Benny's POVI felt that my day was going quite nicely. I met Catherine, went out together, spent time together, and many other things.I've never seen her anywhere near Edwin. What I felt before was just my feelings. I felt relieved again, especially when she returned to her usual self, although perhaps a little more reserved.I didn't hear any more stories about her family, and I could see her daydreaming long enough for me to watch her face even longer.She felt like she was about to turn her head, and I quickly averted my gaze.We were now sitting side by side in the campus garden. Her class hours had a long break this time, while I had already finished today's schedule. She had been silent the whole time we were there, as had been the case more often lately, but her hand was suddenly holding one of mine.I looked at her in surprise, then stared at our two hands piled on each other. Why is she like this? She doesn't usually make physical contact like this when she refuses to hold h
Catherine's POVI had put the newly bought suit into a plain paper bag without any brand logo on the front or back. I had deliberately done that so that no one from my family would wonder about what I was carrying besides my college needs.They still talked about Edwin at every opportunity, especially when I was in the same place as them, so I was even more careful. My father would definitely get excited if he found out that I intended to meet that guy, no matter the reason, and felt that I could approach him for us to get married someday.Just thinking about it gave me goosebumps. I didn't know him yet, and he definitely didn't show any interest in me as the opposite sex; I was just a woman who happened to be a student in the same class and university as him.I just wanted to quickly give this suit to him so that whatever was between us could be resolved.I arrived at the campus earlier than my first class today. He should have arrived as well because he's a very diligent student. I
Catherine's POVEdwin was receiving a declaration of love.I realized that when I heard the words of the woman who was looking at him expectantly. She seemed to be waiting for his answer, but he was silent. I moved my body slightly, looking at the woman who had not completely given up.I couldn't help but listen to the woman who again said something else to declare her love for the man."I'm not doing this suddenly. We've been together many times, and I'm always comfortable when I'm with you," she explained.Her gaze seemed to be trying to captivate the man in front of her, who seemed to flinch. "I remember that you also helped me with my assignments recently. That was very helpful. I want us to get to know each other better after we start this relationship, Edwin."I listened to everything and watched silently. After a while, I was finally able to recognize the woman who turned out to be from the White Family. Many men liked her and even received proposals for marriage, but she had d
Edwin's POVI was already in the car, looking at the suit that Catherine had given me a moment ago.I noticed that the appearance of the suit was not at all similar to the suit I lent her, but it was good enough to wear. In between my daydreams, my attention was slightly distracted by the memory of that woman's face when I found out she was eavesdropping and hurriedly handed me this new suit.She was so stubborn.I knew that she followed me after I deliberately ignored her voice calling my name, but I didn't know that she could eavesdrop on conversations that had nothing to do with her. I exhaled, already putting the suit back into its box and stuffing it into the paper bag. "She's a pretty annoying woman."I started the car, exiting the campus grounds to head home.There was no denying that the annoying woman was also quite interesting and easy to remember. As many said, she was a beautiful woman who provided a boundary for the people around her, but not all.There are other rumors
Edwin's POVThe thing that always made me remember Catherine was her innocence, like a child or an adult who still acted naively among many people who had other traits that were unpleasant to look at.In a way, I felt that she was annoying. She was too meddlesome and found it difficult to follow the words of others, and her daily life didn't seem to be far from her own carelessness.I knew that she was quite active in class and had taken on the role of class president several times in some courses, but she also didn't always show the role of a class president who should be able to manage herself well and without any mistakes.Is it normal for there to be students like her? She wasn't acting like she should. I wondered and wondered to myself about the existence of that woman who had caught my attention.She was bothering me in that way.I always did everything perfectly. There was nothing I wanted to miss, no mistakes or details. I always made sure my work had no flaws, and I had to be
Catherine's POVI don't know how I ended up in this situation, where I just followed my father's words to attend a high society meeting and then met Edwin by chance.That man had the same expression as me. He looked bored, listening to the words of the people around him who were actually of a similar age to us. Their words were mostly unconvincing and more like lies.I drank the tea in my cup, took a sip and bumped into the man unintentionally. I ignored him, pretending that I didn't recognise him or realise that we had locked eyes. I could still feel his directed gaze on me.I should have been able to mingle more if I really wanted to follow my father's words so that our family could expand our connections and look for other potential husbands, but I couldn't do that at all. I could only join the gathering and listen to every word of the people who took turns talking.I came out of the restroom after finishing my business, staring at the meeting room that seemed crowded with the peop
Catherine's POVThe things Edwin said surprised me. I was thinking of freedom when I said the previous thing, but I didn't say it directly until I felt like he could read my mind.He smiled faintly, but I could see in his gaze that it wasn't a smile at all but something more akin to sadness that I had only seen once before. The man chuckled, shifting his gaze to another direction."Whether you're a man or a woman, freedom is a difficult thing to obtain."I was silent but intrigued by his words. All this time, I only knew that my family life on the female side had always been stuck with the male side, so I didn't really care about the things that men had to face.Men always got the upper hand and the favor of everyone more easily than women unless the woman followed the Varma family rules to the letter.Sarah never told me about her family, while Benny only listened to my stories so far, so I didn't know it too well.Maybe things weren't that different in other families, so he could sa
Catherine's POVA week had passed. After that incident, the things Edwin talked about made me feel that the guy wasn't so bad after my first bad impression of him.He was still cold and annoying, but we had met several times, either by accident or because our classes were near each other on several occasions. Although our class schedules are different, the end times are pretty close.This time, I accidentally saw that guy who was in the library and quite close to the transparent window. I tried to attract his attention from the outside, but he didn't look at me and was still focused on the book he was reading.With a smile, I finally walked in and sat down in front of him, putting down the lecture book that was previously in my arms and looking at him. At that moment, he seemed to notice my presence and looked at me."Why are you sitting here?" he asked in a low voice and frowned.I was still smiling, following his way of speaking while flipping through my book. "You're not waiting fo
Edwin's POVI didn't realize that loving someone would make me feel things I didn't know. Although my first encounter with Catherine was not good, it still left a deep impression on me.She was just an innocent woman who knew little about the world around her, even worse than me, who had always received a private education before deciding to attend a public university.However, the more I got to know her and talked to her, the more I found out that she wasn't just a spoiled child from a rich family. She had her own difficulties and realized that she couldn't just stand by and accept the injustices that were always said in favor of her family.We also became friends in the end, but something went wrong.I didn't have a problem with it at all. In fact, I liked it a lot. That woman had a lot of eyes around her, who noticed her and were obviously interested in her from a mild level to infatuation, just like her best friend.Although I didn't really understand the concept of love or anythi
Benny's POVI was very surprised to hear that Catherine would marry Edwin. Her father had rejected the proposal letter sent by my father a while ago, so I called her immediately."Yes, I'm going to marry Edwin, Benny." She answered without hiding anything else.I was silent for a long time, unable to believe what I was hearing even though Catherine had admitted it herself. She didn't seem to realize what I was feeling until she started telling me what had happened.My frown deepened as she told me, unable to contain my shock about what had happened to her. The fact that the woman I liked was pregnant with a man who had been hanging out with us for the past few days, making friends as usual.The man didn't show that their relationship had changed, but the truth was more than I could have imagined. The threat that I felt from Edwin finally came true. He usurped my position to be the only man who could be by her side.In the end, the relationship I tried so hard to build with Catherine m
Catherine's POV"Wow, you really made my parents speechless, Edwin."I praised him, feeling a little amazed by the man who could make me look at my father, who could only be silent without being able to do anything. My mother also looked very surprised and watched the man stunned, but still, my father's reaction was the best thing I had ever seen.No one had ever rivaled him, not even Daniel. My father only relented or made compromises regarding my brother, unlike when dealing with Edwin, who seemed to have slapped him to reality.We were already outside my house. I had deliberately escorted him to the residence fence because I didn't want to be with my parents and still wanted to chat with the man who had caused such a stir inside our house.The man snorted softly. "I know someone like your father. He wouldn't dare to contradict someone like me."I nodded, remembering my father's face, which could only harden, but I could not say anything. After all, Edwin's family was far more impor
Catherine's POV"I am happy for your relationship, Catherine and Young Master Duncan, " my father said with a disgusting smile. I had no idea that we would become a family so soon."He laughed to himself while I felt increasingly uncomfortable with the old man's increasingly blatant attitude. My father did not hide his pleasure at all with what Edwin and I had said today after my examination at the hospital.My gaze fell on the man sitting next to me. He still looked calm, giving me a quick glance as he reached out to take one of my hands. This made me feel less alone among my greedy family members.My father still maintained a smile, looking at Edwin and me in turn. "The relationship between you two should be kept a secret immediately so as not to cause any inconvenience to Young Master, don't you think?" He looked at the man and then at me with a faint smile."You are very clever, Catherine." His gaze pierced me. "You've managed to find a wonderful future husband for our family."I
Catherine's POVI was shocked by the man's words and looked at him. I liked him, but I wasn't sure about his feelings for me after finding out I was pregnant. After all, his sweet treatment back then and our current situation are different things.I swallowed my saliva and nodded. "Yes, Duncan. This baby is your son."I shifted my gaze in another direction. The man was probably angry. We had done it that time with the same desire, sharing the warmth of an intimate activity I had never experienced before. Still, it would be to my detriment if he was like any other man.He might turn out to be selfish and not care about me anymore after sleeping with me. I've heard several times from my friends that when a woman gets pregnant during a one-night stand, she has only two options. Keep the baby with no one or abort it and experience pain for who knows how long.Neither is good, and I don't want to go through it alone.One thing's for sure: in most of the stories I've heard, the man who spen
Catherine's POVWe arrived at a nice hospital, but I felt uneasy. I didn't feel dizzy anymore and was able to walk well, but Edwin was still holding me as if he was afraid I would falter again like before we arrived at this place.I looked at the man walking next to me. "I don't need treatment, Duncan. I'm already fine.""You can't." He shook his head without looking at me. "The doctor should at least check on your sudden limp while walking. He can prescribe medicine for you later."I exhaled, feeling his hand around my shoulder getting tighter, as well as his other hand clasping mine. I felt like I was getting too much attention to the point of feeling uncomfortable, but I was still grateful that he seemed genuinely worried about me."Alright.... I'll do it." I finally said.He nodded.This was my first time in a public hospital so being here felt quite strange. There were a lot of people and most of the people waiting around us were some women who looked pregnant or with their part
Catherine's POVMy life became more enjoyable after opening up to my two friends again. We often hung out together, spending time like the days before and sometimes joined Benny's friends who were quite friendly.After the closeness between the two men, people assumed that Edwin and Benny were inseparable friends. They often walked together, joined the same activities and organizations and were both in the spotlight among other students.It was a natural thing. Not only were their attitudes and personalities polar opposites, but the two men both came from prominent families and owned businesses that they would continue as the only sons of their respective families.They also had brilliant achievements in their respective majors, as well as good looks that were loved by many female students around campus, be it seniors or juniors."I like Edwin Duncan, he's very cold and handsome...." A woman said with a soft sigh.Her friend had a different response. "I prefer Benny Thompson. He's fri
Catherine's POVI entered the lecture again but avoided Edwin and Benny, who were trying hard to get close to me. Both men seemed equally stubborn in saying hello and being nice to me, even though I was always cold to them.They invite me to lunch, but I walk past them, accompanying them to read or study in the library. Then I moved further away and only had one seat, and then I just walked alone to my class.I actually don't mind being alone for now. There were too many thoughts swirling in my head, and my father warned me not to do anything wrong if I still wanted to go to college. A few days ago, my words made me a rebellious child, not something that did me justice.I regretted it a little, but I also couldn't deny that I had managed to say most of the things I had wanted to say a long time ago. Even if they didn't care at all, the important thing was that I didn't just keep those words bottled up inside me."This is tiring," I complained in a low voice.Sarah sighed next to me. "
Catherine's POVAfter hearing my words, I could see my father's gaze become sharper. I felt a little scared, but then I emboldened myself by returning his gaze more boldly.He frowned, still looking at me with his sharp gaze. "What do you mean?""I don't want to get married, Father," I said the meaning of my words more clearly, trying not to tremble in front of him. "Do you think I live only to get married for the sake of this family? If it's not with the man of Father's choice, I'll still be passed on to another man who doesn't fully match my wishes. I don't want to."There are still many things I can do even without getting married. I wanted to determine my life, like the women who weren't bound by the Varma family's nonsensical rules.They could do whatever they wanted, have fun, study, or whatever they wanted for their own future, without worrying about finding a husband who would be helpful to their family.Even if I don't get married, it doesn't mean I can't continue my life wel