The morning sun filtered through the living room curtains, casting a pale, merciless light on Katrina as she slowly emerged from a restless sleep. Lying naked on the couch, covered only by a thin sheet that had slipped during the night, she winced as she felt a throbbing migraine pulsing at the back of her head. She put a hand to her head, confused, the blurry memories of the day before flooding in in snatches: the drugged wine, Asher rejecting her advances, a broken vase... And then the black.
"Hello," called a cold, distant voice from across the room.
Katrina jumped, instinctively pulling the sheet to cover her bare chest, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Klaus stood there, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his harsh, accusatory gaze cutting through her like a blade. He was still wearing yesterday's clothes, wrinkled, and his expression betrayed a sleepless night, marked by disappointment.
- Klaus? What are you doing at my house? she stammered, her voice hoarse, as she pulled the sheet up to her chin, avoiding his gaze.
Suddenly, the images of the previous night overwhelmed her again. Then, touching the back of her head again, she frowned.
- Wait... Did you knock me out? she asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, a pang of anger rising within her.
Klaus chuckled bitterly, amused despite the palpable tension in the air. He took a step closer, but remained at a distance, as if an invisible wall separated them.
- No, not me. Miria did it. With a vase, by the way. Rather precise, that is.
Katrina's eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding painfully in her chest.
- Miria? My daughter ? No, it's impossible! She would never do that! she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch, a mixture of disbelief and denial making her tremble. Why would she...?
Klaus shrugged, his amusement giving way to icy coldness, his eyes hardening.
- Believe what you want, Katrina. But that doesn't change the facts. She knocked you out because you were going too far with Asher. Then she called me to stay with you, to "watch" you. Apparently, she didn't want to leave you alone in this state.
The tension in the room thickens, the air charged with electricity, like before a storm. Katrina sat up slightly, hugging the sheet against her, her pale face contrasting with the redness of her cheeks. She shook her head, refusing to accept.
- No... Miria wouldn't have... she stammered, but Klaus interrupted her sharply, his voice rising for the first time, betraying suppressed frustration.
- Stop hiding your face! What happened to you last night? Drug Asher to sleep with him? You don't even like him! Explain yourself, Katrina. Why do such a thing? he insisted, finally approaching, his fists clenched at his sides, his voice vibrating with barely controlled anger.
Katrina backed up against the back of the sofa, under the pressure of his accusatory gaze. The headache intensified, but it was the guilt that gnawed at her the most. She looked away, tears welling up, but she blinked them back, trying to keep up a facade of dignity.
- I... It was a mistake, she whispered, but Klaus didn't let go, his voice becoming more urgent, almost pleading under the rage.
- An error? You drugged him! You forced him! Why, Katrina? Answer me! he yelled, taking another step, the tension between them so palpable it was almost physical, as if the air was crackling.
Under the pressure, Katrina broke down, tears finally streaming down her cheeks. She looked up at him, her gaze haunted by regret.
- It was to forget you! To get away from me! she cried, her voice breaking, her shoulders trembling.
Klaus was speechless for a moment, frozen, as if the words had struck him right in the heart. He took a step back, eyes wide, raw pain crossing his face.
- Forget me? he stammered, his voice lower, but full of intense emotion.
Katrina nodded, wiping away her tears angrily, her voice gaining strength despite the sobs.
- Yes ! You're too young for me, Klaus. I'm old enough to be your mother! Those hot nights we spent together... It was a mistake. This should never have happened! We can't see each other anymore. It's bad! What would people think if they found out I was dating a guy my daughter's age? she screamed, her voice rising to a crescendo, the words spilling out like a broken dam, the tension culminating in an emotional outburst.
Klaus paled, sharp pain crossing his eyes, as if she had slapped him. He clenched his jaw, struggling to contain his emotions, but his voice shook as he responded.
- So... You say you wanted to sleep with Asher to forget me and get away from you... Just because of our age gap? he asked, his voice hoarse, thick with betrayal and sorrow, his eyes glistening with a moisture he refused to let slide.
Katrina turned her head away, unable to hold his gaze any longer, tears flowing freely now. The silence settled in, heavy and oppressive, the tension between them like a rope straining to break. Klaus waited a moment, perhaps hoping for an answer, a denial, but nothing came. Finally, he shook his head, a bitter, pained laugh escaping his lips. Without another word, he stood up, turned on his heel and left the room, the door slamming behind him as an end to their argument. Katrina was left alone, buried in the sheet, her heart in tatters, the migraine nothing compared to the emotional pain that overwhelmed her.