CHAPTER 19: Her Revelations

KATE’s P.O.V.

Today is the day that I’ve been waiting for to come. The day that I could finally get my revenge. Mom is looking worried about me, thinking that I would cry once I saw Claire and Darren at the party later. I secretly laughed at that thought as she didn’t realize that I’ve got some plan to do later on.

“Are you sure you wanted to do this?” she asked, looking worried again as she helps me fix my hair.

“Of course, Mom. I can do anything. Just watch me later...” I stated, taking a deep breath.

“What do you mean?” Her brows are almost touching because of confusion.

“Nothing, Mom. Let’s just go. Dad is probably waiting for us downstairs. No one wants us to be late.”

“Sure thing, sweetie.”

We all meet downstairs before we get inside of our limousine. Mom and Dad isn’t talking to each other, and I also don’t want to start any conversation for it can surely turned out into another argument later on.

“Kate?” Dad called out.

“Yes, Dad?”

“Please behave yourself,” he stated, making me clenched my fist out of annoyance.

“Don’t you trust our daughter?” Mom madly asked.

I reached for her arm before I gently squeezed it. Thankfully, she stopped talking and she just looked outside of the car through the tinted window.

After a few minutes, we finally arrived at our destination. Many people are already inside, and we belong to those early ones. I saw Darren and Claire at the main entrance hall, walking hand in hand to go inside. What an act.

“I’m going in,” I stated.

I didn’t wait for their answer. I wanted to walk alone and to not take a part on faking that our family is still a complete one just like what other people think. Dad is treating Mom like a garbage, and me as an asset that he could give away to those crazy rich business partners of his company.

I saw Claire staring at me. I didn’t mind her. She’ll probably get the attention she deserves later on. For now, I’m just gonna calm myself down while the program isn’t starting yet.

I get some punch and a few strong alcoholic drinks to get the courage that I needed later on. I don’t know how many minutes it had passed before I finally saw my Mom and Dad talking to Mr. Herrera and to the two people who own the spotlight tonight... Claire and Darren. I walked towards them, wanting to join in their conversation and to show my support to their fake relationship.

“Oh, Kate is here,” Dad stated as he saw me walking towards their direction. “I’ll introduce her to your wife, Darren.”

“No need, Mr. Frias. I think that they already know each other,” Darren instantly cut off.

“No, we haven’t meet yet,” I quickly responded, opposing Darren’s statement.

“Then come and meet this lovely lady. What’s your name again?” Dad asked Claire.

“Claire.”

“Hi, Claire,” I greeted her sarcastically.

“You don’t have to do this, Kate,” I heard Mom whispered into my ear.

“It’s fine, Mom,” I tried to fake a smile, trying to show off to my Dad.

“Alright! So we finally knew each other. Should I tell them to start the program?” Mr. Herrera asked, maybe finally noticing the building tension between the two families.

They all nodded in agreement. Our family turned around, finding our own seats and table. The program started as soon as we all sat down. The servants served us different foods, but I couldn’t eat for one main reason. Claire often glance at me and I can’t help but to wonder why. Maybe she already has a feeling that I will do something scandalous tonight by the way I was looking towards her.

I decided to drown myself in the alcohol, wanting to taste every bit of bitterness and pain through it. I wanted to forget, but I also wanted a revenge. Maybe after this, I’ll finally be satisfied to be able to leave Claire alone for the rest of her life. Just this once... I wanted to get even.

As I finally get the courage that I needed, I stood up, holding a drink and the USB where the photos of Claire and Gabriel kissing is currently at. Thankfully, the program was finally quiet and people are just eating their dinner. This is my chance. I shouldn’t blew this once in a lifetime opportunity.

I reached the man in front of the computer. I gave him the USB, telling that I have some surprise for everyone and I will pay him twice as how much he will profit tonight. Gladly, he accepted it. That’s how easy it went. People can be driven by money.

I went up the stage, looking at the crowd specially to Darren and Claire’s table. They are currently talking to each other so I think of something that could get their attention. I intentionally dropped the microphone on the floor, making an eerie sound coming from the speaker. People looked shocked, but at least I got their attention.

I stood there, holding a glass of liquor in my right hand while I picked up the microphone using my other hand. I drink the alcohol, feeling the bitter taste coming down to my throat. After that, I dramatically dropped the glass, causing it to broke and shatters into a million pieces.

Some people gasped in shock, while others started to whisper with their seatmates. But I chose to ignore them, smiling as I tapped the microphone several times just to make sure that it was working fine. I wanted to make sure that everyone can hear me loud and clear tonight.

“Good evening, everyone!” I shouted. I could see that Dad is glaring at me here in my current position.

“Get down here, Kate,” he firmly stated, his voice was full of authority.

“Don’t teach me what to do, old man!” I shouted back.

I don’t know where I got the courage to say that, but that doesn’t matter anymore. The only important thing right now is for me to finish what I started. Besides, the alcohol is giving me the boost that I needed.

”You!” I pointed at Claire’s direction. “You bitch! I treated you as a friend! A bestfriend, even better! How can you do this to me, Claire? How?!”

“Kate...” she muttered.

“Shhh! Quiet! I don’t want to hear your fucked up voice. That! That woman...” I pointed my finger towards her. “That woman ruined everything including our friendship. She took everything away from me…” I started sobbing uncontrollably for apparently no reason. I should be glad right now, but I couldn’t feel it.

“Kate, let’s talk about this on a private place,” Darren almost pleaded.

“No! You shut up! I wasn’t talking to you. Do you even know what kind of woman your wife is? Or is she even your wife, Mr. Darren Herrera?!”

Darren looked down, looking guilty. I knew it. I already suspected about it since the very beginning.

“Listen up, everyone! This celebration is void! Wanna know why? ’Cause their said relationship is a fake one!” The crowd gone wild because of what I said.. “I hired a private investigator and he found out everything! That woman was a rented one! She’s nothing but a fraud! She’s not a real Mrs. Herrera!”

“Darren, is this true?” Mr. Herrera looked at his son, looking surprised and unbelievable.

“Dad... Please let me explain,” Darren gave him an apologetic look.

“But wait, there’s more!” I shouted once again. “My old bestfriend ruined our friendship by stealing the man I love eight years ago... And now, she took Darren away from me... What a flirt, right?! But that’s not just it. You thought that woman loves you, right Darren?” I look at the man I was pertaining to, as if asking him a question.

Darren didn’t answer. He just clenched his fist, insulted by my remark, maybe.

“Sad to tell you the truth, but she doesn’t. Look at this.”

I snapped my fingers once, and a picture popped out in the wide monitor. It was the photo of Claire and Gabriel, kissing. Darren looked at her unbelievably, brows furrowed. I smirked at them. This is just the start.

“Do you believe me now?! That woman was nothing but a whore. She’s just using you, Darren. She’s only doing this for your money. She doesn’t deserve you. She doesn’t love you. Please wake up and face the fucking truth,” I stated.

Elijah, looking surprised and worried at the same time, rushed onto the stage, grabbing me by my waist just to make me stop talking. I furiously pushed him away, not wanting to let anyone get in my way of revealing the truth. Besides, why does he even care anyways? I’m not his friend, right?

“Don’t touch me!” I shouted in front of his face. He looks hurt, but maybe that was just my imagination.

I saw my Dad finally walked towards my direction, before grabbing my arms to pull me away from the crowd. His grip are too tight, and I couldn’t escape from it until we finally reached the outside of the venue where people couldn’t see us.

“What the fuck is that, Kate?” he asked furiously, finally letting go of my arms.

“That?! That was the truth, Dad!” I fired back.

I saw Mom followed us behind, looking worriedly at me.

“Kate, are you alright?” she asked, taking another step forward towards me. But Dad didn’t let him.

“Stay out of this, Katheryn!” Dad stated. “You’re the reason why your daughter is being like this!”

Mom was about to say something when I cut her statement off.

“No, Dad! I chose to be like this! I chose not be weak like Mom!”

Mom look at me with a hurt expression plastered upon her face.

“Am I right, Mom?” I turned my gaze to Dad, who still looking very mad at me. “If you can tell her what to do then don’t you dare compare me to her! You don’t own me! And I don’t need someone who will dictate my every move and every time that I made a decision for myself! I don’t need you, Dad!”

Right after I said that, I felt his palms on my cheeks. He slapped me, hard enough for me to regained my consciousness stolen by the alcoholic drinks I’ve drank earlier.

“Armando!” Mom nervously stopped him, but he didn’t even looked guilty.

I shook my head, feeling the unbearable pain not from the impact of my Dad’s slap but from the pain inside of my chest. I’m their daughter, but it feels like they’re just using me for their own good.

I decided to ran away. I heard Mom called my name several times but I ignored it. I don’t want to go home, but I also don’t know where I was going. All I wanted to do right now is to stay away from my parents. Maybe sleeping on the street is way better than being with them for now.