Skip to content
Novel Catalog
The atmosphere in the room had shifted dramatically. What had begun as a lighthearted, somewhat chaotic party was now thick with tension, especially after Branden’s unexpected actions. His authoritative presence commanded respect, but it was Catherine’s unflinching attitude that truly captivated everyone’s attention. She had no qualms about standing her ground, even in front of Branden, a man who could easily crush anyone beneath his heel.
As Catherine and Branden made their way upstairs, the room buzzed with hushed whispers. The sudden closeness between them was like a match thrown into dry tinder. The onlookers, who had been watching from a distance, couldn’t help but speculate wildly. It seemed impossible that Catherine, with her seemingly laid-back demeanor, could have such a profound effect on Branden, the heir to the Duncan family.
Liana, standing nearby, fumed as she overheard the conversations around her. The idea that her sister was somehow enchanting Branden was not only a slap in the face to her pride, but it was also absurd to her. Liana’s jealousy twisted into bitterness as she thought about how effortlessly Catherine had managed to win attention—something she had always craved for herself.
Then Bryan’s words broke through her thoughts. His question was loaded with contempt, and his reproach hit her harder than she would have liked to admit. The implication was clear—Liana’s behavior had crossed a line. She had tried to discredit Catherine in front of everyone, but it was Bryan’s disdainful look and the coldness of his words that made her realize how much he had been silently judging her.
“I’m slandering my sister? You think that’s what I’m doing?” Liana snapped, her voice faltering slightly despite her best efforts to hold her ground. She wasn’t used to being spoken to in such a way, especially not by Bryan, whose status in the family was undeniable.
Bryan didn’t back down. He stood there with a steely expression, his eyes cold and unwavering. “If you can’t respect her as family, then don’t act like you’ve got anything to say about her. And stop with the ridiculous stories. Supernatural abilities? Really?” His mocking tone rang out in the now-silent room. “If anyone’s trying to trick Branden, it’s certainly not her. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
The other guests, who had once been so eager to gossip, now felt their faces burn with shame. Bryan’s words were like a slap to their collective egos. They realized just how foolish they had been to entertain such outlandish theories. After all, if Branden was truly taken in by Catherine, then there had to be more to her than what they had assumed.
Liana’s cheeks flushed with anger, her eyes narrowing into a glare at Bryan. She had been put in her place, and it stung. But deep down, she knew he was right. The gossipers, too, seemed to shrink under Bryan’s piercing gaze. They avoided eye contact, muttering excuses and retreating into uncomfortable silence. No one dared to challenge him, especially not with his reputation as Branden’s trusted family member.
Catherine, meanwhile, was blissfully unaware of the ripple effect she had caused downstairs. As Branden guided her upstairs, his hand still holding hers, she could feel the subtle shift in their relationship. He had always been a man of control, but there was a tenderness to his actions now, something different that Catherine couldn’t quite place.
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Catherine said with a hint of exhaustion in her voice. Her tone was softer now, more neutral. She wasn’t sure what to make of Branden’s sudden attention, but she couldn’t deny that it felt strangely comforting, like a steady presence she hadn’t realized she needed.
Branden didn’t reply immediately, his eyes scanning her face as if trying to read her thoughts. “I’m just making sure you’re comfortable,” he said simply, his voice calm but filled with something unspoken.
Catherine didn’t push the matter further. She had always found Branden’s presence imposing, but now, there was something almost reassuring about the way he took care of her. For a moment, the chaos of the party, the gossips, and Liana’s jealousy seemed distant, as though it were all happening in another world.
As Branden led her to the guestroom, Catherine felt a quiet sense of acceptance. She wasn’t sure what the future held, especially with Branden and the Duncans looming over her every move, but for now, she could rest. She had faced down the whispers and challenges with confidence, and that, she knew, was something Branden couldn’t easily ignore.
But as she lay down to rest, her mind couldn’t entirely escape the weight of the moment. Liana’s words, the stares, the gossip—they all hovered in the background, reminders that Catherine’s place in this world, among these people, was not set in stone. There were battles yet to be fought.