ONYX'S POV; As I walked back into the palace, I found Cherry standing in the middle of the large living room. She was dressed in her night dress, meaning she was either just waking up now or she had been in her room all morning, in her bed. When she saw me, her eyes lit up and she walked towards me. I stopped before her, giving her the same cold look I had been giving her since the day Hazel was kidnapped; the previous night. "Hey," She said softly and fiddled with the hem of her outer coat. "I heard she's back," "Of course, she is," I said and folded her arms. "Are you here to congratulate me?" She shook her head immediately. "No! That's not what I am here for. I just want to say I'm really happy that nothing happened to her. It's all my fault and I should apologize to her profusely." I shook my head. "I don't think that's what she needs right now. She needs to be on her own. She just returned after going through a lot of rubbish. You're the last person
CHAPTER 85 HAZEL'S POV; I was cleaned so thoroughly by the maids and quite shocked at how nice they were to me. It was a rarity. I had expected them to be irritated at the way I looked because I had stayed here for months, getting judgemental and degrading looks for them. One of the maids even offered to serve me dinner and told me a story about a girl that was raped to death by one of the robbers, deeming me a lucky one. I had smiled stiffly at her, hoping she would shut up. Her story didn't lift my spirits in any way. Infact, it made things worse. How did she think telling me a worse story of another girl being raped to death would sound? Absolutely terrible. So after they had cleaned me up and gave me a change of clothes, I stayed in my bed, languid and not wanting to do anything but stay wide awake or try to sleep. It wasn't until my meal was brought to me that I realized that I was really hungry and hadn't eaten since last night. I smiled at
CHAPTER 86 HAZEL'S POV; I kept on studying the peach box that sat on my thighs, feeling a strange feeling wash over me. I knew who had sent it and I don't know why I felt so giddy about it. I was supposed to be mad at him but I couldn't be. These notes, the chocolate and the flowers. They were too elaborate for him to give me. He had never given me flowers and seeing that he had even sent a handwritten note to me made me feel a certain type of way. I stared at it for a long time before I heard a knock that had me on my feet. I walked to the door and stood there, staring at the knob and hoping it was Onyx standing there with an explanation of this elaboracy. I was quite disappointed to see Theresa standing at the door but I said nothing. I smiled at her and admitted her into the room. "I came to see you. Done with chores and the last thing I want to do is spend time with my friend." I smiled at her and she pulled me into a hug. It felt so relievin
CHAPTER 87 ONYX'S POV: Seeing Hazel this morning at the dining table filled me with so much joy. She avoided eye contact with me as she ate but I couldn't stop looking at her. All her wounds were gone and she looked so energized. Her blond hair looked fuller and glossier than ever and her face was peachy. A sign that she was recovering real quick. I had to admit that she was a really strong woman. She had seen enough from me and everyone and she still had it in her to smile at the maid who dished food for her. Cherry was seated on the same table as me but she had chosen to ignore both me and Cherry for most of it. She acted like I wasn't sitting there and I knew she was only trying to act like we weren't there because she was really uncomfortable. I had even seen the way her hand shook as she picked up her cutlery to eat and after eating a few spoons, she wiped her mouth, pushed her chair back and exited the dining room. Hazel looked up briefly before expel
CHAPTER 88 ONYX'S POV; I stood at the parking lot for a few minutes as I watched my car. I knew I had to go see Hazel's friends and her brothers but I was quite nervous and hesitant. That was because the last time we had seen each other, things had started on a wrong foot. I remember hearing Hazel's cries as she begged me not to touch her brother. She had asked me to do whatever I wanted to do to him instead and I had seen the hatred that burned in his eyes as Hazel pleaded. I had been cruel to them. What if they didn't even accept me? Worse, what if they ran away from me with horror in their eyes, thinking I was here to capture or kill them? I knew I had to do it. I had gotten the box of chocolates and there was no going back for me. I had to face it. It didn't matter if they hated me or were scared of me. I had given them a fair share of hurt and suffering. It was time for me to show them that I was capable of being a good person. Besides, I had paid over h
ONYX'S POV; I watched as they all fought over which box of chocolates to have. "I remember telling you all that peach is my favorite color, why won't you let me have it?!" Olive, whom I thought used to be quiet said as she gave Ren a stink eye. Kiara was holding the sage green box with gilded edges in her hand. She was more focused on the design of the box than the argument her friends were having. As for Zion, he was busy munching on the chocolate in the baby blue box while the red box remained untouched. "Let me have it!" Ren scowled at her. "You never stop, do you?" "Of course, I don't!" Olive said. "It's just a box of chocolates. It's the content that matters!" Ren explained with a huff as she toyed at the seal of the box. Olive was shaking with anger and her eyes followed Ren's finger movements. "Don't tear it open! It's not going to be funny if you do!" Ren looked at her and laughed. "You're the funny one here," "I never said anyt
CHAPTER 90 HAZEL'S POV; I had spent most of my day with Theresa. We filled each other in on what had happened on the night when I got kidnapped and we talked about random things before we decided that it was time for us to part ways. "What are you going to be doing when I'm gone?" Theresa asked as she stood up from the stone chair in the garden, staring down at me. I shrugged. "I'd probably just stay here for a while before going back to my room," "I just realized how boring this must be for you. Having to be in this palace for weeks without seeing outside the gates," "The only time I got to see outside the gates was when I got kidnapped and I didn't even see it fully." "Must be really suffocating for you," "Somehow, I've gotten used to it," "We're going to go outside the gates one of these days. I'll show you around the palace and its environs. Have you seen the perimeter?" I shook my head, feeling like I have missed out a lot. "Onyx wouldn't
91 HAZEL'S POV; Zion took my hands, ignoring my friends as they tried not to look like they were hiding something from me. He led me to the window and we both took a seat by the sill. I was confused and agitated, wondering why they had come here in the first place. Before he could speak, I spoke. "How were you all able to come into this place? Don't tell me that you sneaked into this place somehow?" He shook his head. "We didn't. Onyx drove us here," My eyes widened in shock. "Are you being serious right now?" He nodded. "That's what I want to talk to you about." "Did you all do something wrong? I know Onyx. He'd make you all see me for the last time before doing as he pleases," "Listen to me, Hazel!" Zion commanded in a firm tone and I just nodded. "I am all ears," "Good," He nodded. "Onyx came to visit us and honestly, I was afraid. I even tried running away from him but he was able to explain his reasons for visiting," "And what was his