The whole day, Francisco was with Hazel. They spent a romantic day, relishing each other's company. But suddenly, in the evening, Francisco came into the room where Hazel was watching TV. He collapsed at her side, putting his head on her lap.Hazel looked at him and slowly touched his hair, caressing it gently.Francisco broke the silence, "Get ready, honey."Hazel was taken aback, her fingers pausing mid-stroke."Why?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion."We are leaving," Francisco replied.Hazel's face darkened with tension. Why did Francisco want her to leave? Where would they go at this hour?"But where?" she asked, her voice rising slightly."At this time?"Francisco raised his eyes to meet hers but did not say anything. Hazel pressed further, "Are you planning to take me shopping?"Francisco blinked, his expression turning stern."No, it's somewhere that you need to see.""What do you mean?" Hazel's voice trembled slightly as she tried to read his unreadable expression.
Francisco stopped in the middle of the yacht. It was dark, and Hazel’s heart started beating fast. She realized they were on Francisco’s personal yacht, but she couldn't fathom why he had brought her there.Suddenly, the lights came on, illuminating the space. Hazel looked around in amazement. The yacht was decorated beautifully, with champagne on the table, roses, and rose petals scattered everywhere. Francisco approached her slowly and held her palm.Hazel tried to smile. "What is it?" she asked.Francisco ignored her question and, instead, got down on one knee. "Will you marry me?" he asked, presenting her with a stunning ring.Hazel stared at the ring, her mind racing. She looked at Francisco and slowly blinked, unsure of how to respond."What happened? Don’t you like the ring?" Francisco asked, his eyes searching hers.Hazel nodded, "It’s so beautiful.""But you didn’t answer me," Francisco pressed."Will you marry me?"Hazel smiled, trying to mask her confusion and hesitation."
Hazel's eyes slowly opened, the soothing sound of waves filling her ears. She glanced to her side, finding the space empty; Francisco had gotten up early. Wrapped in a white blanket, she took a deep breath and rose from the cozy bed.Not finding her frock around, she picked up Francisco's white shirt and slipped it on. The shirt was too transparent, clearly outlining her body shape.Stepping out of the cabin, she spotted Francisco grilling fish. She brushed her hair from her face, the breeze playing with the strands.For a few minutes, she stood there, watching him. Her heart started to twist suddenly with conflicting emotions.'What if he was not a criminal, what if he did not rape me, what if his life was normal, what if he and I met like normal people? Would it be okay with me to love him?' Hazel thought, her face sober.While thinking, Hazel tipped behind Francisco and hugged him from behind. Francisco was surprised but not shocked. He asked, "How did you sleep last night?"Hazel
"Your mother?""My mom," Francisco uttered, looking up at the sky. "She was the most beautiful woman. My dad always said I had her eyes."Hazel touched his hair gently and asked, "What happened to her?"Francisco slightly smiled, a sad smile that didn't reach his eyes. "The same thing that happens to most in a mafia family. Dad's rivals killed her first."Hazel's heart sank as she listened. Francisco continued, "At that time, I was living in London for my studies. I had everything I wanted, the freedom to live a normal life. But after she was killed, everything changed. Everything I had slowly slipped away."His voice grew softer, more haunted."Every night, I struggled to sleep. It felt like if I closed my eyes, someone would come and kill me too."Hazel was engrossed in his words, feeling the weight of his trauma. She didn't know how to comfort him, but whatever she was hearing made her feel weaker towards him. Francisco had experienced deep trauma in his childhood, and she could se
No answer came back. Francisco muttered a curse under his breath and stepped forward, scanning the yacht for any sign of her. As he reached the edge of the deck, a soft splash from below caught his attention. He looked over the side and spotted her—Hazel, swimming in the cool, clear water. Relief washed over him as he leaned on the railing, watching her with a mix of admiration and curiosity.Hazel noticed him and looked up with a playful smile."It’s not good for your skin?" he teased, the water glistening on her bare shoulders.Francisco smirked."It’s cold," she added, shivering slightly."If you want, you can join me."Francisco’s grin widened. He needed no further invitations. He quickly shrugged off his shirt and, with a smooth motion, dove into the water beside her. The sudden chill of the ocean hit him, but he welcomed it, invigorated by the cool embrace of the sea.Hazel drifted back slightly, her eyes fixed on him as he swam closer. There was a new softness in her gaze, a wa
Hazel sat on the floor between Francisco's legs, her eyes closed as he gently dried her hair with a soft towel. The water dripped down their bodies, the warmth of the shower still lingering around them. Francisco’s movements were slow and tender, as if savoring the quiet moment they were sharing. Hazel leaned back slightly, feeling the soothing rhythm of his hands in her hair, a sense of peace washing over her.But the tranquility was shattered when Francisco suddenly paused, his hand freezing mid-motion. Hazel noticed the shift immediately and opened her eyes, looking up at him. His expression had changed, his relaxed smile replaced with a frown of concern."Honey, wait a minute," Francisco said, his voice tight.Hazel blinked, confused by his sudden change in demeanor. She shifted slightly as Francisco carefully set the towel aside and got to his feet. He moved toward the small window, peeking outside with narrowed eyes. Hazel followed his gaze, feeling a knot of unease form in her
At midnight, a black car pulled up quietly in front of Francisco's mansion. The night was heavy with silence as Francisco stepped out, his face stern and filled with a quiet intensity. He walked up to the second floor, each step deliberate and slow, the weight of his thoughts bearing down on him.The room was cloaked in darkness when he entered. Only the faint moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the bed where Hazel slept peacefully. Francisco moved toward her, his movements quiet, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility that surrounded her. He sat down beside her, his gaze locked onto her serene face.For several minutes, he did nothing but watch her sleep. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, her expression calm, free of the worries that plagued him. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, and gently touched her hair. His fingers slowly ran through her soft locks, and he felt a pang of something deep inside—something that felt like longing.Franc
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