Chapter 22 — Eloisa as a Traitor Again?
Eloisa POV:
I secretly visited the real Cassandra inside the prison. No one knows about this, not even my husband or Lucy. I went alone and I wanted to ask many questions about her why she went to this point to kidnapping my husband's nephew who's very dear to my heart. I want to keep this to avoid everyone being suspicious about me.
Well, I have a secret. I came to visit my sister's friend Catalina. Upon my mom's rehabilitation process, she was there. We met even I'm still young that day, I know exactly what Catalina looks like. They were so much alike, so they think they're twins but that's not the truth.
Catalina was Cassandra's little sister, and she has a mental disorder where she loves copying someone. She was under the care of Cassandra when we saw her with dad. I hope someone didn't follow me.
I took a deep breath before entering the hospital. Mom was there too, and I need a little time to get her out of here.
As I came inside, I saw Mary, the new receptionist here. She's blonde, pale skin, skinny but smiley face.
“Good morning, ma'am. May I help you?” she greeted me after she noticed my presence. I smiled at her as soon she approached me. I saw she's busy on her cellphone, but I ignored it.
My eyes roamed around as we are having conversations around the whole facility. Everyone knows that I have a criminal record and I'm a celebrity because of that and the scandal that happened to my marriage life.
I fix the hat that I bought on the sidewalks a while ago to cover my face.
"Hello, you're new here, I guess?” I asked her. She smiled and it's a sign of a yes.
"What is your name?” Eloisa asked her.
"Call me Mary,” she replied to me and smiled again.
"Mary, I want to visit Ms. Catalina. Is she available at these hours?” she said, and Mary checks her schedule.
"Wait, ma'am. Ahem, today she has no visitor. Would you like to visit her? What is your relationship to you?" she asked her.
"I'm a friend of her," Eloisa answered her.
Mary is not so strict at accepting visitors, so Eloisa felt relieved that she finally got to see Catalina. She has reasons why she needed to see her. She wanted to know if she was sick, and Cassandra is manipulating her.
Cassandra is inside the prison. That lady. Why she makes her life so difficult? Kylie, her daughter in heaven is not happy to see her mom doing crazy things just to get revenge for her early death. Eloisa feels sorry for her. She went inside and Lucy followed her.
"Why is she visiting Catalina too? What is her connection to this twin sister?” Lucy mumbled.
She waited until Mary walked to have an early lunch. She quickly runs inside without noticing. She hides from any walls inside the Asylum every time Eloisa looked back.
She followed her like a spy in the movie entitled Charlie's Angels. Until Lucy saw Eloisa stop at room 303. Eloisa slowly opened it and Lucy looks shocked to see Cassandra's sister. They look alike but what made her confused is how Eloisa knows them? Why she was visiting the traitors individually.
She must know their conversation so she will find out Eloisa's new agenda again.
***
Lucy POV:
Maybe my hunch is right. What if Eloisa is their mastermind again and she can't sleep a wink to see me happy and progressing.
What if I am right in the first place that they are part of the kidnapping incident! No! Gale is not like that. He changed a lot and I know that he regretted everything he's done to my life and family.
I grip my hands on the strap of my bags and gritted my teeth, trying to calm myself about what I saw. Eloisa went to Catalina! She's there inside and I will find out about their conversation.
I decided to act as one of the patient's family who sat beside Catalina's door. I need it to hear their conversation. I must find out why she's here.
***
Eloisa POV:
Catalina didn't recognize me. It's been thirty years since she last saw me. She looks confused to see my face. She tilted her face trying to study me. I smiled at her.
Her hair is messy. Her face was pale and she's very skinny. Days passed when they were both caught but Cassandra continued to eat more than Catalina. Her eyes were so distant that she's not seeing anyone. I raise my palm and move it to see if she noticed me, but her reaction is the same. I decided to shake her shoulders.
“Catalina, remember me? I am Eloisa. The girl you used to talk to. My mom was here too, next to your room!” I am trying to make her remember everything.
I want to know why she helped her sister. She's not a bad person. She's just a mentally ill woman who needs tender love and care.
I want her to speak. I want to see her smiling.
"I love my sister. Don't take her from me! She will kill me and everyone who hurt her daughter! She will not stop!” she started screaming and laughing like a witch.
I tried to calm her so she will stop whining but she keeps screaming like she saw a ghost.
"Hey, Catalina, no one will hurt you! I'm Eloisa, your friend, remember?” I repeated.
I stop when the doctor and nurses came. They quickly injected her with the syringe for calm and to make her sleep.
One of the nurses approaches me.
"I'm sorry, ma'am but you can come back the other day!” she told me, so I quickly walked out of the room.
I feel sorry for Catalina. She's super sick and I don't know how to help her anymore.
I decided to leave the asylum when I saw Lucy's car.
"Shit, she followed me!” I mumbled and quickly made my way to my car.
I was about to pull the car door when a hand stops it.
"What are you doing here, Eloisa?” she asked me furiously.
My eyes grew wide. My heart beat faster. I felt nervous about what to tell her. No one knows that my mom is sick. I'm afraid to tell them that my mom is here too. I'm embarrassed to tell her about it. Even she caught me here, I can't tell her about my past and what my family looks like. Too much drama and scandals happened so I didn't want to add another one.
"Lucy? Me? I-I…visit a friend! You…What are you doing here? Don't tell me, you're following me?" I said, stammering.
I close the door of my car again so we can talk clearer outside.
Lucy's face looks very mad.
"Don't deny it! Don't lie to me! I saw you going inside Catalina's room! Why? What are you hiding Eloisa? What is your connection to Catalina?” she keeps questioning me.
I'm dead. Lucy knows where I went and who I visited. I hope she won't think bad about what she saw today.
I close my eyes took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes. I need to explain to her why I am here. Maybe it's time to tell Lucy besides my fault for keeping her my relationship with the siblings and the real identity of Catalina and Cassandra.
“Okay, just calm down. Let's go somewhere quiet. Let's go over there." I pointed my hands at the coffee shop in front of us. Lucy finally calms down.
***
Eloisa and Lucy ordered one cappuccino coffee in a coffee shop they went to.
They both took one sip before Eloisa started to speak.
"Okay, I will tell you everything but please don't judge me, okay?” Eloisa told her.
Lucy raises her eyebrows at her. Her sharp gaze made Eloisa felt uneasy but when she suddenly smiled like Lucy before, Eloisa felt relieved.
"Tell me what you know and what you are hiding from me and my husband, so Gale won't find out what are you doing on the street alone." She crossed her arms against her chest.
"Thirty years ago, dad forced my mom to put me in a mental hospital even though she's not sick. I don't know because I am still young. It was dad's fault. He controlled my life. He controlled everything that's connected to me,” she said, and Lucy just goes on listening.
"Then?" she asked her.
Eloisa became emotional as she continued her story.
“When mom brought in the asylum, Catalina was there. I don't know but I was shocked to know that she has a sister. I thought they're twins but it's not. Cassandra and Catalina are sisters, but no one knows that Catalina exists." Eloisa's eyes started to moisten.