Chapter 38: Chapter 38

38

Kathleen went into Marcella's room but couldn't find her, she heard the shower running and believed she must be in the shower, Derek's dad was sleeping, she frowned as she noticed how pale and unhealthy he looked and wondered what exactly was wrong with him, it seems to her that his medications were doing more harm than good to him and briefly wondered about the nature of his illness.

She glanced around the room and sighted Marcella's phone on the table, heart pounding, she could hear the shower still running, she quickly grabbed the phone but to her dismay, it has a security lock on it, why would she lock her phone if she had nothing to hide, Kathleen tried a few passwords but couldn't access the phone, just as she was about to give up, a message popped up, it was short and straight to the point, she stared at the message for a while, it simply said: "We have to meet, Stefan." Her heart pounding, she had gotten the proof that she wanted, Marcella was indeed connected with the incident that happened, Derek has to see this, her mind was frantic.

"What are you doing here?" Marcella's cold voice reached her ears and Kathleen jumped, the phone fell from her hands and slide to the middle of the room. she hadn't heard the shower stopped neither did she hear Marcella coming out from the bathroom.

Marcella's eyes moved to the fallen phone and narrowed on Kathleen with a pure look of anger. Kathleen made to grab the phone from the floor but in a blink of an eye, Marcella was there, she quickly grabbed the phone before Kathleen

"You planned this right?" Kathleen's voice was laced with realization and Marcella scoffed, "I don't know what you're talking about"

"Don't bother denying it, I saw your message from Stefan, saying that the both of you have to meet, what business do you have with Stefan?"

"Is there only one Stefan in the world?" Marcella snarled at her.

"I have the feeling that the Stefan you're talking with is the one you set me up with"

Marcella sneered, "and how do you plan on proving it? Even if it was true, who will believe you? What evidence do you have?"

Kathleen's heard pounded heavily, was Marcella actually admitting to her crime? She stared at Marcella boldly, " Derek will know about your scheme"

Marcella's gaze was slit as she stared at Kathleen, "the day you go against me is the start of your downfall".

Kathleen regarded Marcella for a while, how could she do this to her? How could she snatch away the only beautiful thing that has happened to her since her existence, tears brimmed in her eyes, "why do you hate me so much? I have done nothing to you" she whispered to Marcella.

Marcella had a look of pure hatred in her eyes as she stared at Kathleen and Kathleen shuddered at the sight, "I hate you because you ruined almost ruined my plans, Derek wasn't supposed to get married to you in the first place, if you hadn't come into the picture, he would have married Nicole who is from a reputable family unlike you, who is a nobody".

Marcella's hurled words pierced at Kathleen's heart, "but that is about to be rectified as Nicole will give birth to Derek's child, the child will forever bond them, very soon, Derek will see every reason to love" Marcella paused as if waiting to see the effect of her words on Kathleen, "you can continue being a servant here if you wish" she concluded with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Images of Derek in Nicole's embrace the other day unbiddenly jumped into her head and how Derek had asked her to serve Nicole, her vision blurred and she reached for the door blindly, running out from the room, she slammed the door behind her.

Marcella watched her leave, she knew she had hit the bull's eye, Kathleen was becoming too smart for her own good and being too nosy, what was she doing here in the first place? Marcella stared at the phone in her hands, thank goodness for her phone's security or else, Kathleen would have been so shocked at what her eyes would have seen in the phone, time to delete all shreds of evidence that pointed allegations on her. She dialed Stefan's number and told him not to call her for the time being, she was pissed at his untimely message that had almost implicated her, she told him henceforth, she would be the only one to contact him, next, she deleted all proofs to show that she ever had anything to do with Stefan. She heaved when she was through, "let's see how she goes about this" she smirked.

Kathleen has to see Derek, she needed to speak with him, she had to tell him that Marcella planned everything with Stefan and he had to believe her. She went to his room and knocked but got no reply, she opened the door and went inside, he wasn't in either, oh, no! He must have gone to the office, tears trailing her cheeks, she was still hurt at Marcella's words, fear clutched at her heart at the thought of losing Derek for good, she stared at the king-sized bed, and remembered the first time he had made love to her, she had given him her virginity on this bed, but everything that happened between them seemed so far away, all that was left now was bitterness, hatred, and anger. She sat on the bed, reliving those memories, she was emotionally drained, her hand went to her stomach that had once held Derek's child, lost in this battle of hatred and conspiracy against her by Marcella and Stefan, the pain of losing a child wrenched her heart anew and she made no attempt to stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks, she curled herself on the bed, she needed strength to go through this phase of life, she needed her husband by her side, they should go through this grief together, she would wait for Derek right here and she would make him listen to her.