Chapter 217: Terrifyingly Nosy
Catherine saw the concern in Alexander’s eyes immediately. It was the same look he had always given her throughout her life—the steady, protective gaze of the older brother she had relied on more times than she could count.
And that was exactly why she wanted to keep him away from all of this.
Because the last time, Dorian had torn every precious person away from her one by one.
This time, she had even more people she loved.
Even more people to protect.
"We’re handling it," she said, bringing out a practiced smile. "It’s going well. Maximilian arranged a lab for me, and I’m planning to release my complete research before they can move first. Even if they try to accuse me of stealing anything, we can deal with it. His mother is Dr. Morcant, after all."
She sounded convincing.
Too convincing.
Alexander looked into her eyes quietly.
"You know," he said after a moment, "you’re still my baby sister. That’s never going to change."
His voice softened.
"You might grow up. I might act like an idiot sometimes. But you’re still my little sister, Cathy. I’d do anything for you."
Catherine smiled gently. "I know."
And that was precisely why she could not involve him.
Before the conversation could grow heavier, she shifted the topic.
"Is Roxana in the main house?" she asked. "I should properly meet my new sister-in-law." Then she tilted her head slightly. "By the way, when are you holding the ceremony?"
Just then, Maximilian finally came downstairs after changing. His hair was still slightly damp, and Catherine refused to look at him for too long because she knew exactly what he had been doing upstairs mere minutes ago.
Alexander, meanwhile, smiled in that unmistakable way of a man hopelessly in love.
"Oh, that?" he said easily. "Roxana and I decided not to hold a ceremony. We’re already married legally, and the family accepted us. We’re both busy people, and she’s still building her career. There’s no point getting distracted by wedding preparations."
Catherine stood still.
She heard the words clearly, yet somehow they did not settle right in her mind.
Roxana and I decided.
It sounded natural coming from him.
Too natural.
But Catherine knew her brother.
Alexander had never cared much for grand events or traditions in the first place. If left alone, he probably would have signed papers and forgotten weddings existed entirely.
Yet the way he spoke now... it sounded rehearsed. Like he had fully accepted someone else’s reasoning as his own.
And suddenly, an irrational irritation stirred again inside her chest.
Why did it sound less like Alexander’s opinion...
...and more like Roxana’s words coming out of Alexander’s mouth?
Maximilian walked over to Catherine’s side, and with one glance at her face, he immediately understood what was happening inside her head.
Alexander, meanwhile, remained completely oblivious.
Maximilian almost wanted to laugh.
The Preston family had only ever seen Catherine’s composed side—the mature, reasonable daughter who mediated conflicts and carried herself gracefully. They had never truly seen the terrifyingly stubborn, possessive, overprotective Katerina buried underneath.
And judging by the look in her eyes now...
...she was seconds away from emerging.
"Right," Catherine said at last, patting Alexander’s arm in a deeply patronizing manner. "I’ll talk to her."
Alexander blinked.
Because there was something ominous about the way she said that.
"She doesn’t want to talk about it," he said cautiously. "She specifically asked me not to."
"Yes, yes, your marriage is legal and your children won’t be bastards in the eyes of the law, I understand," Catherine replied with a dismissive wave. "She probably doesn’t want a ceremony while pregnant, which is understandable. You can hold it after the baby is born."
Alexander stared at her.
"...What baby?"
"And if you don’t have time for wedding preparations," Catherine continued mercilessly, "how exactly are you planning to raise my nephew?"
Silence.
Alexander blinked once.
Twice.
"We are not having children right now," he said slowly. "We were planning to wait at least a year or—"
"Isn’t it a bit late for that?" Catherine interrupted, genuinely confused.
The realization finally began creeping across Alexander’s face.
"You think Roxana is pregnant?"
Catherine lifted her chin proudly. "I know she’s pregnant."
Now Maximilian actually had to press his lips together to stop himself from laughing.
"You know I’ve never been wrong," Catherine added with absolute confidence. "You’ll confirm it in about a week once she misses her period."
Alexander looked utterly stunned.
Meanwhile, Catherine had already moved on to her next concern.
"Is she in the main house?" she asked. "You didn’t bring your pregnant wife to that ridiculous hunting cabin of yours, did you? I told you when you built that place that you needed an actual house here, not a glorified cave for rich men with rifles."
Alexander opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing came out.
"And one more thing," Catherine said as she turned back toward him.
Her expression became frighteningly calm.
"If you brought home a woman who thinks she can touch my nephew—" her eyes narrowed dangerously, "—remind her that a coma would also put her career on hold. The baby, however, will survive."
Then, just like that, she walked away.
Alexander stood frozen in place for several seconds.
"...Since when did my sister become this terrifyingly nosy?" he finally muttered.
Maximilian chuckled under his breath, hands sliding casually into his pockets as he watched Catherine disappear toward the main house.
"Oh, that’s my Katerina," he said with unmistakable fondness. "And trust me... that was only twenty percent."
Alexander slowly turned toward him.
"...She used to be like this?"
Maximilian’s smile deepened.
"You have no idea."
Alexnader rushed behind Catherine. He didn’t want this storm to affect his wife.
-----
Jonathan stood stiffly in front of Dorian’s desk, his hands twisting together despite his efforts to appear calm.
"I need Dr. Ashley Renfield on the team, Mr. Blackwood," he said carefully. "She’s—"
"She disrespected my Catherine."
Dorian’s voice cracked through the room like thunder.
Jonathan immediately fell silent.
Dorian rose from his chair, one hand pressing against the desk as fury darkened his expression.
"If you think she can crawl back now and share Catherine’s glory after mocking her," he said coldly, "then you’re mistaken."
Jonathan clenched his jaw.
"If the research is going to move forward at the speed you want, I need her help," he said firmly this time. "Ashley already understands part of the framework. Replacing her now would slow us down."
Dorian tapped his fingers against the desk slowly, thinking.
In the end, results were what mattered.
The cure mattered.
Everything else could be handled afterward.
As for Catherine...
He could explain things to her once she returned to his side. If she was still angry at Ashley by then, he could simply let her decide Ashley’s punishment herself.
"You can bring her back," Dorian finally said.
Jonathan relaxed slightly.
"But," Dorian continued, his voice turning icy again, "she will only receive payment. Her name does not go on the paper. Not beside Catherine’s."
Jonathan was unhappy with that arrangement, but after a moment, he nodded anyway. Ashley would still earn more money than most researchers saw in their entire lives.
That alone would probably convince her.
"I understand," Jonathan said before leaving the office.
The door clicked shut.
Silence settled over the room.
Dorian leaned back slowly in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
He did not believe Fitzgerald.
Not for a second.
Catherine would never willingly get engaged to Maximilian Whitmore again.
Not in this life.
Something was wrong.
But none of that mattered right now.
Once the research was complete...
Once everything was in his hands...
...he would bring her back to his side where she belonged.
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