Chapter 7
When Catalina opened her eyes again, she found herself on a hospital bed. The strong smell of disinfectant made her feel even worse.
Just then, the kind doctor she knew from her previous visit came into the room. “Ms. Higgin, I’m sorry to say this, but you might not make it past the next couple of days.”
Catalina noticed a hint of sorrow in his gaze. Strangely, hearing those words felt like a weight was lifted.
She said calmly, “That’s fine. Thank you.
“If anyone asks, please keep this between us.”
Right after she finished, Mateo’s voice echoed from outside the room.
“What’s wrong with her?” he asked as he stepped into the room.
He looked at the doctor with concern written all over his face.
Of course, Mateo wouldn’t let her leave this world that easily.
Noticing Catalina’s blank stare, the doctor paused before responding, “She’s fine, just exhausted.”
Mateo’s tense expression relaxed, and a mocking smile crept onto his face.
“I told you to stop faking illness around me. As long as you’re still breathing, you’d better do your job.”
Catalina avoided his eyes. Just one glance at him would bring back every cruel thing he had done to her.
Each memory hit her like a knife, too painful to bear.
But soon, she’d be with her mother again. That thought brought her peace.
After Mateo left, Catalina quickly got off the hospital bed.
Once she got ready, she headed straight to the prison where her father was locked up.
She hadn’t visited him even once over the past three years. Not because she didn’t want to, she just couldn’t bring her- self to go.
She felt too ashamed to face her father. Sitting across the glass partition, she finally saw the face she knew so well, his figure much thinner than before.
He used to be full of energy. Now, as she picked up the phone to speak, tears rolled down her cheeks without stop- ping.
“Dad… I’m so sorry.
00%
15:40
Chapter 7
288 iVouchers
“This is all because of me. I was too scared to come see you all this time. I left some money behind for you. Please, stay safe and take care…”
She didn’t have the courage to continue. If he found out what really happened, she feared it would break him.
His hair had gone completely gray, and his voice shook as he said, “Catalina, I don’t blame you. I never could…”
Hearing those words made her chest tighten painfully, like a needle was stabbing her heart.
She almost couldn’t bear to leave.
She handed over all her savings to someone trustworthy, hoping they could give it to her father once he got out.
But when that day came, he would never be able to see her again.
Catalina carefully returned her mother’s ashes to their place and secured them with a new lock.
Then she sat in front of her mother’s grave.
“Mom, I’ll be joining you very soon.
“Please wait for me.”
There was nothing left in this life that she truly cared about anymore.
Right when she was preparing to leave quietly without saying goodbye, her phone suddenly rang.
“Ms. Higgin, I was the chief financial officer at your dad’s company back in the day. About Mr. Naillon’s father and his fall from the rooftop-I’m ready to tell you the truth. Do you still want to hear it?”
Catalina’s fingers curled up tightly without her meaning to. She had been waiting for answers for three whole years, and they only came now, when it was almost too late.
She let out a small, bitter laugh. Life really wasn’t fair.
She replied, “All right. I’ll be here.”
