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The atmosphere in the room had shifted completely, and Bryan was struggling to process everything that was happening. He had never imagined that Catherine’s fiancé would be none other than Branden Duncan—the head of the Duncan family and a powerful man who was feared and respected by everyone. The revelation left him stunned, his mind racing with questions.
Triston, who had been trying to make the situation less awkward, could only watch in awe as Branden continued to play his cards with masterful precision. He had always thought of himself as a smooth talker, but Branden’s ability to command the room with such authority and ease was something else entirely. Triston couldn’t help but admire him. “Branden’s really got this down,” he thought, quietly laughing to himself.
The room was now filled with an undercurrent of tension and curiosity. Bryan, still reeling from the bombshell, found himself looking at Catherine with newfound respect, though a part of him couldn’t quite shake the surprise. “Aunt Catherine,” he had said, though the words still felt odd to him. He glanced nervously at Branden, who, to his surprise, didn’t seem upset by the term.
But Catherine, on the other hand, didn’t seem too pleased by Bryan’s attempt to address her that way. “Aunt Catherine?” she repeated, her voice laced with a hint of displeasure. The term made her feel older than she was, and the way Bryan had said it made it even worse. “Bryan, just call me as you used to,” she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Bryan’s heart skipped a beat at her words. He could feel the weight of Branden’s gaze on him, and the last thing he wanted was to make his boss’s fiancé angry. He quickly nodded, grateful for her intervention, but also acutely aware of Branden’s commanding presence at the table.
“Do what your aunt says,” Branden added, his voice smooth and confident, almost as if he were granting Bryan a small concession.
The tension at the table lifted ever so slightly as Branden’s words broke the silence, but the strange, awkward feeling lingered. Triston, who had been drinking from his beer, nearly choked when he heard Branden’s comment. “He really knows how to handle the situation,” Triston thought, trying to regain his composure.
The others at the table, mostly Bryan’s friends, were still in shock, exchanging glances as they tried to process the revelations about Catherine’s relationship with Branden. No one had seen this coming, and now it seemed as though Catherine’s entire persona had just shifted in their eyes. The powerful woman who had seemed so cold and distant was now, apparently, tied to one of the most influential families in the city.
David, who had been quietly observing everything, couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Bryan, “Dude, I don’t think we’ll ever fully understand who she really is.” Bryan nodded in agreement, still trying to make sense of it all.
Catherine, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the drama around her. She ate calmly, her attention back on her food as though nothing extraordinary had happened. The cold, composed nature that had earned her the nickname “Boss” was still very much intact, but now there was a sense of mystery that hung around her even more than before.
Branden, however, was not done with making his presence felt. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving Catherine, as though he were the only one in the room who truly understood her. The dynamic between them was undeniable, and even though they didn’t speak much to each other, the air between them was thick with unspoken communication.
As the meal continued, everyone at the table was left to absorb the new reality of their situation. Bryan and his friends were no longer just guests at a dinner with Catherine—they were in the presence of someone far more powerful than they could have ever imagined. Branden Duncan had just changed the entire game, and none of them knew what to expect next. But one thing was clear: things were never going to be the same again.