In the dimly lit room, Alexander paced back and forth, his thoughts racing. Christopher stood by the door, his fists clenched at his sides. The tension between father and son was palpable."Christopher," Alexander began, stopping to face his son. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
Christopher met his father's gaze defiantly. "Dad, she... Hazel... she's manipulating everyone. Can't you see that?"
Alexander's expression hardened. "Manipulating? Is that what you call needing medical attention? Father Benedict asked us to help her. Are you questioning his judgment now?"
Christopher's eyes flickered with a mix of anger and confusion. "It's not about Father Benedict. It's about Hazel. She... she's dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Alexander's voice rose. "How? By being injured? By needing our help? You're getting married in two weeks, Christopher. Start acting like the man you're supposed to be. Stop causing trouble for everyone, especially Hazel.
"Christopher's face reddened. "So, you're siding with her?""This isn't about sides," Alexander said coldly. "It's about doing what's right. Now, leave. And think about what I've said."
*********
Hazel lay on the bed, her body aching, her mind swirling with a mix of fear and sadness. Olivia sat beside her, holding her hand.
"Hazel, why did you try to run away?" Olivia asked softly.
Hazel took a deep breath. "I... I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I just... I felt so trapped. So alone.
"Mrs. Garden, standing by the door, shook her head. "Alone? Trapped? You're living in a mansion, being taken care of. What more do you want?"
"It's not about the mansion," Hazel whispered. "It's about... feeling safe.
"Mrs. Garden scoffed. "Safe? You're safer here than anywhere else."
"Mom, please," Olivia interjected. "Can't you see she's scared?"
Mrs. Garden's face softened slightly, but she remained firm. "Scared or not, this drama needs to stop. We have enough problems without adding Hazel's issues to the mix."
Hazel's tears fell freely now. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause any problems.
Olivia hugged her gently. "Rest, Hazel. We'll figure this out."As Mrs. Garden and Olivia left the room, Hazel closed her eyes, praying for strength and hoping for a glimmer of kindness in the days to come.
**************
Serin and Jain stared at Hazel as she entered the room, looking pale and tired.
"Where were you all day?" Serin asked, concern evident in her voice.
"I was sick," Hazel replied, her voice weak but steady.
Jain frowned. "What happened to your phone? Did it fall sick too?"
Hazel managed a small smile. "No, it's broken. I need to buy a new one." She sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping.
"You missed a lot, Hazel. There are a ton of assignments and work piled up for you," Serin said, glancing at the stack of papers on Hazel's desk.
Hazel looked at the overwhelming amount of work and felt a pang of anxiety. "I want to finish everything... Please help me," she pleaded, her eyes filled with desperation.
Serin and Jain exchanged a look and then nodded. "Okay," they agreed in unison, their smiles reassuring.
***********
Hazel was diligently working on the assignments she had missed. The pile was daunting. "I should never miss another class after this. How tiring is this?" she muttered to herself. She had avoided everyone since returning from college, but Olivia had kindly sent her a cup of coffee and some cookies.
"Wow, only two assignments left now," Hazel smiled in relief, feeling a small sense of accomplishment.
Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. Her face brightened as she thought it was Olivia. She immediately walked to the door and opened it. "You?" she exclaimed, surprised to see Christopher standing there.
"Are you busy?" he asked calmly.
"Yes, I am," she replied curtly.
"Sorry..." he blurted out suddenly.
"What?" Hazel looked at him in disbelief.
"I said I'm sorry for what I did to you. I mean for everything. Dad and Olivia asked me to apologize, but I also feel that I was wrong. And don't think of doing anything drastic... This is for you." He handed her a box. "Olivia selected it for you."
Hazel took the box and closed the door in his face. "I don't want your apology..." she murmured. She sat on her bed and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful necklace. "Wow... Thanks, Olivia. This is the first time I've received a gift," she thought happily, pressing the necklace to her chest. But then her expression hardened. "But I will never forgive you, Mr. Devil." She put the necklace back into the box, her moment of joy clouded by lingering resentment.
***********
"Just do what you said," Christopher looked at Olivia, his expression serious.
"Thanks, baby. I love you," she said, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Love you too," he replied, hugging her back. "And no more Hazel between us. Isn't that right?"
"Of course," Olivia laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Christopher leaned in and placed his lips on her neck, but Olivia stopped him immediately. "No," she said firmly.
"Why?" Christopher looked at her, puzzled.
"Wait two weeks, baby," she said, playfully pinching his cheeks before walking out of his room.
Christopher watched her leave, a smile playing on his lips. "I'll take you after two weeks," he said to himself, anticipation clear in his voice.
**********
Days passed quickly, and now only four days remained until the wedding. The mansion was bustling with preparations, filled with guests and relatives who had come for the occasion. Hazel's new house was already finished, so she moved in. It was beautiful and felt much safer than her previous home. Alexander had thoughtfully arranged all the essentials for her, making the transition smooth. She had also secured a part-time job at a bookstall near her college, helping her life regain a sense of normalcy.
The mansion was alive with the energy of wedding preparations, and Olivia was busy entertaining guests and managing last-minute details. Because of this, Hazel hadn't seen her for days. Despite their distance, Hazel received an invitation to the wedding, a gesture that stirred mixed emotions within her.
Hazel stood in her new living room, looking around at the cozy, well-furnished space. She felt a sense of gratitude for Alexander's help. Her job at the bookstall added a pleasant routine to her life, and she enjoyed the quiet moments surrounded by books.
As the wedding day approached, Hazel couldn't help but reflect on the whirlwind of events that had brought her to this point. She felt a pang of longing to speak with Olivia, but she knew how busy her friend was. The invitation to the wedding was a reminder of the bond they shared, even if things had been complicated recently.
It had been a hectic day for Hazel. Her teacher had confronted her again about not completing her work properly, and the bookstall was busier than usual. Exhausted, Hazel walked home quickly. She needed to get ready for Olivia's bachelorette party at the mansion later that evening. Once home, she changed into a dress and checked her reflection in the mirror, making sure she looked presentable. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to leave when the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be at this time?" she wondered, walking to the door. She opened it and frowned in confusion at the sight of the police standing in front of her.
"We need to search your home, Ms. Hazel," the policeman said sternly.
"Why?" she asked, bewildered.
"Please step aside," he instructed. The policeman and two female officers entered the house and began searching. They soon found the necklace box and opened it.
"Is this yours?" one of the female officers asked, holding up the necklace.
"Yes," Hazel replied, her confusion growing.
"Did you buy it?" the officer inquired.
"No, it's a gift," she explained.
"A gift? From whom?"
"My friend, Olivia Garden. She gifted me this," Hazel said, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding.
The policeman scoffed. "Wow, the Garden family's ancestral necklace as a gift? Hard to believe."
"Sir, it's... Mr. Christopher gave me this," she clarified, feeling the situation spiraling out of control.
"Really, Mr. Christopher?" The policeman turned, and Hazel followed his gaze to see Christopher standing at the door.
"Why would I gift her anything, especially my fiancée's ancestral necklace?" he said with a dismissive shrug. Hazel stared at him in disbelief.
"Take her," the policeman ordered. The female officers grabbed Hazel's hands.
As she was led past Christopher, she looked at him, her eyes filled with hurt. "I don't know why you hate me this much," she said with a faint smile before being escorted away.
Once the vehicle drove off, Christopher turned to the man standing beside him.
"Thank you, Christopher," Mr. Arnold Garden said, patting him on the shoulder.
"It's okay, uncle. Let's go back to the mansion," Christopher replied. Both of them walked away, leaving Hazel's small home behind them.