Hazel's fingers curled slightly at her sides. Did he know about her relationship with Dale?!
He must have seen them earlier. That had to be why he mentioned Dale. And if Dale was truly his nephew like Sophie said, then there was no way he didn't know about their relationship.
If he knew, did that make her a cheat and liar?
She frowned. She hated cheaters and hated liars even more.
But something else unsettled her...
Why did Alastair marry her if he knew of her relationship with Dale?
The question clawed at her mind. Still, she forced herself to remain calm. "It must've skipped my mind that I ran into him outside."
He said nothing.
"Believe me, I didn't expect it. I didn't even know he'd be here and I bumped into him by accident."
A pause.
"And?" he asked.
Hazel blinked. "...And?"
"You ran into him, should that mean something to me?"
The words landed like cold water.
She hesitated, watching his face carefully. "I just thought it was worth mentioning."
"I only need information that is significant," he said clinically.
Her lips parted slightly.
Significant?
"I... He said nothing interesting. Just mumbled an, 'are you hurt?'" she said with a frown, suddenly remembering the girl that appeared out of nowhere and kissed him.
Alastair's interest loss reflected on his sudden bored expression. Without another word, he moved past her and disappeared inside the bedroom.
Hazel stood frozen in the middle of the room, speechless. Slowly, her thoughts began to settle.
He didn't question her, react or push further. Which meant either he knew nothing about her and Dale, or he knew everything and simply didn't care.
Neither option felt comforting.
She exhaled slowly. What kind of hell hole situation was this?! This was more complicated than she thought.
Nothing made sense, but she was certain of one thing — she had to stay away from Dale, until she figured out what was going on.
~♡~
BEEP! BEEP!
Hazel jerked awake to the loud sound that echoed in the room. For a moment, she just stared around disoriented and confused but when the sound grew louder, her brain forcefully awakened and she registered the source of the noise.
It was the suite's Ip phone.
Hesitantly, she reached for it. "…Hello?"
"Mrs. Avril, you're awake. Thank God!"
She clicked the familiar voice. "Sophie?"
"I'm so sorry for calling so early." There was something tense in her tone. "But there's a bit of an emergency that requires you to come downstairs."
Hazel frowned. "What emergency?"
"Miss Holly is here."
"Holly?"
"Yes. Your stepsister, Mrs. Avril," she exhaled sharply. "Please, you have to come. She's causing a scene here, demanding to see you."
"Why?"
"I have no idea, Mrs. Avril. But for whatever reason, she wouldn't disclose it to me."
Hazel's fingers curled slowly around the receiver. "I'll be there shortly." She ended the call.
Her initial fatigue kicked in immediately she placed the handset on its craddle. Slowly, her lazy eyes roamed the suite until it landed on the door Alastair had disappeared into the previous day.
Last night had been war for her. She'd fought to stay awake and away from Alastair, and because she didn't want him pulling the same stunt as yesterday, she ended up spending the night on the couch in the living room.
She shuddered slightly when she remembered the sensation from having his lips on her most sensitive spot.
But in the early hours of the morning, she'd eventually fallen asleep after tiring herself from replaying everything that happened yesterday and trying to recall her memories.
Fortunately, Alastair never left the room through the entire night.
Hazel dragged a hand through her slightly ruffled hair and left the suite.
When she got to the ground floor, she found Sophie pacing around the foot of the stairs with concern etched on her features.
Sophie looked up immediately with relief flooding her face so fast it was almost painful to watch. "Mrs. Avril!"
"Where is she?"
She glanced briefly toward the large entrance doors. "She's outside." Noticing Hazel's knitted brows, "She never comes in anymore after what happened six months ago," she said.
Hazel's confusion deepened, but she didn't push. "And I have to meet her?"
"Well, I tried to get rid of her by telling her you weren't feeling well and you were still asleep but she started throwing tantrums instead. You just have to meet with her, Mrs. Avril. That's the only way to get rid of her."
Hazel exhaled deeply then started walking to the door. "Any heads-up on what to expect?"
Sophie hesitated. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Avril. I don't know your relationship with your sister so I don't really know what to say."
"It's fine."
The doors were opened for her, and the moment Hazel stepped outside— SLAP!
The sound echoed in her eardrums.
Hazel's head snapped to the side from the force, her breath catching sharply in her throat. A stinging heat bloomed across her cheek, spreading fast enough to leave her mind completely blank.
Behind her, Sophie gasped. "Mrs. Avril!"
It took a while for Hazel to register what had happened. She slowly turned her face back.
Her eyes were unfocused for a split second before they settled on the girl standing before her, whose face twisted in fury.
"You finally decided to show up?" Holly snapped, "Do you have any idea how long I've been standing here?!"
Hazel blinked, still processing the slap, her tone, and the audacity.
"I've been out here freezing while you took your sweet time sleeping! Do you think I have nothing better to do than wait outside like some beggar?!"
Hazel's fingers twitched slightly at her side as anger slowly replaced the confusion and shock. But before she could respond, Holly noticed Sophie and everything changed.
Her anger vanished and her lips curved into a gentle, almost embarrassed smile.
"Oh…" she said lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company."
Hazel frowned.
Holly looked at Sophie with a sweet expression. "I'm really sorry you had to see that. My sister and I were just having a little misunderstanding."
Sophie didn't know how to respond.
"I didn't mean to hit you that hard. I was just worried. You know how I get," she spoke to Hazel affectionately.
Then she sighed softly, and glanced at Sophie again. "Could you give us a moment? I'd like to speak to my sister privately."
Sophie hesitated. She looked at Hazel but when she said nothing, "...Of course, Miss Holly," she murmured before stepping away, though it didn't stop her from worrying.
The moment she was out of earshot, Holly's smile dropped instantly.
"Don't ever pull that kind of useless stunt again," she said flatly with a low voice. "You almost made me lose my cool in front of the workers. Standing there like an idiot, acting like you don't know what's going on. Do you enjoy embarrassing me?"
Hazel's jaw tightened.
"Mother must hear this!"
With a frustrated huff, she reached into her small handbag and pulled out a tiny paper bag. She shoved it toward Hazel. "Here."
Hazel glanced at it, then back at her.
"Moron!" She roughly shoved it into her hand.
"I go through so much stress coming all the way here to bring these to you, yet you kept me waiting like a fool. You're such an ungrateful brat! And this insolence will be dealt with later."
She scanned Hazel from head to toe. "Make sure you—"
"Shut up." Hazel had had enough.
Holly froze mid-sentence, her lips parting slightly in disbelief as her green eyes widened.