Ch. 811..820

Chapter 811 Secret Investigation

After a heated argument with Zobber, Withal took the initiative to stop it.

He had always known what he should and shouldn’t do. He gestured for Zobber to be quiet, then focused his gaze on Catherine. ” Catherine, what brought you here today?”

Withal heard from Zobber that Catherine seemed to have fought with Branden last night.

When the two big shots quarreled, they, ordinary people, couldn’t persuade them to stop. They could only be sensible and avoid it a bit.

Catherine leaned on the armrest of the sofa with one hand, supporting her chin, and her other hand leisurely hung on her side. Her voice was low. “Tell me about yesterday’s situation.”

Zobber gestured to Withal to explain the situation.

Withal was so angry that he wanted to strangle Zobber. If there were good things, Zobber would be the first to take them, and if there were any trouble, she would push him to take them.

Though helpless, Withal still began to explain the situation to Catherine, ” When I arrived with Zobber yesterday, I noticed that they seemed to be transporting someone. I was worried it was Ronin, so I followed up immediately. This group of people was very powerful and had strong anti- reconnaissance abilities. I followed them for not long before I was discovered. They were even willing to give up their lives to get rid of me.”

If those people hadn’t fought desperately, Withal wouldn’t have lost them. Withal felt very ashamed to tell Catherine about this.

After Withal finished speaking, Catherine didn’t react at all and sat expressionless.

Zobber and Withal both looked at each other, neither knowing what was going on or if Catherine was angry.

After hesitating for a moment, Zobber continued, “Catherine, I double- checked carefully with Withal later. I found that none of these people seem to be Eskanese. Although their Eskanese is very standard, from some details of their behavior, we could tell that they were doing it deliberately. We might be able to start with the immigration and find out the identity of those people.”

As long as they could find out where those people were from and what exactly their relationship with those people was, this matter would be much easier to handle.

After a few seconds of silence, Catherine slowly said, “Zobber, I’ll leave this matter to you. Be careful when you do it and don’t leave any traces.”

Zobber put two of her fingers together and waved them at the position of her temple. “Okay!”

Catherine believed that with Zobber’s ability, she should be able to do it easily. She turned her head to look at Withal, and with a glance, Withal’s back immediately straightened a bit. ”

Catherine, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t look at me like that. I’m panicking!”

“Have you done anything wrong? You dare not even look directly into Catherine’s eyes.” Zobber immediately teased him. “Tell us the truth now, and Catherine can still let you off the hook.”

After Withal glared at Zobber, Zobber finally stopped teasing him.

“Withal, contact Wantel and ask him to come to Loxton.”

Hearing Catherine’s command, Withal immediately understood her intention. “Catherine, are you planning to have Wantel come to investigate the spies in Hacker Alliance?”

Among the entire Hacker Alliance, the only one who could make them trust now was Wantel.

Back then, they all gathered together through the test of life and death. They would not betray each other under any circumstances.

Catherine didn’t say much, but only commanded in a low voice, “Go arrange it!”

“Okay!” Withal immediately took the order.

After arranging what the two were going to do, Catherine idly wandered around Connie’s house in boredom.

Although this house was under Connie’s name, it was purchased by the Hacker Alliance. It could be considered a place for them to live in Loxton.

After Catherine came to Loxton, everything was arranged by Branden, so she didn’t consider coming to live there.

Ronin, on the contrary, occasionally came there to grab some food.

Catherine opened Ronin’s room and found his room full of treasures he had collected.

Although she knew Ronin was not in danger now, she still wanted to rescue him as soon as possible and give him freedom.

After looking around, Catherine planned to leave.

As she was walking, she happened to see the Sudoku board hanging behind the door.

After the disorganized numbers were gradually filled into the right place, it presented the same result no matter whether the numbers were added horizontally or vertically, this was the charm of Sudoku.

Suddenly, Catherine had an inspiration.

She put the string of numbers she had collected earlier into the Sudoku board.

When the last number was filled in its position, Catherine finally understood the meaning of that string of numbers.

Her lips curved slightly upward, casting a charming smile. She praised in her heart, “Ronin deserves to be raised by me. He’s indeed smart.”

Everyone knew that Branden and Catherine had a real fight. Catherine stayed in the dormitory for the past two days, while Branden was engrossed in his work, and never came to see Catherine.

Rylan unexpectedly went to Catherine more often.

Catherine could see him almost every day downstairs in the girls’ dormitory or in front of the lab building.

The rumors about Catherine changing her boyfriend were spreading more and more fiercely, and even Marshall, a professor, who was dedicated to research, had heard the rumors.

Catherine was doing experiments in the lab when she realized that there was a figure in front of the lab door that kept swaying back and forth intentionally or unintentionally.

She stopped what she was doing and looked over. She saw Marshall in the doorway.

As they looked at each other, Marshall was a little embarrassed and could only break the awkwardness with a laugh. ” Hi, are you tired yet? Want to take a break?”

“Haha!” Catherine laughed softly. ”

Professor Hartley, all the mentors are chasing after the students every day, forcing them to catch up on their progress. But you’re forcing me to take a break.”

Speaking of which, Marshall was a little proud. “That’s because they don’t have such diligent students as I have. If those students are half as hardworking as you, I wouldn’t even have no object to play chess with.”

Catherine showed a helpless smile as she watched Marshall praise her in a serious manner.

“Alright, Professor Hartley. Don’t wander from the subject. If you have anything to say, just say it directly.”

Mentioning this, Marshall, who had just straightened his waist, suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

“Nothing much. I just want to ask how you and Branden are doing these days.”

Catherine pursed her lips and didn’t say anything. She knew what Marshall meant. Marshall’s heart sank when he saw Catherine’s silence. He knew something must be wrong.

But he could only deal with some academic issues. He really did not know how to handle the emotional issues of his students.

He let out a long sigh. After thinking for a long time, he said in a low voice, ” I don’t understand the things you young people do nowadays, so I’ll take the example of what happened between me and my wife. We didn’t have a free love affair in the beginning. We met on a blind date arranged by our unit. My teacher thought she was suitable for me, but I was so focused on my research that I didn’t even think about having a date with her. In the end, I couldn’t resist the persuasion of my teacher and family and got married to her in a daze. In the blink of an eye, decades have passed. Our lab can have the present thanks to my wife’s thoughtfulness and trust. As you know, I’ve been concentrating on research all my life, and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for her support of my career.”

Marshall and his wife were known as a loving couple inside the school and had

always been regarded as a model couple.

The reason why he persuaded Catherine so was that he thought Catherine’s argument with Branden was due to Branden’s career.

Everyone knew that it was not easy to manage the huge Duncan Corporation.

Catherine laughed silently at Marshall’s words. She knew what Marshall wanted to express was that he wanted her and Branden to trust each other.

“Professor Hartley, don’t worry. We’re fine. We’re just a bit busy lately and don’t have time to meet each other. Don’t pay attention to the rumors out there,” said Catherine.

Upon hearing Catherine’s words, Marshall gradually relaxed. “That’s good. Hope Branden’s career goes smoothly, and your experiment also progresses smoothly.”

“Uh-huh!” Catherine nodded respectfully.

She was once again grateful for Marshall’s care in her heart. Since her grandfather passed away, no elders around her had cared about her like this.

Chapter 812 Don’t You Hate Me

“Mr. Duncan, there’s nothing much to do today. Why don’t we leave work early?” Paxton suggested in a low voice from the side.

Hearing this, Branden raised his head toward Paxton. “Why? Do you have anything to do?”

Seeing his misunderstanding, Paxton quickly shook his head. “No, no. I don’t have anything to do!”

Paxton thought to himself, “I’m just a single guy with no family and not even a girlfriend. I don’t have anything to do.

Branden used to be eager to finish work early to spend time with Catherine. But due to his argument with Catherine, he had been working overtime at the company every day until the end of the day these days.

It caused no one on the entire floor to dare to leave work, and everyone was suffering unbearably. There were a lot of complaints.

Since the morning, every employee who entered the office to report had gone out with a mournful face. The secretaries in the secretarial office could hardly bear it anymore and were coming to Paxton for help.

However, there was nothing Paxton could do. He was suffering every day, too.

He almost prayed to God to make Branden and Catherine reconcile quickly.

Seeing that Branden did not move, Paxton once again risked his life to suggest, “Mr. Duncan, today is the 14th. Aren’t you going to accompany Miss Swann?”

Branden paused for a moment, and his eyes fell on the main road outside the huge glass window. The road was bustling with cars. There seemed to be an unusually large number of vehicles there today.

“Arrange the car!” Branden ordered.

Paxton instantly smiled and went to arrange the car excitedly.

Paxton thought he could do anything as long as Branden and Catherine reconciled.

The black Bentley made its way to the front of the school slowly. Paxton parked the car and was ready to turn around to ask Branden if he should drive it in.

Just then, Paxton saw a familiar figure appear in front of him. His eyes lit up for a moment, and then he saw the man following Catherine. Paxton almost screamed in shock.

Paxton mentally exclaimed, “It’s over. “He wanted to turn around and avoid letting Branden see this scene, but it was too late.

“Stop!” Branden’s cold voice contained hidden anger, frightening Paxton so much that he shivered and braked instantly.

After the car stopped, Branden pushed the door and got out of the car directly.

Paxton followed closely behind, his heartbeat instantly accelerating.

Perhaps Branden’s aura was too powerful, Catherine and Rylan subconsciously looked toward the direction Branden was coming from.

They then saw Branden walking straight toward them.

Seeing Branden’s angry face, Rylan did not feel any fear in his heart. His seemingly calm eyes were filled with provocation.

He was waiting for now, so he would not let go of such a good opportunity. Catherine was a bit surprised when she saw Branden walk straight to her.

“What brings you here?” Catherine took the initiative to ask.

Her cold tone made Branden couldn’t help but want to get mad, but he held back. “Let’s go back together, shall we?

Catherine hadn’t been back to the apartment in two days. Branden wanted to take her back tonight.

Branden’s offer made Catherine frown slightly.

She already had an appointment with Marshall tonight to talk about the experiment, and even if she agreed to go back to the apartment, she would have to go back very late.

She was just about to explain when she heard Branden ask unhappily, “No?”

“I have things to do. I can’t go back now. You go back first,” Catherine said calmly.

Branden already had anger in his heart, but now that he heard Catherine’s words, his anger grew even more intense.

“Fine,” he said coldly and turned around to leave.

Seeing this, Paxton glanced at Catherine in embarrassment.

Catherine had an expressionless look on her face. Paxton felt a bit dissatisfied with Catherine when he saw she had no intention of making peace with Branden.

He knew Branden’s dedication to Catherine and Branden’s dedication to her was obvious to everyone.

Paxton was touched by Branden’s dedication to Catherine and he thought that even an outsider should be touched by it.

But now Catherine was not even willing to take the initiative to do something for Branden, which made Paxton a little disappointed.

With his disappointment in Catherine, Paxton followed Branden away.

Rylan witnessed all of this and felt a wave of triumphing in his heart.

He said, “Catherine, you should realize by now, right? Branden is just using you. You have to be careful. Maybe he’s playing a game with you now. As long as this experiment is ongoing, he won’t let you go!”

Rylan was giving Catherine a heads-up. He knew Branden would never give up on her so easily.

Catherine turned her head and her cold gaze fell on him. There was a harshness in her cold voice. “Have you finished your words?”

Rylan froze for a moment. “Catherine…

“If you’ve finished your words, get the hell out of here. Or else, don’t blame me for being rude.” After Catherine finished speaking, she turned around and left, not even giving Rylan an extra look.

Rylan wasn’t annoyed. Thinking that Branden was now more uncomfortable than him made him happy. Не hummed and left without pestering Catherine anymore.

Catherine returned to school and went straight to the lab.

Then she immersed herself in the experiment, completely ignoring what was happening outside.

The masked man hid for two days. After making sure that no one was following him, he carefully returned to the latest secret base. “Sir, I’m back!”

The man in a black robe sitting on the main seat saw the masked man looking disheveled, so he didn’t arrange for someone to kill him.

He had been arranging for someone to monitor the masked man these days secretly.

After finding the whereabouts of the masked man, he didn’t pick him up immediately but secretly monitored his every move.

Only after confirming that the masked man had not committed any acts of betrayal did the man in the black robe tell him the location of their latest base and allow him to return. “Since you’re back, rest for some days. Come back to me for your mission when you refresh.”

“Yes, sir,” the masked man replied respectfully.

The masked man first cleaned up properly and then found Ronin, who had been transferred and detained.

If it weren’t for the man in the black robe suddenly proposing to transfer Ronin that day, Ronin would probably have been saved now.

The masked man had thought about whether Ronin took the opportunity to expose the position of their new base, but he couldn’t find any evidence.

The man in the black robe also investigated and found that it was Withal and Zobber who had inadvertently investigated their new base, and it had nothing to do with Ronin at all.

Ronin leaned back in a chair, playing games seriously with the gamepad in his hand. He teased the masked man with a relaxed tone. “Hey, where did you go? You disappear for a few days and reappear.”

The masked man didn’t say anything. He stood at the door watching Ronin’s every move, but there was no change in his expression.

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Ronin continued, “To be honest, I was worried about you. I don’t want you to die. People who do your job are very likely to be killed, right? You’re all taking your lives to make a living.”

Hearing Ronin’s words, the masked man laughed out coldly. “You were worried about me? Ronin, it’s too fake for you to say that.”

Ronin’s game was over. He put down the gamepad in his hand and looked at the masked man with a serious look in his eyes. “Isn’t it normal that I worry about you? You offer me food and drink, and I rely entirely on you here. If I don’t worry about you, who should I worry about?”

The masked man stared at Ronin in confusion, his voice mixed with uncertainty. “Ronin, don’t you hate me?”

Chapter 813 Ronin’s Betrayal

Ronin burst out laughing. “Why should I hate you?”

The masked man choked off by Ronin’s question. Ronin’s reaction was completely beyond his expectations.

After reacting, he looked at Ronin with a shocked expression. “I kidnapped you, imprisoned you, and then tortured you to make you confess. Shouldn’t you hate me? You should be eager to kill me right away, shouldn’t you?”

Ronin looked up and his cold gaze fell on the masked man. He said in a voice neither low nor loud, and no emotions could be seen from him, “Do you have any grudges against me?”

The masked man didn’t know why Ronin suddenly asked that but he shook his head subconsciously.

He suddenly felt for a moment that Ronin’s gaze was the same as when Catherine looked at him on the rooftop that day. Perhaps it was because Ronin grew up with Catherine, and they had some similarities in some aspects.

“So that’s it!” Ronin laughed softly. You have no grudge against me. The only reason you’re doing this to me is because you have to do what your higher-ups ask you to do. I don’t know if you’re doing it for money or what, but your ultimate goal is to stay alive right?”

The masked man couldn’t refute that. He did kidnap Ronin because of orders from his high-ups.

He was chosen to be a man of sacrifice to serve the man in the black robe. As long as he betrayed the man in the black robe, all that awaited him was death.

He had no choice but to follow orders.

Though the masked man didn’t want to admit it, he still nodded.

Ronin shrugged. “So, if I want to hate someone, I should hate the people behind you. Why should I hate you? No one can explain clearly who is good and who is bad. I once did too many things against my will to stay alive too. My experience makes me not hate you.”

Ronin’s expression was a bit sentimental. He recalled his early childhood, which was a dark time in his life.

What he was going through now was nothing compared to what he had suffered before.

“It can be said that without Catherine, I wouldn’t be what I am today.”

Hearing Ronin’s gratitude toward Catherine, the masked man only found it ironic.

Although he knew he shouldn’t be sarcastic to Ronin at this time, he still couldn’t help but taunt, “Since you’re so grateful to Catherine, why are you betraying her now? Aren’t you contradicting yourself?”

“Am I?” Ronin looked up and asked the masked man, “If I don’t cooperate with you, you will kill me, won’t you?”

The masked man didn’t answer Ronin, but the look in his eyes already gave Ronin the answer.

For the organization that the masked man was a part of, people who had no use for them would surely be killed by them.

If they really couldn’t find value in Ronin, they would kill Ronin at the first opportunity.

“Haha!” Ronin sneered coldly, with a particularly disdainful expression. “I survived with great difficulty. For me, my life is the most precious. After Catherine saved me, she only told me one thing. She told me to just keep my life whenever and wherever I am. Am I not following Catherine’s advice and listening to her?”

These words were both satirical and true. It was the most authentic human nature.

This was why the masked man believed Ronin would betray Catherine. The masked man knew how dark human nature could be.

He didn’t want to say anything more and just turned away. Ronin didn’t mind. As soon as the masked man left, Ronin leaned back to sit where he was and continued to lie down and rest.

He took it as a vacation to get some rest for a few days.

It had been a long time since he had been able to just rest and do nothing.

He didn’t think much of it. He just continued to get some rest.

Catherine had been living in the dormitory for the past few days. Amelia and the others initially only speculated that Catherine and Branden had a fight, but now they could basically confirm that they did have a fight.

Catherine didn’t show any abnormality. She went to the lab every day when she was supposed to, had meals when she was supposed to, and there was no change in her mood.

But Amelia and Isabella were still a bit worried. Isabella asked Amelia to inquire about Catherine’s situation.

Amelia searched for Ronin for a long time without getting in touch with him and couldn’t help but feel a little strange. “Super Catherine, is Ronin busy with something lately?”

Catherine put down the literature in her hand and looked sideways toward Amelia. “Are you looking for him?”

Amelia nodded slightly. “He promised to do me a favor earlier. But I haven’t been able to find him for the past few days, and I don’t know what’s going on with him.”

“He’s got something going on and has left Loxton for a few days. He’ll be back after a while.”

After listening to Catherine’s explanation, Amelia finally understood why she couldn’t contact Ronin.

Ronin hadn’t been around since Catherine and Branden had their fight. He was usually the one who cared about Catherine the most, so Amelia had always found it strange.

It turned out that he had something to do and left Loxton. No wonder he didn’t show up. Amelia was disappointed that she couldn’t find out anything from Ronin.

With no way to find out the reason for their fight, Amelia thought about making Catherine happy. “Super Catherine, why don’t we go to the party together tonight?”

Catherine frowned slightly. She never loved to participate in all kinds of parties. Amelia was well aware of that, so they usually didn’t ask Catherine to participate with them when there were parties.

Since Catherine didn’t answer, Amelia started to convince her, “Super Catherine, this is not a normal party. You can also think of it as an academic seminar. It’s a party between our lab building and the next university’s lab building. Let’s just make friends with them. Let’s go together!”

Catherine was about to refuse when Isabella, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said, “Catherine, let’s go together!”

When Catherine was still somewhat surprised at how Isabella could say this, she saw Isabella reach out and push the black glasses on her face.

Isabella said a bit shyly, “I’ll go too, but I’m a bit scared. Could you please participate with us?”

Isabella, like Catherine, usually spent her free time in the library and never participated in social gatherings like this.

With Amelia’s persuasion and Isabella’s expectant gaze, Catherine finally agreed.

Seeing Catherine agree, Amelia jumped up and down with joy. “That’s great. Super Catherine is willing to participate. She will absolutely amaze the whole audience.”

Looking at Amelia who was full of joy, Catherine smiled lightly and continued to read the literature.

The party was at five o’clock in the evening, and Amelia and Isabella had been preparing since three o’clock.

Originally, they were going to dress Catherine up as well, but Catherine declined.

It was already good enough that she agreed to attend, so Amelia didn’t dare to ask too much. She started to dress Isabella up.

An hour later…

Thud, thud, thud. Amelia suddenly shouted, “Super Catherine, look.”

Upon hearing this, Catherine looked up.

Isabella, who usually dressed plainly, was currently wearing a pink dress, and the black-framed glasses on her face had been removed and replaced with clear contact lenses. The light makeup made her look even more charming, shedding her nerdiness and adding more of a girlish, youthful flavor to her face. She was very eye-catching.

“You look so beautiful!” Catherine complimented.

Hearing Catherine’s compliment, Amelia raised her eyebrows proudly at Isabella. “See? Am I right? You look beautiful when you dress up like this.”

Isabella was a bit shy, but she couldn’t help but look toward the mirror.

Amelia helped Isabella put on her makeup just now and was now prepared to dress herself up. “You guys wait for me. I’ll be quick. We’ll be leaving soon.”

Chapter 814 A Gathering

“We’re here. Let’s get out!” After Amelia called out, Catherine and Isabella followed her out of the ride- sharing car.

“Amelia, how did we end up here?”

Isabella looked at the brightly lit signs of the club, feeling a bit bashful.

Catherine stood calmly on the side, almost like an outsider. But she could tell this club was quite upscale. Just having money wasn’t enough to get in.

Hearing Isabella’s confusion, Amelia explained, “Don’t worry. A senior’s dad owns this place, and tonight’s get- together was arranged by him. It’s safe.

“Bella, if you don’t like it later, we’ll leave early!” Amelia said. After that, she turned to Catherine, asking, “Super Catherine, is it okay?”

Catherine nodded quietly. Since she promised to come out, the location didn’t matter much. As Amelia said, if they didn’t like it, they could leave.

“Amelia, over here!” As they approached the main entrance, someone loudly called out Amelia’s name.

After exchanging greetings, Amelia led Catherine and Isabella over. She was outgoing and had a great rapport with her classmates. The one calling her was a senior from their department. Seeing him glance around, Amelia quickly introduced everyone. She said, “Alfie, let me introduce my roommates. This is Isabella, and this is Catherine.”

Alfie Dixon’s eyes lit up as he heard Catherine’s name. In their school and the whole university town, everyone knew Catherine. She was low-key, rarely seen around the lecture halls.

She spent most of her time in the lab. Despite her absence in class, she aced everything, leaving no room for criticism from the teachers.

Knowing that Amelia and Catherine were roommates, Alfie suggested they all come together. He hadn’t expected to actually invite the revered Catherine. “Super Catherine, it’s an honor to meet you!”

Catherine politely smiled without saying much. Alfie didn’t mind, thinking she might be a bit shy. Having her here was already a big surprise. What astonished him further was Catherine’s appearance. He had seen her during live broadcasts of matches and found her stunning, but seeing her in person exceeded the television’s portrayal. She was extremely beautiful.

“Let’s not stand around. Let’s head into the private room to chat. Many classmates are waiting inside. Let’s go! “Alfie ushered everyone into the room.

Once Catherine entered, she greeted everyone and found a corner to sit in. Then she enjoyed the fruit plate Amelia had arranged for her.

Though Catherine seemed aloof, the others didn’t pay much heed. Her reserved nature was already a topic of various rumors. Her presence at this gathering was a pleasant surprise.

Unlike other social events centered around drinking and boasting, this group consisted of academic achievers who discussed scholarly topics while enjoying their meal and conversation. Overall, the atmosphere was pretty decent.

Isabella soon joined in and got involved in the discussions.

As the discussion heated up around an academic question, someone suggested asking Catherine for the answer. Everyone stared at Amelia and silently urged her forward.

Amelia had initially called Catherine out to lighten the atmosphere and make Catherine feel more comfortable. As she approached Catherine, she intended to ask her to answer. However, before Amelia could speak, Catherine offered an answer.

Everyone paused, momentarily taken aback by Catherine’s unexpected response. Her answer didn’t align with the two debated options. It was beyond everyone’s understanding.

Sensing the confusion, Catherine grabbed a nearby pen, and Amelia quickly fetched paper. “Super Catherine, here!”

“Thank you!” Catherine swiftly wrote down the solution steps on the paper, wasting no time. After finishing, she handed the paper to the crowd. “This is one of my approaches. You can take a look.”

Alfie took it and studied it carefully. After a while, he exclaimed, “So there’s this method too. That’s incredible!”

They had all been considering conventional methods for solving the problem, but Catherine used a simpler, more powerful approach. Everyone was amazed, and they thought Catherine was impressive. Seeing Catherine willing to speak up, people gathered the courage to approach her.

Catherine responded politely to those who asked, nearly entertaining every question. As more people saw her willingness to engage, the questions kept pouring in. Catherine’s insights were exceptional. Even outside her current research, she offered innovative solutions, which elevated the admiration for her even more.

“I’m going to the restroom!” Catherine announced her departure, and everyone quickly stepped aside to let her pass.

As Catherine left, whispers filled the room. One of them said, “I thought Catherine would be aloof, but she’s so approachable. I asked her a question twice, and she wasn’t annoyed. I felt bad.”

Someone replied, “Exactly. She is beautiful and intelligent. She’s like the pinnacle of humanity!”

Paxton stepped out of the private room, aiming to get some fresh air to clear his head after the drinks. Normally, Branden disliked attending social gatherings and rarely found himself in such situations. But due to a recent argument with Catherine, Branden, in a foul mood, had agreed to dine with business partners.

As Branden sat there, he had a stern, brooding expression and exuded an intimidating aura. No one dared to approach him for toasts. Approaching him seemed like asking for trouble. So, everyone turned to Paxton.

After a few rounds of drinks, even with his high tolerance, Paxton couldn’t handle this much alcohol. He excused himself to the restroom for some air. After taking a breath of fresh air, Paxton felt slightly more comfortable.

As he planned to return to the private room where Branden was still present, while exiting the men’s restroom, he caught sight of a familiar figure entering the women’s restroom across the hall. He thought inwardly, “What is she doing here?”

Paxton shook his head vigorously and doubted if the alcohol had triggered hallucinations. There was no spinning sensation, and he hadn’t drunk excessively. He thought inwardly, Could it really be her?” With the thought lingering, Paxton hastened his steps back to the private room. He needed to report this to Branden.

Chapter 815 Going Home

Catherine had just stepped out from the restroom when a sudden dark figure pounced on her. With lightning speed and force, the figure yanked her into an adjacent room. With a click, the sound of the lock echoed, plunging the entire restroom into darkness as if the power had been cut off.

“Not scared?” A deep, husky voice pierced the darkness, which was a bit familiar to Catherine.

Catherine scoffed with a smirk playing on her lips. “Impressive moves! Seems like you’ve done this before.” Even though Branden altered his voice intentionally, Catherine recognized him.

Branden smiled helplessly. “Don’t accuse me wrongly. You’re the only one I’ve done this to.” He wasn’t one to waste time on such affairs with others.

Catherine stayed silent. Despite the changed voice, as Branden drew closer, she had already identified him. No one could easily abduct her, not even Branden. The restroom was tight, and they were pressed together. They even could hear each other’s heartbeats.

“With whom did you come?” Branden asked. Just now, he didn’t believe Paxton’s story of meeting Catherine here. She’d been either in the dorm or the lab lately. He didn’t believe she could be here. After confirming Paxton’s eyes weren’t playing tricks, Branden hurriedly made his way over. Then Branden realized that it truly was Catherine.

“Amelia and Isabella dragged me to some academic conference,” Catherine explained.

Branden chuckled softly, and his voice was attractive. “An academic gathering in a place like this?”

Catherine didn’t respond, leaning in slightly to smell a faint trace of tobacco on his chest. “Is this yours?”

“No!” Branden protested immediately. Despite feeling down lately, he had sworn off smoking in front of Catherine. And he would stick to it. ” There was a business dinner tonight. Everyone else smoked except me. But somehow, their smoke latched onto me!

Catherine didn’t mind him smoking. It was just that Branden noticed she couldn’t stand the smell of smoke and mentioned wanting to quit. Not smoking was commendable, and Catherine approved.

After they understood each other’s reasons for being there, Catherine moved to leave and softly instructed, ” Have your men turn on the lights. I’m heading back.”

This was a high-end club, so it was unlikely for a sudden power outage to occur without anyone addressing it. It was pretty obvious who might be behind this.

For the first time, Branden didn’t comply with Catherine’s request. He encircled her waist with one arm and prevented her from leaving. “You’ve been absent from the apartment lately. Are you really planning to ignore me?”

“Busy!” Catherine retorted coldly.

Branden sneered and then replied, ” Busy? Busy enough to attend whatever discussion thing this is, but not to spare a moment for me?”

“I’ll explain later,” Catherine replied.

Branden didn’t want to let her go. He showed no intention of releasing his grip and buried his head in her shoulder. “No leaving!”

Hearing his somewhat childish tone, Catherine felt a bit helpless. “Your subordinates aware of your behavior like this?” she teased.

“What’s it to them?” Branden sneered in disdain. He didn’t care about these matters at all. Catherine was the most important person to him. With Catherine’s resistance growing apparent, Branden grew irate. He lifted her by the waist suddenly and then leaned down to steal a kiss.

Catherine initially intended to resist, but she eventually succumbed to his fervor.

After over half an hour, Catherine finally emerged from the restroom, trailed by the reluctant Branden.

Watching her walk away without a glance back, Branden smiled bitterly. It was his own doing, and he had to bear it.

As Catherine reached the room’s entrance, she bumped into Amelia, who was looking for her. “Super Catherine, where have you been for so long?” Amelia inquired.

Catherine glanced back at the corridor behind her and casually replied, “Just got some fresh air there.”

Amelia noticed Catherine’s disheveled hair and said, “The wind is quite strong. It messed up your hair!”

Catherine blushed a bit in embarrassment. She was relieved that Amelia didn’t seem to notice. “Come on. Let’s go in. Everyone’s still waiting! “Amelia insisted and led Catherine toward the room.

Catherine was absent-minded. When Amelia pulled her along inside, she didn’t resist.

After sitting in the room for a while longer, Catherine decided it was time to leave. “Professor Hartley is waiting for me to organize some documents. You guys enjoy it. I’m heading out!” she said.

Seeing Catherine leaving, Amelia suggested they depart together as they were almost done too.

“Wait for me. I’ll use the restroom quickly. Then we’ll leave together.” As Isabella got up, Amelia followed her out. They left Catherine behind to wait.

“Bella, today has been good, right?” Amelia asked.

“Yeah. Amelia, all the seniors are so nice!” Isabella replied.

“Of course. I don’t just pull you guys into any fraternity events. I’m quite selective. I noticed Alfie seems to have a thing for you. What do you think?” Amelia asked with a teasing smile.

Isabella shyly looked down. “You’re kidding. Alfie’s clearly focused on Catherine.”

Amelia shrugged off the notion. She was convinced that Alfie’s interest in Catherine was simply admiration.

At the same time, Branden finished the business dinner early and checked the private room where Catherine was supposed to be. He planned to pick her up and leave together. Unexpectedly, on his way, he bumped into Catherine’s roommates and overheard their conversation.

Branden’s handsome face turned gloomy in an instant. His deep eyes darkened, and his demeanor grew noticeably colder. He murmured in anger, “It’s a social gathering! She lied to me about an academic conference. Well done!”

Catherine noticed it was getting late, so she stepped out with Amelia’s and Isabella’s bags to find them. As she exited, she spotted the two with strange expressions. They didn’t dare to look at her.

“What’s going on?” Catherine found it odd.

Isabella nudged Amelia, signaling her to speak up. Isabella struggled to articulate herself, and she was unsure how to explain to Catherine.

Amelia was also unable to find words. She promptly snatched the bags from Catherine’s hands. Then she looked at Catherine solemnly. “Super Catherine, Bella and I need to leave now. We’ll contact you at the dorm.” With that, she grabbed Isabella and dashed off. She shot Catherine a look of sympathy before leaving.

Catherine found their behavior odd. However, her confusion cleared as she noticed Branden standing behind them with a grim expression. She sighed and then smiled lightly at Branden. “You scared them, didn’t you?”

“The social gathering turned into an academic conference?” Branden asked.

Catherine sensed the bitterness in his words. She couldn’t help but find him adorable in that moment. She approached him and took his hand. Seeing him unaffected, almost petulant, she found it amusing and showed an unusual patience. Then she said, “Maybe it’s a social gathering to them, but to me, it’s an academic conference. These perspectives aren’t contradictory. It’s just different ways of seeing things. Don’t you think so?”

Branden glared at her coldly. ” Impressive talk.”

“Let’s debate this at home then. Let’s go!” Catherine said.

As Branden heard Catherine mention going home, his initially dark expression softened. In a better mood, he held Catherine’s waist and left.

Chapter 816 A Bright Day

Last night’s gathering had quite a turnout, and many of the school’s movers and shakers were there. The next day, news of Catherine attending the gathering spread across the campus like wildfire. Thankfully, the buzz about her was positive. Even the senior students had nothing but high praise for Catherine. They mentioned she might seem reserved, but it wasn’t snobbishness. She was approachable and always willing to help.

Catherine’s reputation at school had been under a cloud due to rumors about her changing boyfriends. Some gossip suggested she only hung out with wealthy and influential people, even when it came to relationships. They said she would dump her boyfriend when she met a more wealthy man. But with this recent positive talk, it seemed like a clarification for Catherine’s name.

When Rylan arrived at school, he overheard these rumors. He immediately sought out Amelia, who could provide the information he sought better than Catherine.

Amelia caught sight of Rylan and wanted to evade him. Rylan was too handsome. She was afraid of drawing trouble if she looked at him a moment longer. She knew Rylan’s reason for getting close to her was solely because she was Catherine’s roommate. Catherine had helped Amelia a lot, and Amelia wouldn’t betray her. So, she tried her best to dodge him. But Amelia’s hopes of avoiding Rylan were futile. He never gave her the chance.

Apart from Catherine, there was no one Rylan couldn’t handle. In just a few words, Amelia was left dizzy and ended up spilling the details about the previous night.

“So, Catherine went there?” Rylan asked.

Amelia nodded. “Yeah. Not only did she go, but she was incredibly friendly. Everyone really liked her.”

“Is Catherine in the dorms? I went to the lab earlier, and the security guard said she hadn’t been there.”

Upon hearing Rylan’s question, Amelia secretly admired this man’s capability. The security guard at their school’s lab was notoriously difficult to deal with, and he was impossible to bribe. Yet, Rylan somehow managed to deal with him and get Catherine’s whereabouts. It was too eerie.

“Seems like Catherine hasn’t woken up yet. She stayed up late organizing some materials. When I left, she was still asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb her. “Amelia didn’t want to reveal Catherine’s whereabouts and came up with an excuse. Besides, Rylan couldn’t enter the female dorms, so there was no worry of being found out.

After getting the information he needed from Amelia, Rylan let her go.

When Amelia reached a secluded spot, she immediately dialed Catherine’s number on her phone. After a few rings, Catherine picked up. Amelia swiftly briefed her on the situation. She said, “That’s the gist of it. I told him you’re resting in the dorm. The rest is up to you.”

The ringing phone not only woke up Catherine but also Branden, who lay beside her. The feeling of being able to reach out and pull his beloved one closer made him exceptionally content. In the past few days when Catherine hadn’t returned to the apartment, he’d spent almost every night sleepless.

With a strong arm, Branden effortlessly pulled Catherine toward him. “Whose call is it?” Perhaps due to just waking up, Branden’s voice was unusually deep and attractive. It was so pleasant that lifted the mood.

“Amelia. She had something to tell me. “Catherine tried to shift a bit forward, but Branden held her too tightly. His high body temperature made her slightly sweaty. Catherine attempted to escape, but Branden didn’t give her the chance. Instead, he pulled her even closer.

“It’s nine now. Aren’t you going to work today?” Catherine asked and frowned. Considering Branden’s usually terrifying discipline, waking up at six every day, preparing her breakfast, dropping her at school, and then going to the office himself, it was unusual for him to laze around until 9 am.

Facing Catherine’s slightly scornful tone, Branden didn’t mind at all. Instead, he rubbed his forehead against her neck. “I finished my work ahead of time a few days ago, so I’m taking today off.”

Catherine was surprised to hear about someone completing tasks ahead of time for the first time. She thought Branden was shameless to make such a statement.

As Catherine sensed the warmth behind her, her legs, which had just relaxed, seemed to ache again as if influenced by it. After returning from the club last night, Branden was so insatiable that he had tirelessly kept her up all night. If she didn’t stay up until the early morning, she wouldn’t still be asleep at this hour. If Amelia hadn’t called, she might have slept until sunset. Despite her decent stamina, compared to the man behind her, she fell short, especially in a certain aspect where this man seemed tireless.

“I’m hungry.” Catherine stared expressionlessly at the ceiling.

Branden certainly could see through Catherine’s thoughts. He did push quite a bit last night. Catherine might still be sore now. Even if Catherine didn’t say anything, he couldn’t continue bothering her. He threw off the blanket and got out of bed. “Wait. I’ll get you something.”

With her elbows propped on the bed, Catherine squinted and admired Branden’s muscular figure and perfect shape. He noticed Catherine’s gaze and purposely flexed, tightening his core to reveal his perfect abs.

Seeing Branden showing off, Catherine laughed and collapsed back on the bed. She grabbed a pillow and hit him. “Get out of here!”

Amid the laughter and playfulness, a cheerful atmosphere filled the entire apartment.

Branden prepared a bowl of soup and some light dishes. Then he placed the prepared breakfast in front of Catherine. “After eating, I’ll take you to school.”

“No need!” Catherine bluntly refused, making Branden furrow his brows. He asked, “Are you still upset?”

“No. I have something to take care of,” Catherine explained. As if anticipating Branden’s next words, Catherine added, “I’ll go by myself.”

Seeing her insistence, Branden couldn’t help but glance at her a bit more. Catherine remained composed and calmly sipped her soup, allowing him to look.

“Aren’t you going to school?” Branden asked.

Catherine nodded. She had something to attend to.

In the end, Branden didn’t escort Catherine out. She left on her own and rode a motorcycle from the underground garage.

The moment Paxton saw Catherine leaving the garage, he became upset again. He wondered if they had another argument. He had been looking forward to a good day. He was afraid it would be ruined again.

Upon seeing Branden, Paxton immediately straightened up. He was afraid of causing any trouble inadvertently. Once Branden got into the car, he directly instructed Paxton to head to the company. Paxton immediately started the car and maintained complete silence throughout the journey. He even breathed cautiously.

Upon arrival at the company, Paxton parked the car and swiftly moved to the backseat to open the door for Branden. After Branden got out of the car, he handed a package to Paxton. Paxton respectfully received it, his heart racing. “Mr. Duncan, what’s this?”

“I made extra breakfast. Kathy said to share it with you.” Branden made too many sandwiches in the morning. Catherine said the freshly made ones shouldn’t go to waste, and they needed to be shared.

It took Paxton a while to come back to reality from his daze. He was filled with surprise and happiness. Branden personally shared breakfast with him. It seemed like today was going to be a bright day.

Chapter 817 The Orphanage

Although Catherine knew no one was following her, for safety’s sake, she circled the house a few more times before finally entering Connie’s place. As she rhythmically tapped the door, Zobber received the signal and rushed to open it.

“Catherine, you’re finally here!” Before the door was fully open, Zobber’s excited voice came through.

The seemingly ordinary wooden door had a special system installed that required a specific rhythm of knocks to ring the doorbell inside the house. It was a small trick they developed to protect the occupants. That’s why Zobber knew it was Catherine even before opening the door. Apart from her, only Connie knew the rhythm. Since Connie had a key and wouldn’t knock, the visitor had to be Catherine.

Withal, who sprawled on the couch listlessly, saw Zobber pull Catherine inside and couldn’t help but tease, ” Can’t you stop clinging to Catherine like a koala to a eucalyptus tree all the time?”

“Mind your own business!” Zobber snapped.

Seeing the two about to bicker again, Catherine coldly asked, “Did you call me here just to watch you two squabble? “Zobber had informed her last night to come by when she had time.

At Catherine’s command, they immediately stopped. They might love to joke around, but they’d rather endure each other than anger Catherine. Nothing was scarier than provoking her.

Zobber took the initiative to apologize, “Catherine, I’ll stop messing around. Let’s get to business.” After helping Catherine sit, Zobber playfully kicked Withal’s thigh. “Get moving!”

“Hey, easy there!” Withal winced in pain and rubbed where he was kicked. Then he got up to fetch Zobber a laptop.

Once the equipment was set up, Zobber compiled the information they’d gathered into a slideshow and presented it to Catherine. “Catherine, this is what we’ve found. Take a look!”

Ever since they captured the individuals, they, along with Carlo, had been interrogating them together. Though these people were tough and fearless, in their hands, even the toughest mouths loosened. However, these low-level individuals had limited information, resulting in fewer leads.

“Catherine, following our previous plan, we dug into immigration records. These people all hail from the city where the Breens reside. They’re likely the Breens’ bodyguards!”

Every major family nurtured its own forces, not just in the market but in shadowy realms as well. By various means, they recruited and trained individuals like these as bodyguards. These bodyguards were willing to sacrifice themselves when the family’s interests demanded.

“Anything else?” Catherine asked. Considering the short timeframe, what they’d uncovered was already quite challenging. But she sensed things weren’t that simple. She knew Shane was involved, but this time, it likely wasn’t just him.

“Nothing more.” Zobber shook her head somewhat sheepishly. That was all she could dig up.

Withal, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up. He said, “Catherine, I’ve got some more findings here.”

Catherine glanced at him and signaled him to continue.

“Catherine, as I delved into these records, I found something interesting. Among those we captured, three of them had records of staying at the orphanage in Loewe when they were young.”

Loewe was a country, and since these people were collected from all corners by the Breens, having some from Loewe wasn’t surprising. However, among the six or seven they apprehended, having three from the orphanage in Loewe seemed more than a coincidence.

Withal never believed in coincidences, so he reported this matter to Catherine. Catherine lightly stroked her chin, seemingly contemplating the new lead Withal had provided.

Withal had hoped Catherine might offer a new direction based on this information, but she steered away from the topic. “Have you notified Wantel? Has he started investigating?”

“Wantel has begun, but there aren’t any leads yet,” Zobber replied. She was the one in contact with Wantel.

The Hacker Alliance had expanded rapidly in recent years, and with many joining the organization, investigations weren’t easy tasks.

Withal noticed Catherine’s silence and found it somewhat odd, but he didn’t press further.

Once Catherine had gathered the information she needed, she left Connie’s place.

Zobber was lost in thought and gazed in the direction Catherine had departed. She took a while to snap out of it.

With a smack, Withal slapped Zobber on the back of her head. He finally avenged the earlier kick.

Zobber angrily turned and wanted to hit Withal. “What’s wrong with you, hitting my head for no reason?”

“Your deep thoughts got you into this mess. Serves you right!”

The two fought each other for a while until Zobber was exhausted and slumped down. “Seriously, do you ever get a feeling?”

“What feeling? A liking for you?” Withal blurted out.

His words hung in the air, and even Zobber was taken aback.

“Ding-dong! It’s time for the hourly chime!” The clock on the wall chimed pleasantly, snapping Zobber out of her reverie. She grabbed a nearby tissue box and hurled it at Withal. “You bastard! I’m discussing serious matters here. Why do you blurt out nonsense?”

Withal laughed, masking his embarrassment at the slip-up. “Okay. Spill it. What feeling?”

Zobber sat up straight and looked earnestly at Withal. “Do you think Catherine seems less concerned about this matter? In the past, she’d have been right in the thick of it. But this time, she’s almost passive, less agitated than even us. Doesn’t seem right, does it? It’s Ronin who’s been captured. Catherine raised Ronin herself.”

Withal gave a wry smile. He had noticed this issue long before. Since the incident, Catherine’s attitude had indeed shown some laxity, not as urgent as it used to be. If he hadn’t always unquestionably trusted Catherine, he would have started suspecting earlier. Withal replied, “As you said, it’s Ronin. How could Catherine not be anxious? Maybe it’s because of the experiments on hand. I heard they’re nearing completion.”

“Makes sense!” Zobber nodded in agreement.

Seeing her dispel doubts, Withal inwardly sighed in relief. Zobber seemed clever, but sometimes, she was incredibly stubborn. He worried she might sense something amiss and dive headfirst into investigating. If things went wrong, it wouldn’t just disrupt Catherine’s plans but would also entangle herself. For now, all Withal could do was hope this matter would end soon so that they could return to their carefree days.

Chapter 818 The Final Round

“Sir, it seems like our folks have been traced by Zobber and her crew!” The masked man knelt on one knee and respectfully reported the situation to the figure cloaked in black.

“Well, that was quick. Seems I’ve underestimated these people’s abilities, “the man in black said coldly. An aura of chill emanated from him, which sent shivers down spines. Then he continued, “Get it arranged. Have everyone under your command leave Loxton, and bring in another group!”

They had plenty of folks, so unraveling their details wasn’t going to be an easy task. By sending in a fresh team, he aimed to exhaust Zobber and her crew. Even if it took time, he’d wear them down.

The masked man trembled on his knees, and he knew the truth. Sending these people back was just a polished way of saying. The man in charge wouldn’t keep anyone without utility. To the masked man, the future these people faced was frightening. “Sir, I’ll get right on it!” He dared not defy the orders, fearing he’d be the next sacrifice.

Seeing the masked man compliant enough, the figure in black didn’t press further. He commanded coldly, “Step up the pace with Ronin!” The threatening tone sent shivers through the masked man.

“Sir, you can count on me. I’ll give it my all.”

“Dismissed!”

The masked man left the room. As he stepped out of the gate, a sudden chill shot through his spine. He broke out in a cold sweat. With the constant pressure from the higher-ups to hasten the mission, the masked man dared not delay and rushed straight to where Ronin was being held.

Ronin was as usual. He immersed himself in his solo gaming session and enjoyed the specially delivered food as if in total bliss. After the masked man entered the room, he got a mere glance from Ronin, who then resumed his game as if unperturbed.

The masked man said, “Ronin, I brought you here to work for me. If you’re of no use, do you really want me to spell out your fate?”

Hearing the threat, Ronin lazily put down his game controller and gave the man a lazy look. “You’re like someone who can’t understand plain language.”

Being scolded by Ronin, the masked man burst into a fury. His eyes widened, and he threatened to act.

Ronin scoffed and added, “If you’re capable, why not just make your move? We’ve been through this before. Do you think I’m scared? Listen. Threats won’t work, and I’ve said I’ll cooperate.”

Hearing that, the masked man became upset. Ronin always used a friendly tone to deceive him, and he had enough of these lies. “You promised cooperation. Is there any progress?”

Facing the interrogation, Ronin didn’t oblige, showing no signs of being captive. “What’s the deal? You talk tough, but where are the goods?” The questioning silenced the masked man. If they had what they needed, why bother with Ronin?

The silent pause allowed Ronin to mock. He sneered and then said, “Stop blabbering if you can’t deliver. Do you think Catherine’s computer is your playground? Do you think you can waltz in and grab what you want? Do you even know Catherine’s capabilities? Is it you or your superiors who are clueless? Want me to educate you?”

The masked man was left speechless and was unable to argue back. Helplessly, he ceased arguing with Ronin. “Alright. Then tell me. How long will it take you to sort this out? Give me a timeframe. Can you manage that?”

“No time for deadlines!” Ronin said arrogantly and then extended his hand to the masked man. “Give me the computer now. I’ll try at this moment.”

The masked man had to arrange the computer for Ronin and brought it to him.

As soon as Ronin had the computer, he got to work. Despite being monitored throughout, Ronin remained unfazed.

He worked on the computer. He constantly typed code and attacked the defense systems set up on Catherine’s computer.

The masked man thought Ronin was playing tricks again. He didn’t hold much hope. Surprisingly, half an hour later, Ronin notified him and said, “It’s done. Have a look for yourself.”

The masked man didn’t react initially and maintained his posture.

“Move it!” Ronin kicked him. “Hurry up!”

Infuriated by Ronin’s insolence, the masked man wanted to teach him a lesson.

However, Ronin said arrogantly, Come on. Try it! If you don’t want the data, then go ahead and try something.

“Wait and see!” The masked man gritted his teeth and pointed at Ronin. Then he obediently followed Ronin’s instructions and opened the files on the computer to check.

“This is all I could find. Whether it’s useful, see for yourself,” Ronin said.

The masked man carefully examined the stolen data by Ronin and grew more excited by the moment. These were all classified research documents by Catherine. While these were not the core material, with this information, he could temporarily fulfill his duties to his boss. This also proved that Ronin wasn’t just putting on an act.

“Good job!” After the masked man praised Ronin, he added new conditions. He said, “However, these files aren’t enough. We need more critical information.”

His words irked Ronin. “I’ve said it before. It’s not that easy. Getting these was already difficult. If you’re not happy, even if you kill me, you won’t get what you want!”

The masked man understood Ronin’s words and knew he wasn’t lying. If it were that easy to obtain, there had to be a catch. The masked man had the computer taken away. As Ronin provided new information, he arranged a sumptuous dinner for him. Ronin began eating contentedly and paid no attention to the masked man. Seeing Ronin compliant enough, the masked man left with the data.

For the past few days, Catherine had been working tirelessly in the laboratory.

Marshall was so busy helping her with the experiments and preparing the necessary materials. “Catherine, is this the final round of experiments?”

Catherine was engrossed in her work, but upon hearing Marshall’s words, she stopped and looked at him. “Yes. It’s the final round. Once this round of experiments passes, we can take the data report for certification.”

A research project, from inception to obtaining results, took a considerable amount of time. To safeguard a project from infringement, completed experiment results could be taken to authoritative institutions for certification. Upon successful certification, the project in the laboratory was protected. Even in cases of accidental theft or leakage, the results of the experiment couldn’t be plagiarized because internationally, only the first certified laboratory was acknowledged.

Hearing Catherine’s words, Marshall smiled. “I didn’t expect it to be this quick. Catherine, among the students I’ve seen, you’re the most talented. Have you decided when to go for certification? Pick a good day. I’ll accompany you.”

“Next Friday,” Catherine responded.

With seven to eight days until next Friday, Marshall believed that Catherine’s confidence in this timeline was justified. “Great. That works!”

Chapter 819 The Lab

Over the next while, Catherine dove into the tense and busy final stage. It seemed like everyone knew about Catherine’s situation. No one dared to disturb her.

Rylan occasionally showed up, but he never crossed paths with Catherine. He didn’t think much of it, because Branden did the same. Branden would come back once in a while, yet he couldn’t catch Catherine either.

Catherine practically lived in the lab. She put in all her time to smoothly finish the last phase of the experiment.

One noon, Branden showed up again. As he arrived at the lab building, he spotted Rylan waiting at the entrance. Branden glanced at him with a sharp hostility in his eyes.

Surprisingly, Rylan stepped forward and greeted him, “Mr. Duncan, quite persistent, huh? Sacrificing business for a student. Is it worth it?”

Hearing the teasing tone, Branden let out a cold laugh and replied, “Mr. Melton, if it is not worth it, why are you lurking around here day in, day out like a faithful lapdog?”

Rylan laughed and then replied, “Who is the real lapdog? That’s up for debate. But I see myself as the one who’ll win her affection.”

“Enough. Mr. Melton, quit showing off, “Branden replied. They mocked each other with no niceties.

Rylan attempted to say more, but Branden interjected, “The soup won’t taste good if it gets cold. I’ll be going, Mr. Melton.” With that, Branden strode straight toward the lab building.

At the entrance, the security guard stopped Branden. Rylan wanted to mock, but Branden intentionally raised his voice toward the guard and said, ” Family of Catherine here. Need to register? Or should I ask her to come down and escort me up?”

Marshall specifically instructed the security guard to allow Branden’s entry due to his special status. He was not just Catherine’s family but also the biggest investor in the lab. “Mr. Duncan, please proceed,” the security guard replied.

“Thanks.” Branden was polite, yet as he entered, he glanced back at Rylan with a look filled with provocation. He was seemingly mocking Rylan’s incapability.

This really irked Rylan waiting at the entrance. He had worked hard to befriend the security guard over these days. But Branden just strolled in and made Rylan embarrassed. Rylan grew increasingly agitated and immediately dialed his assistant. He said, “I don’t care how. Just make me the Styre Laboratory’s top sponsor!” Once Rylan successfully edged out Branden, he would promptly have the security guard remove Branden. Within a 100- yard radius of the lab, he didn’t want to see even a trace of Branden’s presence.

In the face of Rylan’s frustration, Branden strolled happily toward Catherine’s lab. On the way, he met Marshall, who was working late in the lab. Branden politely greeted him, ” Professor Hartley!”

Upon seeing Branden, Marshall smiled warmly. Despite the hard days, the experiment had progressed smoothly, which made him pleased. “Visiting Catherine?” he asked.

Branden nodded and lifted the lunch box in his hand. “Kathy’s not been well, missing meals. Thought I’d bring her something.”

Seeing Catherine’s hardship, Marshall was touched. Seeing Branden’s concern, he felt Branden might be reliable. Even though Branden was excessively wealthy, as long as he was willing to treat Catherine well, Marshall could overlook the rest. After all, not all capitalists were bad people. ”

Right. Go ahead and give it to her. Take good care of her. She’s been through a lot these days!” Marshall said.

“Sure thing!” Branden unusually responded obediently. After approaching the lab, he glimpsed Catherine deeply engrossed in her work through the glass window. She skillfully operated the machinery, and her beautiful face shone even more in the professional setting.

Perhaps sensing something, Catherine finished her task and subconsciously glanced back. Through the glass, she spotted Branden standing outside. After adjusting all the equipment to work autonomously, she removed her lab coat and stepped out. “You’re here. Why didn’t you call for me?”

Branden’s eyes softened considerably as he saw her. He walked up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. ” You were focused. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Catherine indeed didn’t like interruptions while working, and Branden understood that about her. He knew her preferences well.

After leading him to a nearby break room, Catherine looked at the lunch box he carried with a resigned expression. “I’ve already had lunch.”

Branden didn’t mind Catherine’s refusal. “Miss Swann, dedicated work is good, but occasional breaks are necessary. Inside, besides the main meal, there are some snacks and fruits. Think of it as an afternoon coffee break.

Catherine looked at him with a hint of amusement in her beautiful eyes. “Do your employees know you give such advice, Mr. Duncan?”

Branden raised his brow and looked at Catherine in confusion. She quickly explained, “Don’t they say capitalists are evil, treating labor as machines to exploit? Do your employees know about your ‘work-life balance’ ideals?”

Hearing that, Branden shrugged at Catherine’s explanation. “Capitalists might be evil, but that evil isn’t directed at their lovers.”

Teasingly, Catherine remarked, ” Capitalists not only have evil methods but also silver tongues!”

Branden opened the lunch box and set aside the main meal since Catherine claimed to have eaten. He took out some light snacks and fruit and placed them in front of her. Since there was no table, he held them in his hands and made it easier for Catherine to eat.

Catherine nibbled on the snacks as she engaged in a somewhat aimless conversation.

“Is the experiment almost done?” Branden asked.

“Should be. It’s due for certification next Friday,” Catherine replied.

Though Catherine’s face didn’t betray any signs, Branden could tell she was weary. She endured such hardships. Branden felt for her, yet he knew he couldn’t halt her progress. This path was her own choice, and it was one he couldn’t take over. He could only accompany her through.

“When the experiment’s over, I’ll take you somewhere to unwind!” Branden said.

“Okay. Once things are settled, we’ll go for a break.” Handing back the empty box to Branden, Catherine said, “You should go back to work. I might be stuck in the lab for a while.”

“Alright. Let me know when you are done. I’ll come pick you up,” Branden replied.

Chapter 820 You and Me

Catherine finished the first round of experiments and walked out of the lab at 10 pm. That was when she saw Rylan waiting by the door.

Rylan came back very often, like before. But she barely talked with him. And he did not disturb her either by watching in silence.

But Rylan was somehow different today. His face twisted with anger. He was covered in a frenzy of rage. The minute he saw Catherine, he walked over and said, “Catherine, we need to talk.”

Catherine did not refuse and sat on a bench with him. She did not want to waste time with Rylan, so she got to the point directly. “What’s the matter?”

“Catherine, you know Branden is using you. Why do you still fall for him?” asked Rylan angrily.

Catherine was expressionless, her eyes fixed on him like two sharp knives. ” Rylan, that is not your business. You are in no place to judge.”

“I don’t want to see you be deceived,” said Rylan, looking at Catherine affectionately with a complex expression, painful and sympathetic. ”

Catherine, you are the one I care about the most. I see your hard work in the experiment. The last thing I want is for you to be someone’s stepping stone.”

Catherine still looked at him as if she had magically seen through him with her dark, shiny eyes. That gave Rylan a chill.

“What about you? What is your purpose?” she asked.

Rylan dared not look Catherine in the eyes. “Catherine, I care for you because you are my only friend and the one I want to protect.”

Touching, but worthless.

“Rylan, I don’t care what your purpose is. Let me tell you one more time. Stay out of my business. Whether Branden is using me or he loves me has nothing to do with you. I can handle my own business without you telling me what to do. This is the last time I warn you.” With that, Catherine left.

Rylan looked at Catherine from behind, his eyes turning cold. He thought, ‘ Catherine, this is your decision. You will pay for it.’

“Damn it! They are all gone!” Zobber’s rant caught Withal’s attention.

He stopped what he was doing and looked at her. “What’s going on?”

Hearing Withal’s voice, Zobber could not help but complain. “My effort is wasted. These people are gone. They have all disappeared unexpectedly. How weird is that?”

A few days ago, they arrested a few hostile people and interrogated them. Although they did not gain much information, they still got some clues, including the whereabouts of some of the hostile members.

Zobber and Withal decided to track them down secretly, monitor their actions, and find their basement. Then, they would be able to rescue Ronin, figure out who was behind the scenes, and kick their asses.

So, Zobber spent two days developing a secret weapon that could remain undetected while tracking people down. Unexpectedly, when she was about to put this secret weapon into use, those people were already gone. She could not even find any traces of them.

Withal frowned. He inspected it closely. Those people were gone without traces like Zobber said. Looking at Withal’s solemn face, Zobber was a little worried. “Why’s the long face? It is not a big deal. We will find them again.” She meant to comfort him because Zobber barely saw Withal as solemn as now.

“I’m afraid it is not that simple,” said Withal in a low voice.

That made Zobber nervous. “What do you mean, Withal?”

“We have been tracking them for so long. There’s no way they disappear like that unless they are all….” Withal made a gesture. Even Zobber was startled.

“You mean they are killed?” asked Zobber.

Withal nodded slightly, frowning unconsciously. They had known very little about their enemies. The enemies were more terrible and ruthless than they expected.

“What do we do now?” Zobber also felt the seriousness of the situation and could not help but feel a bit worried.

“Dead or alive, we have to find out ourselves,” said Withal. He was preparing already.

Seeing his action, Zobber also kept up. ” We will go together. I’ll inform Catherine.”

“No need.” Withal refused. Zobber stopped and looked at him in confusion. “Why?”

“I’m afraid Catherine is busy with experiments. I heard that it is a critical point now. So, it will be only you and me. Tell Wantells to back us up. And also inform Connie in case we die,” said Withal.

He seemed to be joking, but it showed how dangerous it was. Or else he would not involve Connie in this.

Zobber shrugged and relaxed a little, smiling at Withal. “All right, as you said, only you and me.”

Withal patted her head from behind and said, “You and me!”

Zobber slapped his hand off and said, ” Don’t treat me like a three-year-old. Stopping patting my head. Go away!”

The two of them played around again, and the tension instantly eased.

Catherine got a message from Zobber when she woke up. They did not ask her to come together, knowing she was busy with her experiments. Zobber only informed her of their action. Zobber explained Withal’s arrangement in the message. With Connie together and Wantells backing them up, their safety could be assured to the greatest extent.

But Catherine was still worried about them. She knew how cruel their enemy was. She had to think of other ways to help them.

She took out her phone and called Paxton. “Paxton, bring Zobber and Withal back safely.” She could use Branden’s people without his instructions now.

Paxton acted right away. Catherine’s order equaled Branden’s order. Branden had told him so many times. ” Okay, Miss Swann. Don’t worry, Loxton is our place. They will be fine.”

Paxton hung up and made some arrangements.