Chapter 160 - Because I Killed Your Mother

"Is today a holiday? Or am I too loose to make you lazing around here at work time?"

One by one of them left with a resigned sigh without answering or arguing, making Cathy amazed. Just one word from Vincent, everyone there resigned without complaining. Whereas before, Frank had done the same thing but couldn't get them all to leave?

Frank himself still lived there and felt comfortable sitting next to Cathy. He even told Cathy to eat breakfast immediately before the warm meal become cold.

"Frank, you don't want to go back and open the gallery?"

"I've decided to take a year off from now on," was the nonchalant answer without looking at Vincent. It looked like Frank was still upset that his best friend disappeared for a year without any news.

"A year!?"

"Given the pictures in the gallery do not change in a year, we will need thousands of new images to replace them. So please look for new images during the next year, then we will open the gallery again."

Vincent rolled his eyes lazily and decided to let his best friend do whatever he wants.

Vincent told Cathy to eat breakfast while chatting casually with her and Frank. The three of them just made small talk without mentioning past problems. This time, because Vincent was sitting next to her, Cathy could enjoy her breakfast without feeling awkward.

After breakfast, Vincent took Cathy out. Previously, Vincent got a thick and long jacket on Cathy and a scarf wrapped around her neck. Apparently, Vincent went out earlier just to buy a warm jacket and scarf for Cathy.

"Why do I have to dress like this? Isn't it summer now?" asked Cathy curiously.

"You'll find out later," he replied, then tied Cathy's hair into a ponytail.

"Looks like you are used to tying girls' hair. How many girls have received this kind of special treatment?"

"Isn't it a little late to ask this?"

"There is no word late in my dictionary."

Vincent gave an amused smile. He really enjoyed and missed their small talk. Now he hoped they never offend or discuss the Chloe or Stealth issue. However, that was just wishful thinking. Like it or not, they must quickly face it. But for now, Vincent wanted to enjoy his time with Cathy in a relaxed manner without discussing serious matters.

"All right. It's over. Come with me."

"You have not answered my question," Cathy pouted, making her look adorable in Vincent's eyes.

"You forget the fact that I have the most adorable niece in the world. I often put her hair in a ponytail and made her my model."

"Ooo..." that's all Cathy comments because she felt ashamed to be jealous without knowing the truth.

Vincent just let it be and opened the door of the house. As soon as the door opened, Cathy's hair was pulled back, and she felt some forces pushed her body backward.

Now she understood, even though the sun was shining hot, the wind hitting her was quite harsh and cold. They walked along the rocky road towards the edge of the beach. Apparently, the wind was blowing hard like this because they were near the ocean.

Cathy walked, following Vincent from behind as she stared at her right hand. Usually, Vincent would hold her hand when walking, but now that man did not hold her at all. Apart from putting on a jacket and scarf and ponying her hair, Vincent didn't touch her again.

Once again, Cathy felt an invisible wall between them, and Cathy didn't like it. She ventured to hook her index finger to Vincent's pinky finger.

At first, Vincent was surprised when he felt Cathy's little finger linked to his. He was frozen in place because he could not believe what Cathy was doing. Seeing no reaction from Vincent whatsoever made Cathy disappointed. Finally, she removed the hooks from Vincent's fingers. But before their fingers were wholly released, Vincent opened his palms and linked his five fingers between Cathy's fingers.

Cathy's heart beat rapidly as if this was the first time they were holding hands. The two of them walked on the shore casually while showing a big smile. Each of them turned in opposite directions to hide their smiles. Their shy attitude was similar to those of lovers who have recently been in a relationship.

After walking down the pier, Vincent led Cathy into a house made of bricks. The place looks classic with buildings like colonial times. But the inside was very well maintained, and the decoration was very classic. There were fireplaces and other antiques. Cathy felt like she was entering a villager house in the old days.

Vincent helped Cathy take off her jacket, then hangs their two jackets on a hanger. The two of them smiled at each other in relief because they didn't have to deal with the hurricane-like wind earlier.

"Coffee? Tea?" Vincent offered Cathy a warm drink after inviting her to sit on a long comfortable sofa.

"Uhm... anything is fine." In fact, Cathy is not in the mood to drink both.

A few minutes later, Vincent appeared carrying two different glasses. Coffee for Vincent with a small coffee cup, while the latter a drink for Cathy.

Smelling of its aroma, the drink was neither tea nor coffee. Cathy took a slow sip, and then her eyes lit up.

"Chocolate milk?" it was apparent that Cathy liked her drink.

Seeing Cathy enjoying her warm milk made Vincent smile with satisfaction before sipping his own coffee.

After finishing their drinks without any awkwardness, the atmosphere between them turned a little tense as Vincent opened his voice.

"We have to talk."

Cathy sighed in resignation as she put her glass on the table. She preferred to enjoy being with Vincent without discussing the past. The fact that Cathy was the daughter of Chloeny and Vincent was a candidate for team leader L and was suspected of having killed Chloe makes them unable to continue their relationship.

"You're right. We have to talk," answered Cathy finally. "But before that, can you tell me where you have been all this year?"

"I continued my training with Lest. A month later, I found out that you are not the successor to the main throne. Chloe's eldest son is Kinsey Alvianc and the heir of the Alvianc group. So I decided to quit."

"Why?"

Because LS will not care about anyone other than Kinsey, why did he work and train to protect Kinsey while the young man could defend himself?

"Because I feel no longer fit in the LS environment." Vincent keeps the real reason from Cathy.

"I don't understand. What does my brother have to do with your compatibility in LS?"

"Would you rather I stay at LS?" Vincent deliberately deviated from the flow of their conversation.

Cathy shook her head quickly. "I don't want you to be restrained by LS."

Vincent smiled apologetically to hear that, "Unfortunately, they won't let me go so easily."

"Why?"

Vincent looked straight into Cathy's eyes, and his answer broke Cathy's heart apart.

"Because I killed your mother."