"So Michel taught you how to..."

"Shoot? Yes, he did. But just the basics, I trained myself to be this good."


Fanny was silent for a moment, replaying not just a story but Kaylin's real life, suddenly feeling overcome by a deep sense of guilt.

While she focused on her own difficult life, Fanny acted completely insensitive to those around her. She's clearly not the only one dealing with the gruesome loss of a loved one and the reality is Kaylin - a woman she finds very tough on and unaffected by anything - having been through such things, really opened her eyes.

Licking her lips, Fanny stared. "I'm sorry about your sister, Kaylin." She honestly said.


Kaylin nodded curtly, clearly uncomfortable dealing with these many emotions. Even as she shared this with Fanny, she still didn't want to go down this pit of pity and disgust.

"Can I ask you something else?"


Kaylin frowned at Fanny as she let out another chuckle. "You certainly have a lot of questions." She shook her head, a smile still on her lips, showing that she wasn't really serious.

Fanny smiled softly as she formed the words in her head before speaking them out.

"Is what you told me why you want to help me today?" She asked, clearly alluding to Kaylin's sister and herself having both been attacked by a member of Phoenix with no tools or way to escape.

Kaylin gave her a look that Fanny immediately understood. Yes, she has.

She wants Fanny to be able to defend herself unlike when she was kidnapped. Unlike Kaylin's sister when she was raped. Unlike the current Kaylin, who could neither protect her nor herself.

"Kaylin?"

"What?"

"Thank."

Kaylin let out a hum, immediately covering up the emotional moment by flipping it lightly. "Come on, I'm not doing this girly association. You should know that much by now."

Fanny smiled and took the vodka bottle, filling both glasses.

"Uh, shall we drink?"

"I can do it."

---

Michel slammed the door of his and Fanny's room and stomped down the hallway and stairs. Where is she?

He can't find her anywhere and even after asking all of their security, he's pretty sure no one saw Fanny leaving the house. Then where is she?

He was in utter panic when he dialed Andy's number again.

"She's not anywhere in the back garden." Andy immediately answered the call, sounding breathless as he had to jog through the entire mansion behind.

"Then where is she?"

Vengo and Carlos didn't return his calls, Audrey was resting with Farrah babysitting while Charles and Rosabella were in his room recuperating from an eventful day.

Without waiting for Andy to answer, Michel hung up the phone to dial Kaylin's number when the front door suddenly opened and she walked in, followed by none other than Fanny - the woman he had been looking for, for about an hour.

Not only was he completely shocked by her casual stroll inside the mansion as if there was nothing when she went out in the first place, but she also laughed along with everyone else's Kaylin.

"Michel. Kaylin and I...

"Are you out of your mind, Fanny?" Michel roared, causing the girls to immediately freeze and shut up.

Michel was very angry. Even though he knew she couldn't just disappear like that, for the past hour all he could think about was Phoenix or Mr. Aiden somehow grabbed her, especially after what happened to Charles and Rosabella just hours earlier.

Never in a million years would he have guessed that she had just gone with Kaylin. And don't tell him.

"Michel, I..."

"What are you thinking? Do you know what you just put me through?"

When Kaylin saw Fanny flinch, she stepped forward to try to cool off a bit of the heat. "No offense, boss, but maybe you should..."

"You shut up. I should shoot you for putting her in danger. Who do you think you are?"

Kaylin knew better than to answer him back so when she kept quiet, Michel just grabbed Fanny's arm and angrily led them up the stairs towards their room.

He didn't really hurt her, but Fanny also guessed that it most likely wasn't the best time to tell him to slow down.

On the surface, she was worried about him getting sick anyway.

When they were alone in the room, Fanny immediately tried to explain her absence, feeling bad that she hadn't thought this through.

"Michel..."

"What happened to you?" Michel continued to scream as he let go of her hand only to start pacing the room, seething as he continued with his words.

"I'm sorry, Michel."

"You should be. How can you be so reckless and stupid?" Michel came to stand in front of her, his face full of indignation.

But at the words he just said, Fanny's emotions immediately changed, causing her to gasp out loud.

"Reckless and stupid?"

Michel rolled his eyes. No, Fanny wouldn't let him talk to her like that. She understands his concerns, of course.

But what in the world does he think they are? King and slave? Because if he thinks so, he has another thing coming his way.

"You know, I'm not sorry. Not at all. Reckless and stupid? I'm not going out alone. I'm under Kaylin's protection. And for the record, we went to the shooting range. She taught me how to shoot. Yes, Michel. That's what I'm doing. Trying to learn how to protect myself. I know, don't I? I must be stupid to do that. And reckless? Is it true, Michel? If living here and being with you taught me one thing, that I can never be safe Not even in this ridiculous mansion Gwen lived right under our noses if you can't recall on your own and while you've asked for increased security, we were still attacked at Andy's wedding. So sorry for not wanting to sit back and wait for the next thing to happen." She pushed him as she reflected his glare for a second only to then walk out of their room, slamming the door behind her.