Chapter 156: Who Wants to Sleep with Catherine!
Juniper watched Evander walk away and made a face.
"Catherine, ignore him. Come on, I'll show you around."
Tranquil County wasn't exactly big, but it wasn't small either. Outside the research base was the old county town, where researchers usually went to pass the time.
Catherine grabbed Juniper's arm.
"I'm tired and want to rest. Will you stay with me?"
Juniper was overjoyed!
Catherine wanted her to rest with her!
Dazzled by Catherine's gentle, warm smile, Juniper didn't think twice. She pulled Catherine toward the Windsor family's house in Tranquil County.
"I usually stay in the dorm—it's pretty small so I won't take you there. How about we stay at the house for the next couple days?"
"Okay."
Catherine noticed the dark circles under Juniper's eyes but pretended not to see them.
The old house was cleaned daily. The whole place looked tidy and quaint, full of character. Inside, warm lights glowed—clearly a house from the last century. If it were for sale, it would be worth quite a bit.
Juniper pulled Catherine to a bedroom door, apologetic yet secretly pleased.
"So, Catherine, since not many people live in this old house and we're worried about safety issues, why don't you just share a room with me?"
Juniper rubbed her hands together sneakily, looking both hopeful and afraid of being found out.
Fortunately, Catherine was innocent and kind, completely missing her little scheme.
"Okay, I'll go wash up. You rest first."
Juniper happily agreed!
Catherine was going to sleep in the same room with her, in the same bed!
Juniper lay on the bed and did a modest little roll, hugging a pillow and giggling to herself. Then she sent a message to the Windsor family group chat.
"Guess who's sleeping with Catherine tonight? Me. Don't be too jealous."
The Windsor family members said they weren't jealous at all. Not at all. Not one bit!
They were just a little envious, and maybe wanted to punch Juniper a bit!
When Catherine finished washing up and came out, Juniper was already asleep hugging her pillow.
Her phone screen was still lit up, showing a family photo Richard had sent her as the background.
Juniper's sleeping face was peaceful—clearly exhausted.
Catherine didn't disturb her. She quietly closed the door and went outside, found a place to sit in the courtyard, and logged into the dark web.
A message from Jared came through.
[Boss, there's a pinned message on the dark web. Someone wants to buy an entry ticket to Ironclad Jail. They're offering fifty million dollars.]
[Target?]
[Not clear. It's an anonymous IP. We traced it to Tranquilwave Ocean, then lost the signal. Also, there's some gossip—Anthony from the Hughes family apparently wants to make Michael the heir.]
This piece of gossip, not exactly a secret, had spread throughout their circles!
Everyone was discussing whether Anthony had lost his mind!
[Also, the Hughes family opened a gallery right across from yours. The person in charge is called Esme Hughes.]
Jared was getting tired of all this gossip!
Esme had suddenly become part of the Hughes family, and Michael was now their designated heir. Jared wanted to ask if the Hughes family was preparing to go bankrupt.
What kind of judgment was that?
[Monitor Anthony's mental state. Once you find something, provide the information to other Hughes family members. Charge them.]
[Yes! We'll definitely charge them big money!]
Anthony's behavior wasn't just abnormal—it was very much like the confused behavior that appears after being controlled by some kind of hallucinogenic drug.
After closing the dark web, Catherine casually looked through messages on her phone and selectively replied to a few.
She had just replied to Alexander's message when his call came through.
"I sent you so many messages. Why are you only replying now?"
"I wasn't looking at my phone."
He had called her just half an hour ago. How long had it been?
She never knew he could be this clingy!
"When are you coming back? I miss you."
"In a few days."
"Do you miss me?"
Catherine let out a soft sigh. "Alexander, we just saw each other yesterday."
Alexander's voice sounded a bit down, even a little hurt. "So what? You promised to have a late-night snack with me!"
She had forgotten about their dinner plans—that was indeed her fault. But wasn't he being a bit too clingy now?
"I miss you."
This compensation as interest for breaking their date—Alexander was quite pleased with it!
He smiled and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt with one hand.
"I miss you too. Phoenix Lab seems to have some problems, but Evander will handle it. Don't worry, Evander has always appreciated Juniper and is training her as his successor."
Catherine frowned. "A successor who gets mistreated? Then she shouldn't bother."
Hadn't Juniper suffered enough at Phoenix Lab?
Juniper was a genius, yes, but her brilliant mind could shine anywhere!
In Catherine's view, Phoenix Lab was lucky to have Juniper.
This was the first time Alexander heard her actively defend someone. It seemed Catherine and Juniper were getting along quite well!
Her family, Alexander would treat as his own family too.
"Evander has an odd temper. It was only after something happened in the Howard family that he resolutely went into scientific research."
"What happened?"
Alexander paused for a moment, as if hesitating or thinking, and when he spoke again, his voice carried infinite loneliness.
"If not for that incident, my mother might still be here, and Evander probably would have started a family by now."
Catherine was silent for a while. "I'm sorry."
Alexander collected his emotions and looked at Catherine's photo on his desk, his eyes tender.
"Whenever you get curious about those things, feel free to come trade stories with me."
The story he wanted to know was nothing more than her past with Galactic Aurora Collective!
Those memories filled with dark abysses—could they really be brought out into the light?
The darkness she had experienced—she didn't want to taste it again right now!
It wasn't just her scar, but a pain that all Galactic Aurora Collective members didn't want to bring up again.
Catherine pressed her lips together and said coldly, "No need. I'm not interested right now."
Alexander wasn't surprised by the rejection.
Every time those matters came up, Catherine became cold, keeping people at a distance.
His voice was low and gentle. "I'm not trying to force you to tell me, but I look forward to the day when you can trust me and are willing to share your past with me. The Ironclad Jail arrangement is set for the day after tomorrow. Can you make it back?"
The situation at Ironclad Jail was complicated. Changing the date wouldn't be easy.
Catherine nodded. "Yes."
At the mass grave, Oliver limped over to his wrecked wheelchair, hurting all over!
He still couldn't figure out what had happened!
How did Catherine change so much all of a sudden?
Oliver endured the pain and found a place to sit down. Just as he sat down to rest, he heard Celeste let out a piercing scream!
"Honey!"
"What are you making such a fuss about? You scared me to death." Oliver cursed as he turned around, only to discover he was sitting on a pile of bones!
Another scream!
Oliver fell on his butt to the ground, completely terrified. His legs felt like they were filled with lead and hurt terribly!
"What is this place?!"
Celeste thought of Catherine's last words and looked at Oliver with scrutiny.
If Oliver really had another child out there, what share would Clara have of the Smith family fortune?
"Oliver, I saw Catherine wearing what looked like Elodie's bracelet—the one she had when she was alive. That bracelet looked really expensive."
After the Smith family became wealthy these past few years, Celeste had seen plenty of nice things. She could tell at a glance that the bracelet wasn't cheap!
"You mean the bracelet Mom said she accidentally lost years ago, the one she refused to give me? Catherine stole it? I knew back then she just didn't want to hand it over!"