Here you go another chapter..

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Catherine wakes up around 4 a.m too early for someone to wake up. Sweat accumulated around her neck she sighed. Her whole body ached. She slowly stood up and walked to the bathroom emptying her bladder. She returned back to the room.

Jeremy has not returned since yesterday. The thought of Jeremy only filled her eyes with unshaded tears like always and broke her heart a bit. She rubbed her eyes.

Catherine sighed and took out another one of his shirts. She went to the bathroom to take a shower. Her body relaxed under the hot water. She wears his shirt feeling the soft fabric against her skin makes her relaxed even more  though she tried not to think about him and where he is but her thought is stuck on that only.

Catherine went to the kitchen to eat anything that was in there. She has no idea what to cook or how to cook. Her best options are to eat those fruits in the fruit section and wait till 8 a.m to get actual food. She promised herself that she would make her baby her first priority.

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"Grandma, how are you?" the little girl came towards her running. Her grandmother's eyes dulled looking at her. She stared at someone behind her, "Why did you bring her here?" 

"We understand that Father died but that doesn't mean. It's her fault" her father said kneeling down to her.

"Why don't you go play with her. While I talk to your Grandma" her father said pushing her towards Catherine. She smiled at her brightly.

"What are you doing here?" Catherine asked in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Cassandra blinked her eyes.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" Her mother rushed towards them.

"Stay away from her'' Carina slapped her tightly enough to make her lips bleed. Her eyes teared as she sobbed clutching her cheeks. She was just talking to her. Not once she did anything, Her eyes wander to her Grandma who was staring at the scene. She looked away only to feel a warm hand wrapped around her.

"Mommy she did not do anything. Please don't hurt her" little Catherine told her mother hugging protectively. Carina looked away from her and glared at her father who was still talking to grandma. Then she suddenly grabbed little Catherine digging her finger in her hand making her cry as Carina dragged her away from her. little Catherine struggled to reach her but she stood still.

Cassandra blinked her eyes gasping for air. The sedatives those doctors gave her worked wonders for a few hours as she slept. But it wears off too quickly much to her annoyance. Her head pounded as she sat up. She has no idea whether it's because of the dream or the injury. She rang the bell calling the nurse.

"My head is aching, can I get a painkiller?" Cassandra asked as soon as she entered.

"Sorry miss we can't allow any medicines other than the prescribed ones" the nurse apologized to her.

"Please ask the doctor" she pleaded with her. Her vision turned blurry again as she felt herself panicking before she lost her consciousness again.

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Catherine slept for a while before waking up again at 7:56 a.m. She looked outside for a while. 

It's almost 8 a.m when she got a phone earlier that she had an appointment at the hospital.

"I need to eat something before going" Catherine looked down at her stomach. 

She decided to go to the nearest diner from this house. It was the same diner they came to last night. There was a homey feeling to this diner. An old man smiled and greeted her.

"Welcome Miss," the old man said, smiling at her warmly. But she forced a smile, "You can call me Catherine"

"What can I get for you ?" The old man asked.

"Something light, healthy and spicy. I am pregnant so I can't stand certain smells. Can you please give me a seat away from the kitchen smell?" She looked at the oldman who blinked his eyes but nodded his head and set her in the furthest corner away from the crowd. Catherine ordered a light yet spicy food even though she has no appetite she needs to eat and starving herself will result in something else. Which she never wanted. She silently ate her food after paying her bill. She decided to walk to the hospital which is near the dine which is a cafe in the morning. She noticed later on, when she saw the menu on the cashier table. The oldman specifically prepared her food. So, she thanked him before going out. He knowingly smiled at her.

Catherine walked to the receptionist, "I have an appointment with Dr.Brown" 

"What's your name Miss?"

"It might be Catherine Walmart," She told the receptionist.

"But It's under Catherine McGills though" her heart flutters hearing that name.

"Yes that's my husband's surname" she explained as the receptionist gave her a confused look but she nodded her head.

"Nurse please show her" the nurse did as she was asked and she followed her.

Dr.Brown takes a sample of her blood and tests her blood pressure.

"Any bleed or discharge Mrs. McGills?" Dr. Brown asked.

"No. But Doctor, I was wondering something" she said.

"Yes?" She was taking notes.

"I don't remember having an appointment two days later" she asked confused.

"Yes Mrs. McGill but Mr. McGills called me yesterday to book an appointment for you. He was worried that you might be under stress" Dr.Brown smiled warmly at Catherine. She smiled back, her heart ache with pain and tears stung her eyes.

After a while she was ready to go with a warning to eat properly and to take prenatal medicine on time.

"Catherine?" She froze hearing his voice. Her first and foremost thought was to run away as soon as possible but her leg remained frozen. She takes a deep breath to relax. 

Her thoughts were running wild and she was not emotionally stable to deal with this but she needed to make adornments after all Coltrane loved her unconditionally. And she needs to do this for Jeremy and their baby.

Catherine slowly turned around.Her eyes landed on his face and he looked exhausted with those prominent dark circles and beard. Coltrane looks much older than he is.

His eyes stuck at the female. She might be pregnant but her eyes do not shine either. She looked weak and small.

"What are you doing here?" He asked her the last time he saw her she was on a hospital bed and he was not in the best mood for conversation at that time. But the question still linger in the back of his mind, does questioning her and clearing doubt will help him? Or will it break his heart even more?

"I was on a check up" Catherine awkwardly said that. Coltrane looked around to see Jeremy but he was nowhere to be found.

"Are you alone?" He asked. She nodded her head and forced a smile.

The silence prevails. As both of them are at loss of words even though they have so many questions to ask each other.

"Can... Can we talk? There is a cafe near here." Catherine asked him. Coltrane nods his head slowly and they both get out of the hospital and walk towards the cafe.

They take a seat at the furthest corner. He orders coffee while she orders a glass of milkshake and cookies.

"I am sorry" Catherine looked down. He sighed. Seeing her again was not a good feeling when he knew she was not his. His eyes wander to her hand there was a ring which was supposed to be his. But he also noticed her bruise wrist. Coltrane can feel his anger rising as he clenches his teeth but he holds back. He cannot just burst onto her. He does not have any right to ask her. They are not even friends at this moment.

But that does not mean he doesn't have any urge to punch Jeremy in the face. He takes a deep breath to control his anger.

"I want to ask you something," Catherine nodded her head.

"Where are you dating Jeremy before us?" She sucked a breath. Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

"I have hurt you enough, I..." she was cut off by him.

"I want to know" Coltrane knows the truth will hurt him more. And he needs to have a reason to let her go completely rather than holding onto her as if his life depends on it.

"Yes" Catherine nodded her head looking straight in his eyes. Any thought of her lying flew out of his mind.

"Then how did you get separated?" He asked sipping as if hearing her words did not affect him even a bit.

"I told him horrible things and broke it off" Catherine looked down, hurting Jeremy hurts her. She still remembers how he looked that day.

"Why?" Coltrane asked again.

"What?" Her eyes widened.

"Why did you say that?" He looked at her for an explanation.

"I did not want him to have a horrible life as a punishment for loving me" Catherine smiled at him but those watery eyes told him a sad story.

"My mother never gave me any options for what I wanted in my life" She told him without giving out much details.

"How did I come in this?" Coltrane asked her anger washed over him.

"I did not have much option Coltrane. My mother was hell bent down and the fact that your father once wanted us to be bethorate. So, I choose you from those options and the fact that you accepted me even when I rejected you. I feel grateful at that time as I was scared to be with someone I don't know" She looked away and he took a deep breath.

"I think our conversation ends here" Coltrane stood up.

"Coltrane, Can you? Can you forgive Jeremy? You don't need to forgive me after what I did. But can you forgive him?" She looked at him almost pleasingly.

"He was not at fault. He never betrayed you. He was drunk and out of his mind when that happened" Coltrane gritted his teeth and grabbed her hand pulling her closer. He emphasized her hand.

"You are begging me to forgive the man who is abusing you" he glared at her as she struggled to get away from him. 

"It was not his fault" Catherine pushed him.

"And this gives him the right to hurt you?" Coltrane held her tighter, sneaking his arm around her.

"You are protecting him" he glared at her.

"No. I am telling you the truth" her tried to open his hand around her wrist.

"Why?" He brings her danger close to him.

"Why are you covering for him?" He asked her to pull her dangerously close to him. Her struggle increased.

"Let go of me" Catherine yelled, shocking everyone in the cafe.

"So, you are going to ignore my question" his breath hit her lips she froze.

"I am not covering for him. What happened between us is not his fault?" She looked at him straight in his eyes.

"What happened between us is because of me. Because I love him. I always have and I always will" 

"You get your answer now let go of me this instant. Don't forget that I am his wife. You have no right to touch me" Catherine yelled at him and in panic slapped him right across his face. He let her go. The whole cafeteria looked at them. She did not notice that he let her go the moment she confessed her love.

"This is what I wanted to hear," Coltrane said.

"If I had known that you dated Jeremy before me, I would not have dated you or even come near you, even if it hurt me." Coltrane said coldly walking out of there after paying the bill. Catherine blinked her eyes feeling guilty.was confused so she followed him.

"Coltrane I..." she doesn't know what to say anymore.

"It's fine" there was silence between them.

"I forgot to ask what were you doing in the hospital?" Catherine was wandering since the very beginning but kept forgetting about that.

"Cassandra is admitted," he said.

"For what?" She gasped.

"She hurt her head" or that's what he hoped for. The M.R.I report was normal much to his relief.

"Can I meet her before going back?" Catherine asked him to which he nodded his head.

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The moment Catherine entered the room she felt suffocated. Cassandra was resting on the bed, her complexion seems pale and sickly. She sat there holding her cold hand. The last time they met ended up her running away.

"I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. This all happened because of me" Catherine cried softly.

"You are right. If you had not run away from that wedding we will still be living our life peacefully" her head snapped up. She looked at Cassandra as she tried to sit.

Catherine without thinking hugged her tears and fell freely,"I was worried" Cassandra felt her bulge as she squeezed her, sobbing.

"Let go of me this instant" Cassandra wanted to push her away but she held onto that urge. For the first time she felt peaceful as Catherine hugged her. She felt warm.

Exhaustion is making her weak, she laughed. For some reason Cassandra felt like she wanted to wrap her arms around her. She gritted her teeth and her hand itched but she was afraid, afraid that instead of pushing her off she would hug her tighter and rely on her just like when they were kids. Innocent kids who know nothing about the cruel thing adults do. 

Cassandra felt nostalgic and let her head rest on Catherine's chest. 

Catherine softly put her head on the pillow.

"Do you want me to call the doctor?" Catherine stood up and Cassandra stopped her.

"I am just tired. How did you know I was in hospital?" Cassandra asked her

"Coltrane told me. He is standing right outside the door .Do you need me to call him?" Catherineme looked everywhere but at her. Cassandra kept quiet, she thought he would forget about her again this time.

Cassandra's eyes wandered and landed on her finger but what shocked her was the handprint on her wrist. Her eyes widened and  from time to time she looked at the bulge of her stomach. She looked away shaking her head, this is not her problem.

"You can never be a mother" the cold whisper of Austin's voice rings in her head. After that accident she could not be a mother anymore and her uterus was severely damaged.

"Cassandra, Are you alright?" Catherine asked her but she ignored her as usual.

Cassandra slowly raised her hand and touched her stomach. 

"Is Jeremy treating you well?" Catherine felt shocked feeling her hand on her stomach ever so softly.

"Yes, He is treating me well" tears fall from her eyes. This is after a long time, Cassandra showed any interest in Catherine's life. 

"Then why do you have that bruise?" Cassndra asked.

"It... It was a mistake" Catherine felt her heart beat raised up as she answered her.

"What happened?" Catherine looked down as her eyes sting with tears before she sobbed loudly. Hearing her Coltrane entered the room but stayed silent. It hurts him to see her crying. 

"I lied to him and he got to know that. He was so angry and I... I was afraid of him." Catherine sobbed as Cassandra softly pushed her to sit.

"I can't even make myself explain the situation.But he left me before he could hurt me any further and never come back" Catherine put her face on her hand.

"Why are you afraid of Jeremy?" Cassandra asked. Catherine blinked her eyes, the fact that she lied must be one of the reasons but she is not sure.

Cassandra had always seen them together even though Catherine always listened to whatever Jeremy said or asked. She was never afraid of him rather than when she was with him she felt more relaxed and confident.

Catherine gulped down her eyes darted everywhere, "I don't know" she whispered.

Cassandra sighed this will go nowhere if she does not know their past. So she asked, "Why did you break up with him?" 

"Mother forced me to break up with him" Catherine gulped down painfully.

"On what basis?" Cassandra looked curious at this point.

"That his mother was actually a high end prostitute and his father is Jordan Gautier" Catherine looked down. Cassandra gasped she had no idea about that but Carina Walmart is capable of everything.

"Mother threatened me that she would destroy Jeremy's life and his father was there. He will expose whose son he was and how he came to his world. How his mother lied to him about his father cheating on her" Catherine eyes filled up with guilty tears. Both Cotrane and Cassandra felt shocked as she heard her words.

"When I refused to give in, my mother suspended Jeremy from the College on the basis that he harassed Amelia" Catherine felt choked up. When she saw him begging her to believe him to prove Amelia wrong.

"I was with Jeremy at that time when Amelia was supposedly harassed by Jeremy. I could have proved that but I stayed quiet and told Jeremy horrible things. Accused him of something he never did '' she sobbed.

"Jeremy never did anything like that" it was Coltrane who said those words glaring at her coldly. He remembers that time quite clearly. Jeremy was in serious depression his mother told him it would have been better if she died in her womb while throwing him out of the house. 

Catherine froze hearing Coltrane's words.

She knows he will never do anything to hurt her more than anyone.

When she said that she could have proved that Jeremy was the victim in this case. Coltrane felt something, something he never thought that he is capable of feeling towards her at least.

He felt anger which was directed towards her. 

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Until next time...