The sitting room was exactly how she remembered it. Her brother, Jason, was seated in a man-spread position, flipping through a magazine while taking sips from the cup of coffee before him.

She didn't make her presence known, not until he looked up from the magazine. His eyes went wide, and the cup slipped from his grip.

"Hazel?" he called, his tone laced with disbelief. He stood up and took slow steps towards her.

"Am I dreaming?" She didn't reply to his question; instead, she wrapped her arms around him.

"I missed you, big brother." He released a hearty laugh, then ruffled her hair like he always did.

"You came back."

"Where is Mom?" Jason looked towards the stairs, and that was enough for Hazel to understand.

She left Jason in the sitting room and went up the stairs to the master's bedroom. She took a moment to stare at her mom's sleeping figure before placing a kiss on her forehead.

Mrs. Smith stirred from her sleep, and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips when she saw Hazel.

"Changed your mind already?" she asked, her tone sarcastic. The Smiths had been against her marriage to Felix, but she had married him against their wishes.

"Hm," Mrs. Smith went back to sleep with a smile on her face, while Hazel retired to her bedroom. It was like she never left. The curtains were up, and the sweet scent of lavender still lingered in the air. After a warm bath, Hazel got into bed.

The next day,

The family is settled in the dining room, and Hazel's return was still a thing of surprise and shock.

"Did he raise his hands on you?" Jason asked, his grip already tightening around his fork. Hazel is the darling of the Smiths, and telling them what Felix has done to her would only worsen things. Whatever happens to Felix must come from her alone.

With a shake of her head, she took a sip from her glass of water and said, "Not really, but I want to divorce him."

"I'll arrange for the divorce papers and have them sent to him as well. You don't have to worry about that," Jason quickly said. He was afraid she'd change her mind any second.

"Since you've finally gotten back to your senses, what are your plans for the future?" Mrs. Smith spoke for the first time that morning.

"I plan to take over the family's business." Mrs. Smith released a sigh of relief. Two years ago, this crazy daughter of hers had left all her achievements to pursue the man she loved, leaving the company under the care of her power-hungry uncle.

Jason, on the other hand, focused on his breakfast. Running the family's business was never his dream. He was glad Hazel was there to keep up the legacy.

The rest of the day was spent catching up on what she had missed in two years.

When Felix got the divorce papers, he couldn't help but scoff.  He must have been too easy on Hazel that she dared bring a lawyer to him. Without a second thought, he put down his signature and sent her a note as well. She wanted a divorce? Fine, he'd give her one.

"Don't come running to me when you realize what grave mistake you've made."

Hazel read the note over and over again.

"It seems Mr. Hart is so full of himself," Jason said from his place on the couch. Hazel didn't say a word. She just tore the paper into shreds.

"What do you think about the business event coming up next week?" Hazel took a moment to respond as a smile curled up on her lips.

"Great."

The rest of the week passed like a blur. Seated at her vanity table, Hazel did the finishing touches on her makeup. Her dress was simple yet elegant, a black belted maxi dress that graced her figure perfectly. She threw on a blazer before leaving.

By the time they arrived, the event was already in full swing. As she walked in with Jason, her hand gently wrapped around his, heads turned, and people began to whisper.

Who would have known that the lady from the Smith family would suddenly show her face at the event?

The young bachelors smoothed their suits, each trying to make a good impression.

Standing a short distance away, Felix's eyes narrowed at Hazel, who was suddenly surrounded by men. 

His gaze lingered on Jason Smith, the man Hazel had her hand clasped around.

For a moment, when the lawyer brought the divorce papers, Felix had thought that he had never really known her. But it turns out she just got herself another man. He secretly took a picture and sent it to his mom.

"Ms. Smith is indeed a rare beauty," Felix spun around to see a couple of businessmen talking to themselves, their eyes locked on her.

He couldn't deny it either. She looked... different. But he balled his fist as the feeling of disgust washed over him.

Not wanting to dwell on them, he returned his gaze to Hazel, who was now the center of attention. Seeing men flung around her made something in him snap. He put down his glass and walked over.

The moment their gazes met, Felix's smile turned menacing. "It seems like you found a new man, Hazel."

"What are you trying to say, Mr. Hart?" The Hazel he knew would never talk back to him. She received everything without a word. If not for the striking resemblance, Felix would have thought this wasn't Hazel at all.

He let out a mocking laugh and pointed a finger at her.

"You think clinging onto another man gives you the right to speak to me in such a manner? You shameless little slut!

"I advise Mr. Smith to be careful of the woman beside him; she wants nothing but his money!" Felix didn't expect what came next: The slap hit like lightning; he could have sworn he saw stars.

"You..." Jason was so angry, he couldn't speak. If it weren't a public gathering, he would have taught this son of a bitch some lesson.

"It seems like Mr. Hart is a bit taken aback and does not recognize Hazel Smith," a calm but commanding voice called from behind.

All eyes followed the direction of the voice, and right at the corner, Mr. Locke stood, his figure tall and imposing. Dressed in a tailored suit that graced his long and slender legs, he exuded a powerful aura.

"Rowan?" When did he get back?

Hazel looked up at Jason, who was too busy glaring holes into Felix to even notice.

Rowan took slow and composed steps towards Felix, whose cheek was all red and swollen like that of a pig.

"Allow me to clarify. She is the young lady of the Smith family, heir to the Smith Group, and a renowned violinist. Now tell me, why would Mr. Smith stoop so low as to have an affair with his sister?" Although Rowan said it ever so gently, all could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

Felix Hart couldn't help but seethe. In the blink of an eye, he'd lost face completely. There were whispers and murmurs all around. He couldn't even walk away freely.

"Do you have something to say, Mr. Hart?"

Hazel raised a brow at him in return. As much as he hated every moment of it, he didn't dare offend Rowan Locke. Without a word, he turned around and left.

With Felix gone, Hazel looked away from Rowan, not wanting to meet his gaze.

"Trying to run away?" His words stopped her.

"Who said I'm trying to run away?" He took hold of her hand, totally ignoring her comment. "Jason, Hazel, and I would like to talk. Rest assured, she's safe with me." Jason didn't object, so he led her out of there.

Since Hazel left with Rowan, Jason decided to leave as well.

As they walked into the night, Rowan still had his hand clasped around hers. It was quiet and neither of them tried to break it. As they strolled further and further away, memories from their last encounter came rushing back.

When Hazel agreed to marry Felix, Rowan had advised her against it.

"He's only accepting because he's broke, he doesn't even love you!

But at that point in her life, she was blinded by her love for him.

"When did you get back?" she asked, starting a conversation since he didn't seem to be starting one anytime soon.

"Last month." Angry, Rowan had left the country at that time, claiming he couldn't watch her marry a scumbag. Thinking about it now, Hazel realized how right he was.

They settled on a bench, and Rowan pointed up at the sky.

"The stars are beautiful tonight. Remember how we used to stay up to watch them back then when we were kids? And then you end up falling asleep on my shoulder?"

"That was a long time ago."

"Mm. But we could remake those moments. Maybe into something more than just friendship?" His words were warm and gentle, like he was testing the waters.

But Hazel looked away.

"I... don't know. I just got out of a failed marriage, and I haven't even had the time to think or heal. I don't think I'm ready for a relationship yet."

"It's fine, and I'll wait. Take your time." With that, he pulled her into a hug.

"You're not mad?" she asked. She didn't listen when he warned her about Felix in the first place.

He released a hearty laugh, the sound velvety.

"When have I ever gotten mad? I've always been there, waiting for you to come out of it."

Hazel felt her chest tighten at his words. Had she been too blind not to see the signs all along?

***

At the Hart's mansion,

"Who do they think they are to hit you in such a manner?" Rachel's face was red from anger as she applied ice to Felix's swollen cheeks.

He gritted his teeth from time to time, the scene at the event kept repeating itself in his head.

"Just you wait and see. I'll make sure she regrets this action today!"

"She's not just anyone, Mom, she's Hazel Smith," It quieted down for a minute, the realization hitting harder than expected.

"She's Hazel Smith?" Even Stella, who was pacing around, stopped and stared.

A small gasp came from behind. Looking back, Lisa stood at the base of the stairs, a look of concern written all over her face.

"Felix? What happened to you?"Rachel put the ice down with a clink against the table.

"Don't you have something to do? This is a family matter!" She waved Lisa aside, her irritation spiking even more.

"I'm sorry, Mother, I didn't mean to interrupt," In a second, Lisa's eyes turned glassy. If it were before, Felix would have been moved, but it only made him angrier.

"Lisa, Mother said nothing wrong. You have to stop crying!" It took every ounce of willpower to not raise his voice even higher.

Lisa flinched from the harshness and turned around. She stopped some distance away and looked back at them, her fist clenched.

Now that things have turned out this way, would Felix go back to Hazel?

With a huff, she stomped her foot and left.

"Miss Smith, your ride is here,"

"I have to go now," Hazel said, bidding farewell to Rowan before leaving. He watched the car ride into the night.

Growing up, Rowan had been scared to confess his feelings to Hazel. She was always carefree, and he never thought she'd take him seriously, so he just loved her from afar. But not anymore.

"Mr. Locke," his subordinate called from behind. Rowan took one more look at the distance before leaving as well.

The next day,

The elevator dinged open, and a pair of slender legs stepped out.

Hazel Smith, with both charm and elegance, made her way into the meeting room. The reason was clear as daylight. She was back to finish off what she started. After a meeting with the board of directors, she made sure the termination letter was sent to the Hart's group.

While she was still a wife to Felix, Hazel not only gave him comfort but also brought his company back to life.

When Felix received the termination letter, he almost fainted out of anger. He was already having a hard time with the ongoing saga from the business event, and now this? He gritted his teeth and went to the Smith group.

As the door hissed open and Hazel stepped into the meeting room, Felix caught himself staring at those long legs.

"Mr. Hart," her words were cold, devoid of emotion. Felix forced himself to look up while narrowing his eyes at her.

"If you want to punish me, Hazel, please do. But don't bring the Hart group into this." Hazel let out a short laugh, the sound sharp yet pleasant to the ears.

"Punish you? You don't warrant my time, Felix. I'm just taking back all the favors I gave you." It quieted down for a moment, and Felix took a step forward, then wrapped his arms around her.

"You don't have to do this, let's forget about everything and start over." If it were before, Hazel would have been moved for sure, but not anymore. Not when his true colors are out in the open.

"Mr. Hart, please show some respect, we're not married anymore." Felix felt his chest tighten.

"Hazel, I made a mistake. Please reconsider." It seems that no matter what happens, Felix would never be genuine. He only cared about the state of his company, and there she was, thinking for a moment that he was truly sorry.

She blinked back her tears and looked away.

"Please leave, I've got a meeting to attend." Her biggest mistake was loving him, and even after all he had done, she couldn't help the pain she felt each time she saw him.

"Did you trick me into divorcing you because you have the power to bring me down?" Felix called from behind, his expression turned annoyed, a stark contrast to his once pitiful state. But Hazel didn't bother to grace him with a reply. She just left.

"Don't forget, Hazel, you might be all rich and beautiful, but you're still a woman. No man would want a second-hand wife!" Felix's voice echoed through the closed doors. Hazel couldn't stop herself from cursing under her breath. He's indeed a scumbag.

"Hazel?" Hearing the voice, she turned around. "Rowan?"

He took long, graceful strides towards her, and she didn't hesitate to lean into his warm embrace.

"What happened?" She shook her head, not wanting to answer. Only when she pulled away did she realize he had flowers with him.

"These are for you." At that moment, Felix stepped out of the meeting room. His fist clenched, and his eyes locked on the bouquet of flowers.

He watched Rowan whisper something to her ear, which made her cheeks flush pink.

What did he say to her? His gaze lingered on them for a moment too long. He couldn't explain the sudden ache in his chest. Rowan looked up early enough to see him leave.

There was no point crying about a failed marriage anymore. She'd prove him wrong in every way possible.

"Rowan..." Hazel whispered. "I'm ready for a relationship." The latter was slightly taken aback, his expression one of shock and fulfillment. He pulled her into a hug, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

"Then I promise you, I'll never let you go."

At the Hart's Group,

The only sound in the office was the tapping of Felix's finger against the table.

His mind kept drifting back to the flower scene. Thinking back, he couldn't stop wondering what Rowan had said to her at the lobby.

He undid the first few buttons of his shirt; the air suddenly turned stuffy.

All this while, Hazel had helped him in the dark; she helped him rise to fame. But all he did was mock her and treat her like she was nothing. A feeling of regret washed over him, one he didn't realize until now.

He has to find a way to get her back. She couldn't hate him that much, could she?

She's the same Hazel who wouldn't have breakfast until he'd had his first, the one who wouldn't sleep until he got home after work. The one who'd do anything possible to put a smile on his face.

She still loves him. She must love him.

His phone rang for the fourth time in a row. He reached for it, his eyes narrowing at the caller ID displayed on the screen. A feeling of mixed emotions surged within him, and his hand curled into a fist.

Before, Felix couldn't live a day without a call from Lisa, but now, as he stared at her name on his phone screen, his irritation spiked. All she ever did was ask for money. No help, just money.

He swiped green and put the call on loudspeaker, ready to give her a piece of his mind, but her words stopped him.

"I've been calling you, but you didn't pick up. I was feeling dizzy, so I ran a pregnancy test this morning, and it came back positive. We're expecting a baby." Felix didn't expect the turn of events. All the time he spent with Lisa, he never once thought about protection.

Now that he thought about it, he couldn't help but want to slam his head against a fucking wall!

He took a deep breath and said,

"Lisa, I'm willing to take responsibility for the child, but we have to go our separate ways!"