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
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