Gerald's gaze fell on her delicate face.
"I just got back from a business trip today. The moment I landed, I heard about Renata's surgery, so I thought I should come by and check on her," he said, his voice tinged with urgency.
He had rushed here in a flurry, fully aware of how much Renata meant to Catherine, and how agonizing it must be to wait for the operation.
But seeing her in the arms of another man as soon as he arrived… it hit him like a punch to the chest. A surge of emotions crowded him, leaving him flustered and unsure what exactly he was feeling.
With Catherine, it was always love and hate intertwined.
He loved her, yet he hated her for what he thought was betrayal. Because she hadn't explained back then, Gerald had believed she acted voluntarily… That she had willingly… betrayed him.
He hated her for being so close to him, sharing intimacy, yet behind his back, he thought she was with another man.
Lucca had said Catherine only knew how to act innocent in front of him, taking advantage of his affection to toy with his feelings while casually being with other men behind his back. Gerald didn't want to believe she was like that, yet the cruel evidence lingered—the video showed her, desperate, wrapping her arms around a man, kissing him…
Faced with Gerald's concern, Catherine's expression remained cold.
"This doesn't really concern you, does it?"
Her words pushed him away mercilessly. Gerald felt a sting of humiliation, especially in front of the unknown man beside her—it made him even harder to bear.
Before Gerald could react, Lucca appeared from the hallway, a smug, superior smile on her face.
"Gerald, of course she doesn't care about your concern. Right now, she has the attention of this Lord Washington, and that's enough for her."
Her words, sharp and deliberate, poisoned the air, twisting Gerald's perception and implying a closeness between Catherine and Bert.
Lucca had discovered Bert's background after being humiliated by him in the hospital that day. She thought little of him—a mere illegitimate son, not worth his arrogance. But what she didn't know was that this so-called illegitimate son held firm control over the rising business star Morrison, the very lifeline of Burg Eltz. And Morrison's fatal weakness? Lilian—who shared an exceptionally close bond with Bert and would heed his every word.
Lucca stepped closer, looping her arm around Gerald's, feigning intimacy.
"You didn't know, right? The day Catherine returned, this Lord Washington was the one who stepped in to help her at the hospital."
Every word dripped with insinuation, suggesting Catherine's supposed impropriety—back in the country for only a day and already entangled with a man, and in a hospital, no less.
As expected, Gerald's expression darkened, his eyes locking onto Catherine's with a mixture of anger, confusion, and pain.
Catherine had long since grown weary of Lucca's slanders. When that video had surfaced two years ago, it was easy enough to imagine how Lucca had twisted every detail behind Gerald's back, painting Catherine as frivolous, reckless, and morally loose.
"Hmph."
At Lucca's sour words, Bert, who had been silently standing nearby, let out a soft laugh. It was just a laugh, but it carried a heavy weight of disdain, condescension, and an almost palpable sense of superiority.
Lucca's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Does Miss Channing have to control even my laughter?" Bert replied lightly, his voice smooth yet cutting.
With a deliberate step forward, he revealed himself from behind Catherine, subtly placing her in front of him. The movement was seamless, but there was an unmistakable protective aura about it. Gerald's gaze darkened slightly at the sight.
Lucca, now flustered, scoffed.
"What gives you the right to act so arrogant? You're just an illegitimate son, aren't you?"
The words made Catherine pause. She hadn't expected him to carry such an identity—an awkward label few would want publicly mentioned, especially for a man like him, proud and imposing as he was.
A flicker of guilt and even a touch of concern stirred in her chest. She had inadvertently dragged him into Lucca's venomous attack, and now she looked up at him instinctively.
Yet, his expression was calm—so composed that a faint, amused smile curved the corner of his lips. Catherine felt a pang of confusion; she couldn't quite read him.
Everyone had expected a storm of anger, or at least a cold, dismissive retreat. Instead, Bert merely smiled faintly, and lazily replied to Lucca:
"Not unlike you."
The words struck Lucca like a dagger. Her previously haughty, triumphant expression instantly froze, her pride shattered.
Bert spoke slowly, his voice calm yet sharp, each word measured like a scalpel.
"As far as I know, Miss Channing is also an illegitimate child, isn't she? Though she has been formally recognized now, it doesn't change the fact that she was born out of wedlock.
"Any child born outside of marriage is, by definition, illegitimate. That mark stays with you for life."
He spoke as if imparting knowledge kindly, calmly explaining the concept of illegitimacy to Lucca, but every word cut like ice.
"You—"
Lucca's face went pale and flushed at once, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. She was seething, rendered utterly speechless. Who could have imagined a man would argue with a woman so ruthlessly, and with such precision? Who could have guessed that he would be utterly unbothered by his own status as an illegitimate son—and yet take meticulous aim at anyone who dared mock him?
Her anger boiled over, and she stomped her feet helplessly, grinding her teeth, until she finally turned to Gerald, her only refuge.
"Gerald—"
Gerald frowned, irritation flashing across his face.
"Who allowed you to come here?"
"Leave immediately!"
With that, he took Lucca by the arm and dragged her away. Even he knew there was no point lingering; staying any longer would only invite more humiliation, especially with Lucca in tow.
Outside the hospital, Gerald released Lucca's arm and turned to her, frowning with impatience.
"That man—who is he?"
Lucca answered quickly, still fuming:
"Daniel's son with another woman—Bert. He lived in the U.S. all these years, and now, for reasons unknown, he's back in Burg Eltz. He's settled here."
Bert?
Gerald's brow furrowed even deeper. The name rang a faint bell. He recalled vaguely that Bert had once held the title of Lord of Washington Co.—a man rumored to be ruthless, who had seized power through dubious means.
And judging by how Bert had just ridiculed Lucca, it was clear he was not someone to provoke lightly.
Yet Catherine… she was entangled with a man like him?
Gerald's mind churned. He had known Catherine had returned, and it unsettled him. Now, learning that she was mixed up with Bert, his heart felt heavier, more chaotic.
He didn't understand his own emotions. He had abandoned Catherine, believed her to be that frivolous, untrustworthy woman—but he still couldn't stop thinking about her.
Hating her yet loving her all at once.