Blake's POV
I saw the tears in Catherine's eyes, and I regained some of my senses. I said, "I care about all the
things about you."
"If you do, you should hear me out, instead of only caring about whether something happened between
me and Harley." Tears flowed from Catherine's eyes.
I was very upset. My wolf was restless. The next second, I sat on the sofa next to us. I frowned and
didn't speak.
Catherine's voice was sad. She said, "You don't want to hear my explanation? Then I might as well
shut up."
She turned around and was about to leave. I called out to stop her.
"I want to hear it!" I said, looking at the tears on her face.
She bit her lip. "I don't want to say anything anymore."
"You have to." I held her wrist. "I admit I was rude. But you know it, right? I was only rude, because I
cared about you. I'm crazy about you."
She bit her lip and turned her face away.
My fingers gently touched her tender cheek and wiped her tears. "Tell me. I believe you."
Catherine said with a hint of annoyance, "I made a deal with Gina. It was about my biological parents.
This morning, I called her and asked her out to talk about it. She asked me to go to the hotel to meet
her. I went to the hotel, but I didn't see her. Only Harley was there. He was drugged, and he looked
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtstrange. It seemed that he was suffering."
"Then what happened?" I asked.
She looked up at me and said, "You saw the photos. Harley came at me without realizing it. I was
scared. I tried to open the door and run away, yet he pounced at me again."
"He didn't do anything else to you?" I looked back and forth at her, trying to find some marks.
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any marks on her exposed skin that I didn't want to see.
Catherine said, "No. I asked him to take a cold shower, and he agreed. Blake, Harley was a victim as
well. He didn't know why he was in the hotel, and he was drugged. I know it. Gina was the one who
framed us."
I looked at her face full of annoyance. I reached out and gently hugged her in my arms. "Cathy, do you
know? I thought you betrayed me."
"Why would I betray you?" Catherine leaned in my arms and asked, confused.
"I don't know. As soon as I saw the photos of you and Harley together, I couldn't think straight. Harley
grew up with you, and I'm sure he's obsessed with you. I was worried that you would have feelings for
him!"
I felt insecure and hugged her tighter. I kissed her gently on her neck, as if only by feeling her warmth
could I feel more at ease.
"What happened between Harley and I is history now. Just like you and Emily. Before meeting the love
of one's life, everyone will be more or less dependent on others around them. I understand you, and I
believe that you can do the same. Right?" Catherine said in a low voice, smiling.
I let go of her and looked into her eyes again. "What are the feelings you have for Harley now?"
"He is a friend to me."
I demanded overbearingly, "No! You can't be friends with him. I'll be jealous!"
"Can't we even be friends? Do you want me to be a stranger to him?" Catherine sounded helpless.
I nodded with satisfaction. "Yes. You will be a stranger to him. Also, you will only greet him when you
see him. You have to promise that you won't reach out to him."
"You are so overbearing. I never asked you to do something like that." Catherine sounded reluctant.
"You can ask me the same thing now. I will do it!" I said in a low voice, full of certainty.
Catherine chuckled and broke free from my arms. "We don't need to go that far. Neither you nor I can
live without friends. I believe you. And I hope you can believe me."
She left my arms, and I felt a sense of emptiness.
"I'll get someone to bring Gina back now and have her tell the truth. If she was the one who planned all
this, then I wouldn't make things difficult for Harley." I disliked Harley, but I was a reasonable man.
Catherine gritted her teeth and said, "I am certain that she was behind all this. I won't be lenient and let
her off the hook again. She has caused me so much trouble."
Just as the two of us reached an agreement, someone suddenly contacted me through Mind-Link.
I said to Catherine, "Patricia wants to Mind-Link me."
Catherine was somewhat terrified and uneasy.
"She didn't see the news, did she?" Catherine covered her face with her hands.
"I wanted to hear you out first before asking someone to delete the gossip. I guess it's too late now," I
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmsaid, twisting my eyebrows.
I connected to Mind-Link, and Patricia's voice sounded in my mind.
'What's the matter with that Catherine? How could she hug another man? That was so disgraceful! She
is the mother of two kids! How sad will her kids be when they see those photos?"
My eyes met Catherine's, and Catherine saw the helplessness in my eyes at once. She showed a bitter
smile.
"Grandma, it was a misunderstanding. Can I explain it to you when I get home?" I already knew the ins
and outs of the matter, so I spoke up for Catherine.
However, in Patricia's eyes, I was partial to Catherine.
Patricia was furious. "Blake, I always thought you were a rational and calm man. How come you are
fooled? They were hugging together! What is to explain? Don't tell me that you think nothing happened
between Catherine and that man! Are you confused? Or am I confused, because I'm getting old? Why
are you still lying to yourself about things that are even so clear to me?"
I knew Patricia had an opinion of Catherine, so I had to calm Patricia down and comfort her for the time
being. Then I cut off Mind-Link.
Catherine was so anxious that her face was pale. She pulled my sleeve and said, "What did your
grandmother say? Is she disappointed in me?"
"Yes." My eyes flickered. "She is very angry. Gina is the only one who can explain the matter.
Otherwise, I don't think my grandmother would ever believe that nothing happened between you and
Harley."
"Gina's so annoying!" Catherine said, vexed.
I stroked her face and comforted her, "Don't worry. I will get to the bottom of it. I will not let you suffer."