Chapter 6
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Catalina’s face twisted in pain while Valerie grinned at her like she was nothing more than a dog.
She seemed to enjoy seeing every bruise on Catalina’s body and liked how Catalina pleaded without fighting back.
Because of her desperate screams, Catalina’s body reacted badly, and sharp pain hit her chest like a wave.
She started to cough hard and nearly coughed up blood, her eyes filled with hatred as she stared at Mateo.
Although Mateo looked calm on the outside, his eyelashes trembled slightly as he watched her.
Watching her thin figure crawl stubbornly out of the cage brought back memories of when he had once been trapped himself.
Catalina grabbed the cage and shook it with all her strength, like a furious animal trying to escape, her eyes fixed on the ashes on the floor.
Mateo stood there frozen. He had tried everything to break her for the past three years, but her pride had never wa-
vered.
Now, for the first time, he saw her completely crushed, nothing like the proud woman he remembered.
His mind went blank as he watched her hands, clinging to the bars of the cage, skin nearly torn apart. And just for a fleeting moment, a strange, unfamiliar ache pierced through his heart.
Without thinking, Mateo ran over and opened the cage door.
He reached out instinctively to hold her, but she shoved him away.
He stayed still, watching as she dropped to her knees in front of Valerie, digging through the ashes with tears pouring down her face.
“I’m sorry, Mom… I’ll take you back home now.
“It’s my fault, everything… It’s all my fault…
“Please, don’t hate me, okay?”
***
She muttered the words to herself like someone who had lost their mind, her whole body shaking.
Mateo never imagined things would end up this way. He thought seeing her suffer would satisfy him.
But why couldn’t he smile at all?
He stepped closer to Catalina and grabbed her arm, right over the area where the skin graft had been done.
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Chapter 6
She winced and yanked her arm away. “Get away from me!
“Mateo, you will die a miserable death!”
His eyes widened, and for a moment, his heart seemed to stop.
After picking up the ashes that were left, Catalina quickly wiped her face, stood up, and stared coldly at Valerie.
Valerie hesitated, then stammered, “Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t kill your mom!
“She’s already gone. Ashes can’t change anything. I didn’t mean to step on them. Why are you blaming me?”
Catalina’s lips curved into a chilling smile. Her expression darkened.
“Oh really? Do you think no one noticed it was on purpose? Still acting like you’re innocent?”
Valerie froze, and the moment she looked into Catalina’s eyes, a shiver ran down her spine.
“I didn’t! I swear!”
But Catalina’s eyes turned bloodshot.
“Then, apologize to my mom. Say sorry to her, right now!”
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Catalina’s outburst startled Valerie, making her panic. With a loud shriek, she rushed to hide behind Mateo and grabbed the sleeve of his suit.
“Mateo, I swear… I didn’t do it on purpose…”
Catalina tried to grab Valerie’s arm, but Mateo blocked him.
“Stop it, Catalina. Valerie already said it wasn’t intentional. Why are you still acting out?”
“We won’t blame you for ruining the party. Consider us even.”
Hearing this, Catalina gave a slight smirk. A dull, painful throb echoed from her chest.
“Even? Do you think a party is equal to my mom’s ashes?”
Her body trembling, she stepped forward toward Valerie, but Mateo shoved her to the floor.
“That’s enough! What more do you want? You need to learn your limits,” he said.
Catalina lifted her tear-filled eyes and stared at him, memories from three years ago flooding her mind.
She wished things had been different. If only she had never met him, would her life have remained whole?
A cold laugh escaped her lips. “Mateo, the biggest mistake I ever made was letting you into my life,” she said sharply.
Mateo froze, unable to say a word. Then, Catalina started coughing and collapsed right there.
As her eyes slowly shut, she noticed the panic on Mateo’s face, and she let out a quiet laugh.
“Why would Mateo care about me? I just want everything to end. If I die, at least I’ll finally be free.”
