Chapter 78
Following the voice, the people present turned their heads and saw a tall and handsome young man walking towards them with several executives in tow. They all gasped to see him.

The man had a breathtakingly gorgeous face. Catherine frowned at Braden’s alluring face. His features were refined and well-curved, and the corners of his eyes were slightly up. He had such an eye- catching appearance.

What enhanced his charm was the aristocratic nature he was born with. He was young, but there was no air of impetuousness about him. He was distant and aloof, and people could not resist being in awe of him.

Josh was also taken aback when he saw Branden. He knew who Branden was, of course, the one in the power of the Duncan Corporation and the heir to the Duncan empire.

Josh took a step forward and faced Branden with respect. The smile on his face turned to one of flattery as he said, “Mr. Duncan, what a coincidence! What brings you here today?”

Branden stepped toward Catherine, and a trace of danger flashed across his deep eyes. He darted a sharp look at Josh while his voice was low.

“It’s not a coincidence. I heard that my future wife was being bullied. That’s why I am here.”

Seeing that the incident was getting out of control and the people involved were big shots, the service assistant informed the mall’s management team for support.

Branden happened to be at the mall for an inspection. He got the news that the daughter of the Swanns had a conflict with others, so he hurried to the shop to have a look.

It was indeed Catherine!

Branden’s claim surprised everyone there.

“Future wife?” Josh looked at Branden in bewilderment, wondering who Branden was referring to among the females there.

Branden noticed Josh’s confusion and did not mind giving Josh a heads-up.

“Mr. Burton, you’re a successful businessman. Didn’t you do some background checks before taking action?”

Malice flickered in Branden’s eyes. Although the smile on Branden’s face was gentle, it made Josh feel like kneeling before him in terror.

Could it be that my future…

Something came to Josh’s mind and he was scared stiff of it. The corners of his mouth twitched as he opened his mouth to ask, “Mr. Duncan, is this young lady…”

Branden cut him off and gave him the answer.

“That’s right. Catherine and I are engaged. Mr. Burton, did you ask your men to hit wife in my mall just now? Well…”

He drew out the last word. It sounded indolent, but it carried a strong warning nonetheless.

Josh was wild with fear. Just a few words from Branden were more than sufficient to give him nightmares.

Carol and Sheryl, who stood behind Josh, turned white with fear. They thought Catherine was a bastard, an unwanted child who returned from the countryside, but who knew that Catherine had such strong backing?

She was Branden Duncan’s future wife!

In Casier, to fall foul of the Duncans was akin to courting death. That would be big trouble.

Audrey watched Branden’s towering figure and was ecstatic.

Branden had absolute masculine charms and was the perfect boyfriend for Catherine.

She tightened her grip on Catherine’s hand and was overjoyed. She winked at Catherine several times in an attempt to cue her.

Catherine tilted her head and furrowed her brows at Audrey. “What’s wrong with your eyes? Why are they twitching?”

Audrey was speechless.

Her sister did not have a single cell of romance in her.

Audrey had to remain silent and watch her future brother-in-law deal with the Burtons.

Since Branden admitted that Catherine was his future wife in public, Catherine would be Mrs. Duncan one day.

The Duncans were rich and powerful. The Burtons could not afford the consequences of provoking them.

As a businessman, Josh knew how to weigh the pros and cons of any matter. He immediately pulled his wife and daughter to him and rebuked them with a sullen face. “Are you blind or deaf? Apologize to Mr. Duncan’s future wife right now!”

Carol treated people the way she could because of her husband’s power. Now that her husband was powerless, and to make matters worse, it was the Duncans whom she had provoked. How dare she not

bow her head and apologize?

She pulled Sheryl forward and apologetically said to Catherine, “Miss Swann, we are sorry. It’s all our fault. Please, forgive me and my daughter. I’m begging you.”

Carol accepted reality quickly and apologized without hesitation.

But how could Sheryl, who was spoiled since childhood, be willing to apologize to a country girl like Catherine? She was trembling with anger and stared daggers at Catherine as though her eyes would kill Catherine there and then.

She refused to accept that Catherine would be Branden’s future wife. “Catherine is not worthy of such a wonderful man,” she thought.

Branden eyed sideways at Catherine, only to see that her face was stern and her brows knitted. together.

His face darkened, and he went on the offensive against Josh.

“Is this the Burtons’ attitude when making an apology?”

Josh turned pale with fright. He whirled around and slapped Sheryl. “Sheryl, do you remember what I have taught you? I will send you to the overseas boarding school today if you do not apologize to Miss Swann.”

The threat made Sheryl flustered. She would rather die than be sent to the closed-up women. boarding school abroad.

She looked at her father in panic, but there was a decisive and non-negotiable expression on Josh’s face.

Sheryl turned to her mother for help, but her mother signaled for her to compromise.

At last, Sheryl had to lower her head and say sorry. She opened her mouth with difficulty and said stiffly, “I’m sorry, Miss Swann.”

Catherine shot Sheryl a glance without change in her straight face. She said in a stone-cold voice, “You apologized to the wrong person.”

Sheryl peeked up at Catherine, feeling infuriated. But in such circumstances, she could only bear with it. She turned to Audrey and bowed her head again to apologize. The unprecedented humiliation made her eyes bloodshot, and her voice choked up as she spoke, “Audrey, I’m sorry!”

Audrey loved to see her lifelong rival Sheryl being taken a peg down.

But the look of aggrievement on Sheryl’s face made Audrey feel a little bad as well.

“Alright. That’s it. Let’s drop this.”

However, Sheryl’s head was still down, and she remained motionless.

Audrey understood. Branden was the only one who could make decisions there. Without his approval, no one dared to end this matter.

She stole a glance at Branden and was startled by his vibe.

Audrey did not have the guts to talk to Branden, but she could speak to Catherine.

“Kathy, let it go. We were alright anyway.”

Sheryl and her mother had spoken ill of them, but they did not lay a finger on them after all.

However, the Burtons were miserable. First of all, Catherine had thrown Carol over her shoulder. Carol was in so much pain that she took quite some time to get off the ground.

Then, Josh slapped Sheryl in public. Both punishments were disastrous for Sheryl and Carol.

Catherine turned to Audrey upon hearing her persuasion. She raised her brow and asked, “Are you sure?”