Chapter 184: Ambiguity
"How about you sleep with me?"
Sleep with him?
Catherine looked up at Alexander in front of her. Only the night light was on in the room, and in the dim yellow glow, his features took on an even more alluring quality.
Meeting his burning gaze, Catherine felt inexplicably nervous.
"Your house isn't far from mine. You should go back."
"How heartless. Don't you know that climbing through windows is tiring too?"
Tiring?
Did she ask him to come climbing onto her balcony in the middle of the night?
"You promised to spend a day with me, remember?"
Because she forgot about their dinner when she went to Tranquil County to see Juniper, Catherine had indeed promised Alexander a full day together.
Catherine said calmly, "Tomorrow."
"No way. Tomorrow is the Hughes family's stone gambling event. How can that count as a date?"
"It's all the same."
How could it be the same!
What he wanted was to be alone with her. Even if they just stayed together doing nothing, as long as he could see her whenever he wanted, that would be enough!
"It's not the same. You can't take advantage of my feelings for you and deliberately go back on your word."
Alexander chuckled softly. He was so close that his breath fell on Catherine's face.
And Alexander was always bursting with hormones, his voice seeming to carry hooks that pulled at her heartstrings.
Catherine's face grew hot, and she shifted back slightly without making it obvious.
"Okay then."
Alexander leaned forward, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice a bit hoarse. "Can I kiss you?"
Catherine's heart beat faster, and her face grew even hotter.
The sound of a door opening and talking rang out at the same time, interrupting the intimate atmosphere in the room.
"Catherine, can I sleep with you? I can't fall asleep!"
Juniper knocked on the door while pushing open Catherine's bedroom door, flipping on the light switch as she entered, only to see a shocking scene.
Alexander's collar was wide open, wearing only a robe as he bent down close to Catherine's face. Catherine was wearing a pink nightgown, and it looked like they were about to kiss.
"Sorry, I'm sleepwalking."
Juniper quickly closed the door, then half a second later opened it again, turned off the light, and closed the door again to leave.
"I'll only sleepwalk for one minute, so hurry up!"
Juniper's heart was quite conflicted.
Should she just yell and chase Alexander away? But looking at Catherine like this, she didn't seem to dislike Alexander that much, did she?
And what if Catherine was the one who called him here?
At the thought of this possibility, Juniper became even more conflicted.
Catherine coughed softly. "You should go back now."
Alexander's kiss landed on Catherine's forehead. "Good night. I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning."
"Okay, good night."
Catherine opened the door to find Juniper crouching outside, poking at the carpet.
"Juniper, come in."
"Is Alexander gone? Catherine, how far have you two gotten?"
Catherine closed the door and lay down with Juniper.
Juniper looked serious and solemn, instructing earnestly, "Catherine, don't think I'm being annoying. I'm just concerned about you! No matter what, you have to protect yourself! Be safe."
Catherine was shocked.
What was Juniper even talking about!
Catherine's face instantly turned red. She reached out and pulled the blanket over her face. "Juniper, you're overthinking this!"
Juniper smiled.
The next morning.
Charles looked unfavorably at Alexander, who was sitting next to Catherine eating breakfast with them.
Because of Juniper, Felix had also moved in directly.
The Howard family didn't have many people to begin with. Felix's eldest daughter lived abroad and rarely came back, and his other two sons were also rarely seen. Felix was lonely living alone.
When Felix said he wanted to move in, Marcus didn't refuse.
Felix would rather stay in the hospital than go home before—wasn't that also a kind of loneliness?
Anyway, The Windsor Mansion was big enough, and there was room to arrange a bedroom for Felix.
Charles said through gritted teeth, "Catherine, I'm planning to install bars under your room and get a Doberman. What do you think?"
Bethany: "Are you sick? Why would you keep a Doberman at home? Isn't there a garden under Catherine's room? Why install bars? What are you trying to keep out?"
"Thieves."
Charles glanced at Alexander meaningfully.
Bethany slapped at him.
"No sense of aesthetics. I personally designed Catherine's garden. Adding bars would make it ugly. Besides, where would thieves come from in our neighborhood? You look more like a thief yourself."
Charles dodged skillfully, his expression toward Alexander growing even colder.
"Who knows when a thief might show up."
He had suddenly gotten a business order last night that required him to go back to the company.
When he came back, he saw a figure coming down from Catherine's room and returning to the building next door.
At first Charles really thought it was a thief, but when he saw the person's face clearly, he almost died of anger in the middle of the night!
Alexander actually came out of Catherine's room in the middle of the night—he definitely had bad intentions!
Juniper coughed twice and looked at Aurora. "Mom, I slept with Catherine last night. That's why I didn't hear you calling me this morning."
Aurora was very pleased to see them getting along so well.
These were both precious daughters of the Windsor family!
Hearing this, Charles's expression immediately improved, and his gaze toward Alexander softened considerably.
After breakfast, Catherine and Alexander left The Windsor Mansion together, heading toward The Hughes Manor.
Alexander held Catherine's hand. "Charles seems to have some misunderstanding about me."
Catherine looked up at him.
"Last night when you left my room, Charles saw you."
Annie's eyes widened instantly, and she stepped on the gas pedal, nearly speeding on the spot.
Were Alexander and Charles moving this fast!
Annie said excitedly, "Ms. Windsor, where would you like to go for your honeymoon? I've made travel guides for you and Alexander for so many countries!"
Catherine was silent for a moment, then spoke under Alexander's expectant gaze: "Would you consider changing jobs?"
"Come work for me, and I'll give you time off."
Annie's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Catherine! But I still won't change jobs. Alexander once saved my life. People from Shadow Syndicate don't leave the organization."
Annie was very moved!
If she were an ordinary worker, she would definitely agree to work for Catherine right away.
But Alexander had saved her several times before. She had sworn to work for Shadow Syndicate forever!
"I really want to work for Catherine. As soon as Shadow Syndicate belongs to Faceless Ones one day, I'll change jobs immediately!"
After all, at that point even Alexander would belong to Catherine, so it wouldn't count as leaving the organization.
Catherine understood. People from Faceless Ones wouldn't leave either. This was the faith and support forged through life-and-death struggles!
"I'll work hard to take over Shadow Syndicate."
Alexander chuckled. "Why go through all that trouble? If you want it, I'll just give it to you. For example, marry me, and everything I have will be yours."
Catherine glanced at him and said lightly, "I'd rather just get a Doberman."
Alexander affectionately touched Catherine's face. "Heartless."
She wanted to set a dog on him? He came to see her in the middle of the night because he missed her so much he was going crazy!
The Hughes Villa.
Michael had made many preparations for the stone gambling event. As long as he could make a big splash in public today, he would have a firm foothold in the Hughes family from now on!
"Mr. Hughes, Catherine and Mr. Howard will also be attending today. Should we find a way for you to talk to Catherine?"
At the mention of Catherine, Michael felt his face aching faintly.
He still remembered how Catherine publicly humiliated him last time, but Catherine had such a high status that both the Martinez family and the Windsor family treated her like a treasure.
If Michael wanted to gain inheritance rights in the Hughes family, he needed strong backing, and the Windsor family would be perfect!
"Mr. Hughes, Emilia Hughes is also back today. Hasn't she always been interested in Mr. Howard?"