14 Kathleen paid the cab and ran inside, her heart pounding as cry threatened to erupt, she had run away from an abusive relationship only to see herself getting hurt in another, maybe she was cursed to everlasting sadness and a life filled pain, no one loved her, even her dad doesn't, her mom who would have been there having chosen a man over her, her friend betrayed her with her fiance, she felt as if she was condemned to a life without love, it's her destiny and she had to accept the fact, she needed to clear her head, she needed space to think upon her life and get rid of the pain, she changed into a summer dress, she needed to take a walk, maybe visit the beach or something, she doesn't care, she just needed to get away for a while. "Where the heck are you going to be dressed like that?" Marcella's voice stopped her as she was about to step out of the house, she frowned and stared at her cloth, it was a simple gown, she doesn't feel like wearing those expensive clothes, she just want to feel ordinary. "I need to go out for a while" "Dressed like that?" Marcella eyed her dress, a simple pale yellow gown, more like what a random girl would wear "What's wrong with the way I am dressed?" She stared at Marcella Deloux, so now she want to control how she was dressed, nobody would control her life, she would live the way she wanted to, she ran away on her marriage day to get her freedom, her happiness lies with her and she won't allow anyone to take it, not Dave, not Marcella and certainly not Derek. "Do I need to remind you that you're married into a royal and renowned family? What would people say when they see you dressed like an ordinary girl, do you want to tarnish the family name?" "I am just a simple girl and I feel like dressing this way, don't worry, I'll keep the family's reputation to mind" with that she walked out of the house. * * Derek opened his eyes and tried to stand up, he was lying on the bed shirtless, how did he get here? He tried to move his hand but couldn't and suddenly felt a slight movement by his side, he glanced down and saw Nicole, memories came back to him, she must have put something in his drink, he pushed her away from him and she opened her eyes. Furious, Derek held her throat and squeezed hard, "what the hell did you put in my drink?" Instead of answering, she wheezed, her face puffy and red, Derek realized she was choking, he fought the urge to choke the life out of her but held himself in check as he forcefully let go, she coughed, rubbing her throat. "I didn't do anything, don't you remember? We made love and we both loved it" she stared at him innocently "Liar, bloody liar, you're such a filth, now get out from here before I change my mind and choke the life out of you, you know, if I should kill you here nobody would know or suspect me" Her eyes looked a little scared but she stiffened her resolve, "how can you say that to me after making love to me, do you know, it was the best sex of my life" "I know I didn't touch you, now for the last time get out" his tone was deadly and she wouldn't push her luck in a situation like this, she simply got dressed and headed out, Derek took a deep breath, but just before she opened the door and got out, she turned to him, "you know, I took photos of us together in bed, you wouldn't want that to go public right?" "You little snake, so you mean to blackmail me now right?" Derek snarled at her and she chuckled, "no baby, they're just memories" she blew him a kiss and walked out, Derek cursed and held his pounding head, he couldn't quite recall what happened, all he could remember was him falling asleep after taking that drink, he needed to get something to calm his aching head, he needed to get home, he realized he had missed his wife. "Where the hell have you been?" Derek thundered as soon as Kathleen walked in, he had realized that he missed, he was feeling annoyed and irritated and had decided to come home only to see she wasn't home and no one knew where she had gone. Kathleen stared at him icily, how dare he come back and raise his voice at her. "Should I remind you that you are now royalty and must behave like one?" Those words irked her, "how dare you talk to me, are you the only one free to go and come back on a whim, or are you not from this family? You married me into the titled family, remember?" Derek gritted his teeth, although he knew not where his anger was coming from? He just poured it out on her and Kathleen was almost at her wit's end with him, since they got married, he hadn't spent twenty-four hours with her, he was always out there frolicking with different women and he has the guts to question her? Derek angrily grabbed her arm, "Don't act too smart with me woman" Kathleen angrily wrenched her arm from his grasp, angry tears welling in her eyes, "how dare you, how could you, you haven't even spent a single day with me, all I see and hear of you is how you're spending your whole days with those ladies, you must really live up to your reputation as a playboy". His eyes went blank as he stared at her, "do you think I don't know? She ranted, angrily dashing away the tears that sprang to her eyes, "even the newspaper has captured you and one of your many women, so don't you ever question my character" she pointed her fingers at him as she ran upstairs to their room. Derek was baffled, she considered him a playboy and having multiple relationships, that was his public logo anyways, a ladies man, it was not too much of a surprise to him that she knew about it, well, he guess it's for the best, let her think whatever horrible thought she had conjured about him, that would make her keep her distance and put him in check as he has suddenly grown a strong desire to have his hands on her, it is better this way, he would allow her to think whatever she wished, the more distance between them, the safer it was for them both.