Chapter 17
Hazel frantically tried to slip her mask of innocence back on, but it was too late.
Harrison strode forward and grabbed her throat.
Screams erupted as Hazel’s friends scattered in fear, fleeing the room. In the end, only the two of them remained.
“Hazel,” Harrison forced the word through gritted teeth. “You’ve been lying to me for years, haven’t you?”
His mind reeled back to the first time he met her
Back when Hazel’s father had just passed away, little Hazel asked him where her father had gone with red–rimmed eyes. Guilt and pity had made him vow to take care of her for the rest of his life.
At first, it was just responsibility and sympathy. But as she grew older, she became different from the women in his world–the ones who carried designer bags, lived in luxury, and looked down on everyone else.
Hazel, on the other hand, had always seemed so uncertain of her place, as if she thought she didn’t deserve anything.
That fragile, vulnerable side of her had made him protective. And that protection had made
him think he loved her.
But now, seeing her for who she truly was, he suddenly realized he was furious at being
deceived. But he wasn’t heartbroken.
Why? If he truly loved Hazel, shouldn’t this hurt?
Yet, it was Scarlett who made his chest tighten in unbearable pain.
It was her pale face when Hazel shattered Livia’s final work. It was Scarlett, resisting the effects of the drug and driving those scissors into herself with chilling resolve. It was her calm expression as she stared at him through the flames, almost as if she had expected this all. along.
Harrison felt like he couldn’t breathe.
In the end, all his fury could only be redirected at Hazel standing before him. His grip tightened. At that moment, he really wanted to kill Hazel.
Hazel saw the murder in his eyes, and real terror gripped her. She gasped and struggled, barely managing to choke out, “Uncle Harry… please… for my father’s sake…”
Harrison’s eyes widened.
A second later, he let go.
Hazel collapsed onto the floor, clutching her throat and coughing violently.
“Hazel,” Harrison said coldly, his voice devoid of the warmth and affection it once held. Now, it was as distant and frigid as if he were speaking to a stranger.
“I’ve long since repaid everything I owed your father. From this moment on, you and I have nothing to do with each other.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Hazel sobbed his name, crying until her voice was hoarse. Yet he never looked back.
Harrison rushed home, only to find the living room cluttered with boxes.
He frowned. “What’s all this?”
Ella replied calmly, “Scarlett sent some things over a while ago. I only just got around to
sorting through them. Oh, and I found a bunch of your stuff in the basement. You might want to take a look.”
Harrison’s gaze fell on the scattered items, and then he froze.
Chapter 18
