10

~ TRISTAN ~

I was finally done with work for today. I had tried to hurry up in order to cover up for my honeymoon break. 

“Finally free,” I got up from the chair with a smile of relief on my face, arranged all the necessary files accordingly on the desk, placed the photo properly then left the home office.

“Hazel, Hazel—” I had to tell her about the honeymoon immediately. We needed to leave tomorrow so we could return quickly. 

I got into the elevator to convey to the living room. 

After the elevator doors re-opened, a frown was plastered on my face at the sight of Hazel with Mike; he had his arm around her shoulders and they were laughing at something I could tell was definitely stupid. 

Storming to them, Mike immediately flinched from her and rose to his feet. 

“What’s going on here?” I stopped myself from raising my voice. 

“I— I— uh…” Mike started scratching the back of his neck. 

“Why are you here?” I couldn’t stop myself from raising my voice this time. 

“We’re just talking, what’s the big deal?” Hazel stared at me like it was nothing.

“Big deal?” I scoffed. “Having your arm around your boss' wife shoulders is very disrespectful, stupid and unprofessional of you.” 

“He didn’t have his arms around…” She trailed off, looking confused. “It’s really nothing.”

“You’re a married woman, remember?” I clenched my jaw and fists.

“He’s a friend— Why do you even care?” She snapped, frowning too.

Glancing back at Mike, he quickly excused himself from our presence.

“Why do I care? Really, Hazel?” I grabbed her arm, lifting her to her feet. 

Her figure stiffened at my touch. I didn’t understand why but something about touching and being this close to her made a sort of weird feeling encircle the organs in my ribcage so I let go of her and cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. 

No, I wasn’t mad at her because I was jealous, no way… I convinced myself internally. 

“We’re going on our honeymoon tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” She exclaimed. 

“Yes. And you shouldn’t let any man have his arm around you like that, you’re Tristan’s wife. I’ve finally cleared things related to our marriage to the internet, don’t do anything stupid. Pack your bags, we’re leaving for Spain tomorrow.” I informed her, taking my leave immediately. 

***

Kye and I had spent the entire time talking about different business and non-business related topics over a few drinks till Charlotte returned from wherever she might’ve gone.

“It’s so nice to see you again.” She was literally grinning from ear to ear.

“Yeah.” I replied boringly, taking a sip of my drink. 

“You definitely didn’t miss us.” 

“Us?” I chuckled. “Of course, I wouldn’t miss Kye but I can assure you that you’re the one I missed the most amongst everyone I know.” I smiled shortly while Kye rolled his eyes. 

“Eres un mentiroso (You’re a liar).” She chuckled. “You must’ve certainly missed your wife more.” 

I scoffed. “No way.”

“Dude, you know you can’t possibly be away from her forever.” Kye added.

“Exactly!” She asserted. 

“I won’t ever make the same mistake again. My feelings for her will wash off completely very soon.” I was trying to convince myself. 

“She’s not Lucy!” He exclaimed. 

“While you’ve been away, we’ve visited her a couple of times. She’s one of the sweetest humans I know. She seems perfect for you to me. Everything about the gold-digger issue might just be a misunderstanding you need to sort out. You’re mostly hurting yourself, you already love her too much because you live together.” She shrugged. 

“Love?” I scoffed, laughing out boisterously. “Just because I have feelings for her doesn’t mean I love her. I can never and will never love anyone.” I declared. 

They shared a glance at each other, shaking their heads. 

“Que Dios te ayude.” She sighed. “By the way… Kye and I have been waiting to let you know that I’m pregnant!” she grinned again.

*** 

~ HAZEL ~ 

Once again, boredom. There was no one to talk to. Mike wasn’t here, there was no David here either.

I still couldn’t believe Tristan had said we were going on our honeymoon tomorrow. I didn’t attach importance to it because I was certain he was going to return home tonight and say otherwise. 

Honeymoon? With Tristan? I huffed at the thought of it. The dude clearly can’t stand my sight and was always looking for an excuse to be away from me. How was he possibly going to spend an entire honeymoon with me? 

It was probably work-related, that was the best answer I could come up with. 

I had been roaming around the house for quite a while now till my feet decided to put a stop to walking on their own accord, in front of Tristan’s home office. 

There was no crime in going in, was there? 

It was the only place in the house I hadn’t seen or paid much attention to and I was curious to know why he had to lock in when he travelled. 

I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. 

It was such a simple room painted in white, with a black leather chair and white oak office desk in front of a black built-in bookcases that was suspending two lamps and was filled with multiple books, files, vases of flowers. Three grey and black rugs dressed the floor; A file cabinet, and large vases of flowers were in every corner of the room.  As expected, it had a large window that made you have a perfect view of grasses and the swimming pool in the backyard, which I had never noticed until now.

It was beautiful but nothing special. 

Turning around, my gaze swept through something beside his laptop on the desk.

Walking up to it, I realized it was a photo of me, I didn’t even remember taking this photo, and our wedding picture of our first kiss was in a frame beside this photo. 

“Wow, It’s so beautiful.” I picked the frame up, a smile creeping up my lips. “Why does he have my photo in his private place?” I wondered, picking my photo up but something beneath the photo caught my attention. 

I immediately dropped both photos and picked it up… Tristan’s diary. 

“So people still have diaries? Especially someone like Tristan?” I laughed to myself. 

I knew it was wrong to snoop on someone’s personal thing but something in my head kept pushing me to at least take a sneak peek. I needed to know what was in the head of this devil of a husband. 

Internally praying to God to forgive me, I opened it. 

‘I just used up my the pages of old diary after five fucking years… 

“Wow, wonderful handwriting. How on Earth is this man blessed with everything except a heart and manners?” 

I flipped through the pages, not reading anything but just to appreciate his handwriting. 

“This doesn’t feel right.” I stopped flipping but of course, the page it stopped at had a different paper stapled to it. My eyeballs dropped from their sockets when the stapled paper had my name on it. Not surprising, I know, but shockingly, there was a heart-shape around my name with multiple smaller heart shapes around it. 

“What the heck is this?” It was clearly Tristan’s handwriting, judging from the handwriting in his diary.

I dropped the book on the table and paid attention to the words on that page of the diary. 

‘I’m more than frustrated today. 

I was tired of thinking of Hazel and over-working but then, my hands wouldn’t stop writing her name with heart shapes (paper stapled beside). What is wrong with me? I even stapled it?

This is crazy, I want to stop thinking of her, but I just can’t.’

“What is going on?!” I exclaimed, my eyebrows creased in confusion and my heart started throbbing at a quicker pace than normal.

I flipped the diary to the previous pages. Surprisingly, most of the pages had my name on them 

I stopped to read a page again.

'It's been quite a while since I've seen her.

I’m going completely crazy, I can’t even focus on the work I came here to do in New Zealand. 

I’ve tried hanging out with other women, going around with different models, but I immediately leave them before the second touch. Hazel wouldn’t leave my mind. Just the fuck, WHY?!!!!!!?!!!’

My breath quickened, my heart was palpitating crazily as I turned to another previous page, still as confused as ever. 

'Hazel, what are you? Are you doing this to me intentionally?’ 

That was the only thing on that page.

“Uh… our wedding, our wedding…” I said almost breathlessly, flipping the pages to our wedding date. 

This one was a week to our wedding:

‘I just met her today again.

I'm not certain but I think she looked more beautiful than she always does. 

I’ll be getting married to Indy in a week but Hazel is everything on my mind. 

No, I don’t love Hazel, I just have strong feelings towards her, she’s beautiful, no way I’m in love with her. Okay, shut up.

I can’t be with Hazel, I can’t bear to be hurt again after Lucy’s incident. 

But… I’ll get married to Indy? She also hurt me. 

Shit, life is a fucking mess.’

“Jesus,” I let out a deep breath and flipped to our wedding date page. It was blank so I turned the page to the day after our wedding. The page was filled with angry emojis he clearly drew. 

‘Frustrated and heartbroken can’t describe how I feel right now. 

Oh, guess what? 

I knew it, I fucking knew it. I SHOULD’VE LISTENED TO NIKITA! Letting my feelings expand was going to hurt me once again!!!!

Hazel got married to me instead of Indy. Fucking gold-diggers everywhere. She even admitted to it and in less than a day, her annoying Aunt immediately asked for the 10 karat diamond wedding ring dowry. That’s all they want, just money. 

I knew it, I shouldn’t have let history repeat itself. 

Can’t anyone just love me for who I am and not because of my money? What is the point of wealth if it is attached with betrayal, sadness, heartbreak, a life without LOVE! 

I’M DONE WITH THIS SHIT! PEOPLE ARE TERRIBLE!’

Oh my God…

Tristan loves me?