Several men were chasing after her, and she could only muster all her strength to sprint forward.

As she rounded a corner, she accidentally collided with a man.

In her panic, Catherine looked up and was startled to recognize the man as the very person who had stepped in to help her during a prior incident—Jerrold.

At that time, she had misunderstood his intentions, assuming he meant to harm her. As a result, she hadn't had the chance to properly thank him before parting ways.

And now, here he was again.

She ought to take this opportunity to express her gratitude, but the pressing threat behind her left no room for pleasantries.

"I'm sorry, Jerrold, " Catherine blurted out and attempted to continue running.

But before she could take another step, Jerrold's arm wrapped firmly around her waist, holding her in place.

She struggled to break free, but her pursuers seized the moment to catch up.

One of them, a man dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, was clutching his head, his angry shouts betraying his frustration and embarrassment. However, the sight of Catherine in Jerrold's protective embrace made him freeze in his tracks.

"Jer... Jerrold?" "Leave. Now.

"

Jerrold's voice was cold and commanding.

The man's face twisted in shock as he glanced between Jerrold and Catherine, clearly reluctant but too intimidated to put up a fight. Gritting his teeth, he turned and left in frustration.

Catherine had just opened her mouth to thank Jerrold for saving her once again, but before she could utter a word, he tightened his grip on her waist. Guiding her into a nearby private room, he locked the door with a sharp click, his movements deliberate and firm.

It was only then that Catherine sensed something was wrong.

"Jerrold." she called out hesitantly, but he seemed to have lost control.

Before she could react, Jerrold's lips descended on hers, silencing her protests.

"I'll make it up to you, " he murmured against her lips.

Catherine felt a surge of panic, but at that moment, she was powerless against the man before her.

The night passed in an intense and tangled blur.

The next morning, Catherine stirred, her body aching as she got dressed. She was about to leave when she reached the door and turned to close it behind her.

Just then, a deep, gravelly voice came from inside the room.

"Catherine? What are you doing here?"