AUTHOR'S POV

Williams'mansion,
01:20 am

" You are scaring me". Edwin pushed his back against the wall behind looking at Hazel who was wearing pajamas, her hair was tied into a messy bun and she was holding her mobile in one hand while other had a glass jug in it.

" I don't look that bad without makeup, okay?" She seethed.

" That's the second reason. First is you are roaming and laughing alone at this hour". He stood straight.

" I'm clearing going to the kitchen for water do I have to wear a wedding gown for it?" Hazel rolled her eyes.

" You have to grow up first to wear a wedding gown." He taunted her because of being angry as well as she's still a baby in their eyes."Hazel?" He sounded serious this time. "Are you- are you really going to get engaged with Ian?" He questioned.

" What do you mean? I'm going to fake a ceremony." She scoffed. " Sometimes I don't understand you three." She added but Edwin was in his own world.

" I heard Mom cry thinking Dad's getting engaged when it was actually uncle Won." He said randomly remembering it.

Hazel sighed. " Look, I have a twin nor a lover. So please excuse me, I'm too thirsty to argue."

She walked past him and went downstairs looking at her mobile screen. Suddenly she bumped into someone at the last stair but luckily she grabbed the staircase for support. "Why in the world is everyone roaming at this hour- Xaden?" She paused whining and looked up to see him hardly standing straight, his eyes were puffy and red, his coat was nowhere around and the tie was loosened.

" Did you get into a fight or something?" She asked looking closely at his face but it  wasn't perfectly visible as the hallway was dark. " Are you drunk?" She asked sniffing near him.

Xaden moved his hand closer to her face and tugged a strand of her hair behind her ear. Hazel froze looking into his eyes as he gently palmed her face and started to caress her cheek with his thumb.

She gulped and tried to step backward as he lean moving his hand from her face to her bare arms and suddenly pulled her towards himself by her waist.

She gasped. The jug she was holding slipped from her hand and got crashed on the floor.

She looked down at the mess and then lifted her gaze to meet with his drunken ones. There was something in his eyes that made her weak. Still, she tried to keep some distance. " Xaden?"

"Why him, hun? Why not me?" Xaden asked staring into her eyes.

" Xaden, you are drunk. I think you are mis-mistaking me with someone else. I'm Hazel." She stuttered and tried to get herself free.

His gaze lifted. " Hazel." He repeated more like asked lowly.

She nodded smiling nervously thinking he got back to his senses but her smile faded when his grip around her waist tightened.

He nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck and for some reason that made Hazel close her eyes. He placed his cold lips on her exposed shoulder sending a shiver down her spine. She clenched his shirt as he started leaving wet kisses on her neck trailing upward to her jawline.

Hazel opened her eyes feeling goosebumps when she found his face extremely close to hers. " Xaden, I-". She placed her palm on his chest and tried to push him back gently.

" Answer me... why him?" He asked staring at her parted lips before leaning closer to capture them with his dry ones but Hazel covered his mouth with her free palm.

" Xaden?" She said above a whisper as his gaze was piercing through her scared ones. Tears formed in her eyes because of the tight grip on as well as his dark gaze started to scare her.

Xaden's eyes softened as soon as he witnessed tears in her eyes. " I'm-" He immediately loosened his grip making her finally stand properly.

" Don't cry." He wiped a tear before it could fall off her cheek. " Promise me... you won't cry if I'm not around." He asked.

Hazel nodded.

Xaden stumbled when he tried to go upstairs but before he could step on the broken jug peace Hazel pulled him towards herself. She took his arm and wrapped that around her neck and her hand around his waist for support.

" Let's go."

Luckily no one was out of their rooms. Hazel stopped outside Xaden's room and somehow twisted the lock.

She made him sit on the edge of the bed and sat on the floor. She took off his shoes along with his socks and looked up.

Xaden's head was wiggling. He didn't have enough strength to keep it straight.

Hazel untied his tie and started to unbutton his shirt. She felt his heart against the back of her palm as it was beating rapidly in his chest.

She lifted her gaze to see him trying to keep his eyes open.

She placed her palm on his chest. "Trust me. You'll find someone better than her. Maybe she didn't deserve you." She said witnessing sadness in his eyes.

" It's the other way around. I don't deserve her." He mumbled, his head fell on her shoulder.

" Xaden?" She called only to hear his snores in response.

She lay him on the bed and covered him properly with a duvet.

" She's unlucky." Hazel said removing his bangs from his face before leaving his room.

The next morning Xaden woke up hearing many strange voices coming from outside. He found himself well covered in a duvet bud had no idea how.

Moving the duvet away he wore a white tee and went outside his room only to settle his eyes on the hallway downstairs.

So many things were going on there. He noticed the presence of many extra workers and new faces. He scratched the back of his head trying to understand the situation only to hear one more weird sound.

He pushed himself into the wall as he saw two men dragging a huge table with them.

" What's going on in here?" He asked one of them.

" Hazel Mam's engagement ceremony is tomorrow. We are preparing for that." The man informed.

Xaden's lips parted. " O-okay you can go now." He said turning his head towards Hazel's room and hearing some girly voices.

He tilted his head a bit to peek inside as the door was ajar open.

Hazel was sitting on her bed surrounded by tonnes of dresses.

Her hair was tied into a messy bun. She was still in her pajamas. Her eyebrows were crashed and she was looking around at the dresses with a big pout.

" Xaden?" She exclaimed as she saw caught him standing outside. " Come." She guested him.

Xaden was surprised as she was mad at him since after the incident with Alice. Confused, he walked in only for her to stand on the bed along with two dresses in her hands.

" Which one is better?" She asked putting the dresses in front of her one by one.

" Ask females or any of the stylish. I don't have any idea about women's fashion." He answered honestly. " You'll look ugly in both tho." He added.

She rolled her eyes knowing that how he compliments. " Everyone's busy. Help me select one." She whined.

Xaden wasn't able to take his eyes away from her so he could spare a glance at the dresses.

She wiggled her eyebrows pulling him out of his thoughts.

He turned his gaze at the dresses. One was a milky white midi with golden beads on it while the other one was as pretty as a white one but was dark green in colour.

" The white one." He selected.

Hazel turned the white dress around and checked that out up to down while nibbling on her bottom lip then suddenly dropped the green one. " Done." She said hugging the white dress.

Xaden smiled capturing his favourite view before his sight.

" Thank you so much." Hazel said jumping off her bed. " I've one more request." She said cutely raising her index finger to her face.

" What is it?" Xaden asked.

" I want you to select the engagement rings too."

Xaden shook his head. " You should go with Ian for that."

" He's not that picky, he said he'll go with my choice." She stood there like waiting for another excuse.

" Ask anyone else. I'm -"

" Please." She pleaded showing puppy eyes that never fail to melt his heart.

" Fine," He sighed. " Get ready by the evening." He agreed despite everything he was feeling.

His heart skipped a beat when she suddenly threw her arms around him. " I'm so happy."

This time his heart shattered badly still he slowly wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

He was wondering if any of it was true. Was it actually happening or it's just a bad dream because he wanted to wake up badly.

The girl who meant the world to him was in his arms but the reason was another man.

" Am I seeing something wrong?" Edwin's voice pulled them apart.

Xaden knew he was mistaking it. " Edwin-"

" Did you confe-"

" Shut up." Xaden cut him off dropping his smile.

Hazel looked at them confused.

" Ummm...never mind." Edwin smiled sheepishly. A word more and everything would have taken a U-turn.

" You said you won't come with me for the rings right? See Xaden's ready." Hazel said sticking her tongue out and grabbing Xaden's arm proudly.

" I see." Edwin said looking dead into Xaden's eyes.

" Okay, guys." She turned them both around and started to push them.

" Hazel..."

" I gotta try the dress." She pushed them out of the room and closed the door behind them.

Xaden turned his gaze from the door to Edwin who was glaring at him. " What's with that look?"

" What happened to that stubborn Xaden who used to say he can see her unhappy with him but not happy with someone else?" He mocked.

" I got guts now. That was foolish to say. Why wouldn't I be happy in her happiness?" He said knowing how empty the words were.

" Just say you don't have b*lls to confess." Edwin scoffed.

" Edwin." Xaden smiled. " I know what you are trying to do. But I'm not doing anything silly this time." He added calmly knowing Edwin is trying to trigger him so Xaden will take this as a challenge as always and will do something.

" You are so f*cked." Edwin pushed him going away angrily.

Xaden chuckled at his own condition. " I'm happy. I'm trying." He mumbled getting freshened up.

After the late lunch because of the overworks Xaden and Hazel made their way to the jewelry shop.

Xaden was driving while Hazel was sitting beside him closely looking at her freshly done nails. " You were so drunk last night. Did you break up with your girlfriend?" She asked casually.

" Something like that". Xaden replied shortly. "Why?" He asked.

" Never knew you'd be serious in a relationship. You looked pretty upset. You thought I was your girlfriend. You tri-" - She got cut off by her own chuckles suddenly remembering last night's encounter with Xaden. " You tried to kiss me last night." She laughed loudly.

Xaden stopped the car in the middle of the road and his head snapped toward Hazel. " I DID WHAT?" His eyes widened.

" I know right, but don't worry I didn't let you." Hazel said taking it lightly.

Xaden breathed out.

" For a second I thought you were talking about me. God... I'm so dumb. Anyways, thanks for coming, I requested Edwin but he had some weird mood swings..."

Xaden started the car hearing her talking nonstop. Soon they approached their destination, the jewelry shop.

They entered the huge gate. The shop was shining with gold and diamonds.

They took a seat and a jeweler started to show them their latest designs.

Xaden's existence was almost useless as he was scrolling through his mobile all the time while Hazel had turned the whole shop upside down in an attempt to select the design.

Over an hour passed and Hazel finally selected two pairs of rings and was now confused between them.

" Xaden." She called.

Xaden glanced at the rings she selected.

" Which pair is better?" She asked biting her bottom lips and looking at the boxes.

" None." Xaden replied within a second and turned his gaze to the other rings.

A diamond ring pair caught his eyes and he picked that up. " These are beautiful." He shifted the box toward her.

Hazel's mouth opened. " Wow." She quickly grabbed the female ring and slipped that on her ring finger then she grabbed the male one only to palm her forehead. " I forgot to ask Ian's ring size." She let out a 'tsk' sound.

" Call and ask-"

" Give me your hand." Xaden got cut off by her.

"Huh?" He raised his eyebrows.

Hazel grabbed his left hand and made him wear the ring. Xaden stopped functioning completely at that point.

" This will fit him." She smiled. " How does it look?" She asked even though he selected them.

" This looks perfect." Xaden said looking at Hazel's hand in his.

" Your choice ain't that bad." Hazel said admiring the rings.

Xaden glanced at her face and spoke. " I know."

• For you, even if I was in pain, I could pretend to be strong.

Chapter Published On: 19 March 2023.

This is my birthday week, so surprising you'll with double update was what I planned but my cat's a bit sick. I've to feed him medicine that's not an easy job, he's so stubborn. Can't promise but I'll try to update the next chapter in two days.

• Happy reading.

• Do vote & comments.