Hazel furrowed her brows at the name, glancing at Alex for clarity, but he remained silent, his sharp gaze fixed on the General. “My goodness…” the General whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. “You look just like her.” Hazel frowned, her confusion growing. “Just like who?” she demanded, stepping closer to Alex. “Raina,” the General said, his voice thick with emotion. “She was…” He hesitated, his hands trembling. “She was my mistress, the love of my life. And your grandmother.” Hazel froze, her breath caught in her chest. “What? My parents were John and Gloria Smith. My father never—” The General’s voice grew firm, laced with pain. “Your father, John, was Raina’s son—my son. She hid him from me after my family was massacred. I thought I’d lost everything. But Raina… she disappeared with him, leaving me to believe I was utterly alone.” Hazel’s eyes widened, her heart pounding. “Why would she do that? Why didn’t she tell you?” The General’s shoulders slumped, his
The study doors closed behind them, leaving the General and Harden in silence. Outside, Hazel leaned into Alex, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m scared, Alex.” He pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You don’t have to be. I’ve got you.” As they walked toward their car, the tension lingered in the cold winter air. Hazel tightened her coat around herself, glancing up at Alex. His jaw was set, his dark eyes scanning their surroundings as though expecting danger at every corner. “I feel like a pawn in their game,” Hazel whispered. “The General, Harden… even my past. It’s suffocating.” Alex stopped, turning to face her. His hands cupped her face gently, his voice steady but firm. “You’re not a pawn, Hazel. You’re the queen. And no one—not Harden, not the General, not anyone—gets to decide your life. Only you do.” His words brought a flicker of reassurance, but doubt still clouded her mind. “But they won’t stop, Alex. Harden won’t stop, and the General… he’s power
Alex nodded grimly. “He’s using every connection he has to come for you. Last night, he attended that gala with General Aiko. He’s doubling down, likely whispering in the General’s ear that I’m some monster keeping you captive. He wants to turn him against us.” Hazel stood, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach. “And the General? Do you think he’ll believe him?” Alex exhaled sharply, his gaze darkening. “The General is no fool, but Harden’s desperate. He’s feeding on the General’s guilt for abandoning his family all those years ago. He’ll twist it, make himself seem like the savior you need—someone who can give you the ‘life you deserve.’” Hazel scoffed, her anger rising. “The life I deserve? I have everything I want. I have you. Our baby. He has no right—no idea what’s best for me!” Alex crossed the room, his hand gently cupping her cheek, forcing her to look up at him. “I know, Hazel. But Harden thrives on manipulation, you’ve given him the opportunity to feel I wasn
As they left, Harden remained seated, his fists clenched and his jaw tight. Alex didn’t spare him a second glance, but as they walked through the mansion’s grand halls, he leaned down to whisper in Hazel’s ear. “It’s not over. He’ll try again.” Hazel squeezed his hand. “Then let him try. He’ll lose every time.” Harden stood in the General’s study, pacing furiously as the General watched him with a critical eye. The door clicked shut as the General’s assistant exited, leaving the two men alone. “You’ve lost, Harden,” the General said, his voice calm but laced with finality. “Hazel has chosen Alex. You’ll do well to respect that.” Harden’s jaw clenched, his mind racing. “You don’t understand, General. Alex is dangerous—for her and the child. If she stays with him, she’ll never be free, we’ve spent time together, we’ve shared a bond that she can’t deny, she has confessed her regrets to me. I can give her stability, safety… love.” The General sighed, shaking his head. “Love? T
Inside the McCall office, Harden anxiously drummed his fingers on the polished oak desk, his sharp eyes darting between the wall clock and his expensive wristwatch. The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock. He exhaled deeply, frustration evident in his posture. Suddenly, his phone buzzed, breaking the stillness.“You agreed that if I do this, I’ll get twenty percent of the shares in McCall Corporation?” the voice on the other end asked sharply. Harden let out a slow sigh, gripping the phone tighter.“It’s a signed deal, Mr. Lark. Just do this for me,” Harden said curtly, his voice laced with impatience.“Alright,” Lark replied, though there was a hint of reluctance in his tone. “But don’t associate me with this if it doesn’t turn out as you wanted.”Harden’s lips curled into a sly smile. “And if it doesn’t turn out as I wanted, you won’t be getting twenty percent. You’ll get ten percent at most,” he countered, his voice cold and calcula
The doctor let out a heavy sigh, his face shadowed with sympathy as he looked into Hazel’s striking blue eyes, which were now brimming with tears. She stood there, shaking, the weight of his silence suffocating her. “We tried our best, but…” His voice wavered, trailing off. “What?!” Hazel screamed, her body jolting forward in shock. Simon, her steadfast support, quickly caught her before she fell. His own face was a mask of anguish, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. “We did everything we could, ma’am,” the doctor said softly, lowering his gaze. “But I’m sorry. The blow to his head was… too severe. He didn’t make it.” “No! No, no, no!” Hazel cried, her voice piercing and raw. She wrestled free from Simon’s arms, shaking her head violently. “Don’t say that to me! Where’s my husband?” Her frantic eyes searched the room for any sign of Alex, her desperation palpable. Simon stood frozen, helplessly watching her crumble. “Ma’am, please,” the doctor interjected, his tone gentle but fi
Tears streamed down the driver’s face as he shook his head. “I didn’t mean to… I swear I didn’t…”The driver’s sobs grew louder, and he buried his face in his hands. “I… I needed the money… but I didn’t think… It wasn’t supposed to…” He broke off, shaking his head in despair. Grant ignored him, stepping out of the room to make a call. “Officer Grant,” a voice answered on the other end. “I’ve got a lead,” Grant said. “Trace the account that sent this transfer. We’re dealing with something bigger than a random accident.”… “Understood,” the voice replied. Grant hung up, his mind racing. He had a gut feeling this wasn’t just a case of reckless driving—it was a targeted attack. And someone wanted Alex McCollum dead. Back at the hospital, Hazel stirred awake, her face still pale and tear-streaked. She glanced around and found Simon seated by the window, speaking quietly on the phone. Alex lay on the hospital bed beside her, his breathing steady but labored. “Simon,” Hazel called
Alex’s eyes opened slowly, his gaze unfocused but alive. Hazel sobbed with relief, pressing a kiss to his hand. “You’re here… you’re still with us,” she whispered. Alex’s voice was hoarse, barely audible. “Hazel… what happened?” “You were in an accident,” she said softly. “But you’re going to be okay.” His brow furrowed, memories flickering through his mind. “It wasn’t… an accident,” he rasped. Hazel nodded, her voice trembling. “We know. And we’ll find out who did this. Together.” Simon stepped forward, his expression grim. “Sir, we think it was Harden McCall.” Alex’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. “Harden… he won’t get away with this.” Hazel squeezed his hand, her resolve matching his. “No, he won’t. We’ll make sure of it.”the soft knock on the hospital door pulled Hazel’s attention away from Alex. A middle-aged man in a white coat stepped in, carrying a clipboard.“Mrs. McCollum, I’m Dr. Harris, I will be taking over from Doctor Gabriel, he has a family emergency,” he s
The baby kept sucking at her mother’s breast while Hazel and Alex stared at each other, as if time had stopped around them.Immediately, Alex removed his coat and covered his wife, who was dressed in palm-woven clothes.“Alex,” she whispered.“Let’s get out of here,” Alex quietly said as he carried his sleeping baby.The little girl held Hazel’s hand tightly, as if she didn’t want her to leave, making Hazel smile.“I must go,” Hazel whispered, smiling at the girl, who began to tear up.At that moment, a hunter rushed towards them, speaking Hawaiian.“What’s he saying?” Alex asked, and the girl quickly translated.“Run. Chief coming. Babies die,” she said, making Hazel look at Alex in alarm.“We must leave. The chief is coming, and twins are forbidden in their village,” Hazel explained.Alex scoffed, then suddenly noticed that Hazel was barefoot.“Both of you, come here,” he commanded his guards. “Carry the babies,” he said, then bent down and lifted Hazel into his arms.“Follow,” the
Hazel clutched her belly, gasping as another wave of pain shot through her body. The young girl’s eyes widened in panic as she watched Hazel struggle to stay upright.“Mother! Father!” the girl screamed, running out of the hut.Within seconds, the woman and the hunter rushed inside, their expressions tense.“Her water broke,” the girl said breathlessly.The woman’s face hardened with urgency. She quickly moved to Hazel’s side, supporting her as she trembled.“Lay her down,” the woman instructed, speaking in their native language.Hazel whimpered, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Her body was exhausted from months of recovery, but she knew there was no stopping what was about to happen. Her babies were coming.The hunter rushed outside, calling for the village healer.“I will get the midwife!” he said and took off running.Inside the hut, Hazel gritted her teeth, trying to steady her breath. The woman wiped her forehead with a damp cloth.“You’re strong. Just breathe,” she said
The woman and the hunter looked at each other. He sighed, then bit his lips. “If the chief finds out, they will kill one of the children,” he said, making the woman bite her lips in worry. “I’ve been trying to reason with him about how much it will affect our population and community if we keep killing twins. They are born special,” she said, and the hunter nodded. “Let’s help her. She’s not of our clan. She and her babies should not be punished,” he said, making the woman sigh. “We don’t know where she comes from. Her injury is severe. We can’t take her back to where you found her because she’s running from something. We—” “My farmhouse,” he interrupted, and the woman nodded. “I will take my wife and daughter so they can help care for her until she heals,” he said, and the woman agreed. “Let’s do that now,” she said, and they both nodded in agreement. Inside the central city hospital, the bloodied man who had just arrived at the emergency center watched in a blur as doctors a
Hazel could hear footsteps crashing through the underbrush behind her, men shouting orders as they gave chase. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in quick gasps. The chase was fast. Despite her big stomach, Hazel ran with the desperation of a woman fighting for survival. She could hear the voices of the guards behind her. As she ran deeper into the forest, the darkness swallowed her. The thick canopy of trees blocked any rays of sunlight. “Put on your lights!” she heard one of the guards scream. They hesitated at the edge of the forest, unable to follow her blindly into the darkness. But Hazel didn’t stop. She kept running and running because she would rather die than let Harden deprive Alex of his role as a father. Branches scratched her arms and face, but she cradled her stomach protectively as she weaved through the trees. She had no idea where she was going. All she knew was that she had to escape. She stopped and turned, her legs burning, her lungs aching—but
Alex frowned after seeing Simon and Grace’s red dot concentrated in one area, while Hazel’s was moving away. Immediately, he grabbed his phone and dialed his D team. “Follow my wife,” he ordered, then called Simon. The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up. He tried again and again, but still, no answer. On the last ring, someone finally picked up. “This is Inspector Austin. The user of this phone was involved in an accident,” the voice said. Alex frowned, standing up. “Which hospital?” he asked calmly, though he wasn’t calm at all. “New York Hospital,” the inspector replied. Alex hung up immediately, but before he could process the information, his phone rang again. “Boss, we missed the abductors. The jet already took off,” the captain of the D team reported. Alex’s frown deepened. “Jet?” he asked, looking at the red dot that began blinking due to a lost signal in the clouds. “Find who took my wife, idiot!” Alex screamed, hanging up. He slammed his fist on the table, dra
Grace was embarrassed. The look on Alex’s face made her immediately hide her phone. Alex scoffed, then sat back, watching as Grace swallowed hard.“I’m so—”“Is your salary not enough?” Alex asked, causing Grace to immediately bow her head.“I lost my previous phone, boss. I was planning to get a new one once I go out with Madam. I’m sorry, boss,” Grace immediately apologized.“I asked a question,” he said quietly.Grace raised her head, then immediately bowed again.“It’s more than enough, sir,” she said, bowing her head as she bit her lower lip.Alex nodded, then opened his wardrobe and brought out a new phone and a SIM card.He unboxed the phone, turned it on, and installed a personal tracker. Then he placed it on the table. He picked up his phone, activated the SIM card, and set it down. Looking at the still-embarrassed Grace, he spoke.“Fix this on my wife’s clothing, somewhere she can’t see it,” he instructed.Grace bowed and carefully picked up the SIM card.“Thank you, boss,”
The night was quiet. The butler and Grace looked at each other—what were they going to do with all this food and cake on the table? They knew their boss and madam were not coming downstairs anymore tonight. Grace looked at the butler, who sighed.“What a waste,” he whispered, and Grace nodded in agreement.“Is it okay if I package them and take them to the mansion? My colleagues will be excited to eat it. Since the boss isn’t there, they only eat regular meals,” she said.The butler nodded. “But keep the cake. The madam might want it,” he said, then helped Grace package everything while they cleaned up.Back upstairs, the room was warm and quiet. The only noise was the soft moans escaping Hazel’s lips as her neatly pedicured fingers traced against Alex’s skin.“Ah…” a breathy moan escaped her lips as Alex’s body moved in a slow, rhythmic way with hers.“Oh, Alex… goodness,” she gasped as his pace remained steady and torturous.“I love you,” Alex whispered as he pushed himself deeper i
The large governor’s dining room was eerily silent. Camila cleared her throat and smiled, but the look on Mrs. Governor’s face was far from pleasant.Harden scoffed, adjusting his suit.“With all due respect, Mrs. Governor, since my family is here, please do well to explain why I should be accused in such a manner,” he said, smiling at her.“My wife is angry about our current situation, and during the investigation, your name has come up frequently. She might have misunderstood something,” the governor said calmly.Mrs. McCall scoffed.“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be true. After all, he’s the reason his father committed suicide,” she said, making Harden scoff even harder.Without a word, he stood up and left. Camila immediately rose from her seat as well.“Forgive our abrupt departure, Your Excellency,” she said before rushing after Harden.“Please, let’s eat, sir,” Mrs. Governor urged. “I understand how you feel, and right now, I feel the same way. He has hidden
Hazel frowned at the gift box in front of her. The last time she heard of Kayla, she was with an actor in Hollywood, and her mother had been sentenced to jail for the murder of Alex’s mother. She looked at the butler before nodding at him.“Open it,” she said.The butler nodded and began to open the box. Inside, he found a beautifully crafted old Italian-designed vase. Hazel’s frown deepened. The butler gently placed it on the table before taking out a letter from the box.“There’s a letter, madam,” he said.Hazel took the letter, unfolded it, and began reading.“Hey Alex,It’s been a while. I’m doing fine here. Martinez is taking good care of me. I hope Hazel is doing well too. I know she will never forgive me for the past.The vase you’ve been asking about since childhood—the one my mother told the maid to throw away, calling it old and disgusting—the one with your mother’s name on it…I know you might have forgotten about it. After my mother ordered the maid to discard or break it,