3. Hate Became Love

Caterina's cries echoed throughout the room. Her trembling hands embraced the bloodied body. She hugged Gabriel tightly, trying her best to wake him up.

“No, Gabriel. Come on, wake up! Open your eyes!” Caterina patted Gabriel's cheek repeatedly, trying to wake the unconscious man.

Leonardo clenched his hands hard when the woman he liked hugged another man right in front of him. Not just hugging, the woman even cried for the other man.

“What the hell are you doing!” Rossie approached. She pushed Caterina so roughly that her embrace on Gabriel's body slipped away. She quickly tried to administer first aid. She tried to stop the bleeding. Although she looked calm, she was actually panicking right now.

“Take him to the emergency room!” Rossie ordered her other coworkers. She didn't have much time, as Gabriel had received a fatal gunshot wound.

Immediately, Gabriel's weak body was brought to the emergency room.

Caterina got up; she was about to follow them to the emergency room so that she could help save Gabriel. However, she was immediately stopped by Rossie.

“He is like this because of you. I will not allow you to touch him. If Gabriel dies, I will make a calculation with you. I will make sure that you can never live in peace.” Rossie said with great emphasis, her gaze looking so sharp. After making her threat, she moved quickly towards the emergency room.

Caterina was frozen in place. She looked confused and panicked, as she couldn't do anything while her best friend was struggling between life and death. She witnessed Leonardo shoot Gabriel three times in the chest from such close range. There was no way Gabriel could survive after such a severe attack.

Caterina sighed harshly. She turned her head to look at Leonardo, who looked normal after shooting Gabriel. Her facial expression immediately changed. Her face flushed, her jaw hardened, and her hands clenched very strongly.

“What the fuck did you just do?!” Caterina suddenly attacked. She beat Leonardo with all the strength she had. She no longer cared what Leonardo would do to her this time. She was going to die anyway.

Leonardo endured the punches that Caterina gave him. No matter how hard Caterina hit, her strength was no match for Leonardo's.

“Isn't that what he wants?” Leonardo replied casually.

Hearing Leonardo's answer, Caterina became even more emotional. She understood and understood how cruel Leonardo had been, but she never thought that her best friend would fall victim to his cruelty.

“He's the only person who really cares about me. I won't forgive you if he dies.” Caterina said with emphasis.

“You think I'm afraid of you?” Leonardo raised his right eyebrow.

Caterina was about to punch again, but her punch this time was countered by Leonardo. With just one blow to her face, she fell unconscious.

“Take her to the car.” Leonardo gave orders to his men.

Caterina's weak body was dragged to the car parked in front of the hospital.

“Take her gently!” The man gave a reprimand because he did not accept Caterina being dragged away like that.

After the reprimand, one of them picked Caterina up and carried her to the car. The frail body was placed on the passenger seat, right next to Leonardo.

“Let's go!”

Quickly, the car began to drive towards the headquarters in Mexico.

Throughout the journey, Caterina did not wake up. She remained unconscious with her weak body leaning against the car body.

Leonardo stared for a long time. His punch on Caterina's face seemed to leave a purplish-blue mark; her nose was also bleeding. He regretted doing that, but there was no other way to keep Caterina quiet.

Leonardo rubbed Caterina's cheek with the back of his hand. He rubbed that cheek very gently. His heart started beating very fast; his breathing sounded ragged. His blood rushed when he touched that cheek.

The man with blue eyes wiped away Caterina's blood with his thumb. “I'm sorry.” He whispered so softly that he could barely hear his voice.

This was not the first time he had hit Caterina, as he had always done so when she tried to tease him. However, this time he felt different. He regretted and felt guilty for hitting her. How could he have been blinded by his feelings of hatred? Caterina was so beautiful and sexy; he had missed out on so many good things. His hatred for Caterina made him unable to see the love she had for him. 

“Did you see what Mr. Bianchi did? I think he likes Kate now.” The driver whispered to his friend sitting in the driver's seat.

“Looks like Kate's efforts have been successful. She's managed to catch Mr. Bianchi's attention so far.” The man responded with a whisper. They could only stare through the rearview mirror hanging in front of them.

“But I don't think Kate likes him anymore. She's been silent when Mr. Bianchi has been rude to her, but just now she kicked his ass.”

“I think things have turned around now.”

“You're right.”

“It turns out that a man without a heart can fall in love too.”

“I thought all this time he didn't like women.”

They laughed slightly at the mention of Leonardo sitting behind them.

“I can hear what you guys are talking about. Drive with focus or stop being my driver.” Leonardo said expressionlessly, but his tone sounded emphasized.

Both of them fell silent with pale faces. Stopping being a driver meant dying, not being fired.

The atmosphere was silent and filled with tension until they arrived at their destination. Leonardo got off with Caterina in his arms. He walked with authority into the large building ahead.

“Prepare a room for Kate!” Leonardo ordered.

“Sir, what has she done? What punishment will she get this time? Please spare my daughter; she had no intention of offending you. I've asked her to avoid you if she wants to live. If she makes a fatal mistake, just punish me instead; please let her go this time. I promise she will disappear from your life.” Dante ran over when he realized his daughter had returned, but this time in an unconscious state.