Chapter 393 The Love Prop of Catherine and Alexander
"So fierce."
His words might have sounded like a complaint, but the warmth in Alexander's eyes told a different story. He was clearly savoring every drop of Catherine's possessiveness.
Catherine arched a brow. "Good. Then you'd better behave yourself and not give me a reason to get this fierce again."
"Of course," he said smoothly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Though I wouldn't mind if you were… a little fierce in other ways."
She stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words. Was he implying what she thought he was implying? The way he said it carried a weight of suggestion that was far too intimate.
"Come on," she said, shaking her head. "Let's go see Grandfather."
"Lead the way."
From behind, Annie watched the two of them walk side by side, perfectly matched in both presence and elegance. She shook her head with a sigh. "That woman earlier? She was just a prop for Alexander and Catherine to show off their affection."
Felix's hospital room.
Yasmin sat at his bedside, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Dad, I'm sorry it took me so long to come back. I shouldn't have argued with you on your birthday."
Felix, pale and frail beneath the oxygen tubes, managed a small smile and shook his head. His hand, thin and spotted with age, lifted shakily. Yasmin immediately clasped it in both of hers, pressing her cheek to his palm.
"It's nothing," he murmured. "At my age, even having the chance to argue with my daughter is a blessing. Where are Irvin Hays and the children?"
"Irvin took them abroad for a competition. They've already booked the earliest flight back. Don't worry."
The children were among the few great-grandchildren left in the Howard family.
The door opened, and Alexander entered, Catherine's hand in his. She moved to Felix's side without hesitation, gently resting her fingers on his wrist to check his pulse.
The old man's face brightened instantly. "Catherine, do you think I can get rid of some of these tubes? Every time I wake up and see myself like this, it's… discouraging."
"I'll see what I can do," she replied softly.
"Good! I trust you. I've been taking all the medicine you sent me."
Catherine's lips curved in a helpless smile. He was like a stubborn child, eager for praise. And yet, beneath the lightness, her chest tightened. Felix had always treated her with genuine warmth, not just because of Alexander, but because he had truly taken her in as family.
"Grandfather," she said gently, "let me help you sit up. I'll give you a massage."
Yasmin quickly turned to Alexander. "Alexander, help her—she's just a girl, she can't lift you grandfather on her own."
But before Alexander could move, Catherine had already slipped an arm behind Felix's back, carefully avoiding the tubes, and lifted him with practiced ease. She settled him upright without causing him the slightest discomfort.
As Catherine's hands worked over his shoulders with steady, precise pressure, Felix let out a long, contented sigh. The tight lines around his eyes eased.
Yasmin blinked, surprised. She had only heard from Arabella that Alexander was deeply fond of Catherine. She hadn't expected the young woman to have medical skills—and to use them with such care, chatting with Felix as if he were her own grandfather.
For a moment, guilt pricked at Yasmin's heart. She had been away from her parents for too many years.
"Alexander," she said at last, "your grandmother mentioned you're planning to move the engagement forward. Isn't that a bit rushed? If you need my help, just say so."
Alexander's brows lifted slightly—this was news to him. It had to be the Windsor family's idea, meant to give Felix peace of mind in his final years.
"It is a little sudden," he admitted.
Catherine met his gaze calmly. "You don't want to?"
"On the contrary," he said without hesitation. "I'd be honored. I just don't want you to feel pressured."
Felix's voice was firm despite his frailty. "Catherine, this is your life we're talking about. Don't let my health make you compromise. I'd feel terrible."
Catherine's smile was warm but steady. "Grandfather, I'm not compromising. If you weren't here for it, the day would lose much of its meaning."
From the beginning, Felix had quietly done his part to bring her and Alexander together. Without him, they might not be standing here now.
"I'm not the type to settle for less," she continued. "As long as it's with Alexander, whether it's today or tomorrow, with or without a grand ceremony—it doesn't matter. What matters is that you're there."
Felix's eyes glistened. "Alright. I promise."
His heart swelled with relief. After all these years of watching his grandson grow up without the love he deserved, Alexander had finally found someone worthy of him.
When Catherine finished the massage and eased him back against the pillows, Felix drifted into the deepest sleep he'd had in months. His breathing was steady, his face peaceful.
Yasmin was astonished. Felix's sleep had been poor for so long—light, restless, constantly waking. No wonder he'd insisted on waiting for Catherine before taking his medicine.
Outside the room, Yasmin clasped Catherine's hand. "Good girl. Thank you for everything."
"It's nothing," Catherine replied with a small smile.
At the end of the corridor, Thora spotted Yasmin walking arm-in-arm with Catherine. Her stomach turned. So, Yasmin had fallen for Catherine's act too. She'd been so focused on winning over Arabella earlier that she hadn't realized Catherine would move so quickly to charm Yasmin as well.
She opened her mouth to speak—only to be silenced by a single, cool glance from Arabella. The look was enough to make her knees weaken. It was as if Arabella could read her thoughts.
And suddenly, doubt crept in. If Catherine really was as bad as Lyra claimed, why was Yasmin smiling at her like that? Maybe she needed to hear the whole story from Lyra before making her next move.The Howard Mansion
"This time I called you here because I need a favor," Arabella said.
Brad didn't even look up. "No money. Broke. Not lending you a cent."
She rolled her eyes. "Please. I just want Paloma to attend Catherine and Alexander's engagement party."
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