Chapter 4

#Dangerous_lane*

_Vicky_

When desire becomes brutal, one can do nothing but break.

“Good morning, Aunty.”

Gracie greeted me, her big bright eyes blinking as she looked at me with nothing but innocence in hers.

I was sitting up on the bed, my hair a hot mess, with nothing to cover my naked body. Everywhere felt sore — between my legs, my neck, my knees… basically everywhere. My head throbbed violently and I winced as I looked around. Michael was gone. It was just me and Gracie in the room.

Shame clouded me in an instant. The residue of my foolishness lingered, and I could smell him. His scent was everywhere. On the sheets, in the room — hell, his nasty cologne was all over my body.

“Oh, good Lord!”

I cried and bolted out of the bed in an instant. I struggled to find my stance as my legs were all wobbly.

Gracie giggled innocently. She jumped repeatedly as if she was excited.

I grabbed my clothes from the floor in an instant and found my way to the bathroom.

“Wait for me, baby… I’ll be back, okay?”

I called after Gracie, hoping she wouldn’t go wandering around the house. I needed to cleanse myself.

I could hear her little noises. She is just an innocent little girl, and we… we did that on the same bed she was sleeping on.

I felt horrible.

Why did I do that? Was it the alcohol? But I kissed him first… did I want him? Oh hell no!

I hate Michael Kane with passion. The blood in my veins boils with anger anytime I see him. So why would I sleep with him?

I was struggling inside the shower.

I felt ashamed.

This is a man I hated, the man that treated my friend badly, the man I blame solely for my sister Jane’s death. If it wasn’t because of him, Jane would still be alive. If it wasn’t for how him and his family treated my best friend, then she wouldn’t have died. My best friend had been through so much. She was raped, and that was how she gave birth to Gracie. No one but me knows. The rapist was never found. Connie never spoke up or reported the incident because she was trying so hard to protect the Kane family name. If all of this had gotten out, then it would create a scandal. Michael never cared. He never asked her who the father of the baby was. They all just assumed she had been wayward and given birth to a girl the same way her mother gave birth to her.

Only I understood her pain. Only I stood with her. There were times when she hated her poor little baby and detested the sight of the girl because it reminded her of her trauma. I was there as the second parent. I was the extra mother Gracie needed.

Now Connie is gone. What killed her or who killed her, I’ll probably never know. The police ruled the case as an accident, but I know better.

Here I am, sleeping with the same man I hate so much. How do I face him now? How do I face Gracie? I have failed both of us. I threw myself at Michael Kane. How did I become so cheap? Even Cole didn’t have his way with me easily. How could I let Michael get into my pants just like that?

I stayed under the running water for more than twenty minutes. Gracie’s cry was the only thing that snapped me out of my daze. I quickly took a towel and rushed out of the room.

Gracie stopped crying and started giggling the moment she saw me.

“You naughty child.”

I chuckled as I rubbed her head.

I found something to wear, took Gracie, and then I headed downstairs.

I still felt an immense headache and I needed something to eat, as well as some food for Gracie.

The entire house was quiet, but my chest still beat rapidly.

With each step I took, I prayed to God that Michael would not be in the house and that he would’ve left for work already.

I walked towards the kitchen with Gracie still in my arms. My mood was a bit calm. There was no sign of Michael in the house, and it helped me relax a bit.

As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, I stopped dead in my tracks.

There he was — Michael Kane. Sitting casually on the kitchen counter, with a glass of coffee beside him.

He wore a pair of long, black, tailored pants, but he was bare on top. His hair looked damp, and he had on a pair of glasses.

I gulped as I took in the scene in front of me. He looked good. I couldn’t lie to myself about that or convince myself that this man was undesirable. In as much as I hate his guts, Michael Kane is still one of the finest men I’ve ever seen in my life.

Memories of what happened last night came flooding back. His tongue, his touch, his roughness — everything. It was as if the events of last night were happening again. Shame flooded me. My cheeks flushed red, and I tried to avoid his gaze as he looked up at me, but it was too late. He already caught me staring at him.

“Do you need to take a picture? You could frame it and keep it in your bedroom.”

He muttered, his lips curling up in a smirk. I bit my lip. What does this man want me to do now?

I couldn’t say anything. I felt shameful.

“Mi…chael,” baby Gracie blabbered. His gaze moved to her as she waved and jumped excitedly in my arms.

He smiled at her. I could tell he had no experience with kids. He could only smile.

I used this opportunity and distraction to walk away.

I found my way to the cabinet and took out her formula.

As I prepared it while backing Michael and holding Gracie in one arm, I could feel his piercing gaze on my back. He hadn’t said anything about last night. It’s best I shut up as well. Let’s just pretend this never happened, for my own sake.

I sighed. I needed to get out of this house. I can’t function under the same roof as him.

“I need to go get myself some clothes. Can you get a temporary nanny for Gracie so she can look after her when I’m gone?”

I asked without looking back at him.

He didn’t say anything for about a minute, and I didn’t look back as well. I could tell he didn’t like what I just said, but who cares?

“You want to leave?”

He finally asked.

I kept quiet. I heard sounds, then movement. He was walking towards me. I felt terrified. I quickly grabbed the bottle of milk I had just prepared in haste and turned around, but it was too late. He was already standing in front of Gracie and me, hovering above us like a palm tree.

“Look at me, Victoria.”

He ordered. His voice was icy, and his demeanor had changed from the teasing one he had on when I walked in to his usual temperament.

I didn’t like the fact that he was ordering me around, but I couldn’t look in his face either. I still felt shame from what happened last night. That shouldn’t have happened.

He grabbed my chin and yanked my face up so I could stare at him in the eye. My lips trembled, and my legs threatened to give out.

“I am now responsible for you and for Gracie. You do not breathe or leave without me knowing.”

His voice was sharp. It was a command disguised as a statement.

It was threatening. He was trying so hard to assert his dominance.

“Get away from me, you monster.”

I laced my words with contempt, and I made sure he felt it. His eyes twitched. For a moment there was a shift in his mood, but then it went back to an icy look. I couldn’t tell what he was feeling, but I knew my words got to him. He let go of me and took a step backward. I walked away in haste.

“Next time, don’t sleep with a monster. You might not wake up.”

He teased. I felt the insult, but I didn’t stop to react. He wanted a reaction out of me, but he was not going to get any.

I found my way to the sitting room and sat Gracie down before giving her the milk. I sighed and sat down beside her.

She’s old enough to stop drinking formula and start eating normal food. I’ll work on that. I might need to find her a nanny just in case, because I still need to work, but I can’t focus when she’s always around. I need someone to monitor her when I’m working too.

Michael didn’t follow us out. I guess he went back to work on his tablet. I kind of felt relief that he didn’t bring up what happened last night too much. I’d die of shame. I guess it was to him the same thing it was to me: a hate fuck.

I hate Michael Kane, and he reciprocates.

Gracie was so happy feasting on her milk. I heard commotion outside. Then there was a loud banging on the door.

“I’ll be back, baby.”

I pecked Gracie and left her on the couch to check who was at the door. It must be the supervisor the lawyer said he would send over.

I got to the door and opened it. A tall, dark, and slender lady stood in front of the door. She was elegantly dressed, but she had this smug and dissatisfied look on her face. The gatekeeper ran up to the front door and stood beside the woman.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Smith. She suddenly showed up and insisted that she needed to see Mr. Kane. I tried to stop her, but I couldn’t.”

The guard apologized with a bow.

“It’s okay. You can go.”

I dismissed him.

Who is this lady? Why is she here so early, and why the hell is she looking for Michael at this residence?

“Ummm… who are you?”

I asked her with a nervous smile.

She didn’t return my smile. Instead, she rolled her eyes.

“You must be the other guardian. I’m here for Michael. Is he inside?”

She returned my question with another question.

The other guardian? Who is this rude lady referring to as the other guardian?

“You didn’t answer my question, lady.”

I stated.

“Oh, you’re wasting my time. Please step aside.”

She snapped and shoved me aside, forcing herself into the house.

“Michael! Michael, where are you? I know you’re in there.”

She started calling out for Michael.

Who the actual heck is this lady? And why does she feel like she can barge into this building like this, even shoving me aside?

Michael emerged from the kitchen as soon as he heard her voice.

She eyed him from head to toe.

“Why are you half naked alone with her, Michael?”

The lady asked.

This rude lady must be out of her mind.

“Michael, who the fuck is she?”

I asked. I was also angry. She can’t be the only one that is angry.

“I’m his fiancée. That’s who the fuck I am.”