"Catherine, are you okay?"

Maria came to Catherine and checked her carefully. She was finally relieved after making sure Catherine was okay.

​​

Maria was worried sick that Catherine would get hurt.

Maybe she shouldn't involve Catherine. But she didn't expect that Tom would use his own daughter as a bet and lose her. He was worse than an animal.

Catherine said, "I'm okay."

"You give me such a fright."

Catherine whispered, "Sean will come in a minute. It's gonna be okay."

Maria wiped her tears and said, "Good. I just don't know what to do, so I called you. Linda is finally getting better. But she hasn't had a few good days before these hooligans came."

Catherine sneered, "They say a man could never change. If quitting gambling is so easy, there won't be so many broken families in the world."

"Are you done talking?"

Eric snapped, "You have two minutes. If the one you have said doesn't show up, there will be severe consequences!"

Eric's plan was to take all of them back.

"What's the hurry? I still have two minutes. Having a hot head isn't good for leadership."

"Damn you!"

"Stop cursing me, or you will be the one begging later."

"What a joke! Having me begging is not possible!"

Catherine thought it was quite probable.

Geoffrey said, "Mrs. Blair, I've checked the place. There are more men waiting downstairs to help."

Catherine frowned and said, "Shame on them! How could they bring so many people when there are only two middle-aged women?"

"I think they come after Sophia."

Tom lost Sophia to the casino boss. They should be here to get Sophia. But she wasn't home. So they smashed up her home and ruffled around to look for something valuable.

Too bad Linda didn't have enough money to buy groceries. They didn't get anything. So they thought of taking Linda, hostage.

Catherine wished she could chop off Tom's hands at the thought that he dragged his family. He was a waste of food and air. How useless was he!

Only a fool like Linda would cherish him and be willing to deprive her daughter of the opportunity to go to college. She didn't deserve to be Sophia's mother.

"20 seconds."

Catherine was calm. If Sean couldn't make it, she had to distract Eric so Linda and Maria could leave first. But their women were waiting downstairs. They were unlikely to get away.

But that was okay, Catherine thought. She believed Sean. He would not stand by and do anything.

"Ten...nine...eight...seven..."

As Eric counted three, there was a heavy footstep outside the door. Then the door was kicked open. There were dozens of men in black outfits.

The man leading them was a thin man with shirts and pants. But he was gorgeous.

"Sean!"

Catherine came to Sean like a pet greeting its owner. She held his arms intimately and said, "You give me such a fright. I thought you wouldn't make it."

Sean said coldly, "Can't you stay at home and behave yourself?"

"I try, but problems know how to find me."

"Can't you stop meddling in others' business? It's just a gambler. We should leave him to be."

Linda couldn't help trembling hearing this.

That was right. Tom was a gambler. Now he lost his own daughter.

"I thought so too. I didn't plan to pay back the gambling debt for him. But he lost Sophia. That makes it my business."

Sean said coldly, "We'll talk about this when we get home."

Catherine knew that Sean would only say stuff and not deliver his promise. He would not abuse her. If he did, he would feel sorry for her anyway.

Catherine admitted that she always tried to test Sean's level of tolerance. It was because Sean would only make empty threats and not take any actions.

"Andrew."

"Yes, Sir."

Eric was frightened by Sean's presence. He was only in his 20s, but he was overwhelmingly intimidating. Even if Eric has seen a lot of tough guys, he had to handle the situation carefully.

Who was Sean? That was Eric's first question.

Sean looked at Eric coldly, and he felt suffocated. Sean looked like a difficult man to mess with, especially since he had all these men with him.

But no gangster was the match to Eric's boss. He wondered what gang Sean joined.

"Do it!"

Andrew ordered.

Andrew waved at the bodyguards, and they surrounded Eric and his men. The narrow living room was instantly crowded, and there was almost no room to stand.

"What do you want to do? Play dirty?"

"Since you like smashing things up so much, I'll fix you first."

Eric's men and Sean's men got into a fight.

Catherine stood behind Sean.

"Geoffrey, escort Mrs. Blair home."

"Yes, Sir."

"But I don't want to go home."

Sean glared at her and wondered when she could just listen to what he said.

"I want to stay with you. What if they hurt you..."

"No way!"

Sean was confident in his abilities. He was sure these hooligans would not lay a finger on him.

"I know you're capable of dealing with them on your own. But I want to stay with you."

"Geoffrey, take her away."

"No!"

"Don't make me say it the third time."

Geoffrey held Catherine's arms to take her away from the messy house.

"Wait, Aunt Maria. Come with me. There's no point staying here."

Maria held Linda to follow Geoffrey and Catherine. They looked back at the smashed place now and then.

"Linda, don't over-think this. Let's leave here first."

"How about the guys downstairs?"

Catherine didn't see anyone downstairs to stop them. She guessed Sean must take care of them on his way up.

"I suppose so," Geoffrey answered.

Geoffrey opened the door to let them in and sat behind the wheels. She said, "Don't worry, Mrs. Blair. Ben is with Mr. Blair. And Mr. Blair is good at fighting, and nothing will happen to him."

Ben was the best muscle in the bodyguard team. He started working as a bodyguard after he retired from military service. Two Geoffrey was no match for him.

"I'm not worried. It's just a pity that I don't get to see the vicious side of Sean."

Geoffrey didn't know what to say.

"Mrs. Blair, you're not joking, right?"

"It must be hot."

"Sure. He is hot at any time."

"My man has to be the best."

Catherine's look was determined yet sweet.