Chapter 10%
“Don’t cry. Your sister has always been understanding. She won’t blame you” Ambrose reassured Scarlett
The others quickly gathered around Scarlett, their voices a chorus of comforting words as they pointed to the photos in attempting to lighten her mood with half–hearted praise.8
in the camera,
Meanwhile, Hazel struggled to push herself off the floor, her head throbbing with pain. A warm trickle slid down her face, and when she wiped it with a tissue, the smear of crimson on her fingers left her momentarily stunned. She couldn’t tell if it was tears or blood.
But no one noticed. Their attention remained fixed on Scarlett as if she were the only one who mattered. Their laughter and soft reassurances filled the room, drowning out the silent cry of Hazel’s pain!!
It wasn’t until the bleeding on Hazel’s forehead had stopped that Ambrose finally approached her, the camera dangling loosely in his hands.2
“The photo didn’t catch your face clearly, and Scarlett’s pose could’ve been better,” he said casually. Then, as if noticing her for the first time, his brows furrowed. “Wait.. Hazel, what happened to your face?
Her chest tightened at his words. Her face had been bleeding, yet their sole concern had been Scarlett’s pose in the photo. The realization struck her like a sharp blade, carving out the faint hope she’d held onto.X
Hazel waved off the concem with a faint smile. “It’s nothing. Don’t bother retaking it. It’s late; I’ll head back now?
What did it matter? The idea of a family photo had been erased from her heart long ago.
Unwilling to prolong the show, she turned and left quietly, her figure retreating into the evening. The path to Belmont Villa felt longer than usual, each step heavy with unspoken resignation.
The once–vibrant wedding room, filled with traces of celebration, had been stripped of its warmth over the past few days. Hazel had meticulously worked to transform it into something cold and impersonal, a space that could have belonged to anyone.
She tossed the wedding dress near the door with little regard, its fabric pooling in a heap. Dragging out her suitcase, she begant packing, her hands moving with mechanical precision.
Everywhere she looked, remnants of her time with Ambrose lingered. They had known each other for so long that nearly every item held a fragment of their shared memories.
But memories were a double–edged sword. Apart from the essentials, she decided to leave everything else behind. She wanted a clean break, a fresh start
By the time the first rays of dawn brushed the horizon, a knack echoed through the quiet villa. The makeup artist had arrived.!! Since she was about to leave, Hazel decided to dress elegantly, ready to greet the dawn of her new life. As she settled in front of the vanity mirror, a knock at the door shattered the quiet. Ambrose rushed in, his expression tinged with urgency.
“The makeup artist for Scarlett canceled at the last minute. She’s been crying nonstop. Could your makeup artist help her first?”
A request as absurd as sending the bride’s makeup artist to the bridesmaid was almost laughable. The makeup artist hesitated, caught in the awkwardness of the moment.
But Hazel remained composed, her voice calm. “Go ahead. I’m not in a hurry.”
Her quick agreement startled Ambrose. On a day like this, shouldn’t she have protested? Shouldn’t she have shed tears or demanded attention, just like Scarlett would have?9
Instead, Hazel’s indifference stung more than anger. It was as though the wedding and Ambrose had ceased to matter to her altogether.
The unsettling thought gnawed at him. What if she left today and he never saw her again? The idea, fleeting as it was, unsettled him deeply.
But his father–in–law’s insistent voice broke his train of thought, pulling him back to the present.
“Hazel, I’ll be back soon. I promise this is the last time.”
The last time? Hazel’s lips curled into a faint, ironic smile.
Yes, it was the last time.8
In a few short hours, Hazel would board a plane to a faraway land, never to look back.
Once Ambrose walked out, she rose from her seat and swept her gaze around the room. Over the years, Ambrose had lavished her with gifts, luxury handbags, designer gowns, sparkling jewelry, and even dolls, coffee, and gaming consoles.!
Yet, every single item had been chosen with Scarlett in mind.
The once–naive Hazel had adored those gifts, treating them as tokens of love and devotion. But now, they were nothing more than hollow reminders of her misplaced trust
Determined, she set to work. The scissors glided through the expensive fabric of the dresses, turning them into shreds. The hammer came crashing down on glittering jewels, splintering them beyond repair, Dolls and toys were tossed into the trash without a second glance, their cheery faces mocking her no longer.X
When the last of it was destroyed, Hazel turned to her calendar. She tore off the final page with steady hands.
On it, her handwriting glowed with bittersweet irony. “To wear the most beautiful wedding dress and marry the man I love most Ambrose.”
She let the paper drift to the floor, her lips curving into a faint, bitter smile.
The wedding drese now lov in tattere hound rennnnition Bust like the man Hazal once thought che’l Inve forever
2:22 PM |
The wedding dress now lay in tatters, beyond recognition, just like the man Hazel once thought she’d love forever
With a surge of anger, she crumpled the tom page into a tight ball and hurled it across the room }
It sailed through the air like a final severance, cutting away the remnants of her past and paving the way for an uncharted future.
The easter horizon began to glow faintly, the first light of dawn creeping into the room.
Hazel wiped the last of her tears, her fingers trembling momentarily before steadying herself.
She pulled back the heavy curtains, letting the warm, golden sunlight flood the space. It illuminated the chaos she’d left behind, a scene she no longer cared to remember.
The past, like yesterday’s death, no longer had a claim on her.
Sliding on her sunglasses with newfound resolve, she stepped out into the moming chill, hailed a cab, and set off to meet the media mogul her friend had introduced.
The moment they met, she wasted no time with pleasantries. “I have an exclusive story guaranteed to go viral. How much are you willing to pay?”
The man’s brow arched as he studied her. Slowly, he raised his hand, spreading out five fingers.
“If this has anything to do with Ambrose, I’m willing to pay this.”
“I’ll pay five million, but on one condition: the story must go live across the entire internet the moment the wedding begins.”
“Deal.”
Hazel placed the bank card Ambrose had once given her on the table beside the USB drive, which now felt heavier than its size suggested.
No hesitation, no farewell, just a quiet severance from the man she once thought she’d love forever.
Boarding the plane with nothing but her resolve, she left everything else behind.!!
Chapter 10%
“Oh, still refusing to admit it? Fine! l lock you up for ten days–let’s see if you confess then!” Stella cursed as she grabbed ins urm, dragging her toward the firewood shed.
Panic surged through Iris.
She knew what Stella was like, if she were locked up for ten days, she would miss the letter from her biological parents.
by th
the
But she wasn’t even given the chance to beg for mercy. The next moment, she was thrown into the dark, musty shed, and the door slammed shut behind her.K
Just before the lock clicked into place, she vaguely heard Wendel’s anxious voice
“Mom, don’t do this! You’ll kill her!“%
Darkness swallowed her
As she stared into the pitch–black void, a wave of despair washed over her.
Was she really going to miss the letter??
Had she been rebom only to relive the same fate as before?
No
She refused to accept it.
Taking deep, steady breaths, she forced herself to stay calm.
The more she struggled, the more she would provoke the Lancaster family’s wrath. If she wanted to escape, she had to think of another way.
Her eyes scanned the room. Aside from stacks of firewood, there was an old, dull axe resting in the comer.
If she sharpened the wood to a point, she might be able to pry open the rusty lock.
She didn’t waste a second. Grabbing the axe, she began carving the wood.
Time passed agonizingly slowly. One day without food or water.
The axe was too dull, and no matter how much strength she put into it, she couldn’t get a sharp enough point.
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Her vision blurred. Her body could no longer hold on.
She collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, Iris didn’t know how long she lay there.
But then–a voice, soft, urgent mng out.8.
“Ins! It’s me, Wendel. Are you okay?”
“Say something, please don’t scare me Wendel anxiously said.
Iris forced herself to sit up, stumbling as she crawled toward the door!
A wave of dizziness crashed over her, each one stronger than the last. She could barely hold on, her voice hoarse as she gasped, “Wendel… if you still care about the bond we’ve shared for over ten years, then open this door”
“ris…” His voice on the other side of the door wavered with hesitation. “I want to let you out, but first, I need to ask you something.“S
“Have you secretly stayed in contact with your biological parents?”
“Have you been planning to leave the Lancaster family and live the life of a rich young lady?”
Iris took a deep breath, but her chest tightened painfully.
Her health had never been good. The barefoot doctor from the neighboring village often warned her about her weak heart and lungs. Every time she finished farm work, she would struggle to catch her breath for a long time.!!
Today, her condition was worse than ever. Even speaking took all her strength.
Seeing that she didn’t respond, Wendel let out a cold laugh. “So. Mom was right–you’re an ungrateful wretch. Let me tell you something, no matter what, you will marry me. You will never leave the Lancaster family
iris” vision blurred
She couldn’t understand it. He didn’t love her. Then why did he insist on keeping her tied to him through marriage?3
Did he truly believe she was only worthy of a miserable, impoverished life?
From outside, his voice rang out again, arrogant and commanding “Inis, if you give
e me a proper explanation right now, maybe there’s still room for negotiation.”
Anger flared inside her.
She just wanted to break down the door and confront him.X
Summoning every last bit of strength, she tried to stand up, but her body betrayed her. She tripped and fell onto the pile of firewood.!! The logs tumbled down, crashing onto her frail body.!!
Her consciousness slipped away, drowning in darkness.}
Just before she lost all sense of the world, she heard the creak of the door swinging open.
Iris didn’t know how much time had passed.!!
When she finally opened her eyes, she found herself lying on a hospital bed in the town clinic.
2:23 PM W
Iris didn’t know how much time had passed.
When she finally opened her eyes, she found herself lying on a hospital bed in the town clinic.
A nurse was changing the IV drip. Seeing her awake, she smiled kindly. “You’re awake! Do you need me to notify your family?”
Iris‘ voice was weak. “Who… who brought me here?”
The nurse replied, “Your brother. He comes every noon to bring you meals. He should be here soon,“X
Iris nodded slightly and said nothing more.!!
Not long after, Wendel arrived.
Seeing her awake, he looked strangely nervous.
“Iris, you’re finally up! Here, have something to eat–I made this myself.“}
He opened a metal lunchbox, placing it in front of her!!
The dishes inside were vibrant and fragrant, clearly prepared with care.
But Iris had no appetite at all.
Lowering her head, she murmured, “You took me out of the shed without Mom’s permission… Won’t she be angry?“!!
“This…” Wendel hesitated before sighing. “So what if she is? This was a matter of life and death! If I hadn’t opened that door, you would’ve died in there! Do you know you were unconscious for three whole days? I was scared to death!”
Iris‘ eyes widened in shock.B
Three days?!
Then, her parents‘ letter must have already arrived at the post office!
She had to leave the clinic–immediately. Not a single second could be wasted.
Unaware of her thoughts, Wendel continued, “The doctor said you have weak heart and lung function, probably due to lack of oxygen. I told Mom and Dad, but they don’t really understand. Don’t worry, though. I won’t let them treat you badly.“9
Mistaking her silence for financial concern, he quickly added, “And don’t worry about money. Since you’re sick, we’ll focus on getting you better first. Once you’re well, we’ll go home.”
