The strange man

Catherine's POV

As soon as Alessandro left the house the next morning, I retrieved the divorce agreement and perused it.

Afterward, I signed on the designated corner before placing the paperwork back into the envelope and placing it on his journal.

I wanted it to be the first thing he saw the next time he decided to come home.

Exhaling sharply, I gave the study one last look and made my way back to the bedroom where my empty suitcase was laying on the bed.

Then, I packed the last bits of presentable clothes that I still had into the suitcase, tossed my hair into a bun and darted the mirror above the dresser a sad look before exiting the room.

"Are you going somewhere, ma'am?" Alice asked as I walked down the stairs with my packed luggage.

"Yes," I said. "I'm going far away from this place and never coming back."

Alice's jaw slacked in shock. "M-Ma'am, is this a joke? Are you really leaving Sir Alessandro?"

"My senses have finally come back to me and I've realized just how dense I was for the last three years." I uttered.

Since I had no parental figure in my life, Alice was like my foster mother.

Even without telling her stuff, she knew everything that I was going through.

Some months ago, she had even given me a suggestion to add some sleeping pills into Alessandro's food, steal his money, and run away from it all.

I had just laughed like a fool instead of taking her advice.

Now that I think of it, I could have drugged him back then, make him open his gold store, and steal all of it.

A piece of gold was about several millions of dollars.

Damn, imagine how wealthy I could have gotten.

Do you think he would have easily let you off the hook? A voice within me scoffed, and I couldn't help but agree with it.

Knowing Alessandro's influence, the police would catch me within hours, and he would lie against me to aggravate my sentence.

Hell, I would probably be sentenced to life imprisonment.

"I can understand, ma'am," She nodded. "So where are you heading to now?"

"I have no idea either," I sighed. "But I have some friends that can help me if I reach out to them."

It was a lie.

I had no friend talkless of friends.

My best friend had unfriended me the moment I decided to abandon my education for a man.

Alessandro had also caged me within the four corners of his mansion and thus, I had no way to socialize with other people.

The only place that I was allowed to visit was the grocery store and I could only spend thirty minutes there, lest his driver reported me to him which was never good.

One time, he had even warned the maids against serving me food for a day because I spent thirty two minutes shopping.

And that was because the cashier was unnecessarily slow and rude.

But Alessandro didn't even allow me to explain myself.

Thankfully, I had survived that day by feeding on the small sachet of chocolate that I bought at the mall with my money, the previous day.

"Very well then, ma'am," Alice said. "Please take care of yourself, alright?"

"Alright, Alice. Thank you for everything," I smiled, fighting back tears.

"Is Madam Catherine leaving?" One of the maids asked as three of them entered the room.

"Why don't you use a megaphone?" Alice darted a stern look. "Have you forgotten that the useless hag of a driver could be lurking?"

"He drove the boss to the company today," The maid pouted, prompting Alice to scoff.

"You don't have to be so harsh on her, Alice," I chided. "And yes, I'm leaving. Take care of yourselves and be good to him."

"Oh, ma'am Catherine, we are really going to miss you," One of the maids, Rachel, started crying which made me sigh.

"Don't cry, Rachel," I placated her by rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I'll be fine. I mean, I lived in this hell for three years, no?"

My statement made all of us burst into a peal of laughter.

When the laughter died down, I darted them a smile. "I guess this is goodbye then."

With that, I trekked out of the house and exited the estate to the bus stop.

I had just fifty dollars on me and I had nothing in the bank.

How was I supposed to even save when I didn't have a job?

"Where are you headed, miss?" The cab driver asked as I hopped into the vehicle.

"Taco bell," I responded, patting my belly.

The last time I ate was at noon yesterday and because I was still in the first trimester of my pregnancy, I could barely stomach anything.

Thus, I had eaten just a pack of crackers.

About thirty minutes later, we got to Taco bells and I paid the driver before he drove off.

Then, I headed inside the restaurant and sat at the most secluded corner of the place.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. Would you like me to take your order now?" A waiter stopped at my table to ask.

"Afternoon," I replied. "I'd like some tacos please."

"With what?"

"Nothing. Just water," I managed a fake smile which he returned before leaving.

I had just thirty dollars left on me, so I couldn't even order the smoothie that I was desperately craving at that moment.

Truly, I was overly dependent on Alessandro.

I mean, it had not even been up to an hour since I left his house and I could barely afford stuff.

"You are so pathetic," I muttered underneath my breath as the waiter approached with my order.

"Thank you," I said, to which he nodded, and left.

The aroma from the taco was so enticing that I momentarily forgot about the harsh reality of my life.

I cleared the entire plate within fifteen minutes.

Yes, that was how hungry I was.

However, my stomach was still rumbling with hunger and since I had less than ten dollars left after paying for the tacos, I decided to drink more water.

At least, that would satisfy my hunger until a miracle happened because I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with my life now.

As I downed the last drops of water from the bottle, I felt a shadow looming behind me.

Before I could turn around, the person, a middle-aged man, sat on the chair in front of me.

"Who are you?" I tentatively asked, as I regarded him.

The man looked rich.

"Apologies for my rudeness," He bowed, to which I frowned. "My name is Thomas Dalton."

A confused frown creased my face as he sat on the chair in front of me.

Who was this rich looking man, and why was he apologizing to me?

"You are Miss Catherine Williams, am I right?" He asked.

He even knew my name!

"Yes, what is this about?"

"I'm sorry that it took me so long to find you, ma'am," He started. "You need to come with me right now. Your mother is sick and wants to see you."

My eyes doubled theatrically as my jaw slacked at his utterance.

I had a mother?

And she was sick?

What in the world was going on?