham had been good friends for many years, and Jotham had come to the flower appreciation event today to discuss matters with him.
Jotham hesitated. “But…”
“No worries,” Regan gently interrupted. “Jotham, don’t forget that this is Florona. With my status on the island, no one dares to touch me. I won’t go far, just taking a breather in the back garden. You know I don’t like these kinds of occasions.”
Regan was born into a top-tier aristocratic family, surrounded by various daily social events. Her life was never lacking in such banquets, and whenever she appeared, she would become the center of attention. Perhaps due to her extensive participation in such events during the first half of her life, she now found them quite irritating. If it weren’t for Jotham’s business with the Alliance Leader today, she wouldn’t have wanted to attend the event at all.
Hearing this, Jotham looked at her apologetically. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made you come with me.”
“Silly, don’t say that. You go take care of your business. We’ll go back together later,” Regan responded.
Seeing her smile, Jotham felt deeply satisfied. He tenderly replied, “Alright.”
Catherine and Amos finished their discussion before arriving at the back garden. There was still half an hour left, and if she didn’t leave in that time, she was sure that Branden would rush here regardless of everything. She patiently sat on the tree, waiting until that slender figure finally appeared.
Regan shook off her entourage and came to the back garden entrance, waiting for quite some time without seeing the waitress from earlier. Her brows furrowed, a hint of displeasure on her face. “Has the waitress left?”
she asked inwardly. Just as she wondered, a cold voice suddenly came from above.
“Are you looking for me?” With that, a figure dropped from the tree. Regan then saw a veiled woman standing in front of her. Though half of her face was covered, it couldn’t hide her beautiful features and the air of elegance that radiated from her.
“Who are you, and what’s your relationship with the Duncans?” Regan questioned.
“I am Branden’s fiancée.” Catherine openly admitted her identity.
“Branden’s fiancée?” Regan clearly doubted Catherine’s identity, carefully scrutinizing her, trying to discern something.
Knowing that Regan wasn’t convinced, Catherine took out her phone and displayed it before Regan. The phone’s screensaver showed a photo of her and Branden, which he had changed when she wasn’t paying attention. After Branden set it as the screensaver, she was too lazy to alter it and has used it ever since.
Regan looked at the handsome figure on the screen, momentarily losing her composure. Although she had left Branden when he was still very young, as his mother, she immediately recognized her son. Branden had inherited all the best features of her and her ex-husband, making him their most perfect union.
Regan looked at Catherine with a hint of excitement, her lips trembling uncontrollably. “Are you really Branden’s fiancée? How did you end up here?”
“Do you want to see Branden?” Catherine asked.
This question left Regan at a loss. She parted her lips, but in the end, she remained silent. Over the years, she had thought about seeing her son, but she had always believed that she would never have the chance in her lifetime. Now, suddenly, a girl claiming to be her son’s fiancée appeared before Regan, saying she wanted to let Regan see her son. Regan honestly didn’t know how to respond.
Catherine, seeing her hesitation, decided to lay it all out. “I came here for Branden’s sake. He found out you were in Florona, and he wants to see you one time. If you’re willing, I can take you away.”
Regan found it somewhat unbelievable. When she came to Florona, she knew there was no way she could leave this place. This girl, looking not so young, was boldly claiming to take her away, which seemed like a pipe dream.
Regan scrutinized Catherine and then said seriously, “I don’t know how you got here, but if you really are Branden’s fiancée, I will find a way to ensure your safe departure.” She thought that with the relationship between Jotham and the Alliance Leader, perhaps there was a chance for this girl to leave the island.
As for Regan, she could only stay on the island for the rest of her life, as that was the agreement she made when she first arrived here.
Catherine grew impatient. “You don’t need to worry about all that. Just tell me, do you want to see Branden?”
“I…” Regan didn’t know how to respond.
Catherine couldn’t afford to give her more time. She suddenly reached out and grabbed Regan’s arm. “Come with me!” With that, she forcefully pulled Regan into the car.
Regan didn’t resist, and when she tilted her head, she saw Jotham and his men chasing after them.
As the car got further away, Jotham’s figure became increasingly blurry until it disappeared. Regan anxiously leaned against the window and said to Catherine, “Stop the car and let me go back. I will explain to Jotham. I won’t cause you any trouble. Trust me.”
“Humph!” Catherine sneered.
The truth was, no one could cause Catherine any trouble. Since she had come here, she couldn’t leave empty- handed. Branden had already arrived at Snake Island, and she was taking Regan to see him, leaving the rest for them to decide.
Chapter 757 Let Go of My Wife
Jotham had been discussing matters with the Alliance Leader. After the discussion was over, the Alliance Leader had wanted to keep him for a drink. However, thinking that Regan was still in the back garden, Jotham declined his invitation.
Upon leaving the hall, Jotham hurried to the back garden to find Regan. Along the way, he encountered the attendant who should be accompanying her. Learning that Regan was alone in the back garden, Jotham began to feel uneasy.
Jotham immediately rushed to the back garden with his men, only to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure getting into a car. The car swiftly departed, prompting Jotham to instruct his men to prepare a vehicle urgently. He then leaped into the car.
The car quickly set off, closely following the black vehicle ahead. Concerned, Jotham’s subordinate tried to reassure him. “Mr. Johnson, please don’t worry. I don’t think Ms. Regan is being abducted. Perhaps she had to leave for something urgent. Why not try calling her?”
Although they could not stop Regan, they all saw that she had willingly entered the car, not being forced by anyone.
Despite the reassurance, Jotham’s stern expression remained unchanged. However, he heeded the advice and dialed Regan’s number.
At that moment, Regan was sitting in a car driven by Catherine, looking conflicted. Her phone rang repeatedly, but she was unsure whether to answer.
With a cold expression, Catherine glanced at Regan through the rearview mirror, observing her inner turmoil. Understanding Regan’s emotions, she offered a reasonable suggestion. “If you want to answer, then answer. You have to clarify things, don’t you?”
Regan fell silent for a few seconds and then brought the phone to her ear. Jotham, don’t worry. I’m fine.”
It was unclear what Jotham said on the other end, but Regan looked at Catherine before awkwardly responding, “I’m just going to see an old friend. I’ll be back soon.” Without waiting for a reply, Regan hung up the phone.
Jotham’s face was terrifyingly grim when he faced the disconnected call, the veins in his neck bulging.
This was Florona. Not just anyone could come here. He had been with Regan here for so many years, living in peace, with no contact with the outside world. “How could Regan possibly have an old friend?” he murmured inwardly. “Could it be that…”
The thought flashed a hint of murderous intent in Jotham’s scheming eyes. If it were indeed someone from the Duncans coming to take Regan away, he wouldn’t let a single one of them get away.
Jotham attempted to contact Regan again, but she had shut off her phone. Unable to accept this outcome, Jotham was consumed by fury. “Regan is mine, “he exclaimed in his mind. “No one can take her away from me!”
Anger shattered Jotham’s rationality, leaving only vengeance in his mind. He dialed the Alliance Leader’s number, a cruel smile creeping onto his lips. ” What does it matter if the Duncans are powerful?” he thought. “This is Florona. Once they come here, they will never be able to leave.”
Jotham ordered the driver to speed up, guessing that they must be on their way to the pier at this moment. There was only one pier on the island, so it wouldn’t be difficult to intercept them.
Catherine was indeed driving towards the pier. If she wanted to take Regan away at the fastest speed, she had to make use of the pier. The cliff was too dangerous. She could endure it, but a socialite like Regan definitely couldn’t.
Catherine’s car was speeding along, turning a journey of over half an hour into a mere ten-minute one. Amos had long been prepared with a small boat at the pier, waiting for her.
After parking the car, Catherine pulled Regan out of it.
Regan stopped in her tracks, carefully examining Catherine. “What do you want?”
Catherine looked at her, expressionless. She didn’t try to please Regan just because Regan was Branden’s mother. “What do I want? Come with me to meet Branden. The rest is up to you. If you want to go back, I’ll take you back.”
“Just to meet him once?” Regan confirmed again.
Catherine nodded without hesitation. ” He just wants to see if you’re really dead. As for your choice, he won’t interfere.”
If Regan wanted to stay on the island, Catherine assumed Branden wouldn’t stop her.
Upon hearing Catherine’s response, Regan made a decision. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”
Amos had hidden the boat in a very secluded place to avoid inspection, just in case. Regan’s cooperation had reduced a lot of trouble, and Catherine brought her to a remote corner near the pier to find Amos. Arriving at the pre- arranged location, they accurately found the small boat hidden by Amos. Catherine’s expression suddenly darkened as they were preparing to board, and the atmosphere became tense.
Though not familiar with Catherine, Regan sensed her change in emotion. ” What’s wrong?”
Catherine pulled her behind her with one hand, guarding her, and stared ahead with a vigilant expression. ” Show yourselves!”
The people who had been hiding around the small boat immediately appeared, seemingly surprised to have been discovered. But when they saw that Catherine had found them, it seemed as though they all understood why.
There weren’t many people in Florona, and each of them was elite. The members of their security team were all retired special forces with exceptional combat skills. This was also why leaving the island was harder than coming in. If one wanted to enter, one had to be prepared to never leave this place for the rest of one’s life.
However, over the years, there had been one exception-Catherine. She was the only one who had successfully left the island. Many of the people present had participated in the siege of Catherine back then. The scene from that time was too bloody, like a nightmare, and it had tormented them for many years.
No one had expected that the person who had left the island years ago had returned. Catherine coldly surveyed the group of security team soldiers and asked a simple question. “Where are my people?”
It was a brief question, devoid of emotion, yet her intimidating gaze made everyone present feel a shiver down their spine. No one dared to answer Catherine’s question. No one wanted to be the first casualty.
The screeching sound of brakes came from behind, and Catherine turned around to see Jotham leaping out of the car with a murderous expression on his face. He was moving very quickly, indicating his extreme urgency.
As their eyes met, Jotham’s gaze toward Catherine seemed like he wanted to tear her apart on the spot. “I don’t know who sent you here, but as long as you’re willing to let go of my wife, I’ll leave you with a whole body.”
Chapter 758 Catherine Was So Bold
Faced with Jotham’s threat, Catherine looked at him disdainfully and extended her finger to her head. “If you really have that ability, come on.”
Jotham was exasperated by Catherine’s arrogant attitude. It was the first time he had encountered such an arrogant person.
The expression on his face grew sinister, and the murderous look in his eyes became more and more obvious.
Just as he was about to give orders to the men around him to kill Catherine, a convoy of Hummers suddenly drove from afar, and at the head of the convoy was a gold-colored extended Hummer. It was the standard car of the alliance leader.
No one on Florona didn’t recognize this car. The guards on the ship immediately stopped moving and saluted devoutly.
Jotham also stopped his men from moving.
Although he had a good relationship with the alliance leader, this was Florona, and he must still listen to the decision of the alliance leader in everything.
The golden Hummer stopped between Jotham and Catherine. The attendant on the passenger side quickly got out of the car and pulled open the door respectfully to invite the people in the car to get off.
Long slender legs crossed the car door, and the elongated figure then appeared in front of everyone’s eyes.
Seeing that the alliance leader had appeared, Regan instantly tensed up.
Although she couldn’t completely trust Catherine now, if Catherine was really Branden’s fiancée, she wouldn’t let Catherine get hurt no matter what. Originally, she was sure she could persuade Jotham, but now the alliance leader was there as well.
She got scared, worrying that something would happen to Catherine.
She took a slight step back and lowered her voice to Catherine. “You find a way to leave later. I’ll stall them. You don’t have to worry about me. With Jotham here, nothing will happen to me.”
Obviously, Regan didn’t know Catherine’s identity, let alone the fact that the reason why the alliance leader would personally come out was not because of her at all but because of Catherine behind her.
Catherine ignored Regan’s persuasion and set her eyes on the alliance leader.
When their eyes met each other, the alliance leader, who had always been unsmiling and had a cold face, actually took the initiative to laugh out loud. ” Haha, Catherine, long time no see.”
Catherine looked at him coldly without speaking.
Seeing that Catherine didn’t speak, the alliance leader didn’t get angry. He only looked at Catherine with an increasingly cold and gloomy gaze. Catherine, do you remember what I said back then? If you dare to step into this place again, I guarantee that I’ll lock you for the rest of your life.”
The alliance leader was in his early fifties this year, but because of good maintenance, he looked like he was in his forties.
With a handsome appearance and a properly managed body, he was as handsome as a middle-aged man.
Back then, after knowing that Catherine was on the island, he was impressed by her abilities.
Originally, he was planning to break the century-old rules of Florona for Catherine to let her stay on the island, but Catherine refused.
Although the alliance leader loved talents, he couldn’t break the bottom line of Florona. Therefore, he immediately ordered the maintenance team to kill Catherine.
Unexpectedly, Catherine was much tougher than they had imagined, and those members of the maintenance team were no match for Catherine at all.
At that time, they ended in a disastrous defeat, and Catherine escaped smoothly.
At that time, the alliance leader swore that if he met Catherine again, he would definitely arrest her and lock her up on the island. He would lock her forever.
Over the years, he never gave up looking for news of Catherine.
However, Catherine’s whereabouts were mysterious. Coupled with the Hacker Alliance’s protection, it was hard to find her whereabouts.
To the alliance leader’s surprise, the person he had searched for for so long had actually walked up to him on her own.
The words of the alliance leader contained a strong threat, but Catherine didn’t take it seriously at all.
She gave the alliance leader a provocative look and said disdainfully, “I could get out of here back then. Do you think you can trap me now?”
Catherine’s words made the alliance leader’s heart filled with anger.
Over the years, Catherine was like a bone stuck across the alliance leader’s throat, making him very uncomfortable.
Today, he finally had a chance to resolve this heartfelt hatred. How could he easily let Catherine go?
The alliance leader looked at Catherine with a proud expression in his eyes. Look behind you.”
Catherine turned back. Amos was escorted out by two members of the maintenance team, and there were still quite a few bruises on his face. It seemed that he had been tortured.
“Catherine, this man is one of your men, isn’t he?”
Facing the alliance leader’s inquiry, Catherine still did not answer.
The alliance leader didn’t seem to have the intention of asking her to answer either, so he continued on his own, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t admit it. In fact, from the last time you came to Florona, I knew that Amos was the traitor of Florona. I didn’t execute him at that time. I was just waiting for today. You have such a loyal servant. It’s so enviable.”
The alliance leader was certain that Catherine would not put Amos in danger of death just for her own escape.
Only someone who was hard-hearted would be able to win in the end.
Obviously, Catherine was not that kind of person. She was righteous and concerned about the people around her, and that doomed her to not be able to leave this time.
After listening to what the alliance leader said, Amos realized that what he had always thought of as his luck was the alliance leader’s conspiracy against them.
Amos was able to survive and stay alive not because he was lucky but because the alliance leader intended to use him as a bargaining chip to threaten Catherine.
Thinking about this, Amos was in agony.
He originally planned to sacrifice himself to repay Catherine, but he didn’t expect this.
He struggled desperately, trying to break free from the constraints of the guards around him. But he was constantly punched in the stomach, causing him to barely straighten up in pain. “Miss Catherine, run. Please leave me alone. Leave here quickly.”
Catherine glanced back at the guard who had just hit Amos with his fist.
Her cold eyes made the guard panicked for a moment, but the guard didn’t want to be seen through his mind. He looked at Catherine with a fierce expression.
He even rudely punched Amos again in front of Catherine and then waved at Catherine.
He seemed to be smug because he thought Catherine could do nothing to him.
Catherine looked calm. At the moment the guard waved his hand, she pulled out the gun from her waist and pulled the trigger directly in the direction of the guard.
After the gunshot sounded, screams rang out.
The guard covered his bleeding wrist in pain. His palm had been accurately shot by Catherine, and blood was constantly seeping out of his palm.
This scene stunned everyone. No one expected Catherine to have such guts.
She even dared to shoot in such a situation.
Was she really not afraid of death?
Jotham noticed that there was already a hint of killing intent in the eyes of the alliance leader standing on the side.
He didn’t care about Catherine’s life or death. He just didn’t want this matter to involve Regan. He was ready to take Regan away once the situation was not right.
As for Catherine, if the alliance leader didn’t kill her, he would kill her.
Jotham thought in his heart, “Anyone who dares to snatch Regan from me will die!”
Chapter 759 Catherine, We’re Here
No one at the scene seemed to have expected Catherine to be so arrogant in such a situation. She even shot someone in front of the alliance leader. Was she really not afraid of death?
The alliance leader’s already gloomy face had darkened to the extreme at that moment.
He thought to himself, “Catherine, not only did you challenge my majesty, but you also provoked me in public. If I don’t punish you, how am I going to manage the entire Florona in the future?”
The alliance leader gave orders to everyone with a cold face. He reached out and pointed in Catherine’s direction, his eyes filled with anger. ” Kill them all.”
With that, the attendants present shouted in response, “Yes, sir!”
Even if Catherine had strong abilities and could fight, it would be difficult for her to escape in the face of hundreds of guns aimed at her.
Not to mention the fact that she still had to take Regan with her, and Amos was in the alliance leader’s hands.
Just as Catherine was preparing to use her låst chip to negotiate with the alliance leader, the situation suddenly changed.
More than ten ships crossed the border defense line and headed straight for the dock.
The man standing at the bow of the ship had a black training uniform and sharp eyes. His handsome face looked more and more cold and resolute under the illumination of the light.
Regan panicked when she saw the man standing at the bow of the boat.
For her, it seemed like a dream. She couldn’t even believe everything she saw in front of her.
She thought inwardly, “He’s here! He really comes.”
Jotham also noticed that the handsome face of the man standing at the bow was similar to the man’s face in his memory.
His heart tightened. He knew that this matter was troublesome.
The alliance leader did not expect that besides Catherine, there would be someone who could break into Florona with so many people without his permission.
He thought to himself, “It looks like we’re going to have to redeploy our borderline defense.”
The alliance leader’s gaze fell on Catherine, and his fierce gaze scrutinized her up and down. “Did you bring the people behind you?”
Catherine didn’t respond, her expression becoming increasingly calm and indifferent.
“Hmph!” The alliance leader snorted disdainfully as if he did not take this group of people seriously. He even shouted arrogantly at Catherine, ” Come on. The more people you bring, the better. There hasn’t been a war on Florona for some years. You guys have come at the right time today. I will let all of you die on this island.”
Catherine listened to his threat as if she was listening to a joke. “If you can do that, just give it a try.”
Her calm but firm tone made the alliance leader somewhat indecisive. He didn’t know what allowed Catherine to say such words in such a calm and self-assured manner.
He even suspected that Catherine’s power was much more than what he saw in front of him.
The moment Branden saw Catherine, he finally felt a lot more at ease. Before the ship docked, he couldn’t wait to jump down from the ship and run to Catherine’s side.
Along the way, only Catherine was in his eyes.
He didn’t pay attention to anyone else except her.
When the members of the maintenance team saw Branden rushing toward Catherine, they subconsciously wanted to arrest him. However, Branden’s aura was too strong.
It was so strong that they didn’t even dare to make any extra movements when Branden passed by their side. They could only watch as he walked over to Catherine.
Branden had a lot to say inside, and he even had a lot of anger to vent, but the moment he reached her and saw her, all the words in his heart ended up turning into concern for her. “How are you?”
Catherine took the initiative to hold his hand and tightly grasped it in the palm of her hand. Because she saw his hand shaking.
Branden, who had always been calm, was so nervous that his hands trembled because of her.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.” Catherine’s calm tone brought peace to Branden’s restless heart.
Only after confirming that Catherine was truly fine did Branden shift his gaze to Regan, who was off to the side.
He didn’t say a word, just gave her a quiet glance.
His cold and unfamiliar eyes caused Regan to have a heart palpitation. She even felt some difficulty breathing.
She had thought that she would never have the chance to see her son in her life, but to her surprise, her son was now right in front of her.
Tears welled up in her eyes instantly. Crystal tears unconsciously fell from her eyes.
Regan parted and closed her lips several times before she could call out the name that she had called out countless times in her dreams.”
Branden…”
“Yes!” Branden nodded slightly. His gaze was still cold, and his voice was also cold. “How are you doing?”
His cold tone made Regan have a heartache.
She couldn’t accept that her son was so cold to her, even colder than to a stranger.
But she knew she wasn’t in a position to blame Branden.
Because everything about today was her choice. If she hadn’t abandoned Branden since childhood, there was no way Branden would have treated her this way.
Regan forced herself to hold back the sharp pain in her heart. With great difficulty, she curved her lips into a smile. “Don’t worry. I’m fine!”
Branden really had no other purpose. He just wanted to know if his mother was still alive in this world and if she was living well.
Once, before he met Catherine, perhaps he would resent his mother.
But now, he had gradually accepted and let go of all this.
The things that one could gain in their lifetime were limited.
Branden’s mother abandoned him to pursue her own happiness, but God’s favor made him have Catherine.
It all balanced out. And he had let it all go with time.
Zobber and the others walked behind Branden. They hurriedly disembarked from the ship.
Seeing the confrontation between the two sides, they were all on alert and instantly entered a state of readiness. ” Catherine, we’re here!”
The alliance leader sized them up. He felt that these people were not simple.
The attendant beside him passed the information to him immediately. ”
Lord, that man is Branden. The people behind him are all from the Hacker Alliance, and there are quite a few soldiers from the Duncans.”
This might not be good news for the alliance leader.
This group of people was the elite of the elite. Although the alliance leader now had the geographical advantage, it didn’t necessarily mean that he would be able to win in a big way.
And even if he was victorious, it was likely that he would have to pay a terrible price.
Branden glanced toward Amos behind him and inquired to Catherine at the side, “He’s your man?”
“Yes!” Catherine nodded. “I’ll take care of it!”
As soon as she finished saying that, the expression on Branden’s face changed. His voice also became serious. “I’ll have the final say this time.”
Catherine knew Branden was still angry at her for the deception.
Looking at Branden’s stubble and dark circles under his eyes, Catherine felt a little distressed. She went along with it.
Catherine thought to herself, “Since he wants to solve it himself, let him. If the alliance leader dares to hurt my man, don’t blame me for going on a killing spree. I’ll simply overturn the entire Florona and kill everyone on this island.
After Branden finished his explanation, he walked straight toward where the alliance leader was.
Chapter 760 A Happy Cooperation
Watching Branden approach, the people in the maintenance team instantly became more vigilant. In the next second, they entered a highly alert state.
They collectively aimed the guns they were holding at Branden as if they were going to shoot in the next second.
If they fired at the same time, Branden would immediately be shot and die.
In the face of such a threat, Branden’s face remained calm. He kept walking non-stop, and even his walking speed did not change.
His eyes were blazing with cold eyes, staring straight at the alliance leader ahead. “Let’s talk about it.”
The guards behind the alliance leader wanted to say something but were stopped by the alliance leader himself.
The alliance leader thought in his heart, “This is my territory, surrounded by my people. Branden offered to talk in public, and if I refused, what would my people think of me? Florona doesn’t need a cowardly alliance leader. I need to be not only confident but strong.”
“Come here!” After the alliance leader’s order, Branden got into the car along with the alliance leader.
Even though the other party was the alliance leader of Florona, the supreme existence of Florona, Branden did not look inferior to him.
Including those people around Branden, each of them was an existence that could defeat a hundred people alone.
The atmosphere was temporarily eased because of the discussion between the two big shots, but it was still tense.
As long as the situation was not right, both sides might start a war at any time.
Regan’s heart was in her throat as she watched Branden get into the alliance leader’s car.
She turned her head to look at Catherine beside her. Catherine remained calm, even with a somewhat indifferent expression as if she had completely ignored all of this.
Regan couldn’t help but inquire, ” Aren’t you worried?”
Upon hearing this, Catherine turned her head sideways and looked at Regan with some confusion. “Do I need to worry?”
Catherine’s firm yet calm tone made Regan freeze.
She could tell that Catherine was very confident in Branden. It was the kind of confidence that could only be built up between two people based on the long time they had known each other and even shared life and experiences together.
Such a tone made Regan envious. All those years of separation had left her knowing nothing about her son.
Seeing that the situation there had calmed down, Jotham immediately hinted to Regan.
Regan didn’t react after receiving his hint. This was a bit unacceptable to Jotham.
He couldn’t help but shout out, “Regan, let’s go home before it’s too late.”
Regan, who had always obeyed him, did not comply with his decision this time. “I still have some things I need to take care of. I’ll meet you when I’m done, okay?”
Looking at Jotham’s eyes full of sadness and supplication, Regan hoped Jotham could understand her.
It was obvious that all of this was just her own thoughts.
The moment she refused Jotham, Jotham changed the expression on his face.
Jotham thought in his mind, “As soon as the members of the Duncans appeared and did nothing, Regan changed her mind. I’ve been so good to her over the years, but can’t she see it?”
Thinking about this, Jotham was extremely sad but even more angry.
He continued to mutter in his mind, “I won’t let Regan leave Florona, let alone the people from the Duncans. No one can take Regan from me.”
Jotham began to deploy. He called his most trusted cronies and explained everything he was going to do.
Zobber and the others surrounded Catherine slowly. Amos was still in the hands of the alliance leader’s men. However, after Catherine just fired that shot, the maintenance team members were all intimidated.
Without orders, they didn’t dare to hit Amos easily, nor would they seek death to provoke Catherine.
None of them dared to anger Catherine.
Zobber was a little bored. She had always been fearless, even in such an environment, she was still relaxed and casual. “What do you guys think Branden and the alliance leader are going to talk about?”
Upon hearing Zober’s question, everyone turned their gaze to Paxton.
They didn’t dare ask Catherine about that. The only person they could ask was Paxton, who was around Branden.
Among these people, Paxton was the one who knew Branden the best.
Faced with everyone’s gaze, Paxton silently felt a little nervous. “Could you guys stop looking at me like that? Hasn’t anyone ever told you guys that your gazes are quite scary?”
“Tsk…” Zobber snorted disdainfully. ” Do you also have moments of fear?”
Paxton admitted. “If it were you, being stared at by a group of people with similar strength to you, wouldn’t you be afraid?”
A random person from Zobber and the others could fight Paxton for a few rounds.
If they joined forces together to fight Paxton at the same time, Paxton would basically have no chance to fight back. He might as well just choose to surrender and admit defeat.
In a situation like this, he would have to admit defeat even if he didn’t want to.
“Forget it. It’s useless to talk to you about this. You just need to believe that there is nothing Mr. Duncan can’t solve. “Paxton spoke with incomparable confidence.
He was quite an admirer of Branden.
Zobber originally wanted to retort, but once she thought of all the things Branden had done, she silently shut her mouth.
Branden was indeed strong, and it was still widely recognized. Paxton’s statement was based on evidence, and Zobber had no reason to refute it.
After more than ten minutes, there was still no movement in the car. Ronin, who was impatient, couldn’t wait any longer.
He muttered to Catherine in a low voice. “Catherine, it’s not a solution to wait any longer. Why don’t we kill our way out?”
Although the other side had a large number of people, they were not vulnerable. If they started a war, they still had a chance to win.
“Let’s wait a little longer!” Catherine trusted Branden. He had never let her down.
After a few more minutes, there was finally movement inside the golden Hummer.
Branden and the alliance leader got out of the car at the same time. Branden’s face was still cold and expressionless but the alliance leader’s expression had obviously changed from gloomy to full of smiles.
It could be seen that the result of the negotiation between Branden and the alliance leader was good and that the conditions provided by Branden were very satisfactory to the alliance leader.
They walked to Catherine. The alliance leader took the initiative to extend his hand to shake Catherine’s hand. “You and Mr. Duncan are our most honored partners from now on. I wish us a happy partnership.”
Catherine wasn’t sure what Branden had promised the alliance leader yet. But she knew leaving there safely with everyone was the most important thing right now.
Before she could reach out, Branden held her hand while his other hand held the hand of the alliance leader. ” Hope we have a happy cooperation.”
The alliance leader could tell Branden didn’t like other men having physical contact with Catherine, so he laughed. ” Mr. Duncan, you are so petty.”
Branden glanced at Catherine with a smile in his eyes and laughed softly. ” My pettiness is only limited to certain aspects.”
He could be generous, but when it came to Catherine, he was more petty than anyone else.
Catherine was his bottom line, and no one could break it.