Whisper Destiny

Chapter 39

~ Catherine ~

"Is everything ready?" I asked Louisa as we stepped into our hotel room. Normally, I'd rush straight from my last schedule, but with Natasha by my side, her safety became my priority. I wanted to personally ensure she was safe.

Last night's exchange still lingered in my mind, a mix of confusion and unwanted feelings. Despite this, I always promised myself to protect her from any harm. Yet, I resolved to keep my distance, not specifically because of the slapped, even though, it's hurtful, but because the feelings she awakened in me were too alien and uncontrollable, leaving me unnerved. For now, it was best to maintain some distance until I could sort out my feelings as I usually did.

"Yes, everything ready as you requested. Here..." Louisa's voice cut through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. She handed me the key to my motorbike and the helmet, it has been to long since the last time I ride on it.

"Thanks, Lou," I said, my tone filled with gratitude. Louisa met my eyes with a look of understanding.

"Cate, please be careful, okay?" she urged, her concern evident.

I nodded, offering her a reassuring smile. "I will."

"You want to have fun with that Alice girl, don't you?" Natasha's voice cut through the room, sharp and dripping with annoyance. I turned to face her, her expression a storm of emotions I couldn't decipher. But I didn't want to make a scene; I didn't have the energy for any more drama tonight, after Alice put a stunt.

"Take it back..." She threw my jacket at me, the fabric now imbued with her scent, making my heart race.

Before I could move away, she spoke again, her words slicing through the air. "You don't have to put on an act and do it secretly behind my back. If you want to fuck her, just tell it to my face. You know I don't mind at all." Her voice was cold, each word laced with bitterness, as if she were daring me to confirm her assumption. With that, she spun on her heel and marched to her room, leaving a tense silence in her wake.

"But..." Louisa began, her voice soft with concern, but I held up a hand, stopping her.

"It's okay, Lou. No need to justify anything," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil churning within me.

*******

Standing in front of the lake, I felt the familiar suffocating weight press down on me again. No matter how many times I had been here, no matter how many years had passed, the feeling never faded from my memory. The serene waters reflected the sky's twilight hues, and I allowed the tears to fall freely down my cheeks. This was the only place and time I permitted myself to be vulnerable.

"Mama..."

"Papa..."

"I miss you..."

I spent the next hour doing nothing but lying in front of the lake, gazing up at the stars. Their distant light seemed to hold the echoes of my past, a comforting presence amidst the vast darkness.

"I'm married now, with Natasha," I began, my voice barely more than a whisper. "She's a lovely girl. I think you both would like her." I let out a small, bittersweet laugh. "Obviously, you both would be happy because the Grayson and Ortiz families are now united. I can recall, Papa, how you used to tell Mama how much you wished for another child, a son, so you could match him with Natasha." The memory of their playful banter was still so clear in my mind, a precious fragment of a time long gone.

I exhaled a deep sigh. "She's a bit stubborn, often rude, and annoying. Most of the time, she has this hard exterior, we barely speak to each other. I can't even pinpoint when things started to go south between us, but we've never really been on good terms. She seems to despise me with every fiber of her being. But recently, I've seen glimpses of her softer side, her good and kind heart."

A smile crept across my face as I recalled our interactions. Natasha's behavior toward me, the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn't paying attention. Suddenly, all our intimate moments flooded back into my mind, and my face flushed with the memory.

"We kissed. And honestly, I liked it. More than I should have. But in my defense, she's a great kisser, better than anyone I've kissed before. I find myself looking forward to kiss those lips again. I've never had this urge to kiss anyone before..." I sighed again, the weight of my confusion pressing down on my chest. "What should I do? Ma, in times like this, I really need you. You always knew the right things to say to me."

For the first time, my mind didn't dwell on the accident. Instead, it was consumed by thoughts of Natasha. Her uncertain behaviour and especially her touch, the way her lips felt against mine, it was all that occupied my mind right now. My emotions were a tangled mess, a mix of longing, fear, and confusion that I couldn't seem to unravel.

I closed my eyes, the night air cool against my face. Her scent, a blend of something sweet and fresh, lingered on my jacket, stirring a heat deep within me.

Each thought of her pulled me further away from my grief, a welcome distraction yet an unsettling one. I had never been so captivated by someone before, and the intensity of it frightened me. It felt like standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure whether to step back or leap into the unknown.

"Ma, pa... what am I supposed to do?" I whispered into the night, hoping for some sign, some guidance.

The stars above seemed to shimmer in response, silent witnesses to my turmoil. I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to find some semblance of comfort. But all I could think about was Natasha—her laughter, her sharp wit, the moments when her guard dropped and I glimpsed the vulnerable woman beneath.

By the time I returned to the hotel, it was already 4 AM. The room was shrouded in silence, an almost eerie stillness that told me Natasha was asleep. Our flight home wasn't until the afternoon, so I had some time to rest.

I moved quietly through the dimly lit space, to my room and getting ready to go to bed. As I lay down, the bed's cold sheets enveloping me. Closing my eyes, I let out a slow breath, willing my mind to quiet. But even as I drifted towards sleep, her face remained, a constant presence in the dim haze of my thoughts. The anticipation of what lay ahead kept my heart racing, even as fatigue finally pulled me under.