Chapter 373 Willing to Get Engaged to Alexander
Richard was utterly baffled.
When had he supposedly stolen Sophia's endorsement deal?
The more he thought about it, the less sense it made. With a quick nod of farewell, he decided to track down his agent and get to the bottom of it.
Charles glanced at his watch. "I have a cross-border meeting. I'll head out now. Don't wait for me for dinner tonight."
Catherine coughed softly, catching his sleeve. Her voice dropped to a near whisper. "Charles, there was suddenly a kid listed under my name in the registry, but it's all sorted now."
Grace, who had no idea what Catherine was talking about, immediately asked for details. Philip jumped in, embellishing the story with his own dramatic flair.
Charles, who had been on his way to the airport, stopped in his tracks. He listened in silence for a moment, piecing the situation together, before resuming his stride toward the door.
"Charles," Philip called after him, "the airport isn't that way."
"Not going. I have business to handle here in the country."
Philip blinked. "What?"
Skipping out on a deal? That was new.
After returning from the science summit, Catherine's inbox was flooded with messages — most of them from researchers in other labs begging to join hers.
But with Alkaid's strict entry requirements, even something as trivial as having a full head of hair eliminated a surprising number of applicants. For many scientists, the idea that their dream lab would reject them over baldness was a second crushing blow.
Juniper sat beside Catherine, watching her work through the flood of messages. The evening breeze stirred the curtains, brushing across Catherine's poised, striking face. She was young, yet there was a composure about her that could unsettle anyone — the quiet authority of someone who belonged exactly where she was.
It hit Juniper then: her little sister had the calm elegance of a born leader. How had she never noticed?
Back at the Windsor Villa, Marcus summoned Catherine to his study. The air was warm with the scent of tea as he poured her a cup himself.
"This was your grandmother's favorite," he said, handing it over. "Strangely enough, it hasn't been in production for years. Then you came home this year, and your father suddenly brought some back."
And perhaps… something else had come home with it.
"It's excellent," Catherine replied after a sip, knowing Marcus had more on his mind.
He studied her across the desk. In the tilt of her head and the set of her shoulders, there was something of Elodie — the woman he had once loved and lost, her presence lingering in the granddaughter before him.
"Catherine," he began, his voice lower now, "I owe you and your grandmother an apology. Back then, she and I… we met in the Galactic Aurora Collective."
His gaze drifted for a moment, remembering. "I was stationed at the border. The Collective's security clearance was far above mine. She brought me inside once, just to see it."
He smiled faintly, almost ruefully. "A lab isn't the most romantic place for a date, but for me, it was one of the warmest memories of my life."
He leaned forward. "The people who had higher clearance than me have all stepped down now. If you ever run into trouble there, come to me."
Catherine nodded. "I thought you might want me to leave the Galactic Aurora Collective."
Marcus's eyes softened. "If you left, your friends would follow you. You'd just be working under a different banner. What difference would it make? As long as you know what you're doing, I'm at ease."
He poured her more tea. "There's one more thing — your engagement to Alexander. How do you feel about it? You're still young. If you're not sure who you want to spend your life with, there's no rush to decide."
Marriage could wait; the engagement was only a formality. And yet, the thought of a lifetime with Alexander… didn't seem so bad.
"I'm fine with it," she said.
Marcus's eyes twinkled. "Fine with marrying anyone, or fine with marrying Alexander?"
Catherine met his gaze squarely. "Only Alexander."
"Good. Your school's had some staff changes. If you're not too busy, you might attend classes again — change of pace. Your happiness is what matters most to me. I'll have your parents handle the engagement arrangements."
For Catherine, school was just another way to clear her head.
She smiled. "Understood."
At Imperial University, the sleek lines of a Rolls-Royce drew stares as it pulled up to the gates.
Catherine unbuckled her seatbelt, but before she could step out, Alexander's hand caught hers. He leaned in, his voice low and teasing. "Kiss me before you go."
Heat rushed to her cheeks. Since when was Alexander so direct? They were lovers, yes, but hearing such intimate words in his deep voice sent her pulse racing.
His face was close now, the car's interior shrinking around them. She could feel the weight of his presence. Mischief sparked in her eyes; she patted his cheek, then, taking advantage of his momentary distraction, leaned in to kiss him quickly on the jaw before slipping out of the car.
Watching her walk away, Alexander touched the spot she'd kissed, a smile tugging at his lips — indulgent, helpless.
There was no resisting her.
Cecilia spotted Catherine on campus and hurried over, excitement in her voice. "Catherine!"
"Something wrong, Cecilia?"
Clutching her books, Cecilia dropped into the seat beside her. "The school expelled Lyra. And for some reason, Mr. Morales retired. We have a new principal now."
The incident at the science summit hadn't gone public, but word had spread quietly through the academic world — enough to ensure Franklin would never set foot in serious research again. Exactly as Catherine had expected.
Cecilia pouted. "The department head's been replaced too. He wants you to stop by his office after class — said he saw your design draft and wants to talk."
Catherine nodded. This class was supposed to be Gabriella's. She arrived late, apologizing before launching into the lecture.
Catherine propped her chin on her hand, watching her, when the chair beside her scraped softly. Emilia was sneaking in from the back, bent low like a thief, and dropped into the seat.
"This campus is huge. I've been looking for you everywhere," Emilia whispered.
"Wasn't it big when you were a student?"
Emilia shrugged, unashamed. "Wouldn't know. I never went to class — bought my degree, remember?"
"So why are you here?"
Her expression shifted instantly, bristling like a cat with its fur on end. "I'm breaking up with George. And I want him to stay the hell away from me."
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