Chapter 4

HAZEL'S POV

After the funeral, I went straight to Annika's, but my brief encounter with Simon made me restless. His eyes still haunted me, his voice even. Over the last five years, I never thought my heart would still skip a beat at the sight of him.

Without knocking, I pushed Annika’s door ajar. All I wanted to do was to hit the bed and cry myself to sleep, but never in my wildest dream did I imagine meeting Annika on top of a man—naked.

My cheeks heated up as words flowed out of my lips. “I'm…. I'm so sorry.” I stuttered, clutching my black bag, and in less than a second, I was dashing outside with Annika's footsteps echoing in my ears.

“Slow down, Hazel.” She grabbed my wrist before I got to hold the doorknob. “You can stay. You don't have to leave.”

“I have to.” I chuckled, embarrassment flaming up my cheeks. Annika would never tell me to leave, but I didn't want to be a burden either. She'd want to spend some quality time with her boyfriend, I shouldn't be the third wheel.

“You don't.” She pouted, folding her arms over her chest. “You really don't have to.” She said, peeping over her shoulders to stare at him—the young man laying on the couch with a glass of scotch in his hands. “I could—”

“I’ll spend a few days at my mother's.” I cut in, feeling my throat tighten. The thought of breathing the same air with that woman was literally a death sentence.

Annika gave me that guilty look she always had each time she was making a tough decision—ones that always involved me. “Are you sure about this?”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “No harm done, Annie. Can you help me with my bags while I wait outside?”

She nodded, taking a turn towards the stairs.

Few minutes later, Annika headed out with my pink case and gave me an apologetic smile. “Are you sure you're okay, Hazel?”

I blew her a kiss and dragged my luggage out of her apartment.

~~~~~~~~

Darkness slowly covered up the sky, the chilly air seeping into my bones like ice. I'd boarded a taxi to my step dad's before dinner time, but I'd been standing here for almost an hour, staring hard at the fucking stranger standing before me.

He looked quite ordinary.

He had his arms hooked around a woman's waist, his brows furrowed deeply as his nostrils flared. “I'm giving you only a few more minutes to get the fuck out of here.” He yelled, almost bursting my ear drums, and I was forced to yell back. “This place literally belongs to me. You can't just tell me it has been sold.”

“Well, then ask the bitch who sold this place to us.” He snapped back, dragging the blonde back into his home, leaving me confused. My gaze lingered on their back frame as tears pricked the corner of my eyes. I knew I shouldn't cry, but this was fucking unbearable.

How could my mother sell my dad's apartment just after his funeral?

In fury, I grabbed my phone from my purse and punched her number. It kept leading to voicemail, but I didn't stop trying. I kept trying and trying and trying, but when the robotic voice pierced the air again, I groaned in frustration.

My leg muscles were weak from standing too long.

My stomach kept grumbling, reminding me that I hadn't eaten for the whole day.

Finding a small space before the entrance, I walked over and sat down for a bit. I stared at my phone screen for a few more seconds and dialed my mother's number again, badly hoping she'd pick up this time.

She really had to.

She had to give me some explanation for all the shit that was going on.

I dialed her number and placed it on my ears.

Hearing her familiar raspy voice, I didn't bother to hold back. I couldn't hold back my tears as I yelled. “What the hell have you done?!” I wiped my tears harshly, making a mental note not to cry over something so shitty, but I did cry at my mother's next words.

“I sold your step dad's house, Hazel.” She sounded satisfied, like she didn't feel an atom of guilt for what she did.

My throat ran dry as my heart sank further. “Why the hell would you do that?!” I snapped, fighting the burning ache in my chest. “Why would you sell his house to satisfy your selfish desires?!”

“Hazel, it's too late to—” her laughter suddenly rang out, followed by a manly voice flowing out the speakers. My stomach twisted in disgust. She was with a man. She was always with a man.

I tightened my grip on the phone and snapped. “Well, I am stranded. Get your ass here, give these assholes back their money and get my father's home back.”

“Too late.”

The feeling of dread filled my system. “What do you mean?”

“I'm out of the country.” She revealed, taking me by surprise. I stood up quickly, almost landing on my butt as I tried to make sense of her words. “Mom!”

“What?!” She snapped back. “I would have told you if you weren't busy mourning over a dead man. He's gone, darling. He's never coming back.”

She opened up the wound again.

I raked my hands through my hair, choking out a sob. “I have nowhere to go.”

“Well there's—”

The line suddenly went dead.

I panicked. “Mom!” I yelled, dialing her number over and over again, but it kept leading back to voicemail. Fighting the burn in my eyes, I kept scrolling down my contact list, and when I saw a familiar name, my heart skipped a beat.

‘ I shouldn't do this. I shouldn't call him.’

But really, this was a dead end.

I had nowhere else to go.

I inhaled a sharp breath and did something I knew I'd regret. I dialed my step brother's number.

His cold voice grazed my ears with the first ring. “Hazel?”

“I need…your help.” I stuttered, running my fingers over my kneecap. “I don't have a place to stay. If I could only stay at your place for a night, I promise I'll leave the following day.” I whispered, knowing I badly had nowhere to go after.

“Okay.” His curt reply followed. “I'll send you the address.” And then, he hung up.

That was it?

My phone screen flashed with a notification and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. His address. He really asked me to come over.

What about his wife?

What about his daughter?

What if they'd never agree to this?

~~~~~~

The drive to Simon's mansion took almost half an hour. Now, I felt slight pity for my pathetic stomach that'd been growling for hours. After alighting from the taxi, I stared at the enormous black gates covering up a gigantic mansion.

In less than seconds, I was guided in by a few guards—after confirming I'd been invited by Simon of course.

His mansion was nothing like my step father's. I mean, it was bigger, more luxurious, it practically looked like a billion dollar mansion of some rich young heir. And he was rich. He was the Mafia lord now, wasn't he?

“Let me help you with that.” A maid offered, reaching for my bag, but I shook my head. “I'm okay.” I said politely, walking right after her as she led me inside.

Upon getting into the living room, I was expecting the harsh glare of a stunning beauty—Simon’s wife—but a young girl welcomed me by hugging my knees. “Hello.” Her soft voice made me melt.

I crouched down to her level and gave her a warm hug. “And hello to you too.” I smiled, all my worries melting from having a single glance at her heart shaped face. She shared some similarities with Simon, she was definitely his daughter.

“Aurora.” Simon's stern voice made me freeze.

Unconsciously, I tilted my head to have a better look at him. He leaned on a black leather couch, his legs crossed, his glasses resting on his perfect nose as he typed away on his laptop.

Our eyes met.

It was brief, but my heart skipped a beat.

He ripped his gaze from mine and nodded at the maid standing next to me. “Show Hazel to my spare room.” He ordered, placing his laptop next to him. “Aurora.” His voice softened. “Come here.”

While Aurora ran over to her dad's, and the maid urged me forward, I gave Simon one last glance. While he hugged his daughter, our eyes met again.

This time, it was intense.

And hell, did his lips just stretch into a smirk?