Chapter 118 PARTY INVITE
\[CASTELLAN HOUSE\]
"Drexton went to the seashore yesterday?" Nikita asked.
"Yes, miss," Ricky replied.
Hazel laughed. "Wow, he now sulks Ixora near water. Love."
Nikita shook her head. "No. What was he doing there?"
"He stood there for a while and left. Since his expression isn't readable, I couldn't figure out what he did there," Ricky said.
"Something is not right here," Nikita said, standing.
"What isn't right?" Hazel joined her in standing up. "He missed his dear Ixora and went to cry over her."
"Shut up and let me think," Nikita snapped. "Drexton misses Ixora, yes, but going to the seashore to cry over her is suspicious. For the past eighteen months, he has never sulked over her at the seashore, then why yesterday?"
"He might have gone to get something," Larry said.
"Hazel's truth," she said, looking at them.
"Huh?" Hazel asked.
"Drexton is not a fool. He might be weak, but he's still smart. Let's not forget he doesn't believe Hazel is Ixora, and somebody like Drexton will want to get to the root of it. I'm sure he suspects Hazel is the one wearing Ixora's face," Nikita said.
Hazel's eyes widened with panic as she looked at Nikita.
"If what you are saying is true, then what do we do? What do I do? He's not going to spare me. He will destroy all of us," Hazel said at once.
"He won't do a thing. He's only suspicious of you, not sure. As far as Drexton is concerned, he might threaten you, that's it. He doesn't act without proof."
Hazel breathed out a sigh of relief. "There's one thing I don't understand."
They looked at her.
"How do you know so much about Drexton?"
Nikita smiled and took a few steps forward.
"I harbored feelings for him for three good years. During that time, I read and studied him more than a book. I was ready to do anything to make him say yes to me, but he broke my heart. He might be good at hiding his emotions, but I'm good at studying people. I can tell you for sure that Drexton is on his way here," Nikita said and faced them.
"D- Drexton here. Why would he come here? What do I do? What if he..."
"Then let him. He will try to force the truth out of your mouth, but keep your mouth shut. Play the Ixora part well." She patted Hazel's shoulder.
"Ricky, come with me."
"What? Where are you going?" Hazel asked.
"I can't let Drexton see me yet, not now. Remember, I am around and will help if things get out of hand. Get ready."
Hazel watched her leave with Ricky. She exhaled, drawing in three consecutive breaths.
"And, where is Winter?" she muttered.
The door busted open, and Drexton walked in.
His eyes quickly found Hazel, cold and emotionless.
Hazel gulped hard, almost shrinking because of his gaze. It bored into her soul as if trying to undress her with his eyes... her fake identity.
"D- Drexton, W..." She paused, sulking in a deep breath.
"What are you doing here?" she said, keeping her voice firm.
There's no pretending to be Ixora. He knows her truth.
Her eyes searched his own, wondering if, true to Nikita's word, he'd found out her identity.
"Aren't you Ixora again?" he asked, standing in front of her.
"Look, Drexton, I'm not in the mood to try and prove myself to you. You are free to believe what you want. I want you to know it will cost you a lot when I leave you. I'm done trying to prove myself to you," she spat, refusing to meet his gaze.
Drexton's eyes darkened, and his chest tightened. She missed the look and the urge for him to choke her to death. No, torture her brutally until the fake surgery becomes her end.
To prevent himself from doing something dangerous, he slid his hand and took out a card.
"You are coming with me to Mr. John's birthday party," he said.
Hazel glanced between him and the card.
Weird.
Why was he inviting her to a party? For all she knows, he does not believe her lies.
"I..." she trailed.
"What happened? Didn't you like going out with me? We went to Sicily together, remember?" he asked, his voice on the edge of losing his cool.
John is his business partner, and he's celebrating his sixty-year-old birthday. He's invited so many businessmen.
Hazel's pupil dilated as she stared at him, confused.
Sicily, when?
Right, with Ixora.
"And why? My sight disgusts you just because you think I am not your Ixora."
Drexton's gaze darkened like hell, capable of burning her alive.
Hazel's heart sank as she fell on the chair without being pushed.
Drexton leaned in to her height, piercing his gaze into hers.
Hazel trembled on the couch, feeling the anger behind his intimidating gaze.
"You are coming with me to the party, right?" he asked menacingly.
"D... Drexton I..." she stuttered, nodding her head repeatedly.
"Good." Drexton stood straight and dropped the card on the table.
Casting her a last cold glance, he walked out of the room.
Hazel released a heavy breath, trying to keep it steady. She couldn't believe her heart was beating fast only because he was close to her. He always has this intimidating aura, but it seems like it has grown worse, or she's just encountering it.
She shouldn't be this frightened. They are the ones with the upper hand. They have Ixora as their puppet and are also working towards claiming ownership of everything he owns.
Gosh, Hazel.
"He's planning something, and this time it's big," Nikita said, coming out of the shadows.
Her brows were ached together, and her face was slightly flushed. No one makes her think a lot, only Drexton.
She's good at predicting people's next plan, but this one is giving her a hard time.
He didn't react like she expected him to. He didn't unleash his demon, and somewhere inside of her, she was scared.
"What do you think..."
The squeaking of the interrupted her.
Winter stepped in to meet the devil's eyes on her. She stood, quickly composing her posture.
"Where have you been?" Nikita asked, looking into her eyes.
Winter returned the look with her blank expression.
"I was working," she said, her voice on the verge of cracking.
"Working?" Nikita asked, hardening her expression.
"Yes," Winter replied, not breaking the stare.
Silence ensued between them, as Nikita's brow ached harder.
"You can leave."
Winter left, secretly glancing at Hazel to see the murderous glare she was throwing at him.
She stepped outside through the back door and breathed out.
"She's beginning to get suspicious. I have to be careful," she said, holding her waist. She turned and stretched her waist while going into thinking mode.
She overheard every conversation with Hazel and Drexton. Luckily for her, she was able to hide before Drexton could see her.
Drexton is inviting Hazel to a party, no way.
Could he have started believing Hazel's lies? He's bound to believe one day.
"No, it's not possible. He doubts too much and can easily read people. Then he must be planning something. Inviting Hazel to a party? Not so him," she mumbled beneath her breath.
She slid her hand under her skirt and looked left and right, making sure no one was around.
She took out her phone and dialed her dad's number.
Luckily for her, he picked up as if he had been waiting for her call.
"Dad, did you get the invite to John's party?" she whispered into the cell phone.
Eric was able to find out that she was somewhere around Hazel, so he was quick to answer.
"Yes."
"Drexton received the invite, and he asked Hazel to go with him. I'm sure he's planning something. Listen, Dad, we have to stop whatever he's planning at all costs. He wants to unravel Hazel, and we want the same thing, but not now. His plan might ruin ours. We will both have to keep an eye on him," Winter hurried her words in a whispered tone.
"Don't worry about that. But, how do you plan on coming to the party?"
"With the help of Hazel. Nikita might refuse to allow me, but Hazel is fond of humiliating me. Sure, she will use the opportunity to show me who's more superior."
"Okay. I've heard you. Anything else?"
"No, dad," she said. "Dad, I have to get going before somebody sees me."
"Too late." Someone said behind her. "I heard everything."
Winter startled, and her hand froze in place.
Slowly, she began turning.