Chapter 121 I HAVE NO IDEA
Slade opened the door and threw her roughly on the bed.
"Slade," Nelly said and wanted to sit, but Slade came on top of her.
"What are you doing, Slade? Please stop doing this!"
"After today, you'll learn to stay away from that bastard," he said darkly and slammed his lips on hers.
He pressed his weight on her, kissing her without minding the fact she was struggling to free herself.
He broke the kiss roughly and snapped his darkened gaze at her.
"One more struggle and you will have his head as your dinner," he threatened.
Nelly's sob caught in her throat as she stared at the monster he'd become. He just threatened to kill Maddox, and he said it so casually, as if life had no meaning.
He cut off her thinking by crashing his lips on hers. This time, she stayed still, tears pouring out as his hand ravaged her body.
She hates her life, everything in it.
She wasn't kissing him back, but he didn't care. All he cared about was satisfying his lustful desire.
The Slade she fell for was gone. This was the devil incarnate.
He broke the kiss and ripped her clothes apart.
Nelly wanted to fight back, but remembering Maddox's life, she stared disgustingly at Slade as he unbuttoned his shirt.
He leaned in and buried his face in the crook of her neck. His hands hovered over her breasts as he gave each of them a hard squeeze.
"Please," Nelly said with trembling lips.
Slade's body froze on hers, and he lifted his face to meet her face that was clouded with tears.
He stared at her expression. Her eyes were closed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
He took his thumb and wiped her tears until there was no trace.
When he was done, he stood and left without sparing her a glance.
The closing of the door made Nelly open her eyes.
She sat up and held the duvet above her chest.
He left, why?
What if?
She quickly put on her clothes, hoping he's not going to take out his frustration on Maddox.
\[NEW YORK, LA DELLE HOTEL\]
Eric was surprised to see Tanya had already arrived at the hotel before him. According to her, she arrived there not too long ago.
They had been discussing business, and she brought up their company partnering. He politely declined, saying he prefers working alone.
She laughed it off and waved at the waiter. He had brought their drink, and now she's asking him to drink.
"Won't you drink to celebrate our first meeting together?" She asked with a smile on her deep red lipstick.
"I'm sorry, but I don't drink, and certainly not a drink with alcoholic content," he replied politely.
She sipped hers and kept the glass with a soft click against the table.
"Aren't you different from every man I've seen. Usually, they are the ones who initiate a drink. I'm sure there must be a good reason for that," she said, licking her lower lip seductively.
"I'm taking care of my health, and my daughter wouldn't like it."
"Wow," she widened her eyes, acting surprised. "You have a daughter. Honestly, I could mistake your age for somebody in their twenties," she chuckled, and ordered a juice.
She collected the glass and personally handed it to him.
"Juice is healthy."
Eric glanced between her and the glass she was offering him.
"Just this once."
"It's fine."
He was about to drink it when a text notification chimed in.
"Excuse me." He kept the glass and took his phone.
It was a text from Ixora. An important one.
He stood after reading the text.
"I'm sorry, but I have to leave now."
"But, the juice, you..." he left before she could complete her word.
"Darn it," she slammed her fist on the table. "After all my effort," she murmured, trailing her gaze down to her exposed cleavage.
Normally, men don't resist her after seeing her, but he didn't even look at her. Not only that, but he also didn't even drink the spiked juice. The plan was fuck him and insist he marry her. Now, all her efforts are wasted.
She took her phone and ordered for a male stripper. Merely the sight of Eric had gotten her dripping wet.
She drew in a deep breath, impatient as she knew it'd take time for the stripper to arrive.
Looking around, she found everybody's attention to something else. She spread her legs and slid her finger into her middle. Low whimpers escaped her lips.
From the shadow, Alexa stared at her with disgust and hatred in her eyes.
"Always a bitch," she mumbled and left the hotel.
\[HELL DEVIL'S HIDEOUT, BALCONY\]
Jaxon got to the balcony to see Drexton with a dummy. A human dummy, not just any human but Maria Bretford.
Just like how Hazel had stabbed her, the dummy was stabbed in the exact spot. Fake blood smeared on it. It looked like something you'd see at a Halloween festival, but this time, more real.
"What are you doing with that?" He asked, giving Drexton a strange look.
"She's going to pay her daughter a little visit," Drexton replied, staring down at the city.
Jaxon narrowed his brow, glancing between Drexton and the dummy.
Drexton faced him. "The imposter will reveal herself tomorrow."
Jaxon gaze locked on the dummy, his brain slowly processing the whole thing.
"Hazel is..."
"The imposter," Drexton completed.
"She's alive? We should have fucking investigated her death case when we had the chance."
"Ixora's friend stole her friend's identity?" Alexa asked, coming in.
Jaxon nodded.
"My gosh," Alexa placed her palm on her mouth, eyes widening in shock. "How's that possible? Does that mean she knows where Ixora is?"
"There's a possibility," Drexton said. "Not only that, but someone is also backing her up."
Alexa's hand slowly fell from her mouth as her eyes went to the dummy.
"What is that?"
"Hazel's mother. The bitch killed her mother," Jaxon said.
Alexa gasped, mouth popping open. "W... why did she kill her mother?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jaxon exhaled and explained everything that happened, but briefly.
"Selfish interest. Her mother backed out of her plan at the last minute, ready to take Ixora's side."
Alexa could have fallen if not for the chair behind her. She was wishing she had the perfect family, people that would love her, but Hazel had a lovely mother and ended up killing her. If Tanya was like Maria, she would have called herself lucky.
"So, what is the plan?" She asked, fixing her gaze on Drexton.
Anger was bubbling in her, and she knew why. She was treated unjustly, and she hates any form of injustice.
Hazel is part of the people that made the world terrible for her, and she dares to pretend to be Ixora, her sister.
"Give Hazel the biggest event of her life," Drexton replied, darkening his eyes.
\[CASTELLAN HOUSE\]
Hazel's flip-flop slapped the stairs as she climbed down in hurried steps.
She stood in front of Nikita and raised the gown above her face.
"This or that?"
Nikita, who was on her phone, looked at her to see the dress. One is colored red and the other is black.
She narrowed her pupils. "What are you doing with that?"
Hazel brought her hand down. "Come on," she stamped her feet twice. "I'm trying to choose the clothes I'll wear to the birthday party."
"And you intend on wearing 'that'?" She stretched the last part as if hinting at something.
Hazel glanced between both dresses. "What is wrong with them? Isn't it too revealing? I know, right? I'll go and change them. I need to look my best."
"Hazel!" Nikita yelled, shutting her up.
"Honestly saying, what is wrong with you? I don't know if you're a fool, or if you just decide to play ignorant."
"What did I do?" Hazel asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.
"You are going to a party like Drexton's date under the pretense of being Ixora, and you want to dress like that. For all I know, Ixora doesn't dress like that," Nikita said, taking a deep breath.
If anything, she's tired of constantly reminding Hazel of her new identity.
Hazel rolled her eyes. "You don't expect me to hide my sexy body behind dressing like Ixora."
"So, are you finally admitting Ixora has got a sexy body?" Nikita asked, on the verge of snapping.
"I didn't say that."
"Well, that's what it means. Listen to me, you are Ixora, so act like her. I'm tired of having to say the same thing repeatedly. Should I write it in your brain, if that will make you understand?" Nikita scolded, taking her gaze back to her phone.
She dialed Ricky's number again.
Hazel mumbled some spiteful words, her eyes landing on Winter, who stood across the room, gazing ahead.
She crossed the other side and went to her.
"Low life bitch," Hazel cursed, eyeing Winter hatefully.
Winter's gaze went towards her, but she said no words.
"What? You want to talk back to me," she said with a hard glare.
She picked up the cloth on the couch and tossed it into Winter's face.
Winter caught the cloth before it could fall.
"Wear this to the party," Hazel instructed.
"And why is she going?" Nikita asked.
"Because she's my puppet," Hazel replied, throwing daggers at Winter.
Nikita sighed while shaking her head. She tried Ricky's number again.
"Who have you been trying to call?" Hazel asked, walking towards her.
"Ricky. He's not been answering my calls."
Hazel hummed and went upstairs.
Nikita tried again, and the call went through.
"Ricky, where are you?"
"Hello," a person said.
Nikita's brows thinned. This voice does not belong to Ricky.
"Who are you?"
"I am the new owner of the number," the person replied, wanting to hang the call.
"Hold on," Nikita said, stopping the person. "The number, where is the previous owner?"
"I have no idea. I am the new owner of the number," he said and hung up.
Nikita's hand slowly fell from her ear; face etched in confusion.
What the hell just happened? Ricky's number now belongs to a stranger, and he left without any trace.
Did he...
Turning to Winter, she saw Winter's gaze fixed on her.
Facing the front with the same confusion, she stood.
"Something is wrong."