Chapter 9: Ignore Marcus

"Ara~ ara~. Of course I am, my snow bunny," Demetri said, imitating Sarah's voice perfectly.

As soon as he spoke, Catherine's heart skipped a beat, the nickname 'snow bunny' sending a shiver down her spine. She felt both annoyed and strangely captivated. She huffed, trying to maintain her composure.

"Snow bunny?" she repeated, feigning incredulity, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her.

Before she could say more, her mother's ringtone broke the silence. Catherine glanced at her phone, a hint of disappointment crossing her face as she set down her cup of tea.

"Excuse me," she murmured, stepping aside to answer. "Hello, Mom."

From across the room, Demetri called out, loud enough to be overheard, "The snow bunny's a little busy with her man."

Catherine's eyes widened, a mix of shock and irritation flashing across her face. Her mother had heard him.

"Snow bunny? Who is that?" her mother's voice asked, skeptical.

Catherine's cheeks burned even brighter, the urge to strangle Demetri nearly overwhelming. She quickly replied, "It's... it's no one, Mother."

Her mother, clearly unconvinced, pressed further. "Are you sure? Who was speaking just now?"

Catherine struggled for an excuse, but the situation defied explanation. "Just... a friend, Mother. It's nothing," she said, her voice tense as she avoided Demetri's gaze.

Demetri, apparently enjoying himself, added, "Yes, a very close friend. And I'm a little tipsy, sorry!" he called out, pretending to be drunk.

Catherine's eyes shot to him, her irritation turning to panic. She couldn't believe he was putting on this act while she was on the phone with her mother.

Her mother's tone grew even sharper. "Drunk, you say? Catherine, who is that man? I don't want you mixed up with some... thug."

Demetri, hearing her mother's words, called out, "Thug? Ma'am, I'm no thug. Educated with all A's and B's, actually—unlike some parents who keep secrets from their kids."

Catherine's face turned ashen, horror flooding her as Demetri's response echoed over the line. Her mother, now indignant, retorted, "And what exactly are you implying about me, young man?"

Demetri walked over and smoothly took the phone from Catherine, despite her startled attempt to grab it back.

"Hello there," he began smoothly. "Listen, lady, whoever you are, you need to loosen that grip you've got on Catherine. My parents tried to control my every move too, but guess what? I'm living my best life, free from their shackles, and she deserves that chance as well."

On the other end of the line, Catherine's mother was stunned, her tone icy. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

Demetri, undeterred, continued, "All I know is that you're treating her more like a puppet than a person. And trust me, that's no way to raise a daughter."

Her mother's voice wavered, laced with indignation. "How dare you tell me how to raise my child! You don't know what's best for Catherine."

Demetri raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. "Are you sure about that? Are you Catherine? Do you even know what she wants? Or are you more interested in the image of her you've created in your mind?"

The line went silent, her mother momentarily lost for words. He pressed on, his voice calm but piercing. "Maybe you only know what you wish you had done, the choices you wish you'd taken. Maybe that's why you keep trying to force her down the paths you couldn't walk. Am I right?"

The question hit with startling accuracy, striking a nerve Catherine's mother had kept well-hidden. A beat passed before she responded, her voice defensive. "That's not true. I just want what's best for her."

Demetri let out a dry chuckle. "What's best for her, or what's best for your regrets? Are you willing to let her live her own life, or does she have to be a reflection of the life you never had?"

Silence fell on the line, her mother's composure shaken. There was a quiet vulnerability in her voice when she finally replied, "I... I only want her to be safe... and happy."

"Then ask her what she wants. Let her show you who she is, not who you think she should be," Demetri replied, his tone softening. "Maybe take some time to think about that, and call her back when you're ready to really listen."

He handed the phone back to Catherine, glancing at her with a reassuring nod before hanging up, leaving her mother in silence.

Catherine stood there, stunned, struggling to process what had just unfolded. Finally, she found her voice.

"Why... Why did you do that?" she asked, her voice soft, filled with surprise—and a trace of admiration.

"For the fun of it. It was in my bucket list and you only love once so might as well do some outrageous things in life. And I just realised I have free will." Demetri smiled mischievously.

Catherine watched as a mischievous smile played across Demetri's face. His words took her by surprise, and she had to hide a smile of her own.

"Free will, huh? And I was on your bucket list?" she asked, a hint of humor in her voice.

She leaned back slightly, raising an eyebrow. "What other outrageous things are on that list of yours?"

"Well you weren't but saving a beauty being controlled was one thing. As for other can't tell you." Demetri said keeping secrets.

"A secret makes a woman, a woman." Demetri spoke in Sarah's voice.

Catherine chuckled at Demetri's change in voice, the sound of Sarah's words coming from him.

"A secret, huh?" she repeated, her curiosity piqued. "Fine, keep your secrets then. I have a feeling I'll be finding out soon enough anyway."

She took a sip of her tea, watching him intently, a mix of intrigue and amusement playing across her face.

"Well you should head home now. I've got things to do." Demetri said taking her cup as she finished her tea.

Catherine looked slightly surprised, her heart sinking a bit as Demetri mentioned leaving. She had grown somewhat comfortable in his company, despite the strange situation. But she nodded reluctantly, standing up.

"I suppose you're right. I should go." She paused for a moment, feeling a strange reluctance to leave. "I... Thank you, for the tea and... well, everything."

After this interaction, Demetri began to slowly distance himself from them not hanging out as often with the girls and more focused else where.

Anna, Sophia, and Catherine were more focused on Marcus. But unlike Anna, and Sophia Catherine noticed these subtle changes well it was already too late to say the least.

The girls noticed the change in Demetri's behavior but didn't quite know how to interpret it.

"He's been more distant lately," Anna commented one day.

Catherine nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I've noticed that too."

Sophia added, "I wonder what's going on with him."

The girls spent a few minutes speculating, but soon the conversation turned to Marcus. As they discussed and analyzed his actions, Catherine couldn't shake the feeling of slight unease about Demetri's change in behavior.

After this interaction, Demetri began to slowly distance himself from them not hanging out as often with the girls and more focused else where.

Anna, Sophia, and Catherine were more focused on Marcus. But unlike Anna, and Sophia Catherine noticed these subtle changes, although it took her time to figure it out.

The girls noticed the change in Demetri's behavior but didn't quite know how to interpret it.

"He's been more distant lately," Anna commented one day.

Catherine nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I've noticed that too."

Sophia added, "I wonder what's going on with him."

The girls spent a few minutes speculating, but soon the conversation turned to Marcus. As they discussed and analyzed his actions, Catherine couldn't shake the feeling of slight unease about Demetri's change in behavior.

As days turned into weeks, the girls' focus shifted mostly towards Marcus, but Catherine continued to notice the growing distance from Demetri. Even as she joined in conversations about Marcus, she couldn't help the nagging feeling at the back of her mind.

But then the nagging feeling went away one day. The three Sophia, Anna, and Catherine started to date Marcus without telling each other.

Thursday 17th October 2024...

The three had now fully forgotten Demetri. They don't talk to each other, sit next to each other. It's as if their memories deleted as their main priorities was Marcus and studies.

As the days went on, Catherine found herself increasingly drawn into the dynamics of her relationship with Marcus. The time she used to spend with the girls or even thinking about Demetri was now filled with planning dates, studying together, and enjoying each other's company.

Her heart filled with happiness and fulfillment whenever she was with him. But... there was a tiny part of her that couldn't help but wonder about Demetri. A part of her that longed for their interactions and the strange comfort she found in them. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, telling herself she didn't need him anymore.

'Now the only thing left to do is break up with Marcus and I can finally live happily in peace.' Demetri thought as he glanced at Catherine and Marcus who were studying together whilst walking.

At night...

*Ding.* Marcus had heard his phone as he recieved a notification from Sarah.

"Let's not continue our relationship you have a girlfriend now. I found out from a friend and they saw you and her making out and going shopping together." Demetri sent him the message.

"What?" Marcus was shocked at Sarah's message. He hadn't expected her to find out about his relationship with Catherine so quickly.

He felt guilty. He had been so caught up in the excitement of his new relationship that he hadn't thought about how it would affect Sarah. They hadn't talked in days.

He quickly typed back a reply. "Sarah, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Things just...happened with Catherine."

"Well… I could forgive you," Sarah texted, "if you pay me in stocks that bring in a couple thousand a month in dividends."

She paused before sending her next message, adding, "That wouldn't be too much for you, would it?"

Marcus's eyebrows shot up as he read her messages. Stocks that would yield a monthly income? He hadn't expected that. It was an unusual request, especially coming from someone he'd just been in a relationship with. For a moment, he wondered if she was serious, but curiosity got the better of him.

"Stocks, huh? That's… a unique request. And a low amount, actually," he replied, still gauging her tone.

"I know it's small change by your standards," Sarah wrote back, "but I'd like something steady. Plus, there might even be a chance for me your girlfriend."

Marcus considered her offer. With his family's wealth, this would barely make a dent—it was indeed a small price to pay. Still, her directness intrigued him. Part of him couldn't resist the idea of having her by his side again, even if she seemed more interested in financial security than romance.

He typed back, "Alright, you've got a deal."

Marcus's phone lit up with another notification—a photo from Sarah. He opened it, taken aback by the sight of her damp panties. He felt a swirl of mixed emotions: surprise, a bit of guilt, and a spark of intrigue.

He hesitated for a moment, then typed, "What… what's this for?"

"I've been getting a little wet," Sarah replied, adding a wink emoji. "Since you're treating me so well, I thought you'd like a little treat."

In reality, Sarah had simply splashed her panties with water before sending the picture. She knew Marcus often let his thoughts drift into the more impulsive side of things, and she didn't mind encouraging that in her own way.

His heart pounded as he glanced at her response. He typed back, "You're quite the tease, you know that?" He couldn't deny the thrill she brought, but the feeling lingered in a way he couldn't quite place.