Chapter 65

Chapter 65
Catalina watched as Victoria walked away from her. It must have been a call from Damien. Victoria had been a different person ever since she’d returned. Her stepsister had never walked away to answer a call from anyone who contacted her. Whatever their mother’s plan was, they had to act quickly, Catalina thought.
“Did Catalina come to see you?” Emily sighed softly. It felt like it had been a long time since she’d heard that man’s voice. Emily shook her head slightly to clear her mind. Whatever feelings Emily had for Damien must not be allowed to develop.
“Yes. She said she wanted to meet with me,” Emily replied.
“Go home. Ignore her.” Emily sighed at Damien’s words. It was just like this when she was dealing with Brian. She didn’t know what Damien was planning, but she wanted to do something so Catalina wouldn’t think Victoria was weak. Catalina must think Victoria was easy because she always listened to him. Emily wanted to erase that thought from Catalina’s mind.
“I can handle it. You don’t want Catalina to think Victoria is weak, do you?”
“Are you sure you can handle it?” Emily gave a wry smile.
“Didn’t you compliment my acting back then?” Emily reminded Damien of the compliment he’d given her, which hadn’t sounded sincere to her. Damien sighed.
“All right. Don’t talk to her for too long. The bodyguard will be watching you. If he approaches you, that’s your cue to go home.” Emily’s eyes widened. Did Damien still doubt her acting?
“Give the phone to Alex.” Emily stared at Alex’s phone in disbelief. The girl took a deep breath, adjusting her expression so her frustration wouldn’t be seen by Catalina. Emily handed Alex’s phone back. She watched the bodyguard speak with Damien before approaching Catalina.
“Victoria,” Catalina smiled as Emily looked at her.
“I’m sorry if what happened between our parents hurt you. On my mother’s behalf, I apologize. I don’t condone how their relationship began, but they love each other—”
“You’re defending your mother.” Catalina’s mouth fell shut at Emily’s words. Victoria glared at Catalina.
“Love doesn’t make others suffer because of their relationship.” Catalina clenched her fists, trying to stay patient. How did Catalina know what had happened between Charles and her mother? She wasn’t even born when they were having an affair. Catalina’s heart ached as Victoria looked down on her. Victoria must have thought she was born out of wedlock.
Catalina hadn’t really thought about this before. If Charles had cheated on his wife with her mother while he was still married, that meant Catalina was a bastard—she was born out of wedlock. Seeing Victoria continue to look down on her made Catalina feel even more emotional.
“I haven’t spoken to my father again,” Victoria’s voice snapped Catalina out of her thoughts.
“I won’t visit until you all get out of my house.” Victoria’s statement made Catalina’s eyes widen. Who was “you all” that Victoria was referring to? Did that woman want to kick her, her mother, and Brian out?
“What are you talking about?” Catalina said, panicking.
“But our family was fine before, Victoria. My mother treated you like her own daughter. You even said my mother was like your own mother. How could—“
“Don’t talk nonsense. The relationship we’ve had all this time was built on lies.” Emily glanced at her watch. She’d been putting up with Catalina long enough.
       Catalina bit her lip. Her eyes burned with emotions she couldn’t release. Facing this assertive version of Victoria left her unable to think.
“Give me back my credit card.”
“What?” Catalina didn’t understand what Emily had just said.
“My credit card. Give it to me,” Emily held out her hand. This was the final touch of her warning. Damien had once said that Victoria’s stepfamily enjoyed that woman’s wealth, hadn’t he? Now Emily was taking it back, starting with Catalina.
“What do you mean?” Catalina’s voice trembled. Was Victoria serious about that?
“My husband said I gave you credit cards before. Now give it back,” Emily gestured with her fingers, signaling Catalina to immediately hand over the credit card Victoria had given her.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t bring my credit card?” Emily looked Catalina up and down. She noticed the girl wasn’t carrying a purse. However, everything Catalina was wearing was from famous brands. Emily shook her head inwardly at the sight. Catalina was already so lucky to have a kind stepsister like Victoria—how could she still harbor ill will toward her?
“I brought it,” Catalina said softly, her head slightly bowed. She wanted to hit Victoria, but she couldn’t because there were bodyguards watching them. Catalina turned around and walked quickly toward her car.
             She roughly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. She would definitely get back at Victoria. Catalina would teach that woman a lesson she’d never forget. With trembling hands, she grabbed her bag, took out her wallet, and pulled the credit card in Victoria’s name from it. Catalina took a deep breath. She wouldn’t look weak in front of that stupid woman. I’ll definitely get back at you. Catalina’s voice echoed in her mind.
“Here,” Catalina handed the credit card to Emily.
“Thank—” The sound of the car door slamming greeted Catalina.She watched Emily’s car drive away.
“You’ll definitely regret trampling on me like this, Victoria. I’ll make sure you remember this until the day you die.”



Caroline watched Catalina go up to the second floor in surprise. Her daughter looked angry. What happened? Did her meeting with Victoria not go well? With long strides, Caroline followed Catalina to her room. She heard the door slam shut as soon as she got there. Her daughter was in a terrible mood. Caroline opened the bedroom door and was shocked to see Catalina smashing photos of her and Victoria.
“What’s wrong, Catalina? What’s the point of destroying things like this?”
“Your stepdaughter—I hate her so much!” Now the girl was pulling the bedsheet off the bed. Catalina seemed like a girl who’d lost her mind.
“Did your meeting with Victoria go badly?” Catalina stopped messing with her bed. She looked at Caroline, breathing heavily. She’d expended a lot of energy, but that hadn’t calmed Catalina’s emotions.
“She took my credit card!” Catalina exclaimed angrily, startling Caroline—both by her daughter’s tone and her statement.
“What do you mean, Catalina?”
“I said it clearly, Mom!” Catalina retorted, still visibly upset.
“She’s getting more arrogant now. She must think we’re asking for money and freeloading at her house.” Caroline was even more confused by Catalina’s words. Not yet understanding credit card, her daughter only made things more confusing with the word “freeloading.”
“What do you mean?” Caroline repeat again.
“It’s all your fault. Victoria thinks we’re beggars. She wants to kick us out!”