Chapter 6

The man did not leave my side even after I told him that his cousin was already inside. He kept staring at me, and it only made me look away even more. I wasn’t like this with Fabien. I could act normal around him. I could even joke.

“Are you his current girlfriend?”

I shook my head.

“His visitor?”

I shook my head again.

“Or are you the woman who saved my cousin?”

“Maybe,” I replied with a small shrug.

“So, you witnessed how he fainted when he saw his own blood,” he said, shaking his head slightly.

“He’s fine now. Maybe it’s just a phobia he hasn’t overcome yet.”

He smiled. “I like you,” he said, winking at me. “You’re witty. What’s your name? And don’t answer me with ‘ma’am’ or ‘sir.’ I’m only twenty-eight.”

“Cataleya.”

“I’m Fredrin. Kane Fredrin.”

I simply nodded, but he still reached out his hand for a handshake.

“Fredrin.”

I immediately turned toward the direction of that voice. Fabien was standing a few steps away, his hands in his pockets as he looked at us.

He was older than Fredrin, yet his presence and charisma were on a completely different level compared to his younger cousin.

“Hey there, Fab!” the cheerful man greeted, his tone in contrast to Fabien’s serious and cold aura.

“I thought you weren’t able to stand up and walk. How come?”

Fredrin walked toward him.

“I’m just afraid of blood, but I have a very high pain tolerance. I thought you were with Father and Uncle.”

“The meeting was rescheduled. Those useless politicians are still busy,” Fredrin replied with a grin.

I decided to walk away, afraid that they might think I was eavesdropping on their conversation. I noticed that Fabien’s gaze followed me for a moment before the two men continued talking.

Fredrin seemed friendly. He smiled often and talked a lot, completely different from his older cousin.

After walking a short distance, I turned and headed back to the hut where I was staying. However, boredom crept in, so I decided to enter the mansion instead.

“Aunt Ramona,” I called out to the elderly maid who was loading clothes into a washing machine. There were not just three machines there. It was strange, considering that only the father and son lived in the house, yet the utility room looked like an appliance showroom. I had seen that the maids’ quarters had their own washing machine, and even the bodyguards’ quarters had one as well.

“What can I help with?” I asked as I looked around.

“Huh? You shouldn’t be helping here, Ma’am Catie. You’re Sir Fabien’s guest.”

“I’m just bored. I don’t have anything to do. I’m used to doing things at home. Even just a small task will do, Aunt… please.”

“Oh dear, that’s really not allowed.”

“Please…” I pleaded again.

“Well… the bathroom hasn’t been cleaned yet. The one near the meeting area, beside the lanai. You can go there.”

“Alright,” I answered quickly, already grabbing the cleaning materials from a corner of the utility area.

“You didn’t have to say yes so fast.”

“It’s really fine. I’m not high-class. Maybe you’re used to the kind of women Fabien brings here, but I’m not like them.”

“Alright then, go ahead. You really can’t be stopped. We’re just not used to someone not acting like the lady of the house when brought here by Sir Fabien.”

I nodded and smiled. So Fabien really was a regular client of the elite online club I came from—Rising Stars. What I couldn’t understand was why I had been instructed to win his favor only to leave him in the end. It didn’t make sense to me, but since it was part of the agreement in exchange for money, I simply agreed. I could always say that winning the heart of someone like Fabien de Ravelo was impossible—like trying to tame a lion.

I doubted that any paid woman could ever gain the love of a man that rich. He only used women to satisfy his needs, and falling in love was clearly not part of his plans. He didn’t seem like someone who would fall in love easily. In fact, I doubted he had ever been in a serious relationship before. He was already thirty-five, yet he didn’t look like a man who wanted anything serious.

It was strange. Fabien seemed to dislike everything in the world. He had everything—wealth, power, stability—yet he looked unhappy.

Was it really true that money couldn’t buy happiness?

For someone like me, who had grown up with nothing, money meant everything. With money, you could buy anything. Life would be easier, happier. There would be no suffering.

I began scrubbing the bathroom, even though it didn’t look like it needed any cleaning. The tiles were smoother than my own skin. It made me wonder if there was even anything in this house that needed cleaning at all.

Still, I enjoyed it. The soap smelled nice, and the bubbles were plentiful.

I even ended up cleaning the entire meeting room floor.

After finishing, I returned to the bathroom to rinse everything I had scrubbed.

“Your new toy is quite lovely and looks kind,” a voice said from outside.

I froze and pressed my ear against the door.

“So how can you treat her like one of those women you had before? Does that mean it’s already written in her fate to end up in someone else’s hands after you?”

Fear crept into my chest. I swallowed hard, my lips slightly parted.

“Leave her alone, Fredrin. She’s not your business.”

Fredrin laughed. “I’m just curious. She doesn’t seem like the type who seeks attention. If you’re already done with her, I’ll buy her instead of letting someone else take her. I don’t want her to lose her sanity when you sell her to the black market.”

“I said, enough!” Fabien’s voice thundered, followed by the loud bang of his fist against the table.

I flinched and quickly covered my mouth.