Chapter 212: THE COMFORT AND SAFETY
Hazel didn’t remember walking to her bedroom and undressing herself. She only remembered feeling very satisfied with her lamb chop and then getting into the car to return home.
Most likely, it was Ranon who carried her to their bedroom and took off her dress, leaving her only in her underwear. This was how she liked it when she was sleeping.
However, she was woken up when Ranon returned to bed after he fed Ashlyn. He must be exhausted because when Hazel woke up and got out of bed, he didn’t even stir.
In his cabinet, she found his shirt and put it on.
Hazel was hungry again, and when she saw the clock, it had already been a few hours past midnight. She couldn’t sleep with her stomach growling, so she went to the kitchen to make something to eat.
But Renna came into the kitchen for a drink and saw her rummaging through the refrigerator.
"Do you need help? There is a leftover; do you want me to reheat it?"
"I will do it; just tell me where it is," Hazel said. She didn’t want to bother her. However, Renna didn’t let her do that, and she told Hazel to sit down.
"I am happy to see both of you get along so well." Renna started a conversation while they were waiting for the food. "I can see how much he loves you."
Hazel didn’t know how to respond to that. Renna would be very disappointed if she knew about the contract. Ranon must have acted so well to be able to fool Renna.
But she had to admit that Ranon treated her extremely well. "Don’t you think I am too clingy?" She asked this question out of the blue.
It was not as if Hazel hadn’t noticed the way she acted around Ranon. She was well aware that she had become a little bit clingy with him. She wondered if Ranon found her annoying.
"What is wrong with that?" Renna asked, raising her brows, as if Hazel’s question was silly. "He is your husband; you can act spoiled with him."
Yet, Hazel didn’t feel it was right. She was always self-sufficient, and as River, she was taught to be independent from such a young age.
Being spoiled and clingy was not on her agenda. Those things were reserved for Aubrey. She was the responsible and mature one between the two children of Arthur Lozen.
Even when she was with Arlo, she would act coquettishly a handful of times during their relationship. She did that when she wanted something. That was part of a calculation, not something she did subconsciously.
But it was different with Ranon.
Therefore, it surprised Hazel that she could act spoiled in front of Ranon with ease. Well, that man was to be blamed, too, because he overindulged her, but then, Hazel didn’t have any complaint. She enjoyed it.
She liked the feeling of having someone who had her back. She knew that even if she fell, he would be there to catch her.
It was crazy.
"Hazel." Renna touched her arm to pull her out of her thoughts.
"Hm?"
"There is nothing wrong with being spoiled. You must be very comfortable with him; that’s why you are acting that way." Renna smiled gently. "I remembered when you still lived in the Rose’s family house, you would always look guarded, as if you were scared to make a mistake. But now, I am happy to see how you can relax around Mr. Leighton."
Hazel didn’t say anything, but she was listening, so Renna continued.
"I know you are so mature, even at such a young age."
That was the same with River, and if she thought about it, she could see a few similarities between herself and the real Hazel. They were forced to grow up too soon because their surroundings didn’t allow them to act their age.
"But no matter how capable and strong a woman is, once she meets a man whom she can feel safe with, she will be comfortable enough to show her feminine side." Renna chuckled into her palm when she saw Hazel’s expression. "And I think you have found one."
Hazel pursed her lips. "I don’t understand what you are talking about."
And finally, her food was ready. Renna decided to stay a bit longer to accompany her to eat. Once Hazel was full, she returned to her bedroom and checked on Ashlyn.
She stared at her baby.
They always said that you would feel an instant love for your own child, an overwhelming feeling that would make even your bad day better.
Yet, Hazel wondered why she didn’t feel that way.
She stretched out her hand and caressed her chubby cheeks. She was not sure what she felt for her baby, but if she imagined someone hurting her, she would skin that person alive for sure.
Was that love? Was her love language an act of violence?
Hazel nudged Ashlyn’s cheek and her little nose before she returned to bed and lay down next to Ranon after she took off his shirt. She stared at the man for a while.
The feeling of safety?
Hazel crept closer and put his arm around her body, nuzzling against his chest. She didn’t know about that, but it was comfortable to sleep like this.
She tangled her legs with his.
***
Laurel was not even surprised to see Carl at her front door. Wena had come to look for her. It was only a matter of time before Carl or James came here.
What surprised her was that it was Carl who came first.
"Have you had breakfast?" Laurel didn’t even bother to move to a different property, since she liked it here; more so, she was tired of running away. She was counting the days before the divorce was finalized.
"Not yet." Carl lifted his head; he looked a little bit pale and skinnier than the last time she saw him.
"Come inside." Laurel opened the door wider for him.
For a split second, Carl looked surprised by the invitation. His gloomy eyes lit up when he stood up and followed Laurel into the house.
He decided to come here last night when his grandmother left. He didn’t care about his father because he would never notice that he had gone missing. He indulged himself in his business and his legal issues.
"Sit. I will cook something for you."
Carl was on his best behavior. He sat down obediently, watching Laurel cook something for him. For a moment, he felt nostalgic. This was their morning routine.
Something very mundane and basic, nothing special, until he overlooked it. But right now, he would do everything to get this boring routine back.
It didn’t take long before Laurel was done and served the food. The smell of fried shrimp and omelet wafted in the air.
Carl didn’t know what got into him, but his vision was a blur. He rubbed his eyes, and his fingers were damp, but he didn’t make a sound when he ate while wiping his tears.
On the other hand, Laurel didn’t say anything; she pretended that she didn’t see it and focused on her food.
There would be a heavy topic for them to talk about, but for now, they would enjoy the food first before their talk depleted their energy.
***
Hazel woke up with a start when she heard Ashlyn was crying. She immediately sat down and was very alert.
"What happened?" Hazel asked; she saw Ranon was about to take Ashlyn out of the room so her cries wouldn’t disturb her sleep. "Why is she crying like that?"
She immediately got out of bed and approached them. All traces of sleepiness vanished almost immediately.
"I think she has a fever; her body is slightly warm. I am going to take her to the hospital."
"I am coming."
Hazel was still in her underwear; she immediately washed her face and put on clothes and jeans, while Ranon was waiting for her in the car.
"I checked her last night, and she was fine." Hazel frowned. She put her palm on Ashlyn’s little face, and her skin was warm. "What happened?"
"I woke up because she was crying, and when I checked, her body was slightly warm. I was about to take her out when you woke up."
Ranon and Hazel sat in the backseat as the driver took them to Central Hospital. Ashlyn cried the whole way until her face turned red.
No one talked as they tried to comfort the baby. In the end, Ranon was the one who was carrying her because the little one would cry even harder when Hazel held her.
***
"I am sorry, Mother." Carl had uttered apologies countless times, either in Laurel’s presence or when no one was around. He didn’t know what else to say.
He would beg her forgiveness if that was what his mother wanted, but unfortunately, it was not that easy.
"I forgive you, Carl. I am no longer angry with you," Laurel said. This day would come sooner or later when she told him about her feelings. They needed this conversation. "But I can never forget."
The hope in Carl’s eyes was crushed when Laurel said the last words.
"You still have not forgiven me yet," Carl said in a small and pitiful voice, but Laurel shook her head.
"That’s not true." Her voice was calm and gentle. "Growing up, you will understand you don’t need to keep in contact with someone just because you forgive them."