Chapter 2
KAT'S POV
My legs shake as I stumble away from the table. My mind is spiraling and my heart is breaking. I barely focus on Melissa's laughter and Paula's voice. All I can think about is the betrayal I've just gone through.
I feel like I'm suffocating. This is not real. This can't be real.
Tears pour down my face as I make my way out of the bedroom. I'm numb. My body moves on autopilot as I try to escape. All I want is to get out of here.
Each step feels heavy. My body is exhausted from the weight of everything that's happened in the past few minutes. I don't know what to do, where to go, or how to make sense of this nightmare.
Just as I'm about to reach the door, Paula's voice stops me.
"Kat!"
I turn, wiping my eyes quickly. I can't breathe. I just need to leave.
"What is it now?" My voice cracks, but I can't hold it back. I don't even care. "You've already taken everything from me."
"Not yet," Paula sneers. She steps forward. "My golden necklace—it's gone. And I know it was you who took it."
My heart sinks. The necklace. I don't even know where it is. The accusation feels absurd, but the look in Paula's eyes is cold. I can see where this is going. No, no, no...
Before I can respond, she's already pulling out her phone, dialing someone.
"Check her. Search her right now." She tells the person.
A few seconds later, one of the security guards come in. He looks uncomfortable but does as he's told. His hands are rough as he grabs at me, pushing me aside to check my clothes. I don't fight him, not out of compliance, but because I don't have the energy to. He rips at the fabric of my dress due to how rough he is and the material tears.
My body is stiff as he searches me. He finds the necklace—of course he does. It's like something out of a nightmare.
Melissa laughs "See? I knew you were a thief. What can someone expect from someone as poor as you?"
The tears don't stop. I can't stop crying. But it's more than the insult. It's everything crashing down at once. How could they do this to me?
I look at Matt "Say something. You know me better than anyone. You know I'm not a thief"
But he just stands there, silent with an unreadable expression on his face.
I look at him in disbelief. I can't help the anger spreading through my veins. This is it. This is the man I married. The one who I thought I could trust above all else. But there's nothing left of him. I don't even recognize him anymore. I turn away from him.
The police are called, and before I know it, I'm being dragged outside with my hands cuffed. It all happens so fast that I can barely process what's going on. The rough grip of the officer hurts my wrists. I stumble, still dazed from everything, as they shove me toward the police car. The tears are still flowing, but at this point, I've lost the ability to care about anything.
I don't even notice the two expensive cars that pull up until it's too late. The sound of the engines draw my attention. My head is spinning, and I can't focus. But then, three men in expensive suits step out, and one of them walks straight toward the officers.
The officer who is about to push me into the car stops. The man pulls him aside and talks to him.
I'm confused as I watch them. What's happening?
"What the hell is going on?" Paula shouts "You're just gonna leave this criminal here?"
They keep talking in hushed tones. When they're done, the officer comes to me and unlocks my cuffs.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am" he says.
He then walks off with his colleagues and drives off.
Paula and Melissa exchange glances. The surprise on their faces are obvious.
"Who is that?" Paula asks "Is he one of Kat's secret lovers?"
I don't have the strength to answer her. But I don't need to. The man who stepped out of the car approaches me. He bows slightly.
"Ma'am," he says simply "Come with me, please. We were sent to get you"
Ma'am? I blink. I'm too disoriented to process it fully.
I don't know what to say. I just follow his lead. He opens the door of the car for me, and I get in without questioning. I don't care. I don't care about anything except the need to escape.
As soon as I'm inside, the door shuts behind me, and the car pulls away.
I look at the man sitting next to me. He doesn't speak, but there's a knowing look in his eyes. I feel my frustration grow as I recognize him. Of course, this has to be his doing.
"Bruno" I say in disbelief "What the hell are you doing here?"
Bruno is my dad's butler. I'm surprised to see him here since I moved out of my home state.
"Lady Katherine" he says, bowing his head "I was assigned to protect you from birth. Surely, you didn't expect me to stop"
I can feel the anger rising inside me. I can't believe he's actually here, even after I told him all those years to stay away from me.
"You've been watching me?" I shriek "Since I moved to Maddox?"
He nods "Yes, ma'am. I've been watching over you for quite some time. I was alerted that you were in trouble tonight."
I've been watched? The thought makes me feel exposed, like I've been under someone's surveillance for far too long. I don't like it. Not one bit. I know this is all my dad's doing and I hate it.
"How did you know I needed help?" I demand.
Bruno smiles softly "I've always been watching you. Always."
The words hit me like a slap. Always? I feel annoyed and betrayed. I don't want to be protected like some fragile doll. That's the main reason I left home. I left because I wanted to be independent.
"Pull over," I snap at him "Now."
Bruno hesitates for a second, but then, without a word, he tells the driver to pull the car over to the side of the road. I yank open the door and step out without thinking. I'm not sure where I'm going, but I just need to get away from everything. I cross the street without a second thought, not looking to see if there's any traffic.
And then, it happens. A blur of motion. A car, screeching to a halt.
I hear the tires squeal and I gasp. I close my eyes, bracing for impact, thinking it's the end.
But when I open them again, I find myself staring up at the face of an incredibly handsome man. He's towering over me, looking at me with concern in his eyes. His eyes are so intense that they make my pulse quicken, even though I'm in shock.
And just like that, everything else fades into the background.