Chapter Six
My mind was drowning in questions.
Only minutes ago, Johnathan's arms had felt warm and protective around me, like a shield against the entire world. But now, something had changed. That warmth was gone, replaced by a strange tension that wrapped itself around my chest.
I felt restless.
My skin prickled with heat, and an uncomfortable sensation crawled beneath my nerves. Even breathing felt difficult, as though the air inside the room had suddenly grown too heavy for my lungs.
My stomach twisted uneasily.
For a moment I thought I might actually run to the bathroom.
And you might wonder why I was reacting this way.
Why I seemed so shaken over something that had not even happened yet.
But anyone who had ever dealt with a powerful mother-in-law would understand.
The rivalry between a woman and the woman who loved her son was not a simple disagreement.
It was war.
And when the woman in question was Mrs. Patricia Martins, that war could burn endlessly.
Mrs. Patricia was not just intimidating.
She was terrifying.
A woman of sharp decisions and absolute authority. When she spoke, people listened. When she ordered, people obeyed.
She did not hesitate.
She did not doubt herself.
She did not bend.
If she loved you, it was because she had decided you deserved it.
And if she hated you…
Then there was nothing you could do to change her mind.
Nothing.
The only reasonable advice anyone could give you when dealing with Patricia Martins was simple.
Give up.
Unfortunately for me, giving up had never been something I was good at.
My history with her had been nothing short of hell.
At least on my side.
She despised my presence.
She hated seeing me anywhere near her son.
Many times she had told me directly that I should stay away from Johnathan. That I should not look at him. That I should not speak to him.
In her eyes, I was not just a girl in love.
I was a threat.
A threat to the powerful business empire she and her husband, Mr. Martins, had spent decades building.
She believed I would destroy everything they had worked for.
Which was ridiculous.
I wasn't even interested in their wealth.
I only wanted Johnathan.
Still, even with my stubborn nature, Mrs. Patricia was the only person who could shake my confidence.
And tonight felt like the beginning of another nightmare.
Someone should wake me up.
Someone should pinch me and end this horrible moment.
"Hello, Mum," Johnathan said suddenly.
His voice sounded calm, almost confident.
"How are you? I didn't expect you to call this late. Is everything alright?"
I held my breath.
I had not expected her call either.
A woman like Patricia Martins never called without a reason.
Never.
Something was wrong.
"How's Annabelle?"
Her voice sliced through the phone like a blade.
No greeting.
No warmth.
Straight to the point.
Of course.
Annabelle.
That thorn in my life.
"Why is it so quiet there?" she continued.
"Aren't you still at the party with her?"
Johnathan sat upright immediately.
Even I found myself straightening beside him.
Neither of us could relax with her voice echoing through the room.
And yes…
I was shamelessly listening to every word.
Praying she would not mention my name.
To be honest, I had never expected Patricia Martins to approve of my relationship with her son.
The only person in that family who had ever shown me kindness was Mr. Martins.
He had known me since I was a child.
Perhaps because he was my father's close friend.
Perhaps because he had watched me grow up.
Whatever the reason, he had always treated me warmly.
Sometimes I even believed he secretly supported the idea of Johnathan and I getting married.
But Patricia…
That was another story entirely.
"Why aren't you with Annabelle?" she asked again.
Her voice grew sharper.
"You were supposed to take her home and spend the night together."
My heart nearly stopped.
What?
"What in the world made you leave her at the party?"
Johnathan remained silent.
I could see the tension in his jaw.
"M–Mum, I…"
"Go back and get her," Patricia ordered immediately.
My head turned toward Johnathan.
Did she really just say that?
"Mum," he said firmly, "I can't go back. She can find her way to her apartment."
"She is not going to her apartment," Patricia cut him off coldly.
"Go and pick her up wherever she is. I will call her and send you her location."
"Mum, I can't," Johnathan replied.
"She can go home herself."
"And I'm sorry too, my son," Patricia said calmly.
"But this is not debatable."
Her tone hardened.
"Go and pick Annabelle up now."
"She will spend the night with you."
"No, Mum!" Johnathan said suddenly, his voice rising.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Silence followed.
A dangerous silence.
"And why is that?" Patricia asked slowly.
Her voice dropped lower.
Too low.
"Because I'm not alone here," Johnathan answered.
"And I don't need her company."
My entire body froze.
What did he just say?
Why would he say that?
Please don't mention my name.
Please…
"Who is with you?" Patricia asked.
Her tone already sounded certain.
"Hmm?" she hummed softly.
"Tell me."
Then she laughed.
Cold.
Cruel.
"I know that poor, dirty girl also came to the party tonight."
My heart sank into my stomach.
"And I heard she even fought Annabelle."
I closed my eyes slowly.
She knew.
"So tell me," Patricia continued, "why on earth did you bring her to your home?"
Her voice grew louder.
"Mum, relax—"
"Don't tell me to relax!" she screamed.
Her anger exploded through the phone.
"Why are you still with that ugly trash?"
"She is a disaster waiting to happen for this family!"
"I don't even understand why your father still tolerates her!"
Her voice trembled with pure disgust.
"She makes me sick."
"Mum, enough!" Johnathan said sharply.
The room went silent again.
"Why do you hate her so much?" he demanded.
"What did she ever do to you?"
"What did you just say?" Patricia snapped instantly.
Her voice turned cold.
Dangerously cold.
"Never in your life raise your voice at me again."
"I am your mother."
"Do you understand?"
"…Yes, Mum," Johnathan replied quietly.
Even he feared her.
But I knew he loved her too.
"Now listen carefully," Patricia continued.
"Remove that filthy girl from your penthouse."
"And go pick Annabelle up."
"She is the future of this family."
"Not that pathetic excuse of a human being."
"Mum, that's too harsh," Johnathan said softly.
"I don't care."
"She's not leaving tonight," he replied firmly.
"It's late."
"She stays here until tomorrow."
A mocking laugh escaped Patricia's lips.
"I can't believe this."
Then she spoke again.
"Come see me tomorrow."
"Annabelle will be there too."
The line went dead.
Just like that.
Silence filled the room.
My eyes felt heavy.
My dreams…
My hopes…
Everything suddenly looked blurry.
The future I once imagined with Johnathan began to fade before my eyes.
The beautiful fantasy I had always carried in my heart now felt like something darker.
Something frightening.
Something fragile.
Johnathan reached out toward me.
He tried to pull me into his arms.
But I moved away.
Fear had already wrapped itself tightly around my heart.
What if his mother forced him to marry Annabelle?
What if she succeeded?
Annabelle was ruthless.
Dangerous.
And she hated me more than anyone.
"I don't want to lose you, Johnathan," I whispered.
My voice trembled.
Tears slowly formed in my eyes.
"Please promise me you won't give in to them."
"Please fight for me."
"Fight for us."
Because tomorrow…
Tomorrow might decide everything.
And for the first time since falling in love with him—
I felt completely powerless.