Chapter 5 Running Away

Grayson stood by the street, an imposing figure dressed in a perfectly tailored white shirt and black trousers that accentuated his long, powerful legs. His entire presence exuded cold elegance and an air of nobility.

Even amidst the bustling street, he was impossible to overlook.

Beside him stood a woman in a form-fitting designer white dress that highlighted her every curve. Her delicate features and sweet smile made her the picture of effortless sophistication.

The two exchanged a few quiet words before the woman slipped her hand into the crook of Grayson's arm, leading him forward with practiced ease.

As they walked away, Cathryn exhaled a shaky breath and slowly lowered the magazine she had been using to shield her face.

But just as she began to relax, Grayson suddenly stopped and turned, his gaze locking onto hers with unnerving precision.

Even from a distance, his cold, penetrating eyes sent a chill down her spine, making her scalp prickle and her heart pound.

Then, as abruptly as he had looked, Grayson turned away, his attention shifting elsewhere.

Cathryn didn't wait for a second chance. She shot to her feet, her voice hurried as she addressed Jackson. "I'm sorry, Mr. Barnett, but I have to go."

Jackson barely had time to open his mouth before she grabbed her belongings and rushed toward the door, as though escaping something.

But just as she neared the exit, her heart sank. Grayson and the woman were now directly in her path, blocking her escape.

Startled, Cathryn froze, her hands tightening around her purse before she forced a polite smile and greeted Grayson.

Grayson's gaze swept over her, lingering for a brief moment on her white knee-length dress before settling on her slightly pale face. His voice was cool and distant. "Out for coffee with your classmate?"

"Grayson, who is this?" the woman beside him asked, her tone sweet and laced with curiosity. Her wide, doe-like eyes flicked between Clayton and Cathryn.

Grayson remained indifferent, his voice flat. "Jenna's niece."

The woman turned to Cathryn, her gaze assessing, her smile charming yet faintly condescending. "My, how much you've grown!"

She extended her hand to Cathryn with a graceful smile. "Hi, I'm Maia Andrews, a friend of Grayson's."

Cathryn didn't need the introduction to know who Maia was.

She had seen Maia at the Wheeler Mansion countless times.

Maia was the epitome of high society-a woman adored by everyone. Even Grayson, who rarely showed interest in others, treated Maia with noticeable favor.

Maia was like a delicate rose bathed in perpetual sunlight, while Cathryn felt like a shadow-dwelling weed, unnoticed and insignificant.

Before Cathryn could respond, Jackson approached hurriedly, holding out her phone. "Hey, you left this behind."

Cathryn took it quickly, her voice soft. "Thank you."

Jackson scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Would it be okay if we exchange numbers?"

In her eagerness to leave, Cathryn accepted his request without hesitation.

Neither of them noticed the way Grayson's gaze darkened, his expression growing colder by the second.

"Cathryn, is this your classmate?" Grayson asked, his voice deceptively calm.

Before Cathryn could explain, Jackson answered cheerfully, "Oh, no. We're on a blind date. It's our first meeting today."

"A blind date?" Grayson repeated, his tone dipping dangerously low as his eyes narrowed. A glint of something unspoken flashed in his gaze, cold and calculating.

Cathryn's heart stuttered, her fingers trembling as she clasped them tightly in front of her.

Lowering her head, she murmured, her voice barely audible, "No, he's just a regular classmate. Grayson, Ms. Andrews, you two should enjoy your day. We don't want to disturb your date."

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Jackson's arm and hurried toward the exit, her pulse racing.

At the entrance, Jackson laughed lightly, glancing back over his shoulder. "That guy is so young and ridiculously handsome. He looks better than most movie stars."

Cathryn turned her gaze to him, her melancholy deepening. Jackson's face bore a faint resemblance to someone etched in her memories, someone who could no longer be by her side.

But she quickly snapped herself out of it, her tone firm. "Mr. Barnett, you'd be better off staying away from me. Delete my contact information. Keeping it will only bring you trouble."

Jackson's eyes widened in surprise, his lips parting as if to ask why, but Cathryn had already turned and walked away, her pace quick and resolute.

The summer rain came without warning, heavy droplets cascading from the sky. Cathryn hadn't gone far when the heavens opened, turning the bright, sunny day into a dark and stormy scene.

Within moments, she was drenched, water soaking through her clothes as she searched frantically for cover. Finding none, she was forced to take refuge under a tree by the roadside, waiting for the rain to subside.

Minutes passed before a sleek black Maybach sped down the street, its tires splashing water that narrowly missed soaking her further.

The car came to a sudden stop, and the door swung open. A cold, low voice cut through the rhythmic sound of rain. "Get in."

Through the sheets of rain, Cathryn recognized the figure inside.

Grayson's slender wrist rested casually on the edge of the car window, his gaze steady and calm.

Even with the rain as a barrier, his presence bore down on her like an invisible weight, his commanding aura making her feel small, insignificant-trapped under his gaze.

For a moment, Cathryn hesitated, her heart pounding as the rain dripped from her face.

Then, without a word, she took a step back before turning on her heel and running.

Grayson watched her shrinking figure disappear into the rain, his piercing eyes narrowing.

The tension inside the car was palpable, and Rylan shifted uneasily in his seat before speaking softly. "Sir, should we bring her back?"

Grayson's lips pressed into a thin, unyielding line. His gaze remained fixed on the rain-drenched road where she had fled, his voice cold and deliberate. "Go to where she lives."

On the bus, Cathryn glanced over her shoulder repeatedly, her pulse racing, until Grayson's car was no longer in sight. Only then did she let out a shaky sigh of relief, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the tension.

Her hands tightened on the bus railing as an unsettling thought gripped her: Grayson seemed more terrifying with each passing encounter.

By the time she reached her stop, the rain hadn't lessened. Without an umbrella, she stumbled into the apartment building, soaked to the skin.

The fever she had thought was gone now burned hotter, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.

The hallway light, broken for weeks, cast the space in near-darkness, with only faint traces of outside light seeping in to illuminate the peeling walls and rusting fixtures.

Each step felt heavier than the last. Her damp clothes clung to her skin, and the hunger gnawing at her stomach made her knees tremble.

Leaning against the rickety staircase, Cathryn gripped the rusted railing for support, inching her way up the steps as her strength waned.

At the door, Cathryn realized with a sinking heart that she had left her purse at the café. All she had in her hand was her phone, now lifeless with a drained battery.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she slid down the wall, slumping onto the cold floor.

Why did her luck always seem to spiral downward whenever Grayson was involved? Nothing good ever came from crossing paths with him.

Her keys were gone. Her phone was useless.

All she could do now was wait for the rain to ease and figure out her next move.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed when the faint sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, slow and deliberate.

Her head felt unbearably heavy, but she forced herself to lift it slightly. A tall, upright figure emerged from the shadows, sending a jolt through her chest.

The invigorating scent of cedar reached her, crisp and familiar, wrapping around her senses like an unrelenting presence.

Her body stiffened as recognition set in, jolting her out of her haze.

Scrambling to her feet, she stammered, her voice shaky. "Grayson..."

Grayson stood motionless, his gaze locked onto her with unnerving intensity.

Her damp hair clung to her face, framing her delicate features and emphasizing the feverish flush that colored her skin.

Her lips, tinged a deep, inviting red from the fever, drew his attention and held it, sparking a fleeting desire that darkened his eyes.

Grayson took a step forward, then another, closing the space between them with slow deliberation. His voice was low and commanding, laced with an edge of curiosity. "Why did you run when you saw me?"