Chapter 5: You Have No Place Here

I gasped and moved backward, my chest tightening. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. Valentina was back, she was obviously supposed to take back her place.

“Valentina, calm down. Don’t be in a rush,” her friend urged her.

“No, I can’t let her get close to my Kealan!” Valentina immediately opposed.

“She has been with him for three years, what do you think a little more time will cost?”

I slowly walked away from the hallway and into the kitchen, reaching for a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

Opening the bottle, I started pouring some water into the glass cup, but I was so lost in thought that when I snapped out of it, I realized I was pouring water straight onto the kitchen island.

“Sh!t, what am I doing?” I muttered, wiping off the mess.

I poured myself a another glass and gulped it down. “Catherine, what are you doing? They’re going to make me crazy.”

On my way to bed, I passed Kealan’s room and noticed his lights were off. He isn't home yet? I checked my phone it was already 9 PM.

I let out a deep breath, unnerved by the sudden wave of relief that washed over me just knowing he wasn't back.

In my room, I got ready for sleep. I grabbed my sleep mask and put it on before settling into bed.

I kept tossing and turning, completely unable to sleep. Finally, I sat up and pulled the mask off my face.

“Why do I even care?” I let out a heavy sigh and threw the blanket off.

I wasn’t a bit sleepy. I climbed out of bed, walked over to the floor to ceiling glass window, opened the door, and stepped onto the balcony.

The cold breeze hit my skin. I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths before slowly opening them again.

Leaning against the balcony railing, I noticed a black sedan driving into the mansion gates.

Kealan stepped out, and even from here, his expression made it obvious he was angry about something.

A small smile formed on my lips as my eyes stung with tears. For three years, I had stood right here, watching him return home from work.

Suddenly, Kealan looked up. I hurriedly stepped back to avoid his eyes, unable to hold back my tears any longer.

I sank to the floor near the glass window. “I can’t cry,” I whispered, folding my legs and wrapping my arms around my knees. “I... I shouldn’t.”

I rested my head on my knees as the tears kept coming.

When I woke up the next morning, I rubbed my face with my hands, still half-asleep. “Why is it so bright?” I mumbled, my voice cracking from crying all night.

Opening my eyes slowly, I looked around. “Wait, did I... I slept here.” A cough broke through my words, and I covered my mouth.

“Why does my voice sound like this?” I cleared my throat.

I dragged my weak body to the bathroom and changed into a plain white dress. “I really need to buy some new clothes.” Everything in this closet are style’s Valentina’s likes.

I would have stayed in my room all morning, but since I had barely eaten last night, I decided to head down for breakfast.

Reaching for the doorknob, I hesitated. Maybe I should just stay here.

Right on cue, my stomach rumbled loudly.

I opened the door and stepped out.

Downstairs, I saw Kealan and Valentina already seated at the dining table, eating breakfast.

Valentina was sitting in the chair I always sat in, right next to Kealan.

I picked a seat two chairs away from them and sat down. The servants brought my food, and I stuffed it into my mouth with my head down, not daring to look up at either of them.

“Kealan, there's something I want to talk to you about,” Valentina said.

My heart beat faster, my fork pausing mid air.

“Go ahead,” Kealan replied.

I let out a soft, silent chuckle. He had never told me to "go ahead" like that, with me it was always a dismissive do whatever you want.

“I want my room back,” Valentina said, shooting a glance in my direction. “It was originally mine. I know once we get married I’ll automatically move into your room, but until then, can I have it?”

“Catherine will move out today,” Kealan answered, he didn’t even look at me or asked how I felt about it. He just continued eating his breakfast.

I didn't say a word. I just kept stuffing food into my mouth.

Across the table, Valentina looked at me with a victorious smirk.

After eating, I went back upstairs to pack. I stood in the middle of the room, looking around.

A sudden burst of laughter escaped me, so hard that my eyes began to tear up again. What was there to pack? I had nothing to call my own in this place.

The clothes, the makeup, the shoes, the jewelry, they all belonged to Valentina.

I took out the dress I was wearing the first day I came to this house, along with the dress I had bought myself at the mall.

Fumbling through the wardrobe, my fingers finally found what I was searching for, a small key.

I used it to unlock my bedside nightstand. Inside sat a small white box.

These were the only things in this entire house that actually belonged to me.

I sat on the edge of the bed. I had always hated this room, so why did it hurt so much to leave it?

“What’s wrong with me? I did what I came here for. In a month, I’ll be gone anyway.”

I placed the small white box alongside my two dresses and folded them into a bag.

The door was suddenly pushed open. Valentina stood there, hands on her hips. “Aren’t you done yet?”

She motioned to the servants standing behind her. “Take everything left in this room and dump it in the trash.”

The servants glanced nervously at me, hesitant.

“I said get moving!” she snapped. They hurriedly began following her orders.

I didn't want to have any conversation with her. I turned toward the door and prepared to walk out.

“I would leave if I were you,” Valentina sneered behind me. “You have no place here.”

I walked past her into the hallway, holding my single bag tightly against my chest. But as I turned the corner toward the main staircase, a broad shadow blocked the light.