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After a series of heart-wrenching events, Hazel Ambrose has her back against the wall with no one to save her. After all, she has lost everyone that she has ever lost, and the purpose she has spent her life preparing for. But all it takes is hours of day drinking and bad decisions for her to grasp the attention of a demon guardian who offers her a chance to redeem herself. Seeing how far she has fallen off the grid, Hazel might have no other options to keep her alive and help her regain everything that she has lost. However, it must come at a price. What will his demands be in the end? An inevitable ownership of her body, mind or soul? Or a final decision that changes everything.
Hazel's POV
White roses. He always loved the colour white.
I take in a deep breath, allowing myself to dwell on the dark clouds as they gather, mirroring the shadow of despair that surges through my mind, threatening to spill at any second.
"Please, Miss. You have to stop crying."
Right. Ive used Linda's words to keep myself from bawling my heart out at my father's grave. She had to remind me that showing up in public with puffy, red eyes would be bad for my image as the new CEO, even if this is a funeral. But how does anyone expect me to shake the heavy feeling in my chest.
My eyes sting again. Dammit! There are hundreds of people around me. I can't lose myself in front of all these people. I can't show any signs of weakness. I can't let them see how helpless I am. I exhale through the black, netty accessory that Linda picked out for today.
"It goes well with the dress. And it'll cover your face in case you start to get all teary again," she said, to which I smiled.
Edwin's hand tightens softly around mine. I turn to him and smile. I am not alone. And even though my father won't be alive to witness it, I will soon be married to this amazing man. He's always been there for me, and I will always be there for him. Thinking about it, just here and now, I am thankful to still have my only source of comfort.
The first time I realized how much I truly need him in my life was about a week after he moved in. He said it didn't matter to him if we both live at his place or mine, but seeing as mine was more spacious, it was a nice agreement. Now, months later, i think it is one of the best decisions we ever made as a couple.
It's cold and windy. The weather mourns with me in a way that I find quite cliché but beautiful. And deep down, I hope it rains. Not only to cut this dreadful ceremony short, also that once I'm alone, relaxing in a hot bath, it will drown out the sound of my loud, shaky sobs as I mourn for hours on end.
Because tomorrow is another business day, and I'll have to answer to the board of directors. There shouldn't be anything to worry about, of course, but that never stops me from worrying.
The priest drones on and on, and I watch from the front row in the open field as they lower his coffin into the ground. I'm glad I got to say goodbye last week at the hospital after the doctor said his time was up. Our last moment together remains as a refreshing memory in my mind, and is probably the only thing keeping me from ripping off my jewelry and demanding that they bury me with him.
And as stupid as it sounds, I can feel his presence with me. Comforting me in that sweet way that he always did when I was down. I can almost feel his arm around my shoulder. And see his smile radiate from his well defined features.
An unconscious smile creeps onto my lips. Nothing brings me more joy than knowing he will be with Mother again. He was torn when we lost her, and even after he got married to that hopeless bimbo Shannon, he would always talk about being with her again in the afterlife.
***
It is done. Benedict Ambrose is in the ground.
I had a long, miserable night after the funeral. However, it's time to put all that behind me.
"Hazel?"
I turn from the floor-to-ceiling glass window of our penthouse, neglecting the view to face Edwin.
"You alright? You haven't talked about the funeral," he says. I smile and walk over to him; my dearest lover. It's 6 a.m. I don't want to be having this conversation. I'd like to pump this cup of caffeine into my system in peace, so that I can tolerate all the obnoxious people that I work with.
"It was wonderful, Edwin. But now I'm letting other things occupy my mind," I reply, setting the mug down and pulling him into a light hug. He wraps his arms around me, and I feel warm knowing once again that I am not alone.
"Like your board meeting in a few hours. Right." I nod in response.
"Everything is going to go well, and I know you'll do great."
I appreciate his words of encouragement, but I'm too distracted by the strong smell of his cologne to say so.
I let go, taking a step back and noticing what he's wearing. "Going somewhere?" I ask. Not that it really matters, but he barely gets out of the house.
"Yes. And I want to tell you that I'm seeing an old friend today but you already sound mad," he replies.
I smile. "I'm not mad, Love. Have fun with them."
Who could he possibly be meeting up with?
I shake off the thought. I don't have the time to overthink this. Not now anyways.
So I focus on my morning routine because it keeps me calm and it allows me to feel organized, despite how scattered my thoughts are these days. I smell fresh and clean as I pick out my outfit for the day.
My midnight blue skirt with a matching fitted blazer seems appropriate. And then I'm off, repeating my mantra of affirmations and fidgeting with my phone until the time for the meeting.
I'm already seated at the head of the table when board members trudge in. One of the executives begins and I sit in silence as he goes on and on about company assets and how quickly we must sort out the partnerships that my father had been working on before anyone changes their mind. I feel a little less nervous now, because I don't believe that my transition from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Executive Officer would be too much of a hassle. I'm ready for this, and they know it. In fact, after seeing all of my hard work for the past few years, I'd say they're like proud parents seeing me grow up.
"At this point I would like to give Miss. Ambrose a chance to enlighten us on her plans for the rest of the year before we officially introduce her as our new CEO."
The room falls intensely silent. I exhale, gripping my thighs under the table.
"Thank you Mr. Jacobs," I begin with a smile. Here we go. I can do this. I expected this question and I've prepared a monologue that will make everyone happy and satisfied. I open my mouth to continue, but the words get stuck in my throat as the board room door opens wide with a chaotic bang.
All it takes is a second. And in this second, I can see my life shifting beyond my control. My eyes lock with the intruder and she smiles smugly at me.
There are nervous glances and murmurs around the room as I stand to my feet. I regret it immediately because I almost faceplate into the table and it's taking every muscle in my body to keep me steady.
Soon my shock translates to rage. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
I'm seething with anger but my tone is stern. Shannon shouldn't be here. Not after everything.
I can tell just by looking at her that she feels triumphant. She looks like she has won, and I'm dying to know what game she's playing and who she thinks she's playing with.
She pouts, and her next words have me sick to my stomach.
"Sit down, girl. That's no way to speak to your step-mother."
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.