CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36- STUPID

She noticed again that her tears had completely soaked the front of his shirt—perhaps even some of her runny nose—and muttered,

"Sorry..."

She realized that when she was with him, the words she said most often were just thank you and sorry.

Catherine hadn’t expected her predicament today to be witnessed by him again. It seemed as if his presence had never left her life during this time. From the first day she returned to the country, meeting him at the hospital, to now—almost every moment of her embarrassment, he had been there, silently confirming her status as what he once called someone "addicted to being bullied."

Bert, with his cold gaze, looked at her tear-streaked, reddened nose and eyes.

"Calmed down?"

Catherine nodded quietly. Just moments ago, hearing Renata recount the events, she had truly lost all rational thought in her anger.

His cool voice continued,

"Still planning to kill anyone?"

Catherine felt embarrassed, "..."

She gave him a sheepish glance, then looked away toward the car window.

His words were teasing, mocking the impulsive things she had just said in her moment of fury. But in truth, she should be grateful—grateful that he had stopped her, because she had no idea what disaster she might have caused otherwise.

Then his uncompromising voice rang out again:

"My suit and shirt—pay me back. Now, you can get out of the car."

Catherine froze, "..."

He had just stopped her, sheltered her, and now he was mercilessly kicking her out—and demanding she pay for his suit and shirt.

Judging by the quality, his suit and shirt were clearly expensive. How could she possibly afford it?

Yet... she thought, if she had ruined them, she had no choice but to pay.

What frustrated Catherine more than any of this was his sudden shift from cold to harsh.

Little did she know, Bert was equally frustrated—angry at her impulsiveness just moments ago.

He couldn’t even imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t caught her, her eyes red with uncontrolled emotion. Perhaps she would have really gone after Channing, or even suffered some other accident in her distracted state.

One word could sum up her behavior just now: stupid.

Her eyes were still red from crying, the rims moist, and after his harsh words, she looked at him with a touch of innocence.

Bert’s tone softened slightly.

"I have things to take care of."

Catherine remembered that he had originally planned to go out with his assistant, and now she had delayed him.

"Sorry..."

She said this softly and quickly turned to get out of the car. Bert didn’t reply. After she left, he rolled up the window and drove off.

He did indeed have something to handle—but it wasn’t the earlier business, which he had already assigned to his assistant.

What he needed to deal with now was Channing.

After Bert’s car left, Catherine stood there for a moment in a daze before returning to the hospital room.

She went to the public restroom to wash her face, striving to hide any traces of her tears from Renata.

She hadn’t broken down in front of Renata; after Renata finished explaining, Catherine had simply said she was stepping out for a moment. But as she walked out, her anger had been building until it finally exploded, which had led to her rushing outside—and running into Bert.

After washing her face, Catherine felt slightly calmer. Then, suddenly, she remembered—he had held her in his arms to stop her impulsive actions. Even worse, she remembered biting him!

Catherine felt a rush of embarrassment and guilt. What have I done?

Bert arranged to meet Channing at a tea house.

When Channing learned it was Bert who had invited him, he hurried there quickly. Upon seeing him in person, a broad smile spread across his face, his expression almost comically pleased.

Bert concealed the disgust and disdain in his eyes behind a polite smile, and even poured a cup of tea for Channing.

"Mr. Channing, long time no see."

Channing, surprised by Bert’s sudden warmth compared to his cold attitude in previous days, was flattered and a little overwhelmed.

"Thank you..."

"So, may I ask, Lord Washington, why you called me out today? Is there something you need?"

Channing asked impatiently, but Bert, calm and composed, lifted his teacup and sipped elegantly, taking no immediate notice of Channing’s question. This only made Channing more anxious, yet he couldn’t rush Bert and had no choice but to follow suit and sip his own tea.

The more agitated Channing became, the hotter his temper flared with each sip, while Bert, on the opposite side, grew colder and calmer with every drink.

If rushing straight to find Channing had been a fleeting impulse, now Bert’s mind was completely serene.

He had originally intended to draw a firm line with Catherine, deciding no longer to intervene in her affairs. Even if Channing tormented her to the brink, it would no longer concern him.

But no matter how resolute that decision had been, it could never outweigh the pull of his feelings. He could not ignore it.

His woman—his Catherine—should never be bullied like this.

When he had finished nearly half a pot of tea and Channing’s patience was running thin, Bert finally spoke, one hand holding the cup, a faint smile beneath the curling scent of the tea:

"A tiger does not eat its own cubs."

Seeing the color drain from Channing’s face with satisfaction, Bert continued:

"I heard this phrase from a friend today. Having grown up abroad, I’m not particularly familiar with the idioms and sayings of Burg Eltz. So, Mr. Channing, could you kindly explain the meaning of this phrase to me?"

"Heh..."

Channing forced an awkward laugh, secretly recalling his own actions toward Catherine—especially what had happened at the hospital today.

Yet Channing did not expect that what occurred in the hospital would so quickly reach Bert’s ears, nor did he think Bert’s invitation today was simply to ask about the meaning of a phrase.

"Lord Washington, you jest. With all your talents, how could you not know the meaning of this phrase?"

Channing attempted to sidestep the issue, trying to defuse the situation with polite evasion. But Bert was relentless:

"What’s the matter, Mr. Channing? I humbly ask this question, yet you are stingy with an answer?"

Channing hesitated, and Bert’s expression darkened slightly.

"If Mr. Channing is this tightfisted, how am I supposed to have the heart to discuss our future cooperation?"

Bert’s calm yet coercive words pressured Channing to explain the phrase, using their potential collaboration as leverage. Channing, needing Bert’s cooperation, had no choice but to answer:

"The phrase ’a tiger does not eat its own cubs’ means that, though a tiger is fierce, it would never devour its own offspring..."

By the end of his explanation, Channing felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead—partly from the tension of Bert’s icy gaze, and partly from the shame of explaining the phrase in this context.

"I see, that’s what it means."

After Channing’s explanation, Bert nodded slightly, feigning enlightenment.

"A tiger may be fierce, yet it does not devour its young. Now, Mr. Channing, tell me—among humans, there are parents who, for their own gain, repeatedly thrust their children into suffering and danger. People like that... aren’t they even worse than tigers?"