ã€ŠEnthralled By Loveã€‹


 [I]

    One beautiful morning, rays of mellow sunlight filtered through the verdurous canopy of fine flowers , penetrating through the leaves and casting an unearthly green¨Cgold luminescence .

    "Ah-choo --"

    Hazel''s sneeze could be heard from a corner of the room. She still lied limply on the bed, like a broken doll draped in a heavy blanket. Just as she turned to the other side she hit her face on something warm and was startled out of her sleep.

    ''How did the wall get here?''

    She forced her eyelids open and bolted up to a sitting posture, whipping her head around in wide-eyed confusion.

    After taking a moment to force the sleep away from her eyes, she recognized the familiar floral curtains hanging at each side and the compact table next to her bed.

    This was her room. Of course!

    Hazel placed her hand on her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps she must have been dreaming.

    Without further scrutiny, she closed her eyes and was just about to drift off into sleep when a hand reached out from behind and touched her back. The sudden touch made her tremble like a withered leaf. She quickly turned her head around to behold the handsome face of a stranger sleeping next to her.

    "Oh my God!" A panicked induced scream broke out from her lips, directly shaking the foundations of the room.

    ''What the hell is going on? How did this guy get here? Did he break into my apartment?''

    The man lying next to her couldn''t help being startled out of his sleep by her scream . He shot up from bed like a bolt of lightning, looking shocked and disoriented. Just then, his expression froze, allowing an eerie chill to permeate the air.

    Hazel lunged into the corner of the bed and quickly draped herself up with the blanket. Her action was futile, as it was obvious that the other party had seen her naked.

    In fact, the man didn''t look very happy.

    Hazel clutched her aching forehead, desperately searching through her memories to make sense of everything, but her effort turned out in vain.

    The man gazed at her with a trace of mockery in his eyes. He picked up his clothes scattered on the ground and put them on, and then walked to the window, standing with his back to her. "Why not put your clothes on?!" His tone was cold and full of disdain.

    In great shame, Hazel quickly snatched her clothes from the floor and put them on, while she secretly looked around for a suitable weapon she could use to defend herself. The man was at least 189 cm tall and had a well built body. It became increasingly clear to Hazel that she wouldn''t stand a chance against him.

    She took a glance at the bed table next to her, as she deliberated on using the alarm clock as a projectile weapon. However, the alarm clock was nowhere to be found. The only visible objects were two red certificates laying quietly on the night stand, on which was written, "Marriage Certificate".

    Astounded by the discovery, Hazel grabbed the red folder and opened it. There were two names in it, Hazel Yi and Zac Rong, accompanied by a beautiful photo of the couple. The groom on the picture was very much the same man standing in front of her, and the bride was none other than herself.

    They looked very much like a perfect couple in the picture. Smiling with all happiness.

    She looked at the registration date and found that it was yesterday.

    At that moment, Hazel couldn''t hope for nothing else than for the earth to swallow her whole, without hope of ever finding her way back to the surface ever again.

    Where did this man come from? How did they end up getting married?

    Could he be an actor hired by some TV station?

    With this thought in her mind, Hazel charged at the man, thinking that this was all a part of some TV show and that this man was an actor hired to make fun of her on live television.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    "Which TV station do you work for? I''ll going to file a complaint to the police. Do you think this is funny? This is an invasion of my privacy and you''re shooting this without my consent. This is illegal!" Hazel threw the marriage certificates at the man and started to look for hidden cameras everywhere.

    All the while, the man stood there, confused by her actions. He picked up the marriage certificate from the floor and glanced at it. Suddenly, his face expressed his inner feelings with a frown. "Damn it!" he cursed, trying to recall what had happened yesterday, but his memories seemed fragmented and unclear. The last thing he remembered was being in the bar.

    By now, Hazel had turned the entire room upside down, but there was still no camera. Infuriated, she rushed over to grab his collar. "Tell me where the cameras are, or I''ll call the police!"

    The man stared at her insidiously. After a while, a hint of shock flashed between his eyes and he said, "It''s you!"

    One day earlier.

    It was the first day of April or as everyone would say April Fool''s Day.

    According to the netizens it was the best time for someone to declare their love because if they got rejected, they could just laugh and say¡ª"Haha, I made a fool of you!"

    At the very least, they could retreat in a splendid manner.

    The same thought crossed Hazel''s mind. Finally, she had summoned all of her courage and walked up to her idol, Hanson Xia, on whom she had been crushing for many years. "Hey, I have been in love with you ever since we first met. I''ve got a good feeling that you and I are destined to be together. Although I am still not up there yet, one day I am going to become an icon in the fashion industry and become someone who is good enough to be with you. Would you please put me on your list of possible girlfriends?"

    Before Hazel finished speaking, she heard a mocking laughter coming from behind her. "How interesting! ''Destined to be together''! Is that what you tell yourself when you cry yourself to sleep at night? Are you really that pathetic?" The woman ridiculing Hazel was her sworn enemy, Sunny Yang, who elegantly walked towards Hanson and held his arm without hesitation.

    Was she marking her territory? The thought filled Hazel with an unbearable sorrow.

    Hanson, however, shook his arm, trying to draw it back, but eventually he allowed it. "Hazel, I..." He didn''t know what to say to her, but before he could even think of anything, Sunny cut him short. "We''re getting married!"

    The words came, out of the blue, and hit Hazel like a bolt of lightning. She should have laughed three times and told them that she was just joking, but the muscles on her face were stiff and she couldn''t bring herself to say anything. Her throat was blocked by a lump of sourness, taking away her ability to speak.

    With a smug smile on her face, Sunny deliberately leaned her head on Hanson''s shoulder to add salt to Hazel''s wounds. "Hanson, dad wants us to go back for dinner. Let''s go!"

    Hanson extended his hand and patted Hazel on the head, as if to comfort her. "I''m sorry, Hazel," he sighed heavily and then walked away with Sunny.

    Bang!

    Again, Hazel heard her heart shatter into a million pieces. She felt like everything in her world had frozen over and the cold winds were slamming her face like tiny little icy nails.

    Perhaps the only thing that could mend her ailing heart at the moment was a good bottle of wine.

    The True Color Bar was across the street, and she walked in without a conscious thought.

    The bar was very quiet. As the only customer, Hazel sat at the bar counter and ordered a glass of long island ice tea, which was the most suitable cocktail for a lovelorn person.

    Hazel had overestimated her drinking prowess and as such, she was completely inebriated by her third drink.

    Before long, another customer walked into the bar.

    He was handsome and radiant, like the sun in the early spring and the bright moon in mid autumn, that lit up the whole dark bar in an instant.

    The previously listless waiters immediately became energetic and rushed to ingratiate themselves. However, he didn''t even glance at them. He was as cold as ice, which had been frozen for thousands of years and couldn''t be affected by any sort of temperature whatsoever.

    On any other day, Hazel would have never spoken to a stranger. But today, she was so drunk and broken-hearted, that she picked up her glass and staggered towards the stranger.

    "People who come to the bar in the daytime are either crossed in love or bored. Which one are you?" she said, staring him up with her drunken, hazy eyes.

    Zac Rong ignored her and continued to drink on his own, as if he hadn''t heard what she had said.

    Hazel, however, didn''t mind his arrogance. She sat down on the stool next to him and said, "Well, I guess you are the latter. People who look like you can only make others fall in love with you. It must be nice. Look at me! I confessed my love to my prince, the man I had loved for five years. And guess what? He''s marrying the woman I hate the most."

    Hazel eventually vented her grievances by finishing the rest of her cocktail. "I''m done feeling bad for now. Since we''re the only ones here, let''s have fun and drink together, shall we?"

    Zac raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. Although the girl had a plain face, she had a great body, much like a diamond in the rough. Her two beautiful eyes, however, were limpid and pure like autumn water. Each time she raised an eyebrow to look up she looked even more charming. It was her eyes that made her unique, as they could make even a plain face like hers look beautiful.

    Zac didn''t know why he nodded his head. Was it because of some magic, or because he was moved by her tantalizing eyes.

    Hazel smiled again, revealing her white teeth. "Let''s play dice! You have to guess the number and if you guess wrong then you''ll have to drink shots."

    How fun!

    A disdainful smile appeared at the corners of Zac''s mouth. He had nothing else to do anyway. Why not play a drinking game with another stranger in a bar!

    Two hours later¡­

    Zac was drunk beyond comprehension.

 [II]

    Hazel did not expect to win twelve times in a row.

    "You''re cheating!" The way Zac slurred made him sound drunk.

    "What? You''re the one throwing the dice. How can I be the one cheating? Just admit it, you didn''t think I was going to win. Well, that''s how gambling works!" Hazel giggled. She had never had any luck in gambling all her life, as such, she didn''t expect her luck to be so good today.

    However, Zac wasn''t convinced. "Fine! Again!" He was determined to make a comeback.

    Hazel''s thick eyelashes flickered open. "Okay! This is the last one. The big one! I have already lost everything today! So why the hell not. Marriage isn''t a big deal! I can get married whenever I want. How about this? If I win again, you will have to marry me!"

    "Deal!"

    The only thought in Zac''s mind was to win this game. Besides, he wasn''t used to losing to anybody.

    "Great! I like you!" Finishing her words, she pushed the cup closer to him. "It''s your turn. I''m guessing it''s a small number."

    "I''ll bet on big numbers!" Zac shook the cup before opening it.

    One, two, three¡ªsmall!

    Hazel could not help bursting into laughter as she was quite pleased with herself. Never before had she felt so satisfied in all her twenty-one years on this planet.

    Zac, on the other hand, was at a loss. He had never been so displeased in all his twenty-six years on this planet.

    It was time to honor the bet!

    Zac grabbed her hand and said, "Let''s get our IDs and then go to the Civil Affairs Bureau!"

    Fast forward to the present day.

    The bright sunshine fell on the floor through the mullioned window.

    There was a complete silence in the room, apart from the sound of heavy and rapid breathing.

    The two people stood in front of the window silently, staring at each other blankly. They could not remember how they got to to the Civil Affairs Bureau, how they registered their names, and how they even made it all the way to the bridal chamber. However, it was certain that the red booklets were real and legit.

    In the eyes of the law, they

    were legally a couple.

    Zac was considering how to end this absurd marriage. He had a lot of experience on how to reject a woman, but he had never divorced someone before.

    However, he decided that no matter what condition Hazel would propose, as long as it was not too far from the truth, he would try his best to satisfy it. After all, from the looks of it, there was no use hiding the fact that they had slept together. And what''s more¡­

    The moment he looked at the blood on the sheet, Hazel blushed and quickly ran to the bed to pull the blanket to cover it.

    The reason why she hadn''t slept with any man for so many years was that she wanted Hanson to be her first man. Now, she had lost both Hanson and her virginity.

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    Life could be so unpredictably cruel. She had fallen from heaven to hell in just one night.

    "Well, let''s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and get a divorce now," Hazel said, stifling all the pain in her heart.

    There was no use crying over spilled milk. It was better to nip that little romance in the bud.

    Zac was shocked as he didn''t expect her to be so straightforward. There were no conditions, no requirements and no blackmails. He was starting to admire her!

    "It''s half past ten now. The Civil Affairs Bureau will be closed at twelve o''clock. There is only an hour and a half left! We have to take a taxi to get there on time. We can split the fare," Hazel spoke in a straightforward way and a rare gentle light flashed across Zac''s face.

    They came out of the elevator and walked side by side. But it was not easy for Hazel, as she felt a dull pain in her legs. Even though her recollection of the night was still unclear, Hazel could imagine how aggressive Zac must have been in bed.

    Zac sensed her pain and slowed down his pace.

    Just as they arrived at the gate of the community, they saw Sunny coming out from her BMW. Sunny was here to pick a bone with Hazel. Since Hanson was there yesterday, she didn''t have a chance to tear Hazel apart. Today, she had come for some unfinished business.

    Hazel knew that the conflict between Sunny and her was about to escalate. Knowing this, she asked Zac to wait before approaching her.

    "I heard everything you''ve said that day." Sunny sneered. "Hanson loves me. You don''t even know half of what he does to me. In fact, he proposed to me within a few days since we''ve been together. In fact, he even said how I had so many admires that he was afraid that someone else would take me away."

    Hazel snorted. Unlike Sunny, she had more important things to get to, and she didn''t want to waste her entire day by arguing with Sunny. "You''re thinking too much. Yesterday was April Fool''s. I was only kidding."

    "Stop pretending!" she snarled. "I know you love Hanson. Yesterday, he was so afraid that I''ll mistrust him that he even said that he''ll never fall in love with someone like you. You''re like a mouse who has just crawled out of the trash bin. He''s disgusted to be linked to someone like you. In fact, he even asked me to tell you to stop daydreaming. I bet the homeless people at the other end of the street would be more suitable for the likes of you," Sunny sneered. She knew that she would always win no matter what. In her eyes, Hazel had always been more inferior than her in terms of both wealth and power.

    Not far away, Zac could vaguely hear their conversation. He only had one thing in mind, and that was to give Sunny a good beating!

    She better be grateful that he would never lay a hand on a woman, or she wouldn''t even be standing still the moment he heard those words.

    Hazel''s face paled immediately at her words. She was about to leave when Sunny stretched out her hand to stop her. She wasn''t finished.

    At the sight, Zac hurried over and placed an arm around Hazel''s shoulder. "Baby, shall we go now?"

    "You''re..." Sunny''s jaw almost dropped

    at the sight of the man. Although she had already seen him in the car, he looked even better up close. He had the face of a Greek God, and it was difficult to not stare at him this entire time.

    "Won''t you introduce me?" Zac asked as he placed his arm around Hazel''s shoulder.

    "Zac is my boyfriend. He comes from Dragon City and his father is the chairman of a multinational group," Hazel said slowly and clearly as if she was teaching a five-year-old. She tilted her head, as if daring Sunny to say a word against her now.

    Sunny was so surprised that her eyeballs almost fell from their sockets. The man in front of her was elegant and regal. He had this indescribable dignity that held himself together, as if he was a king and they were the commoners.

    It seemed that Hazel didn''t lie to her.

    "You look pale. Who bullied you?" Zac asked lowly as he pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Whoever she is, I''ll make sure to make her suffer." Although his voice was soft, Sunny could tell that it was an underlying threat.

    Sunny backed up unconsciously as if he would suddenly blow her head off.

    "It''s just a cockroach¨Cnot worth our time at all. Let''s go." Hazel grabbed his arm and turned around.

    Looking at their receding figures, Sunny had a strange look in her eyes. She took out a marriage invitation from her bag and quickly caught up to them. "Hanson asked me to give this to you. He wants the two of you to attend our party," she said bitterly. It wasn''t true that Hanson had no feelings for Hazel. If he''d see her with her boyfriend, then he might be tempted to love Sunny with all his heart.

    Hazel bit her lips. Without another word, she took the invitation. When Sunny was finally gone, she quickly pulled her arm from Zac''s hold.

    It seemed that their agreement was about to change.

 [III]

    "Zac, thank you for helping me just now. Well, can we put off the procedures until after the engagement party tomorrow is finished?"

    "It depends on you." Zac shrugged. It didn''t really matter if it was delayed for a day.

    "Thank you." Hazel finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had to do everything to save her dignity tomorrow.

    With that, she invited him to have lunch with her.

    When they walked into the restaurant next to the community, Hazel ordered the cheapest thing on the menu¡ªsour noodles and braised soy bean curds. Then, she went Dutch and paid for her own bill.

    "Let me pay." Zac motioned to take out his wallet, but Hazel, who didn''t seem to hear him, just handed the money to him.

    After taking her seat, Hazel smiled and said, "We met by chance, and after this awkward marriage, we won''t meet each other ever again. We should just pay for ourselves."

    Zac nodded in approval to her words.

    Not long after that, the waiter served the noodles. Because she was the host, Hazel gave Zac a dried bean. "Help yourself. The food here is cheap and delicious. And more importantly, they don''t use used oil here."

    Zac raised his beautiful eyebrows and said, "How do you know whether they use used oil or not?"

    "I have a really sensitive stomach and intestines. So if it''s used oil, I will have diarrhea if I take even one bite," Hazel said mischievously.

    ''She should be in Food and Drug Administration with her talent,'' Zac thought, praising her in his mind.

    While they were eating, Hazel suddenly stopped and took a sip of water. Then, she raised her head to look at Zac and asked, "So, what is it that you do?"

    She wanted to know more about him. After all, he was legally her husband. It would be bad if he was a wanted criminal or he was in a huge amount of debt. She could be held responsible for it.

    "I used to do architectural work. But I don''t have any work right now," Zac replied, not going into detail. She didn''t need to know about his background.

    ''Architecture? Did he build houses and move bricks on construction sites?

    Well, at least it was a job,'' Hazel thought to herself.

    She was relieved at his words. She looked around with her big black eyes before asking, "Where do you live now?" She had to figure out where he lived. That way, if she couldn''t get in touch with him tomorrow, she would be able to look for him at his house.

    "A hotel," Zac said perfunctorily. This woman had too many questions!

    "I don''t think it''

    s a good idea for you to live in a private hotel that costs only dozens of dollars. When I first moved to Yang City, I was so shocked that I almost fell into a trap," she explained before suddenly covering her mouth with her hands. She realized that she had implied through her words that he was a hobo who came from another city and didn''t have much money at all, so he had to stay in some cheap private hotels because economical hotels were now charging several hundred for one night, and he couldn''t afford it.

    "I''m a man. Why would I be deceived?" Zac shrugged, hoping to end the topic of household registration as soon as possible.

    Hazel agreed, thinking that his words actually made sense. He was a poor man that had nothing but his good looks. Frauds probably wouldn''t be interested in him. Sensing the impatience in his tone, Hazel decided to stop digging deeper.

    They left the restaurant after eating lunch and parted ways. There was one other important thing for Hazel to do. She wanted to make a nice business suit for Zac. As a jobless vagabond, he must have cheap stuff, and if he were to wear them, they would get exposed.

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    She went to the market and bought good cloth. The next day, when Zac came, she greeted him with a tailored suit and a matching fashion shirt.

    "Try it on!" Hazel said with a smile.

    Zac had always been picky. Anything he didn''t like was nothing but trash in his eyes, and he would never accept them, regardless of whether they were people or things.

    However, he thought that the little girl had good taste, and the clothes were very beautiful, so he took them.

    The size fitted him well.

    She admired the clothes both for her talent, and his perfect body. He had a nine-head body that was perfectly proportionate body and had perfectly toned muscles. His figure was exactly right.

    In fact, his body was so perfect that even beggar clothes would look fashionable on him.

    It was a blessing to have such a perfect model. One look at his body was enough to give her inspiration when her mind was exhausted.

    While she was busy thinking, Zac walked over to her and said, "How did you know my size?"

    "By visual inspection," with a smug smile, Ethan raised her eyebrows. Using just her eyes, she could tell the size of her clients without even getting their measurements.

    Zac curled his lips into a devilish smile. Then, he leaned in towards her and said, "Have you been observing me with your eyes in the daytime or at night?"

    His voice was low and it obviously hinted flirtation. For a second, Hazel stood stunned. But slowly, his words began to sink in. She clearly understood what he was implying. And as a consequence, her face blushed crimson red. "Don''t mention it. I have forgotten it," she said, trying to maintain her composure.

    Zac''s black eyes blinked, unable to believe she had forgotten it.

    He remembered everything, clear as day! Every second, the scene played in his mind.

    He woke up feeling hazy today. At first, his head felt unusually unclear, and he was unable to remember a thing! But soon, it began to fill up. Missing pieces of yesterday, came to his mind, one by one. He was a neat freak. No woman could touch him even if he was drunk. But when she was around, the defensive system seemed to be invaded by virus, breaking down instantly. To start with, she wasn''t like any other woman he had come across. She was both beautiful and pure. Even her smell was intoxicating. At present, he couldn''t control himself. He was curious and wanted to know what she thought of last night.

    "Did you really forget everything?" He stared at her with utter disbelief. He had hoped she would remember something. He was certain some of the details would be missing, but knowing she forgot everything pained him. After all, it was her first time.

    With her brows wrinkled in a straight line and her eyes filled with ferocity, Hazel said, "I told you not to mention it again. You''ve ruined everything. We are incompatible in almost every way."

    She almost roared at him. Instead of getting angry, Zac wore a slight smile on his face. His first time was "destroyed" in her hands. Now they were even.

    She had expected Zac to get angry, but he didn''t. Instead, he merely stood, not saying anything at all. This was when she realized she had to hold back her anger. After the engagement party, they had to get a divorce and go on separate ways.

    She walked into the room and started to dress up. She put on the honey waist dress that she designed, tied up her black hair and pulled it up into an elegant updo. Then she wore a light make-up.

    When she came out, Zac''s eyes froze for a moment. This girl was even more beautiful after dressing up.

    "Don''t

    forget your role. You are rich and handsome," she reminded, hoping he wouldn''t mess up. Although he was an able man with a handsome face and powerful aura, she thought it was vital to remind him. It would be quite awkward if someone managed to see through his disguise.

    "Don''t worry." A charming smile appeared on his lips. This was a piece of cake for him.

    The Intercontinental Hotel was beautifully decorated.

    The wedding hall was brimming with joy.

    The engagement of Hanson and Sunny had caused a sensation in the select society of Yang City, and almost all the rich and powerful people in the city had been invited.

    When Hazel walked in with Zac, everyone''s eyes began to be glued to them, like a moth to the flame.

    Zac was as glorious as the sun which made all the men feel insecure and all the women become enchanted by him. The beauty of Hazel was like the fresh lotus flower, blooming gradually. She made all the girls with their heavy make-up look less beautiful.

    Seeing the way every girl was admiring Hazel''s radiating beauty, Sunny was overcome with jealousy. Hanson, on the other hand, had similar emotions course through him. If he said he didn''t like Hazel, he would be lying. But he couldn''t love her. Love was a luxury ever since the moment he found his origin.

    "God bless you, Hanson!" said Hazel. And Hazel tried her best to smile and relax. She had decided not to love him anymore, but her heart was still aching.

    Zac and Hanson were observing each other with a murderous look in their eyes.

    Zac wrapped his arms around Hazel, announcing his sovereignty over her. Then he led her to walk down the stairs. He found a seat and made her sit, like a gentleman. Upon seeing the way in which Zac was treating her, Hanson''s heart trembled with fury. Yet the worst part was, he couldn''t do anything. He was compelled to watch her happy life.

    Hazel rested his eyes on the staircase. Hanson and Sunny were both born to wealthy families. This must be the so-called marriage of equal social rank! She analyzed the hall and the grand look of it. A feeling of rage began to brew in her heart. Yet she did her best to look happy.

    She used to be a princess of the castle and lived an extravagant life, but...

 [IV]

    Hazel''s eyes started to become misty as she turned away, shaking away her thoughts.

    Zac slid his thumb down her chin. "Look at me," he said softly. He didn''t want her to feel wronged. In fact, that''s the last thing he wanted her to feel. He wanted her to feel as if she was the only one in the world for him.

    Hearing that, Hazel sniffled and gazed up at him innocently. "What''s so attractive about you?" she murmured.

    "I''m better looking than him," he snorted. His dark eyes glinted under the dim light.

    "You wish." She barked out a laugh, but before she could say anything else, he leaned over and kissed her. His kiss was like a shock of electricity. She trembled against his touch as she leaned closer into his arms.

    Her face reddened. She didn''t expect that the cold man would have such an arrogant side. He even dared to kiss her in public!

    Since Zac was now her boyfriend, she couldn''t reject his hold, but she definitely wasn''t going to let go of him that easily.

    Hazel lifted her foot under the tablecloth and secretly kicked him hard on the shins.

    He pulled away as he leaned against her ear. "I have the right to do that," he whispered. His breath fanned against the side of her neck, and she stiffened.

    "Your right lasts till the afternoon," she snapped softly. Hazel continued to kick him, but every kick was lighter. For outsiders, it looked like they were flirting with each other.

    "I can always keep that right," he said casually.

    While Hanson was walking up the crimson steps, his gaze steadied on Hazel. At the sight of her with another man, his heart crippled in jealousy. It was as if the world had decided to douse him with bitterness and sourness to last him a day.

    Sunny gritted her teeth besid

    e him. "Shameless bitch!" she spat. "She confessed her love for you the day before yesterday and now she''s making out with some other man." Hanson clenched his fists. Suddenly he stood up from his chair and stomped out of the room without saying a word.

    "Where are you going? The ceremony is about to begin," she shouted, but he completely ignored her words.

    Her nails dug into her palms as she thought of ways to hold him back. She would not let that bitch ruin this moment for the both of them!

    Seeing that Hazel was heading to the toilet, she followed as a malicious smile threaded across her lips.

    "And here I thought you were innocent. I never knew you have such an obscene side," Sunny said with a smirk.

    Taking a deep breath, Hazel decided to ignore her.

    Noticing this, Sunny decided to take a different approach. "Actually, I''m kind of worried for you. There must be loads of beautiful women hounding around your boyfriend. With you being so boring, I bet that he''ll grow tired of you in less than two months."

    Hazel scoffed, "Even if you break up with Hanson, we won''t." "Humph! Bitch!

    You want to bet?" she taunted.

    "What''s the bet?" Hazel crossed her arms over her chest and turned around, wanting to see what other tricks the woman had hidden under her sleeves.

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    "I bet that your relationship can''t last for two months. If you break up, then you lose," she said slowly.

    That was the bet! It was as if she was betting with a five-year-old!

    Hazel sneered and was about to leave, but Sunny''s sarcastic laughter stopped her in her tracks. "What a coward! I know you wouldn''t dare. You know what? I bet you can''t even last a month in his arms. You probably got two weeks, and it''s over before you even know it."

    Taking a deep breath, Hazel turned around slowly and said, "If you''re so sure of yourself, let''s take a bet!"

    "Okay!" Sunny smiled complacently. She had been competing with Hazel for such a long time. She knew her so well that she could easily predict her moves. Hazel was obviously inferior to her. She was like a stupid bug whom she could bait and trap easily at will. Right now, she swallowed her trick hook, line and sinker. "Today is April 3. If you don''t break up with that man on June 3, you win the game. But you would lose the game if you two break up before the agreed date. As punishment, the loser would have to wear a bikini and dance in the Century Square!"

    "Okay!" Hazel agreed without hesitation. She then took her cellphone out of her pocket and asked Sunny to repeat the conditions of the bet. The recording would serve as the proof of their bet, in case Sunny planned to back out when she lost. "You just wait and see how I will punish you!" She sneered as she walked away.

    Looking at Hazel''s receding figure, Sunny displayed a sly smile.

    June 2 was the day of her wedding with Hanson. As long as Hazel was stuck to that young man, she wouldn''t have the chance to take Hanson away from her. She would make sure that Hazel''s remaining hopes would be destroyed completely. She was not worried about the stake of the bet. After all, dancing and acting foolish was child''s play for her. Furthermore, she would be on a honeymoon with Hanson in Hawaii right after the wedding. If Hazel was to run after her, she would have to go to Hawaii.

    Outside the hotel, Hazel walked ahead while deep in thought. She was not a fool. She wouldn''t join a war that she couldn''t win. She wouldn''t dare lose to Sunny.

    She was the one who had the final say in the outcome, so she dared to make the bet. The most important thing right now was to find a way to convince Zac to cooperate. That mysterious man was a bit tricky to handle.

    Seeing that she was silent for a long time, a mischievous smile appeared at the corners of Zac''s mouth. "You''re depressed, aren''t you? The truth is, you don''t want to leave and divorce me, do you?"

    "Don''t be so smug. If I could, I would fly to the Civil Affairs Bureau to divorce you as soon as possible. But when we rode to the hotel venue earlier, I accidentally left our marriage certificate in the bus," Hazel replied in a nervous voic

    e as she fiddled with her fingers.

    "Really?" Zac raised his thick eyebrows slightly. "So, we can''t do it this afternoon, can we?"

    "Yes," she replied quietly and avoided Zac''s suspecting gaze. "It''s very troublesome to request for another copy of our marriage certificate. It will take at least a month," she added.

    She decided to postpone the divorce for one month. After all, homeless people like Zac who didn''t have much work to do could never last in this city. But with his circumstances, he couldn''t do anything to her. Clearly, she had the upper hand in this marriage.

    Zac''s lips stretched into a bigger smile. "You lost the marriage certificate? It''s indeed a good excuse, but it''s a pity that it''s not very clever. We might as well talk about the real problem now." He transfixed her with his penetrating gaze. His sharp eyes seemed as if it could see through everything.

    Feeling guilty, Hazel lowered her head and did not dare look at him.

    ''This guy was more shrewd than expected. It''s not easy to deceive him.'' She observed silently. ''I''d better tell him the truth.''

    She thought for a moment before telling him about her bet with Sunny.

    Zac touched his chin thoughtfully and did not say anything. After a minute of deliberate and suspenseful silence, he replied, "To be honest, I want to help you, but I don''t have a job now. It''s very difficult to find a stable place to stay here. I''m afraid..." He stopped intentionally, as if he was hesitating. He sported a regretful expression on his face but a subtle hint of naughtiness was reflected on his charming dark eyes.

    "You can live at my place without paying for the rent." Hazel offered. The circumstances were perfect. Her roommate had just moved away, and she could share the room with him because she hadn''t found a co-tenant yet.

    Hearing that, Zac smiled in his heart. The bet with Sunny had helped him a lot.

    Yesterday, he had hoped to end this absurd marriage as soon as possible, but today, he had a new plan. Actually, he came to Yang City to seek refuge. He could take advantage of his marriage with Hazel to solve his predicament.

    He decided to temporarily stay at her house in the next two months to get a better understanding of her. If he could discover her weakness, he could make her follow him obediently.

    "Okay, but I have two other conditions!" He gave her a devilish smile.

 [V]

    "Go ahead." Thinking of this, Hazel sighed in relief. She would do anything as long as his list of requests weren''t asking too much of her.

    "First, no affairs. You don''t cheat on me. Second, you''ll have to take care of me,"

    he said seriously as his lips straightened into a thin line.

    How dare he? The first condition didn''t even make any sense! The second one was that he obviously intended to treat her like a slave. As they say, if one handed you lemons, you can just go and make lemonade. She shook her head at the thought.

    But as long as she could win the bet against Sunny, then she could bear all of it. After all, it was only for two months.

    "Fine, but you should also behave yourself. Don''t take advantage of me," she warned him.

    "I''ve seen every part of your body, and there is absolutely no part that I haven''t touched. What else can I take advantage of?" he teased.

    Hazel flushed, wishing that the ground beneath her could swallow her right up. She wanted to curse him into the oblivion as she turned and walked towards the bus stop.

    When they were waiting for the bus to arrive, a woman walked up to them. "It''s you two! What a coincidence!" she exclaimed.

    Hazel furrowed her eyebrows, thinking that the woman must''ve mistaken her for some other person. "That day when you registered at the Civil Affairs Bureau, my husband and I were also registering at the same time." It seemed that the memory was still fresh in the woman''s mind.

    "Hello." Startled by the lady''s sudden appearance, Hazel rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

    The woman smiled and glanced at Zac gently. "Handsome boy. You two really shocked us that day. The registration staff said that you two were drunk, so you can do it once you''re sober, but you grabbed his collar and threatened him to approve it or else he''d disappear from the ends of the earth."

    She laughed, turning to Hazel. "You''re more powerful. You grabbed a paper knife from the desk and pointed it at your wrist saying that if you aren''t going to be registered that day, then your blood will drench the office. We were so touched that we just had to tell the staff to serve you

    first."

    Zac coughed in embarrassment at the memory. It was better for him to not have remembered it at all.

    Hazel''s cheeks flushed.

    ''I''ll want to marry the man over my dead body!

    The last thing I want is to be married!''

    When the bus arrived, she waved at the woman and dragged Zac inside.

    "It seems our separation''s blocked yet again," he said with a faint smile.

    Luckily, Hazel didn''t divorce Zac today, or else they would be the talk of the town.

    As soon as they got back in the apartment, they began to fill each other''s void.

    They''ve said that when a man and a woman stay in the same room, they are either passionate or infatuated with one another.

    Hazel was neither. The only man she had been infatuated over wasn''t even in the room.

    The next day, when she woke up, Zac was already gone.

    After getting along with him for a few days, she realized that she didn''t like him very much. Not only was he incredibly picky, but he''s rude and unpredictable. The only upside about him was that he was handsome.

    As long as he had the looks, he could definitely get by even with his horrible attitude. She snorted at the thought.

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    After yoga, she went to the bathroom to take a shower. When she came out, Zac had finally arrived, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

    The luminous moon replaced the bright sun in the sky.

    The light in their room became a mix of silver and gold, looking as if God had descended in the midst of their household.

    Zac leaned against the handrail of the balcony, admiring the scenery above him. His eyes were similar to the brightest stars in the night sky, illuminating even the darkest of hearts.

    The collar of his shirt was popped open, revealing his well-defined chest muscles.

    Asshole!

    She swallowed hard.

    His eyes fell on her, and a sinister smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

    It was then when she realized that she was just wearing a bath towel. Her face flushed. She wanted to hurry into her room, but when she passed through the sofa, the bath towel got stuck around the corners and fell from her grasp. Her entire body was in display under his lustful gaze.

    She quickly picked up the bath towel and wrapped it around herself. Her face was tomato red. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Zac''s eyes lit up almost immediately, looking like a kid whose Christmas present got in early. In the blink of an eye, he stood in front of her. She was so scared that she completely forgot to run away. Hazel bowed her head and stepped back, wanting nothing more than to keep a safe distance from him.

    However, every time she stepped back, he took another step forward. They continued doing this till he had her backed up in a corner.

    "What¨C what are you doing?" she stuttered out, clutching her bath towel.

    Zac''s strong arms blocked her from going left and right, locking her beneath him. He leaned in so close that she could almost hear his heart beating in his chest. "Did you do that on purpose?" he whispered, his breath fanning across her nose. His voice was hoarse and raspy as if he had just gone days without a cup of water. She inhaled sharply.

    "Nonsense. Why would I do that to you?" she said hotly, but she still couldn''t help but shrink under his lustful gaze. He raised his hand and let his fingers brush against her face like a light feather.

    She should''ve just turned, ducked, and ran, but she didn''t.

    Her stillness gave him another dose of confidence as he leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.

    Soon enough, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled him closer to her. Hazel froze under his grip, not knowing how to react.

    In fact, she was so surprised that she couldn''t even move.

    He acted like a curious child exploring her own toy as his tongue prodded inside her mouth. She groaned slightly, which aroused him even more.

    It was as if time had frozen around them.

    He kept telling himself to stop, but Zac was too enamored by her taste and fragrance that he found himself leaning against her even more. A few seconds had passed, and he finally, reluctantly, decided to release her.

    Zac stared at her affectionately, not even noticing the tenderness in his smoldering gaze. Hazel gasped in surprise. She felt as if she had just been force fed some alcohol given how much of a daze she was in. Finally snapping out of it, she gritted her teeth and slapped him right on the cheek. "Bastard!"

    Half of his face ha

    d the imprints of her hand.

    She was the first person who had the guts to slap him!

    His dark eyes flashed. "I''ll show you who the real bastard is," he snarled. Without another word, he lifted her up and carried her to the bed.

    As her back hit the cushions, Hazel struggled to sit back up, but his rough hands grabbed her towel and pulled it. The air wrapped around her naked body as if she was a long lost friend.

    "No!" she screamed, clutching the pillow behind her to cover up her body. "If you touch me, I''ll tell the police, and I''ll sue you for molestation!"

    "You''re my wife. No one would care."

    Shit!

    "Look, I was wrong, okay? I¨CI''m sorry," she begged. Seeing as he was so fired up from the slap she had just given him, she decided to ask for mercy. Hazel closed her eyes, readying herself for the beating. Tears slid down her cheeks, wetting the cushion below her.

    Zac''s heart twitched. He glanced at her plump lips and wet face. All of a sudden, his anger was gone. Instead, it was replaced with tenderness and guilt.

    He took a deep breath and slowly approached her.

    When she heard the footsteps, she tightened her grip on the pillow and raised her head, as if preparing herself for the hit.

    Zac''s lips quivered at the sight. He raised his hand, flicked her gently on the forehead, and walked out without a word.

    He decided to let her go for now.

    Hearing the retreating footsteps, she opened her eyes and sighed in relief. She was safe.

    Zac had gone into the shower. Not bothering to wait for him to come out, she grabbed her bath towel and ran into her room.

    For the whole night, she didn''t dare fall asleep. Her eyes were fixed at the doorframe. The day before yesterday, when she accidentally locked the door, Zac easily opened it with his credit card. Seeing as the lock didn''t stop him, what would stop him now?

    She glanced around the room and an idea came to her.

    Hazel jumped off the bed to push the large wardrobe behind the door before pushing the bookshelf to grant some extra support.

    Thinking back to Zac''s strong muscles, Hazel moved the sofa for a third level of protection.

    Seeing as she was safe, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Hazel just hoped that a disaster wouldn''t hit her that night, because she might have nowhere else to go.

 [VI]

    It was late at night, and the weather shifted around them. Dark clouds were gathering in the skies, and soon enough, thunder blasted across the city.

    In her room, small night lights emitted a dim light. However, Hazel couldn''t help but shift and turn under the covers of her bed.

    Ever since she was a kid, she had suffered from claustrophobia. Hazel made sure to have night lights plugged around her room to help ease her anxiety.

    Even then, she still couldn''t fall asleep as her mind drifted towards Hanson.

    Although he was going to get married, she still liked him. This love had lasted for more than five years, and she still couldn''t find it in herself to get over him.

    If the girl he intended to marry wasn''t the one she hated, then maybe she would have already moved on and have given all her heartfelt wishes. Seeing as he had chosen Sunny, it pissed her off to no end.

    Hazel groaned, wanting nothing more but to claw her face.

    A fierce wind came, rustling the leaves in the backyard. Lightning fell from the skies, crackling around them. The rain fell harder as thunders rumbled, as if ready to consume the world.

    She jumped off the bed, closed the windows, and drew up the curtain. As she walked back to the bed, thunder sounded before her and the night lamp she had up suddenly turned off.

    Suddenly, her entire room was void of light.

    Everything around her turned deathly still.

    Hazel''s nerves tightened as she fumbled around her bed for her phone, but she couldn''t find it. "Shit," she murmured.

    The more she thought about this, the more fearful she became. Her mind was in a daze as darkness wrapped around her, threatening to eat her alive. She wanted to get out of here, but the door was blocked by all the furniture she dragged across the room. Her legs trembled as she tried to push the sofa away. Her breathing was already turning unstable as she slammed her fists against the cushions.

    "Let me out, don''t lock me, let me out..." The terrible childhood memory flashed before her eyes, and she found that she couldn''t breathe anymore. Her heart beat heavily in her chest as she fell to the ground, trembli

    ng violently.

    "Zac!" she shrieked out. "Help me¨Cplease!"

    Hearing the sound from the next room, he jumped out of the bed like a koi fish jumping out of water and rushed out of his room.

    "What''s wrong?" he called urgently.

    "Let me out! Help me..." Her voice was growing weaker. He could hear her banging against something, but before he could yell out, she quieted down.

    His mind rushed with different thoughts. ''Did she have a heart attack?'' he thought as he urgently grabbed at the handle.

    "Hold on," he said firmly.

    However, when he tried to open the door, he failed. Zac guessed that she must''ve have gotten something to block the door.

    ''Fuck!'' Without another thought, he kicked the door open. Although it worked, he could see heavy objects blocking his entry.

    Zac swore. ''How insecure could this woman be?''

    "How are you doing, Hazel?" he yelled out, but there wasn''t any response.

    A lump built up in her throat, preventing her from saying anything.

    Shit! Zac had always been fearless. Whether he was faced with a gun or a knife, he knew how to keep his cool, but there was something about this situation that sent fear down his nerves.

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    "Hold on! You are not allowed to die," he ordered. If she wanted to die, then she might as well wait until they got divorced. There was no way in hell was he becoming a widower.

    He gritted his teeth as he rushed out of the room. Seeing that there were so many things blocking his entry, it was best that he climb up the firefighting pipe outside.

    Violent winds blew heavily outside as heavy rain poured down the road. Lightning flashed in the skies, as he narrowed his eyes and surveyed his surroundings, finding a place where he could climb up. A thick sycamore tree had been uprooted by the strong wind, crashing onto the road.

    Although he was soaked, he didn''t give a damn about it. All he cared for was Hazel''s safety.

    He had been trained by the special force before, so it was a piece of cake for him to climb up to the second floor using his bare hands. However, the rain had made everything more slippery for him to hang on. If he wasn''t careful, he might fall.

    However, the thought of him delaying it any further came into his mind. Without another thought, he reached out for the handle, climbing up to the second floor. Zac gritted his teeth as he hoisted himself up one step at a time. Thunder crackled in a distance, but he didn''t care. All he wanted was to save Hazel.

    Once he arrived, he kicked the glass window and swung himself into the room. Under the light of his cellphone, he could see her lying on the ground. Her whole body was convulsing and her lips were colorless. She looked as if she had just joined the cast of zombies.

    Zac lifted her up and placed her on the bed. He began to perform artificial respiration.

    Hazel was finally conscious. Seeing the dim light across the room, her fear had been relieved. As he continued to blow air into her system, the muscle in her throat slowly unwound, allowing her to breathe more easily.

    "Did you have a heart attack? Where''s your medicine?" Zac asked anxiously, glancing around.

    "No. I suffered from claustrophobia, that''s all," she answered weakly.

    His shoulders sagged in relief at the thought of her not suffering from a heart attack.

    Claustrophobia came and went quickly. As soon as she finished up a glass of water, she felt much better.

    "Do you know what you did was dangerous?" she admonished. Hazel didn''t expect that he would risk his own life to save her. She was grateful to him. A small smile inched into her lips.

    "How can I come in then?" Zac motioned to the furniture surrounding the door.

    "About that...I''m sorry?" Her cheeks flushed as she avoided his startling gaze. "You''re all wet. Why don''t you change them? You might catch a cold if you''re wearing them for too long." She wanted to help him unbutton his shirt, but the moment her hand grazed upon his collarbone, she retracted from her hold.

    "Even if you take the initiative, I''m not interested in you. I hope you keep that in mind," he said viciously.

    The grateful feeling she had for him had vanished in thin air.

    Although she wasn''t the most beautiful woman in the world, she certainly wasn''t as bad as he said she was. She had a rather full bust for a height of 169cm, and she was incredibly well-shaped.

    "Well, you''re not my type either," she snapped, rolling her eyes.

    "Who''s your type then? Hanson?" He scowled.

    "You got that right." Hazel nodded firmly.

    Anger filled Zac''s heart. He mercilessly took off his drenched clothing and threw them onto the sofa, glaring at her.

    The hazy light highlighted his well-defined muscles.

    Even Hazel couldn''t help but let her eyes wander around for a bit.

    Drops of water fell from his dark hair onto his chest, trailing across his creamy skin and outlining his abs. She blushed. Zac smirked as he shifted his gaze towards her.

    "Liking the view?" he said coldly.

    Hazel almost nodded subconsciously. As a fashion designer, she had always been accustomed to seeing great-looking models. However, this was the first time she had seen such a perfect figure.

    A part of her wanted to sketch him.

    "Who do you think is better now?" asked Zac.

    "If you''re talking about looks, you''re better than him," she said honestly.

    A small smile tugged his lips.

    "But personality-wise, Hanson''s better," she continued.

    Hanson was gentle and elegant. He was a sweet summery scent along the spring breeze. There was something about him that made her feel as if she was breathing in fresh air. Zac, however, was wrapped around in his own enigma. He was far too cold and deep that she sometimes couldn''t stand him. He was the type of person who one could admire from afar but could never get close to.

    "Are you blind?" he snapped.

    "Well, I am near-sighted if that''s what you''re asking," she said slowly, nodding.

    "No wonder. Maybe I should take you to an eye clinic." He flicked her on the forehead. She scowled. "There''s absolutely no need for that." "Your eyesight must''ve gotten worse,"

    he murmured. Zac thought that Hanson was incomparable to him. He couldn''t understand why Hazel liked him more.

    Hazel made a face and stuck out her tongue at him. She thought that he was extremely arrogant.

    Outside the window, the storm was raging behind them.

    Zac pushed the furniture back to their original positions, but before he could leave, Hazel grabbed his arm. "Please don''t leave me alone," she whispered, showing her more vulnerable side.

    When he saw her imploring gaze, he couldn''t help but feel happy. His heart twitched. "I''m getting sleepy anyway," he murmured. Zac yawned.

 [VII]

    "You can sleep on my bed," Hazel stated.

    His lips twitched. "Okay." Zac walked towards the bed and proceeded to lie down. When he reached out his arms to hold her slim waist, she tried her best to shrug him off.

    "Let me go. I''ll sleep on the sofa," she snapped. ''There''s no way in hell that we''ll be sleeping on the same bed!'' she thought.

    Hazel struggled under his arms, but it only encouraged him to pin her down even more. "I''m cold. Isn''t it your duty to warm me up?"

    "You can tuck yourself in if you feel cold!" She kicked the quilt towards him angrily. If she didn''t ask him for help in the first place, then she would''ve taken the opportunity to kick him where the sun doesn''t shine!

    "Well, you''re warmer than the quilt." He placed his chin on her shoulder wantonly, breathing in her heavenly fragrance. There was something about her that made him addicted to her scent.

    Of course, this didn''t mean that he cared for her. He had always been indifferent to these types of feelings. He wouldn''t fall in love that easily. She was just a special woman.

    Being held in his arms, she couldn''t help but blush in embarrassment. The heat she felt against his chest spread across her veins. She couldn''t help but feel even hotter under his grip. She unconsciously began to twist her body against him.

    "I suggest you don''t move," he whispered. His voice was hoarse.

    She froze as silence drifted upon them. She didn''t want to irritate him.

    Unfortunately, in a few minutes, the phone ran out of power.

    Darkness fell around her like a curtain.

    Feeling as if she was trapped once again, she screamed and buried her head into his chest. Her small body was convulsing like a frightened cat.

    Zac''s body stiffened as he held her in his arms, trying to contain her.

    She calmed down after a few seconds.

    After a long while, her timid voice broke the silence. "Zac, can you sing something for me?"

    He frowned. He never sang.

    However, Hazel lifted her gaze and pouted. "Please? I won''t be scared anymore if

    you sing," she urged.

    "Why don''t you use your phone?" He tweaked her ear.

    "It died." Hazel pouted and started to draw circles on his chest with her finger, as if to express her dissatisfaction.

    The heat rose in his chest sharply. He hurriedly grasped her restless hand. "What do you want to hear?" Zac had never been this tender with any woman, but there was something about her that softened his guard around his heart.

    "Anything," she said slyly.

    He sighed. Without another thought, he began to sing an old song in English.

    His voice was incredibly magnetic and soft. It was as if she was listening to an entire orchestra in her ear. She leaned against his chest, feeling it vibrate as he continued. The man had absolutely no shortcomings.

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    His English was great. In fact, he sounded like he grew up in the States. She couldn''t help but feel ashamed over her poor English.

    Zac was definitely not uneducated.

    "What else can you do?" she murmured bitterly.

    "You''ll know in time," he whispered.

    After a night of hasty winds and heavy rainfall, the sky became more peaceful over time.

    Hazel didn''t know when she had fallen asleep. All she knew was that when she woke up, Zac''s arms were wrapped around her. Zac didn''t close his eyes till he was a hundred percent sure that Hazel was sound asleep.

    She raised her head and stared at him secretly.

    He was indeed a rare beauty. Even when he was asleep, he still looked incredibly charming.

    The sharp edges of his jawline were softer, and his hair lied flat on his head.

    Although it felt as if God had played a cruel trick on her, she didn''t feel so bad about it anymore. It wasn''t that much of a loss to lose her virginity to such a handsome man.

    She couldn''t help but let her thumb graze against his face. Even the man''s skin was good. Did he always have such a nice skin?

    Zac woke up at her touch, but he didn''t dare open his eyes. Instead, he continued to pretend as if he was still sleeping, wondering to what extent she was willing to go.

    However, Hazel didn''t take further action. Instead, she slipped out of his arms, jumped off the bed, grabbed her sketchbook, and sat cross-legged on the bed.

    Zac squinted his eyes just a bit to see what was happening.

    The girl was sketching him without his permission!

    How dare she!

    He clenched his jaw and turned to the other side of the bed.

    She went to the other side and continued.

    Seeing that she wasn''t going to stop that easily, he turned back and she followed.

    "Are you fucking dreaming?" Hazel grumbled, finally having enough.

    Sensing her frustration, he decided to cooperate her. If the painting wasn''t good enough, then he would just tear it to pieces and throw it into the nearest trash can.

    Seeing that he didn''t move, Hazel shook her head and sighed. "It seems that you also dream so fast," she teased quietly.

    Zac felt embarrassed yet again.

    It was a humiliating experience for a man to be questioned of his ability to do something!

    ''If a tiger didn''t come out from its slumber, you''d take for it as a sick cat. If a dragon doesn''t come out of its cave, then you''d think of it as a humble worm. Do you really think I''m that weak?''

    He tried his best to suppress his anger. Finally, in a matter of thirty minutes, Hazel finally finished her masterpiece.

    "Perfect!" Hazel clapped her hands together. Although she was praising the painting she had just drawn up, the man took it as a compliment to himself. His anger towards her immediately diminished.

    As she was about to hide his painting, Zac raised his eyebrow. "Don''t you think sketching me infringes on my rights?" he said coldly.

    She flushed almost immediately. "We''re husband and wife. Of course I have the right to sketch you." Before she could finish, the person on the bed rushed over like a raging

    tornado. He pulled her into his arms. "Since we''re a couple now, shouldn''t you at least fulfill your duty as a wife?"

    Hazel grasped her collar in a hurry. "Didn''t you say you''re not interested in me?" she snapped.

    "With all that teasing, don''t I have to prove myself?"

    Fuck! Hazel stuck out her tongue for him to see. She didn''t know that he had heard all of that!

    "Well, you''ve misunderstood me. I was talking about football, you know? And..." Hearing her ambiguous explanation, Zac had the urge to roll his eyes. Although he was still pretty annoyed, he couldn''t help but find her adorable. However, that didn''t mean that he would forgive her that easily.

    "I''m hungry. Why don''t you go and cook?" he ordered.

    Hazel gaped at him. The topic had changed so fast that she found herself unable to react. She turned around and gazed out the window. The sun was hanging out in the sky. It was already noon and she still hadn''t eaten.

    "If you''re hungry, then you can go out and eat." She curled her lips.

    "From now on, I''ll be eating at home. You''ll cook." He was like a king who was handing out orders. No one was allowed to object. Zac snatched the painting from her hand and gazed at the portrait that she had sketched out. It was a nice painting. He would definitely take it to his storage room.

    ''Ass!'' she thought. Fortunately, she wouldn''t be tied to him forever or else she might as well just sign her death will.

    In the past few days, Zac had a preliminary impression of her. She was incredibly daze and careless. Whenever she was pouring water, there was a chance that she could spill it on her legs. Whenever she was peeling fruit, there was a risk that she could cut her own skin. Whenever she went out, she might forget her phone. Now, he realized something else¨C Hazel was stingy!

 [VIII]

    At that moment, Hazel took it upon herself to bargain with the venders by the roadside.

    "Sir, it''s already noon and look at you vegetables. The leaves are turning yellow and the stems are withering. If you don''t sell it at 1.5 per kilogram, no one would buy it. Besides, the governor has already sent his men to patrol around the streets," she urged with her arms crossed. Back then, Hazel was used to bargaining for her ingredients in the wet market, so this came naturally for her. Hearing her latter words, the street vendor sighed. "Fine. Deal."

    Hazel grinned, displaying two dimples on the sides of her cheeks. Zac resisted the urge to snort. He didn''t expect her to be so stingy that she actually put some effort in convincing the man to cut the price in half, but he liked a woman who valued her money. As long as she was willing to cooperate with him, he would definitely give her a considerable compensation for her time with him.

    Hazel picked up three kilograms and gave the seller twenty dollars. The seller handed her 18.5 dollars, three dollars more than what she should''ve gotten. She handed him the extra. "You gave me an extra three dollars, sir," she explained kindly.

    The man smiled. "There''s not a lot of people who are as honest as you, you know."

    "Honest money attracts honest customers," she stated.

    Zac''s lips twitched, satisfied with her doing.

    They finally walked past the wet market. Even if it was already the afternoon, the place was packed with different people. Zac didn''t step forward. Seeing this, she had to go in and buy it herself. Hazel later walked out with bags of meat, bamboo shoots, and clam. She was even carrying a tray of eggs.

    Zac thought that she couldn''t cook to save her life, given that he had only seen her eat noodles and buns at home every day. He decided to get back at her for insulting his abilities.

    However, the events right after they got home turned out far different from what he imagined.

    There wasn''t any screaming, flying pans, or panicked running. In fact, Hazel was very methodical when it came to her cooking.

    Although he was a tiny bit disappointed, he couldn''t help but admire the serious look on her face as she was panfrying her food. He knew that once she put her mind into it, she would do her absolute best. It was a trait that attracted him the most.

    Soon enough, two plates of dishes and one bowl of soup were placed neatly on the table.

    When Zac tasted them, his eyes widened momentarily. They were very delectable. In fact, it even suited his very picky taste buds.

    Hazel smiled. "Do you like it?"

    "How do you know my taste?" he asked.

    "I don''t, but I''m talented enough to make a guess." She winked.

    "About what?" Since they knew each other, they only had dinner together once or twice. He was curious as to how she was able to guess what he liked.

    Taking a sip of her soup, Hazel cleared her throat. "The first time we had noodles in a restaurant, you ordered the waiter to prepare bland noodles with mushrooms and cabbage. In fact, you even asked him not to put too much of the soy sauce. That means you''re not a man who likes too much flavoring. When we were at the wedding banquet, you specifically chose fresh dishes. That''s why I prepared bamboo shoots and clams to align with your taste."

    Zac''s eyes twinkled in surprise. He was impressed.

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    Hazel may look like a fool, but she was actually very observant. He liked her.

    "Turns out marrying you wasn''t so bad after all." He finally smiled. There was something about his smile that erupted a fire inside her heart. Her lips twitched in response.

    She lowered her gaze. "Well, you''re a bad husband."

    "Why?" He smirked.

    "I, not only have to clean your room and wash your clothes, but I also have to cook for you. I''ve suffered a lot."

    "Actually, you can just do one thing." He flashed a playful smile.

    "And what is that?" She turned towards him.

    "Warm my bed." Hazel almost choked at his words. She coughed so hard that her face turned beet red. With tears in her eyes, she glared at the culprit next to her.

    ''There was no way in hell,'' she thought to herself.

    Without even patting her back, Zac continued to eat his meal. It was as if it never happened or he couldn''t care less with her reaction.

    Her eyes flashed with fury. Not only was he a rascal, but it seemed that he was also a cold-blooded animal. The woman who''s fated to marry him must be incredibly unlucky in her past life. She gritted her teeth. Once her time was up, she would divorce him not a second later.

    They finished their lunch in uncomfortable silence.

    After tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, she took out her notebook she used to keep account of all of her income and expenses. Hazel was used to writing down every penny that she spent.

    "These are the expenses we''ve incurred in the past few days." She placed the notebook in front of him. "I''ll pay your accommodation fee, but the rest of the expenditures will be split into two. I''ll pay for it now, but you have to pay it back when we''re divorced."

    However, before she could add anything more, the man took out his credit card and placed it on top of her notebook. "Swipe it yourself. There''s no password, and it doesn''t need any signature," he said coldly, as if he couldn''t care any less what the amount was.

    Her jaw clenched.

    "Hell no," she refused, shaking her head. "We''re not relatives or even friends for that matter. I won''t take your card."

    ''We''re not relatives or friends?'' Zac snorted at the thought, raising his thick eyebrows. "From what I know, you''re my wife, aren''t you?"

    She gritted her teeth, glowering at him. "I''ll max out your card if I''ll take it," she warned spitefully.

    "I don''t care. In fact, it''s your loss if you don''t try to max it out during our agreement." He shrugged, crossing his arms.

    Hazel''s eyes widened.

    It sounded like Zac didn''t care about what she did. In

    fact, he even encouraged her to use his card in the first place!

    Did he even know the value of money at this point?

    She stuttered, trying to get a hold of her tongue.

    What the hell was the man thinking?

    "Since you insist, I''ll keep it for you. Don''t worry. I won''t spend an extra penny using this," she stated firmly.

    Since he was so generous, she would keep it. Maybe then, this could also prevent him from backing out of their agreement.

    Hazel placed the card and her book in their room. When she came out, she heard someone ringing her doorbell.

    "Hazel, are you there?"

    "It''s us. Open the door."

    She was very familiar with their voices. In fact, they belonged to her two best friends¨CMandy and Eva.

    They were best friends since they were kids. They all went to the same high school together, and they even chose the same college to study in. Although they had different jobs now, they still lived in the same city.

    Mandy was an anchorwoman in Yang City Satellite TV. When she heard about Hanson''s engagement, she immediately called Eva and ran to Hazel.

    On March 31, Hazel had told them that she would be declaring her love to her dream man. They were worried that she must be devastated with the news of his engagement.

    As soon as they entered the door, Eva observed Hazel. Seeing that she was fine, she felt relieved.

    Zac sat on the sofa of her living room.

    At the sight of him, Eva smirked. "No wonder you don''t look devastated," she teased.

    "No! He¨C" Before Hazel could explain, Mandy jumped in excitement. "Thompson! You''re Thompson!"

    Hearing the name, Hazel and Eva were startled. They all knew that Mandy had been infatuated with Thompson for four years. He was her hero, but she didn''t even know his true name.

    Zac pursed his lips. He had only used that name once. How did this woman know?

    Mandy''s shoulders sagged in disappointment at the lack of his reaction. She had looked for him for so many years. She didn''t expect that he didn''t know her at all.

 [IX]

    "I''m Mandy, do you remember me? Six years ago, during the trip to the Himalayas, my traveling companions and I came across some difficulty. It was you who saved us."

    It was not until then that Zac realized what she was referring to. Yet, this compliment didn''t make him look proud. He continued to have an indifferent expression on his face. Shrugging his shoulder, he let go of the matter.

    However, hearing this, Hazel walked over and patted him on the shoulder. With a playful look on her face, she said, "I wasn''t aware you had gone to the Himalayas. It sounds amazing!" Mandy had repeated this story a million times in the past. It was something she enjoyed narrating every now and then. They had also named this story as the independent hero climbing the mountains and rivers. The way he had hit eight gangsters all by himself was the part she told with a relish.

    Zac gently pinched the tip of her chin. "There are still a lot of things you don''t know."

    Looking at them, Mandy couldn''t help but feel a little envious. She never expected that her dream hero would one day become her best friend''s hero. " Hazel, how do you know him?" If they hadn''t known each other for a long time and if their relationship hadn''t reached anywhere, then it meant Mandy still stood a chance.

    Thinking something was going on between the two, she was overtaken by an urge to curse. Hazel, on the other hand, quickly noticed the change in Mandy''s expression and answered, "He is my roommate."

    She knew Mandy too well. Her biggest weakness was her paranoia. As soon as they returned from the journey, Mandy kicked her boyfriend mercilessly and urged her to accompany her to do hymen repair surgery. Nervously, Hazel obeyed and didn''t even dare tell Eva about this. She decided to keep the relationship between her and Zac as simple as possible. She couldn''t let her other relationships to be damaged because of it. Apart from the fact they had a fake marriage certificate and had sex once accidentally, there was nothing between the two. After two months, they would separate and never contact each other again.

    ''She had told them we are nothing but roommates,'' thought Zac to himself. It pained him to see the attitude with which she looked at their relationship. ''Did that sex mean nothing to her?'' he wondered.

    Mandy was greatly relieved when she was filled in with the reality of their relationship. Hazel was her best friend and she loved her with all her heart. She could share everything, except love. Everyone was selfish when it came down to love. She smiled and looked at the man of her dreams. "I don''t know your real name yet," she said in a flirty tone.

    Even though her voice was loud enough, he pretended like he didn''t hear her question. Paying her no heed, he focused on the iPad in his hand. Seeing the awkward situation before her, Hazel spoke, "His name is Zac Rong, 26 years old, coming from Dragon City." That was the only thing she knew about him as well. Prying was not her thing hence she didn''t bother probing him with questions. The last thing she wanted was to make a f

    ool out of herself.

    Mandy nodded, trying to look calm. But deep down, she was very disturbed. She couldn''t believe Zack had ignored her. ''Wasn''t I beautiful enough? Doesn''t he find me attractive?'' She couldn''t help but wonder as her confidence went down. All her life, she had lived with the knowledge she was physically striking. Everywhere she went, men and even women would stop and stare at her. Her breathtaking beauty and perfect features could easily steal a heart. Every man she liked reciprocated her feelings. It was the first time a man had ignored her! Embarrassment engulfed her.

    "Zac, can I call you like this?" She went on, trying to get his attention. Even though she was shocked, she wouldn''t give up so easily. "We are not that close," he said, nonchalantly. Once again he had pricked her ego by turning her down. And the worst part was, he had no sorrow in doing so. At the moment, he was in a bad mood and her interest in him was only making it worse.

    Hazel turned her head and looked at Zac. The cruelty in his eyes scared her.

    ''Who offended him? Why is he so ferocious!'' she wondered, running out of ideas to placate the situation.

    Mandy''s heart was wounded. She lowered her eyes and almost cried. Hazel hurried to ease the atmosphere, "He was only kidding. You can call him as you like." As soon as she finished her words, she felt a chill sweep over her face. She chose to ignore it.

    Her words hadn''t comforted Mandy. His cold face showed that he wasn''t joking.

    "Ladies, come and eat pears. I bought them today. They''re fresh,"

    Hazel said, trying to brighten up the atmosphere. It was getting quite gloomy there. She took a pear from the coffee table. When she was about to peel it, Zac grabbed the knife from her and said, "Didn''t I buy you a peeler?"

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    "Oh you did. I completely forgot." After saying this, she ran into the kitchen and took out the peeler. Last time, she had cut herself while cutting an apple. Seeing the pain she had gone through, Zac bought a peeler. He could be quite considerate at times!

    She put the pear to the machine, and quipped as she rotated the handle, "Now that I have this peeling divine weapon, mom doesn''t need to worry about me anymore."

    "I am not worried about you. I am just worried you will use this wound as an excuse to have a rest." Zac sneered.

    Hazel made a face at him and was brimming with rage! She knew he wouldn''t suddenly become kind but his reply irked her nevertheless.

    Next to them, Eva burst into laughter. "The more I look at you, the more I think you are not roommates instead a newly married couple."

    Zac glanced at her. He wanted to agree.

    However, Hazel frowned on listening to Eva''s words. Pretending like she didn''t hear it, she continued to work on the pear.

    Eva''s words didn''t make Mandy happy. She found that the coldness in Zac''s eyes disappeared every time he looked at Hazel. ''Was it because they were familiar with each other, or because the relationship between them was more than that of two roommates?'' she wondered.

    Either way, she swore she would figure it out!

    " Hazel, we thought you would be devastated because of Hanson''s upcoming marriage. You seem well though, and we didn''t expect you to be so cheerful like now. Have you really moved on?" Mandy asked deliberately.

    At the mention of Hanson''s name, Eva suddenly coughed as if to remind Mandy not to aggravate Hazel.

    Hazel''s eyes darkened instantly. It was true that she didn''t have much time to think about Hanson after spending the last few days quarreling with Zac. She realized just now that Zac''s troublesome attitude was actually a blessing in disguise. Since there was no chance for her to end up with Hanson anyway, it would be a waste to think about him.

    "I''ve decided to concentrate on my work. I won''t date someone before the age of 25." She vowed solemnly.

    Eva wagged a disapproving finger at her. "You can''t miss the opportunity to pursue love just because of career! Your youth and good looks are wasted on you if you keep that up. Don''t think that you''ll be pretty forever. The best time to look for love is now!"

    Hazel let out a sigh. "Not everyone is like you, changing boyfriends within a week and treating love as a game." Mandy turned her gaze at Hazel. With a pitying look, she said, "Hanson is Hazel''s true love. I don''t think Hazel will ever forget Hanson."

    While speaking, she sneaked a look at Zac. The man on the other side was looking at the iPad in his hand and didn''t seem to listen to them at all. She couldn''t see his eyes well, so she didn''t notice that his eyes had dimmed at the mention of Hanson.

    Hazel chomped down on the pear and finished it in a few seconds. Annoyed, she wiped the juice off her mouth and replied, "It''s hard for me to forget my feelings just like that. It''s such a waste to make such a perfect person as Hanson marry Sunny. Cupid must have been drunk when he shot his arrows at those two."

    "Well, maybe your Mr. Right is more perfect." Eva tried to comfort her.

    Hazel wasn''t convinced. She shook her head. "The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. I might be destined to be alone for the rest of my life." She lowered her head and sighed, completely ignoring the piercing gaze from the other side.

    Out of the blue, Zac stood up from the sofa and said coldly, "I have something to deal with. You guys have fun." After that, he walked out without waiting for their response. When he heard Hanson''s name, he felt a little irritable. He was even more annoyed that he couldn''t explain why he would feel that way. He thought it was better for him to leave than hear their discussion.

    The moment Zac c

    losed the door, Eva made a face towards Mandy and said, "I don''t think you can handle that guy. He is too cold, I can''t figure him out."

    Mandy glared at her, but didn''t respond. She picked up the lemon tea on the table and drank it as if deep in thought. After a while, she whispered, " Hazel, what does he do?"

    "He said he was involved in construction work before this. He must be a construction worker and now he is out of work." Hazel shrugged.

    "Construction worker?" Mandy had stopped drinking her lemon tea. She was shocked. Hazel understood what she was thinking, so she smiled and said, "Well, as for him, he was blessed with good looks but he was not born with a silver spoon, if that''s what you''re thinking."

    "Well, construction workers are not only the ones doing construction in the site. He must be a real estate developer or an architect." Mandy couldn''t believe what she just heard. He was a regal king with elegance and nobility all over his body. How could he be an ordinary man?

    Eva poked her forehead, "Let''s face the reality. A truly rich man lives in a villa, and drives a luxury car. If he''s well-off, why would he rent an apartment with Hazel?"

    "Maybe there is some special reason. Maybe he is hiding his identity on purpose." Mandy cast a sidelong glance at her. Right now, she was imagining that he was a prince pretending to be a frog. It often happened in TV dramas.

    "Mandy, he really is an ordinary person with no house, no car, no savings, no background, and no employment!" Hazel changed to a straightforward tone. Although it was cruel to shatter Mandy''s beautiful fantasy, she had to face reality sooner or later.

    Mandy lowered her head and didn''t say anything. The disappointment in her eyes was obvious. In her mind, there was a huge difference between being rich and poor, even if they were handsome. Only the most eligible bachelors of the city would match a beautiful woman like her.

    But on second thought, what if Hazel was lying? ''She''s convincing me to give up, so she could take advantage of her favorable position! Even if she was my best friend, I can''t trust her,'' thought Mandy.

    "Do you like him?" Mandy looked square at Hazel''s eyes and asked seriously.

    "Are you kidding me? We are just flatmates." When Hazel said the word "just", she felt very guilty.

    "Although you are just flatmates, you still live under the same roof. You should be careful around him. What if he is a bad guy?" Mandy said half-jokingly. Besides, Hazel was not clever enough. She believed that she could get what she wanted to know soon.

 [X]

    Hazel waved her hand again. Although Zac was unpredictable, he was certainly not a bad person. When it came to sex, they benefited from each other. But when it came to money... "He gave his credit card to me. Only I can rob him. He can''t rob me," Hazel said with a smile.

    "What?" Mandy and Eva exclaimed at the same time.

    "You are just roommates. Why did he give you his credit card?" Mandy frowned.

    "It looks like he is interested in our Hazel," Eva said with a laugh.

    Hazel hastily waved her hand and said, "You''ve got the wrong idea. When we dine in the same restaurant, we pay fifty-fifty. But since I''m buying all the food from the market now, of course he has to pay me. Also, his card''s monthly limit is only 3,000, so he won''t lose much even if I use all of it up."

    "It''s awesome that he gave you the card! There is no other handsome guy like him! Just let him be your boyfriend." Eva snickered.

    Mandy rolled her eyes at Hazel, feeling very depressed. He was her prince charming. Should she be clear about who she was? She took the cup of lemon tea from the table, but just as she was about to take a sip, she decided to put it back down. ''Forget it. Don''t drink any more. The more you drink, the worse you will feel,'' she thought to herself.

    "Hazel, show us the card."

    Mandy tried her best to wear a smile on her face. A bank card could reveal a person''s identity. If it turned out just a common card, she wouldn''t struggle with it too much. She could just let Hazel have the card and let her have him. If the man did not have much money, then just like a laptop with limited memory, he would not improve even when installed an advanced software like her.

    "What''s so good about a card? You have your own," Hazel said hesitantly.

    "That is my dream guy''s card!" Mandy grabbed Hazel''s arm and started shaking it. It was obvious that she was not going to stop until she got what she wanted. Hazel sighed and took Zac''s credit card from the room.

    Mandy took the card and looked at it carefully. The surface of the card was silver and black, and in the middle of it was a low-key, simple, and unique character. Just as she was about to turn over the card, Eva snatched it away. "Wow, this card is so unique. Can you get your name carved on a card? Is that a symbol of his last name? Where can I get one? I want to get one too!"

    "You can look at it as custom tailoring. It must be commemorative edition. The character on it means prosperity and joy. It''s a just a

    coincidence," Hazel said, pouting. That guy was so lucky. How come she wasn''t lucky?

    Mandy''s eyes flashed. Other people wouldn''t have a clue, but she knew better. Her father was the senior manager of a bank, and she was absolutely sure that this was not just an ordinary card, and the person who owned this card was not an ordinary person as well. She already knew that her prince was not some mediocre man, but... She looked at Hazel with a mysterious glimmer in her eyes. "If you are not interested in him, I will make a move," she said deliberately.

    "It''s really none of my business even if you kill him or something," Hazel replied directly with a lighthearted smile.

    Mandy smiled with relief. She was just thinking too much. Hazel had always been in a daze since she was a child. She was not a very smart person. In fact, if she was trafficked, she would probably help the kidnapper.

    She did not know how to lie at all.

    It was already evening when Zac came back. Hazel had just finished having barbecue with her friends and had also just arrived home. She was just lying on the sofa while comfortably watching some TV.

    Zac took a cold shower and sat beside her. His trousers were slightly open, and Hazel couldn''t stop herself from peeping at him. She took a deep breath and her nose was filled with the light fragrance of his body wash and his seductive hormones.

    All of a sudden, her face turned hot and her heartbeat got faster.

    ''Oh my God! Are you out of your mind?'' she thought to herself.

    She grabbed the juice on the table and took another deep breath to get herself back to normal.

    Then, at that moment, a hand reached out to her and gently touched her face. "What''s wrong? Why is your face so red?"

    Hazel stopped breathing for a second.

    ''He has eyes as sharp as an eagle''s, and nothing can get past him!'' Hazel thought.

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    "I had barbecue this afternoon. Maybe I am sick," she stuttered.

    "Do you need my help?" He put his hand on the back of the sofa and continued getting closer to her. Frightened, she hurriedly moved to the other side of the sofa. Then, she took his hand and said, "Don''t even think about it!"

    "What did I think?" His dark eyes flickered in the light with a bewitching look.

    "Nothing but filthy thoughts." Hazel looked away, trying to avoid getting eye-contact with him. With a cold and mischievous smile playing at the corners of his mouth, he slowly stood up from the sofa.

    ''What are you doing, lecher?'' Hazel wondered.

    The more Hazel thought about it, the more nervous she got. She almost jumped to her feet and tried to run away, but Zac didn''t go to her. Instead, he went straight to the fridge and took out a box of ice cream. "I just wanted to help you with this," he said.

    She took a deep breath, still petrified as Zac pointed at her temple with his index finger and said, "You think too much. But even if you wanted to do that, I still wouldn''t want to because you feel like a dehydrated dry carrot when I touch you."

    Her face became bright red as he spoke. When she noticed the cheeky grin on his face and realized that he was actually teasing her, she got angry, scooped out some ice cream, and wiped it on his face.

    This guy was a neat freak, so she thought he would immediately run to the bathroom and take a shower. She absolutely did not expect him to fight back, but he scooped out some ice cream as well and smeared it all over her face.

    ''You want to declare war on me? Fine! I''m not afraid of you at all!'' Zac thought.

    Then, an ice cream battle started.

    They ran all over the house while laughing until all of the ice cream in the fridge was gone.

    Afterwards, Hazel lay on the floor, out of breath. Then, she licked the ice cream around her lips.

    Seeing the flushed and naughty look on Hazel''s face, Zac felt quite amused.

    A deep, rumbling laughter came out of his throat, and pulled at her heartstrings, just like a dragonfly skimming its wings over the lake and spreading out ripples.

    He was an extremely handsome man, and he became even more charming when he smiled. Whenever he smiled, his usually cold profile became gentle and bright.

    It was no wonder that Mandy was so mesmerized by him. It was as if God made this man so incredibly good looking in order to tease women and make them fight with one another over him.

    While she was still in a trance, Zac inched his face closer to hers until the tip of his nose was almost touching her nose. "Hazel, you obviously like looking at me," he said.

    Upon hearing his words, Ethan felt her blood boil. She turned her head to the side and immediately sat up straight. It really was true that men always thought with the lower part of their body. "You sex maniac, if you can''t hold it in any longer, go and find a woman outside. Stop wasting your time on me. There are a lot of girls who would willingly sacrifice their body to you," Hazel told Zac.

    Zac frowned at her. He took a deep breath, feeling like he had just suffered an internal injury. He had not had sex for several years. No matter how beautiful the women outside were, he was not interested in them at all. He was a germaphobe, and all he wanted was to be a quiet sleeping beauty.

    But Hazel was the exception. Maybe it was because she looked so different that he became excited the moment he first saw her. He became valiant and imposing, wanting to march forward the moment he could.

    "You are my wife. Should

    you be pushing me away?"

    "I don''t want to be your wife. It''s not proper to give myself up to you," Hazel said with a pout.

    "You seem to be forgetting that you have already given your virginity to me." His voice was soft and teasing, like the humming of a cheetah as it plays with a lamb that he had already caught with his paws.

    "It doesn''t count." Hazel''s face became bright red again.

    "Then what counts?" With an aggressive look in his eyes, his long fingers caressed her pink cheeks gently, like the gentle flutter of a butterfly''s wings.

    Hazel licked her dry lips and quickly changed the topic. "Well, stop it. Come on, be serious! You now have a beautiful girl who is very fond of you. Move quickly and seize the opportunity as fast as you can," she said.

    "Who are you talking about?" Zac said, his eyes darkening.

    "Mandy!" Hazel exclaimed. Then, she smirked and continued, "I know that you are a little tempted by her, and the only reason you left suddenly and treat her coldly is that you want to play hard to get, right?"

    Zac was rendered speechless. ''She really is different from any other woman, '' Zac thought. ''And other than that, her brain is also so unique.''

    He frowned before putting on a sly smile and saying, "Are you jealous?"

    "Of course not. I, as your temporary wife, am being very generous to you. I turn on green lights for you all the time. And not only can you pass the Peach Blossom Road unimpeded because of me, but I am also helping you at a critical moment," she replied.

    Her carelessness somewhat annoyed Zac. He pursed his lips and squinted his eyes. Then, his face became serious and his voice became quite cold. "It''s your business. I''m not interested in your friend. Stop bothering me!" He hated it when women teased him. If she dared to tease him, he would definitely punish her!

    The fiendish look on his face told Hazel that he was not joking. At that moment, she felt a mixture of delight and a bit of worry.

    What pleased her was how this cold guy was still calm even when another woman was flirting with him. It meant that he was not some kind of playboy.

    But what worried her the most was the fact that Zac was apparently not interested in Mandy. If Mandy really tried to pursue him, then she could end up being caught between the two of them.

    And as it turned out, the more concerned she was, the faster it all happened.

    The next day, Mandy called her early in the morning. She had a ticket for Bella''s autumn fashion show, and she wanted to give it to Hazel in exchange for helping her set up a dinner date with Zac.

    To be honest, the last thing Hazel wanted was to get involved in this whole ordeal, but she really wanted to go to the show, so she had to throw all her reservations aside this time.

    But there was one problem. If Zac found out that Mandy was the one who wanted to go on a date with him, Hazel was sure that he would refuse. She had to think of a way.

 [XI]

    She thought about it for a while and then sent a message saying, "Zac, I won''t cook tonight. Please arrive at Petrus Restaurant for a French dinner. See you at sharp eight o''clock. PS: If you stand me up, I am going to burn you alive."

    While reading this message, Zac was in the cottage by the bay with his subordinate, William. A smile made its way to his face as soon as he read Hazel''s text. It was an unnoticeable one yet William caught it since he knew his boss very well. Moreover, his boss seemed to be in high spirits lately. There was a new cheerfulness about him. He couldn''t help but come to the conclusion that Hazel had a part in it. He was also stunned to see this change in his boss. No other girl had managed to placate Zac since he was indifferent to their feelings. Even the most beautiful women had no power over him.

    As the only person who knew the whereabouts of Zac, he also knew about this absurd marriage.

    That day, Zac was drunk and went back to get his identification. William had tried his best to stop him, but Zac wouldn''t listen, he fought his way out.

    After escaping from one marriage, he ended up getting tangled in the webs of another marriage. It seemed that his boss had committed a marriage crisis this year!

    "Valery and Mrs. Mary sent two groups to catch you. They chased after you from Paris to St. Moritz in two different ways." He reported that they wouldn''t stop until they saw the bridegroom on the wedding.

    "Tell Andy to continue playing with them," taking a sip of coffee, Zac said with a slight irony in his eyes. He had made full preparations for the escape from the wedding this time. He not only made up an illusion that he was going abroad, but also had his subordinates travel around the country using his name.

    "Why don''t you just take Miss Hazel home? Try to convince Mrs. Mary and Valery that you have no interest in marrying Valery," suggested William, confused. Although he had worked with Zac for several years, he still had a tough time understanding what was going on in his boss''s head.

    "It''s not the right time yet," said Zac, devoid of any emotion on his face. Before he could do anything, he had to make sure Hazel would cooperate. He still hadn''t convinced her!

    William said no more. Speaking less and doing more was the most important quality one had to have if they wished to work for Zac.

    At eight o''clock, Zac arrived at the Petrus Restaurant on time.

    On his way, he kept on wondering what had prompted her to make such a grand plan! ''Is it because she was suddenly in a mood for some good dish or because at last she wanted to date me?'' He wished the latter was true. He hoped his charm had finally forced her to give in.

    A warm smile broke through Zac''s icy face, making him look even mo

    re handsome than he normally looked.

    At the sight of Zac, Mandy stood up excitedly and said, "Zac!"

    Zac''s smile froze in an instant. "Where is Hazel?"

    "She just called and said that she had something urgent to deal with, so she won''t be able to make it." Mandy had already come up with an excuse.

    "What was so urgent that she had to leave the dinner?" A shadow flitted over Zac''s eyes.

    "There happens to be a fashion show tonight." Mandy shuddered at Zac''s coldness. She realized this wouldn''t go as her plan.

    ''How dare she!'' Zac muttered under his breath, but Mandy couldn''t hear it.

    The darkness on his face magnified.

    "Achoo¡ª"

    At the century event, Hazel, who was sitting in the front row, sneezed again.

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    All her attention was on the runway, and she was completely unaware that the seat next to her had been occupied by someone else.

    "Long time no see, Hazel." A low and familiar voice came to her ears, making her tremble slightly. She turned her head and saw the gentle and elegant face. Her heart stopped beating at once. "Hanson, why are you here?" She remembered clearly that there was a blonde foreigner next to her. It was beyond her how that lady had been replaced by Hanson.

    Seeing her perplexed face, Hanson smiled and explained, "I''ve exchanged my seat with hers."

    "Okay." Then she once again turned her attention back to the runway. She was a little flustered, as if she couldn''t face him. Every time she thought about him, their memories came flooding back.

    Hanson, on the other hand, didn''t have an ounce of shame. He wouldn''t move his eyes from her. Her light chestnut curly hair shone golden in the light. Her delicate face was like the bright diamond. Slowly, he was drinking her in. She didn''t put on any makeup, instead applied a layer of transparent lip gloss on her plump lips. She always kept it simple, allowing her pure beauty to shine, like a stream of clear moonlight pouring out. This was one of the reasons why people were amazed by her. And presently, Hanson wanted to hold her in his hands.

    The light blue organza dress on her body set off her tall and thin figure. And the large V-neck design revealed her delicate clavicle. The hemline was even lower than her thighs.

    Watching this, Hanson''s Adam''s apple rolled. He said, "It''s a beautiful dress." Of course she was more beautiful, but he wouldn''t scare her with compliments.

    However, Hazel thought he was talking about the show, so she nodded and said, "Ordinary people wouldn''t be able to pull off such a bold collision of colors."

    "I was talking about your dress," he said, clearing the misunderstanding. The hair at the temples of her ear was tossed away by him. The skin he touched was burning hot. She looked away in a hurry. "I... made it myself."

    "Letting you leave is Bella''s loss." Hanson sighed.

    The light in Hazel''s eyes dimmed. When she graduated from Donghua University, Hanson had just graduated from the famous Istituto Marangoni and returned to China. Later, he became the deputy CEO of Bella. It was for Hanson that she overcame many tests and entered the design department. She thought that she could be with him day and night...that was, until she met Sunny¨Cher rival. Sunny had set her up and forced her to leave Bella Company. In addition, she took advantage of her father''s influence and forced any company she had applied to, to reject her. However, Hazel wasn''t going to give up just like that. She opened a store on Taobao. She started to tailor clothes for her two friends who were private celebrities, which attracted plenty of people from the upper-class.

    "There are so many talented people there." She lowered her head.

    "Well, you''re different." His deep voice was like the night wind blowing through her hair. She blinked in surprise and raised her gaze to face him.

    "It''s too noisy here. Would you like to take a walk with me?" He motioned to the outside.

    She nodded, still in a daze from his words.

    It was not late at night, yet the fragrance of newly brewed tea pervaded the air. It still smelled like summer. She inhaled as a smile curved her lips.

    The air was cool. She could feel her hair swaying from the breeze as the leaves rustled in response.

    When they reached the flower bed at the middle of the square, he stopped. Hazel waited, not really knowing what he wanted to say.

    "When you told me you like me...was that true?" he suddenly asked. Her heart trembled in her chest as her hands shook. ''Yes.'' She wanted to scream on top of her lungs as she waved her hands up in the air, but she held herself. Hazel managed to plaster an exaggerated smile on her face. "Of course not. It was April Fool''s Day. I was only kidding," she lied. She didn''t want to

    hurt herself again.

    "So...it was just a joke?" The neon lights from the road flashed and glittered across the night, but none of them could lighten up what he was feeling.

    "You''re getting married." Her words were like knives ramming straight into his heart. That was right. He was getting married, and he had no right to ask her that. Deep inside, Hanson had always liked her, but a part of him was satisfied with their lukewarm relationship, but after seeing her with another man, he couldn''t find himself wasting another moment. His hands shook as he reached out for her.

    "I like you, Hazel." Hanson held her cold hands and stared into her eyes.

    Hazel quivered under his touch, feeling as if she had just been struck by lightning. She blinked, and a part of her wondered if she had heard it wrong. "I like you," he repeated. Her eyes had gone misty and tears started to streak down her cheeks. She had waited for so long to hear those words from his mouth, and here they were.

    Hanson''s fingers grazed against her face, brushing away the tears. "I know that you were serious that day. I really, really like you," he whispered. He lowered his head and got close to Hazel. She stood still, as if she had just been frozen in time. Her heart was beating faster and faster as if she was running a marathon.

    Not far away, a Bentley was parked under the tree. The dark color blended with the night''s shadows.

    At the other side of the car window, cold eyes stared at the two figures under the starry night. If looks could burn, everything would''ve already been lit up into flames.

    The man in the driver''s seat had already noticed Zac''s unusual behavior. Zac''s usual poker face was nowhere to be seen as conflicting emotions flashed across his face. He couldn''t believe the fact that his boss could be so emotional over the woman.

    When Zac was about to turn away, a figure rushed towards the flower bed, disturbing the supposedly romantic sight.

 [XII]

    "What are you doing?" Sunny was furious as she rushed over to the pair. She looked like a dragon who was about to spit fire.

    Hanson let go of the woman in his arms. Although he was startled, he didn''t look the slightest bit guilty. He knew for a fact that Sunny had always been obsessed with him. In fact, she was the one who had brought up the wedding. "Why are you here?"

    "How could I not?" she snapped. A part of her wished that she could tear Hazel down with her own bare hands.

    Having no intention to argue with Sunny, Hazel turned. "I''m going in." However, just as she was about to leave, Sunny caught her wrist. Turning her around, she slapped the woman hard on the face.

    There was no way she was going to let the woman go! Especially after trying to seduce her husband! Sunny clenched her jaw as malicious thoughts filled her mind.

    In the black Bentley, Zac glowered. His fists cracked at the sight, tearing through the dull silence in the car. Although Hazel deserved a lesson, he was the only one allowed to touch her or to even lecture her over what she had done. If anyone dared to hurt her, then they were about to face death himself.

    Zac was about to open the door, but he stopped himself when Hazel raised her hand and slapped the woman back without fear.

    Tears streamed down Sunny''s face from the startling pain. She stumbled back. "Hazel, how dare you?" It was the first time she had ever been slapped.

    Hazel snorted, "You may be rich and powerful, but the last thing I''ll be is afraid of you! From now on, I''ll repay you twice as hard for everything that you''ve done to me."

    "You bitch!" Sunny raised her arm and was about to strike her, but Hanson held her back. "That''s enough!" he roared.

    "Didn''t you see that she just slapped me?" Flushed red, she wanted to shake off his hold, only to find that he was too strong. "You were the one who hit her first," he said coldly, glancing apologetically at th

    e woman in front of them.

    "I have to go." Hazel had taken this chance to leave. It seemed that Sunny would always be a thorn on her side whenever she was with Hanson. If she ever got close to him, she would do everything to stab her back. A part of her wondered if it was worth it.

    Seeing her leave, Hanson finally released the woman. Pissed off, Sunny stomped on the gravel. "I forbid you to see her again!" she shrieked out.

    "Even if you forbid me to see her, do you honestly think you''re the only woman in my life?" he said lightly. She gritted her teeth. "What do you mean?"

    "Do you really think I wouldn''t cheat on you?" A mocking smile slid into his lips, and it sent a chill down her spine.

    All influential men have indulged themselves in the highest form of pleasure, and it seemed that Hanson was not an exception to all the temptation surrounding him.

    "My father will not stand for it!" She had no choice but to use her father''s name to suppress him. After all, given that the two families were business partners, he wouldn''t dare try anything rashly.

    Hanson snorted, "Where''s your father now?" ''Who does she think her father is?'' he thought.

    He left with a cold smile, and Sunny was left alone in the cold night.

    ''As long as you aren''t with Hazel, then it''s fine.''

    Finally, she took out her phone. "Billy, get some people for me."

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    She would never forgive the person who had hurt her!

    It was late at night.

    The noise finally faded away. It was replaced with crickets and chirps.

    Since there weren''t any direct bus to her apartment in the square, Hazel had no choice but to walk to her place from the nearest bus station.

    During this period, she needed to cross a dark alley.

    Both sides of the alley were shrouded in many trees. Since it was already late, there were almost no one around her.

    A shiver shot down her spine. Feeling as if someone was following her, Hazel quickened her pace.

    "Hey, girl, why are you alone? Do you need someone to stay with you?" Harsh laughter came from behind her.

    Hazel froze. When she turned, she could see four obscene men gazing up and down at her figure lustfully. Sick smiles were imprinted on their faces.

    She didn''t take another second before she turned and ran. However, these men were quick. Soon enough, they already had her trapped around the middle.

    "Look, if you want the money, here it is. Let me go." Her hand trembled as she stretched out her bag, believing that the men were wise enough to not get themselves into any more trouble.

    The fat man smirked, looking her over. He wiped the saliva dripping from the corner of his lips. "Such a beauty," he slurred. "Boys, I think we got lucky tonight!" Besides, they were already paid. What he wanted to do was play with the woman in front of him.

    When Hazel heard him, she got even more nervous. Knowing that she couldn''t get rid of them with cash, she had to fight them off. She swung her bag towards the shortest and thinnest man. While he used his arms to cover his face, she used this opportunity to shove him down and ran to the other side of the alley.

    There would be pedestrians who could see her if they ran after her.

    Hazel gazed at the exit ahead, only to miss the stone that was blocking her way. She stumbled down, and her knees scraped against the gravel.

    She struggled to stand up, but one of the men held her down. "Let''s see where you can go now." He smiled lewdly.

    The three men quickly stepped forward to hold her down. They cackled like a bunch of hyenas about to get some fresh meat. "Come on!" they yelled at their leader. They couldn''t wait to get a taste of this.

    With an obscene smile, the fat man began to unbuckle his belt.

    Knowing that she couldn''t get free from the tight hold, tears of despair streamed down her face. "Zac!" she sobbed out. She didn''t know why he was the first person in her mind, but she yelled for him desperately.

    Closing her eyes and readying herself for the worse, an angry fist broke through the helpless night. Billy, the fat man, groaned in pain as he fell onto the ground like a motionless pig.

    Seeing this, the other three men let go of the girl and started to brandish their knives. Without another word, they rushed to the newcomer. They weren''t any match for him. In just

    a few strokes, all three of them fell to the ground as they searched for their knocked off teeth.

    Hazel gazed at the man who had saved him. She squinted, not believing that it was actually Zac who came to save her. When his arms wrapped around her, she could smell his masculine scent wafting around her nose. "Zac," she sobbed. "You really came." She broke into tears.

    Zac had been angry for several hours. He was like a volcano waiting to erupt, but as soon as he heard her calling his name, the anger on his face completely dissipated.

    The fact that he was the first one she had called for and not Hanson, comforted him.

    After they walked out of the alley, a man in black came over. In the moonlight, his handsome face and a bloodthirsty sneer hung on the corners of his mouth.

    Soon enough, with a mix of butchered screams and heartfelt tears, four disabled eunuchs appeared at the other end of the street.

    In the apartment.

    Still suffering from the shock, Hazel found herself curling at the edge of the sofa, holding the small pillow in her arms.

    Zac fetched the medicine box and began to clean the wounds on her knees.

    "Why are you there?" she asked gently.

    "I went for a walk." His tone was flat. What she didn''t know was that he had followed her to the dark alley.

    "Okay," she slowly answered. "Have you sent Mandy home?" She didn''t even finish when a sharp pain came from her knee. Hazel groaned and winced at Zac''s grip, but he quickly softened when he realized that he was hurting her. Every time the subject was brought up, he just couldn''t help but be angry at her. He had already warned her, yet she was still careless as to set them up. The most hateful thing was that she left him to go on a date herself. The thought of her being with Hanson made his blood boil.

    Hazel was aware that he was mad, but she still didn''t know what had happened between them. She pursed her lips. "It''s my fault that I didn''t tell you in advance, but Mandy is a nice girl. You can at least try to get along with her."

    The vein on his forehead bulged out and his eyes flashed. If it weren''t for the injury that she had incurred, he would''ve twisted her over and spanked her. "It''s none of your business."

    She winced. "Okay fine." It seemed that helping him find a girl was a mistake.

    Zac frowned. "Do you still remember my conditions?"

 [XIII]

    Hazel didn''t quite understand what he meant. She shrugged. "I remember. I can still introduce a girlfriend for you."

    Zac gritted his teeth. If only she could feel how worked up he was in trying to drill what he wanted to say in her mind. He lifted her chin with one of his hands, deciding to cut to the chase. "During our marriage, I suggest you don''t see any other man. He could be your first boyfriend. Hell, he could be your dream lover, but you better get them out of your mind and never speak to them again."

    His words were harsh, slicing through the tension between them. What he really wanted was to wipe her mind off Hanson. He moved closer. Even if she was his fake wife, as long as the license was still registered, then he wouldn''t let her see another man. He lowered his lips against hers.

    She stiffened under his touch. Hazel didn''t even know what he meant. It wasn''t as if she was having an affair...all he caught her doing was that the men were trying to rape her, but she knew for a fact that he didn''t mean that ordeal. That meant...

    Hanson''s confession came to mind.

    No. It was impossible that he would know such a private affair.

    While she was stuck in her thoughts, a burst of pain exploded from her lower lip.

    He had bitten her!

    ''Is he a dog?''

    Hazel shoved him away with all her strength as she gritted her teeth. "Listen here, I''m neither your pet nor your slave. Do you think I''ll listen to that excessive request?" He knocked her over the sofa. His fingers traced against her face before stopping at the edge of her lips. His eyes glittered. "If you can''t do it, then maybe I should teach you every night how to be a good wife," he whispered.

    She gritted her teeth.

    This was already too much!

    "We''re getting a divorce in five weeks," she reminded him coldly.

    His eyes darkened. In fact, they looked like a bottomless abyss¨Cone that Hazel didn''t want to fall into.

    Divorce wasn''t easy. In fact, there were plenty of talks before it would even take place.

    Moreover, even the thought of setting her free was making him uncomfortable. Zac didn''t like the fact that he was letting her go.

    "I''m hungry. Go make me some food." He finally rele

    ased his hold on her and sat up.

    The topic had changed so fast that she couldn''t even decipher what had happened. "Didn''t you just come back from dinner? How could you be hungry?"

    "Just hurry up." After finding out that he was being cheated, he had turned around and left. In fact, he didn''t even drink a sip of water or eat a piece of bread. He had endured the hunger with rage in his heart.

    Hazel didn''t know this. She had thought that he maintained his hunger because of his date. ''He''s only hungry to keep his own dignity, '' she snorted.

    "My legs hurt, so I won''t be able to walk. Cook it yourself."

    "Let me help you." Without even giving her a chance to deny him, he picked her up and placed her in the kitchen. He took out a pack of noodles and a tray of eggs from fridge. "You can do it now."

    It seemed that she had no other choice but to agree.

    ''For the sake of him saving my life, cooking noodles wouldn''t be so bad, '' she thought with a sigh.

    On the other side of Yang City.

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    Sunny lay on the tiled floor near her toilet bowl, screaming in frustration.

    She had been sitting in her BMW as she waited for the news. However, what she didn''t expect was photos of Billy and his gang being tortured rather than a picture of Hazel being molested.

    Two masked men dragged her out of the car before she could recover from the shock. Not only did they break her arms, but they had also force fed her ten cockroaches. Even the sight of them crawling all over her tongue made her vomit into the basin.

    She was scared for her life. She was a controlling tyrant in Yang City, and she didn''t expect that one day, she would be taught a lesson.

    But Sunny didn''t even dare say a word or else her naked pictures would be all over the internet.

    Three days later, Hazel got news from Mandy that her rival had been sent to the hospital. The advantage of working in a TV station was that they got first-hand gossip for everything. Of course, the news wasn''t as complete as it was, since Sunny could only admit that she fell and broke her arms.

    Thank goodness!

    Hazel fixed her eyes on her friend''s luggage.

    However, Mandy didn''t just come here to tell her the good news.

    Mandy actually planned to stay in their house for the time being because her landlord had decided to sell her old apartment.

    Hearing that, Hazel''s head was already hurting. If she knew her friend any better, her real purpose was to get close to Zac.

    However, an icy guy like him wasn''t planning on letting her stay over. The moment he heard of the news, his face darkened completely. In fact, what he wanted to do was walk over there and give her a piece of his mind.

    Seeing that he was about to drive the woman away, Hazel pulled him into the room in a hurry.

    "Mandy will be moving out as soon as she finds a house. Just bear with her for a couple of days please," she begged, clasping her hands together.

    "No," Zac said coldly. It was obvious that he wasn''t there to negotiate with her.

    Hazel gritted her teeth. She had wanted to try and persuade him nicely, but seeing as he wasn''t responding to that, she went for another route. "Look, I''m the one who rented the apartment. Hell, I''m the one paying for it too, so Mandy will live with me if I say so. If you''re not happy, then you can find another apartment to live in for the next few days. You can come back when she leaves."

    Zac clenched his jaw. "And why would I come back?" He sneered. "You''re the one who will lose the bet, not me. In fact, I have nothing to do with this!"

    Although he sounded like a spoiled child, she knew the underlying threat in his words. She sighed disappointedly. "Zac, did you have any misunderstanding with Mandy when you dated? Did you have a bad time at dinner?" His attitude towards Mandy was weird. In fact, Mandy was beautiful. Would it hurt him if he played nice with her?

    "Is she really homeless?" Zac rolled his eyes.

    "Look, her landlord already sold the house, and she has no other place to live. You know how the rent in the city has become outrageous these past few years." Hazel held his arm and acted like a child begging her parent. "I remember that you like the stewed beef steak with radishes, right? How about I''ll cook it for you every day? The real Sichuan beef, that''s 60 dollars per kilogram. It will all be on me."

    Slyness flashed in his eyes. "That''s not enough. How about you cook whatever I want to eat?" Knowing ho

    w cheap the girl was, anything above 50 dollars of her regular expenses would make her throw a hissy fit. If she spent more than that, then she''d rather be pushing Mandy out of their house in no time.

    Hazel pulled a somber face.

    ''Bastard! At this point, I might not be able to pay the rent!''

    In order to take advantage of staying in their home, Mandy had specifically asked for a three-day leave.

    In fact, she even planned to go to the beach with them just so she could show off her curvy figure. However, Hazel was not in the mood to accompany her. After reading the menu that Zac had handed to her, she was beyond furious.

    He wanted a bowl of rice with stewed beef, boiled prawns, and steamed turbot.

    ''Doesn''t he know that money doesn''t grow on trees?'' she thought exasperatedly.

    "Hazel, which swimsuit do you think looks better on me?" Mandy didn''t notice the painful expression that had just passed Hazel''s face as she was selecting her swimsuit for the day.

    "It''s rare for you to take a day off, don''t you think? How about I''ll accompany you to find a house?" she suggested weakly. Although she loved her best friend, she didn''t want her to be staying in her house for too long. Otherwise, she might not have extra money by the end of the month.

    Mandy shot her a pointed look. "Hazel, to tell you the truth, my landlord didn''t sell the house," she explained. "I just thought it would be more convenient for me to pursue him if I live with you. I won''t leave until he falls in love with me."

    Hazel thought that she was going to break down right then and there. Except for the man''s looks, why the hell was Mandy so obsessed with him?

    "Don''t you always look down on the poor?" she said reproachfully, hoping to change her mind.

    "You once told me that money and looks don''t matter right? That''s the belief I''m practicing now!" Mandy grinned. Mandy let Hazel think that he was a poor man. It was only in this way was she able to feel at ease.

    "Oh, the power of love." Hazel sighed. Mandy held her hands. "Please, Hazel, help a girl out!"

    Of course she would. For the sake of her own money, she would do everything to get the guy to fall in love at her.

    Therefore, she kept herself together and entered Zac''s room.

 [XIV]

    "Zac, how do you feel about going to the seaside today?" Hazel said as she sat at the corner of his bed.

    He squinted at her. "Is this Mandy''s idea? Are you really planning to use the same old trick towards me?" He was not going to fall for her tricks this time. In fact, he had grown more vigilant to all Hazel''s suggestions.

    "It''s my idea," she protested. "My business has been doing well these past two months. In fact, I''ve received lots of orders. Plus, it''s such a rare chance for Mandy to take a day off. She has a car too, so how about we go out and have some fun?" Hazel plastered a smile on her face. She had worked hard earning all that money, she was not planning to let it all go to waste just because she couldn''t help her friend get her dream man.

    Zac leaned back on the chair. "I don''t want to go. You can go by yourselves." He waved his hand dismissively. "I would rather have some quiet time."

    Hazel rolled her eyes. "I''m pretty enough to attract different sorts of men. Wouldn''t you worry for my safety?"

    "I''m not worried the slightest."

    "Why not?" Hazel frowned. Ever since her last fashion show, she had been ordered not to talk to any unfamiliar men, watch different men, or even to touch any other men except for him. In fact, he already treated her as if she was his own property, and now he was going to act like he didn''t care for her?

    That ass!

    As if he could read her mind, a smile weaved its way into his lips. "They''re not as handsome as me. I''m sure you aren''t interested in them."

    She was at a loss for words. Although what he said was the truth, did he really have to be so arrogant?

    Blinking, an idea came to her.

    Hazel raced back into her room and took out two cups filled with three dice each. "How about we''ll roll the dice?" she suggested. "If you lose, then you''re going to the seaside with me."

    Zac hated this game with a passion. Not only did he lose thirteen times in the past rounds, but he had also lost every bet tied to that damned game.

    However, he believed that his luck was bound to change.

    "Fine, whoever adds up to the biggest number will win," he agreed.

    "Okay!" She handed one cup to him. "You first."

    Zac shook the cup hard before releasing it on the desk. He wore a smug smile.

    Five, six, six.

    Holding the other cup in her hand, she shook the cup while praying silently.

    With his legs crossed, Zac lay on the back of his chair leisurely. She wasn''t going to win the game unless she came out with a six, six, six. At this point, her chances of winning was close to none.

    When the dice fell onto the table, his eyes twitched.

    Six, six, six.

    What the hell? How was that even possible?

    Hazel couldn''t help but burst into laughter. At this point, she was already considering on packing up her stuff and leaving for Vegas. Maybe then, she''d have all the opportunity to win big.

    "Pack your things," she said happily.

    Zac gritted his teeth. He had worked around financial circles and casinos for years. In fact, his life was brilliant and promising. He didn''t expect that his day would be ruined with three dice!

    Noticing the displeasure written all over his face, she patted him on the shoulder. "You''re going to have a good time. In fact, you''ll even meet your girl," she teased.

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    Zac stood up. "I''m going to have breakfast first."

    Hazel tittered. Was he really going shift his anger onto food?

    She didn''t stop him, and he was out the whole morning. A part of her suspected that he had already eaten lunch at this point.

    When Hazel heard the door open, she was about to tease him when he pulled her into another room. "I''ll go to the seaside if you wear this swimsuit."

    A swimsuit?

    ''Oh my god! Did he just buy me a swimsuit?"

    She took the bag from his hand and opened it.

    Was this a swimsuit or mummy wrappings?

    She stared at the swimsuit. In fact, it looked as if it belonged to a scuba diver. The only thing it was missing were the webbed sandals.

    As a fashion designer who had seen multiple fashion statements, it was the first time for her to see such a conservative design!

    "It fits you." A smile slid onto his face. Given that he had seen her before, Zac knew all her sizes like the back of his hand.

    She wrinkled her nose. "I don''t want to wear it. Not only is it ugly as hell, but it''s insulting for you to think that I''ll wear it!"

    ''He seems to be a man of good taste, so what the hell was running in his mind when he picked out this swimsuit?''

    Zac shrugged. "It doesn''t matter. We can always sit on the balcony and watch the sunset today." It seemed that not only would he refuse to go with her, but he also wouldn''t allow her to go with Mandy!

    Hazel glared at the sky. For the sake of her money and Mandy, it seemed that she had to make the ultimate sacrifice.

    The beach in the West was beautiful and quiet. The silver sand powdered across the ground as the cold wind brushed the waters. Being far away from the hustle and bustle of the city crowd, the air was fresh and peaceful.

    Hazel gritted her teeth as she mustered up all the courage she had to walk out of the fitting room.

    Mandy burst into laughter. "What the hell are you wearing?"

    "A traditional-inspired swimsuit?" she said weakly before casting a stern glance at the culprit.

    Zac smiled silently. Well, he did win the bet either way. How could his wife be exposed to other men.

    Mandy''s swimsuit highlighted her tanned curves, and it had attracted the men''s attention as soon as she walked out of the fitting room.

    She ignored all of their lustful gazes and approached Zac.

    It was said that many people who went to the beach were promiscuous people looking to let off some steam.

    Although Zac wore sunglasses and was properly hidden under the shade, his incomparable elegance overshadowed the beautiful scenery. He attracted plenty of attention from different crowds.

    Hazel couldn''t swim, so she had to wait by the roadside stall to get a floater for herself. Once she got one, she waved at them.

    "I''m going to have some fun in the waters okay," she said happily. Since Hazel didn''t want to be the third wheel, she hurriedly grabbed her floater into the sea to give them an opportunity to be alone.

    It was already summer, and the ocean was warm from t

    he sun''s scorching heat. She raised her long legs and clicked along the waves. Soon enough, she had gotten farther and farther from the coastline.

    Zac frowned. She couldn''t swim, so why was she going farther away from the coast?

    Mandy didn''t mind as she stared at him with loving eyes. "How about let''s take a walk on the beach?" she flirted.

    "Go by yourself." Behind his sunglasses, his eyes were fixated on Hazel.

    A wave surged in the center, tearing across the waters. It splashed across the shoreline heavily.

    Hazel was lying on her stomach, enjoying the sunshine. She was too busy relaxing to see the waves that were approaching.

    For a person who didn''t know how to swim, a strong wave could be fatal.

    "Shit!" Zac cursed. Taking off his sunglasses, he rushed towards the sea.

    The waves came crashing on Hazel''s back, knocking her over. Before she could reach out for her floater, she found herself being pushed deeper into the waters.

    She panicked, waving her hands up in the air and kicking her feet in the waters. She tried her best to float upwards, but she could already feel the currents dragging her deeper. She wanted to call for help, but as soon as she opened her mouth, seawater entered down her throat.

    She choked and coughed. Before she could sink into its depths, a strong arm reached for her and pulled her out of the seas.

    "Fuck!" she choked out, coughing violently. Zac patted her on the back gently as she coughed out the seawater.

    Mandy rushed towards her and handed her a bottle of water to rinse her mouth. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. "You scared me to death Hazel."

    "I just drank some seawater." Hazel managed a sheepish smile.

    "I can''t believe you. You were holding a floater, and you still drowned." She sighed.

    When Hazel felt much better, she lay down on the beach chair and took a sip of water. "It was just an accident," she explained. "I didn''t notice the waves coming. If I did, I would''ve grabbed the floater."

    "From now on, you''re not allowed to go into the waters alone," Zac ordered.

    "Of course not. To hell will I give you a chance to perform CPR," Hazel snapped, pretending to be insulted. When in reality, she was actually touched by his words.

    Zac rolled his eyes. Affection was evident in his movements.

    Mandy glanced at the two of them, not knowing what they were talking about. However, the word ''CPR'' made her eyes light up.

    Maybe then she could create a moment for her and her prince charming.

 [XV]

    As Mandy was lost in her thoughts, Hazel took out a deck of cards from her bag and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, let''s have some fun, shall we?" With three people, they could play one of her favorite card games. She began shuffling the cards and arranging the deck.

    Mandy turned to her with a disdainful look. Though they had always played this game with Eva, but this would only bore Zac who was used to playing golf, polo and yacht. How could she force him to play such cheap card games?

    Just as Mandy had guessed, it was true that Zac had never played such card games before. Nevertheless, his curiosity was piqued and he was soon very interested in it. "How do you play it?" he asked innocently.

    Hazel''s eyes widened in amazement as if she had just heard the biggest revelation of the century. "You don''t know how to play ''Fight Against Landlords''?"

    "Is it strange?" Zac asked while raising an eyebrow.

    Hazel was puzzled. This was the most popular poker game in China. Primary school students often play this game, so how come he didn''t know how to play it?

    "Do you know how to play ''Go Fish''?"

    Zac shook his head.

    "What about ''Old Maid''?"

    Zac continued shaking his head.

    Hazel was speechless. She was starting to think that this man was not from the same planet as her. Was he from Mars?

    "Do you know how to play poker?" continued Hazel.

    Zac shrugged. Actually, he rarely played with cards. When he was in New York, he had learned about poker but he only played it occasionally.

    In his silence, Mandy took the opportunity to cut in, "What''s the fun in cards? Zac, let''s go sailing, shall we?" She smiled sweetly and hoped that she could finally have a moment with him.

    Zac ignored her words. Instead, he looked at Hazel and said, "You can teach me how to play."

    Hazel took a glance at her upset friend and feigned nausea. "Oh! Why do I feel dizzy all of a sudden?" She held her forehead and continued in a weak voice, "It must be because of the seawater I had swallowed earlier. I''ll take a nap first. You guys should go to the speedboat."

    Sadness flashed through Zac''s eyes. Was she playing the

    same trick again to push him away?

    Was he really nothing to her?

    "Teach me, right here, right now! I won''t let you off until I learn it!" Zac snarled at her in frustration. Her inexplicable words and actions made him want to squeeze into her heart to see what was in it. How could she ignore him easily?

    Feeling helpless, Hazel rolled her eyes and raised her hands in surrender. She had tried her best for her friend. Zac was just too smart to be fooled easily.

    Mandy was extremely disappointed. She put on her sunglasses to cover her red eyes. She had been the apple of everyone''s eyes since childhood. Everyone wanted to make friends with her, and many men had run after her. Why was Zac treating her so coldly?

    She lay on the back of the chair and secretly gazed at him through the sunglasses. He was so excellent and perfect. There was no one else in her eyes other than him. She would never be discouraged, and in whatever way, she would try her best to impress him!

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    Hazel started explaining the rules to him, and turned on the game application on her phone to let him practice. Zac had already grasped the mechanics of the game, but he deliberately pretended not to know and let her guide beside him.

    After winning five rounds, Hazel sighed deeply, as if she was tired from finishing a tough task. "You are a promising student and my efforts had not been wasted. Finally, I can take a nap." She covered her mouth and yawned deliberately. Mandy saw this as an opportunity. She stood up and asked Hazel to accompany her in buying a swimming ring.

    She was stunned for a moment and didn''t react immediately. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, "Why do you want a swimming ring?" Mandy was a good swimmer and as strong as a fish. How could she need a swimming ring?

    "I don''t know how to swim. Of course, I need to buy a swimming ring," she replied in annoyed tone. Then, Mandy dragged her away, not wanting her to spill the beans.

    While walking towards the stall, Mandy released her hands and stared seriously at Hazel. "From now on, I can''t swim. Keep it a secret!"

    Hazel nodded in a daze. What trick was she playing?

    When they went back to their seats, Mandy took off her sunglasses and summoned all of her courage to invite her dream lover. "Zac, how about we take a swim?" she suggested.

    "I''m playing the Fight Against Landlords. Go on your own," Zac said, without even looking up at her. He was too focused on the phone.

    Mandy had already been refused for so many times, so she had gotten used to it. She secretly pinched Hazel a few times on the waist, as if asking her to instigate the entire thing.

    Hazel groaned in her heart. After what had happened, she didn''t want to go into the waters again. However, she knew that if she didn''t go, Zac wouldn''t bother going either.

    She didn''t expect that she would risk her life trying to play matchmaker.

    Sighing, she stretched her hand over the screen of the phone. "We can play at home. We don''t get to go to the beach every day, you know. Why don''t we enjoy ourselves?"

    Zac narrowed his eyes. "You want to go? Are you deaf?" She wanted to go alone?

    Hazel frowned. "I remember everything that you''ve said, so obviously, I wouldn''t go alone. That''s why I want you to go with me." Her eyelashes fluttered.

    His eyes gleamed with affection as he picked up the floater on the table. Without another word, he placed it over her head. "Follow me then. Don''t run around," he advised.

    Hazel smiled and gave Mandy the OK signal.

    Mandy smiled stiffly. Instead of gratitude, she couldn''t help but feel a little bit jealous. Although he was cold towards her, he was an absolute gentleman when he faced Hazel. Even if he was a ruthless man, he was warm towards her best friend.

    That wasn''t a good sign.

    Zac took off his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles.

    "Wow, you have a great figure!"

    "He''s so handsome!"

    "Prince charming, shall we meet in the dressing room at the back?"

    Soon enough, they were being crowded by different women. In fact, those women were excited that they were prac

    tically salivating in front of him.

    Seeing that he was headed towards the water, everyone stood up and rushed towards the sea. Obviously, all of them wanted an up-close sight of the man.

    Holding her forehead, Hazel closed her eyes.

    She patted Mandy''s shoulder sympathetically. "It''s obvious you have competition. You should keep an eye on your prince charming," she teased.

    "Please, they''re all ugly," Mandy snorted before gazing at Hazel thoughtfully. Truth be told, she actually found her friend to be the most threatening.

    Since Zac was a germaphobe, he took her to the middle of the sea where there weren''t any people crowding around them. Mandy had no choice but to follow.

    Every time Hazel tried to swim one meter further to give the two a chance to talk, Zac would pull her right back. He gazed at her sharply.

    "Stay next to me. I''ll take you wherever you want to go," he ordered.

    "Okay." Hazel made a face. It seemed that she wouldn''t be able to escape from him.

    While they were talking, Mandy removed the air valve in her swimming ring.

    Soon, she pretended to be scared and screamed. Mandy swam towards him, placing her arms around Zac''s neck. "My swimming ring is broken. What am I going to do?" she shrieked.

    She pretended to tremble at the sight of the waters as she pressed her whole body against the man. The moment her skin rubbed against his, he pushed her away.

    Taking a deep breath, Hazel knew what Mandy was up to. Although Hazel knew that Mandy could swim, she couldn''t just sit there and watch him pushing her mercilessly.

    She clenched her fists. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded. "Mandy couldn''t swim. Go and save her!"

    Zac''s eyes flashed. He already knew that Mandy was pretending. In fact, he had seen her remove the air valve from her swimming ring. Even then, Hazel continued to act with her. What did she take him for?

    He suppressed his anger deep in his heart as he sighed.

 [XVI]

    With his left hand, Zac grasped Hazel''s waist tightly. And using his other hand, he threw her floater to Mandy. "Hold it. Don''t damage it again," he warned, before bringing his attention back to Hazel.

    Mandy didn''t like the way he had ordered her out! Hazel, on the other hand, was too scared to be reacting. With her forehead oozing sweat, she asked, "What about me? What will I do? I can''t swim!"

    "You got me!" After flashing her a mischievous smile, he grabbed her arms and placed them around his neck.

    Flushed with shyness, she stared at him angrily and was overcome with an urge to kick him. But her life depended on him, hence she didn''t dare to do anything crazy. Instead, she clung onto him like he was her last hope.

    Knowing too well she was doing this only because she had no other choice, Zac let out a smile of victory. As he took back his arm from her waist, she fell into his arms.

    "If you are afraid of drowning, then be obedient. Don''t move!" he spoke in a presumptuous tone and was proud that his ruthless and shameless trick was working. At present, her condition was akin to that of a meat on the chopping board, waiting for him to cut her into pieces.

    Seeing the intimate behavior in which they were acting, Mandy''s eyes shot daggers at Hazel. She slammed the sea angrily, causing the waves to splash in all directions. Then she screamed and swam to the shore.

    "Mandy!" shouted Hazel, noticing she was leaving. But she couldn''t follow since she was at Zac''s mercy. ''I have never been so helpless!'' she thought. Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind.

    "Zac, you did all of this on purpose, didn''t you? If our friendship is destroyed then you are the sole reason behind it! I will never forgive you for the rest of my life!" she spat out, brimming with rage.

    Clenching his teeth, Zac was overcome with rage as well. "Well, if you had told her our marriage was real, then there would have been no trouble."

    Hazel glared at him coldly, hatred building in her heart for him. A wry smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. "How easy it is for you to say such a thing! I was drunk and did something absurd. I hid it because I was afraid it would ruin our friendship. I did it for myself as well. Quick marriage and quick divorce are not things I am proud of. I have no desire to tell my friends that I have become a divorcee at the age of twenty-one. You have no idea how humiliated I will be. Trust me, I will end up becoming a laughing stock. Besides, if someday my parents hear about it, they won''t take it well."

    The sun shone on his handsome face, but it couldn''t light up his dark eyes. He wondered why she hadn''t considered turning this mistake into something good. He wished she would ask him to actually be her husband!

    ''Why does she keep mentioning divorce?'' He was irked.

    "Since the idea of second marriage and divorce bothers you so much, why don''t you just marry me and become a real wife?" He probed her with a teasing tone.

    From the look of it, she assumed he was just kidding. Pouting prettily, she said, "You won''t like me, will you?"

    "How can you be so sure?" he asked challengingly. His voice was soft, more like a whisper. It brushed through her hair.

    She tried to smile at him, but the smile was blown away by the sea wind before it took shape.

    He never talked about himself. So far, she had gathered nothing except his name and age. Nor did he ever attempt to tell her anything. In his heart, she was not even a friend or at least that''s how it seemed to her.

    "Do you like me?" she asked, cutting to the chase. Even though her question was intense, her tone was light. It was the same tone one used while asking about the weather.

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    He did not expect that she would be so direct. Her question had taken him off guard. His lips moved slightly, but did not open. His expression was like a undercurrent at the bottom of the sea, complicated and unpredictable.

    A moment of silence stood between them.

    They were so close to each other that their eyes reflected each other''s figures, but neither of them could see the other''s heart.

    For no reason, Hazel felt stuffy and suffocated. She couldn''t stand another second with him. Once the bet with Sunny was done, they would get divorced. Their relationship would only become a burden to them. Calculating all this, Hazel thought it was best to end it.

    The waves pushed a floating ring over to her. She reached out for it and put it on herself. "Well, your silence answers my

    question. You don''t like me, you don''t like me at all!"

    She feigned a smile and swam as far away from him as possible.

    He stared at her receding figure with his unblinking eyes. The waves danced but he didn''t stir. He was in a daze and not even tsunami could placate him.

    As soon as Hazel was ashore, she began to look around for Mandy. Luckily, she didn''t have to search long. Mandy was caught sitting on the beach chair, with her head bowed down.

    "Mandy, you misunderstood. There is nothing going on between the two of us," Hazel explained in a hurry.

    Mandy suddenly stood up from her chair, raised her hand and slapped her across her face. Writhing with rage, she said, "You are the most despicable person, Hazel. You pretended to help me whereas behind my back you were trying to seduce him! You cheating bitch. Why did you do this to me? Did you want to prove that you are better than me? All these years, I considered you my best friend. And look what you did to me!"

    In spite of the burning pain on her face, Hazel grabbed Mandy''s shoulder and said, "Mandy, we have played together since childhood. Don''t you know who I am? If I really wanted to be with him, I would have gone ahead and done it. Why on earth would I give you hope and pull you into this? No! This isn''t true. And about what happened earlier, he did it with an intention to piss you off. Guess what? It worked! You were stupid enough to fall for it."

    "Why did he want to piss me off?" Mandy asked in between her sobs. If he had done it just to anger her then it meant he hated her with a passion!

    Hazel didn''t give a reply, instead she waited for her friend to calm down. Once she saw that she had calmed down, she took a deep breath. She picked up the fruit juice from the table and handed it over. "I am not sure why he is doing it. Perhaps he knows you have taken a liking to him. He is probably playing hard to get," Hazel said in a soothing tone.

    Mandy opened the bottle of juice and took a sip. Still looking doubtful, she said, "Are you sure you don''t like him?"

    "Don''t you know who I like?" Giving Mandy a glare, Hazel dragged her to sit on the beach.

    The anger in Mandy''s heart almost died out. Yes, in the eyes of her bestie, Zac was a poor hobo. How could he compare with that rich and handsome Hanson?

    "What if he likes you?" Mandy asked, finally asking the question that was eating her alive.

    "Before I came here, I asked him this question. It turns out he doesn''t like me at all. It was silly of me to ask him such a question.

    I am not his type," she said with a shrug. Although Zac didn''t give her an answer, she took it for a no. That''s why it was believed that indecision was a decision within itself. His hesitancy meant he didn''t like her.

    "What! You asked him whether he likes you? How dare you!" Mandy poked her forehead, but she was in a much better mood.

    Knowing that Zac didn''t like Hazel put her mind at ease.

    "You know what? It''s better if we live under the same roof. That will help us avoid misunderstandings." Hazel smiled again. She hoped her friend would take the offer.

    Mandy was relieved. Yes, she agreed with her. If he indeed didn''t like Hazel, it meant she stood a chance!

    After this, they apologized and made peace with each other. They didn''t realize that Zac was standing not far away from them and listening to the whole conversation. He was annoyed at Hazel because she had lied!

    ''I never said I didn''t like her. How could she say such a thing!''

    Zac was quite disturbed.

    Although he was not an easy-going man, Hazel was indeed the most pleasing girl to his eyes. Everything she did made him Happy.

    Mandy had stayed in the apartment with them for a week, and Zac started to go crazy. Their happy days were over. In short, Mandy''s intrusion had completely cut off their normal relationship.

    Hazel seldom talked to him, and she spent most of her time in her studio, busily designing. She even avoided sitting close to him while having meals so as to avoid any physical contact. She didn''t want to leave any room for misunderstanding.

    It turned out she meant what she had said! Friendship held a lot of importance to her.

    He, her nominal husband, was completely abandoned!

    ''No way! I have to use a stronger means!'' thought Zac! He wasn''t someone who would give up easily.

    Then he took out his phone and dialed William''s number. "Please find me a woman, it doesn''t matter what she does. The only quality I am looking for is love for money. She must, at any cost, love money more than men."

 [XVII]

    In the evening, Hazel and Mandy had already gone home after long hours of shopping together. As they were about to open the door, they heard a woman''s laughter echoing from the inside.

    What''s going on?

    Puzzled by the sound, Hazel immediately turned the door open.

    In the living room, Zac had his arm wrapped around a woman while he was watching TV.

    The woman was gorgeous. In fact, she had an angel''s face, but a devil''s body. She was decked in designer wear from head to toe as if she was fresh out of a branded store.

    She held Zac in his arms as she leaned against his shoulders. They looked incredibly intimate.

    Hazel''s jaw dropped. He actually had a girlfriend? Why did he never mention it?

    Feeling as if she had just been struck by lightning, Mandy fell onto the ground. Luckily, Hazel caught her from falling.

    Zac didn''t even bother to look at her. Instead, his stare was fixated on Hazel. There was a flash of anger in her beautiful eyes. Although it was faint, he still noticed it.

    Good. That meant that she still had feelings for him.

    "Her name is Mindy," he introduced lazily. His grip around the woman''s waist tightened, as if their mere presence didn''t affect him as much as the woman did.

    There was an unspeakable feeling in Hazel''s heart, as if an ant was chewing on her nerves. She winced, swallowing.

    Mandy was practically burning with jealousy. "When did you get to know each other?" She wondered if she had been half a step slower from the very beginning and someone else took over the price.

    "Recently," Zac answered plainly. He whispered something in the woman''s ear. With a shy smile, Mindy followed him into the room.

    The door slammed shut.

    It was as if Hazel had been punched in the stomach. She shuddered as a bad feeling rose up her heart.

    Mandy was on the verge of a breakdown. She placed her ear against the door, trying to monitor the situation inside.

    In the room, Zac sat on the chair with a smirk. He couldn''t help but imagine what Hazel was feeling. Was it outrage? Was it jealousy?

    He waited for so long, but no one knocked on the door. Instead, all he could hear was Mandy shuffling her boots from the outside.

    Mindy sat by the window. Although she was in it for the money, she didn''t want to miss out on such a handsome man either.

    "I can always provide some extra service," she flirted. However, her words were greeted by his cold glance, and she found herself sitting back.

    Zac glanced at the woman who was playing with her phone. "Scream for me," he whispered.

    Mindy smirked, giving him a thumbs up.

    Outside the door, Mandy''s eyes were swollen with tears. "Didn''t you say that I was being too forward? Look! The woman is even more forward than me and now, they''re fucking!" She gritted her teeth, wishing that she had just followed suit.

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    Hazel walked back and forth in the living room. Of course, she felt outraged for her best friend.

    What the hell was going on? What the hell was he thinking? Mandy was an amazing catch! Why the hell would he settle for someone like that material girl?

    When she was about to comfort Mandy, there was a sound coming from the bed followed by the woman''s scream of excitement.

    All of a sudden, her blood boiled.

    After all, she was his legitimate wife! Was it appropriate for him to take a mistress into the room and slap the fact against her face!

    She couldn''t control herself anymore. With her fists clenched, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Fire-"

    There wasn''t any response from Zac, so she decided to change her tactic by yelling out, "Earthquake!"

    He still didn''t respond. Hazel waved her hands exasperatedly up in the air. "There are thieves! Catch them!"

    An hour later, her voice was already hoarse from yelling too much. Fortunately, the door was already open.

    Mindy leaned against the doorframe and smoothened over her skirt. Her eyes glinted. "Thank you for the music." She winked, before turning to the handsome man inside. "Honey, you were awesome. See you tomorrow!"

    As soon as the door was closed, Hazel rushed into his bedroom.

    Zac leaned against the headboard. As he wore his pajamas, a lazy and satisfied smile played in the corners of his mouth. "What were you doing just now?" he snorted. "A disaster training exercise?"

    Bastard!

    Hazel wanted to scold him again, but she found that she couldn''t bring herself to. Her throat was already hurting from all the times she had yelled. She bit her lips and raised her hand to hit the wall.

    His large hand reached out to stop her. "Don''t hurt yourself." Zac stared at her with pity in his eyes, but she didn''t even bother to notice them. Her mind was filled with that materialistic bitch leaving his room.

    Looking at the direction she had disappeared, he smirked."Are you jealous?" he whispered, but there was no one to answer.

    It was already late at night. Hazel was still awake. It wasn''t just because of Mandy''s sobs, but it was also because she was upset with what had happened.

    She knew all too well of that feeling.

    After handing the last piece of tissue to Mandy, she picked up her pillow and lay on the bed. "Don''t be sad.

    There are plenty of good men in the world. We can find someone better than him," she reasoned.

    Mandy shook her head heavily. "No, I won''t give up."

    With her hands on her forehead, Hazel stifled a groan. If she continued doing this, then she would be poor in an instant!

    Suddenly, an idea came upon her.

    "Mandy, there''s a saying that distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?"

    Mandy frowned. "Yes." She looked at her friend in confusion.

    "You''re so beautiful. Besides, you''re even an anchorwoman! There''s no reason why he wasn''t unmoved by your gesture! But...is it because of your carelessness that he got to see your flaws?"

    Not even waiting for her reply, Hazel continued, "Look at me. He never treated me as a woman, because we live in the same house. He had seen everything there is to see. For example, my hair is always unkempt.

    Whenever I fall asleep, I passed out with dried saliva all over my face. When I get a cold, I''ll have a runny nose," she had listed everything there was to list.

    Mandy paled at her words. She remembered the one time she ran out of her room to receive a parcel without any makeup on. He had seen that. ''Shit! Does he think I''m not beautiful?'' she thought.

    Hazel saw the expression on her face and patted her shoulder. "Love is like a battlefield. Before you can capture your victim, you must first make him think that you''re perfect. Otherwise, your rival will take advantage of your flaws and attack you."

    Mandy nodded thoughtfully, as if she had been very inspired. The next day, she packed up and left.

    Their apartment finally returned to its peaceful self and Zac was ecstatic. He lay on the sofa while playing with his iPad as he waited for his wife to cook lunch.

    Hazel was still furious by what had happened. Gritting her teeth, she placed the food onto the table.

    ''White tofu, radish, cabbage.

    Is this punishment?'' he thought to himself while looking at the dishes.

    However, Zac said absolutely nothing as he picked up the cabbages with his chopsticks and placed them on his lips.

    Hazel stared, a wicked gleam flashing in her eyes.

    Although the dishes looked ordinary, there was something mysterious about them.

 [XVIII]

    When Zac finally knew that something was up, it was already too late. The moment he swallowed the cabbage, it felt as if his whole mouth was burning. He coughed with great force, trying to get rid of the spice.

    Hazel had put a whole bottle of wild pepper into the pot without anyone noticing.

    Seeing his face flushed and sweaty as he ran to the kitchen to get some water, Hazel was in a good mood. She picked up the chopsticks and began to eat slowly. A smile was playing on her lips.

    When he returned to the table, Zac smiled bitterly. "Are you feeling better now? Do you want to punish me again?"

    Hazel snorted in disgust. In fact, she was far from done yet. As long as she continued to think of Zac ''cheating'' on her, her anger continued to spread like wildfire.

    "You better clean your room today. I swear, don''t you even think about catching infectious diseases?" she snapped. She had always thought that Zac was a clean freak. It seemed, however, that sex was his exception.

    Zac took a deep breath. He knew that if he didn''t explain his situation as soon as possible, his life with her would be a living hell.

    His lips twitched. "Honey, nothing happened."

    ''Nothing happened? His entire bed was shaking that anyone would think that an earthquake was coming,'' she thought incredulously.

    "Look, you''re free to do whatever the hell you want, and I don''t care. Since you already have a girlfriend, then we better keep our distance from each other, all right?"

    She slammed the tableware onto the counter before turning back to her room. At this point, he had already ruined her appetite.

    He stood up and hugged her from behind, placing his chin on top of her shoulder.

    "What the hell are you doing? Let me go!" Hazel tried to kick him in the leg, but he still didn''t loosen his grip. In a rage, she turned her head and bit his arms.

    Zac groaned and winced, but he still didn''t let go. Instead, he leaned closer and said hoarsely, "Mindy is just an actress. I paid her a lot of money to pretend that she was my girlfriend. You''re my wife. Do you think I''ll cheat on you?"

    Stunned, she loosened her bite almost immediately. "What did you say?" She was afraid that she had misheard him.

    He sighed. "All you care about is friendship. You treat me like a gift that you''ll never open," he explained. "I have to at least know if you still have feelings for me." Zac''s helpless voice pulled on her heartstrings.

    Her gaze swept over his bleeding arm as guilt rose up in her chest. "Do you really not like Mandy?"

    "Well, I have to keep my integrity for my wife, don''t I?" he joked.

    "Your wife? I don''t know who she is." Hazel pouted adorably. All the sadness and despair that she had felt the night before had vanished.

    Now, she looked like a kid who was told that Christmas came early. She couldn''t help but feel strange about it all. What were her feelings towards Zac?

    Although she didn''t sleep well last night, she slept like a baby today. In fact, she didn''t even wake up until dawn. She was awakened by her phone ringing out. When she saw that it was her mother, she answered drowsily.

    " Hazel, are you still sleeping?" Lucy''s soft voice sounded on the phone.

    "Yes," she mumbled.

    "Your father and I are downstairs at your apartment. Ask the security to open the door," she advised.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    What? Hazel almost rolled off the bed in shock.

    "Wait, where are you?" she repeated as her eyes widened.

    "Your apartment."

    "Mom, why didn''t you tell me that you''ll come here?" Hazel''s forehead was already drenched with cold sweat as she thought of all the possibilities that could run her over.

    Lucy burst into laughter. "We wanted to surprise you, silly."

    It was a surprise, all right. It was going to be her surprise funeral. Hazel didn''t take another minute as she jumped out of bed and put on her clothes. She rushed into Zac''s room. Her face was flushed.

    "It''s over," she said quickly. "My parents are here."

    Zac was shocked. He didn''t expect he would meet his in laws so soon. But knowing he had to help her at the moment, he regained his composure and said, "I''ll come with you to pick them up."

    "No, thanks. I can go downstairs myself." Waving her hand, Hazel added, "Don''t forget that we''re just roommates. You are not allowed to mention the marriage in front of them or anyone else for that matter."

    He nodded his head in understanding. Her parents hugged her as soon as they saw her. It was a great pleasure to meet their daughter. After she graduated from university and came to Yang City, they hadn''t had an opportunity to see her.

    In the living room, Zac had already placed tea for them. Before her parents could ask who he was, she answered, "His name is Zac Rong, and he is my roommate. We split the rent."

    Bob''s face creased with a frown. Even though he was a liberal man, the idea of his daughter sharing her apartment with another man bothered him.

    Lucy looked at Hazel''s roommate, using her motherly instincts to figure out the relationship between them. From what she knew, her daughter had never been in love. On top of that, she was a mother who believed in giving her daughter privacy. Hence she never tried to pry in her matters.

    "Uncle, aunt, have some tea." Zac poured them two cups of tea and began to peel the fruit.

    Bob wandered around the house, trying to inspect every nook and cranny. There were three bedrooms and two parlors, but only two bedrooms were furnished with a bed. The other room had a tailored table and a sewing machine. It was his daughter''s design room.

    "Only you two live in this house?" He was a little worried.

    Noticing her father''s expression, Hazel held his arm and said, "Dad, it''s expensive now. But if we find a third person, we would be more than happy to take them in."

    ''Why not look for a girl to share your apartment!'' he wanted to ask, but bit back his words. Moreover, it would be wrong to speak about it in Zac''s presence. He hoped to mention it some other time.

    Hazel handed the apples peeled by Zac to her parents and said, "Dad, mom, you should tell me in advance and let me make preparations."

    "We are family. You don''t have to prepare for our visits." "Actually we came with your aunt this time. Your cousin, Finney, graduated from college and now she works here. You two should often visit each other," Lucy suggested with a smile.

    "That''s great. Which company does Finney work for?" Hazel asked, looking quite interested.

    "Hengyaun Co., Ltd." As soon as these words came out of Lucy''s mouth, Hazel''s face changed.

    "Okay," she replied without any enthusiasm. An unnoticeable shadow drifted across Hazel''s face and she changed the topic immediately. "Dad, mom, have you had your breakfast yet?"

    "Yes, we did. But it looks like you just woke up. Do you have noodles? I''ll cook for you." Bob stood up. He was graceful in the drawing room and skillful in the kitchen.

    Hazel clapped her hands cheerfully and said, "Okay, I haven''t eaten the noodles cooked by my father for a long time. I am craving for them."

    After Bob went into the kitchen, Lucy began to sip her tea. Turning her gaze back to her daughter, she decided to ask about her job.

    Hazel didn''t want them to worry about her, so she hadn''t told them she left Bella Company and opened an online store. But now seemed like the right time to come clean. One by one, she filled her mom in.

    Lucy responded calmly. According to her, it was a good thing for young people to start their own business. She wasn''t worried, instead she thought Hazel was in the right direction.

    "What does Zac do?" she asked, her gaze shifting to her daughter''s roommate.

    "Mom, he is an architect." Hazel didn''t give Zac a chance to answer. Instead, she answered for him. Hearing this, her mother was impressed.

    "An architect? That''s amazing," Lucy said with a smile.

    "Yes." Zac nodded and glanced at Hazel. Of course it was a lie. She had no idea what he was doing and didn''t want to know at the moment. She was glad he decided to play along.

    ''It doesn''t matter. They will never have to know what he does,'' she told herself, hoping this lie was a safe one.

    After the breakfast, Hazel and her mother began to clean up the room. Zac asked her parents to sleep in his room and he would make himself a bed in Hazel''s work room. He was quite helpful today.

    "Mom, hang your clothes in my closet." Hazel dragged the heavy suitcase in.

    Lucy meant to tidy up the cabinet so that there was enough room for her daughter. She picked up the canvas bag that was placed in a corner. Suddenly, a red paper fell out from it.

    "Mommmm!" Hazel screamed, jumping up like a frog. But it was too late. Lucy had already read the bold words on the marriage certificate.

 [XIX]

    The atmosphere in the living room felt like a funeral. It was so silent that she could hear a pin drop.

    Bob and Lucy, especially Lucy, were on the verge of exploding in anger.

    Looking like a child who had done something wrong, Hazel lowered her head until the tip of her chin touched her chest. She didn''t dare look them in the eye.

    How the hell was she going to explain this? If they said that they had gotten drunk and signed off on the marriage certificate and that they were planning to get a divorce in two months, they would freak the hell out.

    Zac stared at Hazel''s parents. Although they stared at him as if he was a criminal who had kidnapped their daughter, he decided to answer frankly, "Uncle, aunt, it''s really wrong to hide this from you. Hazel and I¨C"

    "How long have you known each other?" Lucy interrupted him coolly. She was in no mood to hear his explanation.

    "One¨C"

    "One year!"

    Hazel interrupted. Her mother would have fainted on the spot if she knew that they only met a month ago.

    Bob took a deep breath, calming himself. " Hazel, tell me honestly, are you really serious about this? Or were you just driven by your emotions?" These days, eloping was very popular among the younger generation. He was afraid that his daughter would go and imitate them for the sake of not being left out.

    "Dad, I''m serious." To emphasize her affection, Hazel held Zac''s arm. She didn''t want her parents to be suspicious. He held her hands intimately, cooperating with her act.

    Bob was not amused. "Do Zac''s parents know about this?"

    "Well, not yet. We plan to talk about it when he go back home for the Spring Festival." Hazel wanted the earth to just swallow her life. At this point, she had to lie continuously to keep this up.

    "You have gone too far!" Lucy shrieked, disappointed and outraged at what they had done. Hazel had always been a good girl.

    Unlike other children who fell too quickly for love, she had always been reasonable. Lucy didn''t expect that she would be hasty enough to get married with a man she had just met, especially without consulting her first! Didn''t the failed marriage between her and her biological father serve as enough warning for her?

    Hazel winced. "I''m sorry, mom." She really didn''t want to lie to them, but at this point, she had no choice.

    However, Lucy wasn''t calming down. Instead, she packed her belongings into her suitcase and decided to go out and stay in a hotel. Knowing what kind of person his wife was, Bob decided to give her some time to cool off.

    After escorting them to a nearby hotel, they were kicked out. Feeling distressed, Hazel bent over on the sofa in the lobby, sighing.

    Zac knew that he was the only one to be blamed for taking away their daughter without even asking for their permission.

    However, their arrival also came in good timing. If he got the recognition he wanted, she wouldn''t even dare to bring up ''divorce'' in front of them. It would be the perfect time for her to meet his family in the process, and drive away Valery for him.

    Zac grinned as he placed an arm around her shoulder. "I''ll make a reservation in a restaurant for lunch. We''ll take them around Yang City as well. As long as they''re happy with me, I''m sure they won''t get mad at the both of us for any longer."

    Hazel nodded. She was about to call around, but Zac held her back. "Let me do it."

    "Didn''t you just come to Yang City recently? Do you even know your way around?" She stared at him suspiciously.

    "Don''t worry." Zac patted her on the shoulder and began to make a phone call. At the same time, Hazel was already writing down all her parents'' likes and dislikes, so he would avoid annoying them.

    When he returned and saw the paper, he smiled. "You''re so considerate, but if they''ve become too satisfied with me, do you really think we''d be able to get divorced at this rate? What should I do then?"

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Hazel froze. She had once believed that they were going to get divorced in three weeks. But with her parents on the line...

    The more she thought about it, the sadder she became.

    Zac pulled her into his arms. "How about we don''t divorce until the Spring Festival is over?" he suggested.

    She furrowed her eyebrows. "Why do we have to wait until then?"

    "It will only be right that I''ll be with you to celebrate the new year with my in-laws. If I don''t, then won''t they ask you questions? What are you going to do then?" explained Zac.

    That''s right. Thinking about this, Hazel reluctantly nodded. Since her parents knew about it now, then they shouldn''t get divorced in such a short period of time. That would only lead to suspicion. Her mother would be the most concerned about her marriage.

    Given her spot checks from time to time, she would definitely notice if Zac wasn''t living in her apartment anymore.

    If they found out that they would get divorced after such a short period of time, they would think that she was treating marriage like a game.

    Lucy would hate this so much that she might even take her back to her hometown. At that point, Hazel would be strictly guarded and all her freedom would be gone in a blink of an eye.

    She sighed helplessly. "Fine."

    Zac smiled to himself. He should be very filial to his in-laws to pass the test that they had set up for him.

    When the clock strikes 12 o''clock, a handsome man came over. "Zac, the car is already parked outside."

    "Thanks." With a small smile, Zac stood up and patted the man''s shoulder. He introduced William to Hazel, who was stunned at the man''s sudden arrival. "This is my friend, William Mai."

    "You''re very beautiful. Zac has good taste," William complimented. Since his boss asked him to pretend that he was his friend, he had to put on a perfect show.

    Hazel gazed at the man up and down. William was very handsome. ''How many traffic accidents did they cause?'' she wondered, shaking her head.

    Zac asked William to wait in the car before he accompanied his wife to see his in-laws.

    When they walked into the elevator, Hazel smiled. "I thought you didn''t know anyone here. I didn''t know that you have a friend."

    "I have no choice but to contact him." He shrugged.

    In the beginning, Lucy held a deep grudge against her daughter. She just couldn''t believe that her daughter would run off with a guy without consulting her first! However, after her husband''s persuasion, she gradually calmed down.

    Since they had already gotten their marriage certificate, there was no use to blame her any longer. Plus, her son-in-law wasn''t quite bad. He was good-looking, but they still didn''t know much about his character.

    This was why they devised a plot to test their son-in-law. If he failed the test, then they have to teach him a lesson! If he didn''t learn from that lesson, then he had no choice but to divorce their daughter!

    Preparing for the war that was about to break out, Hazel knocked tentatively on the door. However, when her parents walked out of the room, they agreed to her request without any hesitation. She held back a sigh of relief.

    Right in time, William drove to the hotel in a Bentley.

    Hazel''s eyes widened. ''Holy shit! Is he rich?''

    "This is my boss''s car. Since he went abroad this month, I can use it," William said as if he could read her mind.

    "Ah." Hazel nodded understandingly.

    Zac opened the door for his in-laws and his wife. Without another word, he sat in the front.

    "Where shall we go for dinner?" Hazel asked.

    "Scenery Restaurant," he answered casually. It was the best and most expensive seafood restaurant in Yang City. Although Hazel was surprised, she couldn''t help but be a little bit worried about the price. Even if she wanted the best for her parents, it would be embarrassing if she couldn''t pay for the bill!

    "You already ordered?" she asked, trying to maintain herself.

    Zac glanced at her, knowing exactly what was running through her mind. He coughed. William immediately understood. He smiled. "I already made the reservations for Zac. Our boss is very familiar with the owner, so he could enjoy thirty percent off and

    free service charge."

    "I see." Hearing that there was such a good discount, Hazel''s shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank you, William."

    "No need for that. Zac''s my friend." A smile tugged at the corners of William''s mouth. His boss''s wife had always led a frugal life. If she knew about his boss''s family background, would she regret not ordering more expensive meals?

    Once they had entered the VIP room of Scenery Restaurant, Zac handed the menu that he had ordered to the two elders. "Uncle, aunt, I''ve already ordered some dishes for you. Do you like them?"

    Bob waved his hand. "It''s fine. We''re a very simple bunch. The cost may be too much."

    Hazel waved her hand. "Dad, you can eat whatever you want as long as you''re happy about it." Since there was a discount, what was the big deal?

    The dishes were already served quickly as soon as they had arrived. Seeing that William still didn''t come, Hazel asked Zac to call him. He shrugged. "He has other things to attend to, so he left the car for us."

    "Left the car? Who will drive?" Her eyes widened.

    "Of course I''ll drive." Zac smiled. "We''ll borrow it for a couple of days."

    "You can drive?" Her voice raised unconsciously. When she realized what she had just said, she turned to see the doubt in her parents'' eyes. Seeing this, she immediately invited them to eat to distract them.

    However, Lucy wasn''t going to let her slip-up go that easily.

 [XX]

    "Hazel, you''ve known Zac for a year. In fact, you''re already married, and you''re saying that you don''t know whether he can drive or not?" Lucy demanded, narrowing her eyes at the couple.

    Hazel paled. "Well, mom, that''s because he doesn''t own a car. That''s why I never asked him if he could drive or not."Lucy snorted. She obviously wasn''t convinced with her excuse. "This just means you don''t know each other very well."

    "Yes, we do!" she protested.

    Wanting to get down to the bottom of this, Lucy turned her gaze to Zac. "Fine. Zac, tell me how much you know about our Hazel."

    ''Shit! I forgot to write that down!'' Hazel thought to herself.

    However, Zac was extremely calm when he answered, "In my opinion, her personality is a combination of contradictions. Although she''s indifferent in nature, she''s always careful with her money. In fact, every coin is precious to her that she even keeps her trusty notebook to jot down all her expenses. She''s easily satisfied, but she''s also very ambitious when it comes to her career.

    She doesn''t easily back down from a challenge. Even if it would take days for her to finish even just one design, you can count that she''ll be on her work desk for days."

    He paused as his eyes gleamed with love. "She loves to laugh. In fact, when she''s laughing, she''ll grin so crazily that you''ll find yourself smiling too. When she''s deep in thought, she would hold her chin and squint like those mad scientists you see on TV.

    When she''s making fun of you, she''ll twist her lips. When she feels uncomfortable, she''ll smile with tears glistening in her eyes.

    And when she feels sad, she will open her mouth and give you the most exaggerated smiles she could muster before running off to her room."

    He took a sip from his tea and continued, "She likes to cry a lot too. In fact, she''ll cry even in the smallest of things, but she''ll do her best to hide herself while she was doing so. She doesn''t want others to see through her weaknesses, so she''ll keep a smile on her face before she disappears right in front of you."

    While he was talking, Hazel''s heart trembled. His words were like hands strumming against her heartstrings.

    Was he really observing her all this time? Why didn''t she notice? Bob and Lucy shared a look. From what he had said, it seemed that he truly did love their daughter very much.

    "The dishes are getting cold. Let''s eat," Bob said, smiling.

    Zac stood up immediately and picked up some food for them. "Uncle, aunt, please help yourselves," he said respectfully.

    Hazel would''ve already swooned if it wasn''t for her parents watching their every move. A while ago, he had been so cold towards her, and now, it seemed that he was the perfect son-in-law.

    Once they were finished eating, they walked out of the restaurant. Hazel couldn''t help but feel a little bit worried at the thought of Zac driving the car. "When did you get your driver''s license?" she whispered. If he had just gotten his license, then there was no way in hell that she was going to let him drive the car.

    "I was eighteen when I got mine," he said carelessly.

    "What?" Her jaw dropped. ''How could he have gotten his license at such a young age?''

    "Yo¨CYou''re a driver like William, right?" Such a conclusion was reasonable given that he had learned to drive at such a young age.

    Zac blinked at her words. Sometimes, he wondered if she was brain dead or something for forming such ridiculous conclusions.

    He coughed and started the engine silently, not even bothering to answer her question.

    Taking his silence as a ''yes'', Hazel quickly fastened her seat belt. "This is a luxury car, so you better drive it carefully," she warned.

    "Even a scratch could cost us a hundred thousand dollars."

    "Don''t worry. Besides, there aren''t many cars around." A charming smile made its way to his lips.

    Hazel frowned. One bout of carelessness, and they could spend a lifetime repairing their mistake.

    After sending her parents back to the hotel, they returned to their apartment.

    Hazel peeled two apples and handed one to Zac. "So, you seem to be very observant towards the way I laugh or smile today. Do I really smile that way?" she joked.

    Zac shrugged and ate the apple, not bothering to answer her. However, she wasn''t going to let him go that easily. "C''mon! Look what kind of smile I''m showing to you now." Her dimples poked out at the sides of her cheeks as her dark eyes widened with expectation. They looked like large gemstones.

    Zac fixated his gaze on her for a moment before turning away. "You have another kind of smile," he noted.

    "What is it?" Her thick eyelashes fluttered. He smirked. "That''s your flirty smile. It means you''re really attracted to me."

    Ass! She glared at him. "I''m not attracted to you! You''re the one who keeps peeping at me."

    "Why would I peep at a dehydrated radish! It''s you who always stay around me," Zac snorted, staring at her dotingly. To be honest, he didn''t have a thing for her at first, but her damned smile seemed to break all his pretenses. Everything about her seemed to attract him now, leaving an imprint in his mind that he could never forget.

    Hazel gritted her teeth. She stared at the apple in her hand and imagined that it was Zac''s face. Without another word, she took a large bite from the fruit. "I don''t even know how your ex could stand you," she murmured.

    "Well, it''s none of your business." Zac rolled his eyes.

    "They probably couldn''t stand you. That''s why they broke up with you!" Only someone as crazy as Mandy could tolerate such a cold man.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    While they were talking with one another, Bob and Lucy were preparing to test their son-in-law''s moralities. Lucy, who had

    experienced her ex-husband''s betrayal, cared very much of one''s loyalty. Since her son-in-law was incredibly handsome, they planned to test his loyalty for their daughter first.

    When evening came, Hazel accompanied her parents back to the hotel. Meanwhile, Zac was lying all alone in the apartment, feeling a little bored and wanting to read a book. He suddenly received a message from Hazel that said, "Zac, come to the bar opposite our apartment at half past eight. I will be waiting for you there."

    Zac touched his chin, feeling quite strange. He knew that Hazel didn''t really like bars, so she didn''t usually go there. There were only two reasons she would ever go to the bar. One was that she was forced by her two besties, Eva and Mandy, and the other was that she was brokenhearted.

    Now that her parents had come to visit her, why would she go to a bar? Was it because she was put under too much pressure the moment she was discovered on the marriage register and she needed to relax?

    Zac immediately rushed out of the apartment, thinking about how easily she got drunk last time.

    Inside the bar, lights were flickering, music was blasting, and the beautiful girls on the stage were dancing in an enchanting manner.

    Zac looked around and couldn''t find Hazel, so he called her up, but she didn''t pick up the phone. Then, Zac received a message saying, "There''s something I have to deal with for a while, so I will be late tonight. You can just have a drink first."

    Zac frowned. What was she playing at? Was she playing the same trick as last time? He sat on the bar counter and ordered a glass of zero degree cocktail. He decided to wait for her.

    From the moment he entered the bar, a lot of women had been watching him. They were drawn to him because of his charm, and the fact that he did not have a companion with him. They were wild with joy as they rushed to him to accost him.

    But despite the many women approaching him, Zac didn''t even raise his head. It was as if they were nothing but air to him.

    In a corner not far away from him, his father-in-law secretly took a photo of him with his mobile phone, as required by his wife Lucy. She could only judge Zac once she had seen him with her own eyes. His son-in-law was so popular that almost all of the

    female customers in the bar were attracted to him, and Bob couldn''t help but feel nervous for fear that Zac wouldn''t be able to resist the temptation. After watching him for a while, and seeing that Zac didn''t make any move at all, he felt even more satisfied with his daughter''s taste!

    Then, at that moment, Zac stood up. He found the air inside to be too terrible, so he decided to wait outside, calling Hazel as he made his way out.

    He didn''t know that his wife''s phone was in the hands of his mother-in-law.

    Lucy managed to get her daughter''s cellphone by pretending that she just wanted to play some games.

    She was just about to decline Zac''s phone call, but unfortunately for her, Hazel noticed it. "Mom, I have to take this call." She reached her hand out to take the phone, and Lucy had no choice but to give it to her.

    "When will you arrive?" Zac asked on the phone.

    "Where?" Hazel asked, slightly stunned.

    "The bar, of course. Are you going to stand me up again?" There was a hint of loss in Zac''s deep voice.

    "What?" Hazel was shocked and puzzled by Zac''s words for a while, but then she realized what her mother had done. She immediately checked her text messages and saw the message her mother had sent to Zac while pretending to be her.

    No wonder her parents were behaving so weirdly tonight. Her mom did not know how to play mobile games, but she suddenly wanted to play Parkour. And her dad went out to buy cigarettes two hours ago, and he still hadn''t come back. Were they playing a trick on her?

    "Zac, wait a minute. I''ll be there soon." After hanging up the phone, she made an angry expression at her mother, then she ran out without waiting for her mother to explain.

    There were many women as aggressive as wolves and tigers gathered in the bar. To them, it was as if an extremely handsome man had just descended from the sky, and they were certainly very excited. They all threw themselves at Zac eagerly.

    The gang of women also went outside the bar when their male idol left.

    A glamorous woman wearing designer clothes from head to toe edged towards him. She pretended to faint right in front of him, expecting him to lift her up and hold her in his arms. But to her surprise, there was nothing but a flash of coldness in Zac''s eyes as she fell to the ground.

    "Ouch!" she screamed before reaching out her pitiful hand towards Zac. "Hey, handsome, can you pull me up?"

    Zac didn''t even look at her. Instead, he walked directly to the intersection.

    Hazel happened to see all of that unfold the moment she arrived. She looked at the woman with both mockery and a bit of sympathy. That iceberg did not have a tender heart for girls at all. Playing that kind of trick on him was just asking for trouble.

    "Honey!" she called out to him sweetly as she held his arm. "I''m sorry I''m late."

    "It''s all good." Zac rubbed her nose dotingly. She didn''t play a trick on him this time.

    The woman by the door got up from the ground and grumbled, "He''s not gay!"

    Hazel sighed again. After all, if she hadn''t tested him out in person, she would also doubt his sexual orientation.

    "Are you going in?" Zac said, stroking her hair.

    She pretended to look at her watch and said, "Oh, it''s already ten o''clock. There''s a good TV show that''s on today. I have to go home so I can watch it."

    She glanced around and spotted the shadow behind the trunk. Hazel thought that her father must be very tired since he had been taking photos for so long. She thought that she''d better let him go back to have a rest as soon as she could.

    "Okay, let''s go back!" Zac didn''t say anything more. He was too confused to even try to understand her mind. It was normal for a person like her to do something strange from time to time anyway.

    The night steadily grew deeper.

    The wind was a bit chilly, and the moon was round and big, its brightness trying to compete with the dim street lights.

    Hazel happily jumped up and down like a little white rabbit. The moonlight and the stars perfectly illuminated her beautiful face.

    "Zac, how many girlfriends have you had before?" she asked.

    "None of your business." He flicked her forehead. Was she proud to know that she was the first one?

    "I''m just curious!" Hazel made a face.

    "Well, how many boyfriends have you had before?" he asked with a slight smile.

    She pouted and shook her head as if to say that she had never had one before.

    "Really?" Zac said, raising his eyebrows. The smile on his face deepened. Of course, he knew that she had given her virginity to him during their wedding night. "Your appearance isn''t bad. How come nobody has tried to chase you? Is it because your mind is too dark?" he added. He made fun of her on purpose.

    "Well, I''m pretty and everyone likes me. Countless men have chased after me, but I didn''t like any of them," she replied. With her head down and her mouth in a pretty pout, she kicked a small stone under her feet subconsciously.

    When she was in middle school, she had to be a good girl and concentrate on her study. She met Hanson when she was studying in the university. He was the most handsome and excellent man she had ever seen, and since then, he had occupied all the space in her heart, leaving no room for any other man.

    "What kind of man do you like?" said Zac in a careless tone while touching his chin.

    "It''s a secret," Hazel teased while making a face at him. If he knew that she had been infatuated with beautiful boys since she was a child, he would try to amuse her with his beauty for sure.

    "Never mind!" he snorted. Then, Hanson crossed his mind, and a hint of sadness flickered in his eyes. "Anyway, I am the only one you can like now."

    ''Of course not!''

    Hazel sniffed and walked forward, completely ignoring him. With an evil smile on his face, he dashed forward, grabbed her hand and pulled her back with such a force that she stumbled into his arms.

    "Let me go." She stared at him in a flirtatious manner and tried to break free from his iron arm around her waist, but he refused to budge. "Hazel, I have a suggestion."

    "What suggestion?" She raised her eyebrows and looked at the weird look on his face. She had a feeling that he was up to something.

    Zac lowered his head and put his lips close to her ear. She could feel his mysterious aura like the cool air was gently caressing her hair.