Heir’s Redemption

Chapter 28

CATERINA’S POV

I raced out of the building and onto the streets of New York. I caught a passing taxi and hopped inside.

My jumbled thoughts raced inside of my mind, making everything more complicated.

I gave directions to driver to the only place I knew I could go.

Damian’s house.

I couldn’t go home and let my family find out what happened. If they knew what Rámon did, they would absolute kill him.

For his sake, I would avoid going home.

It was late and there wasn’t a lot of people on the road. I stared out the window and tried to suck back all of the raging emotions I was feeling.

I still haven’t cried yet, but it was taking everything in me not too.

My phone started ringing, bringing me out of my thoughts. I picked it up and saw Rámon’s name flashing across my screen.

That’s all it took for me to finally break down.

Every ounce of despair and pain flooded my body and all I could do was cry. My cries turned into wails as tears streamed down my cold face.

The driver looked alarmed as he peered through the rear view mirror at me, not knowing what to do or say.

He felt bad for me, but he chose to keep quiet and drive me to my destination.

Rámon wouldn’t stop calling me, but I wasn’t gonna pick up. There was no reason for me to pickup.

I was done.

My body shook in despair as my cries persisted. My eyes were blurry and I couldn’t see anything through the ocean of tears that kept falling.

I was broken and there was nothing I could do about it.

Just earlier today I was in love and looking to plan my wedding.

Now, I was broken and alone as ever. I was betrayed by the one I loved who turned out to be a f*****g traitor.

How did my life come to this?

How did I not see this coming?

I never let anything get by me, but I seemed to fall for the biggest trick in Rámon’s book.

He played me like a f*****g fool.

That thought alone made me cry harder.

Time went by as the taxi driver drove across the city until he was stopping in front of Damien’s residence.

A two story brick house stood out—a perfectly manicured lawn surrounded the property. The place was beautiful, yet modest and perfect for Damien and his wife, and newly born son.

“We’re here.” The driver spoke out softly, not wanting to spook me. “Fare is $52.80”

I sniffled as I wiped my blurry eyes and looked through my bag. I couldn’t find any cash or my wallet for that matter.

I must have left it at Rámon’s place.

How stupid of me.

“Can you wait a minute?” I asked out, “My cousin will pay my fare.”

The driver nodded his head and gave me a look of sympathy.

“Thank you.” I gave him a small smile before climbing out of the taxi.

I ascended the stone steps that led to the modest two story house. I rung the doorbell, knowing everyone was asleep.

I just hoped they were home.

I mean, where else would they be?

I didn’t hear anything at first, so I rung the doorbell again.

I hugged myself, shivering in the cold. It was still January in New York, so it was snowing and absolute freezing.

I wasn’t dressed for this weather, but that didn’t really seem to bother me that much.

I was having a crisis.

I was broken—the cold was the least of my worries.

A light came on upstairs before more lights came on downstairs. The door unlocked before it was pulled open and my cousin was coming into view.

He stood tall and imposing. His dark complexion was everything as his long dreads were braided back.

“Caterina?” Damien asked out as he stood in his pajamas, clutching a pistol in his hands for protection “What are you doing here? Are you in trouble?”

I sniffled, not knowing what to say.

His face softened as he took in the state of my being. He’s never seen me like this, so he knew something was terribly wrong.

He opened his arms, making me jump into them and cry my heart out.

I could hear faint cries of a newborn baby, knowing I caused the baby to wake up. I also heard Sam’s voice trying to coax their new born back to sleep.

I pulled back and wiped my tears. “I’m sorry Damien, I had no where else to go.”

“It’s okay Cat, you know you are always welcomed here anytime.” He stroked my hair and gave me a reassuring smile.

I looked back and saw the taxi driver still waiting on me.

“Can you please pay my fare?” I asked out, “I don’t have any money on me, but I promise I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t sweat it, give me a minute.” He raced inside and grabbed his wallet before racing down the stairs and paying the taxi driver.

He thanked the man for getting me here safely before sending him off.

He walked back up the stairs and pulled me inside the house.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” He asked, looking worried “Do I need to call your parents?”

I shook my head, knowing getting my parents involved would cause too much chaos—even though my intentions were to cause chaos.

Just not that much chaos.

“What happened Caterina?” Damien asked out, making unshed tears start to fall again.

“He lied to me Damien.” I cried out, “He betrayed me and chose her over me.”

“Who did?”

“Rámon.” I croaked out, “He’s having a baby with her.”

More tears streamed down my face as the words tasted bitter in my mouth.

“Come here.” He pulled me into his arms and hugged me. He rubbed my back and stroked my hair as I cried out to him and told him everything that happened tonight.

To say he was livid was an understatement.

He would kill Rámon himself if he didn’t need to be consoling me right now. Damien knew just how much I loved Rámon. It made everything worse knowing I gave him my virginity and he still chose to lie and deceive me.

He took advantage of me wholeheartedly.

Samantha came downstairs after finally getting the baby to fall back asleep. I felt really bad but she assured me that he wasn’t a good sleeper anyways.

They would be up at all hours of the night coaxing him and feeding him.

“How are you holding up?” She questioned as she passed me a mug of freshly brewed tea.

I took a sip of the warm liquid, letting it soothe my dry throat that had been wailing just moments ago.

I’ve never cried this much in my life, but I just couldn’t stop.

“I’m doing okay.” I replied back, not really knowing what else to say.

“I’m really sorry this is happening Caterina.” Samantha apologized with a sad expression on her face, “Rámon’s an i***t for ever deceiving you like he did.”

Damien hugged Samantha from behind as they stood in the kitchen, trying to make sure I would be okay.

“I’m surprised you didn’t kill him.” Damien muttered out.

“I almost did.” I admitted, “I shot at the both of them, but every bullet missed them.”

Their eyes widened in shock at my confession.

“If I really wanted them dead, they would be dead.” I continued before taking another sip of my tea “I was just angry and really needed to pull the trigger, but I wouldn’t kill them. It’s not worth it.”

“That’s big of you.” Damien praised, “Anyone else in your position would have killed them.”

Samantha agreed with a nod of her head and a soft hum.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I sighed out, “She won, he chose her over me.”

The words tasted even bitter than they felt.

The thought of Veronica winning Rámon over me didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t like to accept defeat, but I didn’t want him anymore.

If anything, she could have him.

“Let her have him.” Samantha said back, “By the sound of things, they deserve each other. Karma is one hell of a bitch.”

I nodded my head, knowing she was right about that.

“Why don’t you try and get some rest.” Damien offered, “It’s late and it’ll be good for you to be level headed in the morning when you make some decisions.”

He was right, but I already knew what I wanted to do.

I was leaving this place.

There was no way I was gonna stick around when Rámon and Veronica was starting their own family. I couldn’t be around and reminded of the sick fantasy that they were creating.

It would be devastating all over again.

“I’ll show you to the guest room.” Sam guided me up the stairs.

I took the time to look around their house.

Everything was so homey and welcoming. They had family photos everywhere and they looked so happy in each and every one of them.

It was what I dreamed of with Rámon.

I wanted this with him, but I was never gonna have it.

My dreams were being ripped away from me and there was nothing I could do about it. I had no fight left in me, my heart was broken.

Sam led me into the guest room and kissed my cheek before telling me goodnight. Damien gave me one last hug before he left off with his wife.

I waited for them disappear into their room before I released a deep breath.

The house was quiet but my thoughts were loud.

Before I could stop myself, my feet led me into their son’s nursery. Their newborn son lay in the white crib at the corner of the room.

The room was painted an ocean-blue color with dinosaurs and boyish things outlined on the walls.

Toys and stuffed animals filled the room, even though he wasn’t old enough to play with them yet.

The word ‘Micheal’ hung above his crib.

I peeked at the sleeping baby in the crib and was blown away by how precious he was.

I haven’t gotten to meet him yet, considering he was only a week old. Sam and Damien just got back from the hospital days ago and they were finally settled in.

I felt bad bringing my problems to their doorstep.

The baby made some noises before quieting down again. His eyes stayed closed, letting me know he was still resting.

I reached down and traced my finger tip along his soft skin.

A wave of despair washed over me, knowing Rámon was gonna have this soon. He would have an heir and totally forget about me as if I never existed.

Him and Veronica may even get married just so his child wouldn’t be considered illegitimate.

The thought of them getting married made me nauseous.

It was a punch to the gut to know all my dreams and wishes were destroyed by one careless act from the one I loved.

I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the child’s forehead before leaving his room.

I didn’t want to wake him and I really needed to lay down myself to try and get some rest.

Tomorrow was a big day.

My future has changed and tomorrow was my new beginning. I didn’t know where I was going, I just knew that I needed to get out of here.

It was time I finally lived my life for me.

Not for anybody else.