Outside, only when Kathy left the main building and saw the sky had already grown dark, did she realize sheâd not yet had anything to eat. But she didnât want to stay here.
Suddenly, with a squeal of brakes, a light blue car came to a stop before her. Bertie got out, opened the passenger door, and said, âItâs hard to hail a car here. Iâll take you to the airport. Iâd worry if you want on your own.â
Kathy furrowed her brow, but got in. But this time, Bertie did not take her to the airport. Instead he drove toward the city center, farther and farther from the airport. Looking at him, she asked, âWhere are you taking me?â
âMy home.â
âI want to go back to City N,â she told him seriously.
âYouâve not begun school yet. If you go back now, youâll be all alone. Better to stay with me, it will foster sentiment.â
âNobody wants to foster sentiment with you,â she snapped. She wanted to get out, but Bertie had locked the doors.
âNow Josephâs not with you, I want to take the opportunity to get nearer you,â he said without a scrap of shame.
âBertie, let me out of the car!â she demanded, glaring at him. When he did not, she got out her phone and threatened, âOtherwise Iâll call the police.â
But he was unimpressed. Laughing lowly, he said, âI took your SIM card out back at the Booth home. Your phoneâs got no signal.â
She turned it on to discover that he was right. âYou bastard,â she raged.
But the angrier she grew, the happier he became. He found her fury adorable. Arriving at a neighborhood, he got out and opened her door for her, saying, âPlease, miss.â
Kathy got out and prepared to run, but Bertie had anticipated as much. He caught her easily, wrapped her up in his arms. âBertie Marshall!â she shouted.
âDonât force my hand. I just want you with me. I wonât hurt you, and here, I wonât interfere with your freedom.â
âYouâre interfering with me freedom now,â she glared.
âAside from now, as long as you donât leave City N, you can do anything you want with me,â he told her earnestly. But Kathy was hardly grateful.
Escorting her from the parking lot, he kept her locked in his arms.
She hated being so near him. âLet me go, I wonât run.â
He furrowed his brow, and did not release her till they entered the elevator. Immediately she scrambled away from him. Seeing the floor numbers go by, her complexion became increasingly pale. She felt increasingly conflicted.
âDonâtâ be afraid of me. Iâve never hurt you, have I?â
Kathy smiled coldly. âYou drugged and tried to rape me. Does that not count?â
âI...â He pressed his lips together. It was the first time in his life heâd ever been at a loss for words. That had been Grandfatherâs plan, but heâd accepted, even if heâd regretted it later. But because it was Kathy, heâd not had the heart. He wanted her to be willing.
Kathy could not restrain her temper. âAll of you that claim to act on my behalf end up hurting me. Iâve had enough.â She hated being bound, being controlled. She wanted to be respected. But in the Booth family, that was near-impossible.
Bertie gazed at her seriously, understanding her a bit more in that moment. âI admit that that was wrong of me. But I thought Iâd already made it up to you.â
âEmphasis on you thought.â
He raised his arms, trapping her between him and the wall. âWhat will it take for you to forgive me?â
Kathy, disgusted, pushed him away. âGet away from me!â
âTell me how to earn your forgiveness,â he insisted.
She lifted her chin, and laughed coldly. âThen let me go. Now.â
âBetter for you to hate me for now, then.â
His home was located on the top floor of the building. He opened the door, and when Kathy lingered in the doorway, he motioned her inside. She had no choice but follow.
His mother, upon seeing Kathy, said with a smile, âBertie, how could you bring a girl home and not tell me first?â
âIt was an impulse decision.â To a servant he said, âGet the guest room ready.â
âHello, maâam,â Kathy said to his mother politely.
âCome in, donât be nervous,â she bade. Sensing Kathyâs hesitation, her smile softened.
âThis is Kathy, Grandfatherâs granddaughter,â Bertie introduced.
His mother walked over, and asked astutely, âHas Bertie treated you badly? Is that why youâre upset?â
Kathy furrowed her brow. Sheâd never been able to conceal her emotions. They were always writ plain on her face. âYes,â she said simply. âIâm going to go rest.â
Bertieâs mother saw that her sonâs gaze never left Kathy. âWhy have you brought her?â she asked, puzzled. âShouldnât she be with the Booth family?â
âShe wants to return to City N. Iâm making her stay.â
âAh, so thatâs why she looks so conflicted.â
Bitterly Bertie said, âShe hates me. But at least thatâs better than her having no feelings for me at all.â At least this Kathy had heat, instead of being so typically cool.
âThe terms of Zackâs inheritance. What were they?â his mother asked.
âThe Booth Groupâs stocks and most of its property. But she refused them, so theyâll go to her mother.â
âWhy?â asked his mother with surprise.
âSheâs not willing to marry me, so she canât access her inheritance.â
His mother smiled. âWhat an unusual child.â Her son was charmingâno girl could refuse him. Yet this Kathy would rather give up her inheritance than marry him. âBut sheâs Josephâs ex-wife, isnât she,â she recalled. âPerhaps she canât get over him.â
âIâll make her forget him over time.â
âDo what you think best. If you can marry her, of course it would be great for the whole family.â
...
That night, Kathy came looking for Bertieâs room, and he teased, âCanât sleep?â
âIâve stayed, so you can give me my SIM card back.â
My Sweetheart ï¤Chapter 306 From now on, I'll run after you Genius Son Sells his Mom to Dad ï¤Chapter 488 A New beginning It'll Come Naturally ï¤Chapter 1809 The Ending (Part Four)
âI will when you return to City N. Donât worry, Iâm paying the bill for you.â
She glared at him. âDonât you think this is a bit much? Itâs like prison!â
âIt is a bit much. But I have to, to get you to stay. Tomorrow Iâll take you out, show you around, help you relax. All right?â
âYou go. Iâm not interested.â
She turned to return to her room, and Bertie followed, asking, âAre you not used to things here?â
âNo. I want to go home,â she glared. How could she be used to it? All she wanted was to leave.
âWho knows, this might be your home one day,â he pointed out, genuinely hoping sheâd like it here.
âBertie, thatâs enough. This is not my home, and it never will be,â she said tightly. And with that, she shut the door in his face.