From Broken to Beloved-Chapter 113- sis-in-law

Chapter 113- sis-in-law

So she said happily,

"Thank you."

Bert turned to look at her and asked in return,

"What are you thanking me for?"

Catherine smiled. In her bright, lively eyes there was both joy and shyness.

"Thank you for coming to pick me up for work."

Just as Renata had thought, Catherine also felt that something as ordinary as driving one’s girlfriend to and from work seemed almost unreal when it was happening to him.

Hearing her words, Bert felt a sudden ache in his chest. He couldn’t help but lift his hand and rub her soft hair.

"Silly girl."

Then he spoke seriously,

"Isn’t picking up and dropping off your girlfriend the most basic responsibility of a man? If he doesn’t have a car, that’s one thing. But if he does, then it’s simply what he should do. So why are you thanking me?"

Bert felt sorry for her thoughtfulness, and even more so for how she must have been treated in her previous relationship with Gerald. For her to think this way—to feel the need to say thank you just because he came to take her to work—made it obvious that she had never truly been cherished or protected. How could that not make his heart ache?

And to Bert, in love he was not some lofty figure who controlled the livelihoods of countless people as the head of a company. He was just an ordinary man—an ordinary man who had fallen in love. Whatever ordinary men would do for their girlfriends in a relationship, he would do as well, and he was willing to do it.

In love, both people are equals. No one stands higher than the other, and no one is inferior—there is no such thing as being above the other.

His words made Catherine’s eyes sting with warmth. In truth, he hadn’t said any sweet nothings at all—just a few simple sentences. Yet those few sentences were more than enough to move her.

"But isn’t picking me up and dropping me off a bit of a waste of time? You have to get up early and come all the way to my place—"

Catherine continued, genuinely concerned for him. His home was originally very close to the company, yet now he was deliberately detouring to her place before the two of them went to work together...

Bert seized the opportunity and said,

"So if you move in with me and live together, it’ll be much more convenient for us to go to and from work."

This time, Catherine was the one who was startled. She bit her lip and stared at him.

How could he be like this? They had only just confirmed their relationship last night, and today he was already inviting her to live together...

Seeing her expression, Bert let out a low laugh. He turned forward, straightened in his seat, started the car, and drove off, adding a reassuring comment,

"I’m joking."

Then he said,

"I won’t force you before you agree."

Catherine turned her head to look out the window, feeling a bit vexed.

But her vexation wasn’t because he had said those words.

It was because she realized that when he mentioned living together, she hadn’t felt any resistance at all.

She had only agreed with her mother last night that she would take things slowly with him...

Catherine didn’t know what was wrong with her. She seemed to have no resistance at all to anything he said.

Later, she thought that maybe it was because he treated her too well—so well that she had lost all ability to resist.

Once the car was on the road, Catherine noticed that he seemed to have changed cars, so she asked,

"Why did you change cars today?"

She had ridden in his car several times before, and it had always been that black Mercedes.

When she came downstairs earlier, she hadn’t seen that car or the familiar license plate at all. It wasn’t until he honked that she noticed him.

Bert explained calmly,

"Given the environment of your neighborhood, if I pick you up and drop you off every day, that car would be too conspicuous."

Catherine was both shaken and deeply moved.

So it turned out he had deliberately switched cars to avoid drawing gossip to her.

He was this meticulous, this thoughtful in protecting her. Beyond being moved, Catherine didn’t know what other reaction she could possibly have.

After being abandoned by Gerald at the time when she needed care and protection the most, facing this series of warm gestures from Bert, Catherine truly couldn’t hold back her emotion anymore.

"Why are you being so good to me?"

She genuinely didn’t know what was so special about her, that he would treat her with such devotion.

Bert asked her gently in return,

"Isn’t it only natural for a boyfriend to treat his girlfriend well?"

This time, Catherine really had nothing to say. She fell silent, sitting there quietly. Having been loved by a man like him—even if the ending were uncertain—her life would hold no regret.

While they were still on the road, Catherine received a call from Lilian.

From the other end of the line, Lilian asked her with concern,

"Catherine, my brother said something happened to you last night. Are you okay?"

At the Mos family’s banquet yesterday, Bert had left midway because something happened to Catherine, and everyone had been worried about her safety.

Later, Morrison had called Bert to ask about what happened. But Morrison refused to tell Lilian the details, saying that she was pregnant and shouldn’t hear about such filthy matters, as it would be bad for the baby. He only told her that Catherine was fine and hadn’t been hurt.

Lilian knew Morrison was trying to keep her from getting angry or upset and affecting her mood, but she still worried about Catherine. That was why she called first thing in the morning. After all, even if she hadn’t been physically injured, it didn’t mean her emotions hadn’t been affected.

What Lilian didn’t know was that Catherine’s bad mood had long since been dispelled by the warmth and tenderness Bert had brought her.

Catherine was deeply touched by Lilian’s concern.

"I’m already fine. I’m doing very well. Thank you."

Lilian laughed softly, her voice gentle as she said,

"Even though I don’t know exactly what happened, I hope you’re happy every day. Don’t pay attention to those boring people. My brother will take care of everything."

It was Lilian’s heartfelt praise of Bert—perhaps because of his role as her brother. In a younger sister’s eyes, an older brother always seemed omnipotent, and Lilian was no exception.

In the past, the person who had been "all-powerful" in Lilian’s heart was Dave. Later, with Bert, there was one more such person.

Although she had once resented Bert and his mother, resented them for hurting her family, after going through so much, she had gradually let it all go.

And this time, faced with Lilian’s praise of Bert, Catherine didn’t evade the topic. Instead, she responded shyly,

"Mm. Everything is up to him."

Her voice was gentle, with a hint of bashfulness, but Lilian still caught the deeper meaning behind those words. She immediately laughed happily on the other end of the line.

"So... you’ve accepted my brother’s pursuit?"

If this had been in the past, the moment Lilian mentioned Bert, Catherine would have immediately changed the subject and avoided it. But this time, she faced the topic head-on and even said something so clearly dependent on him. The two of them must have started dating.

Lilian’s question was far too direct, and Catherine’s face flushed at once. She didn’t answer immediately. Lilian continued speaking on her own,

"Looks like I’ll have to change how I address you in the future. I can’t call you ’sister’ anymore—I should call you ’Sis-in-law.’"

Catherine: "..."

"Um—Lilian, we’re about to arrive at the office. Let’s talk later, okay? I’ll hang up now."

Blushing furiously, Catherine said this hurriedly and quickly ended the call.

Sis-in-law?

That form of address was just too embarrassing.

"Hey, wait—"

On the other end, Lilian still wanted to ask whom Catherine meant by "we’re about to arrive at the office." If it was Bert, did that mean they’d spent the night together? Otherwise, how could they be together so early in the morning?

Oh my goodness—

Lilian felt that her brother’s happy ending might not be far off after all.