Chapter 47

KATE held her breath as she walked down the staircase. She was halfway to the living room when she saw Jan’s family together with the detectives in charge of her husband’s case. She took a deep breath before sauntering towards them.

“Katherine,” Fernan greeted and nodded somberly.

She gazed at everyone before sitting on the one-seater sofa.

“H-how’s the investigation going?” Kate swallowed the lump that started to form in her throat.

Her thoughts about Jan always made her mind restless. If truth be told, she never had a decent sleep since he was gone. She spent all those sleepless nights crying and begging God to make a way so he could return. Kate tried her best to think of only the good ones, but it was hard whenever she would glance at the empty side of the bed. And now, in the middle of chaos… she was pregnant.

The detective cleared his throat. “We still couldn’t find any lead that will lead us to either the suspect or your husband.”

“There must be another getaway car,” Jan’s father said. “They can’t just drag him somewhere without being noticed by onlookers. The crime happened early in the morning.”

“You’re right, Sir. There could be. But the problem is… if there’s really another getaway car, we couldn’t find any clue. The Uber car was abandoned in a place where there’s no CCTV, and it’s less likely to be crowded with people.”

“How about the interrogation?” Jan’s mother asked. “Well…” The detective sighed. “Out of those people that you told us to interrogate, we already talked to half of them. Upon checking their alibis, it all checked out. It’s still ongoing for the other half.”

“Oh, God… Tell me, my son isn’t dead….” Jan’s mother buried her face in her palm and started crying.

“Martina… please, don’t say that.” Jan’s father went beside his wife and gently caressed her back to comfort her.

Kate felt her body shaking as she remained in her seat. The thought that her husband might have been dead scared her. He would come back. And she would never stop praying for his safety until he returned to them in one piece. She was still looking forward to that day that she and Jan were happily living together, raising their children.

“Are you alright, Katherine?”

She flinched when she felt Fernan’s hand land on her shoulder.

“I… I just don’t know what to do, Fernan. I want to go out there and look for him, but I didn’t know where I should begin,” she said in between her sobs. “I didn’t even know why this is happening… I’m—”

Kate could no longer hold herself. She burst into tears.

Jan’s brother went in front of her and crouched.

“Listen to me, Katherine… The police are doing their best to find him. They won’t stop. I promise you that.” Fernan cupped her hand.

“We have to go now,” the detective said afterwards. “We’ll keep you posted if there’s any lead.”

“Thank you, Detective.” Fernan stood up and walked them out of the house.

THOUGH Kate was not feeling well, she still went to the office to work. She just could not show everyone, especially her Aunt Bernice, that the turn of events made her weak. She was afraid her aunt might see that as an opportunity to attack.

She raised her head when she heard a knock on the door.

“Yes, Bianca?”

Her secretary winced.

“Your aunt is here. I already told her that you’re busy, but she keeps insisting that she’ll see you. She said she has something you needed badly,” Bianca whispered and glanced in the direction of the door.

She exhaled sharply and closed the folder.

“Send her in.”

“A-are you sure?” Her secretary looked at her intently.

Kate just nodded slowly in response.

“A-alright.”

Bianca rushed to the door and opened it.

Aunt Bernice came in, carrying a paper bag in one hand. She managed to flash a sad expression. However, she knew better. This aunt of her was a two-faced creature.

Kate leaned against her seat.

“Why are you here, Auntie? I can’t remember that I summoned you.”

“Oh, dear.” Aunt Bernice put the paper bag down on her table and clasped her hands. “I brought you some chamomile tea. I read somewhere that it’s good to drink it before going to bed for a good night’s sleep. I bet you’re having difficulty in sleeping since your husband went missing. How’s the investigation going?”

Her aunt sat on the edge of her table, making her raise her brow. This aunt of hers was really unbelievable. She has no shame at all.

Kate cleared her throat and pulled the paper bag. She peeked through it and saw that her aunt had brought her a lot.

“This is too much.”

“Well, I thought you need more… You know, we never know—”

“I would appreciate it if you came here to show your concern and not the other way around, Auntie. Because to tell you… honestly… I have no time to deal with your shit,” Kate said in a firm tone. It was the very first time she that blunt towards someone.

Her aunt opened her mouth and scoffed.

“Look at you, showing that true colors of yours—”

“I don’t get it why until now you haven’t mastered the rules yet, Auntie. If you’re good to me, then I’ll be better. But if you continue to be bad towards me, you’re giving me with no choice but to treat you worst.”

Aunt Bernice’s eyes narrowed.

“Oh, my… you’re just a scaredy cub when you left me, Kate. Jan really raised you into a tigress, huh.”

Kate pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

“You know what, Auntie… you should leave before I call the security to drag you out of my office.”

Aunt Bernice sneered and stood up. But just when she was about to reach the doorknob, a thought crossed her mind.

“You didn’t do anything, right, Auntie?”

She halted and immediately turned to face her.

“Are you accusing me, Kate?” Her aunt raised a brow.

“I was just… asking.”

Aunt Bernice folded her arms across her chest.

“Well, it sounds to me that you’re accusing me as if I have something to do with what happened to your husband,” her aunt said through gritted teeth.

“I couldn’t stop from thinking that you might have a grudge against my husband. We both know that what happened to you is all because of Jan.”

Aunt Bernice shook her head and scoffed.

“It’s good that you know what your husband had done to me. But I’m sorry to take your hope away. I’m innocent, Kate. I’ve never done such a thing. I don’t even have the means.”

She could no longer counter her aunt’s words because she had already stormed out of the room. Kate heaved a sigh and was about to go back to work when she heard another knock at the door. Fernan came in after a few moments.

“F-Fernan, what are you doing here?” She immediately stood up and sauntered towards him.

He pocketed his hands and sighed.

“Mom called me and said I should check on you. You know what, it’s okay if you skip going to the office. You can work at home for the meantime—”

“I can’t stay at home, Fernan.” Kate shook her head. “If I stayed confined inside its walls, I’ll just… keep myself thinking about Jan. At least, when I’m here, I get busy with work and online classes… I can somehow forget about what happened.”

“Well… you’re right. And I think I must not stop you from doing things that will keep you—”

“Fernan, be honest with me… Do you think Jan will still come back? Do you think he’s dead?”

She tried her best to suppress her tears, but she just could not do that. Her tears fell automatically whenever she would think about her husband.

“We’re all hoping that he’s still alive, Katherine.” He heaved a sigh. “But right now, that there’s no lead that could conclude that my brother’s still alive… I…”

“If he’s dead… will your family still let me live in the estate?” Kate asked somberly.

“What makes you think that we’ll kick you out of your home, Katherine?” Fernan grasped her arms. “Come on… you’re my brother’s wife. You’re part of the family.”

“I really need a home and a family to lean on. And my child needs it the most….” Her words trailed off.

His eyes grew wider.

“Y-your child? Katherine… you mean—”

“I’m… pregnant, Fernan.” She burst into tears. “I… I just learned about it this morning before you and the police came to the house.”

“Oh… God. Did you tell Mom and Dad?”

“I… I haven’t told anyone yet except my friend who’s with me. And of course, now you know.”

Fernan caressed her arms.

“Hush… Katherine. You know crying is not good for the baby.”

“Yes. I know. But I can’t help it….”

He pulled her for a hug.