Chapter 03

Sitting on a settee, her whole attention was taken by the work in her hands. Her knees were bent and there laid a thick fabric on which she was sewing a golden lace. Her thin brows were corrugated and her movements were careful. And Eliseva was watching her keenly. 

“Hazel?” She asked, making her halt right there. She put the needle aside and looked at her, mumbling, “What, Eliseva?” 

Still, the stubborn girl is never ready to call her by her nickname. Eliseva could not help but scoff mentally. “Do you want to come tonight?” She asked, raising her brows. She glanced down at the girl on her feet who stopped and switched to her second feet to apply the nail polish. 

“Eliseva, it’s not like you’ll leave me alone if I asked you to do so,” she answered, her voice coming polite but her words so sharp that Eliseva winced. She tsked and shook her head. 

“Tonight I can listen to you.” She shrugged, leaving the girl surprised. How easy was that, was it not? But why Eliseva had this meharban on her today, she wondered. 

“You’re not kidding, Eliseva?” She was still suspecting her offer. What if she sought something in return? Hazel did not want the risk because she knew Eliseva would jump on something valuable. She quickly uttered, “What’s the reason?” 

Eliseva smirked. “Sharp, can’t I see? But don’t worry, girl. I see I got such a hefty amount because of you and I’m impressed, sweetheart, so in return, I can grant you at least this?” 

Hazel sighed, her shoulders dropped. “You didn’t even ask what I dearly want,” she mumbled, pushing the needle into the fabric and continuing her work. 

“Aww, my favourite girl!” Eliseva chuckled. “I know what you want, but I can’t give you that. Your freedom is my loss. And above that, you’re Eva’s daughter — my favourite.” Just a single reminder brought tears to her eyes. How badly she missed her mother, only she knew.

“You are just like her, but disobedient and firey,” said Eliseva as she smiled, and that smile was soft. She could not stop it before it spread out on her lips. “If you were obedient, you wouldn’t mind all this. Get used to all this, Hazel,” she added as she got up, holding the skirt she wore carefully and looked down at her polished nails. 

“Great work, Suzanne!” She beamed and the girl smiled. 

~⁠♪

She found herself alone when her eyes opened the next morning. She looked around in search of the man who slept with her last night but there was not even a sign of him. She just saw that their scattered clothes were not there anymore and the place next to her on the bed was also well set. 

She sighed. Somewhere in her heart, she did not like it. She wanted him to be next to her when she would open her eyes but the man was somewhere else. 

She rolled her eyes when she noticed there was a mind of longing in her heart. She did not want to feel it but who should teach this naive heart? She got down from the bed and went into the bathroom. She took a shower and got ready in a blue sweater and matching shirt before heading out. 

As soon as she went to the bottom of the stairs, the sweet aroma spread around and met her nostrils which she found more than pleasant. 

She did not care about anything else then. She went straight to the kitchen and stood there like a statue when she found him there, cooking. Her eyes stayed open like that and her lips parted as she gaped at him before she felt a sudden rush of excitement coursing through her cold being. 

She tiptoed to him and muttered, “You can cook?” in disbelief. 

She gained his attention as he looked down at her, taking in her attire. She looked adorable, as he comprehended, but he did not dare to voice it out. He just smirked, answering her, “Yes, I can.” 

“Hm, I’m impressed!” Her brows raised and she leaned against the marble edge, crossing her arms over her chest and watching him cook. He was making pancakes and putting syrup, and he did not look disturbed at all. 

“Really? I thought nothing can impress you?” He did not look at her but she knew it was mischievousness which was dancing in his eyes. 

“And why did you think so?” 

He chuckled under his breath before he mumbled, “Because you’re wild and mad!” 

“What?!” She yelled, reaching for his neck to grab it when he dodged it effortlessly, a chuckle escaping him meanwhile. 

“Idiot!” she muttered, stepping back. He chuckled again, the sound seemed to work on her as it made her heart skip a beat. But it was like she was used to it because since they have come here, he joked with her numerous times and sometimes the inspiration was herself. 

“Thank you,” he said, getting back in his position and continuing his work. 

“For what?” She scanned him down, drinking at his appearance. He was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt. He looked hot as hell, and she did not want to fool herself by avoiding complimenting him. His brunette hair was ruffled up, letting him look younger than he was. He looked cute as well, and that charming smile and jolly nature of his enhanced it. 

She came back to his back after she was done admiring him. The hot guy was cooking for both of them, now what was left, she wanted to catch it too, so she could admire it as well. Everything about him was admirable. 

“For sparing me! Last time you choked me with the pillow,” he said and pulled him away as he held the plates and went to arrange them on the table. 

“You deserved it, you know that, right?” She followed him as he stretched out a chair for her like the true gentleman he was. 

“You’re a cruel, rageful woman,” he grinned softly, wiggling his brows which left her stunned. She was stunned by his handsomeness. But she recovered in a second and spanked his butt, earning herself a gasp. 

“You’re such a charmer, Iqrar. I take it as a compliment! But don’t say it again and again because I can—” before she could spell another word, she was interrupted by a gasp escaping her lips when he put her on the empty side of the dining table abruptly. 

“Why did you do that?” She gaped at him, holding onto his shoulders tightly. 

He did not answer her. Instead, he moved closer, standing between her legs as he spread them wide enough to fit himself in between. She let him do it but he could see how red painted her cheeks as soon as he decreased the distance between them. 

“To drag things further,” he answered in a whisper, his tone deadly low and creepy like a whisper in a silence which sent a shiver run down her spine and a breath hitch. 

“But what did I-I do?” She tried a lot not to stutter but she lost. He smirked, lowering his gaze for a second before it flickered back to her anticipating and curious grey eyes. 

“You spanked me, didn’t you?” As if his proximity and deadly low voice did not feel enough, he started caressing her bare thighs. Her cold skin eventually turned hot under his sensual touch and her throat became dry desperately. 

She bit her plump bottom lip as she peeked down at the place where their bare skins made sensuous contact. Nothing made her afraid but curious. She was used to his touch because the man was indeed impressive. It would be a lie if she had said that she was not wet. He knew her more than even herself but he had a habit of making the moment pass tormentingly slow. He cherished every moment if possible. 

But right now, something else seemed more important than making out right on this table. 

“Um… we can continue, but let’s eat, first?” She asked hesitantly because she was not sure if he would listen to her. 

He frowned when he heard her but that scowl was replaced by a small smile and he nodded, pulling away. He put her down on the floor and sat in his chair. 

“You’re not like others,” even though he never made eye contact while telling her that, she noticed how that small mesmerizing smile was back on his lips. And she knew this man will be the death of her. 

“Now stop staring at me and let’s say a small grace before eating. Then you can please me as you please,” his statement was blunt, but then a wink left her flustered. 

⁠~⁠♪

She smiled brightly when she saw her son coming downstairs. His lava eyes were dark and vacant. Some of the strands of his wet raven tousled hair were hanging freely before his forehead. He was looking down, looking bored, unlike other days when he was so happy with his family. His hands stuffed into the pockets of his sweatpants were a sign of his monotonousness — something which left her worried only. The change in her son was so visible that she could not ignore it at any cost. 

He made his way down to the table and took a seat before he greeted his parents. 

Sanam — who was busy on his laptop, even in the morning, did not seem to notice the silence in Christian’s morning tone. It was not deep and authoritative like other days. 

“Morning, son,” he said, still typing. 

“Morning, son,” said Heer as she went to caress his head, smiling down at him. “How did you sleep?” She asked in that soft voice as well as moving to serve him breakfast. 

“Not good,” he could not lie to her. She gave him a short glance before she nodded. She could not advise his son not to worry about anyone or anything. It would be so ridiculous. How can he stop worrying until he feels safe enough to at least sleep peacefully? 

After she served him, she sat down there as well. She had already eaten with her husband, so she just sat there to accompany her son. Christian was too late. Though he could not sleep the whole night, he did not come down because he was still thinking about her. 

It was hard for him to understand why he was so attached to that girl. And he was still trying to understand why a heartless person like him was so worried about her. 

After he was done, he went upstairs and locked himself in the room. 

Heer turned to Sanam and murmured, “Don’t you think we should stop this all?” and this earned her a sharp look from her husband. 

She was not scared but she was not confident either. “I mean, Chris doesn’t want to marry Gabby. Shouldn’t we just let him find his companion? He can’t even sleep peacefully,” she said and Sanam did not miss noticing the worry in her voice. 

“He didn’t tell me anything like that, why?” He put the laptop aside and gave her his full attention. 

“Because you’re too strict for that, Sanam! Aby doesn’t have to think twice before taking matters to you, but Chris thinks too much before coming to you. He hasn’t been raised with us,” the last sentence came out like a mocking arrow because both of them were aware of Christian’s insecurity. 

Because of being a strict father, Sanam decided to send Christian to board and study there alone. From the very beginning, he never asked for anything directly from his father. Small chit-chat with his father enlightened his mood but he could never gather the courage to make a decision against his will. It was not because of fear, but respect. And just like the past, even if his father’s decision was suffocating him in darkness, he was not able to gather the courage to say ‘no’ to him.

In so many aspects, Christian and Abigail were different from each other. 

It was ironic! 

As per inheritance, Christian had that intimidating aura around himself. He carried dominance like grace. He loved being powerful and seeing others vulnerable, just like his father, but the same bold self was nothing in front of the one who gave him all this — his father, Sanam. 

And if it was about Abigail, then being pampered by both mother and father, and inheriting her father’s sharpness and boldness, she turned out to be a very ideal woman. Even an idol to others. 

Sanam sighed. “You shouldn’t worry this much, Heeriye. It’s not the first time I’m making decisions for him and I know what’s best for him. Besides, we can’t step back, right? Even though it was a mistake, Chris is the only one who can take responsibility as well. We can’t ruin Gaby’s life, ya?” 

Everything he said was right. And at that time, everything was clear to the world. For a well-known man like him, reputation was his gem. 

As Christian was in his room, drawing puff after puff from his cigarette, he called one of his men to give him the command. 

“John, I want you to go to my penthouse and check on Hazel. If you spot Rebecca there, tell her to contact me right then. Besides, I want you to investigate who invited Hazel to last night’s celebration and I shall get the details in the next twelve hours, am I clear?” 

“Yes, sir. Consider it done!” 

He wished to find her there. He would have done it by himself, but the presence of his parents was stopping him from doing this all. Especially his father. He would be so disappointed if he got to know that his son was becoming insane for a woman everybody called his whore. 

Well, he, too, called her whore once or twice, but now, she was snatching his peace, he was realizing that she was more than what he thought of her. He made her more than she was for him. Someone so important. Someone now he wanted till the end of time. 

~⁠♪

The night of the same day arrived. Hazel was in her room. Silence engulfed her, and soothed her because that was what she needed. Though the sound of music coming from downstairs was reaching her, it was kind of muzzled by the closed doors of her room. So she was not disturbed at all. 

She sat, leaning against the doorframe of her room which led to the terrace side. The cold wind passed through the skin of her face, but she was covered by a black shawl wrapped around herself. She hugged her legs, her knees brushing against her chest. She was warm but still, she missed his embrace. 

There was a kind of solace which could not be attained by any warm fabric. It was heavenly, she would not lie. But she was totally disappointed with herself that she still wanted him. He was engaged, wanting him was a sin. But what could stop her? Every inch of her was claimed by him. Even her heart, the time he earned tears in his eyes for her. Even her soul, the night he made love to her. She knew he was honest. Sincerity was there in his eyes. But fate was cruel. He was someone else’s before anybody to her. 

She sighed. Even the moon reminded her of him. The chilly wind of late October, the darkness of night, and even the twinkling stars in the sky. What was left? The soft drizzle perhaps. 

She closed her eyes as she dipped her face in her knees. She missed him from the depth of her heart. Naivety never kicked in unless it came to him, which is why even keeping his torture in her mind, she was seeing his good side. He indeed changed in her presence. She made him feel so much just except for power and dominance, she made him feel vulnerability and fear. 

A loud knock on her door startled her as she came out of her deep thoughts. She got up and went to open it. As soon as she pulled the doors open, a giant masculine frame fell upon her, leaving her scared. 

Her body stiffened and her eyes peered down at the person whose face was now buried in her neck, hands behind her back. 

“Hm, you smell so good,” he complimented but she was too scared to even make a small move, answering him was a far-fetched thought. 

She desperately looked around and found an approaching figure of a female. She rushed to Hazel’s door and held the man’s shoulders, as she cooed, “Sir, what are you doing here?! Come with me.” 

Hazel gulped, letting the girl carry the man. She also moved to help her because the man was heavy. She supported the man and then he hugged the other girl. 

“You also smell good but she was better,” he slurred, while Hazel watched her confusedly. He was so drunk. 

“Oh t-thank you, sir!” She smiled down at the man and then looked back at Hazel, giving her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Haze, he’s wasted—” 

“Yaaa! I’m wasted!” The man interrupted, earning himself a chuckle from the girl. Hazel stood there uninterested because a minute ago, the same man left her lungs unused. She panicked, of course. 

“Anyway, I should leave. And don’t open the door unless you hear us, okay? They’re still here!” she earned herself a nod of acknowledgement and then left with the heavily drunk man. Hazel quickly closed the door, not wishing to see where the girl was taking him. Probably her room.