Chapter 116 Not Happy to Be Back

The hot air turned into white mist in the air.

She turned to look at Manuel and cautiously asked, "Are you not too happy to be back?"

Manuel didn't answer immediately, looking at her with a half-smile. "Where did you get that idea?"

"Intuition," Catherine replied.

Manuel remained silent and walked towards the garden.

The garden was empty. In this cold weather, besides Catherine finding it novel, only the gardener occasionally came to tend to the plants.

Catherine saw a swing in the garden and took the initiative to sit on it, playing by herself.

Manuel stood behind her at some point. "Want me to push you?"

Catherine was unaware of Manuel's mischievous intentions. She hadn't sat on a swing for a long time and wanted to indulge in some childhood fun today. Since no one else was around, it wasn't embarrassing.

So she nodded, "Sure, but be gentle. I'm afraid I'll fall."

Manuel responded and then suddenly raised his hand, pushing Catherine forcefully into the air.

Catherine let out a scream. "Too high! Too high! Stop pushing!"

She felt like she was about to flip over and be launched into the sky.

Manuel finally smiled, continuing to push her hard without any intention of being gentle.

"This height is nothing. Don't be scared. Even if you fall, you won't die."

Catherine closed her eyes in fear, her eyes almost tearing up. "I told you to be gentle! I'm really going to fall off!"

Finally, when Manuel got bored, the swing's height decreased, and Catherine quickly jumped off, standing 40 feet away from Manuel.

Catherine glared at him angrily. "You went too far! You really scared me!"

Manuel raised an eyebrow and spread his hands. "I wasn't pushing hard. Otherwise, you could have done a loop in the air."

Catherine gritted her teeth. "If you think it wasn't hard, then you get on, and I'll push you!"

"No," Manuel immediately refused. "I'm not a child. Who's childish enough to play on a swing?"

Catherine was furious.

Damn it, was there no way to get back at him?

Catherine was startled and lost interest in playing. "Let's go back."

"Okay," Manuel responded.

On the way back, the air was a bit silent.

The sunset cast a glow on Manuel's face, highlighting his features with a cold hardness. Catherine looked at his profile and couldn't help but think.

Although she didn't know Manuel very well, after spending so much time with him, she could often read the different emotions behind his cold expressions.

Sometimes, Manuel's cold face was just his usual state, with no particular emotion. Sometimes, it meant he was angry. Other times, it meant he was annoyed.

Like now, it was the latter.

As they walked side by side, Manuel suddenly said, "My mom must have promised you a lot of benefits to convince you to be my girlfriend."

Catherine was taken aback by the sudden topic and didn't know how to react.

It was true. Not only benefits but also many expensive gifts, including that emerald bracelet, which was given to her by the Green family.

But she had no intention of accepting them.

Catherine tentatively asked, "Should I return the gifts to you?"

Manuel glanced at her coldly, now looking unhappy.

Catherine sighed inwardly. Manuel was really hard to please. He was unhappy for half the day, and getting along with him required constant appeasement.

"No need. Do we look like that kind of family?" Manuel withdrew his gaze. "You can keep them. But let me tell you, my family treats you well because of me. You need to know which side to stand on when it matters."

Catherine nodded.

She understood this point.

After all, her father's life was in Manuel's hands.

And if Manuel showed no interest in her and found another girl to replace her, as long as that girl was obedient and sensible, Robyn might choose the other girl as Manuel's "savior."

If she offended Manuel and only tried to please Robyn, she wouldn't get all the benefits.

"I know. You don't have to remind me..." Catherine's words were cut off as she suddenly slipped and almost fell.

Manuel quickly caught her, frowning. "Always so careless."

Catherine looked down and saw that the ground had frozen over, making it slippery. No wonder she almost fell.

Manuel held her waist, and Catherine blushed. "What are you doing?"

"Holding you so you don't fall again." Manuel's expression was indifferent, but Catherine felt a hint of suggestiveness in the gesture.

Suddenly, she felt a pinch on her waist, and she exclaimed, realizing it was Manuel.

"You've gained weight," Manuel said bluntly. "Looks like you've been eating well and put on some pounds." Catherine's face turned red, and she tried to push him away. "Stop it. We're at your house."

Manuel frowned. "I'm not joking. You still have a wound on your stomach, remember? If you fall and tear it open, it's no joke. Do you want your stomach wound to split open and see your intestines spill out?"

Catherine immediately backed down at the thought.

"Then forget it."

Manuel continued to hold her, and she didn't refuse.

When they reached the door, Manuel looked up and saw a middle-aged man standing in the distance.

Manuel's expression froze for a moment, and he let go of her.

Catherine found it strange that Manuel let go so quickly. She turned to see who Manuel was looking at.

The middle-aged man bore some resemblance to Manuel, but his expression was more stern and serious, giving off an intimidating aura.

Catherine couldn't help but shrink back. The man reminded her of the strict student affairs director from her middle school days.

"Dad," Manuel called softly.

Lloyd coldly said, "Come with me."

He didn't even glance at Catherine. She hesitated, wondering if she should follow.

Lloyd had already walked ahead, and Manuel followed without holding her hand or giving any hint.

Seeing that they had no intention of asking her to follow, Catherine went back to the living room alone.

She didn't want to go anyway.