Chapter 4 Chapter Four

"Who told you to let her leave the house?" Constantine Demiris demanded the housekeeper. "I'm sorry, sir. But you didn't say not to keep her out of here, so..." Demiris tried to calm himself down. "It doesn't matter. She'll probably be back soon." "Anything else, sir?" "there is none left." He watched the butler go out, and then walked to the window sill, staring at the carefully manicured garden outside.He thought that Catherine's appearance in Athens might cause trouble, because some people in the city might recognize her.Looks like I can't keep her alive anymore, as unfortunate as that is.But the first thing I should do is revenge.She should be alive before that, so that I can have a good time with her.Now I have to send her somewhere where no one will recognize her.London appears to be safe.I can always know her every move there.I can give her a job in my London branch.

When Catherine returned an hour later, Demiris immediately noticed something changed in her.The gloomy veil that had covered her face in the past seemed to be lifted off at once, and what appeared before his eyes was a lively Catherine.She wore an elegant silk dress and a white blouse—and Demiris was stunned at the startling change in her appearance.Confused enough.He secretly admired. "Mr. Demiris..." "Coster." "I... I already know who I am and what happened in the past." He didn't show any reaction on his face. "Really? Please sit down and talk, honey."

Catherine was too excited to sit still.She paced excitedly up and down the carpet, stammering, "My husband and his...his lover, Noel, are trying to kill me." She stopped and looked at him eagerly. "Sounds incredible? I... I don't know. Maybe this kind of thing is really incredible." "Go on, dear," he encouraged her in a soothing tone. "It was the nuns in the convent who saved me. What is my husband doing under your hands?" she asked blurtly. Demis hesitated for a while, and he was weighing how to answer. "Yes." How much should he let her know? "He's one of my pilots, so I have a sense of duty to you. That's just..."

She looked him squarely, "but you always knew who I was, why didn't you tell me in the morning?" "I'm afraid you're going to be irritated," Demiris replied calmly. "I think it might be better for you to find out for yourself." "Do you know what happened to my husband and his mistress? Where are they now?" Demiris pointed at Catherine and said coldly: "They have been executed." He noticed that her face suddenly turned pale.She hummed lightly, then fell powerlessly on the sofa. "I do not……" "They were executed by the judiciary, Catherine."

"But...why?" Beware, there is danger, "for they are trying to murder you." Catherine frowned and asked puzzledly: "I still can't understand. Why did the judiciary execute them? I'm still alive..." He interrupted her. "Catherine, the laws of Greece are harsh. Here justice is done without delay. They were tried. All the witnesses testified that your husband and that Noel Patch attempted to kill you. So they found guilty and sentenced to death." "This is too unbelievable." Catherine sat there, staring at Venus. "That trial..."

Constantin Demiris walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder: "You have to forget about your past. They did evil, so they deserved it." He then changed to a brisk "I think it's time for you and me to talk about the future. Do you have any plans for the future?" She didn't hear him.Larry, she was thinking of him.Larry's handsome face, his arms and his voice and smile... "Catherine..." She raised her head suddenly. "Oh, what did you say?" "Have you thought about your future?" "No, I... don't know what to do with you myself? I think I can stay in Greece..."

"No," Demiris said firmly, "this is not a good idea. This place will bring back many unpleasant memories for you. I suggest you leave Greece." "But I have nowhere to go." "I've thought about it," Demiris told her. "I have a firm in London. You used to work for a man named William Fraser in Washington. Do you remember?" "William..." She suddenly remembered.It was a wonderful time in her life. "I suppose you must be his administrative assistant?" "yes, I……" "You can do the same job for me in London."

She hesitated. "I don't know. I appreciate your help, but I..." "I understand, I know it all happened so suddenly," Demiris reassured her with a sympathetic bow. "All of this will take time for you to think about. Why don't you have a decent dinner brought to your room now. We can talk about it in the morning." Letting her eat in his own room was what he thought of just now.He couldn't let his wife see her. "You've been so kind to me," Catherine said gratefully. "You also generously gave away these expensive clothes..." He just patted her hand lightly, and kept it in his hand affectionately. "It's a pleasure to do these things for you."

She sat in her bedroom watching the blood-red sunset slowly descending over the Aegean Sea.I have no reason to be depressed any longer.I have to face the future.I should thank God for Constantine Demiris to help me.He is her life.Catherine had no one to turn to but him.He has arranged for her to work in London.Should I accept it?Her train of thought was interrupted by a few knocks on the door. "Your supper, miss."
Constantine Demiris sat in his study after Catherine left, thinking about their conversation.Noel, she was the only woman who had ever caused Demiris to lose control of his feelings for him for the first time in his life.He had loved this woman deeply, she had been his beloved lover.He had never met a woman like her.She is proficient in art and music, as well as business.She has become an indispensable part of his life.In his view, Noel is almost omnipotent.Everything about her fascinated him.He is deeply attracted by her.She was the most beautiful and sexiest girl Demiris had ever met.She had given up her stardom to be with him, she had given him passions he had never felt before.She is his lover and his close confidant.Demiris had always trusted her, but she had cheated on Larry Douglas and betrayed him.For this, he made her pay with her life.Demiris took her body from the authorities and buried her on his private island of Psala in the Aegean Sea.His arrangement was generally regarded as a beautiful and noble move at the time, but in fact his motivation was mainly because he felt that walking on the slut's grave would bring him some happiness. An indescribable pleasure.Demiris still has a picture of Noel next to his bed, and she still smiles at him so cutely.Her smile was forever frozen in that moment.

Now, more than a year has passed, but Demiris still can't forget her.No doctor could heal the wound this woman had made in him. Why?Noel, why the hell is this?I give it all to you, I love you, you bloody slut.I loved you then and still love you now. And that Larry Douglas.Even though this kid was also sent to the west by him, this still couldn't satisfy his desire for revenge.He's hatching another revenge plan.That was a brilliant plan.He was going to play with his wife, Catherine, as Douglas had played with Noel, until he had had enough of it before sending her to her husband.

"Coster..." It was his wife's voice. Marina walked into the study.
Mrs. Demiris, Marina Lambero, was of an ancient noble family in Greece.She is slender and elegant, and she is born with the air of a lady from a famous family. She is a very attractive woman. "Coster, who is that woman I saw in the hall?" There was concern in her tone. The question caught him a little off guard. "What? Oh, she's a friend of mine in business," Demiris said cohesively. "She will be working for me in London from now on." "I saw her once. She reminds me of someone." "yes?" "Yes." Marina thought for a while and said. "She reminds me of your pilot's wife. But of course that's impossible. They've murdered her." "That's right," Demiris agreed. "She's long dead." He watched the back of Marina gradually leaving.He has to be careful, Marina is not stupid.I shouldn't have married her at all, Demiris thought.This is totally a mistake...
Ten years earlier, Marina's wedding to Constantin Demiris had caused a stir in business and society from Athens to the Riviera to Newport.The surprise was that the bride had just been engaged to another man just a month earlier.
From childhood, Marina Lambero's candid temper troubled her family. When she was 10 years old, she had a sudden whim to become a sailor, but her family's driver found her at the port and took her home. At that time, she was about to sneak into a ship to sneak out to sea. At the age of 12, she attempted to run away from home with a traveling circus. When Marina was 17 years old, she began to obey her destiny-she was born a beautiful young girl, the rich daughter of the noble family of Mijares Lambero.She has gradually become a hot spot in the press's follow-up reports, and is described as a mythical figure who keeps company with princes and princesses all day long.What is puzzling is that Marina has always successfully played the role of a socialite and lady.Marina has an older brother, Sparrows, who is 10 years her senior.The siblings have always had a good relationship.Since their parents died in a yachting accident when Marina was 13, Sparrows took it upon herself to raise her younger sister. Sparrows has always guarded his sister so carefully that Marina feels that he is a little too strict.As Marina approached her 20s, Sparrows naturally watched the suitors around her more closely.He watched each candidate carefully, but he found that none of them were ideal candidates. "You have to be careful," he kept admonishing Marina. "Because those men covet your property, you will become the target of their pursuit. You are young and beautiful, and you are quite rich, not to mention that you are a famous woman." "Well then, my dear brother. Let me be a virgin forever, until I die at eighty. It will be a great happiness to me." "Don't worry, Marina. You'll have the man you want."
His name was Conte Vasilis Manus.He also came from an ancient Greek aristocratic family and was very successful in business.The count fell in love with the young and pretty Marina at first sight, and proposed marriage to her within a few weeks of meeting.
"He couldn't be more ideal for you," Sparrows said cheerfully. "Mr. Mannus has strong financial strength and loves you very much." But Marina lacked enthusiasm for the marriage. "But he's boring, Sparrows. Whenever we're together, he's not just talking about his business, it's business, and it's all about business. He lacks a little bit of romance." But her brother retorted firmly: "For marriage, there are more important things than romance. What you need is a safe and reliable husband, someone who is sincerely willing to dedicate himself to you." Marina finally heeded her brother's persuasion and accepted Conte Manus' proposal. This made the count ecstatic. "You've made me the happiest man in the world," he declared passionately. "I am currently in the process of setting up another new company, which I will name Marina International Limited." Marina felt, however, that she would rather accept a dozen roses.The day of the wedding was finally fixed, and at the same time a thousand invitations were sent out to the outside world.Everything is under careful planning.
Just then, Constantin Demiris broke into Marina Lambero's life. To celebrate their engagement, more than a dozen dinner parties were held for various guests.Demiris met Marina at one of these parties. The hostess introduced them to each other. "This is Marina Lambero. Constantin Demiris." Demiris looked at her affectionately with his deep black eyes. "How long can they keep you here?" he asked. "Excuse me for not understanding you." "You must be an angel descended from the world, sent down to teach us what is true beauty." Marina smiled and said, "You are very flattering, Mr. Demiris." But he shook his head and said, "You're not flattering. Any compliments don't do you justice." At this moment, Count Manus came and interrupted their conversation. That night, Marina thought about Demiris before falling asleep.Of course she had heard of him.He is rich and a widower.His reputation is not very good, it is said that he is a hard-hearted businessman and a ruthless love hunter.I'm so glad I didn't mess with him, Marina consoled herself with luck. But the gods are laughing.
The next morning, Marina's housekeeper came into the breakfast room. "Mr. Famiris sent a chauffeur to bring you a box of presents, Miss Lamborough." "Please bring it." Constantin Demiris tried to impress me with his money.Well, he will be terribly disappointed.Whatever he sends...a piece of precious jewelry or a priceless antique...I will return it immediately. It comes in a small rectangular box and is beautifully packaged.Marina opened it curiously, and there was a card with a few simple words written on it: "I think you might like it. Constantine." It was a hardcover novel, Todd Rabar, by Nikos Kasantzakis, her favorite author.How did he know?
On the third morning, another gift was brought.This time it was a disc of music by her favorite composer Querius.A small note read: "Perhaps you'd like to read Todd Rabar while listening to the sound of Delius." From that day forward, Marina received gifts from him every day.He brought her her favorite flowers, perfumes, music, and books and such trinkets.Constantine Demiris painstakingly searched for everything that would suit her taste.Although she felt embarrassed by this kind of attention, she felt a kind of sweetness in her heart. When Marina called him to thank him, he said, "I can't find anything worthy of you." He might as well have said this to many women. "Would you like to have lunch with me, Marina?" She said "no" at first, but then she thought: it wouldn't hurt to have a meal with him.Besides, he was so attentive to me. "Ok." But later, when she told Condé Manus that she was going to have dinner with Demiris, her fiancé strongly objected. "What's the point, my dear? You have nothing in common with that dreadful man. Why should you meet him?" "Vassilis, he has people giving me gifts every day during this period. I have to make him stop doing it." Although Marina said this verbally, she thought in her heart that I could actually tell him over the phone.
Demiris made reservations at the Flock Hotel in Via Penipistimo.It was a restaurant very popular with customers, and Marina found him waiting there when she arrived. He stood up. "This way, please. I fear you may change your mind." "I never break my word." He looked at her, and then said solemnly: "I don't want to break my promise either. I must marry you." Marina shook her head and said to him, half angry, half angry, "Mr. Demiris, I'm engaged to someone else." "Manus?" he waved contemptuously. "He's not right for you at all." "Oh, really? Why is that?" "I knew him. There was a history of mental illness in his family. He was a hemophiliac himself. He was questioned by the police in Brussels for a sex crime. He played bad tennis, too." Marina couldn't help laughing: "What about you?" "I never played tennis." "I see. That's why I should marry you." "No, because I can make you the happiest woman in the world." "Mr. Demiris..." He reached out and took one of hers and said, "Coster." She withdrew her hand. "I'm here today to tell you not to give me any more presents in the future. I don't want to see you again either." He stared at her for a while, and then said: "I believe you will not be a cruel person." "I wish I wasn't." A smile appeared on his face: "That's good. So you won't break my heart." "I wonder if your heart can be broken so easily. You've already got a reputation in love." "Oh, that was before I knew you. I've always dreamed of you." Marina laughed again. "It's true. When I was very young, I wrote about your Lamborough family. But I was poor, and you were a noble lady. Our situation is simply very different. I My father was a dock worker in the port of Piraeus. I have fourteen brothers and sisters. We had to fight on our own to survive." She seemed so moved that she forgot her identity. "But you're a rich man now." "That's true. But I think I could do better." "How did you get rich?" "Because I was hungry, I was always hungry. I'm still hungry." She could tell he was serious from the look in his eyes. "So... how did you get started?" "Do you really want to know?" "I really want to know all of this," Marina demanded, obsessively. "When I was 17, I went to the Middle East to work for a very small oil company. I wasn't doing very well. One evening I was having dinner with a young geologist who was working for a very large oil company. Work in the company. At that time, I asked for a steak, but he only wanted a soup. I asked him why he didn't order steak, and he told me that his big tooth was gone, but he didn't have money for a pair of dentures. I So I gave him 50 yuan to go to the hospital to get a pair of dentures. Unexpectedly, one night after a month, he called me and told me that he had just discovered an oil field with a large oil reserve, and he hadn’t reported it yet. The company reported this discovery. The next morning, I tried my best to borrow a sum of money and bought the mining rights of the land that night. It turned out that it was An oil field with the largest oil reserves in the world." Marina listened intently to every detail. “But that was just the beginning. I also needed tankers to carry crude oil, so I built a fleet. Then I built a refinery, and then I started my airline.” He shrugged easily. “From then on, I started my own entrepreneurial history.” But shortly after their marriage, Marina learned that the story about the steak was pure fiction.
Marina hadn't expected to see Demiris again since that lunch.But Demiris carefully arranged the coincidences again and again.As long as there is a party, performance or charity event where Marina is present, he will definitely be there.Every time she met, she felt his unusual allure.Compared with him, Vasilis Manus's performance is much more boring.This fact even she refused to accept. Marina enjoys collecting Belgian Flemish paintings.So when Bruegel's "Hunters in the Snow" appeared on the market, Demiris immediately bought it for her and gave it to her as a gift. He knew her hobbies in such detail and detail that Marina began to be fascinated. "I cannot accept such an expensive gift," she insisted. "Oh, it's not a gift. You have to pay for it: dine with me tonight." She finally had to compromise because this man was too much for her. A week later, Marina broke off her engagement to Count Vasilis Manus.
When Marina told all this to her brother, he was dumbfounded. "Why? Please tell me why, for God's sake?" Sparrows asked inexplicably. "Because I want to marry Constantine Demiris." He was so surprised that he couldn't even speak. "You must be crazy, you can't marry Demiris, he's a devil. You'll be ruined by him. If..." "It's not fair of you to say that about him, Spargus. He's lovely, and we're in love. It's..." "That's just you loving him," he interrupted her. "I don't know exactly what he's looking for in you, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with love. Do you know his reputation with women? He..." "That's all in the past, Sparrows, I am willing to be his wife." He finally failed to stop his sister's marriage. Marina Lambero and Constantin Demiris were married a month later.
Their married life seems to be perfect.Constantine is humorous, thoughtful and passionate about her.Sometimes he brought her an expensive gift, and sometimes he arranged for her a trip to a foreign country, immersing her in surprises again and again. On their wedding night, he told her, "My first wife didn't give me children. Well now, we're going to have many sons." "None of your daughters?" she joked with him. "Unless you want to, but first you have to have a son." When Marina told him one day that she was pregnant, Demiris was ecstatic. "He shall inherit my kingdom," he declared willfully. But his wife had a miscarriage after three months of pregnancy.Constantine was abroad at the time.When he returned to China and heard the news of Da, he was so angry that he almost went crazy. "What the hell did you do?!" he asked his wife loudly, "How did this happen?" "Coster, I..." "It must be that you are not careful!" "No, I swear..." He heaved a long sigh. "Well, it happened anyway. We'll have another one." "But I...I can't get pregnant anymore." She didn't dare to look him in the eye. "What did you say?" "The doctor had to perform a resection operation on me." He stood there motionless, then turned and walked out without saying a word. Since then, Marina's life has become dark as hell.Constantine's attitude suggested that his wife seemed to have killed his children on purpose.He put her aside indifferently, and at the same time turned his eyes to other women. Marina could barely tolerate his affairs with other women, but what pained and humiliated her most was that Demiris openly bragged to her about his affairs with other women as a pleasure. .He had no qualms about asking movie stars, opera actresses, and the wives of some of his friends to fool around.He took his lovers to his psala island for pleasure, or took them for a ride on the yacht.He also made frequent appearances in public with his lover, and the press, of course, was more eager to report on his romance.
Once, at a luncheon at the home of a banking tycoon. "You and Marina must come," the banker invited him. "I recently invited a master chef of oriental cuisine. He can cook world-class Chinese cuisine." The invited guests were all celebrities.Among them are artists, politicians and business entrepreneurs. It can be said that they are a gathering of talents.The dishes are really nice and plentiful, including shark fin soup, shrimp rolls, alfalfa meat, Peking duck, pork chops, Cantonese noodles and some other famous Chinese dishes. Marina sat with the host at one end of the table, Demiris with the hostess at the other.On his right sat a young and beautiful actress.Demiris was concentrating on her, ignoring all the guests.Marina could hear a few words of their conversation. "You must come after filming. You will have a wonderful vacation. We can sail the yacht along the Dalmatian coast..." Marina really didn't want to hear their conversation, but it was obviously impossible because Demiris didn't want to keep his voice down. "You've never been to Psala Island, have you? It's a lovely little island, and completely isolated. You'll love it." Marina felt the urge to crawl under the table.But worse was yet to come. After eating the pork chops, the butler began to hand the silver basins to the guests one by one. When the sink was handed to the actress, Demiris said to her, "You don't need this." He took her hand with a smile, and licked her fingers clean with his tongue. .The guests at the table all looked at each other in blank dismay. Marina immediately stood up and bid farewell to the host: "Please forgive me, I have a headache." The guests silently watched her leaving in a hurry.Demiris did not come home for one of the next two days.
Sparrows turned blue with anger when he heard about it. "Just say so," he said angrily, "and I'll kill the son of a bitch." "But he didn't mean to do it on purpose," Marina still wanted to defend him. "It's just in his nature." "His nature? He's a total brute. You should get rid of him. Why don't you divorce her?" Marina had thought about this question over and over as she passed the long cold nights alone.But she always comes to the same conclusion in the end, I love him.
At 5:30 in the morning, Catherine was woken up by a maid.He said to her in an apologetic tone: "Good morning, miss..." Catherine looked around sleepily after being awakened.She found herself not in a small room in the monastery, but in a beautiful and luxurious bedroom, in... She suddenly remembered.That trip to Athens...you are Mrs. Catherine Douglas...they were both executed... "Miss……" "What's up?" "Mr. Demiris asked me to ask if you would like to have breakfast with him on the balcony later." Catherine looked at the maid in a daze.She stayed up almost all night last night and didn't fall asleep until four in the morning.Her mind is in turmoil right now. "Thank you. Please tell him I'll be right here."
Twenty minutes later, Catherine came to a spacious balcony under the guidance of the housekeeper.The balcony is about 20 feet off the ground, facing the sea and overlooking the garden below.Constantine was already sitting at the table waiting for her.He studied Catherine carefully as she came toward him.There was something exciting about innocence and purity about this woman.He will take her, possess her, make her all his.He pictured her sleeping naked in his bed, helping him punish Noel and Larry together.He stood up. "Good morning. Excuse me for interrupting you so early, but I have to go to the office in a moment, so I wanted to chat with you before I go." "Well, of course not," Catherine replied.She faced the sea, and sat opposite him across the marble dining table, and the gushing sun dyed the sea golden. "What would you like for breakfast?" She shook her head and said, "I'm not hungry at all." "Maybe you want some coffee?" "Okay thank you." The butler came up and poured her a cup of hot coffee. "I say, Catherine," Demiris began his conversation. "Have you considered our conversation yesterday?" Catherine had been thinking about Demiris' suggestion all night last night.Athens had left her nothing, and now she had nowhere else to go.I cannot go back to the convent, she swore to herself.The idea of ​​Constantine sending her to work for him in London sounded a bit appealing.In fact, Catherine's heart admitted, it was an exciting suggestion.It enables me to start a new life. "Yes," Catherine replied. "I've thought about it." "How about it?" "I... I think I can try." Constantin Demiris tried to hide the relief he felt. "I'm glad you accept it. Have you been to London before?" "No, that's... I don't think so." Why can't I be sure?There are still many terrible fault layers in my memory.I wonder how many more unexpected things are waiting for me? "London is one of the few highly developed cities in the world. I'm sure you'll be happy to work there." Catherine hesitated. "Mr. Demiris, I want to know why you are willing to work so hard for me?" "I just want to say it's because I feel a sense of duty to you." He added after a pause, "I introduced your husband to Noel Patch." "Hey." Catherine let out a long sigh.Noel Patch.The name made her feel a slight shudder.They both gave their lives for each other.Larry must have loved her very much. Catherine forced Bai Ji to muster up the courage to ask the question that had been haunting her all night. "How on earth...how were they executed?" There was a short silence. "They were shot by law enforcement." "Oh." At this moment, she seemed to feel how the bullet pierced Larry's body, tearing the man she once loved to pieces.She deeply regrets asking herself the question. "Let me give you a piece of advice. Don't think about the past anymore, because it will be harmful to you. You must leave your past far behind." Catherine murmured, "You're right. Let me try." "Okay. I have a plane leaving for London this morning, Catherine, could you take a moment to get ready to go right away?" Catherine thought of her old trips with Larry.The preparations before departure always make people feel nervous and excited, and then pack the luggage with big and small bags, and then embark on the journey together. But for this trip, she had no one to accompany her, and she had no luggage, so there was nothing to prepare for. "Okay. I can get ready right away." "Great. And," Demiris reminded, seemingly casually, "your memory has recovered somewhat, so maybe you want to reconnect with some old acquaintances so they know you're all right now .” Suddenly a name popped into my mind: William Fraser.He was the only acquaintance in the world left over from her past life.But she knew she wasn't planning to meet him just yet.When I've settled down, Catherine thought.I'll try to get in touch with him when I get back to work. Constantin Demiris had been watching her, waiting for her answer. "No," Catherine finally answered. "I don't have any acquaintances to contact." She had long forgotten that she had saved William Fraser's life. "I'll get you a passport." He handed her an envelope. "It's your salary in advance. You don't have to worry about accommodation. The company rents an apartment in London and you can live there." It couldn't be more ideal. "You are too kind to me." He took her hand and put it in his own. "You're going to find me..." He swallowed the words back.I should be more careful with her, he told himself.Take it easy.Don't scare her away. "...I can be your good friend." "You are indeed a good friend." he smiles.Wait.
Two hours later, Constantine Demiris put Catherine in the back seat of the Rolls-Royce.She will take this car to the airport. "I hope you enjoy your stay in London," he said. "I'll keep in touch with you." Five minutes after the car drove, Demiris got through to London. "She's on her way."