Sierra

" W e should have just stayed longer. I would have preferred being tied up for days than having to face your sister," I say, the anxiety only builds the closer we get to the Dominguez estate. My body practically trembles at the possible reactions from Catalina.

"You don't have to tell her anything. We don't have to say a thing if you don't want to," he murmurs, as he places a hand on my thigh and gently squeezes. The car comes to a stop, and the rumbles of the engine are turned off as he moves his body to face me.

"She needs to know. She deserves the truth. I just hope she can still love me the way I love her," I respond heartbroken at the thought of losing my only family. Grabbing onto the handle of the car, I push the door opened and quickly walk towards the front door of his home. My attempts of staying ahead of him fail when he grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers together.

"Honey, I'm home," he sings the moment he steps inside.

"Juliannn!" Cat screams from a different part of the house. I can hear her footsteps getting closer and I can't help but close my eyes and pray for the courage. I don't believe I have to see the disappointment in her eyes.

"I KNEW IT!" She squeals as she flings her body on mine. I grunt in surprise as I take a few steps back. Julian's hand tightens on mine making sure I don't get too far.

"Um, can we talk for a moment," I whisper hesitantly, too afraid to voice the truth to anyone but her.

"Yeah, let's go to the office," she says, grabbing my free hand and pulling me away from Julian. The loss of his warmth causes my body to tremble in fear of what his sister will say the moment I tell her the truth. She pulls me through the dark hallway, into the office, and closes the door behind us as gently as she could.

"I knew there was something going on between you two. I could sense it! Oh my God. I'm so excited. You'll be my sister! And"

"I'm -I'm the Slasher," I say, my voice cracking as I interrupt her ramblings and her excitement. She takes a moment to pause, blinking at me like she can't comprehend what I just said. She looks confused and perplexed, trying to find the right words.

"I just wanted you to know who I became. Well, who I've always been. I know you may not approve but it is something I had to do." I cry, the tears running down my cheeks before she can even say a word. I watch her part her lips like she wants to say something, but I don't let her, hoping that if I keep talking, she won't hate me as much.

"What you don't know about me is that I have a dark past. One that I've had to endure on my own and when we were kidnapped all the old wounds ripped open once more. I just, I just wanted you to know who I am. I know you probably won't approve of Julian and I. I tried to fight it; I did. I'll respect your decision if you don't want me to move forward with him. I promise I'll walk away and,"

I stop talking the moment she lifts her hand and makes the stop motion. I wait while the only sounds in the room are of my soft whimpers as I cry and curse myself internally for having told her the truth, for being this stupid.

She lowers her hand and looks at me as if she sees me for the first time. "I already knew," she confesses, and now it's my turn to stare at her confused.

"Enzo had been investigating, he thought it was weird that Julian disappeared for some time and Ry knew something but wasn't telling him. I'm not exactly sure how he found out. And when he told me I was angry. I'm not going to pretend to know what you went through, but I understand that you did what you thought was best to protect others. I trust you, , and no matter what I love you. Do you love him?" Her eyebrows arch at the question, waiting for me to respond for several minutes.

"I do," I whisper.

"Good. I know he loves you with how he punched Marcelo and took all the cigars from the house. I'm not sure why but with the way you paused and disappeared that day it makes sense. He was also hellbent on finding Eduardo and torturing him for what he did to us, to you. He gave up torturing him to be with you from what Marcelo told me. It's a side of him we've never seen. You don't need my blessing . He loves you and for me all I ask for is that you love him too."

"He did that?" I sniffle silently, mostly to myself than to her. He gave me the choice when it came to Eduardo, but I figured he would go back to him in the end to do what he does best. What I didn't know was that he punched his brother who is acting head of the Dominguez Cartel over a cigar.

"Yeah. I love you. You're still my family, and we'll be here to help you every step of the way." She steps closer to me and wraps her arms around my neck, her strawberry perfume invades my senses as she tightens her hold on me.

The door opening breaks us apart as Enzo strides in with Julian right behind him. Enzo wraps his arms around Cat and pulls her body flush against his. Julian wraps his arms around my waist and rests his head on my shoulder.

"We'll be heading for Vegas at the end of the week. So, let's have a farewell gathering with the family. So we can all be together one last time for the time being," Enzo suggests, his eyes remain on his wife, watching as Cat's face lights up with excitement. She turns towards him and places sweet kisses on his lips. They truly are the perfect couple; he does everything he can for her to be happy. After everything Cat has been through, she deserves her happiness.

"Let's go," Julian whispers in my ear, his warm breath by my ear has me break out in goosebumps.