Eulalia thought to herself, if this werewolf brother was so strong and had nowhere else to be, he could temporarily be her little bodyguard, and she'd provide room and board.
She knew why the her family had suddenly come looking for her.
Her older brother needed money.
Heh, and now they remembered her.
When they had took all the money she had and urged her to work, she had completely lost hope in that so-called family. Her heart had turned cold. She wouldn't go back to her mother for a shred of pity; she only loved her two sons.
At that moment, looking at the spiky-haired boy in front of her, she said, "It's alright if you're not willing. Thank you for what you did just now. If you have things to do, go ahead."
After listening, Grey looked down and stared at her for a moment before glancing away.
"No, I don't mind. I said I would protect you."
The tall, slender werewolf boy finished speaking, lowered his eyes to avoid her gaze, and stepped inside.
Eulalia chuckled, smiling.
Her little bodyguard had agreed. She closed the door and followed him inside.
Catriona received Eulalia's venting call while she was washing her face in the bathroom. She placed the phone on speaker beside her.
Eulalia, filled with righteous anger, vented about her family's visit and mentioned that Grey was now her little bodyguard.
"You have no idea; this little werewolf is so cute. He said he'd protect me! Sure, it's a bit cheesy, but I actually feel kinda moved."
Catriona paused, her hands still on her face, thinking she'd misheard. "He said... he'd protect you?"
Grey probably despised pure humans, didn't he? The hurt he'd endured seemed evident, even stronger than Roderick's disdain.
When she'd heard that Grey had saved Eulalia, who'd then taken him back to her place to nurse him, and they'd coexisted peacefully for so many days, she'd held her breath a bit for her friend.
But considering their mutual acts of saving one another, maybe it made sense Grey didn't hate Eulalia...
Still, she'd never expected him to say he would "protect" a pure human.
"Eulalia, be honest with me. Did something... secret happen between you two?"
She couldn't help wondering—Grey's sudden shift, the two of them, male and female, alone in her place for so long...
Eulalia's exasperated voice came through the phone. "Miss, you're overthinking! What could possibly happen between us? For half the month, he's been in full wolf form at my house. What could I do with a giant wolf who can't even talk? He only just transformed tonight."
"And he's not even twenty yet. So young! I don't feel a thing, alright? You know I like my men mature." At that, Eulalia ground her teeth. "Like Lucian, for instance! You're seriously wasting your chance with him! Such a great guy, and you don't want him?"
Catriona thought to herself, If she had feelings for him, she'd want him too.
She didn't know what to say.
Lucian was like a gentle, reliable older brother. Born into a good family, he carried a warmth from that happy background that made her want to distance herself for reasons she couldn't quite explain.
Everything about Lucian was positive, perfect; she couldn't find a single flaw.
Every time she saw him, every interaction they shared, she became acutely aware of the gap between them. Leaving aside family background, there was a warmth, a genuine joy that came from a happy family—a warmth she had never known. And somehow, that just added a bit of unspoken pressure.
Maybe this is what it means to be incompatible.
After washing up, she came out to find her son diligently working on his homework at the desk.
Her phone chimed, and she headed straight to the balcony.
[Lucian]: "This Saturday, why don't we take the kids to Amusement Park? Anna has been asking to see Cedric."
Catriona pursed her lips, typed a reply, and declined.
If it hadn't been for their unexpected encounter at the kindergarten, they wouldn't have crossed paths again.
On the other side, in the brightly lit villa.
Lucian saw the reply, and his eyes dimmed a bit.
Across from him on the sofa, the forty-year-old eldest sister of the Campbell was still talking.
"Lucian, are you listening? My friend's younger sister, twenty-six, perfectly matched in background. She's quite attractive, too. I think she's a great fit. You should meet her tomorrow."
Lucian wasn't in the mood. He stood up and said, "It's late. You should get some rest."
"Rest? Do you think I can sleep with this on my mind? You're not getting any younger. Isn't it time to settle down?" Madam Campbell said, her brow furrowing as if something had just occurred to her. "Anyway, that woman isn't suitable. She doesn't have the right background, and she's even got a child."
"This is on you, and I'm not the only one in the family against it. No one will agree to you marrying her into the family."
"You should know one thing: it's not up to you to agree right now," Lucian sighed. "If she agrees, I won't care what you all think."
"You used to be the child who gave us the least trouble. How is it that the older you get, the more childish you become? Your Sister is gone now, and here you are, having a midlife rebellion..."
The thirty-one-year-old "middle-aged" Lucian:...
Madam Campbell's eyes reddened as she continued, "If it weren't for the fact that she has a child, I wouldn't even mention her lacking background."
"You don't need to say anymore."
Lucian turned and went upstairs.
If he liked Catriona, he wouldn't care about her family background or the fact that she had a son. If he cared about those things from the start, he wouldn't have liked her.
The past was in the past, and he wasn't looking back. He was only looking forward, imagining countless times the life he would have with Catriona after marriage.
She was so gentle and kind, understanding, beautiful, tolerant, even-tempered, and excellent with children. She was the ideal wife for most men.
Lucian thought he was no different from other men, which was why he was deeply attracted to Catriona. He felt they were alike, and figured that if they were together, they probably wouldn't even argue.
He believed married life should be like this—sharing responsibilities, respecting each other, and living in harmony.
——
After sending the message, Catriona put down her phone, lay on the recliner, and watched the stars in the pitch-black night sky, feeling the night breeze.
After a while, Cedric finished his homework and, with a small, wagging tail of excitement, walked toward his mother.
He crouched down, called out "Mommy," then buried his face against her belly, fully displaying his dependence on her.
Suddenly, he pulled out a stack of cards from his pocket, saying, "Mommy, these for you."
"What?" Catriona reached out to take them, recognizing the stack of differently colored bank cards—they looked like the ones Roderick had given her last time.
"Dad gave them to me. He told me to give them to you to buy a house."
???
Catriona nearly thought she'd misheard. "Your dad said that?"
"Mm-hmm." Cedric nodded seriously, frowning as he stared at one of the bank cards. "I want to buy Mommy a house too."
After lunch that afternoon, he had gone to his dad's study.
When Dad was holding him and giving him the cards, he had recognized the man on the lit-up computer screen as Lucian, along with a few words he knew: Campbell Real Estate.
His dad had asked, "How is he courting your mom? By offering her a house?"
Before he could respond, his dad sneered and said something like, "I have plenty of houses."
"Tell your mom to buy a house herself. No need for her to get swayed just because someone offers her a house."
He had held the cards and let out an "Oh," preparing to head back.
His dad called him back again.
"My words just now, only tell her the part about buying a house. The rest, uh... no need to mention."
At this moment.
Catriona stared at the cards, understanding Roderick's intentions.
He obviously hadn't truly intended for their son to buy a house; their son was just the messenger. Was he suggesting she use these cards to buy a house?
But why was he suddenly asking her to buy a house?
She already has a place of her own, though no one would ever mind having more properties.
Catriona suddenly became wary.
Could it be that Roderick was trying to bribe her with material things, planning to keep the child at Luna Palace?
This wasn't a house gift card; it was a "child-selling card"??
