Hazel’s eyes darted to a glass window on the side of the room. Through it, she could see the room where Francisco, and she were intimated, the memory of that night flooding back with sickening clarity. She pressed her lips together, trying to keep herself from breaking down. Her voice trembled as she called out, “Rafael…”A low groan escaped Rafael's lips as he lifted his head slowly, the movement pained and sluggish. His face was a mess of bruises, one eye swollen shut and darkened. But it was his hands that drew Hazel’s attention — one of his fingers had been cruelly severed, leaving a gruesome reminder of Francisco’s brutality. Hazel's breath caught in her throat, and she felt her stomach twist as their eyes met. The storm inside her raged, tearing her apart with guilt, fear, and a deep, aching sorrow. She hadn’t imagined it would ever come to this, not to Rafael, not like this. She quickly lowered her gaze, unable to bear the sight of him, unable to stop the tears that were wellin
Hazel felt Francisco’s grip tighten, the tension in the air growing thicker by the second. She knew how dangerous his rage could be. If she didn’t do this right, Rafael’s life would be in even greater danger. Francisco wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.“It’s the truth,” she forced herself to say, her voice cold and distant, even as it tore her apart inside.“No,” Rafael cried, shaking his head as tears streamed down his bruised face. “Don’t think about me, Hazel. I know you love me. You’re doing this to save me, I know it.”Francisco’s mouth opened, ready to spew something cruel, but Hazel quickly cut him off. “Rafael!” she said sharply, drawing both their attention back to her.“I love him, only him,” she continued, her voice steady despite the agony in her chest. “We had some good memories, you and I. But now, Francisco is everything to me. Please… try to understand. I don’t want to go with you guys.”Each word was like a knife in her heart, but she had to make Rafael believe it. It w
Hazel's voice trembled as she asked, "Can we go, Francisco?"Francisco's hand tightened around her waist, his fingers lingering possessively. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "You can go," he said, his tone calm but with an underlying threat. "Wait in the car. I’ll join you in two minutes."Hazel felt a wave of dread wash over her, but she forced herself to nod. Her face tightened as she fought to maintain her composure. Before leaving the chamber, she glanced back at Rafael, her heart breaking all over again. Francisco had given her the chance to say a proper goodbye, to hug Rafael one last time, but she knew she couldn’t. If she touched him, even for a moment, she feared she would lose all her resolve.“Goodbye, Rafael,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then, without looking back, she turned and quickly left the chamber.As she walked toward the car, Hazel’s pace quickened, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. The moment she slid into the car, she brok
The pain in her arm was sharp, but Hazel didn’t flinch. It was nothing compared to the emotional pain she’d been enduring, the turmoil of being trapped between the man she feared and the man she loved. Her eyes met Francisco’s, and for a moment, she saw the raw vulnerability hidden behind his rage.But instead of pulling away or responding with fear, Hazel leaned in closer, closing the distance between them until her lips were just inches from his. She could feel his breath against her skin, hot and uneven. With a voice as smooth as silk, she whispered, “Wanna fuck?”Hazel bit her lower lip provocatively, her eyes locked onto Francisco’s as he stood frozen, his expression hardening. She traced her fingers slowly down his neck, her voice a soft, seductive whisper."We can fuck, can’t we? You like to fuck me, right?"Her words hung in the air like a challenge. Francisco’s grip on her shoulders tightened, his fingers digging into her skin, and Hazel let out a low moan, not from pleasure
“Interesting?” Hazel asked, her voice laced with a cruel amusement. “But you know what? Even if you were the last man on earth, I still wouldn’t love you.”She chuckled softly, her laugh echoing in the room like a sharp blade.Without warning, Hazel sat up and leaned close to Francisco. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered, “But, we can still fuck.”Francisco's face twisted in anger. He grabbed her arms, pressing down hard. “I don’t take you like those sluts,” he growled, his voice trembling. “You’re my girl.”Hazel moaned deliberately at his touch, a mocking sound that made his grip tighten. “Ah…”She leaned back slightly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “You’re so weak, Francisco,” she said, her tone soft but dripping with venom. “I know I can make you weak by using my body.” As she spoke, she slid her foot up his leg, pressing against his groin and slowly moving down the length of his bulge.Francisco’s eyes darkened, a mix of desi
As the door closed behind her, Rafael’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “Because of me, you both suffered. I should not have done it.”Doris shook her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Don’t say that, Rafael,” she replied gently.“It wasn’t your fault. They did this to us because of who we are, not because of anything you did. They made you suffer too, and none of this is on you.”She reached out, lightly tracing the wounds on his face, the fresh bruises from the abuse he had endured. Rafael winced but didn’t pull away.“But, auntie,” Rafael’s voice cracked.“I couldn’t save her.”And then, all at once, he broke down. Tears spilled down his face as he hugged Doris tightly, his body trembling. “She told me to forget her,” he sobbed on her shoulder. “She doesn’t want me. She told me to let her go.”Doris's eyes widened in shock as she gripped Rafael’s shoulders tightly, forcing him to look at her. “Did she tell you this?” she asked, her voi
After a short while, Lily appeared, holding a pair of scissors. She approached Hazel and handed them over. Hazel took the scissors and examined the blades, checking their sharpness with a strange, focused intensity. Lily, watching her closely, couldn’t help but ask, “For what do you need it, ma’am?”Hazel looked up, her lips curling into a smile that seemed both genuine and unsettling. “Actually, I thought I’d start making dresses,” she said casually, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.Lily blinked, surprised by Hazel’s response. This wasn’t the Hazel she knew —calm, composed, always in control. Before she could ask anything further, Hazel turned and walked back toward her room. The other maids, standing nearby, exchanged glances, their faces reflecting the same shock and confusion that Lily felt. Hazel’s odd behavior and disheveled appearance had thrown the entire household into quiet unease.Hazel reached her room, her movements deliberate as she opened her closet.
Francisco sat silently, his gaze downcast as the tension in the room mounted. The remaining men were visibly agitated, their nerves fraying under the weight of what they had just witnessed. Francisco’s expression remained unreadable until, with a deep, steadying breath, he lifted his gaze and looked directly at them.“I won’t allow anyone to see my girl,” he said coldly, his voice low and controlled.Before they could react or plead for their lives, Francisco pulled the trigger again. The sound of gunfire echoed off the walls, and within seconds, the rest of the men collapsed onto the floor, their lifeless bodies joining the others.Outside, Lily stood trembling by the door. She had heard everything but couldn’t bear to stay still any longer. With a heart pounding in her chest, she opened the door and stepped inside, only to be met with the grim sight. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she froze, her mind racing.The room reeked of death, blood pooling around the bodies of men who,