Catherine showed up at the rendezvous point on time, despite that she felt weary.

Madison started looking at Catherine the second she came. She didn't look well. Her look was pale. The exhausted way she looked was like a weather-beaten flower, losing all the glamour.

​​

Seeing how lifeless she was, Madison couldn't help sneering. She thought that without Sean's protection, no matter how he spoiled her when she was with him, she would end up like this. Madison couldn't be happier that Sean couldn't arrive in time to defend Catherine when Instructor Hunter gave her such a hard time.

A few boys in Catherine's class came over to see if she was okay, which made other girls in her class green with jealousy.

They were not as good-looking as Catherine. She was like a bright star shining in the darkness up the sky.

"Catherine, are you okay?" Ethel asked when Instructor Hunter wasn't looking.

Catherine whispered, "I'm okay. But I can't do it if he asked me to run later."

The remaining military pose was the lightest punishment. Running ate up a lot of her energy while all she wanted to was lying on the bed.

Ethel said, "Try not to get under his skin. Agree to whatever he says."

It has been an hour since the rendezvous, and the Instructor hasn't called Catherine, which was a good thing.

Catherine forced a bitter smile, "I can't even if I want to. I'm too tired to talk."

Ethel said, "Let me know if you can't do it any longer."

Ethel tried to ask for leave on Catherine's behalf in front of several instructors. So Hunter had to say yes, or others would assume he was too harsh.

"Okay."

The sun shimmered harshly on the ground. The air was suffocating due to the lack of wind.

Catherine felt light-headed, staring at the green.

The pain in her abdomen grew more and more tangible. She frowned and kept her lips pursed as she sweat-drenched her clothes, and her energy drained little by little.

Every time Catherine's period came, she would experience a bad cramp. She regretted talking back to Instructor Hunter, which got her the punishment.

"Catherine!" Instructor Hunter ordered.

Catherine said, "damn it" in her mind.

Catherine stood in front of the queue.

"Run two laps around the ground.'

Running has become a routine for Catherine during military training. As long as Instructor Hunter was there, he would order her to run.

One lap was two miles, and two were four miles.

Catherine wouldn't think twice if it was any other day. She'd gladly take it as a chance to get exercise. But today...

Catherine frowned more, seeing the playground.

Ethel and Cecil gave Catherine worried looks. They knew something was wrong when Instructor Hunter opened his mouth.

"Instructor Hunter-" Ethel said.

Hunter said, "What?"

Ethel said, "Catherine isn't feeling well. She didn't ask for leave because she didn't want to put you in a hard position. Could you be kind and allow her to get back?"

"Oh? Really?" asked Hunter.

Hunter looked at Catherine and asked her again.

Catherine took a deep breath and said, "Yes, Instructor Hunter!'

Hunter said, "I can't tell."

Catherine knew Hunter was being deliberate. She was so pale, and anybody could tell she didn't feel well.

Hunter said, "Do you want to go back to have rest?"

"Yes, I do, Instructor Hunter."

Catherine wouldn't fight back the urge to lie down. After all, health was the first priority.

"Okay. You can leave after running."

Ethel said, "Instructor, she's not feeling well!"

"Do you have a problem with that?" asked Hunter.

"Yes, I do!" Ethel said.

Hunter sneered, "Why don't you join her since you're so close."

"I can run for her."

"That's an order!"

"Yes, Sir!"

Ethel could do the running for Catherine. She was glad to keep her company.

Then they started running slowly along the ground. Catherine could hear how others gossiped about her. But she was too weak to rebuke.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Ethel."

"It's okay."

'Thanks."

"We're friends, aren't we?"

Catherine was genuinely touched that Ethel would defend her honor. After all, they didn't know each other for long.

In Catherine's last life, she lost her family and friends for an asshole. She thought Madison would help her out. But it turned out the one that stabbed her in the back was the one she trusted the most.

In this life, Catherine patched things up with Sophia. She would be nice to her friends, including Ethel and Cecil. As for Anna, she wouldn't draw any premature conclusions.

"If you can't make it, just stop. I'll do the rest for you."

"I think I can manage if we slow down."

Catherine felt she was grilled underneath the sun. She did half a lap with the cramp in her stomach. She felt she would collapse at any second.

But Catherine wouldn't give up. She decided to get on with the punishment.

Iris and Pearl "happened to" pass the playground. When Catherine crossed them, they sneered, "Catherine, another punishment? Well, you deserve it."

Catherine ignored them.

"Catherine, how are you holding up?"

"I'm okay!"

"But you look awful."

Catherine gave Ethel a comforting smile.

A Mercedes drove fast toward the playground and stopped in front of the gate.

The expensive car drew everyone's attention. Iris and Pearl looked at each other, and their look changed.

Others might not recognize it, but they did.

It was Sean's car.

Sean didn't plan to drive to the playground. But he was furious hearing what Geoffrey had to report. He hurried to drive in.

After one steady brake, the car was stopped on the curb.

"Pearl, should we go and say hi?"

"No. We'll get over there and look."

The only reason Sean came was Catherine. But Catherine wasn't good, and Sean would be mad. Pearl would hate to be complicated.

Catherine didn't notice the car. She was struggling. Instead of running, she started jogging, which consumed tons of her energy. She felt on the verge of collapse.

Then before she knew it, she went soft in her feet and knelt on the ground.

"Catherine!" Ethel hurried to turn back and held her up, "I'll talk to Hunter. You go back to rest."

"Okay."

Catherine leaned on Ethel's shoulders. She couldn't run anymore.

"Who asked you to stop? Keep running!" said Hunter.

"Sir, she's about to faint. And her forehead is cold. We have to get her to the hospital."

Hunter came over, and his eyes was sharp. "She's not fainting. Keep running!"