Chapter 286


    Ronin’s response caused Catherine to furrow her brow. She lowered her voice and asked, “Did you find


    out who it was?”


    Ronin was even more helpless when Catherine asked this. Despite his im of being an intelligence


    guru, he couldn’t even dig up this bit of information.


    “No.” Ronin’s tone was filled with frustration. “Boss, those people are acting mysteriously, and their


    whereabouts are well-hidden. I had the base’s people look into it, but we haven’t received any feedback


    yet. However, they don’t seem like they’re against us. It looks more like they want to help us.”


    Catherine spoke upzily after a brief silence on the other end of the phone.


    “Since they’re not against us, let it be,” she said. Her meaning was clear. If those people were not


    enemies, they would leave them be. Ronin thought this approach was somewhat risky. After all, they


    didn’t know where these people came from.


    However, Ronin couldn’t help but feel that Catherine had a point. After all, this group had appeared a few


    times. These people always supported them and never opposed them. Ronin thought inwardly, “Could


    they be from one of Boss’s many branches?”


    Catherine had too many aliases, and sometimes Ronin wasn’t quite sure. Since Catherine said to leave it


    alone, Ronin would let it be for now and make a decision once there were other results.


    “Find out who was responsible for Jonathan’s car ident,” Catherine said. After she gave Ronin thest


    task, she hung up the phone. Before Ronin could respond to Catherine, he heard the phone hanging up.


    When Branden walked out of the kitchen with a te of freshly cut fruits, Catherine was lounging on the


    living room couch and engrossed in a video game.


    The couch was a recliner that Branden specially asked Paxton to pick out. It was incrediblyfortable,


    allowing one to sink into itpletely. Branden ced the fruit tter on the small coffee table to the left


    of Catherine.


    After he just set it down, Catherine instinctively reached for a piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth.


    Catherine still looked at the smartphone screen. Her movements were skilled and practiced, as if she


    had done this a thousand times before.


    Catherine couldn’t help but think Branden treated her like a daughter. His methods were incredibly


    clever. He never forced her to do anything and respected her decisions.


    However, he subtly changed something over time. For instance, after every meal, Branden would


    prepare a fruit tter for her.


    Branden knew that Catherine didn’t have a sweet tooth. He used fruits to provide her with the necessary


    sugars and always chose those with high sweetness.


    Catherine had a penchant for spicy food. Branden never tried to convince her to quit spicy dishes.


    Instead, whenever he cooked, he would deliberately include a non-spicy dish. He would gradually


    increase the proportion of non-spicy dishes.


    He was slowly influencing Catherine’s eating habits. Catherine was well aware of all this and even


    started to ept some of his ways. The reason was simple. She found Branden interesting.


    Moreover, Branden had a remarkable knack for bnce in their rtionship. It was easy to get along


    with him. So Catherine liked to go along with it.


    The cantaloupe was cut into perfectly sized pieces. Catherine took a bite, and the sweet, fragrant juice


    filled her mouth. Catherine couldn’t help but praise it. She said, “This cantaloupe tastes great!


    After she spoke, Branden immediately picked up his phone and called Paxton. Then he ordered a whole


    carload of cantaloupes. Catherine nced at thebel on the cantaloupe. This cantaloupe was from


    Trnd, Janikon.


    This variety of cantaloupe was as precious as a Hermès brand bag. On average, one of these


    cantaloupes could cost three to four thousand dors. Branden ordered a whole carload of cantaloupes.


    In an instant, a string of numbers shed through Catherine’s mind. Indeed, Branden was not short of


    money.


    “Are you nning to go somewhere for the uing holiday?” Branden brought the fruit tter closer to


    Catherine, making it easier for her to eat while gaming. They had a three-day holiday starting next week


    due to the nationalw.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Catherine paused her game for a moment and looked up at Branden. She said casually, “I’m not really


    nning to go anywhere. I have to rehearse for a day because the National Literary and Art League


    starts right after the holiday.


    Her homeroom teacher had been urging her repeatedly about this, so she had scheduled a day for


    rehearsal during the holiday.


    “Is there something going on?” Catherine raised an eyebrow as she scrutinized Branden.


    “Can we schedule the rehearsal for the first day?” he asked. “Sure,” Catherine replied. Since it was just a


    one-day rehearsal, it didn’t matter which day it fell on.


    “Good!” Branden nodded earnestly. Triston bought a small ind near Casier a while ago. How about I


    take you there for a few days during the holiday?”


    Since it was a holiday, it should be a time to rx. If someone was offering food, drinks, and


    entertainment, there was no reason to refuse, especially when it wasn’t someone she disliked. Catherine


    agreed and said, “Sounds good. Just let me know in advance.”


    At the same time, Alyssa was at the Langs’, Once Rachael and the others had all left, the Langs were in


    disarray. Alyssa was the first to be restless since her family now relied heavily on the Langs.


    The Langs’ financial interests were in the hands of the Swanns. If what Catherine had said was true,


    then Catherine currently held the power within the Swann Corporation. In that case, they would be


    cutting off their own financial lifeline by antagonizing Catherine.


    Alyssa couldn’t think of a solution and turned to the matriarch and the patriarch of the Langs. She said, ‘


    Mom, Dad, you should decide on this matter.”


    As Donna looked at her impatient daughter-inw, she was somewhat displeased. She gave Alyssa a


    cold re.


    “What’s all the fuss about? It’s just a girl. Can she turn the world upside down?”


    Alyssa felt somewhat aggrieved after being scolded by Donna. She was just concerned. Alyssa reached


    out and discreetly tugged on her husband’s sleeve to ask him toe up with a n.


    Malik initially didn’t want to get involved in this matter. But now that Adrien had mentioned it, Malik had to


    take it more seriously. His wife’s insistence made Malik decide to discuss the matter with his parents.


    “Dad, I’m afraid this matter may not be so simple. I know Korbin’s personality. He wouldn’t allow


    Catherine to act so recklessly unless there’s some hidden agenda. Adrien’s words are cryptic for a


    reason.”


    As a family member, Adrien would certainly exin everything clearly if he could. However, the hesitancy


    in his speech indicated that he knew something, but he couldn’t reveal it due to official duties.


    After hearing Malik’s analysis, Enzo nodded in agreement, with mncholy in his expression. As Malik


    pointed out, Korbin was not one to willingly suffer losses.


    While Korbin might not have the same business acumen as Vicente, Korbin had grown up with Vicente


    and absorbed much business knowledge. If there were a way, it would be impossible for Korbin to let


    Catherine act so recklessly.


    “I recall Rachael mentioning that Catherine is just a puppet and there may be other forces behind her.


    This matter of the Swanns may not be so simple.”


    After hearing that, Alyssa suddenly had an idea.


    “Why should we care about their situation? Let’s y both sides. We’re all Catherine’s rtives. Does


    she want to disown her grandparents, uncle, and aunt, too?”