Chapter 6 Fighting Is for Men

• Just then, Hazel opened her eyes, startling Marcus. He couldn't believe Hazel had woken up when Julia had promised him that she was drugged and would only stir two hours later.
• "Sweetheart, how… how are you awake?" Marcus stammered.
• A mischievous smile played on Hazel's clear eyes. "How am I supposed to witness such a splendid show if I don't wake up?"
• "You…"
• As she flicked her hand, Marcus suddenly smelled a strange fragrance, and seconds later, his body went limp, collapsing onto the carpet. Unable to exert any force, Marcus could only watch in fear as Hazel bound his hands and feet and then approached him with a smile. "S-Sweetheart, how do you want to play? How about you release me, and we have some proper fun together?"
• With a quirked brow, Hazel spoke harmlessly, "Look, Mr. King. What's this?"
• Marcus shifted his gaze to her hand and found two meaty bones. "W-What's up with the meat?"
• "Didn't Julia tell you, Mr. King? The Sullivans raised a vicious wolfhound that loves to gnaw on bones."
• Marcus, a typical lecherous man, had been eyeing Hazel for a while. She was a hick from the sticks married to a terminally ill man; he could have her however he wanted, no? However, little did he think that he would be fearful of her now, his lips trembling as he asked, "W-What do you want?"
• Hazel's hand moved downward, stuffing both bones into Marcus' pants. "Mr. King, the game has begun. Later, the wolfhound will come in. You'd better be careful and make sure it doesn't bite the wrong place and sever your manhood."
• "No, wait, sweetheart, I'm sorry. Release me… You can't do this. This isn't a joke! I'll die!" Marcus pleaded, drenched in cold sweat, ready to kneel before Hazel if it would help.
• As Hazel opened the door, the huge wolfhound bounded into the room, drawn by the scent of meat.
• Ah! Marcus' screams echoed through the room.
• …
• Julia was waiting downstairs for good news when suddenly the door of the upstairs room burst open, and Marcus, holding his pants up, ran down in utter disarray.
• Julia was taken aback. "Mr. King, what happened to you?"
• Marcus, trembling with fear, tears streaming down his face, threw the meaty bones at Julia and bellowed with rage. "This is all your fault, Julia Litchfield! You'll pay for this!" With resentment and fear, he ran off.
• What happened? Julia hurriedly went upstairs and entered the room only to find Hazel sitting comfortably in a chair, sipping tea. She looked up, her crystal-clear eyes fixed on Julia's shocked face. "Oh, hey, Ms. Julia."
• This girl's expecting me! Julia was stunned, knowing her scheme had been exposed. But that doesn't make sense! She finished that cup of hot chocolate right in front of me. What went wrong?!
• "Hazel, you knew something was wrong with that hot chocolate and played along, didn't you?" Julia asked.
• Hazel smirked icily. "I wanted to see how low you would stoop. You didn't disappoint me."
• With a sneer, Julia shed her facade and glared venomously at Hazel. "Mr. King left in anger just now. I'll have you taken to his bed to make amends now! Guards!"
• "Yes, ma'am." Five or six burly bodyguards swiftly arrived, each with a formidable stature.
• "I hired these bodyguards at great expense, Hazel Sullivan. Can you take them down?" Julia taunted.
• Hazel's eyes turned cold in an instant. Naturally, she wouldn't be scared when she had been expecting her.
• "Go! Seize her!" Julia commanded, and one of the bodyguards instantly grabbed Hazel's hand.
• Meanwhile, she quietly reached for her waist, but in the next second, a large hand appeared, clasping the bodyguard's hand. With a gentle twist and a crisp crack, the bodyguard's hand dislocated. Then, with a chilling force, the crippled bodyguard was thrown back, crashing into several of his comrades before dropping onto the ground.
• Hazel quickly looked up and saw a tall and elegant figure entering the room. Zachary had arrived. "What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
• "Looks like I missed quite a show," Zachary monotoned, his voice low and magnetic.
• Julia never expected someone to suddenly barge into her home. She sized the man beside Hazel up, tall and handsome in a white shirt and black pants, exuding an aura of restraint and aloofness.
• As Mrs. Sullivan, Julia was familiar with Maritown's upper echelons, but she had never met this man before. Is he the pretty boy Sage mentioned earlier?
• "Is this your pretty boy, Hazel?" Julia asked.
• Pretty boy? Zachary frowned with displeasure and turned to Hazel. "Pretty boy? Is that what you told her?"
• Hazel straightened up, waving her hand. "I didn't say anything. I swear I'm innocent!"
• Getting impatient, Julia shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Can't you all handle a pretty boy? Get 'em!"
• Some of the bodyguards attempted to step forward, but Zachary gently lifted his eyelids and glanced condescendingly at them. "Are you sure you want to fight me?"
• Intimidated, the bodyguards flee.
• Then, Zachary turned to Hazel. "What, do you want to stay for dinner? Let's go."
• "Okay." Hazel quickly followed behind Zachary.
• Julia shook with anger, infuriated. She had never seen such an arrogant pretty boy before. Who is he to behave like an all-powerful king when he relies on a woman for a living?! Not to mention coming in and out of my house like it's his! Unbelievable! Regardless, now that her highly-paid bodyguards scurried away, she could only helplessly watch the pair leave.
• Before leaving, Hazel whispered in her ear, "What you did to me today is now in my records."
• …
• In the luxury car, Hazel looked at the man beside her. He looked composed and elegant, with no trace of the earlier fight.
• Zachary glanced at her. "What would you have done if I hadn't come?"
• "I can fight, too." Hazel smirked. "I could have handled them myself."
• Then, Zachary recalled her profile. She was abandoned in the countryside at nine and bullied by other children, calling her an abandoned b*stard. Zachary guessed she probably learned to fight back then. Plus, with her medical skills, she could easily handle Scarface on the train, so dealing with those bodyguards was naturally a piece of cake!
• "Girls shouldn't fight. Fighting is for men," Zachary said.
• "I don't like depending on others. Still, Mr. Luellen, thank you for earlier."
• Quirking a brow at her genuine gratitude, Zachary asked, "Is that all the thanks you have?"
• "How else should I thank you?" Hazel asked with stupefaction, and Zachary's gaze shifted from her bright eyes to her lips covered by the veil. "Do you not know how women usually thank men?"