Chapter 39


    Chapter 39


    (FIVE YEARS AGO)


    RAVEL


    I’ve been dating Hazel for seven months now, and I believe I’m ready to go public with her, to show her


    to my mum,and also to think about taking her to the cathedral. Today is the normal Friday family dinner


    ritual in the Southwark family and I’m taking Hazel along with me today.


    Dressed in a simple ck dress, I must say she looks breathtaking. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it


    again, he looks breathtaking in everything she wears. She noticed me staring and smiled shyly. “how


    do I look?””


    “Breathtakingly beautiful.” I’m one lucky ba stard to have her in my life. “I love you, Hazel.” So f ucking


    much that I can’t imagine living without her. “Don’t ever leave me, Hazel, I don’t think I can survive it.” I


    know what Anne can do and I know just how piercing her words can be.


    Hazel closed the distance between us and circled her hands around my neck, standing on her tiptoes,


    she kissed me tenderly. I returned with the same pace. Without being told, I know this woman loves me


    so da mn much. She finally pulled back, her eyes dancing around my face. “I love you too Ravel, and


    you’re kind of stuck with me.” She grinned at me. “It’s kind of difficult to get rid of me.”


    I don’t think she realizes how much hope I have in those words. “remember your words when you listen


    to Anne speak.” Her brows furrowed and I couldn’t resist bending down to steal a kiss. “I’ll try my best


    to protect you from her, but then I’ll not be with you all the time and she’ll cease every reason to make


    you give up and leave.”


    She smiled tightly, trying to reduce the tension in the room. “Your mother can’t be as bad as you and


    Elenor describe her.”


    “She’s worst than we narrate her to be, that I can assure you.” She isn’t the first girl I introduced to


    Anne and she sessfully made them change their mind about the rtionship. I didn’t care much


    back then, mostly because I wasn’t s invested in the rtionship either.


    Hazel stared at her wristwatch before hurriedly grabbing her purse. “We are going to bete for the


    dinner if we don’t leave now.” Agreeing with her, I grabbed her hand and led her out of the bedroom.


    Raymond walked out of the kitchen with a bottle of water, fully dressed for dinner. He whistled when he


    took notice of Hazel. “You look lovely Ms cks.”


    Hazel smiled shyly. “thank you Raymond, and please, I’ve told you countless times to call me Hazel.”


    I chuckled, kissing her temple. “You will have to learn to ignore Raymond because he’ll continue calling


    you Ms. cks as long as it gets to you.” Raymond led the way as we all walked out of the manor.


    Raymond pulled over at the familiar parking lot of the Southwark manor. Hazel reached to open her


    door, but I quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her from leaving. She stared at me quizzically. “I need


    you to rx,” I whispered in her ear, cing a featherlight kiss on her neck. “I can feel how tense you


    are.”


    Exhaling shakily, she tried to force herself to rx. “I’m meeting your mum, Ravel, of course, I’ll be


    human.”


    I rolled my eyes. “She’s human.” I reminded her, in case she has forgotten. “If eventually you somehow


    manage to feel intimidated by her, always remember that you both have the same heart shape and the


    same color of blood flowing in your


    veins.”


    She giggled. “Very funny.” Her sarcasm did not go amiss. “Your sister is waving at us.” She pointed out,


    “And it seems?” Her eyes widened as her words trailed off. “I think your mother is equally waiting for us


    next to your sister.”


    Her nervousness made me consider canceling the dinner ns. “You’re going to take a deep breath


    and rx or I’ll get the key from Raymond and drive us out of here to a ce where you are most


    comfortable.”


    “I’m fine Ravel,” she smiled reassuringly at me. “Come on, let’s go. It’s disrespectful to keep her


    waiting.”


    Chapter 39


    Nodding, I opened the door, got out of the car, rounded it, and helped her with the door. I felt two pairs


    of eyes on me as I intertwined my fingers with that of Hazel.


    I led her to the porch, stopping in front of Anne. “Mum, this is Hazel, Hazel cks.”


    Hazel stered the biggest smile she could muster at the moment. “A lovely evening Mrs. Southwark.”


    She greeted. “You have a good home.”


    Anne slowly took in her dressing. “Saint Laurent.” She pointed out, referring to her dress, “I love it.”


    Walking over to me, she pulled me into a hug and kissed my right cheek. “Where are your shoes from


    youngdy, it’s a very rare collection.”


    Hazel stared at her feet and chuckled nervously. “I don’t know, Ravel bought them.”


    Chortling, Anne shook her head. “Of course he did. I bet you don’t even know who made those shoes.”


    Elenor rolled her eyes. “You can’t me a for not being able to keep up with all these designers.” She


    walked over and pulled Hazel into a hug. “It’s lovely to see you again.”


    Anne cleared her throat. “Come on everyone, dinner is getting cold.” She walked in first and we all


    followed suit.


    At the table, I sat next to Hazel with Raymond sitting directly across me. I took notice of how Elenor


    and Raymond ignored each other, probably because Anne is silently yet carefully observing everyone.


    “So,” Anne rasped, breaking the silence, “What do you do for a living?” She chuckled as though she


    made a joke. “My son finds it difficult to discuss his girlfriends with me.”


    “That’s because you tend to ask about things that don’t matter,” I responded, stopping Hazel from


    answering, not because I’m ashamed of what she does, but because it’s none of Anne’s f ucking


    business.


    Anne smiled tightly at me. “If you’re not going to tell me what she does for a living, can you at least tell


    me who her family is?” She turned to Hazel, “Who are your family dear?”


    “I actually lost my parents at a very little age, so I grew up with different foster parents.”


    The small smile on Anne’s lips slowly disappeared. “In other words, this rtionship isn’t going to


    benefit my family in any way, am I right?”


    “I’m so_”


    “Don’t you dare apologize to her,” I warned Hazel whilst ring at Anne. “We came here to have dinner


    and we’re not going to keep to that, I’ll leave with my woman.”


    Squinting her eyes, Anne slowly rose to her feet. She grabbed her wine ss and abruptly emptied the


    content of the ss of Hazel’s face.


    Everybody gasped at her sudden action. Jumping to my feet, I tried to round the table to get to her but


    Hazel grabbed my forearm. I nced at her and she shook her head, silently telling me not to engage


    in a verbal fight with Anne.


    When have I ever listened? “I’m going to say this once and for all, the next time you try this sh it again


    will be thest time I’ll show up for this family dinner.


    “Are you insane?” She hissed. “Why are you constantly trying to disgrace this daily family by picking up


    beggars from the streets of New York?”


    “Mum!” Elenor chastised.


    “Shut your mouth this minute!” Anne bellowed at her, “Before I make you lose your tongue. How will


    this family move forward if he constantly keeps picking the lowest of them all?”


    That’s it! I’m done with this dinner. Grabbing Hazel’s hand, I pulled her up. “Grab your purse, we’re


    leaving.”


    “Get out!” Anne snapped. “I’d rather have this dinnere to an end than dine with another gold-


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