Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Twenty-One: Finally, Free

Snuffling as she was dragged before Cristiano, Catalina kept her head down not risking a look at her parents; her father hadn't even come to see her while she rotted in a cell to tell her that it would be okay. 

Cristiano took a deep breath, he was just glad that this was all done with and that the reply from the Emperor had arrived just as quickly as he had hoped it would; the last thing that he wanted was to drag this out. 

Waiting until the room was silent, Cristiano looked around taking in all the faces that had gathered to see what he would do about Catalina and her infidelity. 

Her schemes had nearly taken Cristiano's two sons from him and it was something that had very nearly ruined everything; thankful she had been caught out before that could happen. 

"Catalina Gomez. Do you have anything to say before I pass sentence?" Cristiano asked looking at Catalina, he kept his face neutral and hoped to give nothing away; he had spent a few days thinking about what he was going to do with her. 

It had even been a surprise that Catalina's father had yet to breath a word to him, Cristiano had heard whispers that the man had disowned his own daughter for bringing shame on her family. 

Her mother was weeping across the room, her hands clutching at a cross as she prayed that Catalina wouldn't face the same fate as the man that she had cheated with. 

Catalina didn't say a word, instead her brown eyes looked at the chains that were wrapped around her wrists; she didn't care what happened to her now that Hugo was gone. 

The room was completely silent as they all waited to see what she would say, they started to whisper when Catalina didn't even make a move to defend herself; they were surprised how silent she was being right now. 

"Very well then," Cristiano murmured not surprised, she had lost a lot of her spirit and he knew that she wouldn't be a problem for him anymore.

Standing at the back of the room, Dolores watched her son wondering what he would do and knowing that this woman deserved everything that she got; she had ripped the Aveiro family apart. 

It made Dolores feel even worse for helping Catalina marry Cristiano, she wished that she had left everything alone and allowed him to marry Camelia; Hugo would have still been alive if that had happened. 

"The Emperor has annulled our marriage," Cristiano replied watching Catalina closely, he was pleased to be a free man and he knew that it would make things easier now. 

Cristiano would be able to do the one thing that he wanted, he would be able to marry Camelia if she would still have him; he wasn't sure she would want him after he'd had her locked up for the night. 

Even now his actions haunted him and Cristiano doubted that he would ever forgive himself for lashing out like that; he would beg for his forgiveness when Camelia was ready to see him. 

Matias had delivered news that morning that Camelia had finally woken up, she was recovering well from the infection and he had explained everything that had happened to her. 

"I have decided that you and your son will be shipped to Cape Verde, where you are to remain for the rest of your life," Cristiano announced knowing that he couldn't bring himself to leave Hugh an orphan; no one would take the poor child in and he didn't deserve that. 

Looking at Cristiano shocked, Catalina couldn't stop her own tears from falling and her stomach turned knowing she deserved worse. 

Cristiano was giving her a gift and even though she could never return to the main land, Catalina would be able to live out her life with her and Hugo's son away from all of this.

***

Stepping into his home, Cristiano sighed in relief now that he was finished for the day and pleased that he had time off to relax with his family; he had moved out of the main house and into the home that he shared with Camelia and their children.

 It had nearly been two weeks since everything had happened and Cristiano still couldn't quite believe how his life had changed; he was just glad that he was finally free of Catalina. 

Cristiano was preparing to move his family out of the small house they currently lived in and into a house he never thought he'd get to use; he wanted them all to be comfortable and the living quarters didn't do anymore. 

The move would signal not only the change in his relationship with Camelia but the hope that they would finally be able to let go of the past that seemed to haunt them both. 

"Papa," Junior shouted hurrying forward to greet his father, a large smile on his face as he approached; he had missed him so and didn't understand why he had to leave early that morning. 

Things had been so quiet recently and Junior was pleased with that even if he and his baby brother hadn't seen their mother in a couple of weeks; Cristiano had been quick to reassure him that Camelia would be back soon and she was just resting.

There was no need for the boy to know of the horrors that had happened while he was hidden away for his own protection; the last thing that Cristiano had wanted was for him or Mateo to get hurt. 

Natasha moved to collect the little boy so that he could finish his lessons for the day, she offered Cristiano a small smile before she led him a way. 

"She's asking for you," Joanna murmured so that Junior didn't hear, it would be a while yet before Camelia was ready to see her children again.

***

Camelia lay completely silent curled up in her bed, she had long stopped crying but the words that Matias had given her still rang in her ears; she didn't want to believe it but it was true and she hated Hugo even more for it. 

It almost didn't seem real and Camelia wished that it wasn't, she didn't want to believe that Hugo's actions had left her unable to bear any more children. 

Matias was completely sure that it was impossible and he had apologised that he hadn't been able to help her more in some way; he had been quick to leave her alone after she had started to cry wanting to give her some space. 

The sound of the bedroom door opening and closing made Camelia sniffle, she had begged to see Cristiano needing him now more than ever. 

Her handmaidens had promised to send him to her once he was done dealing with Catalina, they had been so quick to tell Camelia all about what she had missed in the last couple of weeks. 

"Cami?" Cristiano whispered not sure what she would say to him, he dreaded to think that she would send him away or scream that she hated him for what had happened. 

Cristiano slowly moved to sit down on the bed next to her, his heart breaking at the sight that she had been crying; he didn't know what to do and cursed his brother for hurting her. 

"I am so sorry," Cristiano said apologising for many things, for locking her up, for not being there when she needed him most, for not seeing what was truly happening before him and mostly importantly for not protecting her from his brother. 

Camelia swallowed the lump in her throat, a new wave of tears escaped and she couldn't stop herself from throwing herself at Cristiano; she just wanted him to hold her right now. 

Holding Camelia close, Cristiano closed his eyes and whispered softly to her; he would never let anything happen to her again and he knew that he wouldn't let her down again.

#2o6

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Author's Note:

Happy 31st Birthday Cristiano x