Chapter 331

Chapter 331

The two recuperated in the hospital for three days. Katrina's condition gradually improved until she was no different from any healthy person.

During that time, Lisa visited twice, bringing Anne along to see her. When mother and daughter learned what had happened over those few days, they were both stunned.

"You two must be the main characters of this world or something. Your lives are way too eventful—the rest of us are basically just NPCs revolving around you," Lisa said admiringly.

Anne looked confused. "Mommy, what's an NPC?"

Katrina could only feel helpless.

Just think about it—were she and Noah really main characters?

Any single thing that happened to them would break most people.

The only reason they'd survived and resolved everything was because they'd suffered far worse in their past lives. Their tolerance for pain had simply grown stronger.

"Anyway, things will definitely get better from here on out. You know what they say—heaven gives its toughest battles to its strongest soldiers," Lisa said earnestly, patting Katrina's arm in comfort.

Katrina took the opportunity of going out with Lisa and Anne to visit Martina.

She'd been too busy lately to come in for acupuncture.

Martina dismissed everyone else and checked her pulse, discovering her body had grown considerably weaker.

The old woman's face darkened with anger. "Have you been skipping your medicine? Not taking care of yourself at all?"

Katrina gave an embarrassed smile. She thought to herself that simply staying alive had been hard enough—where would she find the extra energy to focus on self-care?

This time, Martina's needles hurt quite a bit, as if she meant to teach Katrina a lesson.

Katrina gritted her teeth and endured it. The insertion points felt both numb and painful—truly agonizing.

"By the way, Katy, you're going to that military variety show, right? Could you do me a favor?" Martina wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, mentioning it casually.

"Do you have something you want to say to Helena?" Katrina asked.

Martina let out a long sigh. "That's right. I've been thinking—part of the reason she kept making mistakes was that I didn't catch her malicious intentions early on.

After all, she saved me in that accident. When I took her as my goddaughter, I had a responsibility to guide her properly, but I failed to follow through.

If I'd discovered her malice in time and provided proper guidance, maybe she wouldn't have turned out this way..."

Her tone grew increasingly melancholy.

Katrina didn't want to upset her, but hearing this, she found it absurd.

Someone like Helena was evil to the core. Even with proper guidance, she probably never would've walked the right path.

Katrina thought it over, then couldn't help but advise:

"If you trust me, please hear me out. Now that you've finally separated from her, don't think about trying to change her.

Maybe her saving you was just part of some scheme all along. Don't forget the disaster she brought upon the Quinn family.

Even now, plenty of people still mock the Quinns behind their backs, don't they?

She destroyed your lifelong reputation. Why go back down that road?"

Martina fell silent.

After a long while, she sighed deeply. "Fine. You make a good point. We'll deal with the future when it comes."

A few days later, Katrina was set to depart for the western region to film the show.

Noah was also discharged from the hospital and personally helped her pack, being ridiculously attentive.

Katrina could tell he had something on his mind but kept quiet, not asking.

Finally, that evening, as their airport departure time approached, he couldn't hold back anymore. He wrapped his arms around her and pleaded, "Take me with you."

He nuzzled her cheek with the hair falling by his ear, his hands wandering up along her waist, making her itch all over.

This wasn't pleading—this was seduction!

Katrina quickly pushed him away. If this continued, things would definitely get out of hand. Dr. York had specifically warned them to exercise restraint.

"No way." Katrina felt flustered and turned away. She was going to film a show, not go sightseeing. Bringing him along would be problematic.

Besides, their situation had caused such an uproar a few days ago. If they appeared together in the public eye again, who knew what kind of chaos would erupt.

She didn't want to be the center of attention anymore.

"You're so heartless. Over two months! Don't you care how I'll feel? What if I miss you so much I get sick?" Noah persisted, hugging her from behind, refusing to let her go.

"Don't jinx it!" Katrina forcibly pulled his hands away. "Stop that! This time it really won't work. This show is important. You can't appear, or you'll definitely steal the spotlight."

"I'll disguise myself as your bodyguard, wear a mask and sunglasses, keep a low profile. As long as no one recognizes me, it'll be fine." His voice softened to the extreme, eyes fixed on her without blinking, as if one more refusal would shatter his heart.

Katrina grew even more agitated. On one hand, she really wasn't comfortable leaving him behind, but on the other, she couldn't let anything go wrong with the production crew. She was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.

"I promise I won't be discovered. I'll listen to everything you say. I'll be working too." Noah seemed to sense her wavering and immediately pressed his advantage.

Katrina felt helpless. Time was running out—she couldn't waste energy on this.

"Fine, then." She waved her hand decisively. "But let's be clear—you can't be discovered, and you can't interfere with filming."

Noah immediately brightened. "Don't worry, I promise I won't."

The two boarded together and landed at their destination airport several hours later.

Kyle had received advance notice and called to say someone would meet Katrina.

Katrina didn't want to refuse the director's courtesy, so she agreed. She therefore didn't have Noah arrange for a car to take them to the hotel.

But unexpectedly, the person who came to meet them was Instructor Edward.

He drove a very sharp-looking black SUV that stood out conspicuously among the sea of sedans.

"Katrina." And he spotted her first, getting out of the car to greet her.

Katrina had been absent from training these past few days. In just that short time, Edward seemed to have gotten noticeably more tan.

But it didn't diminish his appeal—instead, it added a rugged masculine quality. Standing there, he cut quite a distinctive figure.

"Instructor Edward, thanks so much for picking us up." Katrina stepped forward to shake Edward's hand.

Edward's gaze swept to Noah beside her, and the smile on his face stiffened slightly. "And this is?"

"He's my bodyguard and assistant. I had no choice—my team wouldn't let me come alone, so they insisted I bring him." Katrina quickly introduced him.

They really hadn't brought many people on this trip—just a few plainclothes bodyguards who stayed out of sight. Even Murphy had been left behind to handle company matters.

"I see. Well, let's get going then." Edward moved to take the luggage from Noah's hands, acting quite friendly.

"No need." Noah pulled the luggage behind him, his attitude somewhat stiff.

"It's fine, let him carry it. No need to trouble yourself, Instructor Edward." Katrina smiled, smoothing things over, while shooting Noah a glare.

Edward was being kind and considerate—she had no idea what this guy was being stubborn about.