Chapter 2

Hazel Coleman

Next day, evening

I knew I should've left right after what happened last night, but somehow, a part of me was still waiting for an explanation.

Not that it was going to change what happened, but still… I wanted closure.

Tears blurred my vision as my eyes glued to the test strip that still had the red dots from yesterday.

I've always dreamt of starting a family with Liam… I'd always dreamed of being the best parents to our child… Me and Liam… But all those were fairytales.

I placed a hand on my stomach, confused about what to do… but one thing that didn't cross my mind was getting rid of this child. Never!

The loud car honking downstairs snapped me out of my trance.

Liam is home.

My fingers tightened on the test strip as I walked out of the room, but froze at the living room once I saw Liam… He wasn't alone. Emilia stood beside him, her fingers curled around her suitcase.

I scoffed… silently.

“Hazel…” Liam said, but my eyes were on Emilia.

My eyes swept over her. She was cladded in a blue fitted gown that hugged her curvy body tightly, her lengthy blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, and a light make-up on her face.

‘She caught the flu’

I scoffed. She didn't look like someone who's caught the flu.

“Mrs. Dutton… It's been a while. It's good to see—”

“Why is she here?” I cut her off, facing Liam, my tone sharp, and my blood boiling in rage. The nerve of him to bring her to our house after everything.

“Emilia is sick now… She can't stay alone, so I thought I should bring her here.”

I scoffed, tightening my fingers beside me.

“Seriously? Is this what you do now? Bringing another woman to our matrimonial home?” I chuckled dryly.

“Emilia is not another woman. She—”

“Your first love.” I cut him off, and he sighed.

My eyes met with Emilia's, and a faint smile curled her lips.

She stepped forward, placing a hand on Liam's arm… as if she owned him.

“Liam, it's fine if your wife is not fine with me staying here. I can go to the hospital instead. Or I could go back—”

“You are not going anywhere, Emilia. You can't stand the smell of hospitals… I can't have you endanger your life.”

My chest burned as I watched him hold her hand, then turned to me, his face hardened.

“Come on, Hazel. It's not that she's staying here forever. It's just for a few days. Stop overreacting.”

I huffed. Overreacting?

“Liam—”

“Emilia just helped me get the biggest contract of my career. It's only right that I take care of her as a way of repaying her.”

I blinked. Wait! Is he talking about the same contract I helped him get? Now, this is funny.

“Wow!” I muttered.

She stared at me with a smug smirk at the corner of her lips.. As if telling me that ‘look, I have your man wrapped around my fingers’.

At first, I wanted closure, but seeing how he wasn't even remorseful about what he did, I guess there was no point.

Without another word, I turned to go back to the room, but Liam's voice cut through the air, bringing me to an abrupt halt.

“You should sleep in the guestroom, Hazel. Emilia is sleeping in our room with me tonight.”

I tightened my jaw.

“I need to watch over her since she's sick now.”

What an insult.

For a second, I thought of yelling at him, but I held back.

Without so little as a glance or another word, I walked away.

Back in the guestroom, I sat on the bed, staring at the test strip again, my heart stung painfully, but I didn't shed even another drop of tears for that jerk.

He doesn't deserve it.

I'm going to raise my child alone.

I quickly hid the test strip as I heard footsteps echoing outside the guestroom, and the next second, Emilia walked in, her arms crossed in front of her, a smug smirk tugging at her lips.

“Come on, Hazel. You don't have to be sad. It's only for tonight… and maybe a few other nights.”

I tightened my jaw.

“Don't you still get it, Hazel?” She leaned close, her eyes locked on me. “You don't have a place in Liam's life. You are nothing but a second option… That's what you've always been.”

My chest tightened.

“I could always get your husband with just a snap of my fingers.”

I smiled softly, eyes locked on her. “Why don't you get him to marry you?”

Colours drained from her face as she blinked. “Huh?”

I stood, crossing my arms in front of me, eyes locked on her. “Since Liam loves you so much, and he does whatever you ask him to… Why don't you tell him to upgrade you from an ordinary secretary to his housewife?”

Her jaw tightened, eyes burning with rage, but it was only for a split second before a smile crept up her face.

“Liam will still marry me. I've proven to him that I'm more than a good wife. I even helped him get his contract that he'd been working on for so long.”

What a joker.

I smiled softly. “It's pathetic that you have to prove to a man that you are worthy of being his wife. Are you that desperate?”

Her brows furrowed. “What?”

“Why don't you go and join Liam, hmm? I'm sure you two have a long night to go.” I smiled softly, gesturing towards the door.

She stared silently, her eyes flickered with disappointment. Wait! Was she expecting me to fall at her feet and beg her to leave my husband?

Hey! I'm not that pathetic!

Without another word, she turned and headed to the door, but just as she was about to leave, I remembered something.

“Right…”

She paused.

“Did you really get him the contract?” I asked, a smirk tugging at my lips.

She blinked, but stepped out without saying a word.

My phone pinged with a text.

Dad;

‘Do you need me to revoke the contract with Dutton’s group?’

My grip tightened on my phone, eyes glued to the text.

With the burning anger in me, I wanted nothing more than to crush Liam now, but I held back. I will screw him over so much that he'd regret ever messing with me.

Me;

‘No, dad. I'll handle this’

Then I dialled my family lawyer's number, and he picked on the first ring.

“Ms. Coleman.”

“Prepare me a divorce agreement, Mr. George. Make it as fast as possible.”