The Inheritances Game (Jameson Hawthorne)

Saving Catalina

Every inch of my body throbbed with pain, a relentless reminder of the captivity I found myself in. It was impossible to gauge how much time had passed since I had been brought back here. Since then, my father had taken drastic measures to ensure I remained imprisoned within these suffocating walls.

The strong odor of alcohol hung heavy in the air, a constant companion in this prison of despair. My room offered no solace, its windows barred, denying me even the smallest glimpse of the outside world.

My father's wrath knew no bounds; it raged ceaselessly, day in and day out. His fury was evident from the moment I stepped foot in this house, and it only intensified with each passing day.

Each day followed the same agonizing routine: my father would leave early in the morning, only to return in the evening, consumed by alcohol-induced rage. But today, something shifted. The shrill ring of the doorbell shattered the oppressive silence, followed by hushed voices and then the heavy thud of footsteps drawing nearer.

Panic seized me as I scrambled away from the door, bracing myself for whatever new torment awaited. And when it swung open, revealing my father and an older man, a chill ran down my spine. The tension in the room was thick with tension.

"Catalina, it looks like you're moving," my father said with an unsettling smile before abruptly leaving the room. Left alone with the stranger, I watched him cautiously, unsure of what to expect.

"I am Tobias Hawthorne," he introduced himself, his voice surprisingly gentle.

"Jameson's grandfather," I murmured, recognizing the name.

He nodded, a warm smile softening his features. "He's waiting for you at Hawthorne House. You can come live with us if you would like."

I couldn't believe it. After everything I'd endured, my father had agreed to let me leave. It seemed too good to be true.

"There may have been some incentives involved," Tobias explained with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

Relief flooded through me as I followed him out of the house, grateful to escape my father's clutches. As we made our way to the car, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards Jameson and his grandfather for offering me a way out of this nightmare. And as we drove away, leaving the suffocating confines of my past behind, I dared to hope that brighter days lay ahead.

Jameson's Pov

I paced anxiously by the front door, my heart pounding with anticipation. Grayson and Nash, my ever-curious brothers, had attempted to pry into my preoccupation, but I brushed them off, my mind solely focused on Catalina's impending arrival. Thankfully, Xander, with his keen sense for detecting secrets, seemed preoccupied, sparing me from further interrogation. Though I suspected Gray and Nash had their suspicions, I knew they'd unearth the truth eventually.

My breath caught as I heard the door creak open, and there she was, with my grandfather in tow. Relief washed over me as I took in Catalina's appearance. Despite the cuts and bruises marring her face, she still radiated a quiet strength. Her hair, usually neatly braided, hung loose around her shoulders, adding to her disheveled charm. I couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness towards her.

Without a moment's hesitation, I rushed forward, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

"I thought I would never see you again," I confessed, my voice trembling with emotion.

Her laughter, like music to my ears, washed away the tension that had been building within me. "Well, you'll be seeing a lot of me now," she teased, her eyes sparkling with newfound hope. "Mr. Hawthorne invited me to live here."

Relief flooded through me, mingled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards my grandfather. Knowing that Catalina would be safe under our roof filled me with a profound sense of peace. And as I held her close, I couldn't help but feel anything other than happy that she was here with me.