Page 12 of Ruthless Rival

Chapter Five:Confrontation

Gabriela

My black heels clicked against the white tile of the hospital floor as I strode down the hallway toward my brother’s hospital room. Being here felt suffocating like the walls were closing in on either side of me. I let out a shaky breath, sweat threatening to break out across the crown of my head.

I hated hospitals as the memory of when my babies were taken from me always came back painfully whenever I was in a place like this. I had visited Carlos at least four times a month while he had been here. It had been hard to get in when there was no enemy family present. It felt cruel being here, but I wanted to be here for my brother. I also needed to confront my family. They needed to know that I wouldn’t allow them to step on me any longer.

The only thing that made me feel at ease was that I’d managed to finally land a date with Alberto Mancini. My plan was still in motion even though it had taken months to get here and having a few drinks with a handsome man would be a good way to end today. With my family involved, chaos was bound to happen.

Before I could go around the corner, I nearly ran straight into Ignacio, who seemed to have been looking for me. I wanted to hug him, as I hadn’t seen him a while, but I refrained from doing so. “What’s going on? Are they still in Carlos’ room?” I asked him, hoping I hadn’t missed my chance. There were only so many instances when my entire family was together in one place at one time.

Ignacio nodded as he tugged on the collar of his white polo shirt, relieving some of the pressure around his neck. He seemed tense, but who wouldn’t be tense in a room full of Castillos? “They’re all in there,” he replied. “I just wanted to check on you.”

“Check on me? You look like you’re about to pass out,” I commented.

Ignacio stared at me while looking concerned. “You don’t look so hot yourself, prima,” he replied.

I brushed my fingers through my hair and straightened up. My family was the type to attack whenever they saw any sort of weakness. They didn’t have an ounce of mercy in their souls, but I had already figured out that they didn’t even have souls either. At least…most of them. “This is my first time around all of them again,” I reminded him. “I might be put in a hospital bed of my own.”

Ignacio looked at me with warmth in his eyes. “I won’t let that happen.”

I shook my head. The last thing I wanted was for him to blow his cover. It was risky for us to be talking now, but we wouldn’t be out here long. I had business to take care of, but it was nice of him to check in on me. “Act normal. You know, like you worship every move he makes,” I muttered. It drove me crazy how people were so submissive to my father.

“You know that he’s a ticking time bomb, especially now,” Ignacio warned me before glancing behind him. “He’s increased security. It’s like he’s paranoid.”

“His favorite child was nearly killed. What do you expect?” I stated while lowering my eyes. This situation made me face a cruel harsh truth. “If it were me, he wouldn’t even bat an eye.” It wasn’t fair that my own father didn’t care about me. He only cared about money and power and I couldn’t help him gain any of those. He saw me as a nuisance, so I saw him as a monster. At least we agreed to not like each other.

“He’s never been a caring man,” Ignacio reminded me. “Nothing is on you.”

I raised my gaze to his face. He had warm brown eyes with light hazel flecks and dark hair with light waves. Being a part of the same family many of us shared certain features. We were all linked, but it felt like we were all so far apart at the same time.

“I don’t care what he thinks. I just want this to be over with.” I adjusted the sleeves of my dress. My rivalry with my father would last for a while, but I just wanted to take at least one step forward.

“It will be,” Ignacio assured me as he placed his hand on my shoulder. He gave me a small smile before glancing behind him. “I have to go. I’ll see you in there.” He hurried away.

I took a moment to catch my breath. At least I was in a public place. If I felt like my life was in danger. I could always call for help and hope my father wasn’t crazy enough to still kill me with so many people around. I wouldn’t hold my breath, though.

After readying myself, I rounded the corner, smoothing my hands down my long-sleeve black dress. A tiny part of me wasn’t prepared for this. I wanted to throw up and cry at the same time. The other part of me wanted this to happen. No,neededthis to happen.

When I saw Room 316 ahead of me, I slowed my walk, hearing voices pouring out of my brother’s room. It sounded like all of my family was crowded in there. Everyone loved Carlos with his devilish smirk and attitude. He reminded me of the villain everyone couldn’t help but love because he had the charisma and charm of a bachelor.

Carlos adored me, treating me like any good brother would treat their little sister. He messed with me and played pranks on me when we were younger. We were an inseparable pair, but as we grew older and became more involved in our family’s business, our father drove a wedge between us. Meanwhile, the rest of my family turned their nose up at me.

We spent less time together because my father wanted Carlos around him all the time to learn how he did things. Gradually, I was pushed away, becoming an outcast in my own family. I never felt like I belonged. This had prompted me to find love far away from the circles of people in my life. I wished Carlos found something special far away too.

I truly believed Carlos was a good man, despite our father’s influence. Maybe I was the only one who saw him that way because he could be tough. When he set his sights on something, he executed it with grace, unless some beautiful woman came along and caught his attention.

They were his weakness. As a gorgeous man, he loved gorgeous women, and if he’d spent less time pleasing my father, he could settle down with one of those women to live a long, happy, and safe life. However, this ending seemed like a long shot now since he was suspended in the dark, unpredictable depths of a coma.

I stopped outside of my brother’s room, I had been here a few times before, and the guards hadn’t refused me entrance then. I supposed my father hadn’t blacklisted me yet, but he might do that after today. With a confidence I did not really feel, I walked into the room, drawing every pair of eyes to me.

Some of my family members looked shocked. Some of them looked disgusted. Only a few seemed fine with my presence, one of those being Ignacio, who stood in the corner of the room.

The crushing, claustrophobic feeling grew even more intense as I peered at my family, who should’ve been by my side during my darkest moments. Honestly, it felt like I now stood in a room full of strangers. Soon, they would be my enemies.

I swallowed hard and kept my head up, refusing to look weak or scared in front of any of them. They didn’t deserve the satisfaction. I had suffered too damn much to back down now. I soon located my father, who sat in a chair next to Carlos’ right side.

I paused for a moment and gazed down at Carlos with a frown on my face. He looked so still and broken. Tubes and wires were hooked all over him. His head wasn’t bandaged anymore, but he seemed so limp. He looked thinner than the last time I had visited him and this worried me.

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