All Her Secrets

Things at the lab wrapped up quicker than expected. Remembering Branden's instructions before they parted ways, Catherine messaged him for him to pick her up.

It took about half an hour to get here from the apartment.

Shortly after sending the message, Catherine got a reply from Branden, which read, [I'm waiting at the door.] Putting aside what she was working on, Catherine grabbed her coat and headed out.

Just as she stepped out, she spotted a man standing in the chilly wind.

She thought she might have to wait a while, but she didn't expect that he had never left. Catherine walked right up to him. Seeing that, Branden began to take off his coat.

"No!" Catherine refused him outright. Seeing Branden frown, she explained, "I'm not cold. We can get in the car right away." Seeing her insist, Branden didn't push further.

He opened the car door for Catherine and guided her carefully. He was afraid that she might bump into something.

Once inside the car, Catherine felt bored and struck up a conversation with Branden.

"Why didn't you head back? Aren't you worried I'll be busy until midnight?" Catherine smiled faintly and cast a meaningful look at him.

When an experiment encounters problems, there's no telling how much tit could take to fix the problem. Before Catherine found the problem in the experiment, she didn't know how long it would take, let alone Branden.

Surprised by her rare initiative in asking, Branden looked at her confidently and said, "If an hour's not enough, then two. If two aren't enough, I'll wait till dawn. Eventually, you'll crack it, right?" Catherine pursed her lips and nodded in agreement. "Makes sense!" They exchanged a smile and looked at each other.

When Patrick cout with Marshall, they caught sight of the car driving away.

"These young folks nowadays are way wilder than we were back then!" Marshall noticed the car from the start and saw it hadn't moved, indicating Branden hadn't left. Compared to Marshall's calmness, Patrick was much more surprised.

He knew Branden and Catherine were close. Moreover, he understood that when young people were in love, they were glued together and would want to spend 24 hours together.

expected Branden, who was always busy, to waste there for

just how highly Catherine was regarded in Branden's

Catherine shook her head and replied, Not sleepy. I want to play a gfor a while." "Alright." Branden reached to switch on the backseat lights. Playing

intended to play a gto pass the twhile they drove home, but as soon

and found Rodge's

rough patch, and he hoped Catherine could spend a few days in

in the lab and checking the experiment data firsthand, as it would provide

handed her phone to Branden without hiding anything. She let

open about it, Branden readily took the

he understood Catherine's intent and gave

go to Oceanvile for three days. I'll handle your absence from school. As for the lab..." Before he could finish, Catherine smiled and said, “As for the lab, I'll talk to Professor Hartley myself and request toff." Branden calmly replied, "Alright." Catherine showed him the emails

the next day. She noticed that her insomnia symptoms had been

the past, she relied on sleeping pills to

took any medication. Each tshe attempted, Branden would toss it

sleep, he would resort to force. He would use his strong physicality to drain her excess energy and force her

she'd fall asleep in the car on their way back, and Branden would carry her

up from bed,

from Branden waiting for her. [I have scompany matters to attend to. Carlo is waiting downstairs

bowls. They were all her favorite foods, which

work commitments, he ensured she

quite a good

and sat down to indulge in

pack her bags, she found that Branden had arranged her luggage

which was just the way she