Chapter 126: The Darkness Behind Catherine
Asking her to like him?
Ever since she was tricked out of that small mountain village by the Brown family using "liking her" as an excuse and nearly couldn't make it back to Elodie, she stopped believing in any words of affection.
But somehow, these words made Catherine's heart stir inexplicably—it was a strange feeling.
She didn't say anything, so Alexander just kept waiting!
To make Catherine truly see him and have him in her heart, there was still a long way to go.
But when he saw Catherine wearing a white lab coat standing together with members of the Galactic Aurora Collective, he suddenly felt an intense sense of crisis!
Catherine's expression was cold, and her eyes, like those of the people behind her, were filled with a chilling distance that kept others away.
They seemed to be the ones who truly belonged together.
Alexander suddenly thought—if she wouldn't like him, would she one day return to the Galactic Aurora Collective?
At that time, he might never get another chance to see her!
On a night in the small mountain village, Catherine fell asleep. Outside the window, the sky was full of stars. Alexander quietly leaned against the window, gazing at the green mountains and bright moon of the village.
That place was very close to the border, and also very close to the legendary Galactic Aurora Collective Lab.
He had experienced many surprises from Catherine, but he also understood very clearly—how could Catherine, who had a decent life before, end up on the path of becoming an assassin?
Having walked the same path, he understood that feeling better than anyone—it was like being burned alive!
He didn't want to dig into what Catherine had suffered before, but he wanted to know how to better protect her!
The head of the Howard family, who had dominated the business world for years and closed countless high-value contracts, always strategic and in control—even he would feel at a loss when facing the girl who made his heart flutter.
Alexander drove the car to the largest mall under the Howard Group, opened the door, and pulled Catherine's hand as they got out.
"Can you tell me what role you played in the Galactic Aurora Collective?"
"Since you're asking this question, you should have already guessed."
Cloudscape Villa was too close to the border. With Alexander's capabilities, he definitely knew that both the Galactic Aurora Collective's laboratory and the Faceless Ones organization's base were in that area.
Her role in the Galactic Aurora Collective?
Children taken by the Galactic Aurora Collective all went through inhuman torture to develop their intelligence. The children they selected were one-in-a-million geniuses, but even genius-level intelligence wasn't enough for them.
Catherine laughed mockingly at herself.
The founder of the Galactic Aurora Collective was a madman!
She had already walked through that darkness and didn't want to bring it up again.
Seeing she had no intention of continuing, Alexander didn't ask further. She was right—he had already guessed her former identity.
To have other star members following by her side, she must have been trained as a leader of the Galactic Aurora Collective!
Alexander must have suffered a lot, right?
Alexander held her hand and walked into the mall.
The huge mall was luxurious and magnificent. Red carpet ran from the entrance all the way to every floor. Employees stood on both sides, each holding a bouquet of roses, with various luxury brands' latest seasonal items behind them.
Behind the employees in the first-floor lobby, there was actually a figure of a girl made from roses, with the hem of her dress decorated with sparkling gems—it was clearly Catherine's likeness!
Under the sculpture, a band in formal wear played a waltz. The admission tickets for this top international orchestra were extremely expensive, yet the Howard Group had invited them all to the scene, just to serve Alexander and Catherine's first date today.
The mall manager said respectfully, "Mr. Howard, Ms. Windsor, the afternoon tea restaurant is ready. All the latest seasonal items in Ms. Windsor's size are here. Please make your selection!"
In all his time working at the Howard Group, this was the first time the manager had seen Alexander so devoted to a girl!
When the phone call came, the manager's hands were trembling, afraid that something had gone wrong at the mall recently—otherwise why would Alexander personally call!
It turned out Alexander wanted the mall decorated in a way that a girl would like for a first date!
Everyone knew about Alexander and Catherine's engagement. During Catherine's birthday, all the celebrity posters inside the mall were taken down and replaced with posters celebrating Catherine's birthday.
The manager knew then that Catherine was quite extraordinary!
After hanging up, the manager quickly arranged the scene before them. The rose sculpture was made based on Catherine's appearance during the first dance at her birthday party.
Catherine looked at the rose sculpture that was three stories tall. "Who made this?"
"I did it myself," the manager patted his chest. "To be honest, my hobby is gardening. Time was a bit tight, so I didn't fully capture your elegance. I'm embarrassed."
Alexander's gaze fell on the rose sculpture. "Preserve it, make it into preserved flowers, and send it to The Howard Mansion."
He wanted to put this thing in his home?
Wasn't he worried about it taking up space?
Alexander said seriously, "It's very well done. After we get married, we'll make an even bigger one of both of us."
The manager almost shoved his fist into his mouth!
Was Alexander imagining married life with Catherine?
It looked like the wedding would probably be on the agenda soon.
The manager quickly said, "When Mr. Howard and Ms. Windsor have your wedding, our mall will present the best preserved flower sculpture as a gift!"
Alexander's eyes couldn't hide his smile. He pulled Catherine's hand and walked toward the row of hanging luxury items.
"Do you think we should give guests preserved flowers as wedding favors at our wedding?"
"I think you're overthinking this."
She didn't seem to have ever said she would agree to marry him, right?
"I'm not overthinking it. I'm worried I'm not thinking enough."
If he had more chances to plan, he would probably use everything he could think of and do to give her the most grand wedding in the world!
Catherine casually picked a few gifts. "Wrap these up and send them to Juniper. This one for Charles, this one for George..."
She chose things suitable for everyone in the Windsor family, not missing a single person. Even Grace, who was still in the lab, was thought of, and Felix also had a gift.
Alexander pressed Catherine's hand. "What about mine? You chose things for all of them, but where's mine?"
Catherine looked at him helplessly. Picking a gift for him in his own mall—what was the difference between that and plucking wool to give back to the sheep?
Alexander pulled Catherine's hand and walked toward the elevator.
"It's okay. You didn't prepare a gift for me, but I prepared one for you. Me giving it to you is the same as you giving it to me—both will make me happy."
Giving her a gift made him happy? What kind of logic was that?
"You like spending money?"
"I like spending money on you."
Alexander's figure reflected in the mirror inside the elevator. Under the golden tones, Alexander's suit was impeccable, his tie and shirt without a single wrinkle, his gaze so tender it could drip water.
"You know," Alexander's tone was full of affection, "preparing gifts for the girl you like is also a very happy thing."