The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

I didn’t look up from staring at a pair of lovers who were holding hands below the hotel balcony even though I felt someone’s presence move behind me. I just made myself comfortable while sitting in one of the two chairs surrounding an expensive table.

I tipped the glass of wine I’m drinking and gulped it all down.

“What do you want, Ymir?” I said in a calm voice.

The man sat in the chair opposite me and followed my gaze. The couple I was staring at earlier is gone.

Cars and passers by in this busy side of the city replaced the bitter view. I tasted nostalgia when a gust of wind blew taking the withered leaves of a pine tree with it.

“Why did you come back? Did the money you get isn’t enough, Karina?”

My attempt to answer the caller on my cell phone was stopped by his question. I let out a deep breath and shot him a blank look. I hung up the call before answering him.

“And who made you believe that I will just go off like that? Twenty million is too little for the wife of a Gastrell, Ymir. You should have thought about that before dragging me away back then ”

His jaws clenched and he frowned. “Bitch,” he muttered.

I just shrugged. I studied the physical appearance of the man. He didn’t change much. He still has an air of being strict and intimidating. The guy is handsome given his Italian ancestry but he looks too matured and stiff for his late twenties age.

I laughed at the thought. Of course, times have changed. Few years are enough for a person to change. As for me, my change has been drastic. I never experienced a slow step by step change.

There was never a gradual change for a woman like me. I was forced to change and be like this or else everything will swallow me alive.

And I can never forget the people who have made me this way.

Bitter.

Sad.

Revengeful.

“So? What will you do about it? Whatever you do, you can’t drag me out of the town again like what you did ages ago. I learned my lesson now. I know now how to protect myself from people like you. That includes getting my husband back.”

He tossed the wine bottle away. Its contents spilled on the table. The liquid dripped onto the floor which was immediately absorbed by the white carpet. My eyes followed my wasted beloved wine.

“Get out of Cerro Roca before I could really get angry with you Karina. You don’t want me to get angry, I’m telling you. You don’t want that to happen.”

He gritted his teeth to emphasize his anger.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“And what if I don’t? What will you do?”

I crossed my legs and met his hard bitter face.

“Should I show you now?” he asked dangerously.

He stood up quickly, pulled me up, and pushed me against the wall. I gasped at the pain that shot up my back. I can feel the weight of his hand on my arms that are getting tighter because of my struggle.

He looked down on me and whispered the same words he told me years ago.

“Leave this place or I’ll strangle you to death.”

But instead of shaking and crying like I did before, I laughed this time and looked at the man crazily.

“Come on, Ymir. Don’t you have anything to do other than this? You might want to upgrade your style. Be creative and resourceful about threatening me. That won’t affect me at all.”

My voice became hard.

“I’ve been through a lot more than what you have done to me in the past and what you are doing to me now.

I’ve faced Satan, Ymir.”

His hands moved to my neck and squeezed it hard.

“You’re faking being strong again, Karina. I’m warning you. Pack your bags and leave this place if you don’t anything to happen to you,” he warned me again.

I met his burning gaze on me then shook my head weakly.

“Make me if you can. This time, I won’t flee this place against my will. You can’t just tell me things like that, Ymir. I’ll stay and live here until I die and I’ll make sure it will never be in your hands.”

Uniformed men entered and called Ymir. His grip on my neck gradually loosened but he still didn’t look down at me.

“I just hope that you’re ready for the torture I will inflict on you, Karina.”

I shook his hand on my arm and raised my face at him to give him a smirk.

“I’m prepared for everything, Ymir.”

I pointed at the door.

“The door is there. Feel free to show yourself out.”

As if nothing had happened, I returned to my seat and scraped the remaining wine. I looked up when Ymir still didn’t move from his position.

“You know for someone who graduated in Harvard University, you are kinda dumb. Didn’t you know that when the master of the house said that, it’s a sign that she doesn’t want to see someone’s face because it might make her vomit? And oh, what you did earlier is a form of physical assault and it’s recorded. Get out, Ymir.”

A flicker of danger crossed his eyes. It stayed there for a moment before he walked out of the door. His staff followed, glancing at me with curiosity.

When I made sure they were gone, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew it would be messy and ugly coming back to my hometown. I’m sure the people who kicked me out of here will come back for me.

They won’t let me interfere in their plans again.

“They can dare. How I wish they would so that they can taste how a Karina Gastrell works. Just so you wait, people.”

I finished the wine in the bottle then licked the area around my mouth. I looked back down.

So much has changed in this place. It has become too busy and successful for my own liking.

I used to see fields and fields of greens from here, but now tall buildings and establishments have taken their place. Even the small land where our house used to stand has now become a hotel.

This, in this very newly built hotel is where our humble abode was situated before. This is where I built my dreams with my father and brother. This is where I grew up and learned about the bitter truth about life. Even though my life here was difficult, that didn’t stop me from feeling the pure love of a family.

But one incident took all that away. In an instant, all the meager possessions I had disappeared like a bubble. They left nothing to me. Twenty million? That’s too little given all the things they have taken away from me. That amount is not enough to cover the damage they have done against me.

“It’s been a long time, Cerro Roca. I’m back for good. That means, it’s payback time, bitches.”

I stood up, took off my robe, and entered the bathroom. I started making my tub. I added some oil essentials and liquid soap.

The weather is very humid and my body is longing for the cold climate it has been used to for the past years. When I was satisfied with the water temperature, I dipped myself in it. I closed my eyes at the comfort that enveloped me. My back arched. I leaned my head on the pillow on the edge of the bathtub and took a deep breath. I’ll try to catch up on some sleep before I go to the main hub of the area. Cerro Roca has now become a very progressive place. It’s a far cry from the quiet and defeated village I used to live in. My hometown blooms into the full-fledged butterfly that it is now.

Free. Beautiful. Successful.

Just like me. Just like my life now.

My reverie was interrupted by a loud ringing tone. I moved my right hand to reach for the towel and wiped it. I picked up the cellphone that was on the bathroom floor and answered.

“Dear, how are you?”

A smile automatically formed on my lips when I heard the man’s voice on the other line.

I rested my head back into the pillow and lifted my feet to play with the bubbles.

“The best. I have never been happier since I set my feet on the ground of Cerro Roca. I miss this place very much.”

The man in the line laughed.

“How did it go? Did someone harass you there? Tell me everything. I wouldn’t think twice about going there any second of the day. I won’t let anyone hurt you again, Karina.”

My heart was touched by what he said. I was touched by his words. I know he does everything he says and promises. One time he told me he’ll get me out of hell and he did.

“No need to do that,” I said in a soft tone.

“I haven’t even done anything significant here. You have done so much for me already. You made me stronger to face my demons and for that, I’m more than thankful. Let me be for now. After I’m done here, I’ll go back to your arms.”

“I’ll be waiting for your return, Karina. For now, I’m giving you the freedom to do what you want.”

I smiled at the last thing he said. He has always been protective and too giving for my own sake. I am very lucky to have someone like him in my life.

He saved me, practically clothed me, educated me, and loved me.

“I miss you,” I whispered.

“I missed you more, Karina.”

I giggled.

“I love you.”

He sighed.

“I love you more. If only I could make you stay here with me.”

I pouted and adjusted the phone in my ear.

“We’ve talked about this. I need this. I badly need this.”

“If you wanted revenge, I could have helped you in an instant.”

It’s my turn to sigh.

“You know this is not just about revenge. Revenge is too low, too shallow for my cause. I want retribution.”

I heard him sigh again.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt again. I’ve witnessed how you take all the misery in the world after what they did to you.”

“Don’t worry about me. You taught me well. If you fear that I’ll get hurt again then we can do nothing about it anymore. Being hurt is part of the process. I can take it all with me as long as I do what I came here to do.”

“I know I can’t change your mind at all. Just promise me that you’ll come back here safe and sound. If I heard that they have done something again to you, God knows what I’m capable of doing, Karina.”

I laughed softly. I utterly dismissed his idea.

“You are the only person left in this world for me. I’ll be stronger for you, always. We will see each other again.”

“The last time you said that, I found you in a deeply sorry state. If you had stopped me back then from doing the first thing on my mind, then I’ll make sure that this time I’ll do it. I’ll die for you, Karina.”

My chest was filled with emotion because of what he said.

“I know you will, so I will take care of myself for you.”

The call ended within twenty minutes. He didn’t stop until I agreed to add more security personnel. I already did hire a few men but he still insists on adding some more so I just said yes. He must be the most insistent man I’ve ever met.

He won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Actually, our goals don’t digress that much from each other. I will also not stop until I get what I wanted and that is to get my husband back in my arms.

The gray eyes of the man I first gave everything to appeared in my mind. I smiled bitterly as the image slowly formed in my mind.

My husband has become the person I always know he will eventually become.

Successful.

Rich.

Everything he wanted is within the tip of his fingertips.

Money.

Respect.

And women.

“Your happy days of fooling around is numbered, Cholo. Your wife is back, my dear. And when I say I’m back, it means that I’m back for good.”

A satisfied look appeared on my face while I closed my eyes and submerged myself into the water.