Chapter 3 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?