I thought I won't be able to sleep until I woke up in the morning, still feeling tired. I turned to look at Percival. He was on his laptop but instantly noticed me wake up.
"Your phone has been ringing for a few hours," Percival said the moment I sat on the bed.
"Good morning," I mumbled. Looking at Percy made me remember what he said last night.
Even before then, I knew he cared deeply about me because he never failed to show me. My eyes avoided his gaze because I remembered how easily I had driven him out of my life for Cadmus.
"Good morning," he dryly said. I guess his mood hadn't changed since last night.
I only nodded in response. Before I went down the bed, I checked my phone first.
Koen's name was displayed on the screen. My lips parted when I saw all the missed calls and messages I got from him. My brother's currently in a different country, but the news had reached him already?
"Who was it?" Percival asked.
I loo
What?" I asked, standing up from my seat.Cadmus is already making his move?"Ex-husband," Percival corrected. "Where did you see that?"Percy's brother handed a phone to him. Percival walked around the table to show the phone to me too. The live interview was playing on the screen."Yes, there's an ongoing annulment between Katalina and me," Cadmus said.He kept a straight face as his eyes darted toward the camera.I felt my heart sink. I looked at Cadmus as if he was only talking to me."It was not because of a third party. Our marriage just fell apart. It was simply not working anymore. The years we spent together were proof that we tried, but a day came that our reason for staying was no longer enough.""We tried?" I scoffed.He broke my heart even before we could."So, are you saying that nothing is going on between you and Miss Hernandez? Isn't she, your ex-girlfriend?" the reporter questioned.
Percival hopped into the elevator before it closed. However, I couldn't care less about what he wanted to do. My mind was fixated on seeing my mother."They said they already called an ambulance," he informed me.That did not make me feel any better. Instead, it gave me more anxiety."Why do we need an ambulance?" I asked, eyes still focused on the elevator doors. "Is it that bad?"Percival did not answer my question. He stood behind me and placed his hand on my back."Everything's going to be alright, Tali," he told me.You don't know that, I wanted to say. But nothing more came out of my lips. So I just forced myself to believe Percy.When the elevator doors opened, we witnessed the whole floor in disarray. Everyone was frantic until they all paused because of my arrival."Miss Kat!" Raya approached me with distress."Raya, where's my mother?" I asked her.
Percival did not waste a second. He pulled Cadmus' collar the moment he got near. He did not even hesitate to punch him straight in the face.Cadmus dropped to the floor. However, Percy wasn't done. He kneeled in front of Cadmus and punched him again and again. Until Cadmus fought back. He was able to get Percival off him.Percival's eyes grew dark. His punches became more violent.The two of them continued to fight, only for Percival to pin Cadmus on the wall, almost choking him with his arm pressed on Cadmus' throat.My mind was far from processing what was happening in front of me. I wasn't thinking straight anymore.Tears streamed down my face as I remembered what the nurse had told me. I got so scared of the thought of losing my mother. It made my whole body tremble.My body was heavy, and my knees were weak. I fell to the ground, hands pressing against the cold floor. I stared straight ahead as the f
My chest began to hurt, so I pressed my hand against it. Even my head started to throb.Percival slowly went down to the floor when my body slid down his hold. We both sat as I screamed and sobbed."Mom..." I kept begging for her to come back. I asked for a miracle.I just couldn't face the reality where she's gone. This is too soon. She hasn't even seen my child yet. Oh please, not yet, don't take her yet, please!"Katalina?"I paused when I heard my father's voice. The fear I felt doubled because I didn't know how to tell him that his wife was... gone.My gaze slowly went up to look at him. I could see the horror in his eyes as he looked at me.He shook his head as if he already knew what had happened. Dad almost fell down too, but his driver was quick to respond and caught him.Father composed himself quickly and went to where the doctors were.After a few minutes, I felt my dad's hand on my shoulder. I looked up at h
"Hold on, you're pregnant?" Koen asked with wide eyes. I bit my lower lip when I had realized that I said too much. However, it felt good to tell my brother everything. It didn't worry me much that Koen found out. I know he can keep a secret. He might nag at me, but he will still trust and support me. I'm glad that I don't have to keep it a secret from him. At least one of my family knew. However, I still don't know how he will take it. So, my gaze dropped to the floor before I slowly nodded. "Katalina, does he know?" he asked. His hands were on my shoulders. "Cadmus doesn't know. Our parents don't know." "What about him?" I followed my brother's hand, and my eyes were directed to where Percy was. "I know," Percy answered for me. "She has been staying with me." Koen analyzed the two of us before he spoke to Percy. "I won't ask for the details now. But I will soon." I guess
Percival carried me and brought me to the bathroom. There was a round ottoman sofa inside. He made me sit there before he took the first aid out.While I watched him, I could see the large cut on his arm. It didn't seem too deep, but blood was still dripping out."Do something about yours first. You're still bleeding," I said while avoiding eye contact."Yeah? Okay. Give me a moment." He sat beside me and quickly cleaned his wound. After that, he wrapped it with a gauze bandage.When he was done patching his wound, he stood up. He took a bathrobe and gave it to me."Change into that," he said.I quickly nodded. I knew it would help us get a better look at the cuts.He walked toward the door and stood there, with his head facing away from me.I didn't have the energy to move, so I stayed where he left me and changed into the bathrobe."I'm done," I told him in a small voice.Percival walked toward me and kneeled in
Tears suddenly filled my eyes. I guess I was a little sensitive today. I unconsciously held on to him and buried my face on his chest.I could tell that he didn't expect that because his body stiffened.I remembered the times we spent together before I got married because of what Percival shared. Then I thought about everything he had done for me today. The way he took care of me and stayed by my side—just like before.Today might've brought out the worst side of me. But it also made me realize how much I want Percival to stay beside me."Percy," I uttered.I felt his body move."How can I trust you when most of the people I trusted... betrayed me?" I asked.I looked up at him. I saw how pain and disappointment reflected in his eyes."Katalina—""I do not know how, but maybe it's the past doing you a favor. Or perhaps our friendship is important to me more than I had thought," I cut him off."I trust y
"Are you ready to leave?" Percival asked.We prepared early for the flight. I wore comfortable clothes, and honestly, I wasn't up for picking a nice outfit, so I played safe with a long-sleeved top and pants.I had informed my father about our flight today, and we said our goodbyes yesterday.My gaze met Percival before I nodded as an answer to his question. He gave me a nod before he left the room.My hand went to where my womb was. I'll be leaving for this child. For now, I have to bury the child's connection with Cadmus and use it when the time is right.I don't intend to hurt the child, just Cadmus. I'll make sure that this baby won't be affected by whatever I'll do to his real father.I took a deep breath before I followed Percy.Percival was waiting for me outside our room. I held onto his arm when he offered it to me. I displayed a blank expression as we walked with our guards surrounding us.