The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 99 : Grounded

While Dusk sat in the Lounge with the amazing deserts, Lady Crystala had a number of questions for Dusk Hale on her family and work. She seemed especially interested in knowing her relationship with Catherine and Luke. Dusk was a little surprised, since a little while earlier it seemed Lady Crystala did not even know Luke.

Finally, when she felt it was polite enough to do so, Dusk said that it was time they returned to their hotel, since they have taken up a lot of time of Catherine's father and uncle.

Dusk and Susco got up and picked up their handbags, calling the maids to ensure Dusk's overnight bag was put back the hover-car. They did not intend to take the hover-bus as they preferred car. Catherina also got up and asked for her backpack, when her father asked her to sit down.

"Just where do you think YOU are going, Catherine?" He asked.

Catherine gave him a puzzled look before she remembered that she was 'grounded' and could not go back to the hotel with her companions. She threw a tantrum of a magnitude that surprised Dusk. Dusk always thought she was a good, well behaved girl, with just a few teenage quirks.

"But I want to spend more time with Elder Sister Dusk! I am learning a lot from her, didn't you say that before? You said she has changed my life! Julien also is happy with what I have done! You cannot separate me from her! This must be Mom's fault. She does not like me, because she is not my mother..." Catherine shouted.

Dusk felt bad for her and tried to go and console her, but she gave Dusk a hard push, almost toppling her in the process. Fortunately, hours of combat training had sharpened her reflexes and she regained her balance immediately.

"Stop it, Catherine! What is wrong with you! How can you say such a thing, specially about your mom? She will not do something bad for you, she loves you." Dusk said.

"She is not my mom! I am adopted, remember? She hates me. That is why she wants me back at home so she can punish me, keep me a prisoner and not allow me to become rich and famous like you!"

Dusk then lost her patience.

"What bullshit are you talking, Cath! Your mom has always liked you. She looked after you for 16 years. What makes you think she does not like you now, all of a sudden. Why will she want you back home if she didn't love and care for you? In that case, wouldn't she be happier to let you go off on your own? When will you understand that people around you love you, and it does not matter that you were once adopted? I have seen nothing in your life that shows the slightest indication that you have been disadvantaged, either because of the adoption, or for any other matter! Now, go back home with your Dad, your mother is worried about you and definitely misses you."

"NO! I will stay with you, I want to learn to be like you, I want to be rich like you." Catherine said stubbornly.

"Ok, there is a limit to stupidity!" Dusk yelled at her before she realised that she was in presence of the Royal Family and had no right to behave like that. But none of the Royals objected to or corrected her. "You are rich, far richer in fact, than me. You are a Princess! You do not need to do anything more. But if you want, no one is stopping you. Do you really think you need to stick to me all day to learn to make money? Did I, for example, tell you to buy the Hover-Car company? You did that on your own. And it is a good investment. I own part of it now only because you offered me a stake. I didn't even think of it. Now, don't fuss."

She turned to Gregner Lidwig and asked, "Does being grounded stop her from going to college or going to work, Your Highness?"

"No, not really." Gregner replied, "But it is possible that she will use remote class for a week. I will not stop her from going to wherever you have been sending her to work last couple of weeks."