Ch. 801..810

Chapter 801 Zobber’s Disguise

Zobber was bored in the room, so she found her way to Withal’s room and promptly shut down his computer.

Engrossed in a game and on the verge of winning, Withal exploded in anger. He threw down his game controller, glared at Zobber, and snapped, “What’s your problem again? Can’t you see that I’m playing a game right now? Don’t bother me!”

“You’re the one with the problem!” Although Withal was still furious, Zobber did not care and stuck close to him. “Withal, let’s go out. I feel like staying here any longer, and I might end up with some illness.”

Withal shot her a disdainful look. “I’d go out if I could, but have you forgotten Catherine’s orders?” He also thought the whole situation was boring. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be playing games here.

Catherine instructed them to rest at Connie’s house and not go out for a while. Otherwise, Withal would have already gone out. Although he had some injuries, they were nothing he couldn’t handle.

Withal’s response left Zobber helpless. She feared that if they stayed any longer, she’d go crazy. “Withal, Catherine doesn’t want us to go out mainly because she’s worried about the danger of revealing our whereabouts. But how many people do you think will recognize us if we disguise ourselves?”

Zobber excelled in disguise even more than Catherine. Her suggestion shook Withal, who was well aware of Zobber’s abilities.

Sensing Withal’s change in mood, Zobber seized the opportunity. “Let’s just go out for a short while. We’ll take a stroll and then come back. Nothing will happen.”

Withal was successfully tempted, agreeing to Zobber’s proposal. Before heading out, Zobber disguised both of them.

Zobber’s disguising skills were remarkable. When Withal stood in front of the mirror, he couldn’t recognize himself. Seeing his expression, Zobber smirked. “Let’s go. Early out, early back.”

Giving a break to Paxton, Branden personally drove Catherine to Connie’s house. When they passed a large supermarket, Catherine signaled Branden to stop the car. “Buy something for Zobber and Withal. They’ve been cooped up at Connie’s house for days, probably going crazy.”

Branden never opposed Catherine’s decisions. Whatever she said, he did.

They parked the car in the supermarket’s garage. Branden fetched a cart, and they went shopping together.

Wearing a duckbill hat that hid her face, Catherine didn’t attract much attention. Branden, on the other hand, was different. Standing in the crowd, he immediately caught people’s eyes. His handsome face was enough to drive women crazy. Coupled with that unique charm he exuded, he instantly drew many admiring glances.

Branden was unconcerned about the attention. His eyes were solely on Catherine.

When Catherine headed to the snacks section, Branden maneuvered the cart in that direction.

Two bold young girls approached him.

The road ahead was blocked, and Branden furrowed his brow, casting a displeased glance at the two girls.

Their intense desire overcame the inner fear, and the girls boldly approached Branden. “Hey, handsome, can I get your WhatsApp number?”

After speaking, the girl shifted her gaze to Catherine. “This lady is your sister, right? I don’t think she’d mind if you give me your WhatsApp number.”

Their speech, immature and irritating, didn’t sit well with Branden. But since he had been with Catherine the whole day, he was in a good mood and didn’t want to confront the two.

He intended to warn them and make them leave. However, unexpectedly, Catherine walked straight past them without looking back.

The snack area wasn’t in that direction, and this sudden move caught Branden off guard.

Seeing Catherine leave, the two girls got more excited and thought she deliberately gave them an opportunity. “Handsome, since that lady avoided us, just give us your WhatsApp number.”

“Asking a stranger for a contact number in broad daylight? Did your parents not teach you any manners?” Branden coldly eyed the two, his attitude not the least bit friendly.

His intense aura left the two girls stunned. Branden didn’t want to waste time here. He swiftly pushed the cart in Catherine’s direction.

“I wanted to go to the snack area. Why bring me here?”

“Quit the chatter and follow my lead.”

Not far ahead, an elderly couple argued at a crossroads about where to go next. People found it amusing that they were squabbling over snacks, even at their age.

Catherine, with a serious face, walked toward them. She lightly rested her hand on the man’s shoulder when she passed by.

“Who’s that?” The man, annoyed by the interruption, spoke harshly.

But when he turned his head, his initially angry eyes turned vacant, mixed with a hint of fear.

The woman, witnessing the man’s sudden loss of words, found it strange. When she turned around, she was taken aback. “Ca…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Catherine silenced her with a glance.

The two people were none other than Zobber and Withal in disguise. They had never expected that Catherine would catch their disguised appearance.

Branden rushed over. He was initially puzzled, not understanding why Catherine was angrily leaving. But now, he realized Catherine was trying to catch the two in the act.

Seated in the car, Zobber looked guilty and cautiously nudged Withal, silently asking him. “What should we do?”

Withal rolled his eyes, deciding to take whatever punishment came their way. It was their fault for not listening and going out without permission. If Catherine wanted to punish them, they’d have to accept it.

Seeing Withal’s indifference, Zobber had to figure out a solution herself. She put on a flattering smile, approached Catherine, and asked, “Catherine, what brings you here?”

Catherine remained calm, her eyes cold and indifferent, showing no emotion in her face or voice. “If I didn’t come, how would I witness such a poorly done disguise?”

Zobber was willing to accept punishment, but she couldn’t allow Catherine to question her disguising skills. Unhappy, she started to defend herself. “Catherine, where was my disguise poorly done? It was impeccable. Withal couldn’t even recognize himself.”

Seeing that she was unconvinced, Catherine reached out and gently rubbed Zobber’s forehead. “The glue on the headgear is so transparent it reflects light. And you dare say your disguise is impeccable?”

Zobber’s disguise skills were indeed impressive, but this seemingly flawless masquerade was full of loopholes. Upon closer examination, the flaws became apparent.

After Catherine pointed out the flaws, Zobber completely lost her temper. She was trapped at Connie’s place with limited resources, and pulling off such a disguise was already a formidable challenge.

She never thought she’d encounter the keen-eyed Catherine, who saw through it all at a glance.

“Catherine, I conceded. Punish me as you see fit.”

Chapter 802 How About You Skip Class?

Branden dropped everyone off at Connie’s house. After changing clothes, Zobber and Withal obediently sat in the living room, awaiting Catherine’s punishment.

They had violated Catherine’s orders by going out without permission, so punishment was inevitable.

Zobber took the chance to signal Branden, hoping he’d speak up on her behalf.

Branden pretended not to notice. He was surprised by Zobber’s decent disguising skills. Without Catherine, he might not have recognized her at all.

Facing Branden’s indifference, Zobber felt utterly hopeless. She decided to take the initiative and admit her mistake. “Catherine, I know I was wrong. You can punish me, but can you spare Withal? I forced him to come, and I did his makeup. He had nothing to do with it.”

Withal looked at Zobber in astonishment, never expecting her to take the blame for him. Well, he had to admit, it softened him a bit.

Catherine coldly observed Zobber’s performance. “Really admitting your mistake? Ready to face the consequences?”

Zobber raised her hand, looking solemn. “Catherine, I sincerely admit my mistake. You can punish me however you see fit.”

“Alright.” Catherine nodded in agreement. “Since you’ve disobeyed orders and gone out on your own, let’s go with chopping off your legs as punishment.”

“What?” Zobber couldn’t believe what she was hearing from Catherine. “Was she joking?” she thought.

Catherine stared at Zobber without a hint of humor.

Panicking, Zobber asked, “Catherine, you’re not serious, right?”

Catherine remained silent.

Zobber pouted, unsure of what to do. She had always listened to Catherine. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Standing up decisively, she prepared to leave.

Catherine pulled her back, seated her, and placed a pack of snacks in front of her. “Alright, I was just joking. Sit down and enjoy.”

Zobber instantly cheered up, hugging Catherine’s arm with joy. “Catherine, I know you are the best.”

Witnessing this, Branden pulled Catherine over and casually pushed Zobber away.

His actions annoyed Zobber, who was about to explode. However, when she met Branden’s eyes, she lost her momentum. Well, she couldn’t provoke him, so she had better lay low.

After the playful moment, Withal brought up a serious matter. ” Catherine, Ronin has been missing for days. Aren’t you worried at all?”

These days, besides instructing Branden’s subordinates to gather information constantly, Catherine remained inactive.

They were injured, and allowing them time to recover was the right decision.

However, Catherine appeared nonchalant, going about her daily routine of attending classes and conducting experiments as if nothing had changed, showing no signs of her former self.

In the past, if any of them were in trouble, Catherine would have immediately devoted all her efforts to bringing them back safely.

Ronin, who had been by her side for so long, was like a younger brother to her. Withal could not believe that she did not care about Ronin’s well-being.

Catherine casually glanced at Withal and said with a relaxed smile, “Why the rush? Maybe he wasn’t ready to come back yet.”

This remark left Withal somewhat puzzled. He carefully observed Catherine, trying to discern any hidden meanings.

In contrast to Withal’s persistent probing, Zobber was much more carefree.

Seeing Withal still looking perplexed, she reached out and patted Withal’s shoulder, reassuring him, “Why worry? With Catherine in charge, I believe Ronin will be fine, Let’s just follow Catherine’s orders and do as we’re told.

Zobber’s words woke Withal up, and he silently closed his mouth, refraining from further questioning.

“Both of you, come with me. Since you’re idle, let’s get to work.”

Zobber’s eyes lit up when she heard that Catherine had tasks for them.

The reason she disobeyed Catherine’s orders and sneaked out was that staying at home all day was just too dull. Now that there was work to be done, she wouldn’t be bored anymore. She could finally get herself busy.

After assigning tasks to Zobber and Withal, Catherine decided to leave. Branden followed her as she descended the stairs.

Once in the car, Catherine asked Branden to take her to the school. The experiments at the laboratory were not finished, and she needed to go there.

She knew that Branden must have a lot of things to take care of upon returning to Loxton. Having rested from yesterday until today was enough for him to recover. If she didn’t go to the laboratory, Branden would linger by her side and refuse to go to work.

Branden stopped the car at the school’s entrance but hesitated to open the door. Reluctantly looking at Catherine, he suggested with a serious expression, “How about I skip work, and you skip class?” After being apart for nearly half a month, he still wanted to spend some more time together.

Catherine chuckled, pinching his arm. ” I’ve never seen someone like you. How can you tempt someone to skip class? And if you sneak away from work, how can you set an example for your employees and make them follow the company’s rules?”

“They get their salaries from me, so they are bound by work rules. But I’m different. I pay myself my salary. So, if I want to set some rules, they’re my own. In my opinion, spending time with my girlfriend is more important than going to work,” Branden said with a serious face, showing no embarrassment.

“He’s getting more and more shameless,” said Catherine inwardly.

After chatting in the car for a few minutes, Catherine, fearing the conversation would continue and he might drive away with her, took the initiative to push open the car door and left.

Seeing Branden’s pitiful expression, she knew he was pretending. However, she still felt a bit touched and added, ” I’ll try to finish work early.”

Branden’s expression immediately changed from gloomy to bright. He earnestly reminded her, “Contact me when you finish your work. I’ll come pick you up.”

“Okay.” After Catherine agreed, she turned and walked toward the campus.

Watching her enter the campus, Branden drove away.

Just as Catherine reached the bottom of the laboratory building, she saw Rylan standing there like a statue. This time, Catherine didn’t avoid him and walked straight toward him.

Rylan quickly noticed Catherine’s presence, and a slight smile appeared on his calm face. “Catherine, you’re here!”

“Let’s talk over there,” Catherine proposed, and Rylan naturally agreed.

The two of them walked to a nearby bench on the pedestrian path. Under the shade of the trees, with a gentle breeze, it was quite pleasant.

Once seated, Catherine went straight to the point without any padding. ” Weren’t you supposed to open a branch in Loxton? Why are you so free, coming here every day?”

Rylan paused momentarily, then realized that this was just Catherine’s straightforward nature. He smiled faintly, looking at Catherine with deep affection. “Compared to some people, work is simply not worth mentioning.”

On the same day, two different men said similar things to her, but Catherine’s feelings toward them were completely different. Rylan’s confession made her feel repulsed.

Chapter 803 He is a Big Liar

“Rylan, I thought I made myself clear.” Catherine stared at Rylan with an expressionless face, a hint of impatience in her eyebrows.

Faced with Catherine’s repeated rejections, Rylan finally lost his temper. “Catherine, we are the most compatible. You don’t understand what kind of person Branden is. You’re not suitable for him!”

Rylan’s anger only intensified Catherine’s emotions. She no longer concealed her feelings, her icy gaze fixed on Rylan. “Whether we’re compatible or not is my own judgment, Rylan. We’re just friends. My affairs don’t need your interference.”

“And as for what kind of person Branden is, I know very well. If you continue to defame him, don’t blame me for not cherishing our past!”

Catherine’s voice grew colder, and her warning tone was thick.

The phrase “not cherishing our past” completely infuriated Rylan. After so many years of a relationship with Catherine, Rylan couldn’t believe she would say such things to him for Branden. He couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Catherine, you’re completely deceived by that man. I don’t want you to be fooled. Branden is nothing but a big liar. He approached you with a purpose. “Rylan angrily presented evidence. ” See for yourself if you don’t believe me.

He handed his phone to Catherine, letting her examine the evidence. He had painstakingly collected these things, and today, he had to expose Branden’s true colors.

Catherine took Rylan’s phone and carefully examined the information. As she scrolled down, her eyes darkened.

“Catherine, he deliberately approached you. His goal is your experiment project. Don’t you understand how important that experiment project is? Many people are watching it,” said Rylan.

As long as Catherine’s experiment project succeeded, it would be a giant money-making machine in the capital market. It could bring in considerable wealth and even drive the development of several key industries.

Rylan’s face was filled with anger, but his fury wasn’t directed at Catherine but at Branden, who wanted to deceive her. “Do you remember the spy incident at your school? You lost a file back then, right?”

Catherine turned to him, her eyes filled with confusion. “How do you know?”

“That person was indeed a spy from Rexinheim, but why would he steal an irrelevant file? It’s because someone was manipulating him from behind. His true purpose was not the academic report but that file. They did everything to divert attention and cover up the truth because Branden was the real mastermind behind it. He collaborated with the spy to steal that file.”

Catherine listened to Rylan’s words in a daze. She never expected that the spy from back then was connected to Branden.

Without the photos of the two together and the recorded conversations, she might find it hard to believe this fact.

When the leakage incident happened in their lab, everyone focused on the academic report, and no one noticed her missing file.

She mentioned it to Marshall when she found out, and he told her it wasn’t just one file missing. Other research projects had lost files as well.

After the case was solved, no one paid attention to this matter.

Now, Rylan told her that the real goal was the file missing from her experiment project, and the mastermind behind it all was Branden.

“Catherine, wake up. Branden is using you.” Rylan’s angry accusation gradually brought Catherine back to reality.

She looked at Rylan, her eyes indifferent. “I got it. Send me this information. I’ll investigate it myself.”

Rylan wanted to say more, but Catherine left without giving him a chance.

A hint of amusement flashed in Rylan’s eyes before disappearing when he watched Catherine disappear completely.

Back in the lab, Catherine couldn’t calm her mind. She didn’t fully believe Rylan’s words, but she knew Branden must have hidden something from her.

Not all the data here was fake. At least the person in the photos was Branden, and the pictures weren’t doctored.

Rylan knew her capabilities, so he wouldn’t use fake photos to deceive her. It could only mean that the data was a mix of truth and lies.

Staring at the photos on her desk, Catherine fell into deep thought. ” What’s Branden hiding, and what’s Rylan’s motive?” she thought.

After thinking for a while without finding answers, Catherine picked up her phone and dialed a number. ” Zobber, it’s me. Help me check some information.”

During this period, Branden had been in Casier dealing with the troubles left by the project there. He hadn’t returned to the company’s headquarters for a while. Today, as soon as he returned to the Duncan Corporation, he convened a meeting of the top executives.

Everyone could tell that Branden was in a good mood today. Even when the finance manager read the numbers wrong a moment ago, Branden merely asked him to repeat them without any punishment.

The meeting was short and efficient. Branden never liked lengthy sessions and hated unnecessary chatter.

Paxton, having rested for a day, was full of energy. As soon as the meeting ended, he followed Branden. “Mr. Duncan, are you going to the office or the apartment?”

“Mr. Duncan had been in Casier for a while, spending less time with Miss Swann. Now that he was back, he naturally wanted to spend more time with her,” Paxton thought.

“Go to the office,” Branden said and walked straight toward the office.

Catherine was in the lab and would contact him when she finished. He did not have to go early. He could handle the immediate tasks first.

“Any news of Ronin?” Having just sat down, Branden couldn’t wait to ask Paxton about the situation.

Paxton shook his head. “We’ve arranged to have it checked out, but there’s no information. Francis’s injuries are almost healed. I’ll continue to have him and Carlo investigate. We should have a response soon.”

It was strange. They found out that Ronin hadn’t left Loxton, so he should be held captive somewhere in the city. But despite their best efforts, deploying numerous agents to search, they couldn’t find any information about Ronin. It was as if he had vanished into thin air, and even those who captured Ronin seemed to have never existed.

Branden’s eyes gradually darkened. If Ronin couldn’t be found, the person behind it couldn’t be exposed, and it would be like placing a time bomb at Catherine’s side.

“Tell them to increase manpower. Even if we have to turn Loxton upside down, we must find Ronin!” said Branden.

Paxton immediately took the order without a moment’s hesitation. “Yes!”

Chapter 804 Catherine’s Family

Branden glanced at his phone. It was already 6 PM, and there was no sign of any message on his personal phone.

He didn’t want to wait any longer and decided to head to the school directly. Half an hour later, Branden arrived at Catherine’s school in his car.

“Mr. Duncan, should I drive in?” Paxton asked.

“No need.” Branden opened the car door, got out, and asked Paxton to stop the car on the side of the road. He walked into the school alone.

As he reached the bottom of the laboratory building, he coincidentally encountered Marshall coming out. Branden greeted him, considering Marshall was Catherine’s mentor.

“Looking for Catherine?” Marshall smiled kindly.

Branden nodded, and Marshall gestured to him. “Come on, I’ll take you in. When I left the lab, her lights were still on. She should be inside.”

Marshall knew Catherine always left her phone in a drawer when she was in the lab. Unless she checked her phone, it was not easy for others to find her.

Marshall admired Catherine’s dedication to her work. He believed such qualities were essential for someone in research.

Guided by Marshall, Branden entered the building. As they passed the security office, Marshall waved at the security personnel when they were about to stand up. “No need to bother. This is Catherine’s family. I’ll take him up.”

With Marshall’s guarantee, the security didn’t approach, letting them in.

“Catherine’s family,” Branden thought and accepted the new title calmly, and his expression suggested he was quite satisfied.

“She’s inside. You can knock and enter on your own. I won’t bother,” Marshall said and turned away, leaving Branden at the door.

The young ones had their dates, and old folks like him also wanted to go back to have a meal with their families. He didn’t want to delay here.

After respectfully seeing off Marshall, Branden knocked on the lab door.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

The sound of knocking brought Catherine’s attention back. She looked at the clock on the wall, realizing dinner time had passed without her noticing.

Assuming it was Marshall inviting her for dinner, she was about to decline when she opened the door and found Branden. “Why are you here?” she asked.

Seeing her expression somewhat odd, Branden thought it was because of his abrupt intrusion. He quickly explained, “It’s almost dinner time, and since I didn’t hear from you, I thought of coming to the entrance of the lab building to check. It just happened that I ran into Professor Hartley. Being treated as your family, I was allowed in.

“Uh-huh,” Catherine replied indifferently, her face calm, not revealing her emotions.

Seeing her like this was rare for Branden, and he couldn’t help but worry. “What’s wrong? Upset?”

“Nothing. Just thinking about some data.” Catherine gave a simple response and pulled Branden away. 11 Come on, let’s go eat. I’m a bit hungry.”

Branden, hearing that she was hungry, led her toward the school gate without further delay.

They came to the oatmeal shop Catherine had chosen last time. While she checked her phone, Branden had already placed their orders, following Catherine’s taste.

When the dishes arrived, Branden noticed Catherine wasn’t eating much. He tasted the dishes, and it wasn’t an issue with the food.

“You eat so little. Feeling unwell?” asked Branden.

Despite saying she was hungry earlier, she only took a couple of bites.

Catherine shook her head, and Branden’s concerned look left her unsure how to respond. In her mind, Zobber’s findings kept replaying.

[Catherine, I found something. It’s indeed related to Mr. Duncan. Strange. How does Mr. Duncan know them?]

Catherine didn’t disclose the reason to Zobber. After taking the documents, she instructed Zobber to keep this matter confidential for now.

“Kathy…” The gentle voice of the man brought Catherine’s drifting thoughts back.

After coming to her senses, she picked up her fork and quickly started eating. Nothing. Just thinking. Now, let’s eat!”

Branden had been watching Catherine’s every move. Although she was eating a decent amount now, and her expression was normal, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. It was as if something was about to happen.

After Catherine finished the bowl of oatmeal Branden had filled for her, she put down her utensils. “I’m done eating.”

Seeing her not in the best condition, Branden felt a bit distressed. “Is the experiment not going well?”

Knowing how sharp Branden’s eyes were, Catherine came up with an excuse to avoid detection. “Not really. I’m just a bit tired.”

When he saw her droopy eyelids and exhausted look, Branden’s heart ached as if someone had stabbed it with a needle.

Originally planning for an evening date, he now only wanted to take her home and let her rest.

“Shall we go back and rest?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Catherine replied and stood up quickly.

Thinking she was genuinely tired, Branden hastened his movements to take her back.

In a suburban residence in Loxton, Ronin felt completely at ease in the unfamiliar environment.

He had lost count of how many times he had been moved in the past few days. These people seemed to have a lot of strongholds. No wonder their tracks were hard to trace.

For Ronin, however, it didn’t bother him much. Though the masked man kept him confined, he didn’t mistreat Ronin and even granted Ronin a certain level of freedom within the room. As long as he stayed inside, he wouldn’t be harmed that was what the masked man had told him.

When the door opened, Ronin put down the game controller and turned to look. To alleviate his boredom, the masked man had arranged a gaming console for him. It didn’t have internet access, but playing some single-player games was still possible.

Seeing the masked man, Ronin seemed excited. He dropped the game controller and rushed toward the masked man. “Hey, you’re here! Did you bring me anything good? Any tasty treats?”

The masked man was consistently puzzled by Ronin’s reactions. Ronin’s behavior didn’t match that of a person held captive. He seemed to be on vacation, incredibly relaxed. For those who had once tormented and even kidnapped him, he also behaved very friendly.

“Ronin, I advise you to behave and not play any tricks!” The masked man gritted his teeth.

Ronin, looking puzzled, stared at him. ” What tricks? Haven’t I been obedient? It’s not my fault. You guys haven’t told me to do anything or provided tools. How can you blame me? It’s too unfair.”

“Do you really want to act?” The masked man’s voice was full of doubt. Clearly, he did not believe Ronin.

Ronin extended his hand. “Then provide the tools. As long as you ask, I’ll do it.”

With hesitation, the masked man decided to get the tools for Ronin. He swore that if he caught Ronin doing anything suspicious, he would kill Ronin.

Chapter 805 What’s Going On?

The masked man provided tools for Ronin and supervised the entire process.

Ronin did indeed start working diligently, showcasing his expertise in computer skills. Although the masked man’s abilities in the field couldn’t match Ronin’s, he wasn’t a complete novice. He closely monitored Ronin, ensuring that he was genuinely working without any suspicious behavior.

“Click, click, click…” The room echoed with the sound of keyboard strokes as Ronin’s fingers danced swiftly over the keys. He quickly entered codes into the computer, successfully infiltrating Catherine’s system.

A spark of excitement flashed in the masked man’s eyes at the moment of the screen transition. However, Ronin, who had been working rapidly, suddenly stopped after infiltrating Catherine’s computer, freezing in place.

This puzzled the masked man, and suspicion arose. “Ronin, what are you doing? Why did you stop?”

Seeing Ronin’s lack of response, the masked man decided to take action. As he reached out to touch Ronin’s shoulder, Ronin forcefully pushed him away.

Ronin tossed the keyboard aside, stood up indignantly, and glared at the masked man. “Didn’t I tell you not to touch me? Seriously, do you not understand human language?”

Ronin’s fury left the masked man somewhat dumbfounded. He stared at Ronin in shock, seemingly unable to comprehend the source of Ronin’s anger.

“What are you looking at? Why the stare? Can’t you understand what I’m saying? I asked you, why disturb me for no reason?” shouted Ronin.

Perhaps due to Ronin’s overwhelming presence, the masked man was momentarily startled. Subsequently, even his tone softened. “Why did you stay on the page without moving? I thought you were up to something.”

After hearing the masked man’s words, Ronin rolled his eyes. “Sir, this is Catherine’s computer. Don’t you know Catherine’s proficiency in the computer field? Have you no sense of urgency?”

Ronin continued his rant. “Do you think this is child’s play? I almost got caught just now. You are not afraid of death, but have you ever thought about me?”

The masked man was baffled by Ronin’s scolding, and Ronin, in his anger, smashed the computer.

After venting his frustration, Ronin gradually calmed down, and the menacing, bloodthirsty look in his eyes toward the masked man faded.

“I’m telling you, don’t disturb me when I’m seriously working next time.

I paused the screen because I detected a tracking system installed on Catherine’s computer. Once an intrusion is detected, the system will immediately sound an alarm. I was being so cautious just now, but you almost exposed me.”

Ronin’s accusation made the masked man feel a bit embarrassed. He knew well that if Catherine discovered Ronin as a traitor, Ronin would face dire consequences. Concerned, he asked, ” So, what’s the situation now?”

“No big deal.” Ronin rolled his eyes at the masked man, then turned and lay silently on the nearby bed, not saying another word.

Seeing this, the masked man didn’t press him further. He arranged for someone to come in and clean up the computer debris on the floor. Then, he left.

He wasn’t creating a clean environment for Ronin. He understood Ronin’s abilities. Even though these seemed like just a pile of scrap metal, leaving them behind could potentially become tools in Ronin’s hands.

Ronin might not be strong in combat, but he was indeed a genius when it came to computers.

However, the masked man didn’t notice that just a moment ago, when Ronin was furiously about to smash the computer, he secretly pulled something out from the mainframe and discreetly hid it in his palm.

“Rest well. We’ll continue tomorrow.” The masked man left after saying this.

As the sound of the closing door echoed, Ronin, who had been sulking on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a mysterious and inscrutable smile on his lips.

Seeing Catherine sleeping for a long time without any response, Branden couldn’t help but want to enter the room and wake her up.

As soon as he entered, he saw Catherine sitting on the bed, pale-faced, with a vacant look in her eyes, still emanating a chilling aura that hadn’t faded. She last had this kind of aura at Vicente’s funeral.

“What’s going on?” Branden thought.

He quickened his pace to reach Catherine, nervously embracing her. ” What’s going on? Why is your body so cold?”

“Nothing.” Catherine gently pushed away Branden’s hands and struggled out of his embrace.

Confused, Branden watched her, finding it challenging to comprehend her reactions.

Catherine, sensing her excessive response, reached to her forehead and lay back down. “Just had a nightmare. My head isn’t clear yet. Let me rest for a while.”

When he saw the fine sweat on her forehead and a rare emotional exposure on her face, Branden’s heart twisted painfully.

He realized that Catherine seemed to reject his concern, preferring an independent space. “Rest well then. I’ll be in the study next door. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.” Catherine nodded slowly.

Branden got up and left, but before closing the door, he turned back several times, casting a worried and caring gaze behind him.

As the door closed, Catherine let out a deep sigh. Her heart pounded fiercely a clear reaction to the recent nightmare. It had been years since she had a nightmare, and now it had returned.

Catherine didn’t want to dwell on it. Frowning, she closed her eyes, and her usually composed face showed a rare expression of emotion.

Branden returned to the study and immediately contacted Paxton. “Check if Catherine has encountered any issues at school these past few days.”

Paxton hesitated momentarily and thought, “Mr. Duncan never allowed us to investigate Miss Swann privately. What’s going on?”

Though curious, Paxton didn’t dare to ask more questions. He agreed to the request.

Late at night, Catherine woke to a buzzing sound. She picked up her vibrating phone and held it to her ear. ” Hello.”

“Catherine, are you busy?” Zobber’s gentle voice came through the receiver. Only Catherine could elicit such an attitude from Zobber.

Having called Catherine earlier and receiving no response, Zobber tried again. She assumed she had disturbed Catherine, hence her unusually obedient demeanor.

“Not really. What’s up?” Catherine’s voice was somewhat hoarse, sounding like she had just woken up.

Not daring to waste time, Zobber quickly explained the situation. She said, “Catherine, we found something. Do you want to come take a look?”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

As Catherine was about to end the call, she heard Zobber’s somewhat guilty voice. “Catherine, Withal and I are already on our way. I’ll send you the coordinates.”

This wasn’t the first time Zobber acted without consulting Catherine. Catherine had grown accustomed to it and didn’t dwell on it too much.

Once she received the coordinates, Catherine lifted the covers, got out of bed, and prepared to leave. Passing by the study, she glanced at the light seeping through the door, then lightened her footsteps and left.

Chapter 806 You Go First

Catherine drove to the location provided by Zobber, but upon getting out of the car, she didn’t spot any familiar figures.

She dialed Zobber’s phone, but it went unanswered. To avoid causing trouble for Zobber, Catherine decided not to call again.

The last time she had contacted Zobber was just over ten minutes ago when Zobber messaged her, informing her that she had reached the designated location.

Originally, Zobber had suggested waiting for her to arrive and act together. However, it seemed that something unexpected had occurred, prompting Zobber to take action ahead of time.

It had only been over ten minutes, so Catherine wasn’t overly concerned. She pocketed her phone and headed toward the coordinates ahead.

It was late at night, and the entire building was in darkness.

The darker the environment, the more Catherine’s enhanced vision came into play. Casually passing through the dark space, she sensed movement ahead and immediately concealed herself in a nearby corner.

Faint breathing reached her ears, and Catherine could discern that the person approaching had considerable combat skills.

As the individual came close to her side, Catherine swiftly struck. The person took a hit, staggering backward in pain.

Catherine prepared for another attack, intending to subdue the person completely.

“Catherine, it’s me!”

Recognizing the familiar voice, Catherine stopped her assault in time. Zobber might have already been on the ground if she had hesitated a moment longer.

With Catherine ceasing her actions, Zobber silently sighed in relief, lying on the ground and catching her breath. In the previous second, she had almost met her maker. Fortunately, Catherine’s agility saved the day.

“Catherine, you got here really fast,” said Zobber.

Noticing only Zobber, Catherine asked worriedly, “Where’s Withal?”

“Catherine, when we arrived, we saw someone leaving. Withal was worried about losing the trail, so he followed the person’s car, leaving me here to assist you.”

Knowing that Withal was safe from Zobber, Catherine felt reassured.

Zobber then briefed Catherine on the basic situation. They suspected this might be the new base of the mysterious group that attacked them. Upon obtaining specific coordinates, they informed Catherine to come to this location.

It was a rare setback for the Hacker Alliance in all these years. Both Zobber and Withal were determined to settle this score.

“Catherine, I’ve investigated. The top floor is locked, and there are guards. Something must be hidden there.”

Catherine didn’t object to Zobber’s findings. She lowered her voice and asked, “Is there a way up?”

“Yeah.” Zobber nodded slightly.

Before coming there, she had hacked into the building’s management system and stolen the layout. After studying it, she found a way to bypass the guards and reach the top floor. It was just a bit more challenging.

The entire building’s ventilation system was interconnected. Climbing up along the ventilation duct from the floor just below the top would get them to their destination. As long as they moved quietly, they could remain undetected.

Catherine listened attentively to Zobber’s plan and immediately took action. “Let’s go. We’re heading up. Let’s follow your plan and use the ventilation duct.”

The two quickly reached the second-to- last floor, and Zobber used a coin to loosen the screws locking the ventilation duct.

The entire building was without power, and the fans in the ventilation duct had ceased operation, making their movements easier.

Zobber knelt down on one knee and tapped her thigh, signaling Catherine to step on it. “Catherine, you go first.”

“No, you go first.” Catherine refused Zobber’s proposal. She positioned her hands in front of her abdomen, indicating Zobber to step on them.

Time was of the essence, and Zobber didn’t waste time. She stepped on Catherine’s hands, utilizing her assistance to easily climb into the ventilation opening.

Once Zobber was up, she quickly turned around, lying on the opening, ready to help Catherine. “Catherine, find a chair to stand on. I’ll pull you up.”

Ignoring Zobber’s suggestion, Catherine stepped back a few steps, then swiftly rushed forward. With a kick from her left foot followed by her right, she soared upward. She quickly grabbed Zobber’s hand, effortlessly reaching the ventilation opening.

In the blink of an eye, Catherine was by Zobber’s side. Zobber was momentarily stunned, astonished by Catherine’s swift movements. “Awesome, Catherine!” she exclaimed inwardly.

Pulling herself up, Catherine moved forward rapidly, leading the way and avoiding obstacles for Zobber.

To remain undetected, they chose a more distant ventilation duct. There was still some distance to cover from here to the top-floor room. Besides, crawling through the ventilation duct posed a different challenge than moving on the ground. Despite both being agile, the speed was noticeably reduced, and reaching the top floor would take some time.

Two hours passed, and there was no sign of activity in the bedroom. Branden was uncertain whether Catherine was still sleeping or had awakened.

Getting up from the study, he gently knocked on the bedroom door, but there was no response from inside.

Even if Catherine were asleep, it couldn’t be such a deep slumber. Sensing something amiss, he opened the bedroom door with a furrowed brow.

The empty room weighed heavily on his emotions. He couldn’t believe someone could silently take Catherine away from under his nose.

Moreover, Catherine’s combat skills surpassed his own, making it impossible for someone to abduct her without a sound. So, there was only one possibility-she left on her own and deliberately concealed her departure.

Branden left the bedroom and dialed Paxton’s number in the living room.

Upon learning the situation, Paxton and Carlo hurried to the apartment.

After Branden purchased this apartment, he also bought a house in the adjacent building. Paxton and Carlo were resting in that house. Upon receiving the news, they arrived in front of Branden within five minutes.

During their journey, Paxton had already arranged for someone to access the surveillance footage. He handed the surveillance footage to Branden. “Mr. Duncan, Miss Swann left on her own.”

Carlo also received the latest information and reported the situation to Branden. He said, “Mr. Duncan, Withal, and Zobber are also missing.”

The three of them mobilized simultaneously. Branden and the others knew very well the reason for their actions.

It was likely that Zobber’s team had received some leads and informed Catherine, and they had acted accordingly.

The air pressure inside the room was exceptionally low, creating a feeling of breathlessness.

Carlo’s nerves were stretched to the extreme, and he subtly signaled Paxton, not understanding why Branden’s face was so dark.

Paxton didn’t bother with the inexperienced fool.

Branden and Catherine had spent the night together under the same roof. Waking up in the middle of the night to find the person next to him gone and receiving no notification, any man would likely explode. Branden’s current state was probably expected.

“Mr. Duncan, we’ll investigate right away.”

This was Loxton, their territory. Moreover, Catherine didn’t conceal her movements when she left; otherwise, how could the surveillance capture these images?

Seeing no objection from Branden, Paxton swiftly took action. It was crucial to ascertain Catherine’s whereabouts quickly; otherwise, they would all suffer.

Chapter 807 Are They Arguing?

“Catherine, we’re here,” Zobber reminded Catherine in a hushed tone, fearing it might attract the attention of the guards below.

Catherine waved her hand to signal Zobber, then peered down through the ventilation shaft’s exhaust fan.

Below them were two guards in the front and another by the main door. Taking down these three silently and entering the room ahead was nearly impossible.

Catherine decided to move forward, cross the obstacles, and check the situation inside the room. However, the ventilation shaft was too narrow, only allowing one person at a time.

Catherine instructed Zobber to stay in place while she entered to assess the situation.

Understanding that her abilities weren’t as formidable as Catherine’s, Zobber agreed to Catherine’s decision.

After crossing the ventilation shaft, Catherine reached the above of the inner room.

Through the vent, she could hear muffled conversations below, making it difficult to understand.

To get a clearer understanding, Catherine decided to twist her body, pressing her face against the ventilation hole to maximize her hearing.

“How did the task I assigned you go?”

“Sir, I believe Ronin genuinely intends to betray Catherine for his freedom. I’ve been with him for a few days, and he has shown no unusual behavior. Through observation, I’ve noticed he is more eager than us to obtain the experimental data.”

The man in the shadows sneered. ”

Humph!”

Perplexed, the masked man asked, ” Sir, don’t you believe this?”

“You don’t understand Ronin’s feelings for Catherine.”

Hearing the response from the other party, the masked man felt a bit disgruntled. He didn’t comprehend the relationship between Ronin and Catherine, but he believed human nature was selfish when faced with interests and survival. He felt that nobody would sacrifice themselves for someone else.

Although he disagreed, the masked man didn’t dare to argue.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The masked man instantly went into a state of alert. He approached, asked for the password, and then opened the door.

Two figures in black slowly entered, respectfully standing before the man hidden in the shadows. “Sir, the car is ready.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Catherine kept a close eye on the shadows, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man’s face. However, these individuals were too cautious. The man hidden in the shadows not only wore a mask but also a large black robe that completely concealed his figure.

Seeing that these people were about to leave, Catherine decided to take immediate action. If she missed this opportunity, it would be challenging to find new leads.

She signaled Zobber to follow her instructions, and Zobber immediately understood. Both of them descended swiftly.

The noise from above immediately caught the attention of those below. After Catherine descended, she quickly charged toward the man in a large black robe, attempting to unveil his disguise and reveal his true identity.

However, the man seemed to predict Catherine’s movements and surprisingly evaded in advance.

This was the first time Catherine had missed, and even she was momentarily stunned.

Regaining her composure, Catherine charged again, but the man seemed unwilling to engage, turning to escape.

The bodyguards rushed to his side, forming a protective shield and escorting him away.

Catherine increased her pace, attempting to shake off these obstacles.

However, they were unfazed, not afraid of her. Even when she kicked one of them to the ground, he clung to her thigh, hindering her movements and buying time for the man to escape.

Seeing that the man was about to disappear right before her eyes, Catherine shouted, “Zobber!”

Zobber leaped into action, swiftly incapacitating one of the guards and rushing to assist. “Catherine, leave this to me. You go after him.”

Catherine nodded, kicking away one of the guards and chasing after the fleeing black-robed man.

Just as she was about to catch up with the black-robed man, the masked man rushed forward. Ignoring his own safety, he lunged and tightly embraced Catherine.

The black-robed man had a smug look on his face, ready to disappear.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

Branden, accompanied by Carlo and the others, rushed in. Seeing the reinforcements arriving, Zobber excitedly applauded. “Well, better late than never. Let’s see how these bastards escape this time.”

The black-robed man’s expression changed when he saw Branden. He hadn’t expected Branden to arrive so quickly. He had originally planned to slip away casually, but now it seemed troublesome.

Everyone thought the black-robed man wouldn’t get away this time, but to their surprise, he turned and ran toward the edge, then leaped, directly jumping down.

From a dozen floors high, jumping down would undoubtedly be fatal. Everyone was shocked, rushing

forward to check the situation.

The black-robed man had already jumped onto the rooftop of the opposite building. Then, using powerful arm strength, he climbed onto the roof, disappearing into the moonlit night.

Zobber looked utterly astonished, her mouth almost unable to close. ” Catherine, is this guy even human?”

Catherine’s face was tense, her eyes cold. She, too, was shocked by the opponent’s formidable burst of power. It seemed this person’s combat strength was definitely not low, at least surpassing Zobber’s.

“A foreign professional parkour athlete set a similar record last month. The distance should be comparable to what we just witnessed,” said Catherine.

Faced with these superhuman stunts, Zobber could only sigh in admiration.

Catherine noticed the probing look from Zobber. Before she could speak, Catherine had already provided the answer. “That parkour athlete died in an accident during an extreme sports event last month.”

The glimmer of hope that had just ignited in Zobber was instantly shattered when she heard Catherine’s words.

Taking advantage of the distraction, the masked man lying on the ground swiftly got up and leaped down from the nearby stairs. By the time Catherine and the others regained their senses, the masked man had already reached ground level.

His agility didn’t match the black- robed man’s; he ran away with a limp due to his injured leg.

Seeing him seize the opportunity to escape, Zobber was furious, stomping her foot and gritting her teeth. ” Catherine, I’ll go chase him back right away!”

“No need.” Catherine stopped Zobber.

Zobber looked at her with confusion in her eyes. If it weren’t for Catherine’s distraction just now, the masked man wouldn’t have stood a chance of escaping. Now, Catherine was preventing her from chasing after him -what could this possibly mean?

Though puzzled, Zobber didn’t express it outwardly. She trusted that Catherine had her reasons for doing so, even if she couldn’t reveal them now.

The black-clad guards lying on the ground were all taken away by Carlo and the others, and Paxton signaled Zobber.

Unsure of the situation, Zobber walked toward him.

Seeing her approach, Paxton grabbed her and swiftly pulled her away.

Confused, Zobber struggled, attempting to kick Paxton.

Paxton, agile as ever, evaded her and gave her a disdainful look. “Why don’t you know how to appreciate goodwill? I tried to help you, and you want to hit me?”

“Help me?” Zobber stared at him with a puzzled expression.

Paxton gestured toward the couple not far away. Zobber looked over-an attractive pair but with a visibly tense atmosphere.

“Are they arguing?” Zobber asked.

Paxton didn’t want to answer too many questions. “Stay or leave? If you stay, you might end up as cannon fodder. Don’t come begging for help.”

Understanding Paxton’s good intentions, Zobber didn’t want to stay any longer, afraid of being involved in unnecessary troubles. She quickly followed Paxton. “Wait for me. I’m coming!”

Chapter 808 Quarrel

Catherine sensed the anger hidden in Branden’s eyes, and she knew he was upset.

“I was just next door, and you couldn’t even bother to inform me?” said Branden.

Catherine didn’t know how to respond. If she wanted to make excuses, she could come up with a flawless one, leaving no room for criticism. However, she didn’t want to lie to Branden.

Looking at Catherine, who remained silent, Branden felt a mixture of disappointment and deep concern.

He thought that after all this time, he had successfully entered Catherine’s heart. But once again, he was disappointed.

Initially, he planned to turn and leave, leaving her alone to reflect. However, unable to make that decision, he approached and pulled her into his arms.

The moment he embraced Catherine, warmth instantly enveloped her. Her cold heart gradually thawed, and her icy gaze softened.

But the next moment, she heard him whispering in her ear, gritting his teeth. “Catherine, do you even have a heart? Even if your heart is made of stone, it should have warmed up by now. Why are you still unwilling to open up?”

His sharp words caused Catherine’s recently warmed heart to plunge back into an icy abyss. Catherine pushed Branden away and turned to leave directly.

Branden wanted to catch up but couldn’t match Catherine’s speed. Catherine disappeared without a trace.

Seeing Branden coming out alone with a gloomy face, Paxton and the others understood that things had taken a serious turn. They were scared stiff, even slowing down their breathing.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Zobber risked danger and said, “Mr. Duncan, actually, it’s not Catherine’s fault. When I notified her, we were already on the move. You know Catherine. On the surface, she seems cold, but she values relationships a lot. She was just worried about us, so she didn’t have time to notify you before coming out. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Don’t be angry with Catherine.”

After hearing Zobber’s words, Paxton silently applauded her in his mind. ” She’s really bold and daring,” he thought.

Branden sneered after hearing, then sat back with his eyes closed, choosing not to speak further.

His anger wasn’t directed at Catherine for leaving without notice. He knew Catherine could have informed him in time. She just didn’t want to say anything, or perhaps, from the beginning, she never took him seriously.

Zobber was right. Catherine, seemingly cold on the outside, was extremely caring toward those around her, except him.

Seeing his displeasure, Zobber wanted to say a few words to console him but was stopped by Paxton. Couples in love often had zero intelligence.

Now, Branden was in a bad mood, and many things were unclear to him. No matter how others tried to persuade, it wouldn’t work.

Paxton was also worried that if Zobber continued to persuade, she might provoke Branden’s anger, causing trouble later. Although he thought Zobber was a little annoying, it was no big deal.

Paxton intervened, causing Zobber to swallow the words she was about to say. Just at that moment, a ringing sound interrupted her thoughts. “Withal, how’s it going on your end?” she asked.

“Lost them. Are you okay?” Withal replied.

Zobber reported the current situation, and Withal breathed a sigh of relief.

“Where are you? I’ll come to find you,” said Zobber.

After hanging up the phone, Zobber got Withal’s address.

She signaled Paxton to pull over and let her get out, but Paxton disagreed. ” Where are you going? We’ll take you. It’s already late at night. Aren’t you afraid?”

These words startled both Carlo and Zobber.

Paxton noticed their strange expressions and realized he might have cared too much. He was about to explain when Zobber beat him to it. She said, “With my capabilities, one comes, one goes down. I’m not afraid of anything.”

After saying this to Paxton, Zobber informed the driver ahead to stop by the roadside and swiftly exited the car.

Watching Zobber’s figure gradually disappear, Paxton withdrew his gaze.

Turning his head, he met Carlo’s probing gaze. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Paxton, what do you mean? Why are you suddenly so concerned about Zobber?” Carlo’s question carried a hint of ambiguity.

Paxton didn’t want to make eye contact; he avoided Carlo’s gaze and pretended to be tough, saying, ” Anyway, we’re sort of friends. Besides, considering her relationship with Miss Swann, I just care a bit more. If something really happens, we’ll also be in trouble.”

“Humph!” Carlo didn’t believe his excuses.

Now that Branden was in the car, he couldn’t use harsh methods to force Paxton to confess. He would team up with Francis when he returned and make Paxton spill the beans.

Seeing Carlo not saying anything more, Paxton secretly sighed in relief. He was stunned for a moment when Carlo asked those questions.

He didn’t know what was going on with him. He was just subconsciously caring, perhaps as he mentioned, because of Zobber’s connection with Catherine.

She was Catherine’s person, so there was an added level of concern. If something happened to her, they would inevitably have to help, which would be troublesome for them.

That night, Catherine did not return to the apartment. She went straight back to school and had the people keeping an eye on things report the situation to Branden.

Knowing that she was safe, Branden didn’t go looking for Catherine. Perhaps both of them needed some space to calm down.

When Amelia woke up and saw

Catherine in the dorm the following day, she was momentarily surprised.

Seeing Catherine resting, she didn’t dare to ask and just tugged Isabella’s sleeve, asking in a low voice, “Did Super Catherine come back last night?”

Isabella silently nodded. She studied late and happened to witness Catherine returning with a chilly demeanor.

Although she knew Catherine’s cold attitude wasn’t directed at her, she still felt uneasy for a long time. It was mainly because Catherine’s presence was too intimidating, making her shiver.

“Keep it down. I noticed Super Catherine was not in a good mood last night. She probably fought with her boyfriend.” Under Amelia’s influence, Isabella also changed her way of addressing Catherine.

However, the main reason was Catherine’s stunning performance during the competition. She was truly deserving of the title.

Knowing that Catherine had an argument with Branden, Amelia didn’t take it too seriously. After all, who didn’t argue in a relationship? When she was with her last boyfriend, they could argue countless times a day.

“Let’s be careful. She must be in a bad mood after quarreling with her boyfriend.”

They discussed and decided to give Catherine space in the dorm. Isabella chose to go to the library, and Amelia went to the lab.

As soon as they went downstairs, Isabella saw a handsome guy not far away and pulled Amelia to take a look. Amelia’s brows furrowed as soon as she saw Rylan. She muttered, “Why is he here?”

“Super Catherine is in a bad mood now. Isn’t this just adding fuel to the fire?” she thought.

Chapter 809 New Boyfriend

Amelia was planning to drag Isabella away when Rylan first spotted the two and walked directly toward Amelia. ” Amelia, please wait!”

Isabella turned her head to look at Amelia, her eyes filled with questions. ” Well, he knew Amelia’s name in such a short time,” she thought.

Amelia looked innocent. She didn’t want any of this. It had nothing to do with her. All she could say was that Rylan was really something.

Now, neither walking away nor standing still seemed appropriate, so the two of them awkwardly stood there. Rylan approached and stood in front of Amelia, blocking her way. “Amelia, is Catherine in the dormitory? Or is she in the lab?”

Amelia originally wanted to say she didn’t know, but Rylan’s eyes and the warm smile on his face… She really couldn’t lie to such a handsome guy, so she had to tell the truth. “Mr. Melton, Catherine is upstairs. But she seemed to have returned very late last night, so she slept quite soundly and probably won’t get up so soon.”

Amelia couldn’t speculate about Catherine’s situation. After all, she didn’t know what had happened between Catherine and Branden. It was Catherine’s business, and she couldn’t casually tell others.

The reason she said this was to hope Rylan would back off and not bother Catherine for the time being.

Having obtained the information he wanted, Rylan no longer stopped Amelia. “Thanks, Amelia.”

“You’re welcome.” Seeing the release, Amelia immediately pulled Isabella away. She was afraid she might say something wrong if she stayed any longer.

Rylan watched Amelia leave. He didn’t have any ulterior motives toward Amelia. He was just in a pretty good mood because Amelia brought him good news.

Catherine didn’t stay at Branden’s apartment last night and returned to the school in the middle of the night. It indicated a rift or an argument between her and Branden.

He would wait here until Catherine appeared.

At noon, the sun shone into the dormitory beds. Feeling the warmth, Catherine opened her eyes in her sleep and woke up slowly. Glancing at the time, she had actually slept through lunch.

Catherine immediately got out of bed. Since no one was in the dormitory, she didn’t need to be discreet. With a handsome flip, she stood firmly on the floor.

After a quick wash, Catherine came down from the dormitory, ready to have lunch at the cafeteria before heading to the lab.

As she descended the stairs, she saw Rylan standing in front. With an expressionless face, Catherine walked past him, completely ignoring him.

However, Rylan wasn’t willing to let Catherine go so easily. When Catherine walked past, he immediately followed, wearing a full smile, seemingly unafraid of rejection. “Catherine, it’s lunchtime already. How about you take me to your cafeteria?”

Catherine stopped and turned her head toward him, her eyes cold, face expressionless. “Can’t you go by yourself? Why should I take you?”

Rylan, acting as if it was perfectly reasonable, said, “Catherine, I think the food in your cafeteria is excellent. But I’m not a student here and can’t buy the food. I only know you here, so naturally, you’ll take me. Anyway, we’ve known each other for so long. Are you really unwilling to treat me to a meal at the cafeteria?”

“Yeah, I’m unwilling.” Catherine bluntly refused and pointed to the side of the road. “Rylan, if you really want to eat, just stand there and shout. With your looks, I guarantee someone will take you to the cafeteria or even treat you.”

Catherine wasn’t exaggerating; Rylan could indeed get a meal based on his appearance. He could easily deceive quite a few naive girls with his handsome looks. Otherwise, the school wouldn’t have been filled with rumors and gossip about Catherine because of Rylan during this time.

After hearing Catherine’s sarcasm, Rylan didn’t get angry. Instead, the smile on his face became more apparent. “Catherine, I like the way you speak. I didn’t expect you to appreciate my appearance as well.”

Rylan knew very well that his face was attractive to girls, but he never cared about these things. But if Catherine liked it, it would be a different story. He didn’t mind using his looks to his advantage.

Seeing that she couldn’t shake off Rylan, Catherine could only let him follow.

The two entered the cafeteria one after the other, attracting quite a bit of attention. Even though it wasn’t peak hours, there were still quite a few people inside the cafeteria.

The crowd discreetly observed Catherine and Rylan, whispering and gossiping.

“Isn’t that Catherine? I remember the handsome guy who used to be by her side wasn’t this one, right?”

“Who knows, maybe he’s her new boyfriend.”

A female student gazed at Catherine with envy. “Why is she so amazing? Every boyfriend she has is so handsome. Our campus heartthrob is nothing compared to this guy!”

“Haven’t you seen how capable Catherine is? If we had half of her abilities, we wouldn’t be single until now.”

Endless rumors and gossip surrounded them, but Catherine was accustomed to these discussions, expressionlessly walking toward the food counter.

After ordering her meal, she was about to leave, but she heard Rylan talking to the cafeteria lady behind her. “Ma’am, please get me the same as her.”

Catherine frowned and turned around. ” Did I say I would treat you to a meal?”

Before Rylan could reply, the cafeteria lady interrupted, “Dear, don’t be so harsh on your boyfriend. It’s just a meal, and you can pay for your boyfriend.”

Catherine rolled her eyes in silence and didn’t want to argue. She knew she could not outdo the cafeteria lady in an argument.

Having no other choice, she had to help Rylan cover the meal expenses. Accepting the plate from the cafeteria lady, Rylan thanked her with a smile.

Catherine found a place to sit, and Rylan immediately followed suit. Glancing at the plates in front of them, Catherine compared her own portion with Rylan’s.

Indeed, some people could receive preferential treatment just based on their appearance. The portion of meat the cafeteria lady gave Rylan was clearly twice as much as hers.

Rylan noticed Catherine’s gaze. He picked up a piece of meat from his plate and tried to put it onto Catherine’s plate.

But before it could land, Catherine spoke up. “Enjoy your meal. Don’t push me to the point where I have to hit you.

Aware of Catherine’s temper, Rylan dared not provoke her at this moment and silently retracted the offered fork.

Suddenly, a flash quickly passed by. Catherine subconsciously looked to the side and saw a group of students taking pictures of the flowers in front of the cafeteria. She didn’t think much of it.

Focusing on her meal, Catherine quickly finished her food.

Seeing she was about to finish eating, Rylan hurriedly asked, “Catherine, what will you do next? How about I take you somewhere fun? I’ve been in Loxton for a while but haven’t had a good time.”

Without even looking at him, Catherine packed up her utensils and left.

Rylan acted as if he hadn’t seen Catherine’s disgust and persistently followed her. Seeing Catherine about to enter the lab building, he raised his voice and shouted, “Don’t you believe me yet? Do you still not think Branden deliberately got close to you?”

Chapter 810 Mysterious Photos

“Crack!” A loud sound echoed as the wooden chair, originally placed nearby, instantly shattered under a powerful kick.

Paxton stood on the side, his heart pounding with fear. He had no idea which lunatic, with a death wish, sent such photos to Branden.

Branden’s dark, gleaming eyes flashed a hint of cold, murderous intent as he stared fixedly at the photos on the table.

Just half an hour ago, an envelope had been delivered to the Duncan Corporation building, specifying Branden as the recipient.

After the security team confirmed no danger, they presented the photos to Branden.

When Paxton opened the envelope, he was stunned. He had thought about hiding the photos, but it was already too late.

Branden had noticed the people in the photos, and he reached out to Paxton.

Helpless, Paxton handed the photos to Branden, and the scene of kicking the chair into pieces ensued.

The man and woman in the photos looked exceptionally harmonious and well-matched. The guy was attentively placing food onto the girl’s plate.

If the female lead in the photo wasn’t Catherine, Paxton might have thought it was a nice photography shot.

The atmosphere indoors grew increasingly gloomy, and the air pressure dropped. Not daring to lift his head, Paxton asked, “Mr. Duncan, should we go find Miss Swann now?”

He had it all planned out. When he located Catherine and the bastard, he would deal with the bastard immediately, sparing Branden from getting involved.

“How dare you vie for Mr. Duncan’s woman? You’re seeking death,” thought Paxton.

“No need.” Branden’s cold voice resounded. Paxton doubted his ears and looked up in astonishment.

Seeing Branden’s stern expression, Paxton knew he wasn’t joking. Sensing Branden’s gaze, Paxton was frightened and refrained from further questions.

Branden continued to look at the photos on the table, and the darkness in his eyes deepened.

“Catherine!”

Hearing someone call her, Catherine abruptly turned around, meeting Marshall’s concerned gaze.

Marshall looked at her with a face full of compassion. “What’s going on? Are you feeling unwell? Why do you look so pale?”

Catherine subconsciously shook her head. “Professor Hartley, did you need something?”

Marshall carefully observed Catherine, trying to discern any clues from her expression.

Before, she would immediately notice him approaching. Even without a reaction, her calm face would reveal that she had already seen through everything.

But just now, he approached her and called her twice before she reacted. That was unusual.

“Catherine, you seem oblivious to the concept of rest. While experiments are crucial, a bit of rest is necessary. Stop staying in the lab now; go and take a break,” said Marshall.

While other students needed constant reminders to study, Catherine was different.

Not only was she talented and capable, but she also worked diligently in her studies. Every day in school, Marshall saw her immersed in the lab and never neglected other courses.

For the projects Catherine was working on, Marshall, as a professor, could only provide guidance and limited assistance. Sometimes, he felt he was not fulfilling his role as a professor properly.

“Professor Hartley, I’m fine.”

Catherine’s mind was still replaying Marshall’s words, and her attention was diverted. She wasn’t tired and didn’t need a break.

Seeing her disobedience, Marshall adopted a serious expression. ” Catherine, if you take me as your mentor, you should follow my advice.”

Bringing out the authority of a professor, Marshall compelled Catherine to yield out of respect.

To ensure Catherine left the lab and took a proper break, Marshall even locked the lab and took away the keys. ” Don’t think about entering the lab again today. Rest well, and come find me tomorrow for the keys.”

Seeing Marshall’s triumphant look, Catherine smiled somewhat helplessly. “Alright,” Catherine replied and left the lab.

Looking at her empty dorm, Catherine initially planned to take a short nap. However, having slept a long time the previous night, she wasn’t sleepy at all.

After contemplating for a moment, Catherine decided to visit Zobber and Withal to learn about the events from the previous day.

As she was about to leave her dorm, the computer on her desk suddenly emitted a strange sound. “Ding-dong, you have a new message. Please check.”

Catherine turned to her computer and saw the desktop pet Ronin designed and installed to keep her company.

She lightly clicked on the desktop pet’s belly with the mouse, and a message popped up. The message was specially encrypted, requiring a password to open.

However, all these couldn’t stump Catherine. Her fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard, and in no time, she cracked the code. Soon, a message popped up-a string of numbers, seemingly random and disorderly.

Catherine knew these numbers wouldn’t appear on her computer without a reason. The other party deliberately made her see this. There must be something behind it. She memorized the numbers, intending to study them later carefully.

After erasing any traces of her viewing, Catherine left her dorm, driving directly to Connie’s residence.

Upon hearing the doorbell, Zobber lazily got up to open the door.

She and Withal had investigated all night, basically pulling an all-nighter. They only went to bed at around seven in the morning. Now, they were very sleepy.

“Who is it?” Zobber asked as she opened the door. When she saw Catherine standing outside, her drowsiness was instantly chased away, and she was revitalized. “Catherine, you’re here!”

Seeing Zobber’s somewhat tired appearance, Catherine frowned slightly. “Did I disturb your sleep?”

“Not at all!” Zobber explained hastily, ” I should have been up already. I just lingered in bed a bit. Catherine, come in.”

After Catherine entered and sat down, Zobber rushed to Withal’s room, forcefully dragging him out of bed.

Despite appearing amiable on regular days, Withal could be quite grumpy when woken up. Whenever someone disturbed his sleep, he would lose his temper.

However, Zobber was never afraid of Withal, and ironically, Withal couldn’t do anything to her and had to endure her disturbance.

After Withal got up, he came out and was momentarily stunned to see Catherine on the sofa. “Catherine, what brings you here?”

Zobber, standing behind him, delivered a swift kick to his backside and sternly rebuked. “All you think about is sleeping. You didn’t even notice when Catherine arrived. I kindly woke you up, and you still wanted to pick a fight with me. Sure, come on, fight me in front of Catherine.”

Withal gritted his teeth and glared at Zobber’s arrogant expression. Fiercely, he said, “You better not cross the line. Otherwise, don’t cry when I deal with you later.”

Sitting on the side, Catherine watched the two bicker with great amusement.