Chapter 302 Be Mine Forever The next morning, Alexander woke to find the bed beside him cold and empty. His brow furrowed as he glanced around the room, the silence unsettling. Hazel was nowhere to be found.
A nagging feeling began to grow in his chest as he searched the entire manor. His steps quickened with each empty room he entered, his frustration mounting. He even checked the kitchen and the garden, but Hazel was gone-and so were Aria, Alessandro, and the kids. Alexander's suspicion deepened as he pulled out his phone and tried calling Hazel. His heart sank when he realized she had blocked his number. Desperate for answers, he sought out his mother, but her composed demeanor only added to his confusion. "You really don't know where she went?" he asked, his voice laced with both frustration and disbelief.
His mother's calm gaze unsettled him. "I don't," she replied, her tone even.
But the lack of panic in her expression betrayed her. Alexander knew his mother well-if she truly didn't know where Hazel was, she would have been just as anxious as he was.
A deep frown etched across his face. What the hell is going on?
Determined to uncover the truth, Alexander called his assistant and ordered him to track Hazel's whereabouts immediately. Within an hour, the report came in-and the revelation hit him like a blow. His wife had run away.
Without a word. Without warning. Hazel had left him.
A few hours later, Alexander stepped off his private jet in Florence and was now standing before his sister's mansion. He had canceled all his meetings and flown straight here.
"What a surprise, Alexander," Aria exclaimed, trying to suppress a smile at the sight of her frowning brother.
"Where is my wife?" he snapped curtly, his voice edged with impatience.
"How should I know?" Aria shrugged, her tone calm. "Shouldn't you know better about your wife by now?"
Alexander's eyes narrowed in irritation. "Don't get clever with me, Aria," he growled. "I'm here to take her back home."
Alessandro, standing off to the side, couldn't help but frown at the way Alexander was speaking to Aria. He took a step forward, clearly ready to intervene. But Aria, sensing the rising tension, shook her head, silently pleading for him to let her handle her hot-headed brother.
"Why do you want her to return, Alexander?" Aria asked, her gaze steady.
"Do you love her, Alexander?" Her question made him freeze.
"Do you love her enough to spend the rest of your life with her?" she shot another question, making him speechless.
Her words struck him hard, and he found himself momentarily lost in thought. His heart pounded loudly against his chest as memories of every moment spent with Hazel flashed before his eyes. He knew, deep down, what he felt for her. It was love-pure, unconditional love. The realization had come to him when he saw her with Chloe, and in that moment, he had chosen Hazel over the woman he once thought he loved.
"Yes," he finally said, a sense of clarity washing over him. "I love her."
Aria smiled brightly. "Then go and tell her," she said, gesturing toward the stairs.
Without wasting another moment, Alexander darted up the stairs, not bothering to thank his sister. He stopped just before the guest room where Hazel was staying.
Taking a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart, he knocked on the door.
Hazel opened it, but as soon as she saw his face, she made a quick motion to slam the door shut. Alexander, however, was faster. He pressed his hand against the door, stopping it just before it closed.
"Babe, please, just listen to me," Alexander pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation as he pressed his hand against the door, preventing her from closing it.
"I'm not going to listen to anything you say. Just leave," Hazel snapped, her voice firm and unyielding.
"I won't leave until you tell me why you ran away from me," he insisted, still blocking the door with his hand as Hazel fought against it, her frustration growing with every moment.
"You dared me to leave, remember?! So I did," Hazel shot back, her eyes cold. "Now, you can't force me to come back, even if you find me."
Hazel knew it well-Alessandro Valentino was just as powerful as Alexander-perhaps even more so. If Aria had given her word to keep her under their protection, there was nothing Alexander could do to force her back.Content © copyrighted by Nôdaisynovel.com.
"No, I could never challenge you, mon soleil," the duke implored, his voice full of desperation. "The duchess always upholds the rights of the duke, so I could never upset you, Mrs. Montecarlo."
Hazel was not surprised by his manipulative tactics. In a single sentence, he had reminded her of her duty and her position as his wife.
"Why should I go back with you? Give me a reason," she demanded, holding up her hand to stop him before he could respond. "Other than the fact that I'm carrying your heir."
"Because I love you," Alexander admitted without hesitation, his voice raw with sincerity. "And I can't live without you."
Hazel was taken aback, her breath catching for a moment before she regained her composure.
"Liar!" Hazel gritted out as her eyes were becoming gloomy with hurt. She knew him too well-he would do anything for his own gain.
"No, I'm telling you the truth, mon amour," Alexander insisted, desperation seeping into his voice. "I love you, Hazel Alexander Montecarlo. I love you so much, more than anything in this world," he declared firmly, his tone unwavering. Hazel's eyes widened, and she felt her anger begin to melt slightly.
"Hazel, please, give him a chance," Aria said, appearing at the door and pleading on her brother's behalf.
"Hazel, I know Alexander is arrogant, unbearable, and a very difficult person to live with," Alessandro added, his voice light but laced with sincerity. Alexander narrowed
eyes at him as Aria gently sed
her husband's arm in response to
his cunning remark.
Alessandro chuckled, shaking his head at the brother and sister duo before continuing in a sincere tone, "But he loves you. And trust me, we all can see that in his eyes."
"Do you know what you are to me, mon bijou? You are my everything," Alexander whispered, drawing Hazel's attention back to him. His eyes reflected the depth of his love as he gazed at her. “And I will spend the rest of my life proving it to you, mon trésor."
He gently released the door, but Hazel didn't close it. Instead, he stepped closer, pulling his wife into his arms.
Aria and Alessandro exchanged a knowing smile as they watched the tension between the couple dissipate. Without a word, they quietly decided to slip away, leaving the two to their moment of privacy.
"I'm not going to be convinced so easily, Mr. Montecarlo," Hazel teased, an alluring smile playing on her lips.
"I'm not going to stop until you believe me, ma reine," he said, brushing his lips against hers. "Just be mine forever."
Hazel smiled, throwing her arms around her husband's neck, and pressed her lips firmly against his.
In that moment, she tried to convince herself that it wasn't just a dream-that she didn't have to live the miserable life her parents had planned for her.
Her prince, charming in reality, had come for her, ready to take her into a beautiful fairytale. It was a fairytale they would create together, built on love and trust.
Her heart swelled as she felt his love reflected in his eyes and actions, and for the first time, she allowed herself to believe in love-believing that she could trust this man.
But Alexander was certain that this
was only the beginning of their journey together. He had a lifetime. to prove to his wife that she hadn't made a mistake by giving him a chance and accepting his love. He had all the time in the world to make her fall in love with him, and he was determined to do so.