Chapter 940 Who Wouldnât Like Me?
Ronin shook off Withalâs hand and was about to rush forward. Not far ahead, a man was chatting with a woman. Ronin didnât recognize the woman, but even with just a glimpse of the manâs profile, he could tell it was Branden!
Catherine was working hard in the laboratory, and here was Branden flirting with a woman. Ronin couldnât allow that to happen.
Withal held on tightly, not daring to loosen his grip. Branden wasnât just anyone. If Ronin charged forward, it could lead to trouble.
He had to stop Ronin.
âRonin, donât be impulsive. What if itâs a misunderstanding? Do you want Catherine to clean up the mess for you? Sheâs been busy lately. Plus, you know how much Branden loves Catherine, right?â
The last sentence gradually calmed Ronin down. If Branden hadnât treated Catherine well, Ronin would have confronted him right now. In his eyes, any man who had feelings for Catherine was bad. But if Branden had truly been faithful, that would be a different story.
Frowning, Ronin looked at Withal. âSo, what do you suggest?â
Withal picked up Roninâs phone from the table and took a few pictures of Branden and the woman. âYou take these photos to Catherine, and Iâll investigate the woman privately. Catherine needs to handle this herself, unless you think she canât handle such a small matter.â
âOf course she can handle that,â Ronin said without hesitation.
âYeah, Catherine is much more capable than us. Sheâll sort it out. Besides, if Branden is really cheating, who do you think will be the first to hold him accountable?â
Withal smiled mysteriously at Ronin. If Branden had truly crossed the line, the Duncans might not get off lightly.
Ronin nodded in agreement and said, â Youâre right. Iâll leave this to you and go find Catherine.â He got up and left immediately.
Withal wanted to call after him to pay the bill but hesitated and ended up watching Ronin slip away.
When Catherine received Roninâs message, she was still in the laboratory. Seeing him urgently calling out to her, she stopped her work and approached him. âWhatâs wrong?â
On the way there, Ronin had thought of various explanations, but when he saw Catherine, he hesitated. Despite having cursed Branden in his heart countless times, now he didnât dare to say anything.
Catherine noticed his hesitation and found it amusing. âWhatâs troubling you? Tell me, and Iâll help you analyze. it.â
Ronin hesitated for a moment and said, âCatherine, try not to get too upset when you find out.â
Catherine, with her arms crossed, looked at him intently. Ronin slowly took out his phone from his pocket and handed it to her.
Catherine casually took it and, upon seeing the photos, she narrowed her eyes. âDid you take these?â
âYes,â Ronin explained the situation to Catherine. âWithal is investigating the woman. We should have news soon.â
Catherine nodded calmly and returned the phone to Ronin. âLet me know when thereâs an update,â she said before leaving abruptly, leaving Ronin bewildered. âWhat does Catherine mean by this?â he wondered.
After returning to the laboratory, Catherine intended to continue working. However, she couldnât get the image out of her head.
Expressions could be faked, but the eyes never lied. She had always thought that Branden would maintain a cold attitude towards everyone except her, because she was unique. However, she was mistaken. In the photo, Brandenâs gaze, though calm, lacked his usual indifference.
âCatherine, Catherine...â Marshall called her twice, but she didnât respond until he approached and tapped her on the shoulder.
âProfessor Hartley, what brings you here?â she asked.
âI called you twice. Didnât you hear me? âMarshall frowned, feeling somewhat concerned. Catherine, who was usually alert, hadnât even noticed him approaching.
Catherine shrugged. âI was thinking about something just now and didnât notice. Do you need something?â
âNo, I was just passing by and happened to see you lost in thought,â Marshall replied. âYouâre too focused on your work. While the projects are important, so is your well-being. You need to take care of yourself.â
Catherine didnât really catch what Marshall said; her mind was preoccupied with something else. She turned to Marshall and asked, â Professor Hartley, can I take a leave?â
Upon hearing her request, Marshall felt quite happy. âOf course, take today off, and tomorrow too. Just make sure you get some rest!â
âThank you, Professor Hartley!â Catherine said, then packed up and left.
Watching her depart, Marshall felt quite relieved. âSheâs finally coming around and knows she needs a rest.â He often got so absorbed in his experiments that he neglected sleep and food, earning him a scolding from his wife. But Catherineâs dedication made him feel inadequate. She was a born scientist.
After leaving the laboratory, Catherine went back to her apartment. As she arrived at the building, she ran into Thomas.
âI thought youâd still be in the lab at this time,â he said.
âI felt a bit tired, so I came back to rest, âCatherine replied casually.
Thomas felt sorry seeing her like this; he treated Catherine as his granddaughter. âYou should go back and rest soon. Resting more will benefit you.â
âMr. Theo, where are you heading?â Catherine asked, noticing his casual attire, indicating he was about to go out.
âIâm going to play chess with Aaron and grab a meal,â Thomas replied.
Catherine always thought highly of Aaronâs cooking. Feeling a bit bored at the thought of going home alone, she decided to go with Thomas. She didnât have a special reason for taking leave; she was just feeling bothered and didnât feel like working.
When Thomas heard that she wanted to go, he readily agreed. âThatâs great, Aaron also likes you,â he said.
Catherine joked, âWho wouldnât like me?â
Thomas chuckled at her remark. â Donât be too confident, girl!â