Chapter 4

My legs gave out, but the nurse was faster and held me before my body could hit the ground. She led me to the chair by my father’s bedside.

My head was still reeling from the shock that I was going to go through the pain of losing another parent again.

My dad, who I had always looked up to as the strongest man in the world, was being defeated by cancer. I could not control myself as the tears came cascading like a waterfall whose gates had just been opened.

I didn’t know how long I sat there crying, unable to control myself or even look at my dad for fear that I may die of pain. I didn’t want to see him so weak and defeated.

The doctor and male nurse stood there awkwardly and just watched me cry. This life was so fucking unfair to the good people. Why do bad people get to live long?

“But how is it possible that he had been fighting for so long, and not once did I see him sick?” I was still in disbelief.

“Like I said earlier, we were managing it well. The chemo was working, but everything spiralled out of hand so fast”

The doctor’s replies just sounded like excuses to me. How could you not notice that your patient’s condition was getting worse?

“When will he wake up?” I asked instead, finally getting the courage to look at my dad’s face as I shuffled closer to take his hand in mine.

They were so cold, as though he was freezing, so I adjusted his covers properly.

“We cannot say for certain, but be rest assured that we are doing everything we can,” I scoffed. There was no way he wanted me to believe his words when he looked like he didn’t believe them either.

“Can I have a moment with my dad alone?”

“Of course. Come, Gabriel”

They both left the room with Duke. I had to look twice when Duke slipped out of the room because I certainly didn’t see him. Had he been standing there the whole time?

I shouldn’t be surprised, though. That was one of Duke’s special abilities. To hide in plain sight. I remember how I used to beg him to teach me his superpowers as a child.

“Hey, Dad,” I whispered when the door shut behind the last person “I don’t like seeing you like this, so unresponsive. It is scary and reminds me so much of the last time we saw Mum, and I don’t like it”

“I am sorry for not coming home when you asked me to. You probably knew you would end up like this and wanted to spend time with me, but I was being a brat like always. I feel so stupid now”

A fresh wave of tears threatened to spill, but I held myself back. “I know you must feel disappointed in me. I would be if I were you. I should have been by your side as you struggled, but I was halfway across the globe doing things that didn’t matter. I am such a disappointment”

“Hazel, you must not say such things to yourself. Your father would be angry if he heard such words come out of your mouth” I turned to see Duke hanging by the door.

“But it’s the truth, Duke. He called me several times to come back, but I was being stubborn. I should have been here. You don’t have to try and pacify me”

“Don’t blame yourself. It wouldn’t change anything. We have to be positive that he will recover soon”

“Do you think he will?” I asked, wanting to hang on to the hope that Duke may provide.

“Let’s get you to your room. You need to rest,” Duke suggested, but I shook my head.

“I don’t want to leave Dad all by himself. I am not so tired. I can manage” I had left him alone for so long already, and I didn’t want him to be alone anymore.

“You are going to gall sick if you don’t eat or rest properly. You have a long flight, and I am certain you do not want to fall ill by the time your father regains his consciousness” Duke had a point, and I hated that he was always right.

“Fine,” I huffed “I’ll eat something and rest, but you have to promise to call me as soon as Dad wakes up”

I hurried out of the room and made my way to the west wing of the mansion, where my room was located. It was clean and well-organised, which was a relief because I had left the room in such a mess because I was in a hurry to get to Paris.

I had been so eager to leave the house, as though I was on a witch hunt, that I couldn’t even properly plan the trip. I made my decision, dumped my clothes in my luggage and was off to the airport.

My box had already been unpacked when I got to my room. One of the helpers, Monica, entered my room as I was undressing.

“Young mistress, would you like to eat here or downstairs?”

“Here would be just fine. Thank you.” I told her.

“Okay”

She left the room to go and get the food while I headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When I exited the bathroom, there was a food tray set up on my bed.

I entered my closet and picked out a pair of sweatpants and a crop top. I also put my long, blonde hair into a messy bun to get it out of my face before studying my reflection in the mirror.

People usually called me a living doll. They claimed that my face looked unrealistic, and I would not lie and say I didn’t like the attention.

My long hair fell just above my waist, and I had bright blue eyes which were big and doe-like. I also had a small, pointed nose and natural pouty lips, which made me look younger than 18 instead of 24.

I admit that I had used my beauty to get my way in countless situations. It was so much easier to get people to give you what they wanted when they believed you were an innocent doll they wanted to taint.

I knew my limits, though. I tried to make sure I didn’t overdo it.

I thought I wasn’t tired like I had told Duke after I finished my meal, but I found myself drifting to sleep.

Just before sleep pulled me under, I remembered that I had not gone to see Mum, so I made a mental note to go and visit her when I woke up.

“Everything would be fine, right?”  I told myself as I drifted off to sleep, “It has to be. I can’t be left alone in this world”