Chapter 04

HAZEL 

My body aches deliciously good as I slowly blink awake the following morning. I lost count of how many rounds I went last night with my mysterious stranger. We barely made it to the hotel when we started tearing at each other’s clothes again. 

We did it on the bed, close to the window, on the coffee table, the sofa, against the wall and then back on the bed again. It’s like we couldn’t get enough of each other, Kane and I have never done more than twice a night and most times he’s the one spent and begging for a break. 

Now with the sun rising introducing a new day, I couldn’t help but feel guilty about last night. Hooking up with a stranger is something way out of character for me! I looked at the empty bed beside me, noticing the note stamped to the nightstand lamp. 

Morning sweetheart, I had to leave to attend the emergency meeting I was in town for. I extended payment for the room so please do not leave until I get back in a couple of hours. You might experience a bit of a hangover so I ordered the staff to prepare some breakfast tray for you, see you soon. 

I sigh with relief, since he wasn’t going to be back for a couple of hours, I have time to compose myself and think of what to do next. I rang for the room service and some minutes later, a breakfast tray was brought to my room. Bacon, scrambled egg, toast and coffee! 

Despite the situation and guilt I felt happy and happily consumed the breakfast after brushing my mouth. I took a shower, changed into my dress from last night and left the hotel, never to see the stranger again. I can’t run away from Kane forever, and I have no doubt I’ll be seeing him soon. 

My apartment wasn’t empty when I arrived but instead of Kane, it was Aria I met pacing around. She jumped on me immediately I entered the house, hugging me so tightly I could hardly breath. 

“Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?” She burst into tears and I felt even more guilty than I already did. While I was getting railed last night, my best friend was worried sick about me. 

“I’m sorry, I just needed some time to myself.” The events of last night rushed back to the surface and I felt myself hurting again, in fact worse than I did last night. 

“I thought someone kidnapped you or you got into an accident but while I was calling you like a crazy person, a stranger picked up and told me she found your things in the middle of the road. That didn’t make me feel better, where were you?” 

“I went to a club, drank myself until I felt numbed and passed out in a hotel.” I lied, as much as I wanted to tell her the truth, Kane was still her brother and I didn’t think she would be very supportive of the decision I made last night. 

“I can’t believe Kane would do that to you!” She spat out now that her concerns about my whereabouts had been dealt with. “I’m so ashamed of my brother’s action, Hazel.” 

Speaking of the devil, a knock on the door made Aria stop talking and went to answer it. Immediately Kane stepped into the house, he fell to his knees crying. I couldn’t understand his tears, I’m the one he cheated on and he still has the audacity to cry. 

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed at him. 

“I’m sorry Hazel, please give me another chance to prove to you how sorry I am. Please… you know I’d never hurt you.” 

“But you did Kane, you did hurt me and what hurt the most is that I never thought you would. If you were so unhappy, why didn’t you tell me? I would have done something, be a better girlfriend to you.” 

“Don’t you dare blame yourself!” Hissed Aria, stepping in our middle, protectively shielding me from her brother. “He could have done the honourable thing by breaking up with you, the only person here to blame is him!” 

“Stay out of this Aria, this is between Hazel and I.” Kane yelled at her, giving me the feeling that if I didn’t do something then a fight would break out between the two of them. 

“In a way, he’s right, Aria. Could you give us some time alone? We need to talk.” 

“Fine! I’m going for a walk because I can’t bear to stand in the same room as him!” With that, she stalked out of the house, after giving her brother one last murderous look. 

A few minutes after she left, Kane reached for me but I swat his hands away. “I said we could talk to Kane, that doesn’t give you the right to touch me!” 

“Thank you for agreeing to talk to me, I love you so much Hazel, I can’t bear the thought of losing you, I will die.” He choked on his own tears, still kneeling he buried his face on my feet. 

“Kane, your actions and words are not aligning. How can I trust that you love me after last night? I thought you would propose, I was so happy but our anniversary turned out to be a nightmare, I wished never happen. I don’t think I can ever trust you again.” 

“I wanted to propose, I planned to.” He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a ring box.

More tears spilled from my eyes, so I moved away from him. “Why.” I broke down, I wanted to understand why he would do that to us but at the same time I knew no amount of explanation could ever make me understand!