Chapter 2
Some people even stormed up to her doorstep, splattering it with filth and urine, and hurling Molotov cocktails.
Hazel curled up in the corner, running through the penalty fees in her head and checking her account balance.
Lost in thought, she jolted when the door creaked open. Hazel sprang up, grabbing the fruit knife from the table with trembling hands.
"Ms. Payne, your company has terminated the lease agreement. You need to move out right now!" The apartment manager's face was grim as he spoke. He was pointing toward the door.
Hazel stared at the men outside, their faces twisted with rage and desire, and a chill ran down her spine.
"Can you just give me a few more hours? I'll move out before dawn. I promise," she pleaded.
But the manager didn't say a word. He shoved her out the door, a mocking grin plastered on his face.
He said, "What are you so scared of? Didn't you enjoy it?"
In an instant, Hazel felt grimy, sweaty hands grabbing at her, shoving her into the corner.
Someone yanked her hair, another ripped at her clothes, and others tugged at her shoes.
Hazel fought with everything she had, crying out for help, but it was no use. Her resistance only made the mob wilder.
She felt herself being swallowed up, on the verge of breaking apart, suffocating.
Just as she was about to be stripped bare, a deep male voice cut through the chaos. "Get your filthy hands off her!"
The men turned around, annoyance written all over their faces.
"Who the hell are you?" one of them snapped.
Another jeered, "Are you out of your mind, playing hero for this bitch?"
Before the guy could even finish his sentence, the man socked him right in the nose, making blood gush everywhere.
The rest saw what happened and tried to gang up on him, but he just knocked them out cold with a single punch each.
Hazel slowly opened her eyes and saw a man dressed head-to-toe in black, standing in the shadows with his fists clenched.
Through the messy strands of hair falling over his forehead, she caught sight of those dark eyes. His eyes were still clear and intense, but now steadier, with the old gloom replaced by a quiet strength.
He was the first guy who ever made her heart race.
"Keith? Why are you here..." Hazel stammered.
"Shh!" Keith raised a finger to his lips, motioning for silence.
He took off his jacket and wrapped it around Hazel, then picked her up by the waist and carried her out of the apartment building.
His heartbeat was racing. His body radiated heat. His arms were strong and protective.
Hazel curled up in his arms, her mind a tangled mess.
She felt a laugh bubbling up. At least she'd survived.
But she also felt tears prick at her eyes. He was seeing her so broken, so helpless, all over again.
She clung to him desperately, like a drowning woman grabbing her last lifeline, terrified to let go.
Keith held her tight, the woman he'd missed for so many years. His heart ached with a rush of excitement and pain all tangled together.
He'd always thought Hazel was living her best life, happy, successful, classy. So, he stayed away.
But it was only yesterday that he learned she'd never escaped that bastard's clutches. Behind the glamorous surface were endless humiliation and abuse.
Keith couldn't help but hate himself. He should have had the guts to protect her sooner.
Outside Keith's place, a tall tree stood guard, its patchy shadows dancing across the room and making everything look kind of nice.
With its shade giving her a bit of cover, Hazel finally relaxed a little. For a moment, she let her guard down, took a hot shower, and changed into some clean clothes.
Just as Hazel was about to leave, Keith moved in a flash and stood in her way at the door.
He stood there, watching her with a gaze both gentle and stubborn.
Through his eyes, Hazel caught a glimpse of the girl she once was, clean and innocent.
She asked herself what right she had to ask for his pity.
"Please, I'm begging you. Let me go." Hazel bowed her head, unable to stop the tremble in her voice.
Keith bent down and hugged Hazel tightly, holding her as if he never wanted to let go, desperate to keep her close.
He rested his head on her shoulder, his breath gentle but burning with emotion, his words a mix of command and pleading.
"Don't go! Don't leave me again!" he said.
Hazel pulled herself out of his arms, shaking her head with a teary, bittersweet smile.
"I'll bring you trouble. You're such an idiot! Did you forget I cheated on you?" she said, her voice shaky.
Keith scooped her up with one arm and set her down on a dining chair.
"You're even dumber! You think I don't know what happened back then? You think I'm still the guy who needs you to protect me?" he shot back.
Hazel lowered her head, memories rushing back as if it were yesterday.
Keith used to chase away the boys spreading filthy rumors about her, throw out the dead rats and snakes left in her desk, buy her warm milk, and braid flower crowns that smelled sweet.
But then his grandmother, the person who raised him, fell ill. She had cancer. Her body was covered with tubes, her abdomen filled with fluid. She couldn't even swallow porridge. They needed 150 thousand dollars.
Hazel couldn't stand the thought of Keith losing his only family, so she went to Aaron. For him, that kind of money was nothing more than his pocket money for a single month.
But Aaron clamped her chin in his hand, a cold, mocking smile on his lips. "Let's see if you can please me... in bed.
"Your mom was something else. How else did she have my dad wrapped around her finger? Bet she taught you all her tricks, didn't she?"