Author Pov
Hazel looked around trying to find the man she was supposed to get engaged to in a month. He asked her to meet him near the cafe she works as he wanted to introduce her to someone.
"Hazel!" She looked up finding familiar black eyes gazing at her. She instantly knew who it was.
"Eric." Eric Mathews. 28 years old bachelor who recently took a hold of his father's business.
Eric's father and Hazel's father were actually really close friends. His father used to have a normal background just like Hazel's but within the past few years, his father worked really hard and become one of the most well-known business tycoons in the country.
Hazel has met Mathews as well and she has to admit both son and father are poles apart. Mathews is an ambitious yet gentle respectful man while Eric is well. A spoilt brat. Eric doesn't even think before saying anything. He's the blunt and quiet self-centered man. Being 28 he still behaves like a teenager sometimes. He flaunts his money every chance he gets. Everything has been tolerable for Hazel but one thing isn't which he always does.
"Hazel meet my friend Warren. Warren my fiance Hazel." His friend smiled at Hazel but soon his next words irked her.
"Hazel Warren was asking me who was your first husband?" This. This is what she hates the most about him. It wasn't the first time he asked her this question.
She already told him many times that she doesn't want to talk about her first husband yet he always reminds her of Cyrus at every chance he gets. He even reminded her of her being a divorcee many times which annoys her the most.
"Eric I already told you I don't want to talk about him." She said calmly making Eric nod his head.
"I understand. It's just that Warren wanted to know who he was. I already told him he must be someone inferior to me. After all, I am the best choice for you." Hazel shook her head sighing out.
Why does she always get narcissistic jerks? Is it a curse on her or something? She decided to stay quiet and only talked when anyone asked her something. Hazel was always a reserved and less talkative person while Eric was completely opposite of her.
The man just doesn't know when to shut up. Sometimes she even questions herself why he even wants to marry her when they are so different. He should get a girl who is like him in nature. Someone who is as expressive and ongoing as him.
Soon Warren bid goodbye leaving them alone. Eric turned his head towards Hazel with an annoyed gaze.
"Hazel, what was that? My friend came to meet you especially and you look like you're not even a bit interested." Hazel looked at him blinking her eyes.
"Eric I am sorry If I made you feel that way. I am just not a chatty person and ---" Eric scoffed.
"Listen Hazel I know you must have done this already I mean you're a divorcee after all. But this is my first marriage and I want my fiance to show the same enthusiasm as I am showing." Hazel glared at him.
"For how many times you're going to remind me of being a divorcee? I already told you Eric if you have a problem with me being a divorced woman we can end this here. You're a bachelor. You can find someone else. I am not forcing you to marry a divorced woman like me." Saying that she stood up but Eric grabbed her wrist shaking his head.
"Hazel I am sorry I didn't mean it in that way. I want to marry you because I like you. I already told you I have liked you since I was just a kid." And that wasn't the lie. Eric liked her from childhood and this man has been stuck to her for years.
He even told her that he had many girlfriends but he couldn't forget her. And just when he heard about her from his mother he proposed to marry her right away. That was also one of the reasons why Hazel said yes to marrying him as she thought that maybe in the future she might be able to reciprocate his feelings but now it seems difficult.
Sometimes his feelings seemed like an obstinacy to her. Like he wants to get her and fulfill the obstinacy of his that he has had in his heart for years.
Hazel had no wish for herself anymore that's why she decided to listen to her mother and do what could make her happy. But his continuous mentioning of Cyrus wasn't helping her. She wants to marry Eric so she could forget Cyrus but if he keeps on mentioning him and comparing himself with Cyrus how will she forget that man?
"Eric please stop mentioning my first marriage I want to move on but you're not helping me." Eric nodded his head.
"Ok ok, I promise I wouldn't mention him anymore." Hazel sighed nodding her head.
"By the way, I already gave an order of the jewelry for the engagement." He said pulling out his phone and showing her the necklace and earrings he chose for her.
Just like that he started talking nonstop about how expensive and antique the jewelry is. He kept on praising his choice while flaunting his money. She silently watched him and let him talk as long as he wished to.
It's been a month since they have been talking and meeting with each other and even after Hazel mentioned to him that she likes simple stuff he still does what he feels like. In the end, she gave up and let him do what he wants.
She walked near the bridge watching the beautiful water swirling around. Eric offered to drop her back home but she wanted to spend a little time alone so she refused him. Walking around a small smile appeared on her lips when she found a hotdog truck standing on the corner of the street.
She walked near the truck and ordered one hotdog. That's what she likes. Simple food and a peaceful walk around the street with no tension playing with her head.
She walked towards the bench in front of the bridge and took a seat there. Looking around she enjoyed the food but soon her eyes froze on a lady selling beautiful simple jewelry. She stood up and walked near the woman staring at the bracelets and rings laying on the wooden table.
Those bracelets reminded her of the one Cyrus gifted her. The same she left in the mansion. She thought of taking that bracelet with her but in the end, she decided to keep nothing with her that could remind her of him.
"You want something dear?" The lady asked her making her look at the beautiful jewelry.
Her eyes got stuck on a steel bracelet having a snake-shaped design printed on it. "You want this?" Hazel nodded her head without realizing and the woman packed it in a small box.
"Here." Hazel paid the amount and stuffed the box in her bag taking a bite of her hotdog. The whole day she stared at the bracelet thinking again and again why did she even buy it?
It wasn't of Eric's taste instead it was something Hazel wouldn't like wearing as well. Then why? She ruffled her hair putting the bracelet back in the box and keeping it safe in the drawer before letting the sleep engulf her.
Her wide eyes looked around the dark place finding herself stuck in a wide steel cage. She closed her eyes clutching her hair as a familiar dark voice entered her ears.
Be my bed warmer. Be my whore!
She whimpered as those words hit her head.
You're mine! My maid! My whore!
"S-Stop!" She mumbled shaking her head.
I will never let you go! You're mine!
But suddenly the dark cage she was once imprisoned in lightened up and now she was standing freely in a beautiful garden with a slow and cold wind embracing her.
I am sorry sweetheart. I am so sorry for everything.
The frown over her forehead started relaxing as she moved her head once again.
I Love you. If possible forgive me.
She breathed out clutching the bedsheets.
I am letting you go my love.
With that, her eyes snapped up as she breathed out rapidly. She touched her forehead finding it filled with only sweat. She slowly sat up resting her back against the headboard.
She sighed closing her eyes. Her hand went to her chest as she lightly fisted her night dress. Pulling her knees near her chest she curled up resting her forehead against her knees.
"Why can't I forget you? Why I am still stuck on you? Why are you affecting me so much?" She whispered feeling tears streaming down her eyes.
A cracked sob left her lips as she clutched her knees even more. "Why do I miss you? Leave me alone. Please just go away." She let out crying silently and this time there was no one to wipe away her tears.
She got everything back yet this pain wasn't ready to free her. Why does it hurt her to remember the moments she spent with him? Especially the very last moments.
She was tired of fighting within herself, for how long will she keep on holding onto herself? For how long?
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