Hazel looked at him, her eyes wide with fear.
"How dare you stay in my home?" Christopher demanded, grabbing her hand and dragging her out of the house.
"Sir... Please... Leave me... Please..." Hazel pleaded, struggling to free herself from his grip.
Christopher pushed her through the gate with such force that she stumbled and fell against a car that had just stopped suddenly. Her body hit the car hard, and she crumpled to the ground.
"Oh my God!" Alfred cried, rushing forward. Christopher stood frozen, shocked by the unexpected turn of events. A woman stepped out of the car. "Olivia!" Christopher whispered, recognizing her.
"Good God..." Olivia exclaimed, rushing towards Hazel, who was lying on the ground, struggling to breathe from the impact. "Are you okay?" Olivia asked, kneeling beside her. Hazel gasped for air, her chest aching from the collision.
"Help me!" Olivia screamed at Alfred and Christopher. Alfred ran over, scooping Hazel into his arms and carrying her to the car. Olivia shot a furious glare at Christopher before getting into the car herself.
"Alfred, turn the car around and head to the hospital," Olivia ordered.
Christopher watched the car speed away, a single tear trailing down his left cheek as he stood there, overwhelmed by what had just happened.
***********
"Who is she?" Olivia asked Alfred. They were standing in front of the observation room after admitting Hazel.
"Her name is Hazel," Alfred replied.
"Okay? Then..." Olivia looked at him, expecting more information.
Alfred looked down, hesitant but then began to explain everything that had happened between Christopher and Hazel, except the part where they kissed.
"How dare he?" she gritted her teeth in anger. Just then, the doctor came out of the room.
"Doctor," both Olivia and Alfred said as they walked towards him.
"Don't worry, she is alright. She has a small injury on her forehead and some bruising on her chest. It's not serious; she can go home in about an hour."
"Thank you, doctor," Olivia said, shaking his hand. "Can I see her?"
"Of course," the doctor replied with a smile before walking away.
Olivia opened the door and stepped inside. She felt a pang of sadness as she saw Hazel, who seemed so young and fragile. She sat beside her, gently brushing a strand of hair from Hazel's face.
Meanwhile, Alfred was standing outside when his phone rang. "Hello?" he answered.
"How is she?" Christopher asked.
"She's alright... just a bruise on her chest."
"Hmm..." Christopher replied before ending the call abruptly.
Inside the room, Hazel slowly opened her eyes and saw Olivia's beautiful face. She stared at her, recognizing the woman from her dreams. Hazel tried to smile and sit up.
"Hey, it's okay... It's okay," Olivia reassured her, gently pressing her back onto the bed. "Please stay still."
"Tha... Thank you..." Hazel managed to say, wincing in pain as she spoke.
"It's okay, dear... I should be the one apologizing. It's my car that hit you." Suddenly, Hazel remembered the scene from earlier, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Hey... Hazel, don't worry... He won't do anything to you. I promise. Believe me." Olivia wiped Hazel's tears away lovingly and pressed her lips to Hazel's forehead. Hazel was taken aback. A well-known movie actress showing such kindness toward her made her eyes fill with tears again.
"I told you, don't cry, dear. I'm here with you." Olivia whispered, holding Hazel's hand gently.
***************
Alfred and Olivia took Hazel back home. Olivia herself guided Hazel to the room where she had been staying before.
"Sleep tight, okay? Good night," Olivia said softly to Hazel, who nodded weakly before closing her eyes. Olivia then walked out of the room, her steps heavy with concern. She headed straight to Christopher's room.
"Hey... baby... I really miss you," Christopher said, approaching her with open arms.
"Don't 'baby' me," Olivia snapped, her voice filled with anger. "Why are you like this, Chris? What's your problem with that girl?"
"She slapped me," Christopher replied defensively.
"So what? You barged into her home uninvited. Christopher, do you even see that girl? She's very young and fragile. What if I hadn't been there today? My car could have run over her," Olivia said, her voice trembling with frustration.
Christopher gulped, staring at Olivia, unsure of how to respond.
"How many times have I told you... Don't fight with people who can't fight back. Please, Chris..."
"Out... I need to sleep," Christopher interrupted, his voice rising in anger.
"Chris... I..."
"Get out!" he shouted, shoving her out of his room and slamming the door shut with a loud thud. "Bloody... Who the hell is she to advise me? What if that slumdog had died? Who cares..." he muttered angrily to himself as he fell onto the bed.
Olivia stood outside his room for a few moments, her heart heavy with sadness and determination. As she walked to her own room, she thought, "I won't let you do anything to her, Christopher. Not ever again."
***********
Hazel looked at the mirror, feeling the heaviness on her chest and touching the bandage on her forehead. She examined herself, still in the same dress she had been wearing for days. The realization that she had nothing to change into made her feel irritated. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Olivia walked in. Startled, Hazel turned around, but seeing Olivia brought a small smile to her lips.
"Are you okay?" Olivia asked gently.
"Yes, I am... but there's a little pain," Hazel admitted.
"It's okay. It will take time to heal," Olivia reassured her with a smile. A maid entered the room carrying a bag. "Here are some clothes for you. Go and take a bath. Use hot water, but don't wet your head."
Hazel stared at Olivia, her mind racing with questions. Who is she? Why is she showing me so much kindness? She lost herself in her thoughts.
"Excuse me, Ms. Hazel. We can daydream later; now go and take a bath," Olivia said, snapping her fingers to bring Hazel back to the present. Hazel looked at her with an awkward laugh.
"Sorry," she muttered, taking the items from the maid and heading to the bathroom. Once inside, she marveled at the luxurious surroundings, feeling a mix of gratitude and confusion.
She turned on the hot water, letting the steam fill the room. As she undressed and stepped into the warm water, she felt some of her tension begin to melt away. The soothing heat was a welcome relief to her aching body.
While washing, her thoughts wandered back to Olivia. She couldn't understand why this famous actress was being so kind to her. After finishing her bath, Hazel dried herself off and put on the fresh clothes provided. The soft, clean fabric felt like a blessing against her skin.
When she emerged from the bathroom, Olivia was still there, waiting for her.
"Feeling better?" Olivia asked.
"Much better, thank you," Hazel replied, genuinely grateful.
"Good. Now, let's get you something to eat," Olivia said, guiding her out of the room. Hazel followed, feeling a strange mix of comfort and curiosity about this unexpected guardian angel in her life.
************
"Hazel, you sit here. I need to make a call," Olivia said, and walked away. Hazel felt a bit out of place in the vast dining room, so she stood up, looking around. Her eyes were drawn to a window where she saw a garden filled with vibrant red roses. A smile formed on her lips as she walked towards the window, captivated by the sight.
Lost in the beauty of the roses, Hazel didn't notice the man approaching from the opposite direction. Christopher, engrossed in his phone, didn't see her either. They collided, both falling to the ground. Christopher's hard chest pressed against her, causing her to gasp in pain and close her eyes.
Christopher's reflexes kicked in; his arm wrapped protectively around Hazel's head, cushioning her fall. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring into his piercing blue ones. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as their gazes locked.
Christopher, taken aback by the intensity of the moment, felt a mix of confusion and attraction. Hazel, too, was mesmerized by the closeness and the unexpected gentleness in his eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice softer than she had ever heard it.
"She was scared to death even taking for breath".
He helped her sit up, his hand lingering on her back for a moment longer than necessary. The touch sent a shiver down her spine.
Christopher stood up and offered her his hand. She hesitated for a moment before taking it, feeling a strange sense of connection. As he pulled her to her feet, their bodies were close, and she could feel his breath on her face.
For a brief moment, they stood there, inches apart, both feeling an unspoken tension. Christopher cleared his throat, breaking the spell.
Christopher moved closer to her, his presence overwhelming. His hot breath brushed against her earlobe, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine."I'm going to the office," he whispered, his voice low and menacing. "I don't want to see you here when I come back."Hazel gulped, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched him walk away, each step echoing with the weight of his words. She felt a mix of fear and defiance, her mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.