HAZEL'S POV

I couldn't stay back even for a second. Mom already defiled this house which was once known as a home and I couldn't bare to stay for a minute.

Turning around with my luggage, I left the house, flagged a cab and headed to the one place I knew of, Annika’s place.

Annika and I have been friends for a long time since we were in middle school. We graduated high school together but weren't privileged to go to the same college as I had to relocate to California to study there.

Though we've been keeping in touch once in a while, but I wonder if she would let me pass the night at her place until I would be able to get an apartment for myself, here in Ireland.

Grabbing my phone from my bag, I scrolled through my contact and dialled her line.

She picked up after the third ring, her cheerful voice brought a smile to my weary face. “Hey bestie, how are you?”

“I'm fine Annika. I'm in Ireland already.”

Caught by surprise, she was speechless for some seconds and when she found her voice, she squealed from the other end of the call, her voice blaring through the speaker of my phone.

“Are you fucking serious?” She asked, laughing.

“Yes, I'm on my way to your place.” I sank my lower lips in between my teeth.

“Huh? What happened? Did you have a quarell with your Mom?”

I was fucking embarrassed to let her in on the situation, so I just nodded, forcing a smile. “Yes. I couldn't stay with her. She's intolerable.”

“Come sweetie. You're always welcomed.”

Annika has always been my safe heaven even when I was in California.

If studies and everything was overwhelming me, I always put a call across to her and her words always ease my burdens.

“Thank you for always having my back, Annika.”

~~~~~~

Moments later, the cab stopped in front of Annika's apartment. I paid him off and made my way into the black metal gates, only to find Annika waiting at the pavement of her apartment.

Upon seeing me, she ran all the way and engulfed me into a warm hug. “For five fucking years, I haven't seen you, bestie.”

“I missed you too.” I chuckled, hugging her so tight.

After some seconds of hugging, we broke the hug and she helped me settled in.

We both engaged in conversations that we lost track of time.

Annika took me out for dinner and we enjoyed the night out before retiring to bed.

The next day would be the hardest day of my life. The day in which my stepdad, the only man who made me feel wanted, would be laid to rest.

‘You're never going to see him again.’ Mom’s words hit me so hard that I lost my breath for a second.

Lorenzo Veneti was gone. My stepdad was gone and now, I would be left with my intolerable, selfish, self-centred mother who doesn't care if i die or live.

All she cares about is her selfish interests. Whatever would benefit her the most.

Sucking in a deep breath, I couldn't sleep a wink throughout the night.

With my eyes up at the ceiling, staring into space, I was sleep deprived.

And as if nature was against me, morning came too early than I expected.

“I will join you at the cemetery, Hazel. I've some works to take care of.” Annika said and pulled me into a comforting hug. “You're not alone, you should know that by now. I will always be by your side.”

I nodded, my head bobbling up and down as tears stung the corners of my eyes. “I know.”

~~~~~~~

It was past 10 am when mourners all gathered at the gravesite, most of them were men from the underworld.

Lorenzo Veneti, my stepdad, was a mafia lord and before I left for California, he handed over his clan to Simon, my step-brother.

All dressed in black, looking pale like ghosts, they all mourned the fall of one of the strongest mafia lord to ever rule in Ireland.

The Irish mafia holds the title of the strongest mafia Clan to ever exist in the history of Ireland.

The funeral director finally came and the service began properly.

After a short sermon, the casket was lowered into the grave and as one of Lorenzo's family, I joined in performing various rituals like throwing handfuls of sand and flowers into the casket and lighting candles.

My mom was waiting and crying like her late husband meant the whole world to her, whereas in reality, it was the total opposite.

I could tell that she was the most happiest among all the mourners.

They were all putting on a facade behind those sad faces of theirs. I could tell.

I was too lost in thought to even know that Simon already performed his rights as the only biological child of Lorenzo and not until the casket was being covered, only then did I snapped out of my thoughts.

Mom’s incessant cries blared through the silence of the gravesite.

Turning to my right, my gaze met with that of Simon.

All I wanted was just to take a look at him for the first time in five years, but fuck me, he was already staring at me.

My breath stuttered to a stop as I stared at the dark, brooding, gorgeous but grim man.

His eyes hid nothing but darkness that threatened to pull me in.

‘Stop staring at him, Hazel. His wife and daughter are there with him.’ my subconscious mind drawled me back to my senses.

Right. He was already married with a kid.

Slowly, I looked away, returning my gaze to the casket which was almost covered with sand.

As the program came to an end, the mourners left one after another, including my mother who had just displayed Oscar winning tears.

She was carried out by her friends, while I remained, lost in thought as I stared at the grave of my late step-dad.

The weather wasn't friendly and it wasn't long before the rain began to fall.

Despite the rain, I stood rooted to the ground, letting it drench my whole being.

My thoughts and emotions were all over the place, yet, I couldn't bring myself to cry when others did.

My eyes were misty as tears stung the corners of my eyes, but they wouldn't fall no matter how hard I tried to force them out.

Squatting down with my arms wrapped around my kneecaps, my lips trembled as cold slowly slipped into my body.

Suddenly, an umbrella shielded me from the rain and upon looking up at who it was, my heart instantly scampered off at a crazy beat.

Jesus Christ…. I thought I've gotten over this man.

For fuck sake, he was already married, but still… still, my heart always race at his voice, his presence, his aura.

“You will catch a cold,” he said, placing the umbrella in my hand before striding off like a god or rather the devil.

“Getting over you, will be a very big problem for me, Simon. What did you do to me?” I muttered, rising to my feet with my hands clenched around the umbrella as made my way out of the gravesite.