Chapter 119: Chapter 119

SOME DAYS LATER

KATHERINE

Katherine sat still, staring blankly ahead as she waited for the visitors to come in.

Ever since her say her had told her of Damien’s recovery, and the fact that he wanted to see her, she’d been quite shocked, and a bit uneasy, but her emotions had gone uphill just last night when she’d been informed that Madison, was also coming to see her too.

She’d screamed, her hands tugging at her prison cloth and dirty hair, as she cursed and warned her father not to let that lady come see her in this state, but he’d only looked at her remorsefully.

He claimed he had no say in who came to visit her, and worse still, the investigative authorities in charge of her case had approved of the visit, so there was literally nothing they could do about it.

As he left her cell, bading her goodbye and begging her with tears in his eyes to take her drugs before sleeping, Katherine had immediately plunged into a mental decline.

Her eyes turned red as memory after memory plagued her, and the stark realization that Madison was the main reason why she was here in the first place tugged within her badly.

She would have been with Damien… They would have been married, happily and even with kids, had the woman not appeared in his life.

Katherine knew she’d not have gone through the lengths she went to… overdosing on medications and taking hard drugs if Madison had never appeared.

Madison was the beginning of her downfall, the cause of everything, and the reason why she’d had jealousy brewing in her heart.

But at the same time, a part of her sorely reminded herself that she’d also done more harm than good, not just to herself, but to the bitch too.

With the help of her boys, who were in prison now, she’d stalked and sent harmful threatening letters to the young woman.

Katherine admired Madison’s resilience and bravery, and for a while, she contemplated apologizing.

It was over for her, and now she was meeting her nemesis and the results of everything she’d done.

Now, as the depths of her eyes suddenly began to water, Katherine didn’t know what to feel when it came to that lady.

Should she feel angry, jealous, furious or whatnot… She just didn’t know, and the added knowledge that the woman would be here anytime soon made Katherine feel worse.

How would she face someone she’d almost killed? Not just someone, but how would she face two people she’d almost killed?

Her eyes blinked for the first time since she sat in the white-colored room, and Katherine stared at her fingers as she began to think.

She’d cried last night when her father left, but now that she thought about it, she’d been living her life blank these days.

With the constant reminder that she was cancerous and death was knocking around anytime soon, her attitude towards life was no longer cold, uncaring and ruthless.

Instead, she spent her days in her prison bed, thinking and thinking.

The effects of her sickness were starting to show on her body too, and she looked like an unhealthy skeleton; bones protruded from her skin, muscles and tendons were thinning out, and her full hair was falling off day by day.

She felt so sick and weak all the time, but she kept on trying to pull off a brave look even though it waned off with time.

The only thing that kept her going these days in the cell was the thought of Damien and how much she had loved him.

She had loved him so much, even though her love had turned rather destructive. Dare says she’d become obsessed.

She’d tried to get him to leave Madison, but he wouldn’t listen, so she’d done things the hard way and brought herself to this dilemma.

Sick, imprisoned, waiting for a most likely harsh sentence, and fading away until she died. Just what more could happen now?

A knock sounded at the metallic door of the room, cutting Katherine of her thoughts, and she dragged her gaze up from her now restless thumbs.

What followed the knock was a resounding thug, and she could hear the dangling of keys as the police officers tried frantically to open the door.

They were here. Damien, Madison and whomever they would have brought with them.

They were here to face her, and she was all alone, half ready to dish out her raw emotions back to them.

The moment the door hinges flew up, a scuffle followed, and still staring straight ahead, the first person, Katherine’s eyes, locked on was Damien.

He looked strange… Not like the Damien she’d loved.

He didn’t look ruthless or ruggedly handsome like he normally did. Instead, he looked changed, and he had on a polo shirt and Jean trousers.

He rarely wore this. He rarely appeared modest, but now he was, and Katherine knew why.

It was because of her. Madison… The woman whom he was currently holding, and her gaze dropping from his face to their intertwined hands, her heart squeezed when she saw it.

They looked like a formidable couple facing their enemy, and if only the caption were not just true.

She was still their enemy. That much was evident.

The silence continued to brew, the tense atmosphere thickening until finally, one of the policemen said.

“Mr Daniel, we’ll take our leave now. If anything goes south, or the criminal tries to attack any one of you, just hit the button by the table, and we’ll come as soon as possible.”

“Good, thank you.” Damien responded, his thick voice causing Katherine to look up at him, and she swallowed.

She wanted so badly to scratch at her skin and play with her hair now, but she was thoroughly chained to the table, with her feets cuffed too.

The door banging shut already; Katherine watched as the couple continued to stare at her before finally they made a move and walked towards the seat opposite hers.

As their feets clanged, Katherine barely said a thing, and it was not until they both sat down, then did Damien clear his throat, easing the tension.

Katherine was no more looking at him. Instead, her gaze was solidly facing Madison, who stared back at her blankly.

Katherine tried to read the lady’s facial expression and whatever could be going on in that head of hers, but nothing came to mind at all, and finally, she gave up.

However, she was more than surprised to see her calm, and Katherine wondered if the lady had forgotten all she had passed through.

The tortures and the threats… She looked too calm for someone facing her abuser.

“Fuck! I don’t even know how to begin, Maddie… I don’t know what to say to this… this….” Damien broke the silence, and as he said those words to Madison, Katherine turned to look at him, her heart tightening.

“Damien, calm down,” Madison replied and brought their intertwined hands up to her lips, kissing softly on his knuckles.

Katherine’s chest tightened again as she watched the silent gesture. This was worse… Seeing them like this.

Being this affectionate and strong after everything she’d done to them… everything they’d gone through.

She wanted them to leave. She couldn’t bear this at all.

Her head pounding heavily as she listened to them talk in hushed tones, facing each other; Katherine decided to do just one thing that would make them leave this room sharply.

Making the internal decision, she suddenly blurted out, grabbing their attention as she said slowly but smugly, “I don’t know why you both are here, but I have to apologize for one. That’s the only option here for me now.”

Madison’s eyes widened, but Damien’s didn’t. He only stared back at her, this time with a sneer and a look that indicated that he didn’t believe her.

She didn’t care whatever he thought about her, though, and opening her mouth, she started to say something, but shockingly Madison cut in.

“What do you want to apologize for? The traumas you caused me? For almost killing me and shooting Damien in the chest? He nearly lost his life, and here you think we want to listen to any apology you have to render?” Her lips trembled as she spoke, and Katherine stared dumbfoundedly at her.

Madison Connor was talking… Talking back at her, and with some sass.

“What do you….”

“Why did you do these? I heard you’re sick, but I also want to know if you weren’t crazy in the head, if you still would have done all this? I begged, and I told you that Damien and I were not an item, but still you choose not to believe, and now see where….”

“I would still do all I did, and even in another life, I’ll still do it.” Katherine interjected, cutting Madison off her speech as she deadpanned, continuing, “I did it because I was in love with a man I pictured my future with. A man I longed to spend the rest of my life with and give birth to his children. A man I became utterly obsessed with. So I have no regrets, and I would still do this again if the opportunity presents itself.”

As she finished, her eyes were now staring at Damien’s sinister cold ones, and the look he was giving her sent chills down her spine.

Like he wanted to strangle her and do hurtful things to her.

The side of his iris burned red, and…

“Also, I wanted to apologize before, but….” Katherine began again, and sniffing, she closed her worn-out eyes and added, “I won’t anymore. Although I admit that the things I did were not right, I don’t feel sorry about it at all. I did what I had to do and what a reasonable lady would do too. I fought for what’s mine, it’s unfortunate he refused to be with me, and now I have to live with the heartbreak all my life. I think that’s enough sorry for you.”

“What the heck is….” Damien started to curse, but Madison was again there to calm him down, her hands going to his shoulder as she rubbed gently.

“Damien, please, stop it.”

“No, I won’t! I won’t stop myself from saying anything. We need to know why? Why did she do such awful things? I’m sure she understands why we are here, wanting an explanation. If you’re telling the truth and don’t regret anything, then….” Damien spoke harshly, glaring at Katherine once again, irrespective of whatever Madison seemed to be saying to him.

As she listened to him speak, her hands clasped together, Katherine stared blankly at the couple, desperately trying to show maybe a sign of remorse, but nothing seemed to be forthcoming.

Maybe she shouldn’t apologize. Over her dead body, would she tell them sorry.

Instead, she wished them hell, and they could rot for all she cared. She…

“I wish you peace, Katherine. I hope you heal 'cause I have healed too.” Madison broke through the thoughts in Katherine’s head, and she all but glared at her.

She’d healed; that was good, but why did she say it?

That word ‘heal’ reminded Katherine of her sickness and that she was dying even as she sat with them.

If they’d noticed how sick and ghastly she looked, they’d said nothing, and Katherine even liked it that way.

She didn’t need their pity or anyone else’s. She would go to her cell, crying her heart out and give herself all the pity she needed.

Not pity from two people who’d indirectly brought her to this predicament and made her this way.

‘But they’d done nothing.’ Her subconscious chimed in, but she paid no heed.

“Well, that’s good for you. I’ll tell you the truth, though….” Katherine began with a sniff, “I’m not sorry about everything that’s happened. I think you have your happy ever after now. That’s good compensation, at least.”

She banged her wrist on the table, and as the metallic handcuffs jingled, she waited for them to say something, but they didn’t.

Finally, Damien stood up, and Madison followed suit while Katherine watched.

“There are so many things I want to do to you, but I just can’t. I want you to know, Katherine, that I regret ever meeting you. Right from the start, I knew just how selfish and dangerous you could be, but I fucking ignored the warning signs. This bullet wound in my chest is a sore reminder of why I would always hate you, and this is the last time you’ll ever see me here again.” Damien spat out, and as he talked, Katherine’s jaw finally dropped open.

Damn! The look in his eyes. He was gazing down at her with so much hate she could melt for real.

At the same time, he squeezed Madison’s hands tightly, almost as if he was hurting the poor lady, but she just stood still, doing nothing.

“My lawyer will see to it that you get your due verdict. And hopefully, with all of this, we will never see you again.” With those final words, Damien walked out of the room, dragging Madison by her hand behind him, leaving Katherine alone with her guilt.

Finally, the tears and pity she’d felt internally came out, and she began to sob as she stared after the door.

She watched it shut and lock, but then just immediately, two policemen walked in, ready to take her back to her cell and the place she would most likely stay all her life until she died.

As she sniffed, she regretted not asking them what their verdict about her would be. If they would give her a light sentence or allow her to rot in jail.

She must have forgotten, all the while allowing hate to blind her entire being, and now she would never know a thing until her father and his lawyer came.

Feeling completely broken and lost, Katherine ardently followed the officers back to her abode with a bent head.