Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Twenty: The Truth Comes Out

Taking a deep breath, Catalina stepped out of the house and peeked over at the area that had been prepared for Hugo's execution; she couldn't believe that this was happening but at least one good thing would come out of it. 

Hugh was upstairs with his nanny and had no idea what was about to happen, Catalina would one day tell him all about his real father and what he did to make sure he had everything in the world. 

Taking her place, Catalina could only watch as Hugo was dragged before those who had gathered to watch him be executed; he was limping and Catalina couldn't imagine what Cristiano had done to him. 

Dolores was sobbing, pleading with anyone that would listen to stop this, she couldn't believe that her eldest son was about to be executed by her younger son; all of this over a woman that Cristiano was better off without. 

"Hugo dos Santos Aveiro... you are sentenced to death," Cristiano announced appearing, he had barely slept since it had come out that Hugo had slept with Camelia; he hadn't been able to shake the images that plagued his mind or the fact his heart was breaking. 

Jorge had pleaded with him against rushing this decision, he could understand that his boss was upset and Hugo had done his best to torment Cristiano into believing Camelia was guilty but it was going to all come apart. 

"Any last words?" Cristiano asked as Ricky handed his sword to him, he gripped it tightly in his hand while staring coldly at the man that he had once called brother; he couldn't believe this was happening. 

Cristiano didn't understand why Hugo had betrayed him and he doubted that he ever would, the punishment for him fit the crime that he had committed. 

Completely silent Hugo didn't breathe a word, he had nothing to say and his work would be done; as far as he knew Camelia had been executed at first light and would no longer be a problem.

Raising the sword above Hugo's head to remove it, Cristiano ignored his mother's pleas not to do this; he gritted his teeth prepared to kill his brother with Lilian's blessing when a voice cried out. 

"Don't do this please... I can't do this without him," Catalina pleaded lurching forward to stop Cristiano, she didn't care who saw her only that she put a stop to this before the man she loved died. 

Cristiano stared at his wife, the nagging feeling that had formed in the back of his mind reappeared and he slowly lowered his sword; his talk with many of the staff preparing him for what came. 

"Do what?" Cristiano asked her, he didn't want to admit that people had suggested to him that she had been unfaithful; he would have dealt with her next after Hugo was gone. 

Cristiano wasn't sure yet what he was going to do only that whatever Catalina said next would seal her fate; he ignored the dark look that filled Hugo's face at what she was doing. 

"Raise our son..." Catalina breathed stepping forward, she knew what would happen but she was sure that Cristiano would still not know about her and Hugo. 

It was all coming on so quickly and the tears poured down her cheeks as she looked at Hugo, Catalina couldn't bring herself to look at Cristiano not sure what he would say. 

"Catalina will you shut up," Hugo hissed knowing that he would rather his brother knew his lies than the truth, his family didn't need to know that he had been sleeping with his brother's wife. 

Lilian felt cold realising just what her husband had done, she turned on her heel and walked away determined to make sure that their children would never remember him. 

"Hugo is the father of your child," Cristiano guessed his stomach turning and he tried to remain calm, he should have seen it and he knew that it would all work out. 

Catalina only nodded her head, she peeked at Cristiano hoping that he would spare Hugo so she could have the man that she wanted and they could raise Hugh together.

"Nothing to confess?" Cristiano asked softly, he glared down at his brother wanting to get this over with; he had much to do and there was somewhere he needed to get to before it was too late. 

Hugo smirked knowing that his work was done, even if Cristiano knew that Hugh wasn't his son; the man had already lost the woman that he had loved and the two children he had fathered with her. 

"It doesn't matter what you do to me, I've already won," Hugo replied indifferently, he didn't look at Catalina or his mother as they tried to plead with Cristiano not to do this. 

Cristiano gripped his sword and swung, he sliced Hugo's head off knowing that his brother deserved much worse for what he had done; he breathed heavily, there was no way that Hugo would ever hurt anyone again. 

Handing his sword over to Ricky, Cristiano looked up to Matias who nodded to him; it was times like this that he was thankful that he had people he could really trust in his life. 

Catalina dropped to the floor weeping as she stared at Hugo's body, she ignored the harsh words that Dolores spat her way and she kept her head down knowing that she would be next. 

Everyone would now know that she had cheated on Cristiano with Hugo, Catalina doubted that she would ever be able to come back from that and she feared what would happen to her and Hugh now. 

"Arrest my dear wife," Cristiano ordered turning on his hell and walking away, he was down with this now and he knew what his next order of business would be.

***

Stepping into the quiet bedroom where Camelia was resting, Cristiano sighed in relief hating what he had been forced to do; he would beg for her forgiveness when she woke up, he would never forgive himself for having her thrown in a cell. 

Even now Cristiano was relieved that Jorge and Matias had forced him to listen; he had been horrified to learn the sick truth of what Hugo had done. 

For that Cristiano had ensured to castrate his brother and he knew that his execution had been an easy death; it was hard to hear that Catalina had cheated but it relieved him that he no longer had to be linked to that woman. 

A letter had already been sent to the emperor asking for the marriage to be dissolved on the grounds of Catalina's affair; nothing, not even the threats her father made would keep her safe now. 

"How is she?" Cristiano asked walking over to the bed, he hated how pale Camelia was and he hoped that she would survive; he would never forgive himself if something happened to her. 

He wasn't even mad anymore that she hadn't told him what had happened the first time, Cristiano understood that she had wanted to protect him and forget what Hugo had done. 

"She is doing well. The infection is starting to die down," Matias told him finishing giving Camelia more medication, he was just relieved that he had been able to talk some sense into the general. 

Cristiano sat down next to Camelia and took her hand, he pressed a kiss to it hating that his anger had blinded him; he had truly feared another man had taken her from him again. 

"I am so sorry amor... I had to make them believe," Cristiano whispered knowing that he would do anything to make this right, he would spend the rest of his life apologising if that was what she wanted. 

Matias sighed leaving them alone, he wasn't sure what Cristiano would do about Catalina but as soon as the emperor had written back his marriage to the woman would be dissolved and he would be free to marry Camelia.