《Marriage Without Love: Sir, Please Stop》 Chapter 1 Sold by Her Fiance Chapter 1 Sold by Her Fiance Chapter 1 Sold by Her Fiance At night in midwinter. The snow was falling heavily outside, and the frosty air made the windows opaque with crystal ice. Inside the room, the firece burned fiercely, casting a warm glow on Catalina Grant''s porcin skin. It was supposed to be her wedding night with her newlywed husband, Aaron Roach, but the man on top of her body now was someone else. "Bet Shaffer!" Catalina gasped, " You¡¯re are out of your mind! You can''t do this to me."Her delicate hands balled into fists and pounded his shoulder like a drizzle. This terribly handsome man pinned her to the bed, and forcibly tore apart her clothes. It felt as though this was the only way to appease the burning fury raging within him. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she tried to fight him off, but she was no match for his brute strength. "I''m already Aaron''s wife. How could you humiliate me like this? " Catalina huddled in Bet''s arms and sobbed, which greatly tensed his nerves. He finally stopped. "My brother is still lying in the hospital because of you, slut." Bet growled. "How can you get married so peacefully?" His words cut through her like a knife, and his cold, dark eyes seemed to freeze her to her very core. Before she could speak, he covered her mouth with his own. Then reckless kisses and bites fell on her neck, sending shivers down her spine. "You smell so good. " he whispered in her ear in a yful tone. She knew the man so well, but never would she imagine being this intimate with him. His lips started to trail down her body as he kissed her breasts, belly, and thighs before finally reaching her vagina. He leaned in between her legs, nuzzling at first, his beard slightly rough against the insides of her thighs. Then, using his lips and tongue, he began to explore her, igniting a fire within her that she had never felt before. Tears of shame mixed with unexpected sensuality flowed down her face, as Catalina couldn''t help but enjoy thepletely strange feeling and crave more. Despite her efforts to refrain from moaning, unspeakable sounds escaped her lips, causing him to be even more frenzied. He violently forced her legs further apart. Suddenly his gigantic throbbing shaft broke into her. "O-Oh, no. Uhm... p-please, Bet, please don¡¯t..." Catalina yearned as she couldn¡¯t get used to his enormous size, begging him to stop. He didn¡¯t listen. The man above her started to pump in and out of her, and growled in disdain. ¡°What a slut! You like that?¡± Bet fastened his pace. With every passing second, the pain receded and euphoria took over. Finally Catalina lost all shame, and wasn¡¯t bothered about showing her pleasure to this man. The fire in the hearth roared louder as their bodies tangled together. ... An hourter, Bet calmly got up and straightened his handmade suit. He looked nothing like the aggressive beast that had just ravaged Catalina, instead, he appeared as a restrained and elegant gentleman,plete with gold-rimmed sses that suppressed his underlying aggressiveness. Catalinay on the bed, pale and trembling with anger and grief. "You''re a monster," she growled, her voice hoarse. "I will sue you for what you''ve done." Her tearful eyes were filled with a mix of emotions. She stared at him with a look of intense hatred and All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. her fingers were tightly gripping the sheets, her knuckles turning white. Bet slid one hand into his pocket and gazed down at Catalina with a haughty sneer. His posture was regal, as if he were an emperor inspecting a mere insect. "Catalina, I paid for tonight," he spat. Catalina''s heart skipped a beat, and she faltered, "What...What do you mean?" Bet towered over her, his massive frame looming. He pinched her jaw tightly, staring into her innocent, tear-filled eyes with a cold fury. His mind drifted to the past. "I was a fool for those innocent eyes," he mused. Then, he delivered the crushing blow, "Aaron Roach sold you to me on your wedding night, for a million dors." Catalina''s world crumbled around her. Humiliation mingled with the tears streaming down her face. "Liar. You liar..." she choked. With a disgusted expression, Bet released her jaw, withdrew a Hermes silk scarf from his pocket, and wiped his hand as if to rid himself of her touch. "Stop crying. Your tears won''t work on me. I will make you cry much harder in the future," he sneered. He strode out of the room, tossing the silk scarf into the trash can by the door without a nce. His assistants followed him meekly, avoiding his gaze. Bet had made their lives hell since the moment he learned of Catalina''s impending wedding. "Inform the police in fifteen minutes," Betmanded, his voice icy. The assistant''s eyes widened in shock, but he nodded meekly. "Yes, Mr. Shaffer." As soon as Bet left, the door of the hotel room was pushed open from outside before Catalina had time to console herself. People who rushed in were her future mother-inw, Aylin Neal, and sister-inw, Josie Roach. Behind them was Aaron, Catalina''s newlywed husband, who just sold her as amodity. Witnessing Catalina naked in bed, her mother-inw was enraged. She rushed forward to lift the quilt that¡¯s covering her body. "Aaron, what did I told you about this woman back then? I told you, this woman is a slut, and you can''t marry her, but you didn''t believe me! Now, she cheated on you on your wedding day! " "Mom''s right. This bitch wouldn¡¯t change at all! Because of you, Mr. Warren fell ill four years ago and is still lying in the hospital. Four yearster, you did it again. Only my stupid brother is willing to marry a woman like you." Josie also pointed at Catalina and cursed in a shrill voice. The scandal that happened four years ago in the Shaffer family was revealed by them again, and with every word spoken, Catalina¡¯s heart painfully convulse in her chest. She bit her lower lip hard and clutched at the quilt with both hands, all while staring straight at Aaron, the man responsible for today''s farce. Being stared at resentfully, Aaron felt so guilty that he didn''t dare to look into her eyes at all. Suddenly a sharp pnded on Catalina''s face. She gasped as five bright red marks bloomed on her delicate skin. "How dare you stare at my son like that?" her mother inw snarled. Catalina''s eyes remained fixed on Aaron, her gaze growing even colder. She refused to back down, despite the humiliation she had just endured. Aaron, who was hiding behind, came forward and tugged at Aylin. "Mom, stop. " "Why are you still protecting her? She cheated on you." Aylin couldn''t believe it, and growled. Josie chimed in, "Aaron, are you really bewitched by her?" "I believe Catalina didn''t mean to..." Before Aaron could finish his words, a clear, crisp pnded on his face, causing his head to jerk to the side. The room fell into a sudden and deadening silence, broken only by the crackling of the firewood burning in the hearth. Chapter 2 A Repeated Farce Chapter 2 A Repeated Farce Chapter 2 A Repeated Farce Catalina withdrew her hand and clenched it into a fist with indignation. Her pink chest heaved up and down, and she said, "Aaron Roach, we''re done for good. I never want to see you again!" When Aaron heard that, a hint of sadness flickered in his eyes. Aylin didn''t expect Catalina, the cheating slut, would scold her innocent son so righteously. Just as she wanted to teach Catalina a lesson, unexpectedly, the door was kicked open, and several police officers in uniform rushed in. "We received a report that someone was doing illegal business here. Come with us to the police station. All of you!" Catalina was d that the police came in time, or she would have been beaten up by Aylin on the spot. "Officer, you¡¯ve misunderstood. The woman in the bed is my wife..." Aaron hastily stepped forward with a smile to exin. However, Catalina was in no mood to listen to them. She was exhausted and copsed on the bed, with the piercing words of the police ringing in her ears, "illegal business taking ce here..." "So, did Bet really treat me as a whore to vent his sexual desire?" She couldn¡¯t help but thought. Catalina closed her eyes, and the tears of humiliation trickled down her face. "Bet, anyone in the world can humiliate and trample on me, but not you!" ... Catalina stayed in the police station all night. The next morning, she walked out of the police station with deep ck circles under her eyes and a tired expression. The snow outside glistened in the warm winter sun, and the light dazzled her eyes. Catalina could only raise her hand to block the strong light. She walked towards the bus station while enduring the awkward pain in her lower body. Because of Bet, every step she took now made her feel like being run over by a heavy truck, sore and tired. Ten minutester, she finally got on the bus home. She couldn''t return to Roach''s house, nor did she want to. What was supposed to be a simple marriage had turned into a ridiculous situation. The same boisterous farce that happened four years ago recurred. Thinking of the absurd thing that happened four years ago and what Bet had done to her, Catalina clenched her fists in deep frustration. Tears of humiliation continued to well up in her eyes. Bet had returned to exact revenge on her, using the same tactics from four years ago to once again tear her life apart and leave her in a bottomless abyss. Leaning against the ss window and watching the snowy scenery outside slowly recede, it felt as though she was traveling back in time to four years ago. At that time, she was a vibrant and optimistic college freshman. She served as a maid for the Shaffer family, or a personal maid for Bet Shaffer. Bet was born into a prominent aristocratic family. His grandfather was the founder of Shaffer Group. His father was even more eminent. He led the newborn Shaffer Group in the global economic field and created his own legend. His mother was also from a noble family. As a result, Bet was destined to be extraordinary before he was born. He was the youngest in the Shaffer family, so he was pampered by his eldest brother, Warren Shaffer, and his second elder sister, Shyann Shaffer. However, Catalina, who was born into a poor family, was able to have a very superficial rtionship with Bet. Because of his excellent performance in the group, her father was assigned as a personal driver by Bet''s father, Korbin Shaffer. And, under the subtle influence of her father, Catalina naturally became the personal maid of Bet. Catalina remembered that when she first met Bet, she was ten years old, and he was twelve. It was in May when the locust flowers were in full bloom, and the blossoms fell as the wind blew. A handsome youth was holding a branch of locust flowers in his mouth, resting beneath the tree with his eyes closed, enjoying a moment of peace and rxation. The mottled sunlight shone through the leaves and fell on his fair face. He looked so cute. At one nce, Catalina was stunned by him. When she was eighteen, it was destined to be an extraordinary year for Catalina. She remembered the day when she came back from school and her father brought her earth-shattering news. He told her that the Shaffer family had sent a marriage proposal in the name of "Mr. Shaffer" to her, and they would be married soon. If she hadn''t seen the mountain of betrothal gifts in her home with her own eyes, she wouldn''t have believed it. Because she knew better than anyone that there was an insurmountable gap between her and Bet, a gap like night and day. But unexpectedly, she became his fiancee. For Catalina, that day was probably the most beautiful dream she had ever had in her eighteen years of life. Yes, it was a dream, only a dream. It was not until a week before the wedding that Catalina identally knew that the so-called "Mr. Shaffer" in her father''s words was not Bet, but Bet''s most admired eldest brother, Warren. This result was a bolt from the blue for Catalina. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. However, she had no right to refuse, and the authority of the Shaffer family would never allow her to challenge it either. Moreover, everyone knew that Warren was ill from childhood and suffered from congenital diseases. A fortune-teller once foretold that Warren would not survive his 25th birthday. He also said that if Warren wanted to survive, he had to get married before that, and Catalina was exactly the bride Warren had personally chosen to counteract his bad luck. She was only eighteen that year, not even twenty. If she had really married in such a peaceful way, it would be all right, but fate yed a joke on her. Nobody had expected that the grand wedding would end in such a way... Warren became a vegetable because of Catalina. As for Catalina, it was the most embarrassing day in her life. It was the most unforgettable pain in her heart, and it was the day she was most reluctant to recall. It was also that day that Bet changed her from a naive student to a slut disdained by everyone. She even became an enemy of the Shaffer family. Afterwards, when everyone mentioned Catalina, they would habitually add some "magnificent" prefixes to her, such as slutty, cheap, dirty, etc. That year, she was only eighteen, and she was still a child. Suddenly, the mobile phone in her pocket rang loudly, abruptly pulling Catalina''s thoughts back to reality. She breathed a long sigh of relief and found that her palms were already sweating. However, when she saw the call reminder on her phone screen, her rxed heart instantly tensed up again. "Catalina Grant!" On the phone, Catalina''s father, Cason Grant, cried out to her bitterly. At the other end of the phone, Cason was so angry that he was wringing. "What do you want to do? What on earth do you want to do?" Catalina didn''t speak. She bit her trembling lower lip hard in silence. Once again, her eyes were wet with tears. "Did the Grant family do anything bad to you? Why do you have such scandals again and again? Why were you always fooling around with another man on your wedding day? You did that four years ago, and four yearster, you did it again. Tell me, Catalina! How hard do you want to embarrass the whole Grant family? Have you forgotten how miserable you made Warren? I thought you would at least learn a lesson, but why did you repeat the same thing four yearster? Catalina, do you really want me, your father, to be a joke because of you?" Cason''s questioning words were like a de stuck into Catalina''s heart, making her teeth tremble in pain. As her tears trickled down, she said, "It''s Bet..." She gritted her teeth and cried, "It''s Bet! It''s Bet..." She shouted bitterly in her heart, "It''s Bet who destroyed me! Four years ago, it was him. Four yearster, it''s still him! However, Bet never knew that the devil who destroyed her and his brother four years ago was himself." Chapter 3 An Unexpected Proposal Chapter 3 An Unexpected Proposal Chapter 3 An Unexpected Proposal When Catalina returned home, she found that her luggage had been thrown into the corridor by her stepmother, Elle Holder, including the doll that her mother had sewn for her before death. Meanwhile, her father, Cason, was sitting at the door smoking. His hair was messy, his face was haggard, and there was a pile of cigarette butts at his feet. The corridor was filled with smoke, which was a little choking. Through the hazy smoke, Catalina vaguely saw her father''s gray temples. Overnight, he seemed to be nearly ten years older because of her. While throwing her things out, Elle cursed, "Let me tell you, your daughter is the jinx sent by God to torture you. If it weren''t for her, you wouldn''t have lost your job four years ago, and we three wouldn''t have to be crowded in this cramped dpidated house. Fortunately, someone blind and foolish took a fancy to her, but she did that disgusting thing again. We haven''t got the chance to use the dowry money, and the Roach family had already taken it back. The heating bill has not been paid yet! Besides, her grandmother is still lying in the hospital, which costs a great deal of money every day. Why is she not dead?" "Mom''s right!" Someone echoed in the house. It was Jenny Grant, Catalina''s half-sister, who was two years younger than her and had just reached 20 N?velDrama.Org ? content. this year. Jenny had a pretty face, but her words were extremely mean. "Catalina, that bitch, is really a jinx. Whoever has something to do with her will suffer a lifetime of bad luck. Dad, you must stay away from her in the future! The loss of face is small, but the loss of life isrge. Be careful, or she may one day cause your death. Think about her mother, and Mr. Warren. Because of her, both of them suffered a lot and came to no good end." Cason scolded towards the house with a cold face, "Shut up! Watch your tongue!" After saying that, he looked back and then saw Catalina in the corridor. "Lina." Cason slowly straightened up from his chair. Meeting his sad eyes, Catalina suddenly felt aggrieved, and her tears almost burst out. "Dad." "Look! The jinx is back." Jenny also came to the door. She leaned on the doorframe and squinted at Catalina in the corridor while eating some snacks in her hand. "Mom, Catalina is back. Have you finished throwing her things?" In the house, Elle heard the noise and rushed out of the door. She mmed thest few things belonging to Catalina angrily into the corridor and red fiercely at Catalina. "You bitch! Get out and nevere back. The Grant family can''t afford to lose faces again because of you." Catalina was not surprised to be swept out by her stepmother. There was no emotion on her indifferent face. She just picked up the doll that her mother had sewn for her from the pile of things, cleaned the dust on it, and hugged it in her arms. Then she asked Cason, "Did the Roach family take back all the dowry money?" "Yes." With a worried face, Cason sighed, "We haven''t paid the operation fee for your grandmother yet!" Elle suddenly interrupted, "Why should we pay? It''s a good thing if she dies!" "Can you stop saying that?" Cason red at his wife. Catalina tried her best to hold back her tears and said, "Dad, don''t worry. I will try to cover the medical expenses for Grandmother. And, I''m sorry for what happened today." Catalina never felt that she had any faults in this matter. However, she felt it was her fault to let her father worry about her. "How are you going to raise 100 thousand dors for the operation?" Cason looked worried. Jenny sneered as she was snacking, "How? By selling herself!" Catalina red at her coldly. Jenny immediately shrank her neck in fear, but she still muttered, "Why are you ring at me? I know you have big eyes, but so what?" During the quarrel, they suddenly heard the loud engine sound of the motorcadeing from downstairs. Following closely, people downstairs burst into an uproar. "Cason! Cason!" "Jenny,e down quickly!" Downstairs, the neighbors shouted at them who lived on the second floor. "What? What happened?" Jenny stopped snacking and walked to the balcony. Cason followed her closely. Catalina also looked down in confusion. Then she was extremely surprised. She saw that, on the deserted terrace downstairs, there was a luxury motorcade parked in order, all of which were unified ck Bentley. They were too luxurious to be ipatible with this old and dpidatedmunity. As soon as the motorcade appeared, there was no doubt that it had be the most eye-catching scenery in the wholemunity. In front of the first car, there was an old man in his fifties. Dressed in a ck suit, he stood gracefully and in high spirits. When seeing Catalina and Jenny who were on the second floor, he put his right hand on his chest, like an elegant gentleman, and bowed respectfully. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Grant!" Catalina was stunned. She couldn''t help but think, "Who is this man? Why is he so respectful to us? After all, from his appearance and dressing, I can tell that he definitely has an extraordinary identity." At that moment, Jenny blinked in surprise and pointed to her own nose. "Are you looking for me?" "Jenny, he''s indeed looking for you!" The enthusiastic neighbors downstairs rushed to answer her and then said to Cason with jealousy, "Cason, you are really lucky! Your eldest daughter just got married yesterday, and unexpectedly, someone rich and powerful came for a proposal today. In my opinion, your family is really going to prosper soon!" "Proposal?" Cason looked at Jenny in surprise. Jenny was also very confused. Catalina, as an outsider, watched this with no expression. "Yes, Mr. Grant, I came to propose marriage to Ms. Grant on behalf of my master. I hope you can agree, Mr. Grant." After saying that, the old man downstairs raised his hand and ordered the servants waiting beside the cars, "Take the betrothal gifts to Ms. Grant. Be careful, and don''t get them bumped. Every gift here represents our master''s sincerity." "Got it!" the servants answered. Then they carried various gift boxes and went upstairs in order. The old man walked at the end of the line to oversee the overall situation. "Wow!" As soon as Elle came out, she happened to meet the team carrying gifts into the house. She saw such a big scene for the first time, and her eyes widened. "What''s going on here?" Cason was also confused. "He said he came to propose marriage to Jenny on behalf of his master, who seems to be from a rich family." "Proposing marriage?" Elle instantly showed a surprised expression and said, "Jenny, when did you meet such a rich man? Why did you never tell us about that? My God, if he didn''te to propose, I would still not know that!" At that moment, the warm-hearted neighbors downstairs also followed the huge proposal team upstairs. "She''s right. Jenny, since you have such a rich boyfriend, why are you so low-key?" "I heard that the cars downstairs cost more than 10 million dors each! There are at least a dozen cars! How amazing it is! Your boyfriend must be a billionaire!" "I thought your sister''s marriage was already very grand. Unexpectedly, you have a richer fianc¨¦ than she does! No, she''s not evenparable to you!" "Exactly! You''re way better than her." The neighbors kept ttering Jenny one after another. Hearing their praises, Elle was overjoyed. She wondered in her heart, "I thought that Catalina was already very lucky to marry Aaron, such a rich man. Jenny and I had even been jealous of her for a long time, but I never expected that fate would suddenly turn in our favor after only one day. Catalina failed to marry into the Roach family, but Jenny was just proposed to by someone richer than Aaron. Although I don''t know which noble family this manes from, I can tell from the luxury cars parked downstairs that he has an extraordinary identity." Chapter 4 The Wrong Proposal Chapter 4 The Wrong Proposal Chapter 4 A Wrong Proposal Although Jenny was extremely surprised and had no idea about who the man proposed to her was, she was puffed up with thepliments from her neighbors. "Don''t worry, everyone. I''ll send you gifts when I get married. I won''t forget your kindness to me." Jenny was a student of the Film and Television Academy. She always had the opportunity to meet with some young men from rich families. So she thought that there must be someone who had fallen in love with her. After all, even in the academy, her appearance was outstanding. Jenny nced at Catalina proudly. At this moment, with thepliments of others, she felt that her status was much higher than that of Catalina. "Well, Catalina. You haven''t expected such a day, have you?" Jenny was a littlecent. She sneered, "Are you angry? But you can''t change anything. After all, I''m going to marry a rich man." Catalina raised her eyebrows slightly and didn''t care about her at all. She never spared a nce for seeking connections with those in power. Only Elle and Jenny would care about that. "Ms. Grant." Meanwhile, the old man who came for the proposal came to them. There was a small gift box with exquisite workmanship in his hand. He said, "This is the diamond ring that our young master selected for you. Hope you will like it." Then he opened the gift box carefully. The moment he opened the box, there was an uproar. "Wow." There was a tacit cry. There was a crystal diamond lying in the gift box. It seemed to have been soaked and washed by tears. It was extremely pure. With only a nce, everyone was shocked. "How beautiful..." Jenny felt that her breath waspletely taken away by the diamond. Even Catalina, who had never been infatuated with jewelry, was stunned at this moment. "Oh my God! This diamond ring is too gorgeous!" "It''s so big! Jenny, who is your fianc¨¦? He''s so great!" Jenny''s heart pounded with excitement. Such a luxurious and dazzling diamond ring, she could not even dream about it. "Come on, try it." Elle urged. Jenny pretended to be calm, "But I don''t know who the man is! He has prepared so much!" Although saying so, she reached out for that stunning ring. However, the old man moved his hand away and said, "I''m sorry, Ms. Jenny. You seem to get it wrong." "What?" Jenny frowned. What did he mean? To everyone''s surprise, the next second, the old man put the gift box in front of Catalina respectfully, and bowed, "Ms. Grant, the young master said that this diamond ring was specially made for you. And he asked me to send it to you in person. No one else was allowed to take it. Even that''s your sister." His words shocked everyone. No one would expect that this huge proposal team didn''te for Jenny, but for...Catalina? Jenny froze. Her pupils contracted. And she looked exbarrassed because of the situation. How was that possible? Elle was also shocked. And how was Catalina? She stood there at a loss and there was a "buzzing" in her mind. What was happening?! So, this huge proposal team really came for her? Was he kidding?! N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. She just broke off an engagement yesterday, and today... She didn''t believe that she was that attractive. Catalina stepped back two steps to keep a safe distance from them. "I don''t know you." "Yes, you get it wrong!" Jenny grasped the old man''s arm angrily, pointed at herself and said, "Look carefully. I am Jenny Grant. I am!" "I know you are Ms. Jenny, but the person we are looking for is Ms. Grant. And the one that our young master proposes to is Ms. Grant." "..." Catalina''s blood froze. Who that young master was? Was he a psycho? Why did he propose to her? Jenny couldn''t believe it, "How could it be! How could it be this woman?" Jenny waspletely dazed by jealousy. She pointed at Catalina and screamed, "This woman, she is a slut! Who is your young master? Who is he? Why does he like such a slut?" Hearing this, the old man frowned with severity. "Ms. Jenny, please show respect to Mrs. Shaffer. Otherwise, I won''t just let it go." He said in an awe-inspiring and overwhelming tone. With only a few words, he extinguished Jenny''s arrogance. She stamped her feet angrily. "You are going too far!" The neighbors around them had changed their faces. There were no morepliments but ridicules. Thinking about those luxurious gifts in the room and the diamond ring specially made for Catalina, Jenny was so angry that tears rolled out of her eyes. She felt as if she was pped by someone dozens of times. It was painful and embarrassing. "Why cry and make a fool of yourself! Get into the room right now!" Elle dragged the crying Jenny into the room angrily. When passing by the clothes at the door, she kicked it and said, "You slut, never step into this house again!" Cason gave Catalina aplicated look. He shook his head in disbelief, then he sighed, turned around, went into the room, and closed the door. The moment the door closed, Catalina felt her heart was in knots. Finally, she was driven out by her own father... "Ms. Grant, it seems that I''ve caused you a lot of trouble. I''m really sorry." The old man bowed to Catalina and apologized. Catalina sniffed and shook her head with a wry smile. "No, there is no ce for me in this house, no matter whether youe or not." This house had not been her home since her mother left. "Sir, let''s talk somewhere else." "Yes, Ms. Grant, please." On the first floor, in front of the Bentley motorcade, the old man said, "Ms. Grant, my name is Ralph rk. I''m Mr. Shaffer''s personal butler. If you don''t mind, you can call me Ralph." "Who?" Catalina was shocked. She soon became fully alert, "Mr. Shaffer? Which Mr. Shaffer?" "Bet Shaffer." "..." It was him! Chapter 5 The Strange Proposal Chapter 5 The Strange Proposal Chapter 5 The Strange Proposal Catalina bit her lip and took a big step back to keep a safe distance from Ralph. With vignce and hostility in her eyes, she red at Ralph, "What do you want?" "Take it easy, Ms. Grant." Being elegant, Ralph said with a smile, "We have no malice and will never hurt you." As he spoke, he spread out his hand to the young man waiting behind him. The young man soon took out a file from his briefcase and handed it to Ralph respectfully. Ralph nced at the file. After checking it, he then handed it to Catalina. "Please have a look at this file. If there is no problems, please sign here." Catalina was confused. File? "What file?" She took it over in confusion. And she was shocked as she saw the words on it, "Marriage application?" "Yes." Ralph smiled and nodded. Catalina looked at Ralph in disbelieve, "What is it? Who is going to get married?" "Of course it''s you and Mr. Shaffer." "Bet and me?!" "Yes." Ralph nodded and smiled, with his hands put together in front. Catalina felt as if being struck by lightning, and her mind was nk. What happened? Bet wanted to marry her? Catalina seemed to have heard the funniest joke. With a sarcastic sneer, she returned the file to Ralph, "It''s not funny at all." "Ms. Grant, it''s not a joke. Mr. Shaffer means seriously. You can have a look. Both applications have been signed by Mr. Shaffer." Hearing this, Catalina checked it. It was true! The marriage application was made in duplicate, and there was the name "Bet Shaffer" written perfunctorily on the signature column of each file. The signature was powerful and vigorous, just as the majestic aura of Bet. "You could recognize the handwriting of Mr. Shaffer, right?" She did. When she wrote homework for him when they were young, she always imitated his handwriting. So what? Catalina frowned, "What does he mean?" "We dare not to specte about the thoughts of Mr. Shaffer. But for the marriage, Mr. Shaffer is serious." When saying this, Ralph took a look at Catalina, then he continued, "Ms. Grant, for what I can tell, you should be short of money now, right? Your grandmother needs money for her treatment. So why don''t you take a look at the file? It is clearly written on the application that as long as you sign on it, 200 thousand of dors will enter your ount immediately. Why don''t you ept it?" 200 thousand dors? Catalina was shocked and widened her eyes. She had no time to think about how Ralph knew that. She opened the file again and read it carefully this time. It was true! As Ralph said, she wanted money. She only needed to sign her name on the marriage application, and then she would get 200 thousand dors. Catalina''s heart jumped fast. She was desperately short of money. Now, the god was sending money to her! Took it or no? She was quite ambivalent. Thinking of the devil who nearly tore her up in bedst night, she bit her lip and said, "No." Catalina made up her mind, handed the file back and said firmly: "Even if I''m poor, I will never sell myself, especially to...Bet!" Ralph didn''t seem surprised by Catalina''s refusal. He just took the file over and asked, "Don''t you think about it again?" "I have thought about it." "That''s a pity." Ralph looked upset. He handed the file back to the young man behind him. He didn''t coerce or force Catalina but just left quietly with the motorcade. Until the motorcade disappeared, Catalina still felt unbelievable, and everything seemed to be in a dream. ... As soon as Catalina entered the ward, the nurse sent the bill to her. "The medical fee ofst month was 100 dors in total. You have been in arrears for more than half a month. If you don''t pay the fee, I''m afraid the treatment would stop." "Shh..." Catalina was afraid that her grandmother in sleep would hear this. She soon pulled the nurse out of the ward. "I had paid the fee ofst month. What''s wrong?" she asked. She sent the money back home on time at the beginning of the month. Why did the nurse say she didn''t pay the bill? "It''s unpaid! It''s written here clearly." Catalina took the bill and looked over it carefully. It was really unpaid. It seemed the money she gave her father was taken by her stepmother. Catalina felt fretful. She checked her bnce on her mobile phone, and there was only 700 dors left. This was the money she managed to save as the living expenses in these months. Catalina said, "I have only 700 dors. Please take it first. I''ll try to make up the remaining as soon as possible." "Come on. There are only three days left." "Alright, I got it." Catalina bit her teeth and replied. It should be possible to get 300 dors in three days, right? After Catalina paid the fee, the nurse kindly reminded her, "Catalina, your grandmother''s operation will cost arge amount of money. Do you really want to do it?" "Of course, I''m already trying to raise money for the operation." "If you have really decided, the sooner, the better! The operation can''t be dyed any longer. The sess rate will be lower and lower." "...OK." Catalina was upset. If she had money, she would have asked the doctor to operate on her grandmother. But in fact, Catalina now had only 5 dors in her pocket. That was all she had. She didn''t even know where to stay this night, let alone the operation fee of 100 thousand dors. But she insisted on curing her grandmother. At that time, her mother had a chance to survive, but in the end, her father had to give up the treatment because ofck of money. Now, she would not let the tragedy happen again. Catalina came out of the hospital at nine o''clock. It was freezing outside, and she was penniless. She didn''t eat anything this day, and now only the doll in her hand was with her. Now, standing at the gate of the hospital, she was caught by the cold wind. She was so cold that she shrank and didn''t know where to go. She had a home, but there was no ce for her at that home. Grandma was still in the hospital bed, waiting for her to save her life. Catalina suddenly remembered Bet''s proposal. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. She kicked the snowball beside her feet gloomily. "Catalina, Catalina, why did you refuse that?" If she epted it, these problems would have been solved! While she was thinking about it. Suddenly, a ck Bentley motorcade passed through the snow. With a "quack", it stopped steadily in front of her, setting off a piercing cold wind. Chapter 6 The Marriage Contract Chapter 6 The Marriage Contract Chapter 6 The Marriage Contract Catalina was stunned. She didn''t expect it. It was Ralph again? She was just thinking about him and he was here? With the doll in her arms, she went over and approached the window, "Ralph?" The dark window slowly slid down, revealing a cold and gloomy face. For a moment, Catalina was shocked and her pupils expanded. To her surprise, it was... Bet?! Catalina was so frightened that she stepped back several steps, as if the one in the car was a monster. No, he was more terrible than a monster! On the other side, Ralph opened the door and got off the car. "Ms. Grant." Ralph walked towards her and handed her a file respectfully, "I believe that you must have thought about it through a day." It was the marriage contract with Bet''s signature. Catalina frowned. She looked at Bet with puzzled and sullen eyes, "Didn''t I already give the answer this morning?" "Sign it." In the car, Bet said coldly and overbearingly. The only two words were oppressive and overwhelming. He looked straight ahead, and did not look at Catalina. "Now you have no other choice." "..." Catalina bit her lip. "Ms. Grant, your grandmother needs money for her treatment!" Ralph kindly reminded Catalina. Catalina felt sorry for her. Was her self-esteem more important than Grandma''s life? Thinking of her grandma who was waiting for money to save her life on the hospital bed and the only 5 dors left in her pocket, Catalina bit her teeth. As Bet said, she had no other choice. "OK." It seemed she had made a very difficult decision. She took a deep breath and took the file in Ralph''s hand. Even if there was an abyss ahead, she must go on for her grandma. She made up her mind and signed her name on two marriage applications quickly. She signed so fast as if she was afraid that she would change her mind the next second. She had no ability to feed herself as well as protect her family. How could she care about self-esteem? Self-esteem was a luxury for her now. Seeing she signed, Bet looked a little better. "Go." He gave the order in a calm voice. The window was closed, and the ck car flied away like a strong wind and hid in the darkness soon. "Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs. Shaffer." Ralph put the file back and changed the address to Catalina immediately. The sudden change made Catalina embarrassed. "Ralph, just call me Lina." "Ding." Just then, Catalina''s mobile phone rang and a short message appeared. Catalina took out her mobile phone from her pocket and looked at it. She was quite shocked the moment she saw the message. It was a bank remittance reminder. "One, two, three, four, five..." It was 200 thousand dors in total. He was so generous. Catalina blinked and looked at Ralph in disbelieve. Until now, did Catalina feel that she had fallen a vast abyss. Why did Bet suddenly marry her and give her so much money? Shouldn''t he hate her very much? He must want to kill her and cut her body into pieces. Why didn''t he kill her but married her? The more Catalina thought about it, the more scared she felt. She thought that she might be dismembered by him at home one day. But anyway, she had signed the contract and received the money. It was toote to regret it. Unexpectedly, she finally did as Jenny''s nonsense before. She sold herself! ... "Mrs. Shaffer, it''s cold outside, please get on the car!" Ralph smiled and made a respectful ''please'' gesture to Catalina, inviting her to get on the bus. Catalina froze, "Why?" "Go home." "...which home? I have no home." "From now on, Mr. Shaffer''s home is your home." "..." Catalina was in a trance. She mocked herself in the heart. Bet''s home would never be her home. She was clear about this. Catalina got on the luxury car nervously. In fact, where could she go if she didn''t get on the car? With 5 dors, she could only sleep in the street. It was Catalina''s first time to sit in such a luxury car. It was toofortable, but it made her feel very ufortable. She sat upright, bowed her head and stayed quiet. The car drove to somewhere quietly. Catalina didn''t realize it until the car drove into a winding mountain road. "Are we going to the Shaffer family?" She suddenly froze and sat up straight. It was her first-level alert state. Her pretty face turned pale, and her eyes were filled with nervousness and fear. The Shaffer family was no better than a tiger''s den. Once she entered it, she might have a terrible end. "Take it easy, Mrs. Shaffer. We''re going to Sophora Vi." Catalina knew Sophora Vi. It was Bet''s private vi. There were two century-old locust trees nted in the courtyard. In every May, the smell of locust trees was fresh and fragrant. That was why its name was Sophora Vi. When she was ten years old, she first saw Bet under the locust tree in Sophora Vi. Sophora Vi was located on the hillside of Shaffer Mountain. It was a remote and quiet ce. At the top of Shaffer Mountain, there was a luxurious vi, with bridges, flowing water, singing birds, and flowers in its courtyard. There were also gardens, bushes and winding paths. There, of course, lived the most prestigious family member of the Shaffer family, Drake Shaffer, who was Bet Shaffer''s grandfather and the founder of Shaffer Group. From the top down, there were several small vis side by side. Although they were not as magnificent as the main vi, they also had their own special atmosphere. They were the private residence of the other family members of the Shaffer family. As for Bet''s Sophora Vi, it was an exception in the Shaffer family. It was a special birthday gift from his grandfather when he was five years old, which also showed his status in Drake''s heart. Hearing that they were not going to the main vi, Catalina signed with relief. But when thinking of the meet with that devil, Catalina clenched her fist. After the ambiguous and romantic night, plus the marriage contract, she now didn''t know how to face him. Ralph seemed to know what Catalina was thinking about. He smiled, "Don''t worry, Mrs. Shaffer. Mr. Shaffer had went to Gilburgh, and he will stay there for several months." R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "Huh?" Catalina was surprised, "He had left?" "Yes." "..." That was so great! Catalina breathed a sigh of relief. She was ecstatic in fact, but she dared not show it. Chapter 7 Leave Her to Ben Chapter 7 Leave Her to Ben Chapter 7 Leave Her to Ben It was her first time to stay in Sophora Vi. Catalina felt quite ufortable. Lying on the big and soft round bed, she could hardly fall asleep. She felt uneasy and couldn''t calm herself down. When she finally got sleepy, it was almost dawn. She got up and washed up. She opened the door. Two servants in maid uniforms were standing outside, "Good morning, Mrs. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Shaffer!" Catalina soon was totally awake, "Good morning." The maid on the left smiled and said, "Breakfast is ready for you. It was your first time to be here. The chiefs don''t know what you like. So they prepared different kinds of breakfast from four countries for you." "..." It was a bit exaggerated. The maid on the right smiled and said, "Ralph has asked us to show you around after breakfast, helping you to be familiar with here. So you won''t get lost." "..." It was really exaggerated! Catalina tried to put on a standard smile, "I''m very grateful to you for your hard work, but I hope my breakfast will be simple in the future. Milk and churros are enough. And let''s choose another day to get familiar with this ce. I''m gonna bete for work." While saying this, Catalina walked along a long corridor, went through an antique wooden bridge to the front hall, tying up her hair. The two maids put their hands in front and followed Catalina with their heads down. "Mrs. Shaffer, we have private stylists. Do you want her toe to the front hall?" "No!" "Mrs. Shaffer, do you need a driver to take you to work?" "No!" "Mrs. Shaffer, do you..." "Thank you, no." "..." After dealing with the maids all morning, Catalina finally went out. After getting on the bus to thepany, she took a long breath of relief and realized that it was not easy to live a rich life. Catalina worked in a famous magazinepany. She was an intern reporter for people''s livelihood. "How are you sote?" When Catalina just entered the room, Emery, a colleague in the next room came in. "There was something to deal with." Catalina replied simply. "Check the email now. The questions for our internship assessment were announced." Emery reminded her. Hearing this, Catalina put away her bag and soon opened herputer. Emery bit the pen and said, "We''re in the same group for the internship assessment. Having you as my partner, I thought it was easy to pass the assessment. But when I saw the task, I know we''re both done." "Why?" Catalina stared at theputer and carefully read the email. She took a candy from the box and put it into her mouth. It was apple vor as usual. "Don''t you see? We have the most difficult task. Their tasks are to investigate the environmental protection or food safety issues. But our task is to investigate the drug abuse and prostitution in Heaven. Isn''t that too difficult for us?" Catalina took paper and pen, began to take notes and replied, "It''s difficult. But their tasks are not easy too. It''s no use toin here. Let''s just try our best." "It''s easy to say that. How to do it?" Emery put her chin on the tip of his pen in frustration. With drooping eyelids, she said, "Do you know where Heaven is? We don''t even have the qualification to get in. Even if we are lucky enough to get in. We might have no chance to get out safe and sound." "Come on! Don''t say bad words." Catalina frowned and thought carefully for a while. "There will always be a way." Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she smiled, "I have an idea!" Ralph! ... Half a monthter, Catalina finally persuaded Ralph to let her appear in Heaven as a new employee. This was the most prestigious club in Sayton. It was the gathering ce of the rich and noble, and naturally a ce where ordinary people would note. Catalina stood in front of the gate of the club, repeatedly taking deep breath. In front of her, her pretty face was clearly reflected on the gilded door. She wore a sexy short white shirt and a pleated hip-length skirt. The clothes were tight, as if they were specially made for her, making her exquisite figure more charming and attractive. There was ayer of crimson rouge appeared on her face. She didn''t expected that the manager would let her dress like this to serve the customers. It was alright to wear ordinary clothes. But this was too,,, Catalina felt embarrassed. She pulled the short skirt and the manager nced at her, "Be smart. Do you know who those customers are? They are all young men from noble families in Sayton. One of them is the one that you and I will never have a chance to chat with." Catalina raised her eyebrows and said nothing. She thought that she had married the young master of the Shaffer family. Did she need to know other young men? "It was Mr. Wyatt who wanted to have something new. Otherwise, you''ll not have the chance to be here." "Okay, okay..." Catalina tried to act obediently. If it weren''t for the news, she wouldn''t do such dirty business! After exhorting, the manager went forward and knocked the door politely and asked respectfully, "Mr. Wyatt, she''s here. Do you want to see her now?" They waited outside for a while. Then azy voice came out, "Let her in." "Yes, sir." The manager soon swiped her card, opened the door, and let Catalina go in. Catalina stood outside and stayed still. She dared not move. The manager pushed her impatiently, "Do what you should do. Satisfy Mr. Wyatt. He''ll give you rewards." Being pushed by the manager, Catalina stumbled into the vi. Thanks to her good bnce, she didn''t fall down. "Darnell, she''s here! It''s a little girl!" Someone said. The man called "Darnell" was ying archery games with others. Hearing the words, he turned his head and took a look at Catalina, who was standing at the gate. The moment Catalina saw the man, she was stunned. The man was so handsome. He had long and narrow eyes, high nose and thin lips. He nced at her. She seemed to see the stars embedded in his eyes. Undoubtably, he had the magic to let girls fall in love with in at a nce. But surprisingly, Catalina thought the man looked familiar. Had he ever appeared on TV? "Come here." He had azy voice. His eyes were narrowed. Catalina was so nervous that her heart jerked. After taking a deep breath several times, she walked towards him calmly. "Can you shoot arrows?" He asked Catalina. "No." Catalina shook her head honestly. The man who shot arrows with him joked, "Darnell, girls here only know how to y with men." "..." Bullshit! Catalina made a curse silently in her heart. The words of the man made everyoneugh. "Shut up! Be quiet. Ben is sleeping inside! You know him. If you wake him up, you won''t have a good end." Darnell said to others with an arrow in his hand. "Ben has slept for more than ten hours. Why is he still sleeping?" While saying this, the man turned his head and nced at the closed door behind him. So, someone was sleeping in the bedroom? Catalina was curious. By their words, she guessed that the man should be the one the manager had mentioned before. Darnell drew his bow and closed one eye. "The jetg!" "Is Ben going to stay for a long time this time?" With a "whoosh", Darnell''s arrow flew out. With no deviation, it shot the center. "I don''t know. It depends on his mood. But if he really stays here for long, there must be something special here!" "It''s hard to keep Ben. These women are not his taste. But she..." The man lifted his chin and pointed at Catalina, who was standing quietly beside Darnell. The man said with a smile, "I think she is different. Why don''t we send her to Ben?" Hearing the words, Darnell turned his head and looked at Catalina. He squinted his eyes and kept looking at Catalina. Catalina''s heart did aplete somersault. She knew that the situation was not good. "Why are you nervous?" Unexpectedly, Darnell saw her through at one nce, "If Ben wants you, it''s a great honor to you and your whole family." "..." What?! What was he saying? "Do I have to thank him even if he asks me to sleep with him?" Catalina thought. Catalina straightened up and said seriously, "Mr. Wyatt, I don''t do this kind of business." "Ha ha ha..." The crowd roared withughter. Darnell smiled too, as if she had said a big joke. He waved his hand and said to the bodyguard standing behind him, "Tie her up and take her to Ben. He should have waken up." Catalina''s face soon turned pale. She stepped back, "Do you think you are feeding a dog?" "Dog?" Darnell narrowed his eyes, "You are the first one who dares call Ben a dog. Take her in. Leave her to Ben!" Then Catalina was caught by two strong men and was taken to the closed door. The door opened, and before she could see the man on the bed clearly, she was thrown out like a sack. "Bang." She fell on the bed. It seemed that...she hit someone... Oh, it hurt! "What so noisy?" With a hoarse voice, the man on the bed slowly opened his eyes. He frowned, and looked very impatiently. He nced at the woman on the bed with his fierce eyes. Catalina''s head popped out of the quilt. Why did the voice so familiar? She looked up with confusion. The wet eyes bumped into a pair of dark and deep eyes. He looked like he could swallow her down next second and choke her throat, making her almost breathless. She was shocked. There was a "buzzing" in her nk brain. One second... Two seconds... Three seconds... ... She didn''t begin to take it until the tenth second. She was panicked and wanted to get up. She was so panicked that her every move seemed disconcerted. Catalina never thought that the dangerous man that others mentioned just now would be...her new husband, Bet! God! Chapter 8 Im Not Interested in Her Chapter 8 I''m Not Interested in Her Chapter 8 I''m Not Interested In Her Catalina had no idea what was happening because Ralph mentioned that Bet went to Gilburgh and wouldn''t be back for three to five months. Only a month had passed since thest time she saw him. She suddenly became extremely flustered. She was desperate to escape, so she wriggled like a fish out of water in Bet''s arms. A strong hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back just as her feet were about to hit the ground. Catalina''s seductive body brushed up against his chest. "Catalina..." "You certainly live up to your reputation," Bet said in Catalina''s ear with his low voice. His tone was as cold as stone. Catalina forgot to breathe at that moment. She was terrified that his grip would make her wrist snap at any moment. Catalina frowned in pain. "It''s all a misunderstanding. I had no idea it would be you in this bed." Catalina exined the situation as she attempted to free herself from his grip. Bet immediately narrowed his amber eyes. He tightened his grip on her wrist and asked, "Who do you expect to be in the bed?" "I..." Catalina attempted to exin but quickly realized she was at a loss for words. "Not you, anyway." Bet sat up after rolling over. She was lying in his arms, looking miserable. She tried to get up, but his other hand gripped her waist tightly. With an expression as cold as if he hadnded straight from hell, he regarded Catalina contemptuously as he held her in his arms. "What''s the matter? You only sold your body once and now you are willing to be a hooker?" Catalina felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart by a sharp knife when she heard Bet''s insulting words. "No! I''m not!" She was not a prostitute then, nor was she at present. "Get off me!" Catalina fought desperately to free herself from Bet''s embrace. He didn''t move, no matter how hard she tried. Bet cupped Catalina''s jaw with his icy hand, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Are you saying you chose to mess around with those men?" Catalina''s eyes immediately turned red. "No, I didn''t!" She shook her head with tears in her eyes. She screamed as if being treated unfairly, "I never even wanted to have sex with you! Did you ever once ask my consent? Bet, you are aplete bastard!" He was the one who ruined her life four years before, and he did the same thing to her four yearster. He was the one whomitted all the mistakes, so she couldn''t understand why he still wanted to humiliate her. "You call me a bastard?" Bet''s eyes were obscured, and he leaned over to her with a terrifying sneer. "Do you believe I''ll do it again to you?" "How dare you!" Catalina said. Her face was red from embarrassment, and she lost her ability to speak clearly. "What''s wrong, Ben?" Darnell asked just as the two were about toe to blows. The noise inside the room prompted him to barge in, and he didn''t stop to consider how inappropriate his arrival was. Darnell was taken aback when he saw Ben, a man with no sexual interest in women, sitting on top of a woman. "Get the hell out of here!" Bet grabbed an ashtray on the nightstand and smacked it at Darnell. Darnell quickly closed the door after he ran away. The ashtray smashed against the door with a loud "bang", shattering into pieces. Darnell''s heart immediately elerated. He thought, "What the hell was happening? Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed, Ben? I better stay out of this! " Darnell was about to flee when he heard Bet''s voice from inside the room, "Get the hell in here!" Without a word to say, Darnell knew he was in trouble and was doomed. Bet threw Catalina under the bed without mercy, then lifted the covers and got out of bed. He seemed to be an enraged lion. When Catalina looked at Bet, she noticed he only wore boxer shorts. She could tell he was muscr and fit even though he was standing with his back to her. She couldn''t help but want to get a closer look at his body. He stood six feet tall and had the sturdiness of a pine tree for a frame. His upper body was an ideal inverted triangle, and his legs were straight, long, and muscr. He was lean and wless as if he were Michngelo''s best work. Even God seemed to favor him from the moment he was born. Not only did hee from a wealthy and elite family, but he also possessed an attractive appearance and pleasant demeanor. His physical appearance stood out as toned and perfect. Catalina even believed he was sent to Earth solely to make others envious. "Are you happy with what you see?" He asked abruptly, his face haughty and dignified. His tone was extremely dismissive of her, and his voice was low and icy. But Catalina''s breath was taken away by his enticing voice. Catalina turned her gaze away quickly as if she had been caught in the act. She wondered how could he be aware of her gaze with his back turned. Catalina got to her feet as Darnell opened the door. As if he hadmitted a terrible crime and was awaiting judgment, he walked around with his head hung low and looked miserable. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. "Ben." "Bang." Something then mmed down on the floor right at Darnell''s feet. When Darnell and Catalina looked at the object, they both came to a halt at the same time. "Is that a spy camera?" Darnell asked immediately. An angry expression crossed his face as he turned to Catalina. Catalina reached for her breasts as soon as she regained consciousness. She thought to herself, "What the hell? When did Bet take the spy camera I had hidden in my bra? I didn''t even notice it! " Catalina was mortified and irritated by his behavior, and she was even more convinced that he was a pervert. Bet reached for the gold-rimmed sses on the nightstand and bent down to polish the lenses. "She almost had the camera in your face! And you didn''t even feel a thing? That''s the very least thing you should be on guard for," he questioned Darnell. Despite his calm tone, he sounded intimidating. After putting on his sses, he appeared to have transformed into a gentleman with a noble and gentle temperament. However, he had just been hostile like a lion, ready to devour Catalina alive. Catalina thought to herself, "I was fooled by his appearance! He''s a real monster! What a hypocrite!" He knew she was here to take pictures from the start, and the fact that he humiliated her on purpose made her feel offended. Darnell dashed in, snatched Catalina''s cor, and lifted her off the ground. "Damn you! How dare you do this to me? You are so screwed!" "Let go of me! My clothes!" Catalina blushed as she struggled desperately. She hated Darnell to the guts at this point. She was wearing that short, tight shirt the manager had chosen for her. Since her waist was already bare, she was afraid that Darnell would remove her top. "Damn!" she muttered to herself. Bet did nothing but stare at them. "You''re worried about your clothes? Do you realize you''re gonna die?" Darnell sized up Catalina and dered angrily, "I''ll skin you and dump you on the street right now!" "No!" Catalina''s face turned bright red with rage. "I just filmed everything that just happened with my camera! Plus, the footage has already been uploaded to my iCloud! Your name will be on the front page of tomorrow''s paper if you dare to do anything to me." "Damn you!" Darnell shouted. He was so angry that heughed. He pped Catalina''s forehead with his other hand and said, "You know who I am? You have no right to extort money from me. I''m sorry to break it to you, but you won''t live to see tomorrow!" Darnell struck Catalina so hard that she tilted her head back. She found it very painful. Darnell asked Bet across the bed, "Ben, you''re not interested in her, are you?" with a grin on his face. To Be Continued Chapter 9 Who Is Your Husband Chapter 9 Who Is Your Husband Chapter 9 Who Is Your Husband Catalina couldn''t help but turn her head to look at Bet, who was standing beside them, after hearing Darnell''s question. The fact that she wished that Bet would help her surprised her. No matter what, she was legally his wife. Bet was not in a hurry to respond. Instead, he reached over to his cigarette case on the nightstand and lit a cigarette. His sculpture-like handsome face was blurred by the white smoke that filled his thin, sensual lips. He had just woken up, which exined why his hair was messy, and his eyes were drowsy. Despite all of that, he still managed to maintain an air of self-assurance and dignity. An air of cool disinterest emanated from him no matter what he did. "No." He said calmly, his face expressionless. His amber-colored eyes, which were hidden behind his sses, showed no emotion. Catalina already knew he would say that. However, she still felt as if her heart was sinking into hell. "Great! I''m gonna teach this chick a lesson!" Darnell grabbed Catalina and threw her onto the bed. Without wasting a second, he climbed on top of her. Heughed like a winner as he pointed to her nose. "I''m going to take your skin off right now! I''ll hang you from that tree outside and put on a show for the passersby. Let''s see who will make it to the front page tomorrow." As Darnell was about to put his hands on her, she yelled, "No!" She wrapped her arms around herself as a form of self-defense against his assault. Catalina was well aware that she needed to find a quick solution. She realized she couldn''t rely on Bet to save her and that she was the only one who could save herself. When Darnell was about to touch her body, she knew that keeping herself safe was the most important thing. She shut her eyes and yelled, "Help me! My husband!" At that precise moment, a man''s zer flew at her and struck her in the head. She saw nothing but pitch darkness. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind without giving her time to react. A man dragged her off the bed like a garbage bag as soon as he could. Her back smacked hard against that man''s muscr chest, making her fall into his arms. Catalina was utterly taken aback. Darnell was sitting on his knees on the bed, unable to believe that she could escape, and he was just as perplexed as she was. Darnell and Catalina had met when they were young because he was Bet''s aunt''s son, but they hadn''t seen each other since he left the country. Catalina had actually recognized him just now. Darnell''s cocky demeanor remained unchanged from when he was a child, even after ten years had passed. "What are you doing, Ben?" Darnell sat on his knees on the bed, suspiciously looking at Bet. His cousin appeared solemn, with Catalina tightly clutched in his arms. "What''s going on? But I thought you mean you weren''t interested in her." Darnell thought to himself. Catalina had no idea what was happening because her head was covered by a jacket. She was aware of the man''s firm, warm chest against her back at the time, as if they were very intimate. She could even feel his chest move as he breathed, and the sensation burned her back inch by inch, straight to her heart. Catalina''s heart pounded like a drum in the darkness. "Wait!" Darnell jumped off the bed and quickly stepped in front of Catalina after suddenly realizing something. He asked, "What did you just say? Your husband?" Catalina''s face was flushed with shyness as Darnell removed the zer from her head. Darnell froze for a moment before gulping. He said, pointing to the tip of her adorable nose, "Do you mean I''m your husband? Just because you say something nice doesn''t mean I''ll let you off the hook." Darnell was so naive that he thought Catalina called him her "husband". Catalina turned her head around to face the man behind her. Bet, too, was staring at her from below. There was no indication of emotion in his expression. Catalina quickly averted her gaze after she became flustered. Her heart started racing right away. Darnell said for he had never had any patience," Why are you looking at Ben? Answer me!" Bet frowned, "She''s not talking about you." Bet''s grip on Catalina''s waist tightened, giving her the impression that he wanted to control and own her. He appeared to be telling Darnell that she belonged to him. Catalina''s heart beat a little faster. Despite being covered by his zer, she could feel her face was as hot as it was on fire. Darnell''s jaw dropped open in disbelief at what he was witnessing. "What''s happening now? Am I dreaming? Is Bet finally starting to have feelings for women?" He asked himself. The idea Bet of letting a "call girl" address him as "husband", who had never been with a woman before, made Darnell feel incredible. Darnell was still in shock when he left the room. The moment he shut the door, he felt like he was walking on a cloud, and everything around him seemed surreal. "Weird! This is so weird!" "Darnell, what''s going on in there?" Darnell''s friends gathered around him and asked as soon as he came out of the room. Darnell, however, remained lost in his thoughts. "Who the hell is this woman? How dare she say Ben is her ''husband''? The weirdest thing is that Ben allowed her to do it! Is everything in this world real?" "Huh? What exactly do you mean by ''not real''?" Everyone asked in confusion. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Darnell came back to his senses at this point. "What are you guys talking about? Get the hell out of here!" Bet let go of Catalina with impatience as soon as Darnell left. Catalina tripped and fell over onto the soft bed. She realized Bet had gone into the bathroom and stood with his back to her as she sat up and removed that zer. Catalina shifted her gaze away from him and turned her head. She caught a whiff of his ambergris perfume as she buried her face in his zer, a scent she hadn''t smelled in a long time. Her cheeks flushed, and she felt like waves of fire were crashing over her. Bet, she suspected, had simply saved her because he wanted to. She was certain that if she hadn''t called him "my husband," he wouldn''t have ignored her. He had, after all, saved her. Catalina couldn''t stop smiling. She paused for a moment before approaching the restroom door and whispering through the ss, "I''d like to thank you for saving me." "That won''t be necessary." Bet replied coldly. Bet then pushed the door open and gave her a cold stare. "I did not save you just for you. I just don''t want you to ruin the reputation of another man in our family." "What are you taking about?" Catalina asked angrily. Even though he was much stronger than her, she jumped to her toes and red at him as if she were ready to fight. Instead, after a long pause, she whispered, "I shouldn''t have thanked you. I want to take that back." "I couldn''t care less." Catalina''s temper finally exploded, and she stormed away in anger. She was about to open the door after picking up the spy camera from the floor when the world went ck in front of her. Her vision was obstructed by another jacket. To Be Continued Chapter 10 Call Her Lina From Now On Chapter 10 Call Her Lina From Now On Chapter 10 Call Her Lina From Now On Catalina furiously grabbed that jacket and tried to throw it back to Bet. However, she realized why he had done it when she looked at her clothes: she was in a total mess. Catalina''s cheeks turned red instantly. When she turned to face the man who had thrown her the zer, she noticed he had returned to the restroom. Catalina''s heart began to race. In embarrassment, she wrapped the zer tightly around herself and Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. fled the room as quickly as possible. When she left the room, she was surprised to notice that all the men were staring at her like a spotlight. Darnell locked his gaze on her as if his eyes were x-rays attempting to see through her. Catalina was embarrassed, but she had no idea what to say. Catalina pretended she didn''t see them, then quickly bolted away while lowering her head. She left the vi in a hurry without even changing her clothes. Emery was serving coffee to a guest when Catalina entered the front room, but she dragged her away anyway. "What happened? You got the evidence?" Emery asked suspiciously. "Stop asking! Just go." Catalina and Emery stood on the side of the road to hail a cab. However, many taxis drove right by them without stopping. They seemed to be all booked up. "Lina, you don''t need to be in such a rush. Did they caught you while you were filming? No, that won''t be the case. You couldn''t have escaped safely if you had really been caught." Catalina had no idea why she was in such a hurry. "It''s not like he''lle after me anyway." She thought to herself. "Whose zer is this? It appears to belong to a man." Emery asked after noticing the jacket. "Could it belong to that big shot? Wow! He''s so sweet to you!" "This zer is from the top luxury brand amiu! Oh my goodness! They only do haute couture, and a suit will set you back several hundred thousand dors! Is it true he gave you his jacket? I still can''t believe it!" Catalina knew that Bet was wealthy enough to live extravagantly for the rest of his life, but she had not anticipated his jacket to be so pricey. "Really, Lina, he gave you his zer? Is this a sign that he''s interested in you? You don''t have to work anymore if this is the case. You''ll be living a luxurious life if you can be his lover." "Don''t be ridiculous!" Catalina patted Emery on the back of the head as if trying to wake her up from her daydream. "May I stay the night at your house?" She knew she wasn''t prepared to confront Bet. "That won''t be a problem!" Emery smiled and made an "OK" gesture to her. A taxi with red lights slowly drove down the street from across the way. Upon seeing the cab pull up, Emery shouted, "Here!" The next thing they knew, a ck Bentley pulled up in front of them. Catalina and Emery both took a step back in shock. A well-dressed man stepped out of the car as soon as the passenger door was opened. "Ms. Grant, please get in," he said as he opened the back seat door with a bow. Catalina''s heart started racing because she had been in a simr situation before. Emery let out a shocked gasp and stared in disbelief at what was happening. Catalina got into the car after she realized she wouldn''t be spending the night at Emery''s house. Emery was stunned for a long time and hurriedly got in the car when she noticed Catalina had already done so. "Lina, please pinch me! I''m not hallucinating, am I? Here I am, riding in a million-dor luxurious car." Catalina was in no mood to reply to Emery''s joke. Catalina noticed that the limousine she was riding in was the second in a line of vehicles, and a dozen ck limousines followed her. The limousine in front of them was significantly more expensive and luxurious than the one she was on. Catalina had a feeling Bet was in the car in front of them. Emery soon realized the same thing, so she leaned close to Catalina''s ear and whispered, "Is that big shot sitting in the car in front of us? Who is he, anyway? Look at all those fancy cars!" Catalina shook her head without saying anything. After about 30 minutes, the car pulled up in front of an apartmentplex. "Here we are, Miss Stein." Emery, still stunned, stepped out of the car and asked, "How did you find out I live here? That I didn''t even tell you!" Catalina was speechless as she realized Bet had already checked everything about the people around her. "What''s going on here? You''re not going to spend the night at my house tonight, are you?" Emery asked Catalina after she left the car. Catalina had a headache because she didn''t think Bet would let her spend the night at another person''s house. "Perhaps next time!" All the cars headed for Shaffer Mountain after Emery left. Sitting in the first limo, Darnell couldn''t help but ask, "Ben, what the hell is going on? Are you sure you want to bring this woman back to Sophora Vi? She''s a call girl! Do you think that''s the right thing to do?" "Did you hear her just say I''m her husband?" Bet interjected Darnell and asked. "What''s the big deal? You''re going to marry her just because of that? You have no idea that many women would give anything to be your wife." "To put it another way, I''m married." "What?" "You can call her Lina from now on." Darnell''s eyes widened in terror as if he was struck by lightning. "What the hell? Is he married? How is this even possible?" Darnell thought to himself. Cars arrived shortly after at Sophora Vi, halfway up the hill. "Please take Mr. Wyatt back to Por Vi," Bet said to the driver after getting out of the car. "Sure!" The driver replied. Darnell eximed in the car, "Ben! I haven''t finished my sentence yet!" Bet ignored him and marched straight through the door. All the servants greeted him at the door with respect. "Mr. Shaffer, wee home!" Catalina was still sitting in the car. She was too afraid to get out of the car, so she just sat there and looked around. The driver reminded Catalina, "Mrs. Shaffer, we''re here." "Okay." Catalina nodded but remained seated in the car. She slowly and awkwardly climbed out of the vehicle after briefly checking what was happening inside the house. Catalina didn''t see Bet when she entered the house. When Ralph noticed Catalina continuing to look around, he asked, "Mrs. Shaffer, are you looking for Mr. Shaffer?" "I''m not at all." Catalina shook her head, waved her hands, and abruptly stopped searching the area. Ralph continued, "He''s in his room." "Oh. Fantastic." Catalina breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like she had dodged a bullet. She entered her room while wearing Bet''s zer. While standing on the stone bridge, Catalina noticed the lights of the picturesque vi in theke''s middle. Bet regarded that area as his personal property. No one, including Catalina, was allowed to enter that vi, while his few servants and Ralph were the exceptions. Catalina sat on the bridge pier, staring at the vi. The distance between her and the vi was simr to the distance between Bet. Mr. Shaffer would always be noble and superior, and she would never be able to match him because she was only one of his many admirers. Catalina took off that jacket and hung it on the pier of a bridge leading to Lake Compound. "Thanks." She murmured, then turned around and headed to her room. To Be Continued Chapter 11 Why Did You Marry Me Chapter 11 Why Did You Marry Me Chapter 11 Why Did You Marry Me On her way to the front yard the following morning, Catalina caught a whiff of steak. "Wow!" She headed for the dining room while tying her hair. "Ralph, are you making breakfast today? It smells so good! I had no idea I was this hungry until now! You should listen to how my stomach is rumbling!" Catalina suddenly stopped when she noticed the person standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. She had forgotten entirely that Bet hade back home. He was dressed formally, with one hand in his suit pant pocket and leather shoes on his feet. He stood tall and erect in front of the window, his stance as solid and unwavering as a pine tree. He was bathed in a brilliant white glow through the thin wooden window, which seemed to be permeated by a divine silver light. That light distinguished him from others as if he did not belong in this world. Bet was, without a doubt, God''s favorite and a king whom no one dared to approach. "Good morning, Catalina." Ralph, who was waiting at the table, politely said to Catalina after seeing her. "Good morning." Catalina got so nervous that she didn''t dare to breathe even though she just saw Bet''s back. "Well... I just realized I have something important to do. Maybe I''ll skip breakfast. Bye!" Catalina was then ready to run away. "Stop." Bet, who was standing silently by the window, suddenly said. His demeanor was as icy as the snow that had just melted by the window. Catalina had toe to a halt. "What''s wrong?" she asked, looking back at him with a nervous expression. Bet gave her a nk stare before saying, "Sign the agreement." "What are you talking about?" Catalina asked, confused and bewildered. "Catalina, pleasee here." Ralph said to remind her. Catalina hadn''t noticed the file sitting on her seat at the table until that moment. She stumbled over to the table, perplexed. After seeing the cover, she frowned and asked, "Huh? A postnup?" Bet remained standing at the window. He said, "Go ahead and read it. Sign it if you have no objections." Bet appeared to Catalina to be a divine being. After a brief moment of reflection, she drew out her chair and sat. Catalina took the paper and began reading it aloud, "Postnuptial Agreement. Bet Shaffer represents party A, and Catalina Grant represents party B. First and foremost, Party B is required to dress modestly, and wear clothing that covers her entire body from the corbone to the knees." "That''s the worst contract ever!" Catalina thought to herself. She knew that he had added this use at thest minute because of what had happened the night before. Bet remained in the sun by the window. Without looking back, he borated, "I don''t really care what you wear, but you need to dress more appropriately now that we''re married." He made it sound like Catalina had forced him into getting married, which made her frown. It didn''t matter to her because she always dressed modestly. Catalina went on, "No shouting or making loud noises at home?" Catalina frowned at Bet and asked, "What does that mean?" "Mr. Shaffer hates loud noises." Ralph, who was standing across the table from Catalina, kindly exined it to her. Catalina scowled and muttered her displeasure, "I thought everyone''s house was lively. It doesn''t feel like a home if it''s too quiet." Catalina immediately regretted her words as soon as she said that. She smiled sarcastically and said, "You''re right, though. Nobody calls this ce home." Bet frowned in displeasure because he thought she had bbered too much. Catalina moved on to the third: "All red items, especially red clothing, are not allowed in the house." Catalina knew why he wrote that. Bet suffered from a severe case of hemophobia. She had known this when she first met him, but she never asked him the details about it. She assumed he, like most people with his disease, would be distressed by the sight of blood, but she R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only had no idea his reaction would be so strong. Catalina remembered how he used to look hurt and helpless whenever he saw blood. He looked like a beast being mistreated. Catalina was still terrified when she thought about it. She caught a glimpse of the man standing in front of the window. Bet was so intimidating and strong, a far cry from what he looked like when he was a kid: a little boy who needed protection. Catalina wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing. When she got to "Party B shall behave herself and shall not engaged in intimate conduct and shall not have any special rtionship with any other male other than Party A," she stopped reading. "You already know the consequences if what happenedst night happens again." Bet turned around and gave her a stern warning. Ralph remained silent, not even daring to breathe because he had been involved in the incident the night before. "No, I... Well, forgot about it ..." Catalina wished she could exin to him what had happened, but she was sure he wouldn''t listen. She assumed he didn''t care why she was there, that all that mattered was what he saw and his family''s reputation. "In ordance with Article 5, Party B shall not develop romantic feelings for Party A. As soon as she shows any interest in him, the engagement will end." Catalina furrowed her brow even more furiously. "What exactly do you think of our marriage?" She thought to herself. Bet said indifferently, as if he could read her mind, "If you agree to follow the terms of the agreement, I will pay you $10 million at the end of our engagement. But if you can''t, I can call the marriage off anytime. As for your alimony..." "You won''t get any of it," he said after a brief pause. Catalina was hurt and enraged by Bet''s cold, icy demeanor. She knew Bet didn''t want to marry her in the first ce, but hearing his words left her confused and upset. Catalina put the file on the table and said, "I''m not interested in your money. If you want to call off the engagement right now, that''s fine with me." Bet gave her a sneer and a sarcastic look. "You don''t have to pretend to be a saint in front of me. Why did you sell yourself for only $200,000 if you didn''t care about money?" Bet''s sneer made Catalina feel as if she had been pped in the face by him. She flushed terribly and was at a loss for words. Bet was correct: she indeed sold herself to him for $200,000. Catalina lost interest in looking at the details of the agreement. As she went to sign it, a question popped into her head, which made her put the pen down abruptly. "Could you tell me why you married me?" she asked him. Bet turned away from her to look out the window. The sunlight streaming in through the window highlighted his delicate features. His thin, sensual lips curled into a straight line, indicating that he had no intention of responding. Catalina was no longer interested in the reason at this point. The fact that he didn''t love her was the most obvious thing. Catalina was well aware that she was unqualified to love Bet due to their huge differences and that She couldn''t reach him no matter how hard she tried. To Be Continued Chapter12 Breaking off Engagement at any Time Breaking off Engagement at any Time Chapter 12 Breaking off the Engagement at any Time Catalina scribbled down her name on the agreement. After finishing writing, she stood up, handed it to Bet, and said with a little smile," Wee Mr. Shaffer to break off the engagement at any time." Bet, who always wore a stern face, suddenly put on a long face. He took the agreement, threw it to Ralph rk and said with an extremely cold voice, "Ralph, I won''t treat a neer who doesn''t know the rules of Shaffer Family so hard. However, you still made such a stupid mistake though you have worked for me for so many years. Don''t you think you should be punished?" Every word of Bet, rhythmic and forceful, resounded like a sentence and was full of pressure and horror. Ralph lowered his head and cold sweat oozed from his forehead, "Yes, Mr. Shaffer, it''s my mistake to think carelessly about this matter. I admit my mistake and ept any punishment. I dare not utter a word ofint." "Report to the sandynd in Dodgeby tomorrow. Nevere back without my consent!" "Yes, sir!" At this moment, Bet was the king who had the power of granting life or death, and Ralph could only plead guilty without a struggle. Catalina frowned. Was she the so-called ingnorant neer that he was talking about? Was Ralph punished due to her? "Bet, I wonder why you punish Ralph like that? Did he do anything wrong?" Catalina built up her courage, stepped forward and asked. Bet asked back in a cold voice, "You know he did anything wrong, don''t you?" "I apologize to you if it is due to Heaven incident. It has nothing to do with Ralph. I pressed him into helping me." "Do you think you are qualified to intercede for him?" "Okay, I won''t intercede, but every debt has its debtor. I¡¯m responsible for my own doing. If you have to punish someone, then punish me!" "Mrs. Shaffer, I..." Catalina stopped him with a gesture. She raised her head and faced Bet without fear, "You hate me, don''t you? Isn''t it just as you want to punish me now?" Hearing this, Bet leaned down arrogantly. He pinched Catalina''s jaw with his cold long fingers, as if pinching an ant. "In the Shaffer family, the most stupid thing is to overestimate one''s ability and stand out for others! Since you ask for punishment, then I will grant it to you! Just wait." After finishing speaking coldly, he cast aside Catalina''s little face, straightened up, and strode away. "Mr. Shaff, I beg forgiveness for this matter, Mrs. Shaff..." Ralph caught up with him, intending to intercede for Catalina. "Shut up, otherwise she will be punished more severely!" Bet¡¯s face clouded over. Ralph had no choice but to stop. He bowed his head, "Yes, Mr. Shaff." Bet went away, followed by his personal bodyguards, special assistant and secretary. Catalina heaved a sigh of relief when the mighty motorcade drove away from Sophora Vi. The rm was finally lifted. She was still in a state of shock, patted her chest, shook his head and sighed, "If such a thing happened agan, I would drop dead sooner orter." "Mrs. Shaff, I''m so sorry. Thank you for interceding for me, but you really shouldn''t have shed with Mrs. Shaff for me." "It''s okay. This is what I should do. I will feel sad if he punishes you because of me!" Catalina said and sat down at the dining table again, "I don''t know what method Mr. Shaff will take to torment me. I think it''s best to directly exile me in Dodgeby. Out of sight, out of mind." "Mrs. Shaff, you are joking, Mr. Shaff won''t punish you like this." "Well, really?" Catalina rasied her eyebrows andughed at herself. This was probably the funniest joke she has ever heard recently. Catalina thought Bet wished to kill her so that he could avenge his brother Warren! On this point, Catalina had the wisdom of knowing herself. "Okay, let''s not talk about him. Have breakfast first. " In fact, Catalina''s stomach had already rumbled because of hunger, "Ralph, you rarely cook, but today you cook by yourself. I should live up to such a good meal." Ralphughed and said, "Mrs. Shaff, as long as you like, I can cook for you every day from now on." "No, don¡¯t bother. I''m already very satisfied for once in a while." Although Ralph was the butler of Sophora Vi, he was actually a five-star Michelin chef, but he rarely cooked. Obviously, today he cooked for Bet. "Mrs. Shaff, please wait, I will serve meals for you right away." "Thank you, Ralph." *** As soon as Catalina sat down in office, Emery poked her head closer to her, "Lina, who the hell was that manst night? Did you go home with him? Do you have an affair with him?" "Watch your tongue." Catalina pushed Emery''s head back, "We met by chance. I have no way of making the acquaintance of such a big figure." Actually, what Catalina said was the truth. She really had no way of making the acquaintance of such big figure as Bet. "That''s right. Maybe it''s demeaning for such a figure to use us as ythings. Let alone have an affair." Catalina just smiled, but there was always a doubt in her mind. Just as Emery said, maybe Bet would be scornful of an ignoble birth like her even as a ything. But why did Bet marry her? ying with her and humiliating her? Apart from this, Catalina couldn¡¯t think of any other reasons. Catalina handed over the video to Emery after she copied the video and covered the image of Darnell Wyatt with mosaics in the original video. "Watch the video and hand it over to the editor-in-chief if there is no problem!" R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "OK." Emery watched the video from beginning to end and was a little worried, "Lina, is this okay? Since we haven''t had any substantive content in the video, will it meet the requirement of the editor-in-chief?" The content of this video started when Darnell forced Catalina to serve the gold master in the room. The video was short, concise, ending in a hurry without reaching the climax. And the gold master in the video didn''t appear from beginning to end because it was cut by Catalina. The only protagonist in the video was Mr. Wyatt. She wasn¡¯t to me for it for that guy bullied her first. She was just tit for tat. What''s more, she kindly put a mosaic on his face! "It''s okay, hand it over! Although there is really no substantive content in the video, at least it can be confirmed that girls arepelled into prostitution in this club. After the news is released, the public security department will investigate the matter. The truth will turn out finally! " "That''s right. I hand the video over to the editor-in-chief right now. But why do you cover the viin with mosaics? Wouldn''t it be fun to make his face public?" Catalina coughed, "Don¡¯t worry about these matters, just hand it over to the editor-in-chief." Fun? Once Darnell''s face was made public, she and Emery would be in trouble all the time. She didn''t think that the Shaffer family and Darnell would let her go easily. In fact, Catalina was a little nervous about this video for she couldn''t predict what she would face once this video was released to the public. A joint crusade between the family of Shaffer and Wyatt? Or the revenge of Heaven? Either way, it was enough to drive her to a dead end. But in the end, she hesitated for only five seconds before copying the video. She was a journalist. The duty and obligation of a journalist was to expose the darkness of this world. When she received the certificate that symbolized her identity, she was no longer eligible to retreat. On the same day, the video was released to the public as scheduled, causing an uproar. The heat on the Inte was even more overwhelming. The manager of the club quickly came out to refute the rumors, but was quickly bombarded byizens before all social ounts of the club were closed. In the afternoon, the police came to investigate and the clubhouse was sessfully sealed off. And she and Emery were both offered a full-time job. Normally, she should consider herself lucky since everything went smoothly in the direction she expected. But as more and more people knew the new, she became upset and her sixth sense told her that this matter would be far from over. Chapter13 Mr. Shaffer Invited You Mr. Shaffer Invited You Mr. Shaffer Invited You It''s one o''clock at midnight. Outside the house was a world of ice and snow. Cold wind was howling and the snowkes on the windowttice were condensed into ice. Inside the house, it was quiet warm with fire burning briskly in the firece. Catalina slept soundly, hugging the warm quilt and the doll her mother gave her. Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps outside the door. Immediately, there was a knock at the door. At first, Catalina thought she was dreaming, so she ignored it. And then she turned over and continued to sleep. Then the pounding started up again on the door and was getting more and more urgent. Catalina opened her eyes. Her eyelids get so heavy because she was sleepy, "Who is it?" "Mrs. Shaffer, it''s me, Wendy." Wendy is the personal maid that Ralph arranged for Catalina in this house. "Come in." Catalina rubbed her eyes and sat up. ncing at the new Chinese-style double-sided wall clock on the wall, Catalina''s brows twitched twice andy back on the pillow. What? Knocking on the door at one o''clock in the morning. Isn''t it a death call? Wendy pushed the door open, "Mrs. Shaffer?" She approached the bed lightly, squatted down, and called Catalina in a low voice, "Am I disturbing you?" Catalina lifted her heavy eyelids, looking at her with an air of grievance, "What do you think? It''s one o''clock now. I was just dreaming..." Wendy was sorry. She clung to Catalina''s ear and whispered: "Mr. Shaffer invited you to his room!" "Ah?" Catalina sat up immediately, being wide awake, "Who called me?" "Mr. Shaffer." Wendy replied and added, "Mr. Shaffer invited you to go to the Lake Compound" "..." Catalina blinked, thinking that she was dreaming. "Mrs. Shaffer, get up please, Mr. Shaffer''s maid has been waiting for you outside the door for a long time." "No, he asked me to go to his room at midnight? Isn''t it too weird?" Catalina hugged the silk quilt tightly. Wendy brought her a long padded jacket for her, and smiled:" This is not strange at all. You are the wife of Mr. Shaffer. Isn''t it natural for him to invite you to his room?" "No, no, absolutely not." The more Catalina thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong, so she simply grabbed the quilt andy down again. "Mrs. Shaffer, what are you doing?" "Wendy, tell the maid and say that I can''t get up and we''ll talk about it tomorrow." "If I could, I would do so as soon as possible!" Wendy squatted down again at Catalina''s bedside, "Mr. Shaffer said that if you refuse to go, the maids in your room, including me, will all be punished!" "Ah?" Catalina frowned. "Yeah." Wendy nodded. "Isn''t this too overbearing?" Catalina sat up. "Then what can we do? Here, Mr. Shaffer''s words are the imperial edict, and no one can disobey it. You will understand in the future." Wendy said, putting the padded jacket on Catalina'' shoulder. Catalina had no choice but to throw off the quilt and get out of bed. In fact, she was clear in her mind! Because, wasn''t she, Catalina, a studypanion of Bet when she was a child? However, everyday life is changing. Catalina never thought that one day she would be "promoted" to be the better half of Bet. This could truly be called a dreame-true, right? However, it was unknown whether it was a good dream or a nightmare. But one thing was certain: the rtionship between them would only be a dream. After getting up, Catalina followed Bet''s maid to the Lake Compound with nervousness. Catalina was indulging in wild imaginations along the way. What on earth did Bet want to do by inviting her to his room at midnight? Could it be... Catalina hastily covered her heavy down jacket tightly. No, no, Bet should... not be interested in her body. But if he was not interested, how to exin the previous two times? "Mrs. Shaffer, we''re here." The servant reminded her. Catalina came back to her senses and summoned up her courage to follow the maid into a room with a circr arch of Wheelworth. However, to Catalina''s surprise, Bet was not in the room. Catalina let out a sigh of relief. The heating made the room so warm that Catalina had to take off her down jacket. The maid led Catalina into the bathroom, "Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer ordered you to fill the bathtub with water, and he wille to take a bath and change clothes in a while." "..." So Bet invited her to his room just to order her? To fill the bathtub with water? He had the nerve to say so. Though there were so many maids, he didn''t order them, but let here. It was already obvious what his intention was. "Where is he?" Catalina asked the maid. "Mrs. Shaffer, he is in the study on the second floor." "...Oh." "Mrs. Shaffer, if you have no other orders, I''ll go out." "Okay." The maid went out of Bet''s bedroom. Catalina nced around the bathroom, and sighed: "How nice the life of the rich is!" This bathroom alone was twicerger than the house she and her father lived! Looking at the so-called bathtub, Catalina was speechless. How could it be a bathtub? Its size wasparable to an indoor swimming pool! Was Bet trying to embarrass her on purpose? How long would it take to fill it with water? Catalina turned on the hot water. The water temperature showed that it was stable at forty-two degrees. Catalina squatted next to the bathtub, resting his chin on her hand and quietly watching the water line in the bathtub slowly rising little by little. "It''s too slow. How long will it take? " She muttered in a low voice, her eyelids began to fight involuntarily. The loud ssh sounded like a luby. After finishing his work, Bet came out of the study. He took off his suit, threw it on the sofa, and walked into the bathroom barefoot. But when he saw the scene in the bathroom, he paused with a hand unbuttoning his shirt cuff buttons. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. He frowned slightly. Outside the huge bathtub, there was a dainty figure lying on her stomach. Her oval face pressed against the edge of the bathtub, which was squeezed out of form. The long ck hair was scattered in the water, spread out inyers, like seaweed. The soft light on the top of her head cast a halo of a young girl on her small and exquisite features. For a moment, Bet seemed to see the young and ignorant little girl from a few years ago. His heart seemed to be beaten heavily by something. The taut outline of his face was unconsciously loosened. But he soon came back to his senses, and his beautiful facial features were once again covered with coldness. He unbuttoned the cuff links, took off the diamond watch on his wrist, and put it in the storage box on the washstand. He loosened the tie and nced at the sleeping girl by the bathtub through the mirror, frowning. "Catalina." He yelled. The girl by the bathtub didn''t respond. Chapter14 Report to My Room on Time Report to My Room on Time Report to My Room on Time "Catalina?" He called out again. Obviously, his tone sounded not friendly. Bet has always been very impatient, especially to Catalina. In her sleep, Catalina frowned in annoyance. How noisy it is! She had no idea which gue was calling her. Can''t he let her have a good sleep? "Shut up! I want to sleep..." She muttered dissatisfied. Suddenly, there was a tinge of wetness on her face. Water droplets hit her face drop by drop, which made her wake up from the dream suddenly. What happened? Is it raining? Catalina opened her eyes in confusion. She saw a long and cold figure standing in front of her, looking down at her, and holding a shower in his hand. Catalina was drenched with water sshed out from the shower. "Are you awake?" Bet coldly threw the shower into the bathtub. Catalina finally came back to her senses. She angrily brushed away the water droplets on her face, "Bet, are you sick? Why do you douse me with water?" Bet kept himself high above Catalina, squinting at her coldly, "I told you toe here to sleep?" When did the docile rabbit start teasing him? Catalina was angry, "Why should I serve you here? I am no longer your follower." She said and stood up. Unexpectedly, her long ck hair, like a waterfall, was scooped up from the water and drenched the floor. How embarrassing it is! When did her hair lie in this bathtub? Catalina knew that Bet was a clean freak, so she was a little embarrassed. Touching the tip of her nose in embarrassment, she whispered: "Well... If you think the water is dirty, you can change another tank of water, but I think this is a waste of water resources. In fact, I have already washed my hair at night..." Catalina''s voice became smaller and smaller, and in the end it was almost as light as a gnat. Because she already felt there was a frightening coldness wrapping heryer uponyer. Bet''s slender legs came near step by step, "You mean, you want me to take a bath with the water you washed your hair?" "Uh... I, I didn''t mean that..." Catalina was so nervous that she swallowed. The aura of the man in front of Catalina was too strong. As soon as he came up, she had an illusion that she was overwhelmed by Mount Tai. And even her breath became disordered in an instant. She held her hands in front of her chest and retreated step by step, "You, if you dislike... ah" Unexpectedly, before Catalina finished her words, her feet slipped suddenly. The next second, her body went out of control and fell into the bathtub behind her. "Help" She screamed. With hands stretching out, she instinctively grabbed Bet''s shirt cor. She saw Bet''s stern face condensing into ice because of her actions. The next second, with the sound of "hiss", the shirt fell apart, and both of them fell into the bathtub together awkwardly. "Pit-a-pat" They fell into the water with a ssh. "Puff puff puff puff..." Catalina sank into the water and choked on a big mouthful of water beforeing out of the water. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Somehow her arms had wrapped around Bet''s neck. And what about Bet who was dragged into the water by her? The moment he fell into the water, he reacted quickly and supported the bottom of the pool with his long arms to avoid being flooded. But the posture of them... is a bit ambiguous! Bet spread his arms on both sides of Catalina, and leaned on her body. The white shirt, torn in two by her, floated on the water His sexy bronze-colored chest was exposed and stained by water droplets, making the texture and lines more charming. And what about Catalina? Afraid of drowning, her arms were tightly wrapped around Bet''s neck, and she dared not let go for a moment. Catalina nced at his firm and tough chest, and her face was burning. Smoked by the water vapor, her delicate little face was instantly dyed with a charming red glow. "I... I didn''t mean to tear your clothes..." Her eyes kept rolling due to nervousness, but she didn''t dare to look at him, "It is you who frightened me first..." Bet fixed his deep amber pupils on her. The bottom of his pupils seemed to be sshed with ink, and the color gradually increased. The sexy throat slid around, "Let go." The voice was blurred and hoarse. Catalina didn''t let go but tightened, wishing she could get into his arms, "I can''t swim, what if..." Before finishing her words, Catalina was forced to move away her hand by Bet, "The water is only up to your knees, and you won''t be drowned." "..." Catalina realized that she was sitting in the water, with her head out of the water. Bet turned over and sat down. He bent his left leg, with his arm rested on his knee and his head tilted. And he looked at Catalina with a nk expression. His sharp eyes seemed to pierce her through. Being stared at, Catalina''s face was burning like fire. She heard that her heart went pit-a-pat, violently hitting the door of her heart, as if it was about to jump out at any time. Catalina''s mouth was parched and she couldn''t resist. "I... I should go, good night." She said and got up to leave. Unexpectedly, just when she got up, her wrist was grabbed by a big cold hand. The next second, she was dragged to a solid chest. Catalina was scared. Both hands almost subconsciously touched Bet''s tough and hot chest, "What...what are you doing?" Bet stared at her hands. Catalina was so frightened that she immediately withdrew her hand, the feeling of him in the palm was still there, wet and hot, which made her heart beat faster. Bet let her lean on hisp, "You mess up here but just want to leave?" Catalina blinked innocently, "Is there be a mess?" Her eyes fell on his open shirt and her face flushed, "Okay..." She admitted that it was her fault about the shirt. "How about paying you a new one?" Speaking of this, Catalina thought of something again, so she quickly shook her head, waved her hands, and changed her mind, "No, no, I can''t afford for your shirt." As she said, she picked up the hem of the clothes floating on the water, checked it carefully, and heaved a sigh of relief, "Fortunately enough, there are only a few buttons missing. How about I sew them up for you? I promise, no one will recognize it. I''m good at needlework. You''ve seen it when you were a child, right?" Catalina looked at him eagerly, with little expectation. Bet''s fixed eyebrows rxed a little. After a while, Bet began to take off his soaked shirt. Catalina quickly looked away, red in face. Her heart speeded up. Bet took off his shirt and threw it on Catalina''s head, "Wash it by the way." "Um..." Catalina grabbed the clothes off. The shirt was stained with his smell, a faint tobo aroma and male hormone. The smell was special and nice. "Then I''m leaving..." Catalina got out of his arms hurriedly, picking up the buttons on the ground in a hurry. Bet opened his arms and leaned against the edge of the pool, "From now on,e to my room to report on time at six o''clock every morning." "Why?" Catalina turned around. She frowned, looking at him dissatisfied. "Serve me to get up." Bet said as if he took this for granted. Catalina''s beautiful eyebrows frowned even deeper, "You need someone to serve you when you get up? Do you think you are a three-year-old child? Besides, I am not your maid, so I won''te." "Catalina, do you think that I marry you to let you be Mrs. Shaffer?" Bet stared at her arrogantly. Though Bet sat and she stood, Bet''s aura was just a bit higher than hers. "It''s fine if you don''te. I will send Ralph to Dodgeby tomorrow." "You" Catalina was angry, with cheeks bulging. Without saying anything more, she left the Lake Compound in a huff. Chapter15 The Girl he likes The Girl he likes The Girl he likes Next day morning It was only six o''clock, and the sky turned white slightly. The scene outside the window was illuminated by snow, which was as bright as day. Catalina, who was in sound sleep, was forcibly awakened by the maids of the Lake Compound. Though Catalina didn''t want to get up, she had no choice because she gave Bet an excuse against herself. She was sleepy and sullenly followed the maid to the Lake Compound. Outside the arch gate of Wheelworth, several maids were waiting and they all bowed respectfully to Catalina when she walked by. "Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer is still sleeping, please ask him to wake up!" Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Hearing this, Catalina secretly peeked inside. Sure enough, the man was sleeping on the silver-gray kingsize bed. She was a little nervous, "Must I call him? Why not let him wake up naturally?" She remembered that Darnell said that this lion usually gets up on the wrong side of the bed. "I''m afraid I have to wait until afternoon that Mr. Shaffer will wake up naturally." "..." That''s right. He could sleep for a long time. If no one calls him, he can sleep for a full twenty hours. Therefore, when she was a child, she often acted as his rm clock. "Okay, I''ll wake him up!" Catalina mustered up her courage and walked into the room lightly. "Bet." She called out tentatively. There was no response. "Bet." The man on the bed remained motionless. Catalina frowned. She had no choice but to approach the bed, "Bet?" The sleeping man didn''t even frown at all. Catalina lost her patience. This guy slept too deeply! "Believe it or not, I''ll bring a basin of water from the bathroom and pour it on your head." Only in this way can she avenge herself for being showeredst night. However, Catalina was definitely just speaking. How dare she? Catalina stretched out her little finger, and tentatively poked Bet''s shoulder that was exposed outside the quilt, "Bet, don''t sleep, wake up quickly, I scream too much that my mouth was dry. Ah" Finish speaking, Catalina''s little hand was grabbed by a big warm hand. The next second, she was pulled by a strong force, turning half round on the bed. A shadow forcefully locked Catalina between the big bed and his chest. Catalina stared at the man in shock. Bet half-closed his eyes, sleepy. His stared at Catalina''s red lips, with his sexy throat sliding around, "I''ll help you quench your thirst..." After finishing speaking in a deep voice, the next moment, he kissed Catalina''s soft red lips without warning. Catalina was shocked. Her eyes were as big as copper bells. Her soft and delicate body turned into petrification in an instant. W... What? Bet...kissed her?! Catalina felt that sometimes she was floating on the heavy clouds, and sometimes she seemed to be pulled into the abyss. She was overwhelmed. His inadvertent little action was enough to make her fall into the quagmire. Apart from being nervous and flustered, Catalina was terrified. "Benn... Bet..." She was afraid that she would be trapped and be lost forever. Catalina took a deep breath and pushed the man''s chest with great effort. Beads of sweat kept oozing out from his forehead, "Bet, wake up, I am Catalina! W Bet!" The man above her suddenly opened his eyes. It was only now that he seemed to be able to see her clearly. In her amber pupils,plex thin lights were surging rapidly. His eyes were piercing and forced her, as if he wished he could tear her open. "How could it be you?" At that moment, Catalina clearly saw shock, disbelief, and... strong sense of disgust in his eyes! He pushed her away and got out of bed. Catalina sat up awkwardly, her face flushed red with shame. The disgust in his eyes made Catalina even more embarrassed. Bet got out of bed, pulled the tissue on the bedside, and wiped his lips vigorously that had just kissed Catalina, frowning, "I was just dreaming." After finishing speaking, he probably felt that his words would make Catalina ambiguous. So he added, "All the scenes in the dream have nothing to do with you." After speaking, he threw the tissue into the bin next to him. In fact, though Bet didn''t exin, Catalina knew very well that the person in his dream was not her. Knowing the result clearly, Catalina''s soft heart still stung for no reason after hearing him say it himself. Following his example, she pulled the tissue on the bedside and wiped her mouth vigorously, making sure that there would be no more his smell left on it. She kneaded the paper towel into a ball and threw it into the bin, "I hope you will be more self- respecting in the future." After saying this, Catalina got up and left quickly. Her heart seemed to be so nervous that it was about to fly out of the atrium. Bet watched her leave with cold eyes, his beautiful sword eyebrows twisted into a mountain. He would never admit that the girl who just appeared in the dream was little, ignorant Catalina. She was much cuter than the fang-able her now! Cute? Bet was startled by the adjective that suddenly popped up in his mind. Hisplexion darkened instantly. This woman, whether it was four years ago or four yearster, has nothing to do with "cuteness". She was simply a bad woman who was good at manipting men! After Catalina returned to the room, she got a ss of warm water and drank it in one gulp. Only then did she feel her beating heart calm down a bit. The next second, Bet''s words "how could it be you" broke into her mind like a ghost. Her heart was stabbed severely. So, who was the girl in his dream? Could it be the girl he kept in his heart since he was a child? For a moment, Catalina''s memory gushed out like a flood from the gate. That year, Catalina was fourteen years old. When she was little, she was beaten severely by her stepmother for ruining her stepmother''s silk dress when washing. She ran out of the house, crying. And she hid under a locust tree in thepound of the military region, shedding tears secretly. Unexpectedly, after crying for less than a minute, she saw Bet, a sixteen-year-old boy,ing up with a girl of a quiet temperament and beautiful facial features. Until now, Catalina still remembered Bet of that day. He had the most popr ear-length hair, dressed in a clean white T-shirt, and a pair of light blue school uniform pants. It was obviously a very ordinary and casual outfit, but he could always wear something different from ordinary people. He was fresh, sunny, but extravagant. Illuminated by the dappled sunlight above his head, he was as beautiful as a young boy walking out of a cartoon, which makes the young girls feel excited. At that moment, Catalina heard the sound of her heart mming into her atrium, which was still unforgettable to this day several yearster. Bet put one hand in his pocket, leanedzily on the thick tree trunk, and asked the shy girl opposite, "What''s up?" "...I...I..." The girl seemed ashamed to speak. A few secondster, she finally plucked up the courage and pulled out a pink love letter from her pocket, "Mr. Shaffer, I...I like you!" Chapter 16 Consoling Her with Candies Chapter 16 Consoling Her with Candies Chapter 16 Consoling Her with Candies The girl blushed and bravely told him that she loved him. "I have fallen in love with someone else." Surprisingly, Bet rejected her without hesitation. Catalina, who was hiding behind the tree and wiping her tears, was slightly stunned. It was impossible that she had no clue about who Bet liked because she followed him all day. Hearing Bet''s words, the girl''s eyes became dim and tears rolled down her cheeks. She said, "It''s okay. I just want you to know my heart." As she spoke, the girl put the love letter and several fruit candies into his hand. Then the girl buried her face in her hands and ran away while weeping. Catalina thought that Bet would leave with the girl. She hid behind a tree and didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. She prayed in her heart that he would not catch her eavesdropping, but suddenly, the boy leaning on the tree trunk asked, "Crybaby, are you beaten again?" ... It turned out that he had spotted her early. Hearing Bet¡¯s question, Catalina crumpled her mouth and burst into tears. Bet frowned slightly, stretched out his hand, and said, "Pick one." "What?" "Candies." "Why?" In tears, Catalina looked up at him naively. Bet was not very patient. He frowned tightly and said to her impatiently, "Candies can make you feel better. Eat it quickly and stop crying." "..." "I''m upset when I see you cry." In order not to annoy him, Catalina wiped away the tears on her face quickly and said, "These candies are from the girl who likes you. Should I eat them?" "Then I''ll just throw them away." Bet was about to throw the handful of candies into the trash can. "Wait!" Catalina stopped him immediately. Bet stretched out the hand holding candies to her again. Catalina picked out a green apple candy, carefully tore the wrapper open, and put it into her mouth. She didn''t forget to say, "Thank you." As he said, it was true that candy could cheer her up. At that moment, Catalina felt that the bruises on her body didn''t seem to hurt so much. Somehow she was in a better mood. "It tastes sour and sweet. It¡¯s really tasty. Would you try one, too?" Catalina asked him. "No." Bet refused immediately. After saying that, he threw the remaining candies in his hand directly into the trash can. He also threw away the love letter which was given to him by that girl. Catalina was shocked and said, "You haven''t read that letter yet!" "Why should I?" Bet frowned and replied discontentedly. "But maybe the letter is about her feelings for you." "Not interested." "..." Well! This was very typical of him. While eating the candy in her mouth, Catalina said with sadness in her eyes, "That''s right. You already meet the girl you like, so surely you are not interested in other girls..." Therefore, he wouldn¡¯t care about her feelings for him, either. Bet looked at Catalina''s rosy cheeks, felt a little shy, and turned his head away quickly. He kicked away a pebble at his feet and muttered, "I will never think about such a dummy girl all the time!" "Well..." She wondered who the girl he talked about was. It must be the girl in his dream today! From that day on, Catalina knew that there was a good girl in Bet''s heart. It was also from that day on that Catalina started to love eating apples candies. On that day, she also knew the name of the girl who gave Bet a love letter and candies. Her name was ire. Many yearster, they became best friends, and they always stuck together until ire went to study in Gilburgh. "Mrs. Shaffer, are you thirsty?" Wendy had walked into the room. Her words brought Catalina back to reality. "What?" Catalina stopped recalling old memories. "I see you keep drinking water." "Well, yes. I¡¯m a little thirsty." Catalina put down the cup in embarrassment. "Mrs. Shaffer, why do you blush?" "Do I?" Catalina touched her face with her hand and tried to exin, "It''s...probably because I feel too hot! The heater in the room is set too high." "What''s wrong with your mouth? Why does it look a little swollen?" Wendy asked deliberately, with a teasing smile on her face. Catalina gave her an annoyed look, got back into the warm quilt again, and said with her head buried in the quilt, "I''ll sleep for a while. Don''t wake me up before eight o''clock." "OK, have a good rest. I won¡¯t let anyone bother you again before eight o''clock." R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Wendy went out quietly and closed the door behind her. ... Before Bet walked out of Sophora Vi, Vincent handed him the phone respectfully and said, "Mr. Shaffer, it¡¯s from Mr. Wyatt." Bet took the phone over. He heard the cry of Darnell from the other end of the phone. "Ben, help me! My father is going to kill me!" "Gosh! Old man, don''t be impulsive. It will kill me if you beat me with that whip! Ouch!" "Ah, it hurts! It hurts! Ben!" Darnell kept screaming painfully. Bet hung up the phone without saying a word, with an indifferent expression on his face. After thinking for a moment, he ordered, "Go to Por Vi." "Yes!" When Bet arrived, it was already a mess in Por Vi. "Brian, stop! Do you really want to beat our son to death, Brian Wyatt?" Abbey Shaffer, who was Darnell''s mother and also Bet''s aunt wiped her eyes while dissuading her husband from whipping their son. Brian was an honest and upright veteran who used to be the right-hand man of Drake back then. It was impossible that such an upright senior cadre could tolerate his son being an infamous yboy. "How could I, Brian Wyatt, raise such a bastard son like you?" Brian pushed his wife away, raised his hand, and whipped Darnell''s back. "Ouch!" Darnell screamed in pain, but he was held up by two of Brian''s men. He was pressed to the chair with his face down and his back up. He couldn¡¯t move at all. Mr. Wyatt had never been treated like this before. Bet stepped into the house calmly. He asked as he walked, "Abbey, Brain, what did Darnell do that makes you so angry early in the morning?" "Ben..." Darnell was so excited that he was about to cry when he saw Bet. Abbey also looked at him as if he was the life savior and said, "Ben, please help me persuade Brian to stop beating his son, otherwise he would kill his son!" "Ben, my dad is going to beat me to death! Help me please..." Darnell yelled with his face buried in the chair cushion. Chapter 17 Fanning the Flames Chapter 17 Fanning the mes Chapter 17 Fanning the mes "Ben, don''t persuade me about this matter. I will kill this bastard today! Every one of the Wyatt family and the Shaffer family is upright except him. He indulges himself in sensual pleasures and spends his time fiddling around. The journalists also took photos of him ying around with girls, and everyone knew about this! He is really a disgrace to both the Wyatt family and the Shaffer family!" Brian scolded Darnell and whipped him again. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Darnell was trembling with pain, but he kept arguing, "Old man, are you a devil? The picture in the newspaper is covered with mosaics. Why do you insist that the person is me?" "Darnell, stop talking!" Abbey stamped her feet and said anxiously. Darnell even dared to answer back at this time. Brian was so angry that he whipped again and said, "I''m your father. How could I didn''t recognize you? Let alone the mosaics, I would recognize you even if you were burned into ashes!" "...Ben, don''t just stand there and watch! Please help persuade my Dad." Darnell suddenly became a little anxious when he saw that Bet kept silent after he was here. Bet nced at Darnell, who was sweating in pain, raised his brows slightly, and said slowly, "I think what Brian said is right, and Darnell has gone too far this time." "..." What? Darnell was shocked. He called Bet to support him, but how... Bet sat down on the chair opposite of Darnell. He took the cup of ck tea that the servant specially made for him and took a sip. When he saw everyone was looking at him confusedly, he said again, "Brian, go ahead. Just ignore me, I''m just here for the tea." Darnell cursed,"Fuck..." Until now Darnell realized that Ben didn''te here to save him, but to fan the mes! Why would he do that? Just because he didn''t recognize his girlfriend and picked on her that day? Damn it! "Ben, you put her above buddies..." "You...you...you...you are blinded by sexual desire. How could you do this to me?" "..." Despite his curses, Bet was still sipping the cup of ck tea in his hand. Obviously, when he came here today not to persuade his Dad, but...to watch him suffer! What a jerk! No, he was even worse! After Darnell was beaten to a pulp, he was carried back to his bed. Soon, the family doctor came to put medicine on his wounds. Darnell refused to cooperate and said, "Get out! Get the hell out of here." He was still pissed off! Bet stood beside his bed with his hands behind his back, looked down at him lying on the bed, and said, "Either the doctor or I will do this. You can choose by yourself." Damn! Darnell looked as if he had seen the ghost, grabbed the doctor''s hand, and said, "I choose you. Hurry up!" He was afraid that Bet would apply medicine on him. Right now, Darnell''s beloved brother Ben became the person who put the girl he liked above everything else. No wonder it''s said that nobody dared to mess with Mr. Shaffer. Bet was pleased that Darnell took a hint. Abbey who was standing beside them wiped the tears and said, "Only you can talk into him, and he listens to you." Darnell''s face became gloomy. Obviously, he was threatened by Ben! "Mom, could you leave us alone for a while? I want to talk in private with Ben." Darnell said while gnashing his teeth. "Don''t cause any trouble!"Abbey was still worried and said, "Ben did that for your own good. It was all your fault!" Darnell raised the corners of his mouth and sneered. He didn''t do that for him. He just loved that woman to the bone. "Abbey, it''s Okay. Just give us a minute." "All right. Have a good chat." Abbey went out of Darnell''s bedroom with the doctor and servants. As soon as they left, Darnell stood up quickly and said with a serious look on his face, "I know who you get married with, and I looked her up as soon as I came back. She is Catalina, the bitch who got Warren bedridden. She also gets me beaten today." He said angrily, "Why did you marry her?" Bet looked down at him with a calm expression and even said indifferently, "Why should I exin this to you?" "You need to not only exin this to me but also to every member of the Shaffer family! Ben, are you crazy? After what she did to Warren, how could you still marry her? Aren''t you afraid that Brian and Abbey will be mad at you if they find it out? If Warren knew about this, he would also be furious." Bet said indifferently, "I know what I''m supposed to do." "Come on, you can drop the pretense. How could I not know what''s on your mind?" Darnell waved his hand and muttered, "I really don''t know what spell this woman cast on the men of the Shaffer family, so you are obsessed with her." "I don''t." "Don''t you?" Darnell stood up excitedly, pointed at Bet angrily, andined, "Ben, face your conscience. Do you dare to say it was not because you thought I picked on her that day that you just sat there sipping tea and watching me beaten by my Dad? This is your revenge!" "Yes." "Damn!" He had the nerve to admit it. And he acted like...he had nothing to worry about. Darnell fell back on the bed, rubbed his chest angrily, and said, "Why do you tell me that you don''t like her? I think the first person in the family who is furious." Bet looked down at him with one hand in the pocket and said, "No one cany the hand on what''s mine. It doesn''t matter whether I like her or not." Darnell turned his face away and snorted, "It''s better that you said so, otherwise I won''t be the only one in this family who is angry with you." "Take care of yourself first!" "..." "I''m leaving." Bet turned around and strode out. "Ben!" Darnell shouted to him from behind, "When will you introduce your wife to Brian and Abbey? Don''t forget how she betrayed Warren back then if it weren''t because of her..." "Bang." Before Darnell finished his words, the bedroom door was already mmed shut. Bet''s figure disappeared behind the door. Darnell scratched his head and said to himself, "What on earth does Ben want to do? Does he really like that easy girl?" Darnell had the urge to tell Brian and Abbey that Ben had got married right away, but in the end, he didn''t do that. Thinking about his wounds, he didn''t dare to betray Ben. Saving his own life was the most important thing, and other things didn''t matter. However, though he should keep this secret, there was no way that he would easily let Catalina get away with this. Four years ago, Warren was betrayed by her, and he was still in aa. Now he was beaten up because of her, so he couldn''t let her go. As for the reporter from Sayton Newspaper, what a coincidence that they met again. Darnell sneered, "Catalina, just you wait!" Chapter 18 Offending the Bigwig Chapter 18 Offending the Bigwig Chapter 18 Offending the Bigwig As soon as Catalina entered the office, she noticed her colleagues seemed very strange. All the girls in the office, except her, wore heavy makeup and were dressed in beautiful clothes. Even Emery, who has always been confident about her natural beauty, was putting makeup on herself in her cubicle. Catalina couldn''t help asking, "Emery, why are you all wearing makeup? Is there going to be a ball Emery put the blush on her face, then stuck her head out of the cubicle, and said, "Didn''t you read the notifications in the chat group?" "No. What''s going on?" She was so upset at Bet that she didn''t have time to read the group message! "Our president has returned from abroad, and he will take office today! How could you not pay attention to such important news?" "Well..." Catalina was confused and shook her head. "The point is, he''s so handsome, and he''s the most eligible bachelor. That''s what the editor-in-chief said." Immediately, other colleagues echoed, "Yes, it is said that he is really charming. Besides, he has a good family background." "Lina, don''t waste your time. Let me put on makeup for you! Anyway, you are also single now, and we all have a chance. That''s fairpetition!" Emery was about to put makeup on Catalina. Catalina smiled, stopped Emery who was very enthusiastic with her hand and said, "That''s fine, I won''t participate in yourpetition. I''ll just watch." First of all, she was no longer a single woman. Secondly, no matter how handsome or outstanding the man was, he would not be attractive to her. After all, the man she married was better than the other men in the world. "Okay, remember what you said. If you regret it, I''ll fix youter." Catalina smiled, ignored them, and got down to work. In less than half an hour, the editor-in-chief knocked on the door and said, "Hurry up! Ladies and gentlemen, go to the lobby on the first floor and wait in line. The president said on the phone that we must greet him. Everyone must be present, especially the staff of the reporter department." Catalina thought that the president was pompous. Everyone should stand in line and greet him as if he were the king! However, after all, she didn''t dare to disobey the leader. Emery tugged her and ran out, saying, "We have to be one step ahead and take a good position. Even if the president is not interested in us, the handsome guy is also pleasing to the eyes." "I never see you being so active at work." After Emery''s hard work, she did get a good position in the front row. Just as everyone was divided into two rows, there was a burst of yelling from outside, "The president''s cars have arrived!" Immediately, a line of at least ten vehicles drove toward Sayton Newspaper. "Wow! These are all luxury cars!" Emery grabbed Catalina''s wrist excitedly and said, "Lina, this president is as rich and powerful as your keeper back then!" Catalina was curious and couldn''t help looking over there. This style really resembled that of the Shaffer family. The cars finally stopped at the main entrance. The senior executives of Sayton Newspaper rushed out to greet the new president, and respectfully opened the door of the first luxury car. A man dressed in dark gray trousers got out of the car. His legs were long, and he wore a pair of shiny handmade leather boots. As soon as he got out of the car, the colleagues behind Catalina eximed unanimously. Catalina couldn''t see his face at all, because their sight in the first row happened to be blocked by the However, the man had a perfect figure. He was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and his manner was elegant. He was standing straight, so even though she couldn''t see the man''s face, it was not difficult to see that he was indeed an outstanding man with an extraordinary bearing, just as the editor-in-chief described. Because Emery couldn''t see, she was so anxious that she kept leaning forward and backward and said, "Is he handsome? Hey, what does he look like? Come inside!" As she spoke, the president who had just returned home led his exclusive team and walked in. After seeing the man''s handsome and arrogant face, Catalina... Damn! Immediately, this word popped up in her head when she couldn''t think straight. Then she thought that she was so screwed! Catalina never expected that the most eligible bachelor that was hyped by the editor-in-chief, and the biggest boss turned out to be... Darnell? N?velDrama.Org ? content. As the saying, enemies are destined to meet! "He is so handsome! Oh my god! I''m going to pass out!" Emery was totally a boy crazy! From the first second Darnell appeared, she started praising him. She was so excited that she held Catalina''s hand and said to her while jumping up and down, "Lina, how can there be such a good-looking man in this world? I''m falling for him." She was being too dramatic. Catalina couldn''t imagine what would happen if she saw Bet. She probably would throw herself at him. Catalina admitted that Darnell was handsome, but now she had no time to pay attention to these things at all. There was only one thought in her mind, and it was...that she must run away. Her life was at stake! It took Catalina a lot of effort to take her wrist out of Emery''s hand. She lowered her head and quietly stepped out of the first row, trying to leave here quietly. She prayed that Darnell would not notice her. However, things often went wrong. "Catalina!" Unexpectedly, Darnell, who was surrounded by the crowd, called out her name in front of everyone. Therefore, everyone including the senior executives of thepany stared at Catalina with a shocked unbelievable look. Catalina only felt that she was in trouble. She knew that Darnell did it on purpose! Darnell stood in the crowd with one hand in his pocket, his chin raised slightly, and he condescendingly looked down at Catalina who lowered her head and was about to run away. "Where are you going? Did I say that you could leave now?" "..." Catalina had no choice but to go back silently. She told herself that she had to bear with it. That was because she had offended her boss. "Lina! The president knows you. Come on, he wants to see you! Go over here and say hello." Emery pushed Catalina to the front of the team as she spoke. Catalina would rather be dead now. What a silly teammate! Darnell gave her a smile, which made Catalina''s hair stand on end. "Mr...Mr. Wyatt..." Catalina had to brave it out and greet him. Darnell approached her step by step, deliberately blew into her ear, and said, "Well! When does Ms. Grant have a stuttering problem?" "..." Catalina really wanted to bite him. She red at him and said in a voice that only two of them could hear, "This is thepany, so please watch your behavior, Mr. Wyatt." Catalina could feel the jealous nces behind her. Those female colleagues who liked Darnell wished to kill her now. Obviously, Darnell did it on purpose. "Catalina, if you don''t want to have a miserable ending,e to my office after the meeting! I will see you there." "..." Darnell straightened up, nced at the employees, and said, "The meeting is over!" Then he left with his team. Catalina sighed. Sure enough, all the men in the Shaffer family were difficult to deal with! So was Bet, and Darnell was even worse. Fine... Catalina wondered if she hadmitted too many sins in her previous life that she met men in the Shaffer family for no reason in this life. Chapter 19 Lina Offends Darnell Chapter 19 Lina Offends Darnell Chapter 19 Lina Offended Darnell "Lina, you have a thing for Mr. Wyatt, but you don''t admit it, right?" When Lina remained in a daze, Emery rushed over and hugged her shoulder. "Hurry up and tell me the truth. Otherwise, I will tickle you." "Please forgive me!" Lina drooped her head listlessly. "What''s up? Alright, how about telling me how you two met?" Lina sighed, "Do you still remember the video about what happened in Heaven?" "Of course. It was about a bastard who forced you to have sex with him... As soon as the video was uncovered, it became a trending topic online! Without it, how could we have sessfully be regrs so quickly? Such a video has defined our careers, so I definitely remember it." Lina nodded, "It indeed determines our careers..." "Why does your tone sound so strange?" "Because that bastard in the video is the boss Darnell Wyatt!" ... Emery widened her eyes so hard. She was shocked by this news. "It''s over!" Emery fell to the ground while looking pale. "It''s over..." ... Lina stood outside the door of the office for Darnell, taking deep breaths repeatedly. She breathed in... And then she breathed out... Once again... "Are you doing morning exercise?" someone asked her suddenly. Lina turned her head in fright. Darnell, who was supposed to be in the office, was holding a cup of steaming coffee and looking at her with sarcasm. How could this guy stand here? "I''m afraid he had spied on my awkwardness!" Lina thought. Darnell bypassed Lina, opened the office door, and strode in. Lina had to follow him. The moment she closed the door and turned around, Darnell pushed her body against the door. "You are so tricky that you managed to rece your immediate superior." Lina was a little flustered at first when she was pressed on the door, but then she quickly calmed down. She crossed her arms and mmed Darnell''s chest hard with her elbow. "Thank you for giving me this chance! If you hadn''t whored, I wouldn''t have been promoted, right?" "You..." Darnell gritted his teeth angrily. Lina raised her chin provocatively at him. "Do you think that I dare not do anything to you?" "You can fire me at most!" Lina didn''t care. It was an honor for her to join the Sayton Newspaper, since she had been dreaming of being a reporter. However, she had to think carefully about whether she would continue to work for such a bad guy. Darnell pped on the door panel. "You little bitch. You used to be a humble servant. However, you fascinated not only my eldest brother, but also my third brother, who had always kept away from women. Because of you, we almost turned against each other!" "What? Did I set him against Ben? When? How couldn''t I know that? I shouldn''t be to me," Lina thought. "Come on. Show me your great skills." Darnell took two steps back and rolled up his sleeves, as if he was about to fight with Lina. Lina leaned on the door and looked at him amusedly. "What skills?" Was she kidding? "The skills to seduce men! Stop hiding your true color. I''d like to see how powerful you are. Just try your best to fascinate me. I bet you can''t!" ... Seeing his funny movement, Lina almost burst outughing. It was hard to imagine that such a childish man was the maniptor of the Sayton Newspaper. Moreover, he operated thepany so well. It was really unbelievable! Lina put her arms around her chest, stood up straight, and smiled, "Mr. Wyatt, I''m so sorry. I''m not interested in you at all." "You!" Darnell was angry at her words. "Continuing our chat will waste my life. So, goodbye!" Lina was about to open the door and leave. "Stop! I haven''t allowed you to..." However, before Darnell finished speaking, Lina suddenly stopped. Darnell choked on his throat. Lina turned her head, nced at him, then raised a recording pen to him, and smiled slightly. "Mr. Wyatt, by the way, I''m used to turning on the recording pen when chatting. Unfortunately, that you asked me to seduce you happened to be recorded." "Damn it! Are you crazy?" Lina raised her eyebrows. "What if your third brother knows that his beloved cousin is so dedicated to chasing after his beloved girl?" "Damn it! What do you mean I chase after his girl? You are so shameless!" "From now on, you should leave me alone and stop harassing me. Otherwise, I will give him this recording pen." After she warned, Lina quickly turned round and left before Darnell reacted. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Darnell was so angry that he almost smashed theputer beside him. Damn! He had nned to fool her, but he was irritated by her as a result. "Let''s wait and see!" Darnell thought. Coming out of Darnell''s office, Lina heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that her future career wouldn''t be bright! At home, she was in dire straits, while in thepany, she would probably be in darkness as well. "Lina, you must brace up!" She patted herself on the cheek heavily, and couldn''t help cheering herself up. She wouldn''t be trounced! Chapter 20 Mrs. Shaffer Fell into the Water Chapter 20 Mrs. Shaffer Fell into the Water Chapter 20 Mrs. Shaffer Fell into the Water In Sophora Vi. On the antique bridge, Catalina leaned against the railing while holding the doll left by her mother in her arms. She was talking on the phone with her grandmother in the hospital. ¡°Lina, did you fight with Aaron recently?¡± Her grandmother asked worriedly on the phone. Catalina was taken aback. She knew that her grandmother was scrupulous and sensitive, so these days, she had been asking her uncle and aunt to help hide her rtionship with Aaron in order to avoid irritating her grandmother. ¡°No, Grandma, we''re good!¡± Catalina had to lie. She thought that it would not be toote for her to tell her grandmother when her condition stabilized. ¡°Really?¡± Her grandmother obviously did not believe her. ¡°It¡¯s been several weeks since I had the operation and Aaron hasn¡¯te to see me. Every time youe over, you¡¯re always alone. Lina, although I am old, I am still sane, so you can¡¯t fool me.¡± ¡°Grandma, how would I dare to fool you?¡± Catalina pretended to be calm. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. Aaron and I have been doing well! I just talked to Aaron just before I called you. He just happened to be busy with thepany recently and was always going on business trips. So, that¡¯s why he doesn¡¯t have time to see you. QA I''ll tell him toe with me next time, okay?¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s good that you two are fine. I''m expecting you two have a baby soon! How¡¯s it going, Lina? Are you pregnant yet?¡± For some reason, when her grandmother asked her that, the first thing that popped into Catalina¡¯s mind was the idental kiss she had with Bet that day. Catalina blushed instantly. ¡°Grandma, we just got married. How can we get a baby so quickly?¡± ¡°Right. I am too impatient. I¡¯m just worried that my body¡­¡± ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re starting to overthink again!¡± Catalina hastily interrupted her grandmother¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. I promise you that I will have a baby with Aaron as soon as possible.¡± Catalina could onlyforted her grandmother. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± After hearing the promise, her grandmother finally got eased. After hanging up the phone, Catalina let out a long sigh of relief. She looked at the doll in her arms and sighed again, ¡°Mom, do you know how much I wish you were here? Grandma and I miss you so much.¡± If her mother was still with her, she would not have been kicked out of the family. If her stepmother did not embezzle her father¡¯s money, maybe they would have the money for her grandmother¡¯s surgery. That way, she would not have to sell herself to Bet like amodity. Then she and Aaron... Forget it! Aaron was not a good man either. After sighing, Catalina hugged the doll and prepared to leave. However, when she turned around¡­ Thud! Her head smashed into a solid wall of flesh. ¡°Ouch!¡± Catalina howled in pain and rubbed her forehead. "It hurts." She looked up at the person in front of her. She was stunned. Bet? He was dressed in a ck suit from head to toe. His face was gloomy and he looked like a devil from hell who came here to take her life. Catalina was startled, so she subconsciously grabbed the doll in her hand and took two hurried steps back. Gosh, who angered this devil again? Meanwhile, Bet spotted Catalina subtly holding onto the doll and he automatically tranted it as "caring". His eyes darkened and he felt that it was an eyesore. He thought to himself, "No wonder this girl takes this stupid doll with her everywhere she goes. It turns out Aaron gave this to her." Does she still want to have a baby with Aaron? Does she still miss him? Heh, old habits die hard. ¡°Um¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to run into you on purpose, I¡¯m sorry...¡± Catalina felt that the atmosphere was weird, so she immediately apologized, lowered her head, and prepared to run away. Unexpectedly, a long arm suddenly stretched out from behind her and snatched the doll from her arms. Catalina was caught off guard. ¡°Bet, what are you doing?¡± She panicked. The doll waspletely deformed by Bet¡¯srge hands. He looked at the thing in his hand darkly. ¡°Are you so concerned about this stupid thing?¡± Catalina looked nervous. ¡°Bet, I don¡¯t know how I provoked you again. If it¡¯s because I ran into you just now, then I apologize. I am sorry, but please don¡¯t vent your anger on my doll because it is really important to me!¡± Catalina¡¯s attitude was very sincere, and she was afraid that Bet would destroy her doll. However, the more she acted like that, the angrier Bet was. How dare she care so much about a stupid doll that another man gave her? Does she want to keep it so she can continue to look at it and think about him? Don''t even think about it! ¡°Catalina, the more you care about something, the more I, Bet Shaffer, want to destroy it!¡± After saying that, Bet just directly tore the doll in his hand into two pieces with a hiss. Then, without hesitation, he threw it into the frozenke. The cotton wool flew out andnded on Catalina¡¯s eyshes. Tears almost fell from her eyes. This was thest remnant her mother left her! ¡°Bet, you scoundrel!¡± With red eyes, Catalina rushed forward and pounded her fists on Bet¡¯s chest uncontrobly. ¡°I hate you, I hate you!!¡± Bet pushed away the crying Catalina indifferently and warned the servants guarding theke. ¡°Anyone who dares to pick up the garbage from theke for her will be sacked!¡± All the servants shrunk their necks in fright, not daring to breathe. Catalina¡¯s face was wet with tears, but Bet ignored her. He turned around gloomily and strode away. However, when he heard the sound of something entering the water behind him, he stopped in his tracks. Hisplexion instantly became terribly gloomy and the air pressure around him plunged. Catalina jumped into the water! "This stupid woman even tried to give up her life for a stupid doll that Aaron gave her?" He thought. Bet clenched his fists. The servants by theke shouted in panic, ¡°Mrs. Shaffer has fallen into the water! Hurry up! She can¡¯t swim!¡± Catalina did not know how to swim. Bet stood on the shore, watching Catalina struggle in the bone-piercing cold water. Because of this woman¡¯s debauchery, she caused his most respected brother, Warren, to be in aa and bedridden with illness all year round. Now, she was also half-hearted and refusing to change. Even if she drowned in this body of water, she deserved it, let alone soaking in this biting ice water for a while. For the Shaffer family, Catalina¡¯s death was not worthy of pity. However, even if he felt this way, Bet still jumped into theke in the next second after seeing Catalina sinking into theke. Catalina originally thought that she might die, but at that moment, she even thought that it would be good if she did. After she died, she could go meet her mother in heaven and she would no longer have to live with this guilt. ¡°Cough cough cough cough!¡± Catalina coughed violently. However, before she could breathe freely, she was pulled by a strong force. Then, with a thud, she hit the shore of theke behind her heavily. "Ugh, it hurts!" Catalina was knocked dizzy. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Bet''s burly body towered over her like a mountain. ¡°Are you going to throw away your life for a stupid doll?¡± Chapter 21 More Important Than My Life Chapter 21 More Important Than My Life Chapter 21 More Important Than My Life Bet''s burly body towered over her like a mountain. "Are you going to throw away your life for a stupid doll?" He gritted his teeth. His ferocious expression looked as if he wished to tear her to pieces. However, there also seemed to be a bit of strange worry in those clear eyes. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. "Worried? "About her? "How is that possible?" Catalina thought the idea was ridiculous. "You don''t need to worry about my life or death. A heartless person like you will never understand how important other people''s thoughts are!" Catalina''s eyes were red. "Thoughts?" Bet smiled sarcastically. "I, Bet Shaffer, can buy you ten, hundreds, or even thousands of such cheap things! Are these your so-called thoughts?" "You don''t understand at all! Even if you buy me ten thousand of them, so what? It will never be as good as mine. Bet, I don''t care about your stuff at all!" Catalina pushed Bet angrily, trying to break free from his arms. However, her words stabbed Bet''s heart like a knife. He tightened his long arm that was wrapped around Catalina''s waist as if he wanted to break her. "I shouldn''t have saved you, I should have let you drown with that stupid thing!" Bet was mad at her. However, he was even madder at himself for meddling. How would this woman who would switch sides so quickly be worthy of his rescue? "It''s not a stupid thing!" Catalina roared. Tears of grievance rolled out of her eyes. "It is thest remnant my mother left me, and to me, it is more important than my life!" "What did you say?" Catalina''s words shocked Bet. His pupils contracted. "Who did you say gave you this doll?" "My mother, my mother!" Catalina yelled angrily, "My mother sewed this for me stitch by stitch, but now you have ruined it! Are you satisfied seeing how upset I am? Are you happy?" "..." ''So Aaron didn''t give her this doll? ''So the person she missed just now was actually her mother, not Aaron?'' For some reason, this result opened up Bet''s heart, and the weight on it seemed to be lifted in an instant. Furthermore, the terrifying rancor emitting from his body suddenly faded away. He also calmed down in an instant. Catalina was immersed in sadness and anger, so she did not notice Bet''s emotional changes. She was crying like a wounded kitten, and she begged him in a low voice, "Bet, I beg you, help me pick it up, and no matter what you ask me to do in the future, I will do it... Boohoo..." Bet looked down at her, his throat hoarse. "Stop crying." Her crying irritated Bet inexplicably. He thought this was only because he felt guilty. "Boohoo..." It was fine if he did not say anything. Once he said something, Catalina lowered her head and cried even harder. "I will pay you back!" Bet reassured her angrily. "I don''t want anything else, I just want this one." Catalina looked at him longingly with teary eyes. "Alright, I''ll give you this one." It was rare for Bet to be so good-tempered. He stared at Catalina''s teary eyes and his sexy throat moved. "If you stop your tears, I will consider picking up this toy for you." Catalina was startled when she heard that. She could not believe that he agreed. So, she did not even dare to hesitate for a moment. She quickly sniffled and stopped her tears in time. Bet picked her up with his long arms and threw her to the shore of theke while he turned around and dived into the frozenke again. Bet felt that he might have been possessed. How could he personally go into the water to salvage a doll for this woman? Was he crazy? No, Bet figured it was because he felt guilty. After all, he was the one who destroyed her mother''s remnant. Catalina, who came ashore, was shaking from the cold. Her lips turned blue. However, she was not concerned about herself at all. All her attention was on Bet in theke. She really did not expect that Bet would actually salvage the doll from the water for her. ''Is he doing this out of guilt?'' At this moment, Ralph led a group of servants over with a windbreaker and a life buoy. When he saw Bet at the center of theke, Ralph turned pale with shock. "Mr. Shaffer, why did you go into the water yourself? You will freeze to death from the water!" In the end, he shouted to the servants behind him, "What are you still doing? Go into the water and help Mr. Shaffer!" "No!" As soon as Ralph finished speaking, Bet''s slender figure emerged from the water. Then, he walked up the steps slowly like a king returned victorious. Even though he was drenched, it did not affect his demeanor at all. He was always dignified, transcending worldly affairs, and aloof. He walked up to Catalina and threw the torn doll into her arms, "It''s written off." He was indifferent. He turned around and strode away without waiting for Catalina''s response. His temperament was cold and unapproachable. Ralph came to his senses after a while. Then, he quickly chased after Bet. "Mr. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer! Your windbreaker! You''ll get a cold!" Catalina hugged the wet doll and stared nkly at Bet''s back as he left. She could not recover for a long time. ''What happened? ''How did I offend him? Why does it feel like Bet is angry again? ''His temperament is really quite uncertain. ''But I should be the one angry in this situation!'' Catalina looked at the doll in her arms that was torn in half. Her eyes turned red and she pouted. "That scoundrel!" He only knew how to bully her! ... The day after Catalina was soaked in the bitingke water, she suddenly had a high fever and could not get out of bed. After six o''clock in the morning, the Lake Compound did not see Catalinaing over, so they sent Hailee, the maid, to Catalina''s room to get her. Before Hailee could see Catalina, Wendy stopped her at the door. Wendy knew why Cataline was sick and she was already a little angry because of it. Therefore, she had an unpleasant expression on her face when she saw Hailee. "Go back and tell Mr. Shaffer that Mrs. Shaffer is sick and can''t get out of bed now. Ask him to show some kindness and let her rest for two days, otherwise, Mrs. Shaffer will be tortured to death sooner orter." "But..." "No buts? Just do what I say and go back to tell Mr. Shaffer! Don''t disturb Mrs. Shaffer." As Wendy said that, she pushed open the door, stepped lightly into Catalina''s bedroom, and shut Hailee out. Although Catalina was dizzy from the fever, she could still hear the conversation outside the room clearly. "Are Bet''s people here?" She asked Wendy. Wendy approached her quickly. "Yes, but I have already sent her away, Mrs. Shaffer. I just went to get the family doctor for you, and he should be here soon." "I''m fine." "You''re not fine. Your fever has reached 39 degrees." Wendy was very distressed and could not help muttering in a low voice, "If you ask me, Mr. Shaffer is really ruthless, and he can think of new ways to torment you every day." Catalina chuckled and joked, "You''re pretty brave now, huh? How dare you speak ill of Bet? But you''re right." Wendy was a little embarrassed. "I feel sorry for you." As Wendy said that, she walked to the table to pour a ss of warm water for Catalina, but she caught a glimpse of a tall and burly figure striding towards them on the ancient bridge outside the window. It was Mr. Bet Shaffer. Chapter 22 Childish Yet Cute Chapter 22 Childish Yet Cute Chapter 22 Childish Yet Cute "Mr. Shaffer!" Ralph caught up with Bet while carrying a long ck cloak. Bet stood at the front of the bridge and frowned. He seemed to be waiting for Ralph impatiently. Ralph stepped forward and carefully put the cloak onto Ralph''s shoulders, "I know that you''re worried about Mrs. Shaffer, but you also have to pay attention to keeping yourself warm. It''s still snowing outside!" Snowkes were whirling in the sky like a myriad of feathers. Theynded softly onto Bet''s short ck hair, softening his gloomy temperament. Ralph''s expression turned dark, "Who''s worried about her? I''m here to see if she''s pretending to be sick! Ralph, you''d better pray that this is not an act. Otherwise, you''ll be punished together with her!" Ralph, "..." Ralph couldn''t understand why he was involved in this matter suddenly. "Mrs. Shaffer, Mrs. Shaffer!" When Wendy spotted Bet on the bridge, she was so excited until forgetting to bring water to Catalina, "Mr. Shaffer hase to see you!" "Huh?" Catalina was extremely surprised. As the two talked, the bedroom door was pushed open from outside. Following, Bet, who was covered in cold, stepped in. As he walked into the room, he untied the cloak on his shoulders and handed it to Ralph, who was a step behind him. By the time Bet reached Catalina''s bedside, he was already looking good in his suit and leather shoes. His two long and straight legs were eye-catching. "He really shows off his charms all the time," thought Catalina. Bet stood by the bed and frowned. He looked at Catalina, whose face was reddish because of the fever. Catalina was feeling ufortable upon Bet''s stare. She felt that Bet was trying to identify the authenticity of her illness. "What are you doing here?" Catalina asked. Bet raised his eyebrows, "I want to check whether you''re pretending to be sick." As expected. Catalina was speechless, "I''m not as childish as you." Surprisingly, Bet didn''t fight back against Catalina. He picked up the thermometer on the bedside table, gently pinched and lifted Catalina''s ear with the other hand, and inserted the thermometer into Catalina''s ear canal. Catalina was stunned. Her eyes were filled with shock while staring at Bet. The area where her ears were pinched felt hot. On the other hand, Ralph and Wendy were also dumbfounded. None of them had expected Bet, who was always proud and in high position, would personally measure for someone''s body temperature. It was unbelievable! Bet took the thermometer out of Catalina''s ear. Thirty-nine-point-eight degree celsius. Bet frowned and nced at the antique clock on the wall. Then, his gaze fell back onto Catalina, who looked a little frightened, "What are you looking at? I just want to make sure for myself whether you''re ying tricks with me." Catalina, "..." As expected! Catalina thought that it was impossible for Bet to suddenly care so much about her. "Well, you can now confirm that I''m not pretending, right? Bet, you can leave now," Catalina asked Bet to leave with a cold face. All the emotions just now disappeared in an instant. "Who knows whether you''ve done anything on this thermometer?" Bet calmly threw the thermometer back onto the bedside table. Then, he took a pack of disinfectant wipes from his pocket and wiped his hands. He asked Wendy impatiently, "Why hasn''t the doctor arrived yet?" Wendy replied, "The doctor is arriving soon." Catalina was feeling a little angry. "So this guy isn''t satisfied even after taking my body temperature personally? Did he really need to wait for the doctor''s confirmation to believe that I''m sick?" Catalina thought. Catalina was also disturbed by Bet''s action of wiping his hands with wet wipes. Had Bet wiped his hands just because he touched her? Had Bet thought of her as something poisonous? If he disliked her that much, why did he kiss her again that morning? Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The more Catalina thought about it, the angrier she became. She turned her face aside and decided to stop talking with Bet. Suddenly, Ryker, the doctor of Sophora Vi, entered the room while carrying a medical kit. "Mr. Shaffer, Mrs. Shaffer, I''m really sorry for beingte." "Stop talking. Come quickly and examine her." Bet beckoned Ryker toe over to examine Catalina. "Ok..." Ryker approached the bed with his medical kit. Ryker first checked on Catalina''s heartbeat and touched Catalina''s forehead. Then, he turned his head and asked Wendy, "Has Mrs. Shaffer measured her body temperature?" "Just measured, more than thirty-nine degrees celsius," Catalina replied. "Thirty-nine-point-eight degrees." Bet added. Ryker nodded, "When was that measured?" Catalina, "Just now. Probably, five minutes ago?" Bet frowned and corrected her, "At six o''clock thirty-seven minutes and five seconds." Wendy, "..." Ralph, "..." Catalina looked at Bet in surprise. "What are you looking at? There''s no doubt that my IQ is higher than yours and my memory is much better. Do you think that I''ll purposely remember these for you?" Catalina, "..." Indeed, who was Bet? He was the third son of the Shaffer family. He was the Bet who had always detested Catalina. Moreover, the reason why Catalina was sick was also because of him. How could it be possible for him to care about her? Catalina also felt that her idea just now was ridiculous. Ryker used to be a military doctor who followed Drake in the army. He was knowledgeable. A mere cold was a simple disease for him to treat. "Mr. Shaffer, you don''t need to worry much. Mrs. Shaffer is sick because of the flu. She can heal shortly after taking medicine on time and having a good rest." "When did you see that I was worried about her?" Bet retorted. After that, he frowned as he nced at Catalina, who was looking sick, "I''ll give you two days to rest. After two days,e to my room to report to me! If two days is not enough, old man, you need to fuck off!" Thest sentence was said to Ryker. After Bet finished speaking, he didn''t stay long and strode out of Catalina''s bedroom. Catalina, "..." Why was he being so overbearing and unreasonable? "Mrs. Shaffer, please have a good rest. You can call me any time if required." Ralph also left Catalina''s room. He held Bet''s cloak and caught up with Bet, "Mr. Shaffer, your cloak." As soon as Bet left, Wendy said happily, "Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer treats you so well. Just now, he cared about you so much!" "That''s not what you just said earlier. Besides, I don''t think he was worried about me. He would only worry that I''m not able to serve him well due to my illness." "Mr. Shaffer doesn''t show his feelings through words! Did you see how well he remembered your condition? I can''t even answer the questions that Ryker asked just now! I don''t believe what he imed about not remembering your condition purposely. Do you agree, Ryker?" Ryker nodded, "Yes, Mr. Shaffer isn''t talkative. But today, he''s acting unusual in front of Mrs. Shaffer. He was even a little childish. It''s a rare sight!" "Yes! It''s also my first time realizing that the cold Mr. Shaffer has a cute side of him!" Wendy chuckled and smiled teasefully. Childish was right but cute? "Wendy, do you have any misunderstandings about the word ''cute''?" Wendy, "..." Actually, Catalina wasn''t surprised by Wendy''s and Ryker''s misunderstandings. After all, they might not know much about the grudges she had forged with the Shaffer family. How would Bet, a person who drew a clear demarcation between whom or what to hate or love, care about a "bad" woman like her? Catalina nced at the rag doll on the bedside. Thanks to Bet, now this rag doll had a separate head and body. If Bet really cared about her, why would he take her most important things to threaten her? Catalina''s eyes darkened a little. She turned her head aside and didn''t want to think more. Chapter 23 The Means to Console a Girl Chapter 23 The Means to Console a Girl Chapter 23 The Means to Console a Girl Bet sat on the sofa while flipping through the documents in his hands. However, he kept recalling the tattered doll that was resting on Catalina''s bedside, and her grievance when she cried and used him yesterday. Catalina''s "I hate you" was like a magic spell, echoing in his ears nonstop. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Bet frowned. He told himself that Catalina''s hatred toward him wasn''t something he should be bothered about. However, in the next second, he irritably threw the document in his hand, "Ralph." "Yes." Ralph, who was watering the indoor nts, quickly paused his work and respectfully stepped forward. Bet was silent for a long time before saying, "Go buy a bunch of decent toys." "Toys?" Ralph was surprised and confused. Bet loosened the tie around his neck. He was a little impatient, "The kind of toys that girls like to y with." "Ahhh..." Ralph understood swiftly, "Mr. Shaffer, you''re referring to rag dolls that girls like, right?" Bet furrowed his eyebrows and didn''t reply. He only picked up the documents on the table again. It was a silent acquiescence. Of course, Ralph could understand what Bet meant. After thinking about it, he couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Shaffer, please forgive me for stepping in, but I believe I need to remind you about this. I''m afraid that even if you bought all the rag dolls from the world, Mrs. Shaffer might not necessarily be pleased!" Bet frowned, and his expression was cold as if there was ayer of frost, "Then, what else does she want? Does she want me to sew one for her with my own hands?" "...Well, that''s a good idea." "..." Bet''s cold gaze shot straight toward Ralph like an ice prism. Ralph was so frightened until tightening his neck, "Mr. Shaffer, I''ll make the arrangements immediately. I''ll pick the best-looking ones to buy. I''ll do my best to make Mrs. Shaffer happy." After Ralph finished speaking, he left the study room as quickly as possible. As the door closed, Bet paused for a long time before putting down the documents in his hand again. He looked back at the closed door. After making sure that no one would enter, he took out his mobile phone, opened Google, and typed "How to make handmade dolls". ... After taking medicine timely for two days, Catalina''s health improved significantly. One day, Catalina was busy in her room trying to fix the rag doll that was gifted by her mother. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was Ralph. There were two servants following behind him. The servants were carrying arge square box about two meters wide and two meters long. Catalina was surprised, "Ralph, what is this?" "Mrs. Shaffer, pleasee and check it yourself!" Ralph gestured and left Catalina in suspense. Ralph had piqued Catalina''s curiosity. She quickly put down the needlework and ran over. As Catalina opened the box and looked inside, she was stunned. "Ragdolls?" Catalina looked at Ralph in surprise, "These are..." Ralph smiled, "These are from Mr. Shaffer. I believe he''s trying to make up for Mrs. Shaffer!" Catalina''s heart swayed slightly. "Did he ask you to buy these?" Catalina was skeptical. This wasn''t something that Bet would do. "Yes, it''s true that Mr. Shaffer had asked me to buy them." All right! This was astonishing. Catalina bit her lower lips. There was a strange feeling arising in her heart. However, she said, "These dolls he bought can''t bepared with the one that my mother gifted me. But anyways, forget it. I''m toozy to argue with him about this." "You are kind, Mrs. Shaffer. If there''s nothing else, I''ll leave first." "Alright. Thank you, Ralph." As soon as Ralph left, Catalina quickly took out the dolls in the box one by one. "Wow! A limited edition Kitty Cat." "Sailor Moon!" "Cardcaptor Sakura!" Oh my God! They were all Catalina''s childhood! She really liked them. Moreover, by looking at the quality and edition, one could tell that the dolls here were all expensive. Each of them would probably cost thousands or tens of thousands. Geez! Ralph was really good at selecting. The only drawback was that there were expensive. As Catalina checked through the pile of dolls, a strangely shaped doll suddenly caught her attention. "What is this?" Catalina suspiciously took the doll out of the box. She looked at the doll and frowned, "Isn''t this too ugly?" To speak the truth, the first phrase that popped up in Catalina''s mind when she saw the doll was, "Strange and ugly." The doll had a big head that wasn''t round. It wasn''t even properly shaped. The eyes were sewn by using two buttons. As for the mouth... Obviously, the mouth was created by cutting out a piece of red cloth. However, the shape of the mouth was also very ugly, like a pair of sausages. As for the doll''s body, it was only equivalent to a third of its head. What the hell was this? "A big-headed doll?" Catalina frowned and pondered. She couldn''t understand why such an ugly thing was mixed in this pile of limited-edition dolls. This doll was like a child''s creation! Probably from a child not older than eight-year-olds! While Catalina was pondering, Wendy stepped into the room with medicine, "Mrs. Shaffer, it''s time for you to take medicine. Hmm? Why are there so many dolls?" When Wendy saw the dolls in the box, her eyes lit up. "Are they from Mr. Shaffer?" "From Ralph," Catalina corrected Wendy. "That must be because Mr. Shaffer told him so. Wow! These dolls are so cute!" Wendy also fell in love with the dolls. "You like them?" Catalina patted the box and said generously, "If you like them, you can pick one and take it." "Huh? Isn''t that bad to do? It''s a gift for you from Mr. Shaffer. I don''t want to take anything." Wendy quickly threw the doll in her hands back into the box. "What''s so bad about this? There''re so many dolls here. I can''t possibly put them all in this room anyways! He gave me too much, and I don''t think it would matter for you to take one. Just choose one. Take the one you like." "I..." "Choose!" "Then, I''ll pick this. The ugliest!" Wendy conservatively took the ugliest doll from the pile of dolls, "This one." "Pfft! Do you also think that it''s the ugliest? I feel the same way." Wendy carefully looked at the doll and nodded, "It''s ugly, but it''s also quite unique, right?" "Are you sure you want this? Think it through clearly. It seemed to be the cheapest one among them. I won''t give you a second chance if you regret itter." "Alright! I''ve decided to choose this. I must keep the good-looking ones for you. Or else, Mr. Shaffer would me me and I''d be doomed." "Don''t worry. He won''t know which doll was missing among these many dolls. Moreover, even if he has a good memory, he wouldn''t care much about this." Indeed, as Catalina said, Bet didn''t really know how many dolls were sent to Catalina. He also didn''t know how each of the dolls looked. Even if Cataline gifted all the dolls away, Bet wouldn''t really care. But coincidentally... Catalina had picked the most special doll to give away. The consequences of her mistakes started here. Chapter 24 It Was Handmade by Mr. Shaffer Chapter 24 It Was Handmade by Mr. Shaffer Chapter 24 It Was Handmade by Mr. Shaffer After Wendy finished her work in Catalina''s room, she left with the ugly doll in her arms. When she was crossing the bridge, she bumped into a few maids of the Lake Compound. When they saw the doll in Wendy''s arms, they were curious and asked, "Wendy, what is that? Isn''t it a doll? It looks so ugly!" "It''s given by Mrs. Shaffer. You can''t say it''s ugly!" Wendy was hugging it like a baby and said, "It isn''t perfect, but I like it." At the same time, Bet, who came back from the outside was heading to the Lake Compound. He passed by the bridge and he was surrounded by his servants. After hearing the conversation between Wendy and those maids, he stopped suddenly. He took a nce at the rag doll in Wendy''s arms and his gaze froze instantly as if ayer of freezing frost had covered his pupils. His aura was so strong that Wendy and the others immediately noticed his presence even at a distance of more than 15 feet. "Mr...Mr. Shaffer!" Wendy''s face turned pale with fright when she turned around and saw him. Subconsciously, she hid the doll in her hand at her back and worried that he might get to see it. "Hello, Mr. Shaffer..." All the maids quickly bowed their heads and greeted him respectfully. Although they didn''t know what had happened, seeing that he was pulling a long face, they knew that someone must have offended him today. "Show me." Bet spread his palm towards Wendy without many expressions. Wendy trembled in fright. In the end, she used all her courage, ran forward, and put the ugly doll in Bet''s palm as quickly as possible. At that moment, Wendy felt like she was about to suffocate. Bet stared at the doll in his hand, his gazes under his sses became even more piercing. He clenched all his five fingers around the doll''s neck strongly still they became a fist. All the maids lowered their heads and none of them dared to make a slight noise. "Pack up your stuff and get lost!" After Bet said those words, he was about to leave. When Wendy heard that, she got panicked. "No. Mr. Shaffer, I know it''s my fault. I should never have taken the gift that you gave to Mrs. Shaffer. Please don''t ask me to leave since I have been taking care of Mrs. Shaffer for so long. Mr. Shaffer, I am begging you! Please." Wendy bowed her head to apologize. She almost teared since she was so panicked. Catalina, who was busy arranging the dolls in the room heard some sounds from the bridge. She pushed the wooden window open to take a look. Then, she was stunned. "Why is Bet there?" "What happened to Wendy? Why is she crying?" Catalina seemed to understand something suddenly and ran outside. "What''s wrong?" After a while, she was in front of the two of them. "Mrs. Shaffer!" As soon as Wendy saw Catalina, she seemed to have seen a savior. She quickly took Catalina''s hand and said with tears in her eyes, "Mrs. Shaffer, please talk to Mr. Shaffer. Please ask him not to fire me..." "Fire you?" Catalina frowned and looked at Bet very unhappily. Bet put his hands behind his back, raised his chin slightly, and stood aside coldly and arrogantly. Catalina asked, "What did Wendy do that offended you?" Bet nced at her coldly from his side with his lips closed tightly, as if they were sealed. Wendy secretly tugged at Catalina''s sleeve and pointed to the ugly doll hidden behind Bet. She found that he was mad at Wendy because of that doll. Catalina was speechless. She couldn''t believe that a man could be so childish and even more childish than a five years old kid! Catalina said, "I gave the doll to Wendy on my own initiative. It has nothing to do with her. If you are unhappy with it, you shoulde at me!" Bet twitched his eyebrows and asked in a gloomy voice, "You just give away my gift to others so casually?" "Didn''t you give me a lot of dolls? There are so many dolls in my room that I can hardly store all of them. Since Wendy is here, I just pick one and give it to her. Anyways, I have so many dolls. It doesn''t matter if I give her one of them." "It doesn''t matter?" Bet was furious. He raised the doll in his hand and asked her domineeringly, "Why did you choose this one to give her out of so many other dolls?" "Because it''s ugly." Catalina answered without a second thought. Then, she added, "It is the ugliest and least eye-catching doll among the bunch of dolls. Moreover, its sewing is really rough and its face is very funny. I don''t fancy it..." However, before Catalina could finish herins, Bet turned around and threw that ugly doll in his hand into theke. He threw it like it was rubbish. "It''s me who asks for the humiliation!" After he gloomily made such a statement, he left without much emotion. The ambiance became awkward. Catalina couldn''t help shivering but she wondered the reason. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "What...What does he mean?" "Why does he sound like there is something else?" Wendy said timidly, "Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer seems to be really angry and none of us have seen him being that terrifying before." Catalina strongly agreed with her. "But, why?" She walked to the bridge and looked at the ugly doll floating on theke. Her beautiful eyebrows frowned tightly and said, "Just for such an ugly doll? Seriously? He isn''t that immature. Isn''t he?" Catalina failed to find the true reason. Wendy came up with a bold idea, "What if... That ugly doll was handmade by Mr. Shaffer for you?" "What are you talking about?" Catalina immediately vetoed Wendy''s unbelievable thought and said, "How is it possible? Bet made a doll for me? Will you believe it?" Wendy shook her head again and again. No one would believe that. Who was he? He was the future helm of the Shaffer Group. He was so powerful. He could easily manipte the entire Lubrain economy. How could such a superior man be willing to sew a doll for a woman? Furthermore, that woman was Catalina, whom he hated the most. How could it be possible? Catalina couldn''t convince herself to believe that, but she had to admit that Wendy''s words seemed to be a wake-up call to her. Those words were echoing in her mind over and over again... "Why don''t we find a way to pick the doll up? Although it is unlikely that Mr. Shaffer made the doll himself. But, what if it is?" "What if?" "Is there any possibility?" Catalina couldn''t help but ask herself. "Scoop it..." Catalina murmured, "We have to scoop it out." "Okay, I''ll find the tools right away." Wendy acted immediately. Before she left, she didn''t forget to advise Catalina, "I''ll get the doll out, Mrs. Shaffer. Please go back to your room and stay there! You finally get better from your flu and I don''t want you to catch a cold again." Wendy went to the tool room to get a. Catalina was still thinking about Wendy''s words. ""What if that ugly doll was handmade by Mr. Shaffer for you?"" Chapter 25 Catalinas Condition Got Worsened Chapter 25 Catalina''s Condition Got Worsened Chapter 25 Catalina''s Condition Got Worsened "That''s impossible. Impossible..." Catalina quickly denied her thought. In the next second, she walked to the edge of theke and walked down the steps. She waved her hand into theke and tried to make the ugly doll move in her direction following the water''s movement. It was cold winter. The temperature of the water was cold. Within a few seconds, Catalina''s hands turned red due to the coldness. However, she didn''t seem to feel the coldness at that moment. She didn''t even care if the water was sshing on her. She just couldn''t wait to get the doll back. When Wendy rushed back with the tools, Catalina had already sessfully salvaged the ugly doll from the water. She went back to the room with the wet ugly doll in her arms. "Mrs. Shaffer, you''re soaked!" Wendy was concerned about her. "I''m fine." Catalina was looking for a hair dryer as soon as she returned to her room. "Stop drying it up. Why don''t you just change your clothes?" Wendy naively thought that she wanted to dry the clothes on her body. "I''m fine. Let''s dry it first!" Catalina turned on the hair dryer and blew on the ugly doll while saying, "It needs to bepletely dried. Otherwise, it will get mildewed within a few days." Seeing how Catalina was taking care of it carefully, Wendy smiled gratifiedly, "I just see how you fight with Mr. Shaffer all the time, and I thought you really didn''t care about each other!" Catalina stopped blowing the doll when she heard those words. She was in a trance for a while. Then, she heard Wendy continue, "Look, a rag doll reveals the feelings between you two." "Our feelings?" Catalina smiled awkwardly and continued to blow the doll in her hand, "What kind of feelings do we have? I don''t have any feelings toward him and he would never feel anything about me too." "Well, you can keep telling yourself that naively. Let me help you to dry it up. You should go to change R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only your clothes now. Otherwise, your flu might get worsened." Wendy took the hair dryer from Catalina and said with a smile, "Mrs. Shaffer, you are right. The doll made by Mr. Shaffer is really ugly." Catalina went inside her dressing room to change her clothes and said, "Don''t you afraid that he might listen to this and ask you to leave again?" Wendy stuck out her tongue yfully and asked with a cheeky face, "Mrs. Shaffer, do you want to name this doll?" Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Catalina blurted out, "The Ugly Doll." "Huh?" Wendy held the doll in one hand and the hair dyer in the other, standing in front of the dressing room, and said, "The Ugly Doll? Are you not afraid that Mr. Shaffer might find out?" "That''s the truth!" Catalina walked out of the dressing room and continued, "It''s ugly." Wendy was speechless. She didn''t know what to say. She couldn''t help but wonder what happened to Mr. Shaffer. ... In the past two days, Catalina''s condition had improved significantly after taking the medicine on time. Unexpectedly, her condition deteriorated rapidly after the incident with the doll during the daytime. At night, she couldn''t stop coughing and her temperature soared to over 104 ¡ãCF. Wendy was terrified. She went to look for Ralph and Dr. Hood hurriedly. After Ralph got the news, he rushed to the Lake Compound immediately. "Mr. Shaffer!" He stood outside the room and greeted Bet respectfully. Inside the room, Bet responded in a deep voice, "What''s the matter?" "Mrs. Shaffer''s condition is getting worse. Wendy said that she is having a high fever and it is going up more than 104 ¡ãCF. Her cough is getting worse. Would you like to go and check her out?" Bet''s movement of turning the pages of the book froze slightly. The next moment, he resumed his movement and said, "No." "But..." "Don''t you hear me?" Bet''s tone suddenly became serious. "Yes." Ralph dared not speak anymore. He bowed his head and left. In fact, Ralph had heard about the ugly doll''s incident today. He remembered all the dolls as they were carefully selected by him, but he didn''t have any impression of that ugly doll. If his assumption was right, that ugly doll was probably made by Mr. Shaffer. He presumed that Mr. Shaffer secretly put his ugly doll into the box of dolls this morning with the excuse that he would like to check on them. So then no one would have noticed it. Unexpectedly, the thoughtless Mrs. Shaffer gave it away to somebody else. No wonder Bet got so angry! Ralph sighed and left the Lake Compound. When he arrived at the door of Catalina''s room, Dr. Hood was just arriving with his medicine case. At the same time, Catalina''s bedroom door was pushed open from the inside, and Wendy ran out crying, "Mr. Hood, Mrs. Shaffer has been soaking in hot water but she still ims that she feels very cold! What should I do? Please hurry up. Come in!" As Wendy was talking, she was leading Dr. Hood into the room. "What''s going on?" Suddenly, a low-pitched questioning voice came from behind. Everyone turned around in surprise. They could see a slender figure, dressed in a long fur coat, approaching them from not far away passing through the wind and snow. Bet looked gloomy. His eyebrows frowned tightly and he looked cold. "Mr. Shaffer!" Everyone greeted him respectfully. Wendy still jittered in her heart when she saw Bet again. She was trembling and dared not to raise her head. "What''s going on inside?" Bet asked Wendy. Wendy answered honestly, "Mrs. Shaffer has beenining about feeling cold just now. I thought it might be better for her to take a hot bath, but she was getting colder after soaking in the bathtub. She couldn''t stop shivering. I think she might have caught a cold when she was trying to get the doll out of theke this afternoon..." Wendy brought up the matter of picking up the doll purposely. But she didn''t know if Mr. Shaffer heard her words. He opened the door expressionlessly and stepped into the room. Wendy followed quickly after him. Ralph and Ryker were about to enter the room too, but they heard Bet say in a gloomy and cold voice from the inside, "All men wait outside for me. No one is allowed to step in without my order, Otherwise, I''ll break his leg!" After Ralph and Ryker looked at each other, they silently took back their feet simultaneously when they were about to step into the room. Bet walked directly to the bathroom without even knocking on the door. He saw Catalina shrink herself into a ball, curled up in the bathtub, and shook uncontrobly. Bet frowned tightly. "It''s cold..." "It''s cold! Hiss..." Although Catalina was soaking in hot water at a constant temperature of 104 ¡ãCF, she felt as if she was in an ice cave, and her lips turned blue. Seeing Bet walking in, she couldn''t think of anything else. Her wet eyes were full of pain, like a wounded elk. She looked at him beggingly, "It''s so...so cold..." She was freezing cold and couldn''t think straight. Under the high fever, she gradually lost consciousness. Bet lowered her eyes. He couldn''t think thoroughly at that moment and didn''t care about the etiquette between different gender. He stepped forward, reached out with both arms, and pulled Catalina out of the water. "Ah!" As soon as Catalina left the bathtub, she cried out of coldness. In the next second, her wet body went straight to the warmest ce, which was his arms. Chapter 26 The Artificial Heater Chapter 26 The Artificial Heater Chapter 26 The Artificial Heater "Towel!" Bet ordered Wendy with Adam''s apple rolling in his throat. Wendy quickly handed over a long bath towel, and Bet wrapped it around Catalina''s body swiftly. Then, he carried her and headed to the bed immediately. "Get into the quilt." Bet grabbed the quilt that was spread out on the bed and wanted to stuff Catalina into it. But Catalina was still hugging him tightly and refused to let go. Her cold body couldn''t stop squeezing into his arms as if that was the only ce that could keep her warm. Bet was at the age at which he would easily drive by his desires. How could he withstand her holding him like that? After a short while, he felt like his whole body was ignited by fire. "Catalina, be good!" Hemanded her in a deep voice. His big hand roughly grabbed her two small hands, which were wrapped around his neck. Then, he ignored her resistance and forced her to get into the quilt. He breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he feel rxed and his blood which had frozen started to flow again. However, Catalina, who was in the quilt was not feeling well at all. Her huddled body was shaking uncontrobly. She looked pitiful and helpless. She was feeling so unwell that she was crying like an abused kid. A voice kept admonishing Bet in his heart, "Don''t worry about her. Just let her be! It''s her fault. She asks for it and she deserves it!" In the next second... He lifted the quilt and slipped himself into it uncontrobly. Then, he brought Catalina, who was shivering into his arms gently. As soon as Catalina felt the temperature of his body, her whole body seemed to be attracted by maic force, and she couldn''t wait to burrow into his warm embrace. Bet was speechless. He thought to himself, "Does this girl know what is she doing?" Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "Does she know what kind of risk she is putting herself into with this kind of behavior?" "And what about me?" "What am I doing?" "I let this woman use me as an artificial heater. The woman who treated my gift as garbage this afternoon and gave it to someone else!" Bet''s breath was getting chaotic and warm gradually. In his arms, the soft touch from her deeply stimted all his sensory nerves. He was leaning against the head of the bed, letting Catalina lie on his chest, and he didn''t dare to move. "This damn woman!" Wendy was standing by the side of the bed without saying a word. The scene in front of her was too... She turned around in a hurry, covered her eyes, and didn''t dare to take another look. Her face was blushing. Then, she heard Bet''s deep and hoarse voice instruct her from the back, "Ask Dr. Hood toe in, and the rest stay outside. They aren''t allowed to step in." "Yes!" Wendy took his order and went to call the doctor right away. Ryker entered the door with his medicine case. When he saw the intimate scene on the bed, he blushed and coughed dryly in embarrassment, "Mr. Shaffer." "Examine her now!" Bet used an impatient tone to cover up his awkwardness. His face blushed all the way to his ears. "Yes." Ryker took his order. Bet grabbed Catalina''s hand out of the quilt so that Ryker could check her pulse. The other hand of Bet was tightly wrapping the quilts on the two of them. He was worried that Catalina''s body which was in his arms would be revealed. After Ryker checked Catalina''s pulse, he took her body temperature. "How is she?" Bet asked. "Mrs. Shaffer is weak and couldn''t bear the cold weather. She got better in the past two days but caught a cold again. I''m afraid this time she will need a longer time to recover." "That wasn''t what you said the other day." Bet frowned. "I''m sorry, Mr. Shaffer. I''m ipetent. Please punish me." "Prescribe medicine." Bet was not in the mood to deal with him at that moment. "Yes." Ryker hurriedly brought out the medicine case and prepared a new prescription for Catalina. Then, he ordered Wendy, "Go and get a ss of warm water. Mrs. Shaffer must take this medicine tonight." "Yes." Wendy acted right away ordingly and went to get a ss of warm water. She probed, "Mr. Shaffer, would you like me to feed the medicine to Mrs. Shaffer?" "No." Bet refused lightly and said, "You all can leave now. I will call you if I need you." "Yes!" Wendy and Ryker looked at each other quietly and got what Bet was trying to say. After they left, there was only Bet and Cataline, who was in his arms were left in that huge room. At first, Catalina was still trembling because of the coldness, but as the temperature in Bet''s chest continued to rise, she finally got better. Shey on his chest peacefully like a baby in a swaddle. She fell into a deep sleep. She didn''t know what was going on. She sleptfortably. But what about Bet? In his arms, he could feel that she was very soft, like cotton candy. She was snuggled in Bet''s chest which made him awkward and held up his body stiffly. The fresh and rich milky fragrance on her body seemed to linger around Bet''s nose making him feel like that was a kind of physical and mental torture with every single breath he took. At that moment, he couldn''t help but recall the night when they were cuddling... Memories filled his mind like a tide. His mouth felt parched. He thought that he must be out of his mind to let that girl use him as an artificial heater! It took a lot of effort for Bet to adjust his breath slightly. He lowered his head and look at the girl in his arms. In his deep amber eyes, his pupils dted and he said, "Hello." He was calling her. His voice was low. Catalina, who was in his arms didn''t respond. "Catalina." Bet called her again. He shrugged his shoulders slightly, "Get up and take your medicine." The girl who was lying on his chest moved a little when he shook his shoulders, but there was no further response from her. If Bet hadn''t heard her breathing, he would think that the girl had passed out. Bet had no choice but to give up. He gave up the idea of waking her up. He stretched out his arm from the quilt, took the antipyretic pills on the bedside, and held Catalina in his arms with the other arm. He sat up halfway and asked, "Can you swallow the medicine by yourself?" Catalina, who was lying on his chest responded to him with a frown. The frown seemed to be a sign of unhappiness. "So, you aren''t happy with it?" Bet couldn''t help but rubbed Catalina''s forehead with his bearded chin as revenge and said, "I didn''t get married to you so that you can torture me! Catalina, you better wake up now." Bet''s voice waspletely hoarse. Catalina, who was sleeping soundly ignored him conveniently. Without getting Catalina''s response, Bet was a little embarrassed and finally lost his patience. "I don''t care." Bet forcibly pried her mouth open with his fingers and stuffed the three pills into her mouth. "Swallow it," he ordered. Unexpectedly, Catalina spitted the pill out resistantly. Bet was speechless. He felt that his patience was bottoming out bit by bit. Chapter 27 Mr. Shaffer Forced Her to Take the Medicine Chapter 27 Mr. Shaffer Forced Her to Take the Medicine Chapter 27 Mr. Shaffer Forced Her to Take the Medicine Bet stuffed the pills that she spat out back into her mouth again. Then, he quickly took the water next to her, and forcefully poured it into her mouth. He was rude. Anyone could tell at a nce that Bet had absolutely no experience in taking care of others before that. "Kaff! Kaff! Kaff!" He had poured too much water at once which made Catalina cough a few times in difort. She didn''t swallow the pills and all the water overflowed from the corner of her mouth. Obviously, that wasn''t a good way to feed the medicine. Bet frowned. "Why is it so troublesome?" He stared at Catalina''s red lips which were moving. Then, his Adam''s apple moved. He raised his head and poured the remaining half ss of water into his mouth. The next moment, he grabbed Catalina''s jaw with his long fingers and squeezed her mouth open. He leaned over and sealed Catalina''s lips with his tightly. Bet passed the water to her patiently and slowly. At first, Catalina didn''t respond. But gradually, she seemed to get used to it and began to swallow the water. When it came to thest sip of water, she swallowed the pills as well. The medicine feeding was finallypleted. Bet''s lips still stayed on Catalina''s soft lips, and he didn''t withdraw them in a hurry. He looked at the half-conscious girl in his arms. Suddenly, an impulse took over his rational mind. He closed his eyes, tightened his arm that was on her waist, and held onto the back of her head with another hand domineeringly. He couldn''t help turning the act of feeding the medicine into intense kissing. Catalina opened her eyes drowsily. She didn''t expect to see Bet''s handsome face. His eyes were closed. His thick eyshes covered his lower eyelid like a fan and cast a light shadow. Catalina was slightly puzzled. She was thinking that was a beautiful dream that she was having. If possible, she really hoped that she would live in that dream and never wake up. ... The next day. The sky outside the house just began to get brightened. Catalina''s biological clock had already urged her to wake up from her dream. She opened her eyes bewilderedly. Unexpectedly, the first thing she saw was... A strong and broad chest of a man! Catalina''s eyes widened in fright. When her gaze went further up, she saw a handsome and beautiful face of a man. Catalina''s face flushed instantly and it became so red. "What''s happening?" When did she and Bet... Catalina was so ashamed that she immediately rolled up all the quilts onto her. Then, she moved from Bet''s body and shrank into the corner of the bed. She clenched all of her toes tightly because of embarrassment. They looked pink. "What happened between themst night?" "Why did Bet fall asleep on her bed out of nowhere?" When Catalina was trying to recall, Bet, who was sleeping slowly woke up because of her movement. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Catalina hugging the quilt like a victim, crouching in a corner, and staring at him timidly with a pair of puppy eyes. Those who didn''t know what had happenedst night might think that it was Bet who took advantage of that girl! "What are you doing?" "Why are you looking at me like that?" Bet supported his upper body up by leaning against the bed and looked at her with a little displeasure. When Catalina heard his voice, she wrapped the quilt even tighter around her body. She stared straight at him and used, "You are a recidivist." "What did you say?" Bet thought he had heard her wrongly. It was expected that she wouldn''t thank him for his kind gesturest night for letting her use him as an artificial heater. But, it surprised him that she used him as a recidivist instead. "Otherwise, why don''t you sleep in your own bed? Why did youe to sleep with me, and...look at this..." Catalina was too ashamed to finish thetter part of her sentence. "So, do you think I''m taking advantage of you ?" When Bet was questioning Catalina, he pulled her out of the corner angrily and pressed her back into his arms. Catalina was so anxious and there were beads of sweat dripping from her forehead, "Bet, what are you doing?" Bet ignored her and forcibly stripped the quilt off her body. "Bet!" "You bastard! Stop it!" Catalina''s face flushed. She tried her best to hold the quilt tightly to her chest, but that didn''t work in front of Bet. Her strength could notpete with that man at all. Within a few seconds, the quilt in her arms was thrown away easily by Bet. Catalina had nowhere to hide. Her neck turned red and the redness spread to her face in an instant. She curled up in shame. She was angry and used the other hand to cover Bet''s eyes in a hurry, "Don''t look at me. Close your eyes!" Her eyes were wet with tears because of shamefulness and anger. She looked shy with her delicate face turned pink. Bet sat with his back against the head of the bed and with his eyes covered by Catalina, who was This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. in his arms. He could feel that her palm was soft and warm, and a faint milky fragrance permeated around it. Bet tightened his throat. He suddenly realized that throwing the quilt away was torture to himself! "Damn it!" Bet took a deep breath. In the next second, he pushed her little hand away, pushed her away from his body. Then, he got out of bed and got himself dressed quickly. He didn''t even bother to button up his clothes. After that, he grabbed his suit jacket that fell on the ground and headed outside. The moment the door was mmed shut, he said coldly: "Whatever happenedst night will only happen for once. It will not happen again!" Chapter 28 Love Starts with Losing Ones Mind Chapter 28 Love Starts with Losing One''s Mind Chapter 28 Love Starts with Losing One''s Mind After Bet left, Catalina hugged the quilt and curled up on the bed, with her ten pink toes huddled together. "What does it mean to never do it again?" She muttered to herself, "Clearly, he misbehaved first." "Mrs. Shaffer." Just after Bet left, Wendy pushed the door in. "What are you muttering alone? How are you now? Are you feeling much better today?" Wendy looked in a good mood, and even her voice was raised a lot. "Well...I''m fine..." Catalina was a little embarrassed to look at Wendy. At some time, her cheeks slightly blushed, and she looked like a shy teenage girl. Wendy smiled ambiguously and jokingly said, "With Mr. Shaffer''s personal care, it''s hard for you not to get better!" "Care?" Catalina was puzzled and retorted with a red face, "He upied my bed all night for no reason. Is that also called care?" "How would it be for no reason? Yesterday, you personally invited Mr. Shaffer to bed." "What?!" Catalina''s eyes widened in disbelief. "How is that possible?" she thought. Wendy noticed that something was wrong. "What''s wrong? Mrs. Shaffer, did you forget everything aboutst night?" "...Should I remember something?" Catalina had a premonition that what she had forgotten would not be a good thing. "Seriously? Were you really confused because of the feverst night?" Wendy approached and kindly reminded her, "Did you remember taking a bathst night? You kept shouting cold even though you were bathing in the constant temperature water of 104 ¨H! Later, Mr. Shaffer could only warm you with his own body." Catalina couldn''t believe what she had heard. Wendy said it in a casual tone. However, Catalina was greatly shocked after hearing that. She thought in disbelief, "Warming me up? Using his dignified body? What a joke!" "And..." Catalina was shocked again that something else had also happened. "And what?" she asked. "...And it was you who took the initiative to climb into Mr. Shaffer''s arms. Mr. Shaffer wanted to throw you on the bed, but you refused to let him go and kept crying..." Catalina lost her words again. Her face was flushed greatly, and she felt very embarrassed. As reminded by Wendy, the shameful scenes ofst night rushed out in her mind like a movie. She finally remembered that she had been pestering Bet and crying in his arms. She couldn''t help but curse in her heart, "Damn! I must be really confused because of the fever!" Catalina buried her blushing face in the quilt and wished she could disappear in an instant. She felt that she had lost all her face overnight. "Mrs. Shaffer, in fact, you don''t have to be so shy. After all, you and Mr. Shaffer are husband and wife, so there is nothing wrong with you doing so." Catalina didn''t speak. She thought, "It does make sense. But it was really embarrassing! So, the inexplicable kiss in the dreamst night was also true, right?" Catalina suddenly had an illusion, as if her lips were still stained with Bet''s aroma. The faint aroma of male hormones made her heart beat faster. Her face suddenly reddened more. Catalina patted her face heavily. Meanwhile, she said to herself, "Catalina! Wake up! It''s just an ident..." ... Catalina''s illness this time took her a week to get better. And, this week, Bet seemed to disappear. Anyway, since the day he warmed her, Catalina had never seen him again, except for once. That was three days ago. Catalina passed the ancient bridge and was ready to go out to the hospital when she happened to meet Bet who came back from outside. She was going to say hello to him in a casual way. However, Bet totally ignored her and passed her by. Without a pause for a moment, he went into Lake Compound with a cold face,pletely treating her as the air. For a moment, Catalina''s wooing words got stuck in her throat. After a few seconds, she swallowed them back. The atmosphere was really awkward. Finally, Wendy came up tofort her, "Mrs. Shaffer, don''t be sad. Maybe Mr. Shaffer didn''t see you at all!" "...Is he blind?" After all, Catalina stood right in front of Bet just now, so it was impossible that he didn''t see her. Catalina was sure that he just pretended not to see her. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "Forget it. Just ignore me! I don''t care!" Catalinaforted herself and brushed away the heavy sense of loss in her heart. She said to herself in her heart, "It''s good that he ignores me. After all, his warming me up that night was really embarrassing. Therefore, it''s good to pretend not to see each other.". "Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer seems to be angry with you. Do you think so?" "Angry? How did I offend him again? As for that night, didn''t he do that willingly atst?" The more Catalina said, the more guilty she became. She then added with a blush, "Besides, even if he was forced to do that, he''s a man. He could not have suffered much from such a thing, could he? Does he really have to be so stingy?" Wendy was speechless and reminded Catalina, who was slow to respond, "It''s definitely not about what happened that night! Mr. Shaffer is angry about that ugly doll." "What?" "Mrs. Shaffer, think about it. If that ugly doll is really sewn by Mr. Shaffer for you..." "Impossible!" Catalina kept shaking her head. "Bet would never do such a thing unless he lost his mind." "But doesn''t love start with losing one''s mind?" "... Love?" Catalina looked at Wendy in horror. Then she chuckled and gently patted Wendy on the forehead. "I think you''ve lost your mind. With such a good imagination, you should go write a romance novel!" Wendy was speechless again. "Well, after all, the onlooker sees the game best!" she thought. ... One day, Catalina had just got off work. Suddenly, the mobile phone in her pocket rang. The call was from her aunt. "Lina, hurry to the hospital! Today, your crazy stepmother came to the hospital again to cause trouble, and I don''t know what nonsense she said to your grandmother. Your grandmother was so angry that she was almost sent to the emergency room again. Fortunately, she''s fine, but she''s crying now! I asked her what was wrong, but she didn''t say a word to me. She only asked me to call you here. Come and have a look!" "OK, I will go there right away!" Catalina hung up in worry. Not daring to dy for a moment, she grabbed her backpack and ran out. A bad feeling suddenly rose in her heart. She thought, "Elle wishes my grandmother to die every day, so she and her daughter can inherit the property left by my mother in the name of my father. So, presumably, she told Grandma that I broke up with Aaron!" All the way, Catalina was thinking about the proper way to deal with her grandmother. When Catalina arrived at the hospital, she saw her grandmother, Maggie Nash, lying in bed with an oxygen tube inserted. She almost burst into tears. "Grandma!" Catalina stepped forward. Her aunt, by the bedside, looked at Catalina as if she saw a savior. "You''re finally here. Hurry up and persuade your grandmother to stop worrying. It''s not good for her health." Catalina''s uncle and aunt were honest people in the countryside. Although they were poor and could not afford to pay for Maggie''s treatment, they cared for her wholeheartedly and never showed any disdain or reluctance. "Grandma, what happened?" Catalina looked at Maggie, who was breathing faintly, and her tears instantly trickled down her face. Chapter 29 The Truth Chapter 29 The Truth Chapter 29 The Truth Maggie held Catalina''s hand tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Lina, tell me honestly, what Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. happened between you and Aaron? Also, where did you get the money for my surgery? Elle said that you...you betrayed Aaron on the wedding day. She also said that my surgery fee was got by you selling yourself to an old man who is not much younger than me. I don''t believe it! I don''t believe a word that woman said. My Lina can''t be such a person! So, Lina, tell me the truth! Tell me that you didn''t betray Aaron, and you didn''t marry an old man to exchange money for my treatment, right?" Maggie''s words made Catalina cry bitterly. She was overjoyed that there was still someone in the world willing to believe that she was a good girl. Catalina was so moved that she hugged Maggie and said, "Grandma, I assure you that I never betrayed Aaron, nor sold myself to an old man. Those were made up by Elle to irritate you. If you are angry, you will fall into her trap." Maggie stopped crying and smiled. She patted Catalina on the back with satisfaction. "I believe you. You are a good granddaughter raised by me, the best one." Catalina also smiled and withdrew from Maggie''s arms. Maggie was still holding her hand, and her eyes darkened a little. "So, did you and Aaron really break up?" Catalina, like a child who made a mistake, sat up straight and said, "Grandma, I don''t want to hide it from you anymore. Aaron and I really broke up on the wedding day..." "Why? Is Aaron not good?" "No, he is not. He is not nice to your granddaughter." As Catalina thought of all the humiliations she suffered on the wedding day, her eyes immediately turned red again. However, she soon stopped crying and smiled. "But all this is over, because..." "Because what?" Catalina didn''t want to hide it from Maggie anymore, so she summoned the courage to tell the truth, "Because I am married again." "What did you say?" Maggie suddenly got angry. "Ridiculous! Who did you marry again? Is it really the old man Elle said?" Catalina''s aunt, who had been sitting on one side and silent, was also startled by her words. She immediately got up and said, "Lina, what nonsense are you talking about? Don''t irritate your grandmother again." "Grandma, don''t be angry. Listen to me first." Catalina hurriedly soothed Maggie and tenderly stroked her chest. "I am married, but my husband is not the old man they said. In fact, you know my husband. You liked him very much back then!" "Really? Who is he?" Maggie''s mood finally eased a bit, and she was also aroused by Catalina. "He''s the person...you used to ask me to invite him to dinner at home. You often praised him as a good kid and said that if anyone married him in the future, it would be a blessing. Do you remember all this?" asked Catalina expectantly. As she spoke, Catalina was lying on the bedside, blushing. When she was a student, Bet often went to Maggie''s house in the countryside to look for her. Maggie blinked and asked in surprise, "Is the person you talked about Bet?" Catalina blushed and nodded slightly. "Really?" Maggie was instantly delighted and shook Catalina''s little hand excitedly. "Did you really marry Bet? You didn''t lie to make me happy, did you?" "Grandma, I promise you that every word I said this time is true." "I don''t believe it." Maggie pretended to be suspicious and threw off Catalina''s small hand. "If you really married Bet, then you should bring him to see me. I won''t believe what you said until I see him." Catalina didn''t expect to hear that. She felt that she had got herself into trouble. "Grandma, I really didn''t lie to you. It''s not impossible to bring him to see you. It''s just that, you know, he''s no ordinary man, is he? He is always busy, and I''m afraid he can''t spare any time..." "Your grandmother is his grandmother. Why would he have no time to see me? Doesn''t he have any filial piety? If not, I really need to think about whether this man is worthy of my granddaughter''s lifelong Catalina fell silent. After all, she was really unable to refute Maggie''s words. Catalina''s aunt also persuaded, "Your grandmother is right. Since you are married, you two are naturally family. You don''t have to hide him from us. Bring him to us to have a look, so that your grandmother can put her heart at ease, right?" "Yes..." Catalina had to agree helplessly. ... Sitting on the bus home, Catalina was full of thoughts about how to persuade Bet to visit Maggie with her and y a love drama with her. But in fact, she felt this was probably an impossible task. After all, Bet was still angry. Catalina was a little discouraged. She leaned her head against the window and looked at the bustle and fleeting night scene outside the window. Suddenly, the gate of memory opened again, and she seemed to return to that year. Then she saw the boy and the girl in her memory. It was the summer vacation of one year. Catalina spent the vacation at Maggie''s house in the countryside. During the summer vacation for more than a month, she didn''t see Bet, nor did she have any contact with him, for she did not have a mobile phone. Although there was andline at Maggie''s house, she was too timid to call him. She had never dared to call Bet, although she had memorized his mobile phone number. Every time Catalina picked up the telephone handset, she would hang up in a hurry, afraid of being recognized by Bet. At that time, she was like a thief hiding in the dark, coveting those treasures that never belonged to her. Catalina still remembered that one day when the sun was burning, she and several of her friends were ying skip-rope at the door of Maggie''s house in the hot sun. "Catalina!" When she was in high excitement, she suddenly heard someone call her, "Someone is looking for you!" Catalina heard it, but she yed on a little longer before she stopped. When she looked back, she saw a familiar figure. It was Bet. It was the boy she hadn''t seen for a whole summer vacation. He was standing in the hot sun, looking at her with a frown. In the sun, she and her friends were tanned, sweaty, and untidy. However, Bet''s skin was clean, his shirt was white, and his forehead was not messy at all, although the sweat had stained his bangs. On the contrary, it added some wildness to him. As soon as Bet appeared, he attracted the attention of all the girls present. Catalina was stunned. She stared at the boy who was out of tune with them in the hot sun. After an unknown period of time, a boy of her friends came up and tugged at her ponytail. "Lina, why are you standing still here?" After hearing that, Catalina finally snapped back to her senses. However, under the sun, boy Bet''s face sank, and he said, "Come here." Habitually, he used amanding tone. After giving the order, he turned around and walked outside. Chapter 30 Bennetts Diary Chapter 30 Bet''s Diary Chapter 30 Bet''s Diary Catalina trotted after him, but after a few steps, she suddenly ran back and dashed into the house. At the fastest speed, she washed her face in a hurry and then looked back and forth in the mirror a few times. After confirming that her face was clean, Catalina turned and ran out again. When she came panting up to Bet, he was already waiting for her under a thick locust tree. His face was even darker than when he came. Catalina didn''t know what he was doing here, but she felt that it looked like he was going to question her. "Could it be that he knows that the person who called him and hung up is me?" she thought. Catalina nervously rubbed her hands and approached him. Just as she wanted to ask Bet, he asked, "Who is he?" Catalina was stunned. "What?" With a long face, Bet stared straight into her eyes. "The boy who tugged at your hair just now." "Oh, he! His name is Zavier Duffy. He is..." "I mean, what is the rtionship between you two?" Bet interrupted her impatiently. Catalina did not understand his intention, but she still told him truthfully, "He is my cousin. What''s wrong?" "Cousin?" Bet raised his eyebrows. His tense shoulders rxed in an instant, and his face quickly softened considerably. "Got it." After that, he said nothing more. Catalina could only take the initiative to ask him, "Why are you here?" As soon as she asked so, Bet''s face, which had just softened, immediately turned ck again. He red at Catalina fiercely and then quickly stuffed a notebook into her hand. "It''s really troublesome without a mobile phone!" After saying that, he turned around and left. Bet left with no reluctance and without even looking back. However, as he left, he added, "If you dare to show it to anyone, I''ll kill you!" Catalina didn''t say anything. She stared at the small notebook that suddenly appeared in her hand and was stunned for a moment. She opened the notebook. To her surprise, it was Bet''s holiday diary. Diary 1: It was sunny. Today, I went to theke with my brother, and we caught three fish, one small and two big. Fishing is boring. Diary 2: It was also sunny. Today, I was forced to go camping with my mom, but my mom loved it. She and her friends had a barbecue together and suggested that I sing to them to set the atmosphere up, but I refused. I hate singing, especially in front of people. I think the person who stands in the middle performing looks like a fool. Camping is boring. Diary 3, Diary 4, Diary 5... All of them were about Bet''s daily events, recording his dull life every day. At the end of each diary, he ended up with the same adjective, which was boring. Bet wrote about every bit of his daily life, which not even had the basic ups and downs, but Catalina found fun in those lines and saw the real and vivid Bet in his holiday life. The more she read, the more interested she became. As she read, she suddenlyughed. When she came to think of it, however, she did not even know what part of the diary was amusing enough to make herugh. All she knew was that she was smiling as she read every word he had written. The dazzling night scene became blurred bit by bit in front of Catalina''s eyes. She raised her hand to touch her face and suddenly found that her eyes were already wet. Catalina retreated from her memory, but she couldn''t help asking herself, "How did he and I change from green and naive to such a situation in just a few years?" ... At the Sophora Vi. Catalina held her head with one hand and looked at the ugly doll sitting on the bedside table, worried. Suddenly, Wendy pushed the door in. Catalina immediately raised her head. "Is he back?" Wendy shook her head. "Not yet..." "It''s sote now. Why hasn''t hee back?" Catalina changed her posture and held her chin with both hands, her eyelids drooping. She was a little sleepy. It was past twelve o''clock, and her biological clock was already ticking. "Mrs. Shaffer, why don''t you go to bed first? I think you are exhausted, and you''ve just recovered!" "Never mind, I''d better wait for him in the living room!" Wendy didn''t stop her. Catalina got up, wrapped herself in a long cotton-padded jacket, and went out of the bedroom. Aftering out of the thermostatic bedroom and passing the antique wooden bridge, Catalina returned to the main living room at the fastest speed. "It''s so cold!" She stood in the doorway and stamped her feet for a few seconds. Then she patted the snowkes off her shoulders and breathed a few times on her palms. After all that, she finally felt much warmer. "Mrs. Shaffer, why haven''t you rested yet?" Ralph was surprised to see her. "Ralph, are you waiting for Bet?" Catalina took off her cotton-padded jacket. "Yes." Ralph helped her hang the jacket on the hanger in the doorway. "Did he say when he woulde back?" "Mrs. Shaffer, are you also waiting for Mr. Shaffer?" "Well...You can say that!" "Mr. Shaffer is not sure when he will return." "Okay..." Catalina thought for a while and made up her mind. "Ralph, what about you going to rest first? I''ll wait for him here for you!" "Can I?" "Of course. I won''t go to sleep until hees back." Catalina made such a decision because she wanted to ask Bet for help. Ralph hesitated for a while and finally nodded. "OK, then thank you, Mrs. Shaffer." In fact, what he was thinking was that if Bet came back, it would be embarrassing for him to stay there. Therefore, he decided to leave there early. Ralph left, leaving Catalina alone to wait for Bet in the living room. The firewood in the hearth was burning noisily. Catalina was so bored that she added some dry firewood to it. The mes scurried up, making Catalina warm and sleepy. In just a moment, shey on the sofa and fell asleep. While she slept, the hours slipped by... This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ... Soon, it was 3 a.m. When Bet came back, the lights in the Sophora Vi were all off. He was surprised that Ralph was not waiting for him this time. Bet took off his windbreaker, which was wet and cold,id itzily on his arm, and pushed the door in. Then he changed his shoes. After that, he touched the light switch on the wall with a big hand and was about to turn on the light. "Bet?" Suddenly, in the darkness, a small head emerged from behind the sofa. Bet was stunned. "Is that you, Bet?" Catalina put her head on the back of the sofa and asked the tall figure standing at the door with some sleepiness. Her eyes were narrowed, unable to open. In the dim light, Bet was stunned for half a second. Then he slightly raised his sharp eyebrows, and his hand fell on the light switch unconsciously dropped. His deep, amber eyes were tinged with some emotions. However, they soon disappeared, and his eyes turned cold as usual. "Why don''t you turn on the light?" Catalina tilted her head and asked Bet. With one hand in his suit trousers pocket and his legs in ce, Bet looked at her, who was lying on the sofa, and asked coldly, "What are you doing here?" Catalina slid down from the sofa. "I''m waiting for you!" In the darkness, she trotted in the direction of Bet with her bare feet and a confused head. The space between Bet''s eyebrows twitched instantly. "Catalina, stop there!" He shouted in a low voice and quickly pressed the light switch on the wall. However, it was toote. Chapter 31 Catalina Is Angry Chapter 31 Catalina Is Angry Chapter 31 Catalina Is Angry What happened to Catalina next was exactly what he had expected. With a bang, she bumped into the stone sculpture in front. Catalina immediately let out a cry in pain. She stooped and covered her pelvis being hit. Her tears almost burst out. Apparently, it hurt a lot. "Are you an idiot?" Bet came up, threw his windbreaker on the sofa, and held Catalina''s trembling shoulders with both hands. "Where did it hit?" Catalina''s face was pale. It hurt so much that she could not speak at all. Her eyes were wet and covered with ayer of painful tears. Bet was furious and said, "Over these few years, you have only grown in your temper, but not your IQ, right?" With a sullen face, he rebuked Catalina. Meanwhile, he reached out his long arm and pulled Catalina, who couldn''t straighten up at all, up from the ground. Catalina was startled. As soon as she fell into his arms, her pale face turned red. "...You don''t have to be so mean when scolding me, do you?" Catalina''s heart was pounding. Bet didn''t speak. His face was still sullen. He didn''t even spare a nce at her. Catalina felt that he seemed to be angry. She thought, "But what is he angry about? Is it still about that ugly doll?" Catalina wasn''t sure, but she didn''t dare to ask, for fear that she would identally infuriate him again. Bet carried her to the sofa. Then he turned his back, took out his mobile phone, and made a call. Catalina didn''t know who he was calling. She just doubted whether the person at the end of the phone would answer his call thiste at night. Catalina rubbed her pelvis silently. Her facial features huddled together because of pain. "Damn. I suspect that my pelvis was cracked by myself, but I''m embarrassed to check it in front of Bet," she thought. As she was thinking, Bet suddenly said in a low voice, "Ryker." Catalina froze. She said to herself in her heart, "Dr. Hood?! Why would he call a doctor at three in the morning? What does he want to do? Could it be that he is asking Dr. Hood to check my pelvis?" Catalina thought that Bet was unlikely to do such a thing. "Come to Sophora Vi. I''ll wait for you in the main living room." "Who is sick? No one." Bet turned around and nced coldly at Catalina, who was looking up at him in confusion. "I just want you toe and check someone''s brain." Catalina was speechless for a moment. After hearing that, she was finally sure that Bet was really calling Ryker for her. However, he was not calling Ryker to check her pelvis. Instead, he was calling him to check her brain. Catalina hadn''t expected that. She was angry. Enduring the pain, she got up. While Bet didn''t notice, she grabbed his mobile phone from behind and said, "Dr. Hood, I''m sorry to bother your rest sote. Just continue to sleep! Nothing happened here. It''s all right! Yes, he''s just joking! OK, goodbye." After hanging up, Catalina was finally relieved. When she looked back, however, she saw Bet staring at her gloomily, as if about to eat her alive. Catalina''s neck shrank in fright, and she retreated back into the sofa. Bet pursed his lips tightly and did not speak. Catalina didn''t dare to look at him. She stared at her ten toes with her head down and didn''t dare to say anything. Finally, unexpectedly, Bet took the lead in breaking the silence. "Where did the stone sculpture hit you?" he asked. He had calmed down, but he was still angry. "It...It hit my waist." "Lift up your clothes." "What?" "Just do as I said! Hurry up!" Bet had clearly lost all patience. "No... No, I''ll let Wendy..." "Do you want me to do it myself?" "No, I mean, you are a man, and I''m a woman. Even if you''re not shy, I''m shy!" Catalina''s face turned red. She pressed hard on the hem of her upper clothes with both hands, for fear that Bet would ignore her unwillingness. Bet suddenly leaned down, his cold face approached her flushed face, and pinched her chin with his slender fingers. "Which part of you that I haven''t seen before?" "You..." Catalina''s small face flushed even more, and she said angrily, "You hooligan!" She stuck out a foot and wanted to kick him. Bet, however, was quick of eye and deft of hand. He grasped her ankle with a big hand. His deep amber eyes darkened instantly. Catalina was shocked. She was in a panic. The redness on her face spread to her neck, and even her breath waspletely getting hectic. Her ankle was controlled by Bet''s rough palm. For a moment, it seemed as if there were a hundred volts of electricity flowing through her skin and then reaching her heart. Catalina didn''t know what to do for a moment. Her foot struggled in his palm, and she said, "Let go of me quickly..." All her ten fair toes were flushed. Bet stared at her for a moment. The next second, he quickly lifted the hem of her clothes and nced at the ce where she had been hit. Then he immediately dropped the hem and released his hand. After a moment, he stood up as if nothing had happened. The darkness at the bottom of his eyes had faded, and the usual indifference had resumed on his face. He put both hands in his pockets and looked down at her. "You''re still quite quick in action. Looks like the stone sculpture didn''t hurt you very badly just now." After saying that, Bet grabbed the windbreaker beside him and left coldly. When Catalina snapped back to her senses from her shyness, he had gone for a while. "Damn!" Catalina patted herself on the forehead. She thought, "I waited for him sote because I wanted to talk with him about visiting Grandma, didn''t I? But what happened? I stayed up all night in vain and even bumped myself in vain. I haven''t mentioned it to him, but he''s already left." Catalina felt that she was really stupid. "I''ve really grown only in my temper, but not my IQ..." she roasted to herself. Thinking that this was Bet''s mockery to her just now, she puffed up her cheeks and scolded with indignation, "He''s the one having great growth in his temper! Does he not know how bad-tempered he is? How dare he mock me like that?" Catalina was a little unhappy. ... The next day. It was the weekend. Catalina woke upter than usual. It was already ten o''clock in the morning when she went to the dining room for breakfast. She was still a little sore from bumping into the stone sculpturest night. Fortunately, she used some medical oil on her own after returning to her bedroom. Otherwise, she was Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. afraid that it would be too painful for her to get out of bed today. When Catalina passed the living room, for some reason, she felt that something was missing. She looked around several times before she finally realized what had happened. What was missing was the stone sculpture that hit her badlyst night. "Ralph, why is the stone sculpture here gone?" Ralph said, "Early in the morning, Mr. Shaffer asked someone to move it away." "Is that so?" Catalina was surprised. She thought in confusion, "Why did Bet ask someone to remove the stone sculpture? Is he really worried about me bumping into it again by ident? But is it possible?" The next second, Ralph perfectly solved the confusion in her heart. "Mr. Shaffer said that he was worried that someone stupid would break it, so he put it in the collection room to keep it." Catalina was speechless for a while. Then she sneered in her heart, "Well, well, well. It turns out that he''s worried about his precious stone sculpture! So, in his mind, I''m less valuable than a stone, right?" Thinking of this, Catalina said angrily, "That''s made of stone. Who can break it?" Catalina was really confused and upset. After all, her pelvis still hurt. "I think so. Who would be so stupid to bump into a stone? I think Mr. Shaffer is worried about something that is unlikely to happen. Maybe he likes that big stone too much." Catalina didn''t know what to say for a moment. After all, she had really bumped into a stonest night. Catalina didn''t even want to have breakfast today because she was too angry to eat anything. Chapter 32 Catalina Tries to Please Bennett Chapter 32 Catalina Tries to Please Bet Chapter 32 Catalina Tries to Please Bet Since the firstmunication failed, Catalina nned to try again. In fact, to be more urate, the firstmunication had already failed before it was conducted. Therefore, Catalina was more cautious this time. She nned to do something that would please Bet. She decided to talk to Bet about the real matter after she had made him happy. ... In the morning, at the Sophora Vi. Outside the window, everything was covered with heavy snow. The branches of the dead trees were covered with ice edges, which were crystal clear. When the wind blew, the branches collided, and the ice edges turned into natural wind chimes, sending out clear and sweet tunes, bringing a little joy to this ordinary morning. In the branches, clusters of pink plums set against the white snow, looking beautiful and holy. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. At the Lake Compound, Bet had already got up and taken a bath. "Come in." He ordered the maids who were waiting at the door on time. Hearing that, the maids bowed their heads one after another. Every two of them walked through the Wheelworth-style circr arch in a row and entered Bet''s bedroom orderly. Among the maids, there was a special person. It was Catalina who hade purposely to please Bet. In order to show her sincerity, she even specially put on Wendy''s uniform. "Good morning, Mr. Shaffer!" The maids greeted Bet in unison. Bet nodded slightly. When they came in, Bet happened to be changing clothes. Catalina couldn''t help ncing at him again. Bet wore a white and simple ssic shirt, and the three buttons under the cor were still unbuttoned casually, revealing arge area of his bronze, sexy chest muscles. On the lower part of his body, a pair of dark trousers of exquisite texture wrapped his legs, and the perfect cutting made his straight legs slenderer and more symmetrical. He stood there like a cypress, tall and strong. At one nce, he seemed to havee from the painting. He walked barefoot on the white Melstead carpet. Probably because the backs of his feet had never been exposed to the sun, his skin was clean and fair, and even his toenails were clipped meticulously to be delicate and round. This man, no matter where he was or what circumstances he was under, would naturally glow and attract everyone''s attention. As a result, Catalina, who had just entered the door, was stunned for a moment. There was no doubt that Bet was the most handsome and perfect man Catalina had ever seen in her life. "Am I handsome?" As Catalina was in a daze appreciating Bet''s charming appearance, she suddenly heard a joking and slightly ironic questioning from the front. Catalina finally snapped back to her senses. Then she finally realized that all the maids except her had already been busy with their duties. She was the only one who clung dazedly to the spot, stunned by Bet''s appearance. She felt very embarrassed. After she was exposed by Bet on the spot, Catalina''s pretty face instantly blushed. Seeing that the maids were all trying to stifle theirughter, Catalina had an impulse to rush out. She bent her head even lower. "Come here." Bet gave a casual order. Catalina raised her head. Bet naturally extended his arm to her in a kingly manner. Catalina was very confused. She didn''t know what Bet wanted to do. Catalina walked over suspiciously. Bet, like an arrogant lion, looked down at her and said, "Button up my sleeves and serve me to dress." Catalina was a little speechless. She thought, "This man really regards himself as a king, doesn''t he? Of course, I don''t want to serve him, but do I have any choice? No!" Seeing that Catalina seemed reluctant, Bet raised his eyebrows a little. "Don''t you want to do it?" He withdrew his arm. "It doesn''t matter. I don''t like forcing others to do anything." Catalina was speechless again. She retorted in her heart, "He doesn''t like to force others? Does he mean that what happened that night was of my willingness? Bullshit!" "Hailee, inform Ralphter and ask him to pack his luggage..." "Stop!" Catalina hurriedly hugged Bet''s strong arm, and she looked like a pendant hanging around his arm. "I didn''t say I didn''t want to do it, did I?" Her small pink mouth pouted aggrievedly. Bet''s eyes suddenly darkened. The sudden soft touch on his arm made him feel a little uneasy. His sexy Adam''s apple slightly moved, and he said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Let go of my arm!" Catalina finally realized that her movements were too intimate. She blushed and quickly released her hand. "Sorry, I didn''t mean it." She whispered an apology. Then she grabbed the button iid with the ck gem on Bet''s shirt cuff and tidied it up for him. Today, Catalina was noticeably different than usual. She suddenly became good-tempered and obedient. It was very unusual. However, Bet liked it. He lowered his eyes and looked at her quietly. Catalina''s long ck hair had been tied high in a lovely bun at the back of her head. Some bangs scattered at her temples, which were slightly curly. They draped to her vicle, making her fair neck slenderer and more beautiful. She was dressed in a neat white shirt and a ck knee-length skirt. It was clearly a very simple style of dressing, which was no different from all the maids in the room, but it was she who disyed the sexy beauty of a uniform. Her hot and exquisite figure was shown. She was indeed a beauty. "Put your arms down a little bit. It''s not convenient for me to button for you," Catalina suggested. After all, Bet was really tall. Bet restrained his emotions and deliberately stiffened his face. However, he dropped his arms a bit as she said. The range of his movements was very small, as if he had done it inadvertently. Catalina soon finished buttoning his sleeves for him. "Pick a tie for me." Bet gave an order again. Catalina did as he said. She leaned over her head and looked at the temporary clothes rack. Then her pretty eyebrows furrowed. "There are too many. I don''t know how to choose." She felt that her Decidophobia was about to act up. Bet frowned. "Just take one casually." After all, all his ties were selected by his stylist teamst night, so Bet knew that every tie would be okay. However, Catalina didn''t know that. She looked back and looked at him up and down. "You don''t look like a casual person." "Every one of them will suit me well." Bet walked behind Catalina with bare feet, stretched his arm, and casually picked one tie among over 100 ties. "Normally, clothes make the man, but for me, things are different." Catalina didn''t know what to say for a moment. She thought Bet was really narcissistic. However, she couldn''t retort to him at all. After all, he was charming enough to stand out among ordinary men, even if he was not well dressed. "Tie for me." Bet threw the tie he chose on Catalina''s head. Catalina grabbed it and refused, "I can''t tie well." Bet nced at her with displeasure. "No one is born to be good at it." Catalina lost her words for a while. She really wanted to debunk him. Sheined in her heart, "Can''t he do it himself? Doesn''t he feel embarrassed to ask me to tie for him?" However, Catalina could onlypromise. "Then bend down and stretch your neck a little! I can''t reach it." Bet, who was more than 6 feet in height, was too tall for Catalina, who was only 5.4 feet in height. Bet frowned and looked at Catalina, who was too short to reach his neck. Suddenly, he reached out a long arm and wrapped it around Catalina''s thin waist. The next moment, he easily lifted Catalina from the carpet. He then kicked the plush slippers off her feet. Being suddenly held in the air, Catalina was so scared that her face turned pale. She subconsciously held Bet''s shoulders. "Bet, what are you doing?" Holding her in his arms, Bet turned his back. After a moment, Catalina''s feetnded firmly on Bet''s newly made bed. Bet took her by the waist with his strong arm and looked up at her, still in shock. "Why should I bend down to cooperate with you, a dwarf?" Catalina was not surprised to hear that. After all, that was what the Bet she knew would say. Chapter 33 Bennett Teaches Catalina How to Tie Chapter 33 Bet Teaches Catalina How to Tie Chapter 33 Bet Teaches Catalina How to Tie The sudden intimacy brought a sudden flush to Catalina''s small face. She suddenly thought of the night when they had slept together. She flurried and released her hands from his shoulders, showing a look of trying to escape. However, she loosened her hands too fast, and she was off bnce. As a result, Catalina shook like a tumbler on the bed. Bet, however, was quick of eye and hand. He wrapped his arm around her waist and hugged her. "You''re not only short but also stupid!" "You..." Catalina was extremely upset. Leaning against his hot chest, Catalina felt that even her breathing became hectic. "I''m not short, okay? It''s you that are too much beyond the height range of normal people." Catalina rebutted him with indignation. Meanwhile, she quietly tried to withdraw from Bet''s arms. However, Bet didn''t let go. Seeing her in such a dilemma, he felt that she was a little cute. He was slightly tempted and ordered in a hoarse voice, "Stop rambling and tie for me quickly." Catalina couldn''t break free from him, so she could only lower her head and force herself to calm down and focused on wearing a tie for him. The reality, however, was always against her wishes. Bet''s aura was too strong to be ignored. And the grinding heat in his chest also burned her inch by inch and made her mind a mess. As a result, her movements became more and more clumsy. Bet was never a patient man. Seeing Catalina''s movements getting messier and messier, he frowned and asked her, "What are you doing?" Catalina was aggrieved. "...I''ve told you I''m not good at it." Bet''s jaw tightened, and his face clouded. "Wrap this side around from above." "...Okay." Catalina did it obediently. "Wrap around this side again." Bet was teaching her. Catalina nervously did as he said. "Now wrap around from below." Catalina did so. She felt that it was reallyplicated. "Wrap around the top and put the end through the knot." "OK." Catalina carefully followed his instructions one by one. Bet''s eyes wandered uncontrobly from the tie to the woman close at hand. Since it was hard for Catalina to learn, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed tightly, her big eyes were fixed on the work in hand, and her fair teeth nibbled at her lower lip, looking like she was seriously thinking about the next step. Her fair cheeks were tinged with a blush of shyness, like ripe, sweet, juicy peaches. She was also permeated with a faint fragrance, fresh and pleasant. Bet''s body suddenly tensed up with uneasiness. "Catalina." His Adam''s apple moved, and he called Catalina''s name in a hoarse voice. "What?" Catalina gave a perfunctory answer without raising her head. Her mind was on the tie in her hands all the time. Bet didn''t like the feeling of being ignored. He stretched out his big hand, covered her head from top to bottom, and forcibly lifted her up. Catalina was forced to look up. She red at him a little angrily. "What are you doing?" His palm, like the hoist of a crane, tightly sped her head. Catalina tilted her head and tried to break free, but she failed no matter how hard she tried. "Did you lose your mind today? Or did you get your brain enlightened after being hit that day?" "You are the one losing your mind!" Hearing this, Catalina thought, "What''s wrong with this guy? He had just said I was stupid, but now he said in some way that I was clever. Isn''t he pping himself in the face?" "Suddenly, you behaved like a domestic pet and knew how to please me." Catalina didn''t speak. She felt a little guilty. "You must be up to something." Bet loosened his big hand that was grabbing her head. Catalina pretended to be innocent "Well..." She nced at Bet secretly and saw that his expression was rtively rxed. Catalina thought it was a good opportunity, so she took the courage and told him her real purpose, "Well, you know, my grandmother has been in a bad health condition recently, and she had surgery not only ago. Then the fact that Aaron and I had broken up also reached her ears. In order to appease her mood, I could only tell her about my marriage with you, and then..." "And then what?" "And then she said she wanted me to take you to see her." Catalina uttered the words with great rapidity. After saying that, she lowered her head, put her hands together in front of her forehead, and quickly added, "I also hope you can cooperate with me in performing a love drama in front of my grandmother. I''ll try my best to repay your kindness in the future." "So, you came to please me just to ask me to act a y with you?" Hearing that, Catalina thought, "Wait. Why is his voice suddenly so cold? Besides, why did he emphasize the word ''act''? Isn''t the point that I want to visit grandma together with him?" Catalina raised her head in trepidation. Unexpectedly, she happened to look into Bet''s cold eyes. Like a falcon, he was staring at her coldly. His face, which had just softened, was now frozen. His jaw tensed tightly, making its outline extremely sharp. Catalina panicked and didn''t know how to answer for a moment. "Answer me!" Bet entuated his tone. "...Yes." Catalina answered truthfully. Bet''s amber eyes darkened instantly, and he coldly pulled the tie around his neck out of her palm. "From now on, you are not allowed to step into the Lake Compound without my order!" Catalina was puzzled and wanted to ask why. However, Bet had already turned around and ordered, "Get out!" Catalina stood on the bed, angry. "What''s wrong with you? I think my attitude is pretty good. Besides, back then, my grandmother treated you..." "Get out!" Catalina''s words were coldly cut off by Bet before they could be finished. Catalina was so angry that her chest heaved violently. She felt that she had never seen such a bad-tempered person as Bet before. "Alright, I''ll get out right away! I won''te here again even if you invite me to!" Catalina got out of bed in anger. Without putting on her slippers, she dashed out of the Lake Compound as fast as she could. Meanwhile, she thought, "Did I do any bad things in myst life? Otherwise, why would I suffer from this man again and again in this life? I''m really pissed off!" ... This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. On the weekend. Catalina, carrying a bunch of flowers, entered the hospital alone. She was a little frustrated when she saw the families of the patients around hering to visit in groups. She could guess what Maggie would ask herter. Catalina really did not know how to put her off. She was even more depressed when she recalled that she had infuriated Bet again for no reason She thought, "Looking back, I really can''t figure out what I did wrong. He''s really difficult to please! I can''t see him through at all. Just like when we were kids, I never figured out what he was thinking." Catalina walked to the inpatient department. When passing the nurse station, a familiar nurse took the initiative to greet her, "Lina, I didn''t expect your boyfriend to be so handsome!" "Boyfriend?" Catalina was surprised and confused. "What boyfriend?" "That''s not Lina''s boyfriend. Maggie said it was Lina''s husband." "Husband?" Catalina became more confused as she listened to them. She thought, "What''s going on? Can it be that Bet is here? But how is it possible?" Chapter 34 A Promise Chapter 34 A Promise Chapter 34 A Promise Catalina immediately denied her idea. She said to herself in her heart, "Who is Bet? He had just thrown his temper at me about this a few days ago, so how would he suddenly change his mind? Also, with his status, he would not condescend to visit my grandmother in person, would he? But if it''s not him, who will it be?" "I feel that your handsome husband is familiar. I seem to have seen him somewhere before. Has he been here before?" Hearing this, Catalina was stunned for a moment. "Can it be Aaron?" she thought. Catalina frowned at the possibility. Then she quickened her pace subconsciously. On the one hand, she firmly believed that it was Aaron. She thought maybe he came to apologize because of his guilt. On the other hand, she was still expecting the so-called "boyfriend" to be Bet. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Catalina walked quickly to the ward. When seeing the scene inside, she was stunned for a moment. Except for Maggie in the hospital bed and her aunt who was busy peeling fruit at the bedside, there was no one else. Aaron was not there. Of course, Bet wasn''t there as well. But somehow, Catalina still felt a faint sense of loss. She thought, "What am I thinking? How could I possibly think that the visitor was Bet?" Catalina sneered at her overconfidence in her heart. "Why are you standing still here? Go in." A deep and thick male voice suddenly sounded above Catalina''s head from behind. Catalina was startled. When she looked back, her eyes lit up unconsciously, and her pupils dted. To her surprise, the man standing in front of her was really Bet. Bet held the kettle in one hand and put the other in his trousers pocket. He looked down at her and asked, "What are you looking at? Am I so attractive?" Catalina didn''t speak. She felt that Bet was as conceited as ever. The warm winter sun filtered through the stained-ss windows of the ward and fell on Bet''s tall body, looking like it had draped him in a misty gauze of gold. He was like a god who exuded a natural light. He was noble, arrogant, and dazzling. He was Suddenly, Bet leaned over, bent his finger, and knocked on Catalina''s forehead. "Continue appreciating me after we go home." Catalina shrank her head in shock, and her watery eyes brightened a little. Bet''s finger seemed to have tapped on the pool of her heart. The cid surface of the pool instantly rippled because of him. When she finally calmed down, Bet had already bypassed her and entered the ward with the kettle in his hand. "Lina, what are you doing there? Come in quickly!" Maggie happily greeted Catalina standing at the door. Hearing this, Catalina finally came back to her senses. "Grandma!" She called Maggie in a sweet voice and walked in. However, she was still very suspicious. She thought, "It''s hard to understand why the man who blew me out of the room with a cold face the other day suddenly took the initiative to show up here. What''s more, he even helped Grandma fill the water kettle. This was not what this superior young master would do. Even Aaron would not do such a thing when he came to visit Grandma before." Thinking of this, Catalina couldn''t help ncing at Bet again. At the bedside, Bet leaned over and whispered to Maggie. While he was inquiring after Maggie''s health, he interpreted with great uracy the identity of a grandson-inw. Catalina could see that Maggie was delighted to see him. Her heart was filled with warmth in an instant. At the same time, she felt that Bet''s mind was really hard to ponder. "Come here, Lina. Help peel an apple for Bet." Catalina''s aunt found an excuse to pull Catalina aside and whispered with a smile, "I''m so d to see this, Lina. Bet is the boy who used toe to our house looking for you when you were kids, right? Unexpectedly, he is getting more and more handsome as he grows up. He''s really a man of striking appearance!" The more she looked at Bet, the more she liked him. "Look, he''s way better than your ex-boyfriend! He''s a nice guy. See how happy he coaxed your grandmother. I haven''t seen your grandmother so happy for a long time." Catalina looked back at Maggie who was in the hospital bed. She did not know what Bet had said to Maggie, who kept smiling. Catalina''s aunt added, "Bet has booked a VIP ward for your grandmother. He said that she can move in after the patient living there discharges this afternoon." "What?" Catalina was surprised. "He''s really considerate, isn''t he?" Catalina looked at Bet in amazement. It happened that Bet also turned to look at her. Their eyes met, and Catalina blushed. She immediately looked away and pretended to continue to peel the apple as if nothing had happened. "Lina." Suddenly, Maggie, who was in bed, called her name. "What''s wrong, Grandma?" "Come here. I have something to say to you." "Okay!" Catalina put the almost-peeled apple into the fruit tray, washed her hands, and then walked to Maggie''s bedside. "Grandma." She sat down on the bedside and took Maggie''s hand. She tried to ignore the man standing next to her. Somehow, at that moment, she was shy to look at him. The feeling was so subtle that even she didn''t know why. "What do you want to tell me?" Catalina asked Maggie. Maggie ced Catalina''s hand on one hand, then held out the other to Bet. Catalina was stunned for a moment. Bet was also stunned, and he seemed to hesitate. Catalina knew that Bet had always been serious, even obsessive, about cleanliness. Therefore, she knew that he would not hold hands with others casually. "Grandma, he..." Catalina was about to exin for him, but to her surprise, the next second, Bet took the initiative to reach out and hold Maggie''s hand covered with senile ques. Catalina was taken aback. She was really surprised. She had not expected that he would cooperate with her in acting this y. "I''m so happy today. Even if Death wants to take me away now, I can close my eyes in peace!" Maggie held their hands as she spoke, looking deeply moved. "Grandma, you are talking nonsense again. Didn''t I say that you are not allowed to say such unlucky words again?" Catalina pretended to be angry and refuted Maggie''s words. Bet looked down at her sitting on the bedside. Just because of Maggie''s words, her pretty eyebrows had furrowed tightly, and her eyes were also wet, making her lovable. Bet was slightly stunned and then said to himself in his heart, "Lovable? She? Impossible!" Bet frowned with displeasure. "Okay, I will never say that again." Maggie promised and then said, "But you two also have to promise me that you will love each other forever." As she spoke, Maggie put Catalina and Bet''s hands together tightly. Catalina was startled. Her small hand struggled almost reflexively in Bet''s big one, and she tried to withdraw it. Her small face was quickly flushed. Bet''s hand was actually cold, but as soon as their hands touched, Catalina felt as if she had been burned by a fire, which spread rapidly through her whole body along her palm. Chapter 35 Catalinas Girlish Mind Chapter 35 Catalina''s Girlish Mind Chapter 35 Catalina''s Girlish Mind However, Bet noticed that very quickly and tightly sped Catalina''s small hand that wanted to escape. Meanwhile, he gave her a sharp nce. Seeing that, Catalina finally reacted. She thought, "I almost gave myself away just now. Thanks to Bet, nothing happened." Bet firmly held her small hand, as if afraid that she would run away. "Grandma, please don''t worry. I will take good care of her." After saying that, he turned to stare at Catalina with burning eyes, as if to ignite her. "For a lifetime." Catalina''s heart seemed to have been pierced by something sharp, and it made her wince violently in pain. She thought, "For a lifetime... These words are so familiar. I still remember that when we were kids, the boy in white stood under a century-old locust tree in full blossoms, looked up, and asked me behind him, ''How long will you be with me?'' I, who was naive back then, looked up at the locust blossoms in the air and chuckled, ''As long as you don''t drive me away, I''ll be with you for a lifetime!'' The boy also chuckled with his head still high, ''OK, then let''s be together for a lifetime.'' I can still remember that scene... In the golden sunshine, the locust flowers fell in profusion and sprinkled on the boy''s face. It was the first time I had seen him smile. It was more dazzling than the sun and more beautiful than the R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only locust flowers." As distant memories ovepped with reality, tears almost ran out of Catalina''s eyes. She sneered in her heart, "For a lifetime. What a sweet promise. Unfortunately, there has never been a so-called lifetime between me and Bet! My lifetime promise to him back then was a dream. And now, his lifetime promise to me is just a y." Bet''s promise made Maggie very happy. She held their hands and said with delight, "In fact, when you were kids, I already saw that you two had some feelings for each other." Neither Catalina nor Bet spoke. Catalina felt that a pair of burning eyes were fixed upon her from above. Catalina blushed and tried to exin, "Grandma, we were just little kids at that time, and we didn''t understand these things at all." "I also remember that you two wrote exchange diaries back then. You even hid the diary secretly after I found it!" Maggie exposed Catalina''s girlish mind. "Exchange diaries?" Bet was shocked and looked at Catalina. "Did we do that before?" He was very surprised because, as the party of this matter, he didn''t know that at all. "No, there is no such thing..." Catalina waved her hands hastily, her face flushed with nervousness and guilt. "Grandma remembered it wrong, really!" After saying that, she continued in her heart, "In fact, Grandma did not remember it wrong. After I received Bet''s diary, I secretly wrote in his diary about my daily activities and girlish thoughts of missing him. However, I have only dared to read the diary myself. I never dared to give it to him. If he finds out, I''ll definitely be humiliated by him harshly!" "All right, I remember it wrong. Look at my muddled head. Maybe it''s your cousin''s exchange diary with his little girlfriend!" Maggie had lived a long time, so she naturally knew how to take cues from others, especially from her granddaughter, Catalina. Catalina sighed heavily with relief, "See? As I said, Grandma remembered it wrong. If I really wrote the exchange diary, how could you not know?" Catalina did not know whether Bet believed it or not. Anyway, he didn''t ask about that any further. "Perhaps, in his view, it doesn''t matter whether there is an exchange diary!" she thought. ... Aftering out of the hospital, Vincent immediately handed Bet a piece of sterilized tissue. Bet calmly wiped his hands, and then Vincent handed him a bottle of mini spray. Bet sprayed on himself several times and then casually handed it to Catalina next to him. Catalina was stunned for a moment. Then she waved her hand and refused, "I don''t need it. I don''t have bacteriophobia." Bet said nothing but handed the spray to Vincent behind him. After that, he moved his long legs and stepped into the limousine in front of him. Catalina wanted to follow him in but was stopped by Vincent. "Mrs. Shaffer, please wait a moment." He lifted the bottle of disinfectant spray and carefully sprayed it around Catalina, front and back, up and down. Catalina was speechless. "Didn''t I say that I don''t have bacteriophobia? There is no need to go so far as to do so." "Sorry, Mrs. Shaffer, you may not have bacteriophobia, but Mr. Shaffer does. OK, Mrs. Shaffer, you can get into the car now." Vincent respectfully made a "please" gesture to Catalina. Catalina fell silent. She really didn''t know what to say. She thought, "So, when Bet handed me the disinfectant spray just now, he was not worried about me but worried that I, who was carrying the virus, would infect him? He was even worried about me contaminating his car, right? Fine! That was what Bet would do." Catalina was a little angry, but the thought that Bet had just made Maggie very happy in the ward subsidized all her anger unconsciously. "Forget it, he''s always like this, isn''t he? Therefore, it is not necessary to dispute with him too much," she thought. Catalina got into the car. It was clear that the space in the car was very spacious, but somehow, as soon as Catalina sat in, she felt a strange sense of oppression, which made her gasp for breath. The reason was that the man beside her was too aggressive. His face was cold, his eyes looked straight ahead, and he exuded an unapproachable, dangerous aura. He was like a depressed lion. He was quite different now from the warm man he had just been in the ward. Catalina thought, "This is the real him! It was really incredible that he actually cooperated with me in acting a y just now." Catalina hesitated for a few seconds. Finally, she summoned her courage and said, "Thank you very much today..." "Stop." With an indifferent face, Bet distanced himself from her. "It''s my personal will to visit your grandmother today. It has nothing to do with you." Catalina should have guessed this result long ago. After all, Bet had always treated Maggie well when he was a child. He always said that because his grandmothers were dead, he treated her grandmother as his own. However, things changed after what had happened to Warren, and he went to Gilburgh not longter. Catalina knew that the result might be this, but her heart still ached a little. "But I want to thank you anyway." "What does the exchange diary mean?" Bet suddenly asked. His face grew even colder as he said this. Catalina had not expected that he would suddenly ask about it. Her watery eyes flickered, and she hurriedly looked away, pretending to look out of the window. "Well...Don''t take what Grandma said today seriously." "Which part do you mean?" Bet''s indifferent, deep eyes darkened quickly, and then grew even colder. "The part about you having had a crush on me since you were a little girl? Or the part about Grandma asking us to love each other forever?" "Just don''t take her words seriously, including the part about the exchange diary." Just a second after saying that, Catalina suddenly reacted, and her small face instantly blushed. "Wait, when did I have a crush on you?" She tried to rify. However, her lovely oval face was as red as if it had been painted. Chapter 36 Cheer Mr. Shaffer Up Chapter 36Cheer Mr. ShafferUp Chapter 36 Cheer Mr. Shaffer Up Bet shot her a chilly nce before turning away. The silence in the car was deafening. Catalina''s heart was racing faster and faster. Bet looked displeased, so she assumed they wouldn''t speak to each other again. He surprised her, however, by continuing the conversation a short timeter. "Did you keep your exchange diary for Warren?" Catalina''s face was flushed with surprise as she looked at him. He, too, was looking at her with his head cocked to the side. His eyes were icy and indifferent, but they seemed like ck holes about to devour her. "When did you first fall in love with him?" he asked coldly. After a brief tremble, Catalina''s heart sank. Bet was the one she had loved for so long, so she found the question odd when he asked her when she fell for his brother. His question made her feel pain as if she was being tortured. However, when she noticed he was staring at her, she wondered if she should deny it. She didn''t want Bet to know she loved him, so she pretended Warren was the one she was interested in. Catalina knew that if Bet discovered the truth, he would mock and sarcastically humiliate her as a lunatic who would bite off more than she could chew. Bet interpreted Catalina''s silence as implicit approval. Apparently, she admitted that she had written the diary for Warren and that she loved him. The atmosphere inside the car had turned downbeat and strange. Even though the car was adequately heated, everyone felt like they were in a freezing cavern. Bet was just sitting there, giving off an eerie vibe like an ice sculpture. Vincent nced in the rearview mirror to check on them, but his gaze was met by Bet''s gloomy stare. Fear gripped him, which made him immediately avert his gaze. Vincent quickly nced at Bet, noticing that the two hands resting on his knees were balled into fists. Bet was clearly trying to control his anger, as shown by the bulging veins in the backs of his hands. "Bet is furious! This must be serious!" Vincent thought to himself. *** Since that day, Catalina and Bet had sparked a new cold war. Catalina believed she was innocent because she was unsure how she had offended him again. Everything was fine when they went to see Maggie in the hospital, but Bet lost his cool after they got into the car and talked for a while. Catalina couldn''t figure out what was wrong with him. Someone barged into the room while Catalina was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed and writing a news article on herptop. Wendy mmed the door shut as soon as she barged in, and she looked so scared that she seemed to be followed by a ghost. "What''s wrong?" Catalina asked, puzzled. Wendy appeared as if she had just experienced a devastating shock. "I''m so scared!" Wendy patted her chest to calm herself as she approached the couch. "Mr. Shaffer was venting his rage as I walked past the Lake Compound just now. Ralph was attempting to calm him down, but it didn''t appear to be working. Oh my goodness, this is awful!" It was the first time in her many years of service at Sophora Vi that she had seen Bet be so enraged. Catalina was also taken aback, so she couldn''t help but look out the window at the Lake Compound. Only the white mist on theke was visible to her. "Do you know what made him so angry?" "I''m not sure. But..." "But what?" Wendy leaned in close to Catalina and whispered, "I heard you were the one who pissed off Mr. Shaffer." "Me?" Catalina naively pointed to her nose, "What did I do wrong?" She then asked angrily, "Why are they ming me?" "They say you''re the only one in the family who can irritate Mr. Shaffer like that. Don''t you see how that makes perfect sense? I doubt maybe that''s true." "Stop making excuses! I know you guys are just trying to pin the me on me." "Lina, you really didn''t mess with Mr. Shaffer?" R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "Yeah... maybe?" Catalina began to doubt herself after hearing Wendy''s series of questions. "Is he truly upset about what happened in the hospital? But I didn''t do anything!" she thought to herself. "It seems like you''re having second thoughts. Is that really the truth?" Wendy asked, and she seemed confident in her answer. "I didn''t! I was always sure I was right about everything every time. He''s such an elusive guy! I''ve never figured out what sets him off." Wendy said, shaking her head, "The maids at the Lake Compound appear to be in a bad position. And do you know who is the only one can save them now?" "What? You mean it''s all my fault?" "Catalina, why don''t you go tell Mr. Shaffer to calm down? Please! I know you''re such an angel." "What can I say to calm him down when I''m not sure what''s bothering him? And what makes you think I won''t only make matters worse?" "How do you feel about the difficult situation for the maids working there?" Catalina gave the Lake Compound another nce. She knew that the servants had always had it tough because Bet was difficult to get along with. "Okay, then. I''ll think about it!" After much convincing, Catalina gave in. Even so, she never lost sight of the fact that she had no clue what was wrong with him. It was so confusing that she had no idea what to do, which gave her a headache. **** Catalina had known Bet since they were both young, so she had a rough idea of what he liked to eat. In the evening, she prepared a dozen ravioli for him, filling them with ground beef and cabbage. She dropped the ravioli into the boiling water and scooped them out after a while. Ralph was there the whole time, but he didn''t even have a chance to help her. He said, "Mr. Shaffer has always had a picky pte, especially when it came to ravioli. He asked me to make them years ago, but he didn''t even finished one. He never ate my ravioli again after that. Are you sure Mr. Shaffer will really eat yours?" Bet was really a picky eater. Even Catalina had doubts about how well this would go. She looked at the ravioli sizzling on her te and said, "I can''t guarantee that this will work. Still, I''m going to give it a shot." She had only remembered Bet liking the ravioli she used to make when they were younger. She was willing to take a chance. Ralph bowed to express his gratitude to Catalina. "Catalina, thank you. We''ll never forget the kindness you showed us. Good luck." Catalina was at a loss for words as Ralph made it sound like she was leaving for war. With the ravioli in her hand and a great deal of apprehension, Catalina began her "journey." Ralph saw her off at the bridge. When Catalina entered the Lake Compound, she was greeted by the maids who were waiting on the porch. She "shushed" them to make them stop. They all shut up. Catalina took a few deep breaths to calm herself as she stood in the doorway. It was only then that she summoned the courage to knock on Bet''s door. There was no answer inside. The maids at the door all hung their heads down, not even daring to breathe. They reacted as if a ferocious monster was waiting to snap their necks at any second. Catalina knocked three more times, but no one answered. She suspected that Bet had gone to bed, but then she noticed that the room was still lit. Catalina pushed the door open after giving it some thought. As soon as she walked in, a ss ashtray flew directly at her. Bet yelled angrily, "Who allowed you toe in?" To Be Continued Chapter 37 Bennett Applied Medicine For Her Chapter 37 Bet Applied Medicine For Her Chapter 37 Bet Applied Medicine For Her There was a loud crash as the ashtray shattered on the floor next to Catalina. Catalina''s fair calf was cut and bled by shards of ss. Blood dripped out of the wound like pearls. "Ah!" Catalina groaned from the pain. The blood ran down her ankle and onto the white Persian carpet on the floor. Catalina closed her eyes, realizing she had gotten herself into another jam. "Things have gotten a lot worse!" She thought to herself. "Is that you, Catalina?" Bet asked. He realized at that moment that the person who hade in was Catalina. He set the book he was holding down and asked, "Who gave you the permission toe in? Have you forgotten what I told you before?" He prohibited her from entering the Lake Compound under any circumstances. "I just said that a few days ago! Howe she doesn''t seem to remember what I told her?" He thought to himself. Catalina was in no mood to respond. She fetched a stack of napkins after setting the ravioli on the table. She wiped the blood from the floor with napkins before pressing them against her leg''s wound. Bet frowned as he noticed the wound on her leg. As he rushed over to Catalina, the book in his hand slipped from his grasp. He only saw the cut on her calf after approaching her. "What are you doing?" Bet asked with a frown, fighting the difort he was feeling. She squatted on the carpet, wiping the blood away with paper towels. She was so focused that she forgot about the injury on her leg. Bet thought she was the dumbest person on the. "I''m cleaning up the blood!" Catalina didn''t bother looking up to see Bet''s reaction because she was too busy apologizing and cleaning up the blood on the carpet. "I''m sorry. I know you are a neat freak, but since you''re the one who hurt me in the first ce, you can''t just me me. I''ll figure out how to get rid of the blood." "What is wrong with you? Why do you care so much about this damn carpet? Did you forget about the injury on your leg?" Bet asked, feeling a sh of rage rise within him. He yanked Catalina up to her feet rudely. "How brilliantly white this carpet is! It will leave a stain if I don''t clean it up immediately." Catalina was aware that Bet had been a fastidious person. She knew that if she didn''t clean up the blood, either the carpet or she would end up in hell. Given that the carpet was likely worth more than her father''s house, she hoped that neither would happen. "You don''t have to worry about that. The maids will clean the carpet. " Bet strode into the hall as he carried her in his arms. Catalina was terrified by how intimate they seemed. As he held her, her face flushed. Bet violently threw her onto the sofa. He quickly turned away from her when he noticed the cut on her leg. "Do you need to get Dr. Ryker Hood over here?" he asked with his hands in his suit pockets. "No, that won''t be necessary. It''s just a small wound. There''s no reason to make a big deal out of this." "But it''s a such deep cut!" Bet said with a frown while ring at her. "Why are you talking to me like that? You''re the one who made me get hurt." Catalina put her legs out in front of him to force him to face the truth. Bet frowned and turned away as if he was scared. Catalina realized why he had been talking to her behind her back after recalling his fear of blood. Catalina instantly pulled her leg back. "You don''t have to look at me if you''re scared. By the way, I''ll definitely clean the carpet." "I''m not scared at all!" Bet turned to re at her, but he quickly turned away when he noticed the stinging blood on her leg. Catalina suppressed herughter. "Why do you refuse to admit it? It''s not like it''s something to be embarrassed about." Bet didn''t think it was a big deal until he heard her words. "Do you have a medical kit here?" Catalina approached Bet and looked him in the eyes, "I know how to disinfect wounds and stop the bleeding, so I can take care of the wound myself. You don''t have to worry about me." Bet gave her a quick nce before saying to the maid outside, "Hailee Knight, please bring me the medical kit." Catalina thought Bet looked cute after doing something wrong. "What? What was wrong with me? How could I have thought this elusive man was cute?" She thought to herself. She wondered if she had forgotten the definition of "cute" as Wendy did. Hailee, the maid, quickly brought them the medical kit. Bet, on the other hand, went inside his dressing room. Catalina had no idea what he was up to, but she didn''t mind. She took out the kit and began treating her wound. Bet emerged from the changing room with his hands in his pockets and sunsses on while she sprayed her wounds with antiseptic spray. Catalina couldn''t contain herughter any longer. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Bet immediately became less than pleased. "Why are youughing?" Sheughed as she realized Bet would be so terrified of something that he wouldn''t be able to do anything about it. "Why are you afraid of blood?" Catalina asked, holding back herughter. "It''s none of your business!" Bet replied indifferently. Catalina held back herughter. She shrugged and stopped asking questions, instead lowering her head to concentrate on applying the medicine to her leg. "Ouch!" Catalina winced as the medicine made her wound hurt. Bet''s amber-colored eyes, which were hidden by sunsses, turned serious. He snatched the medicine and cotton balls from Catalina''s grasp and sat in the chair across from her. "Come over here," he said, patting his thigh. Catalina gave him a perplexed look. "I mean your leg!" Bet said impatiently. Catalina was ttered. She gently lifted her foot but hesitated to extend her leg. She felt as if she were on the brink of a dark abyss. "I won''t get out of here alive if I misunderstood his words." Catalina thought to herself. Bet had run out of patience after her long pause. "Are you going to put it here or not?" he asked, frowning. He acted like this was herst chance. "Sure!" Catalina ced her leg on Bet''s thigh with extreme caution. She didn''t even dare to put her leg on his because she was so terrified. Instead, she did her best to keep her leg up. No matter how tired she was, she dared not rest her leg on his. Her dangling leg fell on his leg only after Bet tapped it. Catalina was at a loss for words because she found the whole thing so embarrassing. Catalina rested her cute foot on Bet''s thigh. Catalina ignored the pain in her leg as she felt the heat of his leg burning her through his thin suit pants. To Be Continued Chapter 38 Feeding Mr. Shaffer Raviolis Chapter 38 Feeding Mr. Shaffer Raviolis Chapter 38 Feeding Mr. Shaffer Raviolis Catalina''s small face was red enough to drip blood at any time. But she couldn''t help ncing at him secretly. Busy medicating Catalina, Bet was concentrated with cold thin lips tightened, without saying a word. Catalina was quite nervous. She never thought that Bet would medicate her by himself. For Catalina, only in her dream did such a scene exist. Hardly could it happen in reality. "Okay." Bet''s words pulled her back to reality. "Thank you." Catalina thanked him bashfully, and she retreated her leg from him immediately. The blush on her face spread to the neck. Bet, however, always looked indifferent. He threw the cotton into the bin nearby, and stood up, "Never mind, I''m not here to help you. I just don''t want you to stain my carpet again. After all, you cannot afford it even though you sell yourself." He said and went to the bathroom. Catalina knew that he must have gone to wash and disinfect his hands again. Taking advantage of his absence, Catalina brought in the ravioli she had left on the desk at the entrance. Bet came out of the bathroom, having taken the sunsses off. Seeing the ravioli on the jade coffee table, he frowned. While knowing the answer, he still asked, "What is this?" "Ravioli. Thank you for helping mest time. My grandmother is in a good mood every day. ¡± "Bring it out." Bet sat down on the single sofa nearby and picked up the negotiation book again. Then he nced at Catalina and said indifferently, "You get out, too." Catalina pouted, "You really quit ravioli? But I remember you liked it very much." "That was long ago, you know." Bet''s expression became even colder, and his eyes fell on the book indifferently, "Lacking in knowledge and experience in the past, I thought it was the best delicacies in the world. Butter, being of wide experience, I found that I was particrly ridiculous." Catalina couldn¡¯t understand. How could it be ridiculous for a person to like ravioli? She felt that Bet''s meant more than that. But what did he mean? Catalina couldn''t figure it out. "Why it is ridiculous?" Catalina had no idea what he meant, but at least, apparently she couldn''t agree with this point of view, "I also like ravioli. Although it is indeed very cheap for you, I like it very much." Catalina picked up the bowl of savory ravioli. She spooned it up, eating with satisfaction. Raising her lips, she grinned contentedly, "You see, it''s not ridiculous at all." Bet looked at the girl in front of him, with his heart beating. She smiled innocently and contentedly. Her big eyes seemed to be filled with stars. Such kind of girl ovepped with the na?ve and ignorant girl in his memory. At that time, she was so simple and content, and she would be pleased with only ravioli and a candy. Bet''s deep eyes were filled with ayer ofplication. He dropped the book in his hand, "Did I allow you to eat?" Hearing this, Catalina''s eyes widened. She almost choked on the ravioli she just bit off. She hastily chewed and swallowed, "You said you didn''t want to eat." "When did I say I don''t want to eat?" "Didn''t you just..." Before finishing her words, Catalina suddenly realized that he really didn''t say that, but... "You are fastidious about wording, rascal! What you said just now meant that you refused to eat ravioli. You are jealous of my eating it, childish!" Bet nced at her coldly. Catalina was so frightened that she immediately hunched her shoulders. She kept telling herself that today she was here to express gratitude, so she must not irritate him again. "Then what do you want? How about I cook another bowl of ravioli for you?" Catalina stood up and was ready to leave. Unexpectedly, just as she stepped forward, a big strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. The next second, Catalina was dragged by Bet to sit on hisp. She was much startled with eyes wide open. It was as if her buttocks were on fire, and she was about to jump up and run away, but her waist and hands were bound tightly by Bet. There was simply nowhere for her to escape. Catalina¡¯s eyes met Bet''s. Her blushing face was reflected in Bet¡¯s amber eyes. Catalina''s heart beat like thunder. "What...what do you want?" She spoke with a stammer and couldn''t even breathe smoothly. Bet''s remained calm with a cold look. "Feed me." What? "I..." "Hurry up." Bet was severely impatient. Catalina blushed, "But you have to let go of my hand first, right?" Her two hands were still firmly grabbed by his big hands! Bet''s eyes shed slightly, and he immediately let her go. Catalina''s two small hands were boiling hot. After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally picked up the bowl of ravioli in front of him. Catalina was so nervous that she didn''t dare to look directly at Bet. She spooned a ravioli, and carefully asked, "Do... do you want to wash the spoon first? I''ve used it..." However, before she finished her words, the man in front of her suddenly leaned forward. The ravioli, together with the spoon, was in his mouth. Catalina watched, with her heart pounding, as if it was about to jump out of her chest at any time. Her long eyshes fluttered slightly and her cheeks turned as red as a peach. Did¡­ they kiss indirectly? Wasn''t he a neat freak? Why¡­? Catalina couldn''t help but think of the two nonsensical kisses. Shepressed her lips in embarrassment. She thought since they had kissed before and they just used the same spoon. There¡¯s no need to take on so about it. "It''s bad." Bet concluded with his expression unchanged. Catalina came back to her senses, snorted and said to herself: "You don''t have to say such things to annoy me on purpose. I have tasted it and it tastes pretty good, unless you have a problem with your sense of taste." Bet frowned, "You be glibber in the past few years, but it is not a good thing." "..." Catalina was annoying and amusing at the same time. Whether it was a good thing or not was not up to him. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Chapter 39 Bennett is My Husband Chapter 39 Bet is My Husband Chapter 39 Bet is My Husband Next day, on the 28th floor of the Shaffer Group. "Rat-a-tat" Vincent knocked on the door of the CEO''s office tremblingly. "Come in." A low voice answered from inside. With scalp tightened, Vincent opened the door after taking a deep breath. The reason for being so nervous was that the man inside wasn''t emotionally stable. "Mr. Shaffer." Vincent stepped forward respectfully, sizing up the man in front of him without leaving any trace. He was concentrating on reviewing documents. Because Bet lowered his head, Vincent was not sure what kind of emotions were hidden in the pupils behind his lens. "Say." Bet didn''t lift his head. "Yes." Vincent swallowed nervously, "Well... CCTV''s business interview wants to invite you to..." Before Vincent finished speaking, Bet raised his head. A pair of cold eyes under the lens stared at him, making him instantly feel like he was being watched by the King of Hell. It sends shivers down his spine. Vincent shivered and swallowed, "Yes, I know, Mr. Shaffer never epts interviews, includingtv, so I will reject." "Go." Bet said suddenly. "Ah?" Vincent was stunned, thinking he had heard wrongly. Go?? Was it really "go" that his boss said just now rather than "fuck you"! Bet continued his work with head bowed, and he ordered, "I can spare a quarter of an hour thirty minutester." "Ah! Yes! I will arrange it immediately." Vincent came out of the CEO''s office, still feeling like he was in a dream. What happened? Could it be that the danger alert has been lifted? When did this happen? Last night? Vincent looked back at the closed wooden door behind, still feeling unbelievable. He was really curious that who on earth had such an ability to calm down this furry lion overnight. But on second thought, there would be no one except Mrs. Shaffer of Sophora Vi. Amazing! Vincent quickly took out his mobile phone and sent a messgae to the stagnant work group: The super danger alert on the 28th floor has beenpletely lifted! "Long live!" An excited carnival came from the twenty-seventh floor downstairs. All the employees of Shaffer Group were passing on the message. ***** In staff cafeteria of Sayton Magazine "Wow! Lina, my husband, look at my husband!" Catalina was having meals, when suddenly Emery alongside her excitedly elbowed her. Catalina was elbowed so hard that she almost choked over her food in mouth. When did she have a husband? "Don''t just eat, watch TV!" "What? Why are you so excited?" Catalina followed the direction she pointed, but she was so frightened that she covered her mouth and coughed after seeing the handsome and cold ascetic face on the TV screen. On the TV, there was none other than... Catalina''s husband, Bet! In front of the camera, he wore a navy blue suit, which was of fine texture, without any wrinkles. He had broad shoulders, narrow waist, straight back and a good temperament. He was a man of extraordinary beauty and wore a pair of gold-rimmed sses. He looked capable, calm, but cold and abstinent, making it difficult for one to get close. Also one would be afraid to get close, but couldn''t help but want to. Such image of him was really far from the arrogant and domineering image at home. So that was what he looked like in the workce. Such feeling was exactly the same as the night she saw him for the first time four yearster. Beast in human attire! It was all in disguise. At this time, the host was still introducing him with fluency, "This is the most prestigious and authoritative negotiator in the world, one of the most sessful investors, and the youngest entrepreneur on Forbes Billionaire..." "My husband is the most attractive Mr. Right selected by So Fashion!" Emery added proudly. She held her head on hands, looking at the screen with a nympho face, "Oh my God, my husband is so handsome!" Catalina: "..." Why her call of "husband" sound so strange! "Uh...Emery, why do you call him husband?" "He is my Mr. Right! My super idol! I sleep with his magazines in my arms every day! Don''t you think he is handsome? Don''t you want him to be your husband?" "...haha." Catalina could only return her with an embarrassed, polite smile. Fine! I just want you happy. "It''s boring to talk about this topic with someone who is not a star fan like you." Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Emery frowned at her. Duringmercial break, she got up immediately, "I''m going to bring a bowl of seaweed soup, how about you?" "No, I''m almost done." "Okay, then I''ll bring my own." Themercial ended after Emery left for thirty seconds, and the interview continued. Catalina raised her head and watched seriously. The image of him on the screen was totally different from the young boy he was before. He wasposed, calm, confident, and eloquent. Sure enough, Bet, no matter where he was, was always the most dazzling one. He was shining and attractive. All the people surrounding were overshadowed by him. "What are you watching? Your saliva is dripping out. Hurry up and wipe it off!" Suddenly, there was a joking and annoying voice from above. Immediately, the vacant seat next to Catalina was taken by an uninvited guest. Who else could it be except the mboyant and annoying Mr. Wyatt? Enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road. Catalina never expected that the director of Magazine would have meal in staff canteen. She picked up the te and was about to leave. Unexpectedly, before she stood up, Darnell pressed her shoulders, "What are you afraid of? Can I eat you?" "Stay away from me. There are so many colleagues around watching!" Catalina pped his hand away in disgust. Darnell smirked and didn''t take it seriously, "What''s the matter? Will a woman of hour like you be afraid of gossip?" Catalina of course knew that he was sneering. She cast a contemptuous nce at him, "If you have something to say, please say and leave if you have nothing to do. You are upying my friend''s ce." Just at this time, Emery, who came back with soup, saw Darnell sitting on her seat. She was so frightened that she immediately found an empty seat that was very far away from him. Then she sat down, sipping soup. That posture waspletely like a mouse encountered a cat. A bad conscience is a snake in one''s heart. Satisfied with Emery''s reaction, Darnell shrugged his shoulders, quite proudly, "Your friend has found a better seat." Catalina didn''t feel like talking with him and wanted to leave. But her hand was grabbed by Darnell. Catalina was annoyed. He pulled with her in public with so many colleagues staring at them. It is clear that he wanted to tarnish her reputation on purpose Catalina''s face med with anger, but she had to obey obediently and sat down, "Let go! What do you want to do?" Darnell looked at her flushed little face and thought it was very funny. He threw away Catalina''s soft little hand andid his head down on the desk, looking back at infuriated Catalina, "What? Are you thinking about Ben?" Catalina ignored him and turned her face away. "Okay! Then I will kindly tell you a secret." Chapter 40 He Has a Girlfriend Chapter 40 He Has a Girlfriend Chapter 40 He Has a Girlfriend "I don''t care to know." "But I will say it too." "..." "You know that there has always been a woman in his mind!" After hearing the words, Catalina''s heart almost skipped a beat. Of course she knew about it. Catalina couldn''t help turning around, looking at Darnell. Darnell raised his eyebrows triumphantly, and said in a gloating tone: "But this woman is not you, because she is in Ennd." In Ennd? Catalina''s sensitive heart was stabbed severely. She remembered that when they got married, Bet happened to go to Ennd. She thought he was on a business trip, but now it seems... Maybe, it''s not absolutely correct! "What''s the matter? Are you sad?" Darnell didn''t let go of any subtle expression on Catalina''s face, he smiled, "It is the girl in Ennd who should be sad. She is Ben''s real girlfriend. But finally you are somehow ghost in the machine." Darnell looked up at Bet on the screen, and continued: "Though he seems like a man of abstinence, he actually gave his first time to her when he was a teenager." Catalina blinked and looked stupefied. Teenager? He was already twenty years old when she gave her first time to him. So, the time four years ago was only Catalina''s first time, not Bet''s. Before that, he and that girl he liked had already... Catalina could hardly bear the piercing pain on her heart. However, one sentence of Darnell was already a blow to her. "I thought about it that day, why Ben insisted on marrying you. Andter, I figured it out." Catalina tilted her head and stared at him nkly. "First, he was probably arguing with his beloved woman at that time, so he tried to annoy her. Second..." Darnell deliberately put off a trick, with a wicked smile on the corner of his mouth, "Of course he wants to torture you and abuse you, but it is absolutely impossible for him to like you. His girlfriend is so beautiful. If you want topare with her, you will humiliate yourself!" "Over?" After staring at him coolly, Catalina stood up "squeaky" while keeping herposure. Then she turned her head and left. Seeing the back of Catalina''s leaving gracefully, Darnell frowned and squinted his eyes. What happened? Her reaction waspletely contrary to what he expected! Darnell felt as if he pounded his fist on the cotton. Shit! *** Catalina was in a daze for the whole afternoon, and she didn''t feel better until she went home. "Mrs. Shaffer." "Mrs. Shaffer?" "Huh?" Wendy yelled several times before Catalina recovered herself. Wendy looked at her worriedly, and pointed to her hand Catalina was making tea, "The boiling water is overflowing from the cup, won''t your hand be scalded by it?" "Ah?" Catalina realized btedly. "Hiss" She gasped, put the cup down quickly, and touched her earlobe, "Hoo hoo, it''s so hot." "Come on, let me see, don''t you get yourself scalded?" Wendy came up to make a check. Catalina shook her head, "It''s okay. I''m not so delicate." Wendy blew on Catalina''s hand, "It''s okay. Otherwise, Mr. Shaffer won''t spare my life." Hearing Wendy mention Bet, Catalina''s expression changed slightly. She withdrew her hand and blew it herself. After hesitating for a few seconds, she asked casually, "Wendy, uh... did Bet have a girlfriend before?" Wendy hadn''t expected Catalina would ask this question. She was stunned and asked carefully: "Mrs. Shaffer, why did you ask this suddenly?" Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Wendy''s attitude made Catalina''s eyes darken instantly. She got more certain on the authenticity of this matter. Darnell did not lie to her. "She''s in Ennd?" Catalina took the cup of hot tea and held it in her hand. She curled up on the sofa, staring nkly at the water vapor that kept rising. Even though the heating in the room was turned on sufficiently, her hands and feet were still icy cold. Cold "Mrs. Shaffer, don''t think too much." Wendy didn''t know how tofort her. "They have never broken up, have they?" "I...I, I''m really not sure ..." "So I''m probably the mistress between them." Catalina came to a conclusion. But soon, sheughed at herself again. Mistress? She might not deserve it at all. After all, Bet never loved her. His marrying her, at most, was humiliation and revenge. Moreover, he never thought of staying with her forever. They would be separated sooner orter. It was her. She almost forgot. "Mrs. Shaffer, don''t indulge in wild imaginations. Whether the woman in Ennd is real or not, you are the legal wife of Mr. Shaffer and real hostess of Sophora Vi. How could you be the mistress? Right?" "The legal wife? The real hostess..." Catalina chuckled and blew on the mist in front of her, "I don''t care about these things." To her, these were just traps to disturb her. The ending was that she lost herself and was injured badly in the end. It was like what happened four years ago. "Rat-a-tat " There was a respectful knock on the door. "Who is it?" Wendy asked. "Mrs. Shaffer, it''s me, Hailee." Catalina''s drooping eyshes trembled. He was the servant of the Lake Compound. "Come in." Hailee pushed the door open, "Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer asked me to inform you that he is waiting for you in the restaurant now." "Wait for me?" Catalina was puzzled, "What''s the matter?" "Mr. Shaffer asked you to make raviolis for him, he is hungry..." "..." Wendy was very happy to hear that, "Mrs. Shaffer, look, Mr. Shaffer just likes you very much. He had never eaten night snacks, and he doesn''t like raviolis, even though they are made by Ralph. He just eats what you make for him." Catalina naturally wouldn''t take Wendy''s words seriously. Her first reaction was to reject Bet''s invitation, but she swallowed and changed her mind. If she deliberately rejected, she would appear to be hypocritical. Acting as if nothing had happened, Catalina followed Hailee and got out of the room. Antechamber When Catalina got in antechamber, Bet was sitting in front of the firece, concentrating on a thick foreignnguage book. "Mr. Shaffer, Mrs. Shaffer is here." Hailee stepped forward and reported in a low voice. Bet only said "um" without raising his head, "You can leave." "Yes." Hailee retreated. Catalina went into the kitchen by herself. She skillfully tied up the apron and began to prepare the minced meat. All the ingredients had already prepared for her by head chefs before she came. There was no doubt that these were all the finest and most luxurious ingredients in the world. Even a small piece of meat may be one year''s sry of Catalina. Catalina chopped the meat carefully, not daring to be sloppy. "Ka Ka Ka Ka Ka Ka" The kitchen knife chopped on the chopping board, making a noisy, harsh sound. She chopped quite hard, but she didn''t have enough strength in her hand, and she died in less than half a minute. She changed the other hand. Her wrist was a little tired. Bet sat in the living room, observing from afar. The noise from the cutting board made him frown. Until, he couldn''t stand it anymore finally. He put down the book, got up, and went straight to the kitchen. Chapter 41 Have Dinner with Me Before You Go Chapter 41 Have Dinner with Me Before You Go Chapter 41 Have Dinner with Me Before You Go "What are you doing?" He asked Catalina. There was displeasure in his voice. "I''m chopping up meat." Catalina offered a simple answer without stopping what she was doing. The sound of her chopping meat was quite harsh. Bet stepped forward and impatiently patted the mincer right in front of her. "Do you need me to teach you how to use it?" Catalina finally stopped chopping the meat. "I have to chop up the meat myself so that the ravioli will be more delicious." "Where did you hear such a ridiculous thing?" Bet frowned, not agreeing with her. "My grandma told me that." Catalina continued to chop up the meat with her head down. Bet saw her changed another hand to chop up the meat. He frowned, went to the sink, and washed his hands. Then he wiped them with disinfectant wipes and took the knife from Catalina''s hand naturally. Catalina looked at him in dismay. What was he going to do? Bet curled his fingers around the knife handle and chopped up the meat on the cutting board just as she had just done. But he did it quickly without effort. He did it so easily. Catalina froze. She looked at him in disbelief and her eyes were wide open. Bet looked like he didn''t fit in the kitchen, but to top it off, he was gorgeous! He was wearing a light gray cashmere sweater and a white shirt under it. He was dressing very simply and smartly. He was statuesque and straight in build with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He got a lot of ss and was impably handsome with gold-rimmed sses on as if he was a male model in the magazines. He even looked aristocratic in the kitchen. "What are you looking at?" Bet tapped a finger on Catalina''s forehead and impatiently reminded her to get her head in cooking. "Get the bowl ready." Catalina''s eyshes fluttered lightly, and she finally reacted. Her heart fluttered at his intimate demeanor. She hurriedly took the bowl out of the cupboard to hide her panic. Bet quickly finished chopping up the meat. "Thanks." Catalina thanked him. "You don''t have to thank me." Bet was still standoffish. "I just thought the sound of you chopping meat was too annoying, so I wanted to wrap it up soon." He washed his hands and sterilized them before he walked out of the kitchen. Catalinapressed her lips into a thin line. In fact, she was aware of this even if he did not exin. But she was still surprised by him chopping up the meat himself. Catalina couldn''t help but peek back at him in the living room. He returned to the living room and sat down in front of the firece to continue reading as if nothing had just happened. As expected, he thought her noise disturbed his reading. Catalina, while mixing the minced meat with the seasonings, couldn''t help but wonder what the woman Bet loved looked like. And what charms did she get to win Bet''s heart? Catalina thought she must be perfect! Catalina''s eyes were a little dim. Her heart ached. He was out of her league, so she sweared in her heart to keep her feelings for him under wraps and never let anyone find out about it. ¡­ About half an hour passed. Catalina served a te of steaming ravioli to the table. "Raviolis are ready." Bet put down his book and came over. Catalina took off her apron. "I''m going back to my room to sleep. I''m getting a little sleepy and I have to get up early tomorrow." She made a good excuse for herself to leave. "Sit down." Bet ordered. He pulled out a dining chair and sat down with an expressionless face. "I hate eating alone. Have dinner with me before you go." "I''ll ask Hailee to have dinner with you." With that, Catalina was about to leave. But before she took a step, her wrist was clutched by arge, cold hand. Then he yanked her back hard, and by the time she reacted, she was sitting on Bet''sp. "What are you afraid of?" Bet clutched her with one hand and rested his other hand on the dining table, looking down at her with a grim face. Catalina blushed and her heart started jumping as she was held tightly in his arms. "I''m not afraid." She was anxious to break away from Bet''s arms. She thought the closer she was to him, the more dangerous she was. But instead of releasing her, Bet held her tighter. He tightened his strong arms around her thin waist and lowered his head even further. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. They could feel each other''s breath, and he kept staring at her coldly through the lenses of their sses. "Are you angry with me?" "No." Catalina breathed heavier. With her hands defensively against his chest, she gasped. "Bet, everything''s fine, so why would I be angry with you? You let go of me. We can talk about it, all right " "I''ve just been very nice. I told you to stay, but you''re the one who didn''t listen." Bet scooped a ravioli into his mouth. Then he raised an eyebrow and asked her, "Do you want some?" "No." Catalina hurriedly refused. "You let go of me." "Shut up. You''re very noisy!" Bet''s patience had limits. "Bet!" Catalina found that no matter what she said, he still did not move, so she had to talk tough, "If you don''t let go of me, I''ll bite you." Bet raised his eyebrows and there was an intimidating gleam in his cold eyes. "You try." Catalina was a little afraid of him. But she was more frightened when he was so close to her. It seemed as if he had razor-sharp ws and teeth and could cut her body into dozens of pieces. Catalina was determined, opened her mouth, and bit Bet''s neck. Bet froze at once. He couldn''t help but hold Catalina even tighter. His muscles tensed up tight. Catalina had the illusion that her bones were about to be broken by him at any moment. Did she bite him too hard? Catalina was being soft then. But the next moment, she got brutal and bit him again. Feeling the sudden pain in the neck, Bet couldn''t help gasping. He thoughtfully narrowed his deep eyes, which glistened with gloom. He reached out his long arm and grabbed Catalina''s chin with his broad hand, prying open her mouth with his long fingers. Bet stiffly moved his neck, slightly tilted his head, and looked at her passionately, panting slightly. "You bit my sensitive area intentionally, didn''t you?" His voice was hoarse and charming. His eyes were aze lovingly, as though they could burn through Catalina. Catalina gasped nervously, and her hands were sweaty. "You started this." "Did I?" "Yes!" Catalina''s chest rose and fell violently because she was breathing quickly. Her cheeks flushed. Her misty eyes were fixed on him. She was flustered and terrified as if she was amb to the ughter. Bet''s deep amber eyes were soulful, and his Adam''s apple moved. The next moment he could not help pressing his thin lips against hers. He was going to kiss her. "No." Catalina quickly covered her lip with the back of her hand. Bet kissed her palm. Catalina''s eyshes fluttered, and her heart was racing. She had the illusion that he did not kiss the palm of her hand, but... her heart. Bet''s face sank and his eyes became cold. "Get your hand off your mouth!" He ordered her. He sounded unpleased. "No..." Catalina was breathing fast. She got all flustered. Chapter 42 Do You Like Me Chapter 42 Do You Like Me Chapter 42 Do You Like Me Bet stared at her steadfastly, "Put it down. I am not that patient." Catalina shook her head and moved her head back a little. Her eyes turned red with the grievance, "Why do you insist on kissing me? Do you like me?" Bet pursed his lips tightly and he didn''t speak a word. His gaze fixed on her firmly. Catalina looked serious and said, "Don''t you know that kissing is something to do between lovers? Bet, I don''t like kissing a man that I don''t like. Please respect me!" As soon as Catalina finished talking, Bet''s amber-colored eyes under the sses looked frosty. He moved away Catalina''s arm which was in front of his lips rudely. Then, he grabbed her chin with the other hand, bent down, and kissed her lips forcefully. He didn''t give her any room to escape. "Ugh...Ugh...Ugh..." That wasn''t a kiss. He was biting and gnawing her lips. It seemed to be a punishment! That was painful! Catalina''s eyes filled with tears due to pain and she started to struggle in his arms. But the more she struggled, the more ferocious he became. His chest heaved violently with rage. Bet slowly backed away from Catalina''s lips until he heard her sobbing in his arms. There were some blood drops on their lips. There were tears in her eyes. She was so aggrieved. Was it really that ufortable to be kissed by him? Was it that ufortable till she had to cry? Bet wiped away the blood on his lips and sneered, "It turns out that two people who aren''t in love can kiss too. Do you know why? It''s physiology! So, next time, don''t ask me such a stupid question as whether I like you or not. The only answer for it will be it is impossible for this life!" After Bet finished speaking, he pushed Catalina in his arms away without any mercy. He got up and left indifferently. Leaving Catalina sitting on the ground, full of grievances. And, the bowl of ravioli on the table. Tears poured out of her eyes involuntarily, she quickly wiped them away, sniffed, and stood up. "Bastard!" she cursed. Looking at the steaming bowl of ravioli, the grievance became even stronger, "He was the one who asked for it. But he doesn''t eat it at all..." She was sobbing while sitting down at the table. She took the spoon from the bowl and didn''t care whether Bet had used it just now. Then, she took one bite at a time and started to cry while she was eating. The soup soaked into the wound and she was shivering in pain. Asshole! He gained pleasure in bullying her! But he didn''t know that kind of bullying would only make her sink deeper and deeper into the wrong perception... Catalina, no! That man was something you would never be able to y up to. Furthermore, he just said that he would never fall in love with you in this life. That was only your wishful thinking! Catalina stuffed two big ravioli into her mouth in one gulp. She thought that eating could make her feel happy. But why were there more and more tears gathering in her eyes? ... Since then, Catalina and Bet had be strangers. Even though they lived under the same roof, they were like two parallel lines with no intersecting point. That was good. Catalina felt that keeping a distance like that was more conducive to her protecting herself. Just endured it! She wanted to stay quiet until the day he came to ask her to sign the divorce agreement. Catalina went to work every day as usual. One day. When Catalina arrived at the office, she saw Emery lying in her cubicle, looking down and listless. "What''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Catalina put down her backpack, unwrapped the candy, and put it into her mouth. She asked Emery who was next to her. Emery raised her head, with a sad expression on her face, and said "Lina, my husband cheated..." "Huh?" Catalina was taken aback and unable to react. Her husband? Wasn''t that... "Him!" Emery pointed to the cover of the magazine in her hand. As expected, there was Bet''s handsome and perfect face on the cover. That was Catalina''s husband. But just now Emery said... He cheated? Catalina blinked and forced herself to calm down, "What''s going on?" She pretended to be calm and asked. "Bet has a girlfriend." Catalina didn''t know what to say. She already knew that. But, her heart still trembled for no reason. She pretended to be nonchnt and opened the file in front of her, "Then what?" "He admitted it in the interview." "Oh." "This is a big deal!" Catalina was confused. "Think about it. Who is Bet? He is such a cold turkey. He never mentioned it when the reporters asked about his other half before. But this time he actually said it. Do you know what that means?" "What?" Catalina said calmly and looked at Emery, who was emotional. "It means that he is nning to get married!" Catalina''s eyshes trembled slightly and she didn''t reply. "He must have the intention of making her the one, and he must have received the approval and blessing of his family. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have made it publicly." Was that right? Was he really going to open up about his rtionship with that girl? Had the girl already been approved by his parents? They must have agreed! A girl who could make Bet miss her so badly must be someone outstanding! Besides, Darnell had been telling so many good things about that girl. If they really made their rtionship public in front of the media, what about Cataline? How would she react? Cataline smiled wryly. Thinking that her husband didn''t love her. Her inws were unhappy with her. What was the difference it made of her carrying the title of Mrs. Shaffer? It was just awkward and embarrassing. "Lina, let''s have a drink after work! I need you to keep mepany, okay?" "Okay." Cataline said yes without hesitation. Emery was surprised. She opened her mouth widely and asked, "You said yes?" That was the first time Catalina said yes to going for a drink! "Yes." "That''s great! I love you!" Emery was getting closer to Catalina''s face and was about to kiss her. Catalina hastily covered her lips with her hand and said, "Let me tell you something first. I can''t behave after I am drunk." "Don''t worry. Me too." "Let''s get to work." "Okay!" This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Emery let go of Catalina after that. When Emery thought of someone who would drink with her at night, she suddenly became energetic. The feeling of being betrayed just now had long dissipated. ... Emery was a heavy drinker and she had a high tolerance for alcohol. After a few sses of alcohol, she still looked normal. On the other hand, Catalina had already revealed her true colors only after two sses. "Bet is a big-time bastard!" Shey on the bar counter and cursed vaguely. "Yes! He is a bastard!" Emery raised her hands and echoed her words. While she was speaking, she chugged down another ss of cocktail. Catalina also took a big sip, burped, and continued to curse, "Even though he already had a wife, he is still messing around outside!" "There he is! Messing around!" When Emery was cursing, she suddenly smiled and hugged Catalina''s shoulders. With a moved expression on her face, she said, "Lina, you are so kind. You are not only taking Bet as my husband but also daydreaming with me." "Bet is not your husband!" Catalina denied Emery''s words, pointed to her nose, and said drunkenly, "He is my husband! He is my legitimate husband!" Chapter 43 The Lovers Became Siblings Chapter 43 The Lovers Became Siblings Chapter 43 The Lovers Became Siblings "My husband!" "Mine! He belongs to me." "Okay, okay. He is yours. Yours." Seeing that Catalina was so drunk, Emery stopped arguing with her, and said with a smile, "Lina, you are hiding it so well. In general, when I talk to you about Bet, you always have a calm face as if you aren''t interested at all. Are you finally telling the truth after some alcohol now? Are you also hugging his magazine to sleep like me at night?" Catalinay on the table and chuckled, "I just want to hug him to sleep..." "What! That''s shameless!" "You are the shameless one. I have all the rights to hug my husband..." "Yes. Yes. You have all the rights. When did you start to like Bet? Howe I didn''t know it at all." "A long, long time..." Catalina''s words seemed to have touched Emery''s raw nerve. She hugged Catalina and cried together with her, "I understand you. People like us who blindly adore someone will always be at the bottom of the food chain. Sob...Sob...Sob... I curse him and his mistress that the lovers will eventually be siblings!" Catalina''s tears rolled out of her eyes in the next second and dripped into the cocktail. "Well, that''s..." Catalina''s words seemed to have touched on Emery''s raw nerve. She hugged Catalina and cried together with her, "I understand you. People like us who are blindly adore someone will always be at the bottom of the food chain. Sob...Sob...Sob... I curse him and his mistress that the lovers will eventually be siblings!" "The lovers be siblings! Get the punishment for doing it!" The two girls got so drunk in the bar and almost gone wasted because of the tragedy of adoring someone so much. "Let''s go home" The two supported each other and staggered out of the bar. "Wow, the starry sky is so beautiful!" Catalina giggled while pointing at the snowy sky. Emery also looked up at the sky, "It''s so beautiful! Look! That star is blinking at us!" "Why did the star fall?" "Haha. The star is hitting on my face..." Those people who were passing by the bar entrance thought to themselves, "Where do these two drunken lunaticse from? They are taking the snow as a star!" "Lina?" Suddenly, someone called out Catalina''s name. The voice was warm and low and it was familiar. "Huh?" Catalina shook her head. She felt very dizzy and couldn''t find the source of the voice. "Lina, someone is calling you!" Emery patted Catalina on her shoulder to remind her. "Who? Who is calling me?" "There! There!" Emery pointed to the magnolia tree in front of them and said, "He is calling you!" "Huh?" Catalina narrowed her eyes and focused in that direction, but she couldn''t see that person. She shook her head again in difort. Then, she saw a tall figure approaching her step by step from the magnolia tree. Hmm... That figure looked familiar. The face was getting closer and clearer... Who was that? "Lina, it''s me. Aaron." That man stepped forward and supported her since she was staggering. "Aaron?" Catalina frowned when she heard that familiar name and saw that familiar face in front of her. In the next second, her eyes soaked. "Asshole!" She scolded and pushed Aaron away angrily. Then, she punched him in his chest intensely. She cried and asked him loudly, "Why did you sell me away to Bet? What do I mean to you? I am a human being, not an object. Why do you use me as a trade? Why?" Catalina asked loudly. Her tears were pouring down like rain. She felt aggrieved and humiliated. She was a human. How could these bastards treat her as a bargaining chip? Did he know how much she was suffering now inwardly while facing Bet? She wanted to love him, but she dare not to and she wasn''t allowed to. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. "I''m sorry!" Aaron hugged Catalina, who was emotionally agitated, and said, "Lina, I am wrong. I am so wrong! Giving you away to Bet is the most regretful thing I have done. That''s also the most terrible thing I have ever done in my life. I am so wrong..." Aaron kissed Catalina''s head regretfully with his arms hugged onto her tightly. His eyes were red and he said, I really had no choice at that time. Lina, please forgive me..." "Go away!" Catalina pushed him away in disgust. Her eyes were red and replied, "I will not forgive you. I will never forgive you! Emery, let''s go home." Catalina pulled Emery over and was about to leave. "I''ll send you home." Aaron still held onto Catalina''s arms and refused to let go. "We don''t want you to send us. Let go..." Catalina struggled with thest bit of rationality. "It isn''t up to you now. Be good. Listen to me." When Aaron was talking, he picked up Catalina and strode towards the car. Catalina was picked up by him suddenly. With a flick of her head, she became dizzier. Her world was spinning. She didn''t know what was happening. "Lina! Let go of Lina..." Emery was so drunk but she was chasing after him with all her strength. Aaron put Catalina into the passenger seat. Catalina tried to struggle. But, Aaron turned a blind eye and made it his own decision to fasten her seat belt, "You''ll be home soon." Emery, who was running at the back was hitting Aaron with her bag desperately. She yelled, "Let go of Lina! Let her go, rascal!" Aaron turned around and forced Emery, who was so drunk into the car too. Two drunken people were not easy to handle. At the same time, a ck Rolls-Royce Phantom parked on the side of the road quietly, which couldn''t be seen in the dark. Outside the car, the snow was falling. Inside the car, the atmosphere was condensed, like being in an ice cer. "Mr...Mr. Shaffer, the girl who was being carried into the car just now looks like...Mrs. Shaffer..." On the passenger seat, Vincent was holding up all his guts to remind him. "Go now." Bet''s gaze remained on the tablet in his hand and he gave the order with no expression. It seemed that what had happened outside the car and that woman, had nothing to do with him. "But..." "Go now!" "Yes." Vincent winked at the driver in the driver''s seat. The car started to move slowly and gradually disappeared in the traffic... On the other side, as soon as Katerina and Emery got into the car, the alcohol took effect and they fell asleep Aaron didn''t know Emery''s home address and nned to send her to a nearby hotel. As for Catalina... He wanted to take her home. No matter what happened to them in the past, he made up his mind that he wanted to stay with that woman for the rest of his life after today''s reunion. He loved her! He loved her very much... Aaron looked at Catalina affectionately. Then, he started the car''s engine and headed to his house. It was past midnight. There were very few vehicles on the road. Aaron was driving the car steadily. Suddenly, two beams of strong light came directly from the opposite side. After that, the car swayed. Then, with a sudden brake, a ck Rolls-Royce Phantomy across their front without any warning and blocked their way. Chapter 44 I Like You Chapter 44 I Like You Chapter 44 I Like You Aaron was taken aback. He immediately stepped on the brakes. With a "crack", the tires rubbed on the ground, left some marks, and the car finally stopped. His head almost hit the steering wheel. His right hand subconsciously protected Catalina, who was in the passenger seat as he was worried that she would have flown out. Fortunately, she had her seat belt on. Catalina frowned slightly in difort, but she didn''t wake up. On the other hand, Emery, who was left alone in the rear seat wasn''t that lucky. That sudden break directly threw her out. With a "bang", she hit hardly onto the back of the seat in front which caused her to howl in pain. Aaron was about to get out of the car and talked with the other car. But he saw that someone from the opposite car had already stepped out of their car. That was Vincent. He got out of the car and respectfully opened the rear door. Bet strode out. His aura was strong. Aaron was shocked. He couldn''t believe what he had seen. Wasn''t that Bet who came out of the car? What was he trying to do? Aaron was holding the steering wheel with his hand and he couldn''t help but broke into a cold sweat. The next second, he pushed the door open and got out of the car. When he was about to step forward, Vincent came over unexpectedly to block his way. Bet turned a blind eye to him. With a gloomy face, he strode towards Catalina, who was in the passenger seat. He bent down, unbuckled her seat belt, and wanted to carry her away. Unexpectedly, as soon as he stretched out his hands, she suddenly woke up. "Don''t touch me!" Catalina pushed the man in front of her drowsily and said, "I won''t go with you. Let me go. I won''t go with you..." At that moment, Catalina, who was so drunk mistakenly thought that the man who wanted to take her away was Aaron. Bet suddenly froze from the movement of leaning over to carry Catalina. He had a frightening frosty look as if it was about to freeze everything around him. "Aaron..." "Aaron Roach!!" Catalina patted the man in front of her irritably. Bet''s sturdy body was as stiff as a stone sculpture. He was holding onto her arms and unconsciously tightened his strength as if he wished to crush her into his arms. Outside the car, Aaron was happy when he heard Catalina calling his name. He got back into the car immediately and pressed on Catalina''s shoulder, "Bet, didn''t your revengest time enough to appease her? Let her go!" Bet looked at Aaron''s hand which was on Catalina''s shoulder furiously. Then, he looked up and said, "Let go!" Those words sounded hecious. It was as if the most precious thing of Bet had been contaminated by Aaron. Aaron immediately withdrew his hand. Bet carried Catalina into his arms and strode away. "Bet!" Aaron followed at their back with a resigned look and asked, "Where are you taking her to?" Vincent immediately stepped forward and stopped him. He said, "Mr. Roach, please stay away from Mrs. Shaffer in the future. Today''s incident is not going to happen again!" After Vincent finished the warning, he turned and left. Aaron looked lost and stood still for some time before he came to his senses. Mrs. Shaffer? That was what Vincent called Catalina just now, right? How could that be? Could it be that Catalina and Bet are married? When did that happen? "That is impossible!" "It''s impossible..." "Why would Bet marry Catalina?" "It''s so obvious that he hates her so much! That is impossible!" Aaron couldn''t believe it at all. Inside the car. Bet was hugging Catalina without any expression and let her sit in his arms. His body was tense and stiff as an ice sculpture without temperature. His beautiful face looked gloomy and scary. Inside the car, the ambiance was extremely awkward. In the front seats, Vincent and the driver didn''t even dare to breathe. Catalina, who was leaning in Bet''s arms opened her eyes in a daze. What caught her eye was Bet''s handsome and awe-inspiring face. His lips were drawn tight. He was staring at her with his cold eyes without blinking. Those sharp gazes were like the sharp sword out of its sheath. They were aggressive as if they wished to pierce her through. As soon as Catalina met his gaze, her eyes got wet. She thought that she must be dreaming again. The man who was carrying her just now was Aaron and howe it suddenly became Bet? She thought to herself that would be great if it was Bet. Catalina''s tears welled up in her eyes She stretched out her hand and couldn''t help to caress his tense face. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Bet was shocked. His heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, he heard her saying in a low voice while burying herself in his chest, "Do you know how much I like you?" Bet''s breathing suddenly stopped. His nostrils expanded rapidly and then slowly retracted. The frosty look on his face melted in an instant. The temperature inside the car rose rapidly. Even Vincent, who was sitting in the front seat could feel the change of ambiance in the car. Bet swallowed hard and said, "What did you say? Say it again..." His voice was hoarse. "I like you! I have been liking you for a long time..." Catalina boldly confessed her love. Her eyes were teary. Under the influence of alcohol, she stretched her neck, and carefully brought her lips toward his. When the four lips met each other, Bet''s pupils dted and the arms he was holding onto her got tightened little by little. His chest was heaving violently and his breathing was chaotic. Chapter 45 I Dont Love Him Chapter 45 I Don''t Love Him Chapter 45 I Don''t Love Him Catalina gave Bet a shy kiss lightly. However, it was like a trigger in Bet''s heart. Just a slight temptation could make every cell in his body boil. He could not help but hold the back of Catalina''s head and press it against himself, enjoying the kiss impatiently. Catalina, who was intoxicated, responded his movements somewhat shakily. The temperature inside the car was rising steadily... A charming atmosphere was constantly fermenting inside the car. Vincent, who was sitting in the front, turned his head and looked out the window as if nothing had happened, but his ears and face already reddened. Goodness! What did he see? This was such an extremely rare asion! He was about to shed the tears of a worried mother. Tonight, he was super jealous of Bet. Bet''s kiss was domineering, strong, and aggressive. Within ten minutes, Catalina was out of breath. Sensing her difort, Bet had to move back half an inch from her red lips. He looked down at her in his arms. His eyes were burning and they almost scalded Catalina. His seductive Adam¡¯s apple moved and he asked, ¡°Do you know what you just said?¡± The drunken Catalina blinked and nodded. Bet felt a wave of heat rushing to the top of his head. ¡°Is there anything else you want to tell me?¡± His voice waspletely hoarse. Tears suddenly welled in Catalina¡¯s eyes and she grabbed his shirt cor with her small hands while looking aggrieved. ¡°I always thought that the person I was going to marry was you, and that was the happiest time ever in my life. I felt like I was dreaming and every day, I looked forward to the day I put on a wedding dress for you, but why...¡± Catalina sobbed and tears streamed down her face. ¡°But why did my groom suddenly change? I don¡¯t love him at all, I¡¯ve never loved him, but I have to marry him...¡± Catalina¡¯s words made the expression on Bet¡¯s face turn icy at a speed visible to the naked eye. There was a frightening chill in his eyes which made everyone in the car shudder. His hands on Catalina''s shoulders were cold and stiff like iron tongs. Inch by inch, he tightened his strength as if he was wishing to crush her shoulder des in his palm. So, did all her heartfelt confession and the words "I like you" from just now have nothing to do with him, Bet Shaffer? This woman just took him for Aaron! The man she liked was Aaron. The man she always wanted to marry was also Aaron! However, Bet, the stumbling block, stopped her. She did not love him, let alone wanted to marry him! There was a bloodthirsty sneer between Bet''s cold thin lips. His big hand suddenly sped her jaw and he tightened his strength. After that, he approached her with a dangerous look on his face. ¡°Catalina, I am d that I¡¯ve made you live in such pain! In the future, the pain will only double, and I will never show any mercy to you again!¡± After speaking, he coldly pushed Catalina away from his arms. When he saw that the back of Catalina''s head was about to hit the back of the chair, he leaned over reflexively, stretched out his hand, and firmly protected her head. After he realized his contradictory action, Bet''s face turned cold and threw her away coldly. He stopped caring about her anymore. After being ''thrown around'' twice, Catalina became dizzy. Then, she copsed on the seat and fell asleep unconsciously. In front seats, the driver and Vincent felt as if they were in hell. They were clearly in the tropics just now, but how did theye to a cier in the pr region in the blink of an eye? Vincent sneaked a peek at Bet in the rear seat from the rearview mirror. It would be fine if he did not, but when he did, he was shocked. His heart trembled. Goodness gracious! Mr. Shaffer kept a straight face, as if he was the king of evils. He shook his head silently. "Oh no, everyone in thepany will be doomed tomorrow!" ¡­ Early morning the next day. Catalina woke up with a splitting headache. She felt as if her brain was about to explode. ¡°Mrs. Shaffer, you finally woke up. Do you have a headache? How much did you drink yesterday?¡± As Wendy asked that, she handed over a hot towel and motioned for Catalina to apply it to her forehead. ¡°What time is it?¡± Catalina was still a little confused but she obediently covered her forehead with a towel before closing her eyes again. She would rest a little longer. ¡°It¡¯s still early for work. It¡¯s only half past seven.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Catalina responded and asked, ¡°How did Ie back yesterday?¡± ¡°You came back with Mr. Shaffer!¡± ¡°Who?¡± Catalina flipped over and sat up immediately. The hot towel fell off her forehead to the quilt. ¡°Why are you reacting that way? Have you forgotten all aboutst night?¡± ¡°...No, no, I didn¡¯t forget...¡± It was precisely she did not forget it, so that was why Catalina was frightened. Right after Wendy said that, Catalina suddenly remembered everything fromst night. If¡­ If she was not dreaming, thenst night¡­ She confessed her feelings to Bet! She said¡­ She liked him! And she had always liked him! Moreover, at that time she even took the initiative to kiss him¡­ ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over!¡± Catalina clutched her head and bit her thumb furiously. Then, she muttered in despair, ¡°I¡¯m crazy! I¡¯m really crazy¡± God! What did she do while she was drunk? What about her promise of carrying her love for that man into the coffin? Catalina wanted to pull out her own tongue. Moreover, she wanted to kill herself by mming her head against the wall and that would be the end of it all. ¡°Mrs. Shaffer, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Wendy was confused when she saw Catalina suddenly hugging her head and howling. She guessed, ¡°Could it be that you¡­ did something crazy in front of Mr. Shafferst night?¡± ¡°...Yes, I got drunk and acted crazy.¡± Catalina felt a little helpless. However, she still remembered that after she finished her confession, Bet said something back to her. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. He said, ¡°Catalina, I am d that I¡¯ve made you live in such pain! In the future, the pain will only double, and I will never show any mercy to you again!¡± Catalina felt a stab in her heart. What did he mean by that? The implication was that not only did he not care about her feelings, but he would humiliate her even more and trample her even more in the future? Indeed¡­ Just as she thought. Catalina¡¯s love was just a huge joke to him. From then on, she, Catalina Grant, would be like a clown who took off her clothes and performed in front of him! Catalina lowered her head. She was biting her thumb tightly until it turned white, but she did not feel any pain at all. It was because the barrennd in her heart hurt even more! After a while, Catalina finished washing up and rposed herself before going out to the dining room for breakfast. Unexpectedly, Bet was there too. Catalina reflexively wanted to run away. Yet, in the next second, she retracted her leg that stepped forward. Why was she running away? She should have taken this opportunity to speak to Bet. Catalina took a deep breath without showing any signs. Then, she turned around and re-entered the dining room while pretending to be calm. Chapter 46 Hes Our Husband Chapter 46 He''s Our Husband Chapter 46 He''s Our Husband "Mrs. Shaffer, good morning." Ralph, who was waiting beside Bet, greeted Catalina earnestly. "Good morning, Ralph." Catalina responded with a smile as if nothing had happened. Her eyes fell on Bet inadvertently, observing him calmly. At this moment, he indifferently flipped through the financial morning paper in his hand. His eyes were lowered slightly so Catalina could not see the emotion in his eyes clearly. Yet even so, she could still clearly feel the cold light emanating from his body. It seemed that even his fingers were ice cold. His unapproachable aura was even more frightening. He was in a terrible mood. Catalina felt it. Catalina figured the reason must be due to her sudden confession yesterday. After all, she breached the agreement. He said that she was not allowed to fall in love with him, and they even signed an agreement back then. And now, she said she liked him. This was all beyond his control, so how would he be happy? After Catalina guessed all his thoughts, she pretended to be calm and sat down on Bet''s left. Soon, the maids came forward to serve her meals. Bet never even looked at her. He was treating her like transparent air. "Bet." Finally, Catalina mustered up the courage to speak. Bet finally lifted his eyelids from the newspaper and nced at her. He just nced at her and did nothing more. The more he did that, the more nervous Catalina became. It was because she could not figure out what he was thinking. She kept rubbing her small hands against her legs. She felt like she did not know where to put them. Her palms were full of sweat due to tension. "Um... I''m sorry. I drank too muchst night and I have a low alcohol tolerance, so I will start bbering. Don''t take what I said after drinking to heart, I... Those things I said were not directed to you actually..." Catalina had a sh of inspiration and made up a huge lie. "Yes, they''re not directed to you so please don''t misunderstand."Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Catalina felt that she was amazing at lying. She even wanted to praise herself. However, she had no idea whether Bet believed her or not. He was just staring at her coldly. Those eyes were chilly, icy, and fierce, as aggressive as sharp knives out of their sheath. Catalina''s psychological defense almost copsed after he stared at her like this. "W-What''s wrong?" She asked. She was tongue-tied. She then pretended to touch her face with her hand and asked guiltily, "Is there something on my face?" Bet withdrew his gaze coldly and did not answer. After that, he continued to treat her like air again and asked Ralph behind him, "Have you arranged the itinerary?" Ralph respectfully reported, "Yes, I''ve arranged the flight to Gilburgh and you can take off whenever you want." "The flight to Gilburgh?" Catalina was taken aback. "He''s going to Gilburgh again?" "Why? "Is he going to work, or..." She wondered. "Are you going to Gilburgh again? How long will you be gone this time?" Catalina almost blurted out. Bet''s eyes flickered behind the newspaper, and his hands holding the newspaper tightened unconsciously. Shortly after, he regained hisposure. He put down the newspaper in his hand. He crossed his long legs and looked at Catalina coldly. His posture was like that of an aloof monarch and his eyes were full of irony. "Do I need to tell you where I''m going or what I''m doing? Who do you think you are? You''re just a toy at the end of the day! Are you even qualified to ask about my itinerary?" After he finished speaking indifferently, he got up and strode out. Catalina sat at the dining table, her small face was already pale. She knew that he only married her for entertainment but when he said it so tantly, Catalina must admit that her heart was really hurt. It felt like someone had stabbed a cold sharp knife into her heart. It hurt so badly that she could not breathe. It also made her eyes turn red unconsciously in an instant. "Catalina, you are useless!" She despised herself in her heart. "It''s just a sentence, why are you crying?" She hastily wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. However, when she thought about Bet flying to Gilburgh to see his beloved woman in the next second, she could not hold back the tears in her eyes anymore. Tears rolled silently down her cheeks one by one like beads in a broken string. Catalina could not wrap her head around this. Why did he marry her even though he obviously had someone he loved? Was it to put her in the middle and embarrass her? "If so, Bet, you really did," Catalina thought. Catalina''s current status was aplete joke. Catalina picked up the steak on the dinner te and took a big bite, letting the teardrops in her eyes fall on the steak... The steak in her mouth was delicious but tasted bitter. ... Catalina went to thepany while still feeling a little dazed. "Lina!" As soon as she sat down in her cubicle, Emery swooped over and hugged her. "Thank God, you''re fine." "What''s wrong?" Catalina''s eyes looked lifeless. She was preupied with Bet''s flight to Gilburgh. Ralph said that his trip would take as short as one month and as long as half a year. One month or half a year... It was too long! Catalina wondered, "Will Bete back in less than half a month after saying he''ll be gone for three to five months likest time? "If so, then maybe he wille back in a week or half a month this time." Catalina finally felt better after thinking about it this way. "Did you go homest night?" Emery asked her. "Yeah." "That''s good." Emery patted her chest with a look of shock. "I woke up from the hotel this morning and I was almost scared to death. I don''t remember how I got to the hotel. I wanted to call you, but the battery ran out. I''m so d you''re fine." Catalina figured Aaron might have sent Emery to the hotel. However, Catalina did not want to talk about what happenedst night. She was not in the mood. She grabbed an apple-vored candy from the candy jar and popped it into her mouth, trying to make herself feel better. "Lina, what''s the matter with you? You seem lethargic. Have you not sobered up yet?" "Yeah." Catalina nodded. She did feel listless. "Well then!" Emery was very loyal. When she saw that Catalina was in a bad mood, she immediately took out a thick notebook from her treasure chest and mmed it down before Catalina. "You are allowed to take this back and sleep with it, but only a week and not a day more." "What is this?" Catalina wondered. "Your husband!" "Huh?" "Ah, no, it''s our husband!" Emery corrected herself. Catalina, "..." She suspiciously opened the notebook in front of her. She was stunned. It really was her husband. The notebook was covered with Bet''s pictures that were cut from various magazines. Each one of them looked like a pictorial. He looked so handsome that it was outrageous. Catalina casually flipped through two pages. When she turned to a photo with Fairview, Gilburgh in the background, her breathing stopped. In the next second, she mmed the notebook shut and threw it back to Emery. "I don''t want it." Chapter 47 Argued for Being His Wife Chapter 47 Argued for Being His Wife Chapter 47 Argued for Being His Wife "Hey! Be honest!" Emery leaned her head over with the ount book in her arms, "I know that you like Bet, so you don''t have to hide it from me." "What?" Catalina was surprised. She opened her eyes wide, "Did I tell you about thisst night?" "Yes!" Emery nodded. Catalina put her hand on her forehead. How much wine did she drinkst night? How many stupid things had she done? Was she going to tell her secret to everyone? How embarrassing! Catalina just wanted to dig a hole and bury herself. "Emery, I drank winest night, and it was all nonsense, especially those about Bet. Don''t take them seriously." Catalina tried to make it up. "Come on, save it. Don''t you know in wine there truth is!" "I..." "It''s not a shame to like Bet." "..." Catalina thought it was shameful. Because it was just a fond dream. Emery continued, "I think he''s much better than those idol stars. But every time I talk to you about Bet, you''re always indifferent. I didn''t expect you to worship him so much! Last night, you argued fiercely with me for being his wife. You even cried!" "What?" Catalina froze. Worship? She... "But I can fully understand." Emery held Catalina''s shoulder and sighed, "People like us are always humble. Think about it. Why there are many bodyguards around those stars? Who are they guarding against?" Catalina shook her head in confusion. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. So, Emery thought that her love towards Bet was just like her worship towards those idols? Emery thought that she simply regarded Bet as an idol? Well, that was better. "Of course, they are guarding against people like us!" "..." Catalina smiled awkwardly, "You know yourself well." "I dreamt of himst night! He was wearing a navy suit and a ck windbreaker on his shoulder. He came towards me under the light. Oh God! The scene was so great!" Emery held her face with a sillyugh, then she continued, "Why didn''t I dream that he''s on my bed?" Catalina''s mouth twitched. Was Emery thinking about her husband in front of her? However, ording to Emery''s description of Bet. It was clear that it was not just a dream, but what happenedst night. If she knew that she had passed her idol because she was drunk, how would she feel? "My master has a call. Please. Please. Please answer the phone..." Suddenly, the ringtone with Minions'' voice rang. It was Catalina''s mobile phone. On the screen, an overseas call popped up. It was from Gilburgh? Catalina''s heart suddenly missed a beat. Was it Bet? But he should be on the ne now, shouldn''t he? If it wasn''t him, who would it be? Would it be Bet''s girlfriend? With this in mind, Catalina''s heart beat faster. "Lina, why don''t you answer the phone? Oh? It''s from Gilburgh? It must be a liar! Screen it! Screen it!" Emery reached out and wanted to screen the call for Catalina. Catalina soon took the phone, got up and walked outside, pressing the answer button. "Hello, who is it?" Catalina was so nervous that she could hardly breathe. "Have a guess." The voice on the phone was sweet and bright. Catalina was so excited that she almost cried out, "ire!" It was ire Park. Catalina''s best friend since high school. She was also the girl who gave Bet the love letter and candies under the locust tree that year. "Good of you. I thought you had forgotten me!" "How can you say that? Who went to Gilburgh and never contacted me?" Catalina pretended to be angry. "Baby, I''m sorry. I''m so sorry. I''m really busy with my work here. That''s the reason why I didn''t contact you." "Well, I know, you are a super star now. I understand." "Baby, you are so sweet." "That''s true!" "I have two good news for you now. Do you want to hear that?" "Of course, tell me now." "First, I''ming back!" "Really?" Catalina was so delighted, "Come on, I missed you so much! You didn''t answer my phone or emails. I have lots of things to tell you." "Wait for one more month. I''lle back when I finish the formalities." "Well, well, I''ll wait for you. What''s the second good news?" "The second good news... I''m in love! I have a boyfriend!" "Really? Congrattions! Is he a hot guy with blue eyes?" "No, you will see himter. He came to Gilburgh to pick me up in person this time!" "Wow, great! I will see him when youe back." "Okay, I''ll introduce him to you." After that, they talked about some other topics. ire had to go back to work, so she had to hang up. In fact, Catalina was curious about ire''s boyfriend. Because she knew that the man who ire could fall in love with must be someone extraordinary. After all, ire was an excellent girl. She was born in a rich family. She did well in study, and she also had a good appearance. In front of ire, Catalina felt she was always like a foil. However, Catalina didn''t care about these. Their friendship was more important than anything else. ire never cared about the difference between them like otherdies. ... Catalina didn''t expect that Bet really stayed in Gilburgh for a month this time. Now, a month had passed. The white snow outside the window had gradually melted. The plum blossoms were falling everywhere, and new buds were emerging from the dead branches. But Bet, who was far away from home, was still in Gilburgh. "He must live happily in Gilburgh." Catalina prodded the arm of the ugly doll in her arms with loneliness on her face. There was his beloved one in that country. How would he want toe back? "But that''s fine." Catalinaforted herself, "The farther away he is from me, the better." In this way, she would be safer and it would be easier to protect her broken heart. While Catalina was talking to the ugly doll that Bet sent to her, her mobile phone in the pocket suddenly rang. "My master has a call. Please. Please. Please answer the phone..." Catalina took out the mobile phone. It was from someone unknown. After hesitating for a few seconds, she answered it. "Catalina?" "..." She didn''t expect that it would be Darnell. Catalina rolled her eyes and said impatiently, "What?" "How can you speak to your boss in this way?" "I''ll hang up if you have nothing to say." Catalina was impatient. "Alright, alright!" "Go ahead." Chapter 48 The Accident Meet Chapter 48 The ident Meet Chapter 48 The ident Meet "Send me some money. I need 700,000 dors. I''ll wait for you at Spring Fall." "Money? 700,000 dors?" Catalina was stunned, "What are you talking about? Are you drunk?" Darnell rubbed his temple. Although he was a little annoyed, he tried to control his temper. He needed her help after all. He exined, "I''m gambling. I lost some money but I didn''t take my cards with me. Send me a card." Catalina was speechless, "I don''t have a card." And more importantly, she didn''t have a card with 700,000 dors. "Aren''t you Mrs. Shaffer? How can you have no card?" "Do you have any misunderstanding about Mrs. Shaffer? Don''t say 700,000 dors. I don''t even have 7,000 dors." Darnell was shocked and said, "Is Ben that miserly?" "Yeah, I don''t have 700,000 dors. I''ll hung up." "Go to find Ralph. He must have the money." Catalina was speechless, "You want to use Palph''s money? Why don''t you go to your parents?" "Isn''t that because of you?" Speaking of this, Darnell was so angry that he gritted his teeth. "If you hadn''t talk those nonsense, my dad wouldn''t cut off my financial source." God! Catalina thought, "You deserve it!" "I''ll call Ralphter and you can just go to him for the money. You know where Spring Fall is, don''t you?" "I won''t go." "Catalina, I''m your boss. You wanna lose your job?" "Then fire me!" Catalina was ready to be dismissed at any time. It was just a matter of time. "You..." Darnell was pissed off. But soon, he smiled evilly. "If you don''te, I''ll tell my aunt and uncle about you and Ben. You must have heard about my aunt, right? If she knows that you''re pestering Ben again, guess what she will do?" "You''re so despicable!" Catalina''s face turned pale. "Yeah, you''re right." "You''re shameless!!" "I''ll wait for you." Darnell hung up the phone. After a while, Ralph sent Catalina a card of Bet. Catalina had no choice but to take a taxi to Spring Fall. After an hour, Catalina arrived at Spring Fall. Led by the butler of Spring Fall, Catalina sessfully found the presidential suite where Darnell was. She opened the door and found that the room was filled with smoke. And four men were indulged in gambling on the table. When Catalina went over, Darnell just won a round. "It seems that you''re my lucky star." He narrowed his eyes and looked at Catalina with a cigarette in his mouth. Although he was wild and cynical, his natural noble temperament was hard to be hidden. Sitting there, no matter he was smoking or gambling, he still made the picture gorgeous. What the hell! God was too unfair. Catalina came out of her thoughts. She put the card at his hand with no expression, and then left directly. "Where are you going?" Darnell craned his neck and asked her. "Go home." "I''ll send you hometer." "No!" Catalina left without looking back. "Oh." Othersughed at Darnell, "It''s rare to see a woman refuse Darnell." Darnell pped on their forehead and said, "Why talk nonsense? Do you want to die?" "Look, Darnell is shy!" "Shut up!" "..." Catalina ignored all the voices behind her. She just wanted to left as soon as possible. She quickened her pace subconsciously. She opened the door and walked out. Unexpectedly, just at the right time, a long shadow came in. They almost bumped into each other. Catalina responded promptly and stepped back immediately. But she froze when she saw who the man was. The man standing at the door was... Bet! Catalina''s heart suddenly missed a beat. Haven''t seen him for so long, Catalina felt that he was thinner than before. But this didn''t affect his appearance at all. He was still beautiful and charming. With neat suit, dignified temperament, his back was straight like a cypress. He stood in front of Catalina, making her have a feeling of overwhelming. His aura, however, seemed to be colder and more powerful than before. As soon as Bet appeared, Catalina had the illusion of being in an ice cave. He gave Catalina a cold nce with no expression in his eyes. He had no surprise nor delight when seeing her again. But she was nervous and panic, like aplete fool. "Ben!" Darnell got up, "You are back finally. I thought you would stay in Gilburgh forever!" Bet didn''t say anything, but entered the room. Catalina wanted to leave quietly. But Bet''s cold voice came from behind, "Let''s go togetherter." His voice had no temperature or fluctuation. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. And he was not asking for her opinion, but just informing her. Catalina''s heart did aplete somersault. Looking back at Bet, she was not sure whether he was talking to her. But Bet had already sat down, facing her with his cold back. When Catalina was hesitating whether to leave or stay, Darnell just went over and grabbed her by the wrist. He pressed Catalina down on the seat next to him, "To thank you for being my lucky star, I''ll share my bonus with you today." Catalina was not sure whether it was her illusion. She felt that Bet was staring at her wrist, which was grabbed by Darnell. And he looked like he would pierce her. Why? Did he think that she was seducing the man in his family again? Catalina released her wrist from Darnell''s hand. She dared not look at the man sitting opposite again but just said quietly, "No." "You''re so stubborn." Darnell poked her rolled-up hair and sat down again. Bet suddenly pulled a long face. "Come here!" Bet said suddenly. His voice was cold. And he looked at Catalina with piercing eyes. Apart from Darnell, everyone looked at Bet with a puzzled face. They were confused. Bet threw out a card in his hand, "Don''t let me repeat it." Catalina was speechless. Why was this man so fierce? Did she do anything that annoyed him? Thought Catalina was upset, she still had no courage to disobey him. After struggling for a few seconds, she got up, and moved to the seat beside Bet with her head down. Everyone gasped. The little girl they just teased was Ben''s woman! So scary... Everyone was still in fear. Bet looked a little better. Catalina was quite confused. Why did he let her sit beside him? While she was thinking about it, the man pushed the te at hand to her, "Peel them for me." Catalina and others were all stunned. So he called her here just to let her peel walnuts for him? Chapter 49 Special Care Chapter 49 Special Care Chapter 49 Special Care Catalina didn''t want to follow his words. But so many people were here, she didn''t want to make him look no good. In addition, it was boring for her to sit here. She thought she could do it for killing time! She took the opener, and carefully shelled it one by one. Darnell looked at Catalina, and then turned to Bet, who was sitting next to her with an indifferent face. He knew it all. Ben was a real liar! He said he had no interest in this little girl. "Ben, how about the trip to Gilburgh?" While saying so, Darnell threw out a card. Catalina''s heart tightened, and she couldn''t help ncing at the man beside her. "Not bad." Bet gave him an official answer without looking up. "Is it settled?" "Yeah." Bet remained expressionless. Catalina couldn''t know his mood. "My turn." Darnell threw out a card and asked again, "Is that one still angry with you?" Catalina stopped suddenly. Angry? So, Bet went to Gilburgh this time to coax his girlfriend? "I won." Bet showed others his cards. Darnell was stunned. Then heined, "Ben, are you serious? Why did you catch me? He''s your left opponent. You should catch him, but not me! I''m your cousin anyway. How can you do that to me?" Bet said, "Because you''re so noisy." "..." Darnell felt grieved. They shuffled the cards. This time, Darnell kept the lesson in his mind. He didn''t follow his left opponent, but followed Bet. "Club 7." Bet threw out his card without expression. Darnell was very proud and raised his hand. "Me too. Club 7! How about it? Ben, what can you do to me this time?" "I won." Bet showed his cards, "Seven pairs and big numbers. Eight times." Darnell was dumbfounded. A few secondster, he responded, "Shit! Did you do it on purpose? You don''t want the card you got by yourself but just waited for me?" "There is no rule that I can''t do this." Bet shuffled the cards calmly. But Darnell couldn''t calm down. "Shit! Ben, are you the devil?" Obviously, he didn''t want money or win others. He aimed at Darnell! What''s more, he attacked Darnell but didn''t care about how many he would lose at all. Darnell couldn''t go on the game. "Come on, Ben, how did I offend you today?" "No." Bet didn''t admit. Darnell nced at Catalina, who sat quietly beside with walnuts, and said, "Did I bully you?" "No." Catalina was confused and she shook her head fast. She didn''t understand why involved her in. "See! Ben, I didn''t bully your little Catalina." Darnell looked innocent. He had no idea about when he offended Bet. He was still in fear about Ben''s maltreatmentst time after being beaten! Bet looked cold and did not say anything. Darnell said, "Is it because that one in Gilburgh refused toe back with you? Then you''re so angry and that''s why you made fun of me?" Bet looked up at Darnell. "Do you think there is someone that would refuse me?" "Yeah, you are the top negotiator." Darnell began to flutter Bet and showed him a thumbs up. In fact, they were talking about a Saytonese physics scientist in Gilburgh. That was a high-tech top talent. But Catalina didn''t know that. "Oh." Catalina was distracted and her finger was caught by the opener. It hurt so much! R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only She almost burst into tears with pain. Catalina put her finger into her mouth immediately. But somehow, her finger did not hurt, but her heart did. What the hell! Hearing her exim, Bet just nced at her quietly. She put her injured finger in her mouth and sucked it. Because of the pain, her little face was crumpled. Her eyes were wet and she looked so pitiful. Bet frowned subconsciously. He had no interest in ying cards suddenly. How could there be such a stupid woman in the world? "I''ll leave." Bet got up. "Ben, you''ve just yed several rounds!" Darnell was a little disappointed. "You wanna lose more?" Bet nced at him. Darnell choked, then he followed Bet, bowed his head respectfully, raised his hands and said, "OK, take care, Ben." Bet ignored him. He looked down at Catalina, who was still sitting there. Seeing his eyes, Catalina was still a little nervous. She bounced up from the chair and handed the peeled walnut to him, "...what you want." She was so timid and cute, like a rabbit meeting a lion. Bet didn''t look at the walnuts in her hand, but focused on her pinched finger. The finger was swollen and there was ck blood in it. It looked terrible. Bet frowned. Was she an idiot? How could she hurt herself with a walnut? Bet pressed down his anger and left. Catalina noticed the anger in his eyes. What was the matter? Did he think her walnuts were dirty? It might be so! He was quite a clean person. Catalina said nothing. She put a walnut into her mouth and followed Bet. When she came out, Bet was already in the car. "Mrs. Shaffer, please." Vincent stood beside the car and waited for her respectfully. "Thank you." Catalina hadn''t seen Vincent for a month. When seeing him again, she felt familiar somehow. She smiled and nodded at him, then she got on the car. The atmosphere in the car was inexplicably strange. Catalina didn''t speak. Bet didn''t speak too. Catalina looked out of the window. Bet looked out of the window too. There was thick embarrassment in the car. Vincent, in the passenger seat, mustered his courage to break the awkward and strange situation several times. But atst, he gave up when he saw Ben''s face. So scary! It was better to be careful not to get involved. Catalina looked outside. She looked calm but actually, her heart beat fast. She put a walnut to her mouth from time to time to calm herself down. Bet was back. She was obviously happier. She even couldn''t help putting up a smile. She just couldn''t hold it. But on the other hand, she was a little upset. Because, his talk with Darnell today had confirmed her guess. Bet went to Gilburgh to meet his beloved girl. Catalina sighed with depression. She wondered when she could be free from the torment. While she was thinking about it, something small flew over and fell on her leg. She was a little shocked and then looked at it. She found that what on her leg was an ointment. It seemed to be bought from abroad, because it was all foreignnguage on it. She couldn''t understand a word. Catalina looked at Bet in amazement. Bet said with a cold face, "I remember that there is still an ointment for blood stasis in the car. It''ll expire." Catalina was speechless. So, he gave her the ointment because it was going to expire? Vincent in the passenger seat was a little speechless. It was the ointment he bought in Gilburgh several days ago. It hadn''t been used once. How could it expire? Why was his boss so stubborn? Chapter 50 There Is Warmth in the Heart Chapter 50 There Is Warmth in the Heart Chapter 50 There Is Warmth in the Heart "I don''t need it." Catalina refused and returned the medicine to Bet. Vincent held his forehead, showing understanding. He whispered, "It would be strange if she used it!" Who would use an expired ointment? Bet''s face darkened, "Apply it." He threw the medicine back onto Catalina''sp. "I really don''t need it." Catalina refused again, "It was just a clip in the fingers and there''s no wound. I''m not that dramatic." Catalina wanted to return the medicine to Bet again. Bet red at Catalina fiercely, "You dare to return the medicine again?" Catalina was so angry that her cheeks were puffing, "Even if this medicine is about to expire, you don''t have to be this forceful, right?" "...I do what I want!" This idiot! Bet stared at Catalina fiercely. His expression was almost saying if she dared to disobey, he would swallow her alive. Catalina was a little afraid. She could not help but admit that she was scared. She dared not challenge Bet''s authority. In the end, she opened the ointment and reluctantly applied a thinyer on her red and swollen fingers. She secretly nced at Bet, who was standing beside her. Catalina wasn''t sure whether what she saw was an illusion. But after she applied the ointment, Bet''s straight face gradually softened. Catalina looked back at the ointment in her hands and shrugged her nose. "Is this ointment expensive?" Catalina thought. She was amazed that Bet valued this ointment so much. Until they got off the car, Bet didn''t speak to Catalina again. "Mr. Shaffer, wee home!" Since a while ago, Ralph had already led the other servants and waited for them respectfully at the entrance of Sophora Vi. Bet briefly answered Ralph and went inside with a cold face. Only then did Catalina slowly get out of the car. "Mrs. Shaffer." When Catalina was about to leave, Vincent stopped her, "I think you should take this ointment with you!" "It''s not necessary." Catalina waved her hand with a smile, "It''s just a small injury. It''ll heal in a few days." "Just take it! No matter what, it''s Mr. Shaffer''s kindness towards you." Kindness? Catalina felt what Vincent said was funny. What kind of kindness was this for Bet to give her an ointment that was about to expire? Vincent said with a deeper meaning, "This medicine still has two years to expire." After speaking, he smiled, got back into the car, and left Sophora Vi. While holding the ointment, Catalina stood there for a long time. The ointment would only expire two yearster? Then, why did Bet lied to her? All of a sudden, there seemed to be a strange feeling flowing slowly in Catalina''s heart... ... There was a saying that absence would make the hearts grow fonder. However, for some reason, since Catalina''s and Bet''s parting, they seemed to havee to a tacit agreement. They had be "husband and wife" who treated each other with mutual respect. They treated each other like guests. Perhaps, not even that close. Their rtionships had be more tepid than that. It was like a pool of stagnant water that wouldn''t even ripple. It felt like there was a high wall between the two of them. The wall was preventing them from taking the initiative to step out but also preventing each other from breaking in. One night, Catalina was holding herptop, sitting cross-legged on the living room''s sofa to write a manuscript. The weather was slowly turning into spring. The heater in the house was still functioning, but the firece was not. There were thunders and bolts of lightning outside. The weather was a little scary. Catalina was afraid of thunders, but she could bear it while being indoors. Suddenly, a weather warning was broadcasted in the news, "Rainfalls and strong convective weather are expected to ur across various parts of Sayton from tonight to tomorrow. Regional areas are to expect heavy rains apanied by convective weather such as thunder, lightning, and hail. Please take precautionary measures, and we rmend everyone to pay close attention to weather forecasts. Please make travel arrangements in advance and minimize outdoor activities. The roads are slippery on rainy days. Please pay attention to traffic safety when you go out..." Catalina raised her eyes from herptop screen, "There''s going to be a hailstorm tonight?" She nced out the window to see the thunderstorm. She frowned. Someone wasn''t back yet. Moreover, it seemed hard to predict when he would reach home. "I wonder when Mr. Shaffer will be back." Ralph was looking outside through the door. He was worried, "The rain is getting heavier and heavier. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Oh, please don''t let Mr. Shaffer encounter a hailstorm." Catalina lowered her head and continued typing as if nothing had happened. However, her mind was actually in a mess, and she could no longer concentrate. For some reason, she would frequently and unconsciously raise her head to look toward the entrance. A second time... A third time... ... Countless times. When the clock rang at twelve o''clock midnight, Ralph stepped forward to remind Catalina, "Mrs. Shaffer, it''s gettingte. You should go to rest early!" "I... I''m not done with my work yet. I''ll go to sleep a whileter." Actually, Catalina was already done with her manuscript. "Although work is important, one''s health is the most important thing. Please prevent yourself from overworking." Ralph was still trying to persuade Catalina. Catalina grinned and said while looking high in spirits, "Ralph, I''m young and can still suffer. But for you, it''s beente. You should go to bed early instead of waiting for him!" "I''m fine. I''ll sleep here for a while on the recliner. I won''t have the mood to sleep today without waiting for Mr. Shaffer to reach home." "Ralph, you treat Bet very well." Catalina was envious of Bet. "I had watched Mr. Shaffer grow up from childhood. He''s like my own child. How can I not treat him well?" Ralph said with a smile and sat down on the recliner. Catalina nced out the window and saw bolts of lightning shing. She pursed her lips, "I think he''s not even aware that someone is worrying about him at home. It''s beente and he still hasn''t yete back." Ralph closed his eyes and said with relief, "If Mr. Shaffer knew that Mrs. Shaffer is also worried about him, I believe he would have been back already!" "...When did I worry about him?" Catalina blushed when Ralph suddenly exposed her girlish thoughts. Ralph wasying on the recliner with his eyes closed. He was meditating. Catalina was bored and so she surfed Facebook to kill some time. The century-old grandfather clock was tick-tocking. As time passed by, Bet was still not seen with his team. At two o''clock in the morning, Catalina was dozing off with theptop in her arms. Suddenly, she heard the sound of an engine and saw two beams of headlights swaying through the windows. Then, a ck Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped in front of the entrance. It was Bet. He was back! Catalina straightened her body and sat up immediately. But soon, she realized something and quickly lowered her head to rest on the table. She closed her eyes while hugging theptop and pretended to fall asleep. At the same time, someone pushed open the entrance door. Bet was wearing a long ck trench coat and was holding an umbre of the same color. He strode in from outside. He put his umbre away and stood by the door. He looked around the living room calmly. In front of the firece, there was an old man sleeping on the recliner. Rarely, the old man wasn''t awakened by the sound of the car''s engine. Next to the recliner, there was a petite body lying on the sofa. Catalina? Why was she here? "Perhaps, was she waiting for me as well like Ralph?" Bet thought. Bet no longer felt cold due to the storm. Suddenly, he felt that there was something different in this supposedly empty and lifeless house. It felt like... there was warmth. The feeling was indescribable. Chapter 51 Bennetts Tenderness Chapter 51 Bet''s Tenderness Chapter 51 Bet''s Tenderness Just as Bet was thinking about it, the girl on the sofa suddenly sat up in a daze while rubbing her eyes and said, "Well, why am I here?" She blinked drowsily and looked puzzled at Bet in the doorway. "Why am I sleeping here? Oh, I Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. remember it. I fell asleep while writing my news manuscript..." Catalina''s words darkened Bet''s originally soft expression. He thought, "So, I ttered myself, and this woman is not waiting for me at all? She just fell asleep here identally, right?" Catalina got up from the sofa and deliberately nced with drowsy eyes at Bet at the door. "Did you juste back?" Bet ignored her. With a cold face, he put on his slipper and entered the room. Catalina put on her slippers and left the sofa. When she walked past Bet, she inadvertently reminded him, "You''d bettere back earlier in the future! After all, it''s really tiring for Ralph to wait for you every day." Bet''s cold face darkened even more. He thought, "Well, look how considerate she is to others! I''m surer that I was ttering myself just now. Damn it! There was no such thing that the house became warm and lively just because she was here . That was nothing but a delusion. It was just that the heating in the room was turned up too much." Of course Catalina did not know what Bet was thinking, but she could tell that he seemed to be in a bad mood. However, she had seldom seen him in a good mood. Therefore, Catalina didn''t take it to heart. "I''m going back to my room. You should rest earlier, too!" Catalina yawned and was about to return to her room. She was already very sleepy, and after seeing Bet back, she could finally have a sound sleep. Bet pursed his lips tightly and did not speak. He followed her without expression, intending to return to the Lake Compound. Catalina walked to the door and was about to step onto the bridge. Unexpectedly, a sh of lightning tore through the night sky. She turned pale with fear and ran back with her head in her arms. Unexpectedly, with a bang, she suddenly bumped straight into the strong chest of Bet, who was behind her. "Ouch!" Apparently, it hurt. After all, she had just banged her head on Bet''s chest. Bet was caught off guard by the softness of the sudden bump in his arms. His strong body suddenly froze. The next moment, he came back to his senses, frowned, and threw Catalina in his arms onto the bridge like carrying a chick. "Why did you throw yourself at me? Behave yourself!" Bet''s voice was deep and cold. "I''m afraid of thunder!" Outside, the lightning was still striking. Unfortunately, the door waspletely blocked by Bet''s tall body. Catalina covered her head with both hands and curled herself up. "Let me in..." Before Catalina had finished speaking, a thunder suddenly burst in the sky, as if to tear the chaotic world apart. "Help!" Catalina screamed in horror and wanted to escape at once. Catalina believed that those who were not afraid of thunder would never understand the fears of those who were. She thought that Bet was probably one of them. To her surprise, before the second thunder had struck, she was suddenly caught by a strong hand and pulled into a robust chest. Bet kept her firmly under guard. Catalina''s heart suddenly beat violently. She looked up at him in surprise. She felt it was unbelievable. Bet''s chin tightened, and he lowered his eyes and nced coldly at her. "What are you looking at?" Just at that moment, another deafening thunder struck. Catalina was so frightened that she immediately covered her ears firmly and got into his arms to hide herself. Bet lowered his eyes slightly and quietly looked at the girl in his arms. She was like a frightened little wildcat huddling in his arms, frightened and helpless. This made his heart uncontrobly soften slightly with tenderness. Realizing that, Bet was stunned for a moment. He could not believe that he had actually felt tenderness for Catalina. His face darkened. He said to himself in his heart, "I have repeatedly told myself that this woman is good at conquering men''s hearts. Four years ago, I was naive and immature. But now, I''ve realized that this woman is a scourge. As I said, I will make this woman suffer a lot to pay back what she has done to Warren. Therefore, I''ll never have any tenderness for her! I should throw this woman out right now." However, when Bet felt Catalina''s feeble quiver in his arms, he hesitated. In the end, he gave up his resistance and allowed her to curl up in his arms to keep out the thunder. He thought, "Just take her as a wounded little wildcat on the roadside! After all, although I hate cats, I also have asional moments ofpassion." On the lounge chair in the living room, Ralph secretly opened his eyes and nced at the door. After seeing what was going on, he contentedly closed his eyes again. In fact, he had woken up as early as he had heard the engine of Bet''s car. but he did not want to disturb them. At the door, the thunder finally stopped. "Can you get out of my arms now?" Bet''s cold voice sounded above Catalina''s head. He said it impatiently. "Okay..." Catalina withdrew from his arms in embarrassment. "Thank you..." "Stop it." Bet quietly stretched his stiff arms and thrust his hands into his pockets. His expression remained indifferent all the time. "If it weren''t for fear that you might disturb Ralph by shouting too loudly, I wouldn''t have cared about you." After saying that, he held an umbre and strode out. Watching him go, Catalinapressed her lips and shrugged her nose discontentedly. She thought, "Why does he always speak so frankly? I shouldn''t have waited for him for so long! I will never wait for him again." Catalina took out an umbre from the rain rack in the corner of the wall and then quickly trotted all the way back to her room. ... The next day was Maggie''s discharge day. Catalina arrived at the hospital early in the morning to go through the discharge procedures for Maggie and pay for the medical bill. Unexpectedly, when she went to pay the bill, the hospital staff told her that Maggie''s medical and hospitalization expenses had all been paid. Catalina was stunned. She thought, "Did Bet do that? Could it be him?" Catalina was not sure. However, she could think of no one but him who would have done so. She took the bill and returned to the ward. "Have you gone through all the discharge procedures?" Maggie sat on the hospital bed and asked Catalina. Since her surgery, Maggie had be more and more spirited every day. Seeing that, Catalina was very relieved. She felt that it was at least worthwhile for her to go all out for her grandmother. "Yes." Catalina ran forward with a smile and said, "Grandma, we can go home now. Are you happy?" "Of course I am, but why hasn''t Bete to visit me yet? It''s been more than a month now. Lina, you did not quarrel with him again, did you?" "Grandma, we''re good. Don''t be so sensitive. I told youst time. He was on a business trip to Gilburgh for over a month and just came back a few days ago!" Meanwhile, Catalina thought, "Well, although Grandma is old, she can still see everything through. Of course, Bet and I didn''t quarrel, but my rtionship with him isn''t as close as I said. In fact, I even feel that our rtionship has be worse after his business trip to Gilburgh. After returning, his attitude towards me seemed a bit colder. It should be because of his girlfriend in Gilburgh!" Thinking of this, Catalina couldn''t help but feel sad. Chapter 52 Maggies Concern Chapter 52 Maggie''s Concern Chapter 52 Maggie''s Concern "Fine, I trust you! Let''s go home!" "Okay! Let me help you." Catalina helped Maggie out of the hospital, carrying a light duffel bag. The two of them took a taxi and headed for the countryside. On the way, Maggie keptining, "We should have taken a bus, instead of a taxi. What a waste of money. You guys have already spent a lot of money because of my illness!" "Again? Grandma?" "Okay, I won''t say that again." Maggie took Catalina''s hand and was very pleased. She thought, "Although my daughter passed away early, luckily, I still have such a good granddaughter." It was past 3 p.m. when they returned to their home in the countryside. Catalina''s aunt-inw, Keira Wise, was busy in her vegetable patch. When she saw Catalina from a distance, she called out to her, "Lina, why did youe back alone today?" "Well, Bet is too busy toe back with me," replied Catalina loudly. "Tomorrow is the weekend, and you don''t have to go to work, right? Then don''t leave but stay here tonight! Let me cook some delicious dishes for you tonight." "OK! Thank you, Keira." Catalina did not hesitate to agree and walked into the house with Maggie''s luggage. Since Maggie was hospitalized, Catalina had not been in the countryside for a long time. Therefore, she missed Keira''s cooking very much. As Catalina had just put down the luggage, Maggie said, "Lina, if you don''t go back tonight, why not give Bet a call?" "What?" Catalina was stunned for a moment. "You two are husband and wife living under the same roof. Therefore, shouldn''t you tell him if you don''t go home?" Catalina didn''t speak. She thought, "It does make sense. But... But we are husband and wife only in name! Therefore, it''s okay even if I don''t tell him that I''m not going home tonight, right?" Thinking of this, Catalina said, "Grandma, I have to put your luggage back now, and I''ll call himter." Catalina tried to prevaricate over the matter. Unfortunately, Maggie had seen her through. "Why do itter? Call him now. It''s just a call, and it won''t take long." "...Fine." Catalina had no choice but to listen to Maggie. She could only take out her mobile phone and call Bet in front of Maggie. The mechanical sounding from the mobile phone made Catalina very nervous. "Don''t answer it. Don''t answer it..." she prayed in her heart. When the mechanical sound rang for the third time, Catalina hurriedly said to Maggie, "Grandma, he may be busy right now and have no time to..." "Hello!" Before Catalina could finish her words, the phone got through. Catalina held her forehead helplessly. She really did not want Bet to pick up her phone. "Someone is speaking." Even Maggie heard the sound on the other end of the phone. Catalina could only force herself to say, "Well..." "Mrs. Shaffer?" "Vincent?" Catalina was surprised. She sighed with relief and said happily, "Vincent, Bet is busy, isn''t he?" "Yes, Mrs. Shaffer. What can I do for you?" "No, nothing. Just tell him that I am not going back to Sophora Vi tonight. I''m staying at my grandmother''s house." "Wait, Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer is here!" "What?" The next moment, Vincent''s respectful voice sounded on the other end of the phone, "Mr. Shaffer, it''s a call from Mrs. Shaffer." Upon hearing this, Catalina was inexplicably flustered and hurriedly hung up. Meanwhile, she thought, "I really don''t know how to tell Bet that I''m not going home tonight. He will probably feel very puzzled, will he not? After all, it''s just a trivial matter to him." After making sure that she had hung up, Catalina secretly let out a long sigh of relief and said, "Alright, Grandma, I''ve told him." Unexpectedly, as she had just finished speaking, her mobile phone suddenly rang, "My master, you have a phone calling in. Please answer it..." Catalina nced at the caller ID. It was Bet. Maggie also leaned her head over to take a look. When she saw the name on Catalina''s phone screen, she was very happy. "It''s Bet calling back. Hurry up and answer it. As you said, he''s very busy, so don''t keep him waiting." Catalina didn''t speak. She didn''t believe that Bet would call back. She thought it might be Vincent. Catalina calmed down a little and nervously answered the phone. As soon as the phone got through, Bet''s deep voice sounded on the other end of the phone, "What''s the matter?" Catalina couldn''t believe that it was really Bet. "...Well, I''ve told Vincent just now." "Say it." Catalina fell silent. She couldn''t help but roast in her heart, "Couldn''t he say a few more words?" Catalina had no choice but to brace herself to repeat what she had just said, "Well...Grandma asked me to stay in the countryside tonight, and she insisted that I should call and tell you." Thest sentence was added intentionally by Catalina. She just wanted to tell Bet that she did not want to make the call herself. Unexpectedly, as she had finished speaking, silence fell on the other end of the phone. The longer the silencested, the more nervous Catalina became. "Well...If you have nothing else to say, I''ll hang up." After saying that, Catalina was about to hang up. Unexpectedly, Maggie, who was standing aside, grabbed the mobile phone and said, "Lina, you haven''t said much, so how could you hang up in such a hurry? It''s impolite!" Catalina was helpless. "Grandma..." "Bet!" Maggie took Catalina''s mobile phone and chatted enthusiastically with Bet on the other end. "Grandma." Bet greeted her politely. "I heard that you''ve been very busy at worktely! However, no matter how busy you are, you need to pay attention to your health." "Okay, thank you, Grandma. I''ll take good care of myself." Bet''s attitude towards Maggie was quite different from that towards Catalina. "Bet, what abouting here for dinner tonight? I''ll make you your favorite ravioli, okay?" Standing aside, Catalina was stunned at the words. She thought, "Asking Bet toe for dinner? I''m afraid he won''t agree." What Bet said next was exactly within Catalina''s expectations. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "Sorry, Grandma. I happen to be busy with something right now, and I can''t get away for the time being. How about having dinner together another day?" "Alright, then let''s have dinner together another day. As long as you have time, we can have dinner together at any time." "Okay, thank you, Grandma." Hearing that, Catalina breathed a long sigh of relief. At the same time, however, she obviously felt a sense of inexplicable disappointment in her heart. After a short chat with Bet, Maggie hung up, and Catalina silently went to put Maggie''s luggage back. ... During dinner, Catalina''s uncle, aunt-inw, and grandmother took turns adding food to Catalina''s te. "Lina, you''ve been busy taking care of me recently. Look at you, you''ve lost a lot of weight. Eat more." Though Maggie also had a grandson, she cared most for Catalina. "That''s true! You won''t look good if you be skinny." Keira echoed and ced a piece of meat on Catalina''s te. "If you''re too thin, it will be difficult for you to have a baby." Hearing that, Catalina coughed violently in shock. However, Maggie agreed with Keira. She took the opportunity to say, "She''s right. Lina, when are you and Bet nning to have a baby?" "I...I think Bet and I are both too young, and we have just got married. Besides, he is very busy. Therefore, we haven''t thought about having a baby yet." Chapter 53 Bennetts Sudden Visit Chapter 53 Bet''s Sudden Visit Chapter 53 Bet''s Sudden Visit "Why are you hesitating about this?" Keira, as a person who had the experience, earnestly persuaded Catalina, "Look at me and your uncle. We are so poor, but we have also raised your younger brother so well, right? Not to mention the fact that you both have such solid financial footing. You can even have someone look after your baby in the future. Therefore, you don''t have to worry about it at all." "Yes, your aunt is right," Maggie echoed and then reminded Catalina, "Discuss this matter with Bet, okay?" Catalina didn''t speak. She lowered her head and dared not say anything, but mechanically thrust food into her mouth. Meanwhile, she thought, "Discussing having a baby with Bet? What a joke! Bet would probably scold me for wishful thinking! The two of us can''t even count as real husband and wife, so how can we have a baby?" "Lina, I don''t agree with your grandmother and aunt." Harold Duffy, Catalina''s uncle, had been silent. As the sole support of the family, he finally spoke. "What do you think?" Catalina, feeling that she had an ally, immediately looked up. Maggie and Keira also looked over at Harold. Harold nced at them, and finally, his gaze rested on Catalina''s face. Suddenly, he asked, "Did Bet mention when the wedding would be held? Besides, should not his parents meet us? Moreover, what happened between you and Warren a few years ago..." As soon as Harold mentioned this, Keira quickly reached out and patted his arm, signaling him to stop talking further. In fact, everyone remembered the absurd marriage between Catalina and Warren four years ago, but no one dared to mention it in front of Catalina. Maggie''s face suddenly darkened a lot. Meanwhile, Catalina''s face turned slightly pale. "I know you guys probably don''t want to hear anyone mention this again, but it''s something that has already happened and be a fact, even if you don''t mention it. I know Lina well. She must have been set up four years ago. I''m just worried that Lina will be bullied after marrying Bet. After all, the Shaffer family did not even give her a wedding. Who knows what Bet is nning to do?" Catalina lowered her head again and silently continued eating. She couldn''t answer a word of Harold''s concerns. It was not just the wedding. In fact, she had never even seen their marriage license. Keira red at her husband angrily,ining that he hadpletely ruined the good atmosphere. However, Harold had no intention of changing the topic. He continued, "Lina, we all believe that you didn''t voluntarily do that four years ago, but I just don''t understand. Since you were forced to do that, then why are you still protecting the bastard who took your virginity four years ago?" At this, Catalina lowered her head even more. Instantly, tears filled her eyes. Maggie looked at Catalina with distress, but in the end, she hardened her heart and echoed, "Harold''s right! Lina, why have you been protecting that person for so many years? You know that as long as you turn this person in, the Shaffer family won''t embarrass you anymore. Why do you have to endure it alone?" "I''m sorry..." With her head down, Catalina burst into tears, "I''m sorry. I''m sorry..." She did not know what to say except these three words. Bitter tears trickled down her face and fell on her te. Over the years, the Duffy family had been mocked by others because of the absurd farce four years ago, but even so, they had neverined about Catalina. They had always given her the greatest trust. However, she could not tell them what had really happened four years ago. Maggie''s eyes were red, and she sighed with distress, "What a silly girl! Do you know how much you will have to suffer in the future if you continue like this?" Hearing this, Catalina thought, "I know! I will suffer a lot for the rest of my life. However, for the sake of the person I want to protect, I''m willing to suffer all this." Compared to herself, Catalina was more afraid that anyone besides her knew that the person who had taken her virginity that night was Warren''s younger brother, Bet. She was also more afraid of Bet knowing this truth. She couldn''t imagine how Bet would react if he knew that he had personally pushed his beloved brother into the current abyss. Catalina never wanted to see that happen. Therefore, she chose to keep the secret to herself forever, until she died. ... In the middle of the night, as Catalina slept soundly, her mobile phone beside her pillow rang suddenly. "My master, you have a phone calling in. Please answer it..." Catalina was suddenly roused from her dream. "My master, you have a phone calling in. Please answer it..." This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. For the first time, Catalina felt the sound of the call reminder so annoying. She opened her drowsy eyes and reached for her mobile phone. She wondered who was calling her thiste at night. She grabbed her mobile phone and drowsily nced at the caller ID. When she saw the name on the phone screen, she abruptly gave a start and waspletely awake. It was Bet''s call. Catalina immediately sat up. After a few seconds of hesitation, she nervously answered the call. Meanwhile, she thought, "Is he calling to ask me to go back and serve him? That is definitely something Bet would do." As Catalina had pressed the answering key and was about to speak, Bet ordered in a deep voice on the other end of the phone, "Open the door." "What?" Catalina was slightly taken aback. As she was about to ask something, she heard the beep of the phone hanging up. Catalina couldn''t believe that Bet had actually hung up. She was stunned. She couldn''t help but think, "Open the door? What does he mean by that? I''m not at home! He knows this, doesn''t he?" Catalina looked down at her mobile phone again and thought, "Was it a dream? It must be." With this thought, Catalina fell backward andy back on the bed. However, she was no longer sleepy. She said to herself in her heart, "Open the door... Can it be that Bet has already arrived outside Grandma''s house? That''s impossible! He didn''t even agree to have dinner with Grandma, so how would hee here thiste at night?" Catalina thought so, but she still lifted the quilt and got out of bed, bearing the cold outside the quilt. She said to herself, "Since I''m already awake, why not go outside for some water and then take a look at the door by the way? Anyway, it just takes a few more steps." Catalina walked quickly out of the room. She did not go for water after that. Instead, she walked straight to the door. After opening the door, she leaned over and peered out. Then she was stunned. Outside the door, the night was deep. There was a man in a long ck trench coat, and his tall figure almost merged into the darkness of the night. He put one hand in his pocket and held a long lighted cigarette in the other. As the smoke diffused, he looked very charming in the haze. The light from the cigarette butt flickered slightly. His handsome face flickered along with the twinkling spark, making it look mysterious. It was just a simple act of smoking, but with his interpretation, it became noble and enchanting, as if even his fingers were shining. Even the light in the house was momentarily dimmed by him. Chapter 54 Sleeping in the Same Room Chapter 54 Sleeping in the Same Room Chapter 54 Sleeping in the Same Room He stood in front of Catalina, tall and strong, looking very imposing. Under the misty smoke, he frowned, as if unhappy. "Why are you so slow? Are you a turtle?" R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Catalina raised her neck and looked at him nkly. The next moment, as if a magic spell had been cast upon her, she turned aside obediently to make way for him. Bet lowered his head slightly and strode in. He was so tall that he made the house cramped. He looked out of ce in the old house with his tall figure. "Ashtray." He turned around and said to Catalina. Catalina finally came back to her senses. She looked around the living room like a headless chicken, but she couldn''t find an ashtray. In the end, she could onlye to Bet with a trash can and say, "Throw it in here!" Bet nced at her and threw the cigarette butt into the trash can. He then casually picked up a half-ss of water from the table and poured it over the butt to extinguish the spark. Watching him do so, Catalina was a bit stunned. She asked dazedly, "Why are you here?" Bet put down the water ss and said, "Can you put down the trash can before you talk to me?" "Okay!" Catalina finally reacted. She thought, "Fine. I know, Mr. Shaffer has a serious obsession with cleanliness." Catalina quickly put the trash can back in ce. Then she heard Bet say behind her, "I''m here for the ravioli." He said it very justly. While speaking, he looked around and surveyed the entire house. Catalina secretly observed his subtle expression. There was no frown or disgust on his face. That was rare. "When will it be cooked?" Bet asked again. "What?" Catalina was surprised. "You don''t want to eat it now, do you? Do you know what time it is now?" While speaking, Catalina looked back at the wall clock. It was past twelve o''clock. She thought Bet was really a troublesome man. "Lina, is your brother back?" While the two of them were chatting, suddenly, the door of the opposite room was pulled open from inside, and Keira walked out with a drowsy look. Catalina quickly replied in a soft voice, "No, it''s...it''s Bet..." Catalina was a little embarrassed. "Good evening, Keira." Seeing Keira, Bet quickly nodded politely to greet her. Keira didn''t expect it to be Bet. She was first stunned, then overjoyed. "Bet!" She was instantly awake and walked out while tidying her messy hair. "Why are you sote? Could it be that you''ve just finished your work?" "Yes." Bet nodded. He was very polite and well-behaved,pletely different from his usual aloof and arrogant attitude. It was really rare. Standing aside and watching, Catalina felt a little funny yet inexplicably warm. "Well, you young people are really hard-working. Making money is important, but you still have to pay attention to your health. Are you sleeping here tonight?" Hearing this, Catalina shouted in her heart, "What? Sleeping here?" Catalina finally realized the problem. She suddenly looked up at Bet. Bet also lowered his head and nced at her. Their eyes met, and Catalina heard Bet respond with one word, "Yes." Catalina was stunned. She couldn''t help butin in her heart, "What is he talking about? There''s no room for him to sleep here!" "Okay, just sleep in Lina''s room then. Speaking of this, you often came here when you were a child, but it''s the first time you''vee to stay overnight!" "Yes." Bet again responded with a single word. Hearing this, Catalina was angry and embarrassed. Her face turned red, and she reached out to secretly tug at Bet''s sleeve. "Well...Aren''t you unable to fall asleep in anyone else''s bed?" In fact, she was lying. Her implication was to ask Bet to echo her. Unexpectedly, Bet only lowered his head and looked straight at her small hand tugging at his sleeve. He pursed his thin lips and did not speak. Some unknown emotions appeared in his deep amber eyes. This subtle movement waspletely captured by Keira. She didn''t think much of it, just taking it as an intimate act between them. Catalina didn''t expect Bet to ignore her implication and quickly said again, "Aren''t you unable to fall asleep outside?" As she spoke, she winked at Bet. However, to her surprise, Betpletely ignored it again and replied simply, "I have to get used to it anyway." Hearing this, Keira was very happy. "Bet''s right. Lina, you are married to Bet, so this is his home, too. You two wille back and stay here from time to time in the future, so you must get used to it.''" Catalina stared at Bet in a daze, but her heart was rippling with his simple words. She thought in confusion, "What''s he doing? It is clear that he does not have to stay here tonight, but why does he insist on staying? Moreover, the most important thing is that if he stays here tonight, he must share the same room and bed with me... What is he thinking?" "Bet, did you bring any clothes for change? If not, do you mind wearing your brother''s?" "Thank you, Keira." Catalina was stunned. She thought in great shock, "Did he just agree? How is that possible? He is a severe cleanliness addict! How would he wear clothes worn by others?" "Okay, I''ll go get some clothes for you right now." As Keira spoke, she turned and went to Catalina''s cousin, Zavier''s room. Seeing that, Catalina quickly dragged Bet into her room. Meanwhile, she didn''t forget to close the door. "What are you doing?" Bet put one hand into his pocket and looked down at Catalina, who looked stealthy. He resumed his overbearing attitude. Catalina suspected that he was asking knowingly. She lowered her voice and said, "Why did you agree to stay here tonight? If you insist on not changing your mind, we''ll have to sleep in the same room tonight. Otherwise, my grandmother will definitely be suspicious." Catalina didn''t know whether Bet was listening to her. He looked around her tiny bed, which was less than 5 feet wide. Then he took a piece of tissue from the tissue box at the head of the bed and wiped it on the edge of it. There was no dust. He satisfactorily threw the tissue into the trash can and then pressed the mattress with his hand to assess its softness. After that, he sat down upright at the end of the bed with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "It''s small, but it''s barely enough for me to sleep." Catalina had not expected to hear that. She thought, "So, everything he did just now was to check whether the bed is okay enough for him to sleep tonight?" Catalina was speechless. She stepped forward and asked, "Are you really going to stay here tonight?" "I''m tired." Catalina didn''t speak. She thought, "Well, I do see the fatigue in his eyes, but..." After a moment of hesitation, Catalina asked, "If you insist on staying here tonight, then how do we sleep?" As she spoke, Catalina''s face flushed. "I''ll sleep in bed, and I don''t care where you sleep." Catalina was speechless again. She was greatly irritated by his words. She was so angry that she really wanted to scold Bet. Just as she was on the point of losing her temper, suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Then Keira walked in from outside, holding a men''s nightgown. "Bet, did I disturb you two?" Chapter 55 A Short Moment of Intimacy Chapter 55 A Short Moment of Intimacy Chapter 55 A Short Moment of Intimacy "No." Bet quickly stood up. "Here, this is your cousin''s nightgown. It''s clean." Keira handed the nightgown to Catalina. "Thank you, Keira." "Thank you." Catalina and Bet said in unison. "You''re wee. I''ll go to bed now. You guys should also rest early!" As she spoke, Keira went out and closed the door for them. Catalina handed the nightgown to Bet and said, "If you don''t mind, you can wear it!" Bet looked at the nightgown in her arms and frowned ufortably. Catalina just wanted him to refuse. Unexpectedly, he reached out and took the nightgown over. "Where is the bathroom?" Catalina was stunned. She did not expect Bet to actually ept it. She nced up at him. His deep amber eyes were stained with the blood of weariness. It seemed that he was really tired. Catalina couldn''t bear to embarrass him anymore. "Go out and turn right, but the bathroom in this house is connected to the toilet. Can you ept that?" She was very suspicious. As she had expected, Bet instantly pursed his thin lips. Even so, he still walked out of the door with the nightgown in his arms. Catalina was a little worried and quickly followed up. Bet walked into the bathroom. Catalina turned on the light behind him. He frowned ufortably when he saw the squat toilet. "Towel." "There''s no new towel at home." Catalina was telling the truth. Bet turned his head back and gave her a very dissatisfied nce. Catalina calmly said, "Nobody expected you toe." "Yours." "What?" "Towel!" Bet''s impatience was already obvious. Catalina finally reacted. "Do you want to use my towel?" "Or what? Are you going to let me use your brother''s?" Apparently, Bet had reached the limit of his endurance. Catalina was silent for a moment. She flushed slightly and said, "Then wait a moment. I hung it on the balcony." Catalina quickly went to the balcony to get her towel. At the thought that Bet was about to take a shower with her towel, Catalina couldn''t help but blush. She handed the towel to Bet and said, "Well...It''s been washed." Bet took it without expression. Then he took out a bottle of disinfectant from his pocket and sprayed it on her towel for a while. From front to back, inside and outside, he did not miss any part of it. Catalina was speechless. She couldn''t help but think, "Am I poisonous?" Catalina turned around in anger and left. She decided to leave Bet alone. Seeing Catalina leave, Bet put the disinfection spray back in his pocket. Looking at Catalina''s pink towel in his hand, he slightly frowned. He thought, "It''s so strange. When was my cleanliness mania cured in front of this woman without any treatment? It took me all my endurance to ept her cousin''s nightgown, but I actually epted the towel she had used so easily. What the hell!" ... Catalina was lying on the bed under a quilt, nervously. She still didn''t know how the two of them should sleep when Bet came back. She thought, "It''s so cold, and there is no sofa in my room. I can''t sleep on the floor, can I? Of course, I would never dare ask Bet to sleep on the floor. Moreover, there is no extra quilt in my room. Well, it seems that we can only sleep in bed together." Within half an hour, Bet returned from his shower. As soon as Catalina heard the sound of opening the door, she immediately retracted her head into the quilt and turned to face the other side, pretending to be asleep. Bet entered the door and turned on the light. He paused for a few seconds in the doorway. Looking at the woman who hadpletely wrapped herself in the quilt, Bet frowned, and his face darkened. He thought, "Does this woman think I''ll do anything to her?" Bet walked forward with a cold face. Catalina''s heart beat violently as she heard his footsteps approaching. The next moment, the quilt wrapped around her body was lifted, and the mattress behind her sank. A cold, strong body got into her quilt. Catalina thought in disbelief, "Bet actually... He is actually lying beside me! And, he''s now less than two inches away from me." In the quilt, Catalina''s intense heartbeat was especially noticeable. In fact, it was just the beginning of spring. The temperature was still very low, and there was no heating in the room. Therefore, Catalina should have felt very cold, but now, her forehead was perspiring. She pressed her heart tightly with both hands, as if afraid it might jump out. Catalinay motionless under the quilt, not daring to move. She was afraid of identally bumping into the man next to her. She was also afraid that he would do something to her. She silently counted the time in her heart, "One second... Two seconds... ... One minute... Two minutes... ..." Ten minutester, Catalina was almost stiff. During this time, Bet, who was lying beside her, did not move either. Catalina finally lost her patience. The reason was that if she didn''t get her head out, she might suffocate under the quilt. As a result, Catalina slightly moved her head and secretly took a breath outside the quilt. After that, she took a quiet nce at the man beside her from the corner of her eye. Then she saw that he had fallen asleep. Catalina was stunned for a moment. She suddenly felt a little angry. One reason was that he was too calm, which made her look like a fool. The second reason was that he was calmer than she had expected. Catalina couldn''t help but think, "Anyway, I''m also a woman, am I not? I can''t believe that he is actually so calm when lying on such a tiny bed with me, as if he had no desire at all. What does he mean? Am I really not attractive at all to him?" Catalina had an inexplicable sense of frustration. She simply turned around in anger, wrapped the quilt around her, closed her eyes, and forced herself to sleep. Unexpectedly, a strong force suddenly came from behind, grabbing the quilt on her body and pulling it backward. Lying under the quilt, she was also drawn backward, and with a bang, she suddenly crashed into a strong chest behind her. Then a strong, long arm firmly wrapped her waist like a chain. At that moment, Catalina''s heart almost stopped beating. His cheeks flushed instantly. Behind her was Bet''s scalding chest, and her delicate body was deeply trapped by it. It was as if some spell of immobility had been cast upon her, and she dared not move. She did not even dare to breathe heavily. Her heart couldn''t help but beat faster and faster. Catalina wanted to see Bet''s reaction. After waiting in his arms for a long time, she finally braced herself to secretly look up at him. Bet''s chin, covered with stubble, gently touched her hair. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady, looking like he was already asleep. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Seeing that, Catalina thought, "He should have really fallen asleep. If not, how would he hug me so intimately?" Catalina did not withdraw from Bet''s arms, for the moment of intimacy seemed to her like a dream. Every second was precious to her. She nestled like a kitten in Bet''s arms and fell asleep. The next moment, the man beside her slowly opened his eyes. He lowered his eyes and looked quietly at the girl in his arms. She was very quiet, like an obedient little pet. If it weren''t for the fact that he had witnessed the absurd marriage four years ago, and that she had kept her mouth shut about the man who had taken her virginity four years ago, Bet wouldn''t have believed that Catalina, who looked like a lovely kitten, would be a cunning little fox. Suddenly, some unknown emotions appeared in Bet''s deep eyes. Chapter 56 Bennett Is Considerate Chapter 56 Bet Is Considerate Chapter 56 Bet Is Considerate The next morning. Bet was roused by a clearugh. He got up, changed his clothes, and went out. Outside the door, the golden morning light shone in, making the entire living room particrly bright. Since Bet had just woken up, he couldn''t adapt to the strong light outside and subconsciously blocked it out with his hand. After a few seconds, he slowly moved his hand away. Within his sight, a girl, barefoot and with her pant legs rolled up, was treading on the sheets soaking in arge wooden basin. White foam hopped around her fair feet, making her ten toes more crystal and delicate. Catalina was basking in the golden sunlight, and herughter rang out clearly. For a moment, Bet thought he was still in a dream. "Good morning, Bet." Maggie''s voice suddenly rang out beside him. Bet slowly came back to his senses and nodded politely to Maggie. "Good morning, Grandma." At the door, Catalina, who was helping Keira wash the quilt, subconsciously turned around at the sound to take a look. She happened to meet Bet''s deep amber eyes. She panicked and thought ofst night when they had hugged and slept together. Her face flushed, and she immediately turned her head back. For a moment, she felt very shy. Her heart was beating wildly. "Let''s go to breakfast, Bet." R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Maggie asked Bet to sit down at the table. "Knowing that you''re here, I specially made some ravioli for you!" "Thank you, Grandma." Bet quickly thanked her. His eyes, however, would always stray to the lively figure in the sunlight. It was as if herughter had an inexplicable infectious force that even his cold heart was sprinkled with sunlight at the moment. He felt warm andfortable. Just as he was lost in thought, suddenly, Bet caught a glimpse of a small blood stain on Catalina''s light-colored pants. He frowned. Then he suddenly felt slightly unwell. Bet stood up, took off his windbreaker, and strode out. While Catalina was still treading merrily on the sheets, she suddenly felt a heavy weight on her shoulders and then was tightly wrapped in a thick men''s windbreaker. Catalina was stunned. She looked dazedly at Bet and blinked in bewilderment. "I''m not cold..." She thought Bet was afraid that she might catch a cold. With a ck face, Bet pinched his eyebrows and said, "You''re on your period." "What?" Catalina quickly lifted the windbreaker and turned to look at her pants. Then she realized that Bet was right. She felt very embarrassed. The reason was that she didn''t even feel it at all. "As a woman, can''t you even remember your own period?" Catalina said, "...Who knows that it''lle in advance?" After taking a nce at Bet, who was not looking well, Catalina felt a little guilty and said, "Are you okay?" She knew that he had always been afraid of seeing blood. Therefore, she would be very guilty if he passed out because of her menstrual blood. Bet didn''t answer her question but said, "I''m going out for a while." After saying that, he left her there and strode out of the door. "Hey! Where are you going?" Catalina came out of the wooden basin and craned her neck to shout, "You haven''t had your ravioli yet!" "To get some fresh air." With that, he left. Catalina was a bit embarrassed and a bit guilty. She thought, "Obviously, he was really scared by the blood on my pants. Will he hate me even more in the future?" Thinking of this, Catalina couldn''t help feeling a bit frustrated. Aftering out of Maggie''s house with the excuse of getting some fresh air, Bet found the nearest grocery store and walked straight in. He quickly found Catalina''s favorite brand of sanitary pads on the sparsely stocked shelves and then went to the counter to pay his bill. He had not often bought pads for Catalina before, but this was not the first time he had done so. When he pulled out a few banknotes from his wallet and was about to pay, Bet caught a glimpse of a row of various candies lying on the counter. Bet was stunned for a moment. Then he unconsciously picked out a box of apple-vored candy, ced it on the counter as well, and asked the storedy, "Excuse me, how much are they?" The storedy looked at Bet with a puzzled and slightly admiring gaze. "You are Lina''s ssmate, right? The one who often came to our vige to look for her when she was a child." "Yes." Bet did not deny it. "Wow! You''re a big man now." The storedy looked at Bet with sparkling eyes. "I always thought you were good-looking when you were only a kid. I didn''t expect you to be even more handsome when you grow up!" "Thank you." In the face of praise, Bet remained calm. After all, he had often been praised like this. "Are you now Lina''s boyfriend? Well, she''s a lucky girl." As she spoke, the storedy took out a ck stic bag and packed the pads and the box of candy Bet had bought inside. "It''s now really hard to find such a handsome and considerate boyfriend as you!" "Husband." Bet calmly corrected her and handed her a banknote. "Husband? Are you and Lina married?" The storedy took the banknote and gave him the changes. "I didn''t hear that from the Duffy family. You haven''t held the wedding yet, right?" "Sooner orter." "Well, congrattions then!" "Thank you." Bet walked out of the grocery store with the stic bag. Meanwhile, he thought, "It''s incredible that I was actually chatting with someone just now. She''s even apletely unknown stranger." When Bet returned to Maggie''s house, Catalina was just about to go out to buy pads. When she walked to the door, Bet stuffed a soft ck stic bag into her arms. "What is it?" Catalina was surprised. When she opened it, she saw a pack of sanitary pads. She looked back at Bet in consternation. Bet was already seated at the table again. He looked as if nothing had happened just now. Catalina, holding the pack of pads, was stunned for a long time. She thought, "So, he had actually gone out to buy me the sanitary pads just now?" Bet didn''t even look at her, but he seemed to have guessed what she was thinking. "Don''t think too much. I just bought it by the way." Catalina was speechless for a moment. She thought, "Fine. I knew it. Bet would not go buy such things for me specially." Although she thought so, Catalina still said, "Anyway, thank you, even if you just bought it by the way." Having said this, she hurried into the bathroom, carrying the pack of pads in her arms. The door was only closed for a few seconds, and then Catalina opened it and said, "What about the box of candy inside? Did you also buy it by the way?" Bet did not even look up. "The storedy didn''t have any changes, so she gave it to me for free." Catalina hadn''t expected to hear that. She rolled her eyes and said in her heart, "Fine! I have nothing to say." Catalina withdrew her head in embarrassment. Catalina stared for a moment at the pack of sanitary pads and the box of her favorite apple candy in her arms. Although she knew he hadn''t done it for her specially, she was still touched. Suddenly, she remembered that when her period first came, it was also Bet who had gone to buy her pads. She was fourteen that year. Due to malnutrition, she developed more slowly than normal teenagers. When she saw blood on her pants for the first time, which happened to be after school, Catalina ran out of the bathroom crying loudly. Her first reaction was to go find Bet. At the same time, Bet was ying basketball with others on the basketball court. When he saw her crying out of breath, he was so frightened that he immediately threw away the basketball in his hand. Regardless of theints of his teammates, he ran towards Catalina. Chapter 57 Im Married Chapter 57 I''m Married Chapter 57 I''m Married "Why are you crying? Who bullied you?" "Bet, I''m dying. I''m dying..." Catalina was sobbing and gasping. "What happened?" "Blood!" "What blood?" Bet was confused. Catalina turned her back to him. "My pants are all covered with blood..." At that moment, Catalina heard Bet, who had never said dirty words, suddenly curse. Then, he quickly took off his school uniform and wrapped it around her waist, warning her, "Wait for me here. Don''t go anywhere. And, stop crying. You won''t die!" After saying that, Bet ran out and soon disappeared. Catalina listened to him and stood still waiting for him. After hearing Bet say that she would not die, she shed a few tears and stopped crying. Soon, Bet came back panting. He stuffed a ck stic bag into her arms and gave her his mobile phone. "What is this?" Catalina looked at him in bewilderment with her big, watery eyes. Bet took a deep breath and pointed to the ck stic bag in her arms. "Sanitary pads. Learn to use it yourself by reading the instructions on the package. I used my mobile phone to search the inte for a relevant article on physical hygiene for you. Go to the toilet and read it for yourself. Go now!" "...Okay." Dazed, Catalina held the ck stic bag and Bet''s mobile phone and entered the bathroom. Bet had searched out a science article on women''s health knowledge for her on the mobile phone, and Catalina read it seriously word for word. Then she finally realized that she was grown up instead of being injured and dying. After a sigh of relief, she felt very shy. The reason was that she had actually learned such a thing with Bet''s help. She was really embarrassed by the fact that she even needed him to buy her pads. Catalina tapped herself on the head. She felt that she was really lucky to be cared for by Bet. Now, as Catalina recalled the days when she was 14 years old again, she had the illusion that time had ovepped. Looking at the familiar brand of pads in her hand, she smiled. She thought, "If only time could turn back... If only that absurd thing hadn''t happened between us four years ago..." ... As soon as Catalina got off work, her mobile phone rang. It was a call from her bestie, ire. "Dear! I''m back!" "Really? When did youe back?" Catalina was a little excited. After all, she hadn''t seen ire for a few years. "Almost two weeks ago. Let''s have dinner together tonight. I''ve booked a restaurant." "OK! Wee back. Send the address to me, and I''ll be right there!" Soon, Catalina received the restaurant address from ire. She took a taxi and headed straight there. It was a Masskarish restaurant that perfectly matched ire''s status as a nobledy and a famous star. Catalina had never been to such a ce because it was expensive. The average cost was about one thousand dors, so she naturally couldn''t afford it. "Good evening, Miss. Do you have a reservation?" As Catalina had just walked to the door, a waiter in the restaurant quickly approached and greeted her respectfully. Catalina nodded politely. "I''m Ms. Park''s friend." "Okay, this way, please." Catalina, led by the waiter, came to a rtively quiet private room. "Ms. Park, your guest is here." The waiter pushed the door open. "Lina!" Before Catalina could react, she was hugged by ire. "I miss you so much!" R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "Come on! You''ve been back for almost two weeks, but you have just asked me out. I don''t believe you." Catalina pretended to be angry. She pulled ire off her body and said, "Let me see whether you''ve changed in the past few years." Although the two of them had not seen each other for several years, the cordiality seemed to have returned as soon as they met. Catalina looked her up and down carefully. In a few years, no doubt, ire had be even more beautiful and attractive than she had been before. Her water eyes were sparkling like the stars, the bridge of her nose was straight, her lips were red, and her teeth were fair, as was her skin, which was almost translucent. "Well, you''re more beautiful than before!" Catalina shook her head and eximed sincerely. ire had some magical power. All women who were standing by her side would instantly be overshadowed by her. And now, Catalina felt that she was the one who had been overshadowed. "Why are you still so thin?" As ire spoke, she took Catalina''s hand and led her to a seat at the table. "You must eat more tonight." "Okay. I won''t be polite in front of you." The two sat down cross-legged, one after the other. "By the way, didn''t you say you wanted to introduce your boyfriend to me? Why isn''t he here?" As she spoke, Catalina looked around the room. There was no one else, of course, except them. "He and I will be engaged soon, and you will see him sooner orter. We will give you a big surprise then." ire''s eyes were always shining when she talked about her boyfriend. "You''re about to get married, but you still hide your boyfriend from me. Are we friends or not?" Catalina became even more curious about ire''s boyfriend. However, ire didn''t mention him too much, so she naturally stopped asking any further. Thinking of herself and Bet, Catalina hesitated for a moment and said, "Well...ire, actually, I also have something to tell you." "Go ahead. What''s the matter?" ire looked up at her. "...I''m married!" Catalina summoned up the courage to tell her. "What? Really? Congrattions!" After that, she said nothing more. This surprised Catalina a little. She had expected ire to be like her, full of curiosity about her husband. Therefore, she was surprised that ire didn''t ask her any questions. Looking at ire, who was eating opposite her with her head lowered, Catalina felt somewhat She thought, "ire used to like Bet so much. I have seen with my own eyes how many times she has given him love letters, which he has all mercilessly rejected. How will she react if she knows that my husband is Bet, the man she had pursued for a long time? Will she be angry? She''ll feel betrayed, will she not? Even though she now has a beloved boyfriend." After a long hesitation, Catalina held back the words she had meant to say. She said to herself in her heart, "Anyway, the rtionship between Bet and I won''tst long. Since we''re going to break up sooner orter, why not just keep this secret to ourselves and pretend it never happened?" "Lina, go shopping with me tonight, okay?" ire suddenly invited her. "Okay." Catalina came back to her senses and smiled slightly. "I customized a very special gift for my boyfriend." ire winked mysteriously at Catalina. Catalina could tell that ire really liked her boyfriend. From the bottom of her heart, Catalina was d for her. At the same time, she breathed a long, secret sigh of relief. "In this case, the marriage between me and Bet will not hurt her much, right?" she thought. Chapter 58 A Tie for Bennett Chapter 58 A Tie for Bet Chapter 58 A Tie for Bet The gift ire had prepared for her boyfriend was a customized tie. The tie was dark gray and had a good texture. The edge was slightly dotted with tiny diamonds, elegant and dignified, but not high-profile. At a nce, it could be seen that it was valuable. "Does it look good?" ire asked Catalina. "Very good." Catalina was telling the truth. Somehow, looking at the tie in ire''s hand, the first person she thought of was actually Bet. She just felt that the tie would fit Bet perfectly. She couldn''t help but ask, "How much is it?" ire looked back at her with a strange look and joked with a smile, "What? Do you want to buy one for your husband, too?" "...No, I don''t." Catalina quickly denied it, and her face slightly flushed. "I''m just asking." "Miss, this tie is worth 600 thousand dors." Catalina couldn''t believe what she had heard. She hadn''t expected a tie to be so expensive. Catalina even thought she had misheard. She said in her heart, "You must be kidding me! I shouldn''t have asked that question." ire seemed to see Catalina''s thoughts and said with a smile, "Although it''s expensive, it''s designed by a famous Dodgewich OSC master. It is high-end customized, and there are only two such ties globally." Catalina naturally could not understand such fashions among the upper sses, and she had never paid much attention to the famous designers mentioned by ire. She only caught two key points. One was that the tie was very expensive, and the other was that it was globally limited. "Only such a tie is good enough to match my boyfriend." ire spoke proudly and then handed the tie to the shopping guide. "Please wrap it up for me, thank you." "Okay." The shopping guide respectfully took the tie over with both hands. Catalina couldn''t help but think, "Who is ire''s boyfriend? If he really deserves a tie worth 600 thousand dors, then he must be a big shot!" "Lina." "What?" "Have you ever heard the connotation of ties?" ire asked Catalina. "Is there a connotation of ties?" "Of course. There are many exnations for this. A man''s tie is equal to a woman''s shackles. Once a man puts on the tie you buy for him, it means that he is willing to put on the shackles for you. From that moment, his eyes and his heart will be full of you. How about that? Isn''t it romantic?" "...I have never heard of such a thing." Catalina looked at the eye-catching tie wall in front of her, and suddenly a terrible idea came to her mind. She thought, "If I buy a tie for Bet... Stop! What am I thinking?" Catalina immediately swept away the chaotic thoughts in her mind. She said to herself again, "Bet will never like the gifts I buy for him, especially such a personal item! I must be crazy!" "Lina, what are you looking at? Do you want to buy one for your husband, too?" ire seemed to have read Catalina''s thoughts. "What? No." Catalina shook her head hurriedly and was a bit embarrassed. "If you want, just buy it! These are not high-end customized. They are not very expensive. Just have a look!" ire encouraged her. Catalina, who had thought she was crazy to have this idea, hesitated again under ire''s encouragement. About a quarter of an hourter, she selected a lead-gray tie from the tie wall. "This one then!" Although it was not as elegant and ssy as the high-end one ire had bought for her boyfriend, it had a mature color. Catalina felt that it would be quite suitable for Bet to wear to work. "Okay, Miss, I''ll wrap it up for you." "Wait." Catalina stopped the shopping guide and asked, "How much is it?" "This one is not expensive. It only costs 30 thousand dors." Hearing that, Catalina was stunned for a moment. She couldn''t help but roast in her heart, "Only 30 thousand dors? It''s just a tie, and it is actually worth 30 thousand dors?" Catalina felt a little sorry for her money. However, she suddenly remembered the 200 thousand dors she had previously received from Bet. She thought, "I spent 100 thousand dors on Grandma''s surgery, and I still have 100 thousand left in my bank ount. Therefore, it''s righteous to use his money to buy him a tie. Just take it as my gratitude for his paying the hospitalization fee for Grandma. Also, he bought me a pack of sanitary padsst time." Thinking of this, Catalina calmed down a lot. She said to herself in her mind, "Yes, I just want to thank him. I absolutely don''t mean anything else." Then Catalina took out her bank card from her backpack. "Please wrap it up for me, thank you." "Okay, Ms. Grant. This way, please." "OK." ... At the Sophora Vi. In Catalina''s bedroom. With the ugly doll that Bet had given her in her arms and the box of candy he had bought for her in her hands, Catalina nestled on the sofa, seriously talking to the ugly doll. "Little guy, do you think I should give this gift to him or not?" Catalina shook the box of apple candy she could not bear to eat. The candy rolled inside the box, making a crashing sound. "You think I should give him?" Catalina hesitated. "He will definitely not like it. Moreover, will he not despise this tie? After all, it only cost $30,000. Think about it. The tie that ire bought for her boyfriend cost 600 thousand. The one I bought was 20 times cheaper than the one she bought. Therefore, Bet will definitely despise it. Besides, with his weird personality, I''m afraid his first reaction after receiving the tie from me is to throw it into the trash can!" R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only When Catalina spoke of this, she somewhat wussed out. Shepressed her lips and said, "I don''t know if this tie can be refunded. After all, it cost $30,000! That''s a lot of money, isn''t it? "Do you still think I should give it to him? Then I''ll reconsider it." Catalina mumbled to herself, and after pretending to be reconsidering it for a moment, she nodded. "Okay, then I''ll give it to him! Anyway, it''s just a thank-you gift, and I don''t mean anything else, do I? Therefore, I don''t have to be guilty." Just as Catalina was chatting happily with the ugly doll, she suddenly saw a noble figure, who was surrounded by servants, pass over the antique long bridge and stride towards the Lake Compound. Catalina immediately jumped up from the sofa. After throwing down the doll and the box of candy in her hands, she quickly took her down coat from the hanger, picked up the tie box from the long table, and stuffed it into the big pocket of her coat. After that, she hurried out of the bedroom. She did all this in less than fifteen seconds. She put her hands into the pockets of her down coat and walked towards Bet, pretending to be rxed. Seeing that Bet was about to enter the Lake Compound, Catalina hurriedly craned her neck and stopped him, "Bet!" Bet stopped walking and turned to look at her. Catalina quickly ran forward and then jumped up to him. She was as lively as a child. Anyone could tell that she was in a great mood. Bet, one hand in his pocket, looked at the girl who had suddenly rushed in front of him with a The little bun on the back of her head, following her bouncing movements, swayed slightly and looked cute. Bet''s deep amber eyes were suddenly suffused with some unknown emotion. "Good evening, Mrs. Shaffer." The servants behind Bet respectfully greeted Catalina and then withdrew a few steps to leave them alone. "Good evening, guys." Catalina greeted back politely. Bet looked down at her and asked, "What''s up?" Chapter 59 Bennett Is Pleased Chapter 59 Bet Is Pleased Chapter 59 Bet Is Pleased "Well... " Catalina''s hand in her pocket nervously scratched the tie box. When she was hesitating whether to give Bet the gift or not, she suddenly caught a glimpse of him wearing a dark gray tie around his neck. Catalina was stunned. She thought the tie looked familiar. Catalina noticed that the edge of the tie was dotted with tiny diamonds. Her mind suddenly went nk. She thought, "Isn''t it the tie ire customized for her boyfriend this afternoon? Designed by a famous Dodgewich master and globally limited, the tie is worth 600 thousand dors. Why is it now around Bet''s neck?" Catalina''s mind was instantly in turmoil. "Catalina?" Bet saw the strange expression on her face and frowned slightly. "What''s wrong with you? Why did you stop me?" "Nothing. I just happened to pass by and wanted to say hi. I''m on my way to the living room..." As she spoke, Catalina was about to leave. However, Bet didn''t allow her to go. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. He took Catalina''s arm in his strong hand and drew her back. "What''s the matter?" Catalina was forced to return to her original position. "I told you. Nothing." "What on earth is going on?" Bet asked again. "Nothing! Didn''t you hear me?" Catalina repeated her answer in a slightly raised voice, but she did not dare to look up at him. The space between Bet''s eyebrows twitched suddenly. "If so, then why did you throw a tantrum at me?" Bet was a little angry. "I didn''t!" Catalina denied it. "Say that again?" Catalina felt silent. She wussed out. Not daring to speak again, she lowered her head and sulked. Bet was also irritated by her unprovoked anger. Seeing that she did not speak with her head down, he stretched out his long fingers and caught her chin, forcing her to look up. "What did I do to infuriate you? Huh?" His cold, long fingers sped on Catalina''s chin, but it gave her the illusion of burning. Her cheeks were suddenly flushed. She withdrew her chin from his hand, nced over the tie around his neck, and casually said, "Your tie looks pretty good. How did you get it? Did someone buy it for you?" "My tie?" Bet nced down at the tie on his chest and then looked at Catalina in confusion. "I don''t know. My stylist team picked it out for me. Why do you care about this?" "What? Nothing! I just thought it looked good. I was just asking." Catalina''s eyes blinked guiltily. Bet''s answer, however, suddenly put her in a better mood. She thought, "I''ve really thought too much. This tie has nothing to do with ire." Bet looked down at her inquiringly. "Are you changing the topic by talking about my tie with me?" "What? No, I''m not!" Catalina shook her head innocently. Seeing Bet''s incredulity, she raised her little hand andid it on her forehead with an earnest expression. "I promise, I just sincerely praised your tie and asked about it casually." Upon hearing this, Bet lowered his head and looked again at the tie on his chest. Then he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Do you think it looks good?" "Yes!" Catalina nodded. Meanwhile, she thought, "Come on, it''s worth 600 thousand dors, so how would I dare to say it doesn''t look good?" Bet''s frown rxed a little at Catalina''spliment. His mood suddenly improved a lot. The unpleasure that Catalina''s unprovoked anger against him had just caused also vanished in an instant. "Is there anything else you want to say?" Bet asked her. His tone was significantly kinder than it had been just now. Catalina hesitated for a moment and shook her head in the end. She decided not to give Bet the tie she had bought. "Then go to bed early." After Bet had finished speaking, he turned and walked to the Lake Compound, followed by a number of servants. "...Okay," answered Catalina in a dull voice. When the lights of the Lake Compound were turned on, Catalina finally dared to take out the gift from her pocket. Shepressed her lips and thought, "He''s wearing a tie worth 600 thousand dors, so how could I give him the tie I bought, which cost only 30 thousand? Forget it." Catalina knocked on her head and said to herself, "It''s just a waste of money. I''ll go and refund it tomorrow." Holding the gift in her hand, she went unhappily back to her bedroom. Meanwhile, she thought, "Well, my first try to give him the gift failed!" Bet returned to the Lake Compound and prepared to bathe. He stood barefoot on the white Melstead carpet, loosened the tie around his neck, took it off, and subconsciously handed it to the maid behind him, Hailee. Suddenly, he thought of something and then turned to tell Hailee, "Just hang the tie here." Hailee was surprised. "Mr. Shaffer, are you sure that it doesn''t need to be cleaned and put in the cab?" "No, I''ll wear it again tomorrow." Hailee fell silent. Her mouth widened in disbelief. She thought, "Impossible!! Mr. Shaffer, who has always been a serious cleanliness addict, is actually willing to wear the same tie for two consecutive days? Is he bewitched?" Half an hourter, Hailee withdrew from Bet''s room, but she still couldn''t recover from the shock. She eximed in her heart, "Unbelievable! It''s really unbelievable!" ... The next day. While eating breakfast, Catalina unexpectedly noticed that Bet was wearing the same tie again. It was still the 600-thousand one he wore yesterday. Catalina thought Bet liked the tie quite much. In fact, she also felt that the tiny diamonds were really dazzling. At the same time, Catalina thought of her cheap tie. She said in her heart self-mockingly, "Now it seems that I should never give that tie to him. I should be d that I gave up yesterday. Otherwise, I would have been really embarrassed." In the afternoon, after lunch, Catalina was called into the office by Felix Tate, the chief editor. "Lina, there is a new case in the interview department, which is a bit tricky. Take a look." As he spoke, Felix handed her a document. "You should have paid attention to this news before, right?" Catalina took the document and read it through quickly. She knew something about the case. The news reported on the poverty alleviation work in a poor mountainous region. The government had been hoping to lift the mountainous region out of poverty as soon as possible. Unexpectedly, several years had passed, and the allocation had been devolved, but the poverty alleviation effect had not improved yet. Therefore, many reporters had gone deep into the mountainous region for visits and learned from the people there that the poverty alleviation work had never been carried out. Reporters flew into a rage. They wrote the reprimand news and made it public. The news was so boisterous, but the government was tight-lipped. Eventually, the news subsided, and nothing had changed. "Mr. Tate, what do you mean?" "I mean, we need to follow up on this news again. Jerry, the deputy editor, will bring two experienced employees, together with you and Emery, to form a team and visit this mountainous region again." "Okay. When do we leave then?" "Tomorrow!" "That soon?" "We have to. It''s a temporary arrangement. Get the preparations done today. In addition, the conditions in that mountainous region are limited, so you girls may suffer a little." "I''m okay with it." "Good, then inform Emery of this!" Catalina came back from Felix''s office, put down the document, and was about to tell Emery about the following half-month business trip. Unexpectedly, Emery in the nextpartment suddenly pulled her hand and eximed excitedly, "Lina, I know who the woman is!" Chapter 60 Catalina Is Heartbroken Chapter 60 Catalina Is Heartbroken Chapter 60 Catalina Is Heartbroken Hearing that, Catalina was stunned for a moment. She looked confused. She thought, "What woman? Whose woman?" Seeing her confusion, Emery said, "Why didn''t you get it?" She drew Catalina into a chair. "Of course Bet''s woman! Look for yourself!" "Who?" Catalina couldn''t believe what she had heard. She was shocked. She thought, "Does she mean Bet''s girlfriend in Gilburgh?" "Look for yourself! It''s be a hot search on Twitter." Hearing this, Catalina immediately leaned over to look. When Catalina saw the intimate photo of a man and a woman on Emery''sputer screen, her mind went nk, as if something had exploded in her head. The photo, which was supposed to be takenst night, showed Bet and a girl walking arm-in-arm out of a seven-star hotel. The photo was taken from a stealthy angle, and it was at night. The light, therefore, was actually rather dim, but Catalina recognized the girl in the photo at a nce. At that moment, a chill went through her from head to toe. Her face turned pale in an instant. "I didn''t expect it to be ire Park, that phony woman!" Catalina was still scolding beside her with jealousy, "This woman is definitely using my husband to hype herself. After all, Bet is in charge of Shaffer Group, so how would he possibly take a fancy to such a phony woman? I don''t believe it!" Catalina''s brain was buzzing. She thought, "You don''t believe it? But that''s the fact! The tie around Bet''s neck is the best proof. So, it was really a gift from ire. And, because it was given by his beloved woman, he broke his principle of never wearing the same tie for two days." Catalina knew Bet well. Bet would never easily break his principle for a woman unless he loved her. Catalina copsed in the chair with empty eyes, as if she had lost all her strength. She even felt that her breathing was bing difficult. She thought, "One is my beloved man, and the other is my best friend. They''re in love! They''ve been in love for a long time! And I, sandwiching between them, be the most awkward, helpless, and disgusting homewrecker. ire is in Gilburgh. Bet''s girlfriend is also in Gilburgh. ire said that her boyfriend personally picked her up from Gilburgh. The time she came back was exactly the time Bet went to Gilburgh. I should have thought of that long ago! Catalina Grant... What a fool you are!" "Lina, why are you looking so pale? You''re so cold! What''s wrong with you? Don''t scare me..." Emery was frightened by Catalina''s desperate look and quicklyforted her, "Don''t be like that. Bet is not our real husband, is he? He''s just our idol, and it''s normal for him to have a girlfriend. Although we''re not happy with that, we must ept the fact! Don''t get too infatuated with him." Hearing that, Catalina said to herself in her heart, "She''s right! Catalina, don''t get too infatuated with him. Do you think you really are Bet''s wife? Don''t you know his purpose of marrying you? Don''t you know what the result between you and him will be? You clearly know that you''ll only be heartbroken in the end, so why are you still so infatuated with him?" "Lina..." "Take them." Catalina finally came back to her senses. Her sadness just now had subsided, reced by her usualposure. She handed the news materials in her hand to Emery and said, "Mr. Tate said that tomorrow we will enter the mountains. Get yourself ready." As if nothing had happened just now, after giving the news materials to Emery, she got up and left the office. Watching her go, Emery was worried and confused. She thought, "What''s wrong with Lina? Isn''t it just that her idol has a girlfriend? Why does she look like she just broke up with her boyfriend? I didn''t expect Lina to be even more infatuated with Bet than I am!" Catalina went to the toilet and tried to refresh herself by pping some cold water on her face. When she looked up, however, she saw her scarlet and moist eyes in the mirror. No matter how hard she tried to pretend to be strong, she still couldn''t ignore the dull pain in her heart. "My master, you have a phone calling in. Please answer it..." Suddenly, the phone in Catalina''s pocket rang. She took it out and had a look. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Then she was stunned for a moment. It was a call from ire. Catalina''s heart ached, and her eyes grew moist again. She hesitated for a few seconds before answering the phone. "Lina, it''s me." "I know." Apart from that, Catalina did not know what to say. She struggled to hold her sobs back. Her tears, however, were already welling. She looked up and tried to fight back her tears. "Let''s talk, okay?" Catalina didn''t speak. "Let''s have dinner together tonight!" ire took the initiative to ask her out again. Catalina thought for a moment and agreed in the end. "Okay." After hanging up, Catalina washed her pale face, patted it, and forced a smile. Then she walked out of the toilet and back into the office. "Lina, are you okay?" As Catalina had just sat down, Emery leaned her head over. She looked very worried. "I really didn''t expect you to be so infatuated with Bet. If I knew it, I wouldn''t have told you..." "I''m fine." Catalina paused and added softly, "And, I''m not infatuated with him." "You''re right! We are not infatuated with him. He''s such a big shot that we can never have anything to do with him. We can only admire him, but we should never really fall in love with him." Emery was stillforting Catalina. "Did you bring your cosmetic bag?" asked Catalina. "Yes! Do you want it?" "Not now. Lend it to me after work!" "Okay." ... Catalina put on light makeup before going to meet ire. She wanted to make herself not look so bad and not bepletely overshadowed by the striking ire. ire booked a high-end Postdolish restaurant this time. With a cap and a pair of ck sunsses, she looked quite ordinary and low-key. After all, she was now a big star. With only ten hot searches on Twitter, her romance with Bet had upied five of them, three of which were even at the top list and under hot discussions. "Did you read the news?" Instead of beating about the bush with Catalina, ire went straight to the point. Catalina held the coffee cup in front of her, lowered her head, and stared fixedly at theyer ofce on the coffee. "Yes." ire took off the ck sunsses on her face and looked at Catalina. "Is there anything you want to ask me?" Catalina looked up at her. She thought, "She is indeed beautiful and pure. With her delicate face and exquisite facial features, she was born to be a star. I used to think that if Bet did not even take a fancy to a girl like ire, then how excellent should the girl he liked be?" Thinking of this, Catalina asked, "You know my husband is Bet, right?" Chapter 61 Dont Be A Mistress Chapter 61 Don''t Be AMistress Chapter 61 Don''t Be A Mistress "You do realize that Bet is my husband, right?" Catalina asked ire. She didn''te across as aggressive, as her tone was soft and gentle. ire replied, "Honestly, I''ve been aware of this for quite some time. I also know why he married you." Catalina''s eyes widened in surprise. "Catalina, do you know when Bet and I got together?" ire asked, looking up. Catalina knew the answer would be disappointing the moment her eyes met ire''s. "Bet proposed to me the day you and Warren got married." ire proudly removed the diamond ring from her left hand''s middle finger and showed it to Catalina, saying, "This is the ring Bet gave me four years ago." Catalina blinked, trying to keep the tears from falling from her eyes. "Bet couldn''t possibly propose to another girl that day. The night before, we..." Catalina thought to herself. "Are you going to say that the man you slept with the night before you married Warren was Bet?" Catalina raised her head and stared across the table at ire in shock after hearing that. "What do you mean?" "Are you wondering how I found out?" ire asked while putting the ring back on. Catalina didn''t notice that the ring didn''t fit ire''s finger because she wasn''t in the mood to be This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. concerned about the minor details. "ire, how much do you know about what happened four years ago?" Catalina asked. She was more nervous than she had ever been. She had assumed that no one but herself knew about that ridiculous night four years ago, but she had not expected ire to know. She began to suspect Bet was also aware of it. "Does Bet know about this?" "You don''t have to be so nervous." ire appeared to be more at ease than Catalina. She stared at Catalina for a moment before finally saying something shocking, "You weren''t the only one who slept with Bet that night." Catalina''s eyes widened. "What do you mean?" ire''s statement confused Catalina and caused her face to turnpletely pale. "It seems that I can''t hide this from you any longer." "Do you know why, after all these years, Bet never thought the man you slept with that night was himself?" ire asked slowly as she sipped her coffee. "Why?" Catalina had always been perplexed by this. "Because I entered the room immediately after you left." Catalina eximed, "How ridiculous! Before leaving the room, I double-checked that the door was locked and left my room key inside. You couldn''t possibly have gotten in." "You''re missing an important detail there. I checked in at the front desk with my ID and reserved that room." Catalina recalled that ire had used her ID to get her a room because she was too drunk to do so. Bet barged into Catalina''s room just as she was getting into bed. Bet was delirious and disoriented that night, while Catalinacked the energy to fight back. They had no idea what was going on while they were having sex. Benny eventually dozed off, but Catalina remained awake. She left the hotel room quietly after regaining consciousness. Catalina didn''t expect ire to ask for the room card from the front desk and enter the room right after she left. "Catalina, please ept my apologies. I never intended to rece you. But when Bet hugged and kissed me, I couldn''t stop myself. You slept with him despite knowing you were marrying his brother the next day, right?" "OK, that''s enough! Just stop saying that." Catalina burst into tears. One thing became clear to her at this point: that night was only unique to her. On the other hand, Bet could have slept with whoever he wanted. He didn''t mind if he slept with Catalina or ire because it didn''t matter to him. "Does he know about this?" Catalina asked. "Do you have the guts to tell him?" ire asked back. Catalina clenched her teeth and shook her head as she bit her lower lip. ire said, "Great. I''m not going to tell him that either." "I''m counting on you, ire, to keep this secret t for me forever," Catalina said. Her biggest fear was that Bet would find out about it. "Don''t worry, Catalina. I hope Bet never learns anything about this. I''d like to be the only woman he could remember whenever he thinks about that night." "OK." Catalina''s grip tightened around her coffee mug. Her eyes were filled with tears. Bet only remembered ire from that night, not Catalina. Catalina thought to herself, "That''s fantastic! Isn''t this what I''ve always wanted?" Tears streamed down her cheeks,nded on the intricate coffeette art, and gradually melted away. "So why did he marry me?" Catalina asked, her gaze fixed on the ripples. "The reason is quite simple. He married you because of me." Catalina looked up at her in confusion. "You know that Bet''s mother is a shrewd woman, don''t you? To be honest, my family is wealthier than yours, but she still looked down on me. Bet and his mother fought a lot because of me. He eventually decided to marry the person his mother despised the most, namely, you. He knew his mother would never ept you as his wife, so she would think I was a better option than you. I know it''s unfair to you, and I''ve tried to talk Bet out of it. But he doesn''t like you and even hates you, so I couldn''t convince him to give up that idea. I''m sorry." Catalina then realized that she was nothing more than a tool to him. But she got to admit that Bet''s idea worked. His mother was strongly opposed to their marriage. So after he propoesed to Catalina, his mother aggressively refused and would be fine with him marrying anyone else. "Catalina, please divorce Bet!" ire suddenly said. Catalina raised her head in surprise. ire''s eyes welled up with tears. She clutched Catalina''s cold hand and said, "I''m begging you to give him back to me! Bet and I truly love each other. Please don''t be the other woman, darling. This ought to bring shame on you." Catalina''s heart was pounding. Her hands were as cold as if they were freezing. She withdrew her hand from ire''s and clutched her cup of hot coffee. Although the room was warm and the coffee was still steaming, Catalina''s hands were icy cold. She thought, "ire told me to get a divorce and give Bet back to her! She told me not to be a mistress because it''s shameful. " After hearing ire''s words, Catalina felt like she had been stabbed in the heart. However, she did not dare to say "yes". To her, the time she spent with Bet was a gift from God. She realized that she did not want to give up such a valuable gift. (To Be Continued) Chapter 62 This is My Gift Chapter 62 This is My Gift Chapter 62 This is My Gift ire was getting nervous at Catalina''s silence. ire said while sobbing, "What''s the point of staying with a man who doesn''t care about you, Catalina? Is there hope for a future with Bet if you keep trying? You wish! Your marriage is doomed to fail! Have youpletely forgotten about Warren? He''s still in a hospital bed in aa! Have you forgotten that you and Bet are to me for all of this pain? You''re the murderers! I don''t see how the two of you can have a happy ending. Do you not have any remorse? Catalina, you almost married Warren! How could you do this to him? Have you ever considered Warren''s feelings? Aren''t you afraid of getting karma?" ire''s eloquent words aggravated Catalina''s pain. The issues ire mentioned were the ones Catalina tried her best to ignore. She was too selfish to think about Warren, who was still lying in the hospital bed. Catalina felt a chill run down her spine at these words. Catalina finally said with a shaking voice, "I''ll leave him," after much deliberation. She was having difficulty catching her breath. She stood up, gathered her belongings, and walked away. ire stroked her coffee cup back and forth after Catalina had left. She grimaced as she stared at the meltingyer oftte art on top of the coffee. "Catalina, do you think you''re good enough to be my friend? I only became friends with you because I wanted to get to know Bet. You hillbilly! Who are you to say that you are better than me?" ire then stood up and spilled her coffee into Catalina''s cup. She didn''t stop until the coffee ran out of the cup. To ire, it wasn''t the cup of coffee she was ruined at the time, but Catalina. She mmed the empty cup to the floor and shattered it in a fit of rage only after the coffee was drained. Her eyes were as menacing as an active volcano because of her jealousy. She was at a loss to exin why she lost it to Catalina. She was gorgeous, smart, and came from a prestigious family background. Because of some reason unknown to her, Bet just couldn''t bring himself to like her. ire felt that Catalina could not bepared to her. She couldn''t understand why Bet had fallen so deeply and persistently in love with Catalina. ire thought that was a huge bummer, so she swore she could never give up on making Bet fall in love with her. She always believed he would eventually end up with her. **** Catalina stood alone at the bus stop sign for quite some time. Every bus that passed stopped at the stop sign, but they all left. When night fell, neon signs began to light up the streets. Catalina saw the bright lights, but her heart was pierced by an overwhelming sadness. "I guess this is the end," she thought. She closed her eyes tightly. Her mind was already made up: she should end the marriage immediately because it was a bad idea. Catalina took thest bus back to Sophora Vi. There wasn''t a single light on when she returned, leading her to believe everyone had already gone to bed. Catalina walked in the door and put on her slippers without switching on the light. She was surprised to see a muscr man in her path as she turned to return to her room. His domineering, oppressive demeanor sent shivers down her spine. Catalina was so terrified that she took a few steps back. Only after she had backed into a corner and leaned against the door did the mane to a halt. He had one hand in his suit pants pocket. He leaned down slightly and red at Catalina condescendingly in the corner. The aggression in his eyes was chilling. "Where have you been?" He asked. His demeanor was domineering, and it was clear that hering back homete annoyed him. Catalina inhaled deeply. She couldn''t see his face because of the darkness, but she could imagine his expression. She knew he would be frowning and pursing his lips as if she owed him a million dors. Catalina exined, "I''ve been workingte." She lied because she didn''t want him to know that she had met ire because of the news. She didn''t want to give the impression that she cared about him more than anything in the world. She reasoned that she needed to keep her dignity in the presence of Bet. "Howe you didn''t answer Ralph''s call?" Bet asked, approaching her. "Did he call me? Sorry, I didn''t hear it." Catalina waspletely honest, as she didn''t hear her phone ring. Bet appeared to be trying to figure out if she was telling the truth by staring into her eyes in the dark. To Catalina''s surprise, Bet rxed after a moment. "Is there anything else you want to ask me?" he asked softly. Catalina immediately shook her head and said, "No, nothing. I''m feeling so tired now. You should go to sleep, too." Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She then prepared to leave. But Bet suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Have you checked out today''s headlines?" Catalina''s heart skipped a beat. Her wrist ached a little where he had gripped it. "What news?" Catalina decided to y dumb. With a swift movement, she freed her hand from Bet''s clutch and dered, "I haven''t had time to catch up on the news today. I''ll check itter." Bet, however, maintained a tight hold on her hand. Instead of loosening his grip, he pulled her closer to him. Her backpack slid off her shoulder as Catalina stumbled andnded on the floor with a thud. In the glow of the streetmp, Catalina saw the tie she had bought for Bet fall out of the bag. Her heart started racing, so she quickly knelt and attempted to put away the box. But he raced ahead of her and grabbed it from the floor. Catalina was furious. She shouted, "That''s my stuff! Give it back to me!" Instead of listening to her, Bet took the liberty to tear the package himself. He cocked an eyebrow at the sight of a tie and asked, " Why are you freaking out? Is this for me?" Bet held the tie around his neck as if he were trying it on. "No!" Catalina snatched the tie from his grasp and tucked it behind her back. Her cheeks were flushed from panic. "Don''t touch my stuff!" Bet felt let down because she had snatched that tie from him. After hearing her words, his expression changed to one of dismay. "It''s not for me?" he asked. He tried to confirm this with Catalina. "Absolutely not! " Catalina replied with a slight lift of her chin. She could hear her heart beating as she leaned against the door. "Aren''t your ties worth hundreds of thousands of dors? You wouldn''t want a tie like that. I''m not sending you this garbage so you can insult me! I know what I''m doing." "Give it to me!" Bet spread his hands wide. He had a somber expression on his face. Catalina hid the tie behind her back. "I told you it wasn''t for you," she said. "Who is it for, then?" Bet approached Catalina with the ferocity of a bloodthirsty beast. "I''m asking you thest time. Who was it that you bought this tie for?" He appeared to be on the verge of snapping her neck if she said anything he didn''t want to hear. (To Be Continued) Chapter 63 Mrs. Shaffer Is Gone Chapter 63 Mrs. Shaffer Is Gone Chapter 63 Mrs. Shaffer Is Gone Catalina got the creeps because Bet was so aggressive. She felt as if she couldn''t breathe. She even had the urge to spill the beans on impulse at some moments. She gave up the idea as she nced up and saw the tie ire had given him hanging around his neck. She felt hurt and as if her heart had been pierced by a knife. She straightened up to meet his piercing gaze. "I meant to give the tie to Aaron. Are you satisfied now?" "What did you just say?" Bet''s expression became glum. While he managed to keep his cool, his words carried an icy chill. Catalina''s breathing came to a halt at that precise moment. "I want to give this tie to..." "Get the hell out!" Bet rudely interrupted Catalina before she could finish her sentence. Catalina couldn''t see his expression because the room was dark. He turned away, his hands clenched into fists. Bet eventually walked away without saying anything. His lonely back faded into the darkness. He wished he hadn''t stayed up sote just to wait for her to return and hear her exnation. His rage was fueled by her apparent disregard for him. He was enraged because she never paid him any attention and had had her eye on someone else. Catalina returned to her room and closed her eyes as she leaned against the door. Like a wandering ghost, she lost all of her strength. Catalina had a nightmare that night. In her dream, she was transported back in time to the extravagant but ridiculous wedding that had taken ce four years before. The couple was giving a speech under the sacred cross. Jenny, Catalina''s half-sister, stormed the stage and stripped her naked in front of the audience. Everyone was stunned by that. Catalina stood nearly naked on the stage. She was horrified to notice that all of the guests were staring at her as if she were a circus performer. There were hickeys all over her body, left by the man who had taken her virginity the night before. Catalina''s humiliation as she stood on that stage stayed with her forever. Jenny mockingly pointed at Catalina and said, "Take a look at this slut! Look what she did the night before her wedding with a stranger! These hickeys all over her body are her tramp stamp. Don''t let her innocent appearance fool you, people. She is a total whore. She can''t marry Warren!" "Bang!" Warren copsed to the floor like a statue when Jenny finished her speech. He remained unconscious forever, eventually turning into a PVS. Catalina would never forget what Bet had done that day. He stormed onto the stage and threw a suit jacket over her body. After that, he picked up Warren, who was unconscious, and ran out the door. In the midst of the chaos, Catalina heard what Bet had said to her before he left. "I''ll never forgive you if something happens to my brother!" "Ah!" Catalina found herself waking up screaming in the middle of the night. Her pajamas were drenched in a cold sweat. Catalina covered her face with her hands. She couldn''t stop thinking about the moment Warren copsed and the warning Bet had given her before leaving. She was relieved that it had all been a dream. Catalina checked the time and discovered it was still early morning. But she was wide awake. Catalina got out of bed and showered. She then started packing her belongings. She''d be spending some time in a mountain soon. She hoped that by doing so, she could take some time away from him and collect her thoughts. Catalina stuffed the rag doll her mother had given her into the suitcase with her other belongings. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw a clown doll. She hesitated but eventually decided to keep her hands off the doll. She knew she couldn''t be greedy because it wasn''t hers, to begin with. Before leaving Sophora Vi with her suitcase, Catalina left a signed copy of her divorce papers on the table. She promised ire that she would return Bet to her, and she meant it. She had no desire to be involved in someone else''s marriage. Catalina left Sophora Vi at the crack of dawn. She hurriedly packed her bags and entered a waiting taxi without a backward nce. It was the best option for her, and she knew she would never return. **** Wendy immediately went to check on Catalina after waking up. When Wendy entered the room, she was surprised to find it empty. She was shocked when she saw the divorce papers on the table. She immediately grabbed the paper and dashed out the door. "Oh, my! Ralph!" Wendy ran all the way to the front yard. "What''s going on? Why are you running? Mr. Shaffer is having breakfast!" With a serious expression on his face, Ralph emerged from the dining room and stopped Wendy. He winked at her, implying that Bet was having a bad day and that she shouldn''t mess with him. Wendy was too anxious to be concerned about that. "Catalina''s gone! Look at what she left. Please show this to Mr. Shaffer." "She''s gone?" Ralph broke out in a cold sweat as soon as he saw the divorce papers Wendy was holding. He couldn''t risk waiting, so he brought it straight to the dining room. "Mr. Shaffer." Ralph said politely, leaning slightly forward. After putting down the newspaper, Bet asked apathetically, "What is it?" Ralph paused for a moment before cing the divorce papers in his hands on the table with caution. "Ms. Shaffer left this before she left. Besides, Wendy said all her luggage was gone." Bet gave that paper a quick nce. He didn''t say anything, and his expression remained unchanged. He said, "Put it away," in a t tone. Ralph was stunned into silence. After he regained hisposure, he replied," Got it." He had no idea what Mr. Shaffer was thinking or whether he was angry. Ralph left the dining room slowly, picking up the divorce papers. Wendy was still outside waiting. When she saw Ralphe out, she greeted him quickly and asked, "What did Mr. Shaffer say?" Ralph shook his head and replied, "Mr. Shaffer didn''t say anything. The only instruction I received was to put it away." R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only "What? Why didn''t he just rip it apart?" Wendy expressed her concern, saying, "What was Mr. Shaffer thinking? Catalina couldn''t possibly leave without saying anything. Mr. Shaffer didn''t say anything about looking for her?" Ralph kept shaking his head. "No. Mr. Shaffer seemed to be unruffled." Wendy asked anxiously, "How did this happen? Why did Ms. Shaffer suddenly leave? I thought she was doing fine here! Did Mr. Shaffer upset her?" Ralph returned his gaze to the dining room before reminding Wendy, "Keep your voice down!" Wendy asked, lowering her voice, "Is it possible that this is rted to the Mr. Shaffer scandal that broke the day before? I think Ms. Shaffer must be jealous." "Maybe." "Does Mr. Shaffer have an affair with that actress?" "Shhh! It''s better if you don''t know too much! Get to work!" "I don''t feel like working when Ms. Shaffer isn''t here!" Wendy pouted. "Don''t you think you''re getting paid too much?" "Ah! I''m on my way right now!" Wendy immediately ran away. Ralph sighed as he looked down at the divorce papers he was holding. He was curious as to when the couple would stop torturing each other. (To Be Continued) Chapter 64 The Best Couple Chapter 64 The Best Couple Chapter 64 The Best Couple Catalina arrived at Starham with the rest of the team by flight that day. They then continued by bus to a very remote county. Five hours of driving and another three hours on the bus brought them to Starham Mountain. After a short walk from the bus stop, they reached the foot of the mountain. Starham Mountain was a cliffside outcropping in a narrow gorge between two towering peaks. It was difficult for people to enter the canyon, making it even more difficult for the car to enter. Lucky for them, a viger had brought mules to help them with their luggage. "Please be cautious as you walk. Stay on the wall and away from the cliff edge." The viger warned them. "Catalina, I''m so scared." Emery bnced herself by cing one hand on the wall and the other on Catalina''s hand. Her legs were shaking from nervousness. "What on earth was the chief editor thinking? Why did he send us to such a dangerous ce?" Catalina was also the first time to set foot on such a steep mountain. She had never been in such a perilous location before, so it was natural for her to feel scared. Catalina knew she couldn''t show any fear because Emery was already terrified. To cheer up her friend, she could only say, "It''s okay. This is what we should go through. If we seed, we might even get a promotion when we return! Maybe everyone will be green with envy over us." "Wow! What gives you cause for such hope? Is the camera on? When wee back, I must show the chief editor with evidence of our ordeal." "Sure. It''s on!" The group walked for nearly four hours in the mountains while chattering. It was after dark when they finally made it to the Starham Mountain office. As soon as dinner was over, everyone copsed into bed from exhaustion. Catalina checked her phone before going to sleep out of habit. "You can put down your phone." Emery removed her journal from her suitcase and ced it on her pillow. She got on the floor and said, "I''ve checked it before. Once we reached the mountainous region, the cell phone service virtually vanished. We cannot do anything, not just use the Inte, but even make a phone call." "Fine." Catalina put down her phone because she had no choice. But she couldn''t stop thinking about Bet and whether he had seen the divorce papers she had left on the table. She started to think about his reaction when he saw the paper, whether he''d be angry or relieved. She wondered if he would call and question her about what was happening. Catalina couldn''t help but nce at her phone again. Her phone screen didn''t light up, indicating that she had not missed any important calls or texts. Emery was lying contentedly while reading her journal. "I can''t live without the Inte! Thank God I brought my journal because otherwise, I''d be so bored." Catalina only nced at the journal absentmindedly but identally spotted a photo of Bet and ire. She frowned and turned around immediately. She pretended to sleep by closing her eyes. The expression on Catalina''s face was telling, and Emery picked up on it. She felt remorse when she saw the photo in the journal. "Catalina, I''m sorry. I..." "It''s okay. I don''t care about that." Catalina cut Emery off before she could finish her sentence. "No! You lied to me!" Emery said. She couldn''t understand why Catalina was so concerned about her idol dating someone. Emery moved closer to Catalina and said, "I know how to get you to stop thinking about it. But, promise me that you won''t punch me." "Fine." Catalina turned back around and looked at Emery. Emeryid out her journal in front of Catalin''s eyes. "Instead of simply liking Bet, you should ship him and ire! I did some research yesterday and found out that they attended the same high school. I find it very moving when two people who have known each other their whole lives fall in love. Theirs is an incredible love story, and the more I read about them, the more I was impressed by it. Honestly, I epted the fact that the two of them are dating in just one night. And, I even think the two of them are a match made in heaven! I''m looking forward to them getting married and having a baby! They could be on one of those reality shows about celebrity families in a few years. They''re going to have adorable children!" Catalina didn''t seem to care much about what Emery said, judging by herck of reaction. As she closed her eyes, she drifted off to sleep. "Catalina?" Emery said. "Go to bed. We have an early start tomorrow." Catalina said this without looking up. "That doesn''t work?" "Yes, it doesn''t work. But I will truly bless them." Catalina turned around and went to sleep, no longer paying attention to Emery. Emery shook her head as she stared at Catalina''s back. She thought, "Catalina is head over heels in love with Bet! She must have seriously considered herself his girlfriend and nned to marry him. It''s always these types of fans who feel betrayed when their favorite stars start dating. Poor Catalina! " Emery recalled how sad many teenage girls felt when Justin Bieber announced he was in a rtionship. **** Their visit to Starham Mountain was very difficult. To get to Starham Mountain Elementary School from their house, they had to cut through the cliff. Because the school was perched on the edge of a cliff, ess required a steep ascent across a suspension bridge. Catalina was astonished by the sight of the vertical suspension bridge. Teenagers could be seen on the bridge above them, desperately trying to scale the seemingly endless cliff face. They hadn''t taken any precautions, which made the situation look terrifying. Emery turned around, terrified. She averted her gaze because she didn''t want to look at that scene Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. anymore. "No way! Do we have to do this as well? I''m scared." Catalina asked the viger, "Didn''t the government spend a lot of money to build a road a few years ago? Is the work still in progress?" "This has indeed been aplished before. The bridge between the mountains was finished justst year." The man pointed to the southwest and said. "I''m baffled. Why do these kids keep walking down this path?" "Because it''s the closest way!" The vigers sighed and said, "They could get to school in under an hour if they take this road, but it will take at least five or six hours if they take the new bridge. The construction crew had already visited the site for a survey and determined that the terrain was unsuitable for building a bridge. Some reporters had been here before, but they didn''t bother trying to figure out what was going on. They never told the truth and were always making things up. Those people have never had the opportunity to see the true situation here. They say we stole the money, but they have no evidence. But we''ve been living in these mountains for a long time and don''t require any money. Besides, look at all these poor children! We can''t take away that money." Catalina hastily took down notes on paper of what the viger said. She realized all the situations here were different from what had been described online. Reports circting online suggested that the locals had embezzled government funds for road construction. As Catalina explored Starham Mountain, however, she learned that every single employee was a city resident who was volunteering their time. They were all working toward the same end: to lift the entiremunity of Starham Mountain out of poverty. However, sometimes not even money could help them because the terrain was so treacherous. Chapter 65 Excess Energy Chapter 65 Excess Energy Chapter 65 Excess Energy "Are you sure you want to go up there and take a look?" The viger who was in charge of leading the way asked the crowd. "Yes!" Jerry Webb, the associate editor, said enthusiastically. "Thedies can stay. Gentlemen, let''s go! How can we tell the world what we truly feel unless we experience it for ourselves? This is the best way we can get everyone to really know Starham Mountain! Let''s go!" "Jerry, I''d like to go as well!" Emery abruptly raised her hand and said, although she was terrified just now. "Can you do it?" Jerry asked doubtfully. "Sure!" "Of course!" Emery said as she looked at the children on the suspension bridge. "Great! That''s the spirit. Catalina, what about you?" "I can do it too!" Catalina replied without hesitation. "Great! Let''s go!" They all carried their bags and equipment across the suspension bridge and climbed to the mountain''s summit. Emery had admitted earlier that she was afraid, but once she was on the bridge, she suddenly found her courage. She clenched her teeth the whole time but still cheered for the crowd. "You can do it, Catalina! Hang in there! We''ll be there soon." "I''m fine! Watch your step." "I''ll definitely go to the gym every day when I get home, in case I''ll get sent to the mountains on business again." They were talking when they heard a scream from above. They noticed a child, about five years old, suddenly roll down from above. "Ah!" The other children all screamed in terror. Catalina and the rest of the team were shocked. Jerry was the first to respond. "Everyone, let''s try to catch him!" he eximed. He reached out an arm to catch the kid. Everyone caught on quickly to what he meant, so they all stood with arms outstretched, prepared to catch the child. Jerry reached for the child, and he fell quickly. But to his surprise, the child just slipped through his arm. Catalina reached for the drawbridge and grabbed the kid''s arm as she lunged at him. Then they heard the sound of Catalina''s wrist breaking. "Catalina!" her colleagues shouted in terror. Catalina''s face turned pale instantly, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Her right hand''s joint had broken, but the child still held onto her arm. He was holding her tightly while sobbing. "Hurry! Take him up." Catalina shouted. She tried her hardest to keep the pain at bay. The people below her snatched the child from her arms and returned him to the bridge. "Catalina, it appears that your wrist is broken!" Emery was the first to notice Catalina''s distress. "It''s fine. It doesn''t hurt." She thought the pain of her broken arm was insignificantpared to the satisfaction of helping the child because she could repair her broken wrist. "However, I may be unable to proceed with you." She had broken her wrist and would be a liability to the team if she continued to work with them. "You should go back, Catalina! Be careful!" Jerry said, "Emery, why don''t you go back with Catalina and look after her? Please don''t worry, guys. We''ve brought along a medical team. We''re all heroes today. We did not go up that bridge, but we saved a child. I''ll tell the superiors to to reward all of you when we get back." "Thank you!" The crowd replied loudly. Despite Catalina''s injuries, everyone became extremely motivated to move forward. Catalina and Emery walked slowly away from the suspension bridge. The boy climbed back up the bridge, escorted by the team. After witnessing them reach the summit, Catalina returned to the office with Emery''s assistance. The medical staff arrived promptly to perform a preliminary examination of Catalina''s arm. "Take it easy. It''s even better than we anticipated. Actually, it''s just slightly dislocated. Your arm is fine!" Emery was relieved to learn that Catalina''s arm had only been dislocated. "That''s fantastic. Thank goodness it isn''t broken." "We have to reset your joint. Please be patient if you experience some difort." "All right! Not a problem for me." Catalina squinted her eyes shut very tightly. Emery''s fear caused her to quickly close her eyes. Catalinay down tly on the bed. After administering longitudinal traction, the doctor moved her arm gently and rotated it in and out. Her joint was sessfully repositioned quickly, with a crunching sound and her scream. "It''s done." The doctor said as he put his hand down on her arm. "So, that''s it?" Incredulous, Emery rushed to Catalina''s side and asked, "You can move your arm now?" Catalina''s eyes were nearly watering from the pain. The doctor intervened just as she was about to move her arm. "Your joint is now back in ce, but you must wear a bandage for a week to protect it. This will help the recovery of your arm." "Thank you very much, doctor." The bandage was soon wrapped around Catalina''s forearm and hung around her neck. The doctor gave her some advice before leaving their room. Catalina checked the bandages on her body. She was relieved Bet didn''t see her look like this because she would have been embarrassed. Catalina had no idea why she kept thinking about him. "Aren''t we all getting divorced already? Maybe I should stop thinking about him so much!" She thought to herself. Catalina sighed and closed her eyes, saying, "That medicine is making me dizzy. I really need to get some sleep." "Okay. I''m going to make you something to eat." Emery thanked herself for putting so many ready-to-eat meals in her suitcase. Catalina began dozing off. **** A white tennis ball flew directly at Darnell on an open tennis court in Spring Fall, Sayton. Darnell ducked down in terror just as it was about to strike him on the head. He copsed on the ground, covering his head with his hands. "Damn it!" He shouted. Bet, dressed in white athletic wear, was already perspiring profusely. Sweat beaded on his handsome nose and stained the hair on his forehead. And instead of calling a timeout, he yelled, "Come on!" "No! I''m done! I''ve had enough! Darnell threw his racket to the ground in exasperation and yelled at Bet, who was standing across from him, "Look, I get that your wife is out of town and that makes you a bit more hyper than usual, but that''s no excuse for treating me like garbage! " Bet red indifferently at Darnell on the other side of the court. Vincent immediately handed Bet a towel and a bottle of water. "How did you know Catalina wasn''t there?" Bet asked Darnell as he wiped his sweaty face with the towel. "How could I not have known?" "She''s my employee, so, of course, I know where she''s gone," Darnell said, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "Where has she gone?" "She went into a mountain." Bet frowned as he stopped wiping away his sweat. Darnell didn''t miss any of Bet''s small, subtle expressions. He smiled as he noticed Bet''s surprise. He jumped to his feet and yelled gloatingly, "She didn''t tell you about her trip to the mountains? She was gone for a week. Did you just learn about this?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Chapter 66 Bennett Goes Into the Mountain Overnight Chapter 66 Bet Goes Into the Mountain Overnight Chapter 66 Bet Goes into the Mountain Overnight Darnellpletely regarded himself as a bystander. But Vincent next to Darnell was so anxious! Vincent thought, "Mr. Wyatt really can''t take a hint. Don''t rub it in!" Bet threw the towel in his hand back to Vincent and asked Darnell, "Which mountain did you send her to?" "Starham Mountain, why?" "Starham Mountain?" Bet frowned. Everyone knew Starham Mountain was dangerously steep. Bet stared at Darnell gloomily and threw the racket to Vincent. Then Bet said, "I''ll get even with youter!" Darnell was dumbfounded. Darnell didn''t expect that he would get into trouble because of gloating over. "Wait a minute. Ben, I didn''t send her there alone. There were still many men!" Bet was speechless. Bet grabbed a ball beside his foot and threw it in the direction of Darnell without looking. Bet was angry and thought Darnell was so stupid! Darnell looked at Bet with an innocent look. Darnell thought, "Did I just say the wrong thing again?" Bet sat in the car on his way to Sophora Vi. He couldn''t help but take out his mobile phone and googled Starham Mountain. Many pictures and texts introduced the steep Starham Mountain. Besides, there was a conclusion that it was difficult to conquer the mountain, and the death toll and casualty toll was high every year. Damn it! Bet was so annoyed that he threw away his mobile phone. Bet thought, "No matter how steep the Starham Mountain is and how harsh the environment is, it has nothing to do with me. I don''t care about that woman at all!" ... At one o''clock in the morning. Bet was sleepless. He couldn''t help thinking about pictures and texts of the steep Starham Mountains and that stupid woman. Bet thought, "Catalina, a woman who has no adventure experience, went into Starham Mountain!" "It''s ridiculous!" "What if something really happens? What if she falls or gets sick?" "There''s no medical condition in that ce!" The more Bet thought about it, the more annoying he became. Bet put his cigarette out hard into the ashtray and couldn''t help dialing Catalina''s number regardless of the time. "Sorry! The subscriber you dialed can not be connected for the moment, please redialter." "Sorry! The subscriber you dialed can not be connected..." "Sorry! The subscriber you dialed..." "Sorry..." "Sorry..." Damn it! There was no cellphone reception in the mountains. Bet was a little irritable. Bet had never done one thing repeatedly so many times and had no intention of giving up for the time being. Bet never knew that he had such great patience. When Bet called for the tenth time, the call came through. "Hello." On the phone, there was a sleepy answering voice. When Bet heard it, he knew the person was not Catalina. Bet frowned. He was in a bad mood. Bet tried his best to get through the call just for Catalina''s voice. "Who is it?" Bet asked solemnly with a cold and deep voice. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only There was so much displeasure in Bet''s tone that it was difficult to ignore it. "What?" Only then did Emery realize that she had answered Catalina''s phone. "Oh, sorry. I''m Catalina''s colleague Emery. I mistakenly thought it was my phone ringing..." Emery was too sleepy to speak clearly. "Put her on the phone," Betmanded with a bad attitude. Emery frowned. Emery thought, "What''s the matter with this person?" "He''s so rude!" Emery pouted and said, "Lina finally fell asleep after taking the analgesic tablets. You can call her tomorrow!" "Analgesic tablets?" Bet frowned and asked, "What''s wrong with her?" "She dislocated her arm. The doctor said it was not a big deal. She will be fine after a week of rest." "Dislocated? How did she dislocate it?" Bet asked. Emery replied impatiently, "It''s quitete now. Why do you have endless questions? I said you can call her tomorrow. I gotta go!" After speaking, Emery hung up the phone without hesitation. Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Bet realized that he had indeed been cut off by a woman. When Bet called again, the phone was unable to connect again. Bet was so annoyed that he almost smashed his mobile phone. Bet lit up another cigarette. He thought, "Dislocated?" "I don''t know which part she dislocated exactly!" "I don''t know whether it was serious or not." "I don''t know whether she went to a doctor." "I don''t even know whether the medical condition is great!" Bet kept smoking with a gloomy look. Under the hazy smoke, Bet furrowed his brow. Half a minuteter, Bet put his cigarette out again and then made a phone call again. This time, Bet called Vincent. "Find one of the world''s top medical teams to go into Starham Mountain with me." "Go to Starham Mountain?" Vincent was shocked. Immediately, Vincent was sober and wasn''t sleepy at all. "Mr. Shaffer, is Mrs. Shaffer sick?" "She dislocated her arm." Vincent was speechless. Vincent almost thought he had heard something wrong. Vincent thought, "She just dislocated her arm. There''s no need to find the world''s top medical team!" "It''s a waste of resources!" However, Vincent did not dare to say. "OK, I''ll do it now." Vincent had to get up now. "Besides, book a ticket to Starham, the sooner the better." "What? Mr. Shaffer, are you going to go to Starham Mountain in person? No, don''t. Starham Mountain..." "Am I your boss?" "Yes." Bet was satisfied with Vincent''s answer. When Bet was about to hang up the phone, he suddenly thought of something and said, "Book one for Darnell too." "Mr. Wyatt? Will he be willing to go?" Bet said coldly, "He has to be willing." Vincent shuddered after hearing this. Vincent thought, "Sure enough, anyone can be offended except Mr. Shaffer." "Well! It''s even more terrible to offend Mrs. Shaffer." "It''s all because Mr. Shaffer spoils and is partial to Mrs. Shaffer!" After hanging up the phone, Bet dialed Darnell''s number. The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. Apparently, Darnell slept soundly. "Are you awake?" Bet''s gloomy voice came through the mobile phone. "Who is it?" Darnell was sleepy and in a daze, so he was a little slow to react. He asked, "Ben?" Bet gave a positive answer. Darnell scratched his hair and asked irritably, "Ben, what are you doing? Don''t you sleep at night?" "Pack your luggage and get ready to go out. I wille to Por Vi to pick you up in half an hour." "What?" Darnell was stunned. Darnell sat up from the bed and nced at the quartz clock on the wall. Seeing that it was just 1 a.m., Darnell couldn''t help but swear, "Damn it! It''s just past one o''clock. Where are we going with our luggage?" "You''ll know when I get there." After speaking, Bet hung up the phone. Darnell sat on the bed with a nk expression and didn''te to his senses for a long time. Until Darnell was sure that everything was not a dream just now, he was so angry that he rolled around on the bed holding the quilt. Darnell was going crazy. Darnell screamed and shouted, "Just kill me!" Chapter 67 Visit Catalina in Person Chapter 67 Visit Catalina in Person Chapter 67 Visit Catalina in Person At two o''clock in the morning. Darnell walked out of Por Vi with his suitcase. Outside, a ck Bentley was waiting there. Because Darnell didn''t sleep well, his soulful eyes were swollen like fish eyes. Seeing Bet, who was calmly reading the newspaper in the back seat of the car, Darnell immediately had a sad face andined, "Ben, are you really going to torture me like this?" "Get into the car." Bet didn''t even raise his head. "Ben, I was wrong. I was really wrong!" "Where did you go wrong?" Bet still didn''t raise his head. "I shouldn''t have sent Lina to Starham Mountain." "And?" Bet finally raised his head. "And?" Darnell thought for a while. Then he honestly raised his hand and continued to say, "I shouldn''t have let Lina go with other men. But I guarantee that there were definitely other girls with her. Ben..." Bet coldly ordered with a face like thunder, "Get into the car!" Darnell held his suitcase and didn''t move. He asked, "Where are we going?" "Starham Mountain." "Damn it!" Bet said nothing. Darnell really wanted to swear. In the end, Darnell was pressed into the car by Bet''s men. Sitting in the car, Bet was still reading the newspaper as if nothing had happened. Darnell sat in the corner and still cursed, "You pay more attention to a lover than to friendship. ... At six o''clock in the morning the next day. It was not even light out. The team in Starham Mountain had already gotten up and washed up. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Although Catalina injured her arm, she woke up on time and sat up from the quilt. "Emery, I will be with you today." "No! You''re still injured! Don''t get ahead of yourself." "I''m okay and I''m much better today. When you interviewter, it''s okay for me to help you." "Really?" "Of course, don''t worry!" "Okay!" Emery folded the quilt and suddenly remembered something. She said, "Well, I answered your phone at one or two o''clock in the morning." "What?" Catalina was stunned. "The person who called you was very strange. He actually called you in the middle of the night, which disturbed my dreams!" Catalina immediately looked for her phone under the pillow. Emery was stillining, "He asked you to answer the phone! It was not easy for you to fall asleep, so I didn''t call you, lest you wake up with pain in your arm." Catalina only responded perfunctorily. As for what Emery said, Catalina didn''t know at all. After finding her mobile phone, Catalina quickly checked the call log. When Catalina saw that it was the call from Bet, Catalina''s mind went nk, and her heart skipped a beat. Seeing that Catalina''s look was not good, Emery asked carefully, "Lina, is it a very important call? Why don''t you call him back now?" Catalina got back herposure and shook her head. Then she replied, "It''s okay, and it''s not an important call." Catalina thought, "Maybe he called me just to criticize me." "After all, I took the initiative to ask for a divorce, which might challenge his authority." Catalina stared at the phone for a while and couldn''t help but ask, "Did he say anything on the phone?" "Nothing. He just let you answer the phone, and I said you fell asleep and then I hung up the phone. What''s more, I think he was very rude, and he actually ordered me. Who is he? But to be honest, his voice sounded great. Is he your new boyfriend?" "Of course not." Catalina quickly denied it. Catalina thought, "He ordered her." She couldn''t help smiling. Catalina continued to think, "It would be strange if he didn''t do it like this!" "Look at you! You smiled just now when we talked about him. I haven''t seen your smile for many days." "Really?" "Yes! Since Bet... Oops! All right, don''t talk about those trivial matters. That person was anxious to find you. Just call him back quickly! I''m going to wash my face!" Emery went out holding the basin after speaking. Catalina looked at the phone and hesitated for a while. Then she finally dialed the number. "Sorry! The subscriber you dialed can not be connected for the moment, please redialter." Catalina hung up the phone disappointedly. They were probably star-crossed! Catalina finally got cellphone reception, but Bet couldn''t get it. It was just like their fate. Even if the heartbeat signal sent by Catalina was strong, it was useless because Bet always got nothing. Bet couldn''t and didn''t want to get the heartbeat signal. Catalina put away her mobile phone and threw away those thoughts that she shouldn''t have. She got up to wash up. After a quick breakfast, Catalina followed Emery out of the door. Although Catalina dislocated her arm, it was okay because it didn''t affect her work too much. In particr, when Catalina was busy, she might have forgotten about her injury a long time ago if it weren''t for the bandage on her arm. ... Bet, Darnell, and other people had been on a ne and a bus for more than ten hours and didn''t sleep much at night before they got out of the car. Darnell threw up for a long time as if he was about to vomit his bile. Bet got out of the car and walked up to Darnell. Bet handed a bottle of water to Darnell, who was squatting down on the ground. Darnell rinsed his mouth and took a breath. Then he said, "Ben, you are such a devil!" "Thank you." "I''m notplimenting you, and don''t thank me!" "Since you are in good spirits, just get up! It will take a few hours to get to the mountain." "Ben! Mr. Shaffer! Please, can I go back? I was wrong! I was really wrong!" "It''ste." Bet responded indifferently and strode forward. Darnell was so angry that he wanted to beat the ground. Darnell thought, "Catalina! From now on, I will never let you live at ease!" On this day, Catalina and Emery were busy until veryte before returning to the office. They visited several nearby vigers and found that most of the young people had gone out of the mountain to work, leaving only the elderly and children at home. The expedition team had an in-depth analysis of the backwardness of Starham Mountain before. Because of the terrain, the vigers not only had difficultymunicating with the outside world, but it was quite difficult to be self-sufficient. Therefore, the leaders proposed an immigration n to transfer the vigers to the outside, but the old people were used to living here. Even if there were new houses set up for them outside, they were reluctant to leave their soil, which finally led to the dy in the resettlement work until now. Obviously, after in-depth visits, Emery and Catalina knew the specific situation waspletely different from the rumors. "I really benefited a lot today!" Emery sighed, "I feel that I can write a very good manuscript after going back. I can even imagine the feeling of dispelling the rumors after people outside see our interview manuscript. I''m looking forward to it!" Emery was as keen as mustard. The two walked to the office while chatting. Before they entered the door, a colleague came over anxiously and said, "Lina, why did youe back sote? Hurry up,e in. Mr. Wyatt is here! He also brought a man who came to visit you in person." Chapter 68 Bennett Is Here in Person Chapter 68 Bet Is Here in Person Chapter 68 Bet Is Here in Person "What?" Catalina was stunned. Mr. Wyatt? "Darnell?" "That''s right!" "Come to visit me?" Catalina thought, "Are you kidding me?" "I will believe it if you say hees to celebrate my arm injury." "Wow, Lina, you are someone! You just dislocated your arm, and Mr. Wyatt actually came here to visit you in person. Dear me! This is true love! Why did you say that you have nothing to do with Mr. Wyatt?" Emery was envious and worshipped. Catalina was a little speechless. Catalina thought, "What''s wrong with Darnell? Why did hee here to get on my back?" Catalina walked faster. "Mr. Wyatt, excuse me..." When Catalina stepped across the threshold with one foot without finishing her words, she was shocked after seeing the man inside. In the small hall, Darnell stoodzily leaning on the edge of the table with his arms crossed over his chest. Darnell squinted and stared at Catalina, who was stunned. Darnell seemed to have foreseen Catalina''s reaction. He sneered. Following Catalina''s gaze, Darnell looked at the man sitting at the table. As soon as Catalina saw Bet, she thought she had a terrible illusion. Bet was dressed in a suit and sat at an old ck square table with his legs crossed. He read intently the archived documents in the office with a remarkable temperament. Hearing Catalina''s voice, Bet just lifted his eyelids. Then Bet lowered his head and continued to read the documents in his hand. It seemed that Bet didn''t care much about Catalina''s appearance. "Ah..." Catalina didn''t get back herposure until she heard a squeak of surprise. Apparently, Emery was definitely the only one who could make such a squeak. At the same time, everyone looked at Emery wonderingly. Bet also looked at Emery. Obviously, Bet felt that the scream disturbed him, and he frowned in displeasure. "Lina, Lina." Emery shook Catalina, who had a dull expression. Emery shouted excitedly, "It''s Bet. I''m not dreaming, am I? Dear me! I actually saw the real one!" Bet was speechless. Bet ignored Emery''s excitement. After all, such a scene was justmonce for Bet. Bet quietly looked at Catalina next to the excited woman. Bet found Catalina lost weight. Catalina obviously lost a lot of weight in just one week. A bandage tied to Catalina''s right arm was hanging around her neck, which looked a little funny. Bet frowned slightly. Bet thought it was obvious that Catalina didn''t take good care of herself. "Lina, don''t be stunned. Get in there!" As Emery said this, she grabbed Catalina and forcibly pulled Catalina in front of Bet. Emery said nervously, "Mr. Shaffer, I am your big fan! And so is she!" "I''m not!" Catalina, who was mentioned, blushed and hurriedly denied it.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "Lina, don''t be shy in front of your idol!" Catalina said nothing. Catalina thought, "I''m not shy!" Bet looked at the two indifferently. Bet pressed his lips and did not speak. Darnell leaned on the table and just watched. "Mr. Shaffer, it''s true! She likes you so much. I didn''t know it before, but since you have a girlfriend..." Catalina didn''t expect Emery to be so outspoken. When Emery was going to say something about ire, Catalina rushed forward in fright and hurriedly covered Emery''s mouth. Catalina said, "Emery, stop talking nonsense!" "I didn''t talk nonsense. You really admire him very much... Why don''t you admit it?" "No, I don''t!" Catalina denied it and blushed. "But because he dated his girlfriend, you began to..." "He is my husband!" Seeing that Emery wanted to continue talking, Catalina had to exin her rtionship with Bet loudly. Sure enough, as soon as Catalina spoke, Emery was silent. With her mouth open and her eyes widened, Emery looked at Catalina in disbelief. Catalina felt her cheeks hot and didn''t dare to look at Bet on the opposite side. Catalina didn''t know what expression Bet had at this moment. But Catalina could guess it somewhat. Catalina thought, "I disclosed our rtionship without rhyme or reason in this way. Presumably, he must be very angry!" Catalina licked her lower lip nervously and corrected, "To be precise, he''s my ex-husband." Catalina thought, "After all, we have signed the divorce agreement." When Bet heard the word "ex-husband", he suddenly had a gloomy look. Darnell whistled gloatingly, leaning aside. Emery finally got back herposure from the shock and said, "Lina..." Emery pulled Catalina''s sleeve with a worried look and said, "Wake up. Are you crazy because of adoring your idol? This is Bet, not our husband but our idol. He''s just our idol! Come on, wake up..." Emery was really worried that Catalina would not be able to get out of her world. After speaking, Emery heard Bet in front of her say gloomily, "What''s the matter with your arm?" Of course, Bet asked Catalina. Catalina was in a daze for a moment and shook her head. She replied, "It''s okay." As Catalina said, she looked down at her tied arm and continued, "I just dislocated." Bet thought, "Just dislocated?" "Easy for you to say!" Bet was displeased. Catalina asked, "How about you? Why are you here?" Bet nced at Darnell, who was leaning next to him watching, and replied, "Darnell led the team to the mountain to do medical assistance. He insisted that I came over with him." Darnell, who was just watching but was inexplicably mentioned, was speechless. Darnell finally understood why Bet brought him! Darnell was just Bet''s excuse. Catalina looked at Darnell in disbelief and asked, "Did you bring the team to do medical assistance?" "Yeah, what''s the matter? Can''t I do something good?" Catalina was speechless. Catalina thought, "It''s rare that this loafer has a little conscience." Bet got up and put one hand into his pocket. Then he seemingly inadvertently ordered, "Darnell, let your medical teame to check her arm." Darnell thought, "I don''t have a medical team! The team was organized by you, Bet!" "You''re really a man who is calm on the outside but wild on the inside!" "Yes, Mr. Shaffer. I''ll invite them now." Darnell responded in a strange tone. Then he went out to find doctors. Emery was dumbfounded and stuttered, "Lina, do you... Do you... Do you really...know... Do you really know Bet?" Emery didn''tpletely believe it yet! Because Emery was too excited, she started to stutter and could hardly say aplete sentence. Catalina was a little helpless. She pulled Emery and stood in front of Bet. Catalina said, "She is your loyal fan. Just give her your autograph." Chapter 69 Make a Compromise Because of You Chapter 69 Make a Compromise Because of You Chapter 69 Make a Compromise Because of You Emery kept screaming. Emery was wild with joy and rubbed her hands. She asked carefully, "Mr. Shaffer, can I shake your hand?" Bet said nothing. Bet wanted to refuse. Bet nced at Catalina coldly, as if to let her solve it. Catalina knew that Bet was a clean freak, but she really didn''t want to hurt Emery because Emery was so enthusiastic. When Catalina was embarrassed and didn''t know what to say, she suddenly saw Bet take his right hand out of his pocket and reluctantly reached out to Emery. Emery screamed again. She quickly wiped her hands back and forth on her clothes and then cautiously and excitedly shook hands with Bet. Emery thought, "Dear me!" "I''m actually shaking my idol''s hand!" "It''s amazing!" "I''m gonna never wash my hands for the rest of my life." Catalina was stunned on the spot. It was hard for Catalina to believe that Bet actually met Emery''s request. Catalina didn''t understand until she saw Bet''s chilly gaze. Bet''s gaze clearly showed that he put it on Catalina. Catalina thought, "So, he made apromise because of me." "It''s impossible!" Catalina scrunched her nose. Catalina continued to think, "Maybe he took the initiative to stretch out his hand just because Emery is beautiful." A few secondster, Bet forcefully pulled his hand back from Emery''s palm. He quickly wiped his hand with a tissue and sprayed disinfectant. Then Bet finally feltfortable. "Take it easy. He is a severe clean freak. He shakes hands with anyone like this." Catalina was afraid that Emery would be sad, so she quicklyforted Emery. "I see." Emery said adoringly, "I know everything about my husband... No, it''s your husband. I know everything about your husband. I''m so excited! Lina, you''re so lucky. You''re my idol''s wife, which really makes me jealous!" Catalina was speechless. Catalina thought, "What the hell!" "It''s so embarrassing now!" Soon, Darnell came with several doctors. Catalina felt that she just had a minor injury and Bet made a big thing of it, and she thought it was unnecessary to let so many doctorse to check on her. However, looking at Bet''s solemn face, Catalina didn''t dare to say no, so she had to sit obediently on the chair and let the doctor disassemble the medical gauze for her to check the injury. Bet stood aside, frowning and looking at Catalina''s injured arm. He didn''t rx his brow until he saw that Catalina''s arm reduced the swelling. Bet took a step to go out for some fresh air. "Bet." Catalina hurriedly stopped Bet. Bet turned his head in confusion. "Since you are here to provide medical assistance, I will let the vigerse to see a doctor tomorrow!" Darnell was at a loss for words. Doctors were all confused. They thought, "Why don''t we know we came here to provide medical assistance?" "We''re world-ss famous doctors hired by Mr. Shaffer at a daily price." Bet looked back at Catalina, who had a naive look on her face. Catalina was blinking her pretty eyes, looking at Bet expectantly. Bet originally wanted to refuse, but he said, "As you like!" After speaking, Bet left without looking back. Catalina was happy. She hurriedly thanked the doctors who came to provide medical assistance and then looked at Darnell. "I can''t believe that you''re so kind. I used to despise you, and I will respect you like everyone else in the future." Darnell coughed a few times. Catalina''s sudden changes andpliments made Darnell a little embarrassed, but Darnell quickly R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only calmed down. Soon, Darnell became arrogant as usual. He crossed his arms over his chest and said with a smile, "Well done!" ... "Lina, Lina" When Catalina entered the room, she was pulled to the bed by Emery. "Why?" "Look! I''m gonna tear up all these photos!" As Emery said this, she tore the photos of Bet and ire to pieces and threw them into the trash can. "It''s okay. I don''t care about it." "Drop the act! Let me tell you. From now on, I will support you and Bet firmly. I just took a lot of photos of you two. Look!" "What?" "This is a photo of you taking the medicine. Look at the way Bet looked at you. His eyes were so soulful!" "Nonsense." Catalina didn''t think so. Bet was cold and indifferent with a poker face. "I found that you are really good at visualizing." "I''m not. What I said is true. I saw his eyes, and Bet must like you very much!" "Are you crazy? You said he likes me so much, right?" Catalina was amused by Emery''s crazy words and continued, "All right, stop visualizing. We''re not a normal couple, and it''s just a sham marriage. He married me not because of love but because of ire. Actually, it is veryplicated, and I can''t exin it clearly in a few words. In short, ire and he are a real couple. You were right before. As for us... We have long been destined to have no rtionship. Besides, even if there''s doomsday, Bet will never like me." "You''re so exaggerated! He clearly likes you because I saw his soulful eyes!" Emery was confused. She wondered if she got it wrong. Emery thought, "It''s impossible!" "The eyes can never tell a lie." "I''m gonna go out to wash my face! Hurry up and put away your scrapbook! Otherwise, Bet will "No!" Emery held her scrapbook in her arms as if it was a treasure. Catalina shook her head without saying anything and left the room holding her washbasin and towel. It was already dark outside. Catalina thought, "Where will Bet live tonight? I heard that they also brought a big tent. They''ll probably live in it, but can he get used to it?" "After all, this is a mountain area, and there are many mosquitoes and bugs. Bet is a clean freak. Asking him to stay in such a ce for a few days is tantamount to torture for him!" While thinking, Catalina held the basin and walked to the water pump. Catalina put the basin on the ground and pressed the water pump hard with her uninjured left hand. However, it was strenuous for Catalina to press the water pump because it was seriously aging and her right arm was injured. After half a minute, nothing came out of the water pump. Catalina was about to go back to the room and ask for Emery''s help. Unexpectedly, when Catalina got up, a powerful arm suddenly appeared from behind. The person held the pump and pressed it down hard, and the water came out. Within a few seconds, Catalina''s basin was filled with water. Catalina turned around and thanked the person. But when Catalina saw the person, she was stunned. Bet put his hand into his pocket. He stood upright in the night like a pine. It was dark and cool outside. The moonlight streamed on Bet''s shoulders, which made him look stronger, cooler, and more elegant. There was no expression on Bet''s cold face. Chapter 70 You Help Me Apply Some Medicine Chapter 70 You Help Me Apply Some Medicine Chapter 70 You Help Me Apply Some Medicine "You..." Catalina was a little embarrassed. As soon as Catalina faced Bet, her heart raced for no reason. "I... I''ll wash my face first," Catalina stammered. Catalina hurriedly squatted down, trying to hide her embarrassment by washing her face. She lowered her head and washed her towel. Catalina, out of the corner of her eye, saw Bet''s long and straight legs didn''t move at all. She could only wash her towel with one hand awkwardly. Catalina''s posture was a bit strange, which made her look stupid and embarrassed in front of Bet. "Where do you live?" Catalina tried to distract Bet''s attention. Suddenly, Bet leaned down and snatched the towel from Catalina''s hand. He wrung it out and handed it back to Catalina expressionlessly. Catalina was stunned at this moment. Catalina took her towel in a daze. Catalina thanked Be with her heart skipping a beat. Bet said nothing. "Why are you here?" Catalina couldn''t help asking. "I told you that Darnell brought me here by force." "Is there anyone in the world who can make you do something you don''t want to do?" Bet was speechless. Then Bet said with a stern look, "Don''t pretend to know me very well." Catalina thought, "Know him?" Catalina was stunned by Bet''s words. Catalina only knew enough about Bet''s life habits. "It''s time for bed. Have a good dream." After speaking, Bet took steps to leave. "A worm!" Suddenly, Catalina behind Bet screamed, "Bet, it''s on your shoulder! There''s a caterpir on your shoulder..." Catalina covered her eyes in fright. Catalina was most afraid of mollusks. Bet also felt ufortable. He was not afraid of worms, but he was afraid of dirtiness! Bet suddenly had a grim face like a carved mask. "Take it away," Bet ordered tremulously. "Me? No!" Catalina kept shaking her head, holding her head. She said, "Bet, you are a man. Don''t be afraid. Do it yourself." Looking at the caterpir squirming on his shoulder, Bet was almost furious. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down. Bet said, "I''m not afraid of it, but I''m afraid of dirtiness!" Bet''s voice obviously became husky. Catalina thought, "dirtiness?" "Sure enough!" "But, I don''t want to touch it. It''s soft and disgusting... Wait, I''ll find a stick to get rid of it." "Hurry up!" Bet gritted his teeth. Soon, Catalina broke a branch from a fruit tree and rushed over. She gasped, "I''m... I''ming... I''m Catalina squinted in horror and stretched her hand with a branch. When Catalina was about to pick the caterpir away from Bet''s shoulder, she heard Bet''s sound and saw him frowning in pain. "What''s the matter?" Catalina was taken aback. Bet said with a grim face like a carved mask, "I was bitten." "What?" Catalina had a bad feeling about it. After plucking up the courage to quickly pick the caterpir away, Catalina threw the wooden stick and ran forward to check. She said, "Where did it bite you? Let me have a look. Does it hurt?" Catalina stood on tiptoe and still asked, "Where?" "My shoulder." Bet covered his shoulder with a painful expression and said, "It hurts, and I feel itchy." "Wait here, I''ll get you insect repellent and medicine." Catalina turned around and was about to leave. Bet grasped Catalina''s wrist and said, "Don''t go back. I have everything." "Then hurry back to the tent and apply some medicine to your wound!" "You help me!" Bet pulled Catalina''s wrist domineeringly. Because of Bet''s hard force, Catalina was dragged into his arms. Catalina hurriedly put her hands against Bet''s chest and blushed slightly. She asked, "Why me?" "If you take that caterpir away early, I''ll be fine." Catalina said nothing. Catalina thought, "Why is it my fault?" "Why doesn''t hein that he is a coward? He''s even afraid of bugs!" "Well, Mr. Shaffer is not afraid of bugs but dirtiness." "He''s really a freak!" In the end, Catalina was dragged into the tent by Bet. When they got into the tent, Vincent and others were deworming and disinfecting. The tent was not small and was more than 130 square feet. The things were neat, and there was even a wide bed in the middle of the tent. "Did you move this bed by yourself?" Catalina was shocked. "Is there any problem?" Bet approached and sat down on the edge of the bed. Catalina was speechless. Catalina thought, "Others may think they''re camping here." "No, camping is not asfortable as it is now." Catalina really sympathized with Bet''s subordinates. Of course, she also felt sorry for her former self. Catalina didn''t know how she spent her former time with such a freak. The point was that Catalina had seemed to be quite happy back then. Bet ordered the others in the tent, "You guys go out!" "Yes!" Vincent led everyone out of the tent. Vincent zipped the tent for the two tenderly. After the people left, there were only Catalina and Bet in the huge tent. The atmosphere became strange in an instant. Actually, it was very cold, and the temperature in the tent was not high, but Catalina felt her face burning inexplicably. At the same time, Bet, who was sitting on the bed, began to untie his shirt calmly. Catalina was stunned. "What... What are you doing?" Suddenly, Catalina blushed as if her face was sshed with red paint. As if it was only then that Bet finally remembered Catalina. Bet was still unbuttoning his shirt calmly while looking up at Catalina who was standing at the tent p with a face blushing like a tomato. Bet said, "What are you doing there? Come to help me." "What? Oh!" Catalina immediately remembered that Bet''s wound was on his shoulder, and Bet really had to unbutton his shirt. "Where is the medicine?" Catalina asked Bet. Bet raised his chin to signal that the medicine was in a locker at the end of the bed. He said, "It should be there. You can look for it." "OK," Catalina responded. After speaking this, Catalina saw Bet on the bed, who finished untying his shirt and then threw it aside. Catalina didn''t dare to see more. After having a nce hurriedly, she didn''t look at Bet anymore and lowered her head to look for the medicine. She felt her face burning. Catalina sighed in her heart, "He''s in great shape!" Although Catalina just had a quick nce, she noticed Bet''s strong chest. Catalina forced herself to get back herposure. After looking for the medicine for a while, she finally got a suitable topical liquid medicine from a pile of medicines. "Found it." Catalina took the liquid medicine and got close to Bet. Bet stretched out his hand to Catalina. Catalina handed Bet the liquid medicine. Bet carefully read the text description on the box of liquid medicine and ordered without raising his Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. head, "Sit down." Catalina was stunned and confused. Catalina stood still and didn''t dare to move. Bet raised his head to look at Catalina and said impatiently, "Why? Don''t you get it? Sit down." Catalina said nothing. She thought Bet was so high-handed. Catalina pouted and whispered, "No wonder Emery said you were rude." Catalina had no choice but to sit down beside Bet. Certainly, Catalina deliberately kept a safe distance from Bet. Bet stuffed the liquid medicine into Catalina''s hand and said, "So what?" Bet was still arrogant as usual. Catalina thought, "Great! That''s so typical of you!" "Well, it''s normal! Bet is powerful, and does he care about others'' thoughts?" "No!" Chapter 71 Youll Be Screwed if You Get Hurt Again Chapter 71 You''ll Be Screwed if You Get Hurt Again Chapter 71 You''ll Be Screwed if You Get Hurt Again "Help me apply the medicine." Bet reminded Catalina, who was distracted. "Oh." Catalina looked at the wound on Bet''s shoulder and frowned immediately. She said, "It''s a bit swollen. Does it hurt?" "I feel itchy." Bet frowned. "The medicine is antipruritic, and you''ll be better after I apply it to the wound." Bet gave a positive answer. Catalina straightened her back and began to apply the medicine to Bet''s shoulder. Catalinained in her heart, "Why is he so much taller than me?" "Well... The liquid medicine has to be rubbed by hand and then can only prate the skin by the hand temperature. So, I need to touch you. Do you mind?" Bet said nothing with a gloomy look, which made Catalina not dare to move. Catalina raised her head slightly and sneaked a look at Bet. She asked, "Or, can you sterilize my hand first?" Catalina obediently stretched out her hands in front of Bet. Bet frowned and said with an impatient expression, "You''re chatty. Just do it." "Okay." Catalinained in her heart, "You didn''t tell me to start." After hearing Bet''s words, Catalina became much more rxed. Catalina first poured the liquid medicine on Bet''s shoulder and then rubbed it gently and slowly on the wound. Catalina''s fingers were very soft and warm. She caressed Bet''s shoulder in circles, which made him feel the wound kept burning. The feeling spread along Bet''s skin, and he felt his heart also burning immediately. Something flickered in Bet''s deep eyes. Catalina, who was focused on applying the medicine, did not notice Bet''s strange look. Catalina only paid attention to Bet''s injury. She asked tenderly, "How''s it going? Are you better?" Bet swallowed hard and forced himself to give a positive answer. "Do you still feel itchy?" Catalina asked. Bet gave a positive answer again. Bet didn''t say an extra word. "It will still be a little itchy. Don''t scratch it. Otherwise, the more you scratch, the itchier you''ll feel." Catalina told Bet worriedly. Catalina subconsciously blew on Bet''s inmed shoulder. Just as Catalina did it, Bet''s shoulders suddenly froze. Immediately, Bet stirred the blood, and his heart fluttered. Bet stared straight at Catalina with excitement flickering in his deep eyes. Catalina saw Bet''s shoulders freezing, and only then did she realize that intimacy was growing between them... Catalina blushed instantly. "Sorry... I''m sorry!" Catalina quickly apologized. Catalina was so nervous that she stuttered. "You... You were itchy just now, so..." Catalina continued to stutter because of the tension. Looking at Bet''s deep eyes, Catalina was more flustered and continued, "Well, I''ve finished. It''s gettingte. You''d better have an early night. Have a good dream..." Then Catalina hurriedly put down the liquid medicine and was about to leave. However, when Catalina got up, her wrist was suddenly grasped by a powerful hand. Bet''s palm was icy cold, but Catalina only felt her wrist burning. Catalina was nervous. Catalina felt her mouthpletely dry. Catalina turned around and asked, "Anything else?" "How did you hurt your arm?" Bet nced at Catalina''s bandaged arm. Catalina also nced down and replied honestly, "I was honorably injured because of saving a child." "It was beyond your power!" "No, the situation at the time was really dangerous, and I had no choice... Ah!" With a scream, Catalina was forcibly pulled over by Bet. Catalina threw herself into Bet''s arms in embarrassment and put one hand on his shoulder. Catalina looked down at Bet with a flustered look. Bet looked up at Catalina calmly. The two looked at each other, and their breathing was close at hand. At that moment, Catalina could even clearly hear the beating of her heart. A faint pink flush colored Catalina''s cheeks. Catalina''s first thought was that she must escape because it was too dangerous. But Bet stopped Catalina. Bet clutched Catalina''s thin waist, making her unable to move at all. Catalina''s breathing was quick and uneven, and there was a zed look in her eyes. "It won''t happen again!" Bet warned Catalina in a husky voice peremptory. "What?" Catalina was confused. "You''ll be screwed if you get hurt again!" "What?" Catalina was still confused, and Bet released her and said, "Get up!" Bet had a frosty look on his face again. It seemed that the intimacy between the two just now was only Catalina''s fantasy. Catalina was embarrassed. Catalina hurriedly got up from Bet. She had no time to think carefully about the meaning of Bet''s words and just left the tent in a flurry. Unexpectedly, as soon as Catalina came out, she met Darnell. "Well! Lina, what are you doing? You blush like a monkey''s ass. What did you do with Ben just now?" Catalina was speechless. She wanted to p Darnell with a shoehorn. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Catalina ignored Darnell and ran away without looking back. Behind Catalina, Darnell kept snickering. Catalina thought angrily, "This bastard!" Catalina really didn''t know why that yboy was willing toe to the mountain area to provide medical assistance. Catalina thought, "He doesn''t look like an aspiring man who is willing to experience and observe the situation of the people." "Is the saying that never judge a book by its cover true?" After lying in the bed, Catalina thought of the scene that had just happened in the tent, and her heart still raced. Catalina blushed furiously. Fortunately, Emery had already fallen asleep. Emery still held her scrapbook with all Bet''s photos in her arms. ... Thest day of the mountain visit. Catalina''s arm waspletely recovered. On this day, Catalina was assigned to visit the westernmost vige. It was nearly two hours away from the office. The mountain road was far and rugged. Because it was close to the end and the tasks assigned to everyone were very heavy, no one could spare time to go with her. Catalina had to go alone. It was past seven in the morning. After finishing breakfast, Catalina hurriedly set off with her backpack on her back. Toe back before sunset, Catalina walked quickly and did not dare to waste time at all. But after walking for a long time, Catalina felt that someone was following her. Catalina turned her head secretly and saw nothing behind her except for a quiet mountain. Catalina thought, "It''s terrible!" Catalina broke out in a cold sweat because of fear. Catalina''s mind was full of the news that the young girls were dragged into the deep mountains by single men. Catalina trembled with fright. Catalina ran away while shouting, "Help, help." Then Catalina was more afraid because the jerk who was following her tightly actually quickly chased her up. Hearing the footsteps from far to near, Catalina only felt the sound was like the death knell ringing. Catalina didn''t dare to turn her head back and just ran forward desperately. "Bless me! Mom!" Catalina screamed. But Catalina never expected that she... Chapter 72 Give You My Shoes Chapter 72 Give You My Shoes Chapter 72 Give You My Shoes But Catalina never expected that she... Catalina''s feet slipped and she directly fell into the quagmire in front of her. Catalina was going to cry because the more Catalina struggled in the quagmire, the deeper she sank! Catalina''s feet couldn''t be pulled out at all. Behind Catalina, the footsteps stopped at some point. The tall figure stood upright behind Catalina, less than 2 feet away from her. The figure cast a shadow on the ground, and Catalina suddenly felt cold from behind. She was shaking with fright, and her tears almost rolled down her face. "I''ll give you all my money. Please don''t touch me!" Catalina put her palms together and raised them in front of her forehead, crying for mercy. Unexpectedly, a cold and familiar deep voice came from above Catalina, "Catalina, are you an idiot?" Catalina was taken aback. Catalina thought, "This voice..." She raised her head abruptly and looked at the man behind her. Damn it! "Bet? Why is it you?" Catalina was so angry that she almost threw mud at Bet. While annoyed, Catalina also breathed a sigh of relief. "I''m not an idiot, but you''re! What are you doing here? Why are you following me?" Catalina turned around with difficulty and queried angrily. Bet squatted down and replied, "I want to do nothing to my own wife. I won''t drag you into the deep mountains or kill you." Catalina was speechless and thought, "Such a jerk!" "And I''m not his wife!" "We have signed the divorce agreement, okay?" Bet nced at Catalina''s feet stuck in the mud and frowned slightly. He asked, "Why don''t you Catalina was aggrieved and pouted. She replied, "I can''t get out. This is a quagmire. The more I struggle, the deeper I get." Catalina looked at her feet trapped in the quagmire with resentment and continued, "What are you doing here? Why are you following me? Or is it a prank? It''s your fault that I fell into this quagmire!" Bet thought, "Following her?" "A prank?" "Does she really think I''m a lech?" "I walked such a long way with her, not because I was idle!" "Try to lift your feet, don''t move hard." Hearing this, Catalina obediently lifted her right foot. Catalina didn''t dare to move hard. However, even if Catalina didn''t move hard, her right foot was still sinking a little bit. "No, it didn''t work. I will keep sinking if I move. I''m screwed. Am I going to die today? I don''t want to die!" Catalina wanted to cry. She red at Bet who caused this and then threatened, "If I''m going to die, I''ll turn into a ghost and pester you for the rest of your life!" "Okay." Bet replied indifferently, "I''m afraid you won''t dare to find me." Catalina was speechless. Catalina immediately had a faraway look. Suddenly, Bet hugged Catalina''s waist with one hand and then carried Catalina in his arms. Catalina let out a scream. Catalina, who was in Bet''s arms, was so frightened that she quickly grabbed his windbreaker. Bet''s feet also sessfully got rid of the quagmire. While Catalina was ttered, her heart was still fluttering with fear. A blush crept up Catalina''s face. Catalina looked at her bare feet withplicated feelings. "My shoes..." Where were Catalina''s shoes? Her shoes had already sunk into the quagmire without a trace. Catalina leaned into Bet''s arms and asked with hesitation, "Shall I look for my shoes in the quagmire?" "Do you want to dislocate your arm again?" Catalina had nothing to say. Catalina thought, "He''s right!" "If my arm is stuck in it and can''t be pulled out, it will really be a big deal!" Bet ignored Catalina''s shoes stuck in the quagmire. Holding Catalina in his arms, Bet strode back. "Where are we going?" Catalina was puzzled and hurriedly said, "Don''t go back, we''ll be there soon. Besides, you can put me down." Bet pretended to hear nothing and didn''t even lift his eyelids. He still walked forward, holding Catalina. Bet didn''t stop until he came to the edge of a clear stream and then put Catalina down. Bet said, "Wash up. You''re so dirty!" Catalina was at a loss for words. Catalinained in her heart, "He really has mysophobia all the time." In fact, Catalina had one thing that she didn''t understand. Bet was such a clean freak. Why did he agree with Darnell toe to the mountain area together? Catalina thought, "Is he really intent on doing good?" "The minds of these men from wealthy families are too difficult to figure out." Catalina went into the stream to wash her feet. Catalina gasped for air suddenly because the water was so cold! Catalina subconsciously took back her feet that had been put in the stream. Soon, Catalina''s fair skin was red with cold. Bet stood aside and frowned. He just watched and said nothing. Catalina put her feet into the stream carefully and slowly. She gradually adapted to the temperature. Catalina didn''t take her feet back until her feet were washed clean. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. "Put them on." Suddenly, a pair of clean gray sneakers were neatly ced in front of Catalina''s feet. "What?" Catalina was stunned. Catalina raised her head and looked at Bet on the opposite side. "Put the shoes on." Bet put his hand into his pocket and ordered again. Catalina lowered her head and looked at Bet''s bare feet. Catalina was astonished, unbelievable, and ttered. "What are you doing in a daze? Are you waiting for me to help you wear them?" Staring at Catalina''s feet already red with cold, Bet was suddenly impatient. Catalina came to her senses. "No, I''m not." Catalina shook her head and took two steps back hastily. She stammered uneasily, "I... You... You''ll walk with your bare feet if you give me your shoes." It was very cold outside. Besides, Bet was a clean freak! Could he endure walking barefoot? Catalina thought it was impossible. "You put them on! I don''t need them." Catalina immediately squatted down and put Bet''s shoes in front of him. Catalina continued, "I''m not a neat freak, and I can stand the cold. I will feel hot after walking for a while." "Put them on!" Bet ordered with a displeased expression. Obviously, Bet had no more patience. "But..." "You''re chatty.!" Bet carried Catalina in his arms directly. When Catalina came to her senses, she was sitting on the stone next to the stream. Bet squatted down, holding one of his shoes with one hand and holding Catalina''s ankle with the other, and then put her cold foot into his shoe. Catalina was stunned. Catalina''s mind went nk for a few seconds. She opened her eyes wide and looked at Bet in disbelief. Catalina thought in surprise, "How could it be?" "Unexpectedly, Bet not only gave me his shoes but also helped me wear them personally." "It''s unbelievable!" At that moment, Catalina only felt that her ankle, where Bet touched, was burning. In a few seconds, Catalina also felt her heart burning. Bet''s behavior also made Catalina touched and warm in the heart. Catalina went red as a beet. "Thank you," Catalina thanked Bet sincerely. Bet released Catalina with no expression. Then he straightened up and put his hands into his pockets, saying. "I''m the reason why you lost your shoes. I gave you my shoes, and now we''re even." Catalina was speechless. Catalina thought, "So, he gave his shoes to me just to not owe me?" Catalina was filled with a sense of loss, even though she knew she shouldn''t have any expectations. "Anyway, thank you." Chapter 73 Unexpectedly, Bennett Faints at the Sight of Blood Chapter 73 Unexpectedly, Bet Faints at the Sight of Blood Chapter 73 Unexpectedly, Bet Faints at the Sight of Blood After fastening her shoces, Catalina was still on her way to the vige. Catalina thought, "When I get to the vige, I will find a pair of shoes that I can wear, even the slippers, and then give the shoes back to Bet." Wearing Bet''s big shoes, Catalina dragged her feet in front of Bet. Bet was barefoot, following Catalina step by step. Bet lowered his head and looked at the ground. He kept frowning and never rxed. Bet thought, "It''s dirty!" "It''s so dirty!" In addition, Bet also felt pain in his feet. Bet had never been barefoot for as long as he could remember. Now Bet walked barefoot on the mountain road, feeling like walking on a shiatsu te. No. Bet felt it was more ufortable than walking on a shiatsu te! The shiatsu te was at least not dirty. Catalina walked in front and kept saying, "Walk slowly and be careful of the small stones..." "It''s good to rest in the tent. Why did you follow me and suffer this?" Bet said nothing. He did regret it. He thought he must be stupid. Otherwise, he wouldn''t follow Catalina after seeing her go out alone. Bet thought, "If I didn''t follow, I wouldn''t be tortured like this by these dirty things." "If I didn''t follow, my feet wouldn''t..." Suddenly, there was a pain in Bet''s toes, which made him frown. Bet''s toes bled immediately. Catalina was still saying, "Some of these small stones are very sharp, and I kicked a few away. You should be more careful of them, don''t..." Before finishing her words, Catalina felt a big hand patting her on the shoulder. Catalina turned her head and asked, "What''s the matter?" Bet''s hand was still patting Catalina on the shoulder weakly. Bet said weakly with his pale face, "Catalina, I''m... I''m dizzy..." "Dizzy?" Before Catalina knew what happened, she saw the tall and strong man suddenly fall towards her as a big tree copsed. Catalina was frightened and shouted, "Bet!" Catalina immediately rushed over and hugged Bet. Bet''s tall figure fell steadily on Catalina''s shoulder. Catalina''s body shook a little before she kept her legs. "Bet? What''s wrong with you?" Catalina made Bet lean on her. Catalina touched Bet''s pale face and found it was terribly cold. "Are you okay? Don''t scare me..." Catalina''s hands shook. If something really happened in this remote ce, there would be no one who could help them. Catalina quickly found a cleanwn and sat down with Bet. Only then did Catalina inadvertently find the wound on Bet''s toes. Bet''s toes kept bleeding. Catalina suddenly understood the reason for Bet''s fainting. Bet would faint at the sight of blood. Catalina was speechless! Catalina was worried about Bet, but also felt it was funny. Bet was a strong man. Unexpected, he fainted at the sight of blood! However, this was not the first time Catalina had taken care of Bet in the state. Bet was in a better state than in the past. "Bet?" Catalina patted Bet lightly on the cheek. Seeing that Bet gradually recovered, Catalina breathed a sigh of relief, "Bet, wake up." "Bet?" Bet didn''t respond. Leaning in Catalina''s arms, Bet listened to her soft voice, and his eyelids fluttered a few times. Bet gradually regained consciousness and slowly woke up. Seeing Catalina, Bet was in a trance. Then Bet realized what had happened. Bet didn''t expect that he would faint again in front of Catalina because of just a few drops of blood! Bet sat up, pinched his eyebrows, and remained silent. Bet was not much better than when he fainted. "What''s the matter?" Catalina put her head forward slightly to look at Bet, asking worriedly, "Are you okay?" Bet looked away, putting his elbows on his knees. He still pinched his eyebrows and pressed his lips together, without any words. Catalina finally understood something. Catalinaughed suddenly and asked, "Are you shy?" "Shut up!" Bet had a gloomy look. "Actually, you don''t have to feel ashamed. It''s not the first time I''ve seen you like this, right?" Bet still didn''t speak. Bet really wanted to stop Catalina. Catalina thought that Bet was very cute now, which was in great contrast to his usual arrogant image. In this way, Bet would be more like a living person. Catalina stopped teasing Bet and then pulled out a pack of wet wipes, a bottle of water, a Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. disinfectant spray, liquid medicine, and a bandage from her backpack. "I have been walking in this mountain with these things in my backpack for more than half a month, and my colleagues and I had no chance to use them. They''re put to good use on thest day. It''s not in vain anyway." Bet was speechless. Bet felt Catalina gloating over through her tone. "Who is wearing my shoes? Has this action ever given you a sh of conscience?" Bet nced at Catalina coldly. Bet thought, "Such an unconscionable girl." "All right, all right. My fault!" Catalina was just joking. "I''ll dress the wound for you first. Close your eyes, don''t look at it. Don''t open your eyes even if it hurts "No!" Bet disagreed because he wanted to maintain his dignity. Looking at Bet''s irritable look, Catalina couldn''t helpughing. "Close your eyes! I won''tugh at you." Bet said with a cold look, "You are alreadyughing." Catalina said nothing. Catalina thought, "Ok! I''ve already cracked up in my heart." Catalina first rinsed the mud and blood on Bet''s feet with water, disinfected the wound, and applied the medicine to his feet. Finally, Catalina bandaged it. Bet didn''t make any sound at all. Certainly, although Bet didn''t close his eyes, he didn''t take a look at his wound. "All right!" Catalina put down Bet''s feet and discussed with him, "Why don''t you sit here and wait for me? We''re almost there. I''ll find someone to buy a pair of slippers there, and then I will return your shoes to you. What do you think?" "Not good." Bet stood up as if he never got injured. With his head and his chin slightly raised, Bet lowered his eyelids and looked at Catalina arrogantly. Bet said, "Let''s go!" Then Bet directly went forward as if nothing had happened. It made Catalina suspect if the scene of Bet fainting just now was a dream or not. ... They didn''t go back until eight o''clock in the evening, and it was already dark outside. Along the way, Catalinained crazily about Bet. "If it weren''t for you, I would definitely be back before dark!" "You first caused me to fall into the quagmire and then fainted again. Along the way, as long as you saw the stream, you washed your feet. The time was dyed all because of you. Bet, you deliberately got me into trouble, right?" Bet didn''t respond. Bet thought, "I really did a thankless job !" "She''s just an ungrateful person!" But Bet, who had always been able to speak eloquently, couldn''t retort in the face of these Bet thought, "If I had known, I wouldn''t have followed her into the mountain. Why should I be worried?" Chapter 74 Im the Master of My Marriage Chapter 74 I''m the Master of My Marriage Chapter 74 I''m the Master of My Marriage "Mr. Shaffer! You are finally back. If you don''te back, we will have to go into the mountain to find you." Seeing Bet, Vincent breathed a sigh of relief. Bet ignored Vincent with a gloomy face and then directly went back to the tent without even saying a word to Catalina. "Mrs. Shaffer, what''s wrong with Mr. Shaffer? Did you make him angry again?" Vincent looked back at Bet''s figure and asked Catalina carefully. "No." Catalina stifled herughter and said, "He may be angry with himself!" "Be angry with himself?" Vincent scratched his head in confusion. "I''m hungry, and I''m going to have a meal. Goodbye!" Catalina trotted and went to the office. Catalina was busy today and had walked along a long and rough road. Besides, she hadn''t eaten anything yet. However, Catalina felt very lively. She wasn''t tired, and she seemed to be in a better mood than ever. Thinking of what had happened to Bet during the day, Catalina couldn''t help cracking up. Catalina thought it was so funny! However, Catalina would naturally not tell these things to others. Catalina didn''t want anyone else to know that Bet could still be lovely. ... The next day... The visit work was finally over. A group of people went back separately. On the ne, Bet, Darnell, and some people were in first ss. Catalina''spany unified booking the tickets, so she was naturally in economy ss. Catalina and Emery sat side by side. Catalina looked at the white clouds outside the window, and her heart also went nk. In the closed mountain area, Catalina was still able to deceive herself and forced herself to forget ire, but Catalina didn''t know what to do after going back. Catalina didn''t know if she could really not care about ire after going back. No matter what the rtionship between Bet and Catalina was, ire was Catalina''s best friend. With this alone, Catalina couldn''t convince herself to continue the loveless marriage with Bet. Catalina thought, "Even if he doesn''t like me, I still feel I''m a thief, stealing someone else''s beloved." "Emery." Catalina turned her head and shouted at Emery, who was burying herself in her scrapbook. "What''s up?" Emery asked without raising her head. "Can I go to your home for a few days?" "Yes!" Emery blurted out in response. After responding, Emery suddenly realized what she had said. Emery raised her head and kept shaking her head. She said, "No, you can''t. Why? Are you going to run away from home?" Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. "That''s not my home." Catalina corrected Emery. "You are Mr. Shaffer''s wife, and his home is naturally yours." "We are divorced." "You haven''t signed the agreement yet, right?" Emery knew the rtionship between the twopletely. She said, "I don''t think Mr. Shaffer will sign the divorce agreement." "Why?" Catalina thought that Bet would definitely sign it. "First, ording to you, Mr. Shaffer tried his best to marry you, so why do you think he will let you go now? He spent 200 thousand dors, but what did he get? Even if he married you because of ire, he won''t be divorcing you now." Emery analyzed it logically. Even Catalina felt that Emery''s words were reasonable. Catalina frowned and asked, "What about the second reason?" "The second reason is important." Emery deliberately kept Catalina guessing and then got close to Catalina, whispering, "I think Mr. Shaffer came into Starham Mountain just for you." "For me?" Catalina was surprised and felt funny. Catalina shook her head and sighed, "You''re really imaginative and so bold!" Emery rolled her eyes and said, Believe it or not!" Certainly, Catalina didn''t believe it. She also couldn''t believe it. Catalina didn''t even dare to have such a crazy thought. After getting off the ne, Catalina got her luggage and was about to take a taxi with Emery back to Emery''s house. Whether Bet signed the divorce agreement or not, Catalina couldn''t go back to that home. Catalina and Emery were waiting for the car booked online on the side of the road. Suddenly, a familiar ck Bentley car appeared like a ghost and stopped in front of them without warning. Catalina was stunned. Catalina recognized it was Bet''s car at a nce. Emery kept screaming, "Lina, it turns out that the luxury car I tookst time was my idol''s car! Dear me! Why didn''t you tell me?" Emery patted Catalina on the arm with excitement. Catalina''s arm became red. Catalina sighed in her heart, "Such a naughty girl!" At the same time, Vincent opened the door of the passenger seat and got out of the car. He respectfully opened the backseat door for Catalina and said, "Mrs. Shaffer, please get in the car." In the back seat, Bet sat there in a suit, holding a thick document and looking through page by page. Obviously, Bet had a lot of work to do after a week away. Hearing the sound outside the car, Bet turned his head and nced at Catalina indifferently. Then Bet looked at the luggage in Catalina''s hand. Bet frowned slightly and ordered, "Get in the car." Catalina stood still and did not move. Facing Bet''s invitation, Catalina didn''t know what to do. "Well..." Catalina licked her lips nervously and said, "The divorce agreement..." "Are you sure you want to talk about divorce here?" Bet suddenly had a cold face. There were several cars behind them, and the drivers were honking impatiently. "Go!" Emery elbowed Catalina and said, "The road is going to be busy because of you." Catalina was speechless. Catalina nced at Bet, who was indifferent in the car, and finally had no choice but to get in the car. Vincent closed the car door respectfully and then put Catalina''s luggage into the trunk. After saying goodbye to Emery, the group drove away. The atmosphere in the car was thick with tension and very depressing! Even though Bet sitting there always paid his attention to the documents in his hand, Catalina also deeply felt the chill from him. Catalina sat away from Bet. She straightened up and didn''t dare to look sideways. Catalina was on pins and needles. Catalina''s thoughts were clouded. Catalina, out of the corner of her eye, carefully looked at Bet, wondering whether to talk to him about the divorce agreement. "Well..." Finally, Catalina spoke. Catalina ventured, "Have you read the divorce agreement I left in the room?" Bet was expressionless. There was not even a subtle expression on Bet''s face. Bet only focused on the documents in his hand and didn''t respond. But Catalina knew that Bet must have heard it. Bet was not deaf. Getting no reply, Catalina had no choice but to continue asking, "Have you signed it?" "Catalina." Finally, Bet spoke. Bet raised his head and looked at Catalina with cold eyes. He asked, "Since when do you call the shots between us?" Chapter 75 To Let You Be Together Chapter 75 To Let You Be Together Chapter 75 To Let You Be Together Catalina was stunned. Bet continued to say, "When I bought you for 200 thousand dors, I warned you that I was the one to decide when we broke up." Catalina bit her lip heavily. Catalina thought, "Well!" "I can regard our marriage as just a deal, but..." "Have you asked ire what she thought? Have you considered her?" "What?" Bet was displeased. "She is your girlfriend, and now she is back from Gilburgh. Isn''t it reasonable for me to quit and return you to her?" "So, did you file for divorce because of ire? Do you care about her?" Bet raised his eyebrows and rxed his cold look. "Of course, I care about her. She is my best friend, but I married her boyfriend. It''s inappropriate. What''s more, you and I have no feelings at all. I don''t want to affect the friendship between ire and me because of you. So, Bet, let''s divorce!" Bet had a frosty look again because of Catalina''s ruthless words. Bet said in a cold voice with a face like thunder, "So, the reason for your divorce from me is just because of ire, right?" Bet thought, "In her heart, that woman is more important than me!" "She can desert me and ask for a divorce so easily just because of ire!" "That''s right!" "She said that we have no feelings at all!" Anger flickered in Bet''s deep eyes. Catalina looked out of the car window, and Bet''s words caused her a great deal of heartache. After a long time, Catalina replied in a muffled voice, "I don''t want to lose my best friend." Catalina was even more unwilling to share the same man with anyone. Moreover, that person was her best friend. With his frosty look, Bet ordered in a cold voice, "Stop the car!" The car braked and stopped abruptly. Catalina leaned forward and almost hit the seat in front of her. "Get out of the car!" Bet said coldly. Bet didn''t even look at Catalina beside him. Catalina was stunned. The next second, Bet opened the car door and got off. Catalina was a little annoyed. It was Bet who asked Catalina to get in the car, but now it was also Bet who drove Catalina out of the car! Catalina thought Bet was impossible! "Mrs. Shaffer..." Vincent also got out of the car. "Don''t keep me." Catalina had already made up her mind to leave. Vincent looked slightly embarrassed and said, "Actually, Mrs. Shaffer, I want to remind you that your luggage is still in the trunk..." Catalina said nothing. Catalina thought, "Sure enough, his assistant is also as ruthless as him!" After Vincent carried the luggage out, Catalina dragged her suitcase and went in the opposite direction without looking back. When Bet looked at Catalina''s figure through the rearview mirror, he was filled with anger immediately. Bet threw away the documents in his hand angrily and was suddenly in a bad mood! After getting out of the car, Catalina called Emery. "Emery, I can only live in your house temporarily tonight, but I promise you that I''m going to look for a house right away. Once I find a suitable one, I will move out immediately. I''ll never..." "All right, stop the nonsense. Come here! I don''t mind." "Okay! You are the best person in the world." After hanging up, Catalina took a taxi and went to Emery''s house with the luggage. An hourter... When Emery saw Catalina, who was homeless with the luggage outside the door, Emery was speechless. Then Emery asked helplessly, "Are you really running away from home? But didn''t you just get into Bet''s luxury car?" While asking, Emery took Catalina''s luggage. "Stop talking..." Catalina was a little frustrated when she mentioned what had happened in the car. Catalina was listless with her head lowered. She said, "I was driven out by him directly." "No way!" Emery couldn''t believe it and asked again, "Did you mention the divorce again and annoy him?" "I... Well, even if I mentioned it, he had no reason to be angry!" Catalina thought, "Moreover, it seemed that Bet was angry because I mentioned ire!" This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. "Forget it." Catalina shook her head and wanted to forget the worries. Then she continued, "Never mind. That''s history. The most important thing is to find a house now." "You don''t need to find a house. It''s a waste of money! Maybe you will be taken back by my husband after a few days." Catalina was speechless. Catalina felt awkward because of Emery''s words "my husband"! Emery seemed to see through Catalina''s mind and said, "All right, he''s your husband! He belongs to you, and I promise I won''t steal him." "I didn''t mean that..." Catalina flushed because of Emery''s joke. "Let''s go. I''ll take you to the room." Emery pushed Catalina''s luggage and walked back. Emery continued, "You don''t have to look for a house and just live here. I have an extra room." "No, it''s inappropriate." "Why? We can share the rent equally!" "Really? That''s great!" Catalina hugged Emery with excitement and said, "Little help brings much return. If you need my help in the future, just tell me." Emery pulled Catalina off her and said, "I just have one request." "What?" "Let me see more public disys of affection to satisfy me." Catalina was speechless and thought Emery was a goner! After settling down, Catalina began to sort the luggage out. Unexpectedly, Catalina found the tie that was to be given to Bet in the suitcase. Catalina was in a trance. Catalina never thought that the tie would be useless after buying it for more than a hundred thousand dors. The tie won''t be given even more now. Catalina was about to put away the tie, but a small hand suddenly appeared behind her. Emery grabbed it and asked, "Is it for my husband?" "It''s not!" Catalina denied it. Emery nced at the price list and shouted with eyes wide open, "Holly shit! It cost more than a hundred thousand dors! Are you crazy?" Catalina was a little embarrassed. Catalina snatched the tie back and stuffed it into the box. She said, "Although it cost more than a hundred thousand dors, he will dislike it! The ties ire gave all cost millions of dors." "What the fuck!" Emery''s eyes widened in surprise, and she shouted, "Millions of dors? I can buy a big house in my hometown!" Emery thought, "It''s too exaggerated!" "Sure enough, the rich can do whatever they want to do!" "Lina, promise me. Take a tie of my idol to me when you go home next time, okay?" "Why?" Catalina looked at Emery vigntly and asked, "Do you have a tie fetish?" "Are you stupid?" Emery tapped Catalina''s head and continued, "I can sell it and buy a house!" Catalina said nothing but thought, "Awesome!" Catalina continued to sort out her luggage. This time, she found the bandage and disinfectant. Catalina was stunned again. Catalina thought, "Anything can have something to do with that man." "These medicines were used by him yesterday." "A day passed, and is his injured foot better?" "Will he apply the medicine to the wound on time?" "But he can''t see blood." Catalina suddenly became worried again. Chapter 76 Apply Ointment on His Wound Chapter 76 Apply Ointmenton His Wound Chapter 76 Apply Ointment on His Wound What was she thinking? Catalina realized she had been meddling in this too much. There were so many servants attending to Bet. Why would she worry about him? Besides, whether to put on the medicine or not was his own business. After all, he was no child. Was it even possible that he couldn''t take care of such a minor injury? But... When he acted on impulse, he could be as childish as a little boy! Finally, after thinking it over, Catalina couldn''t help but call Ralph. "Ralph, it''s me," Catalina said, while her voice sounded a bit hesitant on the phone. "Mrs. Shaffer?" Ralph was pleasantly surprised to receive her call. "Mrs. Shaffer, where are you now? When are youing back? Shall I arrange for a car to pick you up right now?" "No, no, it''s fine. I don''t think I''ll go back again." Catalina suddenly felt sad as she spoke. Would she never see Ralph or Wendy again? What a pity! She should have said goodbye to them before leaving. "Mrs. Shaffer, you can be angry with Mr. Shaffer, but please don''t say that you are nevering back. It could hurt everyone''s feelings, including Mr. Shaffer''s." Catalina let out a deep sigh. She knew that Bet wouldn''t be upset if she didn''t return. But Wendy would. She should bid Wendy farewell. Leaving without saying anything was indeed a little cruel. "Ralph, I just wanted to let you know that Bet''s toe is injured, and he feels sick at the sight of blood. Please tell the family doctor to treat his injury on time." "Mr. Shaffer is injured?" Ralph got worried and asked, "Is it serious?" "Don''t worry, it''s not serious, but he needs to apply ointment on the injury for a couple of days." "OK, thank you for reminding me, Mrs. Shaffer." "It''s nothing." "Mrs. Shaffer, you see, you still care about Mr. Shaffer after all. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have called me." Catalina said with a weak smile, "After all, he got injured because of me." That''s right. Bet was injured because of her, so she felt obligated to care about him and make this call. Catalina reassured herself with this thought. It wasn''t until the evening that Bet returned to the Lake Compound. Ralph had brought the family doctor along with him. Bet, stood barefoot on the white Persian carpet, undoing his clothes as he was preparing to take a bath. Seeing Ralph and the family doctore over, Bet furrowed his brows and asked, "What''s going on?" "Mr. Shaffer, your toe is injured. After you take a bath, let the doctor have a check." Bet raised his eyebrow and looked down at his toe that had already scabbed over. He asked Ralph, "How did you know that I get injured?" He didn''t even tell Vincent about it. "It was Mrs. Shaffer who told me this when she called me this evening." "Catalina?" Bet was surprised. He took off his tie and casually threw it on the sofa. Then he asked, "What did she say?" Ralph hurriedly repeated what Catalina had said on the phone to Bet. Certainly, he skipped the part where she said she wouldn''te back. He didn''t dare to mention it. After hearing Ralph''s retelling, it was noticeable that Bet''s tightly knit brows rxed. His sullen mood also dissipated instantly. Immediately, Bet felt his mood was lifted. However, within seconds, Bet''s face turned gloomy again. "Tell her that I, Bet, ask her toe here and apply the ointment on my wound by herself!" "But, I''m afraid Mrs. Shaffer..." Would Mrs. Shaffer do as she was told? Ralph didn''t dare to tell him the truth. "Are you going or not?" "...well, yes!" Ralph had toply reluctantly. Then, he silently led the family doctor out of the Lake Compound. He was thinking about how he could persuade Mrs. Shaffer toe back and help apply the ointment on Mr. Shaffer. It was a difficult task indeed. After Ralph left the Lake Compound, he made a phone call to Catalina. Catalina had just finished taking a bath and was about to dry her hair and go to sleep soon after. Having been working in the mountainous areas for over a month and then traveling for the whole day, she waspletely exhausted. Seeing that the call was from Ralph, Catalina was a bit surprised. Did Bet''s condition be worse? Thinking of this, she quickly picked up the phone. "Ralph?" "Yes, Mrs. Shaffer, I hope I''m not waking you up." "No, I haven''t slept yet. What''s the matter?" "Well... it''s just..." Ralph sounded hesitant. "Ralph, please tell me." "Well..." Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Ralph paused for a moment and said, "I just took the family doctor to examine Mr. Shaffer''s injury, but unexpectedly, his injury is infected." "Infected?" Catalina was surprised and replied, "How is that possible? I thought it was just a small wound." "It is a small wound, but the doctor said that the infection might be caused by improper wound care." "What?" Catalina felt her heart clench. He was injured because of her, and she had treated the wound as well. Now that the wound had be infected, she was responsible. "I''m sorry, Ralph. Bet was hurt because of me," Catalina said, feeling a little guilty. "It''s fine. Even if Mr. Shaffer were to suffer a more serious injury for you, he would still be willing to do so. It''s not your fault. It''s just that..." Ralph was hesitating. "Just what?" "The family doctor just came to check on Mr. Shaffer and said that it''s crucial to change the bandage immediately. Also, he is having a fever, but when the doctor tried to treat the wound, he refused. He also doesn''t take the medicine prescribed by the doctor." "At this time, he''s still being stubborn?" Catalina was upset. Did he really think of himself as a three-year-old child? He was infected and had a fever, but he refused to take his medicine. Did he need someone to add sugar to the medicine and feed him spoon by spoon? Ralph sounded discouraged on the phone. He said, "You know Mr. Shaffer''s temper. If he''s being difficult, no one can persuade him. Of course, we wouldn''t dare to try." Ralph thought, he even lied to Catalina who was much younger than him for the sake of Mr. Shaffer''s marriage and happiness. "What about Ryker? Can''t he convince Bet?" "Ryker happens to be on vacation and has gone back to his hometown. He''s not in the Sophora Vi now." Ralph didn''t lie to Catalina about this. "Mrs. Shaffer..." After talking in a roundabout way, Ralph finally got to the point, "There is a reason why Mr. Shaffer refuses to get treatment." "What reason?" "Mr. Shaffer told me that he was injured because of you, and so it''s your responsibility to take care of it. He''s willing to change the bandage, only if youe and apply ointment on his wound by yourself." Chapter 77 Go Back to See Mr. Shaffer Chapter 77 Go Back to See Mr. Shaffer Chapter 77 Go Back to See Mr. Shaffer "Did he really say that?" Catalina found it hard to believe that someone could be so stubborn and childish. Ralph nodded and said, "Mr. Shaffer did say that. I wouldn''t dare to lie to you." Catalina was silent, biting her lip. What was Bet up to? Was he trying to make things difficult for her or humiliate her? How immature he was! "Ralph, I can never go back." Catalina had made up her mind. She was afraid that once she went back, she wouldn''t be able to leave the ce again. That man living there belonged to ire and had nothing to do with her. So, Catalina, be determined! Even though he was injured because of her, he really had nothing to do with her anymore. "Ralph, if you really can''t persuade Bet, why not let ire help?" "Ms. Park?" Hearing this, Ralph sighed and shook his head. He replied, "Mrs. Shaffer, you have misunderstood Mr. Shaffer." "Alright, Ralph, I''m going to bed now. Please take good care of Bet." Ralph knew what she implied. Catalina did not want to hear him talk about Mr. Shaffer and Ms. Park. Ralph was an astute person who knew he should stop before going too far. He just asked, "Mrs. Shaffer, are you really noting back to see Mr. Shaffer?" Catalina smiled politely and replied, "Forget it! It''s toote." "Well, then I won''t insist. You should rest early. As for Mr. Shaffer, he probably won''t be able to sleep tonight. His wound is festering, and I can''t bear seeing this..." "..." "Alright, alright, I''ve talked too much. Please rest early! Mrs. Shaffer, good night." "Okay, Ralph, good night." After saying good night to each other, they hung up the phone. Catalina felt upset, and lying in bed, she couldn''t fall asleep. She couldn''t stop thinking about what Ralph said before he hung up. Did Bet''s condition really worsen to such an extent? Infection? Festering? Fever? Could something really happen to him? Catalinay in bed, tossing and turning. What about Ralph, who had been declined by Catalina? Even though he did not get the desired oue when talking over the phone, he appeared at ease and confident. Wendy had poked her head from behind and asked, "Ralph, has Mrs. Shaffer agreed toe back?" When Ralph turned around, he was surprised to see Wendy, who seemed toe out of nowhere. He asked, "What are you doing here?" "Is Mr. Shaffer really severely injured?" "What does that have to do with you?" He gave her a light smack on the head and grumbled, "I have told you so many times to stay out of trouble. How can you overhear me speaking on the phone?" Rubbing her forehead in pain, Wendy responded innocently, "I wasn''t eavesdropping. I was standing behind you, but you just didn''t notice me." "You..." Ralph was so infuriated that he wanted to flick her forehead again. He lifted his hand but didn''t do that anyway. He said, "You''re getting more and more mischievous." Wendy grinned. She said with a smile, "I knew you wouldn''t actually do that to me." Wendy said, holding Ralph''s arm, "Ralph, I heard you trying to persuade Mrs. Shaffer toe back on the phone. Did she agree?" "No." "No?" In disappointment, Wendy withdrew her hand and pouted, saying, "Then why do you look so confident? I thought she had said yes! I had rejoiced too soon." "Have the driver take you to the Pallwich International Community on Hills Road and wait outside." "The Pallwich International Community? Why should I go there?" "That''s where Mrs. Shaffer stays now. Don''t you understand why?" "Go and pick up Mrs. Shaffer? But didn''t you say she refused toe back? Are you teasing me?" Ralph gave Wendy a forehead flick again and said, "Do as you are told to. Why are you asking so many questions? Go now!" "Yes! I''m on my way!" Wendy ran off happily to arrange the car for Mrs. Shaffer. Ralph said Mrs. Shaffer woulde back, and Mrs. Shaffer surely would. Catalina was lying in bed, trying in vain to fall asleep. She nced at the clock, and it was midnight already. It was toote! She had to get some sleep! Catalina shut her eyes and forced herself not to think about Bet''s wound infection. Yet, however hard she tried, every time she closed her eyes, somehow she couldn''t stop thinking about Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. his festering wound. Finally, she could no longer stand this, so she rose from the bed in a second. After a few moments of hesitation, she took out her phone from beneath the pillow and called Ralph back. Unexpectedly, Ralph picked up the phone immediately. It seemed as if he had been anticipating her call. "Mrs. Shaffer." Ralph greeted her in a respectful manner. "Ralph." Catalina was nervously roughing the bed sheet and then asked, "Bet... has he treated the injury?" Ralph sighed on the other end and replied, "Not yet! He won''t listen to us, and now everyone in the Sophora Vi is anxious." Catalina bit her lip as if she was making a difficult decision. Then she said, "Okay, then I''ll go back! Since he wants me there to take care of him so badly, I can satisfy his need." Ralph who was on the other end of the line sounded obviously relieved, and he responded in a more cheerful voice, "Thank you, Mrs. Shaffer, you are so kind. The car has been waiting downstairs. Wee back." Catalina was surprised. What was going on? She just agreed to go back to the Sophora Vi, but now she was told that the car had already been waiting downstairs for her? It seemed that everything was nned. Catalina was about to say something, but Ralph only said, "Mrs. Shaffer, see you around," and hung up. Catalina was speechless. Why did it feel like she had stepped into a trap? Ralph was really sly! Catalina got up and quickly changed her clothes. After putting on a long coat, she went out. She kept telling herself that she was not going back to the Sophora Vi because she worried about Bet. She feared that if something happened to Bet because of her, the Shaffer family would go after her. So she must be careful with the man of the Shaffer family. It would be just fine. After he recovered, she could leave, and she had nothing to do with the Shaffer family anymore. This noble family and Mr. Shaffer were all beyond her reach. She could avoid them if she didn''t want to mess with them. Chapter 78 The Return of Mrs. Shaffer Chapter 78 The Return of Mrs. Shaffer Chapter 78 The Return of Mrs. Shaffer Catalina walked downstairs. As expected, there was a luxury ck car parked outside the door. As soon as Catalina showed up, the driver quickly got out of the car and respectfully opened the rear door for her, saying, "Mrs. Shaffer, please get in the car." "Thank you." Catalina nodded, said thanks to him, and got into the car. The driver took her to the Sophora Vi. The closer they got to the destination, the more nervous Catalina became. She felt it was hard for her to breathe. She didn''t understand why she was so nervous. Didn''t she just meet Bet in the afternoon? Though their talk broke down in discord. "Mrs. Shaffer. We have arrived." Suddenly, the driver reminded Catalina when she was lost in thought. The driver hurriedly stepped out of the car, opened the door for her, and said with a respectful yet graceful gesture, "Mrs. Shaffer, please get off the car." Then she snapped out of her thoughts. It took Catalina a few seconds topose herself before she got out of the car. "Mrs. Shaffer!" Wendy appeared out of nowhere and excitedly hugged Catalina, saying, "I thought you would never ¡°Wendy, let go. Manners!¡± Ralph, who was standing at the gate, tapped his cane on the ground and scolded her. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Wendy looked embarrassed and quickly let go of Catalina, apologizing, "I''m sorry, Mrs. Shaffer. I forgot myself.""That''s alright. I am not obsessed with rules like Bet." As she said this, she hugged Wendy and then greeted Ralph politely, "d to see you again, Ralph.""Mrs. Shaffer, wee home." Ralph greeted her with a smile. At this moment, when Catalina saw Ralph''s smile again, she felt that he was no longer as simple as he seemed to be. This crafty old man! But that was reasonable, those who could stay by Bet''s side were probably all smart, weren¡¯t they? "Mrs. Shaffer, pleasee in! Mr. Shaffer has been waiting for a long time." Ralph gave Catalina a weing gesture to sign for her toe inside. Catalina was speechless. She had just arrived and hadn''t even had a sip of water. Why in such a hurry? Five minutester, Ralph led Catalina to the Lake Compound. "Knock, knock, knock." Ralph stood outside the door and politely knocked three times, saying "Mr. Shaffer, Mrs. Shaffer is here." There was no response. For some reason, Catalina had her heart in her mouth. She didn''t know why she was so nervous. "Mr. Shaffer?" Ralph was about to knock on the door again. Unexpectedly, as soon as he raised his hand, the door was pulled open from inside. With a grim face, Bet showed up in front of them. He was so tall that his presence put an enormous pressure on others. Although he was dressed in a light gray home wear, he looked as charismatic as when he was wearing a suit at work. Standing there, he had a look that made people want to bow their heads. Moreover, his noble and elegant temperament made him shine brighter than all the stars. "Mr. Shaffer, good evening." Ralph hurriedly nodded and greeted him respectfully. Bet ignored him directly. He stared straight at Catalina''s face and asked aggressively, "Didn''t you leave? Why are youing back?" Ralph was dumbstruck. Dear God! How could Mrs. Shaffer stay here after he said those words! Hearing what Bet said, Catalina was immediately angry and refuted, "Didn¡¯t you beg me toe back? Otherwise, I would never be back!" Bet raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a smile, "You came back because I told you to do so. When did you be so obedient?" "You..." Catalina was furious. Suddenly, she nced at Bet''s fair-skinned feet. She frowned and was confused because there was no sign of wound infection at all. Catalina turned to look at Ralph and asked, "Ralph, didn''t you say his wound was festering and he had a fever? Now, where is the wound? Since he looks so energetic, it''s impossible that he has a fever. You lied to me!"Catalina puffed out her cheeks in anger and turned to leave right away. Ralph looked embarrassed and didn''t know what to do. Meanwhile, Bet did not expect that she would actually leave because of what he said. Seeing that she really wanted to leave, Bet panicked and wanted to stop her, but he was unwilling to give up his self-esteem. He could only wink at Ralph. He could never expect that Ralph ignored his hints and turned his head away. Out of sight, out of mind. Bet was annoyed. He really wanted to fire Ralph right now. Catalina stormed out. Just as she got to the ancient-style bridge, she suddenly heard Ralph yelling behind her, "Mr. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer! What happened? Are you alright?" Catalina stopped walking ahead and turned around immediately. She saw that Bet had bent his leg and was sitting on the carpet. He pinched the eyebrows and covered his face with one arm, so Catalina couldn''t see his expression. But she guessed he must be in pain. What happened to him? "Mrs. Shaffer, don¡¯t just stand there. Come and help Mr. Shaffer up! Mr. Shaffer, are you alright?" At the door, Ralph urged her with a worried look. Catalina rushed back. Ralph pretended to help Bet get up from the ground and said in a low voice, "Mr. Shaffer, you are so good at acting that you can surely win an Oscar." "No better than you, old man." "Thank you, Mr..." "What''s going on?" Catalina looked anxious and worried, and she was out of breath from rushing back. She quickly squatted down, put Bet''s arm on her shoulder, and tried to lift him up. She asked, "Bet, are you okay?" Bet winced as if he was in pain, and his arm rested on Catalina''s shoulder. He replied, "I¡¯m dizzy and a little feverish." "Do you have a fever? But I don''t see any signs of infection in your foot injury." Catalina asked as she stretched her hand to feel his forehead. Bet grabbed her hand before she touched his forehead. His touch on the back of her hand made Catalina''s heart skip a beat for no reason. "Don''t make me angry, and I''ll feel better." Bet said as he secretly gestured to Ralph to leave with the hand over her shoulder. Ralph understood immediately and said, "Mrs. Shaffer, I''ll fetch the doctor for Mr. Shaffer. Please take care of him for a while." "OK, be quick!" Catalina furrowed her brows and looked worried. Ralph quickly left. Before leaving, he also closed the door for them. After walking out of the Lake Compound, Ralph immediately told all the servants, "No one is allowed to step into the Lake Compound tonight without Mr. Shaffer''s orders!" "Yes!" Everyone replied. In the Lake Compound... Catalina crouched, put Bet''s arm around her shoulder, and said, "Let me help you up first. It''s cold on the ground." As she said, she tried to help Bet get up. To her surprise, Bet remained still, as if he had taken root in the ground. Chapter 79 How Much Money You Are Worth Chapter 79 How Much Money You Are Worth Chapter 79 How Much Money You Are Worth She frowned and there was sweat on her forehead. Sheined, "Bet, don''t you think you should lose some weight?" "Do you have the nerve to criticize my figure when you are not strong enough?" "Don''t you know that I can just throw you on the ground?" Catalina retorted and then impatiently pushed away his arm on her shoulder. Bet looked at her with his charming eyes and draped his arm over her slender shoulder again. Catalina was amused and annoyed at the same time. However, the small move of Bet softened her heart and made her surrender. "I''ll help you up. Use your own strength at the same time." "...okay." Bet murmured in response with a heavy nasal voice. Clenching her teeth, Catalina supported his arm, grabbed his wrist, and tried to lift him up. Unexpectedly, he suddenly pulled back his arm towards his chest, and Catalina was caught off guard and fell into Bet''s arms. Bet hugged her, and they both fell onto the Persian carpet. Catalina ended up lying on his chest. Her hands touching his sturdy chest muscles, her cheeks blushed in an instant. She felt awkward and wanted to detach herself from Bet''s embrace immediately. As soon as she propped herself up with her arms, his hand that was resting on her back suddenly pushed her back into Bet''s embrace. With a sound, Catalina fell heavily back into Bet''s arms. The two of them were intertwined, and they could feel the warmth of each other''s bodies. Their hearts were beating hard like drums at the same rate. There was romantic chemistry between them... Catalina''s face turned red. "Are you getting up or not?" Catalina red at Bet who was teasing her. However, Bet didn''t let her go. Instead, he tightened his arms and replied, "You still haven''t answered my question." "What question?" "Did youe back because I told you to? When did you be so obedient?" "..." Catalina''s face was pressed against his chest. She felt as if she was burning inside, and there was sweat on her nose. She replied, "Ralph tricked me intoing back. He said that your injury was infected and festering, and you had a fever. The most annoying thing is that you were throwing a tantrum and refused to treat your injury." Bet frowned his eyebrows and said unhappily, "Why is refusing to treat my injury equal to throwing a tantrum?" "Isn''t that true?" "Didn''t I got injured for you? Shouldn''t you be responsible for taking care of me ande back?" Of course, Catalina was trying to provoke him by saying these words deliberately. It was all because Ralph lied to her that night. "What did you say?" Unsurprisingly, Bet became furious. He grabbed her chin with the other hand, forcing her to look up at him, and said, "Catalina, how could you say such heartless words? Aren''t you guilty at all? Where is your conscience?" "But it was you who tricked me first." "I tricked you? When did I trick you?" Bet was livid. "You hid behind me and scared me! If you hadn''t yed a prank on me, how would I have fallen into the mud pit?" "..." "You see, again you are speechless now!" Bet was so angry that he couldn''t say a word. "Catalina, you are a total idiot!" After scolding her with a grim face, Bet pulled her away from him without hesitation. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Then he got up and walked inside the room with a nk expression. He said, "Come here and apply the ointment on my injury!" Catalina got up from the ground and grumbled, "Bet, you lied to me again!" Bet had already taken out the medicine kit and sat on the sofa. He added, "Go wash your hands." "..." What a nuisance! Following his instructions, Catalina went to the washroom and washed and sanitized her hands. "Rub the soap on your hands three times, five minutes each time." Outside the door, Bet reminded her in a serious voice. Catalina gritted her teeth and looked at herself in the mirror, rubbing her hands angrily as if she was running his head. Twelve minutester, Catalina shook the water off her hands and left the washroom. "Three minutes short." Bet looked at the watch on his wrist, his brows furrowed. "That''s enough!" Catalina couldn''t take it anymore. She said, "Either let me apply the ointment or I''ll just go." "..." Bet''s eyebrows twitched with anger. Since when had she dared to bargain with him? In the end, somehow, Bet managed to suppress his anger. He put his legs on the table in front of him and turned his face away to look outside the window. He said, "Come here!" He was still acting in an arrogant and domineering manner. Catalina pouted and walked over. However, Catalina knew that it was the biggest concession he could make that he didn''t force her to wash her hands for another three minutes. Catalina squatted in front of the table and nced at his fair-skinned feet. She asked, "Well...did you wash your feet?" Bet''s face turned grim. He asked, "Are youining that my feet look dirty?" "..." Why was that? Why couldn''t shein about him? However, given this guy''s obsession with cleanliness, maybe his feet were even cleaner than other people''s faces! Look at his delicate little feet. The nails were neatly trimmed! They were even more neatly trimmed than her fingers. Truly meticulous. Catalina took out the wound healing solution and cotton and began to apply it to his injury. His foot injury had already scabbed over and it would probably fully heal in another two days. Of course, even without applying the medicine, it would be just fine in three days. It was really hard to imagine how Ralph could make up such things as infection, festering, and fever. The point was, Catalina actually believed it! Indeed, just as Bet had said earlier, she was such a fool! "It''s done." In less than a minute, the job was finished. Catalina packed up the medical kit and pped her hands. She said, "I should go now." "Where are you going?" Bet asked with a sullen face, pretending that he didn''t know where she was heading. "Of course, I''m going home." Catalina replied naturally. "By the way, I forgot to tell you that I''m going to live in the Pallwich International Community from now on. I''ve already rented a house over there." Bet crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Catalina with a mocking expression. He said, "How much do you think you, Catalina, are worth to me?" "What do you mean?" Catalina frowned, looking somewhat displeased. "I gave you 150 thousand dors, but we were only married for less than five months. Do you think you''re worth over 30 thousand dors a month? Which rich man outside is willing to offer you this price?" "Bet, you''re being unreasonable!" "Which word I said was unreasonable? Do you think you''re worth the money I spent?" Each word Bet said pierced deeply into Catalina''s heart like a sharp knife. Her heart ached. Therefore, in Bet''s eyes, this marriage was ultimately just a transaction. And for him, Catalina was just an item with a price tag. "Fine." The humiliating words from Betpletely aroused Catalina''s fighting spirit. "Just 150 thousand dors, right? Consider that you have lent it to me, and I''ll try to pay it all back to you!" "1.5 million dors!" Bet looked down. "What?" Catalina thought she heard it wrong. "Five months have passed and there is interest. Catalina, I have already shown you mercy." Chapter 80 Stuck in Bennetts Room Chapter 80 Stuck in Bet''s Room Chapter 80 Stuck in Bet''s Room Catalina was infuriated. She said, "You''re ckmailing me!" And he imed to have shown her mercy. It was shameless for him to say that. He was clearly a super cunning businessman. Bet stood up, looking at ease, and said, "I gave 150 thousand dors to my investment consultant, and he can turn it into 1.5 million dors in just one month. I only asked for 1.5 million dors after lending the money to you for five months. What else do you want, Catalina? If it weren''t for you serving me for one night, I wouldn''t even have given you this price!" "You..." Catalina was so angry that she was about to cry, and she couldn''t say a word. How could Bet talk so casually about that night? Also, did she and him sleep for only one night? They clearly had spent two nights together! "1.5 million dors is impossible. You lent me 150 thousand dors, and I''ll pay you back 180 thousand dors in total. The additional 30 thousand dors will be the interest. Take it or leave it!" With these words, Catalina turned around and walked away. She suddenly regretted buying that tie which cost 22.5 thousand dors for him! She did not give it to him, and she also couldn''t return and refund it. Now she can only put it away in a box, which made her even angrier. Catalina angrily pulled the door, preparing to leave. But... She couldn''t open the door? What was going on? Catalina tried to pull it open again. Still, she failed. Was it locked? Catalina looked at the small lock at the bottom. What happened? It was not locked! Catalina tugged at the lock and pulled the door, but it still wouldn''t budge. She closed her eyes to suppress the raging anger in her chest. She turned to the man standing in the living room and said, "Open the door." "What does it have to do with me?" Bet was acting with an aloof attitude. "You must know how to unlock it, don''t you?" "Of course I do." "How can I unlock the door?" Catalina stepped aside. "With a key or a password, from the outside." "..." Was this guy being serious? Catalina was infuriated. But to her surprise, Bet walked towards the bed and directlyy down on it. "If you want to open the door, reach out to Ralph by yourself. He was the one who locked the door, and it has nothing to do with me." With this cold response, he turned around, covered himself with the nket, and fell asleep. He did fall asleep. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. How rxed he was! Catalina was speechless. She quickly took out her phone and called Ralph. To her dismay, his phone was turned off. She had no choice but to call Wendy. To her surprise, Wendy''s phone was also turned off. What was going on? Catalina felt like she was tricked by the old fox Ralph again. Unable to open the door or get help from the outside, and with Bet showing no interest in helping, Catalina had to figure out how to solve the problem on her own. "Hello?" "Hailee!" She pounded on the door and called out loudly to the maid waiting outside, "Hailee! Hailee, are you there?" No matter how loudly she shouted or how hard she pounded on the door, there was no response from outside. And the man on the bed seemed to bepletely unaffected. He was lying there and did not move at all, as if he was sound asleep. Bet was known for having good sleep. But in Catalina''s eyes, he just didn''t care about it! Like now... Catalina sat back on the sofa feeling frustrated. She crossed her legs, tapped her bare feet on the sofa ad said, "Bet." He ignored her. "Bet?" Still, he made no response. Was he really asleep? "Bet!" Catalina turned around to look at him. Finally, she didn''t want to wait anymore, so she got up and walked to his bed. Bet was still sleeping with his back to her. Catalina leaned forward and patted his shoulder. She raised her voice and said, "Bet, don''t pretend to be asleep. You must have a way to contact Ralph. You have an internal phone line. Hurry up..." However, before Catalina could finish speaking, Bet kissed her red lips suddenly. Catalina stared at him in shock. The next second, she pushed the man in front of her away, bouncing off as if she had been startled. She stumbled and fell to the ground by the side of the bed. Her face blushed, and she covered her lips that were kissed by Bet with the back of her hand. She asked while staring at him in embarrassment, "Bet, why are you doing this?" Betzily leaned against the headboard, gave a cold nce at her blushing face, and replied, "You''re so loud! You''re giving me a headache." "If I''m being loud, do you have to shut me up like that?" "What else can I do?" "You pervert!" Catalina was infuriated by his arrogant attitude. She stood up and said, "Call Ralph for me, or I''ll keep waking you up all night." "Are you threatening me?" Bet raised his eyebrows. She noticed a sense of danger from his expression. His eyes lingered on her red lips, and he said, "Then you can have a try. See if you can scream louder, or if I can silence you." "..." Catalina nced at his sexy thin lips, and her face turned red. She bit her lip and made a pouty face. She sat back on the sofa and not daring to make a sound. She shouldn''t have believed Ralph''s nonsense, nor should shee back! Now she was trapped here, and this served her right! Bet turned his head and looked at Catalina who was sitting in the sofa. His eyes brightened. Suddenly, he felt that his usuallyrge but empty bedroom was finally different... He couldn''t exin it, but at least he didn''t hate it. And there was a warm feeling in his heart. He felt very cozy. Bet crawled back into bed and fell asleep. Catalina didn''t bother him anymore. This time, Bet really fell asleep and slept soundly. Catalina remained motionless in the sofa with her legs bent and her chin resting on her knees. The two of them stayed quietly in the same space. It wasn''t until Catalina confirmed that Bet was truly asleep that she dared to turn around and nce at him sleeping in bed. He was still sleeping with his back to her. But even just the sight of his back stirred her up. In the past, she really wished she could be closer to him, even closer. She was scared now when she was so close to him. She was afraid that if they became too close and intimate, the pain would be too much if she lost him. Even the pain of imagining losing him was too heart-wrenching to bear. If she was destined to lose him, why bother being together in the first ce? Besides, he never belonged to her. As she was thinking to herself, her head rested on her knees, and she fell asleep. She slept until the next day, and it was dawn. Outside the Lake Compound, there were birds singing and fragrant flowers. As she was thinking to herself, her head rested on her knees, and she fell asleep. She slept until the next day when it was dawn. Outside the Lake Compound, there were birds singing and fragrant flowers. Theke was sparking with ripples and shimmering sunlight like diamonds. Colorful fish were swimming in theke. The sunlight shone through the thin curtains and fell on the two of them cuddling in bed. The withered peach tree branch on the bedside had quietly sprouted new buds, and there were green nts on the desk. It was spring in the Lake Compound, and everything looked so fresh and pleasant. As she smelled the flowers and listened to the birds singing, Catalina slowly woke up from her sleep. But to her surprise, she opened her eyes and saw Bet''s stunningly handsome face. Chapter 81 You Drooled on My Clothes Chapter 81 You Drooled on My Clothes Chapter 81 You Drooled on My Clothes Catalina was stunned. Catalina stared at Bet, who was very close to her. The hot and humid breath of the two were intertwined. Catalina was so nervous that her heart seemed to fly out. She thought, "What happened?" "Why did I sleep in Bet''s bed?" "And..." "I''m still resting on Bet''s arm!" Catalina flushed with shyness. Catalina could feel Bet''s unique hormone and could also smell the faint grass spice, which was special and agreeable. Bet was asleep quietly. When Bet was asleep, he did not look as fierce as when he was awake, but like a naive child. Catalina had the ripples wave in her heart. "Have you seen enough?" Suddenly, Bet in front of Catalina asked stiffly with his eyes closed. "What?" Catalina was taken aback. She was so scared that she sat up immediately. Catalina didn''t expect Bet to wake up! She felt so shocked and didn''t know when Bet woke up at all. Catalina suddenly felt like she had done something bad and was caught on the spot, and her cheeks flushed red. Catalina was d that she hadn''t done something intimate to Bet just now, otherwise, she would be really embarrassed. Bet sat upzily. Bet frowned. He shook his stiff arm Catalina''s head pillowed on and then twisted his neck left and right, looking very ufortable. Catalina was embarrassed. A blush of shame crept up her face. Bet asked in a displeased tone, "Why are you in my bed?" "What?" Catalina was stunned. It was a coincidence! It was also the question Catalina wanted to ask. Catalina blinked with an innocent expression and replied, "I... I also want to ask you why am I in your bed?" Catalina thought, "Could it be that I sleepwalked and went to his bed by myselfst night?" "It''s impossible!" "What do you think?" Bet pressed his lips. Catalina replied in embarrassment, "I actually slept on the sofast night." "You mean I hugged you to my bed, right?" Catalina said nothing. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. She thought, "That seems even less likely." "No, there is no such possibility at all." Catalina threw back the covers and got out of bed in embarrassment, muttering in a low voice, "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean it. I... I might have been sleepwalking at the time, and I don''t remember anything..." "Don''t do it again!" After speaking indifferently, Bet got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. Catalina sat on the edge of the bed, still thinking about what exactly happenedst night. Catalina thought, "How could it be?" "How could it be possible that I take the initiative to climb into Bet''s bed?" Catalina was so annoyed that she bit her finger heavily. She continued to think, "Catalina, you were so bold when you sleepwalked! That man is not something you can covet! Wake up quickly!" But Catalina didn''t know that Bet woke up in bed shortly after she fell asleepst night. After getting out of bed, Bet hugged Catalina huddling on the sofa, and put her back on his bed. Bet stared at Catalina''s sleeping face quietly for half an hour. Finally, Bet took Catalina softly into his arms and then fell asleepfortably. "Catalina..." When Catalina was immersed in her thoughts, a growl suddenly came from the bathroom. "What?" Catalina was taken aback. She stood up from the bed directly and asked, "What happened?" Catalina hurriedly rushed to the bathroom. As soon as Catalina went to the door, a man''s pajamas covered her head. Everything was suddenly dark, which made Catalina stunned. Bet said through gritted teeth, "You drooled on my clothes!" "What?" Catalina was very embarrassed. She thought, "I''m screwed!" Like a sinner who made a big mistake, Catalina took Bet''s pajamas off her head and apologized with her flushed face, "Sorry... I''m sorry. I''ll wash it right away." Bet stood in front of the sink, staring at Catalina coldly as if he would tear her up for two pins. Catalina didn''t dare to say anything. With her head tucked away, Catalina walked nervously to the sink and began to wash Bet''s pajamas. Catalina really wanted to sink through the floor! She thought, "Last night, I not only took the initiative to climb into his bed but also drooled on his clothes!" "How embarrassing it was!" "I''d like to hide my face forever!" "Bet is obsessive about cleanliness, but he didn''t throw me out on the spot, which already showed me respect." Catalina stood aside silently, scrubbing Bet''s pajamas like a person who hadmitted a crime. Catalina saw the garmentbel and surprisingly found that the pajamas could be cleaned with 86 Fahrenheit degrees of warm water. With an electric toothbrush in his mouth, Bet stared at Catalina washing clothes while washing up, for fear that Catalina would not be able to wash his pajamas cleanly. Suddenly, the mobile phone in Catalina''s pocket rang. Catalina thought it was a call from Emery and said, "Wait, I''ll answer the call first." Catalina quickly wiped her hands with tissues. She took out her mobile phone. When she was about to answer the phone, she immediately frowned after seeing the caller ID. In the next second, Catalina directly screened the call. Catalina didn''t expect that it was a call from Aaron. Catalina just put the phone away and felt a trace of cold gaze above her head, like an ice edge, settling on her. Catalina looked up and directly met Bet''s deep eyes. Bet''s eyes seemed to be filled with ice. Catalina was stunned. Bet turned his eyes away coldly. He had no expression with a face like thunder. Catalina didn''t think much about it and nned to continue washing clothes. However, the mobile phone in Catalina''s pocket rang again. The phone kept ringing. Catalina screened the phone call again without hesitation. But Aaron seemed to confront Catalina. After Catalina screened the call, Aaron kept making phone calls. Catalina couldn''t bear it, so she was about to answer the phone to scold Aaron, that jerk. Unexpectedly... Suddenly, someone reached out his arm, and Catalina''s mobile phone disappeared from her hand. The mobile phone that was still ringing was in Bet''s hand. Just when Catalina thought Bet might answer the call, she saw Bet holding her mobile phone with two fingers, and then... A ssh came. Bet loosened his fingers, and the phone fell into the soapy water in front of Catalina. The water sshed everywhere. The foam was everywhere. It fell on Catalina''s head, chest, and other parts of her body. At the same time, the ringtone also stopped abruptly when the phone fell into the water. In an instant, it seemed that the whole world was quiet. Catalina was stunned. She kept blinking in a daze slowly. She didn''t seem to understand for a moment how the whole thing had happened. "Bet..." Finally, Catalina came to her senses after ten seconds. Catalina was furious and shouted, "You are crazy. My phone is not waterproof." Bet nced at Catalina coldly and said indifferently, "It''s quiet now." Chapter 82 The Mobile Phone Bennett Compensated Chapter 82 The Mobile Phone Bet Compensated Chapter 82 The Mobile Phone Bet Compensated Catalina was speechless. Damn! Catalina was going to be crazy because of Bet. Catalina hurriedly took the phone out of the water, but it was toote. "Bet,pensate for my phone!" Looking at Catalina blowing her top, Bet was in a good mood in an instant. Bet turned around and strode out of the bathroom. He said, "It will be deducted from the 2 million dors you owe me." Catalina was speechless. She thought angrily, "Shit!" "He''s simply not in his right mind!" "Such a profiteer!" "Bet, you bastard! Bullying me makes you feel good, right?" Catalina shouted at Bet in a loud voice at the door. "Not bad." Acent voice came. Then, the sound of closing the door came. Bet disappeared into the bedroom. He opened the door and swaggered out! Bet opened the door by himself! He clearly knew how to open the door! Catalina suddenly felt her blood rushing to her head. Catalina felt dizzy and had a headache. It was a great loss to Catalina, and she thought she shouldn''t havee backst night. Catalina not only had a huge debt of 2 million dors, but also her mobile phone was broken. She really suffered a double loss instead of making a gain. After finishing washing Bet''s pajamas, Catalina made a special trip back to her bedroom. Catalina washed up and then tidied her room. Seeing the unshapely doll still on the bedside, Catalina''s heart skipped a beat. Catalina fingered the little short arm of the doll and said, "Hi, long time no see..." Catalina thought she was indeed a nostalgic person. It was just a rag doll, but it was hard for Catalina to tear herself away from it. Catalina thought she was a little fussy. Catalina hurriedly walked out of the bedroom and went straight to the front hall. "Mrs. Shaffer, good morning. Did you sleep wellst night?" As soon as Catalina entered the hall, she met Ralph who was waiting respectfully. Ralph smiled slightly and greeted Catalina. Catalina forced herself to smile and said, "Good morning." Seeing Ralph who was scheming, Catalina really couldn''t have a sincere smile. Of course, her mobile phone was broken early in the morning, which was also the reason why Catalina had a forced smile. "Mrs. Shaffer, breakfast is ready. Pleasee and have a meal." Ralph pointed in the direction of the dining room. Catalina craned her neck and looked in. Unexpectedly, Bet wasn''t there. Ralph saw through Catalina''s mind at a nce and said, "Mr. Shaffer has just gone out." Catalina said nothing. Then she walked into the dining room and ate alone. "Ralph, my smartphone got wet and turned off. Can it be repaired?" Catalina was eating while worrying about her mobile phone. She took out the wet mobile phone from her pocket and handed it to Ralph. Ralph looked at it and asked, "How did the phone fall into the water?" Catalina smiled, showing her teeth. She replied with sarcasm, "Thanks to Mr. Shaffer!" Ralph was speechless. He thought he shouldn''t have asked. "Mrs. Shaffer, I''ll have someone prepare a new mobile phone for you right now." After speaking, Ralph was about to go out. "No, no, no!" Catalina hurriedly stopped Ralph and continued, "I''m not going to change my mobile phone. I just want to see if this one can still be used. If yes, I don''t need to buy a new one." "I will get someone to repair it right away." "Thank you, Ralph." "This is my duty." Ralph walked out of the dining room after finishing his words. As soon as Ralph left, Wendy came out of somewhere and greeted, "Mrs. Shaffer!" "Morning!" Seeing Wendy, Catalina was in a much better mood. Wendy leaned against the door of the dining room and asked with a smile, "Mrs. Shaffer, you won''t leave this time, will you?" "Who said that? I''ll leave after breakfast." "What?" Wendy immediately pulled a long face and pouted. She said, "I thought you weren''t leaving! Can''t you just stay?" Catalina shook her head and said, "I''ve set my heart on it." "Why? Hasn''t Mr. Shaffer treated you well? Or is it because of the gossip between Mr. Shaffer and Ms. Park? Are you jealous?" "I''m not." Catalina denied it. Then she sighed, "I''m not jealous. It''s just that Ms. Park is my best friend, and I really can''t share a This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. man with my good friend." "But the dating rtionship between Mr. Shaffer and her may not be true! As you know, entertainment news only describes pictures but does not focus on the truth, and it''s entirely possible for reporters to make up nonsense! Maybe Ms. Park just wants to make use of Mr. Shaffer to be famous!" "What you said is possible. But with his temperament, do you think Mr. Shaffer would be willing to be used by women in this way without rification? If he didn''t like it, he would have told the world the truth a long time ago and didn''t let a woman use himself to raise her reputation. It is not Bet''s temperament." That was exactly why Catalina firmly believed that the news was not fake. Wendy was speechless because of Catalina''s words. Wendy thought, "That''s right!" "With Mr. Shaffer''s temperament, he would have taught the woman who took advantage of him a lesson and would not connive at it until now." "Is what Mrs. Shaffer said true? Does Mr. Shaffer actually love Ms. Park?" "If so, how pitiful Mrs. Shaffer is!" Wendy suddenly became morepassionate to Catalina. "Mrs. Shaffer, I won''t have a chance to see you again in the future after you leave, right? But I''m loath to part with you!" Wendy held Catalina''s hand tightly, unwilling to let her go. "Don''t be sad. I wouldn''t like to leave you either, but just because I''m gone doesn''t mean we won''t see each other again. I live in Pallwich International Community in Hills Road now. You cane when you are free, okay?" "Okay then!" Wendy pouted and let go of Catalina''s hand. The two talked for a while, and Ralph came back. Ralph held a new mobile phone in his hand and said, "Mrs. Shaffer, I had someone try to repair it, but the situation is not ideal, so I decided for myself to buy a new mobile phone for you. You can use it and see if it fits you. If not, I''ll change it to another one for you." "I don''t think that would be the best idea." Catalina felt embarrassed to take the new phone. "There''s nothing wrong with it." Ralph ced the unopened new mobile phone in front of Catalina and continued, "You also said that Mr. Shaffer threw your mobile phone into the water, so Mr. Shaffer should naturally make up for it. Don''t worry, Mr. Shaffer will definitely pay for it." "You are right..." Catalina thought that Bet shouldpensate her for a new mobile phone. "OK! Since he''ll pay for it, I will take the phone." Catalina had no qualms about taking the new phone. Although the new one was much more expensive than her original one, it was Bet''s duty to pay for it! Because of thingsst night, no matter how expensive it was, Catalina didn''t feel guilty about taking it at all. Chapter 83 Make an Appointment With Catalina for Dinner Chapter 83 Make an Appointment With Catalina for Dinner Chapter 83 Make an Appointment With Catalina for Dinner Since that day, Catalina and Bet had been out of touch after Catalina came out of Sophora Vi. Catalina learned about Bet''s current situation from Emery many times. Even if Catalina didn''t want to listen, Emery deliberately told her. For example, what business activities Bet attended, what kind of great styles he had, and so on. "Look, look at my husband. He''s so handsome this time!" Emery put Bet''s picture in front of Catalina''s face again and continued, "Countless women dream of having such a handsome man, but you bad girl... You don''t cherish him at all. It''s a reckless waste!" Catalina nced at the picture in Emery''s hand. Bet was really good-looking. Bet was like Zeus to the women. He was morous and much too good. "I have self-knowledge." Catalina turned her head and looked back at theputer screen. She continued, "Have you finished your press release? The editor-in-chief said that you must hand it in before getting off work today." Hearing this, Emery hurriedly put Bet''s photos and her scrapbook into the drawer. She said, "I''ll finish it right away, and I only have the ending to finish." As Emery said, she scrunched her nose. Emery continued, "What a dejected thing for you to tell me such a thing when I was in the mood!" Catalina smiled and said, "It''s all because you adored your idol during working hours, you deserve it." A sound came. When the two were talking, Catalina''s mobile phone rang suddenly. It was a text message. Catalina was stunned when she saw the ID on the phone screen. Because it was a text message from Bet. Bet? "What''s the matter? Who sent you the text message? Why do you look like that?" Seeing that Catalina had a strange look, Emery quickly craned her neck to take a look. Catalina came to her senses and then immediately took her phone back. She replied, "Nothing." Emery snorted. Emery pouted with a dismissive look and then said, "A pink flush colored your cheeks, and you told me nothing. It''s just a text message from my husband, right? There''s no need to be so mysterious." Catalina was speechless. Catalina thought, "Okay! This girl had a good guess." "But do I flush? Does my heart race?" "No! Nonsense!" With a nervous and uneasy mood, Catalina read the message from Bet. When Catalina saw the content, she was stunned again. Unexpectedly, Bet made an appointment with Catalina for dinner! The message was as followed. [At 8 p.m. tomorrow, Spring Fall.] Well... Catalina thought, "Is that a dinner date?" "But how could Bet make an appointment with me? Did I misunderstand something?" Catalina was both nervous and uneasy, and there was a lot of uncertainty filled in her mind. Besides, Catalina was actually pleasantly surprised. Even if Catalina didn''t want to admit it, she clearly felt joy in her heart when Bet''s message came. She couldn''t even help smiling when she saw the content of the message. Catalina couldn''t believe that Bet would actually make an appointment with her. Catalina was annoyed about what to reply to. While she was thinking, the phone suddenly rang again. Another text message from Bet came. [Thest text message was sent to the wrong person.] Catalina''s fingers froze when she was just about to type. Her smile also froze. Catalina felt empty at heart. Her shoulders drooped with frustration. Catalina thought, "Sure enough..." "I''m right. Bet can''t make an appointment with me." "I''m really self-sentimental!" Darkness gathered in Catalina''s eyes, and she put the phone back in its original position. Naturally, there was no need to reply to the text message. In the CEO''s office on the 28th floor of Shaffer Group. Bet was focusing on reviewing the documents. A mobile phone was beside his hand with no sound. Five minutes passed, and there was still no sound. Bet just sent two text messages to Catalina in a row, but he never expected that there would be no reply. Bet frowned in displeasure. He raised his hand and looked at his watch. Bet thought, "All right. I''ll be kind and give her another ten minutes." Bet kept drumming his fingers without rhythm. As time passed by, he gradually furrowed his brow. He thought, "Good job!" "It seems that she really doesn''t n to reply to my text messages." Bet grabbed the mobile phone on the table, got up, and strode to the French window. He dialed Catalina''s mobile phone number as he walked. When Catalina''s cell phone rang, she was working on her news release. The phone kept ringing. Catalina looked at the caller ID on her mobile phone nkly and was in a daze for a long time. "Catalina, your phone." Catalina answered the phone call slowly after Emery from the next room came to remind her. "What took you so long to answer?" Before Catalina could speak out, Bet questioned in displeasure at the other end of the phone. "I''m busy." Catalina replied indifferently. "Are you too busy to read messages?" "I read them." Bet was speechless. He thought angrily, "Great!" "So, she just didn''t want to reply to my text messages." Bet asked with a gloomy look, "Why didn''t you reply?" "You said you sent it to the wrong person. Since it was not sent to me, I naturally don''t need to reply." Bet said nothing. He didn''t know what to say, so he was speechless. Actually, Bet didn''t send it to the wrong person. He sent the second message just because he felt a little embarrassed after the first message. Bet felt like he had shot himself in the foot. Bet frowned and paced back and forth in front of the French window irritably. "Bet?" Catalina called because she didn''t hear Bet''s reply. Then Catalina said, "If you have no other business, I may hang up the phone." "At 8 p.m. tomorrow, Spring Fall." "What?" Catalina was stunned. "For dinner." "But you said..." "I did send the message to the wrong person." Catalina said nothing. "Since the mistake has been made, I''ll ept it. It''s okay for me if you treat me to dinner." "What? I''m not..." "If you don''te, you will be done!" After speaking, Bet didn''t give Catalina a chance to answer and hung up the phone directly. Catalina was speechless. She thought, "What the hell?" "I didn''t make a fuss about the thing he sent the wrong message. Why will I treat him to dinner?" Catalina blinked and didn''t understand what had happened for a while. "Lina..." Emery suddenly appeared and yelled excitedly, "I just remembered that tomorrow is my husband''s birthday!" "Really?" Catalina was shocked. "Birthday?" "Yes! If I hadn''t nced at the calendar just now, I almost forgot."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. "Is tomorrow the 18th?" "Yes!" Catalina didn''t say anything. She picked up the calendar next to theputer and nced at it. Catalina sighed slightly because she found tomorrow was indeed Bet''s birthday! She thought, "So, he made an appointment with me for dinner because of his birthday!" "Although he didn''t invite me sincerely, it would not be good if I didn''t show up because of his birthday." "Just go ahead!" "He may want to have a big meal. Never mind. He''ll be the protagonist tomorrow." Chapter 84 The Trap Four Years Ago Chapter 84 The Trap Four Years Ago Chapter 84 The Trap Four Years Ago Catalina thought, "Tomorrow is Bet''s birthday." "Should I prepare a gift?" "What kind of gift will be appropriate?" Outside of work, Catalina kept thinking about the question. Later, when Catalina opened the drawer, she saw the tie she had carefully prepared for Betst month. Catalina thought, "What about this one?" "I didn''t get a chance to give this tie to him before." "Now, I have the opportunity, and I can give it a try." "Well, what am I supposed to tell him then?" "Last time I said that this tie was for Aaron, but now I''ll give it to Bet." "With Bet''s character, will he tear up the tie on the spot?" Catalina felt that it was a great possibility. She rested her forehead and felt it was rather a difficult problem. Catalina thought she had shot herself in the foot. She thought, "Forget it. Just give it to him as a gift!" ... For the first time, Catalina felt that time passed so slowly. Time was like an elderly man, walking slowly and leisurely. The clock shook slowly. Catalina stared at the quartz clock on the wall and had an impulse to set the hour hand directly to the number eight. Catalina already put on her makeup twice. Besides, she also stood in front of the full-length mirror to try on more than 20 sets of clothes, including four seasons clothes. She even tried on the clothes in Emery''s wardrobe. But it was only 6 p.m. Time went by so slowly. When the clock struck seven, Catalina directly sprang up from the sofa and carried her bag. Then she stood in front of the full-length mirror again to check herself carefully more than five times. After confirming that she was well-dressed with exquisite makeup, Catalina wore her high-heeled shoes and went out of the house contentedly. Catalina took a taxi and went to Spring Fall. Sitting in the car, Catalina kept telling the driver to drive slowly. Actually, Catalina was ambivalent. When she was at home, she eagerly hoped that time would go by faster. However, Catalina hoped to go slower now when she was arriving soon because it was still early. If Catalina arrived too early, it would show that she was too urgent. Moreover, this appointment was definitely the first date between Catalina and Bet in the true sense. Catalina was very nervous. The hands in front of Catalina had been quietly sweating. "Lady, here we are." The taxi driver in front reminded Catalina. Catalina thought it was so fast. She turned her head and nced out of the car window. Catalina indeed arrived. Catalina took a deep breath. After relieving tension, she got out of the car. Spring Fall, which had always been lively, was surprisingly quiet today. The splendid gate was closed tightly, and only two beautiful waitresses waited respectfully outside the door. Catalina guessed that Bet might have booked the whole restaurant. Catalina stepped forward with her bag. Unexpectedly, one of the waitresses guarding the door stepped down quickly and stopped Catalina before Catalina walked up the steps. "Sorry,dy. Our restaurant is not open to the public today." "But..." "Mr. Shaffer has booked the whole restaurant." The waitress was afraid that Catalina would break in. Before Catalina could finish speaking, the waitress directly interrupted Catalina and continued, "Mr. Shaffer has already booked here. He is now enjoying a candlelit dinner with his girlfriend, so they refuse everyone to disturb them. Please forgive me." "Girlfriend?" "Yeah!" The waitress continued, "Mr. Shaffer''s girlfriend. Don''t you know? There was a lot of news about them some time ago. It''s the famous actress ire." Catalina was stunned, and her face turned pale. Catalina didn''t expect that ire would be here too! "Is she...in there?" "Yes, she has just arrived." Catalina couldn''t say anything. She looked as pale as death. Then she looked back at the open-air parking lot behind her. There was a high-end nanny car park directly opposite the gate, which indeed belonged to ire. Catalina still remembered the license te number. It was not until this moment Catalina realized that Bet wanted to send that text message to ire yesterday and make an appointment with her for dinner. Catalina thought, "I don''t have to disturb them." "If I go in, am I going to embarrass them or me?" "Did Bet deliberately ask me to join them?" "He clearly knows I care about the rtionship among us a lot. Is that why he let me be in an embarrassing situation? He just wants to embarrass me!" Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Catalina looked at the ss of the French window in front of her, which reflected herself gussied up. Suddenly, she felt that even the makeup on her face was like a joke. It seemed tough at Catalina''s over-confidence, her wishful thinking, her self-sentimental! "Lady, are you a fan of ire? Sorry, you are not allowed to stay at the door." Seeing that Catalina had been standing at the door and not leaving, the waitress had to urge her. Catalina quickly took a tissue from her bag and wiped the lipstick from her lips heavily. Then she stuffed a piece of candy into her mouth and said, "Sorry, I went to the wrong ce." Catalina turned around and hurried away in her high-heeled shoes. It put Catalina in an awkward position. The candy slowly melted in Catalina''s mouth, and she felt the sweet taste. However, it couldn''t make her heart sweet. There was some bitterness in her heart as if it was immersed in a thick bitter melon juice. Catalina felt she was extremely ufortable. ... Inside Spring Fall. Bet had a gloomy look since ire appeared. "Why are you here?" Bet did not make an appointment with ire. "I know you will definitelye here to celebrate your birthday tonight." ire knew Bet as well as Catalina. After all, involvers always got confused while outsiders could be more clear. "Get out." Bet ordered coldly. Bet''s face was gloomy and chilling. ire frowned slightly with a sad expression. She said, "Ben, don''t I even have the qualifications to apany you to celebrate your birthday after so many years? Even if you have never loved me, we have been together for a long time. Have you forgotten the night we made love four years ago? Have you forgotten how you ejacted on me? Ben, it was the first night for both of us. Why can''t you try to ept me?" Hearing ire mention the first night, Bet had a more gloomy look. Bet stared at ire coldly and said indifferently, "ire, you know that I was drugged that night. Or, I wouldn''t sleep with you." Because Bet was drugged, he regarded the woman that night as Catalina! Bet admitted that he had a great night at that time. However, it was not because of ire nor the drug reaction, but because he thought the woman who had sex with him was Catalina. In fact, Bet had been trying to figure out who drugged him for so many years, but unexpectedly, nothing was found. Even the surveince video in the hotel had already been destroyed. Obviously, someone had set a trap for Bet a long time ago. But who was that person? Why did the person set such a trap for Bet? Why did the main woman be ire? There were too many questionable points that Bet couldn''t figure out. What Bet could be sure of was that the person was by no means an ordinary person. If it were just an ordinary person, it would be impossible to hidepletely under Bet''s nose and still do so without leaking. Bet always felt that there was a big trap waiting for him. It was just that Bet didn''t know when the trap would be used. Chapter 85 Profess His Love for Her in an Old-Fashioned Way Chapter 85 Profess His Love for Her in an Old-Fashioned Way Chapter 85 Profess His Love for Her in an Old-Fashioned Way "But you proposed to me that morning. Have you forgotten it?" ire stretched out the finger wearing the ring in front of Bet and continued, "Ben, you personally gave it to me that morning. I still wear it now. Have you forgotten all of this?" Bet looked at the ring coldly. The style of the ring was very simple, and it could even be said to bemon. The ring was was a simple girl. Bet grabbed ire''s hand, took the ring off her finger rudely, and threw it into the trash can next to her ruthlessly. "Ben, what are you doing?" ire was unexpected. She panicked and hurriedly squatted down to look for the ring in the trash can. Bet caught ire''s arm and said, "Can''t you see it? No matter the size or style, it has nothing to do with you." ire''s eyes suddenly turned red, and she was on the verge of tears. Couldn''t ire see it? ire knew about it from the moment she received the ring. Everyone wouldn''t have a despairing look when he proposed. ire knew very well that Bet''s proposal to her that day was just to force himself to give up Catalina forever! It was because Catalina would be Bet''s sister-inw after that day. Besides, the proposal ring was made by Bet for Catalina in the past. "But do you think she will care about the ring you prepared for her? If she cares about you, she couldn''t agree to marry your brother. Bet, she doesn''t love you!" Bet didn''t change his look, but said in apletely cold voice, "Vincent, see Ms. Park out." "Yes!" Vincent replied. Vincent made a gesture to ire and said, "Ms. Park, let''s go! I will see you out." ire stood up and sneered, "Bet, ask yourself. Did you treat your brother fairly? Sooner orter, your brother will wake up one day!" "Get out!" Bet ordered. ire had a great deal of heartache. Even if ire left no means untried, Bet still didn''t want to look at her more and disliked her in the end. ire clenched her fists and came out of the restaurant unwillingly. At the gate, when the two waitresses saw ire, they were stunned for a moment before greeting, "Ms. Park, good evening." ire stopped and asked, "Has anyone else been here just now toe for dinner?" "Yes, it was a girl, but she has already left. I remembered you just ordered that no one could disturb your meal with Mr. Shaffer." "Did you tell her I was inside?" "Yes, I followed your order." "Well done." After speaking, ire took out a bank card from her handbag and gave it to the waitress. ire continued, "There are 20 thousand dors in this card. You two can divide the money. The password is six sixes." "Well..." The waitress was confused and didn''t understand what was going on. She didn''t know why she suddenly had 20 thousand dors for no reason. "You deserve it. Just take it!" After speaking, ire left gracefully as a winner in her high-heeled shoes. The waitress hurriedly put the bank card in her pocket, but she felt extremely diffident. She thought, "Could it be that I just made a mistake? Who was the girl that just left? Why did Ms. Park care about her so much?" "Is she the one Mr. Shaffer will really date?" "But..." The waitress lowered her head, took out the bank card in her pocket, and nced at it. Finally, she decided to pretend to know nothing and put the card back into her pocket. After ire left, the atmosphere in the restaurant dropped to a freezing point. Bet had a frosty look. Vincent nced at Bet. After hesitating for a few seconds, Vincent plucked up his courage to pick up the abandoned ring from the trash can. Vincent knew Bet, so he could understand that this ring must be very important to Bet even just from a subtle look in Bet''s eyes. Vincent carefully wiped the ring clean. After disinfecting it, he put the ring back beside Bet''s hand. "Mr. Shaffer, your ring." Bet stared at the ring coldly for a long time, without expression or movement. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. The picture seemed to be frozen. Bet''s sharp eyes seemed to pierce the ring. From Bet''s point of view, he could see clearly that there was still a row of letters carved in the ring. GX meant Bet, and GJ meant Catalina. A small heart-shaped pattern was embedded in the middle. It was an old-fashioned way to profess Bet''s love for Catalina. It was not at all like what Bet would do. But on the contrary, the row of letters was really made by Bet. He chiseled them carefully in person. Bet did it just because girls at that time liked this kind of romance. To please Catalina, even if Bet was unwilling to do so, he still carved it. However, Bet at that time never thought that this ring, which showered all his affections upon Catalina when he was a teenager, could not be given after many years. Bet clenched the ring tightly in the palm of his hand as if he would have it into his own flesh for two pins. "Is she here?" Bet asked Vincent. Vincent shook his head and replied, "Not yet." Bet looked at the watch on his wrist. It was already 8 p.m. Bet pulled a long face. Looking at the ring in his hand, Bet thought, "Catalina, if you dare to break the appointment today, you''ll be screwed!" Bet was not sure if he would get even with Catalina under his anger because of new and old hatred. At 8:30 p.m., Catalina didn''t arrive. At 9 p.m., Catalina still didn''t show up... Driven to distraction, Catalina carried her bag, walking aimlessly on the street. Catalina walked for more than an hour, and her heel was raw because of her high-heeled shoes, but she didn''t seem to feel the pain at all. Catalina''s heart was much more painful than her heel. Catalina''s thoughts were all in a muddle. Her mind was like a movie, full of all the things that happened between Catalina and Bet when they were teenagers. In high school, Bet was always a popr figure. He received all kinds of love letters. At the beginning, when Bet received the love letter, his first reaction was to throw it into the trash can. There were thousands of unopened love letters that Bet threw. He broke all kinds of girls'' hearts. However, he suddenly changed one day. Bet no longer threw the love letters he received into the trash can but packed them in bags. Then he gave all the love letters to Catalina after school. Catalina remembered that Bet rode his bicycle slowly in front of her at that time, while she was ordered to carry the bag of love letters and read them aloud behind him. At that time, Catalina didn''t know how to resist at all, and she had always obeyed Bet''s orders. Chapter 86 Learn to Write Love Letters Chapter 86 Learn to Write Love Letters Chapter 86 Learn to Write Love Letters "Dear Bet, my name is Arely Kirk. I am a senior in ss Two Grade twelve. I really like you so much because you are so handsome..." "My dearest Bet, my name is Lydia Gould, and I am in ss Five Grade Ten. I know that many people write love letters to you every day, but, I promise, I must be the one who loves you the most..." "Dear Ben, please allow me to express my current mood for you with a poem. The waves of spring water leave a mark on my heart, but I don''t know if you''re sensitive in your character. You can feel the fake frosty look in my admiring eyes, but love is actually passionate. I often wait with hope... I wait for your idental favor and words. Maybe you see a pure heart in my diary because I record your breathing and every casual encounter..." Catalina read aloud intently while walking. Unexpectedly, Catalina actually found a bit of resonance in this poem. But suddenly... There was a bang. Catalina bumped her forehead against someone heavily. She looked up and saw Bet''s thin back. Catalina flushed with embarrassment and then quickly took a few steps back in fright. Bet sat on the bicycle on tiptoe, twisting his head and staring at Catalina with sparkling eyes. "Sorry, I''m sorry..." Catalina apologized with flushed cheeks. Catalina was too focused on reading just now, so she didn''t pay attention to Bet who had stopped in front of her. "That love poem just now..." "What?" "Copy it for me!" "What?" Catalina blinked and couldn''t help asking tentatively, "Do you like this girl?" Bet stared into Catalina''s eyes and cursed, "Idiot!" Catalina was speechless. She didn''t know what mistake she had made. Bet rode the bicycle and went forward again. But, after a few seconds, Bet stopped again. Bet twisted half of his body and looked back at Catalina behind him. He asked, "You''ve read thousands of these love letters, right?" Catalina shook her head in confusion and replied, "More than that." "Have you learned?" "What?" Catalina was confused. Looking at Bet again, Catalina found that he had already left on his bike... The hem of Bet''s white shirt blew. At that moment, Catalina clearly smelled the fragrance of flowers and nts in the air, like the smell of love... It would be nice if time could start all over again or go back. Would Catalina have plucked up the courage at that time? Would she tell Bet loudly that he could see a pure heart in her diary, which recorded his breathing and every casual encounter with him? "Lina!" "Lina?" While walking, Catalina suddenly heard someone calling her behind her, which pulled her thoughts back abruptly. Catalina''s arm was grasped by someone. "Is it really you?" Catalina wondered who it was. She twisted her neck stiffly. She didn''t expect that it would be Aaron. Catalina didn''t know why Aaron always pestered her. Catalina frowned. "Lina, what are you doing on this road alone? You seemed to be very upset. Is something wrong?" Aaron asked worriedly. Catalina pushed his hand away and replied, "It has nothing to do with you." After speaking, Catalina walked forward quickly. Catalina didn''t want to have anything to do with Aaron. Aaron caught up and said, "Where are you going? I can send you." "No need." Catalina refused indifferently. "You hurt your foot." "What does it have to do with you?" Catalina turned her head and yelled out of control. She gave vent to her anger that had been suppressed and umted in her heart for a long time to Aaron for an excuse. After yelling, Catalina got back herposure and realized that she shouldn''t have done it. "Sorry." Catalina apologized in a low voice, "Don''t follow me anymore. Leave me alone!" "Lina, is something unhappy happening to you?" Aaron asked with concern. Catalina''s eyes were slightly red. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Catalina chilled out. After a while, she said, "I think there''s a good saying. A great ex should be like dead. The two bury each other decently and gracefully. We are all dead in each other''s past now, so stop pestering me. From the moment you sold me for money, you were dead!" Catalina said extremely firmly. After speaking, Catalina was about to bypass Aaron and leave. Unexpectedly, when Catalina passed by, Aaron still grabbed her and said, "I never gave you to Bet for money!" Catalina paused. Catalina looked back at Aaron and asked, Then what for?" Catalina sneered with sarcastic feelings in her eyes, "Don''t say the word ''give''. You clearly sold me!" Aaron sighed, "Get in the car first!" "Forget it." Catalina refused to get in the car. Suddenly, Aaron carried Catalina in his arms and said, "Your foot is injured. Don''t walk anymore." "Aaron, what are you doing? Let me go!" Catalina was very angry. She hit Aaron''s chest with her bag and shouted, "Let me go!" Aaron ignored Catalina''s words. Aaron hugged Catalina straight into the car. He put Catalina in the passenger seat, forcibly fastened her seat belt, and took out a medicine box from the storage box behind. Catalina wanted to get out of the car. She pushed Aaron in front of her angrily and said, "I said I can go by myself." Aaron still ignored Catalina''s words. He carried the medicine box and squatted down in front of Catalina. In the next second, Aaron held Catalina''s right ankle with his big hand. Catalina was taken aback and shouted, "Aaron, what are you doing?" "Apply the medicine to your wound." Aaron took off Catalina''s high-heeled shoes gently. Seeing the injury on Catalina''s heel, Aaron frowned and looked up at her. He said, "I remember you didn''t wear high-heeled shoes very much before." Catalina bit her lip and didn''t speak. She struggled and said, "Let me go. I can do it by myself." "Let me do it!" Aaron took out the medical spray from the medicine box and said, "Don''t wear them anymore. It''s not worth hurting yourself." Aaron gently held Catalina''s ankle and looked up at her. He continued, "It will hurt a little when I spray it, so bear with it." Faced with Aaron''s concern, Catalina was still a little surprised. In fact, Catalina agreed to Aaron''s proposal at the beginning. Although part of the reason was to cure her grandmother with the money Aaron gave, the most important reason was that Catalina felt that Aaron was indeed a good man. At least, Aaron treated her very carefully. At that time, Catalina really wanted to spend the rest of her life with Aaron. Although she didn''t love Aaron, she believed that love grew over time. Unexpectedly, love didn''t grow, and Catalina was sold by Aaron first. Aaron carefully sprayed medicine on her wound and said, "Lina, you should know Bet''s means better than me." Chapter 87 The Game Is Over Chapter 87 The Game Is Over Chapter 87 The Game Is Over "Lina, you should know better about Mr. Shaffer''s means than I do." Catalina''s eyshes quivered slightly, but she didn''t say a word. Aaron sighed deeply and carefully applied gauze to her wound. "In this world, there is almost nothing that Mr. Shaffer wants but cannot get. He will naturally do whatever he can to get what he wants. He must have racked his brain to snatch you away from me." "What does that mean?" Catalina frowned. Aaron looked up at Catalina and said, "You should know that Roach Group has been seeking venture investment for six months now." "I know. Does this have anything to do with Bet?" "I learnedter that from then on, he had already been targeting me. He controlled all the economic lifelines of Roach Group. As the saying goes, hit where it hurts. He threatened me with money and withdrew all the venture capital he had invested in Roach Group. I really had no way out." Catalina sniffled and said, "Anyway, you did that for money." "It''s okay now. Don''t wear shoes that don''t fit your feet again." Aaron made a pun and let go of Catalina''s foot. Then he continued, "There are nearly a thousand employees in Roach Group, and behind them, there may be many families of elders and kids. You need to save money to treat your grandmother''s illness, and they may also be like you, waiting for their sries to support their families. If Roach Group goes bankrupt, what should these employees working for me do?" Catalina remained silent and bit her lower lip hard. "Lina, I know I hurt you, but do you think I could say no to him? Would anything have changed even if I had not done what he told me? Do you think that''s all he could do?" As he spoke, Aaron stood up and looked down at Catalina. "His plot started six months ago, so how would he let you easily escape from his palm? Without that trick, there''s another waiting for you. He can still use various means to get you and humiliate you! Lina, haven''t you seen the situation clearly yet? From the beginning to the end, this matter has nothing to do with me. I can''t determine your end. Do you understand?" Catalina bit her lower lip even harder. Her face turned pale. She thought, "He''s right! I''m the only one who has something to do with this matter! No one can determine my end, except for Bet. He slept with me on the wedding night just to better humiliate me." Catalina''s eyes grew red. "Lina¡­" Aaron bent down and held Catalina''s pale little face, his eyes filled with distress and tenderness. "I love you! Even though I know your rtionship with Bet, I still love you. Come back to me and let me make up to you, okay?" Catalina shook her head. "For some things, once they happen, they can''t be undone. Aaron, we can never go back." "How can you know if you don''t give it a try?" Aaron''s Adam''s apple moved, and the next second, he bent his head and forcibly kissed Catalina''s red lips. Catalina did not expect Aaron to suddenly and forcibly kiss her. "Aaron¡­" "Stop!" "Let go of me!" Catalina was angry. The more she resisted, however, the deeper Aaron''s kiss became. Just as Catalina didn''t know what to do, suddenly, there was a loud bang. Without warning, a luxury car crashed over. The front of the car crashed straight into the driver''s seat. Fortunately, no one was sitting there. Both Catalina and Aaron were startled. Aaron knocked his head hard and asked, "Lina, are you alright?" "I''m fine." Catalina was still in shock. Fortunately, she was still wearing her seat belt. The two of them thought it was over. Aaron got out of the car and tried to argue with the owner of the limousine. Unexpectedly, the limousine that had crashed into his car did not stop. Instead, like a madman, the man in the driver''s seat stepped on the elerator and directly pushed the car Catalina was in forward. Aaron was frightened. "Lina!" Catalina in the car, who had been in a panic, suddenly calmed down when she saw clearly who was sitting in the limousine. She didn''t expect that the man in the driver''s seat was actually Bet. He was ring fiercely at her with red eyes. He was very angry and looked like a lion being provoked. It seemed as if the next second, he would jump up and tear her apart. Bet had no intention of releasing the elerator at his feet. Then there was a loud bang. The back of Catalina''s car collided with a barricade. She bounced violently in the passenger seat and was pulled back by her seat belt. The car finally stopped. She was dizzy, and her eyes turned ck. Bet rested his arms on the steering wheel and stared at her with a fierce expression. His arm was bleeding, but he looked as if he had not felt it at all. He thought, "So, is this the reason why she stood me up tonight? She broke her promise to me just to date this guy?! Very good! This woman can always give me a head-on blow when I get lost and wake me up instantly. She let me know that whether it was four years ago or now, everything I did was always a big joke." Catalina did not know why Bet had suddenly gone mad. She couldn''t help but think, "Does he really hate me so much that he even wants me to die?" Catalina unfastened her seat belt with trembling hands. Her legs kept shaking as she got out of the car. She had thought she was not afraid. "Lina, are you okay?" Aaron stepped forward quickly to help her. "I''m fine." Catalina''s face grew pale, and she shook her head. Aaronined, "Bet is really a madman!" Catalina looked up at Bet with red eyes. He sat in his car and lit a cigarette. The smoke shrouded his face and hazed it, but even so, the terrifying chill on his body could still be clearly sensed. He seemed to be surrounded by a wall of ice, isting him from everything outside. Catalina noticed that his left arm was wounded and now bleeding. She knew that he was afraid of blood. Even now, Catalina was still worried about him. While she was thinking this, Bet in the car slowly lowered the window. Then he held out his wounded arm. There was a thin piece of paper between his fingers. Bet turned his head and looked coldly at Catalina and Aaron outside his car. He smiled coldly and then loosened his fingers. "Catalina, the game is over." He did not want to be involved with Catalina any longer. The paper fell in the wind at Catalina''s feet. Bet stepped on the elerator, and the car, like a night elf, sneaked into the darkness and quickly disappeared. Catalina picked up the paper at her feet. When she saw what was written on it, her face instantly turned pale. "What is it?" This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Aaron leaned over curiously to take a look. Then he saw a divorce agreement. Bet''s name was already on it. Catalina felt a pain in her heart as if it had been pierced by a sharp dagger. She almost lost control of her tears. "Lina, Bet has let you go." Aaron was overjoyed. Hearing that, Catalina said in her heart, "Yes, Bet finally let me go! He said the game was over! But why can''t I feel any joy and relief at this moment? So, are we really over like this?" Chapter 88 Ralphs Reproaches Chapter 88 Ralph''s Reproaches Chapter 88 Ralph''s Reproaches Bet drove so fast that his car was like a ghost, shuttling through the city. Blood dripped from his arm and stained the seat. Suddenly, the piercing sound of brakes burst out. The car came to a sudden stop. Bet felt dizzy. He took out his mobile phone and called Vincent. "Come to me." After giving the order, he hung up. The next second, he fainted. After receiving the call, Vincent quickly used his mobile phone to locate Bet''s car with GPS. Without any dy, he headed in that direction. By the time Vincent arrived, 15 minutes had passed. Seeing that Bet was unconscious from his injuries inside the car, Vincent was frightened. He immediately called Ralph. Within ten minutes, the medical team rushed to the scene, followed by Ralph. "Where is he? How''s he doing? Why would he faint on the roadside?" As soon as the car was stopped, Ralph leaned on his cane and hurried out. "Ralph, don''t be so anxious. Mr. Shaffer is now being treated in an ambnce, and Ryker is also here." Vincentforted Ralph, but in fact, he was already in a cold sweat. While the two of them were talking, the door of the ambnce was pushed open. Then Ryker stumbled out of it. Seeing that, Vincent rushed forward and helped him. "Ryker, is Mr. Shaffer alright?" Ralph also hurried forward with his crane. "How is he now?" "Rx. He is alright. His arm is wounded and bleeding, so he fainted." "Is it his hematophobia again?" Ralph frowned tightly. Ryker sighed, "Yes, that''s still the reason." "How did Mr. Shaffer scrape his arm?" Ralph asked Vincent. "Well¡­" Vincent could only tell the truth, "Mr. Shaffer drove out by himself, and I came to pick him up. I just checked the condition of the car, and it seems like there was a car ident¡­" Vincent''sst words were uttered with trepidation. As he had expected, as soon as he finished speaking, Ralph raised his crane and hit him hard on the leg. "How dare you let Mr. Shaffer drive by himself and not in the same car with him? You know that he has hematophobia. What if one day, when we are not by his side, his symptoms act up? Just like today. If something does happen, can any of you take responsibility for it? Tell me! Who can take responsibility then?" Vincent lowered his head and listened to Ralph''s reproaches, not daring to say a word. "That''s enough, Ralph. Stop scolding him. This matter has nothing to do with him." At that moment, Bet, who was already awake, stepped out of the ambnce. His injured left arm was wrapped in gauze. When Ralph saw Bete out, he immediately left Vincent behind and hurried forward. "How are you? Do you feel any better?" Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. He took Bet''s arm and looked at it, his eyes full of distress. "Is your arm alright? Why would you be involved in a car ident?" Bet''s face darkened. Obviously, he didn''t want to talk about the "car ident." He withdrew his arm from Ralph''s hand and said, "I''m fine. It''s just a slight scratch. There''s no need to make such a fuss." After saying that, Bet sat in the car that Ralph hade with. Ralph also followed in. "You''re not good at driving. Do not drive on your own again. Otherwise, we will be very worried." Bet had not expected to hear that. He thought, "What''s wrong with my driving skills?! This has nothing to do with my driving skills at all." Bet looked out of the window with a gloomy face. He pursed his thin lips tightly and remained silent. After safely driving Bet back to the Sophora Vi, Vincent was about to leave, but he was stopped by Ralph. "What on earth happened to Mr. Shaffer today?" Ralph was still worried. Vincent sighed and said, "In fact, it was all because of Mrs. Shaffer." "What has it to do with Mrs. Shaffer?" "Today is the birthday of Mr. Shaffer. He had an appointment with Mrs. Shaffer to celebrate it, but in the end, Mrs. Shaffer actually stood him up." "Didn''t Mrs. Shaffer show up?" "No, she didn''t." Vincent shook his head in frustration and added, "But Ms. Park showed up and said a few strange words to Mr. Shaffer. After hearing her words, Mr. Shaffer was quite unhappy! Perhaps because he was in a bad mood, he had a car ident." Ralph pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I probably know what happened. Try not to mention Mrs. Shaffer in front of Mr. Shaffer these days, so as not to cause trouble for yourself. Understand?" "I see. I will pay attention to it." "Remind those under yourmand to be vignt as well." "Okay." "Go home. It''ste now." Ralph had just seen Vincent off when his mobile phone rang. He looked at the phone screen, and the caller ID belonged exactly to the person they had just been discussing, Catalina. After being driven back to her apartment by Aaron, Catalina locked herself in her room, listening to music with headphones on. She had originally wanted to use music to dilute these distractions. Unexpectedly, the music was only in her ears, but her mind was upied with the scene of Bet''s wounded and bleeding arm. She couldn''t help but think, "He is afraid of blood. Even though his hematophobia has be much better than it was when he was a child, he still faints sometimes, such as when we were in Starham Mountainst time. What if he suddenly faints while driving? The result will be extremely terrible." Thinking of this, Catalina couldn''t bear it anymore. She took off her headphones and quickly called Ralph. Although she was angry with Bet, she was still worried about his safety. "Mrs. Shaffer." Ralph answered the phone and greeted her respectfully. "Ralph, has Bet arrived home?" Catalina''s tone was very anxious, and Ralph could tell it. He deliberately asked, "Why are you so anxious, Mrs. Shaffer?" "He had a car ident. No, the point is, his arm was injured and bleeding, and then he drove away on his own. Ralph, if he hasn''t returned home yet, you should quickly have some people search for him! He is afraid of blood. What if he faints on the way back?" "I didn''t expect that you''re still worried about Mr. Shaffer, Mrs. Shaffer." Ralph''s somewhat sarcastic words stunned Catalina for a moment. After a few seconds, she reacted and quietly breathed a sigh of relief, "It''s good that he has already returned home." "Mrs. Shaffer, may I ask you one more question? How did Mr. Shaffer get into a car ident? Also, what car did he hit? Do you remember? I will arrange forpensationter." Catalina bit her lower lip and said, "He hit my friend''s car." "Your friend? A male friend?" "...Yes." Catalina couldn''t help but think, "Why do I feel like I''ve done something wrong? But it was Bet who had done a bad thing! He first made an appointment with ire and then drove into me. And, the second thing he did was really bad. Therefore, why would I still feel guilty?" "I see." Ralph let out a long sigh and continued, "Mrs. Shaffer, although Mr. Shaffer is from a rich family, he is different from the other young masters such as Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Warren. Mr. Wyatt is dissipated and unrestrained, and he always holds a casual attitude towards anyone and anything. Mr. Warren has a calm mind and always likes to consider the pros and cons of anything that happens. Unlike them, Mr. Shaffer has a bad temper and poor patience, but he is single-minded, especially towards people. It is just because of this kind of personality that he hates liars and cheaters very much." Chapter 89 We Are Divorced Chapter 89 We Are Divorced Chapter 89 We Are Divorced Ralph paused for a moment before continuing, "So, it''s okay if you don''t like Mr. Shaffer, but please don''t hurt him." After saying that, Ralph sighed and hung up. Catalina held her mobile phone and shed tears of grievance. She said in her heart, "Don''t hurt him even if I do not like him? Does he not know that Bet is the one who doesn''t like me and hurts me? Is it because I was not hurt enough that I had to be used like this for no reason? Or did Ralph misunderstand something? Why does he think that I can hurt Bet?" Just as Catalina was thinking, suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and then Emery asked, "Lina, may Ie in?" Catalina quickly wiped away the tears on her face and said, "Come in. The door is unlocked." As soon as she had finished speaking, Emery pushed the door in. There were two sses of hot milk in her hands. "Here." Emery handed her a ss of milk and asked, "Are you alright?" "...I''m fine." Catalina forced a smile, took the ss of milk from her hand, and thanked her. Emery asked tentatively, "Did you quarrel with Mr. Shaffer again?" Catalina''s hand holding the ss of milk paused. She lowered her eyelids and slightly held the ss with her lips. After a while, she said in a soft voice, "We won''t quarrel anymore." "What happened?" Emery had a bad premonition. "¡­We''re divorced." After saying that, Catalina closed her eyes, looked up, and took a big sip of hot milk. Tears silently trickled down the corners of her eyes. Emery''s mouth widened in shock. For a moment, she did not even know how tofort Catalina. "Did you get the divorce certificate?" she asked in a daze. Catalina shook her head. "But I got the divorce agreement which Bet had already signed on." "Well, that means nothing." Emery let out a long sigh of relief, "The divorce agreement is just one of the procedures of divorce. It''s not that you two are really divorced after signing the divorce agreement. You haven''t even got the certificate yet, so don''t be so sad! You two still have to take the marriage certificate to the City Hall and go through a series of procedures to get a divorce certificate. That is called a sessful divorce. You two are just having a quarrel!" "I have never seen the marriage certificate of Bet and me." "What?" "I haven''t gone through any procedures in the City Hall either." "Then how did you two get married?" "But we do have a marriage certificate. So, I guess this time, I still don''t need to go to City Hall. He can get it done on his own." Emery fell silent. She really did not know what to say. She was stunned by the truth that money could make anything happen. "Alright, just forget about this for now and get some good sleep tonight. Let''s deal with this matter tomorrow." Emeryforted Catalina. Catalina curled her legs in the chair with her chin against her knees. She stared straight at the ss of milk in her hand and said, "Emery, Bet just drove into me. His expression was so fierce that I almost thought he was going to kill me." Catalina couldn''t forget the way Bet had just looked at her. After all, his gaze was really ferocious. She was still a little frightened as she remembered the moment when he hit her with his car. She thought, "What if I didn''t fasten my seat belt? Or what if Bet hit the passenger seat? If so, what would happen to me now?" "What?" At Catalina''s words, Emery was startled and asked, "He drove into you? Is he crazy?" Catalina described the car ident to Emery in a tone as calm as possible. After she finished speaking, her eyes turned red again. "Emery, tell me, does Bet really want to kill me? Does he really hate me that much?" "Did you get hurt?" As she spoke, Emery checked Catalina up and down, back and forth. "I did not get injured, but he did." Emery was stunned for a moment. She took a sip of milk to suppress her shock and then said, "Lina, I don''t know if my analysis is right, but I don''t think Bet really wanted to do anything to you. If he really wanted to kill you, then why would he crash into the driver''s seat that no one sat in? Not to mention that he did not injure you at all." Emery sighed and continued, "On the contrary, I think you did not get hurt because he handled it well and knew what to do to avoid hurting you." "Then why did he do all that?" Catalina felt that Emery''s analysis was simply untenable. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. "Why?" Emery spread out her hands with a meaningful expression. "Because he was angry and jealous! Isn''t that obvious? He invited you to celebrate his birthday, but you not only stood him up but even went on a date with another man. Do you think he won''t be angry or jealous? Of course, I''m not saying that he can use a car to hit you just because he''s angry and jealous. Such behavior is very uneptable. I''m just saying that he did so to show his anger. And, although he was angry then, he still didn''t bear to hurt you, right? At least that''s how I feel." Hearing that, Catalina thought, "Angry? Jealous?? Because of me and Aaron? Would Bet be angry and jealous about that?" Suddenly, Ralph''s words rang out in Catalina''s ear, "It''s okay if you don''t like Mr. Shaffer, but please don''t hurt him." Catalina''s heart instantly becamepletely messy. She hugged her messy head in pain. "How is that possible? How would Bet get jealous because of me? It''s impossible¡­" She said in her heart, "The person he likes is clearly ire! He even put on a diamond ring for her four years ago! Moreover, the person he made an appointment with at that time was also ire! How would he possibly get angry because I stood him up?" Catalina was very confused. "Alright, don''t push yourself so hard. Get some good sleep. I''ll leave you alone. Good night." Emery patted Catalina on her shoulder and then left her room. Emery had left. However, her words, like a seed, deeply nted in Catalina''s heart, then took root and sprouted¡­ ¡­ In the following month, Catalina never saw Bet again. However, she often saw the news about him in newspapers. His love affair with ire had caused a stir throughout the city, and everyone knew it. Sometimes, it was difficult for Catalina to ignore it. Looking at the photos of the two of them going everywhere together, Catalina suddenly realized what a perfect match was like. She thought to herself, "They are exactly a perfect match. And, this phrase has never had anything to do with me." As Catalina was thinking, suddenly, the office door was knocked. Then the editor-in-chief, Felix, walked in with a smile and said, "Here''s some good news, guys!" Chapter 90 Darnells Mockery Chapter 90 Darnell''s Mockery Chapter 90 Darnell''s Mockery Felix continued, "Since the news of ourst visit to Starham Mountain was released, the real conditions in that area have attracted the attention of the public. Many volunteers have entered the mountain with material donations, and the suspension bridge is being rebuilt. This time, protective ropes have been specially added, making it safer for children to go to school. Our colleagues in the editorial department have contributed greatly to this result, especially the members of the group who entered Starham Mountain. Hereby praise. Give them some apuse, guys!" Everyone apuded immediately. Thunderous apuse resounded in the office. "The second good news is about the rewards. Firstly, for colleagues who entered Starham Mountain, your sry this month will be increased by 20% as a reward!" "Wow!! Thank you, Mr. Tate!" The crowd shouted and cheered. The apuse was continuous. "Lina, Lina, we have a sry increase this month!" Emery was so excited that she hit Catalina with her elbow. Catalina finally revealed a light smile. "I heard it." "Mr. Tate, if there is a first reward, do we still have a second reward?" a colleague asked loudly. "You are really smart! This second reward was personally approved by Mr. Wyatt. To reward us for our hard work, he specially rented a camping site in the suburbs for our editorial department. Therefore, we will start our holiday this afternoon ande back to work the day after tomorrow. We will stay at the camping site tonight, and this reward is only for our editorial department." "I love Mr. Wyatt! He is the most handsome and manly man in the world!" The crowd started to tter Darnell. Catalina didn''t expect that Darnell, as a pampered young master, would be so considerate of his employees. "Besides, Mr. Wyatt will be the leader of our camping trip. Isn''t that the biggest surprise?" "Wow!" The girls were all overjoyed. "Mr. Tate, can I go home and change my clothes?" "Me too! Me too! I want to go home and take a shower." "Me too. If I knew I was going camping with Mr. Wyatt, I wouldn''t have worn such an old-fashioned outfit." "Well, you do look like a middle-aged woman in this old-fashioned outfit." "Hey!" The crowd burst intoughter. "Alright, Alright. Our third surprise is that this month''s most outstanding employee is also in our editorial department, and the protagonist will be announced tonight during the camping trip. Let it be a surprise for now." "Wow! Mr. Tate, you are exceptionally handsome today, just like a sparkling star!" "Alright, stop the ttery. That doesn''t work for me. Go back to work, and we will set off at 2 p. m." "Great!" Since Felix announced such good news, all colleagues had been disinterested in their work. The girls were all huddled in their positions, putting on makeup for themselves. Even Emery, who had always been infatuated with Bet, had begun dressing herself up. "Why are you putting on makeup as well?" Catalina couldn''t help teasing Emery. Emery was putting on her eye shadow, and when she heard that, she looked up from the mirror and nced at Catalina. "I can''t give up the whole forest just because of one tree, can I? Besides, this tree is yours." Catalina fell silent. She knew that the tree Emery talked about was referring to Bet. She turned back and said, "This tree has never been mine." "Okay!" Emery paused for a moment and nced at her again. "You have been really frustratedtely. What about turning to another tree today? I think Mr. Wyatt is actually quite good. Look, he is handsome, tall, and wealthy. Besides, he has quite an outstanding temperament, right?" "Do you want me to get killed?" Emery was speechless. ¡­ At two o''clock in the afternoon, a middle-sized bus arrived at thepany gate on time. Everyone in the editorial department got on the bus orderly, amidst the envious and jealous gazes of colleagues in other departments. Catalina and Emery picked a row of double seats by the door and sat down. After everyone took their seats, there was still one left. At that moment, a colleague shouted, "Mr. Wyatt is here!" Everyone subconsciously looked over. Then they saw Darnell, who was wearing a sea-blue suit, walking elegantly onto the bus. He was too tall, and the bus had a short roof, so he could only stand with his waist slightly bent and one hand in his pocket. Even so, he still looked eye-catching and dazzling. "It is a pleasure to have you here, Mr. Wyatt!" As soon as he arrived, there was an instantmotion on the bus. Catalina had not expected that Darnell would also take the bus with them. She thought, "ording to his style, shouldn''t hee in a luxury car?" "M. Wyatt, please sit here! This seat is specially reserved for you." Felix hurriedly invited Darnell to take his seat. Darnell had a special seat. One and only. However, he didn''t like it. "Sitting alone is too boring." As soon as he said so, people sitting in the double seats hurriedly gave up their seats. "Mr. Wyatt, do you want my seat?" "You can take mine! My seat is by the window." Darnell, as if he hadn''t heard everyone''s invitation, casually pointed to Emery in the front row and said, "I want your seat." Catalina had not expected to hear that. Emery, who was suddenly mentioned, was stunned for a few seconds. The next moment, she came back to her senses and hurriedly wanted to give up her seat, but she was stopped by Catalina. Catalina stood up and said, "Please take mine." Darnell stepped forward and sped Catalina''s shoulder, pushing her back into the chair. "Can''t you tell that I want to sit with you?" Catalina was silent for a moment. She couldn''t help butin in her heart, "Can this guy not say such ambiguous words?" As she had expected, Darnell''s words caused a huge uproar on the bus, and all her colleagues looked over at them meaningfully. Darnell certainly didn''t mind it. However, Catalina gritted her teeth in anger, for she knew that Darnell was intentional. Emery felt that something was wrong and quickly slipped away with her backpack in her arms, silently sitting alone in a single seat. Darnell sat down contentedly with his hands around his chest and his long legs extended. The car finally started and headed towards the camping site. "Did you break up with Ben?" Darnell asked Catalina with a clear tone of schadenfreude. Catalina said coldly, "We have never been together, so there is no such thing as breaking up." Darnell nodded approvingly and looked at Catalina up and down with an indescribable gaze. "That''s true. If Ben really falls in love with someone like you, I will doubt if he''s really blind and bewitched." Catalina fell silent again. She thought, "He just can''t say any good words, can he? Well, I''d better not look for musk in a dog''s kennel." Catalina closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, intending to ignore his presence. She decided to take a nap during the journey. However, Darnell had no intention of letting her go. He deliberately blew at Catalina''s small face. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. The moist and hot breath sprinkled on Catalina''s face, making it instantly turn red. Catalina could only open her eyes, grit her teeth, and ask in a low voice, "Darnell, what the hell do you want to do?" Chapter 91 Bennetts Arrival Chapter 91 Bet''s Arrival Chapter 91 Bet''s Arrival "Nothing, I just like to see you look so flustered." "You''re so boring!" Darnell smiled maliciously and said nothing. Catalina really wanted to tear his face apart. She turned her face and looked out of the window. She did not want to talk to him anymore. Unexpectedly, Darnell took out his mobile phone and turned on the camera. Then he reached out his long arm to Catalina and said, "Smile." With a click, a selfie of them two waspleted. Catalina finally reacted. "Darnell, what are you doing?" She was angry. It looked like Darnell hugging her from behind in the photo. It was a very intimate posture. "Delete the photo." Catalina didn''t know why he took a photo of the two of them. "Why should I delete it?" Darnell refused. Catalina threw herself forward to grab it. Darnell raised his arm and held down her head with his other big hand. "Catalina, behave yourself. There are many colleagues around us. It''s not decent for you to do so." Catalina couldn''t help but think, "I probably owed the Shaffer family a lot in myst life. That exins why they just keep troubling me one after another." Catalina could only sit back. Then she saw Darnell editing the photo on the screen with his hand holding up his phone. She also seemed to see him turn on the positioning function. Catalina frowned. "Darnell, what the hell are you doing? Don''t send out my photo." "It is none of your business!" "Why not? That''s my photo." Darnell withdrew his hand and showed her a QR code. "Give you a surprise. You can friend me on Line now." Catalina was speechless for a moment. She thought, "How bossy he is!" Catalina snorted and said, "I don''t want it." "Okay, then you will never see the photo." As he spoke, Darnell was about to put away his phone. "Wait!" Catalina grabbed his hand that he was about to withdraw. She quickly took out her mobile phone, logged onto her Line, and scanned his QR code. "Is that okay? Show me the photo." After Darnell friended Catalina, he smiled evilly and said, "You can check it yourself on the TimeLine." After saying that, he put his mobile phone in the other pocket. "TimeLine?" Catalina hurriedly checked Darnell''s TimeLine. The next second, she raged. "Darnell, hurry up and delete this photo!" It turned out that Darnell had posted the photo of them two on his TimeLine. Although there was no text on it, just a camping address, Catalina felt that this was definitely not a good thing for her. "No." Darnell put his hand into his pocket to protect his mobile phone. Then he closed his eyes to rest. "Why do you have to do such a boring thing?" "Because there''s nothing fun!" Darnell didn''t even open his eyes. "Why do you have to post a photo of us two? Aren''t you afraid of being misunderstood by others?" "Others? Who?" Darnell sneered and opened his eyes. He tilted his head and nced at Catalina. "Ben?" Catalina did not speak. Her heart suddenly beat faster for a moment. She thought, "Why am I so anxious? Am I afraid that Bet may misunderstand my rtionship with Darnell?" Darnell said in a mocking tone, "Ben is now having a sweet rtionship with his girlfriend. Do you think he has any time to care about our rtionship?" "We have nothing to do with each other!" Catalina corrected him seriously, and her face turned slightly pale. She turned her head unhappily and looked out the window, no longer paying attention to Darnell. After that, she did not mention a word about the photo anymore. She said to herself, "He''s right! Bet is now in sweet love with his girlfriend, so how would he care about my rtionship with another man?" ... At Shaffer Group, in the presidential secretary''s office. In the office, the atmosphere was gloomy, as if in winter. "If anyone dares to hand over such a rubbish nning project to me again, the entire nning department will be dismissed. Get lost!" Bet threw the nning project back to the secretary opposite him. "Yes..." The secretary replied in trepidation. He turned to look at Vincent, who was standing behind Be, for help. However, Vincent did not dare to breathe heavily either. "Get out!" Bet ordered. "Yes, Mr. Shaffer!" The secretary grabbed the document and hurried out. Bet had been so angry since he saw the photo posted by Darnell. "You too. Get out!" Bet ordered. "Yes, Mr. Shaffer." Vincent also hastily withdrew from the CEO''s office. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Bet once again looked at the photo that Darnell had posted. His deep amber eyes turned extremely cold. He thought, "Obviously, this woman''s tricks are even more powerful than I thought! Warren, Aaron, the man four years ago, and Darnell... Catalina, I have really underestimated you!!" ... Catalina and her colleagues spent the whole afternoon on preparation work, and it wasn''t until the evening that camping finally began. They sat in a circle around the bonfire. Felix stood in the middle and announced to everyone the "most outstanding employee" of this month. "It''s Catalina! She bravely saved a child during the visit to Starham Mountain, and this behavior is worth being learned from by every one of us. So, Lina, you are the most outstanding employee of this month!" Catalina was ttered. Shouts and apuse from her colleagues filled her ears. "Hurry up, Lina. Go and receive the award, then give a speech." Emery pushed Catalina up. Catalina was a bit embarrassed. This was her first time being named the most outstanding employee, and she didn''t know what to say for a while. "Thank you, Mr. Tate. I will work harder in the future to contribute to thepany." "This is the bonus for outstanding employees, and this is the trophy. Keep it well." Felix handed a heavy crystal trophy and the bonus to Catalina. Catalina took them with both hands humbly. "Thank you, thank you." "Lina, give us a performance!" "Sing us a song!" Emery took the lead to boo and hoot. "Come on, Lina, look how enthusiastic they are. Just sing a song as feedback!" Felix also requested. Catalina had no experience performing in front of people, so she was a bit embarrassed. However, facing the enthusiasm of her colleagues, she felt it was difficult to refuse. Below the stage, Darnell sat with a stick of grass in his mouth, his hands on his knees. He looked at her with a smile. It seemed like he was waiting for her to be embarrassed. "Well, he''d better dream then!" Catalina thought. She cleared her throat, raised the trophy, using it as a microphone, and sang earnestly and attentively. "Who opens a skylight in my heart and makes my thoughts cold all night? Who tells a lie in my ears and makes me bound? Who builds a city wall in my heart and blocks the moonlight and my hopes? Who makes me lose control of the corners of my eyes and causes my tears to flood? How old are you? Why do you still behave like a child, really believing that there is eversting love? Peoplee and go in love, but a true heart is rare..." Suddenly, Catalina stopped singing. The reason was that she saw a familiar ck Bentley stop in the outdoor parking lot not far from her. The next moment, the driver''s door was pushed open. A prominent long leg reached out of the car, and then a burly figure appeared in front of it. Catalina was stunned. Her heart suddenly ached. It was Bet. He stood under the night, and the moonlight fell on his shoulders, as if covering him with a cold veil. Chapter 92 An Exciting Game Chapter 92 An Exciting Game Chapter 92 An Exciting Game Catalina''s throat seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, making her unable to make any more sound. Then a beautiful figure pushed open the door of the passenger seat and stepped out. Catalina''s watery eyes went nk for a moment. She felt like the most sensitive part of her heart suddenly bled. The girl was ire. She came in Bet''s car. "Lina, why did you stop singing?" A colleague shouted from below the stage. Catalina came back to her senses and immediately turned around as if nothing had happened. She raised her trophy again, closed her eyes, and continued to sing. However, her voice was much hoarse than it had been just now. "How old are you? Why can''t you let go? Along the way, some people should be forgotten. Happiness should not make your eyes red. Happiness should not include any sadness. You should let go. Since there is a skylight in your heart, why not just bathe yourself in the moonlight? Since the corners of your eyes have been out of control, why not just cry out?" A crystal tear seeped out from Catalina''s tightly closed eyes. After a few seconds of silence, she slowly opened her eyes and said, "That''s all." Everyone was immersed in her singing for a long time, unable to wake up. Bet, not far behind her, was no exception. After a while, thunderous apuse burst out. "Thank you." Catalina bowed in gratitude. Behind her, a sharp gaze red fiercely at her. Even though she didn''t look back, she could still feel it. Catalina stepped down from the stage. "Lina, you are really good at singing. The song is so beautiful." Emery was still in a daze. However, Catalina whispered to her, "Bet is here." "What?" Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Emery was startled and turned to look. "Ben!" Darnell raised his hand to greet him, as if he was not surprised by Bet''s arrival at all. The others finally noticed Bet and ire approaching arm-in-arm intimately. "Look who is here!" Everyone was shocked. The screams were endless. "It''s really Mr. Shaffer! Oh my god! He is so handsome!" "ire! ire!! I am your fan!" "Oh my god! These two people are shining, aren''t they? Standing together, they look like a perfect match! I think I''m going to faint!" The crowd rushed to them in excitement. Only Catalina sat in her original position with her legs bent. She did not move, not even looking up at them. She remained calm and looked very out of ce among them. "ire, I want your signature!" "Me too, me too!" ire was surrounded by her male fans. The female colleagues also wanted to stop Bet and ask for his signature, but due to his unapproachable aura, no one dared to step forward but just looked at him with admiration. Bet was born with some magic that he could iste those people he did not like from his safe distance. With one hand in his pocket, he walked towards Darnell opposite him. When he passed by her, Catalina felt a trace of coldness. Catalina''s heart trembled slightly. Not daring to look up at him, she just caught a glimpse of the two long legs wrapped in his pants from the corner of her eyes. Bet stopped and stood next to Catalina. With one hand in his pocket, he looked down at her at his feet and said, "I told you, the person standing in the middle performing looks like a fool." Catalina''s heart ached. She once again remembered that under the scorching sun in the hot summer, the young Bet stuffed his diary notebook into her palm. There was a sentence written in his diary, saying, "I think the person standing in the middle performing looks like a fool." "So, in his eyes, I, who had just stood in the middle of the crowd singing, was just a fool, right?" she thought. Catalina looked up at him, but only saw a cold back. Bet had already spread his long legs and headed towards Darnell. Catalina didn''t expect Bet toe. She thought, "He was invited by Darnell, right? After all, Darnell always likes making a big scene." After Emery asked ire for her signature, she quickly walked back to Catalina''s side and eximed in a low voice, "It''s really an awkward scene! What is your husband thinking? It''s okay toe by himself, but he actually came together with his new girlfriend! Is he here to show off?" Catalina nced at the signature in Emery''s hand and said, "You just asked her for her signature! How could you be mean to her? Besides, I have nothing to do with Bet anymore. Don''t talk nonsense. It''ll be very awkward if ire hears it." "Why are you speaking up for a homewrecker? Should I give you an award for saints?" Catalina fell silent. "And, this signature is not for me. I will post it online and sell it when I go back tomorrow. Theizens will love it." Catalina was a little speechless. She thought, "Well, all I know is that your wallet will definitely love it." After signing, everyone went back to their positions. However, Bet did not move. He had a strong obsession with cleanliness, so he naturally wouldn''t sit on the ground. He put both hands into his pockets andzily leaned against the edge of the table behind him with his long legs extended, looking particrly eye-catching. Meanwhile, ire took the initiative to sit down next to Catalina. "Lina, thank you." As soon as ire sat down, she thanked Catalina and said, "Thank you for giving in and perfecting me and Bet. We are very happy now. By the way, when we get married, you must be my bridesmaid, okay?" Catalina had wanted to respond with a smile. However, her face was so stiff that she could not force a smile at all. She lowered her head and looked at her toes. "ire, don''t you think it''s too cruel for me to be your bridesmaid?" ire was stunned. She looked at Catalina with defense. "If you really take me as a good friend and know my love for Bet, you shouldn''t invite me to be your bridesmaid, no matter how humble my identity is." Catalina''s eyes suddenly became moist. She said in her heart, "Yes, as theter, I can give in to perfect them and wish them happiness. But how could she ask me to stand on stage as her bridesmaid and watch the man I have loved for over a decade marry her... It''s too cruel for me!" As Catalina was thinking, she suddenly heard Darnell suggest loudly, "Singing performances are too boring. Let''s y an exciting and interesting game!" "Sounds great!" Everyone responded, "Mr. Wyatt, what game do you want to y?" "Can you see that small house?" Darnell pointed to a small house built by containers not far ahead. There were no windows inside, only one door for venttion. At night, if the lights were off, it would be pitch dark inside the house. "I have exactly sixteen cards, and two of them are the same. If any two of you draw these two identical cards, regardless of gender, you will have to go into that small dark house together and stay there for at least ten minutes. During these ten minutes, you can do no matter what you want to. How about it? Anyone in?" "Boring!" Catalina thought. "Mr. Wyatt, are you in?" Some girls were already as keen as mustard. "Of course!" "Then I''m in as well!" "Me too!" "Count me in!" Everyone joined the game one after another. Catalina didn''t like such a boring game. She had intended to refuse to participate, but to her surprise, Darnell handed the first card to Bet beside her. The next moment, she was stunned. The reason was that instead of refusing it, Bet actually took it. Catalina had not expected that Bet would also join the game. She silently swallowed back her refusal. She thought in shock, "How would Bet agree to y such a boring game? I cannot believe it! As I know, he is never someone who likes ying games. Or does he want to be locked in that small dark house with someone? Who? Who else can it be besides ire sitting next to me?" When Catalina thought of this, her eyes darkened a little, and she felt veryplicated. Chapter 93 You Are Not Good Enough for Me Chapter 93 You Are Not Good Enough for Me Chapter 93 You Are Not Good Enough for Me Unexpectedly, Bet and ire drew identical cards in the first round. Everyone in the room eximed in excitement as the cards were shown. "Wow! Mr. Shaffer and ire have a match. Is this just a coincidence?" "Into the container room! Into the container room..." "Into the container room!" "..." Catalina looked at the ck and red jokers in Bet''s and ire''s hands, feelingplicated. She forced herself not to care about it. However, she couldn''t even dare to look at Bet who was sitting across from her, fearing that she would catch even the slightest hint of pleasure in his eyes. Bet, though he had drawn the joker card, still had a nk face. It seemed that he was not surprised by this result at all. He stood up and gave Darnell, who was controlling the game, a cold warning nce. Darnell, with a stalk of grass in his mouth smirked indifferently and said, "Congrattions to Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer on having a hot night." The term "Mrs. Shaffer" made Catalina''s heart twist into a knot. That was how Darnell used to call her. Now, he easily called someone else by the same appetion, but she still felt awkward and ufortable. With her legs crossed, Catalina lowered her head, staring at her toes. ire, with a shy look on her face, tucked her hair behind her ear and said, "Lina, excuse me for leaving first." Before leaving, she patted Catalina''s shoulder to remind her, as if she was afraid that Catalina didn''t know what was going on. "...Okay." Catalina replied with a forced smile. But she knew that her smile at this moment must have looked very stiff. After ire left, Emery kept rolling her eyes. "What kind of friend is she? She was clearly showing off to you just now! You treat her as a friend, but she doesn''t treat you the same way." Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Catalina rested her head on her knees and felt a mix of emotions. She and ire had gone through many things together since high school. Back then, Catalina was isted by her ssmates because she was from a poor family, and only ire was willing to be her friend despite her status and other ssmates'' contempt. At that time, Catalina thought that no matter what happened, she would always be ire''s best friend. However, she didn''t expect that they would both fall in love with the same man. One became the love of his life. The other became his spouse. To be honest, how many friendships could withstand such a cruel test? Catalina watched as ire, holding Bet''s arm, walked to the room with him. The door mmed shut. They entered the room. Catalina''s heart trembled and ached for a moment. Hastily, she looked away. But her eyes identally met Darnell¡¯s face, who was standing on the other side with a mischievous grin. He looked at her with a flighty expression, as if he were asking her whether she felt heartbroken. "Boring!" Catalina mouthed the word in response. To her surprise, heughed even more joyfully. How annoying he was! In the small room, as soon as they entered, Bet coldly pushed off ire''s hand that was holding onto his arm. He said, "Since there''s only the two of us, there''s no need to act anymore." "Ben, I''m not acting." "But I am, and you know it." Bet''s attitude was cold and distant. He didn''t want to give ire any chances and said, "I made it clear to you before we came here. This is all acting. I have said it very directly that I am only using you." "Bet..." ire responded furiously, "Do you have to speak to me so harshly? Or do you think I don¡¯t have feelings?" "Do you think I care about your feelings?" Bet replied, leaning against the door. "Am I so annoying to you? In that case, why did you choose me?" "ire, it''s not that you''re doing me a favor. At most, we''re just using each other. You''ve enjoyed the process of acting, haven''t you? In front of the media, you''ve been hyping up our rtionship because you want to be famous, right? When you came back from Ennd, you were only a D-list celebrity. With my help, a single scandal made you a superstar. How many film and televisionpanies and directors are eager to be associated with the Shaffer family? So you''ve be their breakthrough point. How many good resources have they given to you? Are you still not satisfied?" Her intentions exposed by Bet, ire''s face turned slightly pale. "Yes, I admit that I was using you to hype myself up, but what about you? You didn''t rify our rtionship to the media, weren''t you also using me to cover up for Catalina? " ire clenched her fists and added,"You don''t want the Shaffer family to know Catalina''s existence! Bet, you know better than anyone that it''s impossible for you and Catalina to be together. Why did you still marry her? Why are you still thinking about her?" ire couldn''t ept it. She stepped forward and threw herself into Bet''s arms, grabbing his shirt cor with both hands and begging him, "What''s so good about her? Everything she has, I have it too. What she can give you, I can even give you double! Ben, Catalina is just a lowly and inferior woman. You deserve someone much better than her! Can''t you turn around and see me?" Bet looked at her who was leaning on him and replied indifferently, "Once I have decided, I never look back. Secondly, it''s you who don¡¯t deserve me, so f**k off..." He ordered in a cold voice and his words filled with disgust for ire. She tightened her grip on his shirt angrily. This man was always heartless and trampled on her dignity. He never gave a damn about what she had done for him, and that was all because of Catalina, that b**ch. The thought of it made ire extremely resentful. She stood on tiptoe and forced a kiss on him. Bet was caught off guard. The next moment, after realizing what was going on, he firmly grasped her shoulders and ruthlessly pushed ire away. ire fell to the ground, with a thud. The people outside heard the sound. Darnell teased them in such a loud voice that everyone around could hear him, "Ben, take your time. If ten minutes is not enough, then twenty minutes will be fine! Don''t be so rude, you might hurt ire." Everyone burst intoughter. Emery grumbled beside Catalina, "Are these two shameless or what? His legal wife is still sitting outside. It''s ridiculous!" Catalina gave a self-mocking smile. His legal wife? He never regarded her as his wife. As she was thinking about this, the door was pulled open. Out walked Bet with a gloomy face. His unapproachable look seemed somehow terrifying. What was going on? Was he unhappy when he stayed there? "Ben, even if you''re unsatisfied, don''t be angry! At least wipe off the lipstick from your lips before Darnell joked boldly at Bet. Chapter 94 The Two in the Container Room Chapter 94 The Two in the Container Room Chapter 94 The Two in the Container Room After Darnell''s reminder, Catalina finally noticed the lipstick mark on Bet''s lips, It was undoubtedly left by ire. So, at least they had kissed in that room. Catalina felt a dull pain in her heart. It was hard to ignore the lipstick mark on his lips. However, Bet seemed unaware of it. He frowned in disgust, pulled out a gray handkerchief from his pocket, wiped off the lipstick, and then threw the expensive handkerchief directly into the trash. He didn''t even hesitate. At this moment, ire slowly walked out of the room, blushing with shyness. The lipstick on her lips was smudged, and there was even a little of it on her chin. She awkwardly wiped it off with a wet tissue and quickly sat back down next to Catalina. Just by looking at the lipstick marks all over her mouth, one could guess just how passionate and intimate they were back in the room. How could her lipstick be smudged like this with just a light kiss? "Lina, do you have a mirror on you?" ire asked as soon as she sat down. Catalina happened to carry a small mirror in her purse. She handed it over to Lina without saying a word. "Thanks." ire said with a smile. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She held the small round mirror and carefully wiped her mouth with a wet tissue. She had a coy smile on her face as she continued, "It''s so embarrassing. Ben and I will probably make the headlines again tomorrow if the media takes photos of us tonight. Darnell is always trying to tease us." She was clearlyining, but rather showing off. Emery couldn''t stand it anymore and sneered, "Some people get so carried away after they''ve taken advantage of others!" Catalina tugged at Emery''s sleeve secretly, signaling her not to start a fight. "Come on, let''s draw the second round of cards and see who gets lucky this time." Darnell started to deal the cards again. This time, Bet wasn''t the first to draw but thest. When she flipped over the card and saw she got a joker in her hand, her face turned red. Emery was even more excited than her, feeling a sense of satisfaction because she had finally gotten revenge. She grabbed Catalina''s hand and eximed, "One joker is in Lina''s hand! Who has got the other one? Let me see who the lucky dog is to spend the night with her!" "Gosh, Emery, don''t shout!" Catalina was so embarrassed that she wished she could just disappear. "Who has drawn the other joker? Show your card to us quickly!" Looking around, there was no response. Even Catalina became curious. She couldn''t help but nce around at everyone. Finally, her gaze was fixed on Bet''s hand. Everyone had already revealed their cards, except for Bet, who was leaning on the table with one arm crossed over his chest, holding a card in his hand. He stared at Catalina intently. Catalina caught her breath. Then, she saw him casually toss the card in his hand onto the grass. The card revealed was a red joker. It perfectly paired with Catalina''s card. Catalina stared at his card and her mind went nk for a second. It turned out to be her and him... Was this too coincidental? In a few seconds, Catalina couldn''t think straight. Her head was messy. Beside her, ire''s face turned pale in an instant. In contrast, Emery was overjoyed. As expected, justice has finally been served! She stood up, dragged the stunned Catalina who was still sitting on the grass, and said, "Hurry up! It''s time for you two to stay in that room together." "Emery, don''t be ridiculous." "What''s ridiculous about it! This is part of the game rules." Emery retorted, dragging Catalina all the way to that small dark room. Catalina wanted to escape, but as soon as she reached the door, a tall figure in ck got in her way. It was Bet, who was holding the other joker card in his hand. Catalina took two steps back in fear and looked up at him who was standing outside the door. He stood against the light with one hand in his pocket. He seemed in no hurry toe in. nk as his face was, he was staring at her with a burning gaze. Catalina felt as if she would be melted by his gaze at any moment. She also felt like he could see through everything. She was getting ufortable as he kept staring at her. She nervously licked her lower lip and said, "Shall I go out and tell them to cancel this part?" As she spoke, she tried to walk around him and leave. But unexpectedly, Bet stepped into the container room and grabbed her slender arm with one hand, stopping her from leaving. With the other hand, he closed the door. Suddenly, it was dark in the room. She quickly freed herself from his hand, leaned against the wall, and moved back to the corner. Then she sat down on a sofa stool. In the darkness, her heart was beating wildly. For there was no light, she could not see anything in the container room. She couldn''t know Bet''s direction, let alone what he was doing. All she knew for sure was that they were in the same closed space. Catalina felt so nervous that her breathing became unsteady. Even in the silence, her irregr breathing sound could be heard. This made her embarrassed. She tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths, but it was all in vain. Her palms even began to sweat. What about Bet? He remained calm and quiet, without making any moves. Catalina guessed that he might be standing there with his hand in his pocket, leaning on the door, listening to her unsteady breathing and mocking her in his heart! The time was ticking away. Sitting with her back against the wall, Catalina felt for the first time that ten minutes could be so long and agonizingly slow. She didn''t say a word. Bet who was standing on the other side also showed no intention of speaking. The two of them remained still and silent in the closed dark room for entire five minutes. Finally, Catalina couldn''t stand the silence and tentatively asked, "...When are you nning to marry ire?" "What makes you inquire about our rtionship?" Bet responded in a deep voice while he was standing less than 1.7 feet away from her. Catalina had thought he was still standing at the door, but she didn''t expect him to be so close to her. But she couldn''t see him at all. She began to feel anxious. Her heart was racing increasingly rapidly. "I''m not prying. I''m just concerned about my friend. Is there anything wrong about...?" Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a soft touch brush against her nose. Her heart skipped a beat. Her chest heaved violently. If she hadn''t felt wrong just now... The tip of her nose had brushed against Bet''s sexy, thin lips. How close... How close was he to her exactly? Catalina was so flustered that she moved her head back half an inch, pressing her head against the wall, her cheeks burning red. She weakly uttered the final word of the sentence, "...it?" Chapter 95 Bennett Is Here for You Chapter 95 Bet Is Here for You Chapter 95 Bet Is Here for You "Who is your friend?" Bet asked with his arm propped against the wall, looking down at Catalina. Catalina heard the sound and looked up at him. In the dark, Bet''s deep eyes were gleaming which looked as bright as jewels and so attractive that she was drawn to them. He stared at Catalina without blinking and continued, "When has ire ever considered you a friend?" "..." Catalina felt tongue-tied. It seemed that his words really hit a raw nerve. "Only a fool like you would think she really considers you a friend." Catalina was annoyed and replied, "Fine, I''m not worthy of being friends with people like you who are born rich, so you can..." Before Catalina could finish speaking, the man looking down at her suddenly lowered his head and kissed her on her lips. Catalina was caught off guard. In the darkness, her watery eyes goggled. Suddenly, she felt as if it was hard to breathe. "Don''t..." She resisted. She was trying to avoid his kiss. But Bet was too fast and didn''t give her a chance to refuse. He held her chin with his fingers, forcing open her mouth, and kissed her hard. He craved her like a beast and said in a low and deep voice, "Catalina, this is how the game is yed. Since you have participated, you must observe the rules!" "I... " Catalina couldn''t speak, nor could she push him away. She was like meat on a chopping board, and he could do whatever he pleased. "Bet..." She tasted the scent of the other woman''s lipstick between their lips. Catalina''s heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. It made Catalina feel disgusted thinking about how intimate he had just been with ire here not long ago. How could he kiss her after flirting with ire? Or did he think that she Catalina was easy to toy with? "Let go of me." Catalina''s eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to push the man in front of her. Breathing heavily, she spoke unclearly, "Bet, don''t...don''t you have a cleanlinesspulsion? You just kissed ire and now you''re kissing me...Don''t you feel disgusted?" Catalina was in a rage. Tears were about to roll down her cheeks. Bet took a deep breath, stopped kissing her, but did not let her go. His forehead pressed against her sweat-soaked forehead and he stared at her intensely, as if he wanted to eat her alive. The more Bet was this, the more nervous Catalina became. Her cheeks were red, and her breathing was irregr. Hearing Catalina''s irregr breathing sound, Bet chuckled and said, "Actually, it tastes quite good Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. with different vors!" "You..." Before Catalina could say anything angrily, he kissed her again. "You bastard!" Catalina was so angry that she clenched her fists and pounded on his chest. But he grabbed her hands and pinned her firmly against the wall, saying, "Don''t provoke me. You''re no match for me!" "ire is just outside. Aren''t you afraid that she...?" "Who is better at kissing you, me or Aaron ?"Bet interrupted her and tightened his grip on her hand. "...What?" Catalina was shocked. She never expected Bet to ask her such a strange question. For a moment, she was confused because the question came out of nowhere. Just as Catalina was about to call him crazy, he rudely cut her off, "Don''t say anything!" Catalina was speechless. He was the one asking the question, but now he was also forbidding her from answering it. What on earth did Bet mean? In the darkness, Bet''s sharp eyes coldly stared at Catalina and said, "Don''t try to remember! Don''t ever think of that man again, and don''t you dare remember that kiss!" He pinched Catalina''s chin with his fingers andmanded her as if he were a king, "Catalina, I only allow you to think about me." With these words, Bet leaned down and forcefully kissed Catalina''s lips once again. At that moment, even Catalina''s frozen heart seemed to melt by his passionate kiss. Despite the unreasonable demands of three "don''ts" and one "do", Catalina didn''t feel annoyed but found herself strangely captivated by Bet''s dominant manner. Instantly, the walls she had built around herself copsed and she couldn''t think clearly. She couldn''t remember the kisses of any other man. The only thing she could recall was this domineering man in front of her! She only remembered his rough and forceful manner and his irresistible deep kiss... "Knock, knock, knock..." Catalina lost track of time until she heard a knocking on the door. Suddenly, the light inside the small dark room was turned on. Catalina was startled. So close to him, her eyes met with the deep eyes of Bet. The next moment, he pushed her away coldly. Catalina''s back hit the wall. She was left a little confused. The passion and love in Bet''s alluring eyes had already disappeared, without any traces. At that moment, the door of the container room was pushed open, and Darnell, holding a stalk of grass in his mouth, leaned against the door with a teasing expression on his face and asked, "Ben, the time has already been over. Are you staying any longer?" Bet put his hands in his pockets and nced at Catalina, who was curling up on the sofa. His expression remained indifferent as if nothing had happened just now. He didn''t say a word and followed Darnell out of the small room. Lost in thoughts, Catalina sat on the sofa for a long time. Her heart ached as she thought of his cold and aloof demeanor earlier. Although the warmth of the room still lingered, Catalina felt that all the affection and tenderness just now seemed like a dream. Perhaps even there was no tenderness at all! It was just a game to Bet! Catalina didn''t know how long she had been sitting in the room until Emery came in to check on her. "Lina? Lina, Are you okay?" "I''m fine." Emery nced at her slightly swollen lips and had a rough idea of what had happened inside. "He''s gone," she said, sitting down next to Catalina. "What?" Catalina was surprised. "Everyone is seeing them off right now!" "...OK." Catalina remained calm. But she was feeling uneasy inside. How could he leave so quickly? "Why was my icon Bet here? To have fun? But he only stayed for less than half an hour and yed only two rounds. I can''t figure out what he''s thinking." Catalina raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath, saying, "Perhaps I spoiled his mood for ying and he found it boring, so he left." "But I think he left because he has got what he wanted." "What was he here for then?" "To see you and kiss you!" Hearing this, Catalina replied with a bitter smile, "...Why would he bring his girlfriend with him if he were to see me and kiss me?" Emery fell silent. Given this, it didn''t quite add up. But when he left, she noticed that he seemed light-hearted and satisfied. It waspletely different from the distant and unapproachable look he had when he arrived. Chapter 96 Interviewing Bennett Chapter 96 Interviewing Bet Chapter 96 Interviewing Bet Since that day, Catalina hadn¡¯t seen Bet for a long time. It seemed that his scandals with ire had also died down, at least unlike before when it was reported every day. Now their rtionship had be much more low-profile. Meanwhile, Catalina was working at her desk when thendline next to herputer rang. She picked it up. She heard the voice of the chief editor, Mr. Tate, on the other end. "Lina, pleasee to my office." "Okay." Catalina headed to the chief editor''s office after receiving the order. "Lina, you performed exceptionally well in outfield interviews in Starham Mountainst time. The leaders have seen your hard work, so they have assigned you another excellent new task to you this time." Upon hearing the chief editor''s words, Catalina had a hunch that she might receive another tricky task. "Chief editor, what kind of task is it?" "Take a look for yourself." The chief editor handed Catalina a file. Catalina opened it and was a bit puzzled. She never expected that the new task would be asking her to interview... Bet? "This is..." Catalina looked hesitant. "Not easy, is it?" "...Exactly." Rather than not being easy, the task was extremely difficult. Catalina tightened her lips and asked, "Mr. Tate, do you think we can change this task..." "Don''t turn me down so quickly." Not giving Catalina a chance to refuse, Felix waved his hand and said, "We chose you for a reason." "Well, go ahead, Mr. Tate." Catalina bit her lip. "Everyone knows that Mr. Shaffer never epts media interviews easily, so this task is very difficult, but Catalina, it¡¯s a different case for you." "I..." "Firstly, you have a good rtionship with Mr. Wyatt, right?" "...No, that¡¯s not what you think." Catalina exined in a hurry, "At most, we''re just rivals. We really are not that close." The editor-in-chief looked as if he knew everything and added, "That''s called a love-hate rtionship." "..." Catalina was speechless. They were arguing frequently, but they never liked each other. "Look, Mr. Wyatt is Mr. Shaffer''s cousin. Andst time, you and Mr. Shaffer spent at least fifteen minutes in the same room. Even if nothing really happened that night, there must have been some other feelings between you, right? Maybe he''ll show you respect and agree to take the interview?" "..." Would Bet do her a favor? She was afraid he would refuse her mercilessly. Talking about this reminded Catalina of Bet''s soft yet long kiss that night... Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. She felt a surge of shyness, and her cheeks blushed. Felix added, "Our leaders have already made a decision, so you just have a try for now! The main focus of this interview will be on Shaffer Group''s technological reform and the independent development of the mobile system. Of course, we also need to pay attention to the hot topics of the entertainment news. There are rumors that he and ire are nning to get married, so you should try to probe for information! If you can verify that it¡¯s true, we''ll have a real scoop." Getting married? Catalina tightened her grip on the file in her hand. Her face turned slightly pale. She saw that the leaders had made up their minds and she had no choice but to reluctantly agree. Walking out of the editor-in-chief''s office, she still felt a bit dazed. So Bet was really going to marry ire? Then why did he kiss her that day and tell her what she should do, which made her waver and irresistibly drawn to and hopelessly trapped him? "That jerk!" Catalina angrily rubbed her lips with her sleeve, as if she wanted to erase all memories of him immediately. On the first day, Catalina didn''t take the case of interviewing Bet seriously. She deliberately avoided it. The next day, she still put aside all the materials and had no intention of preparing for this interview. It wasn''t until the third day that the editor-in-chief, Felix, started asking about her progress that Catalina had to formally put it on her agenda. Actually, to interview Bet, she could have just called him directly. Although they were divorced, she still had his private contact information. But there were only two possible oues. The first was being rejected. This might actually be the best result. The second was being insulted by Bet, and he might even suspect that she was using this as an excuse to get close to him again. Catalina was at her wit''s end. After careful consideration, she decided to follow the regtions and make an appointment on behalf of thepany to schedule a meeting with Bet in advance. She made a call to the general secretary''s office of the Shaffer Group. "Hello, this is the general secretary''s office of the Shaffer Group." Just after she dialed the number, came a female voice without emotions on the other end of the line. "Hello." Catalina replied politely. "I''m Catalina, a journalist from Sayton Newspaper. Ourpany..." "I''m sorry, Ms. Grant." To her surprise, only after she introduced herself, the secretary interrupted her, "Mr. Shaffer never epts any media interviews. Goodbye!" "Wait, at least hear me...hello?" Before she could finish her sentence, the call was already disconnected. Catalina was furious. Did they really have to cut her off like that? Couldn''t they let her finish speaking at least? Feeling frustrated by the rejection, Catalina was about to give up, but Felix''s phone bombing gave her no choice but to keep going. It was clear that calling the general secretary''s office was not going to work. Catalina crossed this method written in her notebook. She had to try a second one. After hesitating for a few seconds, she gritted her teeth and finally called Vincent. She just didn¡¯t want to ask Bet for help. For one thing, she didn¡¯t dare to. For another, she didn''t want to. Catalina¡¯s dignity wouldn''t allow her to do something like this. When Vincent received Catalina''s call, he was having a meeting. He looked confusedly at the caller¡¯s name on his phone screen for a few seconds. After ncing at Bet sitting at his seat, he quite quietly left the meeting room. "Mrs. Shaffer?" "Yes, Vincent." It had been a while since they spokest time, so Catalina was a little awkward. "Well...you can call me Lina if you want." After all, she was no longer Mrs. Shaffer of Sophora Vi. That title now belonged to ire. "I wouldn''t dare." "Mrs. Shaffer," Vincent asked respectfully, "are you looking for Mr. Shaffer?" "No!" Catalina denied it quickly. "Then, may I ask what can I...?" "I¡¯m calling partly because of Bet." "..." Catalina coughed, touched her nose and exined why she was calling, "Well, actually... I''m calling on behalf of ourpany, we..." "I understand." Vincent immediately knew why she was calling after she said these words. He continued, "You want to conduct an exclusive interview with Mr. Shaffer, right?" "...Right." Catalina bit her lip and replied, "Is it nearly impossible?" "That''s correct. Mr. Shaffer has always refused to be interviewed by the media. But..." Vincent paused for a moment and continued, "But I think you will be an exception, Mrs. Shaffer. Let me ask Mr. Shaffer after he finishes the meeting, and I''ll give you a replyter." "Okay, thanks a lot, Vincent. I really appreciate it." Catalina thanked him and hung up the phone. Chapter 97 Mrs. Shaffer Is to Interview You Chapter 97 Mrs. Shaffer Is to Interview You Chapter 97 Mrs. Shaffer Is to Interview You Catalina felt a little anxious waiting for Vincent''s reply. Though she didn''t want to admit it, while working on writing news reports, she looked at the digital clock at the bottom of herputer screen at least ten times. She didn''t know when Bet would end the meeting. Meanwhile, after Vincent finished his call, he returned to the meeting room. Shortly after, the meeting was over. "Mr. Shaffer, here are the meeting minutes." Vincent respectfully ced the minutes on Bet''s desk. Bet didn''t even look up, his mindpletely set on the approval document in his hand. Standing next to him, Vincent was eager to ask about the interview with Catalina, but he didn''t dare to. Everyone knew that mentioning Mrs. Shaffer in front of Bet was like igniting a bomb. And the consequence would be deadly. Whoever mentioned her would be severely punished. "Anything else?" Bet was still looking down at these materials. "Yes, but..." "Spit it out." "Well, Mr. Shaffer, I...I''m not quite sure if I should bring this up. Bet nced at him with an impatient expression. Vincent immediately gave in and said, "I¡¯ll tell you everything. Mr. Shaffer, there is an influential publishing house that wants to interview you." "I''ve said it many times before. I won''t ept any media interviews. Are you new here? Why are you still bothering me with this kind of question now?" "I know, Mr. Shaffer, but this media outlet is quite special, and I didn''t dare to make a decision without consulting you." Bet frowned and asked, "Which one?" "It''s Sayton Newspaper run by Mr. Wyatt''s, and...Mrs. Shaffer has invited you to contribute in person." "..." Hearing this, Bet''s hand that was reviewing and approving the document slightly paused. He furrowed his brow. Thinking back to that night in the container room, Bet with twinkles in his eyes couldn''t help but recall that stubborn little girl. But he didn¡¯t realize the smile in his eyes. "I won''t go." He refused. His face turned serious again. "...Alright." Vincent didn¡¯t dare to persuade him and had to nod reluctantly, saying, "Mr. Shaffer, then if there''s nothing else, I''ll go out and attend to my work." "OK." Vincent felt a great sense of relief and quickly walked out. "Wait." Bet called out to him before Vincent could even reach the door. Vincent paused and turned back, asking, "Yes, Mr. Shaffer?" Still staring at the document in front of him, Bet asked, "What did she say?" Vincent told him everything he knew, "Mrs. Shaffer only mentioned the interview." Bet''s face looked grim and said, "I see. You can leave now." "Yes." Vincent hurriedly left the room. Once Vincent left, Bet tossed the document aside. He couldn¡¯t focus on work anymore. With eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed, he fold his hands together and remained silent, seemingly pondering something. After leaving the President''s Office, Vincent immediately called Catalina. "Mrs. Shaffer, I''m so sorry. Mr. Shaffer..." "He didn''t agree, did he?" Catalina already knew the answer and said, "It''s okay. I knew he wouldn''t agree. I was prepared for this." Catalina sounded surprisingly calm. Although she had prepared herself for this oue, she couldn''t help but feel a little disappointed. "Mrs. Shaffer, even though Mr. Shaffer disagrees now, it doesn''t mean he won''t agree in the future, right? As long as we''re persistent, nothing g is impossible!" Vincent hoped that these two could get back together soon. After all, he had a hard time for the past month after they broke up. Catalina smiled but didn''t know what to say. "Mrs. Shaffer, Mr. Shaffer has a rare opportunity to take one day off tomorrow, and he has invited me to y tennis at Spring Fall early in the morning. Would you like to join us?" "Me? Can I?" "Why not? Do you know how to y tennis?" "I do, but I''m not very good at..." "Don''t worry, Mr. Shaffer will go soft on you." "But if I am there tomorrow, will he be angry?" "Of course not." Vincent thought that he was likely to be happy if Mrs. Shaffer was there! "Okay, what time tomorrow?" Catalina made up her mind. She wouldn''t give up until she got the task done. "Ten o''clock in the morning. See you there!" "OK, I won''t bete." Catalina and Vincent made a secret appointment behind Bet. The next day at ten o''clock... Catalina showed up at the tennis court of Spring Fall wearing a white sports suit and a white tennis cap. Bet and Vincent had already been ying tennis there. The two were evenly matched and fought closely. The tennis ball flew back and forth in the air and it was really an exciting game. Bet was sweating, and his hair was a little messy. However, these didn¡¯t make him look less attractive. Still, he was dazzling and eye-catching. He also exuded a strong sense of masculinity. His hair was drenched in glistening sweat, moving as he jumped up and down to catch the ball. This was perhaps the first time in a few years that Catalina had seen Bet being so lively and vivacious, and it reminded her of the younger Bet who used to enjoy ying basketball on the court. Catalina was lost in memory for a moment. Suddenly, a tennis ball flew in her direction. Before she knew what happened, the ball hit her cap and bounced away quickly. The ball was hit by Bet. Obviously, he did it on purpose. The cap covered half of Catalina''s face and others could only see her tightly pursed lips. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. She lowered her head and stood there frozen as if she had been cast under a petrifying curse. She had thought Bet didn¡¯t notice her! "Pick up the ball." Bet''smanding voice came from the front right direction. He tapped his racket on the ground and gazed at Catalina with cold, sharp eyes. When he used to y basketball when he was young, this girl would often wait beside the court as she did now, and as soon as she got distracted watching others, he would purposely hit her leg with the ball. Of course, he controlled his strength and would never hurt her. It was just to attract her attention. Catalina tilted her head, raised her head slightly, and nced at Bet from under her cap. She showed a feeling of discontentment to some extent. Bet raised his eyebrows and also looked at her provocatively. The two of them stood still, staring at each other calmly, but the atmosphere somehow was charged with anger and tension. Even Vincent noticed it. Gosh! He arranged for them to y tennis together to bring them closer instead of having a fight. Vincent quickly pretended that he was out of breath and stepped forward to mediate, saying, "Mr. Shaffer, can I take a break? I really can''t keep up. How about letting Mrs. Shaffer y tennis with you for a while?" As he spoke, Vincent handed the racket to Catalina, picked up the ball and gave it to her. Then he pushed Catalina to the court. Catalina thought Bet would decline immediately. But to her surprise, he didn''t. Did silence mean consent? Catalina nervously lifted her cap and wore it backward. She tried to calm herself down and got ready to serve the ball with her knees half-bent. She said, "Let¡¯s get started!" Chapter 98 His Heart Aches Chapter 98 His Heart Aches Chapter 98 His Heart Aches However, Bet seemed rxed and didn''t take her seriously. He asked, "Can you y tennis?" "..." What kind of question was that? "You''ll know if I y with you." Bet sneered, ready to receive the ball. He said, "Show me what you have got!" Catalina served the ball. The ball flew out, and Bet easily caught it with the swing of his racket. He remained in ce without even moving his feet. Seeing the ball flying back at her, Catalina quickly ran up, raised her arm and managed to catch the ball and return it. In this way, after a few rounds, although it seemed that Catalina would miss the ball every time, Bet and Vincent, who was standing outside the court, were surprised that she managed to return every ball hit by Bet. Thepetition was bing intense. This girl was clearly pretending that she was poor at ying tennis, but actually, she had great skills! In fact, Catalina''s tennis skills were derived from ying badminton. She joined the badminton club in college and was among the top female yers. After practicing tennis for half a year, she was not particrly outstanding, but because of her former experience of ying badminton, she wasn''t so far behind. After Bet realized that Catalina''s tennis skills were not as bad as he had thought, he no longer underestimated her and began to take thispetition seriously. Seeing the ball flying over, Bet half-jumped to catch it and then hit it back hard. Catalina held up her head and raised her racket to catch the ball. But the tennis ball spun like a drill and came towards her at high speed. She must be finished! Catalina knew it was impossible to catch the ball and she almost immediately protected her head with both her hands. "Bang!" The tennis ball hit her arm heavily. In less than a second, her arm became congested and swollen. "Ouch!" Catalina screamed in pain. Her small face twisted in agony. With the other hand tightly covering the injured arm, her face turned slightly pale and cold sweat broke out on her forehead. "...I surrender." She didn¡¯t want to y tennis any longer. Seeing this, Vincent didn''t say a word. He just turned around and ran out. Bet never thought that she could catch the ball with her hand. He was fully engaged in the game and had forgotten to control his strength. Damn it! Almost immediately, Bet threw his racket and stormed towards Catalina with an angry face. He scolded her as he ran toward her, "What''s wrong with you? Why did you catch the ball with your hand instead of using the racket? If you''re so skilled, why don''t you go y volleyball? Or should I sign you up for the volleyball court next door?" The burning anger surged within Bet. Catalina''s arm had long gone numb from the pain. She had never expected that instead of receiving an apology from Bet, she would instead be mocked and scolded by him. Catalina was furious. She covered her arm and was about to leave. She wished she had never been here today. "Where are you going?" Bet stepped forward and stopped her. He looked at her swollen arm, his brows furrowed tightly in a knot. How could she get hurt so badly? "Going home. Do you want me to stand here and let you scold me to my face?" Bet reached out and poked her nose, saying, "That¡¯s what you deserve!" Catalina was angry and tried to push his hand away, but he firmly gripped her hand. Her heart thumped. She blushed with embarrassment and struggled to break free from his grasp. But Bet didn''t let her go. Instead, he even tightened his grip and said, "Don''t move! Your arm is severely injured now. Can¡¯t you just settle down and rest for a while?" "..." How could he treat her so harshly? What¡¯s more, didn¡¯t she get injured because of him? Bet tightly grabbed her hand and with a gloomy face, he led her to sit on the nearby bench. Catalina''s fair arm were swollen with bruises which looked a little horrifying. Bet''s eyebrows twitched and scolded her while holding her hands, "Catalina, are you an idiot? You couldn''t catch the ball, why didn''t you try to dodge? This court is so spacious, why couldn¡¯t you run a few steps?" "... I was scared silly at the time." "You idiot!" "Why do you keep scolding me?" Catalina felt wronged andined while withdrawing her hand, "You didn''t get hurt anyway." She murmured, "It was you who got me hurt like this." Bet looked at her withplicated eyes. He didn''t get hurt physically, but strangely his heart ached. At that moment, Vincent ran back panting, "Mr. Shaffer, here is the liniment." Vincent had been working for Bet for so many years, and he couldn''t say he knew everything about him, but he was pretty confident that he could guess roughly what he was thinking. Seeing the medicine, Catalina reached out to take it. But Vincent avoided her hand and gave it to Bet instead. Catalina was speechless. Bet opened the bottle of bruise and injury medicine and held Catalina''s arm. Catalina blushed and felt embarrassed, saying, "I can do it myself." But Bet ignored her. He poured the medicine on her injured area before quickly covering it with his other hand. He looked at Catalina and said, "It might hurt a bit when I rub and spread the medicine on your arm, but you have to endure it." "I can''t. I''m just really afraid of pain..." Catalina closed her eyes, her face twisted in fear. "If I don¡¯t move the stagnant blood away by massaging, the bruise won''t be rubbed out, and it will hurt even more tomorrow." Catalina opened her eyes slightly and looked at her arm. She said, "Then you have to promise me that you''ll be gentle. I''m afraid you''ll take revenge. Ouch...you bastard!" As she spoke, Bet intentionally pressed down on her arm. In fact, he didn''t use much strength and he just wanted to tease her. But he didn''t expect Catalina to be in so much pain that she burst into tears. She cried, "Bet, you bastard! Stay away from me!" She hit Bet''s arm in anger, trying to free her arm from his hand. She looked pitiful with tears in her eyes. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Bet immediately loosened his grip and exined, "I really didn''t use much strength just now." "You didn''t use much strength? It hurts so much..." Catalina lowered her head and blew on her injured arm. Bet''s fingers suddenly held her chin up and lifted her head. He promised to her in a tender voice, which was rare, "I won''t take revenge or tease you, okay?" Catalina blinked her watery eyes and felt her heart pounding. With his cold fingers holding her chin, she felt like the skin of her chin touched by him was on fire. But the next moment, she came to her senses and quickly took a few steps back as it felt like an electric shock running through her body. Her heart was still beating wildly, and her face blushed. She nodded her head and said, "I''ll trust you for now." "But..." "Anything else?" With her face in red, Catalina frowned and asked. "Yes, you''ll definitely still feel painter, so you have to endure it because I really didn''t use much strength just now." "..." Catalina''s face contorted in pain again. Bet gently rubbed her arm. But Catalina''s face changed because of pain and she eximed, "Ouch...it hurts!" It really hurt, and it hurt like hell! Chapter 99 The Letters in the Ring Chapter 99 The Letters in the Ring Chapter 99 The Letters in the Ring Catalina wanted to cry. She grabbed the towel, bit it, and said with tears in her eyes, "Bet, be gentle! Ouch! I got injured on duty! I will impensation from thepany tomorrow!" She thought she was pitiful! "Bet, you hurt me! Don''t you think you shouldpensate me?" Bet remained silent, ignoring her words. Catalina kept rambling because she wanted to distract herself from the pain. "It hurts so much! Could you please agree to ept my interview now?" "No way!" Although he had finally replied, he had resolutely refused her with two simple words. Catalina gave him a resentful look and pouted, asking, "How can I make you ept my interview?" Bet let go of her hand, stared at her with a red-hot andplicated look, and replied, "It depends Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. on what you can do for me." Catalina''s heart skipped a beat when she asked, "What do you mean?" Bet grabbed a disposable towel to wipe his hands and threw it into the trash can. Then, he stood up, nced at her confused face, and said, "I''m leaving!" "Wait!" Catalina chased after him and said, "You haven''t answered my question!" When Bet strode forward with his hands in his pockets, Vincent silently followed behind him. Catalina craned her neck and shouted, "Bet!" But he turned a deaf ear, turned around, and entered a VIP exclusive lounge. Then, Vincent respectfully waited outside the door. Seeing this, Catalina pushed open the door without hesitation, walked in, and said, "Bet, let''s talk..." Seeing the scene in the lounge, she suddenly swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue and blushed scarlet. Bet had taken off his white sweatshirt. Because of the exercise just now, his well-developed muscles had been fully stimted, and his muscle lines looked smooth. With the sweat beads on his skin, he looked sexy, wild, and manly. Few women could resist such a strong figure. Although Catalina had strong willpower, she was fascinated every time. Bet was taken aback to see her suddenly enter the door. Aftering back to his senses, he threw the sweatshirt onto the leather chair and said, "You look at my body like this every time. Haven''t you seen it enough?" Catalina was at a loss for words. After recovering from the shock, she said with a flushed face, "I''m sorry. I didn''t know you are changing clothes. I''ll go out right away! We''ll talk when you''re done." She couldn''t even straighten her tongue because of nervousness. After finishing speaking, she turned around, intending to run away. But Bet unexpectedly grabbed her by the wrist and asked, "Did I let you go?" Before she could react, he suddenly picked her up. "Ah!" Catalina screamed. When her delicate body fell into his strong and hot arms, she defensively pressed her small hands against his tight chest and asked, "What are you doing?" She felt burning hot in her palms. And the wet and sticky touch instantly made her blush. And she felt limp all over as if an electric current was going through her body. When her little face flushed with shyness, she looked like a juicy ripe peach. Bet felt thirsty, and his eyes darkened. He strode into the bathroom with her in his arms and ced her on the sink. Catalina was so nervous that she didn''t dare to move. She propped herself up with her hands and tightly grasped the edge of the sink. Then, she leaned slightly backward to keep a safe distance from him. But Bet did not allow her to do such a thing. He stretched out a long and strong arm, domineeringly hooked her slender waist like a chain, and forcibly pulled her forward. "Ah!" Catalina was almost pressed against his chest. Her little face was scarlet, and her breathing was in disorder. He pressed her little hands on his shoulders and gasped, "Bet, what do you want?" Bet lowered his head, stared down at her with a red-hot look, and said, "You are wet. What about we take a shower together?" Catalina''s mind buzzed. "Don''t touch me!" She covered her chest in panic and angrily cursed in shame, "Lewdster!" Bet didn''t take it seriously, lowered his head more, and deeply whispered in her ear, "Who took liberties with whom first?" "I''ve said I didn''t know you were changing..." Before she could finish her exnation, she abruptly paused and looked at the ring hanging on his neck in a daze, feeling as if a sharp needle was piercing her heart. And she couldn''t regain her Was it the engagement diamond ring he had given to ire? Or did he have a simr one? It was normal for engagement rings to be in pairs, so she should not have thought nonsense! Seeing her suddenly stop speaking and fall into a trance, Bet frowned, "What are you looking at?" Following her gaze, he looked down. Seeing the ring hanging over his chest, he realized what was going on. A hint of difort shed across his eyes when he grabbed the diamond ring and pulled it off his neck together with the chain. Then, he put it in his trouser pocket as if nothing had happened. But there were imperceptible ripples in his amber eyes when he considered whether she had seen the letters in the ring. Catalina didn''t recover until Bet put away the ring. She suddenly became jealous and felt swelling pain in her sensitive heart. So, she lowered her head, not knowing what to say. Suddenly, Bet said, "Wait for me outside!" Hearing this, she raised her eyes and looked at him in confusion. Bet''s attitude was still domineering when he lifted her chin with his slender finger and said, "If you leave before I go out, I will never ept your interview! Get out and wait for me!" Then, he let go of her, stepped into the shower area, and closed the ss door with a loud sound. Catalina sat on the sink and stared nkly at the shower room for a long time because she could not stop thinking about the ring. Since he wore it around his neck every day, he must cherish it very much.! She knew him well. As Ralph had said, as long as Bet fell in love, he would treat the woman with sincerity and never be fickle in love. She had caught a glimpse of the inside of the ring and seen BS and a heart. BS was referring to Bet Shaffer. Although she had not seen the letters behind the heart because they were blocked, she guessed it must be CP, the abbreviation of ire''s name. Chapter 100 It Has to Be You Chapter 100 It Has to Be You Chapter 100 It Has to Be You Catalina took a deep breath, feeling as if all her strength body had been drained. She felt weak all over, tight in her chest, and painful when breathing. And the scene in front of her eyes had also be dim. Hearing the water flowing, she knew Bet was still taking a shower. But she couldn''t stay in the lounge anymore. If she stayed any longer, she might suffocate at any time. When she ran out of the lounge as if escaping, Vincent noticed her pale face and worriedly asked, "Mrs. Shaffer, are you OK?" "I''m fine." Catalina said with a pale face, "Vincent, I have something urgent to do, so I must leave now. Thank you very much. I will buy you dinner when you have time." After finishing speaking, she quickly walked away. Vincent was confused, thinking she looked weird. Had Mr. Shaffer bullied her just now? Fifteen minutester, Bet came out of the bathroom and said, "Hand me my..." He stopped talking before finishing his words because he found she was not in the lounge. Then, he said with a frown, "Vincent!" Hearing this, Vincent quickly pushed the door open and asked, "Mr. Shaffer, what can I do for you?" "Where''s Catalina?" Bet asked with a gloomy face. "She said she had something urgent to deal with and left." Bet was speechless. He knew she would not be obedient! Very good! She thought she was fully fledged and wanted to learn to fly now! *** After leaving Spring Fall, Catalina returned home to take a shower and then went to thepany. After entering Felix''s office, she presented the document with both hands and bowed to apologize, saying, "Mr. Tate, I''m sorry. But I really can''tplete the task of interviewing Bet Shaffer. Please entrust it to a more capable colleague!" Felix was taken aback by her solemnity, so he quickly got up and said, "Lina, you don''t need to apologize. It''s normal to fail a task. Don''t take it to heart." While speaking, he took the document from her hand. Catalina hurriedly bowed again and said, "Thank you for your understanding." Felix was unwilling to give up, so he asked, "Are you sure you can''t interview him?" "Yes!" Catalina affirmatively nodded. "Fine!" Felix finally gave up and said, "You have a widework, so I thought you could handle it. Since it doesn''t work, I won''t push you too hard. I will let a more experienced person have a try! If it still doesn''t work, I will cancel this interview." Catalina could hear the disappointment in his tone but forced herself to ignore it. Aftering out of the office, she let out a long breath, feeling as if she had gotten rid of a heavy burden. ncing at the new wound on her arm, she recalled how Bet had applied the medicine to it and suddenly wanted to cry. She asked herself to wake up because he was in love with her best friend ire. She should not have pestered him like a simp on the pretext of work. ***** Felix then assigned the task of interviewing Bet to Nh who was a capable employee in the editorial department. Nh was bold, vigorous, and resolute while working. After failing to make an appointment with Bet for three consecutive days, she resolutely ambushed him at the gate of the Shaffer Group, shouting, "Mr. Shaffer, I''m Nh. I am a reporter!" Several bodyguards were escorting Bet, so she had no chance to get close to him. Therefore, she could only continue shouting, "I know you''re busy. But could you please give me ten minutes?" "Lady, I''m sorry. But Mr. Shaffer does not ept any interviews. Please leave!" A bodyguard started driving her away with a tough attitude before she could finish speaking. And Bet turned a deaf ear to her words and strode forward to his car without ncing at her. Nh was unwilling to give up, so she continued, "Mr. Shaffer, Sayton Newspaper is the most famous media in our country. If you ept our interview, it will bring mutual benefits!" Hearing Sayton Newspaper, Bet suddenly stopped his steps with a deep frown. Then, he turned around and sharply nced at her, asking, "Are you from Sayton Newspaper?" Being stared at by Bet, Nh felt tight in her throat when nodding, "Yes!" Her heart was wildly throbbing because he was much too aggressive and charming. Looking at him, she felt deeply captivated and unable to extricate herself. When she was amazed by his handsomeness, he suddenly asked, "Where''s Catalina?" Nh was stunned and then replied, "She quit the task, so our editor-in-chief asked me to take it over. Mr. Shaffer, here is my business card." While speaking, she took out her business card, intending to walk forward. But Bet said without sparing one more nce at her, "Let Catalinae to talk to me." Then, he indifferently got in the car. Nh was speechless. After the cars left, she nkly stood at the gate with her business card in her hand as if being petrified. Then, she muttered, "I did not expect there to be such a good-looking man in this world." He was hundreds of times more handsome in reality than in cameras! After returning to thepany, Nh told Felix what Bet had said although she was a little unwilling. Hearing her words, Felix was overjoyed, believing Bet would ept the interview. So, he immediately asked Catalina toe to his office. "Lina, sit down, please." As soon as she walked in, he pulled her to sit down and even poured a cup of coffee for her in person. Catalina was ttered, so she hurriedly got up and asked, "Mr. Tate, why are you doing this?" Felix pressed her back into the chair and said, "Listen! Only you can interview Bet Shaffer." Catalina had not expected him to bring it up again, so she asked, "But didn''t you let me hand over the task to Nh after our talk?" "Yes, but things have taken a new turn. When Nh went to ambush him yesterday, he told her he would only talk to you." "Why?" Catalina abruptly stood up from the chair, wondering what Bet was up to. Hadn''t he rejected her that day? "Why?" Felix shrugged and smiled, "Obviously, you have attracted the attention of the head of the Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Shaffer family! Lina, it might be a terrific opportunity for you to seed! Don''t miss it." Catalina was speechless. If she could achieve great sess by ying up to Bet, she would have long seeded. But now, she was still a nobody. Chapter 101 One Last Chance Chapter 101 One Last Chance Chapter 101 One Last Chance "Lina, Mr. Shaffer seems to have wavered. Your previous effort is not in vain. You are indeed a capable person. I have always had confidence in you!" While excitedly speaking, Felix put a pile of materials into Catalina''s hands and said "So, I can only count on you now." "But I..." "Don''t refuse me! It is an order! I have promised my supervisor we can nail it." Catalina was speechless. "Lina, the performance of the editorial department this month entirely depends on you. If you sessfully interview Bet Shaffer, the other colleagues will believe you deserve the title of Excellent Employee!" She could hear Felix was intentionally putting pressure on her, so she felt helpless. Felix clenched his fists to cheer her on, saying, "Lina, believe in yourself! You can do it! Go for it!" Catalina wavered and sighed with her head down, "Okay, I''ll have another try!" Although she was unwilling, she must take the order. "Great! You don''t have toe to thepany for the next few days. I will arrange for other people to take over your other work. Your priority now is to follow Mr. Shaffer and persuade him into epting your interview, understand?" Judging from Felix''s words, he wanted her to follow Bet twenty-four hours a day. Wasn''t it too exaggerated? After getting out of the office, Catalina had an internal struggle and finally mustered up the courage to call Bet. Early depart, early revive. It was a make-or-break move. "Beep! Beep!" Catalina had not waited for long when Bet answered the call and asked, "Who''s that?" When his cold voice reached her ear through the phone, she could not tell his mood because his tone was emotionless. But she knew he was asking while knowing the answer. However, she still could only bite the bullet and replied, "This is Catalina." While waiting for his response, she bit her lower lip. Unexpectedly, there was a long silence on the phone. And he didn''t seem to want to reply. So, the current noise sounded particrly incongruous. The more silent he was, the more nervous she felt. And she had no clue what he was thinking now. After a while, she couldn''t bear it anymore, so she broke the silence and asked, "Can we talk?" Her tone was much humbler thanst time. Bet remained silent for a few seconds before he finally ordered in an emotionless voice, "Repeat myst sentence that day." Catalina did not understand want he meant, so she asked, "What?" He remained silent without giving her a hint, so she could only think by herself with a deep frown. Ten secondster, she finally understood what he meant and said, "I see." "Do you remember it?" "Yes," Catalina nodded and bit her lower lip. Bet nonchntly said, "Repeat it." She had no choice but to bite the bullet and repeat hisst sentence that day, saying, "If you leave before Ie out, I will never ept the interview! Go out and wait for me!" Betzily leaned back and sneered at the phone, "I did not expect you to remember it." "Mr. Shaffer, I''m sorry. I should not have left without permission that day," Catalina sincerely apologized and almost bowed to the phone. When he fell silent again, she said, "Bet, we''re sincere. And..." "Appear in front of me within thirty minutes. We will never talk about this matter even if you are a secondte. Catalina, it is yourst chance." "Where are you now?" While speaking, Catalina rushed to her desk, picked up the recorder from the table, and ran outward like lightning. "In my office." "Are you in thepany? If so, please tell your receptionists about my visit in advance. Otherwise, they will not let me in." "Just tell them your name." "Okay! I''ll be there soon!" "You only have twenty-nine minutes and thirteen seconds now." Catalina was speechless about his countdown, thinking he was a devil! "I will be there within thirty minutes!" After finishing speaking, she hung up the phone and rushed downstairs while talking to the Uber driver, "Hurry up, sir! I''m in a rush!" After hanging up the phone, Bet threw it aside in the President''s Office of the Shaffer Group. When his bodyzily sank into the swivel chair, he slightly lifted his chin and looked at the quartz clock on the wall. The second hand was slowly ticking, and there were twenty-eight minutes and fifty-three seconds left. When the orange afterglow spilled into the office like broken gold through the floor-to-ceiling window, it gilded his handsome cold face with ayer of soft light. Then, he ordered, "Vincent, ask the receptionists to let Catalina in." "Yes, Mr. Shaffer!" After Vincent took the lead and went out, Bet narrowed his charming eyes when admiring the sunset scenery outside the window. And his deep amber eyes were twinkling. It was the most beautiful time of the day. And the office had be warmer at some point. Twenty-five minutes and eight secondster, a car stopped at the entrance of the Shaffer Group with a loud sound. Catalina pushed the car door open and ran out, shouting, "Sir, I will pay you online after finishing my work! Thank you!" After finishing speaking, she sprinted toward the Shaffer Group. As soon as she arrived at the gate, a security guard stopped her and said, "Lady, you''re not allowed to..." "I''m Catalina Grant!" She hurriedly told him her name as Bet had said. "Ms. Grant, pleasee in." Then, he said to a receptionist, "Lisa, hurry up and give the ess card to Ms. Grant!" "Yes! Ms. Grant, this is your exclusive ess card." When Lisa handed a blue pass to Catalina with both hands, thetter was ttered. She quickly took it and said, "Thank you, Lisa!" She didn''t stay any longer but swiped the card at several checkpoints in a row. When she finally entered the elevator, she pressed the button of the twenty-eighth and murmured, "Be quick!" She nced at her watch and found there were only three minutes left. "Please be quick! The twenty-eighth floor is too high!" It was the first time she had felt an elevator moving too slowly. Every floor was a torment for her. Fortunately, it didn''t stop in the middle. This elevator was exclusive to the president, but she didn''t know. ... When the elevator doors finally opened with a ding, she rushed out like a gust of wind. As soon as she got out of the elevator, a staff member dressed as a secretary respectfully greeted her, asking, "Ms. Grant?" "Yes, I''m Catalina Grant," Catalina quickly nodded. The secretary showed a business smile and said, "This way, please. Mr. Shaffer has been waiting for a long time." "Where is his office? I can go by myself. You don''t need to lead me there," Catalina said because she was in a hurry. She must sprint if she did not want to bete. "Please go this way and then turn left. The room with a big gray wooden door at the end is Mr. Shaffer''s Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. office." "I see! Thank you!" Catalina said while running. When she looked down at the watch on her wrist, she was taken aback! Bad! She was running out of time! When she turned left and reached the big gray wooden door at the end, she pressed both hands on it and pushed it open. Then, she staggered and fell to the ground in embarrassment. Chapter 102 The Meaning Chapter 102 The Meaning Chapter 102 The Meaning Fortunately, it was a wooden floor, so she wouldn''t bruise her head and bleed. Catalina fell to the floor, gasping for breath. Her bangs had been soaked with sweat, sticking to her forehead wetly, which was embarrassing. Directly opposite, the man in the main seat looked neat in a suit. He was sitting there aloof like a king, imposing and dignified. It formed a sharp contrast with Catalina who was in a mess on the floor. But Catalina didn''t care about it. Of course, she didn''t have time to care. She was just here for work. She raised her hand and looked at the watch on her wrist, "Three, two, one! Time is up!" She smiled at Bet, "Mr. Shaffer, can we start the interview now?" Bet raised his eyebrows slightly, "When did I say I would ept your interview?" "Are you going back on your word?!" Catalina quickly got up from the floor. Bet pushed away the swivel chair, got up, and strode towards her, "I''ve never agreed to ept your interview. I just said I could give you a chance to convince me." Catalina bit her lips and red at him angrily. Bet put his hands in his pockets and strode towards her, "Who allowed you to change people temporarily?" He stared at her condescendingly, looking dangerous. "... What?" Catalina panicked. She was forced to step back again and again. "You think I''m someone you can hit on when you want to, right?" "Of...of course not!" Catalina put her hands on her chest defensively. He was Bet. How dare she hit on him casually?! Catalina was forced to retreat and finally, her back hit the door heavily. There was no way out. "Then what do you mean?" Bet looked cold. He sped Catalina''s jaw with his old long fingers, and raised it domineeringly, "Look at me! Answer me!" He looked fierce as if he would break her neck at any time if she protested. "I..." Catalina was so nervous that she gasped. In the end, she closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, "Okay, I will tell you!" She opened her eyes and raised her head to meet his sharp gaze, and asked loudly, "What do you think of me or ire now?" Bet frowned. It seemed he hadn''t expected that she would suddenly ask this question. "I know you don''t like me, and even hate me. You only want to avenge your brother, so you are trying your best to humiliate me, right? I know I should apologize to the Shaffer family and Warren. So I ept your humiliation. But what about ire? Don''t you think you should respect her more?" Bet looked cold, "When did I disrespect her?" "You have never respected her! You like her, but you forced me to marry me! You just kissed her, but you... kissed me..." Catalina found it hard to say it. She blushed with shame. Her head shrank back, "What did you say? You said... it tasted good." Catalina felt too awkward to say it. Bet raised his eyebrows and smiled, "So what?" He sounded arrogant as always. Catalina got angry, "So what? You can ignore my feelings, but what about hers? Don''t you love her? Don''t you need to consider her feelings? Why on earth are you doing this? Are you trying to turn us against each other? If so, then your method is too naive!" "Turn you against each other?" Bet snorted, "Your friendship is so fragile. Do you think I need me to do that?" Bet stretched out his hand, sped her forehead domineeringly, and pressed her against the wall until she was unable to move, "Let me remind you again. That girl has never regarded you as a true friend at all. Your friendship is just your wishful thinking! Catalina, she doesn''t like you, don''t you Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. understand? Think about it. Are you stupid or something?" "You!" Catalina was so pissed off by Bet''sst sentence. "Yes! I admit it''s just my wishful thinking. I''m not worthy of making friends with her, let alone being your wife. Are you satisfied?" Catalina was pissed off. Bet didn''t relent, and he suddenly raised his voice, "If you''re angry, you should vent your anger on her! Why are you yelling at me?" Catalina choked. It suddenly urred to her that she came to him not to argue with him. She came to beg him for an interview. It was almost screwed up by her again. No, it had probably been screwed up by her already. Catalina turned her head, looking very aggrieved. Bet nced at her, "Are you feeling aggrieved?" "No," Catalina said coldly. She snorted proudly. Bet ignored her anger, hooked her chin with his long fingers, and forcibly turned her face back, "Also, when did I tell you that I like ire?" "You don''t like her?" "No," Bet answered crisply. This was the first time Catalina had asked him so directly. It was also the first time Bet had given her an answer so straightforwardly. Catalina''s heart skipped a beat. She stared at him in disbelief. After a few seconds, she came to her sense, "You''re lying!" She had almost believed it. Bet frowned unhappily, lifted her chin, leaned closer, and asked angrily, "I''m not!" "But you are! If you don''t like her, how could you wear the tie she gave you? Don''t you know the meaning of a woman giving a man a tie?" When Bet heard this, his eyes suddenly darkened. There was a frightening coldness in his deep eyes. He pinched Catalina''s jaw with his fingers, and couldn''t help but increase his strength. A sinister sneer appeared on his face, "Then tell me, what''s the meaning of a woman giving a man a tie?! Catalina, you''d better think about it carefully before answering me!" Catalina didn''t understand why Bet suddenly became so angry. She didn''t even think about it, and replied directly, "When a woman gives a man a tie, it means that she wants this man to stay by her side forever. If the man epts the tie and puts it on, it''s equivalent to acquiescing to her love!" When Bet heard her words, his eyes turned cold, "So, that''s why you gave Aaron a tie?" "What?" Catalina was confused. What the hell? Why did the topice back to her in the end? It seemed that she had made a big mistake and gotten herself in trouble instead. Chapter 103 The Tie Was for You Chapter 103 The Tie Was for You Chapter 103 The Tie Was for You "No, I..." Catalina suddenly regretted it. Why did she bring up the tie? Catalina was mad at herself. Bet looked furious, "You''d better give me a reasonable exnation!" Exin what?! How could she exin this? It was a total lie from beginning to end! Catalina was flustered. She faltered and didn''t know what to say. Bet stared at her coldly. Catalina remained silent under his sharp gaze. "No exnation?" Bet gave her another chance. Catalina bit her lips tightly. She hesitated whether to say it or not. "Get out!" Catalina''s hesitation, in Bet''s eyes, became timidity and panic after her betrayal. Bet let go of Catalina. He turned around coldly. "Get out before I get angry." There was suppressed anger in his voice. Catalina looked at the closed wooden door. Should she leave? If she left, the interview would fail, and all her efforts would be in vain. But if she didn''t leave, she would have to tell the truth... Catalina leaned against the wall, panting. One second, two seconds, three seconds... Looking at the back of the man in front of her, she suddenly closed her eyes. Forget it, she would do it! "That tie wasn''t for Aaron." She yelled. She froze for a long time and dared not open her eyes. Not hearing Bet''s voice, Catalina half-opened her eyes and tentatively nced at the man in front of her. She found that he had turned around, staring at her with sharp eyes. Catalina was so nervous under his gaze that she was sweating, her breathing was heavy and her heartbeat was fast. Catalina didn''t speak. Bet didn''t speak either. He was just staring at her. Finally, Catalina''s hair stood on end under his intent gaze. She couldn''t bear it anymore, so she had to continue, "Well...that tie...was originally chosen for you. But I''m telling you, it didn''t mean anything. I...I know who I am. I bought it just to thank you for cooperating with me in putting on a show in front of my grandma." Bet stared at her with burning eyes. "Where''s the tie?" He held out his hand to Catalina. Catalina pped him hard on the palm of his hand, "What tie? Do you think I will carry it around with me? Besides, I''m not nning to give it to you anymore!" Bet reacted quickly. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms domineeringly, "Where did you put it? I''ll ask Vincent to get it right now." His voice was hoarse. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "What?" Catalinay on his firm chest and could feel his chest rising and falling violently. This meant that his mood was also fluctuating violently "Tell me!" Bet looked eager. "It''s... in my current rented house. No! You can''t ask Vincent to get it. If he goes, isn''t it breaking? Besides, I put it in my closet. Are you going to let a man rummage through my closet?" "Give me the keys. I''ll send a female secretary to do it." He was so determined and impatient. "I''ll get it myselfter." Besides, did she say she would give it to him? Catalina thought so in her heart, but she somehow obediently took out the keys from her pocket. Just as she found the keys, Bet snatched them and shouted, "Vincent!" "Yes!" Vincent pushed the door open and entered. Bet tossed the keys to Vincent, "Go find that dark gray tie in her closet. Take Amy and let her look for it!" Hisst sentence wasn''t just a reminder, but a warning. He was warning Vincent not to touch Catalina''s closet. "Yes, Sir!" Vincent took the keys precisely. Then he closed the door and left. Catalina was still confused. What had happened in the short few minutes just now? What was she here for? Why did she have a long discussion with Bet just now? Why did they end up talking about her giving gifts? No, she hadn''t finished her speech yet! Having been interrupted by Bet, Catalina found her mind in a mess now. She withdrew from Bet''s arms, and gathered her thoughts a little, "You interrupted me and I even forget what I was just now." "The tie." Bet kindly reminded her. "Yes... that''s right, the tie! You said you don''t like ire, but you''re still wearing the tie she gave you." Bet raised his eyebrows, "Which tie did she give me?" "Just the one that costs more than three million!" Bet was speechless, "How do I know which tie I have cost more than three million?" "..." "Besides, I have many ties that cost more than three million." God! What did he say? He was so arrogant and rich! She was jealous! No wonder Emery had encouraged her to steal his ties! "Could it be the one with diamonds on the side that you''re talking about? You said it was pretty, right?" "That''s right. That''s the one!" Catalina pointed at him and nodded repeatedly, "That''s it!" Bet sneered, put one hand in his pocket, and strode to the desk. He satzily on the edge of the desk with crossed legs and said, "You asked me that day, and I answered it. That tie was chosen by the stylist." "You''re lying!" Catalina walked forward, stood in front of Bet, and looked him in the eye, "I bought that tie with ire. There are only two of them in the world, and it''s a customized version. Don''t tell me that it just so happens you two bought them." "Yes, it''s exactly what you said." Bet sounded frank and affirmative. He squinted his eyes, raised his chin, and looked at her, "So you got angry with me that day just because of this?" "What? No, no!" Catalina shook her head repeatedly with a guilty conscience. "You''re not happy that I''m wearing the tie ire gave me?" Bet ignored her denial. "No!" Catalina denied. She blushed. She blushed even more under Bet''s stare. "If you''re not unhappy, why don''t you admit that the tie was for me?" Bet grabbed her and pulled her closer to him. He tilted his head and stared at her blushing face, "Catalina, are you jealous?" Chapter 104 Put It on for Me Chapter 104PutIt on for Me Chapter 104 Put It on for Me "Jealous? Am...Am I crazy? Am I jealous of her? I...I just... I just thought that the tie she gave you is so expensive, more than three million! What about mine? It''s no match for hers. How could I give it away? Besides, I think you like it very much. You have been wearing the same tie for two days in a row. Aren''t you a serious clean freak? Why did you suddenly stop being a clean freak when it was a tie she gave you?" "That''s because an idiot praised that tie that day!" "Which idiot..." Catalina choked up halfway through. Suddenly she realized that this idiot... seemed to be a little bit like her. Seeing her dazed look, Bet was amused. He held her head tightly with two big palms and said, "Have you figured it out? You idiot!" "You... you''re an idiot! You let go." Catalina blushed. Bet chuckled and let her go, "So, everyone loves beauty. Since it looks good, why can''t I wear it for one more day?" Therefore, he had been wearing it for an extra day only because it was beautiful, not because ire had given it to him, let alone because Catalina thought it looked good. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. All right! Catalina touched the tip of her nose. The tie thing should stop here! But... "Well, the tie thing is just a misunderstanding! But what about the ring around your neck?" Catalina pointed to Bet''s neck. Through his shirt, the ring could still be vaguely seen. Apparently, after taking it offst time, he had put it on again. This was better proof of how much he cherished this ring. "If you don''t like ire, why have you been wearing the couple ring you gave her around your neck? I saw this ringst time. You engraved both your initials and her initials on it. You have already done this for her. Are you still going to say that you don''t like her? Bet covered the ring on his chest with his hand, staring at her with burning eyes, "Are you sure you see the initials on the ring?" "Well..." When asked by Bet, Catalina became uncertain, and she blinked guiltily, "Could it be... there is someone else?" Unexpectedly, Bet nodded and stared at her with a rare serious expression, "There is indeed someone else." Catalina froze in astonishment. Bet folded his arms and stared at her, "Catalina, please use your stupid brain to think about it carefully. I received thousands of love letters from ire when I was in school. If I like her, would I have treated all those love letters as trash and given them to you?" "..." Right! If he liked her, he would have cherished them very much like the diamond ring around his neck. So, the girl Bet had in mind wasn''t ire? Then, who could it be? Could she be more beautiful than ire? Of course, this was for sure! Catalina somehow felt a little jealous. Catalina had never figured out why Bet had given her all the love letters he received at that time. He hadn''t even read any of them. However, these were not important anymore. Catalina tried her best to ignore this so-called "someone else", "Forget it. Whether the girl you like is ire or not has nothing to do with me. Let''s talk about the interview, shall we?" As soon as Catalina said it, there suddenly came a polite knock on the door. Then Vincent opened the door and came in, "Mr. Shaffer, what you want has been found." Catalina turned her head, "So fast?" "Bring here!" Bet ordered. His eyes lit up slightly. "Yes." Vincent approached holding a gift box and handed it to Bet. Seeing this, Catalina quickly snatched the gift box from Vincent''s hand and put it behind her back. She blushed, "Did I say I would give it to you?" Seeing the box snatched by Catalina, Bet was not annoyed. He just waved to Vincent, signaling him to go out. Vincent hastily left the office and even closed the door for them before leaving. Bet held out his hand to Catalina, "Give it to me!" He was arrogant as ever. Catalina shrugged, "You didn''t even agree to an exclusive interview with me." "You''re asking me to use force on you, aren''t you?" "Well, why are you so stingy? Isn''t it just an exclusive interview? If you hadn''t dyed it, my interview would have ended long ago." Catalinained, but obediently handed over the gift and put it in his palm. Bet was satisfied. He opened the gift box and took out the tie. He spread it out, looked at it carefully, and finally confirmed with Catalina again, "It''s not that you failed to give it to Aaron, and left it for me?" "If you don''t want it, give it back to me!" Catalina was so angry that she reached out to grab it again, but Bet dodged her neatly. She didn''t get it. Bet grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms again domineeringly. Catalinay on his chest with a blushing face. Her heart was beating fast. Bet raised his hand and looked at her in his arms condescendingly, "It''s better not, or you are dead, Catalina!" Catalina froze. She was giving him a gift, but receiving a death threat instead? What was wrong with him? Just as she was thinking, he suddenly picked her up. She was taken aback, "What are you doing?" As soon as she said that, she was ced firmly on Bet''s desk. Catalina stared nkly at the man in front of her. Then, the gray tie fell from the top of her head, blocking half of her sight, "Put it on for me." Catalina blushed. Bet loosened the tie around his neck and threw it aside. Presumably, the tie he took off was far much more expensive than the tie in her hand! "Hurry up!" Seeing that Catalina was still staring at the tie in her hand in a daze, Bet urged dissatisfiedly. He spread his arms on both sides of Catalina''s body, and actively stretched his neck towards her. Looking straight at her, he said in a hoarse voice, "Hurry up..." Catalina''s face flushed. Their posture was too intimate. He was so close to her that she could even vaguely feel his warm breath... It made her heart beat wildly. She was so nervous that her palms were sweating. She forced herself to ignore these emotions. She obediently obeyed his words and tied the tie in her hand around his neck. She probably hadn''t tied a tie for too long, or she was too nervous. So she was a little flustered. Besides, Bet was staring at her with burning eyes, as if he wanted to melt her alive. She blushed under his gaze. Her heart beat faster, and she didn''t know what to do. She finally sighed. She licked her lips nervously, and surrendered, "Can you stop staring at me like this? I almost don''t know how to tie it..." Chapter 105 What Shall She Do Chapter 105 What Shall She Do Chapter 105 What Shall She Do "What an idiot!" Bet ridiculed her mercilessly. However, his voice was maic and enchanting like fragrant wine. He stared at Catalina unblinkingly. His eyes seemed more passionate than just now. Catalina was annoyed by his mockery. She pouted her red cheeks and looked like an angry little dolphin in Bet''s eyes. "Yes, I''m an idiot, and I''m the stupidest in the world. I won''t tie¡­" Catalina wanted to leave him alone, but before she finished her words, her red lips were pressed by his cold ones. The kiss took Catalina by surprise. "No¡­" Catalina got flustered and tried to push him away. When she raised her hands to his chest, Bet gripped them with his big hands. "I dare you to push me away." He warned her. "You¡­ No¡­" Bet didn''t give Catalina a chance to talk. He grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace. His arms wrapped her slender waist tightly like chains without giving her any chance to escape. What a tyrannical viin! Catalina could do nothing but bite her lips tightly, guarding thest defense line. Bet got angry and bit her lips, releasing her. "Open your mouth." He ordered. His deep eyes turned red before Catalina knew it. He panted heavily. "No, I¡­" To Catalina''s surprise, when she opened her mouth and spoke, Bet quickly leaned forward and kissed her lips, sticking his tongue into her mouth overbearingly. He tasted the fragrance in her mouth and forced her to taste his eagerly. What a viin. He was unreasonable. "Mr. Shaffer¡­" Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Vincent sailed in anxiously without knocking on the door. When he entered the room and saw them kissing, he was taken aback. Following that, he hastily apologized, "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to disturb you¡­" Catalina heard that and pushed Bet away in panic. When she saw Vincent standing at the door, she got so embarrassed that she wished to disappear into thin air. Bet turned around sulkily and red at Vincent. "You''d better have something urgent to tell me, or you have to go to the Finance Department to pay a fine." "Mr. Shaffer, the convalescent hospital called and said Mr. Warren might wake up soon." Bet shuddered in shock and released Catalina. "Really?" He strode up to Vincent and said eagerly, "Did the convalescent hospital say that? Did you hear it right?" "I''m sure I heard it right." "That''s great!" Bet gripped Vincent''s shoulders forcefully as if trying to stifle his emotions. Despite his efforts, he looked excited. "That''s great! My brother is going to wake up. I''ve been waiting for this day for so long." After Bet spoke, he turned to stride away. Catalina quickly caught up with him. "Take me with you." Bet paused. He seemed to notice her until this moment. He looked back at Catalina. Her eyes were red, and her chest heaved violently. She said, "Please. Let me see him. I want to see him¡­" There was a faint light in Bet''s deep eyes, which had aplicated look. He pressed his thin lips and said, "You wait for me here. Don''t think of going anywhere. You can''t go to see him either." "No, I have to go." Catalina grabbed Bet''s hand stubbornly. "Bet, please¡­" She was indebted to Warren, and she had to say sorry to him in person. She knew her apology was insignificant. But she had to go. Looking at her red eyes, Bet gave in. He said nothing and turned to stride away. Catalina hastily followed him. Vincent went behind them closely. The car drove to the convalescent hospital swiftly. There was tension in the air in the car. Catalina had never been so nervous before. Warren was going to wake up. Finally, he would wake up¡­ It was great! Catalina would be relieved if Warren woke up. As long as he woke up, she could get rid of the Shaffer family and Bet. She should be happy, shouldn''t she? But why did she feel inexplicably sad? Catalina stole a nce at the man next to her. Bet looked ahead impassively without revealing any emotions. But she could guess he was happy even without looking at him. Bet had been admiring Warren since childhood. Now that Warren was going to wake up, Bet was the happiest and most excited person in the world. The car pulled over at the gate of the convalescent hospital. Bet didn''t wait for Vincent to open the door for him and got out of the car impatiently. Catalina sat in the car and didn''t budge. At this point, she got frightened. She didn''t know how to face Warren. If he really woke up, how could she exin to him the absurd thing that happened four years ago? How could she tell Warren about her rtionship with Bet? Catalina''s mind was in a whirl. Bet seemed to read her mind and said to her without looking back, "Stay here and wait for me." "Okay." Catalina let out a long sigh of relief. Bet strode inside the convalescent hospital. It was the best convalescent hospital in the city. People who stayed here were either powerful or wealthy. It was not essible to ordinary people. When Be entered the ward, Darnell was there. "Bet!" When Darnell saw him, he got excited. "Warren reacted just now. His fingers moved. Bet, Warren is going to wake up!" Darnell held Bet and cried out loud uncontrobly. Moved by Darnell''s tears, Bet felt a lump in his throat. "You''re a man. Why are you crying?" Darnell wiped his tears and said, "I miss Warren so much. When I think that he''s finally waking up, I can''t control myself." "Collect yourself." Bet broke free from Darnell and sat down by Warren''s bed. Warren was lying there quietly as if he was sleeping. Compared with the gentle and handsome man at the wedding four years ago, he was thinner. He didn''t seem to change a bit except that. "Warren¡­" Bet held Warren''s thin hand with his palm and said, "Wake up. Everyone is waiting for you. After Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. you wake up, the three of us should have a good drink." "Yes, we will drink the whole night. We won''t go home until we are drunk like before." Darnell squatted down by the bed with red eyes. The hand in Bet''s palm didn''t move. Darnell sighed. "Warren, we allow you to sleep for a few days. If you don''t wake up in a few days, we''ll get angry." "Yeah. Warren, you''ve been sleeping for four years. It''s time to wake up." Bet''s voice was low and hoarse. Darnell looked at Bet and nced at Warren in bed. After hesitating for a while, he couldn''t help asking, "Bet, what if Warren wants Catalina back after he wakes up?" Chapter 106 Warren Is Waking up Chapter 106 Warren Is Waking up Chapter 106 Warren Is Waking up Bet frowned slightly. Aplicated faint gleam quickly shed across his deep eyes. He pressed his lips in silence. His face was expressionless. "Bet, are you reluctant to part with Catalina? Are you in love with her?" "No." Bet denied coldly. Catalina got out of the car and arrived at the ward. When she was about to push open the door and enter the room, she heard the conversation between Darnell and Bet. Her hand abruptly froze on the doorknob. Her face turned pale instantly. Her heart seemed to be hit by a big hammer. The conversation inside the room continued. "Bet, can''t you tell me at this point why you married her back then?" "I didn''t marry her." "What?" Darnell was shocked. And so was Catalina outside the door. "My marriage with her is no more than a guise." Bet said calmly as if he was talking about the weather today. He fixed his eyes on Warren''s thin face. "My brother lies in bed for four years because of her. How can she be my wife? I trap her with me by this means. How can she marry someone else when Warren is lying in bed? If Warren wakes up and wants her back, I will return her to him." Catalina shed tears quietly outside the door. It turned out their marriage didn''t exist from the beginning. It turned out this was the real reason he kept her with him. He even said... If Warren woke up, he would return her to his brother. In this case... Why did he sleep with her on the wedding night? Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. How could he say he would give her back after having sex with her? Did he think she was not embarrassed enough? Catalina thought, "Bet, what on earth do you think I am? An object you can take and give?" She clenched her fists. Her heart seemed to be cut open, and blood trickled continuously... The pain was suffocating. Catalina turned to stride away. She went fast as if a ferocious beast was chasing her. "Bet, Warren is reacting again. Look, his hand is moving. He reacts when we talk about Catalina." Darnell shouted with excitement in the ward. Bet sensed the finger in his palm quiver. It was a tiny movement. Darnell continued to shout, "Warren cares about Catalina." Bet frowned and suddenly felt depressed. He could hardly breathe as if there was a boulder on his chest. Bet put Warren''s cold hand under the covers and said, "Darnell, tell my parents that Warren will wake up soon." "Okay, I''ll call them right away." Darnell nodded. Bet got to his feet and looked down withplicated eyes at Warren, whoy in bed quietly. He said with a frown, "Take good care of Warren. Don''t let anyone with ill intent approach him. Moreover, double the security guards here just in case." "Okay, I''ll do that." The news of Warren waking up would shake the financial industry in the city. Many people would divert their attention to the hospital and watch over them. After Bet gave the instruction, he turned to stride away. "Bet, where are you going? Don''t you wait for your parents toe?" "I will take a business trip ande back in three days." Bet didn''t look back. "Now?" Darnell was surprised and couldn''t help muttering, "Why do you take a business trip at this point?" When Bet came out of the hospital, Catalina was in the car. She sat in her seat, motionless. Bet came with cold air. When he approached, Catalina felt his presence. Catalina didn''t forget what Bet said to Darnell in the ward. She was thinking of leaving, but in the end, she didn''t go. She needed to end the rtionship with him. Sensing the unusual danger from Bet, Catalina subconsciously moved back. To her surprise, Bet grabbed her arm before she did that. She was yanked out of the car. Bet did that brutally, and the forceful yanking hurt Catalina. "What do you want?" Catalina was confused. To her surprise, she was shadowed by his figure. Be leaned to her like a big mountain. He suddenly covered her red mouth with his thin cold lips. Catalina was caught off guard. She widened her eyes in shock and looked at the handsome cold face in front of her eyes. Bet was like an enraged lion. He gripped her arms tightly with one hand and pressed the back of her head hard with the other without giving her any chance to escape. He even made it difficult for her to breathe. Catalina had a feeling that she would die of suffocation in his arms at any time. "Bet..." "No... You..." "Shut up!" Bet said coldly. He gripped her chin with his slender fingers and pried open her mouth, tasting her fragrance tyrannically. He didn''t release her until he tasted blood in her mouth and felt that she was going to be smothered in his arms. Bet''s deep eyes were bloodshot, and he stared unblinkingly at Catalina, whose face was red. There was in his eyes hatred, possession, reluctance, and many other emotions that she failed to understand. Reluctance? No way! Catalina was shocked by her na?ve thinking. How could this man be reluctant to part with her? If he didn''t want to leave her, how could he say those words just now? He said he would return her to Warren if thetter still wanted her. "Warren is waking up..." Bet pressed his cold forehead against Catalina''s warm forehead, ring at her ferociously. He swallowed hard and said in a hoarse voice, "After he wakes up, you can get rid of me. Are you happy?" Catalina''s eyes got misty. "Yes." After Warren woke up, she wouldn''t owe the Shaffer family anything. She could get rid of this dangerous man forever. She could go back to living a peaceful life. However, why couldn''t she smile? It was a happy thing. Bet sneered. "You are anxious to get rid of me, aren''t you?" "Yes." Catalina''s eyes turned red. Bet was not enraged by her reply as if he had foreseen it. He narrowed his bloodshot eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, "If Warren wakes up and wants you, will you stay with him?" Catalina chuckled softly with red eyes. "I guess I will. Warren has been doting on me and caring about me since childhood. He''s different from you. You''ve been bullying me and bossing me around..." Chapter 107 Stay with Me for Three Days Chapter 107 Stay with Me for Three Days Chapter 107 Stay with Me for Three Days "Tell me. Will you stay with him or not?" Bet''s voice was hoarse. There was undisguised impatience on his face. Tears welled up in Catalina''s eyes. She frowned slightly and asked him, "Do I have a choice?" Did she have a choice four years ago and now? Never. In the eyes of the dignitaries, she was no more than an ant manipted by them. She didn''t have the right to make a choice. Bet gazed into her eyes unblinkingly. After a long while, he released her. "No." This was Bet''s answer. Neither of them had a choice. From the beginning, Catalina had belonged to Warren, and Bet took the chance and snatched her from Warren, who was in aa. That was it. His t answer almost moved tears to Catalina''s eyes. She quickly turned her face away and looked out the window, widening her eyes and forbidding herself to shed a single tear. The intimacy they had in his office just now turned into a painful joke at this moment. Bet got into the car. His face was cold and calm as usual as if nothing had happened just now. He looked at the front and said, "As for the interview, I agree." Catalina was taken aback. "But I have a condition." The red lines in his eyes were gone, which were as dark as ck holes that could suck in the souls. "What is it?" Catalina asked as if she was bewitched. Bet gazed into her eyes, his eyes getting more brooding. "Go to a ce with me for three days." "Three days?" "After wee back, not only the interview but also the things between us..." Bet suddenly stretched out his hand and pressed Catalina''s forehead lightly with his slender fingers. "After wee back three dayster, we will have nothing to do with each other and pretend nothing happened during the past months." Catalina blinked in a daze. The ce his finger had pressed was burning, but she felt cold. Nothing happened? But she remembered well all the things that happened during the past months and didn''t forget a single moment. As if being enchanted, Catalina nodded with red eyes. "Okay." She agreed. The two of them needed an ending. And the three days would be thest three days they spent together. She took it as a farewell to her youth and love. ... Meanwhile, at Sandal Vi on the top of Shaffer Mountain. A woman in her fifties who wore a dainty light-colored dress with her hair tied up was sitting on a pew in a small chapel and praying earnestly with her eyes closed. Suddenly, there was a sudden p of thunder. The woman stopped praying abruptly. She opened her eyes. The thunder was not a good sign. "Mrs. Carolyn, Mrs. Carolyn..." At this moment, a servant said loudly outside the chapel. "Mrs. Carolyn, good news. It''s great news." The servant dashed in, panting heavily. The woman rose slowly and scolded gently. "Keep quiet in the chapel." "I''m sorry." The servant lowered his head quickly. The pious woman was Carolyn Hoover, Bet''s mother, the wife of Wesley Shaffer, and the eldest daughter-inw of Drake Shaffer. "What''s up?" Carolyn asked the servant calmly. "It''s about Mr. Warren! The hospital called and said he was waking up soon. It''s said that he moved his fingers." The servant was overjoyed. A hint of subtle excitement came across Carolyn''s usually calm face. Her fingers trembled slightly. The servant continued with a smile, "Mrs. Carolyn, congrattions. You''ve prayed piously for Mr. Warren for years, and now your prayer has been answered." Carolyn smiled faintly and said, "It''s good news. Go to inform Mr. Wesley." "Mr. Wesley has received the call and is going to see Mr. Warren. Would you like to go with him?" Carolyn pondered for a long time before nodding. "Okay." It continued to thunder. Carolyn looked up at the sky, and her eyes darkened. "Close the door and windows, lest it rains." The thunder was indeed a bad sign. "Yes." The servant took the order. Carolyn went out of the chapel briskly. Everyone knew that since the eldest son of the Shaffer family fell into aa, Carolyn had been praying in the chapel all day long for her son to wake up as soon as possible. During the four years, Carolyn stayed in the chapel without leaving it. It was the first time she had been out of the chapel today. When Wesley saw his wife suddenlye out of the chapel, he was shocked. "You... "Let''s go see Warren first." Carolyn got into the car. Wesley nced at his wife and followed her into the car. The two of them were silent on the way. Carolyn closed her eyes and said silent prayers. Wesley looked out the window withplicated eyes. He seemed to be pondering. The husband and wife had be strangers after not seeing each other for a long time. An hourter, the car pulled over at the gate to the hospital. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Bet had left. Darnell was waiting in the ward. When Darnell saw Carolyn, he was surprised because she hadn''te out for a long time. "Aunt Carolyn, there you are." Carolyn nodded and went up to Warren''s bed. Wesley quickly followed her and asked Darnell, "How''s Warren? Where''s the doctor? What does the doctor say?" "Uncle Wesley, the doctor says Warren might wake up any time. He can move his fingers, especially when we mention Catalina..." Darnell quickly stopped when he saw the displeasure on the faces of his uncle and aunt. "Who did you talk about just now? Catalina?" Wesley asked Darnell sullenly. "Look! Warren reacts when he hears the name. I don''t mean to mention her, but Warren cares about her too much." Darnell pointed at Warren''s moving fingers with excitement. "Warren!" Wesley went up and tried to wake up his son. He said with abination of feelings, "Warren, you can hear us, can''t you?" However, Warren stopped moving in the bed again. "Let me try. Let me try." Darnell leaned closer and said, "Warren, I''ll ask Catalina toe see youter, okay?" "Darnell!" Warren said angrily, "Do you think she hasn''t hurt Warren enough?" "Come on, Uncle Wesley. Don''t be angry. This is a strategy. Warren only reacts to this name." Wesley let out a long sigh and stood on the side. Carolyn had been silent, standing next to the bed. Suddenly, she asked, "Did Carolyne?" Chapter 108 Its Time for Him to Get Married Chapter 108 It''s Time for Him to Get Married Chapter 108 It''s Time for Him to Get Married "No, she didn''t." Darnell shook his head. "Did Bete?" "Yes, he came." "He left?" "Yes." Darnell feared Carolyn the most. She looked quiet and unambitious, but she came from a distinguished family and used to be in charge of the Shaffer Group. If she hadn''t been tough and ruthless, she wouldn''t have done her job well. Following that, Carolyn didn''t say anything else and continued to pray quietly. Darnell felt that she had known everything. Or perhaps she had made a decision. No one knew what her decision would be. After praying for around ten minutes, Carolyn opened her eyes and said, "Since Warren has regained consciousness, let''s move him back to Ink Vi." Wesley nodded in agreement. "Okay, I''ll ask the butler to make the arrangement." Carolyn nced at Warren, whoy quietly in bed, and said, "Warren is not young. It''s time for him to get married." Darnell said in surprise, "Get married? Now? Hasn''t Warren woken up yet?" "Didn''t you say he would wake up soon?" "But getting married is not a small thing. We should wait for Warren to wake up first, shouldn''t we?" Carolyn nced at Darnell indifferently. Darnell quickly lowered his head and apologized, "I''m sorry, Aunt Carolyn. I''ve spoken out of turn." "It''s okay. I know you mean well for Warren, but I care about him too. Don''t worry. I won''t act recklessly. As for his bride, you won''t be disappointed." "Yes, you''ve been thoughtful and considerate." Carolyn didn''t say anything else and turned to leave. Wesley nced at his son in the bed and sighed, leaving with his wife. Darnell rubbed his chin in confusion. He failed to understand why Carolyn was eager to get Warren married. Warren hadn''t woken up yet. Moreover, who would be the bride chosen by Carolyn? It couldn''t be Catalina. After all, that woman had betrayed Warren, who remained in aa for four years because of her. Therefore, Darnell didn''t think his aunt would arrange for Carolyn to marry Warren. He thought it was a good idea. In this way, Warren and Bet didn''t have to fight each other fiercely for Catalina. "Warren, I think Bet has fallen in love with Catalina. I don''t understand that sometimes. What''s so good about that girl? Why do you both love her so much?" Darnell sat by the bed and propped his chin on his hands, talking to Warren earnestly. "But then again, Catalina looks honest and behaves herself. She doesn''t look like a slutty evil woman." "But I can''t figure out who the man was four years ago. Who was so bold to touch the woman of the Shaffer family? Why does Catalina stubbornly refuse to tell us who the man was?" "Warren, Bet has never given up looking for that man over the years. He thought someone plotted all this, but no one knew what this person wanted and who the person was behind all this. Even Bet failed to get any useful information from years of investigation." "If this person covets the Shaffer family, he should plot against Bet, who''s in charge of the Shaffer Group after all. Why did you fall victim in the end? I don''t understand." "No matter what, wake up, Warren. Be and I miss you a lot. I always remember we drank together before. Bet and I fought, and you smiled at us. After we got drunk, we went to sleep, but you tidied up for us quietly and tucked us in, fearing we would catch a cold. Now Bet and I drink often together, but we don''t dare to get drunk because no one will clean up the mess for us. We miss you so much." ... Catalina asked Mr. Tate for a leave of three days, saying she needed to interview Bet. Felix approved readily. Catalina looked at the written request for leave with a heavy heart. The three days would be thest three days she spent with Bet. She didn''t know where he was taking her, nor did she know why he wanted to spend three days with her. She didn''t want to know. Although Catalina was angry that Be despised her, humiliated her, and even deceived her, she was grateful to him for giving her thest three days. It was a great kindness for her. After the leave request was approved, Catalina went back to her home in Pallwich International Community and packed up. Once she got home, she started to rummage in her wardrobe. She moved all the clothes from the wardrobe to the bed and tried on every dress. She was satisfied with none of them. Catalina had been scrimping and saving to pay for the medical expense of her grandma. It had been a year since shest bought herself a decent piece of clothing. Catalina decided not to wear any of the dresses and went to the mall directly. Her grandma was getting better and just needed to take medicine regrly every month. After paying the medical bills for her grandma, Catalina had some money left. Thinking of this, Catalina went out quickly to the nearby shopping mall. It would be herst three days with Bet, and she didn''t want to look slovenly. Even if she had to forget about everything, she would take back all their memories at her most beautiful moment. Catalina went to the mall and bought three long dresses. In fact, Catalina didn''t know where they were going, nor did she know what the weather was like there, but she wanted to wear dresses. She would wear dresses even if it was severely cold. Because no man wouldn''t find girls in dresses appealing. Aftering out of the mall, Catalina went back home. After she packed up, she received a call from Bet. "Have you packed up?" "Yes." "Go downstairs." "I''ming." Catalina carried her suitcase and ran downstairs. When she went out of the building, she saw Bet leaning against the carzily and smoking. The smoke swirled around his eyes, which were deep and unfathomable. When he saw Catalinae, Bet raised his eyes and stepped aside, pulling open the door for her. "Get in the car." Catalina was surprised. It was the first time Bet had opened the car door for her. Vincent hurried over and respectfully took the suitcase from her. "Thank you." Catalina got in the car timidly. Bet followed her into the car and sat next to her. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Vincent closed the car door. The car moved slowly. Catalina didn''t know where they were going. She didn''t dare to ask. She sat there quietly and looked at the front. Chapter 109 She Hoped to Slow Down Time Chapter 109 She Hoped to Slow Down Time Chapter 109 She Hoped to Slow Down Time Bet held a document and read it intently next to Catalina. He seemed busy. Catalina wanted to ask him why he went away to spend three days with her since he was so busy. "Did you take a coat with you in the suitcase?" Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Bet suddenly asked. Catalina nodded. "I took a light one." "The temperature there varies greatly between day and night. I''ll buy you a new one after we get there." "Okay." Catalina was nervous. Bet said leisurely, "What don''t you ask me where we are going?" "I''ll know when we arrive." Bet turned his head and nced at her without saying anything else. An hourter, they arrived at the airport. They saw a private jet at the big airport. "Good afternoon, Mr. Shaffer." The flight attendants stood on the steps and greeted them respectfully at the sight of them. Bet led Catalina up the steps. Vincent and several bodyguards in ck followed closely. "Mr. Shaffer, Ms. Grant, this way, please." At the door, a stewardess made an inviting gesture. "Thank you." Catalina smiled and nodded her thanks. It was the first time she had taken a private jet. No, to be precise, it was her first time taking a flight. The luxury inside the private jet was beyond Catalina''s imagination. She saw a bar upon entering. There were different kinds of drinks, which looked expensive. There was a recreation room, a SPA room, and a lounge. Catalina sat down on a square sofa with a small round table. Bet sat across from her. After he sat down, he got down to work. The stewardess came with a menu of drinks and served them. "Mr. Shaffer, Ms. Grant, what would you like to drink?" "Coffee, no sugar." Bet didn''t hesitate. The stewardess nodded and looked at Catalina with a smile. "What about you, Ms. Grant?" "Well... I''d like a ss of juice, any juice." "Okay." The stewardess left with the menu. After a while, the coffee and juice were served. Bet didn''t drink much. He focused on his work. Catalina was bored and kept sucking at the juice in the ss, asionally making a grumbling noise. "If you feel bored, you can go to the lounge to take a nap or enjoy a SPA." Bet finally looked up at her. Catalina quickly sat straight. "Did I disturb you?" Bet took a deep look at her and lowered his head. "No." Catalina let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that her boredom was so evident that even he noticed it when he was preupied with work. Catalina moved to the window and looked out. All she saw was a vast expanse of whiteness. She had no idea where she was going tond. Bet stole a nce at her from the corner of his eye. Catalina propped her two hands against the window like a child and pressed her face to the ss, looking at the clouds outside unblinkingly as if she was very curious about the outside world. "It''s the first time I take a ne." Catalina seemed to sense Bet''s eyes on her and looked back, grinning and revealing her delicate white teeth. "I didn''t expect to be so lucky. My first flight is on a private jet." Bet was dazzled by her sudden smile. He felt giddy as if his heart was knocked hard by a stray deer. Bet frowned and quickly lowered his head. He forced himself to focus on the document in his hands. His heart skipped several beats. Catalina didn''t notice the subtle change in Bet''s expression. She turned her head and continued to look at the blue sky and white clouds. "How long is the flight?" She leaned against the window and asked Bet. "Five hours." Catalina opened her mouth in surprise. ''That long?" "Yes, if you''re tired, take a nap." "I''m not tired." Catalina shook her head. She didn''t want to sleep. She had three days. It was a short time, only seventy-two hours. Of course, she didn''t want to sleep. Catalina suddenly found that the whiteness outside the window seemed to have more colors when he was with her. If possible, she hoped she could slow down time... ... When Catalina woke up from a deep sleep, she was surprised to see Bet''s handsome face in front of her eyes. She could even see the stubbles on his good-looking chin. Bet was looking down at the document in his hands intently and didn''t notice that she woke up on his shoulder. Catalina didn''t expect that she would lean against Bet''s shoulder and fall asleep. No, that was not right. She didn''t expect Bet would allow her to lean against his shoulder and fall asleep. Catalina wanted to raise her head, but she didn''t dare to do that. She was so close to him that she could see his rolling Adam''s apple. He was so sexy that she held her breath instantly. She couldn''t help blushing. "Are you awake?" Suddenly, a deep voice said above her head. Bet closed the file folder. Catalina pretended to rub her eyes sleepily and raised her head. "Did I fall asleep? How long did I sleep?" "More than four hours." "That long?" Catalina widened her eyes in surprise. She looked around and found that she was not in the private jet. She was in a car. Moreover, the car had stopped. The car door on Bet''s side was open. There was a fresh fragrance of sophora flowers in the air. Catalina was wide awake. "Where am I? Wasn''t I on the ne? When did wend? I didn''t know about it at all." She had slept like a log. She wondered who carried her out of the ne and into the car. Bet started to get out of the car. "Get out of the car. We''ve arrived." "Okay." Catalina quickly followed him. When she got out of the car, she was stunned by what she saw. The snow-white Sophora blossoms swayed in the wind, and the petals flew around. It was like a fairnd. The setting sun shone on the trees and seemed to guild the fairnd. It was beautiful. The air was filled with the fragrance of Sophora blossoms. It was like a dream. "Your suitcase has been carried into the vi. Let''s go." Bet stood in the front and reminded Catalina, who was in a daze. Catalina came back to her senses and strode forward, catching up with Bet excitedly. "Is this the ce you mentioned to me before? Is it the ce you promised to take me?" There was undisguised delight and excitement in her eyes. As she spoke, her brows were lively, and she even raised her voice happily. Bet only said lightly, "Yes." He quickened his pace. Catalina looked back at the trees in the yard and suddenly felt happy. Although she knew Bet brought her here not only to perform his promise, she was overjoyed. She liked Sophora blossoms. She liked the boy under the Sophora blossoms back then. The boy used to tell her there was a city in the east, where one could see Sophora blossoms everywhere. He said it was like a fairnd. Catalina remembered when the boy mentioned the city, he held a Sophora stick in his mouth and recited a poem. Chapter 110 Ill Sleep Here Chapter 110 I''ll Sleep Here Chapter 110 I''ll Sleep Here The four walls of the vi were made of ss. The vi overlooked theke on three sides. There was a wooden bridge over theke. The inside of the vi had a simple light-colored design of modern style. There was an open kitchen, a spacious living room, and a bedroom. Yes, there was only a bedroom. Catalina walked around two times and confirmed that. At this moment, Bet was working in the living room. He seemed to have tons of work. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Catalina frowned and stood at the bedroom door. She nced inside and looked at Bet. In the end, she couldn''t help saying, "There seems to be only one bedroom." "Yes." Bet said curtly and flipped through the file in his hands. "How should we sleep?" "I think the bed is big enough." Catalina was speechless. Was it a matter of the size of the bed? Catalina said helplessly, "There is only one bed, but there are two of us." "I think I''ve made it clear to you." Bet finally looked up from the file and nced at her. "The bed is big enough for the two of us." Catalina widened her eyes in disbelief, "Do you mean we are going to sleep in the same bed?" "I won''t have any objections if you want to sleep on the floor or on the sofa." Bet lowered his head again. Catalina was speechless. She didn''t want to sleep on the floor or on the sofa. Catalina decided not to talk about this with him for the time being. Anyway, it was too early to sleep. It was bright outside. Catalina found it curious. They set off in the afternoon and took a flight for five hours. She fell asleep in the carter. It should be Catalina looked up at the clock on the wall. "It''s nine o''clock at night. Why is it so bright outside?" Catalina said in disbelief. "The sun sets after 10 pm and rises at 3 am." "The sun sets after 10 pm and rises at 3 am?" Catalina leaned against the ss wall and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the sun setting. "This city is wonderful. Don''t we just need to sleep three or four hours a day?" If they only slept for three or four days, one day would seem long. Three days with Bet would be longer than she had thought. "That''s great!" The ss wall reflected Catalina''s bright smile. "I like it here. It''s like a paradise." Bet turned his head and looked at the girl leaning against the wall. The setting sun cast an orange glow in his cold eyes, which seemed to glint with warmth. "Bet, what''s that?" Catalina found a sacred ce in the yard. She pointed excitedly at the old Sophora tree outside the window. "There is a tree house up there. Can I go up and take a look?" "Yes." Bet replied, "But you must..." Before he finished, she shot out of his sight. Bet shook his head helplessly. He looked down at the file in his hand again and whispered his unsaid words, "Be careful." He heard Catalinaughing in the yard. Bet couldn''t read a word on the file. After he forced himself to read for a while, he gave up. He closed the file and went out of the vi. Catalina had climbed onto the old tree by adder. She sat in the wooden tree house and dangled her legs, looking down at Bet, who stood at the door and looked up at her. "Have you finished your work?" Catalina asked him from high above. Bet nodded. Catalina said with a smile, "Have you ever been up to the tree house? There is a small bed for a person. I''ve decided to sleep here tonight." As she spoke, she patted the mattress next to her and crawled onto it, lying down and poking out her head. "I think it''s cozy here. There are many books. I''ll go down for a shower ande back here to read some books before I go to sleep." "Aren''t you afraid of insects there?" Bet looked up at her and asked. "No." Catalina pointed at the corner of the tree house. "The insects have been dealt with here. I checked. It''s clean." Bet pressed his lips tightly with a sullen face. If he had known about this, he would have had the tree house repaired. Catalina said in the tree house, "I guess you can''te up here. Although the insects have been eliminated, what if there are still insects? You''re afraid of insects..." Bet''s face darkened. "You can sleep there if you like, but the weather forecast says there will be rain and thunders early in the morning." After Bet spoke, he turned to leave. Catalina got surprised at the tree house. "Really? Are you kidding me? It''s a clear day. How can it rain? Bet..." He had entered the vi and ignored her. Catalina took out her phone and nced at the weather forecast. It was a clear day. Did he think he could scare her? Catalina stayed in the tree house for a while. When the sun set down, she went back to the vi reluctantly. Back at the vi, dinner was ready, and the dishes were dainty as usual. Catalina was starving, and her stomach rumbled. She wanted to gulp down the food, but she slowed down quietly when she saw Bet eating gracefully. She asked Bet, "Do youe here on business?" As she spoke, she put a cherry tomato in her mouth. Bet looked up at her. There was aplicated look in his eyes. After that, he said lightly, "Yes." "I don''t think you have time to hang out with me. You look busy. If you don''t have time, tomorrow I''ll..." "I have time." Catalina was interrupted by Bet. She blinked. After a long while... "Okay." She put some sd in her mouth. She felt inexplicably sweet. Bet''s ear turned red unnoticeably. After dinner, Catalina took a shower and returned to the tree house. Bet didn''t stop her. He had no reason to do that. Lying in the big bed and putting his hands under the pillow, Bet was wide awake. Through the French window, he could see everything in the tree house on the old Sophora tree. There was no door or window in the tree house. The light was on, and Catalina sat with crossed legs, holding a thick book. Bet guessed she was reading a novel. Otherwise, she wouldn''t be reading it with relish. She was holding some Sophora flower petals in her hand. She put the petals to her nose and sniffed softly from time to time. Looking at her in the distance, Bet swallowed hard. After a long time, he forced himself to look away. Did he have to only look at her from afar forever like this? Bet thought, "Catalina, why did you have to get involved with Warren?" Chapter 111 Chapter 111 It waste at night. "Boom!" Suddenly, thunder rumbled through the sky, as if splitting the world in half. With a loud ng, Catalina, who had been sleeping in bed, jolted awake and quickly scrambled off the bed. Throwing open her nket without hesitation, Catalina slipped off her slippers and ran outside. Catalina was afraid of thunder. At that moment, the thunderous sound startled the log cabin. "Boom, boom..." The sound of thunder echoed in her ears. Catalina curled up under her nket while covering her ears, and trembled with fear. The weather forecast had actually said there wouldn''t be rain tonight! She should have listened to Bet''s advice. Catalina had initially attempted to escape from the log cabin to the vi, but her timid nature stopped her from doing so. She could only hug her nket and curled up in a corner, while praying for the storm to stop soon. "Catalina!" Suddenly, amidst the thunder, an urgent voice called out from under the tree. Bet? Catalina was taken aback. She wanted to peek, but a sh of lightning scared her back. She must have misheard! Bet had definitely gone to bed long ago. "Catalina!" Bet''s voice grew clearer. Before Catalina could react, Bet was already inside the cabin. He looked as sturdy as a mountain as he approached Catalina. Catalina almost felt like she was dreaming. Just then, a startling p of thunder struck, and it caused Catalina to scream out loud. Without caring about their status, Catalina instinctively flung herself into the arms of Bet, who was in front of her. She clung to his chest, and trembled like a frightened wildcat. The unexpected softness against his chest made Bet''s heart skip a beat. In his amber eyes, a hint of shimmer appeared. His alluring Adam''s apple quivered. Sensing Catalina''s fear, he extended his arm, and securely wrapped it around her delicate waist. He gently pulled Catalina into his embrace, and pressed her close against his strong frame. He tried to convey all the warmth and reassurance in his chest to her. "Don''t worry, everything is fine now." His warm and soothing voice came from above. Surprisingly, his words managed to calm Catalina''s fearful heart in an instant. Outside the log cabin, thunder roared without respite. Yet Catalina''s emotions had visibly eased. "Why are you here?" She tilted her head to look at him. And her cheeks flushed. She wanted to pull away from his embrace, but she didn''t dare to do so. Nor did she want to. She simply let him hold her. As long as he didn''t loosen his grip, she wouldn''t retreat. Their breath was slightlybored. Bet lowered his gaze to look at her. Catalina was embarrassed, and hurriedly averted her eyes. Her face turned red as if it were on fire. Bet gazed at her crimson cheeks, and his eyes turned deep and profound. In a casual tone, he said, "I happened to be awake, so I came up to check. Didn''t I mention it to you before dinner? There''d be rain tonight." "But I checked the weather forecast, and it did mention there''d be no rain." "Which weather forecast did you check? The one for Sayton?" "..." Thanks to Bet''s reminder, Catalina suddenly realized the extent of her mistake. She scolded herself, and tapped her forehead, "I''m really beyond foolish!" "At least you have some self-awareness." "..." In the midst of their conversation, another thunderp struck, as if it had exploded right beneath the tree. Catalina flinched and scooted closer into Bet''s embrace. Where was her dignity? And where was her restraint? Were her dignity and restraint all gone tonight? Catalina timidly looked up at Bet, "What should I do? I''m scared of going outside now." "Then let''s just stay inside." Bet held her close and sat down on the floor. The scent of her body wash filled the air around his nose. It faintly carried the fragrance of acacia blossoms. It washed over his senses, and filled his chest that had just felt so empty moments ago. The cabin was small, even a bit run-down, and not necessarily the cleanest. But at this moment, Bet found himself falling in love with it. It seemed like a wise decision to have the ce tidied up beforeing. "We''re not going out? You mean... we''re sleeping here?" Catalina looked up at Bet. Her cheeks were rosy, like two ripe peaches. Bet''s lips tightened, "Are you having a problem with that?" "This ce is so small, and sleeping with two people would be cramped. Besides, aren''t we even less safe up in the tree? Lightning can easily strike tall branches." Catalina shivered at the thought. Bet released his embrace on Catalina andy down on the cushion as he said, "Right above your head is a lightning rod. Do you think high-tech is just for show?" Catalina sighed in relief upon hearing this. "I''m tired. We''ll sleep here tonight." With that, Bet lifted the nket and covered himself. Then, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Catalina was speechless. At this point, it was impossible for Bet to leave. So, should she leave? This was even more impossible! Catalina didn''t dare lie down either, as the cabin was too small. It could barely amodate one person, let alone two. If she were to lie down... While Catalina was thinking, a deafening p of thunder suddenly sounded and startled her. Catalina screamed and covered her ears. But she realized that Bet, who had closed his eyes, had now opened them without her noticing. He reached out both his arms towards her, "Come here!" He was surprisingly generous. Catalina covered her ears, and looked at him with wide eyes. Her heart fluttered slightly... She wanted to move closer, but... She bit her lip in shyness. Bet frowned in annoyance, "Count on three..." "Three, two, one..." "Boom!" Another p of thunder echoed. Catalina was so frightened that she disheveledly rushed into Bet''s embrace, and timidly nestled against his chest. "Okay, stop counting, I give up..." Good girl! Bet was satisfied. A small grin tugged at his lips as he pulled the nket over both of them. With one hand behind his head, while the other held onto her waist tightly, Bet closed his eyes. "Let''s sleep!" Catalina snuggled against him like a little cat, with her hands pressing against his chest. Her face alternated between blushing and paling, with a mix of shyness and fear. "...I can''t sleep, I''m a little scared. I feel like this little cabin is quite dangerous." Bet opened his eyes and looked at her. His gaze was warm, with a hint of blush. In the next moment, he caught her hands that were pressed against his chest and ced them around his waist. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. His palm rested on her lower back, keeping her soft body firmly against his chest. "If you don''t let me sleep, this cabin will be even more dangerous!" At the moment, his voice was husky. Catalina was speechless at his words. She was totally embarrassed and her face turned red. Her heart thumped. Her ears were burning. She could vaguely understand his words. And under her, Bet''s well-built body felt scorching. His heat ignited her skin through their silk pajamas... It was setting her aze. Catalina was going crazy! How was she supposed to fall asleep like this?! If she managed to fall asleep, that would be a miracle! Outside the cabin, at some point, the rain had stopped, and the thunder had faded... A cool night breeze swept through, lifting the golden acacia blossoms off the ground. The air was filled with a delightful floral scent... This night was destined for sweet dreams! In her dream, there were acacia trees, floral fragrances, and that guy who was chewing on a twig. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 The next day. Outside the cabin, golden sunlight filtered through the lush leaves, casting dappled patterns of shimmering gold that warmed everything within. Catalina turned over, and groggily woke from her pleasant dream. Opening her eyes, she noticed the spot next to her was empty. Bet was gone. When did he get up? She hadn''t sensed a thing. Catalina checked the time. To her surprise, it was already past ten in the morning. When did she be such a heavy sleeper? Catalina annoyedly pped her forehead. "I''ve said I wouldn''t sleep so much here!" She had lost a dozen hours with that sleep. A day was just twenty-four hours. Catalina quickly got up. Just as she was about to head back to the vi to freshen up, a tinkling sound suddenly reached her ears from beneath the tree. It was the crisp sound of a bicycle bell. Sitting in the cabin, Catalina nced down. She saw a figure in white sitting on the bicycle. Straddling with two long legs, Bet''s feet rested on the ground, and a pair of fair and clean ankles were revealed. Bet looked up at her, who was inside the cabin. "Hey,e down, I''ll take you for a ride." Catalina was somewhat dazed. Under the tree, Bet wore a white shirt. Without any tie, he had casually unbuttoned the top two buttons, and exposed a hint of his tanned skin. His long legs were encased in tailored trousers, entuating his trim figure even more. Bet was truly perfect. Wherever he went, and whatever he did, he was always handsome, elegant, wless, and exuding a charming aura. He was absolutely irresistible. Catalina stared for a few seconds. "Hey Catalina!" Bet furrowed his brows, and rang the bell again. He impatiently reminded Catalina, who was inside the cabin, "Are you even listening to me?" "Oh yeah, I heard you!" Catalina finally snapped out of it. She shouted in response and stepped out of the cabin. She descended thedder, "Hey, wait for me a bit, I''ll go wash my face and change clothes." Catalina hopped down from the woodendder and dashed into the vi looking disheveled. She hurriedly freshened up and changed her clothes. Then, she put on a new dress. She thought about putting on some makeup. But one look at the man waiting under the acacia tree made her hesitant. If she made Bet wait another half hour, he might just charge in and furiously twist her head off. So, she felt it was probably better not to challenge the authority of Bet. Catalina quickly ran ab through her long hair. After confirming that her reflection in the mirror was somewhat presentable, she hastily rushed out of the room with the hem of her dress in hand. She had just stepped into the living room when she was intercepted by one of the vi''s servants. "Miss Grant, this is your breakfast." "Huh?" "It''s already packed for you." Catalina took it from the servant. She opened it to take a look, and found a bottle of milk, with a few slices of bread, a couple of cherry tomatoes, and a few apple candies. Catalina was pleased, "Thanks, I''ll eat it on the way." Holding her breakfast bag, she left the vi contentedly. Her mood was great. Firstly, the weather was nice today. Sunny and pleasant, with birds chirping and flowers blooming. Secondly, she had her favorite candy to munch on. Thirdly, Bet was taking her for a ride. Though she found it quite unbelievable. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Catalina skipped over to Bet with a bounce in her step, "Want some candy?" She asked. As she spoke, she casually unwrapped a candy and popped it into her mouth. Bet looked at the candy in her mouth and furrowed his brows, "Yeap." Catalina was a bit surprised by his response. She had just asked casually without expecting anything. If she remembered correctly, Bet never really liked eating candy since he was little. "Well then, I''ll peel one for you." Catalina unwrapped another candy, "Here." Bet didn''t take it, "Feed it to me." "..." Catalina blushed. "I just don''t want to touch it with my hands." His germophobia was really something. Catalina held the candy wrapper and brought the apple candy to Bet''s lips. Bet lowered his head. With his sexy lips pursing slightly, he sucked the candy into his mouth. His cool lips casually brushed against Catalina''s fingertips. An electric shock seemed to jolt through Catalina. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pulled her hand back. The spot where Bet''s lips had touched her fingers felt scorching hot. The heat seemed to spread towards her fair little face. Sucking on the candy, Bet nced deeply at Catalina as he tilted his chin, "Get on." "Oh, okay." Catalina responded and settled onto the back seat of the bicycle. She handed her breakfast bag to Bet, "Could you please put this in the front basket for me? It''s hard for me to carry the bag while holding onto you." Bet took the bag and opened it. He simply took a slice of bread from inside the bag, and forcefully shoved it into Catalina''s mouth. Afterwards, he closed the bag and tossed it into the basket. Not a word was spoken throughout the entire process. Catalina looked puzzled. After taking a big bite of the bread, she removed it from her mouth. "When you''re eating yourself, you''re so careful not to touch with your hands. But when you''re feeding me, suddenly all those concerns disappear, huh?" "Don''t be so chatty, okay?" Bet steadied the front of the bike, "Hold on tight, we''re leaving." "Hey, take it slow, I''m still munching on this bread!" Catalina held onto a pole under the front seat with one hand, while the other hand still held the bread she was eating. But Bet seemed to bepletely oblivious to her words. As soon as they started, he increased his pedalling speed. "Hey Bet, slow down!" There was no response from Bet. The speed under his feet remained relentless. Catalina turned pale with fright. She forced to stuff the bread in her mouth, and tightly clutch the pole in front of her with both hands. But she was shocked to find that Bet, who was ahead, pedaled even more vigorously. "Mmm-mmm-mmm, are you plotting... some kind of revenge?... Slow down, please! No need to go so all-out, even if you''re strong!" Catalina''s mouth was full of bread, causing her words nearly iprehensible. Finally, out of fear, Catalina quickly switched from holding the pole to clutching onto Bet''s waist. She practically leaned her entire body against Bet''s back, with her eyes tightly shut. With a mouthful of bread, she shouted, "I''m gonna fall and break my legs, and you better take responsibility if that happens! Bet, slow down! Why are you so annoying?" Lowering his head, Bet looked at the arms wrapped tightly around his waist and felt the warmth emanating from behind him. Only then, his legs gradually eased off the speed. Feeling his speed finally slowing down, Catalina breathed a sigh of relief and opened her eyes. "If I had known you''d ride this fast, I might as well have been the one carrying you." As she spoke, she subtly released her grip on Bet''s waist. His expression darkened, and he suddenly elerated his pace again. Catalina was scared out of her wits. Quickly, she reached out and circled her arms around his waist. She didn''t dare to let go of him anymore. Only then did Bet feel satisfied and slowed down once more. Catalina ground her teeth behind him in frustration, "Is this what you call a joyride?" "Look at the scenery on the sides of the street. Aren''t you a fan of locust flowers?" Prompted by Bet''s reminder, Catalina shifted her attention to the street scenes on either side. "It''s truly beautiful!" Catalina marveled at the snow-like scene of blossoms covering the street from her heart. Then she turned to Bet as she asked, "Bet, how did you discover this city? Did you used to The ck bicycle tires pressed onto the thick petals, producing a soft creaking sound, while the air was filled with a delightful fragrance. She heard Bet''s deep voice murmuring ahead, "This is called Sophora Street, and I''ve been