《Billionaire鈥檚 Ex-wife : Craving You》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 HAZEL Three long hours had passed, and Ravel was nowhere to be found. I had made countless attempts to reach him, not out of anger or frustration over our abandoned ns for the evening, but rather out of genuine concern for his well-being. It waspletely out of character for Ravel to be imunicado, especially when it came to letting me know if he would be runningte or returning home in the wee hours of the night. ¡± Unable to contain my restlessness, I paced anxiously back and forth, the hem of my flowing gown trailing behind me. Sensing my unease, Jane offered her well-intentioned advice. ¡°You really should stop pacing around in that long gown,¡± she cautioned, her voiceced with genuine concern. ¡°You might end up injuring yourself if you¡¯re not careful.¡± Pausing abruptly, I directed an intense re at Jane, my frustration and worry bubbling to the surface. ¡°Do you honestly believe that my concern right now revolves around the fear of falling?¡± I retorted, my voice tinged with a mixture of anguish and frustration. Sniffing to stave off the tears threatening to spill, I resumed my restless pacing, unable to find sce in Jane¡¯s attempt to assuage my fears. ¡°My husband is three hours overdue, Jane,¡± I emphasized, my voice quivering with worry. ¡°He¡¯s never late, not like this.¡± In an attempt to offer some semnce offort, Jane muttered softly, her voiceced with uncertainty. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s just caught up with work,¡± she ventured, her wordscking conviction. ¡°Nothing has happened to him. We¡¯re talking about Mr. Southwark, nothing will definitely happen to him.¡± As if to affirm the truth in Jane¡¯s previous remarks, the entrance door swung open, revealing Ravel¡¯s unexpected presence. Abruptly halting in his tracks, he fixated his gaze upon me, seemingly taken aback by the sight of me standing in the living room, resembling a disheveled panda in distress. ¡°Ravel¡­¡± I murmured, my voice choked with emotion as an uncontroble s ob wracked through my trembling frame. In an instant, I sprinted towards him, enclosing him in a desperate, tight embrace. ¡°What happened, Rav? I¡¯ve been incessantly calling you, but you never answered any of my calls.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but notice that his hands hung limply at his sides instead of enfolding me, and he stood in silence, offering no exnation. Drawing back slightly, I scrutinized him, observing a distant, indifferent expression in his eyes. ¡°Rav, is everything alright?¡± With a clenched jaw, he slowly released himself from my tight grip and took a deliberate step back. ¡°We need to talk, Hazel,¡± he muttered, his voice tinged with an unusual tone. Sensing the weight of his words, my brows furrowed in concern. ¡°What do we need to talk about?¡± I asked, my voice filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. ¡°Us,¡± he responded, his voice deep and resonant. ¡°Would you prefer to have this conversation here or in our bedroom?¡± Anxiety gripped me as I nced around the living room. Even though the maids were nowhere to be seen at the moment, their omnipresence was a constant reminder. I swallowed hard, struggling to find my voice. ¡°Let¡¯s go to our bedroom,¡± I said, my exhale trembling with unease. He gave me a curt nod, his gaze avoiding mine, and proceeded to walk past me, ascending the stairs with a deliberate pace. I followed him silently, my heart pounding with anticipation. It was not until he reached the sanctuary of our room that he finally turned to face me. Gently closing the door behind me, I faced my husband, a knot of worry tightening in my chest. ¡°Rav, what¡¯s happening?¡± I inquired, my voice filled with a mix of concern and confusion. He strolled over to the window, his back turned towards me, his gaze fixed on the outside world. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed,¡± he began, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty, ¡°but there¡¯s something¡­ off about us.¡± Perplexed and caught off guard, I took a hesitant step closer to him. ¡°What do you mean, Rav?¡± I asked, my wordsced with a genuine desire for understanding. ¡°Things have always been wonderful between us. Just this morning, you whispered words of love as we made love. How can anything be off?¡± ¡°I only said what you wanted to hear, Hazel,¡± he responded, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. Turning to face me, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, sending a shiver down my spine. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing that for some time now, but I can¡¯t continue living this way.¡± My heart pounded in my chest, a gripping fear taking hold of me. ¡°What are you trying to say, Rav?¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible, too afraid to voice the question that loomed in my mind. He strode toward the bed, retrieving arge brown envelope that had escaped my notice until now. ¡°I want you to sign these documents,¡± he said, his tone firm and resolute. ¡°I want to be freed from these shackles.¡± Shackles? The word hung in the air, piercing my heart with its implication. ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± I asked, my voice sounding foolish even to my own ears, as I already knew the answer, yet was too terrified to fully ept it. ¡°Divorce papers,¡± he deadpanned, his words hitting me like a freight train. ¡°Within that brown envelope lie our divorce papers.¡± He slipped his hands into his pockets, his posture betraying a mix of detachment and resignation. ¡°If you sign them without much resistance, I¡¯ll provide you with a settlement that, if managed properly, could sustain you for generations.¡± I felt my world crumbling around me as his words sank in. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible, as I took a hesitant step closer to him. ¡°Today was meant to be our anniversary. You told me to dress up for a dinner date, Rav How did we end up here, talking about divorce?¡± ¡°I had intended to give you that envelope during our date,¡± he admitted, his tone aloof and detached. ¡°But work got in the way.¡± The absence of emotion in his voice left me questioning where his conscience had gone and where the affectionate man I married had disappeared to. Coming to a halt in front of him, I attempted to reach out and touch his cheek, but he swiftly grasped my hand, preventing any contact. ¡°You¡¯re giving me divorce papers on our wedding anniversary?¡± I uttered, disbelief and hurt intertwining in my voice. ¡°What better time to put an end to it all than the day it began?¡± he replied, his wordsshing out with a cruelty that stung deep within me. ¡°Let¡¯s not prolong this, Hazel. Just sign the papers so I can drop them off on my way to work tomorrow.¡± The gravity of the situation finally began to sink in, and tears welled up in my eyes, tracing a path down my cheeks. My husband continued to regard me with an unsettling indifference. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± I pleaded, desperation evident in my voice. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can fix this if we try.¡± Ravel¡¯s brows furrowed, his gaze hardening as he looked down at me. ¡°Besides the fact that I find you sexually unattractive now, I¡¯ve fallen out of love with you, Hazel, and it happened a long time ago,¡± he spat out, his words like venomous arrows piercing my wounded heart. ¡°If you weren¡¯t so lost in your own delusions, perhaps you would have noticed.¡± ¡°Rav, please,¡± I pleaded, my voice trembling with a mix of hurt and desperation. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. ¡°Just sign the da mn divorce papers, Hazel!¡± he roared in anger, his face contorted with rage, veins pulsating in his temples. ¡°Is that too much to ask of your foolish self? Just sign them now while I¡¯m still being somewhat generous, because if I take this to court, you¡¯ll leave this marriage with nothing, just as you came in-penniless.¡± With one final re, he stormed out of the room, leaving me shattered and emotionally devastated. As the door mmed shut, the weight of his words crushed me, leaving me to pick up the pieces of my shattered dreams and a marriage that had disintegrated into nothingness. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 RAVEL The relentless passage of time seems to drag on with excruciating slowness, leaving me yearning for anything that can distract me from the emptiness that awaits me at home. Rather than returning to the confines of my residence, I find sce in the familiarity of my office. In truth, I¡¯d rather immerse myself in work than confront the bitter reality of my crumbling marriage with Hazel. s, some circumstances are unavoidable, and my ns for divorce are set in motion. It has been a relentless week since I presented Hazel with the papers that would sever our ties. Yet, she remains stubbornly defiant, refusing to acknowledge the inevitable. I am reluctant to escte matters by resorting to a court battle, as thest thing I desire is to be further entangled in the web of media frenzy surrounding my life. The prying eyes of the papara zzi already scrutinize my every move, and I am averse to subjecting myself to more unnecessary scrutiny. However, dealing with a tenacious woman, or rather, my soon-to-be ex-wife, proves to be a formidable challenge. Every step toward achieving closure bes an arduous uphill battle. Twirling my pen absentmindedly, I gazed at the exquisite ne design that Dino, my trusted coborator, had sent my way. Its intricate beauty mesmerized me, momentarily transporting my thoughts away from the burdens that weighed heavily on my shoulders. In just two short months, an important exhibition awaited me, a pivotal event that demanded double the usual workload. Adding the complications of a messy divorce to this already overflowing te was an unwee prospect. As a jeweler, mypany Raveluxe had garnered a global reputation for crafting unparalleled masterpieces adorned with the rarest and most exquisite gemstones. Year after year, our name resonated throughout the industry, and I was determined to uphold that legacy. This year, I yearned for nothing less than continued triumph and recognition. In an abrupt intrusion, the door to my office swung open, disrupting my train of thought. Elenor stormed in with an air of anger clinging to her every step. My dedicated secretary, Dana, hurriedly trailed behind, attempting to defuse the tension and maintain a semnce of order. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Dana¡¯s gaze held a mix of worry and helplessness as she addressed me. Her voice trembled slightly as she pleaded, ¡°Please, sir, I informed her that you were not to be disturbed, but she disregarded my words entirely.¡± Recognizing her earnest efforts to maintain order, I nodded in acknowledgment and motioned for her to leave. With a slight bow, Dana exited my office, leaving Elenor and me to confront our familialplexities. Closing myptop and setting it aside, I focused my attention on my sister, raising an eyebrow in mild exasperation. Elenor, my sole sibling, held a significant ce in my heart, and I loved her dearly. However, she was acutely aware that I preferred to keep personal dramas separate from my professional realm. It was evident that she had disregarded this unspoken agreement by barging into my office unannounced. I leaned back in my chair, studying Elenor¡¯s agitated demeanor, allowing a brief moment of silence to pass between us. With a measured tone, I finally addressed her, seeking rity amidst the tension that hung in the air. ¡°Elenor, what brings you to my office today? Surely you know that I prefer not to have family disputes encroach upon my workspace.¡± ¡°What on earth am I hearing?¡± she spat, her voiceced with indignation. mming her bag down on my desk, she assumed a defensive stance, crossing her arms and thrusting her hips forward. ¡°Please, for the love of sanity, tell me this is some twisted prank.¡± With a calm yet curious demeanor, I motioned toward the vacant chair before me. ¡°If you could kindly enlighten me on the matter at hand, perhaps we can determine whether it¡¯s a jest or something more serious. So, please, have a seat, and let¡¯s engage in a civilized conversation. Alternatively, if it¡¯s not of importance, I kindly request that you vacate my office so I can return to my work.¡± With an air of defiance, she plopped herself down on the plush leather seat, her fiery gaze piercing through me like daggers. ¡°I had a conversation with Hazel a few hours ago, and the revtions she shared with me were simply iprehensible.¡± Slightly amused by her vexation, I opted to feign ignorance, relishing in the opportunity to irk her further. ¡°Oh, pray tell, what did Hazel divulge to you?¡± I inquired innocently, knowing full well the direction this conversation was taking. She blinked rapidly, clearly taken aback by my apparent obliviousness. ¡°Are you seriously going to y dumb, Ravel?¡± Her Chapter 2 voice dripped with exasperation, her frustration palpable. In a hushed undertone, she muttered a curse under her breath, clearly frustrated. ¡°Hazel told me about the da mn divorce papers, Ravel.¡± I maintained my impassive facade, blinking twice in session, as if her words held little significance. ¡°And?¡± I repeated, my voice devoid of emotion. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®and?¡± She gestured animatedly with her hands, frustration giving way to a touch of sadness. ¡°What transpired between you and Hazel, Ravel? You two seemed genuinely happy.¡± Her voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°For once in your life, you found happiness beyond your work. What went wrong?¡± Nonchntly, I shrugged and reclined in my seat, meeting her gaze with an unwavering stare. ¡°Feelings have a tendency to evolve, don¡¯t they?¡± I remarked casually. She furrowed her brow, struggling toprehend my cryptic response. ¡°I fell in love with her, Elenor. But just as love can bloom, it can also fade away. I have every right to fall out of love with her.¡± Her words hung in the air, her determination to uncover the truth evident in her voice. ¡°I refuse to believe that love simply fades away without reason,¡± she argued, her conviction unwavering. ¡°There must be something that happened, Ravel. If you open up to me, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to help you both fix your rtionship.¡± The notion of fixing what was broken struck a chord within me, igniting a fiery resentment. ¡°And what am I to you, Elenor?¡± I retorted, my anger palpable as I leaned forward, locking eyes with my sister. ¡°A mere broken toy, waiting to be repaired?¡± My lips tightened into a thin line as I held her gaze unflinchingly. ¡°Since you and Hazel have taken it upon yourselves to discuss my personal matters in my absence, then you can y messenger as well. Deliver this message to her.¡± ¡°Rave_¡± Before Elenor could utter another word, my voice dropped to a cold, cutting tone. ¡°Inform Hazel that I have an uing exhibition in the next two months, and I refuse to be entangled in this unnecessary drama and distraction. She must sign those divorce papers before the week concludes, or consequences will be inevitable.¡± The weight of my words hung in the air, suffocating the room with their intensity. Elenor¡¯s voice rose, incredulous at the transformation she witnessed before her. ¡°Jesus!¡± she eximed, her disbelief echoing through the space. ¡°What hase over you? This is so unlike you.¡± Refusing to dignify her with a response, I maintained my silence, my gaze unwavering as it bore into her. ¡°Is there another woman?¡± Her question lingered in the air, probing the depths of my thoughts. Was there another woman? I allowed a moment of contemtion to pass, as if weighing the gravity of her inquiry. Elenor¡¯s voice carried a mix of usation and desperation as she leaned in, her hands syed on my desk. ¡°The only exnation for such irrational behavior from a man is the presence of another woman,¡± she asserted, her eyes searching mine. ¡°So, I implore you, Ravel, tell me the truth. Is there another woman involved?¡± A surge of conflicting emotions coursed through me, but guilt was not among them. What more could possibly go wrong at this point? Suppressing any sense of remorse, I met Elenor¡¯s gaze head-on. ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted co olly, my voice unwavering. ¡°There is indeed another woman in my life. And it is precisely why I require Hazel to swiftly sign those documents.¡± Elenor¡¯s eyes widened in shock, caught off guard by the confirmation she sought. The realization of her unpreparedness hung in the air, yet her unwavering determination pressed on. If she hadn¡¯t been ready for the response, why pose the question in the first ce? Silence reigned between us, the weight of my words reverberating through the room. Elenor¡¯s fists tightened, her frustration morphing into a simmering anger. ¡°Mark my words, Ravel. You wille to regret this. Your actions will have consequences.¡± Rushing back against her statement, I met her gaze with unwavering resolve. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re mistaken, Elenor,¡± I rebutted firmly. ¡°I will never regret my decision to pursue a divorce from Hazel.¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 HAZEL As days went by, my husband¡¯s absence became more noticeable, and I grew increasingly worried. I had been relentlessly trying to mend our broken marriage, exhausting all possible efforts to reignite the love that once connected us. I arranged an intimate dinner date, hoping it would lead to open and honest conversation, but Ravel showed no interest, leaving me disheartened. Undeterred, I nned holiday trips to spark adventure and new beginnings, but Ravel ignored my efforts. Seeking professional help, I booked a therapy session, but he refused to engage. Despite all this, finding out I was pregnant gave me a glimmer of hope, thinking it could change his heart. In my determined state, I left the bathroom, holding the pregnancy test firmly. With the test safely tucked away in my bag. I quickly changed intofortable clothes-a pair of jeans and a loose top. I hastily put my disheveled hair into a loose bun and shielded my tired eyes with sunsses, wanting to avoid any curious looks. As I stepped out of my door, the world remained oblivious to the inner turmoil that had taken over my life. Stepping into the hallway, I collided unexpectedly with Jane, who regarded me with curiosity etched across her features. Her inquisitive eyes locked onto my poised figure. ¡°Are you about to venture out?¡± she inquired and I nodded in response. ¡°Lunch is almost ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sk ip,¡± I quietly dered, my voice barely audible. The thought of nourishment seemed trivial and insignificant in the face of a crumbling rtionship that demanded my immediate attention. ¡°Please inform the maids that they can share my portion or make use of it as they see fit. I simply have no appetite.¡± I muttered. Upon arriving at Ravel¡¯s office, I discovered that he had already left. However, I wasn¡¯t discouraged and was determined to explore other options. Despite the troubled rtionship between Ravel and his mother, I believed there was a chance that he may seekfort or shelter within the fragile family ties, even if they were strained. With an unwavering resolve to leave no stone unturned, I made the decision to visit his mother¡¯s residence. Although it seemed unlikely that he would be there, given their history, I couldn¡¯t afford to disregard any potential leads I parked my car next to Mrs. Anne Southwark¡¯s elegant vehicle and stepped out, making my way towards the front porch. To my surprise, it seemed as though they were anticipating my arrival. Mrs. Southwark¡¯s daughter. Elenor, was the first to greet me, her arms open wide for a warm embrace. ¡°Is everything okay, Hazel?¡± Elenor asked, concern etched on her face. I shook my head, fighting back tears as I bit my trembling lips. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to reach Rav since Monday, and I¡¯m really worried. I just wanted to know if he¡¯s here because he hasn¡¯t been at the office.¡± Elenor¡¯s eyes filled with empathy as she took in my distress. ¡°Ravel actually left just an hour ago. He mentioned that he was going home to gather a few things.¡± Relief washed over me, and I managed a weak smile. ¡°Thank you so much,¡± I murmured gratefully. Turning to leave, I was halted by the sound of Anne¡¯s voice. ¡°What exactly is your problem?¡± she demanded, her tone sharp and usatory. I turned around, meeting her gaze with furrowed brows. ¡°Didn¡¯t my son give you until this weekend to sign those divorce papers?¡± Anne continued, her frustration palpable. ¡°What are you still doing running around New York, desperately searching for him?¡± Anne¡¯s disdain for me had always been apparent, her disapproval of our marriage a constant shadow hanging over our rtionship. So, it came as no surprise that she reveled in the unfolding divorce saga, finding satisfaction in my pain. ¡°Mum!¡± Elenor hissed, her voiceced with frustration. ¡°Now is not the time to be an antagonist! Can¡¯t you see she¡¯s hurting?¡± ¡°My son is hurting too,¡± Anne retorted, her tone sharp and unyielding. ¡°Stuck in a loveless marriage just because this gold- Chapter 3 digging wh ore refuses to sign those divorce papers.¡± Her words stung, igniting a fiery anger within me. I clenched my fists tightly, summoning every ounce of fell out of love with you, and I fell in love with the woman lying on that bed. I tried to suppress my feelings for her, to give you enough time to sign the divorce papers before indulging in her presence, but your stubborn refusal thwarted my attempts. What would you have me do? Live a life of celibacy due to your unwillingness?¡± o your unwillingne Every fiber of my being trembled as I took a hesitant step towards Jane, seeking some form of understanding, however elusive it may be. ¡°Out of all the men in this vast city of New York, Jane, you chose to be with my husband,¡± I whispered, my voice tinged with a mixture of pain and disbelief. Her voice barely audible, Jane whispered a feeble apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve always been in love with him, which is why I couldn¡¯t resist when he came to me.¡± Ravel swiftly interposed his body, shielding Jane from my gaze, much like he had protected me in the past when his mother sought to confront me. ¡°You have no right to speak to Jane,¡± he muttered with a defensive edge in his voice, ¡°Whatever you need to say, direct it towards me.¡± A bitterugh escaped my lips as I defiantly wiped away the tears that had stained my cheeks. This despicable man standing before me was not worthy of my sorrow. ¡°I will grant you the divorce you so eagerly desire,¡± I dered, fixing a piercing gaze on the woman standing beside him. ¡°I have already reviewed the terms, and once I sign those papers, nothing you possess will be mine, apart from the portion given to me and nothing that belongs to me will be yours.¡± He nodded, acknowledging the terms that had beenid out. ¡°We will be two strangers, devoid of any attachment,¡± I continued, my voice filled with a mixture of determination and pain. ¡°I hope you keep to your words and note back for me Ravel, because I¡¯m never going to forgive you for this betrayal.¡± I turned away from their presence and entered the closet, where I retrieved the carefully prepared divorce papers. With a determined breath, I signed the documents, symbolizing the end of our marriage. Upon returning to the room, I tossed the papers towards Ravel, an act of finality and closure. ¡°I wish I could say that I curse the day I met you,¡± I murmured softly, but for the sake of our unborn child, I will not. ¡°I genuinely hope you find some semnce of happiness, Ravel.¡± Chapter 3 I summoned my strength and left behind the man who shattered my world and the woman involved. It was a painful but necessary goodbye as I walked out of the bedroom, leaving behind my life as Mrs. Southwark. The farewell carried a mix of pain, eptance, and a glimmer of hope for a brighter future. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 HAZEL Today marks the long-awaited day when the finalization of our divorce is set to take ce. Honestly, the mere thought of facing Ravel in person fills me with an overwhelming sense of apprehension and difort. That¡¯s precisely why I made the decision to have mywyer represent me throughout this ordeal. Every time I close my eyes, a vivid image of him entangled with that woman on our sacred bed haunts my mind. Consequently, encountering him today would undoubtedly unleash a torrent of emotions that I am not prepared to face. ¡°Are you absolutely certain you don¡¯t want to be present?¡± she inquired for what seemed like the hundredth time. ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel that you should confront that despicable man onest time before relinquishing his pitiful surname.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her remark. ¡°Well, Elenor, that pitiful surname happens to be yours as well,¡± I responded, tilting my head ever so slightly from thefort of my reclined position as I fixated my gaze upon her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be inclined to support him, given the bond of family?¡± It bewildered me why she despised the situation with equal fervor as I did. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how she would react upon discovering that he had engaged in an affair with Jane, my favourite domestic staff. ¡°It¡¯s bit ches before family.¡± She muttered, looking up from her tablet to sh me one of those killer smiles that cost designers a fortune. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Rolling my eyes, I licked my lips. ¡°I actually think it¡¯s thetter before the former.¡± I corrected, I couldn¡¯t help but gaze down at my finger, which now felt oddly bare without the weight of the wedding ring that had adorned it for years. Surprisingly, even after a whole week without it, the absence still felt foreign to me. ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Elenor argued, ¡°I make my own rules, and my rules says bit ches before family.¡± Finally dropping the tablet, she joined me on the bed, lying t on her stomach. ¡°So what¡¯s the n.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to use my savings to secure a ce of my own, where I can settle in and embark on a year- long journey dedicated to nurturing my artistic talents,¡± I dered, determination sparkling in my eyes. ¡°And once that phase isplete, I n to liquidate all the properties I acquired from Ravel and utilize the proceeds to bring my long-cherished dream to life-an art. gallery that will showcase my work and the creations of other talented artists.¡± Art had always been a passion of mine, but Ravel, in his misguided concern, discouraged me from pursuing it professionally. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be burdened with stress all the time,¡± he used to say, unintentionally stifling my artistic ambitions. However, the time for merely dabbling in art for personal pleasure hade to an end. Now, I was ready to embrace the potential of mizing my creativity. Elenor snapped her fingers, bringing me back to the present moment. ¡°Hazel!¡± she eximed, capturing my attention. I blinked rapidly, refocusing on our conversation. ¡°I was asking where you intend to settle down permanently.¡± Sharing that information with her wouldn¡¯t be wise. I had no desire for any members of the Southwark family, particrly Ravel, to track me down or discover the existence of my child. ¡°I¡¯d rather not disclose that just yet,¡± I replied, sensing her disappointment radiating from her pouted expression. ¡°I¡¯ll come find you if I need see you.¡± Letting out an audible sigh, she smacked her lips in frustration. ¡°I understand, Hazel. Even though I¡¯m your friend now, I can¡¯t forget that I¡¯m still a Southwark. I know how desperately you want to uproot them from your life.¡± Regret filled my heart as I muttered a sincere apology. Apologies were all I seemed capable of offering her in that moment, knowing theplexity of the situation. However, Elenor graciously waved off my apology with a warm smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize,¡± she assured me, her eyes brimming with understanding As my phone rang, interrupting our conversation, I offered Elenor an apologetic smile before answering the call. It was mywyer, delivering the much-awaited news that the divorce had finally reached its conclusion. Expressing my gratitude for his diligent efforts, I ended the call and shared the significant update with Elenor. ¡°I am now officially a single woman,¡± I announced, my tone devoid of excitement. Not only a single woman but also soon to be a single mother. Elenor couldn¡¯t contain her joy and let out a delighted squeal, nting a wet kiss on my cheek. ¡°Congrattions!¡± she eximed. ¡°We should celebrate this momentous asion with a few bottles of champagne.¡± Chapter 4 However, the thought of indulging in champagne didn¡¯t sit well with me, considering my pregnancy. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass,¡± I replied softly, declining her offer. ¡°I have an early morning flight tomorrow, and I don¡¯t want to risk oversleeping or dealing with a hangover.¡± Understanding my reasoning, Elenor reached out and pulled me into a heartfelt hug. ¡°I¡¯m going to miss you,¡± she confessed, a touch of mncholy in her voice. ¡°There is always FaceTime and Skype.¡± I reminded her, trying to lighten the mood. Despite the physical distance, we would find ways to stay connected and maintain our friendship. Her whining tone persisted as shemented, ¡°But it¡¯s just not the same as having you there in person.¡± She pulled back slightly, her hand gently cradling my cheek in a disy of affection. ¡°I truly, sincerely hope that you find the happiness you truly deserve.¡± Deep down, I shared that sentiment. I yearned for a new chapter filled with genuine joy and fulfillment. The following morning, before the cr ack of dawn at a weary hour of five in the morning, Ipleted the check-out process at the hotel. With a heavy heart, I made my way to the airport, bidding farewell to the bustling streets of New York City, which had be a painful reminder of the past. As I boarded the ne, a glimmer of hope flickered within me, silently praying that this journey marked the end of my association with this city, longing for a future where I would never have to set foot on its streets again. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 HAZEL (FIVE MONTHS AFTER DIVORCE) (SEATTLE) I rolled up my sleeves and gazed at the canvas before me, casting a nce at the paints sca tt ered on the floor. It was an unconventional choice to be in the drawing hall on a Saturday, while most students were enjoying the weekend with their families. I made a conscious effort to avoid idleness, as it left me with too much time to ponder the end of my marriage with Ravel. We had agreed to keep our divorce away from the prying eyes of the media, but somehow, someone had leaked the news, causing a frenzy on the inte. Fortunately, the focus seemed to be more on Ravel than on me. The information that was leaked made it appear as though I had cheated on him, rather than the other way around. Surprisingly, the papara zzi showed more interest in the betrayed husband, and to be honest, I didn¡¯t mind. It granted me the privacy I desperately needed during this difficult time. Suddenly, the grand entrance door swung open, and a young man entered, his attention fixated on his phone. He strolled halfway into the hall,pletely oblivious to his surroundings, until he finally nced up and noticed me, causing him toe to an abrupt halt. His gaze shifted between me and the door, a hint of surprise evident on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find anyone here today,¡± he muttered, slipping his phone into his pocket. His brows furrowed as he nced at the small paint buckets sca ttered on the floor. ¡°Is this something you do regrly?¡± Engaging in small talk was thest thing I wanted at that moment. Without paying much attention to his question, I dipped my brush into the paint, observing as the bristles absorbed the vibrant color. ¡°Perhaps you should focus on why you came here,¡± I replied, my voice tinged with a touch of indifference. Raising the brush, I made deliberate strokes on the nk canvas before me. He chuckled softly, acknowledging the truth in my words. Hastily, he made his way to the paint room, selecting a paint of his choice before settling down by the window. We continued our painting in aContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. headlines seemed to revolve around Ravel. It was hard to avoid, considering the extensive coverage of his exhibition that inundated the inte. Frustration welled up within me as I observed that Ravel was conspicuously alone in all the pictures. It seemed he had left his mistress at home, carefully avoiding any public scrutiny while the media continued to paint me as the unfaithful wife. I could almost guarantee that the moment I was captured in thepany of another man, Ravel would shamelessly parade his supposed lover for all to see. In my anger, I gripped the fork in my hand so tightly that it threatened to snap in two, but my attention was abruptly. diverted by an iing phone call from Elenor. Taking a deep breath, I released my grip on the fork and answered the call. ¡°Elen?¡± ¡°Hazel,¡± she greeted me cheerfully, her voice filled with warmth. ¡°What¡¯s up? I feel like it¡¯s been ages since west talked.¡± Chuckling softly, I wiped away the bitter tears that had escaped and rolled down my cheeks while I had been fixated on Ravel¡¯s picture. ¡°We spoke justst night, Elenor,¡± ¡°That¡¯s practically a whole day,¡± she eximed in a dramatic manner. ¡°But let¡¯s not dwell on that.¡± The sudden shift in her tone caught my attention, causing me to lean forward in my seat. ¡°How much longer do you have left in school?¡± ¡°Seven months,¡± I replied, curiosity piqued. I had enrolled in an advanced art ss that required a year toplete, and I was currently five months into the program. ¡°Well, I happened to meet someone during a work trip, and I believe he could be of great assistance to you once you open your own art gallery after finishing school.¡± The sound of a door closing reached my ears, momentarily interrupting our conversation before she continued. ¡°I¡¯ll forward his contact information to you. Give him a call and discuss your gallery ns with him.¡± While I appreciated her willingness to help, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a strong desire to aplish this on my own. ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be necessary, Elen.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she eximed, clearly taken aback by my response. ¡°I¡¯ve already made it clear that I won¡¯t ept help from anyone associated with the Southwark family,¡± I reiterated firmly. I could hear her muttering a curse under her breath in response. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elen.¡± I was determined to prove myself and seed on my own merits. I swore to myself that my aplishments would not bear any trace of the Southwark name. D Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 RAVEL (SEVEN MONTHS AFTER DIVORCE) The jewel exhibition was absolutely wless, a true embodiment of perfection. My team of social media managers and business strategists were concerned that the aftermath of my divorce would have a negative impact on the exhibition. Surprisingly, it had the opposite effect, generating even more attention and interest. Although I must admit that I¡¯m not particrly thrilled about the fact that my business received a boost from leaving my wife, I havee to ept that unexpected things happen in life, and we must move forward. It¡¯s not as if I deliberately orchestrated this situation as a marketing strategy. After responding to my final email of the day, I shut down myptop, carefully ced it in my bag, grabbed my coat and keys, and left my office. Raymond, one of my personal security guards who had been diligently standing watch outside my office, immediately fell into step as I walked out. I handed him my bag as we entered the elevator, and as we descended, Raymond cleared his throat before breaking the silence. ¡°Ms. Hazel will be visiting New York next month.¡± My body instantly tensed, and my fingers clenched tightly around my jacket. ¡°What on earth is she coming to do in New York?¡± I muttered under my breath, frustration evident in my voice. ¡°She¡¯s attending the opening of Ms. Elenor¡¯s beauty brand,¡± Raymond replied. ¡°The invitation was sent to her this morning.¡± A bitter smile crossed my face. ¡°She won¡¯t honor that invitation. She¡¯s too smart for that. Given the current chaos with the papara zzi, she knows it would be utter madness to make a public appearance.¡± I paused, a sense of irritation building within me. ¡°And if Elenor is extending invitations, why wasn¡¯t I included?¡± Raymond remained silent for a moment, causing me to turn and re at him. ¡°I don¡¯t have an answer at the moment, sir,¡± he finally responded. ¡°But I¡¯ll swiftly find out before you retire for the night.¡± The elevator dinged, signaling our arrival as the doors slid open. Frustration simmered within me as I muttered, ¡°Forget it.¡± I knew exactly why I hadn¡¯t received an invitation-it was because she didn¡¯t want me there. ¡°Focus your energy on securing me an invitation, and let it be known to anyone who cares to listen that I will be attending the event.¡± ¡°Yes, boss,¡± Raymond replied dutifully. Having Hazel in New York was thest thing I desired. I knew it would only bring trouble, and that was something I wanted to avoid at all costs. The best way to prevent her froming was to make it abundantly clear that I would be present. Knowing Hazel, she would never willingly be in the same vicinity as me. Suddenly, my phone chimed, capturing my attention. Slipping my hand into my pocket, I retrieved it and tapped on the message icon. Pausing momentarily before getting into the car, I furrowed my brow as I read my mother¡¯s text, inviting me to dinner. ¡°Take me to my mother¡¯s ce,¡± I instructed Solomon, my driver. He nodded curtly before maneuvering the car into the bustling streets of New York. The frantic pace of life had taken hold of me, blurring the passage of time. Lost in myptop, I was jolted back to reality when Raymond, my chauffeur, discreetly cleared his throat. I lifted my gaze, momentarily disoriented. ¡°Why did you stop the car? Tinquired, my curiosity piqued. Raymond met my gaze and replied, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived, Mrs. Anne¡¯s manor.¡± His words prompted me to nce outside the window, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. How had my life be so consumed that I failed to notice my surroundings? Stepping out of the car, I leisurely made my way towards the entrance, paying little heed to the greetings from Anne¡¯s security personnel. My purpose for being here had nothing to do with seeing my mother; in fact, being in her presence was something I loathed. I had onlye with the intention of coaxing an invitation out of Elenor. Chapter 6 The memories of our regr Friday family dinners flooded my mind, and I strained to recall thest time I had actually attended one. It must have been three years ago, a fateful evening when Anne had publicly humiliated Hazel in front of the household staff. As I entered the manor, Elenor¡¯s exasperated voice filled the air. ¡°Oh, just kill me!¡± she eximed upon catching sight of me. It was no secret that I had be her least favorite person ever since my divorce with Hazel had been finalized. ¡°I thought you had sworn off these Friday dinners?¡± Anne, always quick to interject, snapped back at Elenor. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be pleased that he¡¯s taking a step towards reconciliation?¡± Her words wereced with a venomous undertone, and she swiftly redirected her attention to me, her face adorned with a disingenuous smile. ¡°We¡¯re delighted to have you back with us, son,¡± she greeted, her pretense of warmth barely concealing her true intentions. ¡°Speak for yourself, Mum,¡± Elenor muttered under her breath, her fingers delicately pouring wine into her ss. ¡°His mere presence only manages to dampen my already somber mood. used to be her favorite, or so I thought. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Elenor,¡± I responded, attempting to maintain a pleasant tone. However, her eye roll made it clear that my efforts were in vain. ¡°I heard news that you¡¯ve started distributing your invitation cards,¡± I began, trying to keep the tone light. ¡°I must admit, it came as a surprise when my secretary didn¡¯t receive one on my behalf.¡± Elenor paused, her eyes narrowing as she locked her gaze onto me. ¡°That¡¯s because I don¡¯t want you there,¡± she retorted sharply, her wordsden with resentment. A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of my lips. ¡°Why is that, dear sister?¡± I teased, unable to resist needling her. ¡°Because Hazel will be attending?¡± The mention of Hazel¡¯s name caught Anne off guard, causing her to momentarily choke on her food. It was evident that myment had struck a nerve. ¡°You sent an invitation to that cheating woman,¡± she sputtered, her voice tinged with disbelief, ¡°and not to your own brother?¡± My gaze shifted to Anne, and I feltpelled to set the record straight. ¡°Hazel didn¡¯t cheat,¡± I corrected firmly. ¡°The press merely insinuated it, but that doesn¡¯t make it the truth.¡± Anne responded with an exasperated eye roll. ¡°The fact remains that she chose Hazel over her own family.¡± ¡°Hazel is family,¡± Elenor interjected, her voice strained with tension. ¡°She was family,¡± I rified, knowing it would strike a nerve with Elenor. Another re from her confirmed my assumption. ¡°But regardless, I would appreciate an invitation to your party, Elenor. I wouldn¡¯t want to inadvertently sabotage your efforts for such an important event.¡± ¡°Sabotage?¡± Elenor scoffed, a hint of disbelief in her voice. ¡°What could you possibly do, brother?¡± A sly smile curled on my lips as I leaned back, meeting her angry gaze with a calm demeanor. ¡°If I don¡¯t find an invitation card on my desk tomorrow morning, I might just arrange an event of my own on the very same day as yours.¡± Her eyes narrowed in fury as she registered the implications. ¡°Let¡¯s see who captures the attention of the press and papara zzi, shall we? I believe we both know the answer to that.¡± Elenor¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she nervously licked her lips. ¡°You¡¯re actually willing to go through with that?¡± I nonchntly shrugged, determined to do whatever it took to ensure Hazel stayed away from this city. ¡°Every day, I see more and more of your true despicable nature.¡± Her anger red as she forcefully pushed her chair back and rose to her feet. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough. I¡¯m done here.¡± Anne made a feeble attempt to convince Elenor to stay, but Elenor snat ched her purse and stormed out of the house. Disregarding her outburst, I reached for my wine ss. ¡°Well, that didn¡¯t go well,¡± Anne muttered, also reaching for her wine ss. She then turned to me and continued, ¡°I was on the phone with the Miller familyst night, and they seemed to believe that forming a family alliance between our families would be mutually beneficial.¡± Gripping the wine ss stem tightly between my fingers, I tilted my head inquisitively towards Anne. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m Chapter 6 mistaken, but the Millers don¡¯t actually have a son in their family, do they?¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right,¡± she concurred. ¡°Then who exactly is this proposed marriage alliance for?¡± I pressed, a hint of skepticism in my voice. Her smile tightened, lips forming a thin line. ¡°It¡¯s between you and their daughter, Anastasia.¡± I continued to gaze at her impassively, awaiting further exnation. ¡°Now that you¡¯re single once again, son, what better opportunity could we ask for?¡± ¡°Better opportunity?¡± I scoffed, disbelief evident in my tone. ¡°For whom exactly? For them or for us?¡± I couldn¡¯t bear to sit and listen to her absurdity any longer. With deliberate calmness, I released my grip on the ss and slowly stood to my full height. ¡°Do not entangle yourself in a futile alliance that will nevere to fruition.¡± She rose to her feet as well, a puzzled expression on her face. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°Because I said so,¡± I dered firmly. I didn¡¯t go through a divorce just to find myself trapped in another marriage.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Hazel As I pulled into the parking lot, I hastily reached for my purse with my left hand, my right hand gripping my phone tightly against my ear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elen,¡± I reassured her, preparing to exit the car. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault that Ravel wants to attend the event.¡± ¡°F**k that ba stard!¡± Elenor eximed, her frustration palpable. I couldn¡¯t help but cringe, knowing how Anne would react if she heard Elenor spewing profanities. ¡°If he wasn¡¯t my brother, I swear I would have strangled him ages ago. How can someone be so maniptive and wicked?¡± Despite the odds, a chuckle escaped my lips at Elenor¡¯s vivid description of Ravel. ¡°You won¡¯t be joining us, right?¡± She asked, needing confirmation. ¡°No,¡± I replied firmly. Even if Ravel wasn¡¯t nning to attend the event, I had no desire to be there either. The thought of unting my seven-month-old baby bump in front of his family was not appealing. ¡°I really have to go, Elen. I¡¯m runningte for ss,¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll talk to youter,¡± Elenor said before disconnecting the call. As Elenor disconnected the call, I hurriedly withdrew the phone from my ear, fumbling to return it to my purse. Lost in my own thoughts, I collided with someone, causing me to lose my bnce. In that heart-stopping moment, it felt as if my soul had momentarily vacated my body. My hands iled in the air, and my mind raced with worries about the potential impact of the fall on my unborn baby. However, my fear was quickly alleviated as the person I bumped into instinctively wrapped his arm around my waist, providing a stabilizing support. Startled by the realization of how close I hade to endangering my baby due to my carelessness, I blinked rapidly at the stranger. Gratefully, he recognized my shock-induced stillness and gently guided me to a nearby seat in the hallway, coaxing me to sit down. Complying with his suggestion, I sank into the seat, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. Sensing my need for refreshment, he offered me a bottle of water, which I epted with gratitude. Taking a generous gulp, I felt the cool liquid soothe my parched throat. ¡°Thank you,¡± I managed to utter, my voice filled with genuine appreciation. As he settled down beside me, a warm smile graced his face. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Mistakes happen,¡± he reassured me, his voice carrying aforting tone. The weight of the realization still lingered within me-this mistake could have had dire consequences for my unborn child. cing a trembling hand on my baby bump, I took a deep breath to steady myself. Gathering my courage, I looked up at him. ¡°You¡¯re the guy from the hall thest time, aren¡¯t you?¡± I asked, a glimmer of recognition lighting up my eyes. His eyes were difficult to forget. His smile widened, revealing that captivating left cheek dimple once again. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m d you recognized me,¡± he replied, his voiceced with genuine pleasure. Extending his hand for a handshake, he introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m David, by the way.¡± epting his hand, I shook it firmly, gratitude surging within me. This man had truly saved me from potentially harming my baby, so it felt only right to extend kindness in return. ¡°I¡¯m Hazel,¡± I replied, offering a small smile. ¡°Although, I¡¯m sure you already knew that.¡± It was hard to miss the news of my divorce, which had garnered significant attention. He smiled in response, but his gaze flicked to his wristwatch, indicating our potentialteness for ss. ¡°Are you feeling okay now? We don¡¯t want to be toote.¡± My mind weighed the options. I was already running behind schedule, and by the time I waddled my way to ss, lectures would likely have already begun. ¡°Thank you again for saving me from the fall,¡± I expressed my gratitude, ¡°but you don¡¯t have to sit with me or wait for me.¡± He met my words with a gentle determination. ¡°I know I don¡¯t have to, but I choose to,¡± he replied, his sincerity evident. His response left me frowning, unsure of how to interpret his grand gesture. Chapter 7 Sensing my confusion, he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, Hazel. I¡¯m only trying to be a friend. Hopefully, next time we run into each other in the hallway, you won¡¯t just walk past me without a word,¡± His words struck a chord within me, and I found myself momentarily speechless, my thoughts racing, ¡°You want to be friends?¡± I finally managed to utter, a mix of surprise and skepticism coloring my voice. ¡°But I¡¯m a pregnant divorc¨¦e who will only bring trouble to your name once the papara zzi captures us together.¡± His smile remained unwavering, his gaze sincere. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be friends with just any pregnant divorc¨¦e, I want to be friends with you, this beautiful pregnant woman sitting right here,¡± he emphasized. Remaining skeptical, I continued to scrutinize his words and intentions. ¡°Listen, David,¡± I began, my tone firm. ¡°If you¡¯re here hoping for a romantic rtionship, I need to make it clear that you¡¯re looking in the wrong ce.¡± He raised his hands in a cating gesture, his eyes earnest. ¡°Hazel, I genuinely just want to be friends with you,¡± he assured me. ¡°Perhaps, for now, until you¡¯re ready to consider dating and trust again. I believe it¡¯s important for us to establish a foundation of friendship before even considering anything else.¡± My frown deepened, and I shook my head resolutely. ¡°Don¡¯t even entertain the thought of anything else, because it¡¯s not going to happen,¡± I asserted, my voiceced with caution. Acknowledging my boundaries, he nodded in understanding. Taking the initiative, he stood up and reached for my bag. ¡°We should get going if we don¡¯t want to be locked out of ss,¡± he reminded me, his focus shifting to the present task at hand. Carefully rising to my feet, I issued a warning to David, aware of the added challenge of my slower pace. ¡°Just so you know, it¡¯s going to take me forever to get there. I¡¯m ten times slower than before because of this extra stomach,¡± I half-joked, acknowledging the physical limitations imposed by my pregnancy. A warm smile yed on his lips as he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± To ensure I kept up with him, he intentionally dragged his feet slightly, matching his pace to mine. As we made our way, we engaged in casual conversation, discussing random topics ranging from school policies to our shared interests. Thankfully, when we arrived at the ss, the understanding professor allowed us in after David exined our ta rdiness. Chapter 8 HAZEL After the ss hade to an end, I happened to notice David patiently waiting at the bus station. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, I kindly offered to give him a lift. Polite as ever, I asked him for his address, and he promptly shared it, showing his gratitude for the kind gesture. ¡°Thank you for offering me a ride home,¡± he murmured appreciatively as we arrived at my car. Brushing off his words, I replied with a gentle smile. ¡°You mentioned that we¡¯re friends now, and it wouldn¡¯t feel right for me to leave my friend waiting at the bus station. It¡¯s the least I can do.¡± David let out a soft chuckle, his eyes filled with warmth. ¡°I must say, it¡¯s truly a pleasure to be considered a friend by you,¡± he remarked sincerely. Folding his hands, he nced around the interior of my car, clearly enchanted by its charms. ¡°You have quite an extraordinary vehicle.¡± A grateful smile adorned my face. ¡°Thank you,¡± I responded. This car had been a wedding gift from Ravel, and despite my attempts to return it, he stubbornly refused to take it back. I had even tried selling it to car dealers on several asions, only to find myself hesitating at thest moment, unable to part with it. The car seemed to hold a certain sentimental value that I couldn¡¯t easily let go of. Shifting the course of our conversation, I directed my attention towards David¡¯s future ns. ¡°So, what are your aspirations once we graduate? We only have five months left.¡± Rxing into his seat, David turned towards me, pondering his response. ¡°I¡¯ve always had a deep desire to work in an art gallery,¡± he shared, his voice brimming with determination. ¡°I imagine myself curating the stunning creations of others while also showcasing my own artistic endeavors on those very walls.¡± As we paused at a red light, the vibrant cityscape temporarily froze around us. ¡°That¡¯s truly captivating,¡± I replied, genuinely fascinated by his ambitions. David¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise, his eyes widening. ¡°Really?¡± he eximed, a touch of disbelief in his voice. ¡°Most people tend to discourage me, urging me to stick to painting for the obstetric ward.¡± I couldn¡¯t contain myughter at hisment, the sound filling the car. With a mischievous tw inkle in my eyes, I stepped on the elerator, propelling us forward. ¡°Why on earth would they say that?¡± IC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. asked, genuinely puzzled. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your paintings, and they are undeniably exquisite and enchanting.¡± David¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile broadly. He ced a hand gently over his heart, feeling a rush of gratitude and excitement. ¡°You have no idea how much that means to me,¡± he expressed, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. Seeing an opening to discuss business, I seized the moment and decided to share my own ns. I could feel the anticipation building within me as I prepared to reveal my idea. ¡°On that note,¡± I began, unable to contain the enthusiasm in my voice, ¡°I¡¯ve been pondering the idea of opening an art gallery, and I truly believe that I can help make your dreame true.¡± Caught off guard by my unexpected proposition, David blinked rapidly, his mouth slightly agape. He seemed to be searching for confirmation, his eyes locked with mine. ¡°Wait, hold on,¡± he stammered, his voice betraying his surprise. ¡°Did I hear you correctly?¡± With a confident nod, I reassured him, affirming my words. ¡°Yes, you heard me correctly,¡± I confirmed, my voice steady and sure. ¡°I¡¯m offering you a remarkable opportunity to work alongside me, with a fair sry that reflects your talent and dedication. Additionally, we cane to a mutual agreement on the percentage for the disy and sale of your artwork in the gallery. It¡¯s truly a win-win situation for both of us.¡± David¡¯s astonishment remained evident on his face, overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. He couldn¡¯t contain his emotions any longer and blurted out, ¡°I feel like hugging you right now!¡± His voice conveyed genuine surprise and gratitude, Amused by David¡¯s eagerness, I couldn¡¯t help but let out a giggle at his immediate response. It was heartwarming to see his excitement. ¡°Well, hold on there,¡± I responded, shaking my head yfully. ¡°No need for the hugging just yet. But I truly Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 appreciate your enthusiasm.¡± As we continued on our journey, driving down the road, my mind began to shift its focus to the challenges that awaited us. I shared my thoughts with David, allowing a touch of contemtion to enter my voice. ¡°You know, I do have a few connections in the industry who might be able to assist us in developing the gallery,¡± I exined. ¡°However, since I no longer have Southwark attached to my name, there may be individuals who are less willing to work with me. That¡¯s where our joint. effort wille into y.¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, David blurted out, ¡°Count me in!¡± His unwaveringmitment to the idea only added to the growing sense of excitement between us. It was clear that we were both ready to embark on this venture together, facing the challenges head-on. I couldn¡¯t help but smile at David¡¯s impulsive and enthusiastic response. ¡°Well then, wee aboard, Mr. David, my future. employee,¡± I yfully dered, savoring the lightheartedness of the moment. It was as if a new chapter had begun, andughter had be a more frequentpanion ever since David had entered my life. As we continued our drive, the idea of having David by my side began to settle in. I realized that his presence could be a real blessing. His genuine passion for art and his infectious enthusiasm had the potential to be invaluable assets in our shared journey toward building the art gallery of our dreams. I envisioned David and me working together, discussing different art styles and selecting pieces that resonated with us. His unique perspective could bring a fresh breath of creativity to the gallery. I could already imagine the smiles on visitors¡¯ faces as they explored the beautiful artworks we¡¯d carefully curated. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. With David by my side, I knew that together, we could ovee any obstacles thaty ahead. His willingness to take a leap of faith filled me with confidence, and I couldn¡¯t wait to see our dreams unfold before our eyes. The art gallery we would create wouldn¡¯t just be a physical space; it would be a reflection of our dedication, love for art, and the beautiful bond we were forming as partners on this incredible journey. Chapter 9 TWO YEARS LATER HAZEL ¡°Daisy!¡± I eximed, my voice filled with a mix of frustration and amusement as I caught my nearly two- year-old daughter. red-handed, gnawing on my hairbrush. On the other end of the phone, David chuckled, thoroughly entertained by the situation. Rolling my eyes, I retorted, ¡°This is not funny, David.¡± Undeterred by my reproach, Daisy continued her relentless assault on the brush. Determined to put an end to her unconventional teething adventure, I rose from the vanity chair. As I approached her, she caught sight of me and promptly. discarded the hairbrush, grinning mischievously. Her baby babble filled the air as she cheerfully eximed, ¡°Ba-da!¡± ¡°I wish I understood what you¡¯re trying to say, sweetheart,¡± I murmured with a hint of affection, scooping her up from the floor and cradling her on my hip. But no sooner had I settled her on my hip than she reached out for my pea rl ne, her tiny fingers curiously exploring the smooth, iridescent orbs. With a yful gleam in my eyes. ¡°I think I¡¯ll bring her with me to work today,¡± I informed David, considering the possibility. David¡¯s image flickered on the screen as he waved yfully at Daisy through the FaceTime call, momentarily capturing her attention. ¡°What about her nanny?¡± he inquired, curious about the arrangements for Daisy¡¯s care ¡°She left early this morning for family emergency.¡± Maybe I should consider hiring two nannies for situations like this. ¡°If you decide to bring Daisy to work, it¡¯s crucial to be extremely cautious of the prying eyes of the papara zzi, David mused, his brows furrowing slightly. ¡°She bears an uncanny resemnce to your ex- husband,¡± he reminded me, his voice filled with a mix of concern and caution. ¡°With just one glimpse of her photo, he might instantly realize that the baby is his.¡± I exhaled audibly, my frustration momentarily overshadowing my usualposed demeanor. ¡°David, I am well aware of the potential risks involved,¡± I responded, my tone tinged with a touch of irritation. Realizing that applying lipstick with Daisy cradled in my arm would be an exercise in futility, I abandoned the idea and swiftly grabbed my purse before stepping out of my closet. ¡°The creation of that underground parking lot was not without purpose.¡± David visibly rxed into his seat, a sense of relief washing over him. ¡°Well, that¡¯s reassuring to know,¡± he said, his tone lighter now. ¡°However, I do have an important matter to discuss with you, so I strongly urge you get your a ss here as soon as possible.¡± A yful chuckle escaped my lips as my index finger hovered over the end button, signaling the end of the call. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with youter, David,¡± I remarked with a light-hearted tone. Ending the call, I swiftly made my way to the parking lot, where my car awaited. Robertson, my trusted personal security, was there to assist me in securing Daisy safely in her snug baby seat. Robertson, with his keen understanding of how to shield Daisy from the prying lenses of the papara zzi, was an invaluable asset. That¡¯s precisely why Ipensated him generously for his exceptional services. Taking a moment to appreciate his rapport with Daisy, he engaged in a brief ytime session before taking the driver¡¯s seat, ensuring that we were ready to hit the road. An hourter, as I settled into my office, David nonchntly strolled in. Ignoring my presence momentarily, he made a beeline for Daisy, who was engrossed in yful amusement with her pacifier. Emitting a series of endearing baby noises, David managed to elicit a joyous giggle from Daisy. ¡°Come on, David, leave the baby be and let¡¯s focus on work,¡± I yfully admonished, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I savored the sweet sound of Daisy¡¯sughter. ¡°You mentioned having something important to discuss with me. Let¡¯s get down to business.¡± ¡°Yes, indeed,¡± David confirmed, giving Daisy a tender peck on the cheek before sauntering over to my desk and settling into the vacant chair. With an air of importance, he leaned forward, capturing my full attention. ¡°I have some news for you, Hazel. You have been nominated for The AICA-USA Award.¡± My initial reaction was one of disbelief, causing me to blink rapidly. ¡°You must be joking,¡± I eximed, my voice tinged with Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 a mix of astonishment and excitement. As the reality sank in, my lips stretched into a radiant smile. ¡°This is incredible news, David! Why do you appear as though something is amiss?¡± David winced, a touch of unease crossing his features. ¡°Let me finish, Hazel,¡± he mumbled, his brows furrowing. His sudden change in demeanor fueled my concern, furrowing my own brow. ¡°Alright¡­ go ahead,¡± I encouraged, my voiceced with a hint of apprehension. Knowing David¡¯s usual yful nature, the seriousness in his tone was enough to raise red gs. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± I pressed, eager to understand the cause of his distress. ¡°The event is actually taking ce in New York,¡± David dropped the bombshell, and an instant wave of tension rippled through me. ¡°I¡¯m fully aware of how much you despise that city, and I understand that returning there will be challenging for you.¡± I maintained an unwavering gaze, absorbing his words with rapt attention. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go to the event. I¡¯ll graciously ept the award on your behalf, sparing you the_¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± I interjected firmly, cutting off his train of thought. His assumption had caught me off guard, and 1 feltpelled to set things straight. David arched an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. ¡°Are you rejecting the award?¡± he inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity. He moistened his lips and leaned forward, his concern palpable. ¡°Hazel, this award has the potential to open doors for the gallery. You can¡¯t afford to turn it down.¡± I couldn¡¯t remain seated any longer, driven by an inner resolve. Gracefully, I stood up and sashayed towards my precious daughter. ¡°I can¡¯t keep running away from them forever,¡± I whispered softly, my voice filled with determination. ¡°I am going to attend that event.¡± ¡°In other words, you want to go against my advice and attend the event?¡± David¡¯s presence suddenly materialized behind me, his warmth seeping into my senses. ¡°Hazel, that is an incredibly risky decision,¡± he warned, his toneced with concern. Taking a defensive stance, I crossed my arms, confronting David directly. ¡°Why? Why do you consider it such a terrible idea for me to ept an award that I earned on my own merit?¡± I challenged, a mix of determination and frustration evident in my voice. David ran his hands through his perfectly styled hair, disheveling it in his evident agitation. ¡°You, out of all people, understand precisely why this is a risky proposition,¡± he responded, his toneced with a hint of exasperation. I defiantly jutted my chin out, refusing to offer a retort, even though he hadn¡¯t explicitly asked for one. Sensing my resistance, he continued, gesturing towards Daisy. ¡°And let¡¯s not even start discussing theplications involving the baby.¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with Daisy,¡± I argued, my voice firm as I crossed my arms, turning my gaze towards my precious daughter. ¡°He will not learn about her because I have no intention of bringing her with me to New York. As for Ravel, he has no involvement in the art world, so the chances of running into him are slim to none.¡± ¡°And if you do encounter him?¡± he countered, his voiceced with concern. ¡°Then so be it,¡± I hissed, my frustration mounting. What was his deal? I hadn¡¯t wronged Ravel in any way, so I saw no reason to continue running from him. I reminded myself that we were not the only divorced individuals in the world. ¡°I have no reason to be afraid or hide. If our paths cross, then I will face it head-on.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this, Hazel,¡± he stressed, taking a step closer to me, his worry etched on his face. ¡°Yes, I do,¡± I asserted firmly, holding my ground. ¡°It¡¯s my name on that award, and I refuse to let fear dictate my choices.¡± Exhaling heavily, David pressed his lips together, clearly grappling with his own thoughts. ¡°Fine. If you insist on going, then I¡¯m going with you,¡± he dered, surprising me with his statement. I blinked at him, momentarily taken aback. ¡°Why?¡± I questioned, a mix of confusion and curiosity coloring my voice. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t handle Ravel on my own?¡± Did he perceive me as someone so weak? Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. David¡¯s expression softened, his gaze filled with sincerity. ¡°I¡¯m going with you because, after you confront Ravel, you¡¯re going to need a friend by your side,¡± he exined, his tone gentle. ¡°Even though I hope you never have to encounter him, I want to be there to support you.¡± I hope so too. Chapter 10 RAVEL Clutching the delicate stylus in my hand, I meticulously etched intricate stone patterns onto the ne. Yet, despite my efforts, a nagging feeling persisted, as if something was amiss in the image. My jaw clenched as I fixated my gaze upon the drawing, desperately trying to discern the source of the problem. Once upon a time, it would only take me a maximum of two weeks to create a captivating jewel design. But now, the process stretched over two long months, and even uponpletion, I found myself lacking the confidence I once possessed in my artistic prowess. Letting out a frustrated groan, I released my grip on the stylus and reached for the ss of scotch beside me. Raising it to my lips, I discovered that it was empty, just like the bottle of scotch resting on the table. Pushing back my seat, I stood up and wandered over to the mini bar, intent on retrieving another bottle of scotch to soothe my frayed nerves. Just then, the door to my home office swung open, and in stepped Elenor, her face contorted with a frown. Raising an eyebrow in response to her unexpected intrusion, I trudged wearily back to my table, my grip tight on the bottle of scotch. ¡°I thought you had erased me from your life,¡± I muttered, my voice laced with a mix of bitterness and resignation. Her reply carried a hint of sharpness. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if everyone wasn¡¯t worried about you.¡± The words stung, and I fought the urge to scoff. ¡°Nobody has been able to reach you for a week now, Ravel, not even your secretary.¡± Pouring another generous measure of scotch into my ss, I took a gulp, the burn momentarily distracting me from the mounting tension. With the stylus back in my hand, I resumed my work. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m working,¡± I retorted, a touch of sarcasmcing my words. ¡°Is it inconceivable for a businessman to seek sce?¡± Elenor rolled her eyes, gracefully gliding toward me. Settling herself nearby, she observed me as I sketched. ¡°Ravel,¡± she called out, capturing my attention. I lifted my gaze, silently acknowledging her. ¡°What¡¯s your deal with that Jane girl?¡± Intrusive as ever, Elenor couldn¡¯t resist meddling in my affairs. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I replied, feigning innocence. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. ¡°I saw hering out of your room,¡± she used, clearly trying to catch me off guard. Letting out an exasperated sound, I dropped the stylus and intertwined my fingers, resting my elbows on the desk as I gave my nosy sister an amused look. ¡°And?¡± I retorted, keeping my response deliberately brief. Her re intensified, clearly not satisfied with my nonchnt attitude. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with one of my domestic staff entering my room? If they don¡¯t clean it, should I expect you to do the job?¡± Her annoyance red, and she hissed back at me, maintaining her suspicious demeanor. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be sarcastic,¡± she shot back, leaning back in her seat. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s nothing going on.¡± I couldn¡¯t contain my frustration any longer, and I pinched the bridge of my nose, grabbing the scotch ss from the table. Irritation bubbled up within me as I snapped back at her, ¡°What if there is something going on? Need I remind you that I¡¯ve been divorced for two years now, and I have every right to do as I please?¡± ¡°Two years is hardly enough time to forget about Hazel,¡± she retorted, her words dripping with skepticism. ¡°It¡¯s still fresh.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re not immune to being thrown out of my house!¡± I shot back, my anger escting. ¡°Instead of constantly scrutinizing me and my rtionships, maybe you should focus on making your own rtionships work!¡± Her face contorted with anger. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, Ravel!¡± I scoffed in response. ¡°Don¡¯t I dare what?¡± I spat, my frustration boiling over. ¡°This is your fifth rtionship this year, Elenor. Focus on yourself and stay out of my personal life!¡± She abruptly stood up, sna tching the scotch bottle from the table and brandishing it above my head, the liquid staining the wedding portrait of Hazel that hung on the wall. ¡°You think my life is f ucking messed up?¡± sheughed hysterically. ¡°Maybe I should help you take a good hard look at your own life, so you can see just how much more messed up it ispared to Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 mine.¡± I was taken aback by the sudden outburst of profanity from Elenor. Where had she learned to curse like this? Meeting her angry gaze with an equally intense re, my jaw tightened. ¡°Get out of my office, Elenor,¡± Imanded, my voiceced with frustration. Her response was a scoff, and she defiantly crossed her arms. ¡°Why?¡± she taunted, pushing my buttons further. ¡°You don¡¯t want to hear the truth about how messed up you are? You im to have divorced Hazel because you don¡¯t love her anymore, yet you keep your wedding picture with her hanging in your office. You¡¯re drowning in alcohol because you can¡¯t find inspiration anymore your muse is gone! If that doesn¡¯t fit the definition of messed up, then I don¡¯t know what d_¡± Before she could finish her sentence, I impulsively lunged toward her, my hand reaching out to encircle her neck tightly, ready to throttle her if she dared to further provoke me. ¡°You¡¯re da mn lucky you¡¯re my sister _¡± To my surprise, instead of trembling in terror, she had the audacity to smile at me, an eerie grin stretching across Her face like a madwoman. With a raspy voice, she managed to utter, ¡°And what exactly would you have done?¡± She struggled for breath, taunting me further, ¡°Would you have resorted to violence, just like you do with poor Hazel whenever she upsets you?¡± My mind raced, trying to make sense of her twisted words. What the hell was she implying? Fueled by frustration, I forcefully pushed her away, feeling the weight of my anger in every step as I stormed towards the door. Without hesitation, I swung it open, gripping the doorknob tightly. ¡°I have neverid a hand on Hazel, and I never will,¡± I dered, my trembling with intensity. voice As my grip on the door kn ob tightened, I mustered all the strength within me to maintain my composure. With gritted teeth, Imanded her, ¡°Get out of my office, Elenor.¡± As she sna tched her bag from the table, her eyes pierced into mine for a lingering moment. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s a relief to know you¡¯re still breathing,¡± she taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She gracefully swayed towards the door, but just before leaving, she paused and faced me once more. ¡°You might want to check on your secretary. She seemed quite concerned about you.¡± With a final disdainful re, she exited my office, and I mmed the door shut behind her.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 RAVEL A few paces away from the closed door, my gaze fixated on the wedding portrait of Hazel and me that adorned the wall. The longer I stared at it, the more Elenor¡¯s words echoed in my mind, seeping into my consciousness. Perhaps there was a painful truth hidden within her twisted remarks-I was undeniably tormented in my own mind. Lost in my thoughts, I remained fixated on the photograph, desperately searching for answers amidst the chaos of my emotions. It was in this vulnerable moment that a knock reverberated through my office, interrupting my thought. At first, I contemted ignoring the intrusion, wanting to be left alone with my thoughts. But when Raymond, announced his presence, I reluctantly granted him permission to enter. He stepped into my office, offering a slight nod as a gesture of acknowledgment. Without diverting my gaze from the picture, I posed a direct question to Raymond. ¡°Were you able to track it down?¡± My voice held a tinge of frustration as I awaited his response. ¡°No, sir,¡± he replied, his voice tinged with defeat. The clenching of my jaw revealed my mounting anger. ¡°Just likest time, the device was promptly switched off after the text was sent, and it possesses robust security measures.¡± I scoffed, my disappointment palpable. ¡°So, in simpler terms, you¡¯re highlighting your ipetence.¡± Sliding both hands into my pockets, I returned to my seat, the frustration radiating from my entire being. ¡°How many times have I entrusted you with this task, and how many times have youe up short?¡± ¡°I apologize, sir,¡± he muttered, his words failing to pacify my annoyance. Thest thing I wanted was an apology that carried no weight. Before I could unleash a fitting response to his unwanted apology, a knock sounded twice on the door, followed by it swinging open, revealing June¡¯s face peering in. She offered a warm smile in my direction. ¡°Rose is here to see you,¡± she informed me. It appeared my secretary had somehow managed to find her way to my home. Letting out a weary sigh, I ran a hand down my face in exasperation. ¡°Bring her up here,¡± I instructed June, who nodded before closing the door behind her. Turning back to Raymond, I made my feelings clear. ¡°Your apologies mean nothing to me, Raymond. Find out who that despicable person is.¡± ¡°I will, boss,¡± he responded resolutely. As Rose entered the room, June exiting right after her, Raymond made a move to leave too. However, my stern re forced him back into his seat. I shifted my focus to Rose, wondering why she would go to the trouble of seeking me out at my own home. ¡°What could be so crucial that you felt the need to track me down at my house?¡± I questioned, trying to understand the reason for her unexpected visit. From her purse, she produced an invitation card. ¡°This invitation has been sitting on your desk for over a week now, and they¡¯ve been pestering me for a response,¡± she exined, her fingers interlocking as she maintained a neutral expression. ¡°I need to know your answer so I can get back to them.¡± As I opened the boxed invitation, my brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°What does art have to do with me?¡± I questioned aloud, my perplexity evident. Leaning forward, Rose shifted into her professional demeanor. ¡°Apparently, they believe you possess great talent in designing and creating jewelry. If that doesn¡¯t fall under the realm of art, I¡¯m not sure what does.¡± A scoff escaped my lips as I leaned back in my chair. ¡°Do they honestly think I have the time for this?¡± I dismissed the invitation, tossing it back into the box before pushing it towards Rose. ¡°I already have more than enough on my te, and dedicating awards to artists whom I know nothing about isn¡¯t something I¡¯m inclined to do.¡± Suddenly, Raymond cleared his throat, capturing our attention. Both sets of eyes turned towards him, curious about his interruption. ¡°Is this about the AICA-USA Award?¡± he inquired, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity. ¡°Yes, it is,¡± Rose replied with a furrowed brow, clearly indicating her preference for discussing the matter with me rather than Raymond. ¡°Do you happen to know anything about it?¡± Raymond¡¯s attention shifted back to me, and he hesitated for a moment before responding. ¡°Not much,¡± he admitted. ¡°What I do know is that Ms. Hazel has been nominated and stands a good chance of receiving an award.¡± Rose¡¯s re intensified, her frustration evident. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just great!¡± she deadpanned. ¡°I was hoping to get you involved since you¡¯ve been declining all public appearances for the past two years.¡± Turning to Raymond, I sought confirmation. ¡°Hazel is attending?¡± He nodded in affirmation, prompting a realization within me. ¡°ept the invitation,¡± I dered, my voice firm. Leaning back in my seat, I locked eyes with the bewildered pair before me. ¡°I am going to attend the AICA-USA Award ceremony.¡± Raymond blinked slowly. ¡°Surely you can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°You know I don¡¯t bluff.¡± If Hazel ising, nothing is going to stop me from showing up. Raymond stared at Rose, as if expecting her to do something about it, but Rose simply stared back at him with a stoic expression. Chuckling at his expression, I smacked my lips together, taking his attention away from her. ¡°Stop looking at Rose like that, she wants me to go on that event, so if anything, she¡¯s going to encourage me.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. He sighed with dejection. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡± I retorted, ring at him. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid that you can talk out of someone¡¯s Raymond, be mindful of your words towards me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir.¡± Waving off his apology, I turned to Rose. ¡°Get my designer on the line, and have him make me the finest suit.¡± I¡¯m dressing to impress. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 HAZEL For the umpteenth time, David told me that we have to leave for the airport, but here I am, repeating the same instruction for the twentieth time. ¡°Remember to give her the ducky doll and give me a call to wish her good night before putting her to bed.¡± ¡°For Go d¡¯s sake Hazel!¡± David groaned, his head craned towards the heavens, ¡°You¡¯ve said that a million times!¡± I rolled my eyes; speak of exaggeration. ¡°I¡¯m sure Daphne gets the memo. Let¡¯s go or we¡¯ll miss our flight.¡± ¡°Fine! I¡¯ming!¡± Leaning down, I kissed a sleeping Daisy on the forehead before walking out of her room. David who has been waiting in the hallway fell in line behind me. ¡°You¡¯re going to be gone for only twenty-four hours.¡± He held the door open for me as I got into the back seat before joining me. ¡°I¡¯m going to be gone for more than twenty-four hours if I get that award.¡± I red at Agatha seated in front, ¡°A certain someone agreed to interviews.¡± Agatha, my secretary and social manager chuckled. ¡°Interviews are requirements if you get the award.¡± She picked up her tablet, ¡°I¡¯m sure David agrees with me too.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stop using the word if,¡± David mumbled as he leaned back and closed his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s going to win the award, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± My lips stretched into a smile. ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence.¡± Copying his position, I closed my eyes. ¡°Wake me when we get to the airport.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you hold that sleep until you get on the ne?¡± Agatha requested. I rolled my eyes inwardly. ¡°Whatever.¡± It took us eight hours to get to our hotel room. Thankfully, I was able to get some sleep on the ne, because the moment we arrived at the hotel, Agatha told me to grab a shower because the makeup crew and designer are on their way to the hotel. I took a quick shower and grabbed something to eat before the crew arrived. Just as nned, they opted for smokey eye makeup and a wet hair look, topping it off with a long Versace red gown with high slits. I was almost done with getting ready when David walked into my room, dressed in a ck tux and a red broochplimenting my dress. His gaze slowly racked my body as he took in my dress, his gaze lingering on the slit and my bare thigh. ¡°You look breathtaking.¡± My cheeks stained red. ¡°Thank you.¡± Smiling to get rid of the tension, I grabbed my clutch. ¡°You don¡¯t look bad yourself.¡± He chortled. ¡°As opposed to looking good?¡± I shrugged in response, my eyes twi nkling with mischievousness. Shaking his head, David stretched out his hand, offering me his open palm. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get this over and done with it.¡± I can¡¯t wait to get back to Seattle. epting his open-palm invitation, I allowed him to lead me out of the hotel to the limo waiting for us outside. Just as Agatha predicted, the pap ara zzi went crazy when I stepped out of my car, my hand interlocked with David¡¯s. We posed for the camera, modeling the Versace outfit. I¡¯m certain that some of them can¡¯t wait to get home and write nothing but lies about my rtionship with David. Agatha walked over to me and whispered in my ear that we should get going and just as I was about to walk away from the red carpet, the crowd went crazy. Curious to know the reason for their craziness, I looked at the ck sleek Benz that just pulled over. David leaned in. ¡°I bet my a ss it¡¯s Jeremy Beckham.¡± Jeremy is mypetitor in the art curating out to steal your shine, which was why he let you walk in first.¡± iness. ¡°He was always Almost rolling my eyes, I leaned in to tell him that not everyone is as dramatic as he is, but when my eyes captured who got down from the car, the words got stuck in my throat. What is Ravel doing here? My palm which was once lyingzily on David¡¯s arm tightened its hold, squeezing tightly. David, noticing my sudden tensed demeanor trailed my gaze and it led him to Ravel. ¡°Why weren¡¯t we informed that he¡¯ll be showing up?¡± David hissed at Agatha through clenched teeth. ¡°I had no idea.¡± She mumbled, trying to keep a rxed face for the sake of the camera. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be a problem right?¡± She nced at me. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a couple of people divorced that are in this event.¡± ¡°Just zip it.¡± David scolded her. He ced his other hand on mine which was resting on his arm. ¡°If you want to leave, I¡¯ll make it happen.¡± As if sensing that we are discussing him, Ravel turned his head and locked his gaze with mine. I could I sworn that he smiled at me. The crazy b astard smiled at me! We held each other¡¯s gaze for a little too long before Nooked away. ¡°I¡¯m receiving that award myself.¡± ¡°You sure about that?¡± David asked skeptically. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go find our seat, these heels are killing me.¡± I held onto David¡¯s arm tightly as he led me into the grand hall. Following the number on the invitation card, we made our way to our seats at the corner of the hall. Against better judgment, my eyes kept wandering around the hall, trying to catch sight of Ravel, and thankfully, I didn¡¯t see him anywhere. ¡°Are you looking for someone?¡± David whispered in my eyes, his voice clipped, almost sounding angry. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re looking for Mr. Southwark.¡± Blinking rapidly, I took my gaze away from the crowd and settled it on David. ¡°I¡¯m just curious to find out where he¡¯s sitting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s somewhere in the front.¡± Agatha chimed. ¡°I heard he¡¯s the one presenting the awards, so he must be somewhere in front where he can be easily essed by the organizers.¡± ¡°If only you paid more attention to details, Hazel wouldn¡¯t have stuck in the same room with him.¡± David retorted, clearly still offended that Agatha was oblivious to the fact that Ravel will be showing up. ¡°Let her be, David.¡± Even if she knew, I would have still shown up. ¡°We are already here, let¡¯s not make the night more stressful.¡± Picking up the champagne ss that Agatha picked up for me, I took a sip, praying and hoping that this night will go on without any more surprises. ¡°You got to be f ucking kidding me!¡± David growled. Curious to know what got him so worked up, I turned around. ¡°Why the heck is heing towards us?¡± He red at Agatha. ¡°I thought you said his seat is somewhere in front?¡± ¡°That was just an assumption, David!¡± Agatha snapped at David, ¡°Stoping at me with the biting words David, you¡¯re an employee just like me!¡± Zoning out their bickering, I stared unblinking at thedy on Ravel¡¯s arm. June. The samedy he cheated on me with. How dare he?! The more I red at them, the more my blood boiled with fury. ¡°Hazel?¡± David called out softly, his voice breaking me out of my fury daze. ¡°If you hold the ss stem any tighter, it¡¯ll snap.¡± cing a hand on my cheek, he turned my face away from the approaching couple. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Clearing my throat, I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Why am I even angry? It¡¯s not like their rtionship is news to me. Lifting the ss, I took another sip, hoping they¡¯ll walk past but to my dismay, Ravel stopped at our table and pulled a seat out for Jane before settling down next to her. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°What the heck is going on?¡± David demanded, his eyes bouncing from Ravel to June, but he got ignored. The ba stard smiled at me instead, ignoring every other person at the table. ¡°Hello, Hazel.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 RAVEL Hazel looks as beautiful as ever. I may have pulled her out of my life, but that doesn¡¯t deter the fact that she¡¯s a very beautiful woman; always has been. ¡°Hello, Hazel.¡± The moment I called out her name, her fingers clenched tightly on the stem of her champagne flute. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again.¡± Lifting her gaze, she smiled at me, the wrinkles that form at the corner of her eyes any time she smiles, clearly missing. ¡°I wish I could say the same, Mr. Southwark.¡± My jaw clenched at her formality. ¡°What happened to Rav?¡± I¡¯m used to hearing her call me that. Tilting her head, she blinked slowly at me, as if bored by my presence. ¡°That seems rather unprofessional, don¡¯t you think so Mr. Southwark?¡± The young man seated next to her ced his hand on hers and my eyes followed the movement. ¡°If you feelfortable calling me that, then it¡¯s fine.¡± gging down a waitress, I picked up two champagne flutes and passed one to June, who muttered appreciation. Leaning back, my hand leisurely rxed on June¡¯s seat. ¡°Congrattions on your nomination Hazel.¡± She smiled tightly yet again. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Southwark.¡± The other youngdy whispered something to her before walking away. ¡°And please, I¡¯d appreciate it if you call me Ms. cks.¡± She stared at me intently, ¡°Only family and friends are allowed to call me by my first name, and you¡¯re neither of those.¡± Chuckling, I bit my inner cheek. ¡°I was once your family Hazel,¡± I¡¯ll be caught dead before I refer to her by her father¡¯s name, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that count for something?¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡± She deadpanned, her expression rxed, ¡°Do not insult your date by insinuating such.¡± My date? I turned to June and smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m not being disrespectful and she knows that.¡± If anything, I¡¯m only trying to have a civil conversation. ¡°We¡¯re stuck on the same table the whole night, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s only right that we pipe down the aggression?¡± ¡°Aggression?¡± Hazel let out a short mockingugh. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong Mr. Southwark, but I haven¡¯t snapped at you even once ever since you upied that seat.¡± Twirling the content of her ss, her lips stretched into a smile. ¡°If you think I¡¯m being aggressive, then you need to check your conscience, Mr. Southwark.¡± The other girl who walked away earlier returned and picked up Hazel¡¯s purse. The young man stood to his feet and helped Hazel up. My eyes slowly frisk her body, starting from the swell of her breast, down to her hips, and when it settled on the ridiculously high slit, my jaw clenched. A feminine voice cleared, snapping me out of my thought. I almost chuckled at being caught ogling. ¡°I was about to tell you that my eyes are up here.¡± Poking my tongue into my left cheek, I smirked. ¡°If you¡¯re going to sh your body like that, you shouldn¡¯t be upset when we ogle.¡± With my smirk still locked in ce, I ced my hand on June¡¯sp. ¡°I¡¯m very sure I¡¯m not the only male who almost got a f u cking bo ner just by looking at you.¡± Hazel¡¯s tiny fist clenched into a tight ball. ¡°I can see you aren¡¯t less of the animal you were two years ago.¡± She leered at June, ¡°Even though I shouldn¡¯t, I can¡¯t help but feel sorry for the woman in your life right now.¡± June scoffed at Hazel¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t feel sorry for me Hazel, I¡¯m living a better life than I was when I was under your beck and call.¡± Hazel simply shrugged nonchntly. She grabbed the trail of her dress and turned to leave, and for a moment, it felt like I panicked. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Craning her neck, she stared at me for a moment and shook her head with bitter disappointment before walking away. I had a lot I wanted to say to her, a whole lot, but my phone pinged, stealing my attention and giving her time to walk me. away from Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Slipping my hands into my jacket, I brought out my phone and frowned when I saw a text message from a very familiar number. I gritted my jaw as I quickly read the message. Stifling a curse, I chucked the phones over to Raymond. ¡°The ba stard is in this hall or somewhere close. Find him.¡± Confused, he quickly read the text before jumping into action. June waited for Raymond to leave before speaking up. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± My eyes scanned the crowd, a futile attempt to find anything or anyone that might stand out. ¡°Yeah, everything is fine.¡± Smiling warmly at me, she ced her hand on mine. ¡°I¡¯m d everything is fine. For a moment, I thought Hazel got to you.¡± My face squeezed into a frown. ¡°What?¡± ¡°No need to be upset Ravel, as long as I continue to remain the woman you love, then I¡¯m happy.¡± She leaned forward and ced her head on my arm. ¡°I know how much you love teasing people, which is why I¡¯m not going to read meaning into what just happened here.¡± . Do I? I mean do I love teasing people or did she just assume that? Suddenly sensing a growing headache, I massaged my temple. For the rest of the event, I found my eyes drifting across the room to find Hazel. The few times I found her engrossed in her phones, I smiled, and the other times I find her holding that man¡¯s hand, I felt like going across the room and flinging him. out through the window. ¡°Mr. Southwark?¡± Averting my gaze from Hazel, I blinked at Desmond, the anchor of today¡¯s event. ¡°We need you on the stage. It¡¯s time to present the awards.¡± Thankful for the distraction, I walked away with Desmond. Standing on the stage, I presented the award to the names the moderator called out. With each individual, I held their hand and posed for a picture. Each time, I anticipated Hazel¡¯s, waiting for him to call her out. When I heard about her nomination, I did everything humanly possible to make sure she gets this award, not because she isn¡¯t able to get it without my help, but because people like Jeremy Beckham do not know how to fight fair and a ss holes like him need as shole like me. ¡°And this year¡¯s award for the best art curator goes to,¡± Desmond announced and I searched the crowd for Hazel. I found her seated rigidly, waiting anxiously for the name to be called. ¡°Ms. Hazel cks.¡± Her body visibly rxed as she smiled. Even without seeing the wrinkles by the side of her eyes due to the distance between us, I could tell she is genuinely happy. Involuntarily, I found myself smiling too. That smile left my lips when the young man whose name I found out to be David stood up, took her hand, and escorted her to the stage. She didn¡¯t let go of his hold nor did he until she stood right in front of me, ready to receive her award. stering that smile with no wrinkles on her face, she held the other end of the award and posed for the camera. Shortly after the pictures, I gave her a customary handshake which kind of went on for too long, due to my unwillingness to let go of her hand. It took more effort and more fake smiles from Hazel before she was able to pull her hand away from my grasp. The moment she did, David leaned and whispered something to her to which she nodded. Hazel gave a brief appreciatory speech before returning to her seat. Ten awardster, I was finally relieved of my duties. The urgency for fresh air led me towards the elevator and luckily for me, I saw Hazel getting into the elevator too. Ditching the elevator that was meant to take me to the rooftop, I opted for the elevator that was going to take Hazel down. away for Raymond hastened after me as I quickened my steps, but I stopped abruptly and faced him. ¡°I¡¯m getting on that elevator with Hazel because I want to have a conversation with her.¡± I looked above his head, ¡°I want you to keep her friends at least thirty minutes.¡± Raymond frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea, Sir.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I didn¡¯t ask for your input, Raymond.¡± I took slow steps away from him. ¡°Be sure to keep them away.¡± Thirty minutes with Hazel alone should be more than enough. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 HAZEL Leaning against the walls of the elevator, I waited for the doors to close and for the elevator to begin its descent. The door almost jammed when someone suddenly stuck his feet in between the doors, which made it glide open again. Unbothered about who was about to enter the elevator, I kept my eyes down but the moment that familiar cologne prated my nostrils, my eyes snapped up and locked with those cold blue eyes. He shed me a dimpled smile. ¡°You¡¯re not going to walk out of the elevator just because I walked in right?¡± I fought against rolling my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sure the space is big enough for more than two persons.¡± Ten minutes should be enough to reach the first floor and I¡¯ll be away from him. Ravel nodded with a smile before stepping in fully. He kept mute until the doors closed and the elevator began its descent. ¡°Congrats once again on your win.¡± Folding both hands in a defensive stance, I stared at the mirror wall ahead. ¡°Thank you.¡± He doesn¡¯t have to sound like a broken record by repeatedly congratting me. Smacking his lips, I felt his gaze on me. Even without the mirror in front, I¡¯m able to tell when Ravel is staring at me: the hairs on my body tend to pickle any time he stares intently at me. ¡°Who is he?¡± He blurted out the question out of the blue. Surprised that he thinks he has the right to question me, my left brow arched. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Definitely, I heard him wrong. ¡°I mean the blond wa nker that keeps following you around.¡± He rified, ¡°I presume David is his name. Who is he to you, and why is he always lurking around you like your shadow?¡± Astonished, I scoffed with disbelief. ¡°And I should answer that question because?¡± His lips thinned with restrained anger. ¡°What exactly is your deal with my crowd Ravel?¡± He gritted his jaw as if restraining himself from saying something. ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer, I¡¯ll find out if I want to.¡± Always arrogant. I can¡¯t believe I was once turned on by his arrogance. Tucking my purse in my armpit, I turned to the right, facing him fully. ¡°I¡¯m already stressed having to deal with the press and papara zzi, please Ravel, don¡¯t add to it.¡± He slipped both hands into his pockets and stared at me, his face rxed and almost filled with warmth. ¡°You never liked the attention from the press which was why I tried to keep you away from them.¡± ¡°I guess you should be given an award for husband of the year.¡± I retorted sarcastically. Returning to my initial position, I clenched my fist, making sure to put enough distance between us. I do not want the papara zzi to start specting when this elevator opens. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if we rode this elevator in silence.¡± For a moment, I thought he agrees with me because the silence stretched for a few seconds, but then suddenly, he made the most outrageous request. ¡°Have lunch with me tomorrow.¡± My lips pressed together angrily. ¡°You must either be drunk, or you¡¯re high on drugs because that¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll be able to think that it is right and normal to ask me out for lunch.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a harmless lunch date, Hazel.¡± He pressed on with an easygoing smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to read too much meaning into it.¡± I stared at the floor numbers and almost exhaled with relief. One more floor to go. ¡°I¡¯m going to believe that there is nothing wrong with your sanity Ravel.¡± I red at him, ¡°This conversation didn¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°Yes, it did.¡± He countered. Suddenly, the lights in the elevator went off and the box halted. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving this elevator until you agree to have lunch with me.¡± I tried to reach for the emergency button but he quickly grabbed my hand. ¡°If you try to hit that button again Hazel, I¡¯m going to kiss you. You know I don¡¯t bluff.¡± My eyes widened with shock, a shock that onlysted for a few seconds before it got reced with anger, blood-boiling Chapter 14 anger. With all the energy in me, I lifted my hand and pped him hard across his cheek. His face swiveled to the left. ¡°How dare you, Ravel?!¡± He stuck his tongue into the cheek that received the impact of my hand. ¡°I hope you know you¡¯re the only one who can get away with hitting me.¡± I lifted my hand to p him again but he quickly got hold of my it in the air and smirked arrogantly. ¡°Just so you know, you¡¯re turning me on.¡± What the actual f uck? I pushed him away roughly. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯d rather suffocate in here and die than have lunch with you.¡± The venom in my voice did not go unnoticed, ¡°That¡¯s how much I despise you, Ravel!¡± His jaw clenched as he stared at me. ¡°How difficult is having one lunch with me?¡± He took a step towards me, ¡°Surely you can stand me for a few hours.¡± ¡°No!¡± I hissed, ¡°As a matter of fact, I can¡¯t stand you, Ravel! You f ucking disgust me and I see your lunch invitation as nothing but an insult to me and my personality! And you know what?¡± I sneered, ¡°I may have allowed you and your family to insult me because I was married to you, but hear me Ravel, I have absolutely no reason to take it now, so f ucking tread carefully!¡± Ravel literally froze and stared at me with wide unblinking eyes. ¡°Did you just swear?¡± bbergasted, I scoffed. ¡°Did you really just ask me that? Out of every da mn thing I said, all you decided to hear was the fact that I used profanities? Are you shi tting me right now?¡± He licked his lips and smiled. ¡°I never in my life thought I¡¯d hear you cuss.¡± His blue eyes twi nkled with mischievousness, ¡°Please, say another bad word for me.¡± My gaze frisked the grown adult who was literally behaving like a child offered candy. ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡± Gathering my dress, I sat my a ss down on the floor, making myselffortable. ¡°When you¡¯re ready to get this thing moving, let me know.¡± I don¡¯t know what, I was expecting him to say or do but him doubling over inughter wasn¡¯t what I was expecting. Ravel bent down as deepughter rolled out from him. ¡°And they say I¡¯m the crazy one.¡± Shaking his head, he offered me his hand. ¡°I think you should stand, allowing the papara zzi to see you sitting like that isn¡¯t the best image.¡± My chin jutted out in defiance as I searched for the best word to tell him off, but before I could say any other thing, the lights came back on and Ravel¡¯s grin widened. His brows arched in suggestively, silently asking if I¡¯m going to keep sitting or take his hand and stand. Ignoring both his offer, I gathered the trail of my dress once more, with my purse still tucked in my armpit, and rose to my feet. In response to my snubbing, Ravel chuckled, returned his right hand to his pocket, and took a few steps back to put a reasonable distance between us. His face returned to that indifferent stoic expression, right before the doors opened. No one, absolutely no one will be able to guess that he has been grinning and smirking in this elevator a few seconds ago. Luckily for the both of us, there was no papara zzi, lurking in the hallway, just Agatha. She ran towards me the moment the doors opened. Skeptically, she eyed Ravel who walked away without any form of acknowledgment towards her. ¡°Did he get stuck in there with you?¡± She questioned with tucked brows. I stared at Ravel¡¯s retreating back. ¡°Obviously.¡± Agatha took notice of my parched voice and handed me a bottle of water. ¡°Can you please not tell David that I got stuck in the elevator with Ravel?¡± She eyed me suspiciously, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for his dramatic response.¡± She chuckled. ¡°I know right?¡± Gesturing towards the thin hallway, she led me toward one of the rooms. ¡°Mr. Southwark didn¡¯t say anything disturbing to you right?¡± Apart from the fact that we should have lunch together? ¡°No, He didn¡¯t.¡± Ravel is someone who always gets what he wants, and I somehow feel he won¡¯t stop until I¡¯m seated across the table with him tomorrow afternoon. ¡°What was our initial n?¡± ¡°Few interviews tonight, a few more tomorrow morning and afternoon, and in the evening, we leave for Seattle. Why?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to run a raincheck.¡± I mused and Agatha halted her step. ¡°After these interviews tonight, I¡¯m leaving for Seattle.¡± Ravel can go f uck himself.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 RAVEL Hazel left New Yorkst night on the quest to avoid having lunch with me today. I guess her hatred for me runs that deep. I will be a great liar if I tell you that the thought of going after her to Seattle didn¡¯t cross my mind, but certain things held me back, things such as the fact that she¡¯s no longer married to me, and I have no business invading her life, at least not without her permission. Shaking my head, I pulled my legs off my desk, dropped the ss of scotch, and focused on the jewelry designs submitted on my desk. We have to start nning another exhibition as it has been over two years since thest one. The inte on my desk pinged, interrupting me from my work. I red at the da mn thing for a few seconds before clicking on the tiny button. ¡°What is it, Rose?¡± ¡°Sorry to disturb you sir, but Ms. June is here to see you, and she insists she has an appointment with you.¡± Sighing, I tucked the designs away. In my world of fashion, you have to be extremely careful about who you let see your unfinished work or unfinished designs. ¡°Let her in.¡± Getting out of my seat, I ambled towards the sofa with the scotch ss firmly in my hold. June walked in a few secondster, dressed in a silver dress with openings by the side. The neck of the dress hung so low that I could almost see her nipples with zero stress. Taking my eyes off her body, I kept it on her face. ¡°What are you doing in my office?¡± ¡°I was worried, Ravel.¡± She sat down across from me, dropped her purse on the table, and positioned her gaze on my face. ¡°What happenedst night? You disappeared after presenting the awards.¡± Leaning back, I took a gulp from the scotch ss and fixed my gaze on her face, staring at her intently. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get to the manor safelyst night?¡± She frowned slightly. ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s with the question?¡± I have too much work on my desk that requires my immediate attention. I will not while away my time, entertaining silly questions. ¡°I just wanted to know what happenedst night.¡± She lisped. ¡°You kind of disappeared the same time Hazel disappeared, so_¡± ¡°So you wanted to know if I was with her.¡± I finished up the sentence for her. Pressing my lips together, I looked away from her and stared at the content of my ss. ¡°I do not appreciate you questioning me June, you¡¯re not my wife.¡± ¡°Yet.¡± She argued softly and I almost chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not your wife yet Ravel. You told Hazel right in your bedroom that night that you love me, remember?¡± Slowly, my lips stretched into a smile that is anything but warm or amused. ¡°I told my wife that I loved her countless times, but that didn¡¯t stop me from cheating on her that night nor did it stop me from sending her divorce papers.¡± ¡°Nothing happened th_¡± ¡°What exactly did you say you¡¯re doing here?¡± I hissed, interrupting her yet again, ¡°If perhaps you¡¯re here to ask meaningless questions, I can as well ask you to leave.¡± Biting her lower lips, she batted hershes vigorously. ¡°You can be so cold and heartless, yet warm and loving.¡± I think it¡¯s safe to say she¡¯s delusional. June stood up, walked over to my side of the sofa, and leaned down to kiss my lips but I turned my face in time, offering her my cheek. ¡°I love you, Ravel, always remember that.¡± For a moment, I almost felt bad for her. She wouldn¡¯t have found herself in this mess if she didn¡¯t make herself avable. Pushing off the sofa, I strolled towards my desk. ¡°The next time you show up here without calling me first, I won¡¯t let you into my office.¡± Chapter 15 June paused by the door, turned around, and smiled tightly at me. ¡°We¡¯ve been dating for two years now Ravel, and in those two years, I¡¯ve learned to love you with every fiber of my being. Don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll sit back and watch that woman steal you away from me.¡± Chuckling, I tilted my head. ¡°What am I? A possession that can be stolen?¡± I find her bravado rather amusing. ¡°Just leave my office June, don¡¯t give me a reason to put an end to this.¡± ¡°Rav_¡± ¡°Get out!¡± I snapped at her, finally losing my cool. ¡°I me my f ucking self for giving you the leverage to behave in this manner.¡± June noticed my anger and quickly sort to make amends. Biting her lower lips, she stared at me through hershes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for upsetting you Ravel, give me a few minutes and I¡¯ll make you _¡± I clicked on the inte whilst holding her gaze. ¡°Rose, inform the security toe guide Ms. June out of my office.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± June rolled her eyes. ¡°Calling the security on me wasn¡¯t necessary Ravel, I¡¯ll leave.¡± She blew me a kiss and then winked. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at home love.¡± With one final smile at me, she sashayed out of my office, purposely swaying her hips. The moment my door closed, I exhaled with relief. Sometimes, I ask myself why I have to tolerate this, and more often than not, I answer that question myself. Someone knocked on the door twice before it opened and Raymond walked in. I groaned with irritation. ¡°Can¡¯t I have a moment to myself?¡± Confused at my aggressive tone, he blinked slowly as he looked around awkwardly. ¡°If this isn¡¯t the right time, I can alwayse backter.¡± He¡¯s already here, so I can as well deal with whatever thing he came to do. ¡°Come have a seat.¡± Nodding once, he strolled into the room and sat down on the seat directly facing me. ¡°I have the information you demanded about Mr. David Ellison.¡± Oh! How did I forget that I instructed him to look into Hazel¡¯s rtionship with David? ¡°And What did you find out?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± He responded with a shrug. ¡°He attended the same art school with Hazel, and they are not only friends but¡­. also business partners.¡± That¡¯s not the information I need. ¡°Are they in a rtionship?¡± The insatiable urge to know was the reason I ordered him to find out about David in the first ce. ¡°That I do not know sir.¡± Raymond drawled out slowly. ¡°None of their picture was photographed together until graduation and ever since, it¡¯s been pictures about business.¡± My jaw clenched involuntarily. ¡°I think Hazel went the extra mile to keep her private life private, but I can find out if they are dating if you want me to.¡± I do not doubt him at all. ¡°All I need do is put someone on them although I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a great idea.¡± Rubbing my hands on my face, I closed my eyes and chuckled bitterly. ¡°What am I doing?¡± Trying to stalk a woman I divorced? ¡°You¡¯re right Raymond, this is a bad idea.¡± If I don¡¯t stop now, I might end up ruining everything. ¡°Let¡¯s leave them alone and focus our attention on finding whoever that ba stard is.¡± That should be our uttermost priority.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 FIVE YEARS AGO HAZEL Grabbing the old purse that is threatening to wither away because of too many responsibilities, I flung it across my shoulder and gathered my hair into a messy bun before bending to tie my shoce. If I had any form of feelings left in me, I would have felt ashamed to walk around in these sneakers. The once-white section that covered my toes is covered in oil stains from my escapades with angry customers. The denim material that covered the rest of my feet now has tiny holes that may fit my pinky finger if poked in aggressively. Convinced that myces are tightly secured, I stood to my feet and tiptoed past the mass of body sprawled out onthe tiny cold floor, careful not to step on anyone or wake them up. My life sucks. At twenty-one, I live in a sh itty apartment with sevendies who are as frustrated with their living conditions as I am, I work in a small restaurant that pays me so little that after handling my bills, I¡¯m left with almost nothing, I survive on five pairs of cloth and the restaurant¡¯s leftover. Some of you might wonder how I ended up here. Well, I wasn¡¯t the best kid while growing up in the foster system and honestly, I regret it. At the age of seven, I lost my parents and siblings in a fire incident, I was taken into foster care and I spent most of my time causing trouble, which made me bounce from one family to another. Before the age of eighteen, I already have a boyfriend who did drugs and asionally, I did drugs with him. I spent my time with him instead of the walls of a ssroom and at the end of every term, I had the worst result to present. That wasn¡¯t what broke the camel¡¯s back. Every hope was lost when I almost introduced my foster parents¡¯ kids into doing drugs, they found out and bundled me back to the social worker. Even while I was there, I kept on visiting my boyfriend Kelvin until I overdosed and he dumped my body outside the social worker building. At that time, I was neen, I was sent into rehabilitation where I spent one year. After I was dered clean and ready to face the world again, nobody came for me. I don¡¯t me them though. Who would want to adopt a twenty-year-old adult who has been in rehabilitation? From there, I started to face life, I moved away to a new city to get away from Kelvin and every other person. With each passing day, I regret all the decisions I made in the past, but then time is something that can¡¯t be reversed, and I can¡¯t be living in regret all the days of my life. That was how I ended up in New York, living in an apartment provided by the restaurant where I work and sharing that room with sevendies that I know nothing about except their names. Grateful for the proximity of the restaurant and apartment, I strolled down the cold streets towards the restaurant, expecting my day to go on as usual. It¡¯s as if I¡¯m living a life that is ced on rey. During lunch, I was about to take my well-deserved break when Mr. Harrison called me from the kitchen. Stifling a groan, I dragged my feet to the kitchen. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m notining about my job, rather, I¡¯mining about everything that has to do with Mr. Harrison, that man is a pure pe rvert. ¡°You called for me sir.¡± Harrison red at me. ¡°How long is it going to take you to get yourzy self into this kitchen?¡± I remained mute, allowing him to carry on with the insult. He gestured towards the packed carton of fried chicken. ¡°We have an order on those, I want you to take it to them.¡± I frowned slightly. ¡°What happened to the delivery guy?¡± Delivering food to individuals isn¡¯t part of my job description. ¡°He already left to make some deliveries.¡± He searched my face for any kind of difort and when he found what he was looking for, he scoffed. ¡°Are you going to make the delivery or do I have to go find another homeless beggar to do it for me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± I¡¯m sure he¡¯s angry because I refused to give him a massage yesterday. ¡°What¡¯s the address?¡± Chapter 16 ¡°Raveluxe.¡± He deadpanned and I blinked with oblivion. Harrison scoffed with disbelief and irritation.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°You honestly haven¡¯t heard about Raveluxe?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t,¡± I responded, mimicking his deadpan tone. ¡°Just give me the full home address so I can get moving.¡± He scrubbed his hand down his face. ¡°This isn¡¯t a home delivery, it¡¯s an office delivery.¡± He looked around as if about to share a world top secret. ¡°Remind me where I picked you up from again?¡± Smiling tightly at him, I batted myshes. ¡°I picked your drunk a ss from a dark alley Mr. Harrison, dragged you to an abandoned bus, and covered you with my nket. I picked you up, not the other way round.¡± ring at me, he waved me off. ¡°Just get the delivery done, and please don¡¯t f uck this up, this is one of my biggest delivery.¡± I stared at the fifteen cartons of chicken. ¡°Really?¡± I could have sworn I¡¯ve seen Dante move out more cartonsthan this. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He grinned widely, ¡°because I charged them double for each carton.¡± My nose crinkled. ¡°Why would you do that?¡± ¡°Because they can afford it.¡± He answered nonchntly, whistling as he walked away. Sighing, I looked around, thinking about Mr. Harrison¡¯s unavoidable future. If he keeps this up, he¡¯s going to go out of business. The gigantic building that stood before me made me look so small, inferior, and fragile. Shaking my head to rid the crazy thought, I walked into the building and stopped at the reception desk. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m here to make a delivery to the administrative block.¡± She stared at me with a warm look. ¡°Can I see your business card?¡± Harrison can never afford a business card. ¡°I don¡¯t have one. You can let them know that Delicious is here with their delivery.¡± She picked up thendline and made a call across. She confirmed that indeed the order was made from this building. ¡°Take the elevator to the third floor, someone should be there to pick it up.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I hurriedly made my way into the elevator which took me to the third floor. Just like she said, I did find someone there waiting for me, but I was told to carry the cartons into the big hall and drop it on the desk. We processed the payment before I made my way back to the elevator. From a distance, I noticed the elevator doors closing, and I sprinted into a run, hoping to make it in time before the door closes, but because I¡¯m a walking disaster, I bumped into a man walking out of one of the rooms in the hallway. The impact of the crash made him drop the files in his hand. The paper sca ttered all over the floor and I scampered to pick them up. With each paper I picked, I noticed something. It¡¯s the same picture but with different coloring. It¡¯s almost as if the artist is looking for the best color for the magnificent jewel design. ¡°If you¡¯re done staring, you can hand them over.¡± The young man snapped at me, almost angry that I¡¯m staring at it. Scampering to my feet, I handed him the papers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that, the drawing and design are so alluring.¡± In response to mypliment, he co cked his head. ¡°I don¡¯t see an ID,¡± he pointed out, ¡°what department are you from?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± I wiped my hands on my clothes, suddenly self-conscious. ¡°I actually do not work here, I¡¯m here to make lunch deliveries.¡± ¡°Great.¡± He muttered angrily to himself. ¡°An outsider got a peek at my new work.¡± Clenching the papers, he side-stepped me and walked away. ¡°Red and green!¡± I blurted out abruptly, causing him to halt. He turned around and tilted his head yet again, ¡°I mean the colorbination. Try red in the heart of the jewel and green as the element surrounding it.¡± Chapter 16 He chuckled. ¡°Why should I listen to you?¡± ¡°Because I have eyes for good things.¡± He slowly took in my dress and chuckled again. ¡°I highly doubt that.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 (PRESENT TIME) HAZEL Ravel is unting that dark-haired bi tch all over the inte, and the fact that I care shows that I need urgent medical attention. ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± Agatha asked with an exasperated sigh. ¡°If only you¡¯ll take your attention away from your phone, we¡¯ll actually get some work done.¡± Muttering an insincere apology, I dropped my phone on the coffee table, making sure to put it on vibration so I won¡¯t get tempted to pick it up again. ¡°Remind me why we¡¯re having a meeting on a weekend,¡± I murmured, bncing Daisy on my arm. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve gotten triple your workload ever since you got that award. Almost all influential artists want to coborate with you.¡± She opened a file on the table. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this Hazel, but if you want to make this work, you¡¯ll have to sacrifice your Saturdays.¡± ¡°Weekends are for Daisy,¡± I argued softly. I¡¯m going to lose this argument and I know it, all I have to do is find a betterpromise. Agatha drives a hard bargain, that¡¯s why I put her in the line of business negotiations. ¡°I offered to bring the work to your house.¡± Daisy picked interest in her pen and reached forward to grab it but I pulled her back. ¡°You should increase my paycheck.¡± She deadpanned. Rolling my eyes, I picked up the paper, praying that my energetic baby doesn¡¯t pick interest in it too. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly Agatha, Saturdays are part of your working days. It¡¯s in the contract you signed.¡± ¡°Which is why I¡¯ll die single and lonely with my vibrator.¡± I red at her choice of words in front of my baby. ¡°We have more requestsing in, and we¡¯ve run out of space to hang the artwork. What are we going to do?¡± ¡°Stall them.¡± I stared at the list of artists that should be hanging their works in my gallery if only I make out space for them. ¡°Do not give them a definite answer until I make out space for them.¡± Returning the list on the table I pushed it towards her, away from Daisy¡¯s reach. ¡°The coffee shop.¡± It¡¯s taking longer than necessary, ¡°What¡¯s the man saying?¡± Daisy wriggled on my arm, demanding I let her go, which I did. Immediately her feet touched the floor, she waddled towards the sofa. I kept my eyes on her. ¡°Why is he making it seem like I¡¯m the bad guy?¡± ¡°He¡¯s trying to milk the opportunity.¡± Agatha reasoned. ¡°He¡¯s only being unreasonable and selfish.¡± I hissed angrily but quickly smiled when Daisy turned to me and stared at me with those blue eyes that reminds me so much of Ravel. ¡°He makes almost no sale daily, and I offered to buy him any spot he wants here in Seattle in exchange for his shop space.¡± I need to bring the da mn thing down and expand my gallery. Someone knocked twice before the door pushed open and David walked in. He smiled at Daisy before going to lift her into his arms. Swallowing the profanities that threatened to escape my throat at the sight of David, I stood up to fix myself a drink. ¡°This meeting isn¡¯t ending anytime soon, is it?¡± David chuckled as he tickled Daisy. My daughter¡¯s giggle filled the room. ¡°I¡¯m not here for any meeting.¡± He rified, ¡°As a matter of fact, I had no idea Agatha was here. I only came to visit my little princess.¡± As if noticing that we were discussing her, she bbed on. Daisy cks. In a spur of anger and resentment towards Ravel, I came up with the name Daisy, so sometimes, I regret that I named her out of pain and anger. She¡¯s a flower that blossomed in my life regardless of how that name came to be. ¡°What were you both arguing about before I walked in?¡± He asked as he settled down on the sofa with Daisy on his thigh. ¡°Hazel¡¯s face says it¡¯s something important.¡± Sighing tiredly, Agatha plopped on the backrest. ¡°It¡¯s about the coffee shop man, Mr. Herbert, he¡¯s not agreeing with our motion that he sells the ce to us so we can demolish and expand the gallery.¡± Chapter 17 David frowned, slowly getting pis sed by the situation too. ¡°What¡¯s his reason for not giving the space up?¡± ¡°Customer base,¡± Agatha muttered with sheer frustration. ¡°I swear it, I haven¡¯t seen that man make any sales in that shop.¡± That¡¯s clearly because there is a better coffee shop sitting pretty, opposite his. People swarm in and out of that ce, leaving the poor man with zero customers. I don¡¯t me them though, once upon a time, I pitied the man and decided to patronize him. To cut the whole story short, I almost lost my tastebuds after I took a sip of his coffee. It tastes like wet charcoal. No sh it. Mimicking Agatha¡¯s position, David rubbed his lower lips with the tip of his index finger, slightly lost in thought. ¡°Let me have a chat with him on Monday.¡± I paused with the ss mid-way to my lips. ¡°Why? Are you nning on negotiating with him?¡± Before he could respond, I got my response from the look in his eyes. ¡°Forget it, David, you are not a better negotiator than Agatha. If she¡¯s unable to convince him to sell, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to achieve anything either.¡± ¡°Give me a chance to convince him otherwise,¡± he insisted, pleading his case. ¡°Clearly, Agatha is yet to get the man to spit out the main reason he isn¡¯t selling the space. You can¡¯t tell me he¡¯s not selling because of customer base, even the old man knows he has no customer.¡± I eyed him skeptically. ¡°So what exactly is your n?¡± ¡°Find out the real reason he¡¯s not selling and what exactly is his price.¡± He grinned at me. ¡°Everyone has a price, Hazel, you just have to find it.¡± For a moment, I couldn¡¯t help but see something crazy sh in his eyes. It may be in my head, but I saw that feral look in his eyes that Ravel has whenever he wants to get something desperately. ¡°Fine.¡± I breathed out, relenting. ¡°Whatever you do, please make sure it¡¯s legal.¡± He nodded with an easy smile. ¡°I will.¡± We moved on to other issues that needed to be attended to. Before we could round up everything, it was already dinner time, so they had to stay back to have dinner with me. David opted to feed Daisy dinner, which I had no problem with. He was practically in the room with me when I pushed her out and they have this bond that I believe David intentionally created. ¡°You knowProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. you don¡¯t have to do all that right?¡± I blurted out randomly. David and Agatha looked up, not sure who I was exactly referring to, but when he noticed that my gaze was locked on him and Daisy, he spoke up with uncertainty, his brows furrowing. ¡°What exactly are you talking about?¡± ¡°Feeding Daisy, showing up on her birthdays, doing almost everything to make sure that you captured the moment she took her first step. You don¡¯t have to do all of that.¡± It makes me feel a bit guilty for keeping her father from her. ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m not obligated to, but I chose to do all that because I want to,¡± David answered, punctuating every word. ¡°I love being around you and Daisy, and I¡¯m selfish with the memories I¡¯m creating with the both of you.¡± Agatha scoffed. ¡°You both should get married already.¡± She sipped her wine, eyeing David from the rim of her ss. ¡°You like her and I think she likes you too, so what¡¯s stopping you both from officially dating?¡± Frowning slightly, I picked up my fork. ¡°I see David as a friend, please do not whisper ideas into his head.¡± I know David will dly agree to date me, it is what he wants, but then I made my stance clear from the beginning. ¡°Besides I¡¯ve been down the road of marriage, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something I¡¯ll want to repeat.¡± David¡¯s face tightened but he tried to hide it by burying his face into his wine ss. ¡°I really hope you can change your in the future.¡± mind -I hope not. Mary, my housekeeper walked into the dining room with Daisy flowers. Four pairs of eyes stared at her, three out of confusion and my baby girl out of admiration. ¡°Who are those for?¡± Why did I have to sound so silly? This is my house, so Chapter 17 who else will the flower be for? ¡°They are for you Ma¡¯am.¡± She handed it over to me and walked away. Deep down, I know one person who can send me Daisy flowers despite being allergic to flowers. The card attached to the flower confirmed my suspicion. David cleared his throat, trying so hard not to let his displease seep through his voice. ¡°Who is sending you flowers?¡± Scoffing at the wits of that egocentric and truculent ba stard. ¡°Who else do you think will have the crazy thought of sending me flowers?¡± It annoys me that he thinks he can do sh it like this. ¡°Your ex-husband?¡± Agatha gasped out, sna tching the card off my grip. She read it out aloud. ¡°Happy wedding anniversary, wife.¡± ¡°Why is he calling you his wife?¡± David jeered. I red at him for asking such a silly question. ¡°That¡¯s Ravel we¡¯re talking about, he¡¯ll seize any opportunity to be an as shole.¡± Agatha snickered. ¡°But is it really your wedding anniversary?¡± I nodded and she dared to coo. ¡°I think I¡¯m more surprised that he remembered than fact that he sent flowers.¡± ¡°Stop making it sound like he did something sweet.¡± David snapped at Agatha, shutting her up. ¡°Sending your ex-wife whose image you messed up some flowers is far from being romantic. I think he¡¯s being an as shole like Hazel said.¡± I couldn¡¯t reprimand him for using that word in the presence of my baby because I used it first. Massaging my temple to get rid of the creeping headache, I leaned forward and red at the two adults who are arguing over irrelevant issues. ¡°Can you both not argue over the fact that he sent flowers?¡± David pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°And What exactly should we be arguing about?¡± His sift gaze voiced his suspicions. ¡°Do you like the fact that he sent you flowers?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly David.¡± Why should I like anything that has to do with Ravel? ¡°I think we should be more worried about the fact that he knows my address here in Seattle,¡± Agatha co cked her head, not getting the reason why I¡¯m slowly panicking, ¡°If he knows my address,¡± I stressed, ¡°then there is every possibility that he knows about Daisy.¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 RAVEL FIVE YEARS AGO The red and greenbination was a huge sess. Raymond thought I was crazy for abandoning my idea of colorbination and going for that of a stranger that bumped into me in the hallway. To be fair to my ego, I never wanted to pay heed to her words. It all started out as curiosity then by the time I finished the painting, I ended up falling in love with it. I wasn¡¯t the only one who fell in love with the jewel and its colorbination, the royal family for whom I was contracted to make some piece of jewels equally fell in love with it. To cut the whole story short, it was a huge sess, and I¡¯m here at a restaurant called ¡®Delicious¡¯ to show my appreciation to that youngdy. It took Raymond less than two hours to find out her name and where she works. It wasn¡¯t much of a ha ssle for him because she just made a recent delivery to thepany. On a normal day, you can never get me here, ordering anything, not because the restaurant is a cheap a ss one, but because the tables are almost cramped together. You can easily hear what the person at the other table is whispering to his date. If there is anything I like so much, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s an airy space. ¡°Can we take your order, sir?¡± A blond man asked me with a smile whilst clutching a notepad and a pen. Blinking back to reality, I stared at the young man. ¡°Get Hazel cks to serve me.¡± I won¡¯t be ordering sh it if she isn¡¯t the one holding the notepad. ¡°Do you know her sir?¡± The young man asked skeptically. ¡°This might be a small restaurant, but we¡¯re protective of our fellow staff.¡± Holding the man¡¯s gaze unblinkingly, I leaned back. ¡°Are you daft or something?¡± This question emitted out of genuine curiosity, but the young man took offense by frowning slightly. ¡°I just addressed her by her full name and you ask me if I know her?¡± ¡°Knowing her name does not scream familiarity.¡± He argued slightly. My jaw clenched at the unnecessary banter between us. He noticed the change in my demeanor and immediately retrieved his ws. ¡°She isn¡¯t on duty yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait.¡± I insisted in a t tone, hoping that he¡¯ll get the memo that I¡¯m done seeing his annoying face, but I guess the wa nker is too slow to read the underlying meaning of words. ¡°What?¡± He blurted out with arched brows. ¡°She¡¯s noting in until five in the evening, and that¡¯s four hours from now.¡± His eyes darted around quickly before returning to me. ¡°Are you going to sit here for four hours straight?¡± His fidgeting behavior gave him away. I tightened my lips with distaste. ¡°If you¡¯re done lying, you can get out of my face.¡± He paled instantly. ¡°Why the heck do you think I¡¯m lying?¡± The entrance door opened and Hazel walked in. The man licked his lips nervously whilst I arched a brow at him. He muttered an apology before scurrying away. Oblivious to my presence, Hazel greeted few of her colleagues with a smile and almost walked past me, but I grabbed her hand, halting her. Her body tightened the instant I grabbed her, and I realized just how inappropriate my action was. She turned around with a tight smile, her eyes telling a different story with the smile stered on her face, but the moment her gazended on me, her features rxed for a bit. ¡°Hello, sir.¡± I let go of her hand and offered her a smile. ¡°Please call me Ravel.¡± ¡°Ravel.¡± Facing me fully, she tilted her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you here before which means you have no business being here, not unless¡­¡± Her words trailed off as her eyes widened. ¡°I did not sell off your design, I swear!¡± ¡°There is no way you could have recreated that, not unless you took a picture of it, which you didn¡¯t.¡± The jewel has already been worn by the Royal family, and anyone who recreates it is answerable to them and not me. ¡°I¡¯m actually here to see you.¡± Chapter 18 She blinked slowly, eyeing me skeptically. ¡°What for?¡± Crossing both hands, she shifted from one footProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. to the other, onable to calm herself. ¡°Mr. Ravel, I¡¯m sure you and I will agree that you have no reason to come looking for me.¡± Actually, I do. If I¡¯m being honest with myself, I¡¯m not only here because I want to appreciate her for her contribution to that piece. ¡°What do I have to do to get you to sit down with me for lunch?¡± Looking around with uncertainty, she bit her lower lips. ¡°You¡¯ll have to buy fifteen cartons of fried chicken.¡± Dipping my hand into my jacket, I retrieved my wallet. ¡°How much does a carton cost?¡± Without waiting for a response, I pulled out w ads of cash from my wallet and dropped it on the table. ¡°That should cover it.¡± Stupefied, she blinked rapidly. ¡°I was only joking Mr. Ravel.¡± She swiped the money off the table and tried to shove it back into my hand. ¡°Take it back before Harrison sees it.¡± I¡¯m guessing Harrison is her boss. ¡°I guess it¡¯s a littlete for that.¡± A young man is standing behind her, and his arrogance shows he owns the ce. ¡°What¡¯s going on here Hazel?¡± Harrison questioned through clenched teeth. ¡°What¡¯s your reason for dragging money with a customer?¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to buy whatever chicken you fried today if I get to spend some time with Hazel without interruption He¡¯s going to jump on the offer. I can already see greed rolling in his eyes. ¡°We have forty-five cartons of fried chicken, are you willing to buy all sir?¡± Hazel scoffed. Uncertain if the cash in my wallet can cover the bill, I opted to write him a cheque. Hazel and her boss stared at me with dropped jaws as I signed the cheque. I handed it over to Harrison. ¡°That should be more than enough¡± He grinned widely. ¡°You can have her for the whole day.¡± My jaw clenched at his words. He doesn¡¯t have to sound like he just sold her off. I kept my hardened gaze on his far back as he walked into the kitchen. ¡°Why did he just sound like he owns you?¡± Hazel pulled the seat out and sat down. ¡°Well, I equally feel like I got sold to the highest bidder.¡± She snapped. The bite in her tone made me return my gaze to her and that was when I noticed the re. She¡¯s upset. ¡°What do you want from me, Mr. Ravel?¡± Enough with the formality. I¡¯d rather she drops it. ¡°Call me Ravel.¡± ¡°How can I help you?¡± She asked again, her voice tighter and angrier than before. ¡°What exactly do you n on doing with forty-five cartons of fried chicken?¡± I shrugged. I tip my driver more than what I just spent. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if my actions offended you, but I¡¯m only here to show appreciation.¡± Her nose crinkled. ¡°For?¡± ¡°The colorbination. The Royal family loved it. It was their favorite piece.¡± Her eyes widened, almost falling off its socket. ¡°That was for the Royal family?¡± She blurted out, shocked by my words. I only smiled in response. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± I¡¯m surprised she doesn¡¯t know who I am. ¡°That¡¯s beside the point, don¡¯t you think?¡± When she failed to give me a response, I tilted my head. ¡°I¡¯m a man who likes to reward people when they earn it, and you Hazel cks, you¡¯ve earned it.¡± ¡°How did you know myst name?¡± Raymond. ¡°I¡¯m going to write you an open cheque next week,¡± I informed her, watching her closely. The normal reaction for every rational person is shock, which entails widened eyes, but not this woman seated across me, she narrowed her eyes instead, an act that says she finds my words suspicious. Chapter 18 ¡°You¡¯ll write me an open cheque?¡± Her eyes narrowed further, ¡°You know what that means right?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± It means I want to see her again. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 18+ PRESENT TIME RAVEL Riding the elevator to my house which used to be my ce of peace and sce after a long day at work didn¡¯t seem like that anymore. Squaring my shoulders to get rid of the ache, I stared at Raymond through the elevator mirror wall. ¡°Did you send the flowers?¡± Slipping his hands into his pocket, he held my gaze through the mirror. ¡°As against my advice? Yes, I did send the flowers.¡± Raymond has been with me from day one, longer than I can remember and he knows every sh it going on in my life and also the fact that I will not fire him no matter what he says. ¡°Watch your tone with me,¡± I warned him sternly, ¡°I¡¯m not in the best of moods.¡± Today is my f ucking wedding anniversary, and every little thing seems to irritate me today. ¡°Someone needs to be your voice of rationality whenever you be emotionally consumed and do things without thinking it through.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m guessing that someone is you.¡± I snapped, ring at him. He may not only be my security but also my friend, but that won¡¯t stop me from throwing a punch if he continues to get on my nerves this night. ¡°Sending flowers to your ex-wife, who is trying to live her life is so da mn wrong.¡± He mused, ¡°Did you even think of the consequences of your actions? What do you think will happen if that ba stard finds out?¡± Swiveling around, I abruptly grabbed his cor and pulled him in, putting us face to face with each other. ¡°Do not lecture me on what I already know!¡± I don¡¯t need a f ucking reminder. ¡°And as for that b astard, you need to find him or her, whoever the f uck that is!¡± Sensing that I¡¯m at the point of losing it, Raymond reigned in his ws, keeping whatever word of reality he has to say to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll find that person, sir, I promise you, and if you want to continue sending gifts to Hazel, I won¡¯t judge, as long as you don¡¯t go searching for her home address yourself. You can always send it to her through me.¡± Pinching my eyes shut, I let go of his cor and took a step back. ¡°Sorry man, I didn¡¯t mean to grab you like that.¡± He ced his hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I totally understand how you feel and your need to send stuff to her.¡± Sending flowers to her was a thoughtless and reckless act on my side. ¡°I won¡¯t be sending any more sh it to her.¡± The elevator pinged, and I stepped out of it, walking into my penthouse. Raymond followed me into the penthouse and plopped down on the sofa whilst I strolled upstairs, to my room. When I opened the door to my room, the sight that greeted me wasn¡¯t one I was expecting. June, stark naked and syed out on my bed. My brows dampened into a frown. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°What does it seem like I¡¯m doing?¡± She whispered, her hands massaging her boobs. Every other part of my bedroom was dark except for her image on the bed, thanks to the bedsidemps she turned on. ¡°I know I told you I want to attend all those red carpet events, that I want to be seen in public with you, but I am also a woman Ravel, I want to feel the touch of a man.¡± I¡¯m too tired to deal with this bulls hit right now. ¡°Get dressed and leave my room before I have Raymond throw you out naked.¡± Her fingers trailed her cleavage down to her stomach. ¡°Why? Because of Hazel? Do you still love your ex-wife Ravel?¡± My jaw clenched at her question and before I could give her a fitting response, my phone chimed. Ignoring her for a moment, I pulled out my phone and clicked on the image text I just received. To say I was angry before will be an understatement. Chapter 19 I was angry when I walked in here and saw June, but now, I¡¯m livid. Another text was sent, apanying the image. I eyed June suspiciously. ¡°Where is your phone?¡± I queried, approaching her slowly. She shrugged, her finger hovering above her sex. ¡°I don¡¯t know, somewhere in my room.¡± Lifting her head, she probed her elbow on the bed, bncing her head on her hand. ¡°Why? Do you want to take a picture?¡± Halting at the foot of the bed, I stared down at her. A thought crossed my mind and I quickly sent Raymond a text before dropping my phone on the bedside drawer. ¡°Touch yourself¡± Her eyes widened with excitement. I guess she wasn¡¯t really expecting things to take this turn. When was 1st time I tried this with her? I¡¯d rather not say. Her fingertips teased her cl its before she started rubbing them in a slow circr movement. With both hands buried in my pockets, I watched her pleasure herself. The more she took her time teasing and massaging her cl its, I fought the urge to nce at the wall clock. When it was obvious that she wasn¡¯t chasing her release but rather more bent on pleasuring herself, I rolled the sleeves of my shirt, ced one knee on the bed, and ced my middle and fourth finger on her wet sex, coating my fingers with her juice before prating her with both fingers. ¡°Ravel..¡± she moaned, arching her back and rocking her hips hard on my finger. With each fastened pace with my finger, she moaned louder. ¡°Stop fighting it,¡± I warned her when I felt her clench around my finger, in an attempt to fight an org asm. She clenched against my fingers again, tantly ignoring my warning. Fastening the pace, I went faster and deeper, and within minutes, she came undone, screaming my name loudly. The moment she came, I pulled my fingers out and walked away. Breathless, June called after me. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To take a shower.¡± Craning my neck, I nced at her. ¡°On your way out, inform Margaret toe to change the beddings.¡± Without waiting for her response, I walked into the restroom and mmed the door behind me. By the time I made it out of my room, it was veryte, somewhere around one am in the morning. Unable to sleep due to personal issues that are nagging me, I went in search of a bottle of alcohol. When I reached the mini bar, I found Raymond already helping himself with a ss. ¡°What are you doing up?¡± I queried as I grabbed a whiskey ss to help myself with whiskey. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± It¡¯s his duty to keep me safe during the day, but at night, he¡¯s required to go to bed while the other security keeps guard. ¡°My brain refused to settle down.¡± He muttered, gulping down all the whiskey in his ss, only to refill it. ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering how this ba stard has managed to stay hidden.¡± Perching on the stool, I took a sip. ¡°Try to catch some sleep Raymond, I don¡¯t want you falling asleep whilst driving me around tomorrow.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Do you think we should tell your family? Maybe if they are all on the lookout, we¡¯ll catch that wa nker faster.¡± Involving my family will be useless. ¡°Elenor won¡¯t be able to do much, and I refuse to get Anne involved in this.¡± She¡¯s only going to worsen the situation, and I¡¯d rather not have that. Raymond sniffed. ¡°So what are you going to do? How long are you going to keep doing this?¡± ¡°As long as it takes our team to find that viper.¡± I haven¡¯t taken a life in my entire existence, but right now, I¡¯m considering doing so. ¡°I¡¯ll make them suffer for all these years of suffering.¡± He stared at me, his eyes reflecting just how much he hates the situation. ¡°I really hope you get the happy ending that you so deserve.¡± I will have that happy ending, even if it means sacrificing all I have. Eager to put an end to this emotional conversation with Raymond, I grabbed the whiskey bottle. ¡°You¡¯ll have to grab another one from the shelf, this one ising with me.¡± Chapter 19 He gave a sharp nod and silently watched me walk away. His silence onlysted a few seconds. ¡°Boss?¡± I halted. ¡°If you are tired of having her around, let me know.¡± My fingers tightened on the ss. ¡°Did you get my message?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°And did you do it?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°I have a lot of questions, but I guess I¡¯ll have to wait for a better moment.¡± There is nothing like a better moment. ¡°If this is about what happened between me and June tonight,Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. then keep your questions to yourself.¡± I¡¯m very sure he heard her moan, it¡¯s not like she tried to keep her voice down. ¡°I do not regret it, and I never will.¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 (PRESENT TIME) HAZEL It took a level of carefulness and being overly paranoid to be able to hide my pregnancy period and Daisy away from the press and papara zzi. The fence surrounding my house is built so high to prevent them from capturing anything happening in thepound, my window sses are tinted, preventing anyone from seeing anything happening in the house. I equally built an underground parking lot that leads me straight to the heart of the city. Anytime Daisy needs to leave the house, they make use of the underground parking lot whilst I use the main gate. I¡¯ve been proud of myself for being able to hide Daisy from the Southwark, right until Ravel sent me those daisies. Those flowers made me question how long he has been watching me, and how well I¡¯ve managed to hide Daisy. The unanswered questions hiked up my paranoia, which was how I came up with the idea of homeschooling Daisy. ¡°Are you insane?¡± David blurted out, his re directed toward me. ¡°I understand how scared you are about Mr. Southwark finding out about Daisy, but limiting the little girl¡¯s social life is outright selfish.¡± Selfish? I scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m only trying to protect my daughter,¡± I argued ¡°I¡¯m doing this for her sake!¡± ¡°You¡¯re going about this the wrong way.¡± He fired back vehemently. ¡°Homeschooling her is only going to limit her social experience Hazel, and you know it.¡± ¡°Kids from the Royal families are homeschooled all the time and they all turned out fine.¡± Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have discussed this with him. ¡°And what are you? A du chess?¡± He mocked, ¡°You are no queen or du chess, and Daisy isn¡¯t a real- life princess!¡± Raking his fingers through his hair, he bit his lower lips. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t beparing this situation to those of the royal families, because kids from the royal family attend lots of public events. Do I need to ask you how many events Daisy has attended? None! She hasn¡¯t even been to the public park.¡± ¡°I get your point, David,¡± it¡¯s difficult not to. Plopping down on the sofa, I cradled my head. ¡°What do you expect me to do David? Pretend that Ravel doesn¡¯t know about Daisy and won¡¯te for her?¡± ¡°Homeschooling Daisy won¡¯t stop him froming here.¡± I heard his footsteps advance toward me before he settled down next to me. He ced his hand on my shoulder. ¡°I think you¡¯re sweating over nothing Hazel.¡± Stiffening at his words, I slowly lifted my head and red at him for uttering such a careless word. ¡°How dare you say I¡¯m sweating over nothing?¡± If Ravel finds out about Daisy and decides to fight for custody, I¡¯ll lose the case. ¡°I may have made a lot of money David, but it¡¯s nothingpared to the Southwark.¡± Plus they fight dirty. ¡°You didn¡¯t quite understand what I meant.¡± Cupping my cheeks, he forced me to look at him. ¡°It has been over a week since Southwark sent those flowers, I think if he knows about Daisy, he would have shown up by now. I honestly did not peg him as the kind of guy who will act ignorant to his child¡¯s existence.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± I nodded absently. ¡°I am indeed fretting over nothing.¡± Ravel knows nothing about Daisy¡¯s existence, and it will remain that way. ¡°I just have to continue doing what I¡¯m good at.¡± Hiding my child from the public. ¡°Hazel,¡± David whispered. He let go of my cheeks only to take my hands into his. ¡°I¡¯m your greatest supporter, but then I also have to tell you the truth. You won¡¯t be able to hide this forever.¡± I blinked at him, unable to voice a word because I know he is saying the truth. It was never my intention to hide this forever. ¡°Daisy is eventually going to grow up, she¡¯s going to have a phone and a social media ount, she¡¯ll need you to attend some school functions and her graduation, she¡¯ll like to let people know that you are her mother and she will eventually ask about her father.¡± The first tears rolled down my cheeks and David quickly wiped it off with his thumb. ¡°I¡¯m not saying this to scare you Hazel, Chapter 20 but I believe you¡¯ll be your daughter¡¯s greatest enemy When she finds out that her father knows nothing of her existence and that¡¯s all because of you.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say, David?¡± I rasped, my lips quivering. ¡°Are you saying I shoulde clean and tell Ravel about Daisy?¡± His thumb wiped away more tears that stubbornly kept rolling. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is, you either have to tell Ravel about Daisy or you find another alternative.¡± ¡°Another alternative?¡± My nose crinkled as I leaned toward him. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°If you aren¡¯t going to bring Ravel in as the father figure for Daisy, then you have to find a recement.¡± He exined, ¡°You¡¯ll have to find someone to fill in the gap of being Daisy¡¯s father, someone who is ready to take up the responsibility of your pregnancy and the child that came from it.¡± That¡¯s not going to be easy. ¡°Where am I supposed to find such a man?¡± No man is willing to entangle his name with such drama for any pay. ¡°Finding such a man will be close to impossible David, plus I don¡¯t want to have a stranger around Daisy.¡± ¡°He mustn¡¯t be a stranger.¡± He remarked quietly, sessfully confusing me further. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that you needn¡¯t go in search of a man who will act for you when you already have one.¡± My hold on his hand loosened. ¡°And who is he?¡± ¡°You are staring at him.¡± I let go of his handpletely. In a desperate attempt to keep me close or probably to make me listen to his reasoning, he grabbed my cheeks again and pulled me in for a kiss, cing his lips on mine. Agatha chose that exact moment to walk into my office. Shocked by the image before her, she cleared her throat, pulling me out of my own shock. ¡°I¡­ uh¡­ I guess this is bad timing. I¡¯lle backter.¡± ¡°No, wait!¡± I called out, jumping to my feet. I don¡¯t want to be alone with him. ¡°This is nothing, David was actually on his way out.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Was I?¡± I red at him which made him chuckle. ¡°You don¡¯t have to kill me with your eyes, I¡¯ll leave.¡± Picking up his phone from the sofa, he walked out of my office. Agatha still ufortable with what she just witnessed cleared her throat whilst avoiding looking at me in the face. ¡°I honestly did not mean to interrupt, I just assumed you both were discussing Mr. Herbert.¡± ¡°I will appreciate it if you erase whatever it is that you saw in here.¡± I can¡¯t believe he did that! The thought of it made my fist clench tightly. I¡¯m going to have a long chat with him about this. ¡°So did he tell you?¡± Agatha asked, breaking me out of my furious thought. I blinked at her. ¡°I mean about Mr. Herbert, the coffee shop owner. Has David discussed it with you already?¡± ¡°No.¡± I gestured towards the empty seat facing my desk. ¡°Please, sit while I grab a drink.¡± I need it to clear my thought. Grabbing a bottle of vodka and ss, I sashayed to my seat and settled down. ¡°What about Mr. Herbert, has he agreed to give up the coffee shop?¡± Agatha nodded. ¡°David met with him a few timesst week and early this morning, he called me to inform me that he¡¯s ready to sell.¡± I¡¯m guessing David offered him a sum he couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°How much did David offer him?¡± I asked with a wince, already thinking about how this is going to take a hit on our ount. ¡°That¡¯s the thing I find strange,¡± Agatha muttered with a frown. ¡°He¡¯s requesting an amount lower than what we offered.¡± My brows jumped to my hairline. ¡°Not only that, he says he¡¯s moving to his hometown.¡± His moving to his hometown isn¡¯t surprising to me. ¡°Why give it up on a lesser amount?¡± Clenching my fingers on the ss, I twirled the content. ¡°David must have offered him something or said something to him.¡± I moved my gaze to Agatha. ¡°Did you ask David?¡± ¡°He ims he offered him free ess to the gallery anytime we are exhibiting.¡± Chapter 20 Well, that¡¯s something too. ¡°If that was what he wanted, he would have said so sooner.¡± Grabbing the tons of folders on my desk, I opened one of them. ¡°Contact ourwyer and have him prepare for the transfer of ownership and payment so we can begin work asap.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± She stood up and bowed slightly before walking out of my office. The moment the door closed, my thought went back to my conversation with David about Daisy. ¡°Urrgh!¡± I growled, ¡°Why do you have to torment me even after divorce?!¡± My phone chimed on the desk and I quickly reached for it and smiled when I saw Elenor¡¯s name. It¡¯sProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. been a long I spoke with her. Clicking on the message she sent, my throat dried up instantly. Hello Hazel, I¡¯m currently in Seattle as we speak and I¡¯m free this evening. Send me your home address so I can drop by for dinner. love Elenor. Xx. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 (FIVE YEARS AGO) HAZEL It¡¯s been three weeks now and I¡¯m yet to hear from Mr. Ravel after that day at the restaurant, which I¡¯m grateful for. Someone whom I know nothing about offering to write me an open cheque creeps me out, and I¡¯d rather not see him again. A part of me couldn¡¯t help but entertain the thought that he chickened out. Maybe he didn¡¯t understand the implication of an open cheque when he made that promise. Chuckling to myself, I scooped more ice cream into my mouth as I stared at the water fountain. Suddenly, I felt someone touch me from behind and I screamed bl oody murder, ripping the headset from my ear and jumping to my feet. The man whom I thought disappeared due to his inability to fulfill his promise stood in front of me with both hands raised in surrender. ¡°What the hell?¡± I mumbled. ¡°Are you trying to send me into shock?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he quickly apologized, slowly taking a few steps towards me. ¡°I called you a few times, but you were lost in your own world.¡± Yeah, I was thinking about how I thought you vanished after realizing the weight of your promise. Thank heavens for the inability to read people¡¯s thoughts. ¡°What are you doing here Mr. Ravel?¡± My eyes narrowed suspiciously. ¡°Are you stalking me?¡± Smiling, he slipped his hand into his pocket. ¡°Be assured that I¡¯m no stalker.¡± He jerked his chin towards a gigantic skyscraper behind me. ¡°I live there and I happened to notice you whilst I was about to go in.¡± ¡°You live there?¡± I blurted out sheepishly which made him smile again. Turning to the left, I stared at the building and then back at the spot where I was once seated before returning my skeptical gaze to Ravel. ¡°You¡¯re trying to tell me that you saw me from that distance? How is that even possible?¡± ¡°When something captures my attention, even distance won¡¯t stop me from taking notice.¡± Tilting my head, I stared at him scrutinizingly, that was when I took notice of his tired features and the almost invisible dark circles around his eyes. ¡°You want toe in for a drink?¡± What?! ¡°No!¡± How I blurted the word out made him bite his lower lips, in an attempt not tough. ¡°I mean¡­¡± I cleared my throat, ¡°it isn¡¯t wise to follow a stranger into his house.¡± Slowly, his smiling face morphed into a frown. ¡°Strangers?¡± Nodding slowly, he took a step back retreating. Instantly I regretted my words. ¡°I just returned from a business trip, so I can¡¯t take you out for lunch right now. What do you think about dinner?¡± My conscience will not permit me to reject his offer. ¡°Sure, Dinner will be great.¡± His smile returned. ¡°Great. I already have your number, but I¡¯m going to need your address so I can come pick you up myself.¡± My address? Hell no! ¡°How about you send the address of the restaurant and I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± I¡¯m living with crazy females. Once they catch sight of his car and the fact that he has money, they¡¯ll be on him until he has sex with them. ¡°You want to meet me there?¡± He drawled out slowly. ¡°Okay, if that¡¯s what you want.¡± It¡¯s obvious that he has his reservations, but the fact that he respected what I wanted made me smile. ¡°You have a lovely smile.¡± I blushed hard. ¡°Thank you.¡± A car h onked from a distance, taking both our attention away from each other. ¡°Is that for you?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± He took a step closer to me, ¡°I should be preparing for a meeting at the moment, but something more important seems to be stealing my time.¡± Something more important? ¡®Don¡¯t smile Hazel! Don¡¯t smile 1/3 Chapter 21 I smiled. ¡°Something important huh?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± He closed in on me, his face a few inches away from mine. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m more inC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. love with, your smile smile. or the wrinkles that form at the side of your eyes when you How can one man¡¯s word and proximity leave me this breathless? ¡°You gotta chose one mister.¡± I teased, something I haven¡¯t done since I got out of rehab. The car h o nked again and I found myself smiling, probably to ease the tension between us. ¡°Your driver is impatient, maybe you should get going¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to kiss you.¡± He whispered, cing a hand on my neck, and before I could form a coherent response thanks to my failing brain, he ced his lips on mine and kissed me slowly. Shocked at exactly what was going on, I stood still, frozen into stillness. Ravel pulled back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he apologized, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have done that without getting a response from you.¡± He cleared his throat, his hand falling to his side. Before he could pull awaypletely, I did something irrational. I stood on my tip-toe and kissed him, harder than he did. If he was shocked by my action, he didn¡¯t let it show; he simply kissed me back with the same fervor. It took another h onking from the driver to pull us about. Ravel ced his forehead on mine and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve never considered firing Raymond until this moment.¡± He pecked my lips again before stepping away. ¡°Your driver?¡± ¡°My driver wouldn¡¯t dare to interrupt me like that.¡± He pulled out his phone, nced at the screen, and frowned. I¡¯m guessing the Raymond guy just texted him. ¡°I¡¯ll get a reservation, then send you the time and address.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He winked at me before walking away. Despite beingte to the meeting he spoke about, Ravel practically strutted towards his car as though he was modeling on a runway and I shamelessly stared at his a ss. ¡°You sure took your time Hazel!¡± Mr. Harrison bellowed from his desk. ¡°You care to tell me why it took you four hours to make delivery?¡± Because I decided to stare at the water fountain and ended up getting the best kiss of my life. ¡°The client took his time during payment.¡± He blinked slowly, clearly stupefied. ¡°What the f uck did you just say?¡± I opened my mouth to spit more lies, but he beat me to it. ¡°Payment reflected over two hours ago Hazel and you and I know that it takes only one hour to get here from your location and that¡¯s when the traffic is seriously bad. What were you doing Hazel?!¡± There is no way I¡¯m telling this per vert what I was doing. Harrison suddenly rxed, his lips stretching into a knowing smile as he stood to his feet. He slowly rounded his desk and stopped right in front of me. ¡°Who picked up the delivery? A man or a woman?¡± My nose crinkled at his insinuation. ¡°A man.¡± ¡°And what were you doing with this man that made you spend such a long time only on delivery?¡± This is ridiculous. Ufortable with his proximity, I took a step back, creating enough space between. ¡°Whatever that is going on in your head isn¡¯t true sir. I only delivered the chicken and left.¡± His eyes slowly trailed my body. ¡°Did you?¡± He tried to close the distance between us but I ended up creating more. ¡°How long will you make me suffer Hazel?¡± He groaned, ¡°I know you want me too, I¡¯ve seen the way you look at me, so why fight this?¡± The only way I look way this man is nothing but pure disgust. ¡°You are my boss, and I¡¯ve never stared at you inappropriately.¡± Maybe it¡¯s time I start looking for a new job. Chapter 21 ¡°Don¡¯t fight this Hazel.¡± ¡°With all due respect sir,¡± I hissed, ¡°do not cross the line. I am your employee and I ask you to maintain a level of professionalism.¡± He paused and arched his brows. ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Then we will be discussing a case of possible harassment.¡± Lifting his hand in surrender, he took a step back. ¡°There is no need for that.¡± He gestured towards the door. ¡°You may leave.¡± I bowed slightly before heading for the door. I grabbed the k nob when another issue crossed my mind. ¡°And about the delivery, taking orders to people¡¯s houses isn¡¯t part of my job, and if you want to add it, you¡¯ll have to increase my pay.¡± I refuse to be anyone¡¯s pushover. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) When I received that text from Elenor, for the first few seconds, I panicked. Having dinner at my ce entails seeing Daisy, and not only seeing her but also her pictures which decorates almost all the hallways of my house. It took five full minutes before my brain was able toe up with something useful. I sent her a text that I¡¯ll be working all night, so we should meet up at a restaurant close to my office to which she agreed. I had to stay in the office still it¡¯s almost dinner time. Grabbing my bag and car key, I turned off the light in my office before walking out. I was almost close to the elevator when I ran into David. He looked equally surprised to see me at the office by the time. ¡°What are you still doing here? I thought you¡¯d left.¡± He stepped into the elevator with me. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to take work home, so I decided to finish up before leaving.¡± He exined, his eyes quickly frisked me, lingering on my face a bit longer. ¡°Going out?¡± I nodded. ¡°I have dinner ns.¡± ¡°With who?¡± Sighing, I fixed the strap of my purse before facing him. ¡°About what happened earlier in my office,¡± He slipped both hands into his pocket and stared at his shoe, ¡°I¡¯m going to assume it was a mistake that won¡¯t happen again.¡± David slowly lifted his head and, zeroed in his gaze on me with his hands still buried in his pocket. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a mistake, at least not on my part, but I assure you that it won¡¯t happen again, not without your consent.¡± ¡°David,¡± I groaned, ¡°don¡¯tplicate things between us.¡± I love having him as a friend and I don¡¯t want to lose him, plus Daisy loves him too and he¡¯s practically the only male figure in her life. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose our friendship.¡± ¡°Neither do I.¡± He reached forward and grabbed my hand. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to force you into a rtionship Hazel, all I¡¯m saying is that you shouldn¡¯t be against the idea. Let¡¯s go with the flow and see what happens.¡± I moved my gaze from him and he squeezed my hand. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling it, I promise I¡¯ll stop.¡± ¡°David¡­¡± ¡°Please,¡± He pleaded, interrupting me. ¡°Just keep an open mind.¡± Dating David has never crossed my mind and right now, he¡¯s doing a very bad job in trying to convince me. ¡°A month.¡± He blurted out, confusing me. My brows arched in question. ¡°Give me a month to woo you, and if after a month you¡¯re still not interested, I¡¯ll let you be.¡± Why is he setting himself up for failure? ¡°I still don¡¯t think it¡¯s a very good idea, David. You¡¯ll only end up getting hurt.¡± Then I¡¯ll be left with trying everything possible to save our friendship. ¡°It¡¯s my heart Hazel, let me worry about that.¡± He smiled at me, looking like the cheerful David I met in the art college hallway. ¡°All I ask is one month. Give me one month to make you fall in love with me. One month to steal your heart away.¡± He ced his palm on his heart. ¡°Please¡­¡± The desperation in his eyes made it difficult to say no to him. Sighing with resignation, I forced a smile for him. ¡°Fine.¡± His smile widened. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one month David, but if after one month this doesn¡¯t work out, you¡¯re gonna have to swear that you won¡¯t be bringing this up again.¡± With his right hand still on his chest, he lifted the other one. ¡°I swear it.¡± The elevator pinged. ¡°You don¡¯t know how happy I am right now.¡± His cheeky smile says it all. ¡°Can I give you a hug?¡± Before I could respond, he pulled me into a hug. ¡°I promise you Hazel, you won¡¯t regret it.¡± I hope so too. Chapter 22 I arrived at the dinner venue a littleter than nned because I had to handle a business call in my car. Checking my appearance once more, I got down the car and walked into the restaurant. ¡°Reservation under Hazel cks.¡± The youngdy smiled warmly at me. ¡°This way ma¡¯am.¡± She led me to a secluded corner where I found Elenor seated, engrossed in her phone with a ss of wine. As if noticing my presence, she looked up and smiled widely. ¡°Hello, stranger!¡± Laughing at her jovial attitude, I made myselffortable on the plush sofa. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you too Elenor.¡± I¡¯ve not seen her physically ever since I left New York. ¡°You look good,¡± She giggled. ¡°I feel good.¡± Waving down a waitress, she requested an extra wine ss. ¡°Oh my gosh Hazel, you look amazing.¡± Nodding appreciatively, she sna tched my finger that was lyingzily on the table. ¡°Is that real Diamond?¡± That was a birthday gift to myselfst year. ¡°Yes, it is,¡± I confirmed which made her grin widen. ¡°As a model, I¡¯m sure you have eyes for real things.¡± She can easily distinguish between fake and original. ¡°Enough about me.¡± I sna tched my hand away. ¡°How is work.¡± ¡°Crazy as ever.¡± She muttered. ¡°I decided to be a model out of fun, but it¡¯s stressing the f uck out of me.¡± The extra ss arrived and we equally ordered dinner. ¡°What about you? What is life like as a single, se xy art curator?¡± My life has been chaotic. ¡°Fun.¡± That¡¯s the best word to describe my work, but not my personal life. ¡°We¡¯re expanding soon, and when that happens, we¡¯re hoping to hold an exhibition.¡± Our dinner arrived and Elenor dived right in. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for the invite and hopefully by then, you won¡¯t avoid taking me to your house.¡± The fork paused a few inches away from my mouth. ¡°What?¡± I breathed out, surprised that she figured it out. ¡°I¡¯m smarter than you think Hazel but I get the reason why you¡¯re trying to be careful.¡± I held my breath and waited for her to exin further. ¡°You don¡¯t want any Southwark close to your personal life, and I get it.¡± Well, she¡¯s partially right. ¡°Thanks for understanding Elen.¡± My phone lit up, showing a text from David. I simply ignored it. ¡°I¡¯d rather none of you know where I live.¡± She nodded. ¡°Congrattions on your award,¡± she mused, ¡°I would have loved to be there to cheer you on, but work held me back.¡± My phone lit up again, yet another text from David which got ignored again. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I totally understand.¡± My phone lit up again and Elenor stared at it then smiled. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± I shouldn¡¯t even ssify David as that yet. ¡°Something like that.¡± I picked up the phone and quickly responded to his text. ¡°Sorry about that, he¡¯s worried about me staying outte.¡± Waving off my apology, she returned to her food. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize or exin things to me Hazel.¡± She picked up her wine ss. ¡°I¡¯m just d that you¡¯re moving on and that you are finally getting the happiness that you deserve, the happiness that my brother couldn¡¯t give to you.¡± Ravel. A past I can¡¯t regret because of Daisy. ¡°So what exactly are you doing here in Seattle?¡± I asked, changing the topic. I¡¯d rather not talk about Ravel at all. ¡°I¡¯m here to shoot amercial video.¡± She responded. ¡°This is a lovely city. If I wasn¡¯t addicted to the crazy life of a New Yorker, I would have actually loved moving here.¡± I¡¯m d she loves New York. I¡¯d hate to move just because she relocated to Seattle. ¡°I¡¯m d to see you Elen.¡± Despite my fallout with Ravel, she¡¯s still my friend. ¡°Really?¡± She waggled her brows, ¡°Even though I¡¯m keeping you away from your boyfriend?¡± She chuckled at her own teasing and for whatever reason I didn¡¯t bother correcting her about the imaginary boyfriend. ¡°I would have loved to meet him but I¡¯m leaving very early tomorrow morning.¡± Chapter 22 I shrugged, not sure how to respond to that. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be back next month, maybe then I can meet him.¡± By then, I¡¯ll be certain if I¡¯m dating him or not. ¡°What will you be doing in Seattle next month? Another commercial video?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± She lisped, ¡°I¡¯m hitting the runway.¡± Finishing the sd on her te, she dropped her fork and leaned forward. ¡°This isn¡¯t public news yet, but Ravel is holding his next exhibition here in Seattle and I¡¯m one of the models.¡± I froze and stared at her with wide eyes. ¡°You say what now?¡± ¡°Ravel is holding his next jewel exhibition here in Seattle.¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 RAVEL (PRESENT TIME) go for Rose hastened behind me with her pointed heels just to keep up with me. I¡¯ve hinted a few times that she should morefortable heels, but she ignored my remarks and continued with the sharp pointed heels. I will not to held ountable if she trips and fall, I¡¯ve done my part by hinting at it. ¡°We have all the models ready,¡± shemented, updating me on the preparations for the exhibition, ¡°Your sister Elenor agreed to open the show.¡± I halted, which prompted Rose and Raymond to halt too. ¡°How much did she charge?¡± I didn¡¯t think she¡¯ll agree to this, seeing that she is still upset with me over my divorce with Hazel. Rose bit her lips, hesitating which made me more suspicious. My eyes squinted, urging her to speak up. ¡°She charged double her usual fee.¡± Of course, she did! That crazy bi tch. ¡°There are thousands of models out there, tell me why we had to pay her double just to have her model the jewels?¡± ¡°Because nobody pulls the crowd more than your sister Elenor.¡± Roses responded matter-of-factly. I resumed walking. ¡°Have you seen her Instagram ount?¡± Why should I be checking Elenor¡¯s Instagram page? ¡°She has over four hundred million followers. We need her for awareness.¡± ¡°This shouldn¡¯t take much persuasion.¡± Raymond mumbled, ¡°She¡¯s your sister and you should be eager to work with her.¡± ¡°Shut the f uck up Raymond,¡± I hissed, ¡°this isn¡¯t your jurisdiction.¡± He muttered an apology that I¡¯m certain he didn¡¯t really mean. ¡°Move on to other things,¡± I instructed Rose. Raymond opened the door and we all stepped into my office. ¡°As for the venue, we¡¯re yet to conclude on a particr venue.¡± She pulled out a sh drive from her purse and dropped it on my desk. ¡°We¡¯ve gathered a lot of prestigious spaces in Seattle, but we need you to make the final choice.¡± ¡°Seattle?¡± Raymond queried, arching his brows. ¡°The event is taking ce in Seattle?¡± He blinked slowly at me. ¡°Seriously? Of all ces, Seattle?¡± When I remained mute, he scoffed. ¡°Who made the choice? I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Seattle?¡± Roses demanded, her question directed at him. ¡°Besides Mr. Southwark had nothing to do with the choice of city. He simply did a blind draw and picked out Seattle.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Raymond huffed. ¡°I won¡¯t be surprised if all the choices in the box were all Seattle.¡± Choosing Seattle as the city for our next exhibition had nothing to do with me, but I won¡¯t lie that I wasn¡¯t excited when I picked out Seattle. ¡°This is strictly business Raymond, you have nothing to be worried about.¡± ¡°Business?¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°Tell that to someone who doesn¡¯t know you, sir. With you and Hazel in the same city, nothing about it is going to be strictly business.¡± He¡¯s right, but I refuse to admit it. Ignoring his statement, I returned my attention to Rose. ¡°Continue with the update.¡± I red at Raymond quickly, ¡°And you better not interrupt again.¡± He may be close to me more than any other male out there, but I¡¯ll not have him interrupt business matters. Knowing his limit, he rxed back. ¡°Apologies boss, I¡¯ll keep my thought to myself.¡± Rose took that as her cue to continue with the updates. Raymond didn¡¯t utter any other word, he just watched us in silence as we discussed business. ¡°How is Elenor¡¯s new producting along?¡± Raymond leaned forward, his interest perking at the mention of Elenor. If he wasn¡¯t so wary of Anne, I would have assumed there is something still going on between them. ¡°She isn¡¯t doing that great,¡± Rose remarked. ¡°I had a chat with Andrew as you instructed, and he told me that her sales level is very low.¡± Chapter 23 My sister is so da mn stubborn; that¡¯s the only reason she¡¯s noting to me for help. ¡°Despite the level of her Instagram followers?¡± ¡°Having such followers with an ipetent strategic team is as good as useless.¡± Kaymond listened with keen interest, ¡°f asked for a sales report sheet but he refused to release it.¡± She continued, ¡°I believe Ms. Elenor needs to work on her strategic team.¡± Pinching my brows, I racked my brain for a remedy for her. ¡°Promote the product on her behalf.¡± Rose¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°What?!¡± Her eyes bounced between me and Raymond, but thetter remained quiet ¡°Promote her product on our page. Have the strategic team take it up.¡± Sighing, I leaned back. ¡°Purchase the product from the market and advertise on her behalf. I don¡¯t care how you do it, make sure you push the product into the international market.¡± Rose cleared her throat nervously. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a great idea, sir.¡± My gaze shifted from the artifact next to the bookshelf andnded on her. ¡°We make jewels, we have no business with the cosmetics world.¡± ¡°Are you undermining my order?¡± Am I being too lenient with everyone around me? Is that why they dare to question me? ¡°No sir.¡± She straightened her back, ¡°I¡¯m only giving a bit of business advice. Promoting another business whilst organizing an exhibition isn¡¯t a good idea either. Let me have a chat with Ms. Elenor, we can have our strategic team give them an insight on how to handle the situation.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I breathed out, relenting in my decision. ¡°Have a word with Elenor and get back to me.¡± If I discuss this with her myself, she¡¯s never going to agree to it. Rose stood and gathered her files. ¡°I¡¯ll be on it ASAP.¡± She bowed before walking out of my office. It didn¡¯t take up to three minutes before she walked out of my office, and the topic of discussion walked in. Sashaying towards me, she red at Raymond. ¡°Of course, he¡¯s here with you, birds of the same feather they say p together.¡± Her lips thinned as she stopped right in front of me. Rolling me at her sarcastic statement, I gestured for her to sit. ¡°He¡¯s my personal security Elenor, of course, he¡¯ll always be around me.¡± Unlike some people, it seems my existence bothers someone. Raymond stood up and bowed. ¡°I¡¯ll be right outside your office if you need me, sir.¡± Without a single nce at Elenor, not that she cared, he stomped out of my office, banging the door behind him. I didn¡¯t bother asking what was up with the two of them. I already have enough drama going on in my life as it ¡°What are you doing here?¡± It¡¯s unlike her to just drop by, not unless she¡¯s on a mission. Rxing on her seat, she tilted her head and stretched her red-painted lips into a taunting smile. ¡°I just got back from Seattle a few hours ago.¡± I tensed up instantly but tried not to let it show. ¡°And? What business of mine is it if you decide to visit Seattle, Africa, or Mercury?¡± She chuckled. ¡°Wait till you hear what I have to say.¡± My eyes narrowed as my mind pondered on what she could possibly have in mind. ¡°You know,¡± she started, leaning forward, ¡°even after your divorce with Hazel, I always thought you still have the chance to amend things.¡± Withdrawing my fist from my desk, I rested it on the armrest and squeezed hard. ¡°Did youe all the way just to say the same thing you¡¯ve been saying for the past two years?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Today, I came to tell you what your cowardice has cost you.¡± I stared past her head. ¡°She moved on Ravel,¡± My eyes snapped back to her face. ¡°What¡¯s that look in your eyes?¡± She taunted. Earnestly hoping that she was just being her silly self, my face twisted into a frown. ¡°What the f uck did you just say to me?¡± ¡°I said Hazel moved on.¡± She repeated. ¡°She now has a boyfriend who not only loves her but also sees her worth because he kept beeping her all through our dinner together.¡± Chapter 23 ¡°Who the f uck is he?!¡± She blinked rapidly before bursting out a belly, eyes squintingughter. ¡°Are you seriously upset right now?¡± Shaking her head, she stood up and grabbed her purse. ¡°You¡¯re angry that your ex-wife moved on years after you moved on? Need I remind you that you¡¯ve been f ucking June and taking her to events?¡± ¡°Watch what you say to me!¡± ¡°Or what Ravel?¡± cing both hands on my desk, she leaned forward, bringing her face closer to mine. ¡°If you seriously want to find out who her boyfriend is, then you have to get on the next avable flight to Seattle.¡± My jaw clenched. ¡°You can¡¯t eat your cake and have it back brother.¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 (FIVE YEARS AGO) RAVEL Stepping out of my room, dressed in ck pants and a ck shirt, I grabbed the key to the Lamborghini before making my way to the living room. Raymond jumped to his feet and righted his cloth the moment he saw me. He grinned happily at me. ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say Friday is my favorite day of the week.¡± Confused with his train of reasoning, I lifted a brow. ¡°No offense boss, but you hardly tell your chef to fix something because you¡¯re hardly at home to eat, but every Friday, I get to eat a variety of food at your mum¡¯s, thanks to the Friday dinner family ritual. ¡°You¡¯ll either sk ip today¡¯s dinner or you go without me.¡± I rasped, bursting his happy bubble. ¡°I have ns for tonight and I¡¯ll be driving myself.¡± He frowned. ¡°Your mum is going to lose it if you miss the family ritual.¡± Crossing his hands, he slowly took in my dress code. ¡°Where exactly are you headed?¡± ¡°None of your f ucking business.¡± I strolled past him towards the indoor garage. ¡°I know you¡¯re happy to attend the dinner without me, that way, you get to spend more time with Elenor without me breathing down your neck.¡± Raymond sighed exasperatedly. ¡°Nothing is going on between me and Elenor.¡± I¡¯m not stu pid. He stopped next to the Lamborghini. ¡°I mean it, sir, there is nothing going on between me and your sister.¡± Elenor is a grown woman, and he¡¯s a somewhat responsible man. I opened the door. ¡°Don¡¯t just get her pregnant or I¡¯ll be forced to castrate you.¡± Getting into the car, I mmed the door and drove out of the garage. After a few minutes of driving, I ced a call to Elenor and she picked up instantly. ¡°Hello, Ravel. Please tell me you¡¯re on your way. I don¡¯t want to be alone with Mum.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Why? Because she¡¯s going to talk about you getting married?¡± I¡¯m the only one who can put Anne on a leash. ¡°That¡¯s not funny Ravel.¡± She retorted. ¡°How far away are you? I need to know if I should wait a bit before leaving my house.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°Sorry sweetheart,¡± I apologized sincerely, ¡°but I won¡¯t be showing up for today¡¯s dinner.¡± She went awfully quiet. ¡°I have ns for tonight that I can¡¯t cancel.¡± Elenor sighed. ¡°Why did you fix your n on a Friday night when you already know what Friday is about.¡± I heard a ruffle of a sofa in the background. ¡°Well, if you aren¡¯t showing up, there is no need for me to show up too.¡± ¡°Oh, I think there is.¡± I teased lightly. ¡°Raymond is free for the rest of the night and he¡¯s showing up for the dinner. I¡¯m sure you know what that means.¡± She gets to spend more than enough time with Raymond without interruption from work. ¡°Milk the opportunity now Elenor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± She lied, feigning ignorance. ¡°I know you do.¡± H o nking at the careless driver behind me, I gave room for him to zoom past. ¡°I have to focus on driving Elenor, I¡¯ll call youter. I love you.¡± ¡°I love you foo bluely.¡± More often than I can remember, I have warned her not to refer to me by the color of my eyes, but then those org ans on both sides of her head are just for decoration. Before I could reprimand her again, she dropped the call. Shaking my head with a smile, I stepped on the elerator, driving myself to Hazel¡¯s apartment. Parked outside her apartment, I gave her a quick call, instructing her to step out. We¡¯ve been officially dating for a month and a few weeks now, but this is my first time pulling over outside her apartment. Putting my phone vibration, I kept the car running to keep it warm, my focus on the beautiful woman walking down the stairs. Dressed in a simple ck turtleneck and blue jeans with ck boots, I can proudly say my girl looks breathtaking. Chapter 24 The moment she advanced closer to the car, I got down, leaned on the car, and waited for her to be within earshot. ¡°I can stare at you all night and not get bored.¡± She halted her steps, nced at my car, then back at me. ¡°What are you doing here Ravel?¡± Closing in the space between us, I pulled her into my embrace and kissed her gently. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up for our date, what else.¡± Wriggling out of my embrace, she stared at me with a slight frown. ¡°I agreed to the date, so I know that. What I¡¯m curious to know is how you found out where I live and why you came to pick me up.¡± Raymond takes the credit for finding out where she lives. ¡°I¡¯ve been dating you for a month now, been on countless dates with you, yet you are uneasy about me finding out where you stay. Why?¡± Is she ashamed or does she think I¡¯ll judge her? ¡°This neighborhood isn¡¯t for you Ravel.¡± She argued as she rounded the car. Baffled by her words, I allowed her to get the door herself. She waited for me to get in before continuing to spill out ridiculously annoying words from her mouth. ¡°Do you realize that you can easily get robbed around here?¡± Turning on the engine, I stepped on the elerator. ¡°Are you trying to say that I cannot defend myself against petty thugs?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± She quickly asserted. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that you shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°Then move out,¡±¡± I suggested causing her to tense up instantly. ncing quickly at her, I offered her a smile to make my offer even more appealing. ¡°If you really do not want to see me in this neighborhood, then let me get you another house.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± She scoffed. ¡°What is ridiculous is my girlfriend expecting me not to drop her home after every date.¡± It annoys and frustrates me anytime she gets into a taxi after our date. ¡°Let me get you a house, it won¡¯t cost me much.¡± Suddenly smiling, she leaned forward and kissed me. ¡°I love you for wanting to take me to a safer ce, but I¡¯m fine.¡± I opened my mouth, ready to argue more but she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m going to allow you to drop me home after every date, but you¡¯ll have to bring Raymond along any time you¡¯re dropping by.¡± I don¡¯t need to bring Raymond along any time I want to see my woman. Ignoring her, I focused on driving. ******** Stepping down from the car, I rounded the car, opened the door for Hazel, ced a hand on her waist protectively, and led her into the restaurant where I made a reservation for us. The moment we stepped into the building, one of the stewards approached us with a smile. ¡°Wee Mr. Southwark, I¡¯ll lead you to your designated table.¡± He turned his gaze briefly at Hazel and his brows twitched as he slowly took in her dressing. Jaw clenching in anger at his condescending gaze, I took a step forward, ready to knock him out if he dares make my woman ufortable. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± He quickly tore his gaze away from her. ¡°No sir.¡± Gesturing with his hand, he tried to offer another smile. ¡°This way sir.¡± We followed closely behind as he led us down the hallway into a private room with a private table. Halting abruptly, I red at the unnecessary arrangement at the table. Hazel on the other hand cooed at it. She let go of my hand and sashayed towards the table. ¡°Did you request this?¡± She asked, her back to me as she picked up the Daisy flowers. My nose slowly began itching. ¡°How did you know they¡¯re my favorite?¡± ring at the steward, I pinched my nose. ¡°I¡¯ve always known,¡± she turned around and blinked at me whilst still clutching the daisies, ¡°but I never requested them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± She turned her gaze to the steward. Chapter 24 ¡°It¡¯s apliment from the house.¡± The young man responded, daring to smile at me. ¡°Do I look like someone who needs apliment from the house?¡± I deadpanned. The young man tensed suddenly, his annoying smile slowly vanishing. ¡°It¡¯s fine Ravel.¡± Hazel chimed. ¡°It¡¯s not so bad after all, it¡¯s just flowers, and besides they are my favorite.¡± Pulling out my handkerchief, I sneezed into it and at the same time tried to case my itching nose. ¡°They are not just flowers Hazel, I¡¯m allergic to them.¡± I sneezed again into my handkerchief. ¡°I¡¯m allergic to flowers love and the flower I¡¯m more allergic to are daisies which is why I detest them, no offense to you love.¡± Browse slightly tucked together, she stared down at the flowers in her grasp. ¡°So you hate anything Daisy?¡± ¡°I f ucking detest them.¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) The extension of the gallery began the instant payment was finalized with the old man. I paid contractors to pull down the coffee shop and attach the building to the gallery before knocking down the walls of the gallery. If we decide to pull the walls down now, we will be risking the safety of the artworks and I can¡¯t have that. Safety helmet in ce, I walked into the fragment of the coffee shop with Agatha closely behind me to inspect the work in progress. Whilst discussing with the contractor on how long this will take, I took notice of how distracted Agatha is with her phone. Rounding up the discussion with Riggs, I turned to Agatha and cleared my throat. She looked up, slipping her phone into her jacket. ¡°Did something happen?¡± I questioned out of genuine concern. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at your phone ever since we stepped out of the office.¡± She smiled tightly at me. ¡°Everything is fine ma¡¯am.¡± Her clipped tone made my eyes squint. She¡¯s either hiding something from me, or she¡¯s lying. ¡°What¡¯s going on Agatha?¡± She opened her mouth, only to close it without uttering a word. ¡°Agatha,¡± I hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something happen in the office?¡± Exhaling heavily, she straightened her back. ¡°I just read a news online,¡± I arched my brows, ¡°the venue for Mr. Southwark¡¯s exhibition has been confirmed.¡± Is that what this is about? ¡°And?¡± I asked Aloofly, deciding to y it cool. ¡°He¡¯s holding it here in Seattle.¡± She continued, feeling uneasy to reveal that. Licking her lips, she bnced from one foot to another. ¡°The hall which is to be used is a stone¡¯s throw from here and that means you¡¯ll be running into him more often than not.¡± I¡¯m not scared of running into him; I¡¯m more worried about him running into Daisy. ¡°And?¡± I asked againProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. with an indifferent tone. ¡°Why do you look so worried about Southwark holding his event in Seattle? We don¡¯t own the whole of Seattle, do we?¡± She gauged my reaction closely. ¡°You¡¯re not worried about that?¡± ¡°About what?¡± My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse. ¡°Why should I be worried about Southwark?¡± She opened her mouth to respond but I lifted a finger, silencing her. ¡°That you know few things about my personal life doesn¡¯t mean you should bring it up when we should be working.¡± Agatha looked down at her shoes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry ma¡¯am.¡± Exhaling, I tore my gaze away from her and focused it on the workers behind her. ¡°You should be.¡± I winced inwardly when one of the workers bumped into a wall. ¡°Instead of focusing on my personal life, how about you go and approve the request from those artists that want us to exhibit their works.¡± This ce should be ready in two weeks. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± She quickly scurried away and I watched her closely, not slightly surprised when she almost fell due to how fast she was walking. My phone vibrated in my purse, taking my attention away from Agatha. It was almost lunchtime when David walked into my office with three stic bags. He grinned widely as he approached me. ¡°How about you spare me some of your time?¡± He requested as he dropped the bag on the desk. ¡°I¡¯m hungry and I want to eat whilst staring at your face.¡± I¡¯m equally hungry. Standing, I gestured we use the sofa instead. He transferred the bag to the center table, pulled out the take-outs, and passed me a fork. I muttered appreciation before digging in. Chapter 25 ¡°Are you okay?¡± David asked out of the blue. Pausing with the fork in my te, I blinked at him, silently waiting for him to borate. ¡°The news is all over the inte,¡± he continued, ¡°his advertising crew is doing a very good job.¡± Frustrated with his evasiveness, I dropped the te on the table. ¡°Do you care to exin what you¡¯re talking about?¡± ¡°Southwark.¡± He mused and I rolled my eyes. ¡°The news says he¡¯s going to be here for a while, are you cool with that?¡± ¡°Why do you all think I¡¯m not going to be cool with that?¡± I queried, my annoyance seeping through my voice. ¡°All I need to do is keep Daisy away from my office environment until he leaves Seattle.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re cool with seeing him or running into him?¡± David asked skeptically. ¡°What the f uck is your problem?¡± I snapped angrily prompting him to frown. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be working towards making me fall for you? Why exactly are we discussing my ex-husband while having lunch?¡± David blinked slowly at me for a few seconds before chuckling. ¡°You¡¯re bothered about it.¡± Dropping his empty te, he picked up a bottle of water. ¡°You always get defensive when you don¡¯t want to talk about what¡¯s bothering you.¡± I will not discuss this further. Opting for silence, I picked up my te and resumed eating. ¡°What do you think about two weeks¡¯ holiday to Miami, just the three of us.¡± I almost choked on my food from his ridiculous offer. ¡°You, me, and Daisy can stay in Miami for two weeks until his show is over.¡± ¡°Are you high or something?¡± That¡¯s the only reasonable exnation for his absurd reasoning. ¡°You know I can get fined for pulling Daisy out of school during school sessions just to go on vacation, right?¡± ¡°You wanted to homeschool her.¡± I red at him. ¡°Homeschooling and vacation aren¡¯t the same thing,¡± I stressed, hoping he¡¯ll get the point and drop the topic. ¡°Yes, I know, but that shouldn¡¯t _¡± ¡°Drop it.¡± I hissed, holding his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not going for any vacation just because Ravel decided to host an event in Seattle.¡± I¡¯m not a criminal, so why should I be running? ¡°Keeping Daisy away from the office is the best option.¡± It¡¯s not like he¡¯s going to force himself into my home. David exhaled heavily, his grip on the stic bottle tightening. ¡°Let¡¯s not fight over this or panic, there is still enough time for him to change his mind about Seattle.¡± I chortled. ¡°Are you saying that to make yourself feel better or make me feel better?¡± He noticed the smile tugging my lips which equally made him smile. ¡°You and I know it¡¯s toote to change the venue for the event, He has two weeks left.¡± Waving my words off, he leaned back and slowly raked me with his gaze. ¡°I have two tickets for a concert, and I¡¯ll love to take you with me.¡± Just to maintain the light mood in the room, I grinned. ¡°Are you asking me out on a date David?¡± He smirked, matching my yful demeanor. ¡°You bet your a ss, I am.¡± Licking his lips, he continued to stare at me through a hooded gaze. ¡°The perfect way to enjoy a concert is to go with a beautiful woman.¡± ¡°No need for the ttery David.¡± Grabbing the napkin on the table, I carefully wiped my lips. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± He grinned with excitement, looking even more handsome with his dimples. ¡°Stop smiling like that,¡± I teased, ¡°You might make ady lose her focus.¡± Amused, he shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s the n.¡± That moment, a thought crossed my mind, a very selfish thought. One of the ways to keep Ravel away is to make him believe that I¡¯ve moved on. Elenor already thinks I have a boyfriend, why not let Ravel think the same too? ¡°Why are you grinning like that?¡± David asked, narrowing his eyes with a smile tugging his lips. ¡°You look like an evil witch right now.¡± Chapter 25 I blurted out a shortugh. ¡°I know right.¡± I¡¯m thinking like an evil witch right now. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to the concert date.¡± He bit his lips. ¡°Me too.¡± My phone chimed from my desk and I stood up, strolled over, and grabbed it. Clicking on the message icon, my brows furrowed into a frown as I read the message. I MISS YOU HAZEL. I¡¯LL BE IN SEATTLE SOON AND I CAN¡¯T WAIT TO SEE YOU. I LOVE YOU. What the actual f uck is wrong with this man? Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 RAVEL (PRESENT TIME) The moment I stepped out of the board room, Rose fell into step with Raymond a few paces behind. ¡°Sir, all the changes have been made in the hall per your request, do you wish to fly down to Seattle and take a look? Raymond¡¯s voice screamed in my head, telling me to refuse the suggestion, ¡°Get the jet ready, I¡¯ll leave after I meet with the model managers.¡± Raymond withheld his objections. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out and stared briefly at the caller¡¯s ID before shoving it back into my pocket. Raymond chuckled behind me. ¡°If that¡¯s your mother, I suggest you pick it up because she¡¯s already waiting in your office.¡± Halting abruptly, I red at Rose who quickly exined in her defense. ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop her sir, she¡¯s your mother.¡± She¡¯s my mother and not a part of the board. ¡°What stopped you from informing me that she¡¯s in my office?¡± I drawled out slowly, waiting for an excuse for her tar diness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir.¡± Rose quickly apologized, acknowledging her shorings. ¡°I was going to inform you after discussing the hall with you.¡± This is ten in the da mn morning, I¡¯m in no mood to deal with Anne. ¡°Next time, do not let her into my office without prior notice from me.¡± She nodded sharply, hurrying behind me as I resumed walking. ¡°Does the rule apply to other members of your family or just Mrs. Anne Southwark alone?¡± I contemted my response. ¡°Elenor is exempted.¡± At least she gives me an update on what¡¯s happening in Hazel¡¯s life. The news Raymond intentionally omit to share with me, I get them from Hazel. ¡°Give the pilot a call and inform him I¡¯ll be leaving for Seattle by noon.¡± I nced at my wristwatch. ¡°That¡¯s in the next two hours.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± She pulled out her phone, ready to make the phone call. ¡°Also give the chopper dude a call,¡± I added, interrupting her movement, ¡°I do not want to get stuck in traffic on my way to the airport.¡± She gave me a nod before distancing herself to make the calls whilst I stepped into my office to face my mother. Anne stood at the end of my office, staring at the only artwork on the wall. ¡°I¡¯m yet to see what you see in this work.¡± She muttered, slowly turning to face me. ¡°How much did you get this? Maybe I can convince you to get rid of it.¡± The painting in question is a garden, filled with flowers, more of daisies than roses, Hazel¡¯s first artwork. I cherish that painting more than anything, in other words, it is priceless. ¡°What are you doing here Anne?¡± ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing here?¡± She countered back as she slowly made her way toward my desk. Dressed in a ck gown with feathery sleeves andfortable red heels that match the color of her lips, anyone can see that Anne Southwark isn¡¯t just a beautiful woman, but a sophisticated one. ¡°You¡¯ve been avoiding me.¡± She pointed out. ¡°The more reason why you shouldn¡¯t show up.¡± Dangling her index finger in disagreement, she settled down on the plush leather seat and crossed her ankle. ¡°Ever heard of the saying that if the mountain refuses toe to Mohammed, then Mohammed will have to go to the mountain? You¡¯ve refused to see me, so I decided to show up.¡± I¡¯m sure her visit is anything but peaceful. ¡°What exactly are you doing here Anne?¡± I ran my finger through my stubble. ¡°I¡¯m a very busy man who should be in a meeting in the next thirty minutes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this I¡¯ve been seeing online?¡± She asked, going straight to the point. Massaging my temple, I thought of one thousand ways to put an end to this conversation. ¡°If you¡¯re going to butt into my business, can you be more specific?¡± I know exactly what she¡¯s talking about, and she won¡¯t be Anne Southwark if she doesn¡¯t cause problems about this too. ¡°I think you know what I¡¯m talking about son.¡± She snarled. Uninterested in whatever sh it she wants to talk about, I just blinked at her. ¡°That gold-digging wh ore you¡¯ve been unting all over the ce!¡± My jaw clenched at her insult. ¡°It seems all females are gold-digging wh ores to you, Anne.¡± Tilting my head to the left, I continued staring at her. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but I¡¯m certain you used the same words for Hazel.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m able to identify a gold digger when I see one.¡± She snapped. Apathetic to her words, I shrugged. ¡°There are a lot ofdies who meet your social ss, why do you always have to go for the lowest of them all?¡± Couldn¡¯t the reason be more clearer to her? ¡°Because it¡¯s my life and my choice.¡± I deadpanned when she failed to see the picture. ¡°If that is all you came to talk about, then I¡¯m going to have to ask you to leave my office.¡± She frowned, her face tightening with anger. ¡°You¡¯re going to kick your mother out of your office because of that bit ch?!¡± Hazel might have suffered verbal abuse a few times in my absence from her, but I will not let June face the same fate. ¡°I will not be the one doing the kicking, my security will.¡± I gestured towards the door. ¡°Just leave before you end up disgracing yourself.¡± ¡°I Scraping the chair backward, she stood up, syed out her ten red-painted fingers on the table, and leaned towards me. was ecstatic when you got rid of that drug addict in your life and I was hoping that you¡¯ll get it right this time, but obviously, you can¡¯t, which is why I¡¯m going you have to step in and help you out.¡± ¡°What the heck are you talking about Anne?¡± ¡°June,¡± She hissed out, ¡°your domestic staff. It will be over my dead body will you get married to her.¡± Tightening her lips, she leaned down further. ¡°I am Anne Southwark and I get what I want, and what I want right now is to get that wh ore out of your life, and I will not stop until it happens.¡± ¡°This is yourst chance to leave before I call security on you,¡± I warned sternly. Anne red at me, grabbed her Valentino bag, and stomped out of my office. *ŒW** ** The meeting with the model agenciessted longer than I expected, which made me arrive in Seattle later than nned. From the airport, I headed straight to the venue of my event to check out everything that has been done so far. ¡°We¡¯re not spending the night in this city, right?¡± Raymond asked. Scrolling through the news on my tablet, I zoomed in on a picture. ¡°I¡¯m a busy man, do I look like someone who has time for an impromptu vacation?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I lifted my eyes and red at him. ¡°What?! I really hope you don¡¯t change your mind when you run into her.¡± I scoffed, ridiculing his statement. ¡°How small is this city?¡± ¡°Not when the event hall is a stone¡¯s throw from her art gallery.¡± Raymond deadpanned. ¡°Don¡¯t act surprised by the news sir, I¡¯m very much aware that was the reason you chose the hall.¡± Sue me for wanting to get a glimpse of her face. Ignoring his remark, I refocused my attention on the tablet in my grasp. It took us an hour to get to the venue. Raymond got off the car first, rounded it, and opened mine. The moment I stepped. out, I was greeted with a smiley face from Mr. Hems, the man in charge of the venue. He led us into the building and pointed out notable changes that has been made to suit my taste. My phone vibrates in my pocket, demanding my attention. Since we are on the second floor, I opted to use the balcony for more privacy. ¡°What is it Elenor?¡± I questioned the moment I swiped the answer button. ¡°Is someone dying?¡± ¡°Very funny.¡± She responded with a t sarcastic tone. ¡°I dropped by the office and Rose told me you went to Seattle. Have you finallye to your senses?¡± The sight here is incredible. I can literally see the shops down the road. ¡°What exactly is your purpose for calling?¡± ¡°To wish you good luck.¡± Rolling my eyes, I dipped my left hand into my pocket. ¡°I¡¯m here for business Elenor, and I¡¯ll like to get back to it if you don¡¯t mind. Stay safe.¡± Disconnecting the call that instant, I remained standing on the balcony, needing a minute to collect my thoughts. My gaze leisurely swiped to the coffee shop at a distance and the least person I expected to see emerged from the confines of the coffee shop. Hazel. For a moment, I was delighted to get a glimpse of her from afar, but that moment of joy was sn atched off abruptly when the dude from thest time equally walked out of the coffee shop and grabbed her hand. She stared at their connected hands for a split second and I hoped with everything in me that she¡¯ll pull away from his grasp, but she smile at him instead. The ba stard whispered something in her ear and sheughed genuinely. Is he the guy Elenor says Hazel is dating? ¡°Bossman?¡± Raymond called out. I shifted my gaze from them as they disappeared into one of the streets. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for your inside.¡± ¡°Book an emergency roo for us in any hotel,¡± I instructed him without turning to face him. ¡°I thought we were leaving immediately after inspecting the ce?¡± He asked in a slightly confused tone. ¡°I change my mind, we are spending the night in Seattle.¡± I don¡¯t know what I wish to achieve by spending the night, but I know I have to see Hazel.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 HAZEL (FIVE YEARS AGO) I¡¯ve never been to the club ever since I left rehab, mostly because I want to stay away from anything that will lead to my rpse. Seeing drugs, or watching someone take it might be a trigger to me, and I don¡¯t take any chances, not even the slightest one. I¡¯ve been able to avoid it, right until Harrison told me to make some delivery to a clubhouse. At first, I thought it was ridiculous that someone in a club ordered fried chicken, but he corrected that confusion by exining that I was delivering it to the club manager. Pulling over with the delivery bike, I got down and bnced the three cartons on my arm before approaching the security man. He stared down at me with indifference, as if I¡¯m a headache he¡¯d rather not deal with. ¡°I¡¯m here to make a delivery to one Mr. Blue,¡± I informed him, trying hard to let him know that I can very well see the condescending look that he was trying so hard to hide. The dude spoke into his mic before addressing me again. ¡°Take the back door, and tell the security man there CODE RED, he will let you through without any ha ssle, and point you towards the right direction. I forced a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± Bncing the cartons properly, I headed for the back door and did as instructed. The second security man instructed me to take the long hallway and then take the elevator, it will take me straight to Mr. Blue¡¯s office. Finding my way wasn¡¯t difficult. I did my delivery, confirmed the payment, and made my way back up. Oh¡­ did I fail to mention that the office was actually underground? That the elevator took me down instead of taking me up? I almost panicked. Walking down the familiar hallway, I ignored all the couples making out. I did mind my business, or at least, I tried to, right until I saw ady being dragged into a room. ¡®Mind your business Hazel¡¯ I warned myself inwardly, urging my feet to keep moving. ¡®You came here to make deliveries, and you¡¯ve done just that.¡¯ I almost listened to that voice until I heard thedy scream¡­ or at least I think I did. My feet changed its direction, hurriedly stomping into the room that the youngdy just got dragged into. Pulling out my phone, I clicked on the video recorder and activated it before stepping into the room. ¡°I just told you I like you!¡± The man growled, holding thedy¡¯s hand way too tight for herfort. ¡°I know you like me too! I saw the way you were staring at me from the dance floor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Thedy cried. ¡°I was only dancing to the rhythm of the song!¡± Clearing my throat to announce my presence to the oblivious individuals, I stepped further into the room. ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but can you please turn around and say hello to the camera?¡± The man slowly turned towards me, his jaw tightening with anger when he noticed my camera recording him. ¡°What do you think you are f ucking doing?!¡± He bellowed, the veins in his neck threatening to burst. Shrugging, I continued recording, ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing?¡± I retorted, angry that he dared manhandle this woman, The fool stood taller and took a step forward. ¡°Another step forward and I¡¯m going to upload this video.¡± He halted instantly, ¡°Who the f uck are you?¡± He spat, spittle escaping his mouth, ¡°Her sister?¡± I smiled cheekily at him. ¡°Don¡¯t we look alike?¡± I teased him, my eyes scanning the room for anything that can serve as a weapon just in case he decides toe at me. ¡°Hey,¡± thedy blinked at me. ¡°Do you want him here?¡± ¡°No,¡± She blurted out, ¡°I don¡¯t want him here.¡± Returning my attention to the man, I co cked my head. ¡°You heard the youngdy, bounce!¡± ¡°Bounce?!¡± He scoffed as he slowly prowled towards me. ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± He spat angrily, his hand clenching into a tight fist. ¡°You do realize I can easily take out the two of you, right?¡± The otherdy is clearly intoxicated, which means I¡¯m left to face this man alone. ¡®You should have minded your business, Hazel!¡¯ Trying not to let not my fear show, I widened my smile, looking like a deranged ps ycho. ¡°I¡¯ve been in a ps ycho ward wa nker, and while I was there, I was diagnosed with a twitching finger.¡± His face contorted into a frown. ¡°What the f uck does that have to do with me?¡± ¡°It means if you provoke me further, I might mistakenly upload this video to the inte. Going to jail for attempted rape is a pretty f ucked up thing.¡± He stared at me for a moment, then at the youngdy syed out on the sofa, then back at me. ¡°This bi tch isn¡¯t worth the drama.¡± He retorted before stomping out of the room. I watched him disappear into the hallway before approaching the youngdy. I cradled her head, trying to bring her into a more conscious state. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± She giggled, tempting me to p the drunkenness out of her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m Elenor.¡± She slurred. ¡°You know me right?¡± Nope, I don¡¯t. ¡°Do you have any means of getting home?¡± Where the heck is her purse? I don¡¯t have any cash to send her home. ¡°What¡¯s your home address?¡± ¡°My brother.¡± She mumbled. ¡°He¡¯sing to pick me up.¡± ¡°Your brother?¡± I can¡¯t be here waiting for her brother¡­ Harrison will kill me. ¡°How long do you think it will take him to get here?¡± She giggled in response. I was about to prob her for more response when the door opened and a very familiar face raced in. ¡°Elenor?¡± Surprised to see him, I took a step back, giving him space to cater to her. ¡°What happened to her?¡± I shrugged. ¡°I guess she¡¯s drunk. I found her like this.¡± Staring at thedy, my brows furrowed together as I tried to figure her out. ¡°Is she Ravel¡¯s sister?¡± Before Raymond could respond, the man in question walked into the room. He took a double step when he saw me, his brows arching. ¡°Hazel?¡± He nced at his sister. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I noticed a man dragging a drunk woman into a room, so I decided to help.¡± He approached me and pulled me into his embrace. ¡°Thank you for helping my sister. She¡¯s always up to something silly.¡± He leaned down and kissed my cheek. ¡°Take her home, Raymond, I¡¯ll drive Hazel home.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± I blurted out, prompting both men to stare at me. ¡°I mean Ravel don¡¯t have to drive me home. I came here for delivery, and I came with the delivery bike.¡± He squeezed my palm gently. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be an issue, we can put it away in the trunk.¡± He returned his attention to Raymond. ¡°Take her to my apartment, Anne will have a heart attack if she sees her like that.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Ravel kissed my lips chastely, ¡°And you,e on, let¡¯s get you home.¡± He led me out of the building. ¡°Why exactly are you doing suchte delivery?¡± ¡°That¡¯s thest one before I get off work.¡± Ravel frowned, ¡°I can¡¯t have my woman working sote at night.¡± He flicked two bouncers over to help him put the bike into the trunk. ¡°I¡¯ll need to have a long chat with your boss.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine Ravel.¡± ¡°What do I have to do to get you to stop working there?¡± I giggled. ¡°Nothing.¡± I kissed his lips. Until I get a degree, I¡¯m not leaving Harrison¡¯s restaurant. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to let this go until I change your mind, and as for your boss, we¡¯ll have an overdue discussion on your working schedule.¡± ¡°Ravel¡­¡± I groaned¡­ ¡°Can¡¯t you just let this go?¡± ¡°Harrison?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t let him tire out my woman like this.¡± He winked at me. ¡°I need your energy for something more fun.¡± Pe rvert.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) The day had been nothing short of chaotic, especially with the task of transferring newly arrived artworks into the vast storage room. Agatha and I were on a mission to get everything organized swiftly. I had delegated her to concentrate solely on the reconstruction, while I took charge of handling thepany¡¯s paperwork. David was diligently overseeing the receipt of the artwork, ensuring everything was ounted for and handled with care. With my hair neatly tucked behind my ear, I meticulously read through each document, making sure to sign them promptly. As I was working my way through the fifth document, my phone suddenly buzzed, diverting my attention. ncing at the phone screen, I quickly recognized the caller as Presley, Daisy¡¯s nanny. My heart ski pped a beat, fearing something was wrong. Without hesitation, I answered the call, my voice filled with concern. ¡°Presley, is everything okay?¡± I could hear my daughter¡¯s distressed cries in the background. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Why is Daisy crying like that?¡± ¡°That was why I called ma¡¯am,¡± she responded, ¡°she has been crying that she wants to see you, and I¡¯ve tried everything to get her to calm down, but it¡¯s not working.¡± My heart ached as I listened to Daisy¡¯s desperate cries through the phone. I could feel the weight of my remaining workload, but my daughter¡¯s distress took precedence over everything else. I firmly pushed the files away, determined to address her needs. ¡°Put her on the line,¡± I instructed Presley, my voice filled withpassion. I heard some shuffling before Daisy¡¯s tearful voice filled my ears, and it broke my heart even more. ¡°Hey, princess,¡± I said soothingly, hoping to offer her somefort. Surprisingly, her cries lessened a bit at the sound of my voice. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, princess?¡± I asked gently, wanting to understand what was troubling her so deeply. ¡°Mummy¡­¡± she sobbed, ¡°I want mummy¡­¡± My resolve to finish my work wavered as I knew I couldn¡¯t leave my daughter feeling this upset. ¡°Shh, my darling,¡± I tried to console her, ¡°how about we go get some ice cream together? Mummy will be right there with you.¡± But my words seemed to have little effect, and her cries only intensified. Presley attempted to calm her down, but it only seemed to upset Daisy further. ¡°I want my mummy!¡± she wailed, her little voice full of longing. Despite my attempts tofort Daisy, her crying persisted, and it seemed like my words were falling on deaf ears. Determined to break through to her, I raised my voice a little, calling out her name firmly, and finally, it seemed to get her attention. ¡°Daisy!¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. She sniffled, responding to my stern tone. ¡°Mummy is on her way home,¡± I reassured her. The relief in her voice was evident as she asked, ¡°Mummy ising home?¡± My heart swelled with love and joy at the sound of her voice. ¡°Yes, baby, mummy ising home,¡± I confirmed, a genuine smile spreading across my face. I couldn¡¯t help but reflect on how fortunate I was to have Daisy in my life, and how much she meant to me. With her reassurance, I could feel the warmth of her affection even through the phone. ¡°I love you, baby girl,¡± I said, my voice full of tenderness. Her response melted my heart. ¡°I love you too, mummy.¡± ¡°See you soon, princess,¡± I said before disconnecting the call. My focus shifted entirely to the task at hand ¨C getting home to my daughter as quickly as possible. With the files now neatly packed into arger folder, I grabbed my coat and purse, ready to make my way out of the office. Chapter 28 But before leaving, I made a quick stop at David¡¯s office to inform him of my early departure. He looked up from hisptop, offering a warm smile as he greeted me. ¡°I¡¯m going to head home early today,¡± I exined, knowing that he and Agatha would handle things efficiently in my absence. His brows furrowed out of concern. ¡°Is everything okay? Are you feeling sick?¡± He got off the seat and rounded his desk to meet me. ¡°Did something happen at home?¡± Waving off his concern with a smile, I waved the files. ¡°Everything is fine. I just have to take work home because my baby misses me.¡± David exhaled with relief. ¡°I imagined the worst scenery when you walked in and told me you¡¯ll be clocking out early.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I questioned with a teasing while. ¡°It could be good news you know.¡± Scotting, he slipped both hands into his pockets. ¡°You never leave work early, unless it is an emergency with Daisy.¡± He nced at the pile of work on his desk. ¡°You want me to walk you to the parking lot?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± I took a step back. ¡°You should go back to work, I only stopped by to inform you that I¡¯m leaving.¡± He took a step forward, probably to hug me and I involuntarily took one step back. He halted and stared at my feet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He lifted his gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize Hazel.¡± He smiled weakly at me. ¡°Slow and steady right?¡± Right. I cleared my throat. ¡°I should get going.¡± Not sure how to handle the tension in the room, I quietly walked out of the office. Suddenly tired, I dragged my feet into the elevator. Whilst in the elevator, my phone chimed, indicating a chat from Agatha. Engrossed in responding to the text from Agatha, I got off the elevator and blindly headed for my car. ¡°You should pay more attention to your environment while walking.¡± Yelping loudly, I loosed hold of my purse and file, cing a hand on my chest to calm my erratic beating heart. ¡°Christ! Are you trying to make my heart stop Ravel?!¡± What is he even doing here?! The ba stard had the audacity to smile. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my intention to scare you.¡± He slowly made his way towards me. ¡°You know you can always respond to that text when you get into your car right.¡± Staring at him for a moment, I made a prompt decision; he was not worth my time. Ignoring him, I picked up my purse file, fished out my car key, and hastily ambled toward my car. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing here, and I don¡¯t care to know. and ¡°Are you ignoring me?¡± His silly question went unanswered and when it dawned on him that I was making an escape to my car, he raced towards me and mmed my door shut the moment I opened it. ¡°Hazel?¡± Closing my eyes, I took deep long breaths before opening it. Dropping my purse and file on the roof of my car, I red at him. ¡°What is this Ravel? Are you stalking me?¡± He licked his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself, Hazel.¡± Don¡¯t tter myself? Is he kidding me right now?! Blinking rapidly, I folded my hands. ¡°If this isn¡¯t stalking, then tell me what it is Mr. Southwark. You are in mypany¡¯s parking lot, can you tell me what exactly it is that you¡¯re doing here.¡± He tried to take a step closer to me. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± I snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t you f ucking dare!¡± Lifting his hands, he took a step back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m making you ufortable,¡± He apologized, ¡°I was just in the city and I thought to see you before I leave tomorrow.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I challenged. ¡°What reason do you have visiting me?¡± He bit his lower lips. ¡°We don¡¯t have to be enemies just because we are divorced, Hazel.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to be friends either.¡± I retorted. He winced at my words but I remained indifferent to his emotions. Once upon a time, I would have cared, but not anymore. ¡°I heard you are holding your next exhibition here in Seattle.¡± me, Hazel?¡± Irritated by his audacity, I scoffed. ¡°You wish. I had dinner with your sister a few weeks ago and she mentioned it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sending you an invite.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± I countered, declining his invitation. ¡°The reason I mentioned this exhibition is to confirm from you if I¡¯ll be needing a restraining order ced on you.¡± His smile slowly morphed into a frown. ¡°I do not like the fact that we run into each other more often.¡± ¡°You want to ce a restraining order on me, so I won¡¯t be anywhere close to you during my stay here in Seattle throughout the exhibition?¡± I jutted my chin out. ¡°I¡¯m d you get the picture.¡± Boring his gaze on me, Ravel took a step forward. ¡°You honestly think a restraining order can keep me away?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a psychopathic thing to say.¡± I retorted angrily. ¡°If you make me feel unsafe, I¡¯m reporting you to the cops.¡± ¡°Feel unsafe?¡± His eyes narrowed with disbelief. ¡°If anyone is making you feel unsafe, it¡¯s that silly boyfriend of yours who allowed you to walk into a parking lot all alone.¡± I really should get back to Daisy. ¡°You¡¯ll stop speaking about my boyfriend that way, and just so you know, I¡¯m getting that restraining order on you. ¡°It won¡¯t be able to keep me away,¡± He argued, ¡°You know why? Because I f ucking miss you.¡± J Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 RAVEL (PRESENT TIME) To say my day went from good to bad will be an understatement. Hazel telling me that I make her feel unsafe in a blow in my guts that I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll recover from any time soon. All I¡¯ve been doing is trying to protect her, protect her from things she¡¯s privy to and what do I get at the end? A restraining order threat. Like f uck if I¡¯m going to stay away from her; I¡¯d love to see her try and fail. What more could be done if I¡¯m arrested? A couple of fines that my bank ount won¡¯t even notice. Still standing in the same spot where I¡¯ve been rooted ever since Hazel drove away. I felt my eyes sting. When was thest time I cried? That was probably a year after our wedding. A screeching car pulled over next to me, and I didn¡¯t even bother turning to acknowledge the driver. The door opened and Raymond got down. ¡°When I didn¡¯t find you anywhere around. I figured you went to see her Ignoring him, my jaw clenched as I brooded over Hazel¡¯s words. ¡°With the look on your face. I¡¯m judging it didn¡¯t go well.¡± Letting out a huffy sigh, I turned and got into the car. Raymond quietly joined me. As he started the engine, we were about to leave the parking lot when an unexpected sight caught our attention. David, acting like a man possessed, came charging towards our car in a crazed manner. Although Raymond could have easily driven away, my curiosity got the better of me, and I wanted to know what this fool was up to. ¡°Don¡¯t drive off,¡± I told Raymond, my eyes fixed on the unhinged man outside the car window. ¡°I never even considered it,¡± Raymond grumbled, his gaze also locked on the man outside. ¡°My thoughts were more along the lines of running him over. Chuckling at Raymond¡¯s dark humor, I warned, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going to pay mywyer a single dime for your case if you end up murdering someone.¡± Eventually, David reached our car, and he tapped on my window. Still intrigued. I decided to roll it down and see what he wanted to say. ¡°You were running so relentlessly. I momentarily mistook you for a rabid dog,¡± I quipped, trying to get a reaction from him. He red angrily at me. ¡°I need to talk with you, Mr. Southwark.¡± His angry re intensified, but I maintained a coolposure, crossing my hands over my chest. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that what we¡¯re doing right now, Mr. Ellison? Conversing?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but feel utterly bored, wondering why I was even entertaining this conversation with him. He leaned in closer, directing his attention briefly to Raymond before focusing on me again. ¡°I want to talk to you alone,¡± he emphasized, his voice dripping with disdain. ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want yourpdog to hear me insult you.¡± Raymond, taken aback by the sudden insult, blinked in disbelief. ¡°Lapdog?¡± he retorted, his tone tinged with offense. ¡°Thispdog¡¯ of his was actually contemting running you over just a few seconds ago. Don¡¯t give me reasons to turn it into reality.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but be amused by the man¡¯s audacity. ¡°You race towards my car, insult my friend, and then have the nerve to demand that I get out of my car just because you said so. Do you even realize how ridiculous you sound?¡± I retorted with a hint of sarcasm. However, David seemed undeterred by my words, and he defiantly ced his hands in his pockets while puffing out his chest. ¡°I¡¯m going to say what I want to say, regardless of whether you get down or not,¡± he asserted boldly. I couldn¡¯t muster much interest in his posturing, so I simply shrugged apathetically. But then, he dropped a bombshell that left me dumbfounded, ¡°I want you to stay away from my woman.¡± My eyes widened in disbelief, and I couldn¡¯t believe what I had just heard. ¡°What the heck did you just say to me?¡± My voice Chapter 29 trembled with a mixture of anger and incredulity. The audacity of this man was beyondprehension. ¡°You heard me right.¡± he spat, his voice seething with anger. ¡°I saw everything on the surveince footage, and it¡¯s time someone set things straight.¡± He leaned in, pressing both hands against the door,N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. eyes locked on mine. ¡°You had your shot with Hazel, but you blew it. Now it¡¯s my turn, and I won¡¯t let you mess it up for me too!¡± Suppressing my frustration, I swung the car door open and stepped out. ¡°Well, well, this is getting interesting,¡± I remarked, leaning casually against the bo, arms crossed and legs crossed. ¡°You¡¯re feeling threatened by me, aren¡¯t you?¡± I taunted with a smirk. ¡°No need to hide it; your eyes say it all.¡± He sniffed loudly, standing defiantly with his arms akimbo. ¡°How on earth did youe to that ridiculous conclusion?¡± he scoffed, taking a step closer to me. I chuckled bitterly, maintaining myposure. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s pretty clear.¡± Laughing humourlessly, he took a step closer to me. ¡°The way Hazel is warming up to me, it won¡¯t be long before she¡¯s in my bed,¡± He dered confidently. The tension between us intensified as we locked eyes, neither willing to back down. F ucking ba stard! My anger boiled over as I tightened my fist and swung it hard, connecting with his jaw. He sta ggered back, but I didn¡¯t give him a chance to recover. I leaped on him,nding blow after blow. The satisfaction of seeing him lying there, taking the beating, fueled my rage even more. Raymond finally intervened, pulling me away from the confrontation. I struggled against his grasp, seething with fury as I watched David sta gger to his feet, seemingly unfazed Through gritted teeth, I warned, ¡°The next time you by the o dare mention my wife in that way, I¡¯ll make sure you end up in the da mn morgue!¡± His blo ody smile only fueled my rage further. ¡°You mean your ex-wife?¡± he taunted, relishing the pain he caused me. I lunged at him again, but Raymond¡¯s firm hold kept me at bay. ¡°You signed the divorce papers, Southwark,¡± David taunted, his voice dripping with malice. ¡°You let her go, and now you¡¯ll have to live with the consequences.¡± As Raymond whispered urgently in my ear, his words served as a much-needed reality check. Thest thing we needed was a public spectacle that could tarnish the exhibition¡¯s reputation. He positioned himself between David and me, gently -cing his hands on my chest, trying to soothe the raging storm within me. ¡°Boss, we should leave. This drama won¡¯t do any good for the exhibition,¡± he implored. Though my anger still smoldered, I realized he was right. I took a deep breath, straightening my disheveled shirt, trying to regain myposure. But before I could leave, I needed to make one thing clear to David. ¡°If your intentions toward Hazel are merely about conquering her, then you better back off before things get ugly. I won¡¯t be held ountable for my actions,¡± I warned, my voice firm. David¡¯s retort was filled with defiance, but there was something deeper there, something vulnerable. ¡°I love Hazel,¡± he asserted, spitting out blood defiantly. ¡°I don¡¯t need your approval or belief; my feelings are none of your da mn business. I¡¯ve said what I needed to say, so stay away from her.¡± ¡°Or what?¡± I challenged with a smirk, ¡°What can you possibly do if I choose not to stay away from her?¡± David always liked to act tough, but deep down, I knew he was just bluffing. ¡°And if you truly believe that Hazel shares your silly feelings, why bother warning me to back off?¡± He knows I have a chance with her. His jaw clenched, and he took a step closer, still trying to appear intimidating after our recent scuffle. ¡°You might have the money, but I¡¯m not afraid to y dirty. Don¡¯t push me, Southwark.¡± Raymond urged me with his eyes not to engage again. I took a deep breath, trying to control my frustration. I could feel my temper ring, but I had to remainposed. I licked my lips, buying myself a moment before speaking again. ¡°Go ahead, David, try everything in your arsenal to win her heart. But mark my words, when the time is right, I wille back for her, and no one, not even you, will stand in my way,¡± With that, I turned away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control again. David scoffed. ¡°You talk as though she¡¯s a possession.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± Raymond retorted sharply, his voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and frustration. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? Learn when to hold your tongue, man!¡± ¡°You say I talk as though she¡¯s my possession.¡± I rasped, addressing his earlier statement. ¡°That¡¯s because she is.¡± He frowned with confusion when I suddenly smiled widely at him. ¡°She is my priceless possession, so don¡¯t think I¡¯ll sit back and watch someone steal it.¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 HAZEL (FIVE YEARS AGO) Stacking up fried chicken into a carton can be a very delightful thing to do. I prefer doing this to serving customers or taking the packed chicken for delivery. Stacking up thest piece, I stood up and stretched my back to relieve some ache from having to squat for so long. ¡°Hazel?¡± Oscar called from the doorway, I turned to him.¡±Ady is asking for you out front.¡± Crinkling my nose, I walked over to the sink to take off the gloves and wash my hands. ¡°Did you get a name?¡± I¡¯m in no mood to see a stranger. ¡°Elenor.¡± He responded. ¡°She said her name is Elenor.¡± Ravel¡¯s sister? How did she find me? ¡°I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± Wiping my hands with a towel, I got rid of the apron before walking out to meet her. Honestly, this isn¡¯t how I hoped to see any of Ravel¡¯s family. I¡¯m no fool, I¡¯m sure his mother will want someone better for him. I found her seated at the corner of the restaurant. Suddenly nervous, I dragged myself over to her table and sat down. ¡°Hi.¡± Elenor looked up from her phone and the moment she saw me, her face brightened with a warm smile. ¡°Hazel!¡± How does she know my name? That¡¯s interesting. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for intruding on your work.¡± She pointed at a car parked outside through the window. ¡°I¡¯ve been sitting in there for ages, waiting for you to get off work.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Still confused, I rxed back. ¡°How did you find me?¡± Dropping her phone, she leaned forward. ¡°Raymond told me.¡± She bit her lower lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if you¡¯re ufortable with that, I just wanted to meet you and thank you for what you didst night.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to.¡± Imagine my surprise when Oscar served me a soft drink and chicken wings. I arched a brow at him and he shrugged. ¡°I ordered that,¡± Elenor announced. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was right to leave your side of the table empty while I eat.¡± ncing at the order on the table, I slowly lifted my gaze to Elenor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I really have to get back to work I¡¯m still on duty, so I shouldn¡¯t be rxing around eating.¡± ¡°Your boss said it was okay.¡± She pointed out. ¡°He said you can go off work if you want.¡± I blinked rapidly. ¡°You met with Harrison?¡± She nodded. I was instantly reminded of Ravel. He did the same thing the first time he met with me. ¡°What did you offer him?¡± Flipping a shoulder, she picked a chicken and dipped it into a sauce. ¡°I offered to buy all the chicken you were packing in there.¡± I¡¯m not surprised. I find it rather annoying that people think they can buy my time. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She apologized abruptly, seemingly noticing my displease over her action. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to upset you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She¡¯s Ravel¡¯s family, and what his family will think about me matters a lot to me. Not sure what to say, I picked up the chicken/wings and dipped them into a sauce. ¡°Why exactly did you help me?¡± Elenor asked, watching me closely. ¡°Did you do that because you know I¡¯m Ravel¡¯s sister?¡± Chuckling, I took my time swallowing. ¡°If you¡¯re asking whether I did what I did to gain some bro wnie points from you, the answer is no. I didn¡¯t even know you were his sister until Raymond and Ravel walked in.¡± She tilted her head, her brows furrowing, ¡°Then why did you help me? I watched the footage and that man would have easily beaten you up, or probably raped you too, yet you chose to stick around. Why?¡± That¡¯s quite simple. ¡°Because I still have a functioning conscience.¡± Every normal human would have done what I did. Maybe they wouldn¡¯t have charged in there themselves, but they¡¯ll definitely call for help. ¡°Besides I¡¯ve seen a lot of douc hebags in my life.¡± Staring at me unblinkingly, Elenor suddenly smiled. ¡°I like you.¡± She waggled her brows at me teasing. ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯re going to be great friends and I also owe you one.¡± Oh¡­ I doubt she¡¯ll say that if she finds out the same secret I¡¯m keeping from her brother. ¡°Don¡¯t judge my character just because I helped you.¡± She needs to be smarter than that. ¡°What if I¡¯m the one who sent that dude to try molesting you, just so I could save you and earn your trust.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Laughing shortly, she shook her head in disagreement. ¡°Why would you want to gain my trust when already have my brother¡¯s trust?¡± Is she for real? ¡°You¡¯re his family,¡± I stated matter-of-factly, ¡°gaining your trust and that of your mother should be important to any woman who ims to love Ravel.¡± Her grin widened. ¡°Ady who understands the concept of family.¡± She winked at me. ¡°I like you.¡± Well, I¡¯m d she does. ¡°Don¡¯t bother winning my mother¡¯s trust,¡± she added, ¡°she¡¯s a lost course.¡± I winced involuntarily. I¡¯d give anything to have my parents back. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s rather a harsh thing to say about your mother?¡± Scoffing, she wiped her hands, her lips curling. ¡°She¡¯s my mother, and I know her very well. Don¡¯t ruin your rtionship with Ravel just because of my mum, she¡¯s not worth it. I love her, but she can be a royal witch sometimes.¡± Now I¡¯m getting more nervous about meeting her someday. ¡°With what you just said, I can¡¯t say I¡¯m looking forward to seeing her.¡± She giggled. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t.¡± Her phone vibrated on the table but she simply ignored it. ¡°What are you doing on Saturday night?¡± Hunting for jobs online. ¡°Nothing.¡± I tried not to re at Harrison who just walked past our table. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hosting a party on Saturday, and I¡¯ll love to see you.¡± The glint in her eyes reflected just how excited she is about the party. ¡°It will be fun, I promise, plus I can¡¯t wait tovish Ravel¡¯s debit card.¡± ¡°No offense to you Elenor,¡± she nodded, an indication that I should go on, ¡°judging from the fact that you almost got rapedst night, should you really be thinking about partying?¡± Sheughed at myment as though I said something hrious. ¡°That I almost got raped isn¡¯t an excuse not to party, besides I¡¯m not always that drunk.¡± I scoffed under my breath, but somehow, she managed to hear it. ¡°Really, I don¡¯t drink in a stupor. I had a huge fight with my _¡± She paused and tilted her head. Confusing her sudden silence as hesitation, I intervened. ¡°You don¡¯t have to talk about your rtionship problem with me if you don¡¯t to.¡± ¡°Rtionship problem?¡± She scoffed, ¡°he¡¯s not my boyfriend just someone I¡¯m seeing. I was actually looking for the best term to ssify him hence the reason for my silence.¡± Smacking her lips together, she resumed her exnation. ¡°So yeah, I got drunk because of him and I can assure you it will never happen again.¡± She got drunk for someone who isn¡¯t her boyfriend but someone she was seeing; and here I was, thinking my love life isplicated. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin things to me. If you feel you can handle another party, then that¡¯s cool too.¡± ¡°Great!¡± She pped her hands. ¡°So you¡¯ll being right?¡± She went out of her way to invite me, why shouldn¡¯t I? ¡°There won¡¯t be any drugs at the party right?¡± She arched her brows. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you as one to judge.¡± I shrugged nonchntly. ¡°I don¡¯t like being around drugs Elenor.¡± I¡¯m afraid of rpse even though I don¡¯t say it out aloud to anyone. ¡°So if there are drugs at the party, I¡¯ll have to decline.¡± Chapter 30 She stared at me for a beat moment before responding. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I don¡¯t do drugs, and nobody is bringing that sh it into my house.¡± ¡°A house party?¡± ¡°Mhmm. So you¡¯re going right?¡± I nodded which made her squeal with excitement. ¡°I¡¯m going to pick you up tomorrow afternoon so we can spend Ravel¡¯s money!¡± ¡°I have work.¡± She waved me off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, Ravel will handle it.¡± She ced both hands on the table and squirmed with excitement. ¡°Your boyfriend gave me his ck card, Do you know what that means?¡± I shook my head. ¡°It means we should spare no expense at making you look breathtaking on Saturday!¡± She winked at me. ¡°He¡¯s your very own sugar daddy.¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 RAVEL (PRESENT TIME) Since my return from Seattle, sleep has eluded mepletely. It all started with a heated exchange with Hazel, which lingered in my mind long into the night. And as if that wasn¡¯t enough, my encounter with David added to the turmoil, leaving me restless. Eventually, I decided to escape the situation and headed straight to New York the next morning. To my surprise, when I reached my office in New York, Rose was already there, waiting with a fresh suit, having anticipated my arrival. Grateful for the thoughtfulness, I quickly changed into the new outfit and delved into work without wasting any time. Hours stretched into the night, and I found myself tirelessly working until the clock struck two am. The incessant noise of my rm and ringing cell phone, now both ignored, was grating on my nerves. Feeling exasperated, I buried my face into the pillow, attempting to drown out the persistent interruptions. At this point, it seemed like any possibility of a peaceful slumber was a distant dream. ¨C Exhausted and irritated by the early morning disturbance, I groaned into my pillow, cursing the time ¨C barely five o¡¯clock! All I wanted was a mere three hours of peaceful sleep. Reluctantly, I reached for the phone, swiped to answer the call, and pressed it to my ear, muttering a sleepy ¡°Southwark.¡± To my surprise, it was Rose on the line, and confusion clouded my just-awakened mind. We had only met a few hours ago, so what could be so urgent to warrant such an early call? My patience wearing thin, I asked impatiently, ¡°Someone better be dying, Rose! Why the hell are you calling me this early?¡± Her voice trembled with urgency as she replied, ¡°We have a problem, sir! You need to go online immediately. There¡¯s a crazy video circting, and it¡¯s not good at all.¡± Suddenly wide awake, all traces of sleep evaporated from my eyes. I sat up in bed, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Whatever was happening demanded my immediate attention. My heart raced in my chest as I grabbed my tablet, hastily navigating to the inte. My finger trembled with anxiety as I searched for the news, fearing the worst. To my immense relief, I didn¡¯t find the dreaded video I had expected. Instead, it was a video of me relentlessly hitting David. Taking a deep breath, I realized I¡¯d rather face the consequences of this video than the other possibility. With a heavy sigh, I¡¯ refocused my attention on Rose, who had been frantically exining on the other end of the phone. ¡°When was this uploaded?¡± I inquired urgently. ¡°Thirty minutes ago!¡± Rose eximed, her voice filled with disbelief. ¡°And it¡¯s already garnered over ten million views! I can¡¯t believe the speed it¡¯s spreading!¡± I ced the call on loudspeaker and dropped the phone on the bed while I focused on my tablet, ying the uploaded video. It showed the intense moment when I pinned David to the concrete floor and delivered blows relentlessly. I clicked on thements and reviews to gauge the audience¡¯s reaction. ¡°What¡¯s the negative response rate?¡± I asked. ¡°Over seventy percent,¡± she replied with frustration evident in her voice. ¡°This is going to have a detrimental impact on the exhibition.¡± Raymond tried to warn me about this. ¡°What are the social media team and strategists doing?¡± I inquired, desperate for a solution. That ba stard told me he fights dirty; I guess he wasn¡¯t joking. Unfortunately, hitting David¡¯s finances wasn¡¯t an option due to his connection with Hazel. ¡°Can they fix this?¡± ¡°They¡¯re working on it and they assured me that they¡¯ll fix this.¡± She sounds so unsure of what she¡¯s saying. If really they are doing something about this, I shouldn¡¯t even be able to ess this video. ¡°I want that video taken down,¡± I hissed, my annoyance palpable. I paid my social media team handsomely precisely to handle situations like this promptly, and their sluggishness was uneptable. ¡°Tell Jasper I¡¯m going back online in the next five minutes,¡± I instructed firmly, ¡°And when I do, that video better not be anywhere in sight.¡± Rose¡¯s tired sigh resonated through the phone as she tried to exin the situation. ¡°They¡¯ve been doing their best, sir. It seems like whoever uploaded the video is intentionally targeting you¡± She snapped at someone in the background before continuing, ¡°Within thirty minutes, Jasper and his team have taken down the video ten times, only for it to be re-uploaded. ten times.¡± Frustration boiled within me, realizing that the uploader had ulterior motives to make the video go viral. ¡°That da mn ba stard!¡± I seethed, pondering various ways to retaliate against David. However, I knew any actions against him would indirectly affect Hazel, which only added to my annoyance, As Rose kept talking, her voice bringing me back to the current situation, she suggested, ¡°You¡¯ll need a press conference to address this before it esctes further. I¡¯ll send you the speech before you leave for work.¡± Acknowledging the need for damage control, I agreed, ¡°Keep me updated on the situation at the office.¡± This ordeal was far from over, and I had to stay vignt to protect my reputation and business interests. ¡°Yes sir.¡± She muttered right before I disconnected the call. Feeling overwhelmed, I ended the call with Rose and just as I thought I could have a moment to myself, Anne¡¯s name popped up on my screen. Not wanting to deal with herints, I declined the call, and instead, I decided to seek sce in liquor. In the living room, I found Raymond anxiously pacing while on a call, clearly trying to handle the situation to protect the exhibition. He noticed me behind him and stopped abruptly. ¡°I need positive reviews,¡± he snapped into the receiver, ¡°I don¡¯t care how many fake ounts you create, just defend him!¡± Raymond disconnected the call and angrily tossed the phone onto the sofa. The weight of the situation was evident on his face, mirroring my own emotions. It was clear we were both grappling with the magnitude of the problem, and the pressure to salvage my reputation for the sake of thepany and exhibition was immense.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 RAVEL (PRESENT TIME) With a weary gaze fixed on him, I slowly poured myself a ss of whiskey, trying to ease the tension in the room. ¡°You should calm down. You know, Jasper and his team are more than capable of resolving this situation,¡± I assured him, reaching for an extra ss and filling it as well, inviting him to join me for a drink. He swaggered over and downed the contents of the ss in one swift motion, his face contorting as the fiery liquid went down his throat. ¡°Why are you so unfazed by all this?¡± he rasped, clearly agitated. Leaning back, a faint smile yed on my lips as I took a seat on the long stool. ¡°I am Ravel Southwark, and a mere video of me handling a troublesome individual won¡¯t shake my business,¡± I replied confidently, my eyes fixed on the swirling whiskey in my ss. ¡°We¡¯ve faced drug cases in the past and emerged unscathed; a video of me disciplining someone who deserved it won¡¯t do much harm either.¡± He raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconvinced. ¡°Have you even looked at thements and reviews?¡± he asked, almost challenging my confidence. Taking another sip of whiskey, I exined, ¡°The real reason I want that video gone is because of Hazel.¡± Raymond looked puzzled, prompting me to borate further. ¡°You see, Hazel is dating one of her employees, but the media doesn¡¯t know the e about it. If that video of her ex-husband beating the employee surfaces, it won¡¯t bode well for her. The papara zzi will be all over her, and you know how much she despises that kind of attention.¡± Raymond¡¯s frustration boiled over, and he clenched his fists in anger. ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable how he ims to love her and yet puts her through all this unnecessary stress. Going public with their rtionship will only invite relentless hounding from the papara zzi,¡± he eximed, clearly upset by the situation. My teeth clicked in frustration as my mind raced with thoughts. ¡°I underestimated this guy; he¡¯s far more cun ning than I thought. He¡¯s capitalizing on this situation to gain positive publicity for himself, while also ensuring Hazel is publicly tied to him and tarnishing any chance of me being on good terms with her.¡± Raymond shook his head in disbelief, ¡°So he¡¯spletely disregarding Hazel¡¯s feelings and desires in all of this? It¡¯s all about furthering his own agenda.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± I affirmed, my frustration evident. ¡°He sees me as a threat to his rtionship with Hazel, and he¡¯s willing to do anything to assert his dominance. I must find a way to handle him without causing any harm to Hazel in the process.¡± As my phone vibrated in my pocket, I swiftly answered the call, opting to use the speaker when I noticed it was Rose on the line. ¡°What¡¯s the update?¡± I inquired cagerly, hoping she had a solution to our predicament. ¡°I just had a conversation with Mrs. Anne, and she has a brilliant idea to handle this situation,¡± Rose responded calmly, her voice exuding confidence in her n. ¡°We can work with the existing rumors and reshape the narrative. Everyone already believes that you divorced Ms. Hazel due to her infidelity. So, we can spin this story as that of a billionaire who is still deeply in love with his wife. The public will see you as the sympathetic figure, hurt by the fact that she shamelessly started dating the person she cheated on you with, which eventually led to that heated confrontation.¡± As the suggestion reached my ears, an overwhelming surge of frustration engulfed me, causing my jaw to clench involuntarily. ¡°This is beyond ridiculous,¡± I eximed, unable to conceal my disapproval in the slightest. However, Rose remained steadfast in her approach, maintaining her gentle tone as she continued to advocate for her idea. ¡°Please, sir, just hear me out. This strategy has the potential to evoke empathy and garner widespread support from the public. It¡¯s precisely what we need in these challenging times. By shifting the focus away from the negative aspects of the situation, we can cast you in a more favorable light¡± In a tone that brooked no argument, I asserted, ¡°There¡¯s absolutely no truth to any rumors about my wife¡¯s fidelity, and 1 won¡¯t entertain or suggest otherwise.¡± Rose seemed cautious in her response, but I made it abundantly clear that I wouldn¡¯t tolerate any further insinuations. ¡°Hazel¡¯s public image must remain untarnished, and if I encounter any false narratives circting online, you will be held ountable, Rose. Do we understand each other?¡± Chapter 32 Her response was a meek ¡°Yes, sir,¡± and I swiftly ended the call, unwilling to entertain any more misguided ideas/ Above all else, my top priority had always been to protect Hazel. I held steadfast to the belief that compromising her integrity for the sake of public rtions was out of the question. Every action I had taken thus far was driven by mymitment to safeguard her from any harm, and that unwavering dedication remained steadfast. Raymond, who had silently listened to the entire conversation, settled on a stool and directed his attention towards me. Clearing his throat, he spoke up, instantly capturing my focus. ¡°You might hate me for what I¡¯m about to say,¡± he mumbled, and I shot him a fierce re. ¡°I think Mrs. Anne¡¯s suggestion isn¡¯t such a bad idea.¡± ring at him, I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. ¡°Have you lost your narrow mind?¡± ¡°No,¡± he asserted firmly. ¡°You¡¯ve always been the one to make sacrifices in your rtionship with Hazel. How about you let her take the hit just this once?¡± I felt a surge of anger rising within me. This was beyond absurd. ¡°You may be close to me, Raymond, but not so close that you cannot be reced.¡± His jaw clenched in response, but I intentionally ignored it. ¡°If you ever agree to anything that might hurt Hazel, I will stop considering you as a friend.¡± ¡°Rave_¡± ¡°Get out of my face!¡± I snapped, and he reluctantly stood up from the stool. ¡°Now!¡± I emphasized, not willing to entertain any more of his misguided suggestions.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 RAVEL (FIVE YEARS AGO) Regret consumed me for consenting to Elenor¡¯s idea of taking Hazel on a shopping spree. Although the expenditure wasn¡¯t my concern, I was deeply troubled by the dresses Elenor chose for Hazel. Finally, after much persuasion, Hazel epted my invitation to spend the weekend at my luxurious penthouse, giving me the rare opportunity to witness her change into her dress for the party. I like the fact that she¡¯s getting along with Elenor. One can only hope that Anne won¡¯t be so difficult, not that her approval means sh it to me anyways. I love Hazel, and I don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s approval on whether or not I can date her. Anne already made Elenor¡¯s love life miserable because she cares about what Anne has to say, and Raymond seems to care too. If only they¡¯ll learn to ignore her, only then will they enjoy their rtionship. Initially, I found it fascinating to observe the skilled makeup artist and stylist I had arranged for, meticulously working on her hair and makeup. However, my excitement quickly turned to shock as Hazel emerged from the dressing room in a shockingly short, backless dress that left me momentarily breathless. With a sigh, I rose from the bed and walked over to Hazel, standing beside her in front of the mirror. My hand gently traced the exposed skin of her back, voicing my concern, ¡°Either you want me as your companion for the party, or you intend to distract me from my work tonight.¡± Hazel yfully chuckled, interpreting my words as a sign of approval. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you like the dress,¡± she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Leaning in to ce a tender kiss on her neckline, I inhaled her enchanting fragrance. ¡°I adore everything you wear,¡± I confessed, ¡°but I wish I could have the exclusive privilege of admiring it.¡± The mere thought of other men casting their eyes upon her long legs filled me with an unreasonable sense of jealousy. ¡°You drive me crazy, Hazel,¡± I admitted, struggling to contain my emotions. Her words filled me with warmth as Hazel replied, ¡°It¡¯s mutual, baby.¡± She turned to face me, enveloping her hands around my neck and leaned in for a passionate kiss. ¡°You have no idea how crazy you make me feel when I see you in a sharp tuxedo or a dashing three-piece suit,¡± she admitted with a yful grin. Feeling emboldened, my hands found their ce on her backside, and I teased her, ¡°Definitely not as crazy as you drove me when I saw you in this mesmerizing dress.¡± My left hand traced the length of her outfit seductively. ¡°I might consider letting you leave the house, but only on the condition that you promise not to bend over all night,¡± I whispered teasingly, reveling in our intimate banter. Herughter echoed through the room, a melodic sound that had quickly be my favorite. ¡°I believe I can manage that,¡± she murmured, yfully nting gentle kisses on my lips. ¡°Anything is better than enduring your men hovering around me all night.¡± Oh, there¡¯s no doubt about it. Raymond will be keeping thempany throughout the evening. ¡°Have I mentioned how absolutely breathtaking you look?¡± Iplimented. She nibbled on her lip, batting her eyshes at me coyly. ¡°I believe you might have overlooked mentioning that,¡± she teased. However, her attention was momentarily diverted as her phone rang on the bed. ¡°Ah, I believe that¡¯s Eleanor calling. I should have reached there by now.¡± As I released her from the embrace, I nted another tender kiss on her lips. ¡°Just a friendly reminder, try not to bend over too much, and please avoid getting too drunk,¡± I said yfully. She responded with a sweet giggle. As she left the room, I settled back onto the bed, picking up myptop to resume work. Later, while I was in a deep slumber, I managed to hear the faint sound of my ringtone. Blinking away the drowsiness, I Chapter 33 reached for my phone and answered the call. ¡°Yes, Raymond, what is it?¡± I asked, trying to shake off the sleepiness from my voice. ¡°I believe it¡¯s best for you toe and handle yourdy,¡± he mentioned with a slight lisp, his concern evident. ¡°She seems to bepletely inebriated with your sister, and I can¡¯t leave Elenor alone withC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. these unfamiliar faces.¡± He directed a sharpmand at someone nearby. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s like dealing with a bunch of hormonal teenagers.¡± Hormonal teenagers? I groaned inwardly as I nced at the rm clock, wincing at thete hour ¨C it was three in the morning! How could she be getting drunk at this time? I quickly grabbed a pair of pants and a hoodie before making my way out of the room. This morning, I entrusted the driving duties to Steven, a security personnel I rarely used, because Raymond was busy ensuring Hazel was kept away from those questionable guys. Frankly, I feared I might end up strangling them if they tried anything funny with her. After a tiresome forty-five-minute drive, I finally arrived at Elenor¡¯s house, and the sheer level of noise emanating from her ce made me wonder why her neighbors hadn¡¯t called the cops yet. As I stepped into the apartment, my jaw clenched in surprise at the overwhelming number of males in attendance. Elenor didn¡¯t mention anything about inviting such arge crowd of guys. My eyes caught sight of Raymond on what appeared to be a makeshift stage, reprimanding ady who was wildly dancing on a table while other men cheered her on. The scene was chaotic, to say the least. Due to the dim light, I wasn¡¯t able to make out the female¡¯s face right until she bent her a ss, the very a ss I specifically told her not to bend over. Can any one exin why my woman is bending her a ss over for men? Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 RAVEL (FIVE YEARS AGO) Approaching them with determined steps, I paid little attention to Raymond¡¯s acknowledgment and effortlessly lifted my woman, yfully setting her on my shoulder. Her infectiousughter filled the air, and in the spirit of the moment, I yfully gave her a light tap on the rear-the very rear 1 had possessively told her not to bend. ¡°Behold, that¡¯s my man she slurred yfully, raising her head and pushing a mass of hair away from her face. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a bundle of joy? Her intoxicated friends burst intoughter, clearly in on the yful banter. ¡°And let me tell you, his rear end is quite the sight, and I have the privilege to admire it whenever I please!¡± Continuing without hesitation, I led her straight to my car, confident that Raymond would take care of Elenor, who could be quite a handful when intoxicated. I knew Raymond had a good handle on handling her. Once inside the car, Steven started the engine just as I secured Hazel¡¯s seatbelt. Despite her tipsy state, Hazel greeted me with an infectious, wide smile. ¡°Hellooo handsome! You¡¯ve got such a pretty face!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but find her adorable at that moment, making it hard to stay upset with her. ¡°Well, your face isn¡¯t exactly at its most beautiful right now, and your lips may not be so kissable,¡± I replied with a teasing tone, noticing the strong scent of alcohol around her. ¡°I did warn you not to bend over, didn¡¯t I?¡± I added with a mixture of amusement, knowing that she might not remember our yful conversation later due to her intoxication. She grinned mischievously, whispering suggestively, ¡°I can bend over for you.¡± Her attempt at looking alluring by licking her smudged lips only intensified the sensual atmosphere. Feeling the arousal creep in, I cursed inwardly, determined not to give in to temptation while she was under the influence. ¡°Well address this when you¡¯re sober,¡± I dered firmly, resisting the urge to giveC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. in to her yful advances. Suddenly, she gagged and covered her mouth with her hand. Concern washed over me as I furrowed my brows. ¡°Are you okay? Do you need to throw up?¡± I asked, not wanting her to feel ufortable or mess up the car. Her well-being was my priority in that moment. She gently shook her head, her delicate features revealing a mixture of amusement and reluctance. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like throwing up, but I must admit, I have the urge to kiss you,¡± she confessed with a yful glint in her eyes. Grinning, I teasingly declined her proposition, realizing that it might not be the most opportune moment for an affectionate gesture. ¡°Let¡¯s hold off on that for now, I chuckled, hoping to spare us both from any potential difort. I¡¯d rather the doesn¡¯t throw up in my mouth. In an effort to ease her difort, I suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just take it easy until we reach home? That way, you can rest and feel better in familiar surroundings¡± As we finally arrived home, Hazel had already sumbed to deep slumber, apanied by loud, adorable snores. Amused by her endearing sleep sounds, I couldn¡¯t resist capturing the moment on my phone through a short video, solely for yful teasing and future tants. Upon reaching the parking lot, Steven halted the car and kindly offered to carry Hazel inside. However, I politely declined his gesture, choosing to handle it myself. I wanted to assert my role and protectiveness over my partner when I¡¯m around, making it dear that no one else should be touching her. With great care, I lifted Hazel in my arms and carried her to our bedroom. Tenderly, I took off her heels, carefully unfastened her dress, and gently removed her essories. Wanting her to feelfortable, I fetched a face wipe and softly wiped off her makeup, making sure to be attentive to every detail. Finally, I tucked her in under the warm duvet, ensuring she was cozily settled before quietly leaving the room, allowing her to rest undisturbed Chapter 34 Feeling appreciative of the leisurely Sunday morning, I rose from the bed earlier than intended due to Hazel¡¯s state of being drunk and asleep. As I made my way to the kitchen, I took the decision to give our chef the day off, nning to personally prepare aforting hangover soup and a fitting breakfast for her. Choosing to start with sds and bacon, I retrieved fresh vegetables from the fridge, diligently washing and dicing them. In the midst of my culinary efforts, I heard the gentle sound of footsteps descending the stairs. Anticipating Hazel¡¯s awakening, I kept my focus fixed on the doorway until she finally appeared before me. ¡°Good morning,¡± I warmly greeted her, offering a gentle morning kiss. yfully, I inquired about her hangover level, asking, ¡°From one to ten, how bad is your hangover?¡± With a hint of humor, she replied, ¡°Twenty.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her candid response. As she plopped herself onto a kitchen stool, resting her elbows on the table with a groan, shemented the decision to take numerous shots with Elenor. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have taken so many shots with Elenor.¡± Serving her aforting te of hangover soup, I advised, ¡°Remember, when ites to Elenor and alcohol, it¡¯s best to proceed with caution. Her high tolerance can be deceiving, leading others to overindulge as well.¡± Relishing the soothing spoonfuls of hangover soup, Hazel looked up at me and inquired, ¡°How did I get home?¡± Taking a seat across from her with my coffee in hand, I couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by her memorypse. ¡°You don¡¯t remember anything fromst night?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. Leaning forward, I gently ced my cup on the table to emphasize the timing of her return. ¡°Or should I say early this morning?¡± I added, hoping to jog her memory. Hazel¡¯s lips turned into a sheepish smile as she bit them, a hint of worry in her eyes. ¡°Please tell me I didn¡¯t do something stu pid,¡± she implored, seeking reassurance. Unable to resist her charm, I found it difficult to stay angry at her. ¡°You certainly knew how to entertain the audience,¡± I teasingly remarked, ¡°You shook your a ss for the audience who were willing to watch.¡± Hazel pinched her eyes shut, her cheeks blushing with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for doing that one thing you told me not to do.¡± Despite trying to suppress my grin, I couldn¡¯t help but let it show. ¡°If you genuinely want to earn my forgiveness,¡± I proposed, ¡°then you¡¯ll have to apany me to a family dinner on Friday.¡± Surprised, she almost choked on her soup, seeking confirmation, ¡°You want to take me to your family dinner?¡± Her astonishment was evident. My heart felt warm as I replied, ¡°Yes, I want to introduce you to my mother, Because I intend making you my wife. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) The inte has erupted withmotion, and my emotions are mirroring the chaos. When David didn¡¯t show up for work this morning, I should have known something was wrong with him. Regrettably, I fell for his lies about having the flu and feeling too weak to get out of bed. In truth, Ravel must have beaten him brutally, leaving David with a bruised face and in immense pain. He likely avoided work to spare me from witnessing the aftermath of his altercation with Ravel. It¡¯s heartbreaking to think that despite his suffering, David still cared enough about me to shield me from the gruesome reality. I can¡¯t help but me myself for this unfortunate turn of events. If only I hadn¡¯t agreed to his one-month proposal, maybe things would have been different or if I hadn¡¯t misled Elenor into believing I had a boyfriend or if I hadn¡¯t provoked Ravel with my words, perhaps this whole situation could have been avoided. Now, I¡¯m left grappling with the consequences of my choices, wishing I had acted differently. As I stared intently at David, whom I had administered sleeping pills to in order to relieve his pain, my emotions swirled like a tempest, my fist clenching tightly with a simmering anger. That despicable ba stard would not escape the consequences of his actions, regardless of his wealth and influence. Suddenly, my phone buzzed on the bed, interrupting my thoughts. Careful not to disturb David, I quietly left the room and closed the door behind me. In an attempt to maintain silence, I tiptoed my way to the living room to answer the call. ¡°Agatha?¡± I spoke into the phone, curious to know why she¡¯s calling. ¡°I know I¡¯m about to sound unprofessional,¡± she rasped, taking me by surprise with her words, ¡°but I need to be for you to see the situation of things.¡± Thirsty and agitated, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and gulped it down, eager to get this conversation over with. ¡°Just go ahead and say what you need to say,¡± My emotional state was too unsettled to pay much attention to what Agatha had to say. ¡°Where the hell are you?¡± She snapped, her sharp tone and her use of profanity catching me off guard. ¡°Are you at David¡¯s ce?¡± I returned to the living room and slumped onto the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal?¡± I retorted, my frustration evident. Agatha¡¯s voice tightened with irritation. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? You assured me this morning that there was nothing between you and David, yet you¡¯ve managed to get caught by the papara zzi while visiting his house.¡± With my eyes tightly shut, I massaged my temples in an attempt to ease the throbbing headache. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal to be photographed while visiting his house,¡± I exined, my voice tinged with frustration. ¡°My friend was brutally beaten by my ex-husband, and I feltpelled to visit and check on him. I can¡¯t just abandon him.¡± Agatha¡¯s response was thoughtful yet pointed. ¡°By going alone to David¡¯s house, you inadvertently confirmed the spection,¡± she mused. ¡°They¡¯re only specting that Southwark attacked him out of jealousy because they believe you two are dating. Your actions unintentionally lend credence to their assumptions.¡± years of ¡°Do I strike you as someone who gives a da mn about what the papara zzi or the press spew out?¡± After all these working together, she knows full well what irks me and what doesn¡¯t. ¡°Those very gossipmongers and papara zzi once spread rumors that I was the one cheating on my ex-husband, leading to our divorce, when in reality, it was the opposite _¡± ¡°Southwark cheated on you?¡± Agatha gasped. Regret immediately washed over me. ¡°That¡¯s not the focus here,¡± I emphasized, hoping she wouldn¡¯t b to others, ¡°All I¡¯m trying to convey is that if I didn¡¯t give a da mn about their nonsense back then, why should I care about it now?¡± Chapter 35 ¡°Back then, you were a pregnant divorc¨¦e trying to juggle school and motherhood, but now you¡¯re a sessful businesswoman and a mother,¡± she argued vehemently, ¡°You should care!¡± I could feel a headacheing on. ¡°I¡¯ll have to call you back, Agatha. I¡¯m too stressed for this conversation right now.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Wait!¡± She blurted out, stopping me from ending the call. ¡°I have a good solution for this problem. You just have to choose an option that suits you best.¡± She should have led with this. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hear what you have to say,¡± ¡°It¡¯s either you make a statement or have a press conference, telling them that David isn¡¯t your boyfriend and you aren¡¯t the reason those two men fought, or you give the press something else to focus on.¡± Intrigued, I questioned her further. ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°Tell them Southwark was the one who cheated and give them the name of who he cheated with. Provide a picture if possible, then sit back and watch the heat be on them.¡± ¡°Hold it right there,¡± I snapped at Agatha. I despise Ravel, but that doesn¡¯t mean I want to hurt him. ¡°What I just confided in you, I haven¡¯t shared with a soul yet. If I hear this information anywhere else, I¡¯ll know it¡¯sing from you, Agatha, and I¡¯m warning you, you¡¯ll lose your job if it gets out there.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Agatha muttered. ¡°A man hurt you real bad, and now you have the opportunity to hurt him back, yet you refuse.¡± The truth is, hurting him back won¡¯t make the world a better ce, and I detest anything that brings more attention to me. I¡¯ve said what I have to say, Agatha.¡± She remarked, ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you a question, and I want you to be honest with your response.¡± I hesitated, feeling a bit uneasy. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you still love your ex-husband?¡± she asked bluntly. I want to scream ¡°no!¡± I want to shout from the top of my lungs that the only emotion I feel for that man is hatred, but the words refuse toe out. ¡°That¡¯s a silly question, Agatha,¡± I respond instead, ¡°David is awake,¡± I lie, ¡°I have to go.¡± Disconnecting the call, I exhale heavily. Once upon a time, Ravel stood by me when the world was against me. He fought with his family for my sake, and the first time I saw Ravel cry was because of me, about a year after our marriage. Let¡¯s just say this is my sacrifice for him¡­ we are finally even. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) I had to stay with David until dinner time so I can fix him dinner. After dinner, I told him not to show his grace around the office until he¡¯s actually better. Walking me to my car, David grabbed my hand when I was about to open your door. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the unwanted attention I¡¯m bringing to you.¡± I smiled stiffly at him. ¡°You want to tell me what really happened there?¡± David¡¯s demeanor shifted, and he nervously licked his lips, hesitating to recount the distressing encounter. ¡°I suppose he discovered my intentions to court you,¡± he admitted, wincing at the memory. With a heavy sigh, he gazed past me, lost in thought. ¡°Once you had departed, I decided to leave as well, so I headed to the parking lot. Unfortunately, that¡¯s where he cornered me, apanied by his security. He confronted me, hurling threats and demands to stay away from you. When I stood my ground and refused, he resorted to physical violence, striking me.¡± As I absorbed the distressing ount, I couldn¡¯t help but question his response. ¡°But why didn¡¯t you defend yourself?¡± I asked, blinking rapidly, trying toprehend the situation fully. ¡°Were you concerned about facing awsuit from Ravel?¡± David¡¯s voice carried a mix of frustration and helplessness as he replied, ¡°If only the CCTV in the parking lot was functional, you could have witnessed the entire incident yourself.¡± He continued, ¡°Raymond¡¯s security aimed a gun at him, warning me not to retaliate to any of Ravel¡¯s blows.¡± My eyes widened in shock and disbelief. ¡°Raymond pointed a gun at you?¡± I eximed, appalled by the extreme measures taken. That¡¯s utterly ruthless and heartless, even for someone as fiercely loyal to Ravel as he is. I paused for a moment, then asked, ¡°Do you know when the CCTV malfunctioned? Having a video of the incident would have been crucial evidence to confront Ravel and put him in his ce.¡± ¡°When I mentioned it was faulty, I actually meant it had been tampered with,¡± David exined, and I couldn¡¯t help but narrow my eyes in suspicion. ¡°After the confrontation, I rushed to the media house, only to discover that the recording was iplete.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but connect the dots. ¡°Are you suggesting that Ravel is the one responsible?¡± I asked, and David¡¯s response was ambiguous, neither confirming nor denying it. I couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that he hade here with the intention of confronting David. How did he even know David is the guy I pretended to be dating? I never mentioned any name to Elenor. Pushing the thought aside, I decided to address the matterter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Ravel; focus on your recovery. I¡¯ll deal with him myself.¡± Curious about my ns, David inquired, ¡°What do you intend on doing?¡± David shouldn¡¯t bother himself with that. ¡°I¡¯ll call you tomorrow morning to check up on you,¡± I reassured him, giving him a hug before getting into my car and driving off. A few minutester, my phone rang, and I frowned slightly upon seeing Elenor¡¯s name on the screen. Is she calling to beg on her brother¡¯s behalf again, as usual? I hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°Elen?¡± ¡°Hi¡­ Hazel¡­ how are you doing?¡± Elenor¡¯s voice sounded uncertain. ncing at the papara zzi car following me, I responded with a deadpan tone, ¡°Great.¡± Elenor winced, sensing the sharp edge in my tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened between my brother and your boyfriend,¡± she apologized earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ll make an effort to talk to Ravel and get the real story of what truly happened in that parking lot.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. ¡°He left David in a helpless state, that¡¯s what happened,¡± I retorted, my frustration with Ravel evident. ¡°The audacity of that man! Tell your brother he needs to call and apologize to David before Ipletely lose myposure.¡± Attempting to mediate, Elenor softly murmured, ¡°You need to calm down, Hazel. I may not know your boyfriend, but I Chapter 36 understand my brother all too well.¡± My brows furrowed as I tried toprehend Elenor¡¯s perspective. ¡°Are you suggesting that David is to me for this?¡± I asked, feeling defensive. Elenor tried to rify, ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that you¡¯ve known Ravel longer than you know this David guy.N?velDrama.Org owns this. You and Ravel were together for a year and married for two years. You should know he doesn¡¯t react unless provoked.¡± I couldn¡¯t fathom what David could have possibly said to warrant such a reaction from Ravel. Elenor¡¯s biased defense of her brother was apparent. ¡°I¡¯m currently driving, Elen. I¡¯ll have to call you back,¡± I said, ending the call before she could respond. Just as I hung up, my phone started ringing again. I nced at the screen and saw Agatha¡¯s name. ¡°I¡¯m driving, Agatha.¡± ¡°I think you should pull over and listen to the news!¡± Agatha¡¯s urgent tone caught my attention. ¡°Those people just dered war, and I¡¯m not going to sit back and watch them ruin your career!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call you back,¡± I replied, ending the call. Worried, I pulled over, quickly grabbed my tablet, and went online find out what was happening. I stumbled upon an article from a verified source, although the author chose to remain anonymous. ording to the article, the fight between David and Ravel erupted when Ravel discovered that I had returned to the man with whom I cheated on him two years ago. Just like before, social media was now filled with hurtful and derogatoryments,beling me a shameless wh ore. The onught of negativity threatened to tarnish my career and reputation, leaving me feeling overwhelmed and vuln¨¦rable. Am I about to lose everything I¡¯ve worked so hard for, for a man who is not even worth it? Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) My heart swelled with a burning fury like never before. The intensity of my hatred for the Southwark family was beyond measure, propelling me to consider actions I never dreamt of. But I knew I had to confront Ravel first, to hear his side of the story about the rampant rumors flooding the inte. He owed me an exnation, for he was well aware that I had never betrayed him. There was no cheating involved; instead, I was the one who discovered him in the arms of that dark-haired woman he shamelessly unted. As soon as the ne touched down, I wasted no time. Swiftly, I stepped out, gged a taxi, and directed it straight to Ravel¡¯s office. What surprised me was theck of opposition from his usually vignt security personnel. Undeterred, I marched into the building, acknowledging the familiar faces I encountered while dismissing the ones I didn¡¯t recognize. The emotions swirling within me were palpable as I approached Ravel¡¯s secretary. With an air of courtesy, I gently ced my purse on her desk and leaned forward, ensuring my presence was undeniable. ¡°Kindly inform your boss that Ms. cks. has arrived to see him,¡± I stated assertively, my eyes locked onto hers. Her diplomatic smile couldn¡¯t hide the tension as she promptly picked up the inte and conveyed my message to Ravel. After a brief conversation, she gestured towards the closed door, indicating that Mr. Southwark was prepared to receive me. There was no turning back now; he had no choice but to face me. Grateful for the secretary¡¯s assistance, I stepped into Ravel¡¯s office, my face a portrait of unyielding anger. I wasn¡¯t there to mask my emotions; on the contrary, I intended to let him see the depth of my disappointment and frustration not only with him but with his entire lineage. As I approached Ravel¡¯s office, he rose from his seat with an exaggerated grin, calling out, ¡°Hazel, how I¡¯ve missed seeing your face in my office!¡± His overly cheerful demeanor only fueled my anger. Without hesitation, I delivered an unexpected and resounding p to his right cheek. The force of the p caused his head to jerk to the side. ¡°It¡¯s Ms. cks to you,¡± I retorted sharply, my voice seething with fury. ¡°And how dare you smile at me after attempting to ruin my career!¡± Rubbing his cheek with one hand, he flexed his jaw, trying to regainposure. ¡°Always remember that you are the only one who cany a finger on me and get away with it,¡± he said, his tone a mix of bravado and pain. But I was undeterred; my anger was not to be contained. I couldn¡¯t help but scoff at his response. ¡°Should I be grateful for that?¡± I retorted, frustration brimming in my voice. If only my eyes had the power to kill, this ba stard would be long gone by now. ¡°Unlike David, I have no qualms about dragging your sorry a ss to court!¡± Ravel¡¯s chuckle only added fuel to the fire. ¡°I¡¯m certain of one thing, honey,¡± he said, gesturing to an empty seat. ¡°My a ss is far from useless. Why don¡¯t you have a seat, so we can discuss matters like civilized adults?¡± The audacity of his request infuriated me further. ¡°Oh, now you want to be civilized, Ravel?!¡± I eximed, my anger palpable. ¡°You came into my parking lot, brutally assaulted my boyfriend, and threatened him with a gun. And you dare to talk about being civilized?¡± He frowned, attempting to downy the situation. ¡°Intimidate him with a gun?¡± he chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t carry guns Hazel, and you know that.¡± around, ¡°You might not, but Raymond does,¡± I shot back, unyielding in my determination to expose his cu nning a ss. With a frustrated sigh, he made an audacious suggestion, gesturing towards the seat. ¡°Either take a seat, or I¡¯ll kiss you intopliance,¡± he said, seemingly trying to assert control. Part of me doubted he would actually try that, but I didn¡¯t want to provoke him further by testing my luck. Reluctantly, I lowered myself into the chair, crossing my legs and shooting him a fierce re. ¡°I have a lot to say to you, Ravel,¡± I began, my voice filled with determination. ¡°And I hope you¡¯ll have the decency to keep your mouth shut and pay immense attention.¡± He responded with a smile, but I refused to let it sway me. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 37 ¡°First and foremost,¡± I continued firmly, ¡°I want you to call David and apologize to him. Beg him not to take this to court.¡± The ball was in his court now, and I intended to hold him ountable for his actions. His smile vanished, but I remained resolute and unaffected. ¡°Secondly,¡± I continued sternly, ¡°I demand that you retract that utterly useless statement you released and issue a public apology to me. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to pursue a defamation of characterwsuit against you.¡± Ravel seemed somewhat taken aback, scratching his brows as he leaned forward. ¡°So, we¡¯re addressing the issues in numerical order?¡± he asked, attempting to regain some control. I responded with a slow blink, my face betraying no emotions. ¡°First and foremost,¡± he said firmly, ¡°I am not going to apologize to that ba stard for defending my wife.¡± I swiftly corrected him, my tone unwavering. ¡°Ex-wife,¡± I asserted, ensuring he understood the reality of our situation. Ravel¡¯s jaw visibly clenched at my words, revealing his pent-up emotions. ¡°Honestly, Hazel, I despise the idea that another man believes he has the right to call you his, but if you¡¯re going to put me through that heartache, it better be for someone who truly deserves you.¡± I¡¯m not surprised he did not agree to this. Ravel was not one to easily say ¡°sorry¡± to anyone who wasn¡¯t family. Nevertheless, I stood my ground, firmly asserting, ¡°Who I choose to date is none of your business, Ravel. Just as I had no say in who you cheated with, you have no right to dictate my choices in any way.¡± ¡°That will be a topic for another day.¡± He muttered. ¡°Moving to the second request, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hazel, but I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯ve been busy all day trying to handle the scandal that ba stard forced me into, so I haven¡¯t had the time to go online.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) As the frown on my face slowly dissipated, I couldn¡¯t help but consider the possibility that Ravel might not be behind the released statement after all. ¡°You didn¡¯t put that statement online?¡± I questioned, wanting to rify the situation. Ravel had never been one to lie, and he wasn¡¯t the type to shy away from owning his actions. ¡°What statement?¡± he asked, reaching for his tablet to check the news. As he browsed, I observed closely, and when he found what he was looking for, he cursed quietly. ¡°This is messed up, Hazel, but I had no part in it,¡± he asserted. Despite his apparent surprise, his apology didn¡¯t ease my frustration. ¡°Someone on your team, or even in your family, released that statement, Ravel,¡± I said firmly, making my stance clear. ¡°I want it corrected immediately, and a public apology issued, or I will f ucking sue your a ss.¡± The need for ountability was paramount, and I was determined to ensure my reputation was restored. He stared at me silently for few seconds then suddeny smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t know what gets to me the most, how beautiful you look when angry, or how se xy you look when spitting out profanities.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost it.¡± I hissed, unwilling to entertain his inappropriate remarks. Ignoring my response, he nonchntly shrugged, ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you miss someone so much that you can¡¯t help but be excited when you finally see them.¡± His cavalier attitude didn¡¯t sit well with me. Dropping the tablet, he picked up his phone, dialed a number, and barked into the receiver, ¡°Get into my office this minute!¡± As the door to Ravel¡¯s office swung open, Rose hurriedly entered, her face disying evident confusion and concern. ¡°Is everything alright, sir?¡± she inquired, clearly uncertain about the situation. Ravel pushed his phone toward her, exasperated. ¡°What the hell did I tell you about releasing this?¡± he demanded, his frustration evident. Rose hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the contents of the phone, realizing the gravity of the situation. ¡°Give me one reason why I shouldn¡¯t fire you this minute.¡± As Rose read the news online, her brow furrowed in increasing confusion. ¡°Sir, this wasn¡¯t me,¡± she insisted, looking nervously at Ravel, seemingly hoping for support from me. However, I remained indifferent, focusing solely on my own agenda to resolve the issue at hand. ¡°I have no idea about this, sir,¡± Rose reiterated, trying to plead her innocence. Ravel, clearly agitated, seemed determined to hold someone ountable. ¡°And that¡¯s precisely why I should fire you,¡± he snapped back at her. ¡°who did this say this idea was from again?¡± ¡°Mrs. Anne,¡± Rose replied, causing me to roll my eyes in exasperation. It was no surprise that Anne would be involved in such a matter. ¡°I swear to you, sir, I told her that you didn¡¯t want it to be released,¡± Rose defended herself, seeking to shift the me onto Anne. The realization that Rose believed Mrs. Anne¡¯s words without any skepticism tested my self-control. I refrained from scoffing, although I couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated by her gullibility. Anne had been the source of much pain in my life, and her deceitful actions were not to be taken lightly. That woman told me that she was okay with me getting married to Ravel and the next day she destroyed my wedding dress few hours to the wedding. ¡°You believed my mother¡¯s words?¡± Ravel asked incredulously, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. Waving her off, he ordered her to leave his office and find a way to rectify the situation by taking down the damaging statement. As Rose hurriedly headed for the door, Ravel called her back, prompting her to halt and turn around. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she responded, trying to keep herposure despite her evident difort. ¡°I¡¯ll be having an emergency press conference this afternoon,¡± Ravel informed her, ¡°Give the best news stations a call and have them show up in the conference room.¡± Chapter 38 Rose¡¯s curiosity got the better of her as she looked briefly at me before returning her attention to Ravel. ¡°Can I know what the conference is about, so the team can prepare for it, possibly write a speech for you?¡± she inquired, wanting to be fully prepared for the event. I¡¯m curious to know what he conference will be about too. Honestly, within seventy two hours, I¡¯ve received surprise videos and messages online. ¡°It¡¯s only right to tell your team before publicly making any announcement.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but agree with Rose¡¯s suggestion that it was essential to inform the team before making any public announcements. Public rtions yed a crucial role in managing such situations, and proper preparation could make a significant difference. Ravel¡¯s gaze shifted from Rose to me, his piercing eyes locking onto mine with intensity. ¡°I think it¡¯s high time everyone knows who the cheating partner truly is,¡± he dered firmly. Ravel¡¯s deration caught me off guard, and I couldn¡¯t help but react with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. ¡°What are you talking about, Ravel?¡± I retorted, not wanting him to y the hero or take the me solely upon himself. I had hoped for a resolution that didn¡¯t involve him putting his reputation at risk. Crossing his arms, he maintained eye contact, a determined look in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve taken too much heat from our break- up,¡± he exined, ¡°and it¡¯s time I face the consequences of my actions.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but scoff at his stance. ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, Ravel,¡± I urged, trying to reason with him/¡±There are other ways to resolve this without you putting your head on the line. Have you considered the impact this revtion could have on your exhibition?¡± A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he observed my reactions. ¡°She came here to scold me and ended up looking for a solution,¡± he mused, earning a re from me. ¡°Now I see why David is scared.¡± ¡°What is that suppose to mean?¡± ¡°It means I know you still feel flutters when I stare intently at you.¡± I felt flutters in my stomach.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 (FIVE YEARS AGO) RAVEL I¡¯ve been dating Hazel for seven months now, and I believe I¡¯m ready to go public with her, to show her to my mum,and also to think about taking her to the cathedral. Today is the normal Friday family dinner ritual in the Southwark family and I¡¯m taking Hazel along with me today. Dressed in a simple ck dress, I must say she looks breathtaking. I¡¯ve said this before and I¡¯ll say it again, he looks breathtaking in everything she wears. She noticed me staring and smiled shyly. ¡°how do I look?¡±¡± ¡°Breathtakingly beautiful.¡± I¡¯m one lucky ba stard to have her in my life. ¡°I love you, Hazel.¡± So f ucking much that I can¡¯t imagine living without her. ¡°Don¡¯t ever leave me, Hazel, I don¡¯t think I can survive it.¡± I know what Anne can do and I know just how piercing her words can be. Hazel closed the distance between us and circled her hands around my neck, standing on her tiptoes, she kissed me tenderly. I returned with the same pace. Without being told, I know this woman loves me so da mn much. She finally pulled back, her eyes dancing around my face. ¡°I love you too Ravel, and you¡¯re kind of stuck with me.¡± She grinned at me. ¡°It¡¯s kind of difficult to get rid of me.¡± I don¡¯t think she realizes how much hope I have in those words. ¡°remember your words when you listen to Anne speak.¡± Her brows furrowed and I couldn¡¯t resist bending down to steal a kiss. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to protect you from her, but then I¡¯ll not be with you all the time and she¡¯ll cease every reason to make you give up and leave.¡± She smiled tightly, trying to reduce the tension in the room. ¡°Your mother can¡¯t be as bad as you and Elenor describe her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s worst than we narrate her to be, that I can assure you.¡± She isn¡¯t the first girl I introduced to Anne and she sessfully made them change their mind about the rtionship. I didn¡¯t care much back then, mostly because I wasn¡¯t s invested in the rtionship either. Hazel stared at her wristwatch before hurriedly grabbing her purse. ¡°We are going to bete for the dinner if we don¡¯t leave now.¡± Agreeing with her, I grabbed her hand and led her out of the bedroom. Raymond walked out of the kitchen with a bottle of water, fully dressed for dinner. He whistled when he took notice of Hazel. ¡°You look lovely Ms cks.¡± Hazel smiled shyly. ¡°thank you Raymond, and please, I¡¯ve told you countless times to call me Hazel.¡± I chuckled, kissing her temple. ¡°You will have to learn to ignore Raymond because he¡¯ll continue calling you Ms. cks as long as it gets to you.¡± Raymond led the way as we all walked out of the manor. Raymond pulled over at the familiar parking lot of the Southwark manor. Hazel reached to open her door, but I quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her from leaving. She stared at me quizzically. ¡°I need you to rx,¡± I whispered in her ear, cing a featherlight kiss on her neck. ¡°I can feel how tense you are.¡± Exhaling shakily, she tried to force herself to rx. ¡°I¡¯m meeting your mum, Ravel, of course, I¡¯ll be human.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°She¡¯s human.¡± I reminded her, in case she has forgotten. ¡°If eventually you somehow manage to feel intimidated by her, always remember that you both have the same heart shape and the same color of blood flowing in your veins.¡± She giggled. ¡°Very funny.¡± Her sarcasm did not go amiss. ¡°Your sister is waving at us.¡± She pointed out, ¡°And it seems?¡± Her eyes widened as her words trailed off. ¡°I think your mother is equally waiting for us next to your sister.¡± Her nervousness made me consider canceling the dinner ns. ¡°You¡¯re going to take a deep breath and rx or I¡¯ll get the key from Raymond and drive us out of here to a ce where you are most comfortable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine Ravel,¡± she smiled reassuringly at me. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s disrespectful to keep her waiting.¡± Chapter 39 Nodding, I opened the door, got out of the car, rounded it, and helped her with the door. I felt two pairs of eyes on me as I intertwined my fingers with that of Hazel. I led her to the porch, stopping in front of Anne. ¡°Mum, this is Hazel, Hazel cks.¡± Hazel stered the biggest smile she could muster at the moment. ¡°A lovely evening Mrs. Southwark.¡± She greeted. ¡°You have a good home.¡± Anne slowly took in her dressing. ¡°Saint Laurent.¡± She pointed out, referring to her dress, ¡°I love it.¡± Walking over to me, she pulled me into a hug and kissed my right cheek. ¡°Where are your shoes from youngdy, it¡¯s a very rare collection.¡± Hazel stared at her feet and chuckled nervously. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ravel bought them.¡± Chortling, Anne shook her head. ¡°Of course he did. I bet you don¡¯t even know who made those shoes.¡± Elenor rolled her eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t me a for not being able to keep up with all these designers.¡± She walked over and pulled Hazel into a hug. ¡°It¡¯s lovely to see you again.¡± Anne cleared her throat. ¡°Come on everyone, dinner is getting cold.¡± She walked in first and we all followed suit. At the table, I sat next to Hazel with Raymond sitting directly across me. I took notice of how Elenor and Raymond ignored each other, probably because Anne is silently yet carefully observing everyone. ¡°So,¡± Anne rasped, breaking the silence, ¡°What do you do for a living?¡± She chuckled as though she made a joke. ¡°My son finds it difficult to discuss his girlfriends with me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you tend to ask about things that don¡¯t matter,¡± I responded, stopping Hazel from answering, not because I¡¯m ashamed of what she does, but because it¡¯s none of Anne¡¯s f ucking business. Anne smiled tightly at me. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to tell me what she does for a living, can you at least tell me who her family is?¡± She turned to Hazel, ¡°Who are your family dear?¡± ¡°I actually lost my parents at a very little age, so I grew up with different foster parents.¡± The small smile on Anne¡¯s lips slowly disappeared. ¡°In other words, this rtionship isn¡¯t going to benefit my family in any way, am I right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so_¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare apologize to her,¡± I warned Hazel whilst ring at Anne. ¡°We came here to have dinner and we¡¯re not going to keep to that, I¡¯ll leave with my woman.¡± Squinting her eyes, Anne slowly rose to her feet. She grabbed her wine ss and abruptly emptied the content of the ss of Hazel¡¯s face. Everybody gasped at her sudden action. Jumping to my feet, I tried to round the table to get to her but Hazel grabbed my forearm. I nced at her and she shook her head, silently telling me not to engage in a verbal fight with Anne. When have I ever listened? ¡°I¡¯m going to say this once and for all, the next time you try this sh it again will be thest time I¡¯ll show up for this family dinner. ¡°Are you insane?¡± She hissed. ¡°Why are you constantly trying to disgrace this daily family by picking up beggars from the streets of New York?¡± ¡°Mum!¡± Elenor chastised. ¡°Shut your mouth this minute!¡± Anne bellowed at her, ¡°Before I make you lose your tongue. How will this family move forward if he constantly keeps picking the lowest of them all?¡± That¡¯s it! I¡¯m done with this dinner. Grabbing Hazel¡¯s hand, I pulled her up. ¡°Grab your purse, we¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Anne snapped. ¡°I¡¯d rather have this dinnere to an end than dine with another gold- diggingbitch!¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) I found myself reluctantly agreeing to a dinner date with Ravel, unsure of what his intentions were. It had been a week since the press conference where he admitted that he cheated on me and not the other way round. Ravel can be stubborn which is why I¡¯m not surprised that he went ahead with the press conference even after my advice. I didn¡¯t know why he wanted to meet me, but a part of me was curious to see what he had to say, besides, I feel he deserves a dinner with me after what he just did. As I arrived at the restaurant, my heart raced with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Ravel was already there, sitting at a corner table with a warm smile on his face. It was a smile that once made my heart sk ip a beat, but now, I couldn¡¯t trust its sincerity. ¡°Good to see you,¡± he greeted me as I approached the table. ¡°You look stunning, as always.¡± His compliments had a way of disarming me, but I reminded myself to remain cautious. ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied with a small smile. ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡± He hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. ¡°I wanted to talk about David,¡± he began. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the way he treats you, and I can¡¯t help but worry about you. He doesn¡¯t deserve someone as amazing as you, Hazel.¡± I raised an eyebrow, not expecting him to bring up David. ¡°You¡¯ve been spying on me?¡± I asked with a hint of annoyance. He chuckled nervously. ¡°Not exactly,¡± he said. ¡°But I can¡¯t help but notice things. It¡¯s hard not to when I still care about you.¡± I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and nostalgia. ¡°Ravel, we¡¯re not together anymore,¡± I reminded him firmly. ¡°My rtionship with David is none of your concern.¡± Tknow,¡± he said, his gaze intense. ¡°But I can¡¯t help but worry. I don¡¯t want to see you get hurt.¡± I softened slightly, realizing that he might genuinely be concerned. ¡°I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself,¡± I replied. ¡°David and I have our ups and downs, like any couple, but I¡¯m not ready to give up on our rtionship just because things are challenging right now.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± he said, nodding slowly. ¡°But I can¡¯t shake the feeling that he¡¯s not the right person for you.¡± I frowned, feeling conflicted. Ravel had a way of getting under my skin, and his words still held power over me. ¡°Why are you telling me all this now?¡± I asked, trying to understand his motives. He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. ¡°Because I miss you,¡± he admitted softly. ¡°I miss us, Hazel. I can¡¯t help. but wonder if we made a mistake by breaking up.¡± My jaw clenched. ¡°If you want this dinner to continue, you¡¯ll have to stop talking about the possibility of us getting back together.¡± Ravel nodded reluctantly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for bringing it up.¡± As we continued our dinner conversation, engrossed in our own world of emotions and uncertainties, I didn¡¯t notice the arrival of an unexpected visitor until it was toote. Ravel¡¯s mother, Mrs. Anne, stood there with an astonished expression on her face, her eyes fixed on us at the corner table. ¡°Hazel, what on earth are you doing here?¡± she demanded, her toneced with disdain and disapproval. Her unexpected appearance caught me off guard, and I felt a flush of embarrassment rise to my cheeks. Ravel nced at his mother, a mix of annoyance and determination crossing his features. ¡°Mother, please, not now,¡± he urged, trying to shield me from her judgment. Mrs. Anne paid no heed to her son¡¯s request, and her eyes never left me. ¡°I thought we made it clear that you should stay Chapter 40 away from my son,¡± she said coldly. ¡°You are nothing but trouble, and he deserves better than you.¡± Her words stung, and I felt myposure waver. ¡°Mrs. Anne, I understand your concerns,¡± I replied, trying to maintain my poise. ¡°But Ravel and I are adults, and we can make our own choices.¡± ¡°You¡¯re nothing more than a distraction,¡± she sneered, her voice carrying a hint of venom. ¡°You¡¯ll only drag him down, and I won¡¯t let that happen.¡± Ravel¡¯s patience seemed to wane as he couldn¡¯t bear to see me humiliated. ¡°Mother, enough,¡± he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°Hazel is not a distraction, and she¡¯s certainly not dragging me down. I care about her, and I won¡¯t let you insult her.¡± Mrs. Anne seemed taken aback by Ravel¡¯s defiance, but she quickly regained herposure. ¡°You¡¯re making a big mistake, Ravel,¡± she warned, her voice cold and resolute. ¡°She¡¯s not right for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be the judge of that,¡± Ravel retorted, his voice unwavering. The tension between mother and son was palpable, and I felt like an unwee intruder in their family feud. Sensing the awkwardness, I decided to intervene. ¡°Mrs. Anne, I respect your opinion, but Ravel and I need to figure things out on our own,¡± I said firmly, trying to convey my determination. ¡°We¡¯ll take responsibility for our choices.¡± I¡¯m no longer that young lady she intimidated years back. Mrs. Anne¡¯s icy stare remained fixed on me, but she said nothing more. With ast disdainful nce, she turned and walked away, leaving us in a cloud of tension. Ravel let out a sigh of frustration, and I reached out to hold his hand, offering a small smile. ¡°Thank you for standing up for me,¡± I said quietly. He has always been like that, which was one of the reason I loved him and tried to fight for our marriage. I couldn¡¯t shake off the awkwardness of Mrs. Anne¡¯s unexpected appearance which made me feel ufortable. ¡°I think it¡¯s gettingte,¡± I said, my voice soft yet determined. ¡°I should probably head home.¡± Ravel looked disappointed but understood my need to leave. ¡°Of course,¡± he replied, trying to hide his disappointment. ¡°Let me walk you to your car.¡± As we made our way out of the restaurant, the cool night air did little to case the tension between us. We walked in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. When we finally reached my car, Ravel turned to face me, a conflicted expression on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t want this night to end,¡± he admitted, taking a step closer to me. ¡°It has to,¡± I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check. If I don¡¯t leave, I meant begin to feel things I¡¯m not suppose to feel. ¡°it¡¯s for the best. I need to get back to Seattle tomorrow morning and you have work tomorrow too.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Before I could react, Ravel leaned in, attempting to kiss me. My instincts took over, and without thinking, I brought my hand up, delivering a sharp p across his cheek. ¡°What was that for?¡± he eximed, holding his check in shock. ¡°I told you, Ravel,¡± said firmly, my voice tinged with anger and hurt. ¡°don¡¯t try to bring any emotion or our past into this dinner. You can¡¯t just kiss me and expect everything to be fine.¡± His expression softened as he realized his mistake. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, his voice filled with regret. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to push you. It¡¯s just¡­ I can¡¯t help how I feel.¡± Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have showed up. ¡°Goodnight Ravel.¡± I got into my car and drove away Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) I just learnt from Agatha that David found out about my dinner ns with Ravel and headed to New York to meet me. As I returned home after the eventful dinner with Ravel, I found myself feeling emotionally drained and conflicted. It had been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I knew that I needed some time to process everything that had transpired, However, my ns to have a moment of quiet reflection were soon interrupted as David stormed into the living room with an angry expression on his face. ¡°Hazel, we need to talk,¡± he said sternly, his frustration evident. I braced myself for what I knew would be a heated conversation. ¡°David, L.¡± I began, but he cut me off before I could exin. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you went on a date with Ravel,¡± he said, his voice seething with anger. ¡°After everything that¡¯s happened between you two, how could you?¡± I sighed, trying to find the right words to exin myself. ¡°David, it wasn¡¯t a date¡± I said, hoping to rify the situation. ¡°We just met for dinner to talk.¡± He shook his head, clearly not buying my exnation. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it was a date or not,¡± he retorted. ¡°You know how I feel about him, and you still went behind my back¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t go behind your back,¡± I protested, feeling the weight of guilt and frustration. ¡°I wanted to talk to him about the statement that was released, and I thought it would be better to meet face to face¡± David paced back and forth, his anger not subsiding, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re defending him,¡± he said bitterly. ¡°After all the pain he caused you, you¡¯re still giving him the benefit of the doubt¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about defending him,¡± I said, my voice firm. ¡°It¡¯s about finding closure and understanding what happened. ¡°You should have talked to me about it,¡± he said, his voice softer but still filled with disappointment. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to be in this together, Hazel.¡± ¡°David, I understand your concern, but it¡¯s essential that we rify something¡± I said, my voice steady. ¡°We¡¯re not officially dating yet, so you shouldn¡¯t speak to me like that.¡± He looked taken aback by my words, realizing that he had crossed a line. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he admitted, his expression softening. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have acted like that, and I apologize. I appreciated his apology and knew that he was genuinely trying to understand theplexity of our rtionship. We had been spending time together, but we hadn¡¯t officially defined our status. However, David wasn¡¯t done with his concerns. ¡°But there¡¯s something you need to remember too,¡± he said, his tone more serious. ¡°You¡¯re keeping Daisy a secret from Ravel, and if you keep getting close to him, he¡¯s bound to find out eventually.¡± ¡°David, I understand your worries about Daisy, and I want you to know that I¡¯m being careful,¡± I reassured him. ¡°I won¡¯t let Ravel find out about her unless I¡¯m ready to tell him.¡± David nodded, but his concern still lingered in his eyes. ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to get hurt,¡± he said, his voice softening. ¡°I appreciate that,¡± I replied, grateful for his genuine concern. ¡°And I promise you, I won¡¯t do anything that could jeopardize our rtionship or put Daisy at risk.¡± David reached for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. ¡°I trust you, Hazel,¡± he said, a hint of a smile returning to his lips. ¡°I just want us to be open and honest with each other.¡± ¡°Hazel, I need to know what it will take for you to ept me as your boyfriend,¡± he said, his voice sincere and heartfelt. I looked at him, touched by his vulnerability and honesty. ¡°David, it¡¯s not about epting you or not,¡± I replied gently. ¡°It¡¯s about us taking things one step at a time, considering our feelings and the complexities of our past¡± He nodded, taking my hand in his. ¡°I understand, but I want to be more than just someone you¡¯re spending time with,¡± he said earnestly. ¡°I love you, Hazel, and I want to be your boyfriend. I want to be there for you and take care of you, even if I¡¯m not as rich as Ravel.¡± I was moved by his deration of love and his determination to be a part of my life. ¡°David, you mean a lot to me,¡± I said, my voice soft. ¡°But it¡¯s not about your financial status. It¡¯s about our connection and understanding each other on a deeper level.¡± He smiled, his eyes filled with warmth. ¡°I promise to do everything I can to make you happy,¡± he said. ¡°I may not have Ravel¡¯s wealth, but I have a lot of love to give, and I¡¯ll always be there for you.¡± ¡°David, I care about you deeply,¡± I said, looking into his eyes. ¡°But I need more time to process everything, to heal from the past, and to be sure about what I want.¡± He nodded, understanding my need for space and time. ¡°I want you to be sure too,¡± he said softly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rush you into anything.¡± ¡°I appreciate that,¡± I replied, feeling grateful for his understanding. ¡°I¡¯ve been through a lot with Ravel, and I need to be sure that I¡¯m ready for a new rtionship.¡± David reached for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± he said, his voice filled with sincerity. ¡°I believe in us, and I¡¯m willing to be patient.¡± I smiled, touched by his willingness to give me the time and space I needed. ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, feeling a sense of relief. ¡°Your patience means a lot to me.¡± He leaned in and kissed my forehead. ¡°I want you to be happy, Hazel,¡± he said softly. ¡°And if that means taking things slowly, then I¡¯m willing to do that.¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) Daisy¡¯s school finally went on a well-deserved break, and I can¡¯t express enough how thankful I am for this timing. It¡¯s like Fate itself is aligning things for my benefit. This weekend, Ravel, the renowned artist, isnding in Seattle for his uing show next week, and coincidentally, Daisy¡¯s school break starts this very weekend. I¡¯m taking her away from this environment for the whole week. In her adorable baby voice, Daisy asked the sweetest question, ¡°Are we going to see grandma?¡± Gazing at her through the rearview mirror, I couldn¡¯t help but smile warmly. ¡°Yes, darling, we¡¯re heading to see grandma Monica.¡± Her joyful squeal filled the car, and I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. It¡¯s heartwarming to see how much David¡¯s mom adores Daisy, and the feeling is absolutely mutual. I sang along with Daisy to the children¡¯s rhyme, her adorable baby voice and babble almost sending me into fits ofughter. Driving down a familiar route, we finally arrived at Monica¡¯s ce. As if she knew we wereing, Monica stood on the porch with a beaming smile. After switching off the engine, Monica wasted no time. She opened the door, helped Daisy out of her baby seat, and showered her with hugs and kisses. Daisy responded with giggles, clearly delighted to see her grandma. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much, pumpkin,¡± Monica eximed lovingly. With a warm smile, I parked the car and approached them, eagerly anticipating my own wee hug. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too, Monica,¡± I said sincerely, feeling the affection between us. Monica patted my back affectionately while bncing Daisy on her arm. Her yful gaze shifted to Robertson, who was busy taking Daisy¡¯s bag inside the house. ¡°Is he staying with us too?¡± she inquired curiously. ¡°Yes, he is.¡± I reassured Monica, acknowledging that I don¡¯t usually have security around, but it¡¯s essential for my daughter¡¯s safety. Robertson acts like Daisy¡¯s constantpanion, and I trust him implicitly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he blends in seamlessly.¡± Monica waved off my exnation, inviting us inside with the promise of catching up and ate lunch she had prepared. However, I had to be honest, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Monica, but I have to head back to the city.¡± Her face fell, prompting me to embrace her gently. ¡°I promise, I¡¯ll make a conscious effort to visit more often,¡± especially now that Daisy is here for the week, She frowned, expressing her skepticism. ¡°You always say that,¡± Monica argued, a hint of a pour on her face. ¡°You promise to visit, but you never do.¡± Her disappointment was evident, and I knew I had to make a genuine effort to change that perception. ¡°I really mean it this time,¡± I assured Monica with sincerity as Daisy wriggled out of her arms and ran to Robertson, who lifted her up yfully. ¡°I have to leave now if I want to make it to the office on time for my meeting.¡± Understanding my responsibilities, Monica nodded with a glint of empathy in her eyes. ¡°You work just as hard as David does,¡± she acknowledged. Not quite sure how to respond to thatparison, I simply smiled, kissed Daisy goodbye, and drove away. One of the reasons I haven¡¯t been spending much time with Monica is her persistent desire to convince me to date David. Changing the car¡¯s music to something more ssical, I made my way back to the office. However, upon my arrival, I noticed that most of the staff were already wrapping up for the day. Deciding to finish up a few things, I stepped into my office to make the most of the remaining time. Agatha greeted me as she entered my office a few minutes after me. ¡°Are you working overtime today?¡± she inquired curiously. ¡°I didn¡¯te to the office this morning, so I thought I might as well get some work done tonight,¡± I replied, realizing I should have grabbed some coffee on my way in. ¡°Is David still around?¡± Chapter 42 ¡°No, he left about an hour ago,¡± Agatha informed me, setting a box on my table. Intrigued, I raised an eyebrow, wondering who the box was from. ¡°It¡¯s from Mr. Southwark¡¯s office,¡± she exined, ¡°an exclusive invitation for the exhibition.¡± Opening the box, I blinked rapidly as I peered inside. ¡°Ravel sent me an invitation,¡± I said in disbelief.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Agatha nodded and pointed to anotherrger box on my sofa, which I hadn¡¯t even noticed until then. ¡°The invitation came with both boxes,¡± she added, leaving me pleasantly surprised by the gesture. As I slowly approached therger box on the sofa, a hunch told me what it might contain. Undoing the ribbon, I opened it to find thetest Versace dress collection inside. My eyes locked on the striking red dress, and I couldn¡¯t help but lift it up in awe. Suppressing my excitement, I asked Agatha when it had arrived. ¡°Mr. Southwark dropped it off himself around noon,¡± she informed me. ¡°I wanted to call you, but he seemed to be in a hurry.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that I had missed meeting him. ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± I replied, trying to brush it off. cing the dress back into the box, I instructed Agatha to send the boxes to my car trunk. Handing her the car key, I said, ¡°Once you¡¯re done, you¡¯re free to leave.¡± With a subtle nod, she effortlessly lifted the box, her eyes reflecting a mix of uncertainty and determination. ¡°Are you nning to attend the event? I need to know, so I can make sure your schedule is free.¡±. I found nopelling reason not to attend, despite the memories of ourst dinner together that ended on a sour note. I knew it was time to let go of animosity and move forward. Our marriage had faltered, but that didn¡¯t necessitate a perpetual state of enmity. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, the words leaving my lips with newfound rity, ¡°I¡¯ll be attending the event.¡± Agatha acknowledged my response with a knowing nod. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll have to inform David as well, so he can make arrangements.¡± ¡°No need to involve David,¡± I said firmly. Perplexed, Agatha tilted her head inquisitively. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ll be attending the event alone.¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 RAVEL (PRESENT TIME) As I stepped foot in Seattle, my heart couldn¡¯t help but be consumed by thoughts of Hazel. With the uing exhibition in mind, I was inspired to find the perfect dress for her. Craftily, I decided to send it along with an invitation to the event, creating the perfect excuse to surprise her. Anxious to witness her reaction, I hurriedly made my way to her office upon arrival. However, a part of me was relieved to learn that she wasn¡¯t there at that moment. I knew Hazel well enough to anticipate her potential rejection, and I didn¡¯t want to risk experiencing it firsthand. I politely declined the suggestion to wait for her from her secretary, fearing the disappointment she might express. In the midst of my thoughts, both Raymond and Rose unexpectedly entered my hotel suite, almost in perfect unison. Raymond, being the first to break the silence. ¡°Elenor is scheduled to arrive in Seattle on Thursday, just in time for the event on Saturday.¡± Raising an amused eyebrow, I couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing that Raymond felt the need to update me about my own sister¡¯s arrival. ¡°Well, it¡¯s good to know, but I¡¯m more concerned about the security arrangements for the event,¡± I reminded him. He quickly acknowledged my point, settlingfortably on the sofa. ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve already arranged for twenty security personnel. You¡¯ll be able to meet them on Thursday,¡± he assured me. Shifting my attention to Rose, I was eager to know why she was in my suite. Without hesitation, she responded to my unspoken question, ¡°I just came back from the venue, and all the extra lighting has been taken care of.¡± Her reassuring words eased my mind, knowing that everything wasing together smoothly for the event. That¡¯s good. ¡°I want everything to be perfect.¡± I remarked, recalling the impact of the recent emergency conference on the ¨C invitee response rate. ¡°And please, make sure to number the seats for the event,¡± I reminded Rose. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. After she left, I was about to immerse myself in my work again when Raymond¡¯s snickering caught my attention. Intrigued, I couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow inquisitively. Hisughter continued, and he finally looked up from his phone. ¡°Mrs. Anne has been trying to reach you,¡± he said, and I blinked, realizing that I had intentionally ignored her calls. ¡°She¡¯s curious about the hotel you¡¯re staying at so she can book a suite there too,¡± he exined. I stared at him with intense determination, a warning burning in my eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you even think about it.¡± He merely chuckled, carelessly tossing his phone onto the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s just staying here to make sure Hazel doesn¡¯te over.¡± He tried to suppress a smile, biting his lower lip. ¡°Knowing your mother, she¡¯ll undoubtedly find out which hotel you¡¯re staying at. Da mn, he was right. ¡°So, did you meet her?¡± I yed innocent, feigning ignorance. ¡°Meet who?¡± Raymond rolled his eyes, his confidence unwavering. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m your personal security. I always know where you are.¡± My lips remained tightly sealed. ¡°I saw you pick up a dress from a Versace store, and I know you visited Hazel¡¯s art gallery. All I want to know is if you met her.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± I replied tly, my focus returning to theptop. ¡°And for future reference, when I tell you not to follow me, make da mn sure your foolish self isn¡¯t tailing me.¡± He argued, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee that, sir. It¡¯s my duty to keep you safe, and that¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to do. Besides, you have an enemy, in case you haven¡¯t noticed.¡± The memory was hard to shake off. With a sigh, I eased back on the sofa, my gaze drifting to the glimmering chandelier. ¡°Last week, I invited Hazel to dinner at a restaurant, and she actually showed up.¡± Chapter 43 Raymond blinked rapidly, clearly surprised. ¡°Hazel flew all the way from Seattle to New York just for a dinner date with you.¡± I interjected with a hint of pride, ¡°Well, I sent the jet to make it happen.¡± Raymond shook his head in disbelief. ¡°I turn away for a moment, and you pull off something as extravagant as sending a jet to fetch Hazel from Seattle.¡± He knew how I couldn¡¯t resist doing things for her. ¡°But have you considered the risk? What if that ba stard finds out? You took a significant gamble.¡± Running my fingers through my hair, I attempted to push away thoughts of the awkward attempted kiss from me. ¡°Something did happen at the diner, right?¡± Raymond¡¯s sudden question snapped my attention back to the present. I lifted my head from the sofa, blinking at him in response. ¡°Of course,¡± he mumbled under his breath. ¡°What did you do?¡± With a hint of embarrassment, I confessed, ¡°I tried to kiss her, and she pped me.¡± Raymond burst intoughter, and I couldn¡¯t help but admit, ¡°Yeah, go ahead andugh, I deserve it.¡± The more I reyed the moment in my head, the more I realized just how foolish and impulsive my actions were. After our divorce, she offered an olive branch, and I foolishly tried to take it a step further with a kiss. ¡°No offense, Ravel, but if I were in her shoes, I might have done more than just p you,¡± Raymond said, wiping tears from hisshes. ¡°What were you even thinking, man?¡± ¡°F uck if I know,¡± I admitted, feeling drained and unable to focus on work any longer. I shut down the laptop, kicked off my slippers, and sprawled out on the sofa. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Raymond inquired, ¡°Have you talked to her since then?¡± I lisped, ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t think she¡¯ll ept that invitation, do you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be surprised if she does.¡± I couldn¡¯t continue like this, it was tearing me apart. ¡°Raymond¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± he responded, attentive to my distress. ¡°I¡¯m considering going after Hazel,¡± I confessed, even without ncing at him, knowing his brows were probably reaching his hairline. ¡°I want my wife back. I want my marriage back.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get all of that back,¡± he reasoned, ¡°but it¡¯s not the right time for it now.¡± I couldn¡¯t care less about the right time anymore. ¡°She¡¯s slipping away from me, Raymond,¡± I admitted, feeling the weight of the situation. ¡°I saw how repulsed she was when I tried to kiss her. My Hazel is slowly slipping away, and if I don¡¯t act quickly, I¡¯ll lose her forever.¡± Raymond brought up an important point, ¡°And what about the video? Have you forgotten about its existence? The very reason you divorced her in the first ce?¡± ¡°When I married Hazel,¡± I began, my voice h oa rse with emotion, ¡°I had dreams of building a life with her. I wanted to witness her carrying our children, to have a family together, but circumstances forced me to let her go after just two years of marriage.¡± Raymond let out a dejected sigh. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n?¡± he asked, but answered it himself. ¡°To go after her without caring about the consequences.¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do,¡± I admitted, ¡°but one thing is certain: I can¡¯t stay away from her any longer.¡± As my phone chimed on the table, I reached for it and opened the message icon. After reading the text, my brows furrowed into a frown. Raymond asked, concerned, ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± My jaw clenched in frustration. ¡°The ba stard wants me to bring June to Seattle for the exhibition.¡± Raymond cursed aloud, understanding the predicament. ¡°So what are you going to do?¡± Chapter 43 I sighed heavily, resigned to the decision. What else can I do? I¡¯ll send the jet to get her? Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) As I was preparing for another busy day at work, the sound of the doorbell interrupted my morning routine. Curiosity piqued, I approached the inte, wondering who would be visiting at such an early hour. To my surprise, it was David, who appeared on the webcam and greeted me with a cheerful wave. After giving him ess, I returned to my room toplete my morning routine. When I finally emerged, David had already made himselffortable and helped himself to some of the delicious breakfast prepared by my cook. With a yful grin, I couldn¡¯t resist teasing him, ¡°Couldn¡¯t even wait for me, huh?¡± Taking a seat beside him at the dining table, I joined in the mealtime banter. Amidst hisughter, David managed to exin, mouth half full with scrambled eggs, ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it, I was starving, and you seemed to be taking forever to get ready.¡± Rolling my eyes yfully at his feeble excuse, I couldn¡¯t resist teasing him back. ¡°What happened to the food at your ce?¡± I asked, knowing well that he hardly ever eats at home, considering he¡¯s an excellent cook himself. ¡°Did you lose all your pots or something?¡± David chuckled again, choosing to avoid the topic of his pots. He was well aware that I was onto his culinary habits ¨C it¡¯s either my ce or takeout for him. ¡°Why are you here so early then? Did something happen?¡± I inquired, wondering if there was a particr reason he decided to show up at my doorstep this early in the morning. if something was wrong, he would have just given me a phone call or wait for me at the office. With a hint of hesitation, he mumbled, ¡°Nothing happened. My car broke down yesterday, and I had to take it to the mechanic. I need a ride to work this morning, so that¡¯s why I showed up.¡± As I blinked rapidly, expecting him tough at his own joke, I noticed his serious expression remained unchanged. ¡°You do realize that the distance from your house to mine is almost the same as the distance from your house to the office,¡± I pointed out, finding his excuse rather puzzling. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± he insisted, but his response didn¡¯t entirely convince me. ¡°I just wanted to take a ride with you to work this morning, that¡¯s all.¡± Though something seemed off about him, I decided not to pry further for now, respecting his privacy. Changing the topic, I mentioned, ¡°I spoke to Daisy this morning. She seems to enjoy her time whenever she visits your mom.¡± He nodded absently, acknowledging, ¡°My mother has a way of spoiling kids.¡± Downing thest of his tea, he took the cup to the sink to wash it off. With a yful smirk, he added, ¡°I bet you scold her more than my mother does.¡± Indeed, someone has to be the disciplinarian, and I don¡¯t mind taking on that role when needed. ¡°she was eager to get off the phone with me.¡± I couldn¡¯t even believe it. ¡°she raised you to be a good man, so I¡¯m not worried about the morals she might instill in my daughter in my absence.¡± Returning the cup to the shelve, david turned to me. ¡°if you don¡¯t hurry up with the breakfast, we are going tote for work.¡± He is right. Gulping down my tea, I mirrored his actions before grabbing my purse and my keys. David opted to drive and I agreed, showing to be a passenger princess. Halfway down the road, David finally spoke up, his voice tinged with frustration, ¡°I heard Southwark arrived in Seattle yesterday.¡± I sensed that this might be what had been bothering him. ¡°Did you meet with him yesterday?¡± ¡°I was on the road, going to and fro your mother¡¯s ce, so of course, I didn¡¯t meet him,¡± I replied, trying to remainposed and not sound defensive. Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked. ¡°Is that the reason why you decided to drive me to work this morning? To make sure I don¡¯t run into him or speak to him?¡± David nced at me briefly, and I could see the concern in his eyes. ¡°Did you drive me to work to make sure I don¡¯t run into him or speak to him?¡± I repeated. His response was sincere and heartwarming. ¡°I drove you to work because I didn¡¯t get to see you the whole of yesterday, and Chapter 44 N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. I missed you,¡± he said. ¡°I trust you well enough to know that you won¡¯t be going back to your ex- husband, not after what he did to you.¡± I looked out the window, ¡°can we not make Ravel our topic of discussion please?¡± I don¡¯t even understand what I¡¯m doing with Ravel. I should be angry at him for what he did to David¡¯s face, but instead, I went on a dinner date with him and also epted a dress invitation from him. ¡°I know I¡¯m not supposed to talk about him, but I ran into him at the gym this morning.¡± Surprised by his word, I nced at him sharply with furrowed brows. ¡°Seattle isn¡¯t that small,¡± I muttered, finding it suspicious that he coincidently ran into Ravel at the gym. There are a lot of gym houses in Seattle, why will they use the same one? David turned right, ¡°I know it sounds weird and very difficult to believe, but the fact remains that I coincidently ran into him at the gym, and I think it¡¯s only fair for you to know that he didn¡¯te to Seattle alone.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯te alone. ¡°this isn¡¯t some sort of vacation, of course, he wille with some of his staff from thepany.¡± David scoffed. ¡°are you deliberately acting ignorant right now? Are you trying to tell me that you don¡¯t know who I¡¯m referring to?¡± I know for a fact who he is talking about, but I refused to utter a word. ¡°well if you must know, I¡¯m talking about June, his woman, the samedy he cheated on you with.¡± Avoiding David¡¯s knowing gaze, I looked out the window. ¡°you don¡¯t have to be so descriptive about June, I know who she is and what she did.¡± He nced at me again, but I refused to look at him. ¡°I¡¯m not the enemy here, I just felt you should know about this so you don¡¯t get caught by surprise.¡± I know David isn¡¯t the enemy, but that didn¡¯t stop me from feeling angry. What right do I even have to be angry? Ravel bluntly told me the day I found them together that he is in love with her. The more I hang out with him, the more I be the other woman, and that¡¯s something I¡¯ll never allow myself to be. I deserve more than that, and I¡¯m not going to settle for anything less. ¡°I received an invitation to Ravel¡¯s exhibition, do you wannae?¡± ¡°You received an invitation?¡± he asked, clearly surprised by the news. ¡°Yes. He sent an invitation to my office yesterday.¡± And I wasn¡¯t going to extend it to you, but I can¡¯t begin to fathom how I¡¯ll feel when I see Ravel with June and I have no one to turn to. ¡°So are you coming?¡± He nodded. ¡°if you are sure you want to go, then I¡¯m definitely going with you.¡± He pulled over at the parking lot. ¡°I should get a tux though.¡± Suddenly, I¡¯m not looking forward to the exhibition anymore. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 JUNE Once upon a time, I was an unknown individual without a ss or a single penny to my name. Now, my life has taken avish turn-adorned in exquisite designer attire, and I have the privilege of being associated with Ravel Southwark. There¡¯s no turning back for me. The memory of the forgotten woman I once was shall never resurface. I am resolute in this transformation. Ravel has distanced himself from me ever since Hazel finalised their divorce papers. Strangely, his emotional detachment doesn¡¯t faze me. As long as he continues to provide financial support, shower me with luxurious clothing, bags, and shoes, and ensures my indulgent getaways, I remain content. Maintaining my prominence on social media is an added bonus that I hold dear. Despite my apparent indifference towards his actions, there¡¯s one aspect I simply won¡¯t endure ¨C the role of being the other woman. I¡¯ve noticed his interactions with his ex-wife, their intimate dinner dates, and his refusal to part with her photographs in the mansion. I am resolute in preventing any reconciliation between them. I am determined to ensure that he never returns to her. If he wishes to maintain a connection with her, he must formalize hismitment to me through marriage, making her his mistress. This is the sole condition under which I will tolerate their continued association. ncing at the time, I directed my attention to Matthew, the security personnel assigned to me in response to the threats from Hazel¡¯s online followers after Ravel¡¯s press conference. ¡°Has Mrs. Anne arrived and checked in?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± He responded robotically. I was confident that Ravel would be puzzled about how Anne managed to discover the true hotel he was staying at, considering he had misled the inte into believing he was at the Open-crest hotel. ¡°I¡¯m nning to have a brief conversation with her,¡± I dered, rising from my seat, causing him to adopt an upright stance. ¡°No need to apany me, Matthew. Just remain where you are.¡± ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am,¡± he acknowledged, stepping back to grant me passage. With the echoing click of my Louboutin heels against the marble floor, I entered the elevator and ascended to Anne¡¯s floor. Upon stepping out of the elevator, the anticipated scene unfolded before me. The corridor was brimming with security personnel who promptly prevented my ess to her room. With my arms crossed, I directed a piercing gaze at the man who appeared to be their leader. ¡°Kindly inform Mrs. Anne that June Silver is present, bearing an enticing proposition.¡± My words held a veiled promise of a valuable opportunity. He scrutinized me briefly, seemingly unsure whether to take me seriously. However, my unyielding demeanor and determination dissuaded him from underestimating me. After speaking into his microphone, a few momentster, I was escorted into Mrs. Anne¡¯s opulent suite. Why didn¡¯t Ravel provide me with something asvish as this? ¡°What do you want June?¡± Anne inquired as she emerged from the kitchen, wine ss in hand. Even dressed in a simple ck dress, she exuded a captivating air of elegance. ¡°Louboutin?¡± She let out a mocking chuckle. ¡°Is this your attempt at impressing me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dress to impress anyone,¡± I replied matter-of-factly, a hint of amusement in my tone. ¡°Except perhaps your son.¡± Taking a seat on the sofa, I didn¡¯t bother waiting for her invitation, casually crossing my legs. ¡°I¡¯vee to personally ept your gratitude,¡± I stated with a hint of sarcasm, my smile strained but evident. ¡°Gratitude in person?¡± She raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. ¡°Are you under the influence or something?¡± Unfazed by the insult, I maintained my smile, though it was now visibly forced. ¡°I assure you, I¡¯m quite lucid. Thank you for your concern.¡± Chapter 45 As she settled into the seat adjacent to mine, she fixed me with a scrutinizing gaze. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to disclose your purpose for being here, I¡¯ll have you escorted out of this suite.¡± Inappreciative bit ch. ¡°Can you guess who was behind sending you Ravel¡¯s hotel address?¡± I inquired, my smile carrying a hint of smugness. ¡°Your team¡¯s efforts to locate him weren¡¯t proving to be sessful, so I thought I¡¯d extend a helping hand.¡± ¡°And you expect me to be grateful for that?¡± She scoffed. Her icy gaze traveled down to my shoes. ¡°Wearing heels bought with my son¡¯s money is appreciation enough, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to engage in verbal sparring with you, Anne,¡± I retorted dispassionately. ¡°I¡¯m here because something interesting is happening that you might not like.¡± Though curiosity danced in her eyes, she made an effort to downy it. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you could find interesting that would equally captivate my attention.¡± This woman might believe I¡¯m like Hazel, who just endured all her nonsense quietly. I¡¯m unafraid of scandals, so if she annoys me once again, I¡¯ll create one for her. ¡°Ravel is wining and dining Hazel and showering her with gifts.¡± Her eyebrows knitted in confusion. ¡°What?¡± I thought so bit ch. ¡°It appears he¡¯s interested in reconciling with her.¡± And I won¡¯t stand for it. She stared at me for a moment before letting out a softugh. ¡°You must think I¡¯m foolish, don¡¯t you?¡± Perhaps a little. ¡°So you¡¯re concerned Ravel might kick you to the curb, and you want my assistance to prevent that from happening.¡± ¡°More like I met up with someone with mutual interest.¡± I responded, unfazed by her condescending response. ¡°I¡¯m certain you wouldn¡¯t want your son to reconcile with her either.¡± ¡°And you assume I want my son to be with you?¡± She shot back. ¡°I¡¯m well aware you don¡¯t,¡± I stated, my indifference evident. ¡°You can dismiss me after we¡¯re finished removing Hazel from Ravel¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Do you genuinely believe you¡¯re making sense?¡± ¡°I am confident I¡¯m making sense,¡± I said, uncrossing my legs and leaning forward. ¡°Instead of facing two women alone, I¡¯m offering to assist you in dealing with Hazel, leaving you with only one adversary.¡± Her gaze turned contemtive. ¡°Alright.¡± I smiled triumphantly, pleased with her concession. ¡°I¡¯m only epting this arrangement because it¡¯s simpler to remove you from Ravel¡¯s lifepared to dealingN?velDrama.Org owns this. with Hazel.¡± I furrowed my brows at the slight. ¡°What exactly do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Besides the fact that Hazel is financially independent now and not a destitute parasite like you, my son appears to genuinely care for her, something I can¡¯t say about you. Youck both the financial means and my son¡¯s affection.¡± F uck you bit ch! Soon enough, I¡¯m going to have both. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 HAZEL The gallery is experiencing a remarkable streak of sess. We¡¯ve efficiently am as sed a splendid collection of artwork for our uing exhibition, igniting my anticipation for yet another mesmerizing showcase. Tomemorate this triumph, I¡¯ve decided to treat David and Agatha to an exquisite dining experience, apanied by extending additional bonuses to the dedicated staff. Despite David¡¯s offer to chauffeur, I stood firm in driving myself. This evening is dedicated to them, a gesture of appreciation. While Davidfortably upied the passenger seat, Agatha settled graciously in the rear. ¡°Which fine establishment shall we dine at?¡± I inquired, presenting them the freedom to choose. Agatha leaned forward, her curiosity evident, and yfully queried, ¡°And who might be taking care of the bill? You, perhaps?¡± David let out a chuckle, his amusement evident. ¡°Is it because you¡¯re curious about the restaurant you¡¯ll pick in case you¡¯re told to handle the bill?¡± he asked yfully, turning towards Agatha. With a teasing grin, he continued, ¡°Feel free to choose anything you like. Hazel¡¯s more than capable of covering the expenses.¡± Agatha¡¯s grin widened in response. She yfully inserted her phone between us, asserting her newfound responsibility. ¡°I¡¯ve done a bit of browsing and found some appealing options. There¡¯s a new ce nearby called La P¨¦te, and I believe it¡¯s worth a shot.¡± Curious about David¡¯s input, I turned to him. ¡°What¡¯s your take?¡± I inquired, valuing his perspective. ¡°Do you reckon we should give it a try?¡± David nodded affirmatively, his enthusiasm palpable. ¡°Absolutely. Exploring new experiences is always a rewarding endeavor,¡± he remarked, extracting his phone as well. ¡°La Pete, here we go!¡± With a conveniently short distance to cover, we arrived at the restaurant in under thirty minutes. Upon reaching the entrance, I dropped off David and Agatha to secure a table while I maneuvered the car into a proper parking spot. After shutting off the engine, I alighted and took a few steps towards the establishment. However, my progress was unexpectedly halted as Agatha and David materialized in my line of sight, causing me to pause. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± I inquired, puzzled by the unforeseen turn of events. Agatha was the first to respond, her tone tinged with disappointment. ¡°Unfortunately, there are no avable tables,¡± she conveyed. A quick nce at David confirmed his agreement with her assessment. In an attempt to remedy the situation, I suggested, ¡°Have either of you spoken to the manager? Perhaps they could arrange something for us.¡± As I pondered our options, a stroke of luck presented itself in the form of a departing couple. ¡°Actually,¡± I interjected, a solution in mind, ¡°we could take their table.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had a change of heart about dining here,¡± Agatha murmured, her disappointment palpable. ¡°I suddenly recalled that I¡¯ve tried their cuisine before, and it left much to be desired. I actually know of another ce that would be perfect for our dinner. A sense of intrigue crept over me as I observed this exchange. My suspicion deepened, and I couldn¡¯t help but narrow my eyes suspiciously. ¡°What¡¯s really going on here?¡± I questioned, my curiosity demanding an answer. David interjected, shedding light on the situation. ¡°She just shared a negative review of this restaurant. There¡¯s truly no reason for us to stay here.¡± As my suspicion escted, I took a firm stance. ¡°Step aside,¡± Imanded Agatha, my tone resolute. Her nervous nce towards David confirmed my suspicion that there was more to this situation than met the eye. ¡°Agatha, don¡¯t spoil the evening. Move out of my way!¡± Reluctantly, Agatha yielded and stepped aside. I deliberately scanned the surroundings, my senses attuned to any unusual cues. My gaze flitted across the avable, unupied tables, until it settled on the source of their peculiar behavior: Ravel and June were sharing a meal together. My grip on my purse¡¯s strap tightened involuntarily. ¡°Find us a table,¡± I instructed Agatha, my focus still locked onto Ravel¡¯s presence. He remained oblivious to my presence, deeply engrossed in his companion¡¯spany. Chapter 46 A gentle voice interrupted my thoughts. ¡°Hazel,¡± David¡¯s voice reached my ears, his concern evident. ¡°There are plenty of nt. ¡°There are plenty of other restaurants nearby. We don¡¯t have to eat here if it¡¯s ufortable for you.¡± Finally tearing my gaze away from the scene, I faced David. ¡°Why should I leave? Simply because he¡¯s here?¡± With a determined stride, I left them behind and imed an unupied table. As I set down my purse, David seated himself, his watchful eyes never leaving me. I took a deep breath and resolved, ¡°I¡¯m going to say hello.¡± In the heat of my emotions, I started towards their table, only to have my intentions thwarted as David swiftly caught my hand, putting a halt to my steps. ¡°What on earth are you thinking?¡± he eximed, his gaze flickering between Ravel and myself. ¡°Why would you want to approach him? Don¡¯t be impulsive, Hazel.¡±, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s time for everyone to see that I¡¯ve moved on,¡± I retorted, my determination unwavering. Reluctantly, David released his grip on my hand, allowing me to proceed. With purpose, I made my way over to their table. June was engrossed in her phone, while Ravel seemed upied with his device. However, as I cast my shadow over them, he looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. A fleeting nce at June revealed her obliviousness to my presence. Ravel¡¯s voice cut through the tension, carrying a mix of astonishment and curiosity. ¡°What brings you here?¡± he inquired, his gaze briefly shifting towards June. I raised an eyebrow as I held my hand up, responding to his rather absurd question. ¡°You know, Ravel, we¡¯re in a restaurant. So, what do you think I¡¯m doing here?¡± I shifted my gaze towards the only person in the room I could never find it in myself to forgive. The one I had treated like a sister, only to have her betray me. ¡°Hey, June. How¡¯s life treating you?¡± After all, you¡¯ve taken my husband now. A broad smile stretched across her face. ¡°I¡¯m good, Hazel, as you can see.¡± She reached out to touch Ravel¡¯s arm, but he swiftly withdrew. ¡°Did you happen to receive an invitation to the exhibition?¡± Her grin took on a cun ning edge. ¡°Given how much stress my dear Ravel¡¯s been under, I hope you understand if he unintentionally left you off the guest list.¡± Ravel¡¯s patience finally snapped. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything meaningful to contribute, just spare us the chatter.¡± He shot a pointed nce at her before turning to me. ¡°Are you here by yourself?¡± I motioned towards David and Agatha, gesturing their way. ¡°No,¡± I began, ¡°I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Oh, by the way, the dress is quite charming. But I¡¯d prefer if you didn¡¯t send me gifts, especially dresses.¡± With a sigh, his gaze shifted back to my table, and his jaw visibly tensed upon spotting David. ¡°Will you be attending the exhibition?¡± I shrugged, a hint of uncertainty in my response. ¡°I¡¯ll have to leave that decision to David.¡± My reply seemed to furrow his brows. ¡°No worries, Mr. Southwark. I¡¯ll do my best to ensure we make it. A beautiful piece of jewelry is always a delight for ady, isn¡¯t it?¡± I managed a forced smile and turned to acknowledge hispanion. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t keep you from your phones any longer. If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± With that, I turned away and returned to my own table, giving them my back. David observed me closely as I sat down. I blinked at the rice and sd on the side of my table. David quickly exined its presence. ¡°I took the liberty of ordering for you. It¡¯s one of their specialty, rmended by the chef.¡± My appetite seemed to have done down the drain with my mood. I forced a smile for him. ¡°thank you.¡± David knows me too well to be able to tell that my mood is ruined. He waved over one of the waiters. ¡°please I¡¯ll like our food to be packaged, we¡¯ll be taking it home.¡± Surprised by his word, I nced at him. ¡°why? Do you have an emergency you need to get back to?¡± Smiling warmly at me, he shook his head. ¡°today has been a long day for all of us, I think it¡¯s best if we call it a night.¡± Agatha nodded at his words. Feeling apologetic for ruining the dinner ns, I sincerely apologized. ¡°I know you both want to leave so I wouldn¡¯t have to be in the same space with Ravel and his date.¡± Agatha leaned forward, cing her elbow on the table. ¡°The exhibition is in two days, you do not have to worry about them, because we don¡¯t want you having ck circles fromck of sleep.¡± Handling the bill, I grabbed my purse and we all walked out. ¡°what¡¯s your business if I have ck eyes?¡± I questioned Agatha. Chapter 46 She scoffed. ¡°You need to look prettier than that gold-digging wh ore.¡± David clearly amused by her words chortled. ¡°Mr. Southwark needs to see what he¡¯s missing out on.¡± And everything boils down to Ravel. Great! David is right; I¡¯m exhausted from all the work and drama. Ravel has only been here for five days, and I¡¯m already feeling the impact of his presence on my stress level. I just can¡¯t wait for him to go back to New York so I can return to normalcy. É«N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 HAZEL (FIVE YEARS AGO) Things have been crazy with Ravel and his family. He ims everything is okay, but I know better than to believe it. His mother is upset with him for choosing me. ording to Elenor¡¯s side of the story, Mrs. Anne wants him to marry the daughter of their father¡¯s friend, who is also a business mogul. In as much as I respect Mrs. Anne, I still feel she should let her son make his decision; she should let him marry out of love and not money. How much money could she possibly want to have after all the riches and wealth that her husband¡¯s family and her family have umted over the years? The Southwarks are known to be generationally rich. Never in human history have they ever been recorded to be poor, so she should let her son breathe? I understand that she is trying to uphold the family¡¯s legacy even after her husband¡¯s death, but then I equally feel that her children¡¯s happiness should also matter. ¡°Hazel!¡± Oscar called out from the kitchen hallway. I looked up from the dishes and blinked at him with a slight smile. ¡°Mrs. Southwark is demanding to see you.¡± My smile dropped instantly. ¡°what did you say?¡± ¡°Mrs. Southwark is demanding to see you.¡± He repeated. Dropping the sponge, I pulled off the gloves and apron, wiped my hands, and tried to walk past Oscar but he grabbed my forearm. ¡°what exactly is your deal with that family?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Mr. Ravel drop and pick you up countless times, I¡¯ve equally seen Elenor Southwarke around to see you and now Mrs. Southwark herself is here demanding to see you.¡± Arching a brow, I red at his hand which was holding onto me. ¡°Are you trying to confirm the rumor among the staff?¡± He frowned, reluctantly letting me go. ¡°what are you saying? I¡¯m only asking because I¡¯m worried about you. That family ¨C isn¡¯t one that you should mess with.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve overheard you guys countless times Oscar.¡± I hissed slowly, trying my best not to snap. ¡°I even heard you guys whether I¡¯m dating Ravel or not.¡± bet on His eyes widened. ¡°you are on a first-name basis with him?¡± I scoffed at his audacity. ¡°sh it!¡± he cursed out aloud, ¡°I just lost hundred dors to those scoundrels.¡± ¡°What the f uck did you just say?¡± I took a step towards him, ready to scratch his eyes out. ¡°you shamelessly stand before me and confirm that you guys indeed ced a bet on me.¡± Rolling his eyes, he stepped away from the doorway. ¡°don¡¯t be silly Hazel.¡± My re intensified ¡°You should go ahead, I¡¯m sure you do not want to keep Mrs. Southwark waiting in her car.¡± Willing not to waste more time on him, I walked away. ¡°Hazel!¡± He called out again and I ignored him. ¡°you should wake up from that dream you are having before it¡¯s toote for you.¡± It¡¯s already toote. I am madly in love with Ravel that I can¡¯t think of a life without him in it. Stepping out of the building, I noticed the trail of luxurious cars, one of them opened and a young man stepped out and approached me. He¡¯gestured towards the second car. Nodding silently, I walked over to the car and stared at nothing but ck-tinted windows. Slowly, she rolled down the window and stared at me with pure disgust. ¡°now I understand why my son couldn¡¯t tell me where you work.¡± She looked past me to the building, ¡°I guess he is equally ashamed of where you work.¡± Do not let her words get to you, Hazel. Elenor and Ravel already warned you about how harsh she can be with her words. ¡°Ravel respects and epts what I do.¡± Sheughed mockingly. ¡°is that what he told you?¡± she shook her head. ¡°my dear, I¡¯m sure he only said that to get you into his bed.¡± I had to count to three in my head before responding. ¡°he already achieved that ma¡¯am and he is still with me regardless of my working status or the type of my job.¡± Anne¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°Are you trying to y smart with me right now?¡± ¡°No ma¡¯am,¡± I mumbled, avoiding her stern gaze, not because I¡¯m afraid to look her in the eyes but because I don¡¯t want toe off as disrespectful again. She red at me for a moment without uttering any word, making me extremely ufortable. ¡°everyone needs money,¡± she mused, finally breaking the silence, ¡°and you are definitely not an exemption. How much do I have to give you to leave my son alone?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± I whispered, feeling insulted by her words. ¡°I¡¯m giving you an option of an open cheque right now.¡± She exined. ¡°this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and if you ask me, I don¡¯t think you should miss it.¡± Unable to hide my disgust, I scoff. ¡°Your family must have a thing for writing cheques.¡± She frowned at my word. ¡°your son offered me an open cheque the second time I met him, and that cheque is still lying pretty in my drawer. ¡°What did you just say?¡± she asked, stupefied. ¡°My son did what?¡± ¡°With all due respect ma¡¯am, don¡¯t you think your offer is a bit irrelevant?¡± crossing my hand, I wondered if all rich people are like this. ¡°you do realize that I can have that same amount you are willing to offer me to stay away from your son and still have him in my life.¡± ¡°Or you will leave the rtionship penniless.¡± She challenged. Even if I break up with Ravel, I still have the cheque. Exhaling tiredly, I wetted my lips. ¡°If you came all the way here to tell me to stay away from Ravel, I¡¯ll like to go back to work.¡± ¡°You will regret your decision of rejecting this cheque.¡± She promised, her eyes holding that promise that she will make it happen. ¡°Or you will lose your son whilst trying to make more money for the family name.¡± ¡°don¡¯t tell me how to run my family!¡± she spat. ¡°what do you know about family when you don¡¯t even have one!¡± I may not have any family due to my bad decisions in life, but I¡¯ve obviously received more love than she has received in this life. I bowed slightly out of respect. ¡°if you¡¯ll excuse me, ma¡¯am, I¡¯ll like to get back to work.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Without waiting for her acknowledgment or approval, I walked away without sparing her another nce. The moment I stepped into the restaurant, I was greeted by Harrison¡¯s angry face. ¡°you¡¯ve been away for thirty minutes Hazel,¡± He spat. ¡°where were you?¡± Already in a f ucked up mood thanks to Mrs. Anne, I tried not to let it show. ¡°I had to see someone real quick outside the building.¡± His jaw tightened as he jabbed an angry finger at me. ¡°I¡¯ve tolerated your bul lsh it too much in this restaurant Hazel. To my office now!¡± He stomped away and I silently followed behind. Oscar and the rest of his crew stared at us from the side of his restaurant. Stepping into Harrison¡¯s office, I closed the door softly. ¡°I apologize sir if my actions upset you.¡± I quickly apologized. No matter how angry I am at the moment, there is a probability that my job is at stake. ¡°I assure you that it will not happen again.¡± He stared at me silently from his seated position. I watched the anger in his eyes change into something else. ¡°Hazel I really wanted to fire you, but I¡¯m going to give you the chance to redeem yourself.¡± Chapter 47 I frowned, not liking the tone of his voice. ¡°what should I do sir?¡± He rose from his seat and slowly advanced towards me. ¡°it is not news that I like you, Hazel,¡± he stopped in front of me, picked up my hair, and sniffed. ¡°just an hour with me, and I promise to increase your sry and move you to a better ce.¡± Is he insane? I roughly pulled my hair away from his grasp and took a step back. ¡°I have a boyfriend sir, and I have no intention of cheating on him.¡± He closed I again, sna tching my arm abruptly and squeezing tightly, ¡°an hour with me and I assure you, you won¡¯t even remember your boyfriend. You will only scream my name.¡± I tried to shove him away but he tightened his hold, his face inching closer for a kiss. ¡°let me go!¡± I screamed, trying to force myself out.¡± His lips finally found mine and his left hand went to my waistline and he squeezed. I used that opportunity to shove him again and he bulged, sta ggering backward. ¡°what the f uck is your problem?¡± I spat. He tried to approach me again but I grabbed the artifact beside me. ¡°if you daree close to me again, I am going to smash your head with this artifact and I am going to crush your balls with it after slicing your throat!¡± My threat got to him and he halted, his eyes gleaming with arousal and anger. Disgusting pig. ¡°I am going to give you a chance to reconsider my offer.¡± ¡°you are a lu natic.¡± I spat. ¡°That¡¯s it! You are fired!¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you are wrong Harrison, I quit!¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 RAVEL (PRESENT TIME) The more each day passes by, the more I have more reasons to dislike June¡¯s presence. How she found out that I was having dinner at that restaurant I do not know; one minute I was cating alone, and the next minute she was seated across the table. For a moment, I considered having Raymond walk her out, but I wasn¡¯t sure if that ba stard was watching. I do not know who the f ucker is, which is why I have to be extremely careful. I didn¡¯t see it as a daunting task to have dinner with her, but when Hazel suddenly walked up to us, I regretted not sending her back to the hotel or walking away when she imposed on my dinner ns. Unable to do anything meaningful, I decided to take a break from replying to thest-minute mail. Stepping out of the balcony, I pulled out a pack of cigarettes, grabbed a stick, and lighted the end. When was thest time I felt this lonely? Probably thest time I slept in Hazel¡¯s arms. Nothing seemed appealing to me, not even the crazy night view, the hot liquid gliding down my throat, or the smoke from the cigarette. Pulling out my phone from my pocket, I clicked on the favorite list on my contact and stared at Hazel¡¯s number, contemting whether I should call her or not. My hesitancy resulted from the fear that she wouldn¡¯t want to speak with me after what she experienced at the restaurant tonight. Letting go of every assumption, I dialed her number and ced the phone on my ear, listening to it ring. To my surprise, she answered. ¡°Mr. Southwark.¡± She rasped. Despite the fact that her voice leaves me breathless, I dislike the fact that she refers to me by myst name. Multiple times I have told her to call me by my first name. I¡¯ll give anything to hear her call me Rav, but I¡¯d rather not push my luck. ¡°Please call me Ravel.¡± I pleaded softly. She sighed softly. ¡°what do you want? Why are you calling me thiste?¡± Sh it! I didn¡¯t think of the fact that she might be asleep. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I disrupted your sleep,¡± I swear, it was never my intention. I do want to hear her voice desperately, but not at the expense of herfort. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asleep.¡± She assured me. ¡°I was actually talking to Da¡± She paused abruptly, locking in the rest of her words. ¡°I was busy with unfinished work.¡± I bet my a ss that wasn¡¯t what she wanted to say. She was actually busy speaking with David. Is he there with her? Does he share her bed or does she share his? ¡°Ravel¡± she breathed out. ¡°are you still there?¡± Exhaling smoke, I stared at the cigarette trying to figure out when I started smoking. ¡°yeah,¡± I breathed out ¡°I¡¯m still here.¡± How can I fall asleep knowing that she prefers thepany of another man? ¡°Are you going to say something?¡± she asked tiredly. ¡°At least tell me the reason you called.¡± She¡¯s right, F uck that ba stard boyfriend of hers. I am the one she is talking to right now, I shouldn¡¯t be bothered about him. ¡°I called to apologize about tonight.¡± She fell silent for a moment. ¡°apologize for what?¡± the softness in her voice made me wonder if I misread the look in her eyes when she addressed June. ¡°you didn¡¯t do anything wrong Ravel, you were only having dinner with your date.¡± ¡°June isn¡¯t my date.¡± I corrected. ¡°she wasn¡¯t in that restaurant on my invite, more like she crashed my dinner.¡± And I hate myself for not walking her out or walking myself out. ¡°I truly apologize for her presence.¡± She sniffed, followed by shuffling feet and the sound of a door closing. ¡°You do not owe me any exnation, Ravel, even though she wasn¡¯t at the restaurant as your date, she is in Seattle as your date, and it is only normal for her to want to have dinner with you.¡± ¡°Hazel,¡± I drawled out softly. ¡°I want you to know that June¡¯s presence in Seattle is beyond my control.¡± I¡¯ve never been more honest in my life. ¡°If it were up to me, she wouldn¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s too much information.¡± She mumbled, trying so hard not to snap at me. ¡°is that the reason you called, I¡¯ll like to go back to what I was doing.¡± My jaw clenched. She wants to go back to David. ¡°I am obviously more important than what you wereC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. doing or you wouldn¡¯t have picked up the call.¡± And that is a fact. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself, Ravel,¡± she warned with an edge in her voice. ¡°If I were to have my way, I will end this call¡± Sh it. That was f ucking mean. Chuckling despite the pain, I tried to feel grateful over the fact that I got to hear her voice. ¡°were you able to have dinner? I noticed you left on time.¡± Probably because she didn¡¯t feelfortable being in the same space with me. ¡°What makes you think I didn¡¯t?¡± The fact that you are getting defensive proves you didn¡¯t and it¡¯s all because of me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± I apologized yet again, unable to utter any other word. ¡°And why in heaven¡¯s name are you apologizing again?¡± ¡°because that is all I¡¯m capable of saying.¡± And it pains me to the core. It pains me that I¡¯m not there to cook for her or coax her to have something to eat. ¡°I¡¯m going insane Hazel.¡¯ She remained mute. ¡°I¡¯m slowly losing my mind and I let it happen because I feel I deserve it.¡± I was never a smoker, yet here I am on my second stick for the night. ¡°Ravel?¡± she whispered. ¡°are you okay? Is something going on?¡± A lot is going on and I can¡¯t even share it with you. ¡°I miss you, Hazel.¡± Chuckling, I rubbed my forehead with the heel of my hand. ¡°I miss you so much that I consider giving it all up.¡± ¡°Ravel? What are you talking about?¡± the concern in her voice gave me a glimmer of hope. ¡°are you alone?¡± she inquired. ¡°where is Raymond? Is he there with you?¡± She is going to be mad if she finds out I¡¯m smoking. I quashed the cigarette into the ashtray. ¡°I don¡¯t share the room with Raymond or anyone if that¡¯s what you are asking.¡± ¡°The exhibition,¡± she asked, ¡°is it stressing you out? Is something going wrong?¡± Apart from the fact that you are showing up with that f ucker? ¡°Everything is going on fine.¡± ¡°If everything is really fine, why are you sounding like you do right now?¡± I just told her that I missed her and she decided to just ignore that fact. ¡°Nothing is wrong.¡± Maybe that is what she hopes to hear, maybe if I keep saying it repeatedly then everything is going to be indeed fine. ¡°Ravel,¡± she called out softly, ¡°I know things might not be smooth with us right now, but you can always talk to me.¡± I do not deserve her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, everything.¡± ¡°Rav,¡± she whispered. I bit my lips not to let the tears threatening to drop seed. I haven¡¯t heard that name in over two years. ¡°what is going on with you.¡± The first tears rolled down and I quickly wiped it off, sniffing to keep the others locked in. ¡°Ravel, are you crying?¡± I chuckled. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard that pet name in over two years and it kind of got to me.¡± She cursed under her breath. ¡°forward me the address of your hotel, I¡¯ming over.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 HAZEL (PRESENT TIME) There¡¯s a subtle shift in Ravel¡¯s demeanor, an unusual disy of vulnerability that belies his usual stoicism. I couldn¡¯t ignore the faint sound of his sniffling, a telltale sign that something was amiss. Despite our past disagreements, I felt an undeniable urge to set those aside and delve into what was troubling him. ¡°Ravel,¡± I ventured softly, the concern evident in my voice. ¡°Are you¡­ crying?¡± A brief chuckle escaped his lips, carrying a hint of nostalgia. ¡°It¡¯s been ages since you used that nickname, Rav,¡± he admitted, his voiceced with emotion. My intention had been to coax out his worries, but instead, it seemed I had tapped into a well of sentiments I hadn¡¯t anticipated. Swearing softly under my breath, I couldn¡¯t ignore the urgency in my desire to be there for Ravel. ¡°Just send me your hotel address,¡± I insisted, my determination to support him growing stronger. There was a part of me that believed he might be more open if we were face to face, away from the constraints of digitalmunication. ¡°Ravel?¡± His sudden silence after my offer made me second-guess my words. ¡°If you¡¯re not comfortable with meing over¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s quitete,¡± his voice finally broke the silence, and I tried to suppress any feelings of sadness or disappointment that crept in. ¡°Send me your address, and I¡¯lle meet you.¡± A pang of mixed emotions tugged at me. I knew he was aware of my address; after all, he had sent me those flowers on ourst wedding anniversary. I would have easily told him toe over had Daisy¡¯s pictures not filled my hallway.. ¡°How about we meet at the exhibition venue?¡± I suggested, my voice tentative yet hopeful. ¡°I could assist you with thosest-minute details.¡± ¡°Is there someone else with you?¡± His unexpected question left me momentarily baffled, his words stirring up confusion. ¡°I can tell you¡¯re not keen on having me over at your ce, so I¡¯m just curious about the reason behind it.¡± As I discerned the faint sounds of movement in the background, it became apparent that he was preparing himself, likely for our impending meeting. Taking a cue from his actions, I began to quickly change into something more appropriate for our encounter. I¡¯d rather not have you here,¡± I responded honestly, ¡°This space is personal to me, and I¡¯d rather keep it that way, no offense intended.¡± A soft chuckle escaped him, carrying an air of understanding. ¡°No offense taken, sweetheart. I¡¯d much rather you not want me in your home than to imagine you havingpany over there at this hour.¡± ¡°Ravel, don¡¯t push yourluck,¡± I cautioned, a slight edge to my tone. His short burst ofughter managed to break through my seriousness, eliciting a genuine smile. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with youter, Ravel.¡± With that, I ended the call, grabbing my jacket and car keys before heading out the door. As I made my way towards my car, my phone buzzed again, this time with a call from David. I answered, a hint of curiosity in my voice. ¡°David?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still awake?¡± His question wasced with surprise. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep and thought I¡¯d take a chance to see if you were still up. It seemed like sleep was evading everyone tonight. ¡°Is there something you need help with?¡± I offered, my voice tinged with concern. He chuckled yfully. ¡°Hazel, you shouldn¡¯t ask a man such a question; you¡¯ll set our minds wandering.¡± Uncertain how to respond to that, I chose to remain silent. ¡°Anyway, how about we meet up for coffee?¡± David¡¯s proposal caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a moment, Chapter 49 contemting his offer. ¡°Sorry, David, but that won¡¯t work for me,¡± I replied, my voice tinged with regret. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few things toC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. catch up on, and I think it¡¯s better if I stay back and focus on them.¡± The lie slipped out so easily, and although I couldn¡¯t exin the reason behind it, it felt oddly fitting in the moment. ¡°Apologies, David.¡± He seemed to take it in stride. ¡°No worries,¡± he assured me, his tone understanding. ¡°If you need any assistance, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out. I¡¯m happy to help with whatever¡¯s keeping you awake.¡± ¡°No!¡± I found myself blurting out, my response more forceful than intended. The abruptness of my reaction sent a pang of worry through me-had I given away more than I intended? ¡°It¡¯s reallyte, David. You should get some rest to be productive at the office tomorrow. Let¡¯s catch upter.¡± Without waiting for his reply, I ended the call. A soft chuckle escaped me as I sat behind the wheel, feeling slightly foolish for spitting such lies. I eased the car into motion, embarking on the journey to the exhibition. The drive took over an hour, and as I approached the venue, I spotted Ravel standing outside, his presence drawing me in. I parked the car, stepped out, and joined him. He greeted me with a fleeting embrace, a touch that spoke volumes in its simplicity. ¡°You changed your perfume,¡± he observed, his keen awareness causing a hint of surprise to flutter within me. ¡°The perfume wasn¡¯t the only thing that changed,¡± I replied, the weight of unspoken truths hanging in the air between us. So much had shifted since ourst encounter, not least of which was the existence of a daughter he remained unaware of. ¡°Shall we head inside?¡± I suggested, a slight shiver passing through me. The chill in the air cut through my jacket, reminding me that it wasn¡¯t quite enough to ward off the cold. Ravel nonchntly shrugged off his jacket and ced it over my shoulders, a gesture that carried an air of familiarity. ¡°I guess some things never change,¡± he remarked, his words invoking a shared history. Memories of times when I had underestimated the weather and he hade to my rescue flooded back. I nced at him, a mixture of appreciation and concern in my eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling cold?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but worry about his well-being, given the chilly weather. ¡°Please don¡¯t catch a cold because of me.¡± His chuckle held a hint of amusement. ¡°No need to fret, I¡¯ll manage.¡± With a gentle touch at my waist, he guided me towards the entrance of the building. ¡°The jewelry pieces are scheduled to arrive the night before the event,¡± he exined, revealing his ns. ¡°I¡¯ll be overseeing security measures throughout the night to ensure there¡¯s no risk of theft.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± I responded, intrigued by his preparations. ¡°And about the runway, you¡¯re using models instead of stone curves?¡± ¡°It sounds like that choice mighte with a higher price tag,¡± Imented, noting the potential financial implications of using models for the event. Ravel simply shrugged, pausing in the middle of the hall. ¡°I felt like trying something different for a change,¡± he exined, his casual demeanor suggesting he was open to experimentation. It was a sentiment I agreed with; after witnessing the impact of his press conference, it was clear that unconventional choices could capture attention and generate buzz. ¡°Ravellux has never used models before, so this will be a first.¡± My nod conveyed my approval of his decision. ¡°I think the change is a great idea,¡± I told him, a genuine smile forming as I spoke. ¡°Is Elenor going to be one of the models?¡± I inquired, aware of their somewhat strained rtionship. I wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if she chose not to participate. Ravel¡¯s response wasced with a mix of amusement and frustration. ¡°She¡¯s actually opening the show, along with a few other high-end models we¡¯ve hired. And believe it or not, despite being my sister, that crazy woman charged me double her normal rate.¡± Biting my lips to lock the smile in, I stared at the numbering of the seats. ¡°I guess I got the front seat.¡± He approached me and stood next to me his shoulder grazing mine. ¡°Contrary to what you think, you alwayse first Hazel.¡± I highly doubt that. Keeping my thoughts to myself, I took a few steps away from him, creating some space between Chapter 49 us. Ravel stared emptily at the space I once upied. ¡°if someone ever told me that you will be eager to get away from, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it.¡± Why is he talking as if I caused this? ¡°you gave up on us first Ravel, never you forget that. You got away from me first.¡± ¡°And would you believe me if I told you that I regret it?¡± he whispered, gradually closing the space between us again. ¡°Would believe me if I told you that I go to bed filled with regret and I wake up every morning with the same regret?¡± you I searched his gaze, looking for any emotion that will give away the deception in his words, but I found nothing but intense vulnerability, yet I chose not to believe him. ¡°If you regret it so much, why did you do it?¡± Finally looking away, he stared at his shoes. ¡°Regretse after the action.¡± He stated. I guess he is right. The act needs to bemitted first for regret to follow. ¡°Your regret changes nothing, Ravel. you broke my trust, ruined our marriage, and ended it yourself. That fact will always remain unchanged.¡± Only a step away from me, he reached for my hand and I let him grab it. ¡°What if I¡¯m willing to make amend?¡± Surprised by his words, I blinked up at him, trying my best not to stare at his lips. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°What if I am willing to fight for your love and affection once again?¡± he wetted his lips, ¡°what if I am willing to do anything to have you in my life again as my wife?¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 DAVID (PRESENT TIME) Something is up with Hazel. I can feel it and I really think it has a lot to do with Southwark. Ever since he showed up here in Seattle, it seems Hazel is slowly slipping from my grasp. Every progress I made with her seemed to be slowly disappearing. I¡¯ve been in her life for three years, and during those three years, I have always wished that she¡¯ll look me in the eye one day and confess her love to me. I am not one to lose hope though. I am not one to give up easily. My ability to exercise patience is what has brought me thus far in life, it is my patience that made it possible to be in Hazel¡¯s life as someone she trusts. However, do not take my patience as cowardice. Just as I am patient, I do the necessary things to make sure things fall into ce. Proper nning is the basis of everything we do in life. Making a stop at one of Hazel¡¯s favorite restaurants, I ordered her favorite seafood as lunch and a soft drink before heading, for the office. The moment I stepped into the gallery, I headed straight for her office. Rose rose from her seat when she saw me approaching. ¡°Ms. cks is actually with someone right now.¡± My brows furrowed into a frown. Is that ba stard in this office? ¡°Who is her guest? Mr. Southwark?¡± Rose shook her head with a knowing smile. ¡°Miss Southwark.¡± It¡¯s known to anyone who chooses to pay close attention that I have feelings for Hazel, so I am not surprised that Rose is privy to such information. I lifted the stic bag in my grasp. ¡°I¡¯ll just drop this off on her desk and be on my way.¡± Nodding, Rose gestured for me to go in which I did. I pushed the door open and stepped into her office space. Hazel and Elenor looked up when the door opened. I only smiled at Hazel¡¯s direction, lifting the bag a bit. ¡°I went to have lunch at your favorite restaurant, so I decided to pick out something for you.¡± She smiled with gratitude. ¡°That¡¯s lovely, thank you so much.¡± I dropped it on the table, ready to take my leave when Hazel¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°This is Eleanor, Ravel¡¯s sister. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve met her.¡± Just as courtesy demands, I walked over to the sofa where they are seated and offered her a handshake. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± I lied. It¡¯s never nice to meet someone from the Southwark family. ¡°Are you in town for your brother¡¯s show?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± She responded with a sly smile. She doesn¡¯t like me and the feeling is so da mn mutual. Who knows if she¡¯s here trying to convince Hazel to go back to her brother? ¡°You must be David,¡± she inquired, ¡°Hazel¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Her uracy made me reconsider disliking her. The fact that she recognizes that I¡¯m Hazel¡¯s boyfriend means a lot. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± I nced at an ufortable Hazel momentarily. ¡°Did Hazel tell you about our rtionship?¡± Elenor¡¯s smile lingered. ¡°She hinted at it thest time we met.¡± Despite trying toe out friendly, there is something about her that just doesn¡¯t sit right with me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about my brother and what he did to you. He¡¯s always one to never react with his fist, but I guess his jealousy got the best of him.¡± ¡°Do not apologize for your brother¡¯s mistake,¡± I remarked. ¡°I¡¯ll appreciate it the more if he is the one apologizing.¡± She blinked twice before letting out a surprising chuckle. ¡°You want my brother to apologize to you?¡± She chortled again. ¡°There is a probability that you¡¯ll be waiting for a lifetime.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± I challenged. ¡°Your brother finds it inappropriate to apologize to people he offends?¡± Tilting her head, she searched for the right words. ¡°Let¡¯s just say my brother is selective of those he apologizes to.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m not up that level of those he apologizes to?¡± If she was going to say this rubbish after taking her time to speak, she would have kept her da mn mouth shut. Her widened smile made me wonder what she possibly finds funny in this situation. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that selection is limited to family and close friends.¡± ¡°How about you stop talking?¡± That will help me dislike her less. ¡°Because the more you open yourN?velDrama.Org owns this. mouth in an attempt to defend your brother, the more I wonder if your family is generally f ucked up.¡± ¡°Dav_¡± ¡°Don¡¯t Hazel,¡± I growled, chastising her attempt to speak on Elenor¡¯s behalf. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare defend this family¡¯s f ucked up way of thinking?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t my family¡¯s f ucked up way of thinking,¡± Elenor interjected, ¡°it¡¯s my brother¡¯s f ucked up way of thinking.¡± I frowned at herment. ¡°I am here apologizing, aren¡¯t I? That means I have nothing against rendering an apology to those offended.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right David.¡± Hazel chimed in, ¡°Besides she¡¯s not the offender, so don¡¯t take out your frustration on her.¡± My frustration? Does she think I¡¯m frustrated? Not in the slightest. The only thing that frustrates me right now is the fact that this family is slowly making a return in your life. ¡°I still have some work left to do in my office,¡± I pointed out, ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯ll like to get back to it.¡± Offering Hazel a smile, I made my way towards the door. ¡°Mr. Ellison,¡± Elenor called out and I halted my step, turning around to face her. She stood up from her seat and approached me. ¡°Hazel was my friend before I found out she was dating my brother.¡± Not sure how that information rtes to me, I blinked at her. ¡°She saved me from getting raped in a club, and ever since, my loyalty has always been with her as a friend. Her happiness is my happiness and I¡¯m a strong advocator of ¡®my brother deserves the sh it that is happening to him right now.¡± I nced at Hazel with uncertainty. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°I do not want us to be enemies because of my brother¡¯s actions. I¡¯d rather we be friends because I want to get an invite to Hazel¡¯s wedding to you.¡± She doesn¡¯t want Hazel back with her brother? Why do I find that hard to believe? she smiled again, something she seems to like doing. ¡°I don¡¯t care who Hazel ends up with, as far as she¡¯s happy, that¡¯s fine by me, so be assured that I¡¯m not here to ruin your rtionship with her.¡± ¡°I never said you were.¡± ¡°I saw the uncertainty and suspicion in your eyes.¡± She stated factly. Stretching her hand, she offered me a handshake. ¡°So can we be friends?¡± I nced at Hazel and she nodded with a smile. Reluctantly, I epted her handshake. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about friendship, but I¡¯m cool with you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± She eximed, returning to her seat. One more nce at Hazel, I walked out of her office. I had to leave early from the office so I¡¯ll pick up my tux from the designer. Strutting to my car, I unlocked it, got in, and almost gasped when I saw June seated in the passenger seat. My brows furrowed into a frown. ¡°How did you get into my car?¡± She simply shrugged. ¡°Matthewes with a bonus.¡± Who the heck is Matthew? She stretched out her hand and I red at it ¡°I¡¯m June.¡± ¡°I think the whole inte knows who you are.¡± She shrugged again, retreating her hand. ¡°I believe you are Hazel¡¯s boyfriend.¡± She mused, pulling the ridiculous pink sses from her eyes. ¡°How is that your business?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my business when my boyfriend is buying dresses for your girlfriend.¡± She retorted, emitting a frown from me. ¡°I don¡¯t care what your rtionship is like with Hazel, but I want to protect my man from your woman.¡± ¡°You mean the same man you stole?¡± She smiled slyly. ¡°Who gives a f uck about how I got the title of Southwark¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Staring at the time, I sighed. ¡°What do you want June?¡± I am going to bete for my appointment. ¡°I figured you do not want to lose your woman just as I do not want to lose my man and for that to happen, we need to work together.¡± I scoffed. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m going to agree to this bulls hit?¡± Grinning, she leaned forward. ¡°Ravel never loses his cool unless it has something to do with Hazel.¡± I red at her. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that I¡¯m certain you said something about Hazel that triggered him into beating you shi tless. Do you want me to start digging? I¡¯m sure Hazel will want to hear what exactly you said to Ravel.¡± Sneaky bit ch. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± ¡°Work towards making Hazel hate Ravel, while I work towards making Ravel hate Hazel.¡± Unable to hold it in, I chuckled. ¡°If it was possible for you to make Ravel hate Hazel, you won¡¯t be here seeking my help.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, that is why I want you to instigate behaviors in Hazel that will create doubts in Ravel and I¡¯ll equally do the same. Ravel is currently jealous of you, and Hazel is equally jealous of me. Let us feed on their jealousy.¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 HAZEL (FIVE YEARS AGO) I¡¯ve never felt such strong resentment towards anyone like I do towards Harrison at this moment. The intensity of my dislike for him surpasses even the aversion I felt for Kelvin when he introduced me to drugs. Exiting the restaurant, I paid no attention to Oscar and his group, and instead, I stepped out into the light drizzle of rain. Could this day possibly be any worse? It began with an encounter with Mrs. Southwark, followed by the unpleasant encounter with Harrison. Now, I find myself walking through the rain, driven more by a desire to do so rather than any externalpulsion. The situation has reached its lowest point ¨C I¡¯ve lost my job. I clenched my lips together, struggling to suppress tears that threatened to escape due to a mixture of anger and frustration. I pondered why my life never follows the path I¡¯ve envisioned. What lies ahead now? My future hinges on Ravel¡¯s support. Not only am I unemployed, but I¡¯ve also lost my ce to live. Or perhaps I should consider filling out the uncashed check from my drawer. Engrossed in contemtion about my life¡¯s circumstances, I identally collided with someone. Recoiling slightly from the impact, I braced myself for an impending fall. Yet, instead of hitting the cold ground, a warm hand encircled my waist, steadying me. Assured that I wouldn¡¯t end up on the frigid floor, I opened my eyes to see the face of the stranger who had intervened. He gazed back at me, his brow furrowed in genuine concern. ¡°Are you alright? You seemed really lost in your thoughts. ¡°I apologize¡­ I just wasn¡¯t paying attention,¡± I admitted. As I attempted to move past him, he caught hold of my arm, preventing me from leaving. Leaning down to match my eye level, he studied my expression. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? You look like you¡¯re on the verge of breaking down.¡± Suppressing the urge to cry, I bit my lip, but a solitary tear managed to escape. ¡°Da mn,¡± he murmured softly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to bring you to tears.¡± With a bitter chuckle, I brushed away my tears. ¡°No need to apologize, sir. My tears have nothing to do with you.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Do you want to share what¡¯s troubling you?¡± he inquired, his eyes a blend of concern and curiosity. ¡°You never know, I might have a way to help.¡± I found it hard to believe his im. ¡°I lost my job and my ce because my boss turned out to be a creepy pe rvert,¡± I muttered, my frustration evident. ¡°What could you possibly do about that?¡± His jaw clenched, his gaze shifting as if he were calcting something. ¡°Did he make unwee advanees toward you?¡± he questioned, locking eyes with me once more. Why am I even discussing this with a stranger? Shouldn¡¯t I be talking to Ravel instead? Gathering my thoughts, I gradually extricated my hand from his grasp. ¡°You know what?¡± I said, my tone more resolute. ¡°Forget it, I can handle things on my own.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just let him off the h ook so easily,¡± he muttered, his tone tense. Confused and slightly wary, I took a step back from him. ¡°I never indicated that I would.¡± ¡°Then allow me to assist you,¡± he persisted. ¡°I appreciate your concern, but it¡¯s not necessary,¡± I reassured him. ¡°I already have someone willing to help me seek justice.¡± I managed a tight smile. ¡°Thank you, though. I need to be on my way.¡± I walked past him, and he didn¡¯t attempt to stop me or call after me. Entering Ravel¡¯s living room, soaked from the rain, I found him emerging from the kitchen, bare- chested, holding a ss Of wine. He paused, his gaze fixed on me as I stood in the center of the room, water dripping from me. ¡°I was just about to give you a call,¡± he said, his voice rough. I gazed at him, my teeth chattering and my voice raspy, rendering me incapable of forming a coherent sentence. ¡°Hazel?¡± Ravel closed the distance between us swiftly, his hands gripping my chilled shoulder. A frown etched across his face as he took in my wet attire and shivering form. ¡°What the hell happened? Did you walk all the way here?¡± Without awaiting my response, he seized my hand and led me into his bedroom. ¡°Get out of those wet clothes, I¡¯ll prepare a hot bath for you.¡± Nodding, I began unbuttoning my shirt while he headed to the bathroom to ready the bath. By the time he returned, I stoodpletely undressed. His gaze briefly lingered on my bare chest before returning to meet my eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll make you something warm to drink,¡± he said, his tone gentle. ¡°Don¡¯t stay in the bath too long, we wouldn¡¯t want the water to turn cold.¡± I offered a slight nod in response. He leaned in, nting a gentle kiss on my forehead and then holding my cheeks in his hands. ¡°I¡¯m going to make sure you¡¯re warm, and then we¡¯ll have a conversation, okay?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I affirmed. ¡°Good.¡± He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips. ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± We held each other¡¯s gaze momentarily before he exited the room. Afterward, I made my way to the bathroom, taking a bath and allowing the warmth to seep into my chilled bones. When I emerged, I selected one of his shirts, slipped into it, and ventured out to find him. Navigating to the kitchen, I discovered himying out dinner on the ind counter. Despite having a formal dining room, we rarely used it. ¡°Did you manage to get the recipe right this time?¡± I inquired, a yful smile tugging at my lips. Thest attempt had been quite the disaster. He chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s edible, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re wondering.¡± In just a matter of minutes, Ravel managed to make me forget the troubles of my day. He pulled out a chair for me, silently inviting me to sit, and then pushed a te my way while pouring wine into a ss. Muttering my gratitude, I began to eat. He observed me as I ate, his gaze steady, before finally addressing the question that had been on his mind. ¡°Are you nning to share what happened today?¡± I let out a sigh, audibly expressing my frustration, and picked up my ss without actually drinking from it. ¡°I got fired, and then I decided to quit.¡± A furrow formed between his brows, clearly puzzled by my response. ¡°Did you get fired, or did you quit?¡± I shrugged and took a gulp of wine. ¡°I would have quit even if I hadn¡¯t been fired.¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± he said slowly, clearly trying toprehend. ¡°Why? What led to that decision?¡± Ravel might lose his cool if I tell him. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t do anything as reckless as confronting Harrison physically.¡± He suddenly stiffened, leaning forward. ¡°What did he do?¡± His voice carried a low, dangerous growl. The memory of that unsettling encounter in the office sent a shiver down my spine. ¡°He forcibly kissed me and tried to touch me,¡± admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. His jaw clenched tightly. ¡°What the hell did you just say?¡± Quickly attempting to quell his rising anger, I assured him, ¡°Nothing more happened. I managed to stop him before he could do anything further, and then he fired me.¡± ¡°What made him think he could do something like that?¡± His eyes brimmed with anger, making me worry that he might take impulsive actions we¡¯d both regret. ¡°Ravel,¡± I whispered, sliding off the stool. I walked around the table, creating some distance between him and the ind, and then I settled onto his thigh. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go after him. I want to leave it all in the past.¡± He remained silent, his emotions difficult to read. ¡°I¡¯m not nning to return there, I have no reason to.¡± ¡°You expect me to just let him off the h ook?¡± His tone was conflicted. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to entangle yourself in this mess, Ravel,¡± I implored. Thest thing I needed was for his reputation to be tarnished by my issues. His mother will hate me the more if happens. ¡°Promise me.¡± His gaze remained locked on me, unable to voice the words I needed to hear. ¡°Ravel?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he exhaled in frustration, ¡°I promise not to get involved.¡± Perfect. Maybe now we can shift the conversation to my living arrangements. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 RAVEL (FIVE YEARS AGO) I assured Hazel that I wouldn¡¯t personally involve myself in Harrison¡¯s case, yet I never explicitly prohibited my associates from doing so. When Hazel disclosed the despicable actions of that man, my initial inclination was to confront him at the rather absurd restaurant, give him a thorough thrashing, and then ensure he faces legal consequences. However, due to mymitment to Hazel, I will merely oversee my associates as they administer a thorough beating before arranging for his legal proceedings. Gently nting a soft kiss on Hazel¡¯s forehead as she slept, I rose from the bed and changed into warmer attire to ward off the chill. Hazel retired early, likely due to the wine she had imbibed. While I hadn¡¯t anticipated her indulging to such an extent, considering the unfortunate nature of her day, her actions were quite understandable. Exiting my room, I encountered Raymond, who raised his gaze from his phone as I approached. He leisurely observed my attire before inquiring, ¡°Are you headed out?¡± ¡°We are headed out,¡± I corrected him. Raymond responded with an eye roll. ¡°As your security, Ravel, I wouldn¡¯t expect you to venture anywhere without my presence.¡± He stashed his phone away and rose from his seat. ¡°So, where are we off to?¡± ¡°Harrison attempted to make advances towards my woman, I conveyed, causing his jaw to tense. The mere idea of that individual daring to kiss Hazel ignited a surge of anger within me. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Raymond pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, his eyes reflecting my fury. ¡°Wait, did you just say that human hippo tried toy a hand on Hazel?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t stumble over my words,¡± I spat out, frustrated by his attempt to force me to repeat myself. ¡°That wretch believes he cany hands on Hazel and go on freely wandering the streets of New York.¡± He swiftly retrieved his jacket. ¡°Let¡¯s go pay him a little visit.¡± Whistling nonchntly, he sauntered out of the living room. ¡°I¡¯ve been honing my skills at the gym for a while now. It¡¯s quite satisfying to apply them on a living target after such a long time.¡± And that¡¯s precisely why I¡¯m bringing him along. I settled into the passenger seat while allowing him to take the wheel. I was confident the scoundrel would still be at the restaurant since the evening was far from over for him to close up shop for the day. Raymond expertly maneuvered through the bustling streets of New York, taking his time to reach our destination. Eventually, we arrived at the restaurant, but the sight that greeted me was far from what I had anticipated. The establishment appeared as though a crime had taken ce right within its walls. Raymond lowered the window, extending his head to assess the situation. ¡°What in the world is happening here?¡± He retracted his head back into the car. ¡°I can spot the cops. It seems something significant has urred.¡± Gathering my sunsses, I opened the car door, preparing to step out. ¡°Ill go inquire about the situation. A few well-ced questions should unveil the answers I seek. ¡°Please stay put, Raymond insisted firmly. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be wise for you to be seen in such an environment. I¡¯ll approach someone and gather the information we need.¡± I closed the car door and peered through the window, spotting Hazel¡¯s coworker in the distance. ¡°The individual in the blue shirt over there, bring him here. He¡¯s an employee here and likely knows what¡¯s happening¡± ¡°Understood, boss. Raymond exited the vehicle and engaged in conversation with the man. They both returned to the car, with Raymond instructing him to sit in the back seat. Curiosity getting the better of me, I inquired without looking directly at him, ¡°What¡¯s the situation over there? Why are Chapter 52 there police everywhere?¡± The man leaned forward, his voice carrying a somber tone. ¡°Something really terrible urred. Mary entered Harrison¡¯s office to inform him that she was finishing her shift, only to discover him in a gruesome and horrifying state.¡± Raymond turned to face the young man squarely. ¡°Could you borate on what you mean by ¡®gruesome state¡¯?¡± ¡°He was murdered,¡± the young man disclosed, causing my eyebrows to knit into a deep frown. ¡°His head was brutally smashed with an artifact from his office. It seems the killer also used the same artifact to inflict harm to his balls, and his throat was shed open. The knife used for the throat wound hasn¡¯t been located.¡± A surge of shock and anger swept over me. Swiveling to address the young man, I locked my gaze onto his. ¡°And what is your name?¡± ¡°Oscar,¡± he promptly replied. ¡°Any leads on a potential suspect?¡± I inquired. I would have liked to make him pay for touching my woman before the killer killed him.. ¡°Currently, no one seems to have any information,¡± Oscarmented, shaking his head while crossing his arms. ¡°It appears the killer might have entered and exited through a window in his office.¡± I suppose the scoundrel got what wasing to him. He¡¯s fortunate to be deceased, considering I had devised a fate even worse than death for him. ¡°You¡¯re free to go.¡± Oscar nodded, ready to exit the car. Raymond tossed him some money. ¡°Let¡¯s keep our presence quiet.¡± ¡°Absolutely, sir,¡± Oscar affirmed, epting the cash before departing. We observed him walking away. Raymond started the car and began to drive. ¡°Why did you give him money?¡± I questioned. He nced at me. ¡°You have no business being here, Ravel,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Your girlfriend isn¡¯t even present; she left work hours ago. Youck a valid reason to be here. No one knows the details of the encounter between her and Harrison earlier, and it¡¯s best if it stays that way, particrly since there¡¯s no suspect. She might be a subject of suspicion, or worse, you might attract unwanted attention from the police.¡± He had a point. For Hazel¡¯s sake, I would act as if none of this transpired. There¡¯s no need to burden her with concerns about this situation. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 RAVEL PRESENT TIME Wearing a sleek ck tuxedo paired with a matching ck tie and a crisp white shirt, I exited my room, only to discover Annefortably seated in my living room. Suppressing any hint of annoyance provoked by her unexpected presence, I nonchntly picked up a ss of scotch that Raymond had kindly poured. ¡°What brings you here, Anne?¡± I inquired, my irritation bubbling beneath the surface. She was already dressed and should be heading to the venue. Why was she in my suite? Rising gracefully from her seat, Anne approached me with measured steps. Her voice was calm yet resolute as she exined, ¡°I¡¯vee to offer words of encouragement to my son before his momentous day begins. Is that a cause for concern?¡± ¡°I hardly require your well-intentioned words to enhance my evening,¡± I retorted, my tone edged with a hint of defiance. There was only one individual capable of truly brightening my night. ¡°I suggest you take June along with you as you leave for the venue.¡± Her fleeting smile vanished into thin air. ¡°And why should I take her with me? Isn¡¯t she your woman?¡± Anne¡¯s inquiry caught me off guard, causing my brow to arch in surprise. ¡°You never acknowledged Hazel as my partner during the entire time I dated her and even after I married her. Yet, now you¡¯re suddenly deeming June as ¡®my woman¡¯?¡± I responded with a mixture of incredulity and suspicion, my narrowed eyes fixed on her. ¡°What¡¯s the reason behind this sudden shift?¡± With a dismissive shrug, Anne replied in a curt tone, ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ve chosen to cease battling against your decisions. It might be time to allow you the freedom to pursue your desires.¡± I found her statement hard to swallow. As I returned the now-empty ss to the countertop, I refrained from raking my fingers through my hair so as not to dishevel its carefully gelled style. ¡°If you¡¯re not inclined to take June along with you, ¨C that¡¯s eptable,¡± I conceded, reminding myself that Matthew was more than capable of managing such tasks; it was, after all, one of the reasons for which he was getting paid. Closing the gap between us, Anne enveloped me in an embrace that I didn¡¯t quite reciprocate. ¡°You might find it hard to believe, but I love you son deeply. Truly, I do. I genuinely wish the best for you,¡± she expressed, her sincerity evident in her voice and demeanor. ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied, extricating myself from the somewhat awkward hug. ¡°It¡¯s time for everyone to make their way. The red carpet is scheduled tomence in about forty minutes, and I need to be there to wee my guests.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Anne agreed, her smile extending warmly toward me. ¡°And do remember to apany June/The perception is already that the two of you are a couple. Embracing that image would not only project the perfect couple but also enhance your public persona.¡± Not in the mood for a debate, I yielded to her wishes. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll apany her,¡± I conceded, offering her the words she longed to hear. Her smile widened appreciatively. ¡°See you at the venue, Anne.¡± Giving a nod, she exited my suite. I watched her until she waspletely out before shifting my attention to Raymond. ¡°Reach out to Matthew and arrange for him to drive June to the venue,¡± I instructed, my voice firm. There was no reason for her to share a ride with me. ¡°Understood, boss,¡± Raymond acknowledged, stepping away to make the necessary arrangements. Taking out my phone, I navigated to my favorites and dialed Hazel¡¯s number. Knowing that having an open conversation in public would be challenging, I hoped to at least hear her voice now. The first two attempts went unanswered, but I wasn¡¯t deterred. Opting for onest try, I put the call on speaker mode and reached for another drink. It was at that moment she finally picked up the call. ¡°Hazel? Why haven¡¯t you been answering my calls?¡± I questioned, my tone a mix of concern and frustration. Chapter 53 ¡°Because you have no reason to be calling her,¡± a familiar male voice responded, interrupting our conversation. ¡°Why are you persistently trying to contact my woman and expecting her to answer your calls?¡± My jaw tightened at the sound of his voice. ¡°Are you now screening her calls?¡± I retorted in a t tone, a hint of frustration underlying my words. ¡°Quite the gant approach to treating ady.¡± ¡°I¡¯m merely safeguarding her from potential threats,¡± he replied curtly. ¡°Frankly, I¡¯m not concerned about whatever you might want to convey to her. I trust herpletely. However, if you truly need to speak to her, you can do so tonight at the exhibition hall, in the presence of everyone.¡± With that, he abruptly ended the call. Baffled and taken aback, I stared at my phone in disbelief, contemting why Hazel would grant him ess to her phone. Sna tching the device off the countertop, I opted to send a message instead. ¡°Give me a call when you see this message. XX RAV.¡± ¡°Sir,¡± Raymond¡¯s voice called out, breaking my focus, ¡°the car is ready.¡± Acknowledging his statement with a nod, I picked up my jacket from the arm of the sofa and made my way out of the suite. Throughout the ride to the venue, Raymond, sensing my less than optimal mood, wisely remained silent. It wasn¡¯t until he brought the car to a stop by the stairs leading to the red carpet that he finally turned to me. Twisting his body to catch my expression, he tilted his head slightly. ¡°Do you think you could manage a smile for the cameras?¡± he inquired cautiously. My re was my response. ¡°What? It¡¯lle across as rather odd if you arrive at your own event looking like you were dragged out of bed.¡± Ignoring his query, I asked pointedly, ¡°Where¡¯s June?¡± Raymond chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure she¡¯s lurking around, eagerly waiting for your appearance so she can join you on the red carpet for some photos.¡± I muttered a curse under my breath, prompting another chuckle from him. ¡°Just try not to identally push her down the stairs while posing together; that ba stard might be keeping an eye out.¡± With a tense jaw, I shifted my gaze out the window, staring at the swarm of papara zzi poised to capture every moment. ¡°Make sure Hazel stays away from the red carpet until I¡¯ve finished with June.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t worry, Ravel. I¡¯ve already spoken to Tom, and he assured me that Hazel hasn¡¯t left her house yet,¡± Raymond assured, though a hint of skepticism yed on his expression. ¡°You do realize there¡¯s a chance she might not show up, right?¡± She will. She promised me that she will, and also se went throughst minute details with me. ¡°Raymond, just open the door if you¡¯re not going to contribute anything meaningful.¡± My phone chimed with a notification, and I eagerly reached for it, assuming it was Hazel, only to discover yet another message from the ba stard that seemed to shadow my steps. Raymond¡¯s lips curved into a smile, seemingly unaware of the message I had just received. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you maintaining your usual demeanor,¡± he remarked with a touch of amusement, opening the car door and stepping out. He moved around to my side and held the door open, prompting the cameras to start shing as I emerged. Climbing the stairs and striking a few poses for the eager photographers, I was already engaged in the photoshoot when, just as Raymond had anticipated, June made her entrance seemingly out of thin air. I looped my arm around her waist, our practiced chemistry evident as we posed for the shing cameras. Strangers, oblivious to theplexities of my life, showered us withpliments about how impable we looked together. Their words, though well-intentioned, only served to stoke my frustration. Amid the flurry of photography, Raymond¡¯s voice unexpectedly echoed in my ear through the discreet mic. ¡°Red alert, boss! It appears Tom¡¯s information was false. Hazel¡¯s car has just arrived. You need to disengage from the red carpet with June!¡± As if on instinct, my gaze shifted towards the entrance, my eyes scanning for the approaching vehicle. I didn¡¯t have to search for long, as the car in question had just pulled over, making its presence known. Quilt gnawed at me, and I quickly released my grip from around June¡¯s waist. A wave of unease swept over me, as if I could sense Hazel¡¯s gaze piercing through the tinted ss of her car. Just as I was about to signal an end to the photo session, June Chapter 53 surprised me by leaning in and nting a kiss on my lips. The crowd erupted in excitement, their cameras capturing the unexpected moment from every angle.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. As the shes continued, my mind was consumed by thoughts of how Hazel might be feeling if she were witnessing this spectacle or how she would react upon seeing the images sshed all over the inte the following morning. Despite my efforts to avoid it, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I was inevitably causing her pain. No matter how hard I tried, it seemed I always ended up hurting her. ? 0 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 HAZEL PRESENT TIME Ravel has exquisite taste because how else how can you exin this red dress that hugs my body like a second skin? David has beenplimenting the dress, his eyes asionally wandering to the high slit on the dress that reveals my bronzed thighs. If he knows the dress is from Ravel, I bet he won¡¯t like the dress like he does right now. The first time heplimented the dress, it took everything in Agatha for her not tough. She knows about David¡¯s dislike for Ravel and that he will lose his mind if he finds that I epted a gift from him. The car pulled to a stop next to the stairs covered in red carpet. I was still buried in my phone, trying to respond to Agatha¡¯s text about work when David whistled beside me. ¡°Now that is a sight.¡± He pointed out with a chuckle. Curious to know what he finds amusing, I looked out through the window only to find Ravel posing for pictures with June, his hands wrapped around his waist. As if noticing my gaze, he looked in the direction of my car. I tried not to grip my phone too hard. As if the sight wasn¡¯t painful and annoying enough, June leaned up and ced her lips on Ravel¡¯s, kissing him, and he just stood still and let it happen. David cursed beside me. ¡°I think that show is for you, because I mean, why the f uck will he stare towards the direction of your car while kissing her?¡± Clearing my throat, I tore my gaze away from the kissing couple. ¡°there is no way he could have known this car is mine.¡± This isn¡¯t my usual car, I rented a limo for this asion. ¡°Then why is he staring at the car?¡± David asked, countering my im that Ravel doesn¡¯t know that I am the one in this car. ¡°he has no reason to be staring at the car like that if he is oblivious of the upants of the car.¡± Grabbing a mirror from the car, I checked my face just to make sure that my makeup is intact. ¡°the same way he has no reason to stare at the car is the same way he has no reason to put up a show forN?velDrama.Org exclusive content. me.¡± Everyone already knows he is dating June, so why would he want to rub it in my face, alsost night, he imed that he wants to fix what is broken between us. David narrowed his eyes at me. ¡°why does it feel like you are defending him?¡± Rolling my eyes, I dropped the mirror and turned to him. ¡°I am only saying that you should refrain from making wild assumptions, hoping that I¡¯ll get hurt and think of Ravel as a dou chebag, I already know that he is a dou chebag.¡± He frowned. ¡°That wasn¡¯t my intention.¡± Right. e on, let¡¯s get this over and done with.¡± I tapped on the door once and the security at the other side opened the door. I stepped out with David and he held my hand, a gesture that is expected of him as my date. We stopped for pictures, and as we took pictures, I felt someone¡¯s gaze on me. Involuntarily, my eyes scanned my environment until theynded on Ravel who is staring at me from the entrance. My first instinct was to re at him. He mouthed ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ which made me almost frown, but the consciousness that I am in front of shing cameras stopped me. I was still engrossed in Ravel when something unexpected happened. David kissed me. My first reaction was shock before it mirrored Ravel¡¯s expression. Anger. I almost shoved him away, but for the sake of the papara zzi, I let him do his thing. After what felt like hours to me, David pulled away. I smiled tightly at the camera before letting him lead me away. I turned to the space I once saw Ravel only to find it empty. The moment we were out of public sight, I turned to David. ¡°Can I have a moment with you alone?¡± I¡¯d hate to embarrass him in public. He winced slightly as he followed me. I looked around and entered the only room I saw, luckily, it was vacant. David walked in after me and the moment he closed the door, I pped him hard. ¡°How dare you?¡± This is the second time he is kissing me without my consent. Maybe because I let the first one slide, he thinks it is okay to repeat it again. ¡°Have lost you your go dda mn mind?¡± Chapter 54 ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He apologized, rubbing his cheek that received the impact of the p, ¡°I admit, I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± ¡°Then why did you?¡± what the heck told him it will be a good idea to do that? ¡°I noticed Southwark staring and I was angry that he thinks he has the right to feel jealous after kissing anotherdy.¡± He took a step forward. ¡°I only wanted him to get the taste of his own medicine.¡± ¡°Ravel is mine to fight David,¡± I informed him in a clipped voice. ¡°I¡¯ll appreciate it if you stop thinking that you can swoop in and save the day.¡± ¡°Hazel, I said I¡¯m_¡± ¡°Let me finish,¡± I snapped. ¡°I was going to discuss this with youter, but I can as well say it now so we can avoid further urrences of what just happened out there.¡± He opened his mouth to speak but I lifted an index finger shutting him up. ¡°the one month that you asked for is already gone David, but I let this go on because I felt guilty about what Ravel did to you, but I think it¡¯s time I gave you my response.¡± His eyes widened, panic shing through them. ¡°You don¡¯t have to give me a response now because you are clearly upset.¡± He reached forward and grabbed both sides of my arm. ¡°sleep on it and give me your response tomorrow.¡± I tried to shrug off his hold but he only tightened it. ¡°My response has nothing to do with what happened out there. This has been on my mind for a very long time.¡± ¡°Hazel¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry David, but no matter how hard I try, I can¡¯t help but see you as a friend.¡± His eyes turned ssy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for leading you on all these while, for using you to shield myself against Ravel, but this must stop.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± he whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t want it to stop.¡± His grip on me hardened and I could a/bruise forming, ¡°I love you¡± Hazel, you can¡¯t leave me.¡± ¡°You are hurting David.¡±¡± I cried out. ¡°Let me go.¡± The door opened suddenly and Ravel stomped into the room. He sna tched David¡¯s hand away from mine, pushed him. back, and mmed his fist into his jaw. David sta ggered back. ¡°when ady says you should let her go, you f ucking let her go!¡± Davidughed hysterically. ¡°what? So I¡¯m the bad guy now?¡± his angry eye sliced at me and he red. ¡°I watched you cry yourself to sleep because of him, I consoled you during your darkest moments, and because I love you, I am the enemy?¡± ¡°David¡­¡± I whispered, unable to utter any other word. Honestly, I understand his plight. It is painful when you love someone who does not understand your love or who is unable to give it back. I took a step toward him, shrugging off Ravel¡¯s hold when he tried to hold me back. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± His re intensified. ¡°I don¡¯t want to f ucking hear it.¡± He hissed. ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have cared.¡± Cussing under his breath, he walked out of the room. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Rayel asked and I ignored him. ¡°Hazel?¡± ¡°I am here for the sake of my public image and promotion,¡± I snapped. ¡°I¡¯ll appreciate it if you stayed the f uck away from me.¡± I tried to walk past him but he grabbed my arm. ¡°Is this because of what happened between me and June?¡± He is insane. ¡°don¡¯t you think for one minute that my breakup with David is an opportunity for you to come after me.¡±I spat and his eyes narrowed. ¡°Stay the f uck away from me Ravel or I may really consider that restraining order.¡± Dumbfounded by my word, he just stood still and watched me walk away. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 HAZEL FIVE YEARS AGO It¡¯s been a week since I lost my job, and I¡¯m still uncertain about the path I want to take in life. Ravel kindly suggested supporting my return to school, but the challenge lies in choosing a major that truly resonates with me. It¡¯s almost as if nothing has captured my attention so far. As for the misced check, let¡¯s not even get started. Upon revisiting the drawer, I realized the check wasn¡¯t there anymore. With no other alternative, I had to inform Ravel that the check was lost, prompting him to contact his bank for cancetion. Although he graciously offered to issue a recement, I declined because I hold a strong sense of integrity. I can¡¯t simply reside in his home, enjoy his hospitality, utilize resources, wear high-end clothing, and still expect him to provide me with an open check. As I strolled down the bustling street, holding a cup of ice cream with Adam following close behind, I couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the charm of the surroundings. It was my inaugural experience walking through this particr area on foot. Typically, when I¡¯d visit Ravel, I¡¯d either be in a taxi or he¡¯d chauffeur me around. However, now that I found myself unemployed, I seemed to be exploring the streets quite frequently. Passing by a storefront, I came to a stop, drawn in by the sight of a man engrossed in his painting. Stationed just outside his shop, I gazed through the ss window, observing him as he meticulously added the final touches to his creation. Describing his painting as majestic would truly be an understatement. ¡°Would you like to get one?¡± Adam asked me, his gaze fixed on both me and the captivating painting. With a thoughtful tilt of my head, I continued to absorb the artwork. ¡°When you gaze at that painting, Adam,¡± I inquired, ¡°what do you perceive?¡± Baffled yet intrigued by my question, he directed his attention more intently toward the artwork. ¡°I see an image of a man. gazing at his son with affection.¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. But my interpretation differed. ¡°As I look at it, I discern a sense of yearning.¡± I shared, taking a step closer to the ss pane. ¡°I perceive a man yearning for affection from his son, or perhaps from anyone willing to extend it.¡¯ He seems akin to a lost puppy. Clearing his throat, Adam directed his gaze towards me. ¡°How can you discern that?¡± he inquired, clearly intrigued by my perception. ¡°It¡¯s in his eyes,¡± I replied with a sense of certainty. The expression in his eyes isn¡¯t solely admiration; it conveys a sense of yearning. Feeling a sudden impulse, I decided to pay the artist a visit. Without hesitation, I approached the entrance, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. Meeting the artist¡¯s eyes, I offered an apologetic smile for the interruption. Setting aside his brush, he rose from his seat. With a weing smile, he inquired, ¡°What can I assist you with?¡± His warm demeanor indicated that my presence was not unwee. ¡°I have a variety of paintings that might capture your interest.¡± I¡¯m not currently in a position to buy any paintings. As much as I¡¯d like to have one, my financial situation doesn¡¯t allow for it at the moment. Even with Ravel¡¯s card, I don¡¯t feelfortable making indulgent purchases. I offered apliment to the artwork we had been discussing earlier. ¡°That¡¯s a remarkable piece,¡± I praised. ¡°Thank you,¡± he responded, turning his attention back to the painting. ¡°I¡¯ve been struggling to decide on a name for it.¡± ¡°How about ¡°Longing¡¯?¡± I suggested. He turned to me inquisitively. I borated, ¡°The man¡¯s expression clearly conveys his yearning for his son¡¯s love. It seems fitting to name it that.¡± Impressed, a smile crossed his face. ¡°A youngdy who understands her art. Quite impressive.¡± His compliment made me blush. ¡°Do you paint?¡± he inquired. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t,¡± I admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t believe I possess that level of talent. While I greatly enjoy admiring others¡¯ artworks, I¡¯ve never really thought about creating one myself. I have an eye for appreciation, but not the skilled hands.¡± Chapter 55 He shook his head in gentle disagreement. ¡°You¡¯ll never truly know until you give it a shot.¡± He selected an empty canvas and positioned it near the window. ¡°If you have a bit of time to spare, why don¡¯t you gaze out onto the streets and paint whatever catches your eye ores to your mind?¡± With time on my hands, I found myself with no immediate tasks. ncing at Adam to secure his approval, he nonchntly shrugged, indicating that I should go ahead. Settling into a seat, I retrieved a brush and fixed my gaze on the bustling streets outside. The initial element that seized my attention was the floral boutique situated across from the art shop. The shop¡¯s entrance was adorned with daisies, coincidentally my favorite flower. My thoughts turned to Rav and how, if he wasn¡¯t allergic to flowers, he might have delighted in gathering them for me from the garden. Gently stroking the first brushstroke, I steadily worked on my canvas. As I nearedpletion, I realized that I had inadvertently painted a garden brimming with flowers-daisies dominating the scene over roses. Despite my earnest effort to concentrate, there were noticeable imperfections that might elicit a cringe from anyone viewing the painting for the first time. Stepping away from the chair, I took a moment to distance myself from my work. Chuckling nervously, I remarked, ¡°I had anticipated the oue to be considerably better than this.¡± My pout reflected my slight disappointment. Both Adam and the man shared a chuckle at my situation. ¡°Recreating the images in our minds is often more challenging than it seems,¡± the man remarked, and Adam affirmed his statement with a nod. ¡°With proper guidance and training, you have the potential to excel.¡± Absolutely. ¡°Can I acquire the painting?¡± I considered giving it to Ravel as a gift since he serves as my inspiration. ¡°I¡¯m more than willing to cover the cost of the canvas and paint used.¡± Recognizing that this is his livelihood, I wasn¡¯t expecting him to simply offer it for free. ¡°You should allow time for it to dry before handling it,¡± the man advised. ¡°How about you provide your address? Once it¡¯s fully dried, I can have it delivered to you.¡± Certainly. I attentively listened as Adam provided Ravel¡¯s address to the man. ¡°How much do I owe you for everything?¡± I inquired, preparing to utilize Ravel¡¯s card for the payment. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he declined with a warm smile, ¡°consider it my gift to you.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Taken aback by his generosity, I unconsciously bit my lower lip. ¡°Could I at least know your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Cayden.¡± ¡°Thank you, Cayden,¡± I expressed with genuine gratitude, feeling touched by his kind gesture even though we were essentially strangers to each other. ¡°I really appreciate your kindness, especially since we know so little about each other.¡± Acts of kindness like this were rare. We exchanged our farewells before I departed the shop, feeling content that I had ventured in there in the first ce. Disposing of the now-melted ice cream into a nearby bin, I took a quick nce at my wristwatch. ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take us to get back home?¡± I inquired. Adam, too, checked his wristwatch. ¡°Around thirty minutes if we maintain our fastest pace,¡± he responded in an almost robotic manner I deeply regretted the decision to leave the car behind, especially now that I was in dire need of a restroom. Scanning my surroundings, my eyes fell upon a convenience store across the street. ¡°Adam,¡± I called out, catching his attention. ¡°We¡¯ll need to make a stop over there.¡± He followed my extended finger to the convenience store. ¡°Do you need to buy something?¡± he asked. §¯ ¡°Nope,¡± I replied, the ¡®p¡¯ sound popping in my response. ¡°I need to use the restroom.¡± My urgency was quite clear. Understanding dawned in Adam¡¯s eyes, and without hesitation, he took my hand and guided me across the street. He apanied me into the convenience store but stopped near the entrance. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you here,¡± he announced. Chapter 55 I acknowledged his statement with a brisk nod before hurrying toward the restroom. Pushing the door open, a sigh of relief escaped me as I finally found relief. Emerging from the restroom, I headed to the sink to wash my hands, only to find myself face-to-face with thest person I ever expected to encounter again-Kelvin, my ex-boyfriend who had struggled with drug addiction. A broad smile crossed Kelvin¡¯s face. ¡°Hello, Hazel,¡± he greeted with a wink. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 HAZEL FIVE YEARS AGO Are my eyes ying tricks on me? How did this item appear out of nowhere? Looking at him skeptically, I turned the water faucet on to wash my hands. ¡°Why are you here, Kelvin?¡± Wait, that might not be the right question to ask at the moment. ¡°How did you manage to find me?¡± He gave me a grin, the same youthful grin that I once found endearing, but now it¡¯s giving me an eerie feeling. ¡°Is that the question you want to ask your boyfriend, the one you left behind for years?¡± What is he even talking about? I quickly grabbed a tissue and dried my hands. ¡°Let me respond to two points in what you just said. Firstly, you¡¯re not my boyfriend; I can¡¯t evenbel you as an ex because what we had back then was far from a healthy rtionship.¡± I noticed his frown, though it doesn¡¯t affect me. ¡°Secondly, you¡¯re the one who deserted me outside the social service home. Don¡¯t misunderstand me, though ¨C I¡¯m actually thankful that you left me there.¡± If you hadn¡¯t, I might be in jail right now, still trapped in drug addiction. He maintained that unsettling grin, taking a deliberate step closer while rubbing his nose with his thumb energetically. ¡°Let me take a moment to rify two things, Hazel. It¡¯s important to note that you¡¯re still my girlfriend because, as far as I can recall, there was no official breakup between us. Secondly, I need to stress that I didn¡¯t abandon you outside the social worker¡¯s home due to indifference or neglect. It was a decision made with your safety in mind, the most prudent choice given the circumstances. Taking you to a hospital, while it might have seemed like an option, would have led to far-reaching implications not just for you, but for me and my friends as well.¡± A throbbing headache is already beginning to take hold. ¡°At this point, you know what? None of the exnation truly matter. We¡¯ve both moved on, I¡¯m certain of that. I¡¯ve found contentment in the current state of my life, just as I hope you have in yours.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± he deadpanned, causing my eyebrows to arch. ¡°I haven¡¯t moved on, Hazel, and I¡¯m most certainly not content with my life.¡± I blinked slowly, processing his words. ¡°That seems to be more of a personal struggle,¡± I retorted. Letting out a sigh, I regarded him with a critical gaze. ¡°Here¡¯s a piece of advice for you, Kelvin: break free from the grip of drugs.¡± It¡¯s painfully obvious that he¡¯s still under their influence. ¡°Try embracing a healthy lifestyle; I promise you¡¯ll find it appealing.¡± A sh of distaste twisted his lips. ¡°Cut the holier-than-thou act, Hazel. You¡¯re no better than me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been five years since I had any illegal substances in my system, Kelvin. I¡¯ve been maintaining a healthier lifestyle than you,¡± I stated in an even tone. ¡°Given how frequently you¡¯re rubbing your nose, I¡¯d bet my money you had a drag before leaving your house.¡± He shot me a re before letting out a bitter chuckle. ¡°I see where this newfound confidence is stemming from.¡± His words caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s that wealthy guy you¡¯ve been following, isn¡¯t it?¡± What?! How long has this despicable person been observing me? ¡°What wealthy individual are you referring to?¡± If I don¡¯t hasten, Adam will undoubtedly start searching for me. ¡°Listen, I genuinely don¡¯t have the time or patience for this.¡± I attempted to maneuver around him, but he effectively blocked my path. ¡°Kindly step aside, Kelvin.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll depart once I¡¯ve had my say,¡± he growled, his grip on me tightening, hinting at his readiness to physically control the situation. I red at him, my gaze an unspoken challenge. ¡°There¡¯s a young man specifically entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring my protection from individuals like you. If you don¡¯t vacate my path, he¡¯ll inevitably enter this space in search of me, and I can guarantee you, the oue won¡¯t be favorable for you.¡± His jaw tightened with anger. ¡°Does he have knowledge of this?¡± Oh, for crying out loud! This day was progressing rather smoothly. ¡°Know what, Kelvin? What exactly should Adam be aware of That I¡¯m trapped in a restroom with my deranged ex-boyfriend?¡± Chapter 56 ¡°Do you truly believe I care about your hired guardian?¡± he sneered. ¡°I¡¯m referring to Southwark, the current wealthy imb ecile you¡¯re attempting to leech off.¡± He took a deliberate step closer. ¡°Is he aware of your addiction?¡± A malicious grin tugged at his lips. ¡°Or that you nearly drugged an infant?¡± ¡°I was an addict,¡± I corrected through clenched teeth, my voice sharp. ¡°Past tense, Kelvin! It¡¯s behind me now. Everyone has a past, and this is mine. So, if you can¡¯t contribute something meaningful to this conversation, kindly step away.¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a yes, Hazel, so I¡¯ll assume you haven¡¯t confided in him.¡± Leaning in, he whispered, ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to start revealing things, you¡¯d better answer my calls when I ring you.¡± ¡°When you call?¡± I repeated, my voiceced with disbelief. He affirmed with a nod. ¡°I have your number, Hazel, and I¡¯m well aware that you¡¯re cohabitating with him. If you choose to ignore my calls, I¡¯ll have no option but to drop by thatvish mansion. I¡¯m sure your boyfriend and his family would be quite interested in hearing what I have to share.¡± Fear knotted in my throat. ¡°Are you attempting to ckmail me, Kelvin?¡± ¡°ckmail?¡± he chuckled darkly, casually grabbing a fistful of my hair. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m not ckmailing you. I¡¯m simply urging you to answer my calls. When we venture into the realm of ckmail, you¡¯ll be well aware.¡± With a mocking gesture, he blew me a kiss and strolled out of the restroom. Paralyzed with a sense of helplessness, I remained frozen, tears tracing down my cheeks. How on earth was I going to reveal to Ravel that, in our entire year of being together, I had failed to disclose my previous struggle with drug addiction? And the thought of Anne¡¯s reaction was equally daunting. My goodness! The repercussions of this revtion on Ravel¡¯s public image, if it were to leak, were too overwhelming to contemte. ¡°Ms. cks?¡± Adam¡¯s voice echoed from the hallway, and I hastily wiped my tears away. ¡°Are you all right? You¡¯ve been in there longer than usual.¡± I cleared my throat, attempting to rid my voice of its huskiness. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Adam. I¡¯ll be out in a minute.¡± Flicking on the faucet, I washed my face before emerging from the restroom. He studied my face for a moment, his gaze growing more focused by the second. ¡°Are you certain you¡¯re alright, Ms. cks?¡± I¡¯m far from alright! In fact, I doubt I¡¯ll be alright anytime soon. It appears my fairy tale might be on the brink of shattering.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 RAVEL PRESENT TIME The unfolding of events that night took an unexpected turn, catching me off guard. Little did I foresee that I would be a witness to Hazel¡¯s decisive breakup with David, an intriguing twist considering their undefined status. I couldn¡¯t help but find amusement in Hazel¡¯s remark that her split from David shouldn¡¯t be misconstrued as an open invitation for me to pursue her. ?????? ? ? To be honest, even if Hazel were entangled in a romantic involvement with him, that wouldn¡¯t deter my determination to win her over. It¡¯s a simple matter of fact ¨C I had never entertained the notion of relinquishing my affections for her. With a resigned exhale, I massaged my forehead and embarked on a quest to locate June. Eventually, I spotted her in thepany of a cluster of influencers, presumably engrossed in plotting yet another vacation escapade. ¡°Pardon the interruption,dies,¡± I ventured, inserting myself into their exchange. ¡°May I steal her away for a brief moment?¡± June¡¯s smile stretched wide, hershes fluttering as she gazed at me. ¡°Ravel adores me so immensely that he finds it impossible to stay apart from me for extended periods.¡± The other women erupted into giggles, and to facilitate the forting request I had in mind, I granted her this moment. I even took the step of nting a quick peck on her cheek, which prompted a collective swoon from the onlookingdies. My smile remained affectionate. ¡°If you¡¯ll pardon us for a moment.¡± Seizing June¡¯s hand, I guided her towards the balcony, paying no mind to the arriving guests. The event was on the cusp ofmencing, and I needed to address this matter swiftly. Once the balcony door was closed, effectively shielding us from the throng, she withdrew her hand from mine and her smile faded. ¡°What¡¯s happening, Ravel? Your recent sweetness surely has an underlying reason.¡± With my hands now tucked into my pockets, I fixed my gaze on her, maintaining aposed demeanor. ¡°It appears you¡¯re in the midst of orchestrating yet another vacation.¡± She responded by rolling her eyes. ¡°Why should that concern you?¡± A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I took a deliberate step closer to her. ¡°I wonder, have you informed them about your financial situation?¡± June didn¡¯t have a propensity for saving; she seemed to expend the money I provided as rapidly as it arrived. ¡°Do your friends possess the knowledge that your bank ountcks the resources for yet another holiday?¡± Her jaw visibly clenched in anger. ¡°Is this the reason you brought me out here? To subject me to insults?¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t intended as an insult, June, merely an observation,¡± I stated matter-of-factly. ¡°I¡¯m more than willing to finance any extravagant excursion you have in mind, provided you adhere to my conditions for tonight.¡± She regarded me with suspicion. ¡°And what might those conditions be, Ravel?¡± Her arms folded across her chest. ¡°Let me guess, you¡¯re going to ask me to leave.¡± My actual intentions were quite different. I needed her to remain here so that ba stard could see her. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m asking you to keep your distance from me throughout the evening. Her re intensified. ¡°Engage with others tonight, June, and make genuine friendships-ones that can enrich your life once all of this is over.¡± ¡°Are you genuinely bringing up our breakup in this moment?¡± Her words dripped with anger. ¡°Is this some kind of sick joke? What am I to you? A mere toy?¡± I suspected she was well aware of the answer to her question. After all, I had never stick my di ck into her, so her perception of being a ything seemed rather misced. She wasn¡¯t even an object. ¡°Will you ept the proposition, or do I need to send you back to the hotel without any funds for your vacation?¡± She let out a scornful sound. ¡°Why does it feel like I¡¯m left with no choice but to agree to your preposterous demand?¡± ¡°Using your intellect, you mighte to the realization that you¡¯re left without much choice, given your penchant for Chapter 57 spending my money,¡± I replied, a touch of wryness in my tone. A sly smirk crept onto her lips as she advanced a step. To any observers, our appearance suggested a content couple on the brink of a kiss. Yet, they remained oblivious to the undercurrents, unaware that we were perhaps contemting something less romantic-such as potentially pushing each other off this very balcony. ¡°Is that aint, Ravel?¡± Her words dripped with insinuation. ¡°Could it be that your financial state is gradually dwindling?¡± Engaging in a discussion about my business matters with her seemed utterly pointless. ¡°So, are you epting the offer or not?¡± ¡°In addition to the vacation, I have another condition. If you agree, I promise to stay out of your way until I return to New York, she countered, attempting to negotiate. ying the role of a shrewd businesswoman wasn¡¯t exactly her strong suit. Humoring her attempt at bargaining, I blinked at her. ¡°What exactly are you asking for?¡± Her response almost elicited a chuckle from me. ¡°I aspire to establish my own fashion line, and I¡¯m proposing that you sponsor it,¡± she stated matter-of-factly. ¡°Not only do I require your financial backing, but I also recognize the need for yourwork connections to facilitate myworking.¡± It was utterly amusing. Letting out a chuckle, I pressed my lips together. ¡°You want to venture into the world of fashion?¡± I inquired, seeking rification, and she affirmed it with a nod. ¡°You believe you possess what it takes to sessfully run a fashion line?¡± She raised an eyebrow in response. ¡°Well, if Hazel could effectively manage an art gallery, why shouldn¡¯t I be capable of overseeing a fashion line?¡± Rubbing my stubbled chin, I pretended to contemte her statement. ¡°Hmm, I suppose one reason might be that Hazel actually attended an art school for a year and gained a deep understanding of theThis is from N?velDrama.Org. art world.¡± ¡°F*** you, Ravel!¡± A chuckle escaped my lips. ¡°You know what, let¡¯s forget I even asked. I¡¯ll have Matthew escort you back.¡± I began to turn away, but she swiftly caught my hand. ¡°What is it?¡± I retorted. ¡± ¡°I ept your offer,¡± she muttered. ¡°Just ensure that you fulfill your end of the deal and sponsor the trip.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t make promises lightly,¡± I affirmed. ¡°Yet you still divorced your wife,¡± she taunted. ¡°Didn¡¯t you vow to love her until death parted you?¡± My re was sharp. ¡°Who said I broke that promise?¡± I shot back, and her jaw visibly dropped. ¡°Just keep in mind that you need to keep your distance from me tonight.¡± With that, I turned and strode into the hallway, arriving just in time for the event tomence. Scanning the crowd, my eyes locked onto Hazel, seated in her designated spot. Making my way towards her, I imed the seat beside her, instructing Rose to guide the original upant of the seat to my ce. She regarded me with surprise. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Her question hung in the air, but I only responded with a grin. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be seated with June?¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer to spend my evening with you,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°And what about David?¡± A slight frown tugged at her features. ¡°He¡¯s already gone.¡± ¡°Lucky me,¡± I muttered, prompting a re from her. A hearty chuckle escaped me. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re aware I heard you, right?¡± Frankly, I didn¡¯t care. His departure only offered me a better chance to be around her. With Rose and the team attending to the models, I watched as the lights dimmed, signaling the start of the event. Chapter 57 Elenor gracefully glided down the runway, adorned with my exquisite creation around her neck, ears, and wrist. Hazel¡¯s captivated gaze followed her every move, while I found myself equally captivated by Hazel. How could one person exude such beauty and perfection? It¡¯s hard to fathom that I once allowed her to slip away. ¡°This is stunning, Ravel,¡± she praised, a genuine smile on her lips. ¡°Yes,¡± I murmured softly, ¡°truly stunning.¡± My breathy tone caught her attention, causing her to turn and meet my gaze. A shy smile yed on her lips. ¡°I was actually referring to the jewelry, Ravel.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m speaking about you,¡± I whispered, my gaze locked onto her. ¡°I¡¯ve actually crafted a piece of jewelry for you.¡± She arched an eyebrow. ¡°Really? Which model is wearing it?¡± Returning my attention to the models, I replied, ¡°I would never allow anyone else to wear a piece that was created exclusively for you.¡± Sensing her eyes on me, I turned to meet her gaze. ¡°You¡¯ll receive it on your birthday next week.¡± A smile graced her features, crinkling the corners of her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing it, Ravel.¡± Encouraged by her happiness, I decided to take a chance. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving Seattle next week. How about dinner tomorrow?¡± She held my gaze for a moment, then nodded, a genuine smile on her lips. ¡°I¡¯d love that.¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 HAZEL PRESENT TIME Today, David didn¡¯t show up for work. I was almost going to call him, but then Agatha told me he¡¯d called the office earlier to say he¡¯s not feeling well. But I know he¡¯s not really sick. I know this because I¡¯m the reason he¡¯s not here. It¡¯s not his body that¡¯s unwell, it¡¯s his heart that¡¯s hurt. So, I took my phone and sent him a text. I really hope we can figure this out and go back to being good friends. XX. Hazel¡¯ Just like I thought, I didn¡¯t get a reply to my text. After a couple of hours of working, I heard a sound from my phone, like a little beep. I quickly picked it up, thinking it could be David texting me back. But, actually, it was a message from Ravel. I¡¯m really excited to see you tonight, Hazel. I¡¯m looking forward to having dinner with you, Love, RAV ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am,¡± Agatha¡¯s voice came from the doorway. I put down my phone and turned to her. ¡°There¡¯s a delivery of flowers for you.¡± She came in, struggling a little with a big bunch of daisies, I got up and walked over to her, giving her a hand with a smaller box she had. ¡°Do you know who these flowers are from?¡± I asked her, curious. She shook her head, not sure about the answer. She ced the bunch of flowers on the couch, and I carefully looked through them, hoping to find a card. After a bit of searching, I found it and opened it quickly. ¡®My allergies to flowers won¡¯t stop me from getting them for you! My heart was in a flutter. During my time dating Ravel and throughout our marriage, he never got me flowers due to his serious allergy. I never pushed him to give me flowers, understanding how bad his allergy reactions could be. ¡°Could they be from David?¡± Agatha¡¯s voice brought me back, reminding me that she was still there in the room with me. ¡°They¡¯re really beautiful,¡± she added with apliment. ¡°You¡¯re smiling so much, I have a feeling they might be from him.¡± I didn¡¯t feel it was my ce to reveal that whatever connection I had with David was now over. Letting out a sigh, I picked up the bouquet and walked it over to a vase. ¡°These aren¡¯t from David. You can go back to your office now,¡± I said, indicating that she could leave. Understanding my hint, she gave a slight nod and exited my office. As I settled back into my seat, I found myself pondering theplex state of my life. In the past, I was confident that I was making the right choices, but that conviction doesn¡¯t hold true anymore. No matter how I analyze the situation, I can¡¯t ignore the fact that I¡¯m tangled in a web of lies and deceit that ensnares those around me. I initially misled David by giving him the impression that there might be potential for a deeper connection between us. And now, I¡¯m preparing to go on a date with Ravel, all the while concealing a crucial truth from him. The extent of my duplicity bes even clearer when I acknowledge that I went as far as relocating his daughter to a different town just to ensure he remains oblivious. How can I face him while avoiding any mention of his daughter? I¡¯m genuinely striving to set things right, but the presence of June in his life throws everything into question. What if I do reveal the truth about his daughter, and he chooses to reconcile with her? The mere thought of that possibility raises the unsettling prospect of him departing with my daughter as well. Wait, what am I even thinking, Hazel? He hasn¡¯t left her to begin with. He invited me for a date, with her in in view across the room. Just then, the inte buzzed by my side, and I pressed the answer button. Agatha¡¯s voice filled the room. ¡°Ma¡¯am, Ms. Southwark is here to see you.¡± ¡°Elenor. Please have here in.¡± I cleared my throat, making an effort to mask any worry or troubles that might have been evident on my face. Within moments, Elenor walked into my office, wearing a rxed expression that turned into a bright smile when she spotted me. ¡°Hello, superstar,¡± I greeted, rising from my seat to join her on the sofa. ¡°You looked absolutely Chapter 58 stunningst night.¡± Her grin transformed into a slightly smug smirk. ¡°I know, right?¡± She nced towards the bouquet on the vase. ¡°Beautiful flowers. A present from David?¡± My gaze involuntarily shifted towards the flowers. ¡°No, actually, they¡¯re a gift from your brother.¡± She chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m aware. I helped him choose them since he can¡¯t be around flowers.¡± Her words left me puzzled, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. ¡°If you already knew they were from Ravel, why did you ask if they were from David?¡± She shrugged, crossing her ankles casually. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if you¡¯d befortable acknowledging that the flowers are from Ravel. I wanted to let you decide.¡± Sometimes, Elenor¡¯s actions leave me wondering if I truly understand what¡¯s going on in her mind. ¡°Next time, when you¡¯re aware of something, just let me know straightforwardly. It¡¯s better than making me uneasy by revealing your knowledge after I¡¯ve already talked about it.¡± She nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Got it.¡± She got up from the sofa and strolled over to the mini bar, picking up a drink for herself. ¡°So, for the first time in three years, I reached out to my brother to have drinks tonight in celebration of the sessful exhibition. But he declined, saying he already has ns for the evening. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, asking you and David to join me for drinks.¡± Ouch. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elen.¡± She chuckled, settling back into her seat with a bottle of whiskey and a ss. ¡°Are you turning me down too?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t join you because the n Ravel has is with me. And David can¡¯t join you either because¡­ well, he¡¯s not too happy with me right now.¡± She raised an eyebrow with curiosity. ¡°He kisses youst night and then he¡¯s mad at you this morning?¡± She rolled her eyes and leaned forward, cing the bottle on the table. ¡°What a true gentleman.¡± David¡¯s frustration is warranted,¡± I admitted. ¡°I ended things with himst night, so he has every right to be angry.¡± ¡°You broke things off with him?¡± She asked, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°Is my brother already working some kind of magic?¡± ¡°The breakup has nothing to do with Ravel.¡± Elenor¡¯s smile grew broader. ¡°Got it.¡± Her enthusiastic reaction prompted me to roll my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just relieved that you and my brother are trying to sort things out. Even if things don¡¯t go back to how they were, at least you won¡¯t have to feel awkward when you run into each other.¡± My phone buzzed on the table, drawing my attention away from Elenor. I muttered an apology and walked over to my desk, picking up the phone. My calm expression shifted into a slight frown as I saw Monica¡¯s name, David¡¯s mother, on the screen. ncing nervously at Elenor, who appeared unaware of any tension, I answered the call with a shaky finger, hoping it wasn¡¯t my daughter calling. ¡°Hello?¡± I greeted cautiously. ¡°Is this Daisy¡¯s mom?¡± came an unfamiliar voice. I furrowed my brows at the strange voice. ¡°Yes, who¡¯s this?¡± I inquired, wondering why this person had Monica¡¯s phone. Panic spi ked within me. ¡°Is Daisy alright?¡± I added, my voice trembling a bit. ¡°Yes, your daughter is safe,¡± the unfamiliar voice reassured me. ¡°Monica was taken to the hospital this morning, and we haven¡¯t been able to reach her son. Your daughter has been with me, and I need you toe here.¡± ¡°Monica copsed?¡± I asked, my concern deepening. Chapter 38 ¡°Yes.¡± Oh no! I¡¯m on my way,¡± I responded urgently.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 RAVEL 78% PRESENT TIME Today¡¯s a leisurely day, intentionally so. I¡¯ve decided to keep business at bay while I¡¯m away from New York, entrusting all calls to Rose. Raymond is right here with me, embracing theziness. He¡¯s casually browsing through TV channels, searching for something interesting to watch. When his quest proves futile, he lets out a groan and tosses the remote onto the adjacent couch. I nce up from my phone, my gaze meeting his momentarily. A chuckle escapes me as I observe his expression of frustration. ¡°Feeling that bored?¡± Given how he was up on his feet throughout the night, I figured he¡¯d relish this downtime. ¡°Why exactly have we found ourselves confined to this rather uneventful room?¡± he groaned, dramatically sprawling across the expanse of the sofa. ¡°Lazy days, in all their glory, don¡¯t necessarily have to equate to being locked in this space. We could, in theory, explore the option of making a brief stop at the nearby bar. Just a thought, you know.¡± With a chuckle, I continued my leisurely perusal through Hazel¡¯stest Instagram pictures. ¡°If your restlessness has reached such monumental heights, you could consider spending time with Elenor. I¡¯d be willing to wager that her appreciation for your presence would surpass mine at this point.¡± ¡°F uck off,¡± he grumbled, swiping up his phone in a slightly irked manner. Still thoroughly entertained by his ir for the dramatic, I couldn¡¯t help but let out a few more chuckles as the door to my room was unexpectedly flung open, ushering Elenor into the space with her characteristic graceful stride. ¡°I find myself filled with regret for having arranged my flight for tomorrow afternoon. Boredom has truly taken hold of me in its clutches.¡± ¡°Ever heard of knocking before barging into someone¡¯s room?¡± I inquired, yfully tucking my phone away for a moment. to jest with her. ¡°One of these days, you might just catch mepletely naked.¡± 1 She let out a scoff. ¡°And what thrilling sight would that be?¡± she quipped, settling herself onto the bed and slipping off her heels. ¡°I¡¯m quite certain that Raymond¡¯s is substantially bigger andrger than yours.¡± I nearly choked on my drink, caughtpletely off guard. ¡°What the heck, Elenor? There are boundaries, you know. Discussing your brother¡¯s di ck is beyond the pale.¡± I shot a disgruntled look at Raymond, who was chuckling softly. ¡°Don¡¯t go encouraging her.¡± He raised his hands in a gesture of innocence. ¡°Wasn¡¯t nning to,¡± he denied, his amusement evident. Directing my focus back to Elenor, I plucked one of her earrings from the bed and casually deposited it on the bedside drawer. ¡°Aren¡¯t there any friends you could be gallivanting around with?¡± I remarked with a yful edge, keeping in mind her reputation as a party enthusiast. It¡¯s hard to believe she wouldn¡¯t have anyone to hang out with. ¡°Or have they all chosen to desert you due to your rather vexing attitude?¡± In response, she nonchntly shed her middle finger at me. ¡°The only friend I possess in Seattle happens to be Hazel, and she abandoned me for your sake,¡± she disclosed, her tone carrying a mix of annoyance and candidness. Her admission prompted a grip to spread across my face. ¡°She practically bolted from her office not too long ago because either Monica or Daisy got injured.¡± Raymond, curious about the details, chimed in. ¡°So, which one of them got hurt?¡± he inquired, joining our ongoing conversation. ¡°Monica or Daisy?¡± Elenor¡¯s response was a nonchnt shrug. ¡°First, she asked about Daisy¡¯s condition, and then she mentioned that Monica had copsed. She leaned forward and deftly stole my drink. ¡°You might want to ring her up and find out what¡¯s going on. Hazel seemed really worried, and she shut down any conversation when I tried to ask.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give her a callter,¡± I decided, believing it wise to grant her some time to assess the situation before reaching out. Seeming unfazed by whether or not I made the call, Elenor shrugged indifferently. ¡°On a brighter note,¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. she dered, Chapter 59 capturing my attention with her announcement. I arched a curious brow at her. ¡°Hazel broke up with David.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already in the loop about that,¡± I responded with a deadpan tone. ¡°I happened to be there when it all unfolded. Elenor¡¯s lips formed an ¡°o¡± shape. ¡°I¡¯m actually relieved she ended things with him,¡± she pondered aloud. ¡°There¡¯s something about that guy that just sets me off.¡± She shifted her body to face me, her posture engaged. ¡°So, what exactly led you to pummel him in that parking lot?¡± The mere thought of him makes my blood boil, and I find myself yearning to go back in time and deliver a thorough beating. ¡°He spewed some trash about Hazel that I couldn¡¯t stomach,¡± I replied, the idea of him even remotely close to Hazel¡¯s life triggering an intense protective instinct. The men tal image of her on his bed could easily drive me to do irrational things. ¡°As I suspected,¡± she muttered, a knowing tone in her voice. ¡°Hazel¡¯s the only one who can rile you up like that.¡± She rolled off the bed and scooped up her shoes from the floor. ¡°I¡¯m hoping my dislike for him is just a figment of my imagination.¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because you secretly yearn for us to reconcile.¡± As she fastened her shoe straps, Elenor let out a dismissive scoff. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less who Hazel ends up with, as long as she¡¯s happy. Don¡¯t think for a second I wouldn¡¯t happily stand by her side as a bridesmaid if she chose to marry someone else.¡± ¡°Da mn you, Elenor,¡± I shot back, frustration evident in my words. Raymond couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, finding amusement in our ongoing exchange. ¡°You¡¯re my sister, which should mean you¡¯re automatically on my side.¡± ¡°Feel free to keep living in that fantasy,¡± she taunted, a mocking tone in her voice. ¡°And for the record, I thought you were adopted.¡± Raymond burst intoughter, unable to contain his amusement. ¡°Watching you two bicker like this never gets old. It¡¯s oddly refreshing,¡± hemented, clearly entertained by our dynamic. Elenor stood up. ¡°I¡¯m thrilled that you find our interactions entertaining,¡± she said with a dry tone. ¡°Considering your current state of unemployment, care to join me for a visit to the bar?¡± Raymond¡¯s lipspressed, the gears in his mind visibly turning as he contemted how to decline her proposition. His feelings for her were unmistakable, though he seemed to be suppressing them out of respect for Anne¡¯s presence. ¡°Just apany her, Raymond. There¡¯s no need to be so hesitant,¡± I urged, sensing the internal struggle within him. He let out a scoff, shooting me an irritated re. ¡°My duty is to ensure your safety, a task that bes impossible if I¡¯m at a bar, ying guardian to an adult-sized adolescent.¡± Elenor retorted sharply, ¡°Scr ew you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disparage my sister when I¡¯m around, Raymond. You may be my friend, but she¡¯s my younger sibling, and I¡¯ll always stand by her. ALWAYS.¡± He gave a nod, avoiding my eyes. ¡°I apologize, sir.¡± Elenor let out a sigh. ¡°You could have made your point without using the word ¡°baby¡±,¡± she remarked, standing before a full- length mirror to adj¨²st her hair. ¡°He referred to me as a teenager, and you labeled me a baby. Which one do you think I¡¯d prefer?¡± And once again, she¡¯s taking his side. It¡¯s not the first instance where I¡¯ve sided with Elenor against Raymond, only for her to ultimately side with him, casting me as the antagonist. ¡°Whatever, Elenor¡­ whatever,¡± She shrugged, seemingly unbothered. ¡°Are you joining me or not?¡± Raymond shifted his attention back to his phone. ¡°I¡¯ve already made it clear that I won¡¯t be going with you.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she blew a yful kiss in my direction and sauntered toward the door. ¡°Just remember, my n for the night involves finding someone to spend the evening with. You could¡¯ve been that person, but you opted to be a coward who fears my mother.¡± With that, she left the room, closing the door with a resounding m. Chapter 59 Raymond¡¯s jaw clenched, but he remained seated. Frustrated with his demeanor, I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him. ¡°You know you want to go after her,¡± I remarked, irritation evident. He gazed at me, then at the closed door. ¡°Forget about Anne¡¯s influence. Don¡¯t make a choice you¡¯lle to regret.¡± He leapt off the sofa, swiftly pocketing his phone, and dashed after Elenor. ¡°That¡¯s more like it,¡± I mused. Finally alone with my thoughts, I resolved to call Hazel. On the first attempt, she didn¡¯t answer, but I kept dialing until she finally picked up. ¡°Ravel,¡± she spoke softly, her tone indicating that it wasn¡¯t the most opportune time for a call. ¡°Can I reach out to youter? It¡¯s not the best time.¡± Her tone of concern immediately set off rm bells within me. Sitting up, I searched for my car keys, preparing to head over to her. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Her worry was triggering my own. ¡°Is Daisy okay?¡± She inhaled sharply. ¡°What did you just mention?¡± I repeated my question. ¡°I asked if Daisy is alright.¡± ¡°How did youe to know about her?¡± she asked, her voice shaky. What was she talking about? ¡°What do you mean? Daisy?¡± ¡°Yes. How did you find out about Daisy?¡± her breathless inquiry came through the line. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 RAVEL FIVE YEARS AGO The moment Hazel and Adam entered the living room, a sense of uncase washed over me. Hazel tried to downy the situation with a faint smile, but it was clear something was amiss. I turned to Adam, my concern evident. ¡°What on earth happened? Why does she appear this way?¡± Hazel looked as though tears had welled up in her eyes. I entrusted him with the task of ensuring her safety, and her current state suggested he hadn¡¯t fulfilled that duty. ¡°Are you going to exin, or should I demand an answer more forcefully?¡± Hazel intervened, stepping in to shield him from my frustration. ¡°You know, you could just ask me directly what happened. I¡¯m right here in front of you, you know.¡± I gazed at her intently, my hands cradling her face gently. ¡°That forced smile you offered when you entered the room makes me suspect you have no intention of sharing what¡¯s troubling you.¡± My attention shifted momentarily to Adam, my tone unwavering. ¡°If I have to ask again, the consequences won¡¯t be limited to my patience alone; your job will also be on the line.¡± Hazel had my focus as I addressed her again. ¡°What¡¯s troubling you?¡± She looked ufortable, hesitating to answer, so I directed my attention to Adam for his ount of the situation. ¡°She mentioned an urgent restroom need, so we stopped at a convenient store for her to use their facilities, he exined. ¡°I waited by the entrance, but she took longer than expected inside. When I grew concerned and knocked on the door, she assured me she was fine. However, she emerged looking the way she does now. I¡¯ve asked her multiple times, but she insists nothing happened in there.¡± Observing Hazel¡¯s expression closely, it was evident that something was bothering her. ¡°Did you check the restroom?¡± I inquired, wanting to make sure all angles were considered. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Adam confirmed. ¡°But there was no one else present with her.¡± As Hazel gently pulled at my arm, her voice a soft plea, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, Ravel. Let¡¯s not blow this out of proportion¡± I decided to grant her the time she needed to deal with whatever was on her mind but we will have a long needed conversation afterwards.. With a nod towards Adam, I directed, ¡°You may go.¡± He offered a respectful nod before exiting the room. Hazel let out a sigh, finally opening up. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything earlier because Adam was here,¡± she began, her words drawing my attention. Was Adam somehow making her uneasy? ¡°The truth is, I unexpectedly got my period while in the restroom. I didn¡¯t have any tampons with me, and I couldn¡¯t ask Adam to fetch one for me.¡± That doesn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Why? It is part of his job to be at your beck and call.¡± She red at me.¡±I can¡¯t have him buy tampons for me.¡± gging her hands in the sky in exasperation, she walked over to the sofa. ¡°To cut the whole story short, I got frustrated while using the pocket tissue in my purse, and I was still trying to who gather myself when Adam knocked on the door.¡± I arched a brow while watching her sit down. ¡°If you used those tiny tissues, don¡¯t you think you should head to the bathroom to take care of yourself instead of trying to rx.¡± Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ravel. I really didn¡¯t want to end up staining your white sofa.¡± I dismissed the issue with a wave of my hand. ¡°Who cares about the sofas? They can be reced.¡± Making my way to the kitchen, I began preparing something cold for her. ¡°I¡¯m more concerned about yourfort.¡± Her smile lit up, and she batted her eyshes yfully, ¡°I love you, Ravel.¡± Chuckling, I responded, ¡°I love you more.¡± Nodding towards the stairs, I suggested, ¡°Now, off you go.¡± 318% Chapter 60 With a blown kiss, she dashed up the staircase, leaving me standing there, a silly grin on my face, unable to contain my boundless happiness. With Christmas just a month away, an unusual sense of anticipation had settled in me. This marked the first time in my adult life that I was genuinely looking forward to the holiday season. As the door to my office swung open, Elenor entered with a teasing grin. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Mr. Christmas Spirit,¡± she quipped, taking a seat on the sofa. ¡°Someone¡¯s got some holiday excitement.¡± I rolled my eyes yfully and settled beside her. ¡°Let¡¯s not blow this out of proportion.¡± Tilting her head, she smirked knowingly. ¡°You¡¯re practically on your knees begging me to spend Christmas in New York, even though you¡¯re well aware I¡¯d rather be in Paris.¡± She leaned in, her curiosity piqued. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯m nning to propose to Hazel on Christmas Eve.¡± We had been together for a year, and I was ready to take the next step and make her my wife. To be honest, though, I¡¯m gripped by the fear that she might leave me. Hazel¡¯s behavior has taken a peculiar turn in recent weeks. Ever since she came back from that stroll with Adam, there¡¯s been an air of suspicion surrounding her actions. Initially, she imed to have her period, but two weekster, she was menstruating, which I noticed despite her attempts to hide it. Despite my awareness, I chose not to confront her about it, feigning ignorance. Another sign of her secrecy surfaced when she ced a password on her phone. Previously, her phone had been essible to me without any hindrance, but now things had changed. I decided not to question her about it, respecting her privacy and acknowledging her right to make choices concerning her phone. Another development came in the form of secretive phone calls Hazel had been making and receiving. I inquired about these calls multiple times, only to be told that they were random spam calls ¨C a recurring excuse. ¨C Additionally, her movements had be more mysterious. Questioning her about where she had beenC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. sneaking off to, she exined that she had been visiting the art dealer who had let her paint her first artwork and even helped her bring it home. Strangely, I had even gone to the extent of calling from the man¡¯s shop, yet she still insisted she was there when she obviously wasn¡¯t. Despite these puzzling behaviors, my determination remained steadfast: I wanted to escort her down the aisle. The thought of another man sweeping her away was unbearable to me. ¡°New Year¡¯s Eve would have been a perfect proposal moment, bluely. Why opt for Christmas Eve instead?¡± Elenor questioned curiously. I rified my choice, ¡°I have a January wedding in mind.¡± Her brow furrowed, seemingly concerned. ¡°What¡¯s with the urgency? Is she nning to leave?¡± The truth is, I do fear she might, and that¡¯s why a January wedding is my preference. ¡°I don¡¯t need to exin every detail, Elenor,¡± I retorted defensively. ¡°Just understand that I¡¯m nning to propose on Christmas Eve and I want a wedding in January.¡± I held onto the hope that Hazel would want the same too. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 HAZEL PRESENT TIME When Ravel inquired about Daisy¡¯s well-being, a rush of emotions flooded me, apanied by a barrage of questions. Had the moment I dreaded finally arrived? Although I had reh ear sed numerous scenarios for discussing Daisy with Ravel, my mind seemed to have gone nk at this crucial juncture. Breathlessly, I managed to ask, ¡°How did youe to know about her?¡± His response was almost nonchnt, as if knowing about her was entirelymonce for him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he queried. ¡°Daisy?¡± ¡°Yes, Daisy,¡± I reiterated, my heart racing. The urgency to understand how he hade to know about her overshadowed me. ¡°How did you find out about Daisy?¡± Time was of the essence, and I needed his reply to quell my spiraling thoughts. ¡°Who informed you about her?¡± I pressed, certain that neither David nor Agatha would reveal her existence to him without my consent. ¡°Elenor was present when you mentioned Monica or Daisy copsing, and then you hurriedly left your office without giving her any context,¡± Ravel recounted, seemingly unaware of the situation. Feeling a weight lift off my chest, I lowered myself onto a nearby seat in the hospital corridor. ¡°Monica is David¡¯s mother, and she experienced a copse earlier today,¡± I rified, hoping to satisfy his curiosity and divert his attention from Daisy. My intention was for the topic to fade away naturally. Concern filled Ravel¡¯s voice as he inquired, ¡°Is she alright? It¡¯s not a grave situation, is it?¡± With the things the neighbors who saw her exined, I guess it is pretty serious. ¡°when she copsed, she hit her head hit on the floor which made her cr ack her skull. They¡¯ve been in the operating room and I am yet to hear from the doctor.¡± Nor David. I told Agatha to give him a call, and if he doesn¡¯t answer, she should go over to his ce and inform him of what happened since we weren¡¯t able to reach him on the phone. ¡°Do you need me toe over?¡± he offered. I nced over at a sleeping Daisy beside me. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. David is already having a bad day, it is not advisable to have you around him right now. It will only end up elevating his frustration. ¡°Okay.¡± With the way he responded, it was obvious he didn¡¯t give a sh it about David¡¯s emotions. He is only agreeing because I said so. ¡°Just give me a call if you need me and I¡¯lle running,¡± Daisy stirred in her sleep and I smiled sadly. ¡°Thank you, Ravel, I keep that in mind.¡± I heard advancing footsteps before David arrived. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to youter Ravel.¡± disconnecting the call, I pocketed my phone and rose to my full height. ¡°For someone whose mother was seriously injured, you sure took your time to get here.¡± ¡°I had a t tire on my way here.¡± He grumbled, walking past me to sit down on the empty seat. ¡°What are the doctors saying?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. She has been in there with them since I arrived, but the neighbors said she cracked her skull when she hit the hard floor.¡± I sat down next to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see my calls and my texts?¡± Sighing, he rxed back and tilted his head upwards, folding his hands. ¡°This isn¡¯t the right time to talk about our rtionship problem Hazel.¡± I red at him. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about that. I meant my texts about what happened to your mother.¡± I deadpanned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me back to find out what¡¯s going on with her?¡± ¡°I am here, aren¡¯t I?¡± he retorted angrily. ¡°I am upset with you Hazel, so I will appreciate it if you let me deal with this alone.¡± He went as far as shutting his eyes, an indication that the conversation is over. Chapter 61 Frowning, I leaned forward. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± He opened his eyes again and pinned me with a re. ¡°What I am saying is that I want you to leave!¡± my frown deepened. ¡°I don¡¯t want you here Hazel, how difficult is that for you to understand?¡± He is hurting; I can see it in his eyes. His mother¡¯s condition is getting to him, which is why I am not going to take his words to heart. ¡°I am not leaving David, no matter how many times you tell me to leave, I am never leaving your side until your mother gets better.¡± He scoffed. ¡°Suit yourself, but don¡¯t expect me to give you any audience or acknowledge you in any way.¡± Biting my lips, I turned to Robert. ¡°I know you don¡¯t know much about babies, but can you please take Daisy back to Monica¡¯s and keep an eye on her for me.¡± I don¡¯t know why it is taking Daisy¡¯s nanny a long time to get back from her leave. Maybe I should consider finding another one. ¡°sure thing ma¡¯am.¡± He walked over to the series of connected seats and picked up Daisy into his arms before turning to walk away. ¡°Robert?¡± he paused and turned around. ¡°Why did I receive the call of what happened from the neighbors and not from you?¡± ¡°Mrs. Monica told me to quickly grab some milk for Daisy at the store.¡± He exined. ¡°I wasn¡¯t exactly at home when it happened.¡± Monica sending him on an errand is justifiable, but I can¡¯t help but wonder what if something had happened after Monica copsed. What if someone came and took my daughter away? ¡°It¡¯s fine, go ahead.¡± He bowed slightly before walking away. David stayed true to his words. He didn¡¯t even nce in my direction until three hourster when the doctors walked out of the operating room. He jumped up from his eat when he saw them approaching. ¡°How is my mother?¡± The female doctor smiled warmly at him. ¡°She is out of danger,¡± she assured him. ¡°she is getting transferred to her ward, so you both should be able to see her soon.¡± For the first time in seven hours, I exhaled with relief. ¡°Thank you, Doctor, we really appreciate your effort.¡± She gave us a nod before walking away with a series of nurses trailing behind her. As we were waiting for either of the nurses to tell us which room Monica was transferred to, my stomach grumbled. David turned and stared at me. ¡°Have you had lunch yet?¡± he grumbled. M U V Y Z ¡°Not yet,¡± I mumbled, not wanting to say more so I wouldn¡¯t anger him. ¡°I was too worried about Monica that I forgot to grab something.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Go stay with Monica while I go get you something to eat.¡± That¡¯s not right. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can go be with her while I go find something to eat myself.¡± He needs to be with his mother and I refuse to take that away from him. Smacking his lips, he searched his pocket for his wallet. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn Hazel. Go in there and wait for me. You are not familiar with this ce and I do not want toe in search of you.¡± I tried not to scoff. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯ll get lost?¡± ¡°You have every tendency, don¡¯t you think so?¡± his teasing tone made me smile. At least we are moving past the constant angry face. I¡¯ll be right back. Just text me the ward number when they finally give her a room.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± I watched him walk away. It didn¡¯t take long, a nurse appeared and directed me to Monica¡¯s room. When I walked in, I was surprised to find her awake. ¡°Was she awake all through?¡± ¡°She is slightly awake. She is under anesthetic, so she is only half awake right now.¡± The nurse exined. ¡°There is every probability that she will be talking a lot. You can either engage her or ignore her.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± She nodded, turned away, and walk away. I sat down on the sofa and stared at Monica. She looked around with a confused expression and when her gazended on me, her frown deepened. ¡°I want to see my 2/3 Chapter 61 son.¡± She muttered. ¡°David?¡± I smiled at her. ¡°He ising. David just stepped out to get something.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Not David.¡± She mumbled. ¡°David is not my son.¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 HAZEL FIVE YEARS AGO For the past few weeks, I¡¯ve been trapped in an emotional abyss. Kelvin seems determined to inflict anguish upon me, relentlessly siphoning the essence of my being until I¡¯m hollow. I¡¯ve attempted multiple times to confide in Ravel about my ordeal, yet each endeavor has ended in frustration. Every instance I¡¯m faced with his presence, my resolve crumbles. Who could possibly desire a romantic rtionship with an individual who once battled addiction? Someone who was perilously close to causing harm to an innocent infant? A mere baby. When I departed that town, I believed I was shedding my past, only to realize that it had resurfaced, embodied by my former partner. Unbeknownst to me, he had captured images of me during my moments of drug use. Now, those pictures serve as a potent tool for ckmail. It began gradually, with demands for a few hundred dors, an amount I could easily procure from my ount. Then, the extortion escted to thousands of dors, leading me to withdraw from Ravel¡¯s ount, praying he wouldn¡¯t question the purpose, which isn¡¯t like him. Although Kelvin¡¯s silence has persisted for three weeks, a sense lingers that he¡¯ll return for more, a prospect that fills me with dread. What will ur when he requests a sum I cannot readily provide? My aspirations and hopes with Ravel might transform into the very thing I fear most-mere dreams. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ravel asked from across the table. I blinked slowly, raising my gaze to meet his, a pang of guilt hitting me for unintentionally getting lost in a date that he had clearly put a lot of effort into nning. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I murmured, attempting a smile that felt more strained than sincere. Ravel¡¯s brows furrowed with evident concern, his hand reaching out to gently grasp mine. ¡°Hazel, something¡¯s bothering you. I can sense it, and it¡¯s written all over your face.¡± It came as no surprise that he had noticed my deviation from my usual self. Just yesterday, I fumbled and broke a ss in his presence due to my phone ringing, only toter discover it was Elenor calling. I felt utterly foolish. Letting out a sigh, I picked up my wine ss, taking a sip before I spoke, ¡°I assure you, Rav, I¡¯m fine. No need to concern yourself over something that isn¡¯t even real.¡± Despite my reassurance, his frown persisted. ¡°Did my mother say anything that is crazy? Adam said she met up with youst week. Is that what this is about?¡± Anne visited mest week at Cayden¡¯s shop and just like thest time, she offered me yet another money to stay away from his son, and for a minute, I was tempted to ept it, not because I really want to stay away from Rav, but because I need money to pay that leach off. ¡°Hazel!¡± Rav called out again, and I blinked rapidly, realizing that I have zoned out again. ¡°Are you really not going to talk to me about what¡¯s bothering you?¡± his eyes searched my gaze. ¡°What exactly did Anne tell you?¡± I chuckled. Anne is the least of my problem right now. ¡°She offered me money to stay away from you,¡± I revealed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that Rav, this is not her first time and I am sure it won¡¯t be her last. Ravel¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°the next time she offers you money, take it and get yourself something pretty since she has so much money to waste.¡± Amused by his idea, I chuckled. ¡°I will not disrespect our rtionship like that.¡± Besides I do not want to make the mistake of depending on her money to pay off Kelvin. ¡°I appreciate your sense of humor, but I will have to pass on the offer.¡± Leaning back on his seat, Ravel folded his hands and stared at me. ¡°I know Anne isn¡¯t what¡¯s bothering you. This behavior of yours started after your walk with Adam. Are you going to tell me what really happened that day?¡± Trying not to let my emotions show, I locked it away and lied to his face. ¡°I already told you what happened that day Rav.¡± Squinting my eyes, I observed him closely. ¡°Do you think I lied to you?¡± Chapter 62 N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. He held my gaze for a while, his gaze growing more intense by the minute. I tried maintaining his gaze, but it became so intense for me that I had to look away. ¡°Stop staring at me like that Rav,¡± I grumbled, ¡°I am not hiding from you, so you aren¡¯t going to find anything by staring at me like that.¡± Finally shifting his gaze, his jaw clenched as he reached forward and grabbed his wine ss. ¡°Is there someone else?¡± His question caught me by surprise. Myshes fluttered rapidly. ¡°What did you just ask me?¡± grinding his teeth, he kept mute, allowing me time to answer the question. ¡°Are you honestly asking me if I am cheating on you?¡± Pinching the bridge of his nose, Ravel leaned forward and pinned me with his gaze again. ¡°Having an interest in someone else doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that you cheated,¡± he tilted his head, ¡°or have cheated yet.¡± Is he insinuating that there is a possibility that I will cheat in the future? I tried my best not to feel offended but I failed. ¡°There is no one else Ravel,¡± I hissed, ¡°and insinuating that I may have feelings for someone else is ssified as cheating!¡± With his frustration mirroring mine, he ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Then talk to me, Hazel! I need to understand the reason for the change in your attitude and behavior.¡± Will he still love me so fiercely if he finds out what I did in the past? ¡°I just told you that everything is fine.¡± Suddenly feeling tired and emotionally drained, I stood up and grabbed my purse. ¡°I want to leave Ravel.¡±. He red at me. ¡°Would you rather leave than address the issue between us?¡± ¡°There is no issue between us.¡± I insisted with clenched teeth. I promise to handle the problem before it has the chance to affect him or our rtionship. ¡®I want to go, Ravel, I am really tired.¡± Sighing dejectedly, he stood to his feet and grabbed his jacket. Before I had the chance to walk away, his hand circled my waist and he pulled me closer to himself. ¡°I am sorry.¡± He whispered, his forehead almost leaning on mine, and his lips dangerously grazing mine. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have indirectly insinuated that you were cheating on me.¡± How can I not fall deeply for this man? Taking the first step, I kissed him softly, feeling the warmth of his love. His hand circled my waist as he deepened the kiss, nibbling and sucking on my lower lips. Slow and sensual, we poured out the words. that we couldn¡¯t say at the moment. my Breathless, I pulled away and smiled warmly at him. ¡°No matter what Ravel, never doubt that I love you, or question love for you.¡± I reached forward and cupped his cheeks, wondering what I did to deserve a man like him. ¡°I love you, Ravel.¡± His eyes danced around, searching mine. ¡°I love you so much that the thought of you with another scares me.¡± He ced a chaste kiss on my forehead. ¡°It¡¯s two days to Christmas, let¡¯s get through the days with more love.¡± Nodding, I let him pull me into a hug. ¡°I hate fighting with you,¡± I mumbled. He chuckled. ¡°What if I tell you that it turns me on?¡± I pped his chest yfully. ¡°per vert!¡± Unfazed, he shrugged. ¡°You love this pe rv erted fellow.¡± That right. I love him so much that I won¡¯t let anything hurt him. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 HAZEL FIVE YEARS AGO One day before Christmas, I got a text from Kelvin. He asked me to meet him at the amusement park an hour before my scheduled date with Ravel. Ravel had nned a special dinner for us, expressing his desire to spend Christmas Eve with me before being with his family. Our n was to hang out until after midnight. Ravel seemed to be taking this date very seriously. The dress he sent over exuded excellence and sophistication. It was a ck, long gown that fit my body perfectly, almost bing one with my skin when I tried it on. Along with the dress, there was a card informing me that a makeup artist and hair stylist would be arriving by nine in the evening, right before my meeting with Kelvin at ten. ¡°Who exactly are you meeting thiste?¡± Adam¡¯s curious voice questioned from behind me. Caught in a bind, I found myself unable to slip away or evade as I usually did. Ravel had, for some reason, upped the number of security personnel in the estate, creating an environment where leaving without attracting attention had be practically impossible. ¡°I¡¯m actually meeting up with a friend,¡± I managed to fib, though a lump of unease formed in my throat at the mere thought of referring to Kelvin as a friend. ¡°I promise you, it¡¯s not going to take/much time.¡± A soft ping from my phone diverted my attention ¨C a text had arrived from Kelvin. ¡®WHY IS THAT DA MN SECURITY WITH YOU HAZEL? ARE YOU TRYING TO SET ME UP? YOU KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT HAPPEN IF I SHOULD GO MISSING FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow at his unexpected concern. It was surprising to discover that Kelvin, who often exuded confidence, had his own fear. Battling a sniffle brought on by the cold Christmas air, I repositioned my jacket and settled down on a nearby bench. My fingers danced across the screen as Iposed my response, ¡®RAVEL HAS AMPED UP THE SECURITY MEASURES AT THE MANOR, LEAVING ME WITH NO CHANCE TO DISCREETLY SLIP AWAY. HE BELIEVES I¡¯M HERE TO MEET A FRIEND, SO YOU CAN PUT YOUR WORRIES TO REST. A few minutester, he appeared in the park, donning a snugger hat and concealing his identity with a face mask over his nose. Adam¡¯s eyes locked onto him, a mixture of curiosity and suspicion ying across his expression, yet he refrained from speaking out. I redirected my attention to Adam, requesting, ¡°Could you possibly take a step back and grant us a bit of privacy?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Adam¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, disying his discontent with my request. ¡°I apologize, ma¡¯am, but I can¡¯t comply with that. My responsibility is to ensure your safety, and I won¡¯t be able to fulfill that duty from a distance.¡± Suppressing my anxiety, I rolled my eyes in an attempt to hide my apprehension. ¡°He¡¯s a friend of mine, Adam,¡± I fibbed once more, my voice steady. ¡°He means no harm. Besides, I only asked you to move a bit away, not to leave the amusement park. His furrowed expression remained unchanged. ¡°I¡¯m aware of the gun concealed under your jacket/Adam,¡± I conveyed ¡°I¡¯m aware that detail with Kelvin in mind, just in case he attempted anything untoward. ¡°If he makes any suspicious move, you can take the shot from that distance.¡± His jaw clenched tightly as he locked an intense gaze onto Kelvin. ¡°Take off the mask. If I¡¯m going to step back like you want, I need to see his face! ¨C Turning to Kelvin, I raised an eyebrow, shifting the decision onto his shoulders. The choice was his now if he wanted this rendezvous to proceed, the mask had toe off. He hesitated, then reluctantly removed the mask, offering a strained smile to Adam, who maintained his stoic demeanor. Atst, Adam stepped back a few paces, providing us the much-needed privacy. Kelvin¡¯s voice carried an underlying anger as he spoke, ¡°The risk I just tookes with a price.¡± He struggled to mask his frustration, attempting to keep his emotions from surfacing on his face. ¡°I never intended for anyone except you to see my face.¡± A scoff escaped me. ¡°And I never wanted toy eyes on you again, but I suppose life doesn¡¯t grant all our desires.¡± My arms folded defensively, my gaze sharpening as it bore into him. I felt a sense of reassurance with Adam backing me up. ¡°What do you want, Kelvin? I have pressing matters to attend to.¡± Blowing warm breath into his hands, he swayed slightly on his feet. ¡°I¡¯m looking for money,¡± he stated matter-of-factly. My eyes rolled in exasperation. ¡°Isn¡¯t that your consistent request?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but hiss. ¡°So, what¡¯s the figure this time?¡± Each time it seemed to increase, and I was growing tired of it. ¡°What¡¯s your demand this time, Kelvin?¡± A grin stretched across his face. ¡°Getting straight to business, I like that,¡± he remarked, his infuriating tone earning another eye roll from me. ¡°Today¡¯s tab runs a little north of half a million dors.¡± He winked provocatively. ¡°I¡¯m giving you the range to choose from: it could be six hundred, seven, eight, nine, or a cool million.¡± Taken aback by his audacious demand, I blinked rapidly at him before augh involuntarily escaped my lips. ¡°Do you have any idea what¡¯s in my bank ount, for you to casually ask for nearly a million dors?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but find the situation a bit absurd. He shrugged, an air of nonchnce about him. ¡°You¡¯re with Ravel Southwark, after all. You can surely manage it without much trouble.¡± His grin stretched wide. ¡°Just deliver some mind-blowing sex, and the money will be at your disposal.¡± ¡°oh really?¡± still in utter disbelief, I shook my head. I am so done with this. He is going to keeping back for more and I can¡¯t have that. I know exactly what to do to handle the situation. The news will only hurt Ravel if we are together. If the news of our breakup gets out there before the pictures of me doing drugs, the public will praise him for doing the right thing by leaving me, and that will have a less negative impact on his public image. ¡°Hazel?¡¯ Kelvin called me out of my thought. ¡°you clearly stated earlier that you have somewhere important to be, why are you wasting both our time by keeping mute?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you are not the only one who has something to say.¡± I spat. ¡°do you know why I agreed to meet with you? Because I have news for you too, which should be all over the inte soon.¡± His brows crinkled. ¡°I broke up with Ravel this morning.¡± Kelvinughed mockingly. ¡°and you expect me to believe that?¡± I simply shrugged, feigning indifference. ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter what you chose to believe, that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I have indeed broken up with him.¡± telling him that the news is about to be published will make him feel at a disadvantage. That way, he won¡¯t frettingly consider uploading the pictures immediately because he believes he is alreadyte. I know for a fact that he will upload it, but it will give me time to break up with Ravel and talk to a journalist about the breakup before he releases the pictures. ¡°You im to have broken up with him yet you move around with his security.¡± He pointed out with a snare. ¡°I am not that gullible Hazel.¡± I can see the panic in his eyes. He trying so hard not to believe me. ¡°You mean Adam? He is still following me because he was ordered by Ravel to make sure I don¡¯t leave the house with anything that doesn¡¯t belong to me, and that important thing I told you I had to get back to is packing. I was actually packing my stuff before I received your text.¡± He cursed under his breath. ¡°You are going to get jailed for doing drugs.¡± I arched a brow at him. ¡°and you think I will be the only one?¡± I took a step towards him. ¡°be rest assured that I will be taking you and your friends with me.¡± When his frown deepened, I knew I was winning. ¡°Go ahead Kelvin, release the photos, I don¡¯t give a f uck anymore.¡± He took an angry step towards me and my re sharpened. ¡°I dare you Kelvin, take another step towards me. Adam has a licensed gun, and he won¡¯t go to jail for trying to defend an innocent girl from a raging nutjob.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t over!¡± he spat. I know it isn¡¯t because I am about to break Ravel¡¯s heart and equally mine. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 RAVEL PRESENT TIME Hazel had to cancel our dinner ns that evening as she felt the need to be with David and his mother. While it initially disappointed me, I respected her decision and embraced it wholeheartedly. The following morning, I made an attempt to reach her by phone, hoping to catch a moment with her before my departure to New York. Regrettably, my call remained unanswered. With my keys in hand, I drove to her workce, only to be greeted by her secretary, Agatha. She informed me that Hazel was still away in David¡¯s hometown and wouldn¡¯t be able to make it to the office that day. Left with no other option, I opted for a text message, expressing that I would be out of reach for a while as I was about to embark on a flight back home. Back at the hotel, I found myself repeatedly ncing at my phone, eagerly awaiting a message from her end. However, the wait turned out to be in vain as my phone screen remained devoid of any notifications. As noon approached, Ipleted the check-out process and made my way back to the bustling streets of New York. Later that evening, she finally reached out to me, extending her apologies for the silence that had left me hanging. Although she chose not to delve into the reasons behind the unanswered messages and calls, I opted to release any frustration and forgive her. After all, my love for her didn¡¯t preclude her from having the autonomy to manage/hermunication. The memories of my past mistakes loomed, the moments of mistreatment and the painful image of me beside June in bed were indelible. Yet, in the face of all these undeniable facts, her genuine smiles in my direction remained a precious gift- one that I vowed never to treat lightly. Elenor reclined, propping her legs onto my desk, a tumbler of vodka cradled in her hand. ¡°So, let me get this straight,¡± she mused, her gaze fixed on me. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting a private party for her right here in New York, and you expect me to coax her intoing?¡± -I let out a sigh, feeling a twinge of frustration at having to repeat myself. ¡°Elenor, I¡¯ve gone over this multiple times already. What more can I possibly say to make you grasp the concept?¡± She regarded me over the rim of her ss, her tone taking on a rasp. ¡°There¡¯s one aspect you¡¯ve failed to exin,¡± she rasped, her curiosity piqued. ¡°What gives you the audacity to assume you can just summon her down here?¡± A re exchanged between us, and at moments like these, I couldn¡¯t help but question whose allegiance she truly held. ¡°She might have ns for her birthday, and you want me to sweep in and disrupt them? Why?¡± A scoff escaped her lips, followed by a pointed remark, ¡°because you¡¯ve got a little surprise party of your own nned?¡± Why in the world did fate saddle me with this particr breed of human as my sister? Dealing with anyone more infuriating than Elenor seems impossible. ¡°Could you possibly be any more exasperating?¡± I couldn¡¯t help snapping. ¡°Will you lend a hand, or should I just assume that¡¯s far beyond your capabilities?¡± I retorted, my patience wearing thin. ¡°I¡¯d much rather have her celebrate her birthday with me rather than with David.¡± A fleeting chortle escaped Elenor. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll assist you, but there¡¯s a condition,¡± she dered, her tone laced with a note of negotiation. ¡°You¡¯ll need to make your private jet avable.¡± My re intensified as a surge of frustration coursed through me. ¡°There¡¯s a reason it¡¯s called a surprise, Elenor. If she spots you using my jet, she¡¯s going to sniff out that something¡¯s afoot.¡± She shot me a piercing re in return. ¡°I¡¯m not resorting to amercial airline just to do you a favor,¡± she grumbled. ¡°If you want me to head over to Seattle, you¡¯ll have to release your jet for my use.¡± ¡°Why not use the Southwark family jet?¡± I suggested, my reluctance stemming from a desire to ensure the surprise wasn¡¯t inadvertently spoiled due to the use of my own jet. After all, I had no international travel ns to hinder its avability. ¨CElenor¡¯s response was resolute. ¡°I won¡¯t be asking Mom for anything, so that¡¯s off the table. I¡¯m not going to beg her for the jet, and you shouldn¡¯t either.¡± Exasperation gnawed at me, mingling with a begrudging resignation. ¡°Fine,¡± I huffed, finally yielding to her stance. ¡°You can Chapter 64 have the jet, but please, just don¡¯t mess things up for me.¡± A self-satisfied smile yed on her lips, a clear indication of her triumph. Tilting her head back, she polished off the contents of her ss. ¡°Alright, spill the n,¡± she urged, curiosity glinting in her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the game n?¡± I kept it straightforward. ¡°I¡¯ve rented a penthouse. Your task is simply to get her there. That¡¯s all you need to do.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± she hummed, setting down her ss and intertwining her fingers thoughtfully. ¡°What¡¯s the guest list looking like? I hope you¡¯re not foolish enough to include David, right?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but react to that notion. ¡°Do I appear idiotic to you?¡± I retorted, incredulous. Her nonchnt shrug seemed to suggest that she considered the idea usible. The urge to strangle her was strong at that moment. ¡°Just you, me, Raymond, and Adam, fresh from his military service,¡± I informed her, wanting to keep the gathering small and intimate. She offered a slypliment. ¡°That¡¯s a tight-knit group. Can I talk you into adding male strippers to the mix?¡± My eyebrow arched at her suggestion. ¡°I thought you and Raymond were back together?¡± I inquired pointedly, recalling his pursuit of her that day in Seattle. It seemed like they were willing to disregard public opinion. ¡°Raymond¡¯s nothing but a coward,¡± Elenor spat out vehemently, her tone dripping with frustration that revealed her growing weariness of chasing after him. ¡°Can you even believe that he carried me to my hotel room, locked us both inside, and pocketed the key? I was stark naked right in front of him and the guy didn¡¯t even bat an eye.¡± My frown deepened, feeling a bit ufortable with the level of detail she was sharing. ¡°I think you¡¯re oversharing, Elenor,¡± I interjected, wishing that perhaps my sister could maintain a bit more of a filter on certain subjects. Normal siblings tend to keep their sexual lives separate, but I suppose our dynamic is anything but normal. She rolled her eyes dismissively. ¡°Whatever.¡± Pushing herself to her feet, she stretchednguidly. ¡°We¡¯ve got three days till her birthday, so I¡¯ll head to Seattle a day in advance. That way, she won¡¯t grow suspicious of anything.¡± I shrugged casually and opened myptop, focusing on my work. ¡°Do as you wish,¡± I said nonchntly. Her response was swift andden with implications. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not about what I wish. It¡¯s about what¡¯s happening, and since I¡¯m flying out tomorrow, you better have that jet prepped.¡± She swung her purse over her shoulder, moving gracefully toward the exit. ¡°Elenor,¡± I called after her, prompting her to pause just short of the door. ¡°Remember, keep it hush- hush. I don¡¯t want anyone, not even David, catching wind that she¡¯ll be here in New York.¡± We don¡¯t know who the ba stard is, and it could just be anyone. Until we find him or her, we have to be extremely careful. She nodded in agreement and turned to leave. Just as her hand was about to grasp the doorknob, the door swung open, revealing Raymond on the other side. Their gazes locked, freezing them in a tense moment. Time seemed to stretch as they stared at each other, until Elenor finally broke eye contact and walked away, leaving Raymond standing in the doorway. Raymond entered my office, taking a seat on the sofa as he settled in. ¡°Our suspicion seems to be off the mark,¡± he mused, setting his tablet aside. I did some digging on Kelvin, and he¡¯s still very much where he should be. It¡¯s practically impossible for him to have orchestrated that.¡± I cursed under my breath. I had secretly hoped that the me could be ced on Kelvin, allowing me to bring this issue to a close. ¡°Keep surveince on him regardless, and let¡¯s not halt our investigation,¡± I instructed, my frustration evident. ¡°Understood, boss.¡± He picked up his tablet and woke the screen. ¡°I¡¯ve been delving into the world of professional hackers and trackers, and I think I¡¯ve found a potential lead.¡± He pointed to an image on the screen. ¡°This individual right here. He¡¯s currently in Italy working on a job and is expected to return to New York next month.¡± Sh it. ¡°Next month is a long time. Triple his payment and have hime down here tomorrow.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Raymond shook his head. ¡°Hyde is principled. He doesn¡¯t only do his job for money. He¡¯s not going to leave Italy until he is done with his job, and if you pi ss him off, he¡¯ll reject your job offer no matter the price.¡± Chapter 64 ¡°So what do you suggest we do?¡± He rxed back. ¡°We wait. That¡¯s the only thing we can do at the moment.¡± Waiting. I seem to be doing a lot of thattely. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I blinked at Raymond. ¡°What¡¯s your deal with Elenor?¡± His face tightened instantly. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean by that boss.¡± I red hard. ¡°I think you do Raymond. I honestly do not like butting into people¡¯s private affairs, but she¡¯s my sister, and I happen to care quite a lot.¡± ¡°Boss_¡± I lifted a hand, shutting him up. ¡°I am going to talk, and you¡¯re going to listen,¡± I stated factly and he nodded. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to stop being a coward and take her seriously, let her go. Stop ying with her emotions.¡± ¡°Ravel, I really_¡± ¡°I do not want to hear your excuse, Raymond,¡± I interjected. I¡¯ve listened to that long enough. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to take her seriously, then let her go.¡± Or I¡¯ll be forced to act. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 HAZEL FIVE YEARS AGO I knew I owed Ravel a date, whether or not I was contemting ending things with him. I quickly apologized to the makeup artist and stylist for the dy, urging them to work swiftly since I didn¡¯t want to keep Ravel waiting any longer than necessary. In just under an hour, my makeup waspleted and my hair styled. Slipping into the dress Ravel had given me and adorning myself with the diamond set he¡¯d gifted me on myst birthday, I felt a twinge of nostalgia. There had been a point when I had considered selling this set to alleviate some financial strain, particrly when Kelvin¡¯s financial demands had grown insistent. A light knock sounded on my door, followed by Adam¡¯s entrance. ¡°The car is ready,¡± he informed me. Nodding in response to Adam, I slung my purse over my shoulder and left the room. I should have been excited; spending time with Ravel usually brought a sense of excitement, but tonight, the impending news of our breakup hung heavily over me. Maybe after the dinner, I would muster the courage to convey my intentions to end our rtionship. Settling into the car, I leaned back and closed my eyes, attempting to calm my racing thoughts. Whenever I nced up, I noticed Adam¡¯s gaze on me through the rearview mirror. He likely wondered about Kelvin, but I had no obligation to provide an exnation to him. As the car pulled up at a hotel, Adam emerged, opening the door for me and ensuring I didn¡¯t step on my dress. Stepping out, I moved toward the hotel¡¯s entrance. However, Adam took hold of my hand and steered me toward a different wing of the building. Baffled, I looked back at the parked car. ¡°Where are we going?¡± I queried, my confusion evident. ¡°To where Mr. Southwark is,¡± came Adam¡¯s curt reply. His words left me speechless as I obediently trailed behind him. The path led us to a dimly lit structure adjacent to the hotel. Slowly, his hand released mine, leaving me in the darkness. Panic began to gnaw at me. ¡°Adam!¡± I called out, my voice trembling. Fumbling in my purse, I searched for my phone¡¯s shlight. But before I could retrieve it, a spotlight suddenly burst to life, illuminating a man poised at a piano. I stared, a mixture of curiosity and surprise swirling within me. The man¡¯s fingers began to dance on the piano keys, producing soft, melodic tunes. As he yed the first stanza of ¡®Perfect¡¯ by Ed Sheeran, the music came to a gentle halt. Then, another spotlight illuminated Ravel. And then, another light revealed Elenor, followed by Raymond, Adam, and several unfamiliar faces. They held letters that, when read together, spelled out the words, ¡°Will You Marry Me?¡± My eyes widened in a mix of shock and disbelief, unshed tears shimmering as I watched Ravel approach me with a nervous smile. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I silently mouthed, utterly taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. How did things evolve to this point? Coming to a stop before me, Ravel gently took my hand in his, his expression a blend of nervousness and earnestness. ¡°Hazel,¡± he whispered, his voice carrying a tender weight. ¡°From the very first day I crossed paths with you in that hallway, my life has been transformed by your love, bringing me endless joy andughter.¡± His azure eyes danced with affection and admiration as they locked onto mine. ¡°You¡¯ve be my constant thought, my eternal desire to be in your presence. When you moved in with me, returning home to you became my most cherished wish.¡± He moistened his lips nervously, his words quivering with sincerity. ¡°I don¡¯t want this to end, Hazel. I yearn to lie beside you in bed for eternity, to wake up each day with your face as my first sight until my last breath.¡± His figure slowly sank to one knee, his vulnerabilityid bare. ¡°Hazel Brown, would you do me the honor of making me the happiest man alive by saying yes to spending forever with me?¡± A surge of desire to say yes coursed through me. The thought of a future with Ravel, building a life together, having children, and growing old side by side, had always been my aspiration. Yet, the shadow of my past loomedrge, threatening to sabotage everything. I tore my gaze away from him, ncing at the faces surrounding us. Chapter 65 Elenor appeared genuinely joyful, Raymond seemed to hold onto a glimmer of hope, Adam¡¯s pride wasC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. evident for having yed a role in orchestrating this surprise, while the other unfamiliar faces bore a mixture of envy and happiness, perhaps yearning for a simr moment. Anne, of course, was absent. If her own son didn¡¯t care enough to bring her here, why should I? Finally, I shifted my gaze back to Ravel. With all those eyes on us, it didn¡¯t feel like I could utter a negative answer. But why should I say no? There was every reason to embrace happiness, not just for him, but for myself as well. It was time to let him decide whether my past was a deal-breaker or something he was willing to look beyond. Moistening my lips, I nodded, a quiet affirmation. ¡°Yes,¡± I breathed, lifting my hand to disy the fingers that would soon carry the ring. ¡°Let¡¯s face the future together, Ravel.¡± A broad smile lit up his face as he slid the ring onto my finger. Standing, he enveloped me in his arms and pressed his lips tenderly against mine. The gathering erupted in a chorus of cheers, coos, and yful whistles. Disregarding the attention, I entwined my arms around Ravel¡¯s neck and deepened the kiss, intent on sealing this moment with the intensity of my emotions. After what seemed like an eternity, we eased away from the kiss to catch our breath. Ravel¡¯s forehead rested gently against mine, and an uncontainable smile spread across my face. ¡°When did you start nning all of this?¡± I asked, unable to contain my curiosity. His grin was infectious. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about marrying you for quite a while now, but I began nning this surprise about a month ago.¡± The joyous atmosphere embraced us, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of happiness. There was, however, the pressing matter of discussing Kelvin with him. For now, I needed to reach out to Kelvin and halt any potentially damaging information from being published. Ravel needed to hear it from me first. ¡°Congrattions, girl!¡± Elenor¡¯s exuberant voice rang out as she enveloped me in a warm hug. ¡°You two are going to have the most gorgeous babies.¡± She had mentioned she was going to spend her vacation in Paris. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be traveling?¡± I inquired. Elenor nonchntly shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make Bluey happy and to sp i ke Anne¡¯s blood pressure.¡± We shared a chuckle, appreciating her dark humor. Congrattory words followed once Elenor released me from the embrace. Ravel handed me a ss, and together we raised a toast to new beginnings and an eternal future. As the music began ying and the food was served, Elenor imed the dance floor, while Ravel excused himself briefly to attend to some phone calls. Elenor had already uploaded the news to her Instagram ount, setting the inte abuzz. Seizing the moment, I excused myself from the festivities and retreated to a quieter corner to call Kelvin. He answered on the second ring. ¡°You crazy bit ch!¡± he snapped in response. ¡°You said you ended things with him. So what¡¯s this engagement news all about?¡± My hand clenched into a fist, my frustration evident. ¡°He proposed, and I couldn¡¯t refuse,¡± I responded tersely. ¡°Please don¡¯t publish the photos. I¡¯ll get the money to you soon.¡± Kelvin¡¯s chuckle carried a sly edge. ¡°You must be naive to think I¡¯d settle for the same amount. You¡¯re in a much more vulnerable position now, Hazel, which is why I¡¯m asking for two million dors.¡± My eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Kelvin, you can¡¯t be serious. Two million is excessive!¡± He scoffed dismissively. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s a bit much for Southwark¡¯s girlfriend, but it¡¯s definitely not excessive for Southwark¡¯s future wife You¡¯ve got a fortnight toe up with the money, or I¡¯ll be approaching the next newspaper outlet. I¡¯ll be waiting for your call.¡± The call ended abruptly, leaving me speechless and my heart racing. Just how insatiably greedy could Kelvin be? Demanding two million dors, money he didn¡¯t earn or deserve? I refused to be extorted by him, no matter the circumstances. ¡°Hazel?¡± Ravel¡¯s voice cut through my thoughts. ¡°Why are you out here?¡± Putting on a smile, I turned to face him. ¡°The music was getting to be a bit overwhelming, and I was starting to develop a headache. So, I stepped away from the noise.¡± Chapter 65 His nod was thoughtful. ¡°Who were you on the phone with?¡± Feigning innocence, I asked, ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± He gave me a pointed look. ¡°I saw you on the phone. Everyone you know is inside. Who could you possibly be calling?¡± This was the moment. I took a deep breath. ¡°Kelvin,¡± I whispered. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 RAVEL FIVE YEARS AGO Hazel had mentioned that we would have an extensive conversation about Kelvin once we returned to the penthouse. Perhaps she was finally prepared to share with me the reasons behind her recent behavior, the motives that underlic her actions. After an evening of dining, dancing, and engaging in conversation, the hour had grownte, well past two in the morning. Hazel¡¯s repeated yawns were clear signs of her exhaustion, and I didn¡¯t want to keep her standing any longer than necessary. Therefore, I decided it was best for us to call it a night and retire. Gently wrapping my arm around her waist, I ced a delicate kiss on Hazel¡¯s neck. ¡°Shall we call it a night?¡± I whispered softly into her ear. She nodded, stifling yet another yawn. ¡°I¡¯ll go say goodbye to Elenor, and then we can head out.¡± I observed as she made her way across the room, seemingly dragging her feet, towards where Elenor was engrossed in taking shots with a group of girls. I wasn¡¯t even sure who those girls were; Elenor had organized their presence herself. Just as I turned my attention back to the scene, Adam approached me. I slid my hands into my pockets, blinking slowly as I focused on him. ¡°What is it, Adam?¡± I asked. His expression was serious as he spoke. ¡°Boss, I thought you should know that Ms. Hazel met up with a man she referred to as a friend. But something seemed off; she appeared tense throughout their conversation.¡± My brow furrowed in concern. ¡°Did you manage to get his name?¡± I inquired, my focus narrowing on the situation. Adam winced slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, I didn¡¯t get his name. But I saw his face clearly, and I can definitely identify him if I see him again,¡± he assured me, attempting to rectify his oversight. Frustration gnawed at me. ¡°His face won¡¯t be of much use if we don¡¯t have a name,¡± I replied curtly. Could it be the Kelvin she was nning to discuss with meter? As my gaze shifted back towards Hazel¡¯s approach, I spotted her walking toward us. ¡°We¡¯ll continue this conversationter,¡± I informed Adam, receiving a sharp nod in return as he moved away. Hazel reached for her purse on the table, giving me a soft smile. Despite her attempt to appear cheerful, a tinge of unease was evident in her eyes. ¡°What were you and Adam discussing?¡± she inquired as we made our way toward my car. My thoughts were spinning, trying to understand what was going on with Hazel. I couldn¡¯t let myself believe that she had cheated on me. ¡°We were discussing the need to enhance your security measures,¡± I fabricated, my voice steady. ¡°Given the news Elenor posted, the papara zzi and potential threats might start hounding you.¡± I courteously held the car door open for her until she was seated before I rounded the vehicle and settled into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± she questioned, expressing doubt about the heightened security. ¡°The decision is final,¡± Vasserted firmly, my tone resolute. ¡°Your safety isn¡¯t up for negotiation. You¡¯ll grow ustomed to their presence over time.¡± The remainder of the drive back to the penthouse transpired in silence, and I observed Hazel as she eventually drifted off to sleep in the car. Bringing the car to a stop in the parking lot, I switched off the engine, unfastened my seatbelt, and turned to gaze at Hazel, who was now peacefully asleep. My heart swelled with a mixture of affection and concern. I was deeply in love with her, to the point that I might even forgive her if she had cheated on me, but I was resolute in making sure that whoever he was wouldn¡¯t be able to freely walk the streets of New York. Lost in admiring her beauty, I was caught off guard when her eyes fluttered open. Our eyes locked, and a soft smile tugged at her lips as she rubbed her hands over her face, drawing attention to the ring that now adorned her finger. I couldn¡¯t help but grin at the sight. ¡°You look absolutely beautiful,¡± I complimented genuinely. Hazel let out a gentleugh. ¡°Well, I just hope I wasn¡¯t snoring too loudly,¡± she quipped, her gaze briefly shifting to the window. ¡°When did we arrive back home?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been just a few minutes since we arrived,¡± I replied. ¡°You appeared so peaceful while sleeping that I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡± She yawned and reached for her bag, undoing her seatbelt. ¡°I did mention that we needed to talk,¡± she pointed out with a hint of amusement, ¡°so eventually, I knew I¡¯d have to wake up.¡± She opened the car door and stepped out, and I followed suit, cing a hand on her waist as we made our way into the house. Once inside the living room, Hazel dropped onto the sofa, kicked off her shoes, and then stood up once more, making her way to the mini bar. I observed her closely as she picked up a bottle of vodka and took a swig straight from it. The sight was unexpected, and I couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise. Seeing Hazel exhibit such behavior was entirely out of character, especially outside of a party atmosphere. Concerned, I called her name softly and left the sofa to join her at the bar. ¡°Hazel,¡± I began gently, ¡°if discussing what¡¯s on your mind proves to be too difficult, you don¡¯t have to do it.¡± She took another swig from the bottle and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. ¡°Not addressing this issue will not only jeopardize our rtionship and possibly our marriage, but it could also tarnish your public image.¡± I studied her closely, my heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. ¡°Is this connected to the man you met earlier?¡± I asked, and her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Adam told me,¡± I continued, ¡°so I know about it. Is he the reason you¡¯re resorting to alcohol? Did you cheat on me with him?¡± The words left my mouth, a knot of worry tightening in my chest. She red at me, her gaze intense. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, Ravel, I¡¯ll never cheat on you,¡± she retorted firmly. She removed the pins from her hair, allowing her locks to cascade around her shoulders. ¡°Hell will freeze over before that happens¡± If she hadn¡¯t cheated, then perhaps the situation wasn¡¯t as dire as she believed it to be. I moved closer to her, cing my hands on her waist, and then lifted her to sit on the edge of the bar counter. I stood between her legs, looking into her eyes with reassurance. ¡°Talk to me,¡± I urged gently. ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to work through it together.¡± Her eyes blinked, now glistening with unshed tears. The same beautiful eyes that had captured my heart. She whispered softly, her voiceced with vulnerability, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ll leave me, Ravel. I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t want me anymore.¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± I-assured her with utmost sincerity, ¡°absolutely nothing will ever make me stop wanting you.¡± Drawing nearer, I nted a tender kiss on her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t think you realize just how profoundly I love you.¡± Hazel¡¯s lips were slightly moist from nervousness as she licked them, struggling to articte her thoughts. Seeing her hesitation, I decided to gently guide the conversation. ¡°You mentioned wanting to talk about Kelvin. Is he the same man you met earlier tonight?¡± I asked, and she nodded in response. ¡°Can you tell me more about your history with him?¡± With a deep breath, she began to reveal her truth. ¡°I¡¯m currently being ckmailed by Kelvin due to my past,¡± she disclosed, her voice tinged with emotion. My brow furrowed, puzzled by the revtion. ¡°I was a drug addict, Rav,¡± she continued, her voice quivering with vulnerability, ¡°and I nearly caused the death of a baby.¡±N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 RAVEL FIVE YEARS AGO Hazel¡¯s words struck me like a bolt of lightning, freezing me in shock. I had braced myself for a serious conversation, but this revtion was far beyond what I had expected. Blinking rapidly, I instinctively ced both hands on her hips, drawing her closer as if to anchor myself. The scent of her perfume filled the air, and my heart raced as I tried to process the gravity of her words. ¡°Hazel,¡± I began, my voice filled with a mix of concern and confusion, ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to exin this to me.¡± The weight of the moment seemed to hang heavily between us. My mind raced toprehend the situation. ¡°What is Kelvin ckmailing you with?¡± I inquired, trying to grasp the facts of the matter. ¡°And what do you mean by ¡®almost killed a baby¡±?¡± Tears shimmered in her eyes as they flickered over my face, and her voice trembled as she spoke. ¡°You already hate me,¡± she whispered, her trembling hand attempting to wipe away the tears that spilled down her cheeks. I gently caught her hand in mid-air, pressing a soft kiss to her inner wrist before using my thumb to wipe away her tears. ¡°Hazel, I could never hate you,¡± I assured her, my voice tender. ¡°And I¡¯m not here to pass judgment. I just want to understand what you¡¯re going through.¡± I caught another tear as it welled in her eye, my touch gentle andforting. ¡°Please, take your time and exin everything to me.¡± As she began to speak, her voice trembled, and I listened intently, my gaze focused on her. ¡°I was once addicted to cocaine,¡± she confessed, her eyes avoiding mine. ¡°I met him when I was a teenager, and he introduced me to his friends who were into drugs. I got caught up with them and started abusing cocaine.¡± Seeing how difficult this was for her, I walked over to the fridge, opened it, and grabbed a bottle of water. While alcohol might be a tempting escape, I knew it wouldn¡¯t help in this situation. ¡°Here,¡± I said, uncapping the bottle and extending it to her, ¡°take a drink, and then continue. I¡¯m here to listen.¡± She gulped down the entire bottle of water, and I took it from her, giving her a reassuring nod to continue. Her voice quivered as she shared her painful past. ¡°My foster parents left me in charge of their one-year-old baby. I invited Kelvin over, and he brought drugs with him. It started as a sort of twisted fun, but things spiraled out of control as we got high.¡± She paused, her eyes filled with regret. ¡°The baby began crying incessantly, and it infuriated me. I wanted her to stop, to be quiet, and Kelvin suggested giving her drugs to calm her down. We almost went through with it, but luckily her parents returned and caught me in the act.¡± She sighed heavily. ¡°The next day, I was sent back to the social worker, and they didn¡¯t reveal what had really happened.¡± I clenched my jaw, a mix of anger and concern bubbling within me. ¡°Is he ckmailing you with the threat of revealing what happened with the baby?¡± My voice was low, my eyes locked on hers. She shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no evidence to support that im,¡± she responded. Running her hand wearily down her face, she moistened her lips, a clear sign of her anxiety. ¡°He¡¯s obtainedpromising pictures of me during moments of drug use, and he¡¯s using them as leverage to ckmail me into paying him two million dors.¡± A scowl formed on my face as I processed the situation. ¡°f ucking ba stard,¡± I muttered under my breath. If only I can wrap my fingers round his neck right now. I couldn¡¯t help but think that all of this had its origins on the day she had innocently took a walk Adam. ¡°Has he asked for money from you before, or is this the first time?¡± I posed the question even though I Adam. was well aware of the answer; I simply needed her to confirm it. Her voice dropped as she replied, ¡°No.¡± A sense of shame lingered in her mumbled admission. ¡°I¡¯ve already emptied my personal ount to meet his demands, and I even withdrew a significant sum from your ount, but he¡¯s relentless in his demands for more.¡± The revtion left me incredulous that she had been facing this ordeal all by herself. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you confide in me?¡± The words slipped from my lipsden with a mix of concern and hurt. Wasn¡¯t our rtionship built on trust, on the understanding that we¡¯d share our burdens? ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to be each other¡¯s confidants?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she murmured, her voice barely audible. Regret colored her words as they hung in the air. Her recent behavior suddenly made sense; the nervousness, the tension-it all stemmed from this hidden struggle. ¡°I was just so scared,¡± she admitted, her vulnerability shining through. The past weeks had revealed glimpses of her unease, like an intricate puzzle nowing together. ¡°I was terrified of the impact those pictures could have on your reputation. I was afraid you might not want me anymore, especially after finding out about my past mistakes, like the incident with the baby.¡± I held her face gently, my thumb caressing her cheek as a wave of tenderness washed over me. ¡°You were a young, lost soul trying to find your way,¡± I reassured her, my voice carrying unwavering support. The crux of the matter was that she had emerged victorious from her battle against drugs. ¡°You faced down those demons, Hazel, and you emerged triumphant.¡± Biting her inner lips, she blinked rapidly to keep the tears in. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for keeping it from you.¡± She apologized. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry Rav.¡± I pulled her into a hug, kissing her neckline lightly. ¡°It¡¯s fine Hazel. It¡¯s normal to be afraid to lose something or someone who you love.¡± I kissed her again. ¡°Be rest assured that this isn¡¯t going to disrupt what we have.¡± She pulled away and stared at me. ¡°I love you too much to let your past end us.¡± ¡°This is going to affect your image negatively Ravel.¡± She sniffed. ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of you risking everything you for just because of me.¡± worked Just? She is worth more to me than anything. ¡°Nothing will go wrong,¡± I assured her. I am Ravel Southwark, there is nothing I cannot handle. ¡°Things won¡¯t get to that point.¡± I¡¯ll have to handle the situation from now onwards. ¡°How long do you have to provide the money?¡± ¡°Two weeks.¡± My jaw clenched. ¡°That ba stard gave you two weeks to provide two million dors?¡± I will enjoy tormenting that fool. I will his past make his existence nothing but a pitiful excuse. ¡°I¡¯m going to need everything about him from you. Hisst name, life, everything.¡± She nodded meekly. ¡°You should be careful while dealing with him, he can be a crazy f ucker.¡± She advised, ¡°I didn¡¯t think he was capable of dumping me when I overdosed until he did it.¡± My brows jumped to my hairline. ¡°He ditched you when you overdosed?¡± I nodded. ¡°Right outside the social worker building.¡± That ba stard keeps giving me more reasons to go after him. ¡°I don¡¯t have to be careful around him, he should be the one scared of me.¡± I stopped ying dirty in my college days, and I don¡¯t mind going back to that version of me. ¡°Rav,¡± She whispered, cupping my cheeks, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything that willnd you in trouble or something that we both will regret in the future.¡± Unable to help it, I leaned forward and kissed her. ¡°ckmail is an offense punishable byw and he f ucking broke it.¡± He¡¯s going to be in jail even before he gets to release the pictures. ¡°So is doing drugs.¡± Her lips wobbled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go jail Rav.¡± ¡°Not while I still breath? I insisted vehemently. ¡°You¡¯re going to be my bride, my wife, and the mothers of my kids and we won¡¯t be doing any of those behind bars.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for pulling this on you Ravel.¡± She apologized for the umpteenth time. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Grinning just to lighten the situation, I winked at her. ¡°I¡¯m definitely going to f uck up in my husband duties in the future, I really hope you¡¯ll be as forgiving.¡± She chuckled. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t cheat on me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s never going to happen.¡± I asserted quickly. ¡°No other woman attracts me other than you.¡± My phone vibrated in my pocket. ¡°Just focus on the wedding nning while I handle Kelvin.¡± That fool will be sorry for hurting my woman.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 ELENOR PRESENT TIME Ravel did more than I expected. Not only did he arrange for the private jet but also ensured luxurious amodations tailored perfectly to my preferences. The suite he selected for me exuded elegance and sophistication. Amidst the process of gathering my belongings, an unexpected interruption came in the form of the doorbell¡¯s melodious chime. Intrigued yet puzzled by thete-hour caller, I momentarily halted my packing to approach the door. With a touch of reluctance, I engaged the inte, my anticipation waning rapidly as my eyes met an unwanted figure on the other side. The mere sight of my uninvited guest caused my mood to plummet. The soft voice that followed held a mix of entreaty and familiarity, as Anne¡¯s gentle words reached my ears through the inte. ¡°Elenor, open the door. I¡¯m well aware you¡¯re inside.¡± Perplexed by her sudden appearance, I begrudgingly permitted Anne¡¯s entry, retreating to my bedroom to continue packing. A few minutester, she joined me, her presence an unwee intrusion. ¡°Why are you in my house, Anne?¡± I questioned, my attempt at evasion evident in my tone. Hadn¡¯t I gone to great lengths to avoid her? Her gaze briefly flicked to my half-packed suitcase before returning to meet my eyes. In an almost monotonous tone, she pointed out, ¡°Today is Friday.¡± Her words hung in the air for a moment, pregnant with unspoken implications. I turned to her, my confusion etched across my features as I blinked slowly. ¡°And?¡± I replied, a hint of skepticism coloring my voice. ¡°Family dinner,¡± she elucidated, her exnation falling t. ¡°You missed the Friday family dinner. I want to know why, especially when you¡¯re here in the city.¡± Was she truly serious? Frustration surged within me, a red dress slipping from my grasp tond angrily on the bed. Folding my arms across my chest, I leveled a re at her. ¡°Family dinner?¡± I scoffed, a bitter edge to my chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s not pretend it¡¯s a ¡®family dinner¡¯ when Ravel abandoned that tradition ages ago!¡± ¡°Ravel¡¯s absence shouldn¡¯t dictate your choices,¡± Anne challenged, her wordsced with a hint of defiance. A bitterugh escaped me,den with resentment. ¡°Ravel¡¯s absence should have been a wake-up call for me,¡± I retorted, the words dripping with bitterness. ¡°Youbel it as a ¡®family dinner,¡¯ yet Ravel hasn¡¯t graced that asion with his presence with his wife since that incident. You even forbade Raymond from attending, as if erasing his existence was the solution.¡± ¡°Raymond isn¡¯t family!¡± Her voice snapped, sharp and upromising. My frustration surged to the surface, my desperation echoing in my cry. ¡°He grew up with us!¡± I eximed, my agitation nearing its breaking point. ¡°I love him, and you¡¯re fully aware of that! He could have been family if you hadn¡¯t forced him to promise to stay away from me, using his father¡¯s life as leverage!¡± ¡°Elenor!¡± Anne¡¯s voice rang out, a mix of exasperation and reproach, yet it couldn¡¯t drown out the turmoil that had been festering for far too long. ¡°I remained oblivious to what transpired back then,¡± I admitted in a hushed voice, my emotionsid bare. ¡°I couldn¡¯tprehend why he suddenly distanced himself from me, until I identally overheard you reminding him of that promise justst week.¡± She took a tentative step towards me, a glimmer of vulnerability in her expression. But my gaze remained fixed and intense, a ring testament to my lingering resentment. ¡°For all your actions, Anne- your attempts to manipte me into a contractual marriage, your near destruction of Ravel¡¯s marriage- 1 never harbored as much animosity towards you as I didst week. Never before have I questioned the cosmic irony that made you my mother.¡± Her fingers fiddled nervously with the pea rl ne adorning her neck, a visible sign of her unease. ¡°Elenor, I did what I believed was in your best interest,¡± she pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. ¡°Raymond isn¡¯t the suitable match for you. He has nothing substantial to offer.¡± My fists clenched at my sides, a surge of anger coursing through me. ¡°You made decisions based on your insatiable greed for more wealth,¡± I seethed, my voice trembling with intensity. Stepping towards her, I pinned her with an usatory re. ¡°You¡¯repletely oblivious when ites to recognizing genuine character, Anne. Your judgment of people rests solely on the depth of their pockets!¡± Her voice raised, a bellow of frustration breaking free. ¡°Raymond is your brother¡¯s security!¡± she shouted back, her eyes zing with conviction. ¡°That¡¯s his professional responsibility, Anne!¡± My voice cracked as I cried out, frustration and passion intermingled. ¡°Just like Ravel oversees a jewelry empire and I manage a cosmetics line. It¡¯s his job! At the end of the day, we¡¯re all contributing the same thing-money!¡± Her open palm connected with my cheek in a stinging p, the impact resonating through me. Pain red across my skin, both physical and emotional. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare belittle your brother¡¯s contributions byparing them to Raymond¡¯s! It¡¯s an insult to him!¡± She hissed vehemently, her words heavy with reprimand. Tears welled up as I gingerly rubbed my stinging cheek, allowing the salty trails to trace their way down. ¡°If you weren¡¯t my mother, that p would have been returned,¡± I admitted, my voice quivering. A mixture of shock and uncertainty shed in her widened eyes. ¡°Do you feel no disgust for yourself, Anne?¡± Her tone turned stern, a warning etched in her words. ¡°Don¡¯t address me with such disrespect. Remember, I am still your mother.¡± ¡°A mother who was absent on the day her son became engaged to the woman he adores,¡± I countered, my voice gaining strength. ¡°You were intentionally not included in the invitation, and it was a close call even for the wedding.¡± I wiped my tears away with a fierce swipe, my gaze unwaveringly fixed on her. ¡°And just so you¡¯re aware, Ravel deeply regrets having you at that wedding.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth this instant!¡± she snapped, her patience dwindling. ¡°No! It¡¯s your mouth that should be shut!¡± I shot back, a culmination of frustration and resentment fueling my words. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted from trying to find any redeeming qualities in you, Anne.¡± Inhaling a deep breath, I marched towards the door and swung it open. ¡°Leave my house.¡± Her gaze narrowed in disbelief. ¡°Are you seriously asking me to leave your house?¡± Unmoved by the mixture of rage and frustration etched across her features, I met her gaze without flinching. ¡°If you don¡¯t exit of your own volition, I won¡¯t hesitate to instruct security to escort you out.¡± A surge of anger tightened her lips, a visible sign of her displeasure. ¡°I¡¯m going to allow you some time toe to your senses, and then we¡¯ll engage in a civilized conversation.¡± With those words, she turned and exited the room. ¡°Anne!¡± I called after her, halting her departure. She paused, her head tilting slightly as she afforded me her attention. ¡°Don¡¯t bother expecting me at the so-called Friday family dinners any longer. I won¡¯t be gracing them with my presence.¡± With a finality that echoed in my words, I mmed the door shut in her face. ***** ** The following morning, I embarked on my journey to Seattle. Upon my arrival, I chose not to make an immediate visit to Hazel¡¯s office. Instead, I dedicated my time to some shopping and acquiring a thoughtful gift for her, all while indulging in my list. some sun exposure to tan my skin. Byte afternoon, I had efficiently checked off these tasks from With hunger pangs gnawing at me and an undeniable yearning for ice cream, I prioritized an early dinner before seeking out the sweet treat. My n was straightforward: satisfy my appetite and then savor a delightful ice cream dessert before eventually making my way to Hazel¡¯s. If circumstances didn¡¯t allow for our meeting today, there was always the option of doing so tomorrow-after all, tomorrow held the pivotal task of convincing her to journey to New York. Having executed my dinner ns as intended, I leisurely ambled over to an ice cream parlor that had been enthusiastically rmended by one of the restaurant¡¯s staff members. Themendation certainly held true, considering the lengthy line that greeted me upon arrival. It seemed this establishment¡¯s poprity was well-deserved, a fact that became evident as I joined the queue of eager patrons. Chapter 68 As my wait in the ice cream line became more prolonged, I took a seat that was conveniently provided. Amidst my patience, my attention was captured by a little girl, also queuing for ice cream. Strangely, her appearance struck a chord within me, reminiscent of what I imagined Ravel¡¯s future daughter might look like. The resemnce between her and Ravel was uncanny, a remarkable likeness that drew my focus. The girl¡¯s gaze darted around, her eyes seemingly searching for someone. In a burst of excitement, she waved and eximed, ¡°Mummy!¡± Her deration piqued my curiosity, and I followed her line of sight, which led me to none other than Hazel. Despite her attempt at concealment with a face mask, I recognized Hazel with case. Shock reverberated through me, causing me to blink rapidly as I watched her lift the child into her arms, cing a loving kiss on the girl¡¯s check before returning to her phone call. ¡°I stepped out to get ice cream for Daisy,¡± she exined, her voice carrying the affection of a doting parent. ¡°I should be heading home shortly.¡± The name ¡°Daisy¡± triggered a memory, linking it to the moment Hazel had inquired if Daisy was okay. It was bing evident that this Daisy was indeed Ravel¡¯s daughter. But the question that gnawed at me was how such a significant. revtion had been kept hidden from the media, from Ravel himself, and particrly from me. While I understood Hazel¡¯s anger towards Ravel, my support for her had never wavered. Summoning my resolve, I rose from my seat and took deliberate steps towards her. ¡°Hazel?¡± I called out, the name hanging in the air like a question mark. She spun around at the sound of my voice, her eyes widening in astonishment. Recognition dawned in her gaze as she spoke my name in return. ¡°Elenor?¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 HAZEL PRESENT TIME As Elenor¡¯s unmistakable voice reached my cars, I desperately wished that my mind was ying tricks on me. However, as I slowly turned around, the harsh reality sneered at me, a cruel jest. Before me stood Elenor, an unexpected sight that widened my eyes in disbelief. Suppressing the lump that had formed in my throat, I managed to murmur, ¡°Elenor?¡± My steps faltered as I tentatively approached her, the mission for ice creampletely abandoned. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Her gaze oscited between Daisy and me, her lips parting and closing as if struggling to find the right words. ¡°Hazel,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible, ¡°What¡¯s happening? Is that¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t engage in this conversation here and now. I mustered my resolve and implored, ¡°Could we find a more private ce to talk? Maybe at my ce?¡± A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. ¡°So, now that I¡¯ve stumbled upon the secret you¡¯ve been keeping, you suddenly want to invite me to your house?¡± With a nod, she reached for her purse resting on a nearby table. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tag along. I¡¯m genuinely curious to hear your exnation.¡± My lips were caught in a nervous bite as I motioned towards my car. Without a word, she trailed behind me, her gaze observant as I secured Daisy in her baby seat. Sliding into the passenger seat, she folded her hands and fixed her stare ahead, offering no conversation as I navigated the route to my apartment. Upon arrival, I handed Daisy over to her nanny, who had returned to work the previous day. Then, I guided Elenor towards my office, a soundproof haven in case her emotions got the best of her. Gesturing to the sofa, I/offered, ¡°Please have a seat, Elenor. Allow me the opportunity to exin.¡± Her lips pursed with a sigh, she sank onto the sofa. ¡°Could I have something strong? Whiskey, vodka, anything?¡± she requested. Acknowledging her need, I made my way to the bar, retrieving a bottle of vodka and a ss. Handing them to her, she filled the ss and downed it in a single gulp. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she uttered, ¡°I have one question for you, Hazel. Is that little girl Ravel¡¯s?¡± I met her gaze and responded, ¡°Yes, she is.¡± Taking a ce on the opposite end of the sofa, I continued, ¡°She¡¯s nearly three now.¡± A pained expression flitted across Elenor¡¯s face. ¡°But why?¡± she finally uttered. Elenor¡¯s single question acted as a key, unlocking a floodgate of past pain. As the first tears escaped down my cheeks, I struggled to find my voice. ¡°In the beginning, I felt he didn¡¯t deserve to know,¡± I began, my voice trembling. ¡°Not after I found him in our bed with June,¡± I continued, watching her eyes widen in disbelief. ¡°Not after he made me feel worthless, not after he handed me divorce papers on the anniversary of our wedding.¡± Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on her knees, clearly taken aback. ¡°He cheated with June, right in your marital bed?¡± Her words carried a mix of astonishment and anger. In response, I nodded, unable to find any more words. ¡°What a amix despicable jerk! How can he continue to be with her after all he¡¯s done?¡± ¡°From anger,¡± I continued, my voice quivering, ¡°fear took over. I was terrified he might try to take her away from me.¡± Licking my lips, I shifted my gaze to my intertwined fingers. ¡°I was afraid Icked the resources to fight a custody battle in court. That¡¯s why I worked tirelessly, pushing myself to make enough money. Eventually I made the money but then, I realized we didn¡¯t need him toplicate our lives, especially considering he¡¯s still with his mistress.¡± Elenor ran her hands down her face, her sigh carrying a mix of understanding and frustration. ¡°I get your situation, Hazel. I truly understand why you took the path you did. But what I can¡¯t wrap my head around is why you kept her a secret from me too.¡± Her brows furrowed as she continued, ¡°I was never your enemy, or did you see me as one?¡± I met her gaze with sincerity, my voice gentle but resolute. ¡°Elenor, I trust you. It¡¯s not about trusting you as a person, but rather your loyalty to him.¡± Despite her apparent disdain for his actions, he was still her brother. ¡°I couldn¡¯t risk you being N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. unable to keep it hidden from him for so long.¡± She took another gulp of her drink, her eyes moving restlessly. ¡°Do you grasp the gravity of what you¡¯ve done?¡± Her gaze wandered, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve severed the connection between father and child, aunt and niece, and even grandmother and grandchild.¡± A sudden scoff escaped her lips, apanied by a bitter twist of her expression. ¡°Well, scratch thatst part. Anne doesn¡¯t deserve to be a part of this baby¡¯s life.¡± ¡°I wish I could say I¡¯m sorry for hiding her from you all, but I¡¯m not.¡± I wiped my tears, not caring if I smudged my makeup since I was already at home. ¡°If I told the world about her, I¡¯m certain my life wouldn¡¯t have been what it is right now.¡± ¡°I agree with you,¡± she concurred, ¡°but that doesn¡¯t mean this isn¡¯t f ucked up.¡± She scrubbed her hands down her face again. ¡°I thought you and Ravel were fixing things?¡± Fixing things is far-fetched. ¡°We are trying to fix our past, to stop considering each other as enemies, but I have no intention of walking down the aisle with Ravel again.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think my brother knows that.¡± She muttered, ¡°He is already picking his groomsmen.¡± We both chuckled at the joke. ¡°So what¡¯s your n?¡± She asked in a serious tone, her previous amused demeanor disappearing. ¡°You certainly aren¡¯t thinking of keeping this from him forever.¡± Where am I even going to start from? ¡°I need more time.¡± I need toe to terms with the fact that I might end up sharing custody of my daughter. ¡°And I¡¯m going to give you just that.¡± She assured me, ¡°But don¡¯t expect me to keep shut for too long.¡± She smiled sadly. ¡°I may be pis sed at Ravel, but he¡¯s still my brother and I can¡¯t keep such big news from him.¡± Exhaling shakily, I nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Time is all I need, and as long as she gives me that, I¡¯ll find a way to approach this topic with Ravel. ¡°I really appreciate the fact that you are this understanding.¡± ¡°I know how much my brother hurt you.¡± She mused, reaching forward to grab my hand, ¡°I saw how much you tried to save your marriage. If I were in your shoes, I¡¯m certain I would have done the same.¡± I offered her a weak smile, already emotionally spent. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll want to take her away from me?¡± Tilting her head, she blinked slowly, slightly lost in thought. ¡°I don¡¯t know what went wrong between you and Ravel, and I know you might find what I¡¯m about to say absurd, but my brother still loves you, and because he¡¯s still in love with you, he won¡¯t do anything to hurt you. Taking Daisy away from you will hurt you, and I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll do that.¡± This is something that confuses me with Ravel now. It¡¯s as if the Ravel I fell in love with in the past is slowly returning and it irks me that he didn¡¯t make that effort when our marriage was crashing, instead he chose the arms of another woman. ¡°What are you doing in Seattle?¡± I asked, changing the topic. She left just a week ago. ¡°I got an ad job after my surgery and I just couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± My nose crinkled. ¡°You got surgery?¡± I asked, bewildered by the news. ¡°Howe the inte said nothing about it.¡± She grinned. ¡°I pulled out some ribs to get a tinier waist.¡± My eyes subconsciously went to her waist and to be honest, I didn¡¯t see any difference. ¡°I don¡¯t want them to know I did something to my waist, so it¡¯s on a hush-hush.¡± ¡°Wow..¡± I mean, what should I say to something like this? ¡°You¡¯re the only one who knows aside doctor.¡± my Something doesn¡¯t just add up. ¡°If you underwent surgeryst week, that means your wound is still fresh and you¡¯re still under medication. Why are you consuming alcoholic drinks like that?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m never one to follow rules.¡± ¡°Even one that could endanger your life?¡± She winked in response. ¡°Back to Daisy. You should tell my brother before I do. I think it¡¯s best if he hears it from you and not someone else.¡± 2 One thing is certain, I have limited time, and my life is about to change. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 HAZEL FOUR YEARS AGO. Happy New Year! Organizing a wedding in just a month¡¯s time has proven to be an incredibly demanding endeavor. Navigating through a myriad of tasks with our wedding nner has left me feeling not just physically fatigued, but men tally drained beyond measure. As the countdown to the wedding enters the mere three-week mark, I find myself on the cusp of my final wedding dress fitting, a moment that seems surreal and fleeting. Curiously, it appears that Ravel, my partner in this grand affair, maintains an almost serene disposition in contrast to the whirlwind of stress that engulfs me. The lion¡¯s share of responsibilities seems to have found a home on my shoulders, extending from the meticulous cake tasting to the selection of napkin colors. In this whirlpool of arrangements, I am eternally grateful for the presence of Elenor, whose kindness and assistance have been nothing short of a saving grace. Without her, I dare not contemte how I might have navigated these overwhelming tasks. Dedicating her entire January by rearranging her schedule, she stood by my side unfailingly, apanying me to every corner and stepping in where my presence was impossible to spare. I don¡¯t lay any me on Ravel for his absence during these moments, as his attention has been utterly consumed by his work and Kelvin, his seemingly enigmatic concern. The topic of Kelvin rarely finds its way into our conversations, a subject Ravel treats with an air of deliberate detachment, urging me consistently to dismiss any worries concerning that particr individual. It was only on one asion that Ravel opened up about Kelvin, seeking from me every morsel of information within my grasp, down to the intricate details of his social circle. This I provided without hesitation, driven by an unwavering desire to contribute in any manner possible. Merely a week remains until the deadline Kelvin set for me to produce the money. Histest text serves as both a reminder and a menacing threat, making it unequivocally clear that no extension will beN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. granted under any circumstances. Admittedly, the prospect of thosepromising photos being exposed to the world is an unnerving one. Yet, despite this fear, I am resolved to ce my trust in Ravel and his ability to navigate the situation. Bncing the bag containing the facial products rmended by my makeup artist for achieving that perfect bridal glow, I clutch my phone firmly in the other hand. In the midst of this, I engage in a conversation with Elenor, deliberating over the choice of bouquet. ¡°We¡¯ve settled on artificial flowers,¡± I reiterate to Elenor, a decisive note in my voice. Our choice stems from the genuine desire to prevent any chance of my soon-to-be husband experiencing an allergic reaction on our special day. ¡°Ey¨¦ry detail, right down to my bouquet, will feature artificial blooms. Not a single real flower will grace our presence, ensuring a day devoid of any potential mishaps for both myself and Ravel.¡± ¡°Absolutely, the florist is already aware,¡± Elenor reassured me. ¡°Daisies, right?¡± ¡°Yes, daisies,¡± I affirmed, knowing that Ravel¡¯s flower allergies had made him indifferent to floral preferences. With no particr fondness for any flower, I had chosen daisies as our floral motif. As we continued discussing the arrangements, I directed Elenor¡¯s attention to a different matter. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to check on your bridesmaid dress before you leave the vicinity. We need to ensure the adjustments have been rectified.¡± Elenor nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve got it covered. I¡¯m heading to the dress shop right after this florist meeting.¡± The topic then took a slightly different turn as frustration crept into Elenor¡¯s voice. ¡°Why on earth isn¡¯t my brother pitching in more?¡± she eximed. ¡°If I can put my work on hold for a whole month due to the wedding, he should be capable of doing the same.¡± Neither Elenor nor Anne were informed about Kelvin¡¯s ckmail and the associated chaos, which exined theirck of awareness regarding Ravel¡¯s current preupations. the issue of Kelvin directly affect Ravel¡¯s financialmitments. ¡°He needs to continue working in order to manage the ongoing debit alerts.¡± Elenor¡¯s response was marked by a dismissive scoff. ¡°Believe me, even if Ravel chose to marry you every week without lifting Chapter 70 another finger, the wealth of ¡®Bluey¡¯ is substantial enough to sustain your children, their children, and generations toe.¡± As the elevator arrived at its destination, I stepped out and proceeded toward the entrance, where Adam struggled with a shopping bag. A pang of sympathy surged within me, even though I had offered to help and been met with a polite refusal. ¡°Leave my fianc¨¦ be, Elenor,¡± I chimed in with a light-hearted tone. ¡°I¡¯d rather spare him from undue stress right before the wedding.¡± Elenor¡¯sughter bubbled forth. ¡°The stress you¡¯re putting yourself through might just gift you some pre-wedding pimples, you know.¡± My attention shifted involuntarily to the bag I carried, a silent acknowledgment of her prediction. ¡°I¡¯ve got a remedy prepared for that,¡± I admitted. I opened the door and entered the living room, only to come to a sudden stop as my gaze fell upon the unexpected scene thaty before me. The room seemed to freeze as my eyes darted back and forth between the men present. ¡°I¡¯ll get back to you, Elenor,¡± I managed to say, my voice carrying a mix of disbelief and tension. ¡°Make sure you do. Your insights on the dress are still needed. And don¡¯t forget about your appointment tomorrow. Love you, girl!¡± ¡°Love you too, Elenor. Take care.¡± The call ended, and I slowly returned my phone to my purse, all the while keeping my gaze locked onto Ravel, my heart racing with a blend of emotions. A smug smile curved across his lips as he spoke, exuding an air of arrogance. ¡°You wrapped things up quite swiftly today,¡± he remarked, his hands extending with a gesture that beckoned me closer. Setting the bag down on an ornate table, Iplied and made my way over to him, almost settling onto the sofa before his grip pulled me onto his thigh instead. ¡°Did you manage to gather all you required?¡± he inquired, his voice carrying a nonchnt tone. Suppressing my inner turmoil, I managed to respond, keeping myposure intact. ¡°Yes, I obtained everything I needed,¡± I confirmed. My gaze shifted to the presence of the unexpected visitor in the room. ¡°But why is Kelvin here?¡± I questioned, my words loaded with a mix of curiosity and concern. ¡°We¡¯re currently discussing his potential jail time and how he might cooperate to secure a lesser sentence, all while maintaining his silence to avoid a more severe punishment,¡± Ravel exined matter-of-factly. My confusion still lingered, and my grip on Ravel involuntarily tightened. ¡°Wait, did you bring him here to pay him off?¡± I asked, my wordsced with uncertainty. Ravel¡¯s chuckle filled the air. ¡°I invited him here to extend one final opportunity before executing my n,¡± he rified. His gaze shifted beyond me, directed at Kelvin. ¡°His friends have already agreed to testify in court, pinning the me on him in order to safeguard themselves. They¡¯re prepared to affirm that you were coerced by him in those incriminating photos to take those drugs.¡± Ravel¡¯s grin broadened. ¡°ckmail might just be the least of his worries leading to his jail time.¡± Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 HAZEL PRESENT TIME I was roused from my slumber by a gentle thud, and as I slowly blinked my eyes open, a yawn escaping me, I found David standing there, a cake in his hands. Beside him, Daisy¡¯s face was a picture of delight, her grin infectious as she toddled unsteadily towards the bed. Her anticipation to see me was so palpable that I couldn¡¯t help but break into a smile myself. ¡°Happy birthday, Hazel,¡± David¡¯s voice sang out as he set the cake down on the bed. ¡°Make a wish and blow out the candle.¡± My gaze shifted from David to my precious Daisy, and in that moment, I fervently wished that when I eventually revealed. her existence to Ravel, she wouldn¡¯t be taken away from me. With a steady exhale, I leaned over and extinguished the candle¡¯s me, Daisy¡¯s pping mingling with David¡¯s encouragement. ¡°Come here,¡± I beckoned, my arms reaching out. I scooped Daisy up and pulled her close, showering her face with kisses that elicited joyous giggles that seemed to fill the room. ¡°Here,¡± David murmured, his voice gentle, ¡°I brought you a gift.¡± With careful hands, he produced a small box from his pocket, unveiling a stunning bracelet as he opened it. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± I extended my hand as he requested, watching as he delicately fastened the bracelet around my wrist. ¡°It¡¯s truly beautiful,¡± I cooed, my eyes fixed on the intricate design. ¡°Thank you.¡± His smile was warm and genuine, a silent acknowledgement of his affection. As I continued to admire the bracelet, a glint caught my eye-my name was intricately engraved on the sp. My curiosity piqued, I inquired, ¡°Did you have this customized?¡± David nodded, his eyes conveying a depth of sentiment. ¡°I wanted to give you something that felt truly special for your birthday.¡± At that moment, Daisy stretched out her tiny hands towards him, her eyes seeking his attention. With practiced ease, he scooped her up and settled her on hisp, their bond evident in the way he held her. ¡°I truly love this, David,¡± I admitted, my words infused with genuine appreciation. ¡°It¡¯s rare, unique, and undeniably beautiful. Thank you.¡± A glimmer of something crossed his eyes as he responded, ¡°If you feel that way about it, then don¡¯t ever take it off.¡± His words carried a weight that slightly furrowed my brows in confusion. ¡°If you can¡¯t hold onto my heart, at least hold onto that.¡± There was a twinge of guilt within me for not reciprocating his romantic feelings, but I knew it was better to be honest than to lead him on. ¡°Alright,¡± I agreed, a note of sincerity in my voice. ¡°I promise, I won¡¯t take it off.¡± His smile was both understanding and appreciative, a silent recognition of my response. ¡°Thank you, David,¡± I continued, a touch of emotion in my words. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to have such a wide smile on my birthday today.¡± Curiosity etched his features as he questioned, ¡°Why did you think today would be any different? Every year, I make sure to bring out your widest smile on your birthday.¡± ¡°Hazel found out about Daisy yesterday,¡± I disclosed, and his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t even realize she was in Seattle, so I took Daisy out for ice cream. Coincidentally, she was there getting ice cream too, and she caught me.¡± His reaction was a mix of concern and tension. ¡°This is not good,¡± he muttered, his voice tense. ¡°What did Elenor say? Do you think she¡¯ll inform her brother?¡± With a heavy sigh, I directed my gaze toward my daughter. ¡°She¡¯s giving me a chance to break the news to Ravel myself. But she made it clear that if I fail to do so, she¡¯s prepared to tell him on her own.¡± Frustration danced across his features as he mused, ¡°I¡¯d really like to use a few choice words right now.¡± He gently cupped Daisy¡¯s rosy cheeks, a tender gesture that elicited a chuckle from me. ¡°But for Daisy¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll refrain.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but 1/3 smile. ¡°So, are you truly going to tell him?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I acknowledged, my resolve solidifying. ¡°I believe it¡¯s time to tell him anyway. Perhaps the next time I see him, I¡¯ll reveal everything about her.¡± A concerned frown creased his brow. ¡°Do you want me to be there with you?¡± I appreciated his concern but shook my head, politely declining his offer. ¡°I think I need to have this conversation alone with him.¡± I wanted to assure him that I wasn¡¯t concerned about Ravel reacting violently. ¡°Thank you for offering, though,¡± I added sincerely. David got to his feet, lifting Daisy into his arms. ¡°We¡¯ll give you some space so you can freshen up, get dressed, and join us for breakfast.¡± I nodded in agreement, watching as he moved towards the door. Just before leaving, he paused and turned back to face me. ¡°Do you have any ns for the rest of the day?¡± ¡°Yeah, I promised Elenor that I¡¯d be having lunch with her today,¡± I exined, recalling her request from the previous day. She had earnestly asked me to join her for lunch, insisting on treating me to a birthday meal. David nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Could you spare your dinner time for me, then?¡± A smile formed on my lips. ¡°Of course,¡± I agreed. With that, he turned and left my room. True to her word, Elenor arrived promptly for lunch. She entered the restaurant just as gracefully as I had. We indulged in a bottle of wine before cing our lunch orders. Mid-conversation, she reached into her bag and retrieved a small box, sliding it towards me. ¡°Happy birthday.¡± I felt a surge of gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± Leaning forward, I carefully opened the box to find a delicate ne nestled within. ¡°This is truly beautiful, Elenor. I appreciate it.¡± She offered a warm smile, her eyes naturally drawn to the bracelet adorning my wrist. ¡°Nice bracelet,¡± sheplimented. My attention followed hers, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I admired it once again. ¡°It¡¯s actually a gift from David,¡± I shared, my voice full of appreciation. ¡°Isn¡¯t it beautiful?¡± I looked back up at her. ¡°Mhm, it really is,¡± she agreed. Our lunch arrived, and as we enjoyed our meal, our conversation meandered through various topics. I was relieved that she didn¡¯t bring up the sensitive subjects of Ravel or Daisy. Despite my curiosity about what was happening with her and Raymond, I decided against asking. Mid-conversation, her phone buzzed on the table, and she picked it up, her expression shifting into a frown as she looked at the caller ID. She rose from her seat, ready to excuse herself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I need to take this,¡± she exined. I quickly nodded in understanding as she prepared to take the call, but my concern intensified when she took an unsteady step, almost colliding with the table. Reacting instinctively, I shot up from my seat, narrowly avoiding toppling a wine ss in my haste to catch her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I asked urgently, worry evident in my voice. Her breath seemedbored as she struggled to respond. ¡°I think it¡¯s infected,¡± she finally managed to say, her difort palpable. Confusion and concern twisted my features. ¡°Infected? What¡¯s infected?¡± Gently guiding her back into her seat, I tried to make herfortable. ¡°Elenor, please talk to me. Should I call an ambnce?¡± She winced, hissing through her teeth as the pain hit her. ¡°My surgery wound,¡± she exined, her voice strained. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it might be infected. The pain has been intense since yesterday, but I foolishly brushed it off.¡± The gravity of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. ¡°This is serious! I¡¯m calling an ambnce,¡± I dered, reaching for my phone urgently. However, she grabbed my hand, her expression pleading. ¡°I don¡¯t want the media to find out,¡± she whispered, her desperation clear. ¡°Calling an ambnce will inevitably draw unwanted attention.¡± 2/3 ¡°Does it really matter?¡± I asked, my concern evident. ¡°What should I do? Ignoring this could lead to serious consequences. You could even die¡­¡± In response, she cried out in pain, her anguish unmistakable. ¡°Get me back to New York,¡± she implored, her voice strained. I blinked in surprise, taken aback by her request. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly travel in this condition,¡± I protested, worried about her well-being. With a mixture of vulnerability and determination, she revealed, ¡°I flew here in Ravel¡¯s private jet. We could use that to return.¡± My mind whirled, trying to process the situation. ¡°We?¡± I echoed, my thoughts racing to catch up. She nodded, her eyes pleading. ¡°Please, I can¡¯t trust anyone else not to reveal my condition to the press. Just take me to my new apartment in New York, and you can be on your way.¡± The unexpected turn of events left me slightly disoriented. ¡°Alright,¡± I conceded, realizing the urgency of the situation, ¡°We need to contact the pilot first.¡± She pointed to her phone, and I handed it to her before stepping away to call David. I fibbed to him, exining that I¡¯d be hometer than expected. I couldn¡¯t divulge the true reason for my departure without revealing Elenor¡¯s surgery. ¡°The jet is ready,¡± she informed me as I returned. Nodding in acknowledgment, I gathered both our purses and gently assisted her into the car, making sure she was secure with her seatbelt. Taking the wheel, I navigated us to the airport. My thoughts raced as I considered the implications of this impromptu trip to New York. With a mix of worry, I drove, my fingers tightly gripping the steering wheel. I really hope she will be okay. ? COMMENTC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 RAVEL PRESENT TIME Earlier, Elenor reached out to me, expressing her inability to provide an immediate update. Although her message was slightly cryptic, I opted not to probe further, having full confidence in her capabilities. She gave me reassurance, mentioning that her chauffeur, Sebastian, would keep me informed about her whereabouts alongside Hazel. Approximately an hour ago, my phone buzzed with a message from Sebastian. He conveyed that Elenor had sessfully arrived at the airport in thepany of Hazel. Just moments ago, another text popped up, notifying me that they had entered the elevator and were en route. The room¡¯s lights had been dimmed, and everyone stood in anticipation, maintaining absolute stillness to preserve the element of surprise. Amidst the silence, the distinct beeping of the keypad reverberated as the lock code was attempted. The door slowly swung open, and footsteps cautiously traversed into the obscurity of the room. Even before the illumination returned, a harmonious chorus of the birthday song resonated as a unified surprise for Hazel. Caught off guard, Hazel stood with eyes widened, her gaze fixed on the spectacle unfolding before her. Every person present, including Elenor, joyfully joined in singing the celebratory tune. Only when the song concluded did I step forward, holding a petite cake that contrasted with the extravagant confection resting on the table. In a hushed tone, I greeted her, ¡°Happy birthday, Hazel,¡± and raised the cake, presenting her with the candle to extinguish. While still seemingly rendered speechless, she bent slightly and blew out the candles, a moment that spurred cheers and apuse from the gathered group. Emboldened, I decided to press my luck, handing the cake over to Raymond before enveloping Hazel in an affectionate embrace. She reciprocated, her fingers finding sce as they encircled my waist. Elenor¡¯s dramatic throat-clearing finally managed to draw me away from Hazel¡¯s embrace. Elenor stepped in, embracing Hazel in her turn. ¡°You really gave me quite a scare, Elenor,¡± Hazel remarked with a chuckle, her words carrying a mix of relief and jest, ¡°I was fervently hoping you wouldn¡¯t meet your demise before the doctor arrived.¡± Elenor responded with a giggle. ¡°Perhaps I should explore acting as a potential new business venture.¡± With my hand gently resting on the curve of Hazel¡¯s back, I guided her deeper into the room. She shared warm hugs with Raymond and broke into a wide grin upon spotting Adam. It was a significant moment, as this marked the first asion she hadid eyes on Adam since their divorce, especially since he had promptly departed for military service right afterward. ¡°I have a surprise for you,¡± I whispered into her ear, my voiceden with anticipation. Holding her hand, I guided her into one of the rooms. She settled onto the bed, and as she did, I slipped into the closet to retrieve the gift. ¡°Is this ce yours?¡± she inquired, her gaze sweeping over the room with appreciation. ¡°It¡¯s not mine,¡± I replied, gently cing the velvet box on the bed beside her. In truth, it was hers-a penthouse I had purchased for her, originally intended as a birthday gift. Circumstances, however, forced my hand, and we divorced before her special day. ¡°Did you rent it just for my birthday?¡± she asked, a hint of disbelief evident in her voice. With a slight tilt of my head, I pondered how to respond most effectively. ¡°More like I borrowed it,¡± I finally admitted, taking a seat beside her on the bed. I reached for her hand, intertwining our fingers, and exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t pay a penny for using it, and I¡¯ll be returning it to the owner soon.¡± A soft smile yed on her lips as she mused, ¡°I should find more friends who are willing to casually lend out their penthouses.¡± If only she knew theplete truth. My attention shifted to the velvet box nearby, and I urged, ¡°Go ahead and open it.¡± Her attempt to withdraw her hand from my grip triggered an unconscious tightening of my hold. ¡°Ravel,¡± she mumbled, avoiding my gaze, ¡°I need both hands to open the box.¡± Realizing my slip, I released her hand quickly. ¡°Of course, my apologies,¡± I responded, acknowledging my blunder. In a bid to diffuse any awkwardness, I offered a light chuckle. Her smile softened, and her attention shifted to the velvet box. As she opened it, a gasp of awe escaped her lips upon discovering the exquisite beauty resting within. I had invested a year of effort into crafting that piece. ¡°This is truly beautiful, Ravel,¡± she whispered, her gaze seemingly captured by the mesmerizing jewelry set. A sense of contentment welled within me. ¡°I¡¯m delighted you like it.¡± With gentle movements, I lifted the ne from the box. ¡°Could you turn around for me, Hazel?¡± I requested. Slowly, she obliged, her back now facing me. Gently gathering her hair, I swept the strands to one side, exposing the nape of her neck. My resistance waned, and I leaned in, pressing a tender kiss against her skin. An immediate tensing of her body was perceptible, though her lips remained sealed. With careful precision, I secured the all-diamond ne around her neck, my fingers adeptly fastening the sp. My hands then settled on her shoulders, gently pivoting her to face me. Hazel¡¯s gaze remained locked onto mine, a subtle parting of her lips hinting at the underlying tension. My attention involuntarily dropped to her lips, the memory of their taste and the desire to experience it again resurfacing vividly. As my hand rested on her shoulder, its motion gradually ascended, my fingers tenderly curving around her neck, pulling her gradually nearer. A slow inhale on my part met her exhale, my thumb instinctively tracing the rhythm of her pulse. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Hazel,¡± I breathed out, my words a mere whisper that triggered an esction in her breath. Summoning every ounce of courage, I decided to y my final card. Leaning in, I closed the distance, pressing my lips against hers in a kiss, a fusion of emotions encapsted in that one daring act. Remaining perfectly still, I allowed Hazel the space to make her decision, to withdraw or reciprocate. Astonishingly, she held her ground, a silent agreement to allow this connection. Neither of us moved for a moment, a delicate equilibrium hanging in the bnce. Gradually, our lips began to move in sync, a tentative rhythm forming between us. The kiss was a gentle dance, an unspoken exchange of feelings that transcended verbal expression, a testament to the depth of longing we had for each other. My grip on her neck grew firmer as the kiss deepened, and a telltale moan escaped her lips, melding with the connection we shared. Hazel¡¯s moan was intoxicating, a raw affirmation of desire. With a lustful growl resonating within me, I pulled her even closer, any consideration for the delicate jewelry momentarily forgotten. The feel of her hands encircling my neck fueled my passion, her teeth teasingly tugging at my lower lip, a tantalizing blend of yearning and restraint. My hands were about to feel the curve of her breast when her phone suddenly rang, snapping her out of the sexual haze between us. She pulled away, blinked rapidly before reaching for her phone. ¡°Hello, David?¡± ¡°Yeah, the dinner date is still on,¡± her words rumbled, causing my eyebrows to furrow. How could she contemte going on a date with another man immediately after sharing such a passionate kiss with me? ¡°Let¡¯s schedule it for the two in the morning,¡± she suggested, a hint of urgency in her tone, ¡°I¡¯m dealing with something that¡¯s going to dy me.¡± A brief pause followed. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± And with that, she ended the call. Driven by a surge of jealousy and desperation, I blurted out without restraint, ¡°Stay the night.¡± My words hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken implications. ¡°I won¡¯t do anything you¡¯re notfortable with, but please, just stay.¡± Returning the ne to the box, she closed it and clutched it before rising to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ravel, but I really have to leave,¡± she said, her voice tinged with a mix of regret and finality. ncing at the wall clock, I noted, ¡°It¡¯s nearly eight in the evening.¡± Her response came measured, as if calcting her next move. ¡°If I head out now, I should be back home before three,¡± she stated, her grip on the box steady. ¡°Thank you for the gift and the surprise party, I genuinely appreciate it.¡± With those words, she began to walk out of the room. I followed in her wake, my determination to ensure her safe departure unwavering. ¡°At least let me drop you off at the airport,¡± I offered, my voice carrying a mix of insistence and concern. Chapter 72 Elenor¡¯s voice interjected, seemingly from out of nowhere. ¡°I¡¯ll handle that,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I have something important to discuss with her.¡± An exasperated re from me was met with an unconcerned shrug from my sister. ¡°You¡¯ll see her again, Ravel,¡± Elenor assured, her wordsced with a sense of promise that she definitely knew not how to fulfill. Hazel bid her farewell and departed from the room. Positioned by the floor-length ss window, I observed the unfolding scene outside. She and Elenor were embroiled in what appeared to be a fervent exchange, their bodynguage betraying the intensity of their conversation. Eventually, Hazel¡¯s frustration boiled over, and she stormed towards the waiting car, mming the door shut in her wake. As the car pulled away from the driveway, Elenor remained behind, a decision that left me both perplexed and intrigued. Didn¡¯t she say she was going with her to the airport?C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 HAZEL FOUR YEARS AGO Kelvin¡¯s arrest for a slew of heinous crimes ¨C drugs, rape, ckmail, and even murder ¨C has guaranteed his absence from society for the foreseeable future. It¡¯s astonishing how my name managed to remain untarnished in the drug case, despite the undeniable evidence of my involvement caught on tape. As I reflect on this, especially with my impending wedding just a week away, I can¡¯t help but view it as an unexpected pre-wedding gift ¨C the liberation from the shackles of fear that Kelvin¡¯s reign of terror instilled. It¡¯s a gift everyone would cherish, without a doubt. Parking my car gracefully by the side of Ravel¡¯s office driveway, I emerged from the vehicle, reveling in the day¡¯s joy. Today, I find myself behind the wheel, a departure from my usual routine, as happiness courses through my veins. Having borrowed one of Ravel¡¯s luxurious cars, I led the way while Adam dutifully followed behind, a silent sentinel of security. Entering the elevator, I took a moment topose myself, smoothing my hair with delicate gestures, my anticipation palpable as I waited for the familiar ping of the elevator¡¯s arrival. As the doors opened, I stepped out gracefully and confidently, striding toward Ravel¡¯s office. Remarkably, his secretary didn¡¯t attempt to halt my progress this time, a fact that did not go unnoticed. Ravel¡¯s attention was swiftly drawn from hisptop as the door announced my arrival. His face illuminated with a bright smile, he rose from his desk and moved to greet me with a warm embrace. I ced a tender kiss on the pulse point of his neck, my affection for him evident. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Rav,¡± I whispered, though the passage of time had been minimal ¨C only a few hours had passed since Ist saw him. In truth, we had even woken up together earlier this morning. Ravel¡¯s lips met mine in a tender kiss before he released me and guided me over to the plush ck sofa. With a gentle smile, he remarked, ¡°I¡¯m well aware of how much you missed me, but I¡¯m sure your visit isn¡¯t just about expressing that.¡± Acknowledging his understanding of my busy schedule with wedding preparations, I shifted the conversation¡¯s tone. ¡°I came across the news about Kelvin,¡± I noted, my expression more solemn. Ravel¡¯s response was casual, almost dismissive. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be celebrating?¡± he suggested, as if Kelvin¡¯s downfall was a cause for rejoicing. Well, it is. However, my desire toprehend the situation prompted me to press further. ¡°We will celebrate, no doubt, but first, I want to understand what transpired.¡± I leaned into a more serious stance. ¡°You had a hand in his arrest, didn¡¯t you?¡± I inquired, seeking the truth. Ravel¡¯s response was a nonchnt shrug, leaving me frustrated. I folded my arms, forming a subtle pout, hoping that my expression might coax him into sharing more. ¡°Could you at least enlighten me on why he didn¡¯t expose the incriminating pictures of me to the authorities?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you allow me to handle that matter?¡± Ravel responded cryptically, sidestepping a direct exnation. He shifted gears by asking about my recent wedding gown fitting experience, attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction. Persisting with my inquiry, I reverted back to the pressing topic. ¡°I need to know what happened to Kelvin,¡± I stressed, my determination unwavering. ¡°He held me hostage through ckmail for months, Rav. I deserve to understand the truth ¨C why didn¡¯t he implicate me?¡± Ravel¡¯s gaze was intense, as if he were weighing the pros and cons of revealing the information. Rising from my seat, I joined him on the sofa, settling onto hisp. His arms encircled my waist, drawing me close. ¡°He maintained his silence and handed over those incriminating pictures to me in exchange for freedom,¡± he finally divulged. My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. ¡°Freedom? He hardly seems free at the moment,¡± I remarked dryly, struggling to wrap my head around the situation. Ravel¡¯s revtion finally came to light. ¡°He¡¯s not the sole perpetrator in the murder,¡± he disclosed. ¡°His younger sister was equallyplicit, and he used her as leverage. In exchange for her immunity, he surrendered those pictures and pledged his silence. With substantial evidence against his sister, I¡¯m confident he won¡¯t pose a threat to you anymore.¡± I let out a breath, the pieces falling into ce. ¡°So, in essence, you¡¯re leveraging his vulnerability against him,¡± I summarized, realizing that Ravel had essentially turned the tables on Kelvin using the same tactics. Leaning in, Ravel pressed a gentle, chaste kiss to my forehead. ¡°ckmailing a ckmailer,¡± he stated with a wry smile, his logic sound. ¡°Had he not targeted you, I wouldn¡¯t have countered with this strategy. Consider it his own karma catching up with him.¡± I reminded myself not to feel sympathy for Kelvin, as he deserved the consequences he faced. ¡°I apologize for the added stress,¡± I murmured, my fingers lightly smoothing over the nearly imperceptible dark circles under his eyes. ¡°Dealing with Kelvin must have been quite taxing.¡± Ravel¡¯s grin was infectious, revealing his handsome right cheek dimple. ¡°There¡¯s no stress thates from you, Hazel. Besides, I must admit, confronting him was rather satisfying.¡± he admitted, his eyes gleaming mischievously. Understanding my need to leave, I slid off his thigh and yfully blew him a kiss, sna tching up my purse in the process. ¡°I¡¯m off to do some cake tasting. Elenor will be meeting me there, so I better get a move on.¡± Rising from his seat, Ravel dered his intention to apany me. ¡°I¡¯ll join you,¡± he decided, moving towards his jacket. ¡°I¡¯ve been a bit detached from the wedding nning.¡± I shook my head, appreciating his gesture. ¡°Ravel, you were engrossed with yourptop when I arrived,¡± I reminded him gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the cake. Focus on your work, I¡¯ve got this.¡± It was clear that he had his hands full and I was perfectly fine handling the cake tasting on my own. ¡°I can always catch up on workter,¡± he persisted, determined to be more involved. ¡°I should contribute beyond just fitting into my tux,¡± he added with a chuckle, his smile infectious. ¡°I see how stressed you are because you are handling everything.¡± Iughed softly, seeing through his intentions. ¡°You¡¯re the one who seems more stressed now,¡± I pointed out, a hint of truth in my words. Approaching him, I traced my fingers over his abdominal muscles and pulled him closer. ¡°Let¡¯s not add to the stress you¡¯re already carrying, Rav. Besides, Elenor and I have ns for a spa day after the cake tasting.¡± He let out a defeated sigh. ¡°Can I at least drive you there?¡± With a yful grin, I shook my head and dangled my car key in front of him. ¡°I came in my own car. Thanks for the offer though.¡± One more kiss sealed our interaction before I made my way out of his office, ready to handle the next task on my list. I am ecstatic to the extent that I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs. Maybe because I¡¯m now a free woman or maybe married next week. because I¡¯m gettin The elevator pinged, indicating our arrival at the parking lot. With the same energy and excitement, I got off the elevator only to be greeted with the face of thest person I expected to see today. Mustering a smile, I walked up to her. ¡°Mrs. Southwark, it¡¯s lovely to see you.¡± ¡°Are you Mocking me?¡± She hissed at me. ¡°It is indeed lovely for you to see the face of a Southwark, but there is nothing lovely about seeing your face.¡± Adam took a step forward, ready to intervene, but I shook my head, stopping him. ¡°I see you¡¯re still upset about me getting married to your son ¡°Upset?¡± She snarled, ¡°You Insult What I feel by attributing it to just being upset. I despise your very existence,Hazel.¡± ¡°And that of your son?¡± I asked and she frowned. ¡°Do you despise your son¡¯s existence too?¡± ¡°Have you finally lost it?¡± She snapped and I shrugged. ¡°Ravel is one of the best things that has happened to me.¡± ¡°Then for his sake, pretend to be happy for him, for us,¡± I requested of her. ¡°You are going to lose your son if you keep this up Anne.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Impossible.¡± She spat. Tilting my head, I stared at her with amusement. ¡°Is it that you haven¡¯t noticed it yet or you¡¯ve decided not to notice it? I had to beg him to send you the wedding invitation Anne. Her frown deepened. ¡°I literally begged your son to send a wedding invitation to his mother. Do you still think you¡¯re not losing him?¡± Short of response, she just blinked at me. ¡°Make haste while the sun shines Anne.¡± Offering her onest smile, I got into my car and drove away.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 HAZEL PRESENT TIME A mere week had passed since my birthday, and Elenor and I remained in an unsettling silence after our intense altercation on the penthouse doorstep. The heat of our argument still lingered in the air as we exchanged words that carried more weight than either of us intended. Elenor, unyielding in her stance, fervently pressed me to disclose Daisy¡¯s secret to Ravel. Her reason? The current exciting and happy atmosphere supposedly lent itself as a perfect time to make the revtion. Yet, I found myself resisting, a feeling deep within me insisting that the timing wasn¡¯t opportune. With each attempt, Elenor, driven by her unwavering belief, asserted that there would never be an ideal moment. Frustration boiled over, and my patience waned, leading me to unleash words that I now regret. The tension escted to the point where I, overwhelmed, angrily got into her waiting car. Astonishingly, she declined to apany me, instead instructing her chauffeur to transport me to the airport. My birthday had nearly been marred by the tension with Elenor, but my excitement for Ravel¡¯s surprise buoyed my spirits, preventing our quarrel from casting too long a shadow. Determined to channel my emotions elsewhere, I engulfed myself in the rhythm of the treadmill, drowning out the world with music coursing through my headphones. Each footfall matched the machine¡¯s pace as I poured my energy into the exercise. Unbeknownst to me, I shared the gym with an unexpectedpanion. The thumping of my own feet pounding the treadmill drowned out the environment so effectively that I failed to notice David¡¯s presence until he appeared beside me, standing in close proximity. The sudden sight nearly caused me to lose my equilibrium, a near mishap on the treadmill reminding me of my surroundings. Swiftly disengaging the treadmill and stepping onto solid ground, I grabbed my towel to wipe away the sweat that had umted during my focused exertion. Breaking the silence, I finally addressed David, curiositycing my words. ¡°How long have you been standing there?¡± I inquired, my hand reaching for a refreshing bottle of water resting on the bench. ¡°Not long enough to figure out how to show you this,¡± David¡¯s response carried an air of intrigue, leaving me to cast a sidelong nce his way. Taking a seat on the bench, I settled down, ready to hear whatever he had to share. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something happen at the office?¡± My inquisitive words hung in the air, awaiting an exnation. In response, David extended his phone toward me, a gesture apanied by a somewhat strained expression. His words held a hint of urgency. ¡°I think you should go online and check the trending news.¡± His tone was almostced with a wince, sparking my concern even further. ¨C A frown creased my forehead as I swiftly grabbed my own phone from the bench. A flood of notifications caught my attention, missed calls from Ravel, Elenor, and Agatha. The realization dawned upon me my absorption in the workout had inadvertently blocked out the world beyond my headphones. T Attempting to connect online, my focus was interrupted as the gym¡¯s door burst open, and Agatha barged in, clearly winded. My eyes blinked in rapid session as I shifted my attention between her and my phone. Finally managing to ess the inte, my breath hitched at the sight of the news that awaited me, an unforeseen turn of events sending shockwaves through my being. RAVEL SOUTHWARK¡¯S EX-WIFE ALLEGEDLY HAD A CHILD FOR HIM, A BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL CALLED DAISY WHO IS ALMOST THREE. THE PUBLIC ARE BAFFLED ON HOW THE EX-COUPLE MANAGED TO KEEP IT HIDDEN ALMOST FROM EVERYONE. The inte was aze with pictures of Daisy and me, thest one unmistakably taken yesterday at school. A surge of anger coursed through me as I realized that one of her teachers must have captured that moment. My hands balled into fists, my frustration palpable. ¡°When was this released?¡± My voice carried a mix of urgency and disbelief. ¡°An hour ago,¡± Agatha¡¯s response came swiftly, her tone mirroring the bewilderment of the situation. Her fingers raked through her hair as she continued, her words tinged with concern. ¡°Who could have released this? Who leaked the news?¡± A hint of exasperation colored her voice as she pondered the possibilities. ¡°You think it¡¯s the nanny?¡± My thoughts raced back to the heated argument with Elenor, and a gnawing suspicion surfaced in my mind. Suppressing panic, I rose from the bench, David and Agatha following suit. Stepping out of the gym, I immediately took charge. ¡°Give Robertson a call and have him bring Daisy home. He should use the emergency parking lot,¡± I directed, a sense of urgency underscoring my words. The possibility of papara zzi swarming outside the school gates to capture images of Daisy was very real. How had things spiraled to this point? Agatha swiftly moved away to ce the call, and I moved with determination, heading toward the bar area. My query cut straight to the chase, a blend of frustration and concerncing my voice. ¡°How many of them are outside my gate?¡± Taking a seat beside me, David¡¯s response revealed the extent of the situation. ¡°The papara zzi? I don¡¯t know. I took the emergency parking lot,¡± he admitted, his tone somber. ¡°But with the picture online, there are quite a lot of them outside.¡± I reached for a bottle of scotch and took a long swig, the warmth of the liquid momentarily numbing the chaotic thoughts racing through my mind. ¡°Nobody is to use the emergency parking lot aside from my daughter,¡± I dered firmly, my frustration evident. The papara zzi would certainly take notice if we were seen entering or leaving the house through any route other than the main entrance, potentially sparking further invasive inquiries. David acknowledged my concerns, his hand finding its ce atop mine, a gesture meant to reassure. ¡°Everything is going to be fine,¡± he uttered, though his words carried a tinge of uncertainty. His attempt at reassurance was appreciated, but the storm brewing within me was not so easily quelled. ¡°Who do you think could have leaked that?¡± he inquired, his gaze seeking understanding. My mind circled back to Elenor, the most probable source of the leak given her knowledge of the secret. She held the knowledge, yes, but broadcasting it publicly rather than simply confiding in RavelN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. raised doubts about her being the sole culprit. ¡°Honestly, I do not know who to point fingers at,¡± I admitted with exasperation. My phone vibrated on my hand and I nced at it, scoffing at the unfamiliar number. I ignored the call but it kepting until I angrily answered. ¡°Who the f uck are you and what do you want?!¡± None of my business associates have my personal line, so I know for a fact that this isn¡¯t business. ¡°You will speak to me with respect you sneaky low life!¡± The familiar voice snarled. I don¡¯t need any confirmation to know who is talking. ¡°How dare you ask who is calling? Did you lose my number?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t lose your number, I deleted it.¡± I corrected, setting the record straight. ¡°If you were attentive, you would have noticed that I blocked you on WhatsApp too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you blocked me or not!¡± She snapped, ¡°I want to know why you hid the existence of that child away from my family?!¡± ¡°F uck off Anne!¡± I hissed, ¡°I have no business exining myself to you, and the next time you want to reach me, contact my f ucking secretary!¡± I disconnected the call, mming my phone on the counter and cursing loudly. ¡°You need to take it easy Hazel,¡± David advised. My phone vibrated again before I could even respond. Picking it up, I red at Elenor¡¯s name for a moment before answering the call. ¡°Elenor?¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with me.¡± She blurted out, ¡°I have absolutely nothing to do with this news at all. I know what you¡¯re thinking and I know how connected the situation is but this isn¡¯t me. I didn¡¯t betray you at all, you have to believe me.¡± ¡°The fact that I don¡¯t even know who did this is driving me crazy Elenor.¡± Someone is after me and I don¡¯t even know who. It can¡¯t be David because no matter how angry he was with me, he never wanted Ravel to know about the baby. ¡°I¡¯m going to help you figure this out, I promise.¡± She sighed when I didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Did Anne call you?¡± ¡°Yeah, I just received her call before you called.¡± She cursed under her breath. ¡°And what did she say?¡± ¡°She was being her usual self and I ended the call on her.¡± Despite the tense situation, I found myself chuckling when Elenorplimented me for ending the call on Anne. ¡°I have to go Elen, I¡¯ll talk to you later.¡± ¡°P.S., I think you should know that Ravel is on his way to Seattle. He left an hour ago.¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 RAVEL PRESENT TIME The moment the jet touched down in Seattle, I dialed Hazel¡¯s number, nning on giving her the liberty of knowing that I was headed to her house. Finding her ce isn¡¯t going to be difficult, especially since it is all over the inte. Getting into the rented car, I gave out her home address to the driver, knowing that there was no way she¡¯d show up at the office with the news flying around. Rxing back, I dialed her number again, hoping that for her sake, she would pick up. I have a daughter. An almost three years old daughter and Hazel told me nothing about it. She intentionally kept me away from my daughter; why? Because I hurt her? Hiding my daughter from me was just so cruel. She finally picked. ¡°I¡¯m heading to your house Hazel, Tell your security to open the gate for me.¡± I¡¯ll have to climb through it if I have to. ¡°My entrance gate isn¡¯t essible Ravel,¡± she informed me with a tired tone. ¡°Head to your hotel, I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± Does she think I abandoned an ongoing meeting to f uck around with her? ¡°I know Daisy is in that house with you and I¡¯m going to meet her after I have a conversation with you.¡± I drawled out, punctuating each word, ¡°Tell your security to open the gate when I get there. I¡¯d hate to create a scene Hazel, but that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t if I have to.¡± She sighed. ¡°Stop by the bridge.¡± I scoffed. ¡°I said I¡¯ming to your da mn house and you tell me to stop by the bridge?!¡± I snapped angrily. ¡°What?! Do you want to keep hiding her from me? Isn¡¯t three years long enough?¡± ¡°Stop snapping at me, Ravel!¡± She yelled, ¡°I¡¯m stressed by the situation Ravel! I can¡¯t even leave my house! I had to pull my daughter out of school early! Please do not add to it!¡± I took a deep breath. Shouting and scolding each other isn¡¯t going to help the situation at all. ¡°I want to see my daughter, Hazel, even if it¡¯s her pictures, her baby pictures.¡± ¡°Stop by the bridge, I¡¯lle pick you up myself.¡± She rasped. ¡°There is a secret tunnel that leads to my parking lot. If you take the main entrance, the papara zzi won¡¯t let you through.¡± Does she have a secret passageway? She sure made enough effort to keep her hidden. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stop by the bridge.¡± She disconnected the call before I could say any other thing. ¡°Stop at thest bridge,¡± I informed the driver. Leaning back, I closed my eyes and exhaled. By the time we got to the bridge, there was a red Ferrari parked there. I got down, walked to it, and knocked on the window; it rolled down and revealed Hazel dressed in a ck dress and sunsses. ¡°He¡¯s noting with us.¡± She mused, jerking her chin towards my parked car. ¡°Only those very close to me are aware of that passageway, and I want to keep it that way.¡± That¡¯s not a problem. Nodding, I walked back to my car and instructed the driver to leave. I watched him drive away before getting into Hazel¡¯s Ferrari. ¡°Nice car.¡± Iplimented, fastening my seatbelt. She nced at me, no doubt surprised at how calm I looked and sounded now, aplete contrast to how I sounded on the phone earlier. ¡°Thanks.¡± She grunted, the car purring as she turned it on. She took a left town, driving down a rural path before disappearing down a tunnel covered with grasses. We rode in silence until she pulled over at her parking lot, parking next to one of her numerous sleek cars. I got down and admired her cars. ¡°What a collection you have here,¡± Rounding the car, she joined me and stared at the car too. ¡°Thank you.¡± She gestured towards the elevator. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my office and have that conversation, and if things should end well, you¡¯ll meet Daisy.¡± ¡°If things should end well?¡± Why is she trying to pi ss me off? Licking my lips roughly, I followed her gesture and headed for the elevator quietly. If I should say something, I might end up saying something that we both might regret. The moment we stepped into the house, I finally understood why she never wanted me in her house. Artworks of her while she was pregnant and that of Daisy were sca ttered all over her hallway. I stopped right in front of the artwork that is now my favorite. An artwork of her and Daisy on a bed. She looks so small. ¡°How old is she here?¡± ¡°Two days old,¡± Hazel responded. ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to get a picture of her when she was born because I faced someplications and wasn¡¯t conscious to take the picture.¡± ¡°Complication?¡± I whispered, averting my gaze to her. ¡°You facedplications after childbirth?¡± I stared at her, unable to move my gaze from her face. I could have lost her¡­ I could have lost her forever. She waved me off. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The most important thing is that I¡¯m fine now and so is the baby.¡± Grabbing my hand, She led me away from the hallway into her office. ¡°Do you want a drink or something?¡± The more I am in her personal space, the more I¡¯m proud of the woman she became; I am proud of the growth in her life; she hase a long way from the Hazel I met in my office hallway. ¡°Whiskey please.¡± She walked over to the mini bar and grabbed a whiskey and two sses. She filled both sses before settling down. ¡°I know you have a lot of questions Ravel.¡± Yeah, I do. ¡°When did you find out you were pregnant.¡± It would be quite understandable if she found out about the baby after our divorce but didn¡¯t know how toe tell me. ¡°I found out the day I caught you in bed with Jane.¡± She revealed and I winced, the feeling of shame consuming me. ¡°I went to your office that day to tell you about it but I was told you never showed up, I went to your mum¡¯s and Elenor told me you went home, that was when I came home to that unexpected sight.¡± Unable to hold her gaze out of guilt, I stared at my feet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Hazel, I¡¯m really sorry about some decisions I made in life, and hurting you was one of them.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She whispered, the pain in her voice demanding my attention. ¡°I¡¯d been asking myself what really went wrong. One night we were happy, and the other You were giving me divorce papers.¡± I really want to tell her the truth, to tell her what happened but I can¡¯t, not when I don¡¯t have a solutionThis is from N?velDrama.Org. yet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her jaw clenched. ¡°Stop apologizing, you¡¯ve already done that more than a million times. I want to know what happened!¡± She demanded, ¡°How did you end up falling out of love with me?!¡± Blinking rapidly, I licked my lips. ¡°This isn¡¯t about us Hazel, this is about our daughter Daisy and the fact that you hid her from me.¡± ¡°You deserved it.¡± She spat, ¡°all of you did.¡± ¡°What?¡± I scoffed out, bewildered. ¡°Here I was, trying everything humanly possible to fix our broken rtionship and you behaved like you wanted the same too, but little did I know that you lied to me in the face and f ucking lied to me all this time!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you!¡± She quickly asserted, ¡°I just didn¡¯t mention it!¡± All the emotions came crashing down and even to my surprise, I found myself crying. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it Hazel? I missed everything in my daughter¡¯s life. I missed her birth, her first words, her first step, her first everything and it¡¯s all my f ucking fault!¡± My shoulders shook as uncontroble tears kept rolling. ¡°My daughter doesn¡¯t even know who I am Hazel.¡± Her eyes turned ssy as she watched me cry. Getting off her seat, she joined me on my sofa and pulled me down to her chest. ¡°I should have told you Ravel¡­ I should have and I apologize for not telling you.¡± My shaking body froze when a soft voice filled the room. ¡°Mamaa¡­¡± Hazel looked up at her desk. She sniffed, wiping away her tears. ¡°That¡¯s Daisy, she¡¯s awake.¡± She smiled weakly, ¡°Do to meet her?¡± you want No. I¡¯m not worthy to meet her now. I¡¯m emotionally unstable and I came empty-handed. Standing to my feet, I grabbed my jacket. ¡°Maybe some other time. I just can¡¯t meet her now.¡± Exhaling, I walked over and pulled her into a hug. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the press, I¡¯m going to control them.¡± She nodded. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to meet Daisy?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I affirmed, giving her a peck, ¡°some other time.¡± I need to clear my head a little bit and get rid of this hurt before it consumes me. ¡°I¡¯ll see youter Hazel.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you too Ravel.¡± I held her gaze, pinning her with it. ¡°I love you, Hazel.¡± Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 HAZEL FOUR YEARS AGO Elenor is as excited as I am for the bridal shower. I don¡¯t have any friends aside from Elenor, so we¡¯ll be using her friends instead. I don¡¯t mind though, as long as I¡¯ll be having fun; and trust me, we will be having fun because Elenor¡¯s friends are just as crazy as she is. I already moved my stuff to the penthouse Ravel rented out for the bridal shower and wedding preparation. Elenor and her friends will be joining me tomorrow for the bridal shower. I was still unpacking when the doorbell rang. Knowing Adam would go get it, I continued unpacking my suitcase. A few minutester, someone knocked on the door of my bedroom. I walked over to the door and opened it, revealing Adam. ¡°Mrs. Anne is here to see you.¡± He informed me. ¡°She is currently in the living room.¡± I rolled my eyes. How did she even know I was staying here? ¡°I¡¯ll be with her shortly.¡± Adam nodded before walking away. I stepped back into my room and grabbed my phone before heading for the living room. The moment Anne saw me, she stood up with a warm smile on her lips, a warm smile that surprised me. ¡°Hazel,¡± she called out softly, ¡°thank you for agreeing to see me.¡± Okay¡­ what the heck is happening? Did she hit her head somewhere or something? I offered her a slight smile, still trying to figure out what was going on. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you too.¡± And I hope I don¡¯t regret it. ¡°To what do I owe this visit from you?¡± Sitting down, she crossed her legs and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m here to apologize.¡± My slightly arched brows must have conveyed my surprise because she chuckled. ¡°I know this is shocking, but I had a chat with my son yesterday, and I think it¡¯s right to let him do what he wants to do.¡± ¡°To do what He wants to do,¡± I repeated. Why is she making it sound like he is taking a rebellious action and she¡¯s just letting him do it so he can see the repercussions himself? N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°I¡¯m not great with apologies Hazel, so this mighte out weird, but all I want to say is that I¡¯m going to support my son the best way I can.¡± I guess that¡¯s the best she can offer at the moment. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just d that we were able to resolve things between us before the wedding.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She stood up and stretched out her hands. ¡°Can I get a hug from you?¡± Why not. Standing too, I walked over to her and wrapped my hands around her. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to call you mum.¡± I earnestly wanted a mother figure in my life. She only chuckled in response before pulling away. ¡°I overheard Elenor nning your bridal shower. Is it okay if Ie around?¡± I blinked rapidly at her request. ¡°I¡¯ll bring a gift, I promise.¡± I don¡¯t n on doing anything wild like inviting male strippers, so I don¡¯t see why not. ¡°Sure, you can.¡± I consented. ¡°Don¡¯t just forget the gift.¡± We bothughed at the joke. The doorbell rang, stealing both our attention. ¡°Are you expecting someone?¡± Anne asked me. I nodded, moving towards the door. ¡°That must either be my wedding gown; I¡¯m having it delivered today, or that¡¯s Elenor at the door.¡± I opened the door and true enough, it was my designer with some delivery men carrying arge box. Grinning widely, I ushered them in. Kate bowed slightly at Anne. ¡°A lovely evening Mrs. Southwark.¡± Anne offered her a small smile in response. Excusing Chapter 76 myself, I directed the men carrying the box to one of the empty rooms which will only upy my wedding gown. When Kate was certain that everything was perfect, she kindly took her leave with her men closely behind. I only just closed the door when Anne grabbed her purse. ¡°I should be on my way too.¡± Oh¡­ ¡°Okay, let me walk you to the elevator.¡± I walked her to the elevator where we ran into Elenor who just stepped out of the elevator. She eyed her mother suspiciously. ¡°What are you doing here mum?¡± She nced at me and I shook my head, silently telling her to pipe down her aggression. ¡°Can¡¯t I stop by to see my daughter-inw?¡± She asked Elenor whilst stepping into the elevator. ¡°Your daughter-inw?¡± Elenor scoffed out. ¡°Say that to someone who doesn¡¯t know you.¡± Anne simply shrugged and waved me goodbye as the elevator door closed. Elenor watched silently until the elevator began its descent. ¡°What exactly was my mum doing here?¡± She asked, following closely behind me as I walked back to the penthouse. ¡°She came to apologize.¡± I filled in. Elenor¡¯s jaw dropped. Chortling, I plopped down on the sofa. ¡°Surprised right? I was more shocked than you when she apologized.¡± ¡°My mother apologized?¡± Elenor asked with disbelief and I nodded in response. ¡°And you believed her?¡± I shrugged. ¡°She looked sincere, so I don¡¯t see why not.¡± There is no harm in believing her, is there? ¡°I guess Ravel¡¯s happiness matters to her after all.¡± ¡°That woman is my mother,¡± She pointed out, ¡°And I¡¯m going to give you one advice. Do not fall for that charade or drama she performed here. She¡¯s Up to no good, that I can assure you.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t see the sincerity in her eyes,¡± I argued, defending Anne. ¡°Sincerity? In her eyes?¡± She scoffed. ¡°Whatever you saw in her eyes isn¡¯t definitely sincerity, rather it is what she wants you to see.¡± ¡°What could she possibly do?¡± This shouldn¡¯t be such a big deal. ¡°The wedding is in the next two days, nothing will go wrong.¡± ¡°Of course, nothing will go wrong.¡± She concurred, ¡°But you should be careful of Anne, don¡¯t take her words for it.¡± I¡¯ll keep that in mind. ¡°Well, she¡¯sing for the bridal shower.¡± Elenor¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°She¡¯s what now?¡± ¡°She¡¯sing for the bridal shower,¡± I repeated. Elenor face palmed herself. ¡°F uck me! I bet she wants to drug our as ses so we won¡¯t make it to the church on time.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Come on Elenor, she¡¯s not that bad.¡± She red at me. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s worse than that. My mother is the worst of its kind. She¡¯s willing to do anything to get what she wants.¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 HAZEL FOUR YEARS AGO WEDDING DAY Adding extra words, extensively rewrite the material provided using better narratives. The bridal shower was so much fun. Elenor and her friends really did make it memorable for me. The gifts, the music, the fun, everything was just to my liking. Anne did show up with the gift she promised and surprisingly also came along with extra bag containing her dress for the wedding. When Elenor asked her about it, she said she¡¯ll be dressing from the penthouse to the cathedral. Personally, I didn¡¯t see anything wrong with that, but Elenor smelt conspiracy. Anne tried her best to party with us, to have fun with the girls and blend in, but she eventually grew tired and tired early to bed. As I sat in the midst of my makeup session, Elenor¡¯s voice echoed from the doorway, calling my name. I motioned to the makeup artist to pause for a moment, turning my attention to Elenor. ¡°Hazel,¡± she called out, ¡°the photographer would like to take a picture of the wedding gown. Should I bring it into this room, or would you prefer he does it in the other room?¡± Realizing that I wasn¡¯t fully dressed yet, I quickly replied, ¡°I think it¡¯s best if he takes the picture in the other room.¡± I adjusted my posture, allowing the makeup artist to continue her work without interruption. ¡°Alright,¡± Elenor acknowledged, softly closing the door behind her as she departed. However, it was a mere matter of minutes before she returned to the room, her expression now filled with panic, adding an unexpected twist to the day. The makeup artist was the first to notice Elenor¡¯s distress, and with genuine concern, she inquired, ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Her question drew my attention away from the makeup artist¡¯s final touches, directing my gaze toward Elenor. When Elenor remained unresponsive to the query, I withdrew from the makeup artist¡¯s chair, trying my best to quell any thoughts of impending disaster. After all, it was my wedding day, and optimism should have been the order of the day. ¡°Elenor?¡± I stood up gradually, attempting to keep my voice steady as I pressed for answers. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Elenor cleared her throat nervously, her eyes welling up with tears. ¡°I, uh¡­ I went into the room where the wedding gown was stored for the photographer, but what I found in there was nothing short of a disaster.¡± My heart raced at her words. ¡°Nothing short of a what?¡± I demanded, my apprehension growing by the second. This was my wedding day, and thest thing I needed was an unforeseen catastrophe. ¡°What the heck are you saying Elenor?¡± The makeup artist intervened firmly, clearing her throat as she addressed the situation. ¡°I strongly suggest you share what¡¯s wrong so we can address it swiftly and continue with the makeup. Time is running out.¡± Elenor¡¯s response was a forceful one. ¡°Bring it in!¡± she eximed, prompting the door to swing open, revealing three of her friends carrying in what should have been my pristine wedding gown. However, it had been reduced to a chaotic jumble of pieces. My heart sank. ¡°It was on the floor when I entered the room,¡± Elenor exined, her voice heavy with distress, ¡°with the pieces all over the ce.¡± My eyes darted around the room, my voice trembling as I inquired, ¡°With the pieces sca ttered where?¡± Panic threatened to undo my carefully applied makeup as I stumbled over to the ruined wedding dress, which nowy forlorn on the bed. Emotions swirled inside me, and tears began to roll down my cheeks, already smudging my makeup. My gaze shifted tearfully between everyone in the room, and I couldn¡¯t contain my anguish any longer. ¡°Which of you,¡± I choked out, anger and despair mingling in my voice, ¡°did this?!¡± Elenor¡¯s voice was the first to break through the tension. ¡°Hazel, please, I need you to stay calm. Identifying who¡¯s responsible for this can wait until after the wedding. Right now, we must focus on finding a recement.¡± As we discussed the pressing matter, the door swung open again, and Anne entered the room, surprisingly d in a white knee-length dress. Who the heck wears white to a wedding? I couldn¡¯t help but whisper in disbelief, ¡°Did you do this, Anne? Did you ruin my wedding dress?¡± Anne¡¯s expression darkened, and she warned me in a hushed tone, ¡°Be careful with your usations, Hazel. We have an audience.¡± Elenor scoffed at Anne¡¯s response, her anger evident. ¡°Adam, please escort everyone else out of this room,¡± she instructed, swiftly clearing the room of any potential eavesdroppers, leaving just the three of us inside. Elenor didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Anne, did you have a hand in this?¡± she demanded. Anne shot back, her tone defensive, ¡°You think I¡¯m capable of such a thing?¡± Elenor¡¯s usation was bold and direct. ¡°I know you did, Mum,¡± she insisted, her frustration evident. ¡°You¡¯re wearing a white dress, a tant sign that you still haven¡¯t approved of this wedding. Who wears white to a wedding that isn¡¯t theirs?¡± Just as tensions peaked, the door swung open once more, and Ravel stormed into the room, apanied by Raymond. I exchanged a quick nce with Elenor. ¡°I called him here. Ravel always knows what to do.¡± Ravel, disregarding everyone else, came straight to me and gently cupped my cheeks, wiping away my tears. Concern etched across his face, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± However, before I could respond, his expression changed to one of shock. ¡°What the heck?¡± He moved past me, heading straight for the ruined gown. ¡°What on earth happened here?¡± ¡°We found it like this just a few minutes ago,¡± Elenor exined, her voice filled with frustration. Ravel returned to my side, his focus unwavering. ¡°Baby, I¡¯m going to need the number of your dressmaker.¡± Still in shock and pain, I reached for my phone, retrieved the number, and handed it over to him, desperate for a solution to this wedding day crisis. Ravel dialed the number and held the phone to his ear, identifying himself as he spoke. ¡°This is Ravel Southwark,¡± he said, his voice tense, his other hand gently rubbing my shoulder in aforting gesture. ¡°You were the one who created my wife¡¯s dress, so I presume you have her measurements.¡± He paused briefly, listening intently to the response on the other end of the line. ¡°If you can procure a replica of this dress from your store, another store, or anything simr within two hours, I won¡¯t just write you a nk check; I¡¯ll also arrange for an all-expenses-paid publicity campaign for your business.¡± Another moment of silence followed as he awaited her reply. ¡°You have precisely two hours,¡± he stated firmly before ending the call. Then, he tenderly wiped away the tears on my cheeks. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go freshen up your makeup while we wait for the dress?¡± I sniffed, still overwhelmed with anxiety. ¡°And what if it doesn¡¯t arrive in time?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but voice my fears, wedding day hanging in the bnce. my He smiled. ¡°It will. You are the only one who isn¡¯t moved by an open cheque.¡± He gave Raymond a nod to go fetch the makeup artist. ¡°I think mum did this.¡± Elenor blurted out. I watched Ravel¡¯s fist clench as he red at his mother. ¡°Did you do this?¡± He growled, taking a menacing step towards her. ¡°Did you ruin my wife¡¯s wedding dress?¡± Something in Ravel¡¯s tone made her incapable of lying. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but try my luck onest time son.¡± ¡°Try your luck?¡± Elenor asked with a scoff. ¡°Just two days ago, you begged for her forgiveness, telling her that you¡¯ve epted the marriage, andst night, you were all smiley during the bridal shower. How vile can you be mum?!¡± ¡°Vile?!¡± She yelled, ¡°You think I¡¯m going to let my son marry a drug addict?!¡± I froze and Ravel¡¯s anger heightened. ¡°I dare you to repeat that.¡± He dared her, his jaw as tight as a granite. ¡°I dare you to call my wife a drug addict again.¡± 2/3 ¡°Stop calling her your wife,¡± she retorted. ¡°You¡¯re not married to her.¡± ¡°Mum! Please stop!¡± Elenor scolded. ¡°Calling Hazel a drug addict is going too far!¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m making it up?!¡± Anne retorted. ¡°I looked into her past and found out that she abused drugs with her ex- boyfriend.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Elenor nced at me briefly before returning her gaze to Anne. ¡°You said she abused, mom, past tense; that makes her an ex-drug addict. Those sh it are in her past, why dig it up?¡± The door opened and Raymond walked in with Marsha, my makeup artist. Ravel unclenched his fist. ¡°Raymond, escort Mrs. Anne out of this building and make sure she isn¡¯t anywhere close to the wedding and reception venue.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kicking me out!¡± She yelled angrily. ¡°Ravel,¡± I called out softly, pinning Anne with my gaze. ¡°I want her there. I want her to watch me get married to you. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 RAVEL PRESENT TIME I found myselfpelled to make the journey back to New York, prompted by the abrupt departure I made to Seattle, which left numerous matters neglected in my wake. My intention is to diligently attend to these matters here in New York, meticulously arranging my schedule for the entirety of the uing week, with the primary goal of reuniting with my daughter and cherishing invaluable moments with her. To attain this extended period of leisure and quality bonding, I¡¯vemitted myself wholeheartedly to an unrelenting work ethic, dedicating countless hours both day and night. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to assert that I¡¯ve pushed myself to the limit, surpassing the boundaries of mere exhaustion. With my seventh cup of coffee in hand, I made my way into the dining room,ptop in tow, to tackle the night¡¯s work. The home office had remained untouched throughout the day due to an ongoing fumigation process, aimed at eradicating pesky wood termites. As I immersed myself in my tasks, the sudden and forceful intrusion of the front door went unnoticed. My confidence in my security measures assured me that no unwee guest could breach my home. However, my certainty was quickly shattered by the piercing scream of my name, uttered by June. It seemed that an unwanted presence had indeed infiltrated my sanctuary. Ignoring her frantic shouts, I focused on her footsteps, which echoed as she angrily ascended the staircase in search of me. When her pursuit led to fruitless results, she descended once more, her tone now more exasperated. ¡°I know you¡¯re here, Ravel! Your car is in the garage, for heaven¡¯s sake!¡± With a deliberate click, I hit the send button on my email page, then leaned back in my chair, propping both elbows on the table as I patiently awaited her arrival. It wasn¡¯t long before she made her presence known. ¡°I went to great lengths to ensure you had the holiday I promised you with your friends,¡± I remarkedN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Reaching for her phone, I swiftly skimmed through the headlines detailing Hazel¡¯s pregnancy. Suppressing my exasperation toward June, I ced the phone back on the table. ¡°Do you require English lessons as well?¡± I quipped, my sarcasm only serving to further enrage her. ¡°After all, English is your mother tongue, and you should be more than capable of reading andprehending it.¡± A scoff escaped her lips. ¡°That¡¯s not funny, Ravel.¡± I shifted my shoulder with indifference, reclining in my chair. ¡°I wasn¡¯t attempting humor,¡± I retorted, my frustration mounting as I realized the precious time I was wasting on this ordeal. Shouldn¡¯t I be working right now instead of entertaining this madness? ¡°Is there something specific you want to discuss, June?¡± She bit her lip, deliberating for a moment before yanking out one of the dining chairs, dropping onto it with a resounding thud as she crossed her arms. ¡°What do you intend to do about this situation?¡± she finally inquired. I tilted my head, incredulous. ¡°You mean, what do I n to do about the fact that I have a daughter?¡± I asked her, just to confirm the absurdity of her question. She had the audacity to nod. ¡°Well,¡± I began, fully aware that my response wouldn¡¯t align with her expectations, ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to update my will.¡± ¡°Update your will?¡± She furrowed her brow. ¡°Of course you should. She¡¯s your daughter and has a right to a share of your inheritance.¡± For the first time, her words resonated with reason. However, June continued, her inquiry taking an unexpected turn. ¡°All I¡¯m asking is, I hope this isn¡¯t some excuse to rekindle things with Hazel.¡± It had always been Hazel, a fact I was sure June was well aware of. The presence of our wedding picture on disy must have conveyed that I had no intentions of letting Hazel go. ¡°I hope you this isn¡¯t some ploy to extract a marriage promise from me.¡± Her frustration reached a breaking point, and she muttered curses under her breath, her agitation evident. ¡°Why do you always make it so difficult to give a straight answer, Ravel?¡± I blinked at her slowly, a sly smile gradually spreading across my lips. ¡°I don¡¯t need an excuse to return to Hazel,¡± I admitted nonchntly. Her eyes narrowed in response. ¡°Rose is just an unexpected bonus.¡± *F*** you!¡± June erupted, her anger causing the veins in her neck to bulge. ¡°F*** you, Ravel! You and your da mn family!¡± Yet, her vitriol failed to provoke any visible reaction from me; I maintained an air of indifference. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been using me all this time?¡± she spat out, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and betrayal. I calmly pointed out, ¡°It was a mutual exploitation, June. When you agreed to share my bed, I never professed love to you. Don¡¯t try to paint it as if you joined in on this because of some deration of love from me.¡± Her lips quivered as anger and frustration surged through her. ¡°Why did you think I went along with this?!¡± She shouted, her voice echoing through the room. ¡°Why do you think I betrayed my friend?! Why did I suppress my conscience and my principles to be with you?!¡± With a sigh, I raised my left palm, beginning to list my reasons. ¡°I can think of quite a few,¡± I said, lowering one finger with each point I made. ¡°Greed, envy,¡± another finger down, ¡°unbridled ambition, a taste for the materialistic lifestyle¡­ Shall I continue? I have time.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. ¡°You only agreed to this because you wanted a taste of the riches and fame, and I gave you that in abundance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, Ravel!¡± She vehemently countered, her voice filled with desperation. ¡°You¡¯re saying this to ease your conscience! It¡¯s a lie! I truly love you, and you know it!¡± I tilted my head slightly, adopting a contemtive expression. ¡°Do I?¡± I mused aloud, making her nervously lick her lips in response. ¡°Bringing your boyfriend along on a vacation that I financed doesn¡¯t exactly scream ¡®lovenguage,¡± I continued, my tone cool andposed. Her eyes widened, and she stammered, ¡°You know about-¡± ¡°Pascal? Your boyfriend?¡± I interjected, my patience wearing thin. The fact that she appeared surprised that I was privy to this information irritated me deeply. What did she take me for? A fool? ¡°I was well aware of your pre-existing rtionship before that night,¡± I continued, my voice unwavering, ¡°I also know you never ended things with him after that night. Moreover, it¡¯s a fact that many of those ¡®friends¡¯ trips you¡¯ve been going on weren¡¯t exclusively with your friends. Some of them were intimate getaways with him, and I intentionally footed the bill, knowing that all you truly desired was to be f ucked on a five star bedsheet.¡± Her face paled as my words sank in, ¡°If you were close to me right now, I¡¯d have pped you hard across the cheek,¡± she retorted defiantly. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her boldness. ¡°I¡¯d love to see you try,¡± I replied, my amusement evident. With that, I turned my attention back to myptop, signaling my intent to return to work. ¡°Honestly, June, we could call this a silent mutual agreement,¡± I began, my tone more serious. ¡°I don¡¯t want this arrangement to end just yet, as I haven¡¯t achieved all that I aim to. If you¡¯re willing to keep a low profile and continue these vacations with your boyfriend, I¡¯ll ensure you¡¯re well taken care of once it¡¯s all over.¡± She leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m only with Pascal because you won¡¯t have a sex with me,¡± she confessed. ¡°I¡¯m a woman, Ravel, and sometimes, I need to feel desired too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong June, I¡¯m not against whatever you have going on with your boyfriend.¡± 2/3 She wiped her tears. ¡°You¡¯re only pretending not to care.¡± She argued. Astonished by her false assessment, I blinked up at her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll end things with Pascal.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that on my ount.¡± I¡¯m never sinking my di ck in her, with or without Pascal. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll like to go back to work. I actually have a lot on my desk.¡± Nodding, she stood up her feet and picked up her tablet. ¡°I want us to work Ravel, and I¡¯ll do everything within my power to make sure it happens.¡± With that, she walked out of the dining room. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 JUNE PRESENT TIME This is crazy. I confronted Ravel about the news of the baby, only because I wanted to know what his n was about the news. Things did not go as nned for me at all. This wasn¡¯t what I envisioned. When I heard he want to Seattle and returned, I expected him to hiss at the mention of Hazel¡¯s name, but he seemed rather comfortable discussing her, if not happier. Yes, he found out about pascal, but I wouldn¡¯t have confined my rtionship with pascal if Ravel didn¡¯t treat me like I¡¯m one of his home furniture that he has to dust and keep clean. I am a woman, and a woman has needs that has to be fulfilled, needs order than money and that is where Pascal fits in. Ravel is the end game for me, and I¡¯m not going to stop at nothing until I have Southwark as myst name. Pulling over at Anne¡¯s parking lot, I got down and headed for front door only to be stopped by her security. Had it been any other day, I wouldn¡¯t have minded that he¡¯s doing his job, but today, I am pis sed; so f ucking pis sed that if I had a gun, I would have considered shooting. ¡°Mrs. Southwark knows I¡¯ming,¡± I spat, still ring at him, ¡°now get out of my face.¡± Ignoring my outburst, he spoke into his mic, confirming my im before pushing the door open to grant me entrance into the house. ¡°Be rest assured that if Anne ever asks me to make a request, getting you fired will be one of them.¡± I spat. He stared at me with a stoic expression, unfazed by my threat. Maybe to him, it holds no water; one of the reason why I will definitely add more value and respect to my name by getting the Southwark name added to mine. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. When I walked into the living room, one of her staffs led me up to her room. Anne was out at the balcony facing the garden with a cup of coffee on her right hand and aptop on her thigh. She looked up as I stepped into the balcony. ¡°What makes you think you have unlimited ess to my house?¡± Of course she is going to be rude about it. It runs in their godd amn blood vessels. ¡°Because despite our obvious dislike for each other, we have a mutual understanding towards a particr person.¡± Closing theptop, she gave me her undivided attention. ¡°And what could that be?¡± Without waiting for her to offer, I pulled out the other chair and sat down, mimicking her by crossing both legs. ¡°You agreed to help me make sure Ravel doesn¡¯t end up Hazel.¡± She scoffed. ¡°And yet they look like they are getting more closer and bonded.¡± She sipped her coffee. ¡°What do you want this time?¡± Her cold eyes regarded me. ¡°I¡¯m sure you already have a n in mind, although I doubt it will work out. The universe seems to be in support of their silly feelings towards each other.¡± I frowned, my fist clenching with anger. ¡°What is that suppose to mean?¡± Tilting he head, she stared at me, almost amused. ¡°They finally got divorced, something that could have severed whatever connection they have, but then Hazel fell pregnant. They¡¯ve been trying for a child all these while and it never happened then suddenly when they are ready to go on their separate ways, the baby came. Hazel keeps it a secret all these while and the moment Ravel showed little interest in her, the news about the baby was published all over the inte.¡± I winced. ¡°That was me.¡± It is so embarrassing to admit to that. Anne¡¯s brows arched. ¡°What was you?¡± The intensity of her gaze made me look away. Suddenly, she released a chuckle. ¡°You leaked the news about the baby?¡± I bit my lower lips, already regretting my decision to do that. ¡°It seemed like a very good idea to me then, so I did it.¡± Anne continued to stare at me in a manner that will make even men nervous. ¡°It was a good idea for me and my son because you made the existence of a Southwark blood to us known, but for you and what you desire, I do not see how that was a good idea.¡± Her fingers intertwined. ¡°How did you even find out about the little girl?¡± Chapter 79 ¡°Ravel hosted a birthday party for Hazel here in New York.¡± I revealed and Anne¡¯s brows jumped to her hairline. ¡°I found out about it and was furious, so I headed to the venue of the party to confront him and possibly crash the party, but then I overheard Elenor and Hazel arguing about the little girl, just outside the penthouse. Apparently Elenor knows about the baby and was persuading Hazel to tell Ravel ASAP¡± Anne nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I get the picture now.¡± My nose crinkled at her cryptic words. ¡°You figured Hazel was going to tell Ravel eventually, but you wanted him to hear it elsewhere so he will be furious at Hazel for keeping such big secret from him.¡± I guess my n backfired. ¡°Can you believe he is nning on taking some days off work just to go to Seattle and spend time with Hazel and her daughter.¡± ¡°His daughter.¡± She corrected and I nearly scoffed, ¡°Did he tell you that he¡¯s going on a trip to Seattle?¡± I shook my head and she red. ¡°Then how did you find out?¡± She hissed, ¡°are you merely speaking base on spection?¡± ¡°I¡¯m stating fact.¡± I argued, defending myself. ¡°And don¡¯t ask me how I found out, I have my sources.¡± ¡°You had better not be spying on my son.¡± She spat. ¡°I¡¯ll end you faster than you can imagine if you do that.¡± Biting my inner cheek to stop myself from saying my thought out aloud, I focused on the major reason I¡¯m here. ¡°Surely, Ravel feels angry towards Hazel for hiding his child, even if the anger is just one percent, I want to stretch it into something bigger.¡± ¡°And you¡¯reing to me because?¡± ¡°Because I need your help.¡± I stated bluntly, since she has decided to pretend not to know the real reason I¡¯m here. ¡°I want you to help me.¡± She stared at my unblinkingly. ¡°I¡¯m only doing this because I do not want that woman raising my grandchild.¡± I¡¯m sure Hazel doesn¡¯t want her raising her daughter too, so the feeling is mutual. ¡°Let¡¯s take away her means of livelihood.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°You want to close down her art gallery?¡± This woman is pure evil. ¡°If she¡¯s busy trying to save the gallery, she¡¯s going to be too busy for Ravel.¡± I¡¯ll never underestimate this woman. ¡°You want to close down her art gallery just so she gets too busy?¡± If we all weren¡¯t trying to survive, I would have actually pitied her. ¡°I¡¯m doing it to create the rift between her and Ravel. Isn¡¯t that what you wanted?¡± She questioned and I nodded in response. ¡°You have two roles to y in this. First, I need a contact of one of her art suppliers,¡± ¡°And how do you suppose I get that?¡± I interjected. ¡°I don¡¯t care, you¡¯ll get me the number, and while I work my magic, you¡¯re going to make Hazel and the rest of her team believe that Ravel is the one sabotaging her business.¡± Perfect! After everything Ravel has done to her in the past, her walls will go up high after Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 RAVEL FOUR YEARS AGO Marrying Hazel has unquestionably been the most incredible choice I¡¯ve ever made. With each passing day, my affection for her deepens, as if it¡¯s an eternal wellspring that knows no bounds. It¡¯s astounding to think that Anne ever believed she could dissuade me from tying the knot with Hazel, or that she could thwart our union in any way. In the quiet stillness of our bedroom, the door leading to the bathroom swung open, revealing Hazel cloaked in the gentle embrace of silk nightwear. I couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by her ethereal presence. Mesmerized, I fixed my gaze upon her as she gracefully made her way to our bed, With an alluring smile, she joined me, her eyes sparkling with a yful curiosity. ¡°How much longer do you n to keep your gaze locked on me?¡± she inquired, her voice melodious. With a yful smirk, I shut myptop and ced it gently on the bedside drawer. ¡°I n to keep admiring you and gazing into your eyes for as long as my vision holds out,¡± I dered, a mischievous glint in my eyes. Her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of crimson in response. Chuckling at her adorable embarrassment, I reached out and drew her close into theforting embrace of my arm. Hazel nestled her head in the crook of my neck, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile at the sweet intimacy between us. Her warm breath tickled my skin as she murmured, ¡°I love how you smell.¡± My hand, driven by an instinctive need to be close to her, wrapped around her waist and traced delicate circles. ¡°Well, I teased, ¡°it takes a million-dor perfume to smell this good.¡± Hazel¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes widening with curiosity. ¡°Figuratively or literally?¡± she inquired, her voiceced with a hint of amusement and intrigue. A smug smirk yed on my lips as I confidently replied, ¡°Literally.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but exude an air of pride as I revealed the extravagant price tag attached to the DKNY Golden Delicious perfume. It had started as a gift, but over time, I had be utterly enamored with its scent and had continued to useN?velDrama.Org exclusive content. it religiously. Hazel, utterly taken aback, sank down onto a nearby chair, her eyes blinking rapidly in disbelief. ¡°That perfume in the closet cost a million dors?¡± she asked, her toneced with incredulity. I simply nodded in confirmation. ¡°Da mn!¡± she eximed, unable to contain her shock. ¡°If I had known it was worth that much, I wouldn¡¯t have been so careless with it.¡± Intrigued by her confession, I sat up, drawing closer to her and nting a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. ¡°What did you do with my perfume, Hazel?¡± Hazel wore a sheepish smile as she confessed, ¡°Well, I might have used it on the artificial daisies in the dining room.¡± My eyebrows shot up in surprise, and I struggled to contain theughter bubbling up inside me. She continued, ¡°The flowers didn¡¯t have any scent at all because they weren¡¯t real, so I decided to use your perfume.¡± I couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer;ughter erupted from deep within me, a hearty, rumbling sound. Moments like these made her irresistibly endearing. Amused by her actions, I teased, ¡°What happened to your perfume?¡± Her lips formed a yful pout as she responded, ¡°Yours smells better.¡± With a fond shake of my head, I leaned in and nted a sweet kiss on her cheek. ¡°Is that so?¡± I mused. ¡°My wife is the only one who wouldfortably use a million-dor perfume on artificial flowers just to make them smell nice.¡± She giggled in response, finding my observation utterly amusing. My phone buzzed on the bed, and Hazel reached out to help me retrieve it. My attention, however, remained captivated by the enticing curve of her exposed breast through one of the unbuttoned openings of her nightwear. Lost in my reverie, I ignored the call, uninterested in who the caller might be. ¡°You should answer the call,¡± Hazel gently reminded me. ¡°It¡¯s your mom on the line.¡± A surge of surprise coursed through me. Anne? Why on earth was she calling me? I had vowed never to speak to her again after the stunt she had pulled on my wedding day. Reluctantly, I took the phone from Hazel¡¯s hand and swiftly ended the call, tossing the phone carelessly onto the bed. To my dismay, it immediately started ringing again. Hazel cast a resigned nce at the persistent device and sighed. ¡°You should pick it up, Rav,¡± she urged, her tone carrying a hint of concern. ¡°I will do no such thing,¡± I dered with determination, my head nestled on Hazel¡¯s neck as I peppered her with soft kisses. The persistent ringing of the phone went ignored until Hazel, seemingly taking matters into her own hands, reached for it and swiped to ept the call. I shot her a disapproving re. Annoyed, I hissed, ¡°What the heck was that for?¡± I felt a touch of frustration that she had disregarded my clear wish not to speak to Anne. Hazel calmly replied, ¡°Let¡¯s hear what she has to say, Rav,¡± cing the phone in my hand. I couldn¡¯t resist her persuasive influence, so I reluctantly put the call on speaker mode and ced it between us. ¡°What do you want, Anne?¡± I inquired, my irritation evident. We had only been married for three months, and we were still basking in the honeymoon stage. Late-night calls were far from appreciated. ¡°Are you still angry with me, son?¡± Anne¡¯s voice carried a hint of apprehension. Hazel¡¯s gentle touch on my beard served as a reminder to maintain civility. I responded tersely, ¡°I¡¯m not just angry with you, Anne. I¡¯ve given up on you.¡± It was a blunt truth, one I hade to ept. Anne winced, her remorse palpable. ¡°How many times do I have to apologize to you, Ravel?¡± She sighed, a tinge of desperation in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing for you.¡± Her apologies had lost their significance to me. This wasn¡¯t the first time she had sought forgiveness, and I had no doubt it wouldn¡¯t be thest. With a bored sigh, I asked, ¡°What do you want, Anne?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my birthday on Friday,¡± she mentioned, a fact I was already aware of. While I had never forgotten her birthday before, her consistently unpleasant demeanor had sometimes led me to simply ignore it. I had a feeling this month wouldn¡¯t be an exception. ¡°And I want you toe,¡± she added, a request that hung in the air, awaiting my response. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen,¡± I responded firmly, maintaining my resolve. Hazel shot me a concerned frown, clearly worried about the tension in the conversation. ¡°Give Elenor a call, if she¡¯s willing to answer, and tell her about your birthday ns. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll show up.¡± I knew Elenor had a soft spot for Anne. Anne¡¯s voice quivered as she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m literally begging you, son. I miss having my family together under the same roof, and you know it¡¯s also your father¡¯s death anniversary. I need you both around me.¡± But emotional ckmail wasn¡¯t going to sway me. I remained resolute. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen, Anne. I already have ns with my wife for Friday, and I¡¯m not going to cancel them for you. You haven¡¯t earned that privilege so far.¡± Anne persisted, ¡°You can bring her along. I owe her an apology.¡± Her suggestion hung in the air, and I nced at Hazel, who nodded in encouragement, signaling that I should consider attending her birthday dinner. ¡°Not just an apology,¡± I reiterated firmly. ¡°A sincere apology.¡± Anne nodded in agreement, her voice softening as she assured, ¡°Yes, I will offer a sincere apology to her.¡± Hazel, sensing my reluctance to fullymit, leaned forward and nted a tender kiss on my lips. With a sigh, I decided to reconsider. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Hazel and see if she wants to attend. If she¡¯sing, then I¡¯ll consider it. If not, count me out.¡± 2/3 ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting for your call,¡± Anne responded before I abruptly ended the conversation. Hazel lightly pped my chest, chastising me. ¡°That was rude,¡± I shrugged, unapologetic. ¡°She deserves it.¡± Hazel seemed ready to argue, but 1 silenced her with a passionate kiss. ¡°I have something for you,¡± I whispered in her ear, and she smiled in response. Breaking away from the kiss, I rose from the bed, took her arm, and led her out of the room. Her excitement was contagious, and she couldn¡¯t contain her grin as she asked, ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Coming to a halt, I turned to her and instructed, ¡°I need you to close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you otherwise.¡± She nodded and obediently closed her eyes. Leading her through the parking lot, I stopped beside a sleek ck Bentley. ¡°You can open your eyes now,¡± I announced. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked rapidly to adjust to her surroundings. When her gazended on the Bentley, a radiant smile illuminated her face. ¡°You got a new car?¡± she eximed, circling the vehicle. ¡°This is beautiful.¡± I dangled the car key in front of her, revealing the surprise. ¡°It¡¯s not for me,¡± I rified, a hint of pride in my voice. ¡°The car is for you, a little thank you for agreeing to be my wife.¡± Her eyes widened in astonishment before she let out a joyous squeal. Without hesitation, she jumped into my arms, showering my face with kisses. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it,¡± I murmured, returning her affectionate kisses. ¡°Like it? I love it!¡± Hazel eximed, taking the key and unlocking the car with enthusiasm. ¡°Do you want to go for a ride?¡± I asked, and she eagerly nodded in response. I settled into the passenger seat, then reminded her, ¡°Remember, you¡¯re wearing a nightwear,¡± and I couldn¡¯t help but add with a sly grin, ¡°a se xy one at that. So, we¡¯re not getting out of this car or stopping anywhere.¡± Hazel nodded, her excitement undiminished. ¡°I love you, Rav.¡± ¡°I love you more, Hazel,¡± I replied, the affection in my voice matching the warmth in her heart. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter 81 HAZEL PRESENT TIME Ravel appears surprisingly unperturbed by my decision to keep the baby hidden from him. In the wake of his departure from my home, he hasn¡¯t initiated contact with me. In my hopeful heart, I want to believe that he harbors no resentment. Nevertheless, if he remains silent regarding the baby and refrains from reaching out, I¡¯ve resolved to take the initiative. It falls upon me to mend the rift between father and daughter. As we eagerly anticipate an uing exhibition scheduled for next month, the preparations have been proceeding wlessly thus far. I¡¯ve diligently reached out to numerous esteemed and renowned artists, all of whom have graciously pledged to contribute both ancient and contemporary artworks to our showcase. David¡¯s demeanor had taken a noticeable shift, and it was clear that he was unhappy about the news of Daisy¡¯s existence bing public. Moreover, the prospect of me spending more time with Ravel due to the baby was evidently causing him some difort. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of leaving my little girl alone with Ravel, given the circumstances. Suddenly, the door to my office swung open, and David rushed in, with Agatha following closely behind. The urgency in his voice prompted me to rise from my seat and meet him halfway. ¡°Hazel!¡± His tone wasced with panic, and it was evident that something was amiss. His anxiety was obvious, and I couldn¡¯t help but ask, Clearly, something is wrong. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Agatha gestured for me to sit down on the sofa, which I did. ¡°Can someone please tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± I pressed, growing increasingly. concerned by the minute. David¡¯s words hit me like a hammer, and my heart sank as he revealed the shocking news. ¡°Our biggest client pulled out,¡± he exined, and I could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on me. ¡°He called me this morning to inform me that he¡¯s no longer interested in the exhibition, and I¡¯ve been trying to reach him ever since, but he isn¡¯t taking my calls, and neither is his secretary responding.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. This was an unprecedented situation. In all the years since my art gallery gained global recognition, we had never faced an artist pulling out like this. I sought rification, my voice trembling slightly, ¡°Mr. Jericho pulled out?¡± David confirmed with a solemn nod. ¡°Did he provide any reasons?¡± I inquired further. ¡°He wasn¡¯t on the call long enough to exin,¡± David replied, his frustration evident. Just when I thought things couldn¡¯t get worse, Agatha cleared her throat and drew our attention. Two pairs of concerned eyes turned toward her, and she hesitated before dropping another bombshell. ¡°Mr. Jericho isn¡¯t the only one who pulled out,¡± she muttered, causing a cold sweat to break out on my brow. ¡°Mr. Warren dropped out too. He called me this morning and informed me that he isn¡¯t ready to exhibit his new work just yet.¡± The gravity of the situation was bing increasingly dire, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of impending crisis looming over my gallery. The news of Mr. Warren pulling out of the exhibition had ignited my anger. ¡°Is he insane?¡± I eximed with frustration. ¡°We¡¯ve been nning this exhibition for months, and I¡¯ve been in constant communication with him. He assured me he couldn¡¯t wait to exhibit his work with us. What¡¯s all this nonsense he¡¯s talking about?¡± David, ever the voice of reason, tried to calm the situation. ¡°Now isn¡¯t the best time to get upset,¡± he advised. ¡°We should finding a solution. Jericho and Warren are the major artists we¡¯re showcasing, and the entire exhibition hall will be nearly empty if we don¡¯t address this.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not giving us any reasonable excuses,¡± I added, my frustration unabated. ¡°That suggests someone might be behind this. If we want to resolve this problem, we have to find out who¡¯s responsible.¡± It was clear that there was more to this situation than met the eye, and unraveling the mystery behind it would be crucial to salvaging our exhibition. Agatha¡¯s raised hand caught our attention, and she tentatively spoke up. ¡°I don¡¯t know if this counts, but someone sent me an emailst week, warning me that someone was trying to sabotage the exhibition. I didn¡¯t take it seriously at the time.¡± Chapter 81 My frustration boiled over as I snapped at her, ¡°You didn¡¯t think it was serious? How could you keep such vital information from us?¡± Agatha apologized, her gaze shifting away. However, David interjected with an unexpected question, ¡°Did you receive the picture too?¡± Agatha blinked, clearly taken aback, but nodded in affirmation. My curiosity piqued, I raised an eyebrow, urging David to exin further. ¡°I received a picture in my email two days ago,¡± he disclosed. ¡°It was a photo of Ravel Southwark having dinner with Mr. Warren, and the message that apanied it was the same warning that someone is trying to sabotage the exhibition.¡± The picture on David¡¯s phone didn¡¯t make any sense to me. Ravel had no apparent reason to sabotage our exhibition. Nheless, I requested to see the image, and David nodded, handing me his phone. As I viewed the photo of Ravel dining with Warren, doubt lingered in my mind. It seemed too inconclusive to point fingers at Ravel solely based on this picture. Returning the phone to David, I asserted, ¡°This doesn¡¯t necessarily mean anything. It could be just a harmless dinner.¡± My attempt to downy the situation didn¡¯t sit well with David, who appeared unconvinced. ¡°I want you to send that email to our technical team,¡± I instructed, my tone resolute. ¡°They should track down whoever sent that email and provide us with their home or office address before sunrise tomorrow.¡± David agreed, assuring me, ¡°I¡¯ll get that done.¡± I turned to Agatha and issued instructions, ¡°Go and inform my driver to get the car ready. I¡¯ll be leaving in the next thirty minutes. Mr. Warren and Jeremy will have to look me in the face and say that again.¡± Agatha nodded, promptly exiting my office, but David remained seated, his curiosity apparent. He couldn¡¯t help but question my faith in Ravel. ¡°You honestly think Southwark didn¡¯t do this?¡± he inquired skeptically. I sighed, feeling exasperated, and took my seat behind my desk. ¡°Don¡¯t start with me, David. I know you don¡¯t like Ravel, but he isn¡¯t capable of such evil.¡± David persisted, his tone firm. ¡°He might not be capable of it when he¡¯s sweet, but you can¡¯t be so sure when he¡¯s angry with you.¡± I red at him, perplexed by his insinuations. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± David¡¯s suggestion about Ravel¡¯s possible motive made me uneasy. ¡°He could be upset that you kept Daisy away from him, and this could be his way of punishing you,¡± he surmised. ¡°He knows this will only affect you, but it won¡¯t close down the gallery. In my opinion, that¡¯s the ideal punishment.¡± Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, and I rubbed my temples tiredly. ¡°I just need some time alone, David.¡± He nodded and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m not saying he¡¯s the one. All I¡¯m saying is, don¡¯t rule out the possibility.¡± With those words, he left my office. As I stared at the artwork on the wall, I tried not to dwell too deeply on David¡¯s theory. Eventually, I picked up my phone and dialed Ravel¡¯s number. He didn¡¯t answer at first, but I persisted with my calls until he finally picked up. ¡°Hey, Hazel,¡± he greeted. ¡°Sorry for not answering earlier. I was in a meeting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± I responded absently, ¡°I have a question for Ravel, did you meet with anyone named Warren lately?¡± I know it is foolish to ask him head on, but Ravel isn¡¯t the type of person to hide if he decides to strike. a?k ¡°Warren?¡± he paused for a moment. I already know the answer to my question because I already have a picture but then I want to know why he met with him. ¡°I did not meet with anyone named Warren. Why?¡± Ravel¡¯s response to my question about meeting someone named Warren didn¡¯t match the information I already had from the picture. ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± I asked, suspicion creeping into my tone. ¡°No, I did not. Why?¡± he inquired again. I hesitated for a moment before offering a vague exnation, ¡°Oh¡­ I was hoping you knew him because I need someone 55% Chapter 81 close to him to set up a meeting for me.¡± Ravel quickly volunteered to help, saying, ¡°I can help you do that.¡± But I declined, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll handle it myself. I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡± Disconnecting the call, I continued to gaze at the artwork on my wall. Something wasn¡¯t adding up, and I couldn¡¯t ignore the nagging feeling that Ravel was hiding something. I made up my mind: I was going to New York. He would have to look me in the face and lie to me. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 RAVEL PRESENT TIME Receiving that urgent call for assistance from Hazel yesterday was a profound source of joy for me, and it wasn¡¯t solely due to the fact that I found some satisfaction in witnessing her vulnerability or knowing that she had encountered a challenging situation. What truly touched my heart was the realization that, among all the people in her life, she had chosen to reach out to me. The significance of this choice was not lost on me. It spoke volumes about the trust and connection that we shared. It was a reminder that our bond and connection, are slowly building, enough for her to turn to me in her time of need. While I deeply appreciated her reaching out and was more than willing to extend my assistance, I also held immense respect for her newfound determination to handle the situation herself. Hazel¡¯s decision to assert her self-sufficiency was a testament to her personal growth. She had evolved from the fragile woman I once felt an overwhelming urge to protect at all costs into an independent and resilient career woman. This transformation, this disy of inner strength, filled me with immense pride. It was a testament to her ability to navigate life¡¯s storms with unwavering confidence, and it signaled her readiness to face challenges head-on. So, as I reflected on Hazel¡¯s call for help and the subsequent development, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of happiness mixed with admiration for her growth and our enduring connection. It was a beautiful reminder that our bonds could evolve while remaining steadfast, and that was something truly special to cherish. Sneezing for what felt like the umpteenth time throughout the day, I couldn¡¯t ignore the telltale signs any longer-I was slowly sumbing to the grips of the flu. Making the executive decision to call it a day, I moved swiftly, collecting my jacket,ptop bag, and car keys, signaling my intent to vacate my office. As I slowly made my way towards the exit, a lingering thoughtpelled me to pause at Rose¡¯s desk. There, amidst the organized chaos of paperwork and office supplies, I found it imperative to convey a specific message: ¡°Rose, please make certain that any impromptu meetings that arise are handled through Zoom on my behalf.¡± Upon hearing my request, a flicker of genuine concern materialized in Rose¡¯s eyes as she closely scrutinized my somewhat pallid countenance. Her thoughtful inquiry came as no surprise, ¡°Are you alright, sir? You look a bit under the weather.¡± The truth was that I stood at the precipice of falling ill, gued by the early symptoms of an impending ailment. However, I was not inclined to burden my colleagues with the knowledge of my condition. Grateful for her solicitude, I acknowledged her concern, saying, ¡°I appreciate your kindness, Rose. I¡¯ll manage. And, in the event that Elenor should inquire about my whereabouts, please do inform her that she can find me in my first penthouse.¡± The prospect of returning home to June, in my weakened state was an option I wished fervently to avoid, and I hope she doesn¡¯te here looking for me. I wouldn¡¯t put it past her to do that. Rose nodded understandingly, assuring me she would execute my instructions wlessly. ¡°Of course, sir. I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s informed.¡± With a final, appreciative nod, I left the office. As I finally arrived home, my body was aze with feverish heat. Raymond, who had been intermittently casting concerned nces my way throughout the car ride, now fixed his gaze upon me and voiced his worry, ¡°Are you okay?¡± I responded with a grunted acknowledgment, but the fatigue was evident in my features. ¡°You seem like you¡¯re teetering on the verge of copsing any moment now,¡± he observed, his hand extending tentatively to graze my forehead. Irritated by both his touch and my deteriorating condition, I swatted his hand away with a sharp, mutteredmand, ¡°Leave it.¡± Our journey continued as we entered the elevator, my hands buried deep within the confines of my jacket, a desperate attempt to stave off the relentless chill that seemed to pierce through me. Raymond, however, remained undeterred, his discerning gaze still locked on me. With genuine concern in his voice, he inquired, ¡°Do you think you might be running a fever?¡± He pointed out the obvious, ¡°You¡¯ve been sneezing continuously in the car, and you keep clutching your jacket as if trying to ward off the cold.¡± Raymond¡¯s unexpected action left me momentarily stunned as his hand made contact with my forehead, and his expression revealed abination of concern and exasperation. His incredulous words followed, ¡°What¡¯s happening, man? How are you even managing to walk around with such a high temperature?¡± he hissed, clearly taken aback. My response was limited to a grunted acknowledgment, as Icked the energy to engage in a lengthy conversation. Raymond gently guided me to my room, ensuring that I wasfortably settled. He took the initiative to draw the curtains closed and turned off the air conditioner, creating a more soothing environment for my recovery. With a sense of urgency, Raymond rushed to the store to acquire the necessary medications. However, upon his return to the penthouse, he discovered that I had sumbed to sleep, my weakened state finally iming me. Upon waking, I felt theforting coolness of a damp cloth on my forehead. I groaned softly, gathering the strength to leave my bedroom. My weary feet carried me sluggishly towards the living room, where I detected faint sounds emanating from the kitchen. As Raymond emerged from the pantry, he froze in his tracks upon spotting me. ¡°Are you feeling any better?¡± he asked, his genuine concern etched across his face, providing a glimmer of hope amid my illness¡­ I nodded cautiously, my initial suspicions giving way to a modicum of relief as I motioned toward the kitchen. ¡°Could you tell me who¡¯s currently in my kitchen?¡± My tone conveyed not only irritation but also a deep-seated concern. The mere thought that someone might have brought Barbara, a presence I had intentionally avoided by staying away from the manor, weighed heavily on my mind. Raymond, ever quick to provide reassurance, stepped forward with an exnation, ¡°It¡¯s Elenor. I thought you might benefit from a proper meal instead of relying on takeout, so I decided to call her over.¡± As he uttered these words, Elenor materialized from the kitchen, holding a bowl of steaming soup in her hands. Her arrival brought a faint smile to her lips as she spotted me standing in the hallway. With a toneced with genuine concern, she inquired, ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Elenor approached me, her touch gentle as she took my arm and guided me toward the dining hall. Her voice conveyed a deep sense of care as she continued, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you reach out to me when you started feeling unwell and uneasy?¡± Her worry was palpable, and I couldn¡¯t help but appreciate her sincere concern for my well-being in that moment. My deadpan response seemed to catch Elenor off guard, and she furrowed her brows in response. ¡°Has no one ever told you what kind of pest you are in someone¡¯s life?¡± I quipped, causing Raymond to chuckle. Elenor¡¯s re intensified, and her retort was sharp, ¡°F uck you. You¡¯re fortunate you¡¯re sick, or else I¡¯d have given you a good p.¡± She didn¡¯t spare Raymond either, continuing, ¡°And as for you, no dinner forughing.¡± Raymond, seemingly undisturbed by Elenor¡¯s threats, strolled casually into the kitchen and served himself dinner, almost as if challenging her bluff. When he returned to the dining area, Elenor practically sna tched the food from his hands, her irritation evident. While the yful banter continued between them, I absently pushed the soup around with my fork, my thoughts wandering. It was then that a realization struck me, and I asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± I asked suddenly as I couldn¡¯t locate it. I distinctly remembered it being in the jacket I had brought back from work, but that very jacket seemed to have vanished from my bedroom. Elenor¡¯s revtion that she had plugged in my phone drew my attention, and she fed me spoonfuls of soup as she exined, I noticed it was low on battery, so I thought I¡¯d charge it for you.¡± She briefly nced at me from her own phone and asked, ¡°Do you need it now?¡± I nodded, and she promptly got up to retrieve it. This is from N?velDrama.Org. As Elenor momentarily left the room, I took the opportunity to turn my attention toward Raymond, a question lingering in my mind. ¡°Did you manage to patch things up with her?¡± My curiosity regarding their rtionship had been piqued. To my surprise, I witnessed a rare blush spreading across Raymond¡¯s cheeks, and he chuckled nervously. ¡°We¡¯re working on it, he confessed, his admission tinged with a hint of optimism. I nodded, genuinely pleased to hear that progress was being made in their rtionship. Elenor returned to the dining room, handing me my phone. ¡°Thank you,¡± I expressed my gratitude, relieved to have it back. As I double-tapped the screen, I couldn¡¯t help but notice a missed call from Rose, which immediately sent a pang of regret coursing through me.¡±Sh it! I told her I¡¯d take all calls via Zoom. The realization that I had inadvertently missed an important call weighed on my conscience, and I knew I needed to address it soon. Redialing Rose¡¯s number, I brought the phone to my ear, and she picked up immediately. ¡°Rose, I missed your call,¡± I apologized. ¡°Apologies for any inconvenience, sir, but Ms. Hazel was here, insisting on seeing you, and I was calling to confirm if I should disclose your current whereabouts,¡± Rose exined. Hazel was in New York? I was taken aback. ¡°When did she arrive?¡± I inquired. ¡°Approximately forty-five minutes ago,¡± Rose responded. ¡°I contacted Mr. Raymond, and he gave the green light to share your location.¡± At that moment, the doorbell rang, diverting everyone¡¯s attention to the entrance. ¡°That must be Hazel,¡± Raymond deduced as he rose from his seat to answer the door. ¡°Thank you, Rose, but I¡¯ll have to hang up now.¡± Ending the call with Rose, I turned to my sister with a question in mind. ¡°Did you inform Hazel that I¡¯m dealing with a fever?¡± Elenor scoffed dismissively. ¡°Are you seriously suggesting she flew all the way to New York just because you have a fever?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t be so conceited, Ravel.¡± Just as we were discussing it, Hazel stormed into the dining room, her demeanor anything but concerned. Seeing her obvious anger, I slowly rose to my feet and asked, ¡°Hazel, is everything alright? What happened?¡± Hazel¡¯s piercing re bore into me as she reached into her purse, producing an envelope and mming it onto the table. ¡°Exin this.¡± My brows furrowed with confusion as I picked up the envelope, uncertainty gnawing at me. With cautious fingers, I delved into the envelope, retrieving several photographs of myself alongside Warren. My jaw tightened in response to the incriminating evidence before me. My patience wore thin as I confronted her, my tone edged with anger. ¡°Are you spying on me, Hazel?¡± I demanded an exnation, unable to mask my irritation. She continued to re at me, her voice dripping with frustration. ¡°Is that all you have to say to me?¡± She hissed, her eyes narrowing. ¡°I asked you if you had met with Warren, and you tantly denied it!¡± Her usation hung heavily in the air, and I found myself at a loss for words. I let out an exasperated sigh, weary of the mounting tension. ¡°Yes, I met with him,¡± I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. I couldn¡¯t understand why my meeting with Warren was causing such a reaction in Hazel. ¡°But why is this such a big deal?¡± I questioned, feeling unjustly used. As I spoke, Hazel circled the table, her footsteps measured and purposeful. My guard was momentarily down, and I wasn¡¯t prepared for what happened next. With a swift, stinging motion, she delivered a resounding p to my cheek. The shock of it left me momentarily speechless, my hand instinctively reaching to touch the stinging sensation on my face. É« 0 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 RAVEL PRESENT TIME ÐÄ The resounding p reverberated through the dining room, sending shockwaves not only through me but also through every present witness. Elenor reacted swiftly, stepping forward with an unmistakable stance that dered her alignment with me, not Hazel. Her voice dripped with reproach as she confronted Hazel. ¡°Why on earth did you hit him?¡± she snapped at Hazel, her displeasure evident. ¡°He¡¯s clearly unwell with a fever, and for that reason alone, you shouldn¡¯t resort to physical violence.¡± Hazel¡¯s response was far from conciliatory. She scoffed incredulously, her agitation evident as her veins seemed to pop out in anger. ¡°Unwell with a fever?¡± she retorted, her voice raised in frustration. ¡°I¡¯ll be dealing with a lot more than just a fever because of this nonsense! Do you get that?!¡±¡± Her emotions were clearly running high. ¡°I demand to know why you lied about meeting with Mr. Warren.¡± I retreated defensively, taking a step backward and cing the envelope back on the table. ¡°I met with Warren for personal reasons,¡± I admitted, avoiding eye contact, even though Raymond, who was privy to the truth, looked at me with concern. ¡°For personal reasons?¡± Hazel bit out, her arms folded across her chest as she fixed an intense re on me. ¡°What sort of personal reasons, Ravel? I insist on knowing.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Why was she meddling in my affairs like this? I maintained myposure. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®personal¡¯ for a reason, Hazel, I deadpanned, my tone unyielding. ¡°I have no intention of disclosing that information to you.¡± I returned to my seat, spoon in hand, but made no move to touch the food. ¡°What¡¯s the real reason behind your obsession with my meeting with Warren?¡± ¡°Because my show is on the verge of being canceled due to whatever transpired in that meeting with Mr. Warren!¡± she yelled, gesturing wildly with her hands. ¡°Is your anger stemming from my decision to keep Daisy away from you?¡± Perplexed by the sudden change in the conversation¡¯s direction, I raised a finger, silently signaling for Hazel to pause for a Harrest way moment. ¡°Hold on a second,¡± I requested, tilting my head as I contemted the best way to address this unfolding situation. ¡°Could you please rify what you mean by your exhibition being on the verge of cancetion due to the oue of my meeting with Warren?¡± A sinking feeling gnawed at me as I considered the implications. Hazel¡¯s irritation remained palpable as she forced out her exnation. ¡°Warren abruptly and inexplicably withdrew his support for the exhibition, citing reasons that are utterly impractical,¡± she retorted, her re intensifying with each passing moment. ¡°Those reasons reek of nothing but excuses.¡± The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into ce, and my own frustration mounted. ¡°Are you suggesting that I intentionally sabotaged your dealings with Warren out of spite for keeping Daisy away from me?¡± My voice carried a note of incredulity, and when she offered no immediate response, my jaw clenched in irritation. ¡°Now you¡¯re genuinely testing my patience,¡± I snapped. ¡°Do you honestly believe I would resort to such underhanded tactics against you?¡± Hazel smacked her lips together in annoyance, her clenched fist betraying her frustration. ¡°Heaven knows I defended you when David and Agatha insinuated that this might somehow involve you, particrly with the pictures and emails.¡± My frown deepened, and I demanded further information, ¡°What emails are you on about?¡± She rolled her eyes with evident irritation. ¡°That¡¯s not the crucial issue right now! What¡¯s imperative is understanding why you lied about your meeting with Warren and why you¡¯re refusing to disclose the nature of that meeting to me.¡± Her impatience was clear, and the tension between us continued to escte. ¡°I choose not to disclose it to you,¡± I replied firmly, my gaze unwavering as I met Hazel¡¯s eyes. ¡°I must say, it¡¯s deeply disappointing to discover that you hold such a low opinion of me.¡± Elenor intervened, attempting to bridge the growing chasm of misunderstanding between us. ¡°Perhaps, if you were to apologize for the initial deception and then share the details of your meeting with Warren, we could swiftly resolve this misunderstanding,¡± she suggested. Her diplomatic tone carried a note of hope. Raymond and I exchanged puzzled nces, both of us equally uncertain about the best course of action. I was conflicted, torn between the urge to protect my personal affairs and the need to clear the air with Hazel. My meeting with Warren was a matter I preferred to keep under wraps until I had tangible results to present. However, I squared my shoulders and leaned forward, determined to bring some resolution to the situation. ¡°Hazel, to be perfectly candid, I have nothing to divulge to you at this juncture. Trust is something that needs to be worked on at this juncture.¡± Hazel¡¯s response was sharp and cutting. ¡°Where did trust get me thest time?¡± Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, a reminder of past betrayals. I hadn¡¯t expected her to bring that up. ¡°So you have nothing to share with me,¡± she dered with slow, deliberate emphasis, to which I nodded in agreement. ¡°F**k you, Ravel!¡± she erupted in anger, her voice echoing through my home. ¡°Sabotaging my business and lying in the process is nothing but an act of cowardice, and you¡¯re going to pay for it.¡± She shot me onest withering re before storming out of my house. The atmosphere at the dinner table had soured considerably. Raymond remained silent, his expression mirroring my own inner turmoil, while Elenor fixed me with an expectant stare. Her question hung in the air like a heavy weight. ¡°What exactly did you discuss with Warren that you¡¯re unwilling to repeat in Hazel¡¯s presence?¡± I shook my head, trying to dispel the mounting frustration, and turned my attention back to my meal. ¡°Please, Elenor, not now. I¡¯m already infuriated as it is.¡± She scoffed, her irritation palpable. ¡°I¡¯m even more furious with you than you are,¡± she retorted, grabbing her jacket as she prepared to leave. ¡°Just as I was about to extend an olive branch, you go and do something this reprehensible.¡± My eyes shot up in disbelief. ¡°You, too, believe that I¡¯m guilty of what Hazel¡¯s using me of?¡± Elenor merely shrugged. ¡°The evidence seems to point in your direction, and I didn¡¯t hear you vehemently denying it either.¡± Her logic left me bbergasted. ¡°I¡¯m leaving your house, Ravel. Give me a call when you¡¯ve sorted things out with Hazel.¡± With that, she stomped out of my home, leaving me alone with Raymond. I continued to eat in somber silence, my thoughts weighed down by the turmoil of the evening. Raymond eventually broke the silence with a suggestion. ¡°I think it¡¯s finally time to tell Hazel the truth, so she can stop seeing you as the viin.¡± I shot him an incredulous re. ¡°Get out of my house, Raymond!¡± With everyone else already gone, he could as well join them in leaving. 0 COMMENT Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 HAZEL FOUR YEARS AGO Following my suggestion, we eventually found ourselves at Anne¡¯s birthday dinner. Ravel, who had initially been reluctant to attend, wore a persistent frown throughout the journey. On this particr evening, he had enlisted Raymond as his chauffeur, citing the need for alcohol to endure Anne¡¯s company at the dinner. I held a different perspective on the situation. For some inexplicable reason, I harbored hope that tonight would be a turning point. Perhaps it was my yearning to mend the rift within our family and rekindle the love that had faded. As the car came to a halt outside the family¡¯s garage, Ravel¡¯s grip tightened on my forearm, preventing me from opening the door. He spoke in a hushed tone, his concern evident. ¡°If, at any point during the dinner, Anne makes you ufortable, don¡¯t hesitate to inform me. We¡¯ll make our exit as soon as possible.¡± I acknowledged his words with a nod, and he gracefully exited the car before circling around to assist me. Together, we approached the grand manor¡¯s entrance. The moment we stepped inside, Ravel took charge, helping me slip out of my jacket and handing it over to the attentive staff. With a gentle touch, he guided me toward the dining room. As we entered, a radiant Elenor rose from her seat to greet me. She enveloped me in a warm hug, nting kisses on both sides of my cheeks. ¡°You look absolutely stunning in that ck dress,¡± she complimented, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I might have to borrow it the next time I visit your ce.¡± Ravel, with a yful grin, seized Elenor¡¯s hand and tugged her away. ¡°Give my wife some room to breathe, Elenor,¡± he teased. ¡°Have you transitioned from stealing my hoodies to borrowing my wife¡¯s dresses now?¡± Elenor yfully rolled her eyes at Ravel¡¯s remark and dismissed his interference. ¡°Shut the hell up, Ravel. Sometimes, sisters-inw need to share clothes, and I¡¯m allowed to borrow,¡± she retorted with a mischievous grin and directed a nce at me, seeking my validation. ¡°Am I not?¡± Unable to suppress my own smile, I nodded in agreement. ¡°Absolutely, you¡¯re more than wee to borrow anything you like.¡± It was a surreal moment, considering Elenor¡¯s upbringing in Southwark. I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how far we hade. Gathering myposure, I approached Anne and greeted her politely, ¡°Good evening, ma¡¯am.¡± Her gaze first settled on Ravel, who maintained a steely re, before she rose and enveloped me in a hug. There was an unmistakable rigidity in her posture, hinting that this disy of affection was primarily for her son¡¯s sake. Nevertheless, I graciously epted her feigned warmth. As she resumed her seat, I presented her with the small gift box I had been holding. ¡°Happy birthday, ma¡¯am,¡± I murmured with a warm smile, hopeful that she would ept the gift. Anne¡¯s gaze dropped to the bag, and after spotting the brand name on the gift bag, she inquired, ¡°Did you get me a fake Bulgari jewelry?¡± I quickly responded, ¡°No, they¡¯re genuine. Ravel assisted me in ordering them.¡± Her response was a barely audible scoff, apanied by a mutteredment meant only for my ears. ¡°Of course, my son bought it.¡± In reality, Ravel hadn¡¯t purchased the jewelry; I had simply asked for his assistance in making the order to ensure the authenticity of the purchase and avoid potential scams. Every aspect, from the selection to the payment and even the delivery, had been handled by me with my own money. Returning to my seat, I settled down and turned my attention to the meal before us. As we indulged in the delicious dishes, Anne abruptly cleared her throat, causing all eyes to focus on her. She posed a question that carried the weight of expectation. ¡°What have you decided to do with your life, Elenor?¡± she inquired, her toneced with a touch of authority. ¡°You can¡¯t continue spending your time on partying. Perhaps you should consider joining your brother in thepany.¡± Elenor¡¯s expression soured with visible discontent. ¡°I have no interest in being a part of thatpany,¡± she protested, her voice carrying a hint of defiance. ¡°It looks boring, and I don¡¯t want to be a part of it.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. 1/3 Feeling a sense of empathy for Elenor and wanting to contribute to the conversation, I decided to offer a suggestion. ¡°Maybe you should consider modeling,¡± I suggested, my words breaking the collective silence and drawing all eyes toward me. My newfound courage wavered slightly as I realized the attention I had garnered. With a shy smile, I continued, ¡°I mean, you have a passion for fashion and enjoy experimenting with different styles. You stand at an impressive five feet nine inches, and your beauty is undeniable. Why not give modeling a shot? I¡¯m confident you¡¯d excel at it.¡± Elenor¡¯s face lit up with a wide, hopeful grin. ¡°That sounds like a lot of fun,¡± she responded enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯m willing to give it a try.¡± Ravel, ever the voice of reason, pointed his fork at Elenor, offering some sage advice. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t venture into business solely because it seems fun,¡± he cautioned, his tone carrying a note of concern. ¡°Challenges and tough times are inevitable in any business, and if you¡¯re in it just for the enjoyment, you might find yourself giving up when things get rough. His advice had a ring of truth to it, but it was met with a cheeky retort from Elenor, who defiantly shed him her middle finger. Anne, not one to tolerate such behavior, swiftly scolded her. As the dinner continued, I found a moment to excuse myself, mentioning my intention to use the restroom. Anne directed me upstairs, exining that one of the bathrooms on the lower floor was currently out ofmission due to a leak, and they had cut off the water supply to prevent further issues. Ravel¡¯s brow furrowed as he sought more information. ¡°How long has it been faulty?¡± he inquired.¡± ¡°Since yesterday, the plumber will be here tomorrow to fix it.¡± Anne responded tersely, putting an end to the conversation about the faulty bathroom. She returned her focus to her meal, and the dinner continued without further discussion on the matter. As I rose from the table, Ravel made a move to apany me, but I gently shook my head, signaling for him to remain seated. I navigated my way upstairs with the assistance of one of the domestic staff members, eventually locating the restroom. After attending to my needs and washing my hands, I stepped out of the restroom, heading back towards the stairs. It was then that a throat cleared behind me, causing me to pivot and discover Anne standing there. Uncertain of what to say, I blurted out the first question that came to mind. ¡°What are you doing up here? Is the dinner over?¡± Anne¡¯s reaction was a mixture of surprise and irritation as she arched a skeptical brow at me. ¡°Are you asking me what I am doing in my own house?¡± she retorted, her tone carrying a touch of annoyance. ¡°Do I require your permission to be anywhere in my own home?¡± I shook my head, recognizing that my initial words hade out wrong. ¡°I apologize for the way I phrased that,¡± I admitted, my voice tinged with regret, and I turned to leave. However, Anne¡¯s grip on my wrist halted my departure. With a reluctant sigh, I turned back to face her, blinking in exasperation. ¡°Is there something you¡¯d like to say?¡± I inquired, my patience wearing thin. Anne¡¯s response was far from reassuring. She hissed her words, making her stance abundantly clear. ¡°Don¡¯t think I will ever ept you,¡± she dered firmly. ¡°I¡¯m only doing this for my son.¡± My exasperation finally reached a breaking point, and I couldn¡¯t contain my frustration any longer. ¡°You made that abundantly clear when you hugged me earlier,¡± I retorted, my tone more assertive. ¡°And you know what, Anne? I¡¯m exhausted from trying to prove myself to you. It¡¯s been an uphill battle that never seems to end.¡± Her eyes narrowed, seemingly offended by my tone. ¡°Are you speaking to me in that manner?¡± she questioned, her voice cold. With a firm resolve, I snapped back, ¡°Yes, I am! You¡¯ve made it abundantly clear that you¡¯ll never fully ept me, so why should I keep trying so hard? Anne, I¡¯m married to your son; isn¡¯t it time you epted that fact?¡± My frustration and fatigue with her ongoing hostility were evident in my words. ¡°Let her go!¡± came the furious, familiar voice of Ravel from the foot of the stairs, a stark contrast to the tension that had enveloped the moment. I shifted my gaze to him just as Anne released her grip on my wrist. However, Anne¡¯s abrupt release was far from gentle. The sudden force caused me to lose my footing, and before I could 2/3 98% Chapter 84 regain my bnce, I found myself tumbling down the stairs. Panic and confusion engulfed me as everything happened in a blur. The world spun as I descended, and thest thing I managed to focus on was Ravel¡¯s anguished expression as he rushed to my side, cradling my head and face. I attempted to speak, to convey the pain I felt, but my tongue felt heavy and uncooperative. Tears welled up in my eyes as the pain intensified, and then everything went dark. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Chapter 85 ELENOR PRESENT TIME My family dynamics have be increasingly draining. It feels as though tranquility has be a raremodity within our household. I once admired the harmony that Ravel and Hazel shared, as it provided a glimmer of hope for familial peace. However, at this moment, their rtionship seems to be embroiled in more conflict than even my own struggles with my mother. Feeling the weight of it all, I reached for my jacket and made the decision to pay a visit to Raymond. We¡¯ve been earnestly working on repairing our rtionship, and I¡¯m hopeful that within his embrace, I might discover the sce and serenity I yearn for. I slid into my car, igniting the engine, and set course for Raymond¡¯s apartment. His prolonged absence from work had been a conspicuous indicator of Ravel¡¯s tumultuous emotional state. It seemed that Hazel¡¯s silence in response to Ravel¡¯s attempts atmunication had pushed him to vent his frustration on Raymond. The result? Raymond was left out in the cold, quite literally, as Ravel had locked him out of his apartment. Eventually, Raymond had grown weary of waiting for Ravel¡¯s call and ceased showing up for work. As I parked in front of his apartment building, I turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, determined to check on him. My footsteps echoed through the hallway as I made my way to Raymond¡¯s unit. Upon reaching his door, I rang the doorbell twice, but there was no response. Could he not be at home? Frowning, I retrieved my phone and dialed his number, only to be greeted by his voicemail. Persistent attempts to reach Raymond through my phone proved futile as it stubbornly continued to divert me to his voicemail. Frustration mounting, I reluctantly abandoned my efforts with the phone and resorted to repeatedly pressing the doorbell. Still, there was no response, and for a moment, I contemted walking away in resignation. However, just as I was about to retreat, the elevator doors slid open, revealing a weary and disheveled Raymond. His suit jacket hung haphazardly on his shoulder, a clear sign that something was amiss. My heart ski pped a beat as he halted upon spotting me, his tone carrying an unexpected edge as he inquired, ¡°What are you doing here, Elenor?¡± A sudden uncertainty gripped me, making me wonder if I had unknowingly provoked his anger. I replied cautiously, ¡°I came to visit my boyfriend, of course.¡± His scoff at my response furrowed my brows in confusion. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Raymond¡¯s expression remained tense as he finally voiced his concern, ¡°I called you earlier. Why didn¡¯t you answer the call?¡± ¡°I was in an important meeting, which is why I couldn¡¯t answer your call,¡± I patiently reiterated, my voice laced with concern as I watched him keep his distance. His distant demeanor puzzled me, especially considering he hadn¡¯t answered my call just moments ago. A telltale whiff of alcohol hung in the air as he sniffed and attempted to walk past me. My concern deepened, and I couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Have you been drinking, Raymond?¡± My hand extended to grasp his, but he pulled away abruptly, a visible tension in his frame His response was more intense than I expected, filled with frustration and a raw sense of repulsion. ¡°Leave me the f*** alone!¡± he yelled, his words stinging like an unexpected p. ¡°All of you should leave me the f*** alone!¡± I couldn¡¯t simply let this go. It was evident that something was deeply amiss. ¡°What happened, Raymond?¡± I pressed, my determination unwavering as I sought to uncover the root of his distress, hoping to provide the support he needed. Raymond¡¯s re was piercing as he spoke, his words sending a shockwave through me. ¡°Your brother has not been answering my calls. If he eventually decides to answer yours, tell him that I quit!¡± I couldn¡¯t conceal my astonishment at his deration. Digging his hand into his pocket, he extracted a crumpled sheet and dropped it at my feet. ¡°Give this to him; that¡¯s my resignation letter.¡± I attempted to reach for his hand, seeking some form of connection, but he forcefully shoved me away, Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. nearly causing me to lose my footing. His next words pierced my heart. ¡°Get the f*** out of my house and never return again, Elenor.¡± Struggling to contain my emotions, I bit my trembling lips. ¡°What are you talking about, Raymond?¡± I took another cautious step forward. ¡°I understand you¡¯re upset, but please don¡¯t say things you don¡¯t mean.¡± His anger red, and he hissed back vehemently, ¡°I mean every da mn thing I say. You and your family disgust me.¡± With that final deration, he opened his door, walked inside, and mmed it shut, leaving me standing there, stunned and heartbroken. Stunned into immobility, I remained rooted in ce, staring at the closed door as tears streamed down my cheeks. Clutching the torn pieces of the resignation letter in my trembling hand, I could hardly comprehend the whirlwind of emotions that had just unfolded. Exiting the building, I entered the elevator with a heavy heart, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Once inside my car, I immediately dialed Ravel¡¯s number, desperate for any insight into what was happening with Raymond. My repeated calls, however, yielded nothing but unanswered silence. Frustration mounting, I discarded my phone onto the passenger seat and began to ponder the potential causes of Raymond¡¯s drastic behavior. Despite my efforts to unravel the mystery, only one name echoed relentlessly in my mind: Anne. She was the one person who could wield such influence over him, causing him to act in such an extreme manner. Determined to seek answers, I steered my car towards Anne¡¯s imposing manor. My sense of urgency was palpable, as I broke every traffic rule in my haste to reach her. The need to understand what had possibly transpired between Raymond and Anne had be an unrelenting obsession, driving me forward with relentless determination. Arriving at Anne¡¯s house, I left my car running, my emotions a tempestuous whirlwind as I stormed into her residence. The determination to uncover the truth had taken hold of me, and I was prepared to bring the entire house down if necessary. My steps reverberated through the sp ac ious mansion as I pressed forward, the staff directing me to the library where Anne was supposedly located. As I approached the library door, I noticed it was slightly ajar, and curiosity overcame me. The familiar voice emanating from within, and the nature of the conversation, caused me to pause and discreetly eavesdrop. ¡°I am quite impressed,¡± June¡¯s voice sounded, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. ¡°I had no idea that sabotaging Hazel¡¯s business and pinning the me on Ravel would have such a profound impact on their rtionship.¡± My eyes widened further as the implications of their conversation sank in. June was the mastermind behind the sabotage of Hazel¡¯s business, and Ravel had been entirely innocent. My heart ached at the injustice of it all. ¡°I told you all I needed was just the number of her important client,¡± Anne dered in a smug tone. ¡°How did you manage to get him to give you the number?¡± June¡¯sughter filled the air, and I strained to hear every word. ¡°He¡¯s been in on this with me longer than you know,¡± she confessed. I could sense shuffling feet, suggesting a secretive exchange. ¡°So what¡¯s the next n?¡± she asked Anne. Anne¡¯s response was equallyng. ¡°I don¡¯t have the next n yet; we¡¯ll have to wait for this one to y out first.¡± June seemed content with that response. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I have no reason to stay here. I should be on my way.¡± My heart racing with the shocking revtions I¡¯d overheard, I quietly tiptoed back downstairs and headed toward my car. As I settled into the driver¡¯s seat, I dialed Ravel¡¯s number once more, desperately hoping he would answer, but he continued to ignore my calls. Determined to reach him, I drove toward his house while persistently trying to get in touch. My calls went unanswered, and my anxiety grew with each passing moment. I even attempted to contact Raymond, hoping for any response, but the silence on the other end of the line was deafening. The audacity of Anne and June¡¯s actions weighed heavily on my mind. How could they manipte and harm Hazel, all for the affections of a man who clearly didn¡¯t want her? The motivations behind their cruel actions were a mystery I couldn¡¯tprehend. In that moment, I couldn¡¯t care less about the consequences for Anne and June. Ravel discovering the truth would likely Chapter 85 sever any ties he had with Anne, and I found myself indifferent to the fallout. My focus remained on reaching Ravel when, distracted by my phone, I hit a speed bump. The device slipped from my grasp, and I instinctively reached down to retrieve it. When I raised my head, I was met with blinding headlights, a terrifying realization dawning upon me in the split second before impact. The blinding brightness made it nearly impossible to maintain control of the car. In an instant, I transitioned from cruising down a smooth, paved road to a terrifying descent down a steep hill. My body jolted violently as the car tumbled downhill, colliding with the unforgiving terrain. Amidst the chaos and wreckage, my thoughts raced. Thest coherent idea that crossed my mind before everything faded to ck was the urgent need to convey the truth I had discovered today to Ravel and Hazel. COMMENT Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 RAVEL PRESENT TIME Hazel¡¯s continued avoidance of my calls was disheartening, and I eventually ceased my attempts to reach her. If she genuinely believed that I had any involvement in theplications that arose from her business dealings with Warren, it was clear that mending our rtionship would be a formidable challenge. Perhaps, I pondered, it might not even be worth the effort. To confront the underlying issues head-on, I decided to arrange a meeting with Warren. He couldn¡¯t afford to decline my request if he intended to maintain our business coboration. As I exited the elevator and strode toward his office, his secretary immediately sprang to her feet upon catching sight of me. ¡°Mr. Warren has been eagerly anticipating your visit,¡± she informed me with a tone of urgency. He¡¯d better be ready to provide the response I¡¯m hoping for, or else I could lose myposure. Anticipation hung heavy in the air as I swung the door open, revealing Warren¡¯s neatly arranged office. Warren himself, dressed in a crisp suit, rose to his feet upon my entrance, his face lighting up with a brilliant smile that conveyed both warmth and surprise. ¡°Southwark!¡± he eximed, exuding cheerfulness. ¡°What a delightful surprise to have you grace my office with your presence.¡± With a graceful gesture, he invited me to take a seat in one of the plush, leather chairs that adorned his office. ¡°I trust Timothy has been sessful in locating the object of your quest?¡± Taking my time to settle into the inviting chair, I crossed one ankle over the other, an air of purpose about me. ¡°That¡¯s not the purpose of my visit,¡± I informed him, the smile on his face slowly fading as he too resumed his seat. ¡°I¡¯vee here to seek rity on your decision to sever business ties with Ms. cks. His frown etched deeper lines on his forehead. ¡°Mr. Southwark, I must insist that my business decisions remain my own concern,¡± he asserted firmly. Leaning back in his chair, he tilted his head inquisitively. ¡°I¡¯ve heard whispers that you and Ms. cks were once married and subsequently divorced.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. My gaze turned steely as I locked eyes with him. ¡°And why, in the world, would that be any of your business?¡± I retorted, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. He offered a nonchnt shrug. ¡°Well, the same way my personal dealings with Ms. cks aren¡¯t your concern.¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back my exasperation any longer. ¡°It bes my concern because whatever discord you have with Hazel is wreaking havoc on my rtionship,¡± I admitted, trying to temper my frustration. It wasn¡¯t his fault, and I didn¡¯t want tosh out at the innocent bystander. ¡°She¡¯s convinced that I¡¯m somehow involved in your decision to terminate your business ties with her.¡± Warren raised an eyebrow, his expression resolute. ¡°Then, Mr. Southwark, it¡¯s simple. Just tell her the truth ¨C that this has nothing to do with you,¡± he deadpanned, his tone unwavering. My patience wore thin, and I couldn¡¯t help but let my frustration seep into my words. ¡°And do you think I haven¡¯t done that?¡± I snapped, my voice no longer holding back. ¡°I need you to call her and assure her that I¡¯m not involved in whatever transpired between you two.¡± His frown deepened, and he muttered stubbornly, ¡°I won¡¯t do that. My dealings with Ms. cks are strictly business, and I won¡¯t entangle myself in your romantic troubles. If she can¡¯t trust you when you tell her it¡¯s not your doing, then perhaps you should reconsider that rtionship.¡± My frustration surged, and I ground my teeth. ¡°Warren, you¡¯re dangerously close to crossing a line here,¡± I warned through gritted teeth. If only Hazel would answer my calls. Should I consider taking a trip to Seattle? Maybe use Daisy as an excuse to get her to see me? Anything to sort this out. ¡°Can you at least reconsider your decision regarding doing business with her?¡± Warren shook his head resolutely. ¡°I had my reasons for pulling out, and those reasons don¡¯t simply vanish because you¡¯re asking for a favor,¡± he replied, his lips moistening with a hint of regret. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Southwark, but I can¡¯t be of assistance in this matter.¡± Exasperated and feeling like this meeting had been aplete waste of time, I rose from the sofa and stormed out of his office. Climbing into my car, I started the engine but didn¡¯t drive off just yet. Resting my head on the steering wheel, I took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts and figure out how to resolve this mess. As I sat in my car, contemting the frustrating conversation with Warren, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I retrieved it and nced at the caller ID, only to let the call go to voicemail when I saw it was Raymond who was dialing. That ba stard had sent me a text just a few hours ago, announcing his resignation. I knew I hadn¡¯t been the easiest boss to work for, but he wouldn¡¯t quit just because of that, unless he had some solid business n or otherpelling reason. My phone began to ring again, and in annoyance, I tossed it onto the passenger seat before pulling away from the curb. A few minutes into my drive, my phone came to life once more, this time with an unknown number disyed. Letting out a resigned sigh, I pulled over to the side of the road and answered the call. ¡°Southwark. Who is this?¡± I demanded, my frustration lingering from the earlier encounter. Raymond¡¯s voice crac kled with frustration from the other end of the line. ¡°What the hell, man?¡± he snapped, and I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes at the fact that he was using a different number to reach me. ¡°Mrs, Anne and I have been trying to get hold of you for ages.¡± I responded with a t, deadpan tone, my irritation clear. ¡°Mrs. Anne has quite the nerve trying to reach me,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°What do you want, Raymond? I¡¯m not in the mood to talk to anyone right now.¡± Well, anyone who isn¡¯t Hazel, that is. Raymond hissed in exasperation. ¡°Get your head out of your a ss, man!¡± he retorted, his voice rising. ¡°Not everything revolves around you and Hazel and your rtionship drama.¡± My patience was wearing thin, and I warned him curtly, ¡°You¡¯re on a short leash, Raymond. I might just hang up this call soon.¡± ¡°Eleanor was in an ident,¡± he disclosed, and my breath caught in my throat, my heart racing with fear. ¡°She¡¯s been seriously injured, Ravel, and she¡¯s been in surgery for over an hour.¡± My world suddenly shifted as Raymond¡¯s words hit me like a ton of bricks. ¡°Eleanor was in an ident?¡± I stammered, breath catching, heart pounding with fear. ¡°And she¡¯s in surgery for over an hour?¡± my With trembling fingers, I hastily turned on the ignition of my car. Panic was coursing through me as I gripped the steering wheel. ¡°Which hospital?¡± I demanded, already pulling onto the road. ¡°Central Hospital,¡± Raymond replied urgently. ¡°You need to put aside your anger and get your a ss over here. Eleanor urgently needs a blood transfusion, and you¡¯re the only one with the same blood group as her. The hospital is struggling to find AB negative blood, which is why we¡¯ve been trying to reach you for the past hour.¡± My heart pounding, I mmed the elerator, disregarding traffic rules as I raced down the road. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in no time,¡± I muttered through clenched teeth. Tears began to blur my vision, one after the other, until my eyes were brimming. With one hand, I wiped away the tears while keeping the other firmly on the wheel. T I arrived at the hospital with lightning speed, carelessly leaving my car running as I dashed into the building. Finding them wasn¡¯t a challenge; the entire hospital seemed focused on ensuring that Elenor Southwark would pull through. Anne spotted me first and rushed into my arms, her tears soaking into my chest. Raymond intervened, gently pulling her away. ¡°He needs to go donate blood,¡± he insisted, his urgency mirroring my own. Nodding, Anne let me go. I followed the doctor in and did the necessary tests before the blood was finally transfused. I was told to take a rest in one of the wards, but I insisted on being close to Anne. She may have not have been the best mother, but Elenor was her favourite. Walking back into the waiting area, I sat down on the seat and pulled Anne into a warm embrace. Raymond left to say a prayer for Elenor in the hospital chapel. Whilst he prayed, I consoled Anne while we all hoped and prayed for a better and hopeful result. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 RAVEL FOUR YEARS AGO ?? ? Hazely unconscious, her delicate frame still, and the painkillers held her in a deep slumber. The skilled hands of the doctors meticulously stitched the cra ck on her skull, a dire consequence of her unfortunate fall. This intricate procedure. consumed a grueling two hours of time, a relentless battle against the clock. Throughout the ordeal, Hazel remained blissfully unaware, as I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her enduring even a moment of agony. In the waiting area, the atmosphere hung heavy with unspoken words and tension. Raymond, Elenor, and Anne stood by my side, their silence echoing the collective anger that enveloped us all. No one dared to address Anne, their resentment palpable in the air. Desperate pleas had fallen from Anne¡¯s lips countless times, each word an attempt to convince me of her innocence. She was adamant that the push down the stairs had been a dreadful ident, a tragic twist of fate she never intended. My wife¡¯s fall and the subsequent serious injury she suffered cannot be excused. Had she not confronted her near the stairs or halted her progress, my wife would have descended the staircase unharmed. Therefore, ultimately, she is the one responsible for this unfortunate situation. In response, Raymond had to take Elenor to my apartment to obtain fresh clothing for both Hazel and me. Meanwhile, Anne likely lingered in the hallway, hoping I would reconsider my decision. I had explicitly instructed my men to prevent her from entering this room, as she has no right to see Hazel. Gently holding Hazel¡¯s hand, I pressed a tender kiss to her inner wrist, my lips trembling as I whispered, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Hazel. I¡¯m sorry for failing to protect you from my mother.¡± The prominent cra ck on her skull served as a constant, painful reminder of my shorings. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I repeated, my voice heavy with guilt. Leaning in, I ced a gentle kiss on her forehead, as if seeking sce in that small gesture. As the first tears welled in my eyes, I realized I couldn¡¯t recall thest time I had cried. I wiped them away hastily with the back of my hand, my thoughts spiraling in a tumultuous mix of sorrow and anger. Would I ever find it in my heart to forgive Anne for this? Doubt lingered in the depths of my soul like a relentless shadow. Among all her transgressions, this was the gravest, and the wounds it had inflicted ran deep. I hadn¡¯t even noticed that I¡¯d drifted off to sleep until I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Opening my eyes, I found Raymond watching me intently, his concern evident in his eyes. He cautioned, ¡°You¡¯ll strain your neck if you sleep like that for too long,¡± and handed me a cup of coffee. Suppressing a yawn, I gratefully epted the coffee. ¡°Thank you,¡± I murmured, my eyes scanning the room andnding on the empty bed. A crease of worry marred my brow. ¡°Where¡¯s Hazel?¡± Raymond settled onto the other vacant sofa, exuding an air of reassurance. ¡°Calm down, man. She¡¯s in the restroom with Elenor.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but involuntarily gaze at the closed bathroom door. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she wake me up?¡± I wondered aloud, a sense of disorientation clouding my thoughts. How long had I been asleep? ncing at my wristwatch, I winced at the realization that three hours had passed; I hadn¡¯t even been aware of my exhaustion. ¡°You looked peaceful in your sleep, and she didn¡¯t want to disturb you,¡± Raymond exined. Almost as if in response to his words, the restroom door swung open, and Elenor emerged, Hazel in tow. With a sense of urgency, I rose from my seat and approached them, silently signaling to Elenor to let go so I could assist Hazel on my own. Gently, I took her forearm and guided her to the bed. She settled onto it, making an attempt to reach for the pillow. I quickly aided her in adjusting it for herfort. Whispering softly, I asked, ¡°Are you okay? Are you in any pain? Should I call the doctor?¡± Concern filled my voice as I settled down beside her. She managed a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been awake for almost two hours now,¡± she informed me. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Despite her reassurance, I still felt the need to call the doctor. Stepping away from the bed, I walked over to the button and pressed it, determined to ensure Hazel received proper care. Raymond, however, seemed skeptical. ¡°Didn¡¯t she tell you she¡¯s fine?¡± he remarked with a hint of incredulity. I walked past Raymond, pping the back of his head in the process. ¡°You should have called the doctor the moment she woke up,¡± I scolded, my concern for Hazel¡¯s well-being overriding any patience I might have had. She had endured a significant injury and needed to receive the best care possible. Returning to my spot beside Hazel, I gently cupped her face in my hands. ¡°You really scared me, Hazel,¡± I admitted, my voiceden with emotion. The memory of finding her unconscious on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood, had shaken me to my core. ¡°Don¡¯t ever scare me like that again.¡± ¡°I promise not to,¡± she whispered, and I leaned in to nt a soft, reassuring kiss on her lips. As I pulled back, she smiled softly. ¡°Where is Anne? I haven¡¯t seen her anywhere around since I woke up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I don¡¯t want to see her anywhere near you,¡± I gritted through clenched teeth, my agitation palpable. The mere mention of Anne¡¯s name had the power to unravel myposure. ¡°Attending her birthday dinner was my attempt at extending an olive branch, but she managed to make it worse by doing something even more egregious than her previous actions.¡± Hazel¡¯s voice trembled as she whispered, ¡°It was a mistake,¡± and I shot her a piercing re. ¡°Honestly, Rav, it was a mistake. Yes, Anne wasn¡¯t pleased with me, but she never intended to push me down the stairs.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t defend her, Hazel,¡± I warned vehemently, my frustration with Anne¡¯s actions simmering beneath the surface. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have confronted you at all.¡± Anne had certainly pushed the boundaries, and if she weren¡¯t my mother, I would have responded in a manner she¡¯d deeply regret. The only reason she remained untouched was our family ties. Hazel sighed, her expression weary, as if grappling with the weight of the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t let this affect your rtionship with her,¡± she pleaded earnestly, her eyes locking onto mine with an unwavering gaze. ¡°I¡¯m okay with her not liking me, but please, do not hate her because of me.¡± I shook my head resolutely, my resolve unwavering. ¡°I have every reason to hate her, Hazel, and you won¡¯t be able to talk me out of it,¡± I affirmed, wanting her to understand the depth of my feelings. Her frown deepened, but I needed her to understand my perspective. ¡°I want you to listen to me, Hazel. I want you to stay away from Anne,¡± I asserted firmly, my tone leaving no room forpromise. ¡°Under no circumstances should you meet with her or acknowledge her in any way.¡± My concern for Hazel¡¯s safety and well-being drove my insistence. ¡°She¡¯s your mother,¡± Hazel insisted, her voice tinged with empathy. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly just ignore her.¡± ¡°Well, I am telling you to,¡± I responded sternly, the hardness in my tone causing her to avert her gaze momentarily. ¡°I¡¯ve never forced you to do anything before, Hazel, but I will in this case.¡± Her gaze slowly returned to me, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. ¡°I forbid you from meeting with Anne or being in the same space with her.¡± Hazel let out a sigh of frustration, her patience clearly tested. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this when I¡¯m all better,¡± she mumbled, lying back and attempting to close her eyes. ¡°It isn¡¯t going to change anything. My decision still stands. Stay away from her,¡± I asserted firmly, my concern for her well- being fueling my resolve. ¡°Ravel is right,¡± chimed in Elenor, lending her support to my stance. ¡°Anne might be my mother, but nothing goodes from meeting her, so just avoid her altogether.¡± Hazel shifted her gaze to Elenor, who continued, ¡°You were lucky this time, but we can¡¯t afford to take another chance.¡± Hazel licked her lips, her decision made. ¡°Fine. I will avoid meeting with her.¡± Relief washed over me like a soothing balm. Perhaps, finally, I could start to enjoy my marriage without the constant worry that my mother might pose a threat to Hazel¡¯s safety. I leaned down and kissed her again, my love and gratitude overwhelming me. ¡°I love you, Hazel, and I can¡¯t afford to lose you; I refuse to lose you.¡± The thought of a life without Hazel was unbearable, and I vowed to protect her at all costs.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 HAZEL PRESENT TIME I remain perplexed by my ongoing inability to resolve the issue with the client. Despite my attempts to reach out, they steadfastly declined any participation in the uing exhibition and have been evasive about providing me with any substantial exnations for their decision. Out of a mixture of both anger and frustration, I made the impulsive choice to take a brief respite from my professional responsibilities and spend some quality time with my beloved daughter, Daisy. While not necessarily in the mood for a conventional vacation, I opted to embark on a visit to David¡¯s mother, whom I had not seen since that unfortunate incident. My days have been overwhelmingly consumed by the demands of my work and time with Ravel, making it challenging to allocate time for her, and this visit was long overdue. David had also reached the point where he feltpelled to take a break from his own professional duties, a sentiment I wholeheartedly understood. Truth be told, the atmosphere at the office had be ratherckluster, especially since the news of Warren and Jericho¡¯s withdrawals had prompted other artists to reconsider their participation as well. As I prepared to depart, the unmistakable sound of a car horn resonated through mypound, signaling David¡¯s arrival. In a swift motion, I retrieved my suitcase from atop the bed, handing it over to Robertson, our trusted helper. With my precious daughter, Daisy, cradled in my arms, I exited the building and found David busy loading bags into the car¡¯s trunk. David, ever the melodramatic soul, couldn¡¯t resist nting an exaggerated, messy kiss on Daisy¡¯s cheek, all the while cooing in aically exaggerated baby voice, ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, my little pumpkin.¡± Rolling my eyes at his theatrics, I settled Daisy into the back seat, ensuring she was safely strapped in, before taking my ce in the passenger seat beside David. David settled into the driver¡¯s seat, ignited the car¡¯s engine, and smoothly exited my driveway. Throughout the drive, he couldn¡¯t help but steal asional nces in my direction, genuine concern etched across his face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he inquired, his voiceced with worry. I couldn¡¯t help but smile at the somewhat obvious question. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I reassured him, my tone resolute. I had weathered far more formidable storms in the past and emerged unscathed; this situation wouldn¡¯t be any different. ¡°Could you please roll down the window? I could use some fresh air.¡± David nodded in understanding, obliging by lowering the window and gradually increasing the car¡¯s speed, ensuring the safety of all passengers. Retrieving my phone from my purse, I powered it off, stashed it deep within, and extended my hand out through the window, savoring the caress of the cool breeze against my palm. The soothing embrace of the cool breeze and the picturesque countryside scenery worked their magic, granting me a temporary respite from my worries. It was as if, for a while, I could set aside the weight of my concerns. The journey to Monica¡¯s ce passed in serene silence, with Daisy eventually drifting into peaceful slumber. Fortunately, David respected the quiet atmosphere, allowing only the gentle strains of music and Daisy¡¯s soft snores to fill the car. As we pulled up into Monica¡¯s driveway, her warm, weing smile greeted us from afar. Stepping out of the car, she enveloped me in a heartfelt hug before kindly offering to take care of Daisy¡¯s belongings. I cradled my sleeping daughter in my arms and followed Monica to the room she had prepared for us. After a refreshing shower and a change of clothes, I emerged from the room, only to learn that David had ventured into the woods to gather firewood for the firece. Monica, who was busy preparing dinner, weed my offer to assist. I diligently washed my hands and began chopping vegetables for the meal. ¡°David mentioned the challenges at work,¡± Monica remarked, her tone tinged with concern. I paused, the knife hovering close to the vegetables, a subtle frown creasing my forehead as I contemted the weight of my workce woes. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to talk about work,¡± I admitted with a sigh, the weariness in my voice echoing the fatigue that had led me to seek sce away from the city in the first ce. Chapter 88 Monica offered a sincere apology, her voice filled with understanding as she tried to provide a comforting perspective. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said softly, her words carrying a touch of empathy, ¡°but I want you to know that challenges are an inevitable part of life, and theye and go.¡± The irony of the situation gnawed at my soul; this particr challenge was being inflicted by someone close to me, leaving me feeling as if I¡¯d been wounded twice. Biting my lip in an attempt to quell the rising emotions, I picked up a watermelon to wash. As I turned on the tap, an unexpected surge of water cascaded out with surprising force, drenching my hair, face, and shirt. Yelping in surprise, I instinctively leaped back, my inadvertent mishap adding a touch of unintentional humor to the moment. Monica abandoned her kitchen duties and hurried over to inspect the misbehaving tap. ¡°David will fix it when he gets back,¡± she reassured me. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go change into dry clothes while I handle things here?¡± I nodded gratefully and made my way to the door. ¡°Do you happen to have a hairdryer? I didn¡¯t bring mine,¡± I inquired. ¡°Yeah, check thest cab in the dresser,¡± she replied, already reaching for her phone, likely to call David to return promptly. I left the kitchen, returning to my room first to change into a dry shirt before making my way to Monica¡¯s room. Upon entering her room, I headed straight for the closet and bent down to open thest drawer. To my frustration, it refused to budge despite my persistent tugging. As I exerted one final, forceful pull, a box resting atop the drawer tumbled to the floor. Its lid sprang open, and the contents spilled out. Setting aside the stubborn drawer, I hastily began collecting the sca ttered contents of the spilled box, my curiosity piqued by a particr photograph. In it, a younger Monica was cradling a little girl in her arms. This image led me to inspect the other photos within the box, revealing a series of snapshots chronicling the girl¡¯s growth, from infancy to adulthood, always alongside Monica. A perplexed furrow creased my brow. David had explicitly stated that he was an only child, so the presence of these images raised questions. Had Monica experienced the heart-wrenching loss of a child? My mind raced with unspoken queries as I carefully returned the photograph to its ce withinPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org. the box. Resolving to address my curiosityter, I pulled over a nearby vanity chair, climbed onto it, and positioned the box back on top of the dresser. Ignoring the uncooperative drawer, I made my way back to the kitchen to inform Monica of my struggle with it. She gave it a try herself and eventually managed to open it, then handed me the hairdryer. After swiftly drying my hair, I rejoined Monica in the kitchen. This time, she hadpleted dinner preparations, so I assisted by setting the table. Then, out of the blue, a question I had been pondering compelled me to ask, ¡°Do you have any other children besides David?* She paused, her expression shifting subtly as she arched a brow at me. ¡°No, I don¡¯t, she replied, her responseced with a hint of caution. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± I could sense that she was withholding something from me, a secret lurking behind her gaze. Revealing that I had stumbled upon the photographs didn¡¯t seem like the best course of action. Instead, I chose to share a different piece of information. ¡°At the hospitalst time, you mentioned wanting to see your child, and you made it clear that David isn¡¯t your child.¡± David, who had entered the room unnoticed, interjected from the doorway, his voice casual. ¡°Anesthesia,¡± he exined, ¡°when under its influence, people often say things that don¡¯t make sense. You shouldn¡¯t take them seriously. I¡¯m quite certain that I don¡¯t have any other rtives, at least not to my knowledge. As he spoke, he casually helped himself to an apple from the fruit basket, his demeanor nonchnt. David¡¯s phone interrupted our conversation with an unexpected call, and he retrieved it from his pocket with a puzzled frown, noticing the caller ID. ¡°Agatha? Is everything okay?¡± he inquired, briefly ncing in my direction. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s here with me, but I don¡¯t think she wants to talk to you.¡± My curiosity piqued, I extended my hand and took the phone. ¡°What is it, Agatha?¡± I greeted her, but the urgency in her voice caused my eyes to widen. ¡°Slow down, Agatha! What happened to Elenor?¡± Her words hit me like a tidal wave. ¡°She was in an ident, and it¡¯s all over the news!¡± she eximed. The shock and concern washed over me as I realized the gravity of the situation. ¡°Sh it,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°I need to be in New York as soon as possible.¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 RAVEL PRESENT TIME The passing of time has transformed thesest two days into a grueling ordeal since Elenor fell into a deepa. The persistent absence of any concrete updates on when she might regain consciousness has been profoundly frustrating, to say the least. A profound sense of helplessness consumes me as I stand by her side, watching her lie there motionless. My frustration ispounded by the knowledge that she had been trying to reach out to me before this happened, but I had been consciously ignoring her calls. Guilt clings to me like a heavy cloak as I reflect on this. Anne decided to temporarily step away, returning home to fetch fresh clothes for herself and some essential items for me. It¡¯s been roughly an hour since she departed, and I¡¯m fairly certain she¡¯s on her way back to the hospital at this very moment. Raymond, who had been seated on the sofa, finally decided to rise from his seat. His action, marked by a subtle throat- clearing, was a silent yet assertive attempt to capture my attention. However, in keeping with my recent pattern, I continued to ignore him, just as I had been doing with everyone since Elenor was relocated to this room.¡± Raymond¡¯s voice, rough with emotion, finally broke through my distracted state. ¡°I¡¯m embarking on a journey to my hometown tomorrow,¡± he disclosed, his words carrying a heavy weight. ¡°This trip will keep me away for two days, and I should return by Sunday. I implore you to keep me informed if any significant changes ur.¡± Raising my head, I blinked at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Elenor held a special ce in his heart, and his departure at this critical juncture puzzled me. ¡°May I inquire about the purpose of your trip to your hometown?¡± I asked, my voiceced with surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to leave her side at a time like this.¡± Raymond¡¯s response only deepened my confusion. ¡°I¡¯m going to fulfill my father¡¯sst wish,¡± he revealed, causing my brows to furrow even more. ¡°I understand I previously submitted my resignation, but before I depart, is there anything specific you want me to get you?¡± Standing up, I took a step closer, and continued to scrutinize him intently, a myriad of questions swirling in my mind. ¡°Could you please exin what you mean by you¡¯re going to fulfill your father¡¯sst wish?¡± ¡°He asked me to cremate his body and send his ashes back home when he passed away, and I must honor his wish,¡± Raymond replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of determination and sadness. ¡°I can¡¯t keep dying it any longer. Understanding finally dawned upon me as his words fell into ce. ¡°Your father has passed away?¡± I responded with genuine sympathy. It was a terrible loss; Raymond had been incredibly close to his father until the ident that had imed my own father¡¯s life and put his in aa. Raymond had adamantly kept his father on life support, despite the medical advice to let go. I had offered to cover the mounting hospital bills, but he had declined my offer, shouldering the financial burden for the past five years. ¡°When did he pass, and why didn¡¯t you inform me?¡± My voice held a mix of concern and surprise as I tried to grasp the situation fully. A frown etched across Raymond¡¯s face as he responded, his frustration palpable. ¡°I would have informed you if you had bothered to answer my calls,¡± he retorted, his voice carrying a hint of irritation. He sighed deeply, his lips moistened by his tongue, and he asked once more, ¡°Is there anything you need before I leave?¡± Regret washed over me like a heavy wave. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry,¡± I apologized sincerely, the weight of my actions sinking in. Raymond had always been there for me, and at the one moment he needed my support, I had let him down. ¡°I should have answered your call. I deeply regret not being there for you when you needed me.¡± Raymond clenched his fist, his gaze shifting away. ¡°Your apology won¡¯t change the situation,¡± he muttered bitterly. ¡°The damage is done, and your apology won¡¯t bring my father back.¡± A furrow creased my brow as I contemted Raymond¡¯s words. Why was he making it sound as though answering his call would have altered the course of events? ¡°Would it have truly made a difference?¡± I questioned, meeting his gaze directly. ¡°If I had picked up that call, would your father still be alive?¡± He held my gaze sternly and without blinking. Initially, it seemed like he might not respond, but he eventually did. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied firmly. ¡°If you had cared to answer, I wouldn¡¯t be on this trip to sca tter his ashes.¡± His eyes then drifted toward Elenor¡¯s unconscious form. ¡°Just as Elenor might still be with us if we had answered her calls.¡± His implication hit me like a dagger, and my jaw clenched in response. ¡°What are you trying to insinuate?¡± I hissed, my frustration bubbling up. ¡°Are you suggesting that I¡¯m to me for what happened to my sister?¡± Raymond¡¯s sad chuckle hung heavily in the air. ¡°I¡¯m saying we share the me. The ident report states it happened at 8:00 PM, and she called me at 7:52 PM,¡± he exined, tilting his head. ¡°I¡¯m quite certain she tried to reach you too.¡± I recoiled, taking a step back as my worst fears were confirmed. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be,¡± I whispered, my voice trembling, tears streaming down my cheeks. ¡°I had nothing to do with this.¡± Raymond¡¯s shoulders lifted in a nonchnt shrug. ¡°Believe what you will, but it doesn¡¯t change the truth,¡± he stated solemnly. With onest look at Elenor, he walked out of the room, leaving me in a state of disbelief and sorrow. Stuck in ce, I turned to gaze at Elenor, my tears flowing freely. I had no idea how long I stood there, motionless and lost in my thoughts. The door opened, and Anne entered, carrying an overnight bag. She paused, her expression filled with concern, as she witnessed me crying while fixated on Elenor. Anne¡¯s panic was palpable as she rushed to Elenor¡¯s side, checking the medical equipment to ensure Elenor¡¯s heart was still beating. With that reassurance, she turned her attention to me, her voice trembling with concern. ¡°Ravel? What¡¯s happening? Why are you crying like this?¡± Tears mirrored my own began streaming down her cheeks, and her worry deepened. ¡°Ravel, you¡¯re scaring me. Please, tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± I couldn¡¯t bring myself to answer her. Instead, when she reached out to cradle my cheeks, I took an involuntary step back, avoiding her touch. Bitterughter escaped my lips as I wiped the tears staining my cheeks with the back of my hand. I had failed both Elenor and Raymond when they needed me the most. ¡°I need some time alone,¡± I mumbled, my voiceden with regret, before turning and walking out of the room, leaving Anne behind, bewildered and crying. I moved like a man possessed, my hand patting my pocket until I retrieved my car keys. My security personnel followed suit, ready to apany me, but I halted them with a firmmand. ¡°I want to be alone,¡± I asserted, and they exchanged puzzled nces. ¡°Consider it an order.¡± Sliding into my car, I drove away, needing space from the overwhelming emotions that had engulfed me. My first stop was a bar; driving aimlessly through the city seemed too dangerous in my distraught state. Normally, I would have turned to Elenor for sce, but she wasn¡¯t answering my calls, and to be honest, I wasn¡¯t in the mood to speak with her Taking a seat on a barstool, I signaled the bartender over. ¡°Could I have a bottle of whiskey and a ss, please?¡± I requested, and he nodded before swiftly serving my drink. Without hesitation, I poured a generous amount into my ss and downed it in one go, trying to numb the pain that had gripped my heart. I poured another generous refill of whiskey into my ss, my vision blurring as I continued to drown my sorrows. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through my missed calls, and the painful truth stared back at me: Elenor had called me fifteen times, and I had ignored every single one. By the time I reached my second bottle of whiskey, the alcohol had taken its toll. My surroundings became hazy, and I could barely make out the tumbler in front of me. I chuckled drunkenly and decided to rest my head on the bar counter, hoping a brief nap would offer some respite. ¡°I¡¯ll handle his bills,¡± a familiar female voice dered. Ignoring the voice, I attempted to drift off into an alcohol-induced slumber. However, I suddenly felt the grip of two pairs of hands on me, lifting me from my seat, and then I was unceremoniously dragged out of the bar and into a waiting car that sped away. My blurry consciousness struggled toprehend what was happening.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 RAVEL PRESENT TIME The piercing, maddening sound of an unfamiliar ringtone rudely shattered the serenity of my slumber. Groggily, I reluctantly pried open one eye, only to be greeted by an unforgiving wave of throbbing pain in my skull. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how much alcohol had crossed my lips the night before. Yet, the persistent ringtone left me with no choice but to coax my other eye open. As I begrudgingly adjusted to the ring noise, the first thing that registered in my bleary gaze was the comforting sight of my own bedroom ceiling. My curiosity urged me to crane my neck to the left, desperately scouring for the source of the incessant ring. But my intention to disengage from the bed was abruptly halted as my hand made unexpected contact with a warm, living presence beside me. Confusion knitted my brows into a perplexed frown as I turned my gaze toward this unexpected bedfellow. A vehement curse involuntarily tumbled from my lips upon beholding the peacefully slumbering form of June. My thoughts raced, frantically attempting to piece together the puzzle ofst night¡¯s events. What on earth had transpired during those hazy hours? As if sensing my intense gaze, she slowly blinked her eyes open, a mischievous smile ying on her lips as our eyes locked. ¡°What¡¯s so amusing?¡± I snapped, my irritation apparent. ¡°And seriously, why are you in my room?¡± Suppressing a yawn, she nonchntly rose from the bed, letting the duvet slip down to her waist, revealing her bare chest. A wave of nausea swept over me, and I couldn¡¯t help but react sharply. ¡°Cover yourself up!¡± I scolded. She rolled her eyes, begrudginglyplying with my request by concealing her exposed chest with the duvet. ¡°Why the sudden irritation?¡± she retorted. ¡°You weren¡¯t like thisst night.¡± A sense of dread gnawed at me as I scrambled to piece together the fragmented memories of the previous night. ¡°Oh, da mn. it! What did I do?¡± I muttered under my breath, fearing I had sumbed to the very thing I¡¯d been trying to avoid. Running my fingers through my tousled morning hair, I attempted to cling to a glimmer of hope. ¡°Can you please enlighten me on what exactly happenedst night?¡± The infuriating ringtone resurfaced,pelling June to step out of bed, dragging the duvet with her and leaving me unabashedly exposed and vulnerable. She cast a quick nce at the caller ID. ¡°It¡¯s your mom; I need to take this,¡± she informed me before epting the call. ¡°Hello, ma¡¯am,¡± her voice rang out as she nced back at me, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s right here with me.¡± She paused briefly, presumably listening to my mother on the other end of the line. ¡°He appears to be doing fine. Okay, I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡± With that, she ended the call and turned her attention back to me. ¡°Your mother needs someone at the hospital,¡± she exined, gathering her clothes and belongings strewn across the floor. My mind raced as I seized the opportunity to address the pressing questions from the night before. ¡°Now, can you please tell me what happenedst night?¡± I implored, my memory still hazy but beginning to piece together fragments of our time at the bar. A flicker of realization crossed my face. ¡°Wait, were you the one who paid for the drinks at the bar?¡± With a smile gracing her lips, she spoke, her voice filled with hope, ¡°Could this be the moment when I finally receive a heartfelt thank you for assisting youst night?¡± 1 cautioned myself not to respond with anger, reminding myself that it takes two to create a situation like that. ¡°How did you manage to find yourself in my room? I inquired, my curiosity piqued. Her smile widened as she reminisced about the events that had unfolded, even though they happened to be my worst nightmare. ¡°I suppose you were ovee with desirest night, she teased, her words laced with a hint of mischief. ¡°You went from being unconscious tovishing me with kisses all over.¡± My re intensified as frustration seeped into my voice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you put a stop to it?¡¯ I hissed, my wordsced with exasperation. ¡°I was clearly intoxicated and out of my senses! Why didn¡¯t you intervene?¡± 1/3 This is from N?velDrama.Org. She raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. ¡°Why would I have stopped you?¡± she scoffed. ¡°You expect me to halt something that I¡¯ve always yearned for?¡± Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve touched me since we entered into this rtionship.¡± I let out a deep inhale, desperately hoping for some reassurance. ¡°Please, for the love of all that is holy, tell me that I had the sense to use a condom.¡± The mere thought of not using protection sent shivers down my spine. Once again, June rolled her eyes at me, as if my question was utterly absurd. ¡°Rx, I¡¯m clean. I got tested justst week,¡± she replied dismissively, as if that was supposed to ease my worries. What the hell? My heart sank as panic surged through my veins. ¡°I would rather risk contracting a disease than have you end up pregnant, June!¡± I eximed, my voiceced with desperation. Hazel would never forgive me if I let this happen. ¡°Tell me, did I use a condom or not?!¡± A small yelp escaped June¡¯s lips, startled by the sudden sharpness in my tone. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t,¡± she admitted, her voice filled with guilt. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find one, and you didn¡¯t want to wait for me to search for one in my room.¡± My fingers began to tremble uncontrobly as the weight of the situation crashed down on me. ¡°So, in other words, I released inside you?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. June nodded, confirming my worst fears. The overwhelming sense of regret washed over me, making me wish I could just disappear. ¡°Are you on any form of birth control? Pills, perhaps?¡± She shot me an indignant re. ¡°Do you seriously think I¡¯d engage in unprotected sex with you if I weren¡¯t on birth control?¡± She scoffed, her irritation evident. ¡°Contrary to what you might believe, I have no desire to carry your baby.¡± I heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a mutual agreement then,¡± I replied, relieved that the risk of an unnned pregnancy was seemingly averted. ¡°I definitely don¡¯t want you carrying my baby either.¡± Just as our conversation seemed to be settling, a knock at the door disrupted our fragile peace. June, defying my re, moved to answer it. Annoyed, I mbered out of bed, hastily donned my clothes, and took it upon myself to respond to the interruption. At the door, I found Garfield, the housekeeper, waiting patiently. ¡°Ms. Hazel is in the living room,¡± he informed me. ¡°She wants to see you.¡± My eyes widened in shock at Garfield¡¯s revtion. ¡°Hazel is here?¡± I stammered, seeking confirmation from him. He simply nodded in response. ¡°I¡¯ll be with her shortly,¡± I muttered, closing the door behind him. Turning back to June, my tone had an edge of irritation. ¡°Get out of my room,¡± I instructed firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you in here when Ie out of the shower.¡± I hurried through the shortest shower imaginable, trying to wash away not only the physical dirt but also the overwhelming guilt from the previous night. As I brushed my teeth, a hiss escaped me when I noticed a love mark on my neck. Opting for a turtleneck sweater to conceal the evidence, I hastily grabbed a pair of loose jeans before rushing downstairs to face Hazel, However, the scene that awaited me in the living room was far from what I had anticipated. June, wearing nothing but my shirt, sat across from Hazel, sporting a sly smile that sent a shiver down my spine. Hazel¡¯s gaze could have burned a hole through June as she locked eyes with the shirt June was wearing. There was no doubt she recognized it; it was the very shirt I had worn when we exchanged our vows, a shirt she had personally bought for me. I couldn¡¯t let this confrontation escte any further. ¡°Hazel,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible, but enough to draw her gaze away from June. She finally tore her eyes from June¡¯s figure and looked at me, standing up from her seat. ¡°Excuse us,¡± I requested, gesturing for June to leave. She stood up and sashayed out of the living room. Once we were alone, I couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. ¡°What did she say to you?¡± I asked, worried that June might have divulged what had just happened. Hazel shrugged, a hint of annoyance in her expression. ¡°Nothing, really,¡± she replied nonchntly. ¡°I suppose she¡¯s trying to assert her dominance.¡± Her eyes then softened as she studied me closely. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she inquired with genuine concern. I took advantage of the moment, extending my hand toward her with a hopeful expression. ¡°I¡¯ll be even better if you give me a hug,¡± I admitted. Hazel¡¯s grin softened her earlier annoyance. ¡°You¡¯re such a baby,¡± she teased softly before enveloping me in a warm hug. Her presence was reassuring, and I found sce in her embrace. She pulled away slightly and and stared at me reassuringly, ¡°I couldn¡¯t see Eleanor at the hospital because Anne wouldn¡¯t allow it, but I can assure you she¡¯s going to be fine.¡± Regret gnawed at me as I realized I should have confided in Hazel yesterday instead of ending up in that situation. ¡°Everything is going to be fine now that you¡¯re here,¡± I murmured, genuinely grateful for her presence. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 RAVEL PRESENT TIME I had to leave for the hospital with Ravel because that is the only way I will be able to see Elenor. Stepping out onto the porch, I upied the passenger seat, awaiting Ravel¡¯s conclusion of a conversation with one of his security personnel. Finally, his discussion concluded, and he began his leisurely approach towards me. My attention was so fixated on Ravel that I remained oblivious to someone¡¯s presence beside the car window until the individual boldly opened the door. Turning my gaze toward the open portal, I raised an inquisitive eyebrow, only to be met by the unmistakable re in June¡¯s expression. In that fleeting moment, I pondered the idea of simply ignoring her, but I swiftly dismissed that notion, opting instead to address her with a measured tone. ¡°Is there something you require assistance with? Her words dripped with annoyance as she dered, ¡°You¡¯re upying my seat. Move to the back.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but suppress a chuckle. This was the very same girl who had once been one of my favorites, ¡°Oh, you¡¯d like me to vacate your seat?¡± I quipped, and to my amusement, she nodded, seemingly oblivious to the implications of her request. Amused, I reached for the door handle, but she clung to it, her grip surprisingly strong, Ravel¡¯s sudden interruption startled both of us. ¡°What on earth are you doing? Why are you holding the door?¡± he snapped, clearly perplexed by the situation. Our attention shifted to Ravel, and it was June who found her voice first. ¡°Ravel, why is she in my seat?¡± She inquired, her expression one of genuine curiosity. I had to stifle another chuckle at the absurdity of it all. ¡°Could you please ask her to move to the back seat?¡± Ravel¡¯s re bore down on her with an intensity that could almost be felt. ¡°Are you going to step away from the door, or must I instruct someone to physically move you out of the way?¡± His words were laced with irritation. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. She retorted with a huff, ¡°Ravel, are you seriously going to disrespect me in front of her? Her tone dripped with indignation. Resisting the urge to engage in their dispute, I clenched my lower lip and fastened my seatbelt, fixing my gaze firmly on the windshield, attempting to block out the drama unfolding beside me. Ravel¡¯s patience eventually wore thin as June stubbornly refused to budge. He seized her hand forcefully, prying it away from the door and giving her a gentle but firm shove, causing her to stumble backward. Ravel then circled the car, slid into the driver¡¯s seat, started the engine, and guided the car out of the compound. In a brief moment of calm, he spared me a nce and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for that. I offered a tight smile in response, attempting to mask any lingering annoyance. ¡°No harm done,¡± I replied softly, my gaze fixed on the passing Scenery outside. Ravel, however, refused to let the matter rest. ¡°It¡¯s not fine,¡± he insisted, his voice carrying a trace of regret. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have treated you that way. It happened because of me, and I feel the need to apologize.¡± Turning toward him, I reassured him with a gentle tone. ¡°Really, Ravel, it¡¯s alright. I understand.¡± She¡¯s a woman in love, and it¡¯s natural for her to be protective of what she has with you. I¡¯ve been there before, but I¡¯ve moved past that stage now. I¡¯ll let the men vie for my attention, let them put in the effort, because I¡¯ve earned it, and I da mn well deserve it. He let out a heavy exhale, his fingers tightening their grip on the steering wheel. ¡°How is Daisy?¡± he inquired, a faint smile gracing his lips. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I have a daughter, and I haven¡¯t found the time to see her. His admission caught me somewhat by surprise. ¡°I¡¯m surprised too, I admitted gently. ¡°But I¡¯m sure you had your reasons for not visiting. He sighed deeply, clearly struggling with his emotions. ¡°I really wanted to,¡± he confessed, his voice laced with regret. ¡°But then that issue with Warren came up, and, well¡­¡± He winced, his words trailing off. ¡°I was upset that you didn¡¯t believe me, and I couldn¡¯t bring myself to face you.¡± I could feel the weight of unresolved issues lingering, but I chose to deflect for now. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I reassured him, attempting to steer the conversation away from my business problems and personal grievances. ¡°We can talk about thatter. Right now, let¡¯s focus on Elenor, not my business or personal troubles.¡± He stole another nce at me, his gaze carrying a hint of regret. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± he began, ¡°I tried to persuade Warren to change his mind, but he was adamant.¡± I met his gaze, and in that shared moment, our eyes seemed to convey mutual sincerity and apology. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I replied, offering a faint, understanding smile. ¡°Life can be unpredictable. Warren has made his decision, and I¡¯ll have to deal with the consequences of that choice.¡± Shifting the focus to Elenor, I asked with concern, ¡°What exactly happened to Elenor?¡± Ravel¡¯s fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he delivered the grim news. ¡°It was a car crash,¡± he exined somberly. ¡°It happened two days ago. Fortunately, bystanders called for an ambnce quickly, and she¡¯s currently in aa, fighting for her life.¡± I reached forward, gently cing my hand on his forearm and giving it aforting squeeze. Just as I was about to withdraw my hand, he surprised me by seizing it and intertwining our fingers. A reassuring smile passed between us. ¡°Elenor will fight this,¡± I affirmed with conviction. ¡°She¡¯s a fighter through and through.¡± Ravel¡¯s response was tinged with worry as he whispered, ¡°They said the same about my father, and he passed away the next morning.¡± He paused, his eyes clouded with fear. ¡°I really hope Elenor can fight this,¡± he confessed, visibly struggling to confront his fears. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can imagine a world without her.¡± Without hesitation, I reached forward, covering his hand with mine. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about your own death so casually,¡± I chided gently. ¡°Elenor is going to be alright; I¡¯m certain of it. She¡¯s not just a fighter; she¡¯s a stubborn one at that.¡± His chuckle carried a hint of nostalgia at my description of Elenor. ¡°I can¡¯t argue with you on that, she¡¯s definitely stubborn,¡± he admitted with a hint of sadness. ¡°I¡¯ve been working towards hearing her call me ¡®bluey¡¯ again.¡± I smiled at the memory. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s just as eager to use that name again.¡± Turning the conversation, I asked about Raymond. ¡°What about Raymond? I didn¡¯t see him at the hospital, and he wasn¡¯t at home either.¡± Ravel¡¯s response took me by surprise. ¡°He traveled back home to sca tter his father¡¯s ashes.¡± My eyebrows shot up in astonishment. ¡°His father¡¯s ashes? When did his father pass away?¡± A sense of regret weighed heavily in his voice as he revealed, ¡°Just a few days ago.¡± He pulled the car over in the hospital¡¯s driveway, his expression filled with a deep sense of remorse. ¡°And I wasn¡¯t there for him either.¡± I noted the challenges that seemed to be unfolding in Ravel¡¯s life and those close to him. As he stopped the car and prepared to exit, I reached out to stop him before he could open the door. ¡°I believe you,¡± I blurted out suddenly, catching him off guard. Confused by my unexpected deration, he turned to me. ¡°You believe me about what?¡± I met his gaze with conviction. ¡°Warren,¡± I replied firmly. ¡°I believe that you had nothing to do with what transpired between Warren and me. I don¡¯t understand the nature of your conversation with him, and why you¡¯ve chosen not to share it with me, but I¡¯m certain it has nothing to do with my business.¡± His gaze bore into mine with an intensity that conveyed his profound appreciation, and then, with a gentle touch, he cupped my cheek. ¡°You don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve yearned to hear those words,¡± he confessed, his voice tinged with gratitude. Regret welled up within me, and I offered a heartfelt apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered, my voice filled with remorse. ¡°I should have said it sooner. I should have believed you.¡± He leaned in closer, his breath brushing against my lips. ¡°Hazel,¡± he murmured softly, ¡°I¡¯m about to do something that might 2/3 upset you, so I apologize in advance.¡± Confusion knitted my brow as I tried to decipher his words, until he closed the gap between us and pressed his lips to mine. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 HAZEL FOUR YEARS AGO My rtionship with Ravel had taken a notably smoother coursetely. Ever since the incident at Anne¡¯s ce, I hadn¡¯t received a single call from her, nor had we identally crossed paths. Initially, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why she hadn¡¯t reached out, not even to offer an apology for the near-death experience she had put me through. It was onlyter that I came to the realization that Ravel had taken it upon himself to block her number from my phone. Contemting the idea of unblocking her, I weighed the pros and cons. But upon further reflection, I decided to let things be. Perhaps it was for the best if we simply maintained our distance and avoided each other altogether. A month had passed since the ident, and I was growing increasingly weary of the routine-either staying at home or indulging invish outings with Ravel, all funded by him. It gnawed at me that I contributed nothing financially to our household. True, Ravel deposited a generous sum into my ount every month, but the fact remained that I yearned to be more than just a financial recipient. I had never been one to embrace idleness, especially not since my time in rehabilitation. Hence, the urge to do something productive had be an incessant itch. Resting my gaze on the untouched ss of wine in front of me, I realized I had been lost in thought for quite some time. Ravel, his voice h oa rse with concern, broke the silence. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at that wine for ages,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Is there something on your mind that you want to talk to me about?¡± Seizing the moment, I cleared my throat and looked at Ravel. ¡°I¡¯d like to discuss something with you,¡± I began, and Ravel nodded, his expression encouraging me to continue. ¡°I want to start working,¡± I dered, studying his reaction closely. His initially rxed expression shifted to a slight frown. ¡°What do you mean by wanting to work?¡± he inquired, tilting his head. ¡°Is there something youck, Hazel?¡± he asked, and I shook my head in response. ¡°Then why do you want to work?¡± Gulping down the remnants of my drink, I carefully ced the wine ss on the elegant table and leaned forward earnestly. ¡°I want to work, not because Ick anything,¡± I rified, ¡°but because I feel like I¡¯m going to go insane if I don¡¯t do something productive.¡± ¡°You already have a job,¡± he pointed out, and I felt a surge of frustration building within me. ¡°I can provide for you if that¡¯s what you want, Hazel. You already have a crucial role.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. I sighed, realizing that I needed to make my point more explicit. ¡°Ravel, I appreciate everything you do for me, and I love spending time with you,¡± I began, ¡°but I need something more, something that gives me a sense of purpose beyond our rtionship.¡± ¡°You are my muse Hazel. With you I create beautiful jewelry designs. You have a job.¡± He stressed. My frustration bubbled oyer, and I snapped, ¡°Can you please stop repeating that!¡± I emphasized, my tone sharp. ¡°You and I both know that I don¡¯t have a job right now.¡± Taking a few deep breaths to calm myself, I continued, ¡°I want to visit Pascal¡¯s art gallery and have him coach me through.¡± Ravel picked up his ss, swirling its contents as he regarded me closely. ¡°You¡¯ve just survived a life- threatening situation, Hazel,¡± he pointed out, his voice filled with concern. ¡°And now you¡¯re talking about getting a job?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay, Rav,¡± I insisted firmly. ¡°If I¡¯m well enough to enjoy a ss of wine, then I¡¯m strong enough to start looking for work.¡± He maintained his piercing gaze, as though conducting a business meeting with one of his clients. ¡°Have you considered what people will say?¡± he asked, his tone measured. ¡°The press captured the moment you were rushed to the hospital. What do you think they¡¯ll say if you start working just a month after being discharged?¡± ¡°So we¡¯ll revisit this discussion in the future?¡± I inquired, hoping for apromise. Ravel nodded, but I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was merely agreeing to put the matter to rest. ¡°I¡¯m serious, Ravel. We will talk about this in the future.¡± Chapter 92 He chuckled softly. ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll discuss it in the future.¡± The tone in his voice hinted that his response might remain the same, even then. Then, out of the blue, he broached a different topic. ¡°Have you ever thought about us having a baby?¡± My eyebrows shot up in surprise. ¡°Babies?¡± I hadn¡¯t really given it much thought, and I hadn¡¯t expected him to either. ¡°I¡¯m not quite ready to be a mother just yet. I¡¯m still learning how to be a wife,¡± I admitted honestly. My life, as it stood, felt far from being put together enough to take on the role of a mother. ¡°Do you really want to be a father so badly?¡± He responded with a casual shrug. ¡°I¡¯m ready whenever you are,¡± he reiterated, his eyes conveying his sincerity. ¡°I only asked because I wanted to understand your perspective on it.¡± I pressed further, seeking rity. ¡°So you do want to be a father, but you¡¯re not in a hurry?¡± I didn¡¯t want to be the reason he held back from something he truly desired. If he was ready, I was willing to give it more thought. ¡°Exactly,¡± he affirmed, tilting his head slightly. ¡°I want to be a father, but I don¡¯t want to rush you into motherhood.¡± His response filled me with warmth and affection for him. We continued chatting about various topics until eventually, fatigue set in, and I expressed my desire to leave. Before we departed, I ced an order for seafood takeout. He responded with a casual shrug. ¡°I¡¯m ready whenever you are,¡± he reiterated, his eyes conveying his sincerity. ¡°I only asked because I wanted to understand your perspective on it.¡± I pressed further, seeking rity. ¡°So you do want to be a father, but you¡¯re not in a hurry?¡± I didn¡¯t want to be the reason he held back from something he truly desired. If he was ready, I was willing to give it more thought. ¡°Exactly,¡± he affirmed, tilting his head slightly. ¡°I want to be a father, but I don¡¯t want to rush you into motherhood.¡± His response made me fall in love with him even more. I felt more warmth and affection for him. We continued chatting about various topics until eventually, fatigue set in, and I expressed my desire to leave. Before we departed, I ced an order for seafood takeout, a delightful way to cap off our evening together. Yesterday, I had inadvertently overheard June confiding in the other domestic staff that she had never tasted a particr seafood delicacy in her life. That simple statement had imprinted itself in my memory, and I resolved to get her that delicacy someday. And today, as fate would have it, was that someday. The car rolled to a gentle stop, and Ravel graciously helped me out. His hand rested on my waist as he led me into our grand manor. The moment I crossed the threshold, I embarked on a mission to find June, while Ravel headed upstairs to our room. Eventually, I located her in the kitchen, diligently washing fresh fruit. ¡°Hey,¡± I called out softly, and she turned to look at me. ¡°I¡¯ve got something for you.¡± June¡¯s eyes widened with surprise as she looked at the stic bag I held out toward her. ¡°You got something for me?¡± she inquired, her curiosity piqued. I nodded with a warm smile. ¡°You mentioned you¡¯ve never tasted seafood before,¡± I exined, ¡°so I thought today would be a perfect day to change that.¡± Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. ¡°But don¡¯t get too excited until you¡¯ve tasted it; you might end up not liking it.¡± She epted the bag with gratitude, her expression filled with appreciation. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am,¡± she said sincerely. ¡°I really appreciate it.¡± I waved off her gratitude with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal; it¡¯s just food,¡± I replied casually. ¡°Enjoy it.¡± Leaving her to savor the newfound delight of seafood, I made my way out of the kitchen and headed to our bedroom, where I found Ravel emerging from the bathroom. He noticed the smile on my face and inquired, ¡°Why are you smiling like that?¡± I shrugged yfully. ¡°I like her.¡± 2/3 Chapter 92 His curiosity got the better of him as he arched an eyebrow. ¡°You like who?¡± ¡°June,¡± I rified with a smile that mirrored my genuine fondness for her. ¡°I really like her. I think we¡¯re going to be good friends.¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 JUNE PRESENT TIME Later that night, after oveing the feeling of shame and disgrace caused by Ravel, I decided to stop by the hospital to kow how things are going. I have to make sure that I am getting into trouble anytime soon. Sliding behind the wheel of the sleek car, which had been an unexpected gift from Ravel, I steered my way to the hospital, consciously leaving my security detail behind. As I arrived at the medical facility, a curious scene yed out before my eyes: Ravel and Hazel emerged from the hospital¡¯s entrance, and they swiftly departed in their own vehicle. Feeling relieved that I wouldn¡¯t have to endure her irritating presence, I exited my car and made my way into the hospital. Stepping into Elenor¡¯s room, I discovered Anne seated by her side. As I entered, Anne¡¯s gaze met mine, and she greeted me with a subdued tone, ¡°June¡­ you¡¯re here.¡± I nodded in acknowledgment and took a seat beside her. Leaning in slightly, I inquired, ¡°How is Elenor? Have there been any signs of improvement?¡± Anne¡¯s response was a solemn shake of her head. ¡°I believe she¡¯lle around eventually,¡± I offered in reassurance. Anne, ovee with emotion, brushed away a tear that had welled up in her eye. She then made a heartfelt request, ¡°Could you please watch over her for a while? I need to step outside and get some fresh air in the garden.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± I agreed with a nod. Anne¡¯s expression conveyed gratitude as she donned her jacket and exited the room. Once she had left, I took a moment to gather myself before rising to my feet. Stepping closer to Elenor¡¯s bedside, I gazed down at her and couldn¡¯t help but wonder aloud, ¡°Why did you have to entangle yourself in all of this?¡± She remained still and unresponsive, and for a moment a fleeting sense of sympathy washed over me. At least she was fortunate enough to survive the ident. ¡°If only you hadn¡¯t been so curious,¡± I muttered, my thoughts echoing in the silence of the room. Life had taken an unexpected turn, and it wasn¡¯t supposed to end up like this; at least not for her. That night, I was acutely aware that Elenor had been eavesdropping on my conversation with Anne. Thest thing I needed was for her to spill the beans to Ravel, especially when I hadn¡¯t achieved my goals yet. So, in the pursuit of self-preservation, I made a choice I believed was necessary. All I had to do was peer out through the window, straining to memorize her license te number. Swiftly, I sent this crucial information to Timothy, along with explicit instructions to ensure she never reached her intended destination. As news of the ident reached my ears and Ravel¡¯s presence graced the hospital, I braced myself for his reprimand. However, to my surprise, he said nothing, leaving me with a dawning realization that Elenor hadn¡¯t managed to spill the beans to him before the ident urred. For this, I couldn¡¯t have been more grateful. ¡°Please, stay in this slumber a while longer,¡± I whispered to Elenor, my voiceden with a mix of relief and secrecy. Nobody was privy to the truth behind the ident, which meant I had nothing to fear about being exposed. ¡°I¡¯m on the a journey of marrying Ravel, and I can¡¯t afford anyplications now. You can wake up after I¡¯ve achieved that.¡± Leaning down, I gently kissed her cheek, concealing the depths of my deception. ¡°What are you doing?¡± A male voice suddenly broke the silence from behind me, nearly catching me off guard. Swiftly regaining myposure, I turned to find Raymond standing there, his presence an unexpected intrusion. I sighed softly and retorted, ¡°What does it look like I¡¯m doing?¡± Returning to my seat, I continued, ¡°How long have you been standing there?¡± Raymond moved closer into the room, and his questioning gaze was unwavering. ¡°Long enough to witness you kissing her cheek,¡± he replied, his hand reaching down to gently wipe her cheek, as though erasing the evidence of my kiss. ¡°What I¡¯m curious about is why you did that.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes; Raymond had always possessed a keen sense of observation, fitting seamlessly into his surroundings while keeping a watchful eye. ¡°Why do you think I kissed her?¡± I asked, my tone tinged with frustration. He stared at me with a stoic expression, awaiting an answer. After a moment¡¯s pause, I finally conceded, ¡°I miss her, Raymond. I miss her smile and everything about her.¡± Raymond tilted his head skeptically. ¡°I find that rather hard to believe. You and Elenor weren¡¯t particrly close when she was conscious, and I can hazard a guess that she isn¡¯t exactly your staunchest ally, given her support for Hazel and Ravel. So, that leaves me wondering why you¡¯d kiss her.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but concede that Raymond¡¯s powers of observation were indeed formidable. ¡°Believe whatever you want, Raymond,¡± I replied with a hint of irritation. ¡°I¡¯ve already exined my reasons. While we may not have been the closest, she is, after all, my future sister-inw, and I consider her part of the family.¡± Raymond raised an eyebrow at my choice of words. ¡°Future what?¡± he chuckled, then took a seat across from me, pulling out his phone and scrolling through it. I couldn¡¯t help but scoff, my annoyance mounting as Raymondughed. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± I demanded, my irritation growing. ¡°Do you doubt that Ravel and I will end up getting married?¡± He continued to ignore me, engrossed in his phone. ¡°Raymond!¡± I snapped, my patience wearing thin. He finally nced up, but his attention still seemed divided. I decided to assert my authority, reminding him, ¡°Let¡¯s not forget that you work for my boyfriend. When I ask a question, I expect an answer.¡± He blinked at me slowly, adopting a mocking tone. ¡°Your boyfriend didn¡¯t inform you, I suppose?¡± he inquired, arching an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ve resigned.¡± My jaw dropped in utter astonishment. ¡°You resigned?¡± I repeated, struggling toprehend his revtion. ¡°Why? Did you have a falling out with Ravel?¡± Raymond remained unyielding, his response curt. ¡°I owe you no exnations.¡± My patience with Raymond¡¯s insolence ran thin, prompting me to grab my purse and rise from my seat. ¡°Anne stepped out for some fresh air. When she returns, just let her know that something urgent came up, and I had to leave,¡± I instructed him, not bothering to wait for his response as I exited the room. Frustration lingered as I navigated the hospital¡¯s corridors, my mind preupied with Raymond¡¯s vexing attitude. Upon reaching my car, I set off to meet Timothy, carefully selecting a remote location to ensure our meeting remained discreet. My desire to keep my association with him hidden stemmed from a deep sense of caution; one could never predict the future. Ten long minutes passed before Timothy appeared, donned in a face mask and a cap that concealed his features. As he settled into the car, he couldn¡¯t help but voice his curiosity. ¡°Why do you persist in paying me with cash?¡± ¡°Because I want to ensure nothing can be traced back to me,¡± I replied firmly, emphasizing my need for discretion. ¡°Does the method of payment truly matter? The crucial thing is that you¡¯ve received your full payment.¡± Timothy nodded, acknowledging my point. I handed him an envelope, and he promptly opened it, meticulously counting the money right before my eyes. Satisfied that the envelope contained the agreed-upon sum, he stowed it away and offered a parting sentiment, ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure doing business with you ma¡¯am.¡± Of course he¡¯ll say that. Who wouldn¡¯t when they just received full payment for their job. I leaned closer, a stern reminder in my voice. ¡°Just remember, any missteps on your part, and my name should never cross your lips.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Timothy makes no mistakes,¡± he assured me, his confidence unwavering. I couldn¡¯t help but hope that Timothy was being sincere, as any misstep on his part could jeopardize my meticulouslyid ns. ¡°If everything unfolds as intended,¡± I said, contemting the future, ¡°I¡¯ll have another task for you.¡± ¡°Iam always avable for more jobs ma¡¯am.¡± Awry smile crossed my lips as I contemted the surprise that awaited Anne and Ravel. They were in for something they¡¯d never seeing, and I was determined to see my ns through to perfection. Chapter 93 ¡°Very soon, very very soon, I¡¯ll need you to do something for me outside New York.¡± ¡°Do you mind me asking what the work is about?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the time is right.¡± ÇúN?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 COMMENT Chapter 94 RAVEL THREE YEARS AGO As the one-week countdown to my first wedding anniversary with Hazel begins, anticipation courses through me. I find myself eagerly awaiting the moment when I can present her with the meticulously prepared gifts I¡¯ve gathered for her. What makes this asion even more special is the fact that her birthday is just a few days after our anniversary, turning this into a delightful dual celebration. Walking into the luxurious penthouse, I trailed behind the real estate agent, taking in the grandeur of the ce. ¡°This is truly impressive,¡± I remarked, personally admiring the elegant furniture and tasteful decor that adorned the penthouse. Yet, I couldn¡¯t help but remind myself that this space wasn¡¯t for me; I was acquiring it solely for Hazel. I envisioned her redesigning this penthouse to reflect her unique style. With conviction, I turned to the agent and dered, ¡°I¡¯ll take this,¡± a decision that seemed to fill the agent with contagious excitement as we moved forward to seal the deal. ¡°I know you would,¡± she eximed, smiling joyously. ¡°This is one of the most sought-after houses in the area, Southwark, and I assure you that you¡¯ll enjoy all the benefits that¡­¡± Mr. I didn¡¯t let her finish and interjected, ¡°Can I sign the documents, please? If you don¡¯t mind, I have other matters that require my attention.¡± She nodded understandingly and swiftly produced the necessary documents. With purpose, I signed the papers and handed her the signed check. ¡°Once the requested changes to the lighting are made, please forward the keys to my office address.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± With no further business to attend to, I exited the penthouse, making my way toward my awaiting car. Raymond held the door open for me, and after circling the car, he took his ce in the driver¡¯s seat. As we pulled away, he asked, ¡°Do you like this one?¡± -I nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I do think Hazel will appreciate it, although she¡¯ll certainly want to put her personal touch on the interior decorations.¡± Knowing Hazel¡¯s passion for art, I couldn¡¯t help but notice the absence of any artwork in the house. I¡¯ve decided to let her select artwork for the ce on her own; it¡¯ll be a canvas for her creativity. ¡°I am d you found something.¡± He muttered. Raymond¡¯s response caught me off guard, and I lifted my head to study his expression. ¡°What?¡± he blurted out defensively. ¡°Why do you sound like you¡¯re tired of this house-hunting journey?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. He let out a small scoff. ¡°Well, that¡¯s because I am,¡± he deadpanned. ¡°It¡¯s past ten in the evening, and we¡¯ve been at this since morning.¡± I shot him a stern look. ¡°You might be the only employee I know who openlyins to his boss about being tired of his job,¡± I remarked, a hint of amusement in my voice. Raymond chuckled in response. As we continued our journey, my phone chimed in my pocket, prompting me to pull it out and check the message. My brows furrowed in frustration as I realized it was yet another strange message from the same unknown sender. Raymond, noticing my concern in the rear-view mirror, inquired, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is everything okay?¡± My frown deepened. ¡°I¡¯ve been receiving these bizarre messages from the same person for a while now,¡± I muttered, my irritation growing. ¡°I¡¯ve tried calling the number countless times, but it¡¯s always unavable.¡± Raymond¡¯s expression mirrored my concern. ¡°What do the messages say?¡± he asked. ¡°The wa nker behind these messages is persistently urging me to divorce my wife,¡± I responded with growing frustration, ¡°and what makes this message stand out is its threatening tone.¡± I tapped on the message to read it aloud for Raymond, my voice tinged with unease. ¡°It states, ¡°You have a mere two weeks to present divorce papers to Hazel, or else she will end up getting hurt. The sheer audacity of this threat is deeply unsettling¡± Raymond¡¯s concern was palpable as he spoke. ¡°This is a matter of utmost seriousness, sir. I¡¯ll promptly have our teamunch an investigation. Rest assured, we¡¯ll track down this person before they have any opportunity to harm Hazel.¡± The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on me. These messages had never before contained threats directed at Hazel. ¡°I insist we immediately enhance her security measures,¡± I instructed firmly. ¡°We simply cannot afford to take any chances, especially when it concerns Hazel¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take swift action on that, boss,¡± Raymond affirmed, his unwavering focus now squarely on ensuring Hazel¡¯s well-being and security. The car came to a smooth stop outside our porch, and I reached for my briefcase. ¡°Make sure you keep this from Hazel,¡± I advised Raymond, my toneced with concern. Hazel had a knack for worrying unnecessarily, and I didn¡¯t want her to be unduly rmed. With that, I opened the car door, stepped out, and made my way into the house. As I entered our home, my first priority was to find Hazel. It didn¡¯t take long, and I discovered her in the dining room, engrossed in a game of Scrabble with one of our domestic staffs, June. She looked up with a beaming smile when she spotted me walking in, her focused expression giving way to warmth. ¡°Hello, husband,¡± she greeted, setting aside the Scrabble board to envelop me in a hug. Leaning down, I pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, savoring the familiarfort of being in my wife¡¯s embrace. Finally pulling away, I smiled down at her. ¡°You seem quite busy,¡± I observed, noting the sca ttered tiles on the table. Hazel¡¯s grin was infectious, and she proudly dered, ¡°Yep, and I¡¯m winning against June.¡± Instinctively, I nced up at June, only to find her staring at us intently. ¡°How about you go ahead and take a shower while I get dinner ready?¡± Hazel suggested, her tone warm and inviting. I nodded and nted another quick kiss on her lips before making my way out of the dining room. I took my time in the shower, using the opportunity to trim my beard. When I eventually emerged from the bathroom, d in nothing but a towel wrapped around my waist, I heard a knock at the bedroom door. ¡°Come in!¡± I called out. The door swung open, and June entered. I had expected her to simply state her reason for being in myN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. bedroom, but she surprised me by taking her time to appraise me, her eyes slowly traversing my body. Irritated, I finally snapped, ¡°What do you want?¡± My sharp tone conveyed that her behavior was uneptable. June cleared her throat and quickly averted her gaze, a hint of embarrassment evident in her demeanor. ¡°Ma¡¯am asked me to call you down for dinner,¡± she informed me, her voice slightly shaky. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Hazel had sent June to fetch me. ¡°Where is she?¡± I inquired. ¡°She went to find Mr. Raymond and invite him to join you both for dinner,¡± June replied. I nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I¡¯ll be downstairs shortly.¡± She began to turn and walk away, but I halted her with a firm tone. ¡°June,¡± she stopped in her tracks, ¡°you are not allowed into my bedroom anymore.¡± My message was clear, and I wanted to ensure there was no misunderstanding about her boundaries. Her eyes widened slightly in acknowledgment, and she nodded before gracefully exiting the room. After changing into more appropriate yetfortable attire, I made my way downstairs to join the others for dinner. To my surprise, I found Eleanor already seated in the dining room, apanied by Raymond and Hazel. She greeted me with a mischievous grin. ¡°Hello, bluey.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes at her yful teasing as I took a seat next to Hazel. ¡°How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?¡± I retorted, my tone carrying a blend of amusement and mild exasperation. Our interactions, filled with familiar banter, always brought a sense of warmth to my life. Eleanor scoffed, her yful demeanor unwavering. ¡°I know deep down, you like it when I call you Bluely,¡± she teased before beginning to te her dinner and assisting Raymond. Her curiosity then got the better of her. ¡°It¡¯s your wedding anniversary soon, so what are you guys nning?¡± Chapter 94 Raymond, clearly uninterested in discussing the matter, shook his head and replied with his mouth full, ¡°How about you mind your business?¡± Eleanor, undeterred, shot back, ¡°I¡¯m sure the couple isn¡¯tining.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but re at her. ¡°Actually, I am. Butt out of my marriage business.¡± She shrugged, seemingly unfazed by my irritation. ¡°Well, if you two are throwing a party, don¡¯t forget to send me an invite.¡± I corrected her with a smile, ¡°We¡¯re not throwing a party.¡± I¡¯m taking my wife to Greece for the whole week. The excitement of the impending anniversary trip is something I am really looking forward to. É« Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 RAVEL PRESENT TIME I apanied Hazel to the apartment she had thoughtfully secured for her temporary residence. Although I had generously extended the offer of one of the penthouses, particrly the one I had personally bought for her, she gracefully declined, firmly asserting that she had already settled the rental fee and had no intentions of seeking a reimbursement. A hunch crept into my mind, suggesting that her reluctance to ept any form of assistance from me might be intertwined with June¡¯s presence in our lives. This inkling grew stronger when, in a sincere attempt topensate her for the expense she had incurred on renting the ce, she courteously rebuffed my offer. As our vehicle pulled into the designated parking area of her rented apartment, I shifted my gaze towards her and broke into a warm smile. ¡°I truly appreciate your presence,¡± I expressed with sincerity in my voice. A soft smile graced her lips as she posed the inviting question, ¡°Would you like to join me for ate- night coffee?¡± I couldn¡¯t resist such a gesture. ¡°If you feel the need to head to the hospital, Ipletely understand,¡± she added, disying her considerate nature. I pondered the situation briefly. ¡°Anne is there with her, and she¡¯ll keep me informed if anything arises. Besides, Raymond returned today, and I¡¯m certain he¡¯s with her,¡± I assured her as I removed the key from the ignition and stepped out of the vehicle. Hazel also exited the car, and she shared a crucial piece of information, ¡°Daisy is in there with her nanny.¡± Her words halted my tracks. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe up if you don¡¯t want to,¡± she kindly offered. me in I weighed my options, realizing it had been far too long since I should have seen my daughter. I nced down at my empty hands, a hint of regret coloring my expression. ¡°You should have informed me earlier so I could have picked up something for her,¡± I mused, acknowledging the missed opportunity to bring a little gift for Daisy. Herughter danced through the moment as she yfully teased, ¡°She¡¯s just two, Ravel. I¡¯m certain she won¡¯t mind your visit without a gift.¡± Together, we entered the elevator, continuing our light-hearted banter. ¡°My daughter is not materialistic,¡± she quipped, eliciting another shared chuckle between us. umon This is from N?velDrama.Org. As we strolled down the hallway, my steps came to an abrupt halt in front of her door. My nerves seemed to betray me, an n urrence for someone like me. It was curious how Hazel had the power to make me feel this way. I moistened my lips nervously, my uncertainty betraying my usualposure. ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t like me?¡± I found myself blurting out. Herughter bubbled forth again, clearly finding my momentary vulnerability amusing. ¡°She¡¯s just two years and a few months old, Ravel, and trust me, Daisy is very open to anyone, as long as you¡¯re kind to her. Just remember to smile a lot,¡± she reassured me with a yful grin, dispelling my doubts with her gentle guidance. I enthusiastically nodded in agreement, allowing Hazel to open the door and guide me inside. The moment we stepped into the living room, my heart was immediately captured by another human presence. It was the unmistakable figure of Daisy, whose striking resemnce to me left no doubt about her identity. As she raised her head, her gaze first locked onto mine, and then she slowly shifted it towards Hazel. In that fleeting moment, our eyes connected, but she quickly turned her attention back to Hazel. Her face lit up with an infectious, radiant smile, her eyes brimming with warmth. I fought to suppress any twinge of pain that may have surfaced from the realization that my daughter seemed indifferent to my presence. It wasn¡¯t her fault, after all. This was her first time seeing me. In a burst of excitement, Daisy eximed, ¡°Mama!¡± before rising to her feet. Hazel¡¯s whispered reminder to ¡°remember to smile at her¡± echoed in my ears as the adorable little girl rose to her feet and dashed over to Hazel. In Hazel¡¯s arms, Daisy was met with a shower of affectionate kisses, which, in turn, evoked joyful giggles from her. I observed their endearing interaction, patiently awaiting Hazel to take the lead. I understood that she wouldn¡¯t introduce Chapter 95 me as her father just yet; Daisy was still a young child, and we would let here to that realization on her own. After countless kisses and a chorus of giggles, Hazel gently redirected Daisy¡¯s attention toward me. I summoned the widest, warmest smile I could muster. In this moment, it was the most precious offering I could provide: my smile, love, and support. Hazel, speaking in a tender tone, inquired, ¡°Would you like to say hi to mommy¡¯s friend?¡± A shy nod from Daisy signaled her willingness, and Hazel gently lowered her to the floor. Kneeling to her eye level, I ced one knee on the ground, ready to make her acquaintance. To my pleasant surprise, Daisy extended her tiny hand for a handshake, a gesture that caught me off guard. I nced briefly at Hazel, who nodded in encouragement, urging me to ept the gesture. With gentle care, I enclosed her delicate hand within my own. ¡°I am Daisy,¡± she introduced herself softly, her innocence and charm shining through. My already wide smile couldn¡¯t help but broaden further. ¡°I am Ravel,¡± I replied, offering my own introduction. ¡°I¡¯m Mummy¡¯s close friend.¡± She nced at Hazel briefly before returning her gaze to me, her curious innocence shining brightly. ¡°Closer than Uncle David?¡± she inquired innocently. I fought to maintain my smile, determined not to let any other emotions surface. It irked me to think that David was even a point ofparison in my daughter¡¯s mind, especially since he had no rightful im to the title of ¡°uncle.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I affirmed, ¡°closer than David.¡± I took a gentle step forward, requesting, ¡°Can I give you a hug?¡± Daisy looked to Hazel for approval, and upon receiving a nod, she inched closer. Her tiny hands encircled my neck as myrger ones enveloped her delicate frame. It was an embrace that filled me with overwhelming emotion. Daisy¡¯s sweet voice whispered in my ear, ¡°Are you feeling sad? Mama said to give hugs to people when they¡¯re feeling sad.¡± My eyes welled with tears, touched by her kindness. ¡°I am happy,¡± I whispered in response, answering her question. ¡°I am overly happy, which is why I requested a hug.¡± Tears rolled down my cheeks. ¡°I am happy to finally meet you.¡± Daisy¡¯s curious gaze fixed upon me as she confessed, ¡°I¡¯ve seen your pictures in Mama¡¯s room.¡± Her revtion caused my eyebrows to shoot up to my hairline, a mixture of surprise and intrigue washing over me. I turned to Hazel, a smug expression ying on my lips as I inquired, ¡°Have you?¡± Daisy nodded in confirmation, but the smugness quickly faded when Daisy continued, ¡°But your pictures make her sad. She cries a lot every time she stares at them.¡± The revtion struck a chord, leaving me somewhat disarmed by the emotional impact my actions and betrayal seemed to have on Hazel. Before the conversation could delve further into ufortable territory, Hazel intervened, taking Daisy¡¯s hand and gently guiding her away. ¡°I think you have said enough.¡± She redirected her attention to the otherdy in the living room, inquiring, ¡°Has she had dinner yet?¡± The youngdy nodded and responded, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am, she had dinner a while ago.¡± Hazel¡¯s phone rang from her purse, and she retrieved it, stealing a quick nce at the screen. In that brief moment, I managed to catch a glimpse of the caller¡¯s identity ¨C none other than David. Hazel politely excused herself to take the call, leaving me to engage in a delightful storytelling session with Daisy. She regaled me with countless tales of princesses, towers, and wicked witches, which kept me thoroughly entertained. As time passed and Hazel failed to return, I decided to entrust Daisy to her nanny¡¯s care temporarily and set off to find Hazel. My search led me to the hallway, where I discovered her engaged in a heated argument with David. Respecting their privacy, I chose not to eavesdrop, even though my curiosity gnawed at me, and I quietly returned to the living room. Thirty minutester, Hazel returned to the living room. Despite her efforts to maintain a rxed demeanor for Daisy¡¯s sake, I could discern that something had unsettled her. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± I inquired, studying her closely. Chapter 95 She nodded and settled down beside me, her eyes fixed on Daisy as she yed with my Rolex. ¡°If you can stay for one more hour, you can read her favorite bedtime story.¡± I chuckled, recognizing the story she was referring to. ¡°The one about the wicked witch who locked the princess in a tower?¡± I asked, and Hazel joined in with a soft chuckle. ¡°She already told you the story?¡± she asked, and I nodded in confirmation. Her response was reassuring. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good news.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± I inquired. Hazel nodded and affirmed, ¡°It means that she likes you.¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 DAVID PRESENT TIME I was acutely aware that she wasn¡¯t residing in Seattle, long before I stumbled upon the news of Ravel Southwark¡¯s reconciliation with his ex-wife, confirming my suspicions about her absence from Seattle. The rekindling of their rtionship deeply vexes me, leading me to question whether I¡¯ve been excessively indulgent in expressing my affection for her. Perhaps it¡¯s time to convey the depths of my devotion, to make herprehend the extent to which I¡¯m willing to go in pursuit of her love. Countless sacrifices have been made to bridge the physical gap between us, and numerous painstaking efforts have been invested to earn her trust. I am resolute in my determination not to squander all that I¡¯ve worked so hard to attain. My frantic pacing came to an abrupt halt as I fished out my phone and initiated the call to her number. My nerves were in disarray as I anxiously nibbled on my fingernails, desperately awaiting her response. It wasn¡¯t until she finally picked up that I realized I had been holding my breath. With a sigh of relief, I exhaled and couldn¡¯t help but let out my frustration. ¡°Why on earth did you let the phone ring for so long before answering?!¡± I snapped, my concern tinged with a hint of suspicion. Was she with him? Was that why she hadn¡¯t immediately answered my call? ¡°Hazel?!¡± Her response was measured butced with irritation. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop shouting at me, I might just disconnect this call,¡± she warned softly, though I could discern her underlying agitation ¨C a testament to how well I knew her. Iposed myself, taking deep breaths in an attempt to regain myposure. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pick up immediately when I called?¡± I inquired once more, this time with a gentler tone. Hazel¡¯s response was measured. ¡°I did answer your call, David,¡± she emphasized, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation. ¡°I merely took a few moments to step away before responding. It¡¯s not like I missed your call or anything.¡± But the notion that she had stepped away to answer my call struck a nerve. ¡°You¡¯re with him, aren¡¯t you?¡± I hissed, my frustration getting the better of me. ¡°Why the hell did you need to move away to take my call, Hazel?¡± ¡°Stop yelling at me, David!¡± she snapped back, her voice rising in pitch. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into you tonight, but if you don¡¯t calm down, I¡¯m going to end this call. Consider this your final warning, David.¡± My fingers clenched around the wine ss so tightly that it snapped, shattering into countless pieces, some shards piercing my skin. Yet, the physical pain was inconsequentialpared to the emotional turmoil I was enduring. ¡°Is Daisy there with him?¡± I pressed, my voiceden with dread. Hazel let out a weary sigh. ¡°Why did you call me, David?¡± Confirmation of Daisy¡¯s presence with him lingered unspoken, a silence that spoke volumes. Ravel was indeed with Daisy. What kind of facade were they attempting to create? A fa?ade of a blissful, harmonious family? ¡°Goodnight, Hazel,¡± Imuttered before abruptly ending the call. Continuing this conversation would only lead to saying things we both regretted. I had invested too much to let Ravel undermine all my efforts. Taking swift action, I went online and booked the next avable flight to New York. My objective was clear: I needed to meet with June to ascertain if she had any concrete ns. If not, I was fully prepared to take matters into my own hands, as I had done countless times before. Upon touching down in New York, I promptly called June, urging her to meet with me. She appeared genuinely surprised that I had made the trip. After she provided me with an address to meet at, I wasted no time and headed there. As I spotted her car from a distance, I slid inside and closed the door with determination. ¡°Do you realize that Ravel and Hazel have been spending time with their daughter Daisy?¡± I blurted out. June raised an eyebrow, a sly smile ying on her lips. ¡°I had no idea you were so fond of her,¡± she noted with a teasing tone. Chapter 96 N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°You think I traveled all the way from Seattle to New York just to hear your vague hints?¡± I hissed, my patience wearing thin. ¡°Do you have any concrete ns in motion?¡± Her grin widened, and she nodded confidently. ¡°Very soon, Ravel will be mine,¡± she dered, I pressed further, my frustration mounting. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± She casually rubbed her hand over her stomach. ¡°I might be carrying Ravel¡¯s child as we speak.¡± My eyes narrowed in suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re not even sure.¡± Her response was tinged with annoyance. ¡°I would have been sure if you hadn¡¯t called me out of the blue.¡± With a heavy sigh, I turned to look out of the window. ¡°Do you genuinely believe Ravel will marry you just because you might be carrying his child?¡± She shrugged nonchntly. ¡°The heart is a fragile or gan, and the best time to prate it is during its vulnerable state,¡± I fixed her with a stern re. ¡°Get to the point,¡± I demanded. She smirked, her eyes gleaming with a devious glint. ¡°Ravel is ted about the prospect of having a child,¡± she began, her voice taking on a chilling tone. ¡°I intend to take that child away from him, and when his heart is broken over the loss, I¡¯ll fill the void with my own.¡± My eyes widened in shock and anger. ¡°Are you out of your mind? You think I would ever let you harm Daisy?¡± She rolled her eyes dismissively. ¡°If Hazel were to lose Daisy, she¡¯d be heartbroken and shattered,¡± she continued, her n unfolding before me. ¡°Use that moment of her vulnerability to nt your seed in her. Let¡¯s see how their rtionship survives if I¡¯m carrying Ravel¡¯s child, and she¡¯s carrying yours.¡± Her ruthless scheme left me speechless, torn between anger, disbelief and the urge to have Hazel all to myself. COMMENT 0 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 RAVEL THREE YEARS AGO The relentless messages from the anonymous sender were escting the tension, leaving me exasperated. Raymond entered my office, his expression mirroring my own frustration. As he pulled out a chair and settled into it with a frustrated sigh, his face tightened with annoyance. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind if I helped myself to a drink, would you?¡± he asked, nodding toward the ss on my desk. I shook my head, granting silent permission. He seized the ss and downed its contents in one swift gulp, his irritation palpable. ¡°I can¡¯t recall thest time I felt this infuriated,¡± he muttered angrily, running his fingers through his hair as he struggled to make sense of the disturbing messages. ¡°I am taking your reaction as you didn¡¯t find anything tangible on who that ba stard is right?¡± Observing his weary nod, it was clear that Raymond had hit a dead end in his pursuit: ¡°The sender is crafty, operating from a gaming center,¡± he confirmed, his frustration echoing my own. ¡°But interrogating college and high school students seeking refuge from the rigors of life and school is neither practical nor ethical.¡± ¡°Have you checked the CCTV footage?¡± I inquired, hoping for a breakthrough. He nodded solemnly. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the footage thoroughly. There¡¯s no discernible pattern. No new faces showing up when the messages are sent, nor any recurring visitors to the gaming center at those times.¡± My frustration intensified, and I rubbed my temples, pondering the motive behind this relentless harassment. ¡°What could this person possibly gain from driving a wedge between Hazel and me?¡± I mused aloud, shaking my head in disbelief. ¡°I don¡¯t have any crazed exes, and the ones from my past have long moved on to families of their own. Who could be behind this juvenile game?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Raymond¡¯s uncertainty hung in the air like a heavy cloud. ¡°I wish I had the answer to that question, boss,¡± he admitted with a heavy sigh. ¡°Rest assured, someone is actively investigating this, and we won¡¯t rest until we uncover the identity of the culprit.¡± Returning to my work on theptop, I sensed Raymond¡¯s lingering gaze upon me. Raising an inquisitive eyebrow, I prompted him, ¡°Is there something you¡¯d like to share?¡± He cleared his throat before cautiously speaking, ¡°What if, just a big ¡®what if, it¡¯s Mrs. Southwark?¡± I couldn¡¯t hide my astonishment. ¡°My mother?¡± I echoed, the idea seeming almost absurd. Raymond nodded earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s no secret that she has reservations about Hazel being your wife, and we haven¡¯t heard much from her since that ident,¡± he leaned in closer. ¡°For all we know, she could have arranged for someone to harass you through those texts, hoping you¡¯d be so concerned for Hazel¡¯s safety that you¡¯d contemte divorcing her.¡± My skepticism regarding Anne¡¯s involvement remained evident in my scoffing response. ¡°Anne can¡¯t be that naive,¡± I retorted, my disbelief in her capacity to think I¡¯d divorce Hazel over such trivial messages apparent. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to discreetly keep an eye on her. If she is truly the mastermind behind this, she¡¯s bound to slip up one day.¡± Acknowledging my decision, Raymond began to rise from his seat, ready to depart. However, as he made his move, my phone emitted a distinctive ping. Reacting swiftly, I picked up the device and noticed the familiar sender¡¯s name, prompting me to halt Raymond in his tracks. ¡°Wait!¡± I called out, causing him to pause and pivot back towards me. ¡°Hold on a moment, they¡¯ve sent another message.¡± Raymond¡¯s curiosity was piqued as he slipped his hands into his pockets, waiting for details. ¡°What does it say?¡± he inquired. Expecting a simr text to the previous ones, I opened the message, only to be confronted with an unexpected surprise: a video. My brows furrowed in perplexity. ¡°It¡¯s not a text,¡± I informed Raymond, who promptly closed the gap between us, eager to witness the content of the video. Clicking on the video, we watched it y out. The video contained when Hazel was screaming at her ex-boss Harrison. That ba stard is already dead, why am I watching a video of him? <<<¡°What the fuck is your problem?!¡± she spat at him. The fool tried to approach her but she red at him, grabbing the artifact next to her. ¡°If you daree close to me again, I am going to smash your head with this artifact and I am going to crush your balls with it after slicing your throat.¡±>>> Raymond cast a quick, knowing nce my way. ¡°Could this possibly be what I suspect?¡± he queried, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and curiosity. I responded with a subtle nod, affirming his suspicion. ¡°I believe this is the video capturing the day Harrison attempted to sexually harass her.¡± My voice quivered with a potent blend of anger and frustration. ¡°If only that vile individual were still breathing, I would have personally administered justice. But why, in the name of reason, would this im becile send me such incriminating evidence?¡± Raymond, just as bewildered, raised his shoulders in a helpless shrug. ¡°We¡¯ll need to get to the bottom of this enigma. I¡¯m certain the sender¡¯s motives will be unveiled in due time.¡± Almost as if anticipating Raymond¡¯s deration, my phone emitted a subtle ping, heralding the arrival of another message. from the mysterious sender. Raymond leaned in closer, eager to decipher the iing text. Raymond¡¯s gaze remained unwavering as we both stared at the chilling image disyed on my phone ¨C a case report detailing Harrison¡¯s gruesome demise. ording to the report, he had met a brutal end with his head crushed by a familiar object. Next to the text was a photo of that very artifact, the same one Hazel had once used to threaten him. The document continued, detailing how Harrison¡¯s assant had subjected him to further horrors, smashing his genitals with that same object before ultimately ending his life by slicing his throat open with a butter knife. Silence hung heavily between us, no words necessary to convey the grim understanding that had settled upon us both. The implications were clear. My phone pinged once more, breaking the eerie stillness. This time, a new image emerged, depicting Hazel holding the very butter knife mentioned in the report, apanied by a chilling message. HARRISON DIED ACCORDING TO HOW HAZEL THREATENED HIM AND THERE IS A PICTURE OF HER HOLDING THE MURDER WEAPON THAT SAME DAY. THIS WILL MAKE A VERY GOOD CASE IF TAEKN TO THE COP. YOU HAVE THREE DAYS TO GIVE HAZEL THOSE DIVORCE PAPERS OR I WILL TAKE ACTIONS. P.S I KNOW YOU WERE THERE THAT NIGHT WITH YOUR BODY GUARD. I AM SURE THE AUTHORITIES WILL ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING THERE AND WHY YOU DELIBERATELY STAYED AWAY FROM THE CAMERA. A cold sweat drenched me, mirroring the ominous weight of the situation. Raymond, equally defeated, found his way around the table and sank into a chair. He voiced the unease that had settled upon us both. ¡°What¡¯s the n, bossman? He¡¯s got a pretty dam ning case.¡± I ran my hand down my face, struggling to make sense of this twisted web. ¡°If Hazel ims he tried to assault her, they¡¯ll question why she never reported it to the authorities. Their assumption will be that she¡¯d already taken matters into her own hands.¡± The situation was a nightmarish tangle, a real possibility that she could be wrongfully convicted. ¡°I need you to track down that ba stard, Raymond. They¡¯re out to destroy our happiness.¡± Raymond¡¯s shoulders slumped as he absorbed my decision. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, boss, but given the circumstances, it¡¯s going to take considerably longer than three days to track down that individual. We need toe up with a moreprehensive n.¡± I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing with the implications of what I was about to do. ¡°Give my lawyer a call,¡± 1 reiterated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. ¡°Instruct him to prepare the divorce papers, starting the process with Hazel.¡± Raymond¡¯s eyes widened, disbelief etched across his face. ¡°You¡¯re really going through with this? Divorcing Hazel?¡± With a heavy sigh, I confirmed my decision, determination burning in my eyes, ¡°I have no choice, at least for now. But once we locate that despicable person, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to reunite with my wife.¡± Raymond¡¯s expression darkened, and he shook his head with a heavy sigh. ¡°Boss, you know Hazel won¡¯t sign those divorce papers without a solid reason. She¡¯s not going to let go easily.¡± A sense of remorse and pain surged within me as I realized the harsh truth. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make her sign them,¡± I dered firmly, my resolve unwavering. ¡°Even if it means resorting to things that will make her despise me. We have to protect her from this threat, no matter the cost.¡± 0 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 HAZEL PRESENT TIME I¡¯ve been residing in the city of New York for the past three days, and it saddens me deeply that Eleanor remains in aa, her condition unchanged. While I navigate my professionalmitments through the virtual realm, it is Agatha who gantly conducts our in-person meetings. To be candid, mymunication with David has grown sp ar setely. Following our conversation three nights ago, I¡¯ve chosen to maintain some distance. I refrain from pestering him for updates on his work, knowing well hispetence and capability to handle his responsibilities without a hitch. Agatha, too, hasn¡¯t voiced any grievances regarding his performance, reinforcing my belief that everything progresses seamlessly on his front. What brings me a sense of relief, amidst these trying times, is that Daisy¡¯s school is presently on holiday. This temporary respite ensures I need not concern myself with her missing any school days during this challenging period. During my three-day tenure of visiting the hospital, fortune has favored me by preventing any chance encounters with Anne. Our initial meeting at this very hospital upon my arrival left much to be desired. Yet, I scarcely paid her any heed at the time, as my primary concern rested upon Ravel and his well- being. Now that I¡¯ve ascertained his me ntal and emotional stability, I find myself ill-prepared to endure her potential barbs, hence my gratitude for our impable timing-I make a hasty exit before she arrives. Raymond interjected with a remark that lingered in the air, ¡°One of these forting days, I must carve out a moment to meet your daughter. From the images I¡¯ve seen, it¡¯s quite evident that you and Ravel have brought a truly beautiful child into this world.¡± I responded with a warm smile. ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s plenty of time, so if you can¡¯t manage it now, there will always be opportunitiester.¡± I understood his reluctance to leave Elenor¡¯s sidepletely. My gaze briefly shifted towards Ravel, contemting that if our roles were reversed, I, too, would find it challenging to be away from him. However, as fate would have it, the door to the hospital room swung open, revealing Anne¡¯s presence. I couldn¡¯t help butment my luck; it seemed that just thinking about her moments ago had jinxed the situation. Oddly, everyone in the room, including Raymond, seemed to disregard her presence. Uncertain whether I should join the silence, I opted to offer a modicum of respect by acknowledging her, even though she hardly deserved it. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again, Anne,¡± I greeted her with a forced politeness. Anne¡¯s harsh words pierced through the air as she took her seat, fixing a re upon me. ¡°Perhaps you should cease with the pretense, so your well-wishing for Elenor might actually hold some effectiveness,¡± she retorted. I could feel her re burning into me. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± I murmured, biting my lower lip and averting my gaze. Before the tension could escte further, Ravel stepped in. ¡°How about we step out for a coffee?¡± he proposed. I weed the idea enthusiastically. ¡°Yes, please,¡± I replied, reaching for my purse and rising from my seat. Ravel¡¯s hand gently rested on my waist, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice Anne¡¯s eyes tracking the movement. Anne, with an air of detachment, offered a partingment. ¡°Don¡¯t be gone too long. Your sister might awaken and want to see you,¡± Ravel met her remark with aposed stare. ¡°I would dearly love for my sister to wake up, but I don¡¯t believe my face will be the first she wishes to see upon waking. That face is already here in the room with her.¡± In that moment, three pairs of eyes bore into Raymond, who skillfully feigned detachment by immersing himself in his phone. Anne¡¯s derisive scoff nearly provoked a chuckle from me. It seemed that her children had sworn off the idea of epting any partner she might choose for them. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Kavel guided me out of the room and directly to his car. With chivalry, he held the door open for me before taking his ce behind the wheel, starting the engine. His words carried a weight of sincerity. ¡°You¡¯ve been dealing with this for ages, and I¡¯m sorry that I haven¡¯t been able to rectify it.¡± 2.45% Chapter 98 I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Anne,¡± he rified. ¡°I¡¯m sorry she spoke to you like that.¡± I dismissed his apology with a wave of my hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve grown ustomed to her hostility, and it no longer affects me.¡± Ravel maintained a sense of responsibility. ¡°Nevertheless, I should apologize,¡± he muttered as he steered the car out of the parking lot. I reassured him once more, feeling unfazed by Anne¡¯s behavior. In fact, I found it more amusing than anything, and at times, downright childish. Someday, I thought to myself, I might just respond in kind. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ravel. I¡¯m not upset,¡± I assured him. ¡°Could we head to a coffee shop that¡¯s quite far from here, though?¡± I¡¯d rather avoid any chance of bumping into June. ¡°Of course,¡± he agreed, taking us to a caf¨¦ located far from the hospital, his office, and his home, where the likelihood of encountering June seemed slim. Just as he parked the car, I gazed out the window and spotted someone unexpected. My brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t that David?¡± I murmured to myself. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had brought him to New York. ¡°Did you say something?¡± Ravel inquired with curiosity. Disregarding his question, I hastily retrieved my phone and dialed David¡¯s number, all while keeping a close eye on him as he climbed into a taxi. After a few rings, he finally answered. ¡°Hazel?¡± he greeted. ¡°Are you at your office right now?¡± I inquired, urgency in my tone, and waited anxiously for his response. His reply was swift, though it was evident he wasn¡¯t being entirely truthful. ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to reach Agatha, but she¡¯s not answering my calls,¡± I fibbed, keeping my tone steady. ¡°Could you please give her the phone or let her know to call me back?¡± David, still not being entirely truthful, responded, ¡°Agatha is currently not in the building. I believe she stepped out to grab some coffee. However, I¡¯ll make sure to convey your message and have her call you back when she returns.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you,¡± I replied, swiftly ending the call before he could offer any further exnations. Questions swirled in my mind. Why was he lying about being in New York? What was he concealing, and why? Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Chapter 99 RAVEL PRESENT TIME I appreciate Hazel¡¯s presence here in New York, yet I harbor a profound aversion for the circumstances that brought her to this ce. It has now been three long and arduous weeks since Eleanor fell into a deep, ominousa. In the somber confines of the hospital, the medical professionals offer their reassurances, assuring us that all will eventually be well. They emphasize that her prolonged unconsciousness is not a harbinger of despair. Optimism is the fragile lifeline we cling to during these trying times, for there exists no other recourse. Hazel has essentially taken up residence in the hospital, steadfastly remaining by Elenor¡¯s side until Anne arrives. Only when Anne arrives in the evening does Hazel consider bringing her day to a close. As the night unfurled, mirroring countless others, I steered her car towards her home. In the dimly lit parking lot, I silenced the engine and turned my gaze towards Hazel, drawing her full attention to me. ¡°There¡¯s been something weighing on my mind all day,¡± I confided, my wordsced with concern. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand me, but I can¡¯t help but your business. You¡¯ve been here for three weeks now, hasn¡¯t it had an impact on your work?¡± worry about Hazel responded with a nonchnt shrug, then gently shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s moments like these that make us appreciate technology,¡± she remarked, her smile radiant. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to keep my business afloat from here, and considering the cancetion of the exhibition, there hasn¡¯t been an overwhelming workload to contend with, anyways.¡± My brow furrowed in concern. ¡°You canceled the exhibition?¡± Hazel nodded in affirmation, and a pang of sympathy coursed through me. ¡°I¡¯m genuinely sorry that I couldn¡¯t be of any assistance.¡± However, I couldn¡¯t help but think about the repercussions Warren and the others would face; they were certainly going to hear from me. Hazel¡¯s response was resolute. ¡°I¡¯d rather bear the legal fees than contend with a potential exhibition failure,¡± she whispered, her voice unwavering. ¡°I¡¯m choosing to view this as one of the risks inherent in the world of business management.¡± I stared at her intently, admiration swelling within me for her pragmatic outlook. ¡°I¡¯m immensely proud of you, Hazel,¡± I murmured, my heart swelling with pride. ¡°You¡¯ve transformed into a sessful businesswoman with an exceptional mindset. I couldn¡¯t recall feeling prouder of anyone. Leaning in, I gently cupped her jaw. ¡°You promised you¡¯d handle this on your own, and you¡¯ve done just that.¡± A radiant smile graced Hazel¡¯s face. ¡°I know, right?¡± ¡°Come closer,¡± I whispered softly, drawing her into a warm embrace. Her hands found their ce around my neek, and T held her close, our whispers shared in this intimate moment. ¡°If it ever bes too overwhelming for you to handle, don¡¯t hesitate to lean on me,¡± I murmured, my voice filled with sincerity. ¡°I know you¡¯re more than capable, but I want to be there for you.¡± ¡°I will,¡± she whispered in response, her voice a delicate promise. ¡°Just don¡¯t disappear when I start bringing all my problems to your doorstep.¡± I chuckled affectionately. ¡°Never,¡± I assured her. Pulling back slightly, I cupped her cheek tenderly. ¡°May I kiss you?¡± I inquired, seeking permission. Her parted lips and audible breath seemed to grant the answer I sought. Without further hesitation, I leaned in and gently pressed my lips to hers, sealing our connection with a sweet, affectionate kiss. In that suspended moment, I remained perfectly still, granting her space and time to decide how to proceed. Her silence spoke volumes, and as she didn¡¯t resist, I initiated a gentle movement of my lips, savoring the exquisite taste of her mouth. The tion that surged through me was indescribable when she met my kiss with a fervent response, her lips dancing in beautiful synchrony with mine. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. My hand, substantial and warm, cradled her cheek, angling her head to perfection as our kiss deepened. Tracing my finger slowly along her neck, I felt the rapid tempo of her pulse beneath my touch, a testament to the intensity of our connection. Encouraging her to part her lips, I tugged gently at her lower lip, inviting her to open hen she did, my tongue fought with hers, seeking dominance as we licked the corners of our mouth. After what seemed like an eternity yet passed in the blink of an eye, Hazel gently withdrew. Her breath still ragged, she leaned in, resting her forehead against mine. ¡°Ravel,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible, ¡°what are we doing here? Why am I in this car, sharing a kiss with a man who has a woman waiting for him back home?¡± She reluctantly pulled back. I licked my lips, savoring the lingering taste of her presence. My gaze locked onto Hazel¡¯s, and in that poignant moment, I reached a resolute decision. ¡°Tonight,¡± I dered, ¡°I¡¯m going to end things with her.¡± Hazel couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, a hint of skepticism in her expression. ¡°And why is that?¡± she retorted, a teasing tone tainting her words. ¡°Is it because you want to keep indulging in these stolen moments without the weight of guilt?¡± I met her gaze with unwavering sincerity. ¡°No,¡± I confessed, my voice carrying the weight of my intentions. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯ve chosen to deal with the situation without risking losing you.¡± Memories of almost losing her to David haunted me, and I had no desire to relive that heartache. Her frown deepened as she probed further, her eyes searching mine. ¡°What situation?¡± she pressed, her curiosity apparent. I sighed, a heavy weight of guilt settling upon me. ¡°It¡¯s not important,¡± I deflected, avoiding her question momentarily. ¡°I know I¡¯ve caused you immense pain, Hazel, and I¡¯m genuinely sorry.¡± My gaze dropped to the floor briefly before returning to her, filled with remorse. ¡°If I could turn back time and change my choices, I would, but since that¡¯s impossible, I¡¯mmitted to making amends.¡± I took a breath, steeling myself for the next step. ¡°And the first step is ending things with June.¡± Hazel continued to study me closely, her expression contemtive as if trying to decipher something. ¡°I still don¡¯t quite understand, Ravel,¡± she confessed, folding her arms and blinking slowly. ¡°Why did you cheat? Did you truly love June?¡± I hesitated briefly, torn betweenplete transparency and sparing her the sordid details. I don¡¯t want her to get back to me just because she sees me as her hero. Ultimately, I chose to be honest. ¡°Hazel,¡± I confessed, my voice carrying a hint of regret, ¡°June was merely a ploy to coax you into signing the divorce papers. I didn¡¯t have any genuine feelings for her.¡± She fixed me with a searching gaze, her brow furrowed. ¡°But you did have sex with her in our bedroom?¡± she pressed, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. It didn¡¯t go beyond the point where I found myself with her nipples in my mouth, As I tried to exin myself, I desperately added, ¡°I know this won¡¯t bring you anyfort, but please believe me when I say I never f ucked her that night or any other night after.¡± Her eyes narrowed, filled with anger and hurt. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you didn¡¯t physically prate her,¡± she retorted sharply, C Chapter 99 her voiceced with pain. ¡°To me, it¡¯s all the same thing.¡± Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, making me realize the gravity of the situation. If the roles were reversed, and I had discovered her in a simr position, with another man¡¯s lips on her nipple, I would undoubtedly consider it a betrayal of our rtionship. Unable to hold her gaze, I stared at her purse which was resting on her thigh. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I apologized, my voice tinged with sincerity. ¡°What can I do to make things better? To make you forgive me?¡± She sighed, weariness evident in her eyes. ¡°Just focus on being a good father to Daisy,¡± she replied, her voice carrying a mixture of resignation and hope. She attempted to open the car door, as if eager to put some distance between us, but I couldn¡¯t let her go just yet. I reached forward and grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving. ¡°I am absolutelymitted to being a good father to Daisy,¡± I reiterated, my grip on her hand firm but gentle. ¡°I¡¯ll give her all the love and care she deserves, more than my own parents ever gave me. But what I truly want to understand, Hazel, is what it will take to be a good husband to you again.¡± She gently withdrew her hand from my grasp, the brief connection severed. ¡°Good night, Ravel,¡± she whispered softly. This time, I didn¡¯t intervene as she opened the car door and stepped out. She took a few steps away from the car, and I couldn¡¯t let her leave without onest deration. Rolling down my window, I poked my head out. ¡°Hazel cks!¡± I called out, and she halted, turning around to face me. ¡°I won¡¯t give up until I have ¡®Southwark¡¯ attached to your name once more!¡± I dered with determination. A few people in the parking lot couldn¡¯t help but react, offering cooing sounds of approval, which only served to embarrass Hazel further. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as she buried her neck deeper into her coat to hide her blush. ¡°I love you, Hazel cks!¡± I proimed, the words echoing in the night air. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 18+ RAVEL THREE YEARS AGO The looming deadline set by the mysterious sender for delivering the divorce papers to Hazel falls upon us tomorrow. I¡¯ve already consulted with my attorney, who guarantees that the necessary paperwork will be prepared by then. I can honestly say I¡¯ve never feared a day with such apprehension in all my years. In the midst of my unease, the bathroom door slowly swung open, revealing Hazel draped in a luxurious, pristine-white towel. She teasingly dangled a container of body lotion before me, her eyes pleading, ¡°Could you do me a favor and assist with my back, darling?¡± Absolutely not. ¡°Come closer,¡± I whispered, fully aware that this might be our final opportunity for such intimacy in the foreseeable future. Hazel gracefully settled beside me on the bed, cing the body cream in my hand and turning to present her back, the towel gradually falling away. I pressed a tender kiss onto her exposed skin beforemencing with the lotion, my fingers working with gentle dedication, melding it into her supple flesh. My hands continued their sensual massage even after the cream had been applied. Sensing the weight of our impending separation, I leaned in, kissing her back with a gentle fervor. ¡°Hazel,¡± I uttered in a low, impassioned voice, ¡°I love you more than words can convey.¡± She turned to meet my gaze, and our lips met in a passionate kiss. ¡°My love for you is so profound that your absence feels like a suffocating void,¡± I confessed, breathlessly. Tonight, consumed by an overwhelming sense of suffocation, I couldn¡¯t bear to take things slow with Hazel. Tonight, the air was heavy with an undeniable urgency, as if every breath threatened to suffocate me. Hazel¡¯s lips crashed against mine, a desperate hunger mirroring my own desires. Fingers trembling with anticipation, she fumbled to undo the buttons of my shirt, while I hastily discarded the remaining towel that clung to her body, carelessly discarding it onto the cold floor. In our shared frenzy, we moved with a clumsy eagerness, our bodies entangled in a dance of passion. As she forcefully removed my shirt, I struggled to free myself from the confines of my pants. Yet, before I could fully disentangle myself, Hazel¡¯s hands found the waistband of my boxer briefs, her determination evident. With a subtle lift of my hips, I aided her in removing the final barrier, allowing our desires to intertwine without restraint. As soon as my throbbing co ck is released into her delicate, velvety hand, a surge of electricity courses through my veins. I instinctively pulled her towards me, my hand reaching around her to hold my co ck as she glided down over my length. With a powerful thrust, I prated her from below, causing a symphony of pleasure to escape our lips in perfect harmony. ¡°Rav¡­¡± she moaned, her voice a mixture of ecstasy and disbelief. ¡°I¡¯ll never cease to be amazed by your incredible size.¡± Our mouths collided in a passionate frenzy, our tongues dancing in sync with our bodies. Her nails dug into my bare chest, leaving a trail of fiery sensations in their wake. My fingertips dug into her hips, guiding her with a primal urgency, urging her to ravish me with an intensity that matches my own. The sensation of being enveloped by her warmth and tightness is unparalleled a sensation that transcends any other pleasure known to man. I adore the intimate connection I share with my wife, but it is her radiant smile that truly captivates my heart. It is a smile that lights up my world, a smile that brings me immeasurable joy and contentment. In that moment, as our bodies intertwine and our desires intertwine, I am reminded once again that nothingpares to the sheer bliss of being with her. As I slid my free hand between us, I sought out her cl it, eager to provide her with a moment of intense pleasure. The sound of her moaning my name only fueled my desire, knowing that I wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on for much longer. It was inevitable that I would soon release myself inside her. As I skillfully rubbed her c lit in firm, circr motions, her pu ssy tightened around me, a clear sign of her pleasure. The sensation elicited a hiss of satisfaction from me, prompting me to thrust my hips with even more force. In response, she bit Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. down on my lower lip and ran her fingers down my chest, leaving a trail of sensation in their wake. ¡°Come for me, Hazel!¡± I urged, my voice filled with a mix of desire and urgency. ¡°I need you to climax before I embarrass myself in front of my wife.¡± The intensity of the moment pushed me to the edge, and I could already feel myself teetering on the brink of release. With a smile pressed against my lips, she moved her hips in perfect harmony with my touch on her cl it. A loud moan escaped her, signaling that she was on the brink of ecstasy. Skillfully pinching her cl it just the way she adored, I was rewarded with the sight of her body convulsing as she experienced a powerful climax. Her lips formed my name, escaping in a wild screech as pleasure consumed her. The intensity of her cries drove me to the edge. Leaning in, I sucked on her neck with enough force to leave a mark, marking her as mine. At the same time, my body tensed up, my balls tightening. Grinding against her, I let out a deep groan as I released my seed, ensuring that she took everyst drop. As she wrapped her arms around my neck, she hugged me tightly, and I found myself burying my nose against her flesh, inhaling her unique, sweaty scent. I couldn¡¯t resist licking her salty skin, branding her with my teeth. In that moment, I felt a surge of desire, hardening again like a teenager. The thought of surviving without her seemed unbearable. With her in my arms, I effortlessly flipped her over, and we tumbled onto the bed. Our lips met in a deep, passionate kiss. I swiftly discarded my pants, which had pooled around my feet, and then I slowly entered her once more. As I stared into her eyes, I made sure to remind her of my love, hoping that she would remember this when I inevitably came begging for her forgiveness in the future. We indulged in hours of teasing, tasting, and pleasuring each other. It felt as if I couldn¡¯t keep my desire at bay, constantly craving her. The hours passed by, until eventually, both of us grew tired and satisfied. As Hazel finally drifted off to sleep, her breathing became steady and calm. It was clear that I had exhausted herpletely. I gently ced a kiss on her forehead, feeling the steady beat of her heart against my bare chest. Leaning in closer to her sleeping form, I whispered softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hazel. I¡¯m sorry that our ns didn¡¯t unfold the way we had hoped.¡± I kissed her once more, my lips lingering on her skin. ¡°I promised you a fairytale marriage, but now I find myself on the verge of offering you a messy divorce.¡± A single tear escaped my eye, tracing a path down my cheek. I let out a bitter chuckle, quickly wiping it away. ¡°How is it possible for a man to make love to his wife for hours, only to find himself shedding tears the very next moment?¡± As she stirred, I carefully inclined my neck to check if her slumber remained undisturbed. Enchanted by the serenity of her sleeping visage, I couldn¡¯t resist the urge to capture the moment, reaching for my phone to discreetly snap a photo. With a sigh, I whispered softly to her, my voiceced with regret, ¡°I genuinely hope that someday, against all odds, you might find it in your heart to forgive me, even though I am well aware that I don¡¯t deserve it in the slightest.¡± I was resolute about one thing, though. As I watched her lying there, vulnerable and naked, wrapped in peaceful repose, I made a silent vow to myself. ¡°No matter what the future holds, even if you find sce in the arms of another man,¡± I thought, ¡°I will fight relentlessly until I have you in this same tender embrace once more.¡± Hazel stirred once more, her eyes gradually parting to gaze sleepily upon me. ¡°How are you still awake?¡± she mumbled, her tiredness evident as she struggled to keep her eyes open. I couldn¡¯t help but smile down at her, leaning in to nt a gentle kiss upon her forehead. ¡°Go to sleep, Hazel,¡± I softly urged. Returning my smile, she nestled herself more snugly against my body. With a resigned sigh, I closed my eyes, attempting to coax sleep to embrace me, even though I knew it wouldn¡¯te easily, if at all. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 RAVEL PRESENT TIME After safely dropping Hazel off at her apartment, I made the decision to return to the hospital to retrieve my wallet, which I had carelessly left behind. My original n had included a stop at my manor to collect fresh, clean clothes for the next day and gather some essential work documents before making my way back to the hospital. However, as I approached the hospital, I couldn¡¯t help but notice that my car¡¯s gas gauge was perilously low, and to compound the situation, I realized that my wallet was not in my possession. Navigating the hospital parking lot, I found a suitable spot to park, and after disembarking from the vehicle, I headed for the elevator that would take me to Elenor¡¯s room. While en route, I took a moment to send Hazel a thoughtful goodnight message, ensuring she knew I was thinking of her. The elevator journey was punctuated by a cheerful ¡°ping¡± as it arrived at my destination, and I stepped out, proceeding toward Elenor¡¯s room. Just as my hand hovered over the door, poised to push it open, my ears caught the unmistakable sounds of a heated exchange of words between Raymond and Anne. It struck me as particrly unusual since I had never before heard Raymond raise his voice at her. ¡°What the hell do you want from me?¡± He snapped at her, his frustration evident. ¡°Haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble?¡± Intrigued by their heated exchange, I discreetly leaned closer to the door, straining to catch every word of Anne¡¯s response. ¡°Why do you constantly hover around my daughter instead of doing your job?¡± she demanded. Raymond¡¯s anger red as he retorted, ¡°It¡¯s clear that your son doesn¡¯t keep you informed. I¡¯ve resigned.¡± His voice was filled with a simmering resentment. ¡°But, Anne, I¡¯m not going anywhere. I should have been by Eleanor¡¯s side all these years, and that¡¯s where I¡¯m staying.¡± Anne scoffed dismissively, her heels softly echoing on the cold tile floor as she inched closer to him. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly mean that!¡± she bellowed. ¡°You, of all people, know what I¡¯m capable of.¡± Raymond¡¯s fist tightened, his anger unabated. ¡°In fact, I have no idea what you¡¯re truly capable of,¡± he countered with defiance. ¡°My father is no longer in the picture; what else can you use to manipte me?¡± A furrowed brow revealed my confusion at Raymond¡¯s revtion. Had she been ckmailing him all this time, coercing him intoplying with her demands? ¡°What more can you possibly do, Anne?¡± Raymond continued, his voice filled with frustration. ¡°You¡¯ve already taken the drastic step of disconnecting the life-support machine, causing his heart to stop beating. What more could you possibly want?!¡± Unable to remain a passive observer any longer, I pushed the door open and entered the room, my gaze fixed firmly on Anne. My expression was stern as I questioned her, my voice trembling with concern. ¡°What did Raymond mean by saying you disconnected the life-support machine?¡± I fervently hoped my suspicions were unfounded. ¡°Anne, did you deliberately cause his father¡¯s heart to stop beating?¡± She fixed a hostile re on Raymond, clearly displeased that I was now privy to this unsettling revtion because of his words. ¡°It was bound to happen sooner orter,¡± she muttered with a chilling lack of remorse. ¡°That man was nothing more than a lifeless body umting debts for his son.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. ¡°Please, for the love of sanity, tell me you¡¯re joking,¡± I implored, desperately hoping that Anne was simply trying to shock us. I knew she was ruthless, but this level of cruelty was beyond myprehension. ¡°Tell me you didn¡¯t take someone¡¯s life.¡± Her frown deepened, but she defended herself, albeit callously. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill anyone,¡± she argued coldly. ¡°I merely stopped paying the bills, and nature took its course.¡± I turned to Raymond, feeling a mixture of disbelief and anger. ¡°Was she the one responsible for paying your father¡¯s hospital bills?¡± I asked him incredulously. ¡°Was she the one covering the cost of the oxygen that kept him alive?¡± 1/3 Raymond nodded, confirming my worst suspicions. ¡°Yes,¡± he admitted, and I winced, wondering why I had been kept in the dark about this shocking revtion. ¡°She¡¯s been footing the bills ever since he was admitted to the hospital.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but feel hurt and confused by Raymond¡¯s choice. ¡°I offered to cover those bills,¡± I reminded him, my voice tinged with disappointment. It stung that he had refused my offer of help, only to turn to my mother for assistance. Raymond sighed, his responseden with frustration. ¡°I didn¡¯t really have a choice,¡± he muttered. ¡°My father owed your family a significant sum of money, and your mother insisted that I take responsibility for settling those debts. I couldn¡¯t possiblye to you for that, Ravel. I still have some self-respect left.¡± I raised an eyebrow, struggling to understand his logic. ¡°Yet you went to my mother?¡± I questioned, my tone conveying my confusion and a touch of irritation. ¡°She insisted on paying it herself, while also adding it to the debt my father already owed your family,¡± he rified, his lips tightening as he spoke. ¡°You see, my father was admitted to this hospital along with yours, and when I attempted to discuss his medical bills with the doctors, I was informed that the Southwark family was handling them. I assumed it was your mother and spoke to her about it, but she insisted that I must repay the debt. Given that my father had already been here for a week, the bills had escted considerably, and I couldn¡¯t afford to pay the full amount upfront. So, I reluctantly agreed to her terms, allowing her to add it to what my father already owed, with the intention of paying it off gradually.¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose, struggling to make sense of this tangled web of financial arrangements and family debts. Turning my gaze back to Anne, I asked, ¡°But why did you instruct the doctors to remove life support?¡± My tone conveyed a mix of confusion and concern, as I tried to understand the motives behind such a drastic action. Anne responded with a dismissive eye roll, taking a seat on the cream-colored sofa. ¡°It¡¯s not as if I did it without his presence,¡± she retorted co olly. ¡°He was there when the decision was made to turn off the life support.¡± Raymond, still simmering with anger, couldn¡¯t contain his frustration. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice!¡± he shouted at her, his voice. filled with resentment. ¡°You stopped covering the bills five months ago, and you never informed me!¡± My eyebrows shot up in astonishment. ¡°So, they turned off the life support because you couldn¡¯t pay for the umted five months of bills?¡± I asked, aghast at the gravity of the situation. Raymond nodded, his expression pained. ¡°I couldn¡¯te up with the entire sum all at once,¡± he admitted, his voiceden with regret. ¡°The amount was simply too overwhelming.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you reach out to me?¡± I questioned, a tinge of hurt in my voice. ¡°When you found out that Anne had stopped paying the bills, why didn¡¯t you call me for help? I could have cleared the hospital bills and whatever debt his father owed my family.¡± Raymond¡¯s bitter chuckle cut through the tension in the room. ¡°I would have told you if you¡¯d bothered to answer my calls,¡± he retorted with a hint of anger in his voice. ¡°I tried reaching out to you that night, multiple times. I even called Elenor, and none of you answered my calls.¡± Regret gnawed at me as I realized how my neglect had contributed to this situation. ¡°I¡¯m genuinely sorry, man,¡± I offered, taking a step toward him, though he instinctively moved back, a visible wince crossing my face. ¡°I allowed my own pain to cloud my responsibilities toward you, and for that, I apologize.¡± Raymond clenched his jaw and exhaled heavily. ¡°You don¡¯t owe me anything, Ravel,¡± he replied, ncing briefly at Elenor and Anne before returning his gaze to me. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to step out for some fresh air.¡± Without waiting for a response, he turned and briskly exited the room. Left alone with my mother, I struggled toprehend how she could act so heartlessly. ¡°How could you so casually end the life of the only family he had left?¡± I questioned, my voice filled with disbelief and disappointment. Her response remained unapologetic as she shrugged off my moral concerns. ¡°He pushed me into it,¡± she argued, attempting to justify her inhumane actions. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have taken that step if he hadn¡¯t boldly dered that he intended to date my daughter to my face.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but scoff at her reasoning. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± I retorted incredulously. ¡°That was the sole reason I agreed to help with the medical bills,¡± she continued, her tone unwavering.This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°He promised to stay 2/3 3/3 É« away from Elenor while I helped keep his father alive. He broke that agreement first, so the me lies with him, not me.¡± ¡°Can you even hear what you¡¯re saying, Anne?¡± My disbelief deepened as I struggled toe to terms with her callousness. Her inability to acknowledge the gravity of her actions left me questioning many things about her character. ¡°Just when I was beginning to see you in a more positive light, you go and commit something so utterly despicable.¡± I couldn¡¯t shake the sense of disappointment in her. Once Elenor recovered from this ordeal, I resolved to ensure that Anne would never appear before me again. She seemedpletely oblivious to the fact that she had just lost a son. §° COMMENT Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 RAVEL THREE YEARS AGO ANNIVERSARY NIGHT Today, I handed Hazel the divorce papers, and her reaction was precisely as I had anticipated. To my disappointment, I found myself resorting to using harsh and hurtful words, aiming to provoke her into harboring animosity towards me. My intention was to make her loathe me, hoping that this would expedite the signing of the divorce papers without unnecessaryplications. Following the unpleasant exchange of words, I simply couldn¡¯t bear to remain in that house and witness her tears. The mere sight of her crying had the power to make me reconsider this entire ordeal. Therefore, I decided it was best to leave. I gathered the remaining tiny fragments left of my heart and departed from the house. Raymond was noticeably taken aback when I knocked on his door that fateful night. His brow arched in a mix of curiosity and concern, clearly wondering why I was at his doorstep at such ate hour. However, despite his uncertainty, he graciously opened the door and ushered me inside. I wasted no time in heading straight for his well-stocked bar, where I grabbed a whiskey bottle and, without any ceremony, began drinking directly from it. Raymond observed my actions with a watchful eye, recognizing that something significant must have transpired. He couldn¡¯t help but voice his suspicion, asking, ¡°You¡¯ve handed her the divorce papers, haven¡¯t you?¡± With a bitter chuckle, I had to bite my lip forcefully, desperately attempting to contain the tears that threatened to flow freely. ¡°Raymond, you can¡¯t imagine the look on her face,¡± Imented, shaking my head in regret as I recollected that painful moment. I took another substantial swig from the bottle. ¡°She¡¯s never going to find it in her heart to forgive me.¡± Raymond let out a deep, contemtive sigh, then moved over to the bar. He retrieved two shot sses with deliberate care, all the while prying the whiskey bottle gently from my grip. ¡°Ravel, I distinctly recall advising you to wait until after your anniversary celebration,¡± he chided me. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not one to heed wise counsel, are you?¡± I observed as Raymond filled my ss, the weight of the situation sinking in. ¡°What difference would it have made?¡± I mused, my voice tinged with a bitter irony. ¡°Celebrating our marriage today and ending it the very next day, that would have been cruel, don¡¯t you think?¡± The memory of the pain and confusion in her eyes as I uttered those words to her haunted me. Raymond, equally burdened by the circumstances, mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, man. I wish there was something I could do to ease your situation or change the course of events, but it¡¯s beyond my control right now.¡± Brushing away the tears that trickled down my cheeks with the back of my hand, I gazed down into my ss, lost in thought. ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable that my secretary didn¡¯t cancel the dress order like I instructed,¡± I confessed with a sigh. Justst month, I had ced an order for a dress for Hazel from a Louis Vuitton store, apanied by a special request for a note inside, encouraging her to prepare for a date. I explicitly told Dani, my secretary, to cancel that order, but it seems she failed to do SO. Raymond¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. ¡°You actually walked in on Hazel wearing that dress?¡± He asked incredulously, and I simply nodded in response. His exmation followed,den with frustration, ¡°Da mn, if you ever hope to win her back, you¡¯ve got a long road ahead of you.¡± Running my hand down my weary face, I reached for the bottle and ss. ¡°You don¡¯t mind if I crash here tonight, do you?¡± I inquired. ¡°Of course not,¡± Raymond reassured me, giving my back a light tap, a gesture of support and affection. ¡°You can have the bed, I¡¯ll take the sofa.¡± I chuckled softly, though my heart was heavy. ¡°I won¡¯t object, even though I doubt I¡¯ll be getting much sleep tonight.¡± The following morning, as I stirred from sleep, I discovered that Raymond had gone the extra mile. He had ordered a suit 1/3 Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. for me from an online store, and it had been delivered to his house. Despite his protests, I insisted on paying for my suit. After a refreshing shower, I emerged from the room and entered the living room, where I found Raymond holding a te of pancakes. He extended the te toward me, offering, ¡°You should eat something, you drank on an empty stomachst night.¡± However, the idea of food was far from my mind. How could I possibly eat when I was certain that Hazel hadn¡¯t had breakfast either? How could I contemte a meal when my wife believed I was leaving her for another woman? I couldn¡¯t hide my disappointment when she had asked that question. ¡°I¡¯ve got an early morning meeting at the office, Raymond,¡± I responded tiredly. ¡°Wrap up your breakfast, and please, drive me to work.¡± He nodded and proceeded to take his te into the kitchen while I waited in the car, lost in my thoughts. Days passed, a relentless mix of quick and agonizingly slow, with Hazel¡¯s absence hanging heavily over me. I found myself avoiding my own house altogether, often seeking refuge in one of my penthouses. Adding to the turmoil was the fact that Elenor harbored a strong resentment toward me as well. She had paid a visit to my office recently, taking the opportunity to chastise me for the pain I had caused Hazel. In her eyes, I was undoubtedly the biggest jerk for what I had done. Reflecting on my actions, I couldn¡¯t help but agree with Elenor¡¯s assessment. I was indeed responsible for causing Hazel immense pain. And due to a single mistake made by Dani, my former secretary, for failing to cancel the dress order that made my wife dress up for a dinner that would never happen, I had decided to part ways with Dani and rece her with Rose. I decided to pay a visit to Anne, fully aware that she must have already heard about my divorce ns with Hazel. But I needed to make one thing abundantly clear to her ¨C under no circumstances should she contribute to Hazel¡¯s pain. My car came to a halt, and I stepped out, determined to find her. I eventually located her in the study, engrossed in a book. Anne looked up as the door opened, and her eyes lit up at the sight of me. ¡°Wee, son,¡± she greeted warmly, rising from her seat and circling the table to wee me. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the good news. Congrattions.¡± My expression turned into a re. ¡°You seem to be the only one who views the end of her son¡¯s marriage as a ¡®good thing,¡± I retorted, my frustration palpable. I clenched both hands into fists, reminding myself that she wasn¡¯t the source of my current troubles. ¡°Sue me for being happy that my heart desires has been fulfilled.¡± Anne replied with a self-satisfied smile. I scoffed in response. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I¡¯m here,¡± I deadpanned, my expression serious. ¡°The fact that I¡¯m divorcing Hazel doesn¡¯t give you license to insult her.¡± Anne¡¯s smile only widened. ¡°What greater insult is there than the fact that the gold mine she hoped to exploit has been taken away from her?¡± My patience wore thin, and I took a menacing step closer to Anne. ¡°I¡¯ve refrained from crossing certain boundaries because you¡¯re my mother,¡± I warned, my voiceced with a dangerous undertone. ¡°But if you ever make her cry or utter a single wrong word to her, and I find out about it, I¡¯ll forget that you¡¯re my mother.¡± Anne rolled her eyes dismissively. ¡°Ravel, it doesn¡¯t need toe to that. I have no intention of meeting with her anyway. After all, she¡¯s no longer a part of this family.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve stated my piece,¡± I replied firmly, leaving no room for doubt. ¡°I hope you take it seriously.¡± With that, I exited the study room. As I descended the stairs, I unexpectedly crossed paths with Elenor. She came to a sudden halt upon seeing me and wasted no time in questioning my presence. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked, her tone brimming with curiosity. But before I could respond, or even consider exining myself, she lifted her index finger. ¡°Forget I asked. Frankly, I don¡¯t care.¡± Ignoring Elenor¡¯s earlierments, I continued my path towards the door, intent on leaving. However, she halted me with a request, ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re headed to your office. Can you give me a ride? I need to meet someone there.¡± I suspected that the ¡°someone¡± she referred to was Raymond. ¡°Actually,¡± I corrected her, ¡°I¡¯m heading home, not the office.¡± 2/3 Her response was unexpectedly tinged with excitement. ¡°Really?¡± she inquired with a glimmer of hope. ¡°Have you patched things up with Hazel?¡± I responded with a deadpan tone, ¡°I¡¯m just going to pick up a few of my clothes.¡± She cursed at me. Unfazed by her curses, I left her behind and entered my car, driving off toward my home. 3/3 É« COMMENT Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 RAVEL PRESENT TIME A multitude of events were unfolding simultaneously. I¡¯d been relentlessly attempting to get in tow with Kayudar since he departed from Eleanor¡¯s ward, yet my efforts remained fruitless. With each am reading to my calls being rerouted to his voicemail, I couldn¡¯t help but empathize with the frustration they may have experwared with my contact me on that fateful night.. As I made my way into my home, my jacket casually slung over my shoulder, I was taken aback by the sugle of jure porturing on the sofa, engrossed in a Netflix movie, a bowl of popcorn in her hand. She greeted me with a warm smile, ¡°Wee home, Ravel, It seems nearly impossible to cauch a yer of you, done engage in a conversation these days.¡± Without acknowledging her, I silently ascended the staircase, retreating to my room. My primary agenda was to potens myself with a much-needed shower, change into clean attire, and gather the essential items required for my two to for hospital. After luxuriating in the soothing flow of the shower and meticulously selecting a change of doches for the following day along with the requisite office documents, I made my way to the kitchen, intent on acquiring some fresh fruits to susedio me for the night. As I enteredWithout acknowledging her, I silently ascended the staircase, retreating to the solnude of my room. My primary agenda was to refresh myself with a much-needed shower, change into dean air, and rather the essential items required for my imminent return to the hospital. After luxuriating in the soothing flow of the shower and meticulously selecting a change of clothes for the following day along with the requisite office documents, I made my way to the kitchen, intent on acquiring some fresh fruins no suodin the during my hospital visit. As I walked down the stairs, I couldn¡¯t help but notice June¡¯s warddu your, yokoy my every move until I disappeared into the kitchen. A few minutes psed before I discerned the soft cadence of her footsteps drawing nearer. Without taking any focus of the fruits on the table, I inquired. ¡°Is there something you wish to discuss? My voice was calm and measured as I continued to deftly dice the fruits, arranging them on a small takeout te. In an unexpected moment, her gentle hands enveloped my waist, and she let out a intive whine, I a ss you so muc Ravel. It¡¯s as though you¡¯ve be a rare sight these days, and it¡¯s difficult not to notice your doorac Dropping the knife with a gentle tter, I delicately pried her fingers apart, freeing myself from her grasp. Sure you¡¯re brought this up, it¡¯s high time we had this conversation,¡± I stated firmly. Her brow furrowed in confusion, sagging toprehend my words. I pulled out one of the stools adjacent to the kitchen ind and gestured for her to take a seat ¡°Please, have a seat? I implored, my expression serious. She reluctantlyplied, crossing her arms defensively. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± she inquired, her curiosity mixed with a kuur of concern. ¡°Why do you look so serious?¡± Leaning against the kitchen ind, I locked eyes with her, blinking slowly. ¡°June, it¡¯s time for this to end I need my some unwavering ¡°In fact, let me correct that it¡¯s ending tonight.¡± ¨C June responded with a disbelieving scoff. ¡°Tell me this is some sick, twisted joke that isn¡¯t even remotely funny¡± I met her anger with aposed demeanor, squarely facing her. ¡°I did make it clear from the beginning what this was art! I always mentioned that it would eventuallye to an end, I stated calmly. I also promised that I¡¯d ever poter at sp with something nice or provide you with a check, whichever you prefer? She sniffed indignantly, her frustration evident as she tucked her tongue into her mouth. So, you just want to discard mes Her tone dripped with bitterness. ¡°Is it because Hazel came back and you have a child with her? Is that the rea ss 1/3 ¡°I don¡¯t owe you any exnations,¡± I informed her with a measured calmness. ¡°I¡¯ve always been clear about our arrangement, and all I owe you is the settlement I promised.¡± I held firm, reminding her that she had understood the terms from the very beginning. There was no reason for me to feel sorry for her. I attempted to inject a bit of optimism into the situation. ¡°Look on the bright side, June. You can go back to your boyfriend and have an open rtionship now.¡± She responded with a snort of frustration. ¡°The brighter side would have been marrying you, having yourst name,¡± shemented. ¡°But I guess I won¡¯t be getting any of that.¡± I shrugged in response. ¡°It is what it is, June,¡± Despite the pain my words had caused, June nodded in agreement, nervously biting her lower lip. ¡°I¡¯ll take the check and a house,¡± she stated, and I raised an eyebrow at her second request. ¡°What? I can¡¯t spend the entire sum on just a house,¡± she added with a hint of defensiveness. She leaned back, pursing her lips. ¡°I¡¯m also keeping the car you bought me, and I need a ce to live.¡± I reassured her, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. I already have a real estate agent who can help you find a suitable ce. Just stop by my office tomorrow, and you¡¯ll get the check.¡± June tilted her head, disying a hint of reluctance. ¡°Why the rush? You do realize I¡¯m not leaving until you hand me the keys to my new apartment, right?¡± I responded in a measured tone, ¡°That should be ready before the weekend. So, please, stop by my office tomorrow for the check before I change my mind.¡± My decision was driven by practicality, not emotions, given the nature of our rtionship over the years. Concluding our conversation, I picked up the te of diced fruits, carefully cing it in a stic bag, and also retrieved some milk from the fridge before making my way toward the door. I couldn¡¯t deny that this had gone smoother than I had anticipated. However, just as I was about to leave, June posed an unexpected question, causing me to pause. ¡°What¡¯s so special about her that you can¡¯t just let her go?¡± Her inquiry was direct, and I turned around to face her, narrowing my gaze. ¡°I¡¯m talking about Hazel,¡± she pressed on. ¡°What makes her so special?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. I considered her question for a moment before responding, ¡°When you¡¯ve experienced a deep, profound love with someone, you¡¯ll understand.¡± I cautioned her, ¡°Don¡¯t attempt to rationalize or understand what I have with Hazel. It¡¯s aplex connection, and trying to make sense of it will only leave you with more questions than answers.¡± Intrigued, June rose to her feet, a thoughtful expression on her face. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really expecting you to answer that,¡± she mused as she took a step closer to me. ¡°Let me pose another question, then.¡± I cautioned her, ¡°I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll answer.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t stop me from asking,¡± she replied with determination. ¡°If you were willing to go back to her or forgive her so easily, why did you go through with the divorce in the first ce?¡± Her voice held a rasp of frustration and confusion. Reiterating my stance, I maintained a firm tone. ¡°As I¡¯ve mentioned previously, June, I¡¯m not obliged to provide you with an exnation.¡± With a sense of resolution, I went on to rify our agreement further. ¡°Regarding your apartment, rest assured it will be ready for you by the weekend. However, upon my return on Monday, I expect to find no trace of your presence in my house. Is that perfectly clear?¡± June¡¯s grin widened even more, her satisfaction palpable. She responded with confidence, ¡°So long as I have the money and the house, your message is crystal clear. You won¡¯t find me here when you return.¡± 2/3 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 HAZEL PRESNT TIME During the quietude of the early morning, I find myself unable to sumb to sleep¡¯s embrace. Daisy, remains in blissful slumber beside me, tightly clutching the preposterously oversized and luxuriously fluffy teddy bear that Ravel thoughtfully presented to her during hisst visit. Exhausted by my restless shifting and turning on the bed, I eventually surrender to the futility of my quest for rest and reluctantly extract myself from the sheets. I retrieved my smartphone and an invitingly warm nket. With thesepanions in hand, I walked quietly to the kitchen, where I aim to obtain a soothing ss of warm milk. Seated upon a stool, I gaze intently at the stovetop, observing as the milk gradually warms in the saucepan. Patiently, I waited for the milk to reach that perfect temperature that I desire. Once the milk attained the ideal warmth, I carefully pour it into a ss, ensuring not a single drop is wasted, and then begin my leisurely return to the sanctuary of the bedroom. I can¡¯t leave Daisy unattended for too long, especially with no baby monitor in sight and her nanny dozing off nearby. I settle into the single sofa positioned conveniently close to my bed. Tapping the screen of my phone, I navigate to my gallery. After some searching, I finally locate a picture of David. I click on it, my gaze fixed intently on the image. Lately, he¡¯s been engaging in actions that have left me questioning many things. My thoughts drift back to the incident at his mother¡¯s ce before I made the trip to New York. It¡¯s clear that the little girl in the photo is David¡¯s mother¡¯s child, as their resemnce is striking. What baffles me is the necessity for her to be dishonest about it. I find myself torn between two options: should I consider hiring someone to investigate the matter, or should I simply let it go? After all, it¡¯s a personal issue within their family, not mine to meddle in. With a weary sigh, I downed thest of my milk and set the empty ss on the bedside drawer. I then retreated back beneath my cozy duvet, hopeful that this time I would find some much-needed sleep. My peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by a distant ringing tone. As I reluctantly cracked open my eyes, I realized that the sun had risen, indicating I had slept for longer than intended. ncing beside me, I found the space empty. Even the used ss I had left on the bedside drawer had mysteriously disappeared. A wave of panic washed over me as I initially feared my daughter was missing. However, the reassuring thought that I wasn¡¯t alone in this apartment, that her nanny was also present, managed to quell some of my anxiety. I hastily abandoned my robe, opting for a short nightdress, and hurried to the living room, determined to locate my daughter. As I rushed into the living room, my steps faltered at the unexpected scene before me. There, on the floor, was Ravel, engrossed in y with Daisy, who was surrounded by an array of new toys that I was certain he had brought with him. Daisy, the first to notice my presence, beamed with delight. ¡°Mama!¡± she eximed happily. However, her attention remained fixed on the captivating toys, and she made no move toe to me, clearly more absorbed in the ytime. Ravel¡¯s gaze movednguidly, starting from my bare legs and lingering there for a moment before slowly ascending to my chest. His intent examination left me acutely aware of how revealing my nightwear truly was. I had chosen it forfort, not expecting an audience. For a brief, heart-pounding moment, his eyes rested on my chest before finally lifting to meet my face. The intensity of his gaze made me feel incredibly exposed, as if I had never felt so vulnerable in my life. A flush of embarrassment crept across my cheeks, tainting them a rosy hue, and Ravel couldn¡¯t help but revel in my difiture. ¡°Good morning, Hazel,¡± he greeted with a smug undertone, his smirk clearly indicating he was well aware of the 1/3 awkwardness he had caught me in.. I instantly regretted my decision not to wear my robe, and in my haste to rectify my attire, I tugged at the hem of my dress. Unfortunately, my attempt to pull it down only seeded in exposing more of my chest. Flustered, I released the hem abruptly and attempted to adjust the V-neckline. Ravel couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at my predicament. ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself on my ount, love,¡± he quipped, a mischievous glint in his eye. ¡°I am quite enjoying the show.¡± His wink sent a delightful shiver down my spine. ¡°Why don¡¯t you freshen up and join me for breakfast? I have something important to discuss with you.¡± My concerns about the situation snapped me out of my provocative thoughts. ¡°Is everything okay? Did something happen?¡± I inquired, my worry evident in my voice. Ravel rose from the floor, closing the distance between us. He ced both hands on my shoulders and leaned in close to whisper near my car, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. ¡°Something will definitely happen if you don¡¯t cover up,¡± he murmured suggestively. My heart fluttered again, and I cleared my throat nervously. Pulling away from his touch, I practically sprinted to my room, his soft chuckle following me like a teasing echo. An hour and a halfter, I emerged from my room, my hair beautifully curled, a departure from its usual natural texture. And yes, I had taken the time to sha ve my body. Don¡¯t judge; I simply wanted to feel pretty today. Ravel paused in his task of pouring fresh juice into smaller sses when he noticed me approaching. His gaze drifted to myically oversized pants, but he wore a warm smile as his eyes met mine. ¡°You look beautiful.¡± Hispliment brought a weed blush to my cheeks. ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied with gratitude, pulling out a chair and helping myself to some toasted bread. ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°Early enough to find you still fast asleep,¡± he answered, passing me a te of scrambled eggs. ¡°Did you stay upte? You didn¡¯t even hear mee into the room and pick up Daisy with the empty ss of milk.¡± I grumbled slightly. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t fall asleep,¡± I confessed. ¡°But the ss of milk did help, though.¡± ¡°You should have called me,¡± he suggested, his tone caring. ¡°I would have talked you to sleep.¡± Augh bubbled up at his suggestion. ¡°What am I, five?¡± I quipped, imagining the absurdity of him trying to lull me to sleep over the phone. Ravel chuckled softly. ¡°It worked in the past,¡± he teased, his voice trailing off suggestively. ¡°Or at least it worked after I¡¯ve f u ¡°Okay, okay, I get the point!¡± I interrupted, my cheeks ming red. Ravel¡¯s smirk in response only made me blush harder. Attempting to keep the conversation strictly PG, I decided to move to a more saver topic. ¡°You mentioned you have something important to discuss with me?¡± He picked up a piece of toast, his expression growing serious. ¡°I want you and Daisy to move in with me, at least until you¡¯re ready to return to Seattle.¡± The yful smile on my face vanished, reced by a more serious expression. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± I questioned, a hint of frustration in my tone. Just because I could banter with Ravel didn¡¯t mean I was ready to entertain the idea of moving in with him and ying the part of a loving couple. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Perhaps drunk? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too early for that?¡± Ravel reached for his phone and ced it on the table before nudging it in my direction. ¡°For your safety,¡± he began, ¡°I had some of my men keep an eye on you, and they noticed something.¡± I picked up the phone and examined the image on the back, depicting a person I didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked, puzzled. ¡°Your stalker, he replied solemnly. ¡°He¡¯s been photographed outside the hospital on several asions and lurking around your apartment.¡± 2/3 I scrutinized the image more closely, my brows furrowing in confusion. ¡°Are you absolutely sure this isn¡¯t June¡¯s doing? She¡¯s the only one I can think of who might have a reason to stalk me.¡± Ravel shook his head, his expression serious. ¡°I ended things with June,¡± he confessed. ¡°And with the settlement I offered, she seemed quite content to move on. So, I don¡¯t believe this man is connected to her.¡± I sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and fear. ¡°Why in the world would anyone want to stalk me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a question I can¡¯t answer,¡± he admitted. ¡°But I want you to move in with me until we figure out who this stalker is, or until you¡¯re ready to return to Seattle.¡± suggestion. 3/3Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 RAVEL THREE YEARS AGO Arriving at the grand manor, I immediately noticed the conspicuous absence of Hazel¡¯s car from the driveway, a telling sign that she was not present. With a thoughtful gesture, I turned off the engine, paying little heed to the security personnel who were loitering in the vicinity. As I made my way out of the car, I chose to disregard the security detail that lingered nearby. Crossing the threshold of the imposing house, my first encounter was with the housekeeper. ¡°Could you kindly inform me of my wife¡¯s whereabouts?¡± I found myself asking almost reflexively, though I couldn¡¯t help. but inwardly cringe at the unintentional use of the term ¡®my wife. If I intended to carry off this divorce charade convincingly, I realized I had to stop using the term ¡®my wife. In response to my inquiry, the housekeeper calmly replied, ¡°She left following a conversation with June.¡± June should know about Hazel¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Where can I find June?¡± I questioned the housekeeper, who promptly gestured toward the pool house, indicating that June was likely busy cleaning the pool. With a brief nod of acknowledgment, I set off in the direction of the pool. Upon entering the pool house, I immediately posed the question that burned in my mind, ¡°Where did Hazel go to?¡± I addressed June, whose startled reaction to my abrupt query led to an unfortunate loss of bnce. My eyes followed her unexpected tumble into the pool, irritation simmering just beneath the surface. My displeasure only grew as June struggled to regain herposure. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir,¡± she stammered, wringing the hem of her dress to rid it of the excess water that clung to her skin. In her haste, the shirt she wore clung more tenaciously to her body, revealing more than intended through the now translucent fabric. I maintained my gaze firmly fixed on her face, determined not to let my eyes wander. ¡°Stop doing that,¡± I snapped, my annoyance clear in my tone. She halted, nced down at her now clinging shirt, and for a brief moment, I could have sworn I detected a sly smile on her lips. Blinking rapidly, she returned her attention to me. ¡°Do you require something, sir?¡± she inquired politely. ¡°Where is my wife?¡± I winced internally at my recurring choice of words. ¡°Did she happen to mention her destination to you?¡± I asked, hopeful for any clue. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. June shook her head, her expression devoid of any valuable information. ¡°I offered her lunch, but she declined and instructed me to share it with the other staff,¡± she exined. My suspicions were confirmed; she hadn¡¯t been eating. Concern crept into my voice as I asked, ¡°How long has she been gone?¡± June tilted her head, men tally calcting the time. ¡°She¡¯s been away for quite some time, likely over two hours,¡± she replied. With a nod, I retraced my steps, making my way to our bedroom to fetch a change of clothes. Just as I was in the midst of packing, my phone rang, and I found myself hesitating as I glimpsed Eleanor¡¯s name shing on the screen. I ran a tired hand over my eyes, contemting whether or not to answer. Eventually, I resigned myself to the call and swiped to ept, cing the phone to my ear. Wearily, I responded, ¡°What do you want, Eleanor? I¡¯m not in the mood for your insults right now.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice came through, tinged with a hint of indifference. ¡°I just hope they¡¯ll achieve their intended effect,¡± she muttered tly. ¡°I¡¯m only calling because I¡¯m concerned about Hazel.¡± My interest was immediately piqued at the mention of Hazel¡¯s name. I leaned forward, urgency in my voice. ¡°What about Hazel? Did something happened to her?¡± Chapter 105 She responded to my question with a scoff. ¡°I see someone still cares about her,¡± she deadpanned, her tonecking any warmth. ¡°Hazel left here about thirty minutes ago, and she didn¡¯t seem okay at all. She appeared seriously distressed, and she¡¯s the one driving.¡± My brows furrowed immediately. ¡°Why the hell is she driving?¡± I retorted with frustration. It should have been Adam behind the wheel, not her. Eleanor¡¯s patience wore thin, and she shot back, ¡°How the hell should I know? She came looking for you here, and I told her you had gone home, so I assumed she went home to find you. I just wanted to check if she¡¯s there.¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s not,¡± I replied tersely, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. ¡°I¡¯ll call Adam right now to find out where she is.¡± Without wasting any more words on Eleanor, I ended the call and dialed Adam¡¯s number, my impatience evident. ¡°Where the hell are you?¡± ¡°We are five minutes away from home, sir,¡± Adam replied in a robotic manner. I couldn¡¯t hide my frustration. ¡°What on earth do you mean by that?¡± I muttered as I left the bed and headed to the window. I forcefully pulled the curtains open. ¡°Why is my wife driving?¡± Adam¡¯s response carried a hint of uncertainty. ¡°She insisted, sir,¡± he exined, his voice wavering slightly. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, sir, I¡¯m following closely behind her.¡± I clenched my jaw, struggling to control my anger. ¡°She¡¯s not in the right state of mind to focus on driving,¡± I remarked, my tongue pressed against my cheek as I attempted to quell my irritation. ¡°Just ensure she gets home safely. We¡¯ll discuss thister.¡± Without further ado, I ended the call, my concerns for Hazel¡¯s safety at the forefront of mind. my Stepping away from the window, I made my way into the closet, intending to resume packing. However, my attention was soon drawn to a familiar file thaty on the dresser. It contained the divorce papers, and I couldn¡¯t help but pick it up. As I opened it, I noticed that the crucial spot for Hazel¡¯s signature remained conspicuously empty. A sense of frustration welled up within me. Would she ever sign this document? I was about to return the file to its ce when a devious idea crossed my mind. I recalled how Hazel had always emphasized fidelity during the happier times of our marriage. Perhaps the surefire way to make her sign the papers was to create a situation where she believed I was cheating. Leaving the closet behind, I walked over to my bedroom door and instructed the housekeeper to summon June into the room. Judging by her earlier behavior, she seemed like a willing participant in the charade that was beginning to take shape in my mind. June knocked timidly on my bedroom door and, after granting her permission to enter, she hesitantly stepped in. Her demeanor exuded nervousness as she mumbled, ¡°Sir, you sent for me,¡± her gaze firmly fixed on her shoes. I took a deep breath, fully aware that the path I was about to tread would have profound consequences, particrly for Hazel. ¡°Undress,¡± I ordered, my voice firm and unwavering. Her head snapped up in shock, her eyes wide with surprise. ¡°Why do you appear so startled, June?¡± I continued, my toneced with a calcted mix of confidence and provocation. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of your desires. I¡¯ve noticed the way you look at me when I¡¯m shirtless, or when I kiss Hazel, and your deliberate antics to make your body more visible through your shirt when you jumped into the pool.¡± ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t think you¡­¡± June attempted to interject. ¡°Undress,¡± I repeated withmanding authority. ¡°If you have no interest in this, you are free to leave.¡± June hesitated for a moment, her gaze locked with mine, before she reluctantly began to undress. I observed her dispassionately, my mind focused on the charade at hand. When she stood before me entirely nude, she Chapter 105 regarded me seductively, her eyes glinting as she moistened her lips. ¡°Do you want to feel it?¡± She asked, jingling her breast-softly. It took everything in me not to cringe. 1 jerked my head towards the bed. ¡°Go lie on it and touch yourself.¡± She went over and did as instructed and while she was lost in her sell created ecstacy, I heard Hazel¡¯s car drive in. Certain that she was going to find me, I walked over to the bed, towered over June and took her nipple into my mouth. This should be enough to make her sign the divorce papers. Çú Chapter 106 Chapter 106 HAZEL PRESENT TIME To ensure my daughter¡¯s safety, I agreed to temporarily live with Ravel until I am prepared to return to Seattle. I have already made ns to depart this weekend with the hope of returningter. While I believe I can manage matters from at distance, I still feel the need to be physically present in the office to fully understand what¡¯s happening. As soon as we entered Ravel¡¯s home, he suddenly stopped me by taking hold of my hand. ¡°Would you prefer to stay in the guest room, or would you feel morefortable in our bedroom?¡± he asked. I looked at him quizzically. ¡°You mean your bedroom?¡± He winced at my choice of words. ¡°Yes, I meant my bedroom.¡± I shook my head and gracefully handed my bag to the housekeeper while discreetly scanning the area for June. ¡°Ravel, this is, your home,¡± I began, ¡°and it wouldn¡¯t be proper for me to take over your bedroom. I¡¯ll opt for one of the guest rooms.¡± Ravel winced, as if my words had caused him some difort. ¡°Very well,¡± he replied, ¡°I¡¯ll let you freshen up while I prepare dinner. He handed Daisy over to me before heading toward the kitchen. After refreshing both myself and Daisy with a warm shower, I joined Ravel in the dining room. He handed me a ss of wine and volunteered to feed Daisy. I dly passed her over to him, well aware of how yful yet stubborn she could be during mealtime. Ravel cleared his throat to capture my attention. ¡°Someone has been nted in your apartment to impersonate you. Hopefully, the next time he show up, we¡¯ll be able to catch the stalker.¡± Nodding slowly, I set my fork down on the table. ¡°Can I see that picture again, please?¡± I requested, a hint of concern in my voice. Ravel lifted his head, arching an inquisitive brow. ¡°Do you think you might recognize the person?¡± he inquired, then handed me his phone. Taking the phone, I replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I just want to double¨Ccheck something.¡± I clicked on the picture and stared at it intently, my mind racing with questions. Why did the person in the photo bear such a striking resemnce to David from behind? I knew David was in New York, but he had no knowledge of my current location, making this situation all the more confusing. ¡°Hazel?!¡± Ravel¡¯s sudden and insistent call startled me, yanking me out of my contemtion. ¡°What¡¯s going on in your mind? I¡¯ve been trying to get your attention for quite some time now.¡± He scrutinized me closely. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I lied. I can¡¯t say for certain that he is David, so it is best not to implicate him, but stuff like this is going to make me look into him. I returned the phone to him. ¡°Can I ask for a favor?¡± Ravel smiled widely, the eagerness to please me in his eyes. ¡°Anything for you Hazel.¡± Daisy pushed away the spoon that he tried to put in her mouth and I almost chuckled. ¡°Can you rmend a private investigator for me?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Should I ask why you need one?¡± I shook my head and he nodded. ¡°I have quite a few in my contact list, I can always forward it to you.¡± Appreciative, not only because he offered to help, but because he did not prob, I smiled. ¡°thank you Ray, I¡¯d really appreciate it.¡± Nodding, he passed Daisy over to the nanny when it dawned on him that he won¡¯t be able to stop her from poking her hand into the stew sauce. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you need a private investigator, but I want you to be careful.¡± Smiling at him, I nodded. ¡°Speaking of which, where is your femalepanion?¡± his jaw clenched at my question. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to see her around her.¡± The mocking yet angry bite in my tone did not go unnoticed by him. ¡°Did you tell her to hide because I aming around?¡± He took his time, cating the chicken in his mouth and swallowed. ¡°I ended things with June, so you will never see her anywhere around my house or me.¡± I scoffed. ¡°Is that supposed to make me feel better?¡± whether or not she is still living with him or not does not erase the fact that he cheated on me with her. Ravel sighed. ¡°What do I have to do to make you forgive me?¡± he whispered. ¡°What do I have to do is make you forgive me? I know it is impossible to forget, but all I ask is the opportunity to make amends.¡± Suddenly feeling sorry for the way I spoke to him, I signed. ¡°I am sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have brought things up like this.¡± I somehow knew that there was a possibility that she was not here because Ravel mentioned thest time that he ended things with her and paid her off. He shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize, I deserved it.¡± He resumed eating and after that, he calmly stood up, dropped his te in the sink, and walked towards the door. ¡°Good night Hazel.¡± Without waiting for a response from me, he climbed up the stairs and retreated to his room. After waiting for him for so long, hoping that he would eventuallye downstairs and when he didn¡¯t, I went in search of him. It is either he is angry with me, or he is in there ming himself the more. Halting in the familiar hallway that leads to a bedroom that used to be mine, I knocked on the door twice but got no response. I knocked again and this time, I heard shuffling feet before the door opened and he leaned on the doorway, slightly surprised to see me. ¡°Is everything okay? Do you need something?¡± I cleared my throat nervously. ¡°I uhh¡­¡± I cleared my throat again. ¡°Can Ie in?¡± He stared at me for a moment, sighed, and pulled the door wider. I ducked under his arm to get into the room. He closed the door softly behind me. ¡°What do you want Hazel?¡± Ignoring his question, I stared at the huge familiar portrait on the wall, directly facing our bed. ¡°You never took this down?¡± I felt his body warmth behind me. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get myself to do it.¡± He whispered. ¡°Taking it down would mean epting that our marriage was indeed over.¡± Brows furrowed with confusion, I turned around and stared at him. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± I mumbled, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted?¡± I asked him. ¡°Need I remind you that you were the one who gave me those divorce papers on the grounds that you have fallen in love with June?¡± He slumped down the bed. ¡°Lies.¡± He mumbled. ¡°I did what I had to do to make you sign those divorce papers.¡± This doesn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Why exactly did you do it?¡± I can¡¯t have him confusing my emotions. Exhaling heavily, he stood up again, approached me, and grabbed my hand gently. ¡°I did what I had to do Hazel.¡± His vague exnation did nothing to clear my confusion. ¡°What did you have to do?¡± ¡°Why do you need a private investigator?¡± he asked suddenly and my defenses went high. I may not really understand who David is anymore, but he was there for me when I needed someone. ¡°You said you weren¡¯t going to ask,¡± I muttered. ¡°And that¡¯s because I trust you.¡± He stated. ¡°I know this may be a difficult request, but I need you to trust me too Hazel. Do you think you can do that for me?¡± Lifting my head, I stared at him for a moment, his cold blue icy eyes pleading with me to trust him. Taking a very big leap, I stood on my tiptoe and ced my lips on his.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 RAVEL PRESENT TIME I wasn¡¯t expecting things to take this direction at allst night. Having Hazel kiss my lips and having her warm naked body on minest night is something I won¡¯t trade for anything in this world. Having her naked and fair skin sleeping next to me this morning is truly a blessing. Unable to keep my hands to myself, I reached forward and removed a hair from her face before reaching down to kiss her face. Last night, I had purposely taken her with no condonis, hoping that she will get pregnant. Call me a coward, but that is the most efficient way to constantly inform that wanker David that she is mine. I¡¯m fully aware that the threat still exists, and it lingers ominously in the back of my mind. Although things may seem calm for now, the ckmailer might be lying low, silently observing how everything unfolds, biding their time for another strike. Pushing that concern aside, I nced at the wall clock and with a gentle roll, I slipped out of bed, determined to prepare something special for her. She¡¯ll undoubtedly be tired when she wakes up because I kept her uptest night. As I left the room, I couldn¡¯t help but smile upon hearing Daisy¡¯s cheerfulughter, apanied by her nanny¡¯s soft and reassuring chuckles. The sound was aforting reminder of the happiness that surrounded me at the moment. Upon entering the kitchen, theughter gradually quieted down, reced by a warm and weing atmosphere. Daisy greeted me with an infectious smile that brightened up the room. Without hesitation, I reached for her, pulling her into my embrace, and began peppering her delighted face with affectionate kisses. Her joyful giggles filled the air, a melody that warmed my heart and made the worries of the outside world seem distant and insignificant. My housekeeper, Mrs. Mary Reynolds, cleared her throat politely, attempting to gain my attention. ¡°What would you like for breakfast, sir?¡± she inquired in her customary respectful tone. Bncing little Daisy on my hips, I carried her over to the spacious kitchen ind. ¡°I was thinking of whipping up something special for Hazel myself,¡± I replied, my voice filled with a hint of excitement. Mrs. Reynolds nodded in acknowledgment and, with a gracious gesture, opened the refrigerator to disy the array of breakfast options at our disposal. Daisy¡¯s nanny, aware of the morning routine, suggested that I hand her over so she could prepare for her morning bath. Taking stock of the ingredients, I decided on preparing a delectable dish of chicken and waffles. It seemed like a manageable task, possibly because Mary was there to supervise the culinary venture. After cooking up a delicious breakfast, I carefully arranged it on a tasteful tray,plete with a chilled ss of orange juice. With the tray in hand, I made my way upstairs to our bedroom. As I entered, I found Hazel still nestled in the embrace of slumber, her peaceful form illuminated by the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. cing the tray gently on the bedside table, I couldn¡¯t resist the turge to lean down and nt a tender kiss on her cheek. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered, and her eyes began to open. ¡°It¡¯s morning already,¡± I softly whispered in her ear, nting a gentle kiss on her lips to rouse her from sleep. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and a warm smile spread across her face. ¡°Good morning, sleepyhead,¡± I greeted her with a smile of my own. She giggled and attempted to sit up, inadvertently causing the duvet to slip, exposing her bare chest. I couldn¡¯t help but stare, and she yfully remarked, ¡°You¡¯re quite insatiable,¡± covering herself with a bashful grin. ¡®It smells wonderful in here,¡± shemented as I approached the bed, carrying a tray ¡°After how loudly you screamedst night, I thought you might need some energy,¡± I teased, finding her blush utterly endearing. Her disheveled, post¨Clovemaking hair only added to her charm. She reached for a waffle, took a bite, and let out a contented moan. ¡°Did you make this?¡± she asked between bites, eyes widening in surprise. I nodded with a grin which made her eyes widen the more. ¡°Really? You made the waffles yourself?¡± Her astonished expression prompted a heartyugh from me. ¡°Well, Mary might have given me some tips on what to add and when,¡± I admitted with a yful smirk. She snorted, clearly amused. ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t have pulled this off alone,¡± she said before devouring more waffles. ¡°But, thank you, I truly appreciate the effort.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. I rolled my eyes in mock exasperation. ¡°If you¡¯re genuinely grateful for my effort, then express it,¡± I teased, swiping the waffles from her hand with a mischievous grin. I reclined on the bed, propped up on my elbow, watching her savor her meal. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on her face. ¡°You know,¡± I began, my tone slightly more serious, ¡°I¡¯ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time.¡± I let out a wistful sigh, my gaze drifting to our wedding portrait that hung on the wall. I could feel her eyes on me, even before I turned to meet her warm, loving gaze. ¡°If you desperately wanted this moment, then you shouldn¡¯t have done what you did, or at least you should have told me why you did it,¡± she responded, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. Her gaze remained fixed on mine, searching for answers in my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to trust that you have your reasons, and I¡¯m going to believe that you will eventually tell me.¡± Her words struck a chord with me, and I gave her a quick, grateful nce, my smile tinged with relief. I had always felt unworthy of her, and her understanding was a gift I cherished. ¡°Thank you, Hazel,¡± I whispered sincerely, my fingers lightly tracing patterns on the bedsheet. She reached for the juice and took a long sip, her expression contemtive. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me just yet, Ravel,¡± she continued, her voice soft but unwavering. ¡°We¡¯re not going to move past this stage until you give me a valid reason.¡± Her gaze bore into mine, urging me to open up. ¡°The fact is that this secret will always take us two steps back, and I won¡¯t be able to stop myself from taking that step back until I understand why.¡± Licking my lips, I directed my gaze into the empty space, contemting her words, and then nodded slowly. ¡°I understand that you don¡¯t fully trust me yet, Hazel, and I¡¯m okay with us taking things one step at a time.¡± She finished thest of her drink, then gracefully got out of bed, wrapping the duvet around her to shield her body. Her next question hit me with a weight I couldn¡¯t ignore. ¡°Does Raymond know about the reason you did what you did?¡± I nodded in response, my voice steady. ¡°Yes, he does.¡± Raymond had been my confidant throughout this crazy journey, aware of every twist and turn in my life. He knows everything¨Chow I had to go public with June because I received a text from the mysterious sender instructing me to do so, how I had to y the role of a loving partner towards June because it was demanded of me, and even how I was compelled to touch June to ensure Hazel¡¯s safety. ¡°So Raymond knows about the reason you did what you did, and I don¡¯t, right?¡± Hazel asked, her tone dripping with frustration. I nodded in response, still unsure of where she was going with this. ¡°Do you get the point now, Ravel?¡± She asked, trying so hard not to sound snappish. ¡°It simply means that this isn¡¯t about me not trusting you; rather, it¡¯s about you not trusting me.¡± My eyes snapped up to meet hers, surprised by her perspective. ¡°I trust you, Hazel, with my life,¡± I assured her, my voice earnest. ¡°Do you?¡± Her doubt was evident, and it struck me deeply. I hesitated, torn between the desire to protect her and the need to be honest. ¡°I love you, Hazel,¡± I dered, my voice filled with sincerity. ¡°That¡¯s one thing you shouldn¡¯t question.¡± I knew that the truth had toe out eventually. The new investigator Warren had introduced me to had promised to provide a lead before the month was over. ¡°When the time is right, I¡¯ll tell you everything you need to know. I¡¯ll answer all your questions, but for now, it¡¯s just not the right time,¡± Biting her lip, Hazel nodded, deciding to let the issue rest for the time being. ¡°I need to have a shower and then go check up on Daisy.¡± I couldn¡¯t resist a teasing grin. ¡°Want me to join you? You know, for the sake of water conservation and all that.¡± Herughter filled the room as she shook her head. ¡°If we get in there together, we won¡¯t be getting out of the shower anytime soon.¡± She was right, and we both knew it. I watched her sensuously sway into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. As I picked up the tray to return it to the kitchen, my phone chimed with a new message. I furrowed my brows in concern as I read the message. My heart raced as I read the threatening message. It was from the anonymous sender who had been manipting my life for years. I SEE YOU ARE BACK WITH YOUR WIFE, BLATANTLY IGNORING MY MESSAGE. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO REOPEN HARRISON¡¯S CASE, LET US SEE IF YOU WILL REKINDLE WITH HER BEHIND BARS. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING. I guess if you indeed think of the devil, he does show up. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 HAZEL PRESENT TIME Ravel chose to bring Daisy to the park while I dropped by the hospital to see how Elenor was doing before meeting them. I¡¯m relieved that Ravel has found a way to distract himself from the challenging circumstances he¡¯s facing It appears that there may be some tension in his rtionship with Raymond, as I haven¡¯t noticed Raymond spending time with Ravel recently. Whenever I¡¯ve inquired about Raymond, Ravel¡¯s responses have been vague and uncertain. Roger, Ravel¡¯s security detail, pulled over in the hospital parking lot, turned off the car¡¯s engine, and followed closely as I entered the hospital premises. My decision to leave Robert, my security personnel, with Ravel was driven by my desire to have more familiar faces around Daisy, ensuring her comfort and safety. Upon entering the hospital hallway, I instructed Roger to remain outside while I proceeded to enter Elenor¡¯s room. However, just as I was about to step into the room, I noticed something unusual through the transparent gap in the door. June was standing by Elenor¡¯s side, speaking to her in hushed tones. The tense posture of June¡¯s body suggested that she was delivering a message of significant gravity. I continued to observe the situation through the door¡¯s opening, my concern mounting as I witnessed June¡¯s hand inching closer to the switch that controlled all the machines connected to Elenor. It was at that pivotal moment when I realized I couldn¡¯t merely stand by and observe. With a determined push, I swung the door open and strode into the room, my concern evident. ¡°What on earth are you attempting to do?¡± June jumped in startled response to the sudden intrusion, swiftly turning to face me. She stammered, ¡°I, uh¡­ I thought¡­ it seemed like one of the machines wasn¡¯t properly connected, so I wanted to make sure it was fixed correctly to prevent any idents that could endanger her life.¡± However, what I had witnessed didn¡¯t appear to be an innocent attempt to fix anything. It seemed as if she had been tampering with the machines, almost as if she were trying to disconnect them. With a furrowed brow, I countered, ¡°If you had noticed something like that, you should have immediately summoned the doctor or nurses rather than attempting to handle it on your own.¡± She offered a nervous smile in response, saying, ¡°I understand, I truly had no ill intentions.¡± However, my doubts lingered, casting a shadow of suspicion over her actions. Clearing her throat, June reached for her purse and continued, ¡°Since you¡¯re here now, I have an urgent matter to attend to.¡± Without waiting for my reply, she made a hasty exit, her hurried departure only deepening my uncertainty. I kept a vignt eye on her until she vanished from my sight. Drawing closer to Elenor, I carefully inspected the machines to ensure nothing had been tampered with. For the sake of safety, I felt compelled to remain in the room until Raymond arrived. When Raymond entered the room, he greeted me with a warm smile. ¡°Hey¡­ when did you arrive?¡± He settled onto the sofa, his demeanor appearing casual. I checked my wristwatch and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been here for about an hour now,¡± However, I felt the need to make a move. ¡°I should be heading out, though. I promised Ravel I¡¯d meet them at the park.¡± I then turned my attention to Raymond and asked, ¡°Raymond?¡± He looked up, blinking in response. ¡°I would greatly appreciate it if you could avoid leaving Elenor alone with June.¡± Raymond¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I left her with Anne.¡± ¡°Well,¡± I began cautiously, ¡°when I arrived, I found June with her, and what I observed, or at least what I think I saw, was rather concerning. The thought of what might have urred had I not intervened weighed heavily on my mind. Raymond leaned in closer, his expression serious. ¡°What did you see?¡± I hesitated for a moment, aware of the gravity of my words. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m not entirely certain if I interpreted it correctly, but it appeared as though she was attempting to disconnect the machines connected to Elenor.¡± Raymond was visibly shocked and at a loss for words as he nced over at Elenor. ¡°What did you just say?¡± he asked in disbelief. I reiterated my previous statement, but it did little to case his shock. ¡°Why would she do that?¡± he wondered aloud. I shrugged, still uncertain about June¡¯s motivations. ¡°As I mentioned, I¡¯m not entirely sure about what I saw, but it¡¯s best if we err on the side of caution and not leave Elenor alone with June.¡± Raymond nodded, his expression thoughtful. ¡°You¡¯re right; it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry.¡± I gathered my purse and stood up. ¡°One more thing, though. What kind of ident did Elenor have? I never had the chance to ask before.¡± Raymond replied, ¡°She was in a collision with a truck. The driver¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t as severe as hers, and he was discharged from the hospital two days after the ident.¡± I nodded in response to Raymond¡¯s exnation of the ident. ¡°I see. That¡¯s quite a revtion about the ident itself. Has anyone reviewed the CCTV footage?¡± Raymond confirmed, ¡°Yes, I reviewed it with Ravel, and from what we observed, it appeared that Elenor was at fault. She had the opportunity to evade the truck driver, but it seemed as though she wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± I tilted my head in thought. ¡°If Elenor could have avoided the truck driver, it implies that the driver could have done the same, but chose not to. Why do you think that might be?¡± Raymond¡¯s forehead creased with concern. ¡°Honestly, we hadn¡¯t considered that possibility.¡± He nced over at Elenor. ¡°Are you suggesting that the driver might have intentionally not avoided her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not making any usations,¡± I rified, ¡°but I believe it¡¯s worth reviewing the case while keeping a closer eye on Elenor¡¯s well¨Cbeing. I¡¯ll also discuss this with Ravel.¡± Raymond nodded in agreement. ¡°And Raymond, for all of this to work out smoothly, it¡¯s essential that you and Ravel reconcile your differences.¡± Raymond tensed up at my suggestion. ¡°Ravel and I are fine, we don¡¯t have any issues,¡± he asserted. I met his statement with a knowing look. ¡°You know that¡¯s not true,¡± I countered gently. ¡°I may not be aware of what transpired between you two, but I¡¯d like to see you both as friends again. I¡¯ll speak to Ravel about it as well.¡± With that, I turned to leave the room, leaving Raymond with my words. As I exited the room and made my way towards the sharp u¨Cturn in the hallway, I identally collided with a male doctor. I nearly stumbled backward, but Roger was quick to steady me. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, doctor,¡± I apologized hastily, feeling a bit flustered by the unexpected encounter. The doctor seemed to be in a rush, giving me a hurried nod before swiftly making his way to an elevator. However, as he passed by me, a familiar scent caught my attention ¨C the distinct perfume that David used to wear. While it didn¡¯t guarantee that it was him, I knew that David was in New York, so there was a strong possibility that it could be him. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Without hesitation, I instructed Roger, ¡°Take the next elevator,¡± and then I acted quickly, sticking my foot between the closing elevator doors to prevent them from shuttingpletely. I needed to confirm if it was indeed David who had just passed by. The moment I entered the elevator, his entire demeanor tightened. He quickly averted his face, an attempt to hide from me. I noticed that the doctor had covered his face with a mask, perhaps in an attempt to conceal his identity. However, I chose to ignore his actions and focused on the elevator doors as they closed. With a sense of determination, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts, dialing David¡¯s number. I watched as the phone in the doctor¡¯s pocket began to ring, but he tantly chose to ignore it. In response to his deliberate indifference, I couldn¡¯t help but scoff. Turning towards him, I addressed him directly, ¡°You can answer the call, David. I know it¡¯s you standing right beside me.¡± He finally gave in and lowered his mask, revealing his face. Indeed, I was right, it was David dressed in a hospitalb coat and daring to act indifferent even after being caught. Something tells me that he is also the stalker who has been following me around. ¡°What the fuck is going on David?¡± I snapped. ¡°What are you doing in New York, and in this hospital and how long have you been following me?!¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Chapter 109 DAVID PRESENT TIME I¡¯ve never felt so incredibly foolish in my entire life, and the weight of my life choices has never been more pressing than it is right now. What conceivable excuse can I possibly conjure up to justify my presence here? Clearing my throat with a nervous swallow, I fixed my gaze upon her and inquired, ¡°Could we perhaps find a quieter ce to have a conversation?¡± She squinted at me and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got somewhere to be, but we can talk in the hospital cafeteria if it¡¯s quick.¡± Her gaze followed as I casually discarded my silly jacket in the elevator, and she scoffed. ¡°You better have a darn good reason for all of this madness; otherwise, it¡¯s going to be hard to understand.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± I assured her, my mind racing to conjure the most usible excuse. The elevator chimed, signaling our arrival, and the doors slid open. Hazel gracefully exited and glided toward an unupied table in the cafeteria. I pulled out a chair and seated myself, positioning myself directly across from her. Trying to be polite, I inquired, ¡°Would you like to order something?¡± However, my attempt at courtesy was met with an irritated re. ¡°If I¡¯m hungry, I can manage to get my own food,¡± she retorted sharply. ¡°What I really want to know is why you¡¯re here.¡± With a sense of unease, I ventured, ¡°Would you believe me if I said I¡¯m here to visit Elenor?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but cringe inwardly at the flimsiness of my excuse. I don¡¯t even believe that, how did I expect her to? Rxing further into her chair, Hazel inteced her fingers thoughtfully. ¡°I must appear quite naive in your eyes, don¡¯t I?¡± Her question prompted a deepening frown from me. ¡°I mean, that¡¯s the only logical exnation for you thinking I¡¯d actually buy that excuse.¡± She cast an almost usatory nce at the face mask I was still clutching. ¡°Honestly, why go to such lengths as wearing thatb coat?¡± Letting out an audible exhale, I pondered my response, searching for a blend of honesty andPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org. deception. ¡°I just had this urge to see you,¡± I finally admitted, though her eyes remained narrowed with suspicion. ¡°And you couldn¡¯t achieve that without this borate disguise?¡± Her voice dripped with disbelief. ¡°So, how long have you been in New York?¡± ¡°I only arrivedst night,¡± I fibbed once more, earning an even more scrutinizing gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t inform you because I had a strong hunch that you wouldn¡¯t exactly wee my unexpected presence.¡± She bit down on her inner cheek, a sign of her lingering doubt. ¡°Go ahead, ask me how much I believe you.¡± Despite my skepticism about her request, I obliged. ¡°How much do you believe me?¡± I inquired. ¡°Not even one bit.¡± She ced both hands on the table, interlocking her fingers. ¡°I¡¯m asking you again, why did you go to the extent of disguising yourself as a doctor?¡± The real reason was that Southwark had already begun to keep tabs on me. If he discovered that I¡¯d been shadowing Hazel for these past few days, it might lead to an investigation into my actions, and that was thest thing I wanted. I sighed, crafting a response that blended truth and deception. ¡°Honestly, I had this strong desire to see you, but I was afraid I¡¯d catch you with Ravel, and I didn¡¯t want to be embarrassed for ski pping work just toe see you.¡± She blinked at me slowly, her emotions safely locked away. It was almost impossible to know what¡¯s going through her head. ¡°David, I get that you have feelings for me, I do, but that doesn¡¯t justify ditching your office duties or, frankly, stalking me.¡± I knew I should probably make my exit before digging myself into a deeper hole. ¡°I actually nned to return to the office today,¡± I fibbed once more, even though my intention was to leave soon. ¡°I genuinely apologize if I made you ufortable or scared, Hazel.¡± She managed a smile, but it appeared strained. ¡°Just head back to Seattle, David, or I might have to take the kind of action any boss would when they catch an employee cking.¡± I tilted my head, my curiosity getting the best of me. ¡°Are you implying that you might fire me, Hazel?¡± ¡°You can bet on it, David,¡± she replied in an unsettlingly calm tone. Rising to her feet, she grabbed her bag. ¡°I value our friendship, but I¡¯m also a businesswoman who needs to keep her business on track.¡± With one final strained smile, she turned and walked away. The more I observed her retreating figure, the tighter my jaw clenched in frustration. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Ravel was behind this. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to do this, Hazel,¡± I muttered to myself, the words filled with reluctance. ¡°But you¡¯re pushing me into a corner.¡± I retrieved my phone and dialed June¡¯s number. She picked up promptly. ¡°Where the heck are you, June? I need to meet with you right away.¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± June inquired in return. ¡°I¡¯m currently outside the hospital where Elenor is admitted,¡± I conveyed, my steps taking me further away from the building. ¡°Could you please meet me here?¡± June¡¯s voice carried a note of frustration. ¡°David, seriously, what are you doing there? Are you actively trying tond yourself in trouble?¡± Her muttered curses added to the tension. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure I want to be seen with you right now. So, what¡¯s the reason for this call?¡± I cut to the chase, revealing thetest development. ¡°Do you even know that there¡¯s another woman living in your man¡¯s house?¡± She responded with a dismissive tone. ¡°You mean Hazel? I see she finally moved in with him.¡± Continuing my stroll down the paved path, I questioned her, ¡°Why am I the one keeping you informed about what¡¯s happening with the man you imed to have under control?¡± June let out a resigned sigh. ¡°Just let me handle my affairs, and please, don¡¯t mess things up for me,¡± she hissed, irritationcing her words. ¡°I¡¯ve got everything under control, and I¡¯d really appreciate it if you didn¡¯t interfere.¡± Her im of having everythin under control didn¡¯t sit well with me. ¡°Judging by the way things are unfolding, it doesn¡¯t seem like you have much control at all,¡± I retorted. ¡°If Hazel is now living with Ravel, it¡¯s a sign that we¡¯re losing this battle, and I need you to take action.¡± My words appeared to trigger her anger. ¡°How about you rein in your woman?¡± she shot back. ¡°Maybe if you do that, I won¡¯t have to work as hard as I am right now.¡± gging down a taxi, I quickly provided the driver with my address before refocusing on the conversation with June. ¡°I¡¯m already taking steps on that front,¡± I assured her. ¡°Just be sure to work your angle with Ravel.¡± With that, ended the call. Knowing Hazel as well as I did, I anticipated her return to Seattle soon. When she did, I had a n in mind to ensure she wouldn¡¯t be heading back to New York anytime soon. It was time to introduce Daisy into the equation. I cared for that little girl too much to bring harm to her, but I had a strategy that would keep Hazel upied. She¡¯d be too wrapped up in dealing with Daisy to think about Ravel, Elenor, or rekindling her rtionship with Southwark. And when that time came, I¡¯d be there to pull her into myforting embrace. 0 COMMENT Chapter 110 Chapter 110 I found myself genuinely enjoying our coboration, and as a token of my appreciation, I was ready to compensate him generously, willing to pay double whatever fee he might charge. ¡°Could you please share your payment terms?¡± I inquired with genuine curiosity. ¡°I refrained from discussing it with Ravel, given our uing meeting.¡± Rigger smoothly rose to his feet, deftly picking up his bag in the process. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± he calmly interjected, ¡°Mr. Southwark has already handled my payment.¡± His statement left me with a perplexed frown. I couldn¡¯t help but furrow my brow at his words. ¡°I assure you that I¡¯ll be delivering tangible results within the month. Seeking rification, I probed further, ¡°Could you tell me when Rav¡­Southwark offered to pay you?¡± With a matter-of-fact tone, he corrected, ¡°He didn¡¯t offer; he already paid me. The moment he presented the job, payment was promptly settled when I agreed to take it.¡± His exnation prompted an incredulous scoff from me. With a slight, respectful bow, he concluded, ¡°I¡¯ve already secured your contact information, so expect to hear from us soon.¡± And with that, he gracefully exited the booth. I couldn¡¯t help but ponder why Ravel had kept me in the dark about this payment arrangement. What if I had chosen not to proceed with Rigger after our meeting? It would have likely resulted in refund complications and unexpected hurdles. Ravel generously offered to drive us to the airport personally. Throughout the journey, I couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at him as he skillfully maneuvered through the traffic. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Why do you keep stealing nces at me?¡± he finally asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°Are you already missing me?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but scoff at his yfulment. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me that you had already paid Rigger for the job I hired him for?¡± With one hand firmly on the steering wheel, Ravel reached over and gently squeezed my thigh, holding my gaze. ¡°Because I knew you¡¯d react exactly like this.¡± I felt the need to assert myself. ¡°I¡¯m not a charity case, Ravel. I have every right to react this way. If I didn¡¯t believe I could pay him, I wouldn¡¯t have engaged his services in the first ce.¡± ¡°You did mention the numerous settlements awaiting you from those artists who sued you for time negligence,¡± Ravel gently reminded me. ¡°I understand you wouldn¡¯t want me to handle those artist payments, which is precisely why I took it upon myself to assist by covering this expense. That way, you can allocate your resources toward resolving those fines.¡± Deep in thought, I realized there was no justifiable reason to be upset with him. Opting to convey my gratitude, leaned closer and nted a heartfelt kiss on his cheek. ¡°I truly appreciate you looking out for me.¡± His response was an ear-to-ear grin as he brought the car to a halt at a red traffic light. ¡°You know, my lips aren¡¯t that far from my cheek. Why stop there?¡± Ravel yfully teased, turning towards me and puckering his lips. ¡°Do you think you could give it another shot?¡± ¡°Has anyone ever told you that you¡¯re quite silly?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask, earning an infectious, ear-to- ear grin from him. Leaning in, I pressed my lips against his, savoring the moment. It wasn¡¯t until the persistent h onking of cars behind us interrupted us that we reluctantly pulled apart. Chuckling, he pressed the pedal and drove us onward. Just before boarding the jet, Ravel bent down to kiss Daisy¡¯s forehead before handing her over to her nanny. He then pulled me close, his lips meeting mine in a tender, lingering kiss. ¡°I understand you have to leave for business, but can I at least try to convince you to stay?¡± I shook my head with a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be back before you know it. Just focus on your work, spend your time with Eleanor, and you¡¯ll see how quickly time will fly by.¡± ¡°In your absence?¡± Ravel shook his head, a hint of doubt in his expression. ¡°I highly doubt that.¡± I kissed him once more, savoring the connection before reluctantly pulling out of his warm embrace. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you soon, Rav.¡± His smile was radiant as he replied, ¡°I love you, Hazel.¡± At that moment, as I gazed into Ravel¡¯s eyes, I questioned myself. Was I still angry with him for what he had done? Yes. Did I feel hurt by his recent secrecy? Absolutely. But that didn¡¯t change the undeniable truth: I still loved him. ¡°I love you too, Ravel,¡± I confessed, feeling a rush of emotion. He ced a hand over his heart and yfully winked at me, clearly ted by my admission. Little did we know that after today, smiles would be a raremodity in our lives for a long time toe. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 HAZEL Upon the moment the jet touched down at the airport, I quickly discovered that David was there, standing by and eager to pick us up. My initial reaction was one of skepticism regarding the idea of getting into the car with him. However, upon further reflection, I pondered the potential scenarios that could unfold. I tookfort in the fact that I had Robert with me, and I couldn¡¯t fathom David deviating from his usual character in Robert¡¯s presence. Ultimately, I made the decision to position myself in the back seat, opting for a more cautious approach. I instructed Robert to sit in the front seat, mainly to enhance our collective awareness and ensure our safety in David¡¯spany. Although it was evident that David wasn¡¯t thrilled with my choice of seating, he chose to keep his reservations to himself. As the car smoothly exited the airport driveway, David set the mood with some gentle background music, creating a more rxed atmosphere within the vehicle. asionally, he stole nces at me through the rear-view mirror. ¡°Agatha mentioned that you¡¯d be returning today, so I inquired further about your flight schedule from her,¡± he remarked. I offered a polite yet somewhat tense smile and replied, ¡°You really didn¡¯t have to pick us up. I could have easily called my own driver.¡± It was hard not to feel uneasy around him. After all, he had practically stalked me in New York. I had told no one about my whereabouts during my stay there, yet he managed to locate me and shadow my movements. It was a deeply unsettling and concerning behavior on his part. Once again, he nced at me through the rear-view mirror, his expression a mix of remorse and dejection, as if carrying the weight of his past actions. ¡°I want to use this as an apology for what happened in New York,¡± he admitted with a heartfelt sigh. ¡°I genuinely didn¡¯t mean to intrude on your privacy like that, and I deeply regret it.¡± I replied, trying to maintainposure, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Deep down, though, I couldn¡¯t deny my lingering reservations and concerns. I decided to withhold myments until Rigger provided me with more information from the ongoing investigation. ¡°Besides, it was probably for the best. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a wise idea for you and Ravel to meet, given the circumstances.¡± David nervously chuckled, his voice tinged with uncertainty, ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more. Speaking of which, are you two getting back together?¡± I hesitated for a moment, choosing my words carefully, before deflecting the question with a slight smile, ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss that, David. It¡¯s a topic for another time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a no either,¡± Davidmented, his tone thoughtful. ¡°I just want you to know that whatever your decision is, I will stand by you and support you.¡± He pulled over as the traffic light turned red. ¡°I may have confessed my feelings for you, but I want you to understand that you don¡¯t owe me anything, and I don¡¯t expect you to.¡± I nodded, a sense of independence and self-reliance that had grown since my divorce with Ravel echoing in my thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ve always believed that I don¡¯t owe anybody anything,¡± I replied softly. The remainder of the journey was carried out in silence, interrupted only by the hum of the car¡¯s engine. It continued this way until we reached the street leading to my apartment. My residence was situated on a vast piece ofnd, surrounded by natural vegetation that I had thoughtfully preserved. I had carefully positioned my house in the heart of this green oasis. It was a decision I had never regretted, choosing a home outside the city until this moment. As David turned onto the familiar street, our attention was immediately drawn to the sight of two vans blocking the road ahead. He cautiously reduced his speed, and my curiosity prompted me to lean forward. ¡°Who on earth are those people?¡± I eximed with a mix of concern and irritation. ¡°This is private property, and they have no business being here.¡± David brought the car to aplete stop, his unease obvious. He attempted to open the car door and step out, but Robert, sensing the danger, quickly intervened. ¡°I¡¯ll go check it out,¡± he said, his hand discreetly reaching for the concealed firearm in his waistband. With a heightened sense of alertness, Robert left the car and moved slowly towards the mysterious vans, while David and I watched with bated breath. However, Robert¡¯s approach was abruptly cut short as one of the van¡¯s doors swung open, and two armed men emerged, pointing their guns directly at him. Before Robert could react or draw his own weapon, a hail of bullets was unleashed upon him. A piercing scream, so loud that it startled Daisy, erupted from my throat. David, desperately trying to maintain hisposure in this terrifying situation, mmed his foot on the elerator and rapidly reversed the car. However, our escape attempt was cut short as the assants began firing at us, ultimately hitting our tire. I instinctively grabbed Daisy from beside me, prepared to make a desperate escape on foot. But as I opened the car door, a bullet struck it, forcing me to m it shut again. We sat frozen, fear gripping us, and watched through the windshield as the menacing figures advanced towards us. I fumbled for my phone and dialed 911, but before I could utter a word, the door was violently yanked open. My phone was sna tched from my hand, as was David¡¯s. The masked man who had taken our phones passed them to another masked figure behind him, disconnecting the call and leaving us utterly defenseless. Forced to sit on the floor with David, I held Daisy protectively against my chest. The masked man shifted his attention to David, his voice muf fled by the mask. ¡°You were the one behind the steering, correct?¡± David exchanged a quick nce with me before responding, ¡°Yes, I was driving.¡± The masked man nodded, his demeanor cold and unfeeling. He raised his firearm and fired, the bullet piercing David¡¯s arm, causing him to cry out in agony. ¡°That¡¯s for trying to be clever,¡± the masked man stated casually. ¡°You made me waste more bullets than I intended.¡± He then redirected his gaze from David to me, taking a step closer and leaning down. ¡°I apologize for the inconvenience, Ms. cks,¡± he said with a peculiar mix of remorse and indifference. ¡°I¡¯m especially sorry about your security man. It was a matter of choice, it was either him or us and we chose what¡¯s best for us.¡± My voice was reduced to mere whimpers, my fear palpable as the heartless intruder grinned in response. He extended his hand toward me, and I instinctively recoiled, shrinking away in terror. He chuckled sinisterly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to touch you; I just want to borrow your baby.¡± Tears streamed down my face as I pleaded desperately, ¡°Please, is it money you want? I¡¯ll give you triple, everything I¡¯ve worked for, just please don¡¯t touch my daughter.¡± The man tilted his head, seemingly unmoved. ¡°That¡¯s a pity, ma¡¯am, because she¡¯s the one we came for.¡± With brutal force, he reached forward and ripped Daisy from my arms, handing her over to the man behind him. I wailed as Daisy cried, propelled by instinct to get off the floor and reach for my daughter. However, the gun was now ominously pointed at David¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t give us another reason to end another man¡¯s life,¡± the masked man warned coldly, his threat hanging heavily in the air. Frozen in ce by fear and helplessness, I watched as my precious daughter was shoved into one of the vans. Before my eyes, that very van, with Daisy inside, sped away, leaving me in a state of despair. The masked man¡¯s voice broke through my turmoil. ¡°It seems your husband, Southwark, is a very stubborn man,¡± he remarked cryptically, drawing a confused frown from me. Did this have something to do with Ravel? ¡°Tell him,¡± the man continued, ¡°that if only he had paid heed to simple instructions, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± With those chilling words, he entered the other van, and both vehicles vanished into the distance. Stranded, without a phone, I was left to confront the grim reality of the situation. My gaze moved from Robert¡¯s lifeless body on the floor, to the spot where the van had been moments ago, carrying my daughter away, and finally to David. David winced in pain as he attempted to stand, his bleeding arm a stark reminder of the harrowing events that had just transpired. ¡°I need to get to the hospital, Hazel,¡± he implored urgently, his voice filled with desperation. My mind was still reeling from the shock of Daisy being taken away, but David¡¯s words snapped me back to the grim reality of the situation. ¡°Did they just take my daughter away?¡± I muttered, my voice trembling. ¡°Hazel!¡± David snapped, his tone insistent. ¡°I need to get to the hospital now.¡± 2/3 Reluctantly, I nodded and took the car keys from him. Without wasting another moment, I got into the driver¡¯s seat, determination burning within me. First, I would rush David to the nearest hospital to tend to his injuries, and then I would report this heinous crime and do everything in my power to find my daughter. ? COMMENTExclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 RAVEL PRESENT TIME As I was in the midst of gathering a few essentials at home, nning to soon return to the hospital, my phone unexpectedly began to ring. It was quite the surprise to see Raymond¡¯s name sh on my phone screen. I couldn¡¯t quite recollect thest time he had made the effort to call me, especially since his father¡¯s passing and the conversation where he mentioned his intention to quit. With a sense of curiosity, I hurriedly zipped up my suit bag and picked up the phone, eager to hear what he had to say. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on?¡± I asked with genuine interest. A wave of enthusiasm washed over Raymond¡¯s voice as he eximed, ¡°You won¡¯t believe it! Elenor has awakened. She¡¯s fully conscious man, and she¡¯s asking specifically for you.¡± ¡°Oh my goodness! She¡¯s awake! My sister has awakened! She fought and triumphed! I always knew she¡¯d ovee this!¡± I eximed in utter astonishment and joy. Without a second thought, I grabbed my car keys and dashed out of the room, deliberately leaving the suit behind. At that moment, what did a suit or work matter when Elenor had awakened? I hopped into my car, swiftly turned the ignition, and zoomed out of the premises, unapologetically disregarding traffic regtions in my eagerness to reach the hospital as quickly as possible. Finally, I screeched to a halt in the hospital parking lot. As I exited the car, I practically sprinted to the elevator, impatiently watching the floor numbers tick by. Upon reaching the floor where Elenor¡¯s room was located, I rushed down the corridor, seized the doorknob, and eagerly pushed the door open. In that heartwarming moment, Elenor, cocooned by the caring presence of Anne, Raymond, and a cadre of diligent doctors, gracefully lifted her eyes as the door swung open. Her smile radiated like a beacon of hope, and she eagerly extended her arms, an invitation for the warmest of embraces. Without a single thought for anyone else in the room, I hurried into her weing hug, my grip filled with an overwhelming mix of joy, relief, and sheer gratitude. Elenor responded with a soft, melodious giggle while I waged a silent battle against the tears threatening to well up. ¡°Promise me,¡± I whispered, my voice quivering, ¡°promise you won¡¯t ever subject me to that kind of anguish again. It felt like you¡¯ve taken a whole decade off my life.¡± Interrupting our emotional reunion, the doctor courteously chimed in, ¡°We shall leave you all now. Thus far, everything appears to be in order, but we¡¯ll await the results of the tests to provide absolute confirmation.¡± Anne nodded graciously, expressing her gratitude as the medical team exited the room, their footsteps fading into the corridor. Elenor, with a tender, almost fragile tone, called out, ¡°Mom,¡± and Anne, still reeling from the relief of her daughter¡¯s recovery, turned to her with an attentive gaze. ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± Elenor softly dered. Anne¡¯s face lit up with a broad smile as she lovingly brushed away her tears. ¡°I¡¯ll order something for you,¡± she offered, reaching for her phone to ce the food order. However, Elenor gently halted her with a whispered request. ¡°I want you to eat your food, Mum,¡± Elenor softly insisted. I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of amazement, as before the ident, Elenor¡¯s rtionship with Anne had been strained to the point where she wouldn¡¯t even answer her calls. The fact that she now called Anne ¡°Mum¡± was a shocking surprise. Anne, her heart swelling with joy, didn¡¯t detect anything suspicious in this newfound affection. She approached Elenor¡¯s bedside, cupped her daughter¡¯s cheeks tenderly, and nted a loving kiss on her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll hurry home and prepare something special for you,¡± she promised. Elenor responded with a gentle, appreciative smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± Anne grabbed her purse and swiftly exited the room, security detail trailing behind her. her Half an hour passed since Anne had left the room, and Elenor slowly propped herself up on her pillows with Raymond¡¯s assistance. ¡°It was Anne and June,¡± she suddenly dered, her words catching us both off guard. Raymond fixed her with a puzzled expression before returning his attention to Elenor. ¡°What are youPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org. talking about? What did Anne and June do?¡± he inquired, clearly perplexed by her statement. Elenor attempted to shift her position but winced in pain, a stark reminder of the extensive damage her legs had suffered in the ident. It was evident she wouldn¡¯t be mobile for a while. ¡°I overheard June and Anne talking,¡± she continued, her voice tinged with seriousness. ¡°They were discussing something rted to Hazel¡¯s sabotaged art exhibition.¡± Initially, I was bewildered by her revtion, but it didn¡¯t take long for that confusion to morph into anger. ¡°What on earth are you suggesting? Are you absolutely certain about this?¡± I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and indignation. ¡°Yes,¡± Elenor asserted with conviction. ¡°And I believe they have someone close to Hazel involved in this scheme, or perhaps someone who works for her, and this person must have been in cahoots with them for quite some time. And the person is a He.¡± ¡°He?¡± I repeated, still trying to wrap my head around the shocking revtion. ¡°Yes, He. I remember them mentioning a ¡®he¡¯ that day, although they didn¡¯t disclose a name. He provided the contact information for the artists.¡± As I pondered this, one name came to mind ¨C David. He was the only man I knew who had been closely associated with Hazel. ¡°Could David be capable of such betrayal?¡± I questioned, struggling to reconcile this potential betrayal with his feelings for Hazel. It seemed absurd that he would do something to harm her. Raymond, his brow furrowed with deep concentration, posed a crucial question. ¡°Does June know that you overheard their conversation?¡± Anne shook her head and rified, ¡°I left before they could realize that I had been there, listening.¡± I noticed a hint of something in Raymond¡¯s tone that prompted me to press him further. ¡°Why did you ask? Did you notice something suspicious?¡± I inquired, eager to uncover any additional details. ¡°Hazel did,¡± Raymond replied, confirming my suspicion. ¡°I meant to tell you what she shared with me, but various distractions kept getting in the way, causing me to forget.¡± I shot him a raised eyebrow, silently urging him to cut to the chase. ¡°She mentioned that she saw June attempting to disconnect the machines attached to Elenor while she was unconscious.¡± My eyes widened in disbelief at this shocking revtion. ¡°Is that the reason you sent me that text, urging me to have Elenor¡¯s ident case reopened?¡± I inquired, my mind racing with the implications of this newfound information. Raymond nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to rush to conclusions, especially because Hazel wasn¡¯t entirely certain about what she saw. But after what Anne just revealed, I¡¯m willing to bet that June attempted to disconnect those machines.¡± Elenor, wearing a puzzled expression, voiced the question that was on all our minds. ¡°Are you suggesting she¡¯s trying to kill me? Why would she want to do that?¡± I connected the dots, providing the missing piece to the puzzle. ¡°She might be attempting to silence you and prevent you from sharing what you overheard during their conversation that day. It¡¯s likely she spotted you eavesdropping.¡± Raymond leaned back in his seat, his index finger unconsciously rubbing his jaw as he contemted the implications. ¡°Could she have been involved in causing the ident then?¡± he pondered aloud, his voiceced with a mix of suspicion and concern. ¡°It¡¯s usible that she didn¡¯t cause the ident,¡± I reasoned. ¡°Perhaps the ident was genuinely idental, and she seized the opportunity to keep you silent.¡± Elenor¡¯s anger red, and she responded firmly, ¡°That¡¯s attempted murder. That woman tried to kill me when I was helpless. We should report her and get her arrested for it.¡± I interjected, offering a dose of reality, ¡°We don¡¯t have concrete evidence. In a court ofw, these are mere spections. If we want to see her behind bars, we¡¯ll need solid evidence to support our ims.¡± As we discussed our next steps, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket, and I quickly retrieved it. Hazel¡¯s name illuminated the screen, and I answered the call with unabashed joy. ¡°Hello, babe! Elenor is awake,¡± I eximed, unable to contain my excitement. A chill ran down my spine as I heard Hazel¡¯s voice, fraught with emotion. She sniffled, as if she had been crying, and delivered the devastating blow, ¡°That¡¯s good news, Rav, but I have some very bad news.¡± My heart sank, and my expression darkened as I braced myself for what she was about to say. ¡°Our daughter has been kidnapped.¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113 HAZEL PRESENT TIME I was given clear instructions to head back home and wait for updates from the detectives who are tirelessly searching for my missing daughter, Daisy. This period of waiting is slowly eroding my sanity, as I grapple with the overwhelming uncertainty surrounding my daughter¡¯s well¨Cbeing. How can I simply remain seated, when I have absolutely no idea about what is happening to my child? David, who had recently received medical attention for his injured hand, has been a constant presence at my side during this trying time. In addition to the authorities¡® efforts, he has taken it upon himself to make contact with individuals whom he believes might be able to assist us in the quest to find Daisy. He has provided me with some hope by assuring me that if those who have taken Daisy ever entertain the idea of trafficking her, hiswork of friends will be vignt and quick to notify him of any developments. On any typical day, I would have delved into questions about how David had forged connections with individuals familiar with the grim world of trafficking. However, in this critical moment, my singr focus was on locating my daughter, regardless of the source of help. ¡°Here, David murmured softly, extending aforting hand to offer me a cup of coffee. I stared vacantly at the liquid in the mug, my mind still entangled in a web of worries. ¡°Hazel?¡± he encouraged, his voice gentle as he guided the warm mug into my trembling hand. Fixating on the dark swirls in the coffee, I took a tentative sniff. ¡°Is Ravel here?¡± I inquired, my voice trembling with urgency. Surely, he should have arrived by now. David¡¯s head shook somberly. ¡°He hasn¡¯t made it here yet, and there hasn¡¯t been anymunication from him.¡± Just as his name seemed to conjure his presence, the door burst open, and Ravel rushed in, his eyes scanning the room with frantic desperation before locking onto me. Without hesitation, I rushed into his waiting arms, letting my tears flow freely. ¡°They took her,¡± I whispered, my words heavy with grief. ¡°Our daughter, they¡¯ve taken her. David discreetly cleared his throat, momentarily interrupting our emotional reunion. ¡°I¡¯ll inform the detective that you¡¯ve arrived,¡± he dered before quietly stepping away. Ravel led me to the sofa, his concerned eyes never leaving me. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, his gaze sweeping over my form, searching for any signs of harm. ¡°You haven¡¯t been hurt in any way, have you?¡± Suppressing my emotions with a tight grip on my lips, I nodded in response. ¡°David was the only one who ended up getting shot. They were furious with him for attempting to drive away.¡± David returned to the living room and took a seat on the sofa opposite us. ¡°The detective in charge of the case assured me he¡¯d be here shortly, he informed us. I absently acknowledged his words, my mind preupied with worry. Out of the blue, David posed a question that caught us off guard. ¡°Who did you anger?¡± he asked, his inquiry aimed directly at Ravel. Ravel and I exchanged puzzled nces, his eyebrows slowly arching in confusion. ¡°Is that question directed at me?¡± he responded, his voice tinged with bewilderment. ¡°Yes, David replied tly. ¡°Are you going to exin, or should I?¡± Ravel turned his attention to me, his brows furrowing in a frown. ¡°What is it that you need to tell me?¡± he inquired, a sense of unease creeping into his voice. ¡°Is this somehow connected to me?¡± I nodded slowly, my gaze fixed on Ravel. I recall his words distinctly, Ravel. He mentioned that you¡¯re an exceptionally stubborn man, and this situation wouldn¡¯t have arisen if you had followed a simple instruction.¡± Understanding dawned in his widened eyes as the implication of those words sank in. I regarded him with suspicion. ¡°Do you have any insight into what he meant by that?¡± David interjected with certainty, ¡°He clearly knows something: The way his body reacted says it all.¡± Ravel cleared his throat, directing a re at David. ¡°I honestly have no idea what he meant by that,¡± he stated firmly. ¡°I haven¡¯t made any risky business decisions recently, nor have I intentionally provoked anyone.¡± I interlocked my fingers, growing more insistent. ¡°But he mentioned your name,¡± I emphasized. It was crucial that we unravel this mystery to find Daisy. ¡°He said, ¡®Your husband Southwark is a very stubborn man.¡® I married only one Southwark, and that¡¯s you. There¡¯s no doubt he was referring to you.¡± David¡¯s voice dripped with suspicion as he probed further. ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re concealing something from the public, or perhaps from Hazel?¡± His usatory tone hung heavily in the air. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re denying any knowledge of what that man was talking about?¡± Ravel¡¯s patience wore thin, and he snapped back angrily, ¡°I genuinely do not know what he was referring to! Stop provoking me with baseless usations.¡± ¡°This is about your daughter!¡± David retorted sharply. ¡°What secret could possibly be more important than ensuring your daughter¡¯s safety?¡± He abruptly rose from his seat, his frustration boiling over. ¡°Did you have an affair with another man¡¯s wife and incite his anger? Did you forcibly acquire someone else¡¯spany and refuse to return it? What the hell did you do?¡± His voice quivered with intensity. ¡°Nothing!¡± Ravel roared in response, rising to his feet, a readiness to confront David in his eyes. ¡°And you think I¡¯d ever prioritize some insignificant business over our daughter¡¯s safety?¡± I couldn¡¯t bear their heated argument any longer and cried out, ¡°Enough!¡± My voice rang out loudly, putting a halt to their escting confrontation. ¡°Can you both please stop? I¡¯ve just lost my security man and my daughter, and you both think this is the right moment to argue?¡± Exhaling heavily, Ravel returned to my side, embracing me in aforting hug. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispered into my ear, his left hand tenderly soothing my hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for arguing with that fool, for neglecting your feelings, and for ignoring therger issue at hand.¡± As tears streamed down my face, I pulled away from Ravel and wiped my cheeks, then turned to David. ¡°You mentioned not wanting me to be alone, and Ravel is here now. I think it¡¯s best if you go home and get some rest.¡± David scoffed, clearly frustrated. ¡°Are you telling me to leave when all of this could be his fault?¡± I met his gaze firmly. ¡°And who are you to pass that judgment?¡± I questioned. ¡°Are you the lead detective on this case? The kidnapper may be attempting to divert us with that statement. Just because he said it doesn¡¯t make it true.¡± David scoffed as he reached for his jacket. ¡°Make sure you share that information with the detective this time, without omitting it. I¡¯m certain they¡¯ll share my concerns.¡± Ravel contemted David¡¯s words for a moment before letting out a sigh. ¡°I understand you want to help find Daisy, but I believe my family can handle things from here.¡± ¡°Your family?¡± David scoffed once more. ¡°This is truly frustrating.¡± He shifted his attention to me. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a call if I receive any updates from my contacts.¡± With that, he left my house, the tension lingering in the air. Ravel turned to me, his concern evident. ¡°Have you eaten anything?¡± he inquired, and I shook my head in response. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit down while I prepare something for you?¡± Again, I declined his offer. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, Ravel.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean your body doesn¡¯t need nourishment,¡± he argued, but before we could further discuss it, we received news that the detectives had arrived. Ravel had to put his n to feed me on hold so he could hear what they had to say. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. I recounted the kidnappers¡® statement about Ravel, and one of the detectives blinked in surprise. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this when you gave your initial statement?¡± I stared down at my intertwined fingers, struggling to find an exnation. ¡°My mind was overwhelmed with so many thoughts during the initial statement, and that detail slipped my mind. It only resurfaced recently, and I felt it was important to inform you when you arrived.¡± The detective with longer hair turned to Ravel, her expression serious. ¡°Do you have anyone in mind who might have a reason to target you?¡± Ravel shook his head with a troubled expression. ¡°I¡¯ve been racking my brain ever since she mentioned it, but I can¡¯t recall anyone who would want to do this to me.¡± I interjected, my voice filled with a hint of realization. ¡°What about June?¡± I asked. ¡°You mentioned you ended things with her recently. Maybe she¡¯s harboring some anger about that.¡± It struck me suddenly that she might be a key figure in this. The detective raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. ¡°Who is June?¡± she inquired. ¡°Ravel¡¯s ex¨Cgirlfriend,¡± I exined. ¡°He broke up with her not too long ago.¡± The detective considered this new information. ¡°Do you believe she¡¯s capable of something like this?¡± Ravel shrugged, uncertainty etched on his face. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t say for sure what she¡¯s capable of. I think it would be wise to bring her in for questioning.¡± Both detectives nodded as they prepared to leave. ¡°We promise to do everything we can to find your daughter,¡± the detective assured us. ¡°I hope you do,¡± I replied, a tremor of desperation in my voice. Daisy was my only source of sanity in this chaotic world. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 RAVEL PRESENT TIME I can¡¯t believe that this terrible situation is unfolding before my eyes. After giving Hazel some sleeping pills to help her get some much¨Cneeded rest, I stepped out onto the balcony with a heavy heart to make some urgent phone calls. I carefully retrieved my phone from my pocket and dialed Lucas¡¯s number. To my relief, he answered instantly, his voice filled with concern and anxiety. When I broke the news to him about my daughter¡¯s horrifying abduction, he expressed a strong desire to join me immediately. However, I made the difficult decision to ask him to remain behind with Elenor. I knew I needed someone I could trust to be close to her, especially because the person I had stupidly weed into our inner circle was now showing a sinister side, seemingly determined to harm my beloved sister. ¡°What¡¯s going on, man?¡± Lucas inquired, his voice trembling with worry as soon as the call connected. ¡°Please, tell me that they¡¯ve found Hazel, and this is all just a dreadful misunderstanding.¡± In the background, I could distinctly hear Elenor¡¯s concerned voice, questioning if I was the one on the line. Lucas reassured her before turning his attention back to our grim conversation. ¡°It¡¯s no joke, Raymond,¡± I repeated with a heavy heart, my voice quivering. ¡°My daughter, Hazel, has been kidnapped,¡± I confirmed with a profound sense of dread. Raymond couldn¡¯t contain his frustration and muttered a string of curses under his breath in response to this horrifying revtion. My voice became even more hoarse as I continued, ¡°I need you to do something for me, Raymond. Please, step away from Elenor for what we¡¯re about to discuss. It¡¯s of utmost importance.¡± I ould hear a brief pause on the other end ¡°Sure thing man.¡± On the quest to carry out my request, he turned to Elenor, who was still in the background, and casually mentioned that he wanted to get a drink from the mini home bar. I listened closely as the sound of footsteps gradually faded, and the soft closing of a door confirmed that he was now in a private space. ¡°Alright, man, I¡¯m alone now,¡± he reassured me. With Raymond now in a more secure setting, I finally divulged what had been haunting me. ¡°I think I know who¡¯s behind this, Raymond,¡± I admitted. Raymond audibly inhaled sharply, clearly bracing himself for whatever unsettling information I was about to share. ¡°They left a message for me, and I strongly believe that this is the handiwork of the mysterious messenger. I was told that this happened but I ignored the instruction given to me.¡± Raymond¡¯s frustration was obvious as he cursed aloud. ¡°Shit!¡± he eximed, his voiceced with anger and disbelief. ¡°What are you going to do, Ravel? Did you inform the detectives that you understood the message they sent you?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± I hissed, my voice filled with a mixture of fear. ¡°Acknowledging that I understand their message would mean delving into the web of messages I¡¯ve received over the years. It would also mean exposing the unsettling possibility that Hazel might be considered a suspect in Harrison¡¯s murder. I can¡¯t allow that to happen until I can gather enough evidence to prove her innocence.¡± I felt my emotions welling up, and I knew I was on the verge of tears. ¡°I feel torn, Raymond,¡± I admitted, my voice quivering with the weight of my dilemma. ¡°I¡¯m being forced to choose between protecting my wife and helping to find my daughter. If ¡®dilemma had a human form, it would be me right now. I¡¯m utterly lost, unsure of what to do or which decision to make.¡± The overwhelming sense of helplessness and uncertainty left me feeling utterly trapped in this nightmarish situation. Raymond¡¯s exasperated sigh mirrored my own frustration with the dire situation. ¡°This is incredibly messed up, Ravel,¡± he empathized, his voice filled with genuine concern. ¡°I strongly suggest you at least inform Hazel about this. She deserves to know what¡¯s going on, especially when it concerns a little girl she brought into this world and cares for deeply.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. I couldn¡¯t deny the wisdom in his words, but I also understood the gravity of the decision thaty ahead. ¡°Raymond, you don¡¯t understand,¡± I replied, my voice tinged with a sense of helplessness. ¡°Hazel, she¡­ she would do anything to find Daisy. She¡¯d willingly walk into a prison cell if it meant getting her back. I can¡¯t bear to put her through that until I have concrete evidence that clears Hazel of any wrongdoing.¡± Desperation gnawed at me as I asked, ¡°Any updates from the private investigator?¡± I knew he had promised to provide me with substantial information by the end of the month, but the waiting was taking a toll on my patience. ¡°No news yet, but I¡¯ll give him a call once we¡¯re finished here,¡± Raymond assured me. I released a weary sigh, feeling utterly drained by the relentless series of events. ¡°What are you going to do, Ravel?¡± He questioned aloud. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted with a heavy heart. ¡°But I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Raymond¡¯s willingness to assist was unwavering, and I appreciated his unwavering support. ¡°What can I do to help?¡± he inquired, confirming my belief that he would go to great lengths to aid in the search for Daisy, even if it meant facing potential legal consequences. ¡°Just keep a watchful eye on my sister, and be on the lookout for June,¡± I instructed, my concern for Elenor¡¯s safety evident. ¡°The detectives are going to question June, and I¡¯m afraid it might set her off. Ensure you¡¯re there to intervene if she decides to vent her anger on Elenor.¡± Raymond¡¯s response was reassuring. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. I can guarantee your sister¡¯s safety.¡± As I nced through the see¨Cthrough door, I noticed Hazel stirring in her sleep, a reminder of the immense weight on my shoulders. ¡°I have to go, Raymond,¡± I said reluctantly. ¡°Let me know what the investigator has to say when you¡¯re done speaking with him.¡± ¡°I will boss. My regards to Hazel. You both need to be strong to ovee this.¡± With that, he disconnected the call. Staring at Hazel, I understood that I have to keep my emotions at bay to be there for her because this is going to be rough ride for us. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 JUNE PRESENT TIME I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re summoning me for questioning in this case; it¡¯s just so unbelievable. Seriously, what the heck is going on? As the car slowly came to a stop outside the detective¡¯s office, my anxiety was escting with every passing moment. I had to keep reminding myself to stay calm and not do anything that might give them further cause to suspect me. The weight on my shoulders was already overwhelming, and this situation wasn¡¯t helping. Taking a deep breath, I carefully reached into my purse, retrieved a mint, and gently ced it in my mouth. Just as I had anticipated, the mint¡¯s coolness spread through me, gradually working to calm my frayed nerves. Exiting the car, I casually tossed the car key into my purse, retrieved my sleek, dark sunsses, and shielded my eyes with them. With an air of confidence, I gracefully strolled into the building,pletely unfazed by the lingering gazes from onlookers, as well as the female cops deeply engrossed in conversation with another person. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t me them. After all, it¡¯s not every day you see someone donning a five¨C thousand¨Cdor mini leather gown paired with a sixteen¨Cthousand¨Cdor fur jacket, red sole heels, and a luxurious Birkin bag. It was all part of my strategy to make asting impression. Looking impable was a necessity, especially when you had to send a powerful statement with your presence. I was determined not to resemble a heartbroken ex still hung up on her past rtionship, even though, truth be told, I was. But they didn¡¯t need to know that. Coming to a halt in front of the olderdy, I greeted her with a friendly, wide smile. ¡°I¡¯m here today because I received at summons for questioning rted to the case of the missing youngest Southwark.¡± She acknowledged my statement with a nod and then gracefully gestured towards the hallway. ¡°Please, have a seat in there, and I¡¯ll go and fetch Detective Ryan.¡± Following her instructions, I made my way into the designated room. I couldn¡¯t help but inwardly roll my eyes at how stereotypically dimly lit the room was. Just as I settled into my seat, the door slowly creaked open, revealing a young man who I presumed to be Detective Ryan. He entered with a polite, apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sincerely sorry if you¡¯ve been kept waiting, ma¡¯am.¡± I was quick to notice his polite manners and found it quite agreeable. ¡°Not to worry,¡± I responded, and he took a seat across from me, opening his notepad. ¡°I¡¯m curious, though, why is this room so dimly lit?¡± He hesitated, his pen hanging over the first line of the book, a concerned expression on his face. ¡°Do you have a fear of the dark?¡± he asked, sounding genuinely worried, almost as if he were willing to alter the room¡¯s lighting if it made me ufortable. I casually brushed off his concern with a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of anything,¡± I assured him, although I couldn¡¯t help but think about the one exception, poverty. I had no intention of returning to a life of financial struggle. ¡°However, I¡¯d appreciate it if we could move on with your questions so I can return to my regr routine. The flight to Seattle was both lengthy and unpleasant.¡± Detective Ryan tilted his head, maintaining his focused gaze on me. ¡°I¡¯ll have to kindly ask you to take off your sunsses, ma¡¯am. Feel free to put them back on when you¡¯re ready to leave.¡± I slowly set my sunsses aside with deliberate care, offering a faint but friendly smile. ¡°Are you looking to read my honesty through my eyes, perhaps? Rest assured, I have no intention of being anything but forting during this interrogation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring,¡± Detective Ryan remarked in a rather nonchnt manner as he continued to jot down notes in his notepad. It was clear that he harbored doubts about the veracity of my words, a common skepticism given the nature of his profession. ¡°Could you please provide more details about your past and current rtionship with Mr. Southwark?¡± I crossed my arms, maintaining an air of indifference as I met his gaze. ¡°He used to be my employer, but our rtionship evolved into a romantic one following his divorce. Now, he¡¯s my ex.¡± He nodded thoughtfully, his expression remaining stoic. ¡°May I inquire about the specific reasons that led to the termination of your romantic rtionship?¡± ¡°I was essentially a rebound for him, and he served as a stepping stone for me to climb the social hierarchy. When he informed me of his intentions to rekindle things with his ex¨Cwife, I made the choice to release him.¡± Detective Ryan raised an inquisitive eyebrow, clearly in search of further information. ¡°So, you simply let him go, just like that?¡± I offered a knowing smile, fully aware of his underlying suspicion. It seemed he might be contemting whether I had a motive to abduct the missing girl as an act of vengeance for his departure. ¡°I didn¡¯t just leave him, Detective. I was offered at substantial sum of money and a house, more than sufficient to help me achieve my aspirations. There was no reason not to grant his request.¡± He nodded, diligently jotting down notes once more. ¡°Now, could you provide additional insight into your rtionship with Ms. cks?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but clench my jaw, working hard to keep my contempt for her in check. ¡°She was my boss, but it¡¯s safe to say she began to view me as her rival once she discovered I was involved with her ex¨Chusband.¡± Detective Ryan continued with his line of questioning. ¡°So, there was no hostility between the two of you?¡± I offered a wry smile. ¡°You mean aside from the icy res we exchanged whenever our paths crossed? No, there wasn¡¯t any overt hostility,¡± I replied, a touch of sarcasm in my tone. ¡°She resides in Seattle, and I¡¯m in New York, so it was quite rare for us toe face¨Cto¨Cface.¡± He shifted the conversation. ¡°What about the little girl? Did you ever have the opportunity to meet her?¡± ¡°I never had the chance to meet her in person,¡± I answered truthfully. ¡°I¡¯ve only seen her in photographs, but I can¡¯t recall ever meeting her face¨Cto¨Cface.¡± Detective Ryan nodded once more, diligently recording the information in his notebook. I cleared my throat to regain his attention, and he looked up at me. ¡°You¡¯re barking up the wrong tree here. Abducting a child is a heinous act I would never contemte. I grasp the immeasurable value a child holds for a mother, and I can empathize with how Hazel must be feeling right now.¡± ¡°Are you a mother?¡± he asked unexpectedly, and I offered a shy smile. I gently rubbed my stomach and nodded. ¡°About to be one,¡± I responded. ¡°I only found out two days ago.¡± Detective Ryan nodded and offered his congrattions. ¡°Thank you, Detective,¡± I responded with sincere gratitude. ¡°I¡¯d like to request a favor, though. Could you kindly keep this information from Ravel? I understand you¡¯ll be providing him with updates on the case, but I¡¯d prefer to break this news to him in person. Moreover, it wouldn¡¯t be right for Hazel to find out that the father of her child is expecting another baby.¡± If Detective Ryan was taken aback by the revtion that the baby belonged to Ravel, he didn¡¯t disy it. He gave a reassuring nod. ¡°I have no intention of meddling in any private matters that don¡¯t pertain to our mission of locating the missing child.¡± I offered a warm, appreciative smile. ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Detective Ryan rose from his chair, and I followed suit, standing alongside him. ¡°That will be all for now, Ms. June. It¡¯s imperative that you refrain from leaving the country until further notice.¡± A sense of unease crept over me, and I couldn¡¯t help but furrow my brows. ¡°Detective, am I considered a suspect in this case?¡± Detective Ryan¡¯s diplomatic expression remained unwavering as he reiterated, ¡°It¡¯s essential to understand that everyone connected to this case, be it directly or indirectly, is initially regarded as a potential suspect until proven otherwise.¡± With a subtle bow, he concluded, ¡°Until we meet again, Ms. June,¡± gently gesturing for me to leave the room. Quickly, I snatched up my sunsses, using them to shield my eyes as I exited the building. The determination in my stride was unwavering as my mind zeroed in on the next destination: the residence of the true culprit. I was convinced that only one individual possessed the same depth of malevolence that I did, and that person shared the same level of desperation. This journey was far from over and that is what Hazel and Ravel is yet to understand. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 DAVID PRESENT TIME I found myself alone at home, the music ying softly in the background, contemting why things weren¡¯t unfolding as I had meticulously nned. The frustration was annoying the heck out of me. As I continued to mull over my thoughts, the unexpected sound of the doorbell pierced the quiet of the house. I reluctantly left thefort of the sofa, hoping it was Hazel, a wee presence. To my dismay, the sight that met me was not Hazel, but someone entirely unexpected and, truth be told, unwee. ¡°What are you doing here, June?¡± I asked, genuinely puzzled as to why she was in Seattle. June brushed past me and made herself at home, seating herself on the sofa as if it were her own. ¡°It was you, right?¡± she questioned, her tone confrontational. Her unatinounced presence had caught me off guard, and I wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled to see her. I took a seat beside her on the sofa, crossing my legs in aposed manner. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I inquired, feigning ignorance. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. June scoffed at my response. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb, David. I know you were the one behind the abduction of the little girl,¡± she used, shaking her head in disapproval as she leaned forward to pick up a wine bottle, taking a direct swig from it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you even curious about why I¡¯m here in Seattle?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but answer her question with a hint of indifference. ¡°Are you going to answer my question?¡± I asked, my tone portraying myck of enthusiasm. In all honesty, I wasn¡¯t particrly interested in her reasons for being in Seattle. ¡°The sooner you do, the sooner you leave my house, right?¡± June¡¯s re bore into me. ¡°Why are you so eager to kick me out of your house?¡± she countered, her voice filled with a hint of irritation. ¡°I might tolerate Ravel treating me as if I¡¯m nothing but an inconvenience, but I won¡¯t stand for it from you, David.¡± My decision to coborate with June had begun to feel like a grave error, especially as her presence might jeopardize our covert activities. I voiced my concern once more, ¡°What do you think will happen if Hazel or Agatha sees youing into my house?¡± June, seemingly recognizing the truth in my words, smacked her lips and took another gulp of wine, her response reflecting her acknowledgment of the potential problem. Feeling the need to be more direct, I reiterated, ¡°So, June, why are you here? I don¡¯t want to ask again.¡± Her reply conveyed her frustration, ¡°I was summoned for questioning,¡± she exined, her toneced with irritation. ¡°and it¡¯s truly bothering me, David. If you had any part in the little girl¡¯s abduction, was it absolutely necessary to eliminate the security or leave that message? I despise being treated as a suspect!¡± sheined. ¡°I can¡¯t even leave the country, and I have a vacation triping up.¡± My irritation mounted, and my jaw clenched as I probed further. ¡°You came straight to my house from the police station?¡± I questioned, seeking rification. She nodded in response. ¡°Are you being incredibly foolish? Do you not realize they could have followed you here?¡± June waved off my concern, appearing rather dismissive. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they have no reason to trail me,¡± she asserted confidently. My assessment of her intelligence took a hit. Blinking at her with indifference, I tilted my head. ¡°You still haven¡¯t exined your presence here,¡± I reminded her. With a slow, deliberate drawl, June finally rified, ¡°I¡¯m here to warn you. Despite all the ns I¡¯ve executed over time, I¡¯ve never brought you into the picture. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to warn you never to implicate me in the future.¡± Leaning forward, I ced a hand on the backrest, my gaze unwavering. ¡°Who told you I have anything to do with the kidnapping? I never confirmed anything.¡± I dered with a sly smile. A self¨Cassured smirk graced June¡¯s lips as she spoke, an unsettling confidence in her words. ¡°You don¡¯t have to confirm it, David. I know it¡¯s you, and quite frankly, I don¡¯t care whether the little girl is dead or alive. Just don¡¯tplicate things for me,¡± she stated firmly before rising to her feet. ¡°My ns are about to be set in motion. Don¡¯t mess this up for me.¡± With that, she turned and walked away, exiting my house the same way she had entered, leaving me alone with a growing sense of frustration and anger, I couldn¡¯t help but seethe with annoyance as I stared at the closed door. This was far from how I had envisioned things ying out. The reason I had instructed those men to leave a message for Ravel was to manipte Hazel into ming him for her anger and sorrow. I had hoped that in her moment of pain and anger, she would turn to me. Instead, it felt like the opposite had urred¨Cshe was turning away from me and seeking sce in Ravel. As I dwelled on the situation, my anger grew stronger. Unbeknownst to me, I had been gripping the ss so tightly that it shattered, causing the tiny shards to embed themselves in my skin and blood to drip onto the sofa. Muttering curses under my breath, I quickly rose from the sofa and grabbed a wipe to clean the stains before tending to my injured hand. As I cleaned, a thought crossed my mind ¨C perhaps it was time to check on the well¨Cbeing of the little girl in the absence of her parents. Despite my intentions, I never meant to cause her harin. Originally, my n was to keep her here until Hazel became vulnerable enough to engage in a sexual rtionship with me. Once I was certain she was carrying my child, I would release Daisy. However, given the current circumstances, it seemed unlikely that I would be letting her go anytime soon. Furthermore, if her parents continued to irritate me, I might be tempted to inflict real harm upon her. 0 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 HAZEL PRESENT TIME Two long and painful days have crawled by since my little girl disappeared, and the absence of any concrete developments. is bing an unbearable burden. Each passing moment seems to stretch into eternity, leaving me increasingly on the precipice of losing my sanity. I often find myself standing in front of the mirror, reciting to myself like a desperate incantation that my beloved daughter is still out there, that she¡¯s alive and will soon be reunited with me. I staunchly refuse to relinquish the lifeline of hope, as it¡¯s the one thing I can grasp onto in this overwhelming darkness. Sshing more water onto my face, I clung to the sink¡¯s edge, releasing a heavy sigh that carried the weight of my relentless anxiety and heartache. A soft,forting knock on the bathroom door diverted my attention away from the bathroom sink. Ravel gently pushed the door open and entered the room. He watched me closely, his eyes reflecting the pain he tried so hard to conceal. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, his voiceced with genuine concern. I stared at him, my gaze unwavering, and he quickly averted his eyes, realizing that it was an impractical question given the circumstances. ¡°The detective is here to speak with us,¡± he informed me, trying to shift the focus. I nodded in acknowledgment, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my mind. ¡°I¡¯ll be down shortly,¡± I assured him, my voice steadier than my heart felt. Ravel approached me, his strong arms enveloping me in a tender hug, and he nted a gentle kiss on my temple. ¡°All of this wille to an end soon,¡± he murmured softly, ¡°and our daughter will grow up, leaving these painful memories behind.¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back the tears any longer, and they flowed freely down my cheeks. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, my voice quivering, ¡°I believe she¡¯lle back to us. We¡¯ll watch her grow, and one day, she won¡¯t remember any of this.¡± The hope in my words. served as a lifeline in the abyss of despair that had engulfed us. Sniffling, Ravel buried his head in the crook of my neck, holding me close for a moment longer. ¡°Let¡¯s not keep the detective waiting. Perhaps he has some good news,¡± he murmured before cing one last tender kiss on my temple. Reluctantly, he released me and exited the bathroom, heading downstairs. I spent a final moment scrutinizing my reflection in the mirror, wiping away any lingering traces of tears. Then, I followed Ravel downstairs. As I entered the room, I found Ravel offering a ss of water to the detective. The detective epted the ss and swiftly drank its contents, returning it to the housekeeper. He began with a somber tone, understanding that what he had to say might not be what we were hoping for. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t exactly what you both would like to hear, but I¡¯ll keep it brief.¡± Seated beside Ravel, I felt a mixture of tension and exhaustion. My hands were crossed, and my unbrushed hair cascaded. over my face, framing a picture of disarray that mirrored the chaos inside me. It was hard to recall thest time I had cared about such trivial concerns. Desperation filled my voice as I asked, ¡°Do you have any news about my daughter?¡± The detective met my eyes with empathy and tried to offer reassurance. ¡°Not yet, ma¡¯am, but please know that we are committed to achieving a positive oue.¡± With a heavy sigh, the detective continued, pulling out his notepad. ¡°I spoke with Ms. June yesterday, and she vehemently denied any involvement in the kidnapping.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but offer a wry response. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t such a denial be expected?¡± I quipped. Ravel, recognizing my frustration, wrapped his arm around me, offering me sce and support. The detective, undeterred by my tone, proceeded with another question. ¡°Can you tell me about your rtionship with David?¡± A puzzled frown creased my forehead as I pondered the detective¡¯s curious line of questioning regarding David. ¡°David was my college mate, and over time, he became a dear friend andter a business partner. Why do you ask?¡± My confusion was mirrored by Ravel¡¯s increasingly inquisitive expression as he absently drummed his index finger on his knee. The detective didn¡¯t provide a direct answer to my query and instead posed another unusual question. ¡°What is his rtionship with Ms. June?¡± His persistent focus on this connection seemed peculiar. ¡°They have no rtionship,¡± I replied firmly. ¡°At least not one that I¡¯m aware of.¡± I scrutinized the young detective intently. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you again, why do you ask?¡± The detective divulged, ¡°After my interview with her yesterday, she went directly to David¡¯s ce without any detours.¡± His revtion sent a frown rippling across my features. ¡°If there¡¯s no connection between them, then I believe we should bring him in for questioning as well.¡± The revtion about June¡¯s actions left me in a state of disbelief. I leaned forward, distancing myself from Ravel¡¯sforting embrace, as the pieces of this bewildering puzzle began to form a disturbing picture. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± I spoke, my voiceced with incredulity, ¡°June has been meeting with David?¡± This situation was bing increasinglyplex, like something out of a Hollywood drama. I turned to Ravel, seeking rity on the matter. ¡°Have you noticed any unusual behavior from June?¡± Ravel hesitated before responding, blinking slowly as if to carefully consider his words. My patience dwindled, and I pressed him firmly, ¡°Ravel, answer the question.¡± Finally, he conceded, ¡°You mentioned that you saw her attempting to unplug the machine connected to Elenor while she was still unconscious, right?¡± I nodded in agreement. The detective listened attentively to our conversation. Ravel went on, ¡°Well, Elenor told me something quite unsettling. She overheard June and my mother discussing ns to sabotage your art exhibition.¡± The weight of this revtion was almost too much to bear. It felt like my life had taken a sudden and surreal turn, as if I were a character in an borate and bewildering Hollywood saga. My eyes widened in utter shock. ¡°What in the world are you saying?¡± I struggled toprehend the magnitude of what I had just heard. Ravel¡¯s gaze remained steady as he continued, ¡°My mother and June were behind the sabotage of your art exhibition, and it appears that a close male associate of yours provided the crucial contact information of your most important clients.¡± A shiver of realization coursed through me. ¡°There¡¯s only one male close enough to me who would have ess to the contact details of my important clients.¡± I felt a sense of dread looming as I pieced the puzzle together. ¡°Are you saying it¡¯s David?¡± Ravel¡¯s response was nonchnt, and he shrugged. ¡°You asked about the connection between June and David, and I simply provided an answer. I had to reopen Elenor¡¯s ident case before I came to Seattle.¡± My determination solidified as I dered, ¡°As soon as I find my daughter, I will undoubtedlyunch a legal case against your mother, Anne, and David. You better not attempt to interfere or take sides.¡± The detective¡¯s curiosity deepened, and he probed further, clearly baffled by theplexity of the case. ¡°Why would Ravel¡¯s mother want to sabotage your business?¡± he inquired, recognizing the need to uncover the motives behind the plot. A surge of irritation washed over me, and I responded sharply, ¡°She never liked me. So, I¡¯m not surprised she¡¯s plotting my downfall.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Ravel, not one to back down from seeking answers, interjected. ¡°Hold on a minute.¡± The collective attention shifted to him. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you more surprised to hear that David might have betrayed you?¡± My heart raced as I found myself at the center of their scrutiny. I blinked, searching for the right words. ¡°I had already started to be suspicious of him and his family.¡± Ravel¡¯s eyebrows arched as he probed, ¡°Suspicious in what way?¡± I shrugged, unraveling a bit more of the mystery. ¡°That¡¯s why I hired the private investigator. David was the stalker I encountered in New York,¡± I disclosed, and Ravel¡¯s eyes widened in response. ¡°I ran into him at the hospital, and he provided an excuse for his behavior. I also discovered that he¡¯s not their only child, and his family is denying it.¡± The unraveling secrets had now caught Ravel¡¯s attention, adding anotheryer of intrigue to the perplexing situation. Chapter 118 Chapter 118 RAVEL PRESENT TIME With each passing day, the situation grew increasingly intricate, as if conspiring topound the challenges we faced. New issues emerged with disconcerting regrity, leaving us on a constant quest for solutions. Thetest twist came in the form. of the detective¡¯s parting revtion: David was ted for questioning. It was an announcement that resonated deeply with me, as I had harbored a distinct aversion to David since the beginning. His presence had always managed to rub me the wrong way, though I¡¯d refrained from voicing my concerns too loudly, for fear of beingbeled as jealous by Hazel. The day following the detective¡¯s disclosure was marked by a lengthy and earnest discussion with Hazel. I made it explicitly clear that I not only wanted to be informed about concerning David but that I intended to actively participate in the unfolding investigation. Whatever insights Rigger, our point person, was tasked with delivering to Hazel regarding David, I was determined to be there to bear witness to every detail. She initially attempted to argue with me regarding my insistence on being involved in the investigation, but it soon became evident that my resolve was unyielding. Reluctantly, she acquiesced to my request, recognizing that I was not to be dissuaded. Leaving the living room, I made my way into the bedroom and stood there for a moment, watching her as she slept. The familiarity of the scene struck me¨CHazel had taken the sleeping pills herself this time, a testament to the insomnia that had gued her. It was a concern that lingered at the back of my mind; I hoped that her reliance on the medication wouldn¡¯t evolve into an addiction. As I settled down next to her, I reached out to gently remove the stray hairs from her face. Her peaceful slumber, marked by even breathing and a serene expression, stirred a wish deep within me. I hoped that she would wake up to a world just as tranquil as the one she inhabited in her dreams. Leaning in, I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, a silent gesture of love and hope for her well¨Cbeing. Just as I kissed her, my phone, tucked away in my pocket, vibrated with an iing call. I quickly retrieved it, my brows lifting with excitement when I saw that it was Sebastian¡¯s number. After one more affectionate peck on Hazel¡¯s forehead, I rolled out of bed to take the call, eager to hear what developments Sebastian had to share. Stepping out onto the balcony, I closed the door behind me and swiftly answered the call, a mix of anticipation and apprehension coursing through me. ¡°Sabestine? I¡¯ve been waiting for your call, especially now that my daughter¡¯s kidnapping is connected to that relentless ckmailer.¡± Sabestine¡¯s voice came through, carrying the weight of thorough investigation. ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting, sir, but I wanted to be absolutely certain of my findings before reaching out to you.¡± His tone held a rasp of determination. ¡°ording to thest message you received from the ckmailer, I managed to track down the CCTV recording from the gaming center on that particr date. I then painstakingly scrutinized every individual who entered and exited the establishment on that day, even going so far as to question each of them.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether he had questioned students, and if such an approach was even legal. But the urgency the situation overshadowed my concerns. ¡°And?¡± I pressed, my voice tense with the need for answers. ¡°Were you able to glean any tangible information from your inquiries?¡± The safety of my daughter depended on the information he had uncovered. of A wave of relief washed over me as Sabestine delivered the news I¡¯d been hoping for. ¡°Yes,¡± he affirmed, offering me the best news I¡¯d heard in months. ¡°One of the students confessed to regrly sending a text to a specific number every month.¡± My brows shot up in surprise. ¡°How can we be certain he¡¯s telling the truth? Kids can be quite mischievous, especially when they feel provoked.¡± Sabestine exined his approach, causing me to understand the gravity of the situation. ¡°Simr to the tactic I used with every individual I questioned, I falsely imed that I already had substantial evidence implicating them in the crime and threatened to send them to jail. The innocent ones vehemently denied any wrongdoing, but the moment I mentioned involving his parents and escting the case to court, the youngd broke and confessed.¡± I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the weight of the situation. ¡°How old is this kid?¡± I inquired, my thoughts racing. Sabestine¡¯s response carried the gravity of the revtion. ¡°He¡¯s seventeen, which means he was just fifteen when he began sending those texts.¡± The implications of this confession were both unsettling and infuriating. Running my fingers through my hair, I hissed under my breath. ¡°Why the fuck are we even doing this with a kid? Why does a kid have to be involved?!¡± I can¡¯t even vent out my anger properly because we are dealing with a kid. ¡°Who did he say instructed him to send those texts?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°He has no idea,¡± Sabestine answered. ¡°ording to him, he received a text from someone who told him to check the mailbox and when he did, he saw an envelope. Inside the envelope was a phone and some cash. The instruction was for him to take the phone to a gaming center, send the text that is saved in the draft, turn off the phone, and return it to the mailbox. He imed he never knows when the persones to pick up the phone, all he knows is that the next morning, he finds an envelope filled with cash in the mailbox.¡± ¡°So he never spoke with him or anything?¡± I asked, hoping for a more positive response. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t,¡± he replied. Holding onto the rail, I bent and growled painfully as the stabbing pain in my chest intensified. ¡°So what? I am supposed to wait another month for you to figure that out too?¡± I can¡¯t wait for another month before my daughter is rescued. ¡°I am going to send that kid to a fucking detention center if he doesn¡¯t start talking dammit! My daughter¡¯s life fucking depends on this.¡± ¡°He is not up to eighteen sir, and I don¡¯t believe he is lying about not seeing the ckmailer or meeting with him or her, whatever identity it holds.¡± ¡°So what? I am supposed to just fold my fucking arms and wait?!¡± he can¡¯t be fucking serious. ¡°You don¡¯t have to fold your hands and wait for him toe to you sir,¡± Sabestine suggested, ¡°you are the main variable in this game, and I believe you are the only one who can lure this ckmailer out.¡± My brows furrowed. ¡°How am I supposed to do that?¡± if I could lure him out, I would have done that years ago. ¡°I am going to ce cameras around this kid¡¯s house, and all you have to do is prompt him to want to send another message to you. The cameras should capture him when he wants to drop off the phone.¡± That¡¯s a good n. ¡°But how do I get him to want to send me messages? It is almost as if he does that at his convenience.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so sir,¡± Sebastian countered. ¡°I have read the messages he sent to you, and with the content of the text, he is watching you.¡± I already have that figured out. ¡°and this person is opposed to your rtionship with Ms. Hazel.¡± I frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The messages are centered around Ms. Hazel. The sender simply does not want you with her and tends to get upset that happens.¡± ¡°What if I am the subject of obsession?¡± it is possible that this person is so obsessed with me that he does not want me around any other woman.¡± when ¡°If you were the object of obsession, the sender wouldn¡¯t have instructed you to have sex with the new lady in your life. To me, that seems like a technique to push you and Hazel further apart.¡± Anne doesn¡¯t like June either, so there is no way she would have encouraged me to carry on with my rtionship with her. The more I think about it, the more I can think of just one person who will be more than delighted to see me and Hazel apart, but then, when I divorced Hazel, she hadn¡¯t met David yet. ¡°So what¡¯s the n?¡± ¡°Make the person more jealous, give him or her a reason to send another text, and when that happens, we will have our culprit.¡± Instigating jealousy through public disy of affection shouldn¡¯t be difficult at all. ¡°That is fine. Be expecting to hear from me soonest.¡± ¡°Okay, sir.¡± ¡°And Sabestine, thank you. You are the first person to give me tangible results in this case.¡± ¡°It is a pleasure working with you sir.¡± With that, I disconnected the call and returned to Hazel¡¯s side on the bed. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 HAZEL PRESENT TIME On the fifth day, our anxious wait continues, and we remain in the dark without any tangible news or updates. The detective. handling David¡¯s case has yet to share any information with us. In an attempt to gain some insight, Ravel made a call to the detective today, seeking rification on the progress of the investigation. The detective, in response, offered assurance that he would visit uster this evening to provide the long-awaited update. My trust in David has waned significantly, prompting me to make a crucial decision. I¡¯ve taken the step of transferring the responsibility for business decisions to Agatha. In all honesty, I find myself in a state of me ntal disarray, making it impractical for me to be the one making important choices regarding my business affairs. It¡¯s for this reason that I¡¯ve opted to ce my trust in Agatha to handle these crucial matters. In contrast, Ravel is taking a hands-on approach to the management of his business affairs. While he¡¯s currently not engaged in the creation of new jewelry sketch designs, he holds the primary responsibility for making critical business decisions, often in conjunction with Raymond. It¡¯s evident that Raymond doesn¡¯t possess an in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of Ravel¡¯s business operations. Consequently, they engage inte-night discussions to bridge this knowledge gap. Each night, their discussions culminate in a n of action that Raymond diligently puts into motion the following day. What¡¯s particrly considerate about Ravel¡¯s approach is his discretion when ites to business matters in my presence. He goes to great lengths to avoid bringing up business discussions or taking business calls while I¡¯m around. It¡¯s only when he thinks I¡¯ve drifted off into slumber that he quietly slips out to the balcony, where he can converse with Raymond in privacy. After luxuriating in a refreshing shower, I opted to change into a morefortable ensemble. Dressed in cozy attire, Iset off on a quest to locate Ravel. Eventually, I stumbled upon him in the garden, basking in the serene ambiance with a ss of wine in hand. With a heavy sigh, I took a moment topose myself, then slowly approached him, letting my hand gently encircle his. waist. My voice was hushed as I asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± He inhaled deeply, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine, before he turned, his strong arms enveloping me in a reassuring embrace. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he replied, though his eyes betrayed the facade. He nuzzled the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply, a small moment of sce amidst the uncertainty. ¡°You smell nice,¡± he murmured, a genuinepliment amidst the tension. I mustered a tight smile, attempting to infuse some levity into the moment for his sake. I recognized that he was carrying his own burdens in this situation. ¡°Well, I did just have a shower, so smelling nice is part of the deal,¡± I yfully quipped. ¡°But speaking of showers, maybe you should consider a cold one, and, dare I say it, a haircut.¡± Hisughter was a wee sound, a brief respite from the heaviness of the situation. ¡°Personal grooming isn¡¯t quite at the top of my priorities right now,¡± he admitted, drawing back slightly to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. ¡°What do you think about an early dinner? You ski pped lunch today, and it¡¯s essential to keep your energy up.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Despite my diminished appetite, which had seemingly vanished alongside the void left by our daughter¡¯s absence, I felt at strong urge to provide Ravel with one less concern to bear. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the cooking,¡± I mused softly, ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± His eyes darted about in contemtion, considering the question. Before he could respond, our conversation was abruptly interrupted by Daisy¡¯s nanny. ¡°I apologize for the interruption, ma¡¯am, but the detective has arrived.¡± My heart quickened at the prospect of potentially positive news. ¡°We¡¯ll attend to him shortly,¡± I assured her with gratitude in my voice, and she nodded before retreating. Ravel attempted to guide me away to deal with the detective, but I firmly grasped his hand, halting his progress. ¡°Ravel, you don¡¯t need to conceal your emotions from me. You have every right to grieve and express your feelings, and I want to share that burden with you.¡± His gaze bore into me with a raw intensity, a reflection of the depths of his emotions. My hand, trembling ever so slightly, rose to gently cup his cheek, a tender gesture that seemed to unleash a torrent of feelings within him. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, their steady descent mirroring the silent, heavy rain of his pain. Without hesitation, I guided his head to rest upon my shoulder, offering him thefort of my embrace. He clung to me, and in that moment, he sobbed uncontrobly, each heave of his shoulders a release of the anguish that had been festering within. For a full minute, I remained there, the steady rhythm of my hand stroking his back acting as a soothing balm for his wounded spirit. ¡°I miss her,¡± he croaked out, his voice breaking with the weight of his sorrow. ¡°I miss her so intensely that it feels as if I¡¯m slowly losing my mind.¡± My heart ached in perfect resonance with his words. I understood that feeling all too well. At times, it seemed as though I could still hear herughter and the sound of her cries, as if her giggles still reverberated within her room. But when I mustered the courage to step inside, all that greeted me was the oppressive and cold silence, a stark reminder of her absence that echoed in the very depths of my soul. ¡°We¡¯re going to find her, aren¡¯t we?¡± he whispered, his voice quivering with vulnerability, and the raw emotion in his words. threatened to bring tears to my eyes. ¡°She¡¯s going toe back to us, right?¡± Gently grasping his cheek, I nodded, doing my best to muster strength for both of us in that fragile moment. ¡°She will most definitelye back to us, Ravel. Never doubt that.¡± He nodded in response, biting his lower lip as he tried to regainposure. I reached up, using my thumb to wipe away the lingering traces of his tears. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go find out what the detective has to say about David.¡± Nodding once more, he wiped the rest of his tears away, and a faint chuckle escaped him. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to have a strong woman like you, Hazel.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but grin widely in response. ¡°I know, right?¡± I took his hand and led him toward the living room. Just before we entered the living room, he wiped away all traces of his tears, expertly concealing his emotions behind his usual mask of cold and unyielding demeanor. The detective, a picture of professionalism, had risen from his chair to greet us, a gesture that conveyed respect. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Southwark,¡± he addressed Ravel, who responded with a crisp nod. We assumed our positions on the sofa, positioning ourselves directly in front of the detective before he took his seat. ¡°In the course of my investigation involving David,¡± he began, leaning forward slightly, ¡°I conducted a series of inquiries about you, to which he provided responses. When I delved into his rtionship with Mr. Southwark, he stated that he neither categorized it as a friendship nor enmity.¡± Restlessness crept over me, and I couldn¡¯t suppress my impatience. ¡°And what about his connection to June?¡± Maintaining his professional demeanor, the detective continued, ¡°In regard to that, he asserted that he lacks a significant closeness with Ms. June. Nevertheless, he did acknowledge that she visited him at his residence yesterday, seeking insights into Mr. Southwark¡¯s emotional state.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but scoff at the exnation. ¡°And what stopped her from simply asking him directly?¡± I mused aloud, skepticism apparent. ¡°June has never been one to respect boundaries, so what prompted this sudden change?¡± my The detective, maintaining his calm, ryed David¡¯s side of the story. ¡°ording to David, he posed the same question to her, and her rationale was that she and Mr. Southwark had a mutual agreement not tomunicate, and she didn¡¯t want to risk breaking that agreement, as she was uncertain about how you would react.¡± I turned to Ravel, eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. ¡°Did you really have such an agreement with her?¡± He nodded. ¡°So she went over to his ce to ask him about you? Since when did she assume he would have any insight into how you¡¯re feeling?¡± I questioned with exasperation, my frustration nearly driving me to pull at my hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, detective, but I¡¯m not buying this story.¡± The detective¡¯s agreement was clear. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it either,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I¡¯ve deployed some of my men to keep a close eye on both David and June. If they engage in any suspicious activity, it will be promptly reported to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring,¡± I replied, my heart heavy with the hope that Ravel wasn¡¯t involved in our daughter¡¯s disappearance. The mere thought of such betrayal was almost unbearable. ¡°For the time being, you¡¯ll have to exercise caution around him,¡± The detective¡¯s words brought my attention back to the moment. I found myself staring at the bracelet he had gifted me on myst birthday. It felt like a stark contrast to our current situation, a reminder of how things had taken a turn for the worse between us. My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket, and I quickly retrieved it. When I saw the caller¡¯s name, I raised the phone to Ravel¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s Rigger. I think he might have some information about David.¡± ¡°Answer it and put it on speaker,¡± the detective advised. With a swipe of my thumb, I epted the call and ced it on loudspeaker. ¡°Hello, Rigger.¡± Chapter 120 Chapter 120 RAVEL PRESENT TIME Hazel, with a tired look in her eyes, deftly ced the call on speaker mode, ensuring that all of us could partake in what Rigger had to reveal about David. The suspense hung in the air, and even the seasoned detective seemed to share my anticipation, eager to unearth the enigmatic secrets that the conniving scoundrel had so skillfully hidden away. Rigger, a renowned investigator in his own right, may not have quite reached the legendary status of Sabestine, but his reputation. assured me that he was more than capable of delving into the depths of David¡¯s life, uncovering those elusive details that remained concealed to the naked eye. With a respectful and somewhat somber tone, Rigger began, ¡°Good evening, ma¡¯am,¡± his words carrying a genuine weight of empathy. ¡°Before I embark on this journey of discovery, I¡¯d like to extend my deepest sympathies to you for the tragic ordeal your daughter has endured.¡± His heartfelt condolences served as a reminder of the gravity of the situation we were all entangled in. Hazel¡¯s reaction to Rigger¡¯s empathy was obvious; she physically tensed, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the edge of the sofa. Sensing the need to maintain focus and urgency, I quickly intervened, my voice edged with impatience, urging Rigger to cut through the pleasantries and get straight to the heart of the matter. ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on sympathy, Rigger,¡± I insisted firmly, ¡°It won¡¯t help us find our daughter or bring her home. Please, just tell us why you called.¡± Rigger, recognizing my voice instantly, responded with an apologetic tone, ¡°Mr. Southwark, I apologize if my words made you and Ms. cks ufortable. That was never my intention.¡± My impatience boiled over as I snapped, ¡°No more apologies. Just get to the point. We were in the middle of something important before you called, and Hazel isn¡¯t in the right frame of mind for a prolonged conversation.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. -Acknowledging the urgency, Rigger apologized once more before unveiling the purpose of his call, his voice filled with a sense of gravity, ¡°I understand, Mr. Southwark. Now, regarding the information you asked me to confirm: You were indeed correct. Monica did have a daughter, who is currently eighteen years old. However, there¡¯s a troubling twist to this story. That young woman vanished without a trace three long years ago, with no trace¡±. Hazel¡¯s fingers interlocked, her brow furrowing deeply in concern as she sought more details. ¡°Disappeared how?¡± she inquired with a mixture of anxiety and confusion. Rigger proceeded to provide further details, painting a perplexing picture of the young woman¡¯s vanishing act. ¡°She simply stopped showing up to work, and remarkably, no one, not her neighbors, nor herndlord, had any inkling of her whereabouts. Friends close to the missing girl, a youngdy named Delh, became increasingly concerned and decided to pay Monica a visit in an attempt to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.¡± Rigger continued, ¡°Monica¡¯s response to their inquiry only deepened the mystery. She imed that her daughter had left for a nunnery school in Ennd, with the intention of bing a nun after completing the program. Since Delh¡¯s mother hadn¡¯t dered her as missing, there was no legal basis to initiate a missing person case, and the matter eventually faded away. To this day, no one has laid eyes on her.¡± Puzzled by this exnation, I couldn¡¯t help but voice my confusion, ¡°Is Monica perhaps ashamed that her daughter chose to be a nun? It¡¯s hard toprehend the motivation behind such a drastic vanishing act.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense, and it doesn¡¯t seem like something Monica will do. But why deny her existence?¡± Hazel asked, more to herself than her. ¡°That¡¯s not all.¡± Rigger chimed in. ¡°I went in search of the nunnery school she imed Delh went for, but I found out that there is no one like in that school. No one has seen or heard of her.¡± That¡¯s absurd. ¡°Then what happened to her if she isn¡¯t at the nunnery?¡± I asked. Hazel¡¯s eyes widened as though a stray thought crossed her mind. ¡°Do you think she killed her? Maybe it was an ident, and she buried her and then lied about the nunnery to cover it up?¡± ¡°That I do not know, nor did I look into it. You only told me to find out if Monica really did have a female child, which I did.¡± He¡¯s right. I¡¯ll have to pay him extra if I want him to do more work. ¡°What about David? anything about him that we need to know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not done with Monica.¡± He replied calmly yet respectfully. ¡°Monica moved to Seattle three years ago, one week after her daughter¡¯s disappearance, and there were no traces of her having a male child in the past.¡± Hazel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you saying David is not her son? I remember she mentioned something like that in the hospital after her fall, but I ruled it out as the side effect of aesthetic.¡± ¡°What I¡¯m saying is that there is no record of her giving birth to a son. If she lied about her daughter, then there is a possibility she is also lying about her son.¡± Hazel sighed heavily. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± She stated and I almost reprimanded her for opting to do something that she doesn¡¯t know the level of danger attached to it, but I bit my lips. If I¡¯m going to reprimand her, it won¡¯t be in public. ¡°Moving to David,¡± Rigger continued, ¡°I found out that he moved to Seattle three ago too,¡± That was the exact year Hazel moved to Seattle too. ¡°And he used to reside in New York before his sudden relocation.¡± Hazel¡¯s brows jumped to her hairline. ¡°David once lived in New York? He never told me that.¡± Rigger hummed in agreement with his earlier statement. ¡°He lived in New York for five years before moving to Seattle, but before his life in New York, he stayed in Ohio, Damariscotta, Maine, Pe Iowa, West Virginia, andstly, New Hampshire. In all these towns that I mentioned, each of them, He had a girlfriend, and they either went missing or turned up dead in their apartment. Cause of death was always ruled as suicide.¡± The detective in the room with us cursed under his breath at the same time as Hazel. ¡°This isn¡¯t a small case we have here.¡± Rigger paused. ¡°Who was that?¡± ¡°The detective in charge of my daughter¡¯s case,¡± I responded on behalf of Hazel who is obviously still in shock. ¡°He was investigating David¡¯s connection to the case and I figured he should just listen so he can know the kind of person David really is.¡± ¡°The information I am rying to Ms. Hazel is an illegal collection of data,¡± Rigger pointed out, ¡°nobody should call me to testify in any court or make any statement, cause I¡¯m not doing that.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t a problem,¡± the detective assured him, ¡°I have no ns ofplicating you in any way. Just carry on with your findings.¡± ¡°Are you sure the death of his previous girlfriend isn¡¯t just a coincidence?¡± Hazel asked in a hushed tone, still living in denial over what she just heard. ¡°David isn¡¯t looking like someone who is capable of murder.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t written on the face.¡± I don¡¯t know why she is trying to defend him, but one thing is certain, she is going to stay away from him until all this is figured out. ¡°I am doubling your security until David is either arrested or cleared.¡± Rigger cleared his throat again, demanding for our attention. ¡°Lastly, he went to two art schools in Seattle but the other one was just two months programs.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Hazel called out, ¡°Why was he taking another art ss?¡± ¡°To enhance his abilities as an artist?¡± Rigger suggested. His tone showed that he wasn¡¯t certain of his words either. She licked her lips. ¡°Did he ever work at any hospital where he painted artworks for the obstetric ward?¡± Hazel asked impatiently. ¡°If I didn¡¯t find anything like that, that means it never happened. David has never worked for a hospital and he knew nothing major about art until he started taking extra sses for it.¡± Hazel¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Thank you, Rigger.¡± She pointed out, ¡°Is there any other thing to uncover about him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all for now.¡± Hazel nodded. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll have to speak with youter.¡± She disconnected the call before chucking the phone on the sofa. ¡°As you can see detective, David is more wild than we give him credit for.¡± ¡°This is a dangerous case,¡± the detective replied. ¡°And I¡¯d advise you stay away from that family for a while.¡± I can¡¯t agree with him more.. ¡°How about you focus on finding my daughter while I focus on my things.¡± Hazel deadpanned. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 HAZEL PRESENT TIME Last night, as the hours ticked away, Ravel and I found ourselves trapped in the clutches of insomnia, unable to slip into the realm of dreams. I made a conscious decision to forgo any sleep¨Cinducing pills, a choice rooted in my ongoing effort to curb their consumption, steering clear of any potential addiction that might rear its head. The subsequent morning arrived with its soft light filtering through the curtains, painting a new day. Groggily, I opened my eyes to the sight of Ravel¡¯s silhouette, a gentle smile on his face, and two cups of freshly brewed coffee in his hands. ¡°Good morning.¡± I managed to mumble, my body weary from the battle with restlessness that had consumed a significant part of the night. For the sake of both Ravel and myself, I hoped that this day would offer a better beginning, free from the shadows of sleeplessness and a good news about my daughter. Ravel¡¯s response was kind and supportive as he handed me one of the coffee cups. ¡°Good morning to you too,¡± he said, his tone filled with empathy. ¡°You¡¯re going to need this to kickstart your day effectively,¡± he added, acknowledging the importance of caffeine in helping us shake off the remnants of a sleepless night. With a weary but appreciative smile, I took the offered coffee and brought it to my lips, hoping the rich aroma and caffeine infusion would rouse my tired cells from their slumber. My curiosity got the better of me as I couldn¡¯t help but inquire, ¡°What time did you manage to wake up?¡± I knew that I had nodded off before him, and since I hadst glimpsed the clock, it couldn¡¯t have been more than a few hours past four in the morning. ¡°Did you get any rest at all?¡± Ravel met my gaze with a soft smile, reassuring me, ¡°I dozed off right after you did.¡± He took a final, hearty gulp of his coffee, then deposited the empty cup gently on the table. ¡°How about we switch things up today and grab breakfast outside?¡± he proposed, the prospect of a fresh morning meal dancing in his eyes. However, the thought of food didn¡¯t sit well with my stomach at the moment. ¡°I¡¯m not really hungry,¡± I admitted, cing my now¨Cempty cup on the bedside table. I rolled off the bed and made my way to the bathroom. ¡°But if you¡¯re feeling hungry, please don¡¯t let myck of appetite hold you back from enjoying a meal,¡± I added with a faint smile before disappearing into the bathroom. Stepping into the bathroom, I moved with deliberate care, retrieving my toothbrush and toothpaste from the shelf. With each stroke, I scrubbed my teeth, the rhythmic swish of the bristles providing a small but comforting distraction from the lingering weight of sleepless nights. As I diligently cleaned my teeth, I noticed Ravel still hovering near the doorway, silently watching me. His presence, although unspoken, carried a sense of unity and support, a reminder that we were in this together. The mundane act of brushing my teeth felt strangelyforting, a small ind of normalcy in our otherwise turbulent world. Ravel finally spoke up, his voice carrying a hint of longing for fresh air and a break from the relentless confinement. ¡°Even if you¡¯re not hungry, I think it¡¯s essential for us to step outside the confines of this house.¡± His words resonated with me. I couldn¡¯t deny that the walls of this ce seemed to press in on us, suffocating us slowly. With a resigned sigh, I nodded, conceding, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s grab something to eat from one of the nearby restaurants.¡± Ravel¡¯s face brightened with enthusiasm, and he replied, ¡°Great. I¡¯ll give you some space to get ready.¡± With that, he left the room. Alone with my thoughts, I realized that the topic of David loomed like an unspoken specter between us. The phone call with Riggerst night had stirred emotions, concerns, and unresolved questions. I knew that a significant conversation awaited us, and it wouldn¡¯t be an easy one. I couldn¡¯t help but ponder how to broach the subject with Ravel. He might not agree with my determination to pursue David, especially after the call¡¯s revtions. Yet, deep down, I feltpelled to take on the responsibility of digging deeper into this mysterious situation. It was a duty that seemed to fall squarely on my shoulders, and I couldn¡¯t shirk it. All I need to do is convince Ravel to check on his office duties in New York, and when he leaves for New York, I will pay David a visit at his ce, and take a sample of his hair before heading to Monica¡¯s ce to do the same. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. I need to confirm if David isn¡¯t really Monica¡¯s son. I need to be sure; I need to confirm the fact that David isn¡¯t really who I think he is. For the sake of our friendship and rtionship, I am not going to jump to a conclusion until I have a shred of valid and concrete evidence to prove me otherwise. Taking a quick shower, I changed into a simple ck dress before walking out of the room in search of Ravel. I found him in the living room, already dressed up. I guess he returned to the bedroom to dress while I was taking a shower. Now in ck in trousers and a shirt with ck leather jacket, he pocketed his phone when he saw meing down. The swiftness with which he pocketed the phone made my eyes narrow suspiciously. ¡°Were you with anyone on the phone?¡± Approaching me, he nodded. ¡°I was speaking with Raymond about some business issues.¡± He leaned forward and ced a kiss on my forehead. ¡°It¡¯s nothing for you to worry about.¡± Hand in hand, we walked into the parking lot. Ravel opened the passenger door for me and when I got in, he rounded the car and got into the driver¡¯s seat. I watched him as he carefully rolled the car out of the parking lot. Folding my hands, I cleared my throat, prompting him to nce quickly at me. ¡°Do you have something on your mind?¡± He asked as he searched for the nearest restaurant to pull over. ¡°It¡¯s about your business,¡± I confessed, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should head down to New York, even if it is for a day or two, so you can be sure nothing is going wrong.¡± Reaching forward with his free hands, he took mine and squeezed gently. ¡°I am not going back to New York until my daughter is found.¡± He insisted firmly, ¡°and I trust Raymond to take care of my business until I return.¡± ¡°Speaking of Raymond,¡± I continued, ¡°have you guys been able to sort things out between yourselves?¡± Ravel bit his lower lips, an indication that he wasn¡¯t so sure of the answer himself. ¡°We aren¡¯t there yet, but we¡¯re getting somewhere.¡± I really hope they fix whatever issue that is going on between them. ¡°And how is Elenor?¡± I really should give her a call. I¡¯ve been so engrossed in finding Daisy and unraveling David¡¯s true identity that I¡¯ve forgotten about other things happening around me. ¡°She is getting better.¡± He replied, ¡°She¡¯s just struggling with therapy, but I¡¯m sure she will fight and ovee this too.¡± It must be overwhelming for Raymond to be handling both Elenor and the business. ¡°Are you really sure you do not want to touch down in New York?¡± I really won¡¯t mind. It¡¯s not like we are the ones going from street to street to look for her. ¡°I am certain Hazel,¡± He assured me with a gentle squeeze of my hand, ¡°I want to be here for you, to be here for us.¡± Tell me how it is impossible not to fall for him the more. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell you a secret,¡± I mumbled. Although curious about what I just said, he patiently pulled over to the parking lot of one of the popr restaurants around the area before turning to me. ¡°What secret?¡± ¡°I woke up this morning with the n of convincing you to leave for New York,¡± I confessed and his brows jumped to his hairline. ¡°I know that sounds crazy.¡± He blinked at me slowly before chuckling. ¡°So Why are you suddenly telling me about your secrets instead of working towards enacting them?¡± ¡°Because I figured there is no reason to keep this from you,¡± I replied with a slight frown. ¡°We agreed not to keep anything from each other and I want to uphold that.¡± Ravel turned to face me directly as he folded his hands. ¡°What were you nning on hiding from me?¡± ¡°I am going to David¡¯s ce today,¡± I confessed yet again, ¡°I am going to his house to take his hair sample, after which, I am going to visit his mother and do the same.¡± Not in support of my ns, Ravel shook his head. ¡°David is dangerous Hazel. None of his girlfriends are alive. That is how much of a scary dude he is. I can¡¯t have you go around him without any security.¡± He isn¡¯t going to change my mind about going to David¡¯s. ¡°This ispletely safe Ravel, do you know why?¡± He simply blinked at me in response, waiting for me to continue, and I did continue. ¡°The fact that he doesn¡¯t suspect that I know anything about his past is the greatest weapon we have against him.¡± Chapter 122 Chapter 122 RAVEL PRESENT TIME Hazel, with her unwavering determination, remains resolute in her insistence on personally overseeing the DNA test for David and Monica. Despite my relentless attempts to sway her from this path, her stubbornness shines through. It¡¯s a quality of hers that I¡¯m well acquainted with, and given the difficulty of changing her mind, I¡¯ve instead opted to provide her with my wholehearted support and encouragement, all the while being vignt in protecting her from potential troubles. Indeed, it¡¯s the least I can do for her during this trying time: The realization that the person in question was in close proximity to my woman and our daughter sends shivers down my spine. It¡¯s disconcerting to think that Hazel had ced enough trust in him to leave our precious Daisy under his care. Under such circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t be entirely shocking if we were to uncover a connection between him and the harrowing disappearance and kidnapping of our dear Daisy. Carrying out Sabestine¡¯s instructions had be a solemn obligation for me. The breakfast I shared with Hazel yesterday, while it might seem like a gesture of happiness, was anything but that. After all, how could one revel in joy when the shadow of my missing daughter loomed over every moment? My primary objective in close proximity to Hazel was not just to provide moral support but also to ignite a reaction from the individual responsible for those chilling, threatening messages. The only hope I held was that by being close to Hazel, holding her hand, nting soft kisses on her cheek and her hand, it might somehow provoke the person responsible for sending those ominous messages to send more information. As the day unfolded, Hazel¡¯s presence at the office became imperative. Several essential documents necessitated her signature, a task that had to be attended to in person, as Agatha, our usual courier of these documents, was preupied with othermitments. I saw it as a golden opportunity to encourage Hazel to step out of the house, if only temporarily, to temporarily shift her focus away from the distressing situation involving David. Regrettably, David wasn¡¯t avable as an option to collect the documents because his return to work was still pending. Hazel¡¯s decision to instruct David to stay away was apanied by a veil of concern that went beyond the excuse of his -healing gunshot wound. It was crystal clear to me that trust, even in the slightest degree, was a scarcemodity in her Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. dealings with him. The weight of culpability weighs heavily on my conscience as I contemte how my own actions yed a part in David¡¯s presence in Hazel¡¯s life. Regret gnaws at me as I mull over the notion that, had I not driven her away with my past hurtful behavior, New York would remain her residence, and the very possibility of her crossing paths with David or establishing any form of rtionship with him would be a remote concept. A cup of coffee grasped firmly in my hand, I shifted my gaze towards the outside world through the kitchen window, all the while trying to maintain focus on Raymond¡¯s words resonating from the other end of the telephone line. ¡°I appreciate your optimism and the sense of hope, Ravel, but have you pondered the path we¡¯ll tread after we eventually apprehend this individual?¡± As I contemted Raymond¡¯s words, I realized that our course of action needed more consideration than just capturing the wrongdoer. The potential consequences of that bastard turning to the police were profound, and the exposure of the incriminating video was a risk I couldn¡¯t overlook. It had the potential to unravel everything we had worked tirelessly to safeguard. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I mulled over theplexities of our predicament. ¡°Negotiating with this person or instilling fear might indeed be the more prudent approach,¡± I admitted, acknowledging the need for a solution that could halt the ongoing turmoil and offer protection to both Hazel and myself. The weight of responsibility bore down on me as I realized that the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty and peril. We were now confronted with a daunting task of devising a n that not only brought the malefactor to justice but also ensured the safety and security of our loved ones. ¡°If Sabestine is right about the mysterious sender being obsessed with Hazel, then know that no level of negogiation orpromise will make him change his mind about letting you and Hazel live happily forever after. If you n on catching him, then you have toe up with a n.¡± Raymond exined. Taking a deep breath, I resolved to confide in Hazel, knowing that transparency and unity were our best weapons against this threat. ¡°I believe it¡¯s time I had a heartfelt conversation with Hazel about all of this,¡± I divulged, a sense of responsibility guiding my decision. ¡°For us to confront this ordeal together, she must be fully aware of the circumstances.¡± Raymond nodded in agreement, reaffirming his longstanding advice. ¡°I¡¯ve been urging you to take this step for a while now,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°Gaining aprehensive understanding of the entire situation, particrly the details of how Hazel came into possession of that butter knife, is pivotal. Subsequently, we should engage a detective orw enforcement officer to preemptively investigate the case. Having solid evidence of her innocence in hand before the malefactor can exploit this in a court ofw is paramount.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the n,¡± I affirmed, appreciating Raymond¡¯s guidance. ¡°I¡¯ll have this conversation with her when she returns from the office.¡± ¡°Tell me what?¡± Hazel¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from the doorway, catching me off guard. Her arrival had been so discreet that I hadn¡¯t even heard her car pull in or sensed her approach. I redirected my focus to Raymond, offering a quick exnation. ¡°I¡¯ll have to call you backter, Raymond. Hazel has just walked in, and I think it¡¯s the perfect time to talk to her about everything.¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 HAZEL PRESENT TIME The gravity of the situation was unmistakable from the profound seriousness etched across Ravel¡¯s countenance. I carefully observed his actions as he terminated his ongoing call with Raymond, gently slipping his phone into his pocket. Curiosity piqued, I couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Rav, what¡¯s weighing on your mind right now?¡± Without a word, he approached me, his firm grip on my hand indicating the urgency of the impending conversation. Slowly, he led me toward the cozy confines of our living room. As he guided me to a seat, he spoke softly but with a obvious sense of gravity, ¡°Please, take a seat. What I¡¯m about to discuss is of utmost importance.¡± My brows furrowed deeply, and a knot of worry tightened in the pit of my stomach as a torrent of distressing scenarios inundated my thoughts. The anxious unease welled up within me, and I fervently clung to the hope that whatever Ravel was about to reveal wouldn¡¯t unleash an unbearable burden. With a tremor in my voice, I pressed him for answers, ¡°Ravel, something¡¯s amiss, isn¡¯t it? Please, tell me, is Daisy okay?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Sensing the anguish that was consuming me, Ravel came to a sudden halt and tenderly turned me to face him. Gently, he cupped my cheek, his touch a balm to my spiraling panic. ¡°I need you to keep your composure,¡± he implored, his voice soothing. ¡°Daisy is safe, and nothing will happen to her. I¡¯ve been in contact with the detective, and as of now, there are no new developments regarding her case. This, however, isn¡¯t about her.¡± Summoning all my strength, I took a deep, steadying breath, attempting to regain control over my emotions. ¡°Alright,¡± I acquiesced, my impatience still palpable beneath the surface, ¡°I¡¯ll try to stay calm. So, what¡¯s going on? What is it that you need to share with me?¡± My tone wavered between curiosity and frustration, and I couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Ravel, if you don¡¯t tell me now, I fear I might lose my sanity.¡± ¡°I want to reveal the true reason behind our divorce,¡± Ravel disclosed, ¡°but I need you to be patient until we¡¯re in the privacy of our bedroom.¡± Ravel¡¯s revtion had left me both intrigued and perplexed. As we stood on the precipice of our bedroom, I couldn¡¯t help but let my curiosity spill out. ¡°Why is it so imperative to discuss the reason behind our divorce right now?¡± The uncertainty that had initially gripped me was giving way to a mounting sense of bewilderment. I had braced myself for grim news, only to find the conversation taking an unexpected turn into our past. ¡°Ravel, are you genuinely serious about this?¡± My words bore a hint of disappointment, a mix of emotions swirling within me. Ravel, undeterred by my skepticism, let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, his expression pensive. Without uttering a word, he gently tugged me further into the bedroom, keeping me in suspense. The silence in the room was deafening, and my questions loomed unspoken, kept at bay until the sanctuary of our bedroom. Once the door securely clicked shut, I could contain my inquiries no longer. The anticipation was palpable in the air as I quizzically demanded answers, ¡°What¡¯s happening, Ravel? Why bring up our past now?¡± The floodgates of my curiosity burst open as I awaited his exnation. He strolled over to the bed, sat down, and patted the space beside him with a small smile. ¡°You are the most impatient woman I¡¯ve ever seen Hazel and I find you cute regardless.¡± Rolling my eyes at his sentiments, I walked over to the bed and sat down. ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time to try patronizing me, but for real though, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°First, I want to apologize for not telling you about this earlier.¡± He apologized before stating What exactly the problem was, and if I must say it wasn¡¯t a good sign. If Ravel apologizes at the beginning of his statement, that means he fucked up big time. ¡°I know I should have said something and I didn¡¯t and for that I really apo_¡± He is rambling. ¡°Get to the point Rav.¡± I interjected, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re going to say at this point, but I don¡¯t think anything can beat the current situation we are in right now, so go for it.¡± ¡°You know Mr. Harrison was murdered right?¡± He asked out of the blue, catching me off guard by the sudden question. ¡°I know he was killed Rav.¡± I saw it in the news back then, but I didn¡¯t care a bit to read deeper into it. ¡°Why exactly are we discussing him?¡± He pulled out his phone and scrolled through it before dropping it on my thighs. Right before my eyes, I watched a video of me threatening Harrison the day he tried to sexually molest me. Surprised, I lifted my head and blinked at Ravel. ¡°Why do have this video?¡± How did he even get it? you ¡°Someone sent that video to me Hazel, a few days to our anniversary,¡± He rasped. The more he revealed, the more my eyes widened with shock. ¡°You do realize that the same way you threatened Harrison was the same way he was killed.¡± He swiped to the next image, an image of me holding a butter knife that same day. ¡°You were seen with that knife Hazel, the same knife that was ruled as the murder weapon, and which mysteriously went missing.¡± Shocked beyondparison, I blinked rapidly at him. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill Harrison,¡± I blurted out quickly, ¡°I have nothing to do with his death.¡± He can¡¯t possibly me me for this. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t do it Hazel, but the authorities won¡¯t think the same.¡± He mused, ¡°Sebastian and I have every reason to believe that the person who sent this video to me is not only obsessed with you but also had a hand in the kidnapping of Daisy. 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