Chapter 250: Infiltration
Days passed. Dorian asked if she wanted to attend Maximilian’s funeral. She knew he wanted to attend it, but she had asked Amelia’s help, and so Catherine was "banned" from Maximilian’s funeral.
How Catherine handled it made Dorian ease around her.
Little by little, Catherine became part of Dorian’s household.
Ten days after moving into the mansion, he had already given her unrestricted access to his study, trusting her to enter even when he was away.
The irony was not lost on her.
In their previous life, Dorian had rarely been left alone with her. His father-in-law, ministers, and senior advisors had carefully kept them apart, convinced that a beautiful young queen would eventually soften the king’s resolve. Every conversation had been watched. Every moment together had been interrupted.
Back then, everyone had feared her influence.
In this life, there was no royal court to separate them. Dorian himself opened every door. Every door... except one.
She still wasn’t permitted to leave the estate.
Once, Dorian casually mentioned that Ashley and Jonathan were continuing her research while she rested.
Catherine had merely nodded. She had forced herself to appear indifferent. If she showed too much interest in her work, Dorian would inevitably wonder why.
Instead, she embraced the role he expected her to play.
She wandered through the mansion with quiet elegance, befriending the maids and servants one by one. She rearranged furniture, filled empty corners with fresh flowers, and gradually transformed the house into something warmer, gentler, more lived in.
Like a wealthy, obedient fiancée waiting patiently for her future husband.
The performance was exhausting. Especially because every day, she found herself wanting to kill him. The urge was so overwhelming that she banned herself from entering the kitchen altogether.
She did not trust her own hands near his food.
No.
Dorian would die. But not yet.
She had managed to avoid sharing his bed as well. The excuses came easily enough. Her menstrual cycle that had a timetable of its own... The classic headache line worked a couple of times... And an "upset stomach" made him leave her alone for a whole two days.
And for the past two days...
A fever.
Dorian never pressed the issue.
Perhaps he believed he had all the time in the world.
Meanwhile, Bernice had begun working in the laboratory Maximilian had secretly acquired for Catherine. Although Catherine’s own laboratory remained unfinished, the research had never truly stopped. Every evening, she secretly reviewed Bernice’s progress, refining procedures and sending back detailed instructions.
Jonathan, her second brother, meanwhile... Never stopped moving.
And this particular day, when Catherine finally noticed the signs, she knew exactly what Dorian was planning.
Fresh flowers appeared in her room. An expensive wardrobe arrived from one of Europe’s finest designers. Jewelry followed.
Then... a bottle of wine.
Everything had been arranged with deliberate care.
He intended to spend the night with her.
Catherine calmly sent Jonathan a single message.
[Go.]
That evening, dinner was served by candlelight. Halfway through the meal, Dorian’s phone rang. He frowned. After a brief glance at the screen, he excused himself without explanation.
He never returned.
Catherine smiled into her wine. She already knew what had happened. One of BioQuant Pharmaceuticals’ shell companies had just been exposed. Jonathan had struck exactly where they intended.
She picked up her phone back in her bedroom.
[Thanks.]
Jonathan’s reply never came. He didn’t need to answer.
That night, Catherine slept more peacefully than she had since entering the mansion. For the first time, Dorian was nowhere inside the building.
He didn’t return for another three days.
The financial news became increasingly entertaining.
A powerful lobbyist had abruptly turned against BioQuant Pharmaceuticals, prompting regulators to reopen investigations that had long been buried.
Catherine smiled as she scrolled through the headlines.
Alexander.
Her fourth brother had uncovered enough compromising information to make changing sides the lobbyist’s only sensible choice.
Everything was proceeding according to plan. Every piece was moving exactly where it should.
Yet, as Catherine stood before the enormous bedroom window overlooking Dorian’s immaculate gardens, she found herself letting out a quiet sigh.
The mansion was beautiful. The operation was succeeding. The future was finally beginning to change.
So why...
Why did her heart still feel so empty?
Her fingers unconsciously drifted to the ring finger that no longer wore Maximilian’s engagement ring.
She missed him. More than she had ever imagined possible.
Catherine couldn’t bear it anymore.
She opened her contacts and pressed Samantha’s name. The video call connected almost immediately.
"Aunt Cathy," Samantha greeted softly. "How are you holding up?"
"I’m fine."
"You don’t sound fine."
Catherine managed a weak smile.
"I’ll survive."
For a few moments, they exchanged meaningless conversation.
Samantha spoke about Laurel Creek, about the weather, about how Bernice had practically moved into the laboratory and refused to leave until Catherine’s research was complete.
Catherine answered when necessary.
But Samantha knew. She hadn’t called to talk.
Without another word, Samantha turned the phone around.
The camera settled on a familiar bedroom.
Her bedroom.
The curtains were half drawn, letting afternoon sunlight spill gently across the room.
On the bed... Lay Maximilian.
Catherine stopped breathing. He looked as though he were merely asleep. His chest rose and fell steadily beneath the blanket.
The ventilator was gone. The monitors were quieter now. Only a few lines remained connected to him as the medical team continued observing his recovery.
The first thing Catherine had done before moving into Dorian’s mansion was bring Maximilian home.
Home.
To Laurel Creek.
To her room.
A team of doctors and nurses rotated around the clock, ensuring he never spent a single moment unattended.
"Maximilian..."
Her voice cracked.
Almost instinctively, her fingertips reached toward the screen, tracing the outline of his face.
She knew she could not touch him.
Still... Her hand refused to stop.
Tears blurred her vision. She smiled through them. Then, quietly, she spoke in Latin.
"Mi princeps..."
My Prince.
"Ignosce mihi."
Forgive me.
"Nunc intellego."
Now I understand.
Her thumb brushed gently across the image on the screen as though caressing his cheek.
"Quod a me petivisti..."
What I asked of you...
Her breathing trembled.
"Nemo umquam te plus quam ego cruciavit."
No one has ever hurt you more than I have.
She closed her eyes.
"I know you can hear me."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"So wake up."
Another tear escaped.
"I miss you."
She laughed weakly through her tears.
"I miss you so much, Maximilian."
For a long moment, she simply watched him breathe.
That alone was enough. Enough to remind her why she had walked willingly into the enemy’s home. Enough to strengthen her resolve. Enough to endure another day.
Then...
The bedroom door behind her opened.
Catherine’s heart stopped.
She lowered the phone only slightly.
Dorian stood at the doorway.