Chapter 214 Catherine and Alexander's First Meeting
Their first meeting.
Alexander smiled and looked up to meet Catherine's cool gaze. "Talk on the way?"
His eyes carried unmistakable aggression. Catherine turned her head slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
"If you don't care about your own health, then there's nothing I can do."
That meant she was agreeing to let him come along to pick someone up!
Alkaid, returning from vacation, parked the car at the entrance of Starry Residence. Seeing Catherine and Nightfall get in the car together, her eyes nearly popped out of her head!
Wasn't Nightfall at the border just a couple days ago? How was he back already?
And he was holding Catherine's hand the whole time. Most importantly, Catherine didn't shake him off or chop off his hand!
Had she missed some important plot development while she was away from Imperia City?
"Let's go, time to pick someone up."
Master violinist Vincent Hall was arriving in Imperia City today. The schedule was confidential.
Given Vincent's status, if his schedule became public, it would cause quite a stir in the industry!
"Alright. I heard recently someone in Imperia City has been selling warm jade at high prices."
"That stuff isn't even valuable."
Although it was warm jade from mountain peaks, the most important thing was that warm jade had extremely high medicinal value. The Windsor family had a large piece that they'd spent a lot of money to buy and placed in Marcus's bedroom.
What outsiders desperately sought after was just a useless decorative item to people from Galactic Aurora Collective!
The world's largest warm jade supplier was Galactic Aurora Collective!
Alkaid shrugged. "Yeah, someone said that stuff can cure cancer, so it's been hyped up again recently. Some people are even selling fakes."
All warm jade production was controlled by Galactic Aurora Collective. Catherine had no idea when so much warm jade had been sold in Imperia City.
Most of it was probably fake, or inferior junk passed off as genuine.
Too many people taking advantage of Imperia City folks having more money than sense.
Catherine glanced at the financial report on her phone. Business at the music shop had been doing quite well lately. Apparently many people were after warm jade, not even willing to let go of the warm jade used as accessories on violins.
Looked like after picking up their guest, she'd need to make time to visit the music shop, or things would get chaotic again.
On the way to the airport, Alexander held Catherine's hand, a smile playing at his lips.
In her words, warm jade was worthless. It seemed Galactic Aurora Collective's business was even bigger than he'd imagined.
At this rate, if he didn't work harder, he might end up being outshone by Catherine!
"Our first meeting was in Northern Myanterra."
"I don't know if you still remember. That time, several drug lords in Northern Myanterra were having a shootout, and I got caught in the middle."
Perhaps because he was still sick, Alexander's voice sounded even more magnetic than usual, echoing low in the car.
"Back then, I was investigating my mother's case and had gone deep into Northern Myanterra. Some people from the Howard family had business there."
"They set a trap to kill me. All the people I brought were wiped out. You saved me."
That was probably the lowest point in Alexander's life!
He was trapped in the shadow of watching his mother die while being unable to do anything, wanting to rely on his own strength to investigate and avenge his mother.
Caught in that predicament, when Alexander thought he'd be joining his mother, Catherine appeared from nowhere and saved him!
Alexander held Catherine's hand, lost in memories.
"Catherine, you probably can't imagine - I watched my mother being killed by them. I didn't dare make a sound, and she didn't dare look at me before she left."
"Every night I'd dream of that scene, of her covered in blood, falling down."
Alexander laughed softly. "Then, you saved me."
From the moment Catherine fired that shot, from the moment she reached out her hand to him, he never had that nightmare again!
But what he dreamed of instead were those clear, bright eyes that had saved him from despair.
Alexander brought Catherine's hand to his lips and gently brushed against it.
"To me, you are my salvation."
Salvation?
That word was too burning, too scorching for Catherine. Even the spot on her palm where Alexander's lips touched seemed to burn along with it.
"Did the Howard family investigate?"
"Of course. They probably found out many things they couldn't tell me. They investigated for a long time, but it went nowhere. In the end, they told me to stop looking into it."
It didn't matter - he would investigate everything himself!
Felix was shocked by Alexander's methods and depth after he returned from the border. The huge conglomerate operated in his hands, and even giants had to bow before him!
Alexander turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Catherine, his pupils carrying an intense light.
"There are many things I haven't done well enough. Will you give me a chance to improve?"
Alexander didn't know how to interact with girls - he was just following his instincts in approaching her!
He had lost the most important person once before and didn't want to lose someone a second time.
Catherine's heart skipped a beat, but she said casually, "Got it."
The smile on Alexander's face grew warmer and more tender.
While driving, Alkaid suppressed the smile on her face, almost stuffing her fist in her mouth!
She'd thought Catherine had lured Nightfall away, but it turned out Nightfall was the one pursuing relentlessly!
But Alkaid also knew that moving someone who came from Galactic Aurora Collective probably wasn't that easy.
Catherine had experienced too much darkness and had long hidden her heart away. Getting her to willingly share her emotions would be very difficult!
Hospital.
Juniper pushed Owen into the VIP room. Tiberius, half-reclined on the bed, looked haggard, his illness tinged with scholarly elegance.
"Grandpa, you're here."
"Good that you're awake. Gavin says you're recovering well. Cooperate with the doctor's treatment, and you'll be able to go home in a while."
Tiberius's gaze fell on Juniper, who was following behind Owen. "And this is?"
Owen didn't hide anything and briefly explained Juniper's situation.
"From now on, Juniper is your sister. Don't tell Paloma about this yet. She had another episode recently and was admitted to the hospital yesterday."
Paloma's body couldn't handle shocks. If they told her about Juniper's identity, Owen was afraid she wouldn't be able to accept it right away!
Tiberius looked at Juniper with some surprise, but quickly accepted the situation.
"Juniper, I'm Tiberius. I'm very happy to have you as family."
Tiberius suppressed the shock in his heart, his eyes flickering.
"I remember last time, there was a lady with Juniper. Was that the Windsor family's daughter? Why isn't she here today?"
Juniper nodded. "Yes! That's my sister Catherine. She has an engagement with Mr. Howard. She probably went on a date with Mr. Howard today?"
Juniper was afraid Aurora would catch her and drag her to a blind date, so she'd rushed out of the house.
The smile on Tiberius's face faded.
Mr. Howard? Was she talking about Alexander, the CEO of the Howard Group?
Tiberius muttered to himself, "An engagement doesn't matter. In big families, engagements are just for show."
Airport elevated road.
Alkaid looked in the rearview mirror and pursed her lips. "Boss, we're being followed!"