Chapter 6

Broderick's chest he heave. He was trapped in his wheelchair, surrounded by people laughing at him. He looked at Andre's towering, relaxed posture and felt entirely inadequate.

He spun his chair around to face Catalina. If he could not win against the stranger, he would crush his wife.

He pointed a shaking finger at her. "You think this is funny? You think you can embarrass me?"

Catalina looked at him with dead eyes. She did not flinch.

"Fine," Broderick spat. "Since you are so independent, you can figure out how to pay for this room yourself. I am cutting off every single credit card in your name. You will not get a dime from the Ramos accounts for your nurses or your medication."

Jami stood behind him, crossing her arms. "Broderick, do not be too hard on her. She is clearly not in her right mind."

Catalina felt nothing but pure, unadulterated disgust. The threat of losing money meant nothing to her anymore.

"Do whatever you want," Catalina said. Her voice was terrifyingly calm. "Now take your garbage and get out of my room."

Broderick stared at her. He expected tears. He expected her to beg. Her absolute indifference stripped him of his last weapon.

He gripped his wheels, his knuckles white. He yanked the chair around. "Let's go," he snapped at Jami. "Let her rot here."

Jami shot Catalina one last venomous glare before following Broderick out the door. The small group in the hallway stepped aside to let them through, watching them leave in disgrace.

The nurses quickly dispersed. The door closed, leaving the room quiet once again.

Catalina let out a long, shaky breath. The adrenaline crashed, leaving her body feeling heavy and bruised. A single tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek.

A hand appeared in her line of sight, holding a crisp white tissue. It smelled faintly of cedarwood and expensive soap.

Catalina looked up. Andre was standing right beside her bed. The cold arrogance he had shown Broderick was completely gone. His dark eyes were soft, watching her with a quiet intensity.

She took the tissue. "Thank you. I am sorry you got dragged into that."

Andre shook his head slowly. "Taking out the trash is never a burden."

A small, genuine smile broke through Catalina's exhaustion. "What is your name?"

Andre looked at her for a long moment. "Andre."

He did not offer a last name. He took his hands out of his pockets and took a step back. "Get some rest. Call the nurses if you need anything."

He turned and walked out of the room. His footsteps were silent.

Catalina held the tissue tightly in her hand. The scent of cedarwood grounded her. She looked out the window at the Los Angeles skyline.

She was not going to stay in this hospital bed and wait for Broderick to starve her out. She needed to go back to the Ramos estate. She needed to gather the final pieces of evidence to destroy him completely.