Chapter 4 Playing Hard To Get

Cathryn abruptly shoved Jerald away, her voice firm but controlled. "Please respect yourself-and me."

Jerald's expression twisted, his jaw tightening as he gritted his teeth. "Cathryn, don't overestimate your value. How are you any different from your aunt, who's always scheming to climb the social ladder? A golden opportunity is staring you in the face, and here you are playing hard to get. What is this, some kind of your game?"

Cathryn's eyes hardened, her tone dropping to an icy edge. "I'm fully aware that your family is out of my league. I've never had any intention of clinging to any of you."

Her composed defiance made Jerald falter for a moment. Running a hand through his hair, his tone softened slightly, though the underlying arrogance remained. "Cathryn, that's not what I meant," he said, his voice almost coaxing. "As long as you stay by my side, I can give you anything-except the title of my wife. I know I've done things that crossed the line, and I let Dina torment you, but that's all in the past. From now on, I'll make it up to you-I'll treat you twice as well. Don't tell me you don't have even a sliver of feelings for me."

Cathryn's expression remained cold, her voice cutting as she interrupted him. "You're mistaken. I don't have any interest in you."

She held his gaze with unwavering clarity as she enunciated each word. "To be exact, I'm not interested in anyone from the Wheeler family. Not even slightly."

Inside the limousine, Grayson's sharp hearing caught her words clearly. His hand, which had been resting on the car door, froze. A faint trace of anger crept into his eyes, and the tension in the car thickened palpably.

Jerald's temper erupted at Cathryn's blunt rejection. "Not interested in me? Is it because of him?"

With a sudden, angry motion, he pulled a stack of photos from his pocket and flung them at her, his voice rising with rage. "Is this the guy you like?"

The photos scattered across the ground, some landing face-up in the faint light.

Cathryn's eyes widened slightly as she recognized the figure in the pictures-it was Alexander Griffiths, her classmate. Recently, she had been spending more time with Alexander due to their internship, but she hadn't imagined Jerald would notice, let alone take it this far.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself as her gaze returned to Jerald. "I know the Wheeler family has influence, but don't involve my classmate in this. He's just an ordinary person-and no, I don't like him."

Jerald ignored her words, stepping closer as he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in front of him. His towering frame loomed over her, his voice dropping to a menacing tone. "If you want him to graduate without any trouble, you'd better behave. The next time I see you getting close to that man, I'll make sure his life becomes a living hell."

Cathryn's face shifted instantly, her expression twisting into one of profound disgust as her sharp gaze met his.

Jerald faltered, momentarily taken aback by the sheer loathing reflected in her eyes.

Cathryn, who had spent ten obedient years with the Wheeler family, had always been compliant and meek. At her worst, she would only flee when cornered. When had her gaze grown so piercing, so resolute?

After a moment of silence, she crouched down, gathering the scattered photos one by one before tossing them into a nearby trash can with deliberate precision.

She straightened, picked up her box of belongings, and turned to leave. Her voice was steady but laced with quiet sarcasm. "Jerald, you should go. A place like this isn't fit for someone of your status."

Without waiting for his response, she disappeared into the black veil of the night. By the time Jerald snapped out of his stupor, she was long gone.

Frustrated, he kicked the trash can, muttering a string of curses before storming off and speeding away in his car.

Minutes later, the door of the black limousine opened, and a tall, lean figure stepped out.

The night wind swept through the narrow alley, rustling the dry leaves scattered across the pavement. The heavy summer air carried a faint, unpleasant musty odor from the old buildings, oppressive and hard to breathe.

Grayson moved toward the trash can with unhurried steps, bending down to retrieve a few crumpled photos from the pile.

The pictures showed Cathryn and Alexander walking side by side along a shaded campus path, sunlight filtering through the branches above, casting a golden glow over them. Together, they appeared like a perfect match.

Grayson squinted at the photos, his fingers brushing lightly over Cathryn's face.

Her smile was bright, her eyes alive with a luminous warmth. Was she truly this happy with that man?

Not far away, Cathryn lingered in a shadowy corner, her breathing shallow as she watched Grayson silently.

In his simplest attire-a crisp white shirt and tailored black trousers-he looked effortlessly refined, his presence commanding, even in the dilapidated surroundings. It was as though his mere existence elevated the worn-down residential area.

Yet, Cathryn knew the truth. Beneath that elegant exterior lay a heart as cold and ruthless as ice.

Suddenly, Grayson's head snapped up, his gaze locking directly onto hers with unerring precision.

His eyes glinted like a predator's in the dark, full of bloodlust and an unrelenting hunger for dominance.

Cathryn's breath caught in her throat, fear prickling her skin. She spun on her heels and hurried into the rundown building.

Inside, the hallway was cloaked in shadows, the lights long since broken. After just a few steps, her knees buckled, and she leaned heavily against the peeling wall, gasping for air.

The memories she had fought so hard to bury came flooding back, an avalanche of pain and suffocating grief pressing against her chest.

It took what felt like an eternity before she stumbled through the door of her tiny rented apartment, her trembling hands barely able to lock it behind her.

The one-bedroom apartment was modestly furnished, its simple decor cast into deeper relief by the dim lighting.

Through the window, the faint glow of a solitary light held Grayson's gaze, unwavering.

Raindrops began to fall, pattering against the pavement, but Grayson stood motionless, his posture as sharp and resolute as ever.

Rylan approached cautiously, an umbrella in hand. "Sir, it's getting late. We should head back."

Grayson's eyes didn't waver from the faint light. His voice was calm, measured. "Look into her social connections over the past few years."

Rylan hesitated for only a moment before replying, "There's not much left to investigate. Jerald has driven away almost everyone around her. Any man who got close to her, Jerald took care of them."

Grayson's fingers twitched slightly at the words, the only visible sign of reaction. He finally looked away from the faint light in the window.

"How old is Jerald now?" Grayson asked, his tone unreadable.

"Twenty-two. Two years older than Ms. Marsh," Rylan responded.

Grayson nodded faintly. "Good. He's old enough to get married. Start gathering information on eligible young women from prominent families. Find him a suitable match. It's time for him to settle down."

Rylan lowered his gaze, replying softly, "Yes, sir. But... don't forget your date with Ms. Andrews tomorrow."

Grayson's expression didn't shift, his tone colder than the rain. "Rylan, just focus on your job."

The next morning, Cathryn awoke feeling as though her body were weighted down by lead.

Touching her forehead, she found it burning hot, a deep throb of fever clouding her thoughts.

Dragging herself out of bed, she checked her temperature-102 degrees Farenheit.

After swallowing several fever-reducing pills, she collapsed back into bed, drifting in and out of restless sleep until the afternoon. When she finally stirred again, she felt a touch better, though her body was still sluggish.

Reaching for her phone, she noticed over a dozen missed calls and a single friend request on Facebook.

Cathryn stared at the screen for several long seconds, indecision gnawing at her. Finally, she swiped past the notification, ignoring it.

As long as she stayed away from the Wheeler Mansion, surely her path wouldn't cross with Grayson's again, right?

Just as she exhaled a shaky sigh, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was her best friend, Leanne Briggs. The second she answered, Leanne's voice came through, hurried and imploring. "Sweetie, I need your help!"

At six in the evening, Cathryn arrived at a café named BlueHues.

The large space felt quiet and almost serene, with only a few patrons scattered about since it wasn't the weekend.

Cathryn's eyes immediately landed on a young man sitting by the window.

With purposeful steps, she walked over, extending her hand confidently. "Hi, I'm Leanne Briggs."

The man looked up, a flicker of surprise softening his features. He stood, taking her hand with a polite shake. "Hi, I'm Jackson Barnett."

Jackson's white shirt and neatly pressed black pants gave him a clean, understated charm. His shy smile and gentle voice carried the warmth of a soft summer breeze.

Cathryn's chest tightened briefly. He bore a faint resemblance to someone from her past-a boy who had once shielded her from the world's harshness.

But that boy was gone now, taken from her four years ago.

A wave of bittersweet memories washed over Cathryn, leaving her momentarily adrift.

After some light conversation, Cathryn decided it was time to be honest. "I need to tell you something, Mr. Barnett," she said, her voice steady but apologetic. "I'm not actually Leanne. She's my best friend. I'm here to... disrupt this blind date. She's already in a relationship, but her family doesn't approve, so..."

Jackson opened his mouth to respond but stopped abruptly when Cathryn grabbed a magazine from the table and held it in front of her face like a shield.

He frowned, confusion flickering in his expression. "What's wrong?"

Cathryn wished she could disappear in an instant.

Why was he here? Of all places?

Outside the café, a sleek black Maybach had appeared as if from nowhere. Standing beside it was Grayson, exuding his usual air of cold elegance. But this time, he wasn't alone. Beside him stood a stunning woman, her every move poised and graceful, as though she belonged in his world.