Chapter 141: Hidden death (4)
Catalina said to her sister, "Dante is the man I have been writing to, and you haven’t been honest with him. You are using my—"
"I didn’t use your name. I told him exactly what my name was, and he just happened to fall in love with me at first sight. That is why he proposed. I really love the man, Catalina," Isabella confessed, and Catalina’s hands tightened into fists.
"That’s not possible." Catalina found it hard to believe that her sister could also be in love with the same man she was. "I am the one who has been exchanging letters with him."
"And I have been reading them and participating in the correspondence. I feel like I have known him for ages, and he has eyes only for me. Did you not see how he looked at me? As if I am his entire world," Isabella said before continuing, "We even shared a kiss."
"..." Catalina fell silent for a moment before asking, "What do you think will happen when he finds out the truth? That it was actually me who has been writing to him all this time?"
Isabella gritted her teeth before responding, "I was going to explain it to him, but he’s already so taken with me, and he’s set on marrying me. Why do you want to complicate matters and confuse him when he’s arranging the wedding and has envisioned his life with me? Revealing the truth will only make things awkward for all of us. Did he ever propose to you in his letters? What if he ends up not marrying either you nor me?"
Catalina had been eagerly anticipating the moment she would finally meet the man she had been writing to, even before he mentioned visiting her village. Now, she felt dejected and betrayed by both him and her sister. Her sister was stealing the man for herself, and binding him to her through their engagement, and him... because she had hoped he would recognise her at first glance and acknowledge their connection.
Isabella stepped in front of her, grasping her hands. "We are engaged, and we have envisioned our lives together. Please, Catalina," she pleaded softly.
On the third evening following the young man’s visit, Catalina was cleaning the living room when Dante walked into the house. He said to her,
"Isa is talking with Mrs. Spencer."
Catalina acknowledged him with a nod and turned away from him. She had chosen to keep her words to herself while carrying the weight of her heavy heart.