Chapter Two

Chapter Two

One week later

Katherine sat across from Madam Elizabeth, the calm formidable matriarch of the family. This was nothing like she’d imagined. Instead of the anger she expected, there was only an eerie gentleness that chilled her to the bone.

"Tomorrow, you will marry my nephew," Madam Elizabeth’s voice was soft but ironclad. "In his comatose state. Because you and your father led him there. And if you refuse… you, your father, and your sick sister will be imprisoned for life."

A tear slipped free from Katherine’s eye. How had her life crumbled so quickly? Days ago, she was just another girl. Now she was here, trapped, staring at a woman who spoke of her life as though it were nothing.

“Please, ma’am… I don’t want to do this,” Katherine pleaded.

“You will do as—”

Madam Elizabeth’s words were cut short by a voice from the grand staircase. A voice so painfully familiar it stabbed at Katherine’s heart.

What's he doing here?

“Aunt, has the lady agreed or not? I told—”

James stopped mid-sentence, his expression freezing as his eyes locked onto Katherine.

Katherine’s nails dug into her palms as she remembered his betrayal, and a thousand words warred in her chest, demanding to be spoken.

"What are you doing here, Kath?" he asked in disbelief.

She glared at him.

What’s wrong with her? James wondered, his confusion only deepening.

“Wait…don’t tell me you both know each other, or was she the unnamed girlfriend you’ve been telling us about?” Madam Elizabeth’s asked.

Unnamed? Wow. He’s even ashamed of her. Katherine’s heart twisted at the thought.

He cleared his throat, a nervous edge in his voice. “Hmmm, yes, Aunt. Is she the one?”

The confirmation struck like a lightning bolt. He was part of the family? Then why hadn’t he ever mentioned it? He hadn’t even told her his real surname.

“Well… you settled for less, and I’m disappointed. Anyway, she’s from the family that led your brother to his current situation,” Madam Elizabeth said.

James’s gasp echoed in the room, his gaze snapping to Katherine’s.

“But my brother… he’s never even going to wake from that vegetative state, so why does any of this even matter?” James shot back.

Brother? They’re brothers? Her mind spun. This was spiraling out of control.

“Shut up!” Madam Elizabeth’s voice was ice. “Don’t ever say that again, or you’ll face my wrath. I know what I’m doing.”

James swallowed hard. “Alright! Aunt… you’ll have to leave her to me for a while. I need to speak with her. Privately.”

Before either Madam or Katherine could respond, he seized Katherine’s wrist, pulling her up the grand staircase.

The moment they entered his room, James slammed the door behind them. His fingers raked through his hair in frustration.

“What the hell have you dragged me into?” he snapped.

Katherine’s eyes hardened, her jaw clenching.

“Dragged you into? That’s rich,” she shot back. “You’ve been hiding your entire life from me. You lied about your name, your family, everything. And now I’m just some ‘unnamed girlfriend’?”

His face twisted with guilt, but she didn’t let him speak.

“I was just another secret, wasn’t I? And now I’m supposed to be calm while you sort this mess out?”

“Katherine…” His voice softened, but she stepped back. “Why didn’t you tell me this was happening? Why would your family be taking a loan from my brother in the first place?”

“Don’t you dare ask me stupid questions,” she snarled. “You’ve no business with my family anymore.”

James’s face became white. Did she know? Why was she acting so strange? If she knew, then everything he had planned… it was all in jeopardy.

But he wouldn’t let it fall apart. He’d do whatever it took to make his plan work, even the darkest, deadliest things.

“Why are you acting like this?” he tried again, forcing a nervous smile. “Baby, this isn’t the Katherine I knew.”

Well, Katherine changed the moment you betrayed her, she thought bitterly.

She turned her face away, refusing to meet his gaze.

Desperate, James stepped closer, but she backed away.

“You don’t have to do this,” he pleaded. “I know you’re upset, maybe because I’ve kept my real identity a secret from you all this time but I had my reasons.”

His voice dropped. “And about my brother… You don’t have to marry him. He’s in a vegetative state and will likely die soon. I’ll convince my aunt not to force you. You can just stay as my girlfriend.”

“There won’t be any need for that,” Katherine declared. “Because I’m going to marry him.”

Her decision was clear now. It was better to marry a comatose man than stay with a cheat and a liar like James. She’ve got no choice in the matter too.

Great! James thought, his heart leaping with triumph. Everything was going exactly as planned.

“What?” he gasped, his expression a perfect mask of shock. “Katherine, you… you can’t be serious. You… you can’t do that.” He paused, letting the silence stretch before speaking again.

“But then again… if you decide to marry him, that would be great too,” he continued. “You know he’s between life and death. There’s no way he’s going to survive. When he dies, you’d be his widow. You’d inherit everything. Then we'll come back together as a couple.We’d be so wealthy together.”

“What?” Katherine’s jaw dropped. “Are you insane?”

“Insane?” James laughed. “No, I’m practical. Don’t you want your family free from poverty? Your sister healthy again? Or your father to stop drowning in alcohol?”

“Shut–”

She was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.

“James.” It was his aunt’s voice, tight with urgency. “I’ve been informed Massimo just opened his eyes.”

The color drained from James’s face.

How? This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Yet beside him, Katherine felt a spark of relief, at least she'd be free now… that's what she'd thought until they entered the room. Massimo lay motionless, hauntingly handsome even with medical devices.

He was still in a coma!.

****

Three days later, Katherine walked down a hollow, silent aisle, her father by her side. She married a man who looked at her and her family like they were nothing. An unconscious man.

After the empty ceremony, she was led to his room. Left in a simple white slip, she stood beside his still form.

Suddenly, the door swung open.

James entered, a smug smile twisting his lips.

“Congratulations, Katherine. You’re officially one of us.” His voice dripped with mockery. “Too bad I missed the wedding. Had a funeral to arrange instead.”

“And who’s dying, James?” Katherine’s voice was sharp. “Oh, and mind you,” she continued coldly, “I’m no longer Kate. It’s Mrs. Hollingworth now, a married woman.”

James chuckled inwardly, though his face remained neutral. Married woman? My foot. You’ll be joining my brother soon enough.

“I know you’re mad at me, but I promise you, everything will be fine,” he said aloud. “When he dies, like I told you three days ago, all his profits will be yours. Then I’ll marry you, as promised, and we’ll be rich together forever.”

Katherine’s stomach twisted with disgust. How can he be so heartless? He spoke of death like it was nothing.

A shrill, frantic beeping suddenly shattered the tension.

Both of them spun around.

Two different coloured eyes, cold, unblinking, stared back at them. Massimo had just opened his eyes.

James’s face was drained of color. Impossible. He should be dead. I made sure of it.

Katherine’s heart thundered. Panic clawed at her, but another thought struck her. He’d supposedly opened his eyes days ago and then closed them again. Had he been aware all along?

The beeping quickened, his breathing turned ragged.

“Doctor!” she screamed, bursting into the hallway. “Doctor!”

Chaos ensued. Nurses and doctors flooded in.

Then, amid the chaos, a doctor’s voice rose. “This has been tampered with. One of his life-supporting machines was deliberately altered.”

Katherine’s gaze snapped to James. He stood frozen in the corner, his face still pale as he stared at Massimo's form.

Then, he finally walked out of the room.

Could he be the one? Was this the plans he and Bethany were talking about?

As the medical team fought to stabilize him, Katherine moved closer. The room finally stilled, the frantic beeping softened to a steady, rhythmic pulse.

His eyes were closed once more, his breathing even.

Katherine sighed, brushing a trembling strand of hair from his face.

“Massimo… everything feels so dark. Your brother… Did he do this to you?”

Silence. No answer.