Chapter 116 Let Me Hold You
Catherine was about to say something when she saw Alexander had already taken the cotton quilt from Neil's hands. He made up her bed first before casually laying out a floor mat for himself.
The more Neil looked at Alexander, the more satisfied he became. Look at how well he takes care of Catherine!
Elodie would surely be at ease!
Neil held up the kerosene lamp and rubbed his hands as he spoke.
"Boss, there's one more thing. The bathroom upstairs is broken, so you and Alexander will need to go outside to shower and use the toilet."
When Catherine was young and the village was poor, every household had their toilet outside, built together with the pig pen.
Later, Elodie said it was inconvenient to go outside for the bathroom and showers, so she specially built a bathroom upstairs for her.
"Broken?"
"Not exactly, it's just leaking a bit. I had someone bring cement, but the construction crew hasn't come yet."
There were indeed several unopened bags of cement by the bathroom door.
Catherine nodded, "Got it, you should go rest too."
Neil left with a smile, glancing back at Alexander and Catherine's little room several times before leaving.
This Alexander was clearly so wealthy, a CEO with billions in assets, yet he was willing to stay with Catherine in a place like this. He must truly care for Catherine!
Neil quietly wiped away his tears and walked to the family altar in the hall, saying, "Elodie, don't worry, Catherine is doing well now!"
The courtyard gate was closed, and the entire yard fell silent, with only the sound of the night wind blowing.
Catherine looked at Alexander, feeling a bit embarrassed: "Is it really okay that you have to shower in the little shed in the yard?"
Alexander stood up from his floor mat and answered matter-of-factly.
"It's fine. We've been staying at the hospital these past few days. At least this is better than the hospital. There are clean clothes in the car, I'll go get them."
"I'll come with you."
Catherine figured after getting the clothes, she might as well take a shower and not have to come back downstairs.
Alexander smiled, his lips curving gently as he took her hand warmly.
"Be careful, I'll hold your hand."
This place used to be home to just Elodie and Catherine. After Catherine became an adult, she rarely came back, and the staircase that seemed spacious in her memory had become narrow.
Alexander walked ahead, holding Catherine's hand firmly, taking each step steadily.
Catherine remembered when she was little and ate candy given by the Brown family, nearly dying from food poisoning. Elodie had carried her up and down these stairs repeatedly to see doctors, desperately anxious.
Those hands, like his, were warm and steady, making her heart warm too.
During the days waiting for Matthew to wake up, Catherine had been staying at the hospital. Alexander would occasionally leave to handle other matters but would also stay with her at the hospital.
Compared to the cold hospital, Cloudscape Villa at least had some feeling of home.
After getting their clean clothes, Catherine walked to the door of the little shed in the yard, staring speechlessly at the rickety wooden door.
She remembered the door being fine this afternoon!
How was it now looking like it was about to fall apart any moment?
One corner of the shed's wooden door wouldn't close properly and needed someone outside to hold it so the night wind wouldn't suddenly blow it open!
Catherine looked at the door, feeling like the moment she tried to fix it, the door would immediately announce its retirement.
Alexander's hand pressed against the door, leaning slightly to look at her, his forehead almost touching the top of her head.
"Go ahead, I'll watch from outside. No one will come, and the door won't open."
His voice was somewhat low, carrying an indescribable allure that made Catherine's ears turn red.
Fortunately it was dark enough that even if Catherine's face was a bit red, it wouldn't be noticed.
She patted her cheeks and clutched her clothes tightly, "Okay, I'll be quick."
"No need to rush, I'll be right at the door, I won't leave."
It wasn't that she was in such a hurry.
Cloudscape Villa at least had a water heater, making showering fairly convenient.
Catherine turned on the shower, and soon the sound of water filled the room. The little wooden door's soundproofing was practically nonexistent, and Alexander felt he could hear clearly every movement she made inside.
So this was what Neil meant by insisting on breaking the door!
Alexander's hand blocked the door, not letting even a trace of wind blow inside.
But his mind drifted, as if all her movements were right before his eyes.
In the dark mountain village at night with no entertainment, sounds seemed amplified.
He could even imagine what step she was at, suddenly feeling parched.
Even Alexander, who always prided himself on his self-control, felt somewhat flustered at this moment.
Fortunately the night was deep, so his flushed ears wouldn't be noticed!
Soon came the sound of her getting dressed, the friction of fabric against skin somehow jarring, making Alexander's Adam's apple bob.
Catherine showered quickly, emerging after just a few minutes.
She still carried some warmth, her cute little face flushed pink, her hair slightly damp with crystal droplets hanging from the ends.
"Thanks, your turn. I'll watch the door for you."
"Okay."
Inside the bathroom still lingered the scent of body wash.
Steam filled the air, and the fragrance settled on him, mixed with Catherine's unique scent.
Alexander reached out and turned the faucet to the cold water side!
He needed to cool down!
Catherine leaned against the door, using her towel to dry the water from her hair, hearing the sound of running water.
This was the place where she lived, but the person beside her wasn't someone she was familiar with.
Being at Cloudscape Villa with him, having to wait outside while he showered, made Catherine's heart feel ticklish.
It felt like Elodie was watching all of this, making her feel embarrassed.
Alexander finished showering quickly and pulled her hand to go upstairs.
Catherine looked at him and said lightly, "Don't you think the conditions here are pretty bad?"
"It's fine. You should know as well as I do what life was like at the border."
Those days could be described as precarious, and besides, she was here with him now—how could he possibly mind that life here wasn't good enough?
Catherine lay on her small bed, with Alexander lying beside her.
As she expected, his body on the narrow floor mat had no room even to turn over.
"Why don't I go check your grandmother's room? You can't be comfortable sleeping here."
If there really were mice in the room, she could just deal with them.
Alexander grabbed her wrist with one hand and pulled gently, drawing her toward him.
Catherine lost her balance and fell onto him, her nose instantly filled with his scent.
It was his usual cologne.
"What are you doing?"
Alexander's arm wrapped around Catherine's waist as he laughed softly, his voice deep and magnetically alluring.
"Just let me hold you for a bit, no need to check."
His hearing had always been exceptional, and so far he hadn't heard any sounds of mice in the next room.
Neil had probably just made up an excuse to create an opportunity for them to be alone.
Catherine's face flushed.
"Let me go."
"Just for a moment, consider it compensation for me being your driver all this time—call it interest."
Holding her counted as interest? If he ever wanted to collect the principal, what would he ask for then?