CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66- ATTITUDE

Catherine thought for a moment and decided she should go to the kitchen to tell him that she needed to leave. If she had heard correctly, the name Bert had just mentioned was Morrison. Catherine knew the name—not for any particular reason, but because earlier that afternoon Riley had told her about Morrison and Lilian’s grand wedding some time ago.

While they were shopping, Riley had taken the opportunity to give her a rundown of the people around Bert. Starting with Dave Laurent, she moved on to Lilian Morrison. Catherine hadn’t wanted to listen, but Riley spoke on her own, and Catherine could only passively pay attention. That’s how she came to have a general understanding of Bert, Dave, and Lilian—the three siblings.

So of course, she also knew that Morrison was quite a prominent figure in Burg Eltz. Now, with Bert asking Lilian to call Morrison over as well, Catherine, already feeling some pressure from just facing Lilian, felt even more eager to leave. She stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

When Catherine stepped into the kitchen, Bert was frying steaks.

Tall and upright, with a statuesque figure, he wore casual home clothes, yet even his relaxed posture exuded elegance and charm—he looked graceful and alluring even while cooking.

"Um..."

Catherine walked over and spoke softly,

"Could you... try on the suit first? After that, I’d like to leave..."

Bert turned his head, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Do you think I can just walk away now?"

Catherine glanced at the steaks sizzling in the pan, pressing her lips together in silence. Cooking steaks required careful attention; she couldn’t very well ask him to turn off the heat just to try on the suit.

In her silence, his deep voice sounded.

"What are you resisting? It’s just waiting outside for a bit."

To him, having her wait outside was a trivial matter, nothing worth feeling nervous or reluctant over. He continued,

"Besides, do you not want any friends besides Riley?"

"I do... I just—"

Catherine wanted to explain that she wasn’t avoiding making friends, but these particular friends were intimidating. She dared not associate with them; they were far beyond her social standing.

One was Morrison, a powerful figure in the Burg Eltz business world, and the other was Lilian, the pampered daughter of Burg Eltz. These were not people someone of her status could casually befriend. Catherine didn’t deny feeling a bit inferior.

Most people would probably feel the same when facing others of such vastly different social positions.

Yet he casually added,

"Then it’s simple—go wait outside. Lilian is easy to get along with."

He deliberately emphasized that Lilian was easygoing, trying to ease Catherine’s tension.

Catherine protested, but it had no effect. She could only silently turn to go wait outside.

"Wait."

He called after her again. Catherine stopped and turned around. He looked at her, then instructed,

"Bring me a glass of water. I can’t step away right now."

Catherine felt a bit exasperated. He treated her completely as an insider, giving orders without hesitation or embarrassment.

She wasn’t someone who particularly liked to resist; it was part of her gentle nature. Of course, her gentleness had often made her seem easy to push around in the past, like Lucca and her circle thought.

So now, faced with Bert asking her to fetch water, Catherine chose to comply. She quietly asked,

"Where’s your glass?"

Bert told her, and Catherine poured water into the glass and handed it to him.

He took it with his free hand, and in doing so, their fingers brushed lightly—a warm, gentle touch that made Catherine’s heart flutter. She quickly let go.

Bert drank, and as Catherine looked up, she saw his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed. For some inexplicable reason, she found it... sensuous. The thought popped into her mind, and her face flushed instantly.

Catherine realized she had been subtly influenced by Riley. In the modeling world Riley came from, the men were all well-built, and there were constant conversations about sensuality and gossip, which had left Catherine’s mind filled with thoughts of male allure.

After drinking, Bert tried to hand the cup back to Catherine but noticed her eyes cast downward, cheeks slightly pink, a hint of shyness—adorable and captivating.

Beneath her small, delicate nose, her lips were plump and inviting. Bert felt a sudden urge—an impulse to kiss her, to take her lips and claim them, momentarily forgetting the steaks on the stove.

"Bert—"

It was Lilian suddenly entering, breaking the delicate tension in the room. Catherine snapped back to reality and, embarrassed, quickly smiled at Lilian and hurried out, leaving Bert’s cup behind.

Lilian stepped forward apologetically, glancing at the composed Bert, and teasingly said,

"Bert, did I interrupt something good just now?"

To Lilian, the scene she had just witnessed was truly beautiful. The two of them were standing face to face—Catherine with her head slightly lowered, shy, and her bert, expressionless as ever, looking at her with warmth in his eyes. Lilian thought that if she hadn’t come in at that moment, her bert might have kissed Catherine the next second.

Lilian had often imagined what it would be like if Bert ever fell in love and what kind of girl could capture his heart. Yet it was always hard to picture, because Bert’s personality and expressions were always so cold when he interacted with others.

But what Lilian had seen just now seemed to her like the truest expression of affection for Bert.

A moment of serene peace.

Lilian had never seen Bert look at anyone with such tenderness—except for herself.

Even Lilian felt that Bert had never looked at her with the same intensity of feeling.

The way he looked at Catherine was indulgent and doting, yes—but more than that, it was love.

Affection can be bold and unrestrained, but love is self-controlled.

This was a saying that had recently become popular, and Lilian could deeply feel its meaning from Bert’s gaze.

Yes, Lilian could sense that Bert was restraining his emotions.

Clearly, Catherine did not have the same romantic thoughts toward Bert, and his restraint was to avoid causing her any discomfort.

This was the way Bert loved—a quiet, unobtrusive care that did not demand or flaunt itself. No grand gestures, no extravagant displays. That kind of love could only bring unnecessary trouble to Catherine. He was simply looking after her silently, subtly, without fanfare.

Often, love does not need to be dramatic; the calm, genuine, and true moments are the best.

As for Lilian’s teasing, Bert did not directly respond about whether his "good moment" had been interrupted. Instead, he calmly asked,

"Have you finished calling Morrison?"

No sooner had he spoken than Lilian exclaimed,

"Oh no, bert, I think the steak’s overcooked..."

Steak fried by Bert was Lilian’s favorite, perfectly cooked and delicious every time she came over. It was always a must-order dish.

Thanks to her reminder, Bert immediately turned off the heat.

Then he let out a slightly awkward cough.

"Just make do with it."

Lilian didn’t mind if the steak wasn’t exactly to her liking. She just laughed quietly to herself, realizing he had been momentarily distracted; otherwise, he wouldn’t have forgotten about the cooking.

Remembering why she had come into the kitchen to find Bert, Lilian hesitated a little and said,

"Morrison said you should call him yourself."

Earlier, Lilian had phoned Morrison, who was just sitting down to eat with friends.

Lilian didn’t know why Bert suddenly wanted Morrison to come over; originally, it was only supposed to be the two siblings having dinner. But since Bert had asked, she followed his instructions.

When Morrison heard from Lilian that Bert had asked him over and that Catherine was there as well, he immediately refused.

"I’m not coming."

Lilian was puzzled.

"Why not?"

Morrison snorted.

"If he’s dating, why should I come and liven things up for him?"

Immediately, Lilian understood. Bert had probably called Morrison because Catherine might feel awkward alone, and he himself needed to stay in the kitchen cooking. Having Morrison there would help keep the atmosphere lively.

Morrison’s personality was always outgoing, and with him around, awkward silences rarely occurred.

Lilian tried to persuade Morrison to come, but he insisted,

"Have your bert call me himself. Let him personally invite me."

Lilian "..."

After threatening Morrison with a stern little face to make him behave, Morrison, who had finally found an opportunity to make Bert beg him, refused to give in, frustrating Lilian to no end. In the end, she had to go to Bert herself.

Bert didn’t react much. He simply plated the steak and instructed Lilian,

"You go outside. I’ll call him."

Lilian, thinking Catherine was still there as a "guest," went outside to keep her company.

Bert didn’t rush to make any other dishes. He simply leaned against the counter, took out his phone, and called Morrison.

"So I hear you want me to personally invite you?"

Bert’s expression was relaxed; he showed no annoyance or displeasure at Morrison’s demand.

Morrison snorted over the line,

"Isn’t it proper to personally ask someone you’re seeking help from?"

Bert raised an eyebrow,

"Are you really not coming?"

"What kind of attitude is that?"

Morrison gritted his teeth.

"When the new product launches in a few days, I plan to have Lilian do the promotional shoot. If you can get here within fifteen minutes, I might consider letting her skip it."

Having said that, Bert proudly hung up. Morrison was furious on the other end.