AUTHOR'S POV

William's mansion,
04:33 pm

The whole ball stopped and stared as Hazel carefully decent down the stairs.

She was wearing a floor-length midi with a green diamond necklace. Her eyes were searching for Xaden as he selected the dress. She wanted his reaction.

Her shoulders relaxed when she saw him standing between the guests.

Their eyes locked when Xaden turned. She smiled nervously looking around at the people and then at him again.

She raised her eyebrows quickly asking him about her look. Xaden gave her thumbs up which made her release her breath.

They were never like this. She never gave him this much importance before. All they did was fight.

A few moments and she was now on the last stair. Reed approached her and forwarded his hand to support her walk to her parents.

" You are looking ethereal." Reed complimented kissing her knuckles.

Hazel blushed.

Reed helped her walk till they reached the center of the hall and went to their garden area where he found Edwin managing the staff.

" Edwin, leave it to Xaden, we gotta welcome Ian's family-" Reed paused as his eyes caught a girl entering.

Edwin followed his gaze to see Jane entering the mansion. Both of them stared at the lady as she always shows up looking a completely different person. She always dresses up simply yet manages to pull them.

But she was wearing a black knee-length dress. The color itself was screaming that it belongs to her. Her lips were also painted with blood-red lipstick for the first time.

" She's Jane right?" Reed's voice made Edwin realize that his jaw was touching the floor. He glanced at Reed only to realize him checking Jane out. " She's looking a lot like Alice today." Reed added not for a once blinking.

Edwin cleared his throat loudly. " You were talking about some guests right?" He asked blocking Reed's view.

" Oh... Ye- they are here already ." Reed left in a hurry as a few cars stopped outside.

Edwin fixed his coat as Jane approached him.

" Good evening, Sir." She slightly bowed.

" You are looking so ho- pretty today." He stuttered yet thanked God eternally for holding his words back.

" Thank you so much, Sir." She replied. " This coat suits you." She added sparing him a small smile.

Edwin blinked twice. He glanced down at himself then lifted his gaze to meet with Jane's. He doubt if he heard her right. Getting a compliment from Jane was the last thing he expected from the entire universe.

" This my favorite suit." He said moving his tie a bit. 'from now on was silent'

" Will you be my partner for tonight?" He asked forwarding his hand.

Jane glanced at his waiting hand then at him again who smiled.

"Okay." She agreed and placed her hand in his big one.

" Shall we?" He asked.

Jane nodded being not so comfortable for letting him hold her hand still she allowed him and they made their way inside.

Reed came along with Ian's family and the ceremony finally began.

Jane was beside Edwin all the time as the only else person she knew at the ball was with her groom.

They parted when Edwin's friends entered yet his eyes were on Jane all the time and she seemed to enjoy the ceremony.

Edwin noticed how her smile vanished and her eyes stuck on someone. He followed her gaze to see who she was looking at but he couldn't figure it out as the ball was quite crowded.

Jane rushed outside not knowing it was a backyard. Edwin excused himself and followed her behind.

" Please don't-" She paused as soon as she turned and found Edwin behind her.

" Are you okay?" Edwin asked but she didn't reply. Her chest was raising and falling heavily, sweat was covering her forehead all of a sudden. " Shall I bring some water?" He asked looking at her as she started to wipe her face with shaking hands, he sensed that something was up but she never shares her problems.

" You can rest upstairs if you want." Edwin said politely but she was not even looking at him for once. " Hey?" He called softly bending to her level. " Tell me if anyone said anything to you?" He sighed. " Okay, Stay here I'll check-"

He was about to turn but he felt the sleeve of his coat in a grip." Edwin." His heart skipped a beat when he heard her calling him by his name.

She slowly eliminated the distance between them and lifted her head.

Edwin waited for her to speak but she suddenly attached their lips taking Edwin off guard. " Jane?" Edwin's words muffled in her mouth as she deepen the kiss by palming his face.

Her incredibly soft lips started to move even before Edwin could perceive what in the world was happening.

He felt his heart thumping in his chest as Jane ended the left distance between them by wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

The suck was his limit of controlling himself back. He couldn't help but hold her waist and close his eyes. Her body crashed against his hard chest as he tightened his grip.

He kissed her back fulfilling his desires.

He tried to push his tongue into her mouth but she kept it closed. He groaned in displeasure for not getting any chance to explore and taste her mouth.

He sensed her getting out of breath but was still not ready to break the kiss so he pulled back. He looked down at the mysterious girl whose chest was panting, her lips were wet and lipstick was ruined, and her gray eyes slowly opened.

Edwin noticed how she didn't glance at him but kept gazing behind him.

His eyebrows crashed, he followed her gaze to see Maxwell leaving with a clenched jaw.

Edwin looked back at Jane whose eyes never left the door. Now he realised that it was all an act. He was a total fool to think other ways.

" You used me?" She gasped as Edwin grabbed her arm tightly and made her face him. " YOU KISSED ME JUST TO MAKE YOUR F*CKING EX JEALOUS. " Edwin growled.

Jane flinched.

Until the realisation hit her she was late. She knew she made a huge mistake." I'm so sorry, Sir- I was-"

" Get out." He pushed her by her arm.

Her head snapped up not expecting those words from him." Edwin Sir, I-".

" GET THE F*CK OUT OF HERE I SAID." Edwin roared again.

" I'm sorry." She apologized but her voice came out above a whisper. She blinked holding her tears back before silently going outside.

Edwin slammed his fist on the wall beside him letting out his anger. His eye and knuckles turned red.

He didn't know why he was railing up? What he expected from her? If he had no feelings for her then why he kissed back? He should have stopped her he he could even hold himself back. Yet he ignored his mistake.

He fixed his posture and went back to join the ceremony.

He grabbed a drink and looked around. Jane wasn't there to be seen but the person next to him had a glass clenched in his fist so tightly that it broke in his hand. The glass pieces dig into his skin and the blood started to ooze yet he didn't even hiss.

Edwin lifted his gaze to see Xaden. His eyes were fixed on the couple who were exchanging their rings.

Hazel smiled as the guests cheered them when Ian made her wear the ring. Then she opened the box but it was empty. Her smile faded and they started to search the ring around.

Xaden chuckled as he glanced at his left hand. There was the ring the everyone was looking for. He stood up from his tool and went towards the the couple. " Here it is. They forgot to pack." Xaden took off the ring from his finger and handed that to Hazel hiding the cut on his other palm. " Congratulations." He added.

Hazel sighed taking Ian's hand in hers to make him wear the ring.

Xaden was standing the most closer to them. The girl in the reflection of his sad orbs had no idea that her giggles were echoing between the walls of someone's mind.

He was watching her becoming someone else's. Witnessing his nightmare, dying inside yet managed to smile.

He tried to show no emotion but his helpless eyes weren't able to hide the pain his heart was feeling. The soft heart was ripping inside of his chest.

His uneven breaths, his dogging Adam's apple whenever he gulped, his motionless feet as he didn't even take a step closer to Hazel... failed to lie.

He smiled weakly when his eyes got locked with Hazel again.

Hazel's eyebrows crashed together as she noticed his eyes shimmering and him taking steps backward.

No one had the slightest idea what he was up to. No one imagined that they were seeing him for the last time.

He left.

His brothers. His home. His family. He left his Hazel. His bleeding heart.

He took nothing but the memories and his guitar, he left everyone and everything that night as well as a heartbreaking letter that shattered everyone's heart.

THE LETTER:

Hello, from the troublemaker.

I never wrote a letter before so please bear with it.

I'll be gone before you'll find this stupid letter but Mom, please don't cry after reading this. I'll be good. I'm sorry.
Uncle Won, you didn't spoil me. I was the brat to blame. I'm sorry.
Aunt Ezra, thanks for being a mother figure to me and helping me out every time I needed it. You are the best but sadly I never cherished you. I'm sorry.
Dad, I know I'm a disappointment. I truly try to make you proud but I lost it when your head bowed because of me when the cops came home. I'm sorry. Hazel, I'm sorry for interrupting your personal space. Hope life doesn't treat you the way I did. Be happy.
Reed, thanks for the slap. I needed that. Take care of everything in my absence and I'm sorry for never obeying you.
Edwin, my love. My crime partner. My soulmate. I'm sorry. I'll miss you the most and I know you'll try the hardest amongst everyone to reach out to me but please don't. I don't want to be found. I want to be free.

It's not like I was caged, it's just my dreams are different.

You guys are awesome I don't think I deserve you. So I'm leaving to make things right.

I'm sorry everyone... hope my absence gives you peace. love you all.

Bad news at the end... Someday we will reunite.

- Xaden.

• I can fight against millions who want you but not against one you want.

Chapter Published On: 22 March 2023.

I loved how open-heartedly you guys commented on the last chapter. Keep this energy up because your few words is all I get in return for writing thousands of words for free.

˚∧＿∧ 　+ -̳͟͞͞💗
( •‿• )つ -̳͟͞͞ 💗 -̳͟͞͞💗 +
(つ　 < -̳͟͞͞💗
｜　 _つ + -̳͟͞͞💗 -̳͟͞͞💗 ˚
'し'

⭐ Do vote too.

See you all this Sunday.