Chapter 124 IF MADDOX WERE HERE
\[CASTELLAN HOUSE\]
"Doctor, how is she?" Nikita asked.
Dr Felix stood and packed up his equipment. "Don't worry, she'll be fine."
He walked out of the room with Nikita following him. They got to the living room to see Winter staring ahead as usual.
"I don't understand one thing," Nikita said.
Dr Felix gave her the 'what' look.
"How is it possible for Drexton to recognise her? The disguise, the masking of her scent, everything."
Dr Felix was about to reply when they heard a scream.
"She's awake," Nikita muttered, and they all ran upstairs.
Inside, Hazel was staring into space, her eyes still carried the same horror, and her fingers trembled over the gripped duvet.
"Hazel," Nikita called and sat beside her. "Calm down. Everything is fine."
Hazel didn't reply, still shaken by the whole event.
She's never been the type to believe in ghosts. Ghost doesn't exist, and shouldn't exist, but she saw her mother. Has she come to haunt her, or maybe take her soul?
"No!!!" she screamed.
"Hazel, calm down, breathe in okay," Nikita spoke softly, trying to coax her.
Hazel wasn't ready to listen. It's just like she's traumatized by the situation.
Nikita sighed and shifted her gaze to Dr Felix.
"How was Drexton able to recognize Ixora?"
Dr Felix cleared his throat. "Their love was deep and intimate. We might have been able to change her physically and mentally, but her soul is something we can't change. Their souls are connected, and I think to remain on the safe side, you should keep them away from each other."
"I'll take my leave now."
Nikita nodded, and he walked out of the room, his eyes meeting with Winter's.
Nikita's eyes went back to Hazel. "Hazel, there is no ghost. It's all Drexton's plan."
Hazel shook her head. "I saw her. My mother. The past has come to hunt me. I killed her, and she's come to seek her revenge. She's come to take my life," Hazel sobbed, scattering her hair like someone with a psychosocial disability.
"Breath in, relax," Nikita tried cajoling her, but she wasn't ready to listen.
"You know what," Nikita said and stood. Her hands flew to Hazel's cheek, and that rendered her speechless.
"That is not your mother! Drexton plans to make you come clean. She is a dummy!" Nikita yelled, and this time, both Hazel and Winter's gaze went towards her.
"Yes. I figured it out while taking you away."
"So... There is no ghost," Hazel whispered.
"Exactly. It's all Drexton's doing."
Hazel slowly faced front, veins stretching on her forehead. "So, inviting me to the party was all a plan?"
"I tried to tell you. I should have known when he didn't act as I predicted, his plan would be more dangerous. Who'd have thought he'd come up with such a plan, using your dead mother? Thankfully, I was able to save us by scaring them with a gun," Nikita said.
Truthfully, she didn't expect the plan to be dangerous like this.
Hazel balled her fist, gnashing her teeth. "He's going to pay for messing with me. I will make sure of it."
Nikita's lips spread into a smile, a cruel one. "In some parts, I like his plan."
"Why?" Hazel asked, looking at her.
"It brought you back to your senses. Initially, you had forgotten the reason you changed your body to Ixora. You got carried away, and no matter what I did, you weren't listening. Thanks to Drexton's plan, your senses are back. Amazing." She clapped her hands once.
"What's the plan? I'm ready to do anything," Hazel muttered scornfully.
Nikita wanted to talk, but remembered Winter was in the room.
"You are our bodyguard, and a bodyguard is meant to guard the outside, not the room."
Winter faced her.
"Leave," Nikita said coldly.
Winter nodded and left the room.
"Why did you ask her to leave?" Hazel asked.
"At this rate, I don't trust anybody. Somebody is working against us, and that too, faster. Until I figure out the person, our plan will be between us."
"So, what is the plan?"
Nikita smiled. "We have to get his property papers."
"How do you plan on doing that? Drexton will never give it to you."
"Correct, but he has seen Ixora."
"He saw Ixora?" Hazel asked, shocked.
"Partially. He felt her in the dark, but she managed to escape. He will go feral, and we'll strike."
"Come on, tell me the plan already. I'm dying of suspense," Hazel said, making faces.
Nikita leaned in and whispered in her ear.
Hazel's eyes widened at first before they mirrored their faces, smiling dangerously.
\--
Winter climbed the stairs with a soft sigh. She wonders what they are planning, but she's not going to let them achieve their plan.
She wondered what would have happened if her dad hadn't interfered. If he didn't save her from Drexton.
She hated to deny it, but she was also surprised. She knows Drexton, but his mind can go far and wild if he wants to. Who on earth fakes a dead person just to bring the truth out of somebody?
She went outside and got her cell phone. Her dad must be worried about her.
She called, and he answered as if he had been waiting for her call.
"Xora, are you okay? You should find a way to come and see me. W..."
"Dad, I'm fine," Ixora said in a reassuring voice.
"You're sure?"
She nodded as if he could see her. "Yes."
"But there is a problem. Nikita is now very suspicious. I fear she's going to find out everything soon."
"Then it's time we end it. We're going to rescue Nelly next week. After that, we put our plan into action," Eric said.
Winter sighed. "I have to go now, before somebody sees me."
"Bye."
They ended the call with Ixora remembering how Drexton reacted when he saw her.
\[HELL DEVILS' HIDEOUT\]
Jaxon rushed in.
"Did you find him?"
"Has he come back?"
They asked simultaneously.
"I couldn't find him," Jaxon replied.
"Same," Alexa said and threw herself on the couch.
"Who knows where he is. I hope he's not doing any harm to himself," she muttered.
"And his phone is not reachable," Jaxon said, giving up on trying to call Drexton.
He sat down beside Alexa and rested his elbow on his thigh.
He looked at Alexa. She had her eyes closed, obviously stressed out.
They are both stressed out. Drexton, Ixora, Hazel, everything is stressing them out.
"You think Drexton saw Ixora?" he asked.
Alexa opened her eyes and sat up. "I don't know what to say again. We know how obsessed Drexton is towards Ixora. We know what happened between them, and anybody who's in Ixora's state would hate Drexton. If she did come, why did she go to Drexton?"
"She might want revenge, or Drexton might be mistaken. We were outside when the gunshot was fired, we would have seen her, or better... I don't even know what I'm saying," she drew in a long breath.
"Everything is just going bizarre. And now Drexton is missing. I went to the outhouse to find him, his house, every place I could think of, but he wasn't there. He can act impulsively sometimes. What if he decides to hurt himself? What if he goes mad when trying to make everybody believe he saw her? What if..." His voice cracked, and he looked away, pressing his thumb on the side of his nose bridge.
"If only Maddox were here. He's mad, too, and the only one who can handle Drexton. I want my brother back." His words broke out.
Alexa looked at him, noticing the change in his voice. Her gaze softened as she watched him stand, ready to leave.
She held his hand.
"Let go," he said, refusing to look at her.
"It's okay to cry at times," she whispered.
He faced her, his eyes red-rimmed with tears. He dragged her close and engulfed her in a deep hug.
"I wish Maddox were here. None of these would be happening," he muttered on her shoulder.
Alexa said nothing, just patting his back softly.
"We can try checking the CCTV footage of the event. It would definitely capture Ixora if she were indeed present."
Jaxon quickly broke the hug. "It won't work."
"It's worth trying."