Chapter 3
That night, Catalina took the initiative to go to Matco’s study.
He raised an eyebrow in surprise. Catalina never came to him on her own like this.
He grabbed her and ran his hand along her leg, but before he could do anything else, she shoved him back.
“The three years are up. I want to end our contract,” she said firmly.
Mateo looked taken aback, his face showing a trace of awkwardness.
“Really? You can’t hold out just one more day?”
His eyes fell on her finger, still red from the ring’s burn, a permanent scar now marking her skin.
For three long years, she had lived under the torment of the man who had ruined her, enduring humiliation time and again. She had wished for death more times than she could count.
But every attempt only brought a heavier price. Mateo would punish her harder, biting into her skin and leaving her collarbone bloody and bruised.
He once told her, “Catalina, even if you want to die, it has to be with my permission.
“Each mark I leave on you is a reminder of your disgrace.”
Those memories spun in her mind like broken glass, and she had grown sick of living like that.
Now that he had a wife, he had no reason to keep using her for his twisted thrill.
Trying to hold back her feelings, Catalina said quietly, “Yes, I can’t take it anymore.’
After he finished talking, Mateo let out a cold laugh, his arms tensing up.
“Fine, I’ll give you what you want. But as long as I’m still around, don’t even think about getting away from me.”
Catalina saw the veins popping on his arms as he angrily tossed the contract at her.
“Take it. Now leave.”
She stayed silent as the sharp edge of the paper brushed her cheek. She bent down, grabbed the contract from the floor, and walked out without looking back.
As she looked down at the papers in her hand, a strange feeling of relief settled in her chest like something heavy had finally been lifted.
The next morning, Catalina was shaken awake and dragged along to go shopping with Mateo and Valerie.
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288 Vouckers
Chapter 3
She followed behind them, holding their bags, and watching the two of them walk ahead together. When they passed by a luxury store she used to love, the staff who recognized her whispered to each other quietly.
She was used to being looked down on, and as she spaced out, something terrible happened. A man in the center of the shopping mall suddenly began splashing sulfuric acid at the crowd around him.
Before Catalina could react, it splashed onto her arm and leg. The burning made her fall to the ground, wincing in pain.
Hearing loud cries from ahead, she lifted her gaze and saw Mateo standing in front of Valerie. Even though he pro- tected her, Valerie’s arm still got a little splashed.
Watching Mateo gently lift Valerie hurt her heart, though she didn’t know why.
Without sparing her a glance, he left without hesitation, leaving Catalina lying helplessly on the ground.
Maybe it was the pain, or maybe it was just her mind giving in; she passed out.
When she opened her eyes again, she was in a hospital bed. Both of her arms were covered in bandages.
But only one of her arms had actually been hurt. She was puzzled and asked the doctor nearby, “Did my right arm get splashed too? It really hurts.”
The doctor checked the chart and said, “No, but you had a skin graft. That kind of pain is normal.”
Catalina’s eyes widened. “A skin graft? That can’t be true!”
The doctor replied, “You didn’t know? Your skin graft was given to that VIP patient, Ms. Morozov.”
She sat in shock for a moment before asking, “Who gave permission for that?!”
Why should she be the one to suffer for someone else’s accident?
Just then, Mateo walked into the ward. He wore all black and had a cold expression.
“I gave permission,” he said calmly.
Catalina’s eyebrows drew together, and her eyes turned red as she looked at his dark ones.
“What gives you the right to decide things for me?” she asked.
Her voice shook as she tried to hold back all the frustration building inside her.
Mateo responded, “Because you belong to me, every part of you.
“Now eat.”
He placed a lunchbox on the table. Catalina glared at it with a cold expression, then gave a sarcastic laugh. She thought to herself, “Even now, after everything, he was still keeping up the act?”
Her eyes burned red as she looked at him, and then she angrily knocked the lunchbox to the floor.
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“I’m not eating!”
Mateo lost his temper at that. He grabbed her chin roughly, picked up the spilled food, and shoved it toward her mouth.
“Stop fighting with me! You’re eating whether you want to or not!”
Tears streamed down Catalina’s cheeks, but before anything else could happen, a doctor burst in, shouting, “This is a hospital! If you want to argue, take it outside!”
After that, Mateo paused, brushed his hands off, and stared down at her.
“Catalina, don’t test me. I’m running out of patience.”
When she heard that, Catalina suddenly burst into laughter, her eyes filling with tears.
“Oh really? Then you’ve been putting up with me for three years. Go on, kill me if you dare!
“Kill me just like your dad died! Why don’t you drag me to the rooftop yourself?”
Mateo’s hands were shaking from how hard he was clenching them, but deep down, he knew she was just trying to push his buttons.
He stayed quiet for a moment, then slowly unclenched his fists.
“You want to die? I won’t let that happen.”
With those words, he turned and walked out of the ward. Catalina felt a chill take over her whole body, making it hard for her to even breathe when she tried to speak.
She brushed away her tears, her face still full of stubborn pride.
Either way, it won’t be long before she leaves.
