57. What If...?

"Catharina bitch! I knew it was you."

Cathy didn't need to turn around. She could already guess the loud voice that was deafening like an empty barrel. Cathy could recognize the owner of that voice.

Cathy hissed, looking away for a moment. She couldn't believe that she could find such an annoying human in every corner. "Why are you always everywhere, Agnes?"

"I should be the one asking you! I came here to see you. I don't know if Jonathan will allow it or not. I wanted to see you, but I stopped by to buy some vitamins first." Agnes gave her a probing look. "So, you ran away?"

"Is that any of your business?" Cathy accepted the medicine the pharmacist gave her. "What are you pretending to see me for anyway? What do you want?"

"Wow!" Agnes folded her arms across her chest. She moved closer to Cathy, who was sitting on the back of the bench. "Keep prejudging me! You have a dirty heart, Cathy. Don't you realize?"

"I do realize it. That's why you should stay out of my business!"

Agnes annoyingly laughed while Cathy was already too fed up. She took some medicine to ease the pain in her stomach.

"Hey! How can I stay out of your business after you ruined my wedding?"

"What?!" Cathy almost spit out her drink. She then pulled Agnes by the hand.

Cathy led the woman out of the hospital's back door which was close to the pharmacy. They were now in front of the shops next to the hospital.

"Argh!" Agnes threw Cathy's hand away.

Cathy grinned. She squinted slightly as the sunlight penetrated her. "Is it my fault you're blind? Can't you see I've been shot?"

"It's because you're a troublemaker that the shooter was hunting you."

"Nonsense!" cried Cathy. Then she bent over slightly as her stomach still throbbed.

She swallowed hard as she held her wet stomach. Blood seeped into the white fabric of her dress. It made Agnes panic.

"Hey, bitch! Are you okay?" Agnes held both of Cathy's shoulders. "We have to go back to the hospital!"

Cathy held Agnes' arm as she shook her head. "No need!"

"How could we not? Look at you!" Agnes snapped.

Cathy took in everything in front of her. She was helpless, wanting to pull away but, she had nowhere to go. She couldn't go back to the hospital. Then, she found a simple motel amongst the shops and pubs.

"Argh! You're such a nuisance!" Agnes took off the oversized denim jacket on Cathy to cover at least a little of the blood-splattered area.

Cathy gave Agnes a probing look and then shook her head firmly. "I borrowed your jacket first."

"But we have to treat your wound, Cathy."

"Don't come any closer!" Cathy backed away. "I'm not in the mood to trust anyone!"

"Wow!" Agnes couldn't help but think. "You're acting like one! Even when you're hurt, you're still annoying."

"Go away!" Cathy ordered. "I also want to apologize for messing up your important event."

"You know what? I came here to make sure you stay alive."

"So what?"

"You need to stay alive so you can take responsibility."

Cathy was getting tired of dealing with Agnes. Grimacing with pain, she said as she assumed, "Are you asking me to pay compensation?"

Agnes burst out laughing. "What? Compensation?" She stifled her laughter. "No one can compensate for the loss. My wedding was as grand as a royal wedding. Your life is not even worth the cost of my wedding."

"Then what do you want?"

"Indemnity is not always about money," Agnes whispered, making Cathy raise one eyebrow. "Your life can make up for it."

Cathy's face tightened upon hearing that answer. Agnes' hoarse voice rang in her head. She froze, and then Agnes' laughter broke the silence. Even Cathy looked at her suspiciously.

"You can be my errand boy later."

Cathy clucked in annoyance. It wasn't worth it if the pain was getting worse when dealing with Agnes. Her time seemed to be wasted. Not wanting to say another word, Cathy pulled the denim jacket closer to cover the reddish patches on her dress. She waltzed away, leaving Agnes to continue talking.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Agnes was excited.

Cathy didn't answer. That made Agnes swear even more.

The short-haired woman chased after Cathy. "Don't tell me you want to find out about the shooter?"

Cathy didn't respond. She just cursed through her eyes. She didn't want to pay any attention to that stupid Agnes.

"Catharina!" Agnes continued to restrain her movements. "Come back. I heard Jonathan and his confidants are investigating."

"I know Jonathan did it too!" Cathy insisted. "He's my husband! He would have done it!"

"But he's already found a possible culprit!" snapped Agnes.

Agnes' loud voice rang in Cathy's ears. She froze. Her world had stopped. Only her brain was running. Even that wasn't going well. Everything felt random. She closed her eyes repeatedly to neutralize her dizzy head.

"I think I need to take you to the hospital again," Agnes said compassionately.

"You'd better go. Seeing you gives me a headache!"

"Should I?"

"Go away while I'm still gentle with you!" said Cathy.

Agnes raised one eyebrow. "All right. I'm going."

"Hey, crazy Agnes!"

Cathy's call stopped her in her tracks. She then turned around, preparing for Jonathan's wife's follow-up sentence.

"Did you come alone?" Cathy asked.

"I came alone on that bike!" Agnes indicated the bike in the nearby parking lot with her chin.

"Are you good at riding motorcycles?"

Agnes chuckled. "What are you talking about? What do you want to say?" She looked at the watch on her wrist. "I'm busy, too."

"Come on! I'm coming with you!" Cathy walked ahead of Agnes with slow steps.

Agnes shook her head in disbelief. "Hey! Are you stupid? "She caught up with Cathy. "If you run away from Jonathan, it will be useless. He always has a way to find you."

"That happened to me too!" she continued to warn. "Alex is the same way. I think the Beltz Family is all like that."

Reaching the front of the bike, Cathy stopped her steps. "I know. I'm not running away from him anyway."

"So what?"

"I'll go back to him when my business is over."