Chapter Four
The next day, Hazel went about her work, helping grandma around, like a robot. She felt a strange restlessness inside her. She wanted to stay at Allen's house with him and Axel but she didn't wish to endanger their lives.
If Nicholas King found out, he wouldn't leave them alone. He would try to harm them to get to her. She couldn't let that happen. Yet she longed to be with Allen. His calm sweet nature, the warmth of his arms around her, his intoxicating cologne all made her want his nearness. She didn't want to leave the sanctity of his arms in the entertainment room, but with Axel watching, she didn't have a choice.
She hated Nicholas King with a vengeance. She was nicely settled at her job as a maths teacher at Travis High, in her hometown of Travis Springs in Hays county, Texas. Living with her parents who owned a small ranch and two younger sisters, her life was getting along fine.
However, everything changed that dreadful day four years back when she went to the King's mansion to give private tuitions to her student Xavio. The money was too much and she didn't see any harm in it.
After a month, things started going off schedule when Xavio's uncle Nicholas came to stay with him. She had no idea that he was a mafia don. He openly showed his interest in her from the first day that he met her. She didn't like his rough attitude. He didn't seem to take her disinterest in him seriously. She tried to avoid him at all costs.
After a month she left going to Xavio's house to give him private tuitions. He failed in math that year. His dad, Antony, requested her to start teaching him again. This time Xavio visited her thrice a week.
But as fate would have it, there was no way of avoiding Nicholas King. He came thrice a week to drop his nephew off at her house. He stayed back at her house trying to impress her parents while she taught Xavio.
For two years Nicholas consistently tried
to gain everyone's trust. He would go away
on work and again return after a few days to her house. Her parents were too impressed with his gentlemanly ways. They forced her to get engaged to him and they even set up a date to get her married to him. In return Nicholas helped them with their ranch business. He financially helped her next sister Ariel get married to a nice guy and settle down happily. She didn't wish to marry Nicholas but no one listened to her.
However, somehow God might have taken pity on her and a week before her wedding, her parents found out that he was a mafia don of New York. The police were after him for arms and ammunition dealing, drug trafficking and many other crimes. The wedding was cancelled. Nicholas was furious. He arrived with his men to threaten her parents. It was the worst nightmare of their lives. No one came forward to help them. Nicholas King was a notorious man and everyone trembled hearing his name.
For the next eight months, Nicholas tried to meet her and get her to marry him. When everything failed Nicholas one day abducted her at night and took her to his mansion in New York.
She was petrified but thankfully he never forced himself upon her. Apart from forcefully kissing her, he never crossed his limit. She was kept locked in a bedroom with guards everywhere. If she would try to escape, Nicholas threatened her that he would get her pregnant with his heir. She refrained from doing anything to make him furious.
After a year, he fixed their wedding without her approval and took her to Travis Springs. He invited her family to the King's mansion where the wedding would take place. She had accepted it as her destiny and dragged herself to get ready for the wedding.
Outside a storm was picking up speed and everyone was busy getting stuff from the outdoor reception party area, inside the house. Xavio opened the locked door of the room she was in and holding her hand, dragged her downstairs towards the side entrance door and pushed her out,"Run and save yourself, ma'am, " he said, closing the door after her.
She was stunned by Xavio's actions. She ran and ran in the storm and rain and finally found a lift to take her to Houston.
"What are you thinking about dear?" asked grandma. Her voice brought Hazel out of her deep reverie.
"Nothing grandma, " she said with a forced smile. It was evening already and she still was at a loss about where she would go to after a day when her uncle and his family arrived here.
"I think Allen liked you. You can live with them, Hazel. I would really be at peace if you went with them," said grandma.
"I don't know, grandma. I'm in a bad situation. No one would want me after knowing everything," said Hazel, unhappily.
The landline phone buzzed and grandma went to take the call. She returned worried after around ten minutes. "What happened grandma? Who was it?" Asked Hazel.
"Your uncle Grant called. He was furious that you escaped your wedding. There was chaos and Nicholas's men beat up your dad and uncle after you left. Grant is arriving here tomorrow evening itself," said grandma and Hazel stood transfixed as teardrops continuously fell from her eyes.
She ran to her bedroom and cried on her pillow. Tomorrow morning she would leave wherever her two feet took her. She was tired of this life anyways.
The next morning she woke up early and showered. She made breakfast for her grandma and decided to leave quietly before her grandma woke up. She wore one of the dresses that belonged to her aunt Emily and walked swiftly towards the main door. She didn't have any luggage. She didn't have any money. With a heavy sigh, she opened the door and froze.
Allen stood outside with an angry look on his face. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked, with his hands turned into fists.
"Don't know. Wherever my legs can carry me," she said, looking down at her feet.
Her grandma came forward, "You came Allen? She's going away to God knows where," her grandma sobbed uncontrollably. "That's why I called you like you asked me to," she added.
"Thank you grandma. I will take care of her, don't worry," he said.
Hazel stared at the two of them. Her grandma informed Allen? She didn't want to bother anyone. "I'm sorry grandma. I shouldn't have come here in the first place. I'll go now. Please don't bother Allen. I don't want to be a burden on both of you," she said, rushing out of the house towards the gate.
Allen rushed after her. He reached her in a few long strides, caught her hand to stop her and picked her up in his arms. Hazel gasped as he effortlessly carried her bridal style towards his car. She peeped behind to see a beaming grandma, closing the door.
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Featured picture: Leonardo DiCaprio as Nicholas King
