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Novel Catalog
As Catherine made her way to the car, she could feel the familiar weight of Branden’s gaze on her. She wasn’t someone who allowed such things to bother her, but there was something about him that always seemed to make her pause, even for just a second. Despite her indifference, his actions—small gestures like opening the door for her, or today, the chocolate—made her question how much of his attention was genuine, and how much was part of his strategic maneuvering.
Once in the car, the ride was silent except for the hum of the engine, a quiet between them that felt heavy with unspoken words. Branden’s presence beside her was both comforting and unsettling, a reminder that even in her calculated world, there were people who could slip through her defenses with seemingly no effort at all.
As they arrived at her school, Catherine felt the familiar tension rise within her. This was her domain, the one place where she could control everything. The outside world may have been filled with power plays and strategic alliances, but here, she was just Catherine, not the heiress of the Swann Corporation or anyone’s business partner. Here, she could breathe freely. Or at least, that’s what she told herself.
When Branden grabbed her hand, her annoyance flared instantly. She was never one to tolerate such familiarities, especially from someone she hadn’t invited into her personal space. Her mind raced, already preparing the words she would say to shut him down. But when he handed her the box of chocolate, her irritation only deepened. He didn’t understand her boundaries—or worse, he didn’t care.
Yet, when he explained the chocolate wasn’t sweet but was instead for her hypoglycemia, her anger faltered. How did he know? She hadn’t told him about her condition, and yet here he was, offering a solution with casual confidence.
Her brow furrowed, her suspicion growing. Branden was more observant than she had given him credit for. It was a sharp contrast to his earlier behavior, which, though charming, had seemed more like an attempt to provoke her reactions than to truly understand her.
When she declined his offer with the same cool detachment she usually exhibited, she felt a strange twinge of appreciation. The chocolate was thoughtful, even if it didn’t align with her preferences. But she refused to acknowledge it beyond the fact that it was yet another example of Branden trying to be… what exactly? Caring? Manipulative? She wasn’t sure.
Branden’s smile was subtle but warm as he gave her space to leave, his words, “You should go, or you’ll be late for class,” almost feeling like an afterthought. But Catherine wasn’t fooled. Everything he did had purpose, even the smallest details. The smile, the chocolate, the way he guided her movements.
She nodded as she took the box, her expression unchanged. “Thanks,” she said, her voice flat, a curtain of coolness drawn between them once more. She turned and left the car without looking back, her mind already shifting to the day ahead, her thoughts focusing on tasks, not people.
As she walked toward her school, she couldn’t shake the thought of Branden’s quiet persistence. He was playing a game, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to play along. He knew more than he let on, and that was the most unsettling thing of all.