HAZEL'S POV: Zion led me into the cottage. Surprisingly, it was well cleaned. It wasn't something I expected. I had known Zion to be a messy person. "I'm shocked that you're able to keep this place clean, Zion," I said as I went and settled on one of the only two sofas in the small room. Zion smiled and went to the kitchen. I could see him from where I was seated as the kitchen was built in a way that you could oversee the small living room from there. He smiled and placed a cup on the counter before he spoke. "I'm rarely at home. It's always clean apart from the times I return with a came and want to cut it up. You're lucky you didn't meet the house that way," I wrinkled my nose. "This place would be really messed up," "And smelling really bad, for real," Zion said. He went to the tiny and almost broken cabinet in the kitchen. Pulling it open with difficulty, he took out a jar of coffee and creamer. "I should oil the hinges. It's so rusted that it rarel
HAZEL'S POV: I was going into a full blown panic attack. I knew he was the one banging on the door. Zion immediately fell on his knee and grabbed me by the shoulders. He looked at me with a strong resolve. There was no fear in his eyes. "Look at me, Hazel," He commanded. I looked up at him weakly and sighed. Tears were starting to slip down my cheeks but he wiped it off immediately and pulled me close to him. His voice lowered to a whisper. "Listen to me, Hazel," "I'm listening," I sobbed. "Don't stand up when I get to the door, okay? Remain where you are, do you get me?" "But he's going to know that I'm here. He's going to sense me!" I cried. "Then you run," "To where?" "There's a small door in the attic. I carved it out. It's not connected to the main attic and anyone who comes looking there for you would get distracted by the main door because the other is concealed," I felt my heart thump against my chest but I knew he was sa
ONYX'S POV: I knew I shouldn't be going in search of her so it doesn't look like I care but I was really worried and angry. What if she wasn't at her cottage because she knew I was going to find her there? What if she ran away from me finally? I nearly went crazy from creating these scenarios in my head. I asked all of my men to return to the palace and stuck with just two. I didn't want to scare her because I felt guilty about what I told her this morning. I thought I could overcome the guilt but it was there, eating me up and making me regret why I had spoken to her harshly. It's just, after that kiss, I was never the same. I knew it was going to take a long time for me to admit it, but things were no longer the same. I walked to the door and asbbked both of my men to wait outside while I climbed the porch. I tried my best to look as harmless as possible because I realized I was starting to scare her. I stood at the door for a long time, contemplating o
ONYX'S POV: Fucking hell. I thought this was just between me, Guetta and the two guards that were around when she confessed. How the hell does she and her friends know? Right now, she doesn't even look scared of me and I already promised myself that I wasn't going to try to hit her again so I clenched my fist and put it to my side. "Hazel, are you going to tell me how you found out?" She looked at me from her peripheral view but she said nothing. I knew she was upset by how I had treated her in front of her friends and sibling. In no time, we stopped in front of the house. She didn't even wait for the car to stop before she climbed out and began walking towards the palace in a rage. "Make sure you do what I asked you to," I told one of the guards standing at the door. He nodded and I went after Hazel. As she walked into the palace, I grabbed her by the arm and turned her to look at me. She pulled her hand off roughly and staggered backwards.
HAZEL'S POV; As soon as he left, I sank into the chair beside me and placed my hand on my head. I was really confused at this point. I was torn between anger and confusion. I really wanted to go back home and see my brother and friends. I wanted to reassure them that I would be alright and nothing was going to happen to them. I knew I was stuck here till I could sneak out again. I stood to my feet and went to my mirror. My eyes were red and puffy from crying so much. I hated myself so much. I mean, no one liked me and I had no idea why. Was it something I had done in my past life or was there a curse on me that I would suffer and not know happiness? At this point, I felt useless and the need to eliminate myself from this planet engulfed me. I stood to my feet and went into my bathroom, peeling off my dress and preparing the bath. Once I was done, I climbed into the bathtub and felt the chilled water bite into my skin before I got used to it. I sat there
SELAH'S POV: "Honey, would you get me the bowl over there?" My father asked as he whisked batter in a bowl. I was on the kitchen stool beside him, watching as he whisked quickly. I knew he was about to make my favorite cookies. I mean, it was to make me happy as he had said. I climbed off the stool and walked over to the other side of the counter. I picked up the bowl and walked back to him. He smiled at me when I handed it back to him. I climbed back on the stool and he looked at me and smiled. "How are you, Selah?" I shrugged. "I'm fine, I guess. I'm going through a heartbreak from the man I love and also my friend. What more worse thing could happen to anyone?" "That friend you're talking about is Elena?" He asked as he raised a brow. I nodded. "Yes," "Why? What happened between you both?" He asked, looking really concerned. He slackened in whisking the batter as he took the stance of a listening parent. "You're going to mess the batter
EARL'S POV: Things had changed in a space of three days. The palace that used to be filled up with people and maids was suddenly empty. Only a few people roamed about. As for Onyx, he wasn't even himself. As for Cherry, she was back on her sickbed and getting better slowly and Onyx had decided to put all of the blame on Hazel. She was seated beside me, looking around. There was this peace that accompanied being with her. I had never experienced it with another woman and sometimes, I wondered how Onyx had chosen to be blind to all of these. Couldn't he see the gem of a woman, Hazel was? Onyx has changed drastically. This wasn't the Onyx who respected women no matter their character or status. He wasn't the woman beater neither were his parents so I wondered where he got that irritated attitude from. Where exactly? "How long are you going to be here for?" Hazel asked out of the blue. I was drawn out of my thoughts as she said this. "Uhm, I don't know.
HAZEL'S POV: We were having dinner when it was interrupted by one of the guards. Onyx gave him a stern look but still beckoned on the man to draw closer. I watched as the guard whispered to him and immediately, his eyes widened. "When did that happen?" Onyx asked and I perked my ears. I needed to know if something had gone wrong with my brother or any of my friends, if not them all. "Tonight," The guard replied. "According to Gus, she ate a packet of cookies she left on a table and began convulsing and they think her friend is the one who might have poisoned her as they had an argument this morning and she went to visit her for an apology. Her mother handed her a packet of cookies. She usually does that but this time, it wasn't eaten by her," When Onyx stood to his feet, I felt my body move. They walked out of the room, speaking in low tones and I slowly stood to my feet, looking around to see if anyone was there. Once I saw that the place was empty, I began wa