Chapter 284

Chapter 284

The two men were trembling with fear, yet couldn't bring themselves to abandon such a lucrative opportunity. They raised their cameras to continue their surveillance.

Suddenly, two hands landed simultaneously on their shoulders. Both men spun around, only to be knocked unconscious before they could react.

Inside the house, Katherine tidied up her things, feeling uneasy for no apparent reason. She muttered to herself, "What's wrong with me lately? I just can't seem to relax, even though nothing bad has happened."

As usual, Michael helped her organize while comforting her, "You're overthinking it. You're probably just tired or stressed—there's really nothing to worry about. Once you're done, take a shower and get some rest. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Katherine considered this carefully. Her recent workload had indeed been intense, though certainly not as demanding as her time at W Organization. Despite having children, her stamina and endurance shouldn't have declined so dramatically.

She shook her head. "You're probably right. I promised Howard I'd go to the school with him earlier. It should be fine to send him this address, right?"

Michael's eyes lit up with obvious approval. "He's your legal husband—escorting you is his duty. I just wonder how long this Howard will keep it up. If he continues treating you well, I'll worry less about you."

That settled it. Katherine hadn't expected him to agree so readily. She understood Michael's feelings clearly, but in her heart, he remained a precious friend and family member—nothing romantic about it.

"Good. The batch of clothes from the last auction is in its final stages and should be delivered soon. We absolutely cannot afford any mistakes. Keep a close eye on things during this period, and if you get overwhelmed, ask Monica for help," Katherine reminded him.

She knew Michael's work style well, but worried that her affairs might disrupt his rhythm.

Michael waved dismissively. "Forget it—I'd rather handle everything myself. Monica is practically Satan incarnate. The pressure of working with her is unbearable; one wrong move and I'm getting lectured. Sometimes I wonder who's really the boss here."

Katherine seized the opportunity. "I think you need someone willing to keep you in line. Monica has a clean background and good character. Her family circumstances might not be ideal, but she doesn't seem high-maintenance. Sometimes you should seize opportunities when they present themselves."

"Clean background? Who doesn't have a clean background these days? If I wanted her, I might as well find someone from our social circle. Stop meddling and go rest—hurry up." Michael pushed her toward the stairs.

The downstairs area was nearly organized. Katherine didn't press the matter further, heading upstairs to wash up before returning to her room.

Before bed, she took out her phone and sent Howard her location.

Katherine: [Michael's address. My place got vandalized with paint and rotten eggs. I've contacted property management, but it doesn't feel safe, so I'm staying here temporarily.]

Howard opened Katherine's messages instantly these days. Seeing Michael's address irritated him slightly, but Katherine's explanation made perfect sense. He replied with an "OK" emoji.

Soon another message from Katherine appeared: [Good night.]

This was the first time Katherine had said good night to him. He stared at the message for a long while, even forgetting to reply.

The next morning, Howard arrived early outside Michael's house. As a wealthy heir who had built considerable fortune abroad, Michael could afford such a large villa in Emerald City, complete with several limited-edition sports cars—quite impressive by any standard.

Howard called, and Katherine soon emerged with Edward and Flora, both dressed in fresh clothes. The children wore brand-new backpacks and looked adorable with minimal styling.

"Good morning, Howard," both children chorused in unison before climbing into the car orderly.

Katherine seemed surprised to see Howard driving himself. Settling into the passenger seat, she asked, "How's your grandmother doing lately? Did the Martinez family give all the drivers time off? Why are you always driving yourself?"

Since Laura and the others had taken Gloria home, there had been no news. 

"I've sent people to check on her. Grandmother hasn't awakened yet, but her vital signs are stable, and her usual caregivers are still attending to her, which is somewhat reassuring. Elijah is currently wielding power at the company and probably doesn't have time to cause trouble for Grandmother. There are many others involved behind the scenes—we can only wait and see. I drive myself when handling personal matters," Howard explained with rare patience.

Katherine nodded and fell silent. The children chattered excitedly in the back seat about something amusing, their laughter punctuating the conversation.

Howard glanced at the children through the rearview mirror. "Your apartment isn't safe anymore. Why don't you move into my villa? I'll assign security for protection."

Remembering that Arabella was also living there, Katherine immediately dismissed the idea. "No, thank you. It's more convenient for me here. You need to focus on watching over Barry at the hospital—no need to spread your attention elsewhere. Michael can handle the children just fine, and Monica helps too."

A flash of displeasure crossed Howard's eyes before quickly disappearing. Her reasoning was sound and left no room for argument.

At the school, Katherine accompanied the children to registration while Howard headed to the administrative building to meet with the principal.

Just outside the classroom, they encountered Abigail. "Edward! Flora! You're in my class—how wonderful! Now I'll have playmates!" Edward and Flora were equally delighted, immediately taking Abigail's hands as all three children entered the classroom together.

Katherine ran into Daniel in the hallway. "Daniel, what a coincidence."

"You seem quite devoted to those two children. That question you wanted to ask me last time—are you still interested in an answer?" Daniel suddenly spoke up.

Katherine nodded. "Of course. My father's accident was indeed suspicious. If I don't get to the bottom of it, I'll never find peace. If you know something, could you share even a small detail? You don't need to say much."

Daniel led Katherine to a quieter spot in the corridor. After a pause, he said, "Your father was my dearest friend. His death brought me tremendous grief as well. I've had my suspicions and hired investigators multiple times, but everything confirmed it was accidental."

He added, "The distinction between accident and foul play often hinges on crucial evidence."