Tangled By Fate

When Veronica heard how Sebastian treated Catherine, she didn't know what to say. She was left off-guard.

Catherine saw her friend's thunderstruck expression. Thus, she changed the subject, "Let's just wait for Vincent's letter. I want to stay in the tower and finish my work for the time being."

Veronica agreed with her. "That would be for the best. Who knows who will attack next? Since you don't have a bodyguard, it will be hard for you if something happens. Sebastian would protect you before. Who will do it now?" 

"Maybe I should learn sword fighting with you," Catherine was considering it for a while.

"You can if you want. I'd love to show you a few moves, or you can just use teleport magically to teleport to the tower." Veronica didn't want to push her thoughts around. She wanted to accept whatever her friend wanted for her life. 

"I think I will choose the latter, but who will give me the stone?" Catherine wondered.

"Ask Ovior to make you one," Veronica suggested.

"Okay, I will do that."

Later in the evening, Catherine finally got a letter from Vincent. The letter says,

Dear Catherine,

I hope you are doing great. I was frightened by your sudden disappearance. I've even asked the guards to help me, but they couldn't locate you. I was so worried that I didn't leave the capital city. I stayed here. In the evening, I got a letter from my family saying that your letter went to the resort. They sent your letter to me as well. You have no idea who relieved I was when I read your letter.

I want to confirm that you are alive. Will you please come and meet me? I'll give you the address.

Yours,

Vincent

Catherine wore warm clothes and went to the address he wrote down. It was a three-star motel. Travelers stay here for one or two days. 

She went to the diner where Vincent was having dinner alone. He was staring at his food and didn't take a single bite.

She teasingly remarked, "Looks like someone is playing with their food. Who eats dinner so late?"

Vincent abruptly raised his head and saw her. As though dark clouds floated away, his face brightened up like the summer noon.

He stood up and hugged her. "Thank goodness that you are fine. I was worried sick."

"Vincent, we are outside." Catherine was so embarrassed that her body became stiff.

Vincent controlled his urge to kiss her. He let her sit first before he went back to his original seat. 

He ordered something light for her and then inquired, "What happened to you? Did you catch the thief who took your money?"

"About that… no, I didn't. I was taken away by a group. They were hired to assassinate me."

"What did you say?!"

"Relax, before they could do it, I ran away. But they threw a knife at me. I was badly injured. But then my friends were walking off the street. They helped me out. 

"They took me to Ver. You know Ver is good at taking care of injured people. She took care of me all night."

She had to hide many things as kidnapping a woman wasn't looked at appropriately in the world they lived in. People would talk about her on her back. 

They would say she had become impure even if she hadn't. Later, bad people would try to sell her in the brothel. 

"How are you feeling now? Are you in pain? Where does it hurt?"

"Relax, it doesn't hurt much. I told you. Ver is really good at her job. And I rested all night. When I woke up, I barely felt the pain."

"I can't believe such a thing had happened. I must thank all of your friends for protecting you. Why don't you bring them to the resort next weekend? Free of charge. I all wholeheartedly serve them."

"Aww! You don't have to go that far." Even though she said that Catherine was touched.

"No, I must. It's my duty to do that. I'm so glad nothing else happened to you. Why did someone try to kill you?"

"Ahh… that was a long story. I get along well with my employer. I mean I spend most of the time working with him. 

"Of course, we would be close after working for such a long time. The woman thought we were dating. So, she wanted to eliminate me.

"Fortunately, my friends were right on time. They captured the assassins and interrogated them. The assassins spilled everything. We punished the woman. She will never get out of prison."

Vincent relaxed his muscles. "That sounds perfect. She should have been prepared for the outcome when she tried to harm you."

Catherine agreed, "I think so too. I'm so sorry I couldn't contact you yesterday. You had to spend a day here as well."

"What are you saying? Your safety comes fast. My work or time doesn't matter." Vincent paused before suggesting, "Catherine, do you want to stay here? I'm afraid I don't want to stay a second without you after hearing I almost lost you."

"Sure, I will." For some reason, Catherine wished for a company. Surely, her friend couldn't do that. So, it wasn't bad that Vincent agreed to be with her.

Later, Vincent took her to his room. Before she knew it, she was being kissed by Vincent. His passionate kisses made her grow numb. 

Catherine shuddered as the jolting sensation spread throughout her body. Her body responded to him in delight.

Vincent noticed it and leaped in joy. His kisses grew wilder. His tongue swept her mouth as if he was planning to clean her inside and out.

His hands caressed her body. Feeling her trembling under his touch, he tried to be rather cautious. 

One by one, her warm clothes dropped on the floor. She had no idea when she was pushed against the bed. Her head was dizzy. Overwhelmed with his feverish touch, she was unable to think of anything.

Her thoughts were frozen in the cold winter.