Lathel gave a brief introduction about Rinnie, but Catrina could not hear a single word. Her eyes carried a faint murderous glint as she stared at the girl.
"Hm?!" Lathel felt something strange.
Catrina looked like a wolf, while Rinnie lowered her head, fingers tightly intertwined, trembling like a frightened rabbit.
Lathel seemed to realize something. He gently stroked Catrina's hair and smiled: "Don't be jealous, I truly just picked her up this morning."
Hearing that, Catrina understood that Lathel had misunderstood her gaze, but she did not want him to worry. All she wanted was for him to remain a soft little cat she could hold in her arms forever.
"Uhm!" Catrina nodded lightly: "After all, my husband suddenly shows up with another girl. How could I not feel jealous?"
Lathel inhaled deeply, his heart pounding, and the faint fragrance at the tip of his nose nearly made him lose control.
Seeing Catrina holding Lathel, Rinnie felt a slight sting in her chest, yet she still looked at them with admiration filling her eyes.
"Alright!" Catrina smiled and said to Rinnie: "The steward will help you get used to living here. Don't worry, if you work well, I will make sure you have an excellent life."
"But… there is one thing you must remember. He is your master, and you must forever remain loyal to him alone."
Rinnie immediately nodded repeatedly: "Of course! My life exists for the Young Master."
Catrina let out a quiet sigh of relief. Although she did not understand why Rinnie considered Lathel her Master, this was still a good thing. At the very least, Alex had now lost a huge source of support.
Besides, if Rinnie was mistaken, Catrina would turn that mistake into truth. As long as she gave Rinnie a good life, she refused to believe the girl would not eventually stand on her side.
By the time Rinnie realized Alex was her true master, it would already be too late.
Rinnie joyfully followed the female steward out of the room.
Now only Catrina and Lathel remained. She smiled and asked: "Lathel, did you miss me?"
"Of course." Lathel replied with a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry…" Catrina's face suddenly darkened: "Ever since I took over the family business, there have been so many problems I need to handle."
Lathel stroked her cheek and said softly: "I understand. Don't worry, I'm not blaming you."
He knew that according to the original scenario, the Montaline family's business looked prosperous but was riddled with internal corruption, filled with parasites hollowing it out from the inside.
Without the help of the male lead Alex, this would have been an impossible challenge for Catrina.
He sighed inwardly and whispered: "I'm sorry, Catrina. I can't help you with any of that."
"No!" Catrina said quickly, her slender finger, perfect like a piece of art, pressing gently against his lips: "You've already helped me so much."
And she was not wrong.
In the original scenario, Catrina needed one or two years to wrest control of the business. During that time, Rowan and many Elders did not support her and continued to oppose her.
The business was already a hollow shell. Coupled with interference from within the family, Catrina had been on the brink of collapse.
If Alex had not relied on the halo of the male lead, Catrina would have completely broken the moment she took over.
But things were different now.
Not only had Catrina received the "memories" of her past life, she also had the support of Rowan and most of the Elders.
She took over earlier than in those memories, giving her enough time to prevent many future problems.
And most importantly… Rinnie. She was the key piece capable of determining the fate of the entire board.
In the previous life's memories, Rinnie was only a Rank 3 Luyện Dược Sư. But after winning first place in the Empire's Alchemist Competition, she successfully advanced to Rank 4.
From then on, countless families and factions began supporting Catrina, helping her seize full control of the Montaline Family.
But now, Rinnie had appeared far earlier than expected. Although Catrina did not understand why, everything seemed to be aligning perfectly in her favor.
The more she looked at Lathel, the more she loved him. He felt like her personal lucky star.
'Aw! I really want to tie him to my side and keep him with me forever.' she thought secretly.
Suddenly, Lathel shivered, glancing around with the feeling of a small rabbit being stalked by a hungry wolf.
"Alright, go back to your work." Lathel patted her head and smiled.
He knew that the business currently had countless issues that needed to be resolved, and since he understood nothing about management, he did not want to bother her any further.
Catrina tilted her head, gazing at him with a hint of longing. She did not want to let him go, and her arms tightened slightly around his waist.
He gave a helpless smile and spoke softly: "Alright! I will stay here and wait for you to finish, okay?"
Catrina's smile bloomed like a sunflower basking in sunlight: "Thank you, Lathel."
She rose on her toes and kissed him on the lips. He responded gently, a warm and tender kiss.
After that, he sat on the sofa while Catrina returned to her desk to tackle the mountain of documents in front of her.
A maid brought him a soft blanket so he could lounge comfortably, along with snacks, novels, and various books.
Two maids stayed by his side, one peeling fruit for him and the other fanning him, turning him into an actual king.
Lathel enjoyed it greatly, lying down to read and savoring the peace he finally had.
In his previous life, he had struggled desperately to survive. Free time had been scarce. Even when he had time, he still had to think of ways to earn money, his mind always stretched to its limit.
But now was different. He did not have to worry about anything anymore. He only needed to be happy.
As Catrina reviewed business reports, she occasionally glanced at Lathel's relaxed expression.
Instead of feeling irritated that she was busy while he was leisurely enjoying himself, she actually found the scene soothing.
'He looks so comfortable. I hope he can always live like this, always smiling happily.' Catrina thought.
Knock! Knock!
A man's voice came from outside.
"Madam, it is Barobe."
Catrina's brows instantly furrowed. Her eyes flicked toward Lathel, seeing him still reading, occasionally having a grape placed into his mouth by a beautiful maid, she let out a silent sigh of relief.
"Come in!"
The door opened. A man around thirty entered, with blond hair and a rather handsome face, though his features appeared… weak. No, even a woman might seem sturdier than him.
As soon as Barobe entered and saw Lathel, his eyes revealed surprise, followed by quick disdain, as if he were looking at an insect.
Lathel did not care and continued reading, but Catrina immediately noticed that look. A cold flame rose in her heart.
Barobe smirked and turned toward Catrina, speaking with a flattering tone: "Madam, I have brought a letter from the Vice Dean, along with a highly beneficial cooperation proposal for you and your family."
Catrina frowned. She knew this was a massive trap laid by that Vice Dean.
And the trap was far too sophisticated, so much so that she had no choice but to step into it. There was no way out.
Barobe glanced at Lathel and added with a mocking smile: "Madam Catrina, I do not understand why you returned here. Do you know how heartbroken the Vice Dean was after you left?"
"He even nearly collapsed when he heard you married a foolish, useless man. His old illness almost flared up badly enough to kill him."
As he spoke, Barobe looked at Lathel with a taunting expression.
Seeing Lathel paying him no attention, his irritation flared. He pointed at Lathel and scowled: "Madam Catrina, look at him. He's lying there like a dog wagging its tail while you struggle with piles of problems."
"A man like him is worthy to stand beside you? Impossible! He is nothing but a useless mutt. Madam Catrina, if you wish, the Vice Dean can help you."
"He can not only revive this dying family but also grant you a position as a Professor at the Magic Academy."
Barobe became more excited the more he spoke, as if he were campaigning for mayor.
Even though Lathel did not look at him, he heard every word. His heart felt heavy, because the man was right.
He glanced at Catrina and sensed a coldness in her eyes that sent a chill down his spine. He sighed inwardly.
'It seems… this world is trying to correct itself.'
Yes. After all, he was only a villain. How could a villain make the female lead fall in love with him?
Though the brief time he had spent with her had made him feel happiness, some warmth he had never experienced before.
"So you're saying… Lathel is useless?"
Hearing Catrina's icy voice, Lathel shrugged and sat up. He understood what he needed to do and prepared to leave the room when…
"He is my husband!"
"Heh?!"