Chapter 397 I’ll Stay With You
Branden left, and Paxton was naturally the one to deal with the mess. Paxton watched his subordinates running toward him with astonished looks and knew that things were not simple.
His brows knitted tightly as he asked his subordinates, “What happened in there?”
One of his subordinates dared not answer but lowered his head and said to Paxton, “Paxton, you should see it yourself.”
Paxton strode to the culvert and understood why his experienced subordinates would have such dumbfounded looks.
Paxton saw the enemies passed out on the ground in various abnormal postures. He could not help but have the shivers. He even started to feel sorry for the enemies.
Paxton did not expect Catherine, who looked so delicate, to be cruel and merciless. Paxton decided never to offend Catherine in the future.
Seeing the scene before him, Paxton suddenly considered himself lucky. He was glad Branden was important to Catherine so she would show Paxton, Carlo, and Cory mercy during their fight. Otherwise, the three Duncans might end up like that as well.
After Catherine returned home to put her things down, she headed to Branden’s place. She took a shower and changed her clothes before lying down in bed. Catherine tossed and turned, feeling something wrong.
She mulled over it and finally realized what was wrong. She got out of bed and walked out of the room. Branden was still busy at work with his laptop in the living room.
Hearing footsteps, Branden looked over his shoulder. Catherine wore the pajamas he picked for her and stood nearby like a fragile little girl.
She did not have the usual aggressive aura about her, nor did she have the brutality she possessed during fights. She was like a little princess who was pretty, innocent, and lovely.
Branden’s Adam’s apple moved automatically, and he stood up and walked toward Catherine.
“What happened?” His voice was so tender, like a mild breeze in spring. When he walked to her side, Catherine leaned closer and pressed her cheek on his chest. She whispered, “I can’t sleep.
She was exhausted but could not sleep because she felt something was missing. Branden looked down and saw Catherine standing on the floor barefoot. His gentle face twisted into a scowl.
He bent to carry Catherine up again and warned her in a low voice, “Tell me if you need anything. Never walk barefoot again.”
Catherine even walked on the ice river barefoot during the training back then, let alone on the floor. Her feet were almost disabled because of the ice.
Walking without shoes at home was nothing to her.
Catherine did not care at all.
But she saw how Branden cared about her and put her into bed gently. He placed her feet on his chest and used his body temperature to warm her cold feet. Catherine changed her mind and nodded at Branden obediently.
Branden touched her hair so tenderly with affection.
“My good girl.”
Branden took off his coat and lay in the bed with her. He reached out one hand to hold her shoulders.
“Try it again. I’ll stay here with you.”
Catherine did not respond to his words. She only nuzzled his chest and adjusted to the most comfortable posture before closing her eyes.
She now found the thing she thought was missing. She was lacking a pillow in human shape. She fell asleep soon with Branden by her side.
Hearing her steady breathing, Branden looked up at the white ceiling and smiled bitterly and resignedly. Catherine had always been astute and cautious. Why did she trust him so much?
Branden had to think of something solemn to calm himself down. He imagined a bucket of ice water pouring down from his head and making his head clear.
He wanted to extinguish his desire for Catherine. Catherine did not know how long she had slept when Branden woke her up.
It took her mind several seconds to react upon hearing Branden’s voice. Then, she opened her eyes slowly and stared ahead blankly. She did not speak.
There was no aggression on Catherine when she woke up, and she looked so soft and lovable. She was beguiling, and Branden could not help but kiss her gently on the forehead.
“Still sleepy?”
Catherine moved her body in the bed and nodded reluctantly, acting like a child. Branden chuckled and said dotingly, ” Eat something before you go back to sleep. The dishes are ready.
“I’ve made you beef Wellington, clam chowder, meatloaf, and apple pie.”
Every dish he said formed a picture in Catherine’s mind, and she swallowed. Catherine seemed to love those dishes, and Branden was an expert at cooking them.
Three seconds later, Catherine finally could not resist the delicacy’s temptation and sat up straight.
“Fine. I’ll wash up and eat!”
Looking at her cheerful back rushing to the washroom, Branden shook his head with a smile. Branden was curious. How could such a lovely Catherine become so strong and aggressive during a fight?
Paxton reported to Branden that two of the four men they had taken away were severely injured and were transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Catherine tidied herself up and sat by the dining table. Branden did not lie to her. The food he prepared was all her favorites and in large portions. Different from Audrey, Catherine did not need to restrict her diet.
Catherine was young and metabolized fast enough. Even though she always ate a lot, she still had a surprisingly perfect body shape.
After dinner, Branden cleared the table, took Catherine to the sofa, and sat down. “The men who assaulted you in the afternoon have told us everything. Interested?”
Catherine had intended to ask Ronin to investigate it after she woke up. Anyway, she would not let any of them go. Since Branden had investigated it for her, she did not have to do it herself.
“Who were they?”
Catherine was interested, so Branden contacted Paxton. Soon, Paxton arrived and handed the files he had collected to Catherine.
“Miss Swann, those four men worked for the Swanns but were not the Shadow Guards. Korbin trained them separately to help him do his dirty work.”
When they fought, Catherine knew the enemies were not from Asmein. The four men in the afternoon aimed at killing her, but those from Asmein only wanted to take her away.
Catherine had offended many people over the years. Although her whereabouts were always kept a secret, every wall had a hole. Perhaps there were people mighty enough to know where she was and wanted revenge.
Catherine could not think of who the mastermind was during the afternoon. She did not expect that the one who wanted her life was her biological father. It was so ridiculous. Branden frowned at Catherine and asked softly, “How do you want to deal with this?”
He did not believe that Catherine would be soft-hearted and care about the blood bond with Korbin. She was not that kind of person.
But no matter what, Korbin was Catherine’s father, so Branden had to consider the fact before he took action.
If Korbin were not Catherine’s family, Branden would have done something after discovering that Korbin tried to murder Catherine.
And Korbin would never exist in Casier ever since.
