Chapter 5. Undoing

Katherine POV

The kiss jolted me. I never expected the aloof and standoffish Lucas Sanders to be capable of doing something like this.

He hated me. I was sure of it. But why does his kiss tell me otherwise? 

There was anger, longing, affection, and something else which I could not define. 

I was like a statue, and for a few seconds, I did not respond until he growled, using that distinct tone when he said my name. 

“Kiss me back, Katherine.” 

I did not know what to do.

I was shocked because for the first time in my life, I felt excitement. Heat pooled in my stomach, making my body tremble. 

Then, he lightly bit my lower lip, making it tingle, sending a low-voltage electric current coursing through my spine, and settling in the pit of my stomach. 

I shivered, not in fear, but in something else. 

Despite my misgivings, I shyly opened my lips when the tip of his tongue skimmed the inner seam.  Then, I mimicked his actions.  I kissed him back. This time, with so much unspent passion.

This seemed to fire Lucas’ up as he continued to maraud my mouth and dominate the kiss. He was taking charge  but making sure that I was enjoying it. 

“Open your mouth.” He ordered.

When I did, Lucas’s tongue swooped in and explored unabashedly, creating a tingle of pleasure from where the tip of his tongue touched. 

My body shook in pleasure. I heard a moan, horrified when I realized the sound came from me. 

I felt him smile through our kiss, and humiliation spread through me. 

It was like a dousing of cold water. I woke up from my passion-induced trance and pushed Lucas Sanders off me. 

His hand wrapped around me tightened as he tried to lean his head once more to fuse our lips, but I turned my head to the other side to evade his advances. 

Our chest heaves while we both suck in breath to fill our lungs with air. 

I gaped at him, confusion marring my face. 

“This isn’t right,” I told him in response to the silent question rimming his eyes. 

“Right has nothing to do with it, dearie. I want you, and based on your reaction, you wanted me, too. Name your price.” He drawled, using that same tone of voice again. I did not know why but it makes me feel things I can’t define nor understand. 

But then, his words sank in and realized I had been insulted. Just when I had changed my mind about him, he said something that frazzled my nerves. 

“You really think money is everything, huh?” I challenged him, feeling disgusted with myself for being weak from his advances.  

“And why not? You let your ex-husband manipulate you for money. He’s done much worse, but you still accept his money.” Lucas Sanders spat out arrogantly.

“That is different!” I rebutted shakily. 

“How is it different? He was trampling on your dignity all because of money!  That’s the same thing according to my book.” 

My hand itched to slap him. 

For the first time in my life, I felt hatred for Lucas Sanders like I had never felt with anyone. 

“Is that why you became successful? You weaponized money to get what you want.  News flash, mister.  Money can’t buy you love or happiness. No one can truly love you if you always brandish your money on people’s faces all the time. ” I told him, shoving my index finger to the center of his chest. 

He stepped back. His face was devoid of any emotion, and that made me scared as h*ll.

I did not know what came over me to say those words out loud.

Looking at Lucas Sanders’ stormy face, I blanched. 

“And what about you? Aren’t you selling your soul to the devil for money?” Lucas Sanders snapped back.

There may have been some grain of truth to his accusation, but that’s because of my daughter. I will do anything for my daughter.

This time, I can no longer hold on to my temper. Anger spread through my entire being.

“You b*stard!” I lashed out and slapped him hard on the cheek. 

Lucas’ face showed his shock before his eyes flashed in anger.

I stepped back in fear when he lifted his arm. 

I thought he would slap me back, but what he did next surprised me. 

“Let go!  What are you doing?” I cried hysterically. 

He clamped on my arm and dragged me out of his office like I weighed nothing. 

Lucas Sanders banged the door after he threw me out, and I was left standing outside, staring at his closed door, with Dan Burns gaping at me in shock. 

Without a word, and feeling a blush spreading to the roots of my hair, I stomped on my feet and left, feeling the heavy stares of the people on Lucas Sanders' floor. 

At the hospital, I went to the billing section to surrender the check Greg gave me earlier.  Then, I hurriedly went to my daughter’s room. 

“Mommy! Mommy!” She cried weakly. 

I ran to her bedside and enfolded her in my arms.  

“Did you miss mommy?” I asked Erin while hugging her, inhaling her natural baby scent that comforted my frayed nerves. 

“Yes.  I miss mommy all the time. Where have you been?” 

My mind went blank all of a sudden. So many things happened this morning that I wanted to push the memories of those painful experiences out of my head. 

“Mommy just went to the office,” I told her. 

Erin nodded.  “Is that why you looked sad? Did daddy shout at you again?” She asked. 

I sniffed, trying to choke back a sob.  Erin is too young, but she is a smart girl. She had been noticing since last year that we were not a regular family. Greg never showed affection toward her. She grew up fearing him. 

I shook my head when I realized Erin was waiting for my reply. Then, I hugged her once more. 

“No.  Mommy just settled a few things at the office.” I fabricated a lie so as not to worry her. 

“You don’t look good, mommy,” Erin said when I pulled back to tuck a tendril of hair into the back of her ear.

“Are you afraid? They said today is my surgery. Are you scared that I won’t wake up after?” 

Her words frightened me.  My hand shook, and my heart felt like it had fallen out of my chest. 

“No. You are going to be fine, sweetie.” I told with a brave front despite the pain I was feeling. 

Erin had been born with a heart defect and had been a regular at the hospital since it was discovered two years ago.  She underwent treatments until her doctors told me that she needed surgery.

A nurse came in.  “Are you ready for your surgery, Erin?” She asked cheerfully. 

Erin gave her a weak thumbs up. “Yes. But can I ask a favor?” 

“Sure.” The nurse gamely said while she arranged her bed, preparing for her transfer to the operating room. 

“Can you hold my mommy’s hand while she waits for me to wake up?  You see, I don’t want to see my mommy sad.” 

Her words had been my undoing.  I ran out of the ward with the excuse that I needed to go to the bathroom, but when the door closed on me, my shoulders started shaking, and I was crying profusely.