Da-Ha 3

The piercing cries of a toddler filled the air, accompanied by the violent crashes of objects being thrown against the floor inside the cramped room.

Hazel had barely returned from work when panic seized her.

Without giving a thought to her exhaustion, she raced up the stairs of their aging apartment as fast as her legs could carry her.

Grayson—the debt collector and the owner of the gambling den where her uncle frequently played—was sitting casually in a battered chair in the middle of the room.

Meanwhile, two of his burly henchmen were busy intimidating Cassandra.

“What the hell are you doing, you bastards?!”

Furious, Hazel charged into the room and shoved the two men one after another, even though she wasn't strong enough to make either of them budge.

“How dare you make a mess in here! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

Her anger erupted, burning away whatever exhaustion remained in her body.

She glared at each of the men in turn before her eyes landed on Grayson, who was sitting there calmly smoking a cigarette.

“We came looking for your uncle,” Grayson said calmly. “Where are you hiding him?”

“You think we stuffed him in the closet or under the table?!”

Hazel snapped, her anger intensifying as she took in the damaged and scattered belongings around her.

But the sight that truly made her chest tighten was Cassandra’s pale, terrified face.

Her aunt was clutching Hazel’s little son, Adrian, tightly against her chest while the toddler wailed hysterically.

Hazel immediately stepped in front of her aunt, shielding the frail woman with her own body.

Grayson slowly rose from his chair and approached her.

“You think I’m joking?” he asked.

His hand, reeking of tobacco, suddenly clamped around Hazel’s jaw, squeezing hard enough to make her wince.

“And you think I’m joking?”

Hazel glared back at him defiantly.

“That bastard Douglas is twice the size of our wardrobe! Do you honestly think he could fit in there? Don’t be stupid, Grayson! Tearing this place apart isn’t going to get you the money you’re after!”

Grayson’s temper suddenly flared.

He released her with a rough shove, sending Hazel’s thin body staggering backward.

Fortunately, she quickly grabbed the edge of the table and managed to steady herself.

“Well, well. Looks like you’re quite the brave little woman,” Grayson sneered with a mocking chuckle.

His eyes shamelessly traveled over Hazel’s body from head to toe.

“Look at this skinny little thing,” he said to his henchmen. “How much do you think Madam Lita would pay for her?”

Hazel narrowed her eyes.

She had no idea who Madam Lita was, but the moment she heard the word pay, she could guess exactly where the bastard’s filthy mind was headed.

“I’d say quite a lot, Boss. She may be skinny, but she’s still got a nice figure,” one of Grayson’s men replied with a lecherous laugh.

Hazel glared at him with pure hatred.

“Don’t even dream of selling me!”

“Why not? It’s not like I can sell your old aunt, can I?”

Grayson’s words were met with mocking laughter from his men.

“If you dare kidnap me, I’ll burn that brothel to the ground before you get the chance!” Hazel snarled.

“In that case…”

Grayson’s gaze shifted past Hazel’s shoulder and settled on the little boy in Cassandra’s arms, who was finally beginning to calm down.

“What if I sell the kid instead?”

Hazel immediately dropped into a crouch in front of her aunt, spreading both arms wide to shield Adrian from their view.

“If you so much as lay a hand on him, I won’t hesitate to kill you myself!” Hazel threatened, her voice laced with deadly determination.

The man and his henchmen chuckled again.

“Then, sweet little Miss… give us our money. Do that, and we’ll leave you, the old woman, and the little brat alone.”

Without waiting for an answer, Grayson turned and walked away, his henchmen following close behind.

The moment the door slammed shut, Hazel’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.

Her heart pounded so violently that her chest hurt.

Trembling, she turned around and immediately pulled her aunt and little boy into a tight embrace.

“I’m sorry, Mommy’s sorry, sweetheart…” Hazel whispered as she took Adrian into her arms.

“Hazel, I’m so sorry…”

Cassandra broke down sobbing, her wrinkled hands wrapping around Hazel as her entire body continued to tremble with fear.

“Auntie, you don’t have to apologize. None of this is your fault.”

Hazel held her tighter.

“This is all that bastard Douglas’s fault!”

“If only I had taken your advice and divorced him two years ago, none of this would have happened…” Cassandra whispered remorsefully.

Hazel gently rubbed her aunt’s fragile back, trying to soothe her even as her own heart was breaking.

No one could ever know how cruelly fate might twist a person’s life.

Once upon a time, Hazel had never imagined that her life would fall this far. She had once had a family, a respectable social standing, and a man who loved her more than anything.

But one cursed night three years ago had destroyed everything she had, leaving nothing behind.

“Ten million dollars, Hazel.”

Rachel’s voice suddenly echoed through her troubled mind.

Should I really sell my womb for ten million dollars?