Ruthless Revenge

Chapter 25

Holden's POV

Trigger Warning: Mention of suicide

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My heart raced as I hurriedly made my way to Katiana's apartment, the weight of anger and fear propelling my every step. I needed answers, an explanation for why she had kept Kieran's allergies a secret from me. But as I arrived at her doorstep, my intentions were interrupted by an unexpected sight.

A pair of uniformed police officers stood outside her apartment, their stern expressions mirroring the gravity of the situation. Confusion mingled with my frustration as I approached them, my voice strained with urgency. "What's going on? Why are the police here?"

One of the officers turned towards me, his eyes narrowing as he assessed my presence. "And you are...?"

"I'm Holden Styles," I replied, my voice tinged with impatience. "I'm here to see Katiana Bennett. What's happened?"

The officer exchanged a brief glance with his partner before speaking. "We received a distress call from this address. There's been an incident. Are you related to the occupant of this apartment?"

"Yes, I am. I'm the father of her child." I answered, my heart pounding with worry. "Please, tell me what's happened."

Just then, my gaze caught sight of Miss Johnson, Katiana's neighbor. She was speaking to another police officer a few steps away, her face etched with concern.

"Miss Johnson, what's going on?" I called out, my voice laden with desperation.

She turned to face me, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and disbelief. "Holden, it's... it's terrible. Katiana had an overdose. The police are here investigating."

My breath caught in my throat, a whirlwind of emotions crashing through my core. The accusation I had carried towards Katiana was now overshadowed by the harrowing reality of her condition. Guilt gnawed at me as I realized the role I unknowingly played in driving her to such desperate measures.

"What... what happened?" I managed to utter, my voice barely above a whisper.

Miss Johnson's voice cracked as she continued, her words heavy with sorrow. "I'm not entirely sure of the details, It seems she was given fentanyl by our neighbor, Christina. I found  Katiana, laying on the ground.  The police are still gathering evidence, trying to piece together the full picture but Christina has disappeared."

A wave of anguish crashed over me, the weight of the situation bearing down with a crushing force. "Is she-?" I didn't have the strength to finish the question. 

"Dead?" Miss Johnson finished and shook her head, "No. She's been taken to the hospital but it doesn't look good." 

I closed my eyes as a wave of emotions crashed over me. The animosity I had held onto seemed insignificant now. 

The officer who had initially questioned me approached, his tone softened by the seriousness of the circumstances. "Sir, she's at Capital Region."

"Thank you," I whispered. I took one last look around, then rushed down the hall. My heart pounded with a mix of urgency and fear. The news of her condition had jolted me out of my anger-induced haze, leaving me grappling with a cocktail of conflicting emotions. The weight of regret settled heavily upon my shoulders as I raced towards the hospital, praying for her survival.

Each passing moment felt like an eternity as I navigated the busy streets, my thoughts consumed by memories of our shared past. The love that had once bound us together mingled with the bitter sting of betrayal that had torn us apart. It was a stormy journey, filled with joy and heartache, leaving scars that ran deep. But even in the depths of my anger, a part of me had never truly let go of the love I had once held for Katiana. The memories of our laughter, our whispered promises, and the way our lives had intertwined haunted me now, as regret coursed through my veins. It was a painful reminder that the path I had chosen had only led to more pain and suffering.