Ch. 911..920

Chapter 911 Drop the Act

Zobber woke up and saw Withal sitting alone on the couch, playing games on his cellphone. Seeing his expressionless face, Zobber couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

“What’s wrong with you?” Knowing Withal well, Zobber sensed that something was bothering him.

Withal glanced at the laptop in front of him and coldly said, “The results are out. Take a look for yourself.”

Zobber couldn’t help but wonder if there was something unexpected about the results. Filled with suspicion, she pressed a key. As the screen lit up, it displayed the results of Withal’s investigation.

The moment Zobber saw the results, she was furious. “Damn it! It’s him! I’m going to grab him. If I don’t give this traitor a good beating today, I won’t be able to calm down.”

Zobber stormed off in anger, about to leave the apartment, but Withal grabbed her. She glared at Withal. “The evidence is clear, and you still want to stop me?”

“I’m not trying to stop you. I’m going with you!”

Although reluctant to believe it, Withal verified the results several times, and they stayed the same. Zobber was impulsive, and he was worried she might get into trouble. Regardless of the outcome, he planned to accompany Zobber to find out the truth.

“That’s more like it. Let’s go together!” Zobber happily put her arm around him, her smile returning to her face.

Ronin spent the entire afternoon in the lab with Catherine. It wasn’t until dinner time that he came out, planning to prepare dinner. Shortly after leaving the lab, he received a call from Withal. ” You’re at the school gate, planning to pick me up for dinner? Why? Catherine didn’t mention it to me.” Ronin was puzzled, unsure about Withal’s sudden visit.

Withal said there was something important to discuss and asked Ronin to come to the gate.

Without much thought, Ronin hurried to the school gate without even telling Catherine.

Upon reaching the gate, he saw Withal and Zobber leaning against a car. Hurrying over, he greeted them before stopping in front of Zobber, who was smiling strangely with an eerie look in her eyes.

Hesitating, Ronin looked at Zobber. ” What’s with that look? I have a bad feeling about this…”

Before he could finish, Zobber swiftly struck him with a chop to the neck, leaving him unconscious.

Before losing consciousness, all Ronin could think of was Catherine’s warning -never fully trust anyone. How could he forget that a woman’s heart could be the most treacherous?

After knocking out Ronin, Zobber quickly dragged him into the car. ” Withal, drive. Let’s find a secluded place to interrogate this punk,” she ordered.

Withal nodded and stepped on the gas, speeding away.

Meanwhile, Marshall passed by Catherine’s lab and noticed the lights were still on. He entered and asked, ” Why are you still here, Catherine?”

Catherine, upon seeing Marshall, replied nonchalantly, “There are still some things to take care of.”

Scanning the empty laboratory, Marshall frowned. “You haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

Catherine was about to mention that Ronin had taken care of it, but she held back. She then realized it was already past 8 p.m. and understood why Marshall was concerned about her not having dinner.

To relieve Marshall, she said that she would leave soon. Once Marshall left, Catherine immediately tried to contact Ronin, only to hear Zobber’s voice on the other end.

“Why is it you? Where’s Ronin?” Catherine asked.

“Catherine, I needed to talk to Ronin about something urgent. He’s busy right now. Do you need anything?”

Zobber replied.

“No,” Catherine said, but before she could say more, Zobber hastily hung up the phone.

With the call abruptly ended, Catherine furrowed her brow, feeling that something was off about the situation. She decided to quickly finish her work and then go check on things.

Ronin woke up groggily in a secret room, confused to see Zobber and Withal in front of him. “Have you both gone crazy? Why did you capture me for no reason?” he asked.

“Why did we capture you?” Zobber, visibly angry, retorted, “Ronin, you’re still trying to play dumb, huh? I have solid evidence. Just drop the act!”

Confused, Ronin asked, “What do you mean? What act? Zobber, is there some misunderstanding?”

To make him give up, Zobber presented the evidence in front of him. “Take a good look at this.”

After seeing the evidence, Ronin was stunned. “How is this possible?” he exclaimed, denying, “It’s not me!”

Zobber didn’t believe his denial. ”

Ronin, I investigated you. Are you telling me you didn’t do it? Not only did you betray the alliance, but you also betrayed Catherine. You own the video. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Ronin was at a loss for words. There was no way to explain how the video leaked from his database. His database was the most important to him, and very few people could crack its password, let alone implant a video without being detected. Now, with the solid evidence, he couldn’t explain the situation.

“No matter how I explain, Zobber, I know you won’t believe me. I have no idea, but I didn’t do it, really!” Ronin said.

However, Zobber saw his explanations as mere excuses. “As a member of the Hacker Alliance, you should know the interrogation methods we use. If you confess, I won’t hurt you,” she said, looking at Ronin with a pained expression. Reluctant but determined to root out the traitor, she had to resort to force.

Sensing Zobber’s unwavering determination, Ronin glanced at Withal behind her. “Are you going along with this, Withal? Do you believe I’m a traitor?”

Withal remained silent, torn between his trust in Ronin and his responsibility to the alliance. He couldn’t afford to spare any suspicious individuals, regardless of their friendship.

Chapter 912 How Dare You!

Withal turned away, unable to bring himself to hurt his good friend. He delegated the task of extracting a confession to Zobber, cautioning her to be gentle.

Zobber nodded. But then again, she used to be Ronin’s close friend as well. How could she bring herself to harm him?

Zobber slowly approached Ronin. She decided to try her best not to hurt him and urged him to tell the truth.

Looking at the interrogation tools, Ronin realized they were serious about this, and he resigned himself to his fate.

Just as Zobber was about to take action, the door to the secret room was forcefully knocked open. Before the three of them realized what was going on, they saw a motorcycle crash through the door and land smoothly on the ground.

Catherine parked the heavy bike, stepped off, and gazed coldly at the three individuals.

At the sight of Catherine, Zobber panicked instinctively. “Catherine, why are you here?” Catherine glared at her and said, “I’ll teach you a lesson later.” Then, she walked over to Ronin.

Drawing a knife from behind her waist, she freed Ronin from the ropes. After putting away the knife, she smacked Ronin on the head.

Ronin looked bewildered, gazing up at Catherine with a puzzled expression. She glared at him and rebuked, “I taught you how to deal with this kind of situation back then. And now you’re tied up like this, staring at me like a fool?”

Hearing Catherine’s words, Ronin lowered his head and muttered, “I never expected these two to be the ones to attack me.”

Though his voice was low, everyone present heard it. Withal and Zobber laughed awkwardly, knowing that Catherine was angry.

Seeing Catherine untie Ronin, Zobber took the initiative to explain to Catherine. “Catherine, Ronin is a traitor, I have evidence!”

“What evidence?” Catherine asked.

Zobber then presented the information she had found to Catherine.

After glancing at the documents, Catherine threw them at Zobber. “Is this your so-called evidence?”

Zobber looked at Catherine in disbelief. “Catherine, isn’t it enough?” She had worked hard for two days to dig up the information, only to have it dismissed by Catherine.

Catherine retorted, “Evidence? I could produce two copies of these in an hour.”

Zobber couldn’t accept these harsh words and glared at Catherine. “You are covering for Ronin, Catherine! You have a good relationship with him, so you refuse to believe he betrayed you. Even when the fact is right in front of you, you refuse to accept it!”

Catherine bellowed, “How dare you!”

Sensing the tension, Withal reached out to try to stop Zobber, but to no avail.

“I used to respect you because you are fair and capable. But now, you’ve turned a blind eye to Ronin. I won’t listen to you anymore,” Zobber said defiantly before storming off in anger.

Withal glanced at Catherine and urgently followed her out. Ronin looked worriedly in the direction they left, then turned to Catherine. ” Catherine, Zobber will be okay, right?”

Catherine, expressionless, replied, ” Withal is with her. Nothing will happen.

“It wasn’t me, Catherine!” Ronin knew Catherine believed him, but he couldn’t help but explain again.

Catherine nodded slightly. “I know.”

Despite this, Ronin felt very upset. His two best friends didn’t trust him now. ” Catherine, give me some time. I will find evidence and clear my name.”

Catherine didn’t say much. After saving Ronin, she left directly. She was tired and needed to rest.

Ronin came out of the secret room, feeling dejected. Not long after, he ran into Finn, who looked at him and gestured towards a nearby car.

Although Ronin was feeling frustrated, he still got into the car. He couldn’t let his emotions disrupt Catherine’s plan.

Before long, the car stopped, and Ronin was brought in front of Black Robe. Then, Finn left.

Ronin was still pondering why he was brought here, so he didn’t speak immediately. Black Robe slowly said, ” Have you suffered?”

Ronin suddenly realized something and glared at the man in front of him. “So, it was you who planted those pieces of evidence. Do you know I almost got killed by Zobber?”

His agitated demeanor, to Black Robe, seemed like the anger of someone who had suffered inhumane treatment, which made him aware of the success of his plan, bringing him inner joy. ” Don’t get so worked up. You’re still standing in front of me now, aren’t you? This time, I’ll give you credit,” said Black Robe.

“I don’t care!” Ronin couldn’t hide his anger. “You take all the credit. I almost lost my life.”

The more agitated Ronin became, the more Black Robe thought he was successful. In the end, Ronin left safely with a large check as a reward.

He kept the money, even though it was ill-gotten gains. He would rather donate it to charity than tear it up on the spot.

Branden came home from work and saw Catherine peacefully asleep on the couch. Seeing this softened his heart a bit, He approached slowly, ready to pick her up.

However, his phone started buzzing, so he chose to answer the phone first to avoid waking Catherine.

Catherine woke up slowly and felt a presence nearby. It seemed like Branden was approaching. But when she opened her eyes, the living room was empty.

Seeing the shoes by the door, Catherine knew it wasn’t her imagination. She got up slowly and headed in the direction of the study. If he wasn’t in the living room, he was most likely in the study.

As she approached the study, Catherine stopped in her tracks. She heard voices inside, and they mentioned her.

Chapter 913 Drown Her Sorrows

“Keep it from Catherine for now. I’ll tell her once everything is settled.” With that, Branden hung up the phone, feeling exhausted from the intense work in recent days. He pinched the bridge of his nose and stood up immediately when he remembered Catherine was still outside on the couch.

As he opened the door, he saw Catherine walking towards the study, which caught him off guard. “When did you wake up?” he asked.

Catherine noticed the fleeting anxiety in Branden’s eyes, but she pretended not to have seen anything. “I thought I saw a figure in my dreams and thought it was you coming back, so I woke up,” she replied.

Branden looked at her tired eyes and the appearance of someone not fully awake, reached out, and pulled Catherine into his arms, holding her tightly. “Do you want to sleep a little longer?” he asked.

Catherine nestled against his chest and shook her head. “Have you not eaten yet? I can keep you company.”

Catherine guessed correctly. Branden had worked without eating just to come back to the apartment as soon as possible.

Styre University was located on the outskirts of the city, while the Duncan Corporation’s office building was in the downtown financial district. Despite the nearly one-hour drive from the office to the apartment, Branden had chosen to stay here so that Catherine could be closer to her school.

Although Catherine offered to accompany Branden for a meal, he was the one who ended up cooking. It was getting late, so Branden only cooked some pasta and two side dishes. He was becoming more adept in the kitchen and quickly prepared the food, setting it on the table. When Catherine reached out to help, he bypassed her. “It’s hot. I’ve got this,” he said.”

Looking at the exquisite dishes, Catherine chuckled. “Don’t think of me as so fragile. I’ve done something much more difficult than this.’

There was a moment of silence. Catherine sensed something was wrong and looked up at Branden, asking softly, “What’s wrong?”

Branden put the plate on the table, reached out, and embraced Catherine. He rested his head on her shoulder and said in a very low voice. “I won’t let you do that again.”

When they were young, they had never met. Despite his helplessness, there was nothing he could do. But in the future, he would always be by Catherine’s side. He wouldn’t let his woman suffer again.

Catherine was surprised by how much the man cared about her past. She smiled lightly and hugged his waist. ” Okay, from now on, I’ll leave the hardships to you.”

After finishing the meal, Branden took care of the cleanup, while Catherine relaxed leisurely. When Branden wasn’t paying attention, she called Rodge. ” Find out what experiments Branden’s lab has been working on recently.”

“Okay, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible,” Rodge replied, not asking further, knowing that Catherine wouldn’t call without reason.

Then, Catherine hung up the phone. She wasn’t sure what Branden was hiding from her, and although she believed he wouldn’t hurt her, the current situation was different. For complete safety, she needed to be in control of all the circumstances.

On the other side, after falling out with Catherine, Zobber went to the bar alone to drown her sorrows. She felt that Catherine’s actions were extremely unreasonable. She wasn’t angry at Catherine for being mad at her but was frustrated that Catherine was blinded by emotions and couldn’t judge right from wrong. In her view, Ronin was definitely a traitor. The fact that Catherine still trusted him left her very puzzled.

The bartender was taken aback when the beautiful woman asked for another round of strong liquor, knowing that it was 95% alcohol. Typically, even men who can handle their drink would feel the effects after two shots, but this woman had already downed a whole round and wanted more.

The bartender, being kind-hearted, advised Zobber, “You’ve had quite a bit to drink. How about I make you a glass of juice instead?” But Zobber cut him off and slammed money on the table, insisting on more alcohol.

Reluctantly, the bartender served her another round of strong liquor. Zobber continued to drink, showing no signs of stopping, with her elegant face, great figure, and confident drinking manner catching the attention of onlookers.

It was clear to regulars at the bar that something was troubling this lady, as she seemed to be drinking to drown her sorrows. Some were beginning to consider approaching her.

Finally, someone approached her. However, before he could even touch her shoulder, she forcefully threw him away, causing him to crash to the floor and scream in pain.

Zobber turned to look at the man writhing in agony and mocked, “Stay far away from me, you loser!”

The man, trembling in fear, hadn’t even seen how Zobber had managed to attack him. It was no wonder that this woman had been so brazen in drinking at the bar. It turned out she had impressive combat skills.

Realizing he had picked on the wrong person, the man fled in fear. The other men who had been eyeing Zobber also abandoned their plans. Zobber finished her last drink, left a hundred-dollar bill on the counter, and gave the bartender a sly smile. “Thanks, your drinks are good!” she said before leaving without a second glance at the mesmerized bartender.

As soon as Zobber stepped out of the bar, a group of people blocked her path. Despite having had quite a few drinks, she had always been good with alcohol and wasn’t anywhere close to being drunk. She quickly assessed that the people in front of her were not ordinary people, and if they attacked her together, her chances of getting away weren’t high.

Intentionally acting drunk, she squinted at them. “What’s the deal? Are you guys in cahoots with that loser?”

Finn shook his head, denying Zobber’s assumption. “Miss Zobber, our boss would like a word with you.”

“So, I should go with you just because your boss wants to talk? Who does your boss think he is?”

Despite Zobber’s arrogant attitude, Finn remained calm. He had already known about Zobber’s background before coming. “Miss Zobber, you’re smart. You should know that we came prepared today. Trust me. We don’t mean to harm you. Our boss just wants to have a conversation with you.”

“Humph.” Zobber sneered, appearing relaxed. “Alright, let’s go. I’d love to meet this boss of yours and see how impressive he really is!”

Chapter 914 Join Us

Finn drove Zobber to a mysterious location, with Zobber blindfolded the entire time. After reaching the destination, he removed the blindfold from her eyes. The dim light made it difficult for her to see, but her excellent hearing allowed her to discern some things in the surroundings.

They were now inside a shipping container in a fast-moving large truck, with the sound of honking and faint signals when passing through tunnels. Despite the good sound insulation of the container, Zobber’s trained hearing allowed her to distinguish these sounds.

Zobber was surprised by the cunning of the group of people. Meeting inside the container not only made tracking and locating difficult but also made it hard to leave useful clues.

Zobber forced herself to calm down and turned her icy gaze toward Finn. “Hey, wasn’t your boss supposed to meet me? Where is he? Could it be that he’s a coward and doesn’t dare to show himself?”

Zobber’s brazen laughter made Finn scowl. If he hadn’t been instructed otherwise, he would have wanted to attack Zobber.

Just as Finn was about to confront Zobber, the lights in front suddenly turned on. Zobber quickly turned around and saw a tall figure in a black robe standing ahead. The figure wore a mask, with only two visible pupils.

Zobber couldn’t discern the figure’s appearance or gender. With a sidelong glance at Finn, she said, “So this is your boss, huh?”

Finn nodded respectfully and warned Zobber to be polite to his boss, or else he would take action. Zobber, however, coldly snorted in response, expressing confidence that Finn was no match for her.

Finn was so angry that his face turned red. Just as the two were about to clash, Black Robe slowly spoke up. “Zobber, the head of the Hacker Alliance’s Zobers, indeed quite impressive,” he said in a casual tone, capturing Zobber’s attention.

Zobber squinted and scrutinized the man. “It seems you know quite a bit about me. Why don’t you introduce yourself? Who are you?”

“Humph.” Black Robe sneered. “You’re just like her”

Perplexed, Zobber asked, “What do you mean? Who?”

Black Robe seemed indifferent to Zobber’s anger and calmly replied to her question. “The things you just said, Catherine also said them.”

At the mention of Catherine, Zobber’s face immediately turned cold, and she angrily shouted at Black Robe, “Stop mentioning Catherine to me. I’m sick of her!”

“You’ve always been loyal to Catherine, haven’t you?” the man asked.

Zobber looked at him coldly and said, ” You know better than I do. She is being fooled around, thinking that Ronin is the same as before. Why would I admire someone with no discernment like that?

Black Robe was pleased with Zobber’s attitude, feeling that he had achieved his goal. However, being naturally suspicious, he needed to continue probing. “Since you hate Catherine so much, why not join us? I guarantee you the highest treatment, fairness, and unique rewards.”

“Get lost!” Zobber snapped back without hesitation. Her arrogant attitude didn’t seem to anger Black Robe.

“Since you’re so insistent, I won’t force it,” Black Robe said, gesturing for Finn to release Zobber.

Finn, although puzzled, dared not disobey the orders and let Zobber leave.

Black Robe watched her departure with a cold smirk, confident that he would get what he wanted. He didn’t believe for a moment that Zobber would join their organization, and her resistance only reassured him because he had ways to make her join them.

Not long after leaving the container, Zobber met Withal.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Zobber shrugged and replied, “I’m perfectly fine.”

Seeing her dismissive attitude, Withal quickly softened his tone, saying, “I was just concerned for her safety.”

Zobber, however, remained nonchalant, saying, “They may be strong, but I’m no pushover. Nothing will happen. Let’s just wait and see what happens!”

Shortly after arriving at the lab, Catherine received a call from Rodge.

“Chief, I’m sending you some data. I’m not sure if it’s what you asked me to look into, but I think you should see it,” he said.

After hanging up, she received the files from Milton. It contained research data from Branden’s laboratory, revealing that their seventh-generation chip had not been successfully developed and was at risk of catastrophic failure during the final stage.

Branden intentionally held a press conference last time to divert attention to himself and alleviate pressure on her side.

Catherine made a decision upon seeing this. “Rodge, I need you to do something for me!”

Catherine decided to have lunch alone in the cafeteria today because Ronin wasn’t around. To avoid too many people there, she went at a particularly late time. The shady path was nearly deserted as she walked with her head down.

Suddenly, a figure blocked her path. Catherine slowly raised her head, her cold eyes sizing up the unremarkable- looking man ahead, who seemed to be a student at Styre University based on his attire.

Perhaps intimidated by Catherine’s intimidating presence and gaze, the man hesitated and subconsciously took a step back.

Only after Catherine’s reminder did the man remember his purpose. “Miss Swann, Mr. Cloude asked me to tell you that since it’s a collaboration, he wants to see some commitment from you. They hope you take action quickly!”

Catherine scoffed and maintained her aloof expression. “Tell him to wait. Since I’ve agreed to collaborate, I’ll satisfy him. If he’s impatient, tell him to find someone else!”

With an arrogant attitude, Catherine walked straight ahead without giving him a second thought. The man, overwhelmed by her intimidating aura, silently stepped aside and watched Catherine leave.

Chapter 915 I’m Off!

These people’s influence had spread throughout Styre University. She could meet them even on her way to the cafeteria, which was a terrifying situation.

After shaking off the person, Catherine continued toward the cafeteria. Once there, she quietly sat down to eat. She knew she was being watched, but she acted freely, not feeling like someone under surveillance. After finishing her lunch, she left the cafeteria.

Back at the laboratory, Catherine messaged Cloude. [Let’s meet up!]

Soon, Cloude replied, [Sure, you pick the time and place!]

Seeing the message, Catherine was a bit surprised that he would make her pick the time and place Was it because he was generous, or he wasn’t worried she might set a trap?

Looking at the text on her phone screen, Catherine absentmindedly tapped her desk. After a moment, she had an idea. She replied, arranging to meet at a cybercafe at 7 p.m.

Once she dealt with everything, Catherine tossed her phone into a drawer and began a new round of work.

At the Red Star Laboratory, all the researchers were working overtime. Their biggest project at the moment was the development of the seventh- generation chip. However, they had been unable to overcome the crucial technical hurdle, failing to complete the final step of the experiment.

Just now, they had failed again. If they continued like this, it wouldn’t be long before the outside world discovered that they hadn’t succeeded in the experiment. With only three months left, if they couldn’t demonstrate at the upcoming conference, all their previous work would be in vain.

People were superficial. They wouldn’t see how many patent barriers they had overcome; they only cared about the results.

Upon hearing the report from the team, the head of the research group sighed helplessly. “Well, experiments always involve failure before success. If you succeeded right away, you might have worried about making a mistake! Come on, guys. You can do it!” After some encouragement, everyone felt better.

At that moment, Cory walked in. He had received an email from the Arbotte Laboratory, a renowned research facility, specifically regarding the seventh-generation chip experiment.

The team leader, Lance Broadman, immediately put aside his work and took the material from Cory.

The Arbotte Laboratory, like the Red Star Laboratory, was among the world’s top facilities, and their research directions had been similar in recent years. The sudden message from the Arbotte Laboratory’s head was definitely significant.

Without hesitating, Lance opened the email in front of Cory, afraid of any suspicion. However, Cory didn’t mind at all, knowing it was from the Arbotte Laboratory. He hadn’t even checked it before handing it to Lance. After all, the person behind the Arbotte Laboratory was so important to Branden. If she made a request, he would give the entire laboratory to her.

After opening the email, Lance carefully read the material inside and became increasingly excited. Cory noticed his change in mood and asked what was going on.

Lance, excitedly holding the email, handed it to Cory, saying, “Take a look, Arbotte Laboratory has sent us something good.”

For days, he had been unable to break through a certain question in his mind. However, upon seeing the analysis material from Arbotte Laboratory, he suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment. “Cory, Arbotte Laboratory has really come to our aid. They have provided us with new solutions to the problems we are currently facing! This is of great help to us, it’s like a godsend! With the assistance of this material, we have a good chance of overcoming the current bottleneck.”

After expressing his excitement, Lance suddenly realized something was amiss. He looked at Cory, his eyes filled with concern. “Do you think this might be a scam?”

This surprise was almost unbelievable, like winning the lottery. As a laboratory, although they had not directly competed, they were technically competitors. The core information provided by Arbotte Laboratory was too valuable. How could they easily share it? Perhaps this was a trap.

With these thoughts in mind, Lance remained very worried.

Cory, seeing this, reached out and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Arbotte Laboratory won’t deceive us. You can use this material with confidence!”

Seeing Cory’s confident demeanor, Lance couldn’t help but feel curious.” So, is Arbotte Laboratory also under Branden’s control?” He was surprised. If his guess was correct, it would be quite a frightening thing for a young and world-renowned president like Branden to have control over Arbotte Laboratory.

“Not exactly,” Cory said slowly.

Lance breathed a sigh of relief, but then Cory added, “Only half, because in the future, my family will be connected to Catherine’s family through marriage. At that time, Arbotte Laboratory will be considered half of the Duncan family’s assets.”

“Really?” Lance was astonished.

Cory patted his shoulder and said, ” Don’t worry. The information is one hundred percent real. I’ll go report the situation to Branden.”

“Catherine, are you going to meet that person again?” Ronin became agitated upon learning that Catherine had made an appointment with Cloude.

Catherine remained composed. “It’s just a meeting, not a showdown. Why are you getting worked up?”

Ronin frowned, looking very conflicted. “Catherine, that person is so cunning. I’m afraid he’ll deceive you. Maybe we shouldn’t go. I’m worried…”

Facing Ronin’s concerns, Catherine looked down at him with a commanding gaze. “Throughout our lives, we have encountered numerous deceitful people!”

Ronin thought about it and found some truth in her words, but before he could say anything, Catherine had already made a decision. She hopped onto her motorcycle and waved casually at Ronin. “I’m off!”

Chapter 916 Playing Games with Cloude

At 7 p.m., Catherine arrived promptly at the entrance of the internet cafe. The current internet cafe was vastly different from the one she frequented with Ronin. The equipment was more advanced, and the decor was more luxurious.

Catherine chose a VIP private room and headed straight for it. Upon reaching the door, she found it already open. The person she was meeting had arrived before her and was waiting inside.

“Early as always!” Catherine’s voice echoed in the room. The man turned around slowly, his face unremarkable.

“Miss Swann, right on time,” Cloude remarked.

Catherine smirked subtly, her eyes carrying a hint of sarcasm. She raised an eyebrow at him. “Up for a game?”

Cloude seemed momentarily surprised by her suggestion. He chuckled. “I can play a bit, but I’m sure I can’t match your skills.”

Catherine pulled out a chair and sat down gracefully. “No worries. I don’t mind. Come on, play a few rounds with me. I’ll show you how it’s done.”

Catherine was confident in her gaming abilities. When it came to gaming, she could outplay the best. She was second to none. As she started her favorite game, she noticed Cloude hesitating. Not interested?” she asked.

Cloude smiled gently. “It’s not that. I don’t have an account for this game. I’m not sure how to register.”

Catherine saw through his attempt to conceal his thoughts. “Here, let me help you register a new account.”

In no time, Catherine set up a new account for Cloude, and they entered the game. Together, they breezed through the game and effortlessly secured the championship in their first match.

Cloude complimented Catherine, You’re really good at gaming, much better than me!”

“Playing games is all about having fun! “Catherine looked at him disapprovingly. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s continue playing.”

Due to Catherine’s high rank, they were matched with top-tier gamers. The game terrain was unfavorable for Catherine’s team, and they were at a disadvantage. To make matters worse, many opponents from the previous match seemed to deliberately wait for Catherine’s team to join the game, and then they all ganged up on her.

Several teams joined forces to attack Catherine, who not only had to protect Cloude but also contend with the skilled players, making it quite challenging.

Overwhelmed, Catherine was soon defeated. She protected Cloude by hiding him in a safe place and then diverted the enemies’ attention.

Three or four teams surrounded Catherine, but she took refuge on high ground, making it difficult for them to attack her.

Due to her strong combat abilities, they could only throw bombs and Molotov cocktails at her from a distance until she ran out of ammunition, allowing them to move in for the attack.

As another bomb approached, Catherine had nowhere to retreat, and her health was down to half.

Hearing the chaotic footsteps below, Catherine knew they were preparing to attack. If they united, she would surely lose this round.

As the footsteps drew closer, a sudden gunshot rang out, and the person at the forefront fell from a long-distance shot.

On the screen, Cloude’s gaming name flashed, and Catherine smirked without saying a word. Finally, he took action.

After the warning shot, everyone knew there were skilled players around and refrained from acting recklessly. This gave Catherine the opportunity she needed. She took out one opponent, looted their gear, and launched a fierce attack. Soon, she routed the impromptu team of opponents and emerged as the ultimate victor.

After the game, Catherine took off her headphones and turned to Cloude. Her beautiful eyes held a mysterious smile. “You played well,” she said, with a look that made Cloude both infatuated and fearful to the extreme.

“It was just luck. Glad I could help you, ” he replied.

Catherine tossed the mouse and crossed her arms, staring at him. “Let’s stop playing and talk business,” she said.

“That was my intention,” Cloude admitted, relieved that Catherine had called a halt to everything.

Catherine was always direct and didn’t beat around the bush. “I received the message you had someone send me. I’ll show you the sincerity you want, but can you give me what I want?” She presented the materials she had brought.

Cloude carefully examined the contents and looked up at Catherine with disbelief. “You’re really giving me these?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” she replied, her eyes holding a hint of a smile.

Cloude carefully observed Catherine and was surprised by her immediate trust. It was as if she had been a trusted friend for decades.

After inspecting the materials, Cloude looked at Catherine with solemnity. ” Since you’re so generous and trustworthy, we won’t let you down. Wait for our good news, please,” he said earnestly.

“I hope you’ll keep your word,” Catherine retorted disdainfully before leaving.

As soon as she left the internet café, she received a mysterious phone call.

“Cassie, I’m here!” Thomas’s hearty laughter came through the phone.

Catherine’s mood was instantly lifted, and her face lit up with joy. “Have you arrived in Loxton? Where are you? I’ll come pick you up!”

Thomas had been summoned by Catherine to Loxton, as she was worried about potential danger. Having Thomas in Loxton as a guest would provide an extra layer of security in case of an emergency.

After receiving Thomas’s address and message, Catherine quickly got into her car. The black motorcycle sped like lightning, leaving a brilliant trail in the dark night before disappearing.

Chapter 917 Taking the Blame

Upon receiving a message from Cory, Paxton immediately knocked on Branden’s office door.

“Boss, there’s good news from the lab, ” he said.

Branden lifted his head slowly, his calm gaze coldly scanning Paxton.

Although Paxton was excited, he couldn’t affect Branden, who remained composed.

“What’s the matter?” Branden asked.

“The Arbotte Laboratory sent us a set of data,” Paxton explained. “Lance said it’s crucial for overcoming our experimental obstacles and will play a key role in our project.”

Paxton’s excitement was palpable as he spoke. After so much effort, the prospect of completion filled him with intense excitement.

Seeing Branden’s impassive expression, Paxton couldn’t help but feel puzzled. “Boss, aren’t you pleased? “he asked.

Branden came to his senses, a faint, enigmatic smile appearing on his cold face. “Indeed,” he said lightly.

Paxton understood that Branden must be very pleased at this moment.

Branden’s mind was filled with thoughts of Catherine. It turned out she had overheard his conversation that night. With that in his mind, his smile involuntarily widened, and his gaze softened.

“Find out where Catherine is right now, “Branden instructed.

Paxton guessed that Branden intended to thank Catherine properly, so he hurried off to make preparations.

Before long, Paxton discovered Catherine’s whereabouts. “Boss, Miss Swann hasn’t returned to her apartment. Our investigation shows she’s headed towards the airport, seemingly to pick someone up.”

Branden, despite knowing Catherine’s whereabouts, did not interfere with her life. He kept track of her purely for her safety. Upon hearing the news, Branden furrowed his brow and then called Catherine.

“Are you at the airport?” he asked.

Catherine was not surprised that Branden knew where she was. “Mr. Theo has arrived, and I’m here to pick him up,” she replied.

At the same time, Paxton showed Branden Catherine’s latest location. Catherine hadn’t reached the airport yet; she was still some distance away. After seeing her location, Branden made a quick decision.

“I’ll meet you at the airport,” he said.

Catherine hadn’t expected him to come, but since he said he would, she didn’t stop him. “Okay, I’ll wait for you at the airport,” she said before hanging up.

Branden then stood up, took the coat Paxton handed to him, and prepared to leave.

“Boss, the car is downstairs. You can leave immediately,” Paxton informed him.

The moment Branden decided to leave, Paxton had already made all the arrangements. Branden admired his efficiency and headed towards the elevator, not wanting Catherine to wait too long.

Catherine didn’t have many relatives around, especially not many elders. Thomas was one of her few elders. With an elder arriving, it was only natural for Branden to meet him personally.

Catherine didn’t drive too fast because she knew Branden was coming. As soon as she arrived at the airport, she received a call from Branden.

His deep, gentle voice sounded. “I’m here. Where are you?”

“So fast!” Catherine was somewhat surprised. She had expected to wait at the airport for a while, but Thomas’s plane wasn’t due to arrive so soon, so there was no need to worry.

“I’m at Terminal 1, Gate 3. Come over!” Catherine said before hanging up the phone. Within two minutes, she saw Branden. He walked with large strides and great speed, with Paxton following closely behind.

His exceptional appearance and demeanor attracted the attention of passersby, but he paid no heed. His gaze constantly scanned the surroundings, as if searching for someone.

Intentionally, Catherine refrained from giving any hints. She wanted to know how long it would take Branden to find her.

Her test didn’t last long. Just as she was about to start timing, Branden looked in her direction.

Their eyes met, and his previously slightly anxious and searching eyes instantly found direction. He strode decisively towards her.

Branden’s speed was remarkable, and in almost a second, he was in front of Catherine. Only in her presence did he drop his cold demeanor.

His friends had teased him in the past, saying that he must have owed Catherine a lot in their past lives, so he had a cold and distant attitude toward everyone except her. But Branden wasn’t interested in past lives. He only wanted to cherish the present and Catherine.

In his view, Catherine was already aloof enough. If he didn’t show some love, she might grow tired of his icy facade. Similar things are more likely to breed contempt, and there were too many similarities between them in various aspects.

He didn’t want to change Catherine, nor would he try. The only thing he could change was himself. He tried his best to become the person most suitable for her, hoping to cherish her forever.

“Waited long, huh?” The gentle voice slowly filled Catherine’s ears, warming her heart.

“I just got here!” She intentionally slowed down on the way, but Branden arrived much faster than she had anticipated. She raised an eyebrow, sizing up Branden, and mockingly said, “Looks like you turned the car into a plane, huh?”

Branden, usually fearless, now felt a sudden thumping in his heart. He quickly explained with a smile, “No, I didn’t drive. It was Paxton!”

In reality, it wasn’t as exaggerated as flying a plane; he just sped up a bit, gave a heads-up to the DMV, and hit 200 miles per hour. But already sensing Catherine’s anger, Branden naturally wouldn’t admit to any of this.

Paxton, standing nearby, saw Branden trying to pass the blame to him and immediately stepped forward. “Miss Swann, I’ll drive slower next time, I promise.” For the happiness of Branden, he was willing to sacrifice.

Catherine could easily see through their scheme. Paxton always followed Branden’s orders. If it weren’t for Branden’s command, he wouldn’t dare to drive so fast.

However, since they had arrived safely, Catherine didn’t want to dwell on it.” Don’t drive so fast for no reason!”

“Yes!” Paxton replied, not even daring to lift his head. Seeing Catherine calm down, Branden gave Paxton a meaningful look, indicating a pay raise for him.

Paxton breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that Catherine wasn’t angry. Life was getting tougher; not only did he have to work hard for his boss, but he also had to take the blame for him.

Chapter 918 I’ve Seen Him Before

Upon hearing the alert on the radio, Catherine knew that Thomas had likely disembarked. She gestured to Branden, who promptly took her hand and said, ” Let’s go. I’ll accompany you to meet Mr. Theo!”

As they walked, Catherine felt as if she were being led to meet her partner’s parents, a sensation that even surprised herself.

Thomas easily met up with them, as he was using the VIP channel. Not only did Thomas arrive, but his grandson, Scott, also accompanied him to Loxton.

When Catherine and Branden stood together, they looked so well-matched that even Thomas, usually serious, couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing this, Scott couldn’t resist teasing Thomas, “Grandpa, pay attention to your smile!”

Thomas shot him an angry look. “Stop blabbering nonsense. I don’t expect you to be like Cassie, but at least you should learn a thing or two from her.”

Scott, usually mischievous, had no retort upon hearing this. Catherine’s strength was something even he admired.

Before Catherine could speak, Branden respectfully called out, “Mr. Theo!”

Thomas, after glancing at Branden, once again showed his admiration. Only someone as outstanding as Branden could be worthy of Catherine. Branden appeared respectful in front of Thomas.

Meanwhile, Scott went straight to Catherine, exclaiming, “Catherine, long time no see! I’ve missed you so much!” Just as he was about to embrace Catherine, Thomas, agile despite his age, swiftly pulled him back.

Thomas might be a little older, but he was not blind. He could see the instant change in Branden’s expression. If his grandson really hugged Catherine today, he didn’t know how Branden would handle him. Although Scott was a bit mischievous, he was his most beloved grandson, so he couldn’t bear to see him suffer.

Scott was grabbed by Thomas and didn’t get a chance to touch Catherine, which made him very unhappy. ” Grandpa, why are you stopping me?”

Thomas was so angry that he kicked Scott’s leg. “You got a problem with that?”

Scott was beaten for no reason, and it was his grandfather who beat him. He couldn’t even glare back, let alone fight back. He had to endure it.

Catherine was worried that Thomas and Scott would continue to make trouble, and they wouldn’t be able to return to their accommodation until morning, so she took the initiative to intervene. “Let’s go. The accommodation is arranged.” Once she spoke, everyone obediently followed her.

Branden found it interesting to watch. Indeed, his woman was amazing, effortlessly subduing the stubborn Thomas and Scott.

Catherine had originally arranged a hotel near Styre University for Thomas and Scott to stay. However, Branden made a different arrangement. ” There’s a vacant suite in the apartment. I’ve had it cleaned on the way here. Why not let Mr. Theo and Scott stay there? It’s closer!”

Scott immediately agreed upon hearing that he could live in the same neighborhood as Catherine. ”

Catherine, there’s no place like home in a hotel.” He even asked Thomas. ” Grandpa, am I right?”

Thomas glanced disapprovingly at Scott, but he also wanted to be closer to Catherine. “Let’s stay in the apartment. Hotels are too noisy, and I can’t rest well.” Everyone agreed, and Catherine had no objections.

Instead of immediately arranging for everyone to rest in the apartment, Branden first took them to a late-night restaurant.

When they arrived, Catherine realized her oversight. Thomas had traveled a long way from Soland, and hadn’t eaten much on the plane due to the poor food. Branden had chosen a light meal, considering Thomas’s age and the late hour.

As they entered the restaurant, the scent immediately captivated Scott. ” This place must have great food. I can smell it as soon as I walk in!”

Thomas retorted to Scott, and they bantered back and forth.

As they laughed and made their way inside, a figure lunged at them. The crowded street made it hard to react quickly, and Catherine had to grab the person.

Branden tried to intervene, but Catherine realized that the man coming towards her was Rylan.

After steadying himself, Rylan squinted, struggling to see the person in front of him, “Catherine, am I dreaming? You’re really here?” His breath smelled of alcohol.

Branden, seeing Rylan tightly holding Catherine’s hand, stared at his hand with disdain, wishing to chop it off with a knife.

Paxton noticed a change in Branden’s demeanor and felt infuriated. He couldn’t believe that Rylan dared to take advantage of Catherine while intoxicated. Could he tolerate such blatant interference? Absolutely not!

Without waiting for Branden to speak, Paxton took the initiative. “Miss Swann, let me help. A drunk person is unconscious and heavy!”

Without hesitation, Catherine pushed Rylan away. She didn’t want to assist a drunk person, as the smell of alcohol made her feel nauseous.

Rylan, holding Catherine’s hand, showed no intention of letting go.

Seeing this, Paxton directly pinched Rylan’s lower back, causing Rylan to release his grip immediately.

After Rylan let go, Paxton smiled at Catherine. “Miss Swann, why don’t you go inside and have your meal? Leave Mr. Melton to me, I’ll make sure he’s taken care of.” Paxton then escorted Rylan away, while Branden stepped forward to guide Catherine away.

Once seated, Thomas finally recognized the man. “Wasn’t that Rylan Melton?”

Catherine nodded, confirming it was him.

Thomas had met Rylan once before, so he had some recollection of him. ”

Come to think of it, the last time I saw him was a year ago.”

Intrigued, Catherine couldn’t help but inquire, “You saw him a year ago?”

Chapter 919 He’s Paxton!

Thomas noticed Branden’s cold expression, but he understood it because he was a man too. Rylan’s goal was Catherine. No one liked their woman being coveted by someone else.

Back in his younger days, Thomas didn’t care if the other party was drunk; he would just drag him out and settle it with a fight.

To avoid an argument between the young couple, Thomas decided not to bring up Rylan’s matter for now. “That was all a year ago. Let’s talk about it when we have time. The food’s here. I’ll take a few bites first.”

Catherine didn’t want to ruin Thomas’s appetite, so she dismissed the idea of asking further.

Paxton got Rylan out, ready to put him in the car. Suddenly, a few men in black emerged, surrounding the two.

Paxton scanned the group of men with cold eyes, showing no fear on his face. ” What? Planning to fight me?”

The group had no intention of confronting Paxton, so they didn’t argue with him. “Mr. Duncan, we are Mr. Melton’s people. Please hand him over to us!”

Paxton had originally planned to take Rylan to a secluded spot and leave him there, but he hadn’t expected Rylan to be prepared. Rylan had people with him, yet he deliberately bumped into Catherine’s arms, causing trouble.

Paxton became increasingly annoyed. His boss wasn’t someone anyone could just be trifled with.

Seeing he had no intention of letting go, Rylan’s men became agitated. They stared at Paxton, warning, “Mr. Duncan, don’t force us to use violence!!!

“Humph.” Paxton sneered. “I was just thinking I haven’t had a chance to fight. Why don’t you all be my sparring partners?”

It seemed they wouldn’t get Rylan back without a physical confrontation. The group of men prepared themselves for a fight.

Paxton’s phone suddenly rang in his pocket. Without any nervousness, he took it out and answered it in front of everyone.

“Paxton, Boss wants you to hold back!”

“Got it!” After saying that, Paxton forcefully pushed Rylan away. The group of men reacted quickly and caught him.

Paxton looked at everyone with a sneer. “My boss is asking for me. I won’t play with you today. I’ll find you for a match when I’m free!”

With that, Paxton arrogantly left. Once he disappeared, Rylan, who had been leaning on his subordinates, suddenly stood up straight, and his clouded eyes cleared.

The subordinates immediately put away their aggressive demeanor and respectfully bowed. “Sir, do you want us to find an opportunity to teach that kid a lesson?”

“Hmph!” Rylan snorted. “He’s Paxton!

Paxton’s abilities and intelligence were top-notch. He had been faithfully serving Branden for many years. If it weren’t for Branden, he could have easily made a name for himself in the glamorous upper-class society.

Everyone’s choices were different, and Paxton chose to stand faithfully by Branden’s side and assist him. In the eyes of outsiders, Paxton might just be one of Branden’s subordinates, at most an assistant to the president. But those who truly knew Paxton understood how formidable he was. His abilities were second only to Branden, and he was the strongest among the four top talents of the Duncan family.

Rylan had finally found Catherine’s whereabouts, hoping to take advantage of the situation, only to have it disrupted. He was furious, wishing he could kill Paxton on the spot. But he wouldn’t take action now. Killing Paxton would be easy, but it might ruin his plan, which wouldn’t be worth it.

“Let’s go!” Rylan ordered, leading everyone away.

After dinner, Branden took Catherine and the others back to the apartment.

They first visited the house arranged for Thomas and Scott. Catherine was surprised as soon as she entered. The decor was almost identical to where they were currently living.

She turned to Branden with a puzzled look. “How many apartments like this have you decorated?”

Branden smiled lightly. “As many as you’ve seen!”

“And what about the ones I haven’t seen?” Catherine asked.

Branden didn’t answer, so Catherine turned to Paxton and gestured towards him. “You tell me!”

Paxton, caught off guard by being suddenly called upon, had to respond, ” Miss Swann, there aren’t many apartments decorated in this style yet.

However, this entire building in the complex is now under your name!”

If it weren’t for the concern that the renovation noise might disturb Catherine’s rest, those vacant apartments would have already been decorated to her liking. Catherine was impressed; she almost forgot that her partner was always generous.

Branden stood by with a nervous smile, worried Catherine might be upset. Fortunately, she didn’t mind.

Branden had already arranged everything in the apartment, and Thomas and the others could rest as soon as they put down their luggage. Mr. Theo, you’ve had a long day. You should rest early!” Catherine said. 11

Thomas nodded in agreement. Being older, he couldn’t handle too much travel. “Alright, I’ll rest now and contact you in the morning. Or you can call me when you wake up, and I’ll go to school with you.”

“Okay!”

Exiting Thomas’s apartment, Catherine took the elevator up a few floors to reach her own place. Upon entering, she collapsed onto the couch, exhausted.

Branden quickly came to her side, picking up the clothes and bags she had carelessly thrown on the floor. “Are you very tired?” he asked gently.

Catherine nodded wearily, her eyelids drooping. “A bit, the lab has been busy, and I’m feeling worn out,” she replied. Not only that, she had been experiencing some physical changes lately-difficulty standing for long periods and frequent swelling.

Seeing her genuine fatigue, Branden knelt down to massage and relax her, applying just the right pressure until Catherine closed her eyes in comfort. The two rarely had such leisurely time alone, behaving like an ordinary couple.

“Is Mr. Theo here to visit you? Any plans on how long he’ll stay?” Branden inquired, wanting to ensure Thomas’s arrangements were in order.

Catherine, with half-closed eyes, responded, “He’s here partly to see me and partly for some academic exchange at Styre University. The school has called upon his expertise for some scholarly discussions. He might need to stay for a while, maybe three to five days, or perhaps as long as half a month.”

Branden was willing to have Thomas stay longer, wanting Catherine to have more company. Audrey was not only busy with work but also dealing with some personal troubles, making it difficult for her to stay in touch with Catherine. He worried about Catherine feeling lonely and hoped someone who felt like family could be there for her.

“Since he’s here and already settled, let him stay a bit longer,” he suggested.

Catherine mumbled, clearly worn out, ”

Okay, I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow.

Chapter 920 Serious Disease

The next morning, Catherine woke up early, which made Branden feel somewhat uneasy. “Why are you up so early?” he asked, as Catherine usually slept in.

Catherine weakly replied that she had slept enough. After checking to ensure she was comfortable, Branden gently asked, ” Do you want to have breakfast at home or go see Mr. Theo?”

Catherine glanced at the time and decided, “Let’s have breakfast at home. Mr. Theo should be up by now.”

Thomas, being old, had a routine. No matter the circumstances, he always woke up at five in the morning like clockwork.

“Wait here, I’ll make breakfast for you, “Branden said before leaving.

Catherine leaned against the headboard, watching him with a slight smile.

After breakfast at the apartment, Branden drove Catherine to Thomas’s place.

“You go to work. I’ll go to the school with Mr. Theo.” Catherine gestured to Branden.

Once he left, Catherine knocked on Thomas’s apartment door. Seeing Catherine, Thomas smiled. “You’re up quite early,” he remarked.

“Shall we go to the school?” Catherine asked.

Thomas nodded. “Sure.”

Thomas didn’t like to ride in cars, and it was still early. Catherine accompanied him on foot to Styre University, chatting and admiring the scenery along the way.

The walk from the apartment to the university was only about ten minutes. They encountered several teachers and scholars, all of whom greeted Catherine, prompting Thomas to joke, ” It seems you’re quite famous at your school. Everyone knows you!” He knew Catherine well-her personality wouldn’t allow her to make friends easily. Since everyone knew her, the reason must be simple-Catherine was just well-known at the school.

“Perhaps.” Catherine modestly smiled. Suddenly, a voice caught her attention. Looking up, she saw Marshall and Ultan, who seemed to have just finished their morning run.

“Good morning, Professor Hartley, Mr. Farrell,” Catherine greeted politely.

Marshall, recognizing Thomas, introduced him to the curious Ultan. ” Mr. Farrell, this is the renowned traditional medicine expert, Mr. Theo.!”

The medical department had recently invited a prominent figure for an exchange, sparking excitement among the faculty. Ultan hadn’t expected to encounter the elusive figure during his morning jog. “Mr. Theo, I’ve heard a lot about you,” he said, extending his hand, to which Thomas gave a slight nod.

Despite his arrogant attitude, Thomas was known for his exceptional skills, capable of curing all kinds of diseases.

Observing Catherine by Thomas’s side, Ultan couldn’t help but be curious. ” Catherine, why are you with Mr. Theo?”

Before Catherine could respond, Thomas spoke up. “She is my student. Although I’ve forced her to study medicine with me, she hasn’t agreed. Nevertheless, I’ve accepted her as my student and treated her as my granddaughter. She’s currently studying at Styre University, and I appreciate your care for her, Mr. Farrell.

11

When Catherine was mentioned, Thomas’s attitude suddenly became a bit more friendly.

Ultan, being astute, immediately understood the situation. It turned out Catherine had a strong background, with powerful backers behind her.

For years, they had been trying to invite this medical expert, but Thomas never agreed. This time, Thomas personally came over. It seemed Catherine’s influence played a crucial role in this. They didn’t just recruit a student; they practically invited a big shot. Fortunately, Ultan had listened to Marshall’s advice and had done his best to support Catherine. At first, he thought Marshall was getting old and had finally taken in a student, so Marshall showed extra favoritism. He also worried that Marshall’s reputation would be ruined by this troublesome student.

Now it seemed Marshall’s judgment was right.

Marshall could tell that Catherine and Thomas were busy, he took Ultan aside and excused himself. “Catherine, take Mr. Theo around the school. I’ll go with Mr. Farrell. We’ve sweated a lot. We need to go back and freshen up.”

“Goodbye, Professor Hartley!” Catherine politely replied and then left with Thomas.

On the way, Thomas couldn’t help but tease, “This professor seems to be treating you well.”

Catherine smiled faintly and responded, “Just like you do!”

Thomas, feeling indignant, said while stroking his beard, “I’m different from him. I can do everything for you!” Now, if anyone dared to bully Catherine, Thomas would be the first to disagree.

“Exactly,” Catherine agreed with him.

The truth was just as Thomas had described. He treated her better than his own grandson.

“Mr. Theo, you mentioned seeing Rylan a year ago. What’s the story behind that?”

Thomas, who usually lived in seclusion, wouldn’t randomly encounter Rylan, who had settled in Loewe. There had to be something behind it. Seeing Catherine’s interest, Thomas explained what had happened a year ago.

“A year ago, some mysterious people found me. They pressured me to treat someone, and I initially refused. Later, that person directly came to see me; and I realized it was Rylan. I don’t know how that kid got hold of my information, but the payment he brought was just what I needed. Plus, since he knows you, I decided to help him! He was seriously ill, and I treated him for half a month. I managed to suppress the tumor in his body, extending his life from one year to five. Impressive, right?” Thomas said somewhat proudly, winking at Catherine. “We’ll see what happens after five years!”

Catherine was surprised to learn that Rylan was already seriously ill. If his condition wasn’t severe, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to find Thomas and pressured him to help. Moreover, the fact that Thomas couldn’t cure his illness indicated its severity.

Could his illness be related to his visit to Loxton? Thomas looked at Catherine suspiciously. “Cassie, what are you thinking?”

His voice brought Catherine back to the present, and she turned to Thomas with a faint smile. “Nothing.”

Seeing that she didn’t want to elaborate, Thomas didn’t press further. “By the way, you haven’t told me why you brought me here this time and what you want me to do.”