The Culprit

"What's she doing here?"

"Do you remember telling us to watch Paxton's movements if anyone attacks Regnz? We're still watching them. It's just that their target this time is your cousin."

"Let me guess. A singer's accident and the band's cancellation was her doing."

"You already know?"

Vincent sighed to himself.

"How was the accident? Was it bad?"

"No. No victims died. It's just that the singer was traumatized and didn't want to come out of her apartment."

Vincent exhaled his most extended breath of the day.

"Okay, I understand."

Vincent walked into the manager's headroom and asked about the development of the problem Star Risen was facing.

He was somewhat surprised to find that two of the three problems had been entirely resolved.

Catherine had invited a singer and a band as guests. At the same time, Cathy asked them to appear if there was a problem that would occur.

Vincent wondered as to why they all want to be used as a back-up plan? Not to mention, both parties were a famous figure in this country.

Only after asking further did he find out. The singer was Catherine's best friend while the invited band turned out to be at the agency where Cathy's best friend works.

The longer he heard about Cathy's actions, the more amazed he became.

It was rare for a young girl of Cathy's age to have such an unusual acquaintance and be able to come up with some back-up plans for something.

Could it be because Catherine learned it from Benjamin? If this is true, then Vincent highly praises Catherine's cleverness, who is quick to grasp what she learned.

"Then how about the ingredients for tomorrow's cooking?"

"That's the problem. Up until now, Catherine has been trying to make calls to each of the grocery supply suppliers. Surprisingly, no one has been willing to help."

It must be Clarissa. Thought Vincent.

Well, Cathy did not have a network-link as wide as him regarding the food factory.

Should he help her?

***

In the hotel room, Cathy sat at the dressing table, tightly gripping her phone. If she had superhuman strength, the phone she was holding would have shattered to pieces.

Unconsciously Cathy bit her lip hard. She was irritated by the suppliers that Star Risen had worked with for a long time.

Why was it so difficult for them to send the food they needed? She didn't even ask for the difficult or the large amount. Cathy only wanted a few kinds of vegetables and spices to be shipped to Pina Island immediately.

But they all rejected it for the same reason... that the ingredients they had run out. Someone had bought them in such a large quantity that it was very difficult to ship them in one day.

Cathy had to wait three days before she could get the ingredients she wanted.

Cathy's lips were bleeding, and she did not reduce the pressure on the teeth that stuck to the bottom of her lips.

Their excuses were utterly unacceptable. How could it be that, at the same time, all the supplies they have were bought by someone without a trace?

And that too, she contacted more than ten grocery suppliers and got the same answer. It doesn't make sense!

Cathy could feel some fluid getting into her mouth, yet she didn't release her bite. Without realizing it, tears escaped from their place and trickled down.

"Sis!!"

At that moment, Cathy gasped and released her bite. She saw Anna running towards her with teary eyes. Then Anna's hand touched her injured lips with a light touch.

Cathy's heart stopped when she saw her sister crying loudly.

"Anna? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"What's wrong?! I should be asking! Why are you torturing yourself? See! Your blood keeps flowing." Anna immediately took a tissue at the end of the table, sat across from her, and wiped the blood still out of her sister's lips.

Cathy has never seen Anna this angry to make her feelings of guilt even bigger.

"Why hurt yourself? Don't you know if you get hurt, I will feel sad?"

Cathy was speechless, seeing the tears streaming down Anna's cheeks with trembling hands as she wiped her lips.

Cathy wiped her sister's tears with her thumb before saying sorry.

After making sure the blood had stopped coming out, Anna stood up to take the ointment that belonged to her sister and then gently rubbed it on the wound.

Usually, Anna only sees small or minor sores that dry up quickly. But this time, she could even see the bite marks on her sister's lips. Why did her eldest sister love to harm herself so much whenever she was depressed?

Feeling helpless because she didn't know what to do to reduce her sister's pressure, Anna again shed tears. This time her tears followed by small sobs.

Cathy rubbed her sister's wet cheeks with guilt.

"No need to cry. I'm fine. Really."

Anna put the ointment back on the table and looked into her sister's eyes. She was sure she saw her sister shed tears too before she came. But now, she found no sign that her sister had been crying.

Neither Anna nor her twins never saw their sister cry. No. To all of them, their elder sister was a strong and tough person. Cathy was not a crybaby or whiny like them.

But now, she wondered... was it possible that her sister had never shown them her weak side?

Her trance broke at once when she saw the broad smile on her sister's face.

"You know, how about tonight the four of us sleep together?"

"It's not Saturday."

"So we can't sleep together if it's not Saturday?"

"Not really. Okay. I'll call Lina and Lizzy over here."

Anna rose to her feet and left her alone. Cathy was relieved to see her sister go for a while. That way, she could calm herself.

Cathy walked over to the open window. The sky was dark, and only the sound of insects could be heard below. She and her siblings slept in adjoining rooms on the third floor. Both of their rooms have connecting doors that could enter each other rooms without leaving the room.

Right now, the twins were playing in the game area. Anna was supposed to have fun with them too. And she should have caught up with them to spend time together.

But why... why can't she do it today? Why does her heart feel heavy right now?