After that fiasco, the New Year came quickly.
I didn’t want to go back, but since it was Catherine’s first year married to Nathaniel, she’d probably be spending the holiday with his family. That left my mother alone at home for New Year’s, and I couldn’t shake the worry.
So after thinking it over, I bought some gifts for the holiday and went home.
I didn’t return until New Year’s Eve. I hadn’t expected to run into Catherine. It was like she had been waiting for me, because the second she saw me, she started mocking me with that fake, syrupy tone.
“Bella, it’s already New Year’s Eve and you’re just getting home. You must’ve made quite a bit of money these past months. I wonder how much money you’re giving Mom this year.”
My mother frowned, trying to smooth things over. “It doesn’t matter if she gives one or not, as long as you both come home for the New Year, that’s enough.
“Bella, you’ve been gone almost a year now. Is there anything you’ve been craving? I’ll cook it for you right away.”
I squeezed my mother’s hand, telling her not to fuss. Then, I pulled out the gifts I’d bought in the city.
I gave Catherine a quick, cool glance. “I didn’t make that much money, but at least I earned it myself. These gifts aren’t anything
fancy, probably too cheap for you.”
Her face flickered with irritation.
I knew better than anyone what kind of person she was.
In my past life, she was lazy and spoiled, and in this life, with Nathaniel supporting her, she’d never bother working either.
Then,
I handed my
mother a stack of money.
The moment Catherine saw how thick it was, jealousy flashed in her eyes, and her jaw tightened.
Just then, there was a knock at the gate.
On New Year’s Eve, not a lot of people would show up here.
Frowning, I whispered something to my mother and slipped into the woodshed to hide.
Not long after, Nathaniel’s voice thundered across the courtyard, wild and furious. “Bella, get out here. I know you’re back!”
Then came Catherine’s bitter, angry voice. “Nathaniel, I told you Bella’s not here. Those gifts are from me!”
But he immediately cut her off seriously. “No way!
“Those gifts are only sold in the city. You haven’t been to the city alone. How would you have bought them?
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“And there are three sets of cutleries on the table, but only two of you live here. Bella is definitely back. She’s just hiding from
me!”
His reasoning left Catherine completely speechless.
I hadn’t expected him to be so observant.
“Bella, stop thinking you can hide from me! I’ll stay right here until you come out. I want to see how long you’ll keep this up!”
Through the crack in the woodshed door, I saw him standing guard right there in the courtyard.
Catherine clutched at his sleeve, her face streaked with tears. “Nathaniel, what’s that supposed to mean? You said you were bringing me home for the New Year, and now you’re just going to stand here waiting for Bella?”
Instead of answering, he fell into a rare, stony silence.
I knew then he wasn’t leaving anytime soon, so I slipped out the side door instead. I had barely reached the end of the alley when I heard hurried footsteps behind me. I ducked down by the wall of a nearby yard.
His hoarse, desperate voice rang out. “Bella, if you’ve got guts, come out and face me! What’s the point of hiding like this?
“Whatever’s between us, we can talk it out!”
But no matter how loud he shouted or how raw his voice grew, I never showed myself.
Catherine’s crazed laughter split the night. “You can’t find her, can you? Let me be frank. She did come back. But so what?
“You still can’t find her. Nathaniel, I’ll make sure you never find Bella as long as you live!”
The sound of a slap echoed.
Her laughter faltered for a moment. Then, before long, she laughed again, more deranged than before.
It was like the last illusion in his eyes finally shattered. Nathaniel’s voice was thick with regret as he said, “I can’t believe I didn’t see you for who you really are. I can’t believe I was blind enough to marry you!
“You don’t even measure up to a fraction of Bella!”
But she just shrugged it off, laughing in his face. “So what? I’m your wife, and she’s not.
“You married me in this life, and there’s no getting rid of
me!”
