Tangled Hearts

Chapter 11: Another Ghost of the Past

Cathy Chan walked slowly toward the sleek, modern gate of the King's home, each step feeling heavier than the last. The path was familiar, but it no longer felt like home. This place had once been her life, but now it was a reminder of her past.

As she approached, the gate slid open smoothly, revealing Selmo, the King family’s longtime guard. He nodded respectfully as he saw her, his expression neutral, but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

“Good afternoon, Miss Cathy,” Selmo greeted her, using the title she hadn’t heard in years. Back then, she was Mrs. King, the lady of the house. But now, she was just another visitor.

“Good afternoon, Selmo,” Cathy replied, forcing a polite smile. She hesitated for a moment, looking past him at the stunning house beyond. Perched atop a hill, the house was a marvel of modern architecture, its clean lines and expansive glass walls blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. But as beautiful as it was, it had never felt like hers.

The house had been designed long before Cathy had entered the picture, built with Eloise in mind. Eloise had always dreamed of a home that was both stylish and filled with natural light—an Instagrammable retreat that would showcase her love for design and nature. Every inch of the house reflected that vision.

The exterior was a mix of concrete, wood, and glass, with floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed sunlight to pour in from every angle. The house was surrounded by lush greenery, with trees strategically placed to provide both privacy and a sense of connection to nature. The centerpiece of the property was the infinity pool, which seemed to stretch out into the horizon, merging with the sky and offering breathtaking views of the city below.

As Cathy walked through the gate, memories came rushing back, each one more painful than the last. She remembered the first time Rey had brought her here, how young and hopeful she had been. She had stood in awe of the house’s beauty, thinking that she had stepped into a fairy tale. But that fairy tale had quickly turned into a nightmare.

The interior of the house was just as stunning as the exterior, with an open-concept layout that flowed from one room to the next. The living room was a masterpiece of minimalist design, with sleek furniture in neutral tones, softened by touches of warm wood and cozy textiles. The glass walls offered panoramic views of the landscape, and the space was flooded with natural light—exactly as Eloise had envisioned.

Cathy had tried to make her mark on the house when she first moved in after marrying Rey. She had tried to add her own touches—more color, softer furnishings, anything to make the house feel warmer, more like a home. But every suggestion she made was met with resistance, subtle but firm. Rey would dismiss her ideas with a cool, detached tone, telling her that the house didn’t need any changes. The staff would smile politely, but their eyes would tell her that they had no intention of following her instructions.

It hadn’t taken long for Cathy to realize that she was not truly the lady of the house. She was living in Eloise’s shadow, surrounded by reminders of the woman Rey had truly loved. The house was a constant reminder of the life she had taken, the life that was never meant to be hers.

Even the maids treated her differently. They were polite, of course—they would never openly defy her—but there was a coolness in their interactions, a lack of warmth that Cathy couldn’t ignore. She was Mrs. King in name, but they had never accepted her as such. She could feel it in the way they would hesitate before following her instructions, in the way they would exchange glances when she walked by, in the way they never went out of their way to make her feel at home.

Cathy paused at the base of the steps leading up to the front door, memories swirling around her. She remembered the countless nights she had spent waiting for Rey to come home, sitting alone in the sunken living room, staring out at the city lights through the expansive glass walls. When he finally arrived, it was always late, and he never looked at her with anything but indifference. No matter how much she tried, she could never break through the wall he had built between them.

As Cathy reached the top of the steps, the front door opened, and Rey stood there, his expression hardening as soon as he saw her. The sight of him brought a fresh wave of pain, but she pushed it down, refusing to let him see how much it still hurt.

“You’re early,” Rey said curtly, stepping aside to let her in. “My time with Elijah isn’t over yet.”

Cathy stepped into the grand foyer, her heels clicking against the polished concrete floor. The house smelled the same—a mix of clean wood and fresh air—but it no longer felt like hers. She turned to face Rey, forcing herself to meet his gaze. His eyes were as cold as she remembered, the warmth she had once tried so desperately to find now completely gone.

“Elijah has homework that needs to be finished,” Cathy said calmly, though her voice trembled slightly. “I’d rather get it done now than rush later.”

Rey’s eyes narrowed, annoyance flashing across his face. “He can do it after. You’re interrupting our time together, Cathy.”

Cathy felt her resentment bubbling up inside her, the years of pain and betrayal fueling her anger. How dare he act like she was the one being unreasonable? How dare he pretend that he cared so much about their time when he had spent years shutting her out?

“Elijah’s education is important,” she replied, her voice sharpening. “Or do you want him to fall behind because of your precious schedule?”

Rey’s jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Don’t play games with me, Cathy. You know damn well this is about more than just homework.”

Cathy felt the sting of his words, but she refused to back down. She had spent too many years letting him walk all over her, letting him dictate everything. Not anymore. She squared her shoulders, meeting his glare with one of her own.

“You’re right, Rey,” she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. “It is about more than just homework. It’s about making sure Elijah has what he needs. And right now, that means getting his schoolwork done.”

Rey blinked, clearly taken aback by her defiance. For a moment, he didn’t seem to know how to respond. The Cathy he had known would never have spoken to him like that, but the woman standing before him was different. She was no longer willing to cower under his cold gaze.

The tension between them crackled like electricity, each of them bracing for the next blow. But before either of them could say anything more, a small voice broke through the silence.

“Are you two fighting?”

Cathy and Rey both turned to see Elijah standing in the hallway, his eyes wide with worry. Cathy’s heart clenched at the sight of him. She hadn’t wanted Elijah to witness this, to see the bitterness between his parents.

Rey was the first to move. He walked over to Elijah, knelt down, and pulled his son into a warm hug. “No, buddy,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to Elijah’s head. “We’re not fighting. We’re just talking.”

Cathy immediately softened her tone, walking over to join them. “That’s right, sweetheart,” she added, kneeling beside them. “Everything’s okay.”

Elijah looked between them, clearly not convinced but too young to fully understand. Cathy could see the uncertainty in his eyes, the fear that came from not knowing what was happening. She hated that he had to see this, that he had to live with the fallout of their broken marriage.

Cathy reached out and smoothed Elijah’s hair, giving him a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you go get your backpack, and we can finish your homework at home? We’ll make it fun, I promise.”

Elijah hesitated for a moment, then nodded and ran off to get his things.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Cathy stood up and faced Rey again. The tension was still there, but now it was laced with something else—something unresolved that hung heavy between them.

Rey was the first to break the silence. “You really think you can just walk in here and call the shots?”

Cathy met his gaze, feeling the anger rising in her chest once more. “I’m not trying to call the shots, Rey. I’m just doing what’s best for Elijah. If you can’t see that, then maybe you should rethink your priorities.”

Rey’s eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Elijah came running back into the room, his backpack slung over one shoulder.

“I’m ready, Mama,” he said, looking up at her with a smile.

“Bye Dad!” Elijah turned to Rey.

“Bye kiddo,” Rey responded.

Cathy forced herself to smile back, reaching out to take his hand. “Okay, let’s go.”

She turned to leave, but before she stepped out the door, she glanced back at Rey. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Cathy saw a flicker of something in his expression—surprise, maybe even respect. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the cold mask she had come to know so well.

“Goodbye, Rey,” she said, her voice firm but calm.

“Goodbye, Cathy,” Rey replied, his tone clipped.

As Cathy walked out of the house, Elijah’s hand in hers, she felt a strange mix of emotions. The pain of the past was still there, but so was a newfound strength. She had stood up to Rey, and had refused to let him push her around. And while the wounds of their marriage would take time to heal, Cathy knew she was on the right path.

As they walked back toward the car, Elijah looked up at her, his small face filled with concern. “Mama,” he asked quietly, “are you okay?”

Cathy’s heart softened at his question, and she knelt down to meet his gaze. She smiled, squeezing his hand gently. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m okay. Everything is okay.”

And for the first time in a long while, Cathy believed it.