Whisper Destiny

Chapter 59

~ Natasha ~

I stood on the balcony of our hotel room, the cold night air biting at my skin as I gazed out at the darkened horizon. The distant hum of the city was barely a whisper beneath the weight of the silence that wrapped around me. It was well past two in the morning, yet sleep felt impossibly out of reach. The world seemed to rest, but my mind spun relentlessly, consumed by thoughts of Catherine.

I recalled vividly—the moment we arrived back at the Carlton. Officer Castille had appeared almost immediately, as if she had been waiting for us, her expression grim.

"We need to speak... In private!" she'd said, her eyes not leaving Catherine.

Catherine remained composed, but I noticed the subtle tension in her shoulders. Her hand found mine for the briefest of moments, offering a squeeze that felt more like an apology than reassurance. "I'll be back," she murmured.

"I'll come with you," Louisa offered, stepping forward protectively.

"It's fine, Lou." Catherine's voice was gentle but firm. "Please take Natasha to the room, will you?" Her eyes locked with Louisa's, sending a silent message that even I could sense—this was something she needed to face alone.

Louisa hesitated, then nodded. "Okay... if you're sure." She surrendered, her voice laced with worry.

"Thanks, Lou." Catherine's fingers slipped from mine as she turned toward Officer Castille. "Let's go Officer," she said, her tone final, before disappearing with the officer by her side.

The image of Catherine's face before she left still haunted me, there had been something deeper behind her composed expression, something gnawing at her from the inside. An invisible burden too heavy to carry alone. Yet, somehow, she'd managed to smile at me—a fragile, fleeting thing, as if trying to reassure me that everything was fine. But it wasn't. I knew it wasn't.

A sigh escaped my lips, barely a whisper against the stillness of the night. The silence in the room behind me was oppressive, growing heavier with each passing minute, pressing in on me from all sides.

And then, suddenly, I felt—a familiar warmth. Arms slid around my waist from behind, and a soft body pressed against mine. Catherine! I hadn't even heard her enter the room.

My breath hitched at the closeness, my pulse quickening at the heat radiating from Catherine's body. I leaned back slightly, feeling the rise and fall of Catherine's chest against my back, but the tension in Catherine's embrace was unmistakable. I wanted to turn around, to see her face, but something in Catherine's grip held me in place.

"Just... stay like this for a moment," Catherine whispered, her voice low, almost pleading.

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "Is everything okay?" I asked softly, my fingers brushing lightly over hers where they rested at my waist, hoping to offer her some comfort.

"Everything is fine," Catherine murmured, though her voice betrayed her. There was something off—strained. I could feel the weight in her words, the heaviness pressing between us, unspoken but palpable.

For a long moment, we just stood there, wrapped in each other, letting the quiet night stretch around us. Her heartbeat, erratic against my back, told me everything I needed to know—things were far from fine.

I couldn't stand it any longer, my concern grew. Slowly, I turned in her arms, breaking the fragile stillness. Her eyes met mine in the dim light, and what I saw there sent a shiver down my spine. Fear, and something raw—something she was fighting to keep hidden. Her vulnerability was laid bare, and it hurt to see her like this, struggling to keep everything together.