Chapter 0003

Aaron was powerful, he was no longer the young boy she'd tagged along with everywhere at school or when events arose in the social circle.

He had long changed from that boy.

If even her sister couldn't be spared from his cruelty, who was she?

He'd end her without batting an eye.

"I'll help you get ready," Aaron suggested.

Katrina broke eye contact with him and lowered her head. "I can manage." She turned down his request and got down from the bed.

She limped toward the closet where both their luggage were sitting. And she had the urge to ransack his things. But Aaron was in the room probably taking in each of her movements.

...

At the hospital...

Katrina lay in bed, her bruised ankle bound with a thick gauze.

She fluttered her eyes, sliding between consciousness and subconsciousness.

The lack of sleep from last night had toiled over her, and her body screamed for some rest. The sleep she never wanted to come.

She was alone with Aaron inside the ward. After the staff who had attended to her left, no one else came inside.

And despite passing through an entire night with him, Katrina's heart still thumped with unease.

She could feel his gaze on her. She could feel it deep within her bones.

And when his phone rang, breaking the silence, Katrina kept her eyes shut pretending to be asleep.

A phone call. Who could that be? Who would he be speaking with? And if he was convinced she was asleep, would she be let in on some secrets?

Katrina's mind instantly became alert. She strained her ears and listened as he conversed on the phone.

A phone call conversation was what had brought her to the realization of who he was, who he might be.

The phone call conversation she had overheard him having on the day of her sister's death ceremony.

If she was lucky enough, she might catch more clues through this one.

But Katrina's disappointment came with a heavy weight to her heart.

The conversation sounded normal. In fact, it was about her.

He informed the person on the other end of her state, probably her parent, and not long after, he called out her name.

Either he had guessed that she wasn't really sleeping, or maybe she'd given herself away, Katrina had no choice but to open her eyes.

And the first thing that came into her vision was the phone he extended toward her.

"Katrina!" Her father bellowed the moment she put the phone to her ear. "Tell me this is not your doing. You didn't do it intentionally."

"Dad, I—" Katrina threw Aaron a glance. He stared down at her, never breaking his gaze.

With both hands in his pants pockets, he looked intimidating enough for Katrina to shrink back.

"I thought we have already reached an agreement." Her father went on, cutting her off. "Didn't you promise that you'll behave? Wasn't that part of your consent to carry on with the wedding?"

Katrina sighed and threw Aaron another glance, hoping that he couldn't hear her father's words.

She had only agreed with the wedding when no one could believe her. When none of them wanted to listen to her.

They thought she was ridiculous by voicing out that Aaron might have something to do with her sister's death. They thought she was delusional and out of her mind. And what better way to prove to them that she was right? And what better way to bring justice to her sister's death than agreeing to marry him?

But if her father kept on with this? And if Aaron, in case, heard his words and got suspicious, she might as well be dead meat.

Katrina forced a smile at him and cleared her throat.

"Dad." She returned her attention to the phone. "I know you care so much for me. Don't worry, it's just a minor accident. I'll be well and kicking in no time."

"You..." Her father sounded speechless.

Well, Katrina would be a fool not to make it seem as if her father was worried about her at the other end and battling with grief that the only daughter he had left was lying on the hospital bed just a day after her wedding.

"It's alright, Dad," she murmured. "Whining is bad for your health. When I get better, I'll be sure to fulfill your wish and give you as many grandkids as you want."

Katrina scoffed at her own words and hung up before her father could break out of his yet second shock.

"I guess the network is bad." She stared down at the phone and pursed her lips. "Hopefully, Dad will stop worrying about something this minor."

Aaron made a sound of agreement and took the phone from her hand.

And Katrina bit her lips. She wanted to shut her eyes once more, to keep pretending, but wouldn't that be too much?

She couldn't fool him twice.

And as Aaron lowered himself to the bed and sat beside her, she shifted uncomfortably.

"Kat." He called her that name again, bringing strange feelings to her heart. His gaze became firmer and he took her hand.

Katrina gulped and shivered from his touch.

"I know this wedding is too sudden, your sister passed away just a few weeks back." Even as he said that, no emotion reflected in his eyes. "But this wedding will be of benefit to both of us. Things are going to work out well."

Things were going to work out well...

Were these the same words he told her sister?

Would things working out well meant he'd eventually sort things out for himself? He would get rid of her also and go on with his life. She was, after all, the last person. Her sister was gone and there was no other girl after her for her father to force into marrying him.

I never loved her...

That was what she'd overheard him say on the phone at her sister's burial ceremony.

I'm in love with someone else. She had to be gone.

Those words echoed in Katrina's mind and she yanked her wrist off his hold, overcame by anger, fright, and hatred.

And Aaron's eyes finally flashed with emotion. Her sudden action had astounded him.