Chapter 41 CHAPTER 41: Fractured Trust
Adam
I stepped into the parlor and was about to go check Hazel's room when she emerged from the right. Her eyes were red with tears as she eyed me suspiciously. I walked up to her.
“Hey babe, I can explain”, I began, as I handed the flowers to her. She took them without uttering a word, then her face contorted into angry lines, and before I could gauge her reaction, the flowers landed on me. She hit me over and over with the flower bouquet as it scattered all over the floor.
“A flower? After what did you”? She screamed as tears flowed down her face.
She dropped what was left of the flowers on the floor and used her hands to hit me.
“I hate you, I hate you” she kept muttering and crying. I turned and held her in my arms while she struggled to be free from my grasp, but I was bigger. Then she calmed down as her tears fell. Then she turned into my arms.
“I’m calm, you can let go of me now” she said.
I released her from my grip, and she walked to the couch and sat down. I knew I owed her an explanation, so I went and sat opposite her.
“I’m so sorry Hazel. I swear my intention was not to lock you up all day. I had a meeting with dad that bled into the whole day”, I explained, but she sat there with a blank expression on her face.
Somehow, I knew no explanation would be enough for the damage I have caused already. I sighed and headed into the kitchen. Microwaved the food I bought for her and took it to her. She still sat the exact same way I left her. I sat next to her, took her hands in mine, then moved her face slowly so she could look at me. She stared blankly at me.
“I got your favorite, and I’m so sorry about today. I’ll be with her all day tomorrow, I promise” I said.
She looked at me and I saw defiance in her eyes. “I will not be here tomorrow”, she stated. I nodded because there was no point telling her the truth. I needed her to listen to me because I needed her to make a decision as regards our future. I scooped the food into my mouth
“Mmm! Yummy” I exclaimed as she looked at me.
I scooped the food and took it to her mouth; she eyed the food hungrily but turned her face away.
“Please, you need to eat for the baby” I pleaded.
I tried again, and she snatched the spoon from me and started to feed herself. I heaved a sigh of relief and leaned back on the couch. I watched her eat slowly.
“I’ll be right back” I said as I stood up to go to my room to freshen up.
By the time I got back, Hazel was sprawled on top of the couch sleeping peacefully. She had finished the food I bought and that was when I realized that she might have been very hungry and that made me feel more guilty. I stepped close to her, pushed the hair away from her face and bent down and stared at her. She looked so peaceful just lying there, a stark contrast to the woman that pounced on me earlier. As I looked at her, I was tempted to kiss her, so I gently traced her face with my fingers, then she stirred and mumbled before her eyes flew open. When she finally made sense of her environment, she flinched at my touch by turning her face away and rising to a sitting position. I
I stood up from my kneeling position and sat beside her on the couch.
“What do you want”? She said, her eyes hooded and guarded.
“I’m sorry I woke you up” I muttered.
“What do you want”? She repeated
“A chance with you, Haze”, I replied, feeling vulnerable and small.
“I'm with Williams, my husband and I will be there for another year” she said.
“I can wait another year for you. Just tell me you want to be with me too, that what I'm feeling is mutual, and I'm not in it alone”, I pleaded.
“Adam” she turned to me. “You are my best friend and I would love to keep it that way.
“So, what do we do with the baby”? I asked.
She closed her eyes as if she was in pain, then touched her stomach. “Adam, we cannot assume the paternity of this baby until he or she is born, and I am tired of explaining this to you. Why are you so obsessed with this baby?” She looked agitated, but my traitorous eyes instantly drifted to her skirt, which had ridden up to her mid-thigh when she moved to adjust her position, and I found myself checking out her shapely legs and flawless thighs. I have a sudden flashback of our first night together in her room, those legs wrapped around me as she drew me deeper into her.
“Adam?” She called out.
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts, and looked at her through lust-filled eyes. She looked at me with a frown, “You spaced out just now” …wait! Were you just having naughty thoughts right now? She asked suspiciously and I blushed. How she always managed to read my thoughts would forever remain a mystery to me.
I raised my hands up in surrender. “Hey, a man can dream” I smiled, despite the serious atmosphere.
“Focus on Adam, this is a serious matter and take out that thought from your mind because it will never happen again.”
My face fell. “Hazel, listen. My dad is on my neck and wants me to marry before the end of the year. If not, I will be cut off my grandfather's shares and will only inherit his shares, which will be held until he is no more. I had never planned to marry for money, but he is pushing me into the world. I love you and I hope against hope that I will win this war. If only I had your word, then I could find a way to convince him.
She turned to me with anger in her eyes, “Do you hear yourself Adam”? She snapped.
“I will never give up on you, Haze, nor my baby” I replied stubbornly and continued as if she did not say anything. “I have a plan. I am willing to pay your family’s debt to The Thorns so you can be free of Williams and his hold on you” I blurt out, holding her arms
Hazel’s hazel eyes grew wide in shock as they glowed in the dim light. “You’ll what?” She gritted; annoyance evident in her tone.
“I think you are getting this wrong, Haze” I pleaded, tightening my hold on her arm.
“Let go of my arm, you jerk!” as she ripped her arm from my hold. Who the heck are you, Adam? It feels like I never really saw you until now. Every day you keep showing me another side of you that I never knew existed” she spat and continued ranting.
“You must be really out of your mind or desperate to think I will let you save me so you can coax me to marry you. What is the difference between what William's family did and what you are proposing right now? At least he had the decency to come clean from the onset”. She hissed vehemently.
“No Haze, this is not anything like that. I love you, and you love me too". I pleaded as I got close to her. She stood up abruptly with an appalled look on her face and a glimpse of hurt flickered in her eyes before it was replaced with anger again.
“Who the hell do you think you are?! I’m sorry to disappoint you, Adam, but I am not for sale! Your money can get you a lot, it seems, but not me.” She tried to sidestep me, but I blocked her path.
“Get out of my way.” She spits furiously.
“Jesus, Hazel, please just listen to me. You are missing the point and my intention was not to pay your debt. I just thought that would help you make a decision. God! I’m making this worse and all the things coming out of my mouth are crazy. I’m not trying to buy you, and the last thing I’d ever want to do is insult you.” I explained and sighed dejectedly. “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate. You’re my only hope out of this arranged marriage.”
“I don’t want your help! There are a million girls out there who would marry you without a second thought, so go pick one of them”.
“Please Haze, think about this please” I groveled.
“Get out of my way!” She screamed as I moved to the side and she stormed away.
I stood there as I willed the ground to swallow me. That did not go at all as I expected nor planned. I realized my mistake and desperation may cost my friendship of a decade with her. I walked to the couch and slumped on top of it as my heart beat against my chest.