Chapter 31: What If He Dies?
999words
I smirked, moving closer to Kristine. "Come on, Kristine, why would you do such a thing to your loving husband?" I held her hand, leading her back in front of Juan.
"Please, Scarlett, don't do this," Kristine begged, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"What am I doing? It's not right to leave your husband without telling him," I said. She shivered, avoiding Juan's gaze, and stepped back in fear. "Robert, lock the gate," I instructed, turning back to the couple.
"Miss Guzman, please," Maria interjected, but I silenced her with a raised hand.
"So, Kristine. Why did you leave your husband's house without telling him?" I asked, my tone sharpening.
"I didn't... I was just..." she stammered.
"Answer the question," Juan snapped angrily.
"Don't make your loving husband angry, Kristine. Speak up," I urged.
"He beats me, Scarlett. He yells and hits me over the smallest things," she began, more tears rolling down her cheeks. "I caught him cheating on me with another woman the last time. Out of anger, I flushed his drugs. When he found out, he lashed out. Even with my condition, he pushed me to the bathroom floor, demanding I undo what I did. He said he would kill me if I didn't. I had to run. He was ready to hurt me and my baby, Scarlett. I was scared," she explained.
"Is that true, Juan?!" I snapped, my blood boiling. I know Kristine hurt me badly, but no one has the right to hit her. She is, was, and will always be my sister. Anyone who hurts her will face my wrath.
"No, that's a lie. I don't hit women. She is a lying slut," Juan defended himself.
"How dare you?" I slammed my fist into his chin, making him spill blood. "What gives you the nerve to stand here and spew this nonsense?" I followed up with a hard kick to his groin, and he dropped in pain.
"What are you doing, Scarlett?" he cried out. "Why are you defending her? She betrayed you, remember?"
"Really? And you think you are any better?!" I snarled. "Robert, I want you and Lyon to teach this lunatic a lesson. Make him feel every ounce of the pain he put Kristine through. Cripple him if you can, then dump him far from my house," I ordered, my heart racing.
"Please, Scarlett, don't let them do this," Juan begged. "I'm sorry. Remember the love we once shared."
Robert responded by punching him in the nose, making him stagger back. I turned a deaf ear to his pleas as Robert and Lyon gave him the beating of his life. He couldn't even raise an elbow to defend himself. I watched Kristine cry in pity. Maybe she enjoys this—or maybe not—but I didn't care. What Juan was getting wasn't even close to the blow I felt when I saw him with my sister. But do I enjoy this? Oh yes, I do. Sometimes, seeing my enemies helpless fills me with joy, like some kind of achievement. Other times, when I see their regret, I feel like forgiving them. But I can't. Maybe I try, but I can't forget. The memory sticks in my mind, reminding me of the pain I endured because of them.
"Scarlett, please, make them stop," Kristine begged.
"Make sure he doesn't leave this house conscious, Robert," I said, turning to Kristine. "You should be happy I'm not castrating him."
Kristine rushed to stop them, but Maria pulled her back. "Do you want to hurt your baby?" she scolded.
"They are going to kill him, Mother," Kristine sobbed. She must really love him.
"I'm sorry, Kristine," Juan said, his last words before I stormed into the house.
Later that evening, I went downstairs. Gabriel's number was still unreachable, and I was starting to worry. The living room was cold and empty. I knew the servants must be busy tidying up, but where was Kristine? She usually watched some silly romantic series at this hour. Walking toward the door, I heard voices outside. I moved to the window and saw Maria and Kristine on the veranda, chatting. I felt a pang in my chest. I envy Kristine. If only my mother were alive, maybe she would have fought for me, protected me from making bad choices, and consoled me when I got hurt.
"Stop crying, Kristine. Don't you know you are pregnant?" Maria said, her tone filled with worry. Kristine was still whimpering over the beating Juan had received.
"What if he dies, Mother? Did you see how they carried him out of this house, covered in blood?" she cried.
"I understand your fear, but don't you think Juan deserves more than that? How many times have you been admitted to the hospital because of his beatings?"
"Does it matter, Mother? If he dies, who will be the father of my unborn child?" she sobbed.
"It's okay. Juan won't die. He just fainted," Maria reassured her, pulling her close.
Tears trickled down my cheeks, but I quickly wiped them away. Something was eating me up inside. I just didn't know what it was.
"Ouch!" Kristine suddenly exclaimed.
"What is it?" Maria asked, tense.
"My stomach hurts, Mother. Ow!" Kristine winced in pain.
"I told you to stop crying. Look at what you have caused," Maria scolded her while trying to help. "Which side is hurting? Should I massage it? Is the baby coming?"
"I'm only seven months pregnant, Mother! Ouch!" Kristine groaned, struggling to stand with Maria's help.
"Someone help me, please," Maria cried as Kristine fainted. She dropped to her knees, holding Kristine's head in her lap. "Please, wake up, Kristine. You can't do this to me. Someone help me!" Maria shouted. Robert rushed over to assist.
Does seeing them helpless make me happy? Maybe this is the punishment they deserve for mistreating me. But why do I feel this terrible pang in my chest? And why the hell am I crying over them?
