Chapter 12
There is a loud ringing in my head. I can see people’s faces around and I know they must be yelling but I can’t hear a thing. I want my body to move and do something to stop this camage but why won’t. It obey me?
I just stand Hooply on the side, watching bean pour his madness down on Ricardo, The latter has already fallen to the ground, unconscious, and yet he stilishits him. The nurses aren’t trying hard enough to stop Ivan. I think they might be just as horrified as tam, seeing him like this.
valentino holds my arm. He’s saying something but I can’t hear. I just watch his lips move like an idiot and don’t react as he shakes me violently. He tries to drag
me away.
feet a grip. Catalina!” 1 finally hear him say but it’s like I’m underwater.
I don’t want him to take me away, I don’t ward to abandon Ricardo to Ivan’s cruelty when all he wanted was to defend me. I shrug Valentinn oft and nin to the scene, pushing hvo nurses out of the way
Ivan’s straddling Ricardo’s simmering body, his backfacing me. Estart hitting him as hard as I can Yet, it’s like he doesn’t fill anything. He’s still punching Ercando’s bloodied face inpeatedly.
“Step, you monster!” I yell at the top of my lungs.
Thit him again on the shoulder and Ivan finally bums. I’m happy to lure distracted him from Ricardo but it doesn’t last because now, his animosity is directed toward me. He grabs my hair and 1 scream in pain as he rises to his feet and drags me along.
*Monster, huh?” Ivan spits through gritted teeth. “No, Catalina. I’m worse than that. I’m the fucking devil!”
stare at him in pure honor and actually believe that he’s the devil. His eyes flash menacingly and he starts to drag me away by the hair. Tery and plead but no one call save ime. At least, I hear Valentino asking his brother to stop but it’s pointless,
Ivan pushes the nearest door open. It’s a doctor office but there is no one inside. He locks us in and finally lets go of my hair, rasing the burning of my scalp.
got
“I hate you“” I yell and sob. “W why did you do that to Ricardo, huh?! He did nothing wrong!”
You should worry about yourself Catalina because I haven’t even started on teaching you a lesson.” |
“If you h–have a problem, then deal with me directly! Ricardo was only being a gentleman, something that you must not be familiar with.”
Ivan scots and grabs me by the arm. He’s pulling me like a rag doll and I hear my joints crack. My pained whimpers fall on death ears. I have to stand on my tippy
toms to ease the stretch of my arm in his hold.
That mach disrespected me.” He growls “He looked me straight in the eyes and called me a piece of shit. I wasn’t going to let that slide and if you didn’t stop me earlier, I’d have lolled him. But dead or not, you won’t see him at the mansion again. He’s tired!”
| glare at him angrily. He adds
“As for you …You do realize that it’s all your fault, right? You have no one to blame but yourself for what happened to that stupid guard. You convinced him to take you out even though you knew damn well that you’re not allowed to.”
Η
1
to what you
our the fuck up. You think I don’t know what you’re doing, huh? These idiots might be blind but I’m not. You use your charms to get these men to do want but don’t you dare think that this strategy of yours will get you out of trouble with me.”
“My mama?” I sheer “I think you’re the only one who has a problem with that, actually Why is it that you always get so crazy when I’m with other men, huh?
His Town deepens. I try to behemy am back i
amu back but he’s holding me too tight. There’s a long,
t, uncomfortable silence in which Ivan breathes down on the like a brast
“No.” He growls. “I see you keep provoking me, Catalina. You must’ve gotten bold, thinking that someone will always be here to save you, if needed. But you’re
fare and stams las pruuth against mine. I won’t describe it as a kiss. It’s injite of a fight for power and dominance. Hep my lips shit, despite his
nbreak past thurmm and invade my inoulli i pushon his chest and his fun band but Ivan’s antis wrap around my waist and keep me la place.
sark iragainst the wall. He pins the there with his body covering mine. I slap him and finally manages to break this “kiss“. I know I must be red in the
How date you kiss me?” I sat in dings
salep Lamapen but ivan grabs both of my wrists on pin the above my head. He states into my eyes from which angry beans are sipping
ehte i ryming to save you, Cataluna Not even dr.
wraparound my nec
di İstruggle more to keep him fro
The banter at my lips: Tran feel him starting to get stated by that and it makes me
want to surrine. You should be bining my feet, that‘
Η
draw he must be furion that l’aunot begging to be spared. This hand
It’s foolishness. Your albuild leatido respect those who are stronger than you if you
“Then I’m proud to be stupid, sir.”
He glares at mut.
“Okay… But always remember these words you spoke, Catalina. Don’t you dare beg for mercy when confronted with my wrath, do you hear? Because I won’t show
H
“I don’t want your merry.
Thebriva distinct lock at the closed office door. Ivan kreps his eyes on me for a few more second before he lets go of my neck and goes to open the door. I use this moment in catch my breath.
“Sh. Your father’s awake.” Someone says
“I’m coming.”
Ivan grabs, me again and pushes me out of the office. I hate the way he holds my arm, dragging me after him like I’m some kind of pet. I notice how the few nuses we pass in the hallway don’t even dame look at us. They keep their eyes down in fear, What’s up with that? Why is everyone so terrified of this man?
The spot where Ricardo was laying earlieris splattered with blood. I shiver at the sight. Is he even okay? I’m reminded of his bloodies, swollen face from earlier and feel a sob rise in threat
At the end of the hallway, there is a closed door with the number 418. Ivan takes a deep breath
“You wait her.” He instructs to me.
Since
el don’t respond, be digs his fingers deeper
“Do you understand?[”
r into my arms.
Yes”
His eyes glam daggers at me, waiting for more. I roll my eyes and speak through gritted teeth:
“Yes, master.”
He finally lets go of me and opens the door to mom 118. Out of curiosity, I take a quick glimpse inside, Valentino is already in, standing by the bed. I see the old master Whitlock laying there and our eyes meet for a brief second before tan shuts the door on my nose.
Tighten my list. He would appreciate if I just sit on that bench and wait; therefore I’m not going to do that. Instead, I press my ear against the door and listen to what’s going on inside.
The old master Whitlock speaks tiredly but I can
ntell th
that he’s also very angry.
Tid 1 just see the mail out there or is my mind playing tricks on me?” He asks.
There is long silence. I guess someone responded to him with a nod
“5–sorry, father.” Ivan apologizes in a sheepish tone that’s very unlike him. “I didn’t bring ber here. She came
came with one
of the guards.”
Ves but I have it all under control. The guard won’t do something like that ever again. In fact, he’s no longer part of our staff… “You fucking idiot
I press my head tighter over the door as old master Whitlockstars coughing painfully
“Why the broken yet?” He snarls.
Cathet…I’m trying but.
“You’re trying_ _YOU’RE FUCKING TRYING!”
start to stake. Turse is another long silence.
(you had her under control, she’d never dare to set foot out in our mansion’s garden, let alone in this clinic.”
L’in hery disappointed, Waiyou’re proving yourselt to be unworthyot my tant. As the future heir of the Whitlock Empire, you cannot just THY, You have to prodare anuliu. Cut earmies will crush you if you taltet for a second and you’re setting the wrong examples for your brothers. Don’t you understand why I brought
- didn’t last a day when my old man brought her.”
“You won’t become a m
“I won’t, fatlerTM
( you’ve broken het. Don’t disappoint me again.”
I cover my month in disbelief. This is a nightmare. Hearing these prople speak about me sich an insensitive way is making me sick. So, old master Whitlock hired
I look aroundine There i
szle soul insight.I would be insane to mat take this opportunity,
chacter 12
I rush toward the elevators, looking behind me at times to make sure that Ivan isn’t following. The automatic doors open and I get in,
In the ground floor, people don’t pay attention to me as I walk out of the door and find myself outside, all by myself, I cannot think of anything worse than staying with the Whitlocks, now that I know their true intentions. To hell with my mother’s debt. They can throw me in jail and 1’ll still be grateful.
With that determination in mind, I get to the nearest bus station and ride the first one that comes. I sit at the back with my arms crossed over my chest, my heart beating wildly.
They must have realized that I’m gone by now,
I take my phone out to dial Pamela. I sigh in reliet when she picks up a few seconds later
“What’s wrong”
“Listen, can I come stay at your place for a while? I’m in trouble.”
“Why, of course mama, Come, I’ll wait for you.”
“Thanks”
It’s out of question that I return to my dad’s house, not only because be scares
search. Since they don’t know about Pamiela, I don’t assume that they’d figure out where I’m fuiting
-shit out of me but also because it’s the first place where the Whitlocks would
I’ll stay with her for a while and look for è job. I’ll finally farer my new beginning, just like Talways wanted to But why don’t I feel happy? I can’t dismiss the eetle feeling sitting at the pit of my stomach and I hate on my nails during the rest of the bus ride. Dit really escape from the Whitlocks?
