Chapter 3

Richard's fist tightened slightly, though he maintained a curious expression. "Play. I want you to play with me."

Catherine frowned slightly at the man who had suddenly appeared, feeling uncomfortable with the aura he exuded. Before she could think further, the man toyed with a remote control and suddenly pressed a button. Richard's wheelchair shot straight toward a vase on the wall!

That device in his hand—it was the remote for the electric wheelchair!

Catherine's pupils constricted instantly.

If that vase were to be knocked down by the wheelchair, the consequences would be unthinkable!

Would the Smith family really harm a person with intellectual disabilities?

Catherine's brow furrowed tightly as she grabbed her remote-controlled car and hurled it forcefully at the man's face.

Richard had already closed his eyes, bracing himself for injury, but instead heard a painful cry as his wheelchair stopped just short of the vase.

"Your remote car is bigger! I want to play with yours!"

Catherine bounced over to the man, standing on her tiptoes and clumsily trying to grab the remote from his hand. Secretly, she drove her knee hard into his abdomen, leaving him doubled over in pain, curled up on the floor, crying out.

"You, you damn bitch!"

Catherine ignored him, snatching the remote control and pretending to play with it curiously while maneuvering the wheelchair to a safe corner. Only then did she speak with feigned innocence: "Yay! Your remote car is so fun! Thank you!"

Gavin Smith sucked in a sharp breath as he stumbled to his feet, his venomous gaze fixed on Catherine. "You're asking for death, you stupid idiot. I'll... I'll teach you a lesson!"

As he raised his fist to strike Catherine, a drone smashed into his head.

Richard held the drone's remote control, deliberately speaking loudly: "I want to fight monsters! You're a monster! Don't bully my good friend!"

This enraged Gavin further. He was about to grab Richard's device when footsteps suddenly approached from outside.

"Please do not disturb Mr. Richard Smith's playtime," said the butler in his perfectly pressed tailcoat, his expressionless face carrying a warning look. "Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to inform Mr. Simon Smith."

"Always using him to keep me in line," Gavin muttered.

Just as Gavin was about to leave reluctantly, he felt a seemingly delicate hand tugging at the edge of his clothes.

He turned around to see Catherine looking up at him with an expectant face.

"Don't go. Stay and play with us."

Catherine deliberately called him Gavin, following the butler's example.

"An idiot is still an idiot," Gavin paused, then sneered. "You're asking for this yourselves."

"Please?" Catherine swayed Gavin's sleeve.

Richard's brow furrowed, not understanding what Catherine was trying to do.

"Fine, I'll stay and play with you two."

Gavin revealed an eerie smile, then said to the butler, "This was their request for me to stay. If anything happens, you can't blame me."

The butler sighed and left.

Catherine immediately cheered excitedly: "Yay! Let's play hide-and-seek!"

Catherine tugged at Richard's collar and tilted her head slightly, suddenly revealing an unsettling smile.

"Say what you want to say—don't get handsy. Do you know how expensive this shirt is?"

A barely perceptible cold smile flashed in Catherine's eyes before she resumed her innocent, confused expression typical of someone with intellectual disabilities.

"What does 'expensive' mean?"

Gavin hesitated, feeling for the first time that staying here was a mistake.

"Expensive means you couldn't afford it even if you sold yourself. Enough talk—let's play the game. I have things to do and no time to waste with you!"

Watching her childish behavior, Gavin felt even more contempt and casually asked, "What happens if you lose?"

Catherine nodded slowly, chewing on her index finger and appearing to think hard. "Then we'll be at your mercy."

Gavin looked at Richard sitting in his wheelchair with a hint of mockery. "Since this idiot said it, I'll graciously accept."

Catherine led Gavin to a closet and mysteriously pointed at it: "Hide in here, and we'll come find you!"

Gavin laughed to himself—this idiot was telling him to hide in a closet. He was about to say something when suddenly his vision darkened and began to blur. His mouth opened wide, but he couldn't speak, only making muffled sounds before collapsing inside the closet.

Catherine's lips curled into a smile as she tossed away the small medicine pouch in her hand.

This newly developed drug wasn't bad at all. She really needed to reward the new laboratory properly.

The dosage was just right—enough to let Gavin take a nice nap in the closet and forget what had just happened.

With a soft click, the closet door closed, and Catherine displayed a subtle smile.

"That's what you get for bullying people!" Catherine whispered outside the door.

Richard frowned, inwardly astonished, his interest in Catherine growing stronger.

This woman seemed much more complex than she appeared on the surface.

Richard quickly changed his expression, covering his eyes and shouting loudly, "Let's play hide-and-seek!"

Catherine walked to Richard's side and whispered, "He seems tired. Let's go get something to eat and not disturb him, okay?"

Richard pretended to look disappointed. "Then I want something delicious."

Catherine smiled, moved behind Richard's wheelchair, grabbed the handles, and suddenly pushed hard, rushing out with Richard. "Let's go! We're off to get something yummy!"

Richard was startled by Catherine's action, but played along, waving his hands as if enjoying the ride.

When Catherine returned with Richard, they happened to run into a bewildered Gavin emerging from the closet, who became flustered upon seeing them.

Catherine tilted her head and asked, "So you like hiding in closets?"

Gavin had completely forgotten about the hide-and-seek game. His memory only extended to when the butler had asked him to leave, yet somehow he had fallen asleep in Richard's closet.

"This is insane," Gavin muttered as he walked away, not noticing Catherine secretly laughing behind him.

As night fell, Richard reflected on the day's events, his curiosity about Catherine growing stronger.

This woman was becoming more and more interesting.

He maneuvered his wheelchair to Catherine's bedroom door and gave it a gentle push. Surprisingly, it wasn't locked.

The room was filled with a faint fragrance. Richard sniffed the air—he had never smelled such a unique scent before. It was like an invisible hand gently caressing his face, momentarily captivating him.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom.

"Who's there?"

Catherine was instantly alert, one hand on her towel, the other on the dagger hidden in her bathtub.

Catherine's voice was perfectly disguised—truly like a startled young woman with intellectual disabilities.