Hazel’s nerves were frayed. For the last two days, she had been living in a state of agonizing uncertainty. Francisco hadn’t come home, nor had he called. Even worse, there had been no word from her father. The silence was unbearable, and it gnawed at her constantly, leaving her restless and anxious.She wandered through the mansion, her mind swirling with thoughts of what might have gone wrong. Was Francisco suspicious of her? Had he discovered something that she didn’t know about? The possibilities were endless, and each one was more terrifying than the last. Hazel rubbed her forehead, trying to ease the tension building there, but it was no use. The worry was like a heavyweight pressing down on her, and she couldn’t shake it off.As she paced back and forth, lost in thought, the sudden ring of the telephone startled her. It was a sharp, jarring sound that cut through the silence like a knife. The phone rarely rang, and it wasn’t a line that could be used for outgoing calls—only for
The car rolled to a stop in front of a one-floor building, its weathered exterior illuminated by a single, flickering yellow bulb. The place looked ancient, forgotten by time. Hazel stepped out of the car, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. The surrounding area was eerily quiet, isolated, and it became clear this was no ordinary place. The restricted nature of the surroundings hinted that this was likely Francisco's private land, far from prying eyes.Her heart thumped loudly in her chest as she took in her surroundings. The oppressive atmosphere was thick with unease, and the building's ominous appearance only added to her growing anxiety. What could Francisco possibly be doing here?"Ma'am," the driver's voice cut through her thoughts, making her jump slightly.Hazel turned to face him, trying to calm herself. "Sir is waiting for you," he said, his tone flat, emotionless.She nodded, swallowing hard as she gathered her composure. Slowly, she walked toward the building, each step f
Francisco's intense gaze locked onto Hazel's as he slowly broke the kiss. He watched her eyes flutter open, her breath coming in shaky gasps. Without breaking eye contact, he leaned in to kiss her chin, his lips trailing down to her neck. Hazel's body trembled under his touch, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders for stability.But as Francisco's kisses became more fervent, Hazel felt the rising tide of desire threatening to sweep them both away. Her voice trembled as she tried to regain some control."Francisco, wait," she whispered, her words almost a plea."Please."Francisco, lost in the moment, ignored her hesitation. He lifted her onto the table, stepping between her legs and pulling her closer. His hands gripped her waist, his breath hot against her skin. Hazel’s heart raced, a mix of excitement and anxiety coursing through her. "It's uncomfortable here," she managed to say, her voice barely audible over the sound of their breathing.Francisco's lips curled into a sma
Hazel finished adjusting her dress, her eyes lingering on the glass for a moment before turning to face Francisco. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her, his intense gaze unwavering. She could feel his eyes on her, and it made her uneasy. Hazel sighed, trying to shake off the discomfort.“Don’t look at me like that,” Hazel said, her voice laced with unease.Francisco tilted his head slightly, “What look?”Francisco’s expression didn’t change.“What eyes?” he asked, his tone calm but probing.Hazel blinked, feeling the weight of his stare.“You know what I mean,” she replied, trying to avoid his gaze.A small, almost amused smile played at the corners of Francisco’s lips.“And why shouldn’t I look at you?” he pressed.“Because,” Hazel started, her voice faltering slightly, “because it feels like I did something wrong.”She turned away, gathering her hair into a ponytail, trying to shake off the feeling of being under his scrutiny.Without warning, Francisco’s hand shot out, gripping her wai
"You swear, right?" Francisco's voice was soft, almost tender, but there was an underlying tension that made Hazel's heart race. She could barely find the strength to speak, her voice trembling as she answered, "Yes..."The next words out of Francisco's mouth shocked her to the core."Do you want me to surrender to the police?"Hazel's breath caught in her throat. She broke the embrace, her eyes wide as she searched Francisco's face for any sign of what he was thinking. But his hands remained on her waist, keeping her close, as if he feared she might slip away."You swear, right?" Francisco's voice was soft, almost tender, but there was an underlying tension that made Hazel's heart race. She could barely find the strength to speak, her voice trembling as she answered, "Yes..."The next words out of Francisco's mouth shocked her to the core."Do you want me to surrender to the police?"Hazel's breath caught in her throat. She broke the embrace, her eyes wide as she searched Francisco's
Hazel had been anxiously waiting for Francisco, her nerves fraying with each passing hour. She had dozed off in the chair on the balcony, lulled by the night’s quiet, but the sudden roar of a car engine startled her awake. Groggy and disoriented, she struggled to piece together how long she had been asleep. The moon had shifted significantly in the sky, indicating she had been out for hours.Peering over the balcony, she saw Francisco’s car glide into the driveway. Relief mixed with dread as she quickly stood up and hurried inside the room. As she exited the chamber, she caught sight of Francisco ascending the stairs, his eyes locking onto hers. A faint smile curled on his lips, though it didn’t reach his eyes.“You’re still awake, my queen?” Francisco’s voice was gentle, almost affectionate, as he extended his hand toward her.Hazel placed her hand in his, feeling the warmth of his palm, but something in his touch felt different—cold, distant."You told me you had a surprise for me,"
Hazel’s eyes fluttered open, and she found Francisco lying beside her, his arms wrapped around her hands. She lay still for a moment, lost in thoughts about the previous night. Her mind replayed the unusual tenderness and the troubling bloodstains on his shirt.What happened to him last night? Hazel wondered, her concern mingling with confusion. He behaved so strangely.She shifted her thoughts to her own pressing issue: her parents. How can I find out about them? The realization that she needed information but had no clear way to get it weighed heavily on her.Francisco’s grip on her hand tightened as she began to move. Hazel took a deep breath and carefully untangled herself from his embrace. As she eased her feet onto the floor, she tried to be as quiet as possible, but just as she was about to stand up, Francisco stirred and spoke.“Why do you always leave me like a thief?” he asked, his voice laced with a chuckle.Startled, Hazel turned back to him, her expression a mix of confus
Hazel did as Lily instructed, walking slowly to her room, a growing sense of unease gnawing at her. The silence of the house felt stifling, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was being hidden from her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car horn outside, signaling Francisco’s return. She hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the room, hoping to get some answers.As she descended the stairs, Hazel saw Max waiting at the bottom. He looked up and said, “Ms. Hazel, come to the library.”Hazel followed Max, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls. When she entered the library, she spotted Francisco flipping through the pages of a book. He looked up with a faint smile as they approached.“Sorry for the delay,” Francisco said, closing the book and setting it aside.“I had to handle some urgent work.”Hazel’s relief was tempered by lingering concern.“Are we staying here?” she asked, trying to sound casual.“Yes, but I thought it would be best to brin