"We're here. Let's get out!" After Amelia called out, Catherine and Isabella followed her out of the ride-sharing car."Amelia, how did we end up here?" Isabella looked at the brightly lit signs of the club, feeling a bit bashful.Catherine stood calmly on the side, almost like an outsider. But she could tell this club was quite upscale. Just having money wasn't enough to get in.Hearing Isabella's confusion, Amelia explained, "Don't worry. A senior's dad owns this place, and tonight's get-together was arranged by him. It's safe.""Bella, if you don't like it later, we'll leave early!" Amelia said. After that, she turned to Catherine, asking, "Super Catherine, is it okay?"Catherine nodded quietly. Since she promised to come out, the location didn't matter much. As Amelia said, if they didn't like it, they could leave."Amelia, over here!" As they approached the main entrance, someone loudly called out Amelia's name.After exchanging greetings, Amelia led Catherine and Isabella
Catherine had just stepped out from the restroom when a sudden dark figure pounced on her. With lightning speed and force, the figure yanked her into an adjacent room. With a click, the sound of the lock echoed, plunging the entire restroom into darkness as if the power had been cut off."Not scared?" A deep, husky voice pierced the darkness, which was a bit familiar to Catherine.Catherine scoffed with a smirk playing on her lips. "Impressive moves! Seems like you've done this before." Even though Branden altered his voice intentionally, Catherine recognized him.Branden smiled helplessly. "Don't accuse me wrongly. You're the only one I've done this to." He wasn't one to waste time on such affairs with others.Catherine stayed silent. Despite the changed voice, as Branden drew closer, she had already identified him. No one could easily abduct her, not even Branden. The restroom was tight, and they were pressed together. They even could hear each other's heartbeats."With whom did
Last night's gathering had quite a turnout, and many of the school's movers and shakers were there. The next day, news of Catherine attending the gathering spread across the campus like wildfire. Thankfully, the buzz about her was positive. Even the senior students had nothing but high praise for Catherine. They mentioned she might seem reserved, but it wasn't snobbishness. She was approachable and always willing to help.Catherine's reputation at school had been under a cloud due to rumors about her changing boyfriends. Some gossip suggested she only hung out with wealthy and influential people, even when it came to relationships. They said she would dump her boyfriend when she met a more wealthy man. But with this recent positive talk, it seemed like a clarification for Catherine's name.When Rylan arrived at school, he overheard these rumors. He immediately sought out Amelia, who could provide the information he sought better than Catherine.Amelia caught sight of Rylan and wante
Although Catherine knew no one was following her, for safety's sake, she circled the house a few more times before finally entering Connie's place. As she rhythmically tapped the door, Zobber received the signal and rushed to open it."Catherine, you're finally here!" Before the door was fully open, Zobber's excited voice came through.The seemingly ordinary wooden door had a special system installed that required a specific rhythm of knocks to ring the doorbell inside the house. It was a small trick they developed to protect the occupants. That's why Zobber knew it was Catherine even before opening the door. Apart from her, only Connie knew the rhythm. Since Connie had a key and wouldn't knock, the visitor had to be Catherine.Withal, who sprawled on the couch listlessly, saw Zobber pull Catherine inside and couldn't help but tease, "Can't you stop clinging to Catherine like a koala to a eucalyptus tree all the time?""Mind your own business!" Zobber snapped.Seeing the two about
"Sir, it seems like our folks have been traced by Zobber and her crew!" The masked man knelt on one knee and respectfully reported the situation to the figure cloaked in black."Well, that was quick. Seems I've underestimated these people's abilities," the man in black said coldly. An aura of chill emanated from him, which sent shivers down spines. Then he continued, "Get it arranged. Have everyone under your command leave Loxton, and bring in another group!" They had plenty of folks, so unraveling their details wasn't going to be an easy task. By sending in a fresh team, he aimed to exhaust Zobber and her crew. Even if it took time, he'd wear them down.The masked man trembled on his knees, and he knew the truth. Sending these people back was just a polished way of saying. The man in charge wouldn't keep anyone without utility. To the masked man, the future these people faced was frightening. "Sir, I'll get right on it!" He dared not defy the orders, fearing he'd be the next sacrifi
Over the next while, Catherine dove into the tense and busy final stage. It seemed like everyone knew about Catherine's situation. No one dared to disturb her.Rylan occasionally showed up, but he never crossed paths with Catherine. He didn't think much of it, because Branden did the same. Branden would come back once in a while, yet he couldn't catch Catherine either.Catherine practically lived in the lab. She put in all her time to smoothly finish the last phase of the experiment.One noon, Branden showed up again. As he arrived at the lab building, he spotted Rylan waiting at the entrance. Branden glanced at him with a sharp hostility in his eyes.Surprisingly, Rylan stepped forward and greeted him, "Mr. Duncan, quite persistent, huh? Sacrificing business for a student. Is it worth it?"Hearing the teasing tone, Branden let out a cold laugh and replied, "Mr. Melton, if it is not worth it, why are you lurking around here day in, day out like a faithful lapdog?"Rylan laughed a
Catherine finished the first round of experiments and walked out of the lab at 10 pm. That was when she saw Rylan waiting by the door.Rylan came back very often, like before. But she barely talked with him. And he did not disturb her either by watching in silence.But Rylan was somehow different today. His face twisted with anger. He was covered in a frenzy of rage. The minute he saw Catherine, he walked over and said, "Catherine, we need to talk."Catherine did not refuse and sat on a bench with him. She did not want to waste time with Rylan, so she got to the point directly. "What's the matter?""Catherine, you know Branden is using you. Why do you still fall for him?" asked Rylan angrily.Catherine was expressionless, her eyes fixed on him like two sharp knives. "Rylan, that is not your business. You are in no place to judge.""I don't want to see you be deceived," said Rylan, looking at Catherine affectionately with a complex expression, painful and sympathetic. "Catherine,
"It looks like this is the end of us." Zobber covered her bleeding belly and leaned against Withal, smiling painfully."Are you alright?" Withal glanced at her injured belly."Still alive." Zobber nodded.The enemy was much more powerful than they thought. They were trapped. Although Withal had made arrangements in advance, they still got ambushed. And they were outnumbered. The connection with Wantells was cut off. Without him, they were like two blind people.Hearing the rapid footsteps ahead, Withal cursed, "A bunch of flies!""There are a lot of them." Zobber listened to the footsteps carefully, trying to distinguish the enemy's position.Even at a critical moment like this, Withal was not scared. He should have been dead ten years ago. If it were not for Catherine, he would not be alive now. He stole ten years from death."Are you scared?" Withal fixed his eyes on Zobber, looking passionate."Am I ever scared?" Zobber sneered. She was not scared. Unlike Withal and Ronin, w