From Broken to Beloved-Chapter 104- exist

Lucca had already experienced how terrifying Bert could be. With him present, she didn’t dare stir up any more trouble. She could only swallow the anger burning in her chest and watch Catherine, Lilian, and the others chatting and laughing as they walked away. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Beside her, Lucy asked curiously,

"From the looks of it, Catherine seems quite close with that Lilian, doesn’t she?"

Lucca clenched her teeth and snorted coldly.

"How would I know?"

She turned on her heels and continued browsing, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor. There was no way she would tell Lucy that Catherine’s connection with Bert was far from ordinary. If Catherine could attach herself to a man like Bert, wouldn’t that only prove Lucca’s own incompetence? She wasn’t about to smear herself like that.

Lucy followed after her, speaking thoughtfully.

"Since Catherine seems to be on such good terms with Lilian, do you think I could go ask her for help? Maybe she could say a few good words for Gerald in front of the people from Burg Eltz and the Mo family—help him get through this difficult time, for the sake of their past relationship?"

Lucca had long known how calculating Lucy was. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have abandoned Catherine back then in favor of herself. What Lucca hadn’t expected was that one day she would become the one Lucy discarded without hesitation—while Catherine became the person Lucy was now eager to curry favor with.

The thought made her feel so choked with resentment she could spit blood.

Hating Lucy’s profit-driven nature—and hating Catherine’s sudden reversal of fortune—Lucca sneered coldly.

"Sure. Why don’t you put on the same flattering, ingratiating attitude you once used on me and go butter up Catherine? Maybe she’ll be willing to help you."

With that merciless jab, Lucca turned and walked away without looking back, her heels striking the floor sharply.

Lucy was left seething at Lucca’s sarcasm. Thinking again of how Lilian had treated her parents, with such respect and care, Lucy found herself looking down even more on Lucca’s arrogant demeanor.

If it hadn’t been for Lucca being Channing’s most cherished daughter back then, did she really think Lucy would have bothered to flatter her?

After this unpleasant encounter, Lucy lost all interest in shopping. As she headed home, she was already calculating how she might approach Catherine for help.

Meanwhile, Catherine and Renata ended up shopping together with Lilian and Bert.

With Bert present, Catherine actually wanted nothing more than to avoid them. Unfortunately, Lilian was far too enthusiastic—insisting they all shop together and even asking Renata to help advise her on what kind of clothes would suit her parents and her father-in-law, Tiffany. Since Renata was of a similar age, she understood older people’s preferences better.

Left with no choice, Catherine accompanied Renata as they shopped—helping Lilian choose gifts, and incidentally picking out a few things for Renata as well.

As for Bert, Catherine did her best to ignore him entirely. She didn’t want Renata to sense anything unusual between them. Right now, she had absolutely no idea how she would even begin to explain Bert’s presence.

Bert didn’t make things difficult for her.

The entire time, he remained silent—dutifully playing the role of bag carrier and holder of their shopping spoils.

Still, his own feelings didn’t matter. As long as she was happy, that was enough.

Still, Catherine could feel his gaze drifting toward her again and again, subtle yet persistent. Whenever that happened, she became so awkward she didn’t know what to do—either lifting a hand to fuss with her hair or hurriedly striking up conversation with Lilian.

In one shop, there happened to be clothes suitable for Renata. After Renata went into the fitting room, Lilian immediately pretended to browse elsewhere and walked away. Just like that, only Catherine and Bert were left in that corner of the store.

Catherine wanted to leave as well, but Bert grabbed her hand. Smiling, he asked in a low voice,

"Does your mom know I exist?"

By "exist," Bert meant whether Catherine had ever mentioned to Renata that there was a man pursuing her.

Catherine stared at him in panic, afraid Renata might come out and see them.

Instead, he tightened his grip on her hand, his palm dry and warm.

"No need to answer. That expression already gives you away."

Catherine warned him in a low voice,

"Don’t say anything in front of my mom..."

He smiled, thoroughly ill-intentioned.

"That depends on whether you can make me happy."

Catherine looked at him in confusion—when suddenly he leaned forward, one hand cupping the back of her head, lowered his head, and kissed her lips. Unsatisfied, he lingered, deepening the kiss before finally pulling back.

Lilian happened to glance back—and saw Bert holding Catherine and kissing her.

Lilian thought to herself: he really must like Catherine. Otherwise, why would he go to such lengths? Otherwise, why would he kiss her with such tenderness and intensity?

Often, a man’s feelings for a woman can be read simply from the way he kisses her.

His kiss carried tenderness, affection, and an unmistakable desire he made no effort to hide.

Lilian covered her mouth and laughed quietly, then turned away again, hoping Catherine would agree to Bert sooner rather than later. If she did, Bert’s life would no longer be so bleak and lonely.

Catherine was nearly scared out of her wits by Bert’s sudden kiss. After finally managing to push him away, the first thing she did was look toward the fitting room in panic. Thankfully, Renata hadn’t come out yet.

"Are you insane?!"

She took a step back to put distance between them. Setting aside the risk of being seen by Renata, just the stares from the other shop assistants were more than Catherine could bear. Kissing a man in public was something that had never been possible in her life—yet now it had happened... right here.

Bert looked at her with a quiet intensity, amusement shining openly in his eyes.

"I’m very satisfied with how you behaved just now," he said. "So you can relax. I won’t say anything inappropriate in front of your mother."

Catherine shot him a fierce glare and turned on her heel, hurrying toward the fitting room.