The weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air as Killian and I sat at the dinner table.
The flickering candlelight did little to ease the tension that had settled between us.
I couldn't shake the feeling that he was keeping something from me, and it gnawed at the edges of my patience.
"Why didn't you tell me, Killian?" I finally broke the silence, my voice hurt.
His eyes, usually warm and reassuring, flickered with guilt. It was a dance of emotions he couldn't conceal.
"It's complicated, Catalina," he began, a sigh escaping his lips. I nodded, urging him to continue. The truth, no matter how painful, was better than this lingering uncertainty.
He hesitated, then spoke with a vulnerability that caught me off guard. "I didn't want to burden you with my problems. You have enough on your plate."
His words, though well-intentioned, only fueled my frustration. "You can't decide what burdens I'm willing to bear, Killian. We're supposed to face things together."
I understood why he wasn't taking me through every decision. I couldn't handle the disappointment he faced every day when things didn't work out.
I kissed him to let him know that I wasn't mad at him.
When the first light of dawn kissed the horizon, I woke to an empty bed.
He had pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before leaving, an apology in the softness of his touch.
Left alone with my thoughts, I couldn't escape the questions that lingered. What was he hiding?
Why did he feel the need to shield me from his struggles? The answers eluded me, shrouded in the shadows of his unspoken fears.
Bored and crazy out of my mind, I decided to cook up a storm.
I had my Ingredients ready to roll when my phone vibrated. I stared at the unknown caller and furrowed my brows.
I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Catalina."
The hairs at the back of my neck stood straight at the voice. I felt my anger come back in full force.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Have dinner with me," he said.
I laughed, "Are you fucking crazy? Dinner?"
"Yes, just dinner."
"No, please don't call me again."
"I can make all of these go away if you agree to one dinner," he said.
I paused.
"Are you thinking about it? You are curious to hear what I have to say, don't you?"
"I won't answer that. I will meet you for dinner."
He mentioned the address of the restaurant and I exhaled.
My meal preparations were forgotten as I battled with my choices.
Killian would be angry if he found out I went to meet Zack. On the other hand, if this could make everything disappear then it would be a win-win.
I showered and wore a simple gown. I peeked through the window to check where the guards were.
They usually went for their smoke break, I waited till they did before I snuck out of the house.
My Uber waiting a block from the house.
The night air was cool as I slipped away from the prying eyes of my guards, the darkness embracing my escape.
The ride gave me indigestion, I had no idea how I was going to feel when I came face to face with the monster that put my baby in danger.
I got to the restaurant and I was led to his table. As I approached the dimly lit corner, he sat there in the shadows, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Catalina," he said, his voice dripping with smug confidence. "I knew you'd come."
I eyed him with disdain, the gravity of his actions weighing heavily on my conscience. "What do you want, Zach?"
He chuckled a sinister sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Simple. I want you to leave Killian and come to me. If you do, I'll undo everything I've caused."
I scoffed, incredulous at the audacity of his proposal. "Why? Why would you do all this in the first place?"
Zach's gaze was cold, devoid of remorse. "For fun, Catalina. Pure, unadulterated fun. Life's too dull without a bit of chaos, don't you think?"
Disgust etched across my face as I recoiled from his callous admission. "You ruin lives for your amusement?"
He grinned, reveling in the discomfort he inflicted. "It's a game, my dear. And you're a pawn. Now, make your move."
I shook my head, firm in my resolve. "I won't be a part of your sick game."
As I turned to leave, Zach's tone shifted, his words cutting through the night air like a chilling breeze. "Before you make your decision, Catalina, consider this."
I halted, curiosity mingling with apprehension. "What?"
Zach's eyes gleamed with a twisted satisfaction. "I know you're pregnant. Think about it carefully. If you stay with Killian, he'll go to jail, and you'll be left raising your child alone in poverty."
My breath caught in my throat as the weight of his revelation bore down on me. How could he know such a personal detail?
"What are you talking about?" I demanded, my voice shaky.
Zach produced a photograph from the folds of his jacket, a picture capturing a moment of vulnerability - me, holding my stomach, the secret of my unborn child exposed. It was a violation, an intrusion into the most intimate aspects of my life.
I stumbled back, my hand cradling my stomach as if to protect it from this monster.
"I have my ways, Catalina. Secrets have a way of surfacing," he said, taunting me with the power he held.
Clutching the photograph, I fought to maintain composure. "Even if what you say is true, I won't abandon Killian. I won't let you control my life."
Zach shrugged, indifferent to my defiance. "Suit yourself. But take my card. You'll need it when you change your mind."
He handed me a sleek black card, the insignia of his sinister influence.
As I studied it, he warned, "Leave soon. I saw someone tip off the media, and Killian wouldn't appreciate seeing us together on the news."
With those chilling words, Zach left me standing there in the middle of the restaurant.