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.
A couple of months later, my baby bump slowly became difficult to hide. That was why I stopped going to the agency's branch in New York. I worked and managed the agency in that branch two weeks after we moved to the country.I decided to take a leave from work during the second trimester of my pregnancy. We told the staff that it was due to my health because we couldn't tell the real reason.It was hard to work and hide my growing belly, so I had no choice but to take a leave for a few months.That caused a little trouble in the agency. They were concerned about me and how the agency would turn out. We had to assure them that what was going on with my health was manageable, and I will be back for sure.I also told my staff that they would still be able to reach me when they needed me.On the other hand, Percival stayed at home during our first week here. He said it was because he wanted to rest, but I knew he was just worried about
Percival seemed stunned as he stared at me.I assumed it was fine after he agreed to let the baby use his surname."Do you not like it?" I asked.His gaze dropped, lips curved. He shook his head before he looked back at me."That's not it. I'm just happy to finally see him." His eyes glanced at the screen. "And to share my name with him."As I looked at Percy, I thought about how happier could he get if it was his child. Because right now, all I could see in his eyes was warmth and care for the child in my womb.I quickly brushed the thought off my mind. I knew Percy only cared about the child because of me.Neither of us can have an ideal family because of the path we chose to take. I hope he doesn't blame that on me someday—I shook my head, of course, he won't.I'm sure he knew what he got himself into. I might've told him not to fall in love because it can be cruel. But he knew that too. Because the people we loved did
"You're going to be alright," Percival comforted me as he held my hand. "We're almost there." He seemed calm, but he also just ignored our plans for when today comes. He left our bags, and we didn't get to change our clothes. Surely the maids will bring the things we packed beforehand. The pain stretched from my back to my abdomen, then down to my knees. Although I had prepared myself for this, it was still nerve-wracking. Percival's presence really helped calm me down. I grew uncomfortable in my seat and overwhelmed by what was happening and what will happen later. I couldn't help but feel a little emotional when I remembered my mom. How can I not be reminded of her when I'm also about to be a mom? I wish my mother was here with me right now. I wish she could have been there for me during my pregnancy. I wish she could tell me about her experience. As I bit into my lower lip, tears welled up in my eyes. My hold o
TWO years and four months later, Percival's company had gone ahead of Salazar corporation.It was a year ago when I bought my shares in his company. I provided him the same support — if not more — that I had given Cadmus.The agency is also doing well, rising through the ranks of the world's most successful and well-known modeling agencies.It had been years since I last saw Cadmus and Minty. Things will be different when I return, and I couldn't wait to see the look on their faces once they see me again.Everything that Percival and I accomplished had proved how wrong they were in choosing me as their enemy.It was no time to celebrate. Cadmus could snag our place if we were too complacent. Besides, it was not enough. I still want him to lose more. It still fed my ego to prove that he was not so great without me. I made him the best, and I failed to see that before.Letting him have all the credit in the past was not my intentio