"Ashley!" Bruce never imagined the whip would strike Ashley instead. He let it fall from his hand and hurried over to her. The sight of the mark on her face made his chest tighten with pain. His eyes burned with anger as he stared at Cathleen. "Cathleen, she's your sister! How could you be so cruel as to use her as a shield?"

Cathleen lowered her eyes briefly before meeting his eyes with icy indifference. "You were the one swinging it. How is that my responsibility?"

"I was aiming at you! If you weren't so vicious, Ashley wouldn't have been hurt!" Bruce snapped, his temper boiling over as his words struck Cathleen like blades.

A faint, frosty smile touched Cathleen's lips. "You never acted like a father to me. What gives you the right to lecture me now?"

Bruce was beyond furious. "You've completely lost control. Get out! And don't even think about coming back here without my permission."

Cathleen had no interest in continuing the argument. She turned toward the butler. "Where's my room?"

After walking all day, she was drained. There was no chance she was leaving. Bruce had no authority over her.

The butler, still stunned, instinctively pointed to a room on the second floor.

Cathleen gave a small nod. "Thanks."

As she headed upstairs without sparing anyone a glance, Bruce shook with rage. "Cathleen! Didn't you hear me? Stop right where you are!"

Without turning around, she flicked her hand dismissively. "If anyone's leaving, it should be you. I don't have time for this."

With that, she disappeared around the staircase corner, leaving the rest of the family fuming in the chaos she left behind.

Bruce clutched his chest, cursing under his breath. "What an ungrateful girl! I never should've allowed her to come back."

Through her tears, Ashley spoke up. "Dad, she and Matthew are already married. What about me?"

Still seething, Bruce grew even more impatient. "They're legally married. What do you expect me to do? At the end of the day, she's still my daughter. We're not losing anything from this marriage."

Ashley tightened her fists, her face filled with hurt and resentment. "Yeah, you're right. Cathleen is your biological daughter. I'm just—"

Kevan couldn't bear to hear her diminish herself and cut her off. "Ashley, don't say things like that. To me, you're my only sister. Cathleen means nothing."

"Ashley, hearing you say that breaks my heart. Don't you know how much I've cherished you all these years?" Suzanne quickly added, trying to comfort her.

Ashley pouted slightly. "I'm sorry, Mom. I'm just scared that once Cathleen is back, you won't love me the same way."

"How could that ever happen? You're the most important person to us. That will never change."

Upstairs, Cathleen leaned against the wall, looking down at the display of family affection below. A look of contempt crossed her face before she turned and walked into her room.

...

At the Spencer residence, the moment Matthew stepped into the living room, Edmund's lively voice rang out. "Did you get married?"

Matthew let out a cold laugh. "Didn't you have someone following me? You should already know the answer."

Edmund's lips pressed into a thin line, though he seemed used to Matthew's open defiance. "Since you're married now, why did you come back alone? Where is your wife?"

Matthew handed his suit jacket to a nearby servant. "She's at the new house you arranged for us."

"The one in Ravine Estates?" Edmund was quick to catch on. It took him only a second to understand Matthew's intentions, and his aged face darkened. "Get out!"

Matthew looked slightly confused, his brows knitting together. "I already married her like you wanted. What else are you expecting from me?"

Edmund shot back sharply, "I want a great-grandchild!"

"Not happening," Matthew replied without hesitation.

Marrying a complete stranger was already pushing his limits. Having a child with her was something he wouldn't even consider.

Edmund slammed the tip of his cane against the floor, the sharp sound echoing as his commanding voice filled the room. "You're moving into Ravine Estates right now. And find an appropriate time to bring her back, so she can be properly introduced to our family. After that, arrange a wedding ceremony. She's had a hard life since she was young. You should treat her well from now on."

Matthew's tone dropped, cold and restrained. "Don't push me too far."

Edmund didn't flinch. Instead, he played his strongest card. "Listen—if you refuse, you'll spend the rest of your life without ever learning the truth about what happened back then."

A sharp chill flickered through Matthew's eyes, though his face stayed composed.

Edmund could tell that he had struck a nerve. Clearing his throat, he eased his tone. "Just yesterday, an old friend of mine called to brag about his great-grandson. I'm not getting any younger; I've got one foot in the grave already. Is it really too much to hope I can see my own great-grandchild before I go? Besides, she doesn't seem bothered by the age gap. You should consider yourself lucky."

For a moment, Matthew had no response.

He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek before finally speaking through clenched teeth. "This is the last time."

Edmund ignored the warning entirely. In families like theirs, marrying first and developing feelings later was nothing unusual. He had already looked into Cathleen; she was straightforward, kind, and gentle, a perfect balance for someone like Matthew, who was quiet, guarded, and emotionally distant.

Seeing Matthew finally relent, Edmund acted quickly, worried he might change his mind. He immediately said to a nearby servant, "Pack Matthew's belongings and send everything over to Ravine Estates."

Matthew didn't bother arguing further. He slipped the jacket he had just removed back on and walked out, his expression dark.

Standing nearby, the butler, Laurence Brooks, watched him leave with concern. "Sir, do you really think he'll cooperate this time?"

Edmund let out a dismissive snort. "I've got him cornered. He wouldn't dare go against me."

Laurence had served the Spencer family for more than thirty years, attending to Edmund personally all that time.

He poured a cup of coffee and handed it over. "Do you truly have that much faith in Cathleen? She grew up in the mountains, and from what I've heard, the Stewart couple never cared much for her. They treat Ashley like she's priceless, while Cathleen was neglected. She was raised in a poor, remote area, likely uneducated and lacking refinement. Is she really suitable for Matthew?"

Edmund accepted the cup and scoffed lightly. "Of course she is. The Stewarts simply don't recognize value when they see it."

Laurence said nothing more.

As if something had just come to mind, Edmund added, "Bring me my phone. I'm going to call Cathy."

It was the first time Laurence had ever seen Edmund show such personal concern for someone, which made it clear that the young woman must have something special about her.

Cathleen had just finished freshening up and was now sitting cross-legged on her bed, meditating, when she felt a faint vibration against her finger.

It was a habit she had maintained since childhood.

Her communication device was something she had designed herself, cleverly disguised as a ring on her index finger.

Beyond basic communication, it could also be taken apart and reassembled into a compact, high-performance computer when needed.

The subtle vibration made her finger tingle slightly. She frowned at first, but the moment she saw the caller ID, her expression softened. "Hello, Mr. Spencer."

"Oh, hi, Cathy!" Edmund said in a bright, cheerful tone. "Matthew just headed over to Ravine Estates. After all, tonight is your wedding night."

Cathleen waited quietly until he finished speaking before replying, "I'm not there."

Edmund paused, caught off guard. "You're not? Where are you then?"

"I'm at home with my family," Cathleen answered.

"Oh dear, that's on me," Edmund said apologetically. "My memory isn't what it used to be. I'm getting forgetful. It's your first day back home; of course you'd be having a proper meal with your family."

A faint, ironic smile curved Cathleen's lips. Having a proper meal with her family?

The Stewarts were absorbed in celebrating Ashley's birthday, and no one had bothered to check whether she had even eaten.

Even so, she had no intention of mentioning any of it to Edmund, not wanting him to worry unnecessarily.

"Don't worry, Mr. Spencer. I'll stop by tomorrow," she said.

On the other end of the line, Edmund's voice immediately lifted with warmth. "That's great to hear! You really are the most thoughtful person, Cathy. If Matthew ever gives you a hard time, just tell me. I'll stand up for you."

"Thank you," Cathleen said softly, a trace of concern in her tone. "Have you been feeling any better recently? How are the herbs working for you?"

"They're helping a lot," Edmund answered. "My headaches have eased significantly. The hospital report from yesterday showed that the abnormal cells in my brain have stopped progressing. It's all thanks to your treatment."

Cathleen offered, "I'll give you another session in a few days."

"Alright, I'll be at home waiting for you then."

"Alright."

After ending the call, Cathleen lost the desire to continue meditating. She decided to lay down and rest instead.

She followed a disciplined routine, going to sleep every night at nine and waking at five each morning.

Back in the mountains, she used to rise at dawn with the sound of roosters crowing. The Stewart estate had no roosters, but years of conditioning still made her wake up at the same exact time.

She got dressed, went downstairs, and completed three laps around the lake. On her way back, she happened to meet Kevan at the gate.

His expression was cold and heavy with frustration. The servants all knew he was especially irritable in the morning, so they kept their distance, afraid of provoking him.

Kevan had spent half the night soothing Ashley after she was whipped, waiting until her emotions settled. After that, he returned to his room to handle a pile of documents and only managed to sleep for a few hours.

He was already in a terrible mood, and naturally, Cathleen happened to cross his path at exactly the wrong time.

Kevan gestured for her to come over as though she were some pet. "Come here."

Cathleen walked right past him without even sparing him a glance.

That instantly set Kevan off. He grabbed the back of her collar. "Are you deaf or what? Didn't you hear me calling you?"

Cathleen had always thought of herself as emotionally steady, but living with this family made her realize she might have been mistaken.

She turned smoothly, used the momentum to seize his arm, twisted it, and flipped him to the ground. Looking down at him, she said, "Sorry. Wild boars in the mountains tend to attack from behind. After years of dealing with that, I developed a reflex."

She paused briefly, then added, "It wasn't intentional."

Kevan couldn't believe she had just compared him to a wild boar and followed it up by pretending it wasn't deliberate.

His chest rose and fell sharply. As a grown man, being thrown to the ground by her was deeply humiliating. His face darkened as he glared at the surrounding servants who were watching. "Leave, all of you!"

The servants scattered quickly in fear.

Kevan got back on his feet and stared at Cathleen for a long moment before letting out a cold, derisive laugh. "Exactly what you'd expect from some country bumpkin. Besides brute strength, what else are you even good for?"

Cathleen said nothing, simply looking at him.

Kevan went on, "Don't think that just because Mom and Dad brought you back, you can claim you belong here. You're not worthy of this family!"

The memory of Ashley crying in his arms the night before still made his chest tighten painfully.

Honestly, part of him wished his parents had never found Cathleen.

Cathleen fixed him with a long, searching stare. "You were the one who switched the newborn name tags back then, weren't you?"

All the color drained from Kevan's face. His expression turned instantly cold and dangerously grim.

Cathleen chose not to pursue the topic any further. She simply turned and headed back upstairs.

When she came down again, she had the same backpack she had arrived with.

Breakfast was already underway in the dining room. No one had informed her, and no one had made any effort to wait.

A brief flicker of resentment crossed Ashley's eyes, but the moment she noticed Cathleen approaching, she quickly replaced it with a polite smile. "Cathleen, come join us for breakfast."

Ignoring the invitation, Cathleen placed her backpack to the side, chose the seat farthest from everyone else, and picked up a sandwich.

Bruce's expression darkened with displeasure. He didn't have any real attachment to Cathleen, but she was still his biological daughter. His tone turned cold as he spoke. "I've already arranged a school for you. After breakfast, you'll go with Ashley to complete your enrollment. If word gets out that my daughter is uneducated, it will ruin my reputation."

Ashley's grip tightened slightly as she chewed. The university she attended was the most prestigious private institution in Oqruron, and admission there was highly competitive. Even she had only secured her place through the family's influence.

How could a country bumpkin like Cathleen get into a school like that the moment she arrived?

In a soft, cautious tone, Ashley said, "Dad, my university's curriculum is extremely rigorous. I'm worried Cathleen might struggle to keep up. Maybe it would be better for her to start at the community college nearby. The courses there are less demanding. She could adapt gradually before transferring to my school later. That way, the pressure won't be too overwhelming for her."

With a pleased smile, Suzanne placed food onto Ashley's plate. "Ashley, you're always so considerate."

Bruce's only real concern was that Cathleen obtain a degree so she wouldn't embarrass him. The specific institution didn't matter much to him. After a brief pause, he agreed. "Alright, we'll go with Ashley's suggestion."

Cathleen focused on her breakfast and finished it soon. She raised her head and said, "Thank you. Whatever you decide is fine with me."

Kevan let out a silent, mocking scoff. In his mind, that kind of school suited Cathleen perfectly, barely functional and full of people with no real prospects.

Once she stepped outside and felt the open air, Cathleen sensed an immediate release of tension, as if something heavy had been lifted off her.

The night before, she had used the guest room computer to check the location of Ravine Estates. It wasn't far, just a bit over twenty-five miles away.

If she ran, it would take her roughly an hour to get there.

She lowered her center of gravity slightly, inhaled deeply, and then launched into a sprint. Her speed was so fast that to anyone watching, she would have looked like a fleeting blur.

By the time she arrived, Cathleen tilted her head up toward the sky, a faint, satisfied smile forming on her lips.

It took her exactly an hour.

The estate was a secured residential community, and all visitors were required to register before entering or leaving. Fortunately, Edmund had already informed them ahead of time, so she was allowed in without any issues.

Following the listed addresses, she moved from one villa to the next until she finally stopped in front of a uniquely designed, elegant residence.

House 16.

This was the place.

Wiping a trace of sweat from her forehead, Cathleen stepped forward and entered the access code. The gate unlocked immediately.

What greeted her first was a spacious yard, even larger than the clearing near the wooden cabin she once shared with Erin in the mountains. But unlike that familiar place, this yard was completely empty.

Inside, the home was quiet, nothing like the Stewart residence, which was always filled with servants and constant activity.

She set her luggage down and took a moment to look around. The interior was fully furnished, but the design leaned heavily on black and white tones, giving the entire space a stark, almost repetitive feel.

After finishing her inspection of the ground floor, she headed upstairs. The door to a room on the right was left open, and she looked inside.

A person was lying asleep on the bed.

The man inside the room was Matthew.

He was tall and long-limbed, and even stretched out across the king-sized bed, he somehow made it seem too small.

His features were striking, and even in sleep, there was still something imposing about him.

Cathleen couldn't quite figure out how anyone could still be sleeping after ten in the morning.

She lingered at the doorway, uncertain whether she should knock and wake him, when an icy, irritated voice suddenly rang out. "Get out!"

Cathleen lifted her eyes and met a pair of cold, dangerous-looking ones.

Attractive people really did have their advantages. Both he and Kevan were unpleasant when they first woke up, but Matthew was far easier to look at.

Too bad his temper was awful, and hers wasn't exactly gentle either.

Cathleen stepped back twice, then slammed the door so hard it felt as if the whole house rattled.

Matthew had just risen from bed when the explosive bang caught him off guard, making him lose his balance for a second.

He steadied himself and stood there in stunned silence.

He couldn't believe she actually had the nerve to slam the door on him.

If the door hadn't been built so solidly, she might have shattered it.

A short while later, Matthew came downstairs with a dark expression carved across his handsome face.

He had been forced into marrying Cathleen, so naturally he had no good opinion of her. In his eyes, Oqruron was filled with women who fantasized about changing their status through marriage, foolishly thinking that winning over his grandfather would somehow secure them a place beside him. The idea was ridiculous.

Dark shadows sat heavily beneath Matthew's eyes, making it obvious he hadn't slept well.

He dropped onto the couch, crossed one leg over the other, and carried himself with dominance.

He fixed Cathleen with a stare for two seconds, then looked away and spoke in a slow, measured tone. "I don't care what tricks you used to win my grandfather over, but hear me clearly: don't start imagining anything between us. I'm marrying you only because it's what he wanted. You'd better know your place. Don't ask for things you have no right to ask for, and don't interfere in matters that don't involve you."

Cathleen watched his attractive lips move while he spoke, then gave a nod. "So what you're saying is we each live our own lives and stay out of each other's business?"

"Exactly."

"And what about the physical side of marriage?"

Matthew's brows drew together at once, his eyes turning sharp.

She really wanted to sleep with him? The thought made him scoff inwardly.

He swept his eyes over her from head to toe before saying with a cold smirk, "I'm not interested in a kid."

Cathleen's expression didn't change as she answered evenly, "I'm not interested in an old man either."

Matthew's face darkened on the spot. He sprang to his feet, looking as though he couldn't tolerate sharing the same room with her for even another second.

Cathleen, however, remained unfazed. Once Matthew stormed out, she started unpacking her things.

She hadn't brought much with her, only a few sets of clothes and a wooden box. She carefully tucked the box into the far back corner of the closet, then draped some old clothes over it to keep it hidden.

Her ring suddenly vibrated. Lowering her eyes, she twisted it on her finger. Instantly, a holographic screen appeared before her, showing a message from Miaburgh.

"Hey, K. I've got some bad news. Darren's in trouble. An organization from South Arland just attacked our headquarters network using some kind of advanced technology. We've never encountered anything like this before. Every system is down, the command center can't send orders, and all communication channels are being jammed. We need your help."

Cathleen's brows knit faintly as she grasped how serious the matter was. Without hesitation, she took the ring apart and quickly reassembled it into another form.

Her fingers moved rapidly across the holographic keyboard, while streams of intricate code flooded the display.

Only after the sun had gone down did she slide the ring back onto her finger. She rolled her sore neck, and right then, her stomach let out a loud growl.

Starving, Cathleen headed downstairs to look for something to eat.

It was already six in the evening, and Matthew still hadn't come back. In the huge, silent house, the only sound was the echo of her footsteps.

Inside the top-floor office of Spencer Group, Matthew stood before the wide windows, his tall frame rigid.

Jayden Evans, Matthew's friend, spoke from the other end of the call. "We were seconds away from pulling it off, and then someone appeared out of nowhere and ruined everything. They stopped Rylie's team in the middle of the attack and broke through our network security. Now our systems are down too. And get this: it was only one person."

Matthew's expression sharpened. "You're saying one person took down Rylie's entire team alone?"

"It's worse than that. Do you know what's on my computer screen right now?"

"What?"

"I'll share you a photo."

A notification sounded on Matthew's phone. He opened his chat with Jayden, and his face immediately turned grim.

The large monitor was completely black, except for the bright red word displayed boldly in the center—loser.

Signed beneath it was the codename K.

Matthew scowled seeing that it was K again.