Before Lisa could get a word out, the call was disconnected. She glared at the screen like it offended her, resisting the urge to throw it across the room.

"Hazel, you wench!" She cursed, her voice echoed through the walls.

Back at the Hart's group, Felix tossed his phone aside on the table. He took a deep breath, not wanting to bother himself with Lisa; instead, he tried to think about what Hazel liked best.

They've been married for two years, yet he never cared about her preference. It's true when they say: you never know the value of what you have until you lose it.

An idea popped, and he put a call across to his assistant. A few rings later, his voice came through.

"Mr. Hart,"

"I need you to organize the media, and also, order a grand cascade bouquet of flowers."

"Right away, Mr. Hart," he hung up, feeling content. He's ready to propose his love for Hazel in a manner that she would find irresistible. A smile found its way to his lips, and he sent a text to his mom,

FELIX: Won't be coming home tonight, take care.

Now all he had to do was wait for tomorrow.

The Next Day, [SMITH'S MANSION]

"You're up early," Mrs. Smith called from the dining room.

"Morning, Mom," Hazel pressed a kiss to her mom's cheek before pulling up a seat. She checked the time again, not wanting to be late for work.

"What's the noise all about?" she asked. Mrs. Smith avoided her gaze as she dished out a large portion of porridge.

"Nothing, focus on your breakfast."

The door hissed open, and a scoffing Jason stepped in.

"The b*tch hasn't learnt his lesson."

"Is Felix here?" Jason replied with a small nod, and Hazel pushed back her seat.

"Hazel..." Mrs. Smith tried to stop her, but she was already walking out the door, her steps deliberately slow.

The moment she stepped out of the gates, camera flashes came from every angle, and petals fell like rain from the sky.

Right in the middle, Felix stood, his left hand tucked in his pocket, while the other held a bouquet. He grinned and walked over. He went on one knee when he got to her.

"Hazel, I know I messed up big time, but I realized my mistakes. Let's forget the past and move on like we used to be." One would think this is a husband deeply in love with his wife, and not a facade. But Hazel wasn't so dumb anymore, she dusted off the petals from her dress, and took a step back.

"Mr. Hart, we're already divorced." In case he forgot, she was ready to remind him.

"Let's make up." Hazel couldn't help but scoff at his words.

"Doesn't Mr. Hart have someone he really likes? How come he suddenly wants a change?" The flashlights kept coming, and a sly smile tugged at the corner of Hazel's lips.

Caught off guard, Felix was at a loss for words. He didn't expect Hazel to bring up such a topic at such a moment. He thought she'd be swept off her feet by his romantic gesture; she just let out a sigh like the whole thing just bore her.

"Hazel?" Hearing the voice, Hazel looked up to meet Rowan's gaze. Dressed in a three-piece black suit in full glory, he stole the spotlight in the blink of an eye. Cameras turned, and people whispered.

What's going on?

Amidst the ongoing whispers, Rowan pulled Hazel close, his hands firm around her waist.

"Sorry, Mr. Felix, but she's mine now." Heat crawled up to Hazel's face. She'd never expected such a comeback.

Felix looked like he'd just been slapped, his face flushed, his fist clenched around the bouquet as Rowan led Hazel out. He watched as Rowan held open the car door, and she got in. Slowly, the car pulled out of the driveway.

When they arrived at the company, Rowan accompanied Hazel in. "I'll pick you up later," he whispered into her ear. His little actions made her heart flutter. Then he leaned in and kissed her. Hazel's hand traveled up his neck, deepening the kiss.

The moment was short-lived when a staff member walked in.

Hazel pulled back quickly, fumbling with her seat while Rowan let out a soft chuckle.

***

As Rowan stepped out the gates, his phone dinged.

RASCAL: Hey brother, could you come pick me up at the airport?

He drove to the airport and picked Dean up.

"When are you going back?" He asked.

"I just got back and you already want me to leave? Do you hate me that much?" Rowan didn't bother to grace him with a response, as he pulled up at the driveway.

Dean got out with a jump, while he got out like a reasonable person would.

"Why didn't you tell me you arrived, huh? You little snitch," as much as Rowan wanted to ignore Axel's voice, he couldn't help but intervene when he raised his hand on Dean's head.

"Leave him alone," he said, turning to face him after taking out the last piece of luggage. "Who are you to interrupt?" Axel glared as he took slow steps towards him.

"Dean?" Mrs. Locke's voice came from behind. Dressed to perfection in all elegance, she exuded an air of nobility.

"Mom, do something," Dean walked over to her, his eyes constantly shifting between the two men.

"Mind your business, you just got home after a long drive," Rowan clenched his fist, and Axel smirked at his actions. No matter how hard he tried, they never really saw it.

"You wanna fight? Come on then," saying that, he threw a punch at Rowan's jaw; the impact caused his lips to bleed.

"You should know your place by now. You son of a... "

Axel didn't see it coming-the punch that made him lose his footing. He landed on his butt, his eyes widening in surprise. Even Mrs. Locke wasn't left out. She pushed Dean aside and raised her voice.

"Williams, your son is causing trouble again!"

Five minutes later, the whole family was present at Mr. Williams Locke's study. The old man let out a sigh for the hundredth time.

"I've said it a thousand times already, you're brothers, be united! One more ill behavior from any of you, I'll make sure I give both of you a good beating. Do you understand?" He dismissed them with a wave of his hand and went back to sipping on his coffee.

As Rowan left the study, Mrs. Locke walked up to him, her expression stoic.

"Hit my son again, and I promise I'll send you back to the streets," she walked away, but Rowan stayed standing, her words hitting harder than expected. It shouldn't hurt anymore; he'd heard it countless times. But he was wrong.

Just then, a chuckle came from behind.

"No matter how much I hear it, it always sounds new. Just a reminder, little brother, everything you've ever known and worked for belongs to me. The biological son, not an adopted boy from the dumpster." He burst into a laugh, leaving Rowan to clench his jaw.

" Raise your fist on me again, and I won't hesitate to let your girlfriend in on our little secret." And that was all it took to have Rowan fixed in that position.

And then he heard it, that word that kept tormenting him.

And then he said it, that word that kept haunting him since childhood.

"you don't deserve her."

**********

FLASHBACK- TEN YEARS AGO

"You wanna meet Hazel?" Rowan was shoved from behind, slamming face-first into the concrete.

Axel smirked, he crouched, fisted Rowan's hair, and yanked his head up. "Look at her, she's born into luxury. One day, Dad throws you out, you'll be nowhere near her feet. She'll spit on your face."

"Hazel would never do that!" Rowan struggled, his voice cracking.

Axel tightened his grip. "Rich ladies love rich guys. You're no less than a servant." He forced Rowan's head down again. And the latter struggled out of his grip.

"Fine, you want to give her flowers? Go ahead. I bet she won't even want them." Rowan watched him leave, his lips pressed thin.

"Rowan?"

He turned. Hazel stood there in a ballet costume, hair in a bun, like a princess.

"Jason and I are going to ballet class, you wanna join?" From the corner of his eyes, Rowan saw Axel lingering at the door.

"Maybe next time. I... I'm a little busy." She gave him a stare which said she didn't believe him, then she waved.

"Okay, see you later then." He watched her leave, while he clenched the rose petals in his fist, crushing them.

Axel was right. He didn't deserve her.

PRESENT.

Axel's words replayed, echoing every hesitation. Rowan's guilt hardened. He let her marry a scumbag, unable to stop her.

"Brother?" He turned.

Dean stood with a first aid box in hand. "Let's get your wound treated."

Rowan didn't argue; he just followed behind.

They settled in the sitting room; Dean pressed ice on his swollen lips. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault."

"Don't talk nonsense," Rowan groaned.

"Axel is just a little insecure. You know... because Dad made you heir."

Their gazes met briefly before Dean broke it.

"Axel will come around," he added.

"Not buying that," Rowan scoffed.

Dean fumbled with the ointment, his eyes drifting away.

The truth was clear as daylight, but he kept holding on. Rowan wished he could tell him hoping was fruitless. Axel would only get worse.

At the Hart's mansion,

"What were you thinking when you went all the way out to do that without consulting me first?" Rachel's voice cracked from screaming too hard. But who was she kidding? Felix sauntered in like she hadn't just given an ear-piercing lecture. His hands dipped into his pocket, his head bowed.

"Do you know what people are saying? We're supposed to be making comebacks, not humiliating ourselves!" She took a deep breath, not wanting to faint from anger as she stared at her son who walked up the stairs without looking back.

The door hissed open, and Felix stepped in. He took off his jacket slowly, the incident at the Smith's mansion replayed in his head.

*Is she really taken?*

*Rowan and her, are they a thing now, or is she only trying to make him jealous?*

"Fuck," the way she smiled at him. The way Rowan had his hand around her waist.

"Felix?"

Lisa stood by the door, her fist clenched.

"You left me here just so you could propose to Hazel? Why don't you understand that she doesn't love you? She's nothing but a liar and a thief!"

"Are you any better?" Slowly, Felix turned, his bare chest glittering under the dim lights.

"You accepted me despite knowing I had a wife. You acted like you don't want any trouble, yet you packed your bags and came here. So tell me, Lisa, are you any better?"

Lisa couldn't come up with the right words for a moment. "You wanted me to come," she struggled to say.

"You've always wanted to come. You kept asking." It hurt him that he was only getting to see through Lisa's cries and smiles.

"I'm carrying your child, Felix. You can't leave me like this, or I'll end my life and that of your baby's!"

Felix scoffed and took slow steps towards her, one at a time.

"Felix, what are you doing?" Lisa moved backwards. Her words were caught in her throat when Felix wrapped his hand around her neck.

She struggled for air, her legs slowly left the floor.

"Felix... please."

"You want death? I'll give it to you."

Lisa's eyes rolled up, and her body went limp immediately.

"Felix!"

"She's carrying your child. Snap out of it!" Felix threw Lisa on the bed when Rachel stepped in. He wiped his hand with a napkin like he'd just touched filth.

Rachel took a deep breath, going for a softer approach. Thank goodness the lady was still breathing.

"I know you're stressed out about everything, but you're my son, and I raised you for greatness. All you have to do is calm down. Hazel would walk straight into our trap, and this time, we'll teach her a lesson she'll never forget while holding onto her."

Hazel might have been lucky the first time. That was because they didn't know her worth. They thought they made it all by themselves. But this time, they're coming prepared.

She looked down at Felix, who had that blank expression as when he first walked in the door.

He wasn't listening.

He couldn't.

******

At the Smith's Group.

The city spread beneath her like a map. Hazel stood by the window, staring down at the bustling city. She tried getting ahold of him again-Rowan, but he wasn't picking up. He promised he'd pick her up. Did something come up?

She couldn't tell. Tired of standing, she decided to take a walk. With a face cap on, she stepped out of the gates. The sun was starting to set. Perfect timing.

She dialed Rowan's line again, and this time, it didn't go through. Frustrated, she dipped her phone into her pocket after sending him a message, and kept walking. She wasn't leaving until he shows up. She's that stubborn.

Should she stop by a restaurant or grab a cup of coffee from the coffee shop? She couldn't help but weigh both options to kill time. While she was still deep in thought, a sack was yanked over her head; the rough fabric swallowed her vision in an instant. The sack pressed against her face, scratching her skin, and before she knew it, she was shoved into a car, the metal door clanging shut. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and her breath quickened.

"What are you doing? Who are you!" She tried to scream, but her words came out muffled.

"shut up, bitch!" Time seemed to pause as the voice sank into her brain.

Stella?