Catherine's POV
Dad never said another word after that; he only held firmly onto his phone, his feet slowly tapping against the tiled floor.
"That son of a bitch, how dare he?" he muttered aloud, causing our gazes to shift in his direction. Curiosity shredded my every being as I watched silently.
"Honey, can you please tell us what the issue is?" Mum urged, her expression increasingly worried.
I stayed quiet, waiting to hear who was responsible for what had happened to me.
Whoever it was would pay. After everything I had suffered; the life-threatening encounter, the pain, and the horrible time I spent locked up in that dark room, I wasn't going to let it go.
"It's that useless son of the Andys!" Dad burst out angrily.
Mum gasped, her mouth wide open in shock.
My chest clenched, and a sudden sharp pain shot through me.
"I told you to stay away from him, didn't I?" Mum turned to me, her voice full of frustration. At that point, I felt completely lost, drowning in confusion.
"Mum, what do you mean?" I asked, amidst my doubts.
"Who are you referring to?" My eyes locked to hers.
"Don't worry, your dad and I will handle it," she snapped, turning to Dad, who lifted his phone and scrolled through the screen abruptly.
Then he pressed the button and placed the phone to his ear while his gaze moved slightly around.
"I want that Rick of a guy handled properly," Dad ordered over the phone, and that was when it dawned on me who it really was.
I was right after all.
My heart skipped instantly.
No! This can't be.
Rick did what?
"But he said he saved me," I cried out, holding onto my aching body.
"Is that what he made you believe?" Dad questioned, throwing a glance at my bewildered face. "Not to worry, he and his entire family will pay dearly for their actions," he added angrily, shoving his hands into his pant pockets.
I knew that signal. It meant danger.
"Dad, don't you think there's a mix-up somewhere?" I asked, uncertain.
"How can you think of such? The head of directors called directly to inform me about the findings, and here you are saying what exactly? Do you know the gravity of this; to your health, and not to mention the family's reputation?" Dad retorted, his voice slightly raised, and I flintched.
A sharp pain shot through my head. I wanted to say something. To express my pains, but the pains became intense.
"Argh," I groaned, holding onto my head slightly.
"Doctor!" Mum's voice roared across the space.
The pain was still excruciating as my hands remained clutched to my head. Nothing else made sense at that point.
Soon, the doctor approached and immediately checked the IV, glancing at the machine that remained calm except for the beep that never ceased.
He drew a syringe from the nurse and injected it into me. Everything gradually remained still for a while.
"She will be fine soon. It's just an effect of trauma, and I advise that she shouldn't be involved in any sort of stress that could aggravate the situation again," the doctor advised before taking his notes and shortly after leaving the room.
I could still see, but slowly, my vision began to blur.
Mum moved over to where I lay, her arms coiling over my body slightly.
"I told you not to continue the conversation. Look at what it's caused our daughter," she spoke. I heard her, but I couldn't tell who her words were directed at.
Peaceful darkness eluded my eyes, and slowly, they drifted shut.
*****
Three days after
"She's alright now and will be discharged soon," the doctor announced, a slight smile tugging on his lips.
I felt a little overwhelmed by his words. First, I just wanted to be discharged. My mind hadn't been at rest ever since the other day, which seemed impossible to forget.
"Thank you, doctor. Do the necessary checks and get back to us," Mum replied, sitting next to me on the soft, large form.
Her gaze shifted to mine. "I'm so happy you're okay now," Mum spoke, and I smiled, leaning into her shoulders.
Soon, the necessary discharge procedures were carried out, and I was driven back home.
Seated in the car, I had only one thing to do, get my phone powered and call Rick instantly.
I wanted to confirm everything I was told was true. To hear from him directly. Somehow, I still felt there was a mix up.
The car halted in front of the family mansion, pulling me out of my reverie, and I hurried out, quickly moving towards the entrance and into the building.
I couldn't shake off my unease, despite the fact that Mum and Dad had decided to accompany me home alongside some of the trusted maids who welcomed me upon my arrival.
I was about to head up the stairs to my room when Dad's spoke.
"Catherine," he called out from behind, and I stopped in my tracks, tugging at my nails.
"Dad?"
"Come sit," he invited. I bit my lower lip hard, shrugged a little, before reluctantly turning toward the living room.
"Sit," Mum also urged, and I obeyed.
Dad cleared his throat, then lifted his gaze to meet mine. "I just want to let you know that you are leaving this city to start your internship abroad for now, until we are certain everything is under control," Dad snapped, and Mum nodded.
My stomach twisted.
Lost, broken, and shattered by those words.
"But Dad, I've already started my internship here, and I wish to continue."
"That's no longer an option. Your flight ticket is ready, and you leave within the next two days. Enough time to fully recover," he added, but tears threatened to fall from my eyes.
I had returned to spend time with them, and now this? I huffed.
"Dad, Mum, there's no way I'm leaving. Besides, I have things to handle, and…"
"What other things do you want to handle here?" Mum cut me off mid-sentence, her gaze widened in at me.
I remained calm for a while, but then I couldn't hold back any longer.
Not when his thought lingered.
"Dad, Mum I love..." I started but stopped.
"Oh dear, you don't have a choice here," Dad said. "I know it's about Rick, but forget it he is married! What is wrong with you? Do you want to ruin this family's reputation?" Dad breathed heavily, his face grew fierce with anger.
"You are leaving, and that's final."
"But Dad…." I started but he stopped me.
"No 'buts' here. Get ready to fly back to Italy," Dad announced, hastily moving toward the wine stand.
My eyes rolled, disappointed in them and then at the entire situation.
"And from now onward, you are banned from seeing that guy," Dad added, his voice roaring over the bar stand.
A frown creased my forehead.
"That's our decision," Mum added, and I turned to face her.
"Mum...." I blurted bitterly.
"You can't see him nor have anything to do with him. That's final. Our decision is for your own best interest," she added gently, sitting next to me.
"How would you know his true intentions when all the evidence gathered points to him as the sole culprit behind your predicament?" Mum snapped.
As though she read through my doubts.
"What evidence?" I asked, perplexed.
Mum sneered, taking out her phone and played a voice note aloud.
"Yes, make sure she pays dearly and do a clean job…" The voice note ended.
I flinched.
'That was undoubtedly Rick's voice on the phone.' I snapped inwardly.
They were right after all.
"You see what I'm saying? You have nothing to do with such a person," Mum stated.
Her words hit me hard.
The doubts started to build up more, especially about what he told me at the hospital about tracking my phone. But I knew one thing, he looked sincere.
"Fine," I said, standing up. "If you want me to leave, then you need to release him. Stop whatever you're doing to him."
Mum gasped. "What?"
"And one more thing," I said firmly. "Before I leave, I want to visit the hospital again."
"You can't be serious," Mum muttered in shock.
"Then I'm not going anywhere." I replied, turned and rushed up the stairs, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.
For some reasons, I just wanted to believe my parents claim over Rick. If truly he was guilty, then he didn't deserve my love or care.
Still, my heart knew no peace.
Releasing Rick would be an uphill task, and nearly impossible for them to grant. But somehow, I felt I wanted it.
My heart wondered.
Would they grant my request? And what happens when they do?
I didn't want to go back to Italy and also I couldn't deny what I felt for Rick even though everything seemed twisted.
What if I tell mum and dad about my feelings? The way I felt when ever I was with him?
Catherine think! I slammed my hands hard over the bed... That would complicate everything.
So I thought, but little did I know that more danger loomed ahead...