Chapter 17 CHAPTER 17: Love, Family and Duty
Hazel
As I looked at the screen, my heart skipped. I was not in the right frame of mind to answer the call flashing on my screen at the moment, so I hit the red button, then made a mental note to call back after I had settled for the night.
Ava turned to look at me. “He would just keep calling Mrs. Hazel” Ava said
I smiled at her, "I'll handle it later" I replied before turning off my phone, then I turned to the driver.
“Take me to the hospital.”
I was beaming with smiles as we got to the hospital. The receptionist smiled and waved at me excitedly. I frowned and shook my head. Then, I rushed to William’s room. As I got to the door, I saw Maria trying to tuck Williams back into his bed. I stepped in and sat on the couch opposite his bed trying to gauge his emotions, but I got a blank expression.
“Hey Maria, can you please excuse us?” Williams said, his face not revealing anything. I panicked. After Maria left, he looked at me long and hard with the same unreadable expression before a radiant smile played across his lips and he beckoned me to come close. I sat on his bed and leaned my body close to his face. He used his good hand to draw me close to him until I was lying on the bed, my head lying on his shoulders.
“You were incredible on that podium baby. I watched the entire press conference and could not stop pointing out to the doctor that you were my wife”. He smiled and hugged me close. Hearing Williams address me as his wife and also giving me a pet name had me reeling, and my stomach twisted as tears formed in my eyes. I could not hold back the tears. I turned to him and hugged him with my two hands, and he winced in pain.
“Oops! Sorry” I said in a small voice.
“Are those happy tears?” he asked.
“Yes, they are” I replied, my emotions choking me.
“I’m so proud of you, and thank you for saving my company. My dad called and told me some of the investors that wanted to pull out are reconsidering coming back”, he said.
"Already?" I asked.
"Yes, my father is over the moon" he replied with a broad smile on his lips.
“I’m glad I was able to be of help” I replied.
I made a move to stand up from the bed, but Williams’ grip tightened on my arms.
'Stay" he commanded gently.
i gulped and stood in place, looking at his deep blue eyes.
He looked me in the eyes and smiled again. “You were so beautiful standing on that podium. I was wondering how I got so lucky and how I never really saw you until now” he said sincerely, his face turning serious.
My heart rate increased as I heard those words. I stood up from the bed and stared at him in wonder. I was still trying to wrap my head around the whole new Williams. Then my phone rang. I checked the caller's ID and Adam flashed on the screen.
“I need to take this, excuse me”. I did not wait for a reply before I bolted from the room.
“Are you in love with him now”? Adam asked without any preamble or small talk, his deep voice resonated from the phone, making me shiver. The truth is, I had been avoiding Adam for a whole week after the incident that took place at the house. I ignored his calls, messages and voicemails because I didn't know how to respond or react to him.
“He is my husband Adam” I replied, my heart thudding in my chest.
“Contract husband” he stressed.
“I saw the press conference”
“It’s something I had to do” I replied,
“I’ve missed you Hazel, a lot, and I’m sorry I bolted the other night. I regret my actions and hope I can take it back” his voice cracked like someone who was close to tears. “Will you ever forgive me?” he asked.
Waves of emotions threatened to overwhelm me. I knew I loved Adam, his steadfast presence in my life, a constant source of comfort and strength. For a long time, Adam had been my go-to person, my confidante, and finding myself falling for him was a thing i could not control. I was a thing that i knew would happen sooner rather than later. Yet, spending time with Williams recently had stirred feelings I thought were long buried. My teenage crush on Williams had not dissipated; instead, it had evolved into something more complex and intense.
Memories of shared laughter and stolen glances from our youth resurfaced, mingling with the warmth of his current attention. It was intoxicating, this rekindling of old flames. I felt like I was being dragged both ways, torn between the safety of Adam's love and the thrilling unpredictability that Williams represented. Every touch, every word from Williams ignited a spark that was hard to ignore, but it also brought a sense of guilt that gnawed at my conscience.
The internal conflict was unbearable. I didn't know how to deal with the emotions swirling within me. I could not choose Adam because I was married to William. My heart ached with the weight of indecision, and every moment spent with either man seemed to deepen the chasm within me. How could I reconcile these feelings without losing a part of myself or hurting those I cared about?
“I have to go Adam”, I finally spoke
“Do you miss me Hazel” he asked again.
“I’ll talk to you later. Williams needs me” and with that I hung up the call without waiting for his reply. I sighed.
As I went back inside, William was asleep, but I met Maria arranging his drawer.
She turned to me, her eyes filled with concern.
“He became hysterical when you left, so I had to call the doctor". She informed me.
I gulped and furrowed mt brows. "Any idea why"?
"The doctor did not say," she replied.
“It’s been a long day Maria, I’ll come back in the morning to be with him.”
Maria nodded. “The driver is waiting outside”, she said.
I nodded, went close to Williams and kissed him on the forehead before exiting the room.
On getting home, I tossed my handbag on the sofa, kicked my shoes from my legs and slumped down on the sofa trying to rein in all my emotions as I went through all the emotional rollercoaster I had gone through the whole week. As I lay on the sofa dozing off, my phone rang. I checked the caller, and it showed my father, Mr George. While I was contemplating whether to pick up or not, I heard a tap on my shoulder.
“Hazel, wake up, your phone has been ringing nonstop, caller ID says Father. Maybe you should pick, it may be important” Aunt Phoebe rambled. Apparently, she thought I was asleep. I looked up at her and sighed.
“Okay ma, I’ll pick up” but she refused to budge, so I had no option than to pick up.
“Hello Dad” I said as I sat upright.
“We heard what happened to your husband, hope you are alright, and he is recovering fine” he asked.
“Yes, everything is perfect dad and Williams is recovering fast, is that why you called?” I asked my mind, telling me that’s not why he called.
He cleared his throat.
“Your mom and I just thought to find out how you have been coping” he said.
“Coping with what? I asked, sounding annoyed. “Dad, please, I’m not ready for this, as you can see, I’m alive”. I replied,
“Well, erm, we just want to check in” he repeated.
“Dad, what’s the problem, is mom okay”?
“Well, lately she has been asking a lot of questions.”
“Questions about what dad”? I asked, beginning to get irritated.
“I am sorry we still haven’t been able to get enough money to clear the debt we owe your husband and, since the clause had the option of giving him an heir, we were hoping you would consider it.”
“What!”? dad? You want to turn me into a baby-making machine? I felt betrayed and tired.
“You sold me out and convinced me to get married, and now you want to turn me into a baby-making machine”? I shouted into the phone.
“That’s not the case, Hazel, and you know it” he replied.
“That’s the case dad and I wish you were not my parents" I blurted angrily.
"Hazel, you better watch your tone with me", he barked.
I was furious. "I am sick and tired of being used by my own parents who were supposed to love and care for me, but it is the other way round. My voice cracked.
“Watch your tongue young woman,” he repeated. "We are still your parents".
“Goodnight dad”. I hung up the call and sobbed like a child until I felt warm arms pull me into a hug. I looked up and saw Aunt Phoebe. I needed a shoulder to cry on, so I hugged her more and she rubbed my shoulders. After what felt like hours, which was probably a few minutes, I disentangled myself from Aunt Phoebe and wiped my drool with the back of my hand.
“I’m so sorry, you didn’t need to hear nor see that” I said.
“I knew something was not right with the way the whole marriage arrangement went, probably the reason I was not invited,” she said.
"My parents are not bad people, Aunt Phoebe" I chirped, blowing my nose into my palm.
“You are a good kid Hazel” she said, taking out a white handkerchief and pushing it into my palm.
“Thank you, ma,” I replied.
“Are you happy”? She asked.
“I don’t know” I replied sincerely. “A lot has happened these few weeks that I’m trying to wrap my head around.
“Poor child” she cooed and took my hands in hers.
“I know you are confused right now; I see it when you look at Williams. I see a lot of things going on, Hazel, but whatever it is you are trying to figure out will come to you, OK?”
"Yes ma" I replied.
“Take your time, you are young, you will figure it out soon enough, okay” she advised. Now get up, wash up and rest. Tomorrow will take care of itself.
“Thanks so much Aunt Phoebe, I really appreciate this”. I stood up and hugged her. I took my discarded handbag and shoes from the floor and wished her goodnight.
I was about climbing the stairs when I heard my name”.
“Hazel, you can always talk to me as long as I’m here, okay? I got your back". Aunt Pheobe said in a soft tone. I turned back and smiled at her as I waved.
As I got into my room, I stripped my clothes, stood naked in the mirror and just admired myself.
“Hey Hazel, you are beautiful, strong, kind, awesome and you can do this!” I smiled and turned on the shower when my ringtone went off. I was torn between wiping the water on my face and checking the caller's ID or just finishing my shower. The phone kept ringing nonstop, making me worry. I decided to finish my shower before checking. Whatever was happening could wait until I finished my shower.
I took my head out of the shower to check the caller's ID and remembered I had left my phone on my bed.
“I can’t deal with this right now” I muttered, but the phone kept going off, then my message tone went off.
“Who is blowing up my phone for chrissake!" I yelled to nobody in particular. The phone continued ringing. I wiped my face with a towel and stepped out of the shower, spraying water everywhere on my bathroom floor as I waded to check what was so urgent.