Katalina
“You have to help me!” I grabbed Hoseok’s hand once Huracio got into his car.
To my exasperation, Hoseok just shrugged casually. “He can’t do anything to you as long as I am here.”
This over pampered man had no idea what he was messing with, but he was all I had. I must somehow make him getting moving.
“No, Hoseok. You don’t understand. Huracio can do and undo. He will find a way. Please, help me.”
“Let’s go back and talk about this. But first, are you Catherine, or Katalina?” He sneered, his gaze filled with suspicion.
Knowing I had no choice but to come clean, I ran my hands through my hair in despair.
“It’s a long story.”
“Kata, what will happen now?” Emilia stepped forward. She was pale and scared.
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.”
Back in the apartment, I told Hoseok a watered down version of what really happened, and lied about why I needed to escape.
“He is that kind of man?” He gasped when I told him that Huracio was a wife beater, and a narcissist. “He does look the part.” He nodded like he had figured everything out cleanly.
“I just need you to help me get Emilia out of the states.” I tried to bring him back to the real issue.
“What about you?” Emilia asked.
“I have to stay. If I don’t stay, he will keep coming after us. He will need to let you go, Emmy. I have to stay to keep everyone safe.”
“What about you?” Hoseok asked in surprise. “You want to go back to him?”
“Not if you marry her. This is America. If you can quickly marry her, Huracio will have no choice than to give her up. As long as she is single, he will keep coming back.” Emilia sat up and excitedly explained.
Hearing her words, my back grew cold. I tried to signal her to stop talking, but she just went on and on. As she was speaking, I stole a glance at Hoseok and watched in disdain as his face changed expressions. Of course, there is no way he is marrying me. His family will never allow it. Emilia just pushed him into a very awkward corner.
“Where do you want to go?” Hoseok turned to Emilia after a few awkward seconds.
“Ah, me.” She ruffled her hair in embarrassment. She already said those words before she remembered Hoseok’s situation. “I don’t know.”
“China, Malaysia, anywhere in Asia. You should know how to hide her, right? If you can do this, I will be your mistress. I promise. Just get her out.”
“Kata, what are you saying?” Emilia gasped at me in shock. She vehemently shook her head, refusing the offer. “Even if you become a mistress, Huracio will not let you go. The only thing that can save you is a legally binding marriage. Don’t worry about me. As long as I can leave Houston safely, he will not be able to find me. I promise.”
“Who said I can’t marry you?” Hoseok sneered. He looked affronted and insulted.
“Can you?” I wanted to snigger back, but caught myself on time. So, I just said it like a wary mouse.
“Of course. You know what, let’s get out of here first. I will hide you where he can’t find you. Then, I will go talk to my father. We can get a court order first, then do the ceremony later.”
It was as if he was speaking in tongues. Did he just talk about registering our marriage…
“You want to marry me?” I blurted out in befuddlement.
“Yes.” He nodded and picked my hands. He rubbed them affectionately, while my brain swirled in confusion.
“What about your fiance?”
“I will talk her out of it.”
“Talk your fiance out of marrying you. How will you do that?”
“No. Not my fiance. My Grandma.”
“How will you do that?” I asked even more seriously. From what I have heard, that matron of the Kim’s family isn’t a soft nut.
“Leave that to me. How soon can you leave?” He suddenly turned to Emilia, changing the subject.
“I am ready.”
“Let’s go then.”
That very evening, Hoseok took us to an island off the coast.
“This is my family’s private island. No outsider can come here without an invitation, so you can rest easy.” Hoseok reassured us when we started worrying that Huracio might come here.
Unfortunately, the most reliable safehouse the Kim’s have is in Poland and Hoseok would have to process the authorization to send Emilia there. Therefore, we have to stay on the island until he does that.
“Since you have submitted your resignation notice, then you don’t have to show up at the office anymore. I will accept it tomorrow and you can just stay here with David for now.” He said to me, looking very happy. My situation was giving him an advantage he eagerly wanted to use. My discomfort was of no importance.
If I could only smack that smug smile off his silly face…
He affectionately wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his chest. Though we dated for roughly three months, this was the first time he would be this close to me. Not because he didn’t want to, but because I didn’t allow it. But with the situation I was in, I realised that I wasn’t in the position to resist his creepy affection. He knew this, so he didn’t ask for permission. He just did what he wanted to do.
It was at this moment that I realised the implications of my promise to Hoseok. If I agreed to be his mistress, then I have also agreed to be sexually available to him. My mind first went blank and cold sweat broke out on my back. Since I left Huracio, I haven’t been able to stand another man’s touch. How should I navigate this?
Willing myself to calm down, I feigned a smiling face and playfully hit his chest. I then wrapped my hands around his back. It was the most stuffy hug I have ever had. I was almost choking.
“Thank you Hoseok.”
“It’s nothing. As long as you are with me, I will protect you. Ignatius is just a small fry. He can’t raise any storms.”
“Dinner is ready, young master.” The butler suddenly knocked on the door and announced.
Saved by the bell, I quickly distanced myself from him and hurried towards the door.
“It’s way past David’s bedtime. Let me go tuck him in.” I said, trying to excuse myself.
“I will join you.”
Grrri, grrri….
Just as I wanted to tell him not to worry, Hoseok’s phone rang.
With a frown, he picked the call, while I hurried out of the room.
Hoseok was called away, leaving us with the butler.
After putting David to bed, Emilia and I found ourselves unable to sleep. She was on the phone talking to her family, while I sat in silence contemplating life.
Five years ago, Emilia’s father was the one who helped me to escape the hospital. He is affiliated to a gang, and with the right price, the gang agreed to ship me out of the country.
Back then, there was no time to plan anything. I couldn’t go back home and directly left the hospital during the raid. Emilia had to stay back, so she had to be attacked and injured to make the raid look real and to exonerate her.
We made it out of the hospital and the state, but we were crossed while on our way to the border by Salvatore’s men. Though Salvatore wasn’t physically present, he spoke to me via video call. He promised that if I agreed to divorce Huracio, I would get full custody of the child and secure his future. I didn’t want anything from that evil man. He was the one who killed my Dad after all. But I had no choice. It was either I accepted the things he was willing to do for me or died with my baby.
From that point, his men took over. They took me to the border and kept me there until the divorce documents were ready. When it arrived and I read it, I was shocked. Because Salvatore didn’t want Huracio to suspect anything, he gave me cash in a midget box. In the divorce documents, he gave my unborn child some shares from his company, but the child would only have access to them once he clocked 21. Salvatore sternly warned me that I and my child are not allowed to contact Huracio. If we do, Grandma and everyone we know will pay the price.
If I go back to Huracio, many people will die. If I don’t, Emilia will continuously be in danger.