Chapter 109 IXORA IS BACK
\[IXORA'S ROOM\]
Nikita waited for Hazel to come out of the bathroom. She could hear her cursing and throwing things around. She tapped her feet on the floor, her patience wearing thin.
Hazel banged the door hard, returning in just her underwear. She rolled her eyes and settled in front of the dressing mirror.
"What was the need for that drama you performed there?" Nikita asked, trying to keep her voice stable.
"Drama?" Hazel faced her. "You call that a drama. I'm in my underwear, and it's because of that worthless girl," she said, hissing.
"Couldn't you have let it slide or, better still, wait for your so-called sister to leave?" she said in a rising tone. "What do you think she'd say? Everyone who knows Ixora well knows she's human, pitiful and would never lash out unnecessarily, not even to her workers."
"Well, they should know that this Ixora here just carries her look, but is still Hazel Bretford." She pointed to herself. "You can't expect me to be nice and sweet when I'm not. And speaking about Ixora, I hate her, her presence, and all. The fact that she's alive sickens me. She's someone I want to kill with my bare hands if I get the chance."
Nikita's eyes darkened, and she walked to the dressing table. She leaned near Ixora, placing her palm on the table, and locked their eyes together.
"I've waited ten years to get my revenge on Drexton. I won't stand back and watch you ruin it. You agreed to do the surgery and take over Ixora's identity. In front of people, you are Ixora; behind I don't care how you treat her." Her lips moved synchronously as she strengthened her posture.
"It's not about having Ixora's body, but acting like her," she said, blurring the thin line between warning and reminder.
She walked out of the room, leaving Hazel to roll her eyes hatefully.
\[GRAVEYARD\]
Cold, slow steps walked into the place, the moon bathing him with its glow. He got closer to the grave, and his face was revealed to be Drexton. He sat beside his parents' grave without saying a thing.
Once again, the memories began. Her memories that had kept him alive for so long. He had long ago realized she had invaded almost every part of his life. There's no place he'd go without getting reminded of her.
Turning his neck, he saw both of them lying down and watching the stars. She had given him a heart-warming smile and showed him his heart. Her presence always affected him, but he was too blind to notice.
Why did he even come up with the stupid plan of breaking her heart? Who would have known her disappearance, and a note was all it could take to get him to his weakest.
"Mum, Dad," he said, fixing his eyes on their grave. "I've failed as a person."
His tone softened, laced with regret as Joanna's words came into his mind.
"Losing a loved one comes with a lot of pain. Being blinded by revenge can cost you a lot."
He understood it back then, but paid no attention to it. He thought no one or nothing could ever bring him down, but he was wrong.
"I broke her father, and now, she's hiding from me," he muttered. "She's the key to my heart and, as long as my heart is still beating, then she's alive. She hates me and doesn't even want to see me again."
"Mother, her face and body have returned, but I know she's not the one. She might fool everybody, but not me. I could feel the distance when we stood close. Our souls have always been connected, but her presence didn't affect me. An imposter is claiming to be her, and I'm sure she knows where Ixora is."
He paused, thinking about his encounter with that imposter.
He was present at Ixora's birthplace and knew she didn't have a twin sister. Growing up, he dug into her life like it was his world task and knew she had no doppelgänger.
Her only legitimate family is Georgia, Alexa and her father, whose presence isn't known. Then who's the person behind the face and body, the one who dared to lie to his face? What does the person have against them? Revenge?
Revenge can make somebody do the unthinkable. If it's revenge, then why?
He racked his brain trying to find the answer, but the confusion stayed.
He got his phone and sent Jaxon a text.
\[7 AM RONALD'S ENTERPRISE\]
The company that has taken over Blackthorn Automobile in the space of eighteen months. The company came and crazily rose to the top. They are into wineries, producing all kinds of wine.
Ronald's enterprise was a skyscraper, tall and large, fast and growing. The secretary was the one handling the company, Secretary Cecelia. And the CEO-well, no one knows who the CEO was.
Currently, people are running helter-skelter, trying to complete their work. Reporters stood outside the company, writing and reporting news.
According to an anonymous source, the CEO would be coming in person today. He's going to answer everybody's curious question as they are all expecting his arrival anytime soon.
Employees ran outside, waiting together with secretary Cecelia.
Slowly, a sleek black Lamborghini drove in, stealing the breath of everyone. Some had their lips parted as they grew in anticipation.
The reporters fought for space to capture him. The guards interfered, bringing them to decorum.
The back door squeaked open, and a sleek black shoe marched on the ground, revealing some part of his red pants.
Everyone fell silent, and some held their breath.
He stepped out with a warm, welcoming smile on his lips. His face was everything handsome, and his hair was swept backward, revealing his features.
His red suit added to his shoes and the smile he was wearing. He was a man in his early forties, but looked like a man in his early thirties.
Reporters rushed to him, throwing questions at him.
"Tell us your name, sir."
"Wow, you are so handsome."
"How did you come up with the company?"
"What's the real reason behind your success?"
He waved at the reporters.
The employees bowed their heads at Cecelia's order. He gestured at the guards, and they blocked the reporters until he walked in.
"Hello, everyone, my name is Eric Ronald."
"Welcome, boss," the employees replied.
"I must say I'm impressed with how diligently you've worked. I hope you can keep up with it. Let's work hard together and make Ronald's enterprise proud."
The employees jammed their hands together.
"We'll do our best."
"Good," Eric said with a nod as he turned to Cecelia.
"I'm happy to finally see you in person," Cecelia said.
Eric chuckled. "I will take over the supervision-"
A text notification buzzed on his phone.
He took out his phone, and his smile grew larger as he read the text.
"Shift the supervision for another day, I will have to leave now."
Cecelia nodded as he watched him leave.
"Omg, boss is so handsome."
"I'm wondering his age."
"He should make me his mistress if he has a wife."
Cecelia faced them, and they immediately rushed to their work.
\[RONALD'S HOUSE\]
Eric was still setting the food on the table when his doorbell rang. Without taking off his apron and hairnet, he rushed to the door, his happiness increasing by the second.
On opening the door, he saw Winter standing outside.
He raised his brow, staring at her as she walked in with her stoic face.
The door creaked closed as he stood behind Winter.
Her back was turned to him, and his gaze hadn't left her.
Slowly, she raised her hand to her hair and took off the wig. Her long black hair fell on her waist. She took off her shirt and the long skirt she was wearing. Blue high-waist jean pants and a tank top came into view.
She peeled off the mask she was wearing to reveal her long lashes, hazel eyes, pointed nose, and round lips.
She faced Eric with a large smile.
"Daughter," Eric said and hugged her.
"Father." She wrapped her arm around him. "You wanted to see this version of me, right?"
Eric's finger found its way into her hair.
"My daughter is back."
Her gaze found the door, staring at it.
"Your Ixora is back."